45th, Winter, 512 AV
The work before her was flawless. It was impossible to deny the level of skill and effort put into the paper; it was actually rather breathtaking just to be looking upon it. Annalisa’s awe must have been visible upon her face, for her friend, Velia smiled widely and proudly as the young wizard took in word after word of her thesis. Every single word of the paper offered new insight that Anna had never thought of into the nature of Djed and Glyphing’s effects on it.
The young wizard slumped back in her chair, staring blankly at the pages before her. Velia placed a hand on her shoulder, glancing down at Anna with those wide blue eyes of hers. It was really rather miraculous that she had been touched by magic and yet managed to retain that same innocence since the day Anna had met her. Annalisa herself was not so fortunate.
“Well, Anna, what do you think? Two years of work on the side of my studies, hours of blood, sweat and tears. I think I should be guaranteed the position of Professor of Glyphing and Magical Studies.” The young blonde haired woman said.
That much was true; with a thesis like this the University of Zeltiva would be foolish not to grant her the position. It was incredible. It was unbelievable. It was enough to bring bile to her throat.
Anna turned her head slowly; forcing a smile to her face which she was certain would crack it. Velia was her friend; she should try and be happy for her. Though, it was somewhat difficult to be happy for someone who had just taken a professional dream of her own, and shattered any chance of it occurring.
“It is impressive. It is certainly better than anything I could ever write on the subject. I’m so happy for you, Velia.” It was a lie; Anna wanted nothing more than to burn the papers on the spot.
A hug from behind was her reward for the kind words, and a coo of delight from her friend. Normally the touch would have warmed her insides, made her feel something but sitting here in her friend’s house, Annalisa Marin felt nothing but coldness in the pit of her stomach. Anna had her eye upon the position of Professor of Glyphing and Magical Studies for a while; however her own thesis was extremely poor in comparison to this masterpiece.
Anna wanted to cry, to see her best friend crush her own dreams so effectively and with such finality was devastating. On the inside her emotions were a vortex of turmoil, a chaotic abyss of despair that was threatening to swallow her up. Still she kept up her front, attempting to be happy for her best friend, the woman who had been with her through all of her years of study in the University.
“Thank you, Anna; you don’t know how much it means to me to hear you say that.” Velia said before releasing her hold on the dark haired reimancer.
Anna followed her form, turning her head to see the excited young woman filling to cups with water. She offered one to the young wizard, who accepted it somewhat more slowly than was usual. Velia raised her cup slightly.
“A toast, then, to a hopefully successful acceptance into the University.” She said, drinking down her water in a quick draught.
Anna weakly mirrored her motions, desperately wishing the liquid within the cup was some kind of alcohol. She needed some kind of drink to get through this whole situation. Velia gave Anna a glance full of curiosity, her wide innocent eyes searching.
“So, Anna, what are your academic plans? Are you planning on maybe applying for a position as a Professor? With your knowledge of reimancy and glyphing you could probably get in easily.” The young woman inquired.
Anna wished that the last bit was true; unfortunately such a position was already taken by another. This had been her one chance to further her knowledge and still possess access to the Library without needing to be a student. She hadn’t informed Velia of her choice of position yet, at the time she hadn’t wanted to build a rift between her and her best friend. Now she was kind of wishing that a rift had existed, this might have been less painful it that was the case.
Everything that could possibly go wrong for her was going wrong. Her parents had been claimed by the plague that had stricken the city, her current job was failing to make ends meet, and now her only hope was being destroyed by the person she valued most in the world besides herself. The presentation of their thesis was due on the morrow, and she had nothing compared to this. It was clear that some god had in out for her. Still she kept her smile up for her friend, and replied to her question.
“You could say that, Velia, I certainly have an interest in continuing on at the University.” Anna said, carefully choosing her words.
Her friend grasped her hand, her eyes sparkling with delight. This amount of happiness was going to kill Anna, she was certain of it.
“Great, then you and I can still see each other in the library! It’ll be just like when we were students, only everyone will have to address us as professors.”
Her friend had always been easily excited, even in the wee hours of the night. In many ways they were polar opposites, the two friends. Anna was self-absorbed and rather studious in almost every sense of the words, a wizard through and through. Velia was always so bright and happy, finding a silver lining in every cloud. Anna’s family was rather common and poor, Velia’s were wealthy and well off. Anna was plain looking and tall, Velia was beautiful and petite.
