Chapter 72: Pride (Daylen)
Without listening to the demon, Daylen continued to walk further. He had to fight abominations and dragons released from cages, but none of them turned out to be a worthy opponent for the former mage of the Circle. Mouse kept up with Daylen. But without a physical embodiment, he could neither attack the mage nor help him. After Daylen had overcome the arcane horror, the demon spoke again:
- You may be able to kill Uldred's accomplices, but you cannot defeat him without help. Pride can only be defeated by pride! Take my help and become stronger!
- I do not accept the demons' proposals, - the mage said decisively. - Why are you bothering me? There are a lot of mages here. Why me?
- There are reasons for this. Let's just say I've known your family for a long time. After all, I've been pursuing every mage from the Amells.
- Yes? And what can you tell me about my family?
- Your mother is Revka Amell, an heir of the wealthy Amell family. She was the eldest daughter and was supposed to inherit their entire fortune, but instead she decided to save her fourth child - you. Your father is Armin Amell, a nobleman from the impoverished Neubauer family, who took his wife's last name. A fanatical Andrastian, he does not believe in freedom for mages. Because of him, your brothers and sister ended up in the Circle.
- My brothers and sister. Tell us more about them.
- Your older brother, Horst, studied at the White Spire. He was killed during the Harrowing after he almost agreed to release me. Your second brother, Douglas, was brought into the Antiva City Circle. He was tranquilized at his own request and is still working there. Your sister Solona, the strongest of the three, was sent to the Starkhaven Circle. She passed the Harrowing and is now close to achieving the rank of enchanter.
- If Solona could cope with adversity without you, then I can too.
- Have it your way, - said the demon, slowly disappearing. - I'll be back.
The demon disappeared, and Daylen walked on.
Almost reaching the stairs to the Harrowing chamber, Daylen saw Cullen sitting behind the magical barrier and praying.
- Cullen? Cullen, can you hear me?
- Maker, protect me! - said the templar. - Guard me from these demons!
- I'm shutting down the barrier. I hope I won't regret it.
Daylen turned off the barrier. Cullen rose to his feet, picking up his sword.
- Andraste, guide my hand!
The templar swung his sword at Daylen, but he dodged.
- You... you are real! - Cullen shouted. - The visions did not evade me!
- Yes, and I'm here to help. Are there any templars still alive?
- I'm the only one left. Everyone else... they were taken upstairs one by one. Uldred probably used them for blood magic.
- If there is still anyone left there, then you and I must save them!
- I wouldn't hope for it. It is unknown what Uldred did with them.
- And what do you suggest?
- We will enter the Harrowing chamber and destroy everything there.
- Are you crazy? Destroy your fellow templars and those you swore to protect?
- I swore to protect all of Thedas first and foremost.
- And I would rather spare a maleficar than kill an innocent person.
- As you say. But if something goes wrong, then I will take action.
The templar and the mage got upstairs and opened the door. Inside the hall there was a terrible scene. In the corner sat tied up mages and templars, among whom Daylen immediately recognized his mentor Irving, senior sorcerer Torrin and knight-captain Drass. In the center, surrounded by six abominations, stood Uldred himself. All seven of them finished turning another mage into an abomination.
- Irving's favorite student has come here, - Uldred said, looking at Daylen. - I'm giving you a chance to join me.
- I have come here to watch you burn! - the mage answered, rejecting the offer.
- Well, if you're alive, that means you killed all my servants.
- They got what they deserved. You are next!
- A simple mage is just a larva of something greater. But once we reach our full potential, the Chantry begins to call us abominations!
- You can become strong without turning into an ugly fool!
- Look at these fools! - Uldred pointed his finger at the captured mages. - They are pathetic slaves of the Chantry, denying themselves power.
- There is no power in your slavery, Uldred! - Cullen said.
- Uldred? He's gone. I am him and not him. I am much greater than him. I give mages such a gift, but they don't want to accept it!
- Stop him... - Irving muttered, lying in the corner. - He's gathering the army...
- Irving, you old fox, stop telling me off. You will join me soon.
- Uldred the Wise... you abandoned reason for madness!
- I'm not listening to you. Now to you, Daylen Amell. I know a lot about you. Your father betrayed you. You were abandoned by your family. But don't you want to become stronger and take revenge on your father?
- I don't justify his actions, - Daylen replied. - He, like all of Thedas, has reasons to fear mages. And all because of people like you!
- Well, let's fight. You will become my servant!
Cullen ran with his sword at Uldred, cutting down the abomination standing in his way, but the senior enchanter had no problem stunning the templar with a Mind Blast.
- Don't interfere in this fight, - Uldred told the rest of the abominations. - I will personally turn him and break Irving!
