The Dark Ascendant

Author Note:

Hello, dear readers! Due to some mishap, I had to rewrite certain parts of the story from the starting point. The changes are meant to improve the flow and pacing while keeping the core elements intact. Thank you for your patience and continued support. I hope you enjoy the revised chapters and the journey ahead!

The heavy oak doors of the chapel creaked as Raj pushed them open. Sunlight spilled into the dim hall behind him, momentarily blinding him as he stepped outside. The cool breeze carried with it the faint chatter of townsfolk still gathered nearby.

Dorian leaned casually against a low stone wall, his arms crossed and his eyes scanning the crowd. When he saw Raj, he straightened up, a grin spreading across his face.

"There he is!" Dorian called out, pushing off the wall and striding toward him. "So? How'd it go in there? Did the gods smile on you, or are you stuck with something boring like everyone else?"

Raj raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Three affinities."

Dorian froze mid-step, his eyes narrowing as if he hadn't heard correctly. "Three? You're joking."

"I'm not," Raj replied, his tone calm but firm.

Dorian let out a low whistle, his hand ruffling his messy blond hair. "Three affinities. Damn. And here I thought you might get lucky with two. What did you get? Let me guess…" He paused, tapping his chin dramatically. "Warrior has to be one of them. You've got that air about you—silent and brooding, like someone who's already imagining his next fight."

Raj inclined his head slightly. "Correct."

Dorian grinned. "Alright, next… Scholar? You've got the brains for it, and you seem the type to dig through dusty old books."

Raj's expression didn't change, but his silence confirmed the guess.

Dorian's grin widened. "Knew it! Now, the last one's tricky. You don't exactly scream Archer or Mage. Rogue, maybe? Sneaky, quick on your feet—yeah, I'll bet it's Rogue."

Raj gave a slight nod. "You're sharper than you look."

Dorian laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "See? I knew you had potential! Three affinities, though… That's rare. Really rare. The Twelve Paths don't hand out blessings like that lightly. You must've done something in a past life to deserve it."

"Or maybe they're testing me," Raj said quietly, his gaze drifting toward the horizon.

Dorian tilted his head, studying him. "Testing you, huh? Well, that's one way to look at it. Me? I'd call it an opportunity. Three paths mean three chances to be great. But you've got to pick one to focus on, don't you? You can't walk them all."

Raj nodded slowly, his mind already churning through the possibilities. "True. Each path offers something different. Strength, knowledge, freedom…"

"Let me guess," Dorian interrupted, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You're leaning toward Scholar. Am I right?"

Raj didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced at the townsfolk milling about the chapel courtyard. Many of them looked hopeful, their faces filled with the excitement of new beginnings. Others looked uncertain, weighed down by the burden of choosing their path.

"I haven't decided yet," Raj said finally. "But Scholar… it's an intriguing path. There's power in knowledge, in understanding the things others overlook."

Dorian chuckled. "Yeah, that sounds like you. Always thinking ten steps ahead. But don't underestimate Warrior or Rogue. A strong sword arm or a quick wit can get you out of plenty of trouble."

Raj's lips twitched into a faint smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

The two began walking down the dirt road leading back toward the town square. The crowd around the chapel slowly thinned as more people completed their ceremonies and headed home.

"So," Dorian said after a moment, "what's next for you? You've got your affinities. Are you going to stick around Ravendale, or do you have bigger plans?"

Raj glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "I'm still figuring that out. But this town has been… interesting. I might stay a while longer, see what else it has to offer."

Dorian raised an eyebrow. "Interesting, huh? Well, if you're planning to stick around, you'd better find a way to make yourself useful. Ravendale's not the kind of place where you can coast by without pulling your weight."

"I'll manage," Raj said, his tone confident.

Dorian grinned. "I don't doubt that for a second. But seriously, Raj, three affinities? You've got a lot of potential. Just don't let it go to your head, alright? Power's only as good as the person using it."

Raj gave him a sidelong glance. "I'll keep that in mind."

As they approached the edge of the town square, the sounds of daily life grew louder—merchants calling out their wares, children laughing as they ran through the streets, the clink of a blacksmith's hammer in the distance.

Dorian paused, turning to face Raj. "Hey, listen. If you ever need someone to watch your back—or just someone to drink with—you know where to find me."

Raj's expression softened slightly, and he extended a hand. "Thanks, Dorian. I'll remember that."

Dorian clasped his hand firmly, a genuine smile on his face. "Anytime, friend. Now, let's get something to eat. I'm starving after standing around all morning."

Raj nodded, and the two of them made their way toward a nearby tavern. As they walked, Raj couldn't help but feel a faint sense of satisfaction. He had taken his first step on this new path, and though the road ahead was uncertain, he knew he wasn't walking it alone.