What stared back at Calista seemed like a death sentence. The cruelty of this world, it finally came to her doorstep, inescapable even in the depths of her soul. The luxurious bed, silk sheets, satin comforter, maids at her beck and call. Soothing incense burning at her bedside. Chander showed a rare direct affection when she woke up, hugging her tightly. That made the truth hurt all the more.

She lost. Far more than just pride or a battle. If somehow, she could go back in the past? Calista Pyrite would've gotten on one knee and asked Luke Wallace to spare her brother. Chander failed to understand how far the Pyrite line had fallen for a chance at breaking the Patriarch's soul lock. The consequence of the forbidden hollow fourth ascension. How little this sun-lit flame-themed luxury bedroom mattered when it attracted the pure fury, ire, and hate of a creature that could steal things so fundamental to power and order in the Edgelands. She clutched at the well-made cloth, the softness offered no comfort.

Her grandfather? If Calista wasn't overestimating her new Reaver master?

It was only a matter of time. Her family was doomed. Now her best course of action could only be damage control. She even lost the ability to tell anyone the truth. She tried, Interface messages be damned; Calista ran her throat raw. Her heart would clench, voice silenced, and soul peeled away in greed's hungry jaws every time she dared to utter a syllable with the intent to reveal the Reaver's true depths. When the torture became too much, she entered an odd plane, alongside thousands of damned souls. She could sense faint connections there to others like her, alive, yet under the influence, infected by Greed's Decree.

The majority weren't necessarily fully corrupted at the soul-level like Calista. The only other competitor in that severity would be Janeus. A tier 2 spell sword that recently became Adept at his Elementalization, noteworthy, but hardly worth a second glance to someone like her. A hunger surrounded that elf lately, and now she knew why.

In that realm, a thick spiritual link connected the two of them. The elf spoke to her through it, with a succinct 'Serve the master well.' All she could see in her mind's eye were those frosted eyes hidden behind the mask—black water sliding on it like a second skin. Those resolute words spoken with paradoxical calm fury that spelled the coming end of the Pyrite line, her family.

I'm coming for it all.

A knock tapped the gold-trimmed obsidian stone door. Startled out of her thoughts, Calista said, "Come in." In a pitch unbefitting of one of the four Pyres.

Uncle Auren, the first of the four Pyres, entered the room. His broad shoulders and wide frame filled out the red and gold raiment he wore. He brought an expensive herbal tea and set it beside Calista's nightstand.

Threading his fingers together, they set just under his eyes, as the giant of a man sat on a padded chair across the room. "How are you feeling, niece?" He thumbed to the tea. "Sip on that, Audrey says it can help mend soul damage."

Hands trembling, Calista reached out and took shallow sips. The medicinal effects immediately set to work, soothing the soul. It only made the greed burrow in deeper, like a parasite. She internally deflated, already anticipating this to be the outcome. After drinking the entire tea, she set it back down. She turned her head away. The sun crept over the edge of the horizon. Morning had come after the longest night in memory for Calista. Dawn never felt so cold to her before.

"The Patriarch's sending me to the deepest level in the Ember Grounds, isn't he?"

"Would it kill you to call him grandpa?"

"How can I anymore? He sees me as nothing else but the weakest Pyre in the family now, never his granddaughter."

Giving a weary sigh Auren said, "He wasn't always like this. Not until mother died." His expression grew firm. "Yes, niece, for the next day and a half, you'll be sent to the Ember Ground depths for final training before the Tide. Fa—, forgive me, Patriarch Lorcan said he found your performance against Rune lacking any spark."

"I evaporated an entire lake." Calista sat up further in the bed. She reviewed the fight mentally, "I gave him too much time to adapt to me. He was losing until the end. Like one of the undying, he danced at the edge but never fell off."

