Exalted Champion: Ch 10 (rough draft) (Patreon)

Chapter 10: Vault

Our carriage rolled into the bank’s semicircular drive, my centaur's hooves clapping sharply against marble pavers so blindingly white I expected them to leave scorch marks. The high columns and bright marble of the imperial bank of Tagin glowed in the afternoon sun. I'd seen imperial banks before, but this was the central hub of wealth for the entire empire. Behind these walls, more gold flowed than blood in the arena.

The building's grandeur was clearly designed to inspire confidence, or perhaps intimidation, in those who entrusted their wealth to its vaults. As I stepped from the carriage, I offered my hand to Rachel, who accepted it with practiced grace. Her blue dress caught the sunlight, the fabric shimmering with subtle enchantments that marked her as nobility.

"The Imperial Bank of Tagin," she murmured, her eyes scanning the towering edifice. "Where the empire's wealth slumbers and multiplies."

I climbed the wide marble steps with Rachel beside me, feeling oddly exposed beneath the watchful gaze of the imperial guards who flanked the entrance. Their armor gleamed with perfect polish, faces impassive as statues. Wealth demanded protection, and the empire spared no expense guarding its treasure.The massive bronze doors swung open at our approach, revealing an interior that matched the exterior's opulence. The ceiling soared overhead, painted with scenes of imperial prosperity, farmers harvesting abundant crops, merchants counting coins, nobles investing in the grand ventures of picturesque sailing ships setting their course for the future and prosperity. All watched over by the benevolent figure of Emperor Amullius, his hands outstretched as if bestowing wealth upon his subjects.A slender man in imperial banking robes glided toward us, his steps silent on the polished floor. His face was a perfect mask of servile deference, eyes downcast until he reached an appropriate distance."Exalted Prince Grayson, Exalted Lady Albillac," he intoned, bowing deeply. "I am Attendant Varius. The Imperial Bank of Tagin welcomes you. How may we serve the imperial family today?""I wish to access my vault," I stated simply. "The one formerly belonging to Prince Leonard Palebreaker."Varius's expression remained neutral, though I caught the slight widening of his eyes—the only indication of surprise he allowed himself. "Of course, Exalted Prince. If you would follow me to the verification chamber, we can proceed with the necessary protocols."We had taken only three steps when a commanding voice echoed through the marble hall.

"Prince Grayson. What a fortuitous encounter."

I turned to see King Palebreaker striding toward us, his dark blue robes adorned with silver embroidery that caught the light with each powerful step. Despite his age, he moved with the confident grace of a predator, his broad shoulders and imposing height making even the grand bank feel somehow smaller. Two royal guards flanked him, keeping a respectable distance.

"Your Majesty," I said, inclining my head in the precise degree of respect owed to a king, neither too deep to suggest submission nor too shallow to give offense. "This is indeed unexpected."King Palebreaker's face betrayed nothing, his weathered features arranged in a pleasant mask as he stopped before us. His eyes, the same piercing blue that Leonard had possessed, assessed me with calculating precision."I find that fortune often favors those who prepare for its arrival," he replied, his voice carrying the measured cadence of practiced diplomacy. "I was attending to some financial matters, and I see my wish to speak to you has been answered by the guiding hand of fate.”

I was under no illusion that this was a coincidence. I exchanged a glance with Rachel, whose slight nod confirmed my instinct. "Of course, Your Majesty. Lead the way."Attendant Varius bowed deeply. "I shall prepare the verification chamber for your return, Exalted Prince."

King Palebreaker led us to an opulent meeting room, its walls lined with rich mahogany panels and enchanted tapestries that shimmered with privacy wards. A table of polished obsidian dominated the center, surrounded by high-backed chairs upholstered in imperial purple. His guards remained outside as we entered, the heavy door closing with a soft click that sealed us in complete privacy."Please, be seated," King Palebreaker said, taking his place across the table with practiced ease. "I appreciate your willingness to speak with me under the... unusual circumstances of our acquaintance."

I sat opposite him, Rachel taking the seat to my right. "The circumstances are unusual indeed, Your Majesty."

