Consciousness returned slowly, and Kade was shocked to realize it was actually the sounds of people that had woken him. “...the cause of the interference?” a soft voice enquired, seemingly from a great distance.
“Perhaps. Whatever was blocking the ritual was certainly in this room, but look around. Is there anything here that doesn’t look suspicious?” A deeper voice responded, sounding closer.
“Certainly, Edwin, the broken jars are creepy and whoever those legs belonged to was likely a bad man. But I’m inclined to suspect the bloody, half-naked stranger lying in a pile of chains, directly in front of a tunnel carved through the corpse of a Category three Elder,” the voice seemed female, and as Kade’s head cleared, he recognized a touch of panic in its tone.
“Answers will come in time, Alara, but I’ll admit I share your suspicions. You know how hard I’m trying not to just barrel forward, and that includes jumping to conclusions. Nothing that we’ve witnessed today was simple, and I’m not ready to accept the easy answer of a single anomalous treasure hunter being responsible for all this.”
“Fine, this isn’t the time to argue. But for the record: Graves is on my side,” the female voice replied with satisfaction.
“Is that true, Graves?” Edwin asked of an as-yet unheard third person. Kade didn’t hear any response. “I can’t believe you’re taking sides,” Edwin’s voice again, said with genuine disappointment.
At last a third voice spoke up, nearly a whisper and expressing little emotion, “If you two are finished with your games, I would like to heal this man. He has Chaos Sickness orders of magnitude beyond what should be lethal, and I’d rather not waste a miracle.” Light footsteps approached, and Kade felt gentle hands probing his body.
He tried to open his eyes, tried to react in any way to the presence of kind voices after what felt like a lifetime of torment and fear, but no part of his body seemed ready to accept his desperate commands. Alara’s voice again, this time closer: “I told you Graves was on my side,” she said happily. “And I think we’re all playing healer today; I could sense the Chaos radiating from this one before we even entered the room. Are you sure this is safe? Just being near him is like swimming through an Elder Core.”
“No it’s not,” said Edwin, with surprising authority. “But it is far beyond usual; do you think you can really help him, Graves? I’ve lost friends to Chaos Sickness, we all have.”
The response was slow and measured. “Anywhere else, and maybe anyone else and the answer would be no, but I believe I can use Oblivion to link his body to the ritual. Effectively we’d be letting Altera Vil Lothra filter out the Chaos for us, just as she does with the wild Chaos around us. There should be little risk involved, but we’ll need to get him outside as quickly as we’re able.”
“Then we have our plan. Alara, you have until Graves is finished with his preparations to gather anything you think looks valuable, or…” he paused as if considering. “Anything that looks like it might enlighten us as to exactly what happened here. I’ll get Nicky, and meet you at the ritual site.”
The hands that had been examining him eventually came to rest on his chest, and he heard indecipherable words being chanted to a slow rhythm, before he felt unfamiliar energy moving through his body, and the strain quickly robbed him of consciousness.
***
When next Kade awoke, he found that he once more had the strength to open his eyes, and was profoundly grateful for the fact as he took in the incredible sight before him. He was outside, finally, blessedly under a blue sky, with no sign of the endless monotonous stone that had been his constant companion. The only visible landmark demanded his attention; while he’d immediately glanced around from his position in a heap on the soft ground, he didn’t see anything like the endless labyrinth from which he’d thankfully emerged. Instead, he was forced to confront yet another impossibility.
Rising out from a bed of lush, green vegetation, was the body of a sleeping woman. Her features had an odd, sharp appearance, and Kade could tell there was something unusual about her back, but every detail–no matter how odd–was eclipsed by her staggering size. She was easily as tall lying down as a three-story building, and her body must have rivaled a football field in length. His mind reeled as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing, the sheer vastness setting off a strange, primal reaction.
Slowly managing to process the entirety of the monstrous woman, he spotted several other curiosities. She looked to be wearing some form of armor, though it appeared ancient, and anything that might have made it distinct had been weathered beyond recognition. Conversely, her body appeared almost pristine; only the vegetation which had overtaken any part of her low enough to reach marred her otherwise perfect condition. This meant that the unusual elements of her physiology were still clear, including a collection of spikey ridges on her elbows and knees, and Kade suspected the strangeness on her back might actually be immense, folded wings.
Things only began making sense when he became aware of voices nearby, and several times heard the name “Altera Vil Lothra” mentioned. He remembered the name from his nearly unused map. Perhaps even here, the spectacle of a woman of such inconceivable size was worthy of naming an entire region after? Or the labyrinth might have simply been built underneath her or…or he supposed she may have just lain down to take a nap on a building. He decided it might be best not to judge the titanic woman.
Grimacing with pain, Kade managed to turn his head toward the sounds, revealing three strangers gathered around a fourth, all clearly focused on something to the exclusion of all else. Taking in their appearance, he noted that they were unusual not just from Kade’s perspective, but were visually distinct from one another to the point that they looked like strangers at a costume party. He tried to align what he knew of the voices and names he’d heard with the group in front of him.
