The rest of the day was spent in a flurry of activity as the foursome set about preparing for their coming adventures. Cadence and Olivia went shopping, their remaining funds from the Flax Road rewards supplemented by the money Olivia and Adeline had earned freelancing for the wardens. Though all four of the youths were much more knowledgeable about the needs of the road than they had been a year ago, none of them held a candle to Cadence's expertise, built by a lifetime learning from her mother. Olivia, on the other hand, provided a full wallet and an extra set of strong arms, both necessities for their endeavor.

Allana promptly excused herself from the rest of the group to make her way to the Cinderpits, wanting to check in with Spider, Ebba, and the rest of the Thieves Guild before she left the city, while Adeline went to visit the Warden's Office, as much to check for word on Farris and the friends they had left back in Jellis as to follow up on the fetter investigation.

Tenebres, left by himself, made his way to the library, to thank the Arcanis Order for the assistance they had offered him during his time in the city, and to close out the study room he had been renting.

After he returned the books he had accumulated to their shelves and the equipment he had made use of to the Order, Tenebres took one last look at the study room he had spent much of the past two months enshrined in. It had been a unique experience in the boy's tumultuous life to have such a simple, restful time to immerse himself in texts, to be able to pursue his studies and whatever other curiosities he had at his leisure, and even if he hadn't found all the answers he had looked for, he knew he'd miss these quiet days in Correntry.

Perhaps, one day, he'd return. If nothing else, his gift of the evoker would likely require it eventually, as he'd need to master further principles of force and energy conversion to reach Initiate level with his gifts. But he had found himself on the path of an adventurer, and that was not a life likely to lead to much relaxation.

With that in mind, he closed the door and left the Grand Repository behind, turning his mind to Kenton Everbright, the charming man who had promised him some of the answers even the Arcanis Order had been unable to provide.

#

Tenebres had never considered himself particularly moon-drawn. That wasn't to say he was immune altogether to masculine charms–he had been able to recognize, for example, just how handsome Geoffrey had been, with his well-coiffed hair, his broad shoulders, and his finely-trimmed goatee. He had similarly been interested in Oli when they had first met, even before he knew the eclipsed girl's identity. Her powerful frame, striking features, and thoughtful bearing were more than a little attractive, and it had taken a couple weeks of making an ass of himself before Tenebres realized that Oli wasn't quite as flexible as he was.

Kenton Everbright was different. His build wasn't so different from Tenebres's own, really. A little taller, a little firmer, a little older and more weathered. But there was something about him that had struck Tenebres the first time he laid eyes on the knight-errant. His flawless golden skin, his hair like spools of amber gold, his brilliant blue eyes emphasized by the contrast of his otherwise warm coloring. In many ways, despite their similarities, he was the opposite of Tenebres, like a classically handsome statue brought to life, while the uncanny surrealism of Tenebres's wraith traits left him looking more like a haunted painting.

Even if they hadn't had the chance to talk about it before everyone went their separate ways, Tenebres knew that Allana, at the very least, had noticed his reaction to the knight, and he suspected Kenton himself had taken note as well, which was, admittedly, mortifying.

But still–the knight had offered, requested even, to speak with Tenebres about the possible link between their gifts, and Tenebres couldn't ignore that possibility. After all, it was the search for information about the gift of the void that had brought Tenebres to Emeston in the first place, most of a year before. It was that hunt that had led to Tenebres crossing paths with Allana and taking up with Geoffrey, and eventually led him to his current life in Correntry.

Even concerned as he was about embarrassing himself in front of the stunning knight, Tenebres couldn't just turn away from the opportunity for the answers he had sought for so long.

And so, even as the sun was sinking below the horizon, Tenebres found himself at the Pure Smoke. Though it was located only a few blocks from the Grime and Glory, they were a few very meaningful blocks, putting the shadowed restaurant much closer to the quarters of the city's many wealthy merchants than the thriving hub of its battle-gifted. It was significantly quieter than the taverns and bars common to the more adventurous parts of the city and, Tenebres realized as soon as he entered, far more intimate. The lights were kept low, most tables illuminated only by slender, ornate candelabra, with thick beams and folding wooden dividers further cutting the room into little slices. In the distance, unseen, a harp plucked away, the quiet music filtering through the room and making any individual conversation impossible to make out.

The host, keeping a vigilant watch at the front of the restaurant, turned a disapproving look at Tenebres as soon as he entered, and the boy flushed, realizing how he must look. As normal, he wore only dark, close-fitting leathers, although he had traded out the more revealing clothes he had favored in Emeston for longer, and warmer, outfits as the seasons turned. However, between his elbow-length gloves, his unnatural hair and eyes, the small crimson cloak he had tossed over his shoulders, and the cosmetics he had spent half of an hour applying before he left his rooms, the slender youth looked far from reputable enough for the fine establishment he found himself in.

"May I assist you?" the doorman asked, his voice positively dripping with insincerity. "Unfortunately, our tables are full for the evening."

