03: Plot
Alearem’s Bluff, Cliffs of old Veroria, Reish
The seer known as Alearem was shrouded in mystery and rumors even within the Cult of Verore, however Candit was one of the few who believed they truly understood her. Because of their bond, Candit would often call upon her to use her gift for day to day operations. Tracking down a traitor, predicting movements of enemies, and while that’s what brought her here today, a heavier question weighed at the back of her mind.
The view from Alearem’s bluff was chaotic, yet beautiful, looking over the ruins of Veroria. Uncontrolled dark magics left the once capital hub for the Cult of Verore in shambles, the land almost frozen mid-destruction with floating debris amongst the craterous remains. However, the small mountain Alearem called home was just far enough from everything to see it in a different light. The irony of such destruction and chaos looking so peaceful from afar.
Candit adjusted her glasses and moved to knock on the outpost’s stone door. “Yes, just come on in.” The voice spoke out right before Candit made contact with the cold stone. She smiled to herself as she let herself in. “Well, if it isn’t Candit, dear sister of Verore. I was hoping I’d see you today.”
Candit closed the door behind her and looked towards Alearem. The fur on her coat rose to stand on its end as it reacted to Candit’s presence. She always hated that thing, the way the short colored hairs moved reacting to magic and people made it seem almost alive at times. The coat settled down almost immediately as Alearem held her hand out towards her Crystal Ball. “What does Destiny have to offer you today, Divine Sorceress?”
Alearem referred to her ball as Destiny, as it showed her where someone’s future was headed, given their present. Her direct power came from reading and interpreting possible futures, and curating the outcomes, causes, and effects into what will eventually become reality.
“Another Deserter Alearem.” Candit approached the seer and her crystal ball “some sorceress having an identity crisis of sorts, was spouting nonsense of finding a life purpose. A standard capture or kill mission, we’re simply in need of guidance.”
“Very well.” Responded Alearem, “Step forward, and we’ll see just how far this Deserter can go.” Candit approaches the mystical crystal orb as it begins to change colors, warping chromatically with the consistency of water. “Did this deserter have a name, by chance?” The crystal ball let out a minor pulse of light as if it was waiting for Alearem’s question to be answered. Candit produced a scrunched up piece of paper and handed it to Alearem.
“She was from the demon capture division out west, before things started falling apart out there.” Alearem studied the paper and raised her eyebrow slightly.
“You know, usually I’d need the last name as well.” Alearem whisked her hand towards Destiny as the crystal ball became more translucent, seemingly filled with clouds. “Lucky for you, however…” As Alearem spoke, her hands stretched out over Destiny, seemingly pulling and weaving at the shapes and colors within. Great magic began to fill the room emanating from the sorceress. “Weeks ago, I received a visitor… something which in itself is an oddity, but this person was someone who was looking for a family heirloom, from when the cult used to infuse magic into weapons. An old sword, in fact. I showed her where it lay.” The images contort and shift until a cliff is shown.
“This, a vision of the past, shows the sword buried under some rubble on a mountain. As a rift opened below, the cliff face grew weak and gave way, and the contents fell to another world.” Candit was captured by the visuals in front of her, as Alearem continued to weave her magics through the crystal ball. “Where we find the sword... quite some time later, a mountain in Talich… surrounded by Dragons.”
“Dragons?” asked Candit. “Oh, well I guess there’s no need to worry.” she chuckled to herself. “She’s as good as dead, then.” Alearem looked up at Candit and smirked, before raising an eyebrow at her. “Oh? She…”
“You see, what I didn’t show her is the result of her quest, and while anyone would assume she’d be slain, it seems this deserter of yours has a resolve much stronger than we initially had guessed.” Alearem pulled and weaved at Destiny as the ball began to shift and change once more. Slowly, the shape began to form and become clear, revealing Bek standing on a foreign cliff, sword in hand, looking sternly. “By my calculations, what we’re looking at should have happened yesterday, in fact…”
Candit was shocked, “H-how? How did she manage to kill an adult Talich dragon? Even our most elite would struggle with such a test of strength.”
Alearem let out a light laugh, “Oh, Candit… you really should try and make fewer assumptions.” Alearem’s finger pointed upwards. As it did, the vision changed once more seemingly moving outwards, and in doing so revealing a hulking cinder dragon by Bek’s side.
Candit’s jaw dropped in shock as she struggled to comprehend what she was seeing, completely speechless. “Her journey taught her many things, revealed many truths about the world and herself. She doesn’t fear the creatures, and they don’t fear her. Between the two... a mutual respect, and a reason to coexist, as each can provide something for the other. I believe Aleta was toying with such manipulations as ideas before her capture, but this isn’t that. This seems to be… honest.” The dragon seemed to nuzzle slightly at Bek’s side, who pets it with a closed fist. “She cares for these beings, and they care for her… remarkable, isn’t it?”
“I…” Candit struggled to form words at first but shook herself out of her daze. “So, if we wanted to capture or kill her, we’d need to fight our way through a dragon? That’s a daunting challenge.”
Alearem flicked her finger once more, “Oh, there’s your assumptions once more…” Destiny’s picture moved once more, this time revealing several dragons behind her of all shapes, sizes, and breeds. “Bek is taking on a nomadic lifestyle, traveling with the beasts, and where they find others, they offer them a safe haven amongst the other dragons.” Candit turned away, placing her head in her hands as she kneeled, and after making a stress-induced groan, snapped her body back upright.
“She’s raising an army of dragons, great. When does she attack?” Candit’s eyes were wide, and she fidgeted uncomfortably, adjusting her glasses.
“She doesn’t.” Alearem smiled.
Candit’s face showed her confusion, “She… doesn’t?” Candit’s eyes darted around the room seemingly calculating and deciphering the situation. “No, but… she’s raising an army. Of course she’s going to attack.”
