A few minutes later, Abad was upstairs outside the room that had housed all the treasures that had once filled his vault.


    The doors hadn''t been replaced yet, so when he turned and entered the room, he saw Faye. His legs stopped working. The woman had an impassive look on her face as she spoke to some Legionnaire. Her short black hair had been pulled back in a tight bun, and she wore similar clothes as before, the whites and blues accenting her pale skin. She''d only briefly visited him once over the past few weeks, and he hadn''t gotten used to her presence yet.


    Being honest with himself, it was still a shock seeing her in the flesh.


    To quell his discomfort, he looked around the room. Someone had cleaned the throne room up substantially since he''d collapsed there, and most of the damage had been cleared away. Unfortunately, many of his treasures were also missing. He expected as much. The more dangerous items would likely be stored somewhere safe, and the less hazardous ones would almost certainly be sold to fund whatever projects Nolei was invested in.


    Looking back to the hero, he could see their conversation was ending. He willed his feet to move, cast [Mask of Many Faces] to adopt his usual sun elf persona, and crossed the distance between them. When she noticed him, she nodded.


    "That will be all." The legionnaire nodded and turned to leave, but she froze when she saw Abad. The woman likely knew who he was. Her hand instinctively reached for her weapon, but he merely smiled at the woman and shrugged. She visibly shivered and marched past him.


    "It''s good to see you on your feet." Faye approached him and stopped just out of reach. Perhaps she felt as uncomfortable as he did. "Do you feel rested, Abad?"


    "Yes, I feel recovered, if still a little weak." He didn''t know where to take a conversation with the woman who had been his mortal enemy for centuries, so he let her take the lead. He saw the woman''s mind working behind her eyes, but neither spoke for a long while. He let the silence fall around them.


    Seemingly deciding on a topic, Faye spoke first. "I like Zethari." A smile played on her lips. "She''s rough around the edges, but she''s direct. She''s honest too. She''ll be a good companion for you as you continue on your way."


    "She is..." He smiled. "Honestly, I owe her my life. Without her support, I''d be dead. The soldiers would have cut me down in the courtyard."


    "Well, I''m grateful she was there, and I hope she continues to watch your back. A vassal like her is a true asset." Their stiffness was clearing, if only slightly. "I''m not surprised you chose to take her on."


    He grimaced. "I wasn''t sure about that at first, but I didn''t want her to be forced into servitude again."


    "You don''t want to have vassals?" She tilted her head. "That surprises me. You always seemed to enjoy it in the past, oh great dark lord." A little grin fell on her lips.


    He frowned. He had enjoyed it in his past life. Far too much. "I''m trying to do things differently these days, you know?"


    She nodded. "Fair enough."


    He chuckled. "It is funny, though, that I can''t seem to escape repeating my actions. History always seems to repeat itself."


    "History rhymes, but it doesn''t have to repeat. for you or me." She moved closer and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don''t feel bad for wanting the companionship of others. You need friends. We both do."


    He considered her words. He''d never had... those before. Not really. "I suppose you''re right. Perhaps you and I can even try to cross that bridge." He smiled at her. "At least one day."


    Her smile widened. "We shall see. But I''d like that." She lowered her hand and turned. "I hope you don''t mind. We''re using your old belongings to help fund repairs to the town. Once your scepter broke, a whole lot of the beastkin attacked their masters and escaped. After seeing how they were treated, I don''t blame them." She gestured to a pile of belongings lying on the far side of the room. "We''re also using your stuff to fund our prosecutions for the known slavers in the region."


    They were doing something about it then. Good. He laughed. "That stuff hasn''t been mine in five centuries. Outside of the stone in my pocket, I don''t need anything else. Plus, I don''t even know what became of my vault, so it''s not like I can store it all anywhere. Let them find new homes to decorate."


    Faye nodded and gestured to a stack of papers and documents on a nearby table. "Many of the local aristocrats and businessmen aren''t thrilled with our operation. We''ve already prosecuted many, but they know the noose is closing around them. They plan to fight us until it does."


