Chapter

Yup. Stuck with the really crazy lady.

As the door shut behind Leliana, Cassandra approached me and I quickly went back on the defensive.

"I would prefer you conscious instead of out cold and bleeding, if you don't mind," she stated coolly.

I didn't miss the obvious threat there.

I slowly stepped towards Cassandra and held out my arms, I ensured that I didn't move as she undid the stock, freeing my hands from the binding.

Wow, no biting remarks or anything…that was actually kind of-

Then she wrapped my hands together with a rope.

Yeah, I take back what I said. This is just like the slums all over again.

While I wanted to remain silent and retain the 'Danger/Mysterious' image I was portraying, my curiosity won out, "What did happen?" I asked.

Cassandra sighed, "It…will be easier to show you."

Keeping a hand on my shoulder, we walked towards the door and a guard opened it for us. I then was pushed up a set of stairs before another set of doors was opened and I looked around to see a church.

I scoff before muttering, "A jail cell in a, so-called 'place of holiness', how the gods would toil."

"Pardon?" Cassandra asked.

"Nothing."

Another set of guards were standing by large wooden doors, they remained expressionless as they opened the said objects for us as Cassandra and I walked out.

"Oh, wow!" I breathed.

I was standing outside in a village that was nestled between mountains; snow was coating the ground, buildings, and softly tumbled from the sky, which was a cloudy grey. What grabbed my attention was the swirling pillar of green that stretched towards similar green swirl in the sky.

"We call it The Breach." Cassandra explained, "It's a massive Rift into the world of demons, and it grows larger with each passing hour."

I blinked and turn towards the woman, "Let me guess, this happened because of all the dead people at the Conclave?"

"Yes. The Conclave had exploded, creating the Breach and several more of these rifts; and unless we act now, the Breach may grow until it swallows the world."

I remembered at the main menu when that building blew in a explosion of green.

That was the Conclave.

"No pressure though," I say.

The earth shook, looking up at the green swirl, the column of light swelled and a loud "BOOM" echoed through the valley.

Pain flared brightly in my hand, crying out I sunk to my knees and pressed it to my chest.

"Each time the Breach expands, your-"

"Argh…God freaking damn that hurt!"

"Mark…spreads…"

I look back up at Cassandra, who had a blank look, "God…?"

I let out a breath and changed the subject, "So basically, this Mark," I flex my left hand, "is killing me and I have until the Breach gets to a certain size, and you think that it could be a way to shut it?"

Casandra nodded.

"So…helping you, helps me in the long run," I say.

"That's the idea," she says calmly.

With that, Cassandra helped me to my feet and kept a hand on my shoulder. Walking through the village, I noticed how the people were looking and pointing at me, some were sneering and others spat in my direction.

"Well," I say, "No one's ever been pissed off that bad to spit at me before."

"They have decided your guilt. They need-"

"They're idiots," I state, "Simply because I am a suspect doesn't mean that I am responsible."

Cassandra blinks before shaking me to look at her,"They mourn for our Most Holy, Divine Justinia, Head of the Chantry."

Most who? Head of the what?

"Sorry, need to be more specific," I say.

"The Conclave was hers, in an attempt to bring peace between Mages and Templars; she brought them together…and now, they are dead," Cassandra said with a look of exasperation.

Now it made sense what they were so pissed about.

As Cassandra continued her spiel about the Divine and peace and other sorts of boring crap, we moved down a path and onto a stone bridge, where soldiers were placing bodies along the sides and people, wearing white robes with a red vest over it, were saying some along the lines of, "Oh my deity, please judge me well and have mercy on these fallen people."

Cassandra turned around, with a knife in hand.

I took a step back.

She raised an eyebrow, "I am releasing your bonds," she said.

"Then what?" I ask, keep my eyes on the blade.

"Your Mark must be tested before closing the Breach, I will be taking you to a nearby rift for you to try and seal."

Wait, she wanted to try and use the crazy glowing thing on my hand?

"Oh yeah?" I say, "What's stopping me from just leaping over this bridge?"

"Besides guards?" she asked, "The thick ice below."

"…I see your point."

Cassandra approached and cut the bindings, "If it helps, I can promise you a trial, nothing more."

