When the party had happened, we were all startled by what happened. Aiden suddenly collapsed covered in wounds as this fullblood with crystalline legs appeared before the knight who had paused at the new figure.
"Prrrrrincess, I believe you have received your pound of flesh, so why do you feel that these young adventurrrrrrerrrrrs must die?"
He had said while sitting down as if this was a casual discussion and not something that held our lives in balance. We had all dove to Aiden. Thalia, being the most knowledgeable about Aiden's kit, grabbed some healing potions and applied them, but their effectiveness seemed to be reduced and miniscule in comparison to the blood around him.
"I prefer not to have loose ends on matters I'm involved in, so who are you to stop me?"
The princess had asked, crossing her arms.
"I am Victorrrrrrr, a member of team 47 on the pandorrrrrra project. We are a brrrrrranch of the rrrrrred man's trrrrrrrroupe."
Everyone shifted to different degrees, even the princess seemed startled. It was well known who Red was, but there had always been rumors that Red had an organization that formed even though he didn't actually found them. Regardless, the Red Man's Troupe are known for following Red's orders, and in return receiving his protection.
The princess had grimaced before turning and leaving with her guard. However for the most part we had our hands full trying to keep Aiden alive.
"Crap, the potions not working as well, why isn't it working well!"
Liora had yelled as she tried to apply pressure to a large wound at Aiden's shoulder. Victor had walked over and placed a paw on Aiden's forehead as the potions effectiveness increase drastically as the crystals that formed his back legs seemed to drain of their glow slightly.
"Yourrrrrrr frrrriend is sufferrrrrring from mana exhaustion. He lacks the mana in his body to assist the potion with the healing, so this should help."
After healing Aiden for the most part we had been inside Aiden's room making sure we were there when he woke up. In that entire time, Aiden had never been continuous when Victor appeared, so the fact that he was aware of their presence and seemed worried, had me rather on edge.
"I thought you were just our bailout, what's this about getting us up to snuff?"
Aiden asked as he shifted in his wheelchair uncomfortably. I glanced at Aiden confused about what he meant by bailout before I turned back to Victor
"Will you ask forrrrr a bailout everrrrrry time trrrrrrouble comes yourrrrr way? I am simply prrrrreventing a rrrrrreturn trrrrrip."
Victor said as he started to lick the back of his paw and run it down his face. Aiden squinted at Victor as if he was untrusting of him as he reached into his bag before producing a strange crystalline rock, it was a deep blue in color with a pulsing red in the middle as Victor looked to Aiden.
"Since yourrrrrr body will need anotherrrrrr 2 days to fully rrrrrecoverrrrrr, I have brrrrrrought some materrrrials so you can have something to do while you rrrrrest. As forrrrr Jax, I will perrrrrrrsonally teach him a rrrrrather fun s-"
I cut him off with a raised paw.
"Sorry, I refuse."
I said shaking my head matter of factly. This seemed to catch both of them off guard as I continued to look forward without a change in expression.
"Uh, Jax, he is offering you something rather precious that can only be helpful."
Aiden said astonished, however I continued to look at Victor as I said.
"I was always told that power without foundation is flimsy, and no gifted strength holds foundation. So I will work for every bit of might I get."
Victor and Aiden looked at me with joint looks of confusion as internally I had to wrestle down the urge to beg to be trained by someone who is almost 3 times my level. That and using my brother's old saying as an excuse didn't help my mood, but if what I had found was correct then it was the right choice.
Victor and Aiden shrugged but gave me worried looks as Victor let us go and I wheeled Aiden back up to his room and helped him get situated. He tried to argue that he should start getting to work, but I refused and said he could tomorrow. After getting him situated I quickly made my way back to my room to begin. Glancing over the book I had found I quickly read the contents again.
The Vows of sacrifice
A ritual said to have been conceived and used nobility in a bygone age during marriage where marriage would both be a binding contract between two partners, and a method for both to grow in strength. These vows come in 3 forms, with each granting more power, but also more dire consequences based on the tier of vow used. When preforming this ritual the following ingredients are required
A quiet, sacred location (such as a moonlit glade, mountain peak, or still cave)
Three smooth stones, each carved with the same sigil
A medium of blood or essence to seal the vow (may be drawn from the self)
Full understanding of the consequences
Absolute sincerity
These vows are divided into 3 categories. The Vow of the Heart, the Vow of the Body, and the Vow of the Soul. These vows are formed in exchange for losing something in return, as such each vow is said to form a flaw.
Do be warned, there are some people who are born into the world with one, two, or even all three vows already formed at birth. Those said to hold these innate vows are known as fateless.
Each vow must be made with full understanding of the consequences, as such it is recommended to repeat the following when applying each of the vows
Vow of Heart
"Let my words bind not just my voice, but my spirit's longing. I offer this vow knowing that the heart is fragile, that truth is heavy, and that emotion is both blade and balm. May love guide me. May failure scar me. I vow — and in doing so, I make space for flaw. May what I feel never become what I forget."
Vow of Body
"Let my flesh carry the weight of my will. I offer this vow knowing that motion without meaning is hollow, that strength without honor is corruption. May my limbs be swift, my stance be firm, and my weakness be earned should I stray. I vow — and in doing so, I become both weapon and wound. May what I endure shape who I become."
Vow of Soul
"Let my essence be carved by conviction. I offer this vow knowing that the soul is eternal, that to bind it is to dance with consequence. May my truth burn brighter than fear, and may oblivion find me if I forsake it. I vow — and in doing so, I give myself to the flame of purpose. May what I become never forget what I was."
As I reread the book I had found I thought back to how I had found the book. After the party the kitchen staff even brought me alcohol and I was finally allowed to get drunk after weeks of sobriety.
I had blacked out and woken up inside a strange vault full of fancy weapons and gold with this book in my hand. After sneaking out despite the massive hangover I realized what I had actually found. No Idea where I got it, and for all I know I stole a treasure from the personal Vault of the Duke, but that didn't matter as I had plans of the vows I wanted to make. I even had a location planned out to perform this strange ritual. So while Selene, Thalia, and Liora returned, seemingly oddly energized, and Aiden recovered in bed, I spent the afternoon in my room carving the small stones.