How do you describe the end of a life? After so much death, I am left thinking that life is but a shallow basin that holds onto the threat of survival at all costs. It does not concern itself with right or wrong. It disallows thinking beyond the mere moment ahead of you, and it will teach you the most damning things about yourself. What do you do to live? To survive? Who would you die for? Kill for? Who would you take with you, when your name is called? Revenge? Love? What motivates you to move forward? As I sit here pondering these things, before facing my own death, I realize that there is nothing that motivates me anymore, and I will hang before the day's end. But I will take them with me. All of them.

What are we?

"Kuri....run...."

Looking at her face, I knew that I had no choice. They would stop at nothing to end the threat of us. Of our ideals spreading. But could I leave her? The first person to show me, love? A mother to me?

....I knew the answer already as my feet scraped the ground. Rocks cutting cruelly into my soles. I couldn't look back, knowing that she would be dead already. Her last words will be a curse to buy me time, to make sure that others would learn our message. Would fight the Empire.

Why? Why her though? She was our compassion, our dearest wishes were held tightly to her chest. And now I must run from her side, knowing that she would not survive this day. Was this worth it? Looking ahead, I saw the path split, towards town or further into the woods. I could return to our home pack up, move on and give up our path, or I could go further into the woods and prepare for taking the next step on the path to destroying everything I hated.

I knew what she wanted, and that was all I needed at this point. Careening past the trees I felt a shift in the world around me. Spells that were locked in place across my body I haven't been without in years was suddenly being ripped away. Breath catching in my chest, knees trembling. I collapsed to the ground, my heart pounding and eyes blurring. Hand scrabbling at the ground trying to find purchase within the hard packed dirt, grass being pulled out in my feverish search for her magic. Gasping, I felt a stinging in my throat. Was I screaming? Could I scream? For her, I could, without stopping, for years I will scream for her. And that thought cemented my decision. Even if I fail at everything else, the Emporer would die by my hand. Throwing my head back I let loose a long drawn out scream. My hatred, pain, and power twisted along it. Like a beacon, it seemed to me. Calling the vilest of things to me. And I knew that I would let nothing stop me from my newfound mission. 

A vow, a condition, and a sacrifice. Three of the most powerful catalysts of magic were available to me at that moment, and I knew what I must do. Grabbing the knife from my side, I lifted it high above my head and then slammed it deep into my gut. 

I will become the same kind of monster as that Emporer when his people heard my name they would tremble, they would hide their faces, and they would pray for forgiveness. My rage will know no end, and I will destroy everything they hold dear. As my vision began blacking out I knew my next steps were out of my hands, and that the gods would grant me the power or peace. And for just the one second I thought about giving up, but I couldn't. For her, for Sarai, I would at least scream one last time. Tipping my head back, I gathered the last of my strength and with everything in me, I called out her name, vengeance and hatred coating every word. My body shaking, I collapsed, the world fading from my vision.

"Are you certain this is the one who called out?"

[Tenor, male. Middle-aged, cold and collected. A warrior, likely to be a mercenary. Minor caution necessary.]

Even as my body stayed relaxed, my mind becomes sharp. Even with the pain twisting my thoughts, I kept breathing slowly, eyes fluttering just slightly as my awareness came online. Straining my senses, I knew I was no longer on the path, from the slight sense of motion I knew that I was in a carriage. the scrape of cloth from one direction and the creak of wood slightly to the left of it told me at least two people were present. Directly across from me, there were at least two people and if I made a false move at the wrong time, they could probably kill me.

"Once again, he is the one who called out. Look at how skillful he is at faking sleep. This isn't just some random person. If it weren't for my sensory magics keeping me aware I would never have noticed."

[Soprano, female. Younger than her companion, probably early adulthood. Curious and calculating. A magic worker of some kind. Dangerous.]

Flashes of thoughts passed through my mind. Were they....describing the individuals? Pausing as I considered what to do between the two things another one followed.

