Jackal Among Snakes

A bird of wind tore through the skies, keeping its mystic wings steady in its glide. A party of many sat atop it—Argrave’s coterie and the Magister couple of Hegazar and Vera. It brought back some memories. Argrave watched the terrain disaffectedly, focused more on the duty coming ahead than the scene before him. This ride had inspired awe the first time, but the second time not so much so, even with the time gap.

“Dispel it here,” Argrave looked back and told Vera.

The Magister nodded and the bird supporting them exploded all around in a great gust of wind that gently lowered them all downwards. Soon enough, they landed in a portion of the taiga that seemed remarkably similar in all directions. Even still, Argrave trudged forward.

There was an unusually somber air over their party, and even Argrave did not break the silence with his voice as he generally did. The area, much as the first shrine to Erlebnis, inspired an air of quietude and reflection. Things seemed gloomier in this stretch of the taiga.

Argrave did not fear betrayal from Hegazar or Vera once they learned of why he was here, not anymore. He’d won their loyalty by ensuring their future under his wing. Anneliese, empath that she was, had confirmed loyalty from Vera, though Hegazar was still the wild card with his illusory projection. Nevertheless, Argrave felt confident. Argrave’s association with Erlebnis would give the two Magisters no ammunition. They sailed on the same boat, and the two Magisters would never be so foolish as to sink it. Mutual interest was inextricable.

They walked far through the taiga, trudging through melted snow and densely packed soil. At a point Argrave had been searching for, the land sloped downwards ahead of them and ventured into the depths of the earth, half-hidden by the melting snow of a winter past. Argrave stopped at the mouth of this entrance, peering beyond.

“The magic is thick within,” Hegazar said as they made their first step downwards. “It’s dense all throughout this place. It almost tints the air black.”

Even Hegazar’s words lost some of their typical glib. There was something in their sixth sense that told them of the true nature of the power within this place. Argrave supposed that was a good feature to have for a place of worship. Argrave, too, could see the wisps of magic floating about the air with the sight offered to him by Garm’s eyes. He considered that the shrine in the south probably had the same features, but now he could simply see them clearly.

They pressed onward. Though they passed beneath the earth briefly, soon enough the scene once again opened up into an expansive cave with a hole in the top that allowed light to fall in. Most obvious was the gargantuan bear resting in the center of the beam of light pooling in. Argrave had seen grizzly bears and polar bears before, but none could compare to the sheer size of the black-furred beast ahead. It was fearsome enough Galamon stepped in front of Argrave, prepared to handle it should the thing stir.

Less immediately obvious were the walls of the cave. There was a single sculpture carved out of the stone and repeated in perpetuity until the stone cavern was completely filled with countless replicas. The carving depicted a great eye peering down into the cave, and just below it an arm held a book in its hand for the eye to read. In the back, like a nexus for all of these eyes, was a large head. It was perhaps fifteen feet both in height and width. It had no distinct features from this far away.

The bear slept… or hibernated, perhaps, given the winter that had just passed. Argrave cast a glance to Anneliese, and she took the signal to step forward. This bear had been born in this cave, had eaten its food in this cave, and had lived in this cave its entire life. Unwittingly, it had taken in many of the energies of this place throughout its life. Both in size and intelligence, it was incomparable to any of its species. Yet its fatal failing was its bestial nature—it had no resistance to simple druidic magic. Its soul remained mundane, unlike those of elves or humans.

The bear opened its eyes and raised its head as Anneliese approached. It began to prepare a roar, but a spell manifested in her hand—a B-rank subsidiary of [Progenitor], called [Family Tree]. Faint roots of green energy came from her hand and gently surged into the bear, like the faintest whisper of benevolence. At once, Argrave felt a new presence in the druidic network that he and Anneliese were bound in. Doubtless Durran would feel it, too.

“I was expecting… a smaller bear to transport,” Vera admitted. “The spell might not… well, it might,” she reasoned, sizing it up with her orange eyes.

The spell did nothing but improve the creature’s disposition towards them tremendously. Argrave hoped it would prove easy to direct—Anneliese could not control it directly with [Family Tree] alone.

“What in the world is this place?” Hegazar looked around. “How did you know of it?”

long enough, you’ll learn,” Argrave answered simply and stepped forward, running his hand along the bear’s coarse dark fur. The creature relaxed as though it was among members of its family instead of potential threats. Argrave’s nose curled—the animal would need to be washed, definitely. As its black nose curled, Argrave suspected it thought the same of them. Galamon paid the creature cautious attention as Argrave made his way to the

its features remained. Though bald, Argrave gradually distinguished from facial

off the ground, and picked up a stone quill. He looked back to Hegazar and

an emissary of an ancient god,” Argrave said

statement as humor. Vera, though, recognized

demanded, and Hegazar looked at her

not expecting them to know the name. In a vaguely religious state like Vasquer, other gods weren’t widely remembered. “And there. You know one of

memory, they knew enough for that alone to spark some unease. Ancient gods were not viewed kindly in Vasquer. Much like the Hellenic gods were viewed by Greeks or Romans, the ancient

matched those

you’re uncomfortable. Stay if

Anneliese looked at him. “Do not manifest your tension

you to escort me here, but I didn’t hope to

in magical growth,” Vera reflected. Argrave felt she was misunderstanding things,

consorts with an ancient god,” Hegazar continued. “He’s mad. None associate with him. He lives

Argrave explained. “I offer

hope, for your sake, you understand what you’re

Vera nodded. “We will wait far beyond this

nodded in agreement, then turned, regarding the multitude of sculptures cautiously as he walked out. Their quiet footsteps were deafening in their conviction as the two walked out. Argrave

to remedy a severe deficiency we’ve been struggling with. We will have all the north, the

no one seems to have faith in this idea of mine,” Argrave finished.

as you do. But I think you should take a minute to reflect why you have chosen this, then examine the choice once more,” Anneliese said. “Once you have… I will relax completely. All I fear is that you act brash for my benefit. Self-sabotage is

rose to his feet and stepped around

come to the north to personally facilitate that development. But no, that wasn’t the crux of things—he wanted to be prepared for Gerechtigkeit. Even

felt stagnant—A-rank loomed above, almost unreachable. Now, he’d seen a light. He enjoyed progressing in the ranks, enjoyed the feeling of growing both in knowledge and power. Working with Elenore, who’d assumed most administrative duties, he felt his importance in the fight against

advance and envy of someone better than he was. He tried to frame things logically. Erlebnis had no history of malevolence. Argrave had already met with the ancient god’s emissaries once before. If they failed to make a deal, nothing would happen. At the same time, other repercussions might rear their head—Argrave had used Erlebnis’ name, and he had allowed the black flame

Erlebnis had demonstrated clearly in Margrave Ivan’s basement the god could cause repercussions whenever he wanted, and they had not come to him yet. There was no logical reason this could be dangerous. Erlebnis didn’t need Argrave to

divide between those who achieved success and didn’t: that divide was

it,” Argrave opened his eyes and