Hasim, the Axiomyte, and Filandrel

10th of Camince, 1485

Well, I did finally manage to sink into my meditation and find some rest.
 
As soon as I awakened, the first thing that I saw was the axiomyte’s body. I found Meriwald pacing around and staring nervously at Hasim’s baby. “Is he going to wake up?” He asked, rather frantically.
It took me a minute to realize that it wasn’t just Meriwald freaking out, rather, he was feeding off my own anxiety. I shushed him, admitting I didn’t know, but telling him to be quiet just in case.
 
Before I fell into my meditation last night, I contacted Filandrel with a sending spell. “What the fuck is going on? What did you do?”
 
A few moments later, I received his reply. “It appears Melkinov has tricked you. Your wish has lifted the curse from the entire city. Now, many are racing for that throne. The dragon is defending what he believes is his.” He then cast a spell of his own, answering my question in his usual vague manner. “I did what was necessary. The question is… will you make the choice to save our people or will you let this opportunity be taken from you?”
 
I reached out to Ravlor as well, basically telling him that everything is going to shit, and asking him to be safe and not get himself killed. But, he didn’t reply for some time. When he finally did, he said “We’re safe. Don’t worry about me. Try not to die.” Typical Ravlor… I have no intention of dying though.
 
I asked Meriwald what he thinks of this whole situation. He just looked at me sadly and said that he wants to go home.
“Me too.” Home… something that seems to be slipping a bit further away with every day.
“But we can’t go home.” His little voice was heavy with sorrow.
“Why not?”
“Look…” he cocked his head toward Hasim’s body and that of the axiomyte. “Look at all the dead people. We can’t go home.”
“We might die.” I stared at him intently, to make sure that he was actually paying attention to what I was saying. “You might actually die, for real.” I don’t know if I was trying to convince him or myself.
“Yeah… cause when I look at that baby.” Hasim’s son was still sleeping peacefully. “How many babies are there? A lot of old people too… so we have to.”
I don’t know why I needed to hear that confirmation from him, but I did… otherwise the pull to return to Alcarin would have probably been too strong.
 
I nodded. “Meriwald…” he glanced over at me. “I have to talk to him…”
“Oh no… here we go again…” He already knew what I was going to do, without me even having to fully tell him.
“Watch my back.” I chastised as I began to sink into the trance that meeting in the Dream requires.
 
Filandrel Dream

I closed my eyes and found myself in the gardens of Egig Ero Fa… except they were all burning. Filandrel was seated not far from me, drinking tea.
“Is the burning from you or from me?” He asked implacably, as soon as I appeared.
I fought down my rising anxiety and anger. “What the fuck?” I bit out. “I don’t know. This isn’t where I was planning on going.”
“No…” he replied. “Things rarely end up as you plan.”
 
“What did you do?“ I demanded.
“I did what I had to do.” His tone was calm as always.
“Define that.” I insisted.
“Depends… no doubt you came with questions… it’s usually how we open up our conversations, isn’t it? Go ahead, ask away. Ask what you need to ask.”
“Did you try to kill the baby?” I demanded.
Filandrel spoke without hesitation. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the child is cursed.” He stated.
“She is a child!” I nearly shouted.
“She’s cursed!” Filandrel’s reply was a bit heated, but he quickly elaborated. “The princess, through the blood of Baba Yaga, she is corrupted. That child is destined to bring ruin to our kingdom. If she’s allowed to live, we lose our people. I am choosing our people over one child.”
 
“How do you know that? The way it looks right now, we’re kind of losing our kingdom and people as it stands!”
“Baba Yaga’s curse is inexorable. You can’t escape it!” He interrupted. “It is born of our own Intoners.”
“How so?” That’s a theory I’ve never heard elaborated.
“Because Baba Yaga was one once, and then she died… the Queen of Air and Darkness made sure of that. She was all we had left.”
“So you tried to kill a baby…”
“I tried to kill a child to save hundreds of thousands…”
“How can you kn…?”
“Because I know.” He insisted. “Bear witness to the events in the east, to the rise of that emperor. All due to Baba Yaga’s curse. All due to one witch who began a series of events that led to him.”
Filandrel paused for a moment, before shifting into his professor tone, sounding much the same as he had in his lectures during my time at Egig Ero Fa.
 
