Chapter 8. Bond

WAR MAGIC

War Magic is a discipline of magic commonly utilised by elvish soldiers and nobility such as Lilith. These spells are designed to be cast quickly and last a long time. The trade-off for this usability is that their complexity is severely limited.

The main purpose of War Magic is simple, protect the user, and heighten their existing physical prowess. To this end, the discipline is near exclusively short-range.

Otherwise, the primary spell in the arsenal of War Magic is the Body Ward. This is a protective sheath of magical force that wraps around parts of the user's body, reinforcing them and protecting them from injury by physical attacks. It should, however, be noted that covering of the entire body is rare, but not unheard of, due to the intense magical cost and focus demanded by such a feat. The main areas protected are hands, arms and feet, with the rest of the body protected by armour as one might expect.

The other primary technique of war magic is force multiplication. Essentially, when a war magic user strikes a target, a wave of magical force impacts the target the instant afterward, amplifying the damage dealt by the blow, and possibly bypassing non magical defences. The delay between the first and second impacts are largely dependent on the user's mastery of the technique, however some adept users will deliberately delay the second impact to throw an opponent off balance.

The other, less common use of war magic is to guide projectiles such as arrows and thrown weapons toward their target in mid-air. Again, the finesse with which one can control the projectile is heavily dependent on the skill of the user. Other lesser uses of War Magic incluse temporary splinting of limbs and closing of wounds. This is not true healing however, and merely a way to get the soldier to a medic or healer in one piece.

Dolorem walked along the road, with Lilith on his back, arms around his neck. He was numb. He couldn't feel the pain he should have. His body was saturated by the Orochi's power. The road was all he was focused on. He kept moving toward Black Iron. One step after another. Lilith was asleep. At the pace he was moving, he'd arrive by midday. His only stop was outside the limits of the town of Black Iron to shed his skin. The process was less traumatic this time around. Lilith had awoken and was in good spirits. Once Dolorem's skin had been shed, tiredness washed over him, the Orochi's power less potent in this state.

Lilith had to help him into the town, his arm around her shoulder. He pointed out directions to the temple, and the two entered. The place was much more peaceful than last time Dolorem had visited. It was a beautiful place, sparsely but tastefully decorated, with tapestries depicting the deeds of the gods flanking the altar. The Orochi broke Dolorem's reverent moment. "I never understood the idea of building temples. Outdoor shrines do the exact same job." It said,

"Different faiths, different rules." Dolorem answered. "Besides, what's wrong with temples?" The Orochi took a moment to consider his answer. "They're… closed in, separate from the world. I don't understand how shutting yourself in a building away from the rest of the world allows one to worship those that helped shape it."

Dolorem didn't argue. "I'll find Father Grimes." He told Lilith. He opened a side door, and poked his head into the room. "Is Father Grimes about?" He called out. A muffled hum of voices rose from within. The abbot emerged moments later, a look of surprise on his face. "Dolorem?" He said. He looked somewhat younger since Dolorem had seen him last. Perhaps he had gotten some more sleep.

"It's good to see you, Father," he said, bowing. "What brings you back to Black Iron, and who is your companion?" Lilith waved. "That's Lilith, she's my fiancée, and actually part of the reason we're here." Father Grimes walked over to Lilith and shook her hand. "Pleasure to meet you," he said. "Likewise"

"So," Father Grimes said, clapping his hands, "How may I help you?" Dolorem went to Lilith and took her hand. "Would it be possible for us to be wed here?" A smile broke across the man's face, his eyes lit up. "But of course! Do you have a date in mind?" Dolorem looked at Lilith, and she answered the question. "As soon as possible, we're… pressed for time."

"Well, I can make preparations for a wedding tomorrow, but I'm afraid it'll be nothing fancy." Father Grimes said, "I don't mean to intrude, but what's the hurry, need you not invite guests?"

"Actually, your parents, Lilith…" Dolorem began to ask. "Oh, no need," Lilith said. Dark Elven weddings don't involve the parents, normally."

"To answer your question, Father, Dolorem and I have to undertake a quest, and in the unlikely event we don't return, I'd rather have it done." Lilith said. Father Grimes looked uncomfortable. He struggled to decide on something to say.

"I'll make the arrangements"

That night the couple were put up in a separate wing of the temple complex, in a cozy, if basic room. It was strange to sleep in a normal bed for them. The wedding was arranged to be held at midday. A cautious excitement hung in the air.