Velia yawned slightly, blushing a little afterwards and giving Anna an apologetic look.
“Sorry, Anna, I was working for most of the day and before you came over putting the finishing touches on it. To be frank, I’m a little exhausted.” She said, with a tiny smile.
Anna waved off her apologies, her plastic smile still firmly on her face.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad you called me over tonight; it was a privilege to be able to give you some feedback. You get some rest, I want to look over this a little more then I’ll show myself out.” Anna said.
“Thanks Anna, I’ll see you at the Grotto tomorrow.” Velia said, sparing a last friendly smile to Anna before heading out of the room and off to her bedroom.
The young wizard waited until her friend was well out of earshot before pouring back over the papers, absorbing every word and diagram with growing despair. This was truly the worst case scenario for her, for there were very few flaws or anything that couldn’t be proved to be at least partially true. If Velia submitted this to the University there was no doubt that everything else would be cast aside and she would get the job.
The thought was slowly entering her mind, academic sabotage.
She shook her head slightly to dispel the thought from her mind, the traitorous and disgusting thought. This was Velia, the woman who had befriended her from day one in the University. She was the woman who had laughed with her on early mornings in the Grotto. She was the woman that had studied with her in the library and discussed magical theory. She was the woman who had held her and comforted her at the burial of her parents, when she was wracked with sobs and tears had flowed freely down her cheeks.
Velia was the only true and tried friend she had, in fact she was more than that, the woman was the only family she had left. Betraying her trust would be like stabbing her own parents in the back. It was unthinkable, even as self-absorbed as she was.
Then why couldn’t she stop thinking about it?
Anna was conflicted at this point; if she stole the papers it would destroy her friend completely and utterly. It would crush any hope of her succeeding in her ambition, and burn their ties of friendship as sure as the sun would rise. It would cause two years of her friend’s life to be made utterly worthless.
If she didn’t, then Anna would lose the opportunity to advance herself. She would lose everything she had been working towards. Obscurity, the thing she feared the most, would become her fate.
Anna reached for the papers, hesitating as she remembered how safe Velia had made her feel after the death of her parents. She was all she had left. The only thing keeping her grounded in her humanity. Could she really toss something like that aside so easily, just for personal gain? Was she so selfish to only think of herself instead of the friend who meant so much to her?
Her answer was obvious as she took the papers, gathering them up neatly and tucking them under her arm. She knew Velia too well, she likely didn’t make copies, but still she checked the drawers of the small office room. Anna found older drafts and early stages of the thesis, which she also gathered. These would be destroyed so eliminate any possibility of Velia trying to argue that the papers were her own. Anna also intended to copy the papers in her own hand writing and destroy the original, already planning out her theft and her course of action.
Anna hesitated before walking out the door, her hand on the handle. She glanced back, her heart heavy. Then she strode out the door and made her way to her home, the night to be filled with acts of betrayal and sabotage.
46th of Winter, 512 AV
Anna sat before her hearth, her expression vacant and empty as she watched the flickering of the flames that failed to warm her. The deed had been done, but she looked worse for it, almost like she was already dead. She certainly felt that way from the inside. Dark circles were around her eyes, formed from lack of sleep and stress. She brought the cup up to her lips, her hand shaking as she went over the fresh memory that would live in her mind and haunt her dreams for years to come.
It had been a long night, the previous night. Every word copied was like a stab in her heart, a betrayal to Velia. The worst came from when she had disposed of the originals and the drafts, watching them burn to ashes in this very hearth. It was rather symbolic, like the bonds of their own friendship burning before her very eyes.
Then, after getting about an hour of sleep Anna had dragged herself to her mentor, professor Lorik, and submitted the papers to him. Any hopes she might have had about avoiding a confrontation had been dashed when Velia had arrived, and promptly accused her of academic sabotage.
“You stole them!” She had screamed, “I trusted you, and you stole my work.”
It hadn’t been too late at that point; she could have owned up and taken responsibility for her actions. Anna could have told the truth and begged for forgiveness like any decent human being would have after doing something so terrible. The chance for redemption had been right before her, but instead she had faced her friend with a blank expression and spoke words that were certain to damn her soul.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” It had sounded to earnest, so true, and it was a twist of the knife in the open wound.
