Chapter 74: Dreamer
"What is the name for Dantes' Pathstrider combination?"
In the monochrome world, Lady Keter was enjoying a slice of cake. Opposite of her was "Miss Mashhith", also eating a slice of cake through whatever... means it has.
The void vibrates, as if responding.
"Malediction, Judgement, and Cloak is still Avenger. But with Silence added and the Law of Unconscious...", she pulled a book out from nowhere, titled 'The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath', "Night-Gaunt would sound awkward, that guy was good at horror and documenting them, but his naming senses are a bit mid."
"So let's go with... Dreamer."
"Miss Mashhith" shook their form.
"Now, now. That name is for later.", she chuckled, "Heha~ I can't wait for the promised time."
It vibrates as if chiding her.
"I know, I know~ that's just me. I can wait for as long as this world wants. Time is my ally, after all, forever was, forever will be."
=0=0=
The ship carrying the Church of Sacrifice's expedition cut through azure waters, finally approaching the volcanic shores of the New World. Bishop Eric Frayman stood at the rail, watching steam rise from distant peaks.
Beside him, radiant in white and gold vestments, stood Saintess Olivier.
She was beautiful in the way a sword was beautiful, all sharp edges and deadly purpose. Her blood red hair fell in a straight cascade down her back, and her eyes held the unsettling quality of someone who had looked directly into divinity and survived.
"The Crown of Pain awaits somewhere on these shores.", Olivier said, her voice carrying absolute conviction as she smoked the calming herbal cigarette, "Lady Pain has shown me visions. Her child will manifest here, bringing salvation through suffering."
Eric nodded carefully, maintaining his role as devoted Bishop, "The Church is blessed to have you leading this expedition, Saintess."
Her gaze turned to him, and for a moment, Eric felt the weight of divine scrutiny, "Your devotion to the Goddess is noted, Bishop. But remember, any who impede our sacred mission will be purged with no exceptions."
"Of course, Saintess."
As the ship docked, Eric couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching from the volcanic peaks. Not hostile, exactly, but... wary.
Zorro... he thought... he's here somewhere. Avoiding the Saintess's gaze.
...
Over the following days, the expedition pushed inland. The New World was beautiful and terrible in equal measure, lush jungles holding countless secrets, vast plains with gigantic animals that can be seen from afar, and a mystical density that made even mundane actions feel significant. And the tribes living harmoniously with nature.
But there was another presence.
The Tome of Light manifested three times in the first week alone. Each time, that accursed book appeared without warning.
The first manifestation drove two expedition members insane instantly, who are all at least a Fourth Step. They had to be restrained, their minds broken by knowledge they couldn't process.
The second manifestation appeared during evening prayers. Olivier herself confronted it, her divine authority as a Blessed of the Goddess of Madness allowing her to endure its presence. She spoke the Goddess's name, and the Tome vanished, but not before several more expedition members collapsed with bleeding eyes.
"The God of Light is more active here...", Olivier announced to the surviving members, "The Oath Keepers had warned me, but to this extent is out of my control."
So they have to heed the native's singular advice, run as far as you can when a second source of light appears, or night suddenly turns to day.
Eric kept his head down, his Madness Path insulating him somewhat from the Tome's influence. But each manifestation left him shaken.
Why is it so active here? What does the New World have that draws the God of Light's attention?
...
Meanwhile, in the shadows of volcanic peaks and dense jungle, Jim watched.
He'd been tracking the expedition since it landed, using his enhanced speed to stay ahead of Olivier's detection. The Saintess was terrifyingly perceptive, her Blessed status granting her abilities that went beyond normal Pathstrider senses.
Jim remembered their first encounter all too well. In his exhilaration, he'd accidentally crossed through one of the Church of Sacrifice's holy sites on the main continent.
Olivier had been there. He had faced her, just inches away from being dead. He was glad that she took time to monologue before trying to kill him, otherwise his head might've lopped off.
So he watched from a distance, ready to help Eric if needed but unwilling to draw Olivier's attention again. Jim wondered as he observed the expedition's movements... What's this "Crown of Pain" she keeps mentioning?
