Aren shoveled debris from a small canal that fed water through an artificial network of corridors around the city’s orchard. He had bypassed the flow with his barriers. Normally, the water would have been drained into the underground qanats, but they were still being repaired. The rain had been calming down since the battle four days ago, and now it was time for the city to clean up after the yearly disaster.

  He had been helping underground the day before, speeding the work by providing customized scaffoldings and supports. The collapse of a street had blocked vital tunnels, and they needed to be cleared quickly. Parts of the city were already flooding because of it. Still, after the site had been secured, the work became heavy labor that his first-stage body was inadequate for.

  The city had grown more tolerant of his presence. Some even ignored his band entirely, though most still kept a polite distance. Crina was confident that her talks with the governor were bearing fruit and the people beseeched her forgiveness on every occasion. Of course, his good-natured friend forgave them. She had likely never blamed them in the first place.

  The shared danger, their victory, and the governor’s public investigation had shifted blame away from her and improved how the city viewed them as a whole. And then there was his faux miracle, an event Marie was still cross about, and he tried to forget their initial conversation about it.

  “Why did you do that!?” Marie said, nearly seething. “We had a conversation about not faking a miracle. And the first thing you do is go and do just that. Why am I even surprised? You took every occasion to spit on our faith.”

  They had reported their side of the story after settling into their new accommodation at a mansion near the temple. They had to live there alongside the city’s warriors, but Crina and Marie received large rooms for themselves, although the exemplar’s room was likely to remain empty.

  “That was not my intention,” Aren said tiredly, still recovering mana. He felt that sitting on a cushion did not pacify the Exemplar.

  “You’re not going to tell me that you decided to skirt the rules and caused a beam of light to descend from the sky as the most effective method of dealing with the beast,” Marie’s voice edged toward outright shouting.

  “Well, no,” Aren admitted. “Crina was trying hard to prevent my identity from being revealed, so I tried to think of something, and this was the best method I could come up with.”

  “Couldn’t you have done anything else?” Marie said.

  “It needed to eliminate the monsters in one go using passive magic and be something that would not be thought of as caused by magic,” Aren explained. “For example, entombing it in water to drown it. A strong monster like that might have broken free, and it would have been obvious it was magic.”

  “I was under pressure. The beast was focusing unnaturally on Crina, and it was standing still, so I acted. I would have caused a lightning strike if there had been clouds. I haven’t used passive magic like this before,” Aren admitted.

  “This is a worse mess than if you had declared to the world who you are,” Marie said. “Do you know what a real miracle of this scale can change? Stories of such events are told for all time with the utmost reverence. The witnesses are celebrated long after their passing. They are written down in the Holy Text.”

  “It’s not Aren’s fault,” Crina said, her voice tired. “I acted on impulse as well and contributed to all of this.”

  “First of all, he should have never allowed you to put yourself in danger, Luminous One,” Marie said.

  “That’s not fai…” Crina yawned, interrupting what she was going to say.

  “Okay, so what do we do?” Aren asked, steering the conversation toward what he hoped would be more productive.

  “The decision lies in the Prophet-King’s eyes, but I can already tell you that we will have to deny it’s a miracle. We can’t let a fake miracle spread as a holy work,” Marie said sternly.

  “That’s…” Aren let out a breath.

  “Maybe the Prophet-King will decide your identity can no longer remain secret,” Marie added.

  “The people won’t appreciate learning their new miracle was a mage’s work,” Aren said, feeling alarm rise in his head. “It could worsen Crina’s reputation doubly.”

  “Then you should have thought before acting,” Marie said, standing up. “I’m going to report this now. You stay here.”

  Marie did not wait for further comment and left the room. Aren looked at Crina, who lay in her new bed, she was clearly worried about this.

  “Dammit, sorry, Crina,” Aren uttered as soon as they were alone.

  “Don’t apologize,” Crina said. “I haven’t thought about that either.”

  “I thought that maybe it could solve some of your issues a few minutes ago,” Aren said.

  “It still may. The Prophet-King’s wisdom is endless,” Crina said. “Whatever his choice, it will be one that is best for the Sands. If it causes my reputation to darken, then so be it. I don’t want to lie to people either.”

  Aren nodded, but he was unsatisfied. Still, he saw that Crina was tired and didn’t want to trouble her thoughts further. He analyzed the room to distract himself from the issue for now. It was rather richly furnished, the polished wood of the two large beds, a large symbol of the One Sun on the wall, and a desk with shelves stacked with books.

