The Beautiful Devouring
Ardyn, Varric, Atina, and Seraphis looked out over the vast valley. Suddenly, clearly, and assuredly, the corners of the walls surrounding the castle became the only things that mattered. The four knew exactly what they needed to do, and they moved without thought. Neither consulted the others; they simply moved as if by instinct.
Varric went to the twin redwoods. His form shifted into his vast serpent shape, twisting his massive body through the ancient trees. His shadow magic pulsed, as it moved over the surface of the great trees. They both trembled under his touch, the twin redwoods began to grow taller, their trunks broader and stronger. Vibrant, sweet-smelling flowers bloomed, and large, ripe fruits hung heavy from the branches - their juices dripping from the fruits to hit the trunks and add magic and strength to the intertwining trees. The massive redwoods of Serenia were flourishing because of him. Varric smiled. They would reach Sidus Serpens soon. He and Ardyn would be together and their lands would be strong and at peace.
Ardyn moved to the corner of the great forest. Her form shimmered into a silver mist, surrounding the woods until she knew every leaf, every branch, and every blade of grass intimately. She was the forest, and the forest was her. A song drifted from the mist—a song Ardyn had learned during her long quest. As the melody named all things within the wood, the forest responded, remembering its youth and the sweetness of its fruits. Pure, sweet water began to flow between the trunks. Bratinus was whole again. Ardyn smiled. All she could think about was how they would all be in Sidus Serpens soon. Her and Varric would flourish and Sidus Serpens would be prosperous.
Atina entered the corner of chaos. Her magic surged out to tame the wild energy, their powers intertwining and fusing. She began to command the chaos, forcing it into order. The depths of the corner spoke to her, a voice echoing in her mind: "Do you truly want Sidus Serpens, young one? Do you think it will be a good home?" Atina only smiled and redoubled her efforts. The chaos would not distract her. She would prevail. She would show existence that she was both worthy and capable - and Ardyn would be proud.
Seraphis was deep within the void. He was the void, and the void was him. But he frowned as his senses brushed against a tiny, delicate spark. Something existed here? His senses whirled, hitting a wall—an illusion. He tried to pull back, but the void swarmed in to devour him. He reached out to Ardyn, but their connection felt soft and pliable, unstable and fading. His mind reeled. Was it all an illusion?
He froze as his heart seemed to turn to ice. His soul tore. Atina? He could no longer sense her. In the same moment, Ardyn felt her tether to Atina atrophy and vanish. It was as if Atina's soul had deteriorated into nothing. Ardyn's magic roared within her. Rage rolled off her in waves, and she heard the sharp, sudden sound of glass shattering.
The illusion broke.
Varric, Ardyn, Atina, and Seraphis were back, standing at the entrance of the vast valley. The brilliant castle of light sat in the middle like a beacon, the four corners calling to them again. The castle pulsed—a rhythmic, insidious thing that burrowed into their minds and souls.
Ardyn's battle robes and spiked hair rose defiantly, only to fall back down helplessly. They fought an invisible force, snapping and rising over and over, unable to reach their mistress to wake her. The four moved forward again, taking their positions at the corners. The loop had reset.
Above them, the seven High Emperors and Empresses—not rotted here, but visibly weakened—sat with Elsa. They looked into a large silver sphere that rippled like water, watching as the valley and the four victims shimmered into view.
Shylah sat forward, her large frame feeble but her eyes filled with power. "They are trapped."
"They have just begun," Elsa whispered. "Don't count them out just yet."
"Just because you thought they were Sovereigns doesn't mean they were, Elsa," Braylon countered.
Ryvvan looked to the canine. "Sidus Serpens chose them all. We all agreed on this." He looked back to the sphere. "Besides, they received a castle and a very complicated task. We all had straightforward paths for our ascensions."
No one spoke. It was true—they couldn't even tell what the true task was.
Salton sucked his teeth, his eyes narrowing in concern. "The viper is injured. She dove deeper than the others."
Elsa looked into the sphere. Soul damage was visible on all four of them, but Atina had taken physical damage. Her dark shadow-scales were turning a dull tin color, flaking off her skin like dead leaves.
Elsa bit her lip, her voice a ghost of a prayer. "How many loops can they take?"