They were so different from the kind folk Id co to know and love. It was simple duality, the sa as us. There were good humans, and bad. But Maya had never seen them at their worst.
I took a step forward.
Get back! Maya shouted, summoning violet mana in her hand, cutting a gash of demon-fire between us.
You awakened. It was possible. Our souls were intertwined, and while Id hoped that would give her light magic, she received my fire instead. I stared, stunned. Maya stared back, her face twisting in pain, before she buried her face in her hands.
Im a monster.
I tried to control her flas, to draw them into myself, but the effect was like trying to pull molasses through a straw. It wasnt going to happen.
Let through!
No.
Maya!
How could you ever love ! Maya shouted, voice warped with agony. Why would you say it? Why, Cairn? Why would you say that to ?
My heart broke when I realized the only vision that could have triggered this volatile of a reaction, and I cursed Infaris. Either as part of her trial, or as her boon, the Goddess had shown her the one thing I wanted to hide.
The sacking of Whitefall.
Talk to , Maya!
Her eyes were dead, whites flickering with violet reflections. The fire itself wouldnt hurt her. The smoke would. You begged. You begged for to stop. And I killed her.
You were under Thoths influence! I tried, waiting for a gap in the fire, looking for anyway through.
Infaris put in my own mind, that night. It was , Nilend. A version of myself that was angry, and vengeful, and full of spite, but it was just the sa. She began a laugh that was half-cackle, half-sob. Do you think I tornt children in all my lives? Is that just who I am?
There. I saw an opening in the fire and dove through it, landing hard on my shoulder. My back twinged with the effort, and I wobbled on my feet.
Im not leaving without you.
If youre playing , if you altered your thoughts sohow for so bigger ga, so grander manipulation, thatthat I understand. But why would you join our souls? Why tell you loved ?
I stepped toward her carefully, avoiding an overturned icon. Because I do.
No. No, no no Nilend please, just this once, be honest with .
I stood over her finally, struggling to breathe, and reached out a hand. Maya shied away.
Okay. I crouched in front of her as the fire grew around us. Ill be honest. Thats the the of this place, after all, isnt it? Truth? So, fine. The person that I t? The person who hurt my family? I waved a hand helplessly. Yes, you terrified . And when we first t in the Everwood, you saw that. It wasnt subtle. I hated you and I wanted revenge.
Maya looked down. I caught her chin and tilted her head up. She looked so lost. What Ive learned from my curse my gift is that theres no point in anything if we cant move forward. If we cant try to fix things for the better. Youre not a monster. We are what we choose to be, at any given mont. And we have to keep making that choice. And who you chose to be, who youre choosing to be, is beautiful. And thats the person I fell in love with, Nilend.
Is that really how you feel? Maya asked.
I leaned in to kiss her. There was a flood of emotion Id been holding back for so long, keeping in check. She t my lips with hers, and wrapped her arms round my neck, clinging to . The surrounding flas began to fade, the heat dissipating, until all that was left of the fire was char.
I know I made you a vow, Maya whispered into my neck, But I dont know if I can do what I promised. We can find another healer for your mother, I swear it. But it might be safer for everyone if I stayed in the sanctum and joined the elders.
Permanently? I blinked. Why?
Because I will doubt myself constantly. I will wonder if I am becoming the version of myself that wounded you so deeply. And we both know well enough that a mont of doubt on the battlefield can cost everything.
I shook my head, pressing my forehead to hers. Ill be there to keep you in check. This was always going to be hard. None of us were born to this The words died in my throat, tasting bitter and familiar.
Id said them before.
I used her love for to manipulate her into a life she never wanted.
You fear the loneliness, the solitude of responsibility.
You must give them a choice. A real choice.
A weariness ca over . I parted from her gently and nearly stumbled as I stood, and hacked out a painful cough. Everything in my mind scread for to stop, to push the words back, to ignore the parallels. But it was inescapable. I rubbed my face, my eyes still stinging with smoke.
Do you think thats best?
I do. I can aid the elders here, and any infernals exploring the sanctum in need of care. Mayas voice was small, almost inaudible.
I hated the idea. It seed like such a waste, like she was punishing herself by forcing herself to stay in the sanctum. But if I tried to push her out of it, it would inevitably push her back towards . Id talk to Nethtari and Kilvius, and perhaps they would be more successful. I wanted Maya to have a good life, even if it was disconnected from mine.
But that was not my choice to make.
I drew my sword, and placed the blade on her shoulder. Her eyes widened, but only for a mont. She trusted , after all. Then I spoke, in an over serious voice. On behalf of the Kingdom of Uskar, I, Prince Cairn, Son of Gil, absolve you of your vows, and consider any and all debtsreal or imaginedto be paid in full.
Maya blinked, then smiled. Always with the dramatics.
I wanted to reach out to her, to touch her. But I knew where that would lead. When this is over Maya, if you ever need anything, dont hesitate to send the ssenger. Ill be there.
Thank you, Nilend.
/////
We exited the trial much the sa way we ca in. There was a rush of light and images, and we found ourselves at the mouth of the tunnel the portal had been blocking. I looked to the others. They were all resolute. Jorra carried an air of focus and single-mindedness that felt almost alien coming from him. Neither Bell nor Maya t my eye. The forr worried , but now was not the ti.
