The Gentle Grasp of the Turn
Ardyn calmed herself. She did not allow for blame or frustration. She knew she could accomplish all. She just needed to know how and she could do it.
She underestimated her self-worth but never her capabilities.
'That was the hardest backlash yet.' Atina's voice was sharp with concern, even as her eyes flicked over Ardyn's body and the integrity of the vine egg around her. 'Her soul-sea is still turbulent from the ejection. She will shatter!'
'She is the chosen of Sidus Serpens,' Elsa rumbled, her massive head swaying. 'Her soul-sea is turbulent because she has discovered a new soul-song thread.'
Elsa pushed her magic a bit more. The plateau woke with vibrant color beneath her massive form. She then connected to the deep wellspring of Planar's magic, and forced it to reinforce the cocoon.
Chaotic streams of magic rose up from the black and pink chaos far below the massive plateau. They rose together and Elsa forced them to quiet. Her magic tamed the magic of Planar and as it calmed it turned from black to green and from pink to white. The calm magic spread out over the vine egg and up the spiraling vines that rose into the grey skies.
Elsa watched everything closely. One of her massive back feet stomped down on the plateau and it settled a bit deeper into the sea of chaotic magic below. Green mists rose around her as she changed into her beastkin form. Her hair of vines was blooming with deep blue flowers and her alabaster skin had green patches of soft scales that had an ethereal iridescence. She smiled at the space directly before her as it shimmered deep black and pink.
A tall ethereal man with long pink hair and skin as black as Varric's scales appeared before her. His pink eyes looked at her expressionlessly. Elsa pushed more of Planar's magic toward the vine egg surrounding Ardyn. The ethereal man's pink eyes shifted to the vine egg and then back to Elsa.
'And when do Goddesses help Empresses so desperately?'
Planar's voice crawled through Elsa's soul like a horde of army ants. Still Elsa smiled as she answered.
'Little brother. You sense who she is, and even as you do – just like me – you cannot sense the end of what she is. She is too entwined with Sidus Serpens.'
There was a pause and Elsa sensed Planar's uncertainty before he responded.
'I sense that she will remember me.'
As he dissolved into black and pink magic and flowed into the chaos below Elsa spoke.
'Maybe you will finally find your peace, little brother.'
Without hesitation Elsa went back to helping Ardyn.
'Come Atina. Coat the Rainbow Soul Gem in your shadow morph.'
Atina nodded and dense shadows moved forward.
The Rainbow Soul Gem on Ardyn's chest was glowing so fiercely it burned through the fabric of her layered warrior robes, pulsing a rhythmic gold that acted as a spiritual pacemaker, minting the tenuous alignment of her mind, soul, and body.
The shadows slid smoothly over it and Ardyn's layered robes mended themselves. The Rainbow Soul Gem pulsed and sunk into the silver talisman.
Ardyn's body trembled slightly as it stabilized.
Inside the layers, Ardyn had an epiphany, and she began to weave. She began the [Song of Sight] to deny the Life Turn a way of escape. Once [Song of Sight] had a target it could be held – but not obtained. Next [Song of Calm] and [Song of Nature] both flowed forth and joined smoothly with her newest song.
The new melody moved forward and Ardyn stood within a dark fold that was nothing more than a small crack. The Life Turn was drawn toward her – pulled in by her song like a fish on a strong fishing line. It spun slowly, smoothly, its lights pulsed with confident power.
She breathed in slowly, calmed herself, and listened. The knowledge flooded her in a crushing wave. The Life Turn was the "engine" — the law of cycles: chaos to order, breath to silence. She saw the faces of every soul she had ever touched reflected in its light.
As the understanding took root, the Life Turn stopped its rotation, changed direction, and flashed into her soul without warning – as if it had always belonged there.
Suddenly, the plateau groaned. Atina braced as the very ground began to tilt toward the west. 'Something has happened! The realm is reacting!'
Planar's voice filled the fold, turning the dark stillness into a vibrating grey. 'You have done well, Little One. But before you leave – with what was once mine – you will have to help me reconnect to what I once was.'
On the plateau everything calmed and Ardyn's soul tethers slammed open.
'Atina. I have to do one more thing here and then we go.'
'Master. Thank you for always protecting me.'
Ardyn spoke to Atina and Elsa at the same time. Her magic swirled out and added itself to Elsa's. Her body instantly began to change even as it healed.
'This time she truly will be a goddess.'
'She already is, teacher.'
Elsa looked out to the North, South, and East. All of Planar had calmed. She nodded to herself as she sat to wait for Ardyn.
'Agreed. Who else could return three of Sidus Serpens' cornerstones so easily?'