Chapter 14: Scar
Vina sat in the carriage, her gaze distant as it gently rocked her on its way to the next destination. The image of the man collapsing lingered hauntingly in her mind. His death, seemingly painless, was contradicted by the stark terror etched on his face. A shiver ran down her spine as she contemplated her own fate. Would she meet a similar end if she failed in her quest to destroy Langternem in Norphany? The thought unsettled her, and she frowned, pondering how she might react in such a dire predicament.
“Asharaina?” Riza’s voice broke through her reverie as she climbed into the moving carriage.
Vina’s head snapped up, her eyes refocusing. “Yes, Riza?”
Riza settled across from her, the clanking of her armor echoing in the confined space. “Swordmaster Seassa isn’t at her home today. She’s gone to a new landmark about an hour from the city. She left a message inviting you to join her there, rather than waiting for her return. I can take you, but without the Aspects of Peace and Retribution, our security will be limited.”
Vina shrugged off the concern. “I’m not worried about that. Let’s see what this landmark is about.”
Riza’s lips curved into a smile. “With your guards and Seassa’s students, we’ll be in good hands. Plus, it’ll be nice to visit my grandmother.”
“You’re Seassa’s granddaughter?” Vina asked, her surprise evident.
Riza’s smile turned sheepish. “Yes, but I don’t often mention it. We keep a low profile. Sissa — that's what I call her — she worries about being overwhelmed with students if word gets out about her achievements.”
Vina nodded in understanding. The carriage fell into a brief silence, punctuated only by the rhythmic clip-clop of Tropsen hooves. She sensed Riza’s unease, the guard’s vibrance tinged with awkwardness. Eager to ease the tension, Vina opened her mouth to speak.
“Can I…” Riza started simultaneously.
They both chuckled at the overlap. “You go first,” Vina offered with a light laugh.
Riza took a deep breath, her expression earnest. “I heard what you said about the man who died. I want to assure you, there was nothing you could have done, even if you’d been there sooner. We can’t know the nature of his promise to Trina. Some promises are impossible to keep.”
Vina exhaled slowly, the reassurance easing a fraction of her burden. She held out the tattered leather, still clutched in her hand. “He was working on Blood Runes. Look,” she said, letting a trickle of her blood glide over the leather. The runes flickered to life, a dance of red light, though some remained dull. “He hadn’t learned the skill yet, but his carvings were accurate. Why would he ask for my help, especially if it’s related to this?”
Riza reached out, her fingers brushing the leather as Vina handed it to her. “According to the latest security report, no one in the city has learned Blood Runes. Lord Halos is urgently seeking anyone with the skill, probably to reactivate the portal rings for evacuation of the city.”
Vina's brow furrowed in puzzlement. “Security report?”
Riza’s gaze, tinged with surprise and concern, met Vina’s. “Yes, Asharaina. It's a weekly briefing for The Family. Haven’t you reviewed it?” Her voice laced with a hint of alarm, she glanced toward the carriage door. “I think I brought a copy with me. One moment.” With swift movements, Riza stepped out, approaching one of the Tropsen. Vina leaned out, watching the exchange. Moments later, Riza returned, clutching a satchel filled with papers.
Handing over the satchel, Riza’s tone was imbued with urgency. “I can’t fathom why you didn’t receive this. It’s crucial you go through it immediately.”
As Vina sifted through the documents, she saw detailed guard schedules, Hakim’s meeting plans, and even her own itinerary, filled with appointments stemming from her painting’s influence. The papers were a window into the intricate workings of The Halos Family.
Riza settled beside her, a solemn expression on her face. “I hope it’s alright that I stay. The report is usually discussed with The Family’s head guard. Since Parin’s…” She paused, emotion creeping into her voice. “Well, I’ll do my best to assist you.”
Vina nodded, her throat tight with the memory of Parin’s loss, his fate at the hands of Stine was a silent, painful splinter in her heart. She turned to a section detailing her sister Ann’s chaotic escape from Halos, the repercussions of which rippled through the city. “Did you witness Adir and Ann’s escape?”
Riza’s eyes narrowed in recollection. “I only heard the commotion. My duty was to guard a refuge that night. Rumors say a woman was in Adir’s arms as he fled the city.”