  “So… uhm, are you going to sleep here?” Crina asked, her face controlled, though a slight blush appeared on her cheeks.

  Technically, it was also his room, as the governor had misunderstood their relationship. They had explained that to the official who led them here, but there weren’t any other free rooms.

  “I would rather not stir further rumors, your reputation is already at stake here,” Aren said. “I’ll look for a bunk bed in the open hall. All my things taken out of storage were destroyed with the mansion anyway.”

  Crina nodded deliberately. “Just make sure you get good rest. You must be tired after the healing. Did you lose anything important?”

  “Some of the books I lent Mar’tei were, but nothing irreplaceable,” Aren said, all his theories safely stored in his mind. “I’m a little tired, but you’re still sick. Go to sleep. The morning prayer is in a few hours.”

  Crina nodded and settled down. His mind filled with more worries than he thought he should have after a city had been saved.

  In the end, the Prophet-King didn’t choose to disclose his identity. He had denied that the beam of light was holy work, but no explanation was given. The priests answered believers’ questions with words along the lines of: “The Sun works in mysterious ways.”

  It left many believers confused, unsure how to interpret the event. The confusion spread, and the reverence people showed toward Crina cooled somewhat, but it was still a heaven-and-earth improvement over their initial reception. The Luminous One, and the city at large, had been saved by a mysterious beam of light, while the mighty exemplar defended it from a powerful worm.

  Aren stepped onto the sandstone tiles of the city’s streets, no longer feeling water up to his ankles. They were still slippery, but the rain would stop in a day or two, and it would begin to recede. The water would start draining by then, even if the sand would remain damp. The first signs of ephemeral plant life were starting to appear in the desert.

  He had been helping the city as much as he could. It improved Crina’s reputation a little and helped him stay away from the grumpy exemplar. He also found a certain degree of satisfaction in physical labor. It was a revelation he had to consider. He had been becoming physically lazy like a stereotypical mage—or worse, like a noble.

  Reaching their new building, he found himself eager to leave it behind, the communal room with bunks was not what he would call comfortable. Finding a quiet place to teach Mar’tei was nearly impossible. Maybe today he could take her to Crina’s room, the exemplar had seemed calmer when he left.

  Then he stopped.

  An unfamiliar figure stood before the entrance door, commanding the attention of everyone nearby.

  The man was tall, slightly taller than Aren, his dark skin adorned with numerous ornaments. His ears were pierced with triangular golden earrings, and he wore multiple rings on each finger except the right forefinger, which was bare. Bright scarlet, gold, and amber bracelets circled his muscular, sleeveless arms. A golden necklace bearing the symbol of the Sun hung from his neck, resting against a bright violet silk vest.

  Aren’s gaze stopped on the handle of the straight sword at the man’s side, attached to a simple belt hanging off his white silk trousers. Its gleaming silver surface bore an intricate design. There were no religious symbols, instead, the pattern seemed to follow the golden ratio. It was mathematically pleasing, a precision that clashed with the man’s otherwise gaudy appearance.

  The man’s gaze found him, and for a fraction of a second his eyes flashed gold. Aren felt himself being weighed and measured. All the while, the man held a self-pleased smile.

  Aren, as usual, wore his white scale mail and scarf. There was nothing outwardly unusual about him, yet the man approached.

  “That’s well-made armor,” the bald stranger began. “Magically enhanced. An unusual piece for a first-stage warrior. That scarf carries enchantment as well. You must be the Sunbearer mage.”

  “I am,” Aren said, not seeing a reason to deny it. “And who am I speaking with?”

  The people nearby looked at him with confusion, but Aren couldn’t tell whom the amber-tinted hazel eyes fixed on him belonged to. He found himself locked in a staring contest and had no intention of breaking it first. Still, the people around him regarded the figure with reverence, which narrowed the possibilities somewhat.

  “I was told you are a smart man.” The man’s smile did not change; somehow, that made it more irritating. “I will give you a clue, we have already had a chance to meet.”

  “I see. I had no idea I was speaking with an Honored Exemplar,” Aren said, inclining his head respectfully. Now he recognized the voice. It was the one that had spoken from the silver sphere.

