[Book II Chapter 4] SARAH: Reckoning

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It’s been four days. Sarah gathered up the tarot cards and began shuffling. She was seated in the Adventurer’s Guild’s luxurious guest quarters. The door isn’t locked, yet this is an inescapable prison. Sarah glanced out the window at the streaks of static zooming over the golden building. If she stepped outside, the electric fairies would zap her unconscious. Shaking her head sadly, she focused back to the riffling cards in her fingers.

Sarah was gifted with a connection to Destiny, one of the rarest affinities on Enera. Great for fortune tellers, but not anyone else. There existed no established martial arts. Most people give up.

The magic did have some practical uses. She could ascribe a ‘weight’ to an outcome and draw energy from the Ether to make it so. Simple ones worked best, such as deciding a vase would not break. Using the principle, she’d wrapped herself in multiple protective layers to resist physical damage. But not freezing, because against Astra there’d be no point, so I was pathetically trapped by her exhausted children. Sarah groaned remembering. I should’ve focused on escaping.

She sighed. While her channeling ability was quite high, what she could do with that power was underwhelming. Too weak for adventuring, she’s taken the position of steward to buy time to develop a functional martial art.

That’s over now. Sarah’s wrystal still had access to Isle’s local network. Yesterday, Lily had assumed full control over the Isle, abolishing her position. I’m amazed she hasn’t stopped by to gloat.

Sarah dealt the cards again. These were what she knew best, the one area she could draw on her full potential. Fortune telling is a well explored art. The magic was different from necromancy’s foresight. Instead of proceeding from the present and exploring a myriad of possibilities, she interacted directly with Destiny, one to the supreme ‘forces’ of the Ether. Just as Paradox protected the past, Destiny guided the future, ensuring curses and blessing of good fortune came to pass. Her tarot deck served as an intermediary to reveal the future… and sometimes intervene.

By channeling and wishing hard enough, she could sometimes forcibly draw the cards she wanted, changing the course of events. She’d done this with the capture of Hope Skyfell, insuring everything went smoothly. How could I have predicted what would transpire after we safely retreated to the underground coliseum?

Sarah shook her head and swallowed the bitterness. They lied to me, even now they continue to lie. How could that humiliating defeat be part of my path to immortality?

The sensible part of her, the part not wallowing in self-pity, knew the answer. Unwilling to grow old quietly, she’d made an impossible request, and the cards had done their best to answer. They were neither good nor evil. If terrorism and plotting the death of millions offered the best chances of success, that’s what they would reveal. Every step of the way, I had the choice to turn back but used them as an excuse to keep on.

If Sarah had a regret, it was not fully understanding the aid Lithorn was offering. I helped Sion find an opportunity, not understanding he intended to slaughter tourists. Had she know, perhaps she could’ve mustered the resolve to doubt the cards. Unfortunately, once blood was spilled, that it was too late.

Sarah reflected on her time as steward of the Isle. Had it been worth it? She’d accomplished so little towards her goal. I’m already thirty three. In another ten years, I’ll have to give up. Although I suppose that’s less of a concern now with the dark age…

Sarah laughed gently. Forget surviving the next decade, will I survive the next few days? She turned over another card. Death, again. Seven cards with grim reapers lay on the table. She’d never drawn this many before.

Sarah was dreading her meeting Astra Skyfell. If not for the pillar’s destruction, it would’ve happened already. But how long can that distract her? She’d seen two thousand years old recordings where Astra executed deserters without a hint of mercy. How will I fair?

The fallout had been brutal for all the members of their little conspiracy. Sion Gale and Orthos Braslin were dead. Siegfied had pounded the Laughing Man into a cliff, and Samuel Lithorn’s rule was in peril. She was the last one who had yet to face the music.

A blue fairy sparked into view above the cards and declared, “Miki is on her way to pick you up. Be ready.”

So it’s time. Sarah retreated to her room and changed into her most alluring dress. If this was to be her end, she wanted to look her best.

She met Miki at the door, and the two departed in silence. Sarah’s apprehention grew as the guildmaster’s residence came into view. To distract herself, she asked the question that had gnawing at her for days, “Why has my alliance with Lithorn been covered up?“

Sarah had quickly noticed that, in the recording from the blood arena, all footage of herself had been removed. News reports were centered on other actors. Even her house arrest was seen as the result of a lost power struggle with Lily Morgana. As far as she could tell, her reputation was intact.

