Discordant Note: Crescendo | TBATE

Chapter 232: Changing Tactics

Thank you to my beta reader and editor, GlassThreads!

Toren Daen

My thoughts were awhirl as I floated through Burim, this new development settling like a ship at the bottom of a sea. Aurora's relic—in Puppet Form, of course—floated around me in circles. Aurora was blessedly silent, allowing me to parse this change.

I made a beeline for a specific building on the edges of the Divot, one that was surprisingly small and nondescript. The simple home carved from a looming stalactite appeared paltry and pathetic compared to the rest of the grand entrances and glittering opulence of the Divot around it.

I tapped down outside, acknowledging the two heartfires I felt within. I needed to talk to one of them, but I needed a moment to gather myself first.

In the original canon of The Beginning After the End, additional Scythes were only introduced near the end of the main conflict–namely, Nico and Cadell.

Alone, they had been enough to steamroll the entire resistance Dicathen could field. I momentarily found myself fearing that was what was going to happen now.

Viessa Vritra was powerful. She was one of the deadliest of the Scythes, and the two Retainers accompanying her—one of them familiar—made me uneasy.

Is Agrona already planning to finish this war? I thought nervously, tapping my foot. So soon? Did I alter the timeline that much already?

"Peace, Toren," Aurora's soothing voice said as she settled on my shoulder. "You do not know enough to make conclusions. Perhaps the High Sovereign seeks to level this continent already. Perhaps he wishes to open another front. Likely, it is something neither of us can fathom. But there is one certainty in this world: to ponder this too deeply without the full array of information will only serve to harm you rather than help."

I exhaled, finally settling my nerves. My bond was right. I'd realized long ago that trying to keep track of every change I made and keep the future exactly as I wanted would only lead to madness. I took solace in the fact that, even if Agrona opted to end the war right now, it wouldn't be so simple to capture Tessia Eralith any longer.

And above even that, I trusted Seris. I trusted her plans and her designs for the future. Whatever came, we could face it together.

Thank you, Aurora, I thought as I stepped forward, the sound of my shoes on the cobblestones echoing out in little clicks. The warmth of my bond was a constant reassurance. That no matter what happened, I would have her by my side. I'll need to try and figure this out later.

My bond sent a wave of affirmation as I stepped toward the simple hovel. The scent of rare earth spices and minerals brushed against my nose like a smothering blanket before I adjusted. I waved it away as I knocked crisply on the door.

"Olfred," I said aloud, "we need to talk. There's something urgent going on right now, and you'll need to act."

No response. Nothing to indicate I'd been heard, or that there was even anyone home.

Except I could feel both heartfires within–each distinct.

"Olfred," I said more sharply. "I know you don't want to, but–"

"Come in, Spellsong," an unfamiliar voice echoed out, catching me by surprise. "We were waiting for you."

I felt my brow furrow at the voice. It was scratchy from disuse, as if whoever had spoken hadn't drunk a drop of water for days. And though I'd never heard the voice, I knew immediately who it was. After all, there was only one other person inside the hovel.