  “It’s understandable,” the man said. “You most likely saw me only as a floating sphere of light. Even we perceive one another only as colored figures during the Synod. Only the Holy One himself can see true detail.”

  Then he did a flourish with his right hand and pointed to his chest with his palm. “Exemplar Palu of the Vormeh family.”

  “I’m Ren, a mage and Sunbearer, as you said,” Aren responded. He was glad the man’s eyes did not shine. Marie had drilled into him that Vormeh was one of the cities governed by one of the great families. “I thought you were supposed to wear green capes or cloaks?”

  The man’s smile did not change at his direct question. “My tasks sometimes require me to work incognito. I simply did not have time to pick up a new one as I hurried here.”

  “Tell me, just Ren, how are you and the Luminous One enjoying each other?” the exemplar said.

  Aren’s eyes widened. “What?”

  “No need to be coy. It’s all natural. I wonder how the flowers of Sands compare to teolians as well,” the man’s smile widened into something that suggested he was striking friendly conversation.

  Aren did not blink again. “Firstly, I apologize for not stating my last name. It’s Valoryn, I got used to your ways. Secondly, I’m Crina’s friend. We are not… like that.”

  “Ah, I see. Exemplar Marie probably doesn’t leave the two of you alone,” the man said. “Well, maybe we will be able to do something about that with me here.”

  Aren decided he did not want to continue this conversation right now. “You mentioned hurrying here. Did you bring some news? Have you already spoken with Exemplar Marie?”

  The man smiled knowingly. “Fine, we will converse later. I have some news indeed. Come with me.”

  Palu stepped toward the door with the natural expectation that Aren would follow, which he did, but only because he was going in the same direction. The people parted and kneeled for the gaudy man. Aren wondered if the exemplar was famous in those parts, or if the news had already spread.

  “So tell me, Ren Valoryn, is that the northern mage woman you are traveling with?” Palu said, pointing.

  Mar’tei sat at a nearby long table, engrossed in a stack of papers that contained the spells they had been customizing for her. She looked up and smiled upon seeing him but paused mid-wave when she noticed the exemplar. Well, the gaudy man did look out of place in most settings.

  “Her name is Mar’tei, I remember from what Exemplar Marie shared,” the man said, as if remembering. “Quite a beauty. You two are close, right?”

  “I… sure,” Aren said.

  “Ah, complicated,” Palu said. “I like that. Will you mind if I complicate it further, or did you move on toward the Luminous One?”

  “Are you always like this?” Aren furrowed his brows.

  “When there are beautiful flowers nearby. The Sun made one sex more pleasing to the eye for a reason,” Palu’s smile widened. “I guess that’s a yes. Well, she doesn’t look like the type to look for a fling either. No need to look at me like that. I would never hurt a woman, well, unless it’s a holy task.”

  “We should not leave Exemplar Marie waiting,” Aren said after a short pause.

  “Hmm, I thought I was being friendly,” Palu said. His smile did not waver. “We will have time to get to know each other. With time, I will convince you to drop the formalities with me.”

  “Your behaviour is quite a contrast to how you appeared during the synod, Honored Exemplar,” Aren said.

  “Can’t exactly be casual with the Holy One,” the man shrugged. “We all wear our masks.”

  Aren nodded, and the man continued toward the staircase to the higher floor. He remembered that the silver-light exemplar had been the only one who didn’t get to vote on his dismissal when Crina interrupted him. Palu was also supposed to be responsible for investigations, and his questioning had been rather inquisitive. He should be careful around the man.

  “So, you were there during the lightshow Little Exemplar reported,” the man started again.

  “Little Exemplar?” Aren repeated.

  “Ah, a nickname. She had been around the peak since she was a teenager,” Palu said. “Training to become an exemplar and serve the Holy One. Anyway, it’s an old story. Maybe you will get a chance to talk with her about it when you are done with the task. She is friendlier when not on a mission.”

  “I see…”

  “Anyway, I’m interested in the light, even if it’s not going to be named holy work,” the man said, with what sounded like honest curiosity.

  “I saw it kill the elder earth wyrm in an instant. I did not sense any mana from it,” Aren said, and he thought the man’s eyes brightened for an instant, though he may have imagined it as they had passed by the window. Still, he did not lie, the light itself was all natural.

  “That’s an interesting mystery,” the man said. “Maybe we will one day get to uncover it.”

