No Karliah POV today. Instead, we get to see from Cullen's and Cedric's POV! Lots of things happening in this chapter, so let's go!
STANDARD DISCLAIMER THING
Cullen POV
The next morning the commander of the Inquisition was surprised to see that almost the entirety of the mage camp was standing around the training arena, and the morning horn had yet to wake his soldiers. There was an eager excitement in the air, and he watched as more than a few of the civilians from Haven wondered over to see what was going on. Unable to resist his curiosity, Cullen joined them, maneuvering his way through the crowd to reach the edge of the training grounds, where several mages working to keep the civilians from getting any closer to the training grounds, giving the arena wide berth. Cullen felt an invisible barrier cast between the spectators and the sparring ring as well.
"You're just in time, commander."
Cullen was surprised to find himself standing next to Hadir. "What's going on here?"
The horseman chuckled. "Karliah is giving a final test to her oldest students, before she allows them to join your Inquisition."
His brows came together in confusion. "Aren't you guys already part of the Inquisition?"
"Yes, but Ramu Spiritu is a strictly noncombatant group." Hadir told him. "Ricardo and Lisa want to join your Inquisition officially. As soldiers."
Ah, now Cullen realized what he was implying. The two students would be leaving Karliah's care and joining the army, no longer under the protection of Ramu Spiritu. They would be leaving the nest, so to speak.
"Here we go." Hadir's voice drew Cullen's attention back to the ring.
Karliah stepped into the arena dressed in her usual battlemage armor, and on the opposite side of her, two younger mages took their positions, wearing proper robes instead of civilian clothing. One was a tall, broad young man, tanned and muscular enough that Cullen would have mistaken him for a soldier if it wasn't for the staff in his hands and his magical aura. Ricardo, he would assume. The other must be Lisa, a young woman with long brown curls and wide blue eyes, looking far too nervous to be joining in battle. She grasped her staff tightly, as if to keep her hands from trembling, shoulders hunched as uncertainty showed plainly on her features.
"Two on one?" Cullen asked Hadir skeptically.
The First Enchanter smirked back at him. "Don't you worry, commander. Karliah could take on an army."
"You know, that doesn't make me feel better." Cullen crossed his arms as the man beside him snorted humorously.
Without warning, the Antivan boy attacked, leaping forward and slamming his staff into the ground. The earth rose like a wave, sweeping towards Karliah so fast Cullen would have missed it if he had blinked. Without so much as flinching, Karliah held up her hand and the earth stilled as it rose above her, a frozen wave just before the crash. It obstructed Cullen's view of the woman before the earth shattered and several stone fists were sent flying back towards the students.
Surprisingly, Lisa stepped forward and waved her arms, a physical barrier of some sort flickering to life in front of her and Ricardo. It bore one, two, three hits, before the barrier fell away, and the younger mages were forced to dodge.
The boy rolled and came back up fast, sending a barrage of energy blasts towards Karliah, who twirled her staff to knock them away or deflect them so that they went flying towards Lisa instead. The girl let out a yelp at the unexpected attack, scrambling at first to block the blasts as she got back on her feet.
Ricardo pressed forward with his attacks, casting a glyph beneath Karliah's feet, finally forcing the witch to move. She dove away just as the glyph exploded, rolling and coming back up and slamming her staff into the ground just as lightning rained from the sky. Ricardo cast a barrier while the girl held out her arms and welcomed the lightning as it struck her.
Cullen and the rest of the civilians gasped in horror, thinking that Lisa would fry to death. Instead, the girl seemed to light up with energy as her hair curled and frizzed and stood on end as she spun her staff and directed it towards Karliah, releasing the electricity she had absorbed in one powerful arc that seemed to hang in the air for an unnaturally long time.
Karliah was suddenly covered head to toe in some sort of rock armor, which protected her from the strike and directed the energy into the ground which negated it. Then, as it began to crumble away, she struck back with a large ball of flame, forcing Lisa to dive out of the way.
Ricardo attempted to catch her from behind with Winter's Grasp, but as if sensing the split-second in which the air chilled around her, Karliah stepped through the Fade, the frost lingering in the air where she once stood before falling to the ground and melting. The witch popped back up right in front of Ricardo and immediately began attacking him physically, her staff spinning and lunging as fast as any man with a blade.
