Azel begun the long walk to Colwyn's house with a spring in his step. He was feeling especially happy after watching Gryphon go red with anger. Although, the zombie did think it was quite a bit sad how desperate the old man got over some herbs, even if they were rare.
Azel was naturally curious but choose not to say anything. After all, he wasn't there too make friends, he was simply exploiting everyone around him.
During his time since meeting Rio, Azel had decided to take advantage of his extremely impressionable ego and model his personality into the ideal state.
Firstly, the "new Azel" would put his life above everything and everyone. Secondly, Azel would put his current goal above everything but his life. Thirdly, Azel will only ever look at social interactions as a way to profit.
If a regular person was to look at this new set of mantras they would probably assume Azel to be an egotistical, greedy and selfish person. This was, of course, exactly what Azel was going for.
Life above all. Goals above all but life. Profit above all kindness.
By the time Colwyn's well-kept home came into view, Azel's mood had levelled out, his earlier amusement replaced by a steely clarity.
Colwyn had probably already sensed his presence, but for one reason or another he only answered the door after Azel had knocked. The knight was as usual dressed in a full set of intricately made armour, but he wore a different helmet that usual. It was slightly gaudier than the previous...
"Your helmet looks nice, did you go out on a date?" Questioned Azel, his voice dripping with mocking sarcasm.
"...Has that cynical shopkeeper rubbed off on you?" Responded Colwyn dryly, as he stepped back into his home, gesturing for Azel to follow. "I imagine you've already stopped by at Gryphon's, then?"
Closing the door behind him, Azel's eyes begun quickly adapting to the darkness. For some reason Colwyn never had any curtains open or candles lit, combined with never letting any skin see the light of day, Azel had reason to suspect he was a vampire.
"Yeah, he was even kind enough to offer me lessons on magic," Said Azel, his jolly mood perking back up upon remembering his successful deal with Gryphon.
"There's a reason knights never learn magic and mages never learn sword play, you haven't got all the time in the world, Azel. So don't spread over into too many discipl-" He stopped mid tangent, realising that Azel did actually have all the time in the world, as a result of his undead immortality.
Taking a seat in the only other chair that stood in Colwyn's living room, Azel shifted around uncomfortably before finally resting. He had long expected this talk, and was more than energetic to finally learn the situation with Rio.
"I made an outburst about Rio pressuring my new initiate, so all of the other templars are watching her like hawks." Started Colwyn, "But don't get your hopes up, something like that won't stop her from investigating you,"
Azel nodded in thought before asking, "Do you know any of the other templars personally? It would be good to have an ally with more influence than you,"
Colwyn leaned back and sighed, seemingly remembering a bad memory, "I tried reaching out to something of a mentor, but he wasn't too helpful. Rio had done too good of a job establishing herself as a competent genius, people will be at most suspicious of her... But never outright hostile."
"What about Lyra?" Poked Azel, "Is she completely out the picture now?"
He was slightly curious about the fate of the girl. Colwyn had said he wouldn't kill her because it would look suspicious, but Rio was already onto them, so any loose ends should be snipped off. Even if Azel had to go behind the Drake Knights back... He'd kill her.
"She has already been withdrawn by Rio and assigned to a different knight," Said Colwyn, "The problem is that by pretending I was unaware, I could use Lyra to manage what information actually reached Rio. Now, she'll find new ways of keeping tabs on me, ways I can't interfere with."
It was now Azel's turn to sigh. Things seemed really bad for the two of them, it was practically impossible for the duo to secretly eliminate Rio when she herself not only knew they would be coming, but had more resources under her control.
"Why are you so desperate to kill Rio anyway," Said Azel with a tired expression on his face, "According to everyone else she's done a lot of good for the Sunchaser's, even if she is morally dubious about it."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly felt a lot heavier as Azel asked the question. looking back at Colwyn, the zombie saw him frozen in place, like he hadn't heard the question at all.
After a moment Colwyn finally spoke, "She needs to die."
That was all he said on the matter, and Azel didn't feel like pushing any further considering the current mood. Sighing again, Azel internally complained about how annoying all this emotion nonsense was. Life would be so much easier if everyone was as apathetic as him.
"Fine then, what are we doing next." Said Azel, "Surely you don't just want to wait this out."
"Of course not," Said Colwyn, "First we need you to become a squire, an initiate is just an unofficial member of the Sunchaser's so it'll be difficult to properly get you protection the way you are now."
"Great," Responded Azel, "How exactly do I do that?"
He was rather excited to officially join the Sunchaser's. After all, Azel had seen the way pedestrians of the city looked at them with respect and awe, he could get used to the discounts from stores.
And then, of course, with the access to gate ways reaching the southern monks would become so much easier. After Azel had learned their techniques he was looking forward to dumping Colwyn and the Sunchaser's.
"Nothing too difficult. I've already made sure that you'll be able to pass the physical exam." Said Colwyn. Azel nodded remembering their frequent "spars".
"And as long as you can read the basic language you'll have no problems passing the literacy exam," Continued Colwyn, "The only problem is the psychological evaluation..."
Azel frowned, "I've gotten very good at faking sympathy now if that's what you're worried about,"
Colwyn shook his head in deep thought. "No you haven't,"