Whilst Azel was completing his initiation, the drake knight was sorting out his own affairs required for their trip to Draken Loch.
Pulling out a chair, Colwyn's armour let out a soft chink as he sat down opposite his nemesis. Rio only tilted her head in response to Colwyn's cold demeanour, the two once had a rather positive relationship, but as Rio became increasingly more ruthless their connection only deteriorated.
Now, Colwyn's sole goal was stopping Rio from descending further into the darkness, even if it meant killing her. It was his duty as a knight of the Sunchaser's, it was his duty as her last friend.
"Do you intend to glare at me the whole meeting?" chuckled Rio, "Or are you just too shy to speak?"
Colwyn was here to ask for leave. He had already submitted the report detailing his battle against the behemoth, although he failed to mention the vulture's descriptions of Draken Loch. At first the archivist hadn't believed him, but when he produced the pure white mana core the drake knight had pulled from the bird's corpse, well she had no choice but to believe him.
Already the Sunchaser's propaganda machines were moving, spreading rumours among the public, detailing his struggle and victory against the beast. The drake knight could feel the effect almost instantly, the report was submitted only a few hours ago, but the revering gaze from anyone he had passed was burning a small whole in his back.
The squires and even a few knights were discussing how Colwyn was going to be rewarded. Talks about the templars opening the Sunchaser's legendary treasury were catching on like fire in a forest. It certainly didn't help when Noah, Rio's assistant, pulled him aside to her office for a private discussion.
Contrary to the public belief, it was Colwyn who had initiated a conversation with Rio, not the other way around. "I want to request a short break from my duties as a seeker knight." Started Colwyn, "I got a small injury fighting the behemoth, and thought this would a good opportunity to train my squire,"
Rio tilted her head, pushing a few strands of dark hair behind an ear, she responded "You don't seem all that injured to me. How can I be sure you're not just plotting some kind of rebellion?"
She said it as a joke, pretending that it wasn't a very possible threat, but Colwyn knew otherwise. Of course, all he could do was politely laugh and ignore her probing questions.
"Well, I only need one Templar to sign me off, if you say no I'm more than happy going to Oz," Responded Colwyn smugly, "And then you'll just look corrupt for refusing an injured hero the necessary time he needs to recover."
"Hero?" questioned Rio, her narrowed eyes contrasting the polite smile on her face, "Your orders were to scout the behemoth, not engage it in battle."
Colwyn only hung his head in mock shame, grateful his helmet helped hide his grin, "Did you not read the report? I did my best to flee but the vulture forced me into a confrontation."
Rio leaned back into her chair, her hands clasped in thought, before leaning back into the conversation. "Fine. I'll approve your leave, it's the least I good do for such a valuable asset." Said the Templar as she dipped her quill into the ink pot.
Watching the delicate mage in front of him, Colwyn considered reaching over the table and snapping Rio's neck. Despite her remarkable skill in magic, which surpassed even that of the arcane pillars, Colwyn knew that Rio's physical strength was lacking.
She had spent the last few years working behind a desk after all, and even when the templar did rarely get called into missions, her skill in the arcane was more than enough to compensate. Mentally, the drake knight shook his head, he wouldn't be able to kill her. Rio no doubt took measures to prevent assassinations and such.
Finishing the letter needed to clear Colwyn's leave, Rio placed the quill down and motioned for the drake knight to leave. He gave Rio a stiff nod before standing up. She watched him with a faint smirk, her sharp eyes gleaming with something unreadable. He didn't trust that look, but for now, he had what he needed. Without another glance, he turned and strode out of her office, feeling her gaze linger on his back like a dagger poised to strike.
Striding through the Sunchaser corridors, Colwyn did his best to ignore the stares on his back, eventually, the knight found Azel's interview room and begun straining his ears to listen in on their conversation.
"-I vow to live for others and die for the prophet. May my blade quell the darkness between the stars. I, Azel, vow an oath of winds."
Colwyn only heard the end, but he was impressed with Azel's ability to fake solemnity. The young zombie almost sounded like he actually cared about the oath. But Colwyn knew better, Azel was probably thinking about how stupid the rehearsed oath was.
After a moment of silence, Colwyn heard the archivist say. "Good. You're dismissed."
The heavy wooden door shut behind him with a soft click, leaving him standing in the quiet corridor.
The zombie looked up and linked eyes with Colwyn who was leaning against the wall just a few steps away. His eyes glinted through the helmet, sharp and discerning, met Azel's with an unreadable expression.
"Good work," the knight said simply, his voice lacking its usual arrogance.
Azel raised an eyebrow. "You were listening?"
Colwyn smirked under his helmet, pushing off the wall. "Enough of it. You kept your composure. That's what matters."
Azel scoffed lightly, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Like I had a choice."
Colwyn chuckled, clapping him once on the shoulder before turning down the hall. "Come on, Squire. You've earned yourself a drink. And before you complain, it's not for you—it's for me. Watching you pretend to care about that oath nearly made me choke."
Azel nodded, his thoughts still on the initiation. He had expected more scrutiny. Expected them to prod deeper into his past, to ask questions that might have forced him into uncomfortable territory. But it had been almost too easy.
Colwyn had been right when he called the Sunchaser's a mercenary group. Yes, it was run by the noble paladins and the supposedly omniscient prophet, but no one had seen these individuals in decades. Under the rule of the templars, the Sunchaser's had become much more twisted, only a small minority among them cared about honour.
The Sunchaser's were no righteous protectors of the weak, they were just slightly more respectable sell swords.