Chapter 17:

We returned to Siva, going through the ritual again. This time, Rhalic was even weaker. So much so, that he fell to his knees, and I had to help him back to his feet. He cursed the air blue with words I didn't even know, all the while.

Then, he gave me something... almost as bad as the previous spells.

Source Vampirism.

The ability to steal Source from someone or absorb a spirit, destroying it. Preventing the person from going to the Hall of Echoes.

And a hunger to go with it. It matched the hunger he'd already instilled in me for death.

"Go on. I am here for you. Give in to your hunger!" He ordered, spreading his arms wide.

I stumbled back from him, shaking my head. No. No, I would not do this. I would never use this power. Even on him.

"Go on. Devour me!" Moving closer until he loomed over me.

The hunger amplified tenfold, and I dropped to my knees, shaking horribly with the effort to keep myself under control. Was it always going to be like this? Surely not. Maybe there was something Eir could do?

Were the others going to feel this awful, as well?

"Why?" I managed to get out, looking up at him with tears streaming down my face.

"Because power is not given. It is taken. You must take it from others, before they relieve you of yours." He laughed cruelly. "You can see the souls of the dead. And now you can feed from them to your hungry heart's content. So feed, for you will starve until you finally feast upon the Well of Ascension."

"I won't do it." Staggering to my feet, I glared at him, forcing myself to stand tall. "I will not do it."

His eyes narrowed, but quickly after, he looked pleased with himself. "Oh, you will. Because you will be given no choice in the matter, little light. Now, go. To the Nameless Isle."

He went to touch me, but I pulled out of his reach.

"Don't touch me." I hissed. "I already know where it is."

With that, I turned and fled into the cloud of smoke that would take me away from here.

I stepped out of it, to find myself in the meadow again. Eir sitting a few feet away. I closed my eyes in relief, my whole body relaxing in her presence.

"Rhalic-"

"I know." She smiled sadly at me, patting the space beside her. "Sit."

I sat, frowning. "I... I'm so hungry. For death, for Source. I can't. It's hard to focus on anything else. Talking is hard."

Reaching out, she rested her hand on mine. "I can help with that."

"What about the others? Are they experiencing it, too?"

"You would help the others, though they are your competition?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They're my friends." I shook my head vehemently. "They're not my enemies. They never will be!"

"Calm down." A gentle smile, now. "I will help them. I will place a calm in their hearts, to counter the hunger. There is a price, though."

"What is it?"

Her eyes stared into mine. "You need to keep your promises."

With her here, it was easier to think. So, I pondered that. I'd promised to help the little girl. I'd promised to help Almira. I couldn't think of any others, not off the top of my head, anyway. But I would do those to the best of my ability.

I nodded firmly. "I will."

"From here on out, be careful of your promises. Words hold power, remember."

"Scio. I know." Squeezing her hand. "I will."

A blanket of fog wrapped around me, making my thoughts fuzzy for a few moments. When it fully entered my body, it took a bit to adjust. There wasn't anything physical that had changed, but the hungers in my chest- in my heart- had all but vanished. I let out another sigh of relief.

"Thank you." I murmured, feeling tired all of a sudden.

"You can't rest. Your friends need you." There was an urgency to her voice that had me on full alert. "Go, now."

I stepped into the basement, only to find a dozen voidwoken that I hadn't had the pleasure of coming across before. They were humanoid in shape and how they moved, but there was no mistaking them for what they were. Creatures of the Void.

My friends were spread out around the room, pinned in place between several creatures each. A prayer left my lips, asking for them to be quicker on their feet, to give them strength, to enable them to slip free. Before my eyes, I watched as they turned transparent. They all realized what was happening and each ducked out of their respective fights, coming to stand around me. A moment later, the invisibility faded, but that was fine- they were safe.

One of them feinted left with the Red Prince. He went to block it, but the voidwoken shot up to the right, about to thrust its claw through his armor and shoulder. A quickly spoken prayer left me at the sight- I wasn't even paying attention to what I was saying, I was so concerned with his safety- and a flash of light appeared between the two, knocking the voidwoken's claw aside harmlessly.

