Six Sacred Swords

by Andrew Rowe

  “Good.” Lydia nodded and moved forward. “I’m afraid I still lack in any healing talents, but I can bandage your injuries.”

  My vision was blurring again, and I couldn’t concentrate. I barely remember the next few minutes. Lydia scavenged throughout the battlefield, finding supplies and returning to bandage the two of us. There were no other healing potions, unfortunately, but she did manage to help get me into a stable condition.

  I remained seated, shivering. I’d lost a considerable amount of blood, and I had little energy left.

  All I could think about was the scenario I’d found myself in.

  Lydia was helping me now, but how many other friends had another version of me killed in this place?

  I kept my eyes shut for a time.

  None of this is real, I tried to tell myself.

  But the pain in my body was real enough. The injuries were real, so far as I could tell.

  The most real part of all was my fear.

  My fear that this was exactly what would happen if I ever lost control. A deep part of me believed that if I ever let the sword out of its prison for too long, or drew too much of its power into myself, I’d make this future a reality.

  And if this was a possible future, if this was a path that I might take, was it worth it to keep fighting?

  Was everything I wanted to protect destined to be destroyed by my own hand?

  I felt a hand on my shoulder.

  “Still with me?” Lydia asked.

  I stared at her. “Yeah.”

  “I owe you an apology.” She groaned and began to work on bandaging her own injuries. The potion had done a good job of healing the worst of the damage, but she was still bleeding. “It would appear that you did not, in fact, kill everyone else here.”

  I gave her a curious look. “How’d you realize that?”

  Lydia groaned and sat down in front of me, wiping bloodstained hands on her robes. “Your behaviors and Velas’ did not seem consistent with my memories. Moreover, my comprehensive barrier was feeding me strange, unintelligible information. As such, I used a series of spells to detect for illusions.” She frowned. “It would appear that I am, in fact, an illusion. As is everyone and everything else here, aside from you.” She paused, then continued, “Perhaps illusion is the wrong term. Magical construct would likely be more appropriate. Sight, memory, spirit, and sound sorcery are involved. The effect is admirably sophisticated.”

  My mouth opened to speak, then closed.

  And then I burst into laughter.

  Lydia raised an eyebrow at me. “Are you unwell? Aside from the obvious injuries that look to require additional immediate treatment, that is.”

  “I...It’s just...‘It would appear that I am, in fact, an illusion’ is the most Lydia thing I have ever heard you say.”

  She smiled. “I am pleased to have met your standards for Lydia-ness.” She turned her head to the side. “And more so that this scenario is a fabrication. This is...not a happy reality, Taelien.”

  I nodded to her. “I’m sorry. I...I’m in some sort of magical test. This appears to be a fabrication based on my worst fears.”

  “Ah. That does explain a great deal, then.” She nodded to herself. “Losing control of yourself and killing your friends, I suspect?” She glanced at Velas’ body, which still appeared to be slumbering. “...And apparently you’re worried that Velas is a traitor.”

  “Aren’t you?” I asked. I couldn’t even follow her gaze.

  “If you mean the real Lydia, then I don’t know. I’m not even certain if I’ve been constructed based on the actual Lydia, or merely your image of her.” She touched the ground, then lifted a displaced rock and studied it. “Strange.”

  I looked at her. “What is?”

  She frowned at the rock. “I don’t feel like a fabrication. I don’t know what a magical construct should feel like, of course. But I’m reasonably confident that I’m thinking. That I’m making decisions. What will happen to me when this test of yours ends?”

  “I—” I took a breath.

  “You don’t have to say anything. I already know.” Lydia stood up. “A change is coming to the structure of the spells maintaining this place. We have about a minute left.” She offered me a hand, and I accepted it.

  “You should take care of that sword.” She pointed at the Sae’kes, still lying on the ground.

  “Perhaps if I leave it here, it’ll fade away along with the rest of the place.”

  “Don’t be absurd, Taelien. We both know you won’t escape from your responsibilities that easily. Pick it up and sheathe it. That’s an order. My very last one, if I’m not mistaken. And quite possibly the first, since I don’t know how long I’ve existed.”

  The smile that crossed my face was tinged with sadness. I followed Lydia’s order, picking up the sword and sheathing it at my side.

  With a mental command, the locking mechanism around the scabbard fell back into place.

  My belt was in tatters, so I just held the sword and scabbard. It was the best I could manage.

  “Very good.” Lydia nodded to me, then her expression turned somber. “We only have a few moments left.” She turned. “I think I’d like to be near Dyson, when it all ends.”

  She didn’t look back toward me, but she reached for my hand with her own. We were both covered in blood, but I took her hand and walked with her.

  We sat by Dyson’s side.

  “The real Dyson...is he safe?”

  I nodded. “To the best of my knowledge, you both are.”

  Lydia smiled. “Good. That’s good. Can I ask you to watch out for him, if you see him again?”

  I felt tears forming in my eyes. “Of course.”

  “Good. Then I can rest easy.” Lydia smiled.

