Neo and Jaune spent the rest of the morning in silence, after Neo had relayed the discussion from the night before between her and Jaune's Pact holders. The pair had a lot to absorb with the addition that due to a new binding mark akin to a wedding ring they now constantly could keep tabs on each other. It was distracting and it took them both time to train themselves to allow the constant influx of information to be processed in the background with only alerts as it were to draw their full attention to the link.

It was also thanks to this new connection that Neo could tell that Jaune was bothered. She figured it was due to her getting drawn into this insanity more and more. From their first face to face Jaune had been pretty adamant that this was something he had to do alone, and now they really had to coexist.

Jaune could feel Neo's doubts, yet he couldn't for the life of him come up with a way to broach the subject let alone deal with it in a manner that would give her some peace of mind. Regardless of what had transpired Jaune felt he had been careless, and that carelessness had cost Neo her freedom. She was now dealing with a reality she was never meant to have known, and tied to a man who was jumping head first into this shadowy pool of horrors.

"Go have a bath or shower." Neo broke the awkward silence, "You stink."

Jaune couldn't argue with the reality of it. He did stink, and not having had a change of clothes or a way to bath for several weeks had numbed his sense of smell to his own odor, then again when you spend all that time along you don't notice anyway. Nodding he moved to the bathroom and vanished inside closing the door. Neo took the reprieve from his proximity to dig through the few let overs from the last time she and Roman had used this place. She wasn't sure why, but she was set on finding Jaune some replacement clothing to wear.

"Just as a proper partner would do." she stopped herself after uttering those words to the empty room, and racked her brain as to why she would even consider such a notion.

The warming water eased Jaune's tension away, and he could literally feel the filth sliding off his skin. A sense of peace slowly climbed through his frantic mind, quelling the chaotic thoughts and allowing him to for in what had been forever to let his thoughts wander aimlessly.

Neo felt slightly strange, the instinct to blush quickly growing with in her mind. In the shower Jaune's mind was wandering, and his aimless thoughts turned towards the soft skin of Neo. Even in the rush and excitement of dealing with the exorcism of the spore he could still recall the perfectness of its look. The soft and smooth texture of her skin as he had brushed his hand along it. As his thoughts continued so did his arousal.

"Jaune!" Neo screamed, having finally clued into the feeling invading her mind. The Son of a bitch was aroused and he was focused on her. "Don't you fucking dare!"

Neo's screaming snapped Jaune back to the here and now. Color rushed to his face as he realized what was about to happen. Neo's embarrassment and Jaune's mortification flooded each of them, as did the sudden understanding that with the binding mark their private feelings were no longer private.


Sitting upon an ornate overstuffed arm chair the male entity was overjoyed with the situation now playing out on the mirror floating in the air before him. The female entity was less so. Regardless it was confirmation to them both that the duo was entwined deeper than what they or the entities could fathom.

"Destiny?"

"Er, pardon?" replied the male.

"Destiny." The female repeated, "Do you feel she has played a hand in this complication?"

"Possible, and it wouldn't be out of character for her. Yet Fate and Chance did try and remove her. So I doubt that it is fully her influence. She might be taking slight notice, and maybe smooth the waters so to say."

"Did you really have to bind them?" her face betrayed her sour opinion on the matter.

"Yes. Jaune by himself is and will be a formidable balancing agent, but I saw into her. She will be a catalyst that will push him past any barriers that would hold him back."

"Such as?" her toned signifying that she was not convinced.

"Grief eats at both their hearts, but she has walked in darkness, while he has lived in the light. Together they will be shadow, and the balance we desire to be maintained. He will inspire her to protect life, and she will drive him when needed to take it. Balance."

"So what is the plan in two days' time? Will we be visiting them again?"

"No. We'll bring them here, but separately."

"Really?" she was interested now.

"Yes. It will test the growing bond they share, and allow for some specialized one on one instruction."

"Neo will be mine to teach?" her voice dripped venom.

"If I have your word that she will survive your lessons intact. Then yes you may instruct Neo."

"She'll be intact, that I can promise."

The man was suddenly before her his needle like fingers around her throat. She gasped and grabbed at his forearms as the slender fingers closed with impossible strength.

