Peil stood up and brushed off some dust before he motioned Kaden to follow him.

It seemed very few people cared about Peil the slightest bit as they walked into the temple. Kaden carefully made sure his appearance stayed hidden since some people gave a few quick looks towards him.

Kaden assumed it was somewhat strange Peil was actually doing something. It seemed he had not progressed much with his cultivation since Dashire’s end.

Peil took Kaden towards back of the temple where priests had their own residences. Instead going through to the place where things seemed to be in better condition, Peil led him to some side path instead. The area was dusty and less used. It seemed Peil had relatively low status. This did not surprise Kaden at all.

Eventually Peil opened a small door that led to a similarly small room. It was basically just a bed with very little room to spare for anything else. That small remaining area was mostly used by a small table that had a small effigy of Emmiah on it.

Kaden closed the door and made sure it was shut. Before Peil could say anything Kaden spent some moments to construct a formation that blocked any sound getting out of it. Kaden did not wish for anything he was going to say to leak out to anyone who passed by.

“Thats a … formation?” Peil asked as he watched Kaden construct the formation. Such ability was rare and surely no one in Dashire had been able to make them.

“Of course”, Kaden answered. “It will block any sounds coming from here be heard. So… Peil. How is it that you are alive and everyone else is dead?”

Peil went completely quiet again. His legs seemed to go weak and he sat down on his bed.

“They… the beasts”, Peil started explaining. His voice was wavering. “I watched as a child was torn apart in front of me. I watched old people throw themselves in front of the children that they would live instead. It didn’t matter. I was the only one able to fight. I could not stop it. Even if I killed one, another would come. I tried to have everyone run instead. I could not even keep healing all of them. One by one...” Peil silenced for a moment. “Eventually I was only one alive. I … ran.”

Peil started crying.

Kaden frowned. “It looks like I have to have the beasts around Dashire massacred throughoutly”, he though.

In fact, Kaden did not blame Peil for anything. He might be a fool who serves gods, but so are most people. Peil did the right choice at the end and ran. Survival is what matters. People of Dashire had been doomed the moment they left. Their deaths had been almost certain. Had they stayed, the beasts would have come eat them anyway.

“I prayed to gods, but received no help”, Peil started to talk again. “I pray every day for forgiveness, but I receive no answer. They all died and I could do nothing about it.”

“You fool”, Kaden said somewhat angrily. “Your prayers are meaningless. Gods are liars! Deveivers! People dedicate their lives to them and what do they get? Some crumbles of whatever influence falls off from their high tables from heaven for us mortals to pick up. Worthless! Complete waste of time!”

Peil looked a bit shocked as he listened Kaden talk. His words were blasphemy.

“What do you look so surprised about?” Kaden continued. “I understand you are a priest and you have been indoctrinated probably right after you stopped sucking your moms tits. I curse gods. You should too. They don’t care. They dont ever care. Do you not see their followers? Degenerates! Remember that Juren? That monk that was with him? If gods have such people following them and are just fine, do you think they care about you or anyone at all?”

Peil was still dumbfounded.

“Gods lie”, Kaden stepped closer to Peil. “They aren’t worth of your time. Cultivate with their help, if you want. Use them. Take from them. Do not give them anything back that you don’t have to. Yet, you spend your time here moping around and begging some kind of forgiveness? Get your shit together and do what benefits you the most. I want vengeance and I work towards it relentlessly. What is it that you want? Go take it, if you can.”

Peil looked like he wanted to say something, but could not. His mouth opened and then closed a few times. Then his head drooped down.

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“Does it shock you?” Kaden continued and smiled. “This room is still in the temple, yes? Watch.”

“I curse you gods! All of you! You are a stain on this world!” Kaden shouted. The formation obviously blocked anything from being heard outside, but surely a god would be able to hear him very well, if they cared?

Kaden raised his hand a bit and pointed upwards. Nothing happened.

“No lightning to strike me down”, Kaden continued. “No curse upon me. Nothing at all. So why care?”

Finally Peil decided to say something.

“You… aren’t you already cursed?” Peil said while pointing to his hands and face. At that close distance and without Kaden trying to hide anything, his appearance was well visible.

“This?” Kaden took off his hood and showed his face and talons to Peil. “This is not from a god. It is blessing from a being that should never have shown any kindness to me and yet did when no one else would. I have received power and potential to strike down those that have wronged me.”

