25

Oliver was running. He ran through the darkness with a speed and grace he had been denied for the last several days. He wound through hallways, darkened by his own subconscious. He didn’t know where he was going, he turned corner after corner without slowing, surely passing each fork in his path without the slightest hesitation. Wherever he was going, he knew the way instinctively.

After several minutes in the darkness of his own mind, he finally noticed a glow. It was Angli. He knew it was. She would know how to help. She always did. He hurried his pace along, rounding a few more corners as the light grew brighter.

“Angli, what is happening?” he asked as he rounded the next corner, bringing the light into focus. What he came upon instead was something that chilled Oliver to his core.

A swirling black mass pulsed in front of him, and the light he had been seeing was revealed to be a malevolent purple set of eyes. The creature seemed to have no real substance, Oliver could see its eyes clearly, though they also seemed to be obscured by its shifting black mass. It was as if it was looking in the opposite direction, and in fact the creature looked to be enthralled by something far off in a distant corner of his mind.

Oliver barely had time to make this observation when the eyes seemed to flow through the creature until their shining malevolence was locked on him. The horror narrowed its eyes in suspicion for a moment before recognition seemed to cross its eyes. They opened wide and shone brightly, locking Oliver in place with trepidation. From the black mass there spread a ghastly grin. Its teeth were visible only as a deep red glow in the darkness. The grin spread wider until it was all that he could see within the dark form.

The form itself swelled in front of him until it was his whole field of vision. It seemed to be rising above him, coming closer and trying to swallow him up. Oliver finally forced his feet to take a few steps back as it advanced. The mouth parted and a single sinister word, deep and full of loathing escaped from the depths.

“Food,” it rumbled.

Then the mass lunged for him, making a lightning-fast attempt to devour him. Before Oliver could even flinch backwards, a massive set of bars slammed down on the creature, caging it in place. The monster raged, thrashing around in its captivity. It seethed and its eyes centered on Oliver again.

“Coward,” it breathed slowly as light came back into Oliver’s vision.

26

“Wake,” a serene voice spoke in Oliver’s ear.

Oliver slowly opened his eyes, already forgetting the terrifying ordeal he had just went through within his mind. The sight he beheld was enough to make him believe he was still dreaming. A woman with brilliant blue eyes was leaned over him. She had long straight hair of such a startling blond that it appeared to be shining. Her face was unblemished. she smiled at him warmly, her presence was enough to soothe his many aches and pains. In fact, he couldn’t feel a single discomfort.

“Hello Oliver. Hello Angli. It has been too long,” The woman said. Her voice came out as musical notes so perfectly toned, Oliver had only one response.

“Am I dead?” he asked.

The woman laughed, her voice the most beautiful tone Oliver had ever heard. She looked at him with warm eyes, and Oliver began blushing. Her gaze was one that hid no emotion. She was looking at him with affection.

Oliver had known women over the years, but few had any interest in him. Considering his history of extreme physical injury, not many people wanted a life companion who was prone to disappear for days, weeks, or even months in order to rejuvenate after a harsh battle. It tended to dissuade the few who had ever made the effort to love him. But this woman was different.

She looked at him now with the expression of a woman who knew the road he walked and would wait for a thousand years to see him. He was startled to see such adoration in her eyes. He had never met this woman before, yet deep in his soul he knew her. She was a dream he could never quite remember. She was a friend he had not seen for innumerable years. She was someone important. He only wished he knew who.

“You are alive,” she said, “many hardships await, but trust that in this moment you are both alive and safe.”

“Have we met before?” Oliver was still reeling from his collapse and the sliver of memory he had from his unconsciousness. That part was unclear, but he was certain it had deeply disturbed him.

“That would depend on your point of view. For you, I am sure it seems like the first time. For one such as myself, the Sight tends to toss such things into a maddening philosophical discussion about the chicken or the egg,” the woman responded with no small amount if enigma.

“The Sight?” Oliver asked.

“I have visions of the past, visions of the present, and visions of the future. The experience is ineffectively put into words, but certain events across time can be witnessed, and from these events myself and others can draw conclusions about our own fates.”

