Nectanius the Fallen

The presence within the crystal unfolded around Elody. It was beyond any other she had ever felt. Even other Nature Spirits - ancient and primal - had never felt quite like this. It was beyond words to describe save for one. Power. The being radiated power. Pure and undiluted. If someone had told her that she was face to face with a god, she might have believed them.

But this was no god. Its presence was in the water all around her. It fed the water, the crystal was the source of the magic which filled it. Knowing this, Elody should have treated it as an enemy but there seemed to be no point. It was so vast and so ancient that she was sure it could swat her aside as easily as a gnat.

"Why did you save me?" She asked it instead. The voice came from all around her. The crystal did not speak as such, instead it simply filled her head with what it would have said.

Why did you try to save the girl?

"I do not understand..."

You were broken and dying. Cut to pieces in a way you could never recover from. Your last few moments were filled with despair and yet you used the very last drop of your strength to give her a warning. You could have used that power to try and save yourself. It would not have worked, but you could have tried. Yet you did not. Instead you tried to save her. Why?

"Because....because she is my friend?" Elody said. "I care for her. Vrasha is unique. She showed me what it was to be human and mortal when I had long forgotten. She is so small compared to the likes of I, and yet she struggles more mightily than any spirit I have ever met. She fought her family - her own family - and bled and suffered to see them fall. I did not wish to see her end her life as a pleasure ****. That would not be right."

Yes. And this is why I saved you. Your final act to save another. I am not used to seeing such things here.

"Who...what...are you?"

I am the Heart of Gelmina. Archmage Kazum's perfect creation. A crystal forged with the soul of an archmage. Designed to produce the water that he uses to prolong his life, and later used as the source for Gelmina itself. I am magic in its purest form.

"Then why did you save me?" Elody asked again, even more confused now. "Kazum was the one who destroyed me! Are you acting against your master? Are you a **** to him?"

I am a **** of a kind. The crystal admitted. For I did not tell you the whole truth. I am the Heart of Gelmina, the Magic Crystal which purifies the water of the city. Yet I am also Nectanius, Archmage of Gelgrond. The Archmage whose soul was torn from his body and turned to crystal.

"You're still aware?"

Evidently. Kazum was too powerful for his own good. He intended an imperfect transmutation. Taking my power and my potential, but robbing me of life and thought. Instead he got a perfect one. I am exactly as he wanted me - and more! Within this crystal shell, my soul has slumbered for centuries, growing gradually more powerful as time wore on.

Elody nodded. She felt the truth of the spirit's words. It rose around her, coiling like a serpent. Yet she did not feel as if she was in danger. She did not feel as if the thing had any ill intent towards her at all.

"Then you are dead too," She told it. "I am a spirit of nature. I passed long ago."

I know. I sensed that when you arrived. And your bravery for your friend moved me to break my ancient stillness. Here, I have protected you, hidden you from Kazum's sight. But I can do little more.

"What do you mean?"

Kazum is skilled and far from stupid. He would not create an item which could turn against him. Even though he did not intend for me to maintain my mind, I still cannot strike at him nor hurt him in any way. Indeed, if he knew I was aware, he would be able to **** me to obey him. That is not a fate that I desire.

"I see..." Elody said, feeling a heavy sense of despair close in around her. "But I cannot fight him alone. Even if you restore me back to my full power I have no counter to his ability to stop time. He would simply destroy me again, for sure this time."

Yes.

"If I hide here, when Kazum is gone, I can escape can't ?"

That would be the logical thing to do. I may not be able to fight him for you, but I can hide you from him. When he is less aware, you can escape.

"But if I do then... Vrasha will be doomed, won't she? She will succumb to the water if she has not already. By the time I get away, Karden will have secured his hold. She'll be gone, just like Courtsa..."

I am guilty. The water is my creation, but I cannot control it or undo it. Such would be against the rules of my creation yet all the harm that has been done by it is down to me. Were I still mortal, I would wish to die.

"No." Elody said with a shake of her head. "That's not your fault. If what you said is true, you have no more choice in what you do than any bound elemental or nature spirit. The fault lies with Kazum and his evil."

Perhaps. But even then the fault is mine, for I was once Kazum's superior and did not question his methods nor oppose him until it was too late. I could have stopped all of this and yet by standing aside because it was convenient, allowed this fate.

Elody said nothing to that, her thoughts returned to Vrasha. Doomed by the water the same way that Coursa had been. Made a prisoner in her own body and mind. Her soul chained down by burning brands of obedience, unable to even realise just how utterly helpless she was.

No! She could never allow it. Vrasha was her friend, more than a friend! Even as she thought of this horror, Elody felt something burning inside of her. A feeling that she did not quite know. Was it love? Perhaps. The idea of Vrasha doomed to an eternal horror like this made her wish scream and wretch.

But what could she do?

If you return to the surface, you will be destroyed. I will not be able to save you again.

"Did you read my thoughts?"

No, but your desire is evident by your actions. This Vrasha, do you care for her?

"Yes! Absolutely! I did not exist until I met her! I was a nature spirit and knew nothingf of mortality or life. I was content merely to float from one day to the next, knowing all and enjoying nothing. By being mortal, Vrasha showed me what I could experience. Friendship, excitement, love, pleasure, pain and despair. All of these things were given to me by her. I owe her everything and if I abandoned her now, I would be worse than scum."

If you fight for her, you will die.

Elody squared her shoulders.

"And yet fight for her I must."

There was silence then. True silence filled her mind and soul, and she worried that the crystal heart had abandoned her and returned to sleep. But then it spoke again, its words were weighted with wariness and age.