Seeing Green
Everything was pitch black when Numina woke up. Her head was pounding and her muscles were sore as though she had been in a long and arduous fight. As her senses began returning to her, she realized that she had no clue where she was. She was kneeling with iron manacles digging into her wrist, keeping her restrained. Her robes looked more worn than she remembered, slight fraying at the ends and the leather was thinner in some areas. Looking only with her eyes and without moving her head, she could see many guards were positioned around her, weapons at the ready. What is going on? I'm in a cell? Chained with a full guard? Why... why can't I remember anything that might explain what's happened? Before Numina could become frustrated over her predicament, a sudden searing pain shot through her arm from her hand... as well as a bright green light coming from a mark imbedded in her hand. All Numina could do was gasp at the pain, its suddenness not allowing her any other reaction.
As the pain began to ebb away, receding back to the mark, the doors of her cell burst open, and two women entered, one in near explosion, making her way straight towards Numina, the other more gracefully, less rushed. The guards sheathed their weapons and retreated out of the cell. I believe I was in less danger with the guards than I am now. The woman who looked furious approached Numina with her weapon drawn.
"You're awake. Good." The woman's voice was full of malice. "Perhaps you can give us a reason as to why we shouldn't kill you now!"
Numina's breath got caught in her throat, and she remained silent. She couldn't remember anything prior that would have led her to be in this situation. Silence was her best option. Once more though, excruciating pain shot through her arm, radiating from her went to double over, the pain nearly unbearable, but the angry woman seized her arm, yanking it up. "Maybe you can explain this," she hissed. The eerie green light seemed to illuminate the entire room.
The pain left Numina gasping as it finally began to ease up, though it was never fully left her. Her hand was continuously throbbing. "I... I can't," Numina stammered.
"You lie!" The woman growled, bringing her blade to Numina's throat. "Everyone at the Conclave is dead. Divine Justinia is dead. And only you survived with a mark on your hand that glows with a similar magic that killed everyone else. Do not tell me you have no idea what that is or how it got there!"
"That's enough, Cassandra," the other woman piped up, lunging forward and drawing Cassandra away from Numina by her shoulder. "We need her."
Cassandra shook the other woman off, but sheathing her sword nonetheless. Her flames of fury stoked if only momentarily.
"All those people... Dead?" Numina had to ask, her disbelief overwhelming. Cassandra and the other woman regarded her for a moment, but none of them offered an answer or explanation.
"You do not remember?"Leliana asked.
"I remember..." Numina started, her head throbbing as she searched for something. Unclear images flashed in her mind. "It was like a nightmare... I was running from something... and then... there was... a woman?" All of what she said was a question. Nothing was clear to her.
"A woman?" Leliana echoed.
The two women looked at one another briefly. "Head to the forward camp Leliana. I will meet you there." Cassandra finally said, coming towards Numina once more. all though this time she was less threatening about it. Leliana nodded in acknowledgement before departing.
"What did happen?" Numina asked the warrior as she unshackled the manacles before binding her hands with rope.
"It would be...easier if I showed you," Cassandra said. Her former rage melting into slight sadness. Cassandra nearly dragged Numina to her feet. She had been in that position for a very long time and her legs all but refused to work well, making the trip out of her cell and out of the dungeon quite difficult in the beginning.
The light was blinding. It seemed that Numina couldn't squint her eyes enough to block out the sheer amount of it. When she could finally see, her breath was taken from her. The sky was torn asunder, a vibrant green hole, a swirling mass of chaos and matter convulsing where the clouds should be. Comets of flames, green and red alike came crashing down from it. A pulse of green, miasmic lightning suddenly shook the ground and Numina's left hand was yanked towards it, the mark on her hand responding to it, pain spreading from it once more. She fell to her knees, crying out at the pain. It was much more intense than it was when she woke up. Trendles of the emerald lightning danced to the edges of the hole in the sky, causing it to grow noticeably larger.
Once Numina's pain had subsided, Cassandra knelt down beside her. "We call it the Breach," she said. "It is a massive tear in the Veil, allowing demons to cross over freely." There was desperation in her voice and she sounded as if she was pleading with Numina. "With each pulse, it grows larger, as does your mark...and it is killing you. Right now, you and your mark may be the only thing that can close it."
Numina was still gasping for breath, bowing her head in weariness. So, my options are help you in an attempt to close that thing, potentially dying in the process or die because no one else can close it. I guess it's a good day to feel a bit heroic. If she couldn't muster up the strength to be sarcastic outwardly, she always had to hold onto her sarcasm inwardly. It was the only thing to keep her from falling into despair in some situations. "I understand." Numina breathed.
