Jacob: … what?

Sathariel: Think about it, you’ll sink your sword in living prey while your brother will continue to beat up worn out dummies. I’ll pay you handsomely and, when I pass away, I’ll guarantee that, while your brother rules under the light, you’ll be the king under the shadows.

Jacob turns back to face Sathariel, showing a trail of dried tears from his eyes.

Sathariel: As a test, you’ll receive 100 shekels if you depart from here tomorrow morning and arrive to Litholeukos in 6 days unnoticed. Latest intelligence says that a ninja from Izanami, whose codename is Shiroi Kiba, has climbed the Gihon River all the way to Litholeukos to spy on us. 250 shekels will be yours if you bring new intelligence and 7500 if you bring me his head.

Jacob: I’m not interested.

Sathariel: You’re a poor liar. I’ll hand over the money ten days from today by the dusk in Litholeukos, with or without you.

Sathariel turns his back and leaves the changing room. Jacob turns to the water and stares at his reflection on the water.


The Doors of Litholeukos, Land of Prometheus
Twentieth Second Day of Taurus, 15 years before the Fall



Standing between the river port and the mount where Litholeukos is located, the Doors are four archways made of quartz drawing a star pattern where three roads meet, being the shortest the road from city to the port and the longest the Fifth Royal Road, which travels from Sitra Achra to Roi. In the middle of the crossroads, a single maple tree stands tall, with its orange leafs dancing with the passage of a gentle breeze. From the western archways, a caravan of six carefully treading behemoths comes, for they are giant beats resembling wooly hippopotamus that measure 40 meters from their muzzles to their hips and 25 meters from their shoulders to their feet. On top of them, white tents are built, each with at least 4 people in them.

As the first behemoth passes by the maple tree to walk towards the city, lightning strikes in front of it, startling it and the remaining beasts*. Running rampantly, the behemoth make some Daemon almost fall off their tents until Sathariel exits his tent and whispers some words, making the behemoth calm down and stay put. ** Isaac leaves the same tent.

*Asiyah’s Word of Lightning: Thunderbolt
** Yetzirah’s Word of Dominance: Soothing Whisper

Isaac: What happened, melech?

Sathariel: Someone is trying to send a message.

The White City of Litholeukos, famous for its buildings made of calcite and quartz, grows upon a mount in the southeastern extreme of the Eden Mountains and is composed of seven levels, separated from each other in height by 40 meters, and ten districts connected to each other by a shaft found inside the mount. At ground height and the outermost, Malkuth is both the first level and district, containing the stables, warehouses and barns. Yesod is both the second level and district and from it the fumes of industry rise up to form mist that covers the third level which contains the districts of Hod, where the scum scam the poor, and Netzach, were produce and fish vendors, butchers, smiths, carpenters and other small shops make business. Tipheret, fourth level and fifth district, is entirely composed by the Temple of Daleth, the Malakeben of Prayer. The fifth level is composed by the districts of Geburah, where the Tribunal of Litholeukos is set, and Hesed, home of the middle class. The sixth level is composed by the districts of Binah, where the nobles attend the finest tailors, jewelers, restaurants and artisans, and Chokhmah, where the Academy of Magic is set on. Finally, Keter houses the Royal Palace, crowning over the mount.

A platoon of 50 soldiers, wearing white-coloured leather armor with a cowl and mouthpiece making the eyes and horns the only visible parts of the soldiers, comes from the city, in a hurry to assure everyone from the caravan is unharmed. Between the worried calls, rope ladders are cast from the tents and many Daemon descend from them. The soldiers quickly surround Sathariel and his servants, and a captain, distinguishable by a silver stripe on the borders of the cowl, approaches the emperor.

Captain: We apologize for the incident, melech.

Sathariel: I guess Shiroi Kiba still wasn’t captured, right?

Captain: Melech, it’s a city of almost 4 million habitants and we’re trying to avoid alarming the populace. And, has far as I know, this was the first time he did anything.

Sathariel: Do you have at least any idea from where he could’ve cast that spell?

Captain: Melech, the Doors are visible from the northern side of all levels except the third due to the smoke of the factories.

Sathariel: He’s there. Add fog to the grimiest district and you get the perfect habitat for spies. Do a research on the spots o the third level where the Doors can be seen and, if they require access to a private building, please interrogate the people who live there. But only ask if they saw anyone new.

Captain: Yes, melech. What are your orders in the eventuality of us finding him or his location?

Sathariel: Don’t worry, I have someone on the job.