Unsurprisingly, Nathan was led to the church. While the main gate of the building was opened, his escorts took him around the building, eventually ushering him through a smaller side entrance.

From what Nathan could see, this part of the church was not meant for the ordinary villagers - there was a long hallway and what seemed like multiple unused rooms along with a lot of storage space.

The building was meant to house many people, but it seems so empty.

Magi-tech lights decorated the whole hallway, and the building was constructed of expensive and rare materials, however, it seemed to have fallen into slight disrepair.

Some dust had begun collecting on the floor, broken by a few sets of footprints, hinting that while the path was well used there was no one here to keep it clean.

He and the paladins walked in silence, eventually ascending a staircase and coming to a halt before one particular door, the wood more sturdy than that he had seen in the rest of the building.

Finally breaking the silence, the same man who had spoken to him in the shop started instructing Nathan. “Now this is as far as we'll take you. That room right there is Lord Vaedor's study. I haven't a clue what he wants with you, but he asked and so we brought you, make sure to listen to his requests. The lord is a far greater man than most of us will ever be, and if he asks something of you, you'd better agree.”

By the end, Nathan could see genuine zeal in the man's eyes, that blind devotion was one of the reasons he disliked dealing with the church. Then again, this lord must be quite a character to have three paladins listen to him like that. Still, something bigger was obviously planned for this village, what with all the empty rooms and the shop's incredible inventory.

Swallowing his trepidation, Nathan listened as one of the paladins knocked on the heavy door, the sound echoing loudly through the quiet building. Immediately, footsteps could be heard and the door opened, Nathan finding himself face to face with the man who could only be the lord he had heard so much about.

The man was almost two meters tall, his frame wide and imposing. He had short-cropped hair and a neat beard, its black colour fading to grey at the edges. He was wearing simple clothes, clearly of good make but not needlessly gaudy, a familiar iron chain with a dagger hanging around his neck. Catching his gaze, Nathan noticed an ugly scar that crossed his entire face, one of the man's eyes replaced by a dull glass ball.

Inspecting Nathan for a few silent seconds, he finally spoke, his voice laced with authority, but still cheery. “Ah, you must be the stranger who happened upon my little village.” He placed a hand on Nathan's shoulder, looking deeply into his eyes. “It must be fate that directed you here, for I require the kind of man that can cross the Mirage Expanse on his own – sustaining no injuries on the way, no less.”

Somehow, Nathan got the feeling that explaining his use of potions would not be a good idea for now.

Suddenly the man's voice took on a threatening tone, his arm clamping down on Nathan's shoulder like a vice. “You did cross the desert on your own, didn't you?”

Holding the man's stare and projecting as much confidence as he could, Nathan answered. “Yes, that I did.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a ring on the Vaedor's finger light up and the paladin immediately removed his hand, showing a calm smile. What have I gotten myself into? The guy has a truth ring, those can be really dangerous when natives can't mentally grasp the concept of climbers and conclude you are lying.

Turning to the other paladins, who had stood off to the side for now, the man gave a grateful nod. “Thank you, sirs, for delivering this man to me.”

In reaction, all three men performed military salutes, hitting their right fists against their hearts, as their leader answered. “We live to serve, my lord.”

Soon after, Nathan sat in front of an imposing desk, the lord on the other side in a chair that was markedly higher than his. Combined with his impressive physique, the man gave off an imposing image.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Wishing for more information, Nathan used Identify. Instead of the expected information, however, he felt an immediate backlash - a headache assaulting him as the man's fake eye lit up with magical inscriptions.

Unable to even react, Nathan saw the paladin vault over the desk as in a single movement, the man's hand snaking out so fast that it left afterimages. A moment later, Nathan was lifted from the ground, a single hand choking him as he struggled uselessly.

Vaedor's face was distorted by anger, spittle flying as his voice thundered out. “You dare assault me in my own home? Me? Who sent you, spy? It must have been Elydia! I should have killed that wench when I had her under my blade.”

Completely caught off guard by both the man's speed and his immediate aggression, Nathan weakly squeezed out words to defend himself. “It's a misunderstanding, a simple misunderstanding. I can explain, my lord.”