A dome formed around us, taking even me by surprise. Inside, I felt energized, and I wondered if the others felt the same. When the creatures tried entering it, tendrils of light would crawl up their arms and legs, rendering them immobile. Which made them easy pickings.

When it was all over, they all turned to me.

I held up my hands. "I've got nothing. I don't know what happened."

Looking away from them, my eyes fell on Siva's spirit, standing by her corpse.

She told us to go straight to the Lady Vengeance and leave.

None of us could think of anything else pressing that we had to do in Driftwood, so we teleported back to the ship. Malady asked if we knew where the Nameless Isle was- they must have talked about it while I wasn't around- and no one spoke up.

"Actually." I smiled. "I do."

"I should not be surprised, but I am." Sebille shook her head, amused.

"The Advocate showed me." I wrinkled my nose at the memory of him. "I can talk to the ship and tell her where to go."

Malady nodded, motioning for me to do so and, after a brief conversation, everything was set.

And everyone was already on board, so we started on our way.

To where Divinity awaited.

Anxiety curled in my stomach. We hadn't talked about what we would do, when we reached where one of us would claim it. I didn't want a fight to break out between my friends.

...

I was sitting at the head of the ship, keeping the ship company. The winds were whipping against the sails, but she stayed the course, and I made sure to drop it into the conversation here and there that I was thankful she was so good at sailing. I know she didn't choose to be a ship, but I wanted her to know I appreciated what she was doing for us.

Englo was laying by my feet, enjoying the wind ruffling through her fur. Every once in a while, she would sit up and demand I pet her. And just like a cat, when she'd had enough, she let me know, before laying back down.

"That little girl you brought is still asleep." Ifan's voice sounded by my ear.

I jumped, almost falling over the rail, but he grabbed me. Chuckling at my reaction.

"Careful."

I leaned into him, smiling. "I don't have to be, when you're around."

I had always felt so safe with him. Even when he'd been yelling at me a week ago, I hadn't been scared he'd hurt me.

His expression softened, and he dropped a kiss on my forehead. "Still."

"I know."

A brief silence fell over us, during which Englo stood and demanded pats again, making us both laugh.

"How much farther?"

"Oh, it'll be a few days." I touched the ship rail. "She guesses about three more days."

He nodded slowly, looking deep in thought. "And... do you have to be up here the whole time?"

"No. I don't think so. She's doing well, especially considering the wind. I was just keeping her company for a bit."

His voice dropped to a murmur. "Keep me company."

I felt my face heat. "Ah. Okay. Just. Hold on."

Pulling free of him, I stepped up to the dragon head, brushing my fingers against the wood.

"I enjoyed our conversation, and I hope to do it again sometime."

"Thank you." She bowed her head to me. "I would like that."

Turning back to Ifan, I held out my hand for him to take. To lead me wherever he wished.

I knew now that I would follow.

He guided me down to the bottom level, to a hidden alcove, and sat. Pulling me down so I was straddling him.

"You said something last week." He gave me a look.

"I did." I nodded, knowing what he was referring to. "I love you. I meant it then, and I mean it now. I love you."

His gaze roamed my face, an intensity burning in his eyes. His hands slid up my arms to my neck to my cheeks, before pressing his lips to mine. So many things were conveyed in it- passion, fear, hunger, love. My heart calmed, my anxiety over everything dissipating with the raw emotions pouring into me from him. When we parted, he rested his forehead against mine.

"I love you." He murmured.

"I love you." A smile stretched across my face.

Footsteps sounded, someone approaching our little nook.

"There you are!" Lohse grabbed my arm, jerking me awkwardly toward her.

I almost fell, but Ifan's hands at my waist kept me from meeting the floor.

"Lohse." He chided, almost glaring at her.

"Oops. Sorry." She didn't sound sorry. "Anyway, come on! We're having a meeting."

