Chapter 30 Preparations

"Oi, lad!" My hand was on the door, ready to leave, but I heard Crook calling me back. I turned and gestured to him to continue. "Don't you forget about those Pearls. Wasted a favor on them, so make sure to put 'em to good use."

"Noted. Thank you for reminding me." I nodded in appreciation and stepped out of the store, admonishing myself for my forgetfulness. I'd meant to listen to the Pearls while in the hub.

It seems I let my excitement get to me. It's already early afternoon, and I still have preparations to make. I'll need to find some time this evening to give them a listen.

The shops set up by the Church of Liberation only stayed open a few hours on either side of noon. If I waited any longer, it would be tomorrow before I could pay them a visit.

I glanced back above the shop, where the moniker Wielder's Wonders was now shown in broad letters above the entryway. It was a nifty name, one that I was sure would draw the interest of many Guilds in the future.

He may be shady sometimes, but I must hand it to him. Crook has a knack for this, even when he's not selling garbage. The witty name and how he set up the displays so that each item gets slightly more interesting to draw clients further in… I suspect I'll have trouble keeping him stocked.

Taking the alley between my building and the next, I crossed over to Baker Street, where most of the city's eateries were located. The aroma made my mouth water and reminded me that I hadn't eaten.

The cafes were already bursting with activity as many of the Guilders had woken and were stuffing their bellies in preparation for another night of festivities. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time. Waiting in line wasn't a high priority on my to-do list.

Baker would dump me onto Wisk Lane, which formed a neat ring throughout the center of Grandhardt and would ultimately take me to my first destination, the Church of Liberation's Grandhardt branch. Every branch consisted of three buildings, one for worship, one for application and testing, and one for profit. I'd be heading to the third.

Nonbelievers weren't allowed to enter the Liberation Exchange, where supporters or members of the Church could trade material or Essence farmed on the various Floors for goods. The Church offered exemplary rates for the blood of Plagued Beasts and even handed out Relics for storing the valuable liquid to its members. Without the blood brought in by lower-ranking supporters, much of their revenue from crafting and maintaining the various Circuits throughout the Tower would vanish.

Though I wasn't personally a member, I had a trick up my sleeve…literally. Pausing my stroll for a brief moment and ensuring I wasn't being watched, I focused on my cane, using the connection formed by the familial bond to activate its first Effect. Moments later, I felt something cool press against my wrist and opened my eyes.

The bracelet I'd acquired from the Skull's lockbox glinted in the sunlight, the bronze chain dangling loosely from my arm. On the bracelet were two charms. One universal charm that every supporter of the Church received and one that marked the bearer as a first-stage Deacon, the lowest rank a member could be.

Between this show of status and the fact that my mother had been a first-stage Priest with the Church before she passed, I didn't feel I'd be given any trouble. It was common for youngsters to take after their parents, after all, and the members of the Church of Liberation were sticklers for superiors passing knowledge to their children and pupils.

My cane tapped lightly against the walk as I proceeded up Wisk Lane and took the northernmost street of Grandhardt's central district. At the head of the cul-de-sac, at the very end of the street, stood an exquisite temple, visible even over the pitched rooftops of the many surrounding buildings.

The pure white structure and golden inlays stood out from the city's many off-white, gray, and dark buildings. Only the purple Circuits running along the building's side gave some semblance that the structure belonged, though they were much more intricate than the surrounding area.

To the left and right of this building stood two similarly colored structures, though they were smaller and not so ornately decorated. The one to the left was my destination.

Liberation Exchange

3 Hallowed Ave, Grandhardt

All right.

I put on a smile. My story was concrete, and my mother had actually been a member, even if I hadn't. Though she'd had me study many of the texts, I hadn't been of age and couldn't join in her visits to the Church, something that I hoped would help me sell my case if needed.

Impersonating a member of the Church was dangerous, though the punishment likely wouldn't be too hefty for masquerading as a lowly Deacon. There was one instance in my previous life that became well-known, one that provided a lesson. Anything could be achieved with enough confidence.

