It wasn't long before they found themselves facing Elizabeth in her office. Kane took the lead in explaining what led to them falling off the cliff and what happened since. The expression on her face when Kane explained that they had not only met Thalasar, but that he had received His Divine Favor, was one of complete awe and reverence.

  That expression darkened as they began recounting their encounter with that sacrificial ritual on ghe way back. Kaelon set the book he found on her desk and both kane and him fell silent as Elizabeth read. Her dark expression only got darker the longer she read.

  Finally setting the book down, Elizabeth let out a heavy sigh.

  "... What shall we do? Do you guys have any suggestions at all? It's not like we know where this Sin Congregation is, so we can't go atack them directly."

  Kaelon nodded at her question.

  "We should investigate The Grate Lords in the slums. That guy we captured knew about me and my connection to the slums. No one knows about that other than you guys and the paladins present the night you brought me here."

  Kane agreed, backing his words.

  "You're right, The Grate Lords are bound to know at least one thing about them if they supplied them with information on you."

  Elizabeth stood up and left her desk. Turning toward a window she spoke.

  "All right then. Let's begin a slum cleanup starting now. Kaelon, I want you to take the lead here, you're the dxpert in that area. Take fifteen men with you and clear the slums."

  Kaelon nodded and headed towards the exit, followed by Kane. As the two left the office they naturally ended up in the training ground. The clanging of swords echoed through the area.

  Stepping inside Kaelon decided to speak to the paladins training. He walked up to where Kane would usually instruct them from and cleardd his throat.

  "Men, Elizabeth entrusted me with a task. I need fifteen men to join me in cleaning the slums."

  A few paladins groaned at his words, taking them literally. Kaelon paid them no mind and continued speaking.

  "Come next week, The Grate Lord gang will be wiped from our city! Who wants to join me in this mission?"

  A few men immediately stepped forward, the paladins with especially strong senses of justice moved without hesitation. More swiftly followed and in less than five minutes Kaelon had his fifteen men. The rest of the paladins simply returned to their training. Kane stood back, still at the entrance of the training ground, a smile on his face.

  Facing his newly formed slum squad, Kaelon looked each man in the eye. Most of them were a head taller than Kaelon, only one of them being his height. A couple familiar faces were among them, but one man in particular stood out to Kaelon. He had black hair and eyes and weilded a spear as tall as he was, his body extremely conditioned.

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  He stopped rigbt in front of him and looked up with a question.

  "What's your name sir?"

  The man lowered his head a little and replied.

  "My name is Brand, Sir Kaelon."

  Kaelon nodded at him and continued.

  "Well Brand, you are my deputy now. The second in command of this slum squad I've put together."

  Brand's eyes widened a little but his expression remained composed. He lowered his head further, ending up in a slight bow.

  "That would be my honor, Sir."

  Kaelon turned to the rest of the slum squad with a smile.

  "Alright, we set out for the slums in a three hours. Equip yourselves and harden your resolves, it won't be a hard battle but even easy battles are deadly if you make mistakes. Remember to stay alert, the slums are a dangerous place. No matter how armored or experienced we are."

  The squad fbegan filtering out of the training grounds as Kaelon's words fell. Kane walked up go Kaelon as they left.

  "Not too shabby Kaelon. That was an alright speech there. Solid leadership from you."

  Kaelon blinked at him sort of dumbfounded.

  "You think? I was just copying what you usually do when addressing them."

  Kane nodded, wrapping his arm around Kaelon's shoulder.

  "You did good for your first time. I'm looking forward to how you do with this. You've come far from a boy in the slums."

  Kaelon nodded, his eyes becoming resolute.

  "And I'll go further. This is just the beginning."

  Kane leg out a laugh before patting his back and letting him depart. Kaelon headed back to his room in the core of the temple grounds. Seeing the familiar courtyard where he practiced the sword under a tree, he finally felt home.

  A sigh escaped him as he fell on his bed for the first time in weeks. He laid there for a while before snapping back into action. Taking off his armor Kaelon took a nice hot bath. Stepping out of the steam his face glowed in relief.

  Kaelon laid back on his bed for a while. Time ticked by as he stared at the ceiling. He was truly exhausted, more mentally than physically. Now that he actually had some time to rest he took full advantage.

  It wasn't long before Kaelon had to set out once more. He equipped his armor and hung his sword ag his hip. Walking towards the training ground he could already see the slum squad ahead. Brand stood at the front of the line, his spear held tight in his grasp.

  Stepping in front of his squad Kaelon cleared his throat.

  "Alright slum squad, it's time for us to move out. Our goal is to investigate for cultists and to deal with the gangs. Keep an eye out for anything weird likd ritual arrays and such. The main target are The Grate Lords."

  Ad he spoke Kane was coming up to the training grounds. Kane watched as Kaelon and his squad set off for the slums of Altium City. He followed behind them from a distance, a closk deaped over his body. Kane figured he might as well support his junior from the shadows since he had nithing to do.

  He wouldn't out right bail him out but if things got too dangerous he would step in. Kaelon on theother hand was completely oblivious to the tail on his squad. He led them through the pristine streets of the high district and into the grimy slums. A nostalgic expression appeared on his face as he led them through the labyrinth that was the slums.

  Vagrants and drunks turned their heads as paladins of Altan walked by. They yelled out insults and profanities at them. A hotblooded paladin was about to draw his sword when Kaelon put his hand on it.

  "What are you doing Victor? They aren't our target, don't lose sight of our purpose. There's no point in arguing with drunkards anyway."

  Victor looked up at him a somewhat defiant look in his eye.

  "They just disrespected our order, are we supposed to just let them be?"

  Kaelon shook his head at him and spoke.

  "I understand where you're coming from, I do. But these people aren't worth your time. Their words don't mean anything and most certainly won't change anything. The honor we carry ourselves with doesn't disappear because a bug disrespects it."

  Kaelon turned back and led the squad further into the slums. More insults would occasionally be flown at them but theh moved forward with no regard for them. Finally they stepped into what Kaelon remembered was Grate Lord territory.

  The stench of sewers thickened into a smog as they got neared to their target. Men watched from alleys as they strode through the streets. Lizard pins decorating their chests.