Crimson Ascension

Evokers were the second most feared type of Empyreans, second only to Chroners and their time manipulation Arts. Their weapons cut cleanly through flesh, leaving it unscathed, while striking directly at the soul. Finn had seen it before in his District, many times.

"Long time no see, Overseer Evenor," he snarled the words out of his lips. "You moved up in the world since then." It had been five years since the man had ended his responsibilities as Overseer.

"Have we met, traitor?" Evenor said, distancing himself from the Perfected.

He looked at the man—the creature—with eyes filled with concern, as if it could snap and attack him at any second. Perhaps Finn was wrong, Evokers were not the second terror produced by Sovran magic, for even one of them was terrified of a Perfected.

"Syl Litmanen," Finn spoke the words through gritted teeth. His sword gleamed in his tight grip, no sign of a green Specter-killing edge. "I'm her son."

"Who?"

Anger almost made Finn leap at the man, consequences be damned, but Helvan had trained him better. Killing an Evoker was a tricky matter; he would need to handle things carefully. "Syl Litmanen, the miner you abused. The miner you killed once you discovered she bore your child."

"Ridiculous! I would never mingle with a ratling," Evenor snarled, sweat dripping down his forehead. He threw a nervous look at the distant Perfected, to see if he had heard. "Elevalein, you are content with just standing around while this mongrel spill lies about your captain? I see the reports are true. You really have betrayed the Silver Flame Inquisition."

Finn shook his head as Elevalein moved to help him. "Go help Draven—" Draven and Helvan disappeared the same moment the Perfected vanished. The ground shattered in the distance. A building burst into rubble. Three figures moved in a blur of destruction. "He will need your help."

"No. A Perfected has no soul." The Evoker shook his head, a troubled frown on his face. "And neither does the Chroner. I will be nothing but a hindrance to them. Is what you say true? You're Evenor's son?"

Finn nodded.

"I might have committed a crime, Captain Evenor, but so have you. Fathering a child with a miner? I've heard the rumors about Virien Houses on the outskirts becoming daring enough to do so." Elevalein clicked his tongue, speaking to Finn in a lower tone. "He's a Greater Eminence, Finn. Alone, you'll stand no chance, but if both of us fight him… perhaps there's a chance."

"Lies! How dare you speak to me of crimes when you have slain your own? Officers of the Silver Flame, men who trusted you." Evenor drew his sword. It hummed with power, hexion staining the silver blade green. He bent his knees, lowering his stance. "You think you can evade your sentence, boy? You are a failure! An Evoker that cannot control his own Specters wishes to fight me."

Elevalein drew his sword, mimicking the same stance. Evenor's words didn't enrage him, but Finn frowned. He had not expected the man to feel regret after what he had done—a Sovran like him was beyond redemption—but not to even be acknowledged? The two Evokers spoke as if he were not there. Was his existence so unimportant that they could disregard him even in battle?

Even though hatred and anger boiled his blood, Finn smiled. He remembered the words Helvan had spoken to him the day he fulfilled his part of the oath. Remember, Finn, underestimate no Evoker you face. If you are stronger, perhaps an Eminent Dreamer, a Reverent Evoker can kill you just as easily. Hexion flowed into his veins as the two Evokers began trading blows. The only way to reliably kill one of them is to surprise them.

The words had been disappointing. Helvan, that cretin of an old man, had scammed him. Take someone by surprise? It was an empty advice. At first, that's what Finn thought, but the more he developed his powers as a Dreamer, the more he understood how those simple words could be forged into a dagger. Every Dream Concept he had captured since then had been for this very day.

You aren't strong enough to summon me, Finn. The last time you did, it cost you ten years of life. If you do so again... The Dream Echo inside his astra whispered. It felt odd to hear a voice inside his head, as if he were going crazy.

I know, but I had no choice. Evenor swiped Elevalein off his feet, turning his horizontal slash into a chop aimed for the man's head. Just like now. Finn let the Dream of Impotence wrap itself around the captain. His movements slowed to a crawl, the swing cutting through air as if it had the viscosity of thick mud. Elevalein rolled away, raising his hand to shoot a burst of green energy at the man's chest.

I might not be able to help, but I can teach, the Echo whispered. Your Dreams are badly woven. You needn't manifest just one at a time.

Finn sprinted at the captain, sword raised. "Don't have the time," he snarled. Evenor broke free from his dream, stepping forward and slashing at his neck. Finn ducked back, doing his best not to parry the sword. It was a trap. The metal would stop when meeting his blade, but the superimposed Art on it would pass right through.

Stolen story; please report.

One strike to the limb meant a crippling injury. Unless healed, he would no longer be able to use it, like it had died. If that strike touched anything vital, the result would be fatal.

Finn feinted a slash at the man's right knee, turning it into a downward cleave with a twist of his hand. The captain snarled, his eyes flashing green. A wave of mist burst from his armor as he stepped forward, batting the sword aside. Finn stumbled, dizziness and weakness overcoming him for an instant.

