Mark of the Fool

Chapter 641: Are You With Us?

After two years of gathering information and knowledge.

After a year of Ravener-spawn, and dungeon core hunting.

After months of alchemical examinations of dungeon cores and hunting for hidden churches and truths in Thameland, theyd discovered what most sane folk would think was the ultimate blasphemy.

It had been UldarThamelands own godwho had created the Ravener.

That truth glared from the pages of the notebook Khalik was holding.

Alex and those close to him had learned that there could be a connectionbetween Uldar and the Ravener; something linking the worshippers of the god with the dungeon cores.

But now, theyd found absolute proof, a revelation that allowed several puzzle pieces to slot into place in Alexs mind.

What reason did the Ravener have for attacking Thameland, and only Thameland? Because Uldar wanted it to. Why did Uldars Heroes never defeat it permanently? Because Uldar didnt want them to. Why did dungeon cores resemble golems?

Because they were the constructs of a god.

Had Thamelands entire struggle beennothing but a lie? A single, neverending show put on by an absentand now deadpuppet master.

Why?

Why in the name of all the deities, mortals and worlds in all the universe had he done this? And was that the reason he was killed? Had someone discovered what hed done and killed him?

But if so, why not expose him, why not tell others what hed done?

Alexs heart pounded, a chill creeping across his skin.

Theresa had turned pale, one hand rested on Brutus to steady herself as the cerberus licked her arm in worry.

Hart was as still and grim as a stone gargoyle.

Cedric was mumbling a string of curse words peppered with descriptions of what he would like to do to the god if someone else hadnt killed him first. His face was like a thundercloud.

Drestra leaned against a table. All the fightingall the death and struggle, the sleepless nights, the cold, the hunger, so many dead companions. And all this time, we were fighting something he made?

The cycle must continue, Merzhin muttered, his voice as small as a frightened childs. Thats what the first apostle told me: he said the cycle must continue because Uldar said our fate depended on it. Now, we learn that hecreated the Ravener. Did he also craft the cycle? Are we

The Saint paused.

Are we He gagged and suddenly pitched over, throwing up on the laboratory floor.

Well, thats that, I guess, Thundar said, his expression dark. Uldar made the Ravener. Hes been behind everything from the beginning.

It would seem that way. Khalik flipped through the books pages. I recognise some of these alchemical symbols, but many I dont. Come over here, Alex. See what you can make of them.

Alex shook his mind free of his racing thoughts and took the book from Khalik, slowly flipping pages, eyes scanning hundreds of tiny symbols scrawled across page after page.

This is crazy he muttered, calling on the Mark of the Fool.

Instantly, memories of every alchemy course and textbook hed ever spent time on appeared, every moment hed spent working on golems, and every conversation hed had on the subject of golem crafting.

The Mark condensed all of his experiences for one purpose: understanding the diagrams for the Ravener.

yet, Alex found he could only understand somemaybe a third at best.

Its definitely golem work, he muttered. But, I gotta say that in spite of everything hes done, I could never say Uldar wasnt a genius. These alchemical blueprints are more advanced than some Ive seen at Shales. I cant even begin to understand half of what he was doing here, and even less of how he was doing it.

Alex couldnt hide the awe in his voice, but his admiration was soon replaced withbitterness. Theres one thing Im definitely sure of though: this diagram is the Ravener. Uldar even notes the process it uses to create more dungeon cores out ofmana and something else. I dont understand what these symbols mean. He pointed to the page.

Why? Khalik frowned, sounding puzzled. Does it say why he created this monster?

Alex flipped through the book, speed reading and scanning every page, searching for an explanation. He searched for passages that mentioned the constructs purpose, its motivations, or even what Uldars motivations were.

By the time he reached the end of the book, hed found nothing.

Biting his lower lip, he turned to Khalik. You find any more notebooks, or anything else?

I did, actually, Khalik said. The one youre holding has the black orb on the cover and was on the desk, right beside that bottle of chaos essence, but there were more notebooks in his desk drawers. Come, some of you help us look through them.

The team went through Uldars notebooks like a pack of hounds at mealtimescouring some twenty booksas quickly as they could. They found formulas for potions, but most were medicinal. They ranged from common antitoxins anyone could buy in any large city from a proper alchemist, to rare draughts made with the type of ingredients that were legendary among alchemists.

But in all of that, they found no clear answers.

No whats.

No whens.

No whys.

By the time the last Watcher had shaken her head, putting the final notebook on the desk, everyone had descended into deep contemplation.

So, what do we do now? Tyris finally asked. We have confirmation that Uldar made the Ravener. And we know hes dead. Do we tell anyone? Do we keep it to ourselves?

This is beyond my pay grade, Watcher Hill admitted. Maybe Gemini wouldNo, not even her. Baelin should know what to do.

He would most likely tell us to shout that Uldar is dead from every corner of Thameland. Isolde gave the notebooks a grim look. Her blue eyes were like ice. He has no love for gods, especially ones who make monsters that hunt their own people. Whether the god is living or dead.

I dont know. I wouldnt be so sure about that, Alex said. Baelin hates the divine, but hes also not impractical. If he thinks that shouting it to the world would make an entire nation fall apart, then I think hed hesitate. Maybe. Im not sure. Im not sure about much right now.

Well, we do know that Uldars evil, Drestras voice crackled with hatred. He made the thing thats been killing us for thousands of years. And he hid it from us, then let us fight on our own until he finally damn well died. What kind of god does that? Ive fought nicer demons.

