The tornado of Shadowmurk pulled me into the portal as if I weighed no more than a feather. I flew end over end, not knowing which way was up or down. Murk filled my lungs until I felt I would surely burst from it. I was in the Void now and could feel it changing me, remaking me into an abomination. My skin grew hot, my eyes leaked what I thought must be blood and an overwhelmingly terrible presence invaded my mind.

  I HAVE YOU! THE SHARDS ARE MINE!

  No!

  There was only a single card I had left to play. I had been saving my last casting of Condemnation for the purification of the monk corpses when I had finished gathering them together, but the storm of Shadowmurk raging through the Void was tearing me apart from within and without. The malevolent presence that could only be Xat would soon consume my body and soul. I cried out as a former piece of the bone throne slammed into my side, piercing me through the hip and blood began to flow from the wound.

  “Gods, aid me!” I cried and cast Condemnation.

  A pulse of golden energy erupted outward from my body. My skin felt on fire and Xat’s presence was sent hurling from my mind with a roar of rage that echoed within my brain for several moments after. The Void was…nothing. Yet, with Caretaker’s Guidance empowering my sight, I saw the darkness writhing as if alive. I realized then that holy doctrine was wrong. There was something that existed in the darkness and I could sense it was hungry. When Condemnation made contact with it, the powerful Fate Mana was like putting a lit match to oil. It burned the very fabric of the Void.

  Psychic wailing filled my mind and I couldn’t even scream the pain was so great, then something solid slammed into my stomach forcing all the air in my lungs I had been holding from my body in a whoosh. I reached down and clutched at the fist sized object that had slammed into me.

  Ding! You have acquired an Empowered Dungeon Core! Your choices are as follows:

  1) You may reactivate the Dungeon Core. It will reconstitute into a different Dungeon after the Core has a complete reset. It will repopulate with new random mobs and Boss. Note that this will create a Permanent Elite Dungeon. New items and opportunities to gain unique skills may become available.

  2) As a Priest of [Multiple Factions Available] you will be able to offer up the Dungeon Core as an offering of Faith. Unique rewards, Faction gain and special Quests may be granted.

  3) There are ongoing Guild Quests for all acquired Dungeon Cores. See Guild postings.

  4) Absorbing an Empowered Dungeon Core yourself will grant 50 Green Nodes, 16 Blue Nodes, 6 Red Nodes, 1 Silver Node and 1 Celestial Node.

  I firmed my grip and clutched the Dungeon Core to my chest. I didn’t question my good fortune, but I was alone in the Void and the portal I had come through was nowhere in sight. My only source of light was a faint red glow from the Dungeon Core. While I now had the means to save myself, I would not leave without my friends and Vicar Hamish. To abandon a friend is to abandon a part of yourself you have bound to decency and goodness. I would not do it.

  A thought entered my mind. A desperate plan. It had only the slimmest chance of success and I had to reach down into myself for every scrap of faith I had to even consider it. I held the Dungeon Core close to my lips and prayed aloud.

  “Ara, God of Hope and Renewal,” I began. “Death is the only true inevitability that exists for all things in the Universe. Yet, so is rebirth. I am proof of that!” I opened my eyes and looked into the swirling red depths of the Dungeon Core. Had Calamnus ruined it? Had being exposed to the Void changed it any way? I pushed the doubts away shouted the final part of my prayer aloud.

  “Ara! I offer this Dungeon Core to you! Let Light be rekindled anew! Hear my prayer…please!”

  For a moment, nothing happened. Then, I felt a heat building within my chest. It grew and grew until the heat became a force that erupted from my eyes, nose and mouth to drive the nothing of the Void back. The things in the dark roiled and wailed, but I was the epicenter of a chaotic torrent of light they could not abide.

  You are attempting to activate long redundant systems. Doing so may reset the parameters established by Purgos Protocol END-ARA-002. An Administrator will be notified and a ticket of this event will be marked Priority and sent to the High Principal of Purgatorium.

  Do you wish to proceed? Yes/No?

