The Raven Thief
Born of the wastelands, Spheris Arnadel, a young skilled thief, finds himself subject to a twist of fate when he steals a powerful relic and becomes a Bearer — humans gifted with powers from the Gods. As a punishment for his theft, he is cast into an otherworldly realm alongside other Bearers, where he faces off against monstrous beasts and powerful enemies. Yet, in his determination to return to the Continent and save his dying mother, Spheris is hell-bent on surviving the abyssal world. Even if it means giving his body to the Dark God whose powers he had stolen... even if it means losing all of his humanity.
• Disconnection
Moments passed and on the brown earth, Spheris knelt with Linne's lifeless body laid in front of him.
His expression was still meaningless, blank, as though he was locked in a shellshock, as though he believed this was a nightmare. Linne was dead.
Somehow, inside of him, something felt disconnected. A link, a channel, a bond. Something. Ever since his father died, Spheris had never felt the pain of losing someone that close to him.
In fact, he had almost forgotten how it felt. But seeing her so still, so empty... so dead, he suddenly felt like that nine year old boy once again.
'Your pain wastes on her, Spheris,' Obsidian said. 'She chose her path and she has faced the consequences, just as you did for yours.'
Spheris's head remained low, he pressed his lips together, nostrils flared as he struggled with an internal turmoil.