Chapter 24: Reaper Yana

Alvarana, the Angel Of Burial. Her followers work endlessly to return the undead to their sleep, or safely guide those entombed, so that their souls might find the afterlife. Followers of Alvarana find her domain to be peaceful until disturbed, at which point her reapers become the most quietly powerful of the Orders.

• Domains Of The Reapers by Anonymous

I quickly find an acolyte to guide us, and this time they lead us to a door on the upper levels of the building.

I knock softly.

”Who is it?” Brother Ivan’s soft voice echoes through

“Acolyte Leo, and Devout Reaper-“ I pause, having forgotten her name.

”Reaper Yana.” She answers.

A chair scoots against wooden ground, and the door is opened by a familiar wrinkled elder, his silver hair sitting loosely against his head. He looks up at both of us with tired eyes. “Reaper Yana, I thought you were heading back to speak with your order.”

“I was, but then I ran into explorer Leo, and got curious what sort of things he’d found that he’d bring them to you.”

Brother Ivan smiles, “Books I’m sure. Young Leo is quite the scholar. Ah, forgive me, come in, come in.” He steps aside, letting the two of us into his rather comfortable office.

Bookshelves line the wall, filled to the brim with books. On his desk is an ancient tome that he is copying by hand, the ancient ways of printing lost to us.

We follow him into the room as he makes his way to his desk. “You know, a young Leo almost joined the reapers, before he found the guiding light of Sehara.”

My eyes widen, and I give a small laugh, ”That was a long time ago, Brother Ivan.”

”Which order drew your gaze?” Reaper Yana looks at me. I spot the smallest hint of humor in her gaze as she notices my embarrassment.

“Angel Kiri.” I answer, shifting to look away from her.

”The Angel of Memory.” Reaper Yana muses, “Unusual, but a scholar and an explorer would be drawn to her.”

My reasons were a lot more personal than that. Kiri deals with the memories of those who were long gone. As an orphan, her kindness and understanding of loss drew me in, but that was before I found the love of exploration that Sehara gave me.

Reaper Yana walks over to an open chair, and sits down, “You mentioned having an item of particular interest to me. I’d love to see it.”

I hesitate for a second, then reach into my pocket and pull out the ring. Etched into it, is the faded symbol of a dagger.

Reaper Yana sits up straight, staring at the ring.

I describe what my identification says to the both of them. Reaper Yana stares with wide eyes.

“May I see it?” Brother Ivan asks in a reverent tone.

I hand the ring to him, and he nearly drops it as soon as he touches it.

“Does it…?” Reaper Yana asks.

“Yeah, it’s faint, but it still has Angel Masa’s Essence.” He hands it to Reaper Yana who holds it like it might break at the slightest movement. “You might be able to sense more.”

“Her energy is closed to me, but I know one of her reapers.” She closes her hand around the ring, and turns to me, bowing her head, “This means the world to us, thank you Delver Leo.”

“I’m glad to help the reapers. These might be of use to you as well. But I’m gifting them to the Brothers first. They can decide to gift these to you if they desire.”

Her eyebrow raises, but she doesn’t say anything.

I take my pack off, and place it on the floor, then pull out the shackles. I’d had five. Three of them were being sold to the De’Vereth. I pull out the last two, and hand them to Brother Ivan.

He looks at them for a moment, then hands them to Reaper Yana.

“What do they do?” Reaper Yana asks, but I can see the suspicion in her gaze.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She looks up at me, “You are full of surprises, it seems.”

“My delve was very successful.”

She leans forward, “We might be interested in buying more of your items.”

I shake my head, “I already have an exclusive contract with the De’Vereth for this delve.”

I swear that she smiles behind her mask, “That could be changed.”

My face freezes, and I very carefully shake my head again, “Please don’t.”

She leans back, “Very well. Brother Ivan?”

“They are yours, Devout Reaper.”

She bows to him over the shackles, “We are grateful for the temple’s gift. Might I borrow a bag?”

Brother Ivan nods, and reaches under his desk to pull out a small sack, which she carefully places the shackles into. The ring has disappeared into one of her pockets.

As she ties the bag closed, her eyes return to me with a questioning gaze, “What other secrets might you have, Delver?”

I reach down and pull several books out of my bag, then I place them onto Brother Ivan’s desk. “My favorite finds so far.”