His weathered hands folded atop the table, rings glinting in the soft light. "I'll speak plainly, Prince Grayson. You've come to inspect my son's vault, as is your right by conquest and imperial law." His voice remained steady, diplomatic. "I wish to offer you a proposition regarding its contents. I cannot make any demand for items as that would be against imperial custom, and I would offer no offence to our glorious emperor, nor you in claiming the spoils of your victory. I instead offer this proposition, with no intended obligation, only a request. One you may freely deny."

"I'm listening, King Palebreaker, and have no issue with you making this offer," I replied, keeping my expression neutral. The king was being very formal and ensuring that there was no hint of even the slightest breach in imperial etiquette.

"Leonard accumulated many things during his time as prince—artifacts, documents, properties. Some may be of significant value to you. Others..." he paused, choosing his words carefully, "might be of particular interest to the Palebreaker family. Items of sentimental value or, perhaps, items that would be best kept within the family's discretion."

Rachel's posture shifted slightly beside me—a subtle tell that she was intrigued.

"You wish to purchase certain items from the vault," I stated, cutting to the heart of the matter.

King Palebreaker inclined his head. "Indeed. I am prepared to offer generous compensation for anything you might wish to sell, particularly items of a... sensitive nature."

I leaned back in my chair, considering his words.

"Indeed, my son was not always... judicious in his collection of certain items," King Palebreaker said, his diplomatic tone barely concealing what I suspected was genuine concern. "Some might prove embarrassing to both our houses if they became public knowledge."

I studied the king's face, looking for any sign of duplicity. His expression remained carefully controlled, but there was something in his eyes—not desperation, but a calculated wariness. He was a man accustomed to wielding power, now forced to negotiate.

"Your Majesty," I said, choosing my words with care, "I have no interest in using Leonard's possessions to embarrass the Palebreaker family. That would serve neither of us."

Relief flickered across his face, quickly masked. "I appreciate your noble discretion, Prince Grayson."

Rachel shifted beside me, her hand brushing mine beneath the table. A silent signal of approval.

"However," I continued, "I cannot agree to sell anything until I know what I possess. I need to inspect the vault first."

"Of course," King Palebreaker nodded. "I would expect nothing less from a man of your position. I merely wished to establish our mutual understanding before you made your discovery."

"What specifically are you concerned about?" I asked directly.

The king's fingers tapped once against the obsidian table before he stilled them. "My son had... eclectic tastes and questionable associates. There may be correspondence, magical artifacts, or other items that could be misinterpreted if viewed without proper context."

"Letters from his mother?" Rachel suggested softly.

King Palebreaker's gaze sharpened on her. "Among other things, yes. Family heirlooms as well."

I leaned forward. "I can assure you, Your Majesty, that any items of a personal or sensitive nature will be handled with appropriate discretion. And after I've catalogued everything, I would be open to discussing their return to your family—for fair compensation, of course."

"Generous terms," the king acknowledged. "There is also the matter of Leonard's estate in the noble district. A prince's residence that you now own by right of conquest."

I hadn't even considered the property yet. Of course, Leonard would have had a residence outside the college.

"I haven't had the opportunity to visit it yet," I admitted. "But once I have, I would be willing to discuss selling it back to the Palebreaker family, if that's what you wish."

The king's expression softened fractionally. "It would be appreciated. The estate has been in our family for generations, predating Leonard's appointment as prince."

"Then consider it a likely arrangement," I said. "Subject to inspection and fair market value, naturally."

"Naturally," King Palebreaker echoed, the ghost of a smile touching his lips. "You negotiate like a man born to nobility, Prince Grayson."

I inclined my head, accepting the compliment. "I've had excellent teachers in the exalted ladies, Ashley and Rachel. They are true credit to the nobility inherent within the Wintershore and Albillac lineage.”

King Palebreaker's eyes warmed slightly at my mention of my wives. "They are indeed remarkable women. I've had the pleasure of watching Lady Wintershore negotiate decor trade agreements that left seasoned merchants bewildered, and Lady Albillac's reputation as an enchanter precedes her."

"Then we understand each other," I said, rising from my seat. "I'll inspect the vault today and will send word regarding any items you might wish to purchase."