  “I... Wait, Lydia. Is there a way to preserve this version of you? If you feel like you’re real, then...”

  “You have a good heart, Taelien. Never let anyone tell you that is a weakness.”

  And then the world went white and she was gone.

  Chapter XII – Crystal Chronicles

  When my vision cleared, I stood on a glass floor hovering within a formless white void.

  In the center of the glass hovered a tremendous crystal, at least twice my height and several times thicker. It gleamed with inner light, but not the kind that was too bright to look at. It was a warm, soothing light. I felt some of my pain begin to fade away just by being in its presence.

  My body was still in terrible shape. Regardless of whether or not what I’d faced had been illusory, my injuries appeared to be real. There was always the chance I was still in the illusion, but I didn’t think it was likely.

  The crystal’s light seemed to be helping me somewhat, but I was still going to have to get some medical attention very soon.

  My mask was on the ground right in front of me. I picked it up and tucked it under my arm, since I no longer had a bag to store it in.

  Interestingly, there were also a couple other objects on the ground. A broken spear — the Heartlance that the fake Velas had used — and the door handle I’d taken from earlier in the temple.

  I probably would have picked those up, but I’d run out of hands, and my pouch had been destroyed.

  I slowly approached the crystal. As I came closer, I heard a voice within my mind. It was neither old nor young, neither male nor female.

  [Hero. You have succeeded at facing your fear of harming others. Your tests are now complete.]

  I grunted. “Was that how I was supposed to solve it? To choose to resist the temptation of using more power?”

  [Your choice was irrelevant. This was not a test of ethics. It was merely a test of your performance when faced with a scenario you feared. You survived, and you may now request a boon.]

  I grunted. I understood that answer, but I found it deeply unsatisfying. “So, I muscled through a fear and survived. That’s worthy of a reward, regardless of what choice I made?”

  [I was not assigned to
judge the values involved in your choices, merely their effectiveness in achieving results.]

  “Who assigned you to make these tests, then? And why?”

  [That information is restricted. I cannot answer those questions, even if you request to use your boon for information. You may now request another boon, hero.]

  I shook my head. “You can just call me Keras.”

  [Keras, then. What boon do you seek?]

  I hadn’t heard anything about a boon from this place before entering, aside from the amulet. Was I supposed to ask for that?

  I’d heard about boons for reaching the top of the spires, or reaching a crystal at the end of one of the elemental temples...but I didn’t think this was one of those.

  Didn’t hurt to ask.

  “Before I ask for a boon, can you answer some questions for me, please? Who are you, and what is this place?”

  [I am the Spirit Gateway Crystal for this continent. I form a bridge between your world and the plane of spirits. You stand at a liminal place between them.]

  That made...a degree of sense, at least. “That last challenge...what exactly were the people in there? Illusions? Magical constructs? Were they real?”

  [They were beings of spirit, formed from an amalgamation of your memories and the true beings on which they were based.]

  I took a moment to process the ramifications of that. “You copy spirits? Did they know you were doing that to them?”

  [They were not true copies. Their forms were more akin to a reproduction of a painting by another artist. The original spirits are not aware they were being drawn, but they also were not harmed. Nothing was taken from them.]

  I still didn’t like the idea that someone could copy my spirit — or anyone else’s, for that matter — without the original person even knowing about it. That felt deeply invasive and had some horrifying potential implications.

  “The copies. Were they self-aware? Or just reflecting my thoughts and expectations? Or were you just puppeting them somehow and speaking through them?”

  [There were only two true spirit entities in the test; the ones that you called Lydia and Velas. The others were only shells. The spirit copies were self-aware. But do not think of them as being the same as your friends. They were born only for the purposes of your test. With the test completed, their spiritual essence will disperse.]

  “Disperse? Meaning they will cease to exist?”

  [In their present form. The spiritual essence used to form them will be repurposed.]

  Pain was still swimming through me, and I was having a hard time thinking straight.

  “Do you mind if I sit down?”

  [You may rest. You have done well. You will find this place rejuvenating, and your wounds will recover somewhat more rapidly. This will be insufficient to treat your most severe injuries, but it will stabilize your condition.]

  That last part was useful to know. At least I didn’t have to worry about bleeding to death while thinking about what to ask for. I sat down, trying to gather my thoughts.

  “Those...spirit copies. Are others capable of making them?”

  [Few possess the faculties over the spirit plane that I do, and even I cannot maintain such beings without cost. Summoners create similar copies, but they require a contract with the original being to facilitate the process, and expend mana constantly to maintain it.]

  That meant it wasn’t likely that some kind of random sorcerer was going to make copies of me without my permission, at least, which was somewhat reassuring.

  I took a breath, trying to center myself.

  [You are grievously injured. If you wish it, I could heal you completely as my boon. My restorative powers are great. I could restore even your old injuries, such as the wound on your left hand.]

  I glanced up at the crystal at that. I was in awful shape. With my current injuries, at a minimum, I’d ordinarily have to spend weeks recovering before I’d be back to my full strength. It might have been faster to just sit in that chamber and let the crystal’s light help heal me, but I wasn’t sure if that would be allowed, and I was out of food and drinks.

