Wrath Reincarnated

CYRUS

Cy glanced over at Envy cautiously, his spoon still midair. I want to eat—I need to eat to keep my strength up, but she's…too terrifying. She growled at him and stormed out of the room. Whiskers remained behind and sat next to Cy's feet. He even purred, and Cy shoveled the remaining food in his mouth.

"When do we start?" Cy mumbled.

"Soon." The Nomad took a seat at the table again, and Cy joined him, eager to learn from yet another Alter. "First, I want to inspect your curse more closely. If you would?" He reached out a hand. Cy looked away, then rolled up his right shirt sleeve and left it all bare for both Alter and Familiar alike to study.

It'd gotten much worse overnight. Cy didn't have nightmares like his two Sinful friends, but he'd had one hell of a hard time sleeping last night as the Space Rune curse spread from his right palm, where he'd clutched the Raventrees' emblem when he used it, and up his forearm. Another set of tendril lines spread from his over his heart toward his right shoulder. The lines looked like black veins that stained deeply and faded at the edges like ink on paper, and Cy wasn't sure why his chest had them, as well.

"Do you realize what you've done?" The Nomad grabbed Cy's right palm with both hands and gently turned it over again and again, side-to-side, and studied it like a fortune teller trying to read the lines of tea leaves. "I understand you have another Binding Vow. Let me see." My other Binding Vow?

"So this curse wasn't caused by the Rune itself?" Cy removed his shirt, and behind his veiled mask, The Nomad studied the curse further. I thought it was because I held the emblem in this hand when I used it, but maybe The Painter's Binding Vow is rebelling against my using this Rune.

"I am aware of your Binding Vow with one of my…contemporaries, The Painter. Ha! Don't look so shocked, Cyrus; it happened right under my watch. I've been hiding, not dead." Cy withdrew his hand and studied the hourglass tattoo etched into the inside of his palm. In the past two years since he'd received it, roughly 20% of the bottom white space had filled in. "I am not familiar with your other Binding Vow, though I am aware it's with The Etherealists."

"Why does every Alter know so much about me?" Cy put his shirt back on; he didn't like being the subject of study, no matter to whom it was.

"Why do you think, Cyrus of no Surname? You've been quite vocal about joining our Rank, and that's not something we idly sit by and watch—at least, not from a distance. The Painter has bound you to Time. I am not sure about the others, though I am sure that The Painter cautioned you against using the Space Rune."

Cy looked away from both of them and stared at a wall. "He did." But there was no other way out.

"He is arrogant—like you—but not foolish—unlike you." Ouch. "Because Time has an affect on Space, and vice-versa, this is especially troublesome for us."

"Not just me, then—Am I some sort of ticking time bomb like Jules and Wrath?" Cy half-joked. "And then what's the relationship with Space to my other Binding Vow?"

"To answer your first question: you have no idea. For the second, I have no idea. There are many Banned Runes that do not like to work together. It could be any one of them—"

"Which ones? Can you give me a list?"

"Another quest for The Library, I'm afraid. But we need to remove this curse now. I will use a Vessel to clear you, but I forbid you from seeing it. Both of you, close your eyes—Yes, you too, Whiskers. And let me just warn you—If either of you open them before I order you to, I will Teleport you both far to the depths of the middle of Coralithian Sea, as far away from land as possible. You can trust I've memorized the exact coordinates. Understand?"

"Yes." Cy shut his eyes and gulped. Whiskers hissed, and Cy kicked him, hoping he'd obey.

"Fine. Get on with it," Whiskers said under his breath.

«« Cleanse, Splinter »» [The Nomad]

The Nomad pressed something against Cy's hand. It felt like a small circle. The outline of his ring? No, he's already shown us that. What could this one be? Whatever it was, its pressure faded from his palm, then returned over his heart. Even through his clothes, Cy felt the Vessel go to work as the veiny emanating lines shriveled back up into their source, though they didn't disappear altogether.

Their entire time here in Riftwatch Outpost, Cy had felt the Alter's intimidating Ryoku presence. Not quite as strong as Mushashi's, and nothing like The Painter, who must have hidden his away at all times—but as The Nomad worked, that pressure, that thick fog of ever-present Ryoku dwindled down to nothing. That must have taken a lot out of the old man…

"Open your eyes." Cy and Whiskers obeyed the order. Wherever his other Vessel went, Cy didn't see even a trace, nor did he want to. I'm certain Whiskers feels the same—he wouldn't die in the ocean, but he sure hates getting wet.

