A day later, Valens awoke early in the morning, having slept for more than twelve hours. He looked up at the window.
The sun was about to rise, but the sky outside remained overcast but the two decided to continue with their mission.
As they got down from the inn's front door, the two men noticed a crowd gathered by a fountain not far away. It was a public place; people used to meet there. Valens and his brother moved toward the area.
They were surprised when they saw two guards being hanged from an old tree at the far end of the park.
Their bodies lay lifeless and bloody, dangling high in the air, swaying side to side with each passing gust. The two men had been stripped naked, then strung up.
The crowd was talking in low voices, whispering as if they knew something. As Valens and Ember drew closer, they could hear what they were saying:
"Poor guys. They should have listened to the old woman." "They deserved it!"
One man laughed. Others followed suit. Some of them spat on the ground where the two men were hanging.
When Val and Ember had heard it, Ember asked one of the people in the crowd, "What happened to those two?"
The person answered: "Oh, them? They should have listened to the Village Head when she warned them to give some sacrifice."
Now this caught the two brothers' attention.
"Sacrifice? What are you talking about?" Valens asked.
"The temple had asked for sacrifices for each citizen here. We all paid our tithes; we were all supposed to sacrifice one ox, two sheep, or chickens — anything edible, really. These two, however, said no — they just kept on denying it until finally, they got punished."
Ember didn't miss what the person had said about a temple, it might have some leads about their mission. So, he asked the person, "Which temple?"
The man answered: "It's called the Temple of Sheol."
As soon as Ember heard that name, his brows furrowed together and he said, "Where is this temple located?"
"It's in the town, not far away. Just turn left at the next crossroad," answered the man.
Ember took a glance around him, then went back into the inn and asked for directions., with Val behind him.
Soon they found themselves before the building that was said to be home to the Temple of Sheol.
A big square building stood tall by the street corner, looking much like a castle. There was a wide gate through which many people passed; men, women, and children going out as well as coming in.
It seemed like a large marketplace of sorts; many goods were sold and purchased on these streets.
A number of beggars were seen huddled up along the footpath, while others wandered aimlessly in the market, begging.
In addition, there was a great throng of people milling around this particular place; some of them had gathered at a little distance from the street, waiting to enter the compound of the Temple of Sheol.
A crowd gathered under awnings near the entrance, many chatting and eating. Amid the buzz, Ember noticed a group of women dressed in identical black garments. Both he and Valens immediately recognized the familiar symbol embroidered on their clothing—it belonged to the Hades' Wrath cult.
Ember glanced at Valens and spoke through their Mind Link.
We've been searching for the Blovik Empire's location, but it seems just staying here has given us a lead on the cult as well. This could be valuable for our investigation.
Valens subtly nodded, acknowledging the unexpected opportunity.
Valens nodded, looking thoughtful and then he continued saying, Let's get closer. If we want to get anything out of these women, we should speak with them ourselves.
As they approached the crowd, the two brothers began discreetly questioning people in line, posing as new pilgrims seeking guidance. Most of the responses confirmed their suspicions: the temple was newly established, less than a year old and still shrouded in mystery.
Moving away from the group of women in black, the brothers were stopped by a young man who had overheard their earlier conversations. He glanced around nervously before leaning in to speak in hushed tones. "This is the Temple of Sheol—a cult devoted to worshiping the dead."
The young man hesitated, his voice dropping even lower. "I don't know much about those women, but there are rumors about this place. They say that behind its closed doors... sacrifices are made. Human sacrifices." He paused, glancing at the brothers before adding, "Some claim those women are cult members. But I stay out of their way. If they suspect me of anything, I'd probably be the next sacrifice."
Ember listened intently, his expression darkening.
He nodded slowly, then shifted his gaze toward the towering structure of the Temple of Sheol. Its ominous presence seemed to echo the young man's chilling words.
The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange, purple, and blue, shifting beautifully with each passing moment.
Before parting ways, Ember turned to the young man. "Do you know anyone who's been here long before this temple was built? Someone who might know the history of this place?"
