The temple here was amazing, it was like what Daymin thought living in a castle was like. High painted ceilings depicting the Goddess in all her vengeful glory. Grand halls filled with her hymns, stained glass windows that exploded with sunlight and colour and so many people. More people than Daymin had seen in his life. Filling these halls each night for services, praying to his Goddess, showing their devotion. Baz would have loved it here.

He hadn’t been set to work just yet. A few days of rest from their travels. Allowed long soaks in fragrant baths, and long deep rests in a soft bed. Fed fine meals and warm sweet drinks. He was measured for new clothes and armour. A fine white and gold wool tunic and pants, and a thick wolfskin cloak to keep the bite of winter off him. The new armour shining plate mail, with a smooth featureless helmet to cover his face. A far cry from the simple leathers and rough spun attire he’d become accustomed to. In the place before, he was a servant, here he seemed something else entirely

People bowed to him as they passed by. The name Brother Brightstar spoke with reverence and respect. He was seated a the high tables for meals beside the temple priests, place of honour he felt strange holding. But he was told that was where he belonged as the goddesses chosen.

But Master Geriel was right this city was full of sin and depravity. Daymin had taken it in over the last few days. The sights and sounds of the cities splendour. Markets full of mouth watering food and fine trinkets. Shops selling all manner of indecent clothing; brightly coloured and strangely cut, meant to draw attention. Then the was the music. Music here. Was far from a church hym. With drums and strings that Daymin could feel resonate in his body. Making him want move and mimic the sounds. But he was stronger than that, he would not be led into temptations.

“Tonight we set to work Daymin.” his master said one night after prayers were done.

“Are we purging the sinner Master?” Daymin said eagerly.

“Yes boy, tonight we go into the heart of it all,” his master said. “I am taking you. Into a den of ill repute. A place, Where are those such as ourselves should never be unless on such a holy mission. do you understand boy?”

“Yes Master”

Without another word, Daymin followed his master into the basement of the church. Their Master Geriel A pair of rough woolen trousers and a long leather coach to put over his shirt. They were old, dirty, smelled slightly foul, were ill fitting, but Daymin put them on without question he was finally going on a mission after all who was he to question what sort of attire he would need to wear.

“I'm entering you in a tournament,” his master explained further, “within the confines of the tournament I want you to be ruthless, I want bloodshed and a message sent but those who fight for coin are sinners deserving to be judged bye the goddess do you understand?”

“Yes Master.”

“You are just show no mercy Brightstar not even if they beg for it, for what are we?”

“We got her hands of vengeance. We are her swords and those who fall by them we'll go to her for judgment.”

“Good boy.” Master Geriel said Putting on his own ill fitting clothing, pulling a tattered cloak over his head “I will be watching boy do well tonight and I will let you off on your own, fail me and your training will be doubled for the next fortnight.”

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The two of them made their way off into the darkness down the city streets winding through back alleys, past fine houses into the not so nice parts of town. The part of town where the houses were made of crumbling wood and stone with smashed out windows and stray dogs running about the streets at night looking for whatever scraps they could find. As degenerates laughed and sang inside crowded by rooms spilling out onto the streets and whores plied their trades. This place made him sick just being here, but this was his mission, and he would see it through to the end no matter what.

Master Geriel let him to an old warehouse with a line of people queued around the outside for people to get in. Pushing his way toward the front of the line his master tossed the man guarding the door a sack of coins and the two of them were promptly let in. Soon Daymin found himself in a room he could barely breathe and move in people packed in so tightly someone as large is him couldn't even move forward instead he had to sidestep his way through the crowd. There was laughing and smoking, drinks being sloshed everywhere and just sounds of utter chaos all around him. Well the old Angel blood walk through this crowd unfazed by the goings on, the younger one could already feel his head beginning to spin with the sheer assault of it all.

This was hell Daymin thought this room was full of sinners, carrying on and exposing themselves like this with no regard for anything else but their own pleasures. No sense of piety or decency among them, even if a single one of these souls frequented the temple or prayed, no God would hear their prayers if they behave like this when they thought their dad he wasn't looking. She was watching though. Her eyes were always on him tonight Daymin would show her his worth. Show her that he didn't need Baz by his side.

Show Baz he was strong… that he wouldn’t faulter.

Daymin breathed deep are pressed on through the crowed. They were eyes watching him hungry eyes, like they wanted to rip into his flesh, men and women seemed to lick their lips as he passed by them. The feeling of their eyes made his skin crawl and stomach turn, they would never dare look on him with such eyes. His hand moved to summon his weapon.

“Their time will come lad.” Master Geriel grabbed his wrist. “See to your mission.”

“Yes Master.” He shook his head, he couldn’t faulter now.

*******

These were supposed to be the most blood thirsty villains in the city. Men who fought for coin an glory, but they had fallen quickly under Daymin’s hands. He showed no mercy, their deaths coming swiftly, blood seeping into the dirt floor and staining his boot. Yet the crowed didn’t bat a eye at the carnage, they cheered it.

Deplorable people, taking pleasure in carnage.

As he plunged his blade into the chest of his last opponent, heart racing, Daymin could hear the cheers and shouts reaching a crescendo once more as the life drained from the man he stood over. This man had nearly had him, an orc who’s eyes burned red with a strange demonic fire. He’d cut a deep wound into Daymin’s side that still stung and blead, but he was no match for the angle blood’s relentlessness. None of them were.

Drawing back his blade, Daymin cleaned it on his pants before sheathing it once more. The world around him erupting with all manner of noise as the match attendant raised his hand high into the air.

“Our new Champion!” the man’s voice boomed “Five fatalities in a single night, winner of the 500 gold prize!”

The crowed roared as Daymin looked around for his master. Eyes finding the old man quickly in the crowd. Master Geriel smiled slightly, eyes glowing white with his power. as he summoned his holy weapon. One sweep of the great sword cutting down three on lookers in a single slash. Daymin breathed deep and let loose his wings.

Gallaidia’s Grace in his hand, Daymin cut through the crowed like a farmer in a wheat field, as screams erupted around him, the cheer gone replaced by fear and terror. His body glowing with divine light, bodies fall at his feet. Master Geriel’s form bathed in radiant fire across the room, master and apprentice showed no mercy. Even to those who begged for their lives.

They were the hands of Vengeance, Daymin thought as he plunged his weapon through he chest of a sinful whore who screamed as she took her least breath. He was finally doing his goddesses true work, just like Baz was.