His morning started like any other. At sunrise the muscular leothien knelt towards the sun as its morning light spilled through the window of his room not long after the red light of the morning star signaled the day’s beginning. The sun’s golden light spilled onto his red, flame-like mane, and the snout of his leonine face and cream-yellow fur. The window held lit candles and tendrils of incense rose from a censer, clouding his room in yellow haze colored by the morning sun. He began his daily prayer to his god.
“Great Sunfather, who art highest king in the Golden Heaven, I beseech thy blessings for this day.
May your sun’s light bring warmth, may it bring strength.
May your sun’s light bring passion, may it bring grace.
May your sun’s light bring me your power through my faith.”
The leothien stood up, dressed in a yellow tunic embroidered with pink flowering patterns, and leather pants. He turned to examine his mane and attire in a shard of a mirror one more time before departing, examining his appearance the way a connoisseur examines the presentation of their meal. He sighed. “Still messy…” He said, spotting a small, rougher, unkempt patch. He took one last stroke of his comb over his mane. He felt a tugging on his tail.
“Bet you can’t catch me, Zelotes!” cried one younger than him as he ran out of the room.
“Can it wait, Mohak? I’ve got my job at the stables to go to!” Zelotes responded.
“Aw, can’t we have at least a little fun every once in a while?” Mohak asked, coming out from behind the wall, disappointed. He was still covered by a bed sheet like a cloak and hood, and had the beginnings of a mane.
“Listen, right now you just must wait, little brother. I’m sure Riole can play with you once she’s up. Besides, don’t you have school?”
“But what about the big sword-fighting match in the arena? You promised!” Mohak exclaimed.
“Of course, I did, and I’ll do anything for my baby siblings. But that’s not for another three days from now.” Zelotes answered, sympathetically. Mohak still looked disappointed. Zelotes knelt down to meet his gaze. “Listen, I promise I’ll play tag, wrestle, or play whatever game you want when I get back. But right now, I’ve got part time at the stables, and paladin training, and you have intermediate school to finish.”
“Ok.” Mohak responded, turning up.
“Good, I’ll see you later.” Zelotes answered, warmly.
Zelotes made his way out of his room, down the brick and concrete hallway and stairs of the insula and out the door. He welcomed the warm sunlight as he made his way to the stables. It was a fairly small town, dominated by insula apartment complexes, a few temples, and an amphitheater, and had stables that Zelotes had his job at.
He arrived early as he always did, and for most of the day, Zelotes did his tasks for the stables, starting of course with the difficult task of handling the recently arrived mammoths from Traelend. An unusual sight in a place such as Viro, Letharis. The rest of the day consisted of brushing, riding and feeding the horses at the stables until mid-afternoon where he finished his remaining tasks. By that time, he made his way to pick up his day’s wages before heading to the local basilica for training. He grabbed the coin-filled pouch handed to him and proceeded on his way. As he did so, a leothien girl seemed to pass by, bumping into Zelotes. He checked his pocket, his payment was missing. He then turned, hearing a commotion in the alleyway he had just passed. He looked into it, and a pair of punkish, young leothien men had the child pinned against a wall.
“Listen here, girl! You are going to give us that pouch, or we’ll take more than just that from you…” One of them demanded menacingly, placing his thumb-claw over the girl’s throat. Zelotes could not help but enter.
“Listen, you two clearly don’t have a lot of experience with mugging, so I’ll give you only one chance to return both girl and pouch.” Zelotes said, announcing his presence. They all turned their faces to look at him. The muggers drew daggers. “Ok, finally something exciting!” Zelotes exclaimed as he approached them.
One charged at Zelotes, attempting to stab his face before he was met with a swipe that clawed the side of his own face, causing him to step back, clutching his bleeding mug while the other charged to stab Zelotes. He balled his fists and raised them before meeting his attacker. Once the scoundrel was in range, Zelotes punched at the opponent’s hand that held the dagger in a manner of disarming him, followed by an uppercut to the gut with the other fist. His attacker stepped back puking up his lunch.
“Let’s get out of here!” They said in unison before fleeing.
