“High priest.” The man, clad in silk robes adorned with the brown trimmings common to local Healer clergy, bowed deeply to Bringer of the Tranquil, waiting for his leave to speak.
“Please, younger brother, share your findings.” Bringer said, nodding kindly to the man from where he sat behind his desk.
“We have two more confirmed cases, high priest. Shall we add them to the rest of those being studied?”
“Oho? Then that makes ten out of twelve. Any problem with the sedation?”
“No, high priest. Keeping them unconscious for a few more hours for study and removal has so far not been a problem, Healer be praised.”
“Excellent,” Bringer noted. “Remember, junior brother, that we sometimes have to see to the betterment of the many. Getting the chance to study the affliction in what might be cases who have progressed further will be invaluable in figuring out its nature. Them suffering a few more hours in the bliss of oblivion is a small price to pay.”
“Of course, high priest Bringer. May Healer’s will be done.” The younger man bowed again before hurrying off to carry out Healer’s will.
“A most fortunate development,” Bringer mused as he sat back to read the reports and what had so far been gathered, preparing. They indeed had to move fast to get what they needed before the disciples were missed for too long, as Bringer was sure that their sect would come knocking eventually.
“Through the lord’s providence, we should at least have so much more to work with now,” he said with a smile. “I must admit, lord, that I was a bit hesitant to believe that the plan could succeed. But sometimes the right person just happens to be in the right place.”
“While it is not my purview, hope is still a concept which I am quite fond of, child,” Healer spoke in the quiet of Bringer’s mind. “And as to when and where serendipity strikes… Now that is a concept where I also know where to direct my praise.”
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"Truth’s triumphant trunk, Kite! I have watched this recording almost half a dozen times now, and I still can’t get enough of it. Winds of Fortune, indeed!” Jarvan exclaimed happily as Kite, Serene, Will and Dragonfly all sat gathered in the branch director’s office where they waited for word from the church of the Healer.
“While it was only yesterday, a good night’s sleep sure can make such events feel distant,” Kite said, looking at his fights from the angle of Serene who had been hidden away as a precaution to record things that might otherwise be missed. He had spent the night in a room at the adventure society campus, knowing that he would be debriefed by Jarvan personally the next morning.
“Kite! You were awesome!” Dragonfly exclaimed where she and Will sat transfixed by the cavalcade of dueling violence on display. “I just wish I could have been there to see it, instead of just worrying all evening.”
“Indeed, my friend! And you did very well in playing your role of the vengeful outcast seeking to end foul plots and intrigue with the heavens as your witness!” Will agreed. “Rarely have I wished to have been able to take your place more than I do now!”
“While I am relieved at the outcome, trying to play the part left me with mixed feelings,” Kite admitted. “Because part of me did enjoy actually being the active party and taking initiative in this regard; kicking in their door and calling them out. Even if it was against people whose judgment was already clouded.”
“Didn’t the affliction just amplify one’s traits? Because that means that they were probably scheming bottom-feeders all along. And those guys Mist and Soar surely deserved everything they got and more.” Dragonfly sounded quite pleased as she made her comment, looking meaningfully towards the now paused recording.
“If this old hand may share some wisdom, I agree,” Jarvan said with his usual braggart’s smile. “Learning to find joy in a good door-kicking is one of the hallmarks of any good adventurer.”
“Then that is only proof that I will be one of the best one day,” Dragonfly said, leaning back. “But speaking of adventuring; how long will this take? Because while a day of leave has been nice, I am itching to get back out there to the surge.”
“It should be any minute now,” Jarvan answered, looking out the window. “But I must admit that I personally am enjoying this bid of calm while Rupert can step up and do his deputy's duty; some of that gods-cursed paperwork. But- Oh, I believe that they were even early.”
“Yes, they are inbound,” Serene agreed.
It took another half a minute until Kite felt it as well; a pair of inbound auras tinged with the touch of the divine. Jarvan did not dally, pulsing his aura to let the pair know that they were free to enter. Through the double doors came the silver-ranked high priest, followed along by a bronze-ranked woman.
Kite had only seen Bringer of the Tranquil in person when he had led the contingent from Healer into the garden the previous evening, but had never spoken to the strict-looking man. He rose along with the rest of those gathered and bowed in respect of the priests and the power they represented.
