The Achievement Junkie 175 Altering the Pac

At the top of her lungs, Keela screamed, wanting an explanation for all this. However, when her bright red face turned to look at Jack, she couldn't find him. Rydel was still riding his horse and was now holding the reigns to Jack's horse as well.

"Where did he go? He thinks he can just leave without an explanation?!"

Laughing, Rydel glanced at Maura. "Since Jack took off, how about you explain things? By the look of things, it would be better that you talk and not Eliza."

Maura sighed, "Keela, come with me and I'll explain everything. Let's head back to the association building and we'll talk on the way."

"Fine, but I refuse to give up! This only means that I need to try harder!"

Together, Maura and Keela led the way with Rydel, Maynard, and Eliza in tow. Eliza looked at the calm samurai and asked, "Are you Maynard? They told me a lot about you and your bloodthirsty-style."

"Yup, that's me," answered Maynard. "And ya must be Eliza. How does it now that ya are finally out on your own adventure? Is it better than being cooped up at home?"

"Actually… It's my first time outside of Federal City…"

"Seriously?!" Both Maynard and Rydel shouted, surprised by just how protective her father had been.

"You're father must have really cared about you. I'm surprised he gave you away so easily to Jack," mentioned Rydel.

"Me too, but he said that it was better for me to be with Jack than anyone else. And if my father felt that it was better to be with Jack and not himself, than he must have a lot of confidence in Jack," stated Eliza, with a thoughtful tone. "But every time I ask Jack about what he and my father talked about, he never explains anything. And since he's not here, can either of you two explain it to me?"

"Hey, he may not be here, but I don't think Jack would appreciate us talking about his secrets so openly," replied Rydel.

Maynard nodded. "Ya will see with time. Now that you're together with Jack, ya will learn first hand, just wait."

"But I'm not sure that we are together…" groaned Eliza. "My whole life I was sheltered and raised in Federal City, dreaming about the day I'd get to leave. Father always said that I'd only get to leave after I'm married. Now that's finally happened, and to a hero no less! But he doesn't treat me like he should treat his wife… Jack's nice to me, but I feel that it's only out of obligation."

"Can ya blame him though?"

"What do you mean?" Eliza asked Maynard, who so casually sided with Jack.

"Ya do know that your father blackmailed him into this, right?"

Confused, Eliza looked at Rydel, not wanting to believe what Maynard just said. Sadly, she only saw the hunter shrug his shoulders and chuckle in response. "You mean he really was blackmailed? Then why is he being nice to me when he never wanted to be with me?"

"Knowing that kid, he probably doesn't blame you at all. If anything, he probably feels sorry for you. He's too kind-hearted to not take care of you, even if you only became his wife by coincidence," explained Rydel. "He's a great guy, but he's going through a lot more then you give him credit for. In time, though, you may be able to grab a piece of his heart if you're patient."

She looked back at Rydel shyly. "You… really think so?"

"Sure! We know Jack, and it's only a matter of time till he accepts ya. Problem is, that might take longer than ya expect," mentioned Rydel.

The rest of the way, Eliza rode her horse in silence at Maynard's and Rydel's sides.

Back at the association building, Jack had already returned and hurried into one of the empty dorm rooms. Locking the door, Jack took his time to prepare plenty of papers, magical ink, and more. It was time to start adjusting the pact.

Without any distractions, Jack wondered how many hours it would take him to finalize the new pact.

At the entrance of the association building, Maura and the others finally arrived. Though Jack arrived first, he hurried through with his sudden death skill to not draw any attention. But now that Rydel and Maura were back, how could they not draw the attention of the entire branch?

Many people swarmed Maura, wanting to know what happened with her father and why he hadn't returned with them.

Instead of answering those questions, she let Rydel handle that. Maura greeted everyone and led Keela and Eliza inside to the bar. Though her mother was no longer cooking there, the new cook still wouldn't be bad.

Rydel and Maynard were the ones to start answering questions. When they mentioned Zariff's dismissal due to being cursed and poisoned, it was a lot for the other adventurers to take in. And when they said that they would be leaving with Jack as his official party, the bar was in an uproar.

Many of them were jealous of the hunter and the samurai. Everyone wished that they had become closer to Jack when they had the chance. But since that ship had sailed, instead they celebrated with Maynard and Rydel, toasting to their future journeys.

There was, however, one person who wasn't cheering or toasting with everyone else at the bar. She calmly stood up and walked toward the two men at the center of the commotion. "Are you really leaving so soon?"

"Yeah, Jack's got some big plans so we'll be heading out as soon as he finishes something," replied Rydel.

"Does that mean Jack is back?" asked Daliea.

Maynard chuckled, "Yeah, he's probably locked himself away by now. I don't know how long he'll take, but ya will have to wait cause no one's allowed to disturb him."

Nodding, Daliea looked around to see Maura with Keela and another girl that she didn't recognize. When she saw the rings on Maura's and Eliza's fingers, Daliea squinted her eyes in thought.

She asked Rydel, "Did Maura get married?"

"Oh, you noticed…"

"So, she did? Where's her husband, I don't see him anywhere."

"Umm…" Rydel looked to Maynard as if to ask him to explain instead.

With a loud sigh, Maynard motioned to Daliea to come closer. He let her stand directly in front of him as he whispered something into her ear. It almost took a whole minute for him to stop whispering, but Dalieas face showed surprise in seconds.

After his quiet explanation, Daliea looked perplexed. She thought in silence for a moment but eventually said, "Okay. Then I'm coming too."

"We thought you might say that," grumbled Rydel. "I don't have anything against it since you're plenty strong. Actually, I'd be happy to have you come along. But you'll have to convince Jack first."

"Like I said, I'm coming too. Jack won't mind, I'll make sure of it."

Both Rydel and Maynard looked at each other and laughed. Though they already knew this would happen, seeing the jealous look in Daliea's eyes was proof that she still hadn't given up her chase for Jack.

*****

Time past and two whole days went by without warning.

Jack was still locked up in that spare room, not letting anyone disturb his practice with pacts or Bowzer's long naps. Finally, Jack let out a sigh of relief.

The young hero relaxed and looked at the piece of paper in front of him. It was covered in a pattern similar to the old pact, but now it was far more complex. With added shapes, symbols, and etchings, it looked far more powerful than it had been previously.

One of the biggest requirements for pacts was that they were only usable for summoned heroes, so Jack naturally filled the hardest requirement. 

Second, it was about forming an original magic contract made in magic ink. Since JAck was using the best magical ink, paper, and quill money could buy, that requirement was also fulfilled.

That only left the pact symbol. It had to reflect the words and meaning of the contract, utilizing the many shapes and etchings to do so. And now that Jack had finally succeeded in balancing it all three steps, he could use his new pact.

His door soon opened, and a slightly tattered looking young man exited. Jack made his way to the bar to get some much-needed food.

It was about midday, giving Jack time to perform all the new pacts and say his goodbyes. Soon, he would finally be leaving Reinolt and starting his own journey without the association's influence. They would still back him so long as he didn't do anything too stupid, but they wouldn't decide his trip for him.

With that over with, Jack enjoyed a good meal and waited for the others to come to find him. And since he had been stowed away for so long, his exiting seclusion was already getting spread around the building and reaching his friends' ears.

Chapter end