Liberty Forge III
There was a short silence in the dining room, with Matthew and Theodore pondering and absorbing the information Lilly had revealed. Lilly watched the boys as they were lost in their thoughts, while Alaric calmly sipped on his tea.
"Although I don't have the right to say this, the two of you are like family to me. I have been with you boys since we left the Nether Region, watching over you in secret and public," Lilly added.
This statement didn't sit well with Matthew or Theodore. They felt disgusted by the thought of her being family to them.
"Wait, are you the reason why I couldn't leave Araya in the past?" Theodore questioned.
"Yes,"
"How do you even do something like that?"
"With my unique ability, possession," she responded.
'Matthew thought once again, for the umpteenth time today. 'She seems too controlling.' Theodore observed. 'I don't like the thought of being around her. She has controlled my life since birth,' he added, disturbed by the thought of having his life at the mercy of another, especially one that was involved in the undoing of his parents.
"Are all... Mystics able to do this possession thing?" Theodore asked after a short while.
"No, one has to reach the level of an Arcanist to have a unique ability. An Arcanist is two levels above a Blessed Mystic. And although there are spells or rituals that one can use to achieve possession of another, there are pros and cons to using those routes. Special abilities barely have any drawbacks," she explained.
"So you are an Arcanist?" Theodore probed, realizing that his initial estimation of Lilly's prowess was nowhere near what it actually was.
"I used to be. One of the downsides of defecting from a Church is that you lose some if not all of your powers. People who get stronger in Churches do so by relying on a deity, to do so, one needs to worship and revere their deity, and then receive a mark from the deity.
Defecting means that I no longer worship that deity, breaking the pact and severing the source of most of my powers. Omniscius is the deity that I used to draw power from. Now that I have defected, if I dare to call upon him for strength, I will be killed on the spot," Lilly explained.
"So if I want to learn Magic and become a Mystic, I have to worship a god?" Theodore asked.
"Wait, don't tell me that you're trying to hop on her carriage." Matthew turned to Theodore as he spoke. He didn't like the idea of Theodore putting himself into the matters that Lilly spoke of.
"No, that's not what I plan to do," Theodore replied gently. 'Some things about her story don't still add up. What made her change her mind? Was it the sight of our pregnant mothers? She admitted to having done heinous things before, so what made her question her morals?' he thought.
Alaric raised a brow at Matthew's question and Theodore's reply. 'The whole point of her revealing this is for... ah, let's see how it goes,' he thought before taking another sip of his tea.
Lilly didn't make any comments on what Matthew said, nor did she have to say anything about Theodore's response.
"Magic, and the matters of the arcane, are more than what you are giving it credit for," Lilly replied to Theodore.
After another short silence, Theodore let out a heavy sigh. "Let's get to the point now, there must be a reason why the Resistance did all of this for us, and you say it is because we both possess unique abilities, do we even have a choice in this?"
"Yes, you do... you have three options. The first is to join the resistance and start learning magic, unseal your unique abilities, and help the Resistance fight against the Church and the Iron Empire.
The second is for you to refuse the first option and still remain under the supervision of the Resistance, helping when your assistance is needed. Or the third option, which is for the Resistance to imprison the two of you, and take whatever they find useful from you.
But don't worry, I used my life to protect yours when you were babies. I guarantee that whatever decision you make, there will be no harm to your lives," Lilly mentioned like it was the most normal thing to say.
The options that she listed out didn't sit right with the boys, especially Matthew who had no intention of staying here or learning magic.
Matthew looked at Lilly like she was crazy, in fact, he had already concluded that she was crazy. But the options that she listed out reaffirmed that for him.
"Why us?" Theodore interjected.
Lilly's gaze met Theodore's, a mix of earnestness and empathy in her eyes. "Destiny often chooses its champions in unexpected ways. The Resistance needs you both, now more than ever."
As the meal unfolded, Lilly's narrative wove through the complexities of their roles and the looming threat they faced. Theodore's conflicting emotions mirrored the swirling patterns of the tapestry she painted.
'The first option gives us freedom, in the sense that we would be able to get stronger, but still tied to the Resistance. The second option still gives us freedom, a facade, however, we wouldn't be able to make decisions for ourselves. Returning to the type of monotone life we led back in Araya. The third one strips us of our freedom completely.' Theodore reasoned.
It has been on his mind to delve into magic since he was sure that it existed, but he didn't want to be subservient to any organization in exchange for the knowledge.
"I have lost my appetite," Matthew said as he got up from his seat and started to leave the room.
"Excuse me too... give us some time to think about this," Theodore followed behind.
Lilly nodded, recognizing the fragility of the trust she sought to rebuild. The brunch table became a crossroads, where destinies converged and choices ripened.
After the boys left the room, Alaric finally let out a chuckle. "You painted yourself white and then black and then at the end of it all, you tried to come out as grey, why?" He questioned.
"What I said to them wasn't a lie; the Empire is at fault, and so is the Church of Knowledge. I wanted them to harbor some hate for the two bodies of organizations."
"Is that why you used your ability to amplify their emotions?" Alaric questioned. The first time he sipped his tea was when he noticed Lilly silently chanting a spell in the dining room.
"If they hate the Emperor and the Church, they will have more reasons to side with us. It will make the initiation and adaptation easier for them. You know that the higher-ups won't let them go like that, not after they have invested time and manpower in them."
"True, true, however, you weren't completely honest with them. You failed to mention that one of the reasons why Lucius put out a kill order on Liberty Forge is because of the Resistance, the very organization that you are trying to ease them into. Joining the Resistance also means that they would have to face other Churches that had nothing to do with their past. They will then inherit what was never theirs to shoulder in the first place. What a loving nanny you are…" Alaric shrugged his shoulders and got up from his seat.
"Well, who am I to speak on your family matters?" He began laughing as he left the room.
...
Matthew's skepticism began to crumble, replaced by a resolute determination as he walked down a long hallway. "Fine. I get it. But the moment I figure a way out of this, I'm gone," he said to himself.
Theodore, grappling with his own reservations as he walked side by side with Matthew, spoke softly, "I want to understand, but this is a lot to take in."
…
In the wake of a span of days filled with meetings and events within the formidable walls of the Citadel, the time had come to bid farewell.
The Emperor, with a sweeping decree that resonated throughout the empire, had dismissed the assembly.
Although the echoes of the proclamation were yet to traverse the expanse of the continent, whispers and rumors had already taken flight, igniting the atmosphere with an electric sense of anticipation.
As the news rippled through the air like a subtle current, the excitement became palpable. It had been a considerable stretch since the realms experienced anything as riveting, and the collective consciousness brimmed with curiosity.
The impending question lingered in the minds of all: What consequences would unfold if Araya failed to meet the deadline, and how would it reverberate across the diverse states?
The unknown future cast a captivating spell, leaving an air of intrigue that set hearts aflutter with a sense of both uncertainty and eager expectation.
Malachi paced the dimly lit corridors, his senses heightened with anticipation, like a chess player contemplating his next move.