When I joined the team originally, I would be lying if I said that I felt on par with everyone else. Selene could hulk out and throw buildings, Jax could shatter boulders with a punch, Liora could fly and throw people like they weighed nothing using her magics, Thalia could restrain almost anyone except for Selene if she was trying really hard and even then she could hold her for a bit, even Aiden who is the self-proclaimed weakest when he was using his weird engine thing could move so fast he became a blur, and I could make vines move and heal small injuries. This fact was made all the more apparent as I laid in the grass panting as my legs felt weak.
Jax had decided to go on a morning run, and I had stupidly agreed to tag along. He walked over to me and stared down as a worried look crossed his face.
"Hey Bee, you ok there?"
Jax asked as he sat down next to me.
"I huff Feel like a pant dying boar here"
I said between labored breaths as I forced myself to my stomach and sat up. Jax watched me for a moment, his expression shifting to a partially manic glint in his eye before he shook his head. Even now with the proximity suppression I could practically feel the insanity within him bubbling like black tar. The suppression had been effective; however, the insanity seemed to be a continuously worsening problem. I stared at Jax for a moment as I asked,
"Weird though cross your mind?"
Jax turned with an apologetic look as he cleared his throat in embarrassment. I stared at him waiting as one of the ways we had been monitoring the progression was how bad his intrusive thoughts were getting. Jax didn't want to say what this one had been aloud, which made me worry as despite not wanting to resort to my last Idea to help him, our other measures didn't work.
"Sera, Mal, you all said you had a friend that could help, right?"
The two flew over from where they had been relaxing next to me, their wings not getting tired as they had followed up and nodded.
"We do, but to bring her here, you would need to make another pact."
I nodded and glanced to my system window. The glowing Letter C floating next to my Pact Writer skill as I read through its description.
Pact Writer(C)
The Warlock can make a pact with an outerplaner being. The strength of the being is based on the rank of , and the Warlock can establish one binding tenet that grants them a unique power or ability. Only Two pacts may be active at a time.
My soul skill gave me an extra pact, but when the skill grew to C rank, it gave me another slot to make a contract. This time I could even do it intentionally. So as Jax watched I bit my paw, making blood drip out as I drew a red circle on the ground. Both Sera and Mal flew over as I channeled mana into the circle, and the two seemed to release a strange golden yellow energy into it as if to guide the ability. After a moment there was a small cloud, like a mini version of a rainstorm that formed over the circle, and from it a small figure descended. She looked like she was wearing a white sundress with a lace umbrella over her shoulder. She could have passed for a noblewoman walking on a rainy day.
"Seraphella, Malthorin, it has been far too long since we talked, I was wondering where you two had gone."
The woman said as she turned to the other two who smiled at her. Mal shrugged as he crossed his arms and said.
"We got contracted, though we called you here because our contractor was hoping to get some help."
The angel turned to look at me as I dipped my head in respect and said.
"Greetings, I am Beatrice, the one who is seeking your aid."
"Well meet Beatrice, I am Maribel, the angel of shared umbrellas on rainy days, what calls you to seek my aid?"
I turned to Jax who stood awkwardly to the side who Mirabel seemed to examine for a moment before she bolted towards him.
"Oh my, is that obsession I feel, and the target is. Oh, I can see the drama, the longing, the romance of it all."
She had once given off the elegance and grace of a noble woman, Mirabel now however looked closer to a teenager obsessing about a romantic story they heard. Jax seemed to be sitting there with a quiet panic of wanting to move away but not wanting to be rude in case that was a dealbreaker as I had to stifle a laugh. After a few more laps around Jax Mirabel flew out and held her hands out like she was trying to frame a picture.
"And the contrast, don't even get me started on the contrast, Rugged, boy and girl who grew up surviving in the woods now come together to realize fighting isn't everything. OOOOHHHH its beautiful I tell you, BEAUTIFUL!"
She said as she turned and hugged herself as she spun. I turned with a very worried look to Sera and Mal who refused to meet my eyes before I turned back and to my surprise, she was inches from my nose.
"I agree to this contract littleone, I can even help you with your obsession problem."
I turned to Jax who shrugged at me before I turned back and asked.
"Ok, fine, but before we create this pact, what is the price you want?"
She grinned a cunning smile as she said.
"Once per day, I want you to make a romantic gesture towards him, that's all."
We stared blankly for a moment before Jax and I both flushed. Mirabel floated with a calm smile as I wrestled mentally to figure out the details. On one hand, daily embarrassment and mockery from Liora about being in love, on the other hand, Jax won't accidentally level buildings if I stub my toe. A small part of me tried to argue against the contract, but the math made sense. So, I cleared my throat and said.
"I Beatrice propose this contract to Mirabel, the angel of shared umbrellas, You will grant me power and assist me in combating the Obsession in Jax Stormcaller. In turn once per day I will perform a romantic gesture towards Jax Stormcaller."
A small piece of paper formed between us as I placed my paw on one side.
"I Mirabel, the angel of shared umbrellas, agrees to this pact and grants you power."
She placed her hand on the other end as the page rolled up and turned into small particles of light that drifted around us. A system notification appeared for me.
You have used skill Pact Writer(C)
You have called forth Mirabel, the angel of shared umbrellas
Your pact with Mirabel is cemented
I turned to Jax with an awkward expression as I leaned in and nuzzled his neck. Even as I did it I could feel the heat rising to my face as I pulled away and turned to Mirabel.
"There, does that count."
She was floating with a nosebleed, and a tissue held with one hand while her other hand was furiously scribbling in a notebook.
"Oh yea, that's the good shit."
I rolled my eyes, already worried for what this new pact would bring as I said.
"Alright Jax, lets head back so I can wash up before my match.... Jax?"
I had begun to walk but Jax didn't move. I glanced up at his face where he seemed to be standing rigid as if a statue. Sera floated up and waves a hand in front of his face as she turned back to me and said.
"I think he passed out standing up."
There was a moment of silence between all of us as the wind blew and Jax slowly tipped over before suddenly jolting and catching himself.
"Sorry, blacked out there for a moment, you all were saying something about gestures?"