Chapter 249: Blue Flame
Ghostheart was amongst the latest urban legends to find life in Norneau’s busy scene.
Buoyed by those who claimed freedom thanks to his activities, and the influx of beastfolk from the west, hungry to learn more about a city that managed to fend off Maledict, the Duke of Heresy’s siege, the story spread like wildfire.
Some wanted to fight the mysterious demon, believing that he had stolen much of the Syndicate’s former wealth in the city. Others claimed he delivered warnings to those wished to own slaves. And still, others claimed that he could be summoned, with the humble use of magic to create a blue flame, and that those seeking emancipation for someone in the city would be met, while those seeking a fight would find one, and lose.
It was a blue flame rumor that Kir was investigating tonight.
Since his second strike against the Syndicate, Ghostheart had become the most hunted being in the city. Not just because of his activities, but because of what he’d inspired. Slaveowners dispossessed themselves of their slaves after he started targeting the locals. Those who didn’t started to be targeted by locals who believed in abolition.
Lumin’s influence meant the city was acted to purchase the contracts and immediately release the slaves, even hiring them for construction and sponsoring them into businesses to replace those lost by fleeing citizens during the siege.
But one of the entities Norneau had purchased from was the Syndicate, just before Kir’s second strike that killed all but the leader of the Syndicate office. It was an attack that left the man fundamentally unable to retrieve the gold he’d been paid, since Ghostheart’s frequent "appearances" at the harbor meant no Captain would carry it. Those foolish enough to try had been identified to Kir, who had paid each a... discouraging visit.
Tonight, it was a middle-aged houndkin woman who was carrying a lamp that emitted a bright blue flame. Watching her for a time, Kir saw she was walking in a circle from the docks to the main street.
Manasight told him that she was only channeling enough power to keep the flame alight. With a city as active as Norneau, it was just another light amongst many, but more than a few patrons of bars and night walkers noted her passing with looks of curiosity or disdain.
For a months-old urban legend, this Ghostheart thing has wings.
"You’re telling me," Kiryu replied to the thought without prompting.