RE: Monarch

Bacchus looked different. It was hard to tell from if lines around his eyes were from growth general exhaustion. I’d seen him once after bringing him back to the enclave, then he’d entered the sanctum ahead of me. He carried himself differently now. When I’d approached him at the bookshop—before he knew who I was—he had a hunched, aloof manner about him. Now his shoulders were squared, his manner cautious but more confident as a whole.

“What were those things?” I asked.

“Soul sprites. They feast on the essence of the anima blossoms.” He pointed to the crumpled flower I’d stepped on. “Carnivorous flora that collect lesser soul-fragments from smaller sanctum residents that venture too close.” Bacchus frowned. “Normally the sprites are docile.”

“They didn’t seem docile.”

“Yes, well. You did step on their food.”

I shrugged. “I take it you were harvesting them? You were a bit too prepared for what happened.”

“I was. Once they’ve fed on the flowers the sprites yield a potent potion that is key for soul restoration and extending life within the sanctum itself. Not exactly the sort of thing I was expecting to do down here, but hardly the first time reality diverged from stories.”

“Let me guess. You met a master you wanted to learn from, and were given arbitrary chores to complete and prove yourself.”

Bacchus laughed. “I see you’re familiar with the premise. But really, I shouldn’t complain. Master Veldani does important work, keeping the other masters alive, and she’s old enough that her mobility is limited. More importantly…“ He raised an eyebrow. “You certainly arrived with fanfare.”

“No.” Bacchus smiled. “I still have plenty of remaining tenure. And even if I had the stones to try it, my mother had a strange level of faith in you. That’s rare, for her. We do not always agree, but it stands to reason if you managed to earn her confidence, you are worthy of mine. Not to mention, I owe you.”

“I was just the messenger.”

Bacchus stopped. “No, I don’t think you were.”

The hair on my arm stood up. I turned back to face him. “What do you mean?”

“Call it a feeling,” Bacchus’s voice was as distant as his eyes.

“I dropped Ralakos’s name at the gate, and they let me right in. But no one looked at me twice. Gossip hadn’t circulated about me, about my magic. I always figured as soon as it did it would spread like wildfire. My mother had no idea I was coming. And when I met with Ralakos and asked what his plans were for me, he didn’t have anything definitive. Like he hadn’t really had time to think about it.”

He watched me for a reaction. I felt a growing sense of concern.

“We had only found out about you recently.”

“See, I don’t think there was a we. I think you found out about me. You rode out to see me, to see what I was like—being the son of a criminal and all.” He took a step closer until he was a foot from my face.

“I… had my reasons for playing it close,” I admitted.

“Well, like I said. Thanks. I’m glad you made the decision you did.” The intensity vanished and he stepped away, rubbing his neck sheepishly. “You basically doubled our chances of being able to open the dimension gate, and I’m glad the pressure isn’t all on me.”

“Same,” I said, surprised to find that it was true. “And maybe once the barrier at the entrance is down we’ll be able to train together. Assuming we can find a suitable master.”

Bacchus smiled. “Oh? Looks like you owe me after all.”

My mouth dropped open. “Master Veldani?”

“She’s magnificent. Old. Ancient even. But has full mastery of the fourth stage.” Bacchus said.

“Wait, fourth stage?” I found myself excited about the prospect. “The only ones I know of are Spark and Control. I have no clue what the third is, let alone the fourth.”

His shoulders drooped. “Yeah. Neither do I. She’s only demonstrated the third stage, and I still don’t understand it.”

I found myself excited and disappointed in equal measure. Part of me was relieved that at least there was a Dantalion master alive and well enough to teach. But the disappointment was that—Given what had happened to Saladius, we really couldn’t afford to linger here.

I introduced everyone to Bacchus and we made our way to Veldani. Jorra and Bacchus got along right away, which was probably the last thing I expected. Jorra was probably the most immature of our group, and Bacchus acted like a fifty-year-old in a young body.

It was close to an hour before Bacchus called out. “Cairn. It’s over here.”

Huh? When had I gotten in front of him? I took a step back towards him—

—And found myself on the opposite side of where I’d been. The rest of my party looked equally perplexed. But I noticed Bacchus was grinning like a fool.

