Soon, morning came. They awoke to the sound of knocking outside their door.

They awoke to the sound of knocking outside their door [https://img.wattpad.com/a4951df3c285fad76b4e1d8d8f0b945b01bd8f77/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f754c37646e54716c5a50584156413d3d2d313139393134333039312e3137323934373036396334353061363137313934343730343230362e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Tentoria: Raxyas? Bazren? It's me, Tentoria. I've come to take you to Linvaes, so that you may receive your next assignment...

Bazren gets up and unlocks the door, letting her in. Then, she quickly closes it behind Tentoria. In her hand, Bazren held two of Qu's communicators, and extends them to Tentoria.

Bazren (in a hushed tone): One of these is for you. We'll talk later... Just make sure you conceal it in your vessel, and channel energy into it when you sense it humming.

Tentoria takes the communicator discretely. Bazren hands another one to Raxyas too, to replace his broken one.

Tentoria: I shall. Please, follow me.

Tentoria takes them through the leftmost corridor, leading to the throne room. There, Linvaes awaited them.

Tentoria: Here they are, Linvaes.

Linvaes: Yes, thank you. You may go now.

Tentoria leaves, looking at them over her shoulder as she does.

Linvaes: Firstly, sorry for having left so abruptly yesterday. It wasn't one of my proudest moments, to be sure...

Raxyas: It's alright, Linvaes. I understand your thought process. Evil may always be evil, we may never know if people can truly change.

Raxyas had given Linvaes' words some thought.

Linvaes: Correct... So, you agree after all?

Raxyas: Not entirely. Just because you were born evil, doesn't mean you must act in accordance with your nature. You can still reject it.

Linvaes: Hmph. Why would you do so? Why would anyone desire to go against what they cannot change?

Raxyas: Because it is not all that they are. Are we but mindless savages who follow only our base impulses? No. We each have our dark thoughts, we each have our dark desires... That does not mean we must act upon them. In fact, wouldn't it be a display of honor and mental fortitude not to act upon those base impulses? To reject our nature, so we can become not what we were born to be, but instead what we aim to be?

Linvaes was caught off-guard by his take.

Linvaes: I... Suppose I had never thought of it that way. But even so, one cannot ever truly know who has committed to rejecting their dark nature, or who is simply pretending to have done so, only to keep performing immoralities behind your back.

Raxyas: But then how do you know who is evil and who isn't? How can you ever know if it's an act or not?

Linvaes: ... You cannot.

Raxyas: Right... And that is why I cannot fully agree with you. We will always have wolves in sheep's clothing. And we will always have sheep that were raised among wolves. Why should we punish those who could still change, but then do nothing in regard to the ones who do their best to look the part, whilst concealing the most hideous of deeds? If you're going to punish one group, you should at least punish the other, too. Of course, that would be impossible. At that point, you condemn every single person in existence, because you cannot know who anyone truly is. You may be okay with condemning all criminals, because you assume that even if you are condemning people who could still change, you condemn so many more who could not that it makes it okay. I don't think it's okay. I don't believe in collective punishment, Linvaes.

Linvaes crosses his arms and looks to the side.

Linvaes: Alright. You have made your point, Raxyas.

Raxyas: Do you understand me now?

Linvaes nods.

Linvaes: ... I do.

He looks at Raxyas.

Linvaes: I don't know if I can fully agree with you, but I do understand where you're coming from.

Raxyas: I'm glad.

He uncrosses his arms. His face betrayed a slight smile.

Linvaes: Let us hope we can find some better way of hunting the wolves.

Raxyas smiles. Bazren did not seem fully convinced, however. Still, she chose not to voice her opinion.

Linvaes: Now, as for your mission...

Bazren and Raxyas listen attentively.

Linvaes: You must head for Slynvha, and recruit the master channeler there. His name is Xi, and he's been known to have been experimenting with vessels. Unfortunately, things have gone silent inside the citadel's walls and no news has gotten out for a while. It seems like undead who go inside aren't coming back out, either.

t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : Xi... corrupted tyrant... the black blood has already tainted his soul...