Zelotes picked up the pouch, he looked at it, and then at the child, her attire seemed to be mere rags. “Hey!” He tossed the pouch to her before kneeling down to talk. “I think what you’ve gone through now is enough of a lesson why you shouldn’t resort to theft. Now give this to your mother.”
“Y-yes, thank you.” The child said shyly before running along.
Zelotes stood up and walked out of the alleyway, continuing to the local basilica. He looked down at his tunic, it was now marred by a single drop of blood. “It was my best tunic.” He remarked to himself, shaking his head in disappointment. “Riole is going to kill me for this.”
It wasn’t the Holy Eversun Cathedral of the Sunfather over in the city Heliora, but this small, simple, concrete basilica lined with columns supporting a gable at its entry served as the main congregation and holy place for followers of the Sunfather and a few other deities, including the Ocean Dynast despite the village’s distance from the sea. An armored leothien with a darkening mane stood at the entry. He possessed saber-teeth like Zelotes, a shared characteristic among leothiens, although one was broken in half on his left side.
“Ah, Zelotes! Glad you could make it back for training today! Mane’s looking good as ever!” the leothien said enthusiastically.
“I am also glad to be here again, Master Razael.” Zelotes said, as he knelt before the aging, yet still battle-ready leothien.
“Well, you know the drill by now, my boy! Get your equipment!”
Zelotes went into the armory behind the basilica and donned his armor and weapon, a greatsword. Pausing for a moment, Zelotes looked at his armor, it was marked by the symbol of the Sunfather on his chest-plate, a golden sunburst encircled by a wreath; but the dull and undecorated steel stood in contrast with his master’s bright yellow, gold, and white. He paused in a moment of thought before returning to Razael, his face sagging slightly.
“Is something troubling you, my student?” Razael asked Zelotes.
“It’s just that I feel... frustrated. It’s been ten years since we began training.” Zelotes admitted.
“I understand, Zelotes, most masters would’ve graduated you after five years. But I see remarkable potential within you, Zelotes, and sure, a twenty-four-year-old like yourself would be tired of training. But once you are done, you could qualify to be an elite, or a commander yourself!”
“I understand, master Razael, but It doesn’t make me feel less so.” Zelotes answered in acknowledgement. “I just want to make my family proud.”
“If it makes you feel any better, there’s a little bit of a mission we could go on later.” Razael said, putting a hand on his pupil’s shoulder. Zelotes looked up at him in surprise.
“Don’t get too thrilled yet, we have some lessons to go over!” the master said with a laugh.
The day passed. The evening sunlight shone from the forest canopy, glinting from the armor of the two leothien paladins as they rode on horseback. One with a dark, graying mane carrying a mace and shield at his side, and the other with a mane of red carrying a greatsword sheathed on his back.
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“This is kind of a late hour for a training mission, don’t you think, Master Razael?” Zelotes asked his master.
“Yes, but it is the duty of any sunsworn to take the fight of darkness into its own territory, Zelotes.” replied the master.
Zelotes, nodded in acknowledgement to his master’s words. “Well then, what’s the task at hand?” he asked.
“Oh, I just picked up some notification about demons at the ruins of Necis’ Crossing from a job board in the local tavern. Figured some heretics were planning to throw one of their “parties” tonight.” Razael answered.
“So we’re going to crash it!” he replied smugly.
“Precisely!” Razael said. “I thought it would be a good exercise for you! Say, what were you and your siblings going to eat tonight? I might be interested.”
“Must this conversation be wasted on talking about food, Master?” Zelotes asked, miffed.
“Zelotes, my student! Lighten up a little!” Razael replied.
The two continued until they stopped. The sun’s light was now quickly fading, and the crescent moon began rising from its daytime slumber.
Before the two, in the woods, stood the ruins of simple houses, a forum, an amphitheater and a few other buildings in a state of decay. The ruined settlement showed its construction of simple mud-brick, like some of the older or more lower-class buildings in Viro.
“Well this isn’t much of a place for a party.” Zelotes commented.
“You’re right about the ruins not being an ideal place, but it is the right location,” said Razael. “Question is, why here?” he asked.
“Heretics are rats, are they not? Is it worth asking why?” Zelotes asked back.
