Cervato - Rise of the Phoenix (Part 2 of Cervato's Saga)

The Mist Warden

Every morning, Cervato had adopted the habit of feeling for the soft stone band that circled her right hand's ring finger.  The ring of Mists origin that possessed the ability to protect the wearer from having their full psyche taken over, which worked surprisingly well against the demon, Baset.  However, it did nothing to cease Baset's whispers in her mind nor the illusions she could create to torment Cervato if she so wished.  To her surprise, she had not experienced too much hardship beyond minor annoyances involving whispers of her past that Baset had full access too with occupying her body and mind.

Though today, she had business in the Ossan Tavern within Divinity's Reach.  Alongside Mandel, who had adopted a more overprotective nature considering the news Dave had delivered a week prior, they arrived on the patio overlooking the main street of the Ossan district which was full of vendors, citizens, and visitors.  Mandel and Cervato took a seat at one of the tables, awaiting for their companions.  Penelope, the towering warrior, arrived soon after and joined them at the table.  Last to arrive was Marcus.  Reborn by Baset's magics to give him a new vessel as he too was a servant to the demon.

The four of them were to continue to try and find a manner in which to extract Baset's hold over  Cervato and Marcus.  Though she knew Mandel was rather distrustful of the man who slightly resembled Atlas, she was thankful that he had agreed to meet with them.  Penelope on the other hand of course could be trusted but beyond Arvanna knowing of Marcus, she did not want to risk anyone else in this endeavor.  They deliberated for nearly an hour on a course of action.  Opposition across all fronts on any task they felt would be for the best. 

The distraction was enough, as weighted footsteps sounded across the wooden flooring that were heading in their direction.  Penelope was the first to notice the figure and immediately launched herself over the chair to block the man's sabre that was aimed for the back of Cervato's head.  The clash of steel startled the others as they all turned to find an Elonian man with long dreaded hair bearing a sword.  The man's teeth grit hard as he tried to push Penelope back.  However, this was no stranger to Cervato. 

"Rafiq!"  Alarmed, Cervato stood from her seat and stepped back as she watched Penelope shove Rafiq further away from the group with her own sword.  Rafiq had been the mysterious revenant that had attempted to rescue her from Artemis when she had been stolen into the Mists from near Thunderhead Keep.  Eventually, he had given her insight on how she could return home, a helpful soul indeed and newfound ally.  Though Rafiq's expression was overwhelmingly dripping with loathing aimed upon her. 

There was no time to ask his why as he released a boisterous yell and his body disappeared in a small rift that snapped shut behind him.  "Cervato, get down!" Mandel yelled as she felt him shove her to the ground.  It was just in time as Rafiq's sword appeared from another rift,  having failed to skewer her.  Marcus was the only member still seated, appearing rather calm in such a setting as a commotion within the tavern sounded, signaling others to begin heading upstairs to their location. 

"Run.  I'll try to slow him down."  Marcus murmured to them, as his hands gripped the armrest of his chair tightly.  A dark aura began to surround his form that distracted everyone on the veranda, even capturing Rafiq's attention briefly.  This was their chance!

Cervato pulled herself off the floor and bolted towards the railing, using one hand to vault over it from the second story and landing hard in a roll along the cobblestone street.  Pedestrians and sellers alike gaped but were more astonished as Mandel appeared via a portal and helped Cervato her feet while Penelope also arrived after not so much as grunting from the sudden drop.  They bolted down the street as Seraph protested but couldn't dare to keep up.  A series of screams wailed before an explosion of splintered wood filled the air.  People were running in all sorts of directions as they had no idea what was happening and Cervato, Mandel, and Penelope were intent on escaping the Ossan District.

Though as soon as they began to run down an alley, Rafiq suddenly appeared through a rift before them bringing their sword up and slashing it across Cervato's torso.  Pain.  The wound was shallow, as her shirt was torn open and blood splattered across the cobblestone, but the stabbing sensation filled her body as she fell back.  Mandel immediately caught her and moved her behind him as he glared upon the revenant.  Penelope wasted no time to intervene and began to deliver blow after blow towards the armored Elonian.

Mandel held a hand to her chest to compress the wound while looking into her eyes but Cervato felt her skin set aflame as it began to sew itself shut.  Baset's power still was present to prevent her from being mortally wounded, which she hated being grateful for.  As Rafiq struggled against Penelope's powerful swinging blows, joined shortly by Mandel using his own rapier, he soon realized he was outmatched.

The frustrated revenant called out to them.  "Don't you realize what is inside of her!?  That is a demon!  It is no longer the person you care for!"  Trying to make them see reason.  "It's my fault she escaped the Mists.  I did not realize she was trying to bring a demon to this plane.  I must correct my mistake!"

Penelope roared as she full on raged forward to tackle Rafiq and knock his sword aside, delivering a hard fist to his jaw!  "We know!"  Rafiq blinked, unsure if he had heard right from the woman atop of him, but was slugged again before he could protest.

Mandel interjected as well, "We're trying to figure out a way to get the demon out of her!  And if you try to hurt her, then we'll stop you!"  He appeared relieved to see Cervato's body was healing under the demon's influence and tried to help her to her feet.

Eventually, Penelope had conquered Rafiq, pinning him to the ground in an impressive feat considering both individuals were in peak physical condition.  The armored woman grinned down at her opponent, having disarmed him.  Rafiq groaned as he struggled to breathe beneath her weight but stared up at her, then his golden eyes ticked over to Mandel and Cervato.

Cervato gave pause as a sentence filled her thoughts.

Kill him.

Baset was speaking to her.  That urge and desire to end Rafiq's life came on so suddenly and without disgust that it made her feel deathly afraid of the demon's influence. 

Control.  Cervato's control was lapsing.  Lifting her hand up, she realized she was not in control as she attempted to remove the ring from her hand.  How?  How had Baset found a way?  Yet she still needed the ring removed.

Suddenly, Cervato's arms were locked to her sides as Penelope and Mandel both stopped her.  The foreign sensation left her quickly, and Cervato realized that the ring was only a temporary measure as the woman who had assessed the artifact had mentioned.  Rafiq stared on in quite a curious state as bruises already formed purple against his dark skin. 

After much deliberation, the man agreed to help. 

"It's my own fault this happened.  I should have kept a better watch on you.  Your friend even."  Referring to Marcus who apparently had disappeared in an explosive burst of black tendrils and smoke.  Cervato felt that since he was still under Baset's full control, that he would eventually return once more.  "I will not make the same mistake twice.  I'll do my best to help you rid yourself of the demon.  If it cannot be done...then you're coming with me."

To Mandel's detriment, Cervato agreed.  Though she felt it necessary to promise.  Though it was her worst fear, if there was no actual method to extract Baset from her...she'd rather die...than forever be a tool used against the innocent.