Vina wanted to feel concern for Ann, but when she heard of Ann’s illness, she couldn’t even summon guilt over what happened to her sister. Masking her turmoil, she continued perusing the report. A discrepancy caught her eye. “This report seems incomplete. It jumps from page forty-seven to sixty-four.”
Riza examined the pages Vina handed her, her brow furrowing. “That’s odd. I was certain I had the complete packet.” Her frown deepened as she leafed through the papers. “Missing are details on Lord Haldo Halos’ activities and the interrogation of Eilin’s imposter now known to be named Ulesi.”
“Lord Haldo?” Vina echoed, a hint of curiosity in her voice. “I’ve not heard of him.”
“He’s Lord Hakim’s elder brother. Together they are the two heads of The Halos Family.” She hesitated before gesturing to Vina. “At least they were until you created your masterpiece.”
Vina mulled over this new information, wondering why Haldo had never come up in her discussions with Hakim. Riza’s vibrance betrayed her discomfort. “And the imposter, this Ulesi?”
“They’re Stigandorian, working for the adventurer’s guild,” Riza disclosed. “But beyond that, details are scarce.”
“So, some kind of espionage,” Vina mused, the weight of these revelations settling upon her. “Thank you, Riza. Please ensure I get these reports regularly.”
Riza nodded, her hesitance palpable. “I should return to leading your guard. We have some distance to cover by road, then a hike to reach Seassa.”
As the carriage continued its journey, Vina reclined, her gaze drifting through the window to the surreal landscape outside. Purple trees with blue leaves lined the road, their unusual colors painting a picture both alien and mesmerizing. Her mind, however, was preoccupied with more pressing matters.
Why would vital information be withheld from her by Hakim? And why hadn't the security report reached her regularly? These questions gnawed at her, hinting at complexities and undercurrents in the power dynamics she was only just beginning to grasp. She pondered Riza's visible unease during their conversation. Was it merely discomfort at discussing sensitive matters, or did it hint at deeper layers of intrigue and secrecy within The Family?
Lost in her contemplation, Vina scarcely noticed the hour passing by. The rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels and the passing blur of the vibrant forest outside provided a backdrop to her introspection. Eventually, the carriage slowed to a stop, marking the end of the road and the beginning of a more rugged journey.
Vina disembarked, surrounded by her retinue of twenty guards. They set off into the forest, the ground softening under their feet as they ventured away from the path. The walk through the dense woods took them another thirty minutes, during which the surreal beauty of the purple and blue foliage enveloped them in an almost ethereal ambience.
Inside this circle, the ground was barren and gray, cracked and devoid of any vegetation. A thin layer of ash blanketed the area, the only remnant of the flora that once thrived here. The clearing was eerily silent, devoid of the forest's natural symphony of life. The absence of sound, coupled with the sterile scent that filled the air, added to the unsettling atmosphere.
In the center of the clearing, Swordmaster Seassa and her students were engaged in thrusting sword training. The starkness of their disciplined movements against the backdrop of desolation made the scene even more unsettling for Vina. She stepped forward to lead her retinue, her resolve firm despite the unease that tugged at her senses.
As Vina approached the group, the rhythmic clashing of wooden swords resonated through the open air, creating a soothing pattern that gently eased her mind. She stepped forward, her senses growing attuned to the training session unfolding before her.
In the heart of this blasted landscape, Seassa's students were engrossed in sparring, their movements creating a dance of discipline and skill. Vina observed the students, noting the diversity in their abilities. About three dozen trainees were paired off, each duel a display of varying proficiency with the thrusting sword.
Her eyes and mind became analytical tools, meticulously recording the sequences of strikes and defenses. Each successful hit, each failed attempt, every graceful dodge, and each misstep was catalogued in her mind. She noticed the minutiae that made a difference: a wrist misaligned, a guard left open, a stance too wide. These observations accumulated in her mind, segregating into patterns of success and failure.
Her gaze then settled on Seassa, who was instructing two pupils. The swordmaster's movements were fluid and precise, a stark contrast to some of her students' faltering steps. Vina’s mind swiftly correlated Seassa’s expert maneuvers with the successful patterns she had observed, relegating the less effective techniques to mere anomalies.
