Icarus Awakens

Mavar Helioc, Prime of the Illustrious, was for the first time in centuries completely dumbfounded. Grave coming back from the dead hadn't shaken him this much. He'd known that was a possibility, as slim and unfortunate as it was. The destruction of Threst's Spoke was a shock, but not inconceivable given the forces at play. Spokes could be like rope in some ways, resisting some forces like tension well while a cut would sever it easily. With the mortals powering it warring, strong destructive force applied to one of its physical manifestations cracked it wide open.

What deeply troubled him was the method by which this was accomplished. A weapon of old from the astral vessel itself. Impossible, but he couldn't deny his eyes. The rumors he'd disregarded had been right after all. It should have been impossible so long as the Octyrrum's system core remained active, fueling the system conflict. Then again, he was basing that off of knowledge given to the Illustrious to assist in their work back when they had the grace of the gods. Had everything been a lie?

No. Someone in their network would have discovered this by now. They had lived within the Crest for thousands of years and studied the horror and the corruption they contained. These facts were crucial to their plans of securing the world once Hourglass opened the way. So, if what he knew wasn't tainted by yet more falsehoods, how had this come to be?

The deal with Torch had precluded Mavar from interacting with Daniel Brant again, but what did that matter now that the god herself was bound? He had made no blood contract, and any blowback Karma considered fair for breaching the terms was acceptable. This was worth it.

Mavar sped across space as he covered the relatively short distance to the adjacent region. Straining himself, he used True Transmutation to repeat what he'd done with Etheric Manipulation earlier. Self-cultivated or not, the power had given guidance he wasn't proficient enough to go without. Repeating an action was fine, but if Mavar wanted to affect one of Daniel's other powers, there was a good chance he'd fail. It was likely he'd need to attain godhood to fully solve this problem and leave all crutches behind.

With the stage set, all there was to do was investigate this. How? How had this happened? Mavar had modified the Spoke this mortal possessed himself, it shouldn't have this capability. It should have been beyond the gods themselves, or else they would have done this already. With all honesty, as Mavar always acted, he had no idea how to proceed until he knew more. That in mind, he asked, What have you done?

…

The first thing Daniel did when confronted was test something. Hunter, Tak?

Here. What's wrong? Hunter answered, the speech hidden from the intruder as it was on another link. Wait, Tak?

The man thundered into his head before he could respond. Answer me!

It's another Rikoor situation, Daniel thought to Hunter quickly. As his body was frozen there wouldn't be any physical tells, but he didn't want the delay to give anything away. Play dead for now. May have to do another Slow Mirror.

Can't. Will trap me in the ship, don't know if I'll have enough time when it ends.

Fuck. Ok. Have to start talking, let me know if you think of anything. Daniel switched who he was talking to mentally, noticing that the old man had about to take a step. Why are you here? He put as much shock in his thoughts as possible, not having to try too hard to do so.

You really must ask? He sounded so disappointed somehow. Answer me. What have you done?

Release me and I'll think about answering you, Daniel replied smoothly. The situation was bad, he knew there was no way he was contesting the mage directly. Not with the Arcadian falling, making the railgun unusable. Bluffing was his best bet.

He raised an eyebrow and drew himself up further. Is that meant to be a threat?

Why don't you ask Rikoor? If you noticed what we did here, then you know what I did to him.

The slight delay in the response was everything he'd been hoping for. You shouldn't have that power. But that Focus… Hammer. One of the man's fists tightened. So he gave you some form of hidden means? Though, if that was the case, he continued, thoughtfully, Why not use it on Zozar? Perhaps it is limited, but your delay implies you had to resort to other methods out of necessity. I cannot see you justifying that risk considering the stakes. He took another step forward. Do not lie to me.

Daniel wasn't exactly lying, and to be fair he hadn't meant whatever special function using level 10 material for his Focus had granted. Torch had unidentified it before he'd gotten a chance to know what it did, sealing the power. It's not my Focus, and I'm not lying. You messed up by trapping me like you did before. I can create temporal anomalies. Make another move and you're locked in here with me.

