[Voidknight Ascension] Chapter 43: Recompense

“What?” Sam laughed. “Why would we kill you?”

“Because I don’t want to be around for the nuclear fallout that will result from not one, but two Incarnates being pulled into this Shardrune,” Volquist answered. “Much less two of the most vindictive, power-hungry, and outright insane of the bunch.”

“Do you have any idea how much chaos you’re both about to sow? And don’t think I haven’t noticed you’re both insane enough to wield Apocalypse mana! I don’t even know where to begin with that.”

“Hold on, Volquist,” Raiko said. “What if you had another option than dying? I’m sure you’ve been dwelling on it a long time, so maybe you’ve long since had your mind made up, but entertain the idea, at least for a moment. If you had a second chance, what would you do differently?”

“I forgot to add ‘stubborn’ to the list of your traits,” Volquist said. “But sure, since I can’t kill myself, I might as well. And before you whine about you don’t have time, we’re in a Temporal Well here. Things move slower here than outside, so don’t rush me. You’ve got all the time in the world before you go back to being hunted.”

“Then couldn’t we just stay here and train?” Sam asked, who had seen that trope more than enough to let it pass idly by.

“Up to a point. You’ve killed just about everything that’s here by the feel of it. Typical War. But you only have so much time that the exit will remain open. Besides, now that I’m partly freed, my presence will interfere with just about anything you try to do.”

“Fair enough. Just figured I’d ask.”

“Now that we’ve got that out of the way, I do believe the young lady asked me a question she wants answered, judging by the tightening of her brow.” Volquist cleared his throat, setting the jewel in Sam’s palm rolling about. “I can’t say I know for sure what I would do differently. I suppose, in this scenario, you free me and forgive me for what I’ve done?”

Was Sam hallucinating, or was there the slightest bit of hope in Volquist’s question?

“Yes, freedom and forgiveness,” Raiko said gently. “Although the latter would… need to be worked towards. At least, for me. As it is—and I can’t truly help it—I still want to stab you a little.”

“Mighty generous,” Volquist said. “Then I suppose, without a Geas to bind me, I would try to make amends? I’m not sure how to do that, truth be told. Gods don’t generally ‘make amends’ we’re sort of like politicians in that respect—or rather, politicians are like us—we try to ‘heal and get past it’.”

“And if that doesn’t work?” Sam asked with a chortle.

“A good lightning strike usually solves the problem,” Volquist answered happily. “Really popular with the fundamentalists. Rational gods tend to be very small on the whole, you understand. All that praying goes to our heads. As I was saying, I would probably return to my various sects—”

“Sex?” Komachi asked with a giggle.

“Sect,” Volquist enunciated, “the plural of which is: sects.”

“Nope, still sounds like sex,” Raiko said.

“Hah hah. Very funny. Are we done? Everybody having a good laugh at ol’ Volquist? So, I would return to my… followers that still hold to my faith and whip them back into shape. A thousand years is long enough that most religions would whittle down to nothing, but—and not to put on airs—my religion is very special. People pray to me whether they realize it or not, and some of my most devout priests and bishops remain steadfastly loyal despite my absence.”

Sam wanted to ask how that was possible but felt like Volquist—who was clearly starved for attention by the way he spoke—would eventually get to the point.

I’d probably want to continue talking to anybody other than myself after a thousand years of isolation too.

“It would take time, however, to organize it all again,” Volquist continued. “I would have to step lightly. The other gods aren’t likely to have forgotten about me. But a thousand years and the addition of whatever new Worldshard you two hail from would serve as a rare opportunity to speedrun my revenge.”

“Sounds terrible, agonizing and lonely,” Raiko said bluntly, crossing her arms. “The absolute opposite of fulfilling to me. No wonder you want to die, even when what you think your better option is, is that. But you’re a god, your desires and way of life are different from ours. Now, I thought you would get there eventually, but what if you became our ally? Perhaps even our friend. Nobody serves anyone. It’d be your choice.”

