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The next morning, Kaelen found himself standing at the east gate of the city, yawning as he adjusted the straps on his worn-out leather armor. His hand absently traced the hilt of his new silver dagger, which now felt strangely comforting, though he still wasn't sure what the system had in store for him.
He had to admit, he was curious. And in a rare moment of self-awareness, he acknowledged that *maybe*—just *maybe*—he'd end up doing something worthwhile on this mission. After all, it had all the makings of an adventure, and he did love the thrill of a good heist... especially when there was gold involved.
Ariella appeared before him in her gleaming armor, looking every bit the "noble knight" she claimed to be, but the look in her eyes screamed *I'd rather be anywhere else*. She was the kind of person who took her mission too seriously, and it was already starting to get under Kaelen's skin.
"Ready to go, hero?" she asked, barely masking her sarcasm.
"Of course, Lady Ariella," Kaelen replied with an exaggerated bow, hands spread wide. "I've been waiting for this day since I—" He paused, narrowing his eyes. "Actually, I've been avoiding it. But here we are."
Ariella gave him a long, measured look. "I'm sure your sarcasm will come in handy on the battlefield."
"Oh, absolutely," Kaelen said with a grin. "My biting wit is known to strike fear into the hearts of men. Works wonders in a tavern brawl."
She didn't even flinch at his jab, which, if anything, made him more determined to keep pushing her buttons. As they began to walk, he couldn't help but note the stiff way she held herself—like she was about to charge into battle any second. But this was a simple trek to the Darkspire Fortress, not a war.
"So, what's the plan when we get there? March in, wave the 'sacred relic' around, and hope everyone falls at your feet?" Kaelen asked, keeping his tone light but laced with just the right amount of mockery.
"Do you always talk this much?" Ariella snapped, her eyes flashing with annoyance.
The counter in Kaelen's mind ticked upwards. **5 Wrath Points**.
"Yep," he answered cheerfully. "I find it helps pass the time. You never know, maybe I'll annoy the Empire's guards so much they'll just give us the relic out of sheer frustration."
Ariella clenched her fists at her sides, but Kaelen caught the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She was trying so hard not to react, but that only made it funnier.
"So, do you ever actually do anything useful, or do you just sit around and wait for others to do all the heavy lifting?" she asked, her voice suddenly full of challenge.
Kaelen shot her a grin. "I'm a professional at *delegating*."
---
**Wrath Points: 10 / 20**
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The points were stacking up quickly now. If there was one thing Kaelen was good at, it was irritating people. And apparently, it worked even better when that person was an overly serious, armor-clad knight with a giant chip on her shoulder.
As they traveled further from the city, the path became less familiar—overgrown with dense trees, and the air thicker with the scent of the forest. Kaelen didn't mind the change in scenery, though it did seem to make Ariella more on edge. She kept glancing around as if expecting ambushes from every shadow.
"Are you sure you know where you're going?" he asked, eyebrow raised. "You look like you're trying to figure out how to read a map upside down."
Ariella shot him an incredulous look. "I've been trained in the ways of the Order for years. I don't need a map."
Kaelen couldn't resist. "Then why do you keep checking your compass every five minutes? You're about as subtle as a bull in a china shop."
**5 more Wrath Points**.
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**Wrath Points: 20 / 20. Reward Unlocked: +5 Agility Boost.**
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Kaelen felt a strange tingle as his body became lighter, faster, and—much to his surprise—more agile. He darted ahead of Ariella, doing a quick backflip just to test out his new abilities, landing gracefully on the ground with a flourish.
"Nice move," Ariella said, deadpan. "You're showing some talent for theatrics."
"Talent for life," Kaelen corrected, giving her a smug look. "I'm just trying to keep this journey interesting. You'd be surprised how much fun it can be to mess with people." He shot her a wink, completely unaware of the frustration building in her.
Ariella sighed, rolling her eyes. "You're insufferable."
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**Wrath Points: 5 / 20.**
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They continued their journey, Kaelen reveling in the increasingly satisfying sound of his points adding up every time he made Ariella lose her temper just a little bit more. Every sarcastic comment, every taunt, every raised eyebrow seemed to grant him more power.
Eventually, they reached a clearing where the Darkspire Fortress loomed in the distance—dark and ominous, with sharp spires piercing the sky like jagged teeth. Even Kaelen couldn't help but feel the weight of its presence.
Ariella paused, her face hardening as she stared at the fortress. "This is it. You'll need to stay close and follow my lead."
Kaelen glanced over at her, noticing the tense way she held her sword. He tilted his head, a teasing grin on his face. "Stay close? You mean like *right on your tail*, or just close enough that you can yell at me when I inevitably mess up?"
She didn't answer him right away. Instead, she turned, muttering something under her breath. Kaelen caught the words, though, and they made him pause.
"…just a little longer, and maybe this whole ridiculous quest will be worth it…"
Before he could ask what she meant, the ground rumbled beneath their feet. A low, deep growl echoed from the direction of the fortress. Something—or someone—was coming.
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