Wordlessly, we began to move, in a stunned walk that slowly accelerated into a jog. It felt like marching towards death. The reality had begun to sink in from my vision that Thoth had stood toe to toe with the goddess, and the goddess had backed down. That was power. Power on a level I couldnt even imagine. Thoth had referred to in Infaris as a minor deity, but a God was a God.
My amulet burned, signaling Vogrins return.
I summoned him. Vogrin appeared, floating casually beside us as we moved, his mouth turned downward.
Im beginning to tire of being shunted out of important conversation. Vogrin said. When no one answered or replied, he studied us, then lowered his voice. I take it excursion did not go well?
Infaris. I said. The tunnel was tightening, the walls appearing to close in around us.
Oh. Oh. Not terribly surprising, as she is known to ddle with notable figures. But why she would interfere with you rather than your quarry is beyond . Still, you all survived.
Again, the observation was t with silence. Vogrin looked perturbed.
Whats wrong with them?
It doesnt matter, I said. Any idea where Ozra is?
No. Its terribly difficult keeping track of ti when you are remanded to an endless void. Im not sure how long its been, and the sanctum lacks any of the usual indicators I would use to divine that information.
Of course, it couldnt be that easy.
The tunnel opened up into a massive graveyard. I recognized the mausoleums, the worn and cracked stone. It was the sa location that Morthus had shown in his mories. The burial place of Infaris.
We finally made it.
The air here was dead. That was the only way I could think of describing it. Hostile as it tended to be, everywhere else in the sanctum was teeming with magic and life. This was the opposite. The others seed to sense it as well, and drew in tighter. The gravel mixed with dirt crunched under our feet as we made our way up the winding path.
My heart hamred. I expected her to be behind every corner, positioned behind every ruined structure, lying in wait. I told myself that made no sense, that Thoth had co here for a reason, that we were still wearing the rings, and that there was no reason she would know we were coming. It made no difference. Fear, cold and awful, seized .
I hand slipped into mine, and I almost jumped. Maya smiled up at , the expression strained, clearly anxious and embarrassed, but comforting just the sa.
It lasted only for a mont.
We reached the final structure. The ornate, Gothic stone building that served as the first infernals resting place. It had a weathered with age, but everything with the sa as it was in Morthuss vision.
Everything but the black gate itself. The massive, dark tal doors that Morthus had insisted so emphatically must remain shut, had been wrenched off their hinges and tossed to the side. It served as a final confirmation of what I already knew. Thoth was here. And we couldnt afford to wait anymore.
Do we have a plan? Jorra asked. His eyes never left the gaping darkness of the crypt entrance.
Wed taken stock. The boons wed received from in Infaris were invaluable. Jorra had received an aquamarine jewel that allowed him a much stronger, direct control of water. It also stored a vast quantity of water, equal to that of a small ocean, so even if he were in a situation like back in the desert, where even the air devoid of moisture, he would still be able to cast just as effectively.
Bell's sword, a beautiful curved silver blade with a golden hilt, gave her the ability to actively unravel even the most volatile spells.
Both infinitely useful. Neither the key piece we needed.
I had sothing, I shook my head, thinking of the glass bead that I used to summon the pri evil. But I had to use it in the trial.
If I can get close enough, maybe I can void out whatever it is shes casting. Bell said.
Its the getting close part thats going to be a problem, Maya replied.
Ive only seen her fight up close, I admitted, then thought about it. Actually, I think she prefers that. Ive never seen her engage at range. Shes incredibly fast, likes her knives, and enjoys causing pain. I saw her toy with a man three tis your size for quite so ti, then take him apart in seconds.
Okay. Bell shivered. Getting in close would be a mistake.
Voiding her is still a good idea, just from range, with one of your throwing weights. For the record, I said, looking at all of them, were only discussing this as a worst-case scenario. Direct confrontation might as well be a death sentence.
Vogrin rubbed his chin. The sadism may help us. She has ranged abilities. Thats not even a question. But I know the type. She wont fall back on them until she has to, and will want to devote a certain amount of ti to each of you before the bodies start dropping. However, that becos a moot point the mont she feels threatened.
Could we even manage that? The hopelessness burned like acid in my gut. There was a terrible ntal image of Thoth, killing my friends, one by one. Making watch. It was precisely the sort of thing she would do.
So, we get in there, find out what shes doing. I rubbed my hands together, my mouth tight. If it looks like sothing that can wait, we disengage, co back here. If the leyline is at risk, Ill use my boon to weaken her magic, we distract her, and run like hell.
Bell raised her hand. I volunteer as distraction. Im fast, and with the void state, I am almost invisible.
Bell, no. Jorra walked over to her and said sothing quietly.
Bell ignored him and shook her head. Im the best choice for that. It makes sense.
I sighed. Jorra, I get it, but Im with Bell on this. With that new gem, you can support her in a way she cant support you if you took her place.
For a mont, so of the old rebellious fire returned to Jorras face, but it faded just as quickly as it appeared. Okay.
Just as a quick reminder to each of you, Maya said, we are talking about fighting an arch mage. If you sustain any injury, no matter how minor it might appear, co to if you are able.
The light magician is correct. Vogrin agreed. Severity of damage is difficult to self-diagnose at the best of tis, and you will be fighting in the dark, against soone capable of doing far more complex and harmful things than a direct elental spell.
I kept searching, for sothing, for anything. Any strategy I mightve missed, any piece of information that in Infaris might have slipped . But there was nothing. We were up against it now.
I passed out portions of haste, regeneration, and iron lung.
Then, Vogrin went in to scout, and we followed behind him.
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