by Andrew Rowe
We’d speculated about that possibility, but I still was pained to hear it. Not that I was going to take Warren at face value, of course. I knew he’d had a falling out with Farren and could be unfairly biased. He was also clearly suffering from some kind of cognitive issue…
…a type that, unfortunately, seemed entirely too familiar.
I didn’t ask if he’d been overusing his mental mana, but I didn’t have to. Either he was suffering from the same illness I’d feared every time I’d used my own attunement mark or something remarkably similar to it.
Strangely, I didn’t see an attunement mark on his forehead. Hidden, then? Or was he simply drawing from his mind without having an attunement in that spot?
I had many, many questions, but Sera got to one first.
“What is this place? Some sort of…artificial spire?”
Warren smiled at Sera. “All spires are artificial in a certain sense, Miss Cadence. All attunements are, as well. They’re all manufactured products, simply made with different hands.”
“May I ask the purpose of this place, then?” Sera tilted her head to the side in curiosity. “Are you intending to provide an alternate source of attunements, without the requirement to go through the goddess trials?”
“My, my. You’re a quick one. That was, at one point, my principal goal.” Warren smiled sadly. “For the moment, however, this place has other purposes. More on that in time, perhaps, but I have precious few minutes to speak to you before…I will be less able to do so.”
Sera frowned, but simply said, “Of course.”
“Let’s get to business, then, shall we?” Warren gave me a sad smile. “Another Arbiter. It’s been years since I’ve seen one…and an Enchanter as well. Were I capable, I would offer to make you my apprentice. In better times, I believe I could have taught you a great deal.”
My heart sank. “You can’t teach me, then?”
“Not much, I’m afraid. I…have difficulty focusing these days. I could perhaps teach you a smattering of things. Useful things, that might help you avoid the same fate that…” He sighed. “Sorry, I’m sorry. I need to focus.”
Len rested a hand on his arm. “It’s okay, Warren. Tell them what you need.”
“Safe,” he murmured. “I need to be safe. We need to be safe. Can…can you start?”
“Of course.” Len patted his arm, then turned to me. “This place has significant magical defenses in place. They are failing.”
“Failing?” I asked.
Warren turned to Len, then back to me. “You…you are familiar with the temples and shrines in the Unclaimed Lands, yes?”
I nodded. “Sure. We stopped at one of the sword shrines on the way here.”
Warren’s nose twitched in disdain. “Ah, ‘sword shrines’. Another instance of Selys’ propaganda. Those shrines long predate her coming to these lands, you know.”
“I’m aware, but it seems the most notable thing they’re used for at present.”
His shoulders slumped. “For those fool sword-seekers, certainly. For some of us, those shrines are…more.”
“The crystals?”
“Yes, yes. The crystals. Those…beautiful crystals.” He sighed deeply, seeming to lose his focus.
Len picked up the conversation for him. “There are dozens of crystal shrines in the Unclaimed Lands. The elemental temples are the greatest of them, but each of these shrines holds tremendous value. Every single crystal has vast abilities at their command. And, until recently, one of them was Warren’s primary power source.”
“His primary power source? He was using a crystal to, what, give himself access to different types of magic?” I raised an eyebrow at that.
“In a manner of speaking.” Warren responded, not looking in my direction. “I wasn’t the only one using it, of course, but it was a valuable resource to me — until some adventurers,” he spat that word, “decided to take an interest in the region.”
I had a feeling I knew some of those adventurers — Lars and Keras may very well have been among the members of the expedition that had ruined whatever Warren’s plans were. I certainly wasn’t going to say anything about that, though. “And you want me to…what, convince the crystal to work with you again?”
His face drifted upward, toward the floors above us. “Oh, it’s far too late for that. And more complicated. That crystal is no longer useful. For the moment, what I need is an alternate power source for a powerful artifact in my possession.”
I frowned. “And you want me to secure a crystal for that purpose?”
“I…no. Well, yes, but…no.” He winced, shaking his head as if wet.
Len chimed in again. “Moving one of the shrine’s crystals or subverting its power to another locale would be a colossal task, even for Warren. This is much simpler. A temporary measure. We know of the locations of several of the crystal shrines. There is one that would be capable of making a Class 5 mental mana crystal that we could use as a temporary replacement power source. It would not be perfect…more like an extension on an important deadline. With it, Warren would be able to put certain plans back into motion.”
“Class 5?” I blinked. “That’s…absurdly potent.”
Len nodded. “And only a fraction of what we truly need. It will be used to supplement the artifact, as well as another Class 5 crystal of a different type already in my possession.”
I turned to Warren. “Is there something we could do to get you a more permanent means of solving whatever problem you’re dealing with?”
“I…no. Not now. I need help right now. This is how I need you to help me right now.”
“We could potentially discuss permanent solutions and additional rewards later,” Len offered, “but Warren is right. We’ve already identified a good solution for the immediate future, let’s focus on that.”
“Speaking of rewards, if we were to assist you,” Sera began, “what would we be getting in return?”
