[@Shikaru]

Meruin smiled. It was a twisted sort of smile; like that of a gleeful child that had just been given permission to pick any toy she wanted, mixed with the maniacal joy of a mad scientist given free reign to experiment on whatever she wished.

Nodding, Meruin shook as Arcadius outlined his terms. What she was hearing was unbelievable to her ears. She had to physically restrain herself from giggling like a child.

Her one thought was: [i]"That's it?"[/i]

A curse to seal her lips when trying to talk about his Grimoire and its secrets; a rune to prevent her from being able to even think about stealing the book; a magical contract that would turn her into a sheep if she tried to hurt him; a brand on her that causes instant death the moment she touches the book without permission - all of these and worse were the very least of what Meruin expected. In comparison, Arcadius terms were practically a giveaway!

"Your . . ." with shaky breaths, Meruin regained her composure. Grace and control at all times were the core of her Masters teachings, and even if she couldn't follow through with it all the time, she would be never fail to do so in front of her peers.

Outwardly anyway.

"Your terms are acceptable. Very, [i]very[/i] acceptable. It's perfectly natural to be wary over your research of course. Perfectly natural."

Meruin returned Arcadius smile with her own; a so estatic it bordered on radiant.