Approximately thirty years from now, there would be a significant gathering of the most prominent members of the Church, all in the third stage of Priest or higher. One of the rarely seen Arch-Bishops was to attend and, for whatever reason, wouldn't make it on time.

How this trickster gathered his information was never shared, but he knew the Arch-Bishop would be late and planned accordingly. He showed up in the proper garbs and knew just what to say to worm his way onto the dais.

Everyone believed he was indeed one of the Arch-Bishops…until his speech about the indecencies of the common folk turned into the story of a woman with a third leg. He managed to hold the platform for half an hour, reaching the crescendo as the genuine Arch-Bishop arrived…just in time to see the trickster hike up his robes to reveal his own third leg.

There was an uproar, and the Church couldn't keep it under wraps. The fool who gave what became known as The Three-Legged Speech was slowly stripped of his Cards and hanged in the Church's holy city. Even when he was gone, his tale lived on in the taverns for years.

Someone later let slip that the man had performed that stunt over a bet after swearing that anything could be done with proper planning and enough confidence. I chuckled and threw a glance toward the temple before proceeding up the Exchange's steps.

If I can properly pull off my own ruse, I may see that historical event for myself.

I straightened my collar and pushed open the beautifully crafted double doors to the building. When I did so, I was almost taken aback. The interior of the Exchange was mesmerizing. Waist-high displays lined the expansive chamber from wall to wall, arranged like shelves in a library. There were a few men and women present, perusing the different aisles.

"First time?" a high-pitched, amused voice asked from my right. I turned and found an elderly man sitting in a comfortable chair behind an almost ordinary-looking desk. He was dangerously thin, like he hadn't eaten in months. The smile on his face was warm and inviting, but I could see an inquisitive look in his eye.

"Indeed, sir." I tilted my head in respect, glancing at his silver bracelet and noting that the man was a stage two Priest by his charm. Holding out my bracelet so he could clearly see the charm, I continued, "I've only just become of age and supposed I would pay a visit before my ascent. My mother always thought it prudent to remind me that the Tower's light shines upon those who invest in the Church."

"A wise woman." The doubt in his eyes almost entirely faded, and his smile somehow looked more hospitable than before. "Can you provide verification that she serves as your master, young man?"

"She did until the day she died, sir," I replied honestly. "Though she was not as esteemed as yourself, being only a stage one Priest, she was able to provide me with two of her Cards. The rest were returned to the Church upon her passing, as is custom."

The remaining suspicion in the man's gaze was snuffed as he heard my story, and I cast both Greater Healing and Radiance. He stood and stepped around his desk to place a hand on my shoulder.

"My child, I am sorry for your loss." He inclined his head. "For my discourtesy, please allow me to assist you. Have you resolved to build your Deck in any specific fashion? If not, I can provide you with the most recent scroll we've received from the Bishops noting what the Church currently lacks."

I politely declined. "Though I appreciate the offer, my mind is set on conveying the Tower's light through action. Cleanse and Healing Wave will be necessary for my build if you could point me to the appropriate aisles."

"I see." His smile returned. "Oh, to be young and driven again. If you genuinely wish to ascend and cleanse the Tower, I can find no fault in your actions. Both Cards you seek are in aisle four, though on opposite ends."

Almost as an afterthought, he added, "You are welcome to browse the rest of the wares on that aisle, but don't try to pass beyond. With only the charm of a stage one Deacon, anything beyond will cause you pain. Still, you will not be left wanting. I wouldn't bother with the first three aisles unless you are simply curious, as they are all Pure Cards meant for supporters, not members."

"Your aid has been appreciated, Priest." I lowered my head and moved toward the first aisle, casting Appraisal on the way, though pulling out my shard of Demon Glass so as not to alert the man. It only took a few moments to locate the first of the Cards.

[Card Name: Cleanse]

[Class: Spell]

[Rank: Blessed]

[Level: 1]

[Essence: 0/1,000]

[Description: Washes away impurities affecting the target over time]

[Effect 1: Purges all non-magical contaminants affecting the target. This Effect extends to any clothing or accessories donned by the target.]

