Chapter 22: Capital Currents

A light morning drizzle greeted Reziel as he stepped out of the knights' infirmary. A spatter of raindrops coated the paved courtyard of the Knights of the Radiant Dawn headquarters, creating shallow reflections of the tall, arched columns and the bustling knights who paced between them. The fresh scent of damp stone mixed with the tang of metal, making the humid air feel heavier.

Still stiff from injuries, Reziel drew a shallow breath. At least I can stand without doubling over. Through the open gates, he glimpsed the capital streets—winding roads and crowded shops brimming with life. It's hard to believe I was fighting for my life in a cursed fortress just days ago.

Aria Highwind emerged behind him, adjusting her spear's strap over her shoulder. Her gray eyes flicked to his bandaged side. "Bryn said you're cleared for light movement, but no strenuous magic."

He cracked a wry smile. "I suppose that means no Overlimit, right?"

She gave a gentle snort. "No Overlimit—absolutely not."

A faint warmth of gratitude flickered in his chest. It's good not to be alone in this. They fell in step together, weaving through the courtyard's morning bustle.

At the far side of the courtyard, a young squire waited, fiddling with the straps of a satchel. Spotting Reziel and Aria, the squire rushed forward. "Captain Galland asks that you meet him in the council wing within the next hour, sir—ma'am," he said, voice tight with nerves. "High Council representatives and a clergy envoy are present to discuss the fortress relics."

Aria's posture stiffened, but she nodded. "We'll be there soon."

Reziel's heart kicked. Council members and clergy? It hadn't even been a full day since returning to Luxaria. Anxiety thrummed in his veins. What if they label me a danger… or demand immediate exorcism?

Aria caught his tense expression. "It'll be all right," she said softly. "Galland is with us. The Crown knows your role in stopping the cult."

He gave a slow exhale. "I… hope that's enough."

Before heading to the council wing, Aria guided Reziel to a small courtyard nook near the barracks. A cluster of potted herbs and a simple bench nestled beneath an ivy-covered arch. There, a junior knight offered them cups of hot tea—lightly spiced and soothing.

Reziel sank onto the bench, carefully stretching his sore side. The drizzle trickled off, leaving a hazy glow in the air. Aria sat beside him, sipping the tea in reflective silence. A quiet moment, far from the fortress's horror and the looming council meeting.

Aria, breaking the hush: "We'll present the texts we recovered. Anora has notes, too. The council should be willing to help decode them. The high clergy envoy might push for strict oversight—maybe even propose some church 'examination' of you."

Reziel's mouth went dry. "And if they insist on forcibly purging the System…?"

Aria's gaze hardened. "Then Galland will remind them you're under knightly protection. And I'll stand by you—no matter what."

A surge of relief eased his breathing. "Thank you," he murmured. Words felt insufficient, but her resolute presence spoke volumes.

The council wing sat at the heart of Luxaria's grand administrative complex, its marble floors polished to a sheen. Stately tapestries bearing the royal crest draped from high ceilings, and stern-faced guards flanked wide doors carved with intricate motifs of knights and mythical beasts.

Reziel's pulse quickened as he and Aria approached. A pair of knights recognized Aria's spear insignia, saluting smartly before unlatching the double doors. Inside, Sir Galland waited in a small antechamber with Anora and a scribe carrying stacks of scrolls.

Galland, voice low but steady: "They're ready for us. The High Council reps and a cleric from the Radiant Church. Keep calm, answer honestly, and remember: you have the Crown's gratitude."

Reziel nodded, and Anora offered a silent, encouraging smile. Though her leg still bore bandages, she stood tall, cradling a sheaf of fortress documents.

At Galland's nod, a steward guided them into the main council chamber—a broad, circular hall lined with windows overlooking the capital's skyline. A semi-circle of wooden desks curved around the center, occupied by council members in ornate attire. Near them stood a robed clergy envoy with a gilded sun emblem, eyes keen behind wire-rimmed glasses.

A councilor—Lord Halweth, a tall man with streaks of gray in his hair—rose to greet them. "Captain Galland, Dame Aria, honored knights—Luxaria commends your brave deeds in quelling the fortress threat. We lost good men and women, yet your valor prevented a far worse outcome."

