The opulence of the Temple district was not as grand as the palace I always thought. Yet if you came here at the right time, when the twin suns just start to kiss the horizon. The pale orange light makes the etched glass and carved stone shine with a golden radiance. It is enriching in its own way, peaceful on the mind and soul. Many people come here for deeper healings. The kind that is not fixed by a sip of an elixir or night spent in the medical house. The temple heals the mind and soul from simple trauma all the way up to curses. They truly do excellent work, and it is always done for those in need when it is needed. The ecclesiarch of the Hexa’Dio Conclave, Keter Vlash is truly a sweet and kindhearted elderly man. His faith runs deep, near the point of zealotry, but he maintains a positive light and view of his duties. Me and Brun made our way through the front doors of the temple, greeted with reverence every other step of the way. “I get really tired of that.” I whispered to Brun as the last monk passed us. “Oh ya’ bloody crybaby. What’s so wrong with people giving ye’ thanks for all your hard work? If I had to say I could use a little mo’ of it.” She said as she raised her head gloating. People who receive blessings of the Hexa’Dio are treated with well earned respect. These are not often given and take a great deal to earn.

  “Brun?” I asked as we walked the spiral stairs up to the ecclesiarch’s office. “Wha’s that, rosy?” she asked. “How did you get your blessing from J?r?” I replied with modest curiosity. I never asked her that before in the tenure she has served under me. Some people considered it a bit disrespectful to ask a blessed how they became so. The memories are not always the best to revisit. Tradesmen don’t have that worry they receive their blessings from perfecting their craft. Brun, Gorrax, others and myself have gained ours through the fires of battle. Revisiting our memories, those times of great trauma, aren’t high on our list of things to talk about. “Hmm…well…it was during Vampire Night in Pelicade. I was a sergeant in the Byzantium military. A squad leader of Stonebreakers, the siege specialist. On deployment my squad had…” she was suddenly interrupted when we had gotten to the median platform of the stairs. Father Keter was sitting on a bench with a story book in his lap, reading to a group of orphans. The kids had heard the pair of us talking on the way up the stairs. “Uncle Karna! Aunty Brun!” The kids said bursting with joy rushing their heroes.

  The orphans of the city were cared for jointly by the nobles and the temple. The temple tended to their daily care and their education. When they grew older, between the ages of 14 -16 the nobles enroll them into different trades or into the guard. The retinue and myself will always be their favorite role models. “Aunty! Aunty! Tell us of the last adventure! Please! Please!” One of the young girls asked, tugging at her arm. “Yeah, you promised us.” A young boy followed. “Alright, Alright! Let’s go sit and Aunty Brun will tell y’all about how we beat up some bandits and burned down their hideout.” She told the group of kids with a snicker and a laugh. “Now come ye’ lil ones, let us go to the Hanging Gardens, Uncle Karna has to talk with the father.” She walked away with the kids crowding her every step. She was so willing to put a smile on their little hopeful faces. That made sense to me, not being able to have her own kids must have given her a different outlook on children. I was brought out of my reverie as the short and brittle old man approached. He tapped his chin with the second knuckle on his index finger, then tapped his forehead and drew the knuckle away. It was a common polite greeting done by Abyssals. Father Keter is a cultured man, honorable, and respectful.

  “Good afternoon, Karna. How faired the last outing? Gorrax spoke much about it, yet I can’t help but feel he has been omitting a few details. Would you kindly illuminate me?” He asked in a soft tone befitting his age. I returned the gesture and followed with a bow as we Abyssals do with our elders. I know I am older, but he deserves this respect. “There were a few complications and the mark Beh’lakor placed on a deserving was…shared in lack of other words.” I began as we started to walk to his office on the other end of the platform. “We had to hunt down five, not one. Even though each felt their own pain, healing spells or elixirs was shared equally between all five when taken by one. They were all identical and had to be slayed simultaneously in order to keep him down.” He frowned at the implication of my statement. “Was that all?” He asked. I was hesitant on telling him the rest. I personally prefer keeping a healthy distance between me and the Hexa’Dio, I never went out of my way to earn my blessings. Two I have had since I was a child and my third was an accident. Yet this time I had to make a choice, and in the throngs of battle on our last mission, “I received my fourth blessing during the engagement.” I said partially pouting. “I suppose Sei’Enna seems to be very proud of my work. The man used magic to make a mockery of the life he lives. Double smack to the face I think is how she sees it.”