  “It was timely,” Aren said.

  “Indeed. Could you have taken on the beast alone?” the man asked.

  “I’m happy I didn’t have to,” Aren said. Technically, he had not been alone, as Crina was both its target and stalling it in one place.

  “A sane approach,” the exemplar said, stepping onto the third floor of the mansion where Crina’s room was. “So, how do you find our religion?”

  Aren hesitated. “I’m used to simpler tenets.”

  “Better yourself and your community sounds rather simple, doesn’t it? Harder in practice,” the man said, with a note of cheer.

  “Each nation’s history has its moments of weakness; we need to learn from them,” Aren stated.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  The exemplar nodded in agreement. “What happened to the Luminous One’s father, for example, shameful loss. My father was still an exemplar during that time, he should have watched out for him more.”

  “Did they know each other?” Aren asked. It was the first time he had heard someone speak of Crina’s father without scorn.

  “They met once or twice. Father was interested in all kinds of knowledge,” Palu said. “He was a bit of an archivist, with all the scrolls and books he tended to store.”

  The guards stationed outside the room stood impossibly straighter upon noticing their arrival.

  “Honored Exemplar,” one stated. “Exemplar Marie is ready to greet you inside.”

  “Let’s say hello. It’s rude to keep ladies waiting,” the man winked at Aren.

  The door swung open with swift precision as the exemplar stepped inside. Palu’s steps took him directly to a spot with the best light, striking a pose that presented his left side fully. Aren walked in behind him and saw that Marie looked fully unimpressed by the man, clearly used to this. Donnavan stood by her side, stoic as always. Crina sat on the edge of her bed, a guarded look on her face and it told Aren everything he needed to know about the man.

  “By the Holy Light our steps are guided; His will we deliver.” The male exemplar said, placing his right fist over his heart.

  “We carry the Light into the dark; we strike down the shadows that threaten its warmth.” Marie responded, mirroring the gesture.

  “The Sun’s wisdom shines through your eyes, Luminous One,” the man greeted. “It’s good to see that the beautiful flowers of the Sands are looking radiant as ever. Radiant greetings to you as well, Donnavan.”

  The officer bowed. “I stand in your light, Honored Exemplar.”

  Crina lowered her head as far as propriety dictated. “We welcome your radiance, Honored Exemplar.”

  The man smiled and relaxed but kept himself in the light. “Greetings done, can we enjoy a nice glass of wine and pleasant conversation before the unpleasant topics?”

  Marie continued to look at him in the same manner.

  “We can start with the unpleasant and leave the pleasant for later,” the man said, nodding to himself, satisfied. “I judged the previous governor of Karsuun yesterday. He is awaiting his punishment as we speak, but I had urgent information to bring to you.”

  “What happened?” Marie prompted.

  “He has been embezzling funds to support the movement against the Luminous One,” the man stated. “I have graciously discovered his plot, although part of the merit goes to you both. He was convinced that you were onto him and contacted the assassins in a hurry. I listened in on their meeting.”

  Marie nodded along. “I was going to return there to investigate.”

  “Sharp as beautiful,” the man commented, but Marie’s eyes urged him to continue. “Well, he demanded action, to get rid of you as well as the Luminous One to help hide his involvement.”

  Donnavan’s eyes sharpened, while Crina paled.

  “Scum like that are not worth your worry, Luminous One,” Marie said. “How did you know to look into Karsuun, and did you discover any of their plans?”

  “Follow the money, well, in this case, the bright dust,” the man said with a smirk. “The drugs spreading through the south all came through Karsuun, one way or another. As for their plans, apparently you foiled some attempt of theirs lately, but I didn’t learn the details. Now they are desperate too, they will attack in full force soon.”

  “Could the wyrm have been that attempt?” Aren mused to himself and received stares from the table. “I mentioned the monster was unnaturally focused. Those beasts tend to rampage, even when attacked, they tend to distance themselves while destroying everything in sight to clear the ground for their battle. It’s their instinct, and it should have been stronger during the Raining Season.”

  “Do you suggest they have ways to control monsters of this strength?” Palu asked.

  “It’s not impossible,” Aren answered. “There are methods that operate on all three domains of power, and they already showcased unique techniques. Its single-minded focus on one target is also simpler to achieve than proper taming. We have witnessed another unusual attack some time ago with the skalith worms.”

