Ascension (Annalisa Marin)

[Valerius Nitrozian]

Fall 85, 513 AV „Behold my new Voice, Valerius Nitrozian, my most faithful servant!“ Rhysol could be heard, and Valerius stepped out of the shadows to reveal himself to his followers for the first time. He had reached his greatest goal. The weakling Valerius Nitrozian with all his ridiculous doubts and all his unwanted, inappropriate feelings was no more. He had become something more, something more powerful and immortal. Everything he did and everything he was was Rhysol’s now, as it should be. He made another step forward. All the people that mattered were there. He could see his grandfather Sitanos. He could see the look of surprise and pride on his face. His aunt Amanda, the head researcher of the Kelvic Research Institution was kneeling in front of him and praying. She would never criticize him and make fun of him again. All the Druvin were there and all the important families of Ravok. Wizards and warriors had come, from the other cities in Sylira and even beyond to take a look at him. They had constructed a new temple for him. The Temple of the Black Sun that had nearly been destroyed had been removed to make way for something new, to signal the beginning of a new age. The floor below him was covered with a million silver mirrors that reflected his face. He had changed. His once brilliant blue eyes had turned white, and his red hair seemed like a flame. He had been pleasant to look at before, but nothing more. Now he was flawless. He wore a robe made of the most expensive silk, so black that it seemed to swallow the light. A throne stood in the temple, in the middle of the silver floor, amidst black walls and columns where a thousand candles were attached. It was a work of art, made of shimmering, smooth black marble. Statues of terrifying beasts with wings and claws formed the sides of the thrones. Their maws were wide open so that rows of sharp teeth were visible. Great wings formed the back of the throne where Valerius sat down to adress his people for the first time. „Behold my Voice and obey him!“ Rhysol spoke. The god could not be seen, but his voice could be heard from everywhere at once. „He is my lover, and I speak through him. To anger him, means to anger me!“

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna's sleep had been fitful and her mind plagued with questions that never seemed to end. The events of the day had called into question just how hollow her faith had been, indeed her very purpose in life was something that bred question upon question. They never seemed to end, indeed she was drowning in them and it felt like she would never escape.

Now she found herself kneeling before a man in a room of mirrors, a booming voice sounding out around her that commanded her to kneel. She felt the words resonate with the mark over her heart, the brand placed upon her by Rhysol. His stake of claim over her very being. Her gaze was upon the mirror beneath her and the image looking back at her was truly wretched. How very far she had fallen.

Her clothes were the same tattered clothing she wore on Sahova, her cloak ripped and her other clothes worn and weathered. Dark circles ringed her eyes and her hair fell freely about her face, looking rather messy and reflecting the chaotic nature within. Then there were her eyes, grey eyes that had once held the truth of chaos within them, now they looked empty and searching.

She was kneeling. Only now did she really understand that but she didn't know why. Why was she kneeling? Why did she listen to the voice booming so far above her? What hold did it have over her to command her in such a way? It spoke of a Voice, what voice? Was it the madness Roknus Maelstrom had informed her of? Was she losing her mind in all of the questions? Why was she kneeling?

Because He wishes you to. There need be no reason other than Him, no purpose greater than Him. Rhysol is your master.

No... that wasn't right. Something stirred within her memories, unshackled by fear of Daren in this place. A girl. Her name was Celeste, the girl who had made her see what lay inside. The girl who hadn't turned away from her despite knowing of her darkest sin. Yes, she remembered. Self discovery, her path being what she chose it to be rather than it being chosen for her.

Then why was she still kneeling? She didn't particularly like kneeling, in fact the surface of the mirrors was quite uncomfortable. She didn't have to kneel, that was her decision and not Rhysol's. Anna was her own woman, even if she didn't really understand who that woman actually was or what meaning she held.

Slowly, almost as though unsure, she stood and actually looked around her. The building was wonderful and terrible to behold, massive in scope and grand in design. Yet, for all of its beauty she found it lacking when compared to the domain of Amaryllis, the Pre-Valterrian wonder of the Palsa Hydrasa.

