Redemption Arc

For a fairly long while now, Lucian had been contemplating people that might suffice as a powerful patron. After the death of his brother-in-law, Duke Metterand, that was doubly important. A great many people wished Lucian harm, and Metterand’s people shielded Lucian from the worst of that.

“Abbess Dorothea,” Lucian greeted, dipping his head in respect. Maybe that was a bit of an awkward move, but Lucian was feeling a bit awkward. He had a bunch of things carried in the crook of his arm. “If you have time, I’d like to go over some things with you.”

It was quite late at night, but Dorothea didn’t refuse him. “Please, come in. If you’d like, I could prepare you something to drink.”

“No, but thank you,” Lucian said as he followed her inside.

Dorothea was on a list of people that Lucian considered as a potential patron. The monastery was a very old and ancient institution, and while it lacked the political power and presence Metterand did, it was still very formidable as backing.

I have to admit, Aurelia played this very well, Lucian thought. I was hoping to use the monastery as a cudgel against her, and even though I exposed her crimes, she managed to soften the blow enough to buy time. But now… I’ve got what I need.

“Have you and Aurelia come to an agreement?” Dorothea asked first. Evidently that was the issue weighing most on her mind.

Lucian looked around. “I’d like to provide you a little bit of context. I’ve gathered some things, but I want you to look at it before I make a proposal.”

Dorothea sighed to dispel some tension, and then sat down at the table in her room. Lucian sat across from her.

“I won’t start out with Aurelia.” Lucian set a satchel bag on the table. “Instead, I’d like to talk about some things that are going on in the wider world.”

Dorothea said nothing, listening closely.

“To begin with, you may have heard that there were demon attacks in the Concord, and shortly after that, a large-scale attack in the confluence of the Lurund River,” Lucian began as he put down some documents. “In the first they destroyed the Treaty of Verne, and in the second they attempted to slay the Student Ambassadors.” Lucian pulled out the documents that he’d procured with the help of Guard Commander Roger. “Beyond that, these are some documents that implicate high level administrative figures in the Empire of Riverra with criminal syndicates directly associated with demons.”

Dorothea took some of the documents, reading them over. It didn’t take long for her brow to furrow in concern and her eyes to widen in surprise. “By the heavens… even isolated as we are, I recognize some of these names.” She looked up at him. “The infiltration has spread this deep?”

Lucian nodded. “Not to mention my brother-in-law: a duke in the empire and the chancellor presiding over the Concord.”

Dorothea raised a brow. “That isn’t merely your cover identity?”

I wish, Lucian thought.

“No. I’m the only son of Duke Cyril Villamar and the Last Inquisitor,” Lucian said. “As you might imagine, being the last is quite… unfortunate, when we’re facing a potential demon-orchestrated plot.”

Lucian produced the thing that Dorothea would have a great deal of trouble digesting. Namely, Aurelia’s ritual journals.

“I have reason to believe that the plot taking place here is one of many occurring around the world,” Lucian said. “If you’ll read those, you can discover what was intended here. Aurelia intended to seal all of your powers, and then slowly guide all of you into a ritual that would profane your divine beast forms and turn you into demons subjugated to the will of the First Emperor.”

Dorothea silently took the first of the journals. Lucian hoped that she would recognize the handwriting, recognize the writing style, recognize even the word choice. Anything that poked holes in Aurelia’s story. But… with Aurelia going with demonic possession as her story…

“This is… horrifying,” Dorothea said.

Lucian stared at her eyes. “Hopefully you can appreciate now why I’m torn by indecision.”

Frankly… if Lucian didn’t get some backing, things were looking dire for him. Metterand’s death averted a lot of coming tragedies and shifted the playing field dramatically. It also provided with Lucian infinitely more freedom in Verne. On top of that, Metterand was a vocal proponent of modifying the Treaty of Verne. Now that he’d been exposed as someone quite literally possessed by a demon, every idea he’d stood for would be held to intense scrutiny.