“In the empire, Gaius of Astoria… his consort, who escaped everyone’s grasp, brought ruin to the Empire. They can’t help it. It is the curse. Every child, every daughter of Baba Yaga is destined to bring ruin to whatever kingdom she is born into. I don’t need further evidence. I know.”
 
“Then why don’t we just make a new kingdom?” I asked (consciously forcing myself not to bring up Grimaldus’ suggestion regarding the ruins in the east). “If she is born into this one… obviously, looking around, the burning of Egig Ero Fa, and the dragon in Runestone and everything going on,” I ranted. “Looking around, apparently it is quite likely that Alcarin isn’t going to be the same kingdom that it always was…”
 
“No. You’re right.” Filandrel sounded defeated. “I was hoping to retain what we had, save us time, for as long as we could. I failed.” He seemed far more agitated than I’ve ever seen him before. “They haven’t targeted you?” He asked. “The prince? His wrath is far reaching.”
“I don’t know…” I admitted.
“Then that means that he may offer you station, but he is not one to let someone live and be.”
“Why?”
“Because he will want to keep you close, make sure you’re not an enemy. Also, as of this moment, you’re likely the second most capable wizard in the entirety of Egig Ero Fa. Congratulations.” His irony wasn’t lost on me.
 
“Another question…” I said, changing the subject. “Long ago, you told me you would handle it when I came to you about…”
“Your professor.” Filandrel finished with a chuckle.
“Don’t laugh at me!” I admonished.
 
“It was handled.” He explained. “I gave him station outside Egig Ero Fa, took him as far away from the Elves as possible, where he could still be useful. He was an expert in ancient mysteries. He gave us a lot of useful research, actually. Why?” He asked. “Why do you ask about him?”
“He’s dead.” I stated.
“Because of you? Or one of your companions?” I vividly recalled the moment when Alucard’s sword impaled him, but avoided mentioning it, lest some wrath potentially fall on the heads of my companions.
“He’s dead.” I repeated dispassionately.
“If he turned against you, then likely your goals are in opposition. Now if your question is whether or not he was working for me, the answer is no. He reported to me, but solely about his research.”
“What did you report to him?” I asked skeptically.
“Typically he would ask for supplies, resources, scrolls…” Filandrel explained.
“What did you tell him about me?” I asked, unable to keep the accusation out of my voice.
“Not much at all, if that’s really what your question is.” His gaze swept over my face. “But you wouldn’t really believe that, would you? I can see it in your eyes. You’ve never been a good liar like that… it’s admirable, really. Lying usually comes naturally to Elves, as we get older.”
 
“He showed up in Ravlor’s form!” I blurted out.
“Somebody told him about Ravlor then.” Filandrel mused.
“Did you?”
“No.” Filandrel stated implacably.
“He knew way too much.” I insisted.
“Then somebody’s been talking to him.” Filandrel confirmed. “Whether or not you believe that it wasn’t me is up to you.”
 
“Who have you been talking to?” I asked.
“I recently spoke with Melkinov about the removal of the curse in the great city… that is problematic. It’s short sighted. It may give you access to the city, but it also means that anyone with a vested interest in that throne, and that dragon, will be racing for it.”
“Do you have a vested interest in that dragon?” I asked.
“I have a vested interest in that throne.” Filandrel said, confirming some of my worst suspicions.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because it’s the only thing that can save our people…” his voice was heavy with conviction. “That throne was meant for Orpheus. It was kept for him, and the Decimator of Cities decimated that city to make sure that no one else touched it. Afterwards, he was imprisoned by the gods for siding with Orpheus. The dragon’s name is Amaritmanyu. It’s younger sibling, you’ve likely met by now.”
 
At my questioning look, he elaborated. “There are two of them… the great wyrm and his younger brother. They both escaped from the trees decades ago. The older the dragon, the more likely they are to leave their prisons, after all.”
 
