Wrath Reincarnated

ENVY

"And you're sure this is OK?" Kat asked Jules, who stood at the doorway to the interrogation room. "I don't like being separated." From you. Jules glanced back at The Nomad.

"I don't think we have much of a chance. Plus, I have a lot of questions for Kaizen. And you, too, Rukia."

"When will I see you again?" she asked. Jules hugged her and whispered in her ear.

"Soon." The Nomad handed Jules his two broken pieces of the Sound of Fury, and Jules walked out the door. Though Rukia followed him, with the recent news of his Shrine, Kat knew that Jules was alone.

"So, shall we go somewhere else?" The Nomad asked Kat and Cyrus. She glared at her torturer, still strung up on the contraption that had held Cyrus in place.

"Nah. Here's fine with me. But just so we're clear, explain all of that again."

"Your friend here, the boy-who-would-be-Alter, has been cursed after using his Space Rune. And you, my dear, are still cursed as well. The physical aspects have been relieved, perhaps by the Tree, though maybe not, but you will not fully lift your curse until you've gone completed your nightmares."

"And you're saying that my Vessel will fix all of that?"

"I am telling you that it caused it in the first place."

"Well you better tell us how to fix these curses, or we're out the door, and you'll never see us again." The Nomad burst out laughing to that comment.

"You're certainly right, there."

"I know it was my first time using it, but did I screw up the Space Rune somehow?" Cyrus rubbed his fingers other the etchings of the Raventree's Rune he held. "It seems like it took us where we needed to go."

"There shouldn't be a giant eye in the sky when you use it. Watch."

« Space » [The Nomad]

The interrogator disappeared from the room. Cyrus' jaw dropped.

"He really didn't need to hear anything that follows," The Nomad said. "Hope you don't mind—But that's how it's supposed to look."

"So since it was you in my dreams and not Jafar, then when did that take place? The 15th War? The 16th?"

The Nomad sat down and made himself comfortable. Kat looked around for a spot of her own, but nothing didn't creep her out, so she leaned her butt against her own torture table.

"So you all met my star pupil, the Desert Mouse, at the Tree of Wishes, then? Ah, how he has fallen… I'm afraid that too much of this," The Nomad motioned to the torture room, "will drive one insane." He fell silent for a time, as if he waited for something.

"Cy?" Kat asked. "We're supposed to figure something out, so why don't you take the lead here. My head's still a bit fuzzy." Why is he silent, too? Oh come on, I'm supposed to figure this out on my own?

Fine. I asked which war it was, then he mentioned Jafar. Then he mentioned torture. How are all of those related? Judging by Jafar's age, and how much younger the Elders looked, it had to be the 15th. But why did The Painter look the same age? Wait… The Painter. Why does that seem important now? He was in the dream, and he told us about the Wars in the first—

"Oh my Salvos. Cy—Brown Cloak. No way. It can't be."

"It seems your time with The Painter bore fruit after all." The Nomad crossed his arms. "I'm certainly not one to give away someone's identity. Salvos knows mine's a well-kept secret from most."

"It wasn't the 16th War, was it, Kat?" Cyrus asked. You already know the answer. You just had to let me figure it out. I suppose I should thank you.

"Greed. Cy, we need to tell Jules. Now." The Nomad wagged a finger at her.

"He and his ghostly host will find out in due time. Tonight, probably. But for now—"

"Who are the other men in my dream? Your little posse that follows you blindly, wherever you go?"

"Blindly? Ha! I believe you've met them all, Child. You just refuse to see what's right in front of you. One more dream should yield some answers for you. But first, tell me what you know of your Vessels? What did your teacher teach you, exactly?"

"I don't know, I'm still working out the kinks," Katarina said under her breath. I hate not really knowing what it does, or how it works exactly. Jules' and Cy's are so straightforward.

"My Vessel's name is Tensa. It takes away sacrifices—Wait, can I use it on Kat? Here—Lemme stab you in the eye!" SMACK!!

The Nomad erupted into laughter. "Oh, you haven't changed a bit—But no, Cyrus, do not do that, please. I don't even know what would happen there. Envy, you need to learn the name of your Vessel."

"People keep telling me that, but I've no idea where to even start. It didn't have a placard in the Shrine." The Nomad tilted his head at her. Guess that's something you couldn't see, however long you've been watching us.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"You took serious Holy damage from the Third Eyes in Marina Veridia, and an even worse injury when Wrath pierced your Seal in the Shadow Realm."

"Great, thanks for the recap. So what do I do?" Oh, you better not be grinning under that stupid veil of yours.

"I just told you. Now keep pulling on that thread, Child."

"Great. More riddles. Love it."

[New Quest Available: Third Eye Blind]

[New Reward Available for Third Eye Blind: Learn your Vessel's name.]

[Third Eye Blind — Quest Objective ADDED: Complete your nightmares.]

CYRUS

"Now, how did you come about this Rune?" The Nomad asked Cy.

"Shouldn't you already know?" Cy tossed the Rune onto the torture table that Envy leaned against. Damn thing saved our lives, but nearly killed me in the process. But if I want to be an Alter like this guy, I need to master it. "The Raventrees gave it to me. Not permanently, but your star pupil cut that moment short when he tried to capture us in Shinsora." I'm starting to think you're my least favorite Alter.

Or second-least, if The Iron Maiden really is one.

"So Odessa lent it to you. She'll probably want that back."

"Funny, I don't remember mentioning her name. You've either got some relation with her or you know more than you let on."

"How were you able to use it so quickly?" Ah, changing the subject. Oldest tactic in the book.

