MindTrove

Mythal is down but alive, barely. 

All who had accompanied him to aid Sylaise and her kingdom have fallen. Elgar’nan is all that remains to end the Titan, and despite its wounds, it appears there is no sign of it coming down. 

Elgar’nan holds his sword still his body rigid in it's refusal to bend or break. He has lost too much blood and he can feel himself falling and he thinks.

Not like this. I will not fall. I do not fall. I am-

Then suddenly, where once he felt on the brink of collapse a burst of energy surges through him, cast in a glow of ethereal golden light. No not through him, but his blade. He feels as if the weapon itself has come to life, it’s power flows through him. It lifts him higher and higher and then he strikes the titan. He parries and dodges every move, an overwhelming feeling settles over him. 

Euphoria, the thrill of dancing on deaths edge with a skill and finesse of ages past. There is no fear, only the gallant bravery in the midst of battle. 

He feels…valorous.

When the titan is dead, the light around him leaves him and it gathers together and forms in a single abstract being. 

“IT IS DONE! THE BEAST HAS FALLEN! A GLORIOUS BATTLE!” Valour roars, it’s voice so joyous, so enthralled it does not see the growing anger in the man before them. 

“What did you do…?”

“We Elgar’nan! We vanquished the titan!

Valour continues to soar and vibrate with unbridled joy, naive to the fury that builds and builds within Elgar'nan.

"You attempted to possess me."

"Not you, your weapon. I would not, could not possess-"

"How dare you!"

Valour freezes.

Suddenly it feels as if every drop of moisture around them is sucked away, Elgar'nan's anger slowly destroying everything in his immediate vicinity.

"You are angry with me…"

Elgar'nan points his sword towards Valour.

"I found you amusing, for that I will let you live. Now get out of my sight!"

Valour lingers, it's form quivers with shame and guilt.

"…I did not want you to die..."

"GO!"

When it seems Valour will not move, whether by stubbornness or fear, Elgar'nan does not know and does not care. But in an uncharacteristic show of goodwill he turns away and leaves.

Valour stares at the charred earth where Elgar'nan had stood.

"I did not want you to die…"

Years go by. In spite of this, Valour does not move from the scorched earth beneath them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"First-Born…"

"Valour."

The spirit floats in place, Elgar'nan imagines if they had a body it would be shuffling awkwardly in place. The thought amuses him.

"You did not seek me out again."

"You no longer wished for my companionship."

"Only temporarily," Elgar'nan chided. "You can't take everything I say so literally Valour. Honestly…and you even remained here. Mythal has the gall to call me dramatic..."

Elgar'nan gestures for Valour to follow, when he walks a few paces and notices the spirit does not move he groans again.

"Get a move on Valour."

"You are not angry at me anymore?"

Elgar'nan rolls his eyes, dramatically shaking his head.

"No. Now come! The are more titans to crush, and I require good commentary and company."

Valour sheepishly catches up, nudging it's head between Elgar'nan's shoulder blades.

"I am sorry..."

"I know lethallen. Let us put it behind us."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Useless cowards all of them!"

"They shame the Empire."

"It is a mindless beast, how much more simple a task can slaying a titan be for these louts."

"So simple. They are warriors! This should be their calling and yet they would falter so."

Before Elgar'nan can complain further, Valour hovers before him. He can feel their incensed aura, their frustration at the soldiers under his command.

"You did what no other was brave enough to do, you took a body. You raised an Empire, and now you defend it without pause nor fear. They are unworthy to fight neither beside you or for you. You deserve better at your side."

"Someone who will remain at my side no matter the cost." Elgar'nan mutters, head tiliting ever slightly at the spirit.

"To be your Right Hand!"

"Someone who would charge into the fray in my name…without a shred of hesitation in their heart."

"Exactly Elgar'nan!"

"You."

"Yes!….Wait, what?"

Elgar'nan smiles. "You Valour. What better warrior at my side than a spirit of valour made flesh?"

Valour gives pause, and a hesitation overcomes his ethereal form.

"I-"

" I feel it in the tremble of your voice, the shivers of excitement after I slay our foes, I feel your longing…to witness and fight as I do. I can assure you it will be all the more satisfying to partake in the glory of battle in your own body."

Elgar'nan forces Valour to look at him. He will crush his doubts, here and now.

"Do you honour me?"

"Yes."

"Do you venerate me?"

"Yes."

"Are we not friends?"

"Yes."

"Then let Valour be reborn."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Elgar'nan…"

"It is alright Valour, come."