Volquist was silent for a long while. “Let me get this straight. You’re proposing that we become allies. Equal partners with nobody serving anybody else?”

“That’s the gist.”

“You can’t see me, but I’m shaking my head,” Volquist said. “The temerity! Only an Incarnate could have such world-shattering confidence to suggest that a God become their ally with no strings attached.”

“You do realize how friendships work, right?” Sam asked. “Because they’re not transactional. And I don’t think Raiko is saying you have to ally with us, but… rather than end it all, we could let you out and then if you want to do something more than the typical religion grind, well… offer’s open.”

“Exactly. Your freedom is yours. No matter what,” Raiko said.

“You two are insane, you know that?”

“I take great pride in it,” Sam said with a grin. “Now enough stalling.”

“Komachi is a Cleric,” the cat said sweetly, then continued on with a deep and aggressive voice. “But I am no god’s slave!”

Volquist’s gem buzzed with his sigh. “Naturally, I’m sure. You do realize that if you ally with me in any way, you’re in even greater danger than if you try to go your own way, right? I’m damaged goods, gang. I wasn’t lying about my worshippers, but they aren’t generally the sort to go out in the bright light of day, if you catch my meaning.”

“It’ll be okay,” Komachi said warmly.

“Through challenge, there will ever be advancement,” Raiko intoned.

“All well and good,” Volquist said, “but the odds of you being able to release me are quite low.”

“Nothing is impossible,” she said seriously. “Sam clearing your Dark Vault is proof of that.”

“I have to admit that the gods that imprisoned me made a rather ingenious little prison by tucking it away into the First Layer.” Volquist gave a piteous little laugh. “And with guardians that are technically level appropriate, but with defenses so staggeringly high that even a Second Order Legend, let alone somebody with a powerfully rare Third Order Job, would find it all but impossible to survive.”

“It’s curious, what with the Shard being shattered,” Raiko said. “It seems many locations were rearranged. This Realm might be different than what you remember.”

“My senses are somewhat attenuated within the Vault,” Volquist admitted. “But even I could feel the addition of a new Worldshard.”

“Two,” Sam corrected.

“Two Worldshards?” Volquist nearly choked. “You must be joking.”

“Both Raiko’s home and mine were ‘uplifted’,” Sam said. “I forget the other term. Quite a lot was going on at the time.”

“Ascended, I suppose,” Raiko said. “Well, don’t think we can protect you from another god in a direct battle, but you’re not going to be abandoned. Mortals giving you trouble? We could deal with that. Might give us all a useful source of quests.”

“Yes, Ascension,” Volquist confirmed. “Some also call it initiation, but Ascension is far more accurate. I… huh. Two new additions, you said? That’ll keep the greater Pantheons busy enough that they’ll have little time to bother me, or either of you.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Sam said. “So let’s get you out of there.” With the crystal held in one hand, Sam ripped out his [Charred Claymore] in one smooth motion. The impenetrable darkness was pierced by a shower of sparks.

“Wait!” Volquist cried. “That will kill me.”

Sam looked at the crystal, then at his sword. “Then how—?”

“Forgiveness,” Volquist said with a sigh. “You have to forgive my transgressions against you. Anybody else and this would be a simple affair, but… well, you can’t say the gods of the Golden Pantheon aren’t without their sense of ironic humor.”

Sam took a deep breath, sheathed his sword, and said, “I forgive you, Volquist. Perhaps it is time you forgive yourself.”

The crystal shimmered and a musical note split the air as hairline fractures of light ran up and down the crystalline jail.

As it shattered, pieces of the crystal glittered and formed the shape of a lean, masculine figure. The darkness that seemed absolute and unending a few moments before was pulled into the man standing before them.

He drank in the darkness until nothing was left.

Tiny bits of crystal glittered like stars as the strange gray light returned to the Dark Vault.