Velia had preached her case before Professor Lorik, begged him to see the truth in her side. But with no drafts to her name, with nothing but her own word against his shining pupil her defense was shaky at best. Of course there had been a brief investigation, a search of Anna’s house that she had allowed graciously. After all, she had nothing to hide.
Naturally, they had found nothing to indicate that Anna had stolen the papers; she had covered her tracks well. Maybe in another life, she would have made a successful criminal, for all she knew she could have been a criminal at one point. It would certainly explain her ability to commit such a terrible act and still find a way to live with it. Velia had screamed and spat at her; she had called her a traitor and stormed away.
Now she sat here, stewing in the aftermath of her betrayal. Professor Lorik had looked over the papers and assured her that the position would be hers easily, and had placed his recommendation with it. It was actually rather sad, the most ethical person she knew, approving the papers stolen from another person.
Anna drained the cup of wine dry and threw it to the ground, hating herself for her betrayal. The most damning thing about it was the sick thrill in the back of her mind as she committed the betrayal. On a base level, she had actually enjoyed it. If there was any indication of her soullessness it was that.
“My, my, quite the temper you have.”
Anna stood from her chair immediately, her eyes wide and alert as they searched for the source of the smooth voice. Her home was small and she didn’t have to look far to find the voice’s source, a tall dark haired man was reclining against the wall near her door, staring at her with milky white eyes.
She hadn’t even heard him enter, how could a blind man get into her house with such stealth? Anna regarded him wearily, which drew a dark chuckle from the man.
“So weary and alert, good, those traits will serve you well in the future.” He said.
“Who are you and why are you in my home?” Anna demanded, barely resisting the urge to call upon her res.
The man looked at her frankly, his milky white eyes narrowing somewhat as they seemed to gaze into her very soul. Anna felt naked and frightened before this man, he was certainly not normal, there was just something about him that felt like so much more than any man she had ever met. After staring for a long while he chuckled again, his mood shifting so suddenly from serious to amused that it was rather disorienting.
“I am curious, what did it feel like? Betraying someone so close to you, someone who was practically your family?” He asked, ignoring her question.
The young wizard’s eyes widened in shock, how could he possibly know about that? She had been so careful, she was certain that no one had seen her carry out the deed. Yet this man seemed to imply that he did.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Anna insisted, drawing another chuckle from him.
“Say the lie enough times and it eventually becomes true. Though, I suppose your lie is the truth now. What a paradox.” The man said simply, his eyes narrow once more.
Anna wanted to flee at this moment, not cast a spell or yell at the man, no she wanted to run as far away and as fast as she possibly could. His stares were intense and his inhuman looking eyes were enough to send shudders down her spine, as it appeared that he was very much not blind. It felt like nothing was a secret from those eyes, that every insecurity and fear was party to their judgment.
“Who are you?” Anna asked again, desperate to attach a face to this man.
“I am the act you committed, the lie that was fresh on your lips, and the purpose behind the deed. In a way, your actions were the loudest form of worship a mortal can give me. They drew me here to seek out you, my daughter.” He responded at length.
The riddle structure of his wording confused her until she heard the word mortal and its use.
The act I committed? Betrayal.
The lie upon my lips? A Lie
The purpose behind my deed? Evil.
Anna’s eyes widened as the realization hit her full force of the identity of the man who stood before her now. It seemed impossible, yet here he was, the source of all chaos in the world. His very name was synonymous with evil and corruption.
“You- you are Rhysol.” She stated rather than asked.
The man nodded his gaze still firmly upon her.
Anna almost couldn’t register anything anymore; reality itself seemed to be slipping away from her grasp. Rhysol was standing before her, in her home. A god, a literal god, was here speaking to her. She had to ask the question, it just seemed so necessary.
“Why are you here?” She asked, her knees shaking visibly.
Another chuckle came from him, followed by an extremely threatening smile that spoke of horrors beyond her wildest nightmares. He moved off from the wall and started walking towards her, causing her to take a slight step back.
“Move away from me again, and I’ll make your end more terrible than you can imagine.” He said, still grinning at her.
