As the scene before me transformed, the musty air of decay gave way to a vibrant atmosphere charged with life. The tower, once a skeletal husk, now stood resplendent in its prime. It was like stepping into a story from one of them fancy history books you’d sometimes see at the bookstore. You know? Gilded pages and illustrations so nice you know the artist was raking in six figures easily. The walls, no longer crumbling, were lined with vibrant tapestries that seemed to be alive with color and life. Elegant furniture, crafted with an artisan's touch, adorned the room, and the air was filled with a soft, golden light that made everything look like it was glowing.

“Leeeeeooooniiiiidaaaaas! I’ve been waiting for you!” The voice echoed through the hall, drawing my attention to its source.

Standing at the far end was a figure. Long, silver hair that flowed like molten metal and eyes so green they could've been emeralds. I couldn’t tell if the person before me was male or female—or hell, I guess maybe they were neither. Their clothes were a mishmash of fancy and utilitarian, like…I dunno, a…royal hunter or something? They moved with a kind of grace that made you think they were dancing instead of walking. I got a very distinct sense of danger from them.

"Who the hell are you?" I asked, my hand instinctively moving to where my club should have been. Damn it, Sav still had it.

“Me?” the figure asked, moving closer—almost prowling, like a big cat in the jungle coming up on a meal.

“Not sure who else I’d be talking to right now,” I said, trying to project more confidence than I felt. I glanced quickly to my left and right just to double check there wasn’t actually anyone else around. Sav wasn’t here—still on the other side of the ripple—and there weren’t any other ancestors.

“Hehe! You may call me the Piercer of the Veil, if it suits you, Leo,” the person said, giving me the impression they might be spectacularly unhinged. Their voice was low, and oddly playful. Gigantic red flags if I’d ever encountered any.

“Right,” I said. “Sure, whatever…Piercer of the Veil—mind if I just call you ‘Pierce?’ The other thing is a bit of a mouthful.”

“Call me whatever you wish, Leo,” Pierce said with another chuckle, pausing in place now. My hand went to one of my daggers. I didn’t draw it, but I made sure Pierce saw me do it.

I’m dangerous too, you creepy…memory dweller.

“Why are you able to talk to me?” I demanded.

The newcomer’s smile was a razor's edge.

“Why wouldn’t I be able to?”

“Uh, I dunno,” I breathed sarcastically. Though my panic was…she was a-boiling up. “Maybe on account of ain’t none of the other ripple-people seemed to have even noticed me before. Figured this shit here was a memory, or some such.”

“Oh,” Pierce said, shrugging. “You are right, hehe! Memories. But those…ripple people? Is that what you called them? Yes, the ripple people were likely your ancestors, communicating to you through the whim of the Bog. I’m not a memory—I’m very much here.”

“So…you aren’t an ancestor of mine, then?”

“Oh…I didn’t say that,” Pierce intoned, peering at me with eyes now sparkling with interest. “Might be that I am—I’m considerably older than you, and I’ve been loitering in these passages for a long while.”

“Well, great…” I said. “You know, I’m not exactly a fan of spirited, mysterious conversation that doesn’t go anywhere, so, if you could just tell me what I’m supposed to be doing, and why you can speak to me, that would be…aces, friend.”

Pierce's demeanor grew wilder, more detached, as if they were revealing a truth they took joyous pleasure in sharing.

"You, Leonidas…hehe. You should have stayed gone. The Bog has already fallen under the dominion of the Nine Emperors.”

“The fuck it has,” I said. I thought about correcting their use of my full name, but, hey, it seemed like I had bigger fish to fry up at the moment.

“Your presence here…” Pierce continued, not even calling attention to my interruption, “it's an aberration, a wrench in the machinations that have been set in motion."

I bristled at their words, feeling a surge of defiance.

"So, you're a pawn of the Nine Emperors, then? Sent here to...what, scare me off? Make me go home?”

