Kael headed for the Temple of Night.Nothing had changed: bottomless gloom, a lone skeleton drilling forms in one corner, and High-Priestess Serith waiting with that unfathomable smile.
"Welcome, brother in shadow! I hear you reduced the Church's cathedral to rubble—worthy of the Night-born!"Kael blinked. "Rubble? I merely delivered a corpse and left.""Such modesty. The faithful swear the followers of Light wet themselves at your advance. Truly the Lady's honor soars."He chose not to argue; rumors always bloated to match believers' wishes.
"I need a prayer cell.""Left-hand corridor, last door."
He walked, opened it—"–?""–?"
A witch mid-invocation froze. Kael scratched his helm. "Wrong door." He shut it to frantic shrieking, moved on, and knelt in an empty room, helm at his side.
"I have returned."
Unlit candles exhaled smoke that wove into alabaster feet and a cascade of midnight hair.[You reek of Light,] the Goddess of Night murmured, ice in every syllable. [Explain.]
He recounted transporting Maria's body and the whisper beneath the silver halo.[Light dares stain my child? You will not betray me?]"Never."Satisfied, she asked for his offering. Kael extended a gauntlet; souls flowed like sand.
[Impressive for so brief a span, yet still shy of a rank.]"I'll work harder."[Do not burn yourself out.] She conjured three glyphs:
〈Increase Might〉〈Improve Armor〉〈Deepen Soul〉
Kael weighed them. Raw force tempted him, but the last fight proved his shell fragile against holy water. He chose armor.
Mist pooled over the black plate, darkening steel to starless depth.[Umbral Draw strengthens as well—you may harvest essence more fully.]
He checked the new slate:
Kael — Rank 2 Dread SentinelMight 45 Defense 25 Magic 15 Spirit 15
Traits: Half-Living, Unhallowed Sense, Boon of DuskSkill: Umbral DrawTitle: First Dread Sentinel to stride into the Church's nave
The Goddess stroked his helm. [More souls will reveal clearer memories; use caution.]"I will."
He rose. Serith greeted him outside."Finished already? Perhaps we might discuss the Lady's splendor over tea.""No time.""Then another day?""I'm always busy."She tilted her head—emptied eyes wrapped in silk—and he retreated before the elf could press further. Rule One: never linger when an elf smiles that way.
The guild had already parted the fallen mercenaries' gear among their families; a tithe of the sale weighed Kael's purse. Leon bounced beside the wagon.
"Got a fair price for the stolen kit! Demand's high—every gutter brat wants steel."Kael passed him several silver coins."But I already took commission.""That's tuition. Reading lessons start tomorrow.""Y-yes, Teacher!"
Leon marked a map to a boarding-house said to accept anyone with coin. Even so, Kael still managed to lose his way; moonlight crowned the sign of a drunken mule before he arrived.
Bottles shattered inside. Fists and profanity filled the air. By the door a weary barmaid hugged her knees.
"I'd rather die than serve another night," she groaned.Kael's shadow fell over her; she looked up, saw a blood-drenched Dread Sentinel, and didn't even blink."Why the hell is my life like this?"