Kalon Bloodborn's POV
Hekate's temple was sited in a strategic point. Situated nearly a stunf's fare travel south of the citadel. The temple felt less like a transit point and more like a fortress.
As I walked through the entrance, the basis of its placement became clear to me. Perhaps by keeping the hecate's temple far from the heart of the city, the Stygian defenders ensured a vital buffer. Should a foreign race attempt a sudden breach, or worse, should the demonic scourge find a way through the gateway, the citadel would have ample time to seal its gates and mobilize its legions.
The temple was divided into waiting chambers. I stood against a pillar, my arms crossed, watching the frantic activity around me. Massive carriages, pulled by mana-beasts and laden with scrolls and vials containg healing salves, elixirs and toxins; moved toward the teleportation gates.
The teleportation gates themselves were imposing, monolithic constructs. They resembled massive, heavy door frames. From the rear, they appeared like the closed door. However, the front had edges that protruded slightly on all four sides, creating a recess. When a gate was activated, the space between these edges filled with a shimmering, liquid-like wave of colors, just like oil on water.
I traced the runes carved into the frames of one teleportationgate. As I had learned during my studies, these runes served a vital purpose. They were etched not just on the visible edge of the gate, but on the back and sides as well. It glowed with a constant blue light on black stone, as carriages passed through.
Unlike the runes on Ariadne's axe, which were designed to store a destructive purpose, these runes were anchored to stability. They were the anchors that held the spatial tunnel together, ensuring that the transition from one side of the world to the other didn't tear the traveler apart.
"It has a similar nature to the storage ring, doesn't it?" I whispered, the thought striking me as I watched the colors ripple.
Damon, who was sitting on the ground nearby. He continued checking the buckles on our luggage before looking up. "Is it the spatial ability that makes you say that, Kalon?"
I nodded. "They are both made using chaos magic, I presume. It feels like the same logic, just scaled for the physical world."
Damon stood up, dusting off his robes. "In principle, perhaps. But the complexity is vastly different. A storage ring only pockets a stagnant fragment of the astral realm to hold items in stasis. These gates, however, allow a celestial to actually transverse that realm. You are covering thousands of miles in the real world by stepping through the gate."
"The runes are what make it accessible; they ensure the gate works consistently so that any trained guard can activate it regardless of mana signature, and without needing control over chaos magic."
I looked down at my hand. The storage ring, the very one we had stolen from the storage room, was no longer the glinting silver band it once was. Months ago, Damon had led me to a craftsman's stall in a the Citadel to have it amended. It was now coated in a smooth, dull-black layer, appearing to be nothing more than a simple, decorative trinket. Hidden in its space lay the hand-construct I had forged from Dregol's heart and the enchanted items we had inherited from his legacy.
"Keep your mana flowing over it," Damon warned in a low voice, his eyes darting to the patrolling guards. "I've told you before. It won't be noticed by a casual glance, but you must constantly coat it with a thin layer of your own mana."
The guards here were numerous. Imposing figures in uniforms, pikes carried everywhere. Every time a pair of eyes drifted toward me, I felt a spike of tension. But then, the crowd parted, and the sight of a familiar face brought a wave of genuine relief.
Selene was walking towards us. She looked radiant. When she reached me, she pulled me into a warm, lingering hug. I was immediately remind of the home I was leaving behind.
For a few seconds, the tension in my chest eased. In her presence, I wasn't a thief or a heretic. I was just her younger brother.
But my relief was short-lived. Selene wasn't alone.
Walking beside her was a male Sol I had never encountered before. He was exquisite. Like the Nodens, Typhons, and Aeolians, his skin was a stark white, contrasting sharply with our dark Lamian complexion. He appeared mighty at first sight, possessing a presence that made me attentive.
He wore a well-embroidered shendyt and a tunic with loose, elegant sleeves. Bracers of fine metal were clamped onto his forearms, earrings glinted in his ears, and a heavy, collared piece of jewelry rested on his neck. His mahogany hair was medium-length, flowing with a natural luster.
The mere sight of him made my heart beat faster. My body reacted instinctively, gaining a minimal, protective heat. A response I couldn't control.
I was struck by the fact that he wore no armor. This man was a raider, coming from the same dangerous ruins that we intended to go, yet he came dressed for a courtly function, not for battle. I found myself admiring his confidence, even as it irritated me.
"Kalon, Damon," Selene said, her voice trembling slightly. She took the Sol's hand, her fingers interlaced with his. "I... I want you to meet my fiancé, Lord Ronan."
The revelation hit me, my mind went blank. Disbelief and a sudden, sharp sense of betrayal washed over me.
"Fiancé?" I repeated, my voice sounding distant to my own ears. I looked at Selene, my brow furrowed.
Damon stepped forward. "Selene, why did you keep this a secret? Why are we only finding out now, at the very moment we leave?"
Selene began to stutter, her face flushing a deep crimson. "I... Damon, it's not what you think. I didn't want to distract you two from your studies, and with the deployment approaching—"
"I was occupied with work at the Great Ruins," Ronan interrupted, his voice smooth and resonant, carrying an effortless authority. He stepped forward, his glowing eyes meeting mine. "The borders have been restless, and my duties kept me away from the citadel longer than intended. I only managed to return this morning to see Selene off before your group departed. But now I intend to stay here longer."
He looked at me with an intensity that felt like standing too close to a furnace. "I have heard much of you, Kalon. I look forward to getting to know you better when you return from your five-year rotation. Selene speaks of you as if you were her own blood."
I took his hand. His skin was unnaturally warm. I felt a light anchored in his very soul. I didn't like the way he spoke of the future, or the way he stood so close to Selene, but I forced myself to remain calm. I couldn't risk a scene here, not with the storage ring on my finger.
They were too many secrets to dare.
"I hope your duties don't keep you too busy to look after her while we're gone," I said, my voice low and laced with a discomfort I didn't try to hide.
Ronan smiled, a confident, light-filled expression. "She will be well cared for, Kalon, Damon. You have my word as a Sol." He said turning to Damon as well.
The colors in the gateway flared. Our departure was closing. The time for questions had ended. I looked at Selene one last time, wanting to say a thousand things, but only managed a stiff nod of goodbye. I adjusted my coat, feeling the cold weight of the storage ring against my skin, and turned toward the shimmering void of the gate.
Here, seeds of deceit could not be buried deep. As we stepped toward the gate, I realized that the great ruins were the only place left where a person like me could truly hide.