The surrounding area of the Submerged Oasis seemed to fade from existence thanks to Alphonse's singular focus. All that remained was the beautiful woman standing above him on the dais.

Her voice felt like a warm embrace. If Alphonse thought it was impossible to have a perfect being in this world, then she was pretty close to convincing him otherwise. Her lips formed a sweet smile as she waited patiently for his response.

“I-uh...” He felt a slight nudge from behind and saw Asa urging him forward with her staff. When they reached the center of the room, Alphonse bowed low enough to nearly stumble forward. “Thank you for saving me. My name is Alphonse."

The woman placed a hand over her mouth and giggled. “Please, be at ease. You are among friends here.”

Friends? Alphonse looked around and noticed the other catgirl, Kirie, was off further to the side leaning against one of the faceless statues. Dangling from her fingers was a ceramic jug. She crossed her arms with the deepest scowl her face could muster as his eyes lingered.

He looked to Asa for some guidance, but she just stared at him with distracted indifference as she messed with a few strands of her hair.

Alphonse slumped forward. 'Friends'...right...

He straightened himself as Kirie moved towards him with careful steps. She stopped at arm's length and offered him the jug. "You must be thirsty," she said simply.

Alphonse was only able to muster a quick nod of thanks and accepted the water from her.

Kirie was now close enough for him to notice the light and shadows shifting on her face. He looked up curiously and took a startled step back when he saw the ceiling. It was no wonder why the place was called the Submerged Oasis. Above was a rippling body of water that hid the ceiling, if there was one. He thought it was a trick of the light, but the fluctuating image of a sun seemed partially obscured by the water. There didn't seem to be anything physical holding the water in place, since it flowed much like in the open air and crawled down sections of the walls to feed the ponds below.

Alphonse felt the saliva building in his mouth as he observed the display. He took a few swigs from the jug, but stopped himself when he remembered his nausea back in the dungeon. He managed more controlled sips instead and savored the drink.

Kirie raised an eyebrow at this and nodded approvingly before she turned to join her sister.

The woman's voice seized his attention, “My apologies. I have yet to introduce myself.” She bowed again. “My name is Rinka. As you may have guessed, I am a demihuman. I am also an intermediary for the Construct Contract. You have already been acquainted with my daughters, Kirie and Asa. I hope they were gracious company.”

"Yes, they were. I'm sorry, but this is all...” Alphonse trailed off. 'Overwhelming' was the word he was looking for, but that seemed an understatement. He continued to stare at the magnificent spectacle of the oasis. It seemed a short time ago he had been at Death's door. The doors to this place suddenly felt like the gates of Heaven with Rinka as the benevolent angel to guide him.

He froze as a specific part of her introduction registered. Wait, 'Construct Contract?' He stared at the black book resting on the pedestal.

Rinka nodded in understanding as she followed his gaze. "I apologize. You only recently escaped the jaws of death, and yet here you are being told of something beyond your understanding." She leaned forward expectantly. "Surviving alone in the dungeon was no small feat. Something must have driven you forward. I wonder, Alphonse, what kind of man are you?”

He didn't even have time to consider the question as Kirie spoke up, “He's too trusting.”

Asa added her own observations, “He's stubborn.”

Alphonse whirled on them. What the hell?

A scowl marred Rinka's beautiful face. “I don't recall the question being directed at you two.” Her thin pupils narrowed, and the cat ears on her head twitched with irritation.

The catgirls clamped their mouths shut. Alphonse found himself mirroring them, even though the anger wasn't directed at him.

“'Trusting,'” Rinka whispered. She rested a contemplative hand under her chin. “Yes, I do sympathize. Truly. Kirie apprised me of your situation. Tell me, how has this affected your perspective for adventuring in the future?”

Alphonse clenched his fists as he recalled the past few days. Someone he considered a friend left him behind. Then the other man, who his friend recruited in the first place, enacted the betrayal. He wasn't sure about the girl, but she'd done nothing to help as well. They could have tried something. Anything. Just an attempt would have been enough. He didn't expect them to stick their necks out and join him at the guillotine. An attempt, no matter how small, and he would have understood. That's all he asked.