“So what is your plan?” I asked.
Filandrel shook his head. “I don’t have one… as much as I’m interested in the throne…”
I laughed aloud. “You don’t have one?”
“In regards to the dragon?” Filandrel snapped. “No. But if you want a seat at the table, then by all means… sit with us. Then you can see what I deal with every time.”
“What do you mean, a seat at the table?” I asked… this was the first time I’ve heard anything of the sort mentioned.
“I was supposed to meet with Vlatrossi Melkinov and a few others. We’re meant to talk about what to do about the dragon.”
“When?” I asked.
“Soon. I recently received notice that Wei Jang has fallen to the dragon, completely this time… which means that it will take more than just a few powerful wizards to defeat it… a few powerful wizards tried… I don’t know who’s dead or who’s alive yet.” He admitted.
“I do.” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“What do you mean?”
“The axiomyte…”
“He’s dead?” Filandrel asked.
“Did you know?”
“No.” He shook his head, showing more genuine sorrow than I’m used to seeing on his face.
“How come? You always seem to know everything.”
“Contrary to what you believe, I am not all-seeing.”
“I didn’t say that.” I snapped defensively.
“But you act like it.” Filandrel gave me a wry, sad smile. “It’s flattering, but pretty soon you’re going to have to grow up. You’ll understand that we are all flawed in different ways. You may find it disappointing…”
 
“What’s your plan now? No doubt you have some type of plan… you always do.”
“I’m forming one…” I replied.
“You seem bothered by it.”
“Of course I’m bothered by it!” I snapped. “What do you think I should do? You’re so very fond of plans.”
 
“I think you should follow what you think is right. At the end of it all, no one is going to know the circumstances but you. You intend to kill this beast? You intend to take that throne? Or do you intend to follow your comrades to the end and then see what happens? Some of their goals may not align with yours… some of their goals may put you in danger…” There was no mistaking the note of warning in Filandrel’s voice.
“What is life without danger?” I said, rather flippantly.
“Now you sound like someone I met once…”
“Who?”
“The axiomyte.” Filandrel’s tone matched the solemness of his face.
 
“Did you know he was there?”
“No. We had lost touch a very long time ago and we made sure we could never find each other. But we had an idea… we always did.” Filandrel said with a faraway look in his eyes.
“Why make sure you could never find each other?”
“We had a falling out. Our methods… they differed.” He explained cautiously.
“Were his more upfront than yours?”
“His are more dangerous than mine.” There it was again, a warning in his tone.
 
“Are you lying to me?” I asked.
“No. But you’ll have to trust me on that. How could you prove that I’m lying or not?”
“Would you sit in a zone of truth?”
“It won’t matter…” he shook his head. “I could resist it.”
“Yes, but then whoever cast it would know.”
“There are ways around that too. We’re going to have to take each other’s word at this point, unless we’re going to dance circles around who knows what about what.”
 
“What’s going on with the eastern border?” I asked, changing the subject.
“War. Skirmishes. And it will get worse.” Filandrel warned. ”Men coming from the north. Sent by the hobgoblins.”
“Damien?” I asked.
“And pretty soon the Empire is likely going to face its own set of conflicts. Things will only get worse for our people. We’re going to have to take a lot of sides soon… you’re going to have to take a side soon.”
“Take a side in what?”
“The upcoming conflicts, however they shape up. And in the end, I hope you side with your people.”
“What do you mean?” I asked apprehensively.
“Your friend Damien is not what he used to be…”
“You’ve been talking to him?”
“I did.” Filandrel stated with a note of finality.
 
“What do you mean, he’s not who he used to be?”
“He’s finding himself more empathetic to his father’s points of view…” he studied my face, as if searching for something. “If you had to kill him, would you? If it meant saving everyone you know and love, if it meant stopping your city from burning… could you kill your old friend? If it put those you love in danger, could you lift a finger against him? You’ll have to ask yourself that soon…”
“Is it that bad?” I asked quietly.
“It will get that bad. I have seen this play out before.”
“When?”
“Long ago, when his great-great-grandfather was alive. And it will end in bloodshed and tears.”
 
