Bound Evil

The soft bedding beneath Emily was heavenly, it felt like years since she had a comfy place to rest. Not some hay-infested cubicle or cave floor, a proper bed. Alex lay facing the door with his back to her. The man had kicked up more of a fuss than she would have thought, but eventually, he’d seen it her way.

He’d even attempted to sleep on the floor, because, as she’d discovered it was heated, but she shut that idea down quickly. The reason Alex could go walking around barefooted was because the red stone gave off a constant amount of heat. It was similar to a siphon crystal in that it radiated warmth, only on a smaller scale. Similar crystals were crushed up and mixed into tonnes of stone to make the red insulating bricks. While they had been discussing it, she’d gotten her broach back. Alex had not been happy to part with it, but that was not her problem, it was her hand warmer, and he could use it again if he needed it.

Now, the soft crackling of the fireplace had long since burned out, taking the light with it. Emily was exhausted and sleep hung heavy on her eyelids, but every time she felt herself drifting off, the trembling would take hold, causing her eyes to snap open.

Sitting up, Emily shifted to put the grey wall against her back. It was cool to the touch and in the frankly boiling room, it was amazing. Closing her eyes Emily decided that if she couldn’t sleep the next best thing would be to try her breath exercises.

Attempting to sink into that calm space took time but she got there after a while.

The first thing that came to her, hit her like a beacon in the storm.

Eva’s memories squirmed to the front in a futile attempt to escape from the corner Emily had shoved them in. She didn’t want to deal with those yet, but she couldn’t ignore them forever. They may give her the answers she was looking for but there’d be a cost. She’d need time to tease them out and digest them if she wanted to remain herself.

Emily spent some time floating through the dark, trying to ignore both the outside and inside worlds.

Her body refused to believe she was safe, but it was difficult to convince it otherwise. Emily spent hours trying to send the nerves away from the surface.

It was while she was doing this, that she felt the gentle tug from below. Floating downwards, Emily let herself be pulled under by the shadows.

It was only once she’d sunk into the void and that grass touched her back Emily felt a sense of calm she hadn’t been able to achieve out there. The tremors couldn’t reach her here.

It was at this point that her eagerness took the foreground

Emily was fairly certain she’d rank up now and she was looking forward to it. Even now as the thousands of constellations squirmed about in joy, she could feel their desire to show her something and she wouldn’t keep them waiting.

‘Show it all’ she thought

As she relaxed into the comfy grass and waited for them to begin.

The stars of light could scarcely gather together fast enough as they climbed over one another and arranged themselves into letters. There were far more words than she’d ever seen before as the skies became her page.

Rank ten achieved, opening the first bridge.

Title mantle unlocked - You may don 1 active title and 2 additional passives.

Gathering the deeds of Emily Hughes…

You have been cursed by a Source!

Your first Title slot shall offer half the wisdom and constraints of its previous bearers.

To remove, make right your wrongs in the eyes of Cyclum.

Title added to selection: Godstriken

Compiling selection…

Innocent, Void plagued, Scarlet sister, Explorer, Performer, Swordswoman, Godstriken, Cyclum touched.

Emily stared up at the overload of information, a frown coming over her features. She knew right away where that curse had come from, and to say she was pissed was an understatement. That black-and-white entity was going to get special treatment from her.

Unfortunately, their powers was currently greater than hers, so even if she kicked and screamed nothing would change.

To distract herself Emily took a look at her options and tried to figure out what they all meant. The one her eyes fell on first was Explorer, seeing as Alex seemed to hold the title.

When she focused on it, the stars began to churn and rearrange themselves, but this time it was different.

Several dozen dots of light pulled themselves from the canvas of the sky and rushed towards Emily, surrounding her as though in an embrace. They carried an indescribable feeling of wide open land, choked with adventure and the promise of discovery. The rush of climbing to the highest point just to look out over the expanse below, or plunging into the deepest watery depths in search of the darkest trenches of the abyss.

It left Emily breathless.

Then the lights fled back into the sky, taking with them the exhilarating sensation, joining the others to form the next words.

Explorer

Active: access to the Explorer’s skill tree.

Passive: increase learning speed when engaged with new environments.

Their words were simple and concise, but there was so much hidden there.

Emily understood right away the path this title would lead her on, and frankly, it was incredible. If she took this title, not only would she gain the skills needed to follow it, but she would become adept in new situations, which was a big part of her journey ahead. She wanted to slot the title then and there, but she stopped herself.

If this was how one felt, what about the others?

Glancing over them she decided to get the boring ones out of the way. Focusing on Innocent, Emily saw several stars rush toward her, and the feeling of purity burned itself into her. She had thought the title weak, as children used it. Similar, to how a lamb was unable to hurt anyone, but instead, a righteous fury tore through her. Watching her every move and judging it. Emily frowned and swiped at the stars, causing them to rush back to the skies.

Innocent

Active: If this title is slotted as an active, it will make visible all passive titles.

Passive: This title will expend itself when the bearer commits a wicked act. Acts of self-defense will not trigger the destruction of this title.

