18. Dead Alive

Lorelai surveyed the Shrine of Amadia with her hands on her hips. It did not look much like the goddess as far as Lorelai could tell, but it was difficult to compare a being of glowing golden light to a giant stone face with water falling from its eyes.

"Are you here for Amadia's grace as well?" a soft voice inquired. Lorelai turned and was met with a robed and masked woman lingering near the shrine. Her outfit was quite pretty, covering her body in soft purple and white fabric, but the woman's mask was not quite as obscuring.

Lorelai tilted her head to the side. "You are an Undead, are you not?" she asked instead of bothering to explain just how close she was to Amadia. The robed woman jerked back in surprise, staring fearfully at Lorelai, who wished she were wearing her mask so that she could have rolled her eyes. "Calm yourself, my friend," Lorelai sighed. She pushed back her hood,—she had replaced it when Leya had recoiled in horror at the sight of Lorelai—eliciting a soft gasp from the robed woman. "Yes, yes, I am aware of how beautiful I am," she said airily. "Did I guess correctly, my friend?"

"I…"

The robed woman was saved from answering by Ifan, Sebille, and a newly-uncollared Fane. "Leya still agreed to remove the collar?" Lorelai inquired. "I was worried I had frightened her too badly for that."

"Yes, and she asked us to apologize to you from her," Ifan said gruffly. "She apparently didn't know that Gareth approved your presence here."

"I am glad of that," Lorelai said with a chuckle that served to mask the burst of irritation rushing through her. "I appreciate that she chose to allow my actions to overcome any Undead prejudice she had. Speaking of which," Lorelai said abruptly, keen to turn the conversation elsewhere, "I believe I have found another Undead." The robed woman cringed when Lorelai pointed a skeletal hand at her.

"Oh?" Sebille crooned, stepping forwards to inspect the woman. "And who are you, kitten?"

"I am Gratiana," the woman said, and Lorelai instantly stiffened in shock. "I found this—"

"You said your name was Gratiana?" Lorelai interrupted sharply, staring intently at the masked woman. She gazed back at Lorelai with a visibly nervous posture but deigned to nod. "You would never remember this," Lorelai said quietly, "but we have crossed paths once before."

Gratiana stared, studying Lorelai intently. "I have no memory of this," she admitted cautiously. "I… apologize." With a small gasp, Gratiana pressed a hand over where her heart would have been. "Are you… a victim of Braccus as well?"

Lorelai shook her head and wondered if the Seekers knew of this woman's past. "I never had the distinct pleasure of offending the man," Lorelai said in a near-growl, "nor did I ever actually exchange words with you. I was present, however, when you purged and burned the entire village of Silverleaf to ashes. I spent days burying the hundreds of mutilated corpses of every man, woman, and child there."

Lorelai watched Gratiana for her reaction, but Gratiana only inhaled a trembling breath. She said nothing, so Lorelai decided to continue.

"I remember vividly," Lorelai recalled thoughtfully, beginning to pace slowly in front of Gratiana, "how a woman who had had the luck to be in the forest returned to her village and simply stood there, shocked enough that she did not react to the Undead in her midst. She scoured the town for her family, but all the corpses were so unrecognizably charred that she could not identify her husband or any of her five children." Lorelai paused and tapped her chin, the sound of bone against bone making Gratiana flinch slightly. That filled Lorelai with dark amusement. "I remember that her name was Helen," Lorelai mused. "I do not know what became of her. I doubt she had a pleasant life."

Gratiana bowed her head deeply and took another strangled breath. Had she been able to, Lorelai wondered if the woman would be sobbing violently. "I do not deny the terrible atrocities I committed," Gratiana said hoarsely, "but I have spent every moment I can to help heal the damage I caused in Braccus's name. He… he was a great man at one point, but I… encouraged him to grow in power. Such a thing corrupts, but… but I refused to see it. I fed him more and more power, but he was never satisfied…"

"I saw the extent of the damage you caused," Lorelai said unsympathetically. "Those villagers, those lands you annihilated so viciously, were culled for the sake of your childlike infatuation with an evil man."