[Female will strike if you remain prone. Become alert, prepare attack magic. Do not use it, you will lose.]

Even as I sat up, and quickly flexed my fingers drawing up my intent. My mind whirled trying to make sense of these alien thoughts when it struck me. The gods answered this is my power. A guide of some sort it seemed. Further thought would be required. Allowing my pain to crystallize into action, I hummed. Flecks of power flickered between my fingers, I opened my eyes and looked at my...hosts for the first time. As that "voice" had described an older man and a younger woman. The man looked like a threat, knife scars on his hand, a broken nose, fleshy cheeks, sunken eyes. Drug addicted from the sallow nature of his skin. The woman was plain, expression open and seemingly friendly, but there were coins clutched in her hand, her thumb and index finger rubbing one in between them. A sense of growing power around it, not even Sarai had so easily called forth that much power that quickly.

Deciding to speak with the woman seemed the better option here. Since the voice said she was more dangerous she was likely to be the leader here. "I was hoping the ruse would allow me to gather more intelligence before I had to deal with the world again. I would not know why I am surprised that once again, my expectations failed."

Chuckling, the woman released the coin. It clicked back into place with rest, and the sense of power and danger faded. "It would have been nice for you I suppose. Sorry to disappoint. Now let's skip these formalities. I really do enjoy having fun, and this could go one of two ways, both could be fun, but you'll only enjoy one of the options I'm afraid."

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

[Tell the truth. Otherwise, you'll face death this day.]

Swallowing, I considered my options. I could be wrong, these thoughts could be an example of the woman's power which would mean that telling her the truth would be an unnecessary risk to take. It is unlikely that she would know immediately. But if she was invading my mind, then she could already know and this is a test. So either option, if this is her, would be a loss and I can't use that as a safe place to work from. If my initial assumption that this is a gift from the gods then the voice must be trusted, at least for now. These gifts always have drawbacks and can't be wholly relied upon. So the truth was the best option. Two out of three of the possible resulting futures implied that lying would be harmful to me.

"I assume you're referring to who I am, and what I was doing bleeding to death on the path in the forest?" Stalling would give me a second to gather my thoughts, and see just how much she knew. Hopefully not a lot. "My name is Kuri, and I was taking a vow. Sacrifice is always appreciated by the gods, I figured it couldn't hurt to try." Just a teaser bit of information and no sense of warning from the voice led me to believe that for now my... "guide" was satisfied with this information so far.

"Hmm, a good start. Can you explain the dead guards? The smear of a Deathbed Curse was everywhere. Frankly, it was a distasteful scene, and I need to know who should answer for that unsightly break in my day." Nose twisted in disgust, the woman looked at her hand, and back up "If it were my place to say, I'd advise the individual who had cast the magic that it would have been better to live than die. Run like a coward, to sneak up and kill your enemy later I always say."

Opening my mouth I was prepared to throw everything away. How dare she insult Sarai...?

[Focus. This woman can be an ally or an enemy. Get your revenge later, throw her to the wolves and you'll feel a lot more satisfied than dying here could ever make you.]

....Well, this guide is definitely a lot more than just information it seemed. There was a bit of personality in that last bit. Tilting my head to the side I reconsidered my position. It was seeming likely that the voice really could be coming from her. That comment tied in nicely to what she had just said, either the guide assimilated the information and is picking up cues from those around us. An unlikely option or it was coming from her and she was attempting to manipulate me into working with her. If she was doing this then that meant she probably knew that I had attempted to gain some more power from my sacrifice, reading someone's memories wasn't even all that difficult if the individual being probed was unaware or incapacitated at the time.

Both options held their own gains and losses, but what it definitely ensured was that I had to tread very carefully for now. This was subtle magic at play, magic I wasn't naturally capable of, so I had to be prepared to take a risk here. Because both options still show siding with her was my best chance at survival, and I couldn't avenge Sarai if I died because of a harsh comment from a stranger.

