player POV-Chapter 54: Before the test 1
As Rion walked away with happy steps, they remained frozen in their places for heavy seconds, watching his back as he covered the distance step by step until he finally disappeared from their sight.
Only then did Silfar turn slowly.
His gaze fell on Kar, who was standing right beside him. Kar’s body appeared stiff, a faint tremor running through his limbs despite his efforts to hide it. Silfar stopped in front of him and spoke in a calm voice.
"Not bad... you did your job well."
He paused briefly, then added in a lower, colder tone
"But you disappointed me a little. You could have done more... much more."
Kar’s body shook involuntarily, as if the words had struck him directly. He swallowed hard before replying in a low, hesitant voice
"I... I was surprised by his strength. I wasn’t properly prepared, and that’s why I only brought a group of failures with me."
He paused for a moment, then continued, trying to justify himself:
"But... was it really wise to give him that entire amount in the first place? You know my situation—I don’t even have half of it, so how could I bear the full amount?"
Silfar immediately lifted his gaze to him.
Their eyes met for a few seconds, but it felt much longer. Kar felt the weight of that gaze and quickly looked away, as if holding that stare would cost him more than he could bear. Silfar’s eyes were frighteningly cold, devoid of any human expression.
Silfar finally spoke, with the same chilling calm
"Don’t worry. Money isn’t a big problem. I’ll pay it for you. No need to worry—it’s a small amount anyway."
Kar tensed even more upon hearing this, but didn’t dare respond. Silfar, however, wasn’t finished yet.
He took an additional step, lowering his voice slightly, but his words grew heavier:
"But... I’m not done with you yet."
He paused for a moment, then added
"You were planning behind my back from the start. You did everything without my knowledge and almost made me miss an opportunity like this."
Kar’s trembling intensified with every word Silfar spoke, his heartbeat pounding violently. Silfar ended his speech with a faint, cold smile:
"And so... I think it’s only fair that I punish you a little... don’t you agree?"
Kar’s entire body shook as Silfar finished speaking. His throat went dry, and he swallowed hard, as if the very air in his chest had become thick. Unable to bear the pressure any longer, he suddenly dropped to his knees, bowing quickly until his forehead touched the ground, submitting at Silfar’s feet without hesitation.
"Please... forgive me. I won’t do it again, I—I—"
"Shh."
Silfar interrupted him quietly.
He bent slowly toward him and sat nearby, placing his hand over Kar’s mouth, preventing him from finishing his sentence. That single touch alone unleashed a suffocating, dense intent to kill, making Kar’s breaths stutter as if an invisible blade pressed against his lungs.
Silfar spoke in a low voice, dripping with lethal cold
"Why do you think I’ll wait for you to do it again?"
He paused briefly.
"You didn’t do what I asked from the start. So... why should I forgive you? Give me one reason."
Kar’s body shook violently. He tried to breathe, but the murderous intent choked him. With great effort, he managed to get his voice out
"I’ll do... anything you ask. Anything... just please, forgive me."
Silfar fell silent.
Slowly, he withdrew the murderous intent as if a dark wave had suddenly receded. Kar collapsed on the floor, gasping, filling his lungs with air as if he had been brought back to life.
After a moment of thought, Silfar spoke
"Did you... say anything?"
Kar nodded quickly, agreeing without hesitation, afraid of the return of that suffocating pressure.
"Then... you will become my dog."
Kar froze in place for a moment.
"I’ve never owned a dog before, and I’ve always wanted one."
Kar remained stiff for a few seconds before fully comprehending the meaning of the words.
Then he quickly regained composure, bowing again as he spoke in a trembling voice:
"I... agree. I will become your obedient dog. Even if you want me as your slave... I will comply."
Silfar tilted his head slightly, as if evaluating the answer, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver sheet of paper.
The paper was thin and unnaturally shiny, its surface filled with mysterious symbols moving and dancing as if they were tiny living creatures.
"Good... good. Now sign this."
Kar slowly lifted his head to the paper, his eyes trembling.
"Th-this paper? Don’t tell me it’s... what I think it is."
Silfar nodded.
"It’s exactly what you’re thinking. It’s the Ania contract."
He stepped closer
"If you sign it, you will officially become my dog. I don’t trust words alone, so you must sign to prove your loyalty. Sign it... before—"
He paused briefly, then added with a cold smile
"You know well what will happen if you don’t, no need for further explanation. As you know, I’ve had enough of talking with you."
Kar looked at Silfar, then back at the silver paper glimmering in his hands. He swallowed hard, his hands shaking more as he reached for it. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Carefully, he injected his own Ania into the contract. Suddenly, the paper glowed with a bright silver light, and the symbols on it moved, dancing like tiny living creatures across its surface.
The symbols surged into his body, penetrating deep into his core, spreading throughout his magical pathways. His heartbeat thundered in his chest, and his body bent slightly involuntarily under the force controlling him.
He slowly lifted his head, his eyes frozen on Silfar, devoid of any expression.
"What do you command me... my lord?"
Silfar nodded in approval, then turned his gaze away, watching the horizon silently for a moment, before murmuring in a low voice
"Only a little remains."
Then he turned and walked away calmly.
Kar rose immediately, his body still tense from the previous moments, and followed silently, every step soundless, not uttering a single word, like a shadow without its own will, fully affected by the contract imposed upon him.