Raxyas: This sounds like it could be dangerous... How was I supposed to even attempt to do what you ask of me without Bazren's assistance?

Linvaes: It is because she is here that we are even attempting to recruit Xi. The other members of Incola are much too busy recruiting more masters, and they have yet to get accustomed to their sudden increase in power. If it was not for Bazren, we would have to try to reach out to Xi much later, for fear that we would fail to recruit him. But after seeing her in battle, I doubt whatever awaits you will pose much of a threat.

Bazren grinned confidently.

Bazren: You can turn your doubt into certainty. Now, absorption. Ilka said you would teach us the variant that only saps the soul's power, leaving the core intact.

Linvaes: Before I do... I'm sure he's already told you this, but this variation of absorption will yield much less power. Sparing your opponents will make your unlives more difficult than they need to be. I hope whatever peace of mind doing so gives you makes it worth it. Now, watch closely.

Linvaes extends his hand. He bends his little finger and ring finger simultaneously, and a black magic circle forms in front of them. It was similar to the red variation, except both the color and glyphs were different.

It was similar to the red variation, except both the color and glyphs were different [https://img.wattpad.com/1bb5ce7e769a24a4637f0acc91ef0d42c259ff11/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f55576c7a474d4f6d6153657835773d3d2d313139393134333039312e313732393437326463366132393931613838393539353939343033312e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Linvaes: Bear in mind that this is pretty useless for you, Bazren. Absorption won't strengthen a common soul such as yours, it only works for void-touched souls like Raxyas'.

Bazren: What?! I want to get stronger too!

Raxyas smiles.

Raxyas: Didn't you say you were undefeated? I don't think you need to get any stronger at all, Bazren. We wouldn't want you to slay us all with an accidental flick of your fingers...

Bazren crosses her arms, stone-faced.

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Bazren: Of course you would enjoy this. I'll get my own shard of your soul soon enough...

Linvaes: Sure, if you prove we can trust you... Listen up both of you, we aren't don't here yet.

They pay close attention to Linvaes.

Linvaes: This mission has a double objective. Besides recruiting Xi, we need Raxyas to power back up. Incola is running low on resources, so we can't help you there. With that being said, given the mysterious happenings in Slynvha, I think you should have no trouble finding one or two undead that need to learn their place. Absorb their power and grow stronger, Raxyas. You will need that power for your next assignment... Which involves your friend Xayn, by the way.

Raxyas' eyes widen immediately.

Raxyas: Have you spoken to him? Is he alright?

Linvaes: Xayn is fine... You'll be able to see for yourself soon enough. Now, any questions before you depart?

Raxyas: Not from me.

Bazren raises her hand.

Bazren: Yes. Have you given my master your boxes yet?

Linvaes: Qu will get what he requires, don't worry Bazren. We plan to lend them to him as soon as we send one of our members there to gather some of his boxes, as well as a portion of his power.

Bazren: Good. Then I have no more questions.

Linvaes: Very well. Good luck, both of you. Try to come back in one piece.

Raxyas: See you soon, Linvaes.

Raxyas and Bazren depart for Slynvha. After exiting through the fortress' doors, Bazren speaks.

Bazren: Did you hear all that, Tentoria?

Tentoria (comm): I did. This is amazing... I had no idea such technology existed!

Bazren: It's already proven invaluable to us. If it weren't for these, I'm not sure I would have made it out of yesterday's reconnaissance alive... I went out for a walk around the fortress, to get to know the place better.

Raxyas: There is one issue, however... We won't have communicators for all four of us. When we find Xayn...

Tentoria (comm): Oh, don't worry about it. I will give you my communicator.

Raxyas: No, absolutely not. You're our only pair of eyes and ears on the inside, we cannot lose that card up our sleeve, no matter what. When we find him, either Bazren or I will give him our communicator, if need be.

Bazren: Agreed. We need you to keep us informed, Tentoria! If there are any plans that you think we should be informed about, do not hesitate to tell us. We need all the information we can get to pull this off.

