Chapter 41

“Justice is a product to be bought throughout much of the universe. Petty vengeance is dispersed to the highest bidder, and those who are in the most need of the law’s protection will find themselves wanting. Not so in our new republic. One law for all. One justice, for everyone.”

—The Foundation of the Empyrean, Endranke Vergunin

Sylvas had never seen so many important people in one place at one time. 

Most of them weren’t physically there, of course. Wartback had been near to the system when the news of what Sylvas had done had reached him. Because of that timely coincidence the emergency meeting of the High Council of the Empyrean Alliance was called to be held here on Onslaught station with the general being the sole person to represent the Ardent and their interests. But beyond him, and given the sheer distances and timelines involved, all of the other leaders were present via illusory representations of their current locations. 

The full transcript of his memories had already been sent to each and every one of them. Every intimate detail of Sylvas life was on display, and he stood before them without shame. He had made no choice that he was ashamed of. He had done nothing that could make anyone doubt him, and even in his lowest moments, he had held on to the belief in doing what was right, even if what was right didn’t always perfectly coincide with the Ardent’s demands. But while the records were as thorough as they could possibly be, they weren’t enough by themselves. No, they needed Sylvas actually there, so they he could be paraded out and stripped even more bare in their eyes in the form of a scrying spell, cast by one of Wartback’s aides that at least had the decency to mutter ‘sorry’ to him as they did so.

• Name: Sylvas Vail
• Species: Human
• Health: 100%
• Mana: 100%
• First Circle Embodiment: Arterium Arcanum
• First Circle Paradigm: Clearmind
• Second Circle Embodiment: Arcane Bulwark
• Second Circle Paradigm: Lockmind
• Third Circle Embodiment: Tidal Shift
• Third Circle Paradigm: Waveform
• Fourth Circle Embodiment: Runeweave
• Fourth Circle Paradigm: Second Thoughts
• Affinity: Gravity

Attributes

• Strength: D5 – S
• Resilience: D5 – S
• Speed: E4
• Potency: D6 
• Focus: B2
• Regeneration: C8

“Perhaps we can proceed without further delay to the matter at hand?” An elf asked from the far side of the room. “Motion to accept the evidence as given, and the stated affiliations of Mr Vail.”

It was only after a moment that his memory was jogged and Sylvas realized that the ‘elf’ was Elenya Starweaver. One of the most storied leaders in Empyrean history. One of the most powerful mages too, though once you reached a certain level of power the differences between the various contenders became extremely circumstantial and nuanced.

Darling, do I need to be jealous? I mean, given that I’m under a week old, I assumed eventually an older woman would try to steal you away, but a woman several centuries older seems a little bit of stretch.

There were general noises of agreement and raised hands. It seemed that for all her attempts to kill him, the mind-mage who’d spent the last two days torturing him had somehow managed to provide a detailed enough account to convince them that he wasn’t some unknown combination of malicious spy, crazed mage, or sleeper agent, out to ruin them all. In fact, the account showed, in painstaking detail, that he’d just done the best he could every step along the way, occasionally taking the great and incredibly deadly risks that Vaelith had called him out on weeks earlier. It was something that was commented on frequently by those assembled, but in the end it was nothing that could be construed as untoward to the Empyrean or the Ardent.

“Motion passed.” Durgan Ironfist, leader of the Meteoric Dwarves announced. Apparently in between shattering planets apart with a single blow of his hammer so his people could harvest the remains, he was serving as secretary for this meeting.

“Good. One thing out of the way. Now, does anyone have a theory as to the cause of Mr Vail’s unknown capability?” Elenya continued. “And I mean beyond the inherent resonance between the dimensional puncture to the eidolon source plane and the eidolons themselves.”

“I’m afraid that the gravity affinity is understudied in that regard.” A balding older looking human in a neat gray suit weighed in. “But it has a stochastic correlation to both trans-dimensional travel and energetic attraction. Perhaps there is a connection there?” 

Mira was silently sifting through all of Sylvas memories to match the man’s appearance and informed him silently that he was in the presence of Karth Veilbohr, founder of the Institute of the same name, and one of the most respected arcane researchers in the universe. Veilbohr continued, “in a lab setting one would just eliminate factors until the anomalous ability became inert, but that isn’t possible in this case.”