Cullen found himself impressed as Ricardo met her blow for blow, his face scrunched in concentration as he just-barely kept up with his teacher. Not many mages took the time to learn how to fight without magic. It was their downfall in most situations on the field – one hit with a dispel casting, and they were suddenly useless. But Karliah was as dangerous with her staff as any warrior who trained with a polearm, slashing and stabbing with the bladed end, too close and too fast for Ricardo to conjure his magic.
He watched as Lisa sent energy blasts at Karliah's back, only for the woman to Fade-step out of the way once again, somehow aware of the sneak attack. The witch seemed to have a sixth-sense when it came to magical attacks, acting almost before her apprentice had even completed casting her spell.
Karliah's laughter echoed in the air as Ricardo was met with a face full of ice, knocking him onto his back. Lisa gasped and yelled a quick apology to her teammate as she spun around to catch Karliah's staff just before the blade could slice into her shoulder. It was a close call, the blade screeching as it grinded against the metal of Lisa's staff.
The crowd all seemed to gasp and yelp, thinking that the girl was going to be sliced in half.
"Maker!" Cullen raised his brows. "She really doesn't hold back, huh?"
Hadir chuckled. "We have healers on hand." He assured the commander, who sent him an incredulous look.
"Are you serious?" And Cullen had thought his Templar trainers had been sadistic.
"No better way to learn from your mistakes." Hadir smirked as the ex-Templar shook his head in disbelief.
Maybe he should recruit Karliah to help him train his men. It wasn't a bad idea, actually. The soldiers were sorely lacking in experience facing magi. Though he would have to ask Karliah to show a bit more restraint. He didn't want his soldiers coming back from practice with life-threatening wounds.
Lisa kicked out against Karliah, who leapt back and swiped out her hand to create a wall of fire between them. The fire raced towards Lisa, who quickly pulled up a barrier and ran into the flames so that they slipped off her barrier as they traveled away from the caster.
Now both Ricardo and Lisa advanced on their teacher, staffs spinning as they sent wave after wave of energy blasts at Karliah. Most impressive was that Karliah managed to keep up with both of them, spinning her staff and moving simultaneously, effectively dodging and blocking every attack as if it was a rehearsed dance, so light on her feet it seemed like they no longer touched the ground.
"Wow." Cullen couldn't help but gawk at Karliah's skills.
Hadir nodded. "She's playing with them."
"I'd hate to see her when she's pissed." Cullen stated dryly.
Hadir nodded solemnly, his eyes flashing dark with a memory. "No. No you wouldn't."
And then Karliah was moving, so fast that Cullen's eyes only saw a blur, and then she was in front of Lisa, slamming the broad side of her staff into the girl's stomach with such force that Cullen heard the weapon connect with the girl's flesh. Everyone in the crowd winced as Lisa immediately doubled over, and Karliah was already lifting her staff up to strike the girl's head – only to be interrupted by a wall of earth coming between her and Lisa and pushing them apart. Ricardo sent the wall of earth crashing down on Karliah, hoping to push her back while Lisa recovered, but as the earth swept over the witch it split down the middle, Karliah's hand outstretched.
Cullen heard the boy curse as he lunged forward to drag the still-stunned Lisa out of Karliah's range. By now the girl was recovering, standing tall but still struggling to breathe.
"Together!" Ricardo hissed to Lisa, and by some unspoken order, the two began casting together, Ricardo moving his arms at the sky while Lisa stabbed her staff into the ground and held on with both hands.
Cullen's templar senses began going off just as there was a crack and a flash and a bang!
A whirlwind of fire and electricity was swirling in the arena, rising into the sky and lighting up what shadows yet lingered in the dawn. The civilians shrieked and drew back from the arena, only the mages of Ramu Spiritu remaining at the edges, confident in the barriers they had casted earlier. Cullen would admit that he too had flinched as the storm roared into existence, though he did not draw away. Hadir seemed unconcerned next to him, so the commander forced himself to relax.
"Mixing elements is actually quite hard." Hadir suddenly spoke above the roar of flame and lightning. "Both casters must be aware of the flow of magic, their own magic, and that of their partner. Then they must sync the two together – like tuning two instruments. All the while, they must maintain absolute control on the element in question, especially in a spell as large as this one."
"And you trust them?" Cullen dared to ask.
Hadir sent him an amused look. "Karliah trained them herself. I would expect nothing less than perfection."
