With the temple unavailable, the council convened in a large circular building on the eastern side of the acropolis. Perched on a small cliff, access to the building went through a lavish garden of cypress and many fruit-bearing trees. Pomegranates, pears, apples, and figs vied for the visitors' attention.
Uncle Basil led Diven into the sumptuous building where they entered an austere amphitheatre covered in marble. The room felt empty with less than a dozen elders sparsely seated on their rigid chairs from which they dominated the stage. Eleven to be exact.
Diven felt small in front of the powerful Ascended Rank elders. Even with their auras perfectly restrained, their mere presence radiated power, making it clear they were not to be trifled with. From below, he ran a cursory glance through the council and noticed a few familiar faces.
Elder Thephes was there, but the two people that really gave him pause were his two maternal grandparents. A closed expression was ever present on their faces when they looked at him.
He hadn’t interacted with them much, only seeing them from afar when his family attended Uncle Basil’s functions from time to time.
Since his mother had awakened her Sunset bloodline, they had for all intents and purposes repudiated her. His newly found Rot Heart would only infuriate them further.
Breaking the oppressive silence, an elder Diven didn’t recognize coughed a few times. She was visibly old, her age was hard to guess considering an ascended powerhouse could live for more than three centuries.
“Basil, thank you for bringing your nephew to us.”
“It’s nothing, Elder Secuda,” Basil answered, bowing slightly.
Elder Secuda turned to Diven, a sad look in her eyes, “Diven. It’s never a pleasure for things to come to this point. Unfortunately, the elder council has made a decision. Your bloodline has been deemed nefarious to the clan and Kheiron. Thus, we have collectively decided to exile you. Understood?”
Diven felt a massive lump form in his throat. He knew it was coming. Uncle Basil had warned him, but a large part of him didn’t believe it. It was inconceivable, it was supposed to be the day he stepped into the light, the day he repaired his parents’ honor.
Not this.
“Do you understand, Diven?” Secuda repeated.
“Yes,” Diven said, his breath heavy.
“The executor of your exile will take you up the Lien River until it is not navigable anymore. There, he will return to Kheiron without you. You are not allowed to return to Kheiron. Not ever. Failure to comply will result in your execution. Do you hear what I say?”
“Yes,” Diven said. His heart dropped even lower. He was painfully aware that his chance of survival this deep in the Wildlands would be extremely low. So low this was basically a death sentence. But what could he do?
“Since you were taken away from the ceremony, you are not a true citizen of Kheiron. As such, our decision doesn't need to be run through the city’s official channels. You are not entitled to compensation and you are not permitted to appeal.” Secuda continued.
Listless, Diven nodded. This amount of detail felt unnecessary, he was getting exiled, and that was it.
“Now,” Secuda added. “We are not monsters. I present a motion to provide Diven with standard explorer equipment for the Wildlands.”
“I refuse," A voice rose from the attendance. Diven turned his head toward the source. Sure enough, it was his grandfather.
“Helos, what’s your reasoning?” Secuda asked.
“Increasing his chances of survival is detrimental to the clan. The fact that the knowledge of his existence is already spreading through Kheiron is bad enough, no need to make it worse.”
Diven felt his uncle’s hand rest on his shoulder, reassuring him a little. If even Elder Helos’ son opposed him, there was some hope.
“We are discussing a sentence of exile, not death,” Secuda coughed, throwing the other elders a meaningful look. “But fine, let’s put it to the vote,” Secuda said. “Who is for giving the boy equipment?”
Three hands went up, including Secuda’s.
“Who is against it?”
The only two hands going up were Diven’s grandparents. Five other elders abstained.
“Motion adopted, Diven will be granted standard explorer gear as he is sent to his exile,” Secuda announced. “Next, who will be the executor?”
“Elders, allow me to volunteer,” Basil raised his voice.
“Basil,” Elder Helos said. “You have better things to do.”
“I agree with Elder Helos, Basil.” Another elder who hadn’t spoken until now said. “You are close to reaching our ranks, you should focus on that instead of wasting your time transporting people.”
“Ridiculous,” Elder Secuda said. “Reaching the ranks of the Ascended is not that simple, and you all know it. Ancestor Leios would laugh at you. Basil exiling his nephew is an act of courage few would accept. It will help him ascend.”
“Secuda, how many times have we told you to stop bragging about seeing ancestor Leios in person.” Diven’s grandmother intervened. “You were but a child when he was ruling this city.”Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“But I was there, Gila. Something you will never be able to claim.” Secuda sneered. “Anyway, who is against Basil being the executor?”
Four hands rose in the air.
“And who supports it?”
This time, all the elders participated. The remaining six voted in favor.
“Good, Basil, you will escort Diven to the Wildlands.”
“Yes, Elder Secuda.” Basil agreed.
“Thank you. Then I believe that will be all, you’re to depart tomorrow at dawn.”
Uncle Basil led Diven out of the council chamber as the boy was barely responsive.
“That went about as well as we could expect,” Basil said. “Go back to your place and prepare what you can. I’ll pick up your gear and see you tomorrow.”
