ImmovableMage
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212 Tough Choices
🕑 Added 2024-10-25 23:00:01 +0000 UTC– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 219, Season of the Rising Sun, Day 56 –
“Mom?” muttered Siling worriedly. She gently took the hand of her mother, who was lying on a comfortable bed.
“Siyu?” Daiyu’s eyes opened wide, and she placed her hand on Siling’s cheek before she shook off the daze of her fever dream completely. “No, Siling. My dear daughter.” Her lips quivered.
“What’s going on, mom?” asked Siling. “I know that something is off with my earliest memories. You said it had something to do with dad, but you never…” She swallowed. “You never told me about what happened. I’ve had to piece every little thing together myself. That he was a wielder of soul spirits. That he went insane and turned himself into a vampire. You never told me anything without me finding it out first.” She squeezed her mother’s hand tightly. “Please. Just please tell me what’s going on.”
“It can’t be…” Daiyu’s eyes glazed over, and she shook her head.
“You always warned me to never get close to the Lich Kingdoms,” said Siling. “Is this why? Because of—?”
“No!” protested Daiyu. She shook her head, and tears were streaming down her eyes. “I didn’t know. I thought my little girl was dead. I thought…” She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths to steady herself.
Daiyu opened her eyes and caressed her daughter’s hand with her own. “I’m sorry, Siling. But I couldn’t. It wasn’t my choice. And you two were so…” Her voice broke and she required several more breaths before she could continue.
Daiyu rubbed the tears from her eyes. “I was born in the Lich Kingdoms. It’s the worst place I can imagine.” She grimaced. “Every self-indulgence imaginable and all it costs is your sense of self and self-worth. No dignity. No pride. No honor. Shallow suffocation and hollow existences. Everything of value only slips through your fingers.”
Daiyu’s lips quivered. “One day, I couldn’t take it anymore. I fled.” She smiled bitterly. “That’s when I met your father.” Fresh tears rolled down her face. “We were so happy. I could never imagine being happier and then…” She fixed her gaze on Siling and placed a hand on her daughter’s cheek. “I was wrong. When you and your sister were born, I felt true happiness. Those first few years with us all as a family were the happiest days of my life.”
Daiyu started sobbing, and she averted her gaze. “It didn’t last.” She inhaled shakily. “No one escapes from the Hounds. Sooner or later, they’ll always come to tear down their targets.” She trembled with ashamed eyes. “I’m so sorry. So sorry. I should have returned there after your birth. It’s all my fault. I did this.”
Siling pulled her mother close for a hug and for a while, the two were quiet.
“I wish I was dead,” whispered Daiyu. “I wish they had killed me instead of—”
“Stop that!” Siling pushed Daiyu away and glared at her. “Never say that again! What happened?! Tell me!”
“They went after Siyu,” whimpered Daiyu. “My little Siyu…” She hugged herself and trembled with her whole body. “My little babies…”
“They infected my sister with the karmic rot?” asked Siling with a horrified expression.
Daiyu nodded. “We didn’t notice. When the Hound arrived to twist the knife in our hearts and explain that it was punishment served for deserting my empire of birth, it was already too late.” Vicious madness flickered in her eyes. “The Hound paid for that gloating with her worthless life. It was the first time that your father and I killed anyone.” She inhaled deeply. “And I wish I could kill that bitch a thousand times over.”
“Why did they…” Siling’s face contorted while she was trying to comprehend the story. “If you were the target, then why did they go after your daughter?”
Daiyu sniffled. “Because the Hounds know where their knives hurt the most.”
“Why… Siyu? Why Siyu and not… me?” asked Siling.
“Siyu,” nodded Daiyu. “Your twin sister was called Siyu.” She shook her head. “I don’t know.” She grimaced. “I don’t think they cared as long as it broke me.” She held her face in her hands. “It did. It broke all of us.”
“You said she ‘was’ called,” noted Siling. “You thought she was dead?”
