Suenor breathed in, then out, her breath slowly leaving her as she continued centering herself. Doing her best to block out the Curses that mocked her. To strike away the lies that swarmed and massed, aiming to consume her and her vessel. She wouldn’t allow that, she was a Voice of the Elders of the Ancestors, and most of all the Giver, she couldn’t let herself fall to such things.

‘And yet here you are.’ Fear whispered in her ear, its vulgar hands pressing against her shoulders. Worry pestered her from the front, endless scenarios running out of the large flapping mouth.

‘The Souls, they’re lost, how many before all follow?’ Worry asked. ‘How long before the Nightmare becomes too much even for the Giver to bar away?’ It tried with another, more lies of the future that it was trying to feed her. All in an attempt to weaken her resolve and let her be consumed by one of them. It would be Fear, if such a thing came to pass, as it was the most common to come about. She’d never heard of one falling to Worry, and given the display before her. it might be an impossibility, Fear didn’t appear to be one to share in the ultimate prize.

Suenor breathed in deep again, pictured the Giver, to the one moment she had been within her embrace. A Vail that had come back from the void of Death, pulled out of it by the many crying out for her return. She focused on her, the perfection of her form, made by will alone from a Soul so large and magnificent. A Soul beyond the need of a vessel. She was the epitome of Worth, what all worked to become. Suenor marveled at her, the scene soaked in and push back the Curses with Divine Light.

The two Lies hissed as it burned them, and they skittered back to where they belonged. But they didn’t disperse, they remained even if made slower. Suenor had been Marked, there was no denying it. The cost she suffered for being chosen to look within the Shard. Look upon the vision that had consumed so many. Saw the truth that should be a lie.

Saw the Souls of the Vail being consumed by the Nightmares parent, their Precursors. There was nothing else to describe them as, with how large they were, how they themselves glowed with Channels that traveled their entire length. How the symbols, even warped and simple, were far to close to the Worthy Wards that protected her people.

‘Maybe their learning? Discovering all your kinds secrets with each Soul they take.’ Worry said to her, the cursed vision emboldening them again. Suenor sent a bolt of Light at it, getting a pained hiss out of the Curse. Yet still, it remained. Would always remain.

‘We’ll save you one of these Rotations child, it's only a matter of time before you give up your delusion and accept us. Accept the truth fully, see that your Giver is the lie. See that she won't be able to protect you.’ Fear said, and she could feel the grin spreading across its twisted face. Suenor breathed out forcefully. Willed another bolt, this time at it, Fear howled in pain and then mocking laughter. Her lips thinned almost forming a frown, and the Curse got enough out of her for a loose ember of Anger to appear.

It looked at her, its eyes on fire. ‘I can free you from it, give you the means to burn all away.’ Anger said its voice hot. She ignored it, even as it pestered her more, till finally, the thing flickered out. She breathed in, imaged the Give once more. ‘Provide me the strength Giver, the resolve, to carry out your will.’ She Offered to the Divine. Yet as always, since the moment she had been sent Below, there was no answer. No rush of strength flowing into her that she was so very used to.

Suenor was with the Lowly now, those Unworthy of the Givers attention. Sent to put them back in line, to fix what their worthless behavior had caused. Better it would have been if this was caused by rebellious acts and Cursed forms taking on such shapes to influence the minds of the Lowly. Instead of what it really was, incompetence and lazy behavior. The Anointed had been too long in their roles, had become complacent.

All her Sisters had reported similar instances from the many Anointed that organized Sanctums. How things were kept going by the thinnest of margins, while the Lowly focused on indulging themselves, rather than spending their lives to aid those Worthy.

Fear began to chuckle at her as it slowly circled her form. ‘Lowly’ it said playing with the word. ‘funny how easily they consumed one of your Sisters. Rendered something so High and Mighty into a small pile of ash.’

Suenor moved her attention away from it, saw through its attempt for her to feed it. Only to be heckled by Worry again as it got over its last bit of discipline. ‘I wonder how long before they do that again? You’re all pushing so hard, beating them down. I see a point that they’ll start pushing back.’

Suenor breathed in, sought the calm that had once been second nature to her.

