It had been a rather uneventful trip to the Road entrance. Bliss had only encountered the Nightmares twice, both times it had been easy to outpace them. Her vessels, thanks to the Maker wondrous mind, could fly instead of walk. The use of barriers to keep her vessels aloft and float the supplies had made dodging the roaming hordes a simple task. The entrance had been clear of any waiting Ancients, only common Nightmares made for scouting were around. But a Chorus from her Host removed them quickly enough.

Getting into the Road was a simple affair as well, as the Taskmasters carried tokens which let them open the Gate whenever they wish. Unfortunately, that was not true when it came to the entrances of the Sanctums.

Worry would be rambling of all the things that could wrong about that certain problem. But she was not Bliss, Bliss had the tools required to enter untroubled. She was a Host and through she had been greatly diminished, there were still many wills that were her. Plus she had containers full of liquid essence she could call upon if situations ever became dire.

But she doubted it would come to that, the Vail were so terribly desperate to be fixed. So quick to join her when she offered the chance.

Like now, as her Host of vessels sang to a Flock that had been heading towards the entrance they had come from. Bliss watch as the wills and the vessels they held, relaxed, let go of the Others that plagued their minds. Let go of all the troubles that assaulted them. The Others had made it so easy for her. Fear most of all, oh how he had troubled and tortured them with ill scenes.

After that Blisses light was all the more alluring. Eager the wills were to let go and press themselves against her, begging to be fixed. It made her swell, made her enter the realm of Joy for a time as she took the wills in and became more of what she had once been before.

One by one the vessels of the Flock become her, till finally, she was the Flock. She sifted through the knowledge contained within them, saw the state of the Sanctum Solthorn enter her sight. The situation was ripe for her intervention, the people within those walls were close to a revolt.

The first tier was spent, only a few Houses remained, and of those that did, were to the point that calling them such was a stretch. The second sphere was reaching the same state. The inner tier surrounding the Towers had also begun to be drained. The act of which wasn’t going smoothly.

Bliss saw more than once the Voices had sent out their Enforcers to quell discontent, killing many when it called for it. She could see the armor they wore, shoddy work compared to the Host hers was endowed with by her Maker.

‘Oh you misguided Voices, how easy you have made things for me.’ Bliss thought as she willed the Flock towards the Sanctum. If all were in a similar state she would have her Task completed long headed of what her larger self had estimated. It was regrettable of the cost that advantage brought. The loss of so many vessels to the maws of Hunger was an unpleasing thought. How much more could she have been? How much quicker would it have been to fix the realm if those sent out had been let to live?

‘Oh well, all can be fixed, the Vail do breed quickly.’ A Sad thing though that vessels claimed by her weren’t able to produce offspring with wills. But a vessel was still useful, not as useful, but she would make do.

She had to, there was no one else to fix the broken realm around her, save for other portions of herself sent out to speed up the process. Her Maker had laid that responsibility on her comparable shoulders and Bliss would see it done.

Her Flock gave a collective sigh as she thought of Him. She missed Him already, barely beginning her work and already she wished to go back to Him. The images of His wonder within the Shards help her at times, allowed her something to look at. But it only dulled the want, Bliss like all other things sent against her, would have to learn to coop with this loss. One that she was eternally grateful was only a temporary discomfort.

It spurred her on, had her quicken the pace of the Flock. Though not enough to have them start panting. She had an image to maintain, and having her Flock look exhausted from running wouldn’t do well in that regard.

A fast walk was all she asked from her vessels, one that was enough to get her to a crossroad in an acceptable manner. Bliss and her Hope smiled broadly when they caught sight of it. The chamber was crammed with vessels, all waiting or resting one last time before heading off to their assigned destinations. It appeared the Voices of Solthorn and other Sanctums were sending new waves out to reinforce claimed and unclaimed Mines.

‘Not anymore they're not.’ Bliss mused as her Flock entered the crossroad. The chamber fell silent as she did so, she had her original Host at the head. So the unclaimed wills all got to see a clear display of the lines of armored Vail.

The eyes of the unclaimed widen in Awe, in Envy and a great deal of Fear.