“Who knows?” Miki responded without looking back. “It was Astra’s orders. Maybe she plans on dealing with you in a way that spares your family the shame.”

Sarah grimaced. Mother and brother… How can I ever face them again after this? She hadn’t even tried communicating since her capture. She didn’t know what she would say. Marcus might forgive me, but mother never will.

Miki guided to Astra’s office and left. As the door slammed shut, Sarah took a deep breath and stepped forward. Across from her, Astra looked up emotionless from behind her desk, and the room began to cool rapidly.

Is she pressuring me? I won’t give her the satisfaction. Sarah stood tall as her breath turned white. However, the temperature continued to drop, down and down, to colder than anything she’d ever known.

The sexy dress was a mistake! I should’ve gone with winter clothes. What was I thinking? Finally, as her fingers turned blue, Sarah gave in, “Could you please make it warmer?”

Astra simply studied her with disinterested pity. “You can’t even handle this much?”

Sinking realization hit Sarah. She’ll happily watch me freeze! Wasting no time, she channeled with her full being, fating herself to endure the chill. Slowly, feeling returned to extremities.

“Have a seat.” Astra ordered. Sarah did as instructed, shivering and beaten.

The immortal slowly eyed her over. “You conspired with Samuel Lithorn to overthrow Lily Morgana. With your aid, Sion Gale committed three massacres on the Isle, resulting in over a thousand dead. You kidnapped my daughter, Hope Skyfell, and attempted to murder millions with Kain’s arm.”

Sarah cringed as each failing was laid out. “Why hasn’t this been revealed to the public?”

“Your mother and brother govern a prosperous territory. By sparing them this scandal, they will owe me a favor I intend to collect. Not to mention the Isle image as a place of safety has been tarnished enough without revealing the Steward to be a traitor. Finally, it pleases me that all enmity be directed towards the Norther Emperor.”

Right… Compared to what Lithorn did to Jenna and her brother, my crimes must seem trivial.

“Furthermore, judging your character, I can tell the chaos on the Isle wasn’t something you initiated, but were drawn into. That doesn’t excuse your actions, but it allows for other possibilities. Apart from your petty and pointless feud with Lily, you proved yourself a competent administrator, a valuable trait.” Astra leaned back, “It just so happens that Radin Lockworth recently vacated his position, leaving a gapping void.”

“You want me to take his place?” Sarah exclaimed in disbelief. From steward to managing the Adventurer’s Guild’s finances… This is nearly a promotion. “What’s the catch?”

“You will swear an oath to me, under pain of death.” Astra locked eyes with her. “Should you refuse, I will send your lifeless, frozen body home while revealing the extent of your machinations to the world.”

So I have absolutely no choice. “Very well. What do you want?”

“Until the dark age’s end, you will obey each and every of my directives to the letter. You will never lie nor deceive me about any matter. Finally, you will not scheme against me, my children, or any other innocent party. Swear this now.”

Sarah repeated the oath, word for word. Astra nodded satisfied, “You are free to go. Report to financial department and they will bring you up to speed about your new responsibilities. Lastly, you are forbidden from leaving the island or revealing any details of what we discussed today.”

Astra returned to her work, and Sarah slowly realized the meeting was over. As she moved to leave, Astra added, “Know this: if you should ever go back on your word, ‘you won’t live to regret it’”

Sarah walked out in a daze. Around her, the guild was buzzing with activity, ignoring her. I’m free?

Focusing, Sarah took a passage underground. However, instead of heading to the financial department, she turned towards the city, carefully watching the fairies zooming overhead. There was no reaction, even when she left guild grounds.

Sarah stood stunned in the bustling street. I can run away… With purpose, she started through the city. No longer surrounded by the outlandish attire of adventurers, she was attracting attention——damn the sexy dress——, but no one tried to stop her.

Ever since she’d begun cooperating with Lithorn, she’d had an airship stowed away in the undercity for times like these. She didn’t understand what was going on, but she’d worry about it when she was far from the Isle. There’s no way I am honoring that ridiculous oath.