[Fsh] Chapter 42: Sickness

The next creature on their agenda to hunt was the “anglerwhale”.

A creature that dwelt in the Gloamshores’ black waters, that stretched out infinitely into the horizon.

They packed up their temporary camp, Virgil sending back equipment and extra provisions through tears, straight to Castle Flora.

Caledon stared out over the dark waters.

Shiver had spoken about the room of water she had stumbled onto in the Floors of Trepidation. The thought of confronting a monstrosity of the deep filled him with dread and a thrill.

Even so, his grief still lingered with him. The desire to descend burning within, so that me might eventually free his mother from the Dreamer’s corruption. It sickened him, that his goals were tempered with a hunger to see more of the world of Fearshaping that was unfolding before his eyes. The wonders that his father, along with Flora and the Revenants wished to ensure were buried, for the sake of peace.

His resolve, was only interrupted by his paranoia. Attempting to guess, if what he experienced was a twisting of his reality, or the genuine article.

Zel manifested before him. His guide’s words echoing softly in the darkness.

“It looks like you’ve acquired a new invocation, dunce. Don’t think that it makes you a wielder of corruption in truth. You have gained a physical dimension to your Fear, where it was previously confined to mental influence. That Highlady of yours, certaintly is formidable. Deriving a method to stretch your Fears beyond their already egregiously… generous scope.”

The Highlady had spoken the truth.

[Blood link of the vampress] allowed him to link himself to other creatures, enervating them. Rather than corrupting their minds, he intruded upon their bodies, drawing upon their vitality. Interfacing with the vampress’ own Fear of blood.  

Caledon frowned, at as he reflected upon his guide’s words. Throughout his time in the Dreadwood, Zel had increasingly engaged him on his own accord. Often, his harsh words were levelled at him with the intent of taunting him. Although of late, his guide had been much more helpful, especially when Caledon had been close to despair in the Emberwood.

“Zel… I’ve always been meaning to ask you. At first, I assumed it was just your dislike of me but… why you think that elves are undeserving of powers of corruption?”

The pause drew on between them, his guide uncharacteristically avoiding his gaze. Caledon quickly laughed, and interrupted the burgeoning silence.

“Or perhaps you lack, faith in me. The latter I would understand.”

Caledon’s question had been sincere, and it had not intended to provoke. As a guide of a Fearshaper of corruption, there was no one better who could have read his true intent.

Zel’s voice came as a whisper, even in his mind.

“You know not the sacrifice that others have borne, to wield the same.”

Without another word, his guide disappeared in a flash of gold.

---

“Shiver. Are you alright?”

“Perfectly fine! Something wrong, princess?”

“You always get like this when you’re worried. You overcompensate.”

Shiver recoiled as Vale’s harsh words tore through her façade. For a moment, they sat in silence, staring out at the tranquil waters before them, which contained their next target.  

“You’re worried about Icey.”

Shiver’s eyes fell. Then she sighed.

“I really can’t keep anything from you, can I. What gave me away.”

Vale rolled her eyes, as she shot her friend a weak smirk.

“The snarky remarks. Calling me “princess” and “my lady”. Carrying yourself with more swagger and overconfidence than would ever be reasonable. It’s a dead giveaway.”

“Alright then, I’ll start doing it more often so you won’t be able to tell.”

For a moment, they sat silently, as Virgil sent back the last of the additional provisions and equipment.

“With every invocation I gain, I can hear her screams ease. She’s still in pain. But…”

“Yes?”

Vale watched as her friend’s shoulders fell.

“I don’t know how I’ll be able to face her when we reunite. How to tell her that her torment, was all because of my own silly mistake.”

“That’s the easy part. It starts with an “s” and ends with a “y”.”

“Sexy? I already am.”

“No you idiot. Say sorry. Apologise to her, then do better in the future.”

Vale sighed, as her eyes passed over Bladey, the name Shiver had so generously awarded to her Fearshaper of blades.

