Covenant

Prologue Act II

Arthur's Point of View

The dripping sound of rain through the trees of the forest is relaxing. Bathing on raindrops is relaxing, as it lets me wash away my worries and cleans my body. But may it be a storm or typhoon no amount of rain will wash away my sins. I am an executioner who has met the god of life. Cursed by the god with immortality, centuries have passed and I stagnated, immune to time.

On that rainy day I met you.

You were but a young boy who was lost in the forest, crying and shouting for his parents but your cries are muffled by the sound of the rain. I watched youa nd your distinctive white hair from a distance at first but your bleeding knee caught my eye. You winced in pain with a few steps and tears continue to fall like the rain around us.

When you collapsed from exhaustion, I didn't know what came over me that I went to you and carried you to my shabby home. A simple hut hidden away from humanity in the mountains far from human society.

The roof has holes and through them rainwater seeps. You were shivering in my arms as I tucked you in my century old bed. There was no need to worry about you contracting a fever since I can sense a spell that protects you from illnesses. Still I tended to your scraped knee and the other small cuts you have on your body.

The herb and white bandages I kept locked away for years now see use.

A few hours later, nightfall came to pass and the sun peeked through the between the mountains and through the trees. I slept beside you and held you between my arms, it was funny, the me who was normally plagued by nightmares of my confrontation with the god of life ans the night when I was bestowed with this cursed-couldn't be disturbed by them last night.

I had the most pleasant dreamless slumber last night.

*Yawn*

The child who lays beside me did and stretched his body, his eyes covered still swollen from crying when I found him yesterday. The child opened his eyes fully and surprisingly observes his unfamiliar surroundings. I can't blame the young one, from what he can recall he was lost in the forest an now he is waking up in an unfamiliar hut.

Soon enough the curious gaze of the kid fell on me, trembling he asked me. "Who are you mister? Where am I mister?"

I just kept silent and smiled at him, he retreated a few inches but as a result he fell off the bed and landed butt first on the wooden floor. He winced and hissed, rubbing his rear while trying to stand up. It was very amusing to watch the child, reminding me of the naughty children from my hometown a long time ago.

Not minding his curious gaze, I took towards the kitchen and cooked a pot of porridge mixing vegetables I found around the mountains. It took me a few minutes to finish, fetching two bowls and two wooden spoons I turned around and saw the kid sitting on the bed still staring at me.

I walked toqards and then sat close to him handing him the other bowl. "Eat up." I ordered.

He stared at the bowl in my hand vut never bothered to take it from my hand. When his stomach growled, he hesitantly took the bowl of porridge and started to eat. The whole time he was silent, but he was also very enthusiastic about eating the food I cooked that in only two minute the kid had already consumed most of it.

He burped and blushed while covering his mouth with the hand that held the spoon. "Please excuse me!"

I didn't mind it, because a hundred year has passed aince my last contact with another mortal.

After our meal I took the bowls and put them on the basin with water, deciding to wash them later by lunch. Returning my gaze to the kid who is currently twiddling with the bandage around his knee, I sighed and went outside. I sat with my legs crossed and closed my eyes to focus on my surroundings.

Through enhanced senses my perception of the surrounding spanned within kilometers. Though I couldn't truly see anything, I still manage to sense two steong presence not that far from where my hut is. Creating a mental map I returned to the kid side inside my house. He who just stared outside the window still adjusting to the unfamiliarity of this place now within my sight.

I tapped the kid's shoulder lightly and he jumped, looking at me with surprised through his emerald eyes.

"Follow me."

I held my hand and he nervously grabbed it, clasping it with his small hands. We walked for minutes with me using my mana to sense the surroundings for any of the presence I perceived this morning. Since, I am with a kid my steps are smaller so that he won't be tired of following me.

"Where are we going mister?"

"I'll bring you back to those who are looking for you."

"Mom and Pa?"

The walk was more silent than that of a winter's night. Only the sounds of leaves crunching beneath our feet and the mud and puddles from the rain yesterday could be heard. The hems of my kimono is starting to get wet because of the dew and rainwater that still hasn't dried.

That silent wouldn't last long because in the distance a voice shouting something I can't quite make out can be heard. I bent down and pat the kid's head which gave me a cute reaction.

"Go straight forward, they are waiting for you." I said and stood up to return to my hut.

"Mister!"

I didn't look back, after all even that unfamiliar sentiment of interacting with another human will not last long. In a matter of a few decades this little accidental meeting would be long forgotten by the both of us. At least that's how it should've been.

"When I grow up, I promise to properly thank you for taking car of me yesterday! I'll give you anything you want!"

And so I looked back at him, giving him a warm smile. "That so?"

The sun's light that sneaked pass the thick leaves of the trees around us illuminated you bright smile. The kid's lips curved up and his emerald eyes formed a pleased cresent.

"Cross my heart and hope to die!"

The kid ran straight forward just like I told him. The few meters of distance between us before became larger and soon you were out of my sight. This little accident should be forgotten in a few decades but you made a promise.

I didn't know if you notice the large quantity of mana you released. I was shocked enough to freeze in place and show no reaction, I wasn't even truly understanding your words. Yet, the mana you released created this covenant that tied your fate to me.

As my body absorbed the immense amount of mana and engraved itself to my heart, I thought about your words. I think of the mindless promise you threw because of your childhood naivety.

'Whatever I want?'

If you would know what I want the most you wouldn't make such an impulsive decision. No matter, the covenant is made and until the time when you will be ready to fulfill the end of this little promise of yours, I will be in the shadow as your blade.

-back to present-

"A mindless covenant you created fifteen years ago back when you were a child. The first moments when I met you forbthe first time, I had an inkling that you are no ordinary human. The covenant only proved my guess and so I followed you and your companions back here in the city using the connection of the covenant to track you down."

Caspian eyed me up and down, his thoughts practically plastered on his face. I'm sure he is surprised by the information he had just absorbed. "So that's what you meant by the thing about a covenant."

I stayed silent, waiting for anymore reaction coming from you. After all, I am quite sure that being stalked for more than a decade will creep out anyone and even more so when the one following you has intentions with you.

He sighs and with a determined look he said. "Then tell me, what do you wah-?"

Without hesitation and without waiting for him to finish I told my answer. "Kill me."

"Ehh!"