He gritted his teeth, and the Dream of Invincibility brushed against his skin like an icy breeze, blowing away the nausea and disorientation. Finn stepped back as three Specters emerged from Elevalein, surrounding the captain with dead eyes and cold determination.

Evenor's eyes widened as he batted one Specter aside, dancing to the side to evade a blow to his chest. His movements were graceful, each step flowing into another like a never-ending stream. With a roar, three Specters emerged from his body. The emerald thrall held off the attackers, allowing the captain to stride through the opening.

"You finally relinquished those dead brothers of yours," Evenor said, narrowing his eyes at Elevalein. "Had you done so years ago, I might have been no match for you today. Your foolishness has cost your life, boy, even if you have taken steps to amend it."

"Oh." Elevalein circled the captain, sword raised. Neither of them summoned their emerald armor, as if reaching an unspoken agreement. "You talk as if the battle is already over."

Finn paced next to Elevalein, trying to skirt Evenor's attention so he could attach his unprotected back. Hexion flowed out of him into a stream, settling into half-formed Concepts around the Evoker.

Don't stop the flow, the Echo whispered. A Concept cut off from your will is bound to shatter. Weave it into a knot, like a rope. Hold it, use your will to extend its length. Why settle for one Concept when you can tie more around the fool? How come your master hasn't taught you that?

I don't have a master, Finn snapped. The voice was distracting. He needed to focus on the man in front of him; there was no time for distractions.

You mean to say you bound me… without ever being taught? The Echo went silent, its voice stunned.

"It is over," Evenor declared. Pillars of emerald burst from the ground many paces around him, soaring to the height of a two-story building. Green mist shot from each pillar, connecting them into a dome-like structure.

"Out of respect for your House, I will not make you a Specter, Elevalein. As for you," Evenor said, throwing a scathing glare at Finn. "I will make sure you join that wretched ratling in the abyss! She hid you from me, but fate has demanded justice be served." He burst into laughter.

Finn ignored him, weaving the Concepts around the captain like a flowing river. Like a rope. He listened to the Echo, marveled at his insight, and followed the guiding hand. One after another, he layered the Arts unto himself and Evenor, only stopping when but a sliver of hexion filled his astra.

"The Silver Flame will know how a bastard creature like you can wear the skin of a Sovran. Disgraceful abomination, death alone won't erase the shame you've brought me." The dizziness returned with increased violence. Evenor sneered as Finn fell to his knees, a lost look on his face. "A pathetic thing like you dares to call himself my son? Insolent cretin."

Finn looked at him, a look of defeat on his face. He couldn't move. Even breathing was difficult.

Evenor walked past him, unconcerned. Elevalein grunted, swinging his sword like it weighed more than a mountain. The captain evaded a swing, parried another with clear disdain, and backhanded Elevalein in the face. Blood and teeth splattered on the ground as Elevalein dropped his sword. The captain pivoted his body to the side, grabbing his sword his both hands, and slashed at Elevalein's back.

The steel tore through the flesh as the mist ripped Elevalein's soul to shreds. The young Evoker fell to the ground, blood pooling around him in concerning rivulets. He tried to stand up, but the wound to his soul made his legs useless. Had it been a little higher, perhaps his organs would have failed.

Evenor raised the sword high in the air, assuming the posture of an executioner. He disregarded defense, his sole purpose to cleave through the lives of the defenseless foes at his feet. Good! Finn allowed the Concepts he had been layering to take effect, to shatter reality and manifest the power from Daesvor.

The dizziness disappeared. The weakness vanished. The look of defeat in his eyes evaporated like mist under Torch's light. Dream of Invincibility banished the effects from the Evoker's Art, diminishing in strength with each breath he took. Dream of Impotence wrapped around Evenor a second time, slowing his movement to a crawl.

Finn burst to his feet, sword ready. He rushed without a sound. Evenor turned toward him, shattering the Concept with the force of his will, not one hint of surprise on his face. "The same trick will not work—"

Finn allowed the last of his Concepts to take hold of the Evoker. Dream of Falling. Evenor stumbled back, mouth opening wide. The sword dropped from his hands as he flailed around with a panicked scream. With a roar, Finn impaled his father in the chest.

Blood flowed from the sword, staining his hand. He twisted the blade. Evenor's eyes widened, a horrified realization of his end seizing him with frigid hands. He was about to die. Finn had killed him. He had avenged his mother. He had done it! But why did it feel so… empty? Meaningless. The hatred didn't vanish from his heart, and anger still boiled his blood.

Evenor fell to the ground, hitting it with a wet thud. It was over.

"Get away, Finn!" Elevalein snarled, mustering the strength to stand up on shaking legs. He had already healed the damage to his soul.

Finn didn't understand. The fight was over. Evenor was dead. Why was Elevalein freaking out? A burning green light drew his attention to the dead Evoker's body. It rippled with waves of green hexion.

"Shit!" Finn tried to weave Dream of Invincibility again, but he no longer had the hexion for it.

A mournful wail scratched the insides of his head, making his eyes water. Not good! What the fuck is this? Elevalein tackled him to the ground. A blinding green light exploded from Evenor's body.

Everything went black.