5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

W hat did Father Lewis mean, Zen wondered? But then, as he trudged back to his room, he knew. He couldn't remain an acolyte forever. If he continued to fail the trials, eventually, he wouldn't be given more chances. He'd be cast out, lose his robes, lose the safety they provided, and after that, he doubted he'd survive long on the streets.

Like Jax…

It was only when Zen sat on his barren bed that he remembered he needed new sheets, but he didn't feel like sleeping. He couldn't bring himself to shed a tear for that poor boy and his fellows, he felt so numb.

An hour passed, maybe two, with Zen sitting there in his robes, thinking of what he should do. In the trials, he didn't remember he was in them, and so he doubted he would ever make a different call when the last trial came. Maybe eventually, if they wore down his spirit, he'd stop caring about an enemy who pleaded for mercy, but then, would he even care about protecting the innocent to pass the first trial?

What would be left of him if he believed that blindly?

The room was starting to brighten. The sun would be up soon, which meant the adventurers would be leaving the city, toward danger, yes, but at least toward something. If Zen stayed here, maybe he could become a full priest someday and do more to help others.

Or he could leave and help even more people by ending this blight at its source.

Zen took stock of his room. There was literally nothing he cared about other than what was already on his person.

Rising from the bed, Zen raised his hood in case anyone was in the halls and snuck out of his room toward the storeroom that acted as their armory. He'd been taught basics in archery and swordplay since he was young, but only full priests were allowed to arm themselves. It was time he took what he was due.

After claiming a bag that he could sling across his body, Zen filled it with a bedroll, soap, a torch, and a waterskin. Then he set to choosing a crossbow, the lightest he could find that allowed repeating rounds. He took as many bolts as felt sensible to carry, some for his bag, others for the pouches on his belt, which he also replaced with a belt that could sheathe a dagger, and he took one of those as well.

The temple seemed brighter when he moved on, so he hurried to fill his waterskin in the kitchen, as well as the remaining space in his bag with food.

The halls remained empty—until he neared the main hall leading out the temple's front gate, and the Lord of Daxos walked past.

Zen froze. Lord Barrymore, the human noble who ruled Daxos and its surrounding lands, was suddenly a person-length away. Zen held his breath, and somehow the lord didn't notice him, heading swiftly toward Father Lewis's chambers.

Zen flattened himself to the wall, certain that guards or personal attendants would follow, but no one else appeared. Lord Barrymore was alone.

Peering around the corner after him, Zen saw Father Lewis meet the lord in the hall. They spoke hushed for a moment before exiting into Lewis's chambers. The door to the room across from the chambers was open. Zen had never seen that door open. Only full priests were allowed inside.

Knowing Father Lewis was occupied, Zen took a chance and hurried into the room, quickly shutting the door behind him. The remains of incense lingered and there was still a candle lit. This room had no windows, but Zen saw now what it contained.

Amulets, books of prayer, extra robes, and the stoles of the clergy. Acolytes and priests wore different stoles, but they were nearly identical so that the people would treat acolytes with as much respect as anyone higher ranking. The only difference was that a priest's stole had an additional layer of silver stitching as well as added rays around the sunbursts on each of its ends.

The adventurers hadn't seemed to notice Zen's station last night, but fearing they might in the brighter light of day, Zen traded his for a priest's stole, took a book of prayers, and might have taken other things, but an adventurer needed to travel light.

Before he was about to leave, he noticed a chest at the end of the room, hidden in shadow. It was simply adorned but seemed like something that should have been locked. It wasn't, but there was a presence about it that drew Zen closer.

" Detect ," he said with a wave of his hand, and a glow emanated from inside.

He knelt before it and carefully lifted the lid.

Dust? Not gold, but maybe silver or diamond dust.

Zen ran his fingers through the substance, and though it shimmered, it felt soft like powder. It had to be a spell component, and very powerful if it was kept here, so he took an empty pouch from his belt and filled it with as much as he could.

The sun was halfway up when Zen hurried from the temple with his spoils. He met no one and not once did he think of looking back at the home he hoped to never see again.

"You see!" Morty exclaimed when Zen cleared the last street corner toward the west gate. The gnome's blue hair looked even brighter in the rising sunlight. "Told you he'd show."

"Never doubted it," Khel said, proud and noble looking in his elven armor.

"Gotta be wrong once in a while," Dante said, sporting a pleased smirk. "And glad of it. You ready?"

Come.

Zen felt a tingle all through him. He was nervous, but he chose instead to feel excitement. "Ready."

"You're letting him leave?"

"What other choice do we have?"

"He is our one chance—"

"Exactly."

Father Lewis turned to look at Lord Barrymore, who stood beside him in the bell tower that faced the west gate where Zen was leaving with the half-race adventurers who'd invaded the city yesterday.

After witnessing their battle against the ghouls, Lewis had made sure to have them watched and learn everything he could. He had easily guessed the decision Zen would make after failing the trials yet again.

"They seek Lord Gaian," Lewis said. "Let them try. Zen might never have become a full priest, and the attacks would surely only intensify. At least this way, there is hope."

"The King will have our heads if we don't end this." Barrymore scowled in distress. "You were supposed to take care of things, to train the darkling and turn him toward our cause. He is not ready."

"He is out of time. We all are." Lewis returned his attention to the disappearing party, who unknowingly bore all the kingdom's hopes on their shoulders—Zen in particular. "Either he will prove ready and kill the vampire lord…

"Or Gaian will claim his prize."