That… More hesitation. Hourglass. For some reason, the thought of the worst person in existence didn't fill the man with as much fury as Hammer had. You did meet him, but then why are you here? Why come into conflict with Rikoor? He was beginning to remind Daniel of the Illustrious Assassin in the way he had to puzzle everything out, which honestly tracked. Did the entire faction solve crosswords in their spare time? None of this makes sense.

Welcome to my life. Anyway, if you're not going to resume time, can you at least tell me your name? I know you're with the Illustrious so is there any point in hiding it?

He thought in silence, it extending for so long that Daniel began to get a little annoyed. Was this how people felt around him when he tried to figure something out? Mavar. That is all you need to know. The aura that had remained pure gray around the wizard updated with the name. You may or may not be able to trap me here, but I will outlast your mind and soul should you wish to prolong this. I have spent centuries enduring storms your shores have never witnessed. I have not yet decided what to do with you, but continue to antagonize me and my judgment will not be kind.

So, conversation's not going great, Daniel thought to himself. His only advantage was that the bond reforging he'd undergone with Hunter had allowed the ringcat to remain aware, a change from last time Mavar didn't seem to have realized. Hunter's position ruled out anything other than the ringcat's soul itself hopping over to chat himself. It'd be a good surprise factor, but what would that accomplish? On the other hand, sure Daniel could just tell the guy what he wanted to know. At which point there was every chance he'd either kill him, or try to capture him for control of the Arcadian.

Matters as they were he couldn't give Mavar what he wanted. Coming to some form of understanding was his only play, he'd just have to drag this out long enough to get a better read on the guy. And do that without exhausting his patience. The guy sounded like he had a shorter fuse than he thought he did. Alright, Mavar. Say I tell you what you want to know. What happens then?

That will depend on what you tell me.

Yeah, Mavar probably knew what he was trying to do. He couldn't fire blindly. Daniel didn't know much about Mavar personally, but he did have other clues. Mark, the known lore about the Illustrious in general, his experience with the monsters they'd designed, what Hourglass' plan implied, and perhaps most importantly, what Hunter had told him about his time in the Astral. And if it has something to do with Grave?

The Illustrious mage blinked. Impossible. He has yet to breach the Octyrrum. But the Arcadian… The man shot a worried glance upward, the first sign of fear he'd shown. No. No, you couldn't have. But you know he has returned?

His symbol only shone from every Divine Quarter there is. Not surprised you'd know, though. You worked with him and Hammer, which makes it kind of strange that you told me to avoid him at all costs. Daniel kept his mental tone conversational, hunting for a way through the impassive figure's guard. Provoking him was a risk, but as long as he remained calm and collected there was no way there'd be an opportunity. He doubted Mavar would kill him either without finding out what he'd come for.

Hammer, Mavar mentally growled. Don't speak so casually of events you have no true understanding of.

I think I have some idea, Daniel countered. You have to know he took me from Aughal. Pretty much the first thing he did was remake my whole body in his image, didn't ask me about it or anything. When he found out what you did to the Thormundz Spoke he tried to tear my entire soul apart. So I get why you don't like him.

You can't possibly-

He abandoned you. Right? Mavar glared at him for interrupting in a way that would have probably been terrifying it Daniel wasn't already in all or nothing mode. They started a Collapse and left you behind. That's why you want to kill the gods and take over. But if all that's true, why work with Hourglass?

You forget who is asking the questions here. Mavar continued staring him down, Daniel unable to look away. As for your 'understanding'? Ridiculous. You are but a boy out of his depth, scrambling for whatever air you can reach.

And whose fault is that? Daniel asked pointedly. I know you had something to do with bringing me here. False Reincarnation. You, Hourglass, and the Spiritualists. Everyone else is trying to save this world, but all you want is power.

Mavar walked right up to Daniel and put a hand around his neck. There wasn't any pain at first given the time dilation, but he soon felt the pressure. Enough of this. You couldn't have used anything in the Arcadian due to the corruption. Encountering any of the dangers within should have been beyond your means to survive. So how have you accessed it?

