Prologue

Chapter 1 (City of Drent) Daren 1

Apprentice inquisitor Deren lay on his bed, hard boots on rough boards, and the clatter of Muggs came from just beneath him. Deren tried to sit but failed, several minutes of deep breathing and he rose, his head throbbed and his chest burned. Fumbling for the lamp, he opened the light slits and sparked a flame, using his pitiful magic to light the candle.

Shit, focusing his throbbing head on the task, he channelling a small amount of mana around the wick of the lamp. Gritting his teeth, he channelled harder. After another try, the flame caught, brightening up the room. He stares down at his thick soft fingers, Deren Scoffed to himself. He could do it. Magic wasn't so hard. He usually viewed it as beneath him, but deep down he wanted to learn.

How absurd, Deren thought, learning magic from those commoner mages was beneath him. Deren glanced over to the mirror. The throbbing in his lower gut shot to the forefront of his mind as he stood. Deren Grimaced reaching down and gently pulling open his robe revealing his protruding gut.

Deren Stare at the dark lines on his chest back to his face, his short brown hair messed, his hazel eyes shining bright. Reflecting the firelight bouncing off the mirror. He grumbled, his beard made him look much less kempt. He would need to get it trimmed. His gut stung, throbbing again, pulling open the white silk robe Deren blanched.

The black lines on his chest trailing from three puncture wounds. The bed creaked under Darens weight; the slight burn of his Holy amulet, the metal to warm against his chest. Every day the necklace grew warmer, and every day the corruption covered more of his chest.

Shifting in his seat, Daren clasped the amulet. Deren thought of going to Kelvin The high inquisitor for help, but that wasn't a good idea. Daren knew what might happen to him if Kelvin thought he was possessed. He had seen the Corruption in the night before while he was being undressed by a beautiful woman. Daren could remember the look on her face, her disgust as she had pulled off his robe.

Deren was too Drunk to chase after her and fell asleep. He thought whatever it was could wait. Deren had never been more wrong. The black veins had been spreading for two days now and getting worse. Deren shuddered The laws of the church stated they should cleanse him of the corruption. He wasn't altruistic enough to believe he was special. His teacher would put him down like a stray dog if he knew a demon infected him.

Deren's silver necklace burned against his skin uncomfortably. so he put it on the fabric of his shirt, sighing with relief as now it was only a minor heat. To his surprise, the corruption throbbing as black pulsing lines in his skin immediately stopped throbbing as well. Deren frowned, he wasn't an idiot. That could only mean that the necklace was fighting the corruption.

Taking a deep sigh of relief Deren stood moving around his limbs checking for pain, He smiled, at least without the necklace he no longer felt pain. Slipping the necklace from around his neck, he drags it down to the corruption and slowly he touches the shining surface of the necklace to the corruption.

His chest cramped, his body spasming. Dropping the necklace, he did his best not to scream, as tears streaming from his eyes. What was that? He had felt nothing like it, his entire body felt on fire. Taking in quick breaths, Deren wiped the sweat off his forehead, staring down at the symbol of the Church.

Pain fresh in his head, he wraps his hand in his robe before pulling the necklace from the floorboards and tucks it into his pocket. Daren might need it later, and he knew Kelvin would be angry if he lost it again.

Deren drops the robe to the floor and dressed in his silk pants, clasping a black leather belt through the loops. He slipped on his bright green shirt, over his shoulders. Deren's sword slipped into his belt, its sheath clasped to the leather belt.

Sighing with relief, he walks to the door, opening and stepping out. The wall of noise washed over him as he descends the stairs and doing his best to avoid people. Deren appreciated the refined establishment. They were very discreet and had excellent liquor. As he was leaving, he glared at the blond woman blushing at him from across the room. She couldn't even look him in the eye.

The bright late afternoon sun made him squint. No wonder the bar was loud. The day was mostly over and people were already back to drink. Holding his hand to his face, Deren Yawned. He walked to the merchant district; he needed to buy himself a new hat. Sauntering down the road, he rubbed his throbbing head.

