Maledictus Terra Book 2: Sanguifex Part 97
Introduction
Welcome back to Maledicturs Terra. This is a Chain Story between myself and @lex-zaiya, meaning that we each write the parts alternatively.
If you have not read Maledictus Terra Book 1: Mortis Custos yet, it starts HERE at Part 1 and ends at Part 101 HERE. At the end of the Part 101 post you will find links to all 101 Parts!
The previous part by @lex-zaiya can be found HERE.
Part 97
Magna's ears felt as though they were burning, which in turn infuriated her even more as it felt like such a childish reaction in the face of everything they had been through over the course of the last year together.
Since the moment that she had met Derric, she had been drawn to his mystery. Then it turned into a lot more than that.
He had grown, he had changed and their connection had grown stronger. They had both fought and bled together.
Then there were the precious few months when there was no battles to fight and no crisis to avert. It was then when she and Derric could act her age at least and spend time together having fun. Laughing together, eating together and once, even dancing together.
It seemed like a dream from a long time ago now and Magna realized that with the proposal hanging in the balance that it would probably mean the end of any chance of living in that dream again.
She sighed. There was more at stake here.
The world that they lived in and the powers with which they fought meant that they needed strong allies that were just as otherworldly.
"Right... so you want my opinion Derric?" She asked simply.
Yes. He answered.
"Well then change into a man first so I can see your face while we speak." She instructed.
As you wish. The transformation did not take very long. Derric's wolf form melted away. His shape became taller and he took up less space horizontally. His features became the rugged handsome face that she loved so much. He had an easy face to look at, one that was prone to smiles and laughter. "There. Better?"
Magna nodded and turned to Vitex. "You said that you want him to be your avatar? What exactly does that mean and what is it that you expect from him?"
Vitex blinked a few times as though she did not think that someone would ask.
When the question hung in the air too long, Magna spoke up again. "You see, you Gods have not been around for a long time. For generations. Thus in living memory, these things you scoff at us for not knowing, you do not exist. So you come to us, from an era where you were powerful and respected... I am sure you are powerful. I have seen it. And yet... you would not be here negotiating with mortals if you had those powers you once had."
Vitex sighed and looked first at the ground and then aside at Mortis who raised his shoulders in a shrug. She looked again at this Princess who would pose to her these audacious questions. She put her hand out and drew a circle. A glowing light appeared and it was filled with geometric lines and symbols. "Time's Eye."
The ring expanded and Vitex changed the orientation of the circle and looked through it at Magna. She stood there for what seemed to be a long time but Magna knew that it could only have been a minute. She waited patiently, but soon enough her temper began to seethe under the surface.
"What do you see Vitex?" Mortis asked but Magna knew it was a question from Bellum instead.
Vitex blinked and let the circle fade. She stared at Magna. "Three in one hundred chances. Should I have to take this mortal child on myself. It is almost unthinkable."
"What?" Magan asked. "What do you mean?"
"It means that out of one hundred possible futures, if the two of you had to fight, you would three times and lose ninety-seven times." Mortis explained.
"That does not seem high." Magan said.
"It is a ludicrously high number!" Vitex spat. "I can't believe I am so weak..."
"Or perhaps the child is just very strong." Mortis and Bellum pointed out. "That was just by herself? What if she had help from friends?"
Vitex looked at her feet. "Significantly higher."
Magna raised one eyebrow. "I am guessing God's do not like the odds of a 3 in 100 chance of something bad happening to them? Or an even higher number..." Magna's statement was met with silence, which she took to affirm her suspicions. "Then it means that each party needs to gain something out of this negotiation."
After a moment of long silence Vitex nodded. "Fine. You have a point."
"Right, so what do you want?"
"I want a lot of things but foremost I want to raise the churches, temples and belief in me, the Goddess of the Forest. I need Derric to maintain the image and icon of that new worship. I cannot maintain a form that is viewed by many people simultaneously. It's a long story. Anyway, that is one level of things."
"Right. Well, I think if Derric were to be your host the only thing from you is some privacy and a decent warning should you need to speak to us or interact with us."
"Well, that was an easy request to agree to..." Vitex began.
"Hold on. I said all parties must benefit." Magna interrupted. "You want an avatar for your divinity and the re-establishment of a faith based on yourself. That is a lot. I asked for something small... some privacy. The other party is Derric, which may ask for something for himself."
Vitex conceded the point and bowed her head. She turned to look at Derric. "Very well. What is it that you want?"
Derric had been silent for most of the time, observing between the Princess and the Goddess. He thought of all the millions of things that he could ask for in that moment.
It then dawned on him that there was something that would make him uneasy most of the time and often result in nightmares. He was certain that this would be the best thing that he could ask for and it was befitting of his supposed station of Prince of his nation. A nation that had been eliminated.
He looked Vitex dead in the eye. "I want you to help me break the curse placed over my people. As my people are restored then so shall your belief."
Aaaaaaand, over to you @lex-zaiya!
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
The Reader List
If you would like to be tagged in every episode of Mortis Custos/Sanguifex, leave us a comment and get added in, miss nothing!
The Watchlist:
@weone, @merenludick, @clairemobey, @therneau, @blitzzzz, @pravesho, @joetunex, @captainquack22, @irisworld, @braaiboy, @sketchygamerguy, @fuego-oscuro, @felt.buzz, @dibblers.dabs, @beeber, @brittandjosie, @tamacvet, @alonicus, @joetunex, @stdd, @uop, @luizeba, @cryptoniusrex, @agreste, @itzchemaya, @darthsauron, @seki1
If for any reason you do not want to be tagged for a future episode, please let us know and we will remove you from the watchlist.
Congratulations @zakludick! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
woot woot!
And bam! This is brilliant and I can't wait to take over from here! This was a great update @zakludick
Thank you very much. Glad that you enjoyed it!
Enjoy writing the next bit! I am looking forward to it!