The king stood, his imposing height forcing me to look up slightly to meet his gaze. "I appreciate your consideration, Prince Grayson. The empire benefits when its nobility can resolve matters with civility."

"Indeed, Your Majesty." I bowed with precise formality. "May your investments prosper."

Rachel curtseyed beside me. The movement was elegant and practiced. "Your Majesty honors us with his wisdom."

King Palebreaker inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Until we meet again, Prince Grayson, Lady Albillac."

We exited the private meeting room, leaving the king to whatever business had "coincidentally" brought him to the bank today. Rachel's fingers brushed against mine as we walked, a silent communication of shared wariness.

Attendant Varius materialized before us as if summoned by our return, his posture a perfect demonstration of servile efficiency. "Exalted Prince, Exalted Lady. The verification chamber is prepared. If you would follow me."

I followed Varius through a narrow hallway behind an unassuming door, Rachel keeping pace beside me. The attendant moved with practiced efficiency, his robes whispering against the polished stone as we descended a spiraling staircase. The temperature dropped noticeably with each step, the air taking on the sterile chill that only true wealth could afford.

"The imperial vaults are the most secure in all Forduna," Varius explained, his voice barely above a whisper despite the privacy wards that shimmered along the walls. "Ten levels of protection separate the common world from the treasures of our noble patrons."

At the bottom of the staircase, we passed through an ornate iron gate where two guards stood at attention, their armor bearing the imperial bank sigil, an eagle clutching a coin and scales in the other talon. They examined our faces without speaking, then stepped aside in perfect unison.

"This way, Exalted Prince," Varius gestured toward an elevator enclosed in gilded bronze latticework. The craftsmanship was exquisite, tiny eagles and lions chasing each other through an eternal forest of metal vines.

Rachel squeezed my arm as we stepped inside. "Impressive security," she murmured. "I've never been this deep in the bank before."

Varius pulled a crystalline key from his robes and inserted it into a slot. "Few have, Exalted Lady. The deepest vaults are reserved for the imperial family and those of royal rank."

The elevator descended smoothly, each floor marked by a subtle chime. I counted ten before the cage slowed to a stop. When the doors opened, I couldn't help but tense at the display of force that greeted us.

Six imperial guards stood in perfect formation, their armor not the ceremonial kind worn above but battle-ready steel enchanted with protective sigils. Behind them, a mage in purple robes maintained a shimmering barrier that rippled with power.

"Standard security protocol, Exalted Prince," Varius assured me, noting my reaction. "The vault attendants take no chances with imperial treasures."

We stepped into a circular chamber dominated by a massive door of what appeared to be solid steel or some other kind of metal. The ceiling curved overhead, inscribed with arcane symbols that pulsed with subtle light.

"Your verification, if you please," Varius said, indicating a waist-high pillar of black marble veined with gold.

I approached it cautiously. "What exactly does this do?"

"It confirms your identity and right of access," Varius explained. "The magic recognizes you as the rightful owner of your vault through imperial decree and the paperwork you filled out, along with your blood signature. It's quite painless."

Rachel moved closer, her eyes scanning the runes carved into the pillar's base. "Impressive work. Third-era formulation with modern enhancements."

I placed my palm against the cool surface of the pillar. Immediately, warmth spread through my hand, followed by a tingling sensation that traveled up my arm. The pillar glowed briefly, and I felt something, not quite pain but a numb tingling that washed through my whole body.

The pillar flickered with a final pulse of light, then faded back to its dormant state. Varius bowed deeply. "You are confirmed, Exalted Prince. This is as far as I may accompany you." He gestured toward a long hallway stretching before us. "Your vault is number twenty-four. You'll find a similar verification pillar outside its door. The process is identical. I shall wait for your return."

"Thank you, Varius," I said, feeling the weight of his words. Even bank attendants weren't permitted to witness what nobles kept in their private vaults.

The massive metal door before us swung open silently despite its obvious weight, revealing the vault hall beyond. The guards moved to flank Rachel and me as we stepped through the threshold.