  “Then we will need to consider that possibility in our planning,” Marie said before returning to the previous line of questioning. “Won’t they realize they have been made, since you judged the sinner?”

  “That’s why he is awaiting his punishment,” Palu said. “I only judged him on the drug trade charges. Once we deal with this final attack, we will bring the full charges forth. With their further funding severely cut, their hands will be further forced.”

  “And we can wipe the shadow out in one full sweep, then deal with the ringleaders,” Marie nodded. “Finally, bright news.”

  “Finally seeing my brightness. So can we get the wine?” the man offered, his armbands clinking as he waved his hand toward the door.

  “No, now we plan,” Marie said. “You can get shitfaced alone after we are done. Unless you don’t plan to help us in the fight.”

  Palu’s smile widened, the kind that suggested he enjoyed every second of this. “Cruel. Can’t say it makes you any less attractive,” he said, plucking a cushion from a nearby pile. “Combat may not be my specialization, but I’m no slouch. I will stay. Let’s sit down at least.”

  Marie didn’t look happy about it but played along. Aren found himself sitting between her and the man, Donnavan opting to stay dutifully behind Marie. Crina continued to sit on her bed. She looked better, but there was no reason for her to sit on the floor.

  “So, what are our forces exactly? I followed your reports, Exemplar Marie, but did you suffer losses in the defense of the city?” the man began.

  “Few of our warriors rest in the Sun’s eternal glory,” Marie said, letting a moment of silence settle before continuing.

  “We have four priests, two can heal near-fatal wounds, more than thirty warriors of second and third stage, five of fourth stage, Marc is fifth stage, and Donnavan lately ascended to sixth,” Marie counted. “We have twelve holy warriors, and each is capable of matching a fourth-stage warrior in strength alone; two are quite outstanding.”

  “Me, you… and two mages,” she finished, looking at Aren. He didn’t see the sign that he was to stop pretending.

  Aren nodded. “I believe Mar’tei is capable of using five-circle spells, but she lacks practice. Still, her previous repertoire should be swifter and stronger.”

  “And you?” Palu asked, with a knowing smile.

  “I’m somewhat better,” Aren said.

  “No need to hide things. We will be working together,” Palu said. “Although you already confirmed you are significantly stronger than those who were with you when the wyrm attacked.”

  Aren’s eyes widened slightly, and the man chuckled before he explained, “When I asked you if you would have had to face the monster alone, you never protested that. In the first place, the knowledge you showcased during the Synod is not of a simple adventuring mage.”

  Aren nodded carefully. “I can cast six-circle spells comfortably in combat.”

  Palu whistled. “Now that’s something. Can’t say I ever fought side by side with a proper mage. Is the black warrior that helped you slay the dragon-class worm a while ago not willing to help?”

  Aren shook his head. “Slaying beasts is his goal. He won’t step into violence between people.”

  “Let’s discuss strategy.” Marie stepped in. “I believe we need to watch out for the beastkin. That is most likely their strongest combatant. I believe that Exemplar Palu, Donnavan, and Ren should be enough to deal with her while I watch out for unexpected threats…”

  The rain had finally stopped, and the Sun shone in all its glory. Marie bathed in its warmth, letting go of her annoyance and wariness for a brief moment. The air was still damp, but she didn’t mind. In a way, this time of year was her favorite, as the first weeds and shrubs pushed up through the dried outer crust of the ground. It was also the season when food was plentiful and easy to find for a few weeks… not that she needed to anymore.

  “Exemplar Marie, a fine day it is,” Exemplar Palu said and her annoyance returned.

  She did not reply; she had already greeted the man for the day. She would have been happier to deal with whatever faux pas the Sunbearer might cause sooner or later, than with this. While Aren did things his own way and had a hard time respecting rules, he did not harbor malice, she had a chance to confirm that. With Exemplar Palu… she was not sure.

  The exemplar was smart and a great investigator. Shame he used his talents to poke and annoy people whenever possible. He always needed to be the center of attention in any situation, always needed to dominate the room. His ornaments and clothes were carefully selected to shine brightly and draw attention.

  On top of that, his urges were improper for any person of faith. While he never broke any of the holy laws, she was not sure he understood that consent given to him was not always because of his charm. She informed all the women in the building that they could deny his advances and that she would stand beside them. Still, she was sure the gaudy man found one.