"Then you'll...?
"I'll do what I can," Numina nodded, determination hardening her voice, strengthening her resolve. "Whatever it takes."
Cassandra gave her a small smile. In such a hopeless situation, the idea that something could put an end to this nightmare lifted the warrior's heart just a little. Cassandra grabbed ahold of Numina's arm and helped her up before leading her through a camp outside of the building she had been held in only moments before. A crowd had gathered and Numina had never felt so many hate filled stares directed towards her in her entire life. Some of those around even even spat at her.
"These people have already decided your guilt," Cassandra said, clearly being the only thing that kept them from rushing Numina. "The Conclave was supposed to solve the war between the Templars and Mages, and now all their leaders are dead along with our most holy, Divine Justinia, because of an explosion that only you survived. They mourn her loss. We all do. Meanwhile there is a hole in the sky that pours out demons in uncountable numbers. And you stand in the center of it all." The pair had finally made it out of the camp. Cassandra turned to Numina and drew her dagger; it took most of Numina's will not to flinch away. "There will be a trail in Val Royeaux," she said finally, cutting the rope that bound her wrists. "That is all I can promise."
Numina nodded in understanding before they set out in a brisk pace for the forward camp to meet Leliana, as Cassandra explained. Despite the dozens of comets that fell from the sky bearing demons, the duo hadn't encountered any of them. They mostly passed soldiers running to and from. Mostly from. Up ahead, Numina spied a bridge with fortifications on it.
Bright light. Green and menacing. Sharp, unforgiving pain. Another pulse shook the earth as the Breach angrily tore itself wider across the heavens. Numina was once again buckling under the shrieking pain, crying out in reaction. It took sheer determination not to pitch forward or backwards once on her knees. The pain was growing as angrily as the tear in the sky was. What had once been contained to her forearm in the cell was now reverberating all the way to her shoulder, immobilizing her entire arm.
Breaths came out in ragged gasps, sounding hoarse as she fought past her pain. "The pulses are getting stronger now." Cassandra said. "Will you be alright?"
I have to be, Numina growled determinedly, nodding her head yes and allowing Cassandra to help her to her feet as per usual. "Let's hurry and get this over with."
It was Cassandra's turn to nod in agreement. She then allowed Numina to take the lead, their path well worn in the snow and littered with flames of battle on either side. Better to let the weakest of the party go first so you aren't tiring them out...especially if they are the only one who can stop this chaos. Numina understood Cassandra's intent, and while the strongest of warriors and rogues may be insulted by it, Numia only lamented that the mark and the pulses had left her so weak and drained. Let's just hope that we only come across lesser demons...
They had just begun crossing the bridge when a shout of alarm pierced the air. "Watch out!" And with it came one of the rotting, molten green comets. It smashed into the side of the bridge, sending Numina and Cassandra tumbling down onto the frozen river with broken and shattered bits of stone. As they rose to their feet, a demon materialized from oozing green slime in front of them. It was a darker, more corrupted color than that of the breach.
"Stay behind me," Cassandra yelled, drawing her sword and shield then charging at the beast.
Numina was uneasy and dropped into a ready stance. She was unarmed and waiting on someone to fight a battle for her. Compared to the foreign mark on her hand, it was the second most uncomfortable thing for her to go through. She had never been unarmed before, especially not when there was a threat so imminent and potent lurking so close. And as if knowing Numina was uncomfortable and vulnerable, a second demon began to materialize. Fenedhis! Numina swore, quickly scouring the area around her to see if there was anything she could turn into a makeshift weapon. Her eyes settled on something much better than an improvision. Thank the Creators! she offered in silent praise as she rushed to the wooden crate of weapons that had fallen from the bridge with them.
Quickly slinging a quiver over her shoulder, Numina grabbed a bow and nocked an arrow into place. It was one of the most basic bows you could get, typical of any army that relied on numbers. Beggars can't be choosers, though, Numina thought almost giddily, thankful to be doing something rather than be at the mercy of crippling by pain. It's quite nice of these demons to materialize so slowly, she thought to herself, now in much better spirits because of her change in position from victim to predator.
She released the arrow she had already drawn with into the demon, piercing it through the chest. It was followed by two others in rapid succession before the demon died not moments after it had finally became whole. Numina drew one last arrow, aimed, and released, hitting the demon Cassandra was still battling in the head. As it fell, Numina was once more on the wrong side of Cassandra's blade.