“I think about reuniting with my sister. I still see her trailing me, and I wonder what I’ll tell her when I finally meet her again, too. Shiver, you made a mistake, by choosing to take in so much of your Fear, that it ended up being at Icey’s expense. However, it was Icey’s decision to help you. Just as it is your decision now, to get her back.”

In the end, I’m sure she’ll just be glad to see you again.”

Vale smiled sadly.

“We’ve all made countless mistakes that follow us. All you can do is take ownership over your decision. Even if you didn’t know that your descent would cost Icey like it did, remember the reasons why you pursued it in the first place. Remember why you’re descending now. In the end, I’m sure she’ll just be glad to see you aga-”

Vale’s words were punctuated by wracking coughs. Shiver frowned in concern as she rounded on the girl, gently lifting her chin to regard her. Vale’s face was clammy, her lavender eyes clouded.

“Never mind that, something’s wrong with you.”

“I’m fine, Shiv-“

“No. Vale.”

Shiver’s eyes passed over the finger marks on her neck left behind by Triol, when he had strangled her. She called out to Virgil, who was approaching them.

“Virgil. Something’s wrong with Vale.”  

“What’s wrong?”

“She’s been coughing since the moment we entered the Gloamshores. We should have Lady Velra take a look at her.”

Virgil nodded, ignoring Vale’s protests, as he tore open another tear. Rather than sending Vale to Solastra’s court, he brought the Dreadwalker to them.

Lady Velra strode through the tear in reality humming a cheery tune.

“Virgil, dearie. Don’t tell me you’re already up to the bloody bladefrogs. I was just having tea with some friends. An excellent brew, made from winterlily petals. The tea retains its heat for a short window, and you had better have had a good rea-”

Then, her teasing tone dropped as she caught sight of Vale.

The Dreadwalker called her Fear instantly.

[Wounds within my comprehension]

Lady Velra’s eyes narrowed as they passed over her own neck.

Caledon and Shiver’s eyes widened as the finger marks on Vale’s own neck momentarily appeared on Lady Velra’s own. Her gaze did not waver for a second, as her fingers passed over her own skin, analysing the infliction with cold precision.

“Light scarring around the throat, likely from the prior strangulation. She had no issues speaking before? During your dinner? Was she injured since in the Gloamshores?”

Shiver shook her head. She remembered Vale running into her when Pov and Marta had revealed themselves to be Fearshapers. She had lasted through the dinner without an issue.

“We’re taking you back to Viridian. You need a more thorough examination. This goes beyond the typical symptoms of Tranquillity withdrawals.”

“Bu- “

“I’m pulling you out. You can always join them later. The Highlady can induce another withdrawal if needed.”

“I’m FINE. If you’ll jus-“

“Vale.”

Shiver met her gaze unflinchingly.

“Caledon and I will proceed with the invocations that the bitch assigned to us. Get better as soon as possible, then join us. If you can, leave your Fearshaper of blades with us.”

Vale turned to the undead Fearshaper, who regarded her with hollow eyes.

“A-alright. I’m sorry.”

Shiver pulled the girl into a brief hug.

“What were your words again?”

She smiled.

“Don’t be sorry. Get better, and join us as soon as you can.”

Vale erupted into more wracking coughs as Lady Velra’s eyes narrowed, muttering under her breath.

“I still haven’t dropped my invocation. That can’t be right. Let’s go, now.”

Without another word, Lady Velra dragged Vale into the tear in reality, back to Solastra’s court. Her brief sojourn into the Gloamshores cut short.

---

“Well lordling, looks like it’s just you and me.”

They were huddled into the small rowboat that Virgil had transported from Viridian. A lantern hung from its side, providing them with a meagre degree of light as they sliced through the tranquil waters of the Gloamshore.

The eclipse loomed over them, the weeping golden tear bisecting the horizon, reflected perfectly in the water beyond.