As Seassa concluded her demonstration and began to approach her, Vina realized that without even lifting a sword, she had absorbed a wealth of knowledge. A notification blinked into existence in her vision:
You have gained Intermediate Proficiency with the Thrusting Sword. Damage Increased by a total of 50%.
“Asharaina, your return, amidst the whispers of these ancient woods, is indeed a welcomed sight,” Seassa intoned, her gaze lingering momentarily on Vina with a blend of respect and earnest anticipation.
“Swordmaster Seassa, I am truly lucky to have found my way back to a mentor as welcoming as you”, Vina replied. She had been mentally preparing greetings, inspired by Hakim’s own greeting to Seassa from days past. She knew now that Seassa highly valued polite manners and etiquette.
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Seassa smiled faintly, acknowledging Vina's politeness. "Your words are as gracious as your presence, Asharaina. What insights have you gathered since we last met? Your experiences, I'm sure, have further shaped your path."
Vina took a deep breath and let it out. “I’ve had mixed experiences, both good and bad.”
Seassa nodded grimly, “I suspect you bear an even heavier burden than when we last met. May I invite you to rest and partake in some refreshments? It is my hope that we might engage in a discussion on matters that weigh heavily upon both your heart and mine.”
With a smile on her face, Seassa turned to Riza. “My dear do not think I have forgotten you. Please join us so you might be most successful in your duty to protect our Family.” She turned her eyes back to Vina, “That is if you are willing to allow her attendance in hearing our personal struggles.”
Vina agreed and soon they were kneeling at a small folding table, whose legs were shoved deeply into the sand and ashes to keep it stable. Around them her students continued their training while Vina’s guards moved into a distant but circular position of protection around her.
Seassa poured a warm purple beverage into both of their cups and served what appeared to Vina like some kind of pastry. She took a drink from her cup and savored the sweet drink.
“Might you be inclined to renew your pursuit of training, Asharaina? The decision to engage in a formal mentorship again, of course, remains at your discretion,” Seassa asked.
Vina gave an exasperated sigh, “I would like to of course, but I am being told by Hakim that I’ll be needing to leave again soon. He hasn’t given me a deadline, but in this there is no compromise.”
Seassa nodded before she too drank from her cup with both hands. “The existence of an Asharaina is seldom marked by repose, as you well know. Our city teeters on the brink of a pivotal metamorphosis. Just another week and a significant number of people will be allowed to switch their class. Some of the most diligent attendees to your masterpiece already have. They will be needing you soon.”
Vina looked deeply into her cup. The beverage’s aftertaste switched from being sweet to a strangely more savory flavor, “To be honest, I’m shocked at how much time has passed. I don’t really know how long I was there with Trina. I was impressed today with those who have already switched their class.”
“How is Trina?” Seassa asked before taking a small bite of her pastry.
Vina shook her head, “Surrounded by a Gloom. Only The Darkness and shadows keep her company. She’s frozen and unmoving but somehow still alive. She’s trapped.”
Seassa put her pastry down and sighed deeply, “Aren’t we all.”
Vina took another drink as she considered Seassa’s question, “How do you mean?”
“Our predicament is universal, akin to Trina's own. Escaping the burdens we bear seems an elusive quest. All nations are held in a stasis of fear and expectation due to The Darkness. We live, yet our existence is shadowed, diminished by the weight of what looms over us,” Seassa said.
Vina furrowed her eyebrows as she considered. “I hadn’t thought of it that way before, but I can see what you mean.”
“Consider, Vina, the desolation that surrounds us. It's reminiscent, in a profound sense, of the Scar of Kanterne, created upon another continent in an age past. Yet, now, we witness new wounds, fresh scars upon our once beautiful world. The Darkness has not only overshadowed our lives but has begun to etch its mark upon the land, draining it of vitality, just as it does to our spirits.”
Vina didn’t need to look around to remember the unsettling place they now sat in. “What’s the Scar of Kanterne?” she asked, certain she had never heard of it before.
Seassa smiled at her, her expression one of understanding and patience. "The Scar of Kanterne is an expanse far vaster than our current surroundings, yet the essence of desolation it embodies is identical to what we witness here. Our very instincts recoil from these lifeless spaces. As for Kanterne, their identity remains shrouded in mystery. Historical accounts, even those from the venerable Shan, offer little illumination. Trina, in her wisdom, advised us to steer clear of such scars, imparting only the counsel to evade them when we can."