Elenya seemed to be weighing his words as she lost herself in thought for a moment, eventually nodding. “There is one other possibility I’d like to discuss, but I’m afraid that it is classified at Diamond-level clearance.”

She was looking directly at Sylvas directly as the words left her mouth. A face that caused his shoulders to slump. Clearance or not, it was clear that they didn’t want him in the room while discussing his fate. Still, these were very powerful people, and he couldn’t afford to have any of them as his enemy, especially as the implied order sank in to all the other attendees, all of whom started to ready themselves to leave.

“We thank you for being patient with us during this trial Mr. Vail,” another elf added, speaking to Sylvas directly as people started to file out of the room. He looked young, but all elves looked young to a human, so it was impossible for Sylvas to place him exactly. The only thing that made him distinctive was the misshapen hint of an artificial arm hidden beneath the long-sleeved robe he wore. His memory was jogged. Theron Greenmantle of the Technocratic Union.

“General Wartback will escort you to more comfortable chambers, and we will reach out if we have any more need of your testimony or have additional questions for you.” The elf added after a second’s pause, nodding at Sylvas politely when they made eye contact.

Oh that’s funny. It doesn’t look like Wartback has clearance either.

The room began to clear of the various staff who’d set up the meeting. The technicians who’d bridged the gap of light years between the various speakers made a beeline for the door, as did the entirety of Wartback’s retinue.

“Mr Vail, a moment before you depart,” Eleyna called after Sylvas as he stepped back from his podium. “I must profoundly and personally apologize for your mistreatment at the hands of our Inquisitor. It is shocking that such treachery could have gone unnoticed for so long. Please be ensured that we will be ordering a thorough audit as to determine how this happened and purge any other vipers hidden within our midst.”

Sylvas was at a bit of a loss for words. He certainly hadn’t been expecting an apology from anyone. Which is why it came as even more of a surprise when Veilbohr piped up. “Sorry does not truly seem sufficient. Do not fear that in your absence decisions will be made that go against you. Your newfound ability has had consequences, that is for certain, but rest assured that the good that you have done and the faith you placed in us has not gone unseen. You shall have advocates on this council.”

That was a little cryptic, but anything more obvious might have created problems down the line if he had to engage in any more political intrigue later in his career. Sylvas assumed that Veilbohr himself had heard reports of the assistance that had been rendered to his institute’s archaeological projects. There were a few other firm nods from the various other council members that he didn’t recognize. It was dizzying to realize that even before this latest catastrophic event, people in the highest echelons of power had known of him and were passing judgement on the choices that he’d made. He had known that his status as a mage with gravity affinity would have caught some attention, but he had never expected that the attention might have been ongoing.

Wartback gave him a pat on the back that rattled him out of his stunned silence, and the two of them departed.

The dwarf grumbled as he walked, muttering something to his staffers as they moved into their usual orbit around him. “Knew we should have gotten somebody with a bigger desk involved, but didn’t think it would go all the way up to Diamond. Ain’t much else above that.” 

Sylvas didn’t know what to make of that statement, so instead chose to remain silent, a good thing, considering that one of the other aides took that opportunity to speak up and voice the very same words he was mulling over in his mind.

“Do you think they’ll let Cadet Vail stay on with us at the Ardent, General?”

But of course no sooner were the words out of their mouth, did Sylas feel like he had to add to it.

“Stay on?” He asked quickly. “You mean…I haven’t been discharged?

Sylvas almost tripped over the general in the seconds that followed as the man abruptly stopped midstride in the hall.

“Only way truly out is a body-bag, boy.” The stocky dwarf stated, turning to look at Sylvas as he spoke. “You’re ours until someone takes you from the Ardent’s cold dead hands.”

“Instructor Vaelith said—”

The general grunted dismissively then set off down the hallway again, forcing Sylvas and all the rest to follow after him. “That you’d be chopped up, studied, or thrown against a horde of nightmares to fight and fight until there’s nothing left of ye. Aye. I know Vaelith, she’s got no love or trust for the Council. Or Ardent Command for that matter. It’s no surprise that would take a pessimistic view of yere future.”