The Seeker was menacing and on edge. It had taken Numina a moment to realized that was what she was, only being able to determine it by the symbol she wore on her armor and how closely it resembled the Templars' coat of arms. "Drop your weapon," Cassandra growled.
Numina did not want to cast aside her weapon so easily, but she could see the strain the entire situation was having on Cassandra. If it will put her mind at ease in at least one respect... "Alright. Have it your way." She moved to unshoulder her quiver when Cassandra interrupted her.
"Wait!" she said. "Keep it. I should remember that you came willingly. And I clearly cannot protect you from all the threats we may face."
Numina nodded her thanks, moving back towards the weapons crate where she grabbed two daggers, placing them in the empty sheaths that hung from her belt on her right hip. They're nothing compared to my Dalish weapons, but they'll have to do.
"We must hurry and meet with the others," Cassandra called out as they set out once more.
"What others?" Numina asked over her shoulder.
"You shall see."
They encountered more demons as they made their way onwards, trudging through the snow. So far Numina and Cassandra had been able to hold them off without injury, but the numbers kept increasing the further along they went. The Breach hadn't expanded in a while, but the throbbing in Numina's hand had steadily grown into painful ache no longer contained to her hand, but in half of her forearm as well. Numina was constantly clenching and unclenching her fist, trying to regain feeling in her hand and shake off the numbness that came with the pain.
It wasn't long before Numina and Cassandra could hear fighting in the distance. Without needing to say anything to one another, they quickened their pace and raced up a steep and snowy slope leading to what looked like the ruins of a watchtower. As they neared the peak, Numina saw "the others" Cassandra had spoken off. One was a blond haired dwarf with a unique looking crossbow. The other was a bald elf with a staff, a mage. There were also a couple of soldiers with them, but as Numina and Cassandra neared them, the soldiers fell to the demons.
"Fenedhis!" the elf swore as the last of the soldiers died, backing up to where the dwarf stood. Both of them were beneath a green crystalline mass that hovered in the air.
"I hope that's elvish for 'Shit,'" the dwarf said with dry humor. "Because we are certainly in it deep."
"It would certainly appear that way," the elf called back.
There were four demons converging on the elf and dwarf. Neither friend nor enemy had seen Cassandra and Numina approach. As Numina strung an arrow, the elf quickly lashed out with lightning that struck each of the demons in a chain reaction, successfully immobilizing them. The dwarf began attacking the demon on his left, the elf on his right, leaving the two in the center for last. Numina took aim and released her arrow, striking one of the demons in the back. It howled in pain and turned to face the direction the projectile had come from. Another arrow shot from Numina's bow, followed by two more, and the demon fell dying and dissolving into the nothing it had sprung from. Numina fitted another arrow to her bow and aimed for the demon the elf was fighting. Cassandra was already ramming her sword into the demon she had knocked to the ground, and the dwarf had filled his demon with enough bolts that it too was finally dead. The elf had frozen his adversary solid, and Numina pulled back on her bowstring with all her strength and focus. The arrow flew, striking the top half of the demon, shattering it with an explosive shot. The elf was taken aback for a moment before his eyes fell on Numina, her war between light emerald and blue ice meeting his grey storms.
Just then, the green crystal expanded into a wispy green tinged glass curtain of sorts. "Quickly," the elf cried out, "before more of the come." Numina had jogged forward a few paces once the demons had died, and the elf reached abruptly for her left arm, the one that held the mark, yanking it towards the green, flowing glass in the sky.
Numina's hand responded to it, and trendles from her hand linked her to the green mass. It was strange, not painful, but there was a sensation behind it she could not entirely describe. Almost like a sharing of energies. The elf still had ahold of her wrist, as if the stabilize her arm. Suddenly the energy was cut off, a pulse that destroyed the link and whatever it was that had hung in the air. There was a slight recoil from her hand, and with it the elf released her arm.
She looked at her hand for a moment before turning her gaze to the elf. "What did you do?" she asked.
"I did nothing," he responded, almost musically Numina noticed. "The credit is yours."
"I guess this thing is actually good for something," Numina mused.
"Whatever magic opened the sky also placed that mark upon your hand," he explained. Numina unconsciously began massaging it, as if to ease its ache. "I theorized the mark might be able to close the Rifts, smaller versions of the Breach that opened in its wake- and it seems I was correct."
Cassandra approached, "Meaning it could also close the Breach itself."
"Possibly," the elf answered before turning back to Numina. "It seems you hold the key to our salvation," he added, giving her a small nod in respect.
