《The Blessing's Curse: Legacy of Veltara》 Chapter 1: It Is Thus Decreed ¡°It is thus decreed: any man, woman, or child who dares disputes or doubts the word of our saviors shall thus be restrained in the stocks, publicly flogged, or even executed, should their trespass deem it worthy of such a fate. Ye have all been informed.¡± An elderly man, wearing a pure white robe and a garishly long mitre addressed the large crowd of people, having been escorted by members of the Papal Guard to the town square. As silence ensued, the man prayed a small prayer, looking up to the sky. ¡°May the goddess Seraphina continue to bless our holy nation, and bring victory to our saviors forevermore.¡± With that, the man turned and stepped down from the hastily constructed wooden stage, the boards creaking with every step as his frail body delicately descended the steps. The man was escorted away by the papal guard, donning gaudy armor and swords with precious jewels encrusted on their hilts. Upon being out of sight, the captain of the city guard thunderously roared to the crowd, ¡°Disperse! Resume your tasks for the morn!¡± Thousands of bodies moved instantly, scurrying away from the city center, desperate to resume the monotonous routine they¡¯ve become accustomed to, not daring to even pass a glance at any of the guards. Even the children, usually giddily laughing and running around playing, were melancholic and subdued, following their parents. At the top of the largest hill within the walled city stood an excessively large castle, made to show opulence rather than practicality, with two large spires dominating the landscape. At the tallest spire stood a middle-aged man, with a sharp, white beard that blended with his pale skin. His sky blue eyes scanned the city below, watching the people as they all rushed back to their daily lives. ¡°I assume they¡¯ve been informed of my decision, correct?¡± He spoke to a young man with short auburn hair, wearing a roughly made tunic and boots that were a size too small, standing behind him, yet not bothering to turn to look at the servant. The man nodded. ¡°Yes, it is as you have surmised, Cadoc. The pope was scheduled to issue the holy decree mere moments ago.¡± Cadoc smiled to himself as he nodded. ¡°Good¡­that should start ushering in some much needed stability in these turbulent times. We can¡¯t perform the tasks the goddess herself has ordained for us to complete with the populace constantly bickering about trivialities. They may consider the methods tyrannical, but it¡¯s for their own benefit.¡± ¡°It is as you say.¡± A knock on the door interrupted the two as the servant rushed to the door and opened it, revealing a young woman, no older than nineteen, with eyes and skin resembling her father¡¯s, her blonde hair freely flowing to the middle of her back. ¡°Ah, Miss Elara, how can I assist you?¡± ¡°Is my father present? There is a matter of great import that I wish to discuss.¡± The servant nodded and moved aside, allowing Elara to enter. ¡°Father, I need to speak with you concerning my upcoming wedding.¡± Cadoc turned and looked at his youngest daughter, nodding. ¡°What is it? I distinctly remember informing Aveline that she¡¯s to ensure that all your requests concerning your wedding are to be fulfilled to the letter.¡± ¡°I am well aware, Father, and Aveline has performed admirably. What I need to discuss with you is the location of the ceremony: the one choice you made for me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a tradition for millenia, Elara, for members of our family to be wed in that very cathedral. Your grandfather, great grandfather, and every one of your blessed ancestors were wed there, even your brother, and soon, you as well. I will not hear of any talk otherwise.¡± ¡°Father, please just at least consider my entreaty! Osric and I desire to make you proud of the wedding, proud of us both. However, we both desire also to be wed in a much smaller and less public affair, with close family and relatives, along with our most trusted companions. Naturally, that would include the pope, considering both Osric¡¯s recent promotion to a captain of the Papal Guard and my lineage.¡± Cadoc merely turned around. ¡°Unless I¡¯m losing my mental acuity, I distinctly remember just now informing you that I refuse to hear any talk about changing the location of the wedding. I will not let a tradition that has stood for millenia be broken based on a young woman¡¯s folly.¡± Elara¡¯s face reddened with anger before she swiftly spun around and stormed out of the room, but not before giving a polite curtsy to the servant. As he closed the door shut behind her, Cadoc shook his head. ¡°That daughter of mine, always with her heart set on things that won¡¯t do her any good. She agreed to that one condition in exchange for having whatever else she wanted, no matter the expense. Yet here she is, on a whim, trying to renege on the deal. Apparently I didn¡¯t raise her as well as I thought I did. No matter. She¡¯ll have several weeks to reconsider before I next speak with her.¡± The servant merely nodded, not wanting to upset him as he watched Cadoc. ¡°Sir, if I may, your audience with his majesty is fast approaching. It may be wise to consider dressing thyself for the occasion.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Cadoc nodded at the servant. ¡°My gratitude for bringing the audience to my remembrance. His majesty should have by now made his decision. Prepare my bath, and once you¡¯ve drawn the water, prepare for me a fresh set of clothing.¡± Elara briskly walked through the rose garden, using a path she knew quite well thanks to the number of times she¡¯s walked it since she was a toddler. ¡°Father¡­always needlessly obstinate when traditions are the topic of discussion¡­¡± She muttered under her breath as she soon reached a small clearing in the garden, where two men were conversing. Upon noticing her, the two of them stopped speaking and smiled. A tall man with perfectly toned muscles, glistening platinum blonde hair, and captivating blue eyes jogged up to her, throwing his arms open and drawing her into a tight embrace. ¡°Elara, my love, were you able to speak with your father? Has he given his blessing to change our arrangement?¡± Elara leaned back, looking into Osric¡¯s eyes. ¡°Alas¡­my father¡­his obstinance knows no bounds. He refused to even entertain what I had to say.¡± Osric sighed. ¡°It is alright. We shall make do with the plans we had previously. Our love shall make any location magical.¡± ¡°Oh¡­Osric¡­¡± A soft clearing of the throat brought the two back to reality as a man resembling Elara walked up to them. ¡°You wound me, Elara, for not even acknowledging my existence not only now, but for the past several days.¡± Elara chuckled as she walked over to the man and hugged him. ¡°My apologies, my dear brother. My mind has been¡­preoccupied these past several days.¡± Breaking the hug, she stepped back. ¡°If I may, what were you two discussing?¡± Osric sighed. ¡°Valen here was informing me of a task your father sprung upon him last evening. He¡¯s to be sent across the country to investigate some reports of heretical teachings spreading amongst the peasants of the villages.¡± Valen nodded. ¡°It is as Osric said: I¡¯m to investigate and purge any and all heretical teachings.¡± Elara sighed. ¡°I can scarcely imagine Adelade¡¯s reaction to the news¡­¡± Laughing, Valen shook his head. ¡°She is quite incensed that I am to be gone for another six weeks at the earliest were I to be on my own, especially when she is heavily with child.¡± ¡°She¡¯s about six months along, is she not?¡± Oscric asked, looking at Valen. Nodding, Valen smiled. ¡°Yes she is. I should be back by the time my child is born, and thankfully, with the help of my darling sister, I should get home even earlier.¡± Elara gave her brother a questioning look. ¡°Oh? How could I be of assistance when we are several days apart?¡± Valen laughed. ¡°I am surprised father didn¡¯t speak to you about this when you met with him, but you¡¯ve been given the task to assist me in my investigation. In fact, I was just apologizing to Osric here for taking his fianc¨¦ away from him.¡± Osric sighed. ¡°It wounds me to be apart from Elara for so long, but my duties as captain of the Papal Guard will keep me busy these next several weeks. Elara, my darling, I will miss you while you¡¯re gone.¡± Elara gave Osric a sympathetic look before leaning in and hugging him once more. ¡°You will be in my thoughts every day until I return. I¡¯ll work with my brother to purge the heretics amongst the peasantry swiftly and return to your side.¡± ¡°I will look forward to the day of our reunion.¡± Osric tilted back, tilted Elara¡¯s head up, and leaned in for a tender kiss. Once parted, Osric stood back. ¡°It is time I make my leave. Elara, Valen, I wish you a most successful journey and eagerly await your return.¡± Giving one last fleeting glance at Elara, Osric walked away through another path amongst the rose garden. Valen glanced at Elara. ¡°You should make preparations for the journey. I leave just after lunch, so that should give you a few hours to pack. I¡¯ll see you at lunch, Elara.¡± ¡°This way! I saw him fleeing in this direction!¡± A knight shouted to his companions as a man with disheveled black hair, brown eyes, and dirtied ivory-colored skin sprinted through a wheat field, jumping over wooden fences and dodging traps designed for wild animals as he tried to put a considerable distance between him and his pursuers. Once he had exited the field and onto a well-used dirt road, he sprinted down the path before spotting a patch of forest. Entering into the expanse of tall trees and thick vegetation, he sat down, trying to control his breathing despite the desire to pant heavily. He could hear the clanging of metal as the knights charged blindly down the road, knowing that if any knight came to check the patch of forest, he¡¯d be easily discovered and overwhelmed. As luck would have it, the knights continued their blind charge, barking random and sometimes conflicting orders to each other, before they were soon out of sight. Finally letting out a deep exhale, the man began breathing quickly, trying to calm himself down after such a close call. ¡°All that for just one piece of fruit?¡± He asked himself as he took a look at the green apple in his hand, taking a bit from it. His mouth puckered slightly from the sudden sour taste, but the sweetness began to replace the sour, his body relaxing before taking another bite. ¡°Mhmm¡­the ones grown on farms are indeed much sweeter than their wild cousins.¡± He said to himself as he quickly polished off his meager breakfast. After several more minutes of waiting, not seeing or hearing any of his pursuers, the man stood up from the patch he was sitting on and walked back out to the road, stretching. ¡°I should probably get a move on. No guarantees that I won¡¯t be recognized if I stay here.¡± Going in the opposite direction from where the knights had run off to, the man hummed a small tune to himself, despite the circumstances he found himself in. Looking up at the rising sun, he grinned to himself as he pondered just where exactly he should go. The Goddess Seraphina As the sun began to set over the horizon, the black haired man glanced around him. ¡°I should start searching for a good camping spot.