High praise indeed. Cullen turned his attention back to the battle, where to his surprise, Karliah still seemed to have the upper hand. Standing in the middle of a storm of destruction, Karliah was utterly untouched. If he squinted, he could see the glimmer of a barrier around her, clearly powerful enough to withstand the battering of the elements. It was no normal barrier, the templar felt something like… spirit magic… emanating from it. A spirit barrier? He'd heard of them, though they were rare and not necessarily Chantry-approved, since it required the presence of an actual spirit.
When the storm finally died down, the two students dropped to their knees, panting.
Cullen stared incredulously at Karliah. She didn't even look tired! Aside from her windswept hair and some dirt lingering on her armor, he would never have guessed that she just came out of a fight. And now that he thought about it, her students had done most of the fighting. Karliah mainly deflected and dodged.
"How…"
Hadir eyed the commander carefully, waiting to see if the ex-Templar would see Karliah as a threat or not. Most Templars did not react kindly in the face of a powerful mage. Most First Enchanters rarely displayed their full power before the Templars, and Karliah was easily at that level or higher. Most Templars would find a reason to make such a powerful mage Tranquil rather than risk their continued existence.
Cullen did not notice the man slowly reaching into his belt where a knife was hidden.
"That was terrifying." Cullen murmured. "And amazing. Suddenly I'm glad she's on our side!"
Hadir relaxed, turning back to the sparring ring. "Come, let us congratulate them."
A young elf woman was already entering the arena, the healer quickly scanning each mage for injuries, even Karliah, though the witch waved her off. Other than mana exhaustion, no one was seriously hurt. Though Lisa would have some serious bruising, and Ricardo had some frost-burn where he had been hit by friendly fire, they all seemed fine. Cullen followed Hadir into the ring, hanging back in case his presence was not appreciated.
"You two did well." Karliah praised her students as she and Neera helped them to their feet.
Ricardo frowned. "But… You did not even break a sweat!"
Karliah chuckled and patted his back. "You didn't expect to defeat your master on the first try, did you?" She winked at him.
"You… suck…" Lisa wheezed as she winced, Neera placing a glowing hand above her bruised ribs.
"Pain is weakness leaving the body, kids."
Cullen snorted, and Karliah finally seemed to notice his presence.
"Ah, commander." She greeted him, though the warmth in her voice was suddenly a little more forced. "Enjoy the show?"
"It was certainly more exciting than morning drills." He responded.
Her eyes glanced at the sky, eyebrows raising. "Ah, my apologies. It seems our spar has intruded on your training schedule."
Cullen shrugged. "It is not too bad. I'll just have the men work a little later than usual. Besides, I think everyone enjoyed watching you three."
Karliah did not seem pleased at that. Hm.
He noticed Ricardo and Lisa eyeing him with hopeful expressions. "I've seen my fair share of battle magic, and I have to say, your students are more than impressive." The teenagers beamed at the praise.
Karliah's expression softened as she glanced at them. "They are not my students anymore, commander."
Ricardo and Lisa's eyes widened comically as they spun around to regard her.
"You mean – "
"Are we – "
Hadir nodded as he stepped next to Karliah. "You two are official enchanters now. Congratulations."
Cullen couldn't help but smile as the two young mages whooped with joy, hugging each other, and then dragging the other young mage into a group hug, the elf girl scowling as they smothered her. Karliah and Hadir exchanged amused looks at their antics.
"How about you kids come speak to me once you're done celebrating." Cullen told them, glancing at Karliah, who nodded her approval. "And we'll see what we can do with you."
He nodded at them in farewell as he turned to walk away, chuckling at the excited words spilling out of the teens as he left. Karliah and Hadir began to usher the mages back to their camp while Cullen and his lieutenants barked at people to clear the training area. Most of the soldiers were already up and present, so Cullen immediately called them into formation.
They weren't getting a day off that easily.
Cedric POV
Karliah was avoiding him. He was sure of it.
After the return to Haven, it was understandable that she would be busy organizing Ramu Spiritu in preparation for the arrival of the Rebellion faction, and maybe try to smooth things over with the Templars (though somehow he doubted it… Karliah clearly had a distaste for them). At the same time, Cedric had been swept away by Leliana and Josephine, arranging trade agreements for lyrium (coughCarta!cough), sending missives to the Chantry in Val Royeaux and to his family in Ostwick, ambassadors to Orzammar, agents to infiltrate the Orlesian court, and increasing supply lines with local merchants for tents, clothing, and food shipments.
