After they finished with the plan, everyone went to sleep for the next day. Catoni's granddaughters teased Arphaxad: "There are a lot of people in grandpa's house, I think you'll have to sleep near grandpa's latrine!" Arphaxad made a face imagining having to sleep near old Catoni's latrine while everyone laughed at the lighthearted moment.
In the early hours of dawn, everyone was sleeping on improvised beds on the floor when Pudin felt a strong spiritual presence and woke up Kal: "Kal, hey Kal!!" she said with her paws on the young man's face. "I'm feeling a strange spiritual presence. It's not the same thing I felt in that collar; this is dense and strange!" Kal quickly got up, and taking his sword, went guided by Pudin. As Kal left, Sahara, on the other side, saw Kal and Pudin stirring. She slowly got up so as not to wake anyone and followed Kal without him knowing.
Kal followed the direction that Pudin gave him until he reached a large warehouse. It seemed abandoned, and Kal asked Pudin if that was the place where the presence was coming from. The little cat quickly nodded positively but shrank and hid behind Kal's back. "It's a strange and distorted presence. I'm afraid, Kal" said the little cat. Kal, however, did not hear Pudin's final words and headed towards the warehouse to see whose spiritual presence it was.
Inside, Kal saw a dozen mutilated dead bodies. The smell was terrible and the sight even more disgusting. Kal realized that place was not an abandoned warehouse, but an old temple of Luminus. There were images dedicated to the gods everywhere, and a large statue on an altar at the front, which was destroyed with only half the body remaining. Kal looked around to find the source of the presence, however he heard a voice echo from the depths of that dark place: "I told you we'd meet again, little Kal!" Immediately, Kal felt a big chill run up his spine. That voice belonged to Sorrow.
Kal gripped his fist around the hilt of his sword, his senses on maximum alert. There was tension in the air, every sound seemed amplified in the morbid quiet of the old church. Sorrow's presence, that implacable enemy, brought up memories of past confrontations, each more dangerous than the last.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, its eyes burning with an infernal flame and with a cold and threatening light. Sorrow advanced slowly, a sadistic smile plastered on his pale face. "Did you think you were rid of me, Kal? Did you think I wouldn't return?" Sorrow's voice was a gelid whisper, laden with malice.
Kal raised his sword, his body tense in preparation for combat. "Why are you after me, Sorrow? What do you want?" The question came out more as a challenge than a search for answers.
Sorrow chuckled softly, a disturbing sound that reverberated off the church walls. "What do I want? I want to see you suffer, little Kal. I want to destroy everything you love, see the hope disappear from your eyes."
Kal took a step forward, determination burning in his golden eyes and unsheathing his new sword he said: "You won't achieve it, Sorrow. I won't let you."
Before he could attack, Sorrow raised a hand, and a wave of shadowy energy emanated from his fingers, pushing Kal back. The force of the impact caused him to stagger, but he quickly regained his balance, his eyes fixed on the enemy. For Kal, Sorrow's attack was new and from what he sensed of that malign energy, he understood that Sorrow was different.
Sahara, who had silently followed Kal, watched the scene from a hidden point, her hand already on the hilt of her whip. She knew she could not directly intervene without exposing her presence, but she was ready to act if Kal needed her.
Sorrow advanced on Kal with his distorted and clumsy way, attacking him with his daggers. Kal easily defended the first wave of Sorrow's attacks. "You've never been stronger than me, Sorrow. You said someone paid you to kill me, today I will destroy you, and your benefactor will be next!" said Kal.
"Oh, our little boy is becoming a fierce warrior!" said Sorrow, smiling and attacking Kal continuously. "During our first encounter I believed you were a doll without feelings, a receptacle for a faded light, but you know, Kal, during our first encounter I could feel your fear, during our second your disappointment, during our third your doubt, and now I want to awaken another feeling in you!" shouted Sorrow while attacking Kal. Sorrow's attacks were ineffective - even without his divine mana, Kal was more confident and powerful.
"In any case, the person who paid me to kill you no longer has power over me. Now I live for you and only for you!" Sorrow finished, distancing himself with an evil smile on his face. The spiritual presence Sorrow emanated was so shadowy and cold that even Sahara, observing from afar, could feel uncomfortable, and Pudin could no longer stand being near Sorrow.
The battle intensified, with Sorrow launching shadowy energy attacks that Kal could barely dodge. Each movement was a test of his skill and endurance. Pudin, still hidden, trembled with fear but kept her eyes fixed on Kal, ready to warn of any imminent danger.
Kal launched a quick attack, his sword glowing brightly as it cut through the air. Sorrow skillfully dodged but the blow left a deep mark on the stone floor of the church. "You've improved, little Kal," mocked Sorrow, "but you're still far from making me happy."
The fight continued, each trying to outdo the other in a deadly dance. The surroundings seemed to respond to the tension, with shadows moving and ancient whispers echoing off the walls. Kal knew he had to end it quickly - Sorrow's presence was a threat not just to him but to all his friends, as he was clearly growing more powerful with each confrontation.
