As is always the case with vows, promises, and other variants of such contracts, the text is worked out in advance, terms discussed, additions, clarifications, full transcriptions of compound words, and so on. As we worked with Pierre and Appolin, Gabrielle and Fleur were silent, but listening to the details, frowning in concentration, just as I was, learning unexpected nuances.
I tried to protect myself from a possible trap (although I didn't feel any danger) with the help of a trance, touching the spiritual world and the lines of fate.
I managed to see only other people's lines very clearly, mine was still inaccessible to me, but in the process of working on the text of the vow, none of the other people's lines changed their position, did not split, and many other things "did not".
Next came the vow procedure itself, during which Pierre called out the full names of everyone present, the woman and the girls recognizing the right of the husband and father to speak for them and to partially decide (everything about the lineage). It is not necessary to say the whole, complete text of the vows; if a text is prepared beforehand, it is enough to mention it.
At the end of the procedure, a sheet of heavy paper glowed, rose into the air, turned into a swarm of blue sparks that split into two streams and were absorbed into my hands and Pierre's. In case of need, the wearer could call upon a thin tattoo, invisible to all but the immediate participants, that encircled a ring around the wrist. While the oath is in effect, the wearer can summon an illusion with the full text.
And one more thing, if the text of the oath/vow/contract has a few clarifications, like the exclusion of hints, random clauses that might give the enemy a clue, or an elementary clarification: "I pledge to follow the letter and spirit of the contract", then the probability of circumventing the oath is reduced to almost zero. After that, it was my turn to explain myself.
— Now, about the clan and the clan system in Japan. First of all, the local clan hierarchy is not much different from the Japanese one: there is a main branch, there are side branches, but all of them are united by a single root — the founder, the magician who founded the clan, whose blood flows in a certain proportion in all the members of the clan, and whose magic was the original model. Then come the differences. There are no clans in Europe, or rather," Pierre, who clearly had something to say, did not allow himself to be interrupted. — In Europe there are no clans, or rather," Pierre, who obviously had something to say, did not interrupt. It's different in Japan. — A short pause to wet my throat, to measure the reaction.
— Everything starts with the founder, which makes sense. — I smile and meet the smile in return. — This mage must already have the gift, without it it is not a clan, but a simple family. Receiving the gift is the beginning of a full-fledged magical family. If it is a woman, the splitting into branches begins only with her children, if it is a man, then each wife lays a new branch, and initially they are all equal, since they have only one magical gift, which is the same for all of them. However, there are exceptions, as wives can be girls from other clans who have decided to invest in the future to find a loyal ally. In such a case, the head of the girl's family allows his own gift not only to remain in the bride in its original form, but also to manifest in her children, that is, the new family gains another gift or gifts.
By the way, this also has its own separate ritual, in which both heads participate, otherwise the magic will consider the transfer of the gift as theft, and the heritage of the girl will not manifest in the children.
Please pay attention to this point because it is little known and the secrecy of this information is maximum. — I've made this clarification on purpose, because this point is stipulated separately: some parts of the information must not be given to anyone at all, without my or my authorized heir's permission.
— This is very important information. — Pierre was unusually somber and concentrated. — Previously, it was believed that gifts could not be passed between births, and if they were, the case was recognized as unique, since it was impossible to calculate the patterns. Sora, can you explain the details?
— I can, but you won't be able to transmit the information. — I shrug my shoulders. — There are only three ways to transfer. One. If the girl's veins are filled with the blood of a Vale, Dryad, Faerie or other magical race. In such a case, the permission to pass on comes with the permission of the eldest in the family to marry the girl. This is a law of nature that helps the spread of magical blood in the world, the growth of its power. The second case, when the family with the gifts either does not have, or destroyed the stone of the family, or the time has come for the foundation of a new branch. This can even happen against the will of the current head of the clan, because he should feel the need to start a new branch, but for some reason he prevents it.
The third case is my case, when there is only one man left in the family, and he has the obligation to restore the clan and the branches. Even without an altar, I can decide the fate of the women of my family, even without rituals, with a single word to allow or forbid the transfer of all or certain gifts, if there are several. — I stopped talking and sipped from my cup.
I hadn't said anything, I had withheld something, but why should I reveal everything? For example, in cases like mine, when clever "victors" want to appropriate the blood heritage of the vanquished, there is a "mutual compensation" (or so it seems), and the child receives a full set of gifts not only from the mother, but also from the father. Moreover, it is done in such a way that this fact is rarely known through special rituals or artifacts.
The inheritance is hidden until a certain time and can be awakened only by the owner (without outside interference — determination, autopsy, etc.), and even then under certain conditions. This is done to preserve the blood to be destroyed, as well as to strengthen it for the sake of survival. This is one of the magical laws that protects magical blood itself. However, I don't know how I got another gift, and no matter how much I read the literature, I can't find anything.
— It doesn't add up. — The man shook his head. — I can name at least two cases that don't fit what you're saying.
— It's not a theory. — Of course, I was told about it by an azure dragon, Meiumi-san, who knows more about dragons than even some of the planetary gods. — It's just that many mages hide the fact of their kinship with magical races, or don't even realize it. — A smile crept across his face. — Some Ayakashi and Bakemono are quite adept at disguise. — Pierre just frowned harder.
— "Ayakashi?" "Bakemomo?" Who's that? — Gabby asked, completely ignoring her sister's glare, while I smiled at the girl.
— "Bakemono." — I corrected the girl. — They're kind of like the local Fae, only with their own peculiarities. Would you like me to introduce you to the Ayakashi?
— Aren't they frightening? — The exaggerated wariness and suspicion, the frowning white thin eyebrows, but the sparkling celestial eyes are a killer set of cuteness.
— There are scary ones. — I wasn't lying. — They are like people: happy and sad, laughing and crying, good and bad. They're very different. But my friends are good, except one who is a sleepy lazy bum who loves sweets and fish and everything that goes with it. — Yes, Nanao also likes sweets, but Maya loves marshmallows, even squeaks with delight when she eats them, and makes sure to drink milk.
— Is she a cat? — Gabrielle didn't lower her suspicion.
— Yes, two tails. — I answered with the most honest look, deliberately provoking more questions, but Pierre didn't let me ask them.
— We can talk about that later. Right now we're not done talking about anything else. — Gabby pouted, somehow annoyed, but didn't interrupt.