Tenebres couldn't help a brief look to the dining room. Even with the dim lighting and visual obstructions, Tenebres could make out at least two empty tables.

"Reserved," the host explained, obviously noting his gaze.

Tenebres drew a short breath through his nose, trying to act like he belonged here. His charm boon implied possible steps he could take, subtle adjustments to his stance and tone, that would deride the man for trying to condescend to him, but there was only so much social awareness could do to help Tenebres in a situation so far out of his depth.

"I believe I'm here for one of those reservations," Tenebres finally replied. "I was asked to meet someone here."

The doorman's gaze became, somehow, even more demeaning. "And who might that be?"

"Sir Kenton Everbright."

The man blinked. Slowly. "Just a moment," he replied, his voice as bland as ever–but Tenebres picked up the faintest whiff of respect tinging the words this time, as if the man was no longer sure if he should remain quite as dismissive.

Tenebres didn't look like much–but appearance had little to do with skill among battle-gifted, and those who had the blessings and talents for combat were invariably more wealthy than they might appear.

The host waved to a passing server, and Tenebres didn't need an awareness boon to guess what instructions the man whispered to the waiter. The younger server all but vanished, returning only a moment later.

After another brief exchange of whispers, the doorman gestured to the server. "Timothy will conduct you to your table," the host explained, his voice a mixture of reluctance and apology, as if he had earnestly hoped for the chance to throw Tenebres out. "Enjoy your evening."

Tenebres's lips curled into a small smile, and he couldn't help a quick wink as he passed the man, following the server deeper into the restaurant.

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Only as they wove between tables and dividers, occasionally catching sight of men, women, and celestials sitting close together, secret smiles dancing on their lips and obvious thoughts glittering unspoken in their dark eyes, did Tenebres begin to realize just where he was. The Pure Smoke was, beyond a doubt, a place that catered to young and wealthy couples.

Tenebres flushed as he pondered why Kenton had invited him here specifically–then felt his cheeks grow a shade brighter as he remembered that Kenton provided the invite in front of everyone! Cadence and Allana might not be familiar enough with this part of town to have recognized the name, but Adeline, and maybe even Olivia, must have been!

Tenebres felt a groan of further embarrassment slip from his lips–and then he noticed just how deep into the restaurant he had been led. Timothy ensured his guest was still following closely as he weaved through a trio of cleverly arranged dividers that Tenebres would've bet good money only led to a corner–then he opened a door Tenebres hadn't even noticed and led him into a small, private room.

Tenebres blinked again, and there was Kenton, sitting casually in a plush red seat that his slender form seemed to sink into. "Oh, Tenebres," the knight greeted him, "I was beginning to fear you had decided against meeting me here. Take a seat." The slender man waved at the equally luxurious seat across the table from him, and Tenesbres swallowed thickly before he finally got his feet to move towards the chair.

"I hope you don't mind, but I ordered while I waited for you," Kenton explained. "The venison here is a treat, but I have a theory that they make it take so long just so you're appropriately ravenous by the time it arrives."

Tenebres stared at the young knight with a guarded, confused expression. "It's fine," he finally said. "I thought you wanted to meet to discuss our gifts, not for dinner."

Kenton shrugged idly. "Who says we can't do both?"

Tenebres's eyes traveled around the lavishly appointed, dimly lit, excessively private room. "It's just… this restaurant…"

Kenton's ever present smile quirked a little at one corner. "I hope you'll excuse my choice–it's my favorite in Correntry, and I always try to make a point of stopping for a meal whenever I pass through."

Tenebres studied the older man–though that label didn't feel quite right, as Tenebres would be shocked if the silver knight was even twenty–with a frown. The excuse made sense, but it left Tenebres wondering if this was actually the date it had started to seem like. Normally, Tenebres's charm boon was more than enough to reveal the intentions of those around him, but Kenton's flippant tone and easy smile made him harder to guess at. It was the same sort of social camouflage Geoffrey had preferred, and Tenebres found Kenton's casual demeanor as difficult to see through as the master assassin's had been.

"And the private room?"

"We are discussing somewhat secretive gifts, remember?"

Tenebres caught himself fidgeting in the too-soft seat, and leaned forward a little bit to avoid sinking into it. "If you say so," Tenebres said, trying for indifference. "So what did you have to say?"

Kenton shrugged and relaxed back further into his chair, his posture as much a counterpoint to Tenebres's as his coloring. "If I had to guess, I would say you know little about the void your gift references. Would I be right?"

Tenebres furrowed his brow, but nodded.

"I found myself in the same position a few years back, when I received my gift of the astral. It took me some time to seek out answers–and I only received them because I had access to some resources I am quite sure you don't. So, even if we won't be traveling together as I had hoped… Well, I hoped to discuss our gifts before we went our separate ways."

"The gift of the astral," Tenebres repeated. "I've never heard of that, either. How do you know that they're related?"