“Director,” the high priest answered, giving a bow of respect in return before turning to Kite. “And our young adventurer who acted as the catalyst to give us this opportunity. While I am sure that lord Healer would have guided us where we were needed, you forewarning us of what was to come sure did expedite the process. And taking down a dozen and one of your own rank with only one casualty, now that is something quite remarkable. Our lord sends his regards to you of your exploits and mercy, even though the death of young master Resplendent saddened him like all lives lost do.”
“I thank you for the praise, high priest. And will be sure to thank divine Healer in my prayers.” Kite said, bowing again, before asking; “But if it is not too presumptuous, would you please tell us if something more came of this? Have you found out more?”
“Yes, high priest, please do not hold us in suspense,” Jarvan added, gesturing for the two men to sit down.
“While I am not yet at liberty to disclose the full details, early estimates are very optimistic. With such far-gone cases now having been recorded and cleansed, we should be well on our way to uncover more about what it is that has spread in these lands,” the high priest said. “So your plan sure paid its dividends, adventurer Kite. Jarvan made quite sure to inform us who it was that came up with it. And my lord and his church rewards such initiatives.”
At a gesture from the high-priest, the bronze-ranked priestess accompanying him reached into her dimensional satchel and produced a simple wooden lockbox of polished, unadorned wood which she put down in front of Kite. As the high priest nodded for him to open it, Kite quickly obeyed, eyes widening in surprise at its content.
The box was mostly filled with piles of quintessence, with the aspects of echo, might and resolute neatly divided into three separate compartments. And as he sensed the magic emanating from them, Kite knew that all of the small shards of condensed magic was of silver rank, with the three kinds being just what he would need to one day upgrade Immutable Echo once he needed the combat staff to ascend along with him.
“While still a ways off, our divine lord seems to feel quite certain that you have the potential to find your way to silver rank, adventurer Kite, so he took the liberty of helping you along with the preparations for that day. It-” Bringer paused, eyes going a bit distant as he seemed to listen to an unheard speaker. “Yes, of course, lord,” he eventually said, returning to the present and his company. “My lord also wanted to offer a contribution to your little project, should you deem someone worthy enough to receive it.”
Before Kite could ask what the priest meant, the man held out one hand. An echo of something distant yet vastly powerful washed over the room as a cube gently glowing with white, pleasant light manifested in the hand of the high priest. As soon as it had arrived, the sensation was gone, leaving only the gathered mortals to stare at the divine manifestation.
“A divine essence, for you to gift to someone who you deem worthy in your upcoming cause. Should they be willing and found worthy by Lord Healer in turn, he will grant them his blessing as they travel these lands to people in need.”
Kite took the proffered cube reverently, feeling just the faintest of echoes of divinity from within the manifested magic. While divine essences were not in and of themselves better than a confluence essence, they were always very predictable in that their theme of powers always corresponded very closely to the purview of the god that had gifted it. And the Healer was quite straight forward in that regard.
“Thank you, lord Healer. And you as well, high priest. These gifts are very thoughtful, and I will make sure to put them to good use in time.”
“Oh, I have no doubt. Our lord would not have gifted them to you otherwise,” high priest Bringer said with a pleasant smile. “Know that we will remain ever grateful should any further chances of studying the afflicted happen to be delivered to our door.
As for you, director, do you believe that the rest of what you and lord Indomitable have planned will come to pass?”
Jarvan looked thoughtful at the question before shrugging. “That is yet to show itself, but I have a feeling that it will. Throughout all my years occupying this position, I have never known the city lord to be short-sighted. The old cunning bastard probably has more plans and contingencies than I will ever be privy to. If you’ll excuse my choice of words, young master,” Jarvan added, directing a sheepish look towards Will.
“Had my father been here, he would probably have chuckled at your choice of words,” Will said with a smile. “Downplaying it in the present but making sure to make good use of it in the future.”
This had Jarvan burst out laughing, the high priest giving a feigned rueful shake of his head in response, before speaking. “We shall take our leave; with the surge and the study of the affliction, I can assure you that the clergy of Healer is ever busy.” He rose from his seat even as he made his announcement, the accompanying priestess bowing to those gathered before following him out the doors.
