I Thought I Was Collecting Systems, Not Overpowered Wives

Chapter 66: Saga 66: What Vane Became

"The Hollow Choir," Ari repeated, setting the document down with visibly shaking hands. "That’s the splinter faction the pendant belonged to. The one that believed the Church had strayed from its founding purpose."

"But this suggests something considerably darker than mere ideological disagreement," Sylvia observed, studying the ritual transcript over Ari’s shoulder. "If Vane’s rite genuinely made contact with something beyond the Church’s sanctioned divine source, whatever answered him may not have shared his original intentions at all."

The Cardinal, who’d remained silent throughout their reading, finally spoke, her voice carrying old, weary grief. "There were whispers, at the time, that Vane had grown obsessed with restoring what he perceived as the Church’s lost authenticity. I dismissed it as scholarly passion, nothing more. I never imagined he’d taken such drastic, dangerous measures to pursue it."

"You knew him personally," Kael said. "What was he like, before all this?"

The Cardinal’s expression softened with old memory. "Brilliant. Compassionate, in his own particular way, though always somewhat isolated from the rest of the Church hierarchy by the intensity of his convictions. He genuinely believed Songrel had become too concerned with political influence and too little with whatever genuine spiritual purpose originally justified its founding."

"That doesn’t sound like someone who’d order assassinations," Ari said quietly.

"No," the Cardinal agreed. "It doesn’t. Which suggests whatever answered his ritual six months before his disappearance changed him considerably from the man I once knew."

[Kael, I’ve been cross-referencing this ritual transcript against corruption signatures we’ve encountered previously,] the system offered quietly. [The pattern bears unsettling similarity to whatever the Black Ring calls the Becoming.]

’You think they’re connected? Not just similar methods, but actually linked?’

[Possible, though I can’t confirm direct coordination yet. It’s equally possible both organizations independently made contact with the same ancient, corrupting influence, whatever that influence actually is.]

Kael relayed the system’s observation aloud, watching Ari’s expression grow increasingly troubled. "If that’s true, then Vane isn’t simply leading a splinter faction anymore. He’s potentially serving something considerably larger and more dangerous than even the Hollow Choir’s original ideology."

"Which means stopping Umbra Black might require more than simply defeating Vane personally," Sylvia said grimly. "We might be looking at severing whatever connection he established through that ritual six months before his disappearance."

"Is that even possible?" Ari asked.

"I don’t know," Sylvia admitted. "But we’ll need to find out, and quickly, before Umbra Black’s next attempt succeeds where the first one failed."

The Cardinal, who’d been quietly processing everything they’d uncovered, finally spoke again, voice heavy with old regret. "If Vane truly remains partially himself beneath whatever corruption has taken hold, there may be a chance to reach him. To offer some path back from whatever he’s become, rather than simply treating him as an irredeemable enemy."

"That seems like a considerable risk," Kael said carefully. "Assuming good faith from someone who’s already tried to have Ari killed once."

"I understand the risk," the Cardinal said. "I also understand that fifteen years ago, this man was among the most compassionate, principled leaders our Church had ever produced. Whatever he’s become, I find it difficult to believe that person is entirely gone."

Ari had been quiet through most of the exchange, staring at the ritual transcript with an expression Kael couldn’t quite read. "I want to consider reaching out to him directly," she said finally. "Not immediately, and not without significant precaution. But if there’s genuinely a version of Vane still capable of recognizing what he’s lost, I’d rather attempt reconciliation than simply escalate toward further violence."

"That’s considerably more forgiving than I’d manage in your position," Sylvia observed.

"Maybe," Ari said. "Or maybe I simply understand better than most how easily someone can lose themselves to expectations and pressures they never fully chose. I won’t excuse what he’s done. But I’d rather try understanding before I give up entirely on the possibility of ending this without more bloodshed."

Kael watched her, something quietly admiring settling in his chest at the depth of compassion she continued showing despite everything Umbra Black had put her through. "Whatever you decide, we’ll support it. Just promise me you won’t take unnecessary risks pursuing that reconciliation."

"I promise," Ari said, though something in her expression suggested the coming days would test that promise considerably.

Later that evening, once the Cardinal and her attendants had retired and the sealed archive had been carefully returned to its protected storage, Kael found Ari alone on her chamber’s balcony, staring out at the darkened city with an unreadable expression.

"You’re thinking about him," Kael said, joining her at the railing. "Vane. The version you remember, not the one who ordered your assassination."

"Is that foolish of me?"

"No," Kael said honestly. "I think it means you’re still capable of holding complexity, of seeing someone as more than just the worst thing they’ve done. That’s not foolish. It’s rare, actually."

Ari leaned against the railing, exhaustion evident in every line of her posture. "I keep wondering what I would have become, if the Church hadn’t claimed me for ceremonial duty. If Vane had continued teaching me, guiding me, before whatever changed him took hold."

"You’d probably still be exactly who you are now," Kael said. "Underneath the mask, at least. Curious, sharp, considerably more compassionate than anyone gives you credit for."

She looked at him, something soft and grateful in her expression. "You have a talent for saying exactly what I need to hear, Kael LongHeart."

"I try."

They stood together a while longer at the railing, the city’s distant lights flickering below like scattered stars fallen to earth. Ari’s earlier exhaustion seemed to ease, just slightly, in the quiet companionship of the moment.

"Can I ask you something?" she said eventually.

"Anything."

"Do you ever worry that the people you’re protecting might not deserve saving? That whatever good you’re fighting for might already be too compromised, too corrupted by the choices of people like Vane, to be worth the cost?"

Kael considered the question seriously, recognizing the weight behind it. "I think good and bad rarely stay in separate categories, especially with people. Vane clearly did terrible things. But you’re not him, and neither is the Church you actually believe in, whatever compromises exist within its higher ranks. I don’t fight for perfect causes. I fight for people I think are worth fighting for, imperfections included."

"That’s a generous philosophy."

"It’s the only one that’s ever made sense to me. Perfect causes don’t exist. People worth protecting do."

Ari studied him for a long moment, something unreadable and warm passing behind her tired eyes. "I’m glad the system’s mistake sent you here, Kael. Whatever else happens with Vane, with Umbra Black, I’m glad you’re the one standing beside me through it."

"Me too," Kael said, and meant it entirely.

—

End of Chapter—