Chapter 44: Bethany's Triumph
Why do demons seek to possess the living?
History claims they are malevolent spirits, the first children of the Maker, angry at their creator for turning from them and jealous of those creations he considered superior. They stare across the Veil at the living and do not understand what they see, yet they know they crave it. They desire life; they pull the living across the Veil when they sleep and prey on their psyche with nightmares. Whenever they can, they cross the Veil into our world to possess it outright.
We know that any demon will seek to possess a mage, and upon doing so will create an abomination. Most of the world does not know, however, that the strength of an abomination depends entirely on the power of the demon that possesses the mage. This is true, in fact, of all possessed creatures. One demon is not the same as any other. Demons can, for instance, be classified. Enchanter Brahm's categorization of demons into that portion of the psyche they primarily prey upon has held since the Tower Age.
According to Brahm, the weakest and most common of demons are those of rage. They are the least intelligent and most prone to violent outbursts against the living. They expend their energies quickly, the most powerful of them exhibiting great strength and occasionally the ability to generate fire. Next are the demons of hunger. In a living host they become cannibals and vampires, and within the dead they feed upon the living. Theirs are the powers of draining, both of life force and of mana.
Next are the demons of sloth, the first on Brahm's scale that are capable of true intelligence. In its true form, this demon is known as a Shade, a thing which is nearly indistinct and invisible, for such is sloth's nature. It hides and stalks, unaware, and when confronted, it sows fatigue and apathy.
Demons of desire are amongst the most powerful, and are the ones most likely to seek out the living and actively trick them into a deal. These demons will exploit anything that can be coveted—wealth, power, lust—and they will always end up getting far more than they give. A desire demon's province is that of illusions and mind control.
Strongest of all demons are those of pride. These are the most feared creatures to loose upon the world: Masters of magic and in possession of vast intellect, they are the true schemers. It is they who seek most strongly to possess mages, and will bring other demons across the Veil in numbers to achieve their own ends—although what that might be has never been discovered. A greater pride demon, brought across the Veil, would threaten the entire world. -From The Maker's First Children, by Bader, Senior Enchanter of Ostwick, 8:12 Blessed.
The Fade
The air grew hot and as Bethany got closer, flames soon surround them. A rage demon appeared before them. "And so it comes to me at last" the demon said. "Soon I shall see the land of the living with your eyes, creature. You shall be mine, body and soul"
"It's two against one, demon. You think it wise to fight us both?" Bethany asked. The rage demon just gave a dark laugh, something the mage did not expect nor welcomed. The demon then gazed at Mouse.
"Amusing. Have you not told it of our…arrangement, Mouse?" The lost mage just smirked.
"What arrangement? I don't recall any arrangement with you, demon" Mouse said. "With the power I have, what need do I have of you?"
"So quick are you to forget those wonderful meals we have shared now that you have changed the rules" the demon said. "The mouse has become bold…"
"I'm not a mouse…not anymore. Now you will be the one to hide!" Mouse then changes into his great bear form and gave a large roar.
"We shall see…" The demon summoned four wisp wraiths to attack Bethany. Mouse rushed the wisps and tore into the spirits with his new claws and fangs. The demon cast a flame blast at the mage and Bethany guarded with a barrier of mana. She then slammed her staff on the ground and shot a blast of cold air that canceled the demon's flames. All the bravado the demon had soon deflated as it realized that it was outmatched. Bethany gathered the Fade energies around her to shoot out a deadly cone of ice blades that skewered the rage demon. The demon screamed as it faded the flames around Bethany and Mouse disappeared. But something was wrong…Bethany had defeated the rage demon but she was still in the Fade. She then looked at Mouse as he returned to human form quite satisfied with the power he used. He headed towards her.
"You did it. You actually did it!" Mouse said. "When you came, I hoped that maybe you might be able to…but I never really thought any of you were worthy"
"The ones you betrayed before me. What were their names?"
Mouse was taken aback. "What? They were not as promising as you. It was a long time ago" he said. "I…I don't remember their names"
"I don't even remember my own name. It's the Fade, and the Templars killing me, like they tried with you"
"So what is it that you think you can from me?"
"You defeated a demon with ease and completed your test. With time, you will be a master enchanter with no equal" Mouse said. "And maybe there's hope in that for someone as small and as…forgotten as me. If you want to help"
"There may be a way for me to leave here, to get a foothold outside. You just need to want to let me in"
"So I see…the rage demon wasn't the test, anyone can kill a demon even my brother who's not even a mage can" Bethany said. "No, the real dangers of the Fade are often subtle and try to look non-threatening"
"What? What are you…of course this was the real test. What else is here that could harm an apprentice of your potential?" Bethany crossed her arms; the scared and helpless amnesiac act was not fooling anyone. Mouse could only chuckle, this was the first time in a while an apprentice have figured it out so easily. Usually an apprentice would start to panic at this point only to fall prey to the demons. "You are a smart one"
"You are right, simple killing is a warrior's job. The real dangers of the Fade are preconceptions, careless trust…pride" Mouse said in a deep voice. The lost mage then revealed his true form…a pride demon. Bethany should have been ready for a battle, but she knew there was no need to fight…the demon was here to teach and it was a lesson Bethany was ready to learn. "Keep your wits about you, mage. True tests never end" The world went white.
