Crimson Ascension

The bystanders at the Ruined Tavern promptly found reasons to leave. Some outright ran, while others departed in annoyance, but none remained. After all, the Silver Flame Inquisition was not an organization to be provoked.

The Evoker raised his eyebrow, not expecting to be recognized. "If you know who I am, that makes matters easier. Do as we ask and we will be on our way."

Draven hesitated.

One Evoker was already plenty of trouble, but three were too many. He might overpower them in hexion reserves and will, but one hit and he would be severely hurt. Just remembering the numbness, the difficulty of cultivating hexion, and the vast wounds to his soul after their previous encounter made Draven think twice before acting.

"I would rather not," Draven said. He doesn't recognize my voice? "You see, I'm—"

"An incredibly ugly bastard!" Finn interrupted, throwing an embarrassed smile. "Not to mention, the Silver Flame Inquisition has no authority outside of the Haven."

"The Inquisition has authority wherever it wishes to!" One of the armoured evokers growled.

"Abuse! Abuse!" Finn started shouting. "I'm being abused! Where's your captain? I demand to speak to your captain!"

What are you doing? Draven threw him an irritated look. Are three Evokers not enough? You want another one?

Elevalein stepped on the ground and Nine Specters burst out from the Evokers as a response., The creatures surrounded Draven with weapons at hand, empty faces devoid of emotion, and intent to obey. The Evoker unfolded his Presence, prodding Draven's shield before retreating suddenly.

"Very well. If you want to speak to our captain, we will take you to him," he said, indecision written clearly on his face. "Move!"

"It'll be fine," Finn spoke, his bestial smile showing teeth. "You see, Aiden, the captain and I are old acquaintances."

Aiden…

It had been a while since someone had called him that, but Draven understood why Finn had done it. Aiden was a miner nobody, unknown to anyone of importance in Elysium, but his other name was spread throughout the Haven attached to a generous bounty.

"I hope you know what you're doing," he said, deciding to trust Finn.

The Silver Flame Inquisition escorted them out of the tavern, away from the city, to a desolate piece of land. The ruins of buildings gave place to a leafless forest riddled with nothing but dead trees and the odd moss that made the Old World its home.

"I don't think the captain is here." Finn's voice quivered with anger.

Draven swallowed hard.

Hexion infused his body, strengthening it for what was to come. Crimson tendrils spread in all directions, some burrowing in the ground, others floating in the air with a static grace. He knew the Evokers never meant to fulfill their word, but part of him hoped to avoid a fight against the three of them.

"Remove your mask, Draven Orisanth." As Elevalein spoke, a sheen of emerald encompassed his armour, coating it with a layer of refined hexion attuned to the Path of Souls. "We know who you are. There is no use in denying it."

Draven moved to shield Finn. The Evokers looked at his face, eager to see what lay underneath. Good. His brother or not, their kinship would not dampen the effects that seeing a rune up close would cause to an unsighted person.

Slowly, Draven unclipped the mask. The strings that attached it behind his head fell loose, brushing against his hair. He grasped it gently, then yanked it away in a burst of motion. The two Evokers beside Elevalein gasped, eyes squinting as if they gazed at a torch up close.

Will carried the hexion under the ground, burrowing alongside the tendrils he had hidden until it reached below one Evoker. A blood spike erupted from the ground, impaling one inquisitor in the stomach.

Not enough!

Draven snarled, manifesting spikes above the trio, but before he could finish it, Elevalein drew the thin sword out of its scabbard. The blade blurred in the air, cutting wind with an acute screech, and two heads fell on the dry soil with wet thuds.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

From the three inquisitors, only one remained—his blade stained with the blood of his companions.

"What the fuck?" Finn drew back, hand grasping the unsheathed sword on his hip. "What's the meaning of this?"

"A traitor." Elevalein burst into self-mocking laughter. "Like father, like son."

"He wasn't a traitor, not as far as I know." Draven held a tight grip on the congealed blood hovering in the air, refusing to let it disperse yet. "He stood with—"

"Then you don't know much, brother." Elevalein wiped the blood from the blade before sheathing it. "The entire Haven can burn to ashes for all I care. The Maker. The Silver Flame Inquisition. The abyss-damned Grand Houses. As long as my family remained safe, the rest is just… the rest."