¡± He mumbled to himself as he plodded down the road. He was a good ways away from where the knights had been pursuing him, and as such didn¡¯t feel the need to be as careful with concealing himself. Upon reaching a fork in the road, he turned left, heading towards a small meadow that appeared to have some berry bushes. Upon leaving the road, the man looked down, searching for some flat ground where he could lay. Upon finding the spot, and gathering what he believed to be some edible berries from the nearby bushes, the man lay down on the ground, eating his supper and washing down the berries with water from a battered leather canteen. After performing his nightly rituals, the man lay down in the dirt, resting his head on his arms. As he closed his eyes, suddenly a blinding flash of light illuminated the surrounding area, startling the man as he immediately shielded his eyes and began backing away from the source of the light. ¡°Do not be afraid¡­Drystan Alaric.¡± An ethereal yet distinctly womanly voice spoke, instantly evoking a sense of calm into Drystan. Standing up, Drystan lowered his arms and opened his eyes, spotting a young woman, standing directly in front of him, clothed in a shimmering white dress. Her hair, glowing without color, nearly reached the ground. ¡°Who¡­who are¡­¡± Drystan tried to speak, but his words caught in his throat. The woman gave him a loving smile. ¡°I am she who created the water and sky. I am she who created the fish of the sea and the birds of the air. I am she who has looked after this kingdom from its most humble beginnings and guided those who made this nation great. I am she who has watched the kingdom begin a slow and painful decline. I¡­am Seraphina.¡± Drystan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°S-S-Seraphina? Y-You mean¡­you¡¯re¡­you¡¯re the¡­goddess?¡± ¡°One of two¡­yes¡­my compatriot¡­Vakros¡­created the land you stand upon, and every beast of the earth is born from her.¡± ¡°W-what¡­what do you want from me?!¡± Drystan said, shock evident in his voice, the sense of calm he had felt vanishing. ¡°Drystan Alaric¡­I have watched over you your entire life. I have seen your struggles, your pain, your suffering. Yet, despite losing everything¡­despite losing the woman you loved with all your heart¡­you never lost hope. You never lost what made you¡­you. Rejoice, Drystan, for you have found favor in my sight.¡± ¡°Favor? You¡­you must be¡­mistaken. If you truly knew of my past, you would know that I have a man¡¯s blood on my hands. You should know¨C¡± ¡°I am very much aware of what transpired in your past, Drystan Alaric. Born in the village of Halcen to a mother who had recently lost her husband to pestilence, you were being mentored to be the next village elder. Your work ethic and determination from when you were nothing but a small babe onwards inspired not only your closest friends, but the adults around you as well. You were engaged to your childhood friend, not for political schemes, but for love. Yet all that was stolen away from you, forced to live as a vagabond and rogue, stealing from others to survive.¡± Drystan was silent as he listened to the goddess recount his past, proving that she was indeed who she claimed to be. Looking down and away, he shook his head. ¡°If you know¡­then why¡­why come to me?¡± ¡°Because you have found favor. Because I have chosen you for a task of such great import, it will shake this kingdom to its very foundation. You, Drystan Alaric, will become the new hero of Serephea, replacing the descendents of my dear friend Caius Eldar.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Drystan stood still, mouth agape as she spoke. Finally releasing a breath he hadn¡¯t realized he was holding, Drystan spoke. ¡°W-Wait¡­you mean¡­you want me to¡­to replace¡­the Eldar¡¯s?! They¡¯re the ones you blessed! They¡¯re the ones who¨C¡± ¡°Who have become corrupted by their greed, hunger for power, and desire to be worshipped as gods amongst men. Cadoc is a man who does not hold the virtues or the desires that Caius enshrined. Caius fought for those who couldn¡¯t fight for themselves. He struggled against an evil tyrant who enslaved his own people to fill his coffers. He desired nothing more than to improve the lives of all people. Cadoc, beginning with his great grandfather, brought about the slow decline of their morals. Any hope of change occurring from within died today, with the declaration that their words are infallible and not to be questioned, along with pressuring the king to become nothing more than a figurehead, giving Cadoc all the powers of the monarchy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­the first I¡¯m hearing about all this.¡± ¡°Word is still being spread throughout the land, and this secret agreement will not be brought to light for fear of destabilizing Serephea. I can no longer bide my time and watch this farce any longer. I had given every opportunity for Cadoc and his family to repent and turn from their ways, but alas, they are a foolish and stiff-necked family.¡± ¡°Then why not remove your blessing from them? You blessed Caius millennia ago, and that blessing was transferred to his descendants. Can¡¯t you just remove your blessing?¡± ¡°If only it were that simple. Once blessed by either Vakros or myself, that blessing is impossible to remove, even by our own hands. The only method to remove my blessing¡­is through the death of each and every descendant who does not repent.¡± ¡°You¡­you want me to¡­KILL them?!¡± Drystan shouted, shaking his head. ¡°Y-You can¡¯t mean what you say. I could never¨C¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a burden I¡¯ll place upon you lightly. For Caius¡¯s sake, I urge you to use peaceful means to bring about the end of their reign as the saviors of Serephea. While it is impossible for internal reform, there remains yet a small possibility for external pressures to enact necessary change. The only member who has no hope of reform is Cadoc, who must be eliminated for you to take your rightful place. The others may live if you¡¯re able to convince them. They may keep their blessings, their roles as saviors will forever be stripped from them.¡± ¡°...I don¡¯t know if I can do what you expect me to do¡­I¡¯m not¡­I¡¯m not a hero¡­as you said, I steal to eat. I lie to avoid being caught. I deceive others to keep going another day. I¡¯m no hero¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve watched over you every day, even when you were still in your mother¡¯s womb as she grieved the loss of your father. You possess the same qualities Caius once possessed. The world may have trampled you down¡­but you will rise again.¡± The goddess walked forward towards Drystan, raising her right arm. ¡°I am she who was there upon the formation of the world. I am she who watches over all in Serephea. Drystan Alaric, thy body is a vessel for my powers to flow through you. Thy will is now one with mine. Rise, the hero of Serephea, and take your rightful place.¡± Drystan¡¯s body began to glow as something that he could only describe as energy flowed into him like a raging river. As if on its own, Drystan¡¯s left arm raised, a sword manifesting out of nowhere, as his hand grabbed its hilt. As Seraphina lowered her arm, Drystan fell to his knees, his right arm propping him up while his body continued to glow, something he had only seen portraits of during his annual visits to the cathedral in years past. ¡°Head to Alderton.¡± Seraphina spoke as she started to become translucent. ¡°The village elder there will receive a dream of your arrival. I have prepared someone who will be the first to aid you on your journey, though he is unaware. Remember, you have my blessing, and are the true hero of Serephea. I will be watching you always.¡± The goddess disappeared, the bright light disappearing as the darkness of the night came flooding back in, except for around Drystan, who was still glowing, the power of the goddess flowing through him. Looking down at the sword in his hand, he shook his head. ¡°I¡­can scarcely believe this is happening.¡± He spoke to himself as the light began to dissipate, the sword disappearing as he collapsed onto the ground, a supernatural sleep immediately claiming him. Heretic The loud chirping and calls of several different types of songbirds roused Drystan from his deep slumber, the left side of his face firmly planted into the soil. ¡°What¡­happened?¡± He groggily asked himself as he slowly stood up, his neck sore from the awkward sleeping position he had found himself in. As he attempted to stretch out his neck, his mind flashed back to what had happened the night before. ¡°The goddess¡­did she really¡­¡± Swallowing the lump in his throat, he held out his left hand and thought back to the feeling he felt the night before. Closing his eyes, after a few moments of concentration and remembrance of the night¡¯s events, the sword manifested itself, its hilt having a golden hue with a purple gemstone embedded in the middle. The blade was exceedingly sharp with a silver-like finish, reflecting the sun¡¯s rays. His body, along with the sword, glowed visibly despite the late morning sun. ¡°It all wasn¡¯t a dream¡­she really¡­¡± Cutting off the flow of power, the glow emanating from his body disappeared, as well as the sword. He had heard of the stories of the heroes brandishing swords gifted to them from the heavens, able to manifest them at will and using powers given to them from the goddess. Their bodies exceed natural limits, causing any normal human to not stand a chance in a duel, though he had never seen it in person. Taking a deep breath, he bent down and picked up his canteen, drinking every drop from it. ¡°She said I needed to head to Alderton¡­¡± He said to himself as he lowered the canteen and began walking back towards the road. ¡°That¡¯s a half-day''s journey to the north from where I am, I believe¡­and I¡¯m going to need to find a river so I can refill.¡± After making it back to the road, the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly began tingling and standing on end, feeling as if he was being watched. Turning around and scanning the area, he couldn¡¯t see anything, but decided to check to be safe. As he cautiously approached a patch of trees, Drystan could hear the sound of a large creature suddenly turn and scurry away. Upon reaching the small patch of trees, he looked down at the ground and spotted the large footprint of a three toed creature, a clear indentation of a large claw at the end of the footprint was visible. ¡°Werewolf...¡± He whispered as he looked around him, hoping that the beast had long since departed. He may now have the strength of the goddess at his disposal, but he wasn¡¯t in any hurry to try to test it out, especially against a creature that¡¯s known to have a taste for human flesh. Taking a deep breath, Drystan backed away to the road before resuming his journey, looking over his shoulders every few moments. Werewolves were intelligent and known to stalk their prey for days at a time, no matter the time of day or night, and the last thing he wanted was to be caught unawares. ¡°How much farther away are we from Velmir?¡± Elara asked Valen as their horses trotted down the well-maintained stone road that connected all the major cities to the capital. ¡°About another day¡¯s worth of travel. Are you implying that you¡¯re already feeling tired and are in need of a rest again?¡± ¡°Certainly not, brother. You know how I easily bore during these long travels. Just¡­trying to pass the time is all.¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Well you¡¯ll certainly need to pass the time for quite a while yet. Tis unfortunate that Thalia was forbidden by Father from accompanying us as well. You two never seem to cease chattering whenever you two are assigned to the same mission. Always drove me mad having to escort you two when you were younger.