"You know," Lilith said, "you don't have a second name." Dolorem sat up. "Yeah? It was part of my initiation, one gives up their family name in return for becoming one of the clan." He explained. "Well, would you take my family name, once we're married?" Lilith asked.

Dolorem thought for a moment. "I suppose my clan membership doesn't apply anymore, and my parents… you know what, yes, absolutely." He said. They fell asleep soon after that, in one another's grasp.

That night Dolorem was summoned to The Orochi's throne realm once again. It loomed over him, inspecting him. "You're nervous?" It said, with a strange tone of concern. "Yes, somewhat." Dolorem said. "And I'm being asked this by a millennia-old serpent deity, who can regenerate my body and makes me know jutsu that haven't been used in equally long!"

"Well, when you phrase it like that it sounds insane. Listen, Dolorem, I care about my vessel as if you were me. Your life is mine, and the years haven't dulled my ability to care." It explained

"Thank you, Orichi." Dolorem said. "It must be nice, being able to find another to share one's life with." The Orichi said. "I was born on this earth, entirely unique. I can never truly relate to another creature, no matter how much I want to."

"It must be lonely," Dolorem mused. "Is that why you wanted a vessel?" He asked. "In a sense." The Orochi answered. "I wish to experience some semblance of a normal existence. I shan't keep you longer, though. You have a wedding to prepare for."

Dolorem awoke that morning at the break of dawn. Hastily, he scribbled a note for Lilith. Leaving his room silently, he made his way to the temple. He eased open the door, and saw Father Grimes already flitting about the room, making preparations. He looked up at Dolorem bleary-eyed. "Oh! Dolorem, you're up early." Dolorem nodded sheepishly. "Couldn't sleep."

"I can't imagine why," Father Grimes said, smiling. "You're not the first to come in like this. My own brother was the first, he considered running away and changing his name." He said. "Oh, did he?" Dolorem asked, somewhat calmed. "Yes, thankfully I talked him out of it."

"Where is he now?"

"Out in the Karst Prefecture, he had his fifth grandchild two months back. He found work as a mason, built this actually," he said, rapping his knuckles on the limestone altar.

"It's beautiful, he must be happy," Dolorem said. "Well, I suppose he is," the priest said "but not because of this altar."

"What do you mean?"

"He gets to live surrounded by a wonderful family, and do what he loves each day, and his works make people happy. I think that's what makes him happy more than anything."

"Are you happy?" Dolorem then asked. "I'm sorry, that's intrusive," he added quickly. "No, no, don't worry," Father Grimes said, "And I am, most certainly. To be able to lend aid to others, that's a privilege. If you use your ability for good, that's a true blessing." He went on.

Dolorem felt strange regret. The memory of his parents rose to the surface of his mind. "Dolorem," Father Grimes said, snapping him out of it. "I can tell you carry the weight of those you failed to save. You can't do that to yourself. It consumes you, corrupts the good, poisons the future.

"Listen, all you can do is look to the horizon. You and Lillith, you'll have a happy future but only if you learn to move forward from your grief. I can sense the immense strength within you, so long as you use it to help others, you'll be happy."

Dolorem steeled his resolve. "I will. I'll keep moving forward." Father Grimes smiled. "Then you'll never stray too far from the right path. Before you go, I had your shinobi attire repaired, it seemed a shame to let it be thrown out." He disappeared into a storage box and returned with his folded uniform. Dolorem stuttered in shock at the perfectly repaired uniform. "Th… tha… thank you!"

"Now go on, you have a wedding in a few hours."

Dolorem returned to his lodging after that. Lilith had already left, undoubtedly making her own preparations. Dolorem pulled on his uniform. It felt indistinguishable from when it was new. The outer coat, the steel splints, all in perfect condition. He retrieved his obi, tying it tight. Once it was tied, he felt strangely complete, comforted by the feel of the heavy fabric, the contour of the splints supporting him. Once finished, he headed into town. He had no money, but needed something for Lilith, anything.

The Orochi made itself known. "I have an idea. Go to the outskirts of town and find a body of water. Dolorem obliged, finding a lake with relative ease, being careful not to get any dirt on his uniform. "Very good," The Orochi said, once he did "now hold your hands out over the water." Dolorem did so at once. "What now?"

"Watch"

Dolorem's hands became scaled, and he felt power flow through them. In response, the water of the lake instantly lost its glasslike composure. The water folded and swirled, writhing and morphing, grains emerged from the water, dull, brassy particles in their thousands leaving the tumultuous water behind, to return to absolute calm. The grains pooled in his hand, compressing into a gold band, seeming to polish themselves. In moments he held a gold ring. Dolorem stared in amazement. "How…?"

