Where the Heart Is, Part 32
You decide not to voice any suspicions to Rysanial, showing no sign that anything might or might not be amiss with the Lust Queen's gift. The last thing she needs is to have doubts plaguing her while dealing with an empath. Instead, you resolve to do everything you can think of to prepare for any possible trap, to the best of the information you have available to you.
After that, you spend the rest of the time talking with your succubus, catching up on the smaller details of her visit back to the Second Circle. Until finally, it is time to say goodbye. You bid Rysanial farewell, and then sever your link to the Plane of Dreams.
For your next dreamwalking attempt, you'll need to wait for your target to actually go to sleep. It's already getting late in the day, but that still leaves you with quite a few hours until then. You fill them by making good on your promise, spending time with Nevati and Ceriss. After another intense orgy that includes Nevati's familiars as well, you broach the topic of your worries about the blade the Lust Queen is sending back.
You can see Nevati's eyes light up as she starts to consider the problem, her brilliant mind shifting rapidly through all the different ways that an artifact like that could be used to strike at you indirectly. And all the possible counters she could employ. And all the possible counter-counters to watch out for. The three of you sketch out some initial designs... but it's clear that how effective they will depend greatly on how much time the two mages will have to hone these protective wards.
Eventually, as night falls, you curl up in Ceriss' bed, a heroine nestled under each arm. Only then do you reach out with your full-power dreamwalking, searching for unbidden entry into the slumber of the paladin, Lady Alicia.
It takes a while. Apparently, the holy warrior is not allowing herself much sleep these days. Still, eventually you do make contact, plunging once more into the dreams of your rival. This time, however, you remain unobserved, searching for information that will aid you in your next venture.
The nightmare you emerge into is yet another bloodstained battlefield. This time, however, Alicia is not dreaming about a past fight. Rather she is dreaming about a future one.
She stands with the armies of Nelin and Vekmar, arrayed against the forces of Kovora. The location isn't as defined as her dream of her fight against the old Witch Queen. This time it's more... abstract, the backdrop shifting according to the nonsense rules of such dreams.
At first she's looking at a village, much like the small border town that you and Khaytala saved. Orcs are pillaging it, setting the simple structures ablaze as they slaughter the terrified townsfolk indiscriminately. Alicia charges forward to help, and all her faceless soldiers follow her. The battle is joined, screams filling the air as even more bodies are added to the ground.
The humans push forward. Except... now the setting is now no longer a human village but an orcish one. Yet the momentum of battle that Alicia has unleashed does not falter, and soon it is human hands that are cutting down orcish women and children.
Alicia tries to stop them. Tries to wrench them away. Tries to halt what she has unleashed. But no sooner has she done so than the orcs regroup and press the attack again into a human town again. Back and forth. Back and forth. And endless spiral of death... even as she tries so hard to just stop it.
She struggles to call out orders to the fighters. But the perverse illogic of the nightmare won't allow her to speak as she wants. She cannot even put down her sword. She can only swing and swing in increasing disorientation, as once scene of carnage blurs into the next. One particularly fast orc lunges at her from out of the corner of her eye. She whirls, driving her sword right through the attacker's chest...
...only to see that the attacker is Khaytala.
A cry of horror escapes Alicia, as her friend looks at her accusingly. "I... trusted you..." the big half-orc whispers, as a bloodstain spreads across her chest. "We... all trusted you. To be our leader. But you failed us. You let a devil corrupt us and steal our souls. And now this is the result."
Khaytala crumples to the ground. The paladin drops to her knees beside her, frantically calling on her divine power to close the wound. But in the nightmare nothing happens. Not a single spark of healing magic answers her plea.
"It's useless..." says the dying Khaytala. "You can't save me. Just like you couldn't save any of the others. Just like you couldn't save your father. No matter how hard you try... in the end... you can't save anyone."
Your lip twists in distaste. As enlightening as this might be regarding the innermost fears gnawing at Alicia's subconscious, you've no inclination to allow this self-inflicted torture to continue. Focusing on the fabric of the dream, you pull her out of the nightmare and into a more focused dream that pulls on her memories instead. You take special care to avoid alerting her, however, making the transition with the utmost subtlety and care.
Her memories now lie open before you. After a moment's consideration, you start off early, hoping to answer a question that came up during your recent venture into Nelin. What exactly is the nature of the "vow" that Alicia spoke of?
You search for memories related to that concept, and it isn't long before you find an important one. The dream shifts to a scene that you suspect is in the Grand Cathedral, based on the décor. Though it isn't any of the rooms you saw while you were infiltrating. Alicia kneels before an altar, with Elianna standing beside her. Alicia is clearly younger in this memory, though Elianna still radiates the exact same ageless beauty and maternal kindness.