¡± ¡°She and I do seem to get along well. Her tastes in fashion and sweets mirrors that of my own. She¡¯ll always have my gratitude for introducing me to Osric.¡± ¡°You have never informed me of how you two met. It was because of Thalia?¡± ¡°Yes. She and Osric were paired during a sword fighting tournament during their time training at the academy. She told me how Osric and I would be a great match, arranged a meeting at a masquerade, and I¡¯ve been smitten ever since.¡± Valen chuckled. ¡°Very interesting. She usually informs me of everything, so it¡¯s rare for me to have been kept in the dark.¡± ¡°A maiden¡¯s heart is precious, my brother. She knows not to spill one¡¯s secrets without their knowledge and consent.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­no matter. There should be a river about an hour¡¯s trot from here. We¡¯ll stop and rest once we¡¯re there. Do try to keep up.¡± He teased as he refocused on the road in front of him. Elara sighed. ¡°A whole hour¡­Seraphina¡­help me endure this¡­¡± ¡°Are you certain you¡¯ve been correctly informed?¡± A priest, donning pure white robes, asked a layman who had rushed in to deliver some news. The layman nodded. ¡°I am. The knights of the Order arrived at his residence early this morning to arrest him for heresy and inciting the people against the church and our saviors. However, he was nowhere to be found. It is assumed that he fled late last night to an unknown location. They¡¯re scouring the city as we speak to ensure he is still not among us.¡± ¡°Interesting¡­I had only given the order late last night to avoid such a situation as this¡­this only confirms my suspicions that we have a traitor amongst our ranks who assisted him. Inform the knights that they are to return to their normal patrols at once. I wish to speak with their captain to implement some¡­countermeasures to flush this traitor out. Make sure you speak not a word to anyone else about this, or I¡¯ll have you labeled a traitor as well. Understood?¡± ¡°Understood Father Ignasius.¡± The layman bowed before quickly leaving the cathedral. Ignasius stood up from his desk, leaving the open book of scripture on the table, as he walked to a window that overlooked the small city. ¡°That man was certainly skilled in agitating the people¡­I¡¯ll make sure that he¡¯s to be made an example of, with the recent decree in effect. Can¡¯t have the people here thinking that what he said will be tolerated.¡± Turning back from the window, he sat back down and stared at the scripture in front of him. ¡°Goddess Seraphina¡­I am in need of guidance concerning this heretic. Please, have mercy upon me and¨C¡± The door to his office swung open. ¡°Your layman told me you needed to speak with me?¡± Ignasius¡¯s eyes widened, not expecting to speak with the captain so soon. ¡°Indeed I do. I was informed that the heretic had fled during the night. I request a favor from you to lure him back to the city. If you need coin, I¡¯ll pay you the standard rate used in the past.¡± The captain shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not one who sets traps like a coward. If you want my cooperation, you need to pay me double.¡± Ignasius sighed. ¡°Unfortunate¡­but not surprising. I accept your terms. I¡¯ll pay you just after the next mass after the offerings have been collected. Is that satisfactory?¡± ¡°It is. What do you need of me?¡± ¡°I am in need of your knights to¡­pay a visit¡­to a certain individual.¡± The Village of Alderton The reddish glow of the setting sun illuminated the area as Drystan approached the small village, the smell of freshly baked bread and various stews filling the air. He smiled to himself as waves of memories came rushing back during his time at Halcen. Running through the fields with Rowan and Thalia, coming back home to his mother¡¯s house to gorge himself on bread, freshly picked fruits, and venison stew, then being lulled to sleep by his mother humming a nameless tune. He had attempted to prevent such memories from resurfacing the past three years, but upon noticing the calm serenity of the village, he was willing to make an exception just this once. Entering the village, a few children playing hide and seek stopped and stared at Drystan, cocking their heads in both curiosity and wariness. An elderly woman, sitting on a wooden chair in front of her cabin, stood up and glared at Drystan as he glanced around. Others stopped what they were doing and stared, their glares boring holes into him. ¡°This is exactly what I envision a warm welcome to be like¡­¡± He whispered to himself as he approached the least hostile-looking person he could find: a middle-aged man who was carrying logs into his cabin. ¡°Could you please tell me where your elder is? I need to speak with him.¡± The man nodded, leading Drystan through the glares and stares of the villagers before arriving at an unassuming cabin. The man knocked on the door. ¡°Gideon, there¡¯s an outsider here to see you.¡± ¡°Let him in. I¡¯ve been expecting him.¡± The man gave Drystan a shocked expression before opening the door, allowing Drystan to enter. Gideon watched as Drystan walked into the room, smiling at him. ¡°Thank you for bringing him to me, Lewan. You may go, and let the others know that he¡¯s a guest of mine and not to be treated with hostility. He¡¯s no threat to Mathis.¡± Lewan nodded and shut the door behind him. Gideon, who was bald with dark spots on his head and no facial hair, walked towards Drystan. ¡°I welcome you to our village, the new hero of Serephea. It is an honor to be in your presence.¡± Drystan waved his hands, shaking his head. ¡°P-Please¡­none of this formality. I¡¯m just¡­nothing more than a rogue who has no idea what to do¡­¡± ¡°Yet the goddess has deemed you worthy of your title. Keep your head up high, Drystan. I may not have been shown your past or what you¡¯ve been forced to endure, but I know that the goddess wouldn¡¯t have chosen you if you weren¡¯t capable of handling the trials ahead of you. She wouldn¡¯t have chosen you if you had evil rooted in your heart.¡± ¡°I¡­you have my gratitude¡­Gideon, correct?¡± Gideon nodded. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re correct. I do apologize if your welcoming wasn¡¯t as¡­pleasant as it could have been. Currently, we¡¯re harboring a fugitive of the church, someone I believe to be the one the goddess has chosen to accompany you.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Oh? What can you tell me about this fugitive?¡± ¡°His name is Mathis, and he was previously a priest in the city of Erith. It may be the smallest of the major cities, but it has its own cathedral and order of knights that report to the high priest. He had grown disillusioned with the changes in the church and spoke out against the pope, as well as the Eldar¡¯s. He openly preached in the streets, claiming that the worship of the goddess had been tarnished and corrupted, worshipping the Eldar¡¯s rather than the goddess. Mathis spake of the Eldar¡¯s acting more like the tyrants they themselves were supposed to defend the people from. He¡¯s now been branded a heretic and is in hiding.¡± ¡°Why harbor him in the village?¡± ¡°He was born here¡­as he¡¯s my grandson. Mathis always had a special connection with the goddess from when he was a lad, always in prayer as soon as he was old enough to understand scripture.¡± Gideon smiled. ¡°I fondly remember his first sermon at the young age of eight, his understanding of scripture already rivaling that of monks after years of study in a monastery. The entire village was filled with pride when he set off to Erith with his mother, my daughter. The sight of his return¡­dejected and defeated¡­it shook the entire village to its core. ¡°Is his mother still in the city or did she return to the village with Mathis?¡± ¡°Regretfully, she is still in the city, though not for much longer. Mathis attempted to bring her with him, but she responded to him by stating she needed to warn her friends in the city about what¡¯s to come and would return posthaste afterwards. I¡¯m hoping to receive some good news tomorrow.¡± ¡°So do I¡­though that does explain why I was treated with such¡­caution so to speak. Felt like I was trespassing on some sacred ground.¡± Gideon laughed. ¡°I apologize again. Mathis is very well-loved here and spotting an outsider just a day after he returned¡­they must have assumed the worst, that you were there to arrest him.¡± ¡°Well¡­I do want to speak with him. Do you know where he is now? Does he know about¡­well¡­¡± ¡°Mathis should be returning from the fields with the others as we speak. He¡¯s staying in my cabin for the time being, so if you wait here, you shall be able to speak with him. He also does not know that you¡¯re the new hero. I¡¯ve told no one about the dream I had this past night. How you want to announce it, even if you want to announce it, is in your¨C¡± A series of loud bangs against the cabin door interrupted Gideon. ¡°Elder Gideon! There¡¯s an emergency! The wolves¨Cthey¡¯re back!¡± Gideon¡¯s eyes widened as he rushed to the door and opened it. ¡°What do you mean?! We planted gredil herbs all around the fields and the village. That¡¯s prevented them from coming back for years!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know why they¡¯ve suddenly ignored the scent, but their howls and cries are quickly approaching the village! The men are still returning from the fields, so we have few to defend the village!¡± Gideon¡¯s face paled. ¡°Gather those who are in the village and form a perimeter. Grab anything you can use as a weapon!¡± Turning to Drystan, Gideon bowed slightly. ¡°Drystan, please, can you join the others in defense of our homes?¡± Drystan quickly nodded. ¡°You can count on me.¡± You Irritating Mutt! A series of loud howls pierced the chaos of the village, with women and children each rushing to their cabin, hoping it would provide some form of protection against the incoming threat. Gideon held a child¡¯s hand as he led her to her parent¡¯s cabin, her mother rushing out and grabbing her before dragging her inside. Gideon took a deep breath as he calmly began walking back to his cabin. ¡°I leave the safety of everyone in the village in your hands¡­Hero.¡± Drystan¡¯s hand tightly gripped the handle of a small hatchet he had been given. It would be impossible for him to fight with it and simultaneously keep a suitable distance away from the wolves, but it would have to do. Unless it was absolutely necessary, unless the life of a villager was at stake, he refused to use the sword gifted to him by Seraphina. Looking to his left, he looked on as a young boy, just barely old enough to be considered an adolescent, nervously fiddling with a large scythe, a middle-aged man putting a hand on his shoulder in a vain attempt to comfort him. How long has it been since I¡¯ve fought with someone else? How long has it been since I last even considered helping others, instead of just trying to survive another day? His mind flashed back to when he and Rowan both fought against a young bear that had been hunting a small child, distracting it just long enough for the child to escape, and delivering enough damage to cause the bear to flee. He still had the large scar on his back from when he was scratched to prove it. Another series of howls brought Drystan back to the present. ¡°T-They¡¯re much closer¡­¡± The adolescent boy squeaked out, his grip on the scythe tightening even more. The few other men who were in fighting shape stiffened up. ¡°T-The pack was at least thirty strong when they last attacked us years ago¡­h-how m-many more do t-they have now?