Sylvas couldn’t help but feel a little anxious at the general’s choice of words. “Should I assume that…being chopped up and studied is still on the table?”

“Until we hear differently, yeah, I’m afraid it’s possible. Likely even.” Wartback replied in his typical no nonsense manner. Though despite the hard words, he promptly broke the uncomfortable silence that followed with a jab of his meaty elbow into Sylvas’s side, drawing his attention back down to his eyes. “But if you ask me, I doubt it’s gonna be all too invasive. You and your new gifts aren’t any use to anyone dead. Whatever happens, you’ll be kept intact enough to be put to work.”

“Thanks, I think.” Sylvas tried to take the general’s reassurance for what it was, eventually deciding it was time to shift the subject. “Any idea what secret thing they’re talking about?”

“Eh? Maybe to be honest,” Wartback replied, his hand coming up to wave away an aide who almost spoke up before him. “Stay here long as me and it gets to the point there’s so many secrets nobody can keep them straight anymore. Reckon the council’s at about that point. Easier to speak without us little people in the way.”

Sylvas had just been following the General up until this point, and it was only now that he looked around and realized where he was. They had come to the section of the station that he’d never really visited before, where the upper ranks of the ardent and other visiting military officers had their private quarters. The dwarf banged a fist on one of the doors and it slipped open. Inside there were several armed guards, all in the process of both inspecting and organizing the room with what looked like Sylvas’ belongings. 

“Here you go, boy, your new home. Here you’ll be able to get some rest in a proper bed. Eat some food. Drink yourself blind. Whatever pleases you. Get yourself settled in and let your new protective detail bring you up to speed on what your responsibilities are going to be for the foreseeable future now.”

“My…protective detail?”

Wartback couldn’t help but chuckle at Sylvas’ obvious confusion. “Aye, protective detail. Did you think that we were gonna just let you sit out in the open with a target on your back? That inquisitor got close enough for our liking, we’re not gonna make it easier for any of the others gunning for you.”

“Wait, others?” Sylvas repeated, his words earning another impolite snort from the general who simply refused to elaborate.

 Instead the man simply pointed to one of the heavily armored guards and said, “he’ll explain it to you. I’ll be back to brief you once the council is done their jawing.”

And that is exactly what happened over the next hour as Sylvas was unceremoniously informed of not only his new lack of freedom, but also of the fact that since he’d been taken into custody upon the station there had been no fewer that fifteen separate attempts to either kill or capture him. Apparently there were quite a few powers in the galaxy that wanted to either have Sylvas out of the picture and the Ardent was understandably on high alert.

Especially after a collection of fast moving micrometeors pierced through the old docking bay that they were keeping him in and depressurized the entire thing before the suspiciously tampered with emergency systems could react.

All of that and more meant that Sylvas was to be contained to the room that he was in, easy access to it not only restricted to it on account of being reserved for high ranking staff, but also because such rooms were more armored and protected as a matter of design. Anyone looking to get to him here would have a substantially harder time than anywhere else on the station.

However as anxiety provoking as that news was for Sylvas to bear, there were some much needed positives, three of them in fact. The first arriving in the form of a rather well put together lunch, better than anything he’d had on the station so far, and the second being the remainder of his belongings, picked up and ferried from the surface of Strife. As for third, that ended up being the relatively prompt turn of General Wartback, who a few hours after leaving Sylvas to his new handlers, returned alone, without any of his usual aides and attendants.

“Mind if I come in, boy?” He asked as the door to his room opened, two of Sylvas’ guards flanking either side of it.

“Of course,” Sylvas replied simply before taking a step back to allow the man inside.

“Right,” The dwarf looked around the untouched and plainly furnished chamber, then reached into cold storage to retrieve a bottle of whiskey and a pair of glasses. “We’ll do good news over the first few, so by the time we get to bad news, it won’t seem so bad.”

Pulling the modular desk out from the wall, they used it as a makeshift bar. “So, starting off, nobody on the council is looking to execute you, exile you, doubts your good intentions, or blames you for what’s happened. Enough common sense has prevailed that they know they can’t blame you for doing something you didn’t know you were doing, nor for doing something we didn’t know could be done.”