"We will wait here for your return, Exalted Prince," one guard said, his voice muffled behind his helmet. "Take as much time as you require."

Rachel's hand found mine as we proceeded down the austere hallway. The ceiling glowed with unseen enchantments, casting even, shadowless light across the polished floor. The walls were lined with numbered doors, each one identical – massive slabs of metal with no visible handles or locks, only verification pillars standing sentinel before them.

"These vaults have held the secrets of emperors and kings for centuries," Rachel whispered, her voice filled with academic fascination. "Imagine what's hidden behind these doors."

"Probably a lot of blackmail material," I muttered, scanning the numbers as we passed. Twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two...

"And priceless artifacts," Rachel added. "Ancient weapons, forbidden texts, items too dangerous or valuable to keep anywhere else."

We stopped before vault twenty-four. It looked no different from the others – an imposing metal door with no markings except the number etched into its surface. The verification pillar waited, its black marble surface gleaming in the enchanted light.

"Here we go," I said, placing my palm against the cool stone once more.

The same warmth spread through my hand, followed by the tingling sensation. The pillar glowed, brighter this time, and I felt the magic wash over me like a wave, probing deeper than before. Then, with a heavy sound of metal sliding against metal, the vault door began to open.

"Ready?" I asked Rachel, who stood wide-eyed beside me.

"As I'll ever be," she replied, her voice tight with anticipation.

The door swung fully open, revealing a chamber roughly the size of our bedroom at the House of Stars. Unlike the stark hallway, the vault's interior was dimly lit, shadows gathering in the corners. As we stepped inside, enchanted lamps flickered to life, illuminating the contents of Prince Leonard's most private sanctuary.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting to find in Leonard’s vault, now my vault. Something grotesque and disorganized. Instead, what I found was an arrangement of items and coins, and objects that almost made sense. Almost.

The vault was dark, but when we stepped inside, the same unseen illumination rose around us. The room became clear, and no shadow was cast by the light that seemed to come from every angle.

“Not what I was expecting…” I said, trailing off as we took a few steps into the room.

“No, no, me either.” Rachel said in a low voice, “Scan the room, let's make sure there are no traps or anything.” She had a note of caution in her voice as she placed her enchanted armor helmet on her head, the metal unfolding around her head. She scanned the room, the dark enchanted glass of her helmet hiding her blue eyes.

I stretched out with my mana senses, trying to feel anything. Any danger, any weave of magic that might intend harm. We both felt it then and froze as the clunk of the bolts from the metal door securing behind us echoed through the room.

“Abyssal energy…” I said, “not hostel, not like the guardian in the temple in the dungeon, not alive but here…” I scanned the items.

The shelves and floor were covered in gold coins and bars of precious metals. Weapons, each enchanted, lay haphazardly on the floor and leaned against the shelves.

A half dozen suits of armor rested on stands, and shields lay next to their counterparts of death.

I pointed, “There on the far table.”

“See it, yeah, that’s abyssal energy, alright. What in the holy name of Alleystra was he doing with that?” Rachel's question came out metallic as she took off the helmet and stored it.

“Careful,” I said, drawing my sword as we approached the table at the far end of the vault.

In the center of the table was a grotesque statue of Ack, the head god of the empire. It almost seemed to throb in the light, red and black veins running through the effigy. He stood erect, chains wrapping around his legs to manacles on his outstretched hands. His cock was full and reached up to his chin, but it was wrong and exaggerated, his face twisted in torment. Alleystra and Sippsie, whom I had always seen accompany every depiction of the head god of the empire, were absent.

In front of the statue was a tome. A book of red and black. Everything reeked of the abyss, though, if you were unfamiliar with the energy of that foul thing, you might not know.

Under the foul altar on either side were coins in small chests, of every denomination, copper, silver, gold, platinum, and mithril.

I knelt and picked up a coin up examining it. Faint lines ran through the coin unseen. “These coins, they have the abyssal tant running through them….” I said, dropping the foul coinage back into its chest.

“The energy seems to be just focused here, in these items…” Rachel started to say before stopping, she had picked up a stack of correspondence from a shelf near the table. “His mother, letters… but these, these are wrong…” Her face had a twisted look of horror as she scanned over the documents.

