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Descent- The Fallen Blade
Empathy's Backlash

Empathy's Backlash

The Feast Table seemed endless, with the main course being the very boar slain by Anton. Foods ranging from what looked like potatoes and carrots to wild boar and delicious smelling bread covered the table. Drinks, mostly wine he saw, were being carried by servers. Several small fires ringed the outside courtyard they were located in, sitting in stone and bronze burners carved with images of what he assumed was Hestia. The fires set the space up nicely, especially as the sun faded from the sky.

Amara stood from her spot at the head, waving at Marshall and Anton as they walked toward the table. " Our heroes come!"

Everyone, even those that looked malicious and without love, clapped for them with righteous applause. Marshall's entire face burned red but Anton just sighed softly before putting on a warm smile on his face.

Without thinking, Marshall called out. "Thank you, so much... I've never felt so welcomed."

Amara nodded, her wise eyes filled with an odd sorrow. "So my oracles have told me." There was a tiny, purposeful pause, before she waved toward herself. "Come, sit. You both played a role in the boar's defeat, so you may sit near the head with me. This feast is in your honor, you know." The two so called heroes shared a look before moving toward the table and sitting on the right side, with Marshall being closer to Amara. Speaking of Amara, she raised her glass, calling out. "To the Gods, for sending us these conquering heroes and a man capable of great healing. Everything we needed and more!"

The courtyard exploded into more applause, this time more genuine, and with it came a warm wave of million uncertain emotions that seemed to sink into his skin and soul. 'What the?' Marshall muttered internally, swaying as his blood warmed, his head began to fog. Hundreds of pounds of knowing burned in his head, hate, love, fear, doubt, envy, and so much more. He could not focus, it was like a million hornets buzzing about between his ears. 'Gods, this is worse than when I made the mistake of getting high after downing like four beers. I know I'm a lightweight but I haven't even tried anything yet. I feel like my head weighs a million pounds.'

A soft whisper pierced through the fog and pain before he ended up falling over in agony. 'Breath, it will pass.' Soft, but utterly commanding, the voice anchored him in reality once more.

Turning about, he realized no one was even looking at him, they were just digging into their meals or tossing some into the braziers. Actually, that was false. Anton was staring at him, fear and concern etched onto his handsome, fishy face. "You alright?"

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"Not sure, there was this rush of emotions, and my head got heavy like a migraine was forming. Only, a woman's voice stopped it... " He started to grab some food, tossing some in the brazier to his right, before chowing down on the utterly delightful meal. "She was no human, I am guessing she's my patron."

Anton nodded slowly. "My best guess... you are right."

Oddly, despite being the "Conquering Heroes", no one really came to talk to either Anton or Marshall. In fact, most seemed to avoid them, one servant actually cringed when Anton asked for some wine. Another moved away with fear on their face when Marshall turned to ask them a question.

It was... odd.

'Good thing I am used to being the odd man out...' However, the more he saw how they treated Anton, rage started to burn in his blood. 'He saved your ungrateful lives...' The urge to smack someone filled him, which was saying a lot. He hated violence, loathed it entirely. Turning to Amara, he offered a sickly sweet smile. "So, how bad was it, when the Boar attacked? I might have to heal some more people."

His voice carried, he made sure of it, and several paled or turned red. It was only then that he noticed several looking pale, many had bandages or splints or even stitches.

Amara sighed, putting her food down. "The Boar came... after someone defiled Lady Artemis' temple, though I am not sure how. She was enraged, and sent a boar after us. None could even scratch it, however it could do more than scratch us. It killed thirty six, and wounded hundreds, destroyed farming fields and defiled our rivers with it's waste. Had you not appeared, giving Anton the blade, it would have killed us all or damaged us too much to recover." Her tone was heavy from the losses and fear she must have felt before.

Grabbing her hand, he offered her a hopeful smile. "Then it is a good thing I was given my power, whatever the cost I can help here. And I will... no matter that cost. Pain to me is worth saving others."

And then, to everyone's shock, his own included, a radiant blood red light tore from his body and exploded in waves that washed over the entire feast. Several people hissed as their wounds drank in the red light before fading into the faintest of scars. Just as before, however, Marshall was flooded with the pain he had taken. The sear of a cut cheek, the agony of a broken wrist, the struggle of a set of cracked ribs, the tiredness of blood loss.

Hundreds upon hundreds of anguished knowings overcame him, leaving him convulsing in Anton's strong arms before it all became too much and darkness overtook him.

And as he floated away, deep into himself, the same woman's commanding voice latched onto his soul. 'Come my, my son, it is time we spoke.' Before he was pulled into what he knew was the source of his newly divine powers.