“I still can’t believe she isn’t,” said Daiyu with empty eyes. “The curse had fully manifested. There is no cure for that. We tried every healing option imaginable.” She shook her head. “And then your father went and tried even more.” She smiled sadly at Siling. “That’s why he turned…”
Daiyu sighed and started afresh. “Your father loved you two just as much as I did. He simply refused to give up. I loved him even more for it. So one day, after everything else had already failed, he took Siyu away.” She grimaced. “We had to be careful about how we allocated our time with Siyu. We couldn’t risk her infecting you as well.” She looked dazedly at Siling. “You two were so close. As if a half of you was missing when it was just one of you. You both cried so much whenever we had to separate you.”
“What happened?” pressed Siling.
“Your father returned with your sister and…” Daiyu shook her head. “Their eyes had changed. He had changed them. He had allowed himself to be turned into a vampire and then turned our little Siyu in the hopes that vampirism would counter the curse and allow her to live.”
A flicker of hopelessness resurfaced in Daiyu’s eyes. “It didn’t work. Nothing worked. That’s when…” She sighed. “His unwavering resolve turned to outright madness. I loved him, but…” She stared at Siling with despair. “You suffered so much. My little Siling.” She shook her head. “We could never separate you two for long. You always found a way to sneak to each other. No matter how much we tried to be careful and allocate the time, it was only a matter of time until…”
Daiyu sobbed until her body had no more tears to cry. “He was so obsessed with research, with looking for other options. He didn’t even see how thin you were becoming. How you were growing sickly.”
Daiyu started wringing her hands. “I can’t blame him. I can’t blame him for trying to save our little Siyu, but…” She pulled Siling by her hand and hugged her tightly. “But I had to protect you, too.”
Siling allowed herself to be pulled in and hugged her mother back.
“I knew that there was only a single place safe from the Hounds,” said Daiyu. “I knew we could only find peace in Arcana, but…”
“But Arcana doesn’t accept vampires,” continued Siling quietly.
Daiyu nodded quietly. “When they infected our daughter with the karmic rot, it broke us. My little Siyu was dying, and I was helpless. The man I love was lost trying to save her. I had to choose between abandoning them and protecting my other daughter.
“I made a choice…” Daiyu’s voice turned into a desperate wail. “My little Siyu was dying because of me and I abandoned her like a monster…” She frantically started caressing Siling’s head. “But my little Siling is safe. But my little Siling is safe. But my little Siling is…”
Siling’s mind was blank. She didn’t know how to calm down her mother. She didn’t know what to say. She felt pity, but also anger and indignation. All of her feelings melted in the memories she shared with her loving mother that had always cared for her. She allowed her mother’s fit to pass while she hugged her back.
After Daiyu had calmed down again, Siling whispered in an accusatory tone. “You never told me. Why don’t I remember any of this?”
Daiyu distanced herself from her daughter and shook her head. “You don’t understand. You don’t understand how you two were. We tried separating you two as soon as we had learned about the curse. But you…” She looked helpless. “It was as if you broke down when being away from your sister. As if all your heart and spirit had left you.”
Daiyu looked pleadingly at Siling. “I didn’t plan this. You have to believe me! But when I told your father about my plans to take you to Arcana, he just…” She sighed. “He knew as well as I did that it would break you to be separated from your sister. I didn’t know what he was about to do, but…” She shook her head with her head hung in shame again. “I can’t say for sure that I would have stopped him from erasing your memories.”
Siling finally had answers to questions she had held since childhood, but she wasn’t sure how to feel about them yet. If the Spirited Duchess was truly her twin sister, then there were pieces missing from the story. Pieces that Daiyu might not know herself.
If she was her twin sister.
If.
“We have to see the Spirited Duchess,” said Siling.