“This… Is this what the Palebreaker wanted to buy? To keep secret?” I asked as Rachel came to stand next to me.

“I think, oh by the goddess this is, this is the book of Ack, the holy Testament Obedientia.”  Rachel said with a look of wonder on her face.

“Um… okay, what’s the deal?” I said not sure why she was so awe struck by a book.

“This book is only allowed to be read by those who have become The Voice of Devotion for the temple of Ack. I don’t think I’m even supposed to be looking at it…” there was a note of fear in her voice. It was evident that she was currently doing something very taboo by the current religious order of the empire. Seeing as her mother was a high priestess this had to be hitting close to home.

“Not to be rude or anything… but why the fuck is the most holy book for the head god of the temple of Ack full of abyssal energy…” I said with an amused chuckle.

“That I don’t know… but it is more than a little concerning… and the statue is definitely not a standard depiction of Ack.” Her tone grew more confused a worried the more she spoke, “If this, the coins…”

Just then she was cut off by the tickle and ringing of a coin falling. “Oh, what the fuck.” A sliver coin had forced itself from the tip of the erect cock of Ack from the statue and fallen on the altar cloth. The coin was silver and had microscopic veins of abyssal veins in it.

“That, that can’t be good…” I said with a shudder.

“No, No that cant be good. What… why would the book be abyssal? The coins? I’m scared to say it Eric, but this, this seems like cult activity… How would Leonard be involved in this I don’t know… he was a pompous dumbass.” Rachels trepidation and worry only grew.

“We need to take everything from the vault, I don’t want to leave anything here that could have been corrupted.” I said.

Rachel shook her head then said, “Yeah, best not to leave this here. no one will interact with it but I don’t like seeing this much abyssal energy out of the dungeon and the void rift incursions… Eric, this means there are abyssal agents in the empire and from the looks of it they are well established.”

“Yeah, and with Leonard being in the know about this, it can only mean one of two things. He was the first and only one who has been corrupted and working with the abyss, or this is far more widespread.” As I said the words, I got that dropping feeling in my stomach like the floor had just fallen out from underneath me. “We're taking everything, we need to pack all this up and go.” I decided, “the gold, the weapons, correspondence, all of it. If there is someone else who knows about this, they’ll be watching who goes into his vault and we need to examen this somewhere private… high level religious material… I don’t like this.”

Rachel nodded, already pulling storage containers from her dimensional pouch. "The sooner we're out of here, the better. This vault feels contaminated."

As we began carefully packing the least dangerous items first, I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets the imperial nobility might be hiding. And more importantly, how many of them involved the abyss that was already threatening to consume Legion's dungeon.

We worked quickly, transferring weapons, armor, gold bars, and the unsettling coins into my spatial ring. The weight of it all pressed against my consciousness, not just physically but spiritually. It was a dark, oily sensation sliding through my awareness, but could find no purchase on my mind or soul from inside the spatial ring.

"That's the last of it," Rachel said, standing up and brushing dust from her dress. The worried scholar vanishing behind a mask of aristocratic contentment. "Remember, happy faces. We just had a delightful time exploring your new vault and all the wealth within."

"Happy faces," I agreed, offering her my arm. "Just a normal day at the bank."

"Precisely. We found some family heirlooms and a bit of gold. Nothing unusual." She patted my arm, her grip tightening briefly. "We'll discuss the rest when we're somewhere secure."

The vault door swung open at our approach, sealing itself behind us with a final, ominous thud. We walked the length of the hallway, our footsteps echoing against the polished floors.The guards stood at attention as we approached the main vault door, their expressions revealing nothing as they escorted us back to the elevator. Varius waited beside it, his perfect posture unchanged, as if he hadn't moved a muscle during our absence."I trust you found everything in order, Exalted Prince?" he inquired as the elevator doors opened."Quite satisfactory," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt.

Rachel laughed lightly, the sound so convincingly carefree that I almost believed her myself. "And the most amusing collection of ceremonial daggers. My husband will be adding them to his display at the House of Stars."