Numina responded with one of her own before the dwarf's voice from behind her drew their attention. "Good to know!" he said, adjusting his gloves offhandedly. "Here I thought we would be ass deep in demons forever." Numina couldn't help but smile at the dwarf's colorful and humorous language. "Varric Tethras: rogue, storyteller, and occasional unwelcome tagalong," he introduced, adding a wink for Cassandra at the last part, which he received a roll of her eyes in disgust.
"Something tells me you're not with the Chantry or these soldiers..." Numina started, trying to get an idea of why he was here.
Instead she got laughter from the elf, "Was that a serious inquiry?" he chuckled, clearly finding what he knew of Varric funny.
"Technically," Varric said, "I'm a prisoner, just like you."
Cassandra felt the need to explain, "I brought you here to tell your story to the Divine, Varric. Clearly that is no longer necessary."
"Yet, here I am," he responded with a smirk. "Lucky for you. Considering current events."
Numina offered him a smile, "It sounds like Cassandra may have more prisoners than soldiers pretty soon," she added playfully, receiving soft chuckles from both Varric and the elf. Cassandra merely glared. "It is a pleasure to meet you Varric."
"You may reconsider that stance, in time," the elf added in.
"Oh I'm sure that we'll become great friends down in the Valley, Chuckles," Varric responded, clearly used to the elf's slightly cold remarks.
"Absolutely not," Cassandra jumped in. "While your help is appreciated, Varric, it is not necessary."
"'Not necessary?'" Varric started, almost mockingly. "Seeker, I don't know when the last time you were in the Valley was, but your soldiers are no longer in control. You'll be needing all the help you can get." Cassandra merely gave a disgusted noise in return.
"My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions," he said as Cassandra walked away a few paces. "I am pleased to see you still live," he almost sounded amused for some reason.
"He means, 'I kept that mark from killing you while you slept.'" Varric explained.
"Then I owe you my thanks."
"Save your thanks until after we close the Breach without killing you in the process." Solas then turned to Cassandra. "Cassandra, you should know: the magic involved here is unlike any I have seen. Your prisoner is no mage, but I find it difficult to imagine any mage having such power." Numina fidgeted slightly, Actually... she considered pulling back the curtain on her long kept secret, but the thought was quickly, quietly banished. It will come up eventually, but not now.
"Understood," Cassandra replied. "We must get to the forward camp quickly." With that, she moved forward to what was once the exit of the ruins, Solas following close behind.
"Well, Bianca's excited," Varric said, motioning to his crossbow before following the others as well.
What strange companions, Numina thought to herself, jumping over fallen debris to catch up. They followed the elevated bank of the river for some time. Varric occasionally pestered Cassandra as they continued, and Solas inquired about Numina's hand. To which she responded with "Try my entire arm." At the sight of his worried glance she then added: "All I need it to do is hold a bow. As long as it can do that, I'll be fine." That seemed to be enough for Solas at the moment, for he stopped with his inquiries.
After a while their path led them to a frozen lake. The four of them eased themselves onto it carefully, only to find their worry pointless since the lake was very nearly frozen solid. They had to walk slowly though, all of them slipping several times. Halfway across the lake was when trouble started. Four comets came blazing down, crashing in front of them. Four demons rose from the green slime the comets turned into on impact. With them, they also brought a couple of wisps.
Numina carefully stepped back a few paces before taking aim at the wisps. She wanted to get rid of them before they did any damage with their ranged attacks. The other members of her party started attacking the demons, drawing their attention for the moment. Six arrows down, Numina took aim for one of the demons no one was directly attacking. Just as she released the arrow, the Breach angrily pulsed once more. Numina cried out in pain, dropping to her knees, and unwillingly sending her bow skidding across the ice. None of the others noticed though, the chaos of battle drowning out her out.
There was one thing that had actually taken notice, however. The demon with an arrow sticking out of it wheeled around and began approaching her rapidly. Numina took up a defensive crouch, but with the pain in her arm keeping her from being able to defend herself, Numina could only watch it approach.
"Cassandra!" Solas shouted, seeing Numina's plight after dancing out of reach of his own demon. He was hoping the warrior might be able to reach her in time, where he could not, for his own enemy swung at him once more. Cassandra saw Numina and the demon approaching her, but she could not reach her in time.
The demon was now close enough to Numina to attack. It clenched its fists together and raised them over its head to strike down on her with. Weaponless and partially immobilized by pain, there was only one thing that Numina could really do. So much for eventually, she thought bitterly. Numina brought up her right arm as if to block the incoming blow, but really it was a movement to direct her will. As the demon brought its arms down in a strong blow, the ice from Numina's spell overwhelmed it, freezing it solid. She then cast her hand out towards the demon pushing it with a strong, invisible force backwards, crashing onto the lake, chunks of the frozen abomination scattering along the ice as it shattered.