"No, you will swear that she will remain intact. You will swear that your lessons will be of the upmost use to our plans, and designs. You will swear that this fit about you no longer having a claim to the seed of an Arc male is over or I will continue to squeeze until your pretty little head pops free of your shoulders." To punctuate the point he clenched his hand causing her to trash even more before releasing just enough for her to answer, "Do we have an accord?"

"Yes, we have an accord."

"Good." He was just as quickly back in his own seat picking up a delicate glass filled with vibrant red wine, "Do not mistake me. I understand your feeling. The males of the Arc line are genetic marvels when it comes to the very abilities they have with in pursuit of the arcane. That is why they have for generations all been exorcists or healers, or clerics, or any other profession that pulls its influence from the old ways, and our realm. I do understand, but you must also understand, this is the first time in eons that an Arc male has given himself fully to our guidance, and even though grief has driven him to us, it will be his compassion and maybe some love that will inspire him to be even greater than the wizards and sorcerers of legends of old."

"Greater?"

"By far, my dear." The man returned his attention to the floating mirror, as an image of a blushing Jaune and Neo came into focus. Neo was obviously forcing herself to look away while handing Janue fresh clothes, and Jaune was desperately not trying look at Neo considering his previous impure thoughts. "That boy, no young man will not be some storybook magic user. He'll be a master of the arcane, one that has not walked these lands since before the fracture."

"You see him as a Warlock?"

"I do, and that little girl who through Fate, or Destiny, or Chance has fallen into his sphere of influence will be at his side every step of the way, because without her Jaune will not be inspired to excel."

"He would find solace in speaking with the dead, in the image of the one that he is grieving for."

"You understand, which is good, and yes if petite little Neo had not crossed over the threshold of our reality, he would have moldered and faded away. It will not be a quick transition, but I can see it happening, which is why you will teach Neo, to not only protect Jaune, but also care for him. How you do so is your choice. Have some fun, because to be upfront with you my dear Jaune's next set of lessons will be very painful for him to learn; so I see no point in the same not being true for his associate."

"Painful, but not damaging." A nasty grin twisting the woman's features once again.

"Yes. We have an accord." Replied the man before taking another sip of wine.


Neo and Jaune spent the remainder of the day unaware they were being observed, and all of it trying not to have another shower incident. The clothes Neo had given Jaune fit him well, and he more importantly fit them well, and Neo had to check her own thoughts when she realized she was close to moving into shower territory.

"We should check out the rest of building." Neo chimed as a way to get past the guilt hanging in the air, "there might be some things of use."

"Okay." Jaune easily agreed, trying to keep his mind off of what he had been thinking of in the shower, "We should maybe consider adding a few wards down there as well, in fact I think I should have you do the wards. Would be good practice just in case."

With a goal decided on they moved from the office area to catwalks and main floor. The thoughts and emotions that had been fresh but an hour or so, completely suppressed as they went about achieving the small goals they had set for themselves. Not much was located, in the mish-mash of junk on the main floor, though a few of the abandoned White Fang supplies did add to the meager stores they had. A few more blankets, some rations. They would be well situated for the next few days, without a need to expose themselves to the chaos still ruling the majority of the ruins of Vale.

Neo proved she was a quick study in regards to the basic nature of warding runes. Though not sold on the blood cost, she proved she was more than confident in drawing the proper symbols in the correct order; to if need arose to protect herself from less physical threats that abound. The barrier for the main floor was less complete, and more set to slow any incursion that prevent one. In that regard Jaune had also added in a warning rune to each construct. If anything of this world, or grim or not of this world crossed over into the inside of the warehouse both he and Neo would be alerted. This would give them both the time needed to decide if fight of flight was the most appropriate response.

The day had progressed fairly quickly, but with a heavy emotional cost for the pair. Neo was also feeling the effects of expending aura and blood in the construction of the wards. Jaune did his part to ease her exhaustion and ease away the pains of the day with a slight application of a very basic esoteric healing prayer. Jaune did not see as his eye were closed, but color slowly crawled into Neo's face as his hand rested upon her shoulder. She could recall the feelings emanating from him earlier that day, and now he was laying hands upon her. In attempt to suppress the feelings she focused on the murderous visage of the female entity.

