Jackal Among Snakes

“This isn’t the time to be hesitant anymore, Hause,” Argrave said plainly, leaning forth on the stone chair provided to him. “We’re going to be facing something that’s far beyond our imagination. This could quite possibly be the last time that you have the opportunity to use your divine powers. Let it be in service of something good.”

Argrave, alongside Anneliese and Raven, sat in the heart of Hause’s temple in Blackgard. The underground cathedral had been carved out of the mountain, and drained of the magic within its stone to return the rock to its original sleek gray. Opposite them sat Hause, the goddess of potential and her closest acolyte, Sonia. They appeared rather polarized to each other—the goddess blonde and tall, and Sonia with black hair and short stature. Both of their gazes lingered in the direction of Raven, but they still gave attention to this meeting.

It was understandable they cast glances at their old friend. Raven had changed, substantially. Lorena insisted on helping him improve his self-image. Among her people, a monstrous and decaying body was the sign of a deteriorated mental state. She thought it would be best for him if his image returned to as he’d been before—and he had, in large part. His form was always somewhat in flux, but he retained the image of the ashen-haired human that Argrave had seen only in memories.

“My ability is not as precise as you believe it to be,” Hause argued. “Anyone who goes through the process will come out of the other end changed. This could affect more than physical or mystical strength alone—it could fundamentally alter the nature of a person. And it may not even change the person in a way that will help you and yours in the fighting.”

“But it certainly could. As to the changes you speak of… even I retained my reason, my mental acuity, until I made the mistake of employing my power of potentiation on another,” Raven argued, standing in the corner of the room. “That was what broke me. Not your power. It wasn’t your mistake.”

“He’s right. Come on.” Argrave put both of his arms on the table between them. “You had to have done this with other people before Raven. Not every use of your ability ended up backfiring, didn’t it?”

“Even before that, it was enough that my goddess exercised discretion,” Sonia cut in. “She would come to know a person’s character very well before ever allowing them to realize their dormant potential.”

“And she has learned our people well!” Argrave leaned back in the chair, holding his arms wide. “Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to bring the whole world under my thrall. It might have been considered the pragmatic thing to do. Instead, I turned my nose up at it, and I did what I felt was the most moral thing. I can give you dossiers full of good deeds that my companions have done, too.”

Anneliese placed both her hands on the table gently. “You face death on the end of either choice, Hause. Either you will lament the fact that you helped someone realize their innate talent, because they cost lives… or you will regret the fact that you did not, because Gerechtigkeit came in greater force than we anticipated and killed countless of our people.”

Before she could respond, Argrave pushed the attack. “I’m going to be blunt with you, because you’ve been a constant stabilizing force in Blackgard that I’ve come to respect and appreciate.” Argrave scooted his chair closer to the table and Anneliese. “I have reason to believe that divinity itself will cease to be once we break the cycle of judgment. The things that you’re scared of… all of your fears could become irrelevant. In a few months, when I’ve inevitably won, all divinity might cease to exist entirely.”

Goddess and acolyte had diverging reactions.

“Is that true?” Sonia asked loudly, leaning in.

muted surprise, “So the

the both

having lived thousands of years, with unimaginable power at their fingertips? Some might

negative. Gods are merely another terrible facet of the cycle of judgment. There’s a reason why the Shadowlands are filled with dead gods, and a reason why the Hopeful listens to the Heralds’ words yet.

words because Raven stood to lose just as much as Hause did.

has been taken without permission.

beginning to see that I may be overcautious, when such odds face us. Had I been less cautious in the past,

elaborate on what you mean?” Anneliese

match gods—perhaps even Law, though I

that sour statement into something sweet,” Argrave noted.

beneath you,” Hause gestured. “This is because you, or the other gods, could

you would be willing to use your power on Anneliese and I,

her head. “Your queen is right in saying that death may lie at

nodded. Hause’s ability, much like the Fruits of Being, was something that was unpredictable in what it could truly achieve. It had been responsible for the total eradication of an entire continent. That power could appear again, and be harnessed toward greater ends. He certainly

Argrave asked. “I mean… is everyone going to get

said with a certain conviction. “Raven was born innately capable of what he became. I drew it out of him, but in the end, he wasn’t fundamentally altered. As a matter of fact, my fears about you may be unfounded. Your dormant potential could amount to nothing more than a base trick. I doubt it, but

do you doubt it?” Argrave

to dismantling the cycle of judgment, bear a potential I perceive as being related to judgment.” Hause crossed her arms. “My power is the closest thing to prophecy that’s ever existed. That’s why it concerns me. That’s why, of

said that someone can realize

have my assent. Bring me people you trust. Let me assess them myself. And if I think they’re

first wave right now, I think,” Argrave said, casting a glance at Anneliese to get her confirmation.