‘I wonder when the masses will have enough, your Enforcers are mighty, cloaked in Wards many considered unbreakable. I do wonder how true that is? How well would it go for your Enforcers, if the whole Sanctum turned against you?’ Worry spoke as it closed in on her.

Suenor pictured the Giver, began pushing all the lies and Curses back. Began trying to cleanse them from her mind. But she knew it wouldn’t work, each time she'd tried the image returned. The chamber of Precursors who drank in the souls of her people, and grew from it. The image of the Giver faded as the Cursed sight of the Shard displayed itself to her again. A truth that she willed with all her might was a lie. Yet it denied her, and the act only got Fear laughing at her more.

At least it was a forced one, pained in a way as Fear slowly reformed from the cleansing it had endured. ‘You can keep fighting all you want, but it changes nothing about the spot we all are in. The Nightmare is growing and your precious Giver can do nothing to stop it. Not with flows of Souls washing down to the depths Below.’

Suenor breathed out, much of it coming out as a sigh. For though the Curse with the form of Fear was trying to take her, its words were not completely false. The Flow of Souls had to be stopped more than ever now. Now that she had seen the Nightmare was growing from it, instead of lessening. Instead of the Lowly raising, growing in strength to better combat the Nightmare and fulfill their Tasks to those Above.

Instead, it was only making matters worse. It was yet another thing Suenor would have to send upwards to those most High. Another Cursed Shard in the making, but it would be a far less corrupting one. The viewer will at least be spared from seeing the sight she had, only instead endowed with the knowledge she would be sharing. A far Blessed outcome than what she had endured, and one she would have gladly traded places with.

Suenor breathed in and out one last time before opening her eyes and rising from her laying position. She heard the Gates to her claimed Chamber open. Saw Inlim walking towards her, flanked by a pair of Enforcers. Rather unneeded considering there were many that flanked the Chamber she was in. But precautions had to be taken, she had seen into a Shard that had claimed so many.

‘It will claim you to, eventually.’ Fear whispered as it healed itself.

She pushed it further away as she stopped a frown from marring her mask. It wasn’t hard, she’d had plenty of practice over the Cycles. She placed a smile on her face, one that was partially true, she was happy to see her Sister, but it wasn’t enough to raise her mood. Or help her return to balance that had once been so easy to maintain.

“Sister,” Inlim spoke her word neutral in tone, but Suenor could still pick up specks of relief in the words. She had never been that skilled in centering herself, always moving around it. “It’s Blessed you're still with us, after your display with the Shard we expected the worst.”

That got Suenor smile to change to one of embarrassment. Her display had been unseemly in her eyes. Never once had she shown herself in such a state in front of people. Emotions seeping out, her voice filled with the qualities of Fear, and many others as her Soul screamed in agony as the Mark was burned into her. She had told them what she’d seen. When they heard it the Enforcers clamped hands around her mouth, then bonds as they bound her so she couldn’t become a threat to anyone.

They could allow the Consumed to cause mischief in the ranks of the Lowly. But those Above was a different matter, such Worthy couldn’t be harmed, or marred with a Curse that desired to spread. Which had made the Enforces far more forceful in their treatment of her. She and her Sisters had after all made them allow a Voice to be Cursed. An absurd thing, if it were different times, but she and her Sisters had been desperate.

A desperation that had cost her dearly, the knowledge within was more Cursed than she could have fathomed. Was enough that few would be able to believe. It was too outlandish, it had to be a lie, a Cursed trick. But the vision kept playing in her mind, not once distorting or trying to grow worse. It stayed the same, an endless loop of torment, a truth that burned her deeply. It caused her to act rather unbecoming of one of her Title. To her disappointment, she had tried to struggle out of her bonds, wisdom and clear thinking gone from her. Too many Curses formed and clawed at her mind for her to think properly.

If the roles had been reversed, and one of her Sisters had been chosen to look within that Cursed Shard. Suenor would have likely ordered her Sister put down, Marked her as Consumed and a lost cause.

Even in her current state, Suenor was centered enough to look upon the truth that she was relieved her Sisters weren’t like her, relieved she was still amongst the living, even Marked as she was. Her Sisters were weak, and for the first time, she was happy about that, happy they didn’t have the resolve to put her down. Even though she should be feeling the likes of Shame, only Relief remained.

