The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

Chapter 145 Crest of Obedience

"what?!" aryanne panicked.

aeric glanced at her direction with one brow perked up.

"she was the one who you made the deal with," delva pointed out. "even though melina lost."

aeric placed a finger on his chin. "hmm. you do make a valid point."

aryanne looked at the two of them, more so at delva, eyes blaring. "who the hell is this bitch?"

"whoa!" aeric outstretched a palm. "mind your language. that's my very good friend you're talking to."

aryanne snorted hatefully. "well, tell your very good friend that melina played the beast battle so that she would be the one to take the crest in case she lost. and she did."

delva frowned. "wait. you made your sister fight your battle for you. and if she lost, she faced the consequences, but if she won, you reaped the benefits."

aryanne pulled her head back, seeing how it sounded when laid out like that. "pretty... much," she mumbled.

delva appeared disgusted. "little less wonder why no one likes moonlighters."

aeric sighed. "i don't care. any of these girls is good enough for me." he looked at dreadhound, seeing that only the beast had brought both girls.

"drex still isn't fully healed?" he asked melina, who folded her face and looked away.

aeric scoffed. "whatever. let's move."

they rode the streets of the realm core, past basic towns and popular player purchase markets. soon enough, they arrived at the part of the core where more divine things were sold and activities were conducted.

aryanne kept looking at aeric and her sister through the ride. then she finally asked. "have you even met this divine artist? you don't know, he might the botch the job."

aeric glanced at her, his expression serious. "stop bringing up lame excuses to escape this, aryanne. i was almost about to even commend you for actually showing up. but who knows, you might still have something up your sleeve."

aryanne frowned and stayed quiet.

after a few shops, they arrived at the center of a narrow cobblestone street tucked away from the city's main hustle.

the shop was a peculiar building, leaning slightly to the right, as if it had grown tired of standing straight. the door was painted a bright azure, with swirling gold patterns appearing to move deceptively when glanced at from the corner of the eye. above the door hung a sign in gilded script:

"art beyond mortal grasp – crests, glyphs, and etchings."

aeric raised an eyebrow. "subtle."

he dismounted sylver and approached the door, gesturing for the others to follow.

knock! knock.

aeric stepped back, waiting. the door however swung open on its own accord, revealing an interior filled with glowing runes, a table, chairs and and shelves stacked with magical tools.

from behind a tall counter, a wiry man with a shock of unruly white hair and half-moon glasses perched on his nose popped up. his eyes were mismatched — one a deep violet, the other a bright gold. he wore a long coat spattered with ink stains and an infectious grin.

"ah, customers! visitors?! welcome, welcome!" the man said, spreading his arms wide. "i am vennel, a divine artist. purveyor of precision, maestro of magic, creator of crests most magnificent!"

aeric exchanged a look with delva, who raised a skeptical brow. "he's... cheerful," he muttered.

vennel stepped back, singing a small chant as his fingers danced on top of the crest.

aeric's divine core glowed red, and melina's glowed silver.

then vennel clapped his hands. "done! the bond is complete."

aeric's interface appeared before his eyes;

[crest bond identified]

[crest bond successful]

[bond: melina of moonlight]

[master: aeric of starlight]

a similar display appeared for melina, letting her know that for one day, aeric of starlight was to be her master.

for aeric though, he saw a list of melina's powers appear, each one detailed and categorized for him. he smirked, his gaze flicking toward her.

melina stood slowly, rubbing her arm. aryanne rushed to her side. "are you okay?"

melina nodded, though her expression was uneasy. "i think so."

aeric stepped forward and both sisters looked at him. "why don't we test it? melina?"

the girl looked up at him. "mhm?"

"kneel," aeric commanded.

melina's eyes widened. "what? why would i do that? i won't—" her words were cut off by a sharp cry as the crest burned, forcing her to her knees.

"aeric!" aryanne shouted, stepping protectively in front of her sister. "what the hell are you doing?"

aeric waved a hand dismissively. "calm down. calm down. it's just a test."

aryanne turned to her sister, seeing her recuperating from that sharp pain. "just a test? that hurt her."

aeric scoffed. "please. she hurt herself. the crest only burns when she disobeys. it doesn't just burn for no reason. she should've knelt."

aryanne stepped closer to him, glaring into his eyes. "make her stand!

he looked at her for a moment, nothing at all in his eyes. "whatever," he said. then his eyes dropped to melina. "stand."

holding her chest with both arms, melina rose slowly, almost crying as aryanne helped her get up.

aeric handed the divine artist a pouch of coins then turned to the door. "the crest works fine," he said, stopping but not looking back. "stau close behind me, melina. i don't want to look for you when i need you."

then he stepped out of the shop.

delva looked at the two girls with only a sliver of pity before leaving as well. while the divine artist watched with a horrified expression on his face.

he looked at melina and aryanne and asked. "whatever did you guys do to him to make him hate you so much?"