“So, you have met me in a vision?” Oliver asked, suddenly intensely curious what that vision might have entailed. The woman only smiled, giving nothing more on the subject and moved on to greeting Angli formally.

“Hello Angli. I am so happy to see you alive and still fighting to preserve everything we have striven to protect.”

Oliver was startled to see a globe of energy leave his chest and manifest on his other side, opposite where the still enthralling woman stood over his bed. Angli formed from the light magic, coalescing as a similarly regal and powerful figure, though the majestic woman across from her muted the effect somewhat. She still stood proud and tall, her resplendent robes flowing around her like a wind rustled them.

“I have missed you, Illari. How long has it been?”

“One thousand, three hundred and forty-eight years, sixty-seven days, and an unfathomable amount of heartache.” Illari responded exactingly.

“My how time gets away from us when we are soul bound to a Master Seal huh?”

“Indeed, but it is still great to know you are alive and well. After all you have done for the world, for my people specifically, it brings me great joy and relief to know you are safe.”

“Please Illari, I am not worthy of such praise.” Angli responded in a self-recriminating tone.

“Do not be so hard on yourself. You have done more than almost any other to preserve the natural order. I can think of only one other in the span of history that could claim more honor than you in such regards.”

“And who is that?” Oliver asked, trying to rejoin the conversation. The women both looked at him like he was asking why water felt so wet.

“Silas the Divider, of course,” Illari responded after a long silence.

Oliver felt a tingle run through his being at the mention of the name. He had learned of Silas from Angli when she showed him the memory, but it never clicked in his head until this moment. He again heard the ominous words in his ears.

“You may never rest until you know the truth of Silas the Divider.”

Angli seemed to notice his distress because she commented on it. Illari on the other hand looked at him in sadness.

“Are you okay Oliver?

“I’m okay,” he lied.

“You look pale. Are you still feeling weak?”

“I feel great, now that you mention it. How is that possible?” Oliver asked, in a hurry to change the subject. It was Illari that answered.

“I healed you. It took a finesse that Angli is incapable of.”

“What do you mean? Angli is the most talented Orenda I’ve ever seen. What could she possibly be incapable of?”

“Physical contact. It appears your aura won’t support a targeting spell, but as long as someone is in direct contact with you, spells can still find purchase. This particular injury could not be fixed from within your body. I can teach you some spells for healing without targeting the aura. Also, any spell that targets an area rather than an aura can still affect you.”

“Interesting, he said.

Oliver wasn’t sure how she had gleaned the last part, but he supposed it may have just been common sense. Catching the ground on fire was very different from trying to boil his insides with a flame spell. He would have to keep these distinctions in mind if he ever faced someone else who could cast spells, which was likely, given his current quest to find Ro.

“Angli, please explain your current situation. We haven’t had contact since you established the Soul Bond with the Seal. I have guessed much of what has happened, but I would like the confirmation of certain details.”

Angli spent several minutes describing the events that had transpired. To Oliver’s surprise, she started not with his mortal wounding, but with her own sealing within the Wellspring. She mentioned how after Illari had agreed to break the Soul Bond, she had placed Reina in wait for what would eventually be Oliver’s inheritance.

She then told how she used her strongest earth-based spell to rework the earth underneath the manor and create the chamber where she would seal herself. Oliver was confused about what a Soul Bond was, but when he tried to ask, Illari had simply said he would know soon enough. He listened as Angli described what it was like to create a Soul Bond with the Master Seal, something that no one had ever done before.

Oliver was in awe at her recounting. The way she described it, her spirit willingly left her body to merge with the Holy Sword and the Wellspring. The Master Seal accepted her Soul Bond and her spirit became the magical lock that held Ro inside of the Wellspring.

Oliver expected her to have jumped forward to his time at that point, but surprising him again, she told a tale of spiritual battle between her and Ro. Apparently tying herself to the Master Seal had given Ro a spiritual connection to her. She explained that since the Master Seal was not just a physical seal, but also a magical and spiritual seal as well, she had inadvertently linked her spirit not only to the Seal but also to Ro’s spirit. When Ro had discovered her spirit, he had waged a never-ending conflict with her.

