Andria Andromeda Rivera and The Chalice of Belief

Unkown Parallels

"Sometimes the end justifies the means. Sometimes you have to play by their rules for a while, or at least pretend to, even though some might say you're being hypocritical or a coward by giving in to the system instead of trying to change everything right away. Sometimes the only way to get what you want, to help other people by getting someplace that can really make a difference, is to keep your head down and your mouth shut about things you don't agree with, just for a little while. Just until you have the power to really change things instead of just complain about them."
- Harriet Potter
The Rigel Black Chronicles

Two weeks had passed, and Jace Wilson thought he was faring rather well. For one, people didn't look at him with nearly as much suspicion, now, and for the other, well, he hadn't broken down on hearing of his first mission.

There was something extremely inelegant about Quietus's ways, and Jace had no qualms in calling him a sadistic lunatic. Atleast, in his head. Jace had to co-lead a group of people with Cresto, of all people, and he suspected that this was just another test to his loyalty- if he hesitated or backed out, he felt Cresto wouldn't mind putting an end to him.

It was at times like this that he had to keep reminding himself why he had to keep going. He needed information, needed to know weaknesses in this mad play, and his friends could not progress further with their almost insignificant leads.

Nevertheless, that barely made his assigned task more acceptable. He was to brake into a household who knew little of magic, but still qualified as aware of it, and then either have them bow to his leader's thoughts, or... or kill them.

He wondered quietly, as one man melted the front door away, whether it had been this easy for someone to come in and attack his own family years ago. The barrier they were met with was very feeble reassurance; extending in the door's place the moment it melted down. When touched, it would produce a minor burn and hiss ever so slightly, which made Jace think it had something to do with other heat shields. It was weak, however, and a mere carefully direct dousing of water was all it took for it to flicker into nothingness.

They spread across the house, searching for it's occupants. The first one to come into sight was the youngest son. He had an older brother and a little sister, if Jace recalled correctly. His heart broke further, and he wondered quietly whether he'd ever be able to atone for everything that he may have to do.

"Where are your parents?" Cresto asked in a low tone. It was enough to be menacing.

The boy just shook his head mutely, shivering.

••••••••••

"You really can't remember, hm?" Roy asked for the tenth time. Carter just shook his head.

Perhaps Velrium, when replicated mentally, had side effects? Normally, Velarium, which was like a veil of magic combed with sheer will and imagination, was visible to all. Roy had manipulated his telepathic ability and photographic memory to create Velarium just visible to Carter.

Since normally you had to hold up the replica of something, whether living or non-living, in such a manner that everyone in vicinity saw it, playing on their minds, while still holding the magic together it made Velarium extremely hard to create. This only made his new discovery all the more special. If you could limit to whom your Velarium was visible, and transmit it through your telepathic abilities, well, not only would you get a lot less tired, but the possibilities of Velarium, which was much easier to hold, were endless.

Of course, there was the little snag that had had him and Carter injured, but Roy suspected that if you weren't confident, then your own Velarium could turn on you regardless of how it was produced.