[Effect 2: Over time, weakens or nullifies the adverse effects caused by harmful Spells or Abilities. Cleansing persists for 10 seconds times the Level of Intelligence.]

[Effect 3: Can be cast on a number of targets equal to the caster's Wisdom.]

[Cooldown: 30 minutes]

Ahh…no more Infernal Wash. I'll still keep a few vials for when this is on Cooldown.

I'd received one of these as a gift in my previous life, and I'd been missing it. The Infernal Wash was excellent, but it was a burden to tote around so many vials. I moved along the case, glancing at the different Cards to see if any others piqued my interest. Eventually, one did.

[Card Name: Condense]

[Class: Enhancement]

[Rank: Blessed]

[Level: 1]

[Essence: 0/1,000]

[Description: Reduces the Cooldown of all skills]

[Effect 1: All skills experience a Cooldown reduction of 3%.]

Three percent wasn't a lot…but how much could it increase? If I could Level this alongside my Tame Creature Card, it could be theoretically possible to cast a considerable number of times per day.

There aren't price tags on any of these…

Deciding not to skim the rest, I walked straight to the end and found the second Card I was looking for. On the face was a white-robed woman with her hands spread. A golden aura spread from her body, and several wounded men on the ground showed relieved looks.

[Card Name: Healing Wave]

[Class: Spell]

[Rank: Blessed]

[Level: 3]

[Essence: 0/100,000]

[Description: For up to 5 minutes, the area around the Wielder becomes a place of restoration. This Spell cannot be used while moving.]

[Effect 1: A healing aura surrounds the Wielder. The range of this aura is three yards times the Level of the caster's Wisdom.]

[Effect 2: For all non-hostile entities within this aura, the Effects of Vitality are increased by 10% times the Level of the caster's Intelligence.]

[Cooldown: 1 hour]

This Card was a bit vague on precisely how much it could heal, but from experience, I knew it to be a little weaker than my old Heal Spell on impact…though the effects would be more significant than Heal if one were to stand within its range for the full five minutes.

Satisfied, I decided to make my way back to the counter where the Priest was aiding another customer with their purchase. I took the scenic route, snaking my way through the first three rows of Pure Cards…and was stopped short on the second row.

There was a single Card sitting inconspicuously on a small white pillow. I walked by it at first, but my enhanced Wisdom categorized the name and description before I'd made it two steps.

[Card Name: Luck]

[Class: Enhancement]

[Rank: Pure]

[Level: 1]

[Essence: 0/1,000]

[Description: Increases the drop rate of all Cards within the Tower. The Wielder must deal the final blow.]

[Effect: Drop rate increased by 1% of existing rate]

Trying not to show my excitement, I plucked the Card from the open case and added it to the small stack I carried. By the time I finished walking the last display and reached the Priest acting as the Exchange's clerk, the previous customer had left, and I placed each of the Cards on the desk facing him.

"I noticed that there weren't prices on the displays. Would you mind informing me of the cost for these four?" I untied my pouch and prepared to count out the Essence.

"Oho! Another young man hoping to get lucky." The Priest laughed and pointed toward the Luck Enhancement. "We sell at least one of those a week, all to young men such as yourself, though most go to our farming parties, of course.

"I'll inform you so that you'll be aware on your next visit." The Priest gestured to the rows. "The Cards on the first through third rows cost one thousand, two thousand, and three thousand Essence, respectively. Where the Blessed Cards begin on the fourth row, the cost increases to five thousand Essence. If you reach stage two in the near future, the Cards on the fifth row cost seven thousand five hundred Essence."

I nodded and counted out seventeen thousand Essence, thankful that I'd asked the clerk at the Luxton to exchange my smaller shards for larger ones. Otherwise, this purchase would have been quite a hassle.

