Paladin's Path

Oaths are the silent contracts woven between soul and power, each thread tightly wrapped to the individual. When made alone, an oath is a personal promise like "I cannot use my power on weekdays." which sharpens the abilities into a blazing inferno on weekends.

Its a dance with restraint that can turn the mundane into the extraordinary. But when two souls form an oath that is more for something of both users benefit.

*Interesting*. Theon didn't know about Oaths, Victor had not taught him anything to do with the many facets of Od he just told him that he'll learn within the academy.

Unlike the boring Math or science classes that Theon didn't pay much attention to as he knew much of the content anyway, he paid much more attention during these lessons.

His mind had already started coming up with many different ways to use these Oaths.

"Its best to wait to be paired up in your teams and spend some time on the field before you make any."

The class understood. Bell put her hand up to ask a question...

"What are some examples that people have used already and shared sir?"

Mr Adams thought briefly on it before delivering an answer.

"One that could be used is, 'I will use my power after some specific phrase or word.' Something simple and unassuming like that can work and many use it."

Bell after getting her answer furiously started writing down what the teacher said with some other people doing the same.

"There's more brutal ones though right?" Arte spoke out without raising his hand. His voice was languid and to the point. "Stricter bindings would make for more powerful output right?"

"Yes they would, but you would really have to understand the conditions you are setting so you don't accidentally harm yourself."

And since they're not solely used for your power they can somewhat be for anything, probably not much beneficial to how Od is used if you're not sacrificing anything.

It is a good way to prepare yourself for almost any battle allowing you to put yourself on the level of someone that would normally be so far above you.

"People usually stick with one or two of them though." Mr Adams said while going on to his next point about them. "Theon!"

A look of acknowledgment showed on his face, Theon was usually quiet during class and he never really got asked many questions which he was grateful for since he didn't like speaking out in class all too much.

"Everyone here has seen that you can just summon dragons out into the open right?..."

Theon nodded and gave a assuring 'Yes Sir'

A couple more eyes had turned in their seats as they looked back at Theon as Mr. Adams continued to speak... "Do you think that you can do so from within me?"

What!? That felt like a stupid question the obvious answer would be no.

But as Theon thought on it he realized that it was something he hadn't actually tried on someone before.

And even when someone appears in position for where he wants his dragons to be they are instead forming at a weird encircling angle or just somewhere close enough to them.

"No Sir!" He gave his answer with no explanation and that caused some people to tilt their heads in confusion or give some other weird stumps with unsureness in their demeanour.

Theon had glanced at Jon who even looked intrigued as previously he seemed to already know about the function of an oath.

"Well it is actually a theory that comes from Dr. Julia Wells. She deeply explained it in one of her books too before her passing." Mr Adams started to explain to the students a theory that all awakened people seemed to follow as soon as they received powers in this world. "The Wells Principal ensures that all powers operate within the bounds of fundamental natural law and none of them can bypass the laws."

He went on to say that even if someone is granted a power to interact with the conditions set by an oath itself, they would theoretically still be unable to break the natural law that was set on the world.

Mr. Adams then gave the class an example that made it easier to understand the inherent laws of the world we live in.

"We'll use teleportation as an example, moving from one place to another in an instant is incredible but there is a simple way to stop that and that is just the reason that they cannot teleport through solid objects."

Cole put his hand up... "But what if they just need to know what the room looks like behind closed doors?" Valid question and one that even Mr. Adams seemed stumped on, he probably just gave a textbook example out of the many instead of the most easily accepted one.

"This is usually for teleporters trying to travel to places within their line of sight." A good answer but Theon thought their were still some caveats there. "But a better example would be people who can use fire. Many fire users can generate a fire from their hands and onto other objects but they are completely unable to spawn another flame within other living organisms."

A better example, Theon always believed that was just because the power you used is fuelled by your Od so the Od of other people just messes with it.

It was a cool lesson and it only made the class more excited to finally be teamed up and out on missions.

Time went by quickly in the lesson and Mr. Adams left the classroom to first.

"I can't wait to be out there taking on missions." Cole spoke out in the front of the class and some others happily agreed with him seemingly infected by his enthusiasm.

Theon was about to leave his seat before he seen Jon leave class before him, that never happened before and it did give him a weird feeling but he put up with it and got up to leave anyway.

As he was leaving the classroom he was behind Robin, the orange haired girl was almost his height only a bit shorter coming to his shoulder. Robin was on her phone and desperately shaking without a thought to who may have been near her.

Theon tapped her shoulder. She flinched and then turned with wide doe brown eyes staring at him in shock and some slight fear, not for him he noticed quick enough.

