Captivated by the master-crafted magic ring, Lyon ignored Father for a second and took a look at the circle. He walked closely along the contour, just close enough as to not step on it and tick off Father. He has never seen such a large magic ring before, even the ones Jenny, Lyon’s only child-friend, made were no larger than the palm of her hand and she was supposed to be the child with the most magical potential amongst all the orphans. Well then again, she’s only eight. He carefully observed the interior of the ring, and aside from poorly written characters that he could not understand, he noticed two empty spaces faced against each other, surrounded by all sorts of scribbles. I assume that’s where we’re gonna stand in. thought Lyon

Tired of waiting, Father walked up to Lyon and smacked him across his head again “Lyon! Enough looking around, the sun’s gonna rise soon. Let’s finish this before the others wake up.” grunted Father as Lyon patted his bruising head, seemingly unaware of Father’s frustration. Father let out an old man sigh, and shabbily took a step in the circle and onto one of the empty spaces that Lyon had noticed. “What are you waiting for? Go to the other one.” commanded Father, startling the confused Lyon as he then tiptoed into the remaining space.

“So now what?”

“We’re gonna exchange blood within this circle and as we do I need you to repeat these exact words: “I, Lyon with no family name, solemnly swears to never bear my Title against Rickshaw without family name.” instructed Father

“That sounds unhygienic.”

“Says the boy in shit-stained rag.”

“How the fuck did you even become a priest?” asked Lyon, to which Father only responded with a light shrug “So, is that it?”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

Lyon took a moment to close his eyes and take in a deep breath. “Well let’s get it over with then.” said Lyon as he opened his eyes and straightened his stance

Father then with his left hand took out his knife once more and without a moment noticed, he swiftly cut a thin line on his right palm, just deep enough for blood to flow out. Not a wisp of pain was shown on Father’s face as he handed Lyon the knife, without saying a word. Lyon then immediately knew what he had to do. Even though he has had the chance to hold an actual sword before, this knife felt a dozen times heavier at that very moment. All he could focused on was the knife, not the giant magic ring that’s encircling him, but the blood trailing down from the masterly crafted blade; not the sound of blood dripping to the dirt from Father’s hand, but the distorted handle that resembled what Lyon could only made off to once be a lion. All of these nonsensical and random thoughts crossed Lyon’s mind, as if a way for him to avoid thinking of what’s to come. He had already lost count of how many times he’s bled in the last hour, let alone his entire life, yet for some reason this small sacrifice of blood frightened him more than any ever had.

As Lyon once again shriveled up and hid in his own shadow, a heavy sense fell upon his right shoulder. He rose up to see Father with a stern look on his face while laying his left hand on him “When you become stronger. Blood will be a close friend.” As Father said that out, a wisp of epiphany hit Lyon’s quivered body. He then gritted his teeth, planted his feet and with the calmest grip he could control, he slashed the palm of his left hand. The wound was far deeper than needed, blood started to overflow, and just as Father was about to panic, Lyon rose his head up, and with the last bit of strength he could mustered, he gave out a bright smile, despite shriveling throughout his entire body and being on the verge of tears.

Father was still a bit worried, he fidgeted and sweated like a concerned mother but after seeing how brave a nine-year-old was at handling this, he just couldn’t help but returned his bravery with a soft smile. “Well done, Lyon.” He then reached out his right arm to Lyon, as the blood slowly trailed down his wrist “Now shake my hand and say the vow.”. The pain has already slowly left Lyon, he has gotten used to it after many years of being beaten by Dick and his friends. Lyon then slowly lifted up his arm as if he was an old man and shook Father’s hand as blood stampeded down his arm. “You really oughta check that hand out once we’re done-“

“I, Lyon with no family name, solemnly swears to never bear my Title against Rickshaw without family name.” Lyon rudely interrupted the concerned priest

Father was a bit tick off but ultimately decided to ignore the unruly brat “I, Rickshaw without family name, agrees to Lyon with no family name terms.”