  Even the northern mage was not spared from his advances. Mar’tei at least caught on quickly, and Marie spoke with her as well. She then made sure to keep herself sparse and always busy learning from Aren. It was the best strategy available to her, although she worried that Palu might discover Aren’s identity through their interactions. It was likely that Palu did all of this to learn more about the Sunbearer, the exemplar hunted mysteries.

  Then there were attempts to lead her away, supposedly to give the Luminous One and the Sunbearer space. The exemplar even dared to suggest things. She shut down the few comments directed at her charge and made sure he did not linger in her quarters. The man was not her assigned guardian, so there was no reason for him to be there any longer than necessary.

  “Silent treatment,” Exemplar Palu said. “And here I’m doing you a favor.”

  “Weeding out this darkness is even more your task than mine,” Marie said finally. “My duty is to protect the Luminous One. It’s yours to ensure rot like this doesn’t take root in the first place.”

  “Point taken,” the man conceded, and his smile infuriated her. He pointed toward a line of warriors with skalith, and a few ornate sledges. “Are we all ready to leave?”

  “Yes,” Marie stated, then she walked away.

  Stepping toward the Luminous One’s carriage, she moved to its front and gave the signal for departure. Governor Sara offered a great deal of support, even providing her warriors, but Marie declined. She did not have time to fully investigate each warrior, and doing so while increasing their numbers could also tip off the assassins.

  Then she stepped inside the tent. The Luminous One was alone currently and her worry over the situation worsened her condition. Still, the young woman had performed her task of convincing the governor to develop the city’s economy admirably and with no small success. It would be better if Marie was the only one worrying about everyone’s lives. Even though she hated it, she would invite Aren to use his magic as soon as they traveled a short distance away.

  “There is no need to worry, we planned extensively,” Marie tried to sound reassuring.

  The Luminous One nodded. “I will be praying that no one dies.”

  She couldn’t answer that it was unlikely. “If things go wrong, we always have him.”

  “True,” the young woman smiled briefly.

  “I don’t wish to remind you, Luminous One, but it will be difficult to maintain your friendship with him past the end of this journey,” Marie said.

  “I know, I plan to try anyway.” A moment of silence settled in the tent before her charge spoke again. “Does our promise still stand… despite everything?”

  “Of course, nothing has changed,” Marie said, making sure to keep her official tone, but she felt herself soften a little. Then she let a thought out that crossed her mind. “I hope Exemplar Palu is not worsening your condition.”

  “His presence is unnerving,” the Luminous One admitted. “I don’t know why, but the way he watches me feels off.”

  “The way he looks at people as if he knows everything about them puts many at unease. Then there is the way he treats women.” Marie huffed in annoyance.

  “He is exemplar, I must be overthinking this.”

  “He is eccentric, but he is still bound by the holy vow,” Marie nodded.

  The Luminous One nodded hesitantly, clearly weakened by her condition.

  “I will invite Aren here,” Marie said, turning slowly but still noticing the change of expression. It worried her for more than one reason. “His magic should help you relax, we have traveled far enough.”

  Their journey continued unabated until it was time for camp. It was unlikely an attack would happen soon. There were few spots likely for an ambush as they neared the oasis valley, but for the next two days they would travel over washed-down flats of the desert. The Sun shone brightly in the afternoon sky, the land glittering from the remaining wetness.

  The warriors were told to go light on training, but otherwise the camp carried on as usual. They had more than enough reason to take things easy after two weeks of constant fighting against monsters. It would take more than a day to shake off the accumulated mental exhaustion, and the new tension did not help. Donnavan had quietly disseminated the information to key people, a full strategic meeting involving everyone would be held today.

  She watched the Sun lower itself as its light washed over the golden desert, green patches spanning the whole horizon. After offering a prayer, she turned to get Donnavan and gather the warriors. Instead, the face of her fellow exemplar greeted her, his skin glittering and his ornaments blinding the people around him.

  “Exemplar Marie, I have something I wish to discuss with you,” the man stated formally, then looked around meaningfully. “Without prying eyes.”

  “Sunbearer Ren doesn’t pry on conversations,” Marie said, knowing the fellow exemplar could sense the faint magic of the wards. Only his short-range ones were this easy to sense, as they were more detailed.