"The results are what matter to the family, niece. I sympathize, I do. Rune is thought to be a Master at Water Elementalization, the last case of a tier 1 doing similar was…" Auren looked up to the ceiling in thought. "Forty? No, fifty years ago. Not since Vernina, she burned too brightly for the Edgelands." Bloodflame naturally swirled around Auren's shoulders. "All the more reason for the Patriarch's edict. We cannot touch Rune until the Tide is dealt with. But we can prepare for the conflagration we will inflict upon him."

Uncle, every day you give him is another he becomes closer to something beyond our reach.

Words to warn welled up in Calista's throat, "He isn't-"

As always, that gold and black lettering slammed into Calista's mind and soul.

[A vassal of greed cannot reveal their lord's existence without prior permission. Further attempts will transport your soul to the Black Avarice Depths for baptism. Greed's Decree is absolute]

As the Fourth Pyre, Calista developed an iron will. Sounds rippled from her vocal cords, against the warning, "Lu—" Bits of blood rushed up from her throat, spreading onto the blanket.

Auren was already by her side, palm on her upper back. "Are you alright, Calista? If the damage is still this severe, then sending you to the Ember Ground's deepest depths is no different from asking you to die. I will explain to the Patriarch." He turned about, ready to leave.

Heaving, Calista grasped her uncle's wrist. "No, I'm fine. Tell the Patriarch I'll be leaving for the depths within the hour." She coughed. "That was me doing something I shouldn't have."

A puzzled expression passed Auren's face. Eventually, he nodded, "Let it be so. I'll check on you every six hours down there, the Patriarch can't refuse that." He let Calista's hand fall away.

Bringing both hands toward her face, Calista inspected them. The soft thud of a door shutting sounded off. Alone once more, the flare hunter trembled as those sin-laden words materialized into existence through the Interface, standing at attention in the middle of her vision, bordered by abyssal black.

[Greed's Influence permeates the depths of your soul. The amount of stolen loyalty surpasses the threshold. Previously stolen attributes, as the Sin of Greed did not absorb them, will be slowly returned to you as a reward for your undying devotion]

Further details came in piecemeal. Like a sentence read to a guilty defendant, one count at a time. Calista closed her hands, setting them to her sides, feeling the warm silk and satin.

[Going from influenced to invoked grants equal measure of privilege and burden. The true identity of the one who ripped away parts of you is Luke Wallace, the Sin of Greed. You are Soul Bound to him in duty, never able to defy his direct wishes, or reveal his existence either directly or indirectly. As the Second Sinned defiled by Greed's Decree, you can sense others influenced by your new lord]

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Grasping her auburn hair, Calista's athletic frame withered. "This can't be happening. What is going on in the Defier's guild? They hid away the birth of another Sin class? The Duchy isn't supposed to have one. When did—"

Exhaling, Calista's confidence instilled itself once more. She'd been checkmated. If there were a way out of this, then it absolutely wouldn't come sulking in bed. The woman washed quickly, equipping her gear, crossbow, and bringing the Sun Orb back out to radiate warmth on the icy depths within. Off at the edges of the sight outside the ornate window, she saw a swirling violet-blue portal, only visible if you inherited Pyrite blood or swore an irreversible soul oath to the family.

Somewhere in there, was her brother Chander, no doubt hating his existence currently. The Ember Grounds brought you deeper into the flame, sometimes literally. The methods altered by the ground's spirit whims, but the result and reason always stayed consistent. Those who endured came back with growth beyond the typical methods. You couldn't endlessly use the Ember Grounds, eventually, the diminishing returns outweighed the effort. Time out in the field or Tower reset the wear of the grounds. It served as a bedrock to the Pyrite family's foundation, able to grant feats up to tier 2, help hone abilities, and even guide one to the peak of Adept in Flame Elementalization. At its depths, it still proved challenging to Calista.

"I'll see you soon. Little brother." A small smile graced Calista's face, broken by a cruel reminder.

[The Sin of Greed has designated the Pyrite line as damned. Strengthen yourself for the day you will be called upon, or extinguished by his will. Continued resistance may result in stripping of any remaining free will ]

Shutting her eyes, Calista thought, Brother, Grandpa, we couldn't have chosen a worse person in Sylen to provoke. World Spirit help us.

