Contract

Wentworth began to tap on the side of her chair. Her gaze seemed distant as she contemplated John’s request.

“Mr. Newman, I would advise against being so trusting of someone you know so little about, especially when making a larger request such as this. I am curious though, why would you ask me to take you under my tutelage?” Wentworth asked, amused. John took in a deep breath through his nose.

“In all honesty, in terms of trust, I’m sure that you’re strong enough that, if you wanted me to be, then I would already be dead. I nearly died only a little while ago, and I don’t have a clue about what any of this means or what I’m supposed to do. Even if you had this whole secret side to yourself this whole time, and I barely know you as my teacher, you’re the only one in this whole new world that I actually know to some degree. Plus, like I said before, you’re strong, really strong, and if I can learn even just a few things from you, I might actually have a chance on my own,” John explained to her. Wentworth closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again.

“Tell me, you just said that you know I was powerful, yet the scrying spell you used failed. So what do you base that belief on, exactly?” she asked him. John began to scratch his arm as his nerves began to get to him.

“I-I’m not sure, it’s more of a gut feeling than anything else. Like… if you were in the same room as a lion, even if you were blindfolded, I think something instinctual just… tells you that something that can tear you apart easily is nearby,” John explained. Wentworth began to tap on the desk lightly with her index finger.

“Well, your powers are indeed unique and full of potential; however, at the same time this will mean that you may soon draw the attention of powerful entities and organizations. Being your master means I might very well earn some of that attention myself, and that’s something I simply cannot afford to have right now. Although…” Wentworth said as she began to deeply contemplate once more.

“You have the powers of a Gamer and can absorb demonic energy into your body. I wonder, what kind of hidden powers could I see if I were to peer into your soul?” Wentworth said as she stroked her chin.

“Very well then, I shall peer into your soul, and if what I see is worth the possible risks, then I will take you under my wing,” she said as she stood up from her chair and began to walk towards the back of her office. John got up from his seat and began to follow her.

“Ummm, Miss Wentworth, when you said you’ll peer into my soul, what does that mean exactly and does it hurt?” John asked as they reached the back shelf of Wentworth’s office.

Wentworth looked back to him as she pulled a book from the middle shelf.

“It means that I am going to temporarily weaken the natural boundary between your soul and the physical world, then I’m going to simply take a look through it. As for how much it will hurt, I would say it’s comparable to a vaccine shot from the doctor,” she said to him as she opened a chest and began to take several ingredients out from it. She waved her hand, and a simple wooden table appeared in front of them.

She motioned for John to lie down on the table as she began to flip through the old tome. He did so, and she began to draw runes, symbols, and words in languages unknown to John around his body.

As she finished the last rune, Wentworth began to chant. The table emanated a ghastly yellow glow that illuminated the entire office. The table shook as John felt the glow enter his body. To him it felt as if someone was rubbing a cheese grater against his skin, but deeper, for it felt like his entire body, his entire being was in pain.

After what felt like an eternity of this, the glow began to die down, until a pale light was all that remained. Wentworth put the tome she had read from down onto the table, and she moved to stand over John’s body. John looked up to her and saw that her eyes were filled with the same yellow glow as the runes.

She peered down onto John and seemed to look through him rather than actually at him.

“Now then, let’s see what exactly I’m working with here,” Wentworth mumbled to herself as she continued to gaze into John’s very soul.

She continued to peer into him for the next minute or so. Suddenly, her eyes began to widen with disbelief.

“This… This is something I have never seen before. Your soul has the potential to take in both demonic and angelic power. In all of my years, I’ve seen several individuals who could take in one or the other, but never both! In fact, this is something that shouldn’t even be possible. Yet, I can see it clearly in front of me,” Wentworth said as the glow left her eyes and the spell ended.

“John Newman, your existence is truly one of a kind, to the point where it shouldn’t exist. I have decided, your power is certainly worth the possible risk, and with some conditions, I am willing to take you as my student,” she said as she began to write down said conditions onto a piece of paper.

When she finished, she handed him a list that contained seven conditions that he must follow.

1) John Newman must not tell anyone or communicate in any way, shape or form that he is associated with Victoria Wentworth. The only time this may be permitted is with the consent of Victoria Wentworth herself.

2) Victoria Wentworth can at any time inscribe a tracking spell onto John Newman, and he must not remove, have it removed by another that is not Victoria Wentworth herself, or intentionally damage it under any circumstance.

3) John Newman must follow all commands, instructions, and assignments given to him by Victoria Wentworth to the best of his abilities.

4) John Newman must not make any aggressive moves or actions against Vanessa Hawthorne.

5) In the effort of suppressing any energy that may inform third parties of John Newman’s demonic taint, Victoria Wentworth shall give him a weekly supply of pills that when ingested suppress John Newman’s demonic aura.

6) Due to John Newman's ability to generate cash, he must pay Victoria Wentworth 15% of the wealth he earns on a weekly basis. Also, in the case of John Newman acquiring non-mundane objects or artifacts, he must write and give Victoria Wentworth a daily report that lists and describes previously mentioned objects.

