Chapter 24: The Pact and the Mark
The forest was still, save for the faint rustling of the snow as it shifted beneath the weight of the night. Volundr stood with Kuroka by his side, her golden eyes still glowing faintly from the battle that had just unfolded.
They had made it through the worst of it—Koneko was safe, her breathing slow but steady.
But the night was far from over, and there was something else that needed to be settled between them.
Volundr didn't rush. He never did.
He turned to Kuroka, his expression calm but resolute.
"You've seen how my power works," he said, his voice low and even.
"The Limitless Aura. It's not just for me. It's for those I choose to protect." His hand moved slowly toward her, stopping a few inches away from her shoulder.
"And now, I offer you the mark."
Kuroka's gaze flickered to his outstretched hand, uncertainty clouding her eyes. She had heard stories—rumors—about the power that came with Volundr's presence.
The aura that could change the very fabric of one's strength. But this was different. This was him offering it to her.
"Why?" Her voice was quiet, the edge of suspicion still in her tone. "What do you want in return?"
Volundr didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let the silence stretch, allowing the weight of his words to sink in.
"I don't want anything from you," he said at last, his tone unwavering. "Not like the others. Not like your old master." He shook his head, his gaze softening just enough to show the quiet sincerity in his eyes.
"What I offer you is freedom. Freedom through growth, not servitude. The power I give is yours to cultivate as you see fit. You won't be shackled to anyone again."
Kuroka's breath hitched, her sharp features softening for the briefest of moments. She took a step back, unsure of how to process what he had said.
She had been shackled once—bound by the will of others, used for their own gain. The thought of being truly free… it was hard to believe, let alone accept.
But something in Volundr's voice, in the way he looked at her, made her pause. There was no malice in his words.
No hidden agenda. He was offering her the very thing she had always wanted but never believed she could have: freedom, on her own terms.
For the first time in a long while, she found herself considering the possibility. Could she trust him? Could she allow herself to believe that there was someone who wanted to see her grow, not as a tool or a weapon, but as herself?
Volundr's hand remained outstretched, waiting.
"You're not asking me to be your servant," she said softly, more to herself than to him. "You're asking me to stand beside you."
He nodded, his expression never wavering. "I'm asking you to stand as an equal. To take your place among those who will fight by your side, not use you."
Kuroka swallowed hard. She didn't answer immediately, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
She had been so alone for so long, surrounded by enemies who saw her as nothing more than a pawn. She had forgotten what it felt like to be seen as something more.
The warmth of Volundr's offer was tempting, but it came with risks. Could she really trust him? Could she believe in something—someone—again?
She looked at him, the fire in her eyes smoldering, and finally, with a slow, deliberate movement, she stepped forward. She lifted her hand and placed it lightly on his, accepting the connection he offered.
"I'll take your mark," she said quietly, her voice tinged with a mixture of resolve and vulnerability. "But only because you're not like them. And maybe… maybe I can believe in something again."
Volundr's expression softened, his gaze not a trace of pity or manipulation, but simple understanding. He didn't say a word. Instead, he pressed his palm against hers, and the familiar surge of power flooded through him.
The mark appeared on her skin, glowing faintly, a symbol of the pact they had made—a bond forged through trust, through mutual respect, and through the power of growth.
As the mark settled into place, Volundr felt the weight of its significance. This was no ordinary seal. It was the beginning of something new, something powerful.
Kuroka looked down at the mark on her hand, her eyes wide with wonder. "What happens now?" she asked, her voice low.
Volundr smiled, but there was no arrogance in it—only a quiet, calm certainty. "Now, you learn to grow. To control the power within you, not let it control you. And when you're ready, you'll have my support. Not as a master, but as an ally."
Kuroka's expression softened, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corner of her lips..
For the first time, she wasn't afraid of the future. There was a path ahead of her, a path that didn't lead back to the darkness she had escaped.
As Volundr turned to address the next matter at hand, Kuroka's mind shifted once more. She didn't hesitate. She reached for her phone, dialing Rias Gremory's number.
The younger sister was still unconscious, but she knew what had to be done.
"Rias," Kuroka said quietly when the line picked up. "It's time. Koneko is safe. I'm ready for her to join your house."
There was a brief pause before Rias's voice came through, warm and welcoming. "We'll be waiting for you."
Kuroka hung up, her heart a little lighter than before.
Volundr, sensing the shift in her mood, glanced back at her, his expression thoughtful. He didn't need to say anything. He knew what was coming next. The road ahead was long, but for Kuroka, it was no longer a solitary one.
"I'll make sure Koneko is well cared for," he said, his voice steady. "She will have a home with the Gremory family."
Kuroka nodded, the trust between them now solidifying with every word. She was no longer the lone wanderer she once was. She had a future, and it was one worth believing in.
"Thank you," she whispered, though the words seemed too small for the bond they had formed.
Volundr nodded, his gaze focused on the horizon, the weight of his responsibility no longer heavy but purposeful.
"Let's go," he said simply, turning to lead the way.