"I do not require your compassion or your forgiveness," Gratiana said quietly, her head still bowed. "I cannot undo my crimes, but I can find a measure of peace in Amadia's love. You see, I... I found this shrine, heard Amadia weeping, and wept myself. That very day… I was finally aware of what I had done," she said almost dreamily. "I cast myself from a cliff, but Braccus refused to give me rest even in death. He stole my soul, turned me into this… monstrosity, but this half-existence has at least given me the chance to help those suffering in any way I can."

"I have no pity for you," Lorelai stated, unmoved, "but nor do I seek revenge of some sort." Pushing through her reluctance, Lorelai retrieved the soul jar from her bag and held it out to Gratiana. "Take it," she said bitterly, "but never forget that this 'half-existence' that you so despise is still more than those whose very souls you absorbed have. Because of you, they were denied the Hall of Echoes, erased forever and with no flesh to preserve their memory."

"I… shall not forget," Gratiana said breathlessly, her gaze fixed on the soul jar. She took it hesitantly as though she expected Lorelai to snatch it back—and Lorelai was tempted to do so—and unsealed the lid with shaking hands. A pale wisp rose from the jar and was absorbed into Gratiana, who sighed deeply and dropped the empty jar so that it shattered on the ground. "Oh, to feel again," she murmured. She gazed at Lorelai and clasped her hands in front of her. "Perhaps you are right," she murmured, "that I do not deserve absolution, but Amadia can forgive all crimes. You have done me a great service no matter your personal feelings, and for that I thank you. May you walk in Amadia's grace."

Lorelai chuckled darkly and shook her head. "I seem to have no choice in the matter," she said dryly. "I do hope we never meet again."

Gratiana stiffened in surprise, but Lorelai only spun on one heel and stalked away.

"No matter what she did in her youth," Ifan said carefully, "she seems to be atoning now. Doesn't that count for something in your mind?"

Lorelai repressed an irritated sigh and paused so that she could eye him dispassionately. "You were present during the annihilation of the elven Homelands, were you not?" she inquired. Ifan grimaced, his eyes filling with pain, and nodded once. "Imagine such a massacre," she said, "but repeated dozens of times as Gratiana burned every victim to death. The agonizing screams of thousands of innocents echoed across the entirety of Rivellon. The tragedy I witnessed was a minor one, yet it still haunts me at times. Do you follow thus far?"

Ifan nodded once, his eyes downcast. Sebille looked uncharacteristically solemn, and even Fane was watching her with acute intensity.

"Now, the Deathfog tragedy at least wiped out this horrific Black Ring, did it not?" Lorelai continued. She waited for Ifan's stiff nod before speaking again. "Gratiana's massacres fueled the already immense powers of a greedy, cruel man. Additionally, her methods did not just kill painfully. No, she took their souls, Ifan. She absorbed their very souls, denying them any kind of afterlife, and gave them to a sadistic tyrant."

Ifan gazed at her with a tormented, conflicted expression on his face, so Lorelai softened her posture and gave him a small nod.

"Any of you may forgive her if you wish," she said gently. "I shall not judge such a thing, nor will my positive opinion of anyone be affected. In truth, it is not my nature to hold grudges," she added with a sigh, "but this one has been difficult for me to release. I do not profess to understand the depths of Gratiana's regret or her sufferings since the days of Braccus Rex, but I cannot deny the existence of my bitterness."

"And yet," Sebille said curiously, "you returned her soul. Why?"

"I do not believe that I have the authority or wisdom to deny anyone their life or existence," Lorelai replied with a chuckle. "Perhaps it will cause me myself to be erased from existence someday, hm?"