But things weren’t all good. Lucian no longer had any guardians. Prince Denzel would be announced as heir to Villamar when he returned, signifying his isolation from his family. If he didn’t have people watching his back, he would get ambushed one day out of the blue and die miserably. That fear had kept him up at night even before getting rid of his brother-in-law, but now it was far more persistent.

“I understand what you mean, bringing this to me.” Dorothea pushed aside the journals, her face wracked with unease. She stayed silent for a long time, and Lucian didn’t press her. Suddenly, she looked up. “If I told you that your sister was too dangerous to be kept alive, would you consent to her death?” Dorothea asked quietly.

His sister from reality came to mind before Cate, and that question rattled him. Even Cate, who he’d known for barely any time at all, already made him hesitate. All of the people from the monastery endeavored to be good people. Lucian was essentially asking them to do something that he couldn’t do himself, despite knowing the truth.

“Your founder… his prophecy about Aurelia… that brings me to this.” Lucian produced the Jeweled Eye he’d taken from the mausoleum. He set it on the table between them. “I’m sure you know what this is.”

Dorothea nodded. “The eye of our founder. The eye of the True Divine Beast. He gave up his eyes to see the truth.”

“He did,” Lucian said with a nod. “By now, you’ve seen that his prophecies aren’t just prophecies. The cursed child exists. It stands to reason that much else of what he’s predicted will hold true all the same.”

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“The rise of the First Emperor.”

Lucian nodded. “I need this eye,” he said, tapping the top of it.

Dorothea studied it. “It would be foolish to deprive the living to placate the dead. Considering the plot that you unveiled, I have no qualms about you taking that.” Her eyes went back to him. “But I must ask what you need it for.”

Lucian picked it up. “In life, he surrendered his eyes to look into the future. In death…” He took a deep breath. “It can peer into the past. Not as it is right now, but eventually, it’ll be able to.”

In the War of Four, this had been used to discover weaknesses about the First Emperor. Lucian knew those weaknesses already, so perhaps it was a bit less useful in his hands. But the First Emperor had intended to peer into the past for wholly different reasons—dangerous reasons. Even if it wasn’t as important as it had been in the game, it was still imperative that he confiscated this himself.

“That’s… a very unusual ability,” Dorothea said.

“Yes, it is.” Lucian put the eye away. “And I’ll put it to good use. Thank you for agreeing to this.”

“But what about Aurelia?” Dorothea asked.

Lucian sighed. This was the conundrum still weighing on his mind.

In many ways, Lucian and Aurelia were complete opposites. She had an absolutely stellar reputation but was secretly a horrible person. Lucian’s reputation probably couldn’t get any lower than it was, but he was a good person—or at the very least, trying to be.

“If I may, I’ve been thinking about this matter deeply. The way that I see it, there is only one way to truly cure Aurelia.” Dorothea leaned in. “And that is killing the First Emperor—your primary objective, correct?”

“Well… I’m looking for the best outcome,” Lucian rephrased. Rowan would probably be doing the killing, after all. Lucian would be cheering very hard, and surviving.

“I will take full responsibility for whatever Aurelia does from here on out,” Dorothea said. “And with her mind troubled like this, all of us will have ample incentive to help you in your cause as fervently as possible. We would be at your full disposal—materially, politically, whatever you wish. I would…” she closed her eyes. “I would welcome you as Lord of Heavenwatch.”

Lucian leaned back. “Is that something you can do?”

“The Empire of Riverra has been attempting to make this a fiefdom for centuries,” Dorothea said. “As far as we’re all concerned, you’re the only reason Heavenwatch Monastery still exists. You would have earned that right. A plebiscite would need to be held, but… I have no doubt it would end in your favor, should you support Aurelia.”

Lucian leaned back, floored. Not merely an alliance—a lordship. All the people of this monastery swearing fealty to him, personally. It was the anti-demon army of his dreams. He considered what Aurelia had offered earlier. The idea that he might be able to continue to call upon her power in battle was an immensely tempting proposition.

“You’d give up everything for her, wouldn’t you?” Lucian asked.

Dorothea nodded without hesitation. “Even my life.”