A week passed, they were expecting the Rebel mages to arrive any day now, and Cedric had yet to see hide or hair of Karliah. It was only when he heard a commotion from the training grounds that he finally caught sight of her trademark platinum hair, pulled back in a long braid as she danced around the sparring arena, practically toying with her apprentices as the two hopeless mages attempted to land a hit on their master. The Herald climbed onto the battlements of the village to watch the match from above the crowd, smirking at the sight.
Poor sods. Cedric thought with amusement, knowing that the young magi had a lot to learn before they were anywhere near her league. Karliah had always had incredible self-discipline and control. It was what had endeared her to their teachers back in Ostwick, a talented student that bordered on a prodigy and never seemed to struggle in any subject. She only ever made a mistake once. He was sure that if Karliah had remained in Ostwick, the First Enchanter would have chosen her as his apprentice instead.
But, perhaps it is better that things turned out this way. Cedric thought to himself. The tower had always been too small for Karliah, stifling her spirit and her powers. It was clear to him that Karliah had blossomed into her full potential in her time as an apostate. He was almost jealous.
His attention was pulled back to the spar between Karliah and her students as a whirlwind of fire and lightning formed above them, the two apprentices putting their powers together and calling down an terrifying storm.
Cedric was impressed. She taught them to sync their magic together. Impressive.
Still, Karliah seemed unfazed by the elements tearing up the field. There was some sort of barrier surrounding her body, coating her body like a second skin, a spell Cedric was unfamiliar with. It must have been quite strong to withstand the storm for so long.
When the fire and electricity died down, he could see the younger mages slouch in disbelief that Karliah was still standing. The battle was over.
She and Hadir spoke with the apprentices for a moment, the teenagers immediately perking up and jumping with celebration. Good news, then.
Cedric was more surprised to see Cullen walk onto the field, though the tension in his shoulders revealed his unease being surrounded by so many mages. After speaking with Karliah and the apprentices, the mages of Ramu Spiritu cleared the field, returning en masse to their camp, while Cullen barked orders at his lieutenants and every soldier in hearing distance snapped to attention.
Cedric found himself amused at the commander as the soldiers scrambled onto the field, having made the mistake of underestimating Cullen's commitment to training. There would never be a day off unless Cullen was six feet under. The man did not seem to understand the concept of relaxation.
Cedric could not fault him, however. Their soldiers were exceptionally well-trained in the short amount of time the Inquisition had been established.
The Herald spun around and climbed down from the wall, exiting Haven's gates and walking at a brisk pace towards the mage camp, Karliah's hair like a beacon among her peers. Cedric felt himself relax as he walked among the mages, breathing in the tang of magic, ignoring the looks of surprise and awe that followed him. He had forgotten how it felt to be surrounded by mages. There was a sense of companionship between all mages, no matter what country or race they hailed from. They shared the burdens of discrimination and oppression, the constant fear of demons, and felt an unconscious connection with each other through the Fade.
It did not escape his notice that a few of the adults had taken up strategic places around the edges of the mage camp, pretending to relax on a bench or have a small conversation where they lingered at the edges of their space. They carefully watched and took note of the people passing by, their sharp eyes keeping curious villagers and watchful Templars at bay.
"Herald!" Several people gasped as Cedric walked by.
"Your Worship." Others bowed their heads.
There was something different in how the mages approached Cedric in their camp. The people of Haven were in awe of his presence, they saw him as divine, and often kept their distance from him out of fear and respect. It was not so with the mages of Ramu Spirit. Perhaps it had to do with their experience with Karliah and her own supernatural image, but the mages were more relaxed around Cedric, and welcomed him as one of their own.
"It's him!"
Cedric glanced up to see several young magi crowd around him with curious expressions. They were of varying heights and ages, elf and human, and painfully skinny.
"Hi!" They chirped at him like eager students.
"Are you really holy?"
"'Course not! Everyone knows the Maker is bullshit."
"Shut up, Malcom!"
"Make me, Laurent!"
Cedric chuckled as two of the boys devolved into an argument and seemed to forget about his very presence. Distracted, the other kids pushed the arguing duo to the back of the group.
"Why! He's human!" Someone else exclaimed.
