Dalen and Melisia both entered the tent before they continued and Melisia quickly put down the silencing array before they spoke any more.

Melisia spoke first, her expression neutral, “I have spoken to the elders of the order and despite their reservations about my return they were willing to tell me some of their plans,” she sat down on the ground and crossed her legs. It almost made Dalen smile, seeing her drop the posh act she had taken on since Farninghold, “they didn’t tell me everything of course, but it was pretty clear to me that the elders are divided in what they wish to do moving forward.”

“Really? They all seem to be frothing at the mouth over me just being Kal’s friend and don’t get me started when they ask me what he is like,” Dalen scoffed. It really was disturbing, from what Elder Jaliete said it seemed like they barely knew what they were looking for.

Melisia frowned but nodded, “Yes they are quiet, devoted to the order but they have good reason to be because of a few additional things that Elder Jaliete decided not to mention to you,” she sighed, “It is also part of why I floundered when I should have been helping him grow. I was afraid of the consequences of helping him.”

“What? Why bother taking him with you if you were afraid to help him?” Dalen blurted, surprised at the confession.

“I thought he was just a young man who needed help to ascend. It was only after I saw his ability to easily perceive the astral threads and even manipulate them that I began to suspect what he was,” her eyes lowered as she continued,” and then I felt it.”

“What? His birthright? Look I know they are rare and powerful but is it really worth all of this?” Dalen said gesturing outside.

“Yes and no, Dalen. It is what that birthright represents that matters, you felt it too. If not at the camp you felt it during the Blood Hunt.”

Of course, Dalen knew, it was hard to miss. The wrath was palpable, and the vision during the Blood Hunt just gave it a visual representation. But Dalen didn’t care about any of that, Kal wasn’t some monster. Sure he was stupidly reckless and couldn’t skip a fight if he tried but he wasn’t what Dalen saw in those mirrors.

“So what? You think he is a demon or something? He sure as shit didn’t look like one to me, and I’ve actually seen one.”

Melisia frowned but let the comment pass, “No, of course, I don’t and neither does the order. No Dalen, they think he is something worse,” she shook her head and took a breath, “It is hard to explain Dalen since we have only uncovered tiny amounts of information. Some I learned while I was still in the order and others I learned while studying in the Seventh Tower. Our blessings are a risk here, Dalen, Quotz tolerates this knowledge but I worry that Dhoerin may not.”

Dalen was taken aback by the sudden escalation, “Are you saying the gods are involved?” he blurted.

Melisia simply nodded.

Fucking great, first, it was birthrights and demons, and now gods are involved, Dalen had received his blessing when he was a boy running through the streets of Vandara wishing to one day enter the academy. Obviously, that had never happened since he had awakened the tavern keeper and also had nothing to do with him sneaking into the place and stealing stuff.

He’d give up the blessing if he had to if it meant getting Kal back, “If Dhoenir cares that much he can shove it. Just tell me already.”

“Ok, bear in mind that we don’t know the whole passage, but here is what we know.”

Taking a breath Melisia began, “The puppet of puppets is made free, as the innocent forgotten falls before the might of the first arisen to fall. As the firmament falters, and the wrathful weaves the threads of all, He will be witnessed. He will come with the cries of men, and we shall know His wrath.. “, her words seemed to distort the air within the silencing sphere and her face paled slightly as she continued, “Forever a slayer. Forever a calamity, He will rend the worldweave asunder, and eradicate those that would bind fate in a war of the first and lost. ”

“Well that was bloody dramatic wasn't it ?” Dalen muttered, trying to dispel the disturbing feeling he got as Melisia spoke, “You really think that it’s Kal that this what? Prophecy? Is talking about? And where did you find all that?”

Melisia looked uneasy but eventually, she nodded then waved her hand displaying a part of her status,” Yes I believe it is.”

Dalen read the title and frowned at the implication.

Wrath Bringer

You have assisted Fyborh in the release of Kalum Lesta’s birthright. May you find the person you wish to be and protect Kalum during his time of weakness. I wish you luck in your search for the Astral Fall’s blessed of Quotz. +5% Wisdom, +5% Perception.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Why else would Fyborh be aware of Kal, or wish to see his birthright unleashed, as for the text, the order found it amongst ancient writings that were apparently penned by Fyborh himself,” Melisia replied with a sad smile.

Dalen couldn’t believe this, was he supposed to believe that Kal was some kind of walking apocalypse? Well, screw that. Kal was Kal, he could be an angry prick but he wasn’t a monster and Dalen was going to believe that until the day he died.

Dalen shook his head, “Kal isn’t some walking apocalypse, no matter what some god nobody remembers thinks.”

Melisia placed a hand on Dalen’s arm, “I know Dalen, I didn’t say I agreed with the order on this but doesn’t mean I believe we have no need to be careful.”