    "Do they know who I am yet?" Abad asked.


    "Yes. Everyone does. At least they know who the other you is. I''d recommend using your disguise when in town. And change your name. I don''t know what you were thinking using your actual name, but... that was a dumb idea." She stuck her tongue out at him.


    "Yeah, that was a bit out of my control. I didn''t think of it when I met Firtz and A-Nis, and when I split up with them, Shani told Keila my name, so I had to go with it. I had another disguise, but I... kind of attacked some of Bolton''s men and didn''t have enough time to come up with a new one before Kasimir found me."


    "Thanks for that. Saving them. They''re good people."


    "Yeah, they are." He hoped he''d be able to see the dwarf and two elves again before he left Farnfoss.


    Her blue eyes met his. "I like Keila too. I think she''ll go far with a little direction." She rubbed her hands together. "You always did pick them."


    He laughed. "What does that mean?"


    "You always seem to choose the best, brightest, and most driven people to invest in. I wish I had that instinct. I tend to accumulate yes men. That''s why I haven''t taken a vassal in... oh, a hundred years or so?" She shrugged. "But the second I met her, I knew why you saved her. She''s a smart one, even if she''s a bit on the wild side."


    "Definitely." A smirk crossed his lips. He thought about the many times they spent in bed together, but a moment later, he cleared his throat to shake the images of her from his head. However, he could tell she''d read his thoughts. She rolled her eyes at him.


    "Dog."


    "Never claimed otherwise."


    They both laughed.


    Her eyes grew distant. "When we were at the court in Istaera, before I learned who you really were, we three would all joke like this. Despite his many mistakes, it makes me miss the man my brother had been. I haven''t thought of those days in a long time, but you being here now brought all these memories to mind. It made me consider the friendships that I''ve lost. It''s nice being able to laugh with someone like this again."


    "Do you not have friends?" He couldn''t imagine a woman like her not having close ones.


    "No." She sighed. "I''m immortal, like you. I''ve lost more friends than all but the oldest elves at this point. I guess I just... stopped trying, you know? Plus, most people don''t want to get to know Faye; they want to gain access to the ''Divine Hero,'' or whoever they think she is." She said her title sardonically, her face screwing up like she ate something sour. "That''s why I left it all behind, at least as much as I could. I founded an orphanage and a school. Everyone leaves the silly little hero alone now that she''s piddling her immortality away on urchins. It''s been nice and peaceful, at least until recently." She glared at Abad. "Until some asshole went and decided to wake up and get my crazy brother all hot and bothered."Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Abad sighed. "Sorry. I''m glad he''s dead. But... sorry anyway."


    "I''m not."


    "You were aware of what he was?"


    "Yeah."


    "Were you aware of what he did?"


    Her eyes narrowed. "Not until recently. Like I said, I put all that nonsense behind me and wanted to focus on living for a while. I thought Kasimir might have put it all behind him too. He seemed like he was in a better place. I thought maybe if he focused more on helping people than chasing his delusions, maybe he''d grow."


    "Why didn''t you do anything about him?"


    "Even if he''d gone off the deep end, would you kill your own brother?" Her blue eyes searched his, and a moment later she laughed. "Nevermind. Stupid question."


    Abad chuckled and refused to answer her. After their laughter died down, they were both quiet for a time. A thought came to him, one he''d wondered more than a few times. He worked up the courage to ask, "What happened to Maelynn?" When her eyes didn''t register the name, he added, "The Queen of Istaera."


    Her face fell. "Oh..." She seemed to search for the words. "When you died, we had to help her escape. Whatever enchantments you placed on the king faded, and he ordered her executed. She was..." She hesitated again. "She was with child. We couldn''t let that happen."


    "With child?" He felt his heart drop. Could he have sired had a child? "Was it..."


    "I don''t know. We lost track of her once we helped her escape to Osreva. None of us ever saw her again. I tried to find her after... everything, but I couldn''t.