The young man nodded. "Yes, there's someone."
"Can you take us to them?" Ember asked.
"I'll try," the young man replied hesitantly.
He led the brothers through narrow back streets until they arrived at a small hut behind the Temple of Sheol. A single lamp flickered by the door, casting shadows as they approached.
The young man called out, "Grandpa! I'm back!" and hurried inside. Moments later, an elderly man stepped out. His white hair was tied back with a strip of cloth, and he wore the same black robes as the women near the temple. He looked frail but sharp, his gaze steady as he observed the two brothers.
Ember and Valens stepped forward, introducing themselves as travelers interested in the history of the temple.
The old man nodded slowly. "This temple? It was built recently, not long ago."
"Yes, sir," Ember said carefully, sensing there was more to the story.
The old man's expression darkened. "But not by ordinary people."
Ember leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
The old man's voice lowered as he explained. "One day, a group of strangers arrived at the city gates. Seven of them—six men and one woman—all dressed in black cloaks and hoods. No weapons, no banners, no explanation. Just silence. They came... and the temple followed."
Ember exchanged a glance with Valens, their curiosity now tinged with unease.
The old man's voice dropped, steady but heavy with an ominous weight. "They called themselves priests of a new faith," he began, his gaze distant. "They claimed those who joined must do so willingly—no force, no coercion. It sounded... harmless."
He paused before continuing, his tone growing darker. "But they did not worship God the Father. They worshiped Hades, the Lord of the Dead, the one called Sheol—the Darkest."
The old man glanced at Ember and Valens, gauging their reactions. "At first, the people welcomed the religion. It seemed peaceful, even promising. The priests vowed to solve any problems the community faced. People believed them. Trusted them."
Ember's voice cut through the growing tension. "Is it true they demanded sacrifices?"
The old man hesitated, his eyes narrowing as though considering whether to speak. Finally, he nodded. "Yes."
"What kind of sacrifices?" Ember asked, his tone calm but pressing.
The old man's lips thinned. "Men. Human sacrifices."
Valens stiffened, his face paling with rage. His fists clenched tightly, but he remained silent, trying to control the fury bubbling inside him. Ember, ever composed, kept his focus on the old man. "Were these men forced?" he asked.
The man let out a slow breath. "They were tortured first," he said grimly. "Then murdered."
A heavy silence fell. The brothers exchanged a glance but said nothing, their attention returning to the old man as he continued.
"There was one man who tried to resist," he said quietly. "An ex-priest of Sheol. They came for his brother—a good man. The priest fought them off, saved his brother's life. But he paid the price." The old man's gaze grew distant. "They crushed half his skull with an iron rod. He survived for three months but never recovered. He could barely walk, became an alcoholic, and died not long after."
His voice faltered, and he fell silent, seemingly lost in the grim memories. The room remained heavy with the weight of his words.
The silence stretched on, thick and unbroken, until Valens spoke, earning a quick side-glare from Ember.
"Since you've lived here for so long, have you ever heard of the Blovik Empire?" Valens asked.
The old man looked at him, surprised. "Yes," he said after a pause, his tone uncertain.
Valens leaned forward slightly. "How long has it been since you've heard of it?"
The old man furrowed his brow, clearly puzzled by the sudden interest. "I only know what was passed down in stories when I was a boy. Some say the Blovik Empire existed 40 years ago; others claim it was over 100 years. It's hard to say."
Valens exchanged a quick glance with Ember, neither fully convinced but unwilling to dismiss the old man's knowledge. Valens pressed further, his voice tinged with urgency. "What were the stories you heard about it?"
"Some say it's just a myth," the old man replied. "Others believe it was an empire that fell into ruins because of a corrupt ruler. There are rumors of scattered ruins in its old territory."
"And what do you think?" Valens asked, his skepticism evident.
The old man sighed, meeting Valens's gaze. "I think it could have existed. I won't deny that possibility. But if it did, no one has lived there in over a century, maybe two. Whether it's abandoned or never existed at all... no one truly knows. It's been a long time since anyone spoke of the Blovik Empire."