She looked at Merzhin. Even you must be tired of this dead gods legacy. You have to be. Think of all the pain weve been through. All the people weve lost, like Carey. How much better off would Thameland be if Uldar had never lived?

Never lived, Merzhin whispered.

His eyes snapped into focus.

Drestras own reptilian orbs rolled in her head. Dont start to defend him, Merzhin: he made the Ravener. How can you defend that?

But there is something about all of this that doesnt make any sense, Drestra, he said. Something doesnt make any sense at all. Why did he make the Ravener?

Does it matter? Hart asked him.

Yes! Of course it matters! The Saint cried, looking stricken. Uldar has He paused, cringing. had much explaining to do, but to call him fully evil is being too hasty.

I think its pretty settled, Thundar said.

Truly? Well, I do not agree, Merzhin continued. Weve learned that he built the Ravener, and we know the Ravener kills Uldars people. That is true. But why? Why was he building it? Why is it killing us? Tell me, wizards of Generasi, can constructs not go rogue and act on their own? Can they not rebel against their masters wishes?

Alex sucked his teeth. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes they follow an order, but dont quite understand their masters intentions. Thats caused some to go berserk in the past.

Thats really going to be your excuse for him, Merzhin? Hart sounded annoyed, frowning at the Saint. Youre going to say that Uldar built the Ravener to help us, but some stupid order of his made it kill us for six thousand years? Uldar was alive for a bunch of that time: why didnt he stop it?

I dont know. And if you say that you could never forgive Uldar for that, then I will understand, Merzhin said. But think about this: Uldar has many murals right here in this sanctum. Ones home is ones most precious place of comfort and peace, and what images did he choose to have around him? His own statues, of course, but also his Heroes and him helping the people of Thameland.

He pointed at the tunnel from the throne room. In his very sleeping chamber we saw paintings of him aiding the early Thameish people in their daily lives. We have history books that confirm he aided us in his early days. He helped us. He helped pull us out of barbarism, he fought our enemies and turned the land fertile.

Merzhin threw his hands up. So then why craft a construct to torture us after doing so much good? There is no sense to it! Why would he create a wonderful kingdom for his people, then punish them eternally with a spawning golem that endlessly brings nothing but death!

In times of fear, people call on, and cling to their faith, right? Theresa pointed out. Maybe he wanted us to be always praying to him.

Perhaps, but why? Merzhin demanded. He had ascended to full godhood. He had an entire nation that loved him. Why go to all the trouble of building a golem that generates fear instead of continuing to perform miracles to help us? He had our love! He still has it! Why would he need our fear?

Many gods control their people through fear. Watcher Hill pointed out. Maybe he wanted both.

Then why not just be a tyrant when he first began shaping our kingdom with his own two hands? Merzhin argued. He could have made himself into a divine warlord! He could have let those who were bloodthirsty love him, and all the rest fear him!

Maybe he wanted to act the hero, while letting the Ravener play the villain, Khalik suggested.

Thameland had enemies that hed defeated before. He was already steeped in divine power; if deities could expand their strength so easily by conjuring their own nemeses to defeat, wouldnt other gods everywhere do that? Wouldnt that be a constant problem in other parts of the world? And besides

Again, he gestured down the passage. what about those murals? Why focus so much on the Heroes triumphs and his own in helping Thameland. If the snail-like creature in one of those murals upstairs was the Ravener, then why did it look so different? Its shell looks the way the Ravener does in modern times, but everything else is different. And, then theres this Mark of the General.

He looked around at everyone. And what about the blank space along the stairs? What about his room: his most private retreat. Think about what he chose to surround himself with? Images of humans. Not just him helping humans, but them helping themselves, and smiling, and partaking in joy. Whats clear to me is that Uldar was kind. His actions to Thameland were benevolent.

Merzhin snapped his fingers. So what could change such kindness, such generosity? Why did he change? What led him down such a cruel path? Who was his guest? Why is he dead and just as importantlywhat killed him?

Silence followed.

Alex spoke first. Youre right, he said. I dont know if he was fully evilthough his actions seem to bebut I do know that we dont have the full story yet. Theres nothing weve uncovered that really explains anything about his motives. So far, we have part of the story, but were missing key pieces. We need to find out what those are.

He looked down at the notebook dedicated to creating the Ravener. But, weve already gained something valuable. His finger tapped the cover. These formulas are beyond advanced, and its going to take time and a bunch of alchemists for us to get an idea about how they work. Well need Professor Jules and probably the entire alchemy team for that.

An why dya want tfigure out how they work? Cedric asked.

Because, in the end, Uldars motives are important. Who he was is important. Thatll help us figure out why this cycle exists. Alex took a deep breath. Well keep looking around and see if we dig out any secrets we might have missed, but Ill tell you something weve already learned: the Ravener regenerates. Every hundred years it comes back, yet no one has ever figured out why or how.

He tapped the book. But if we can understand how it was made, we can understand how it can be unmade.

His fingers tightened on the books leather spine. If we can understand how it can be unmade, then we can kill it for good this time. No more regeneration. No more cycles. If we do this right, the Raveners gone forever. Now, lets finish exploring the lab then take and look at that armoury. Uldar set this thing on us, either on purpose or by accident. The least he can do is provide us with some damn weapons to put it down.

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