"The doors to damnation have opened." I uttered quietly as I walked through a public observatory on the other side of the city. Phasing through the other visitors as I stared at all the magnificent displays. Human knowledge let us see so many things. Such as the magic eggshell our world was encapsulated in!
It was honestly, quite fascinating.
But, human knowledge was not always used for good. And now, once again, someone sought its dark power. Vile, evil power that should've never been made. Good holy men, and, thankfully, most of the world despised the practice.
Yet, here in this city, this city defined by the knowledge of its great academy. It was seen as a potentially new frontier. The only problem with human knowledge was that... People got too excited to see how far it could go.
And they lose sight of reality. Yet, I was here to make sure they did not. I would make sure that good hearts won. Even if I had to be so explicitly vile myself to do it.
Yet, a headsman was not chastised in the olden days for his role in keeping the peace? Why should I feel shame and take their claims to heart? All they had to do was listen to me. To accept my conditions and it would all stop.
"Hm? Hello, I'm Doctor Nasoalk." the reluctant but still complicit creator of evil introduced himself as. A greeting like this was one of many I had heard time and time again... Often from different men and women. Their profession was not one that stayed occupied for long in this city.
And I was proud of that fact. Disappointed, however, in the continuedly filled void that was left.
"H-Hi, I... I heard you can help..." the misguided soul who had come to his pit said. And I could only pray that she would see the light before it was sealed. I did not enjoy it... I did not enjoy avenging the dead, but it was a needed task.
Someone had to stand up for those left behind by the world and their vile, beastly abandoners. Perhaps I could spread word of encouragement to her? Offer her the aid she needed to avoid the wrong choice? But, could I even do that?
The women who stepped into that building had problems... Problems indeed...
"Hahaha!" I laughed as the contradiction was funny. Here I was, enjoying one of the Thrurstradtur's fine displays of knowledge. Yet, I was invisible and untouchable to the people here. Because my actions were the ones laughably considered criminal.
"So, you do know what we do here, right? You have thought this through?" the vile murderer asks the madwoman.
"I... Don't know... There's something very important about to happen and..." the woman cried as her torment came to the forefront. And, when I heard that reservation, I stopped. I stopped and reappeared before the building in question. Staring intently while silently praying.
"My dear, make the right decision." I begged her, even if she could not hear me.
"No, don't come in here with that kind of uncertainty. Go!" the evil man told her in a rare act of kindness.
"Yes, push her away, make her understand that she needs to..." I begin to say as that woman's crying struck me to my core. She was lost and whatever held forth a light would ensare her! But, my reputation prevented me from directly intervening. Try as they might, Thrurstradtur's government would never catch me.
But they have gotten very good at figuring it all out despite my blatant advantage! It was worthy of some praise, in fact. Were it not so hilarious how off the mark they were each time! They would never figure it out, but, I had a role to play in this performance!
"NO! I need to make sure he doesn't find out... I need to..." this woman said as her magic suddenly caused my senses to fizzle. It took only a moment to adjust to it, but, it was an argument in its own right. It was not often a witch came to a place like this... So very rare it was...
"Okay, okay, calm down. Come with me for a moment." he tells her as he drags her deeper into this vile place. Towards its only place of unfortunate good...
"Forgive me, Packmaster of Seven, forgive me if I bring another to you." I say in advance as I sense them enter a specially designed room to Undwote. It had turned away many misguided women, thankfully. But, not all bought it...
Apostates and foolish agnostics often tore past this unbeatable argument to life... Yet, I hoped she was neither. That she was just desperate and alone. However, the way she acted, it said a lot about her choice.
She was ashamed...
She was trying to hide it all...
Someone was out there, and she did not want him to know...
I did not get angry at its implications, but, it did make me curious. Enough to change how I might go about this if she made the wrong choice. To see this man for myself, I could? Or, I could just let it be and deal with it should she choose poorly.
"Do you see why I warn you? I cannot have you make this choice if you aren't ready. And I most certainly am not willing to put you under the risks this place has should you be unsure. There are no takebacks here!" he correctly points out at the end. Only, it wasn't him that made sure there was no second chance. It was me that made sure the sowed seed was reaped appropriately...
"I know what it is you do! I don't need you to tell me! I just need it over and done with so I can go back and..." the woman cried as she retreated away from the room.
He then sighs, "I'll give you a bit of time. Make sure to look around and do it carefully. I will go and get the required legal documentation."
And I snorted at that, "Legal..." I spit out as I anxiously tap my walking stick. Creating a delightful sound that only I could and would ever hear under these conditions.
And, tick-tock! As the great attraction of Thrurstradtur turned, so to did time move. We got closer and closer until it came! The time for the choice to be cast!
"Well? Student Larishazza? Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I... I need to be able to tell him without making him worry. I need to tell him without making him think less of me..." she cried on her own at first before the accomplice at the front desk came and comforted her.
"Trust me, you'd be genuinely surprised by how many people came here with that same mindset! Don't worry! They sometimes come back here as happy families!"
"And what about when they don't come back here as that!?"
"Well..."
"They don't." I answer for that despicable woman as I leaned forward. Digging my walking stick deep into the building below with metal-piercing force. An inflexible thing my walking stick was, yet, it only made it more impressive. In this city that stole the magic of others to keep them in line...
"Okay, that is enough! I've made my decision!" the poor woman loudly declares. Causing me to jump in anticipation so I can then lean in and hear it clearly. There would be no mistakes, not that I have ever made any.
"I beg you, do not make the wrong one." I say as I tip my hat and lose the smile my thoughts might've given me. This was as serious as anything ever could be. And I needed to treat it as such. No jokes, no snark and no jabs...
Just me listening and reacting appropriately...
"Please... Please get it over with. See? I agree on everything here! Just, get rid of my mistake so I don't have to worry..." she cries falsely. And, I grew angry. How could she... Her own flesh and blood...
She had been shown what it meant, these actions...
"Wrong choice." I utter lowly as my blade pops out. With the full moon shining bright on its soon-to-be stained silver edge.