“So you are a shard of the soul of this Aelryinth, forcibly reincarnated into a native of this world.” The deva sat back in open wonder. “Well, this is certainly far beyond what I had expected, and far more in line with some of the adroitly torturous manipulations of the workings of the Divine...”

“TRUTH.”

The Word rang out, and his true form flared into existence like an illusion, his nature momentarily apparent to all. Master Fred’s multiple Pacts blazed under his skin in interwoven existences of power; shadows of what had been, and were waiting to be filled again, and the same even ghosted across under my own borrowed epidermis.

The deva’s eyes closed as the power of the Word faded away. He took a deep, satisfied breath. “It has been too long since I have Heard the power of the Words... and I did indeed see the residue of an unbroken, yet faded Heavenbound Pact.” He looked at my eyes in interest. “This Shroudborn status of yours is tied to the Shroud itself?”

“Yes. It cuts me off from contact with both the Divine and the Land. I cannot touch the Alignments for true power, either, so I cannot form the Pact. I suppose you could also almost call it a genetic Pact, but there is precious little I am getting from it.” Other than totally mucking up my Leveling, that is...

“Interesting. Now, I should be able to stir up that, at least. Your hand, if you please?” I gave it into his warm grasp without hesitation. “Do you remember the Oath?” he asked calmly.

“One does not ever forget the Words of a Pact, Elder.” Indeed, Aelryinth had administered that Pact to new Warlocks in the past... and Pacts for other powers, as well...

“Agree you to serve the Will of Heaven?

To defend the weak?

To protect the innocent?

To defy the diabolic?

To hurl back the demonic?

To thwart the daemonic?

To embrace virtue and scorn sin?

To be shield and sword, spear and hammer, hand and foot, Word and Song of the Empyrean Sphere?!

To seek out those that serve Evil, and stand between them and their ambitions upon this mortal world?!”

Valor rang out despite itself, set the whole room ringing with the Thunder and will to defy anything and everything in pursuit of the Highest of Causes. It was bells and horns and uplifting arias to the soul... fading all too quickly...

I met his eyes cleanly. “I do.”

In the presence of a Celestial, sealed with the Words of Creation, the Pact should have empowered instantly and immediately. I could speak the Words... I was worthy by definition of being able to do that to take a Pact.

Nothing. No, wait. A glimmer of Light, coasting across my soul, fading Light clinging to echoes upon my soul... and sustained by the existence of the Words within my Matrix.

I blinked as he released my hand, the angel nodding in satisfaction. I glanced at Master Fred, who pointed to his eyes.

I fished out a make-up mirror because reasons I was carrying one, and met my eyes in it.

Huh, the natural pupils and iris were now visible through the Shroudborn darkness. They didn’t actually look like Heavenbound eyes if you had any sense at all, but my resemblance to Master Fred’s would doubtless be commented on.

Still, better than all black things. Those eyes had seriously been rather creepy and not a positive style contribution. Intimidating, too.

“That works, too,” I nodded happily, stowing the mirror back away.

He waved his hand. “An acknowledgement of your status. Those sworn to Heaven will be able to sense it with a touch, naturally... as will our opposites, if you drop that Divination Ward you have about yourself.”

“Understood.” Unfortunately, it was a long way to a full Astral Ward. 39k more gold-equivalent. One more item on the stack...

“So, tell me what you have planned. I do not give more than passing guidance to the Heavenbound Hall’s operations, as the deeds of mortals should belong to them, but as you might imagine, they will seriously consider my words.”

I had to smile slightly. “Does the lack of abject reverence discomfort you, Elder?”

“No, actually. An Archon might be uncomfortable with the lack of hierarchical priorities, but I am not of the Silver. It would, of course, be far more suitable if they actually had the prowess to back up their notions of nominal equality.”

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I could only agree. Too, while a formidable warrior of Heaven, astral devas were basically escorts and messengers for higher Powers, as well as scouts and observers. Aelryinth had met them before, and this Elder didn’t have any power beyond a standard deva, meaning no Class Levels. He was a swift, nimble, and dangerous warrior, especially against Fiends and the Evil, but, for instance, didn’t even have the power to Raise someone from the dead.

This Elder was actually not really qualified to be in a non-military leadership position for mortals, at least as far as his skillset went. He probably had the experience to do well in certain aspects... but that was something he could train others in, and likely did.

However, he had identified the key fact that he was basically the most powerful conduit of Good on the planet, and thus for granting Heavenbound Pacts. The deeds and effect of up to fifteen hundred Heavenbound running around would certainly trump what he could accomplish on his own, and so he had concentrated his efforts on making more Heavenbound, sending them out to fight Evil after training them, and keeping a Light shining in a world where they could not see the sun.

