The spark that repels us.

rk Sect. Sitting at the brink of the outer wall, Kael had his wounded hand covered with coarse fabric. The

ow often he repeated the phrase. His thoughts turned to the girl he had observed on the trip, her golden hair glistening like sunlight peeking through

ae

m in steady steps, her black robes merging perfectly with the approaching evening

she continued, "Father's me

yes back toward the horizon

sitting next to him. You'r

sense of humor. Here, dan

nlike the others. To please my father, most of them would

ed. "Different is

ice lower now. "Kael, what are you

much disclosure. But Lian looked at something-a

omeone," a little one. She brought me some memorie

pression to show cu

ms like a memory I cannot completely hold.

ay. She replied then, "Maybe it's not just a

ference who I am. My weapon is

responded, her voice stern. Still, Kael, you are mo

narrowing. "Why do you give import

naturally curious. Alternatively, I could be bored see

ting to find her actual goals. At last he

d in a low, steady voice. "But the choice of the defeated and the broken is quiet." Speaking out exposes you to potential dangers. If you remain

/

her comments really resonated. Years of emotional repression have buried every bit of humanity under

d the ephemeral recollections she had set off. Pictures of golden light and a girl's laughter danced in his mi

k at the door. He got up, and his hand went

y and commanding. Send a repo

dicated anything positive. His mind running with optio

ickering flames. Shen, standing at the front of the room, exuded the same might a

g throughout the chamber. Our goal is for

face inscrutable. "What

he has a formula for the Soul Rebirth Pill, a secret that might destroy all we have created. You are to verify

his discomfort, yet his chest const

ossibility for uncertainty. "Don't let me fail,

ready for the expedition that this was more than just another job. Though not mentioned, the healer's

n with keen eyes and an even keener blade-to guarantee the success of the mission. Along with the underlying conflict between Kael and his partner, the weight of his work pressed