Book 6, chapter 21

An obelisk of light formed deep in the endless storm, illuminating the darkness with its radiance. The world river river trembled under the pressure of her domain skill. 

Sersies expanded her senses, honing in on an absence of energy in the world river nearby.

"I know you are there! Come out before I vaporize you," she called, her voice vibrating across the world river. 

Churning clouds of metallic grey energy exploded outward, making her domain skill tremble as a figure appeared.

Her gaseous body churned anxiously, as a lone human male appeared.

"How embarrassing. I must be loosing my touch to be discovered," replied a strange voice. 

"Who are you? What is a human doing alone in the endless storm?" Sersies asked, wearily eying the creature as it appeared much to close for comfort.

It was a human male, who bowed obsequiously.

"Ahh, forgive my lacking manners. I am Tavza al Farsaic, an heir to the imperial throne of the Lorocan empire," the human said. 

She was used to lesser species showing their deference, but somehow, his gesture seemed slimy. 

"I am Sersies of the Choel mar tribe. Why have you approached me?" Sersies asked, ready to turn this human to dust if he made any wrong move. 

The human straightened, his face contorting in what she thought might be a smile. 

"The choel mar tribe? What's such an esteemed guest doing in this pitiful region of the endless storm?" Tavza asked, ignoring her question. 

"I have my reasons," Sersies replied warily. 

"Of course, of course... I was only asking because, I thought you might be a heretic hunter," Tavza probed. 

Sersies paused, wondering what scheme this creature was up to.

"Go on," she prompted. 

"As a loyal ally of the ashary and a prince of the Lorocan empire, it is my duty to inform you of someone who has committed taboo. If you are interested, I can point in their direction?" Tavza said. 

Sersies paused her thoughts racing. It was her duty to expunge anyone with taboo, but she didn't like being a pawn.

"What are you playing at? Why not just kill them yourself?" Sersies asked warily.

The human cracked another of those eel-like smiles. 

"I wish I could. Sadly, the heretic is one of my cousins. To kill her directly would be high treason, and remove any chance I have of taking the throne," Tavza said. 

"I have no desire to get involved in your games. Heretic or not, I have more pressing matters to occupy me," Sersies replied, quickly losing interest in this meeting. 

Finding a key to the eternal throne was far more important than purging the corruption from a heretic. 

Noting the waning interest, Tavza quickly changed tact.

"I don't suppose it would pique your interest to know the person in question is bonded with an ashary," Tavza said. 

That got her undivided attention.

"What!!! That is a very serious accusation," Sersies said, waves of power rippling off her body, making the human shudder. 

"I wouldn't dare falsely accuse one of your people of such a crime. I do believe it is an outcast of your people who have bonded with my cousin," Tavza explained hurriedly. 

Her skepticism quickly returned. 

"An outcast bonded with a human? Why not just wait and let them die?" Sersies said turning to leave. 

"It's been almost a decade since they bonded," Tavza called after her.

She froze, and the slimy human didn't bother to hide his smile. 

"My cousin has been dabbling in soul arts, feeding captured souls to keep the bonded Ashary from going insane," Tavza said, now with her full, undivided attention. 

Sersies paused. "Your story is compelling, but it doesn't explain how your cousin is alive after a decade. Feeding the abomination that an outcast becomes souls is only a temporary solution. The ritual used to strip an Ashary of their power, combined with our very nature makes sure of that. No mere human could withstand being bonded for over a decade," Sersies said, a dangerous pressure leaking from her gaseous form. 

Tavza bowed deeply, looking fearful. "Perhaps I am mistaken. If you were to investigate, you may find the truth on your own," Tavza said, tossing an information crystal her way. 

"I will take your suggestion under advisement. You are dismissed," Sersies said, catching the crystal in a net of mental energy. 

With that, the insufferable human simply vanished, disappearing from her senses. The human had acted all scared, but he was trouble, and couldn't be trusted.

Sersies was well-versed in the schemes and politics of the clans. She might still be a junior, only in early D grade, but she had been through much more than most her age. 

Losing her closest friend, and being ostracized by the clans had forced her to learn to fend for herself. 

If not for one of the council standing up for her, she would have been kicked from the clan altogether. Small mercies. Not like that changed much. No one would work with her, not even those from her own clan would be caught dead in her presence. 

Finding a key wouldn't change the opinions of the others, but it was still her best chance at a brighter future. 

As for the person Tavza mentioned. Sersies scanned the information crystal thoughtfully, pondering what to do. 

Searching for this heretic was likely a waste of time, but she had already been searching the endless storm for a year with no luck. 

Finding this person might not further her goals, but it would satisfy her academic curiosity. 

Tavza was clearly an untrustworthy human, but there had been nuggets of truth in his words.