The elevator ascended smoothly, each floor marked by the same soft chimes that had accompanied our descent. Varius stood with his hands folded, maintaining a respectful distance.

"The bank is honored to serve the imperial family and those of the royal families," he said as we neared the upper levels. "Should you require access to your vault again, we are at your disposal day or night.""You're very kind," Rachel replied, her smile never faltering. "The Imperial Bank's reputation for discretion is well-deserved."The elevator chimed as we reached the main floor. Varius stepped forward to open the latticed doors, bowing deeply as we exited. The cold marble of the bank lobby felt suddenly oppressive, its grandeur tainted by what we now knew might lurk beneath the empire's glittering surface."Will there be anything else you require today, exalted…” Varius’s voice froze, and he fell to his knees in a kowtow, pressing his head to the floor.

Rachel did the same not a half second later, falling limply to her knees in supplication. I stared a head a little dumb founded at the man in white and red robes who stood in the center of the bank lobby.

Six guards in dark blood red armor flanked the man, white robes striped with panels of bright blood red. The red ran down his arms and along the breast of his robe, and splayed between the leg panels of his robe. The sash around his waist was tied in a knot, the tails of the sash dripping almost to the floor. His beard was cut clean and his hair was black and cut with military precision. His arms were crossed, and his gaze fell on me as the falling of a thousand silent voices.

All in the bank lobby were kowtowing, no one breathed, spoke or dare disturb the man in any way. Fuck should I kneel?

Just as I had the thought the man spoke, “Exalted Prince Eric Grayson, it is good that a prince of our eternal empire dose not kneel as the other chaff before a Lord of the Pillars of Ack’s right, a prince should but kneel to a king of our holy realm and the most high guiding light of our empire, his eternal majesty the Emperor Tagin, for all should know their place of supplication beneath you.” he bowed at the waist slightly.

What in the fuck were you supposed to say to that… awe geez man thanks. Who the hell is this guy. He’s talking about Ack, the holy book. I’m guessing Leonard was not the only one inContact with the abyss…fuck…

I responded the best I could with what limited information I had, “Lord of the Pillars of Ack,” I said with a slight incline of my head.

“Come we should speak in private regarding matters that are not fit for the lowly ears of women or the savage races that pollute this world.” The man said, making his position on the morals of this fucking madness very clear. He was a fanatic, through and through.

He indicated a side room with his hand the same one King Palebreaker had spoken to us in. The red guard moved so fast they were in one place, then the next faster than I could blink. Two standing outside the door and one standing in each corner of the room as we entered.

He motioned to the table and chairs and I noted that the guards faced the wall, their backs turned toward us. Just as soon as we had taken our seats a blood red energy spilled from the guards, each anchoring a portion of the spell that ran along the walls, ceiling and floor. In a moment me and this priest of Ack were sealed away from the world. The blood red energy creating a privacy barrier of some kind.

“Do not be alarmed my Prince, holy chosen of Ack to rise, the barrier intends that non but use shall her the truths spoken here between the chosen blood of Ack.” The priest said.

“Good, may I know your name or shall I continue to call you by your holy title?” I asked.

“My prince, this servant of the holy bloods name is, Exalted Lord Octavian Korvax,” his answer was formal and respectful. No, not just respectful but tinged with a tone of reverence for myself.

“Very well, Exalted Octavian, what does the most high temple wish of me.” I stated. This was a moment of supplication because if I did anything else I would start a war. One based on how the guards moved would be as devastating as a abyssal incursion.

"You have been inside your vault today, the late prince’s," he said, not a question but a statement. "Tell me, Prince Grayson, what did you find among the late Prince Palebreaker's possessions?"

I leaned back in my chair, projecting calm confidence I didn't feel. "The usual collection of a young noble. Weapons, gold, some correspondence. Nothing particularly remarkable."

His lips curved into what might have been a smile on another man's face. On his, it looked like the promise of pain. "Ah, but I think you found something more, it is good you use discretion. But the items and the holy Testament Obedientia is an ancient text, not meant for the eyes of any but the most devoted servants of Ack. By Ack’s guiding blood you have been chosen by him to inherit all that Leonard had.” he paused, focusing on me with an intensity, “That includes his induction into the order Obedientia.”

