[POV]: [Abraxes]
I'm back in a cell. Its different yet entirely the same to the previous one. I'm safe. Away from danger and exhausted. The bed beneath me is calling me to sleep. But I am unable to enter the realm of dreams. Sylas and Cain are relentless with their questions.
"You killed eight Enforcers?" Sylas asks and I nod. In truth, it was only six. But the less people that know about Nero's situation, the better. I'll keep the lie going. I was going to kill the other two anyway.
"They were only Legionnaires." The counter for my Sacral Essence has gone from three to nine now. Meaning the Enforcers in the room only had a singular Axion Core each. It isn't too far out of the realm of fantasy to believe that they were specifically selected.
They each had weak Impetus Talents I could easily work around.
"'They were only Legionnaires.' Pah, look at him being all cool and nonchalant about it, Sylas!" Cain chips in, a grin on his face. He's surprisingly mellowed out since I last saw him. Maybe he's feeling some twisted comradery with us over the murder of Rowan.
I am not sure. But I do not mind. There are weirder ways to bond with someone.
"You're acting as if what you did wasn't something impressive. Have some pride in your actions." Cain tells me. Sylas eagerly nodding in agreement. It's nice of them. But they do not understand. Because they were not there.
The Enforcers were not a challenge for me. I may have been outnumbered. But I was not outmatched. If it were not for my interrogation and the panic attack which followed. The fight would have been over far quicker.
Slowly but surely, I am becoming an army in a single body. It is not fair to compare me to an averaged Enlightened.
"I used your Talent." I tell Cain. Trying to change the subject. My head is feeling heavier by the minute.
"Oh yeah? Pretty strong don't you think." He puffs his chest out. I can't help but nod in agreement. The ability to decay anything you touch is a powerful Talent to have.
"It's messy."
"No shit, your turning people to dust."
"Have you used it on anyone?" Sylas asks, leaning over the edge of his bed to look down at Cain. I notice how our newest cellmate is no longer covered in blood. But his face is sporting a vicious black eye from before.
He nods, flexing his hands. As if he is reimagining it. "I killed five Enforcers today. Bastards tried to desecrate my sister's corpse."
"You have my sympathy."
"Did they suffer?"
Cain barks a laugh at Sylas's question. It is self-deprecating but it is true. I give him a small, grim smile when he nods to me in thanks. I allow myself to space out for a moment. Missing the story of how Cain killed five Enforcers.
'Its too much death for one day.' I think in the privacy of my mind. Thirteen Enforcers are dead. Because they got too hungry on their own power and status. Because two Mercury's had enough of being treated as nothing more than trash. Because we had to remind them that we all bleed the same color. That we are human too.
I think back to my saviors' words. How this society is focused entirely on their Alloy. How it defines their very existence. So much so that they do not see the bigger picture. I can't help but agree now.
Those Enforcers could have been alive to help push back the wave of Fallen Spawn infecting this world. Now they are dead and useful to no-one.
I do not pity them. They each deserved their end. Blinded by their bigotry. But I do pity the men and women. The children and elderly who will have to suffer. All because we did not have enough Enlightened in the world to save them.
It is a cruel joke.
I feel sleep taking me before I ever realize it.
[===]
When I awake. It is to the middle of the night. I am still tired. My mind is taking its time to wake up. But my body feels better. It does not ache and the burns on my arms are not as warm. I look around. My eyes automatically adjusting to the dark to allow me to see better.
Both Cain and Sylas are asleep across from me. Both of them snore like bears. I would not be surprised if that is what woke me. Theres a plate of food near the foot of my bed. I must have fallen asleep before the daily rations were brought in.
I pick it up carefully. Stretching my body off the bed just to reach it. I am feeling too lazy to move any further. It's two slices of bread and some ham with a large portion of porridge. It's more than we usually get. But I do not complain. More food means more energy to be able to use.
'It's nice of them to leave me my share.' I think, feeling gratitude to the two Mercury's opposite of me. I know how hungry they must be feeling.
My Eidos is burning within me. It's almost as if it is wanting my attention. So, I summon my runes whilst I eat the cold food.