With Father’s last sentence, the conjoined blood from their palms dripped down on the ring, and as it hit the surface, a faint wisp of light started to glow off the ring, and it only slowly got brighter until the circle completely lit up like a burning crimson sun. “What’s going on?” asked Lyon as he squinted his eyes and covered his face with his right hand from the blinding beam

“Don’t move just yet, it will be over soon. The oath will be completed once the light goes off.”

So as they waited for the light to fade, Lyon realized how the pain was no longer phasing him, as despite how gory and messy this handshake look, it all doesn’t really bother him anymore. In a way, he already felt himself a bit stronger than before. He stood there with a dumb grin on his face, creeping out even Father, when a question suddenly popped to mind, breaking him from his smile and releasing Father from his uneasiness “I was just wondering. Aren’t you scared I’m gonna go off and tell other people of this sketchy-ass ordeal.”

“I’m not. ‘Cause I know you won’t.” smirked Father

He slowly lowered down his right hand as the light has already started to diminish “How are you so sure?” asked Lyon as opened up his eyes

“Because a beast don’t give away its prey.” Fuck me that line was cringy. Father muttered and pinched himself

“That was fucking cringy as shit.” said Lyon with his signature disappointed, monotoned face and tone

I know!! Father silently cringed, but it was shown all over his face

Luckily for Father, the light faded as soon as he answered, he abruptly retreated his hand and jumped out of the circle, turning around as he did to cover his blooming-red face. Lyon resisted the temptation to laugh, as he doesn’t want to tick off Father now once the contract’s done and questions could finally be answered. He walked up to Father but before he could ask his first question, Father cleanly cut off a piece of cloth from his robe with his knife and handed it to Lyon “Use it to cover the wound for now.” Lyon courteously accepted it and bandaged it around his palm “That’s a nasty cut you did there. It’s gonna leave a scar.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Lyon quickly shrugged off the wound and made it look like as if it was nothing, despite both of them knowing how much trouble that one cut caused Lyon “Now tell me what I am in for.”

Instead of answering, Father just gestured his hand to Lyon “Let’s walk back, first.”

                                                                        •

The two have finally returned back to where it all started, the front of the church, with the rooted pale withered tree and the blood and vomit covered ground. “Now tell me.” Lyon couldn’t barely hold his excitement off anymore.

“Well as you know there are various ways for one to earn past-Title or even create a new one of their own. The first way is to be lucky enough and be born with one. The second way is to blindly get one later on in your life, either through personal experiences or just the way you conduct your life. And finally, the third way is to seek them yourself.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“When a Title Bearer passes away, their Title do not disappear, it just simply waits for another holder. So when people learned of an existing Title, they will try to obtain it by filling in criteria fitting to obtain such Title.”

“I’m still not getting you here.” the confused boy asked

“So, say you’re soughing for the Title Kin of Flame.” Father mentioned one of the most famous Title out there, and one of Lyon’s favorite. He has read all about it from history books in the library. He knew everything about the Title, like how it allowed their bearer to become a literal manifestation of flame, and that its last known bearer was a Demstone prince of the neighboring kingdom, Wesmere, twenty-four years ago. Learning about Titles were the one of the few joys, Lyon found in his life. “Then one way for you to obtain it could be to engulf yourself in flame, or maybe be an arsonist. There were rumors of how its last wielder, the prince Arno Demstone earned it after he intentionally burned himself to try and get it.”

“What? He could have died!”

“But he didn’t, and if the rumors are true, then that means he got ahold on one of the most powerful and prominent Title there is through that way. Yet after his death, many tried to copy him and in return there were many burnt corpses at one point in time.” That last statement caught Lyon off guard as he slightly jumped back “So you understand it now? Of how high the cost to obtain a Title is, and how slim and unpredictable the result is. That’s why I didn’t want to make you promise anything rash.” said Father with a soft voice “Most people tends to quit at this point. So what says you?”