  The notification had opened directly into my mind. The words burned with power and warning. I was once again entering new territory, but I was beyond the point where I had any other option. The Void was furious at this tiny creature who had dared to bring accursed light into its domain. It would destroy it utterly! It would end it for all time.

  Yes!

  I willed my answer to whatever power was listening and felt myself whisked away through a tube of spiraling light. I felt a shudder run through the fabric of reality as long quiet systems took their first small steps toward reactivation. I felt myself stretched along the tube like a string, but I felt no pain. Colors, sounds, sensations and memories of two different lives and worlds cascaded through my mortal mind overwhelming my senses and knocking me unconscious.

  I don’t know how long I was out, but when I awoke the first thing I saw was a bright, cloudy sky above me and an insistent notification blinking in my vision. With a groan I sat up and looked around. I recognized this place! I was in the small graveyard of the Abbey of Twilight. I was back upon Aramyr.

  “Kenric, is it really you?”

  I turned and couldn’t contain my relief when I saw a familiar, hairy face.

  “Curmlough! Thank Gor you’re alright!” I rushed over and hugged the Satyr with a laugh and the Satyr laughed as well and danced a jig.

  “I’m not sure what happened?” The Satyr said, scratching at a horn upon his head. “One moment you were gone and the next we were here!”

  “Brother Kenric, blessed be the Lady of Mercy!” Vicar Hamish stumbled out from behind the graveyard’s lone tomb and held a hand to his head. “I pray to the Light that the nightmare might truly be over!”

  “Vicar! Thank goodness!” I looked around. “Where is Octave?” We looked around, but there was no sign of the Cherub.

  “Could he be…dead?” Curmlough’s lip trembled and I shook my head, refusing to accept the Angel could be gone. I thought about it for a moment and the answer came to me.

  “No, he was a summoned being, remember? When I was pulled into the Void, our connection must have been severed. That means…” I pulled the Finger bone of Ord out from where it hung around my neck and beneath my robe. It was warm to the touch. I hesitated.

  “What are you waiting for? Bring him back!” Curmlough cried. I looked down at the Satyr solemnly.

  “Octave once told me that there was a queue of Angels for these items. He also said that once an angel is dismissed that he might not be summoned again and another would come instead.”

  “Yes, so it is with all Celestial Summons, I’m afraid.” Vicar Hamish walked forward and put his hand on Curmlough’s shoulder. “I am sorry, friend Curmlough, but take heart that Octave is safe in the Heavens.”

  “B…but you could at least try,” Curmlough sniffed.

  I gripped the holy relic and slowly smiled. “I don’t need to try to have faith, Curmlough, but I need you to reach inside yourself for yours. You see, a Priest can’t just rely upon their own faith for success or power. A Priest needs to inspire faith in others for them to believe that more might bepossible.” I knelt down and looked into Curmlough’s teary eyes. “I need you to believe with me now that more might be possible!”

  I held out the Finger bone in the palm of my hand and Curmlough put his hand over mine, covering the relic. The Satyr squinted his eyes shut.

  “Bring him back! Bring that loud mouth, full of himself Cherub back!” Curmlough prayed. Smiling, I closed my eyes and prayed aloud.

  “Great Ord, bring Octave Metatron Ancilius Sunbringer! 5th Seat of the 3rd Level of the 8th Ring of Great Ord’s Angelic Choir back to us!”

  There was a flash of light and I heard a familiar voice gruffly speak up from behind us.

  “Well, it is about time! One of those loudmouth Devas was about to make me go to the back of the line! Do you have any idea how long the line is now? It stretched into infinity!”

  “Octave!” Curmlough shouted happily and I smiled to see the curly haired Cherub wearing a clean toga and floating in the air with his arms crossed. His golden wings were bright and released tiny motes of light into the air with every movement.

  “Welcome back, my friend,” I said warmly.

  “Yes, well…,” Octave rubbed at his nose and wouldn’t meet our eyes. “I figured everyone was okay, but it’s probably best if I don’t get dismissed again for a while. I’m pretty sure I called that Deva a few things I’ll probably get into trouble for at some point. And you!” Octave pointed a finger at Curmlough.

  “I hope you still have our Goblet! I have a thirst!”