“Are you Well Suenor? Have you finally cleansed yourself of the Mark that Cursed Shard burnt into you?” Inlim asked and this time it was plainly displayed that she was concerned.

Suenor practiced her breathing ritual again, as her mind and the Mark fought each other.

‘If you tell her the truth she might put you down, like how you do, so eagerly.’ Worry harshly voiced out, still recovering from its last punishing.

She forced her eyes up, looked at her Sister that she had Mentored for many Cycles, looked at the girl that she had many times considered removing.

“I’ am better than I was before, but the Mark. The Mark will always be with me Inlim, the sight that formed it still haunts my mind. Perhaps always will.” Suenor admitted to her Sister even as Worry rushed her, spitting more thoughts that aligned with it, many of them sounded true, but she was still herself. She wouldn’t fall to taking its council, not yet, not while she still had the strength to center herself.

Suenor heard her Sister let out a sigh, which was most concerning. It would seem she wasn’t the only one infested with the naggings of Worry. Her Acolyte had always been of poor quality, one that had never truly mastered herself.

“A Blessing in its own right that you admitted to such, Sister. It shows the Curses haven’t claimed you.” Inlim spoke her voice finally returning to a neutral tone, but still not to what it should be. “All of us have been fighting off Worry since your fight with the vision. We even began to discuss who was to be next to look within, so we could validate your claim.”

‘You all will fall, one by one, you will be me, like so many others.’ Fear whispered out in its haunted tone. Suenor did her best to ignore the thing, forced once more to fight to remain centered. Her Sister admission didn’t help in the Task, Sisters assaulted by Curses, even before they had fought against its true visions. That had her Fear growing, mending together as another Cursed thought added to it.

Suenor saw it was a mistake for them to come down to these depths, down into the Below beyond the Giver reach. None of her Sisters were ready for such a Task, ready to face the Curses that were festering within them, not alone. She was the same, forced to see that harsh truth as she failed time and time again to cleanse herself of the sights that scarred her mind. Even now as she closed her eyes it was there in the distance. Precursors devouring the Souls of her people, claiming the strength for themselves, growing into forms Suenor wasn’t sure any of them had the wills to fight.

She forced her eyes back open as the vision began to near, brought closer because of her attention to it. Inlim was staring at her, as was the two Enforcers that stood ahead and slightly in front of her. Guarding against a half-corrupted vessel.

“Are you still with us Suenor?” her Sister asked.

She nodded weakly, “I’m still here, I’m still me, but the vision is constantly trying to spread, its forms pestering me without end.” She admitted once more, part of her forming Hope, waiting if perhaps her Sister would put her down and spare her from being consumed. Though she, like all, avoided Death, at the moment it would be better for her to die before the Curses had the chance to try and consume her completely.

“Blessed then, for I wish to ask you again, what do you see in the Shard? What Cursed sight did it show?” Inlim spoke to her showing a sorrowful smile.

Suenor forced her mask neutral, as it should be, even as Fear heckled her anew. “What I would consider the Nightmare largest, there Precursors feasting upon a River of Souls, and growing from it.” She said slowly and calmly, displaying to all that it wasn’t a mad ramble, wasn’t a made-up scene by the Curses to trick her.

Her Sister waited for more, but she gave none, wouldn’t add on to the already darken scene. The Enforcers around her weren’t pleased, and she could tell by their stances they were ready to take action in less than a Breath. Ready and waiting for her to try something as the Archivist had done. Letting herself be consumed completely to let out the Cursed form of Anger to try and cause havoc. But she wouldn’t let that happen, even if she was that far gone, she wouldn’t let her Title be Marked by such a stain. Nor her House, which would rush to strike her name from its records and claim she was never one of their Worthiest.

Inlim looked down at the floor, her mind elsewhere deliberating with herself over the words. Arguing whether to accept them, and Suenor was sure, Worry was in there causing trouble. Spinning out all sort of tales of things that could happen. Lies filled with enough Shards of truth that it was hard to separate the two. ‘How many of my Title are facing the same obstacles?’ she wondered, thought of the Voices from other Sanctums forced to care for Lowly pests that couldn’t perform there one use in life. Wondered if they too were falling victim to growing Curses fighting to claim them. All of whom might be slowly losing, one small battle at a time as they’re unable, as her, to banish the Forms fully from their minds and vessels.

