I do not own RWBY or Warhammer 40,000, only my original characters.

Return of Faith

Chapter Nine: Prayers & Oaths

"O, Holy God-Emperor, Lord and Master of all Mankind, hear my prayer…"

Within his cell aboard Salem's Will, Brother-Sergeant Jorran knelt before a shrine dedicated to the God-Emperor of the Imperium and prayed. Upon the shrine, a quartet of incense candles flanked a small statue of the Emperor carved from ebony marble. The candles burned softly, filling the room with wispy trails of holy smoke.

"Grant this mighty vessel safe passage through Your enemies' realm, so that it may carry Your Holy Word across the stars…"

Jorran's fingers ran against the fabric of the small pouch he held in his right hand as he recited a variation of the Prayer of Safe Passage as the chapter fleet closed on the system's Mandeville Point. In their own cells, Jorran's Battle-Brothers knelt before their own shrines, beseeching the God-Emperor for a safe and swift voyage through that so fittingly named realm, the Warp.

"Grant this mighty vessel's Navigator clear sight, so that he may see and be guided by Your most radiant Light…"

Jorran took a deep breath, inhaling the incense smoke that filled his chamber. It was a soothing and familiar smell, bringing forth images of battle and prayer to the forefront of the sergeant's mind.

"Shield this mighty vessel and its crew from the dread whispers of Your enemies, so that we may continue to serve Your glorious vision." Jorran brought his hands together in the Sign of the Aquila. "God Emperor, protect us on our journey. Ave Imperator…" Silence filled the cell for a moment, before Jorran began reciting the long prayer once again. "O, Holy God-Emperor, Lord and Master of all Mankind, hear my prayer…"

It was the practice of the Black Lions, upon the eve of Warp travel, for every traveling Space Marine to speak the Prayer of Safe Passage at least five-hundred times. This ensured the Navigator led the ship along the safest currents of the Warp, and kept it warded against the touch of the insidious forces that swam through that hellish ocean of unreality.

Jorran was just finishing his eight-hundred-and-sixty-third prayer when the ship-wide vox crackled into life. Half a second later, the monotone voice of a servitor droned out from every vox-speaker aboard Salem's Will.

"Attention all hands: ten minutes to Warp translation. Repeat: ten minutes to Warp translation. Glory to the chapter and praise be to the Emperor of Mankind."

The Brother-Sergeant kept praying through the short announcement, as if he had not heard it. Jorran had heard it though, of course, as had every soul aboard Salem's Will. His thumb brushed against the rough fabric pouch in his hand again. Jorran's thoughts drifted to the other ships of the fleet, the same announcement echoing through their iron hulls as their crews readied themselves for the jump.

Over two thirds of the Black Lions' fleet had been amassed for this campaign, the largest mustering of the chapter's strength, outside of the Blood Eclipse, that Jorran had ever seen. Seven brotherhoods, seven hundred Battle-Brothers and five thousand battle serfs. Such a force could conquer a subsector with ease, yet even this was not the full limit to the fleet's might.

Several days prior, the Black Lions had traveled to the world of Evangela, the spiritual heart and ecclesiarchal capital of the subsector that bore its name. It was a world renowned for its healing arts as much as its holy temples. It was on Evangela that the Nameless Saint, a hundred blessings upon Her unknown name, and the forefathers to the Black Lions chapter brought an end to the conflict that had engulfed the subsector ten thousand years ago.

A great bond between Evangela and the Black Lions was forged that day, one that has only grown stronger as time went on. Aspiring Chaplains, Battle-Brothers on the eve of donning the skull helm and crozius, would make pilgrimage to Evangela before their ascension. Black Lions returning from crusade would stop at Evangela to offer prayers of thanks to the Emperor and the Nameless Saint. In turn, Evangelist missionaries often accompanied the Black Lions on their crusades, spreading the Emperor's Word and aiding the sick and wounded.

This was the reason the fleet had stopped above Evangela, Jorran had been told. When the Chapter Master explained the purpose of their crusade to the High Cardinal, the ecclesiarchal regent pledged his support to their cause. Scores of missionaries now resided aboard the Black Lions' flagship, The Wrathful Roar, accompanied by a mission of Sisters of Battle from the Order of Our Shrouded Lady.

The Order of Our Shrouded Lady had marched alongside the Black Lions many times in the past, and Jorran had personally fought beside them during the cleansing of Yule-IV, the first campaign he took part in after receiving his Black Carapace implant. They had fought with admirable zeal and fury in that war, and Jorran held no doubts they would do so on Remnant as well.

"Attention all hands: five minutes to Warp translation. Repeat: five minutes to Warp translation. Glory to the chapter and praise be to the Emperor of Mankind."

