Role

Chapter 2

Now Varkal was known as a Bloodoath of the Empire. He knewn nothing at all
about how the Empire worked, how the Sects were structured, what the role of
Oaths and Citizens. But quickly he began to understand that each being in the
Empire had its importance and its place. The pyramidal structure, headed by
the Emperor, who at the moment did not existed, followed by the Council of the
four sect leaders, and so on until the bloodoaths. For the first time, he
heard the twin words, Dominion and Obedience.

While Varkal worked hard, focused solely on learning the nuances of his guild,
he heard several times from other members of the empire, that the halls of
Black were voided. But some phrases marked him more. The Shadow Lord said, for
all my life, never seen a single soul within the halls. And from a Elite Blade,
if you know the stuff of your guild, a path of glory is before you. Other wise,
its only frustration and despair. Being honest, Varkal had no idea what the
"stuffs" of his guild were.

But, he remained focused on what he was doing: studying, learning, evolving.
Within the guild and in the teachings of his guildmaster, until he was
"promoted" to a black servant. Finally he was recognized as a Citizen, and the
feeling of having a place in the sect and being recognized as such, reminded
him of his childhood desires, to be accepted as he was, to have his place in a
structure that brought him security and he was grateful to be under the
dominion of the Empire.

Back to the Black Halls, right at the entrance, looming is the statue of a
former Immortal of the Black, the giant Zulghinlour, who was once a dark knight
as well. Inside, the floor had been covered with a thick layer of rich earth
with a circle of chairs set towards the center. He was alone, and silence
reigned. Varkal chosed a chair and sat down, unpretentiously smiled and said:
"And now, what shall we do?"

For his surprise, someone or something spoke back. In that moment, he
understood what few in the Empire knew. The Black Halls, are never empty.