Roy led the little girl down the cobblestone pathway, which was the path leading from the main castle to the gardens, closer to the gardens.

"Big brother," Fanny cried out in sudden excitement, "look what that is?"

Roy looked in the direction of the little girl's finger, and then he chuckled, "That's a stupid, stupid black dragon. His voice was very soft, but the little girl could hear it clearly. As for the sleeping black dragon on the other side, it is impossible to hear it.

"Isn't the dragon the one in the stories told by Melia's old grandmother?" Fanny asked curiously, "Why is there a dragon in this world?"

"Because the stories told by the old nurse are true. Roy patiently explained. "Dragons are the oldest creatures on the continent of Vialas, and they possess great strength and magical abilities.

"Are there elves in this world?"

"Elves have fantastic beauty and a mysterious temperament, and they have fair skin, dark hair, and often dark green eyes. "Most elves live in the forest, and they love the beauty of nature, and they love to dance and frolic. Their humor shimmers with wisdom like their songs and poems. ”

"Is it true that the old nurse said that elves can live for a long, long time?"

"Elves do live for a long time, they don't reach adulthood until they're 110 years old, and they can live more than 700 years. ”

"What about the giants?" asked Fanny again, "and the old nurse says they have only one eye. ”

Roy shrugged, "The Giants were the first primitive species to appear on the continent of Vialas, they were tall, powerful, and intimidating. Giants are over 10 feet tall and look much uglier than humans. "Their most striking feature is that they have only one eye, a big eye without pupils, which glows red."

"There are also short gnomes and minotaur monsters in the old nurse's story......"

Roy frowned, "Yes," he hurriedly interrupted, "Those gnomes, giants, elves, and other creatures in the old granny's story are all real. "He didn't have the leisure to tell stories to the little girl all day.

"Why is this dragon in the castle? Fanny's eyes longed for answers.

Roy gave the little girl a modest smile, "Because this dragon is the mount of a knight, that's why it's here." ”

"Isn't that the Dragon Knight?" asked Fanny aloud, "Big brother, is this man Brother Brandt?" ”

"No," he replied, "this knight is a subordinate who guards your brother. ”

"Oh!" Fanny's cute little face became a little disappointed, "Why doesn't Brother Brant have dragons?"

"This ......," Roy said with a dry laugh and a bitter grin, "because Brandt is not a knight." ”

"And what is he?" asked the little girl.

"He's a magician. Roy blurted out.

"Big brother, what is a magician?" the old nurse had never told her the story of the magician.

"It's the kind of people who can do tricks, they can conjure a fire, or make it rain in the sky. ”

"The clowns who play tricks on the streets, they can also conjure rabbits and pigeons from cages. ”

"Well, so can Brandt. ”

...........................

In the walkway outside the castle hall, the sound of hurried footsteps was heard, the sound of stiff cowhide boots stepping on stone slabs, and muffling the slight sound of linen flats.

With his keen hearing, Brant could clearly distinguish that it was the footsteps of two people, a man and a woman. When the footsteps stopped, he saw Greya, dressed in black linen, and Wick, dressed in gray linen, appear in front of him.

In the aristocratic feudal system, the color and style of clothes are prescribed by law, and non-nobles are not allowed to wear gold and silver, and they cannot wear velvet and fur clothes. Freemen and peasants could only wear black and gray, while nobles could pursue luxury.

Glia bowed, "Lord Tyrrell." She tried to be as humble as she could, showing respect for the boy, but her voice still had an icy air.

Blackface Wick, at the urging of his companion, first reached out and lifted the hood covering his head, and then bowed slightly, but his movements were a little stiff. Wick's heart has always been a little conflicting.

Brandt asked softly, "Is there anything wrong?" and he didn't care about the details. He has always believed that superficial respect and obedience do not mean anything. True loyalty, on the other hand, is a package that does not require etiquette.

"My companion Wick has decided to stay," said Glia, "and he wants to be your subordinate and swear allegiance to you." These words should have been more appropriate for Wick himself, but in a moment's hesitation, Grea spoke for his companion.

This surprised Brant. He clearly remembered what Grea had said to him: Wick hated the nobles, and would not grovel to them, let alone swear allegiance to them. Brandt didn't answer right away, and after a moment of thought, he replied, "I accept his oath." "The ability of the black-faced man standing in front of him is undoubted, and he needs someone with this special ability to be by his side to work for him.

