"Since you've told me what you're after,” Due continued, his grin unwavering. “There's something else I'm curious about," he said, leaning towards her with a hint of mischief in his voice.

  Elara's suspicion deepened. She had a feeling she knew where this was heading. "And what's that?" she asked, her voice laced with a touch of wariness.

  Due cocked his head to the side, feigning innocence. "Oh, just this little detail," he began, his tone casual yet tinged with curiosity. "You mentioned you're an interactor, right?"

  Elara narrowed her eyes, her guard going up even further. "Yeah, that's right. What about it?" she replied, her tone cautious.

  "Well," Due replied, his tone deliberately nonchalant, "I happen to know that your interaction type has a unique characteristic."

  Elara's heart sank as she began to suspect where this conversation was leading. "And what characteristic is that?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.

  "Oh, just the whole 'bonding' aspect," Due replied with a sly grin. "You see, the thing about order-type interactors is that they tend to form special, almost unbreakable bonds."

  Elara stiffened, her eyes widening slightly. It was precisely this aspect of her type interaction that she had tried to forget about for years. "Yeah, I'm aware," she replied curtly, her tone betraying a hint of vulnerability. "What's your point?”

  Due chuckled at her defensiveness. "Don't worry, I'm not here to judge or pry," he reassured her, his voice softer this time.

  Elara relaxed ever so slightly, her guard still firmly in place. "Then what are you getting at?" she asked, her tone a touch less guarded than before.

  Due leaned against the table, his demeanor more serious now. "I just find it...intriguing, your determination to develop a capturing ability for this specific muscular woman. It's clear there's a lot of emotion involved. Perhaps even...a bond?”

  Elara's jaw tightened at Due's observation. She had hoped to keep her motivations close to her chest, but it seemed the talking beaver was perceptive. "Yeah, okay, so what if there is?" she retorted, a mix of frustration and defensiveness in her tone.

  Due let out a soft hum, picking up on her emotional response. "Just making an observation, don't get your hackles all riled up. I just find it fascinating, is all. You know, the way you're so fixated on catching this buff woman…”

  Elara's jaw clenched, her emotions now warring with her rational thinking. She knew Due was pushing her buttons, but the beaver's words struck a nerve. "You make it sound like I'm obsessed or something," she retorted, her voice laced with a hint of defensiveness.

  Due chuckled, enjoying the banter. "Can you blame me for thinking that, with how much you keep talking about her?" he retorted, his tone bordering on teasing.

  "Oh, shut it," Elara shot back, her voice dripping with annoyance. She couldn't deny the small stab of guilt that came with Due's words. "I'm not obsessed. I just...have business with her, alright? It's different, okay? Just help me train to get strong as quick as possible!”

  "Easy there, hothead," Due replied with a chuckle. He leaned back casually, clearly enjoying the banter. "No need to be all prickly. I'll help you train, promise. Firstly, since you're all gung-ho about this muscle mommy you're after, why not come up with a vow dedicated to your chase? It will make you more powerful against her if you two engage in battle.”

  Elara's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at Due's flippant remark. "Muscle mommy???? Seriously?! How old are you?"

  Due gave her a cheeky grin. "Old enough to know what buttons to push, young lady."

  Elara let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair. "Fine, I'll play along with your stupid vow idea. What exactly do I have to say? Some kind of cheesy one-sided oath or something?”

  Due chuckled at her exasperation, enjoying pressing the gem sprite's buttons. "Not cheesy, just heartfelt and sincere," he replied, his tone more serious now. "It doesn't have to be anything grand or over-the-top, just a simple and specific pledge to your hunt.

  Elara scratched her chin, rolling her eyes as she thought for a moment. "So...uh...for instance, I can say something like, 'I, as a Void Mage focused on Interaction, pledge to capture the muscular female figure.'? Simple, specific, and direct."

  Due giggled as he heard the pledge. "Heh! No, not a literal pledge to find and capture her, but a set of conditions placed upon yourself that relate to your cause.”

  Elara's frown deepened at Due's laugh. She was already annoyed, but the beaver's amusement only added fuel to the fire.

  "Conditions related to my cause, huh?" she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

  Due nodded, still chuckling at her annoyed reaction. "Exactly," he affirmed, his tone calm and collected now. "You need to set a few conditions for yourself that are directly linked to both your motive and your ability. It can be anything at all, but I have a specific one in mind."

