Aldrend, The Serpent Isles - 17th day of the Sardonyx Moon, Year 24 AH
Few things in the world could take Regis by surprise. There were minor unexpected occurrences, of course—little oddities and shocks of strangeness that formed the delights of daily living. Elaren was ancient and simultaneously ever-changing, and that allowed for a vast array of experiences: such was its wonder.
True astonishment, however, was a rare sentiment for the demon. Depending on his definition, he might even go so far as to say that he’d only experienced it three times in his life thus far.
The first came when he’d escaped the Flesh Fields. In the millenia spent there, struggling to survive amidst that maelstrom of twisting flesh and wailing souls, he’d had little time to think of the world he was fighting to reach. He’d only operated on a deep, primal desire to live, and so when he’d finally broken through to the surface, the sights and sounds that had greeted him had been well and truly beyond any expectation he could’ve had.
The second was Hal, though perhaps it would be more accurate to call that a series of surprises that began with their first meeting. He’d still been relatively young then, a powerful demon fresh from the Flesh Fields who’d quickly amassed power. An attack from the so-called Spear of Avalon had been wholly unexpected, and it was the first time since reaching the surface that Regis had felt truly challenged in battle. He still looked back on the day rather fondly, even if at the time their meeting had certainly not been an amicable one. Much had changed since then.
The third instance arrived on the Field of the Fallen, surrounded by a rippling torrent of magic, when the otherworlder had overpowered him in that final attack. He’d made a mistake underestimating the boy, a mistake that had cost him centuries of progress. And yet, here Regis was, once again blindsided by the actions of the so-called Hero from another world.
Around the room, the wind finally began to die down again. Scattered trays of components and scrap pieces of paper now littered the space, and only three of the torch flames had survived the gusts. Perhaps at another time, Regis would’ve lamented the broken bottles and the wasted spell components. As it was, his eyes remained fixed on the sigil, the glowing light only just now fading back into chalk lines. Without the light of the spell to fill the space, the ritual room was suddenly much darker.
Still sitting in the center of the magic circle, Hal slowly pushed himself up to his feet, his movements more unsteady than usual. He looked genuinely disturbed, an expression that looked wholly out of place on him. Regis imagined he didn’t appear much better. Already his mind was churning as he processed what had occurred.
They’d already tested angels when they’d gone through all the species of Elaren. The only outside magic present on Hal was the otherworlder’s, lingering in that unhealing wound, so he had no doubt that the spell was reacting to the otherworlder. This meant the magic that formed the System matched his magic signature.
A slew of questions immediately rose. Had the otherworlder used his magic to overpower the reaper mechanism? Why had he done so? What purpose would he have to create the System, and had he known that doing so would prevent the reaping of souls? Regis’s eyes narrowed as he continued to consider the implications.
The spell confirmed that the otherworlder’s magic was indeed involved with the System’s existence, but was he its sole creator? Did he actively maintain it? Thus far, the System had seemed nearly omnipotent in its presence. It spanned all of Elaren, appeared in all species, and differed based on each individual person. Regis instinctively summoned his status screen, his eyes scanning the glowing letters and numbers. Could the otherworlder see through the System? Had he known of the demon’s survival all along, perhaps even planned for it?
“Reg?” Hal’s voice filtered through the barrage of thoughts. The angel was frowning. “You okay?”
Regis paused, briefly shifting his gaze away from the rune circle. “I’m thinking,” he finally said. “There are a number of things to consider now that we’re aware of the otherworlder’s role here.”
“You think he knows you’re alive?” Hal’s voice was tense.
“He very well may.” Regis cocked his head in thought. “If he is indeed aware, however, his current inaction is difficult to reconcile with that notion. Why has he not attacked us in our weakened states? He would need to hold some other ulterior motive to justify leaving us alive, but I can’t fathom what that might be.”
The demon began to pace around the sigil as he mused aloud. “If we assume he is aware of my survival, he likely also knows of your escape.” He frowned as he continued to think.