“Alright, you got us. Where is it?” I tapped my foot, crossing my arms.

Bacchus reached out and cast a complicated spell. A stone post sat in the middle of the clearing, only, it wasn’t a post. There were windows and doors carved into it, lined with cobbled stone.

“Is this a joke?” Jorra scratched his head.

“It’s a spatial effect,” Maya breathed out slowly. “The tower is probably full-size inside, but is functionally as small as you see it here.”

I took another look. There was a miniature infernal outside the front door, tending the garden.

“The upkeep has to be astronomical.” Bellarex crouched in front of the tower, looking comically huge in comparison.

“Trust me,” Bacchus groaned. “It is. That’s about half of what I do daily. Check on the power and make sure the mana-cells are fully charged.

“Did you say mana-cells?” I asked.

He shook his head. “That was my reaction. Unfortunately, they only work to continue powering large-scale spells and constructs. No people. Line up behind me.” Bacchus stood in a particular spot in front of the tower and waited for us to follow. When we formed a line, he told us to take a single step forward and keep walking.

It wasn’t unlike walking down a stairway. Only with every step we rushed lower to the ground, moss growing excessively and violently until a single blade towered over us like a porous mountain. The sky itself seemed bigger, wrong, and I nearly stumbled before Maya reached out to steady my arm. Bell and Jorra were less fortunate and fell in a sprawl, the moist terrain leaving green smears on their travel clothes.

I helped Bell up and then offered Jorra my hand. He looked at it, then pushed against the ground with both arms, bounding up to look at the once small tower that now overshadowed us.

“Well,” He gave me a small smile. “At least there’s no way they’re finding us here.”

I shook my head and turned towards the others. “No. You saw what happened with Saladius. It didn’t matter how prepared he was. We make our introductions, resupply, give Bell some time to rest, then leave before we risk bringing Thoth’s magician down on our heads.”

It took a moment longer than it would have months ago for Jorra to nod, accepting the statement. His mouth twitched but he held his tongue.

The interior of the tower immediately reminded me of a monastery. There were dozens of weathered infernals, their hair more white than gray, generally hunched over and moving across the painted tiles, tabards tied by loose thin rope arranged in a single knot.

“And what do you think you’re doing bringing outsiders into this place?” An older woman’s voice called out from across the room, turning more than a few heads in our direction. Bacchus immediately cringed at the sound, then moved over awkwardly towards a waiting violet. Her skin was pockmarked and weathered, and her hair was tied up in a severe bun. The way she was acting she was clearly the master of this domain.

Bacchus approached in a manner not terribly far from that of a frequently beaten dog. He wrung his hands. Once he was before her, it was clear the woman was far shorter than I’d initially thought, barely coming up to Bacchus’s chest.

She stuck her finger into his sternum, not bothering to look at us. “What did I say? No more strays.”

“Master Veldani, they are not strays. That one is my friend.” He pointed towards me. I assumed he was playing up our relationship for appearances’ sake, but appreciated the gesture. Veldani glided across the floor towards me, grace somehow not betrayed by her bent over posture.

I bowed low. “Thank you, for gracing us with your hospitality.”

She returned the courtesy immediately, a conditioned reaction, stooping low to the floor, her skirts ballooning under her. The gesture was remarkably poised and measured, designed to stay just slightly above me. Between the bow and the violet skin it was obvious she had either been ruling class or ruling class adjacent.

“And what brings a prince of such infamy to my simple hospice?” She asked me. Her manner betrayed curiosity and suspicion in equal measure.

Bacchus answered for me. “Cairn is the one who found me. He is also a dantalion user in the second stage. But far more advanced.”

Her eyes moved to me with renewed interest. “So, you’ve come to me for guidance? A human?”

“No.” I shook my head, then hastened to continue the explanation when her face grew grim. “Rather, I would seek your tutelage later. We are being pursued, and I would not stoop so low as to have our troubles darken your doorstep.”

“He’s a flowery one, isn’t he?” Veldani said to Bacchus, who shrugged. “Says almost less with more than you.”

