Chapter 19: The Sun Champion
"Dark Families created the Underworld to continue their businesses while Ender Cult completely hid in the shadows," Xena said, interrupting Han’s Father’s narration.
As his Father continued, Han asked, "Does Ender Cult want to bring back the Dark Age or finish what started the Dark Age?"
"Both now." Xena smiled. "Some want the Dark Age back; others want to finish the old business."
"What about you?" Han asked.
"Killing has given me a perpetual purpose. There’s always someone after my head. It all leads to something, and I don’t care what," Xena replied. Han studied her calm tone, trying to spot a crack and finding none.
She sounded like a true believer, except Han could see she didn’t believe in anyone or anything. Her role as a priestess was likely to preach along those lines and keep people committing Ender Cult’s atrocities. He didn’t comment and simply waited for his Father to continue the training.
[Thereafter, the Dark Families and the Ender Cult withdrew into their respective spheres. Through seasoned craft and networks that often surpassed those of the Kingdom’s Noble Families and Direct Lineages, the Dark Families held advantage and steered affairs from the shadows. Hard years returned to humanity and to the Wyrds, yet the tumult ran quieter, veiled, until corrupted kingdoms turned upon themselves in civil strife. From that disorder arose men and women who styled themselves the voices of the Gods; under manifest gifts, they founded Churches and new creeds. Their credit stood on two pillars: their powers proved effective against Dark Mana and could calm the Wyrds’ restless natures, and they bore no stain of the Dark Age.]
A weight settled on his shoulders.
Han nodded. In such dark times, warm mana that could tame a wild Wyrd would calm people and turn them into believers on the spot. Founding Churches then and enforcing morals surely created a rift between the Churches, Wyrds, and Dark Families.
And Han was tied to two of them, which meant all three factions and their splinters would love to catch him for their own ends.
I understand what it means for me to leave my mansion. Tenaxis and Red Dragon Origins can only do so much to protect me, but many won’t pass up a chance to obtain me. Well, the same goes for me. Anything interesting and useful to me, I’ll claim as well!
[Thus end the origins of the principal factions and the ways they imperil you. You now grasp the weight of your lineage and how many will set their hunt upon you.]
Han nodded.
[Now to the present. I bestow upon you the Royal Badge of Tenaxis. With it, you are empowered to operate within the Underworld and its branches. When you employ it, I shall be apprised. Brand it with your mana, and you may spread your wings as you see fit.]
An officer’s badge descended from the sky and landed on Han’s palm. It looked different from what he imagined: a collage of cauldrons from the Dark Cauldron Art. He recognized a part of the Obsidian Cauldron, but there were more. On his badge, they sat against the background of Dragon Wings.
Han branded it with his mana, and the gaps in the irregular image of cauldron parts glowed. The badge then sank into his palm. He had never needed validation of his place in Tenaxis or the Red Dragons, but now, with this badge, he wanted recognition from the Red Dragons as well.
He clenched and unclenched his hand, but it felt normal. He could sense the badge whenever he thought about it, and it wasn’t uncomfortable.
"Thanks, Father," Han said.
[The world has changed significantly and become more intricate as the three factions have entered a stalemate and kept developing. I don’t foresee a turning point yet, so you should explore the world on your own first. You already have connections to Dark Families and Demi-Humans. So this is my first present to you: the Sun Champion.]
"What?!" Xena barked. "She was kidnapped by Tenaxis?"
Han shot her a furtive look. It was rare for her to react like that. Surprise wasn’t her color. Seeing it made Han alert.
A small cut opened in the space before Han. It widened into a curtain, revealing another room within the artifact. Inside, an orange-haired woman draped in modest golden robes was handcuffed to the wall.
Sensing Han’s stare, she lifted her face. The air smelled faintly of char. His Dragon’s Pride stirred; pity did not.
Ugh, that’s ugly as fuck.
Goosebumps ran down Han’s spine. Above her nose, her face was burned, and her flesh had melted over her eyes, covering them. She clearly couldn’t see and had paid some price for her powers. Han wondered what had blinded her, though he was even more interested in her mana and essence.
Smiling, the Sun Champion said, "You do not have to tread this path, Han. I’ve been listening to your trial all this time. Dark Mana can be warmed, and your Dragon Self can be a proud protector of the world, not a cruel beast. You can defy your origins and be exactly who you want to be."
"Hahahaha!" Xena burst out laughing, holding her stomach.
The Sun Champion didn’t flinch and kept her focus on Han.
He smiled back. "You should fix your face first if you want to preach your bullshit. If being a protector means getting scarred so other humans and races can live their idyllic lives, then give up coaxing me. I knew a good guy who worked his ass off, fair and ambitious, only to be crushed by ’good society.’ Your name?"
"Bellatrix," the Sun Champion replied, head bowed.
Han nodded. "You’re my cauldron from now on."
The words landed like iron. Xena’s mouth curved, satisfied.
She then scoffed as Han told Bellatrix to join her side.
Han thanked his Father aloud for the present and left that space.
The narration reached its end.
[The present and the future lie beyond this artifact. Should you seek the lore of artifacts, return home and submit to my trials. With this, the Mansion you inhabit and its maids pass wholly into your keeping. Until we meet again, Han, my son.]