Warren gave Len a helpless look. “I don’t think I…”
Len turned to Sera. “We’ll provide you with some information on how to use both of your attunements more effectively. Arbiter-specific and Invoker-specific information that you won’t be able to get easily elsewhere. Perhaps we could include you in some future matters of political interest, but I make no specific promises in that regard.”
“With due respect, the primary reason I wanted to speak to you, Master Constantine, was more about a political issue. Have you heard of the various factions of Whispers that are—”
He winced and shuddered. “No, no. Can’t. Not right now.”
I frowned, giving Len a look. “Is he…”
“He’ll be fine. Better, if you help us. The lack of a crystal has put strain on Warren. He’s been powering many of the tower’s considerable defenses with his own mana, and that has been…challenging.”
My mind swam with the images of the tower’s scale and the sheer number of minions that had marched outside. The mana it would take to try to maintain that many constructs, summons, and defenses on his own…
That was absolutely mind-boggling. Not even an Emerald could hope to do something on that scale. Which, of course, was probably the problem.
“Let’s table that discussion for now, then. You will owe us each a significant favor if we do this. Is that agreeable?”
Len gave Sera a hard look. “He’s not exactly in a fair position to agree to an open-ended favor.”
Warren waved his hand. “Fine. It’s fine. Get me what I need, I’ll do whatever I can. Nothing absurd.”
Sera shrugged. “Good enough for me. What exactly is it that we need to do?”
“It will only require one of you,” Len noted. “Assuming you succeed. There’s a particular shrine I can transport one of you to that will offer the crystal as a possible reward if you successfully complete the challenges there. Either one of you could take the challenge, then take the crystal as your reward. Or you could both try it, but you will be alone once you step i
nside, and we only need one crystal.”
“But we would both get rewards from the shrine itself if we succeed, correct? And there are options beyond just the crystal?”
“That’s correct.” Len noted.
Sera and I exchanged looks. “We’ll both go do it. Probably one at a time, so we can feed each other information after one person attempts it.”
“Excellent.” Len nodded. “Let’s rest here, then head out in the morning?”
“I’m fine with that.” Sera noted. “Do you have accommodations available for us here?”
“Yes, of course.” Len noted. “Warren, can I take them up to rooms?”
Warren nodded weakly, then waved. “Yes, fine. Th…thank you. All of you.”
“Come on, then.” Len stood up. “I’ll see you both to your rooms.”
“We’ll stick together for tonight, if you have a big enough chamber for us both.” Sera noted. “Security.”
“I understand completely.” Len noted, and even Warren gave a grunt and a look of acknowledgement. “This way.”
Len led us up the stairway to a second floor, then a third. Finally, she led us off to a titanic set of doors, spoke a few words, ran a finger in a pattern across the wood, and opened it.
The chamber ahead was the largest bedroom I’d ever seen. There were two titanic beds in opposite corners, bookcases lining the walls, and a pair of large wooden desks with comfortable looking chairs. On the left and right sides were doors to other rooms, which a quick check showed to be washrooms.
“Not bad,” Sera murmured.
“Do you two require anything else before I head out?” Len asked.
I considered asking for food, but recalling Warren’s condition, I felt it was best to let Len get back to him as quickly as possible. “We’ll be fine. Thanks for the room.”
Len nodded, bowed, then departed the chamber.
“So,” Sera smiled, “we raiding the bookshelves for rare and powerful magics?”
“Obviously.”
We got to work.
***
We chose to sleep in shifts that night. I took the first watch, since I was far too jittery to go to bed right away. After that, Sera would wake me and take her shift. She summoned Vanniv to keep me company for my own shift and double up on defenses, but we didn’t chat, we just sat and read books.
Constantine had some fascinating tomes in his collection: histories, fiction, and most importantly books on magic. Many were familiar to me, but he had a number of books I’d never even heard of. Older books, most likely from the continent of Mythralis, and earlier generations of Enchanting books that were no longer in the university curriculum.
I devoured what I could in the first few hours before I heard a knock on the room’s door. Sera stirred at the sound, but fortunately, she didn’t wake.
Vanniv stood up, frowned, and made a gesture for me to get ready. I stood and put a hand on the hilt of Selys-Lyann while Vanniv walked to the door and opened it.
We found a somewhat disheveled Warren Constantine wearing a nightgown and carrying a candlestick behind the door. He glanced upward at Vanniv, blinked, and said, “Oh. Hello.”
“Constantine, I take it?” Vanniv asked.
The older man nodded, looking tired. “May I speak with Master Cadence in private for a moment? I believe I owe him an apology and a bit of an explanation.”
Vanniv looked askance at me. I shifted my hand away from my sword, then nodded and stood. “Sure.”
“Come, then.” Warren gestured toward the stairway outside of the chamber.
I still felt a little nervous about going out by myself, but at least Vanniv knew where I was going.
“If you aren’t back in an hour, I’m waking Sera,” Vanniv said in a tone that allowed for no argument.
“Understood.” I nodded, exited the room, and closed the door behind me.