"Thank you, Priest." I tucked the Cards into my pouch for now, then bowed slightly as a show of respect, using my pointer to draw a six-pointed star on my chest. The Priest beamed and repeated the gesture, though without the bow, as his standing was far above mine.

"May the Tower's light shine brightly upon you, young Deacon." He slid the Essence toward a large crate as I strode from the building. Confidence and planning. My gambit paid off.

Still have some time…I should crack those Pearls before Crook gives me an earful.

Though the sun was receding along the western wall of the Tower, it wasn't dark yet. The Church of Damnation's doors wouldn't open until late evening.

I turned into one of the smaller alleys branching off of Hallowed Avenue and used Dash and a few windowsills to make my way to one of the rooftops overlooking Wisk Lane. Though the city's lights were springing to life, the street was less packed than before, most of the Guilders having made their way into one of the numerous pubs within the alleys.

Dashing across the pitched surfaces of the tiled and shingled roofs, I made my way to the southern side of Wisk and found a cozy spot between two chimneys. Below me and just a short way down the street lay my final destination for the evening.

That Damned Bazaar

13 Sinner's Square

Shaking my head at the moniker, I settled between the two chimneys and checked the street below. Unlike Hallowed Ave, where the Church of Liberation held claim to the entire cul-de-sac, Sinner's Square shared the space with a few other buildings. Of course, these were the dwellings of either the Church's members or Guilds that followed the Church and donated regularly.

Masked figures strolled about between all but the three very peculiar buildings lining the square's far end. In the center stood a dark cathedral. It didn't have the monumental size of the temple of the Church of Liberation, but it was just as well designed. Sharp spires protruded from the tops of the three buildings with gargoyles and other beasts carved out of the ebony stone.

I knew that each of these carvings was a Relic that would spring to life the moment someone attempted to trespass or break one of the Church of Damnation's few rules. The Church of Liberation extended little charity to their counterpart, so scant few purple etchings were lining the square. Still, the Relics were more than enough to handle any individual brash enough to overstep the Church's limitations.

I watched the masked figures for a moment before settling in and pulling my pack around. There was no reason to be concerned with eavesdroppers as the Pearls could only be heard by the one who shattered them. Even if that weren't the case, these people wore masks for a reason. They preferred to keep to themselves.

Pulling loose the thin, unopened pouch I'd received from Crook on my arrival to Grandhardt, I dumped the contents into my palm. Three pea-size silver pearls fell out…and I grimaced.

These Recording Pearls weren't the most common Relic but also weren't particularly scarce. The size of the Pearl determined how much information it could hold…and all three of these weren't worth more than a few paragraphs.

Well, maybe the information is valuable.

Clamping one of the Pearls between my thumb and forefinger, I squeezed until it shattered, and a gravelly voice spoke as if from right beside me, though I knew it was only in my mind.

"Basic Packet on the Vladimir Family. The Family's city is situated on the southeastern border of the Tower's Origin Floor, between the City of Windawn and the Citadel of Damnation. If you wished to visit, you would take railway nine leaving Origin City.

The Vladimir Municipality is perched atop the southernmost mountains. Many of its residences and establishments are carved into the rockface, a stark contrast to the City of York, which is located within an ever-expanding cave in the northernmost mountains. One can only safely enter or leave either of these cities by using the locomotive.

Conrad and Lucinda Vladimir are the current Elders of the Vladimir Family, and though their exact age isn't known, both are believed to be over the age of 1,000. The Family's standing is ninth amongst the Ten Great Families, despite having the least members. Regardless of the Family's present state, there have been no actions to dethrone the current Elders."

I looked at the dust lining my palm in disbelief. That was it? Sure, the Vladimirs were one of the more secretive Families, but most of that was common knowledge.

I'd had the chance to visit the Vladimir Municipality on government business in my past life, so I may have seen more than most, but I expected an information broker to have more than that. With a sigh, I cracked the next one.

"Basic Packet on the Kasamira Vladimir. Kasamira is a direct Descendant of the current Elders, believed to have been born between the thirty-second and thirty-fourth generation approximately thirty to fifty years ago. There are no other living Descendants from her generation.

