Chapter 2: The Blood Pact
1414 Words
Gwen touched her two fingers together, forming a circle and putting it to her lips, blowing a whistle for her horse. An, with its four hooves flying high, galloped towards her.
"Such a beautiful horse," Lancaster reached out to touch An, but An let out a warning whinny, forcing his hand to hover in mid-air.
"Good boy, be quiet," Gwen stroked An's mane gently and then swiftly mounted the horse. "What are you waiting for? Get up."
"Are you sure it won't throw me off?"
Lancaster now felt the pain from the wound on his right arm. If it were any other day, he would have disciplined An.
Even the most rebellious and untamed horse would eventually submit.
"If An disables you, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life," Gwen smiled. Once Lancaster was mounted, she tightened the reins. "You'd better hold on to me tightly."
The border between Salir and Linxi was a vast expanse of snow-covered land after a fierce snowstorm.
Lancaster didn't take her words seriously, thinking about how fast she could ride on the snow.
He soon regretted it, using his left arm to loosely hold onto Gwen's waist.
This woman rides like a maniac!
The soldiers at the Xistine fortress were all mesmerized, whispering among themselves.
"The princess's riding skills are really good."
"What luck! If I could ride with Princess Gwen once, I'd die happily!"
"The princess's riding skills were personally taught by the King of Linxi, so they're naturally extraordinary," Lude glanced at the noisy soldiers, and the atmosphere instantly quieted down.
His sharp gaze remained on the fading figures of the two.
To have slipped into the heavily guarded Xistine fortress, that man seemed far from ordinary...
The two rode their horses into a forest, where they could faintly hear the cries of wild animals.
Gwen led An towards the direction where the birds and animals were startled. "Meryl."
"Your Highness!" The maid named Meryl quickly put down the red-furred fox she had just hunted and bowed. "You're finally back!" The snow was stained with blood. Five wild animals were neatly arranged: rabbits, foxes, and even a falcon.
"You asked me to hunt for you. But I'm not as skilled as you, Your Highness," Meryl complained, feeling quite upset. "I only caught these, and I don't know if I can fool Ely."
Only? Lancaster was stunned. Meryl wasn't carrying any weapons, and there was no magical aura on her, indicating that she had caught these prey with her bare hands. She didn't seem like an ordinary maid... more like a well-trained warrior.
"Is this the person Your Highness is looking for?"
Meryl scrutinized Lancaster from head to toe and came to a conclusion.
He's barely worthy of Her Highness.
Gwen was about to return to the main road to meet with Captain Ely and leave the border, but she was stopped by Lancaster.
"How do I know you won't kill me after leading me into the city?"
"Your Highness's word is her bond, and it's not up to you to doubt it!" Meryl snapped.
This man really doesn't know when he's well off!
"What do you need to believe?" Gwen waved her hand, signaling her to step back.
"A blood pact," Lancaster said solemnly.
"Only those with magical talent can establish a blood pact," Gwen tucked her hands into her sleeves and stared at Lancaster with interest. "I remember that the eldest son of the Garcia family doesn't have magical talent."
She knew about Lancaster's magical talent in her reincarnated life, but she was just pretending otherwise.
Lancaster's magical talent was very low. Compared to Gwen's second-level "A"-grade ice magic, his lightning magic was seventh-level "F".
But by chance, he had learned the secret techniques of Emperor Norman. Unlike other magicians with fixed upper limits on their magical talent, his magical limit could be increased through training.
In her previous life, before she died, Lancaster's magic was already comparable to, or even stronger than, that of a first-level "S"-grade talented magician. He was truly a chosen one.
"Everyone has secrets," Lancaster said calmly, without explanation.
He easily managed to get a royal princess to agree to a blood pact. He was really calculating.
But to gain Lancaster's trust, she had to compromise. Gwen sighed helplessly. "Fine."
She agreed so easily? It was too smooth, and Lancaster became suspicious.
A blood pact was a highly binding contract. Once established, it could not be destroyed. And once broken, there would be a penalty.
The violator would lose their magical abilities.
For the royal family, possessing magical abilities was an important bargaining chip in their struggle for the throne. Prince Tyr, the eldest son, had not been officially crowned as the crown prince due to his lack of magical talent.
Even though King Sivus only recognized the eldest son's right to inheritance, there were still many nobles supporting Prince Freud, the second son with "S"-grade magical talent.
Why does she... value him so much?
He hesitated for a moment before seeing Gwen take off the ruby silver needle earrings from her ears.
The three elements of a blood pact are the blood, magic power, and metal of the contracting individuals.
Gwen lightly tapped her fingers, and the soft snow surface instantly became smooth and hard, serving as an altar.
She placed the earrings on the "altar."
Lanster also removed the family heirloom, a bronze snake-shaped pendant from his neck, placing it atop the ruby.
At first glance, the ruby of excellent quality looked like a red rose entwined by a green snake, gorgeously beautiful.
Both of them punctured their index fingers simultaneously. Bright red blood droplets oozed out from the wounds, dripping onto the icy altar and merging towards the center in harmony.
Gradually, the faint blue-white ice magic aura in her blood tightly adhered to a trace of leaping dark blue lightning.
What's happening... Gwen was stunned.
Magic is contained in the blood. The fact that Lanster's blood could blend with hers indicates that their magic is highly compatible.
Magical compatibility, as recorded in ancient books, is an extremely rare occurrence.
How could it appear between her and Lanster?
Never mind that. She had to complete this troublesome blood pact quickly. If she delayed any longer, Elei would scold her again.
"I swear by the name of the Ten Gods," Gwen placed her right hand on her heart, chanting in a calm and clear voice.
"I vow never to harm Lanster von Garcia. If I violate this, I shall be punished by the gods."
"I shall be devoid of divine blessings, forbidden from entering the temple, and sunk into the darkness."
"The oath-taker, Gwen Akerman."
As she spoke, red light erupted from the icy altar, revealing a red-black magic array. The offerings were engulfed by the light, as if being greedily consumed by a blood-red maw.
Is this the blood pact?
It's said that the blood pact is the most dark magic-like contract. It truly deserves its reputation. Lanster furrowed his brow.
He didn't expect her to actually make a pact with him. Moreover, she even said something foolish like "forever."
Princess, what is your true intention...?
A smile played on his lips. "I swear by the name of the Ten Gods."
The Ten Gods cult is the state religion of Linxi. However, under his mother's influence, he doesn't believe in it. This opening phrase was purely for Gwen's sake, as the royal family are devout believers.
Plus, the oath for a blood pact is fixed. He needed to swear by something, so why not copy it directly?
"I vow never to harm Gwen Akerman. If I violate this, I shall be punished by the gods."
What is he doing? While Gwen maintained a standard smile on her face, her heart was filled with doubts.
A blood pact can be unilateral. Lanster didn't need to swear for her. However, she had no reason to reject this unsolicited promise.
The light dissipated. It seemed that the blood pact had been completed.
"Now, you must trust me, right?" Gwen looked at the ruby earring swallowed by the magic array with regret. It was a tribute, a gift from her father.
Losing one like that was truly a pity.
Lanster nodded faintly, feeling a bitdisappointed.
He didn't expect the magic array to consume his family heirloom necklace... Although he gained the blood pact with the princess of Linxi with a necklace, he still came out on top.
- Writer