I blinked, "After the head butt to the face?"

"…yes," she said slowly. "Especially after that."

I rubbed my wrists before making my way across the bridge; the guards opened the next set of gates.

I wouldn't say it aloud, but that was more than most people promised me.

Usually is was more money, time…drugs, stuff like that.

Just as I exited, three people sprinted past and jarred me, "Maker it's the end of the world!" they cried.

I looked at Cassandra, "I think we should hurry," I say.

Cassandra nodded, "Agreed."

With that, we sprinted up the path, and I noticed how glowing green chunks of rock were now falling from the sky.

End of the world seemed like an accurate description.

As my left hand sparked up with pain again, I gritted my teeth and pushed on; it was nothing I couldn't handle now that I wasn't that distracted.

"The pulses are coming more quickly?" Cassandra asked.

I nodded, "Probably means that we're about to go through a whole lot of crap. On another note, how did I survive this explosion?"

"They said you…stepped out of a Rift before falling unconscious."

Andraste.

"Was there…anyone behind me?" I ask hesitantly, "The woman I talked about earlier?"

"They said she was there, only she didn't come with you."

We had then approached another bridge, as we crossed and were about to make it to the opposite side, a green light blasted the bridge and it instantly fell apart. Stumbling, I fell down onto the shattered remains of the bridge and onto the frozen river; I heard Cassandra hit the ice as well. Groaning, I ignore the pain in my back and push myself up. Only to see another ball of green impact the side of a hill before crashing onto the ice, green and black spikes appeared and shot upwards before a thing rose up; wearing some kind of hood, but had really sharp teeth and clawed hands.

"Stay back!" Cassandra shouted before drawing her sword and shield.

I watched in surprise as she engaged the monster, not that women couldn't fight but how well she did it.

"Be careful my champion."

What?

Looking down, I noticed a black circle had formed at my feet, and was bubbling dangerously.

I backed away and reached for my gun. Only to find it wasn't there.

"The staff! Retrieve the staff!"

Looking around, I noticed several fallen bodies and crates, as well as a long wooden staff with a ball on top that had spikes.

Another creature appeared from the bubbles and lunged.

Diving to the side, I raced towards the staff, as my hands wrapped around it the creature had lunged again, panicking I swung the staff upwards to where the head was.

Only for a blast of ice to impact the creature and knocking it back.

I let out a sound surprise, "Awesome!"

"You know what to do my champion."

It's like it was a second nature.

Lightning was crackling at my fingertips as I blasted a figure into ash, fire dancing in my palm as I lit a brazier, ice coating my arms like armor.

Magic is might.

Whirling the staff in a circle, I slammed it down; with the smell of ozone permeating the air, lightning sprang from the sky and hit the creature, which let out a loud shriek before vanishing into the ground.

I noticed how Cassandra had stabbed the last monster and cut open its stomach, causing blood to spill onto the ice.

I look around to see if there were any more of those things.

"I think that's all of them," I say when I saw that the coast was clear.

Before I could continue, a blade was pointed at my face.

"Drop your weapon. Now!" Cassandra demanded.

She had to be joking! Especially after those things appeared?!

I was about to voice my thoughts, but then a voice spoke up.

"Trust her, she is a good person at heart my champion. She has lost much and is trying to adapt…and you are not being that helpful if I do say so."

I gritted my teeth before swallowing my pride and saying, "All right…we do this your way."

As I slowly lowered the staff, Cassandra said, "Wait."

With a look distaste (similar to the one I recently had on), she sheathed her sword and gestured to the staff I was holding, "You are a magister, and I forgot that you didn't need that earlier to cast."

Right…magic.

"I cannot protect you alone," she stated begrudgingly, "and your life is in danger enough."

I blinked, "Thanks."

I stand back up and point up the way with the staff, "I take it we need to go that way?"

Cassandra nodded.

With that, we began to make our way up the river bank. Dealing with a few more of those monsters, or demons, whatever; I managed to get a better grip on using the staff, I had to focus before I could channel more advanced spells at the demons, however I mainly used ice when I sent out normal charges of magic through the staff.

As I wondered if I could change that, I heard the sound of swords clashing and a 'Twang' sound as Cassandra and I glanced at each other before sprinting up the hill.

