The Journey of life… is like an elephant riding a ball on a thin thread… whatever that means…
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Once, I was the Principality known as Ravenswood—a massive, dark Fenrir whose howls shook the heavens and whose steps made the earth tremble.
Now? Chained up like a stray mutt. And by a human, no less.
Well, to be fair, he was one of the Seven Mortal Powers, so maybe I shouldn't beat myself up too much about it.
Still, after thirty years of captivity, I haven't gotten used to these chains.
And just when I was in heat, too.
Cursed humans!
BRRRRRRR!
Hm?
An explosion?
The chains binding me crackled as I turned my massive head upward.
I was kept in the deepest, darkest part of my captor's sprawling mansion. If this place collapsed, it wouldn't be funny for me. Not at all.
BANG!!
The door shot open.
Speak of the devil.
My captor—a blonde, middle-aged man with an annoyingly calm demeanor—burst into my cell.
"You, I need your help!"
He looked up at me, a towering Fenrir at least ten times his size, and had the audacity to spout nonsense.
How shameless.
"Did I hear you correctly, human?" I growled, my crimson eyes locking onto his.
And yes, I could talk. I was a Fenrir, not some common wolf.
"Yes, you did," he replied, stepping closer. "Some rats have come to attack me. I underestimated them, and now I'm overwhelmed by their numbers."
"How does that concern me?" I spat, my voice dripping with disdain. "Are you seriously asking me, the one you defeated—and I'll never forgive you for that, by the way—to save you now?"
"Huh? Of course not! Don't be silly," he said, giggling like a child.
"Then what is it, damn human?!" I roared, my voice shaking the walls of the cell.
His expression turned grave in an instant. "I want you to take my daughter and flee this place immediately. I can't predict the extent of the damage, so she needs to leave."
"I refuse."
The human laughed softly, then said, "Maybe I didn't phrase it right."
He cleared his throat and locked his piercing blue eyes on mine. "My daughter, Alicia, needs to be out of here as soon as possible. In fact, out of Gihon entirely. This is important to me, so…" He made a pitiful face. "Will you aid this helpless old man?"
First of all, you're not that old!
And second…
"Are you making fun of me, human?" I snarled, my deep voice rising with murderous intent.
"Huh? How strange..." The man looked genuinely baffled. "I thought he was a fool."
Hold up!!
He sighed, rubbing his temples before fixing me with a firm gaze. "Okay, okay. What do you want in return?"
"You tyrant! I don't want anything from you!" I barked, my chains rattling with the force of my outrage. "If anything, let this entire building collapse on us and wipe us out! I'd prefer that over working for you!"
"Freedom." He exhaled the word like a secret. "Don't you want to be free?"
Tsk. Of course I do.
It wasn't just these chains keeping me here. A strange spell bound me as well, something beyond my understanding.
If not for that, I'd have torn this place apart and walked out thirty years ago.
"Hmph! Foolish human." I scoffed, narrowing my eyes. "Fine. I'll lend you my ear. What do you want from me?"
"What do I want from you? Ugh, he's an idiot after all." The human shook his head in frustration.
"Arghhh! What is it with you?! Why am I being abused?!" I roared, my patience snapping.
"No, I mean—" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I just told you to escape with my daughter, and now you're asking again? Wait, have you forgotten who's chained up underground? Huh? I'm even offering you freedom, and you're still acting arrogant?! Damn dog!"
"..."
I had no words.
No one had ever scolded me before. I was the best at everything I did.
The strongest.
The most feared.
Ahhh.
Truly. How the mighty have fallen.
But if my freedom was at stake, then...
"I'm sorry for my outburst." I muttered begrudgingly. "If you don't make the deal with me, then who else will take your daughter away?"
Bond seemed to relax, exhaling slowly. "I... I'm also sorry. I just—ugh, it's been a rough day, okay? Being one of the Seven Mortal Powers is stressful. Oh, right—forgot to introduce myself. Name's Bond. Bond Blonde."
...After thirty years, huh?
"My name is Ravenswo—"
"Yeah, yeah, I know who you are. Now let's hurry and get my daughter out before things get messy!"
Tch. I was a fool to think we were bonding.
Before I could respond, another BOOOOM! rocked the entire structure.
Dust rained from the ceiling, and the stone beneath us groaned ominously.
"Alright, so we'll be forming a Pact now."
"Pact? What kind of Pact?"
"A Master-Servant Pact, of course." He said it so casually—as if it was the most reasonable thing in the world.
"Why in the four heavenly pieces should I become your servant?" I didn't shout, but the ground definitely quivered beneath my voice.
"Well, to make sure you don't betray me." His expression softened. "You know… Alicia is my everything. I... I love her more than my own life. But it seems we'll have to part ways…"
His voice cracked slightly, and for the first time, I saw genuine grief in his eyes.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
Hmph. So he even had a heart.
Well… if it meant my freedom, I could drop his daughter off at some orphanage or… s-something.
"Fine," I declared. "I'll do the Pact with you, but it's not because I want to help you or anything!!"
Bond's eyes lit up. "I don't know how to thank you, uhm... uh…"
"It's Ravenswood."
"Ah, right. I knew that. Anyway, let's begin."
He wasted no time.
A magic circle formed before us.
Chanting the incantation, he traced intricate symbols in the air, the energy of the heavens bending to his will.
With it, the Heavenly Piece would acknowledge our Pact, binding us in spirit and soul.
It was unheard of—what happened to those who broke a Pact. But everyone knew it never ended well.
That's why it was crucial to check and review contract terms before signing anyth—
"All done!"
...Hm? Already?!
That's a Mortal Power for you.
Normally, this kind of spell would take five to ten minutes to complete, but he finished in just a minute.
"Alright, follow me!" Bond barked, leading me out of the dungeon.
Ah, sweet freedom. I could already taste it—so sweet!!!
Thirty years had never felt so...
Wait.
Something was wrong.
"Uhm, Mister Bond?"
"It's Lord Bond to you." He corrected me without breaking stride as we sprinted through an absurdly massive hallway—seriously, it was big enough to fit a twenty-foot-tall wolf.
"How… long will this Pact hold?"
Bond glanced at me, deadpan. "Hm? I don't know. I set it for 'forever' or something. But don't worry; Alicia is a good girl. You won't be—"
"You traitor!!" I shrieked, lunging at him, ready to bite his head off.