"Anything wrong? You feeling okay?" Jaune had finished the little ritual and was gazing at her intently.

"I'm fine." She replied rather sharply, "Just thinking about a lot of things."

"Hungry?" Jaune chose to not press the matter and walked over to the adequate pile of supplies they had amassed, "We have a fine selection of meals available today." He made an open arms gesture to the assorted canned foods on the table before him, "We have cold canned crap in beef flavor. Cold canned crude in pork flavor, and cold canned shite in chicken!"

"Is it possible that this fine establishment could warm some of the selection?" Neo had to suppress a giggle at the absurdness of the display Jaune was putting on before her.

"For someone of such discerning tastes, I believe we can!"

For the remainder of the night a sense of normalcy blanketed the pair. Grief about loss, worries about the present, and doubts about the future faded into the back ground noise of their minds, and all that matter was the happiness and joviality of the here and now.


The male entity continued to watch the pair through his floating mirror. A delicate glass of wine grasped lightly in his needle like fingers. The partner binding was helping the pair to bond a little more effectively than they would have naturally on their own. Yet he still had doubts. The other over stuffed arm chair was empty his associate having retired to her own business long ago. He should rest as well yet he couldn't. He was compelled to study these assets, as that was what they would be. Assets to the Ethereal and Astral Realms. Champions of the balance.

"Their grief will have them seek out comfort. The comfort will be with those they have a strong bond with." A blonde haired blue eyed man stepped from the shadows to face the male entity. "That is the way of human nature, with little deviation."

"Ah, Mr. Arc, no sorry, Father Arc. It is so kind of you to pay me a visit. Pity that you had not made me aware of your plans. I would have made proper arrangements to fittingly welcome you."

"Cut the fake pleasantries Ablo. You and I are familiar enough to not need them."

"I'm hurt. There was nothing fake about me trying to be a generous host."

"Generous? Last time we met face to face you tried to bind my middle daughter's soul to some pitiful devotee of Seduction. So forgive me if I find it hard to accept."

"My apologies, for that questionable incident. May I inquire as to the purpose of this visit? You rarely if ever venture into the ethereal plane anymore."

"Why are you interfering with my son? What is your game?"

"Game. None. Jaune actual sought us out and we have granted his requests. But you know all this. What is it you really want to know? Father Arc." Ablo indicated the chair to his right which Father Arc declined, "Because it would seem to me, instead of wasting so much time and energy to project yourself into my realm, it would have been better spent to seek out your son, and bring him into your fold."

"The chaos of Vale is causing some issues. Grim, White Fang, bandits, and more than a few of the more fell denizens of the astral plane."

"I see. So this visit is to confirm that I'm not doing anything untoward with Jaune?"

"No, originally I was coming to seek aid, then I saw you watching Jaune, and now understand his letter."

"Aid?"

"Ablo, don't play with me. I know the whims of this realm are as fickle as the winds. I'm getting old as is my wife, and while my daughters are capable of dealing with much of what is happening around our area, some of the things coming through are beyond us."

"Like what?" Ablo was actually concerned at this news. While he personally has had an on and off feud with the Arc line for eons, he also had respect for their conviction and resolve, and to have the current patriarch of the Arc line before him asking for aid, even though there is an unaddressed situation between them regarding said man's only son was serious.

"Corpse Eaters. Named ones."

"That is a serious problem. Named Eaters out in your area?"

"That is correct."

"Do you know whom?"

"Tepes, Bath, and Shea."

"That is a foul trinity of chaos. I understand your concern Father Arc. What type of aid do you seek?"

"I need them drawn from my area, and contained somewhere more suitable to their nature until such time as," Father Arc moved closer and gazed at the mirror, "some Champions can be guided to deal with them."

"I see." Ablo set his wine down before continuing, "But let me just review the request to make sure I understand. You want my aid to draw the named corpse eaters from the area you are currently protecting, to some place that wouldn't suffer as greatly from their attention, until such time as a champion, or champions could be assigned to deal with them in a more permanent way?"

"That is correct."

"And for this service?"

"You are training my son and his companion correct?"

"That is correct."

"You are teaching them spell craft, ritual craft, incantations, prayers, seer sight, alchemy?"

"We are."

"The skills of my chosen profession."