In a moment of distraction, Kal landed a accurate blow, cutting Sorrow's arm. A scream of pain echoed through the church, but Sorrow's smile did not disappear. "Yes, yes, what a good feeling Kal, let's dance forever." However, this time Sorrow's arm did not return as before, catching the villain off guard who expected his limb to be magically restored. "It seems you won't heal magically this time," said Kal with a serious look. Sorrow leaped back, creating distance between him and Kal. He then rapidly advanced on Sorrow and with his new katana pierced his throat. Kal's katana glowed as he merely brandished it, severing Sorrow's head and causing blood to gush all over the old church.
Kal turned, sheathing his katana, and headed for the door when he heard: "Well done, little Kal!" Kal spun around and saw Sorrow's decapitated head on the floor with the same evil smile as before: "Look around you, I killed these bodies because I needed their manas to return here, but don't worry, little Kal... I'll be back!"
With that, Sorrow's figure dissolved into shadows, leaving Kal breathless and exhausted in the middle of the old church. Sahara emerged from her hiding place and ran to him, her face marked with concern. "Kal, are you alright? Who was he?" she asked, helping him stand.
Kal nodded, still catching his breath. "Yes, I'm fine. He was an old enemy who's always after me. I defeated him once again, but he will return. He always comes back."
Sahara looked around, observing the bodies and destruction. "We need to leave this place. It is dangerous and malign."
With one last look at the ruined church, Kal and Sahara returned to Catoni's house, knowing the danger was far from over but determined to face whatever came.
Kal returned to Catoni's house with Sahara and Pudin. "Why is that demon after you, Kal?" asked Sahara. Immediately, Pudin jumped on Kal's head and said: "Wh-Why?" Kal just shook his head negatively and said: "I don't know myself. He just appeared saying he had been paid to kill me, and now he always shows up when I have an important mission. It seems he emerges to get in my way or distract me!" Sahara found Kal's answer a bit vague, but didn't want to ask more. Pudin, who was excited and happy not to feel Sorrow's malign presence anymore, kept jumping on Kal's head saying his answer was too vague. And so they returned to Catoni's house.
The next day, very early, everyone was preparing to go to the Capitolium. Then Adonis approached and asked: "I was thinking last night that six slaves with the ancient kings of Tenai's characteristics may be too strange for Capitolium people, don't you think? No one will believe Meglin found six with those characteristics, since only one is already very rare." Kal and everyone else agreed with Adonis, who proposed that two of them disguise themselves as Meglin's guards and the others hide their characteristic signs somehow, leaving only one exposed. "This, besides making it seem natural, will help Meglin bring us all into the arena to face the capital leaders," Adonis concluded.
Adonis' suggestion made a lot of sense to them all, so they accepted it. However, it was very difficult to change physical characteristics. Adonis, a powerful mage, said he knew an arcane fifth circle magic that could change appearance for over four hours called 'Arcane Perversion.' Then Aura said: "I read about this magic, but it's possible to tell there's something wrong with detection magic and experienced mages who can use 'detect magic' or 'undo magic' to discover!" Adonis responded: "Yes, but at this point we don't have more time to think of anything else!" So they accepted the plan and reorganized the team. Meglin would be the slave trader; Cruxa, Kal and Yorin would disguise themselves as guards with cloaks and hoods; finally, Adonis, Aura and Sahara would have their appearances changed by Adonis' magic while Markel would be the only one leaving his silver hair exposed as bait.
Adonis began conjuring the arcane magic, his eyes glowing with an intense light as he recited the words in the ancient tongue. Slowly, Aura, Sahara and his own characteristics began to change. Their physical traits were altered, making them unrecognizable to any casual observer. "Remember, this magic is not perfect," Adonis warned. "We need to avoid any prolonged encounters with mages or detection magic."
Kal, Cruxe and Yorin prepared, adjusting their armor and checking their weapons. "We need to be ready for anything," said Kal, with a serious look. "The slightest mistake could compromise the entire mission."
Meglin, now disguised as an imposing slave trader, took a step forward. "Come on, we have a long way to go to the Capitolium and need to go through several checks. Stay alert."
With everyone ready, the group departed. The trip to the Capitolium was tense, each of them aware of the danger they faced. Upon arriving, they were received by suspicious guards who began inspecting the "slaves".
Adonis, using his new appearance, managed to go unnoticed, but the tension was high. Kal remained alert, his golden eyes observing every guard's movement.
Aura, Sahara and Adonis were chained like real slaves and had trouble walking. Yorin realized there were detection magic devices everywhere in the capitol, but for some reason that day they were not forcing the slaves to pass through them. Yorin found this strange and decided to be even more attentive.
The inspection was long, but finally they were approved. The guards cleared the way, and the group entered the Capitolium. Adonis sighed in relief but knew the real challenge was still to come.
"We're inside," Yorin whispered to Meglin. "Now we need to focus on the next part of the plan. It's time to check each slave individually and enroll them in the clandestine arena."
With renewed determination, the group advanced, aware that each step brought them closer to their objectives and the dangers that awaited them.