“She’s creating a safe haven, trying to avoid conflict. She has no reason to seek it. She might be a strong spirited fighter, and if anyone was to threaten her, she wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate. She made it very clear though that she has no intentions of returning to-”
“No!” Candit interrupted Alearem, growing frustrated, “She left, obviously disliking the Cult, and now she has dragons and not just a couple. How are we supposed to feel safe with that threat out there!” Candit’s breathing became shaky as she grew more stressed.
“We’re no longer talking about the deserter, are we?...” Candit’s demeanor changed instantly, lowering her head and becoming much more somber.
A moment of silence fell over the room, with only the sounds of Destiny as it swirled and churned, emanating magical whistling energies breaking the stillness. “It shouldn’t be her….” a smile flickered on Alearem’s face. “I’m the strategist… I do so much more for the cult than she does, and yet she tries to call herself a leader. Yet she’s there, after everything she’s done. You know she sent an assassin after me?”
“Oh?” Alearem seemed genuinely surprised by this revelation as Candit continued.
“Some rift runner who was looking for power to kill himself or something… Honestly, I didn’t pay too much attention. Luckily he was just an easy to manipulate male, and I escaped completely unscathed, but to send someone with the intention of killing me…” Candit’s fists clenched as she continued, “Her being a leader… It’s insulting, it’s demeaning and I refuse to let her wear a crown she doesn’t deserve! But I…” Candit’s voice and resolve faltered. “I can’t…”
“My dear, we’ve talked on this matter time and time again, and I sense your fear, but you’ve yet to ask. I can show you a world where you act on the desires you seek to fulfill. All you must do is state your intentions. This plan you’ve clearly rehearsed and fantasized about for months… how would it play out?”
Candit remains quiet for some time, as she looks down. Alearem waits patiently as Candit’s lips moved slightly... rehearsing to herself once more before standing tall with pride. “I’d approach her openly, and simply stand by her side as she’d begin to complain about something unimportant. Eventually, she’d shoo her little entourage so she could speak of high-level matters involving running the cult, before continuing to complain in private. In a moment of her distraction, I’d force a dagger to her spine, and then her throat…”
The air began to fill with malice and a purple haze. Alearem’s smile beamed excitement as her hands began to wave and weave once more, with Destiny taking shape between them. “On the 5th night, Rita journeys between outposts alone, and would not be wary of her fellow leader bearing ill will. And, even as she notices your strike, she doesn’t have time to conjure a spell to stop you.” The crystal ball spun and weaved the clouds internally, eventually taking the shape of Candit’s sacrificial dagger, stained in blood.
Candit’s eyes widened, and she looked equal parts surprised and excited. “Your attack will lead to a new age of the Cult of Verore, and standing before your enemies, you’ll bring fear to their hearts as they gaze upon you and your new self, bringing about your new name… Candit, the Demonic.” A hand falls beside the dagger, and a pool of blood begins to accumulate.
“Wow… Candit the Demonic.... My sorcery powers being so strong, people mistake it for untamed demonic energy, I....” Candit’s words failed her, as her knuckles turned white. The crystal ball blurred and clouded just slightly as Alearem lowered her hands to her sides.
“Perhaps my dear this isn’t a moment for words.” Alearem slowly walked around her crystal ball, approaching Candit. “What you want is days away, and will require mere moments of action to completely change and shape your new future.” Alearem placed her cold hand on Candit’s shoulder, failing in her attempts to comfort a slightly overwhelmed Candit who recoiled slightly at her icy touch. “So, what shall you do?...”
Candit stood slightly shaken while looking into the ball, as it projected back at her the image of a stained and bloody ceremonial knife. A painful feeling ate at her from the inside, but Candit shook it off and stared down at Destiny.
Her Destiny.
“Please know Alearem… your years of service as both a friend and an advisor will never be forgotten, and for giving me clarity on the biggest issue I’ve ever faced….” Candit looked up to Alearem’s grin. At first, she was uncomfortable being stared at by Alearem’s piercing gaze but brushed off her vile smirk before continuing with her gratitude, “Thank you. Sincerely.” Alearem nodded, turning her back on Candit to move back. “I guess… all that’s left is to prepare.”
Candit began to make her exit, as Alearem stared from behind her crystal ball. As she opened the door once more, Alearem spoke out. “Farewell, Candit the Demonic.” Looking back at Alearem caused Candit’s head to shrink into her shoulders slightly, but Alearem was a strange one, so Candit simply smiled back, and left.
As she headed down the long and winding road heading home, Candit filled with excitement, and barely being able to contain it, began to pick up her speed until she was eventually jogging down the worn dirt and stony path.
Alearem could barely contain her excitement, raising a hand to cover her mouth as the door shut behind Candit. All of her strength was solidified in her hand as she suppressed the urge to laugh. Eventually, Alearem regained her composure and held her hand out to her crystal ball. The blurred, faded image began to take focus, a stained ceremonial dagger, and a bloodied arm slowly amassing a pool of blood. Her hand moved as the orb shifted it’s view, revealing a bloodied pair of broken glasses right by the slain foe’s laced clothing.
“The price of power is often unseen… But you want the Cult of Verore to be united dear Candit... this is where it begins.” As her hands weaved through destiny once more, flashes showed images of Rita, Candit, demonic energies, and Aleta the Sorceress flash before her. “I know you’re strong enough, but you’re merely one piece in this game. Let’s see what we can do with the rest of the board…” The room’s color warped and changed as the ball emitted varying lights and shapes, and Alearem finally let herself laugh letting out a sinister cackle.
Story by JasonOCE, Ladyvalour
Art by @SmarttCaitlin