The most eye-catching was a tall man in a black cloak with the hood pulled up. He looked like nothing so much as an executioner, and stood almost completely motionless. Kade assumed this must be Edwin, the deep voiced man who seemed to lead the mismatched group. He contrasted this to the average-sized man with dark hair, broad shoulders and simple leather armor of greens and browns, who was facing away from the group and making elaborate gestures at the sleeping giant. This would either be the ominously named healer “Graves”, or perhaps the fourth person he hadn’t heard…Nicky?
The final two were the only ones of the group that gave the impression of similar taste–both sporting long flowing robes–although that’s where the similarities ended. The taller of the two had long, loose red hair flowing in the wind behind her, and appeared to embrace her femininity with an easy confidence. She had a hip cocked to one side, and the cut of her deep scarlet robes enhanced her form rather than hiding it.
This contrasted sharply with the other figure, who was androgynous to the point that Kade didn’t bother making assumptions. They had dark, close-cropped hair, brown skin, and the shape of their body was completely lost in heavy, gray robes. The outfit seemed to flow oddly in the breeze, and covered the person so completely that they gave the impression of being just a floating head; Kade presumed the loose hood would complete the effect, and wondered at its purpose.
He gave up the name game as it had proven beyond him, and focused instead on what the group appeared to be doing. The wild gesticulations of the shorter man were increasing in tempo, and Kade thought he could hear chanting accompanying the gestures. The scene played out over several minutes, and by the end Kade had managed to force his body into a sitting position for a better view. He still wasn’t certain what it was accomplishing, but he did feel something akin to a vibration in the air.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
When the scene finally reached its crescendo, there was a sense of the entire world changing direction, somehow. Kade became aware of the most gentle tugging sensation, as if everything around him was now being pulled in the direction of the towering woman. Kade couldn’t articulate why, but somehow he was certain this was a good thing. Further examination was cut off though, as the group turned their collective attention onto him, and made their way slowly over, appearing exhausted.
Kade reflexively flinched back as the figure in black robes strode ahead of the group, hands reaching for him. They stopped before touching him however, as if the being had noticed Kade’s instinctive fear. The hands slowly went back to pull down the dark hood, revealing a man of indeterminate years and extremely pale skin. His head was entirely hairless save for sharply arched brows, but it was the man’s arresting eyes that drew Kade’s attention. They were entirely black to the point that they appeared as living voids.
“Don’t worry,” the man began in a flat, quiet voice, “I’m more than used to it. I am called Graves, will you allow me to continue healing you?” Kade barely managed to nod at the request, his hesitance coming not from the man’s unusual appearance, but from the odd sensation Kade felt as he came closer. The other man, the one dressed in leathers, seemed to notice Kade’s concern.
“You’ve never been healed, I take it? You’re not the only one, but just relax. I can promise that you won’t find anyone more skilled between here and Karthas, and whatever you did to yourself can’t wait that long.” Kade managed a nod, not ready to admit that almost everything he’d heard had only increased his fear and confusion. Looking down he watched what Graves was doing, and quickly concluded it was well beyond his ability to understand.
For long moments it appeared to be nothing more than continuous hand movements, then suddenly a burst of angry, purple energy was pulled from him, and disappeared into Grave’s continuously dancing hands. The process was repeated several times, and with each expulsion Kade felt renewed vigor, to the point that he was able to easily regain his feet when Graves at last stepped back. It was only when Kade finally managed to take his eyes from the unusual healer that he thought to take a moment to consider his own changed appearance.
Looking down, his attention was drawn immediately to the belt he hadn’t had a chance to inspect earlier, and the countless black chains still trailing from it. He was grateful to discover the chains weren’t simply a giant mess dragging behind him, finding that they seemed to either come to an abrupt end almost exactly where they touched the ground, or instead looped back up at the same point to become lost in the endless others sprouting from the hooks at this waist. Reaching down, he grasped a handful of the unusual chains, finding them to be of varying thicknesses but universally smooth and supple, flowing like liquid through his fingers as he let them slowly drop. Strangely, the chains were silent as they fell back into place.
After several minutes of examination Kade glanced back up at the group, finding them all staring at him with various displays of open confusion. The androgynous one finally spoke up, with a surprisingly upbeat and pleasant voice, “So, are you done playing with yourself? You’re making everyone uncomfortable.” A smirk played across their features, and Kade found himself barking out a laugh. The man in leathers seemed less amused.
“Please excuse Nicky, her chosen profession leaves her looking for any excuse to hear the sound of her own voice,” Nicky’s smirk turned into a full, infectious grin, and Kade noticed Graves put his hood up just in time to hide any reaction he might have had.
Curiosity tugged at Kade as he again glanced at her strange gray robes, “Exactly what profession would that be? Does ‘sarcastic ghost’ pay well?”
“Naturally, but it’s the hours that get you,” Nicky replied without missing a beat.
