Episode 3 Sneak Peek #23

“What’s keeping it in?” you ask.

“Numerous containment spells woven over the complex,” she replies. “The original enchantments were crafted in tandem by the Grand Archsage and Archsage Bellaris when the citadel’s wards broke. They held the shroud back in the moment it manifested, saving many lives while the Guild evacuated. It has seen been reinforced by engineers from the Arcanists’ Lodge and specialists from Seiran College, alongside my mother’s personal staff. Even the emperor has sent an expert brightwarden to lend their aid, though I suspect they are conducting an investigation of their own.”

Veyer stiffens. Their jaw clenches and they grip their ring, twisting it round and round on their finger until it leaves a mark.

“The emperor’s interested in this?” you say, surprised. “Personally?”

“This disaster occurred on Imperial ground. Of course the emperor would take note. Though I have no doubt the Council of Mages would have preferred to handle it quietly amongst the Guild, the thread the shroud poses far exceeds their scope and reach. There are more people who have a stake in this than I can count.”

[CHOICE] 1. “What happens if it gets out?”
2. “Then let’s hope it stays this way. At least until this is over.”
3. Say nothing.

Zenaida pauses and presses her lips together. “Archsage Bellaris briefed me before our meeting last night,” she replies. “If her reports are to be believed—and I see no reason for them to be wrong—the shroud will consume all opposing magic and sentient life in its path.”

You eye the undulating smoke. The plume fans against an invisible wall to the west, then turns tail and flows across the sky to the east. Now you’re closer, you can spot golden flecks shimmering within the vortex, glinting like lightning within a storm. You’ve seen many things throughout your career as a Wayfarer, but never anything like this. The energy in destroyed wards should disperse once broken, not manifest with a mind of their own. Diradan’s wards predate the Astrandium. Magic from that era is notoriously powerful and unpredictable, a different beast compared to contemporary magic.

You swallow hard. “And how likely is that to happen?”

“I do not know. This is an aberration, one the Guild never considered possible. I doubt even the Astrandium experts have an explanation. This is unknown territory for all involved. However, the containment has held for three weeks. I have faith in those who worked on it; they are among the most skilled brightwardens in Rhesainia. If it has held for this long, it will continue to hold until a solution can be found.”

A chill runs down your spine. The destruction the shroud could wreak if it escapes its containment…

1. The thought leaves you furious. This makes Zenaida inexcusably opportunistic. She would rather take advantage of this opening to seize the Astrial than put her efforts into protecting Velantis from a very real threat.
2. Whatever the Guild has done has worked so far. This is their area of expertise. It’s not your place to judge them.
3. This isn’t your business. The Guild made this mess. They can clean it up.