“Speaking of the surge,” Kite ventured, looking at the director. “Can you tell us anything about what you have planned for us now?” The surge protocols were still in effect, after all, but Kite also had to admit to being very curious about the plans mentioned by the high priest.
“Ah, yes. While there are certain events which we have yet to see how they unfold, things might become unfortunately interesting in the upcoming weeks. But that is all I will tell you for now in that regard,” Jarvan said with the slight smile of those in the know. “As for your deployment, the fact still stands that your magnificent stunt yesterday might cause trouble if you continue hanging around here. So I will have you sent off to join the teams led by Frost of Morning Dew as she is right now covering a rather sizable area to the north with several of the fortresses and holdfasts within her territory. This should let you get far away enough to not be in immediate danger of retribution from the sect, with Dew being at least relatively close by.”
“Oh,” Kite said as he took in the director’s words. “That sounds quite splendid, director. Thank you.”
“While I am glad that you feel this way, don’t look too pleased when exiting this place,” Jarvan chuckled. “Sending you out to the sparsely populated areas with a lot of spaces for monsters to manifest might be viewed as punishment to some degree. But I am quite pleased that the church rewarded you so handsomely, because as we discussed before, we of the adventure society will have to be very discreet in giving you our share.” Jarvan still looked quite pleased as he spoke, and added; “Oh, and should anyone ask, this meeting was me giving you a most thorough talking-to and threatening to demote you should you decide to undertake such risky action during an ongoing surge again.”
“Yes, director. You may consider me thoroughly chastised,” Kite responded, with all gathered chuckling slightly. “Then please allow us to gather our things. We shall depart for the next contract at once.”
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As the recording winked out, elder Bliss of the Descending Star sect turned to his sect leader, bowing in deference.
“As you can see, sect leader, the incident most surely did not end in our favor. And as we have only gotten a hold of this recording two days after the events depicted, it is safe to assume that it is already in circulation.” Bliss was calm as he spoke, never looking the sect leader in the eyes even as he could feel the frustration and fury building in the man’s aura.
“Curse them,” hissed sect leader eventually, eyes still distant.
“Pardon me, sect leader?” Bliss asked.
“Curse that city lord and mewling director. And most of all, curse my traitorous cousin. Can you not see? This is obviously their doing; taking advantage of the honor of our students for their own gain and to drag our name through the mud. And to do so during a surge of all times. Pathetic schemers, all of them.”
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Sect leader Comet rose and started pacing back and forth as he continued to speak. “We will need to take decisive action, and soon. The surge matters little if the reputation and good name of our sect is in tatters when it ends. We need something substantial; to prove that we will not be treated like this. We will need to strike back at my traitorous cousin no matter the cost. I can feel her tainted fingers in this.”
Bliss only nodded along to the sect leader’s words, giving voice to his question only when the man fell silent for a few seconds. “Then I will task our information gatherers to seek out her locations to the exclusion of all else?”
“Yes, make it so. As always, you understand my meaning very well, elder Bliss. Great things await you in the future after the surge and this little charade regarding my cousin is dealt with.”
“And the outcast? I am sure we can direct-” Bliss began, but was waved off by the sect leader.
“Bah! Just a lowly pawn; a bronze-ranker of little actual consequence. We can deal with him in the future. Keep focusing on the traitor Meridian and her minions.”
“It shall be as you command, sect leader,” Bliss said with another bow, leaving the room as he was dismissed.
“I will admit that this was not exactly the way I saw these particular seeds growing,” Bliss mused silently to himself as he walked, junior elders and initiates stepping to the side and bowing as the celestine man passed them. “Senior sister did send word of a particular outcast who had made trouble before. It is clear that he keeps up the habit. Still, it should be of little consequence as long as the seeds of Discord continue to grow. And by the nature of his purview, they always do. Especially when trouble abounds.”
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As he passed through the portal, Kite stepped to the side and let his senses steady themselves. Once the bout of nausea faded, he took in his surroundings more properly.
Alongside Will, Dragonfly and Serene, he had appeared on a small stone platform in an otherwise bustling courtyard of dull, gray stone. Around them, surge-life was in full swing. From the throngs of normal-rankers walking about; with great cauldrons of water boiling for cooking, lines put up wherever possible to allow for laundry being hung up to dry and children playing while making sure to scramble out of the way for any essence-user moving about, one could easily infer that this particular fortress had not been under any particularly intense assault for a few days now. While it was still cramped and a lot of annoyed cursing going about, Kite still imagined it more pleasant than being forced into the confines of the fortress for any lengthy period of time.
