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It's just… Erin was already having a bad day.
First, there was the matter of waking up exhausted after a poor night's sleep hidden in the bushes because someone - himself last night - thought it might be a bad idea to sleep in a cave on account of the World Ending Dragon that Wants to Go Into Caves. Were it possible, he would be having words with his self from yesterday. Alas, Erin had yet to invent time travel.
Then, after a few hours of walking, Kendal noticed a village that wasn't marked on Erin's map. Meaning they were either off course - not good - or this was a small enough village that it hadn't been deemed worthy to go on the map - better, but poor map making - or it was new - in that case, he needed a new map. He'd gotten in one complaint about sleeping on the ground when there was a village nearby before Falst pointed out that, again, it took them a few hours to get here, and would Erin-From-Yesterday really have wanted to walk that long after dark? Erin agreed that Erin-From-Yesterday would not have wanted to do that. But Erin today would like to sleep in a bed please please please please-
They all agreed to see if there was an inn in the village.
Good news! There was!
And they had some protocol where visitors of the village had to meet with the magistrate in the first two days of their stay. Since they'd arrived in the early afternoon, it was highly suggested they go do that. Now. They should do that now. It's that building right over there.
Fascinating local politics, Erin commented to Alinua, who was grabbing a few sprouts from the ground. A guard suggested they leave weapons outside, and while Dainix complied with that, Kendal - not for the first time, Alinua mentioned later - said the sword was all he had left, and was allowed to keep it. Falst and Tess were their own weapons so that wasn't a bother for them. And why would a guard say no to someone carrying a flower with them, so Alinua was fine. And of course, Erin had a plethora of skills at his disposal, ranging from his elemental prowess to his intellect and- oh they're all walking in oh dear—
The meeting with the Magister - who told them to call him "Lightkeeper," an old surname from when his family tended to fires - wasn't actually out of the ordinary. A series of basic questions, "who are you," - just some travelers on our way to Helm - "what's brought you here," - we're just passing through, saw a village, and thought it might be nicer to stay in a bed than on the ground - "how long do you intend to stay," - one night is all, at most two - "are you a threat to us," - nope not at all - and "is there anything in particular that we can help with?" - do you have a library??? I mean uh a store where we can restock things and food. Yes. That. Food.
Oh, and Erin was hungry. And local politics and correcting his map was nice but fooooood. Now, he was a civilized person and would not start complaining about that. Unfortunately his stomach did not get that memo. Tess - gods bless her she's wonderful - asked about where to get food, and they were recommended a place.
The one thing that was largely… not what Erin expected was Magister Lightkeeper's request at the very end. He asked if Erin would return later for a chat. Said he recognized Erin as a student of magic and had a few questions. Perhaps to be discussed over dinner, he offered. And well, who was Erin to say no to that? Seriously who was Erin to say no to that, he'd been to meetings with officials since before he could walk. They were second nature to him. A second nature that didn't quite fit right but no one needed to know that. So he agreed. The request to come alone was also odd, but he didn't want to impose. Okay well he could, but then Tess would frown at him and Falst would make a comment about the library in Zuurith and ughhhhhhhh so no imposing.
And then, while shopping for things there was a lot of noise in the store and he kept noticing the villagers staring at them and he got bumped into like three times and nearly got lost trying to get back to the inn and he swore he had seen that same guy with the beard following them and thought it was nothing but then Falst said that he definitely smelled familiar, and there was just this feeling like something was off the whole time.
He wasn't the only one who noticed it. Falst did, said he felt on guard. Alinua said she thought that was her being out of practice with people. Kendal announced that he was going to go talk to the god of the forest for information. Dainix wanted to walk around the inn again to check if people were following them. And it was almost time for the dinner with the magistrate.
"I don't know." Falst sat by the window in one of the rooms they'd rented. "As… fun as this has been, I'm fine with sleeping in the woods if we want to leave. Less people there."
"And also no beds." Erin pointed out.
"YOU keep dozens of pillows in your bag!"
"For necessity!! It's important to have good sleep!"
"So just sleep on the pillows!"
"That's not what they're for!!"
"Hey."
Erin froze in his wild gestureing as Tess stood.
"Falst has a point. We've all felt something off with this town. There's still a few hours till nightfall, and as soon as Kendal returns, I say we move as fast as we can. If we knew which direction Kendal walked in, I'd say we go meet him there."
