Psycho X Psychic

Eron seemed hostile while he looked around. He was wondering why in the world would Teren bring him to a karaoke bar.

"We aren't singing, do we?"

"No, not we."

Teren replied as he led him to one room. Arriving there, Eron noticed a high school girl looking through the list of songs while her other hand holds her phone up. She has a studious face which was pretty unusual for a place where you should have fun and sing.

Once they entered, the high school girl looked at Teren with an angry look before her eyes shifted to Eron. She expressed shock and confusion.

"Umm... who's he?"

Catherine rudely pointed at Eron. Coincidentally, Eron wanted to ask the same question as he looked at Teren who sat on the couch as if nothing's wrong.

"He's here to talk with me. I think it's something immediate but since we already planned to meet up, I have to compromise. Don't worry, you can see him as a total stranger and at the same time, an audience. You can call him Eron."

"Don't chalk this up as if it's part of the training."

Catherine complained but what Teren said is logical so she didn't really argue much. However, looking at Eron, she felt nervous.

Teren then looked at Eron and introduced Catherine.

"You can call her Catherine. She can be trusted."

Under the assumption that she's still under the "contract", Catherine didn't comment on anything. But mostly, her mood got slightly better when she heard that she can be trusted.

"Hm, I'm not going to doubt you but this is important. We are even skeptical if we should tell you this or not. However... it's an emergency."

Eron glanced at Catherine who's interest was piqued.

"No, it's alright. You can say that she's my servant under a contract."

"Hmph!" Catherine harrumphed when she heard this and went back to her business in looking up songs.

"Contract... don't tell me you have a Spirit of Contract? No, of course you have, that was a stupid question."

The reason why Eron was slightly surprised was that even though the Spirit of Contract is not 'Great', it is still rare.

But the truth is different. Teren almost lost all his Spirits. Thankfully, Eron didn't pursue it. Teren is confident in lying and acting but he's not perfect. There may still be slip-ups so he's relieved he evaded that so easily.

"So... what's the urgency?"

Teren asked which Eron took a moment of hesitation before answering.

"We have found that the Spirit War should've started. However, something occurred and it failed to start. I'm not going into details but the SSDA wants to smoke you out and that's why they have ample preparations."

What Eron didn't know is that Teren is an insider. But the latter didn't speak up much to this.

"This is worrying since we need the Spirit War to start as soon as possible." Eron paused before continuing with a sigh, "Brother Oldren's condition is worsening. If can't get the Great Spirit of Healing in a month or so... I'm afraid that everything will be too late."

He expressed solemnity in speaking the last part of his sentence. Eron then looked at Teren and asked:

"You do remember our deal, right?"

"Yes, you don't need to threaten me."

"I'm not threatening you."

"Twists of tongues don't get to me. It's a threat for me. You're saying that if I failed, I will lose your protection, and maybe, you will even sell me out."

"..."

Eron didn't argue. They didn't particularly have a friendly relationship. It's all about business.

"But don't worry. We don't need the Spirit War. This is convenient, I actually want to update you about the Spirit of Healing."

"What?" Eron creased his eyebrows.

"I already have the Great Spirit of Healing."

To show it, Teren put up his fingers, and with his other hand, Crack*, his fingers were all bent in the wrong direction. Even Eron immediately shivered to see this, what more for Catherine as she hid her fingers, imagining that it would be done to her.

Eron has a fair share of experiencing and seeing brutality, however, self-inflictions are another case. Why would someone do that?

Teren's fingers were profusely bleeding. Flesh and bones could be seen from it. However, there was only a bead of sweat that trickled from his face. His expression... stayed the same. For Eron, this was the scariest part.

But, at the next moment, that gory mess began to turn back to its original form, as if time was rewinding. It was slow, yet visible - obviously inhumane.

It went against all logic and reasoning. Even though it took a long while, Eron and Catherine stared at it with complex emotions before it finally and fully healed up.

"Do you think a normal Spirit of Healing could do this?"

Teren naturally lied without actually lying.

"No... that's impossible. Only a Great Spirit of Healing could act so fast and efficient."

He didn't say more and waited for Eron to make a decision. 

He's telling Eron that to heal their eldest brother, one of the Five Lords, Oldren, he has to meet him up. But how could Eron agree to this? He may admire Teren but that doesn't mean he trusts him.

However, there are no other options.

"I... have to discuss this with the others first."

Eron muttered while pondering.

'Letting the Devil Himself into the mansion is like letting a snake in. In this case, the snake is unpredictable and extra venomous. Would it benefit us or would it be wrong to trust him?'

Seeing Eron's skepticism showing up on his face, Teren butted in.

"If I do end up healing your brother, I hope I receive a fair compensation."

'That's it! That's why I'm skeptical. Why would the Devil Himself help us? Of course, he should benefit from it too!'

Eron figured it out and asked.

"What kind of compensation would you rather have?"

"It's simple, a friendly relationship with the Drago House and backup."