Hunt

Chapter 12: Corrupt

Lavellan
"I think it's important to consider that the Darkness might already be leaking out of the Black City. What should we do if we encounter such a problem?"

Laran pondered my question before responding. "I don't know. No one here even knows the nature of it. We only have the tales of what it might be. Only the gods knew what it truly was."

I frowned at the kitchen table. "Only the gods, huh?"

Ves watched me with curious eyes. "She will help," she said in response to my unspoken thoughts about my ancestor.

"Thought you couldn't read minds?"

"I can't. But I can see what you'll try."

Georgie looked at her in awe. "So cool."

"Yeah, she is," Royce seconded. "But what was she talking about?"

"The spirit that awakened you. I think she'd be able to help us. I'll go look for her now." I rose from the table and excused myself.

My room was a bit of a ways from the kitchen, but I didn't mind wandering through the halls. Most of the buildings from my people were like the rest of our history, in ruins. This place was rare and well cared for. The elves took great care in maintaining the murals and tapestries as well as the statues and the buildings.

This was one of many spaces on the grounds. It was a spacious, open castle with enough room to accommodate an army. Outside, there were stables, small cottages, and farmland. They also had building containing a series of natural hot springs and pools, which served as the outdoor baths. A small river ran through the outer area of the small town, providing fish and water.

I enjoyed life here but was often secluded from the average people. I remember when I'd offered to help with chores and pull my weight. The elders looked mildly offended and rejected my offer. My training was more important, and I could pay them back by not unleashing the Darkness, they said.

I finally reached my room and collapsed on my bed. I soon found myself in the Fade in front of Leaquila.

"Can you help us against the Darkness?"

She mulled over the question. "I can give you knowledge about it, but I can't act directly against it. The Darkness is the residual magic of the Cursed. The seal that contained them weakened significantly when the Veil was created, as it depended on the magical realm and the physical realm. The Darkness pooled in a place called the Void, but it also leaked out into the world in the form of corruption. It was kind of like a plague. The magisters caught it and carried into the physical world. If you kill the Cursed, it will cease to exist."

"How do I kill them?"

"Burn them from the inside out. Besides colliding souls, the only thing that might be powerful enough to do the trick is shan lin magic."

"Blood magic?" A look of horror flashed on my face.

"Yes and no. Your blood is used to give magic special properties. Maybe your fire balls are small, explosive cakes. Maybe you turn you opponent into an egg. Who knows? Shan lin magic does have dependence on the ancestor you're drawing from. Typically, people have just the one."

"Typically? I thought all of us had a god and non-divine ancestor."

"Most do. But there have been a few special cases where that non-divine ancestor became... more like us. Obviously not the same per say but they... evolved."

"How exactly does one 'evolve'?" Disbelief rang in my voice.

"You see the fate that awaits all mortals. Then, you either understand and rise or you don't."