Lucian looked away. What kind of Kool-Aid did Aurelia give these people? She didn’t need to enslave them. If she told them the First Emperor was just misunderstood, they’d start goosestepping.

“She can’t stay here. I won’t allow it,” Lucian said. “And she needs to be purged of the ability to contact demons more permanently. I know a way.”

Dorothea’s face brightened immensely. She bowed deeply, taking Lucian’s hand. “You won’t regret this. I promise that you won’t regret this. I’ll make sure of this. We are in a debt to you that cannot possibly be repaid, but we’ll spend our lives attempting to do so.”

Lucian withdrew his hand. “But I don’t want to be Lord of Heavenwatch. That would paint a huge target on my back. Matter of fact, I don’t want to be recognized for this incident at all. It’d make me assassination target number one. As far as the world is concerned, Metterand got caught because the Heavenwatch Monastery is so holy and righteous that they noticed what everyone else couldn’t. And that will be your justification for taking a more active hand in continental affairs—not an alliance with me.”

Dorothea nodded seriously. “As expected of someone with such pure holy affinity. Not even a trace of greed.”

Lucian tried not to groan. The second-most holy person was Aurelia—that told him all he needed to know about the validity of affinities in determining character.

“But what about the matter of a fiancée? I believe that—”

“Not happening,” Lucian said. “I was unceremoniously rebuffed upon the tragedy with Metterand. It can’t look as though we’re publicly associated. Even a hint of a genuine coalition against the demons will cause hell to break loose—perhaps literally. Outwardly, you’ll treat me like everyone else. Behind the scenes, we’ll collaborate. Besides… the engagement would benefit Cyril, not me.”

Dorothea tilted her head. “Then how will we protect you, aid you?”

“I’m a student in the Collegium. You’re going to put forth a demand to the Concord and the Collegium to have a mission in Verne,” Lucian said. “They’ll agree, I’m sure. I’ll be moving into the public dormitories of the Collegium. You’ll be able to look after me.”

I’m not going to be relying on Duke Cyril Villamar for a thing from now on, Lucian thought. Well… unless opportunity arises. I’ll miss Walter’s cooking, but that’s about it.

“And Aurelia will be part of that mission,” Dorothea guessed. “Under very close scrutiny.”

“No.” Lucian shook his head. “I have something else in mind, but that can wait for tomorrow. Do you think it’d be possible to meet… the person that helped me escape Aurelia? I don’t even know their names, but they saved everyone just as much as me.”

Dorothea nodded. “I’ll find them, and have them greet you tomorrow morning.”

Lucian rose. “Excellent. Until then.”

***

Lucian laid in his bed late at night, unable to sleep. His mind was wired. This didn’t end exactly as he planned, but provided that he handled this with the proper caution, it might be a better outcome than he had planned. The alliance with the monastics was an unexpected boon. It came with a large burden in the form of Aurelia, but even she might turn out better than he expected.

“The inquisitors used the powers of demons against them,” Lucian muttered as stroked Cate’s hair. “They were the only bulwark against them, for a time. Maybe I can do the same with her.”

But that wasn’t the main thing keeping Lucian awake. He kept thinking about those dagger-nails piercing his flesh. The memory was so fresh… fresh enough it made him shake. He didn’t even know how he’d managed to do all that. It seemed so herculean, so utterly impossible, right now. And beyond that… he thought of Dorothea crying for Aurelia.

“I miss home, Cate.” The moment Lucian said the words, he started to well up. He couldn’t have that—he reached for his face, stretching the skin around his eyes out to comport himself. “Shit…”

Lucian stood up, walking over to the desk in his room where the Evercodex was. His head was a mess. He’d just started to compartmentalize all this nonsense—he couldn’t fall apart now. He needed to plan, predict how Metterand’s death would butterfly everything else. His death saved a lot of people’s lives, but made Lucian’s considerably more complicated. When he opened the Evercodex, he spotted the ripped page, and stopped.

Will I ever sleep easily again? Lucian wondered. He kneaded his forehead briefly, then shook his head. C’mon. Come up with a plan.