“I … see”, Peil said. “Thats why you are here then? You said vengeance? Are you here to kill me?”

“You? No”, Kaden continued. “I was originally just going to ask you some questions, but it disgust me that you still serve gods. You have been wronged too. You should go after all those that wronged you. Kill them! Destroy them! Make them suffer. Thats what I’m going to do and I think you can help me.”

“Me? How?” Peil questioned Kaden. “I know nothing. I… I guess its just like you said. I have wasted my time here.”

“Can you tell me something about the military here in Celadon?” Kaden asked. Peil lived in Celadon. He was a priest and could probably go anywhere. “It was the military and people behind them who started it all. After them comes the saints turn.”

“I know nothing about them”, Peil shook his head.

“Lets start talking about things you might know then”, Kaden decided to ask other matters. “The monk that was in Dashire. Do you know his name? Where he is and what he does?”

“Ah… him. His name is Marwen”, Peil decided to reveal Kaden without pausing to think if it was ok. “He and those in his order work for the higher church priesthood. They do matters that those in the higher ranks don’t have time to concern themselves with.”

“Church attack dogs then?” Kaden nodded.

“Yes, I do not know anything else about him”, Peil said. “I only know his name by passing chance due to being involved with him.”

“Its already fine”, Kaden told Peil. He could always ask saint military about such church minions. They should know something. “Also, since you live in Celadon, do you know anything about someone named Serin who supposedly lived in mayors manor. I looked at the place and it seems abandoned. Serin must die. He got his hands on my mother before she died.”

Peil paled.

“That … thats not good”, Peil finally said. “People who are taken by him… their end is not mercifull. You should reconsider. He is dangerous. No one messes with him.”

“No, I’m here and I can roughly guess his strength”, Kaden assured Peil. “So… you do know about him. Where is he?”

“That manor... it only looks empty”, Peil explained. “He is there all right… . Some of us priests were asked to go there a while ago. I did not go there, but I heard the priests who did came back refusing to go back there again. They were supposed to purify something, but they refused to do so. They said the entire place is a blasphemy and affront to gods. Chruch did not demand them to go back there since it was merely a military request.”

So according to Peil, Serin did live in there and only looked like it was abandoned.

“No one goes there”, Peil continued. “Sometimes a… servant comes out with that man’s demands. Food and other things he wants. Once these are delivered, the servant comes to collect them. In fact, that man arranged criminals to be sent in too. This is not only includes criminals, but also those who are discontent with current arrangements. The mayor was the first one to oppose… we don’t really know where he ended up. Apparently around the time Dashire was raided, some resources were taken from Celadon too. Not everyone agreed with that.” Peil waited for a moment. “But yes… it apparently works. Crimes are rare in Celadon right now. No one wants to be sent to the manor. People go in, but people don’t come back.”

“I see”, Kaden said with some nods. “No matter what, he is there and must die. Its not the first time I run into dangerous people or even degenerates.”

“If you do succeed, no one will miss him, I assure you”, Peil said. “If you don’t … uh. I guess I do nothing. I assume you don’t want me to pray for your soul?”

Kaden sneered. “I’m guessing my soul will be going nowhere”, Kaden replied. “Even if I did end up in one of the god’s domains should I perish. I would toss myself away from there. I’d rather jump into the Abyss than stay there.”

Peil nodded.

“What about you, Peil?” Kaden questioned. “What are you going to do now. Have you woken up from your stupor or will you go back. Will you talk about me to someone or what?”

“I don’t know”, Peil replied after a moment. “Your words are blasphemy. Yet, I can’t simply ignore it either. I’m haunted by nightmares. My prayers have not helped me. I would be lying, if said I didn’t have doubts. As for revealing anyone about you…”, Peil shook his head. “That will not happen. I will not kill the last survivor who might even be able to bring some justice. No matter the means.”

“In that case, I will leave you with a warning”, Kaden told Peil as he started to undo the formation carefully. He did not want any sign of anything unusual be left in the room. “Get some excuse. Don’ be in the temple for a while. Take your things and go somewhere else.”

“Why?” Peil asked.

“Do you need to even ask?” Kaden said and looked Peil right in the eyes. “I’m going to commit a sacrilege.”

Then he put his hood back on and hid his unusual appearance as he walked out of Peil’s room, who was left dumbfounded yet again.