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LOCATION: THE WITCH'S HOME
CITY: MYRRINDEL, ALLOVIA
DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 | TIME: 1:15 AM
The Witch held a long staff in both hands.
She raised both arms above her head, looked upward, and then slammed the staff into the floor in between the two benches.
Flint's hair stood on end, as he could feel the power swirling around the Witch, creating a charged energy in the atmosphere. It smelled distinctly of thunderstorms and ozone.
Nina and Sienna, who had been struggling against their restraints, suddenly fell still. Their eyes closed, and their breathing went shallow.
Then the Witch's staff began to glow a bright teal color that overpowered the other light sources in the room. She let the staff go as she turned to reach for two potions on a tray behind her. Flint's brow raised when the staff stayed upright, as if held in place by the vortex of energy.
The Witch raised two pipettes over Sienna and Nina's lips. A single spherical drop of purple liquid fell from the droppers into their mouths.
Flint could have sworn the droplets fell slower than gravity should allow, but what happened next banished all random thoughts from his mind.
The Witch set the potions back on the tray and reached for her staff again. Holding her hands in the air above her, she began an incantation.
From borrowed flesh I draw thee out.
Thy stolen voice I hereby rout!
No bone, no blood, no mortal frame,
Shall hold thee safe from heaven's blame!
She slammed the staff into the floor again, and Flint swore he saw lightning and heard an immediate thunderclap.
The Witch's eyes turned the same teal color as her staff. A white pig with gray and black spots throughout its bristly fur stood nearby in a cage, and it suddenly began squeaking and snorting in panic.
The Witch continued her ritual.
Into the aether, into the swine,
Leave what was stolen, marked for thy crime.
By breath and bone, by root and flame,
Thou shalt not return from whence thy came.
Another flash of lightning and a thunderclap, followed by panicked squeals from the pig, and the Witch completed her incantation.
Cormac to ashes, dust, and night,
Silas to burden, bound by right.
One to the void where shadows feed,
One to a vessel to serve my need.
Once again, she slammed the staff into the floor. Flint saw a slight crack form in the wooden plank beneath it.
A puff of obsidian smoke floated from Nina's lips, raised into the air, and formed the shape of a man for a split second, before he yelled out.
The smoke dissipated in an instant when the Witch snapped her fingers and said, "Begone, Cormac Black!"
Then Flint saw a wisp of energy leave Sienna's lips, float across the room, through the slats in the iron wire cage, and into the pig.
The squeals stopped, and the pig looked around. Soon, the panic returned, and it tried pushing against the cage walls.
"Silence, Silas!" the Witch said. "You will serve me now. If you behave well enough, you may find your circumstances improve. But until then, you will serve your penance in silence."
She waved her hand and the pig laid down in resignation.
The Witch turned to Flint. "Now for the hard part," she said. "Hold the bowl steady and don't miss."
This time, the Witch's voice was calmer. Serene, even. Flint was intrigued, and listened carefully, ready with his bowl.
Her voice rang out, somehow reverberating throughout her cabin despite the lower volume.
Two lives cut short through greed and spite,
They rise once more to join the fight.
By law of balance, justice spread,
I weave anew the broken thread.
She placed her hands over each woman's heart, hovering in the air an inch above their bodies.
From essence pure, from spirit true,
Two vessels form of crystal blue.
In marble form their souls shall rest,
With power now to face their test.
The Witch turned to the table behind her and raised two more pipettes above Nina and Sienna's lips. A bright blue liquid shimmered inside. Two drops fell on each of the women's lips, and the Witch set the droppers back on the table.
When she turned again, she nodded at Flint. He was ready with his wooden bowl when she continued.
Against the Cord that wrought them harm,
These stones become a righteous arm.
Let vengeance surge through crystal bright,
To set the scales of justice right.
She closed her eyes, bringing her hands together in front of her as if in prayer.
Suddenly, Nina exhaled a long breath, and a deep blue crystalline marble formed in the air, hovering a few inches above her mouth.
