That not so important character turned out to be important

This human... No, not human—something far more dangerous. He stands unbound by the illusions that chain mortals and gods alike. He sees the world for what it is—a construct of selfishness, hypocrisy, and decay. And yet, where others would recoil, he embraces it.

I should scorn him. I should despise him. Yet I cannot. I cannot because I see something in him that even I, in my boundless fury, lack. A void—a calm, cold abyss that neither consumes nor releases but simply exists. He walks without purpose, speaks without care, and yet every word and step reshapes the ground beneath him.

He mocks me, tears my rage from its throne, and calls it petty. Perhaps it is. Millennia of anger, hatred, and malice have become my identity. But to him, they are nothing more than a relic of the past—a drama played out for an audience long gone.

He terrifies me, not because he is strong, but because he is free. Free from morality, free from ambition, free from the very meaning that even gods cling to. He is not a hero, not a villain—he is a force, a storm that neither builds nor destroys but shifts the balance of all who cross its path.

I have seen gods fall, empires crumble, and worlds end. But this one… this void… he is different. He would watch the world burn, not with malice or joy, but simply because it no longer amuses him. He is beyond my understanding, and that is what unsettles me most.

He is the embodiment of detachment, of a universe without meaning. And perhaps that is why I cannot look away.

"Fine. Very well, I'll indulge you. What do you want, kid?" the Eye responded, its voice reverberating through the chamber like an ancient, ominous drum.

"That's more like it," Shaun said, leaning against a jagged pillar of stone. "Alright, first question: how did I end up in here? There was some weird energy pulling me in, leading me to that tree... and then here."

The Eye chuckled, the sound grating and hollow. "Oh, so that's how it played out. Let me make one thing clear—I wasn't the one behind that. No, what you felt was it. It must have noticed your peculiar aura, found you… interesting. So, it tried to consume you."

"It?" Shaun raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparking in his gaze. "What's 'it' supposed to be?"

The Eye's tone darkened, its words dripping with disdain. "The very system you so effortlessly rewrote. I've been imprisoned here for longer than you could fathom, and over time, parts of the seal meant to keep me contained began to crack under my influence. One fragment in particular—that tree in the Silva Forest—was designed to siphon energy from the land to strengthen my cage. But I corrupted it. My aura twisted its purpose, turning it into a parasite that feeds on me while draining the forest to sustain itself."

Shaun frowned, processing the information. "And this parasite… became sentient?"

"Not by design," the Eye growled. "My essence warped it into something grotesque, something ravenous. It absorbed and hoarded energy, all while tethered to my prison. Occasionally, it even forced me to draw more power from the forest to sustain its hunger. When you came along, it must have sensed your unique nature and craved it, like a starving beast drawn to fresh prey."

"So where can I find this 'system' of yours?" Shaun asked, his voice steady, though his intrigue was evident.

The Eye laughed, a low, menacing rumble. "You already dealt with it, boy. Whatever it once was, it's no more. You erased it when you tampered with the seal."

"That was… fast," Shaun admitted, blinking in surprise. His lips curled into a faint smirk. "Guess that's one problem solved."

The Eye's voice turned icy, like frost creeping through the chamber. "Don't get cocky, child. What you destroyed was merely an afterthought, a speck of dust in my grand prison. When I get out of here, you will understand the weight of your arrogance."

Shaun smirked, his tone dripping with mockery. "Oh? And when will that be? Another century? Two? No, wait—judging by how impressively slow your recovery is, we might be looking at a millennium. Really puts the whole 'grand and terrifying' thing into perspective."

The chamber seemed to tremble as the Eye's fury ignited, its voice booming like a thunderclap. "DON'T YOU DARE MOCK ME, BOY!"

"You have no idea what you're trifling with, whose presence you defile with such insolence! I am not some petty entity for you to toy with. Every word, every jest you speak is another thread in the noose you're weaving for yourself. The consequences of this recklessness will be beyond anything your feeble mind can comprehend!"

Shaun tilted his head, seemingly unfazed by the Eye's outburst. "Feeble mind? Ouch. You wound me. But let's be honest—you're all bark right now. No bite. You're stuck, and I'm the only one here actually doing anything."