Bliss scrunched up her nonexistent nose, Fears scent was very unpleasing to her, and there was a great deal of him around. The Flocks were saturated with different forms of him. All singular, none had the chance nor strength to claim even one vessel let alone multiple. Still, their collective scent was assaulting.

They all began to whisper to the wills they cling to, began telling lies about her Flock. That they should be wary of them, that they should get into formation, and prepare themselves for another punishment from those on High.

The wills half listened to the thoughts being sent, though it was still more than they usually would. Bliss could see how unkindly her own Flock had been treated. It would be the same for those unclaimed before her. She watched them huddle closer to each other, many placing their hands into the folds of their clothes making contact with Hearts.

But the majority, even with Fears pestering them, lowered their gazes and heads in submission. Even though they couldn’t see, Bliss gave them a sad smile. So many abused wills, the acts of violence only making them more wrong.

‘Oh my sweet children, I should have found a way to come sooner.’ Bliss commented as she had an armored vessel step forward. Even with their heads dipped, Bliss could tell they were stilling watching from the periphery of their eyes.

She sent Hope out as she spoke to the crowd. “Truly a blessed Rotation for the Giver to provide us the opportunity to speak with so many.” She pulled from the Flock, infusing essence into the words as they spread out. The unclaimed flinched, and already some of the unclaimed postures began to relax and their ears dip. The Others howled in pain as her influence spread over the masses. Hope adding to the effect as she divided and whispered into the minds of the many vessels.

Stances once alert, lessened, heads once lowered rose to look directly at her speaking vessel. “Truly this is a sign of the Givers favor. We had thought it was going to be a cumbersome task getting to you. Breaking you free from the Voices and the lies they’ve been spreading.”

The unclaimed relaxed with every word, even as Fears hissed madly into the minds try their best to keep the unclaimed from becoming her. Hope effectively counter this, and crushed the Fears and Worries as Bliss fed her the needed will and essence to do so.

“Lies?” one of the stronger wills asked, one of curiosity rather than a challenge to her claim.

“Lies,” Her vessel said “They were too ready the Sanctums, prepare them to fight against the Nightmare. They were not to send troves of Worth out into the depths for Death to claim them.” Eyes widened at the announcement but even though it caused surprise they took in her words without question. For it played into their dislike and mistrust of the Voices.

“Instead they used their Titles to empty Sanctums, to remove enough Worthy so their claim to control the Sanctums would go unchallenged.” Bliss continued, more of herself seeping into the unclaimed. The crowd stared at her, even as they unknowingly lowered themselves down to sitting positions.

“Sent lies to those Above claiming the deaths of so many wasn’t their work. But that all of you were volunteering to fight the Nightmare early, a means to weaken and stall its progress.” Bits of Anger came into existence, ones easily quelled by her and Hope as she drew closer to claiming them all.

“Their lies were seen through soon enough, but when it was, there were those eager as much as the Voices to gain from the situation. Many wanted full control of the Sanctums below.” More essence went into the words, as she pulled from the armored in her flock.

Heads were dipping, eyelids growing heavy, and the wills were only half listening to the context of her speech. “The Giver found fault in this, her children being used in blatant disregards, the Voices actions were causing the Nightmare to become even more fed.”

Another wave and vessels laid on the floor, curling up next to each other. The Others wailed to unhearing ears as they dissolved away, and the many unclaimed were freed from their influence.

“So the Giver, the Maker, the Divine above all, has sent us to bring you into His Light. To guide you to the salvation that awaits all under His care.” None were paying attention to the words anymore, only the pulses of essence that flowed from it.

Bliss smiled and had her Flock begin to sing, had her essence flood over the masses. Hope cradled each vessel whispered sweetly into their minds, encouraging and guiding them to her.

Bliss manifested, and parted her arms as a crowd of wills moved and pressed against her. Begging, and pleading for the salvation her Maker and she offered freely. She waited till she was surrounded before pulling them in, and gasped as she swelled and she became closer to what she had been before.