“Evil always has a reason for why it is found where it is found, and remember that many of the areas you’ll find evil in will surprise you.” Razael answered firmly.
The two holy warriors dismounted and prayed before the sun vanished from the horizon.
Razael stood, his eyes flashed a golden yellow light for a minute. “That’s… strange.”
“What is?” Zelotes asked.
“Use your Holy-Sight. Tell me what you feel.” Razael ordered.
Zelotes eyes flashed the same golden yellow, as he extended his senses like a radar, feeling for nearby demonic, necrotic, or celestial forces. He felt something. Not demonic, not undead, not even celestial, something else. “It’s nothing that I recognize. There’s something, but I have no idea what its nature is.” Zelotes answered.
“Glad I’m not the only one who has no idea what this is!” Razael chuckled, half with amusement, half with nervousness.
The two lionfolk entered the ruined village, following their senses and intuition of this strange creature. They followed it to the central forum. It was still standing, but a few columns that had supported it had fallen, taking sections of roof with them. They crouched behind a collapsed section as they saw something. It appeared as a winged, living suit of black metal plates. Its arms were crossed, holding a sword in the right hand. Four black, spectral chains dragged off its torso, each connected to creatures seemingly made of inky, black smoke that scoured the surrounding area with their hands for something, their eyes were pinpoints of white light that pierced the black mists comprising their forms. A single eye of ghostly white flame sat between the two shoulder mounted blades of its mantle.
“I’ve… I’ve never seen anything like this…” Razael said.
Zelotes looked at Razael.
“It’s not a demon, but it does seem… ancient.” Razael said, puzzled.
Zelotes looked above. Not more than two feet above the mane-like plume of his helmet was one of the creatures looking down at the paladin. He drew his greatsword, quickly casting a spell, wreathing the blade in golden flame. “Whatever, it is, it knows we’re here, Master!” Zelotes exclaimed as he cleaved the creature in half.
The two jumped up from their hiding place as Zelotes charged ahead to the armor. He delivered arcs of flaming strikes from his greatsword each harder than the last at first the torso, then the arms, then the torso again, to no effect. The creatures suddenly swarmed Zelotes, their claws phasing through his armor, causing him to step back and wince in pain as he felt them cutting deep into his flesh. The armored figure then extended the palm of its free hand towards Zelotes, darkness gathering like a ball of inky smoke before emitting into a cone of pitch black flame, and Zelotes felt a cold, soul-consuming sensation as he flew back into a pile of rubble.
How much time had passed was a mystery, his vision fading in and out, he still felt the cold, consuming pain from the blast. He saw his master, mace drawn and shield raised, holding off an attack from the armor’s sword, and the creatures chained to the armored creature were absent. Razael’s helmet had been damaged, a slash going through the metal on the snout. Zelotes picked up his greatsword and began a charge to attack again. The armor looked at him, its ghostly white eyes staring into his soul. Zelotes’ eyes flashed the same ghostly white, his muscles tensed as his charge was abruptly halted, and his advancement towards the armor became more akin to pulling weight, as he felt his ability to resist be replaced with a compulsion to kneel.
“M-master… I… I don’t know if I can… hold…” Zelotes uttered, struggling to find control over his tongue.
Razael took the opportunity to slam his mace into the armor’s helm with a blinding burst of golden energy as the metal made contact. A wave of thunder rolled through the surrounding ruins and sent the armor back ten feet to a nearby pillar, yet it was intact, turning its attention back to Razael. Zelotes regained control, as he fell to knees, panting.
“It did nothing. It did nothing. My most powerful smite had no effect!” Razael said astounded before activating one of his holy powers. Golden light gathered and solidified around his mace, creating a golden projection of the mace that was twice as large as the original.
Zelotes looked around, he still felt some cold, gnawing sensation. He saw the cracks in the pillar the armor hovered beside. Standing up, Zelotes gathered the same golden energy into his weapon as Razael did and charged towards the armor. It raised its free hand, creating a rune that began to envelope Zelotes in the same black energies as white essence began flowing from Zelotes’ body into the armor’s hand, as Zelotes felt increasing difficulty to use his divine magic, as well as feeling himself fading. He reached the pillar, and struck it with the golden energy bursting into a flash golden light. The pillar was now crumbling rapidly.