Galland offered a respectful bow. "The knights did their duty. I've brought Reziel Blackwood, whose vital role cannot be overstated."

Mutters rippled among the council members, many casting curious or wary glances at Reziel. He mustered a polite nod, ignoring the knot in his stomach.

Another councilor—Lady Divaren—swept a critical eye over him. "You wield dark magic, correct? The same power the cult sought to exploit?"

Reziel, carefully: "Yes, milady. But I used it to stop them, with the knights' support."

A murmur rose again, some councilors exchanging measured looks. Cleric Yhaven, the envoy, cleared his throat. "We must confirm that his power remains under strict oversight. The Radiant Church cannot condone unregulated forbidden magic within Luxaria."

Aria stepped forward, chin held high. "Reziel fought alongside us, saving knights who would otherwise have perished. Without him, the cult's final ritual would have succeeded."

Galland added, "He's under knightly protection, and we're monitoring his condition closely. The Crown owes him a debt for averting the cult's catastrophe."

Another councilor raised a quill. "Then let us see the fortress relics you recovered. We've heard rumors of a—" he tapped his notes "—possible method of severing that power? If so, the church and the Crown must cooperate."

Anora and the scribe stepped forward, presenting the battered scrolls, stone tablets, and her annotated sketches. The councilors murmured, leaning in to examine the arcane symbols. Cleric Yhaven adjusted his glasses, fingers hovering over the runes with faint distaste.

As the council perused the relics, Aria and Anora explained the partial inscriptions referencing "equal exchange" or "devoured host." Lady Divaren's mouth tightened. "That sounds… dire. Is there truly no alternative?"

Anora sighed. "We're not certain. We need more specialized knowledge—some references are older than the fortress itself. The cult archives might only be partial copies of even older texts."

Yhaven pressed his palms together, expression tense. "Such a ritual—if it indeed frees the vessel from this System—could still violate our doctrinal laws. A blood sacrifice, or worse, might offend the Radiant Church's tenets."

Reziel's heart thudded. No easy path. Yet he squared his shoulders. "I understand your concerns. But I am the one bearing this power, and I won't let it grow unchecked. We need to explore every option."

A thoughtful hush followed. Councilors exchanged uncertain glances. Then Lord Halweth nodded slowly. "We cannot ignore your role in saving Luxaria. We'll commission a team of scholars—Church-approved if necessary—to examine these relics further. Meanwhile, Reziel remains under knightly observation."

Cleric Yhaven clasped his hands, a thin line forming on his lips. "We require that the boy submit to a formal 'assessment' by our arch-priests. A safe procedure, simply to ascertain he poses no immediate threat and that the System's influence is contained."

Galland bristled, but Aria spoke first, tone measured. "We'll allow an assessment so long as it isn't invasive or harmful. The knights must be present."

The councilors murmured in agreement. Yhaven, clearly not pleased, conceded with a curt nod. "So be it. We must ensure the city's safety."

Reziel inhaled, relieved they hadn't demanded immediate isolation or exorcism. One small victory. The notion of an assessment still unsettled him, but better that than a prison cell.

Lady Divaren tapped her quill on the table. "Thus, the Crown acknowledges the knights' triumph over the cult. We extend official commendations—though we mourn the dead. We also authorize further study of these 'severance' texts, in collaboration with the Church's archivists. Any developments regarding Reziel Blackwood's condition must be reported."

With that, the council session drew to a close. Halweth extended a sympathetic nod, and Yhaven gave Reziel a curt, contemplative glance before gathering his notes. The hush in the chamber broke as scribes bustled, storing documents and relics. Galland exchanged formal bows with the councilors, then guided Reziel, Aria, and Anora from the hall.

In the antechamber, the group let out a collective exhale. Anora rubbed her temples, muttering about how "at least they didn't demand immediate purging." Galland offered a faint smile. "It could've gone far worse."

Aria turned to Reziel. "A forced church exorcism was my biggest fear. Looks like we avoided that—for now."

