Chapter 62: Binding Oath

  Another morning, another breakfast. Waking up on an alien planet, in alien city had become normal far too quickly, Marcus thought. He had gotten used to it, to the green people, to the strange rhythmic language and a certain blood draining woman. But how much had he actually seen or learned. While he was busy with Azaa, the scientists had investigated the ginghi and interacted with them on a daily basis. There were piles of research documents and Marcus decided to read a lot of them once he had more time at his hands. He looked up from his, now empty, bowl of cereals and looked at Achara who just finished a piece of white toast with strawberry jelly. “How are you feeling? That was a nasty hit you took back there.” He said.

  “I’m all fine now, thanks to your blood. I have never felt a rush like that before.” Achara said and Marcus could see Kou being not that happy. Marcus had a hunch why. Friends or not, right now the blood of another man was pulsing through the veins of his woman. You can not escape basic instincts, Marcus knew all to well. No matter how rational you think about something, if your instincts get involved you can not ignore them fully. “Glad to hear it.” He just said to finish the topic. “I think, once we are back home I might want to start training for Phase Walk. I hit my limits for just using invisibility. My vanishing time is about 0.3 seconds and getting it much faster will take a long time. Getting invisible does also not protect me against giant claws.” Achara said and Kou nodded. I bet they have already discussed this in detail before telling me, Marcus thought and gave the two a positive smile. “Sounds good, lets go over this when we are back.”

  Marcus knew Achara had unlocked Phase Walk for quite some time but had not integrated it into her fighting style yet. It was a big task and she had decided to improve her vanishing combat style first before trying to add in something new. Achara was always the most silent member of their team and clan. She rarely took the initiative or spoke up but that was not because she was weak, it was just her character. She could get very scary, especially when Janette was stealing food before it was ready to be served. Marcus smiled thinking about it.

  The chair next to him was drawn back and he expected Janette but it was Grace and next to her Carmen. “Good morning.” he said but they did not look like good or like morning. “Because of the time differences we have been awake half the night talking with the big shots back home. Things are moving quickly.” Grace said and buttered up a piece of bread and put a few slices of cheese on it. “There will be an important meeting in the next days and we are told to come home to give our report in person. That includes you Marcus.” Carmen said and looked even more tired than Grace.

  “Me?” Marcus was surprised. “Yes, you had a lot of contact with Azaa and had combat experience together with the ginghi too. Besides you are the only human who has ever met her father, the Grand Protector.” Grace said while eating. Marcus was not aware that nobody else had seen him until now. “Me leaving might cause some problems.” He said and thought about Azaa’s angry face and what she could do when she got angry. He shuddered on the inside. “Exactly because of this we have a meeting with the ginghi in an hour. You should be there too because your case will be the most problematic point.”

  Janette joined them at the table just before they wanted to leave. She had some fruit with her and started to work on a big juicy orange. They had not spent much time together over the last days and when they did, a lot of people were around. Marcus wanted to just hang out and talk about a lot of stuff he had on his mind. He watched her eat and smiled.

  “Love you too.” Janette said with a wide grin and orange pieces in her hands. Marcus needed a breath or two to get his calm back after this surprise attack. He glared at her, took his plate and left the table. “Later, love.” he said without turning back but he could hear Janette laughing, enjoying their private comedy.

  On the way to the meeting Grace walked next to Marcus “I did not know you two were lovers.” She said with a good bit of curiosity. “Ohhh we are not. We are friends, but she is a demon and has a wife.” Marcus said still trying to figure out a way to get back at Janette for that stunt. “A wife? Interesting, must be a tough lady to keep up with her.” Grace said and Marcus laughed “You have no idea.”

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  They entered a large room, that looked very official. A half circle of chairs, a podium and a lot of benches in front of them. Marcus could imagine that politics happened in here.

  Carmen and the diplomats were already here together with Jerry the translator. They greeted everyone and a few minutes later Azaa and her sister Uela entered together with Mrs. Sato. Marcus was about to greet them when eight more ginghi men and women walked in.

  They all were of advanced age and Marcus made a safe bet that this was the Council of Elders. The elderly men and women took place on the special chairs. Azaa and her sister stood on the sides of the council and Marcus could feel Azaa’s eyes on him.