She has one surviving brother from close to three generations prior, who has been spotted on one of the upper Floors. The Vladimirs are unique in that there is only one scion born per generation, though not all are directly descended from the current Elders.

Like her brother, parents, grandparents, and the current Elders, she has the trademark pale skin, white hair, and red eyes of the Vladimirs. The surviving extended family will sometimes have one or both of these traits."

I stroked the grip of my cane while I processed the information. It wasn't much to go on, but I'd at least learned something here. What had the young woman said? She was also older than she appeared?

Unconsciously, I touched the back of my neck where she'd drawn blood. It was only a thin cut, but it had bled for most of my trip back to the dorms. And her Spells were powerful. To have put me and almost every Descendant present in a trance as she'd done, brief as it was, she couldn't have a weak Will Foundation.

Still, I couldn't picture that girl as the vicious woman that I'd seen pictures of through the Network. The woman I'd encountered seemed more curious and playful than vile, even if she did have a screw loose.

Sure, she had nicked me with her nails and dragged me under her Spell, but she hadn't started that brawl. That was just some hormonal teenager wanting to measure sticks in front of a famous lady.

I'd hoped this information would give some insight into why she'll go insane in a few years, but no luck. Stopping her would save many lives…but assassination wasn't the only method to change the future. With low expectations, I shattered the last of the Pearls, and the husky voice returned.

"I owe Crook a debt, and if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have included this information. I would be grateful if you would pass on that I've included this. It wasn't easy to come by, even if it was only a rumor.

Advanced Packet on the Vladimir Family. A rumor has been spreading through the underground for several years, though it only recently became a hot topic. Supposedly, the Vladimir Family has found a way to circumvent the Tower's rules and has found a way to send a Wielder to a lower Floor.

I know this is unlikely to be accurate, but I trust my source. As I expect you know, those born on a higher Floor have no way to receive an Origin Card, as they are already bound to that Floor and have already received the benefits of longevity. Those born in this way usually have more substantial control over their Cards.

It is known that the Vladimirs operate the Fortieth Floor, and most of their scions are born there. If they've found a way to benefit from the higher control while also receiving an Origin Card…Tara, help us all. You may choose not to believe this, but I trust my source, and he said he's seen it with his own two eyes."

A strong gust of wind blew across the rooftops, wiping the dust of the Pearl clean from my hand. I stared at my open palm for several minutes before casting Cleanse to wipe away any remaining debris.

They've found a way to travel to Floors they've already visited? That's ludicrous. I've never heard of such a thing…but if it's true… No. A secret like that couldn't be held so well. These are likely baseless rumors.

Yet…hadn't I returned to the First Floor after having already ascended? Sure, the circumstances were different, but there were obviously many truths that I wasn't privy to.

Could that have something to do with her going insane?

I shook my head. For now, I'd treat it as the rumor it was, but I wouldn't ignore it. For now, it was getting dark, and I had other matters to attend to.

Placing one hand on the shaft of my cane, I felt the connections between myself and the bond. A strange chill enveloped me, and the weight on my shoulders and head increased. I opened my eyes to see the light brown of my prior suit had been replaced by sleeves of pitch-black material.

My peripherals were slightly obscured, yet the world around me looked clear as day. A long, black brim stretched out beneath my eyes, assuring me that I'd donned the mask my grandfather had left when I used the cane's storage space.

Glancing at the reflection of a nearby attic window, I looked over the ensemble. A raven's face stared back at me, though its body was clad in black attire. Black coat. Black suit. The only bits that stood out were the purple-and-gold trim that took the form of Circuits on the cuffs, collar, and mask…and the purple tie bringing the look together.

"Not bad." I smiled and returned my cane to its former black-and-silver grandeur, removing the effects of the ring that left the shaft looking like it was carved from a Blood Oak.

When satisfied, I leaped from the rooftop, activating Featherfall so that I unhurriedly floated to the stone below, my cloak billowing up above me. This…was nice.