He nodded, tension still vibrating in his chest. "They'll test me, though. I'm not sure what that entails."

Galland clapped a hand gently on Reziel's shoulder, careful of his injuries. "We'll keep you safe, lad. Meanwhile, you rest. Aria and Anora can handle the scholars. Kiana, Ronan, and I must see to the fortress prisoners and final reports."

Reziel caught Aria's eye, a silent mutual resolve passing between them. We face it together.

As they left the council wing, a voice called out. "Dame Aria! Captain Galland!" A petite figure in modest but well-tailored robes hurried over—a royal librarian named Marisol, who occasionally worked with the knights on historical leads. Her eyes shone with scholarly excitement.

"Word spread you recovered old fortress texts." She clutched a scroll case. "I'd be honored to help decode them—my own records hint at references to older necromantic traditions. Perhaps I can cross-check your cult documents?"

Anora brightened. "We'd welcome assistance, truly. We're missing entire chunks in those runic patterns."

Marisol nodded enthusiastically, then turned her curious gaze on Reziel. "You're the rumored System host." Her cheeks colored. "F-Forgive me, I mean no offense. I only wish to help you find a safe severance method, if it exists."

Reziel blinked at her earnestness, then offered a grateful nod. "No offense taken. Any help is… appreciated."

Aria suppressed a smile at Marisol's eager energy. "Meet us tomorrow at the knight archives. We'll go through everything we have."

They parted ways in the courtyard. Galland hurried off to finalize official documentation. Anora escorted Marisol to retrieve the relics from the outpost, chattering about possible cross-references. Aria remained behind with Reziel, who leaned on his staff, mind still whirling from the council's tense session.

Aria brushed hair from her face, the breeze carrying a hint of fresh rain. "We survived the council. The church test remains, but that's manageable."

Reziel inhaled the damp air. "I just hope these texts produce real answers. I'm… not sure how long I can stay half-broken like this, fearing Overlimit." He rubbed the dark bruises on his side absently.

She slid her hand atop his. "We'll find a way, Reziel. Maybe Marisol or Anora will spot something new. In the meantime, you should focus on healing—and preparing for the church's 'assessment.'"

He let out a slow exhale, a mingled brew of nerves and determination coiling in his gut. "Right. One step at a time."

They strolled back through the labyrinthine corridors of the knights' complex, pausing occasionally to greet fellow knights who offered nods of camaraderie and relief. News of the council's decision spread quickly, alleviating fears that Reziel might be seized or the knights punished.

Aria eventually guided Reziel toward a small private courtyard she sometimes used for training. It was quiet now, a gentle drizzle turning the cobblestones slick. A single bench waited under an overhang.

She pressed a fresh waterskin into his hand. "Drink. Then rest."

He sank onto the bench, taking grateful sips. The patter of rain lulled him. The knowledge that at least some portion of the Crown and Church saw him as an ally, not a monster, buoyed his spirits. I have breathing room.

Aria settled beside him, letting a moment of peace stretch out. "This is the first time since we entered that fortress that I've felt… almost calm," she admitted softly.

Reziel offered a tentative smile. "You and me both."

A break in the clouds allowed a sliver of sunlight through, lighting the courtyard in a soft glow. Raindrops sparkled on the stone floor. Aria sighed, leaning her spear against the bench. "We'll keep searching those texts, rely on Marisol's expertise. If there's a ritual that won't devour you, we will find it."

Reziel's chest tightened with gratitude. "I promise to do my part, too. Studying, training carefully. Anything to avoid Overlimit again."

A light breeze fluttered the edges of his cloak, and for the first time in a while, Reziel sensed genuine hope. The fortress horrors lay behind him, and though challenges loomed—church scrutiny, half-deciphered relics, the System's uncertain demands—he felt Aria's unwavering support. Not alone. Not devoured.

He lifted his gaze to the patch of sunlight on the cobblestones. "We'll figure it out," he whispered. "And maybe… just maybe, I'll walk free of this one day."

Aria set a hand gently on his shoulder, echoing his quiet determination. "Yes. You will."