The question lingered in the air, quiet and sincere.
"Everyone usually waits to form a contract with something strong," she said carefully. "A magical beast. A high-ranked creature with real combat ability… or at least one with a bit of elemental power. especially someone like you."
She hesitated, then added more seriously, her voice lowering.
"You're… well, you're not just anyone. You're royalty. Shouldn't your familiars reflect that?"
"Everyone out there already mocks you," she admitted. "They call you useless. Powerless. A princess in name only…"
She hesitated, then continued anyway. "So if your familiars end up being two low-ranked beasts, they'll just laugh harder. They'll say it proves everything they've been saying..."
Her voice trailed off, but the weight of her concern was clear in her eyes.
The other girls fell silent again, the excitement dimming slightly as the reality of Cassia's point settled in.
It wasn't wrong.
In noble circles, in magic academies, in every corner of the world, familiars were status. Strength. Future potential.
Most powerful mages or nobles waited for years before choosing their first familiar—hoping to meet a rare, high-ranked beast worthy of a long-term partnership.
After all, a familiar bond was lifelong, and a weak familiar could limit one's potential.
Silence stretched.
But Astra simply blinked once.
Then slowly rose to her feet, The white serpent remained coiled near her side, its violet eyes reflecting the fading light like polished glass.
Astra was composed.
Unbothered.
"They've already been saying it for years," she said evenly.
She glanced at Cassia, then at the others, her voice cool, but not cold.
"Let them laugh if they want," she said calmly. "A title isn't what makes you strong. And strength isn't just about rank or appearance."
The wind moved gently through the grass, as if listening. Astra's eyes lowered slightly toward the serpent beside her.
"Sometimes, a partner chooses you—not the other way around."
"And in that moment… turning your back on them just because they are not strong enough—"
She paused, her tone dropping into a quiet, steel-edged whisper,
"—feels like the weakest thing you could possibly do."
Astra extended her hand, and Ella handed her a small blade. With practiced ease, she drew it across her left palm.
A thin line of crimson welled up immediately, sliding down her skin in a controlled trail.
The serpent watched her.
Calm.
Still.
But as she lowered her hand toward it, the creature suddenly turned its head away, refusing.
Astra blinked, the slightest crease forming between her brows.
She paused.
Didn't it want to form a contract? Why turn away now?
The others, too, were confused.
"Huh? Why won't it take her blood?" Melinda frowned.
"Did it change its mind?" Lora asked, uncertain.
"Or… was that not what it wanted in the first place?" Ella murmured.
Then Cassia's expression shifted, subtle at first, then sharply alert, as if a thread had just connected in her mind.
"Wait... Could it be…?" she whispered.
All eyes turned to her.
Cassia swallowed.
"Does it actually… want to form a soul contract with Her Highness?"
They all looked at each other, stunned into silence. The air thickened, heavy with disbelief.
Lily leaned forward slightly, voice barely audible. "A soul contract…?? But beasts are terrified of that!!!"
Lora shook her head immediately. "Even in the Familiar Realm, most beasts avoid it. It binds them forever…"
Claire's voice was quieter, almost uneasy. "It's not... Just loyalty. It's submission. Sharing a soul... Giving up freedom."
Ella nodded. "It means complete connection. If one dies, the other follows."
Melinda exhaled sharply. "That's extremely rare. For a summoned beast, its almost impossible."
All of them looked at the small white serpent again.
Astra's expression turned more serious.
She studied the snake for a long moment—its violet eyes glowing faintly, still locked with hers.
After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"Is that it? You don't want a blood contract…"
Her voice was calm, but lower now, measured.
"You want a soul contract instead?"
The serpent, as if understanding every word, immediately lifted its head and nodded, once, twice, frantically.
There was no hesitation.
No fear.
Astra remained quiet for a long time, staring at the tiny creature.
[Familiar contracts are divided into two types: Blood Contract and Soul Contract.
Blood Contract: Formed through blood and mana, this creates a physical, life-based bond. The familiar obeys the contractor but retains its independence. If the contractor dies, the bond dissolves and the familiar is freed, allowing it to form a new contract with someone else. While this type of contract can be severed, doing so brings intense pain and a temporary loss of power. In rare cases, it may even result in death, which is why few dare to break it once formed.
Soul Contract: Formed through soul essence, this bond connects the contractor and familiar on a deep spiritual level, allowing shared thoughts, emotions, and power. If one party dies, the other suffers severe backlash and may die as well. Soul Contracts are rare and extremely powerful, usually formed within the Familiar Realm by entering it through mana and soul consciousness. Because of the high risk and binding nature, most beasts refuse to enter such a contract, seeing it as unfair.]
Astra was quite calm. She slowly said to the snake,
"Think carefully."
Her gaze hardened.
"Once this is done… there's no going back. You'll be bound to me for life."
A brief pause.
"If I die… so will you."
The little white snake didn't even flinch.
It simply stared back into her eyes and nodded again, firm and unwavering.
"…Tch."
A quiet sound escaped Astra– half sigh, half resignation.
Astra handed the blade back to Ella. Her palm still stained with blood. Then she lowered her gaze to the little creature before her as if truly seeing it for the first time.
It was staring at her intently.
Astra whispered quietly, "Why do I keep running into such stubborn ones all the time…"
Then, she reached out with her uninjured right hand, her fingertips brushing against the center of the serpent's forehead as she closed her eyes.
A faint warmth pulsed beneath her skin, spreading from the point of contact like gentle ripples across still water.
The serpent's eyes glimmered softly, revealing a radiant core of soul essence just above its brow—a glowing wisp of light, fragile yet pure.
The air around them shimmered.
A pale silver light rose between them, soft and pulsing. Magic spiraled gently, weaving threads of silver and violet between Astra's fingers and the serpent's scaled body.
The pressure was different this time, not violent but deep and resonant as if awakening something deep within.
To form a soul contract, both hearts must willingly open to one another, forging a bond deeper than blood.
She felt the snake's essence reach out, seeking harmony with her own. Slowly, she relaxed, focusing her mind to welcome it, her palm pressing lightly against the faint glow.
A surge of energy blossomed between them, and an ethereal rune shimmered briefly in the air, enveloping them in a cocoon of translucent light.
The bonding mark—a delicate, pulsating symbol, appeared on the back of her right hand and the serpent's forehead.
The girls watched in awe, not daring to speak.
As the final pulse faded, a deep connection settled within Astra's chest, a promise that neither time nor fate could sever.
Their souls were intertwined– a bond of trust, strength, and eternal companionship.