Erin frowned.
"I mean, what's keeping us here?" Alinua spoke up. "There's no grand library here, no real purpose of us being here other than food and nice beds. We got more food. I don't think the beds are worth it if we feel like we're being watched."
"I…" Erin sighed, "I admit that's probably a good idea. When Kendal and Dainix return, we'll leave. I don't really want to just avoid the meeting with Lightkeeper though. Feels rude."
"Ah yes, good thing we'll never see that guy again." Falst muttered.
"He said he had some magic questions!"
"Oh so this is about your pride then?"
"No! I just wanted to help!"
"You aren't the only mage here." Alinua's voice hardened. "I'm pretty obviously a Life Mage. Yet he asked you in particular."
"Maybe he's not a life mage?"
"Maybe. Or combining that with us being watched… You did say you were worried about Paladins possibly coming after us if they recognized you in Zuurith. And the magistrate's name is literally Lightkeeper."
"These people don't look like Paladins, and that was related to keeping fires." Crossing his arms, Erin looked over the books next to his bag. "And maybe the town's just suspicious of outsiders."
"They do smell weird."
"Thank you, Falst."
"Like there's something they're covering up."
"Most people smell like that, Falst."
Grumbles and frowns around the room.
"Gah, fine." Erin threw his arms in the air. "You all have points. We'll leave once Kendal and Dainix get back. But I'd like to talk to the magister for just a few minutes. If there's some way I can help, I want to do that. I'll say that something has come up and I can't stay. You can meet me outside the town hall. Alright?"
Tess nodded. "Okay."
Falst pointed at Erin. "If you're still inside that guy's office after thirty minutes, I will pull you out of there."
Alinua seemed to be going over what seeds she had in case there was a need.
"Thank you, Falst." Erin sighed.
"You're most welcome."
Lo and Behold, the magistrer decided to send an armed guard to escort Erin to his office which was a totally normal and not worrisome thing at all. Ha. Yep. Normal. Ignoring that sense of unease - Oh it's hunger again. Ugh.
Erin thanked the guards for doing their job, gathered his things, told Tess, Falst, and Alinua he'd see them later, and followed the guards… who were definitely surrounding him as they walked. What a normal demonstration of how a village respects guests. Haha. Great!
Erin was already having a bad day. He was tired, achey, ornary if he was being honest, generally a touch more paranoid than he'd like, and quite hungry. And he had to go talk to a local government official.
The guards escorted Erin to a different room in the building, a room with a long table, useful for meetings or for dining. A surprisingly elegant spread was laid out along the table. The magistrate already sat at one end, plate filled with food. He smiled as Erin walked into the room.
"Ah, Mage Ruunaser! Wonderful to see you!"
"Magistrate Lightkeeper," Erin dipped his head slightly, "I regret to say that I cannot stay as long as I said earlier today. Unfortunately, something has occurred, and my traveling companions and I will have to leave tonight, instead of staying the night as we had hoped"
"Oh dear!" The magistrate looked shocked. "I do hope everything is alright? Here, let's at least have a meal before you leave." he gestured to the chair next to him. "Sit, sit!"
Erin's stomach growled at the sight of food.
"No, it's… a friend's father is ill and we do need to rush. I have time for a short conversation, then I must go." Erin sat. "You said you wanted to discuss something, Magister Lightkeeper?"
"I did, yes. And please, just Lightkeeper." He squinted at Erin. "You do seem rather hungry. Here," Lightkeeper pushed a bowl of bread towards Erin, "at least have a slice of bread before you travel."
The bread looked fluffy and warm and… Fine. Erin took a slice of bread. It tasted almost as good as it looked. Some kind of a corn meal in it had a surprising texture, but anticipating that for the second bite made it taste better.
Lightkeeper smiled, ate a bite of his own food, then leaned back. "I'm not a mage myself, but I do spellcast. Elemental theory is just… it's fascinating. I read any book I can about it. You went to the Aserean Mage Academy, right?"
Erin hurriedly swallowed the bite he was chewing. "Yes, I did."
"Oh, in another life that would have been me as well." Lightkeeper looked wistfully into the distance. "Regardless, I spend what limited free time I have thinking about magic theory. Have you heard of the seventh element theory?"