The former senior enchanter cast a spell on himself, giving himself his true form - that of the pride demon. The giant demon ran towards Daylen, who tried unsuccessfully to strike it with lightning. Mouse appeared in front of Daylen.
- Remember my words. Pride can only be defeated by pride!
- Leave me alone! - Daylen shouted.
The demon began to wave its arms in front of Daylen, but the mage managed to dodge. After one of the blows, Daylen lost his staff.
- You can't win! Accept my help! - Mouse continued.
- Never!
- The prisoners are barely conscious. Nobody will know.
- You will know! I'd rather die than let you defeat me!
Daylen got tired of dodging and fell into the clutches of Uldred, who lifted him above himself and began to cast a spell.
- Do you accept the gift I offer? - Uldred asked.
The spell began to overcome Daylen. The mage began to see everything bad that happened in his life. Despair on the day the templars took him to the Circle Tower. Fear of the unknown in the first days in the Circle. Rage at Jowan for acting stupidly. Envy of Harold and Carver, both of whom were free from the magical gift. Sloth from the realization that he is the strongest of the Circle's students. Desire to be free. And finally, pride after the Harrowing, completed in record time.
But at the same time, Daylen tried to remember the good things, the people who influenced him. His mother, who gave her life for him. Aunt Leandra, who replaced his mother. Uncle Malcolm, who taught him to be a mage and a good person. Three cousins, who became his first friends. Irving, the mentor who kept his secret. Neria, who became almost his sister. Duncan, who gave him freedom. Other surviving Wardens, who selflessly set out to unite Ferelden. Sten, who was sincerely delighted to have found the sword. Jowan, in whose eyes he saw sincere repentance and willingness to help. And finally, Morrigan, one of the most powerful mages and the most charming women he's ever met.
- This is your last chance, Daylen. Use it, otherwise you will become an abomination, - said Mouse.
- No!
Daylen began to lose consciousness, but then the help came. He saw Alistair and Sten fighting the abominations at the exit. Neria ran up to the demon, uttered some unknown words, and Uldred's grip weakened.
Daylen fell to the floor and Neria helped him up. The mage saw the sword that Cullen had dropped at the beginning of the fight and took it in his hands.
- Cover me! - he said to Neria.
He ran towards the pride demon, jumped up and plunged his sword into itseye. After this he lost consciousness.
Daylen woke up on one of the islands in the Fade. In front of him stood a dark-haired girl in a black robe with white patterns.
I've been waiting for this meeting, brother, - she said.
- S-Solona? - Daylen asked. - But... what are you doing here?
- It's night in Starkhaven, and I'm sleeping. The templars cannot control my dreams. I found out where you would end up and that's how I found you.
The brother and the sister hugged each other.
- I missed you all so much... - he said. - I swear to you, I will get you out of the Circle.
- There's no need for that, Daylen. I'm happy here.
The reunion of the brother and the sister was interrupted by Mouse, who entered through the portal in the guise of an apprentice.
- Don't you dare come near us! - Daylen shouted.
- Calm down, - Solona told him. - Everything is not as it seems.
- I wasn't entirely honest with you, young Amell, - said Mouse.
The demon snapped its finger, and its body became transparent, like a spirit.
- So you are a spirit, not a demon? - the amazed Daylen asked.
- Let me introduce myself. I am the spirit of Perseverance.
- But... why were you pretending to be a demon?
- I swore to one of your ancestors that I would watch over all the mages of the Amell family. By putting you to the test, I help you bring out your best qualities. I wish Horst and Douglas had gone through the Harrowing.
- Brother, I was shocked when I found out myself, - Solona added. - Our ancestor once saved the spirit, and now it helps all the Amells.
- Now that you know the truth, you need to go back. Go, save Ferelden.
- Can I stay longer and talk to my sister? - Daylen asked.
- Your friends need you, - Solona answered. - We can still talk in the Fade.
- I'm glad we've met. Take care of yourself.
- Let me remind you about my final piece of advice, Amell, - said the spirit. - True tests never end.
Daylen woke up to see Neria, Irving and Torrin bending over him.
- You are alive! We were so worried! - Neria said.
- I... was in the Fade, - Daylen answered, rising to his feet.
Around the mage, in addition to Neria and the enchanters, stood Alistair, Sten, Cullen, Drass and many rescued magicians and templars.
- Uldred is dead. And the Circle owes it to both of you, - Irving said, turning to Daylen and Neria.
- We must hurry downstairs, - Alistair replied. - Knight-Commander Greagoir must know that the Circle is safe.
- Yes, young man, of course. And who came up with the terrible idea to make a Circle in the tower?