They'd done nothing.

He was so absorbed in his boiling anger and frustration that he nearly forgot Rinka initially posed the question.

His silence seemed a sufficient response. “'Stubborn,'” she continued. “I would prefer the word 'resilient.' A fine quality, but one must understand limitations. Still, this is a promising start to our discussion.” She regarded her daughters, and they went rigid. “You may have spoken out of turn, but it did spur some fruitful questions.”

Kirie and Asa remained silent with only the slight nod of their heads.

Wow, they really respect her, Alphonse thought. Or fear her. Or both.

“Trust is such a fickle thing,” Rinka continued. “One must have your quality of resilience to understand it is sometimes a necessity that changes much like the weather."

Alphonse stifled a frown as he considered her words. Her prodding questions didn't sit right with him. They were too abrupt despite her conversational tone, and something seemed to shift in her voice that he couldn't quite place. He stared at the strange book on the pedestal and wondered how it fit into all of this. Dancing around the main topics didn't seem wise in his worn mental state. He feared what might happen if fatigue fully took over his senses.

"I'm guessing this string of questions leads to this weird book," Alphonse said. He added almost as an afterthought, "And why you saved me."

The catgirl mother stared at him with an unreadable expression, and Alphonse forced himself to hold her gaze.

A genuine smile formed on her face, and she let out a relieved sigh. "I do appreciate your candid nature. It is as you say -- our reason for saving you is not limited to simple generosity. And so, I would like to make an offer that will hopefully be the start of some trust between us."

Alphonse shifted uneasily as she took a deliberate pause.

"What lies in front of you is an opportunity, a gift for when you find yourself backed into a corner," she explained. "Furthermore, if you accept this contract, I will also bestow upon you the assistance of my trustworthy daughters.”

Daughters, huh. Alphonse glanced over his shoulder at the two catgirls. He didn't think it was possible, but the frown on Kirie's face appeared even more demeaning. Asa showed no change in expression, but he did notice her hands twirling faster through her hair.

His muddled thoughts finally caught up with what Rinka was saying. “Wait, hold up. I'm sorry, this is a lot to take in all of a sudden, and my brain is still a little fuzzy, but are you saying these two will join my party?” Alphonse asked.

“In a sense," Rinka said. "You see, I am bound to this place as the contract's intermediary. In turn, my daughters are bound to me and are unable to travel beyond a set distance from this place. But I have made a deal that allows me to transfer this bond to another who holds a contract.”

So, it's all about this book. That's why they saved me. They're basically trapped in this place, Alphonse thought. I'm their way out.

He obviously wanted to press for answers concerning why she was bound to such a place, but he decided to table such inquiries until she explained herself further.

"Have you ever heard of alchemy?" Rinka asked.

Alphonse nodded. "I know a bit. Equivalent exchange, right?"

"Correct," Rinka said. "The Construct Contract is an ancient tome, said to be created by a powerful alchemist, that makes deals of equivalence with its user. If the contract deems the exchange equal, then it will be carried out. However, you could offer something greater than the request and it will approve. But the contract does not hold the same values as sentient beings, especially in regards to what is physical. I have paid my own price that allows Kirie and Asa to join you if you accept."

Rinka shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she pondered the next bit. "I did mention it was a gift, but it can also be a curse. I don't wish to deceive you. Over time, it is inevitable that more will be lost than gained if the user is reckless. And the only way to possess the contract is to offer something it deems equivalent to itself. What I ask of you is certainly a hefty price."

Alphonse blanched at her explanation. The whole situation was fantastical to the point of complete absurdity.

He lowered his gaze to the floor and stared at the immaculate, white surface. She had him hook and line so far, but not sinker just yet. She wanted him to offer something equivalent to this so-called contract so he could become its owner, which would then free the two catgirls. He felt that he owed them a great debt, and they seemed decently capable. It was enticing without a doubt, but now it came down to what he needed to offer to obtain the contract in the first place. It was a choice that could drastically alter his outlook on the future.

He lifted his gaze slightly and stared at the black book on the pedestal.