Disgust filled his hearts as he thought of the planet they were to conquer. Data slates containing copies of the Inquisitor's report on Remnant had been dispensed among the squad leaders to study during the voyage. Fresh hate boiled in Jorran's veins as he recalled the information the data slate carried. His fingers tightened around the pouch he held.

Widespread use of psycho-reactive materials. Outlawing the worship of the Master of Mankind. Hunting His faithful like rats. Giving His places of worship over to heathens and infidels. Daemonic beasts of shadow and bone that prowl the planet's wilds. Powerful warriors with strange abilities and bizarre weaponry.

He had nearly rolled his eyes at the report, and were it not for the assurance of his superiors that it was true he would have questioned the sanity of their Inquisitorial allies. Whether the phenomena the Inquisitor described were real or not did not matter to the Sergeant. Remnant had sinned against the Emperor and must now face retribution. The Taint of Betrayal infesting its people will be excised and purged, the idols and temples dedicated to false gods will be torn down and shrines and cathedrals dedicated to the Emperor and His Imperium will be raised upon their foundations. The Black Lions will bring deliverance to Remnant's hidden faithful, and destruction upon the traitors that persecuted them.

Such was His Will.

Another burst of static erupted from the cell's vox-caster, heralding another announcement. Jorran expected to hear the toneless voice of the servitor again, so when he instead heard the voice of his Chapter Master the sergeant's praying ceased.

"Once more, we go to deliver a world from the clutches of tyranny." Lord Castimere began, his commanding voice still clear through the distortion of the vox. "Once more, we go to cleanse a world corrupted by heresy and punish those who dare turn from the light of the Emperor."

Jorran turned to look at the vox-caster for a moment as his liege spoke before he resumed his prayers, the words of his Chapter Master filling his ears. "Millenia ago, our forebears came to Remnant and found a world beset by monsters, its people on the brink of extinction. They purged this world of these abominations and taught the glory of the Emperor's Word to its people, restoring their hope and will."

The speech was being broadcast to every ship in the fleet, the voice of the Black Lions' king filling every corridor and cell, stirring the hearts of all who heard it. "Now, that world has fallen into darkness once again. The Taint of Betrayal has taken root within its people, deluding them into believing that the Emperor's Light is false. His few remaining Faithful are forced to hide, praying for the day that He sends them salvation. And we, my brothers, shall be that salvation!"

Jorran's lips moved faster as he listened, his prayers flowing into a mantra as the fervor of the Chapter Master's words filled him. "On wings of fire, we will descend upon Remnant. With faith and fury, we will cleanse the corruption that has taken hold. With blade and bolter, we will cut down all who would dare stand against our might. And as our brothers of old once did, we shall raise the faithful of Remnant out of the shadows, so that they may bask in His eternal glory without fear.

"The Black Lions carry His Word back to Remnant, brothers. Let not a single heretic escape your blade."

The speech had only just ended when the synthetic voice of the servitor announced: "All hands brace for Warp translation. Trust in the Emperor's protection."

Before the Black Lions strike-cruiser a wound in reality split open. Hellish energies leaked out from the Warp-rift to touch the ship, only to shrink away the instant they touched the Geller-field. As Salem's Will sailed into the portal of unreality, Jorran continued to pray. He felt the shift as the ship fully entered into the Immaterium, causing a shiver to run through his spine. Still, Jorran smiled.

He had just finished his one-thousandth recital of the Prayer of Safe Passage when the Warprift closed behind Salem's Will.

~o0o~

"This is so dumb." Weiss Schnee muttered as Yang, Pyrrha, and Nora eyed an unassuming breakfast café from the safety of the street corner the group was hiding behind. Though she too was curious, she refused to show it and instead simply scowled as she pinched the bridge of her nose as passersby gave each of them strange looks.

Yang turned to give Wiess a cheeky smile. "If it's so dumb, why'd you agree to come with us?"

Weiss suppressed a growl at the hothead's teasing and instead shot her a glare that could melt ice. Yang just rolled her eyes at her teammate's attitude, her smile never leaving her face. Yang's attention returned to the café when the front door opened and two familiar figures stepped outside.

Ruby and Jaune left the café with their hoods up, obscuring their faces from view. Yang watched them with narrowed eyes. The two hadn't been in there long, maybe twenty or thirty minutes, and hadn't done much besides talk and eat their meals, according to Blake. She and Ren sat atop the roof of the building across the road from the café, reporting back to Yang and the others what they saw.

Yang wished she was up there with them. They got to have a front row seat to her sister's date while she was forced to rely on their commentary to get a picture of what was going on.

Their lackluster enthusiasm for this whole operation didn't help either.