Daiyu straightened herself. It was as if her mind had found a new resolve that suppressed all her raging emotions. “Yes, I have to see her. If she is really my little Siyu, then…” Fierce determination flashed through her eyes before being replaced by suspicious doubt. “Your father would never have allowed her to become a noble in the Kingdoms. I can see him going there to beg for Siyu’s life, even knowing that the lich kings only spit on mercy, but I just can’t see him allowing Siyu to become their pawn. It can’t be. Not while he’s alive. Not…”
“Perhaps it’s just a coincidence after all,” said Siling doubtfully. She took her mother’s hand. “Thanks for telling me.” She couldn’t help but add: “But I expect you to answer all my questions from now on. No more secrets.”
***
When Terry sensed the mana signatures approaching the door of his healing chamber, he quickly cleaned himself up and pushed a bucket into a corner before sitting down on the floor again. He asked before they could even knock. “Yes?”
Siling and Tiana stepped in.
“Brynn asked me to bring you this,” said Tiana, and handed Terry a book with a stack of notes.
“Thanks,” said Terry. He had been waiting for this. His own experiments hadn’t been very fruitful so far. He needed help to sort out the most viable candidates.
Tiana nodded and then looked over the stack of references and notebooks on the floor around Terry. “Keeping busy?” Her nose twitched, and she narrowed her eyes before looking around.
“Yup,” muttered Terry. He suppressed the urge to immediately finger through the notes from his aunt. He looked at Siling.
“Oh, I’m just here to clear my head a bit.” Siling shrugged. “I figured I could sneak in with Tiana. Somehow, the healers don’t trust me as much.”
“That’s because the first thing they saw of you was knife-handing their patient.” Tiana pointed out. Her nose wiggled, and she moved her gaze over the room.
“Unreasonable prejudice, like I’m saying,” said Siling.
“How did the talk with your mom go?” asked Terry concernedly.
Siling inhaled deeply, but then shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. I’ll tell you two later.”
“You don’t have to,” said Tiana.
“No, I want to,” stressed Siling. “Just not now.”
“Do we know when they’ll gather for the meeting?” asked Terry.
“I’m not sure they’re going to allow you there again,” said Tiana.
“Yeah, I think threatening the head of the hunters in front of everyone wasn’t the most popular move,” added Siling. “Thank you, though.”
Terry rolled his eyes. “Hector isn’t the head of the hunters. That’s Thiago with Intira as his second in command.”
“Still, I don’t think you can afford to make any more people support your house arrest.” Siling pointed out. “‘The Guardian’ being grounded. Who would have thought?”
Tiana laughed and teased. “Yeah, how far the mighty have fallen.” Before she was finished, her head was already jerking around as if she was being bothered by an annoying mosquito.
“Seriously?” grumbled Terry quietly before a mischievous expression wandered onto his face. “Perhaps I should spread some rumors about the companions of Freedom’s Guardian: The Impenetrable Woman and the Battle Demoness.”
“Oy!” protested Siling. “No need to resort to that. You promised to forget that name.”
“I don’t remember making such a promise.” Terry placed a finger on his chin. He seriously didn’t.
“Well, you should have promised that, which is basically the same thing,” said Siling while pointing at Terry.
Tiana snorted before looking reproachfully at Terry. “Not sure I want to be called demoness, or demon for that matter. I’m getting enough of that already.”
Terry’s face cramped up. “Oh…” Right, the elemental possession. “Sorry about that, I won’t—” He stopped himself when he saw the slight grin playing on Tiana’s lips. “You’re just jerking me around, aren’t you?”
Siling gasped. “How can he tell? How much he’s grown while being away. He’s getting privy to our secrets! The little rascal.”
“Yeah, I don’t really give a shit,” admitted Tiana with a grin. “I’m making the best out of a bad situation and I’ll come out stronger for it.”
Terry replied with his own grin. It felt as if Tiana was taking the words right out of his mouth. He glanced over the references of body inscriptions and the inking set provided by the local shops. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Tiana step forward suddenly.