¡± The sounds of dozens of paws running towards the village could now faintly be heard as around twenty wolves burst out from the tree line, running as quickly as their legs could carry them. ¡°Here they come!¡± One of the men shouted, raising up a bronze hoe. Everyone shifted their feet, trying to improve their footing as best they could. Drystan did the same, his right arm carrying the hatchet. Thirty feet. Twenty feet. Ten feet. Now! Drystan swung the hatchet forward, its sharp edge burying itself into the neck of the first wolf, a sickening crunching sound, followed by the sound of a wolf loudly yelping in pain before becoming silent, falling onto the ground, dead. One down. He thought as another wolf leaped at him. Sidestepping to the left, the wolf missed its target, landing on the ground but immediately turning back, swiping at Drystan. As Drystan took a step back, another wolf leaped at him, its paw swiping at his legs, causing some deep scratches. Pain immediately rushed through Drystan¡¯s body, but was ignored as Drystan swung the hatchet upon the second wolf, slicing its rear leg, blood gushing out and coating the ground with a crimson stain. A third wolf launched its attack on Drystan, leaping and attempting to chomp down on his arm. Once again moving to the side, Drystan avoided the bite and swung the hatchet once more, just barely missing the wolf above the head. The three wolves started circling him, teeth bared and snarling, the smell of rotting flesh emanating from their mouths. Taking a moment to glance around, the other wolves were surrounding what few defenders the village had. The young adolescent was swinging his scythe wildly, keeping the five wolves attacking him at bay. The loud squeals of agony from a wolf in pain drew everyone¡¯s attention, the man with the bronze hoe having sunk the hoe into a wolf¡¯s back. As he pulled the hoe towards him, the wolf¡¯s skin and pelt started tearing from the wolf¡¯s flesh, revealing bulging muscles and the chalk white vertebrae of the wolf¡¯s spinal cord. Upon hearing one of their own in severe distress, a few wolves changed their targets, rushing towards the man, barking incessantly as they approached. ¡°No you don¡¯t!¡± An elderly man shouted as he swung a sickle at one of the charging wolves, slicing into its side, its intestines spilling out onto the ground. The wolf convulsed momentarily before lying still. They¡¯re doing fine so far. Drystan thought as he swung his hatchet at one of the distracted wolves, bashing it into its head. The wolf fell over instantly, blood and bits of brain matter flowing out of the crushed skull. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The wolves began furiously resuming their attacks, desperately trying to bite or claw their way at the men. Movement coming from the forest caught Drystan¡¯s eyes, seeing another wave of at least fifteen wolves charging towards them, one much larger than the rest. Must be the alpha of the pack! If I can kill it, the others should¡­ Striking another wolf with the hatchet, digging into the wolf¡¯s left thigh, he yanked the hatchet back and kicked the wolf away, allowing him to charge at the alpha. Upon seeing Drystan¡¯s charge, the alpha glared at him, separating from the others as if accepting a duel. Knowing the others wouldn¡¯t be able to hold off another wave of wolves for long, Drystan didn¡¯t stop, charging straight towards the alpha, swinging the hatchet, but hitting nothing but air as the wolf easily dodged the swing, snapping at his legs. Instinctively moving his leg out of the way, the sudden change in his center of gravity caused him to stumble. Just as he regained his balance, the alpha pounced on him, knocking him to the ground, slashing and clawing at Drystan¡¯s stomach. Despite getting scratched several times, none of the wounds were deep. Raising the hatchet, Drystan again swung at the alpha, who dodged by leaping off him. Before Drystan could stand, however, the wolf pounced yet again on him. The wolf bit at the hatchet, clasping onto it as it continued to claw at him. As the wolf caused more and more cuts, Drystan could feel extreme annoyance begin to course through his body. This wolf caused pain but was more like an annoyance than anything else. It was smart enough to stop him from wielding the hatchet, and quick enough to dodge his attacks. ¡°You¡­irritating¡­MUTT!!!¡± He screamed as he used his left hand to press against the wolf¡¯s belly. Immediately, the wolf yelped and jumped back, rolling on the ground in pain. As he stood up, Drystan felt as if his hand was encased in a block of ice. Looking down, he could see his hand glowing blue before dissipating. Even with the glow gone, his hand still felt frozen, needing him to furiously shake his hand quickly to regain feeling and dexterity to his fingers. Is..this¡­a power from the goddess? But¡­wow was that cold!! It felt as if my hand could fall off at any moment! The wolf by now had gotten back up, rage and hatred in its eyes. Drystan met the wolf¡¯s glare with one of his own before charging. ¡°Just die already and leave the village alone!¡± He screamed as he swung his hatchet at the alpha. Again dodging the strike, the wolf tried to snap at his legs, but upon seeing Drystan¡¯s left hand reaching down towards it, the wolf backed off, not wanting to feel the biting pain of pure ice pressed against its skin. This gave Drystan enough time to again swing his hatchet, this time connecting with its front paw, severing it completely from its leg. Howling in pain, the wolf staggered backwards as blood gushed from its leg. Dashing forward, Drystan hacked and slashed at the wolf, before the wolf fell onto the ground, struggling to breathe as blood pooled around it. Lifting up his hatchet once more, Drystan slammed his arm down, the wolf¡¯s head separating from its body. The shouts of joy from several men could be heard over the sound of the fight, with the other men, having returned from the fields, joining in the battle, slaughtering the wolves. Despite their alpha¡¯s death, along with now being outnumbered, the wolves refused to back down, desperately trying to slash and bite their way through. Something isn¡¯t right. Drystan thought to himself as he started observing the wolves in their desperate refusal to budge. Wolves aren¡¯t stupid. Surely, they know that they have no chance at surviving¡­then what¡¯s¡­ The hair on Drystan¡¯s neck stood on end as he felt a familiar sensation, one felt earlier in the day. Looking back to the tree line, he could faintly see the outline of a bipedal, beast-like creature, its orange eyes visible and staring directly at Drystan. Within a second, the creature charged at Drystan, its roar paralyzing both man and wolf alike as it charged, crossing over several feet with each stride. Drystan¡¯s eyes widened as his brain registered what was going on. The werewolf he had encountered earlier in the day never left. It had stalked him the entire time, and now, having scared the wolves into attacking the village, was intent on finally claiming its prey. The Clash at Alderton Drystan¡¯s grip on his hatchet tightened as he watched the approaching werewolf, its fangs bared and sharp claws reflecting the orange glow from the setting sun. The sounds of battle coming from behind him, as the villagers fought off the desperate wolves, filled the air as Drystan closed his eyes and took a deep breath to steady himself. Steeling his resolve, Drystan¡¯s eyes flew open as he began charging at the werewolf, shouting a battle cry as his legs moved quickly under him. Now just mere feet away from each other, Drystan rolled forward, ducking under the swing of the werewolf¡¯s arm, avoiding the sharp claws as it slashed through the air. Back on his feet, Drystand swung at the werewolf, the hatchet embedding itself into the werewolf¡¯s back. Flinching from the strike, the werewolf turned back, again swiping at Drystan. With just enough time to remove the hatchet, Drystan jumped backwards, his heels digging into the dry soil underneath before dashing back towards the creature, again swinging the hatchet into its thigh. Like before, while the hatchet dug into the creature¡¯s hide, it was merely a superficial wound. This time, however, the werewolf was quicker to react, the back of its hand connecting against Drystan¡¯s stomach, knocking Drystan back and sprawling onto the ground. The werewolf ran towards Drystan, its rear legs stomping at the ground trying to crush him. Drystan rolled to his left, dodging the blow before scrambling to his feet. Using the hatchet, he parried a swipe from the werewolf¡¯s claw, but the force of the blow knocked the hatchet from his grasp as it flew harmlessly away, landing in the thick grass. Reaching out, the werewolf grabbed onto Drystan¡¯s neck, choking him as it lifted him up. The werewolf snarled at him as Drystan was now at face level, the stench of decaying flesh overwhelming Drystan as he tried to take in desperate, ragged breaths. As the werewolf leaned forward, ready to take a bite into Drystan, time seemed to stand still as a female voice called out in his mind. ¡°Is perishing at the hands of this beast worth keeping your anonymity? Rise up, Drystan! I bestowed upon you my blessing, and it¡¯s nigh time for you to use it!¡± Gasping once again, Drystan¡¯s right hand glowed blue as he reached towards the werewolf, grasping onto its hand. The werewolf howled in pain as it quickly loosened its grasp, releasing Drystan as he fell back to the ground. Reaching out yet again, Drystan thrust his hand onto the beast¡¯s stomach, ice immediately forming on its fur as the werewolf jumped back, crying out in pain. Using this opportunity, Drystan reached out his left hand, the sword manifesting as he grasped onto its hilt, his body glowing white. Pointing the sword at the werewolf, Drystan glared at the beast. ¡°You chose the wrong person to become your next meal!¡± Dashing forward, in the blink of an eye, Drystan had closed the distance between the two, slashing his sword. Despite quickly dodging the strike, the sword was able to cut into the creature¡¯s stomach, blood beginning to drip from its fur onto the ground. Growling at Drystan, the werewolf charged again, swiping at Drystan¡¯s head, only for his claws to be easily parried, along with another slash to its chest. It¡¯s not as fast as before¡­no¡­that¡¯s not right¡­I¡¯m¡­able to keep up with him now! Drystan smirked as he again dashed towards the werewolf, just barely missing the werewolf as it jumped back again. The beast began panting heavily as it desperately dodged Drystan¡¯s ceaseless assault, not having any chance to counter. After a deep slash to its leg, the werewolf staggered backwards, turning around and beginning to run away. Before Drystan could give chase, a blue blur whizzed past his head, the werewolf immediately screaming in agonizing pain as it crumpled to the ground. Sticking out of the beast¡¯s heel was an arrow whose glow was quickly diminishing. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Now¡¯s your chance! Slay this monstrous beast!¡± Shouted a young man as Drystan charged at the creature. Trying to stand up but failing, the werewolf positioned itself to be able to swipe its claws at Drystan as he approached, but both strikes missed as Drystan effortlessly dodged the attacks, swinging his sword down and cutting off the beast¡¯s left claw. As the beast roared in pain, Drystan thrust the blade forward, stabbing into the beast¡¯s chest. The werewolf gurgled and sputtered before Drystan pulled the sword out. Giving one last hateful glare at Drystan, the light of life left the beast¡¯s eyes as it collapsed onto the ground motionless. After quickly double checking to make sure the werewolf was indeed truly dead, Drystan let out a massive sigh of relief as his muscles relaxed and the sword disappeared, along with the glow around him. Gasping for air, Drystan sat down on the ground, his muscles already sore from the sudden exertion. As he tried to catch his breath, he could hear the footsteps of the young man as he approached. ¡°Incredible¡­to think¡­the goddess had indeed blessed someone else!