"Do you mean it's completely deserted? Or just unvisited for a long time?" Valens asked.
The old man paused, considering his words. "It's as if the Blovik Empire never existed," he said slowly. "There's nothing left of it. I've seen generations come and go here—old folks, children—but none of them know anything about the empire. Not even stories."
Silence fell over the room, heavy with thought. After a moment, Ember broke it. "In all the stories you've heard, was there ever any mention of where the Blovik Empire was located?"
The old man squinted slightly, as if weighing his response. "That's a good question," he murmured. Finally, he added, "No one knows for certain. But some claim it was here, on the southern continent—somewhere between this place and the mountains."
Ember and Valens exchanged a glance before turning their full attention back to the old man, listening intently.
After a moment, Valens leaned forward. "Do you think it's possible to find these ruins? If that's where the Blovik Empire once stood, there must be some trace of it left."
The old man's face reflected doubt and hesitation as he looked at Valens. "It's... uncertain," he said quietly.
The old man hesitated, as though deciding whether to trust them. "What do you want to know about the Blovik Empire?" he asked cautiously.
Valens replied without hesitation, "If possible, I'd like to know how far it is from here."
The old man sighed. "I can tell you, but don't mention my name after you leave," he warned. "I don't want to risk my life or my grandson's for what I share with you."
Valens nodded solemnly, and the old man continued. "It's about fifty-five miles south of here. From this point to the coast is an open plain, leading into mountains. Beyond those, there's a small rocky island surrounded by dunes and shrubs. From there, you'll see a vast, sandy plain stretching endlessly. That's all I can safely tell you. I can't risk more."
The young man, his grandson, spoke up reassuringly. "Don't worry, Grandpa. I brought them here through a secret path. No one will know."
Ember gave the young man a small smile, appreciating the gesture.
Valens turned back to the old man, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you, sir. That's exactly what we needed to know."
They both got up to depart. As they did, Ember asked the old man, "Could you have your grandson show us the path back to the temple?"
The old man looked at him doubtfully and was about to say no when his grandson said that it was okay and that he'll be careful to come back here.
After they were led back to the Temple's grounds, the two brothers thanked the young man and they went back to the inn.
Once they were inside the room, Ember said, "I have my doubts when he first said that there were claims on the exact location of the empire. He didn't mention at first the location, but he did tell us the location of the ruins."
"You're right. It's odd," said Valens.
"That doesn't mean it isn't true — only that he probably is lying to us or is simply mistaken. The point is that we've been walking all day without finding anything," said Ember.
They sat down in front of the fire as the sun had now set and Ember said, "I'll call Exeo first to report about the cult's branch."
He grabbed the phone in his pocket and dialed Exeo's number.
Exeo picked up on the other side after a few rings: "Ember?"
"Brother."
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes, and we may have some intel that might be helpful about the cult."
"Oh yeah?" Exeo responded eagerly.
"Yes. We talked to an old man in some village here in the south and told us about a group of people who arrived in this area who claimed to be priests of a new religion, that they do not believe in God or Father, but in Hades, the Lord of the Dead or Sheol, which is also called the Darkest."
Exeo was quiet for a moment, "What else did he tell you? Is the information you got reliable?"
Ember hesitated for a moment before he answered, "And that they also use human sacrifices, tortured first then murdered. That said, yes, it is reliable, the intel we got from HQ matches with what we have gathered here."
Ember also added, "I think it is another branch of Hades' Wrath cult because we also saw some followers who were wearing black robes and the Hades' Wrath symbols on the back of their robes. They had similar insignias to what Gen. Luis had shown us during our first mission. I've sent you some photos we secretly got when we were roaming in the area. Just check it once you're done. "
"That is definitely a connection; I don't know what to say,"
Exeo was silent for a while, checking immediately what Ember had sent to his device, and said, "Okay, I've received it, I'll report to General Luis about this and after we're done here on our end too. Thanks, Em."
Exeo ended the conversation and put down the phone. "We've got our work cut out for us. I hope he has some good intel from this cultist in our database," said Ember.