"In mining towns, when it rains, slag heaps have runoff, and this ends up in lakes. I just filtered the impure gold that was left over in the runoff, no need to thank me."

"Much appreciated, nonetheless."

The hours passed. Dolorem was ready, standing at the altar, an hour beforehand. Twenty minutes beforehand, Father Grimes appeared, and stood with him in silence. Moments later, Lilith followed. She had discarded her monk's robe in favour of a dark carmine knee-length tunic with navy blue accents. She had also procured new boots and hairpins, no doubt through a letter of credit. Dolorem struggled to breathe for a moment, then smiled awkwardly. Lilith made her way up to the altar, standing across from Dolorem.

Father Grimes put his hands together. "Shall we begin?" He asked. "Yes," the couple answered in unison.

"Very well"

"Marchioness Lilith of the Adjudicators, do you take Dolorem in a binding vow, until the day of your death?"

"I do." Dolorem's heart was pounding, to the point he worried it was audible.

"Five-Seals Dolorem… " Father Grimes looked somewhat lost. "Don't have one, father, taking hers." Dolorem whispered.

"Five-Seals Dolorem, do you take Lilith in binding vow, until the day of your death?"

"I do."

"With that, and by the power of the Divine Sun, I pronounce thee wed, Marchioness Lilith of the Adjudicators, and Dolorem of the Adjudicators." Father Grimes' hands briefly glowed gold, and threads of light coiled around Lilith and Dolorem's wrists. The light sank into their skin, appearing as an incandescent braided pattern encircling their wrists. "It is done, for now and eternity."

Lilith and Dolorem embraced, and kissed, in the chaos that had surrounded them, they had managed to claw back some semblance of normality, a small act of defiance against cruel fate. A single tear slid down Lilith's cheek.

Father Grimes stood smiling at the couple. "Congratulations you two, I have the register here for you to sign." He handed Lilith the quill, who signed the register in her own looping elvish script, Dolorem signed it in his usual abrupt slashes of ink. "Good, all signed and sealed!" Father Grimes said. "I wish you two all the best in the future!"

Both Lilith and Dolorem bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Father."

The couple joined hands, and left the temple, followed by Grimes. Outside, a collection of villagers threw handfuls of rice into the air around them. The two laughed in delirious happiness. Hand in hand, for that moment, they were invincible.

Soon after, they returned to their lodging, Lilith noticed the door had been unlocked, the pair shrugging, presuming it to be the innkeeper's doing. They opened it cautiously. On the bed had been left a box, with a note affixed. It read; "To Lilith and Dolorem, wishing you all the best in your lives together, from Father Grimes and all at the temple."

The box contained a pair of traveling cloaks, one with a three-tomoe engraved clasp, and the other cast in the shape of the Adjudicator's mark. Tears welled up in Dolorem's eyes as he held up the cloaks. He threw Lilith's around her shoulders, and his own on after that.

Then Dolorem noticed the open window, and the shadow cast on the windowsill from above. He pressed a finger to his lips, and made a warding gesture to Lilith. Tense silence hung in the air. Dolorem made a silent plea to The Orochi. In response, the heat emanating from everything about him became clear. He sensed a single presence on the other side of the wall, clinging on just above the open window. He sensed vague threads of heat around the room, humming, feeding what was behind the wall information. He turned to Lilith, making sign language gestures. M-I-S-T he signed. T-H-E-N I F-R-E-E-Z-E.

Lilith picked up on his meaning, she wove the appropriate signs, filling the air with droplets of water, which condensed on the threads, making them as clear as day, a spider's web arranged about the room, listening intently to each and every sound. Dolorem made his own signs, dropping the air temperature in the room to frigid levels, in spite of the summer heat outside. The droplets on the threads froze, halting their movement.

"You need to leave!" Dolorem whispered, removing his cloak. "Close the door behind you, that's the Purple Hand's ability." Lilith grabbed his arm, digging her nails in. "The leader of the Royal Guard? Not a chance! I'm staying with you."

Dolorem turned to her and stared with amber eyes. "I can regenerate, and my scales can lessen the slashing force. I can't let you get hurt. He kissed her on the forehead. "Go, head south, I'll meet you on the road." Lilith released her grip. "If you die, I'll kill you…" she said.

"I won't, now go, please."