Oliver was humbled to hear the torment her own spirit had endured. The agony she described made his own wounding seem like a minor inconvenience by comparison. She had endured over a thousand years of torment before Oliver came to release the Seal. According to Angli, Ro had been in the middle of a particularly brutal spiritual attack when she convinced Oliver to break the Seal.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

She believed that Ro thought he had unbound her spirit from the Wellspring, thus effectively killing her. With no body to return to, he believed she had been released into the Web of Rebirth. What he had not known was that while he had successfully unbound her spirit from the Wellspring, she remained bound to the Holy Sword.

She went on to finally describe what Ro had done to Oliver, taking no less time or effort describing his own ordeal. She spoke of a very specific spirit attack which made Illari wince and look at Oliver with sympathy in addition to the constant adoration she still wore on her face. Angli went on to describe her emergency medical procedure.

Oliver had not known exactly how she had saved him, or how she went about tying her spirit to his body, but when she described it now, she called it “Advanced Spirit Stitching.” Illari seemed to know exactly what she meant, so no further explanation was given. When Angli finished describing what happened, she paused, as if unsure of how to proceed.

“Is there anything else?” Illari asked.

Angli hesitated for only an instant before proceeding. When she did, it was with a soft voice. It was as if she didn’t want anyone else to hear her. Oliver didn’t understand her demeanor, they were in a small white room with bare walls, there was barely any room beside the bed, the door at the foot of the bed was closed. They were obviously alone. Still, Angli spoke like there were ears listening at the door.

“On the way through the forest, Oliver had his name spoken by a banshee.”

Illari looked first at Angli, and then at Oliver. For the first time, the loving expression she wore dissolved. It was replaced by a look of extreme discomfort. Behind her anxious eyes, a thousand thoughts seemed to flash in an instant before she too whispered in response.

“Now it makes sense. After so many years I finally understand what sets you apart.”

“What are you talking about?” Oliver asked. She wasn’t making sense.

“You will come to know what I mean in time. I cannot explain further now, as you would not understand any explanation I could give. What I can tell you is that you have a long and difficult road ahead of you. Only after you comprehend your place on Du Varia will you understand your path. Just as I am only now finding the answers to the questions I have been asking for so many years,” Illari said sadly.

To that Oliver had no response. Ever since he woke up with her beautiful face above him, he had felt like he was watching someone else live. Nothing had quite seemed real, like he was living a dream. But when Illari spoke of the path he would walk, he felt certain not only that what he was seeing was real, but also that Illari, whoever she was, knew more about him than ought to be possible.

“So, you’re some type of Oracle, right? You see the future?” he asked her.

“And the past, and the present,” She answered.

“So, you’ve seen my future? You know what happens in my life?”

“I see many things. Your path, as I said, will be a confusing one. You may often feel lost without a hope of guidance. Just know that I will be here for you, as I always have been.”

27

“Oliver needs to be Soul Bonded,” Angli interjected, cutting the tension that had been growing like a knife. She seemed to be good at that kind of thing.

“What is a Soul Bond” You guys have mentioned it several times now, do I finally get to know what it is?” he asked.

“A Soul Bond is a willing contract between your soul and the soul of another,” Angli answered.

“Only one Soul Bond may be made at a time. Once established, a Soul Bond can only be broken with the mutual agreement of both parties.” Illari explained.

“And you want me to make a Soul Bond with Illari?” Oliver asked.

“Yes,” Angli and Illari said at the same time.

Illari was once again looking at him lovingly. He still had no idea exactly why she seemed to adore him, but obviously she had seen things he had not in their future. The more he stared back at her adoring face, the hotter his own face became. In her eyes he could see desire, longing, sorrow, and even pleasure. It was making him blush redder and redder. Before he could form a suitable response, or even stutter his embarrassment out, Illari grasped the necklace he wore around his neck.

“Illari,” she spoke to it.

The figure immediately began glowing. It shone with a brilliant light that made Oliver cover his eyes. After a few seconds it began to subside, but just as it did, a voice spoke not out loud, but in his head. It was a calm voice, and undeniably female, but he had never heard it speak before.

“Illari wishes to Bond her soul to yours. Such a union cannot be forced. Do you accept her Bond?”