Cy threw his hands up in the air. "I don't know. I've just had it on me for a few days and envisioned using it every day. I want to be an—well, you already know. Seems my little nickname is already making its rounds."

"No one should succeed in using a Rune of that magnitude so early. There is something more that you're not sharing." What? No there's not. What's he getting at? Cy feigned reaching for The Nomad's mask.

"If you share everything with us, then I will, too."

The Nomad Teleported to another side of the room. Guess you really don't want us seeing what's under there, do you? Again, he wagged a finger at them.

"Surely you five weren't the only ones to get through. Where'd the others go?" Ah, of course. You want to know where your star pupil went.

"Aren't you supposed to be helping us fix these curses? Seems like we're wasting time here."

"Question for a head, Cyrus." A shiver went down Cy's spine. This reminds me of Musashi. I thought it was only The Painter that… But maybe… Hm. Another question would be nice.

"I originally sent us to Eldertree Enclave to meet up with your old friend, The Painter. I'm pretty sure he saw us, then flicked us away on another path. The only other person I saw was Greed, and The Painter sent him due north."

"Jafar," Envy said. "His name's Jafar."

"Oh, right. Sorry Kat…" Embarrassed, Cy looked around the room.

"True. He left that name behind many years ago, if you can believe it." The Nomad inspected his ring. "Cyrus, years of training are required to master Runes of the illegal class level. You may have never stopped to think about it, but that's the real reason they are illegal. Too much damage can be done to others or one's own self."

Cy shot up. Oh no. "I didn't curse my friends, did I?"

"Luckily, you did not. Or more accurately, I see no evidence."

Phew. Cy looked at Whiskers. "I don't know, you look pretty rough. Uglier, somehow."

"MRROWR!" Whiskers swiped at Cy's face, but he just grabbed the cat by the nape and suspended him in midair. Whiskers writhed around until he'd scratched Cy enough times that he let go.

"So Tensa can't save me or Kat?" Cyrus asked.

"Don't care, not doing it." Envy shook her head. "You stabbed me in the eye once during training, and we're never going back there. Nope. Never." Cy gave a guilty look to Whiskers; he thought back to their conversation in Coralhaven about killing Envy.

"Can I see your Vessel?" Cy handed Tensa to the Nomad, and he disappeared.

"Oh fuck! Oh fuck!" Cy scrambled around the room, and even Envy jumped to her feet, but The Nomad returned, cackling through the veiled mask.

"Oh you should have seen the look on your faces! A valuable lesson to you, foolish child: never give anyone your Vessel, ever again." Fucking Alters and your fucking Vessels…

"What are you even doing?" Cy asked. The Nomad inspected Tensa's hilt and edges, until he'd studied every inch of it, then he handed it back to Cyrus.

"Discerning where this came from. Lighthouse Point—a beacon for hope. I'd say you should give more credit to your weapon, Cyrus. Do not take it for granted."

Cy furrowed his brows and sheathed it on his back. Yeah, yeah. I just wish I had a Vessel that could deal some damage. Nice touch that I have a little form of Regeneration of my own, though. As long as I have it with me—Maybe he's trying to instill that lesson into me now. Don't see how that helps with my curse, but whatever.

"So," Cy continued. "Jafar went north. That's all I can say—but is that enough for me to ask you a question, now?"

"Jafar is in Sylvan Hollow as we speak."

"What!?" Cy and Envy shouted together.

"Your information was valuable. The Maiden's aura was blocking him from me, but now I can sense him. Alongside your friend, Lust."

"Sera," Envy corrected him.

"Tomato, tomato; Potato, potato," The Nomad said.

"Tornado, tornado."

"Ah—the cat gets it!" The Nomad exclaimed. "But yes, ask away, young Cyrus."

We are surrounded by—no, that's Kat's line.

"I've met quite a few Alters lately. Some indirectly, like The Iron Maiden and The Cat of Ninetails, but now I've met you. I suspect Kazuma should arrive any moment now." Huh, nothing. Thought that'd shake him up.

"I am well aware." And just like them, you're not all who you seem, either.

"Who are the Magi?" The Nomad just sat there, unmoving. Unlike the others, he betrayed no emotion when faced with the question, and also unlike the others, he didn't offer a response. Furthermore, Cy couldn't read his face, hidden behind that damned veil. "And why does every Alter seem to know about them?"

They sat and stood there in silence for a time. Envy tapped her foot impatiently. The sound of Whiskers licking his own fur almost blew a gasket in Cy's mind. How can they not care about these questions!? Don't they want to do more than just survive the next day? We have an entire Apocalypse to stop! Cy continued, since apparently no one wanted to speak.

"Are the Magi related to the Seals? To that Unlock Rune Jules has, that you—claim—you no longer want? And why are there only three of them, when there are seven Sins and Virtues? And why are you the only one acting differently about me asking!?"

Cy lost his cool. He was pissed. Pissed at being ignored. Pissed at being run around in circles. Pissed of chasing his own tail. Pissed that he was the only one who seemed to give a good Salvos damn about the end of the world. Pissed that he was the only one could see beyond whatever current mission they had in front of them.

The Nomad rose. He picked up the Space Rune Cy had tossed down earlier and handed it to him. The Alter placed one hand on Cy's shoulder and leaned in.

"I said one question, one head, boy. That was quite a few more. I know you've been asking around about them, and I know you've already received some answers. If you really want to know, then you need to stop dicking around and go to The Library."

[Bookworm — Quest Objective ADDED: Retrieve a volume for The Painter.]

[Bookworm — Quest Objective ADDED: Per The Nomad, visit The Library to learn more about the Magi.]