Her Sister sighed after silence had held the scope of the chamber for a Sequence or two. An alarming sign of her being off center. One that would have gotten her taken to counseling if they were Above where they belonged.

“If what you say is true Suenor, that the Nightmare now feds upon our Souls as well. Then all the Flocks we sent out only added to its growth.” Inlim said, Worry in her words, one that spread out as the Enforcers around them shifted.

Fear slowly chuckled when Suenor turned her thoughts to what her sister had mentioned. She had kept herself distracted from that path, busy fighting off Curses. But now that she had been shown it. It was difficult not to look, to see where it led.

‘You fattened them up even more.’ Fear spoke ruefully, ‘And weaken the Sanctum you’re meant to govern. Thinned it for no good reason. I mean’ Fear shuffled closer to her. ‘What use are Mines if the very place they're meant to help is no longer there? Devoured like everything else.’

Inlim continued on speaking unaware of the struggle she was in. “It makes sense now, why we have gotten so few Shards confirming completed Tasks. If the Swarm has swollen to heights we haven’t seen before, then the Flocks sent out may not have been nearly strong enough to reclaim the Mines.” Her Sister went quiet again, eyes gazing upward as she thought, before lowering to look at her. “We’ll have to have another counsel with our own. Discuss how much we must reinforce the Flocks before we attempt sending more out to reclaim what is the Givers.”

Fear cackled loudly, but only Suenor could hear it. ‘Look at her, you give a portion of the truth and yet she’s still blind. All of them blind, but not you.’ It whispered as it stood back over her ‘You saw the truth, saw how pointless this fight is. You’ve already lost, lost the moment Souls began flooding down. Lost when you believed you could hide yourselves away and keep back the Nightmare that yearns to consume you.’

Suenor struck at her Fear, crushing down upon it all the will she had and sent the things flying away from her. It broke into many pieces, fragments going everywhere, Worry shrieked as it moved back from the display. For a passing Breath, everything was quiet in her mind again, centered. Then Fear began laughing again, as the many pieces slither their way back together.

“Sister?” Inlim called, startling her and forcing her to focus back on the realm around her. “Apologies Inlim" Suenor spoke out after her mind recovered, “My fight with the Curses never ends, I had to tray from the conversation.” She admitted and bowed her head.

An uncomfortable silence held the chamber, causing her to look up and gaze into the eyes of a troubled Sister. An Acolyte that needed guidance, even after their many Cycles together. Yet she wasn’t one who could provide that anymore. She was Marked, and her younger self would have raced to have her isolated, or put down. Rather than what was taking place. The pure speaking with someone tainted, risking themselves with the possibility of succumbing to the same fate

‘You’re Cursed because you know too much.’ Fear said to her, a smile once more plastered on its reformed face. ‘Seen how pointless this whole affair is, the Mines mean nothing. Not when there are Rivers of Souls for the taking. All that power child just waiting to be claimed.’ She could hear it stepping closer to her again, and she was forced to begin her breathing ritual, readying her will.

‘Imagine child, what we could become if you drank from that source as the Nightmare does. The power we all would have, The Flocks? There would be no need of those if you have a vessel that could sunder all. Could crush the Nightmares as they crush your Lowly.’

Suenor struck out again smashed Fear back far away from her, but it didn't break apart as before. No, she was feeding it too much, its words though Cursed had her focus. Had her wondering, had her more aligned with its nature, further and further from the center she sought.

She was breathing heavily when her mind came back to her surroundings, the ruckus of shouts aided in her return. That and a pair of hands around her face. Inlim hands, the dense girl was touching her to the Enforcers grief, and her own face close to Suenor staring deep into her eyes.

“What are you doing?” Suenor said looking away and tried prying Inlim hands away from her.

“Seeing if you’re still with us.” She replied in a soft melody as she rose and moved away from her. “And by your display, it seems you still are. A Consumed wouldn’t have wanted to separate from me.”