"And a few others."

"I will offer the assistance of myself and my wife to complete his training. There are skills you will not be able to pass on to him, that must stay within the Arc line. I will give those to him."

"Interesting? Why would you do this?"

"He wanted to be a huntsmen, but in his time of grief and tribulation he turned to a mirror of the path I would have trained him for. Tried preparing him for. He may not be an Exorcist like me or my father before me, but he will be dealing with the same foulness." Father Arc looked at the empty chair, and then to Ablo who merely inclined his head in agreement. Once Seated Father Arc continued. "He made his choice as a man of the Arc line. Though I may not agree, I will support that choice, for as often as we have clashed Albo, there has always been a sense of honor and respect. I understand the balance must be maintained, and only the outliers need to be dealt with."

"I see."

"With that, what I've seen and heard here, in addition to Jaune's letter I understand more of what is going on. He has made a choice, he wishes to face his future using the skills of the arcane." Father Arc watched the mirror images for a short time before continuing to speak, "A father always wishes to provide his children with a future better than his reality. He wants them to succeed beyond his own measure. I have faith that Jaune will do so, but I need one consolation to that regard."

"And what would that be?"

"Swear on my love for my son, swear on your need for balance that he truly on his own sought you out to make a pact. Swear that you did not initialized the transaction."

"Father Arc, I swear on the Pact between myself and your son Jaune Arc that he freely sought out my assistance and that at any time prior to the forming of the pact he was free to leave."

"I am satisfied. If you can tempt the Corpse Eaters away I will make ready for myself and my wife to attend your next training session with my son and his companion. During that session we will impart knowledge from the very Arc line to them, for use as they see fit in the path they have chosen to walk. Do we have an Accord?"

"I agree. I will lead the Corpse Eaters to some place more suitable for the time being, and at the time when Dia and I choose to finish training Jaune and Neo we will invite you to attend for the purpose to pass on the Arc line knowledge."

"Then it is done."

"What are you going to teach you son? If I may ask."

"Jasmine my wife will teach, Neo was her name?"

"Yes that is correct."

"Jasmine will teach Neo the arts that have been handed down from mother to daughter, mother-in-law to daughter-in-law since the founding of the Arc line."

"And you?"

"Jaune is a practitioner of the Blood Ritual?"

"Yes, currently only in non-combat applications however."

"I will boon him. Stigmata Sanguine."

Ablo remained silent. Jaune's father was a powerful man, both as an ally and a foe. He was showing a great amount of openness and control in dealing with the situation. His faith in his son was eclipsing even Ablo's plans. Jaune's father regardless of how, or why would support Jaune's choice, and blessing Jaune with such a powerful and rare mark, that even the man beside him did not have was telling. Not to mention his wife being willing to hand down the secrets held by only the female members of the line to Neo, a girl they had never met, who Albo himself has bonded to Jaune out for nothing more that pure curiosity on how things would develop between them.

"You are being too generous Jonathon Arc. Too generous. What is truly happening?"

"Joan our youngest has the sight. A war is coming. The world will shatter, the barriers will fall. Prevention must happen, or our world will perish regardless of which side wins. In a world of light we all burn and die. In a world of darkness we all wither and die."

"Those are ill omens."

"The Corpse Eaters are causing chaos and destruction, I need them dealt with, but this war is coming and if the balance needs a champion then the Arc line will not falter." Jonathon Arc stood, nodded to his host and proceeded to leave, "send word when it is time. Jasmine and I will make our preparations in the meantime."

"I will. Go in peace."

Jonathon Arc vanished through the door to the sitting room and then faded from existence back to the material realm. Albo sat in silence regarding with a new interest the sleeping forms of Jaune and Neo. The news given to him was great, and troubling. Dia would need to be brought into the knowledge, and possibly a few others.


Neo was sure she was dreaming, yet it was so real. The only things she was absolute on was that she and Jaune were together. While around them shadows of others could be seen, it was only her and Jaune's forms that were complete. However it was Jaune's form that while his nearness was a comfort, which, was an odd thing for her to think about, there was also discord. It was his eyes, while the dulled blue color she had come to know was there, it was the look that was the cause of her distress. His eyes held murderous rage, and for some reason that rage was centered on someone or something that had caused her harm?