My blood ran cold at his words. An induction into some religious order? And one that apparently involved abyssal corruption, if the contents of Leonard's vault were any indication. I kept my expression neutral, though every instinct screamed at me to reach for my sword.

"I'm afraid I don't understand," I said carefully. "What is the Order Obedientia?"

Exalted Lord Octavian's eyes gleamed with fervor. "The true servants of Ack, my Prince. Those who understand that the empire's strength comes not from weakness and mercy, but from the divine right of the chosen to rule over the lesser races. Leonard was... initiated into our sacred brotherhood shortly before his unfortunate demise."

I felt the weight of the corrupted items in my spatial ring like a physical burden. The abyssal energy seemed to pulse against my consciousness, though thankfully it couldn't penetrate the dimensional barrier.

"And you believe I should take his place in this order?" I asked, buying time to think.

"Not believe, my Prince. Know." His voice carried absolute certainty. "Ack himself guided your blade in the arena. You were chosen to inherit not just Leonard's title, but his sacred duties."

The guards remained motionless, their backs turned, the blood-red energy barrier humming with power around us. I was trapped in this room with a religious fanatic who apparently commanded forces that could move faster than sight. One wrong word could mean my death, or worse, exposure of what Rachel and I had discovered.

"Tell me more about these sacred duties," I said, leaning forward with feigned interest. "I would not wish to dishonor Ack through ignorance."

Octavian's smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed too white, too perfect. "Wisdom, my Prince. The order serves as Ack's instrument of divine will. We ensure that the empire remains pure, that the lesser races know their place, that the blood of the chosen flows strong."

Every word made my skin crawl, but I nodded as if considering his proposal. "And the Testament Obedientia? What does it contain?"

"The true words of Ack, unfiltered by the weak interpretations of the common temples. The divine mandate that grants the chosen the right to rule through strength." His eyes burned with fanatic devotion. "It contains rituals of purification, methods to strengthen the blood of the chosen, ways to bind the lesser races more completely to our will."

I thought of the corrupted statue, the abyssal energy seeping through everything in that vault. Whatever these rituals were, they had nothing to do with any god of the empire, it was the abyss. clear as day, and I now knew that it had gotten its foul tendrils into the temple of ack. not surprising with how little time there was left, of course the corruption had spread into the empire and not just stayed cloistered away in the dungeon.

"This is... a great honor," I said slowly, there was no getting out of this, “What is required of me to join, and affirm my loyalty to Ack?”

Octavian's face lit with an expression of religious ecstasy, his eyes widening as he leaned toward me across the table.

"My Prince, you misunderstand! There is nothing for you to do at this moment. You are already a member of the Order Obedientia by divine right of conquest. When your blade severed Leonard's head from his shoulders, Ack himself guided your hand, marking you as his chosen vessel."

His fingers twitched with barely contained fervor as he spoke, each word dripping with fanatical certainty. The blood-red barrier pulsed around us, seeming to throb in time with his excitement.

"The sacred blood spilled in the arena has already consecrated your induction. I come merely as a messenger of Ack's divine will, to inform you of your sacred position and ensure you understand your duty. That all you must do now is read the Testament Obedientia. The holy text will illuminate your path forward."

He reached inside his robe and produced a small medallion bearing Ack's symbol, but twisted somehow, the lines curved unnaturally.

"The Order will permit you to keep all you found in the vault. The weapons, the gold, the knowledge—all of it is rightfully yours as Ack's newly chosen." He placed the medallion on the table between us. "Once you have read the book, you will know what must be done. The words will speak directly to your soul, and Ack's purpose will become clear. The lesser races must be brought to heel. The beasts must know their place. The women must serve in silence. The chosen must rule with pure blood and strong iron and to not be tainted by the shared deeper levels of the dungeon with the rest of Forduna’s lowly races. These are Ack's true commandments, not the weakened platitudes preached in common temples."