In retrospect, the prison had not been particularly well guarded. At the time, he’d attributed the sparse number of guards to Hal’s weakened state. In the angel’s condition, the protections in the chamber and the magic runes outside of the prison would’ve been more than enough to keep him at bay. His survival had also been kept a secret from the general public, so there hadn’t been as much fear of an external break in. Markus had implied as much, and the mage himself had purposely lived nearby to keep an eye on Hal.
And yet, despite these justifications, the demon felt a few inklings of doubt begin to rise as he studied the angel in the dim torchlight. Flashes of old memories rose in his mind. There was Markus and Pyran, gone in the night only to appear on the otherworlder’s side. Jael vanishing without a word. He saw Adela and Mordecai, the righteous triumphance in their faces as they’d faced him across the battlefield. He remembered all too well.
“Hal,” he began slowly. “Prior to your transfer to the Serpent Isles, you were imprisoned by the Ministry, correct?”
The angel raised an eyebrow, clearly not knowing where this was going, but nodded in assent.
“Was the otherworlder present during that time?”
A beat of silence passed as the implications of the demon’s words began to sink in. Hal’s expression twisted.
“What, you think I’m involved somehow?”
Regis studied the angel closely, noting the rising anger in his voice, the shoulders tensing, the stark white wings flaring behind him. The demon’s own voice remained calm and even as he responded.
“I’m not suggesting that you participated in the System’s creation, no,” he said simply, “but I do find the circumstances surrounding your imprisonment increasingly suspicious. Any number of things could’ve happened in the years since the end of the war. You would not be my first general compromised.”
It wasn’t a pleasant thought, when Hal was the only person he’d ever truly trusted. Though he wished to believe his judgement had not failed him to such an extent, he would not—could not—completely discount the possibility.
Hal’s eyes narrowed. He strode forward and didn’t stop until he was directly in front of the demon’s face. “You know what I think? I think those betrayals fucked you up more than you think, and now you’re not thinking straight ‘cause you never do when the otherworlder’s involved.” He practically spat out the last few words, jabbing an accusing finger at Regis’s chest. “Me? Work with that bastard? Don’t you dare say that shit to me. Not after everything.”
The room was left silent after Hal was done. Regis was quiet for a moment, simply studying the angel’s face. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen such raw, indignant anger from him. It must have been a few centuries at least. Slowly, he moved Hal’s hand away.
“My apologies,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to insinuate that you’d join the otherworlder’s side. You are perhaps correct that I’m not as rational when the otherworlder is involved. It’s a bit of a blindspot for me.”
Hal released a breath, and all at once his body seemed to deflate as the anger left him. His wings drooped back down, the feathers brushing the floor. He stepped back and rubbed his forehead.
“No, I—I shouldn’t have gotten so pissed off. I’d probably be suspicious too.” He dropped his hand. “Honestly, I’m not one to talk. I don’t think straight when that fucker’s mentioned either.”
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Regis smiled wryly. “I suppose it’s a mutual weakness. Rather unfortunate, given the circumstances.”
Hal snorted at that. A few beats of silence passed, and Regis’s eyes flickered back over to the rune circle. The revelation regarding the System was beginning to sink in more, he found, and his thoughts did seem calmer than the storm they had been initially. Mention of the otherworlder did indeed seem to bring out a more impulsive side of him—far more so than it had twenty years ago. Perhaps his human vessel was somewhat contributing to the odd burst of paranoia. He would have to be more careful in the future.
Regis turned back to Hal, humming thoughtfully. “The otherworlder may have initially created the System, but that does not mean he is maintaining active control of it,” he speculated. He cocked his head. “The System seems to have a life of its own. Considering that he has not acted against us thus far, it’s reasonable to assume the otherworlder cannot see everything that the System does. This is especially true if he created the System by co-opting the reaper assignment mechanism.”
Hal nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense. So are we sticking to the old plan?”