They let out a slow, deliberate sigh.

"I am not anyone's pawn, Leonidas. But yes, I am here because of the Nine Emperors. I don’t think it is too much of a secret that your existence poses a threat to their plans, and they are not ones to leave threats unchecked."

"That’s all well and dandy, Pierce. Good on you for trying to keep your sense of self when you’re clearly some sort of…what? Servant? Listen, I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout the damn emperors. ‘Cept that there’s some lady named Wilford? That accurate?”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Ah,” Pierce said, grinning so wide I thought their cheeks might split. “To have evoked such an ire in Wilford. Truly, even I am not mad enough to tread in her pathway, hehe! Though, I suppose it is simply by virtue of your existence, not something you could help. But…that is neither here nor there, Leonidas. You are here. Which is unfortunate, as it seems a shame to have to—”

“By the way,” I interrupted. I was thinking that maybe if I could keep this weirdo talking, I might be able to figure out a way out of this mess.

“Uh…yes?” Pierce wondered. I wasn’t sure, but I thought I may have seen them moving their hand behind them. Some sort of weapon? Well, shit.

“Yeah, uh…” I said, forgetting where I was going with my misdirection. “Oh, right! How the hell can you 'hijack' a memory or a ripple or whatever this is?"

Pierce regarded me with a gaze that seemed to, well… pierce through to my very soul.

"These ‘ripples,’ as you call them, are thin shrouds between times—fragile and malleable,” Pierce said. “With the right knowledge, with the right power, one can navigate these veils, interact within them, even manipulate them to a certain extent."

“Ah…” I said. “Piercer of the Veil. I see. Makes sense now. So you do this a lot.”

“I did once…” Pierce said, a forlorn tone taking root in their statement.

"So, you're what? A time traveler?" I asked with a snort.

"Not a traveler, no," Pierce corrected with a laugh. "What a novel concept! Oh, that I wish that were true…but, no, Leonidas. I exist within these ripples, bound by them, yet apart. A fitting punishment…though, not without its own merits. I was once a hopeful for the Marsh Knight designation, much as you are now. My gifts of the Bog, however, were different…”

“Listen, if it’s all the same to you,” I said. “I don’t need any sappy backstory. Let me guess—you could control the ripples, and for some reason, you can’t leave them? Nine Emperors probably trapped you in them…I’d wager?”

I saw the look of shock on the figure’s face and I smirked.

“Yeah, I thought so. Anyway, so then they…what? Promised to release you if you do something to me, right?”

“My, my, my, Leonidas!” the Piercer of the Veil exclaimed. “You’re smarter than you look.”

“Partner, I’m from the south,” I said. “We all are. I’ve heard that nearly my whole life, so…apologies for not accepting the compliment.”

Pierce's expression twisted. Amusement? Something darker?

"Apology accepted. But yes, you are correct. I am confined to these…ripples, a prisoner of my own making, bound by the Nine Emperors’ will. And you, Leonidas, are my key to freedom. Eliminating you is... unfortunate, but necessary."

I felt my heart rate spike. I hadn’t thought of anything, and things were starting to turn away from my favor.

"What the hell do you mean by that!?" I started focusing on the attavita.

"I don’t have time for this," Pierce said, their voice chillingly calm. "I'm sorry, Leonidas. But I must do what is required of me."

My instincts screamed danger. "Wait a damn minute, you can't just—"

Before I could react, Pierce's form blurred, and suddenly, they were…wielding a massive fuckin’ ax.

Now WHERE in the hell had that come from?

It was an absurd sight, the slender figure holding an ax nearly fifteen feet long, defying all logic and reason. But, just like always, there weren’t time to consider this development. With a swift, fluid motion, Pierce swung the ax down in a wide arc, aiming directly at me.

In a panic, I threw myself backward, tumbling down the colossal stairs. I landed harder than sin on one of the massive steps a dozen feet below. The ax struck the stone where I'd been standing, splitting it with an eardrum-shattering crack.

