Ghost Ascension, Episode 17a

“Why does Korthion want that gem from Anacepheon’s tomb?” you say.

“Korthion doesn’t seem the sort to collect jewelry,” says Lucan.

“No,” says Sophia. “And it isn’t merely a gemstone. It’s one of the Ascendant Bloodcrystals.”

“A bloodcrystal?” you say. You’ve seen a bloodcrystal before; necromancers use them to store stolen life energies for future use, like water in a cistern. And unfortunately, they’re rather more common than you like. “That’s it? He wants to steal a bloodcrystal?”

“This is not any common bloodcrystal,” says Sophia. “You see, the high magi of the Fourth Empire made it. Centuries ago. In the final days of Caer Magia.”

You blink. Some unknown force killed every living thing in Caer Magia centuries. “Are you saying this…Ascendant Bloodcrystal killed everyone in Caer Magia?”

“Oh, yes,” says Sophia. “Not on purpose, of course – the high magi accidentally destroyed themselves, and the city, creating it. The surviving magi feared it, so they brought it back to Malarae along with Anacepheon’s corpse and sealed it up in his tomb, behind some rather…ingenious defenses.”

“So why does Korthion want it so badly?” you say.

“Because it has the power to break any spell it touches,” says Sophia. “It’s his escape from the pact with that dark spirit. If he’s careful, he can use it to cancel the pact, but maintain the power that sustains his body. Then he’ll truly be immortal…and free to do whatever he wishes. Like killing you and Lord Lucan, to begin.”

“So why hasn’t Korthion taken it already?” you say, remembering Ark’s description of Korthion pacing back and forth before the tomb. “Or why hasn’t he ordered you to go get it?”

Sophia sighs. “The arcane defenses around the tomb are rather…potent, to say the least. One of the wards prevents anyone who has ever cast a necromantic spell from entering the tomb. Korthion cannot enter. Nor can I, since I dabbled a bit when I was your age. Neither of us can claim it.”

But you could.

Something clicks in your mind.

“That’s why Korthion erased my memory,” you say, thinking it through. “He…”

“He was going to kill you,” says Sophia. “You tracked us down, expecting to find a rogue sorcerer. The expression on your face when you realized it was Korthion…perhaps I shall make a painting of it one day. Korthion wanted to kill you, slowly, but I convinced him otherwise. After he wiped your memory, you went into a…fugue state, let us say. You would have acted on any unconscious or denied urges you might have had. Your heart’s inmost desire, to put it more artistically.” She giggles. “I wonder how many people you killed.”

You didn’t kill anyone. You went to Lucan’s rooms, instead.

“After you regained your senses,” says Sophia, “you were…suggestible. I thought I could persuade you to enter the tomb and claim the Ascendant Bloodcrystal.” She sighs. “Unfortunately, you were a touch too clever for that. Apparently the stories about the Ghost Countess are not exaggerated.”

“Well and good,” says Lucan. He looks disturbed, for some reason. “But why tell us all this?”

Sophia smiles. “Because I want Korthion dead. Well. He’s already dead, so I suppose I want him destroyed.”

“That…sword, of yours, whatever it is, could probably do it,” you say. “So why haven’t you done it already?”

“My sword,” says Sophia, “is older than the Empire itself, and was forged by the necromancer-priests of the Kingdom of the Rising Sun in the service of their pharaohs, their immortal god-kings. It can certainly destroy Korthion, no matter what dark pacts he has made. But, you’ll recall, he placed a binding spell upon me. I cannot raise a hand against him.”

“So,” you say, “you want something from me.”

“Yes,” says Sophia. “I want you to bring me the Ascendant Bloodcrystal.”

You burst out laughing. “You’re mad.”

“Oh, yes,” says Sophia, with a smile that matches her words, “thoroughly. But our interests align, Countess. I want to be free of Korthion. You want him destroyed. Bring me the Ascendant Bloodcrystal, and I can break the spell that constrains me. Then I will cut down the fool in the space of two heartbeats.”

“Leaving you with the Ascendant Bloodcrystal,” you say.

Sophia shrugs. “You can keep the thing. Or destroy it. I care not. I want only to return to my art in Istarinmul. If you accept my offer, then I will destroy Korthion and never return.” Her smile widens. “But, knowing you, you’ll try to kill me, yes? Stop the wicked assassin from returning to her evil ways? I will kill you, of course, if you strike at me, but I promise that I will not kill you until you attack me first. And if you do not raise your hand against me, once Korthion is destroyed…then I will leave the Empire, and never return.”

You say nothing.

“I know you are gathering all your allies to strike at Korthion,” says Sophia. “They’ll fail. No weapon of steel, no mortal spell, can destroy Korthion. Nothing can destroy him until his remaining ten months are up, save for a weapon of the most surpassing sorcerous might, and I doubt you have access to another weapon like my sword. He will slaughter your allies, and you, and find someone who can bring him the Ascendant Bloodcrystal. And then he will truly be immortal, and invincible.” She tilts her head to the side, examining you. “So. What do you say?

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