Luckborn

As Branthor had said, the rooms were indeed small. The only furnishings were two narrow cots, a writing desk with a plain wooden chair, and a single brazier fed by enchanted coals that glowed without smoke or sound. It felt cozy rather than cramped, and Otter was more than happy to bunk with Milo. Erin and Sage took another room, while Jasper got one to himself.

Before they had settled in, a junior clergyman arrived with clean, dry robes and offered to take their own garments to launder. Everyone was happy to hand over their wet and soiled clothing. The robes were simple, but worn soft, and Otter relished the sensation. Milo, who was accustomed to finer apparel, did his best not to complain.

Despite having separate rooms for the night, they gathered together in Otter and Milo's to share a few moments of camaraderie before turning in. Milo sat cross-legged on one cot, picking absently at the threads of his robe. Jasper leaned against the wall near the door, arms folded. Erin perched on the edge of the desk, while Sage knelt near the brazier, its soft heat painting her features in flickering gold.

For a while, they just sat in comfortable silence, the only sound the faint hiss of the enchanted coals. Then Milo broke it with a grin. "You know, for a temple, this place isn't half bad. Cozy. Smells nice. Nobody's tried to convert me yet."

Jasper smirked. "Give it time."

That earned a quiet laugh from Erin, but Sage only shook her head, lips twitching in faint amusement. "You're welcome to stay for morning prayers if you'd like."

"I'll pass," said Jasper. "No offense, but I've had enough sermons to last a lifetime."

Sage inclined her head. "None taken. Faith is not compelled—it is chosen."

Otter smiled faintly at that, then glanced down at his wrisplay. It had been a long, chaotic day. He hadn't checked his notifications since morning, and now the display pulsed insistently, waiting.

New Objective: Speak with the Cobbler.

Objective Complete: Speak with the Cobbler.

You have gained 10 XP.

New Objective: Investigate the Mysterious Warehouse.

Kaos Manifestation detected nearby.

New Objective: Deactivate the Corrupted Ward.

Objective Complete: Deactivate the Corrupted Ward.

You have gained 200 XP.

The words hung there for a moment, glowing blue against the dim orange light of the brazier.

Milo leaned sideways to peer over his shoulder. "Only two hundred? After everything we went through? We nearly died."

Jasper grunted. "We always nearly die. The System's probably used to it by now."

That drew a quiet laugh from Erin, but Otter didn't join in. He just stared at the faintly pulsing screen, the words Kaos Manifestation detected nearby flickering in his mind long after he dismissed the log.

The System had known what was coming—maybe even before they did. And that thought, more than anything else, made it hard to feel at ease. Had it tried to warn him?

He tapped the display, causing it to go dark, and leaned back against the wall. "Tomorrow's going to be another long day," he said softly.

Sage looked up from her place by the brazier. "Then we will meet it rested."

One by one, they wished each other goodnight and drifted back to their rooms. The fire burned low but steady, its glow casting slow, rippling shadows across the walls.

Otter lay awake for a long time, the words still echoing in his mind— Kaos Manifestation detected nearby. If the System was going to warn him of Kaos Manifestations, there had to be a way to use that to his advantage. He just had to figure out how.

***

Morning came gently, the faint glow of the brazier's coals giving way to the first pale light of dawn through the narrow window. The temple bells tolled somewhere above, deep and resonant, calling the faithful to morning prayer.

Otter sat up, stretching the stiffness from his limbs. Across the room, Milo was already awake, fiddling with the tidecaller focus.

"That was pretty spectacular, what you did with that thing, yesterday," Otter said, gesturing to the figurine.

Milo frowned. "Yeah."

"What's wrong?"

Milo turned the focus over and over, studying it for another moment before responding. "It took a lot of power to do that. A lot more than I actually have. Channeling it almost killed me. I was terrified, but…" He let the words hang. "But it was also exhilarating. Does that make any sense?"

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"Yeah, actually. It makes a lot of sense."

"I can still sense the pathways in this. I know how to use it, but I can't. At least not for anything more than making a trickle of water. It's frustrating."

Otter tried to imagine how that felt, but couldn't. He knew what it felt like to be powerless. They'd all been that for most of their lives. But to have immense power at your fingertips for a moment, then lose it. That was beyond him. Fortunately, he was spared having to come up with a response by a knock at the door.

When Otter opened it, Branthor stood there, his expression as calm and polished as the temple's marble floors.

"Good morning," the priest said. "I trust you rested well?"

"We did," Sage answered from the hallway, now dressed in fresh temple robes, her hair neatly bound.

"Excellent," said Branthor. "I wished to inform you that your envoys will not be ready to depart until midday. The Council has selected two senior priests, but there are preparations to make—permissions to secure from Caelum's temple, and proper rites to perform before they travel. You are, of course, welcome to attend morning services and remain here until then."

Sage inclined her head. "Your generosity humbles us, Father. But if there is time before we depart, I think it wise that we check in with certain allies within the city."

Branthor smiled faintly. "A prudent choice. The Shifting Flame favors those who prepare before they act. Be back before the bell of noon, and we will see you safely on your way."

