Redemption Arc

“Did you have any idea he was going to make that request of you?” Ruth demanded of Lucian once they were escorted to their quarters.

Most of the monastics, exhausted by the long journey without rest, had taken to sleep after their meal. Only Aurelia stayed awake, and even then she was too fatigued to contribute much. She listened in to their conversation, half-nodding off. The quarters that they’d been led to were more of a guest wing, with space enough for all of them without sharing rooms.

“No. I was taken by surprise as much as the rest of you,” Lucian said. He lowered his voice and said, “You don’t have any cause for concern. This might surprise you, but I’m not interested in sharing my mind.”

People did seem relieved. Arthur crossed his arms. “It seems that Aurelia has a new competitor in the contest for possessing your body, Lucian.”

“Arthur, that’s rude,” Ruth said firmly.

“What? Everyone knows by now,” he defended. “Should’ve seen her face when she asked if he wasn’t a eunuch.”

Lucian glanced at Aurelia, who had that familiar ‘who, me?’ expression on her face that told Lucian precisely how gleeful she was at the implication. No doubt she expected this. Sadly, he was getting used to her antics… but she’d find another way to get under his skin. He had to find a way to do the same, maybe, if only for his own sanity.

“We shouldn’t be so lackadaisical,” Azalea said seriously.

“Right?!” Bethany said, then looked around in paranoia and lowered her voice. “A demon just said that it wants to possess someone in our party, and we’re cracking jokes?”

“Levity’s fine, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep our guard up,” Rowan said. “A devil in denial can be much more dangerous than one that flagrantly flaunts its debauchery.”

Heath nodded. “Given what he went through with Cyril, I’m sure Lucian understands that better than anyone.”

“The bottom line is this: the only way we’re going to have any success in the Hells is if we secure a forward base to use. Now, the Citadel of the Golemancer is one of the most ideal bases imaginable, as I’m sure you can see,” Lucian said. “Things might not be going exactly as I expected, but we can use this to our advantage.”

“I can’t help but feel the True Divine Beast took advantage of your trust, Lucian,” Azalea said. “I worry for your safety. He must have known this was going to happen, considering the level of his knowledge… but he kept this from you. Are you alright?”

Lucian furrowed his brows. “I’m, uhh… fine. Just fine. Let’s focus on the matter at hand. He couldn’t have known.”

“How could he not have?” Ruth asked. “He’s known so much so far—more than enough to chalk this up as a mere overlooked detail.”

Lucian felt a little bit odd as his fake identity was criticized for putting himself in a dangerous position. Miriam and Rowan looked amused. That said, it didn’t feel wise to admit the truth to everyone while they were in the Hells.

He waved his hands. “This is a discussion best saved for another time.” A few people crossed their arms, but he knew they’d laugh if they knew the truth. “Now, the Golemancer accepted Belcourt’s arm, which is a huge step toward getting what we want. Once he dismantles it, he’s going to find that there’s something that he wants within it. Since its ours, and since he does genuinely stick to his rules, he won’t just seize it unilaterally. That gives us room to start a negotiation. We need to work on what we’re going to say to make sure that this can become a staging ground for us.” He looked around. “You with me?”

Everyone nodded.

“Let’s plan our attack,” Lucian said. “Team up on the guy, conversationally.”

***

As Lucian prepared to return to his private room so that he might take a brief nap, Aurelia continued to linger near him.

“What is it?” he asked her.

“I’ve had an idea,” she said. “Well… a few.”

“Could’ve shared earlier, no?” Lucian asked.

“It’s really only relevant to you,” she said, then gestured inside. “Let’s talk.”

Lucian shrugged, then entered inside where he’d be staying for a brief period. The room resembled his dormitory at the Collegium in size and purpose, though there was no view and not the barest hint of sunlight. Only cold, sterile magic lamps. Aurelia shut the door behind her.

“There’s something the Golemancer said that’s lingering on my mind,” Aurelia began.

“I hope it’s not about becoming a devil,” Lucian said. “Hope you’re not still chasing that immortality dream.”

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“And come to resemble an overripe grape? Please,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m far too vain for that. No… that thing mentioned that he could decipher ancient magic with sight alone, thanks to his eyes. That he could analyze things with incredible detail.”

“…do you have some ancient magic?” Lucian asked.

“I’ll assume that you’re just tired, because the alternative is that you’re slower than me when I am.” She tapped her head. “Think about the conversations we’ve had lately.”

Lucian did. And it didn’t take him long to see what she was driving at.

Lucian pointed. “You think that he might be able to help me recreate the divine beast transformation.”

Aurelia nodded. “Exactly. He might be able to help you perceive and eventually mimic that ‘guidance’ that I feel, so you could do it on your own.” She hesitated, then asked uncertainly, “Do you think that’s too outlandish?”

