The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

"What?!" Aryanne panicked.

Aeric glanced at her direction with one brow perked up.

"She was the one who you made the deal with," Delva pointed out. "Even though Melina lost."

Aeric placed a finger on his chin. "Hmm. You do make a valid point."

Aryanne looked at the two of them, more so at Delva, eyes blaring. "Who the hell is this bitch?"

"Whoa!" Aeric outstretched a palm. "Mind your language. That's my very good friend you're talking to."

Aryanne snorted hatefully. "Well, tell your very good friend that Melina played the Beast Battle so that she would be the one to take the Crest in case she lost. And she did."

Delva frowned. "Wait. You made your sister fight your battle for you. And if she lost, she faced the consequences, but if she won, you reaped the benefits."

Aryanne pulled her head back, seeing how it sounded when laid out like that. "Pretty... much," she mumbled.

Delva appeared disgusted. "Little less wonder why no one likes Moonlighters."

Aeric sighed. "I don't care. Any of these girls is good enough for me." He looked at Dreadhound, seeing that only the beast had brought both girls.

"Drex still isn't fully healed?" he asked Melina, who folded her face and looked away.

Aeric scoffed. "Whatever. Let's move."

They rode the streets of the Realm Core, past basic towns and popular Player Purchase Markets. Soon enough, they arrived at the part of the Core where more Divine things were sold and activities were conducted.

Aryanne kept looking at Aeric and her sister through the ride. Then she finally asked. "Have you even met this Divine Artist? You don't know, he might the botch the job."

Aeric glanced at her, his expression serious. "Stop bringing up lame excuses to escape this, Aryanne. I was almost about to even commend you for actually showing up. But who knows, you might still have something up your sleeve."

Aryanne frowned and stayed quiet.

After a few shops, they arrived at the center of a narrow cobblestone street tucked away from the city's main hustle.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The shop was a peculiar building, leaning slightly to the right, as if it had grown tired of standing straight. The door was painted a bright azure, with swirling gold patterns appearing to move deceptively when glanced at from the corner of the eye. Above the door hung a sign in gilded script:

"Art Beyond Mortal Grasp – Crests, Glyphs, and Etchings."

Aeric raised an eyebrow. "Subtle."

He dismounted Sylver and approached the door, gesturing for the others to follow.

Knock! Knock.

Aeric stepped back, waiting. The door however swung open on its own accord, revealing an interior filled with glowing runes, a table, chairs and and shelves stacked with magical tools.

From behind a tall counter, a wiry man with a shock of unruly white hair and half-moon glasses perched on his nose popped up. His eyes were mismatched — one a deep violet, the other a bright gold. He wore a long coat spattered with ink stains and an infectious grin.

"Ah, customers! Visitors?! Welcome, welcome!" the man said, spreading his arms wide. "I am Vennel, a Divine Artist. Purveyor of precision, maestro of magic, creator of Crests most magnificent!"

Aeric exchanged a look with Delva, who raised a skeptical brow. "He's… cheerful," he muttered.

Vennel darted around the counter, shaking Aeric's hand enthusiastically. "And you must be the popular Son of Starlight, Aeric the Arrogant."

"Aeric the Arrogant?" Aeric frowned. "Where is that coming from—?"

The man dragged him deeper. "Now, tell me, young man. What masterpiece can I etch for you today? A sigil for strength? A glyph of glory? Perhaps a Crest of—"

"Obedience," Aeric interrupted, his voice firm.

Vennel froze, stepping aside to look at him, grin faltering slightly. His golden eye narrowed. "A Crest of Obedience, you say? Dangerous business, that. But anyone would be indeed lucky to be bound to a man as excellent as you. Tell me, Prince. Who's the lucky recipient?"

Without turning, or moving his gaze, Aeric outstretched his hand and pointed at Melina. "Her."

The Moonlight Princess shrank slightly under Vennel's scrutinizing gaze. Aryanne gritted her teeth.

"Ah," Vennel said, adjusting his glasses. "A Daughter of Moonlight. What frisky business are you young children up to now. Ha! Ha! It's not my place to ask, I know that. But a man can be curious."

When no one said anything, all just looking at him like his attempts at being entertaining weren't working, Vennel simply continued.

"Well, I assume you know the risks? Crests are not mere tattoos, my boy. They bind not just the body, but the very soul. The Crest of Obedience is particularly… invasive. It compels absolute submission, but at a cost."