He gave a short bow and turned to leave, robes whispering against the stone as he went.

As soon as he disappeared down the corridor, Milo looked at Otter. "So… back to the Rosners?"

Otter nodded. "Back to the Rosners."

Sage clasped her holy symbol. "Then may Elarion's light guide us swiftly. I'd prefer not to keep the Council waiting."

They gathered their things, and by the time they stepped into the bright streets of Aurelia once more, the bells had just finished ringing for morning prayer. The city was already alive—the scent of fresh bread and street spices mingling in the air—as they turned their steps toward the Rosner townhouse.

The walk to the Rosner home took less than half an hour.

Morning in Aurelia was a spectacle all its own. The sun crested the horizon like molten gold poured over a city that gleamed with glass and copper.

The streets were already alive with movement. Enchanted carriages glided noiselessly over cobblestones, their wheels suspended by hovering glyphs that pulsed with pale light. Messenger constructs on aetherwings darted overhead, cutting trails of color through the morning mist as they carried letters and parcels between the city's countless spires. Artisans opened their shops, shutters unfolding like petals to reveal displays of jewelry that shimmered and sparkled.

Nearby, a troupe of street performers juggled illusory flames that burst into brief, harmless constellations before vanishing. Even the air smelled alive—warm bread, ozone from a distant lightning forge, and the faint floral note of mana-reactive vines curling up a nearby wall.

"This place never stops amazing me," Otter murmured, craning his neck as a Spell Lord glided silently along on a teal colored disk.

"Depends who you ask," Jasper replied dryly. "All I see is too many people and not enough elbow room."

Erin smirked. "And yet you haven't stopped gawking since we got here."

When they turned down the street where Levi lived, a delivery boy with ink-stained fingers stepped aside to let them pass, balancing a crate of rolled parchment. The scent of ink and hot wax trailed after him as he disappeared down the lane.

When they reached the door, it opened before they could knock. The same house servant from yesterday blinked at them, her expression hovering between surprise and mild resignation.

"Oh, you again," she said, brushing flour from her hands. "Back so soon, are you? Master Rosner and young Levi are in the study. I'll tell them you're here."

The servant vanished down the hall, leaving them in the foyer only a moment before the sound of raised voices carried from deeper inside the house.

"—it doesn't matter what I intended, Levi!" Rosner's voice, sharp and exasperated, echoed off the paneled walls. "Intent doesn't pay debts. Intent doesn't mend a ruined reputation."

A door banged open at the end of the corridor. Mr. Rosner stood in the doorway to his study, his hair disheveled, sleeves rolled to the elbows, a half-drained cup of coffee in one hand and a stack of papers in the other. Levi trailed behind him, looking equal parts frustrated and mortified.

When Rosner saw them, his expression shifted from irritation to something warier. "You're back," he said, setting the papers down with a dull thud. "I assume this means you've spoken with your Guild contact?"

Otter stepped forward. "We did. Greaves promised to report it to the city watch—but that's all. He doesn't expect anyone to act unless there's money behind it."

Rosner muttered something under his breath that sounded distinctly unholy. "Typical."

Levi looked from Otter to Milo, then to Sage. "So, no progress?"

"Not yet," Sage said evenly. "But we have another lead. We went to the Temple of Elarion. They've agreed to send two envoys with us to the Temple of Caelum."

At that, Rosner's brow furrowed deeply. "Caelum's temple? Why?"

"The Conduit who appeared at the warehouse," Sage replied. "He has a knack for finding Kaos corruption. He may be able to point us in the right direction."

Rosner's mouth opened, then closed again. He looked to Levi, then back to the group. "You're serious."

"Completely," Otter said.

For a moment, the only sound was the faint crackle of the small hearth behind Rosner's desk. Then the man sighed and rubbed his temples. "Well, I can't stop you—though I should probably try. Levi and I have been asking around since yesterday. It seems our mysterious designer has been busy."

Levi stepped forward, nodding. "We've heard from three different contacts. Someone is offering the same protection we were, but at a much lower price."

"I can't make sense of it," Mr. Rosner said. "Why wait until now to underbid me?"

"Because you were their patsy," Otter said. "You were supposed to sell these corrupted wards. When they went awry, you would take the blame."

Rosner paled. "But how would they…"

"Cut the crap, dad." Levi's face was red. "My friends aren't stupid. They know how you got their hands on those plans. He's saying you got played. Maybe someone fed you information. It doesn't matter. What matters now is what we do about it."

Rosner huffed and puffed, but eventually the bluster went out of him. "Yes. You're right. Well, let's put our heads together and see what sort of plan we can come up with."

Levi blinked, surprised at his father's quick concession. "Wait—you agree?"

Rosner shot him a look. "Don't act so astonished. I may have my faults, but I'm not blind. If what you're saying is true, then someone out there just tried to make a fool of me—and use my reputation to unleash Kaosborn in the middle of the capital. That's not just criminal. That's personal." Rosner turned on his heel and walked into the kitchen. "Well, come on. Don't just stand there. We've got work to do."