  The discussion started and the diplomats together with Jerry explained the situation. For several minutes they discussed procedures and finer points of the whole operation going forward. Marcus learned that the UN intended to open a formal embassy in the near future and that various aid packages where planed too. Then his name came up and things got a bit more heated. Azaa spoke up and Grace quickly intervened making it clear Marcus would return for the “procedure”. Marcus did not say anything and dared not look into Azaa’s direction but after some debate, a once per month schedule was accepted. Marcus realized that there was no ending date for this agreement and wondered if he would do this for the rest of his life. More things were discussed but after his point had been cleared up, everything worked out smoothly.

  The meeting dissolved and Marcus watched small groups come together and discuss the meeting. He was about to go too when Azaa stepped in his path and said “Follow me.” in English. Her tone did not leave any room for discussion and Marcus together with Mrs. Sato walked through the city to a well known destination. Marcus followed Azaa and let his eyes wander around. The ginghi had gotten used to the humans too. He watched a small child, standing next to its mother, wave to Marcus with a smile. He waved back and nodded to the mother. They walked past one of the markets and people made space to let them through, not for him but for the ancient mega Blood Mage in front of him. Marcus enjoyed this city a lot, he realized. There were no cars, no advertisements, no phones and hasty people. Everything felt a bit slower and more natural.

  The door closed behind Marcus and he walked over to his usual place of sacrifice. Azaa carried the glass carafe to the table and waited for Marcus to get ready. They had not talked since the meeting and Marcus felt bad that this was the way they would part until he returned in a month. He watched his blood slowly curve through the air and gather in the finely crafted glass container.

  “Mrs. Sato, if possible I would like to have a private conversation with Azaa. Can I count on you to keep the contents of the discussion secret?” Marcus asked the translator and she nodded without hesitation.

  Marcus turned to Azaa and formulated what he wanted to say while the ginghi women observed him carefully. “You can not trust all humans. The people here are good people and they want to learn and understand. But not all humans are like that and the politics on Earth are complicated and often cruel. Many humans are going to want to use your people for their own profit or take from you what you call your own. Stay vigilant and don’t easily trust strangers.” Marcus finished and Mrs. Sato translated without a hint of dismay. On the contrary she seemed to enjoy her work.

  Azaa reacted much quicker than Marcus expected. Mrs. Sato translated “She wants to know if she can trust you.” Marcus looked into Azaa’s eyes and nodded. She said something again and Mrs. Sato looked a bit surprised. “Are you willing to take an oath? Will you vow to return, to give your blood until my father is healed?” Azaa finished the blood letting, stretched out her arm and grasped Marcus wrist. He held on to her wrist too and was surprised how soft and warm her skin felt.

  “How long will it take until your father is fully healed?” Marcus asked. “You are still too weak, your blood is not yet strong enough to remove the corruption completely. The strength of your blood needs to grow at least by half.” Azaa explained and Marcus calculated. That means I need at least 60 vitality? Or maybe a bit more, 65? That might take years, no, that will take years to achieve. Marcus thought about the consequences and looked into the calm, strong eyes of the ginghi woman. This was a great commitment, he understood and pressed her wrist slightly. “I vow to return and offer my blood until your father is fully healed.” Azaa nodded even before she heard the translation.

  She let go off his arm and Marcus was a bit surprised, somehow he had expected some kind of blood oath. Like, both would have to bleed and combine their blood kind of a deal. As he pointed that out Azaa said something that made Mrs. Sato smile in a certain way. “I take your word as a man.”

  Marcus walked back, a bit light headed, still absorbing the impressions of the events. She really did say man. I’m no longer a child in her eyes or did she just say it to manipulate him, like a child? No matter what, he would stand to his word, there was no question about it. He felt invigorated and more focused than in a long time. He had a new goal to work towards. Level 60.

  After returning to the human quarters he looked for Grace and found her together with Carmen, working through electronic documents. Marcus knocked on the open door of her room and stepped in. “I want my team to come with us, back to Earth. We will need an escort anyway.” He said in a resolute tone and Grace looked at him with her head slightly tilted. “I also want a proper contract regarding the blood draining, as we discussed before.” A lot of decisions have been made regarding him, without his consent. It was time he took back some control.