The Gallows
Bethany started to stir. Orsino gave a smirk as the mages started to cheer from the rafters. "She has done it" he said. "Bethany has passed her Harrowing"
Meredith face was blank but the First Enchanter could tell that the Knight-Commander was not happy about this. Mage blood would not be spilled today. "So she has…" She walked away while the Templars helped her up and got her into her bed.
"Are you all right? Say something, please…"
"Come on, come on…she won't get any better will all of you crowding her" Bethany woke up and saw all of the other apprentices surrounding her. Because she was the oldest person to be brought to the Circle a lot of the younger apprentices saw her as an older sister figure. She sat on the bed with her head still feeling a little cloudy.
"Hey everyone…"
"I'm glad you're all right" Bethany saw the sun shining from the window. She asked how long she was out cold. The Templars carried her in this morning, the Harrowing lasted all night. Bethany cut it very close with her time limit, Meredith was about to order her Templars to slay the mage until she started to stir. One of the apprentices started to laugh. "You should have seen the look on Meredith's face; she really had egg on her face"
"Shush Owen, the Templars will hear us" a young girl said. "So that was a Harrowing…what was it like? Is it really that dangerous?"
"Honestly I can barely remember…it's all so hazy" Bethany said.
A young elf snorted. "You would think they would tell the apprentices what's involved to better prepare us" One of the Templars went to Bethany and all of the apprentices soon went silent…once again the distrust between Templars and mages reared its ugly head. First Enchanter Orsino wants to see Bethany.
"Welcome sister, come in" Bethany entered the room. "The Harrowing is behind you, Bethany you are officially a mage within the Circle of Magi" On his table was Bethany's new robes, a Circle issued staff and a lyrium infused ring bearing the Circle's insignia. As a circle mage, Bethany was now allowed to join one of the many fraternities of the Circle as well as the ability to go outside of the Circle as long as she has permission from Templar leadership though it was doubtful she could do that with Meredith in charge. "Wear them proudly, for you have earned them"
"What happens now?"
"For now, you should rest…the Harrowing take a lot of out of you" The First Enchanter said. "I would warn you to not discuss the Harrowing with those who have not undergone the rite but…Meredith had other plans"
"Is something the matter, Serah?"
"It is nothing, Bethany…just watch your back in the coming days" Orsino said. "I fear this is only the beginning of a coming storm" Bethany communicates often with her family since entering the Circle and she is adjusting to her new life with ease. For the first time, she can study magic without watching over her shoulder. After passing her much-delayed Harrowing, she took a senior position within the Circle, teaching and mentoring the newest apprentices. Bethany is surprised at how many Templars are honest Andrastians, who believe they serve the Maker and the people by keeping mages from using blood magic. However, this up-close look at the templars has also shown her the abuses that inevitably occur when one group of people is given life-and-death power over another. Bethany supports the Circle as it is, but this grows harder as Knight-Commander Meredith clamps down more tightly.
The Hawke Estate
Back at the Hawke estate, Ericks was playing a game of Wicked Grace with Bodhan. For once Kirkwall was on its best behavior allowing Ericks to actually spend some time relaxing in his own estate for once. Romulus was next to the fireplace stretching comfortably on the rug, the mabari seemed to have made it his favorite place. Sebastian came in. "Hey Shiny, care for a game of Wicked Grace?" Ericks asked. "I promise you we won't take too much of your coin"
"As fun as that would be, I'll have to decline" the prince said. "Your hound is a mark of nobility in Ferelden, is he not?" Romulus yawned and then barked as he went to scratching himself.
"I have heard that gaining a mabari's loyalty is considered the ultimate proof of character there"
"That's him: my own living, breathing, slobbering status symbol"
"A dog cares nothing for worldly power. The Maker would like to see us learn from them" Romulus rubbed his back on the floor before getting up and barking. Sebastian just chuckled and gave the hound a bow.
"Don't let it go to your head…" Ericks said to the hound. "So I take you are here for more than just that sermon, eh Shiny?"
Sebastian looked around awkwardly and blushed. "Um, so…how is Lady Hawke?"
"Ma's just fine…she's loving the fact that she get to go to all those fancy parties again"
"Umm, I didn't mean…"
Ericks smirked. "Ohh…you mean Betty" The rogue could then hear running in the halls, it was Leandra. "Whoa, Ma! What's your hurry?"
"I have received a letter from your sister, Ericks" Leandra said happily. "She's done it! My dear girl is now a full-fledged Circle mage now!
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