Chapter: 547 – A Single Pleading Glance

Tala regarded the impossibility before her, the hungering void unable to consume the man who stood amidst it, its very nature being violated. The only place that it looked to have purchase was around his waist, where the void seemed to be all that maintained his decency.

Void… as clothing?

-I think it’s more that he’s allowing the void to separate the light that would otherwise be reflecting off of… that region.-

Tala grunted at that. It was odd, the man himself was easily visible, the illumination upon him seeming to have no easily discernible source. He also wasn’t glowing with any sort of self-glow. He was simply visible, sources of illumination didn’t factor in.

As to how he looked, the man was clearly strong without being bulky, and he had almost no fat anywhere on him, as if his body had long ago devoured anything ‘extra.’ The result moved him out of the realm of conventionally attractive and into the sort of physique that was impressive for the obvious effort a mundane would take to achieve it, while not being particularly appealing, generally speaking.

-Tala… you’re in shock.-

A seemingly naked, old, white man just broke into my sanctum, Alat. And now he’s standing before me, waiting for me to collect my thoughts.

-Yeah, I felt him briefly look in there before finding you here, in Ironhold. That was odd.-

He must not have perfect perception into my soulbound space?

-Possible.-

The man sighed. “Have you collected yourselves yet? I do not wish to be here, and the tedium of awaiting your silly ‘judgement’ has already taken a great deal from what I would have preferred to be doing.”

Eskau Meallain was visibly trembling. “Sovereign.”

He nodded easily. “Yes, yes. Do you need to worship? I think that such is a bit crass, but if you feel that requirement I can…” He grimaced. “No, I won’t dissemble. I’d simply strike you down and be on my way. Worshiping one who began as mortal is folly, no matter how far above you I have advanced.”

The elf visibly swallowed.

Tala shook her head slightly at the oddity of everything, then addressed the man before her, “Do you wish to come in?”

He grinned, showing a row of perfectly white teeth. “No, I don’t think that I will.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Do you fear danger? I’d thought you would be immune to my authority, even in here. I could swear not to act against you in any way if—”

He waved her off. “No, no. You misunderstand. You couldn’t actually harm me in the slightest, but the insight my very presence would give you could be considered unbalancing assistance rendered to gated humanity as a whole. I don’t wish to deal with the others because of a simple matter of courtesy.” He hesitated a moment, then gave a slight bow of his head. “But I do thank you for the invitation.”

-So, more than just a little light is being cut off with the void. Is that why we can’t feel his aura or any other part of his power? We can’t even properly see his reality node.-

That seems likely.

“But we are wasting time. Eskau Meallain. Eskau Tala has been charged with your care, and she has been additionally charged with utilizing you for the good of humanity, be it in small ways or large.” He nodded once. “Though, she could simply confine you for three millenia, if she so chose.”

Eskau Meallain nodded once as well. “That is correct, oh great one.”

“Good, then we have a basis of understanding.” He looked to Tala. “If you choose to confine her, I will strike her dead immediately and inform the House of Blood as to the reason for her death, closing the matter for all time.”

The way he said it left no room for doubt. There would be no retaliation, nor any other negative consequence for Eskau Meallain’s death. The matter would be settled and done with.

Tala felt herself pale at the very implications inherent within the absoluteness of the pronouncement. He wasn’t done, however. “If you choose to use her, however, I will insist that you not only do so in a way helpful to gated humanity, but so that Reality and Zeme are given recompense.”

Tala felt a bit lightheaded. “How… how would I accomplish that?”

The Sovereign arched an eyebrow. “Your advancement for one. Should you find a path in the direction you are seeking, that would provide a definitively soothing effect everywhere you went. I do not know if she could help you achieve what you seek—or if what you seek is even possible—but pursuing that would be an acceptable path forward. Additionally, your soldiers… Talons, I believe you call them. They are—or have the potential to be—salves to Zeme rather than simply more exfoliants. Once again, it is not up to me to tell you how, or even if such is possible for you to accomplish. The pursuit of such worthy goals is all I ask.”

Eskau Meallain frowned, clearly sensing something underlying the statement. “And if we don’t succeed?”

He shrugged. “Then when the humans release you, your life will come to an end, and all will know the reason why.”

That hung heavy in the air for a long moment.

“Well, that is all that I came to say… One thing I will convey—off the record as it were—is that Reality is still… inflamed by what you did in rash foolishness, Eskau Meallain. It is not a thinking entity, and yet the results can often seem so. An ancient tool of Reality’s… means is stirring, and you are to blame. It was on the rise already, but you hastened the return. Be ready.”

Tala frowned. “That is so vague as to be almost useless.”

He shrugged. “It is not my place, nor desire, to mitigate the natural consequences brought about by the fools who prance around Zeme.” After a moment’s pause, he shrugged again. “Regardless, I will say: Congratulations on your marriage. It was touch and go there for a while, but things seem to have worked out.”

He gave a beaming smile, and Tala blinked a few times. “Wait… you know I’m married?”

“Of course. Even were I not aware of the circumstances, your soul is evidence enough. Besides, I’ve been watching your progress for some time. I must say that your path is entertaining.”

Tala didn’t really know what to say, but a realization struck her. Not all Sovereigns were the same, nor did they have the same power. Maybe…? “If you know that… do you think that you could…?”

His gaze flickered to her hand, which rested unconsciously upon her lower abdomen. And he shook his head. “My answer would be the same as Anatalis’. He is more skilled in that type of boon than I. There is not a Sovereign on Zeme, who could do more than he and his… love.”

“So, you can do nothing?”

“Nothing that you would wish for me to have done, and I dislike giving boons that turn sour.”

She was at a loss, so she held her tongue.

The Sovereign grimaced, then seemed to think of something, chuckling to himself, tickled by a thought that seemed to have struck him. “While I cannot do anything about that issue. Your Reforging might. In either case, I think that I will leave you with a present of sorts. Think of it as a wedding gift, or an apology for not being able to help, or an anniversary present, or simply a token of my… interest.”

She really didn’t know how to take any of that, and the slight flicker of hope—now extinguished—had left her feeling drained.

“Tell the Sculptor of Motion that his promise no longer applies in regards to what he may discuss with you, but if he takes advantage of this allowance, it will bind your words thereafter.”

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There was a ripple through existence itself. Tala’s threefold sight and voidsight went crazy as every reality node around her trembled at the simple utterance.

Before Tala could inquire further, the void—and the man within—was gone without fanfare or flourish.

Tala and Eskau Meallain stood in stunned silence for nearly five minutes before Tala shook herself free of her revery. She placed aside her embers of hope and pressed onward. “Well… It seems that your tasks are rather set at the moment, at least until we think of more.”

The elf huffed a laugh, clearly focusing on the portion of the interaction that she’d understood and which had concerned her. “So, you aren’t simply going to let him end me?”

Tala grimaced. “I… no. No, I will not.”

That got a somewhat relieved smile. “Thank you, I suppose. I do admit that I had not actually considered my life on the line in this… no matter how much that was a callous way of considering it.”

Tala’s grimace deepened. “Yeah… that doesn’t make me think better of you.”

“Well, it’s the truth. I’d rather you think rightly of me than well.”

“Fair enough. So, the tasks.”

“Yes, help you advance in some odd way?” The elf frowned. “I will admit, I have little useful knowledge of gated means of advancement. Do you know what he is talking about?”