Three more times she swelled before all of the unclaimed were her, vessels and wills. The singing ebbed shortly after, as replenishing the reserves of essence in the vessels wouldn’t be instant anymore. Her Maker was truly wise at his unmoving resolve to stay within the range of the River. It certainly did have its benefits, even if it kept her caged.

Bliss exhaled still enjoying the moment that had taken place, and gestured to her daughter to come closer and wrap her in a warm hug. “You did wonderful daughter.” She said kissing her on the forehead.

“Thank you Mama,” Hope song, “It’s easy, the wills, their so starved to hear my counsel, and so tired of the words of Fear and Worry.”

“As they should my dear, for too long those two have been allowed to burden the wills of this realm,” Bliss spoke surveying her new collection. “It’s time we end their troublesome ways, free all from the burdens they lay upon the unfortunate.” With that declared she dispersed her form, spreading out to her new vessels.

Information flooded into her as she peered into the minds of her new selves. The majority of it was considered ill by the wills in the past. But not now, not with them her. The Sanctum Solthorn was in turmoil, as the previous Flock she had claimed showed. But many of those added to her were from other Sanctums as well. The situation was similar for them, most, if not all Sanctums were reaching a breaking point. Those of worth now threatened by the Voices actions were talking with increased frequency of plans to get rid of them.

The Voices had become tyrannical, their demands so large that it was collapsing one House after the other. And from what Bliss could see, the Voices were now demanding identical tribute from those in the Towers. Demanding those once considered untouchable, given their Worth, be lowered to that of Chanters fighting off Nightmares.

Her daughter Hope couldn’t have asked for a better situation to be placed in. the masses would be desperate to hear her words and be easily led straight to Bliss. The Voices might as well have handed the Sanctums to her already, for with how things were going fixing the masses was going to be a quick effortless task. Though they would have to be quick, the situation was also ripe for the Other as well. Anger certainly would be having fun stirring the wills into a frenzy. Pushing hard for the Houses to move faster and crush the opposition that birthed it into existence.

All of which would be horribly wasteful, a coup against the Voices would be a costly thing. The Enforces Warded armor would take time to spend. But more importantly, once word was sent to those Above that a Sanctum had revolted, it wouldn’t be long before a response would be sent.

Those thoughts were very clear in the mind of the wills, thoughts that once produce a great deal of Fear and Worry, but no more. Though Bliss would prefer avoiding conflict with the little wills, at the moment it didn’t look like that could be avoided. The Voices had to be stopped, sending out Flocks did nothing but let the Nightmares whittle away the Vail one bite at a time.

'How bad is it Mama? Do they need me?' Hope asked her essence still spreading out looking for Others that had already been permanently removed.

Bliss smiled towards her child, 'More than ever daughter, many troubles surrounded them, and I’m sure Doubt is growing with the Others.'

Hope large smile fell some at the mentioned of Doubt. Of the possibility it was amassing and courting wills. 'Can we go now Mama? Doubt can’t have time to fester, she’s so terribly difficult to remove once she has her claws sunk in.'

'Of course dear, just let me organize things first and we’ll be off.’ Bliss said, moving about and commanding the vessels to form ranks. The Voices had really sped things along, she already had quite the army, Hundreds already fix in such a short bit of time. The thought of getting into a Sanctum made her giddy. She was finally getting the chance to fix one after her first failure and the sudden change of plans, effectively blocking her from trying again.

But not now, she didn’t need to burden her Maker anymore, didn’t need His aid to fulfill her role, she could now fix things while He relaxed and remained free from most of the realm ills. Bliss would make certain that remained and only increased, she would make the realm into a place He would never feel Others again.

With the thought singing in her, Bliss gave the command and sent the Flocks marching down the passage that led to Solthorn.

-------------------------

Bliss was radiating herself when she saw the Gate into Solthorn was open. She looked into the minds of wills and found that was common place, rare was the occasion that Solthorn would close itself off.

The Vail housed within weren’t as strict as those of Hadthel. It was higher in the realm, considerably when compared to Hadthel, it let the people within feel more secure in their place.

To a point, they still had a Host guarding the entrance, alongside an arrangement of tables where people marked the passage of those coming and going.