¡± He exclaimed as he knelt down next to Drystan, a bow strapped to his back along with a quiver filled with arrows. ¡°Are you unharmed?¡± It took several seconds before Drystan nodded. ¡°I¡¯m unharmed¡­just need¡­to catch my¡­breath¡­¡± The man nodded. ¡°Understandable. Those powers drain its user, and it takes years of training before any member of the Eldar¡¯s is truly able to fully harness its capabilities.¡± Drustan nodded as he looked at the line of farmers in the distance, what remained of the pack of wolves now dead, before looking over at the man. His hair looked like the hue of copper, and freckles dotted his face. His blue eyes stared at Drystan, concern etched on his face. ¡°You seem¡­to know¡­a great deal about¡­these powers¡­¡± Drystan sputtered. The man chuckled. ¡°I would hope so. I¡¯ve spent my entire life studying the goddess and the blessing she¡¯s bestowed.¡± Drystan slowly nodded. ¡°You must be Mathis then¡­your grandfather¡­told me about you.¡± ¡°Oh? He did?¡± Drystan nodded. ¡°Indeed¡­it would seem that¡­the goddess has¡­predestined us to meet.¡± Standing up, Drystan took a deep breath and stuck out his hand. ¡°I¡¯m Drystan¡­Drystan Alaric, and as you just saw¡­¡± Mathis grasped his hand and firmly shook it. ¡°I¡¯m Mathis Rook¡­but¡­if you¡¯ve been blessed by the goddess just as she blessed the Eldar¡¯s¡­then I was correct! The entire time, I was correct! The goddess is displeased with the direction the Eldar¡¯s have taken the church and this country!¡± Drystan chuckled and nodded. ¡°You are correct¡­and she¡¯s told me as such.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve spoken with the goddess?! She hasn¡¯t spoken to any mortal in hundreds of years¡­at least any verified reports that is.¡± Drystan smirked. ¡°And I think she also just now chastised me for not using my powers until it looked like I was about to be that werewolf¡¯s next meal. At least it sounded like her voice in my head as that thing was about to take a bite.¡± ¡°Fascinating¡­to think that Seraphina has found someone to not only commune with, but also give the blessing that transcends any other she gives¡­¡± Putting his hand to his chin, he gave a thoughtful expression as he looked to the side, his brow furrowed. ¡°Such a situation hasn¡¯t been divulged in scripture¡­but neither has the downfall of the Eldar¡¯s¡­that can only mean we¡¯re going through events that may one day be immortalized in scripture as well¡­Seraphina¡­your servant is not worthy of such a time as this¡­¡± Drystan looked on awkwardly before Mathis opened his eyes and cleared his throat. ¡°Anyways, we should return to my grandfather¡¯s cabin and deliver the good news about the wolves. We can converse more openly there.¡± Mathiss Tale ¡°Grandfather!¡± Mathis called out as soon as he saw the elderly man, rushing up to him. ¡°How is everyone? Were there any casualties?¡± Gideon shook his head. ¡°Serephea be praised, but there were none, only some minor injuries that Collette is patching up as we speak.¡± Drystan had by now reached the two of them, standing next to Mathis. Gideon glanced at Drystan and smiled. ¡°Thank you¡­Drystan¡­for being here in our hour of need. If you weren¡¯t here, that creature would have surely taken the lives of several good men before it would have been overwhelmed.¡± Drystan nodded. ¡°No thanks necessary¡­if anything, if I weren¡¯t here, I¡¯m sure your village wouldn¡¯t have been attacked¡­but¡­I assume that means you witnessed what took place?¡± Gideon nodded. ¡°Indeed I did, as well as everyone else after the wolves were defeated.¡± Drystan glanced around, seeing several villagers casting surreptitious gazes his way before quickly turning away. Gideon chuckled, placing a comforting hand on Drystan¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ve already called for a meeting in which everyone is required to attend for tonight. There, you can tell them as much or as little as you want, though it¡¯s impossible now to keep your blessing a secret.¡± Drystan sighed but nodded. ¡°I understand. The goddess¡­scolded me for not using the blessing¡¯s powers against the werewolf, so trying to keep myself anonymous¡­isn¡¯t the way to go about things now.¡± Mathis looked at Mathis. ¡°Pardon if this question offends¡­but¡­your manner of speech¡­it seems¡­different than what I¡¯m accustomed to. From where did you learn to speak in such a curious dialect?¡± Drystan sighed. ¡°You¡¯re not the first person to tell me that. My birthplace is located on the outskirts of the country. We don¡¯t get very many travelers from other areas, with the exception of traveling priests for education and to bring news to and from the village. So, we¡¯ve developed our own manner of speaking. Definitely not as¡­eloquent¡­as those who live in cities or farther into the country.¡± Gideon nodded. ¡°There¡¯s no need to feel unease concerning your manner of speech. However, it would be prudent for you and Mathis to make your way to my cabin. You two have much to discuss. Once the moon peeks over the horizon, please make your way to the village center for the meeting. I¡¯ll see you both then.¡± With that, Gideon walked away, approaching a young farmer who was leaning against a tree. Mathis beckoned Drystan to follow him, the two soon arriving at the cabin. ¡°My apologies for asking a personal question despite having just met. However, my curiosities concerning you have been piqued, especially because of the fact that the goddess has given you her major blessing.¡± ¡°Major blessing?¡± Mathis nodded. ¡°Depending on who you ask in the church, there¡¯s either two types of blessings Seraphina grants, or thousands of blessings. Though in reality, the thousands can all be labeled as a minor blessing. Her major blessing is what she¡¯s granted the Eldar¡¯s, and it was assumed that she could only give her blessing to one family at a time. So to see you be able to manifest a divine sword¡­and from appearances¡­the ability to freeze what you touch¡­the clergy would be up in arms upon knowing what has transpired.¡± Drystan shrugged. ¡°Well¡­I was granted her blessing just the previous night, so no one would be able to know what happened. Only your grandfather was told by the goddess in a dream.¡± ¡°How curious¡­he failed to mention anything of the sort to me this morning when I went to tend to the fields.¡± ¡°He was more than prepared for me when I entered the village earlier, despite the frosty reception from the others¡­¡± Mathis scratched the back of his head. ¡°My apologies for the reception. After what occurred in Erith, and after explaining what happened to everyone¡­they¡¯ve been on the lookout for any pursuers.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°What did happen in Erith, if you don¡¯t mind my asking?¡± Mathis pulled up a wooden chair and sat down, silent for a moment before beginning to speak. ¡°I¡­was so excited when I was chosen to begin the process of becoming a priest. I¡¯m confident my grandfather told you about how I was hyper focused reading scripture from as soon as I was taught how to read. It always fascinated me, reading about the stories of times past. The words of the goddess immortalized into physical form¡­just fascinated me.¡± Reaching behind him, Mathis picked up a worn book from a small alcove, opening it to reveal the weathered pages. ¡°One day, when I was learning archery from my grandfather¡­suddenly the arrows I shot¡­glowed. I was terrified at first until I delved into scripture and read this verse. ¡®Seraphina breathed into her a blessing, and lo, the weapon in her grasp shone bright, illuminating the path ahead.¡¯ Whenever I shoot an arrow, it goes much farther and is incredibly more accurate than an arrow shot by even the most well-trained archer in the military. Upon realizing that I had been given a minor blessing, my mother began preparing to take me to Erith to have me trained to be a priest.¡± Closing the book, he looked back at Drystan. ¡°After being selected, I dove head-first into my studies. Reading book after book about theories of Seraphina, listening to seminars from well-respected clergymen and engaging in many a debate with my mentors. However, the deeper I delved, the more¡­off-putting it all felt. Instead of worshiping the goddess, most priests were more concerned about the pleasures of the flesh or kowtowing to the whims of the Eldar¡¯s.¡± Standing back up, he paced around the room. ¡°I suppressed my reservations for as long as I could, but once I had begun hearing whispers of the Eldar¡¯s plan to declare anything that goes against their beliefs to be worthy of punishment, even up to death, I knew I couldn¡¯t be silent any longer. In a matter of one night, I prepared a sermon and, when the populace began stirring the next morn, I began preaching. I told everyone how I believed that the worship of the goddess had been tainted into worshiping the Eldar¡¯s. I preached about the corruption in the clergy, how they ignored explicit commandments, drinking until drunkenness, accepting bribes from high ranking officials, and engaging in¡­pleasure of the sexual nature with wenches in the taverns, giving away money the populace tithed in order to bed them.¡± Mathis bitterly chuckled. ¡°The clergy¡­were very unimpressed with my sermon and issued me a stern warning to never speak that way again, or I would be arrested for apostasy. I spent the entire day debating with myself whether or not I should comply¡­but that night, I suddenly got a burst of courage to boldly declare what I believed to be true, which I believe came from the goddess. The next morning, I preached the same sermon, getting as far as I could before the knights came upon the scene. If it weren¡¯t for the populace throwing their support my way, I would have been arrested on the spot.¡± The sound of a horse galloping past the cabin caused Mathis to temporarily lose his train of thought before being able to continue. ¡°I immediately ran to my mother¡¯s house, telling her that we needed to leave, but she had developed many close friendships during her time in Erith¡­and thus wanted to warn them about what could happen to them for associating with someone the church would deem an apostate. She promised she¡¯d return posthaste after she was finished warning everyone¡­but she has yet to arrive. Needless to say¡­I¡¯m very concerned for her¡­¡± Drystan, upon hearing Mathis¡¯s tale, nodded. ¡°I¡­see¡­well¡­you were correct, as the goddess has deemed the Eldar¡¯s too far gone to be redeemed through any traditional sense¡­and thus has given me the same blessing she gave to Caius Eldar. She¡¯s instructed me to end their reign so to speak, preferably peacefully but¡­by lethal force if necessary¡­¡± ¡°So it has come to this¡­¡± Mathis ran his hand through his hair, sighing heavily. ¡°Did she¡­say anything else?¡± ¡°Other than to come here because she¡¯s prepared someone to accompany me, no she hasn¡¯t. I¡¯m assuming that more instructions are to come¡­but if not, we¡¯ll have to come up with a plan as to what to do next.¡± ¡°I-I understand¡­but to think that the goddess herself has chosen me to¡­to accompany you on your quest¡­I can¡¯t think of a greater honor than that.