  The office was bare, and barren save for the simple desk with three chairs set around it. A potted flower shared a small table with a small statue of the Hexa’Dio sigil. It decorated the back wall with an unassuming bookcase that sat in the middle of the wall. A window that overlooked the city and the sea separated the office from the smell of the salty ocean air. He lit a fresh incense stick and placed it within its tray. I leaned against the window ledge to let the warmth of the setting suns breathe down my back. Father Keter, asked the unavoidable question, “Do you know what the divine imparted with this new blessing?” I shrugged my shoulders, “It slipped my mind, and I neglected to ask Gorrax to check the new marking.” Keter rolled his eyes and waved his hand for me to come close to him. “You seem to already know it’s Sei’Enna.” He did not appreciate me not taking my blessed duties seriously. I knew what he wanted to check before he even raised his hand. Those who receive blessing usually have a marking to indicate the divine that gave a boon. Sometimes their simple runes or glyphs like with Brun. Other times they are intricate designs like for Gorrax. For myself my markings come in small thumb sized effigies that appear as tattoos going down my spine from the base of my skull. I knelt and pulled my hair off to the side. “So, who did I impress this time father? I’ve had a feeling it is Sei’Enna.” He patted my shoulder letting me know he was done examining my new mark. “What are the properties of your blessing and new abilities you have received? You are correct in that Sei’Enna has felt you met her standards.” He said to me as I moved to the chair opposite him at his desk. “Accelerated healing, enhanced durability. The lick of flames I no longer feel against my skin, and wounds seal and heal instantly pending on severity.” I spoke as I looked down and at my hands there was a slight tremble to them, an unease in my heart. “Father Keter?” I asked as my worries started to fester. My words halted as if it was the wrong question for a man such as him. I started to resign myself until he said “There are no fool questions in this place of peace and healing Karna, ask what plagues your mind, ease your heart and soul. Ask, I will answer the best I can.” He was so gentle and caring with his words, he spoke like the honest and loving soul he grew into over years of faith and worship. If there was ever a soul who could speak for the divines it would surely be him.

  “Father, what kind of monster do they wish to make of me?” My question had caught him off guard for a moment. “What battle is coming that requires a man like me to be blessed in these ways. U’gar took my heart and fashioned it into a living weapon, it is so strange to cut enemies down with the thing that feels love. Beh’lakor blessed me with nigh immortality, no matter the lethality of the blow I will always get back up, he keeps peaceful death away from me. J?r, saw fit to grant me the knowledge of combat and war to its most dangerous capacity. There is no fight I cannot win, no warrior that can best me. Now, Sei’Enna saw it fit for me to be harder to hurt physically and now I feel the caressing of the leilines within my form. They are forcing me to be something I do not want to be. Why? Why do they seek to change me? What plans and schemes do they need me for? Why is it my life that has to be dragged through the mud for their entertainment? Why do I feel like I am the one at the center of their games? Why do they hate me, Father Keter?” I’ve asked myself these questions almost every day, and every time it has put weight on my mind and pain in my heart. My tears are so heavy and hard to hold back, but I do. My eyes glistened with the sorrow and rage I carried. I never once in my life wanted these blessings, this duty. Ever since I was orphaned by that nightmare land, brought to a place with nothing and no one. The Hexa’Dio have invaded and altered my life, they laid claim to me in a way that I cannot fight against, argue against. They placed me in a situation that I ultimately hate yet am forced to tolerate. By now my head was in my hands, I let my mind and heart fill with such anger that I did not even notice Brun had entered the room with us, on edge and tense. A darkness was leaking out of me something unnatural, violent. It was only a little and at that moment I did not notice it either. Father Keter did and he was made Ecclesiarch for a good few reasons. This instance being one of them.