7) Under no circumstances can John Newman lie to Victoria Wentworth or deceive her in any way, shape, or form.

John looked through the paper, at the bottom of it were two spots to write a signature. But he hesitated, the contract didn’t feel normal, it felt binding, final. Wentworth signed it first, and looked at John impatiently as she handed the pen to him.

“This contract, it doesn’t feel… normal,” he said as he looked towards Wentworth for an explanation.

She sighed, ”No, this contract is completely different from mundane contracts. It’s what’s called an Abyssal Contract. Let’s just say that unlike mundane contracts, if you breach the terms of this contract, the consequences will be both immediate and lethal.”

John swallowed as he looked down onto the contract and reread its terms.

This whole thing’s terms seem pretty… much, he thought.

“I am well aware that its terms are strict,” Wentworth said, seeming to have read his thoughts. “But I can assure you that they are all worth it. With your Innate Ability, and the many things I can teach you, I can assure you that with time, you will become quite the formidable ****,” she said. With that, John reread it for a third time, and a question popped into his mind.

“This says that I can’t make any aggressive actions against Vanessa, but what about Frank?” John said as he looked up from the contract.

“Hmm, I suppose her oaf of a boyfriend is free game. Feel free to do whatever you wish to him as long as it doesn’t include Vanessa herself,” Wentworth simply stated.

John nodded and with no other objections, he signed his name onto the contract. As soon as he lifted his pen off it, the contract began to glow and rise into the air. Then, it was consumed by purple flames and burned out of existence, the deal made between them now forever sealed.

New rare item acquired
Ring of Minor Mana

With that much experience, I’ll level up when I get Observe to its max level and complete the quest, John thought to himself as he closed the achievement.

He opened his inventory and pulled the ring out.

“Miss Wentworth, I just got a new achievement for becoming your apprentice. The rewards were some experience points and this ring,” he said as he held out the ring for her to take.

She held it out above her and inspected it.

“Your skill, the one called Observe, have you ever cast it on an object before?” she asked John.

“Yes, on a wooden carving I made in Art class,” was the response he gave her.
Wentworth nodded to herself and handed the ring back to John. Who immediately cast Observe on it.

Ring of Minor Mana
This silver ring has been charged with mana, increasing the wearer’s mana pool by 25 points.
Creator: Gaia

“It says that the wearer has their mana pool increased by 25 points, and that it was created by someone named Gaia,” he said as he looked up from the ring in his hand. He was surprised to see that for the first time, Wentworth looked visibly shocked.’’

“No, that can’t be possible, but the contract prevents you from lying, that means it has to be the truth. However, to think that you’ve been given something from Gaia herself. Tell me, when you receive messages, how would you describe their tone?” Wentworth asked John as she sat back onto her chair.

“I suppose… snarky and belittling would be the best way to describe them,” John answered.

“That confirms it, it’s definitely her. I suppose it does make sense in a way, that your impossible powers come from Gaia herself,” she looked at John’s face, the question on his mind obvious to her.

“I suppose you want to know who exactly Gaia is. For now, all you need to know is that she is the god of all creation. There are none who are above her in any way. Also, if you were wondering whether by receiving your powers from her you are expected to be some kind of chosen one, the answer is no. Gaia is not evil, but neither is she good, she is a neutral **** that normally does not like to act until someone breaks the few rules she actually has,” Wentworth stated to John.

He looked down at his hands and began to wonder.

“If she really is neutral, then why did she give me these powers in the first place?” he asked Wentworth. She leaned back into her chair and sighed.

“My best guess, she got bored and decided to just give someone powers. You just got lucky and hit the jackpot,” she said as she checked her watch.

“If you don’t have any more questions, Lunch is about to end soon and I need to give you your homework,” Wentworth said as she got up from her chair and began to sift through the shelves.
She took out a bottle that contained several small, pink pills. She reached for a blank paper and tore out a small piece, and with her pen she began to write an address unfamiliar to John on it. She handed the piece of paper and bottle of pills to John.

“Go to this address, you will find an Abyssal bookstore there. I want you to buy several books about the history, lore, and general information about demons. I want you to study from these books tonight, and tomorrow I’ll quiz you. Also, these are the pills that will suppress any demonic energy from you that others may sense. Make sure to take one pill once every three days starting today,” she instructed John, who simply nodded and took both items.

“Also, two more things. I can tell the uniform you have under your jacket is covered with blood. It’s a wonder that no one noticed yet. Make sure you get that cleaned up or get rid of it before it draws attention. Lastly, a piece of advice, even with those pills to suppress the demonic taint within your aura, I would advise you to keep away from anyone associated with the Order. They are a group that believes themselves to be righteous paladins of the light, and should they find that you have demonic power within you, they would likely not hesitate to kill you,” Wentworth said to John as she led him to the exit of her office.

They both walked out of the office and left Wentworth’s barrier. John gave her a polite farewell as he added the paper, pills, and ring to his inventory. He walked out of her classroom and ran to the bathroom to clean up before he headed to Lunch.