¡± Mathis stared at Drystan, a look of determination plastered on his face. ¡°With the goddess on our side, I¡¯m confident that we¡¯ll be able to restore true worship of the goddess, and root out the corruption infecting this country. After the meeting tonight, we should¨C¡± The door to the cabin opened suddenly, slamming against the logs as Gideon rushed in. ¡°Mathis! A messenger from Erith just arrived and told me to deliver this letter to you. I¡¯ve already read its contents¡­it¡¯s¡­it¡¯s¡­¡± Gideon was unable to continue as he handed Mathis the letter. Quickly reading it, his face paled as he dropped the letter, letting it fall to the ground. He glanced at Drystan, a look of fear replacing the determination he had exuded just moments prior as his hands began to shake. ¡°They¡¯ve arrested my mom¡­and unless I return to Erith to face my charges¡­is scheduled to be executed in a week.¡± Plans in the Making Drystan¡¯s eyes quickly scanned over the contents of the letter, the threatening and menacing tone exuding from its contents. Upon reaching the end, Drystan set the letter down on the wooden table as Mathis restlessly paced the room. Gideon had sat down, his face pensive yet filled with concern. ¡°I¡¯ve got to return to Erith immediately.¡± Mathis firmly stated, looking at Gideon. ¡°I refuse to sit idly by while those¡­those¡­heathens dangle my mother¡¯s life over my head!¡± Gideon shook his head. ¡°I beg of you, Mathis, don¡¯t respond rashly to this. Charging headfirst into danger won¡¯t help your mother, and there is no guarantee that they¡¯ll honor their word should you turn yourself in. If anything, they could execute both of you together!¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t just remain here and not do anything!¡± Drystan shook his head. ¡°Mathis¡­your grandfather is right¡­I too don¡¯t see any benefit to blindly rushing to Erith. What would we do? Storm the cathedral? What about the hundreds of guards and knights patrolling the city?¡± ¡°You¡¯re blessed by the goddess! We can use your power and¨C¡± ¡°My power isn¡¯t without its limits. Every time I use my powers, I am exhausted afterwards, and if I overuse my ability to freeze objects, I fear that my own hand will be the one that¡¯s frozen instead. If I had perfect control and knowledge of just what the goddess has blessed me with, maybe then it would have been a viable option, but even then it would be too risky. It¡¯s not too far of a journey to Erith, as we could arrive in a day. Let¡¯s use what time we have been granted to come up with a plan.¡± Gideon stood up and gently placed his hand on Mathis¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Mathis¡­please¡­¡± Mathis glared at Gideon for several moments before his face softened. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­I know you both are right¡­but¡­what if they¡¯re already lying? What if they¡¯ve already killed my mother? What if they don¡¯t give us a week and kill her sooner? I just¡­¡± Mathis shook his head as tears formed in his eyes. ¡°I just can¡¯t lose my mom¡­I just can¡¯t¡­¡± His voice cracked as he let out a sob. Drystan was silent before nodding. ¡°I will do everything I possibly can to make sure your mother returns here alive. Of that, you have my word. Gideon, let the rest of the villagers know about what¡¯s going on. Mathis may have lived there most recently, but there¡¯s a chance someone else could have some knowledge that would help us out.¡± Gideon quickly nodded his head, gave Mathis a comforting pat on the shoulder, and left the cabin. Drystan looked back at Mathis. ¡°I know you said you were spending all your time in your studies, but what can you tell me that would help us to sneak into the city?¡± Mathis shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know of anything like that¡­I never even had any thoughts of that nature before, so I have no idea what we would be looking for.¡± ¡°¡­did you notice anything about guard patrol times? Perhaps when the change of the guard occurred?¡± ¡°I¡­know around the eighth hour in the morning, the night guard is relieved¡­but besides that¡­I know nothing about the guards or what routes they take.¡± ¡°I see¡­that would make sneaking into the city quite the task¡­¡± Drystan took a deep breath. ¡°What are the names of your instructors?¡± ¡°Why would that matter?¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Just please humor me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s Father Thomas¡­Father Alder¡­Father Vonder¡­and Father¨C¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡¯Father Vonder?¡¯ Is he perhaps blind in his left eye with a nasty scar from a deep scratch across his eye?¡± ¡°Y-yes¡­do you¡­know who he is?¡± Drystan nodded. ¡°I do¡­he used to be a travelling priest¡­and he regularly visited my place of birth to help educate myself and the other children in the village. Last time I saw him was a year before I left my life behind¡­¡± Drystan¡¯s voice lowered as he considered the information he was just given. ¡°I have an idea¡­though you may be a bit¡­apprehensive about it¡­¡± ¡°There it is¡­Velmir!¡± Elara exclaimed as she and Valen quickly approached the city gates. ¡°O thank the goddess¡­I was uncertain of how much longer I could endure riding a horse without resting in a warm bed.¡± Valen laughed. ¡°You need to experience more of what life has to offer, my dear sister. There¡¯s more to life than feather pillows and silken sheets.¡± ¡°I can endure without those! I just¡­don¡¯t prefer it.¡± ¡°Of that, I¡¯m sure!¡± The duo arrived at the city gates, the guards immediately granting them entry. After making their way through the streets, they approached the large cathedral that dominated the cityscape. A man wearing a white biretta greeted the two of them. ¡°Welcome o blessed from Seraphina! It is quite the honor to be in your presence.¡± Valen dismounted from his horse, allowing a stable boy to grab the reins and guide the two horses to the stables. ¡°The honor is all ours. I had heard from our elder sister just how magnificent this cathedral is. I am quite pleased to have seen it in person. I¡¯ve been meaning to visit here for quite some time considering how close the city is to the capital.¡± ¡°You honor us with your words. Perhaps if your visit was under better circumstances, a tour would have been in order. It breaks my heart that you¡¯re here to fulfill your duties.¡± Elara nodded. ¡°Would you be so kind as to inform us just what has transpired that would require the assistance of not one but two of us?¡± The priest nodded. ¡°Of course. Over the past several months, heretical teachings have begun to infiltrate the minds of the common folk. Baseless rumors of corruption, teachings that the Eldar¡¯s are not to be praised, and that the church has abandoned the goddess is now being taught openly in the streets. I¡¯ve even heard chatter that Vakros should be worshipped and not Seraphina. In fact, I request that Elara tomorrow morn make her way to Erith, as I have received a letter that troubles me.¡± Elara sighed. ¡°Why am I needed in Erith?¡± ¡°A priest in seminary has blatantly and openly taught heretical teachings to the masses. As a result, tensions are rising quickly in the city. It is my belief that the presence of an Eldar would help tremendously, as well as provide a boon to their investigations into the matter.¡± ¡°How about my brother? Why must I make this trip when my brother is more fit for the role required?¡± ¡°I am in need of your brother here for a variety of tasks, some of which are more suited for a man than a woman. I genuinely mean no offense.¡± Elara glared at the priest before sighing. ¡°Alright¡­I shall begin preparations and leave tomorrow morning. Until then, I require a bath to be drawn, and a room prepared to rest before the trip.¡± ¡°Certainly. I¡¯ll have some deacons prepare those right away. You are most welcome to join us for breakfast before your journey tomorrow as well. I¡¯ll be sure to inform the chefs to cook the most exquisite spread.¡± ¡°I shall be looking forward to it.¡± The priest bowed. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, a deacon shall be here shortly to direct you to your lodging for the night. I shall see you both again in the morning.¡± The priest walked away down a large hallway as Elara sulked. ¡°I was under the assumption I was done with traveling for the time being.¡± Valen chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elara. It¡¯s only a couple day¡¯s trip to Erith. I shall assist with your preparations in the morn, and you have my word that I shall remain in Velmir until your return.¡± ¡°You have my gratitude, Valen.¡± A younger man strode up to the two of them. ¡°Pardon the intrusion, but I¡¯m Deacon Helmir, and I¡¯ve been instructed to guide you two to your lodgings. Please¡­this way¡­¡± Elara sighed as she began following the deacon, dreading the upcoming trip. A Dangerous Game ¡°And you can confirm that the letter has indeed been delivered?¡± The captain of the knights asked one of his squires, who nodded. ¡°Yes sir! Our messenger confirmed that he delivered the letter personally to the elder of the village, who is Mathis¡¯s grandfather. If Mathis is indeed there, he would have read it by now.¡± ¡°Very good. Please keep me apprised of any developments that could occur. Also, his mother is not to be harmed under ANY circumstances unless he fails to show under the time given. Should he turn himself in and is in our custody, I¡¯ll personally give out orders concerning what is to be done with her afterwards. If the kingdom inquires about what is occurring, send any inquiring minds to my office. Am I understood?¡± The squire nodded. ¡°Understood sir! If you¡¯ll excuse me, sir!¡± The squire quickly turned and rushed out of the office, shutting the door behind him. The captain leaned forward on the desk, rubbing his chin. ¡°So far, everything is going according to what was foreseen¡­just need to keep this under wraps until that bastard dies by my sword.¡± He smirked. ¡°Any others who would dare to speak out against¨C¡± A knock on the door interrupted him. ¡°Sir! A letter has arrived from Velmir!¡± A familiar voice called from beyond the closed door. ¡°Enter.¡± A man in his mid-thirties walked into the chilly room, saluting the captain before handing him the letter. ¡°It¡¯s from the cathedral and was delivered by a carrier pigeon. It¡¯s been addressed to you personally.¡± ¡°Thank you, Alfe.¡± The captain opened the letter, poring over its contents before his grasp on the letter tightened, nearly ripping it. ¡°WHAT?! They spring this upon us NOW of all times?!¡± ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Elara Eldar is currently on her way here to investigate our dear Mathis and his influence on the population¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing, sir? She could weed out the heretics that Mathis has created and¨C¡± ¡°Or she could take into consideration what he was preaching and take a deeper look into our order¡­everything we¡¯ve built would come crashing down should she take the investigation in that direction.¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°...We can¡¯t be brash, and we still have some time before her arrival. ¡­For now, only inform those who need to know. When the bell strikes seven tomorrow morning, come back here and I¡¯ll give the orders about what we should do.¡± ¡°Understood sir!