The sun reaches close to its zenith when the gates to Dawnreach tower over us. The noises of the queue are a stark contrast to the quiet crackle of the fire in the forest the night before.

  When the three of us get to the gate, the guard looks up at me and there's a note of recognition on his face for a moment. His gaze passed over Shadow briefly before being caught by HH. Her gleaming clerical garments shine in the afternoon light.

  The guard immediately waves us through once he recognizes the icon of the church.

  Inside, the streets are a riot of activity.

  Buskers play strange music from instruments that look familiar with slight changes. A horn with as many fingerings as a wood wind. A standing drum with a rounded skin.

  “Overwhelming,” Shadow interrupts my sight-seeing. “The colors, the architecture, the people. Too much going on.”

  A bell tolls in the distance, marking the hour, but with a tone that feels wrong.

  “Thats kind of the point of a city,” HH interjects with a half-smile.

  “Too many places to disappear,” Shadow retorts.

  “That’s also the point,” I add. “Safety, hiding spots, privacy.”

  Shadow merely looks to the buildings as if searching for unseen threats.

  “They build tall here.”

  “I like the style. Easily defensible and rather appealing to look at.”

  “Is that all you two look at?” HH counters. “Defenses and risks?”

  “What do you see?” I ask.

  A group of children run through the street laughing and hitting sticks against various surfaces and each other.

  “People who don't look afraid,” she responds while absently rubbing her arm.

  Noticing her discomfort, I shift the topic.

  “We can't just stroll into the patron-house unprepared.” I pause to look at the church towering over the other buildings. “We also need to report back to the church.”

  “Agreed,” says Shadow. “I'll scope the place. Guards, patterns, customers. Report back later tonight. Meeting place?”

  “The inn I stayed at. ‘Mira's Resting Post.’ I'll get a room after we visit the church.”

  “Good. I'll meet you there shortly after dusk.”

  “Shadow,” HH calls before he can turn away. “Be careful. We don't know how dangerous this person is.”

  He gives her a half smile.

  “I'm always careful,” he reassures her. “You both be careful too. The church is powerful, not malicious. Watch what you say. They believe they're doing good.”

  With that, he slips into the crowd, blending into the traffic and chaos like his namesake.

  I look at HH. She stares after Shadow for a moment longer before looking back to me with what looks like guilt.

  “We saved people this time,” I say with a smile. “We're bringing good news.”

  “Yeah…” is her only response as the looming cathedral grows closer and closer.

  Ascending the steps up to the church, the doors are still open and inviting. Inside the same charged hush is present.

  Only it now feels like it's waiting for something else.

  It doesn't take long for Brother Griffith to greet us from a hallway.

  “Back so soon?” He asks. “I hope that your mission to bring light to the dark was successful.”

  “It was,” I respond, while gesturing to HH. “Sister Lyra was influential in helping trapped souls regain their minds for they were drugged by their captors.”

  I let the moment build.

  “Without her, I would not have been able to help those in need.”

  He nods in my direction and turns to HH.

  “I see your witness sings your praise, sister. Where are the individuals that were saved?”

  “They have been given to the care of a strong individual who will watch over them while they recover from the ordeal,” she responds with her head low. “They asked not to be brought to another large city after being captured and imprisoned in the dark so recently.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “An understandable concern,” he tells her. “If you trust this ‘strong individual’ then I see no need to press the matter.”

  He places a hand on her shoulder and she stiffens slightly.

  “You appear troubled, Sister. Let us speak with the bishop about the events quickly and get you some rest.”

  He looks at me again.

  “The Luxar thanks you for your help in this matter,” he bows his head slightly. “Should you require aid from the church, please do not hesitate to ask.”

  I return the slight bow and watch them go.

  As they turn the corner, I begin to walk the halls of the church, looking for a discreet alcove and slip inside while no one is looking.

  Inside, my grimoire floats to my hand and opens to a specific page with a mental command.

  “Disguise Self”

  MP: 33 / 80

  My clothes change shape and color. My form hunches and my face feels tighter. I take on the appearance of a lower level cleric of the church.

  Slipping out of the alcove, I join the murmured quiet of the halls. A singular point is pinged on my map. A courtyard with a large shed for storing tools.

  Behind it is my target. The body of a cleric. His robes are scorched in the center of his chest, the area blackened and charred.

  Witnessing the body, I feel like I should be repulsed, or angry. This man tried to attack my friend. But instead I can only muster pity.

  Pity for a man who died because he thought he was doing the right thing. The pity strikes a sickening familiarity in me.

  I start to move.

  Stuffing the corpse into my bag. Stiff limbs vanish leaving only slightly disturbed ground.

  I kick the leaves and refuse around the area to hide the scene better. In time, there won't even be a memory remaining.

  Walking away, I slip back into that same alcove and drop the spell. My form shifts back into that of Elkas and I slip out of the alcove, headed for the doors to the church.

  I'm unbothered as I leave. The feeling of something important being left behind lingers.