Still holding my arm, she practically dragged me- with him following close behind- to where all the benches were. Pushing me down on one, she went and sat across from me. Ifan sat beside me, while I looked around at everyone.

"What's going on?" I asked, confused.

"We need to talk about Divinity." The Red Prince didn't beat around the bush. He put a hand to his chest. "I have my empire and when I have Sadha, I will have all I need in the world. I am much too selfish to be Divine. I would not benefit Rivellon."

I blinked at him, surprised he was admitting it. He'd always held himself so tall, so proud of himself and what his life had entailed before being taken to Fort Joy. In all the stories he'd told me, he was the one who always came out on top, regardless of the situation. I'd commented, once, that he was selfish to dismiss the needs of others, and he'd merely waved it off, pretending I hadn't spoken by continuing on with the tale.

"I know, I know." He waved his hand through the air. "I believe this is what they call 'character development', yes?"

I couldn't stop the snort at his words, clapping my hands over my mouth to hide my laughter. He elected to ignore my reaction, looking around at everyone else, as if waiting for something.

Fane sighed, his gaze on something far away. "I cannot bring back my people. Not without damning everyone who currently calls Rivellon home. I know this. But I also know that, if I were given the power to try, I would not hesitate to do so. I would not benefit Rivellon, as it is now."

My eyebrows shot up. That was two people, saying they were stepping down.

"Ah, well..." Beast spoke up next. "My only goal is helping the dwarves rebuild. After that, I would just fuck off. That wouldn't help anybody, would it? I wouldn't benefit Rivellon much, either, shirking the duties of Divine."

Sebille leaned forward. "I have my own problems to solve, before I would consider putting the problems and lives of many others above my own." Her eyes scanned us slowly. "I have placed my desires above your own several times, already. And I care for you all. I would not be able to do it for all of Rivellon, if I cannot even do it for you. I, too, would be a detriment to Rivellon."

I realized I was holding my breath and forced myself to inhale deeply, trying to figure out what was happening.

Lohse shrugged. "I mean, we all know I can't be Divine, yeah? I'm possessed. It wouldn't make any sense for me to have all that power, for the risk of the demon getting control of it. I definitely wouldn't help Rivellon, in that case."

Beside me, Ifan shook his head. "I want to help the elves rebuild. But beyond that... I have no plans for the future. I can't see myself being Divine- I've tried. I wouldn't want to be tied down like that." A rueful smile. "That wouldn't make for a very good Divine, would it?"

I honestly couldn't believe what I was hearing. None of us wanted to be Divine?

I leaned forward. "What does this mean for Rivellon?"

I didn't want Alexandar or Dallis to get their hands on that power, but none of us wanted it. What could we do, instead?

"Please." Lohse snorted. "Like you wouldn't make the best Divine ever. You wouldn't cause war. You wouldn't kill people. You wouldn't cause the deaths of thousands. You're basically perfect for the role. Like you'd been raised for it, honestly."

I frowned at that. "I-"

"If you were to come across someone like yourself, you would cheer them on, wouldn't you?" Fane spoke quietly.

Bowing my head, I gave their words serious thought. Weighing the pros and cons.

I would never be able to go back to my world, if I became Divine. I would feel beholden to this world, like I would never be able to leave. I would be responsible for everyone in Rivellon. I would have to advise on how to fight back the voidwoken, the Black Ring. I would have to dismantle the Divine Order and rebuild it from the ground up.

On the plus side, though, I would be able to help others. Everywhere. I would be able to stop famines. I would be able to help the forests grow, like Ifan wanted. I would be able to make new laws for cohabitation with the elves and dwarves and lizards and humans. If the Red Prince really brought about dragons, then we would be able to work together for laws and rules that benefitted everyone involved.

If I became Divine, I could maybe help Lohse with her demon. And the little girl.

Slowly, I looked up, finding everyone's eyes on me still.

"Okay." A firm nod. "I will."

Ifan rested a hand on mine, squeezing lightly. I shot him a smile.