  Father Keter stood and approached me. He laid a hand on my shoulder and clutched me with enough force to garner my attention. He shined with this calming and pleasant white light, it radiated hope. He looked a few years younger in that moment and smiled with such love that I could not help but bury my pain. That bit of darkness was beaten back, and Brun seemed to have relaxed as well. “Karna.” He began to say, “I cannot tell you why the divine sought you for their machinations. What I do know is that if there was any soul on the whole of Edina that could carry that burden. It is you. Fate, destiny, karma, cosmic balance, no matter what you call it, is unavoidable by all of us. Not every soul gets what they want, I do not think any soul truly does, but what sets us apart from one another is when, how, and why we accept our lot in life. Not everyone is meant for greatness, and not everything is meant to be great. That is just how life goes, whether we like it or not. I truly am sorry that you have to carry the weight of a responsibility that belongs to a divine, but the Hexa’Dio sees in you what no one else can and what no one else will. There is a strength to you Karna, and that strength is your compassion and love. Your sense of duty, honor, and humility. You stand tall for those who cannot stand for themselves. I know with the entirety of my being that even if the divines never blessed you, the city would still hail you as the hero you are. You are a good man, who has a strong moral compass, a strong sense of justice and a love for this world that is matched by very few.”

  He let go of my shoulder and stood before me, “It has never been the blessings that make you, either of you, heroes. Especially in the eyes of the people whose lives you have saved, and a nation you have made better. It is the actions you take, the decisions you make, the words you say and how they are said.” That statement laid heavy on me and Brun, “The four of you are far from perfect, I am not either. The people and the Hexa’Dio love you because you are who you are. Because that is what you made yourselves to be. No divine can ever change that, all they can do is help along the way. I believe that is what they are doing for you.” He spoke with such confidence that for a moment I could collect myself and focus on what is at hand. “Thank you, Father Keter, as usual your words always seem to have an enriching power behind them.” I said smiling. “Empress Te’shiana stated you need my attention for a matter Father. What can me and my retinue do to aid you and the temple?” I asked him. He went back to the opposite side of his desk. There was a key he produced from around his neck, hidden under his shirt. A lock unclasped on a drawer and out he pulled a cloth covered item. The air in the room quickly became stale and chill, I found myself immediately on my feet, palm on pummel. Brun had taken a step forward skin having already turned to a metal she deemed most fitting for this unease we both felt. “It’s okay you two…” Father Keter said he waved his hand over the cloth covered item. “Father, I think it best if ye told us what that is and why it feels like we are standing in front of an Avatar.” Brun’s voice was cracking as she spoke, only once had I seen her ready to panic. This made it a second time, and she was not alone. “I concur Father, why does it feel like Daemeiture is here again. We killed him.” I said my tone was as professional as I could make it.

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  For a moment there was silence as Father Keter began to unravel the cloth. What had been revealed most certainly was unsettling. It was a heart, a black heart, kept in an enchanted glass sphere to keep it locked within. “Karna. A new development has occurred that I fear endangers the world.” Father Keter spoke as the black heart beat in the sphere. Please don’t say it, I repeated to myself in my mind. He said the words that no person on the whole of the world ever wanted to hear, and these words coming from him carried more weight than they would have coming from Viktor. “The Avatars are returning.” For a moment my heart sunk down to my stomach. I was poised to start asking questions, but Brun was not. “GET BACK!” She stomped forward not wanting to even look at this abomination anymore. Me and Father Keter knew what she was going to attempt and we both knew from long associations with her that words wouldn’t work. Me and him both shared a quick glance of “Well fuck.” then stepped back. Brun was pissed off, I knew this because her abilities were in fully display. She had the ability to convert her physical form into any alloy she has in-depth knowledge off. It’s called Tionndadh, the next was called Togail. She was also able to manifest from her form weapons of the same alloy. Add this on top of her supernatural strength and she could beat down most any defense, whether natural or arcane. She manifested a Maul of Mithril and slammed it on top of the heart aiming to smush it to paste. A part of me wanted to watch her succeed and end this threat before it could begin. It was to no avail. The mystic sphere was powerful, but the heart itself was adding to it. The instance there was contact a potent force knocked all of us back. The table was fine, but Father Keter let out a hearty humph as he fell on his back. I was forced back and off balance until I caught my footing. Brun suffered harshly. The maul was broken at the head and dug itself into the stone wall next to the bookshelf. She was on her back a hearty distance away from the heart, knocked right out of her Golem form. Her arm was bent in the opposite direction, and she was coughing up blood. Her organs must have taken a nasty hit from that shockwave. She was coughing up blood and something fierce. As I turned back to gauge Father Keter’s condition he was already on his feet dusting himself off. Damn tough for an old man, that resilience is respected.

