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Marian went to check in on Anders in his clinic. Luckily, the templars weren't really concerned with the clinic in the slums of Darktown, most likely just assuming that Anders was just a healer and none of his patients had mentioned to anyone that he was a mage, most likely out of gratitude. When she entered, Anders looked troubled and he looked relieved to see her.

"Have you noticed how many Tranquil are in the Gallows courtyard lately?" Anders asked. "And don't tell me I'm just sensitive to it. I've been watching and every day there are new Tranquil, selling their bloody wares. Good mages, too. People I know passed their Harrowing."

"Doesn't Chantry law say that mages who passed their Harrowing, can't be made Tranquil?" Marian questioned. Every mage who would pass the test of Harrowing in the Circle of Magi and succeed in resisting possession to demons, otherwise they are either killed by the templars or made Tranquil.

"Exactly." Anders nodded. "The templars are using the Rite of Tranquility to silence those who speak against them. They're working on a deliberate plan to turn every mage in Kirkwall within the next three years."

Marian had a hard time believing that the Grand Cleric and the Knight-Commander would ever do such a thing. "Whatever you think of templars, you can't imagine they're so heartless—"

"They're worse." Anders said, clearly angry. "There are groups in Kirkwall who help those fleeing the Circle. I've talked to people on the inside. The plan is the work of a templar named Ser Alrik. I've had a run-in with him myself. He's the one who did the ritual on Karl. Nasty piece of work, likes to make mages beg."

"What happened between you and Ser Alrik?" Marian asked, remembering Karl.

"I've been involved in an…" Anders sighed reluctantly before continuing. "Underground resistance. Mages, living free in Kirkwall, who help others escape. I can't tell you any more, for your sake and theirs. You have too much involvement with the Guard and nobility. Suffice it to say, I've been in the Gallows. I've seen his work first-hand."

"What else do you know about Ser Alrik?"

"The Knight-Commander is at least sincere in her convictions. However misguided, she believes she's helping people. Ser Alrik's a sadist. Cold-blooded as a lizard. He likes to experiment on mages, find out what it takes to push them into the arms of demons." Anders said, angry.

"Then perhaps the blame can be laid on him, and not every templar?" Marian pointed out. There certainly were bad templars but there were also good ones, like Thrask and the templar, who had helped her father to escape Kirkwall.

"That's what I hope." Anders nodded. "If we bring the evidence of this plan to light, there must be men who'll stand against it. Perhaps even the grand cleric will finally be forced to act." He looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before nearing Marian. "My friends in the mage underground know a way inside. A secret entrance under the walls of the Gallows. Come with me, tonight, please. Help me find evidence of Ser Alrik's "Tranquil Solution"."

"What do you mean, "Tranquil Solution?"" Marian asked, confused.

"That's what he calls it. His idea of a "peaceful" solution to the mage problem—to sunder the mind of every mage in the Free Marches. I'm told he's bringing his proposal to Val Royeaux, to the Divine herself. He would turn every mage in Thedas into a drooling simpleton under his command." Anders said.

"I wouldn't let you face this alone. I'm sure Wanda will want to hear this too." Marian said. Lobotomizing every single mage for who they are was just wrong. And considering what Wanda had told her about how people with her powers were being treated because of the Accords Wanda had told her about, Marian was sure Wanda would agree.

"You and Wanda are the one bright light in Kirkwall. I've always feared being made Tranquil. Now more than ever. I'm ready to go when you are. Our entrance is concealed not far from here." Anders said, relaxed.

Wanda, Varric and Merrill join alongside them when they heard about this solution.

"Perhaps I should have some words with this Alrik." Wanda said.

"I won't stop you." Marian said as Anders led them to a sewer entrance deep in Darktown after he had closed his clinic.

"This is it. This tunnel will take us into the Gallows. Are you ready to help me find evidence of the "Tranquil Solution"?"

"Let's go." Marian said.

The tunnels were filled with lyrium smugglers that the group was easily able to defeat. As they went deeper into the tunnels, they heard a female voice pleading for her life.

"No… please. I haven't done anything wrong."

An older templar was standing over a girl in mage robes. She seemed to be no more than fifteen years old.

"That's a lie. What do we do to mages who lie?" The templar said softly, yet there was clear sadism and cruelty in his voice. Wanda glared as her eyes flashed red, getting flashbacks from how the guards had been treating her, when she was locked up in the Raft.

"I just wanted to see my mum. No one ever told her where they were taking me." The girl said.

"No. No, this is their place." Anders whispered. "We cannot-"

"So, you admit to your attempted escape?" Alrik asked smugly. "You know what happens to mage girls who don't toe the line around here, don't you?"

Marian glanced to her companions. Varric looked horrified, while Merrill seemed disgusted, and Wanda looked furious.

"Please, no. Don't make me Tranquil. I'll do anything."

"That's right. Once you're Tranquil, you'll do anything I ask." Alrik started to reach for the girl.

"Get the hell away from her!" Wanda yelled.

Alrik turned around. "Who's this?"

Anders began to glow as the voice of the spirit of Justice rang out through the chamber. "You fiends will never touch a mage again."

The templars quickly drew their blades and attacked them, Anders slammed his staff onto the ground and at once five templar burst into flames. Merrill quickly ran over to the girl in order to protect while the rest of them dealt with the Templars.

Alrik raised his blade at Marian but Marian blocked with her swords and kicked Alrik back as he staggered. Wanda lifted Alrik into the air and then slammed him to the ground as Alrik groaned before Marian finished him off by stabbing him in the heart.

