We are nine chapters away from the end, you guys. Thank you all so much for sticking with Jace and Lili this long, and be on the lookout for the sequel. It will be called Sculpted Shadows: The Tear. Ravnica High will be updated as soon as LTK finishes the chapter, and be sure to check out Let Me down Easy as well!

I sat in my office chair as Laurel continued her report from the past two weeks. Our time at the resort had come to an end much, much too soon. I wanted that time back, the chance to bake in the sun, look over and see Liliana kissed by the sun and we exchange a look and throw our heads back in laughter. I want to lay next to the ocean and soak up the rich mana from the constant moving waters. Alas, that was not to be, at least, not for a year. When we promised to come back, it was a serious promise, one that I aimed to keep. Laurel drowned on for another moment before I raised my hand, stopping her abruptly.

"Is something the matter, Guildpact?" she asked, her eyes staring at me.

"Laurel," I said, standing from the chair and went to the window, overlooking the magnificent lake, the bridge that stretched across it and the moving people of this district. "Laurel, as I always appreciate your fully detailed reports, as well as the confidence that you have in your work: you can stop."

She looked puzzled and I indicated with a finger to my head, telling her I had already absorbed the information from her and the entire staff of the Chamber. Her jaw dropped in shock and violation.

"How long were you going to allow me to continue on like a fool?" she asked, her anger seething. She always hid her anger well and to any other person, you would not tell that she was going to erupt from anger at me. As always, the elf and I were attuned.

"You aren't a fool, Laurel, just a little...thick in the head," a grin flashed on my face. I laughed gently to myself, not realizing a book just came hurtling to my face. I was too late and the spine of the book hit me squarely in the nose. I toppled backwards and landed firmly on my arse, feeling my tail bone bruise.

The gentle steps of the elf were already at my side, hand out.

"Come on, you dolt."

I looked at her hand, taking it. However, before I could even get all the way off the ground, Laurel slipped her hand out of mine and I fell, hitting my tail bone once again.

"My, Jace, try not to be so thick in the head," she said. Her sing song laughter filled the room, looking at me and I couldn't help but join in. Having the chance to have such an amazing team under me and work towards the improvement of Ravnica, was always a good day. Unless the guilds manage to find a way to disrupt that, which just so happens to be a daily occurrence here. Laurel headed for the door after helping me off the ground and turned briefly.

"I'm guessing this is no surprise to you, seeing as how you're a mind-reader and all, but don't forget that you're supposed to meet with the Guilds soon."

"How soon?" I asked, completely blanking on the topic. She looked to the wall where the clock hung near one of the massive bookcases that adorned the room.

"Well, in five minutes you're meeting with the Golgari, have fun." With that she was gone, the door closing behind her. Surely she must've been joking and I flipped through some of the papers on my desk, looking for the schedule with the Guild meetings and the dates. My eyes opened wide as I realized Laurel had been telling the truth and before I could waste any more time, I bolted out of the door of my office, called to the secretary to send two scribes and four guards to the conference chamber and sprinted as fast as I could, barreling down the hall. For once, let the Guilds fall on their promises to be on time.

I had made it to the conference chamber, however, my prayer hadn't been answered. Within the massive meeting hall that could sit possibly a couple hundred people, Jarad, one of his lieutenants, and Varolz already occupied a couple of the chairs in the room. The scirbes and the Golgari guards, as well as the Chamber guards had already taken their stations in the room. I let out a silent curse and a heavy sigh, preparing myself for the onslaught of humility and impatience that was festering in the room. I descended the stairs into the middle of the circular room to the center table and crossed the short distance, taking my seat. I wiped a drop of sweat from my brow and cleared my throat.

"I do apologize, Parun Jarad, for my tardiness. I presume you're busy person and I've-"

"Let's skip the pleasantries, Guildpact," his earthy voice rang out. Hopefully, there was something bothering him and not my tardiness.

"Very well, as you know, there have been great issues with personal matters being brought into private councils, as well as violence-"

"Which you carried out."

"That I take full responsibility of. It is no secret that I've had difficulty, maintaining...'issues' for better lack of words, within the private convening. To come to an resolution to these issues, strengthen our bonds as allies, I have a solution."

"These, 'contracts', you spoke of before?" Varolz chimmed in.

"Correct. There is no blame solely on one party or another, however, Jarad...there needs to be a unity, that this plane hasn't known in millennia. There are issues within each guild, against another guild that strains this. It weakens our lines and presses us into a precarious position, do you agree?"

For a moment, nothing but silence drifted between us. Then, Jarad cleared his throat.

"Since the reformation of the guilds and the creation of a new Guildpact, things have been somewhat...different. All of the guilds, including the Golgari, have been changed and proceeded carry out to a new agenda. But, I need not tell you that old habits die hard. There are many within the other guilds that disapprove of your appointment as Guildpact, many would wish you dead-"

"Including you?"

"Vraska...Vraska was a mistake, a very costly mistake. While at one point we would've gladly assimilated your corpse into the Swarm, that time has passed. A new age, Jace, will come, possbily within your time as Guildpact, possibly not. But, for now, we can do our best efforts to find purpose...perhaps, change Ravnica? Asked me of this many years ago and I would've rend your body to shreds at the even notion of that. However, Varolz, myself and many within the Undercity of our guild have seen that you've strived very hard for every guild's account. Pushed more soul into this world than we all have in millennia. But, do not think that this means this great epiphany has come upon myself and the Swarm, out of the æther. There are many within our ranks who disagree with your notion of 'cooperation' and unity. But, I still remain as leader and my liuetenant and Varolz have professed that perhaps, you can bring about change."

I stared intently, absorbing every word of what Jarad had said and disbelief stewed in me. Was he really willing to formulate a way to make Ravnica prosper and grow? Do their duty for the better of Ravnica? Soon the scribes had stopped scribbling and turned, with the other eyes in the room to me. The weight of Guildpact hit harder than before. The change I wanted and waited for was finally coming.

A small smile formed on my lips and I looked at Jarad, the zombie elf's vision clear in my mind. For a dead elf, he was very eloquent.

"Very well, then my proposition is simple: rekindle the guilds purposes and give to Ravnica and her people. I understand that the main project of the guild was environment and waste management, yes?"

"Indeed, while we try to perform these actions to our fullest, centuries of filth has built, making it impossible."

I leaned on the table, looking very intently at Jarad, satisfied that the meeting was going to be productive, then

"That is why we are here today," a smile on my face. The days to come were going to be most fortuitous.