Redemption Arc

After the conclusion to their second meal, they all returned to the quarters that they had been assigned to. Right now, they were in no mood to rest and recuperate. All except Lucian, who remained locked up inside his own room.

“Why in the world isn’t Lucian talking to us?” Heath questioned as he stood before the Student Ambassadors and the monastics. “He’s been answering no more than what’s necessary.”

“He isn’t seriously considering what that Golemancer proposed, is he?” Arthur asked.

Miriam crossed her arms. “I don’t want to hear that kind of talk for a moment.”

“And why not?” Heath asked. “Did you also have some kind of similar arrangement with Enoch?”

“That doesn’t even make sense. Lucian’s principal requirement was that the Golemancer needs to go to war with the First Emperor,” Ruth reminded everyone.

“All of you need to think about it from Lucian’s perspective,” Aurelia spoke up. They all looked to her. “We all know that the Golemancer has a method to steal the thoughts of those that look into his eyes. I’m not entirely sure how, but it seems Lucian has the ability to resist that power. The situation changes if Lucian tells us his intentions. If Lucian tells us nothing, even if the Golemancer reads our minds, there’s some ambiguity. He’s staying silent so that he has a chance of salvaging all of this.”

They all went silent. Aurelia’s gaze went to Lucian’s door, which remained closed. She sighed deeply, looking frustrated.

***

Lucian knew that it wasn’t exactly the best optics to suddenly seclude himself after declaring that he was contemplating accepting the offer. That said, he needed to make sure that this plan didn’t fall apart. The Golemancer needed reasonable doubt. This was one of the ways to sow it.

Belcourt had his eye on Lucian. Honestly, Lucian was surprised that it had taken this long. That said, Belcourt’s survival was on the balance. If Lucian could convince the Golemancer to wage war against the First Emperor, Belcourt would be hunted the moment he left the Citadel. Maybe even before, considering how obsessive the Golemancer was being.

Everything hinged on being able to convince the Golemancer that Lucian was into the whole possession idea. While Lucian had been daring enough to risk a demon taking a peek at his mind, the same couldn’t be said for demonic possession. That sounded qualitatively different to his ears. He could only rely on his quirks so much.

How can I possibly give him enough conviction I’m serious about this to wage war against the First Emperor, but not enough I end up selling my soul?

It took a long while of thinking for Lucian to get anything. To his credit, he thought of the answer… but he wasn’t pleased by it. It involved a lot of risk—maybe riskier than letting a mad devil into his mind. But this, at least, he could test ahead of time. Lucian had his Formless Essence, after all, and he didn’t think the Golemancer yet understood its potency.

What was the answer? BDSM. That ought to get the old pervert going.

But first, I need to find out if my body can take it…

***

Lucian’s largest concern had been the notion that there simply wouldn’t be a last meal for their party after the Golemancer had stormed away in a fury. As it turned out, those fears were unfounded. Just as they had the prior two times, servant golems emerged to fetch once everything was ready. Their party was escorted to the dining hall.

“Lucian, what are you going to do?” Heath asked him.

“You’ll see,” Lucian said simply.

“If you really are planning to go through with this, I’m not sure I can accept that,” Arthur said. “A devil is a devil, no matter what. Their very nature is wicked and corrupt.”

“Duly noted,” Lucian said distantly.

He felt guilty stonewalling his allies, but he couldn’t afford to break his cover now, not when he had a good plan. The only way it went wrong is if someone else messed it up, because he’d confirmed things on his own. If these people were uncertain, it only helped him.

It seemed like Aurelia, Miriam, and Rowan were the only ones that had confidence in what Lucian was doing. He wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t spent too much time with the rest of them. Hopefully this would prove once and for all that he could be relied upon.

They entered into the dining hall. The Golemancer was there. This time, he had his goggles removed from the outset. Lucian immediately started to think about War of Four, feeling some distress. That distress was heightened by the fact that Belcourt was already here, enjoying his meal. His second meal, it should be noted.

“You’ve come for the final meal,” the Golemancer said. “I’ve saved the very best for last.”

Lucian looked upon the prepared food. These were proper meals, and they came with desserts to accompany them. The finest pies and the most decadent cuts of meat had been laid out, steaming hot. They were picturesque enough that it was almost enough to forget they were in the Hells.

“I think you’ll find the same is true for our conversation,” Lucian began confidently.

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“Belcourt arrived before you. We were discussing his meddling with my golems,” the Golemancer said.

“I assure you, I did no such thing,” Belcourt said.

“I’ll take this no further because nothing came of it, but I want you to know that I know,” the Golemancer said.

Lucian said nothing as he went to his seat right beside the Golemancer.

The Golemancer dedicated his attention to Lucian once again. “You must forgive my abrupt flight. I was greatly disturbed by your ability to circumvent a power that has never once failed me before, not even in the presence of those far more powerful than myself.”

Lucian shook his head understandingly. “I imagine it must be unnerving. But I believe it’s proof that my value is higher than what you’re offering.”

“And I maintain that nothing is worth the ire of the First Emperor,” Belcourt insisted. “Because it would mean nothing less than the total destruction of this citadel.”