"The Temple of Sacred Ashes," Cassandra exclaimed, "They need our help."

"Who are they exactly?" I asked.

Dashing up into the ruins of the temple, I see two people battling with more of the demons, and a green mass of spikes floating in the air; one was wielding a staff similar to mine while the other one, (who was quite short) was lashing out with a massive crossbow. However he apparently was missing the one demon approaching from behind. Whirling the staff head, a swirl of flames surrounded the head, "Crossbow, duck!"

Instantly the shorty did so, blasting the demon with a fireball and it disintegrated, I sprinted forward before leaping over the small man and swinging the staff like a bat as hard as possible at the demon in front.

With a blast of ice, the demon went flying through the air, the body freezing before it shattered on impact with the ground.

"And it looks like it's a home run!" I say, "The crowd goes-"

"Quickly!"

The second person grabbed my left hand and thrusted towards the mass of green. Pain flared again, however a tendril of green snaked through the air and attached to the mass, which moved sporadically until it exploded outwards with a green pulse.

I blinked as I stared at my hand and looked back at him, "What did you…

The "man" in front of me, wasn't a man at all, he was an elf. With pointed ears and shining pate, he had on light robes and a green vest over it.

"…do?"

Smiling, he said, "I did nothing. The credit is yours."

I held up my hand, "You mean this?"

"Whatever magic opened up the Breach in the sky also placed that Mark on your hand. I simply theorized the Mark might be able to close the Rifts, as it is part of the Breach itself, and it seems I was correct."

"Meaning it could close the Breach," Cassandra said.

I look back at my hand, the Mark had stretched so that it was halfway along my palm, "So I guess I'm holding the master key huh?" I ask.

"Good to know," a voice said.

Turning around, I then look at the short person.

I think the term 'dwarf' would be better to use.

He had an overcoat covering a red tunic that was opened in the center, revealing his chest, not to mention the massive crossbow on his back.

"I thought we'd be ass-deep in demons forever," the dwarf walked towards me, "Varric Tethras. Rogue, storyteller, and occasional unwelcomed tagalong."

I chuckled at the dwarf and extended a hand, "Maxwell Castell. Prisoner, falsely accused murderer, and part time magician, nice to meet you."

Varric took the hand with a grin, as the elf let out a sigh, "You may regret that in time."

"Aw…I thought I meant more to than that to you Chuckles."

Cassandra looked down at the dwarf and spoke, "You help is unnecessary Varric, we can-"

"Your soldiers are being cut down Seeker," Varric said, "You need all the help you can get."

The woman let out a disgusted sound before turning on her heel and walking away.

"I am Solas," the elf said, "I am pleased to know that you still live."

As I blinked at the bizarre bluntness in his voice, Varric spoke up, "What he means is "I kept that Mark from killing you while you slept"."

"You know about this thing?" I say as I lift up the hand that had the green glowing Mark.

Solas nodded, "Indeed, I spend much of my time wandering through the Fade, learning, seeing; I offer what help I can give with the Breach, if it is not closed then we are all doomed."

"Thank you," I say.

"Thank me when you close the Breach without dying," he said.

"I'm beginning to see why you're called "Chuckles" now," I say.

Cassandra walked back, "We must get to the forward camp immediately."

As we walked towards the woman, Solas spoke, "Cassandra, you should know the magic here is immense, much beyond the power of any apostate, including your prisoner; I find it hard to believe any mage has this kind of power."

With that, we moved on, crossing the river that had a burning hut, we went up a set of stairs partially covered in snow and were making our way up a hill when my Mark flared again, grunting I continued to make my way up.

"Careful," Cassandra warned.

"That would have been useful…maybe never," I say.

I heard Varric laugh, "This one has spirit, I like him."

I would have responded but I was getting curious by the shouting coming from the upcoming bridge.

Going through the next set of gates and I see Leliana discussing something with a man wearing the red and white robes.

As we approached, I wondered why I couldn't feel my feet…

"The prisoner must get to the Temple of Sacred Ashes, it's our only chance!" Leliana declared.

"You have caused enough trouble without resorting to this exercise in futility!"