He pulled red and blue strings occasionally, subtly altering fate to keep Eric safe.
Small interventions and invisible guidance. Like fate and destiny.
The work of a Trailblazer, ensuring his fellow Argonauts survived without revealing himself.
=0=0=
The war had intensified dramatically.
What began as probing skirmishes had escalated into full-scale battles. Zankur forces pushed hard against Ryteline's eastern defenses, their attacks coordinated with unsettling precision.
And at the center of Ryteline's defense stood Count Auger Maxwell.
Lea read the reports in Dawn's study, her golden eyes scanning military dispatches faster than her hands could turn the pages.
Battle of Crimson Ridge: Ryteline forces outnumbered three-to-one. Count Maxwell's intervention turned certain defeat into a decisive victory.
Siege of Fort Krasten: Count Maxwell broke the enemy encirclement single-handedly. Witnesses report he moved "like lightning made flesh." Enemy commander slain in single combat.
Ambush at Grey River: Enemy Commander engaged Count Maxwell. The battle lasted seven minutes. The enemy's body was recovered in seventeen pieces.
The reports went on and on. Auger was everywhere, reinforcing weak points, breaking enemy formations, dueling enemy Pathstriders who thought they could match a demigod. Even Lacrosa was bustling about his exploits.
Lea set down the latest dispatch, processing what she'd read.
She knew Auger was strong, knew he was Fifth Step, a demigod who'd fought for Ryteline's independence in the Third Era. But reading about his actual combat achievements was different.
He wasn't just strong. He was beloved.
Soldiers spoke of him with reverence, commanders trusted him absolutely, even nobles who normally resented his eccentricities praised his dedication.
A Hero... Lea thought, understanding the weight of that title for the first time... not just powerful, but someone who uses that power to protect others. Someone worthy of the name.
She thought about their relationship, his casual mentorship, his willingness to help her despite the risks, the way he'd tried to intervene during her Fourth Step transformation, even with Lady Keter stopping him.
Auger Maxwell was many things.
But underneath all of it, he was genuinely heroic.
Lea pulled out a fresh piece of paper and began writing a letter. Her hand moved slowly, frustratingly slowly, but she persisted.
'Count Maxwell,
I've been reading the military reports. What you're doing at the border is remarkable. Thank you for trying to help during my ascension, even though Lady Keter prevented it.
I understand now why Ryteline honors you the way it does. You've earned every bit of that respect.
Stay safe. The war needs you. And... I still owe you for making me your Companion.
Lea.'
She sealed the letter and set it aside for courier delivery.
Across the room, Dawn continued tinkering with her communication device; the disassembled pieces of Lady Keter's gift spread across her workstation.
The war raged. And Lea has a job to do.
After finishing this month's talisman requirement, Lea still needs to do one job... which suits her powerset but not her personality at all.
Inerrogration. She was willing to cause prolonged suffering for her ascension, but outside of that? She fights the urges with all her might, being evil has standards.
Some spies had been caught, and the IS7 found that most of them were Pathstriders of either Cloak, Silence, Veil, or Illusion.
All Paths are dangerous once they reach a certain level, like Veil can make lies into reality as long as the falsehood isn't exposed. Illusion is ultimately just illusions; they may leave psychological scars to the point of breaking a person, but they cannot harm the body or soul. Both being Material and Astral counterparts to each other.
Silence is the Astral counterpart to Cloak's Material. Both of which Lea possesses, they both have the weakness, that is, they lose power once discovered.
There is a reason why the Neutral Series is more widely used; except for Judgement, everything else has no easy-to-exploit weakness.
Then there is the Annihilation Series, which Lea doesn't look into much. Busted powerset, pretty much no weakness, but the risk of losing control is higher.
Malediction was no different, and that is why Lea can be a very effective interrogator.
As she stepped into the inerrogration room, her body covered in Cursed Constructs to make her become taller and more intimidating. The spy was a man with his head shaved and stripped down to his underwear, tied down to a chair.