After a moment of reflective silence, Seassa shifted the topic gently yet deliberately. "With your return, the path to Trina, I surmise, is now a journey fraught with uncertainties. I imagine The Darkness would not allow you to return so readily a second time. Is it so?"
“No. I have a way back, but I won’t go until I am ready.” Vina answered, her eyes looking up from her cup.
Vina’s Blood Shot Eyes ability suddenly activated, hinting of something unspoken crossing Seassa's face. Seassa smiled briefly, then she continued, “That's heartening to hear. During your time there, was The Darkness tending to Trina?”
“In a way, I suppose so,” she answered as she bit into her pastry, her tone growing more guarded.
"And the atmosphere it created, was it as foreboding as the tales suggest?" Seassa inquired, her vibrance slowly filling with anticipation.
Vina hesitated, her discomfort evident. "It was horrible. I… I don’t really want to talk about it," she managed, her voice nearly breaking.
Seassa, observing Vina’s discomfort, allowed her gaze to drift downwards, lost in contemplation. The air grew thick with a palpable tension as her vibrance swirled a mixture of emotions. Then, in a tone that hinted at a deeper, more ominous knowledge, she asked, 'And the artifact... Everlasting? Tell me, did it still accompany Trina?
You have been poisoned. In the next 30 seconds, you will lose the ability to move.
“RIZA!” Vina screamed, her voice a mixture of shock and urgency, as she pushed away from the table in an effort to get distance from Seassa.
In that moment, chaos erupted. A new vibrance flared into existence from behind Vina. Simultaneously, Seassa's students, abruptly abandoning their training, turned on Vina’s guards with real swords drawn and ruthless aggression. Seassa herself rose, her movements deliberate and controlled, as she unsheathed her sword with an air of inevitability.
Vina, in a desperate scramble, kicked up a cloud of dust as she tried to retreat, only to be abruptly yanked backward by a firm grip on her armor. Riza stepped forward, a massive red scythe formed entirely from blood was held in her hands. Its dripping liquid sizzled against the dust at her feet.
“You’re going to get them killed, Vina,” Seassa said calmly.
“Sissa? What are you doing?” Riza asked, panic evident in her voice.
Seassa positioned her sword defensively, her stance suggesting a readiness to confront even her granddaughter. “I am doing what is necessary to save our world. Please Riza, you must return home. It is imperative that I take Vina with me.”
Vina, driven by instinct and desperation, rose swiftly, forging a weapon from her own veins. Riza positioned herself protectively in front of her, but the sounds of combat – the clashing of weapons and the cries of the wounded – filled the air. Seizing an opportunity, Vina formed a knife with her other hand and hurled it towards one of the assailants, striking him in the arm and allowing one of her guards to finish him off.
“Vina, stop!” Riza’s voice was a harsh growl as she backed away from Seassa. “We must run. We cannot beat her in a fight. Go now!” With a forceful push, she urged Vina to escape.
Vina turned to run but felt a creeping numbness in her legs. Stumbling after only a few steps, she cried out, “I’m poisoned!”
Before Riza could react, a sword lunged towards them in a swift thrust. With a swift movement of her blood scythe, Riza deflected the strike with her scythe, leaving Vina prone on the ground.
“You must depart now, Riza. Vina will accompany me,” Seassa insisted, her sword poised for another strike.
Riza, with a heavy heart, let her scythe rest against the ground. “Sissa, she’s my Asharaina,” she pleaded, her voice breaking with emotion.
Seassa shook her head, her resolve unyielding. “I will do what must be done, even if it means your end. Leave now!”
Vina gritted her teeth as the numbness quickly rose in her body. She wracked her brain for how she could help, but so many of her abilities were useless without the ability to move. She reached out to the blood being absorbed into the dry dirt around her and pulled at what she could. She formed it into a ball behind Seassa and activated a blood burst.
Seassa’s body blurred and most of the projectiles passed right through where she stood. Vina stopped the movement of the rest of the shrapnel before it could reach Riza and prepared a second blast. Then suddenly she couldn’t move anymore.