Kenton's mouth twitched, as if his smile had dipped for a fraction of a second. "Well… Do you know where magic comes from, Tenebres?"

"What?" Tenebres asked. "Magic is… everywhere. It's part of the world, it doesn't come from somewhere."

Kenton shook his head. "I thought the same for most of my life, as do the vast majority of people in the Realm. Only a few sages, members of the Apothic Order dedicated to learning the origins of our world, know that it is not quite the truth." The knight paused, then added, "And perhaps a few others. Including myself, and soon, you."

Tenebres subsided and, despite himself, found himself sitting back. The knight seemed bound and determined to be as ominous and vague as possible, but Tenebres still couldn't resist the questions he posed. "I assume the void is this origin place of magic then?"

"The void and the astral," Kenton confirmed. "One dark and one light. One ordered, one chaotic. One creating, the other destroying."

"Two poles," Tenebres said thoughtfully.

"Exactly." Kenton lifted a finger before Tenebres could respond, and a moment later, Timothy, the server from earlier, entered the room, a plate of food in each hand.

The young man quickly placed down both plates, accepted Kenton's thanks, and fled the room.

Tenebres eyed the stacked plate. Besides the dark, juicy cut of venison, there was a serving of vegetables apparently cooked in the same spiced gravy as the meat. Kenton leaned forward, his arresting eyes grabbing Tenebres's gaze and dragging it along as he began to cut a chunk off of his own flank of venison.

Rather than eat it, the knight moved the cut piece to the table, gravy and juices immediately staining the white tablecloth. Another cut, and he divided the piece into two, separated by a foot of space. "The astral," he explained, gesturing to the piece of succulent meat with his fork, then using his knife to indicate the leftover piece of gristle and fat, "and the void."

Tenebres huffed a small laugh, and the knight smiled. "Between them are four worlds." His fork returned to his plate, and this time a gravy soaked piece of carrot was left on the table, close to the piece of meat. "Here is our world, the Realm, closest to the magic of the astral. This makes the energies of our world harmonious, balanced. They move in well-defined ways, cycling with the seasons and directed by our gifts." A leafy green sprout was next in line, a few inches from the carrot but still closer to the meat than the gristle. "The Feral World. Its magic is still fairly astral, but the influence of the void has caused a misbalance. The magic there is unstable, constantly fluctuating. Life exists in abundance, but every day is a struggle as the world fights itself."

A perfectly square chunk of potato was added next, as close to the gristle as the sprout was to the meat. "The Chained World, home to the hags we now find ourselves fighting. Here, the influence of the void is stronger, but there is still a tingle of the astral. The magic is unnaturally sedentary, stagnant. This has allowed the hags and their goddesses to master it to an extent we could never match. And finally…" Rather than return to his plate, Kenton dropped a single black pebble to the table, completing the line. "The Ruined World. Here, the void is as powerful as the astral is in our world. Their magic is a force of death by default, antithetical to the energies of our world. It is a world of darkness and death unending."

Tenebres watched the knight's demonstration with a furrowed brow, studying the makeshift line of objects. "So what do our gifts have to do with this?" Tenebres asked.

Kenton shrugged. "That's a question I've yet to find an answer to. I do know they're not quite unique, though, even if they are remarkably rare. I've learned of two others in the Realm's history who possessed my own gift, and I have a few suspicions regarding yours."

"Suspicions?"

Kenton's smile turned a shade apologetic. "Rumors of bandit lords and would-be tyrants who can summon dark entities, but not much more than that."

Tenebres frowned. It was all too easy to believe that someone with this gift could become an unparalleled threat to the Realm. If Tenebres wasn't so dedicated to controlling his fiends and using them safely… He shuddered to think of what would've happened had he unleashed his slaughter demon, instead of mere imps, in Rillwillow Square.

The new information also fit very well with what Tenebres knew of the void from Kellen's books. Though they had been vague, they had labeled it a plane of dark energy, a power source for those willing to make use of it. The idea of the cruel, selfish cult leader with the abilities Tenebres used so carefully was… terrifying.

"So that's it?" Tenebres asked. "Not exactly the revelation I was hoping for."

Kenton shrugged, and idly brushed his example away. "There's more to learn, certainly. At some point, I came to the conclusion that the sages I spoke to were keeping something from me, hiding as much as they told." The knight's smile grew sly. "That's why I was interested to learn of your gift. Until I get to higher levels, I thought comparing our own abilities might help to reveal something more of the nature of the void and the astral."

Tenebres arched an eyebrow, intrigued. He couldn't help but share some of Kenton's interest. "So that's the real reason for this private room then?" he asked. "A safe space for us to show off?"

The handsome knight smiled more and more broadly. "It's one reason, perhaps," he admitted. "But I see no reason we can't finish our dinners before we, ah, whip them out?"

Tenebres smirked, becoming more intrigued by the moment at just where this night would end up going.

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