Anna froze in place, swallowing hard. This was probably the most scared she had ever been in her entire life, in fact it was safe to say that it was.
“I have come here, tonight, after the moment of your greatest betrayal, because you have piqued my interest.” He answered, closing the distance between them and looking down upon her.
Anna swallowed hard.
“Interest?”
“Yes, you showed great promise in your act of worship towards me. Your intent might have been different but the outcome was the same. I reward such devotion.” He said his voice like smooth honey.
“But I have never prayed to you once. Or even spoken your name in reverence.” Anna said, resisting the urge to back away.
He lifted a hand and gently brushed some of her unkempt black bangs from her face.
“Oh, but you have worshiped me and quite loudly. I can see it in you that you enjoyed what you did on some level. It was thrilling and exciting, admit it.” He responded.
The young wizard did not want to say the words; she did not want to admit that Rhysol was right about her. Most of all she didn’t want to make true what she knew to be true in her heart. However Rhysol was a god, it was likely he already knew the truth; her speaking it was just an assertion of her sway over her.
“Yes, yes I liked it deep down. I enjoyed watching that stupid, trusting fool Velia squirm and cry. If that is what you want hear there it is.” She said quickly.
The god smiled, not unkindly, it was actually rather off putting when one knew of his domain.
"Of course it felt good. It is part of your nature, Annalisa Marin, to take joy in such things. It was a good betrayal, skillfully executed and emotionally devastating." He replied by way of compliment.
Anna was feeling no less scared but as she reexamined the god's words, she noted something that piqued her interest. It was a singular word that had escaped her notice earlier, but now was becoming the sole focus of her attention. Still, she needed to be careful in how she approached the question, respectful. Rhysol was a god after all.
"Forgive me, Lord Rhysol, if I seem impertinent, but you mentioned a reward?" She asked, her mind spinning that a deity would wish to reward her of all people.
"Ah, yes, a reward. I saw great promise in your betrayal and the skill in which you carried it out. You showed remorse at first, but that did not stop you, if anything it made the act more meaningful." Rhysol said, his white eyes still staring into her grey ones.
In some part of her, Anna swelled with pride at the dark gods words. He had seen something he liked in her, a god had taken notice of her actions which validated them in a sick way. Rhysol seemed to be pleased by it, why shouldn't she?
"I have a gift I wish to bestow upon you, a reward for your act of faith. A piece of my power that is given in hopes of cultivating the potential I see in you. Will you accept this gift, my blessing?" He offered, receiving Anna's full attention at this point.
Anna couldn't believe this, a god was offering her power. Not just any god, Rhysol, considering to be one of the most influential and powerful deity in existence. Carefully she considered this prospect.
Power was something Anna craved more than anything in this world, it was something she clawed towards in most actions she took. Rhysol was not just offering her power but a chance to let free her darker side, something which others decried as bad and amoral. Rhysol not only accepted this side of her, this new and frightening side, but he was encouraging her to foster it and let it grow stronger. The decision was clear, all she had to do was accept.
"Yes, I will accept your gift, Lord Rhysol." Anna replied, with more conviction than she had shown this whole night.
The dark god smiled victoriously and gripped the front of her tunic, ripping it like cheesecloth. A knife from her table appeared in his hand and drew blood from his right hand, not much but enough. He allowed a single drop of the crimson liquid to fall up the flesh over her heart, and the response was immediate.
Anna clutched the spot; it felt like she had been touched by a white hot brand the burning was so intense. The pain didn’t stop there though; it spread from the spot where the god’s blood had touched her and throughout her entire body. It felt as though her insides were burning, it was without a doubt the most painful thing she had ever felt, even worse than her initiation into reimancy.
The young wizard was forced to her knees, letting out a loud cry of agony as the pain continued to rise inside of her, forcing her to shut her eyes to try and block everything out. Her mind was filled with nothing but burning, shutting out every other thought and every other sense. Death would have been preferable and she would be glad for its arrival. As the searing hot pain reached its climax, death did not come for her.
The pain was slowly driven away, being replaced by a cool soothing feeling. It caused her to shudder in utter ecstasy, to moan out loud as all thoughts of dying or pain were swept away. It felt so good.
Anna opened her eyes, Rhysol was gone. The only sign that he had ever been there was the red mark, right over her heart, his brand on the young wizard.