“Come, we should find the local garrison commander and see if they can direct us to-” Kite began, but halted as he felt a familiar aura among the turbulence. The owner of said aura had apparently sensed him too, because Kite quickly found himself meeting her eyes across the busy courtyard.
A mere moment afterwards, Kite was wrapped in a fierce hug as auntie Dove descended like a blazing comet, having used one of her movement powers to cross the distance in a blazing arc.
“My boy! My little Kite!” she exclaimed over and over again as she held him, her familiar scent of dried herbs bringing Kite back to the comfort of childhood days. “Now let me have a look at you,” Dove finally said as she held Kite out at arms length, inspecting him.
“It’s wonderful to see you again, auntie,” Kite said, smiling brightly at the unexpected reunion. Graceful Dove under the Moon looked the same as he had always remembered her, with bronze rank so far having staved off signs of aging as her veritable waterfall of brown locks looked as vibrant as ever. If not more.
“It feels like your powers have grown, auntie,” Kite remarked.
At his words, Dove straightened proudly. “Well, little Kite, seeing your pace, your auntie Crow and I felt that we could no longer sit around with so many of our abilities stuck at middling bronze. It was time for them to catch up to those we use in our crafting, and let your auntie tell you; we have worked very hard ever since your left Starberry peak.”
“Oh, I do not doubt it, auntie dearest,” Kite said with a chuckle. “Is auntie Crow here as well?”
“Not at the moment; she went out with a group to check the defensive arrays of one of the other holdfasts. Apparently they were having some kind of trouble with it, and during the surge it is always best to act right away. But she should be back tonight or tomorrow. And-”
Dove was about to continue before she froze, staring at Kite’s face. Or more specifically, the tiny scar on his right cheek.
“Oh, but- my- I- my little Kite-” she began, suddenly looking very worried and fretting as she seemed to know the significance of such a scar very well. “What happened?!”
“Oh, mistress Dove! It was amazing! Kite-” Dragonfly, who had very much enjoyed the story of Kite’s exploits in Bastion, couldn’t help but come crashing into the conversation, unable to keep her excitement in check. But she was deftly interrupted as Serene had the sound around her vanish before she could start her retelling there in the middle of the courtyard with plenty of eyes and ears already watching the reunion.
“It is quite a story, auntie. And one we should probably tell in a more private setting,” he said, sending a grateful nudge of aura Serene’s way. While he knew that she could easily have canceled any sound from leaving the platform, he still knew auntie Dove quite well. Her taking in such news and stories with a calm, controlled demeanor was not within his expectations.
Dove nodded in agreement, looking about and seeming to actually notice their observers. She then turned to a slightly sheepish-looking Dragonfly. “You calling me ‘mistress’ just makes me feel old. Just Dove or auntie is fine. That goes for all of you.
And I believe that you are right, dear,” Dove said, turning back to Kite. “But once we get settled in a little, you will tell me everything, young man. From the beginning.”
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“Your auntie really cares for you, Kite. I mean, really cares for you,” Dragonfly said, walking beside Kite through the narrow corridors on their way to find the local fort commander.
“I have found that it is usually best to let auntie Dove calm down a bit on her own after giving such news. She is quite passionate about the people she cares about, and was upset enough about such things ever since I was a child. If me getting in a quarrel with a lesser monster was enough to set her off, I did not imagine that me getting kidnapped by a silver ranker, forced to fight for my life for a few minutes and almost dying would elicit anything but a spectacular response. As far as such things go, her reaction was surprisingly tame. And Serene did an excellent job in calming down all the people in that wing of the fortress afterwards too.”
“I believe it worked a bit on your auntie too,” Dragonfly added with a smile. “But I like it. Passion such as that is something I can get behind!”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it, my ardent Dragonfly.” Kite chuckled. “But I believe that we are here, so-”
Kite stopped as he drew closer to the door of what they had been told was the commander’s office.
