That… it couldn’t be him, right?

  Adam’s gaze lingered on the empty dais, the murmuring Priests fading into the background. The Cardinal had hair—silver-tipped, unmistakable. Hendrix was bald.

  Unless…

  If that truly was Hendrix, then the implications were worse than he’d imagined.

  Have the Scavs infiltrated Varidan too?

  A dull ache began to pulse at his temples. His attention drifted—just for a second.

  A hand settled on his shoulder.

  “Excuse me, brother. Are you part of group eight?”

  Adam turned. A middle-aged man stood before him, flanked by two identical brothers and two other robed men. Adam glanced at the white token in his palm. The number 8 gleamed faintly in the cathedral light.

  “Yeah.” He shrugged the man’s hand off. “What’s it to you?”

  “We’re in the same group.” The man smiled politely. “Call me Frences. It’s safer to travel together than risk wandering alone. What do you think, brother?”

  Frences raised his token in one hand while the other fussed absently with the hem of his sleeve.

  Adam studied the others. They lifted their tokens as well—eight, eight, eight.

  “I don’t see a problem with that. Can we depart now?” Adam asked.

  “Of course.” Frences beamed. “Lingering would only irritate the group leaders.” He turned. “We’re leaving.”

  They made their way toward the portal marked with a glowing eight.

  Five portals have already disappeared… that’s fast.

  Adam scanned the hall. Some groups still whispered among themselves; others stepped through their assigned gateways.

  Most of these people won’t come back alive, he thought.

  Frences entered first without hesitation. The twins followed. The other two stepped in after them.

  Adam inhaled once, steadying himself, and jumped through.

  The world shifted.

  Adam landed on rough ground beneath a vast, rocky expanse. Three moons hung in a starless sky, pale and watchful.

  Where are we?

  He scanned the terrain—cracked earth, brittle vegetation stretching endlessly.

  Where’s the rest of the group?

  Only the five who’d approached him stood nearby.

  One of the identical brothers trembled. “Where are we, Jamari?”

  “How would I know?” the other snapped, irritation masking unease.

  Adam shifted his gaze to Frences. The man turned slowly, searching the horizon as though expecting someone to materialize.

  “This should be near the southern border,” Frences muttered. “An abandoned region.” He frowned. “I don’t see the Bishop or Archbishop.”

  I don’t sense anyone either…

  “Everyone!” Frences called.

  Adam looked over.

  “I don’t believe our leaders have arrived. Should we wait, or does anyone suggest otherwise?”

  “I have no problem waiting,” Jamari said.

  “Same,” Rueben, the younger of the brothers, added.

  “Anyone else?”

  Silence.

  “I’ll take that as—”

  A portal hummed to life.

  Adam’s head snapped toward the colorless gateway. Two figures stepped through.

  The first was a man with mud-brown hair tied into a bun, secured with ornate pins. Scars lined his oily face, and his sharp eyes carried something reptilian. A thick grey fur coat draped over his black cassock.

  He’s stronger than Mikan… Archbishop at least, Adam mused.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Arch-Archbishop Ledley,” Frences stammered, dropping into a prostration. “We are not worthy to stand before Him ordained by His Holiness.”

  The others immediately followed suit.

  “Rise,” Archbishop Ledley commanded.

  They obeyed.

  “Will there be others joining us?” His voice was even, but it carried weight.

  Frences lowered his head again. The twins shuffled back a step. The remaining two froze stiff.

  Adam barely registered the question.

  His attention had locked onto the second figure.

  A curvaceous woman dressed entirely in black. Neon blue hair framed her face, vivid even under the pale moonlight.

  “Are you all mute?” Ledley snapped. “Will there be others?”

  “P-Pardon us, Your Grace,” Frences said quickly. “It seems this is the full group. The portal has closed.”

  Ledley tilted his head upward, studying the moonless void, then glanced at the woman beside him.

  “Bishop, proceed with the briefing. I’ll return shortly.”

  Without another word, he turned and strode toward a jagged cluster of boulders.

  Adam watched until the Archbishop disappeared from view.

  Then a familiar voice reached him.

  “We don’t have much time. Listen carefully.”

  Adam looked at her fully now, suppressing the urge to smile.

  So I was worried for nothing… she’s a Bishop already.

  Months had passed since he’d last seen X. If anything, she was even more striking than before.

  A faint sound broke his focus—heavy breathing.

  Adam glanced sideways. The twins were staring openly at her, lips parted, chests rising too quickly.

  Pathetic.

  Frences’ mouth hung open for a beat before discipline snapped it shut. Unlike the twins, he didn’t gawk. The other two, however, made no such effort—their eyes lingered on X, naked curiosity written plainly across their faces.

  Adam kept his smile thin, fighting the urge to shake his head.

  “Are you finished staring,” X asked coolly, “or do you require more time?”

  Her gaze moved over them like frost crawling across glass.

  Frences cleared his throat and shot his companions a warning look. “Forgive us… Your Excellency. Please continue.”

  “I’d prefer you call me X,” she said. “And I won’t tolerate questions until I’m finished. Understood?”

  Her eyes swept the men one by one—then paused. When they met Adam’s, she blinked.