  Curmlough gaped at him, his eyes widening. “What? I thought you had it! Why else would I ask Kenric to summon you back? You weird, curly haired, chicken winged…!”

  “You smelly, bearded, horned headed…”

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  “My friends,” I sighed exhaustedly.

  “Just kidding. I have it.” Octave revealed the Goblet of Sweet Dreams and Curmlough, after shooting Octave a dark look, started to laugh. The Cherub joined him while Vicar Hamish and I shared a look.

  “To think I would see a Cherub and a Satyr make merry with one another,” the Vicar shook his head. “We live in interesting times.”

  “We do at that,” I answered. As much as I wanted to join my friends in their merriment as they hurried off together to find a water source to fill the Goblet and Vicar Hamish expressed a strong desire to find the shrine dedicated to Mir within the Abbey so that he might pray, I was left alone. I wandered back to the silent courtyard with its overgrown weeds and muck filled fountain. The Abbey felt different now, as if it were sleeping. I hadn’t forgotten my promise to Abbot Caspendeau to do all that I could to restore the Abbey to its former glory, but where to begin?

  I need to escort Vicar Hamish back to Goodlabor. He will be needed there. I also need to bring Curmlough back to his siblings. Then, do I try to find my way back to Ordheim or do I find a ship to take me to Port Tyren? Octave and I must reach Hierophant Johannas.

  I had plenty to do. I almost didn’t want to open my notifications to see what else would make further demands upon my time. I was so tired! Surely, the Gods would ask no more of me right now? With some trepidation, I opened my notifications and a golden window was the first to open before me.

  You have offered a Dungeon Core to [ARA].

  ERROR! SYSTEM DESIGNATION A.R.A NOT FOUND!

  Working…

  Majority Consensus Obtained!

  You may choose [3] of the following rewards:

  ORD offers you Medium Armor Proficiency Tier I!

  MIR offers you the Achievement Title: Hope Bringer!

  TEK offers you Congruency Darts Tier II!

  HUL offers you the spell upgrade True Sight!

  QAS offers you the spell War Feast!

  WIK offers you Stealth Proficiency Tier I!

  GOR offers you the spell Beast Tongue!

  SUL offers you +5 to Luck!

  CEL offers you +5% Maximum Mana.

  EUI offers you Cloak of Leaves!

  PYR offers you Wand of Fireballs!

  UNA offers you Ring of Water Breathing!

  AQA offers you Helm of the Wild Hunt!

  Well, I know the first two I’m definitely choosing, but I’m not sure about the third?

  The Gods had decided to grant me a choice on awards. It was a shame Faction points hadn’t been offered, but I imagine I was still being chastised from before when I had to sacrifice so much of my Faction for the Blood Node. I didn’t regret it, as I was certain I would never had defeated Calamnus without the empowered Vow of Denial I had used.

  I immediately chose the rewards from Mir and Sul. Winning an Achievement Title was one of the prerequisites for being able to establish Wells of Faith. Hope Bringer also sounded really impressive. Sul offering me an increase 5 points in Luck was too good to pass up. I didn’t feel any different after I made the decision, but I knew they would make a huge difference in further growth.

  The decision for the final reward came down to two things: necessity and urgency. Each spell, whether it was a new spell or not that a God offered, I was certain could be found on the Faction Web Terminal. That meant I would eventually have the means to acquire them if I could obtain the correct amount of Nodes. There was no real necessity to waste a reward choice on them. Nor did I need Cel’s reward, as I felt no urgency towards obtaining more mana. Oh, I knew I would eventually need it, but with Minor Mana Tap and Mantle of Intellect I felt I had it under control.

  The items offered by the Elementals were an incredible temptation. Without even using Lore Sight, I knew that each would offer incredible bonuses to my personal power. That was the reason I didn’t use it. I didn’t want to be tempted further. Dungeon items would or would not drop, but as with spells I didn’t feel it necessary to expend a reward choice upon them. That left the rewards from Ord and Wik.