“Thank you.” Warren nodded, sighed, and began to walk up the stairs.
He led me upward. And upward. And upward.
Finally, we reached the top of the stairway. It terminated at a softly glowing platform.
“A teleporter?” I asked. “Where does this go?”
“Several places within the tower, but we’re heading to the roof. I find it easier to think up there.” He stepped onto the platform, tapped his staff against the floor, and said, “rooftop.”
Then he vanished.
I hesitated for a moment, then followed. In a blur of now-familiar movement, I found myself elsewhere.
And, for the first time, I stood above the clouds.
I stood on a circular platform high above the world. Gleaming pillars stood on each side of the circle, bathing the platform in soft light. Each pillar held a single, glimmering crystal of a different color. Each was inscribed with strange and unfamiliar runes.
A frigid breeze danced across my skin, but I barely noticed.
I only had eyes for the stars.
There were thousands of them glimmering above us — tens of thousands. Uncountable legions. I’d never seen anything like it. The moon shimmered brightly and full, but even its glory could not distract me from the light of those distant motes of incandescent light.
“It’s…”
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Warren sighed deeply, gazing upward. “It…reminds me of something we lost along ago.”
“Lost?” I asked. “…Do you mean older magic?”
He nodded without looking toward me. “Once, we were each bound to those beautiful motes. They filled us with potential beyond imagining. And I…once, I had a deeper tie to them. That may be a story for another time.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I knew stars were related to dominion sorcery, but I understand that had some disadvantages.”
“You know more than most, then. Many of our people have forgotten the old magic entirely. It is by their design. We have been thoroughly deceived.”
“Their design…? You mean the visages?”
Warren nodded slowly. “Indeed. And their vaunted goddess herself.”
“Do…you know why? Is it simply a matter of controlling who has magic to their advantage?”
Warren shook his head. “No. I think that, at first, attunements were made for good reasons. Improved control. Improved efficiency. Fewer costs to the body. Fixing problems of birth. Broader distribution. The severance of the stars, however…that was, perhaps, more out of fear. Even now, there is much I do not know, and I care not to speculate on it with you at this moment. My lucidity already fades.” He gazed down. “There is so much I wish I could have taught you. So much that I wish I could share with the world as a whole.”
“What’s happening to you? Mental mana overuse?”
He flinched. “That, yes, but it only exacerbates a personal problem. Like my mother before me, I was born with a destiny bound to those brilliant flares in the sky above us. And like my mother, I was severed from it by the goddess’ power, and at great personal cost.” His hands tightened. “That is no matter for you to concern yourself with. It is a personal affair.”
I was intensely curious what he was talking about, but I decided not to push. “What did you want to talk to me about, then?”
“The future.” He looked downward, turning to face me directly for the first time. “I do not know you, Corin Cadence, but I have heard of your deeds. I know that you stand at a focal point of events that have come before us and those that are yet to come. I see you there,” he pointed sharply upward, toward the star-lit sky, “but I cannot yet see with any certainty the path you may take. And, to ensure the preservation of that which is dear to me, I must hope to help guide your path.”
“That’s…please don’t say you’re talking about some sort of prophecy.”
“Oh, goddess within us, no.” He laughed. “Prophecies are generally utter nonsense. What I mean is that I have a method of divination magic that draws upon the constellations. It is vague at best, and I lack my mother’s talent for it, but I can glean a smattering of
valuable information from it. You would lack the specific dominion to learn it, or else I would teach it to you.”
“Oh.” That made a bit more sense, at least. “And this sees me…being important?”
“Important to my own personal interests, if not necessarily on the grander scale of things. You are the newest among the Arbiters, and this is no small thing. Should you survive, you will have the ability to influence the visages themselves — and with that, the turning of the world. Already, I see that your path has brushed against two of the brightest stars, and it will come to more yet if you live.”
“And what is it exactly that you expect me to do?”
“Expect?” He nodded. “I expect you to pursue the path your brother has chosen for you. That is not, however, the only road before you.”
I frowned. “What do you know about my brother?”
“He is a fool.” Warren grimaced. “But perhaps that is better than a coward, like myself. His goals are worthy, but he has already tipped his hand too far. His chances of victory are slight, and any success will come at great cost.”
I grimaced. “All the more reason I should help him. And if you know that, presumably you know that I came to ask you for your help as well.”
“I suspected as much.” His shoulders slumped. “Once again, too much is expected of me. I cannot be the man your brother seeks.”
“And because of that, you won’t try to help at all?”
Warren looked away. “My own path begins and ends with failure. It would be best not to merge it with your own.”
“That’s kind of vague and unhelpful, you know.”
Warren continued to look away. “I am sorry. I have hidden for so long that I have little talent for openness. I will say this much, however: I will help you, personally, Corin, if you succeed at your task tomorrow. I will not commit to doing anything for your brother, but at the least, I can try to pass on a bit of what I know.”
“What’s the significance of this power source? Why is it so important?”
“…As I said, I am a coward. The crystal I seek will allow me to continue to hide.”