  In my bag lies a tool to be used later.

  My stride breaks as I recognize my own thoughts.

  ‘What am I becoming?’

  With a sigh, I set my shoulders and proceed to Mira's Resting Post. There are people who need my help.

  Entering the building, I'm greeted by the same woman from before.

  “Welcome to- ah, Elkas, was it?” Mira asks.

  “Yes,” I reply. “If you've got a room available, I'd like to rent it. 5 silver, right?”

  “Aye, tha’s right,” she says, grabbing a key from under the desk. “Same one ya used afore's ready fer ya. I'll ave sum water an grub sent up in a moment.”

  Taking the key I give her a smile that holds no true warmth.

  “Ya got an interestin look on ya taday lad,” she notes. “Sumn appen lately?”

  My smile falters.

  “One thing keeps leading to another. My goals keep getting further and further away instead of closer,” I admit. “I'm working on them, and I've got friends helping me, but new issues keep getting in the way.”

  “Well, ya got a clean bed an good food fer tonight dear,” she consoles me with a warm smile. “An if ya need it, I've got friends meself who might be able ta help ya. Good folk deserve good help.”

  I'm caught off guard by the offer.

  “Thank you. You're too kind, Mira.”

  “Think nothin of it. Go git sum rest now.”

  Ascending the stairs, I slip into the same room from before. Placing my robes on the coat rack, and my grimoire on the table, there's a knock on the door.

  Opening the door, the tray of food and water basin have been left behind. Similar to last time, the courier is nowhere to be found.

  Taking the food into my room, I set them down on the table and toss the bread roll at the ghost that just slipped into the room.

  “Even irl, you always knew when I was there,” Shadow replies as he takes a bite of food. His eyes scan my face for a moment before he continues. “Recon successful,” slipping back into his usual speech pattern.

  I use the system to start a call with HH so she can join in on the planning from the church.

  “Three stories, stone structure with wooden supports. Windows reinforced, but decorative,” Shadow continues as he draws a map.

  “Guards always watching the door. No threat, just a presence. Attached boarding house with a courtyard. No individuals in distress.”

  He looks up from the map.

  “Busy. Merchants, caravans, someone of nobility,” he recounts. “No coercion. People go in relaxed or concerned and leave satisfied.”

  “This isn't a shadow operation,” HH interjects. “This is a legitimate business and it has connections.”

  “Which is why we don't break in,” I say while thinking. “We knock.”

  Shadow looks to me puzzled.

  “They're looking for strong individuals that need her patronage. I just need to make myself interesting enough to warrant her attention.”

  “Madam Vel won't see you without leverage,” Shadow cuts in. “Push too hard, you'll be denied. Or tested.”

  “True,” I respond. “I could name drop. Say I heard about her from someone I met on the road.”

  “Could work. Could get you attacked.”

  “This is true,” I concede.

  “She brokers talent,” I say slowly. “Information. Power. I'm all three. Let it slip that I took out Gristle. That I'm looking for information, not coin. She may want to know why.”

  “Or she decides elimination is safer.”

  “Then she was never someone I would want on our side.”

  I pause for a long moment then sigh.

  “But if we burn this place to the ground, we win today and learn nothing. Take it over peacefully, and we repurpose their web.”

  “Tav,” HH says. “You're offering yourself as a sacrificial lamb. Walking into a lion's den,” she pauses. “We may be the strongest individuals that we’ve seen so far, but what are we going to do when that changes? What if this Madam Vel has someone as strong, or even stronger than us on their side? We weren't the only raid group from AoS. If we're here, others might be as well.”

  That makes me pause.

  “If that's the case,” I respond. “Then I'll do my best to get out, and we regroup.” I look to Shadow, then to the map provided by the system. “Dawnreach isn't the only city around here. We could go somewhere else.”

  “Agreed,” Shadow says plainly. “Dawnreach isn't our only option. We approach diplomatically first, save destruction or flight if the situation changes.”

  The tension hangs for a breath.

  “We completely destroyed Gristle because he was drugging, and locking people in cages,” I confirm. “This is different. We shouldn't solve every problem with outright violence if we're going to live here for the time being.”

  “We need rest,” HH says after a moment. “Tav and I used a lot of spells and our mana didn't come back.”

  “Yeah,” I respond. “Let's get to bed. Shadow, go get your own room. I'll pay for it. We probably shouldn't use the AoS gold that we came here with.”

  Handing him the 5 silver, he slips out of the window and into the street.

  “Good night HH, I hope you can sleep well.”

  “Good night Tav,” she responds. “We need a break after we're done with this patron house. It's been non-stop since you got here.”

  “Agreed. Ending the call now.”

  With a mental command, the line goes dead and the quiet of the room settles around me. Collapsing on the bed, thoughts stir in my head.

  ‘How do I convince her that our side is best? How am I going to get people out of Grimvault?’

  These and more thoughts swirl in my head as exhaustion eats at the corners of my mind. Tonight I rest. Tomorrow, I knock.