"Well the Maker's Herald wouldn't be an elf!" An elven kid rolled her eyes.
"He's a little short, don't you think?"
"And skinny!"
Ouch. Cedric chuckled at their blunt comments. Children sure didn't hold back.
"Wait! You're – You're Conrad's apprentice!"
Cedric turned at that, blinking in surprise to see a vaguely familiar face among the apprentices. She was taller than most, a teenager in a sea of shorter children. A young elf, with short-cropped red hair, tan Marcher skin, and wide green eyes.
"I'm Neera. I was in Ostwick too." The she-elf told him, dipping her head in greeting. Then she turned her gaze on the squabbling children around them and began waving them away. "Don't you guys have lessons? Get!"
The children jumped and giggled as they dispersed, a few of them grumbling as they stalked back to their teachers.
"You went to Ostwick? Apologies for not recognizing you." Cedric gave her a sheepish smile.
Neera shrugged. "I was – am – still an apprentice and much younger than you. I lived in the lower levels. We rarely crossed paths." She eyed him for a second before asking, "You come here for a reason, Herald? We don't normally get visitors in our camp."
You're too young to be so suspicious. Cedric thought, then inwardly winced at how old he sounded. "I'm looking for Karliah."
"Ah…" Neera glanced around. "She's around here somewhere. Our fearless leader tends to wander off."
Cedric chuckled at her dry voice. Clearly, the elf found Karliah more amusing than intimidating. At least Karliah's followers were unafraid of her.
"If she's assisting in one of the lessons, they are likely by the lake or in the woods." Neera told him as she began to walk. Cedric followed her, not knowing what else to do. The elf seemed to know what she was doing. "She doesn't really keep a schedule."
"How are the lessons, by the way?" Cedric inquired. "You think they hold up to Circle standards?"
Neera snorted. "Yes and no. Our students probably learn more than they would in the Circle. Without Chantry oversight, the professors have a lot more freedom in their classes now that they don't have to worry about a templar lopping off their head mid-lesson when they mention something outside the books. Not that we're teaching dark magic or anything –" The girl quickly amended, "But the Chantry was always quite strict on what we could learn."
"What do you mean?" Cedric asked her.
"Well, for example, not all spells from Tevinter require blood magic and human sacrifice." Neera informed him. "They have the most advanced magical knowledge of our time, and we could vastly improve our magical theories and abilities by reading their texts." She pointed to herself. "I am a healer, for example. And the best healers are spirit healers – a school which is forbidden by the Chantry because they think that everything in the Fade is evil and they refuse to differentiate between spirit and demon. But the Tevinters have been freely interacting with the denizens of the Fade for centuries. Their knowledge of spirits and their uses are unparalleled."
"You want to be a spirit healer?" An impressive goal. Cedric had heard of them, but he had little knowledge of what was required to become one.
The elf nodded, her expression lighter and distant. "The difference between a normal healer and a spirit healer is… exponential. A spirit healer can cast on more than one person at a time, for one thing, and call upon benevolent spirits to protect their companions during battle. They can heal injuries others cannot. They don't waste as much magic healing because they can channel energy directly from the Fade, so they last longer on the field."
She was clearly passionate about the subject, rambling on and appearing to forget him presence altogether at one point. Cedric chuckled at the girl; it reminded him of other mages that often lost themselves in their research. As she continued to speak about spirit healers, magical research, and the "Ramu Spiritu school for lost magi", Neera led him down to the lake and through the woods as they searched for Karliah. There were several classes being held around the lake, each with ten to twenty students, subjects ranging from history and reading to spellcasting and magical theory. Many of the younger children were still learning how to read and write, while the older kids practiced controlling their magic and learning how to hold a staff.
It's amazing what they've created here. Cedric was astonished. A school for magic without Templar oversight.
"Have you guys ever had an abomination?" The Herald asked Neera.
She shook her head. "No. Then again, Karliah and Hadir were always very careful about the type of mages allowed to stay with us. Most of the volatile mages went to join the Rebellion anyway; they saw no reason to stick around."
"Still an impressive feat with the number of magi in Ramu Spiritu." Cedric said. "Especially with children."
"Rosier, one of the enchanters, is a capable ward caster." Neera informed him. "Together with Karliah and Shanelle, they were able to create wards against demons in the Fade around us."
His eyebrows rose up in surprise. "What kind of magic is that?"
