The Twin Redwoods and the Life Slip Complete
Ardyn rose from her spot—she knew her work was only half done, but the rest needed to be done outside the depression. As she stood, the chaotic bands of magic around her moved in response to her. They danced and shimmered with her movement as if they were trying to communicate. She narrowed her eyes in understanding, her skin rippled with odd anticipation—as if her body knew what was about to happen—and she stepped forward, cautiously.
Her skin continued to prick in ripples along her body, like ripples of electricity through a circuit. She locked her lips impulsively and steeled herself for what was about to come. The magic of the Central Weave still moved with her—against, and in homage to her. It was like it understood she was vital to the existence of Serenia, but that fact also terrified it.
There was a subtle shift, and Cheys with dark reddish-brown flowing hair and capes of liquid stone appeared. They moved to specific positions within the depression and raised their arms to varying positions. Some pointed to another Chey, others reached high above their heads, while still others faced their palms out to the center of the depression.
Once positioned, the once-chaotic magic stilled—becoming a mass of energy at the center of the depression. In the blink of an eye, strands streaked out from the mass, hitting the waiting Cheys' hands. The Cheys were not disturbed nor injured by this; the strands were absorbed down through one Chey and then back out to the next. It was a coordinated cycle of filtration, purification, and containment. The once-chaotic magical energy now focused and stabilized. The once-ineffectual Life Slip now became the magical energy's quiet health inspector and tool of recalibration.
Ardyn watched it all passively, as if she knew, all along, that this was how it was supposed to be.
Her form was now renewed, permanently changed. Atina looked down in awe. The young, albeit powerful, girl she began this journey with was now an ethereal higher being—one that rivaled, if not equaled, the likes of Varric himself. Ardyn was now taller, her pale skin now seemed timeless—smooth like porcelain or ancient jade. Her amethyst eyes were in a constant twinkling jewel tone that seemed to look into souls, knowing in an instant who, or what, an entity was.
Her hair seemed to now move on its own—as if it were a sentient being now sharing her form—and power simply flowed from her in innocuous waves, as if she had just powered up to a new level and didn't know how to control such things yet. In Atina's eyes, she was an ancient being of old reborn. Her magic was strange and unique, and more powerful than the Viper Shadow could ever imagine. She wanted to follow her Empress for an eternity now.
She watched, awe growing within her, as Ardyn took a second step, her own heart racing in excitement and fear. With that second step, two Cheys with flowing stone blacker than any void abyss appeared before Ardyn. They bowed, and Ardyn's eyes flickered—she knew they were the true guards of the twin redwoods, and they were there to take her to them. She nodded in understanding, and they touched hands before her; the three of them disappeared from the depression.
Atina's heart leapt with fear, then quickly calmed when Ardyn's voice brushed the edges of her soul.
'Don't worry. I am with the twin redwoods. Prepare a camp for us. We leave Serenia in the morning.'
Atina bowed to the air before her and melted into shadow—she wanted to have everything ready for her mistress' return.
Ardyn appeared before the twin redwoods. All of the walkways repaired themselves, and to an outsider, Serenia looked whole. To Ardyn—an Empress chosen by Sidus Serpens, not born to it—Serenia still looked half-dead. She opened up her Song of Tree, and it flowed, not into the twin redwoods before her, but down into the mists of the Aetheric Sea below. It swirled around the roots of the twin redwoods in sweet sensations of light and sound, balancing the natural flow.
She gently placed her hand on the twisting trunks and quietly coaxed the Life Slip technique forward. She now understood that this technique was not about power, ability, or even knowledge; it was about balance, surrender, and passivity. It moved forward and filled a space within the heart of the twin redwoods that had died centuries ago. This was Serenia's source, its wellspring. Without it, this magical realm had slowly begun to decay—another cornerstone of Sidus Serpens dying due to arrogance and neglect.
As Ardyn allowed the Life Slip to be, she contemplated things. Her mind had transformed and her perceptions had evolved. This world was so different now. What she once saw as complex and magical was now simple and mundane. She understood that all of this was of her own choosing, but it had always been about the stabilization of Sidus Serpens.
She smiled in understanding as she thought about Varric and her place with him. The Life Slip shimmered and set into a cyclic flow within the twin redwoods. The trees trembled with two distinct resonances, and a blinding opalescent light flowed forth. The red moat staining the mists below disintegrated, its roots dove deeper, and a harmonic, twining melody flowed outward over the whole of Serenia.
As the realm rediscovered itself—and once again became whole—the twin redwoods straightened, their trunks hugging each other tighter, and their branches extended higher into the sky. Their two melodies rose up as their leaves became more vividly colored; magical flowers and fruits bloomed and grew to their moments of perfection as one.
The Cheys, Sylvani, and Galians stopped in unison, allowing the magic of their realm to speak to their souls, showing their reverence in their own unique ways.
There was a magical symphonic melody flowing throughout the realm, and Ardyn saw none of it. Her work was done; the rest was for the inhabitants of the realm and did not involve her.
Two things happened as the Life Slip became both hers and Serenia's. Her body appeared beside Atina, and her consciousness awoke on the soul plane.
Varric looked at her, a warm smile on his lips and his arms open, waiting for her.
"You think you have changed. But this is how I have always seen you. Ardyn, you are my most precious jewel, and as you become brighter, your value does not increase."
His voice ran through her being in rivulets of hope, power, and love. She drank it all in with joy in her heart and peace in her soul.
"Your value does not increase, my love, because you have always been priceless to me."