The question lingered in the air, quiet and sincere.
Cassy: "Everyone usually waits to form a contract with something strong. A powerful beast with real abilities… especially someone like you."
She hesitated, then added more seriously, her voice lowering.
Cassy: "You're… well, you're not just anyone. You're royalty. Shouldn't your familiars reflect that?"
The words hung in the air, heavy.
Cassy: "Everyone out there already mocks you. They call you useless. Powerless. A princess in name only… So if your familiars end up being two of the weakest-ranked beasts, then they'll just laugh harder. They'll say it proves everything they've been saying."
Her voice trailed off, but the weight of her concern was clear in her eyes.
The other girls fell silent again, the excitement dimming slightly as the reality of Cassy's point settled in.
It was true.
Most powerful mages or nobles waited for years before choosing their first familiar—hoping to meet a rare, high-ranked beast worthy of a long-term partnership. After all, a familiar bond was lifelong, and a weak familiar could limit one's potential.
But Evelyn simply blinked once.
Then slowly rose to her feet, the white serpent still nestled calmly at her side.
She was composed.
Unbothered.
Evelyn: "They've already been saying it for years."
She glanced at Cassy, then at the others—her voice cool, but not cold.
Evelyn: "Let them laugh if they want. A title isn't what makes you strong. And strength isn't just about rank or appearance."
Her voice was soft—yet unwavering.
Evelyn: "Sometimes, a partner chooses you—not the other way around. And in that moment… turning your back on it just because it's not strong enough—"
She paused, her tone dropping into a quiet, steel-edged whisper,
"—feels like the weakest thing you could possibly do."
Evelyn extended her hand, and Ella handed her a small blade. With practiced ease, she drew it across her left palm, a thin line of crimson welled up.
The serpent watched her.
Calm.
Still.
But as she lowered her hand toward it, the creature suddenly turned its head away—refusing.
Evelyn blinked, the slightest crease forming between her brows.
She paused.
Evelyn (thinking): Didn't it want to form a contract? Why turn away now?
The others, too, were confused.
Melinda: "Huh? Why won't it take her blood?"
Lora: "Did it change its mind?"
Ella: "Or… was that not what it wanted in the first place?"
Then, Cassy's eyes widened slightly—something dawning on her.
Cassy: "Wait… could it be…?"
Everyone turned toward her.
Cassy: "Does it actually want… to form a soul contract with Her Highness?"
A stunned silence followed.
They all looked at each other, stunned into silence. The air grew still, thick with the weight of realization.
Lily leaned in slightly, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with disbelief.
Lily: "A soul contract…? But beasts are terrified of that!"
Lora: "Even in the Familiar Realm, most magical beasts avoid it. It ties them forever…"
Claire: "It's not. just loyalty. It's submission. Sharing a soul. Means giving up freedom."
Melinda: "That's rare. Almost impossible."
Evelyn's expression turned more serious.
She studied the snake for a long moment—its violet eyes glowing faintly, still locked with hers.
Then, calmly, she asked,
Evelyn: "Is that it? You don't want a blood contract… You want a soul contract instead?"
The serpent, as if understanding every word, immediately lifted its head and nodded—once, twice—frantically.
There was no hesitation.
No fear.
Evelyn remained quiet for a long time, staring at the tiny creature.
[In this world, familiar contracts are divided into two types: Blood Contract and Soul Contract.
1. Blood Contract: Formed through blood and mana, this creates a physical, life-based bond. The familiar obeys the contractor but retains its independence. If the contractor dies, the bond dissolves and the familiar is freed, allowing it to form a new contract with someone else. While this type of contract can be severed, doing so brings intense pain and a temporary loss of power. In rare cases, it may even result in death, which is why few dare to break it once formed.
2. Soul Contract: Formed through soul essence, this bond connects the contractor and familiar on a deep spiritual level, allowing shared thoughts, emotions, and power. If one party dies, the other suffers severe backlash or may die as well. Soul Contracts are rare and extremely powerful, usually formed within the Familiar Realm by entering it through mana and soul consciousness. Because of the high risk and binding nature, most beasts refuse to enter such a contract, seeing it as unfair.]
Evelyn was quite calm. She slowly said to the snake,
Evelyn: "Think carefully. Once this is done… there's no going back. You'll be bound to me for life. If I die—so will you."
The snake didn't flinch.
It stared right back.
And nodded again, firm and unwavering.
A long breath escaped Evelyn's lips.
Evelyn handed the blade back to Ella, her palm still stained with blood, and lowered her gaze to the little creature before her—as if truly seeing it for the first time.
Evelyn (quietly): "Why do I keep running into stubborn ones…"
Then, almost reluctantly, she reached out with her uninjured right hand, her fingertips brushing against the center of the serpent's forehead as she closed her eyes.
A faint warmth pulsed beneath her skin, spreading from the point of contact like gentle ripples across still water. The serpent's eyes glimmered softly, revealing a radiant core of soul essence just above its brow—a glowing wisp of light, fragile yet pure.
The air around them shimmered.
A pale silver light rose between them—soft and pulsing. Magic spiraled gently, weaving threads of silver and violet between Evelyn's fingers and the serpent's scaled body. The pressure was different this time—not violent, but deep and resonant, as if awakening something deep within.
To form a soul contract, both hearts must willingly open to one another, forging a bond deeper than blood. She felt the creature's essence reach out, seeking harmony with her own. Slowly, she relaxed, focusing her mind to welcome it, her palm pressing lightly against the faint glow.
A surge of energy blossomed between them, and an ethereal rune shimmered briefly in the air, enveloping them in a cocoon of translucent light. The bonding mark—a delicate, pulsating symbol —appeared on both her palm and the serpent's forehead.
The girls watched in awe, not daring to speak.
As the final pulse faded, a deep connection settled within Evelyn's chest, a promise that neither time nor fate could sever. Their souls were intertwined — a bond of trust, strength, and eternal companionship.