“Do you think she’ll be alright?”

Shiver nodded.

“If there’s anyone that can help her, I’m sure it would be Lady Velra. Let’s hurry, and focus on obtaining our invocations, so that we can help Vale with hers once she recovers.”

Caledon returned a resolute nod, his eyes passing over the waters below them.

“Virgil, what can you tell us about the anglerwhale.”

Virgil hesitated for a moment. Even after their brief moments of camaraderie, it was a stark reminder that above all, Virgil served Solastra Flora, and gave effect to her intent.

Then the man spoke.

“Illusions. It uses illusions. It can alter our perception.”

Shiver grinned at Virgil, with a short nod. The man seemed to relax, as his words reached them, as if relieved that he wasn’t withholding information from them. The fact that he had frozen the water’s surface was also a further gesture’s of his consideration.

He’s not leaving us totally out to dry. It’s a start. There’s hope for you yet.

Caledon, on the other hand, stared at Virgil as the man’s eyes lingered on him. Dread began to well in his gut.

It didn’t take a genius to discern Solastra’s intention with the creature, and he had done so instantly.

She intends for me to inflict the false realities I’m cursed with, upon others. This does not reveal a new dimension to my Fear… it deepens the very essence of corruption. There’s no doubt that this creature was hidden away for a reason.

“There’s hope for you yet, Starboy. Now where is this Feardamned fish. Wait…”

They were far from the shores, now, out in deep, abyssal waters. Their quarry, and other monstrosities, no doubt dwelt below.

“Shiver, look.”

Shiver narrowed her eyes, as she peered far below the dark waters.

Something familiar glowed far below the surface.

“I-is that… Icey?”

Caledon and Virgil watched in horror as Shiver began to crawl out of the boat.

“Shiver no! Feardamnit.”

He rushed forward, and slapped Shiver across the face. Her eyes widened in response, and she frowned as she looked at the light again. The ice cube she had glimpsed before had disappeared, replaced instead by a soft glowing orb of golden light.

“Thanks lordling, don’t make it a habit. Get ready. Virgil. We aren’t fighting from this flimsy boat. Will you do the honours?”

[Vacuum of the Far reaches]

The tranquil surface of the waters froze around them as Virgil called his Delirium, as air was deprived to them for another short moment.

“Caledon use your bloodlink on it to weaken it as soon as it shows itself. Get ready Bladey, if Virgil isn’t going to help us, we just have to be prepared for a longer fight.”

Caledon watched as Shiver leapt out of the boat onto the frozen surface of the dark sea below them.

Only to plummet straight through the frozen surface, as if it had never been solid to begin with.

---

Vale sat in the infirmary alone. Lady Velra and her attendants had run a number of tests on her, and they were stumped as to her infliction.

She felt fatigue pull at her eyelids from the exertions in the Gloamshores. Vale shuddered, when she realised that Nostrum’s Inheritance was only the first of a handful that they would have to visit, if they were to define their Fears as Solastra had intended for them.

She settled into the comfortable bed with a yawn. She didn’t expect the next attendant to come for a few hours, and she might as well rest. She wasn’t in any position to assist Shiver and Caledon as she was – Bladey was her most useful contribution.

Vale opened her eyes, the moment that sleep took her. She had expected be to greeted by Soulhaven’s familiar lifeless corridors.

Instead, she found herself in the village of Drolth, where she had grown up as a little girl. On a hill that bordered it, where she had often lounged with her family. Her mother, plucking at her Lyre and humming or singing, as they played around her, or sat staring at the shifting clouds.

The music reached her, and she twisted to see her mother, sitting against the tree, plucking at her lyre like she had, all of those years ago. Vale sat beside her and closed her eyes.

Even as hate for her mother and her love for her clashed within, Vale allowed her wordless song to wash over her. For a moment, easing her rage, longing and helplessness.

The kind, paltry gift of a flawed mother.