Dalen couldn’t deny the wisdom in her words, but he was cautious of Kal more so the bloody order,” Fine, but I want to know what the order has planned. Do they intend to bring him back?”

“As I said before Dalen, they are divided in what to do. One half, Elder Jaliete and Nyx included, want to track him down and attempt to bring him back, while the other wants to secure the land for his return in an attempt to placate him when he returns on his own.”

“Well obviously we should be trying to get him back as soon as possible but how are we supposed to do that?”

Melisia sighed, “Elder Jaliete believes there is a way but from what she has said it sounds incredibly dangerous for everyone involved. We will have to summon him, but right now we are not prepared to do that. For one we don’t have enough mages with us here to even come close to the required mana to perform the ritual, but what's worse is that it is risky. It could just as easily create a tear like the one that appeared in the empire’s camp. ”

The sight of those creatures pouring from the tear flashed back into Dalen’s mind, making him pale slightly. It wasn’t something he ever wanted to see again, but if it meant getting Kal back he would do it, “How do we get the mages we need then?”

Melisia raised an eyebrow, “I knew you were reckless for a tavern keeper,” she smirked, “but that isn't the truly difficult problem. Now that Kal has been found the order has sent word out to the other cells throughout the empire to gather at the Vault.”

Dalen had never heard of a place called the vault, “What’s the Vault? Wait how many people are in this order? Did they really kidnap that many children?”

“The Vault is the main headquarters of the order. It is an ancient structure much like the Seventh Tower. It will take time to gather enough people to prepare for the ritual, that is assuming the rest of the cell's goals align with Elder Jaliete’s,” Her smirk became a smile, “as for the second part, I am surprised nobody has told you but yes you are right, many children were taken from their homes. But there is something you need to see,” Melisia stood up and evened out her blue dress, and stepped out of the tent, ”Follow me.”

Dalen followed. He wasn’t sure what she was about to show him but Dalen’s weariness of the order was only peaked by the thoughts of all the children they stole from families. Melisia had told him that for the most part, it really wasn’t that bad but in the same breath, she often spoke of Elder Jaliete who was apparently some kind of mind mage, which didn’t exactly invoke trust in Dalen’s mind.

They moved through the camp and Dalen was forced to bear the creepy smiles every one of the cultists gave him. It was just plain creepy, he hoped all that would go away eventually if he was forced to hang around this lot to get Kal back. To Dalen’s surprise, Melisia was taking him to the edge of the camp and not toward the elders tents. There was a large gathering of cultists and even more to Dalen’s surprise several faces he recognized from the empire camp. There was also a small gathering of soldiers. They were clearly on edge but were currently eating rations that were being handed out but the cultists.

He was about to ask what was going on but then he saw Harlm sitting with a young boy and what was happening immediately clicked, “They’re releasing the children?”

Melisia smiled and nodded, “Yes. After the order discovered that the one they were looking for was Kal, its priorities changed quite drastically. With the order knowing of your friendship with Kal and noticing your not-quite-subtle remarks about the kidnapped children, many have decided that it would be unwise to continue expanding the order with that method.”

She pointed to someone who was speaking with the gathering of followers and cultists. It was Nyx who was practically beaming as several cultists darted off with what looked like communication marks,” Nyx, in particular, has pushed for the end of the order's despicable kidnappings,” Melisia smiled, “It is certainly not enough to make up for the relationships lost to the families but it is a start.”

There were several other children moving back and forth between the groups,” What about the rest?” Dalen asked, still not convinced of the order's change of heart, “If the order is that large there must have been thousands taken.”

Melisia nodded, “Nyx may be a better person to ask that question, but many of the children the order takes have no family to return to,” she sighed, “I know it's hard to believe. My case was the opposite, but I was an anomaly,” pointing towards Harlm’s boy, “as was he.”

Dalen frowned, “So what you're trying to tell me the order isn’t that bad? Come on Melisia, any kid taken is too many.”

“You’re right, and I am also not saying we should trust them completely. Their ultimate goals are still not clear to me even after all my time with them. But I do believe us remaining with them is ultimately for the better good for now,” her mouth became a neutral line, “and without the order, I don’t see how else we will be able to get Kal back.”

Dalen didn’t like it but what other choice did he have? It was either go and mope around Farninghold or go back to Vandara and try and figure out a way to find Kal himself, which was honestly foolish. He hadn’t selected his new class yet but he seriously doubted it would be anything that could help get Kal back on its own.

Turning around to walk back to his tent Dalen grunted, “Fine, but you need to come help me pick my next class.”

Melisia suddenly beamed, “Finally! It’s about time you evolved your class. I swear if you haven’t at least got a rare class I’ll strangle you.”

Dalen couldn’t help but smirk as he started walking and read the names of his possible choices.

Class evolution: Select one

Mad Bomber [Rare]

Mutation Warrior [Rare]

Imbuer [Rare]

Alchemist of the Wrathful [Epic]