Mark of the Fool

Chapter 365: The Next Stage

The Hero took the dungeon core between her hands.

It wasnt the first time shed seen one of course, but it was the first time shed had any interest in examining a living one. Representatives of the church and the Thameish army had shown her and the other Heroes drawings of dungeon cores in the capital the first time theyd ever met, which was soon after theyd been marked for Uldars work.

The priests had filled their heads with as much knowledge of the Ravener as they had time for. In other words, a lot of information in very little time since dungeons and Ravener-spawn had been springing up and running wild all over the kingdom. Those days seemed so long ago, yet itd been only a little over a year since shed been marked at eighteen.

It was hard to believe that shed been away from her home in the Crymlyn for only over a year now. It felt like a lifetime at times, but in fact, shed just turned nineteen not too many months ago.

Undeniably, very, very young for her kind.

Since theyd left the capital, shed seen dozens of living cores over the course of their battles. Some had been so powerfulso fuelled on the fear of mortalsthat their darkness would have eclipsed the deepest, moonless night. Those battles were fierce and prolonged. They'd also fought dungeons with cores so starved of mana, that theyd been nearly colourless, and thankfully, were destroyed with ease.

But in all of those encounters, neither she, Cedric or any priest had ever thought to stop, pick up a dungeon core and examine it. Destroying them as quickly and as decisively as possible then moving on, was always the end goal of every battle. In the war against the Ravener, there was no time to stop and wonder about the nature of dungeon cores, but today theyd had to make time, so she took a good hard look at the core she was holding.

Visually, there was nothing unique, interesting, or unusual about it. Nothing to hint at the world-changing revelation that this thingno bigger than the average mortal headhad revealed. Rubbing her hands over it only told her one thing: that it was even smoother than ice.

No more delaying, then.

Time to see if she could get inside.

Taking a deep breath, Drestra reached deep into her mana. The Mark of the Sage flared, and it was like the light of the sun flowing through her body. Power sparked at her fingertips as she found the mana entrances and wasted no time in going forward.

Wait! Alex called suddenly.

Drestra paused. Whats wrong?

before you keep going, I just want to warn you that we have no idea if therell be consequences from doing this, he said. It might be possible that taking over a core could make you a target of the Ravener.

Thats absolutely true, Professor Jules said, her face a mask of concern. These are uncharted waters, as it were, and we dont have nearly enough data to say for certain what taking control of one of these cores could mean for you. To be fair, as long as you can feel the entrances to its mana pathways, that proves you can do it, so theres no need to go any further.

Drestra looked down at the orb. I need to see this for myselfand besides, Im a Hero of Uldar. Im already one of the Raveners targets, wouldn't you say?

Her power flowed, she felt the dark mana rising, desperate to eject her.

How strange she thought. I never thought that one of these things could feel fear.

But there was no mistaking how its mana thrashed frantically.

It was actually afraid.

What a curious thing, and how very satisfying. She thought, before pushing deep into its mana pathways, and quashing all resistance. Drestra was no expert in mana manipulation: it was a complex art and most witches in the Crymlyn relied very little on it. But considering its weak resistancealongside the overwhelming power of her mana and the Markshe didnt need it. Before long, shed made her way to the centre of the core.

and there was something curious in there.

Something that she could interact with, if she just moved her mana in the right way. Shefelt around like she was in a dark cave, moving her mana in different ways untilshe connected.

Whoom.

Drestra gasped in astonishment.

It was true!

Images of darkness flowed through her mind, but before she could catch and make sense of them, they abruptly vanished, like theyd been cut off. Mana flowed from the dungeon core into the ravine, then her mind shifted and for a moment, she felt it connect to something below.

Unfamiliar thoughts filtered to her through the orb, suddenly, she knew what she could do. If she could just reach them

Oh bleeding hells! Cedric cried.

There was a shimmer along the wall Alex had made.

And from it?

A monster was being born.

###

The Ravener was incensed.

Things were escaping its grasp!

There were three now!

Three!

In its dark chamber, mana was still constructing the spawn that would put an end to these Usurpers. Its Hunters looked at their master, sensing distress. The guardians filling the cavern roared as one, the noise echoing through the tunnels.

But its thoughts were not on them.

They were churning, assessing the situation and its protocols. It examined records deep within, reaching back through all the cycles all the way to memories of the first battles against the first Heroes, long dead.

Five glowing golden symbols ran through its memories, but it was not Heroes that were its focus: cycle by cycle it measured the number of times that Usurpers were more than two.

Aside fromvery specific circumstances in the earliest cycles, more than two Usurpers existing at the same time had occurred but twice since those early days.It examined its options.

Time to block the Usurpers.

First, it severed the usurped dungeon core from its link.

Then, it released some of the restraint placed on the other dungeon cores. They would still be limited in the kinds of spawn they could create, but now, they could birth servants faster. More efficiently.

This would create more fear and more fuel, hopefully leaving the enemy too distracted to organise.

After that? It could do nothing more.

It retreated into itself, waiting for the Petrifier to be ready.

###

Alex stared at a half-formed Skinless One emerging from the wall. Only a misshapen torso had come through to then collapse on the ground in a writhing heap of flesh. The dungeon core was almost completely clear now: Drestra using it to produce the partly formed Ravener-spawn had taken all it had left.

Cedric swore.

Carey gaped, while Professor Jules Wizards Hand scribbled even faster.

Baelin simply watched, while Drestra was transfixed by the creature.

Harts reaction was different, he acted.

In one smooth motion, he drew his thick longbow from his back, nocked an arrow and

Twang!

sent it rocketing downward with all his immense strength.

