Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave closed and opened his hand as he sat on the beach with Sophia. He wore temporary rags, his body barely responded to him, but there was no denying he was alive. There was nothing quite like losing it all to appreciate how much he had. Theorizing about the impermanence of his body’s death was all well and good, but truth be told, that had been one of the most harrowing experiences, and he’d surely remember it forevermore.

And not merely because of what’d been done to him—also because of what he’d learned.

He’d been given a glimpse of the purpose of the Hopeful truly was when his mind had been consumed by the thing. The master of the Shadowlands wasn’t a subordinate of the Heralds—he was an equal, perhaps something even beyond that. He certainly wasn’t a simple tool or slave, and nor were the Shadowlands something insignificant to the larger scheme of things. It might be said the Hopeful was at the crux of it all.

But the Heralds… their name was literal. They heralded something else—a massive change, a shift of the paradigm. The Hopeful actually knew what that change was, expected it… hoped for it, like nothing else. His anticipation of the ecstasy he’d experience in the coming change was so strong his face was permanently warped like that in voluntary enthusiasm. It was a disturbing show of faith.

Argrave had always suspected—been outright told, even—that this entire cycle was in service of something else. Confirming that suspicion did nothing to make him pause or arouse his curiosity.

With his thoughts slowing, he looked at Sophia. She looked totally exhausted. He put his hand on her head and she flinched, woken up from near-sleep.

“You did good, Sophia. You’re doing great.” He shakily rose to his feet. “Let’s get going.”

He trudged along up the sand, heading for the parliamentary hall where his sister and Anneliese would be struggling valiantly against what they were up against. Sophia tried to follow along, but she stumbled from fatigue a few times. Argrave picked her up and walked along.

“I can walk,” Sophia said quietly.

“You can,” he answered back, but didn’t put her down.

With that, nothing more needed to be said. Within Blackgard, the only evidence of the raging battle against Gerechtigkeit was the sight of it looming above in flashes of light. The city sounded serene, undisturbed. The Domain of Order Argrave had imposed using Law’s blessing still persisted, keeping the peace. Everyone was either inside their home, or had sought refuge in the various shelters they’d established.

At some point, Sophia fell asleep as Argrave steadily walked through the silent city. It was a steeling reminder to witness the beautiful city he’d helped flourished—a still image of one little picture comprising the larger one. When he finally arrived at the parliamentary hall, he saw Anneliese and Raven leaving.

“Argrave,” Anneliese called out, rushing up to greet him. “I was just about to come for you. You’re well? At least… well enough?”

“Stiff,” he said, then added, “I’m sure it’ll pass.”

“Law’s been holding his own against Gerechtigkeit, stalling,” she said in some small relief. “But it seems like nothing we do can cause significant damage to Gerechtigkeit. We’d intended to go to Hause, now.”

“Time for her to make good on her word,” Raven shook his head. “If she hadn’t been so foolishly cautious, all of this might’ve been avoided.”

“It might do nothing,” Anneliese countered.

“And it might do everything,” he answered back just as firmly.

Anneliese looked up. “Whatever the case, the situation has stabilized. The longer it stretches on, though, the more powerful he’ll get. We’re losing ground second by second. The Great Chu… I can’t even think about it.”

“No time to waste, then,” Argrave muttered beneath his breath. “Where are we going?”

“I’d intended to study you for insight on that wound.” Raven looked up to the sky—south toward Jast, where that great crack in reality persisted, visible even when one’s eyes were closed. “But you had to go and die, removing any trace it might’ve left on your body. Now you’re useless to me.”

“What, then?” Argrave pressed.

“We go to Hause,” Anneliese outlined. “We see what she can do for us. Raven, meanwhile…”

Raven ground his huge obsidian staff into the ground. “I’ve been considering taking the role I’d cast aside.”

simply. “Not as you were,

fact remained he towered over him. “If what Hause gives us is insufficient, we will lose. The Smiling Raven may help us

as well—and if that’s true, potentiation poses no risk for them,

After, though… unless I have confidence of our victory,

“Raven…!” Argrave stepped forward.

decision,” he said. Then, he turned and walked away, fading into the

he’s right to say as much.” Anneliese’s words made Argrave look

I’ll… we’ll just make him look stupid,

#####

would’ve liked to let her sleep as long as she liked, she might need to be quickly called upon

day has finally come,” Hause said, a swell of unease and anticipation in her

herself—like she expected reprimand from them, or perhaps she more simply knew the sheer scale of the devastation that’d been caused. Argrave was in no mood to cast the blame. This situation had

start? I mean, what do we actually do?” Argrave looked between Hause

I’ll give one last warning.” Hause looked between them. “I know, perhaps, you are tired of my caution, but I won’t budge on this point. Argrave embodies judgment—and you, eternity.” Her face grew stern, and he clasped her hands

it’s related to judgment, for example, Argrave might possess a power akin to Gerechtigkeit’s. Perhaps his mentality will change to better suit that ideal. I cannot honestly

been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report

a silent question. He deliberated

it’s not what he is. Gerechtigkeit—Griffin—is someone who’s been beaten down by the world, made into something monstrous after being used and abused. He can’t claim the role of judge, no matter how much he proclaims it.” Argrave glanced at Anneliese,

become something that you cannot recognize—cannot conceive of. It may be as much a trap as it is something

importantly the emotions that you feel warning me.” She paused, revisiting those debates she must’ve had with herself. “Nevertheless,

informed consent, but

and then took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for what was

knew it was logically sound—he could better protect all present from unpredictable results with his blood magic.

hands as if in prayer. “Then… please remain

When it did, her blonde hair lost all of its luster, aging and going gray immediately. Indeed, her whole form took on a husk-like appearance that was rather jarring. This golden form opened

and the moment the fingers of that spectral form met Anneliese’s body, Argrave could feel a shift in the air. With it came a breath of spring…

#####

inexplicable took place. It was as though she, too, was divested of her body, and together they soared through a universe of endless possibilities. In brief flashes, she saw a myriad routes her life could’ve taken, and branching roads her life had yet to come to. It was impossible to comprehend, but it still fascinated her endlessly. She saw traces of people left unmet, friends left

but only that—she had no desire to

taking in the frozen fragments of the many lives she could’ve lived and those she might yet live. Those in the future were vague, in constant flux with every movement she made. Those of past choices were gray fragments, dead and discarded.

we are,” said Hause. Her voice carried with it the whisper of similar phrases—all the things she could’ve said, from ‘we’re here,’ to ‘this is the end.’ It was headache-inducing, hearing

like this?” Anneliese asked, hearing her own question rephrased

saw such clear echoes of the past, nor the vaguest hints of the future. It means the totality of what you can achieve is heavy. Do you see

prompted her to, finding nothing. It was only when she looked up that it came into sight. With the [Truesight] bestowed by Yinther, her eyes began to

I feared,” Hause said, kneeling beside Anneliese and consoling her.

her pumping heart. In other realities, her heart wasn’t beating fast at all, or the sight had

saw a power that

out in the void,

power at least equal to the one Sophia carries,” Anneliese said. “Yet… raw. Untapped. Untamed.

and destruction. Forever. Infinity. Always. Never shrinking, always expanding. That which always has been, and always will be. It’s no wonder that you perceive it so intensely. Fundamentally,

altogether and looked upward toward where Hause looked. What she saw defied her preconceptions of reality—new colors, new dimensions, new sounds and new ways of being. It was everything all at once, existing forever and never existing in the same breath. Even if she wanted to describe to others the things she saw, she

Anneliese questioned. “Were they exposed to the forces of creation, of destruction? Did