“Hate… to bring reality down on you.” Zelotes said before turning. “Run!” he exclaimed, using his remaining strength to run from the building.
“Good thinking!” Razael exclaimed, following suit.
As if realizing what just happened, the armor stopped what it was doing as the ceiling of the building collapsed. The two paladins had escaped outside.
“Are- ugh… Are you… hurt, Master Razael?” Zelotes asked, hesitating as he continued to feel that fading and increasingly cold sensation.
“Me, hurt? You’re the one who’s worse for wear, Zelotes!” Responded the master.
“You- ugh… got… got a cut on your face… let me- ugh.” Zelotes winced as he fell to the ground. His vision blurred and fading in and out. Then everything faded into black.
Groaning, Zelotes began to awake. He wondered where he was or what time it was. He smelled food. Specifically, he smelled warthog.
“Rise and shine, little brother.” A kind voice said to him.
“Morning, little sister.” Zelotes responded as his eyes opened to see his sister sitting beside his bed. She was a female leothien, wearing a simple, wine-colored, handwoven dress decorated with blue meanders bordering a floral pattern around her waist and a necklace of colored beads adorned her. Her sabers matched Zelotes’. “How did I get here?” Zelotes asked, tired.
“We held off dinner last night, given how Commander Razael returned you. He healed your wounds, so you should be good as new!” She exclaimed cheerfully.
“Thanks, Riole. Ugh-it doesn’t feel like he healed me, but my wounds aren’t present.” Zelotes said, examining himself. He did, however, feel a sensation of numbness.
“Come on, I’m starved and I’m sure you are too, Z, we’ve got warthog!” Riole said as she led her twin brother to the table. “Oh, yeah, your teacher said he wanted to speak with you over your meal so he’s here.”
“Really?” Zelotes asked as he stepped into the dining area.
“Yes, he is.” Razael said, standing on the opposite side of the table.
Mohak, and Zelotes’ three half-sisters and other half-brother sat on either side of the table, dressed in simple clothing, looking back and forth between the master and his student.
Razael sat down in his chair “Have a seat, the both of you.” He said politely as he began eating. Zelotes and Riole did so and began their meal as well.
“Although most paladins swear in after only half the time you’ve been training, given your youth at the time we started, I thought it would be a great opportunity to train more thoroughly and have you develop greater skill and character upon swearing in than most. That is why I haven’t graduated you for the last ten or so years.”
“Well, when am I going to graduate, Master? Forgive me, but it frustrates me that I’m twenty-four and still only a student.” Zelotes interrupted.
“That Is what I am getting too, my dear pupil. You’re not perfect, but you have many of the skills and makings of a paladin. I’ve discussed it with other paladin commanders, and have thought about it, especially given how you handled last night.” Razael paused. “There is a caravan of traveling psittari merchants heading to a settlement in Traelend next month. Your next task is to protect them on their journey.” Continued Razael to his student.
Zelotes looked down, disappointed as he took another bite of roasted warthog.
“There is a catch however. You will be completing this mission without me.” Razael announced. His twin and siblings all looked at Zelotes in the light of this announcement. Zelotes had paused mid-bite.
“But I’m only a student.” Zelotes said in shock.
“That is no longer true. You’re ready to become an awakened paladin.” Razael announced once more as he finished. “Ceremony is during Solarifest at dawn next month. Be ready!” he exclaimed as he left. “Also, I wouldn’t recommend using magic for a month. Your soul needs time to heal.”
Mohak turned to Zelotes and said “Dad and our mothers would be so proud, big bro.”
“Well little brother, are you ready?” Riole asked smugly.
Zelotes paused for a moment, still processing what had been announced. A smile grew on his face as triumphantly said “Yes! Yes, I am, little sister!”
“Now, Zelotes, you’re pretty good at keeping your clothes clean. Can you explain to me why there’s a blood stain on this?” Riole inquired, holding up Zelotes’ stained tunic.
Zelotes placed his hands on his face, saying only two words: “Oh no…”