Advent of Eternity - Interlude 4 (Patreon)

Veil looked down at the trembling human woman. The only thing that kept her from falling face first into the ground was the thin, battle scarred sword that she’d embedded in the earth before her.

She gritted her teeth, using every last ounce of willpower left in her body to crane her neck up to meet his eyes.

“You are done for today,” Veil said.

“Please,” she rasped. “Once more.”

“Then stand. I would not debase myself to the point of striking an insect that cannot even bear its own weight.”

Her hands shook even harder as she tried to force herself upright, but there wasn’t a single ounce of energy left to use in her body. Veil was slightly impressed that she was still holding onto the sword. Most would have let it fall long ago.

“I can’t rest. My brother needs me.”

“Your brother will not benefit from a dead woman.”

“He’ll be dead himself if I can’t save him soon.”

Veil tilted his head to the side. It had been years since anyone other than the Advents had spoken to him as anything like an equal, much less demanded something of him. Even though he’d agreed to train the girl, he hadn’t expected much from her.

Humans were frail. They spewed their desires and longings like a broken faucet, but when it came time to actually claim them, they fell short. They were not willing to sacrifice what was needed to claim victory. They would give everything – except what they actually had to.

Veil was starting to see what Joseph had spoken of in this woman. The fire that burned within her only grew with every passing day, even as her body broke again and again.

“When you came to this place, you were told that it would be beyond difficult. It would be something that almost no mortal could bear,” Veil said. He took a step toward her. Ghostly men materialized behind her, looping their arms under hers and lifting her upright so she could face him properly. “Eliza. You could have sought any path. You could have taken power beyond many of your peers and done as you wished, beholden to the rule of the gods. Your brother could have been saved already.”

She met his gaze, her mouth hanging slightly askew. The Veil hid a laugh. It wasn’t that she lacked any response to give him – she simply didn’t even have the energy to draw on her own voice any more.

“You came to me to become more than a god slave. More than a Scion. You follow my path. Not even the Advents dare stand in my way. Do you understand the power that I offer you?”

Eliza maintained his gaze, unblinking.

“And still, you demand more. You seek for your problems to be solved,” the Veil continued. “Mortals die. Your brother will die. You will not. Not if you succeed.”

Eliza blinked once. Her lips trembled, but the only sound she could make was a low groan. Veil studied her, then slowly shook his head.

“I see it in your eyes. You rebuke me. You – a mere girl with no strength of your own – dare to stand in opposition to your master.”

Eliza stumbled forward as both of the ghostly men released her arms. She grabbed onto the hilt of her sword, leaning heavily on it. To the Veil’s surprise, she didn’t fall. Shaking like a newly grown tree in a maelstrom, she looked up to meet his gaze once more.

“I serve no master.”

Veil threw his head back and laughed. It echoed through the scorched field around them, rebounding from the broken mountaintops like the call of a dragon. Thousands of fresh dead trembled around them as his will seeped out from within him for the merest instant.

“None who follow in my path could,” the Veil said. “But your request is denied. You are not strong enough. I will not permit you to venture out into the world on your own. I have spent my own time on you. It will not be wasted on a fool’s errand.”

Dismay washed through Eliza’s eyes. She forced her mouth open, but Veil hadn’t finished speaking. He continued, not letting her say whatever she had planned to.

“Instead, Emma will go with you. We will forge your spirit in the fire of battle, and she will ensure that you are pushed to your breaking point. If you have the strength, you kill those who keep your brother captive and save him. If you do not, he will die at Emma’s hand and you will have no further distractions. Are you satisfied with this?”

Eliza’s grip tightened around the pommel of her blade. She nodded once, then crumpled. Veil’s men grabbed her, easing the woman to the ground before looking up at him for instruction.

“Take her back,” Veil said. “Ensure she rests, and gather supplies for her journey. She will leave as soon as she wakes.”

The men nodded, and they sank into a puddle of shadow, taking Eliza with them. Behind Veil, the air rippled as Emma shimmered into view, her head bowed low. She pressed one hand to her chest and dropped one knee to the ground.

“Lord Veil.”

“You heard the assignment?”

“I did, Lord Veil.”

“You do not approve.”

“I would never be so foolish as to question one of your decisions, Lord Veil. What you will is law.”

“You are a good soldier, Emma. One of my best. But a blade with no remorse is simply an assassin. Speak your mind. I will not fault you for it.”

“Why must we kill the boy if she fails?” Emma asked. “Surely Eliza would be more motivated if we saved him. If he dies, all your work could go to waste. She may never recover from it.”

“Do you think me cruel?”

Emma swallowed. She didn’t respond.

“I am not cruel. I am just,” Veil said. “The girl heard what she needed to hear. She must be pushed to her absolute limit. No mortal will ever reach my strength without such a driving force. But, even so, I would not have you sully yourself by killing one unworthy of your blade.”

Emma blinked. “I am afraid I do not understand, Lord Veil.”

“I lied,” Veil said simply. “You will ensure the boy does not die, even if she fails. But – if she fails – she will not know this. To her, the boy will be dead. Only once she completes her training or breaks will she know.”

“I do. I will ensure the boy survives,” Emma promised. She paused for a moment, gathering her courage. “That is still cruel, Lord Veil.”

“Perhaps it is,” Veil mused. “Then ensure that she does not fail, lest I become a cruel man. Just do not interfere in anything that would train the girl.”

Emma gave him a stiff nod. “I shall do everything in my power to aid her without interfering directly in her fights.”

“Very good,” Veil said. He raised a hand as Emma started to fade away. The woman rematerialized, her eyebrows bunched in confusion. “There is another task you will do on this outing.”

“The Advent?”

“Very apt,” Veil said. “This is why I use you and not one of your brethren for this task. Maintain your inquisitive nature. The boy whom I asked you to observe – Joseph is paying too much attention to him. I believe we have overlooked something.”

“What do you wish me to do?”

“Establish contact,” Veil replied after a short pause. “Invite him to meet with me. I wish to speak with him in person.”

Emma’s eyes widened. She nodded, bowing her head low. “I will do as you say. Is there anything else you require?”

“No. You will take Eliza with you. Be wary. The boy is more than he appears. He may be a threat – even to you.”

Eliza pressed her fists to the ground and vanished, leaving the Veil alone. He sighed, enjoying the feeling of the sun on his skin before turning to face the corpse of the god that had been lying behind him for the past few hours.

The foolish creature had attempted to breach his domain several hours ago. It happened ever so often, whenever they grew either too bold or desperate. Veil did not care for its reasons.

He was hungry.

“And now,” Veil said, removing his tricorn and pressing it to his chest, “you have my attention.”