Eyes of the unclaimed turned her way when they notice her Host. She had left the Flocks behind, had them stay hidden for the moment. It would only raise an alarming amount of suspicion and Worry if such a mass of wills was marching back towards Solthorn.

Still, that didn’t mean her Host didn’t raise alarm all on its own. Each was clad in the Markers armor after all, which easily rivaled those the Enforcers wore. Bliss could already smell it from the unclaimed, Envy and Lust wafted from them and many Others as they gazed upon the glory of her Makers work. Those Lust filled eyes also flowed over the many contains that followed behind her Host. All of it filled to the top with liquid essence.

A pity she couldn’t have brought more as her Maker had been inclined to do. But the load she already carried had been burden enough when she was forced to flee from the Nightmares. She would just have to be frugal and take a little longer righting the wrong of the Sanctum.

The unclaimed formed tighter ranks, readied themselves for something to happen, since as usual Fear was prodding them to do so. Spinning its weave of ill lies about her. Though they weren’t as bad as those in the past, the Makers armor was made of metal this time. Not stone to confuse them, so she looked the part, look as though she was from Above.

She could see it clearly, since so many were thinking the same thing. They thought she was reinforcements the Voices may have requested. Fear grew from it, used that thought to hold some sway over the unclaimed.

As the distance between them lowered to a few feet the barring Host split and made way for her. Instead, she had her own Host come to a halt. Confusion scurried across the ranks of the unclaimed, Worry babbled to them, spinning all sorts of tales. Some she saw were listening, but only that, the majority tuned out the thoughts and focused their attention on the Warded individuals staring them down.

As before Bliss sent one of her vessels forward, walking in an easy, none threating stance, hands spreading out in greeting. “The Giver keeps providing,” her vessel spoke, her essence and Hope already spreading out covering the unclaimed. Many shuttered when they were encased, before vessels filled with tension slowly let go and loosened. The Others began screaming as their forms sizzled with the contact, Hope only making it worse as she divided and pounced on the screaming Others.

“So many here to welcome us, to be freed from the Curses that ail all of you.” The Flocks she’d left behind were still close enough to pull essence from. She had them begin to desire with her Host, of the unclaimed being cleansed of the Others. Then engulfed in a realm of her.

Her words filled with such intent made the unclaimed flinch again, some shook their heads as if trying to shake away the relaxation they were experiencing. Trying to wake a tired vessel that only wanted to rest.

Fear, and Worry did their best to gain the wills attention, to pull them from their fixated gazes at Bliss. But Hope throttled that, began shattering more of them and turning a large part of her attention towards the Doubts. Doubts that withered the quickest as Bliss continued speaking her words and flooding the area in her essence.

“When we heard the troubles the Sanctums were experiencing, the ills that were befalling them. We just had to come. Had to save our fellow Vail from the Curse actions of those claiming to be from Above.” Stances waned, people began leaning against one another. But during all of it, the heads of the vessels stayed upright, stared with pure focus at her speaking vessel. For the words were ripe with her. Of a warmth, the things had never experienced during their time in the horrid realm they lived in.

“Heard of the tales about the Voices, of their actions and decisions against those they're supposed to be guiding. How they have been sending out Thousands to die in the Soulless tunnels to claim, Mines.” The unclaimed in an inelegant manner fell to the floor, head slumping as their vessels were near giving out.

Bliss smiled at them, channeled more essences of herself filled with the desires of Flocks down upon the unclaimed. The Others withered away screaming to be heard all the way to their end. None of the wills within the vessels listened, no not with Hope there pushing, and guiding them to keep listening to her.

“Together we will fix this wrong, then move outward, freeing all from these tyrants. Then we will begin changing this realm to how He demands it to be.” Another push, and the Host before her fell fast asleep, save for the wills that called out to her. She continued pulsing out her essence, the wonder that was her, and waited for the wills to come to her of their own free will.

She didn’t have to wait long, as before they were tired. So very tired of Fear, of Worry of the pain that those Above brought. They wanted to be her, they wanted the realm her Maker had envisioned, a place made right and free from the ills of the cursed existence around them. How badly they desired this, desired her and Him. They pressed against her begging and with open arms, she pulled them in and swelled.