The others had hastily dispatched their enemies as well, rushing to Numina's aid, though it was no longer needed.
"You're a mage!" Solas exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes, after you claimed that she was not," Cassandra growled, unsure of who to point her sword at: the newly discovered apostate, or the apostate who apparently lied.
"She wasn't," Solas said, his voice still laced with surprise.
"How is that possible? How could you not know?"
"An amulet of concealment coupled with the fact that it has been many months since I last physically used my magic," Numina said, finally catching her breath and finding her voice after both had been taken by the pain her mark caused her. She rose to her feet slowly, favoring her entire left arm. "I apologize for any deception," Numina continued, taking a few steps towards the group. "I sometimes forget I am a mage... I don't really consider myself one, to be honest."
Solas and Varric looked as though they understood. Cassandra was still glaring, and Varric chimed in, "Best to not look gift usefulness in the mouth, Seeker." It was enough for the warrior to drop the matter for the moment.
"It appears you don't need your arm to hold a bow after all," Solas said, handing Numina the bow he had retrieved from the ice for her.
Numina took it gratefully, "Don't expect me to do that often. It's a last ditch effort, nothing more."
Solas nodded in acknowledgement, but looked at her curiously as she began taking the lead across the ice. It is not often that you can find a mage that can restrain themselves from using magic. It is just like breathing sometimes. Yet, here was this mystery who not only walked out of the fade physically, but also was a mage who could go months at a time without casting a spell. Then it dawned on Solas: none of them knew her name. But now was not the time to ask her. Haste was necessary. They needed to get to the forward camp and quickly.
~~.O.~~
"You order me!?" Cassandra all but roared. "You are but a glorified clerk, not important enough to have been at the Conclave." At this, Numina was finally agreed with the Seeker. Guilty or not, the Breach was more important than hanging her. For the moment.
"Enough!" Leliana interrupted before Cassandra could continue bashing the Chancellor. "We have more important matters at hand."
And as if she had summoned it, another pulse thundered down from the Breach. The pain was immeasurable, for Numina. Biting her tongue was the only reason that she had not cried out at the pain's suddeness or intensity, and Solas catching hold of her, allowing her to brace herself against him was the only reason she had not fallen. Her breathing was ragged, but she focused on control, focused past the pain. She slowly straightened herself, raising her head to meet the eyes of Leliana, Cassandra, and the Chantry Chancellor; her mark splashing an angry green light across her face as the sky above trembled as the Breach grew. Solas remained close in case she needed his aid again, but backed away a few steps, admiring her determination and will.
"The Breach is the only thing that is important right now," Numina said, her voice level and even only because she forced it to be so. "I will got to in Val Royeaux after it is sealed to face judgement, if it is deemed necessary."
"It will be necessary. You brought this on us in the first place!" the Chancellor snarled. "Order a retreat, Seeker. Our position here is hopeless."
"No. We can stop this, but we must act now," Cassandra said, ignoring the Chancellor's supposed authority. "Gather the rest of the soldiers and tell them to meet us in the Valley. We will march on the Temple of Sacred Ashes."
"Wait," Leliana said before Cassandra could leave. "There is another way to the Temple. A secret mountain path. You can have the soldiers march on the Valley, drawing the demons and make it to the Temple with very little resistance. It is the safest route." But it would mean casualties for the soldiers... Numina added for Leliana.
"We sent an entire squad of scouts along that path," Cassandra added, turning to Numina. "We lost contact with them. It's too risky."
A dawning realization made Numina blink in confusion for a split second. Both Cassandra and Leliana were turned towards her, rather than themselves. They are looking to me to make this decision? Numina thought in wonder. A moment earlier they would have had me executed.
"Abandon this now Seeker," the Chancellor begged, "before more lives are lost."
But again Cassandra ignored him. "What do you think?" she asked, addressing Numina.
She couldn't stop herself from saying it or from sounding bitter when she did, "Now you're asking me what I think."
"You have the mark," Solas pointed out, equally as cold as she had been.
"And you are the one we need to keep alive," Cassandra admitted. "Since we cannot agree on our own..."
So they defer to me because I'm currently useful and they need a mediator. Numina could almost laugh at the sorry state of this situation. "We take the mountain path," she said, noting Varric's nod of approval. "Encourage the troops to work together. They don't need to be reminded what's at stake."
