ah... I said "definite" eh... but for him it was indefinite, bcuz unless he's able to revoke his contract, it would remain that way until his death.
what I meant by definite here was more about the fixed additional time imbued to his spells, so that his spells would stay effective
Your right, it makes the plot a bit bad especially when he was so strong. He ╥﹏╥
The whole situation hollow/contract seems to be an after thought. It's chapter 16 before it's even introduced, and then suddenly stage 3. It feels more like it was added by the author as a way to extend the story.
His trade-off for the contract wasn't really worth it, I think...
In a sense it was indeed equal, yet... somehow the difference in relative value was too big.
he "gave up" his potential, talent, growth for the future for... definite "stagnation".
in a way, the "severed future" was added into his spell, tho