There was an odd feeling of weakness in Erin's limbs. No need to worry. No one knows. Breathe and act like a person. "…It is discussed at the academy. I wrote a paper on it once."
Lightkeeper smiled, grew more animated. "Wonderful! There aren't enough books commonly distributed on the subject! It's quite interesting, that theory. The idea that there's something unseen that connects to sustanance? The reason why homonculi don't last, because they're missing something!"
The world felt off. Huh, this was almost as bad as waiting for that presentation last year. "It's not…" Erin swallowed, took a sip of the water provided. "…proven, but I agree. It's an interesting… theory." Not a theory in actuality. Not when Erin had a direct link to Void and had channeled it recently. The first true Void Mage. "I'm afraid I can't offer you much more information about it. I… I really should be going-"
His vision blurred as Erin tried to stand. Moving more than he did. Erin tripped as he tried to take a step, fell into the arms of a waiting guard.
"Oh, thank the Light." He heard someone say through depths of ocean and wind.
And everything… faded.
…
Fuzzy.
His head felt fuzzy.
And whatever he was laying on was hard and cold.
That's not how beds should be.
Erin's eyes opened. It took him a minute to process the multicolored crystal walls, ceiling, and floor, and what exactly they meant.
Soulcrystal. He was in a soulcrystal room. No access to outside elements. Commonly used for mage prisons.
He tried to push himself off the ground, but felt a painful sting on his wrists. Arms tied. His arms were tied in such a way he couldn't actually touch his seals, forearms bound together.
Oh no.
Oooooh no.
Okay. This was bad.
Oh look, you're awake.
Very, very bad.
I was beginning to wonder when that would happen. Void sounded almost amused.
Erin managed to sit up against the wall behind him and slowly looked around the small room.
"Could… we not do this right now? I already have a headache, not counting you."
The door seemed to be across from him, a seem in the soulcrystal. Not really enough for energy to get through. But… maybe…
Sure. I'll defer to your experience… how did you put it? Ah, yes. 'Being weak and needing help.'
Oh he was definitely amused. Erin groaned.
But, I can't help but notice you don't have a plan to get out of here-
"Not yet. But I'm thinking."
And that thinking walked you right into a Paladin trap.
Drugged. Yep. So the town was connected to that cult. They got his name and face from Zuurith.
Wait-
I haven't heard anything about your allies. I did hear that they contacted someone and will transport you elsewhere when whatever is ready.
Not good. Except…
"Why haven't you taken control?" Erin tested stretching his legs. "You could have done that at any point after I passed out. Yet you're just… talking to me."
Void sighed. It would have taken ample energy to move you. The drug made your body all slow and unable to move right. And if I did, whatever limited guard this place has would have turned every weapon against you. So I waited.
And if the drug had mostly worn off now-
"Why not now?" Erin felt something shift inside him. "Not that you should! Just. Curious."
Again, I thought I'd defer to your experience being weak in this situation. We could keep waiting for your allies… but it's been a while and we're closer to further capture the longer you wait. Which leaves another option.
"Yes?"
Asking for help. There was a smile in Void's voice.
"…what?"
I can get us out of here. I can cut through those ropes, open that door, and walk out of this fortress safely. All you need to do is ask.
Memories of the times Void had taken over, of the deaths and pains and the feeling of his body not being his, flashed through Erin's mind.
"No."
No?
No. There would be… something, there had to be some other way. The door, that sliver of a gap, maybe, something that Erin could do.
Erin got his feet under him and stood up, leaning against the wall for support. He only felt like a baby deer a little bit as he walked across the room, his steps wobbling slightly.
Reaching the door was a relief. Except… there was definitely no way he could get the door open. No energy getting through that sliver of a crack, no stone for him to make into a lever to open the door, nothing. Erin thumped his head against the door, breathed, and slid to the ground.
There had to be a way. There…
So…
Erin was going to start screaming.
Are you ready to admit you need help now?
"Just…" steady breathing, it's just a negotiation. "Let me channel you."
Hmm… No.
"WHAT"
Quiet! Void energy flowed from Void's symbol. You don't want them hearing you. Now, try again, quieter this time.
"What," Erin angrily whispered, "do you mean no?"