A frown almost marred Suenor lips, her mask almost broke. As she focused on her breathing and not glaring at an Acolyte that had failed to take her lessons to the core of her. Failed to master the thoughts in her mind, thoughts that were putting her at risk of being Cursed. If it had been anyone else, if it hadn’t been Suenor, fighting to remain herself. Then her Acolyte may have just been Marked herself.

Then again, if it was someone else dealing with the vision of the Shard, she would have had the person lock up in exile. Or already dead, Inlim would never have had the chance to pull what she was doing now. Tempting ill outcomes at the same time of being too far outside the Givers reach.

“Now that you’re here with us again Suenor, I had asked of your opinion with what we should do with the Flocks?” Inlim said, now forced to peek over two Enforcers that made her stay behind them. The Enforcers flanking the chamber had also moved much closer. None were pleased with Inlim behavior, they hadn’t been pleased for some time. Not since Suenor had told them she was going to be looking into a Shard that had consumed so many.

Suenor looked up at her sister again, moved to the question. The Flocks with how they were had to be changed. That was known even before she gazed into Cursed places. The lack of responses they had gotten over the Arcs was display enough for them to know something was amiss. But far more than any of them had relieved. But she knew now, even with the Curses trying to change her, the vision never changed, never got worse. Just repeated, kept showing the Souls of her people being devoured, their strength now becoming the Nightmares.

‘What would a Flock do against those things?’ Worry shrieked at her, slowly stepping forward again. ‘Flocks of Lowly, though free from Soulless, and those that would tire from a few uses of their Soul. Still, what could they do against a Nightmare with Wards?’

Suenor closed her eyes, called on her training to trance herself and fight off the chill that ran down her. She stayed long enough for the cold to disperse but no more or Inlim would start calling out to her again. When she looked back up she saw Concern marring her face.

“Apologies Sister the Curses are trying to use your questions to harm me.” She confided, for ignoring that she was Cursed would only play into Fear and Worry hands. “As for the Flocks, they’ll have to be increased in size, and those sent out must be of greater Worth.” She paused and glanced at the image burned into her mind. “Perhaps from the inner tier, maybe even some from the Towers.”

“Truly Sister?” Inlim spoke, surprise carrying in her voice. “You think we should risk such a thing? Many will begin listening to Anger if we start pulling from them while there's still plenty from the lower tiers.”

Suenor bit back a retort, squeezed her lips tight together for a Breath when she was about to yell at her Acolyte. Demand she stop displaying such things. Stop being off center. But she mastered herself, avoided that embarrassing display, and push back the ember of Anger that had been pressing against her.

“Yes,” she forced out “The vision calls for nothing less, the Lowly of the first and second tier can do nothing but waste themselves against the Nightmares I saw.” How badly she wanted to wipe it from her mind, end the constant chattering of Fear and Worry.

Worry who was now screaming at her. ‘You’re a fool, an absolute fool! What if the Houses turn against you, join hands and become one. It doesn’t matter the number of Enforcers you have. They alone won’t be able to handle those numbers.’ Followed by many vulgar things about Suenor Worth, some even got a bit of Anger to flare into existence.

But she pushed it and Worry away but this time the Curse was unfazed by the treatment. It swelled regardless of her action, for Suenor was feeding it. She had the same thoughts, now that they were brought to the Front. Knew this course of action was a dangerous one. But what choice was there really to make. The Elders had sent them to reclaim what was lost. To get the Lowly back into formation so the goods, deserving only for the Worthy, would be funneled up again.

‘And when the Mines are claimed, what then?!” Worry shouted at her ‘How will the goods be delivered? How will they reach the Sanctums with Swarms about, with Precursor adding to their ranks?’ On the questions went pressing on her, pulling her further from a center she so desperately sought to hold.

‘You’ve already lost it girl.’ Fear spoke, slowly walking towards her. ‘Lost it the moment your eyes fell upon the truth, it’s normal. For this truth isn’t a gentle one. But you know that now, and instead of expecting it, you fight, refuse to feel what you should.’

Fear was behind her again, leaning close. But for once it didn’t place a hand on her, just leaned near one of her ears. ‘Refuse to accept the fact the Nightmare isn’t going to be held back anymore, these walls, these Wards, they might as well not even be here for the good they're going to do you now.’