  Ord and Wik both offered an entirely new skillset to learn. Medium Armor or Stealth. Each would take my build in entirely different directions. First, Ord’s offer to grant me access to Medium Armors meant that I would be able to equip Splint, Ringmail or even Half-Plate. A breastplate worn over my robes protecting my chest and ribs would go a long way to increasing my durability. Yet, it also put me on a more melee focused path.

  Granted, many spells like Vow of Contagion or Bane Strike do require getting close to enemies. The extra protection could mean the difference between life and death if I continue gaining powers that put me directly into a conflict.

  Wik’s offer of the Stealth skill was intriguing. I had already used Fade to great advantage and my cloak specifically stated it enhanced Stealth techniques. It almost seemed like a no brainer to continue to make myself sneakier. Sul would likely be pleased. My only misgivings were the long term implications of such a decision. I didn’t want to be the sort of Priest who lurked in shadows or spied upon others. Training such a skill would also likely be difficult, but perhaps no more difficult than training in Medium Armors would be.

  Ultimately, I should be practical, shouldn’t I? I am not built for violence even if I’ll likely see it again. Certainly there will be more conflict in the Holy Land! Rather than thinking long term, perhaps it is more my short term survival I should be thinking about?

  For my third reward choice, I chose Stealth.

  Mir is pleased to offer you the Title of Hope Bringer!

  Sul is pleased to offer you an increase in your Luck attribute by 5!

  Wik is pleased to grant you Tier I proficiency in the Stealth skill.

  You are no longer under a Faction gain debuff with Mir, Sul and Wik!

  Oh, that’s right. I’m still being punished, aren’t I?

  I sighed and moved onto my next set of notifications.

  Quest Complete!

  Locate the remainder of Goodlabor’s Survivors. (5/5)

  Rescue the remainder of Goodlabor’s Survivors. (5/5)

  Success: Rare Item, Goodlabor’s survival +50%.

  You have been awarded Town Token-Goodlabor

  My brow furrowed and I frowned at the reward I had received. I was the son of a Duke. I knew what a Town Token was and what it represented. I was now, effectively, the Lord of Goodlabor. Not the reward I had expected and one that I wasn’t necessarily keen on accepting. I wasn’t going to abandon the town, but I had never had any interest in being a lord.

  Landlord, if we look at it practically. Sigh. What’s done is done. I’ll figure this out later.

  When I had been studying for the Merchant Class, I had learned all about establishing trade relations with everyone from Ambassadors on down to Town Mayors. Each position held different responsibilities and a Merchant to be successful had to know how much authority each position held. A Town Token for a place like Goodlabor would grant me a Mayor’s authority. I checked with Lore Sight to confirm this.

  Town Token-Goodlabor

  Lore: Grants leadership over Tier I Town: Goodlabor. Goodlabor is a vassal town of the Duchy of Sulheim. As Mayor of Goodlabor, you will owe fealty to the Duke of Sulheim and his heirs. Mayoral Duties are as follows:

  1) Secure Town borders and prevent hostile incursions.

  2) Collect Taxes

  3) Lead Town to Prosperity and Tier Growth for additional rewards and duties.

  Advanced Lore: If a Town Token is claimed by a Church fealty to the Duchy is voided.

  Everything matched up with what I already knew, save the last part.

  This could be a problem.

  Ordheim and Sulheim hadn’t had open conflict with one another since the time before Emperor Caradan. Currently, my Father and the Duke of Sulheim to the best of my knowledge had never got on with one another. From what I could recall of an old family story, my Mother’s father and his band of mercenaries had once terrorized Sulheim. The old Duke of Sulheim never forgave and didn’t forget. He had resented it when my Father, in his eyes, had legitimized my Grandfather’s behavior by marrying the Warlord’s daughter, my Mother.

  What will the Duke of Sulheim do when he learns an Ordheim has taken over one of his Towns and given it to the Church?

  I put it out of my mind for now and moved on to the next notification.

  Quest Complete!

  Part 1: Locate Prior Sandoval (Complete)

  Part 2: Locate Abbot Caspendeau (Complete)

  Part 3: Locate the Shard of Ara (Complete)

  You have been awarded the Secondary Class: Abbot!

