Chapter 16: The Five Orthodox Gods

Morning sunlight filtered through the small window of Elias's modest office. The dust motes danced lazily in the beams, a sharp contrast to the heaviness Elias felt after the previous night. He sat at his desk, sipping a cup of weak tea, when a light knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," Elias called, setting the cup aside.

The door opened to reveal Marian Draycott, her face a mixture of determination and nervousness. She clutched a small satchel to her chest, her eyes scanning the room before landing on Elias.

"I've thought about your offer, Mr. Thorne," she began, stepping inside. "And... I'd like to take it."

Elias gestured to the chair across from him. "I'm glad to hear that, Marian. Let me explain how things will work."

Marian sat, her hands resting on her lap.

"You'll help me with organizing client files, managing correspondence, and keeping the office running while I'm out investigating," Elias explained. "It's not glamorous, but it's honest work."

"I can handle that," Marian said, her voice steady despite the weight of her worries.

Elias nodded. "Good. One more thing—while you're here, this place will be yours to manage. If I'm not around and someone comes looking for me, tell them I'm out on business. And... keep things tidy. Clients tend to trust a clean space."

Marian offered a faint smile. "Understood."

Elias stood and motioned to the small filing cabinet in the corner. "I've sorted out most of the active cases. You'll find some notes in there. Take your time going through them. I'll be back later today to check in."

Marian hesitated, her expression softening. "Thank you for this, Mr. Thorne. I don't know how I'll repay you."

Elias shook his head. "Consider it a fair trade. You're helping me as much as I'm helping you."

After leaving Marian to settle in, Elias headed out into the bustling streets of Arkwright. The city seemed busier than usual, with workers, merchants, and carriages jostling for space on the narrow roads.

His first stop was a run-down tavern tucked between two factories—a favorite haunt of his informants. Inside, the air was thick with smoke and the smell of stale ale. A familiar face, a wiry man named Cray, sat in the corner nursing a drink.

"Cray," Elias greeted, sliding into the seat opposite him.

Cray raised an eyebrow. "What brings you here so early?"

"Information," Elias replied, leaning forward. "Anything unusual happening around the city?"

Cray scratched his chin. "Now that you mention it, there's been some odd talk. Over in the East Ward, people are saying their neighbors have been forgetting things—important things. Names, faces, even their own families."

"Amnesia?" Elias asked, his brow furrowing.

"Something like that," Cray said. "But it's strange. Some folks forget little things, like what they had for breakfast. Others... it's like they've been hollowed out. Families say they're acting like strangers."

Elias took out his notebook and jotted down the details. "How many cases?"

"Hard to say. But it's spreading. You didn't hear it from me, but some folks think it's a curse."

Elias closed the notebook and slipped it back into his coat. "Thanks, Cray. If you hear anything else, let me know."

Cray nodded, his expression uneasy. "Be careful, Thorne. Whatever's happening, it ain't natural."

---

Elias hired a coach to take him to the Lanterns' base. The ride through the cobbled streets was bumpy, but it gave him time to think.

The cases of amnesia nagged at him. Was it tied to the Veil? Could the Syndicate be involved? He resolved to bring it up with the Lanterns after his training.

Arriving at the hidden entrance, Elias descended into the familiar tunnels beneath Arkwright. The Lanterns' base was a hive of activity, with members moving between briefing rooms, armories, and training areas.

Elira gestured for Elias to sit at the large oak table in the library's central hall. Around them, the towering shelves of tomes and glowing artifacts seemed to hum faintly, their presence a testament to centuries of knowledge. Laid out before them were five open books, each depicting a divine figure.

"Today's lesson will focus on the Orthodox Deities," Elira began, her tone sharp but steady.

Elias leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "I've heard the basics growing up. Solmara is the goddess of light and justice, Malygros of shadows and death, and so on. Nothing too surprising."

Elira's gaze sharpened. "What you know is surface-level at best. These are not just figures for prayer or stories to comfort the masses. The Orthodox Deities are eternal forces, the cornerstones of this world and its balance with the Veil."

Elias tilted his head, intrigued despite himself. "Eternal forces? As in, they've always existed?"

Elira's lips twitched into the faintest smile. "Precisely. They have existed since the dawn of time, guiding and protecting this world from the chaos of the Veil. To understand their domains is to understand the foundation of mysticism itself."

She opened the first book, revealing a radiant figure wreathed in golden fire.

"Solmara, The Radiant Flame," Elira began, her voice tinged with reverence. "The embodiment of purity, justice, and light. Her flame is eternal, a beacon against corruption and darkness."

The image depicted Solmara as a towering figure with wings of golden fire, her eyes twin suns that seemed to pierce through the page.

Elias leaned forward, studying the details. "The Lanterns follow her teachings. Justice, protecting the innocent... it all fits."