Tentoria (comm): Understood. I will.

Raxyas: We're getting on Bazren's planeswalker now. Stay safe, Tentoria.

Bazren: Stay safe!

Tentoria (comm): Thanks, both of you. You too.

The two climb onto the planeswalker. As the beast begins moving towards Slynvha, Bazren inquires about Xayn.

Bazren: Think you can tell me about this friend of yours now, Raxyas?

t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : where to start... right...?

Raxyas: Sure... Buckle up, though. It's a long story.

Raxyas leans against a stone wall, as he looks through one of the windows of the planeswalker's fortress.

Raxyas: Xayn... He and I died at about the same time, though we didn't know each other in life. Our souls were similar in power, and they arrived in Mortmundus at around the same location. When we both came to, we got our first vessels and knew nothing about the world we were in. A world where you do not need to worry about most of your basic needs... That's probably the only good thing about unlife. Just about everything else is worse, as we would soon find out. As we walked across the deserted plains of Mortmundus, we barely met another soul. And when we did... It usually belonged to some poor bastard that had spent his final living moments in agony. They were mostly all broken.

Bazren: ... Yeah. I remember my first time here. It wasn't pretty...

Raxyas: It's funny. In the world of the living, we'd like to think only the scum of society gets cursed and sent here after death. But there are so many people in the shadows who practice dark magic, so many innocent people that are cursed... I cannot fathom what the final moments of some of these souls were before they got here, for them to arrive in such a terrible state...

Bazren: Prolonged, agonizing torture, most likely... That would explain a lot.

Raxyas: It certainly explains those that aimlessly wander as if they're completely hollow inside... It seems all they want is to disappear. But then you have others who were murderers, rapists, corrupt politicians... Criminals sent to live in a world without flesh, without blood, without money... The things that motivated them in life are taken from them, and they have to live in this new world where most are powerless to harm anyone or accomplish anything, no matter how much they want to. I'm sure it must break them.

Bazren: As it should... This is the punishment they deserve.

t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : oh...?

Raxyas: Is it? I don't know, Bazren... An eternity in limbo? Or worse, an eternity in a void where what little freedom you had is taken from you, and you're forced to exist eternally... Except, that is all you do. You cannot feel, you cannot talk, yet you can still think... Alone with nothing but your thoughts, surrounded by emptiness. Forever.

Bazren: Do you think you've truly seen the void...?

Raxyas: I'm not sure I'll ever know for certain. But if that wasn't the void, I don't know what it was.

Both of them say nothing for a while. Eventually, Bazren breaks the silence.

Bazren: How did you die, Raxyas?

Raxyas: ... I don't want to get into that.

Bazren: And... What about Xayn?

He shakes his head.

Raxyas: We made a pact, none of us will ever talk about it. He doesn't know how I died, I don't know how he died.

Bazren: What? Why not?

Raxyas: Because we don't want to remember the things we'll never have again. That's all.

t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : of all the things i wish i could know, i confess your past life would be one of them...

Raxyas had learned to mostly ignore the voices now. They were practically background noise.

Bazren: I see... Sorry.

Raxyas: It's fine.

Raxyas sits down on a nearby chair.

Raxyas: When Xayn and I reached Halgorth, it was the first citadel we'd ever seen. Za was already the master channeler at the time. He saw promise in us and told us our souls had not fully accustomed themselves to Mortmundus yet. But that, once they did, they would be powerful enough to develop weapons. At that point, we would have to choose: become redeemers, or have our power taken from us. Frankly, undeath bored the two of us. All people do is talk, but there isn't much to talk about when everything around you is always the same, and when everyone around you is either broken, insane, or both...

Bazren: Was Halgorth really like that...? Karghna was always such a joyful citadel, I figured it was only in the deserts that you would find undead like that.

Raxyas: Wait... You've never been to another citadel?

Bazren: No... Karghna has always been my home. Usually, I help Qu out with his research, so most of the work I do involves staying within Karghna's walls.