I mean for you to admit you need help. Back outside of… whatever that city was with the Paladin stronghold, you said I seem to think I can blast every problem with overwhelming power, that I have no experience being weak or needing help, and to defer to your expertise. And I admit, I don't care for having to work with another being. But… you view your problems nearly as I do. How many times have you responded to me with a burst of lightning? You knocked yourself unconscious blasting that little storm god with fire. This isn't a problem you can destroy with your power. So, admit you need my help.
"I… I did."
No, you told me to allow you to channel my energy. You cannot get out of this without my power. Ask for help.
A cage inside of a cage. No way out.
You've already reached that conclusion in your mind. Just say it out loud. If it helps, only we will know.
Erin sat up. Looked at the door. At the mass of Void surrounding him, waiting. And sighed.
"Help me. I can't get out of this room. I need… your help."
Of course.
A surge, something shifting, almost a pull backwards-
And Void stood.
Sliced through the ropes holding Erin's arms and stretched.
"Oh that is better!"
Erin watched as his body moved. He could feel it and yet not. An almost dull sensation.
Wait, I thought-
"I said I'd help you. I didn't say if you would be the one in control when we walked out of here."
A mass of void pressed into the sliver in the door. A shifting, creaking noise, and it was pulled off its hinges.
Three guards looked at them in shock.
"Quick! Sound the-"
Void flicked his hand and the guards slammed into the wall, crumpling.
No!
"No?" Void began walking down the hall as another guard noticed them. "They drugged and kidnapped you. And they worship my Other. Why protest to mild injury?"
Erin floundered for words. They're- I- Just- I just don't want…
"Ah. You don't want to watch me kill anyone."
…Yes.
Void paused where the hall intersected another, knocked a guard to the floor and blocked off that part of the juncture.
"Then, why don't you sleep a bit more while I get us out of here?"
What- NO! Don't-
Void surrounded him, a wave through his mind, wrapping and twisting, blocking off light and thought, holding still…
Darkness.
A comfortable nothing.
Substance to it as well, wrapped around.
A cocoon, that was the word. It was a cocoon.
He didn't want to be in the cocoon, but he had no body to move.
Just supported by this, wrapped around, kept safe and yet… not.
Finally, it started to unravel.
And Erin found himself standing in a forest.
The setting sun gleaming through the thick leaves.
His fingers twitched. His again. He…
Erin took a sharp breath and reeled back at the smell of copper.
There was blood on his hands. A splattering on his shirt and much more on his shoes, but his hands…
"…Void?" Erin whispered.
Nothing.
Just crickets and sounds of a forest. A peaceful forest.
And… running?
"ERIN!?"
Erin turned, quickly whipping his hands on his pants, to see Falst run through the trees.
"We've been looking-" Falst's eyes fell on the blood, looked Erin up and down. "Are you hurt?"
"I-" oh was he? He didn't actually know. "I don't think?"
Falst tilted his head slightly at that. "…Okay. Everyone else is this way, come on. Alinua can look you over." He gestured towards the direction he came.
"Right, yeah." Erin started walking in that direction, Falst next to him.
The sun was setting.
"How… long was I gone?"
Falst eyed Erin. "… bit over two hours. We've been looking for you for most of that."
More running noises- Erin looked up and saw the rest of his friends.
"What happened!?-" "Where have you been?-" "Are you-"
Too many noises.
"We need to move." Erin interrupted Alinua, Dainix, and Tess. "I'll explain, but we- we need to get as far from this town as we can."
Worried looks and nods.
"Couldn't agree more." Dainix glanced around. "We still have some daylight. Let's move."
Tess slung an arm under Erin's. "By the way, I have your stuff."
"Oh, thank you."
"Really." Falst smiled slightly, ignoring Dainix's pointed stare at Falst's unwrapped arm "That's what you're worried about. Your stuff."
"I have important things in that bag!"
"Mhmm. Like your dozens of pillows."
Erin opened his mouth to protest, then closed it and sighed. "Yes. Like my several pillows. That we can use as makeshift beds because we'll likely have to sleep on the ground tonight. If we get any sleep tonight."
"Come on, you can complain while we walk." Tess started moving.
"But I can complain?"
"Obviously."
"Even if we said no, you would." Alinua commented from Erin's other side.
Sleeping under a bush, local politics, a loud market place, kidnapped by a cult, possessed, and now fast walking away from said cult. The day had been pretty bad. Horrible, one might say.
Here's hoping tomorrow would be better.