Before I could gather my senses, Pierce was already in action—leaping high into the air, the ax raised overhead. They descended towards me, a terrifying specter with the ax aimed to strike.

I scrambled to move, my body screaming in protest. The ax came down with a force that shook the very foundation of the tower. I rolled away just in time, feeling the rush of air as the blade slammed into the stone beside me.

Pierce landed with a grace that belied the ferocity of their attack, the ax already swinging in a wide arc for another strike.

Scramblin' to my feet, I felt like I was caught in a whirlwind. Pierce, this...whatever they were, some sort of time goblin? —moved like they were part of the very air, graceful and relentless. Each swing of that monstrous ax sent a shudder through me. I dodged another swing, felt the heat of the blade near singe the hair off my face. Lord have mercy, I needed a plan, and I needed it yesterday.

Pierce, holdin' that ax as if it were no more than a feather, spoke up. "I won't insult you by trying to appeal to your better nature, Leonidas. That's something villains do in stories, and I don't care for stories."

“Much appreciated,” I said.

That's when my Elemental Shield erupted forth, and the shock of the moment caught Pierce off guard for just a heartbeat as I charged them with the shield directly in front of me. But as I charged them with the shield leading the way, Pierce just...swiped the ax. Just like that, shattered my shield to smithereens. I almost choked on my own shock. But I didn't stop; that wasn't the end game. I barrelled forward as the swing passed, and Pierce, well…they realized too late what I was up to.

With all the force my shoulder could muster, I slammed into them, right beneath that swingin' arm. This had the glorious effect of sending Pierce flying off the edge of the staircase.

Take that, ya sumbitch.

Meanwhile, that ax flew wide and lodged itself blade first in the stair. By some stroke of luck, I caught hold of it, savin' myself from following Pierce down. I peered over the edge tentatively to watch Pierce’s descent. Yep, they were falling. Falling toward the stone floor way below. A good hundred feet, I reckon.

But then, bless my soul, the Piercer of the Veil started laughing.

Not just a chuckle, mind you, but a full-on, crazier-than-a-pet-porcupine cackle.

"See you soon, Leonidas!" they shouted up at me. Then, like a curtain falling at the end of a play, the ripple ended.

The tower flickered, warped, and there I was, back in the present. But, hell… I was still clinging to the massive ax. I looked up at the stairs, and there was Sav, looking down at me with what I could only describe as…mild surprise. First time I'd seen that look on his face.

"Hey Sav," I called up.

Sav just breathed out, "Some ripple."

"Yeah," I said, still trying to catch my breath and wrap my head 'round everything. "Looks like I’ve got myself a new weapon, too.”

“Maybe,” Sav said, eyeing the ax with something like lust.

“Hey, now,” I warned. “Don’t you be trying to abscond with my well-earned…”

I’d trailed off, because I’d glanced down at the ax still gripped in my hand—a behemoth of a thing that had no right being as light as it felt. When something had caught my eye.

Down on the step where Pierce's ax had struck, the cracks in the stone started shifting. They were moving, rearranging themselves right before my eyes.

They twisted and turned, weavin' themselves into somethin' that made sense. Words. Actual words forming in the stone. I blinked a couple times, because I knew that that could only mean one thing.

"Really? I learned another spell?!" I muttered, half-amazed, half-exasperated. Seems like every time I turned around in this swamp, I was picking up something new from the ether.

The words in the stone shimmered faintly, like they were carved from moonlight itself. I leaned closer, trying to make out what message or spell the Bog had decided to impart to me this time. My brain was still doing somersaults from the fight with Pierce, but the curiosity got the better of me.

ÓÆÐRI BLÆJUGAT LÆRÐAR

What? Then, of course, as always, they realigned themselves so I could actually read it. I stood, shocked, hardly able to make a noise.

INFERIOR SHROUDPIERCING LEARNED