  “You trust him with that?” Exemplar Palu asked, but did not wait for an answer. “Anyway, this information is for your ears only. I need to make sure of that, so if we could go on a short walk…”

  Marie’s eyes narrowed. “If this is another of your—”

  “I’m not trying to get some quality alone time on this occasion, as pleasant as that sounds,” he interrupted her. “It concerns your and mine tasks.”

  “Why didn’t you pass it on while we were in the city? We could have gone to the temple,” Marie questioned.

  “This is quite sensitive,” the man said, but didn’t explain further.

  Marie did not like this, but the man could not lie to her any more than she could to him. He could hide things or be vague, but his words had to be true.

  Turning serious and trying to dismiss the irritation the smug face caused her, she nodded. “I will inform Donnavan that I’m leaving for a moment.”

  The man nodded, clearly pleased. After leaving the camp with instructions to prepare for the strategic meeting, they started running. Gold shine enveloped both of them. She did not want to spend time alone with the man longer than was necessary.

  “So, how is recharging the Luminous One’s holy relic going?” the man asked mid step.

  “Thanks to your initial help, it will work by tomorrow, if at lessened capacity,” Marie said. “The Sun Watcher also managed to recover some of its energy.”

  “That’s good,” the exemplar said, showing her a smile that seemed honest.

  Then they stopped, the camp no longer visible even with their enhanced eyes.

  “You are quite cautious,” Marie said. This was farther than the wards she could detect, although not out of his range.

  “We need to be careful with mages. They always have tricks we are not prepared for,” Exemplar Palu said, serious for once. “This should be a safe distance for a mage of his power. You know he must be hiding something. Mages that are capable of six-circle spells don’t appear from nowhere. I never heard of Ren Valoryn, and only the Ninth Light has more contacts within Vo’Teol than me.”

  “He let me use my spiritual domain on him,” Marie said, remembering exactly what he felt. “And he does not know my radiant aspect.”

  “He is loyal?” the gaudy man’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “Not to me, or the Sands, of course," She shook her head. “Anyway, I trust him to carry this mission through.”

  “I did not expect that,” the exemplar said honestly for once, then played with a silver ring on his pinky.

  “So what did you have to say to me?” Marie prompted.

  “It’s a shame, really, I quite like you,” he said, his voice solemn.

  Marie felt her hair stand up. “What do you mean?”

  She did not wait long for the explanation, as a loud explosion-like sound reached her ears and a cloud of sand rose where the camp was. Marie pushed through her shock, the gold shine around her solidified as she spun to race back, only for a sword to ward her way.

  “No need to hurry back up, it’s done already,” Palu said. “The young woman is dead. I know this is pointless, but you can surrender.”

  “You are with the assassins!?” Marie came to the only conclusion. “Your vow should have rendered you soulless by now! How!?”

  She did not wait for an answer. Instead, she attacked with her blade wrought in gold. A single flash, and she was by his side. A casual swipe of her right arm met his sword, and he slid along the sand. Another loud noise came from the distance, then another, but this time higher up in the sky, then an explosion of thunder rose before the distant collisions resumed. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

  “Huh, he is fighting… but he won’t last long,” the sinner to her left said.

  She ignored him and sped away, but a beam of dark energy stopped her. Then she turned to look at the heretic, and what she saw surprised her. The man had stabbed himself with his sword through his frontal lobe. Silver and dark energy suffused him, an alien spiritual domain was sucking in mana from their surroundings to the point that even she could feel it.

  “Now, now,” Palu said, a smile returning to his face as he pulled out the blade. “I guess my disguise is no longer needed anyway. It was fun while it lasted.”

  Marie pushed off the ground, and blinding light was left in her passage. This time, though, the sinner blocked her strike with his bloodied sword and did not budge.

  “So you were hiding your power all along.” Marie seethed the words out.

  “It takes certain sacrifices to fake the Sun’s power,” the man said, circles of mana sprouting from behind him.

  She was forced to dodge as spears of fire raced for her. She tried to disturb the spell’s structure with a wave of holy power, but her energy passed through harmlessly.

  “I know all those tricks,” the man laughed as more circles appeared around him.

  “Why?” Marie said, focusing on dodging the projectiles, hoping that he had not faked his personality either.

  “That’s a deep question,” the heretic mused to himself. “Firstly, because it’s my lord’s wish. The Archivist is tired of his prison, and this is the first step to freeing him. Damned beastkin though, I even took her suppression off. She was supposed to not play with her food.”