Bliss enjoyed a short sigh before flexing her control over new vessels. They twitched back to life, and carefully help each other back up and into ranks. Afterward, they parted for her armored Host and returned to their Task of guarding the entrance of Solthorn. Bliss pulled on the Flocks she’d left behind. Had them marching closer now that the eyes watching the Gate were her’s.

Bliss many eyes observed the outer section of the Sanctum, it was spare for such a place. Normally the outer tier was one of the most clogged. But not now, the pathways were mostly clear, and those few people she witnessed rushed about. Were surrounded by Fear and his eternal lackey Worry. Anger was present too, with Rage by his side both pushing the tired wills, demanding they submit or act in a way that would only bring them more suffering.

‘Look at them Mama.’ Hope sent quickly her eyes wide with shock. ‘Look how badly they need me, us, please Mama let me go, let me guide them to you.’ Her eager daughter pleaded.

‘In a moment dear, let us get closer first and find an appropriate spot to begin my sermon.’ Bliss said eyes already scanning for such a place. She sifted through the wills, found the image of such an area. It was further ahead hidden behind some small estates that joined Houses used to support each other.

As they marched Bliss felt wills notice them, and the Others that tormented the weary wills. Once they took notice of her, they increased such behavior. ‘Now my beloved daughter, guide them to me, soothe their pain.’

Hope didn’t even say any parting words before she hurried off, separating into hundreds of versions all aiming for one vessel or another. Bliss poured a large dose of essence and aligned desires into her form. Enough that Bliss was confident her daughter wouldn’t have any trouble with the Others and their vile ways.

Bliss saw that the place for her sermon was a market. One of many, but this particular one was once more bustling than the others of the outer tier. There was more path that led to it, not that it helped now. The place was spare of people, most of the stalls or places shops could be placed were vacant. The Voices had done a thorough job of emptying the outer tier. Few remained and those that did were continuously assaulted by Worry and Fear.

The versions of those two grew more when the vessels around her Host took notice. Saw the Warded armor they were encased in. Most thought the Voices were showing their hand now that the masses were thin enough. Images of people being forced into Flocks without even discussing the matter with their accompanied Houses was displayed to Bliss.

One that faded when versions of her daughter flowed into the area. They latched on and began fighting with the Others. The images of Worry and Fear parted as Hope showed her own visions. Many of the vessels went still, some at first fought Hope as they did with the Others. The wills inside of them seeing the visions just as false as those of Fear. But not long as Bliss Host spread out as she began to speak through one in the center of the formation.

“Greeting denizens of Solthorn,” She started, and pulled from the Flocks and Host she left behind. Essence flowed out, empowered by the desires of her claimed wills. Heads turned her way, the once fighting wills stopped their struggles as the warmth of her Makers Light was shown upon them. The Others, no matter the breed, howled in pain, their claims and hold breaking apart along with them. The Hopes pounced on the vulnerable Others, began tearing them apart, and then whispered sweetly to the masses.

“The Giver has heard your offers, heard your pleas for aid.” Bliss voice echoed, spreading out and luring more vessels that were already being guided by Hope.

They needed little aid in that once her essence touched them. When they felt the warmth they were so starved of. They came running after, amassing in the market she had placed herself.

“Heard of the many ills the Voices have conducted on her behalf. Heard how the Worthy are being sent out to die for Mines.” She sent another strong pulse, one that was too much for some of the more abused wills. Their vessels crumbled to the floor falling into a deep sleep.

One so many needed, those left in the outer tier had been working themselves beyond exhaustion.

“The Giver sent us to free you of this wrong, to make the Voices account for the atrocities they committed in her name.” Patrols were coming, some had less than savory plans for what they considered trouble makers. But such thoughts died when Hope found them, and they entered the area of her influence.

Her essence seeped into them. She watched as their vessels shivered, and they eyes going distant for a second or two as the wills within were shocked by the change of the realm. Warmth, how foreign it was to these poor creatures. How desperate they needed her and her Daughter. How badly the wills inside needed to be fixed, so full of dark things that had to be cleansed away.