¡± As Alfe walked away, the captain leaned back into his chair, contemplating what his next move should be. Gideon looked up at the afternoon sky, appreciating the breeze as he meandered through the village, ignoring the feeling of despair that had formed in the pit of his stomach. Just moments later, he spotted Drystan, who was sitting on a stump, reading. ¡°Greetings Drystan.¡± Gideon called out. ¡°Are you hungry? You weren¡¯t present for the noon meal.¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Drystan shook his head, not looking up. ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s plenty of food to be foraged here.¡± ¡°Ah¡­interesting¡­¡± Gideon sighed as he now stood next to Drystan. ¡°How¡¯s your research going?¡± ¡°About as well as someone who hardly ever read scripture but is now having to delve deeply into it.¡± ¡°You could just ask Mathis to assist you. I¡¯m sure he¨C¡± ¡°He¡¯s going through a lot as it is. The last thing I want to do is to add more to his plate. Besides¡­¡± He finally looked up at Gideon. ¡°Since I¡¯ve been blessed by the goddess¡­it¡¯s time I actually read scripture for myself, and since it also details some of the powers granted to the Eldars...it could give me some insight as to what powers I also could possess.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t read scripture much prior I assume?¡± ¡°Not much anyways. I knew the most popular verses, and the Prayer of Protection taught to me by Father Vonder whenever he visited my village when I was a child. I was always more preoccupied with other matters, such as what improvements me and Rowan could make to our makeshift fort.¡± ¡°Rowan? Was he a childhood friend of yours?" ¡°Yes, he was. He, Thalia, and I were the rambunctious trio of the village, and all of our parents had their hands full trying to rein us in.¡± Drystan gave Gideon a wistful smile. ¡°I was almost always outside rather than staying indoors and reading scripture. In that aspect, Mathis¡¯s upbringing and mine are complete opposites.¡± ¡°What caused you to leave the village?¡± The wistful smile immediately disappeared, replaced with a painful expression as Drystan turned away, looking off into the distance. ¡°...let¡¯s just say¡­it involved the loss of life of someone dear to me, and as a result, I was forced to leave. I¡¯ve been on my own ever since.¡± Gideon nodded, not wanting to pry any further. ¡°So, I take it your leaving is what caused you to be an expert forager?¡± Drystan slowly nodded his head as he turned and looked at Gideon again. ¡°You are correct, though I did have some experience before leaving. You can¡¯t always light a fire, as it could attract highway bandits or other nasty creatures that would do anything to make you their next meal, so I had to be extra careful with what I chose to eat raw. After a lot of trials and a few unfortunate errors, I¡¯m more or less able to tell which is safe to eat or not by a simple glance.¡± Gideon laughed. ¡°Maybe you could teach me about foraging at some point. Who knows, could help keep the village from going hungry during a famine.¡± Drystan chuckled. ¡°If I ever find enough time to do that, I promise I will.¡± Gideon smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that, but I think I should let you be with your studies. When do you and Mathis plan on leaving?¡± ¡°The earliest I¡¯m willing to depart is two days from now, preferably in the morning and arriving just after sunset. Despite some resistance from Mathis, he eventually agreed.¡± ¡°Do you mind telling me what you two have planned?¡± ¡°...I¡¯ll let you know tomorrow evening.¡± Gideon sighed but nodded. ¡°I see¡­understandable to keep your cards close to your chest. Has Mathis at least agreed to everything?¡± ¡°It took some convincing, but in the end, after explaining my reasoning, he agreed. That¡¯s not to say he¡¯s not experiencing any¡­apprehension about it. You¡¯ll understand why when I tell you tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll¡­be looking forward to hearing it. I¡¯ll hopefully see you for supper later. Have a good day.¡± Gideon slightly bowed to Drystan before turning and walking away. Drystan sighed and continued reading scripture, his eyes poring over its contents. ¡°Goddess¡­Seraphina¡­I don¡¯t know what you want me to call you¡­but¡­I could really use your guidance right about now. The plan¡­I know in my head it¡¯s probably the best way to be able to get into the city¡­but¡­there¡¯s the chance that it could fail, and for both Mathis and his mother to lose their lives. Please¡­give Mathis and I both the strength to get through this unscathed.¡± Upon uttering the first prayer to escape from his lips in years, Drystan took a deep breath and continued reading. The Calm Before the Storm The morning sun slowly emerged from the horizon, casting long shadows along the landscape as a cold morning breeze swept through the village. The smell of various foods filled the village as many villagers were making their breakfasts. However, at the edge of the village, stood Drystan and Mathis in front of Gideon and a small group seeing them off. Gideon worriedly looked at Mathis. ¡°And you¡¯re certain you¡¯re okay with all this, Mathis? It¡¯s not too late to attempt to think of something else and¨C¡± Mathis nodded. ¡°Do not worry, Grandfather. I wasn¡¯t fond of the idea when it was first mentioned¡­but after listening to his reasoning, I too am in agreement that this is the best possible chance of rescuing Mother. It¡¯s shown in scripture that nothing valuable is gained without some degree of risk, and I¡¯d wager the risk here is well worth the reward, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± Gideon was silent before nodding. ¡°I do agree that the reward of your mother coming home safe is indeed worth the risk¡­but, if things were to go wrong, I¡¯d be losing both my only daughter and my only grandchild. Despite my best efforts, fear grips my heart and refuses to release its hold.¡± Mathis stepped forward and brought Gideon into a tight embrace. ¡°Thank you for worrying about me, Grandfather. It brings me great joy knowing I have you and so many others who care about me so, to the point they¡¯d risk missing breakfast to see me off.¡± Mathis chuckled, trying to break some of the tension in the air despite the unease he was experiencing. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the future holds in store, even if mother were to escape safely. If I don¡¯t return immediately afterwards, I¡¯ll be sure to write whenever I get the chance. You have my word.¡± Gideon squeezed Mathis before finally releasing him from the embrace and wiping away tears that had formed in his eyes. ¡°I shall very much be looking forward to reading these letters of yours.¡± Looking at Drystan, who had been silent the entire time, Gideon took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m entrusting to you my grandson¡¯s life, and my daughter¡¯s. Should things take a turn for the worst, and both of their lives are snuffed from this world¡­you¡¯ll still have a place here, should you ever need it. Just please, do whatever you can to save my daughter, and use the sword gifted to you as you see fit. Just please, if the need arises, use your blessing without hesitation.¡± Drystan nodded, his hand resting on the top of the pommel of the sword. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll do everything in my power to bring your daughter home safe and sound. I don¡¯t know if I could ever come back and look you in the eye should I fail in keeping my promise.¡± Gideon smiled weakly before nodding. A few other villagers walked up to Mathis, all offering him words of encouragement. After everyone had said their piece, Mathis looked at everyone, smiling. ¡°You all have my gratitude for sending me off. I do not claim to know what the future has in store, but even if my death is nigh, I do not regret the paths I have taken. Every one of you has watched over me as I grew up, and for that I am forever grateful. Please¡­take care of my grandfather for me¡­¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Mathis¡¯s voice cracked as he spoke, wiping tears from his eyes. Reaching out and embracing Gideon one last time, Mathis stepped back and turned to Drystan, nodding. ¡°Alright¡­let us be off. We have a lot of ground to cover, and the sooner we leave, the better.¡± Drystan nodded and gave a short wave to the crowd. ¡°Thank you all for having me these past few days. I promise, I¡¯ll keep Mathis and his mother safe.¡± Turning around, Drystan began walking away, with Mathis right behind him. Gideon watched as the two became smaller and smaller, soon disappearing altogether. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Gideon turned and glanced at the small crowd. ¡°Alright everyone, let¡¯s get started with our day. They¡¯re both in the goddess¡¯s hands now, and worrying about them won¡¯t do us or them any good.¡± As the crowd began to disperse, Gideon took one last, longing gaze where Mathis and Drystan were previously before turning around and walking back to his cabin. Alfe calmly walked down the narrow hallways of a dark, cold building, the stench of rotting flesh and feces permeating the air, making every breath difficult, despite what his outwardly calm demeanor would suggest. Lifting up his torch, the soft glow of the flame illuminated the path ahead, ending at a cell at the far end of the hallway. Walking over to the thick, rusty bars, he set a wooden plate that was filled with food barely fit for human consumption down and slid it across the uneven stone floor. ¡°Here you go¡­I have your breakfast.¡± He said, his voice soft as he peered into the cell. A middle-aged woman, lying in the fetal position in the far corner, slowly stood up and stumbled over to Alfe, reaching down and picking up the plate. Alfe gave her a pitiable expression, his own heart breaking at the state the woman was in. ¡°I have some good news, I¡¯ve been given orders by my captain that you are not to be harmed. In fact, this is your last meal in which the dungeon ¡®cooks¡¯ will be responsible for. For the noon meal, you shall be eating the same food we in the Order eat.¡± The woman was silent as she took a small bite of food, gagging as the foul taste assaulted her mouth. Forcing down the slop, she turned away from Alfe, finally speaking in a weak voice. ¡°I have nothing to say to you¡­for when my son arrives to save me, even if I were to trust your words, his life will surely come to an end, and the last reminder I have of his father will be taken away from me.¡± Alfe shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t give up. If the captain were to hear of this, he¡¯d have me imprisoned alongside you, but an Eldar is on her way to the city and should arrive tonight. The captain¡­he¡¯s terrified of what she could do should she be informed about your plight. There¡¯s still a chance for your son to keep his life, though I can¡¯t guarantee his freedom¡­¡± The woman was silent before gagging down another bite of slop. ¡°You know as well as I do that after what my son spoke of¡­that his life will be forfeit. Don¡¯t delude yourself into thinking otherwise¡­or to try to instill in me a false sense of hope.¡± Alfe quietly sighed before grabbing an unlit torch hanging on the wall, lighting it before putting it back into its sconce. ¡°This should provide you with light and a bit of heat for a period of time¡­I shall return at noon with another plate of adequate food. Please, hang in there. There are others in the Order like me who sympathize with you. Not all is lost for you yet.