Chapter 47: Setting Terms And Conditions (2)
Akasha leaned back in his chair, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his blood-stained lips as his gaze swept around the table.
"Well," he said casually, "Headmaster, I trust you’re not thinking of going back on your word."
Hearing his calm tone, the room went still.
Harlan’s sharp eyes locked onto Akasha, studying him with quiet intensity.
For a brief moment, he appeared to simply stare, yet in that instant, he was attempting something only higher-dimensional beings could achieve.
He was trying to read Akasha’s thoughts, intentions, and very existence as though they were laid out before him like the pages of a book.
In the world of Pantheos, those with higher rank naturally ascended in dimensional status, rendering any being beneath them almost incapable of hiding anything, unless an artifact was in play.
But as he tried to delve deeper into the young man before him, he found... nothing.
Nothing but a.... void.
It was as if Akasha possessed neither thought nor trace of history, as though he had never truly existed at all.
’Lord Dream... just what are you?’ Harlan wondered, his face calm despite the unease creeping into his chest.
He had always known Akasha was dangerous, but he hadn’t realized just how much of an enigma he truly was.
Even while standing on the twelfth dimensional level, he couldn’t glean a single thing from a tenth dimensional being.
Which should have been completely impossible.
Marcus Kane looked like he was about to speak again, but Harlan raised a hand without breaking eye contact with Akasha.
"Sit down, Marcus."
The wolf-eared Peak Master gritted his teeth but reluctantly lowered himself back into his seat. All eyes in the room turned to Harlan, waiting for his decision.
Harlan exhaled slowly through his nose, then gave a single, firm nod.
"I will agree on behalf of the Academy of Veils to any demands you have for us."
A slow smile spread across Akasha’s face.
[You have created a new artifact.]
[Dreamer’s Oath (God): A black cloth inscribed with shifting, dream essence. Once blood is offered and the terms are spoken aloud, the Dreamer’s Oath binds both parties into an unbreakable pact.
The oath is enforced directly through the Dream Land itself.
Should either party attempt to break the agreement — whether through action, deception, or willful neglect — the Dream Land will manifest consequences proportional to the severity of the betrayal.
These consequences can range from the erosion of one’s power, the stripping of memories, the severing of connections, or in extreme cases, the complete unraveling of the oath-breaker’s existence.
The Dreamer’s Oath cannot be forged, altered, or escaped once sealed.]
---
He reached out to the side just as Yume reappeared beside him in a soft shimmer of purple light, stepping out of the Dream Land.
In her hands was a black cloth covered in dark, shifting words — the Dreamer’s Oath.
The moment she rematerialized, several of the Peak Masters visibly stiffened.
When Akasha removed his Dreamer’s mask, not only did he become perceivable, but so did Yume.
This in itself wasn’t unusual, as they assumed she was just another member of his faction.
But seeing her vanish and return in the blink of an eye without a trace of power was something else entirely.
In that instant, they all began to study her, trying to sense her level of strength... yet, once again, they found nothing at all.
Yume’s rank was simply not something that could be read through an aura.
Liliana’s crimson eyes narrowed as she stared at the girl.
Her voice came out cold and sharp.
"...And just who is she?"
Akasha didn’t even glance in Liliana’s direction.
He casually took the black cloth from Yume’s hands, his thoughts already racing.
’So, they can see Yume... then I’ve got to figure out how to keep her safe.’
Up until now, he hadn’t been sure anyone else could see her—after all, she wasn’t part of any race or even truly tangible.
But now that it was clear she could be seen, he wasn’t about to waste time. If he didn’t act...
’Who knows what might happen if Yume is sealed away from me or something...’ he thought, glancing back at Harlan.
Harlan’s gaze flicked between Akasha and Yume for a moment before he reached out and took the Dreamer’s Oath.
[Logic Affinity]
[Calculation Affinity]
Although Harlan had agreed to accept whatever conditions were set, he wasn’t about to do so without first understanding exactly what he was committing the Academy to.
With that thought driving him, he let both his affinities flare to their fullest as he began to read the terms aloud in a steady, clear voice.
The contract itself was simple in structure, yet it carried a weight that was impossible to ignore.
Basically, the deal was that the Academy of Veils would get the full support and protection of Dreamer’s Peak, a steady flow of resources, the perks of Akasha’s domain, and even one emergency summon to call on him personally in a crisis.
In return, the Academy would become his swords, carrying out any task Akasha gave them without hesitation.
The moment Harlan finished reading, the entire table fell into stunned silence.
Several Peak Masters exchanged bewildered glances.
Marcus was left momentarily at a loss for words.
The terms seemed almost suspiciously generous, unnervingly spotless, as if there had to be some concealed catch lurking just out of sight, a hidden blade waiting for the right moment to strike.
Harlan glanced up from the cloth, his face giving nothing away.
"You’re certain about this?" he asked. Akasha’s smile remained steady, unshaken.
Without saying another word, he motioned toward the black cloth.
"Go on... all you need to do is let a drop of blood fall onto it. Once that’s done, it’ll be set in place."
To Akasha, this was perfect. His supply of material might not be endless, but he had a plan to keep it steady. With his sights set on conquering the Orin Star System, he knew he’d need a strong force.
At the very least, a solid and convincing decoy force...
And while the Academy of Veils might be the weakest now, but that wouldn’t last.
Without hesitation, Harlan pricked his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the Dreamer’s Oath, followed by each of the Peak Masters.
HUMMMM!!!!!
The black words pulsed once with dark light before settling.
Akasha gave a small nod of satisfaction.
"Nice doing business with you~"
Thud!
He then reached into his inventory and pulled out another glowing white apple, casually tossing it onto the table where it rolled to a stop in front of Harlan.
"I’ll be in touch soon."
With that, he stood up, placed the mask back over his blood-stained face, and walked out of the hall without another word, Yume and Luna silently following behind him.
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