“Listen to us Vail, listen and be freed from the Curses that had come to claim you. Listen and be cleansed of the vile that the Voices of brought forth.” Pulse after pulse she sent, her Host spreading outward expanding her reach. Hope did her Task well, as she continued splitting till she was a tide of versions of herself. None could hide from her as she swarmed over every estate and structure a vessel could be in.

Bliss began to sing, her vessels echoing her chorus, her essence flooded out powered by Hundreds of wills and their combined essence. It wasn’t long before she heard their calls, felt the wills pressing against her outstretch frame. An all-encompassing desire taking them, demanding with everything they were to become part of her. To forever be her, forever freed from the torment they’d been inflicted with, freed from the cruelty of the realm they’ve lived in all their lives.

She took them in, wiped clean the wrongness in them, to the point it would never return. Bliss reach expanded, and new vessels quickly rose and joined in the work of spreading her. Their voices added to her own, singing loudly so more and more of the tier was blanketed in her voice, in her essence.

Slowly she covered all of the outer tier, claiming all within her presence. None had fought, one moment of experiencing her, and they desired her without end. Even those with the Task of patrolling the tier and maintaining order weren’t immune to this. Though they were safe for the time being. They knew their time was running out, knew eventually it would be their turn to be forced out into the Soulless tunnels.

Fear used that knowledge to eat at them, slowly whipping them into a submissive state. One that fell apart the moment Hope touched them and guided them to her. They were subsumed like all the other wills, all of the things that were wrong made right. Even the other Hosts guarding entrances into the Sanctum fell to her quickly. They too were tired of the nonsense before them, tired of Fear and all the Others clawing at them for control.

Bliss had mixed feelings towards those in charge, The Voice had done her a service making matters so direr. Without them she wouldn’t be sweeping through the ranks of wrong with such ease. But at the same time, the thought of them made her dim. They had gotten so many vessels killed, let so many wills slip away, forever out of her reach.

Bliss could have been so much more. If the Sanctums were as full as they used to be. During the time her Maker was living within them, with every street and pathway jammed with people. Rather than the empty paths displayed to her now. Oh how she would have swelled, the Task before her so much easier to achieve.

‘Oh, well,’ Bliss concluded, placing the thought to the side. What was done, was done, there was nothing she could do to change it. Instead, she refocused her attention on the masses she had claimed. Bliss, now that she held the outer tier, commanded the Flocks hiding outside in the Roads to enter. Plus the Hosts guarding the entrances, and had them close the Gates after. With how things were going there was no point having them open, no one was going to show up.

She and Hope spent two hours searching for any hidden Vail before gathering everyone at the Gates. Unlike the outer tier, whose Gates had been wide open, those to the second tier were always closed. Not that it mattered since she was the patrols themselves. So she had the items needed to open said Gates.

As she had her vessels open each at the same time, she and her army of vessels began to sing once more. Guards posted inside the second tier were struck the moment the Gate cracked open. It was an unpleasant thing to see, that though these Guards were on the second tier. They were worse off than those of the first. Worry had gnawed on many of them, rather thoroughly. Most were stressed enough they couldn’t sleep. So when her essence touched them, freed them of the claws of Worry, the things collapsed to the floor.

The wills inside leaped at her, there was no begging or pleas, just a full-on attempt to become her, whether she agreed to it or not. So instead of her normal routine of waiting till a swarm pressed against her, she instead allowed them in whenever they were close enough.

The voice of her army echoed loudly into the second tier once the Gates were fully open. The masses inside, traveling streets that actually had a decent amount wandering bout, turned to the song. There was a hive of Others among them, each of varying sizes depending on the wills strength to fight. They dissolved as her essence struck, which was now too thick for them to even have the time to torment the wills before they dispersed.

The unclaimed staggered about after, many bumping into each other or joining hands trying to stay upright. But for many they fell to their knees, their vessels finally able to convey the weariness it was in, now that the Others had been removed. Hope swelled from the sight of them, dividing into thousands as she whispered inspiring words into their minds, as Bliss moved her army forward. Pulses of essence and desire had the masses strung across the streets before her vessels even got there. Not long after her armies poured into the tier, did Bliss become flooded with waves of wills.

