Legendary Architect of Apocalypse-Chapter 59: The Soul Contract

Grey arrived, the other children following behind him. Surprisingly, not a single one of them had died, even though many looked frightened when they were falling from the sky.

Except for the Professor, all of them had scars that had darkened, as if they were also suffering from corruption. The only difference was that their scars were much lighter than Elias’s.

"Huh! Ah, yeah." The Painter was trying to comprehend the meaning behind Elias’s words when Grey brought him out of his daze. He stopped thinking about it for now, leaving it for later when he had more peace to meditate and think about it more.

"Is that all of them?" he asked Grey, observing the children behind him. "Did you tell them about the corruption?"

"Isn’t that your responsibility?" Grey shrugged, and stepped back, standing with his back resting against a tree as if he was nothing more than a spectator.

"Tsk." The Painter didn’t like that he was disturbed at such an important time, but he also couldn’t do much about it.

He started telling the children about the corruption that they were suffering, and the fate that they were going to experience if they didn’t succeed in establishing a contract with a soul beast in time.

Everything that he told them was the same thing that he had told Elias. It made Elias understand why the Painter looked so surprised when he asked this as his second request.

Even if he hadn’t used his second request, he was still going to be informed about these things. Still, he didn’t find himself to be at a loss as he had the improved map of the Land of Fables in his hands.

He noticed Grey occasionally looking at the scroll in his hand. Even though Grey didn’t show it openly, he was surprised to think that someone like the Painter had given this map to Elias.

He was curious about the kind of interaction that Elias might have had with the Painter before he arrived. Elias appeared quite cunning in his eyes.

"Now, most of you may know the method of establishing a soul contract, but I’m sure there are a few who don’t," the Painter said, glancing momentarily at Elias in the distance.

"There are two methods of establishing a contract with a soul beast. You can either beat them into submission, which is difficult since soul beasts are generally more willing to die than surrender. This is especially true for the ones with the higher grade."

"The other method is to convince them to establish a soul contract with you in a peaceful manner. You can try to earn their trust, or even bribe them. The method you use depends entirely on you. As for how well you perform, it will depend on the method you select, and your luck."

"When you have convinced them, you need to drop some of your blood on these gems, and have the beast eat them willingly. The Soul Contract will be completed." He opened a bag, and started tossing out a blood stone to each child.

The last blood stone went to Elias, who caught it and kept it in his pocket.

"If you are ready, then scram. Go north, and when you leave this forest, you will be in the Land of Fables. You can move together, take your separate routes or do whatever."

The Painter was too lazy to explain any more. After finishing the basic explanation, he picked up his painting brush, and stood before his painting.

Rey wanted an opportunity to tell the Painter about Elias knowing some kind of secret, but the Painter didn’t even give him an opportunity to say it.

From the start to the end, only the painter was speaking and when he stopped speaking, he closed his eyes, appearing impatient.

Still, he didn’t give up on this opportunity. He looked back at Professor Grey, and asked, "Professor, is he the Painter whose secret you told to Elias?"

He made sure that he was loud enough for everyone to hear it.

Even if Painter was focused, he still heard it. His eyes opened wide, as he turned to Rey abruptly. He grabbed him by his collar, and raised him in the air before asking, "Which secret?"

"I don’t know which secret. Professor Grey only told it to him," he said as he pointed at Elias, appearing to be completely innocent as if he had no ulterior motives. "All we know is that it was some secret that made you trap a Senior in a painting."

"You!" The Painter’s old face went pale as he glared at Professor Grey. He tossed the boy aside and rushed to Grey, asking him, "Is it true?"

Grey didn’t answer him. He simply smiled in response. His silence felt more like a confirmation than a rejection.

Elias felt a stare of death that came from the Painter. He raised his brush, as the canvas flew straight to him.

"Unless you, or your family, try to hurt me, no matter what happens in the future, I won’t hurt you in any way, shape, or form," Elias said, reminding the Painter whose brush was about to move on the canvas, to trap him forever.

The moment Painter heard these words, his brush stopped. He was in disbelief, finally understanding why Elias asked him for a promise like this. He had been fooled! The promise was a trap that was set for him.

He was so frustrated, that the brush between his fingers broke into two pieces, falling on the ground.

’It seems like I was right. That boy is indeed very cunning. He already prepared for what was coming. It’s unlike any Ashborn I’ve ever seen before, who mainly deals with problems using raw strength.’

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Professor Grey silently observed Elias, who seemed unafraid when in this situation. Although it was somewhat boring for him that he couldn’t see Elias fight another professor, it was still a valuable revelation for him.

If one had strength, then they could deal with every problem that was thrown at them. But if one had brains to accompany that strength, then that person was truly more dangerous.

It was the second time he was truly impressed by an Ashborn descendant.