She couldn't piece it together. As she saw herself right now she was fine, no sign of injury or damage, yet Jaune stood there beside her, power, aura and rage emanating from him like water from a breeched dam. The man she was bonded to, the man she was standing beside was going to willingly kill on her behalf, in protection of her, and theirs. Theirs? Where did that thought come from?

Neo tossed, and turned in her fitful slumber. No answers to what was playing out in her mind. Each time she thought she was taking control it started over, leaving her frustrated and exhausted.


Jaune was restless. His thoughts kept wandering back to Neo, and the feeling of her skin against his. He was conflicted as thoughts of Pyhrra, remembrance of their first kiss and those heart breaking last moments before he knew she was gone. His mind struggled with resolution between the past and the present. Jaune could sense Neo's unease, and while he wanted to get up from his makeshift bed and check on her, he couldn't force himself to. In the corner of his thoughts was attraction to Neo, in another corner his feelings for Pyhrra, both chained to the center with a sense of guilt. Was he betraying her memory, their short time together by the growing attachment he knew he was having for Neo?

He was helpless to find a solution, as all he could see would cause pain to someone. To a memory or a living person. His visualization of both reached out to his psyche and he couldn't make a choice. Thoughts tumbled upon each other if only he knew how to contact Pyhrra, but his skills were still lacking in that regard. So conflicted and concerned Jaune tossed all night as no solution formed, and only disastrous after disastrous scenarios played out before him.

When morning came neither Neo or Jaune had gotten any real rest. Both staggered through the actions of waking up, and the decisions of what they should attempt to accomplish were never addressed. In fact aside from taking time to relieve themselves, the pair just sat or lay on their respective makeshift beds trying to focus on the day at hand, or allow the fatigue of a restless night drag them back into slumber.


Dia was less than enthused with the recent developments that Ablo let her in on. Even more so with the revelation that the Arc patriarch and matriarch would be involved in the upcoming final training session for Jaune and Neo. She attempt to hide the displeasure lest Ablo took exception to it. She failed and he chose to basically ignore it.

"So what is the plan then?" Dia was pacing rather than sitting as Ablo was like always taking sips of wine from his normal seated position.

"I have an accord with Jonathon Arc, and I will meet its requirements, and he will as custom and manners dictates honor his portion. I'm not sure why you are having trouble, it is not like this is the first time such agreements have been made between us and members of the Arc line."

"My issue is that I'll have to contend with Jasmine Arc and that little whore Neo. I had specific plans for her and now I'm not sure if I need to amend them to include the sensibilities of an Arc woman and mother." Dia ruminated over what she had wanted to do to Neo. Some of it would be painful for the girl, and if the Arc woman took exception to Dia's methods there would be trouble.

"Unless you are planning to seduce the girl right in front of Jasmine I doubt she'll have an issue if your training causes some minor discomfort." Ablo stopped and fixed an intent stare on Dia, "You weren't planning on abusing Neo in that way where you?"

"No." Dia responded without even noticing the stare fixed upon her, "I was planning some body manipulation, or figure enhancement, along with teaching her a superior form of combat."

"Body enhancement?"

"If she is to be his true partner, she should be more prepared to uphold the duties that such entails."

"Dia what were you planning and why?"

"Children will come if and when then join in union. She should be ready to serve her role as a mother, properly. I was going to improve her assets, in a minor way to make such chores easier." Ablo stopped himself from taking another sip of wine for fear he would choke on it as she continued, "Besides if I did do it, maybe it would spark more interest from that man-boy. With the binding if the pair started to think on each other in such ways thinks might move forward."

"You were thinking of giving her bigger tits? That was what you planned?"

"Yes, along with teaching her the serpent's tail style of chain and blade."

"No modification. Period!" Ablo was not sure if he should be amused, enraged or just confused. "No modification, teach her what her pact entails, and only that. If you attempt any modification to her body I'll help the Arc's end you!"

"Fine. I was trying to help you know." Dia couldn't fathom why Ablo was against her idea. "What about Serpent's Tail? Am I allowed to pass that knowledge on?"

"Yes, that is acceptable, in fact I would say you should offer an addition to her pact for that specific skill set. Is that agreeable to you?

"Yes."