My feet hit the pavement with a soft thud. A few looks were cast in my direction, though most of the cloaked and masked figures simply hurried about their business. As for me, I did the same, heading for That Damned Bazaar and smiling beneath my mask as I read the name up close.

There really is a night-and-day difference between the two Churches.

I walked briskly up the steps, opening the door with a flourish…and received a vastly different welcome from what I'd expected. Several heads snapped up, and the moment they noticed me, they gave either half or full bows while pressing their pointer and thumb to their chests in the shape of a crescent moon.

"Sir Legionnaire!" As I returned the gesture, a gruff voice to my left called out. I turned my gaze, finding a tall, broad-shouldered gentleman with a black mask that covered all but his mouth. Unlike my own, with the long beak and balaclava that ran down the neck, his was angular and shaped like the face of a golem.

"Disciple." I spoke sternly, though I did my best not to sound harsh. The Legionnaires were the Church of Damnation's equivalent to the Church of Liberation's Inquisitor. As for the ranks, they were similar. Where they differed was that the Church of Damnation had five stages per rank instead of three, and I had no idea how to differentiate between them.

Glancing around the bazaar, I saw that, of the other patrons, there was one other Disciple, six Acolytes, and two supporters. The Acolytes wore black half masks with no specific design, while the supporters' faces were only hidden by the hoods of their cloaks.

I have to be dominant. Legionnaires are Damnation's front line. They don't wait.

"Is there any particular reason you haven't offered your services?" I asked, trying to add a hint of impatience. It came out rather flat but still seemed to have done the job as each of the room's occupants moved to an outer wall.

"Ahh! No, sir." The bulky man gestured to the now cleared-out aisles of the bazaar. "Right this way. Is there anything specific you're looking for?"

"Affliction. Shadow or Cold is fine. I'll also require Amalgamate Agility and Amalgamate Intelligence," I responded quickly. "I'll be done here in ten minutes."

The clerk nodded and hurriedly set about his task. I scrunched my nose uncomfortably, glad that a mask hid my features. Acting confidently was fine, but I didn't care for such rude behavior.

Grandpa Charles' note had said that a member of the Order would be present in the facility and that I would know them when I saw them, yet no one here stood out. I was moderately disappointed, as I wanted to learn more about this mysterious Order.

"As you were." I waved my hand to the patrons who stood patiently against the walls, motioning for them to resume their browsing. There was only so much I could handle.

As for me, I proceeded to the furthest set of racks, where the higher-Ranked Cards were displayed. Unlike the Exchange, this Bazaar only restricted its Patrons by cost rather than rank in the Church. They believed that if you slayed enough Beasts, you deserved what you could afford.

My eyes bulged when I saw the small section of Sacred Cards chained to a case in the very back…and I began to sweat when I looked at the prices. There was even a small selection of Summons in the group, though they were only Pure despite their location.

Seeing that these would be far out of my budget, I moved along the wall to the halfway point of the Holy section, where the prices became more affordable. Though these were more commonly found than the Holy Cards closer to the Sacred section, I found something worth purchasing.

[Card Name: Integrate, Shade]

[Class: Enhancement]

[Rank: Holy]

[Level: 1]

[Essence: 0/1,000]

[Description: The Wielder is one with the shade]

[Effect 1: The Wielder merges into the shadows, making them 10% harder to detect.]

[Effect 2: While in a shaded area, the Wielder's movements are muffled by 10%.]

[Effect 3: While in a shaded area, the Wielder's movement speed is increased by 3%.]

This…I have to have it. And maybe…

Going through the list of Cards I'd memorized over many years, I recalled a few Cards that would complement it. Looking around the shop, I realized that I could search for hours without knowing if they had one in stock.

I'll have to wait for the clerk to re—

"Excuse me, sir. May I be of assistance?"

Glancing toward the soft voice, I realized it was one of the cloaked figures. She was young. Based on her attire, she was only a supporter of the Church. She was likely training to become a member if she was toiling here.