When Ruby and Jaune reached the end of the block, Yang and the others stepped out from cover and followed the pair. The blonde looked up and left to see Blake and Ren moving across the slanted roofs of Vale and she couldn't help but agree with Nora's previous statement of them being "the Ninjas of RWBY & JNPR".

"Why are we still following them?" Weiss complained. "It's obvious they're on a date. Why don't we just go back to Beacon and confront them about it when they get back?"

Pyrrha winced at the Ice Queen's phrasing. "We don't know that for certain," she argued weakly. "I-I mean, we don't know what they were saying. Maybe this is where they go to brainstorm combat strategies."

Yang frowned, her eyes losing a bit of their mischievous sparkle, as she turned to look at the Mistral Champion. Ever since they had gotten off the airship, Beacon's Invincible Girl had been acting less and less like her namesake. Every time they caught sight of Ruby and Jaune straying close together or laughing about something none of them could hear, she looked ready to turn tail and run the other way.

Yang felt a twinge of guilt whenever she caught Pyrrha in the corner of her eye. After all, she was partially to blame for the champion's current emotional state. She had been the one to suggest they tail the two of them, appealing to their curiosity and their desire to rib on Ruby and Jaune for keeping their relationship a secret. Eventually, they all agreed to it, and once the fated day came, they crept after their leaders, intent on finding out the truth.

But so far, they hadn't seen anything conclusive. Oh, the two of them were on a date, that much was obvious, but none of Teams RWBY or JNPR could figure out what kind of date it actually was. Was it a "friends hanging out" kind of date, or was it a "date" kind of date? They couldn't tell, and it was starting to eat at them.

Several times now, Weiss had suggested they just head back to Beacon and interrogate Ruby and Jaune when they got back. She was, of course, the most vocally opposed to their whole operation, despite her own obvious interest in the matter. However, the way her eyes darted toward Pyrrha every time she brought it up betrayed her real reasons for wanting to go back.

"Yang, I think they're onto us."

The sudden report from Blake stopped all four of them in their tracks. Yang blinked. Nora was wide-eyed. Weiss shot a glance to Pyrrha as the spartan went pale.

Yang recovered first. "Uh, care to elaborate on that, Blake?"

"We just saw Ruby and Jaune run into an alleyway on the opposite side of the street." Yang hissed a curse before gesturing to others to pick up the pace. "It's just a few blocks ahead of you, next to a street mural of the Last King of Vale."

The group was practically running when they reached the aforementioned mural. Both Blake and Ren were already there, standing by the alley entrance. Yang was just about to ask why the two hadn't gone in yet when she saw the state of the mural.

What had once been a beautiful and awe-inspiring depiction of Vale's last and final king had been turned into a childish mockery. Where once he stood upon an overlooking hill, sword pointed heroically toward the unknown future that had awaited them all in the end of the Great War, the monarch now stood upon a pile of stick-figure corpses. Slurs and gang-signs orbited the defaced hero, angry jabs directed at the Vale council and Beacon. Yang shot Weiss a glance when she noticed several were about Atlas and General Ironwood.

When the Atlesian fleet first appeared over Vale, Yang hadn't given it much thought. Travel between the Kingdoms was getting harder, and Atlas had a reputation for overkill. She figured they just preferred being safe than sorry. That did not mean that others shared her opinion.

It came up in conversation a few times, here and there. The people of Vale hadn't like having a foreign army literally looking down on them on their day to day lives. There had been minor protests about it in the beginning, and it was only thanks to the General's actions during the Breach and his more recent victory over the White Fang, that people were actually started to appreciate Atlas' presence in Vale.

Evidently, not everyone seemed to see it that way.

"The disrespect," Wiess scoffed. "We should report this."

"Why? Not like we know who did it," Nora asked, her voice surprisingly serious and causing quite a few heads to turn her way. When she spoke next however, it was in her usual bubbly tone. "Besides, we're on a mission! Can't get sidetracked now or we'll never find our lovebirds secret hideout!"

Pyrrha's lips twitched at the comment, but Yang ignored it – and the incredulous look Weiss was giving the hammer-totting ginger – instead nodding in agreement with Nora before turning to Blake and Ren. "You said they went down there, right?" She jabbed a thumb toward the alleyway right next to the defaced mural.

"You guys just missed them," Blake informed, gaining a raised eyebrow from Yang.

"'Just'?" Weiss repeated, "I thought you said they were onto us?"

"Blake did, but turns out it was a premature assumption," Ren elaborated, earning a look from Blake.

"But why would they do that?" Weiss continued, eyeing the alleyway like it was the most disgusting thing imaginable. "What could either of them want to do in such a… unsanitary place?"