"Sorry, I just wanted to know if you're alright?" Theon was genuine in his approach, he had noticed her weird behaviour since a week prior but put it to the back of his mind especially whenever she got up in front of the class and put on the personality of a bright and cheery eyes leader.

Her face slipped back to its natural happy tone. "I'm fine." She said but her voice still slipped sounding weak and Theon picked up on it which then only led him to putting on a fake mask of his own, a mask of growing concern as he looked on to her.

"Are you sure? Its alright if you're not."

Her phone buzzed and her eyes widened, Theon's eyes narrowed trying to subtly glance at her phone to see what has Robin so distressed. She whipped it up to her chest after reading the message.

"Thank you for the concern Theo. But I have to go now." She turned quickly and ran off to the girls toilet.

'First Jon with his mystery stalker and now Robin. Coincidence? I think not.' Theon hadn't really spoken to Robin but if Jon was now off limits due to this stalker then he would just have to find a way through her.

He wasn't going to wait for her or anything but instead he would just pay more attention and try to make himself as available as possible. But he is interested as to what he may have on Robin.

That would be hard since it is obvious as to what this stalker is trying to do, isolate his targets.

Leaving them alone and with no one to turn to will make problems and emotionally rot the brain and leave them defenceless for when they strike.

He wouldn't have to worry about Jon, he knew that, he believed in him and he figured that Jon would put some trust in him.

'I need to find a way to do my part then.'

_______________

Now, there wasn't any places to shop or get much beside food within the confines of the schools campus, which is why whenever the students wanted to get something other than food they would have to receive permission and scan out with a set amount of hours they were allowed out.

Jon had been out with Theon a few times but for now what he was out for was to find a phone store. He walked into a big commercial building with crowds of people he can blend in with. He had been waiting for an opportune time to receive a new message.

True it is incredibly hard to track down no caller ID numbers but since the schools phones were special most phone or electronic shops had even small ways to aid these special phones.

A small electronics store that no one seemed to be in was available out side a bigger convenience portion of the mega store. Jon went inside their to explain.

A short man with a stocky figure and patchy beard was behind the counter, his hair was thinning and going grey.

"Hey there."

"Hi how can I help you?" He had an accent and a tanned complexion.

Jon pulled out his phone and flipped it around showing it to the man, "I'm in the paladins program so this phone is kind of special."

"I understand." Jon was grateful he didn't have to delve further than that.

"I want to figure out how to track down a no caller ID number. They call and disturb me a lot throughout the day and I can't block 'em. I think its just a friend but just in case its not I should know to report it." Jon put on his most basic friendly civilian face he could... "Any recommendations?"

The man was already on the move, he spoke briefly and to the point.

"This tool here is called a track Module. A small device that sticks into your phone via its USB port. Once connected it starts intercepting and analysing your calls and messages received from this 'No Caller ID'." The man then started explaining more functions with it that were confusing but Jon could still follow along.

"There's an App that comes with it after you plug it in that allows you real-time alerts as well as details of the callers location..." And that was it, that was all Jon needed. It would have been better if he could ask Theo to do this but current circumstances didn't allow this.

He tuned out what else was said and blessed the little luck he did have that the device was something he could still afford now even with his tight funds, although he would be stuck eating canned foods for a while. He showed his ID to show he was in the program and paid and then got out of there and while speed walking through the shopping center he was setting up the device on his phone.

A brief five minutes after his setup and he received a text saying the same words as last night. [I'll call soon.']

Jon instantly swiped over to the app to see the location and was surprised to see that it wasn't actually in school but instead much closer to him now in the store.

He turned over and ducked down and ran in the direction which took a few seconds with his speed. Jon ended up in a more deserted area with few people, he looked them all over suspiciously. The mother trying to calm her raging son down, the two older girls walking with an ice cream in their hands, the old man carrying his baby in some contraption he didn't know them name of attached to his body.

They all seemed normal, and out of the corner of his eye he had seen something shine under the sunlight through the windows above.

Walking over to it with curiosity he walked over to the bench and once he looked over...

"Ah shit."

Feeling all the emotion drain from his face, Jon stared down at the small rectangular and shiny object on the bench.

It was a phone, one new and seemingly just taken out of the wrapper.

Jon didn't have time to look around as his phone buzzed again but not with the call that was mentioned over text.

It was a message.

"[Keep making the game entertaining Jon Sinclair.]" Jon thought that the contact was new, it still had No Caller ID though. "[This is better than what I had in mind already. You're much smarter, a much better opponent.]"