Cy studied his hand, then opened up his shirt again to look at his chest. Well. It's certainly better.

"I was mildly successful," The Nomad said. "You will have to resolve this curse on your own, but I've bought you more time, and this will have to do for now."

"I suppose I should thank you," Cy said. "So, does the training start now?"

"Yes, your lesson starts now. There are many different types of Vessels. Some take on multiple forms, some have multiple levels to unlock, though those appear to only be for the Sins, perhaps the Arcanics, though I know not of any Virtues capable of it. Yours—Tensa—is a base level Vessel only. You will be able to unlock new abilities from it as you master its Domain, but that is all. It's another curse that we all bear."

"We?" Cy couldn't see it behind the man's veil, but he heard The Nomad smile in through response.

"The-boy-who-would-be-Alter." So…Alters can only have base-level Vessels? Is that what he means? "You must enter Tensa's Domain. Figure out what he wants, then come back to us."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Cy glanced at Whiskers, who shrugged. "Yeah, old man, we're really short on time, and I have no idea how to do that."

"You've seen Wrath summon his counterpart, no? Do the same."

I wish you'd just show me…

No.

I should be grateful that's he telling me. That's good enough; that's plenty. Cy unsheathed Tensa from his back and laid it on the table between them. He placed one hand on the grip and another on top of the blade. Don't give someone else my Vessel, Cy repeated to himself.

"And hurry up, Cyrus," The Nomad added. "The war arrives in one day."

«« Summon Tensa »» [Cy]

Nothing happened. They just sat there. Cy fidgeted in his seat, and Whiskers didn't budge. The Nomad kept his iron-clad posture rock solid as always. Damn Vessel, never does what I want it to do. He looked at Whiskers, who just stared at Tensa, completely focused. And that was one hell of an ominous message before diving into this. Geezer.

"Alright, what now?" Cy asked. No one answered him. His nose itched, and he went to scratch it, but his hands were glued to his sword. "Oh, it worked." Cy glanced around the room, sure to find someone else in it, as time had stopped somehow. "Where are you?"

«« You suddenly care about my whereabouts? »»

Cy winced, then froze. That voice.

"Thought I'd seen the last of you in Lighthouse Point."

«« Ahhh, you thought I was merely a vassal to deliver your Vessel? A giver of gifts? No, foolish child. I am not some mere Magus. »»

"Magus!?" Cy jumped to his feet, but his hands were still plastered to Tensa. "What do you know about the Magi?" And 'mere' Magus? Could the Djinns be more powerful than the Magi?

«« I am not obligated to tell you. But I hope you will tell me, how is my curse going for you? »»

"You cursed me?" Cy looked at The Nomad, then tried to locate the Djinn in the room, but he found nothing. "I thought it was the Runes and Binding Vows interacting together?"

«« Two things can exist at the same time, child. He must suspect it, since he has remedied a similar ailment in the past. »»

What? "With who?"

«« With 'whom,' Cyrus. With whom? »»

A snarl crept across Cy's lips. He hated the Djinn in the Shrine, he'd been disappointed with his Vessel's ability to start with, and he was underwhelmed now. "The Nomad said I'm supposed to learn something from you. Seeing as how you sound just as judgmental as before, I can't wait to hear it."

«« You were willing to sacrifice your heart and soul for my power, yet you refuse to use me. I demand to know why. »»

Cy's heart rate increased as memories of the Lighthouse Point Shrine flooded his mind. Of how he was trapped with only two exits, one of which was too evil to take. He glanced down at Whiskers, frozen in time. Wish you'd show me some respect for that, you little…

"Well, to be honest, I was expecting a Vessel like Jules'. Something I can fight with, not just protect—"

«« Yes, I believe the slur you use is 'defensive weapon.' What an oxymoron. I have offensive abilities, you just have to discover them. »»

"That's what I'm trying to do now," Cy said through gritted teeth. "I'd even go back to that mirror maze to find out how, if that's what it takes."