“I believe that is our best course of action, yes, though I’d suggest we make haste towards the mainland. Should something happen, it’s reasonable to assume it will originate with the otherworlder.” The Serpent Isles were rather isolated from the rest of Elaren; travel from them to the mainland took a substantial amount of time. Though this isolation did allow them to remain hidden more easily, he didn’t want to risk losing an opportunity in the future simply because they were too far away to reach the mainland in time. There was no doubt in his mind that Cannia would be the center of any major events moving forward.
Regis turned and stepped over to the shelves lining the ritual room, pausing to pick up a few of the spell components that had fallen down in the wind earlier. “We will need to be cautious, even more so now,” he said, “particularly in regards to the System.” He straightened and placed the fallen bottle back onto the shelf. “However, this may also present a unique opportunity for us.”
Hal raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? You think?”
The demon moved to grab another fallen spell component—a sharp dragon tooth, from the looks of it—and set it back on the shelves.
“The System has already caused notable turmoil. I suspect we’ll see more and more towns and villages follow the path of Canedge. In that mayhem, people will want something to blame.” He cocked his head. “The otherworlder attaching his name to the System may very well be the catalyst we need to permanently remove him from power.”
The more he considered it, the more positives he began to find in their newfound knowledge. If the books and news articles he’d read were to be believed, the otherworlder remained held in high regard despite the continued failings of the Ministry he led. It was proof of the power of his myth and hero status. Swaying public opinion against him would be challenging, but his involvement with the System could very well be the first spark that they needed to begin the blaze.
Hal’s eyes gleamed in the dim torchlight as he seemingly came to the same realization. “Should we start spreading rumors? Aldrend’d be a good place to start.”
Regis shook his head. “Not yet. The System is still new and unknown in its current state, perhaps even a blessing to some. We’ll wait until society has adjusted some. After sluaghs are more common and the diminishing pool of souls becomes apparent, that is when people will be at their most desperate and, thus, the most susceptible to influence.”
A slow grin spread across Hal’s face, and he cocked his head. “Doesn’t sound too bad when you put it like that.”
Regis found himself smiling in return. Initially, he’d found the revelation that the otherworlder had created the System to be rather irksome. Given that he’d gained his current vessel as a result of the System, he disliked feeling as though he’d been aided by the otherworlder’s actions.
But on the other hand, the demon thought, it would also be rather satisfying when the otherworlder’s own creation became his downfall.
“I don’t think it’s working.”
Regis frowned and glanced over at Hal. After completing the trace spell, he’d suggested the angel try to use phoenix tears on his wound to neutralize the otherworlder’s magic. Though the lingering magic had proven crucial in allowing them to identify the System’s origin, now that they knew who its creator was, it was no longer necessary. Assuming that magic was indeed slowing Hal’s regeneration, it was in their best interest to remove it as soon as possible.
Reginald had kept a flask of phoenix tears in his collection, so the demon hadn’t hesitated to give what was left of Markus’s bottle to the angel. If anything could neutralize the otherworlder’s magic, it would be that. Based on the disgruntled look on Hal’s face, however, it hadn’t proven successful.
“I see. We’ll likely need a spell to remove those traces, then, though magic of that caliber is currently beyond us.” As he spoke, he continued removing bottles and boxes from the shelves. They unfortunately had limited carrying capacity, so they couldn’t take everything with them, but he’d gathered some of the rarer, more crucial spell components for future use.
Hal dropped the now-empty bottle, and it landed with a thump on the stone ground. He sighed and grabbed the bandages he’d removed earlier to begin wrapping his wings again. “Figures it wouldn’t be that easy,” he muttered. “Ah well. Not like flying’s useful or anything.”
Regis chuckled at that. He placed a small box of basilisk scales into his bag, the last item he’d gathered from the current shelf, then moved onto the next one.
“So? We’re heading to the mainland?”
Regis nodded, humming as he inspected a piece of dried nuckelavee skin. “There’s a large port to the east of the White Cliffs. We should reach it in less than a day’s travel. From there, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a ship heading towards the mainland.”