The man in leathers interjected. A long-suffering look crossed his face, but it was undercut by his good-natured tone, “Nicky is our stealth specialist, and before she jumps in again, let me get introductions out of the way. I’m Edwin Houseless, and this is my team, if it’s anyone’s. You met Graves, our healer; I’m sure you’ve figured out his House by now. And this is Alara deL'estat; her skills are eclectic, but all seem to result in destroying things horribly.” He finished by gesturing at the tall, red-haired woman. Then he seemed to catch himself and added, “Oh and if you figure out Nicky’s House, let us know.”
Kade wasn’t certain how to react as they all stared at him expectantly. Finally he spoke into the silence, “My name is Kade, and I…don’t know what a House is?” Looking between the disbelieving faces, a floodgate seemed to open, and any thought of secrecy disappeared. Words seemed to pour out of him, “I don't know anything about this place! I woke up in a torture chamber, and somehow things still got worse! I fought a god damned panther-rat and felt my own insides explode, and now I’m wearing chains. Just…just so many chains.”
He felt an incredible weight coming off his chest, and for a moment he didn’t care about the consequences. There was something simple and fundamental about being surrounded by people, and the need to say out loud the impossible experiences he’d been through–to have them become real through being shared–was worth whatever came next. The results weren’t quite what he expected though. He saw pity in their eyes, even the taciturn Graves.
It was Alara who spoke first, her voice rich with sympathy, “It’s the Chaos Sickness, Kade. You shouldn’t even be alive right now. Near the capital there are fields of monuments to the dead, all of whom had a fraction of the Chaos that you did inside you.” Nicky picked up the thread, no trace of her earlier levity.
“It’s true. I’ve seen cleansing rituals before and they were nothing like what I saw Graves pull out of you. If your only problem is that your brain is a little broken, then you’re a walking miracle.” Graves nodded in slow assent.
Alara looked at Kade curiously, “What do you remember? Do you know where you were captured? Who was the man with you? I got a sense of what he’d been experimenting with in there, but the Chaos was already spilling over; I can’t be certain.”
Kade opened his mouth to explain, but found that it wasn’t as easy as he expected. “I was–I’m from…somewhere else? I know that; I’m sure of it. The reality of it is so clear in my mind, but when I try to form the words…” Kade shook his head violently for a moment, not certain what he was truly experiencing.
After a moment he started over, “I think I’m from another world.” He let that statement hang in the air for a moment, but no one in the group seemed to react, so he continued. “When I try to picture it, it’s like remembering a dream. I look around and my mind tells me that this is the dream, but it’s like my…my soul tells me the opposite. I reach for concepts and I have the knowledge; I remember math and my favorite food, but it feels somehow…academic? It’s as if my own memories are just stories I’ve been told.”
Nicky’s smirk returned, “Well guy, if I had to choose between listening to my unreliable brain, or the core of my very being, it wouldn’t be much of a choice.” Graves nodded once more, and his quiet voice whispered out.
“Nicky is correct, moreso I think than she realizes. While I cannot claim to know the world of which you speak, I have heard Legends that make the story more believable than you may realize. Regardless, I don’t think you need to concern yourself with questions as to what’s the truth.”
“This Chaos Sickness, it’s that definitive?” Kade asked.
Graves shook his head, “That is a larger conversation, and will provide some insights, I believe. However, I don’t speak of compelling evidence, but of absolute certainty.” A long, thin arm emerged from his dark robes to gesture at the chain-skirt covering Kade’s lower half. “I speak of your soul manifestation. That cannot be faked or imitated; it is the truest representation of your ties to Iros, and is only possible through your connection to this world. You are every bit the Child of Korthos that we all are, Kade. Anything else is something that was done to you. Don’t let it define you, not when you wear your actual truth for the whole world to see.”
Kade was surprised by the comfort he felt from Graves’ words. Intellectually, he thought he should be rebelling against what the man had said, and trying to hold on to his scattered memories of his half-remembered world. But the truth was he believed Graves immediately. Not because he truly understood them, or the implications of what the pale man had said about his chains, but simply because he felt home. Even in the horrible labyrinth he’d never truly been distracted by thoughts of another place. In fact it had been the exact opposite: he hadn’t felt any inclination to remember what might have come before.
It was at then, just as he came to peace with who he was–or at least who he was becoming–that he realized Edwin hadn’t spoken since before Kade’s truth-filled outburst. The man had simply been staring, his dark eyes locked on Kade’s as he idly fiddled with a pendant of some kind. Finally he spoke, and his voice was commanding in a way Kade hadn’t heard before.
“Ask no more questions of our…guest. We’ve accomplished our mission here, and our responsibility is to get this victim back to civilization. I trust none of you have forgotten the journey home, and the necessity of traveling through the Chaos to get there. Whatever else Kade may be, he’s clearly unbound, and unless we find some way to address that, he’ll be dead before he takes his first step toward Karthas.”