CH22 Exchanging Oaths
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"Before the presence of the Head of House Kroft, I Zora Frost, do solemnly vow my life, my strength, and my unwavering devotion to you, Leo Xander, my Master. From this day forth, I am yours– your blade in darkness, your shield in peril, your hand in all matters of trust. I shall stand beside you when the world turns cold, and kneel before you when duty calls it so.
"No force shall part me from your side, nor shall any trial weaken my resolve. Your burdens shall be mine to share, your victories mine to honour, and your name mine to cherish above all else. Where you lead, I shall follow. Where you falter, I shall hold you firm. Where you command, I shall obey– not from duty alone, but from the quiet truth that you are the keeper of my loyalty, my purpose... my very being.
"Neither time nor distance, neither hardship nor sorrow, shall sever the vow I now make. Should all other turn away, I shall remain. Should the weight of the world bear down upon you, I shall bear it with you. Until my hands grow weak and my breath is no more, my Master, I am yours– now always, and beyond." Zora swore with an earnest smile.
Leo felt choked.
"Why? Why would you do this? You could have joined the Guild. You could have made a better life for yourself." He said.
"That is not the life I wish for. The life I want is to always be by your side, always. All of this, the Guild, everything... was given to me because of you. So what if I give it all up because of you." Zora replied.
Her response was unexpected and caught Leo unprepared. He didn't know how to reply.
He was very agitated when, suddenly, a familiar cold wind blew through his mind.
Before he even realised it, his agitation was no more. His emotions pushed down his mind, leaving with a clear head– a rational and calculating clear head.
Leo thought about things rationally.
He deduced that Rowland was unlikely to let him leave without a Chamberlain. The man seemed determined to at least have some sort of assurance of Leo's safety.
Zora's talent and hard work was without doubt. Even without a strong Gift, if she continued the way she was, she would most likely become a strong Hunter.
Having such a person by his side, was ultimately a good thing for Leo.
And more so, it looked like Zora was determined to walk this path.
Another thing Leo was able to account for now that he was sober was the consequence if he refused the oath.
According to the lessons he was thought, there were traditionally only two paths from a rejected oath.
Death to the oath taker or they become the Lord's worst enemy due to having their honour trampled upon.
Although Leo didn't think Rowland would really kill Zora because he rejected her oath, he couldn't be truly sure. For all of Rowland's fatherly nature, the War King was very strict about rules and etiquette.
Leo also couldn't be sure of how thoroughly indoctrinated Zora was. Who knew if she would really kill herself for some honour?
Lastly, Leo could go to war with everyone in the world, even with Rowland in fact, however he would never be able to bring himself to become enemies with Zora.
No matter how Leo rationally thought about it, there was only one decision to make.
He gritted his teeth in annoyance, but he eventually said– with proper grace and etiquette,
"In the presence of the Head of House Kroft, I Leo Xander-Kroft, accept your oath, Zora Frost. And in doing so, I bind you not only to my service but to my trust and my fate. From this day forward, you stand as my blade in battle and my hand in duty. I shall rely upon your wisdom, your strength, and your loyalty as I would my own.
"Let no command of mine dishonour your devotion, nor any burden I place upon you be given without just cause. You have pledged yourself to me, and in turn I swear; You shall never stand alone, nor shall your service go unheeded or unvalued.
"Your vow is heard, your loyalty received, and your place at my side assured."
Leo reached out his hand to help Zora back to her feet.
Unbeknownst to him, in that moment, his Truth-Seeker eyes activated for a split second. It scanned Zora's mind before shooting a portion of his Mental Energy into it.
Its result or effect unknown.
All Leo felt was a sudden reduction in his pool of Mental Energy, but now was not the time to investigate the cause.
He still had a fealty to solemnly accept.
He continued, "Now rise, Zora Frost, as one bound to me – not by chains, but by the bond of trust and the honour of your word. From this day, until the last, you are mine, as I am yours in duty, companionship and faith."
Leo pulled her back to her feet, and he hugged her.
"Thank you, Zora." He said in a tone only the two of them could hear.
A smile bloomed on the girl's face.
She hugged him as well.
Cough!
Jaras faked a cough after allowing the two a tender moment.
"Young Master Leo, Zora will be undergoing the rest of her training. It will be a further six months before she will be ready to properly takeover as your Chamberlain, and knight should the need arise." The old man said.
Leo nodded in understanding.
Zora pretty much had to take a crash course on the high-society matters that Leo had yet to know so that she can help him with them when the need arises.
The girl left the room with Jaras following behind.
After Zora exited the room, and just before he did, Jaras said something to Leo,
"Young Master Leo, you should know, a Chamberlain's oath isn't taught. Each person has to come up with their own oaths. The oath reflects the prospective Chamberlain's thoughts to their would-be Lord.
"Zora's oath was hers alone, and they reflect her thoughts towards you."
"I understand." Leo nodded.
"Do you really?" Jaras muttered.
He gave Leo a bow with a smile before leaving the room.
Leo tilted his head in confusion as he heard Jaras' mutter. He wondered what he missed from Jaras' words.
He couldn't come up with anything after a few moments of thinking. So, pushed the matter aside and instead turned to Rowland.
"Uncle, you really expect me to believe you couldn't convince her not to take this path? She could have become a real asset for the guild!" Leo said.
"That is debatable. Besides, even if it were true, losing out on one genius won't be the end of the DoomMane Guild. Compared to what that same genius would mean to you, it was better for you to have her." Rowland replied.
"You are evading my point, Uncle." Leo argued.
Rowland stood up from his seat and step in front of his nephew.
Towering over the teenager, he said, "Do you remember what I said about her when we first met? I told you she would be trained until she was old enough to make a decision on her future.
"Her awakening ceremony may still be close to a year away, but like you, she is more mature than her age. And like you, she had made up her mind on what she wanted, and what she would be willing to do and give up to get it.
"Like Jaras said, her oath was her thoughts voiced in her own words. Did that sound to you like someone who hadn't thought it through? Someone who didn't understand the choice they were making? Someone... who could be convinced otherwise?"
Leo was hit by his uncle's words.
He smiled wryly and answered, "No."
Rowland took a step back, easing the pressure he projected onto the teenager.
"In that case, I advise you to cease the pointless blaming. Shoulder like a true man, the responsibility you have accepted, and become a lord and Master worthy of the sacrifice she is making for you.
"She gave up the easier and more luxurious life in the Guild to stay by your side. It will be your responsibility to provide for her the things she would have likely gotten in the guild. You cannot let her talents waste away just because she chose to believe in you. Am I clear?"
"Yes. Uncle." Leo nodded solemnly.
Rowland placed his hands on Leo's shoulders.
"Going forward, you will not only have to provide for yourself, but for Zora as well. I hope you see this not as a burden, but the responsibility it is.
"There are two ways a man grows quickly; one is having a purpose and the other is responsibility. One comes from within and is towards oneself while the other is from and towards others.
"She is not a burden for she has given you one of these two ways. Find the other within yourself, and you will become a man your parents, I, and more importantly, you will be proud of."
He patted the teenager's shoulder.
Uncle and nephew smiled.
"Alright. Let's go. I promised you some things for when you become an adult. It is time to deliver on them."
(To be continued...)