  I gasped in disbelief. If the Town Token had been a surprise, this was mind boggling. I now had the option of taking a second Class!

  Class: Abbot

  Description: An Advanced Class offered to those who have gone beyond Level 10! A protector of Faith, Doctrine and Holy Relics. The Abbot is eligible for the following benefits: +10 Well of Faith points/day, +10% chance to Bind Reliquary, +1 Grid of Controlled Territory/week.

  Lore: An Abbot is eligible to control a piece of Holy Ground and attract followers. Can use Tier I Relics with no Faction loss.

  Advanced Lore: Authority equal to a Bishop.

  This was highly unexpected. My Father had once mentioned that taking multiple classes was possible, but this? I was being handed the metaphorical keys to influential religious powers I never would have imagined holding or ever wanting. Kenric Ordheim would become a player upon a political stage where the stakes were life or death in the time of a new Crusade.

  ‘Authority equal to a Bishop?’ Ord’s Mercy!

  Do you wish to activate Abbot as your Secondary Class? Yes/No?

  Gods, I must. I must! I made a promise to Abbot Caspendeau. I will not let this Abbey fall to ruin and I will not let the people of Goodlabor suffer further. A Priest heals, but now a Priest must lead as well.

  I willed my desire to accept Abbot as my Secondary Class and received an updated notification.

  Congratulations! You are now eligible to take control of Holy Ground! The territory of [Abbey of Twilight] is available! If this territory is not claimed in {3 hours, 30 minutes, 23 seconds} it will lose its Holy designation and become an unaffiliated territory.

  Do you wish to claim Holy Ground [Abbey of Twilight]? Yes/No?

  I took a deep breath. “Yes, Gods aid me.”

  The ground trembled beneath my feet and I gasped as the stones of the Abbey shook and I heard the Abbey bell toll. Then, the ground beneath my feet began to glow with a golden light. The light spread outward until it covered the entirety of the courtyard, the fountain and the stone walls. I watched wide-eyed as the dank water in the fountain churned, bubbled then began to spout forth a cascade of clean, fresh water.

  The weeds receded or decayed further until they disappeared leaving the stones they had obscured smooth and clean. Flowers, herbs and fresh grass sprang to life within the old gardens filling the air with sweet scents. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

  I feel as if I’m breathing fresh air for the first time in forever! Gods be praised, air without Shadowmurk!

  I wandered wide-eyed throughout the Abbey witnessing the incredible changes taking place as the Abbey worked to restore some of its former glory. A notification better explained to me what was happening.

  Well of Faith-Abbey of Twilight

  Current Points: 340/1000

  260 Faith Points have been auto-allocated for Baseline Restoration.

  New Owner: Kenric Ordheim

  Daily Points: 10

  New Quest!

  Description: Restore the Reliquary, Library, Brewhouse, Scriptorium, Graveyard, Bell Tower, Cloister, Abbot’s House, Dormitories, Infirmary, and Gardens of the Abbey of Twilight.

  Reward: +10 Daily Faith Points per Restoration. Attract Additional Monks and Worshippers.

  Bonus: New Quests per Restoration.

  Current Abbey Status: Low Faith

  Total Clergy-1 (Abbot Ordheim)

  Worshippers: 0

  Light Pantheon Shrines: Neglected

  Shadow Pantheon Shrines: Destroyed

  Elemental Shrines: Missing

  I frowned.

  This is going to take some work.

  The shaking stop and the glow faded away. The Abbey, while still far from being where it should have been, exuding a feeling of serenity that began in the soil beneath my feet and spread into the stones surrounding me. I felt…at peace. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime my heart was light and my soul was full. There was only one thing left for me to do before I found a bed and slept until the Gods themselves forced me from it.

  Vicar Hamish emerged from an alcove looking better than I had seen him yet. His face was beaming and he solemnly bowed after he came to a stop a few steps from me.

  “Father Abbot,” he whispered reverently.

  “Please, Vicar.” I said with a smile. “Will you help me lay our dead Brothers to rest before you return to Goodlabor and inform all of what has happened here?”

