Back in Altium City, it had been three weeks since Kaelon and his squad ventured into the slums. Since then he had begun patrolling the slums regularly. He felt someone had to keep the peace there, why not him?

  Luckily he wasn't alone, Brand and Victor had both joined him. They not only patrolled the slums together but also trained together. They had grown closer over the past three weeks, becoming fast friends.

  Kaelon and Kane were dueling, as usual. They were about to clash swords when one of Elizabeth's attendants peeked his head into the training grounds.

  "Sir Kaelon, Sir Kane, Elizabeth is calling for you two. Come with me."

  Kane and Kaelon immediately paused their duel turning towards the attendant before following behind him. Once at the door the man knocked while saying.

  "High Priestess, Sir Kane and Sir Kaelon have arrived."

  He opened the door and stepped to the side allowing Kane and Kaelon to head inside. Elizabeth was sitting at her desk, holding a letter in her hands. Her expression a little dark, she looked ip at them as they entered her office.

  "I have news about The Sin Congregation. It seems they have something planned in Windstone. The city lord sent us a letter detailing suspicious activity at their docks. Apparently the cultists are running a pirate crew."

  Kaelon blinked twice before a question escaped his lips.

  "Pirates?"

  Kane turned to him and began explaining.

  "Yeah piracy is pretty common on the seas up north. Some say it's Pontus's influence that drives people in search of freedom out in the seas. Since He is such a carefree God, favoring the bold."

  Kaelon nodded, falling silent. He hadn't seen any pirates when they were at Windstone. Though his idea of what pirates look like could be wrong.

  Elizabeth cleared her throat before continuing.

  "This 'pirate crew' is apparently planning an attack on Windstone. They are gathering ships and recruiting members nonstop in other cities. The lord of Windstone says he has credible reason to believe they are targeting his city."

  Kane nodded seriously and spoke.

  "Then we must intervene, we'll lead a unit into Windstone. Reinforce their defenses and find out whatever we can about these heretics."

  Elizabeth nodded, continuing her words.

  "Indeed, you two will lead 50 men into Windstone. The lord has prepared accommodations for you once you arrive. You set out the day after tomorrow."

  They both nodded before leaving the room. Walking through the temples sun lit halls Kaelon and Kane went their seperate ways. Their training had been pretty much over anyway, it was time for Kaelon's patrol of the slums.

  Heading towards the entrance Kaelon met Brand and Victor. As he approached Victor immediately asked.

  "Hey Kaelon what was that all about with Elizabeth? Did you get any news?"

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  Kaelon shook his head slightly but answered the question. Brand held equally curious eyes but remained calm, his expression barely moving.

  "I did get news. We're fighting pirates, apparently the cult has some crew under them. They are attacking Windstone according to their city lord, so we are heading there soon."

  Victor's eyes lit up at his answer, he was clearly about to ask follow up questions but Kaelon cut him off.

  "You'll find out more tomorrow. Just focus on the patrol for now."

  He led the two men down the temple stairs, heading down into the slums. In the past three weeks the atmosphere had bettered but it was a small change. The Grate Lords being eliminated brought about some peace and their continued presence patrolling fhe streets kept it.

  However that peace was fragile. New gangs popped up at every street corner and old gangs schemed to regain their power. Each hoping to take a piece of the slums for themselves. Every time they patrolled they cleared out at least one group of gangsters, even running into whole headquarters occasionally.

  Today, they walked through the slums for a few hours fighting the odd group of criminals. They hadn't run into anything out of the ordinary until now. Not far from where they Kaelon used to live, a house was letting out a strange odor. Looking inside you could see a faint smoke filling the house, almost identical to Lestra's room.

  Kaelon led the two men up to a window and peered inside. There a large burly man was sitting on a. makeshift throne with a pipe in his hands. A woman was being forcibly stripped in front of him by a group of his subordinates. A smirk lined his face as if enjoying a show.

  Without hesitation Kaelon walked up to fhe door and kicked it open. His sword flashed red and ge rushed inside, Brand and Victor followed begund him. The three of them made quick work of the men and the now half naked woman ran out into the streets in fear.

  The man with the pipe got up immediately upon their intrusion. He tried going after the woman running away but Kaelon cut him down before he could do anything. A blazing red blade left countless scars on his chest as Kaelon executed flowing slashes.

  'Second Form: Cinderflow'

  The man fell to fhe floor, bleeding out and in pain. Kaelon crouched down to meet his eyes and lifted the man's fallen pipe from the floor. Taking a smell of what the man was smoking his face scrunched.

  "...What is this, because it's certainly not tobacco? What are you smoking?"

  The best answer the man could give him in between cries was.

  "I-It's called ambrosia.They say it belongs to the Gods."

  Kaelon frowned at the man's explanation. No Gods he knew of smoked this 'ambrosia' and he had met two. Putting the pipe in his pocket Kaelon put the man out os his misery.

  Walking out of the now bloody house, he let out a sigh looking up at the setting sun. Brand and Victor followed behind him and the three returned to Altan's temple. The walk up the mountain wnet by quickly, Kaelon treating it like training.

  Stepping into the temple's grounds the three of them went their separate ways. Before splitting ooff to go to his quarters Kaelon reminded them.

  "Be ready for tomorrow. Kane and I are probably going to select the squad heading for Windstone at the training grounds. I will make sure you guys get to come along, use this to forge yourselves in the flames of battle."

  The two of them nodded, serious expressions on their faces. Seeing their resolve Kaelon nodded to himself and left for his quarters. Stepping inside he took off his armor and headed out to the courtyard. As always he ended the night with bodh conditioning and sword training.

  His progress with The Breath of Embers had stalled a little. Kaelon hadn't learned a single form after the second one, but he felt close. This upcoming conflict could he the catalyst he needs to make some much needed progress.

  Just like he had told Brand and Victor, he would use this opportunity to forge himself in the flames of battle. His eyes gleamed gold and a look of resolve settled on his face. Hours of training later and Kaelon was sitting on the floor of his quarters, meditating.

  His control over fire had become much better compared to the first time he summoned it. Flames danced on his hands, rising and falling with his breaths. Kaelon tried changing the fire's properties, now that his control was sufficiently strong enough.

  At first he struggled with it, the flames not undergoing any visible change. Their temperature bagan go fluctuate a little but it was limited. Kaelon spent an hour simply trying to bring about changes in the fire before exhausting his energy.

  He collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep in seconds. In his dreams he saw burning ships and crackling lightning. A wolf's howl echoed in his ears before he jolted awake. It was a new day, and time to prepare for the journey ahead.