Chapter 38

Rika sat in Alric's office the next day, on the couch with Kael beside her, his thigh up against hers as he played with her hair, curling a strand around his finger.

"What did you want to talk about? I thought Ferran wanted to work on eradicating the plague?" Rika asked. Which I thought it might've cured with the barrier up.

"He does, and you will soon enough. Kael here wanted to show us how committed he is to our alliance and has agreed to put it in writing."

"Okay..." She glanced at Kael, and he smiled at her. "But why am I here?"

"Because this is the continuation of our deal on my presence in your life," Kael said. "And I want you to see it all firsthand." He motioned to the pile of papers on the table in front of them. "You're free to read it and suggest changes."

He's including me in this? Why? Rika looked at Alric. "I'm going to assume you've gone over everything, right?"

"Of course," he replied.

"Is there anything we need to worry about?"

"Most of it is good and quite favourable for Thornburg, but there's a caveat. He wants to join you in purifying the water alongside Ferran."

Rika shrugged. "At this point, I expected him to follow, anyway."

"Our little bunny has grown used to my presence. Good." He nodded.

"I should clarify that he only wants the three of you going, and no one else," Alric said.

"Wait, what? Why?" She swatted his hand away. "What are you planning?"

"Less competition around. Besides, between me and the barrier, you should be safe."

Competition? Right, he needs me to get home. That's all this is... "That's fine, I guess. Where will we be going? I thought I'd just have to cure people individually or something."

"That would take a lot of power from you and a long time. We're also not certain if you could get infected or not, despite your powers."

Rika nodded. "I see."

The barrier should stop the demons from interfering with the trip, and it'll be a carriage ride away. Our biggest worry is how much magic it'll take to purify the water, which will heal the people that drink it, of various diseases, but not all."

"So, even my power has limits?"

"From our findings, yes. The water won't stay purified for a long time like how the barrier stays up, though."

Rika nodded. "If only there were a way to transfer my power into something else, so you could harness it when you need to, then you wouldn't have to summon a random person from another world."

"Hmm. I wonder if it's possible."

"And then you wouldn't need half of this contract." Kael tapped on the papers. "Which we seem to have gotten away from." He held the papers up to Rika. "Please read through. I don't want you accusing me of anything."

Rika frowned. "Fine." She took the papers to read.

A peace pact where neither country will initiate hostilities or border raids. No demons will be sent into the other country. Penalties if it's violated.

A trade agreement for the exchange of goods. Mostly manufactured goods and weapons from Aeuro and agriculture products and herbs from Thornburg. Along with safe trade routes and ambassadors on both sides.

Rika's eyes widened. Joint magical research towards maintaining and expanding the barrier using alternate energy sources with a council of mages.

He even put the clauses for his joining in my expeditions... personally. If I say no, all of this is void? Way to push your way in.

"I assure you this is the better version of the bunch." Alric sighed.

"Do I want to know what was in the original?"

"Let's just say you were a major part of the original, but we negotiated changes easier than I expected."

"Oh?"

Alric glanced at Kael. "At first he tried to sneak in your being his, but he agreed he went too far, and you'd never agree. Then there was one tied to you being here, but he changed it himself, saying you may not stay, but we want lasting peace."

"He changed it on his own?"

"After a bit of talking, yes."

"It's alright, little bunny; I'm not trying to trick you into anything," Kael said.

"I'm still in the contract." Rika pointed at the 'Saint Clause'.

"Only on letting me join you, and you're here as our witness to the signing."

Is this his way of saying he's changed? Or maybe he's not as bad as he seems? Rika couldn't help but think about the mark on her neck. Maybe he's just feeling bad about pushing too far. "You know, it'd take time, but I bet Ferran could help you fix your soil, so you could produce more yourselves. I highly doubt Thornburg can provide enough food for everyone."

"It is a start, though. As you said, Ferran, the brainy mage he is, could probably help my country. I doubt he'd want to right away, considering our past, but maybe in the future. So, are we ready to sign?" Kael held up an ink quill to Alric.

"Since Rika is okay with you joining her, yes." Alric sighed and signed at the bottom of both contracts, one for Thornburg to keep, the other for Aeuro to keep.

Kael followed with his, and then he held it up to Rika, pointing at the witness line.

Let's hope that if Kael goes home and there's someone else in that body, that they adhere to this contract. Rika signed at the bottom. "If something happens to you, will the king still uphold this?"

Kael smirked. "I hope you're not implying my time is coming soon, but no, you don't have to worry about the king. He's not around anymore."

"What?" Rika and Alric both froze. Why wasn't this known? Was it Kael? Did he kill the king? His... character's father?

"Since when?" Alric asked.

"A few months ago. We haven't made it public," Kael answered. "Don't worry, I'll also send this off right away with my trusted spy." He rolled up his documents. "Aeuro will know about this pact in no time at all. I suspect before we even get back from our excursion."

A few months ago? I wonder how it lines up with his arrival.

"Which would effectively make you the king now, not a prince..." Alric mumbled, frowning. "I guess this pact is actually stronger for it."

Kael turned to Rika. "This is everything you wanted, right, little bunny?"

"Uh... yes."

Kael stepped towards her. "I've done well then, right?"

He's being weirdly tame right now... Why? Is he trying to get closer to me? Is this part of the real him? He suggested this version of Kael is 'part' of him, but maybe not his normal.

"Of course, it's best if both countries aren't worried about either being invaded or food security all the time."

Alric put his hand between them and glared at Kael. "Whatever you're doing, stop doing it here. Ferran will be here to pick you both up soon."

The door opened, and Wolfe walked in. "I'm against Kael going when she only has Ferran for protection."

"Too late; the deal has been signed, and I'm going with her. There are no demons, so you should stay here to keep His Princeliness safe."

"Even so, the terrain can be rough, and the weather is wild out there—"

"Wolfe, you're to stay here this time," Alric said. "She'll be fine."

"Tch."

"Don't worry, Wolfie dear; we can hang out when I get back," Kael said, smiling.

"Ugh..." Wolfe cursed under his breath and approached Rika. "Stick close to Ferran, and you'll be fine."

"I'm okay, Wolfe, but thanks for worrying about me." Rika smiled at him.

Wolfe cleared his throat and turned away. "May you both return soon and safely." He left.

"Oh! He said both. I knew he liked me." Kael laughed.

I guess he even got on Wolfe's good side somehow, though it'd be a stretch to say he liked him.

A screen popped up.

'Secret Quest Completed: Obtain a Peace Pact with Aeuro.'

'Reward: Hope Up, Power Up, All Suitors' Affection Up.'

Power up? That should come in handy in purifying the water. I wonder if that has to do with my way home. Imagine if all this time it was a matter of my own powers, not the system?

Another screen popped up.

'New Quest: Purify the Water to Rid Thornburg of the Plague.'

'Reward: All Suitors' Affection Up, Ferran's Affection Up, Reputation Up, Hope Up.'

'Failure: Hope Down, Reputation Down, Power Reduced.'

Better not fail this one... or I might not live through it.

Kael leaned in close while she was distracted. "Did you get another quest?"

"I don't think we should talk about those," Rika whispered.

"Okay, but I got one too. I wonder what yours was." Kael hummed as he backed away.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? He should be on the same side as me with the pact done, right? Guess I've got to hope for the best.

Knock, knock.

"Come in," Alric said.

"H-hello, Miss Rika." Ferran entered and bowed. "Are you ready to go?"

"All set."