Aster wrote down the conditions he had, to accept Kail as his subordinate, then he handed him the paper and waited to see what his reaction will be.
Kail read the conditions and his expression didn’t change, he stood up and said out loud.
“I Kail Rein swear to never go against nor harm Aster Drage or any of the people he holds dear, if I ever even think or try to go back on my words let the heavens destroy my soul and body so I never reincarnate”.
Kail felt as if something was being marked on his soul, after finishing the oath he kneeled down and spoke.
“From this day and onwards I offer you my loyalty”.
Aster nodded.
“Your first mission will be to gather information on regards the secret realm found by the four families on Zartia also keep an eye on that bitch’s actions, inform me of your advances in a week understood?”, he then handed Kail a communication talisman linked to him.
“Yes boss”, Kail answered.
Before he left Aster asked him for more information about the black worn out book.
Kail explained what he knew about it although it was not too much.
“It is something I bought on an auction before, many experts tried to decipher the contents of the book but nobody was able to understand anything so in the end the owner sold it as a collector’s item”.
Kail left and Aster decided to inspect the book on his room because he felt intrigued by it, he took it from the table and stood up.
“I only want this book, you two can split what is left between yourselves, I will go to the room first”.
Hearing his words Aria smiled and took out the box that contained the domino game that Aster gave her and turned to see Alice.
“Hehehe what do say if we decide who will get what with a little game?”.
Alice originally wasn’t interested in the things Kail brought but seeing Aria’s confident smile she couldn’t help but take the bait.
“Humph you better don’t complain from not getting anything”.
Aster heard them and he couldn’t help but laugh a bit.
“Those two really start to look like sisters, just wait in a few years you both will be closer than ever… in my arms hehehe”.
He went upstairs and closed the door, he even put up the barrier just in case to avoid anyone interrupting, after sitting on the bed he took out the black book and opened it, the first thing he noticed was that it was written in some kind of language that he has never seen nor heard of before although it somehow reminded him of runes they were not the ones he has seen Lilia use before, Aster tried to make the book react he cut his finger to put some blood on it, some treasures activated like that so it was a good try but nothing happened.
“Well, if it was that easy then this book would have been deciphered long ago”, Aster kept trying other things like touching the pages to see if there were something like braille or any hints on how to decipher the book but it was meaningless.
When he was about to give up, he used his spiritual sense to check the book and suddenly dark mist started being radiated from it.
“Damn, don’t tell me this thing is a trap”, Aster tried to throw the book away but before he could do it, his vision faded, after a moment he regained consciousness but everything he could see was darkness there was nothing else, his body was floating and he didn’t know how much time had passed, he then realized this place was somewhat familiar, after thinking for a moment he said out loud.
“I have experienced this before… after I died, I was in a place like this for some minutes before I reincarnated…”.
Before Aster could keep contemplating what was happening the voice of a woman made him go out of his trance.
“How interesting, this space emulates a place that one can only reach after dying and even then, it will only be for a split of a second before your soul gets cleansed and sent back to the cycle of life without any memories… as it is actually against the heavens natural order for any living being to “experience” the laws of that place”.
Aster turned around just to see a white-haired woman whose face he could not see as if it was being blurred by something, she was wearing a black dress and was barefoot, if not for the fact that he could not see her face he would have thought she was a fairy.
His pupils contracted to the maximum, for the first time in his life he couldn’t feel the presence of someone so close to him, not only that but he was feeling apprehensive just by being in her presence.
Aster quickly reacted, he stepped back a couple of meters and immediately golden light covered his body as he used the paragon body manifestation, while starting to count down from ten he decided to try and get information from the woman in front of him.
“Who are you and why the hell did you bring me here?”.
The woman put her hand over her mouth and laughed a bit, her laugh was melodious as if little silver bells were tinkling, for a second Aster almost stopped using the paragon body but he shook his head and he felt a chill running through his backbone, he was supposed to be invincible for ten seconds but just hearing her laugh made him almost drop his guard down!!!, the woman disappeared from her position and before he could react, she was in front of him.
“Mmm? You are definitely something else, even if it is a really little amount, that energy seems dangerous, you are probably wondering why that golden armor didn’t protect you against me, the answer is simple”, the woman smiled before continuing.
“I don’t have any hostility towards you, in fact if you pass a little trial then I will answer to your questions, not only that but you will obtain something that others want but they can’t have, of course if you fail then I will have to erase your memories of this place but I don’t think is a bad offer”.
Aster knew he didn’t have a choice, this woman could break through his armor and now that he calmed down a bit, he actually didn’t feel any malice from her, he released the paragon body manifestation and sighed before asking.
“What will I obtain?”.
The woman pointed at herself before answering.
“Me”
Aster was somehow not surprised by her words; he couldn’t help but think.
“God damn my luck with women”.