It was already late. Starlight hung vibrantly in a sky near void of moonlight. Just a sliver creeping beyond the shadow overtaking it. Kayn had walked a fair distance back to the Order’s territory. Stone steps steep up the mountain the Temple rested atop, collecting of old, withered vines and remnants of what life tried to survive the taint of shadow magic. His gaze ever forward with Rhaast concealed on his back. Remnants of the Darkin’s taint no more than a strange scar consuming his hand and up his left arm.
As the man reached the top, another mark would become obvious. A print on his cheek now slightly bruised. Not from a fight, but –
I’ve counted into the hundreds.. Rhaast whispered into the back of his mind.
“Quiet, Rhaast.” Kayn remarked with a rumble of annoyance.
The truth hurts, doesn’t it? I could end your misery. The women would never resist one such as me..
“I’m not trying to kill them.”
You should be. It’s part of the fun..
An absent hand lifted to rest against the bruise. Golden hues gleaming with mild frustration at how poorly that encounter had gone. Can’t blame a guy for wanting to have fun.
“I don’t relish in slaughtering innocent people.”
You hold yourself back. Imagine what I– we – could accomplish! They would fear us. Does that not appeal to you?
“What appeals to me is you shutting up.”
The constant droning from Rhaast became tiresome swiftly. An endless barrage of remarks to insult, attack, or tempt the young Shadow Assassin into submitting to the Darkin. But Kayn wasn’t going to give in that easily. He had spent a great deal of time learning to deal with the Darkin. It had made him stronger. His will more unbreakable.
“Where is Master Zed?” Kayn questioned an acolyte. The response was short, and Kayn’s presence there soon gone in search of the Shadow Master.
Another clear sky during the night time. Zed had always found himself staring at stars, something about the bright white light that shown through the endless expanse relaxed him and this night was no different as he stood on the tiles on the roof of the temple, looking up and taking in the fresh air.
His faux meditation was interrupted, overhearing his name from down below, peeking over the edge to see his pupil had returned to the temple.
Using the shadows, he would teleport down to Kayn, appearing just behind him.
“Greetings, Apprentice. Aren’t you back at a reasonable hour?” He would jest.