Unknown Paralytic poison has activated. Your body will clear the poison in 6:26.
She collapsed on her side, eyes wide open. She could only stare at Seassa’s face, now an image of calm confusion. Through her blood sense, Vina detected a trickle of red staining the swordmaster’s back. Riza, with her scythe raised, stood defiantly against Seassa, their weapons clashing in a blur too rapid for Vina’s paralyzed state to track accurately.
Vina’s mind raced, unhampered by her physical paralysis. The only sensation within her other than blood sense was the presence of Riza’s Life Link ability. Probing it with blood sense, she stumbled upon an astonishing revelation. But before she could act on it, a window notification flickered into her vision.
Title Under Threat: Asharaina You have become aware that one of your people is in danger. You have an obligation to help them. Failing to try will risk losing your title.
With urgency, Vina activated an ability, channeling it through the Life Link. A vibrant line of red blood forged a visible connection between them, and a bloody cloak began to materialize on Riza’s back. However, Vina realized with a sinking heart that the cloak’s ability to absorb damage was futile against physical weapons – Seassa’s specialty.
The imbalance in their duel was evident. Seassa parried Riza’s attacks with ease, artfully dodging when she chose to. A misdirected swing from Riza sent a spray of blood, sourced from her scythe, towards the onlookers, eliciting screams and shouts of alarm as it burned into their bodies. The sight of her injured students seemed to ignite a fiercer resolve in Seassa, and she began to strike back with increased ferocity.
Riza, despite her armor, started to accumulate small, yet significant wounds. Vina, in her desperate state, experimented further with the Life Link. “If I could send her Blood Cloak, can I send something else?”
As she experimented, the cloak melted, seeping into Riza’s wounds. Within moments, they healed, and the cloak reformed. Riza, momentarily astonished, quickly regained her composure and resumed her offensive against Seassa.
“Vina, cease this. The battle is concluded. Many of your guards lay dead; the others will soon be incapacitated. Riza's life hangs by a thread, spared only by my discretion. Will you compel me to slay my own granddaughter?” Seassa’s voice was calm, yet there was an edge of finality to her words as she navigated Riza’s attacks with ease. “Is your prowess limited to healing, or does it extend to resurrecting the dead?” She danced away from another strike. “This is your final chance, Vina. In your view, I will wound her leg. Should you heal her, my next strike will be lethal.”
Vina’s blood sense confirmed Seassa’s grim proclamation. Many of her guards lay slain, casualties of the students’ ruthless assault. Yet the students hadn't emerged unscathed either; a majority had fallen, struck down by her guards.
In a flurry of skilled maneuvers, Seassa swiftly brought Riza to one knee. Through the Life Link, Vina could feel Riza’s flagging stamina. The remaining dozen students, still loyal and ready, stood by to support Seassa. “I need to help Riza!” Vina’s mind screamed in desperation. But the harsh reality settled in; the only way to save Riza was by surrendering. Accepting her defeat, Vina braced for what was to come.
Seassa, pausing to observe Riza, emanated a wave of sadness that Vina could sense through her vibrance. After a moment, Seassa nodded, a gesture of reluctant gratitude. “Thank you, Vina. It was not my desire to end her life.” She signaled to her students. “Move quickly. We must depart. Ensure you have collected her belongings. Excellent, let’s proceed.”
“Sissa, please,” Riza implored, her voice breaking as she tried to inch closer.
“I have already dispatched for aid, Riza. You will survive this,” Seassa reassured with a tone of calm as she cleaned and sheathed her sword.
Vina felt herself roughly hoisted and draped over a student’s shoulder. She watched helplessly as students began moving the bodies and etching a complex diagram into the barren soil. A group of them produced golden stones, eerily similar to those used by the Oyna to contact The Shaper. Crushing them in unison, they released a golden fluid that flowed into the etched design.
Struggling futilely, Vina managed only a feeble squeak. Seassa glanced at her and remarked, “This? This is the might of The Supreme.”
As the golden liquid completed its circuit within the diagram, connecting back upon itself, their surroundings shifted instantaneously. The sound of crashing ocean waves and the sharp scent of salt air enveloped her. They had been transported to a new location, one dominated by a vast, relentless sea.