Both Ifan and Sebille seemed troubled by Lorelai's responses, but she did not ask for further details on their opinions. She was tired of dwelling on the past, of being constantly reminded of Braccus Rex. The Source King was simply everywhere here, but at least they would be leaving this cursed island behind soon enough. Gareth was rallying the troops, and it was only a matter of time before everyone met up to storm the Lady Vengeance.

"Onwards, soldiers!" Gareth cried, right on schedule. "We fight for the ideals of our Divine Lucian, the hope in our Godwoken, and the inevitability of a peaceful world!"

"Whenever someone talks about inevitability," Lorelai commented, as soldiers cheered and rushed by, "it sounds like a threat."

"If the world becomes peaceful," Ifan muttered, "then I'll be out of a job. That'd be a shame."

Lorelai chuckled and nodded. "It would make existence far less interesting," she said, "but it would have its benefits."

"True, but such a thing is impossible," Sebille said dryly. "Why bother discussing this?"

"Gareth brought it up," Lorelai pointed out. "Speaking of, however, everyone seems to be running off with swords drawn. We ought to follow."

xXxXxXx

"I… did not want to believe it," Lorelai breathed in dismay as she stared at the mutilated skeletal bodies dangling from crosses at the entrance to the docks, "but those truly are Shriekers. This is… despicable." Lorelai paused to wrangle her temper before she shot fire at someone out of pure fury. "I do not understand how people are capable of such cruelty," she eventually said.

"People have no sympathy for those they believe to be monsters," Sebille growled. "A persuasive leader can delight the public with genocides."

"You mortals truly are savages," Fane commented.

"Yes, sometimes," Lorelai said quietly. "I wonder, though, if the Eternals were always innocent of cruelty. Do you, for example, have sympathy for those you consider savages?"

Fane did not answer, and Lorelai kept her gaze fixed on the Shriekers. There were at least five of them in front of the gate that protected the docks, each surrounded by a protective shield and by the corpses of animals and people who had gotten into range of their deadly attacks. The Shriekers themselves were humanoid figures so decayed and disfigured that any one's species or general features were indiscernible. Each, however, was tied to a cross, crucified in the sun with flies buzzing around them.

If Lorelai had been wearing her mask, she would likely be shedding tears of pure fury.

"Is there a cure?" Ifan asked without any expectation in his voice. Lorelai shook her head, and he sighed. "Well, one thing to do, then," he said grimly.

Lorelai nodded and beckoned Gareth, who was speaking to the Seekers. He strode to her without hesitation. "How do you wish to proceed?" she asked him.

"My Seekers and I will lead the assault on the ship," Gareth said. "Would you and your companions take care of the Seekers and distract the magisters until we gain control?"

Lorelai glanced at the others, but no one had any objection. "Will Alexander be present?" she inquired.

"Undoubtedly," Gareth replied with a grave look in his eyes. "Be careful."

"Ah, that is wonderful!" Lorelai cheered, much to Gareth's surprise. Ifan laughed and patted his crossbow affectionately.

"Shadow's Eye is getting impatient," he said. "Let's get this done."

Gareth seemed to want to ask questions but thought better of it. "Seekers!" Gareth shouted. "Move out!" The Seekers all made hoarse battle cries and rushed off behind Gareth, their weapons drawn.

"Now that the rabble has been cleared," Lorelai laughed when the last Seeker rushed out of sight, "let us maim and cripple some magisters!"

"Kill them too," Sebille piped up.

"Especially Alexander," Ifan agreed.

Lorelai chuckled darkly and lifted one of the purging wands, aiming at the first Shrieker. She cast the purge spell that instantly disintegrated both the barrier and the Shrieker itself. The pained screams of the dead creature still echoing in the air, Lorelai purged the rest of the Shriekers. All that remained were empty crosses and clots of cursed blood desecrating the ground.

Her anger still simmering, Lorelai returned the wand to her pack and strode forwards with unmatched confidence. Her companions drew their weapons and followed at her heels.