Aidan Harker had been following the Hero for some time now, and had been regularly reporting his progress back to his benefactors. Aidan had no idea how they would respond to this latest bit of news, but he could imagine their fear slowly building. The Hero had been a big enough threat to them when he was a mortal, but now that he seemed to have become an omnipotent being he was going to be more of a problem than ever before. Aidan finished writing in his latest entry before sneaking through the massive Bronze Gate.
On the other side he stood in awe of the maelstrom that stretched before him. There was nothing but molten lava and rock as far as the eye could see. He took a few cautious steps forward, his hand hovering readily over his sword. He had just reached the center of an arena-like rock formation when he heard a sound behind him. He whirled around just in time to see three Summoners materializing. He drew his sword, but the Summoners didn't attack. From behind him again, he heard the telltale whine of a teleportation beam. He turned away from the Summoners and the massive Bronze Gate. He found himself gazing at the most striking woman he had ever seen.
"Your latest report, agent Harker," said his benefactors' messenger icily. Aidan gulped, as he had never been contacted so openly before, and not ever by such an imposing-looking messenger. Her hair was as bright as firelight; an effect he assumed was achieved through some form of cosmetic enchantment. Her armor glistened in the light of the maelstrom, and Harker could make out a rather lethal-looking dagger sheathed in a scabbard. Harker of course noticed that this messenger was quite attractive, with features that somehow managed to be striking yet soft. Aidan imagined that she could be either depending on the situation.
"Your report, agent," she said again, and her face took on a menacing glare that told Harker that he had better hurry this along.
"Ah…uhh, yes…of course," he stuttered, fumbling through his haversack in search of his journal. He could sense the messengers impatience, but finally found the tattered, leather bound tome before any harm could come to him. He smiled as he handed the book to her. "Here's everything from the past two years. Why you people wait so long to gather this information I'll never know. You could have prevented the death of Jack of Blades twice now, but you kept delaying. Wasn't he one of your own?" The messenger glared at him again.
"I suggest you stay out of matters that don't concern you. Only those at the rank of Overseer or above care allowed information as to the composition of our governing body. What is your rank again?" Harker lowered his head before muttering, "Prefect, Underclass." "That's right," she sneered, "and as a Prefect, Underclass, you have directly above you a Talon, Mid Class, a Prefect, Overclass, above him and above all of you there is an Overseer. There are ten Overseer's that compose the governing body of the Order of the Virtuous Blade."
"I don't need a lesson in the class system from you," Harker spat angrily, having had enough of this woman's condescension. "You have my report, in which you will find that I no longer have a Hero to follow, so therefore I release myself from this contract and bid you a good day." He was about to turn and leave when he saw the look of awe and confusion on the woman's face.
"You mean to tell me that the Hero is…dead?" Aidan sighed. "Read my report. It's all in there." He turned to leave but the Summoner's moved to block his way out. "Just a moment Harker. Depending on what this report says, we may still have a need for you in our organization. Come, we have much to discuss." Before Harker could protest, he felt the familiar tingle of a teleporter overtake him. Where he was going, he hadn't the slightest idea.