People surrounded her, all of them were gazing upon a man distance from her on the other side of this massive temple. He sat upon a throne and was surrounded by statues of terrible beasts that looked threatening even though she realized they were not real. This whole scene was surreal, but Anna now knew her goal. With unsure steps she pushed her way through the crowd, towards the beautiful red haired man on the throne. Her face was a mask of determination. She would get her answers here, she needed to know.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

Valerius Nitrozian himself was not really aware that he was dreaming. He didn’t question the voice he was hearing, he didn’t question what was happening although the speed at which he had gone from a mere mortal to the consort of Rhysol was extraordinary. As far as he was concerned Rhysol had simply finally realized his worth. That foolish fortune teller Amelia Cross had suggested that he leave Ravok for a while, she had told him that he needed to open his mind to new things, but she had been wrong. They had all been wrong, all those heretics that had tried to fix him, that had tried to turn him into a different person. This here was the fullfillment of all his wishes. He was Rhysol’s emissary and the leader of the Black Sun. Two members of the Black Sun came forward. They were dressed in the traditional black robes with a white circle surrounding a black sun. Between them was a figure whose face was obscured by hood. Once they had reached him, they pulled the hood back. Before him stood a Syliran Knight, blonde and blue eyed and oh so noble looking. He was gagged so that he would not disturb the holy ceremony with his hateful lies. There was suddenly a dagger in Valerius‘ hands, silver, with a black handle that was decorated with a bright red ruby. He stabbed it directly into the knight’s heart. Blood began to flow, and a few moments later the man was on the floor, convulsing and dying. The crowd cheered. Once the sacrifice had finally stopped breathing, the Black Sun immediately removed it and joined the crowd once more, waiting for the first mass that Valerius would conduct in the name of Rhysol to begin. As Annalisa moved forward, towards him, the congregation looked at her diapprovingly, but Valerius raised his hands, signalling them to be quiet and let her be. Her clothes were tattered, she had dark circles under her eyes, and her hair was messy and unkempt, in short, she didn’t look like much, but she belonged to Rhysol, just like she did, although she was a lesser follower of his god. Once she was standing in front of him, he gestured for her to kneel before he raised his voice. „Speak, my child“, he asked her. His voice sounded different, deeper, stronger than it had been. Before he had only been an arrogant fool who lived off his family’s name, but now he possessed real power. His threats would never be empty threats again and people would do anything to gain his favour. „This one time I, the Voice of Rhysol, am willing to listen.“

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna watched as the beautiful red haired man was brought a man, though the apprentice couldn't see his face she noted blonde hair and a strong looking physique. A dagger was in the man's hand and in a single swift motion she watched as he plunged the weapon into the man's chest. The tall woman felt something stir in her chest as she watched the action, it wasn't as pleasant a feeling as she had normally felt. Instead of being amused she wondered the reason for the ending of the man's life. What purpose had bade this Voice to plant a blade in his chest?

Her stride never broke though, despite the odd feeling in her gut at watching this even occur and the weight of disapproving eyes upon her. She didn't ponder long upon it though, her questions were important and the answers ever more so. She needed to know the truth, whether the girl had been right in that her life was as hollow as it felt in this moment. Would this Voice, this Valerius Nitrozian, have the answers to fill her up? Or would his words ring as hollow as her own assurances? It was yet to be decided whether she would be satisfied.

The more that she walked this elegant temple the more she longed for the comfort of the Palsa Hydrasa, even the cryptic words of Amaryllis would be a welcome thing. The elegant Nuit would probably feel at ease even here, even though Anna was marked by the same god these people gave praise towards she felt a stranger. She played with the bronze ring on her left ring finger, deriving more comfort from the item than she did from her mark. She belonged somewhere else, Sahova. A living carving a life amidst the Undead.