Fear moved to her front leaned down and stared directly into her eyes. ‘In fact, how I see it, this Sanctum has become a large trap for all of us. Once the Nightmares claim the first tier, cut off all exits, what then? Where will you go to escape, or will you hold up begging to the Giver for a salvation that will never come?’

Suenor stared back at it, but said nothing, instead she flung it back away from her. But Fear was ready for it leaned away from the strike so it sailed along with the push rather than fighting it. It laughed at her, long and loud while she was pulled back to her surroundings by Inlim calling her name.

Her eyes fixed on her Sister, who was being held back by the pair of Enforcers she’d been forced into hiding behind. “I’m here Inlim” and to Suenor discomfort, her voice came out tired, her body was shivering too, which was a shock. It made her see how much Fear had gotten to her, how far she had been pulled from the center she once held.

She forced her vessel to stop trembling, or did her best to, and took a few large breaths to realign herself. Tried forcing a return to some normalcy before readdressing her Sister. One that was fighting the hold of those meant to protect her.

“Stop Inlim,” she said causing he Sister to look at her. “Let them do their Task in Peace, let them protect you, one of us Curses is far beyond what should be allowed, two? That will be a Mark against their performance.’

Inlim stared at her for a long moment, before all struggling from her ceased, and a mask of neutrality returned to features. One Suenor had seen before, a false mask, one that hid Anger underneath. In the past Suenor would have corrected this, as she had done before. But now, now she was tired and wanted nothing more but to rest and be free of the Curses constant words.

The Enforcers let go of their hold on Inlim and on her own accord stepped behind the pair. Though Suenor didn’t react to the gesture, the two Enforce showed gazes of thanks.

“Any wisdom on which Houses we should focus more than the others? Houses that need disciplined?’ Inlim asked her voice passive, save for the bit of heat Suenor could pick up on. But it was Above what she had been displaying, so, for now, Suenor was content with it.

She readied to speak her wisdom, but her tongue caught when Fear and Worry spoke their own thoughts to her.

‘Anger the Houses?’ Worry asked ‘On purpose? Have you heard none of my Words?’ It said the tone chiding. ‘Those targeted would be quick to align with each other, they’ve already witnessed your cohorts trample the Anointed Houses into oblivion. If they're smart, listening to forms of me, then they will have been preparing themselves.’

‘Not to mention me,’ Fear added the thing sitting down away from her. Content at the moment to stare at her from afar a morphed smile on its nonexistent lips. ‘Others of me would have told them all they need to look out for. It won’t be like last time child, where you caught Houses off guard with a Host of Enforcers hammering down their Gates and slaughtering all in sight. They will be ready, have defenses prepared, Hearts close at hand to keep your Enforces back.’

Suenor ignored the two, for their thoughts were but Curses trying to get her to act improperly. She was a Voice one of many sent down to put the Sanctums back in order. One message from her of defiance, of a Sanctum readying itself for revolt. And those Above would send a Flock of Enforcers to put down the insurrection. It would be a waste though, for so many with decent Channels to be lost. But if they refused to perform their Tasks, what good are they?

‘Go ahead then’ Fear said, the cretin now lounging on the floor. ‘Commit acts you think wise, think will aid you, I will be here watching, laughing as all comes crashing down around you.’

Worry wasn’t so relaxed about how things were going, it was pacing about, but wasn’t moving closer. ‘How quick will aid arrive if all the Sanctums rebel?’ Suenor stared at the Curse unmoved by its words. Such a thing had never happened and was too absurd an outcome to even acknowledge.

‘It will!’ Worry croaked and pointed its many hands at Suenor. ‘It will, your Sisters will be acting like you, pushing those Below roughly, taking and taking unstill there's nothing left. The Houses won’t allow it, they’ll bare their fangs and bite before it comes to that end.’

“Suenor, are you there Sister?” Inlim asked once again, and she felt some Shame emerge at being distracted so many times, that she had let the Curses claim her thoughts so completely.

“Apologies once more Sister,” Suenor spoke, doing her best to block out Worry rant. “Aim at Houses that appear to be trying to horde supplies and strengthen their numbers. Especially if they have a Marked past, this Sanctum needs to reminded of their purpose and place within the Realm.”

