The Mage's Sword

by ReptilesTheme

This is the backstory for Asala, written as part of a running story challenge I had with a friend. I posted it as is, as it is me creative liberties but mostly following canon characters. Mild violence and character death. Normal disclaimer applies

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I wake with a start, my body dripping with cold sweat and Adaar's laugh still ringing in my ears. I had, for the first time in my life, woken from a dream.

"It is the lyrium." The mage walks over from where he was sitting on a rock, reading scrolls. "Your sword is infused with lyrium. Some of it must have seeped into your wounds when the sword was damaged. Lyrium allows you to enter the Fade - to dream."

"A Qunari does not dream." I wince at the burning pain that have returned to wound in my side. The mage notices and immediately starts to mix a paste, no doubt to clean the wound again.

"You are right, but the Qunari also shun anything magical, such as lyrium. Lyrium has been used across all races to enter the Fade and it goes to say that even Qunari will dream if lyrium is ingested. I believe the Qunari have a similar substance called Qamek."

I shake my head. "It is not the same; Qamek does not make the Qunari dream."

The mage does not argue and continues mashing the elfroot for the salve he is preparing.

"You have sent the Warden to the Fade once. When we visited your tower the first time to sort out the blood mage problem. "

"That I did." He looks at me. "What do you know about the Fade?"

"Only what the Warden has told me. It is not much."

The mage nods. "Every living being in Thedas enters the fade when their spirit leaves their body, be it from dreaming or death and mages tap into it when casting spells. Most people do not remember their time in the Fade, except perhaps the Grey Wardens and mages who consciously enter it. Its appearance is shaped according to the dreams. Nightmares are shaped by demons just as regular dreaming involves a spirit of some kind. Often locations, objects, people or even entire events are recreated, to confuse or aid the dreamer. It is not unknown for a Fade dream to result in the physical death of the one that has entered the realm."

The mage spreads the paste onto my wound and I groan, the stinging sensation almost too much to bear.

"My guess is you have met with a spirit. You have mentioned the name "Adaar". It is a Qunari?"

I nod, but say nothing.

"You must talk to her, Sten. She has sought you out. Sometimes a voice from the past holds the key to our future."

The mage did not know it was a past I would rather forget.