The Eye's glow intensified, filling the chamber with a blinding light as its fury reached a fever pitch. "You dare to taunt me while I am bound? You think my current state diminishes the truth of what I am? I could unmake you with a thought if not for these accursed shackles!"

Shaun stepped closer, his smirk unwavering. "Then I guess you'd better focus on getting out of those shackles instead of yelling at me, huh?"

Shaun paused, tilting his head in mock contemplation before speaking, his tone deceptively casual. "You know… if you're that desperate, I could get you out of those shackles. If you desire it that much. Of course, the fee would be hefty."

The Eye's presence bristled with disdain, its voice a rumble of fury. "You think I would stoop so low as to accept help from a mere human like you? I would rather rot in this prison for eternity than lower myself to that."

Shaun chuckled, shaking his head. "Who said I'm offering help? Don't flatter yourself. This isn't charity—it's a business deal. You don't like it? Fine. Keep waiting. Sit here and stew for another century—or two, or three—for that grand revenge you keep dreaming about."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a cutting whisper. "But let me paint a picture for you. The ones who put you here? They've probably lived brilliant lives. They've laughed, loved, feasted, and died content, leaving their legacy behind. Their descendants? Thriving, maybe even worshiped as heroes. And by the time you finally break free, their names could be long forgotten, their bloodlines extinguished, their gods abandoned. So tell me, great Eye, who will be left to face the full weight of your wrath?"

The chamber grew eerily silent as Shaun's words settled. He straightened, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "Innocent civilians? People who have nothing to do with you or your past? Sorry, but that's not revenge—that's just an old man throwing a tantrum at strangers. You might be powerful, but that doesn't make you less pitiful."

The Eye's glow pulsed violently, its rage palpable, yet it hesitated to respond. Shaun's smirk only widened.

"Think about it," Shaun said, his voice light and teasing. "I'm here, offering you a way out. You can cling to your pride and stay locked up, or we can strike a deal. Your call."

The Eye's voice resonated with exhaustion and faint curiosity. "What is it you want, kid? Why do you bother me now? Even questioning my own existence seems futile at this point."

Shaun stepped closer, his expression unreadable but his eyes gleaming with intent. "What I'm saying is simple: if you want revenge, take it—but do it the right way. I'll remove those shackles and set you free. After that, what you do is entirely up to you. Go for revenge, destroy the world, kill gods, raze nations—I don't care. Even if you decide not to take revenge, that's your choice. I won't question it, and I won't stand in your way."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "But freedom isn't free. I have terms. Four of them."

Shaun raised a finger. "First: you teach me everything you know. Magic, techniques, ancient arts, forbidden knowledge—every ounce of wisdom you've gathered over millennia. I want to learn it all."

A second finger. "Second: grant me access to this place and all its resources. It will be my hideout, my training ground, my sanctuary—or whatever I decide to call it."

A third finger. "Third: once you're unsealed, you don't harm me. No attacks, no schemes, no underhanded tricks I will do the same . You leave me alone unless I summon you."

Finally, a fourth finger. "And fourth: you give me the right to summon or command you seven times. Seven, and no more."

Shaun leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Think about it. You get what you want—freedom. And I get what I want—a partnership of sorts. You don't have to trust me. But you've waited this long; what's a few conditions compared to an eternity of shackles?"

The Eye's glow flared slightly, its power and rage barely contained. "You think you can bargain with me, human? Do you have any idea what you're asking?"

Shaun smirked, unwavering. "I'm asking for exactly what I need. Now, the real question is: can you afford to say no?"

The Eye: "Even if I were to entertain your proposition, the fourth clause is unacceptable. I will not allow anyone, least of all a human, to command me. And even if I did consider this deal, how can I trust you? What guarantee do I have that you'll uphold your end?"

Shaun smirked, unbothered by the Eye's skepticism. "Don't worry. One of my abilities is perfect for situations like this. Let me explain—it's called Iudicia Privata. With it, I can form various types of binding contractual relationships, each tailored for a specific purpose."

He began to pace, gesturing as he spoke. "Here's how it works: depending on the type of contract I choose, I define the terms, the obligations, the punishments for breaking it, and the rewards for upholding it. To give you an example: I once made a Binding Contract with a baron. That contract granted me access to his very soul, mana, aura, mind, and even his freedom."