Raxyas: Lucky you... Though I must admit, it's impressive that a research assistant is as strong as you are.

Bazren: Qu always said I was one of the strongest redeemers he had ever seen. I guess I was just lucky that my soul was one of those chosen to bear greater power in this world.

Raxyas: That reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask you... How come you didn't try to take down the Thirteen? If you're so powerful, maybe you could have beaten me. Who knows if you wouldn't have done a better job...

She shakes her head.

Bazren: I had no interest in it, figured it was too boring for me. I'm going to be honest here, Raxyas... I don't know how the Thirteen got as far as they did. From the reports I'd read and from what I'd seen them do, they didn't seem as powerful or as organized as you'd imagine a group that could wreak so much havoc in Mortmundus to be. Though, of course, back then they hadn't managed to play every single undead for a fool... That alone made them much more interesting. The trick they played by staging their damnation peaked my attention. Well, that and the discovery of forbidden boxes, obviously...

Raxyas: Yeah... Those damn boxes just flipped everything upside down. With all this new information that has been unearthed, it makes me think there are many more rules at play here than we can imagine.

He looks down at the ground.

Raxyas: I don't know exactly what's in those boxes, but I want to find out sometime. Maybe when I become more powerful I too will be able to peer into them...

Bazren raises her eyebrows in surprise.

Bazren: Well, first you would need to power up... A lot. You'd need master channeler-levels of strength to activate those things. But I do sympathize with your desire. Ever since I've come to this world I wanted to learn more about it, but I always felt like not having the potential to become a master would mean that there would always be secrets outside of my reach. Though now, that can change. If I get one of your shards, maybe I'll be able to become strong enough.

Raxyas smiles.

Raxyas: So, you have a horse in this race too, then...

Bazren: Absolutely! But even if I never get that powerful, I know master Qu will still benefit from this. And the wiser he gets, the wiser I get. So there's always that.

Raxyas: Does Qu share all he knows with you...?

Bazren: Not everything, I don't think. But still, I feel like he shares much more than your typical master would.

t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : but not everything... there are some things that one would never willingly share...

Raxyas: Must be nice... Za was always rather strict with his redeemers, and never shared much with us. But he was an amazing fighter and allowed me and Xayn to learn much from his experience. I hope I get to see him again sometime...

Bazren: Well... Why don't we stop by on our return? It's not like Halgorth is that far. It should only add a couple of days of travel, I'm sure Incola won't know a thing.

Raxyas: Stop by...? Don't you think Incola have some means of knowing if we do that?

Bazren: Well, if only we had someone on the inside who could say... Right?

Bazren had activated her communicator as she said this.

Bazren: Tentoria, you there...?

It takes a while, but there is finally a reply on the other side.

Tentoria (comm): Yes, hello? What's wrong?

Bazren: Tentoria, say Raxyas and I took a little detour to stop on a nearby citadel... Would anyone at Incola know?

Tentoria pauses for a moment before answering.

Tentoria (comm): Incola don't have any sort of trackers on you, if that's what you're concerned about... But they may have someone working for them inside this citadel who could recognize you and tell Ilkatorza. What specific citadel do you have in mind...?

Raxyas: It's Halgorth.

Tentoria (comm): Halgorth... That is one of the citadels they are leaving for last... I don't believe they have sent anyone there yet.

Bazren nods.

Bazren: Makes sense, I guess. That's where you and Xayn come from, after all. He might be counting on you to go there at some point to try and get master Za's help.

Raxyas: Alright. Then it's settled! We'll stop by Halgorth on our way back. Thank you, Tentoria.

Tentoria (comm): Of course! Let me know if you need anything else.

Communications cease.

Bazren: I'm guessing your master doesn't know about Incola, right? When was the last time you even spoke to him?

Raxyas: Ah... That's a quite the story, too...

Raxyas tells Bazren the events that took place since his re-awakening. Sometime after, the planeswalker stops, and both of them descend, making their way to the gates of Slynvha.