"Back to what I was saying. The terms are simple: this Spirit Art Manual will never be shared with any other individual, through any ans whatsoever. It will never be discussed, described, or referenced to others. And most importantly, it will never be utilized in any manner that could potentially harm my interests."
Alaric's expression imdiately contorted, "This condition wasn't part of our original agreent..."
"It was always an implicit part of our arrangent, Alaric, I have accumulated nurous enemies over the decades, son—including the thing currently standing beside you. I cannot afford to trust that it won't eventually choose to oppose when its power develops, regardless of how unlikely its success might be. More concerning is the possibility that my enemies might acquire and weaponize the manual I'm providing."
The chair completed its rotation, finally revealing the speaker—a man whose presence seed to fill the enormous room despite his seated position, his eyes containing the kind of dangerous intelligence that had built an empire and crushed opposition without hesitation.
"After all," he continued with a thin smile that never reached his cold eyes, "blood may be thicker than water, but ambition has a way of dissolving even the strongest family bonds. Wouldn't you agree?"
Alaric's left hand tightened into a white-knuckled fist, but he remained silent, unable to formulate a retort that wouldn't make the situation worse.
'He isn't actually threatened by Selene's potential power,' Alaric thought grimly, understanding his father's motivations. 'Even with that Spirit Art Manual, it still won't provide her with enough strength to challenge him directly or indirectly. He's imposing these conditions simply because he can—because tornting her brings him satisfaction.'
After several seconds of silence, Alaric finally sighed with bitter resignation. "Fine. We'll sign your blood pacts. Hand them over."
Two parchnts covered in runic inscriptions began floating through the air toward them, while simultaneously a leather-bound manual materialized on the massive desk between them and Samuel.
Alaric unsheathed his sword, then deliberately touched his finger to the razor-sharp tip, pricking the skin just enough to draw blood.
Crimson droplets fell onto the parchnt's central rune, which imdiately blazed with magical light as the binding took effect.
Seeing her brother complete the contract, Selene sighed quietly before following his example, her own blood sealing the sa restrictive agreent.
Both signed pacts floated back to their father, settling gently into his waiting hands.
"Excellent, the mont either of you violates any condition you've agreed to, I will be notified imdiately. Alaric, I suggest you tread very carefully from this point forward. The path ahead is narrow, and breaking this pact will result in exactly what you most fear occurring.
And no matter how desperately you plead this ti, the result will not change."
Alaric's eyes grew noticeably colder at the veiled threat, and he couldn't help but glance protectively toward his sister, who showed no outward reaction to their father's words.
Selene's heart was breaking internally. She understood perfectly what Alaric's deepest fear was.
Her death.
The only reason she remained alive was because of Alaric's intervention during that 'ti' and continued protection. Hearing their father casually threaten her life again reopened wounds that had never fully healed, but she forced herself to remain composed.
She no longer cared about earning the approval or affection of the man sitting before her. That naive hope had died months ago.
'Once I master this Spirit Art Manual, I'll beco significantly stronger, I will even be able to exceed Moon's developnt speed when we both advance to the Second Sanctuary.'
Although it was disappointing that the blood pact would prevent her from sharing the techniques with Moon, she was still grateful for the opportunity to increase her own capabilities and reduce her dependence on her brother for protection.
"Enough gas. Just hand over the manual," Alaric said, his patience finally exhausted as he began walking toward the leather-bound to resting on the desk.
Before his fingers could make contact, the Spirit Art Manual suddenly blazed with brilliant light as hidden runes activated across its surface.
"You have exactly twenty-four hours to completely comprehend the manual's contents," he announced with another thin smile. "If you fail to master it within that tifra, it will be destroyed forever."
Hearing this additional restriction, Alaric finally lost his composure entirely.
"Samuel! You've already forced us to sign two blood pacts with conditions! Why are you adding more limitations?! Are you deliberately trying to sabotage this arrangent?! I will not continue with our agreent then!"
For the first ti during their eting, Samuel actually laughed, albeit briefly, for a mont. "You can never have too many safeguards, son. And the thing in question is already on the verge of its next evolutionary stage anyway, so twenty-four hours provides more than sufficient ti to comprehend and internalize its techniques. Consider it motivation to focus properly."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Now leave my office. I have important business to attend to."
Samuel's chair began rotating back toward its original position, clearly indicating that he considered their interaction concluded.
With their severely limited tifra, Alaric decided to table his anger for the mont and focus on practical concerns.
"Let's go," he said urgently, snatching up the manual and heading toward the door in hurried strides. "We need to find sowhere completely private where you can study this without any distractions."
The two siblings exited through the office door, leaving it open in their haste. Noticing the urgency in their departure, Alfred took it upon himself to quietly close the door behind them, offering a respectful farewell.
"Have a safe journey, Young Master, Young Miss."
Alaric simply raised his free hand in acknowledgnt without slowing his pace.
At the main lobby, Alaric gestured sharply for Emma to stand. "We're leaving. Now."
Spotting the urgency behind his words, Emma imdiately rose from the comfortable sofa and hurried to match their rapid stride without asking questions that would waste ti.
The group moved swiftly through the mansion's corridors and out to Alaric's waiting orbital, boarding quickly and departing the estate grounds with all possible speed.
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