"Are you currently carrying either Twilight or Overcast?" As I asked this, I plucked Integrate from the shelf. The girl scrunched her brow and pointed toward a rack in the center of the room.

"I think we have a few copies of Overcast. I can bring one to the front if you'd like, sir Legionnaire?" She turned, and I could see the admiration in her eyes.

Beneath my mask, I smiled. It was the same look many of the children who'd ascended without support when I offered to train them in exchange for a portion of the Fiend's loot on the Tenth Floor rather than charging a large sum of Essence up front.

"I would appreciate that."

My cane tapped against the tile floor as I returned to the clerk, who had just returned to the front desk after visiting a few different shelves. Though it was hard to see beneath his mask, I felt that the oversize man had the same look as the young girl.

"I hope you found everything satisfactory, sir Legionnaire, and I hope my Luna didn't disturb your browsing." He nodded toward the young girl who was running her pointer along the shelf she'd pointed out.

"She was of great assistance." I spoke dully, but the man still smiled upon hearing that. Even behind his mask, I could see that it reached his eyes. "Now…my Cards?"

"Ahh, yes. I apologize!" He produced the three Cards I'd requested and pushed them toward me.

Amalgamate Agility was at the top of the pile, an Enhancement that would increase my Agility by a certain percent based on the number of allies within a specific range. Amalgamate Intelligence was second and had a similar effect, though for Intelligence. As for Affliction…

[Card Name: Affliction, Shadow]

[Class: Spell]

[Rank: Blessed]

[Level: 1]

[Essence: 0/1,000]

[Description: For one minute, the Wielder's weapon gains an aura of shadow.]

[Effect 1: With each wounding strike, debilitating shadows flow into the target's wound. One target can be afflicted with up to ten shadows, each reducing the effectiveness of the target's Agility by .5% times the Wielder's Level of Intelligence.]

[Effect 2: With each successful strike on a target, the duration of the blade's aura is reset. If the target is already suffering from full stacks of Affliction, the duration is not reset.]

[Effect 3: The target's Affliction persists for one minute, resetting with each additional Afflicting blow until the target has reached full stacks. Once the Affliction has worn off, the target is immune for one hour.]

[Cooldown: 1 hour]

"Price?" I asked sternly, pulling my pouch from my hip.

"That will be nineteen thousand five hundred Essence for you, sir Legionnaire." At that moment, Luna showed up with another Card, which she handed to the clerk. "Ahh, my apologies. That will be twenty-three thousand Essence with this addition."

If it weren't for my mask, I would have been exposed as a fraud right then. No Legionnaire would have winced over such a paltry sum. I knew I had more than that in assets, but this purchase would nearly empty my pouch until I paid Crook another visit.

Begrudgingly, I counted out the Essence and placed it on the desk, though I did so in a manner that I felt would fit someone of my supposed standing. The clerk passed over the Cards with another bow and pressed his hand to his chest, as did the girl beside him.

"Thank you for your donation and everything you do for the people." He bowed lower. "May Tara forever guide your path!"

I returned the gesture and turned to leave the bazaar. Before I returned, I would have to look further into the workings of the Church. Maybe next time, someone from the Order would be present…or maybe they were this time, and I didn't know what to look for.

"Umm, excuse me, sir!" the young girl called out quickly, and I paused for a moment with my hand on the door.

"Yes?" Glancing back, I found that the clerk's head was bowed, along with every other patron's. My eyes widened. Where the girl's fingers were arranged in the shape of a moon like everyone else…she held a small pendant between her fingers. It was the exact same as I'd found in Grandpa's chest.

"What is your name, sir Legionnaire?" she asked. As she spoke, she flicked her wrist, and the pendant vanished. My heartbeat quickened…but I couldn't react. If I did, one of the Disciples might notice.

"My name?" I murmured while pushing open the door. An image from my previous life flashed in my mind. A man dressed in black, famous for slaying thousands of Beasts without a party. I wasn't sure why I said it…but as I strode out of the bazaar, I did.

"Call me Ravan."