“It would seem like Fortune has smiled upon us,” he said, politely flaring his aura as the pair stopped in front of the door. “Mistress Dew is back.” Dragonfly nodded, having sensed the silver ranked aura as well once they drew close enough. Kite knew that should his mentor have wished to, she could have been a beacon detectable by the whole fortress, but keeping her aura well in check was important with all the normal-rankers around.
When they felt a pulse of a core-laden bronze-ranked aura in response, the pair entered a small office. Space was always at a premium in these kinds of fortifications, with not even the commander having any more space than required. It would only be used for a few weeks every decade, after all. That meant that when Kite and Dragonfly entered the office, there was not too much space to occupy, with the commander and the familiar mistress Dew occupying the only pair of chairs.
“Kite. Dragonfly. It is good to see that you are well,” Frost among Morning Dew greeted them, turning in her chair. She too looked much like when Kite last saw her; silver hair neatly kept in a bun with a pair of hairpins made from some kind of blue-tinted metal and lips painted blue quirked up in a smile which melted at least a bit of her usual frosty demeanor.
“Mistress,” both Kite and Dragonfly echoed in turn before Kite turned to the commander. “Commander. My name is Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune, and the group of four bronze-rankers which I am leading have accepted a contract to assist mistress Frost among Morning Dew in the area. As we will operate closely with the holdfasts and fortresses, I hope that our cooperation will go smoothly.”
“Adventurers. Your presence here will be noted and contributions appreciated,” the commander said, a bronze ranked human man who looked to be middle aged indicating an age which might be closing in on at least eighty. From the feel of him, Kite either assumed him to be a crafter with some combat or adventuring experience or that he hailed from some family affluent enough to raise an essence user and provide enough cores for advancement.
“As I was just saying to the mistress, we have had a period of calm as some groups of adventurers stationed here have been able to make several sweeps of the area -,” the commander continued, “- but word just came in that at least two silver-ranked manifestations have been reported, which usually means that a lot of irons and bronzes will be milling about as well.”
“Which makes your appearance an excellent development, student,” Dew added. “The groups stationed here so far are doing an admirable job, with the Victorious Sunset sect clearly making additional effort. Even if it pains me to admit the latter.
What are you now? Middling bronze-rank? Are the paths of you and your team tempered enough to take on a silver-ranker as long as it is on the weaker side? Which, unfortunately, most manifesting in these regions are.” Mistress Dew looked quite annoyed at the lack of proper opportunities for tempering as she continued. “I had some hopes that the surge would bring out more, but alas, patience remains a virtue I must practice.”
“Then I hope that teacher will at least allow us some of those opportunities,” Kite said, bowing politely. “We did take down a burgeoning shambler not too long ago.”
“Oh? While the shamblers are barely worth being called silver-rankers by any measure, it is still a decent start for your level,” Dew said with a nod, before a slight smile curved her blue lips upwards. “I don’t know what the director might have promised you, but I for one promise only hard work and trials aplenty in the weeks to come. The surge is in full swing after all, my little student. And it will be an excellent time for you to show me what you and your little friends have learned during the last half a year.”
Kite got a slightly bad premonition at her words, barely keeping himself from swallowing at the mischievousness hinted in his teacher’s smile. “Then, mistress, we will once again be in your care.”
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“- and as you can see, our suspicions of the state of your former sect are all but confirmed. You did well in noticing the changes when so many did not. Probably not even the sect leader himself,” Jarvan said, his words directed to a rather subdued Meridians of the Sky. The former grand elder sat looking out the windows, gaze on the horizon where the dusk was fast coloring the summer foliage in shades of peach and cerise.
“Then I take it that the little outcast succeeded to some extent?” Meridian eventually asked. “That my betrayal of my former sect actually reaped some reward?”
“Ah, you have been away from the city for a while. Had you been present during the last week, it would have been hard to miss the rumors,” Jarvan said with a smile. “There is even a moniker starting to spread. And a most excellent recording. I can show it to you later if you want-”
“What the director is trying to say -” Bringer of the Tranquil, high priest of the Healer, said as he broke in to not add further insult to injury to the obviously uncomfortable silver-ranker, “- is that thanks to young Kite’s intervention and his willingness to help us set up a most timely coincidental intervention, we have been able to both study and cleanse the dozen left in our care. While we need more to reach understanding, it has shown us much; both confirming the affliction’s subtle nature as well as hinting at how it propagates.”