I know nothing about these three, Alphonse thought. And they know next to nothing about me as far as I can tell. I'm just a stranger they found wandering in a dungeon. This contract sounds dangerous, and this bond she's talking about is way too vague.

The decision with the contract wasn't his only concern. Someone in Hovestile wanted him dead. It might just be the archer, but Alphonse couldn't fathom why someone he'd recently met wanted to kill him. Perhaps someone else hired him. The reason still eluded him, but who could he trust? Maybe the spellcaster girl and his friend were in on it as well. They'd done so little to help that it seemed like a possibility.

Alphonse reasoned that he did have one thing in his favor. Rinka wasn't just offering him an opportunity. He was also their opportunity.

“Okay.” Alphonse took a deep breath and forced himself to look directly at Rinka. “Before we go further, I have an important question to ask. Please don't take this the wrong way if I seem blunt. Really, I'm grateful for everything. You all saved my life.” He gestured to the two catgirls. “But what makes them so valuable that I would want to give up something important?”

Kirie uncrossed her arms and clenched her fists. “Are you saying we're weak?”

Asa stopped fussing with her hair and feigned a hurt look. “And after all we've done for you. Such a cruel man.”

Alphonse raised his hands in defense. “That's not what I meant at all! I just don't know anything about you. And mentioning this contract out of the blue and telling me I have to give up something important...that could change everything for me. I have a whole future to think about!”

Rinka grimaced. “He is correct. I understand his dilemma. I apologize for being so indelicate, especially since you are still recovering from such a terrible ordeal -- not just physically, but mentally as well."

Her words held the sincerity that Alphonse anticipated. He recalled feeling something similar when he spoke to Asa before they arrived at the oasis. He glanced behind him at the two catgirls. Asa stared at the floor with a somber expression, her staff clutched tight to her chest. Kirie still maintained her look of perpetual annoyance, and the trembling of her arms was apparent.

Alphonse sighed and composed himself. "It's fine. I'm sorry, I could have worded that better."

Rinka's fingers visibly tightened and she closed her eyes. "Now that you have a grasp of what I'm about to offer you, I would pose another question. Alphonse, what do you want from this world?"

Alphonse's mind blanked at the unexpected question. The answer had always been at the forefront of his thoughts, but the words were lost as Rinka slowly opened her eyes. They seemed to bore into his very soul. Her pupils narrowed even further than when she analyzed her daughters. She let out a breath of anticipation, awaiting his answer.

Am I just unlucky? Alphonse wondered. Couldn't these catgirls leave me just like everyone else?

Then it dawned on him. He recalled the change in Rinka's tone as she spoke to him about the contract. Her speech wasn't as calm and controlled as when she introduced herself.

This isn't just an opportunity. She's also desperate.

He looked up at Rinka and attempted to read her expression, but she'd gone completely neutral during his ruminations.

"You're really willing to give something so powerful to a stranger?" Alphonse asked. He gave her a hard stare in an attempt to get some sort of reaction out of her. "And your daughters?"

Alphonse managed to glean the slight twitch of her mouth with the last bit. Just as his silence was enough for her with the mention of his betrayal, this was also enough of an answer for him.

Both parties were desperate. Both sides were taking a gamble.

"I would have your answer to my question first," she said.

"Fair enough." Alphonse sighed as he considered how to word his answer. It almost sounded silly to him -- ridiculous in its simplicity. "A home. I just want a home. That's all..."

Rinka stared at him unblinking. A sad smile formed on her face and she nodded. "I see...a home. I'm relieved to hear that. Yes, I want my daughters to be free."

Alphonse turned to Kirie and Asa, but this time he made it a point to approach them. He willed his trembling legs forward. He didn't feel the pain in his injured leg.

Their expressions shifted to something much like their mother's. Even Kirie suppressed her scowl. There was no denying her interest in what he planned to propose.

Alphonse mirrored Kirie's previous stance and crossed his arms to assume an air of calm. “What about you two? Why would you even want to join me?”

They glanced at each other uncertainly.

Asa spoke first, “There is something we need to do. Mother saved us in the past, but she paid a price to the contract. If you agree, then we can leave this place and help with your goal as well."