  More importantly, I’d never found anyone or anything with the power to heal the damage to my left hand. The greatest sorcerers I’d encountered had failed in their attempts.

  “What other boons can you offer?”

  [I possess many magical items that have been left here by past heroes who failed their trials, and others that simply wished to offer tribute.]

  [I have objects of power that have been left here by the test creators for those who meet the appropriate qualifications.]

  [I can offer a glimpse at the fate of a spirit of one of the departed.]

  [I can infuse you with greater power tied to the plane of spirits, granting you spirit magic.]

  [I can offer a boon of information on a specific subject, provided it is within my knowledge. I know many ancient secrets dating back to the creation of the world.]

  Those were some impressive options. In truth, they were all tempting to varying degrees. I tended to favor permanent advantages, so the infusion of spirit magic was the highest priority on my list, but I wanted to ask some additional questions before making a choice.

  I tapped the hilt of the sword on my side. “This weapon...do you know what it is?”

  [It is a weapon of incalculable destructive power. Its power is presently restrained by several seals on the weapon itself, as well as additional seals on the scabbard containing it.]

  That was an...interesting way of phrasing that response.

  “Do you have the ability to help me control it?”

  [I could place an additional seal upon your sword, contributing to the existing seals that limit its power.]

  [I could also place a seal upon your body, limiting the flow of annihilating essence into your body when you use it.]

  I nodded.

  It was good to know that those things were possible.

  They were sorely tempting. Even more so than healing my body or granting me spiritual magic.

  Perhaps I’d find another power capable of granting me those boons someday.

  “I know what I’d like to ask for.”

  [Speak.]

  Sorry, Dawn.

  I probably should be asking for that amulet.

  “The copies of people that you made for my test...can you save them?”

  [I do not understand.]

  “Even if those creatures were just copies, even if they were built to be temporary...they were alive, weren’t they? They were people.”

  [They were merely temporary beings constructed for the test. They existed only within the spirit plane. They were not alive in the sense that you are.]

  I frowned at that. “Does that matter?”

  [The ethical principles and definitions of life used by humans are variable.]

  I looked up at the crystal. “Do you consider yourself to be alive?”

  [It is irrelevant.]

  “Okay. Well, from what you’ve told me, I would define those spirit creatures as being alive. And if what you’re saying is true, you’re effectively going to destroy them just because my test is completed. I’d rather you not do that. I’d also prefer you stop creating and destroying more of them in the future.”

  [Maintaining a spiritual being of that degree of complexity is a significant essence cost. They would also only exist on the plane of spirits. I do not have the capability to give a spiritual entity a corporeal body.]

  I didn’t like the sound of that, but the problems sounded solvable. “Would you be able to maintain the spirits as long as they were on the spirit plane?”

  [In the case of the spirit copy of Lydia, this is possible. In the case of the spirit copy of Velas, it would not be. It is already in the process of being repurposed, which is not reversible.]

  I winced at that, the image of the final moments with that copy of Velas flashing in my mind. “Resh... Okay, just Lydia, then. Would you maintain her for me? Put her somewhere she
would be happy, maybe? I wouldn’t want her to just be in a ruined version of Velthryn forever.”

  [My powers are vast, but my territory within the plane of spirits is limited. The destroyed Velthryn you speak of encompasses much of the usable area that I can access. Revising a section to be habitable for a single spirit entity would be a significant cost. You ask for a great deal.]

  “Perhaps the copy of Lydia could help you with your responsibilities? Teach you things? She is a sorceress of considerable knowledge.” I paused, adding. “Also, can you ask her if she even wants this? Provided she presently exists, I probably shouldn’t presume she wants to keep existing.”

  [Her spirit has not yet been repurposed. I will ask.]

  The crystal fell silent for several moments.

  [The copy of Lydia is amenable to this concept, and willing to work in exchange for the support she requires. She desires a continued existence.]

  “Will you grant her that, then? And a comfortable place to live?”

  [I am capable of granting this boon.]

  “And would you stop creating and destroying more spirits for future tests?”

  [This adds a layer of difficulty to creating convincing scenarios for future tests, but if you request this as a portion of your boon, I will accept your terms. I would advise against this, however.]

  I raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

  [Your path will not be an easy one, and the other boons I can offer you may allow you to save other lives. There may come a time when you wished for power that would allow you to save many, rather than spending your wish on saving the life of a newborn spirit who was ready to accept her fate.]

  I shook my head. “I won’t let someone die just because I might need something else in the future. Save the copy of Lydia. That’s my choice.”

  [Very well.]

  The crystal glowed brighter and brighter. Even with my arm blocking the glare, I had to both close my eyes and look away.

  [Your boon has been granted.]

  ***

  I saw a flash in my mind, just for a moment, of Lydia.

  The same Lydia that I’d seen in the tests, I was certain of that. Her injuries were gone, and she sat within a tremendous library, with towering stacks of books that seemed to reach upward further than the eye could see.