Shaun paused, letting the weight of his words linger before continuing. "Of course, contracts like that are heavily unbalanced. To make it fair—or at least less one-sided—I had to give him something in return. I restored his broken body, granted him strength he'd never dreamed of, and even bestowed power upon him. It's a give-and-take system, though I always ensure I get the better deal."

Shaun stopped pacing and turned to face the Eye directly. "In your case, we'd use a Contractual Oath. It's much simpler and doesn't require anyone to give or take anything beyond what's explicitly agreed upon. You'd swear to uphold the terms I outlined, and I'd swear not to betray you or do anything unreasonable that you specify. The beauty of this contract is its flexibility and fairness."

His smirk widened. "Oh, and just so we're clear: for every additional clause you try to slip in, I get to add two more of my own. Keeps things… balanced."

The Eye's laughter rumbled through the chamber, low and mocking, like the sound of distant thunder.

"Tempting, boy. I won't deny that your offer is... intriguing. The thought of finally being free of these wretched chains, of reclaiming what was stolen from me, it stirs something within me."

The massive, glowing iris narrowed, its fiery brilliance pulsating with barely contained fury. "But do not mistake my interest for weakness. I am not some desperate wretch groveling for salvation. I am a being older than your very existence, a primordial force that shaped worlds and shattered empires."

The Eye's voice grew colder, sharper, slicing through the air like shards of ice. "To accept a deal from a mere mortal—no, less than a mortal—would be a stain on my pride that not even eternity could erase. My ego will not allow me to bow to you, no matter how 'balanced' your terms may seem."

"I would rather rot here for another millennium than let a child like you dictate my path. Speak your terms again, if you dare, but be prepared for me to crush you beneath the weight of your own arrogance."

The glow of the Eye's gaze intensified, daring Shaun to respond. "Go on, boy. Convince me. Or leave and stop wasting my time."

The Eye watched in stunned silence as the chains that had bound it for what felt like eternity dissolved into nothingness. Its massive form shuddered as the oppressive weight of the seals lifted, allowing its aura to swell and fill the chamber with an intensity that shook the ground beneath.

"You insolent brat!" the Eye roared, its voice shaking the very fabric of the chamber. "What are you trying to pull? I already refused your offer! Do you have a death wish?"

Shaun, standing at the edge of the chamber, sighed in exasperation. His tone was calm, almost casual, but there was an edge of annoyance. "Fine, very well. I guess normal talk won't work with someone as stubborn as you."

He gestured sharply, and in an instant, the remaining layers of seals crumbled, one by one. First, the outer shell disintegrated, followed by the inner layers, and finally, the intricate chains that had bound the Eye directly. The room filled with a surge of ancient, potent energy, the air growing heavy with its oppressive weight.

Shaun didn't flinch, standing firm as the Eye's newfound freedom sent shockwaves rippling through the chamber. "Don't get too happy yet," Shaun said, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "I've only forcefully removed the seals that were draining your energy and halting your recovery. You still can't leave this island—not yet, at least."

The Eye's iris narrowed dangerously, its brilliant glow pulsating as it loomed closer. "You dare mock me? Explain yourself!"

Shaun smirked faintly, unfazed by the palpable rage emanating from the being before him. "The seals around the island itself are a different story. They're massive, complex, and would take you at least a century to break, even at your full strength. Without a source to leech off, you'll struggle to grow fast enough to escape. But for now, you can at least recover steadily, use most of your abilities, and move freely within this boundary. "

The Eye's gaze burned with fury. "You expect me to thank you for this? I refused your deal! What game are you playing, boy?"

Shaun's expression darkened, his tone growing colder. "I'm not playing games. Three days from now, I'll come back here. We'll fight. If I win, you'll accept my deal. If I lose, everything I have is yours—including my life. I'll bow to you, publicly, if that's what you desire."

Before the Eye could respond, Shaun raised his hand, summoning a dark mist that coalesced into the form of Umbra, her shadowy presence crackling with raw power. With a faint smirk, he gave a mock bow.

"Until then, enjoy your newfound freedom. I'll see you soon."