Emily took a breath and apologized to the title for calling it boring. It was a valid path just like explorer, but for her, it was nearly impossible to walk. Shaking her head, Emily looked up and pulled down Swordswoman.

The greatest number of stars yet, rushed towards her, rightening her shoulders, and setting years of poise and training into her. Discipline and practice were her greatest allies and she would carry them into battle, every hour a testament to one final dance of metal and determination.

Emily sent the stars off, the path was admirable, but not for her. Looking around she pulled one of the big titles down, Godstriken. Half as many lights came down as Swordswoman, which said a lot about these beings.

Godstriken would probably be unpleasant, so better get it over with. Emily was proved right a moment later when she felt a tearing pain bloom in her chest, opening an ugly scar of light and dark. She would suffer under this burden for the rest of her life as it pressed down with the strength of a rushing waterfall, unending. At the same time, it would always push her forward toward a goal, sharpening her strength like a blade. A constant companion.

Godstriken

Active: access to the Godstriken skill tree.

Passive: All learning speed is halved when the bearer is in a relaxed state, but doubles when in anguish.

Emily struck that one from the list immediately. A title that made you learn faster when you were in pain, no thanks. Everybody enjoyed a bit of self-flagellation now and then, but that was taking it to the next level.

Performer was exactly as it sounded, when the stars settled in, Emily felt like she could be anyone, the only limitation was her knowledge of her target, as changed her very body and mind to become them.

Performer

Active: access to the Performer skill tree.

Passive: Increased learning speed when studying others. Replication based on understanding.

It was a handy skill to be able to copy others, but its direct lack of combat skills made it a bad choice for her. When she got to Cyclum touched Emily almost didn’t bother, but decided to see what it was anyway.

The stars were many and brought with them a duality. Life and Death formed in either hands, there for her to draw on. Emily could tell she would eventually have to pick one path to follow, but surprisingly there was no overbearing feeling of being watched. She thought the title was religious, but it was more like a source she could draw power from to take or give life.

Cyclum touched

Active: access to the Cyclum touched skill tree, along with the White and Black Mage skill trees. Connection to the source: Cyclum.

Passive: Increased learning speed when devotion to Cyclum is at its zenith and magic related to Cyclum’s will.

Emily whistled when she saw what was on offer. Access to three skill trees? That sounded strong, but Emily still couldn’t help feeling wronged by the entity. She had its curse for crying out loud. Why would she ever want a connection with a source like that? Even if it was as tempting as sin.

Emily moved on to the last two, she’d had left these titles till the end because they seemed the most interesting.

Focusing on Scarlet sister, Emily only saw a few lights travel toward her, but when they got there, they burned in her blood with unity, calling out into the world and demanding to be seen. Demanding to be heard, anyone was welcome to this power as it bypassed the need for some grand source, instead relying on those willing to offer up their strength. Their power was their own, nurtured by one's hand, to use for oneself. Emily could feel a sense of belonging creeping through her chest.

Scarlet sister

Active: access to the Scarlet sister skill tree, along with the Blood Mage skill tree.

Passive: Increased learning speed when consuming blood, this is further increased if the blood is given willingly. Increased learning speed when studying blood wards.

Emily paused thoughtfully on this option, it offered a lot and synergized well with her natural abilities, it was by far the best choice so far, but there was still one more.

Void plagued raised serious warning alarms in Emily, it had the word plague in it for crying out loud, but she still called the stars.

With every title a varying amount of lights had come, Emily took that to mean their popularity, but with this title, only a single star separated from the rest and floated down.

When it touched her forehead it sunk into her body, infecting her flesh with an alien savagery that tore at her sanity. The world fizzled away like a burning reel, expanding onto a stretched plane of violet. It vibrated and pulsed without an up or down. Emily shook with a deep sense of cold and loneliness. Countless eyes turned to gaze her way, unseeable but there. They all wanted a piece, to rend her into tiny shreds, but like jackals in the wings, they waited. As something truly titanic came forward. It did not show itself, for like the others it was too much for a mortal to handle, but did send a deep longing to reunite with her.

She could feel it as it stretched out a tendril and made the offering, its very first offering in this world. All it needed was for her to accept, and it would gain purchase as her source.

Emily held her gaze on the violet world for as long as she could, but eventually, she had to shut her eyes. She did not hesitate to take power when it was offered and the unknown nature of this being wasn’t giving her pause. It could be a demon for she cared, but once more it wanted her to become subservient to it, just like Cyclum. It gave power freely, but there was a price, and Emily wasn’t desperate enough to pay it yet.

Sending the star away broke the violet world into shards and revealed the words above.

Void plagued

Active: access to the Void plagued skill tree, along with all lost skill trees. Connection to the source: ????.

Passive: Increase learning when one is lost.

Emily struggled for a moment to recall the entities she’d seen recently and none of them matched the feeling she had just gotten from that thing. One thing was for certain, she had its attention, and as sleep began to drag her under she couldn’t determine if that was a good or a bad thing.