Flint brought the bowl over and caught the sphere. A few moments later, a similar marble of a light shade of blue formed over Sienna, and Flint secured it in the bowl as well.
The women's bodies fell still and their breathing slowed. There was no struggle. No sound, no last fight to remain alive. They just, simply, stopped breathing.
With that, it was done.
The Witch fell back into an oversized chair and closed her eyes.
Flint stood perfectly still. He held the bowl in front of him, afraid to set it down, or even jostle the marbles inside.
Finally, the Witch opened her eyes.
"You can set it down, Flint," she said. "You've done well. You may feel some exhaustion for a day. I had to borrow some of your energy."
He nodded, realizing he was indeed feeling a bit drained. Nothing urgent or dangerous, just enough to feel he should rest before engaging in anything strenuous.
"Go get Brick and the others," the Witch said. "We have much to discuss."
Flint did as requested, and a few minutes later everyone was crowded in the Witch's workshop.
She stood and picked up the wooden bowl.
"Brick," she said, "please stand here."
She pointed to the space in between the benches at the women's feet.
When he was in place, the Witch explained what she had done.
"Mason Briggs, on our planet of Evirond, you shall from henceforth be called Guardian of the Lost, Seeker of Justice."
She waved her hands in an intricate pattern in the air, and Brick could see a weave of blue energy. Suddenly the pattern broke into two halves, and slammed into his chest with tremendous force.
Brick almost fell backward, but held his ground.
A System notification appeared in his vision, but he ignored it for now.
The Witch held out the bowl.
"These marbles contain the remaining essence of Nina Vosper and Sienna Black," she said. "Sienna is the darker of the two. She was the Rogue, correct?"
Brick nodded.
"Brick, before I bestow these upon you, I need you to understand the burden you are about to take on. With these essences in hand, you will be driven to complete an extremely long arc of revenge against The Muted Cord. Flint will provide the missions. That means you will become an agent of The Umbral Thread. Do you understand?"
Brick clenched his jaw.
"I understand," he said, his voice full of gravel.
"Your main objective will be to take out operation cells in different areas of Allovia and the other kingdoms of Evirond. You will always have the support of The Umbral Thread, but with these in hand, you will never be alone."
Brick's eyes glanced down into the bowl again, then back up to meet the Witch's gaze.
"With these marbles on your person, you will be able to sense the presence and activity of The Muted Cord. It won't be perfect, but it will extend your senses greatly. When you battle the members of The Cord, Nina and Sienna may materialize and provide aid in various ways."
Brick's eyes widened.
"What can they do?" he asked.
The Witch laughed lightly.
"I'm not sure," she said. "It's up to them. Tread carefully at first until you understand the scope of their assistance. But I believe they will do everything in their power to help you in your quest. I could feel their love for you as they entered the marbles. Now go ahead. You can take them. You're the only one who can."
Tears began forming in Brick's eyes as he reached into the bowl and took the spheres in his hand. He looked closely, and could see some form of energy swirling constantly inside.
The warmth they emanated in his hand surprised him. It was glass. It should be cold to the touch.
As he mused about the warmth, he felt a slight jolt of energy. Not quite like a shock, but more of a gentle nudge on his soul.
It was Nina. He could actually feel her smile. Another followed, and he could tell this one was Sienna. He saw her own sly grin in his mind's eye.
He closed his hand around them, holding them there for a moment. Then he put them in a closed pocket in his armor.
He was surprised that he could still feel them.
"As long as you keep them on your person," the Witch said, "you'll never lose the connection."
She sat back down in her chair, utterly spent now.
"Now please travel safely back to the capital," she said. "I have other customers waiting outside and I need a bit of rest before I can help them. Good luck to you, Brick. I will be anxiously awaiting news of your success."
The group thanked the Witch and Flint ushered them back to Myrrindel. They drank at the Riverstone Hearth for hours before everyone retired for the night.
The entire time, Brick could feel Nina and Sienna actually enjoying the atmosphere. The laughter. The camaraderie.
He was looking forward to getting started. But that could wait until tomorrow.