    He felt a wave of very complicated feelings wash over him. Had he had a child? If he had, he''d try to find them. If they had his curse, they''d still be alive. He''d find them. He pushed the feelings away and affected a smile. "So what comes next, oh mighty Divine Hero? What noble deeds shall I perform in your name?"


    "What makes you think I know? Your next moves are entirely up to you." She smirked. "I''m just a schoolteacher. What you do isn''t my business. Now, if you happen to decide to help free every single slave in the world, that would be wonderful. If you help lift people out of poverty, I''d love it. But I''m not here to tell you what to do." She paused for a moment, then added, "Just... don''t go nuts out there. Or at least if you do, don''t involve the innocent."


    He scratched his chin in thought. "Why take me on as a vassal then?"


    "Because you''d be a nuisance in the Legion, and it would be a waste if you rotted in a hole somewhere." She paused. "And also, I''d hoped we might be able to mend bridges one day. There was a time I cared for you deeply. You were a good friend, or so I thought."


    He realized that they had been friends. Sure, he was living a false life as a duke he murdered, but he had actually enjoyed her company, even if he also plotted to kill her when the opportunity arose. "Yeah. I felt the same. As much as I could, anyways."


    She smiled at him, but her eyes got that far-off look again. "If you want direction, how''s this: why don''t you explore the Seven Nations? See what needs to be fixed, see where your power will best be put to use." She grinned. "Take a vacation, Abad! Spend some time acclimating to the world, then come to Saern and visit my school, Light''s Hope. Once you know what you want to do, seek me out. Then, we can discuss what comes next."


    He considered her proposal for a moment. "Okay. That''s what I''ll do."


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    <ul>


    <li>[The Sevenfold Journey]


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: Traverse the Seven Nations—Nolei, Evron, Malrith, Deneir, Istaera, Osreva, and Volkash—to uncover their mysteries, forge alliances, and unearth the truths hidden within their borders.


    <ul>


    <li>


    [Trace the Shadows of Nolei]: Venture into Nolei’s forested lands, where dark magic weaves through ancient trees and threatens all who enter.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Seek the Fey’s Blessing in Evron]: Traverse Evron’s mystical forests and lush plains, where feykind and mortal tensions demand delicate negotiation.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Navigate the Swamps of Malrith]: Brave the treacherous swamps of Malrith, uncovering secrets hidden beneath its wet and shadowy depths.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Harness the Magic of Deneir]: Explore the central plains of Deneir, where magic pulses through the heart of Elysium, shaping the land and its people.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Sail the Sapphire Coasts of Istaera]: Cross the shores of the western lakelands, uncovering the riches and dangers that lurk in its trade coves.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Survive the Wastes of Osreva]: Journey through the vast desert of Osreva, past towering mountains and an active volcano that guards its fiery heart.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Ascend the Peaks of Volkash]: Confront the jagged, mountainous terrain of Volkash, where the echoes of the Dark One’s rise still haunt the land.


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    She smiled as she read his scroll. "See, even the Goddess agrees. Take the win." She gestured to a pile of belongings on the far side of the room. "Also, I found something you might want."


    Curious, he followed her toward the pile. She dug around for a moment, then pulled out some piece of black cloth.


    His heart caught.


    "I thought you''d be happy to see this again." She handed the fine cloth to him.


    It was his [Cloak of the Raven]. He''d crafted it as an apprentice, and while it wasn''t particularly powerful, he''d always kept it as a memento. His fingers ran over the black cloth, countless memories washing over him as he did. The object felt good in his hands. He reached out with his senses. Its enchantments had weakened, but they were still mostly intact. He smiled. He supposed if he had to have any of his old artifacts, this was the one that was closest to his heart. "Thank you, Faye."


    "Don''t sweat it. You always wore that old thing, even when you were pretending to be someone else, so I figured you''d want it back." She smiled, but her expression fell a moment later. She gestured to the rest of the pile beside her. "However..."