Bastards just living it up.

"[Now I want you to start a commotion in the store and make sure its physical.]"

Bad. Very bad.

'So this guy is definitely watching me right now.' Jon was worried but he had to play the part.

He walked briskly into a more crowded area not holding back at all when bumping into people. And quickly enough the perfect target shown itself.

Not just one though.

A group of boys with one girl who was just guided to the side as they decided to confront Jon.

"Can't you see where you're going idiot?" the one who initiated was taller than Jon, actually they all were and they were older as well. One in the back had both his ears pierced and the one being mouthy to him had a tattoo of a skull on his left cheek.

It was hideous and then there was one more who wore a beanie and and had different coloured eyes.

"I'm talking to you!" he received a light shove that didn't phase him.

"Well can't you watch where you're going or are your eyes for decoration retard?" This kind of attitude was actually much easier to slip into for Jon and he was happy with it, small wins were all that would matter in these situations.

A punch was thrown and he slipped it easily, with all the training he had received over the years people like this were not a threat.

After dodging the initial hit he stuck his leg out and tripped up the guy who was now moving forward in motion and then twisted his body and threw a soft hit to the right side of his jaw which knocked him out and angered his two friends.

'Oh shit.'

Jon seen a phone come out from the girl who was off to the side, she was probably recording, that was the first thought in Jon's mind. Maybe it shouldn't have been but even if she weren't there were still multiple people that were.

Without even paying much effort to what he was doing he knocked the other two out effortlessly and ran out the store, dancing in between the spaces of the people crowded up in the area.

While on his way back he kept his head down cursing at himself. His phone buzzed to receive a message from the stalker showing him the video from all different angles.

Jon wanted to throw his phone away and run off into the distance and just be done with it.

He mindlessly scanned his school tag at the entrance when he got through the barrier and was met by a guy who he is sure he's seen around the school on the first day. The first thing many would notice about the boy was that he was tall, tall with neatly combed back silver hair that complements his sharp angular features.

Jon was reminded of a girl in his class when he looked at the guy in front of him, Bell.

The boys hair meshed well with his metallic and piercing silver eyes. 'Intense.'

Behind him though was someone Jon was already somewhat used to from some classes he has had before. It was Robyn Wilson.

Jon still had no clue as to why they were staring at him so intensely.

"What!" he spat out still boiling with anger he had failed to hold back.

The one who spoke was the tall boy who reminded him of his classmate.

"We are here to escort you to Ms Juniper Fay's office."

Jon felt like he was backhanded. He didn't show it but he was a little apprehensive.

"What! Why?"

The guy was the one to speak again, Jeez sending two people with the same stale disposition out really isn't a good idea.

"We were alerted to this..." Ms Wilson had brought up a phone to show one of the videos of Jon brawling at the shopping center only a few minutes ago.

'Damn, I barely even got a chance to cool off.'

Jon showed a calm front while putting his hands in his pocket. "Alright then... lead the way."

One nod was all before... "Please don't do anything stupid."

"Who are you by the way?" Blame curiosity.

"Arian Wyatt."

Huh. So they are related.

Jon was now stuck wondering if his classmates had seen the videos as well, they would instantly be able to tell it was him and then what... for those that care about stuff like that then further isolation from them.

I guess that's that then. But its not over yet. I don't plan on tapping out.

_______________

Juniper Fay was a sharp woman, that was what Jon got from the vibe she was giving and the words she spoke.

Although she also acted like a child at times and that eased his mood since he just previously dealt with what felt like emotionless robots.

She still took things seriously though.

"Your going out privileges have been suspended until you team up and have a leader that will put up with you."

That was expected so Jon wasn't mad about that or anything, but he did become a little disturbed when he tried lying to her when she asked why he got in a fight with 'some ruffians outside of class.'

"Well they were throwing verbal assaults toward me so I reciprocated which angered them into trying to hurt me."

Now Jon wasn't distressed because he was lying, it was a go to for him, he felt that way from her stare. Her stare told him everything.

That she knew he was lying, and not only that but also that she wouldn't press on. It was a look he had received while back in the guild when he would never speak on his true feelings or intentions because it didn't fit the mould of an assassin.

It was a look that told him that she would just wait for him to slip up and then drag him back to a starting point.

His face felt numb from trying to hold it in place instead of levelling a glare of his own against her playful and childlike smirk. It was only the two of them in the room though so Jon was expecting her to say something but she kept quiet.

"Can I go now?" he asked while squirming in his chair to show mock discomfort so she could hurry it up.

Ms Fay made a weird face and then moved her lips in an awkward fashion while her eyes were looking upwards to her eyelids.

