chapter 36.1

The pledge, and the black color. The illusion, and the determination.

Captain, Im sorry.

I place my trembling hand on his cold cheek.

For what Im trying to do now, I wont ask you to forgive me. I mean, I can only think of this method.

I always avoided thinking about it. About if perhaps, the Captain could become my partner. When I asked about it to the person himself I received nothing more than an ambiguous reply. I was happy that he was the only one to say he didnt have expectations of me as the Sacred Beast Earth Dragon. So, I was always thinking, that there was no way Id ever form a contract or the like.

However those thoughts were my obstinacy.

But, nows not the time to be crawling over such a stupid pride.

I bite down on my own wrist with resolution. I didnt tear the blood vessel properly so I bite strongly again and now blood runs down like it should. Its very painful. It hurts, but when compared to the Captains wound then this is nothing. As I take into my mouth the blood that overflowed, it tastes of actual iron to me, unlike human blood.

Filling my mouth with it, I hug the Captains head. I gently brush his bangs and stroke his cheek. His body temperature has become so cold I feel dread, and makes me want to cry.

In fact, I may be crying.

Im sorry.

Softly, I approach his face.

From up close his pale face devoid of any blood, just like a dolls, has its eyelids closed, and they dont move; they dont even make any slight movement. Becoming scared I end up hesitating but, never mind, I neatly overlap our lips. I poured out the blood that was within my mouth. It ends up intermingling with the blood that is pouring from his mouth. But its fine. Because there is meaning in our bloods getting mixed together like this.

Detaching my lips, this time I pressed my arm which was dripping blood to the open hole in his abdomen. In short, this blood is the medium. Its important that a part of me, whatever its form, enters his body and intermingles with him. (1)

And lastly, its my will. (2) I opened my mouth, feeling it heavy.

The Covenant of blood

My voice was so chafed; even I thought I sounded miserable.

Just with this, with such a cheap-looking line which Lord Cleric taught me, will it really be established? Driven by anxiety and feeling disheartened, I just continued to pray. Please.

After a while, a watery geometric pattern emerges s.h.i.+ning from his forehead towards his left cheek. Lord Cleric said this is what is called the proof of the contract, thus as the Earth Dragons body changes color, in the same manner that proof will appear in some part of the humans body. Its black, and looks like a tattoo, and together with it a hazy pale light envelops the Captains body. Though theres no wind, his hair and clothes are swaying. And conspicuously the wound in his abdomen emits light, and by the time it disperses the wound had healed as if there was never a wound from the beginning.

Only, his complexion was still bad, probably from losing large amounts of blood.

This, what kind of miracle is it.

Since it worked out excessively well, laughter builds up in me. Im surely laughing with a cramped up face.

The contractors body can be reconstructed once. So any illness or injury can be healed.

Ah, as I thought Lord Cleric knew of this so he taught me the procedures of the contract. If I can return then Ill absolutely hit him. It doesnt matter if he has a pretty face. Ill punch him with my fists to my hearts content.

When the pale light that had wrapped him up disperses, his eyelids open and the eyes of my beloved black color reflect my figure. And his lips wet with blood form my name.

Im sorry.

Im sorry. Im sorry. Im sorry. Im sorry for doing something selfish. But the present me, couldnt think of another method to save him other than this.

When I had apologized many times, he stretched his arms towards me.

Dont, cry

He gently wiped the tears that came to my eyes.

At that instant, I noticed for the first time that I was crying. My sight was a little distorted, and the tears that fell every time I blinked fell on his cheek. When my face is touched by his hands, not cold, but containing warmth, happiness wells up in me, and from the bottom of my heart something gentle and warm and comes bubbling up.

Im so happy at the fact that hes alive. Im happy, so happy, sobs are about to escape from my mouth.

But I cant stay here crying.

I wipe the tears roughly with my sleeve.

I will accept any curses or punches you throw my way. (3)

Since I did something selfish, I wont make any excuses or pretexts, nor will I run away.

But, please wait a little bit. Theres something I must do.

I flashed a gentle grin towards him who looked like he wanted to say something, and stood up.

My body, is very hot.

As the blood pa.s.ses through my blood vessels as if it was boiling, my whole body becomes hot, I can tell that my cells are changing. My body is surrounded by light, and from a humans figure I become a Dragon. But even though Im confused at the strange sensation, at this something that surges forward from the depths of my chest, my heart is at ease.

It was the first time, I held this sensation.

By the time the lights disappeared and my field of vision cleared up, I noticed that my appearance was a little bit different.

My arms, my legs, my torso, my wings that flutter at the edge of my vision, as well as my tail.

Just slightly different.

Somethings different.

That is.

Its magnificent.

It is black.

It was my beloved black.

Each of my scales emits a glitter when reflecting the light of the sun.

Its not the dull color of darkness nor an ink black, its a jet-black color filled with light, up to the point of being divine.

The color which I couldnt reach with my hands is dwelling in my body. My chest beats fast because of the elation and nostalgia.

Vito, come back without fail.

As he was making a worried face I stare fixedly at his pupils.

And spreading my jet-black wings, I flew away.