"Lord Brant Tyrell," said Wick, kneeling on one knee with a very serious expression, "I swear to the gods that I will be loyal to you, and I will never turn my back on you, and I will follow you to the death, and if I break this oath, the gods will devour you forever." ”

Words are like the wind, and so are vows. "Lord Wick, please get up. Brandt didn't believe these impassioned words, but that didn't mean he didn't accept the other party's vows.

Wick did not get up, but continued, "My lord, my subordinates ask you to conclude a master-servant contract. His expression was solemn and stern, giving the impression of an unshakable determination.

"It's just a piece of paper, a form," Brandt stressed to him, "you are not my slave, but my subordinate, and you need no contract." ”

"The master-servant contract that the subordinates are talking about," Wick explained, "is not a contract of sale, but a soul seal. ”

Soul Signing, also known as the Soul Contract, is an ancient form of contract.

Soul Marks are no stranger to Brant, who is a mage, and is usually a contract spell used by powerful mages to subdue high-level magical beasts. Once the spell is cast, the contract is formed, and the caster becomes the owner of the caster, and has the right to control the life and death of the other party.

The master-servant contract between Colin Red and the black dragon 'Nesario' is a soul seal.

"This is a contract that can only be reached between high-level monster creatures and humans," Brant pointed out sharply, "You and I are both humans, and it is impossible to make this kind of soul contract." ”

"The subordinate is a half-werewolf, and he has werewolf blood. Wick hated the werewolf who had turned him into a monster, but he was also grateful for giving him a new lease of life and giving him great strength.

A werewolf is a shape-shifting person who can transform into a wolf at will or involuntarily. When transformed, it will have difficulty refraining from wanting to eat raw human or animal flesh, and will howl at the moon.

Werewolves are basically divided into two types:

One is natural, that is, born to be a werewolf. This kind of werewolf is very fierce and strong, and has the ability to transform into a human. Werewolves are brutal by nature and are very difficult enemies, as their speed and keen sense of smell make them even more dangerous.

The other is acquired, most of them because they are cursed or bitten by werewolves, and they will become werewolves. On moonlit nights, they will lose their minds and become a hungry slaughterer, and during the day they will revert to being human. A small number of lucky people still have a faint humanity and are able to control their actions on the night of the full moon.

Brandt's face showed a look of surprise, and he looked at the other party rather surprised, "You don't need to do this, time will tell." ”

Wick's face did not change, and he replied in a deeper voice, "I beg your Excellency to grant your subordinates' requests." ”

Brant thought about it, but he still didn't agree, he knew that the other party wanted to prove his loyalty, but he thought the price was too great.

"Lord Tyrrell," Gria suddenly interjected in a cold voice, "that your master-servant contract with Wick will also benefit your current situation. She thought that if the stalemate continued, Wick would feel that her self-esteem would be humiliated.

Brandt doesn't deny this, Wick's abilities are truly unique. He asked noncommittally, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes! Wick stood by his guns.

"Where do you want it to be printed?" he said no longer.

Wick took off the cloak he had draped over his body, and took off the cloth he was wearing inside, and his skin was as black as ink. He pointed to his chest and said, "It's here." ”

Brant looked at the cold and stunning Grea on the side and said, "Borrow your dagger." ”

Without hesitation, Glia pulled the black dagger out of her scabbard, and held it to Mistress Tyrell in front of her.

Brant took the dagger with his right hand, and then used the sharp blade of the dagger to carve a five-pointed star pattern in the palm of his left hand. Seeing a trace of bright red blood oozing from the thin marks, Brant placed the bloodstained palm on the opponent's chest and began to recite the spell silently.

After a few moments, a dazzling white light flickered, and Brant removed his palm, only to see a white five-pointed star mark on Wick's dark skin, which contrasted sharply with his complexion.

The palm of Brandt's hand also left a well-textured five-pointed star imprint. But the color of the pattern is not white, but bright red. The mark of these two colors is the distinction between master and servant.

When Wick got dressed again, he said categorically, "Lord Tyrrell, if you need anything, send your men to do it." ”

"I will. ”

Then the subordinate retired first. ”