“Seriously, what is this smell?” muttered Tiana. “It smells like blood—”
“Tiana, wait—!” protested Terry.
“Terry, what by all the mana?!” exclaimed Tiana while pointing at the bucket he had badly hidden earlier. “Why are there pieces of skin and what looks to be a finger in the trash bin?”
“Uhm…” Terry sheepishly averted his gaze. He had held one uncomfortable conversation with his parents, uncle, and aunt before. It appeared that there were more of these waiting for him.
***
When Terry sensed the mana signature that appeared like countless different mana signatures bundled into one – mixed but separate – he put away his notebook. He sighed with frustration and clenched his fist.
His left ring finger still felt raw and tingly. That nuisance unfortunately couldn’t be helped. It was only a few minutes old, after all. It had regrown thanks to his healing chamber after he had cut it off before the mana interference from the ink could spread.
His most recent attempt at mixing body inscription ink compatible with his mana type had proven to be a failure again.
Failure.
Less of a failure than before though.
Terry felt like he was getting close. Focusing on the ink types compatible with space and life had proven to be a good starting point, and he was slowly ruling out the incompatible ratios. A bucket of amputated fingers felt like a small price to pay for that.
Terry had found that there were a few advantages with his current predicament. The reach of his mana sense was still vastly diminished, but this also allowed him to more easily focus inwards. His mana channels were still injured and consequently extremely sensitive, but this increased sensitivity also allowed him to feel even the slightest specks of mana moving where it shouldn’t.
As such, Terry caught even the tiniest deviation in his mana control or flow after injecting the inscription ink. He would not proceed further until he was sure there would be no detriments to his spell and mana cultivation.
Soon, Terry should be able to try his hand at the actual challenge: the inscription itself. Of course, he didn’t understand nearly enough about the rune system to invent his own inscription. He would choose from a selection of body inscriptions to test. A curated selection that had already been narrowed down and prioritized by his advisors: the local inscription experts, his aunt Brynn, and his uncle Samuel.
Terry didn’t know if any of the inscriptions would work, but he was determined to try. He suspected that there wouldn’t be a wide selection of compatible body inscriptions given the narrow nature of his mana type and spell, but even a single inscription would serve as another tool.
Another option.
At the very least, the experiments were something he could do.
Something to do until he recovered enough to start his regular training again.
Not the time. The meeting is about to start.
Terry stood up. He knew he would receive a few glares for leaving his healing chamber to attend the meeting, but he wanted to know what the squad led by Matteo had to say. He also wanted to finally see his cousin again. The famous Guildhead had been out hunting the Lich Kingdoms’ forces from the moment they had arrived.
Terry carefully stepped over the mess of books, notes, and tools that was the floor in his room. He walked towards the reception room that had been repurposed for meetings.
***
Terry noted that both Siling and Daiyu were absent from the meeting, and the report of the death hunters confirmed his suspicions.
He had been shocked when Siling had told him about her twin sister and her wiped memories. He had found it hard to believe that the elven soul spirit in the Lich Kingdom’s army was supposed to be her sister.
After hearing the reports from Matteo’s group, however, he knew he had to come to terms with it. Things were only getting more complicated.
After the official meeting had finished, Matteo and the others stayed behind to talk to Terry and his family.
“How are they?” asked Terry.
“About as good as can be expected,” said Matteo. He patted Terry’s shoulder. “Good to see you, Whaka Terry. Wallace told me to scold you for continuing with ‘suicidal activities’, but I don’t think I’m the right person to deliver that particular message.” He withdrew his hand, and the smile left his face. “I don’t know if the Spirited Duchess is really Siling’s sister, but Daiyu certainly appeared convinced that it was her daughter.”
“She nearly flew off into the duchess’s forces,” added Elenec. The human woman, dressed all in black and with a rapier at her side, shook her head. “Took three of us to hold her back from getting herself killed. She’s…” Her vampiric eyes were clearly filled with pity. “Out of it. I think she’s pretty shaken.”