"Something they don't want us to know about," Blake answered after a moment, causing a strange foreboding to fall over the group of teens.

Yang was the first to shake it off. "Well, we won't find out just standing around. Let's go," and she waltzed into the alleyway without a shred of fear. The others followed after her quickly, with Blake running up to walk beside her partner.

"Yang, are you sure this is still a good idea," The disguised faunus asked, keeping her voice low.

Yang gave her a questioning look before giving her a smile, "What, don't think you have what it takes to be an alley cat?"

Blake didn't even roll her eyes at the pun. "I'm serious, Yang. Something's not right about this. I don't know what, but I feel like if we keep going, we're going to find something we shouldn't have."

Yang lost her smile there. "All the more reason we should follow them. We're all entitled to our own little secrets, Blake," she began as they came to the first split in the alley. At a nod from Blake, the group went right. "But when those secrets involve lying to your team and older sister and ducking into a suspicious dark alleyway with a boy two years old than you, then things get a little… complicated."

Blake gave Yang a look the blonde couldn't quite place. "So, you still think this is just some romantic rendezvous between those two? Really?"

Something caught Yang's eye then. Something small and insignificant that still managed to draw her attention. It was at another intersection, a corner wall covered in layers upon layers of old graffiti art and gang signs. One stood out to her though: a golden skull wearing a crown. It seemed mundane enough, but as Yang stared at it, she noticed another image hidden inside the glaring skull, made nearly invisible by the countless works that showed through the gaps of the skull, but there all the same.

A familiar two headed-eagle…

"Yup," she lied. "I do." Before directing the group toward corner with the crowned-skull.

~o0o~

Jaune smiled as Ruby happily led him along the hidden pathways of Back Alley. The red reaper bounced with each step she took, practically skipping down the alley. She looked entirely out of place, an unspoiled rose in a hallway of filth and garbage.

Jaune didn't know where the analogy came from, but he was grateful for the distraction it offered him. He was beyond nervous right now, and for the same reason Ruby was so unabashedly happy.

Ever since Ruby had completed her undeserved penance, Jaune had started going with her to attend the cult's services. Something about that first sermon he heard, the way the priest spoke of the Emperor and His Angels, it had stirred something inside Jaune. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before. The closest he could come was to when Pyrrha unlocked his Aura, but even that didn't feel right. It was like a fire had been lit inside him, a warm flame that filled and renewed him like nothing else could. And with each new sermon, Jaune felt that fire grow, stoked by the priest's words until it became a roaring bonfire.

It took him until just a few days ago to finally realize what it was, and when he did, he had almost laughed for not realizing it sooner.

Faith.

What he felt inside him was faith.

Faith in something bigger than himself.

Faith in the God-Emperor of Mankind.

Ruby had been overjoyed when he told her, throwing her arms around him and trying to spin him around, before abruptly pulling away from him with her face as red as her cloak. It had been cute. Jaune had blushed too, but hoped Ruby had been too caught up in her own embarrassment to notice. Once Ruby recovered, she told him how happy she was for him and that Father Carmine would be just as happy to formally induct Jaune into the Faith.

Thinking back to that moment now, Jaune asked, "Did you tell them this time?" Ruby hadn't told them about Jaune the first time she brought him to the hideout, resulting in Ruby being banned from attending services until she completed her penance. Jaune doubted she would be punished for what she was doing now, but they had to have some sort of special ritual or something for inducting new members, right?

Ruby looked over her shoulder at him, a smile on her lips. "Maybe~" she said, turning around to fully face him, walking backwards as she did so. "Why? You getting cold feet?"

"I'm just…" Jaune rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the words. "Doesn't he need to know ahead of time to prepare, or something? You know, bless the holy water, light the candles? That sort of thing."

Ruby giggled and moved to stand beside Jaune, matching her pace with his. "Nah, nothing like that," she told him. "All you do is kneel in front of Father Carmine, swear a few oaths and boom, you're an official member of the Faith."

"But he's got to know in advance, right," he clarified his question. "I mean, he's got to need some time to get things ready."

Ruby's smile dimmed a bit at his question, and Jaune feared he may have brought up something he shouldn't have. "It'd be too dangerous," she said, and leaving it at that.

Jaune mentally kicked himself in the back of the head for his stupidity. He still managed to forget sometimes how dangerous what they were doing was. If they weren't careful, they could end up in prison, or worse. Secrecy had ensured the survival of the Emperor's Faith after the Great War, as well as the survival of its members. They couldn't just send Father Carmine a text about how Jaune wanted to join the Faith, it would be like throwing a frightened child into a pit of beowolves. That the two of them attended Beacon made it worse. Not only would they expelled and put in jail, but their weapons would be confiscated and, if the rumors he heard were true, melted down into slag.

