I couldn’t hide my irritation as I sat in the corner of the inn, nursing a cup of lukewarm ale. Augustus had done it again—accepted a contract without consulting us. It wasn’t just the contract that irked me; it was this contract. Taking on the Embers of Flame was no small task, and I had tried to warn him about the dangers. But, as always, Augustus had his reasons, which I suspected weren’t entirely his own.
The embers in the fireplace crackled softly, casting flickering shadows on the wooden walls of the Rusted Flagon. The air inside the inn was thick with the scent of roasted meat and stale beer, mingling with the faint tang of smoke from the hearth. Outside, the muffled sounds of Danustica’s bustling streets drifted in a reminder of the world beyond our group’s troubles. Merchants’ calls, the clatter of hooves on cobblestones, and distant laughter all created a tapestry of life that felt worlds apart from the burden weighing on my mind.
I watched as Augustus leaned against the bar, discussing provisions with the innkeeper. His posture was casual, but I knew him well enough to sense the tension in his shoulders. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his hand gripping the edge of the counter a little too tightly. The flicker of guilt in his eyes when he glanced my way was unmistakable, though he quickly masked it with a weak smile.
My jaw tightened as I set my cup down with a thud, the dull sound cutting through the quiet hum of the inn. The sudden motion caught his attention. His smile faltered, and he hesitated for a moment before turning fully to face me.
“Silvana, I was going to talk to you about it,” he said, his tone placating but lacking conviction.
“When?” I shot back, my voice low but laced with anger. “After we’re knee-deep in corpses?” The words came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t regret them. My frustration demanded to be heard. “You know as well as I do that the Embers of Flame aren’t just some ragtag band of bandits.”
He sighed and approached, pulling out a chair to sit across from me. “I get it. You’re upset, but this isn’t just about the money.”
“Then what is it about?” I asked, crossing my arms. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re letting someone else make decisions for you.”
He flinched at my words, his hand pausing mid-motion as it reached for the mug in front of him. For a moment, I thought he might argue, the crease in his brow deepening as if weighing his response. Instead, he leaned back against the counter, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
“The Embers of Flame aren’t just another group of outlaws,” he began, his tone heavier now, like someone shouldering a burden too vast for words.
“I know exactly who they are,” I interrupted, my voice cutting through the space between us. “They worship Emperor Darusos, some long-dead ruler they’ve turned into a martyr. What of it? Plenty of madmen in this world cling to lost causes.”
He shook his head slowly, the lines on his face deepening. “It’s more than that, Silvana. Do you know why they worship him? Truly know?”
I tilted my head, my irritation giving way to curiosity despite myself. “Enlighten me,” I said, crossing my arms and leaning back in my chair.
His gaze darkened, and he stepped closer, his voice lowering as though the words themselves were too vile to speak aloud. “Darusos wasn’t just a ruler to them. He was a saint, a vessel of divine will according to the Pantheon. When his general betrayed and killed him, they didn’t see it as an act of treachery—they saw it as blasphemy of the highest order.”
“And?” I prompted, though the chill creeping up my spine told me I wouldn’t like where this was headed.
“The Pantheon retaliated,” Augustus continued, his jaw tightening. “They didn’t just kill the general. They hunted down his entire family—wives, children, everyone. They dragged them from their homes and burned them alive.”
The crackling of the inn’s hearth seemed to grow louder, filling the silence that stretched between us. My throat tightened. “Burned them alive?” I repeated, disbelief and revulsion warring in my voice.
“They claimed it was purification,” Augustus said grimly. “That the flames would cleanse their souls and prepare a new vessel for Darusos to be reborn. The Embers of Flame inherited those beliefs. They’ve carried on the rituals, Silvana.”
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Rituals. The word hung in the air like a noose. “What kind of rituals?” I asked, though part of me already knew the answer.
“They’ve killed innocents,” he said, his voice nearly breaking. “Children, Silvana. They believe that by offering the purest of souls, they can hasten Darusos’s return. At their peak, they numbered a hundred strong. But after they clashed with the Western Empire, their numbers have dwindled to about thirty. Even so, thirty fanatics can still do a lot of damage.”