Leliana nodded, taking her leave. Cassandra then took the lead, guiding them to the mountain path. The forward camp was busy as the soldiers received their orders and prepared for a charge on the Temple. "On your head be the consequences Seeker," the Chancellor spat as they walked by.
Once they were out of its boundaries, the route they were taking became obvious. "Is that a mining structure up ahead," Solas inquired.
"Yes," Cassandra answered. "Part of an old complex. Our path takes us through it."
After learning their destination, Numina began to settle into her normal pace. On this rough terrain she had to make herself move much slower in order to match pace with Cassandra and the others. Now that she knew where to head, reflexes and hardiness gained from experienced picked back up, and it wasn't long before she walked side by side with Cassandra. It wasn't that the Seeker was out of breath; it was just the fact that her heavy armor and weapons were cumbersome, making traveling on rough, mountainous terrain that much more difficult. After a while, Cassandra finally nodded her consent for Numina to take the lead.
Solas noted that even though Numina was clearly more experienced and more adapt in traveling conditions and terrain like this, she didn't try to undermine Cassandra. She had shown respect for the Seeker's authority and had sought it out before moving forward. It was surprising to him, given the fact that he had expected much more pride in the elf. And more arrogance. Such is the nature of her kind.
The terrain was difficult. Mountainous terrain typically is, but the snow and ice made it that much more challenging. The wind howled across the snowy waves of undisturbed powder. Cold spikes pricked at Numina's hands and face, but her body was experienced with brutality of the elements. Climbing along this path, Numina could almost forget that the whole world was on the brink of destruction. Almost. There was still the pain in her hand that throbbed endlessly. And there was the green glow coming from the sky, almost as bright as the sun itself.
Her companions surprised her. They were much hardier than she assumed. Especially Varric. Dwarves are most commonly found under the ground, not navigating over mountains. Before reaching the mine, Numina really only had to slow herself once or twice.
To get to the mining complex, the group had to make their way up some rickety ladders that were slowly rotting as the years went by. It was part way up one of these ladders that Solas finally broke the silence that had long since held the group. "It occurs to me," he said loudly, his voice carrying this way and that way by the wind, "that we do not know your name."
"Perhaps we should save pleasantries for a better time," Numina called back, the wind whirling around the four of them as the made their way to a mine shaft. Once inside, the wind was suddenly blocked, no longer begging them to come and play off of the edge of the old ladders and scaffolding.
"You might not make it to 'a better time,'" Solas responded, voice echoingly lightly in the empty shaft. "At the very least, is there no one you would wish for us to inform should the worst come to pass?"
Numina's mind instantly drifted to Keeper Maleenain and Arleth. She turned to face Solas and saw the honesty on his face. She could also see that both Varric and Cassandra were curious as well. "My name is Numina." She observed the understanding on Solas' face as he no doubt knew the elvish word it was derived from.
"I thought only the Dalish elves had weird names," Varric softly chuckled.
"She is Dalish," Solas supplied, his voice rather matter of factly.
Numina nodded, before lightly drawing back the bangs of her starlight hair that always draped across her left eye. She revealed the Vallaslin that traced the side of her eye, accentuating it with faint black lines. It was a modified tattoo of the symbol for Mythal, the Protector, the patron of Justice, the one who quells Vengeance. "Clan Lavellan of the northern Free Marches," Numina said before allowing her bangs to fall back to where they were, concealing her Vallaslin once more. She didn't notice Solas' attempt to hide his disappointment.
~~.O.~~
Another Rift had barred their way to the Temple. It was there that they found the scouts that had been sent out here. As the link between her mark and the rift dissipated, sealing it, Numina felt a bit more feeling return to her hand and less pain resonating from it.
Solas came to stand beside her. "Sealed. Just as before. You are becoming quite proficient at this." Numina turned to say something, a joke about how she was just making this all up as she went along, but was interrupted.
"Thank you Lady Cassandra," one of the scouts said. "We wouldn't have made it if you hadn't arrived."
"Thank the prisoner, Lieutenant," Cassandra replied, passing on the credit. "She insisted we come this way."
"The prisoner? Then she..."
Numina was slightly confused. Surely Cassandra would want to take credit for saving her own soldiers. "It was worth the chance if you were still alive," she said, going with the best answer and the truth.
"Then you have my thanks, and my men's," the Lieutenant said, saluting.
"The path behind us is clear of danger for now," Cassandra informed them. "Go now and you shouldn't encounter any demons."
"At once! Quickly, to me!" the Lieutenant called to her soldiers before they moved out.