"Hah!! So these faithless scums resorted to a monster?!", he crackled while also shaking at her intimidating form.
But Lea heard differently.
'Shit! Shit! What is this thing?! Why did nobody inform me of this monster?!'
She can hear surface thoughts of those around her. Basically mind-reading on a lesser level.
"What is your real name?", her voice was cold and warped, as if coming from her entire body and not just her mouth.
'Taoke Druzma.'
"Do you think I would answer that?!", he scoffed, trying to put on a brave face.
"I already knew who you are, Taoke Druzma.", she replied.
The spy's face went pale, shaken by the mention of his name. This was just the normal procedure, already familiar to her. His mind was chaotic, making the surface thoughts chaotic, making it hard for Lea to read. But she did catch a few random fragments that might be useful.
"Does your daughter know about your work?"
In an instant, Taoke coughed up blood, signaling that her Mockery had hit.
'H-How did you know?!'
"H-How did you know?!", he screamed at her, shaking violently in the seat.
Lea ignored his outburst, "How would she react when the newspaper flies with your face and name on it? What would happen when someone delivers a newspaper saying 'Spy got caught, willingly selling out his homeland after a tiny bit of pain' to your wife and daughter? You will be branded as a traitor; everything about you will be forever tainted in a child's mind. And... what would happen to your family?"
Zankur's main religion is the Church of the Blood God, violent yet honorable. Every time the two countries signed another peace treaty, Zankur always fulfilled the end of their bargain.
For a nation that values honor and valor, what would happen to the family of someone who disgraced themselves, even if it was propaganda?
Execution.
"Y-You! How dare you?!", his eyes were full of bloodlust, even though blood was foaming at his mouth, "Why did you drag my family into it?!"
"Because I can.", she answered curtly.
"Would you like it if someone threatened you with your family?!", he screamed at her.
"I don't know, I'm an orphan, my whole town burned down with only me as the survivor."
"..."
"..."
A moment of silence passed between the two.
"I will need you to tell me one thing, and one thing only. What is Zankur planning with Ryteline?"
She had gone through several interrogations, it was the same old 'taking back their rightful land', but the surface thoughts Lea got was different... not simply the destruction of Ryteline, but an assassination on the royal family and its demigod, Auger Maxwell.
"Isn't it the same? To destroy Ryteline and reunite the Zankur Empire!!"
'For Lord Hensu! Zankur can suck it!!'
Lea widens her eyes a bit. Something different came up.
Who is Hensu?
With a bit of delay, Lea asked again, "Who is Hensu?"
Taoke widens his eyes, trembling in his seat. She could see in his eyes the bewilderment, how did she know?
'How?! How does she know Lord Hensu?! Did someone leak it?!'
Taoke's mind raced with panic, but his mouth stayed shut. He glared at the towering figure of black horns, trying to maintain whatever dignity a half-naked man tied to a chair could have.
"I don't know what you're talking about.", he said through gritted teeth.
Lea tilted her head, the horned armor shifting with the movement, "Your surface thoughts are very loud, Taoke. Loud and unhelpful. But they tell me enough. Lord Hensu. Someone important enough that you'd rather die than betray him."
'Don't say anything. Don't say anything. She's fishing.'
"I'm not fishing.", Lea said flatly.
Taoke's face went even paler.
"You really need to learn to control your thoughts better, for a spy.", Lea continued, her warped voice carrying a hint of exasperation, "It's like you're screaming every secret directly into my ear."
"Get out of my head, monster!"
"I would if you'd stop thinking so loudly.", Lea leaned forward slightly, her towering form casting a shadow over the spy, "Now. Lord Hensu. Who is he?"
Taoke clenched his jaw, trying desperately to think of nothing. Which, of course, meant he thought about everything.
'Lord Hensu from the Republic of Anesota. The deal. The assassination. The—'
"The Republic of Anesota.", Lea interrupted, she has no idea about this country, or where it is on the map, but she kept up the act, "Interesting. So this isn't just Zankur acting alone. You have backing from Anesota."