  Elara shook her head at Due's suggestion. "No, let me try it myself first. How about I make the condition of 'I can only use my ability on her'? That should make my ability powerful, right?”

  Due's smirk widened at her suggestion. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "Hmmm, not exactly," he replied, his tone laced with a hint of playfulness. "I'll give you points for the attempt, but that's a pretty weak vow. Ya won't get much from it."

  Elara's frown deepened, clearly frustrated with Due's attitude. She knew the beaver was having fun at her expense. "Fine. How about I swear my very own life on it?" she asked resolutely with no hesitation. "My vow is that I can only use my offensive abilities on her, and if I use it on anyone else, then I'll die. That's how serious I am.”

  Due's smile faded somewhat, his expression growing a little more serious. He could sense Elara's determination, but he had to ensure she understood what she was committing to.

  "I admire your dedication, but no. Vows that ends in the Void Mage's death if broken cannot be made. It is impossible to create a vow with the Void that results in physical harm or death of others, or yourself.”

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Elara's annoyance only deepened as Due shot down her idea. She was trying to show just how serious she was with her commitment, but the talking beaver seemed hellbent on preventing her from making a powerful vow.

  "Why not? Why can't I make a personal sacrifice like that?" she retorted, her voice tinged with frustration. "I thought I was meant to make a vow that is specific to my cause and ability.”

  Due's expression softened as he could sense Elara's genuine frustration. He decided to try a different approach. "You're not understanding. You can't make a vow that ends in your own—or even someone else's—harm or death. It's against the rules of the universe itself."

  Elara leaned forward slightly, her tone reflecting her rising frustration. "So what's an alternative to that, then? I want to go all-out on this woman, so I only want the best I can get. If I can't put my life on the line, what CAN I do?”

  Due thought for a moment, a sly grin spreading across his face. He knew he had a solution, but he wanted to see if Elara would bite. "I have an alternative, something... a little more...unorthodox."

  Elara's eyes widened, her interest piqued. She didn't like the sound of the beaver's "unorthodox" alternative, but her determination outweighed her reservations. "What is it?" she asked, her voice betraying a hint of both curiosity and wariness.

  Due chuckled at her cautious tone, sensing her apprehension. "Well..." he began, drawing out his words. "The alternative I'm thinking of...is a bit...uncomfortable to say, I'll admit."

  Elara's wariness grew. She couldn't help but feel like she was stepping onto dangerous ground. "Just get to the point, already," she snapped, her annoyance seeping into her voice. "What is this 'uncomfortably unorthodox' alternative?”

  Due leaned back in his chair, still radiating a nonchalant demeanor. "Okay," he began with that same sly grin plastered on his face. "The alternative is... a blood oath."

  Elara's expression changed to a surprised frown. "A... blood oath?" she repeated, her voice tinged with both curiosity and concern.

  Due's smile widened. "Precisely," he affirmed, his tone still laced with a hint of mischief. "A blood oath is a binding contract formed through the magic of blood, with severe repercussions for breaking it.”

  Elara leaned back on the table, her frown deepening as Due explained the concept of a blood oath. The mention of magic and severe repercussions made her understandably wary.

  "Blood oath... it sounds like a dangerous game," she remarked, her voice laced with caution. "What exactly would be the repercussions if the contract is broken?”

  Due's grin only widened as Elara responded. He could sense her apprehension but wanted to push her further. "If you were to break a blood oath..." he started, his tone turning more serious now. "Then you would face the consequences of the magical contract. Depending on the severity of the oath, the consequences can range from moderate to... extreme."

  Elara's frown deepened still. She was now visibly uneasy, but her desire for power had not wavered. "And just how 'severe' can these outcomes get?" she asked warily, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation.

  Due took a step forward, his grin shifting into a more sinister smile. "Oh, the consequences can be quite... severe," he repeated, his tone laced with warning. "Depending on the nature of the oath, you could suffer anything from severe physical pain and debilitating injuries to even...death."

  Elara's frown deepened, cupping her cheek with her hand as she shook her head. "Severe physical pain? Death? I thought you told me that harm or death wasn't allowed as an end result of breaking the vow, why are you switching up all of a sudden?”

  Due chuckled as he noted Elara's confusion. "Ah, the difference lies in the nature of the oath," he explained, his tone dripping with a hint of smugness. "When I mentioned no harm or deaths, I was speaking about the vow you wanted to make. Blood oaths are an entirely separate case. They are the most extreme and binding type of vow a Void Mage can make. Hence, the severe consequences."

