Sentinel

Chapter 25 - Corruption is only soul-deep

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Chapter 25 - Corruption is only soul-deep

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Kiarae's mind didn't wander for a moment from the Linaye. 

After the darkness had attacked Skye in the middle of the day, Kiarae had been forced to open herself up to the bond entirely to free her student. Fearful for another attack with little else to do, she'd monitored the Linaye closely. She drained herself physically to keep her mental state sharp and alert. She couldn’t lift a finger but considered it a necessary sacrifice. She had to be prepared to step in. 

Time passed. With no sign of the shadow, Kiarae reached out to the voice.  

I do not understand this darkness. It is not like the corruption.

When the minutes slipped away without reply, Kiarae thought she’d go without answer. The voice took her by surprise when it eventually spoke, almost causing an anxious Kiarae to fling her precious energy at it.

No... It is not purely corruption, Celestial.

Has it mutated then?

The voice paused to consider. No. Merely merged, I suppose.

With what? Has it--

A strange flicker of emotion dragged Kiarae from the private conversation. Celestial magic shimmered through the bond -- and she knew exactly what it was.

Skye was undergoing the Silverborn’s trial of soul.

Several thoughts crossed Kiarae’s mind. They were making a Sentinel, a nature one nonetheless, undergo the trial? The cup wasn’t designed to deal with Sentinels, and it certainly wouldn’t benefit her student in any way. Skye’s nature magic granted her far more power than the cup ever could. So what purpose did it serve?

Along this train of thought, a horrible thought crossed her mind.

The test proved purity of soul. Could they have reason to...

...the mark on her arm, Kiarae realised. They’re testing her because of the mark. Oh deities, please let the cup fill.

Kiarae knew Skye’s soul was pure. It was tainted with dark memories from the past, but it was pure. Now, she worried the Silverborn and whoever else was watching would be led to the wrong conclusion.

From her own experiences, she knew cup filled depending on its analysis of the person’s soul. Worthy, liquid. Unworthy, nothing. That wasn’t where her problem arose. She had faith in Skye. The trouble was the enchantments themselves.

They were cast on the assumption that the person on trial’s soul would be confined in a tight ball of ether which held their entire being, mental and physical. The chalice made its judgement based off its examination of the individual’s soul and experiences.

However, once a person accessed their magical potential and trained as a Sentinel, the boundaries of the soul slowly disintegrated as they delved further into the magic. It allowed their soul to drift between the physical and nether realms, increasing their magical capacity.

With a curse, Kiarae realised it was a distinct possibility the chalice wouldn’t even recognise there was a soul holding it.

An anxious Kiarae expanded the bond and prodded it in search of details. She felt for any trigger in Skye’s mind that might indicate what was occurring. Shock, disbelief and guilt were the only things she could glean.

No, she thought as a shudder wracked her body. Skye, what is happening to you?

In a desperate search for answers, Kiarae dropped her own defences and probed the bond with a reckless disregard for her own safety. It was stupid, idiotic and something that would have induced a severe scolding from her own master, but at the moment she didn’t care. She had to find her student.