"Are you certain of this, child?" the elven priestess asks. "It is not necessary that you do this for your position as a paladin. Nor for your position as the Chosen One of Selal. You need not take on this additional burden."
"It is necessary," the younger Alicia insists, certainty in her voice. "The blessings of the goddess... The Dawnbringer selecting me... Both have given me given great power. Perhaps... too much power. But if this power is to be mine, I must make sure that it will never harm the undeserving. That I am never deceived into misusing it against those it should protect. Compared to that, this vow—and the cost should I fail to uphold it—are both small matters."
Elianna nods, though she still does not look entirely happy. "Then you stand in an ancient tradition among Selal's faithful. Those she has given special gifts may swear themselves to an even higher standard of righteousness, in order to work even greater miracles in the world."
As the cleric continues, you can tell that this is now a rote speech she has prepared. "You stand in the tradition of Saint Javica, who swore a vow of poverty... yet who always had endless reserves of food to give to the needy, no matter how many crossed her path. You stand in the tradition of Paladin Amyran, who swore a vow of silence... yet became able to hear a cry for help and follow it, even from leagues away. You stand in the tradition of the Holy Mother Ophestai, who swore a vow of non-violence... yet could calm the wrath of wild beasts and tame monsters with a glance."
Elianna now places a hand on Alicia's shoulder. "Now, child. With the goddess and myself as your witnesses... what vow have you come here to make?"
Alicia looks up. "Holy Selal... I swear to you a vow of truthfulness," she says, her words clear and unhesitating. "I swear that from this moment forward, no falsehood, however slight, shall knowingly pass my lips."
There is a flash, as Alicia's body is enveloped in a corona of holy light. It doesn't last long, however. And once it fades, you know that her vow has been accepted.
So. This is the source of that peculiar power of hers. You'd already figured out more or less what it could do... but you hadn't known that it came with such a severe requirement. Yes, it's impossible to lie to Alicia without her knowing... but it's just as impossible for her to lie to anyone else. At least not without incurring some terrible consequence.
This actually explains quite a bit. Such as the trick she pulled to lure you into her trap during your last mission. How she told Janessa that she would be protecting Elianna, as a double-bluff to make you think that the cleric was a safe target. It wasn't just that she thought that tactic would be the most effective way to trick you. No... it was the only way she could have tried to trick you. By telling you the exact truth, and convincing you to see a lie where there wasn't one.
A small smile crosses your face, and you incline your head to the young Alicia in a show of respect. Then you shift her memories forward. You still have more questions. Questions that need answers before she wakes.
Next, you examine the period of time right after you left. Much of it is Alicia dealing with the aftermath of the battle with the incubi, and all the damage that caused. Even just that much would be enough to run most people ragged, but she also finds time to check in on Elianna all the same.
Fortunately, while the cleric is still distraught over her failure to keep Mockingbird safe, the goodbye you allowed them to have seems to have comforted her. At least somewhat. She at least knows that her wayward child still genuinely cares for her. She knows that you haven't twisted her enough to take that away. She has a measure of hope now, alongside the fear for Mockingbird's safety. And that hope gives her strength, as well as determination.
Granted, that determination is to hunt you down and defeat you, so she can win her daughter back. But that's fine. It just adds a bit of spice to the chase.
In particular, you search for any conversations about which heroine is going where. It takes a bit of digging, but eventually you find what you're looking for. A memory of Alicia and Elianna talking. This time Alicia is her current age. But much like the previous memory, this conversation is also happening in the Grand Cathedral, under the protection of holy ground. And this time, Elianna wears a horrified expression on her face.
"Can this really be true?" she asks. "Surely the fiend must have been lying to you. Surely such a... travesty... could not be allowed to endure!"
Alicia's face, meanwhile, is hard as flint. "It was no lie," she says. "If it had been, I would have known. That is the answer I have been searching for all this time. That is the reason why the young Witch Queen refused to surrender, despite her heart clearly not being in the battle when we faced each other that first time. That is the fate that Melca is threatening her with."
Elianna looks like she's going to be sick. "Then... what do we do?"
"The demon has a plan to save his mistress," Alicia says. "I don't know what it is, but he thinks it can defeat Melca herself. And with his position in Kovora, he likely has access to information we do not. So our best chance is to capture him, learn what he intends to do, and enact a version of his plan ourselves, once we've freed our friends from his grasp. I will not allow Melca to have that girl... but neither will I allow our world to be corrupted by demonic power, like the Great Forest was."
Resolute determination is etched into Alicia's face. But fortunately for her, the reality of the situation doesn't comport with her ideals. It's your corruption—not her misguided self-denial—that has the best chance of saving everyone. But it's clear that the paladin can't understand that. Not until she experiences it for herself.