“Oh good, sea travel.” Hal tied off the last bandage, poking at his wing for a moment to make sure it was tight. Once he was satisfied, he rose to his full height and moved to help Regis finish packing the bags.
The two soon fell into a comfortable rhythm, only speaking to ask if they planned to take a component or not. Between both of them, they were able to fit more items than Regis had initially anticipated. He carefully placed a small bottle into the pouch hanging at his belt, only to pause when it made a light clinking noise as it hit something. He reached inside and pulled out the glass photograph he’d purchased earlier in Aldrend.
In the darkness, the image was difficult to make out. If he set it on a shelf, however, the solid background allowed the form of a bird to be seen across the surface of the glass. Regis turned it over in his hands a few times consideringly, then finally turned and handed it to Hal. The angel frowned, but took it.
“Isn’t this that photo thing?” He squinted down at the glass piece.
“It is. It’s a gift.”
Hal raised an eyebrow. “A gift? From you?”
The demon chuckled. “Perhaps I’m feeling a bit sentimental today.” He cocked his head. “I was reflecting on your words earlier. Consider it a token of my appreciation for your loyalty over the years.”
Hal gave the demon a long look, pale eyes unreadable for a moment. Finally, a slow grin spread across his features.
“Careful there, or I might start thinking you have feelings.” He dropped the glass photograph into his bag and patted it. “You know you’re not getting this back now, right. Not even if I decide to flip and try killing you again.”
Regis laughed, the sound ringing out across the room’s stone walls. “I believe a photograph would be the least of either of our concerns were that to happen.”
Hal smirked at that, but a few moments later, his expression sobered.
“Seriously though. I’d never work with that fucker on purpose, but you weren’t wrong to think something was up.” His eyes narrowed. “To be honest, I don’t remember all of what happened during those first few years. It doesn’t help that I’ve got some of the bastard’s magic stuck to me.” One of his bandaged wings twitched as he spoke. “Who knows how much influence it has.”
Regis studied the angel closely as he absorbed his words, both those spoken aloud and the implied ones left unspoken. He hummed.
“That is why the removal of the otherworlder’s magic is a priority. Until then, however, there is nothing more that can be done beyond exercising a bit of added caution. And, should the worst occur,” he added with another look at Hal, “I won’t hesitate to do what needs to be done.”
A few beats of silence passed. Finally, a slow smile spread across the angel’s features.
“I know. That’s why I follow you.”
Regis raised an eyebrow. “Not the only reason, I would hope.”
“Nah, it’s definitely below spying on you for Avalon. Gotta get back in their good graces somehow.”
The demon laughed at that, surprising himself with the strength of it. His own voice was soon joined by Hal’s, filling the dim space.
When their laughter faded, Regis finished tying his own bag and took a moment to peer upwards. The night sky was inky black above them, a scattering of stars visible through the window on the ceiling. He estimated it was around the middle of the night. If they left now, they should be able to reach the port by morning to noon. His vessel, he found, was not particularly tired yet. Perhaps it was a result of his growing constitution stat.
Regis turned and gestured to Hal, who swung his own bag over his shoulder. The two soon turned and exited the ritual room.
They gave the silent manor another sweep, keeping an eye out for anything they might’ve missed, but they found nothing but the dead bodies of Reginald and the interior guard patrol. Regis did grab a few items he thought might be useful for falsifying their identities in the future, including a wax seal stamp that he planned on altering later to the Sinclair house crest.
Outside was much the same. Hal had heeded Regis’s warning, it seemed, and deposited the bodies of the two guards behind a tall tree where they would not be visible from a distance. Regis estimated that someone would discover the deaths in the manor within the next few days. By then, they would already be long gone from the Serpent Isles.
The demon closed his eyes momentarily, enjoying the sensation of the cool wind against his skin. Some things, he thought, never changed—no matter how many years passed.
Finally, he opened his eyes again. He nodded at Hal.
“Let us go.”
How much influence do you think the otherworlder/Hero has on the System?