Diven looked at his uncle as he left, leaving him alone on the doorstep of the council. The sun was already setting. He had been full of hope and expectations when he woke up. He would have never imagined the day would turn out like this.
As he was walking back home, he realized he had not seen his parents since the morning. Guilt filled his heart, they had to be worried, and disappointed. He was ashamed and almost decided to avoid them until he left, but he figured this was maybe his last chance of talking to them so he carried on and reached the house he shared with them.
Lights were out, he pushed the door open and quickly noted nobody was home.
Going straight to his room, he lay on his bed and sighed. What was he going to do?
Your name is spoken through the world, new title acquired: Rotten Sun
“What’s that again?” Diven spat.
Frustrated, he stood up and started pacing.
Of course, he knew what titles were.
Well, sort of…
Titles were not well understood, but one way to receive one was to earn a reputation among a significant number of people. It meant that a considerable number of people had begun referring to him as Rotten Sun.
The effects of a title were never clear, so Diven had no idea what this would entail. The only thing he knew was that it would affect him in some way. Maybe in something so minor, he would not notice it. Or, perhaps it would change his whole being.
Still new to his awakening, he took some time before thinking of looking at his inner world. Noting that he needed to make it a reflex, he closed his eyes and focused inward.
In his garden, the rotten sapling hadn’t changed, its dark vein still pulsed with nauseous energy, filling the wood with impure magic. The Spear bamboos and Shield brambles hadn’t changed. Not that they should, it had only been a few hours since he last checked.
Growing skills took time and effort, even at the Basic stage.
Yet, despite the absence of change, the effect the Rotten Sun title had on his inner world was impossible to miss: there was a sun hanging in the sky.
It wasn’t there before. While there was light in his garden, it had no real source before. It wasn’t a real space, but a representation of his powers. Things didn’t need to follow the laws of nature inside.
Now, however, the light that allowed him to see his inner garden was coming from that sun. However, it wasn’t like the real sun. It wasn’t bright or warm, nor was it full of life and promise like the sun magic of his clan.
No.
It was sick. Pale. Rotten.
A Rotten Sun.
Diven sighed and told himself this was just a representation of the title. This was in no way a manifestation of its real effects.
Maybe he was lying to himself. But he wasn’t ready to face the possibilities regarding his new title.
He didn’t want to accept his rot attunement.
He opened his eyes.
There was nothing he could do about it.
Despite that, it was enough to stroke some anger within him. He had enough of this. First this stupid bloodline, then he was exiled and now he knew people were talking behind his back.
His parents were nowhere to be seen. His uncle had helped him a little but was clearly not going to prevent his exile or support him more than that. He was done with this clan, done with this city.
He gathered all his belongings and some food into a bag. Admittedly, it didn’t amount to much. A few changes of clothes, a knife, the weapons his uncle had given him. He mostly counted on the explorer gear his uncle would prepare for him.
Laying back down in his bed, he had a hard time falling asleep, his mind tormented by what awaited him the next day. He wanted to be strong and leave the city behind like it was nothing.
But it wasn't how he felt.
The next morning, he was woken up by Uncle Basil shaking him out of bed.
“Where are your parents?” His uncle asked.
Diven shrugged.
“Really? I wonder what they’re up to… Don’t worry, something must have come up.”
The teenager and his uncle went to the harbor where Basil requisitioned a small boat from the Leios clan’s fleet. They would be going up the river so the model had to be light enough, otherwise, rowing would prove to be impossible.
Diven hardly paid attention to the bustling merchants.
The boat was small, just enough to fit two people and some equipment. It didn’t look comfortable in the least.
Despite living by the sea all these years, Diven had never learned how to handle a boat. Something he now regretted as he was forced to watch his uncle take care of everything.
They were about to depart when he spotted Sebastian running toward them.
“Diven,” Sebastian said, panting from his run. “I heard about what’s happening to you. I’m sorry I can’t be of help. I just wanted to see you once more before you left.”
“Thank you, Sebastian,” Diven said. “I’m very grateful.”
At last, someone had reached out to him. It didn’t matter that Seb couldn’t change his fate. Nobody could, it had been decided by the elders. But he cared, and that was something.
“The others?” Diven asked, a trace of hope ringing in his voice.
Sebastian's expression darkened, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry,” Diven said.
So Philon and Zoe decided not to come. He was disappointed, but even his parents were not there so he couldn't blame them too much.
“Diven,” Sebastian said. “I hope you survive. No, I hope you thrive and maybe, I will meet you in one of my explorations.”
A smile rose on Diven’s lips, “I will be sure to prepare the Wildlands for you, my friend.”
“Good luck, Diven.”
After Uncle Basil maneuvered the boat out of the harbor, they sailed west. They followed the coast for about an hour before reaching the mouth of the Lien River.
It was the first time Diven saw it. Despite the Lien being the main highway between Kheiron and the Wildlands which had made the city so prosperous from the trading of monster parts, he had never ventured that far outside the walls.
The estuary was wide. So wide it didn’t look like a river, and the current was barely noticeable. It felt more like sailing into a vast bay than up a river.
Diven looked at the bow of the ship and for the first time, he started feeling excited for what lay ahead.