"I have caused trouble?!"

"You! Cassandra! The Most Holy! Haven't you all done enough! "

"Excuse me!" Cassandra shouted.

By then, the four of us had approached the table.

"Ah, you have arrived," Leliana said as she gestured to me, "Chancellor Rodrick, this is-"

"I know-" the man began.

"I think he knows who I am," I say.

I was going to ask if the "Chancellor" in his name was similar to Chancellor Palpatine, but I think this place didn't get movies.

"Seeker Pentaghast," the Chancellor began, "I order you to take this prisoner to Val Royeaux and put him on trial for execution."

"You! Order me?!" Cassandra demanded, "You are a glorified clerk! A bureaucrat!"

"And you are a thug!" Rodrick retorted, "A thug who 'supposedly' serves the Chantry."

"Actually," I say before raising a hand, "They serve the Divine if I recall correctly."

Varric groaned softly, "It was getting good there."

"Justinia is dead!" Rodrick shouted, "We must elect a replacement and obey her orders on the matter."

I cleared my throat and reentered the conversation, "Or you can act like sensible human beings and think for yourselves rather than listen to?"

"YOU KILLED EVERYONE IN CHARGE!" Rodrick shouted.

"Who says it's my fault?" I ask.

"Take it back, getting good again…"

"YOURS!"

"Says who? I was just there," I say.

"An explosion destroyed the Temple, killing the leaders of both Mages and Templars, AND the Most Holy Lady Divine; and you WERE JUST THERE!"

"…yup," I say, popping the 'p'.

Then the ground trembled as the Breach grew wider, and the pain shot through my Mark again. The Chancellor had a bizarre look before reforming his neutral face.

"Call a retreat Seeker," Roderick said, "It's hopeless…"

"No," Cassandra said, "We must reach the temple, one last push!"

"Cassandra," Leliana interjected, "we could take the path through the mountains. I sent a party ahead to scout-"

"It's not safe," Cassandra said, "We lost contact with the entire squad up there."

"Listen to me-" Roderick began.

"Dude, shut up," I say, "The grownups are talking here."

"W-What is a 'dude'?" the man demanded, "And I am older than you!"

"Not mentally," I shoot back.

Granted, neither was I now.

Cassandra turned to me, "How do you think we should proceed?"

Again, normally I would ask, "Why the hell are you asking me? You're the soldier!" but you can't go demon slaying without having an idea.

I sighed, "Look. Either way people die. But I say that we go through the Mountain path," I say, "It may be risky, but it's fast."

Cassandra wrinkled her nose, "…fine."

Roderick looked at us, "On your head Seeker," he said.

The five of us moved away from the Chancellor and moved farther along the bridge.

"The scouts went up on the path in that direction," Leliana said, pointing up to a snowy path that significantly narrowed.

As I took a step forward, I then actually discovered what was wrong with my feet.

They were wet, and my sneakers had ice and water clinging to them, making squelching noises every time I moved.

"Erm…" I start.

"What are those?" Varric asked.

"Er…shoes?" I say.

"And those?" Varric pointed at my clothing.

Right…a dark hoodie and blue jeans.

"…clothing to help fight the cold," I reply.

"Shoes?" Leliana asked, "Like the ones worn at balls, or parties."

I shook my head, "Sort of, there isn't much snow where I came from, and these shoes were made to bre- I mean allow air to flow through easily."

Leliana sighed, "Here."

After looking around, she quickly snagged a pair of sturdy leather boots before tossing them at me, "You have thirty seconds, now."

I blinked, "Seriously?"

"…twenty-eight…"

Yup.

Quickly ripping off my sneakers, I threw them to the side before peeling of the damp socks; I then quickly stuffed my feet into the boots, however I was forced to hop on one foot as I put them on. As I managed to get the last one on, I landed on one of the discarded socks before I fell onto the bridge.

As I groaned, Cassandra made an amused noise, "Not that clever are you?" she asked.

"I still head butted you," I retort.

"Wait…that's what that was Seeker?"

"I will hit the both of you if you do not be silent and march."

I saluted and said sarcastically, "Of course…Seeker."

That time, Cassandra did actually hit me.

Read, Have a Great Day and God Bless

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