“No, he is being allowed too much freedom. Allow Rena to guard him on tonight's raid. If all goes well, we will grant him full pardon.” Another noble chimed in.

“We need any and all Justicar who are able.” Gavilis growled.

Many individuals stood upright indignantly, their arguments growing in their fervor.

His mind silenced the rising din of contradiction. In his mind, all seemed bleak, save for Ana. Her smile, her laugh—everything appeared to be trivial, save for his love for her. The feelings locked deep within his heart took flight.

Yet, as the din settled and they reached an agreement, it fell onto his deaf ears. Gelehrter appeared to be worlds away.

He nodded absentmindedly. Whatever their decision was, he would follow it to the letter.

If only to have another chance to be with Ana once again.

The meeting however begged for his attention, but he continued his charade of participation. His eyes wandered to each and every nobleman in the room, though he had glimpsed their expressions of despair, his intuition grasped hints of their fear.

Fear of his exposure to the Lower Sector.

Would he morph into some kind of demon?

“Gelehrter, there are a few matters I would like to discuss with you.” His attention returned to the task-at-hand as he was addressed. He glanced all about and his eyes widened as the room had emptied save for Gavilis, Ovelia and Accalia.

Her piercing icy gaze focused onto him, Accalia's familiar visage striking a cord of fear. He attempted to stifle this rising sensation.

“You've...seen things, haven't you?” Her musical voice seemed to coo to him like a parent to a child.

“A-Aye.”

“You need to share all of what you've seen.” Gavilis chimed in.

“But sir, I have shared all of my findings!”

“There are some questions many of us have. How did you survive?”

“I've told you many times!” He barked. “A machine removed all the dark matter inside of my body. There is naught left to corrupt!”

“Are you certain?” Ovelia now questioned him. Between the three, her gaze seemed softer. She appeared to be genuinely curious.

“I wish to read his memories.” Accalia murmured.

“That is not wise.” Gavilis argued.

“I am the Royal Vizier. My Overlord, his memories could hide the key to finding more about the vampire's plans. This could also be a chance to reveal the darker reaches of Sanctuary. The Lower Sector has not been visited in many millennia--”

She is hoping to find the memory of me hiding during her conversation with Hannibal. Any inkling of that could be my downfall. Gelehrter thought.

“--this could be our only chance to open expeditions!”

“The Lower Sector has been forbidden by Ernald for a reason. Though I am now Sanguine Overlord, I will not allow this to be rewritten for our gain.”

Our gain?

“I see.”

What is she talking about?

Another presence invaded his psyche. As he attempted to repress this advance, he was met with further interference. Memories leaped into view as he struggled to concentrate.

“We've been tracking down several of the vampire's movements. There are several--”

“I know you were there, Gelehrter.” The voice echoed ominously in the depths of his mind.

“--groups of them who will be operating in the Market tonight. We will have you defend with the rest of the battalions--”

Who are you?!

“--stationed nearby. Rena will be with you. This is your chance to show you are capable, Gelehrter. Do not allow the Council to see that you are not. I'm fighting--”

“Traces of him are here. I can sense you housed his spirit, the amount of time I spent in the abyss searching for his elusive spirit. A spirit so powerful, its very essence was sought by many others. I have killed many and more while I wandered, absorbing their souls into mine own. Do not think I am without remorse. I know of your love, Ana. She will be brought down with you should you resist.”

“--for you to remain a Justicar. I will not have you be retired early when you are still of some use to us.” Gavilis's words seemed to become gibberish after a moment but he quickly pieced it all together. An icy gaze pierced into him all the while, the presence within his mind seeming to prance about, hoping for some measure of weakness.

The memory of Ana and her prowess strengthened his further. He gritted his teeth and stood upright, the stitching of his Blessed Star faltering for an instant.

Gavilis and Ovelia exchanged a subtle glance.

Accalia attempted to contain the malignant intent residing within her cold lapis lazuli orbs.

“I will examine your memories, young one. Should it happen today or tomorrow, I care little. Either way, you will bend to my will and see aid me in my path to usurp Ovelia.”

He stifled his surprise and merely addressed the two of his superiors with a bow, regaining his resolve. “Thank you for the opportunity. I will see the mission carried through with success. Should my mind fail me then I surely will have been destroyed.”

The Blessed Star held fast and returned to its normal splendor. As he turned to exit the chambers, Gavilis lowered his head and glared at Accalia for an instant. She exited after a brief pause, scanning the room for an invisible individual.

“Gavilis...what became of Stolzer's sword?”

“It remains in the Medical Wing with the rest of his belongings. Many were convinced they were haunted and we had laid them there as a memorial to him. I suppose if you have need of his things, it would be right for you to have them, Gelehrter.” Ovelia finally addressed him directly and she retreated to her bed chambers.

Without another word, he exited the Sanguine Overlord's quarters. The gigantic metallic doors wailed as they allowed him to leave, as if bidding him adieu.

His steps felt unnatural, though the body and the legs which seemed to occupy the space belonged to him.

Slowly he approached the entrance to the lift. The familiar contraption which had faithfully carried him from each floor of the Citadel now seemed to be alien as well. Lingering sensations seemed to dwell in the darker recesses of his mind, his fingers daintily touching the lever. He grasped the lever and pulled.

A series of clicks and moving parts should have startled him. As his mind was infiltrated by Accalia, he felt a series of lingering aspects calling to his attention. The entrance revealed itself and he took a step inside the elevator. He punched a few buttons and it carried him away.