The group then turned to the last portion of the path that remained before they finally reached the Temple. From where they stood, they could already see the outlining rubble of the exterior walls. Charred chunks of land split towards the sky, broken, rotting fangs of stone. As they neared the crater, the smell of burnt flesh held dominion. Numina felt bile rise in the back of her throat, but somehow managed to keep her composure. There were badly burnt corpses still in the positions they had been in when they had died, the flash of inferno from the initial explosion turning them to stone after melting them in seconds.
"That is where you walked out of the fade and our soldiers found you," Cassandra said sadly once they had passed the threshold of the Temple, standing somewhere towards the middle of where the building was. "They say there was a woman in the Rift behind you. No one knows who she was."
Steadily, they made their way downwards, the stairs marked by fire but intact. In the lower level of the Temple, some of the foundation and walls remained partially intact. They passed more bodies. Their horribly burned faces twisted in agony... If my lost memory can explain all this, Numina thought while taking in all this destruction and death, I do not want to regain it. If it contains even a fraction of all this pain and death, it is not worth it. I do not want to suffer it again. Even if it may spare me from an execution.
Bright with light. Dismal with decay. Before them in the rubble, hovering above the them, above the lowest level of the Temple was a giant crystalline structure like normal rifts only many times larger. It spun slowly, the jagged teeth of the corrupted emerald green crystal was constantly retreating and sprouting in a chaotic dance. Wisps of miasmic green trendles extended far beyond the solid form, adding to its beauty and repulsion. The greatest of these formed a channel of energy, bonding this rift to the Breach that loomed in the heavens, far beyond their reach. Each of them looked at it with awe, unable to find a proper reaction for something like this.
"The Breach is a long way up," Varric said, his voice echoing as he stated the painfully obvious.
They continued forward a few paces before all of them were startled. "You're here!" Leliana called, approaching with several archers. "Thank the Maker!"
Cassandra turned, "Leliana, have your men take up positions around the temple." Numina was still sizing up their goal, along with Varric and Solas. Cassandra walked in front of her to grab her attention. "This is your chance to end this. Are you ready?"
"I'll do my best," Numina answered, doubt tinging her words, "but I'm not even sure how I'm going to reach that thing."
"You must," Solas said, shaking his head. "This rift was the first, and it is the key." He finally looked away from the rift and at Numina. "Seal it, and perhaps we seal the Breach."
Right. No pressure then, Numina thought tensely. "Let's find a way down. And be careful." Cassandra added, before they began trekking through the ruins once more.
Green lightning seemed to flicker above their heads, casting menacing shadows about this already haunted place. Randomly, the mark on Numina's hand would flare up, causing her annoyance but thankfully no pain.
The voice was deep. It rang out laced with darkness and evil, almost growling but without any malice behind it. "Now is the hour of our victory. Bring forth the sacrifice." Numina didn't say anything in case she was crazy, but a quick glance at the soldiers and her companions told her that they had heard it as well.
"What are we hearing?" Cassandra asked, voicing the question that was on everyone's mind. She was unnerved and slightly fearful.
"At a guess, the person who created the Breach," Solas offered.
They continued on, and up ahead, Numina could see a faint glow of red. When they rounded the corner, the source of it was revealed. Angry red crystals growing bright and bloody. It looked as though they had erupted from the ground.
"You know this stuff is red lyrium, Seeker," Varric hissed.
"I see it, Varric."
"But what's it doing here?"
"Magic could have drawn on lyrium beneath the temple, corrupted it..." Solas answered. Always having some kind of answer to everyone's questions.
Varric snorted. "It's evil. Whatever you do: don't touch it."
As they passed the last of the red lyrium, the nameless, bodiless voice came once more. "Keep the sacrifice still," it said.
"Somone help me!" followed afterwards. It was a frail voice, weak, distorted with desperation and fear.
Cassandra gasped. "That is Divine Justinia's voice!"
The group dropped down to the lowest level of the Temple's ruins. As they did, the fade rippled like water and reflected sounds and images. A memory of this place, Numina realized. It began with Divine Justinia's plea for aid.
"Someone, help me!"
A different voice echoed from the memory, "What's going on here?" it asked, curiously. Numina was taken aback.
"That was your voice. Most Holy called out to you. But..." Cassandra started, confused; but she was cut off by images that now flared before the rift.
It was of a large shadowy figure with red eyes. He was standing above an older woman in Chantry robes. The Divine. She was bound by a red energy swirling around her outstretched arms. But something caught their attention. Both the Divine and the fiend turned their heads. I interrupted, Numina saw.