She just shrugged. "You'll have to ask them. A complicated combination of wards and spirit magic would be my guess. But I am still just an apprentice."
They were still roaming the woods around Haven and the lake, keeping an eye out for a head of white as they passed the various groups of mages. The next group of magi that they passed was being lectured by Orphin, who seemed to be demonstrating different types of primal magic.
"Ah, Ser Orphin." Neera called out as they approached. The older elf stopped to look up as she approached alongside the Herald.
"Neera? Aren't you assisting Hadir at this time of day?" Orphin asked her, nodding towards Cedric in a silent greeting.
"Well, I was going to escort Ser Cedric to see Lady Karliah first. But we haven't been able to find her." The apprentice told him.
"Ah." Orphin seemed to remember something. "Yes, she and Shanelle were heading up to the temple."
"What?!" Both Neera and Cedric exclaimed.
Orphin waved at them to calm down. "Don't worry, they are just going to survey the situation before the Rebellion mages arrive."
Cedric opened his mouth to protest the action, but was swiftly interrupted by Orphin.
"She is well aware of the dangers, my friend." Orphin glanced at the Herald, then back to young elf next to him. "Lethallan, would you please escort my students back to camp? I'll take it from here."
She complied without protest, though she may have hesitated for a moment. Orphin dismissed his class with a lazy wave, the kids cheering as they raced back to the camp to enjoy their freedom, before he led Cedric out of the woods and onto the mountain path that connected Haven to where the Temple of Sacred Ashes once stood.
"So." Cedric eyed the elf out of the corner of his eye. "Why is Karliah really at the temple grounds?"
"I believe Karliah would prefer to tell you herself, once we are there." Orphin answered cryptically.
The old elf had long grey hair pulled back in a simple braid, tall and thin, wearing light armor that seemed to be a cross of Dalish leatherwork and scaled armor. Knee-high boots with leather leggings paired with a Dalish armored tunic atop a light mail tunic. He wore a long dark coat on top of it to ward off the cold Frostback air, the shoulders armored with dark metal, a staff of dark metal strapped to his back.
It was impossible to tell an elf's age, given their long lifespans, but Cedric guessed that Orphin was approaching old age, if the faint wrinkles on his face were anything to go by. Legends of the elves stated that once they had been immortal, and even today they usually lived longer than most humans, if they were lucky enough to avoid an untimely death. Hell, Cedric knew of elves that still looked twenty when they were in their forties. Orphin could have been between sixty and eighty for all he knew of elven aging.
Orphin did not seem like the type for small talk, so they walked in silence up the mountain, traversing the now-abandoned pilgrim's path. The Breach hung low in the sky, pulsing with soft green light, the clouds around it swirling slowly, ominously. Both of the mages could feel their magic reacting to the proximity of the Breach, humming just underneath their skin in anticipation.
As they rounded the corner to the final staircase that once led up to the temple grounds, Cedric was astonished to see Karliah sitting at the bottom of the stairs, slouching as she leaned onto her staff. He almost missed her, with her head down and strands of white falling from her shoulders like a waterfall, blending into the snow around them. Only her dark blue robe stood out against the bleak gray and white colors that engulfed the area around them.
"How is she?" Orphin asked, looking at Shanelle, who was standing next to Karliah with a concerned look.
Cedric felt worry creep into his mind when Karliah did not react to their voices, still staring at the ground and breathing deeply. Shanelle's expression was taut as she looked up to greet them, her eyes flickering curiously at the Herald's presence.
"This is as close as she can get to the Breach, apparently. We do not dare go any further." The Rivaini answered, directing her words towards Orphin. "She will not be able to help us close the Breach. It is too dangerous for them both."
Cedric raised his eyebrows at them, before turning his attention to Karliah. She was weary, he could tell from the slump of her proud shoulders and her grip on her staff, perhaps the only thing keeping her from falling face-first into the snow.
"Karliah?" He asked softly, approaching her. She shifted at his voice, and when she looked up at him, he felt the air catch in his throat.
Her eyes were… glowing. Like molten Silverite, flashing silver and gold, swirling with magic. And the veins at the corners of her eyes were glowing as well, the creases like cracks in a shell, a soft bluish-silver light leaking through. He felt something else watching him, then, looking through her eyes. Another presence, muted but aware.
"…Karliah?" He asked again, his voice unsure.