  I stood over Brun, as she was gritting her teeth. “Don’ cha fuckin say it rosy.” She coughed up blood. “Not a fuckin word.” She groaned in pained right after. Even in this state she could manage to be a smart ass. Good thing I did not have to say it, “If you would have asked Brunhildie, I would have been able to inform you that physical attacks will not work.” Father Keter said as he approached her. He knelt next to her assessing the damage. “Hold still Brunhildie, I’ll have you back to normal soon enough.” Father Keter said, shaking his head. If I did not need her at peak condition, I would have asked the good man to leave her arm half broke as a reminder to think before acting. Especially at times with limited information. Alas even if I did Father Keter would have scolded me worse than my wife. I simply shook my head alongside him and waited for the healing to finish. She stood to her feet, windmilling the freshly healed arm and punched the air with force enough to feel the small draft. I was standing 3 meters away from her when she did. “Alright Father. Ye’ got our attention, why is a piece of Daemeiture here? And how?” She asked as she planted her hands on her hips. “Father Keter, we have many questions but first please.” I raised a hand gesturing to the relic. Now that I have had the chance to get a good look at the item, it wasn’t exactly a heart. It was shaped like one, and anatomically right, but it looked as if it was carved from Obsidian. “The power that relic exudes is bone chilling and dangerous, last thing we need is vagabonds or enemies' making the attempt to capture it for themselves. It clearly has the ability to influence an individual’s fight or flight response.” I noted referring not just to Brun but also myself. No sooner than letting that last word roll of my lips the door behind us slammed open being knocked right off its hinges. Me and Brun practically jumped out of our skins, but quickly settled as we seen Gorrax and Logan walking in. “FATHER!” Gorrax bellowed as he came stomping in panicked and worried. He must’ve felt the danger the relic emitted when it had been attacked by Brun. Logan was right behind him, elixir in hand. He too had a panicked looked too him, but not towards the relic. Logan scanned the room, seen Brun and rushed straight to her. “Brun, are you alright?” That young man was something else. Catastrophe grade relic in our presence and his love takes over. “I’m fine Logan, Father Keter fixed me up.” She responded looking away, she was blushing. Know I had my own questions for them two. Me and Gorrax knew that Logan had a romantic interest in Brun but not to this extent. The shocking part was seeing Brun, blushing like a school girl. Something more was happening between the two, that was clear. “Logan.” I said in my boss tone. “Yes, boss.” He looked at me with a bit of vexation, today is full of surprises. The other three were also taken back a bit by his tone, he seemed to have even shock himself. Not me though, that kind of pissed me off. I felt a vein in my forehead throb, but I dialed it down. He was worried about the woman he has grown affection for. I can’t be mad at that, but I can be mad at him not following orders. “I very much hope, Gus has your requisition request. Positive I told you we are on a time crunch and to get to the smith.” I took a couple steps forward and leaned in close to him. He was back to his normal self by the time I got in arms reach. He leaned back, sweat starting to drip down his brow. Now nervous, with me looming over him, he raised his hands and smiled, “I was passing by on my way to Gus when I heard the ruckus.” He tried to lie, I waved him short stepping back. “Don’t start that shit with me. You was on the other side of town and wouldn’t have heard that even in the dead of night.” I looked at him then Brun, she was looking at the ground. I turned my attention to Gorrax, he was avoiding eye contact with me. “You knew?” The large heavy plated Orc just looked at me and shrugged. My retinue has been keeping secrets from me, I don’t know how that made me feel. I looked at the three, eyes slowly shifting between the them. I just shook my head, “Later.” All three knew what I meant by that one word, and all three like kids in trouble responded, “Yes, sir.”