The apprentice stood before this Voice, her uneasiness still radiating from her. She kneeled as bid, falling to one knee and lowering her head. It seemed unwise to offend the master of the grand temple, at least overtly. Perhaps her question would earn her the ire of this man, if so then she would have the answers she sought one way or another.

"I am Annalisa Marin, Apprentice Wizard of Sahova and one touched by the blood of Rhysol. I have come forward seeking answers from Rhysol's holiest of servants." She stated, feeling a little better speaking her given title. Apprentice Wizard had once brought feelings of disgust and shame, now it helped her remember something that she herself had earned.

The woman lifted her gaze, her tired grey eyes searching Valerius' solid white orbs. Was this the beauty that Rhysol offered? The power that was awarded to those who pleased him? What price did he demand for such things?

She needed to focus, questions first. Celeste had taught her something and that was that she needed to question everything she once held true and dear. Roknus Maelstrom had taught her something as well, that questions held the true nature of insanity behind them. Was she going insane then? Was she already lost in the waves of endless questions that might very well only lead to more questions? The Master of Reimancy had seemed to think so, his voices offering him mad insight into the matter.

Regardless of the sanity and how questionable hers was she needed to know, to understand why she did what she did. She felt hollow and empty, her purpose called into question by a girl she now regarded fondly. Her mistakes laid bare before her, she needed some confirmation of this from her god. If not him, than his Voice would do as well.

"I betrayed my best friend to gain the favor of Rhysol. I stole her work and crushed her dreams to advance myself, the woman who had been a sister to me in every manner except for by blood. I tossed her aside and reveled in the acceptance Rhysol granted me. I felt complete for the longest time, my actions vindicated." She started, her voice soft and quiet.

Recently, very recently, I have started to question myself and this path I have chosen. I have wondered how much of me remains? How much have I surrendered to chaos? Am I merely a puppet then, and when the strings are cut is the only thing left a husk.?" She pondered aloud.

"Answer me this, Voice of Rhysol, what makes Him worthy of my faith? I have done as he commands time and again and still the only thing that happens is that more and more of Annalisa Marin vanishes. I feel empty looking inwards, starved of who I am really. For once I look upon Rhysol and he has lacked the answers I seek."

The tall woman's eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch at the man sitting on the throne, wary and untrusting. They carried the weight of not a chaotic follower of Rhysol, but of a wizard who had seen too much and had to live with horrors beyond the ken of most mortals.

"Can you give me the answers then? Can you tell me how I can fill myself with purpose anew?" Anna asked, her tone as soft as before.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

