Intermission: The Solaris Sanctum

  The Solaris Sanctum did not feel like a building; it felt like being inside the heart of a star. The floors were polished white gold, reflecting the blinding radiance of the “Eternal Noon” that hung above. At the far end of the hall sat Solariux, slumped upon the Aurelian Throne. The throne was carved from a single shard of fallen sun-matter, humming with a heat that would turn a normal man to ash instantly.

  Solariux stared into the distance, his eyes burning like molten gold, until the rhythmic clack-clack of a cane disturbed the silence.

  Arata Miller, the Head of Imperial Intelligence—known to many as “The Rat”—shuffled forward. He bowed so low his nose nearly touched the gold floor.

  “Have you found the God-Killer, Arata?” Solariux’s voice didn’t echo; it vibrated in Arata’s very bones.

  “No, my Lord,” Arata whispered. “And… excuse me for speaking out of turn, but why would your Divinity grant this creature such a blasphemous name? ‘God-Killer’ is an insult.”

  “Because he said so,” Solariux replied simply, his expression unreadable.

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  Arata blinked, confused. “Who, my Lord?”

  Solariux leaned back, a shadow of something like boredom or dread crossing his face. “There is no need for you to worry about that.”

  “As you command,” Arata said, quickly pivoting. “On the topic of this ‘God-Killer,’ we have found no records of such a power. However, our theories suggest he may be an adventurer.”

  Solariux shifted, his golden eyes narrowing. “An adventurer? Why?”

  “It is the only logical conclusion, my Lord,” Arata explained, sweating under the heat. “Who else but a high-ranking adventurer would have the raw, unpolished power to take down five of our Paladins at once? Or if someone with such power, why would they.”

  “So… you are operating on mere possibilities,” Solariux sighed, the air in the room becoming heavy.

  “Yes, my Lord.”

  “Mmm. Very well. Leave. Gather facts, not theories. And Arata? Do not speak of this to another soul.” Solariux said with an emotionless face.

  “And before you leave how long will it take you to find out who this person is.” Solariux added.

  “It might take quite a while my lord. Ignis’s Glinting Reach does have three guilds and gathering information on everyone within those guilds and those who might be this self-proclaimed God killer is going to take time.”

  Solariux exhaled through his nose and spoke. “You may leave now Arata.”

  Arata bowed frantically and scurried out. As the heavy gold doors groaned shut, he muttered under his breath, “I cannot believe I am the only one forced to deal with this. If only those arrogant fools on the High Council would listen, we wouldn’t be chasing shadows…”