It took many days and nights to make their way to these hot springs. The moon high in the sky leaving the steaming pools to glitter like silks of starlight. Elgar'nan took his companion to the highest cliff from with the main sunpool poured into the others decorating the mountain. He pours the lyrium, hums approvingly as the water takes on an iridescent glow.

"It is ready."

Valour hovers ever so slowly towards Elgar'nan, the General's hand outstretched to urge him closer. A moment passes their mind, that soon, he will be able to hold that hand perhaps. If his General were willing. They look towards the pool.

"Elgar'nan."

"Yes lethallen."

"Were you afraid…? Before you-"

"No," Elgar'nan interjects. "I fear nothing."

"Will it hurt?"

There is a pause, a mulling over a choice of answer but Elgar'nan has made up his mind. He will not lie to him.

"Yes."

Valour takes a deep shaky breath.

"But you will be here?"

"I will be here."

There is another moment of silence, then Valour soars into the air, plunging himself into the lyrium. Elgar'nan rushes forward further into the water, right where he is taking shape, where the water grows misty and bubbles violently.

His eyes grow wide as he anxiously awaits his ascension, tight-lipped and hands tense.

Were you afraid…? No, I fear nothing.

No, I fear- "It is alright," Elgar'nan whispers. "Do not fight it, embrace it..."

Suddenly the water bursts, and Valour has taken form. The man before him breaks free from the water's surface and he takes a large gasping inhale of breath, as if he had been drowning. Valour begins to hyper ventilate, eyes darting frantically as he struggles to breath.

Elgar'nan wraps an arm around his shoulders, places another hand against the man's heart to ground him.

"Well done, well done! It is over."

Valour, clutches at Elgar'nan's robes, seeks out his gaze and continues to jerk and shake as he adjusts to his new form.

Elgar'nan takes in all of his newly born companion's features appreciatively. Amber eyes, sun-kissed skin and long dark brown waves. As he holds him, he can feel the magic brimming within him. So much raw, untapped physical endurance. Powerful.

"Izemrasen. Power, strength."

When Elgar'nan shifts for the briefest moment Izemrasen panics, clings tighter.

"Don't let go, please."

Elgar'nan had successfully claimed what he had sought the moment he had caught the Inquisitor in his web.

Submission.

He swallows down the scotch his servants had procured. Wine had all but lost it's taste and strength. Lost the ability to drown out the the more unpleasant aspects of the Blight's power. Although guilt may have been the true culprit ringing in his head, he would have been loathe to admit it.

The liquid went down bitter, burned and settled in his belly in a nauseating manner than left him wanting. Coincidentally matching the feeling of attaining that aforementioned submission from Moro.

As she has her back to him, hand reaching out to powder and perfume herself in all the scents tailored to his liking, he begins his recollections. His mind veering to one of a more recent account, with the Dread Wolf.

"You gain nothing from this Elgar'nan, return her to her people!" "I beg to differ Fen'harel, do not think I do not know who she is, what she is. She shall remain rightfully by my side. You have interfered in my affairs long enough." "She cannot replace him Elgar'nan! You know it, just as I do. It is a cruelty to place such a burden on her." "You presume to know my intentions…such drivel. While your lies may have perverted her sense of reason, I will not be so inclined. I will uplift her, and Izem's memory and lineage will be reverently cultivated and protected." "Elgar'nan-" "Enough! Do not speak of him to me! You have no right…"

Elgar'nan is brought back to the present, Moro standing before him by his bedside. Her eyes are dulled. While they never held the same shine as her fathers they were his nonetheless, a dulled amber hue that captured the light of the fire beautifully. She stares at a spot by his feet, never truly looking him in the eye. She awaits him, arms hugging her frame.

He rises from his seat and simply…looks at her.

"You're upset." Moro proclaims. She has learnt well to read his moods.

"I suppose I am, but perhaps..." Elgar'nan sighs.

Slowly he approaches, "if you were your father this…emptiness in my heart would be gone effortlessly…" his fingers rise to brush hair from her face and his heart breaks at the subtle flinch she tries hard for him not to catch, but he does. He always notices it, every single time.

"And you would not recoil from me…you look like him so much and yet…yet…"

His hands cradle her face, hair tangling in his fingers.

"I am not my father…"

"No…you are not…"

The way she states it is not the same as countless times before. For a moment, he feels a shift in her. A peace of her old self returning to her. He all but expects it to manifest in spite, as she has been so prone to in their past conflicts. But all he feels is a gentle hand placed on top of his own.

"It's ok to miss him."

"He was to be at my side, forever…and now, he is gone."

"And now he is gone."

His forehead falls upon Moro's shoulder.