Unlike Annalisa Valerius did not long to be anywhere but here, in his temple. Once he might have wished for the peace and comfort of the White Isle, once he might have wanted to visit Sahova and Nyka and all those other places and cried for the man he might have become if he had never attracted Rhysol’s attention, but not anymore. This was his home, his fate now. In the arms of his god he had found what he had been looking for all his life. He had found his fullfillment among the chaos, among murder, lies and betrayal. „Sahova“, he spoke as she introduced herself. The tone of his voice was cool, near emotionless. In the waking world, his feelings still got the better of him sometimes. He still had doubts, moments of weakness, but here he was free of everything that troubled his mortal existence, as he was meant to be. „The city of the undead has a special place in my heart. Before I became Rhysol’s, I longed to study them, to understand their immortality.“ He noticed that she obeyed his command and was kneeling and nodded approvingly. He did not give her a sign that she could rise again. She was inferior to him. „The woman you called your sister was weak“, he spoke as she told him how she had received Rhysol’s mark. He did not remember how he had intially attracted his god’s attention, but it had surely been something great. Maybe he had destroyed the Rising Dawn, defeat the knights of Syliras or betrayed his grandfather and taken his place as the head of House Nitrozian. That had to be it. „She was not aware of your betrayal. She did not have any suspicions. There is no room in this world for people like her. You were right to steal her work to improve your position. In doing so you have risen above her.“ „You ask yourself how much of you still remains. Let me ask you a question in return. Do you really long for the woman you once were? Through your betrayal and Rhysol’s mark you have become something more, something better than you were. Before you were just like them, average, weak. Is that not worth the sacrifice of a few aspects of your personality? Would you not rather reshape yourself than spend the remainder of your life in the shadows, unnoticed? You said you were an apprentice, but with Rhysol’s help you could become so much more.“ „All of Sahova could be yours.“ He glanced at the bloody dagger that he was still holding in his hand, at the blood that stained the blade. It was strange how quickly a life could end. That knight had believed himself to be so strong, but in the end everything he had done had become meaningless. Only Rhysol offered true strength, true protection. „Rhysol will never cut the strings, he will never leave you as long as you remain faithful to him. You want to know what makes him worthy of your faith. Let me tell you. Rhysol is the one that keeps the world from stagnating. Without his chaos there would be nothing, no point in living. He offers those that follow him his favour. Would you rather be the one to spread the corruption or the victim, Annalisa Marin? This is your purpose, to spread Rhysol’s word and to bring chaos to the world. In time it will become second nature to you, and the doubts will stop.“ Once Valerius would have contradicted such words. He remembered another time – or was it another world – was it now? – when he had preferred order, when he had preferred the status quo. The life he had led had been pleasant. Plagues, war, lies, murder and betrayal, those things had never appealed to him. He had wanted to become rich and powerful, but he had not wanted to lose his family, those he cared for. He had not wanted to see the world end in his chaos, but not anymore. Here he was different. No matter what he was like in the waking world, here he was free, free of the man he was.

[Annalisa Marin]

Once the words might have brought feelings of acceptance, comfort even in the secure knowledge that Rhysol was indeed correct. Indeed, some of it did ring true in her ears such as chaos being a necessary part of the world. Anna accepted this fact, she enjoyed the freedom that chaos granted her and reveled in it. However, was she really free when she was so branded? It felt an odd contradiction that she was bound to Rhysol in such a way, could she not chose how she acted? What was the point in corrupting others if you only deepened the stain in your own spirit?

Velia, had she really been the weak one or had it been Anna that was weak to so easily break the bond between them? Velia's work should have seen her rise to the heights of the University, her work with Glyphing was amazingly advanced for one so young. Anna's work had hardly been a shadow by comparison, her reimancy was certainly advanced and her grasp on personal magic prodigal but glyphing was Velia's forte. If the bond they had shared had really meant anything then Anna should have been satisfied with watching her friend succeed. Instead she'd covered up her own inadequacy by taking the better works of another.

She was torn and the conflict showed in her grey eyes, one part of her believing what the Voice said about strength and power. The other part, the one fostered by her ghostly mother and pulled into the light by Celeste, questioned whether anything could be worth sacrificing who she was. Anna's pride flared up at having whatever she once was be called weak and average. That was not true! She was a wizard, a very powerful wizard and one with near perfection in regards to reimancy after practicing it for less than a year.

Rhysol hadn't given her that power, she'd sought it out and shaped it herself. What kind of person could she have become without the Dark God's influence? Would magic have warped her so acutely? Why did she need the power of Rhysol when her own powers had gotten her this far? Amaryllis hadn't taken her in because she was a Chaon, she'd taken her in because she was a powerful wizard and a clever woman. Her Judgment had been passed by her own merits, not by Rhysol's power.

Anna finally reached a decision. Slowly she stood from her kneel, not particularly caring for any breach in protocol here. She was a wizard, it was part of who she was and she allowed the confidence in that knowledge to radiate from her.

"If Sahova is made mine I shall do so by my own wit and merit as a wizard. If I am to gain power than it must be by my own hand and for my own reasons, not through the boons of a god. One day I will sit upon the Council of Five, but I will do so only that I my find myself along the way." She affirmed, her gaze steely and strong.

"I've looked in the mirror of what I've become and I find that I rather dislike it. Well, no more. From this moment onwards, no god shall rule the path of Annalisa Marin. Wherever I go and whatever I do will be by my own will. Mark my words well, Voice of Rhysol." She stated, taking a deep breath at the end.