Sudden doubts began to fill Jaune's head and he gripped the pommel of Crocea Mors. Ruby noticed this, quirking a near-black eyebrow at the knight. She reached over, and placed her hand atop his own, smiling up at him.

"Don't worry," Ruby said, her voice calm and reassuring, easing his fear and silencing his doubts. Jaune took a breath then met her gaze. He nodded to her, his expression resolute, and the pair continued down Back Alley.

Eventually, they came to a familiar dead-end and made their way over to the cult's secret entrance. Ruby knocked on the side of the old dumpster, and after a few seconds, the two of them were ushered in by the Golden Crown guard. The people already inside greeted the pair warmly, a sharp contrast to the wary coldness Jaune had received when he had first come here. A few of the Golden Crowns even nodded toward Jaune, a gesture the leader of JNPR returned, if somewhat uncertainly.

"Ruby!" Jaune heard the familiar voice of Oliver cry out and turned his head just in time to see the young faunus throw his arms around the Huntress-in-training's legs. "Hi!"

Ruby smiled down at the boy and ruffled his hair. "Hey, Ollie. How've you been doing?"

"I'm good," he answered, then saw Jaune and his grip on Ruby's legs tightened. "Hi, Jaune."

"Hey, twerp," Jaune greeted, making Oliver stick his tongue out at the teen, who played it off with a smirk. The young faunus glared at him, childishly unsubtle about his dislike toward the blonde swordsman. Jaune didn't mind however, mostly because he thought it was funny how clearly jealous the boy was toward his relationship with Ruby… despite the irony.

"Careful there, Jauney boy," one of the gangsters warned playfully, his tattooed face split by a grin. "Don't want to make the hound mad now. He's got a mean bite!"

"Yeah," another laughed, wearing a yellow vest studded with metal spikes. "He'll rip your throat out!" As if to prove the man's point, Oliver growled at Jaune, baring his teeth at him in way that the boy probably thought made him look like a vicious guard dog.

In reality, it made him look like an angry puppy.

The people closest to them laughed at it all, while a few of the other Golden Crown gangsters voiced support to the faunus boy or warnings to the blonde teen.

Jaune just smiled and raised his hands in surrender, causing Oliver to grin in triumph over his older foe while Ruby giggled at the whole thing. The faunus boy then started talking with Ruby, asking her about Beacon and the Creatures of Grimm. She answered his questions with a smile as Jaune stood beside them, content to just listen and watch. He felt something push against Crocea Mors and looked down to see a little girl pressing her hand against it. Her face was dirty and she wore a ragged, oversized blue hoodie that reach down to her knees. She must be one of the homeless children, Jaune thought, or an orphan. The girl stared at the sword with wonder, as if she couldn't believe it was real. A moment later, a woman came and pulled the girl away, apologizing to Jaune.

"It's alright," he told the woman, who he realized looked only a few years older than he was. Her older sister, he hoped, dreading the possibility that this young woman could already be a mother.

"She's very curious," the woman explained, "can't keep her hands to herself sometimes."

"It's a real sword, sis," the little girl said, making Jaune breathe a mental sigh of relief. "It's really real!" She looked back to Jaune, sparkles in her eyes. "Is it true that you're a paladin, mister? Father Carmine said you were!"

It was at that moment, as if summoned by the little girl's words, Father Carmine entered the room with his two bodyguards in tow. Everyone greeted the priest with respect, from making the sign of the Aquila toward him to getting down on one knee. Jaune, unsure of what to do, opted to just bow his head.

The priest smiled and gestured for those kneeling to raise their heads. "Emperor's blessings be upon you all," he said, folding his hands over his chest in the sign of the Aquila. "Once more, I am honored by your presence here, it is good to see you all again." His gaze traveled across the room, meeting the eyes of everyone present. When he came to Jaune and Ruby, a glint entered Carmine's eyes and Jaune could have sworn the priest's smile grew.

"Come, everyone," Father Carmine said, waving his hand toward the door he had entered through. "Let us give our thanks to Him on Terra." The people murmured their agreement and began to follow the priest out of their shelter, when Ruby stepped forward with Jaune in tow.

"Father Carmine!" Ruby called out, her clear voice cutting through the muttering of the crowd like a knife. The priest turned back to the pair as they approached; the serene expression he wore marred only by a raised eyebrow. Ruby stopped a few feet from the priest and a strange silence filled the room, one that was abruptly ended when Ruby elbowed Jaune in the side.

He grunted in surprise and shot the leader of RWBY a glare, which she returned with a pointed nod toward the waiting priest. Jaune looked back to Carmine, the man's face betraying mild amusement at their antics.

