Chapter 254: A Page from the Contract Book

Flickering firelight cast the shadows of their entwined bodies onto the beast skin-covered walls.

Two days passed in a flash, lost in a long, scorching embrace.

Thorne’s handsome face was filled with satisfaction. His palm gently caressed Evangeline’s flat, soft stomach. His dark green eyes were full of tenderness as he whispered, "This time, it should finally be my turn to be a father."

Hearing his words, Evangeline pressed her lips together, seemingly holding back a smile.

Thorne’s eyes crinkled at the corners. His gaze swept over her face, and he nuzzled her affectionately, a soft chuckle rumbling in his throat.

Evangeline broke into a smile and planted a kiss on Thorne’s chin.

’This is a little twisted,’ Evangeline thought, ’but after experiencing it so many times, it’s actually quite thrilling.’

’Right now, only Loras and Drake are left. A Moonlight Flower and a big bird... hmm... They might just provide their own little shocks.’

"My Lady Priestess, are you there?" The voice of The Ravening Wolves came from outside.

Evangeline got up. Thorne went to open the door, the smile gone from his handsome face, replaced once again by a look of wild arrogance and cold severity.

The Ravening Wolves kept his head bowed, his gaze cautiously flicking to the eight-star pattern on Thorne’s forehead.

He deliberately lightened his steps, gave a soft cough, and lowered his voice. "My Lady Priestess, down in Thorncliff, the seven tribes have all received the news. As you instructed, I’ve brought those who are willing to leave Thorncliff, wish to follow you, and have clean hands back to the Wyndsong Tribe. What do you think? Would you like to go see them yourself?"

Evangeline nodded, a roll of sheepskin parchment in her slender hand.

She rose and started walking out, speaking to The Ravening Wolves as she went. "Has anyone caused trouble these past two days?"

Thorne tightened her collar, walking by her side, his gaze sweeping their surroundings like a sharp blade, ever vigilant.

At her question, The Ravening Wolves paused before giving a wry smile and lowering his voice even further. "How could there not be? Leaving Thorncliff is something every Fallen Beastman dreams of. Now that there’s a chance, it’s caused quite a stir."

If every Fallen Beastman could leave, then there would be no trouble at all.

Unfortunately, that path was blocked. Those beastmen who had committed evil deeds and were exiled to Thorncliff initially bragged about their past actions. But after learning they wouldn’t be taken along, they went mad.

Many from the Wyndsong Tribe have been injured recently. Fortunately, the Fallen Beastmen who are eligible to leave are in the majority. They gathered into a formidable force and stopped the evil-doers from getting their way.

Evangeline gave a faint smile. "You’ve done well."

The Ravening Wolves let out a quiet sigh of relief. He didn’t dare respond to her praise, but he felt a little more at ease.

Evangeline didn’t have to walk far before she saw the beastmen milling about outside the Wyndsong Tribe. There were men and women, old and young, though females and cubs were few and far between. Every face was etched with anxiety, afraid that this chance to leave Thorncliff was just a cruel hoax.

The Ravening Wolves respectfully led Evangeline out and announced to the crowd, "This is My Lady Priestess."

The surroundings fell silent in an instant, leaving only the roar of the raging blizzard.

The beastmen looked at Evangeline timidly. After a moment, someone in the crowd raised their voice, asking the question on everyone’s mind, "My Lady Priestess, can you really take us away from Thorncliff?"

Evangeline looked at the crowd and nodded. "Yes, I can take you away from here."

The crowd erupted in an uproar. Some were ecstatic, some wept, and others embraced in excitement.

Evangeline just watched quietly. After a moment, once the crowd had settled down a bit, she finally spoke. Her voice was cool and clear, each word ringing with authority.

"The leader of The Ravening Wolves should have made it very clear. Outside Thorncliff, disaster is rampant. Norfell is no longer habitable. After we leave, we will head for the Triangle Sea. Once we cross it, we will arrive on a new Beastman Continent."

"But I must tell you beforehand, this will not be an easy journey."

"There, even ordinary beastmen face heavy discrimination, to say nothing of Fallen Beastmen."

"But I can promise to do everything in my power to wash away the mark of the Fallen Beastman. In return, you must promise me that after leaving Thorncliff, you will follow my arrangements absolutely. If anyone causes trouble, I will be the first to punish them."

"I have said my piece. Now, I will give you some time to consider."

"If, after careful consideration, you still wish to leave Thorncliff, then come forward and place your mark on this parchment. Once the contract is formed, I will take you away. We will strive to leave Thorncliff and return to Norfell before sunset."

As she finished speaking, Evangeline reined in her powerful aura. With a wave of her fair hand, the sheepskin parchment gently unrolled in mid-air.

It was a blank sheet of white parchment, with nothing written on it.

This masterstroke from Evangeline instantly silenced the crowd, making them as quiet as cicadas in winter.

After a moment, someone stepped out from the crowd. It was a young man with a round face. "My Lady Priestess, I’d like to ask, will this contract harm us? Or rather, what does this contract do?"

Evangeline looked at the familiar, round-faced young man and chuckled softly.

He was none other than the first Fallen Beastman Evangeline had met after she jumped down into Thorncliff.

Kat, from the Cerulea Tribe.

Evangeline’s smile made Kat blush slightly, but he didn’t look away, his gaze still fixed firmly on her.

"This contract will not harm you. However, it will bind you. Here in Thorncliff, you must keep the promises you make to me. Otherwise, there will be a backlash." Evangeline’s voice was calm, but her words carried a commanding weight.

It was a page from the Contract Book. The beastmen only needed to leave their fingerprints for the contract to be established. It wouldn’t cause them harm, but it would constrain their actions. After all, they were Fallen Beastmen. Even if their exile had been forced upon them, after experiencing so much unjust treatment, their psyches were bound to be fragile. They were a powerful but dangerous force, and she could not afford to be careless.

Kat’s expression grew solemn. He looked around at the other beastmen, and sure enough, their faces now showed hesitation.

The Ravening Wolves was the first to speak, his voice deep. "I am willing to form a contract with My Lady Priestess!"

He strode forward. At Evangeline’s soft instruction, he bit his finger and pressed the bloody print onto the parchment. In that instant, an invisible halo of light enveloped The Ravening Wolves, and the contract was formed. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The Ravening Wolves felt a sense of relief wash over him and grinned. "As long as I can leave Thorncliff, I’ll do anything!"

Kat was the second to step forward. Copying The Ravening Wolves, he placed his mark on the parchment.

He lifted his round eyes and said to Evangeline with great sincerity, "My Lady Priestess, I believe in you."

A faint smile played on Evangeline’s lips.

With these two leading the way, the other beastmen quickly convinced themselves. Just as The Ravening Wolves had said, as long as they could leave Thorncliff, what was there they couldn’t accept?

One by one, the beastmen came forward and pressed their bright red fingerprints onto the parchment.

The sun sank behind the western mountains, and the snow seemed to fall even harder.

A few cubs, shivering from the cold, were held tightly in the arms of their fathers and mothers. But everyone’s eyes were fixed on Evangeline. The contract had not put their minds at ease; they still didn’t know if the witch before them could truly lead them out of Thorncliff.