Strangely enough, the words felt rather like a weight lifting from her chest and some of the questions about herself were dispelled. This was part of who she was, a willful and strong woman who could make her own choices. Anna still didn't know or understand all of what she was, or the person she had once been. The lies had covered her eyes for too long. This was a step in the right direction though, declaring independence and recognizing that she was actually worth something without Rhysol.

She was unafraid of the consequences for her words, in fact she was feeling much more comfortable now and much more powerful. It radiated from her, the power to chose. Let Rhysol himself descend upon her and curse her into oblivion, she was not going to give in again.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

In the waking world Valerius Nitrozian was still reluctant to give himself to Rhysol completely sometimes. The Druvin were chaotic, they were occasionally prone to fits of rage. He didn’t want to be like that. He wanted to be in control of himself at all times. He disliked any extreme emotions. But here, in his dream temple, that wish seemed ridiculous to him. Here only Rhysol mattered. The god owned his body and his soul. In the waking world people had compared it to some kind of slavery, and Valerius had been worried even if he hadn’t dared to say it oud loud, but here being owned by Rhysol was all that he had ever wanted.

In the waking world Valerius Nitrozian spent his time studying Kelvic and Nuit, he dreamed of visiting Sahova, of turning that research project that he was working on with Amolina and Inoadar into something great, greater than the Kelvic Research Institution, of returning to Zeltiva to become a professor, but here he did neither. Here all the things he had previously enjoyed had become meaningless. Here only his god existed. There had been nothing before him, and nothing would come after him. Rhysol would be his life, until the end of time.

He could see that she was torn, torn between the promise of power that Rhysol gave and between whatever remained of the woman she had been before the god had staked his claim on her soul. Once he would have understood such an emotion – he was much the same in the waking world – but here the expression on his face merely darkened. Here belonging to Rhysol was the only acceptable option, the only real power. Everything else was meaningless.

As she stood, the Chaon, the members of the Black Sun and the Ebonstryfe and all the other people in the temple came a bit closer, close enough for Annalisa to become uncomfortable, to start worrying, but Valerius raised a hand, and they retreated, still watching her closely. He would continue to listen to her, to make her aware that she had no other choice.

„Maybe Sahova will become yours through your own actions rather than through Rhysol’s help“, he agreed. „Maybe you will gain power through your own deeds rather than through the boon of a god. But you have forgotten one thing, Annalisa Marin. No matter how much you dislike the woman you have become, Rhysol has marked you. Rhysol is watching you, no matter what you do. He will never disappear from your life again. He will not simply remove his mark and let you be on your way.“

„What would you rather be, Annalisa Marin? Somebody that has Rhysol’s favour, that has the potential of even becoming a Druvin and is given the greatest gifts - or an Adversary of Rhysol that has been turned into something monstrous and is rarely able to form a clear thought? Do you think you will still be able to be a wizard then? Think about it. You still have a choice.“

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna had noticed those who approached her, those more favored by Rhysol than she however she refused to show fear. She was no child, she'd witnessed the horrors of Sahova and committed a number of deplorable acts in Rhysol's name. The Sorceress was powerful, very powerful, if she wanted to she could bring this temple crashing down around their ears. She could open a Portal to the Void and consume the lot of them, here she was not limited by Djed, only by her mind. The tall woman would not show fear. Never that.

She heard Valerius' words with increasing dread, knowing in her heart that they were very true. Rhysol's blood forever branded her, his essence staining her spirit with corruption and lies. There was no denying that, so instead the only choice was to accept it for what it was. It was a mark that proved how low she could fall, which only meant that she could rise higher than that. Anna herself embraced chaos, but not betrayal, not corruption. Celeste had shown her another path was possible, one without need for those things.

