In The Grand Library, there are no ordinary days for the librarians. Where most visitors found fascinating books, few of them found secret untold, but then Dryad found another life.
The cat's eyes and Dryad's met, almost like a long lost friend.
Brilliant smirked and whispered to her, "I know how much you love cats, Dryad. But let me tell you, that one is a demon. Really. You have to stop staring at that cat before you got a heart attack and start calling how cute the demon is," Brilliant thought.
Haze looked at the demon cat with curiosity.
"Is it trying to lure us somewhere?"
"lure you?" the cat laughed. It spinned its head 270° like an owl. "Three souls from the human realm! You are all interesting! It's been centuries that no one has been wandering here. But.. it's boring to see you all, stupid people, just circling around. You find it difficult to look for the right path. Hm? So, I want to help."
Dryad and Haze were surprised. "You .. You're talking?!" They exclaimed almost together.
But only Brilliant who chuckled sourly and said, "See? I told you it's a demon."
Brilliant then turned to the cat and replied, "you say you are willing to help us? I don't trust you. There's no free lunch in this world. What do you expect us to give you in return, cat?"
Brilliant guessed it right. The cat chuckled and squinted its eyes.
"You are sharp! I like you already! I guess we can be friends."
Brilliant smirked, "huh? I'm not sure befriending a demon will do us any good," Brilliant said skeptically.
Haze glanced at Brilliant and then back to the cat. He was not sure if they could trust the cat but he knew that they needed help right now. Haze then said,
"Well... I don't know what you want from us, but we are really grateful for your offer. If you help us get out of here alive and safe, I am willing to give you anything!" he said with confidence.
Brilliant's eyes widened for a second before he slapped Haze's shoulder.
"Ow! What was that for?" Haze frowned.
"Why do you say that?" Brilliant whispered to him, clearly disapproving of what Haze had just proposed.
Brilliant sighed and whispered, "you have to be specific in making deals! "give you anything" is a stupid term. What if he asks for your soul?" Brilliant lowered his voice even further and continued, "do you understand how risky this would be?"
"Oops..." Haze looked at him nervously and gulped as he realized his mistake. He whispered back. "You have a point. Well, do you have any better option?"
The cat laughed. Amused by the banter between Brilliant and Haze. The cat licked his paw and rubbed his face, then said, "Now listen closely. First, my name is Dervin," the cat introduced himself.
"Next, I am going to play fair. I won't demand something that is only beneficial for one side, yet detrimental for the other party."
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"Okay. So... what's the deal?" Brilliant asked. "Name your price."
"I want one of you... to be my slave," Dervin grinned.
"Wh..." Dryad wanted to protest but Brilliant held her hand to shush her.
Brilliant stared at Dervin for a moment as if contemplating the offer. The cat patiently waited for Brilliant's reply. Finally Brilliant replied, "for how long?"
"Forever," Dervin replied.
Brilliant was surprised but composed his expression quickly. "Forever, is quite a price for humans! Just find the right door to another room, and we have to serve you for our entire lives? That is unfair. I object." He shook his head then added, "But..."
Dervin tilted his head 180°. Curious of what Brilliant wanted to say next. "But?" Dervin repeated. Dervin became curious and impatient. But he was also excited! Not every day there's a human who dared to negotiate with him!
"What is it? Tell me!"
"Forever is fine IF we demand you for two things. That is just a reasonable price."
Dervin tilted his head even more this time and asked, "two things?"
"Yes," Brilliant stated firmly. "First, help us to find someone. Second, help us ALL to get out not only from this damned library, but from Another World. Safely. Without being harmed by any demons." Brilliant added, "that would be a fair price for being a slave forever."
Dervin furrowed, "hm..."
"Right?" Brilliant lifted his eyebrows. He stared at the cat's eyes sharply as if demanding Dervin to accept his request.
"Right." Dervin pondered.
"So!" Brilliant clapped his hands once, "let us repeat our deal, shall we? You help us find someone and get us ALL out of Another World safely, unharmed by any demons, then... you can have one of us as your slave in the human realm for-e-ver. How?"
Brilliant smiled. One thing Dervin failed to realize was, Brilliant stated the term ; 'in the human realm', which means, if Dervin wants a slave, he must tag along with them to the human world. Dervin in the human world would be no different from an ordinary pet!
Besides, being a 'slave' for a cat wasn't that hard! All cats in the real world consider humans as their slaves, but cats would always be pets, while humans always be their master.
Furthermore, the terms 'unharmed by any demons' means that Dervin could not harm them in any way as well, because Dervin was also a demon himself.
Brilliant's simple words were confusing for Dervin's small brain! But he did it on purpose. He wanted to confuse Dervin.
Dervin furrowed and he pouted. But after a while, the cat's eyes dilated. His pupils contracted into small slits and his grin widened. With gleaming teeth, he said, "Deal it is! I'll accept your terms."
"Deal." Brilliant smirked.
Dervin, the demon cat, licked his lips in excitement. "Perfect!"
"What's the consequences?" Brilliant asked again.
"Anyone who betray the agreement will turn into dust!" Dervin answered firmly. "Allright. Here's the contract paper. Now, you, silver-haired boy, come and sign in here with your blood!" A magic paper appeared below the paws while he was talking.
"Blood, eh? Such a strong contract we have here," Brilliant smirked, nevertheless he walked to the cat without fear.
"Brilliant, wait!" Dryad grabbed his arm, feared of what could happen after this.
He turned around and smiled, gently tapped her hands as if saying that everything would be just fine.