"I—I didn't—"
"You didn't have to say anything", Lea confirmed, "Your mind did all the talking."
Taoke slumped in his chair, defeated.
"Now.", Lea continued, "the assassination. Who's the target? Auger Maxwell? The royal family? Both?"
'Both. Kill the hero first, then the king, then chaos—'
"Both...", Lea said aloud, "Kill Count Maxwell, then King Alberto, then let Ryteline collapse into chaos. Classic strategy."
Taoke's eyes filled with tears of frustration. "Why did they send me against you?!"
"Because your superiors didn't know I could read minds.", Lea replied reasonably, "To be fair, neither did I until a few weeks ago. Fourth Step came with some surprises."
She straightened, her armor of black horns receding slightly, "How is the assassination supposed to work? Timeline? Method? Personnel involved?"
Taoke shook his head violently, "I won't—"
"Your mom.", Lea said suddenly.
Taoke blinked, "What?"
"Your mother is very disappointed in you."
'What?! How dare this—', more blood started to come out of his mouth.
"She raised you better than this.", she continued, her tone matter-of-fact, "Sending you off to be a spy, risking your daughter's future. She'd probably prefer you become a baker or a fisherman. Or literally anything else."
"Don't you dare talk about my mother!", Taoke snarled.
"Why not? You're thinking about her right now. Very loudly.", Lea paused as she read his thoughts, "She used to make you soup when you were sick, didn't she? That special recipe with the vegetables you hated but ate anyway because she looked so proud."
Taoke's face crumpled, becoming paler, "Stop..."
"And now here you are, tied to a chair, about to get your family executed because you couldn't keep your thoughts shut.", her voice carried no sympathy, just cold observation. "Your mother would be so proud."
"SHUT UP!"
She waited.
'The assassination is in three days. During the supply convoy. Lord Hensu's assassins will strike when Count Maxwell is inspecting the eastern fortifications—'
"Three days.", Lea said, "Supply convoy. Eastern fortifications."
Taoke's resistance crumbled completely, "Yes! Yes, fine! Lord Hensu hired Fourth or Fifth Step assassins to kill Count Maxwell during the inspection!! Are you happy now?!"
"Not particularly.", Lea admitted, "But I got what I needed."
She turned toward the door, then paused, "For what it's worth, your mother probably would've preferred the baker career path."
"I hate you...", Taoke whispered as blood leaked from his eyes.
Mockery is too powerful, and insulting someone's mother is cheap but effective.
Her armor fully receding now, revealing her normal height and the golden gleam of her eyes beneath the mask, "It's part of the job."
She left the interrogation room, leaving Taoke slumped in his chair, broken not by torture but by cheap shots about his mother and the horrifying realization that his own thoughts had betrayed him.
Outside, the IS7 agent waiting in the hall looked at her with a mixture of respect and unease.
"Did you get anything useful?", he asked.
"Assassination attempt in three days, Eastern fortifications, when the supply convoy comes.", Lea's voice returned to its normal cadence, though still slower than her racing thoughts, "Hensu from the Republic of Anesota is funding it, using Fourth or Fifth Step."
The agent's eyes widened, "How did you—"
"Judgement Path.", she lied smoothly, "Makes people very... talkative. Even when they don't want to be."
"I'll inform the commander immediately.", the agent hurried off.
Lea stood in the hallway for a moment, processing what she'd learned. An assassination attempt on Auger. Foreign backing from Anesota. Professional killers are powerful enough to threaten even a demigod.
She thought about the letter she'd sent him. 'Stay safe', she'd written.
Now she'd have to make sure he actually could.
She headed back to Dawn's study, her mind already racing through contingencies. The interrogation had been unpleasant but effective. And despite her distaste for it, Lea had to admit that being able to read surface thoughts made her job significantly easier. Even if it meant weaponizing cheap shots about people's mothers.
Standards... she reminded herself... Evil has standards.
Though apparently those standards now include guilt-tripping.
Lea sighed, adjusting her mask.
Being a Fourth Step Pathstrider on the Path of Divinity was complicated. But at least it paid 20 Pounds per talisman.