Again, I felt my cheeks growing red. Was every master of the sanctum this irreverent when showed the proper respect?

“Relax, child, I meant no harm.” Veldani sighed. “The sanctum has been growing more inhospitable by the day, and we’re overbooked and understaffed. We lost a few while Bacchus was gathering ingredients.”

“What exactly is this place?” Maya asked. She’d taken her place at my side, and her tail shifted from side to side.

“A place where the damned come to die.” Veldani sighed. “Mostly those of our ilk who have lived too long—fully expended their souls. Some who have left the sanctum and returned. All sick. All living on borrowed time. Speaking of which…”

Veldani held out a hand towards Bacchus. He handed her the bag. She only examined it for a moment before her eyes widened. “This is too much!”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Bacchus asked.

“There’s a reason I gave you exact numbers, child. There’s only so much I can process. Pity.” Veldani stared at the bag grimly. “More than half of this will go to waste.”

“Is it alchemy? Cairn can help. He’s good at alchemy.” Bell looked between me and the master.

I inwardly groaned. I’d sensed the opportunity myself, but was trying to prevent this from going the way things had with Saladius.

“You’re an alchemist, too?” Veldani raised an eyebrow towards me.

I nodded. “Middling, Master Veldani.”

“How middling? Name the most complex potion you’ve brewed without oversight.” The question was rapid fire, barely giving me time to think.

“Um. I believe that would be the Iron Lung Potion. Though even that took more than a few tries to get right.”

“Middling, is it?” Master Veldani’s eyebrow rose higher. “False modesty will get you no credit here, young prince. An alchemist capable of brewing Iron Lung will be more than suitable as an assistant for my purposes.”

Unsure what to say, I inclined my head towards her. “That was not my intent. However, I’m not certain if that is wise. We are being hunted. The last thing I wish to do is place innocents in the crossfire.”

“Most of the ‘innocents’ you see before you,” there was a chill mockery in her voice, “could snuff you out in a second. It would not be an exaggeration to say that most of them half awakened three elements, and mastered two. All that to say, I am not overly concerned about the capabilities of a magician foolish enough to try to breach this place.

An entire ward tower filled with pinnacle magicians. The whole presentation of the tower was recontextualized in my mind. The tower and the surrounding spell wasn’t designed to protect the residents from would-be invaders. It was designed this way to protect would-be invaders from the inhabitants themselves.

Maya stepped up beside me, made a cursory bow, then spoke. “There is something else to be considered. This rogue magician is capable of transforming living beings into monsters.” She untied the damp sack at her waist and pulled the head of the abomination from it until its face barely showed, keeping the appendage concealed from anyone else who might be watching.

Veldani’s mouth dropped. “Lord below.” She seemed to remember herself, then shook her head. “No. This only reinforces things, but complicates the timeline.”

“You know what they are? How they’re made?” I asked.

“I have… an idea. It is not my area of expertise, nor my place to explain.” Veldani clapped twice. A few heads around us turned. An older infernal with a slow lumbering gait and lines in his face so deep they cast shadows walked over towards us. Veldani continued speaking, distracting me from him. “You will stay here for a night. Help me process the surplus. Once we’ve finished, Master Morthus will give you the answers you seek.”

Morthus?

After searching for his whereabouts and finding nothing, I’d almost resigned the idea of finding the infernal who had come to me in the isolation chamber so long ago and promised me answers about the Metamorphosis cult, the tattoo on Thoth’s wrist, and why she was apparently turning against them.

But now he was here. Or so she said. There was no one resembling the man in the room. The old, confused infernal that had wandered over now towered over me. Then the pieces began to shift. Something about his posture, the way he smiled.

“I see you escaped your cell,” Morthus said. It was undoubtedly him. His kind face and over-long spiral horns, everything was the same. But it was also unbelievably different. His jowls sagged. His eyes took me in sluggishly, sclera slightly off-white. And the lines on his face were more numerous than the stars.

“What… happened—“ But Veldani was already pulling me away towards the back room.

“That’s not how this deal works,” my future master said. “Work first. Talk later.”

My mouth firmed as I followed, lips drawing together. So many answers were right around the corner.

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