  The Vicar nodded and together we silently made our way back to the graveyard, ducking our heads to avoid the lush new vines and flowers that now covered the courtyard. I could feel the approval of the Gods in each step I took. Yet, I also felt their trepidation. Something new was about to happen. Something which had never occurred before in the history of Aramyr.

  The Shards of Ara I had absorbed roiled within me, none more than the one Calamnus had tampered with. It ached for release. For purpose. It had been affected by the ordeal in the Dungeon, but it urged me forward and calmed my fears. Have Faith, it was saying to me. All will be well.

  The graveyard was silent, but rather than foreboding and dark I sensed only peace. The gravestones were overgrown with new grass and the lone tomb was draped in healthy new vines.

  Those vines will have to be trimmed. I wonder whose tomb that is? Must have been someone important. A former Abbot, perhaps?

  I would look into that later. First, I had an important task to complete. Mir, especially, must have been eager. I heard Vicar Hamish gasp behind me as the Lady’s calming presence touched our spirits.

  Reaching into my Inventory, I removed each of the Limbus Cocoons. The Fel Shards within gave off only the faintest of light. They were weakened, but still active. The souls of the monks were still trapped within. I piled each body one upon another until a pyramid had been made and then I stood back to pray.

  “Gods of Aramyr, hear me.” I began. “Grant these souls forgiveness and peace. While some are at the mercy of fate, others would seek to master it. As a Prophet and now an Abbot, I would do neither. I will guide it. Nurture it, if I may. I would be a healer. I would bring hope.”

  I raised my hands and prepared to cast Condemnation, but received a new notification before it could take effect.

  Allocate 10 Faith Points to: Condemnation Fate Skill? Yes/No?

  I willed the affirmative and a great light descended from the Heavens to envelop the pyramid of bodies. It was unlike anything I had experienced before and I was forced to close my eyes so bright was the light. When I opened them again, the bodies were gone and I had a new notification.

  “A miracle!” I heard Vicar Hamish exclaim behind me. “The Gods are with you, Father Abbot Kenric!”

  As I read my new notification, I couldn’ stop the frown that spread across my face as I broke out into a cold sweat. My legs trembled and I fell onto my knees. I felt dizzy, like I might pass out. Such a weight had just been placed upon my shoulders that I felt I would surely be crushed by it.

  Gods, but you test your servants, do you not? How you test me! What will this mean? What will the Churches do when they find out!?

  Quest Complete!

  Monk Spirits Exorcised: 40/40 (Complete)

  Spawn of Xat Eliminated: 40/40 (Complete)

  Monk Corpses Purged: 54/54

  Reward: Resurrection Fate Skill

  WARNING! Shard of Ara has been mutated! Chance of Skill Mutation at {98%} !

  Fate Skill: Resurrection had been mutated into {Heroic Resurrection}!

  Lore: This skill has never before been seen upon Aramyr…ERROR! System Updating….

  This skill goes far beyond the normal parameters of Resurrection! Heroic Resurrection will allow you to spend Well of Faith points to bring back the Heroes of the Past without disadvantage or penalty! While the standard Resurrection spell sets limits upon deceased length of expiration or can be limited by the deceased individuals level of Faith at the time of their original death, this spell possesses no such limits. Note: Faction will be affected either positively or negatively each time Heroic Resurrection is used.

  Advanced Lore: Spell cost is based on an individual basis…4RRS87Y4ERROR840DK…USE WITH CAUTION, KENRIC! WE ARE WATCHING!

  END OF BOOK 1

  Fate’s Crusade that I plan on starting soon. If you did like the story, won’t you consider leaving a review? I take everything seriously, the good and the bad. How else does one grow as a writer? Although, positive reinforcement always lights a fire underneath me at the computer desk. I’m a big believer that Word of Mouth is the best marketing anyone could ask for and I want to grow my audience. I have so many stories to tell! In fact, while you wait for Book 2, why not click on the link in my signature/profile and check out Awakened Flame. Different story. Different sort of MC. Different stakes, etc. If not, that’s okay. Each book is an experiment and like I said, I have a lot more to show you and hopefully, eventually, the wider world.