[Severed Divinity] 88. Clan Head Corasin

The butterflies in Isen’s stomach refused to abate, even after he told the others about his sixth sense and walked over to the armory with Jorin. When they arrived, three clan members were ready, having been summoned by the patriarch’s shadow puppets.

“We’re making armor for the new B?” asked a woman with dark hair and fine lines around her eyes. “Respectfully, can this not wait until tomorrow?”

Welco was finishing up preparations in his mansion, but he’d sent a shadow puppet with his general visage to accompany them. “It cannot.”

The woman bowed her head.

“Jorin, tell Aveela what Isen needs.”

The older cultivator stepped forward and rattled off a list. Boots, trousers, a vest, a new belt, bracers, a cloak—and he emphasized that it needed to be ready immediately, within the hour. The time restraint significantly restricted what was possible. Mostly armor made from expensive cloth reinforced by leather and metal plates, since the cloth armor they had was self-sizing. They thankfully had a pair of boots made for a female half elf that fit Isen, and the patriarch’s approval was sufficient to give the item to him rather than its intended client.

While the armorers finished up, Jorin went to prepare for the coming departure, leaving Isen alone with Welco’s silent puppet. When at last the armorers were satisfied, Isen returned to his room and grabbed his belongings, including the bow, quiver, and the book on pill concocting. 

“You should leave that behind,” the shadow puppet suddenly said, breaking its stretch of silence. It pointed a finger at the book. “Necessary items only.”

“If I need to, I’ll throw it away,” Isen said. “Is everyone back with you?”

“Yes, but we’re about to leave for the main ring to announce the evacuation.”

Isen looked around. The clan was in the midst of festivities, the walls still missing. A call for evacuation might cause a stampede. “What should I do?” he asked.

Suddenly, a hand fell upon Isen’s shoulder and he whipped around. “You’re to come with me,” Allezin said, his black armor glinting. He cocked his head. “Is this the best armor you could give him?”

The shadow puppet crossed its arms. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing,” Allezin said, though he gave Isen a look that said the opposite.

The puppet sighed and shook its head. “Are you going or not?”

Allezin donned his helmet and tapped his shoulder. “C’mon, Isen. The most important task falls upon us.”

***

Isen was glad to miss Welco’s announcement regarding imminent departure from the clan—and more significantly, the city. He could only imagine the panic it would cause.

Allezin was a blur as he left the upper tier and descended into the primary level. That’s when he let Isen off his back and gestured for him to lead the way.

Isen felt self-conscious as he set off, walking in what felt like an aimless direction, Allezin following him. Both he and Allezin had foregone wearing pins indicating their cultivation level. It was clearly a punishable offense, but Isen didn’t think punishment would be coming anytime soon.

“This... is where we need to go?” Allezin said, giving Isen a skeptical look. “The library?”

Isen beheld the majestic building for the second time. “I think so.” Biting his lip, he strode forward and opened the door. As he went past the long desk and entered the maze of shelves, he wondered if this was all just... in his head. His subconscious demanding that he return to the library and return the books he’d borrowed.

His doubts disappeared abruptly when they rounded a corner and Allezin froze. “Stelia Corasin?”

A figure draped in thick beige robes turned, her arms grasping two thick tomes. “Allezin the Wanderer,” the elf said, eyes widening. Isen noticed a tier two pin fixed to her chest.

“Why are you here?” Allezin asked. “Where is Yura?”

She looked about furtively. “I’m investigating Mira’s condition. Clan Head Corasin is... occupied, nearby. Shall I bring you to her?”

Allezin nodded his head. “Please.”

***

Lumina Eldrassin’s stolen body rested on a sumptuous bed of plush textiles and pillows. She looked as though asleep, but her eyes were half-lidded and her lips moved every few seconds, whispering soft, unintelligible murmurs.

Isen stared at the queen, transfixed. Just how had she turned out this way? What had happened between her and the tier four elf after he’d fallen unconscious?

“She hasn’t improved at all since you entrusted her to me,” an androgynous elf with radiant golden hair and aquamarine eyes stated. They had a cold temperament contrasting with the brilliant blue-green flame resting over their palm—the queen’s divine spark.

Yura Corasin. They had a gravitas that gave their every word a palpable weight.

Suddenly, a shadowy blob rose from the ground, forming into a dark mannequin. “Yura,” Welco’s voice exclaimed. “It has been too long.”