The paladin kept his throat gripped, shaking him up and down in his anger. “You think I will listen to your poisonous words, assassin? I should have known it, nothing good ever comes from dealing with outsiders.”

Desperate to get out of this situation, Nathan's mind raced to think of a solution. “Use the ring, the truth ring. It wasn't an attack, just a simple scrying spell.”

To his surprise, the man actually listened, though he was not deterred when the ring confirmed Nathan's words as truth.

“So not an assassin then, but a spy. You think that will save your life, worm?”

“There was no ill intent, it's just a habit of mine. The spell would have given me nothing but a rough measure of your power. I use it on nearly everyone I meet.”

By now, the edges of Nathan's vision had started to darken and he already felt the weakness creeping through his body. Unexpectedly, the lord actually let him go, leaving Nathan gasping for breath until he regained his bearing.

Staring at the paladin with disbelief, Nathan watched as the man straightened his clothes and sat down again.

With nothing but mirth on his face, Vaedor let out a chuckle. “It seems that was my mistake then. Old age might have made me a little paranoid, I admit.”

Winking at Nathan, the paladin broke out into a full-blown laugh. His eye stayed focused on Nathan however, and the longer he laughed the more the sound was tinged with insanity.

With a strained smile on his face, Nathan politely laughed along, his mind whirling with thoughts. The man is completely insane. Insane and absurdly powerful for the second floor. I doubt he'll just let me leave, but I have to get away at the first chance I get.

“Now then, let me introduce myself.”, the lord finally continued. “My name is Paladin Vaedor and you will have the honour to work for me.”

Keeping his composure through sheer will, Nathan reciprocated. “A pleasure to make you acquaintance Paladin Vaedor, I am called Nathan Andrews, a hunter and adventurer by occupation.”

As he heard that, the lord's face contorted in disgust, derision clear in his tone as he spoke. “Adventures”, he spat out. “Nothing but bandits with fancy titles.”

Perhaps realising who he was talking to, the man amended his statement. “Not you, of course, sir Nathan. I did not mean to question your honour.”

“You have done no such thing, my lord. I have met many unsavoury characters who got by under the guise of adventurers during the years.”, Nathan answered smoothly, carefully watching the lord's reaction. As long as he doesn't attack me again I might be able to take advantage of his madness.

Just as expected, his reply made Vaedor's face light up with pride for a second, though the reaction was gone again in an instant.

“Right, you are, sir Nathan. And just such unsavoury types are what I need your help with. You see, a most honour-less band of bandits is terrorizing the region and you will be the one to deal with them. I will send you and my three comrades you have already met to finally rid our village of that plague.”

Shit, I'll have to handle this delicately.

“I hate to disrupt your magnificent plan my lord, but you see there will be a problem. I am afflicted with a curse.”, watching the ring, Nathan was relieved when it accepted that statement as truth. Lone Wolf is not technically a curse, but it seems it's close enough.

“This curse was a price paid to save my life, and it halves my strength whenever I am not alone in combat. So I fear I can not attack the bandits alongside your trusted companions.”

That must be a good enough reason to let me go, Nathan hoped.

For a second he could see the flabbergasted expression on the lord's face as the ring confirmed Nathan's words as truth. A moment later the man seemed to have made a decision, finally declaring his verdict.

“No matter, sir Nathan. You shall attack the bandits on your own then.”

Shit. Still, I might be able to salvage that.

Nathan worked hard to show none of his real thoughts, adopting a thoughtful expression. “I would gladly do so, my lord. My resources are exhausted after crossing the Mirage Expanse, however. Would it be possible for you to give me the things I tried to buy in the store earlier?”

Not even thinking, Vaedor immediately accepted. “You shall have your goods, I very well know how important reliable equipment can be.”

Perfect, I'll take the goods and run as soon as I leave the village behind.

“I am glad we came to an understanding sir Nathan. Now you will just have to swear a blood oath. Merely a formality, of course, I do not suspect you would break your word by not hunting the bandits.”

Nathan smiled weakly, “Of course.”