¡± With that, Alfe turned and walked down the hall, the gears in his head turning, trying to figure out how to bring a satisfactory end to the woman¡¯s plight. Father Vonder The soft glow of several lit oil lamps in the distance provided the only light for miles around, penetrating the inky black darkness surrounding the city. Just outside the city walls stood a small squad of six royal soldiers, having no affiliation to any knightly order or the church. Hidden in the dark, Mathis and Drystan stood just to the side of the dirt road, staring at the guards. Mathis took a deep breath as Drystan put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Are you ready for this?¡± Drystan asked, his voice outwardly calm and composed. Mathis nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­but I¡¯ll never truly be ready for such a task. We must proceed quickly though.¡± Taking out some leather bindings from a bag, Mathis handed them to Drystan. ¡°¡±Do what you need to do.¡± Drystan grabbed the bindings and gently placed Mathis¡¯s arms behind his back, wrapping his wrists together with the leather bindings and tying a tight knot. Testing the restraints, Drystan nodded, satisfied. ¡°Alright¡­follow me. I¡¯ll need to make it convincing¡­so I promise that no matter what I say or do, it¡¯s to convince them that I¡¯ve captured you.¡± Mathis nodded. ¡°I understand. I swear I¡¯ll hold no ill feelings towards you. Do what you must.¡± With that, the two walked towards the road, with Mathis visibly resisting against Drystan. Upon hearing the commotion, the guards stared into the darkness before Drystan appeared, forcibly dragging Mathis. ¡°Halt! What business have you in Erith?! And who is that man you¡¯ve apprehended?¡± Drystan threw Mathis forward, causing Mathis to collapse on the ground. ¡°This man is Mathis Rook. I met a group of knights earlier today searching for this heretic, who is wanted for heresy and preaching false teachings that have turned many against the true faith, perverting the worship of the goddess. I stumbled upon him as he was hiding in the forest while I was out hunting, and managed to subdue him without much resistance. I¡¯m here to turn him in to the knights and collect a reward from the church.¡± The guards looked Mathis over before one of them nodded. ¡°So, this is the man we were informed to keep watch for. Very well, I¡¯ll escort you to the knight¡¯s barracks so that¨C¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯d like to turn him in personally to a priest that I know. Do any of you know of a Father Vonder?¡± The guards looked amongst themselves before one of them nodded. ¡°Aye¡­I know Father Vonder. Good man he is, always feeding and caring for the orphaned kids.¡± Drystand nodded. ¡°That¡¯s him. He used to be a traveling priest and visited my village fairly often. I owe a lot to him, and thus I want to give him the honor of bringing this filthy heretic to the knights.¡± The guards nodded, moving to the side with the exception of one. ¡°Follow me. I¡¯ll escort you two to the cathedral so that the heretic doesn¡¯t get any false hopes about escaping from his punishment.¡± Drystan smiled and nodded. ¡°You have my thanks.¡± Reaching down, he grabbed on Mathis¡¯s arm and roughly yanked him up. ¡°Get a move on!¡± He yelled at Mathis as he pushed him forward, Mathis stumbling before regaining his balance. The guards who remained at their posts chuckled as they watched the three men walk through the entrance to the city, resuming their duties. Upon entering the city, Drystan curiously looked around before tripping, not realizing that the dirt path had transformed into a stone road. While the stones were smoothed and worn from heavy use, there were still stones that stuck out higher than others. The guard looked back at Drystan. ¡°Are you injured?¡± Drystan chuckled and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m unharmed. I just¡­wasn¡¯t expecting the change from dirt to stone¡­¡± As the guard looked forward again, Drystan¡¯s eyes scanned his surroundings, trying to memorize every detail he possibly could. Each alleyway between buildings and the twists and turns it might or might not have. The buildings that were still lively and thus were more prone to having witnesses. The streets that still had relatively heavy foot traffic despite how late it was at night to possibly blend into the crowd if need be. After several silent minutes, the three men approached the tall cathedral as two members of the knights stood guard at the entrance. Upon seeing the three men, the knights approached them. ¡°Greetings. What business have you at the cathedral at this late hour?¡± The guard motioned to Drystan and Mathis. ¡°This man has managed to apprehend the heretic Mathis Rook. He is requesting to officially turn him in to Father Mathis, wanting him to get the honor.¡± The knights nodded. ¡°Understood. Return to your post. We¡¯ll take it from here.¡± The guard nodded, shooting one last parting glare at Mathis before departing without another word. One of the knights opened the door to the cathedral. ¡°Come. I shall escort you to the guest chambers and fetch Father Vonder.¡± Drystan nudged Mathis forward as they entered into the cathedral. After being escorted down a hall, the knight opened the door to a darkened room. Walking over to an oil lamp, the knight lit the lamp as the room illuminated in a soft white glow. The knight glanced at Drystan. ¡°I¡¯ll now fetch Father Vonder. Be sure to not let the heretic escape as he may be desperate enough to attempt one.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°I¡¯ll remain vigilant.¡± With that, the guard closed the door behind him, his footsteps echoing down the hall. Mathis looked around the room and sighed, keeping his voice low so that any potential eavesdroppers wouldn¡¯t be able to listen. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be in the cathedral as a criminal and not as a priest or member of the church.¡± ¡°Having second thoughts?¡± ¡°None whatsoever. You have my gratitude for not being excessively rough. I had mentally and physically prepared myself for the worst.¡± Drystan smirked as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, his heart beating quickly at the thought of the upcoming reunion. Trying to calm himself down, Drystan looked around the room. ¡°Pretty fancy room for it only being one to talk with guests.¡± ¡°The church prides itself on¡­projecting prosperity to its guests. In theory, it¡¯s supposed to make the more affluent guests more at ease and give the less fortunate a brief taste of luxury, or so says the¨C¡± A knock on the door interrupted Mathis before it slowly swung open as a middle-aged man with a graying beard and eyepatch over his left eye entered the room. ¡°My apologies for the delay.¡± He said, closing the door behind him. ¡°I was just about to retire for the night when¨C¡± Father Vonder looked at Drystan, stunned silent with his mouth slightly agape. Drystan nervously scratched the back of his neck. ¡°It¡¯s¡­been a while, Father¡­two years to be exact. How¡­how have you been?¡± Father Vonder remained silent for a few more moments before shaking his head slightly. ¡°Of all the people that could have apprehended Mathis¡­you were the last person I would have expected it to be.¡± His voice was low and dripping with hostility. Drystan sighed and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again too¡­¡± He sarcastically stated before stepping forward. ¡°I see that you still believe that I¡¯m responsible for what occurred.¡± ¡°Because you ARE responsible! There¡¯s no one else it could have been! We all¨C¡± Drystand raised his hand up, silencing Father Vonder before speaking. ¡°I¡¯m here to call in that favor that you told me you owed me for saving your life five years ago.¡± Father Vonder¡¯s eyes narrowed as he glared at Drystan and then at Mathis before realization dawned on him. ¡°You have no intention of actually turning this man in, do you?¡± Drystan shook his head. ¡°None at all. In fact, I¡¯m here to rescue his mother from the knights¡¯ custody.¡± ¡°His mother? You must be mistaken. I was informed that his mother was being held under house arrest and being investigated for possibly enabling his heretical teachings. The latest update I was given just this evening stated that she had no involvement, and her house arrest is pending to be lifted.¡± Drystan¡¯s eyebrows were raised. ¡°You¡¯ve received updates about Mathis?¡± ¡°Why of course. I was one of many who had taken Mathis under my wing when he first arrived at the cathedral. He was so excitable and joyful to be selected to join the priesthood. Of course I would take a vested interest in the developments of the investigation into his misdeeds and requested updates.¡± Mathis, who had been silent, finally spoke up. ¡°Father Vonder, I assure you, my mother is not under house arrest. I daresay that she¡¯s being held hostage so as to force my hand and return, and I regret that it was successful.¡± ¡°A bold accusation from one accused of abandoning the goddess and leading vulnerable sheep of our flock down a dark path.¡± Drystan reached into his pouch and grabbed the letter that had arrived a few days prior. ¡°This letter arrived at Mathis¡¯s home village, demanding the return of Mathis. It would be wise of you to read this over before casting judgement on Mathis as a heretic and abandoning Seraphina.¡± Father Vonder¡¯s eyes widened slightly at Drystan¡¯s calling Seraphina by her name before taking the letter from Drystan, unfolding the parchment and reading. Moments later, he glanced at Mathis. ¡°I recognize this handwriting¡­it¡¯s the captain¡¯s¡­¡± Mathis nodded. ¡°I¡¯m aware. He has a personal interest in keeping me quiet considering I was bringing his corruption and hypocrisy to light.¡± Father Vonder sighed and handed the letter back to Drystan. ¡°Or it could be that he¡¯s just trying to bring a heretic to justice, and is just using some¡­rather unsavory measures to ensure your arrest, but I digress¡­if what¡¯s written in that letter is indeed true, then a grave violation of rights has occurred. It is strictly forbidden by both the church and the kingdom to imprison relatives of wanted criminals to ensure an arrest.¡± Looking back at Drystan, Father Vonder continued. ¡°I¡¯d rather you NOT consider this a favor, as I refuse to honor the favor of a ¡®suspected¡¯ murderer. I should actually turn you into the knights myself for questioning and subsequent execution, considering you¡¯re a wanted man as well¡­but I cannot ignore the plight of Mathis¡¯s mother. Come. We shall head for the dungeons and inquire about your mother, Mathis. As for you, Drystan, consider my not turning you in the last vestige of our previous friendship. Once this matter is settled, the next time I lay my eyes on you, I shall turn you in with all expediency. Do I make myself clear?¡± ¡°...Crystal clear¡­¡± Shaking his head, Father Vonder opened the door and motioned for Mathis and Drystan to exit. ¡°Come. We shall head to the dungeon immediately.¡± Snuffing out the oil lamp, Father Vonder exited the room and led the two to the entrance of the Cathedral. However, as they entered into the lobby, Drystan suddenly felt uneasy, his senses screaming that danger was close by. Suddenly, a female voice called out. ¡°Father Vonder!¡± The three men turned toward the direction of the voice, spotting a blonde-haired woman walking towards them, wearing a dusty skirt. ¡°I had hoped you were still awake at this hour!¡± Father Vonder¡¯s eyes widened before breaking out into a smile. ¡°Elara Eldar¡­you¡¯re certainly a sight to behold, even after your long journey!¡± Drystan¡¯s eyes widened as he realized just why his body had suddenly become so tense. Standing in front of him was a woman who he would need to fight in the future, to the death if necessary.