Jon only realized a brief interval later that she was thinking.

'What an odd woman.' As soon as he thought that she looked back at him.

"I was just wondering if I should give you any detention or what Caleb would do?" Jon was stumped and believed this was something she should have figured out before speaking out aloud. "The student's that come here are usually well behaved with only a few rough boulders that eventually get smoothened out."

"There's detention within the program?" Jon, like Theon had also never been to an actual school but he knew that detention was a normal thing but he was playing around to see if it were also something that would be normal within this environment.

Ms. Fay looked dazed before smiling brightly while pointing to him and shouting out in a cheerful tone. "Now there is and you got it for the rest of the week."

'Oh great.'

"And it will be in my office with me. As soon as the days done you be here for your half hour. Don't be late young man!"

To Jon, the rule of a leader seemed too new to her, like it was just a game she played until she would get bored.

"Yes Miss."

________________

Remembering is an important thing, like a puzzle of fragmented moments pieced together to form the portrait of one's life. Unique in shape fitting snugly into the grand design of who someone becomes.

Yet For Theon there are many pieces of his life missing. Mainly early life, he knows he never had a father but he did have a mother and even though he cannot remember her face, whenever he thinks of the maternal figure he gets a warm and comforting feeling that is unmatched.

A feeling that he wants to feel again but whenever he dives too deep to try remember those past days and the circumstances that caused him to forget he gets a feeling that is the complete opposite...

...Dark, frightening and full of hate.

So for now or basically most of his life he had just kept that part of himself quiet.

Od is awakened through negative emotions so it has almost been adopted as second nature for people to inherently understand that awakened people are probably missing a core part of themselves that made them who they were.

Theon looked around the class that was mostly empty with a handful of people in the room. School had just ended for the day now so some people were loitering around the campus or even outside if not back at the dorms.

Theon's phone was on silent but it was on and notifications of the class group chat kept sliding down of the class reacting to the new gossip.

Jon was caught in a fight at the superstore not too far from the school.

'Was he trying to get in lots of trouble like Corbin?' Some of the class was of that belief while others believed it to be some minor scuffle, none of them knew what Theon knew. If they did then they wouldn't come to such minor conclusions, actually if they had spoken to Jon before now then they also wouldn't have come to those conclusions.

That's right, so only Theon knew. Theon, Jon and the mystery stalker and if Theon is right then the girl who was dozing off in class does to. Robin.

Now finally with the time to properly fall asleep by her desk with no one to disturb her, Theon looked around the room to notice that Chloe and Juno had both left the room leaving the only two people in there being Himself and Robin.

Everyone had left her alone today assuming she was tired, maybe from studying too much. Mr. Adams had put a scoreboard for where the students placed in terms of out weekly tests we had been receiving. This had nothing to do with our physical scores though.

Theon remembered seeing Robins name high up on the scoreboard at third place with the two people above her being Corbin at second and Bell first. It would probably change since Corbin has been excluded from class this week. Theon himself was in fourth place when it came to academics.

With that people in class probably didn't even know she could be going through much more than simple academic problems. So Theon walked over to Robin and gently placed his hand on her shoulder giving her a little shake.

She grumbled something and her brows furrowed in a way that reminded Theon of a puppy, his face twisted and the corners of his lips tugged upwards slightly at her cuteness.

Theon shook her a little harder but she still didn't wake, she took on a disturbed look as he continued to shake her.

"Robin!" He tried calling out in a firm voice that was loud enough for her to wake up to.

"NO!"

Theon's eyes widened as he took a delayed step back as she abruptly stood and started swinging her hands out toward him in groggy state.

"Enough! I can't do this anymore!"

She swung again and Theon could now see her eyes now. Tears were flowing down like droplets of rain and there was a mixture of pure fury and fear in her eyes. Hopelessness, anguish and Yearning.

Theon caught her wrist as she swung again and she tried to pull back but he kept a firm clasp on her wrist.

"Let Go!"

"Robin, please clam down." Theon spoke as calmly as he could while getting his emotion across to her.

In return he received a kick to the shin and then a jarring slap and looked hazily at the front of the class where he was now staring. Theon looked back to Robin to see her tree bark brown eyes wide with shock.

Gently he put his hand out to hold her wrist in a comforting motion.

"Robin, please tell me what's wrong?" Its not only for your sake.

She tried to take a shaky step back while muttering her apologies.

"T-Theo. I-I can't, I just cant..."

"Please..." She stopped herself from stepping back as she stared deeply into my eyes.

"There's nothing wrong I swear, please just believe me Theo. Please."