  "Go on..." Elara encouraged with a nod.

  Due nodded back before continuing. "You see, a vow is made with the Void, and as you now know, a vow made with the Void that results in your harm or death is not allowed, as per the rules of the universe. However, blood oats are the only way you can get around that, because blood oaths are made with the Darkness. The Void and the Darkness are two entirely separate entities, and how they operate are different."

  Elara took a second to process the information before making an observation, "So...in other words, this is a loophole?”

  Due's smile widened at Elara's observation. "In a sense, yes," he confirmed with a chuckle. "A blood oath is essentially a loophole. It allows the individual to go against the rules of the universe in a certain context."

  Elara's frown grew deeper, her wariness still clearly present. "So...you're saying the only way to bypass the limitations is to make a blood oath," she pondered aloud, "and it is also the most dangerous one I can possibly make?”

  Due's smile remained unchanged as he affirmed his words. "Indeed, that is correct," he replied, his tone still laced with both playfulness and seriousness. "It is the only way for you to bypass the limitations, and yes, it is the most dangerous type of oath you can make. The consequences for breaking it are...well, severe."

  Elara's frown deepened even further. "Define 'severe'," she asked skeptically, her voice carrying a hint of a challenge. "I want specifics.”

  Due chuckled at her demand for specifics, clearly amused by her challenge. "Very well," he replied, his tone laced with a hint of amusement. "The potential consequences for breaking a blood oath can include anything from severe physical pain, debilitating injuries, even death. It all depends on the nature and specifics of the oath itself, of course. Also, since you're making a vow with the Darkness and not the Void, then the Darkness will be able to exert its influence over you at any time, and you may not be yourself anymore, but instead a puppet of the Darkness. If you descend TOO far into the Darkness by abusing the massive boost in power it gives you, you may even transform into a Depraved: a mindless creature of the Dark that only knows rage, pain, and destruction.”

  Elara's frown deepened at Due's detailed explanation. She found herself increasingly uneasy, her determination wavering just a bit. Still, her stubbornness prevailed, and she pushed past her hesitation.

  "So...if I were to make this blood oath," she started, her voice laced with a hint of uncertainty, "there would be a risk of me losing total control, becoming a mindless monster that craves only pain and destruction... Then so be it, if that's what it takes to take her down, then I'll do it.”

  Due's eyes widened at Elara's declaration. He hadn't expected her to respond so brazenly. "You do realize the risks, don't you?" he inquired, his tone serious. "Once you make a blood oath, there's no turning back. There is no undoing it, no taking it back. You truly are willing to take that chance?"

  Elara nodded, her determination unwavering. "Yes," she affirmed, her voice firm. "I am fully aware of the potential consequences, and I am prepared to face them. I want—no, NEED that power, so let's do it.”

  Due's surprise turned into a sly grin at Elara's determined response. He was impressed by her resolve, but he still felt the need to give her a final warning. "One last thing you must know before we continue," he mentioned, his tone growing more serious. "The Darkness that will be bound to you through this blood oath will not only enhance your abilities but also influence you. It will change you, in ways you cannot fully anticipate. Are you still certain you want to move forward with this?”

  Elara's determination never wavered. In fact, it only seemed to grow stronger at Due's warnings.

  "Yes," she asserted, her voice firm and unwavering. "I am ready. I'm well aware of the potential risks and the Darkness' influence, but I still want to proceed. Whatever it takes to give me the edge I need, I'm willing to make the sacrifice.”

  Due nodded, his smile widening at Elara's unwavering determination. "Alright then," he said, his tone a mix of seriousness and admiration for her fierce resolve. "If you're certain you're prepared for this, then there's nothing I can do to stop you. However, again, you can't make a vow nor a blood oath without an ability to tie it to, so we need to work on that first before you make that oath.”

  Elara nodded, her gaze never leaving Due's. "Alright, what are my options?" she inquired, curiosity and eagerness creeping into her voice.

  Due's grin widened at her question. "Considering your Aura Types are Interaction and Projection, and your Attribute, Order...there are a couple options for ya," he replied, his tone teasing.

  "Then please," Elara said with impatience, "Let's begin.”

  Due chuckled at Elara's impatient demeanor, finding it both entertaining and charming. "You're so very eager," he remarked, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Now, pay close attention."

  Elara took a deep breath, trying to calm her impatience. "I'm listening," she affirmed, her eagerness still present but now mixed with a hint of anticipation.