The Broken Halo

The Biggest Kev remained silent for several seconds after Prince Varen’s question.

The white flame beside the door burned without changing colour, while the distant city remained visible through the long window behind them.

Eventually, Kev rested both gauntlets against his knees.

”I went to Pipeline Inn because Korran told me Blackmoon survived,” he said. ”I wanted to see the Archfiend who entered a Furnaceback Centipede and returned from it.”

Varen’s colourless eyes remained on him.

”And?”

”He was not what I expected.”

Kev briefly explained their conversation.

Blackmoon refused to repeat the statement he had already given Korran and Guard Commander Tarvak. He directed Kev toward either official if he wanted details concerning the centipede, his supposed rescue, or the sudden change in his heart rank.

That refusal alone had interested Kev.

Most Archfiends would have become cautious before a Half-Step Demon Lord. Blackmoon had dismissed his questions as though the difference between their ranks meant very little.

Kev then described the two artifacts Blackmoon claimed had helped him survive, the Abyssal Tortoise Shell Bead and an unnamed artifact said to have concealed his true heart rank.

”I had never heard of the bead,” Kev said. ”That was why I questioned him.”

”Did he explain it?”

”No.”

A faint amusement touched Varen’s face.

”That sounds consistent with everything written about him.”

Kev continued.

He told Varen about the ordinary-looking ring on Blackmoon’s finger and the black wraps covering his hands and arms. He explained how his Artifact Channels reacted to both items, how he had identified the ring as something that reduced energy consumption, and how the wraps contained a flame that was dangerous enough to unsettle every artifact connected to him and even his body.

Varen’s expression grew more attentive.

”You discovered that from observation alone?” He said with a tinge of surprise and awe in his tone.

He always knew that Kev was immensely talented when it came to artifacts, but the large demon always found a way to surprise him with his talent.

”The ring was easier. The wraps were not.”

Kev’s voice lowered slightly.

”I could not understand their structure or the bond connecting them to Blackmoon. Whatever created them used principles beyond my knowledge.”

That statement carried more weight than Kev appeared to realise.

Varen knew the Armor King had studied relics from ruined kingdoms, repaired artifacts damaged by Demon Lords and even a few Demon Kings, and examined several treasures inside the royal treasury itself. Very few objects could make him openly admit his ignorance.

”What happened next?” Varen asked.

”I offered Blackmoon an artifact from my treasury in return for permission to study them.”

”What grade?”

”Calamity.”

Varen raised one brow.

”And he refused?”

”Immediately.”

Kev told him that Blackmoon had shown no greed or desire when offered the opportunity to select a Calamity-grade artifact. Even after learning Kev possessed several weapons, shields, and suits of armour at that grade, he remained uninterested.

Instead, Blackmoon asked what else Kev could offer.

”He wanted a favour,” Kev said.

Varen’s eyes narrowed.

The change was small, but Kev noticed it.

”One favour to be fulfilled when he chooses,” Varen said. ”And you accepted without knowing what he intends to request?”

”I set limits.”

Kev’s tone became firm.

”I will not knowingly act against the survival of the Darkness Kingdom. I will not help Black Banner destroy Velmora or the kingdom, reveal military secrets, surrender any bonded artifact, or accept a task that guarantees my death.”

He paused.

”The favour must also be one defined task. Not service disguised as a request.”

Varen’s expression eased slightly, but he still had a solemn expression.

”What if he asks you to support Black Banner with his favour?”

Kev shook his head.

”I may refuse anything that directly and knowingly supports their cause. Blackmoon argued that I cannot refuse merely because a rebel benefits indirectly or happens to be present.”

Varen considered the wording.

”He negotiated carefully.”

”Yes.”

The Seventh Prince shook his head.

”Too carefully for a favour he claims not to have decided upon yet.”

Kev gave a quiet grunt.

”He said he knows what he might need.”

A brief silence followed.

Then Kev added, ”He also insisted that I complete the favour before studying the ring.”

This time, Varen laughed softly.

”Of course he did.”

”He argued that I could take what I wanted and refuse to honour the deal afterward.”

”And if he refuses after receiving your favour?”

”I can find him and force him to go out our agreement .”

Varen’s smile widened.

”He used your own strength as his guarantee.”

”Yes.”

”I see why Korran finds him irritating.”

Kev did not respond to that.

”The agreement only covers the ring,” he continued. ”The Miser’s Ring. The black wraps are excluded.”

Varen’s gaze shifted slightly.

’The Miser’s Ring...’

The name stirred something faint in his memory but no matter how much he tried to recall what it was, he couldn’t.

’Why does the Miser’s Ring sound familiar?’

Varen stored the question away.

”What do you think of Blackmoon?” he asked.

Kev leaned back, causing the reinforced chair to creak beneath him.

”He is dangerous for a young Archfiend.”

Varen tapped his armrest.

”Because your instincts warned you?”

”My instincts and my artifacts.”

Kev looked toward the sealed reports on the nearby table.

”He is also secretive, confident, and difficult to pressure. He watches everything. Even when I asked questions about the artifacts, it felt as though he was studying what my interest revealed about me.”

Varen slowly nodded.

”A calculating demon.”

”Yes.”

”And cautious enough to value an undefined favour above a Calamity-grade artifact.”

Varen’s fingers moved against the armrest for the second time.

Most Archfiends would have accepted Kev’s first offer before considering whether the artifact suited them. Blackmoon had ignored immediate wealth for an advantage whose value could grow with circumstance.

That was not the decision of a simple fighter.

It was the decision of someone accustomed to planning beyond the present moment.

”I want to meet him,” Varen said.

Kev’s helmet tilted.

”I understand that he’s dangerous, but why does everyone keep focusing on Blackmoon?”

Varen chuckled.

”I am not surprised you do not understand. You spend so much time looking at artifacts that you occasionally forget the demons carrying them matter too.”

”The artifacts are usually more interesting.”

”I know.”

Varen gestured lazily toward him.

”Do not worry. I will do my best to ensure you eventually study the Miser’s Ring if he’s found guilty and arrested. I know that is what truly concerns you, not Blackmoon himself.”

Kev neither confirmed nor denied it.

He did not need to.

Both of them knew Varen was correct.

The Prince’s amusement gradually faded.

”However, the artifacts are not the primary reason I want to meet Blackmoon.”

Kev’s dull-yellow eyes narrowed behind the Blood Jaguar helmet.

”Then what is?”

Varen looked toward the reports his subordinates had delivered.

”The Demon Lord Blackmoon claims he encountered beneath the cracked lands.”