Moments later he stood in the Medical Wing. Near the center was a myriad of offerings left at the pile of what was presumed to be Stolzer's equipment. His boots clicked as he ventured to the small alter. Wind tickled his skin as the windows were opened to allow for a breeze. He marked the scent of blood which filled the air, the scent of decay and death. He reached for the weapon in question, carefully setting aside the rustic Blessed Star. The hilt of the weapon resembled a pair of eagle's wings. A pommel, worn and otherwise functional at best, demanded for him to wield the sword. He grasped it gingerly and unsheathed the weapon. Its edge shown brilliantly despite the dusk light. He sheathed it finally after a few moments and tied it to his belt.

“It would be right of you to have them, Gelehrter.” Gavilis's words rang true.

He turned to the others who occupied the Medical Wing. They did not bear the weight of a Blessed Star, but their armor lay nearby. Mail hauberks, pantaloons and boots, weapons and other garments.

“Hey, you a Justicar?” One of them asked. “We've been dealing with lots of them as of late. They've all come out of the woodwork.”

Gelehrter was pulled from his musings and into reality. The drain of his Blessed Star reminded him of the magical armor which encased his frame, the shimmering dark cloth. He turned to them.

“Yes.”

“We're part of the Templarate, see. Just in it for the money.” The man who spoke to him bore dark hair and his features resembled Stolzer's. However, his demeanor and otherwise lax pose told him otherwise. “Some of us got real hurt last night. Not to mention we were either killed or turned.”

He observed several of them reaching for their weapons. Two men and three women, though both men were injured. They sported several bandages on their visages.

One of the women stood upright, clutching at her side. “This is definitely one of them Justicar. He's always watching us.”

“You mean to take me down?” He motioned to one of them pulling the dagger free from its scabbard and they hastily tried to hide it.

“We take down a Justicar, we show how strong we normies are!” She reached for her broadsword and lunged toward him.

He effortlessly stepped to the side and pushed her harmlessly away. Her weapon rested in his hands now, her dark eyes flashing with rage.

“We work from experience, just like you. Our conviction protects us. I would rather not waste a perfectly good sword.” He spoke finally, the magical armor fading into his clothes. “I am just like you, I bleed like you can. If we are to stand against enemies in the night, then we must not falter.”

* * *

The night was ripe. Its cold breeze halted only required conversation, though even that seemed bittersweet. Clouds above fled Sanctuary's Market District for fear of violence.

In the darkness, those who fed on red drink waited patiently for their master's beck and call. Slaughter was inevitable, but it was required. Justicar's blades were fearsome and struck true, especially the foul Mortem's.

Several individuals had gathered in a nearby warehouse. Their incisors flashed as they evaded a scouting party. An alarm roared above and the scarlet lights vanished behind their towers.

Always the towers. First the machines would be spurned and then they would hunt them down like sheep.

They cradled their weapons and prayed silently.

“If there is no others like us, we must all become one.”

“Bring the Mortem to their knees and beg!” The words would rise into a dissonance which shook the very foundations of Sanctuary.

They marched into the night, their mouths agape with anticipation. Their blades slashed through many of their opponents in the night, their keen eyesight allowing them to see even in the bleakest corners of the Market District.

Yet, they were pushed back by the Justicar, the tip of the despicable Mortem's spear.

Gelehrter grunted as he parried another blow from his opponent. A lone vampire, no younger than twenty summers, attempted to ambush him with his fellows. Now only he stood and he was knocked aside with a swift punch to his gut.

He howled and coughed as he rose to his feet. The myriad array of bruises which he nursed from the night were left from his other bouts.

The Justicar faced him with the tip of his sword pointed to the ground. The alleyway sang with gusts of wind whirling about, the scent of blood making his skin crawl. With a quick flash, the man before him lay dead, his head rolling about to meet his friends.

He turned about and scanned the area, searching for a sign of Rena. They had been separated for a time and uneasiness settled onto his shoulders as he took to a stride. Due to lack of intelligence on the enemy and lack of communication, he took matters into his own hands.

“You are to eradicate them all.” Gavilis spoke plain.

“Even women and children?” He asked.

“They must all be cleansed.” The Grandmaster of the Justicar growled. “Ovelia ordered this and it must be so.”

A part of him wondered if he resented her for this and another simply surmised it was none of his business.

He rounded a corner and spotted several vampires fleeing at the sight of him. Gelehrter gritted his teeth and was met with steel; it snapped like a twig as it encountered the Blessed Star. He dashed forward, striking them with the pommel of his sword before rending them with a clean swipe. Effortlessly he stepped over the body and engaged in the pursuit.

Again and again, others tried to stop him. Their steel shattered against the Blessed Star, the dark robes which signified death. As terrible and terrifying as the void, his dark eyes flashed with righteous fervor. Wherever he went, death followed.

Senselessly.

Rena's presence demanded his attention however and he snapped to reality.

She wiped the blood from her sword and scowled. “They've been meaning for us to hunt them down like rats.”

“'Tis nothing we'd like to do surely. But it is something that needs to be done.”

“For Ovelia?”

“Strange order to be coming from our Overlord...but it is an order nonetheless.” He replied.

Rena rested a hand against her hip. “Something doesn't sit right with me.”

They stifled conversation when commotion demanded their presence. They stealthily peeked around the corner and into the street beyond.

Crimson eyes could be seen from one end of the avenue to the next. The vampires operated carelessly. They paraded in the street and were silenced as dark robes appeared before them. Magic leaped from their palms and steel cut them down.

One by one they were slain and stragglers were routed with hasty incantations.