They looked at the other dead templars. Unfortunately, none of them was Karras, but they suspected it was too much to hope for. They all then looked at Anders in concern upon noticing that he was still glowing blue.

"They will die. I will have every last templar for these abuses." The spirit said.

"It's over, Anders. They're all dead." Marian said, hoping they would not have to fight the spirit. Wanda sensed from it pure fury and anger. Maybe even greater than she had for Thanos killing Vision... which, in all sincerity, worried her, to say the least.

"Every one of them will feel justice's burn." The spirit continued ranting.

"Get away from me, demon." The girl said, terrified, scrambling backwards.

"I am no demon." Justice started moving towards her. "Are you one of them, that you would call me such?"

"Anders, calm down. She's a mage and we saved her from becoming a Tranquil." Wanda said as she stepped in between the spirit and the girl, while Varric was preparing to shoot him, if he had to.

"She is theirs." Justice said, not backing off. "I can feel their hold on her."

"She's the reason you're fighting, Anders. Don't turn on her now." Marian said in a tone that made it obvious she would fight him if she had to and Wanda's look indicated as much as well.

"Please, messere…" The girl begged.

Justice raised his staff as Wanda pulled up a barrier to protect herself and the girl and suddenly Anders stopped glowing as he fell to his knees, his face horrified.

"Maker, no. I almost… If you weren't here…" Anders glanced at Wanda and Marian before he got up and ran off. "I-I need to get out of here."

Anders ran out from the caves as the girl stared, while Marian checked Alrik's pockets and his bag.

"You-you saved my life, messere. What was that thing?" The girl asked.

"He's no demon. Just a deeply troubled man." Marian said. It was not exactly a truth but it was not a lie exactly either. That had been far closer than they liked. For a moment…

"Can I… go home now?" The girl asked hesitantly.

They weren't sure whether it would be safe for the girl mage in the Circle of Magi, if there were more templars in the Gallows, who were just like Alrik and while they knew there were good templars too, the Knight-Commander would most likely blame the girl for Alrik's death due to her being a mage.

"Find your family and run. Leave Kirkwall. It's not safe for you here anymore." Wanda said.

"I know. There's no in the city where Sir Alrik's men won't find me." She nodded. "Thank you again, messere. Andraste herself must have put you in that room." She fled through the tunnels.

Marian checked Alrik's pockets before she found some letters and narrowed her eyes upon reading them.

"Blondie wasn't far off." Varric noted.

"You heard Alrik. That girl wasn't his first." Hawke stood, and kicked the man's body. "Too many damned monsters and fools on both sides."

"We're fortunate we came for that poor girl." Merrill said.

They walked to the clinic to find Anders furiously sorting things into two piles. "Trash. Trash. Keep. Trash. Trash… Won't be needing that anymore."

"We need to talk, Anders." Wanda said as she and Marian neared him. "We understand you're upset."

"'Upset' doesn't begin to cover it." Anders snapped as he got up. "You were the only thing that kept me from murdering an innocent girl. It's all gone wrong." He slowly turned around to face them. "You were right. Justice and I… it's a twisted us both into something… monstrous natural."

"So you're just going to stop? Let the templars win?" Marian questioned.

"Maybe they deserve to win. Maybe they're right. How can I fight for the freedom of mages, when I am the example of the worst that freedom brings?" Anders said as Wanda sighed, realizing he had a point, suddenly reminding her of that she was the reasoned people feared Enhanced after what happened in Lagos because of her.

"If you're looking for an easy answer, I'm not sure there is one. All I can tell you is that you need to try to be better. Show them that they can believe you and that they don't need to fear mages. Become an example to them." Wanda said.

"I don't know how." Anders sighed, sad. "How can I even trust myself to heal anymore? What if that… creature of vengeance turns on a patient? Will he… will I… resist? Or will I loose his fury?"

"You were out of control. But even then, you heard what I was saying. You knew, in your heart, that you had to stop." Marian held his shoulder.

"You have too much faith in me. Without you, I'd never have known who was there until it was too late." Anders sighed. "Did you… find anything on Ser Alrik? Or was the 'Tranquil Solution' just another of my delusions?"

"It exists, but it was Ser Alrik's plan, no one else's." Marian said, handing him the papers she had found.

"Let me see that. The Divine…" Anders smiled. "Rejected the idea. Meredith rejected the idea. This was…" He shook his head. "Not what I expected. Perhaps I should try talking to the grand cleric. Maybe she's more reasonable than I thought. Thank you. I will think on what you've said."

Present

"Isn't Ser Alrik exactly what the Seekers are supposed to prevent?" Leliana asked.

Cassandra nodded. "We had heard rumors about Kirkwall, but…" She sighed. "Well, you heard many of the same ones. With the Resolutionists, we…" She shook her head. "We should have looked deeper. Assuming, of course, the dwarf is telling the truth."

"The Divine received such a proposal. And she did, indeed, reject it." Leliana noted.

"You know this for fact?"

"I was in the room when she read it over. It infuriated her that anyone could consider such a thing."

Cassandra nodded. "Yet, if Varric is telling the truth, it seems Alrik was going ahead with the plan anyway, and the Champion and the Scarlet Witch learned of it."

"And even with Alrik's death, there remained others. Such as this Karras. We can talk to Cullen about him and Alrik later, see what else he can add."

So, what do you guys think about it?

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