The Corasin leader turned around, their eyes narrowing. “You were followed, Allezin.”

“Intentionally,” he said. “Welco is an ally. His utility as a shadow mage is not to be discounted.”

“The more people that get dragged into this, the messier things become. Between this human child and Welco, should I be aware of anyone else?”

“No.”

The flame wielder sighed. “Stelia, did you learn anything?”

The elven woman shook her head, holding up a thick book. “Still looking.”

Allezin gave Isen a look, coughing. “Anything you want to say?”

Welco’s smile was expectant. “Yes, Isen, anything?”

Isen would have laughed at the spectacle if not for the somber atmosphere. It seemed the tier threes were really starting to rely on his ability, even with his many admissions about how uncontrollable it was.

He tried to tune out his own thoughts and focus entirely on what he felt. He wanted to leave. Not just this secret chamber near the library, but the city itself.

But is that my ability talking, or just what I think we should do, given what I know? He debated saying he didn’t have any insights. What would they do then?

Probably argue in circles, waffling about, unable or unwilling to commit to a course of action. Of everyone present, only the Corasins were fire aspected. If they wanted to move Lumina Eldrassin from the room, they’d need Yura or Stelia’s assistance to carry the divine flame. Welco might have a fire spell in his repertoire, but without being fire aspected, he wouldn’t be able to maintain it indefinitely, and his control would likely be subpar.

“We shouldn’t wait for Mira to wake,” Isen stated.

Yura gave a soft scoff, but didn’t speak. They looked questioningly at Allezin and Welco, who were watching with rapt attention.

“We must leave the city, evacuating the Femera clan.” Isen nodded to Yura. “And the Corasins, if they also choose to evacuate.”

“As if we haven’t already considered evacuating, given the threats afoot,” Yura muttered brusquely. “Drayavin circle the city. At least here, we have our defenses. We can weather the tier four storm, so long as we aren’t in the direct line of fire. Besides, where would we go, even if we evaded the drayavin?” They sighed. “Allezin, what am I missing here?”

The warrior scratched at the back of his gorget. “Isen is... a seeker,” he finally said.

Finally, Yura Corsin showed an emotion other than disdain or indifference. They leaned forward, their eyes glowing slightly, like fluorescing crystals. “The stray you and Mira happened to pick up... turned out to be a seeker?”

Welco’s signature grin stretched across the shadow puppet. “You’re thinking about it the wrong way,” he said. “It wasn’t that they found Isen, but that Isen found them. In retrospect, an obvious working of the boy’s power.”

Yura gave the two tier threes a piercing look. “Welco, are you truly convinced by what you’ve seen?”

“I’m evacuating my clan as we speak, so, yes.”

Corasin turned again to Allezin, their lip curled in a grimace. “Why didn’t you or Mira inform me about him earlier?”

“Because they only learned of my ability last night,” Isen interjected. “Yura Corasin, I don’t understand your circumstances or those of your clan. I cannot make any assurances of safety. But before you decide, let me share my motivations. I want to prevent the fall of Eldrassin City. I want to save Mira—the real Mira, and the one possessing her body. Finally, I want to locate and, if needed, save my tier three master with the help of those I’ve assisted.”

“You’re a tier two,” Yura muttered. “Can’t be more than twelve.”

Now that was insulting. He was obviously at least thirteen. “That doesn’t mean I’m ignorant, or stupid,” Isen retorted. “I’ve been fully briefed on the situation. I know who the players are, and the stakes. For some unfathomable reason, everyone has been comfortable doing nothing for days now. Waiting for an inciting event, for one of the tier fours to snap. But we cannot wait any longer.”

Yura slowly nodded, their face expressionless. “Stelia, drop the book and prepare the harness.” Their gaze flitted between Welco and Allezin. “I agree to evacuate, but I need at least two hours to give my people enough time to prepare. Mira will come with me.”

“I’ll also attend you,” Welco said.

“It will be easier to coordinate that way,” Yura Corasin allowed. They pinned Allezin with a stare.

“I’ll come, too.”

The elf chuckled softly, their blue eyes like polished gems. “So, unless Isen chooses to leave on his own, I guess we’re all going together.” They took a deep breath. “This was not how I thought today would go.”

“That’s my line,” Allezin and Welco grumbled in unison. The two men started, then looked at each other in annoyance.

Isen finally did laugh at the absurdity of it all, though he disguised it with a cough.

Gods, he missed Ros.