Lucian shook his head. “No, it’s smart. I guess I tend to get tunnel vision. Even still… it’s asking a lot.”

“Not if you let him possess you,” she pointed out.

“I take back that thing I said about being smart,” Lucian said. “Hope you’re joking. You want to let what I know fall into the hands of a devil?”

Aurelia crossed her arms. “Is there no way to end possession? Do you know anyone that’s exorcised the demon within?” He shook his head decisively. “Well… is there any way we can we take the chairbound freak for a ride, maybe? Because I really don’t like him.”

“Maybe it’s envy. He’s lived a long, unhealthy life,” Lucian joked.

“No. I don’t envy him at all. If you want to know the truth, I’ve started to realize how crazy I was. How… empty. Once the demons left, that wish…” Aurelia’s eyes went distant until she shook her head. “But what about you? I was almost certain I saw some greed in your eyes. His abilities do entice you, don’t they?”

Lucian didn’t feel compelled to deny it in front of her. Strangely, it felt like he could be the most honest with Aurelia of anyone, if only because she couldn’t judge him.

“Honestly, the first thing that came to mind was reading your mind,” he said.

“Touching,” she said dryly. “Such trust. Such faith in me. You’d take this amazing power and use it on me. I’m flattered.”

“Amazing? It almost sounds like you want me to get possessed.”

Aurelia grimaced. “Heavens, no. Your personality is bad enough, but that’d make it worse without a doubt.” She shook her head decisively. “You shouldn’t do it. Not unless you can trick him, somehow.”

“My bag of tricks is a little lacking here,” Lucian said.

In terms of devils, there were far worse examples than the Golemancer. Their host wasn’t a bloodthirsty monster, but that wasn’t to suggest that his hands were clean. He simply didn’t revel in it. He killed only when he thought it was necessary.

“The next conversation is pivotal,” Lucian said.

***

Lucian managed to get a few hours of sleep before he was woken up by his companions, who informed them that the serving golems had arrived to take everyone to their meal. They were led back into the dining hall, where this time, the meal had been prepared in advance. Lucian wasn’t offered the seat of honor this time. That said, he was still seated right next to the Golemancer.

“I succeeded in extracting the raw demonic power contained within Belcourt’s Inquisitor’s Mark,” the Golemancer said, producing a crystal that menaced with bloodlike energy. He offered it to Lucian. “I believe that this should be quite the harvest for you. When you place it against the mark, it should enter inside without issue. Furthermore, it should extend the ability that he possessed to open dormant portals to the Hells to your mark.”

Lucian took the crystal delicately. “Excellent,” he said with a smile.

This would provide him with a tremendous amount of demonic energy to employ for the abilities offered by the Inquisitor’s Mark. He’d been saving up his points for a while now, but with this, he could afford to splurge a bit should the opportunity arise.

Still, his eyes lingered on the Golemancer expectantly, whose goggles in turn didn’t waver from Lucian.

“There is another thing,” the Golemancer said. “There were a few particularly potent abilities contained within Belcourt’s Inquisitor’s Mark. They appear to have been mimicked from powerful demons in the First Emperor’s employ. These intrigue me beyond end. Plainly, I want them.”

Lucian smiled as familiar dialogue came forth. This was what he hoped to use as leverage. In War of Four, the player was given the choice between six different boss abilities to add to the Inquisitor’s Mark. The first was free, and the player could eventually purchase all of them, but they needed to do a series of quests for the Golemancer to unlock them in his shop. The best ability was Belhazek the Black-Tongued’s ability to transform into black smoke and reposition on the map… but there was nothing stopping Lucian using those abilities as a bargaining tool for something else.

“They interest you, do they?” Lucian asked. “Well—"

The door opened loudly, and Lucian turned his head alongside most of the others. What he saw made him stand up in alarm. He wasn’t the only one. Just about everyone stood to their feet, bracing themselves.

“Calm yourselves,” the Golemancer said. “I’ve looked within his mind, and he means you no harm.”

“Like hell,” Aurelia said.

Belcourt Asheford stood in the doorway, the smile on his face evident even behind the black cloth mask covering his face. “It appears I’m a little late for dinner. Or is this lunch?”

Rowan twitched, looking toward his weapons. Perhaps the Golemancer sensed that, because he said, “You are guests within my home. Your safety is guaranteed. If you should harm one another… you will cease to be guests, and I shall treat you as invaders. Belcourt prevailed upon my hospitality just the same as you.”

Lucian looked back at the Golemancer to see the faintest smile and understood what this was.

Pressure. Leverage. Just as they’d been setting up game on him, he was doing the same.

“Well, I’ve never seen him with that mask off,” Aurelia said. “It’s finally time to see your face, is it, Belcourt?”

Belcourt clasped his hands together. “That’s the spirit. Shall we eat and make merry before we get to the threats of violence?”