The Contractor's Conquest

Chapter Title: "A Mother's Farewell"

Three days had passed since the battle that changed the fate of their quiet village. Sylas remained unconscious, his body wrapped in layers of bandages and healing herbs. The once vibrant boy now lay still, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Lukas had already departed for the academy, his heart heavy with the weight of guilt and unspoken promises. The village had rallied together to rebuild Sylas's home, with ring users providing their aid, but the echoes of the battle still lingered in every corner.

Inside the newly rebuilt house, Elyra and Mark sat by Sylas's bedside. The silence between them was thick with unspoken emotions. Mark's hand trembled as he placed it on Sylas's, while Elyra stared out of the window, her eyes distant and filled with a mix of pain and resolve.

Finally, Elyra stood up. Her movements were deliberate, as if each step brought her closer to an inevitable truth. "It's time," she said, her voice heavy with finality.

Mark looked up at her, his expression one of pleading desperation. "You don't have to do this. We can find another way. Please, Elyra."

Elyra turned to face him, tears threatening to spill from her eyes, though her voice remained steady. "Mark, you know this is the only way. Staying will only put all of you in greater danger. Sylas will need you when he wakes up. And if I stay… it'll be harder for him to understand why I have to leave."

Mark clenched his fists, his eyes glistening with tears. A memory from years ago flashed through his mind—a younger Elyra, full of fire and determination, standing before him when they first met. Even then, he had known she was destined for something far greater, something that might one day take her away from him.

Without another word, Mark rose from his chair and embraced her. Elyra's composure cracked, and she buried her face in his shoulder, letting the tears fall freely. They held each other tightly, as if trying to freeze this moment in time.

The sound of footsteps interrupted them. They turned to see a masked figure standing in the doorway. The figure's voice was distorted, but the tone was respectful. "It's time, young miss."

Elyra's expression turned cold as she pulled away from Mark. She wiped her tears and gave him one last, sorrowful look. "Take care of him, Mark. Tell Sylas…" Her voice faltered for a moment before she steadied herself. "Tell him I love him."

Mark could only nod, his throat too tight to speak.

The masked man produced a spherical device and pressed a hidden button. A glowing blue sphere of energy began to form around them. Elyra took one last glance at her family, her eyes lingering on Sylas's peaceful face. A bittersweet smile graced her lips before she stepped into the sphere.

With a faint hum, the device activated, and Elyra and the masked figure vanished, leaving behind only silence.

---

Inside Sylas's Mind

Sylas felt like he was drowning. Cold, dark water surrounded him, pulling him deeper into an abyss with no end. He struggled, his limbs thrashing, but the sensation of loneliness was more suffocating than the water itself.

Suddenly, the stillness was disturbed. A voice, deep and ancient, began to rumble through the darkness. The words were in a language Sylas had never heard before, yet he understood them as if they were etched into his very soul.

"Thy will hath defied fate… Thy strength hath invoked a pact unspoken. The Ring of Contracts shall honor its bond."

Sylas's surroundings shifted. The dark waters receded, replaced by an expanse of shimmering golden light. In the center of the light stood a massive figure, cloaked in an aura of power that made Sylas's knees buckle.

"Thy courage in the face of despair hath summoned me," the figure said, its voice echoing like a chorus. "During thy battle, a contract was forged in thy heart. I am here to fulfill it."

Sylas stared at the figure, his mind racing. Images of the battle flashed before him—the masked assailant, the overwhelming power, the desperate desire to survive. He realized now that in the heat of the fight, his subconscious had made a silent plea for strength, a plea that the ring had answered.

"What… What is the contract?" Sylas managed to ask, his voice trembling.

The figure raised a hand, and a golden scroll materialized in the air. Symbols and runes danced across its surface, glowing faintly. "Thou sought the power to protect, to endure, to rise above. In return, thy soul shall bear the burden of the pact. Thy path shall be one of trials, yet thy reward shall be unmatched."

The scroll unfurled, and the words burned themselves into Sylas's mind. He felt a surge of energy coursing through him, overwhelming and terrifying. His vision blurred, and the golden light faded, replaced once again by the cold darkness.

---

Sylas's eyes snapped open, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. His body felt heavy, yet his mind was alight with newfound clarity. The room around him was familiar, yet empty.

"Mother?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.

There was no reply. The silence was deafening, and an ache filled his heart as he realized something was missing—someone was missing.

Mark entered the room moments later, relief washing over his face when he saw Sylas awake. But the look in his eyes told Sylas everything he needed to know.

"She's gone, isn't she?" Sylas asked, his voice breaking.

Mark nodded, his own voice choked with emotion. "She… She had to, Sylas. To protect us. To protect you."

Sylas clenched his fists, his mind racing with questions and emotions he couldn't yet process. But deep within him, the words of the figure in the golden light echoed, reminding him of the path that lay ahead.

For better or worse, his journey had only just begun.

---

End of Chapter

End of First arc: The Contracter's Awakening

Next arc: The Contracter's Start