“Who is that?” Oliver asked.

“Illari, a piece of my Soul, is speaking to the core of your being. She will serve as the permanent connection between your spirit and my own.”

“What happens if we Bond?”

“What do you think?” Illari asked with a smile. The mix of loving emotion had never left her face. Oliver still felt like he was being forced into something he didn’t understand, but at the same time, he felt deep down that his soul wanted to be bonded to her. While he deliberated, the voice spoke again within his mind.

“Do you accept?” it asked.

Illari leaned close to him. Her hand gently caressed his face, her fingers soft and cold to the touch. Her face was only a few inches above his. Her brilliant blonde hair draped across his face. He could smell the scent of strawberries and honey wafting from her. Her blue eyes bore into his soul, and she repeated the words out loud.

“Do you accept?” She asked.

“I accept,” Oliver whispered, transfixed.

A surge of heat so intense Oliver gasped uncontrollably spread through him. It didn’t burn, it invigorated him. He felt it spread to his every cell before receding into the necklace that was now replaced upon his chest. Even as the heat left him, Oliver could feel the presence of Illari within him.

He felt the tide of her emotions, which seemed a thousand times more complex and intense than what he could read from her face. He was overwhelmed by her feelings. There was no doubt in his mind that this woman, who he had never met before, was deeply in love with him. She still held his face, still smiled at him from only inches away. He had no idea why, but he felt compelled to ask.

“Who are you?” he wondered.

“I’m yours,” she replied before bringing her mouth slowly to his own. Her embrace was gentle, almost fragile, like she feared hurting him. Her lips were soft and wet, bringing forth a longing within Oliver that he had never experienced before. He knew deep in his heart that Illari was meant for him, which was fitting considering he had just bonded his soul to her. Their embrace went on for several seconds, until an uncomfortable voice broke the silence.

“Well, this is awkward,” Angli said before disappearing back into Oliver’s mind.

28

To say Oliver was flabbergasted by the recent turn of events would have been a colossal understatement. A couple months ago, he had been alone, the last remnant of his family. He had borne witness to his family members disappearing and dying in battle one by one until he was the only one left. He fought alongside all of them, earning wounds and scars fit for the most seasoned of warriors. But now, his entire upbringing seemed paltry compared with the life he had been thrust into.

In the blink of an eye, Oliver had become… different. When Ro severed his spirit from his body, that should have been the end. No human, Blessed or not, should have been able to survive such an attack. Oliver knew that.

What was more, according to Angli, having his name spoken by a banshee and surviving was impossible. His entire existence seemed to defy the laws of the universe. Oliver was overwhelmed. It seemed like every minute since Angli first spoke to his mind had been a never-ending lesson, jamming his mind so full of new and contradicting information that the things he grew up believing became circumspect.

It felt like every time he asked a question, the tide of information that Angli drowned him in grew larger and larger. His mind slowly ordered every sliver of truth gleaned from his curiosities. It was a time-consuming process, and he worried that the time it would take to fully make sense of everything was far too great even for one with such a long life.

And then there was Illari. From the first second he met her eyes, he had a suspicion that she knew more about him than she’d let on. After she kissed his lips with all the passion of a lover, he had no doubt. Even so, the enigma of a woman refused to give him any answers. She immediately pretended nothing had happened after kissing him, moving to speak at length about Ro and his general whereabouts.

According to her, Ro overthrew King Arendor, striking him down in his own castle. He then conscripted every Brute, Enduriel, and Orenda in the country to fight for him. No one knew why he was gathering the Blessed, but Illari had the suspicion it was for conquest. Once he had trained the Blessed, he would set out on a bloody crusade, leaving untold death and destruction in his wake.

Each group had a reason to be feared. The Brutes were just what they sounded like, physically overwhelming. They could overcome damage that would kill any other, healing from mortal wounds in a matter of minutes, and the damage they dealt was unparalleled.

Enduriel had so much stamina that they could travel for days with no sleep or rest and when their comrades began to collapse from exhaustion, they would calmly step over their dead companions and continue the march. Their vast reserves of energy allowed them to power their strikes with the energy from their bodies. What was more, their ranks included the wisest of battle commanders, hardened veterans who had lived so long and seen so much, nothing could shake their will.