"Yes," Elira confirmed. "Her influence shapes the Sanctified Lanterns' purpose. But Solmara is not merely a symbol of justice. Her light is a barrier against the Veil's corruption, burning away impurities that would threaten this world."

Elias frowned. "Burning away impurities? That sounds... harsh."

"Justice is often harsh," Elira replied. "Solmara does not waver, and neither can those who serve her ideals. To hesitate in the face of corruption is to invite ruin."

Elira turned the page to reveal a cloaked figure adorned with constellations, their face a swirling nebula of light.

"Kaelthys, The Shifting Star," she said. "The god of change, redemption, and mysteries. Their form is ever-shifting, a reflection of the duality they represent."

Elias tilted his head. "Duality? What do you mean?"

"Kaelthys embodies contradiction," Elira explained. "Hope and consequence. Chaos and order. They remind us that life is not a single path but a web of choices, each with its own cost."

Elias studied the image. "I've heard about the Starforged Compass—said to guide people to their purpose, but only if they face their regrets. Is that tied to Kaelthys?"

Elira nodded. "It is one of their many artifacts, all of which emphasize the necessity of confronting one's past to move forward. Redemption is possible, but it is never without consequence."

The next book displayed Zhenren, seated in meditation and surrounded by swirling ash and glowing runes.

"Zhenren, The Veilbound Sage," Elira said, her voice softening, "is the embodiment of balance and wisdom. They are the bridge between the Veil and the mortal world, teaching us the importance of harmony."

Elias traced a finger along the ash-like patterns in the illustration. "So, they're about coexistence with the Veil, not fighting it like Solmara?"

"Exactly," Elira replied. "Zhenren's teachings are about understanding the Veil, respecting its power, and using it without succumbing to its corruption. Their followers, the Brotherhood of Black Ash, see balance as the key to survival."

Elias frowned. "But isn't the Veil dangerous? Why not just destroy it?"

"Because it cannot be destroyed," Elira said firmly. "The Veil is a fundamental part of this world. To destroy it would be to destroy everything. Zhenren reminds us that power must be tempered with discipline, and that coexistence is often the wiser path."

The fourth book revealed a figure cloaked in flowing shadows, their skeletal visage framed by ghostly fire.

"Malygros, The Eternal Warden," Elira began, her tone taking on a somber edge. "The guardian of the dead and protector of the living. They stand as a shield against the chaos of the Forgotten Pantheon and the horrors of the Veil."

Elias's eyes narrowed. "So, they're like a shepherd for lost souls?"

"In a sense," Elira replied. "But their role is far greater. Malygros ensures that the dead remain at peace and that the living are protected from Veil incursions. In Khadrenka, their followers—called the Gloamwatchers—are seen as the last line of defense against the Veilscar Tundra's corruption."

Elias tapped the table thoughtfully. "And if someone breaks that balance?"

"The consequences are catastrophic," Elira said. "Veil scars and breaches, spirits running rampant... Malygros's vigilance is what keeps such chaos at bay."

The final book displayed Azhira, a figure of fire and sand, their body marked with glowing sigils.

"Azhira, The Scorched Prophet, represents fire, sacrifice, and renewal," Elira said. "Their teachings are about burning away the old to make way for the new, no matter the cost."

Elias studied the burning sigils. "So their followers believe in destruction as a path to progress?"

"Not destruction for its own sake," Elira corrected. "Azhira teaches that only through sacrifice can true renewal occur. The Flamebound, their most devoted followers, see fire as both a weapon and a purifier."

Elias leaned back, considering the implications. "And their connection to the Veil?"

"Azhira's flames can cleanse even the Veil's corruption," Elira said. "But such power always comes at a cost."

As Elira closed the final book, Elias let out a long breath. "So, these gods aren't just figures to worship. They're... the backbone of everything—our world, the Veil, and how we interact with it."

"Precisely," Elira said, her tone approving. "Understanding their roles isn't just about faith. It's about survival. Their teachings guide us in wielding power responsibly and maintaining the balance that keeps our world intact."

Elias nodded slowly, his curiosity outweighing his initial skepticism. "And the Syndicate? They're trying to disrupt that balance?"

"Exactly," Elira said. "Which is why you must learn quickly. The Syndicate's actions grow bolder, and their defiance of the gods' order puts us all at risk."

As the lesson concluded, a younger Lantern entered the library, bowing slightly to Elira. "Captain Lirian requests Elias in the briefing room."

Elira nodded, dismissing Elias with a sharp glance. "You're learning, Thorne. Don't waste it."

Elias followed the messenger to the briefing room, where Lirian and Adrienne awaited. The atmosphere was tense.

"We have a new case," Lirian began. "A Veil Aberration was spotted in the East Ward."

Elias blinked. "Veil Aberration? What's that?"

The room fell silent for a moment, Lirian's expression grim.

"Looks like you haven't gotten to that part yet. We'll explain on the way." Adrienne said, her tone laced with seriousness.