[===]
[Name]: [Abraxes Basilus]
[True Name]: [All for One]
[Axion Core]: [Legionnaire]
[Sacral Essence]: [9/500]
[Affinities]: [Assimilation]/[Perception]/[Light]/[Silver]/[Cold]/[Ice]/[Gravity]/[Instinct]/[Body]/[Electricity]/[Shadow]/[Water]/[Fire]
[Blessing]: [-]
[Divine Domain]: [-]
[Bloodline]: [Bloodline of The Silver Light]/[Bloodline of the Arctic Gale]
[Innate Talent]: [The ability to sense and assimilate Bloodlines, Talents and Affinities through touch]
[I]-[Axion Talent]: [-]
[====]-[===]-[====]
[Impetus Talent]-[Sentry of Ruin]
[I]: [The ability to perceive the underlying elements of various concepts]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Iron Tusk]
[I]: [The ability to encase your body within silver light]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Cold Throne]
[Innate Ability]: [The ability to be immune to lower temperatures]
[I]: [The ability to lower the temperature around you and your body]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Tricksters Hoax]
[I]: [The ability to lighten and increase your bodies gravity]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Blood of Demise]
[I]: [The ability to enhance and control all six of your senses]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Mortal Divinity]
[Innate Ability]: [The ability to transform your body into any phenomena which electricity can create]
[I]: [The ability to create electricity]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Despair of Rot]
[I]: [The ability to decay anything you touch]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Dream of Storms]
[I]: [The ability to enhance your bodies movements with electricity]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Wethered Banner]
[I]: [The ability to produce electromagnetic waves]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Malice for Ruin]
[I]: [The ability to create a whip of fire]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Salamander]
[I]: [The ability to breath fire]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Old Pillar]
[I]: [The ability to enhance your physical strength]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Sea Urchin]
[I]: [The ability to see and breath under water]
[=]
[Impetus Talent-[Demise by Ice]
[I]: [The ability to be resistant to the cold]
[=]
[Impetus Talent]-[Dark Needle]
[I]: [The ability to connect your shadow to others]
[====]-[===]-[====]
[====]-[===]-[====]
[Bloodline of The Silver Light]-[Iron Tusk]
[I]: [The ability to manifest and weave a thread of silver light]
[=]
[Bloodline of The Arctic Gale]-[Cold Throne]
[I]: [The ability to create and control arctic wind]
[===]
Whilst all of my new Affinities and Talents are interesting. It is the small box beneath it all that catches my attention.
[===]
[Do you wish to [Merge]-[Impetus Talents]: [Mortal Divinity] + [Dream of Storms] + [Wethered Banner]?]
[===]
[Do you wish to [Merge]-[Impetus Talents]: [Malice for Ruin] + [Salamander]?]
[===]
'Now this is new.' I think chewing on the porridge with a stone spoon. 'Is it because they are made up of the same Affinity?'
Affinities were integral to the growth and evolution of any Enlightened. They dictated the amount of control you have over your Impetus Talents. They could be gained and lost. And they controlled exactly what abilities you would receive when creating another Axion Core.
This entire time I had assumed having multiple Affinities of the same type would only dictate the strength and control I have over my Talents. But now, it seems that my initial Talent isn't as singular and limiting as I originally thought.
My curiosity is peaked. But I am worried. Rowans Impetus Talent is powerful. Whilst I have not uncovered all its secrets yet. The fact is undoubtable. I am lucky then. That I have more than one choice. I wearily make my decision.
[===]
[…[Merging]-[Impetus Talents]: [Malice for Ruin] + [Salamander]…]
[…[Merge] Successful! [Salamander of Ruin] Is available.]
[===]
I watch the two previous Talents vanish from my Eidos. I feel my soul burn, but it is not an unpleasant sensation. It is akin to the warmth of a fever. It appears and vanishes quickly, and I am left feeling only slightly dizzy.
I summon the new runes to see the results of my experiment.
[===]
[Impetus Talent]-[Salamander of Ruin]
[I]-[The ability to create and shape fire]
[===]
It replaces the two previous Talents. They are gone. Never to be used again. But I feel a grin beginning to grow on my face. Because my soul has made two limited abilities into something stronger. Into something they would never have been able to become. I move my empty plate to the side. Before pulling on my Sacral Essence.
Instantly, a small fire appears within the center of my palm. It almost seems to dance, and I find myself entranced. It is beautiful. I try to control it with my mind. But nothing happens. I am left confused for a moment. Before Keres Impetus Talent changes my understanding.
'Right. It said shape. Not control.'
I use my other hand, placing it over the warm fire. A part of me expects to be burnt. But I am not, and I am left to marvel over my creation. It feels almost physical. My understanding slowly begins to change again. This feels like a puzzle for me to solve.
I pull the small flame with my other hand. It follows obediently. Stretching through the air as I make an arc with it. And I realize just how much potential it has. Because it is like clay. It can be shaped. Molded. Turned into whatever I may need.
My mind plays with the idea of an arrow. Something deadly and sharp and volatile. Before I am eagerly choosing to merge Rowan's Talent with two of the Enforcers. My soul flushes with heat again. It lasts far longer this time. But it is over before it can cause me any pain, and I am met with a new prompt.
[===]
[…[Merge] Successful! [Divinity of Storms] Is available.]
[===]
[Impetus Talent]-[Divinity of Storms]
[Innate Ability]: [The ability to transform your body and become the physical embodiment of a storm]
[I]: [The ability to create internal lightning which enhances your physical speed and reaction time]
[===]
It…is not what I expected. So lost in my excitement. I did not truly consider what the Talents being put together would entitle. I do not see it as a mistake. For it is powerful. But I do regret not being able to create lightning externally.
I hope that I survive long enough to gain the Talent back. Though it is not the only surprise I am greeted with. Because my Affinities have also grown from this merge.
'Storms. Lightning. Wind and Rain.' It is always a benefit to be more connected to my Talents. But now, it leaves me wondering what exactly the Innate Ability of this Talent is.
I can't test it within this cell. My intuition is telling me it is something different. Something primal. Something powerful. So, I close my eyes. Because there is only one other place I can test it. In the darkness of the night. I dive directly into my very soul.
Into my Eidos.