He knocked back the whiskey, and Sylvas felt obliged to do the same. It barely burned on the way down, and he wasn’t certain if that was thanks to his newly achieved fourth circle, or because the whiskey was of a much higher quality than he was used to. The dwarf pressed on, when it became obvious Sylvas didn’t have a reply. “Don’t know what they discussed while I was out, but it sounds like they couldn’t land on a conclusion about what could have granted you this… power.”

Pity, I was hoping somebody in the galaxy might have had a clue, and they are allegedly some of the better thinkers around these days.

They both took another drink, and Sylvas refilled their glasses. “What happens now?”

“That… is the question on the table. The Ardent wants to keep you, especially given your ability now. But something like you ain’t finders keepers. We need to stay on good terms with the rest of the Empyrean for us to do our job, which means we need them to agree that you’re ours.” He swirled the whiskey in the glass. “That’s easier said than done. There’s folks owe us favors, a lot of them, and we’re calling them in. There’s folks seem to think they owe you favors too. Only trouble is, a lot of them reckon you’d be better off with them. The Veilbohr Institute for one. Only two big players outside the Ardent want you kept in with us. The Dusont Kingdom have a good bit of pull, not as much as they used to, but for a lot of traditionalists their voice carries. The Hammerheart Consortium are new money, relatively speaking, but they control half the shipping in the Empyrean so they can’t be brushed off either. Can’t get a straight answer on why they’re backing us, but I’ll take the help.”

A spike of concern ran through Sylvas at the mention of Hammerheart’s family. There was no telling what they were up to or why they had chosen to help him. It didn’t surprise him that Malachai was campaigning for him through his royal family. He was sure if any of his other friends had any clout to throw around, they would have too.

“The Veilbohr Institute want you. Want to work out what makes you tick, recreate it. I reckon old Karth is picturing Eidolon powered engines in the near future and an answer to our Etherium needs.” He knocked the whole glass of whiskey back. “But they’re not the only ones. Near enough every university in the Empyrean has asked for either for you, or for time with you, if nothing else. Starweaver herself has asked for you personally as well, probably got her own research plans. Ironfist made a claim as well, said that his people have the most direct conflict with Eidolons because they’re out on the rim of the Empyrean and they need your talents. He was a bit more organized, said they’ve got clan rights. Apparently you’ve been adopted into the Runemaul clan?”

Sylvas couldn’t  help but chuckle at that memory. “I didn’t realize that Kaya had made that official beyond just the Ardent.”

Wartback nodded seriously. “Its serious business among our people, being invited into a clan. Even for non-dwarves. She’ll have put it in writing and sent out to the powers that be on the same day she decided it.” He pushed Sylvas’s glass towards him after refilling it again. “Regardless, there’s too many people pulling too many directions.”

Sylvas drank. Remembering his first night in the Ardent, when whiskey had featured so heavily. “So I likely won’t have an answer any time soon then.”

The general looked pained for a moment and then nodded. “The debate will be going to the full council of the Empyrean. Representatives from all the various members of the alliance will argue about it, then put it to the vote.”

“I understand…” Sylvas didn’t love the idea, but he could live with it.

The dwarf leaned in closer. “That means you are going to need to watch your exposure. You’re going to need to keep your head down for a long, long time. Until we can pare down the number of people looking for you, and spread enough disinformation to make the rest lose interest in you.”

Fighting back a sigh, Sylvas couldn’t help but wince at that particular mention. “Right, all of the of foreign agents, assassins, abductors…”

“Aye, all the kragh you had from being a gravity mage turned up to a hundred. The inquisitor got the best shot at you so far, but as I’m sure your detail has told you, we’ve been fending off attempts one after the other since you joined us up here. I don’t expect that to change for the foreseeable future.” Wartback sighed. He’d been knocking back drinks until this point like he was an alcohol powered engine, but he started to nurse the final glass like he’d never see whiskey again. “Can’t tell you how big of a mess the whole situation is. We’ve had people turn that we thought were trustworthy as they could be, and our intelligence has caught more blackmail attempts in these last few days than in the last several years. Truly, I’ve never seen anything like it, and after all my years, that’s saying something.”