For all you hate him, you're just like Hammer. I've only seen you do one good thing, and even then you acted without permission. Betting it all, Daniel invited Hunter into his body.

Now that they were inhabiting the same body, Hunter could talk to Mavar directly. Me.

Mavar blinked again, though he didn't relax his grip. Bond. No matter. Begone, unless you are here to answer in his stead.

Grave didn't blame you for what you did. Didn't want to kill the ones guarding his body, even though they killed him. Andrastia. Didn't hear the other two names. Mavar's eyes widened ever so slightly. I know what he came back to do. But you're going to let go of Daniel before we tell you anything.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

As Daniel had hoped, Mavar's attributes were high enough that he could effortlessly read falsehoods even through telepathy. Always knowing if someone else was telling the truth or not wasn't an advantage. How? he asked.

Let go. Of Daniel.

Mavar's hand didn't move. You died. Mark's report mentioned that, yes. Grave must have found you in the Astral, helped you return, perhaps? On the flip side, trying to dangle secrets in front of someone with high attributes risked them just figuring it out themselves. It raised the question of why Mavar had to ask him anything to figure out what he wanted. Whatever Grave is planning doesn't matter. We will deal with him when the time comes.

He wants to destroy the world, Daniel thought, worried Hunter would continue posturing him into getting his neck snapped. Maybe you can contest him if all he wants is control like you, but we both know it's easier to destroy than it is to create. Mavar let go, hand falling loosely to his side. He was doing the 'trapped in his own head' thing again, no doubt trying to work the facts from all of the angles.

I can't believe that, he thought eventually, and Daniel saw the weakness he'd been counting on. Every god he'd met had been broken up by Grave's death. Even the guardian the Illustrious had put over his body had tried to talk him down rather than fight. If they'd hated him like Hammer they wouldn't have offered to revive him once their plan had gone through. Mavar might have been some imperious unfeeling overlord that didn't share those sentiments, but that kind of person wouldn't have helped Hunter for nostalgia's sake. He would be damning every soul here, every spirit, Mavar continued.

Mentioned not wanting for this to happen again, Hunter thought, slightly more relaxed. Not sure what he meant. But you know.

Whatever you and Hourglass are planning pushed him to it, Daniel added. I know he needs at least another year before his part is done. Do you really think it's going to take Grave that long to reach the system core? Your scheme turned someone you respected into a living nightmare.

So what is this, then? Mavar spread out his arms. The gods have had control of this world for longer than you can conceive of, and all they have wrought is an infinite cycle of death. Clearly you don't agree with the Spiritualist's solution to this problem or else you wouldn't have stopped them here. Neither of you sound suicidal, regardless of how you continue to test me. What other choice is there but to take destiny into our own hands? Or would you rather the likes of Hammer continue to rule?

Daniel would've taken a deep breath if his lungs were currently working. We solve the system conflict.

Mavar laughed, but the sound didn't reach him. You say that as if everyone who has ever existed in this damned world hasn't tried.

I can. Cloak himself told me that what I used in the Arcadian can stop the conflict without having to deal with the Origin Beasts. This was the crux, he had to be very careful with his words. Directly revealing what was behind his ability to counter the corruption would practically give the game away. That Daniel didn't fully understand what that was helped, though it had to have something to do with the monster domain that had infiltrated his Spoke. Someone like Mavar could figure it out if he gave away too much. Let me ask you a question. You put all this work into getting me here, to the point that your Assassin couldn't kill me. That plan required me to meet up with Rikoor, who would've sent me to the center of the world. To the system core. Not hard to figure that out, it was where Hourglass had told him to go. With that undone, what good is the rest of your plan?

Mavar stroked his chin. Following your logic, all I would need to do to remedy this is bring you to the closest church of Time.

