The Monster Inside: The First Vampire 282 A Parting of Pilgrims

Aegin was practically skipping down the hallway towards the ferry. He was so ready to get off this ship that he'd packed up his belongings the day before. Of course, that had left him with nothing to do but stand around idly as the Mariner got as close to Rene as she dared and dropped anchor. Even then they still had to wait for the tides.

Devina had looked exhausted. So much so that Aegin had worried that she'd snap at him if he came anywhere near her. So instead he'd waited until she was in the bathroom to go in and retrieve his things.

It had almost worked as a means of goodbye too. Aegin had never been great at such things. However, just as he was finding a seat on the ferry after climbing down ladder, Devina's scent hit him. He sighed as she too made her way down, then moved to take a seat beside him.

"Anyone would think you were trying to run away," Devina stated as she sat down.

Aegin huffed, "I am".

Devina looked at him in surprise.

Aegin shrugged, "Two months on a ship will do that to you"

Understanding dawned in Devina's expression as she turned away. They both lapsed into silence as the Ferry pulled away from the Mariner, headed towards the bustling Port.

From a distance, Rene seemed no different to any other Port, it was set into a small inlet that was mostly covered by docks. Though these docks appeared more mismatched than any Aegin had seen before. Like they had been strapped together and pegged down as much as possible in a hurry. Still, they must have stood for quite some time considering the traffic around them.

As they drew closer, the passengers on the Ferry began to make out the city itself more clearly. It became quite clear that the only buildings in the city that stood above 2 storeys and were built with something other than wood, stand stone and straw, were those in the centre. The buildings on the outer edges of the city were not nearly as tall. They also appeared more akin to shacks than anything else. Not the people seemed too displeased from a distance. The bustled around like it was any other city.

In the centre of Rene there were several larger buildings, and one palace looking structure that possessed 3 high towers. Usually a building that tall would be for a church, but the architecture, with it's more rounded spires that appeared like budding roses, were not consistent with the other buildings Aegin had seen. If Aegin had to guess, that was where those with power lived in the city, watching over all of those below them. It was certainly how the Kildares had liked to run things. They'd even built on the hill above the city to ensure nobody could build higher.

Aegin sensed Devina's nervous movements beside him and turned slightly to see her rubbing her wrists. She noticed his look almost immediately, and he turned away politely.

"It's gone," Devina said, "I thought I'd be relieved but...it just feels like a loss".

Aegin knew she was talking about the thorns on her life lines. He'd felt the connection vanish the night before. He still remembered how she'd screamed at him upon first discovering them.

"Our contract is done," Aegin replied just as the Ferry docked, "We have no obligations to each other anymore".

He stood, hoisting his meagre sack of belongings over his shoulder before moving towards the dock. Devina caught his arm, "That's it?"

Aegin frowned at her, "Exactly what else were you looking for, Devina?"

Devina released her hand suddenly as confusion dawned on her face. What had she been looking for? As Aegin had said, their obligations to one another were done.

"I..."

Aegin gave her a half-smile, "I would say it's been a pleasure, but it hasn't. Not really...Get home safe".

Then he was gone.

Devina stumbled up onto the dock with the rest of the passengers, her head craning over the growing crowd to see a figure at the end of the dock pull up a dark hood and meld into a larger crowd.

The sense of loss Devina had been feeling seemed to increase. Her burden was gone, her contract done. Most of the passengers had made it to the Western Continent safely, and those that hadn't had not died due to some darkness that was spiraling out of control.

Surely the High Priestess would know? Surely she would be able to comprehend that the shadows they'd all been taught to fear were perhaps not as terrifying as they'd once believed. That she'd once believed.

Devina could not stay idle on the dock, but she could not follow Aegin either, not now that their connection had been severed. She would have to wait until he hunted, and even then she would have to be near him to sense his presence. Besides, it was clear that he had no desire to keep contact with her. After forcing herself upon him like she had, the least she could do was respect that choice.

With no where else to go, Devina went to the one place she knew she'd find solace, even here where the Six Great Gods were not so Grand.

Indeed, the humble little church on the northern outskirts of the city was not a place she would ever imagine finding herself. It seemed quite clear from the amount of people passing it by without a second glance that her Gods were not so revered here. Still, Devina stepped up to the door and knocked.

It took some time before someone answered the door, and beyond it she found a short, older gentleman that seemed to shuffle as he walked.

"Yes?" he asked.

"My name is Devina Lightbringer, I-"

"You are a Spark of the Holy Order," he said, his tone course and gravelly with age. Devina nodded.

"Yes...I seek food and shelter if you'll have me," Devina spoke.

"Of course, of course. It would be an honour to have a Spark stay here. And so soon after the beginning of our First Year of Rebirth," said the man.

Devina paused just inside the doorway, "First...what is the day?"

"The day? It is the Sixteenth Day of the First Month in our First year of Rebirth according to the Holy Calendar," stated the man.

"R...right. Thank you," said Devina.

"Come, come and sit, you have travelled far," the man insisted as he shuffled towards one of the antechambers. Devina lowered herself onto the one of the pews as she let the information sink in. Of course. Why had she not thought of it before? It was the entire reason for her mission.

She was to locate and stop the source of the Shadows before the end of the Final Year of Unholy Reckoning. But even if she had located it as the High Priestess had said was her duty, she had not in any way stopped it. If anything she had allowed it to go free. But now that year was over.

So, the question remained, if the year was over, and the Oracle's warnings had not been heeded, did that mean that the world would descend into Chaos, or that the Oracle had been wrong?

Aegin had never seemed to her like a harbinger of Chaos...

But what of the other he spoke of?

The man shuffled back into Devina's eye line, shaking her from her thoughts. She looked towards him as he offered her a small gem about the size of a plum. It was plain enough, Evanine by the looks of it.

"Take it, and will it to activate," said the man, "Your mind will clear more easily".

Devina frowned, taking the gem hesitantly. She'd never heard of the Order having such things. Slowly, Devina turned the crystal over in her hand, and a black symbol suddenly came into view, carved into the surface of the crystal so precisely. Devina's eyes widened as she realised that this was far more than what it seemed.

"Clarity?" asked Devina, the name jumping to the forefront of her mind as she appraised the symbol.

The old man nodded, "Yes, I found it down at the market place, a supplier came from the Southern Isles with many of them, all different kinds. I was quite lucky to get this, fifty gold if you'd believe, nearly drained my coffers dry. But worth it in the end. That Moonshadow is a Godsend".

"Moonshadow?" asked Devina.

"Oh child, do you not know?"

Devina shook her head. The man just smiled, "We'll be living in a new world with the genius of that company. It's a shame I am too old to truly see it, but you, you will be lucky".

Devina wanted to ask more questions about this new object in her hands, but the old man seemed to be lost in his imagination as he turned away once more, Devina leaned back as she stared at the crystal in her hands, then she did as he'd instructed, and willed it to activate.

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Chapter end