“If you wish for any help, I’ll offer it to you.” A hint of a smile ghosted his mouth. “All you have to do is ask, my dearest student.”
“We’re going to need it…” I admitted.
“Against the creature?”
“I can’t just…” I began.
“Will you approach the city then? When? In a few days?”
“I don’t know… when are you meeting with Melkinov?”
“Likely tomorrow. Once I awaken.”
“Where?” I asked.
“At his tower, at Corvus Academy. If you wish for a seat at the table, we’ll leave a chair open for you.”
 
“So, what do you think? Are you going to do what you have to do, or are you going to follow the will of others?”
“Is not doing what you ask me to do also following the will of others?”
“No.” Filandrel insisted. “Make a choice. And whatever it may be, you have my blessing. We can speak again tomorrow at the table.”
“One more thing…” I said, pausing as I turned to leave. “How did you know that Melkinov…”
“That Melkinov removed the curse? He told me. Him and I are in constant contact as of late. We have fundamental disagreements but we understand the importance of what we do. Enemy of my enemy, you see. He was there when the imperial dragon revealed himself. He sees the danger it poses to many of us.”
“Does he know your true identity?” I asked.
“He… I don’t think he understands it, but he knows enough… more than most men.” He admitted.
“Are you lying to me?”
“No. But once again, what proof do you have that I’m not lying to you?” His exasperation was obvious. “I’ll send you a sending. Have a teleportation ready, it will have the coordinates.”
“Okay.”
“Be safe.”
“You too.”
 
When I regained consciousness in the axiomyte’s tower, Inira was talking to me. I didn’t catch what she said, because my attention was snared on Rowan, sobbing uncontrollably. I moved over to her, placing my hand on her shoulder and asked her what was wrong. She said that Cojisto is dead.
 
I am so sorry for her. I cannot imagine what she is going through right now, for, as much as Filandrel and I have our issues, I have no desire to see him killed… the loss of a mentor such as Filandrel, or Cojisto to Rowan, would be a piercing loss.
 
Inira was asking me what I wanted to do about speaking with Hasim and the axiomyte. Does she not understand that I don’t want to have anything to do with this magic? The only reason why I want to even speak with the axiomyte is because of the sheer gravity of the situation… someone snuck into his tower, it’s the only explanation for the slim dagger wound right over his heart. That was from a slim blade, not from the dragon’s wanton destruction of the city.
 
Inira began casting her foul magic, the familiar nauseating aura permeating the air. I forced myself to remain where I was when Hasim’s body jerked up into a seated position.
She asked him questions, and the corpse gave rough, strangled replies, barely recognizable as Hasim’s voice. I honestly should have paid more attention to what he said, but I caught that she offered him the axiomyte’s body, and he accepted. I didn’t know how I felt about that… I still don’t, frankly. But I also wasn’t going to try and deny Hasim the chance to return to hold his child. What seemed like an age later, although it was, in reality, only a few minutes, Inira released her hold and Hasim’s body fell limp once more.
 
Then, Inira put her hands on the axiomyte and began casting her spell again. His body sat up, the same jerky motions as Hasim’s had. Blood spurted from his chest where the dagger had pierced his heart. His head turned as if he was looking around.
Inira spoke her questions, telling him that they were at my behest. She asked what happened to him and his tower.
“The tower was destroyed by the dragon and I was killed by an elf.”
I wanted to know who, so Inira relayed my question. “A singer.” The raspy voice replied, a mockery of the axiomyte’s smooth speech in life. “A performer. She was older than I expected…”
Then Inira asked him how we access the box “in which you kept the things.”
“The box does not contain the objects… what it contains is my knowledge. The word is known to only two… my oldest friend, and those who take the seat of Egig Ero Fa. No others will know the word.”
I asked how to transfer memories from a person into a new Well of Souls, thinking of possible solutions for the princess.
“The answers lie within my knowledge. But the cost is always terrible.” I could hear the note of warning, even from beyond this life.
I wanted to know if he is at peace. Don’t ask me why, but even though he’s done some terrible things, I so much wanted to hear that he found some peace in the end.
Unlike with the other questions, the axiomyte’s body paused for a minute before answering. “I will never know peace.” He said, as the body once again collapsed, empty.
 
