“Who’s there?!”
Flames burst around him as Finn equipped the Pyrrhic Blade, but somehow the sparking red dulled as soon as he had swept it before him.
Huh?!
“Don’t you remember me, Finn Callahan?” the voice purred from the dark. It was deep, and rich, and every time it spoke, Finn felt a wave of power wash over him. He had heard a voice like that before, hadn’t he? It hadn’t been laden with power, though.
“Here… Let me…enlighten you.” The voice chuckled as the dark appeared to lighten, quiver, and then Finn watched scintillating shades of deep, arcane purple lace through it, rushing together to combine into a spinning form. The purple flashed and flexed, sometimes rippling with brilliant celestial energy, and darkening at others. The light was forming a humanoid shape, but one that was taller than Finn—even where he was standing several steps up from the library floor.
“Uh, very impressive, but I’m not really seeing the resemblance…” Finn managed to say, even as waves of power rushed over him. He knew that he stood in the presence of a very powerful being, possibly a demi-god or higher spirit, but he couldn’t remember ever seeing a being like it before.
“Oh, really? I’m hurt. Perhaps this will help,” the creature said. Its form flushed blue, and then Finn was looking at a man-giant with a perfectly sculpted torso and a face that was humanoid, save for its glowing blue skin and eyes like burning diamonds.
“Lord See!” Finn gasped. Only it wasn’t Lord See anymore, was it? It was the demi-god being that had lured countless souls to Malvas in order to reap their experience and ascend, merging with the entrapped First Vampire to become…
The Asai of Shadow.
“I would rather you call me by my correct title—Highness, Lordship, Your Greatness—but I do remember when I had such a small name,” the Asai said. Its skin started to change into a deeper blue. “As I remember you, Finn Callahan, Defender and Realm Founder of Blackwood. I recall how you helped me to ascend, and for that, I am grateful.” The being took a step, turning slowly. Its brilliant eyes illuminated the space around them. “Rather dreary surroundings, don’t you think? I expected nothing less from Time, of course.”
He’s talking about the Asai of Time, Finn realized. They were the one who created this pocket realm, who was supposed to be in charge of it, guarding it. Somehow, Finn couldn’t imagine the Asai of Time ever allowing the Asai of Shadow into his sacred domain.
“How are you even here? I mean, have you forged an alliance with Time?” Finn asked, astonished.
“An alliance? Engines forbid, no!” the Asai of Shadow laughed. The nearest bookshelves shook, and Finn struggled to stay standing. “My purpose and Time’s are quite at odds with each other, I’m afraid. If he were still in charge here, he would never allow it! But the Asai of Time is weakened—injured, you might say—and that is why this place is infected...” Shadow said, flicking a hand toward one of the shelves. A grimoire floated off it and flicked open before his giant form, like he was reading it. With a disgusted snort a moment later, the Asai gestured again, and the book rotted into a pile of dust.
Finn gulped. If he was so powerful that he could do that, what could he do to Finn’s body?
Or, hopefully, to the zombies?
“Your, uh, Asai-ship? I don’t want to seem rude, but I’m in kind of a tight spot at the moment…” Finn said, throwing a look behind him to where the thumping and creaking continued.
“Oh, them? Puppets, nothing more.” The Asai of Shadow waved his hand, and a darkness so total fell behind him that it was like looking at death itself. All sound of Finn’s pursuers instantly stopped. “They will not bother us. They might bother you afterward, but that depends on how our little conversation goes now, doesn’t it?”
Finn muttered something not very nice under his breath. This was precisely the sort of posturing that he hated from highly ascended beings. He did his best not to glower at the being that could probably destroy him in a heartbeat.
“You want something. From me.”
There was another deep, resonating chuckle from the blue-skinned giant. “Oh, my dear Finn, I want nothing from you at all. But I can offer you something that would be mutually beneficial to both of us.”
Finn could see the catch here. “Beneficial to you if I do it, but if I don’t, then I guess I’m going to get torn apart by zombies?”
“Staying alive is beneficial to you, is it not?” the Asai countered.
Finn gritted his teeth and balled his fists. If only he were stronger, then he wouldn’t get stuck in these games with beings who thought they were gods! Or maybe they were gods. He didn’t know the difference.
But Malvas needed him. Esther needed him.
“Fine. I’ll do it, so long as it doesn’t harm any of my people,” Finn snarled. The Asai of Shadow threw his head back, laughing so loud that the very floor shook. Finn was forced to crouch as waves of power buffeted him.
“Oh, honestly, I never tire of dealing with mortals.” After a moment, he collected himself and turned to face Finn directly. His tone lowered, and somehow, his eyes grew brighter. “The last time we spoke, you asked for a simple boon, which I gave to you. The location of your sister Esther. Now you are perhaps ready to hear the rest of the puzzle…”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
What?! Finn didn’t trust the Asai. Who would trust someone who was the incarnation of darkness and subterfuge?
“I know that she was imbued with qlippothic energy by some renegade Asai, but I will heal her. We won’t be pawns in anyone’s game anymore…”
“Won’t you, Finn Callahan of Blackwood?” The Asai stepped closer, raising one hand with a ball of glistening, roiling black in his palm. “When you were elevated into the Celestial Engines, a Renegade broke the rules. He broke the system, just a little, but it was enough for the qlippothic powers to take notice and to take advantage. Your sister has become a super-weapon, capable of delivering qlippothic energy straight into the Celestial Engine or any celestial creature. In this way, that other realm wishes to infect, and ultimately bring down, the system itself.”