Except for chatter between Xera, Wayfinder, and Whispering Tome's attempted communication through fluttering pages, the vast chamber settled into silence.

Taking this as a time as good as any to get the Interface's messages over with, Luke began to categorize them with filters as he'd learn to do over time. Even without the Interface telling him, Luke detected differences from before the ritual. For a while now, a sense of 'fullness' pervaded every inch. That vanished, like the potential of the depths expanded to accommodate more. The strain lifted, body function elevated, the Reaver could make full use of all the attributes he'd accumulated up to this point. Whereas before it proved a struggle.

As Sooty flew around carefree, creating a wind current by herself, he noticed the smoothness, greater control, and grace in her movements. His bird turned into one tough cookie by now. Not that the Reaver had any room to point fingers, what with the whole diving into a Phoenix and coming out on top.

….A little toasty by the end of it.

Sooty hadn't been in the Soul Plane with him. Either way, she also reached tier 2 with him during the ritual. And by any right she should have, Nemenoth was as much her kill, as his. Setting back on the nearest wall, Luke opened up the Interface log line detailing the benefits to reaching tier 2. This go around, he could tap for more details. No soul core absorption to stop him now. Damn Interface.

A bright silver-bordered screen overtook the Reaver's vision. He scanned the information, reviewing it more than once.

[Congratulations once more, Last Transfer. You have reached the 2nd tier, a feat many hope for and few achieve, fewer still within their first year on Ludus. The Soul Plane molded your vessel. Altering it to resist the throes of death and adapt your physiology. Many changes have awakened within your soul and body, some immediate, others require effort during this tier to fully unlock.

The following has been revealed to you:

Dramatic increase in stats gained per level. Granting 33 attributes each time, with a portion able to be diverted to either Strength, Intellect, or Agility freely. (Applicable only to Reaver's Companion)

Abilities may be upgraded or trained to the 2nd tier. Your baseline ability, Infusion, may now reach the 3rd tier.

The second agility, intellect, and strength thresholds are now breakable. The third vitality threshold unveils, also able to be shattered when proper attribute levels are achieved. Your level cap increases to level 75, up from level 50.

Gaining a solid connection to your soul core lays the foundation for a Domain when the host reaches the next tier. You gain twenty additional years of youth.

Hidden stat: Physique has upgraded greatly this tier. Aura abilities below tier 2 do not affect you. Your bodily functions are enhanced, sleep, water, and food requirements are reduced. Slow regeneration of internal organs and limbs is possible without the need of specific abilities or substances, except for your brain, neck, and heart. The sturdiness of your vessel is greatly amplified. Bleeding closes up far faster than before.

Senses have evolved beyond normal human limitations. If not already awakened, a sixth sense has been imparted to you. If achieved previously, the sense is instead strengthened at no cost to you as a one-time bonus.

Clarity of mind settles upon you from the reforging of the spirit. Techniques are modestly easier to learn up to Apprentice mastery level. Aura arts, such as the Aura Whisper, Shroud, and Pressure, become second nature to you.

More potential of your body and spirit has been unlocked but not applied; you must train or force more out over time to learn possible techniques and adjustments.

Earned 30 resilience stat points, greatly reduces damage from all sources, regardless of tier.

A one-time skill point reward of 5 skill points has been automatically earned. (Applicable to all classes and companions)

Sub-set reward: Your Spectral Heart has upgraded to the second tier. Any other tier-dependent items have unlocked their upgrade.

Sub-set reward: As an elemental human, your soul became tightly bound to your higher life rating. Ice Affinity and Frost Resistance increase by 5.

Sub-set reward: The initial Concept of Greed colors your element and understanding of the world. (Applicable only to those who imprint a Concept during any ascension.)

Tier 1 potions & external healing spells are now half as effective on you. Does not apply to healing effects from equipment or own abilities. Tier 1 Bandages remain 75% as effective. Tier 0 potions & external healing spells are all but useless on you, your vitality beyond their reach]

Rolling his shoulders, Luke whistled, much unlike him, but it felt natural in the moment. "You mean to tell me these people get all these gains going up in tier, and they still lost to me?"