  Marie slid on the sand, glassifying it with the intensity her light shone. She cut through a spear of earth and avoided a volley of lances of fire. Then she sped for the sinner, ignoring the invisible windblades that struck her, her faith quickly healing her from the light injuries. She smashed a wall of earth that rose and broke through it, but the man was no longer behind it, instead, he was floating in the air.

  “Secondly, it’s the perfect time. The Sun’s chosen is a meek man trying to please everyone. The Night’s Companion annoyed enough people that gaining support from the greedy fools for this was easy. Killing my father all those years ago to take over the leadership proved to be perfect timing.”

  Marie sneered as she focused more of her power, then she ran on the air. Still, the man peppered her with projectiles while keeping his distance. “Fight me.”

  “I don’t need to,” the man smiled infuriatingly. “The pet my great-grandfather brought will deal with the mage. I guess she found him worthy to play with. I guess I can entertain myself too.”

  Continuing his attacks, he summoned four bigger, more intricate circles. Marie focused on avoiding manoeuvres and tried to close the distance. Then four black chains sped for her; she swathed her blade to deflect them. To her surprise, her blade’s golden aura gave way, then her arms and legs were swiftly bound by the spell.

  “It works on you too, good, I have been testing on priests, but it’s nice all the hard work paid off,” the man said.

  Marie flared her light, trying to break free or melt the chains, but they swallowed her light faster than she could produce it. Then she was pulled forward toward the man. His expression now fully showcased the depth of his depravity.

  “Finally, I can play with you,” he started. “At least something good will come from all of those failures. It’s like the world tried to make me fail. First, that mage accidentally saves her, then he stops the devouring plague. Unable to strike in the open until I was certain the black warrior was not coming back. Then the fucking light from the sky killing the wyrm I took weeks to find. That light must have broken some rules!”

  Marie ignored his babbling. Instead, she closed her eyes, then when she opened them, they shone with enough light to brighten the day. “I, Marie, the Exemplar of Loyalty, beseech the Sun’s blessing to slay the darkest of enemies.”

  As she spoke the words, the light around her shifted. It was no longer mere light, it became flowing gold, spreading outward like a tide. The chains that bound her melted, dripping into nothingness, and the sand below liquefied under the heat of her power. The golden glow spread across the desert, reaching beyond the nearest dunes, coating every grain that caught the Sun’s rays.

  Even the distant horizon seemed to shimmer in her light. The sky above turned amber, and within the bounds of her domain, the Sun itself seemed to swell, taking on the size it held in her life. She stood at the center of it all and her God watched as the vast expanse of sand became one with her power.

  “So you are willing to spend all your energy on me, I feel—” he did not finish as she slammed her fist into his face.

  He tumbled through the air as she chased, but she knew she hadn’t connected. Her kick struck a flickering barrier as she slammed him downward. Flashing through space, she kicked him from below. A cracked shield flickered in front of the sinner’s face as he laughed.

  “You think I didn’t prepare for this?” the man said as he continued to laugh.

  A flame spiral tried to bar her way, but she dismissed it with a weave. She now burned with the Sun’s warmth, this flame did not scare her. Chains tried to snap at her, but they melted as they neared her form. Dark projectiles and beams struck her light, and then she felt them drain a little bit of her power, her faith, before vanishing. She unconsciously moved back, giving the sinner space.

  The man swiftly held the sword in front of him as he uttered an invocation, “As First servant of the Archivist, I call upon the key to the well of endless knowledge.”

  Her golden domain fractured around the man as an alien force battled for dominance. Dark wings burst from the cultist’s back, and a spherical purple moon manifested above his forehead. The transformation continued, black feathers fell around him, his eyes turned completely white, and his fingernails lengthened, blackening into sharpened talons.

  His limbs stretched and grew in size. Marie did not hesitate any longer. The golden sea beneath her surged forward, answering the motion of her blade as she thrust it ahead. A spear of molten energy sped toward the heretic.

  A large circle composed of black energy formed in front of the man. It swirled and transformed into a spiraling void. When her golden light met the darkness, they clashed, but with each moment, more of her molten energy was dismantled and swallowed until nothing remained of her attack. Then the darkness collapsed as well.

  “Recorded,” the man uttered, his voice distant, though his disgusting smile remained. “Proceeding with archiving.”