When Beatris had first joined the team, she would be lying if she said she 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 around like they weighed nothing using her magic.
Thalia could restrain almost anyone except Selene, and even then, if she tried hard enough, she could hold Selene for a bit.
Even Aiden, who was the self-proclaimed weakest, could move so fast he became a blur when using his weird engine thing.
And Beatris?
Beatris could make vines move and heal small injuries.
That fact became all the more apparent as she lay in the grass, panting, her legs feeling weak.
Jax had decided to go on a morning run.
Beatris had stupidly agreed to tag along.
He walked over and stared down at her, a worried look crossing his face.
"Hey, Bee," Jax asked, sitting down beside her. "You okay there?"
"I huff feel like a *pant* dying boar here," Beatris said between labored breaths.
She forced herself onto her stomach, then sat up.
Jax watched her for a moment.
His expression shifted, a partially manic glint flashing in his eyes before he shook his head.
Even now, with the proximity suppression, Beatris could practically feel the insanity inside him bubbling like black tar.
The suppression had been effective.
But the insanity itself seemed to be a continuously worsening problem.
Beatris stared at Jax for a moment.
"Weird thought cross your mind?"
Jax turned with an apologetic look and cleared his throat in embarrassment.
Beatris stared at him, waiting.
One of the ways they had been monitoring the progression was by checking how bad his intrusive thoughts were getting.
The fact that Jax did not want to say this one aloud made her worry.
Their other measures had not worked.
And despite not wanting to resort to her last idea to help him, it was starting to feel like they were running out of options.
"Sera," Beatris said. "Malt. You said you had a friend who could help, right?"
The two flew over from where they had been relaxing nearby. Their wings were not tired despite having followed along for the entire run.
They nodded.
"We do," Sera said. "But to bring her here, you would need to make another pact."
Beatris nodded and glanced at her system window.
The glowing letter C floated beside her Pact Writer skill.
Pact Writer (C)
The Warlock can make a pact with an outerplanar being.
The strength of the being is based on the rank of this skill, 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.
Beatris's soul skill gave her an extra pact.
When the skill had grown to C-rank, it gave her another slot to make a contract.
This time, she could even do it intentionally.
So, as Jax watched, Beatris bit her paw and let blood drip onto the ground.
She drew a red circle in the grass.
Sera and Malt flew over as Beatris channeled mana into the circle.
The two angels released a strange golden-yellow energy into it, as if guiding the ability.
After a moment, a small cloud formed over the circle.
Like a tiny rainstorm.
From it, a small figure descended.
She looked like she was wearing a white sundress, with a lace umbrella resting over her shoulder.
She could have passed for a noblewoman taking a walk on a rainy day.
"Seraphella. Malthorin," the woman said, turning toward the other two as they smiled at her. "It has been far too long since we talked. I was wondering where you two had gone."
Malt shrugged and crossed his arms.
"We got contracted," he said. "Though we called you here because our contractor was hoping to get some help."
The angel turned to Beatris.
Beatris dipped her head in respect.
"Greetings," Beatris said. "I am Beatris, the one seeking your aid."
"Well met, Beatris," the angel said. "I am Maribel, the angel of shared umbrellas on rainy days."
She smiled.
"What calls you to seek my aid?"
Beatris turned to Jax.
He stood awkwardly to the side.
Maribel examined him for a moment.
Then she bolted toward him.
"Oh my," Maribel said. "Is that obsession I feel?"
Her eyes widened.
"And the target is…"
She gasped.
"Oh, I can see the drama. The longing. The romance of it all."
A moment ago, Maribel had given off the elegance and grace of a noblewoman.
Now, however, she looked closer to a teenager obsessing over a romantic story she had overheard.
Jax sat there with a quiet panic on his face, like he wanted to move away but did not want to be rude in case that was a dealbreaker.
Beatris had to stifle a laugh.
After a few more laps around Jax, Maribel flew back and held her hands out like she was trying to frame a picture.
"And the contrast," Maribel said. "Don't even get me started on the contrast."
She spun in the air.
"Rugged boy and girl who grew up surviving in the woods now come together to realize fighting is not everything."
Her hands clasped together.
"Ooooooh, it's beautiful, I tell you. Beautiful."
She hugged herself and twirled.
Beatris turned a very worried look toward Sera and Malt.
Both refused to meet her eyes.
Beatris turned back.
To her surprise, Maribel was suddenly inches from her nose.
"I agree to this contract, little one," Maribel said. "I can even help you with your obsession problem."
Beatris turned to Jax.
Jax shrugged at her.
Beatris turned back.
"Okay," Beatris said. "Fine. But before we create this pact, what price do you want?"
Maribel grinned.
Cunning.
"Once per day, I want you to make a romantic gesture toward him."
Beatris stared.
Jax stared.
"That's all," Maribel said.
For a moment, blank silence hung over the field.
Then Beatris and Jax both flushed.
Maribel floated there with a calm smile while Beatris wrestled mentally with the details.
On one hand, daily embarrassment and endless mockery from Liora about being in love.
On the other hand, Jax not accidentally leveling buildings if Beatris stubbed her toe.
A small part of her tried to argue against the contract.
But the math made sense.
So Beatris cleared her throat.
"I, Beatris, propose this contract to Maribel, the angel of shared umbrellas," she said. "You will grant me power and assist me in combating the obsession in Jax Stormcaller."
Her face warmed.
"In turn, once per day, I will perform a romantic gesture toward Jax Stormcaller."
A small piece of paper formed between them.
Beatris placed her paw on one side.
"I, Maribel, the angel of shared umbrellas, agree to this pact and grant you power."
Maribel placed her hand on the other end.
The page rolled itself up, then turned into small particles of light that drifted around them.
You have used skill Pact Writer (C).
You have called forth Maribel, the angel of shared umbrellas.
Your pact with Maribel is cemented.
Beatris turned to Jax with an awkward expression.
Then she leaned in and nuzzled his neck.
Even as she did it, she could feel heat rising into her face.
She pulled away and turned to Maribel.
"There," Beatris said. "Does that count?"
Maribel floated in the air with a nosebleed, holding a tissue in one hand while the other furiously scribbled in a notebook.
"Oh yeah," Maribel said. "That's the good shit."
Beatris rolled her eyes.
She was already worried about what this new pact would bring.
"All right, Jax," Beatris said. "Let's head back so I can wash up before my match."
She took a step.
Then paused.
"Jax?"
Jax did not move.
Beatris glanced up at his face.
He was standing rigid, like a statue.
Sera floated up and waved a hand in front of his face.
Then she turned back to Beatris.
"I think he passed out standing up."
There was a moment of silence between all of them.
The wind blew.
Jax slowly tipped over.
Then he suddenly jolted and caught himself.
"Sorry," Jax said, blinking. "Blacked out there for a moment."
He looked around.
"You all were saying something about gestures?"