In complete fairness, some of the rewards required certain conditions to be met, but even if he excluded those, the list still staggered him. The attribute gain, while not possible for his class, was supremely increased for every other class. Senses evolved, hell, you gained an entirely new sense if you hadn't already developed it.

At some point, Luke had already honed a sixth sense. After this upgrade, it went from nebulous to dependable. The clarity of mind should help with training whatever the next technique may be. Too bad its assistance stopped so early. It helped explain why so damn many 'high ascended' combat types ended up at the peak of Apprentice. The training wheels fell off the technique bicycle, and cycling all alone without daddy Interface was scary. Physique upgrades, the free skill point gift, and earned resilience attribute points just plain made you less human, elf, tora, monic—what have you—and more a machine of either combat or production. The sole drawback would be the reduced effectiveness of lower-end bandages, healing potions, and healing spells below the requisite quality or tier. Luke could live with that.

Unaware Luke was amidst digesting the tier 2 upgrades, Wayfinder moved his springs. "By my shine, many of those sods lacked an artifact or three. Or either of those fancy technique tricks. It may be an old soul's suspicion, but you being a higher evolved ain't exactly allowing them to have a full advantage over you. The list goes on lad, I can yap your ears off."

"Isn't that what makes it all exciting, compass? I got to cut apart a huge flaming bird. Beats the chest any day." Xera said, her crystal glowing faintly.

Well, the Reaver couldn't pick apart those arguments. He'd never directly fought an evolved member of the four races yet, just due to their sheer rarity. So far, he recognized five others. Either head of the Titled families, the City Lord, Musai, and Annika. Once you received a higher life rating, it became rather obvious when others had it as well. Before, Luke confused it with subconscious tier suppression, but the feeling gave a different flavor compared to that. More fundamental or absolute. Which made it all the more impressive Annika's creation, the Black Metal Mask, could hide that life rating from others. The Reaver tossed it up to the fact Annika herself was an Elemental, so she acquired a deep enough understanding to make the mask conceal the natural presence let off by such a being.

Neither Wayfinder nor Xera received any upgrades this round. Whispering Tome could devour a different tome of its choosing to steal an ability it had. That required having a suitable tome to feed it first. The Reaver saw one or two during the auction, but he lacked the funds to acquire either. Going into forty thousand gold of debt to the Miels was bad enough as is.

Anyway. Gold could be made after surviving the humongous monster Tide threatening to crash down any day now. Reminded of that, Luke dived back into the Interface log lines, bothering only with the critically important ones.

[You have inflicted Greed's Decree on Calista Pyrite, the Fourth Pyre, converting her into your Second Sinned. Sinned may never betray you. All Sinned know you are the cause of their condition, not whatever alias used during the administration of Greed's Decree]

Luke noticed that depending on the amount he affected someone, then willfully stole from them, the legacy influenced them. Under certain conditions, a severely stricken individual would become a 'Sinned' loyal to him. Most just became influenced. He tested this against those he dueled in the arena. It turned out those influenced saw him in a better light, but weren't deathly loyal.

Janeus, however, was. The elf, at no insistence from Luke, left daily sigil progress reports on himself, his team, and projected gold streams, which shuttered for now due to the Silver Black Tower temporarily closing in preparation for its barrier. What stumped the Reaver was exactly how you created a Sinned or not. The only suitable link between Janeus and Calista was his attempting to steal as much as possible from either while shoving them to death's door. Was it that simple? Probably not. Luke rarely fully intuited this confounding Legacy. A piece at the time, then.

Putting the heel of his palm to the upper right corner of his forehead, Luke let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "You mean to tell me I went and converted a tier 3 of the family I intended to burn to the ground as my loyal minion? This is either going to be a massive boon or pain in the ass, and I'm not sure yet."

The Tide rose by the hour, and Luke's avarice within Sylen grew new threads, infecting even its most established family.

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