Inlim bowed her head “The others thought as much, already our Eyes have seen Houses change behavior.”

Suenor nodded and focused more on ignoring Worry as its voice rang louder in her mind. Screaming more possibility of what could come, all of it lies, always lies, anything that would let the Curses grow.

“Is there anything you need Suenor? Anything we can do to aid your fight against this Mark?” Inlim asked.

“A return to solitude.” Suenor spoke “These talks, though needed, are being used against me Sister, this Curse is desperate to grow, it assaults me without end. The sight that formed it eager to be seen over and over.” She felt her mask warm when the ending words came out with a lining of Despair.

“It sounds that you’re in need of the Giver.’ Inlim said softly, and made movements to close on her again, the Enforcers returned their grips on Inlim form, but this time her Sister did not resist. But Suenor did see a flash of irritation mar her mask.

“I do,” Suenor said, “But I’m too far from her reach, so this is a Curses I will face alone.” Would bare till her Task was completed and she could return to the Realm Above, be free from the Lowly and a realm abandoned by the Giver.

“Of course Sister” Inlim spoke after a Breath of silence “We will return your solitude” She began to move away, the Enforcers slowly walking backwards. They would only turn their backs on her once they believed a suitable distance was between them.

Suenor called out. “The Vision, has word be sent Above about what I saw?”

Inlim stopped and turned to look at her. “Not yet, but we will. Now that it has been shown not to be a Curse lie, those Most High will hear of the troubling sight.”

Suenor nodded and a traitorous part of her aligned with Worry. Wondered what was to come with the spreading of that knowledge. Those Above would look into it, would send more of her kind down to investigate the claim, investigate her. “Thank your Sister, and I’d advise locating the River of Souls, found out where they are at this level. The Swarm will be after those, will likely be the place they will emerge first.” She paused before adding "And send that the flow of Souls should be stopped as soon as possible."

“It will be done Suenor, don’t let Worry have you think otherwise.” Inlim said “Anything else Sister?”

Suenor shook her head “No Inlim that is all the wisdom I have, may the Giver Bless you.” She added out of habit, more fitting a Blessing now that they were so far from her reach, was more needed than ever before.

“The same to you Suenor” there was a pause before she added “I’ll be back to check on you again when my Tasks allow. Stay strong for us Sister, none of us wish to lose another.”

“I will not be consumed, I’ll have Death take me before that happens” Suenor commented back, which got a small smile from Inlim before she bowed and headed off. Her Enforcers eagerly moving her along, silence returned as the Gate was shut and locked. Leaving her own Enforcers to stand vigil over her.

Suenor breathed in, and let her vessel collapse back into the cushions of her mattress. The silence that now filled the Chamber made the echoes of Worry even harder to tune out. To aid in the endeavor she returned to her breathing practice, fought to center herself and burn away the Mark that stained her Soul.

As her eyes drifted shut, the vision returned as if engraved into her eyelids. Souls being devoured by forms that made all Nightmares, even Ancients, appear to be Newborn just brought into the realm. She forced her eyes open even though her vessel called for sleep. Suenor wasn’t in the mood for another dream of that vision, not yet.

‘You’ll never be in the mood for it,’ Fear said as it stood over her, its smile one of mocking. ‘Not with how you think, unwilling to accept me, accept the truth that you should be experiencing my realm child. You can’t act like everything is fine forever, eventually, you’ll see my view of things. See that your time of safety, of a life free of me, is over.” Fear added as it leaned down close to her face.

Suenor rewarded it with another gush of will and light that sent it flying away. ‘I will never be you Fear, I am a Voice of the Giver, already apart of her glory, I not fall from that. Death will be there to claim me before I allow the likes of you to get the chance.’

Her words, her resolve, was met with laughter ‘They all give words like that, in one form or another.’ Fear sent out, it sounds mixing with Mirth. ‘But in the end, they all have come to accept me, and so will you, for the realm is on my side child.’

‘So fight me all you want, it will make no difference.’ Fear confidently said as it reappeared standing over her, feeding off the vision that aimed to claim her.