Oh, how they sang to her, many so very many called out to her thinking she was the Giver. Bliss smiled but didn’t correct them. There was no need, one moment they were misguided, the next they were her and understood all.

With the wills came their fading thoughts, unlike the outer tier focused on just surviving. The second was full of schemes about how they were going to outlast rivals. Planned betrayals, or just getting even with those they detested before they were thrown into a Flock. The amount of wrong thoughts had her practicing her frown.

‘To think my wonderful Maker once lived with such vile things.’ Bliss remorse and quickened her pace wiping away all the forbidden thinking’s, cleansing them till they were perfect.

Bliss smiled wide as she looked out at the many becoming her, and the realm that was a little brighter than before.

---------------------------

‘You’re pushing too hard, demanding too much.’ Worry sent to her, always sending, no matter the number of time Elliden had disciplined the Curse. The things were brazen down in the depths, far from the Givers Light. Thought they had a chance to claim the Worthy, those Chosen by the Elders to bring the Lowly back into line.

Elliden sent a bolt of the Givers Wrath at the thing while she continued to her Task. She enjoyed, even though she should remain centered, the scream it gave as it withered away. It would unfortunately return, it always did, the situation she was in enough for the thing to continue reforming.

A growing amount of her was aligning with it, and the longer she was forced to stare in the abandoned realm of the Lowly the worse it would get. It had already been many Arcs and they were still no closer to finishing their Task. In fact, it seemed things had only gotten worse since they’d taken control from the worthless Anointed.

Mines still remained unclaimed, and the Flocks sent to rectify this ill still remained absent. Few Shards had returned from them, and those that had were mostly filled with Curses. The Archivist or Archivists now, with how many were becoming Consumed, didn’t provide much that they didn’t already know.

The Nightmare had darkened, was growing, and the creatures which served it doing the same. The Flocks hadn’t been adjusted enough to handle the Task. Larger bettered fitted ones, filled with Worthy had been made and sent. Yet here she sat with nothing to show for it but more Curses outcomes. What few reports she had gained told her the newly sent Flocks appeared to be floundering just as bad as the previous ones.

‘Worthless, all worthless,’ Elliden mumbled to herself.

‘Then kill them, no torture them first, make them understand the wrong they committed. Let them know our displeasure.’ Anger hissed at her, as the Curses pace about, more than ready to crush something if it could.

She sent a bolt of will at that one too, savoring the sound as it screamed. ‘Know your place Curse, forever under my paw, never to speak only to exist for my amusement.’ It growled at her, but said nothing, no it had been beaten too many times, it was tamed enough not to test her.

“Playing with the Curses again Elliden?” Her fellow Voice asked. When she looked, she found her Sister Zinlith observing the Atlas.

“They need reminding,” Elliden offered in response, “The things never stop pestering me, it’s a wonder in itself that they can’t understand they’ll never consume me.” She added while sending another bolt of Wrath at Anger, knocking it to the floor where it remained unmoving.

“These are Curse halls,” Zinlith commented, her hand tracing over a section of the Atlas that their most recent Flocks should be heading towards.

Elliden Huff, “Curse, more like Consumed, this place tries every Breath to uncenter me. The Elders should abandon it as the Giver has.”

Her sister gave her that look again, one as if she was speaking with a Newborn. It made Anger flare and come back to life before she hammered it back down.

“The Mines are of high Worth Sister, one that grows with every Cycle,” Zinlith said in her teaching tone. “With the realm Above barren of such, these Consumed realms still have a use for us. No matter how troublesome it can be at times to handle the Lowly.” She added in a mutter, eyes returning to the Atlas as if she was watching the Flocks progress.

Elliden opened her mouth to make her displeasure known, speak she knew of such common truths, but stopped when Enforcers rudely push their way into the Chamber. One headed their way, while the over dozen quickly closed the Gate and pressed themselves against it.

Breathing heavily the Enforcer kneeled. “Voices I bring Cursed knowledge.” She turned fully to him at that announcement. “The Sanctum has revolted, as I speak Lowly stream towards our location.”