I just sat there for a time, staring at his body, questions burning in my mind. I have so many other things that I wanted to ask him, so many other conversations I wanted to have… Inira interrupted my thoughts, asking if I know the words. Does she not understand? Did she not hear everything that I just heard? There are only a couple of people in the world who know the answer to that question, frankly, at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Filandrel is the only one holding that key…
 
I sat there, lost in thought for a few more minutes, before coming to a decision. I put the box into my bag of holding, the bag beginning to feel like it’s approaching its carrying capacity. I will decide what to do about the box later…
 
Some time later, Rowan had gathered the necessary spell components for her spell, and she knelt down beside the axiomyte’s body, healing the stab wound and then beginning to cast her reincarnation spell.
 
The axiomyte’s body convulsed a few times, before coughing violently and sitting up unsteadily. The voice that came from it in greeting was neither the axiomyte’s nor Hasim’s… rather it seemed to be a combination of them both. He looked down at his hands, slowly flexing them and cautiously moving every limb experimentally. He slowly stood up and swayed, before quipping something about the ground being further away than he was used to…
 
I am torn. On the one hand, it is nice to have Hasim back among us, and for him to be able to see his son and hold the babe. But, I fear that I may not be able to rectify that with how wrong this whole scenario feels. Hasim has been brought back to life in the body of one of the eldest of the Elves… the axiomyte, who may as well be a legend among my people, for good or ill. Hasim is in his body… Hasim who doesn’t speak a word of Elvish, knows nothing of our history, and is a walking repertoire of false information on our traits. I tried to convince Hasim to at least attempt to learn Elvish – especially if he intends on interacting with any of my people… or even anyone who is familiar with Elves. Fortunately, Hasim as a man was dexterous enough, so he doesn’t move with the usual heaviness that humans and others so often do… All I can do at this point is to hope that I can convince him to learn about our people, learn our language, and be conscientious of the Elf whose body he now inhabits…
 
As we were barely starting to have some conversation, a chittering, buzzing abomination showed up. A small creature with the head of a man and the body of a bee arrived. It buzzed around and said something about heralding the arrival of Vignir. I was honestly too distracted by axiomyte-Hasim to catch everything he said.
 
Only a few moments later, Vignir floated in. I say floated because his feet do not touch the ground – it is as though he is permanently under the effect of a fly spell. It has also become apparent that the Vignir we met both in Runestone and here in Wei Jang was a simulacrum of the real one, who has been hiding somewhere, likely in the Akashic Library, or someplace equally disturbing.
 
The lich immediately started flaunting what knowledge he has of our group, asking who is the servant of the fallen one (obviously referring to Secilia’s patron), and looking around asking where Dekar is. Inira informed him, completely dispassionate and without emotion, that Dekar is dead. If I needed another reminder that Inira is gone, that would have done it more than anything… She told Vignir that Dekar is dead with no more emotion than one talks about the weather – and I’ve seen some people have quite passionate discussions about the weather…
 
He talked a lot, and he didn’t give anything of vital importance – I think he was just flaunting his knowledge and trying to discern what our plans are… one thing that doesn’t sit well with me though… apparently Vignir is against the raising of undead. That is not what I would have expected from an undead lich. Maybe there is actually some modicum or remainder of a moral code with this monster? An actual code, not just a blind service to his dead goddess? Because if Wei Jang is a city in service to Wee Jas, then surely she had no problem with raising undead – the entire city is full of them, forming a vast infrastructure based on the service of the dead.
 
I hope to find out more of the bigger picture of this entire situation when I go to Vlatrossi’s and Filandrel’s meeting later today. Grimaldus and Hasim are going to take the baby to Shard’s realm, and see if Rhaego and the old woman will take the child for safekeeping while we deal with whatever storm is coming our way.
 
The more I think about it though, the more I am concerned with something of a more personal nature… these journals that I have written. I have recorded everything to the best of my ability since shortly after we lost Garrick in Latria. I worry that they may end up in the wrong hands if something were to happen to me… or they may be lost and the stories and deeds of my friends and companions lost to the sands forever. So… I’m going to send them away to be hidden… I thought about sending them to my parents, but that won’t due. No… I’ll send them to Ravlor… Now, before it is too late…