"Wait a minute, I thought your brother…" Finn muttered to the side.

"I take it that didn't really work out." Draven absorbed the hovering spears of hexion into his reserve. "Seems like we can relate to that."

"You could say that." Elevalein sighed. "The only family I have left is you—"

"What manners is that?" A Specter burst out of him, head held high and pouting lip. "We aren't your brothers anymore?"

"El is an ingrate, Helion." Another misty green shape walked out from Elevalein with hands clasped behind his back. "Prejudice is what it is. Just because we're dead. Ingrate!"

Elevalein fell to his knees, face pale. "Please, not now."

"Oh! Look, Vaelor, it's our supposed half-brother." Helion, the pouty one, pointed.

"What are you looking at, weirdo?" Vaelor spoke, pacing around Finn with a frown.

"Hey, Draves. I'd appreciate you telling me what in the abyss is going on here." Sweat formed on his forehead. "Don't get close, Specter. Unless you want to die."

"We're already dead—"

"Enough!" Elevalein roared. "Get back. Now."

His eyes flared green with power. He mustered the strength to rise, even though his face contorted with undisguised pain. Green mist—refined hexion, if Draven had to guess, leaked out of him like water escaping a broken reservoir.

"You, big bully!" Helion spoke, surprisingly, on the verge of tears.

"Damn you, El. Are you making him cry again?" Vaelor snarled. "I'll tell Uncle about this!"

Blood trickled down Elevalein's eyes. He gritted his teeth, powering through the pain, and molded the mist that poured outside his body into ropes that bound the two Specters. The twin children protested, but soon their pleas turned to silence as they disappeared within his body.

"Are you alright?" Draven asked. The man looked anything but fine.

Elevalein wiped the blood from his face. "Just blood coming out from my eyes, my soul fractured, and I will be all but completely spent. Splendid!"

Draven raised an eyebrow at the outburst. When in a position of weakness, one should do their utmost to hide it—mask their deficiencies to fool their opponents into indecision. Elevalein did the opposite. It might not have been a calculated move, or a wise one, but it spoke more than words could convey.

He trusts me. It was odd, to say the least. Last time we met, he almost killed me. Now, I could easily… Draven shook his head.

He placed his hand on Elevalein's shoulder, sending hexion into his body to mend the physical damages, but his will found nothing. The Evoker was unhurt, at least when it came to his body, though a little exhausted.

Draven let his hexion mend the tiredness in his brother's limbs.

Elevalein gave him a grateful look. "Nice to see there are no hard feelings between us, Aiden. Last time didn't end up so well."

"Draven," he corrected. "Are you sure this time is any different? You killed two inquisitors. They won't be happy about it."

"What do you think they'll do, Draves? Put a bounty on your head? Oh, wait." Finn chuckled. "Name is Finn, crazy-lost-brother stranger. I would say it's a pleasure to meet you, but I'd be lying."

Elevalein looked back at the two slain Evokers. "The captain will feel their deaths, but this will buy us some time."

He closed his eyes, extending both hands above the headless corpses. Mist poured out of his arms, cascading into the armoured inquisitors until it drenched their bodies in a pale shade of green.

A circle of refined hexion bubbled around them, originating from the streaming source of Elevalein's extended arms. Slowly, two Specters emerged from their bodies with armour and clothes that resembled the ornate uniform of those who hunted Draven.

On the corners of his awareness, he felt the hexbeasts stirring. Approaching. They were careful in their movements, but with passaging minutes, the encirclement became clear.

"They're gathering again, Finn," Draven said, worried. Without Helvan and Corvanis, he doubted they could handle a horde. "Elevalein, are you done?"

The Evoker drew his two new specters inside himself before nodding.

North. Helvan isn't gonna like this. But again, he never likes anything. He headed north, closely followed by Finn. But to his surprise, Elevalein did not follow—his heartbeat remained stationary. Hesitant.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go." Draven beckoned. "Or do you want a formal invitation?"

The reluctance on Elevalein's face broke into a smile. "I suppose that wouldn't hurt."

"Congratulations, creepy guy," Finn grinned. "You just joined the known list of enemies of the Haven."

Elevalein's smile faltered.