The room seemed colder despite the fire. I leaned forward, my arms resting on the table as I tried to steady myself. “And you think this is something we can just... handle? Thirty zealots, Augustus. Thirty people who believe they’re on a divine mission. Do you understand what that means?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached for his tankard, taking a long drink as if to drown whatever thoughts lingered in his mind. “I understand,” he said finally, his voice quiet but firm. “But this isn’t just about them. It’s about the village. It’s about stopping this before it spreads further.”
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “You can’t stop a wildfire by walking into it with a bucket of water. And don’t pretend this is just about protecting some village. You wouldn’t have taken the job if it was only about them.”
His hand tightened around the tankard, the knuckles whitening. “You’re wrong,” he said, though the conviction in his voice faltered.
“No,” I shot back. “I’m not? Don’t deny it.
“That’s not true,” he protested, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
“Isn’t it?” I pressed. “You weren’t going to take that old woman’s offer. I saw it in your face. You had no intention of accepting until Epicrotea was mentioned. Why is that, Augustus? What’s so important about that place that you’d risk all of our lives?”
He looked away, his jaw working as if chewing over words he couldn’t bring himself to say. The silence stretched, broken only by the crackle of the fire and the distant murmur of the inn’s patrons.
“Thirty fanatics are still thirty too many,” I muttered. “And some of Rhaegea’s supporters have sympathy for them because they have been very loyal to the Imperial Family and have been fighting against the Emperor Garios. That makes this even more dangerous. I tried to warn you about this, Augustus. Why don’t you listen?”
He hesitated, and for a moment, I thought he might admit the truth. But instead, he said, “Because this isn’t just about the Embers of Flame. It’s about what they represent. If we let them continue, we’re complicit in their atrocities.”
I narrowed my eyes. “That’s noble, Augustus, but don’t pretend that’s the only reason you took this contract. The pay isn’t good enough to justify the risk. If it was about some noble cause you would have accepted it the moment that lady came to this inn. So what was it? What convinced you?”
I felt my anger flare again. “This isn’t about Epicrotea. This is about Sora, isn’t it?”
Augustus’s silence was all the confirmation I needed.
Sora. The shadow that loomed over Augustus’s decisions. Ever since she joined our group, she had a way of steering him, even when she wasn’t present. And today, even in her absence, I could feel her influence.
“You’re letting her control you,” I said, my voice quieter now but no less intense. “You’re a good leader, Augustus, but your reliance on Sora makes me question your judgment.”
He looked away, and I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. But before either of us could say more, the inn’s door creaked open, and a gust of cold air swept in. A familiar figure entered, her dark cloak billowing behind her.
Sora.
She scanned the room, her piercing gaze landing on us. As she approached, I felt the tension in the air grow heavier.
“Leon informed me that you have taken a new contract?” she asked, her tone neutral but with an undertone of authority that grated on my nerves.
“Yes,” Augustus said, his voice steady. “Silvana and I were discussing the contract as of now. I sent Leon to update you on the details about the contract did he tell you about what we are getting in return?”
Sora while looking at the ground responded yes I am aware of the rewards that have been promised.
Sora then turned to me, her expression unreadable. “Do you have any concerns regarding the Contract ?”
“Plenty,” I said bluntly. “Starting with why we’re taking on a group as dangerous as the Embers of Flame for such meagre pay.”
She tilted her head slightly as if considering my words. “Sometimes the reward isn’t in coin,” she said cryptically.
I clenched my fists under the table. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Sora. And you’re dragging Augustus along with you.”
She smiled faintly, a gesture that only fueled my frustration. “Perhaps. But sometimes danger is necessary to achieve something greater.”
“And what, exactly, are we achieving?” I demanded.
“You’ll see,” she said simply, turning to leave.
As she walked away, I turned back to Augustus. “This is a mistake,” I said softly.
He met my gaze, his expression conflicted.
I shook my head, frustrated but knowing I couldn’t abandon him. Whatever shadows hung over us, I would see them through. For Augustus, for the group.