"She is speaking with it." Shanelle's voice interrupted. Cedric tore his gaze away from Karliah and turned to face the shaman.
"With what?" He asked in a dangerously low voice, eyes narrowed with suspicion. What had they been up to?
Shanelle opted not to say anything else, her eyes returning to Karliah and making a motion for him to approach her. Cautiously, Cedric walked up to his old friend, kneeling in front of her to once again gaze into her unseeing eyes.
"Cedric."
Nearly everyone jumped as Karliah spoke, her voice layered with another's, deep and genderless, echoing with magic.
Is she… possessed? Cedric thought with alarm, though he did not draw away from her. "… Karli?" He asked uncertainly.
"I have been wanting to meet you for some time now." The creature inside Karliah spoke, their voices overlapping, her eyes watching him with a distinctly inhuman stare. "Karliah calls me Dawn."
"You're possessed!" Cedric gasped, jerking away and putting distance between them, reaching for his staff. It did not occur to him that neither Shanelle nor Orphin seemed surprised at this development.
"I saved her!" The thing inside Karliah nearly roared as she leapt to her feet, eyes blazing, hair whipping around her in an invisible wind, the air crackling with raw magic that Cedric had only ever felt in the Fade. Karliah's eyes blinked as her body stilled. "Ah. My apologies. I still struggle with emotions."
Cedric stared with his mouth hanging open. "What… what is going on here?!" He spun around to look at Orphin and Shanelle, who were watching both he and Karliah carefully.
"Dawn." Shanelle addressed the body of Karliah with a scolding tone. "Let Karliah speak."
Cedric turned back to watch as Karliah's eyes lost their glow, the magic humming under her skin calming to a slow thrum. She blinked once, twice, and then her eyes locked with his with an apologetic expression.
"Cedric…"
"What was that, Karliah?" He demanded in a harsh voice. Cedric could joke about a lot of things, but never abomination.
She opened her mouth to answer, but then another thought seemed to occur to her. Karliah glanced at Orphin and Shanelle, then slowly reached up to her head. Cedric watched in confusion as she began to unwrap the bandages that were always covering her forehead.
Cedric felt his heart stop at the sight of the sun burned into her skin, his stomach plummeting as bile rose up in his throat. Her forehead was melted and scarred, red around the edges as if it were still new.
The Tranquil Brand.
"N-no…" His voice cracked as he reached out to her, before letting his arm drop. "Maker…"
Karliah watched him with a sad expression, her eyes shadowed as she remembered the pain and fear that permeated her memories of the event.
"Are you even real?" Cedric asked her with a horrified look. "Is that really Karliah in there… or the spirit?"
"Both." She answered him softly. "The brand separates us from the Fade completely. Therefore, the only cure is to regain a piece of the Fade. To establish a permanent connection to it."
"How did you…" He trailed off, unsure of how she even managed to do such a thing.
"The spirit – Dawn – came to me after I was branded." Karliah told him. "It had been watching me during my imprisonment. From what I can gather, the spirit was angered at my unjust punishment, and merged with me to help me escape." Her eyes became unfocused as she recalled those memories. "I don't think either of us understood the severity of that action. Without Dawn's presence inside me, I revert to being a Tranquil. So the spirit and I are permanently bonded."
"Unjust punishment?" Cedric asked in a hard tone, his face darkening as his suspicions from years ago rose to the forefront of his mind. "What happened, Karliah? Why did you run away?"
There was a moment of tense silence as Karliah regarded him with resignation. Her gaze flitted up to Orphin and Shanelle, jerking her head to the side in a silent dismissal. Cedric heard the snow crunch under their feet as the two enchanters walked away, leaving them alone.
Karliah walked up to him, placing her hand gently on his arm. "I think you should take a seat, Cedric."
He looked down into her eyes and saw the answer he had been dreading to hear even before she said it. They had always suspected what might have happened that night, especially when the templar in question was reassigned the next day. But the dark, haunted look in her eyes, flickering with a deep and hidden pain... Suddenly, the answer was all too clear.
His eyes watered, the tears slipping onto his cheeks.
"Karli…" Cedric choked as he gathered her into his arms. "Oh, Karli… I'm so sorry."
Still haven't actually explained what happened to Karliah, though it's implied. We'll eventually get to the full story, which will come later, and rest assured there will be a trigger warning.
Please leave a review!