"Is there something you wish to tell me, my child?" The question was simple in its phrasing, but carried a sense of knowing that Jaune did not pick up on.

The blonde gulped. "Yes, I… uh," he blurted out, then flushed with embarrassment as his tongue twisted in his mouth. He was getting nervous again. He couldn't quit now, not with everyone watching, not with Ruby next to him. Jaune took a calming breathe before speaking again, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt. "I would like to join the Faith, Father Carmine."

Whispers and mutterings erupted again in response to his proclamation, but he couldn't make any of it out over the pounding of his heart in his ears. Unwilling to turn and meet the gazes of everyone watching him, Jaune kept his eyes set on the overweight priest. Father Carmine looked at Jaune, that amused expression still clear on his face, but now there was something else there. Hope? Pride? Both? Jaune wasn't sure.

"Jauen Arc," Carmine began, his reverent voice clear and joyful. "We would be honored to count you among us." He addressed everyone next. "Come! Let us head downstairs so that we may welcome our newest brother properly."

Clapping and subdued cheering filled the building. Even when they were so deep in the Back Alley, hidden away inside this abandoned office space, they were still careful not to draw attention. Father Carmine turned to walk back the way he came, the rest of the cult following after him. As they moved, several passed by Ruby and Jaune, offering the blonde looks of approval and welcome. Any of their remaining coldness towards him seemed to just evaporate.

It left the blonde knight a bit stunned, to say the least.

When the group came into the basement temple, everyone got to their seats. Jaune moved to join them, but Ruby's grip on his arm stopped him. She smiled at him, a reassuring and welcomed gesture, before leaving his side and taking her own seat among the gathering. At the other end of the basement stood Father Carmine, the only other person – besides the two guards at the stairs – still standing. He held out his hand to Jaune, gesturing for him to come forward. After a moment of hesitation, Jaune did so.

Each step he took seemed to fill the hidden temple, echoing loudly inside the teen's head like a slow drum beat. It was all he could hear in that moment; it was all that could be heard. Halfway there, Jaune suddenly realized that his earlier anxiety had vanished, and that the anticipation he now felt was something different. The feeling was difficult to put into words, acceptance was all he could think of but even that didn't feel right. Whatever it was, he knew it was important and that was enough for him.

Without realizing it, Jaune straightened his back and squared his shoulders as he approached Father Carmine, stopping just a few feet from where the priest stood. The priest looked up at him, expression calm and serene. It suddenly struck Jaune that he was several inches taller than Father Carmine, a fact he had somehow never noticed before.

"Jaune Arc," Carmine began, the importance in his voice grabbing Jaune's attention almost instantly. "You come before us now, in this place of holy secrecy, to swear yourself to the God Emperor of Mankind. Is this true?"

Jaune nodded his head. "Yes."

Father Carmine smiled, warm and welcoming. He reached into the folds of his robes and retrieved a leatherbound book. It was old and well used with no title or symbol to hint toward its contents, but Jaune had a fairly good idea what the book was about anyway. Father Carmine held the book out before him, treating it with both reverence and care.

"Place your hand upon the holy book, Jaune Arc." Jaune did as he was told. "I will now recite the Oaths, after each one, you must answer with 'I swear'. Understand?"

Jaune nodded again.

"Do you swear to accept the Emperor into your heart and soul?"

"I swear," Jaune said.

"Do you swear to renounce all false gods and only follow the Word of the Emperor and the teachings of His Angels?"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to follow the Emperor's Will, even when you do not fully understand it?"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to defend your fellow many against the evils of the Grimm and the heretic?"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to keep secret the names and faces of all you see here today, to never speak of what happens here to anyone outside of our Faith?"

"I swear."

"Remove your hand." The words were soft but spoken with such ceremonial finality that Jaune dared not object. "Kneel, please." Once more, he obeyed, getting down on one knee and bowing his head. A moment later, Jaune felt the priest's hand on his head. "O, great God-Emperor of Mankind, Lord and Father of us all, we ask that you accept this young man into your glorious embrace and share with him the grace of Your most holy benevolence. Guard him against the perils of this world, guide his blade to always strike true, and keep safe his secrets from unwanted eyes."

A moment of silence followed the priest's words, one that seemed to last an eternity. Finally, Carmine removed his hand from Jaune's head and the young man looked up to see the priest smiling down at him.

"Stand, Jaune Arc," he said, offering a hand to the kneeling teen. "Stand tall among your new brothers and sisters."

Jaune took the offered hand and pulled himself back up to his feet. Once he had, he was treated to a wash of quiet, but very enthusiastic, applause. Everyone was now standing, softly clapping their hands and offering him welcomes. A few even called him brother.