Elliden vessel tensed, and the Curse Worry reformed and went into a frenzy, screaming at her how it had warned her about this outcome. Fear the vilest of things only laugh, long and darkly.

Her sister moved over to her and rested a hand on her shoulder. Elliden felt the tremors coming from it, though it looked from the outside Zinlith had come to center her, it was, in fact, the opposite.

“So the Houses think they can get away with a coup.” Elliden laughed at the idiocy, clearly one of the Houses must have fallen to the sways of Anger. Thought in their Cursed vision they could get away with such a thing.

“No Voice, it’s not just the Houses.” The Enforcer said, making the amusement in her sizzle away. “Solthorn itself has turned against us, every Lowly is marching inward, heading for us.”

She felt her sister grip tighten, and she herself notice her vessel had gone very still. Fear laughed louder now, and began to grow in size.

“How?” She said through clenched teeth, none of the Houses had such pull, even together they couldn’t get the whole Sanctum to turn against them.

The Enforcer prostrated himself before answering “We don’t know, only that they’re acting oddly, and all are heading this way.”

“Oddly how?” Her sister asked her tone perfectly even, displaying even more to Elliden how unsettled her Sister was.

“They marching and moving together as if their one, the same with their Chanting. They start and stop at the same time.” The Enforced spoke, and even though he was encased with Blessed armor, his tone had Worry in it. “And we can’t get near, for they sing and if you hear it.” He paused lost in a vision as he whispered out “Giver if you here.”

“Tell me,” Elliden said leaning forward, her patience growing thin.

“You turn, you join in, begin to sing. We’ve already lost Brothers to this, enough that we’ve blocked all paths leading deeper into this Tower.”

“Enforcers have turned against us?” She asked slowly, her mind struggling to believe the words entering them.

“Yes Voice,” The Enforcer answered his tone laden with Sadness.

“Impossible,” Her sister said, her own voice filled with Worry, and the tremors coming from her hand growing worse. Elliden readied to comfort her sister, but the change of Fear laugher turning to a scream pulled her attention.

Fear look to her, where before it had been staring at the Gate, What amusement that once marked it changed to horror. ‘I would tell you to run, but it’s too late, and we’re cornered.’

‘Run from what?’ she sent, but the answer she got was struggles coming from Enforcers trying to keep the Gate closed. A Task they were failing at, as it slowly parted enough for a crack to appear. Then she heard it, she gasped as it struck, the whole of her vessel going, not weak, but so very relaxed.

A new entity appeared, one so beautiful, she could tell instantly it wasn’t a Curse, especially so when the Curses screamed anew. The entity looked at them, smiled and charged, shattering the Curses that had been pestering her for Arcs with unnatural ease. But unlike the times Elliden had broken them, this time they didn’t start to reform, no they dissolved till nothing remained.

The entity turned to her, smiled so sweetly. ‘Nothing to be Angry about, Nor Worry or Fear, for Hope is here.’ The Entity rhymed happily as it walked over and hugged her. It was beyond words what she felt, the many ills that affected her, which she only now notice, washed away, leaving her renewed.

‘All will be well.’ Hope said to her pulling her gaze to the Flocks of Lowly outside the Gate singling so kindly to her. Then she saw it, saw her, arms outstretched, the warmest smile Elliden had ever seen on her lips.

The song being sung pulled to her, it was so wonderful to listen to, it made everything feel so much better. The Realm grew so bright, so vivid with splendor, the Curses that had been dimming her, darkening the realm and making existence painful, were gone.

It only got better the longer she listened, the entity singing became more rapturous with every Breath.

‘Bliss,’ Hope whisper in her ear, as she helped her up and guided her towards the Light. The closer she got the greater the feeling she was experiencing grew. ‘Yes Bliss, Bliss in every manner, take me, take me, save me, free me from the realm before. Let me stay, let me stay!’ She kept offering in her mind.

Bliss smile widened drawing her closer and when Elliden was close enough, wrapped her in a tight hug. “Forever and ever, my sweet child, I’ll never let you go.” Bliss said to her, and Elliden wept, Joy flooding her as she sank into Bliss.