Every word he spoke confirmed my suspicions. This wasn't religion—it was fanaticism fueled by abyssal corruption, wrapped in the veneer of imperial tradition. I kept my face carefully neutral as I picked up the medallion. It felt cold against my skin, unnaturally heavy for its size. The twisted symbol seemed to writhe under my gaze, though I knew it was just a trick of the light.

"I am honored by Ack's favor," I said, slipping the medallion into my pocket. "And by your guidance, Exalted Lord Octavian."

"The honor is mine, to witness the rise of Ack's newest champion." His reverence was palpable, disturbing in its intensity. "The commandments within the Testament are Ack's purest words, passed down to use through his holiness the High Pontiff of the Eternal Periste, through his communion through the divine mirror of Ack’s veil… I get a head of myself; you must read first before knowing the deeper truths of the will of Ack. The holy text must be protected from corruption by the weak-minded masses who cannot comprehend the divine right of conquest entrusted and imparted unto use the faithful of the holy blood."I nodded solemnly. "I will study the text with the dedication it deserves."

"Excellent." Octavian stood, and the blood barrier shimmered. "The Order watches for those who truly understand Ack's commandments. The purification of the lesser races, the domination of the weak, the ascendance of the chosen through blood and power—these are the truths that the common temples dilute with their talk of mercy and restraint."

His disgust at the mention of mercy was evident, his lips curling as if he'd tasted something foul. "They preach false commandments, corrupted by centuries of weak men. But you, Prince Grayson, you have proven yourself worthy of the true teachings."

I kept my expression neutral, despite the storm of emotions churning inside me. This man represented everything I despised, fanaticism, bigotry, corruption, yet he looked at me with the reverence of a true believer who thought he'd found a kindred spirit.

"The Temple of Ack stands ready to assist you in any way, Prince Grayson," Octavian said, his voice dropping to a reverent hush. "Our resources, our knowledge, our warriors—all are at your disposal as Ack's chosen. The Order Obedientia recognizes your divine right and stands ready to serve one who understands the true path to power."

His words made my skin crawl, but I maintained my mask of interested contemplation. "I appreciate your support, Exalted Lord Octavian. It will be... valuable in the days ahead."

Octavian bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching the table. "With your permission, Prince Grayson, May I take my leave? I have duties to attend to at the temple. There are preparations to be made for your formal recognition among the higher echelons of the Order, but I wished to make contact with you personally before you delved too deeply into the Testament without proper guidance."

"Yes, you may go," I commanded, trying not to sound too eager to be rid of him. "I have much to consider."

The moment I granted permission, the blood-red energy surrounding us dissipated like mist under a hot sun. The guards moved in perfect synchronization, returning to Octavian's side as if they'd never been statues in the corners of the room.

We left the private chamber together, stepping back into the bank's main hall where Rachel still knelt, head bowed. I fought to keep my face impassive as I saw her there, head bowed in forced submission. The sight of her, brilliant, powerful forced to kowtow to this fanatic made my blood boil. Around her, the bank's patrons and staff remained frozen in their postures of supplication.

"Rise," Octavian commanded, his voice carrying across the marble expanse.

As one, every person in the hall stood, their movements fluid and practiced. Rachel rose gracefully, her eyes finding mine with a question I couldn't answer yet.

"Prince Grayson, until we meet again," Octavian said, bowing at the waist to me and showing all in attendance just how important I was to the temple of Ack and the level of submission they should show. "May Ack's blood strengthen your resolve."

Octavian swept from the bank, his red-armored guards moving with that unnatural speed. One moment they flanked him, the next they were at the doors, holding them open for their master.

I offered my arm to Rachel, who took it with a perfect mask of aristocratic composure. Her fingers dug into my forearm, the only sign of her tension.

"Our carriage awaits, Exalted Prince husband," she said, her voice steady despite the tremor I could feel through her grip.

We walked in silence through the marble lobby, every eye in the place following our progress. The bank attendants bowed as we passed, deeper than before, as if our brief association with Octavian had elevated us further in the hierarchy of fear.

Outside, our carriage waited, the centaur driver standing at attention. I let Rachel enter first, then said, “House of stars,” before climbing in and closing the door firmly behind us.

The carriage began moving, heading to the House of Stars.