  Father Keter stood off to the side of the four of us, with a light smile and chuckles. Despite the past few moments, he always seemed to find the brighter side of things. “Every time the four of you are together, the group of you always act like a rabble of misfits.” He said. “Hey!” the four of us said in unison. “I wouldn’t change it for the world.” His kind heart and joyful tone made the group of us smile once more. “Well, my retinue is here in full Father. Shall we discuss this relic now?” I asked, my eyes falling back to the now cloth covered black heart of Daemeiture. “As we should.” he responded. “This relic is proof that the Avatars are set to return. You four are heading off to the ruins of Xaliade, and there’s a specific place along the way I wish for you to investigate.” He produced a small book and opened it to a bookmarked paged. Opening the drawer on his left hand side he produces an ink pot, a quill, and a single leaf of parchment. He wrote for us a Writ of Ordo, this would allow us access to the location he wanted us to investigate. “It is a small unassuming chapel of Solaria, but it holds a secret of Alysium.” He finished writing the Writ of Ordo and handed it off to me. “In the basement, there is a room of records and supplies. One of the walls was false, covering a passageway that leads to another chamber deeper underground.” he continued on. “Sometime ago when a serf was in the room, there was a beating coming from the chamber. When he investigated the sound, the wall collapsed. The serf, wisely, ran and collected the attention of the chapels paladin protectorate. The paladins sent in two, only one came back. The one who went missing is still unaccounted for and the one who did return hasn’t spoken a word since. He simply emerged from the passageway with this relic murmuring the same word over and over. Anathema.”

  Everyone looked at me, as I heaved a sigh. “Right. Is the paladin still there, at the chapel?” I asked. “Yes. We have kept him isolated and under watch since the Solaria priestess brought this relic to the Temple. She has since returned and should be beginning a healing treatment for the poor man on her return.” he continued on. “Who was it put as head of the chapel again?” Gorrax asked Father Keter pinching his chin. “Priestess Maikona of Pelicade. She is expecting aid from the city, and I requested your aid personally from the Empress. Who agrees that this requires a very fine touch. The temple request that you make way to the chapel, brief the attendants, investigate the chamber, and relay back any information that can further our understanding of what is happening.” He ended on. “Is there anything else we should expect Father? Has there been any additional reports about the chapel or the surrounding area?” Brun asked. “At first no, but with the sudden appearance of this relic, there are whispers among the halls of chapels that believe others may have this same passageway and chamber set up. They wait to here word of what to do and I won’t act until I hear what the four of you have to say on this matter.” He said, his age had caught back up to him as he humph sitting back in his chair. “We will get it done Father, but we won’t be back until after the Xaliade expedition.” I sated to him. “That is fine Karna. Thank you, all of you. Now, I have had you long enough, and it is almost time for the children to have dinner. Roasted chicken and collard greens. I wonder who wiggled that into this weeks menu?” he smiled and chuckled, knowing he wrote the meal plan for the orphans.

  The four of us walked down the temple steps, orphans waving us off and wishing us luck. We had a short walk to Gus, a lot to contemplate, and a very interesting conversation yet to be had. The sudden appearance of this relic and the expedition were almost to coincidental. A tome of latent power and knowledge, the aggression of the dragons, the mystery of the chapel and the appearance of the relic. It all felt off, there was something that connected all of these things together. It was a hunch, but it was a shared one between us. Yet my mind was distracted, it kept getting pulled off topic. There was something else that had gave me pause for concern, and this could be the most dangerous thing they would have to deal with. “So…” I burst out loud saying to my three companions, “…anything the two of you would like to share with me?” I said as I looked over my shoulder at the two love birds. Gorrax was doing his best to suppress a laugh, until I dragged him in too. “When did you plan on saying something, huh?” his laughter died down as fast as it came. I wasn’t upset that these two were an item, as a matter of fact I’m quiet glad they got around to it. What bothered me was the secretive nature of it, and that Gorrax was complicit in keeping it hidden. No, I wasn’t upset at that at all, what bothered me was Logans reaction to her being in danger. What bothered me was his unstable emotional state when she got hurt. He wasn’t even there, and he was ready to fight for her. Now I worry what happens if she gets severely injured in front of him. Worse still, what if she dies, love is a beautiful thing. Though sometimes, it can be a dangerous thing.