Then there were the Orenda. Quite literally a force of nature. The limits of an Orenda could not be calculated. In times of peace, Orenda made extremely helpful workers. Most of them used their magic to help mundane tasks move much easier. It was unusual in this age to come across a war mage. Ro was making them all sign up to fight. Oliver knew that despite the absence of actual training, that was extremely dangerous.

No one knew what any of them could do. It was random. One might be specialized in healing, while another could have fire magic. Theoretically, the only limitations they suffered were their capacity for new spells and the fortitude of their bodies. If they were desperate enough, any one of them could unleash enough magic to smite an army by themselves.

Needless to say, the conversation was not a very encouraging one. From what Oliver could tell, both of these commanding women were only moments away from demanding that he depart immediately and confront the threat. It was almost a certainty. His suspicions seemed to be confirmed when Angli spoke only seconds after he had the thought.

“Oliver,” she began.

“You’re about to tell me I’m the world’s only hope, and I have to go stop him. I’ve got it,” he said.

“I was going to say you need to visit Unval, the master swordsman. Your skills are abysmal.”

Oliver was struck dumb. He had no idea how to respond. Angli let the silence lengthen, as if seeking to punish him for his insolence. After what Oliver considered to be a torturous silence, she spoke again.

“Please do not take offense Oliver. I know you have great ability and potential, but the dangers you’ve faced up until we met were nothing compared with what lies ahead. I know firsthand the horrors that await you. You were raised fighting sheep and now you must face dragons.” Angli stated gently.

“I have fought monsters too numerous to count. How can you say they are all sheep?”

“What is the worst creature you have ever faced?” Illari interjected, sounding serious.

Oliver had to think for a minute. He really had fought some tough fights with his family over the years. There was the uprising of kobolds. There had been a pretty rough run in with a griffin. He had killed more goblins than he could have counted, but what was the worst thing he had faced?

“One time my father and I were tracking a monster through the wild, following blood stains on trees and the sound of its distant wailing. When we finally caught up with the beast it turned out to be a troll. It nearly killed me, and my dad was barely able to bring it down. I can still see its bloodshot eyes. I get chills just thinking about it.” Oliver said with gravitas.

“A troll huh?” Angli asked.

“Yeah, I’ll never forget the sound of its teeth grinding across the bones of a man it had killed.”

“Did you know a troll is just a Corrupt Brute?” She asked.

“What?” Oliver responded, confused.

“You are familiar with the concept of a Corrupt, correct?” She asked.

“Yes, someone who loses control of a Wellspring’s energy becomes a corrupt.”

“Correct. So, what do you think would happen if the energy required to Bless a Brute was absorbed too quickly? Do you think the energy might mutate a body? Do you think it’s possible that such an event could cause massive growth in both height and body hair? Would it not explain the durability and strength of trolls?” Angli asked.

“You’re saying the monster we killed that day was...?”

“A human, yes. I’m also saying that if a troll was the worst thing that you’ve ever dealt with, you have a long way to go before you can hope to survive what’s coming. A troll would shit its pants and run away screaming at the horrors soon to unfold in your life, mark my words,” she said ominously.

“And you’re certain that there is no amount of exaggeration in those words?”

“Oliver, I wish I could tell you that you have what it takes. I’m not trying to break your confidence. I simply wish to open your eyes to reality before it’s too late.” Angli said earnestly.

“When will it be too late?”

“When Ro spreads his corruption through our world and brings about the end of days.”

“There is never any levity is there?” He asked, bemused.

“Do not worry,” Illari said, “I will consult with Ilgna on the best course of action. You will meet with Unval in the meantime. Return here after your instruction and we will speak further.”

“Who is Ilgna?” Oliver asked.

She is the keeper of knowledge,” Illari responded after quickly glancing at Angli.

“The keeper of knowledge? Is that one of the jobs of the people here? To guard knowledge?” Oliver asked.

“No. It is her job alone. She has overseen the knowledge of mankind for several millennia,” Illari responded, sounding sad.

“Let’s go, Oliver.” Angli said before disappearing into his chest.