Having an Angel around would also be immensely inspiring for all the Churches of Heaven, if for nothing else than a living moral guide who could keep their doctrine and practices on track.

“I have to ask... are you the one who supplied the correct doctrinal references and forms to the faithful of the Heavenly churches?”

He smiled widely. “Indeed. While I am of the Hosts of Aru, naturally I am aware of the practices of His allies and their Faiths. Providing the faithful with the proper ceremonies and methods of the gods waiting for them was a trifling matter I was pleased to perform.”

So that was why they had the correct titles, and even the Salutes were proper. It only took one Angel to help organize things and get them on track.

Unity and harmony between the forces of Heaven had helped them organize far more quickly than the other Aligned powers, which had helped immensely in dealing with the rise of magic, the undead, and return of magical beings.

Benefits of being the Good guys...

“As for my plans... what I would prefer to do is keep feeding my Stave and Ring every day, which requires active Karmic generation using them; Infuse other items with the goldweight loaned from the Hall, and generally keep active as my Karma slowly infuses my Levels.”

“By your tone, you are greatly concerned about upgrading your Weapon and Ring,” he observed.

“While this world has great wealth in many ways, Elder, there is not a surfeit of gold laying about. Two goldweight equivalents a day in advancing simply for doing the right things is a tremendous sum of remuneration for services rendered. Adding onto that Infusing a goldweight a day... can even Heavenbound Hall afford to spend three goldweight daily, just on me?”

He looked both impressed and perturbed. “That IS a considerable amount, although I am not in charge of the Hall’s finances.” Nearly half a million dollars a day, so... yes, it was a lot of money. “I was informed that you would like the Hall to advance you a considerable amount of gold regardless...”

“On loan, yes. When I reach Nine, repaying it will not be difficult. I am aware of several gold and precious materials mines on Terra-Luna, which should be untapped here. I will be able to Commune with Nature and locate them precisely here, and excavate them with the help of Elementals quickly and smoothly. Removing several hundred tons should not prove to be very difficult.”

He regarded me very seriously. “That... is a considerable sum of gold.”

“Yes. And yet it vanishes all too quickly.”

“That it does,” the angel agreed. This wasn’t Heaven, where a deity could hand-wave into existence all the gold-equivalents the smiths of Heaven could want. Finite resources, getting scattered among many thousands who desired them. What was a ton of gold, divided five pounds at a time among thousands clamoring for it?

It was something to fight over! Generating goldweight was the goal of just about every powerful organization in the world. Platinum and gem mines were insanely valuable strategic natural resources. Crafters who could triple the value of those resources were essential personnel... and they knew it, spinning up goldweight equivs out of nothing.

Perhaps in a few thousand years, when the gold had been recycled numerous times, and the magical items made before were still around and had accumulated to the point of being commodities, things might change.

Before that point, I would need a LOT of money...

“However, doing things before rising to at least a moderate level of ability is unwise at this point. By your words, I assume that you have a rather copious amount of knowledge that could be shared with us at Heavenbound Hall, correct?”

I inclined my head slightly. “That is true.”

“Such knowledge can and should also be seen as something worth proper remuneration. Sharing such with us should be worth both a considerable amount of money, and moreso, worth the time of others towards making such Artifice. This has the additional advantages of decreasing the amount of debt you will be taking, increasing the amount of remuneration that you are worth, and establishing your reputation and thus yourself here. While being able to shoot dark things with Master Fred is indeed a positive endeavor, it is not the same kind of thing that will truly establish yourself and your power here.”

He had a point. If others were willing to cross-Infuse for me, that would also save a great deal of my time. “Does that include yourself, Elder?” I asked calmly, stirring his confusion. “Forgive my presumption, but you are a Fourteen. Even if you have limited skill in the creation of Artifice, there are items you can Infuse that perhaps nobody else in the Hall can. I naturally have plans that would require someone of that level of ability be available.”

“Interesting,” he managed to say. “While I have been willing to do Infusion work in the past, it has not been for a situation that required my ability to do so...”

I smiled ever so slightly. “Master Aelryinth was a Fifteen, sir. There are definitely things that I know you can do, that I cannot.”

“Well, then, if you can demonstrate the value and ability worth me doing so, I would be happy to arrange such use of my time on your behalf.”

Master Fred didn’t seem put out that our crime-fighting duo was coming to an end, and perhaps seemed slightly relieved. “Well, then, let me start making lists and getting some accommodations, and tomorrow we can start to work, then.” I would lose some Naming Karma, but if I had the goldweight and someone else’s time to work with, that would be fine. “Master Fred, I’m going to be showing you some downtime productivity tricks worthy of a Theurge, so don’t think you’re going to be leaving for anywhere quite yet.”

That seemed to amuse him. REALLY? THEN BY ALL MEANS, I SHAN’T BE OFF RIDING INTO THE SUNSET...