  For the briefest second, something warmer flickered beneath the ice. A smile threatened. It vanished just as quickly.

  Adam’s lips curved. She remembers this disguise.

  He felt the others glance his way but ignored them.

  X coughed softly and continued. “You’ve already heard the essentials from Bishop Mikan, so I won’t waste time. His Holiness has assigned us to conduct a thorough exploration of the six dungeons within Sandholt.”

  A collective exhale rippled through the group.

  Sandholt. So we’re in Targarth… again.

  Adam glanced sideways at his teammates.

  Why do they look relieved?

  “Have you forgotten your shenanigans in Valar?” the demonic voice murmured, then fell silent.

  Adam’s smile didn’t falter.

  “I wouldn’t relax just yet,” X added lightly. “Sandholt may not boast a famed dungeon, but it has many that can claim your life just as easily.”

  The air tightened.

  “We won’t be the only ones searching. And if fortune turns against us…” Her gaze sharpened. “We may encounter someone none of us can handle.”

  The earlier relief curdled into tension.

  “Questions?”

  Three hands rose at once.

  “You,” she said, pointing to one of the men at the back. “Speak.”

  “Most of us have heard of Edril’s Elixir,” he said carefully. “But none of us know what it looks like. How are we meant to identify it?”

  “It is said,” X replied, “that when you see it, you’ll experience visions—illusions of a foreign land.”

  A murmur spread.

  “This is the first I’ve heard of that,” Jamari said.

  X spared the blonde man a glance. “Not surprising.”

  She shifted her attention. “Next.”

  Rueben chuckled under his breath, eyeing his brother’s pale face. “Are we dividing the dungeons among ourselves, or—”

  “That won’t be necessary,” she cut in. “Separating would only reduce our chances of survival.”

  “And if we encounter others searching for it?” someone pressed.

  X rolled her eyes faintly. “Do you truly need to ask?” Her voice cooled further. “We eliminate anyone who interferes—regardless of who they are.”

  Silence followed.

  “But understand this,” she continued, adjusting her stance. “If we face an overwhelming foe, you are expected to preserve your own life. Neither Archbishop Ledley nor I will rescue you.”

  No one spoke.

  Her gaze settled on Frences. “Your question?”

  “If one of us finds the elixir,” he asked, “what reward awaits?”

  Adam noticed the shift instantly. Shoulders straightened. Breathing slowed.

  That’s what they care about.

  X tilted her head, arms folding across her chest. She parted her lips—

  “His Holiness’ reward,” a voice boomed, “is more generous than you can imagine.”

  Adam turned sharply.

  Ledley stood atop a massive boulder, looking down at them.

  “I cannot disclose everything,” he continued, “but whoever finds it will have no difficulty becoming an Archbishop.”

  Adam’s brow arched. That’s absurdly generous.

  Most Priests were E- or D-rank Awakened. To ascend to Archbishop required at least B-rank—and for a Priest, that meant consuming elixirs.

  He glanced at his teammates. None of them hid their hunger now.

  “There is more,” Ledley added before stepping off the boulder. Dust stirred around his boots as he landed. “Whoever finds the flower will receive generous elixirs. And His Holiness has granted us permission to verify the rumors.”

  His gaze hardened. “If you consume the flower and advance, the Temple of Jolran will appoint you High Priest at minimum. Should it elevate you to a level comparable to an S-rank—or a Blessed…” He smiled thinly. “You will be named a Divine Emissary.”

  “What!?” Frences blurted, arms trembling.

  “You heard correctly.” Ledley nodded. “I trust I need not elaborate on how extraordinary this is. Do your best.”

  He turned toward X, who stepped forward smoothly.

  “That concludes the briefing,” she said. “We won’t be using the Bridge tonight. Travel between dungeons has grown perilous.”

  “X,” Frences called carefully, correcting himself mid-breath. “How will we travel?”

  “By road. We’ll cross the border directly. Remain sharp.”

  They nodded.

  Ledley appeared before them in a blink. “Before we depart, introduce yourselves. State your abilities.”

  He folded his arms and leaned against a boulder.

  Frences stepped forward first. “My name is Frences. My ability concerns poisons.”

  “Next.”

  “Jamari. This is my younger brother, Rueben. Our abilities relate to water.”

  Ledley’s gaze shifted to Adam.

  Adam stepped forward calmly. “Ulric. My abilities aren’t worth discussing, but I won’t slow the group.”

  Ledley’s brow rose.

  Behind him, X pressed her fingers briefly to her temples.

  “Names?” Ledley asked the remaining two.

  Jamari hesitated. “Pardon me, Your Grace, but Ulric didn’t—”

  “I asked for abilities,” Ledley interrupted evenly. “It is your choice whether to share.”

  Another man stepped forward stiffly. “Astor. Water affinity.”

  “Colio,” the last added. “Daggers.”

  “Good. Let’s move.”

  Ledley cast Adam a final look before walking deeper into the rock formation. Frences and the others lingered a moment, studying Adam, then followed.

  Only Adam and X remained. They held each other’s gaze. A smirk tugged at both their lips, and it took effort not to laugh.