And in the midst of it all, he saw Ruby. The young reaper was the most passionate of them all, going so far as to bring her hands into her sleeves so she could clap them as hard as she wanted without concern. The sheer pride and joy on her face was indescribable and the smile she wore stretched from ear to ear.

It was all a bit much for the leader of Team JNPR, and the young Arc could only offer an idiot's smile as the cult welcomed him into their ranks. When his face started to go red from all the attention, Father Carmine took the moment to beckon Jaune toward Ruby with an outstretched arm. Jaune did so gladly, taking his place beside the red-hooded girl.

The soft clapping persisted for several more seconds before finally dying down, much to Jaune relief. Father Carmine waited a moment more before addressing them. "It is always good when a new member joins our faith, as it shows the falsity of the Heretic King's decree and the divine truth of the Emperor's Will." His words were met with nods and sounds of agreement.

"It is not chance that Jaune Arc, descendent of our faith's Paladin Order, joins our ranks today, but a sign from the Emperor Himself!" He paused again, looking over each and every one of them, a strange glint in his eyes. "Some time ago, a woman came to me after our service had completed. She was not of our flock, and I feared she was an agent of the Council, sent to silence me once and for all."

Worry spread through the gathering of people in soft mutterings and concerned whispers. Discovery by the Council meant imprisonment or death, for everyone gathered here.

But then Carmine raised his hands in a placating gesture, urging everyone to calm. "But this was not the case," he revealed. "The woman introduced herself as Yuria Lond, an agent of the God-Emperor Himself, a member of His fabled Imperium! She spoke of an empire that spans the galaxy, of entire worlds given over solely to the worship of Him and His Saints, and so much more. But most important of all, she spoke of His Angels."

With each word, the fear gripping the cult melted away, pushed back by the priest's reassuring voice and ultimately banished by the mention of the Emperor's mythical warriors. Silent anticipation ensnared the cultists, who hung on the priest's every word. Jaune looked to his left, and saw Ruby was similarly enthralled, leaning forward in her seat, silver eyes gleaming with something besides wonder.

"She told me that the Emperor has heard our prayers, He has seen our plight, and it has stirred His holy wrath! He will not suffer to see His people hunted down and tortured. He will not suffer us being forced to hide in the shadows like rats. He will not suffer our world to be ruled by heretics and heathens." Father Carmine grew more impassioned with every syllable spoken; his once calm voice now filled with fanatical joy. It was infectious, and Jaune felt his heart beating faster in his chest. The priest then threw his hands up to the sky, spreading his arms wide to envelope the whole room. "No more shall we be hunted like vermin. No more shall we have to hide our faith. The Emperor sends His Angels back to us, and the bring with them His divine justice!"

The priest's revelation broke the spell hanging over the cult almost instantly. Several people shot up from their seats, demanding or begging to know if what he said was true. Others broke down and wept tears of relief. Many just stared at him for a while, wide-eyed and stunned, until they were snapped out of it by their neighbors. Eventually, the shock melted away and everyone engaged in celebration. Lovers kissed, parents hugged their children, and cheers and praises rang out as the need for secrecy was forgotten in the revelry.

Jaune just sat there, watching this all unfold around him. As they all rejoiced, the newest member of the cult could only sit there and watch, completely at a loss for how he should react to this incredible, unbelievable news.

Then, he heard a voice.

It was soft, and quiet at first, like a whisper in a thunderstorm, but somehow Jaune still heard it. The voice spoke- no, he realized, that wasn't right. It wasn't speaking, it was singing! The voice sang a simple yet powerful hymn that cut through the cacophony like a knife. Jaune turned to the source of the singing, to his left, where he saw Ruby, eyes closed, head bowed, and hands crossed over her chest in the Sign of the Aquila.

Jaune stared in open wonder as he listened to his friend and fellow leader sing her praise to her God – their God. He had listened to her sing these hymns before, but her voice had been one among many then, concealed in the harmony of the cult.

Now though, Jaune could hear her, clear as day.

In fact, Jaune realized that he couldn't hear anything but Ruby's singing. The freshly inducted cult member looked away from his friend to see that everyone had ceased their own celebrations and were quietly listening along as Ruby sang her hymn. Many made the Sign of the Aquila over their chests.

Soon, Ruby finished the hymn and opened her eyes. She blinked at the audience she had acquired and instantly went red, pulling up her hood and shrinking into her seat with an embarrassed groan. That got a laugh out of everyone.

"Let us follow our sister's example, my friends," Father Carmine said, his voice once again calm and endearing. "The time for celebration will come, but for now, let us sing our praise to the Emperor. Let us raise our voices up so that He may hear our love for Him!"