“Who wouldn’t be?” said Isille with a dark expression. Her eyes involuntarily moved to her own daughter Florine, and a shiver ran down her back at the thought of one day facing a soul spirit looking like her beloved child.
“What about Siling?” asked Lori.
“I believe she’s a victim of mind magic,” said Matteo. “And it definitely seems related to the Spirited Duchess – or Siyu, if it’s really her sister.”
“The poor girl nearly collapsed from a splitting headache the moment her eyes fell on the duchess,” added Elenec. “It was good that the tall one was right next to her.”
“Is Tiana still with her?” asked Terry. He was relieved to see the two nodding as a reply. It was reassuring to know that Siling was with friends.
“I can’t really put my finger on it, but I suspect the Spirited Duchess could feel something, too,” said Matteo with a furrowed brow.
“The enemy troop movements changed only slightly.” Elenec pointed out with clear doubts about Matteo’s judgement.
“I know, but…” Matteo’s brow furrowed further. “I just felt something change. Perhaps it’s because of Soul Fury.” His fingers subconsciously moved towards the hilt of the fiendish katana. “The old dragon soul is sensitive to others, which reminds me…” He looked at Terry. “I can tell that something is going on with you. The dragon is really wary of you. I’ve only sensed that once with a powerful, soul-based fiendish item.”
No fiendish item. Not anymore. Do I have to mention the crystal egg when I tell the story later? Crap. Perhaps Matteo will defend me. He’s not in a position to judge. Perhaps I can…
Terry’s eyes widened, and he puffed his cheeks. Now that Matteo had returned, the long postponed family talk would happen sooner rather than later. He had the slight suspicion that he would be grounded even harder.
“Anyway, how did it go here?” asked Matteo. “I didn’t really see any evacuation underway.”
“They’re not budging,” grumbled Isille.
Matteo looked from Isille to the others and finally at Terry. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t happen, anyway.”
“What?” Isille frowned.
“Well, if we want to extract Siyu from the Lich Kingdoms, if only to get answers, then…” Matteo raised his hands with a shrug as if it couldn’t be helped.
“Then we can’t just go,” finished Terry with a nod. That wasn’t really an option.
“‘Extract’ the Spirited Duchess?” Isille glared at the two.
Elenec glanced from Matteo to Terry and back. “I can see the resemblance. That’s going to be a tough mission though.”
“An impossible mission,” groaned Isille. “If the Lich Kingdoms are backing her, they won’t just let us borrow her to ask a few questions.”
“We can’t just abandon Siling’s sister!” protested Lori, and Jorg nodded next to her. They appeared to be ready to jump down Isille’s throat when a soft voice interjected.
“Hear your ma out at least.” Bjorln looked sternly from one twin to the other.
“We’re not weak, but we’re not able to stand alone against the Lich Kingdoms,” stressed Isille. “This is a conflict between empires. We can’t hold out forever. Whaka Brynn’s constructs can’t make up the difference in military power. We have won the battle, but this is a war we’re talking about.”
Isille shook her head, clearly frustrated. “We might be able to try something if the Spirited Duchess makes an appearance, but that would mean catching her by surprise. We would have to hold back during the defense, which wouldn’t be fair to this city, and I’m not sure we would even have the leeway to do so. The Unholy Duchesses are no pushovers and there is no guarantee that we’ll only have to deal with a single one.”
Isille clicked her tongue. “I would have to talk this over with Chadwick. As a soldier, he would know more about this than I do. But my nose tells me we’re not in a position to plan anything. We don’t have the forces to even create an opportunity to exploit. If we had enough to properly push back instead of just being on the defensive, then…”
“I…” Matteo sighed loudly and rubbed his forehead. “I might have an idea for how to address that problem.” He seemed pained by the very idea moving through his head. “You said it’s a conflict between empires, but it isn't. Not yet.”