[Good. Focus on what is important for now. Explanations will come. Eventually.]

"That was my teacher, she gave herself up so that I could get away. She was already dying from wounds she'd received earlier, she had no choice. At least from her perspective. She chose my life over her own, and I will take down her enemies in exchange."

"Oh really? And who might her enemies be?" Blinking innocently, the woman looked guileless. As if she didn't already know.

"You passed through the area, you know who my enemies are. The Empire. They will all burn. Until then, I must live so that one day my hand will crush the Emporer. I will rip his heart out and eat it!" I was yelling by the end of that, and that last comment...where did that come from? It felt as if it had risen unbidden to my lips, as though another force drew it out, a force like the one that's been advising me, I assumed. It was out and I wasn't going to take it back now, obviously, it was what this woman needed to hear or else I wouldn't have said it.

The woman froze for a moment, before her head tilted to the side, eyes narrowed and body tight. Then her face went blank, looking me full on in the face, her eyes looked dead. The brown irises were like a bog drawing me in, suffocating me. There was no emotion from her. "Do you know who and what I am?" Smiling, her face twisted with an anger I could not understand. "Do you play with me? I would be careful with what you say next, boy. As I said, I enjoy having fun, and you only have two options for what comes next. Choose carefully, please."

Was I wrong? But no, that was impossible. I have never before felt an urge to eat another. This came from that voice, I was sure of it. Which meant this was undeniable evidence of her lack of knowledge of what was going on in my mind. So the voice "thought" a cannibalistic streak was the route to go. So, she had to be someone or something that was cannibalistic and powerfully gifted in magic. There weren't many options, but if I was right, then she'd be a powerful ally indeed. Could I become a monster, really alter everything I am and become one of those things? "I didn't. Truly, until now, but you're one of them. The Ouroborus. The snake that eats itself. Cannibalistic mages that have honed the Arts to a degree that none can stand in their way."

Looking pleased, she smiled at me. "So, what can the Ouroborus do for you? I am but a lowly Scale, and as such, there is little you could want from me." Crossing her legs, she placed her hands in her lap primly. Like some school girl, instead of a monster who has eaten hundreds of...no I cannot think like that. I called out for something vile to stand by my side. I cannot turn back now, not yet.

[She is not a Scale. Do not trust her words, she lies. You are on shaky ground be careful.]

"Forgive me, I thought you were higher up on the food chain as they say. Could you, a lowly Scale, get me an audience with one of your leaders? Certainly, you want the Empire to fall as much as I do, I can be a great help for that goal." I wasn't certain what I was saying anymore, I was just moving my mouth and letting whatever flow out. I didn't know what to say and figured some form of autopilot was best here. The "guide" understood this woman in a way I couldn't and these words must be coming from it.

Eyes narrowing, anger returning to her features she turned to the man who had remained silent. Face pale now after learning who his companion was. So he must not have been aware. Her hand flying out, fingers piercing his chest, I watched as she ripped his heart out right in front of me. The feel of power had grown so quickly and faded just as fast. I'd never seen someone use magic so quickly, and so cruelly. Turning to me, a challenge was written across her face. "I will make certain that you come into contact with a leader. But first, you must do something for me." Grabbing my hand, she placed his still warm...organ...into my hand. "Chew quickly. Prove you could eat the Emporer's heart when the time comes, and I will take you directly to my home. You'll be sequestered for a period, then allowed.....an audience. Or refuse to eat, and join him in death. Your choice, be wise now."

Looking down, I wasn't certain what to do. I have never thought I would come to the point where I had to consider eating someone else. Could I...? Would I....?

Looking into my hand, the feel and sight of the recently removed muscle filled me with a sense of disgust. The thought of what was being asked of me even worse. I knew that to turn away at this moment would be a fool's errand, but to continue forward blindly would be a cursed existence. Nothing would...

[Why do you hesitate? This is the condition you were so certain you could accept. You so happily called for my help, this is my price.]