The manager eyed Karyan for a long moment, then finally gave a slow nod. "Alright, bring him in. Show me what he can do. If he's as good as you say, we might keep him."
Nedeira let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "Thank you. You won't regret it," she said, with relief.
She took Karyan's arm and led him away from the manager and down a narrow hallway.
They entered a small room, barely furnished, with just a table and two chairs.
Nedeira closed the door behind them and leaned against it, her body slumped, the eyes that were once full of fire, now seemed dull and tired.
"That was close," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Too close."
Karyan watched her, seeing the change from the strong, confident woman in the hallway to this fragile figure before him.
She looked up at him, her eyes searching his.
"Who are you, really?" she asked with a soft and shaky tone. "Why did you need to find me? What are you after?"
Karyan sat down at the table and gestured for her to do the same. He took a moment, organizing his thoughts, then spoke in quiet, measured tones.
"I needed someone who had this element, someone who could get me close. You're my best chance at getting what I need."
Nedeira wrapped her arms around herself, as if the room had suddenly turned cold. "And what is that?" she asked.
"My revenge," Karyan said simply. "And to find the spirit before one bastard does."
"Your revenge?"
"Yes."
"And who's the spirit?"
"You don't know? It's the one and only that gives you and provides us, wielders power," he glared at her, "you didn't know?"
"No…I always thought that I was a freak, how my mom and father told me…I brought shame to them…"
"Why would a wielder bring shame to anyone? If anything, you're a blessing to them."
"I always felt how my powers were harming them, I didn't feel like a hum-"
"Human," Karyan finished for her with a gentle tone. "You're human, Nedeira. It's okay to be scared. But your powers didn't shame anyone, your parents were just dumb enough to believe so."
She looked at him then, her gaze steady despite the tears. "You think we can really do this? Beat the sorcerer and then get your revenge?"
"We have no other choice."
He kept quiet about his plan of destroying everything with a spirit later.
Nedeira nodded, wiping away her tears. "Okay. Let's do it. I will help you!"
They sat together in silence for a moment, each lost in their thoughts, before standing up, Karyan asked.
"You do understand that once I free you, you will be under my command?"
Nedeira replied, "yes, you told me before," she rolled her eyes.
"That means, if I tell you to undress and dance naked in front of me, you do. If I tell you to sit on my lap whenever I want to, you do. if I tell you to bed with me, you do."
Nedeira clenched her fist and bit her lip, her body was trembling, barely holding her tears back, "yes…that too…"
Karyan let out a short laugh, "you're even easier than I thought, relax. I will not make you do such things in front of me or with me. I just need your power to get the spirit before one bastard does."
"I can bed with you, if you want to…" she whispered, ignoring what Karyan just told her.
"No need," Karyan replied immediately, having no interest in women right now.
"Am I not pretty to you? Everyone says that I'm the most beautiful woman in the world!" She shouted, offended.
"Well, they are lying to you or probably are with the effect of your hypnosis power. The only thing that's pretty about you is your element." He stated.
"Bed with me! I promise you won't regret it!"
"Have you no self respect?"
"I do!"
"It doesn't seem so, if you're this easy, just how many men have you slept with?"
"Zero…or one, if he counts…" She mumbled.
Karyan raised an eyebrow, surprised by Nedeira's sudden offer. "You don't have to offer yourself like that. It's not part of our deal."
Nedeira, still clearly upset, tried to calm herself. "I know what you men are like. I thought that's what you wanted."
Karyan shook his head, a smirk appeared on his lips, but his eyes were serious. "No, Nedeira. That's not what I want. I need you for your skills, not your body."
Her eyes met his. "Really? Then why test me with such words?"
Karyan leaned back in his chair, his expression softening. "To see how far you'd go for freedom. But I don't want you to feel like you owe me anything like that. I will use you in a different way."
Nedeira looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just want to be free, Karyan. I'm tired of living like this."
"And you will be," Karyan assured her. "But as partners, not master and servant."
She looked at him. "Partners?"
"Yes, partners," he repeated firmly. "You help me, and I'll help you. No one will command the other."
Nedeira nodded, a small smile broke through her earlier distress. "Partners," she said, as if trying out the word. "I think I can live with that."
Karyan stood, extending a hand to help her up. "Good. Now let's focus on the plan. How powerful is the sorcerer?"
"Very…"
*trrkkchtsh!*
The sound got both of their attention, "I hope you didn't forget about me?" Sin interrupted their conversation when he broke through the window.
Karyan rolled his eyes, "and what are you doing here?"
"Well, I think I could help you, in both of your plans," Sin stared at Karyan.
"And how will you do that?"
"I don't know yet," he replied confidently, and then wiped his face with his paw.
"Is he a demon?" Nedeira asked.
"Yes, and a very lonely one…"