"What's going on here?" the memory of Numina asked, voice slightly warped.
"Run while you can!" Divine Justinia cried. "Warn them!"
"We have an intruder," the fiend growled, anger lacing his words making them that much more menacing. "Slay the elf!"
"Over my dead body!" Numina growled vehemently under her breath. She didn't even truly understand why she did. If anything, she should be feeling confused at the situation. Yet she felt nothing but pure hate and anger towards the shadow drenched figure. It must have been some primal reaction or memory that her body held while her mind did not. Thankfully none of the others heard her. Well...except for Solas. He safely tucked it away to ask about in detail later.
The reflected memory shone with blinding light before dissipating. Cassandra couldn't get her words out fast enough, "You were there. Who attacked? And the Divine, is she..? Was this vision true? What are we seeing?" It sounded as if she was challenging Numina.
"I don't remember!" Numina said.
"Echoes of what happened here," Solas commented. "The fade bleeds into this place." He turned back to Numina, Cassandra and Varric after taking several paces towards the rift. "This rift is not sealed, but it is closed... Albeit temporarily. I believe that with the mark, the rift can be opened, and then sealed properly and safely. However," he continued readying his staff, "opening the rift will likely attract attention from the other side."
"That means demons," Cassandra called out to the soldiers, determination giving her voice a harsh edge. "Stand ready!"
The soldiers drew their weapons and fitted their bowstrings with arrows. There was movement as everyone began taking up better positions around the rift, Numina and her companions included. Numina retrieved her own bow, holding it lightly in her right hand. It would allow her to switch it over to the left quickly once the rift was opened.
At Cassandra's nodd that everyone was ready, Numina raised her hand bearing the mark towards the rift. Trendles of green energy instantly connected the mark to the rift. Instead of it feeling more like a sharing of energies with a slight gain of it on Numina's part as it did when she closed the two other rifts, this time it felt as though the rift was gaining energy from her. The rift sizzled and cracked with energy before a sudden explosion of energy brought a demon from the newly opened rift.
Pride.
"Now!" Cassandra shouted, and the archers released their arrows; but it only fueled the demon's anger as they glanced off the demons armored skin not so much as leaving a mark. Basic arrows are for basic enemies. Not pride demons... Numina had been close to nocking an arrow, but she quickly revised her strategy, slinging her bow across her back and reaching instead for her daggers. Again, these are basic, but they might be a bit more effective.
The others began diving into their attack on the demon. Numina was about to throw herself into the fray when she felt a strange pull on the mark. Following her gut ,she raised her hands towards the rift again. This time, however, when the columns of energy connected, she could feel the energy coursing into her instead, like normal. As the energy finally reached its climax, an explosion of green cut off the connection. The rift was still there, but it was noticeably smaller. The sudden drain of energy also affected the demon. It was stunned and weakened, as if it had suffered a grievous wound. That is how we we win.
As much as Numina didn't want to, she stayed out of the fighting, daggers drawn, close to the rift. She would claim energy from the rift, draining it whenever she could. The demon was weakening, thanks to the soldiers' and her companions' efforts .There was a time though, that Solas was in danger from a massive blow from the pride demon. Without consciously making the decision, Numina pulled from her magic and froze the demon's arm he was lashing out at Solas with. The ice encased its arm all the way to its back, stopping it mid blow. It roared in frustration and Solas was able to move out of its reach before it broke through the ice. When his eyes met hers, Solas raised an eyebrow, his expression seemingly to ask, "Last ditch effort?"
Twice now Numina had drained the rift of energy. And it still hovered above their heads. A killing blow was landed on the demon, though. Blood and sinew hacked apart by Cassandra's sword. It was then that Numina felt a shift in the rift. She felt weakness.
One last time Numina growled, reaching for the rift. It was different this time. She was pulling energy from the rift, but the mark was pulling Numina's energy, sapping her of her strength. It's going to kill me, she thought in near desperation. But she held on. She needed to hold on. Not just for herself, but for everyone. She could feel the lingering tinges that signaled the end was almost there.
But...
Everything went pitch black.
~~.O.~~
Authors Note:
Thanks for reading my first two chapters! I apologize for this one. I honestly hadn't expected to make it so long. I just really wanted to seal the rift in it, and it just kept going and going and going...
Anyways, if you guys come across any kind of error, just shoot me a message or something, and I'll take care of it.
Also, the "official" pronunciation for Numina's name is "New-min-uh" or "Noo-min-a" derived from the elvish word "noo-min"