“You mean that the Union as a whole isn’t moving?” asked Bjorln.
Matteo nodded. “This little city-state won’t get the Free Factions Union moving.” He grimaced. “But I know a country that might.”
Emaldine, who had been sitting quietly in a corner before, now stood up to stare at Matteo. “You’re not thinking about— You can’t return there! There’s no way they would help, especially not if you’re anywhere near the ones asking!”
“I know,” muttered Matteo with haunted eyes. “Believe me, I know.” He subconsciously moved his fingers towards the hilt of his heartseeker dagger and he shook his head. “But that’s the only way I can think of.” He grimaced. “I know they won’t help me, of all people, which is why I won’t ask. I don’t think asking is an option, but there’s another way.”
Terry had realized that they were talking about the Lands of the Four Towers, but he had trouble figuring out Matteo’s plan.
Matteo took a deep breath and then explained: “The Four Towers have rules to replace tower masters. As a former disciple of the Elemental Tower, I have the right to challenge the current tower master directly for leadership. Unfortunately, matters of war require unanimous votes by all the four tower masters. So even if I press my background despite my history, we would still be two towers short.”
“Why two?” asked Samuel, who had also listened in together with Brynn. “Don’t you mean three?”
Matteo snorted and pointed at one of Brynn’s dancing doll constructs guarding the room. “I don’t think the Crafting Tower will be a problem.”
Matteo rubbed his forehead in thought. “Without a disciple background, there are two official challenge types: a teaching contest and crushing the tower. The teaching contest requires beating the master in a contest and having students win two out of three contests against the tower master’s disciples. Crushing the tower means literally that. One person against the whole tower and having to beat anyone that opposes them taking over.”
“One tower to crush, noted.” Brynn nodded with a solemn expression that bordered on hard coldness.
Terry could not help but sigh slightly. His usually cheerful aunt appeared very different outside Arcana.
“That leaves the Spirit Tower and the Martial Tower,” said Emaldine. “Perhaps we can ask some of Terry’s martialist friends to help with the Martial Tower?”
“Martialist friends?” Matteo raised an eyebrow. “Are any of them strong enough to crush the tower? Martialists usually take the teacher-disciple relationship too seriously to just pretend for the sake of it.”
“I don’t know,” muttered Emaldine before looking at Terry. “Do you have anyone in mind?”
Terry’s face cramped slightly. He was not sure this was a good idea, but he was already searching his storage item for a particular communication talisman. “You said something about different options with a disciple's background?”
***
Comments
Jesse
I'm excited for two of my favorite characters to interact. Siling and Apex!
Jaiden Dunton
I just saw it and couldn't help but poke fun
Storyhunter
I'm fairly sure she's not in the area. Probably because of some sort of quest or training. However I expect she will show up with enthusiasm.. Matteo is her goal / rival and this would be an excellent opportunity to test herself against him. ++ Gain some real power and a special place for her to have as her own power base.
Jaksterzoo
*even if none of them were powerful* yeah I know lol
Jaiden Dunton
Apex…
Sesharan
Terry testing mana inks by cutting off and regrowing fingers is one of the most Terry-like things he’s ever done.
Jaksterzoo
*Martialist friends?” Matteo raised an eyebrow. “Are any of them strong enough to crush the tower?* Even if none of them were very powerful, I’d be scared for the martialist tower/master with how many challenges they would get if Terry asked for some help in that regard…
Not Real
I agree terry is probably thinking of apex, but she hasn’t shown up in the area or am I mistaken.
Storyhunter
I sense a phoenix approaching. A competition to take over a tower with her rival would be..... Fun. More hilarious would be the factions from the martial artist factions that show up and support her. ......... The spirit tower through..... Hmmm 🤔 the whisperer could be a candidate. Or .... Is a healed Terry the candidate? Seems a little weird.
BeauZoe
sounds like a mission Apex might grudgingly want to join.