Kirie jumped in next. “Trust only goes so far. I get that, but trust us when we say that we will work with you, even if you're weak.”

Alphonse sighed. Did you have to add that last part?

He waved his hand in front of him and a transparent circle appeared. A line moved around the circumference, much like a radar. It was a basic appraisal spell compared to that of spellcasters, but it would suit his needs for now.

After a few seconds, words appeared displaying information about Kirie and Asa:

Name: Kirie

Class: Warrior

Identification: Demihuman

Stats: N/A

Name: Asa

Class: Healer

Identification: Demihuman

Stats: N/A

I figured as much, Alphonse thought. The original denizens of this world don't have stats. Not even demihumans. It's reserved for outworlders like me. They only improve by normal means. But I've come this far. I've taken so many gambles.

He pulled up the profile that displayed his own information. The holographic screen hovered above his wrist as he examined it:

Name: Alphonse Kneller

Class: Scout

Identification: Human

Mana regeneration: .6/s

Health regeneration: .3/s combat exclusion= 1.5/s

Stats: Vitality - 10 Endurance - 10 Strength - 5 Agility - 15 Intelligence - 8 Focus - 6 Dexterity - 16 Sneak - 20 Perception - 18 Proficiency - 8 Constitution - 8

Resistances: Poison - 15 Paralysis - 12 Bleed - 12 Fortitude Debuff - 15 Curse - 13

He closed the profile. Truth be told, it wasn't confirmed exactly how much the stats actually helped outworlders. It was almost impossible to separate natural gains from the system, and the people of Earth didn't seem to have a full grasp of it either. All they knew was that they did contribute in some ways.

Alphonse considered his stats with lower values. If these two end up joining me...I wonder...

He shook his head as too many ideas formed. He needed to focus on one thing at a time.

“No more questions,” Alphonse said. He addressed the catgirls, “Fine. If you think you can handle it, then prove it.”

Kirie let out a boisterous laugh. “Prove it? Ha! I don't even need that stupid stat handicap you outworlders have. I'll destroy whatever gets in our way!”

Asa drove her staff into the floor confidently. “My support skills have been developed since I could walk. None are more dedicated than I am. I will keep us alive.”

Their choice of words sat right with Alphonse. It seemed his own had them both riled up. They weren't careful about what they said, which boosted his confidence in them further.

Whatever gets in 'our' way. I will keep 'us' alive, Alphonse repeated it in his head a few times.

He grinned. “Alright then.” He stepped in front of the pedestal and rested his hand on the book. “Fine, what the hell! Let's do this!”

Rinka leaned forward and laced her fingers. “Wonderful. When you are prepared to make an offer say, 'I invoke the Construct Contract.' Then, make your offer. The contract will tell you if it is sufficient. If it accepts, give your blood to sign and seal the deal.”

Alphonse nodded. "Alright."

A strange contract of equivalence. A bond with two catgirls. A mother's sacrifice for her daughters. It was a lot to take in at once. But the potential of such a deal was beyond enticing. He forced himself to silence any misgivings. Whatever consequences hindered him as a result would be dealt with. He felt there was no choice in the matter. He had to take this deal.

Alphonse started with some basic offers. Unsurprisingly, the contract denied him. The offer needed to be equivalent to its power.

He attempted to offer his health regeneration, something unique to outworld adventurers. He was denied.

Shit, what do you want from me? Something permanent? Something that gives me an edge?

His health regeneration did give him an advantage over native adventurers. It put him at a slight disadvantage against outworlders if he lost it. It provided extra vitality recovery when in battle, but it only had noticeable positive effects for injuries when outside of battle. Physical damage done to his body during combat still hindered his movements. Also, since he didn't even have a number to associate with his health, he wasn't sure how much it benefited him specifically.

He needed something equal to the contract...

His eyes widened. That's it! But...

He stared at Rinka as an idea formed.

The catgirl mother tilted her head. “Oh?”

Alphonse held out his hand. Just like this contract, the world was about give and take. He'd lost sight of that. But sometimes the world took more than it gave and vice versa. Perhaps this contract could tip the scales.

“I invoke the Construct Contract...”