As Carmine lead the cult into another hymn of praise Jaune looked over at Ruby, hiding inside her hood. The brunette peeked out from beneath it, her silver eyes shining as she looked at him.

Jaune offered her a smile before adding his own voice to the choir.

~o0o~

"They're coming, Jaune," Ruby gushed for the hundredth time, "they're actually coming! I can't believe it!"

"It is pretty crazy," Jaune replied as the two walked through the halls of Beacon.

"It's more than crazy, Jaune," she replied, her smile still has strong as when they left the service, "It's amazing! World-changing! It's… it's… it's so cool," she squeed, hopping from one foot to the next in childlike excitement.

Jaune chuckled softly at her display. He didn't share the same level of enthusiasm that Ruby had for Father Carmine's revelation, but Ruby just chalked that up to Jaune still being new to the Faith. It didn't bother her, really. After all, soon they would witness the glory of the Emperor's great Angels firsthand, and any doubts Jaune might have would be blown away by their divine majesty.

"I can't wait to see one in person," Ruby went on, practically bouncing with every step she took. "Do you think they're really 10 feet tall? I wonder what kind of weapons they use, or what their Semblances are like. Do you think they would need Semblances?"

Jaune shrugged. "You'd know more than me, Ruby," he told her, "But, uh, maybe we should stop talking about this right now?"

"Oh, right," Ruby paled slightly, her good cheer deflating as she realized she had almost let her excitement get the better of her, again. She played back everything they had said since returning to Beacon in her mind and was relieved that she nor Jaune had said anything that might have outright revealed their faith. Praise be.

They walked in silence for a while after that, Ruby's mood dampened but by no means defeated as she bounced with each step. She cast a sidelong glance at Jaune, her first friend in Beacon and now fellow Imperial. He still looked like he always had, but something seemed different about him now.

He walked more confidently, he didn't stumble over his words as much, he even looked more physically fit. Perhaps Ruby was just now noticing the effect life at Beacon was having on the young knight, or maybe finding the Emperor's Light had helped Jaune more than he realized.

Or it could be both.

Ruby's eyes went forward when the two leaders reached their dorms. As Jaune pulled out his Scroll for the door's lock-scanner to read it, he turned his head to Ruby.

"So, what do we do now?"

Ruby returned his question with a determined smile. "Now, we prepare."

Pleased that she made her dramatic announcement sound appropriately awesome, Ruby swung open her door and went inside. She stopped in her tracks however, when she saw her team, Yang, Weiss, and Blake all standing in the middle of the room and staring right at Ruby.

Ruby smiled, "Oh! Hey guys, what's up?"

None of them spoke, confusing and worrying the young leader. They also didn't look too happy either. She was about to ask if something had happened when she heard a commotion behind her. Ruby turned just in time to move out of the way as Nora shoved Jaune through Team RWBY's doorway. Jaune just managed to keep his balance as the rest of his team entered the room, shutting the door behind them.

A pit formed in Ruby's stomach and her head whipped back to face her teammates. None of them seemed surprised or angry with JNPR's intrusion. In fact, they barely seemed to acknowledge it. Their focus was entirely on their silver-eyed leader.

"G-guys," Ruby asked, her voice a fragile whisper, "What's going on?"

Yang met her little sister's gaze, the older sibling's hands held behind her back in an uncharacteristically dignified way. Then, Yang brought her right hand up, revealing the book she had been hiding behind her back. The tome was old and well-used, its owner having read it countless times. Many of its pages had been dog-eared to mark favorite quotes or passages. It was a relatively unremarkable and unassuming book, were it not for the crude double-headed eagle adorning the cover.

Ruby felt the color drain from her face as her sister's violet eyes momentarily blinked crimson.

"You tell us," Yang growled as she held up Ruby's hand-me-down copy of the Lectitio Divinitatus for everyone to see.

~o0o~

Author's Note: Soooooo… Not gonna lie, this should have been out WAY earlier. I had more or less finished most of this chapter about half a year ago, but I couldn't figure out how to have it end. I was stuck between showing Yang and the gang watching Ruby and Jaune leave the cult meeting or having them just confront them in the dormroom. Not to mention, I was and sort of am going through a few things currently and writing has sort of taking a backseat to a lot of real-life stuff.

The writer's block I had for this ending scene, which turned out to be just 700 words, was super severe and significantly dampened my will to write. I am going to try and get more out faster, but it will still probably be slow going. Thank you everyone who has stayed with this story after so long. I do upload on Spacebattles forum as well, it is done in parts so you will be able to get access to the chapters much faster. I am also going to stop putting stuff at the top, as it really isn't necessary, I think.

As always: Please fav, follow, and review. Thank you!

DeadRich18 Out!