Lyon paused for a moment before gripping his bleeding-fist tightly and stomped his foot “Good. It just means I have less competition.” he grinned

“Way fewer than you think.” sneered Father “Well here goes nothing.” Father took in a deep breath and released it as if he’s about to breathe out fire “The Title I’ll help you to obtain is call Master of Death.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Several moments passed as the awkward silence ensued. Lyon’s eyes have reduced to mere dots on his face. “What kind of edgy-ass Title is that…?” he once again used his disappointed facade

“Hey! Watch your mouth, runt. What you’re calling cringy is undoubtedly one of the rarest, most ancient and godly Title there is. There hasn’t been a bearer of that Title for centuries.” explained Father with pride and joy as if he was the one who bore it

Godly… Lyon’s glowed up from those mere words just like the child he was “Never mind, keep going. I’m intrigued.” muttered Lyon with a sly grin while stroking his chin

“Remember how I said that most people have already tend to quit at this point?” Father reminded Lyon of the danger that came with the surge for strength.

“Yeah. What about it?”

“Well, this is when all quit.” said Father with an ominous tone “The requirements for this Title is… well, what does Death do?”

This simple query, that even a babe knows the answer to, struck Lyon like a hundred rocks threw by Dick. The moment he heard the name of the Title, he had already more or less figured out what was awaiting him, he just didn’t want to hear it out loud. He lifted up his chin and with the same monotoned face but now also pale and tensed, as he gripped his fists and felt the blood rushing across his body and soaking the blood rag “You want me to kill…” said Lyon in a somber voice

“Yes.” answered Father

“How many?” asked Lyon with little emotions in his eyes

“As many needed until you get it.” answered Father with little care in his face

“Who?” asked Lyon

“Could be anyone or anything. Could be a thief, a guard, a dog, a kid, a friend. It doesn’t matter who I command you to kill. You should not sway or sliver at any point, for Death kills indiscriminately and without remorse.” Lyon remained silent. He knew that he talked a lot about how he’s willing to do anything for a chance at strength, but when the inevitable truth lay in front of him, he couldn’t help but to second-guess himself. “I’m gonna ask you one more time just because you’ve shown more balls on a nine-year-old than any adults ever had. Are you sure you still wanna do this?”

At that moment, time stood still for Lyon. Every ounce of his body was telling him no, telling him to just decline Father’s offer and return to be a regular kid, but as he looked down to the ground and saw his blood and puke reeking off the dirt, and looked up just to see his blood-covered fist; he remembered how much he had to endure his entire life and how he doesn’t want this to prolong any longer. With his one good hand, he again slapped himself across the face.

“Stop doing that!! What is wrong with you?!” Father questioned Lyon’s sanity

“Yeah, I’m sure.” answered Lyon with a face swollen like a ball

In his entire life of meeting all sorts of people, he had never met such a strong-willed kid. Father couldn’t help but smile. “Good. Training starts at every midnight from now on, after everyone’s asleep. Got it?” calmly said Father as he turned around and walked towards the church house.

“Yeah.” as Father was one step away from the door, another question popped into the head of the curious Lyon “Wait I was wondering, why don’t you try to get this Title yourself? I thought you’re also seeking one for yourself?” asked Lyon

Upon hearing, Father turned his head back and faced Lyon “Well, Death isn’t really my thing, ya’ know?” answered Father with a slick smirk “I know you’re still scared, but don’t worry I will always watch your back.” He waved at Lyon as his back turned and he entered the church. That was ironic. whispered Lyon after he was sure that Father couldn’t hear him.

At that moment, as the great gate opened and father’s shadow submerged inside the church house, Lyon stood alone in the churchyard at the dead of night. Everything that had happened in the past hour all seemed so surreal to him; he was angry that he got bully, then he’s happy because he was saved by Father, and now he doesn’t know what to feel. This whole promise of power from Father all sound like cliched that he had already read through over and over in his manga. I hope I’m doing the right thing. murmured Lyon to himself as he walked through the gate, inside clouded in darkness like the deepest abyss filled with its wretched monsters that would have scared the living soul out of the past-Lyon if Father wasn’t there to hold his hand. He stood still at the edge that separate the moonlight and the valley of shadow, and carelessly thought Well if I’m gonna be Death, I better get use to this. Thus, as if he’s shed a new skin, Lyon leisurely sauntered in, all while whistling to the melody of the night.