Theon was wondering if he may be wrong, could she be having the same stalker issues as Jon. If so and they were part of the class then could it really be this bad.

Theon thought of Jon, he couldn't imagine seeing him a shaking mess that could barely tell his right from his left, and he didn't want to see it. So he went on.

This was now feeling like a game, he was getting closer and closer to putting the pieces together to find out who the other player is.

And without second thought, Theon gently pulled Robin in close, wrapping his arms around her in a comfortable hug, trying to surely project the feeling that he was here, he was someone she could depend on and that it was okay to cry on his shoulder.

Robin was frozen at first and it was something that Theon could feel along with the strong, crisp scent of oranges ripening in a sun-drenched grove, where the vibrant zest mingles with the earthy aroma of leaves. It felt great on Theon's senses.

"HIC"

And just like that, the tears resurfaced, Theon stayed silent as he began to feel the wetness against his chest, he just brought his hand up to gently pat her smooth orange hair.

'Maybe I was wrong'

Theon thought on his earlier thoughts thinking that he should solely be focusing on Jon and doing this to get closer to helping Jon. But now he thinks of the girl breaking down in his arms and realizes how scared she must have been, how alone she must have felt.

"It's okay. You're safe now."

She plopped down dragging me with her and like a ticking clock she alternated between tears and saying *"I Can't"* as she cried. It wasn't for another ten minutes before she finally pulled back.

"Thank you Theo."

Robin rose from her position before she turned and picked up her bag before walking to the door to leave the class.

Theon quickly called out to her with a surprised look on his face.

"Wait a sec. Please, if you don't tell me what's going on then its harder for me to help you."

She turned only slightly before shaking her head before turning to properly address Theon.

"You can't help me out on this. So please just forget what you saw here okay? Please..." she asked in a cutesy voice with a smile on her face to show she was alright.

Theon didn't know what to do now, he felt like he had just wasted his effort. Had she truly meant that? He hadn't noticed it but his fists were clenched.

"If someone is threatening you, or making you do something that you're uncomfortable with..."

"Stop!" Theon flinched back and Robin's eyes widened again before she stepped back this time out of the classroom while tugging at her uniform at her stomach area.

"Just... that's enough Theo. It's impossible to help me."

Theon didn't know how to react, he had thought that he saw something in her...

"Just pretend nothing happened and stay out of it. I'll be fine I promise."

She left and Theon let her. At this point he felt there was little he could do. He hadn't even thought on Jon at this point.

He touched the damp place on his uniform... *'I thought I saw a look of longing in those eyes.'*

___________

[How moving, I was on the edge of my seat. Maybe I've been too hard on you dearie.]

As she ran out of class and out the building to quickly make her way to the student dorms she received a text.

[Die.] She replied without much thought and slow regret at what she knows will be coming from that harsh rebuttal.

[Oh come on now Robin with your old pal Lila dead I'm the only one that knows the Real You!] That text came with a slew of forgettable emojis. What stuck to her heart though was the mention of her old friend a friend that she was sure no one in this school should have known.

Yet someone did know.

[By the way what will you do of him?]

Her heart stopped and she was glad she was finally in her own room now.

[What do you mean?] Playing dumb could always soften the blow but it certainly didn't feel that way to her now.

[Theon Abara. He seems real curious. I know you should threaten him or hold something over his head till he's head over heels for you then you can get him to jump off the schools roof for you. HOW ROMANTIC!]

Robin's heart was racing, this is exactly what she didn't want. She didn't want to include someone in her plight as she knew it would lead to this.

[No. I can't do that.]

[Why not!?] a quick reply, as if he had it typed out already and was just waiting for her response. [Why not Robin?]

Robin didn't reply, she didn't know what to say, she didn't want to say anything. She was hoping that he would just stop and go away, something she had been hoping for since the beginning now.

[You belong to me you know!]

[You belong to me so don't do something that you'll regret.]

Fear began to crawl up her spine now. Everyday for the last two weeks of school now this mystery stalker immediately shown that he was also a lecherous pig.

Pushing down the urge to vomit Robin walked made sure the curtains in her room were closed before she went to the body sized mirror that every dorm room had installed in front of their wardrobes.

A document was also sent, she knew what was in the document though from the memory of the first time he had toyed with her like this. They were all pictures she had sent.

That she was forced to send.

Also her past. Somehow he had information of her past that led to her awakening. Something that she had kept secret and planned on keeping secret till her time was up.

But now all of it was being used on her to make her demean herself day by day.

She wanted it to be over, but she had no clue where she could even start.