The Fourth Secret: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Divine Apostasy Book 4) by A. Kay (best short books to read .TXT) 📕

the Energy dependance, but even that had more information, detailing the ultimate danger of the item. The name and description were completely different, and it appeared as if the band was some sort of reward.

Ruwen’s Void Band had many more restrictions than this Dark Portal: Worker Class, a natural fifteen Intelligence, and most critically it was soulbound. His heart thudded against his ribs and he forced his breathing to remain even.

The Dark Portal didn’t have a soulbound requirement.

Pushing on the cold dead hand of the Stone Carver, Ruwen ran his finger along the edge of the Dark Portal. After a moment, the top popped loose, and he peeled the Dark Portal from the Mage’s hand.

Chapter 61

Ruwen placed the Dark Portal on his glove.

Rami, do you think this is safe to put on? Ruwen asked.

Probably, Rami said, her voice a little funny.

Is something wrong?

Kind of.

Ruwen focused his complete attention on Rami. What is it?

I might have done something irresponsible. You must be wearing off on me.

I’ll ignore that last sentence since you’re obviously so distraught you aren’t thinking straight.

The cool mist of Rami’s laughter filled Ruwen’s mind.

Even if it was ill advised, I know you would’ve thought it through, Ruwen said. Why don’t you tell me about it.

I used my Mind’s Eye ability on that Stone Carver, Rami said in a rush.

Rami had received Mind’s Eye as part of her Codex of Perception evolution. It allowed her to see the memories of a target if they were within one hundred feet. Ruwen remembered the pain of the debuff Mental Whiplash he’d experienced when Rami had used Mind’s Eye on Blapy. It had taken both him and Rami thirty seconds to even function again. If that had happened again down in the cavern, they might not have survived.

I understand, Ruwen said. You must have calculated the risk.

I did, I did. She was two levels lower than us, but I still didn’t use it. Being a Mage, her Mental Resistance was probably high, and I didn’t want to chance it. Then when you cut off her arm she went into shock, and I calculated a near one hundred percent probability of success. So, I did it. I never even asked. I’m sorry.

Ruwen reached up and rubbed Rami’s head. You have nothing to be sorry for. I trust your judgement completely. Even if it had failed, it still would’ve been the right thing to do.

Rami hugged Ruwen, his chest turning so warm he thought he might take damage.

Did you see anything interesting? Ruwen asked.

It was the first time I’ve used it, so I mostly got her immediate thoughts. I need to practice.

Can you tell me what you saw?

I think I can show you. One second.

Ruwen’s stomach twisted, the wagon disappeared, and he entered the Stone Carver’s memory…

She kneeled on a stone floor, carved so smoothly, she longed to run her hand over it. She would have this kind of control one day, her power funneled into objects of beauty instead of tunnels of death. The Dust Ministers said Naktos had carved this temple himself, and she almost believed it.

The plain blue robe itched her skin, and she resisted the urge to scratch. She hated wearing the Priest clothing and wished for the comfort of her Mage robes, but they had insisted on humble Priest attire for the ceremony.

Nine other Chosen kneeled with her, although she was the youngest. Something her friends had told her to be proud of. A reward for her obsession and sacrifice. But she knew the clergy didn’t care about her art, only her control and power. They were sending her to the surface because of it. Sending her to war.

The Dust Ministers had nearly reached her on their journey down the line of Chosen. She studied the cavern’s ceiling through the temple’s diamond sheet roof, the distant lava tubes above their city so fine the entire ceiling glowed with red heat. Soon she would view a blue sky and clouds. She really wanted to see clouds.

Then three priests were in front of her.

The first began with a blessing, tapping her chest, mouth, and forehead with his fist. “Blessed be you, child of stone, who are unworthy of his grace.”

She responded, using a fist to touch her chest, mouth, and forehead. “Blessed am I, a child of stone, unworthy of his grace.”

The first priest stepped away, and an older one took his place. He frowned at the tattoos on her neck pouches but continued with the ceremony. “Of all his children, he has chosen you. Picked by the hand of god himself. Twice blessed are you child of stone to receive such honor. Naktos, exalt his name, all seeing, all knowing, has trusted you with his words. Will you, Valora, carry his message?”

“I will,” she responded, touching her chest, mouth, and forehead with her fist.

The old priest stepped away and the last Dust Minister appeared in front of her, a black box in his hands. “What do you offer?”

“My service,” she responded.

“What do you take?” the priest asked.

“His message.”

The priest nodded and opened the black box. With a jeweled tweezer, he removed a black strip.

She held out her left hand, palm upward.

The three Dust Ministers chanted quietly as the black strip was placed across her left palm, mirroring the one on her right. Already one of the blessed, she had been blessed again, an unbelievable honor.

The second Dark Portal sank into her skin and she clenched her hand, touching her fist to her chest, mouth, and forehead. “Blessed am I, a child of stone, unworthy of his grace.”

She would carry her god’s message to the surface. And then she would watch the clouds…

The Stone Carver’s memory faded and Ruwen came back to himself slowly. He felt nauseous and stared at the small black strip on his glove.

I almost feel guilty for taking this, Ruwen said to Rami.

I feel it too. I think it’s because our brains can’t tell the difference between our memories and the