“Oh?” Jarvan perked up, the latter news to him as well. “Pray tell, high priest.”
“Certainly,” High priest Bringer began while obviously transitioning to his voice used during lectures and sermons. “As we suspected, the affliction seems to inflate and inflame negative emotions, growing over time in the afflicted victims. It is not until the final stages that it becomes more obvious in the aura of the afflicted, at least not to us of silver rank and below, and even then knowing what to look for has been quite crucial. Thank the Queen and her servitor for their benevolence.” He took a pause to make a gesture of praise towards the sky before continuing.
“Also, our theory that it still mostly affects those of lower rank holds water. It seems like silver-rankers should be able to succumb, but only when the right circumstances are met.”
“Such as?” Jarvan asked, eager for the man to get to his conclusions.
“From the reactivity of the affliction, it would seem that it should be a matter of compatibility. A silver-ranker of calm demeanor or controlled nature might be afflicted, but the condition never takes root. Why, you may ask? Because from what we could see in the afflicted in our care, the affliction seemed to grow and seek shelter in the brain and nervous system through indulging said emotions; letting anger, frustration, envy or sorrow direct one’s thoughts and actions. And this also leads us to what we suspect is the vector of said afflictions spreading. What else in our magical nature is linked in part to our emotions and state of mind?”
“The aura.” It was Meridian who spoke up, her words a statement rather than a question.
“Indeed!” Bringer said, looking pleased at her understanding. “It is quite fascinating really. While we need more time and opportunity for observation, we believe that the afflictions spread through auras. And that is probably why normal-rankers seem both unaffected and therefore also not spreading said affliction; their auras are too weak. My fellow clergy and I believe that a certain level of magic needs to be reached for the aura to be strong enough to act as such a bridge. Which means that there is a spiritual part to the affliction as well, even though the physical vessel seems to be an important first step. As I said, most fascinating-”
The high priest, having looked as if the explanation was about to become quite lengthy, was interrupted as Jarvan raised a hand. “Thank you, high priest. While we are eager to learn as much as possible, there is still the matter of the surge going on. And another matter.” As he said the last part, he turned to look at Meridian, giving the runic woman a long look before continuing.
“Mistress Meridian. As you hear, there is only trouble on the horizon for your former sect. While the adventure society cannot interfere or deny them secession from our ranks, the monster surge remains a time of crisis. A crisis during which they have not only been engaging in territorial behavior to actively accost adventurers trying to complete their contracts and protect the populace, but also letting their members run rampant and scheme against, even ambushing, individual adventurers out of spite and wounded pride.
While the surge is going on, the adventure society as a whole is quite busy. But once it finishes and the aftermath has been weathered, I can all but assure you that there will be a response. One that will most assuredly leave your former sect in complete ruins. The continental council has been patient with a lot, but having a sizable and possibly hostile rogue organization so close will not be tolerated.”
At his words, Meridian’s gaze had hardened. “Director, you should be well aware of the sentiment in this country. The lords and sects of the heartlands will not take kindly to the society striking out against our cultural heritage and rights like that. While I have no illusions that they view our remote sect as important in and of itself, we would become a symbol. To stitch on their banners as they prepare for retribution.
I am not foolish enough to think that they are more powerful than the might of the adventure society, but their honor and pride would stand for no less. You might risk the whole country engulfed in strife.”
Jarvan held her gaze for a while as she spoke. While he could sense a bit of prideful indignation from the former grand elder, he could also sense a great amount of concern. Which made his response a smile, but not his usual braggart’s grin. This one was controlled, even a bit grim, as he spoke.
“I know, mistress Meridian. Believe me, I know,” he said, holding her gaze. “And so does the city lord. Which is why we have a proposal. I will not deceive you; it will bring great strife upon your former home as well. But it also carries a certain amount of hope that some of it, or at least its members, will remain. Probably a lot more than if the adventure society would come knocking.
If you are willing to, I will tell you about this proposal. But it is one you will have to swear upon your path and everything you are to keep a secret. And one that might carry risk for you, personally.”
Leaning back in his chair, Jarvan let the silence hang between them for a while before he asked; “So, Meridians of the Sky. Do you want to hear it?”