"Of course, we can't speak a word of this outside of holy ground," Alicia continues. "And even on holy ground, we should be very careful who we share this with. But you should tell Lyra, at least. She knows a great deal of obscure lore from her bardic studies, and she might well be able to recall something that could shed crucial light on this matter."
Elianna raises an eyebrow. "I presume you won't be telling Torild."
Alicia winces. "No. While Torild has her own formidable strengths... I cannot say that 'discretion' is among them. Emiko, however..."
Her voice trails off thoughtfully, until she finally continues. "There is... something Emiko has been hiding from us," she says, an undercurrent of concern in her voice. "Since even before the demon came. I do not know exactly what, only that it has resulted in her making several worrying lies. Everyone is entitled to their secrets, of course. And I do not believe that she intends to betray us outright. But... even so. With stakes as high as these, it is difficult to justify unnecessary risks. In truth, it would be best to avoid telling anyone, unless there is a compelling reason."
Your thoughts go immediately to what you learned from the Hidden Claw ratfolk clan that you recently recruited: that Emiko is secretly looking for ways to summon a demon. Could that be related to what Alicia has noticed? It seems likely.
Alicia, meanwhile, continues. "Either way, we likely have little time before the demon makes his next move. So your first priority will be to work with the Bard's College to lay the best trap that you can. But once that's done, you and Lyra can search their archives for anything that could help us turn the tide against our foes. I will remain with Torild and Emiko. But if I sense that the demon is headed toward you instead I will send a warning to you by messenger bird, then join you myself as soon as possible."
And there it is. You know where the two heroines are going to position themselves. And from the far-older memory, you know that Alicia isn't lying as she discusses her plans. Even so, you scan through the remaining few days of memories just to make absolutely sure. That's when you see her departure in the palace throne room, as she bids goodbye to her remaining family.
Her mother, the Empress of Nelin, regards her with calm dignity, every bit the imposing regal beauty you saw in the earlier memory. Underneath that near-perfect mask, however, you can see the awful fear for child that her position does not allow her to speak. She simply inclines her head in a graceful nod. "Go with the grace of Selal, my daughter," she says. "May her strength guide you to crush this evil, and save our nation from these dark days."
Alicia mirrors the small bow. "May it be so, mother."
The middle of the empress's three angelic daughters steps forward, a conflicted expression on her face. She's grown since the last memory you saw of her, now appearing to be in her late teens or early twenties. There is a conflicted expression on her face, one she hides with far less skill than her mother. Love and concern for her older sister... but also a feeling of inferiority, as she takes the exalted spot that should have been Alicia's, only on virtue of her sister's noble heroism. "Just... make sure you stay safe, Alicia," she says. "Come back to us, alright?"
The younger daughter also rushes forward, much less restrained than the other two. She's in her mid-teens now, a flower that has only just bloomed. But she doesn't hesitate to wrap her arms around her big sister in a worried embrace, looking up at the taller girl. "Don't let him get his claws into you!" she pleads, palpably anxious for her sister's safety. "We couldn't bear to lose you!"
Her sister responds with a comforting smile, one you can tell is meant to set her worries at ease. "Don't worry," she says, giving both her sisters a warm smile as she returns the embrace as she tries her very best to reassure them. "His true threat is temptation. And with people I love so much depending on me... how could I be swayed by that?"
Departing that scene, you follow the trail of memories even further past her departure, confirming that Alicia is indeed headed for Vekmar and the two remaining martial heroines. Then you withdraw, allowing yourself to spend some time in true sleep before the morn.
Upon waking, you spend some time musing over what you can do with your remaining downtime, before it is time to re-summon Rysanial. You could spend the time applying the final improvement to the seal on your brand, preventing the ever-growing aggressive influence of the Incubus King from affecting you, as it did during the fight with Zethuriel.
Alternatively, even counting both Rysanial and Rokaviel, you still have two open summoning slots with the latest rune that has awakened. You could use this time to summon another demon or angel, to give you an extra agent in the coming tasks you're about to decide on. Potentially including Moghi, which would both set the Vampire Queen's mind at ease, as well as giving you an extremely powerful ally against Melca and her ability to observe the moves that you're making.
Finally, you could work with Nevati and Ceriss to dispel the invocation that Alicia placed on you. That would allow you to go after Lyra and Elianna without Alicia heading to the Bard's College as well. Though you've already made enough progress in diffusing its signal that it should be unreliable at short ranges. Meaning that if you intend to go after Torild and Emiko anyway, keeping it or removing it won't make much of a difference at all.
And if they do assist you in that... it will mean they will have less time to work on the countermeasures for whatever trap the Lust Queen might or might not be planning for when you re-summon Rysanial.