Bonded Summoner

The Great Temple of Firewake was almost unrecognizable from the fortress of elitist zealots it had been before Clan Hart’s arrival.

Walking through the sprawling, obsidian-pillared corridors with Jake and his wives–Avalara coming as a lesser Avatar for convenience–as they looked out over the branching courtyards. They were absolutely packed. The previous regime had mandated that only those with ‘true purity’ of the fire bloodline could enter the inner rings to worship. Now, the gates were thrown wide open.

While the temple still segregated resources to nurture the highly talented within the Core Sanctum, the courtyards were filled with mundane merchants, soot-stained craftsmen, and off-duty guards. All of them bathed in the ambient, comforting warmth of Sati’s…the moon’s radiant flame.

Waiting for them at the entrance to the inner sanctum was the temple’s triumvirate of leadership: Elder Rashik, the wizened, fire-skinned goblin; Tatiana, a fire sylph whose brilliant, fiery butterfly wings fluttered excitedly behind her petite elven frame; and Ur'Rena, the towering, muscled fire troll who bowed her head in deep reverence.

Jake couldn’t help but be a little shocked at how much the three had changed. First, they were all taller, with longer limbs, and their auras were far denser to match. Then, instead of the crude tattoos on their skin, the fiery energy flowed brightly and harmoniously through their mana channels throughout their entire body, and it was dense enough for most people to see through their skin.

“Moon Goddess,” Ur'Rena rumbled, offering a woven basket of burning, highly aromatic spices. “The courtyards sing your praises. The hearths burn bright.”

Sati didn't blush or wave them off in false modesty. She sat perfectly poised, her aura flaring with disciplined warmth. She accepted the basket, locked eyes with Jake for a brief moment, and softly spoke, “Svaha.” It was an ancient offering of surrender to the divine flame, matching the name of the Hindu goddess. Sati wouldn't be hoarding the native faith. She would instead offer the devotion directly into their shared bond later.

Jake smiled and shook Rashik’s hand. “Elder Rashik–you’re looking good, my friend. Your worship and The Framework have been kind to your body and spirit, I see.”

There was no way that this growth was entirely through worship, no matter how good Yogini Norisa’s texts were. It had been less than a year, after all, and gaining ten levels by sitting in a temple, even early in the Tier, was just not something that happened. Jake already learned that the three had been involved in quite a bit of the Rift farming at their goddess’s–Sati’s command.