It slammed into the half-creatures forehead, ending its writhing.

Drestra swore. Hart, why did you do that?

Hart gave her a look. Because a monster appeared and I didnt feel like asking it over here for an ale. why? Were you planning on doing something with it?

I wanted to control it, she said.

Alexs interest spiked. What? Hold on now, you couldve controlled it?

Yessss, do go on my child. Baelin leaned in, his goat-like eyes gleaming with interest.

Therethere was a connection between me and the creature, coming from the dungeon core, she said. And at the same timeI sensed something. I think if Id moved my mana the right way, I mightve been able to take control of it.

So you did not have control immediately? Baelin asked. Fascinating. So the cores can create monsters, but controlling them is a different operation. Incredibly fascinating. This information will certainly serve as quite the roadmap for future investigation.

Absolutely, Professor Jules said. Im dying to know how it ticks. How it does everything it does. When you think about it, these dungeon cores not only produce matter out of pure mana, but theyre able to create life. Complex life. If we could reverse engineer thatforget a revolution of magical technology, we could bring the entire worlds technology, and quality of life forward by millenia. Gah, you three are lucky, Id love to be able to poke around in it myself.

Yeah, thats the thing I really want to find out next, Alex said. Whats the exact criteria for accessing the core? Drestra, are you a follower of Uldar?

Drestra was staring at the dungeon core, and Alex could almost see the gears turning in her mind. Hm? Im sorry?

Its okay. ItsI know, its a lot to digest. But, are you a follower of Uldar?

Yesthough not as devout as many, she said.

Damn. That means we still dont have an answer. Itd be really helpful if we could figure out what the exact trigger for being able to control a core is. Is it being Thameish? Is it following Uldar? Is it both? Is it some other variable that we havent even considered?

Hmmm. Drestras brow furrowed. An interesting question. I

Why are none o yous not losin your collective shite over this? Cedric asked, his voice thin, and strained. You all seem so bloody calm while its takin everythin fer me not tstart bloody screamin. Look, ifn folk of Thameland can control these things then whyre we botherin fightin all these cores? Whyre they attackin us? And why dont them church priests talk about this? Youd think itd be a wee bit important! An shite, if theyve been lyin...

I kinda want to bust down the doors of the cathedral, grab High Priest Tobias and shake him until he squeals, maybe even dangle him from a parapet. Hart said. But maybe Ill settle for Merzhin insteadthough, I suppose we shouldnt spread this yet.

Right, Cedric said. We talk about this too loud an too soon an itd be like kickin a nest o wasps an fire ants barefoot. Who knows whats gonna come pourin outta the ground, but whatever it is, yknow its gonna be angry an dangerous.

And with the Ravener still trying to kill all of us, Drestra said. If this spreads too quickly and in the wrong waytherell be panic and more fuel for the enemy. if it really is our enemy. I dont even know anymore.

Cedric looked at the four wizards intently, his eyes lingering on Carey. Despite the potion, she still looked like she was about to be sick. Lookifn you all want ta leave this land, I wont blame yous. This heres spretty shit. We dont know where its gonna go, an this aint your fight. Whatever the hells goin on, an whatever the truth is, we were marked for this fight. Not yous. Ifn you want to leave, Id understand.

Jules and Baelin burst out laughing and a heartbeat later, so did Alex. Even Carey gave a weak smile.

Oh you dont know us, Cedric, Alex said. Were on the trail of maybe the greatest magical discovery of like ten lifetimes. I dont think wild dragons could pull us away now.

A wave of amusement showed in Drestras body language.

Well said, Alex, Baelin said. We are here to aid and investigate. Of course we are going to stay, but you are right about one thing. Thisrevelation should remain as known to as few as possible. Do not forget that the Cult of Ezaliel still wanders these shores. They must not hear of this. It would not be below them to use Thameish citizens to capture dungeon cores and enslave them to do their demonic masters bidding.

Yeah, andI hate to say it, but doesnt this revelation really look bad for the church maybe even the king? Alex scratched his head awkwardly. Speaking high treason and blasphemy in one sentence made him kinda nervous. If theres enemies within our own ranks, and I feel that there arewe dont want to tip our hand.

Ayean it is our hand, innit? Cedric said. I swear you bloody lot of foreignersan you too, Alex an Careyare the only ones in this damn war whove been tellin us the whole truth.

The whole truth.

Alex winced internally, thinking about the Mark on his shoulder, hidden beneath his clothes and the spell he and Thundar had created. He hadnt told the Heroes the whole truth, of course. He and Baelin hadnt told them who he really was or how exactly hed first learned that dungeon cores could be controlled.

Butthings were starting to move in a direction where it wouldnt be a disaster if they found out. The three of them looked like they had growing doubts about the church now, and they might not be so eager to drag him off in chains if he came clean with them.

But not yet.

Let this information filter through their minds. Let it steep, then hed see what hed see. For now, theyd probably nurse it, discuss things, while the expedition focused on narrowing down the catalyst

Do you have time for another teleport today, Baelin? Drestra asked.

The ancient wizard paused, looking like hed been caught off guard.

I do. I assumed this development would require time and attention. Why do you ask? Do you wish to return to your duties?

No, not yet. You said you werent sure if the trigger was being Thameish or worshipping Uldar, right? So that means we need to test it on someone whos Thameish, but doesnt worship him. the Sage continued. If you have the time and can teleport all of us close to my home, then we might be able to get that question resolved.

She paused, in thought for a moment.

Maybe even today, if were lucky.