But your plan still wouldn't work! Daniel exclaimed, a little more desperately than he'd wanted. Grave is out there now, and his only goal is to destroy the world before Hourglass finishes his plan. You had to put the rest of the gods to sleep in order to have a shot at killing them, no way you're stopping him by force. And before you say that you'll just take the system core yourself, you can't do that either, can you? Hourglass wouldn't suspend himself in time without some way to make sure you couldn't double cross him.

Think it's working? Hunter asked him when Mavar fell silent yet again.

No idea. Still have to convince him to let us go. It'll all depend on-

What is it you propose, then? Mavar crossed his arms and fixed him with a stern look, as if catching Daniel in the halls during class time and asking for his permission slip.

It would've been really nice to use Moment of Clarity to piece out his bid for getting the Illustrious super mage to go away, but of course that was the exact power he'd used to trap him. Further stalling that Mavar could perceive would only weaken his position. But it was fine. He'd stood up to Tyrants before, and that part of him was still there. I am going to save this world. Do not stop me.

But I have already stopped you. Mavar gestured with one hand, palm up. I could break what remains of your friends and allies with one hand. If you truly don't align yourself with any other faction, then you should join us. How else would you defend against one like me? The Illustrious have ancients standing ready to slay the gods. In fact, they are already moving. The moment one senses the Arcadian responding to your will they will take it from you. It may be a mighty sword, but what is that strength behind a novice?

'Join or die' isn't as persuasive an argument as you think it is.

Mavar frowned. Obviously we wouldn't kill you.

What are you doing? Hunter asked, feeling through the Empathic Link what Daniel contemplating. He ignored him. To make the threat he couldn't have his will compromised.

But I can. What happens to your plan if I die? Hunter growled in his head while Mavar's face set.

We have ways of assuring you could not. Physical imprisonment is only the start.

Yeah. Something like a fucked up water monster maybe? But it won't matter. You can't stop me, because it won't be me doing it. I'm not going to live my life chained down to anyone's will. No cages or masters. Something in his soul began to shake, Mavar's senses keen enough to take notice. Spokes can self-destruct. I've seen one try, and I know mine wants to. It can't because my soul blocks it.

For the first time, Mavar indicated the other people frozen around them. That… You would not simply end. That would doom everyone here, even that ringcat if your bond allows this deep of a connection.

I meant what I said. I'm living my life on my terms, or none at all. So what if I die? Better than to live under your thumb. I got a taste of that when Hammer took me.

I am not Hammer! Something pressed down on him from all sides. There was no mana in it, no hint of power, it was like Mavar was trying to crush him with just his mind.

Then stop acting like him! Daniel gathered all of his will and pushed back against the aura. I have a better way. One that gives us a chance to break the cycle, maybe even save Grave if we can talk him down. Can you honestly tell me that what your planning can do the same?

Mavar appeared to war with himself, then changed topic rather than answer. You cannot perpetually hold yourself hostage, and there are those who do not care whether you survive or not. The only hope you have to remain free is to tie yourself to some power strong enough to… His gaze turned baleful, the mental voice fierce. You mean to stop us from killing the mortal gods.

You regret killing Grave, don't you? That's what he was ultimately betting on, Mavar's hatred not being universal. Do they all deserve it?

Of course! All of them stood by and watched as we were abandoned to the Crest. Just like they do at the end of every cycle. The only difference is that we survived.

I'm not saying that was right, or that they didn't have any other way to do it. But at least some of them haven't known anything else. I'll offer them the same thing I'm offering you. A better way. It's not like they can do what they've always done with Hourglass' betrayal, so what choice will they have? Rather then me join you, why don't you join us? If you ally with the gods, we could take down Hourglass and the Origin Beasts. Get rid of the Crest and give everyone a chance for peace. Tell me, Mavar. Will your plan make a better world, or just a new kind of cycle?

Never. I will never forgive him. Mavar raised a fist. At the very least Grave had a change of heart. If we hadn't been forced to deal with Hourglass for our survival first… there's no point considering that. But I will never forgive Hammer's indifference. He nurtured us, showed us secrets of magic and told us we were peers, talents they had never seen before! The hand tightened. Then an Origin Beast rose, and the way to safety was shut to us. He is but a creature of lies. You think I am mad with power? You haven't seen what he is truly capable of.