Sylvas sighed at the general’s words which only seemed to echo what his protective detail had told him. “So then I’ll be stuck here until thing calm down?”

General Wartback looked around the stuffy little room for a second before turning to look back at Sylvas. “That’s right.”

“I see.” Sylvas paused for a second as he contemplated everything that he could do or work on while he was here, the total list coming up far too short for his liking. “How long do you think that might be?”

The dwarf was suspiciously silent as he stared back at him, eventually prompting Sylvas to add. “Sir?”

“You’re on the agenda for the next available session.” Wartback replied as he finally took another drink. “Right now that’s scheduled in three weeks.”

Sylvas just stared at him, the walls around him suddenly closer in. “You want me to stay holed up in this room for three weeks.”

Wartback suddenly looked uncomfortable. “That’s three weeks until the process starts. Then there’ll be arguments, committees formed, fact-finding…the works.”

“So how long am I going to be stuck here?” Sylvas had already felt claustrophobic on the station the last time that he was here, but now it was as though his powers had gone haywire and the walls were being dragged in to crush him.

“Since so many folks are making you a priority… I’d reckon a couple months. At best. Half a year at worse.”

Sylvas set down his empty glass with a thump and fell back in his chair. Two to six months in confinement. Nobody but Mira for company.

You have to stay out of sight, nobody said you had to stay here.

Sylvas wet his lips, the beginnings of a desperate plan starting to form. “The Veilbohr institute has an expedition down to the planet’s surface about to start. It would be away from everyone and down on the planet. Completely isolated from anyone who would want to get me. I’ve already been invited. All you’d need to do is vet whoever is down there with me, and well, I’d be out of everyone’s hair. Plus maybe doing something useful.”

The General’s whiskery moustache flicked from side to side as he considered Sylvas’ desperate plea. “Hmm…that could give us an opportunity to put you really out of reach of any space born threats. The researchers have already been vetted, which we’ll do again anyway, but it helps. Plus maybe we can take the chance to set up a honeypot for anyone looking to make a move on you here. Especially if they think you’re still here. Above all though, it would make Karth happy. Maybe even convince him we’re willing to loan you out if the vote goes our way.”

Sylvas had to fight the urge to jump to his feet. “Then I can go?”

“Dunno,” Wartback stated as his focus returned. “We’re going to have to game it out and see what the risks are down planet against what they are here. Because while you technically might be safer from space born threats down there, it’s not exactly what we could call as safe either.”

“Isn’t it?” Sylvas countered, feeling like he’d finally found a thread that he could grab hold onto. “Down there, I’d be close to Eidolons and by extension, all the mana I could ever need to defend myself. It would take an army to get to me.” 

But even so, the general didn’t look particularly convinced at Sylvas’ words, letting out a snort in response.

“Based on what we’ve had to deal with so far, I wouldn’t be surprised if one showed up,” he stated gruffly before falling into deep thought for several seconds. One that after a long pause, eventually came to an end. “As much as I don’t like it, your idea has merit, at least on the surface. We simply don’t have the assets I’d like to have to keep you safe up here in orbit. Worst, bringing in those assets or shipping you out elsewhere could end up exposing you to new threats.”

Wartback let out another grunt at that final admission, as if admitting it had personally cost him something. His eyes came to look up at Sylvas with a burning intensity. “If this pans out, you know it’ll still be with your security detail to make sure that you stay safe.

“I’d appreciate all the consideration you can offer, General, if it gets me out of this room for the next half year.” Sylvas tried to keep his tone even, mostly so he didn’t let on as to how much he did in fact not want to be locked away. “And I’ll take all the protection you are willing to give me.”

“I won’t lie to you, cadet. They won’t be there to protect you,” Wartback said with a grunt as a hard look appeared in his eyes. “At least not fully. They’ll be there as an insurance policy for the rest of us in case the worst happens.”

“You mean someone who can kill me if I end up going rogue or if I’m at risk of capture?” Sylvas asked, the seriousness of the situation suddenly hitting him again full force.

“I’m glad you understand,” Wartback stated, nodding in response. “And if we happen to be going planetside again, I’ve got just the person in mind who can make sure that happens.”