The Golemancer’s gaze wavered between them, but mostly lingered on Lucian. “Even if what you say is true, you must understand my unrest. For centuries, my life has been one of certainty, of absolute truth. None could come before me and lie. I gained this power because certainty was my longing. I hate these social games. Liars ran roughshod over me my whole life. And you wish me to act… with uncertainty.” The Golemancer shook his head. “No. I require more.”

“Consider your position carefully,” Belcourt said. “You know who I called to come to this place, Golemancer. You know what should happen if these negotiations go awry.”

The Golemancer blatantly ignored him. “I need a guarantee from you, Lucian. An offering. Many would do. For instance, the presence of your sister, who you love dearly. The company of the woman who longs for you.” The Golemancer leaned in closer. “I need something that you hold precious to contemplate taking so considerable an action as war. Make me certain, Lucian.”

Lucian said nothing. He enjoyed a slice of pie, savoring the sublime favor. Everyone hung on his next words, and he acted like he hadn’t decided them before he walked in.

“…I think that it’s been sufficiently established that I hold my body quite precious.” Lucian looked him right in the eyes. “How about I offer that?”

“You mean to give into possession before war is declared?” the Golemancer asked eagerly.

“Not quite,” Lucian said. “But something very similar. A practice that you’re very familiar with, given the time you come from and the craft you practice.”

The Golemancer leaned into the table. “Could you mean…?”

“Bondmail,” Lucian said. “I’ll allow you to put me in partial bondmail.”

The table went silent. The Golemancer slowly grinned greedily.

Then, Heath stood up. “Lucian, you can’t be serious! Are you talking about the armor that—that damn Warden was wearing, that—”

“Golem magic imbued into armor,” the Golemancer said. “A tool to force bondage upon slaves. Haa… it’s been so many centuries since I last made a set of bondmail. Clever. Clever boy.”

“You’re selling yourself into slavery, Lucian?” Arthur asked—still worried, but not quite so boisterous as Heath. “You have to be joking.”

Lucian looked over. “Listen, everyone. Right now, with Belcourt here, with us at the cusp of gaining a spearhead into Hell… the Golemancer’s aid is more important to us than I could be to you.” He looked at Belcourt. “If I do this, this bastard’s death is almost certain. And we’d have exactly what we need to begin a counterattack. This is the solution to all our problems.”

“Lucian… what?” Azalea asked, horrified. “Sacrifice isn’t… it isn’t the answer. It’s never the answer!”

“All of you are so contemptuously melodramatic,” the Golemancer snapped, then looked at Lucian. “He won’t be gone. Just… changed. Changed for the better. We could definitely do great things together, you and I. But I will not take this offer lightly, Lucian.” He reached out his hands, and though Lucian wanted to shy away, he allowed his hand to be taken. “I will seal your Inquisitor’s Mark—oh yes, I know how. I’ll give it back to you after. And furthermore, I will not clad you in iron, steel, or any lesser metal. To ensure that you keep your word, the bondmail that I create will be nothing but the very best.”

Lucian held his gaze. “What’d you have in mind?”

“Adamantium,” the Golemancer said, stone-faced. “I’ve been saving it for nothing less than my perfect project, but I suppose this occasion…” he laughed. “Yes, I suppose this is my perfect project. Because even if you think to trick me, even if every word that comes from your mouth is lies… once the bondmail is on, you will be mine. And one way or another, you will give in. If you will not bend, you will break, Lucian Villamar,” he said, his true evil coming out.

Lucian nodded. “I’ll let it happen.”

The Golemancer spasmed with happiness, shaking in his chair. It was like the thrashings of a child in joy. Lucian’s party members looked to Rowan.

“Rowan… Rowan, talk Lucian out of this!” Arthur demanded. “Aurelia! You love him, don’t you? He’s going to be changed! He’s going to be a slave at best, and possessed by an abomination at worst!”

“Are you insulting your host? Do you need to be reminded of the rules of your stay as guests?!” the Golemancer shouted, and they all quieted. “A deal fairly made is a fair deal. Now cease your babbling, fools. I will tolerate your presence in this residence only because of the deal that Lucian made, but do not push your luck.”

Everyone looked uneasy. Lucian, though, focused on Belcourt. What he saw wasn’t the ever-casual menace. He saw a worried man.

“You’re bluffing,” Belcourt said. “You’re going to take this to the very edge, and then back down. You’re trying to provoke me into attacking first. A smart trick, but I’ve been doing this longer than you, Lucian.”

Lucian looked to the Golemancer. “Do you think we could have the bondmail attached during Belcourt’s last meal?” He looked back at the First Inquisitor. “So he can see my ‘bluff.’”

“Hahaha…” the Golemancer looked over. “I think that can be arranged.”

This wasn’t Lucian’s death row meal, but he’d arranged for it to be Belcourt’s. He looked around. Even Rowan and Miriam looked unsettled by Lucian’s declaration. Somehow, Aurelia seemed like his only ride or die.

But all of them should relax. He would take the Golemancer for a ride, not die. After all, the one that’d been meddling with the golems wasn’t Belcourt. It was Lucian.

“Your friends can remain in the guest house,” the Golemancer declared. “Their stay as guests has been extended indefinitely. In the meantime, Lucian… let’s prepare things for you. Oooh, I’m so excited!” His golem-chair stormed away like a happy dog, and Lucian was assigned a serving golem to lead him deeper into the Citadel.

Specifically, to the Golemancer’s workshop.