Rhysol had used her, indeed he would likely continue to use her. However she could still chose for herself what she wanted to do, she could still reject the corruption and accept chaos as a positive thing. Freedom, that still rang true in her mind, that chaos was freedom. It was how she used that freedom though that defined her. Up until now it had been for corruption, her own personal gain, for evil things. Those uses were proven to be flawed, so it stood to reason that she needed to find new ways to use it.

To become Druvin, to possess those same white eyes as the Voice did she needed to reject the ideas Celeste had called back to her. She needed to follow her old path, and that just wasn't acceptable. There had to be something more than this.

"Oh but there isn't. You know that to be true, deep within yourself." A cruel voice sounded in her ears.

The Sorceress turned towards the source to find herself face to face with a near perfect duplicate of herself, the noticeable difference being that her eyes were pure white. Robes adorned her body, the symbol of a Black Sun emblemized upon it. A ring of obsidian adorned her right ring finger, four gems symbolizing each of the four elements shining prominently. When the clone of her spoke it seemed like corruption seeped into her skull with every word.

"Look upon what you could become, reborn in the glory of Rhysol. The blood of a god coursing through your very veins and immortality yours by the grace of the Lord of Chaos! A Master of the last remnant of Alahea, unmatched by any in matters of the Arcane! This is what you would turn away from?" The double spoke, striding right up to her.

Anna could feel the power radiating from the dark clone, playing at her flesh like a delicately poised razor. A vision of possibility, and yet she had to wonder what had been sacrificed to attain that power. How many people that could have been called friend had been spent? Betrayed and offered as sacrifices to Rhysol simply because she was a slave to power. Was it really worth it?

"What about what Celeste said? For all that power am I merely a slave to another? What is the meaning behind power with no purpose?" She questioned.

Her double merely chuckled, a dark and foul sound that reverberated in her skull and felt like it stained her very spirit.

"That little bitch didn't know what she spoke of. Redemption? Forgiveness? Who could possible forgive you? Who other than Rhysol could accept what you are? Why should you seek to eliminate qualities that make you strong? Accept it, embrace the truth you feel in your heart. Listen to the Voice of Rhysol." The creature responded, sneering slight as she gripped Anna's chin and jerked her head to gaze into those white eyes.

It all sounded so reassuring, the truth she had long held to be the absolute in her life. It sounded wonderfully glorious, beautiful in the amount of destruction she could cause. The vision played with her darkest desires and brought them to light, almost as if she was trying to convince herself that it was all true. However it wasn't and she knew it. It was a lie, just like the vision in front of her.

"No. Your wrong. Rhysol's blood might stain me, but it won't define who I am. I accept chaos, but I reject spreading suffering to others simply to advance myself. I know there is a better way and I will find it." Anna replied, forcing the double's hand from her.

The white eyed creature snarled, backing away slightly and leveled a fierce glare at her.

"This is not over." With those words the double vanished into a cloud of black mist.

Anna stared at the spot for a moment longer, gazing around her with steely grey eyes. She allowed herself a slight grin, turning her attention to the Voice. She wasn't going to just bow and accept the fate others seemed to think she should follow.

"There is something undeniably true about me, Voice of Rhysol. I love to destroy. There is an artistry to be found in destroying something, ripping down in a few short moments what took others years to build. Reimancy is a good tool for that, but there exists one better and for true artists. Let me show." Anna said, raising her arm towards the crowd assembled.

There were no incantations offered, no gestures, no willing of Djed to empty space. She simply willed the Portal to be born an in less than a tick a tiny pinprick of purest night was born. In this place, without the constraints of Djed to weigh her down she willed the Portal to grow at frightening speed. It was the size of a large carriage at three ticks, a house at five, by ten ticks it was stretching to the ceiling of the temple. This was the power most mortals could only dream of, the power to destroy anything at anytime.

Her gaze was turned towards the Voice, her grin becoming much more dangerous and rather dark. What method did this puppet think to employ to stop her she wondered? Not that it really mattered as she simply willed the most powerful Pull she could directed towards the ceiling itself.