Entering the Layers
Ardyn sat down on the plateau.
Atina watched her mistress carefully and quietly. Her shadow magic layering over the protective magic given to her by Ardyn. She was ready to protect her mistress even if it meant her own destruction.
A ripple of magic moved over the surface of the stone. Atina steadied herself as the magic tried to push her toward the edge, but a barrier rose around her, granting her greater control. As she stopped moving, she looked toward Ardyn.
Again her Mistress had saved her with the greatest of ease. She steadied herself again, renewed determination focusing her.
Ardyn's hair whipped around her head as if a strong, gusting wind spun specifically for her. She sat calmly as the foreign magic tried to "understand" her. It took some time for Ardyn to actually enter her meditative state. As soon as she slipped into that quiet place, the magic of the plateau charged at her, forcing her back into the waking world.
She frowned. Was the calm attracted to calm? Was it accidental or very intentional? She took a cleansing breath and tried again. This time, she circulated her [Song of Calm] close to her body, then layered [Song of War], [Song of Nature], and [Song of Wrath] around it in that order. She kept the [Song of Calm] quiet and nestled deep within, but the other three she moved about in chaotic, jagged patterns.
She had created a storm of chaos around an inner, protective peace.
The magic of the plateau froze and settled. She could sense the confusion radiating from it—as if it knew something was wrong but was unsure what it was. The plateau magic swirled around her, testing, investigating, but never truly moving in.
Ardyn ignored it all as she finally found the meditative state she had been struggling to attain. Her eyes opened to a plain of chilly blues and greens. Her soul seemed to shiver as the sensation of an ominous cold pressed in on her. The space seemed to fold in on her; it was like being in a house of mirrors where all the reflections decided to move into the vortex at once.
Her senses buzzed with overstimulation. Her power had grown so much with her evolution that the sudden rush put her off guard. She controlled her breathing, trying to center herself further.
Then, her soul tether connecting her to Varric strummed as if it had been plucked. They were not cut off, but the connection had blurred. She sensed his worry and sent calm reassurance back down the tie to him. He calmed a bit, but she knew him well enough to know it wouldn't last.
'Tell Lord Varric what I am doing. Tell him you have eyes on my body and all is well—and that I will speak to him as soon as I am done.'
'Of course, Mistress. It will be done.' Atina answered instantly, and just as quickly, Ardyn felt her shadow-sister's focus move off to do as she was asked.
Ardyn refocused on the myriad of layers and the direction she would need to begin in. She felt the seeking calm just outside her chaotic magic, still curious and cautious.
'You are of Sidus Serpens. You are of us. Can you hear us?'
It was an echoing, reverberating sound that seemed to come from every direction at once. It was just a whisper, and yet it almost overwhelmed her. She took in a few ragged breaths as she reined in her ego. She was not as powerful as she had thought.
'I am of Serpentia. I have never known Sidus Serpens.'
There was silence. Ardyn pursed her lips. She was not yet powerful enough to reach the realm's full sentience.
'Your whisper is too faint, little one, but we sense your intent. You have half of the Life Way. What will you do with such a puzzle?'
'I want to be an equal to my love. I want to be worthy of his love.'
Silence once again, but now she realized it was a silence that sought to understand or interpret.
'Love surges through you, little one. You want the Life Way for love? Love, love, love, love, love…' The word continued to echo as if it were a concept not clearly understood by the chaos. 'Walk the layers of Planar. If you can find what you seek, you may be able to speak with us.'
Silence. Ardyn was not sure if she was strong enough for this, and doubt welled up within her.
'Don't doubt yourself now, little one. It is too late for that. You have Sidus Serpens and two of their chosen behind you—we smell it on you—and you have gotten this far. Why wouldn't you make it to the end?'
Ardyn nodded and began to align herself for the most difficult part of this journey to date.