Worried, Melina's voiced her concern. "What kind of cost?" she asked.

Vennel clasped his hands behind his back. "Ah, Princess. Resistance to the Crest's commands can result in searing pain. Prolonged defiance might even cause permanent damage to your Divine Core. Impaling your affinity for Divinity, temporarily... or permanently. It is not something to be taken lightly."

Aryanne stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "No! She's not doing this!"

Aeric stretched his hand, blocking her path with his arm. "There's no pulling back, Aryanne. Not now. The solution for that problem is simple for Melina. She just shouldn't disobey and it would be fine. What's a day? It's not a very long time."

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Aryanne glared at him, and he turned his face and glared back. After an intense stare down, she finally gave up and stepped back. "Fine," she muttered.

Vennel looked between them, then shrugged. "Very well. If everyone's ready, we'll begin. Daughter Melina, take a seat."

Melina hesitated, but with a glance at Aeric, she sat in the high-backed chair at the center of the room. Vennel retrieved a slender pen that had a magical glow to it.

"This," he said, holding it up, "is no ordinary pen. It is imbued with Divinity, capable of weaving magic directly into flesh and soul."

He gestured to Aeric. "First, I'll draw the Crest. Then, you'll add your blood to finalize the bond."

Aeric glanced at Delva.

Melina flinched as Vennel leaned in, his movements surprisingly gentle as he began etching lines onto her forearm. First was a circle, then what seemed the best a drawing of a lock in a chain, connecting the circle.

The pen glowed as he drew, leaving behind a faintly shimmering pattern.

"Slight sting," Vennel muttered as Melina winced. "Almost done."

After a few moments, he stepped back, gesturing for Aeric to approach. "Your turn, Master."

Vennel took a small blade from the counter and handed it to Aeric.

Aeric looked at him, unimpressived. He gestured at Delva, and she gave him her small dagger. Vennel frowned dejectedly and dropped the blade back.

Aeric pricked his finger with the dagger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the still-glowing Crest. The moment the blood touched it, the lines flared with light, and a faint hum filled the room.

Vennel stepped back, singing a small chant as his fingers danced on top of the Crest.

Aeric's Divine Core glowed red, and Melina's glowed silver.

Then Vennel clapped his hands. "Done! The bond is complete."

Aeric's interface appeared before his eyes;

[Crest Bond Identified]

[Crest Bond Successful]

[Bond: Melina of Moonlight]

[Master: Aeric of Starlight]

A similar display appeared for Melina, letting her know that for one day, Aeric of Starlight was to be her master.

For Aeric though, he saw a list of Melina's powers appear, each one detailed and categorized for him. He smirked, his gaze flicking toward her.

Melina stood slowly, rubbing her arm. Aryanne rushed to her side. "Are you okay?"

Melina nodded, though her expression was uneasy. "I think so."

Aeric stepped forward and both sisters looked at him. "Why don't we test it? Melina?"

The girl looked up at him. "Mhm?"

"Kneel," Aeric commanded.

Melina's eyes widened. "What? Why would I do that? I won't—" Her words were cut off by a sharp cry as the Crest burned, forcing her to her knees.

"Aeric!" Aryanne shouted, stepping protectively in front of her sister. "What the hell are you doing?"

Aeric waved a hand dismissively. "Calm down. Calm down. It's just a test."

Aryanne turned to her sister, seeing her recuperating from that sharp pain. "Just a test? That hurt her."

Aeric scoffed. "Please. She hurt herself. The Crest only burns when she disobeys. It doesn't just burn for no reason. She should've knelt."

Aryanne stepped closer to him, glaring into his eyes. "Make her stand!

He looked at her for a moment, nothing at all in his eyes. "Whatever," he said. Then his eyes dropped to Melina. "Stand."

Holding her chest with both arms, Melina rose slowly, almost crying as Aryanne helped her get up.

Aeric handed the Divine Artist a pouch of coins then turned to the door. "The Crest works fine," he said, stopping but not looking back. "Stau close behind me, Melina. I don't want to look for you when I need you."

Then he stepped out of the shop.

Delva looked at the two girls with only a sliver of pity before leaving as well. While the Divine Artist watched with a horrified expression on his face.

He looked at Melina and Aryanne and asked. "Whatever did you guys do to him to make him hate you so much?"