Chapter 77: Sanctum II
I did. After that, I was at a loss for words.
We parted, and Maya stepped back. She had changed much in the year away. Her dark hair had grown out to shoulder-length and was allowed to hang freely, accented by a simple loop that tied the edges back to the middle in a knot. She was taller. There was a small sliver sized scar at her cheek. But the most notable change was the way she carried herself. The air of nervousness that had colored her mannerisms and speech patterns was gone, replaced with the easygoing confidence of a person who had proven themselves.
You look good, I said, noting in amusement as her tail twitched up towards her wrist, then away, diverting course at the last moment.
She snorted. I am not used to having to look up at you.
I tilted my head up and looked down my nose. Yes, everything looks so small from up here.
Uh huh. Keep rubbing it in and Ill shorten your femurs. Maya laughed, then her face grew solemn as she looked over the inscriptions. I see you did not heed my advice.
Guiltily, I ducked my head. What advice was that?
To stay away from inscription magic.
Its... I paused. Id done my research. There was some risk to what I was doing, yes. It was the sort of thing that could potentially come back to bite a magician if overtaxed. But the primary concern from inscription magic was magicians who used it to repeatedly cast high-level, difficult spells the soul was not prepared for. That was not my intent. When selecting my inscriptions, only concerns had been practicality and utility. I needed to be able to improvise on the fly, to worm my way out of difficult situations on instinct.
It was good advice. I tried again. But things have changed slightly since you left.
Yes. Maya gave me a look that told me this wasnt the end to the discussion. Tell me everything.
I kept it as close to the truth as I was able. The second awakening. That I had a vision warning me of Ephira and the asmodials. How, with Nethtaris help, I had negotiated with them, and used Ephiras duplicity to trap her. That Id allowed Ephira to be killed.
Maya absorbed that in her typical, thoughtful fashion. There was no feeling of judgement or disappointment from her. It was like she was puzzling over a problem.
You are leaving things out, she said.
A bit, I admitted.
Are they things that you cannot speak of, of will not speak of? Maya cocked her head.
Mostly the former, I said.
It stung not being able to tell her the whole story, but to be fair, Im not sure if I would have wanted to. Especially considering the events of the attack itself and the coinciding story of my second awakening. That was too deep, too raw, even now.
The only thing I left out was the cost. The deal I had struck with Ozra. As far as I was concerned, that didnt affect her. Or anyone really. I was reminded of what the arch-fiend had said about the existential elements of knowing your soul was damned. I had to imagine that extended to the people around me to some extent. Laying that weight at the feet of people who cared for you just seemed...Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only
Cruel.
How long are you here for? I asked, changing the topic.
A day. I had planned to come home earlier, but we were pushing outward into the less explored regions.
Maya told me tales of the sanctum. Exploration, battles. Her team was talented and well put together, and they had plans to push further out after taking some time to restock and train. The sanctum was more dangerous than in recent years, various creatures and fauna more overtly hostile than they previously had been.
Oh, and of course, the prize. Maya reached in her bag, hand first, then down to her shoulder, face a mask of focus as she blindly fumbled for what she was looking for. She fished a silver object out and shoved it into my hand.
It was a silver bangle with crimson inlays in the form of demonic text. I ran my fingers over it, trying to work out the meaning. Movement? No... shift? Shifting... shifting of what? I looked up.
Your demonic is solid, considering how long it has been. She pointed at a word Id missed. It means shifting of earth, Maya said, her voice excited.
Um. Its an earth magic augment? I tried.
It can detect shifting in the plates beneath the sanctum.
I finally got it. Meaning you get a heads-up if a section is about to close or open.
And the range is incredible. Maya was almost jumping up and down. It gives us a huge head start in general. The strongest artifacts come out of those passages, Cairn. I could find something to help us. Maybe even discover an area of the sanctum that hasnt been seen for thousands of years.
My outlook darkened as I thought back to the diamond scepter. Yes, I knew all too well exactly how powerful the artifacts from the sanctum could be.
I did so, and nearly jumped with the flame inexplicably spread up the blade. It didnt burn quite as brightly as the rose oil hadbut it was more controllable. I banished the flame and it disappeared completely, leaving long outlining patterns on the blade that still glowed purple, cooling down from the heat. I channeled it once more, and it roared to life, then banished it again.
What... is this? I asked.
Cost a fortune. Persephone rolled her eyes. Custom ordered from a master smith, cagey on the details. One of a pair. I suspect you know who has the other.
Bacchus. It made sense his mother wouldnt send him into the sanctum without arming him properly.
Why give me this? I asked.
Who knows. Perhaps I just had a spare and was feeling generous.
Uh huh, I said. Youve always struck me as the generous sort. Almost charitable.
Youre terribly rude. Persephone went to her desk, her back to me, but I saw the hint of a smile on her face. Fine. It is what it is. My lot has been thrown in with you and Ralakos. I am invested in your survival.
Still not the truth, but closer.
Speaking of which, she pulled a small transparent marble out of the desk and tossed it to me.
I caught it. And this?
If youre ever in a situation that is insurmountable, throw it on the ground and stomp on it. Then run, Persephone said.
That was alarmingly vague. Run from the situation? Or run from whatever comes out of the marble?
The situation, of course, Persephone said. But I saw the way her eyes shifted to the side.
Any particular reason youre not specifying? I asked.
Yes. And that was all she was going to give me. I had a feeling whatever I was holding in my hands was highly illegal. I made a mental note and placed it in my satchel. Gently.
Thank you for the gifts. I bowed to her, and she returned the gesture. She sent me on my way in the direction of one of her merchants, who traded with me at a significant discount. Rope. Chalk to mark passages. Mana-compressed rations.
----
I woke up, sweating and sick to my stomach. It was pitch black in the room. Tentatively, I reached up to feel at my left eye, making sure it was still there, only allowing myself to breathe when I found it, whole and unbloodied.
It was a little after four when I gave up trying to go back to sleep and gathered my things, strapped on my armor, and headed out in the direction of the lifts.
To my surprise, a few other infernals my age had already gathered under the soft glow of the auric moon. Several heads turned my way. A few of them nodded. They had likely been told Id be departing with them. The first human to set foot in the sanctum in hundreds of years was big news.
I spotted Bell, sitting close to the edge on an upright suitcase, her sheathed sword poking into the pavement.
Couldnt sleep? I sat down beside her.
Bell started, and the haunted look was quickly replaced with a crooked smile. I kept packing and repacking, making sure I had everything. Then my mind just wouldnt slow down.
Same.
There was a thump. We both jumped. Jorra had set down a massive oversized rucksack. His head stuck out over the top of it.
I looked at him doubtfully. Is there anything you didnt pack?
He stared at the giant bag. Im gonna be pissed if there is.
The group waited in silence. No one spoke, outside the occasional whisper. We all knew what we were there for. I ran over the objectives in my mind, one final time.
Use the ambient mana of the sanctum and its resources to continue building my magic. Locate someone who could teach me the flame so I could open the dimensional gate. Find Morthus.
Get answers.