The guards from the upper district to the merchant's district didn't even bother to ask him for his papers. He would have chastised them if they had. They were lucky they kept their mouths shut. Putting the low birth guards out of his mind, Deren strolled down the road looking over the buildings. What in Laurentia was with all the burned buildings? He felt the urge to go on a walk which he didn't mind; it helped clear his head.

Nearly half of the merchant quarter was in a heap of ash and burned logs. Several minutes later another patrol of ten guards passed, their eyes dark and armour dented and scratched. Deren snickered, what was this city coming to? Sauntering past the wrecked buildings, sweat pouring down his back and neck.

The blackened and burned remanents of another building came into site. Luckily for the neighbor, the building next to the rubble had stone walls. Deren wondered why he walked this way? He had nothing to buy here, shrugging he pushed it aside, it was a nice day for a walk after all. The smell of smoke on the air and roving guards. It couldn't be safer.

His soft cloth boots scuffed the charred material immediately becoming stained. He winced, damned filthy building. Deren walks into the center of the fire. He could see waves on the ground where the flame had flowed. There was a place near the far left of the building. Stepping past a few stone pillars charred but still standing, Deren crouched sifting through the ash determined to find something.

Wait, he was looking for something? Of course, he was looking for something, that was what he was here for. Deren shrugged, he was here so why shouldn't he look through the burned building. His soft boots stained with ash and the heavy smell of coal drifted to his nose, Deren focused on the ground, even the stone had melted in a circle creating waves into the stonework beneath.

Deren noticed something Glint, the low light bounced off an object in the dust sparkling. Smiling, Deren scurried over getting excited. His heart raced as he reached down towards the shiny thing. He felt a searing heat in his pocket and reel back, He instinctively clutched the Necklace, taking comfort in its security.

Immediately the necklace burned his hand, gritting his teeth as the item fell to the ashen stone. The clank of metal on stone reaching his ears. Why had he been so worried? All it is, is a copper coin. Sure, the coin seemed odd, but wouldn't the coin be nice to pick up? Deren felt warmth in his chest, soothing and friendly, urging him to pick up the ash covered coin.

Deren thought, why not, it's a free coin? Wouldn't he be a fool to turn down free coins? leaning over, he reaches down and grasps the shiny coin. Ouch! Did the coin just bite him? He turned it over and sure enough the tip of his finger bled, blood tricking down the finger. His thoughts felling somewhat hazy, Deren cleaned the coin of blood on his green shirt and tucked it away in his pocket, keeping the coin safe.

He smiled now that he had what he had come for. Prancing over the ash covered wreckage of the guildhall, he completely ignores the necklace in the ash. Deren Felt the coin in his palm, he shouldn't let anyone take it. He should keep it safe. Grinning, he put it safely back in his pocket.

With energy left to spare he scurried along the road, passers-by didn't move out of the way in time and he bumped into one pushing the man over.

" Hey watch it!" said the red-faced man

" you shouldn't impede your betters." said Deren The man noticing the high-ranking noble lower his head.

"Im sorry my lord, I was just upset. The war, its been a rough few days." said the man.

Daren sniffed in disgust. The mans dirty outfit and unkempt hair made him almost a beggar.

Deren halted in front of the hat shop, admiring the bright and even shiny hats. Finding the one he wanted with a bright green and black feather, crafted of fine brown leather embroidered with gold. . Pushing open the door, a woman walk up to him and said," My lord welcome what can I get for you." Deren pulls the hat from the window rack and put it on his head, he stares into the mirror smiling, he really looked good in the hat.

" I will take it." said Daren The woman's hands clenched nervously in front of her, as she looked from Deren to the hat. Deren sauntered from the store, not bothering to pay. He was after all nobility, this lowly peasant should be honoured to even talk to him. The woman bowed,

" My lord, you must pay for the hat." Deren looks over the selection of fine goods, " it sure would be a shame if this place got accused of consorting with demons....." said Deren.

The woman bowed, her face turning pale.

" Of course the hat is on us, my lord, have a wonderful evening." Daren grinned. As it should be, he thought the night was young, and he had much to do. And what was this nonsense about a war? That sounded like fun.