Finn felt his stomach lurch, but he nodded grimly, refusing to show how appalled he was that they would use his sister that way.
“That infection is already spreading out, reaching through all of the realms. Why do you think that the Asai of Time couldn’t be here? That this place is infected with the undead? It is another shadow of the Qlippothi, reaching even here. Especially here.”
Finn’s mind raced. “The Celestial Register. The register of all souls in the Celestial Engines. Is that what you are talking about? Why this place is infected?”
The blue-skinned giant appeared to shrug, as if this chatter was beneath him.
“Clearly. The Celestial Register is one of the key pieces of the engines. It is what we call a prism, a node of Time’s power, which every Asai of Time that has ever ascended keeps. If the Qlippothi seized it, or destroyed it, then think of the damage that would cause to the entire system.”
Finn tried to. The location of every soul would be unknown to the Asai. There would be no more scheming from the gods with the lives of the lesser ascended mortals… Perhaps it would even affect their levels?!
“So, in return for your life, you will inject a portion of my essence instead into the Celestial Register. That will keep it safe.” The Asai of Shadow gestured with the ball of black, glistening energy.
I don’t believe that for a second, Finn thought.
“But what of Time himself? You say the register is a…a prism? A shard of his power? What will this do to him?” Finn asked.
“As if you could care! Time wanted you destroyed, remember?” Shadow scoffed, once again offering the ball of glistening black energy. “This is the only way that you survive this realm, Finn Callahan of Blackwood. It is the only way that you run back to Malvas, and to your sister.”
Finn looked at the glistening, oily orb. He could feel the weight of it in the air, and he wondered about what devastating power it contained. He was full of doubts. Why was Shadow apparently seeking to help Time by securing the register? Finn tried to fathom it, but he couldn’t.
Maybe he isn’t helping Time at all. Maybe this is another powerplay, and Shadow wants this realm for himself?!
That seemed like the more likely scenario.
The Asai seemed to straighten his shoulders just a little. “I see you have your doubts and questions, of course you do, but this is the truth. You and your sister are pawns. Every soul is a pawn of the Asai or the Qlippothi… or both. You can either accept that your ascension ends here, torn apart by the undead, or you can play your part and maybe someday ascend yourself.”
Finn had never been very good at being given orders. He bristled as a fiery rage started to run through him. Even though he could feel the waves of power beating against his body, he forced himself to stand with a grunt.
There was a flicker of light from the eyes of the Asai of Shadow, as if not even a being of his power had expected that.
Finn stared at the Asai, and the orb, and he thought of his sister. What did it matter what games of superiority the Asai were playing with each other? Maybe Shadow would use this to weaken, even defeat, Time…but all Finn cared about was Esther, Blackwood, and Malvas.
“Fine. I’ll do it. Just promise me that me and my people will be safe.”
“Oh, there are no promises in the games of ascension, but I can guarantee you that none of my powers will bring you or yours harm. They will strengthen you. All you have to do is deliver it to the Celestial Register, and then you may leave,” the Asai said.
Finn nodded and reached out to touch the edge of the glistening black ball.
>
>
> [CELESTIAL ENGINE ERROR!]
>
>
Finn was thrown back as if swatted by a giant hand. He must have hit the stone steps, but he didn’t feel any pain—or any sensation at all—as darkness surrounded him.
>
>
> [CELESTIAL ENGINE OVERWRITE…]
>
> [The Prism of Shadow has been added to your inventory.]
>
>
“Huh, what?!” Finn thrashed, but he didn’t know where he was. He didn’t even know if he was anymore. All around him was darkness, and it was inside of him as well, a ball of shadow power that he could feel running through his mind and body.
>
>
> Temporary Prism:
>
> +5 to all Attributes
>
>
>
> Temporary Mana Limit Set:
>
> Your Mana has temporarily increased by 500.
>
>
>
> Temporary Ascension Path Set:
>
> Ascension Path: Shadow.
>
>
>
> Shadow-Step:
>
> Mana Cost: 50+
>
> You may use shadows as portals, as long as you know the exact location where you are stepping out from.
>
>
>
> Camouflage:
>
> Mana Cost: 50
>
> You may hide your actions and movements.
>
>
>
> Shadow-Strike:
>
> Mana Cost: variable
>
> Mana + INT base damage
>
>
>
> Confound:
>
> Mana Cost: 75
>
> You may confound your enemy with wreaths of darkness.
>
>
“What, but…I don’t understand!” Finn said.
Then, the darkness appeared to recede, replaced with the dim ruddy glow of his blade where it lay on the floor beside him. He was still in the library, but the Asai of Shadow was gone.
Finn was alive, which was perhaps the most surprising thing of all. He gasped for air and sat up. A moment later, he heard the scratching and creaking above him. The red glow of his sword illuminated both the steps and the bookcase being shoved out of the way.
“Looks like the Asai of Shadow wasn’t going to help me that much!” Finn muttered. He scrambled to his feet, snatched up his sword, and backed further into the library.
Then again, maybe he had, Finn realized as the door burst open and spilled undead bodies onto the landing. There was more than a dozen of them. The tunnel beyond was completely filled.
The Asai of Shadow had given him new powers, albeit temporarily.
“All I need is a shadow, right?” Finn saw the nearest gap between two aisles, and he thought of the shadows he had seen inside the Tower of Time, under the stairs that led to the instructor’s private chambers.
Finn grasped for his new power as the zombies lunged.
>
>
> Ascension Path: Shadow
>
> Shadow-Step