    "Don''t worry about it. The Master of the Vault will find new treasures to hoard, I''m sure. While I feel different in many ways since waking up, I don''t think that part of me has changed much."


    She stared at the pile for a moment. "Are you...?"


    "I''m good," he reassured her as he threw the cloak across his shoulders. "This is enough." It felt good on his back. His cloak even cracked dramatically as he turned. He couldn''t help but grin. The two of them left the pile behind, walking back over to where she''d initially greeted him.


    As they did, a pair of people entered the room. The tension was palpable. Zethari and Keila had arrived at the same time, and while the blonde woman looked like she was trying to disappear into herself, Zethari''s face could kill. Keila''s clothes, blue and white, contrasted perfectly against Zethari''s dark tunic and pants. The fey''ra''s clothes matched Abad''s, and Keila''s Faye''s. He didn''t know if matching clothes was a thing, but he sensed this wasn''t the time to ask.


    Keila looked at Abad and shrugged. "None of Faye''s clothes fit, so I got her new clothes. It''s the least I can do."


    The wolf girl huffed and marched up to Abad. "When are we leaving?"


    Abad looked back to Faye, who shrugged. "Soon. Once we tie you to the teleportation circle here..." He paused. That would require money. He really wished he hadn''t thrown his pack off the mountain, even if it wouldn''t have survived [Eclipse]. Just knowing it was probably shoved between some rocks near the peak made it worse than if it were destroyed.


    "I do not ever want to come back here." Her jaw set. "We should leave."


    "All the same, we may need to, so I think it''s still wise." He shuffled. "But we''ll have to get some money first."


    Faye smiled. "I think that''s my cue." She pulled out a bag from her desk and handed it to him. "Here are some funds. That''s get you to Evron at least. After that, you two can figure your lives out." When she noticed Abad''s confusion, she added, "It''s what patrons do. Don''t worry about it. It''s not a debt or anything, you silly man."


    "Thanks." He felt awkward about the gift but dropped it. He''d pay her back one day.


    "We will pay you back for this gift, Faye," Zethari told her. The wolf girl''s face softened as she looked at the hero.


    "Oh Goddess, you''re both weird." Faye shook her head and ushered them forward. "Don''t worry about it. Now come on. I have a meeting in half an hour, and as much as I''d love to keep chatting, the Hero has a few more duties to resolve before heading back home." She started to usher them out of the room, but Abad stopped her.


    "I figured out how to undo the brands." The room fell silent. Keila and Faye looked at him in surprise. He took a second to glance over at Keila. "Watch." He walked up to Keila and placed his hand on her neck. Unlike the wolf girl, she didn''t flinch. If anything, her body sank into his touch.


    Dark One''s breath, he''d miss her.


    He closed his eyes, reached out with his senses, and found the knot of black magic within the brand.


    [Corruption]


    The black knot unraveled, then snapped. He willed the small black mote that was released into his spirit, but just as it merged into him, he felt Keila throw her arms around him.


    "Thank you." Her arms squeezed him tight.


    A smile split his lips. She deserved better than she got. This would be a step forward. He gave her a quick squeeze back, then pulled away. "I can teach the healers how to do the same. Anyone with healing skills should be able to learn this, though I have no idea how they''ll do it with their own magic. At least I can teach them how to find the magic within."


    Faye nodded, thoughtful. "I''ll have Firtz and Kjormur come with some of the Legion healers. They''ve been working on it but haven''t had any success. With this, they might be able to start making real progress." Her grin came back. "Now, git. I have work to do, and I want to sit here and do nothing before I have to meet with these assholes." When the three of them turned to leave, Faye spoke again. "Not you, Keila. You know the merchants guild better than most. You''re not getting out of this."


    Keila groaned. "Fine, fine... But Abad?" Her eyes met his. "Let''s talk later, okay?"


    "Sounds good."


    The blond woman walked to the hero, and he and the wolf girl turned and descended the stairs.