Ok. Mavar blinked again, for like the fourth time now. It was more exaggerated then normal and seemed the only subconscious movement he didn't control. Not like I can do anything but wait for the Divine Pavilion to come back if I want to save him. I don't like him either. You want to fight it out with Hammer, fine. But have your people stop trying to kill the others. Don't throw them all away because you hate one of them.

After another moment of thought, Mavar waved a hand and the air rippled. Daniel was afraid he'd run out of time and had just gotten himself teleported, the man calling his 'I'll blow us all up' bluff. Then he noticed he could move, though Sigron and Shuni were still frozen in place. "Do not stray," Mavar said in a warning tone as he turned to his girlfriend. "I have adjusted the rate at which time flows in the immediate area, rather than continue forcing your power open. Crossing that boundary would not be pleasant."

Hunter?

Still here. Can't tell if we're winning or not.

Well, I can use powers now at least. Not that I think I can kill him. Daniel turned his attention back to Mavar. "Why?"

"It was possible for our conversation to be observed before. Now, it is only the two… three of us." He continued pacing on the air, though Daniel had to manipulate his flight gear to keep hovering. "I admit, you've changed more than I would have thought possible. Karma's influence in part, no doubt. But you are still young, idealistic. Our plans were forged over the centuries we spent in exile. I can't deny the potential in your words, but I do doubt your ability to execute this dream. You nearly lost here, and the forces gathering around the gods' true bodies will be greater."

"So help us!" Daniel exclaimed, a little louder than he'd intended now that he was talking instead of thinking. "You said yourself there's a chance."

"No. There is nothing I can say to change the course of our wider aims. I am first among the Illustrious here, but not the leader of all."

"If that's the case, why did you make it so no one can hear us?" Daniel pressed. Mavar was watching him all the while, able to read his body language now that he could move through time.

"It's intriguing. This vision you paint. This work you do." He indicated a random spot in the distance, and Daniel could just make out the auras of his friends. Then the hand moved to point to him. "I could take you now and discover whether you have the will to destroy yourself on conviction alone. On the other hand, I remain the only powerful presence in this kingdom, at least until the Origin Beast fully awakes. I asked myself what would happen if I do let go."

"And?"

"You'd inevitably come into contact with more of my people. The Spiritualists as well. I doubt you'll succeed, and in the most likely future we get our hands on you anyway. The secrets you still fight to hide will be discovered either way. You don't have the time to attain the strength you need to contest any true champion, Spoke or no. Arcadian or no. There are those among us who feel as strongly for Hand, Star, and the rest as I do Hammer. I could see a world where we let the rest live, but they do not."

Daniel's heart was pounding. "Let me try. That's all I'm asking. You can't or won't help, that's ok. I wasn't thinking this would be easy. Just let me try."

"This has every chance to cause you far more pain than I ever would," Mavar intoned, shaking his head. "Still, I am willing to make this wager. My collective won't interfere with you, so long as you do not attempt to prevent Hammer's death." Daniel let out a breath, unable to hide his relief. "However, neither will I inform anyone else of this conversation, nor rally any aid to you. If you, or your companion are unwise enough to make this deal public then we no longer have an understanding. I cannot have my peers question my willingness to destroy Hammer. Do not think yourself beyond my reach, either, regardless of where you go."

Daniel looked the man straight in the eye, and nodded. "Thank you." It didn't feel like the ground he'd gained with Cloak just before the god's Proxy died. This was a spider who'd agreed to let him out of his web in part because he'd threatened to burn it all down. In the end he hadn't actually gained anything, other than his continued freedom. To that end, he took a risk. "I do need to ask you about something else."

"I will offer you no aid. If your desire is set so strongly on your own path, then you can walk it alone," Mavar said dismissively, and it seemed he was about to leave.

"Spirits! It's about helping the spirits." The Prime of the Illustrious turned back at that, and hesitated.