Smoke filled the room from the walls inward. Gray at first, it shifted to indigo, then purple, and the Djinn materialized in front of him—much smaller this time, and hovering over Tensa's blade.

««« Listen to me well, Cyrus of no Surname, and I will release you back into the world. You will not like what I have to tell you upon first hearing it. Over time, you will realize its importance, and you must never forget it. Do you understand? »»»

What's he got up his sleeve? Surely this bastard won't hand something out to me for free.

"What's the price?" Cy asked, fully knowing he'd pay it.

«« Time. All you have, Cyrus of no Surname, is Time. Are you ready to hear it? »»

"Why not?" Cy took his seat again. He braced himself for some earthshaking news, something that would tear apart his Party, his massive list of growing Quests, even something that might affect the nature of the Apocalypse itself.

The Djinn waved one violet hand over Tensa, and the System presented its description before Cy's eyes. The Djinn simply read it aloud.

«« [Item: Tensa. Unknown Origins. Genius Rank Vessel. Reverse the sacrifices that others or yourself have made.] »»

Cy bit his tongue. He knew the Djinn wasn't purposefully wasting his time—it was just another riddle to solve—but it infuriated him regardless. The Djinn's purple skin reflected on Tensa's blade, still glued to Cy's hands. The trail of its violet smoke tail rose from a similarly colored jewel on the hilt. Jules got Rukia, Kat got Whiskers, and I'm stuck with this guy.

"I suppose I should thank you, Djinn." Cy tilted his head, then corrected himself. "Or rather, thank you, Tensa."

Tensa's eyes softened for the first time, though his frown remained resolute.

«« Do not forget these words, and do not forget to summon me again. »»

The Djinn and all of his smoke were sucked into the jewel in a funnel, and the spell disappeared. Cy stared at his sword in wide-eyed wonder. He moved his left hand off the blade, then his right off the hilt.

"Well aren't you going to try it again?" Whiskers' demand startled Cy and brought him back to reality.

"No," The Nomad said. "He won't have to try again for some time. But next time—he'll have to do better." Better? And what do you mean, next time? I still need to figure out this time! "But we must move on. Whiskers, if you'd be so kind as to retrieve Envy."

Whiskers slinked out of the room and mumbled something about not being a Labrador retriever.

"Right, so you mentioned a war."

"I suspect my protege will be arriving soon."

"The Desert Mouse. I'm surprised he's fighting with The Iron Maiden."

"Pah!" The Nomad broke out into a roaring laughter. "Knowing Jafar, he's biding his time to find the perfect moment to slay Her. Before Envy arrives, ask me the question you are so fond of asking Alters, and maybe you can learn something new."

"What advice do you have for becoming an Alter?"

"Raise the Levels of all the Skills you like to the same Level, for as long as possible."

Cy sheathed Tensa and turned his back to the Nomad. "Thank you. I think I know what I'll find in The Library." No way my conspiracy theory is true. "I'd ask about the Magi, but I don't think you've ever seen them."

"And why is that?" The Nomad spoke in a slow and low voice. Because I think I know what lies under that veil of yours.

"Just a figure of speech. Why was The Painter in Kat's dream with you? What is he to you?" You called him a contemporary, but you seem more like rivals.

"Ah, yes. You are free to do with this information what you will, but I ask you not tell the girl. Envy. Jafar is many things—my most unique apprentice, for one, but far from my first, and also not my last." Cy spun back around.

"No way—get out of here! Are you serious!?"

"Destiny would have it that the man you know as The Painter was my very first apprentice. You've likely gathered that we haven't spoken in years." Yeah, I sense the sarcasm.

"So that means… I'm in your training lineage. Are you taking any more apprentices?" You mentioned Jafar isn't your last…

The Nomad shifted his veiled gaze to the door, just as Envy walked through it. "I certainly am." Jealousy and envy flooded Cy with the realization. Again, an Alter looks at Jules and Kat. "Welcome back, Envy. I understand The Painter didn't train you in warfare. I'm afraid it's at our doorstep. We have roughly one day to prepare you for what's to come. If you'd all join me outside—"

"I want the power to become an Alter, Nomad. What's it gonna take?"

"Master Tensa, first. Once you've done that, I'll tell you all, Cyrus of no Surname."

Cy clenched his fists in determination. I'll submit Tensa, then I'll take you up on that offer.