Volquist looked at the infinite glittering darkness of his hands in mild shock. With a thought, he turned into a man with opulent ruffled clothing that was clearly several centuries out of date, but he somehow pulled it off.

The only thing that did not change was his eyes. They were pits of darkness with pinpricks of starlight that glittered like frozen diamonds.

Bowing extravagantly, Volquist said, “Allow me to introduce myself formally. I am Volquist, the Hidden One, God to all secrets, nightly escapades, dark alleys, blood oaths, and every great and terrible thing mortals wish to keep in the dark.”

Meowing, Komachi scampered over and brushed against his ankle in affectionate greeting.

“And cats,” Volquist added. “Cats do love me.”

“Clearly,” Sam said.

A doorway opened at the center of the arena where Sam had fought the Stellar Warden.

“Before you go,” Volquist said. “I…” He took a deep breath to steady himself. “Thank you. I can’t say I’ll be able to make good on the second chance, but I’ll try. Which is more than any other god will give you. And speaking of giving….”

Volquist made a complex series of gestures. Dark runes sprang up where he traced them into existence. He drew on the air with both hands, creating two sets of runes. He folded his hands at his waist.

“This gift is for you to take or leave as you see fit,” he explained. “If you accept this gift, it will tie us together for good or ill, but it will protect you from the piercing gaze of nosy Gods. Despite the upheaval, the Gods will know you exist, and they will be looking for you.”

The dark runes glittered and shifted minutely in the air as if fighting to be free.

“Nobody can say for certain if they wish to help or harm, but I will be watching,” Volquist said. “With my gift, you will be able to pass by even the Diamond Order of the Golden Pantheon without them being aware of what you are. Just try not to attract too much of their attention. My gift cannot hold up indefinitely, and some of the more powerful gods will still be able to pierce the veil. Be careful.”

Sam reached out and touched the runes. They shocked his fingers and disappeared from sight, but he could still see them branded on the back of his eyelids whenever he blinked.

Beside him, Raiko reached out for hers. “Glyphs on one arm, and runes on the other. You’re not too bad, Volquist.”

You have gained a Greater Blessing!

[Veil of the Hidden]

(Greater Blessing) (X-Class)

(★★★★★☆Ancestral)

Through this Greater Blessing, your presence is masked to all but the most persistent and powerful of Seers and Empyrean-Rank Deities. Your details are only shared when you choose to do so. The strength of this Greater Blessing scales with your Legend and is added to your Incarnate Deeds. Additionally, having been given a Greater Blessing by one of the Hidden Pantheon, you gain the following:

Insight (+10%)

Awareness (+10%)

[Treasure Hunter]

[Shadow Veil]

Enhanced Renown with followers of the Hidden Pantheon.

[Treasure Hunter]

(Trait) (F-Class)

(★★☆Limited II)

All things hidden and unknown fall under the purview of the Hidden One. With His Greater Blessing, you are able to increase the rarity and amount of treasure or goods gained. Grants a tiny bonus to the effect of Insight and Awareness when [Treasure Hunter] activates.

[Shadow Veil]

(Ability) (F-Class)

(★★Unusual III)

Marked by the Hidden One, you are able to wrap darkness around yourself when you stand in full shadow. The amount of mana this consumes varies based on the amount of light in the area and whether or not you are moving. Attacking reveals your position and may break [Shadow Veil]. Grants a tiny bonus to the effect of Insight and Awareness when using [Shadow Veil].

Sam stared at the notifications, then looked at Volquist.

The god bounced his manicured eyebrows at him. “Pretty good, huh?” He motioned toward the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some revenge to plot.” Darkness folded around him, leaving nothing in its place.

Komachi sat on her haunches, staring up where the god just was. Waiting with wide, adorable eyes.

A hand reached out of a swirling pit of nothingness to pet her head. “I’ll be watching,” said the disembodied voice, as an identical series of black runes was left for Komachi.

And then he was gone.