Chapter 22: The Frost and the Chaos
From the Age of Pirates, Adrian Von Ziegler. The chapter is not named after it.
THIS IS THE ENDING. THE REST OF THE STORY EXPLAINS HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT AND WHAT THIS MEANS. IF YOU DON’T WANT THE ENDING SPOILED FOR YOU, SKIP THIS CHAPTER AND COME BACK TO IT LATER.
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36 Years Later
Magic Realm, 2020
It was close by. Ezio had become accustomed to what the damned thing felt like, by now, and knew what he was sensing for. The problem was that he couldn’t easily pinpoint where, exactly, it was. Obviously, it was somewhere over here, but he was having a difficult time figuring out which direction to go in. It felt like it was everywhere and nowhere at once.
A sharp pain tore through his chest. Ezio paused in his stride, one hand raising to press against his sternum. It would go eventually; it always did. It took several seconds, he didn’t count them, and then it was gone.
Aine was a little more trouble than he’d been expecting her to be, but not enough. Not enough to stop him from getting here, that was for sure. He glanced around, trying to make things out around the falling snow. It never snowed in magic realm. At least, not until he made it snow in magic realm, and it was almost by chance that he had. Unfortunately, he didn’t know how to make it stop once it had begun.
Ezio took a breath in. He didn’t have much time and he knew that. He needed to focus. He closed his eyes, his leg shaking with anticipation, but he put that out of his mind. He could hear the snow falling, and hissing onto the stone. He could hear the screeching, and the singing, somewhere out there in magic realm. He wondered if the star creature was nearby, but he didn’t have the time to care about that, nor what it would think of what he intended to do.
He sensed something else, too, and grey eyes snapped open just as a blur of strawberry blond crashed into him. Ezio stepped backward, arms raising to keep Morgyn from falling.
“Thank god,” Morgyn said. “You’re okay! That’s good, you’re okay, you are okay, right?” The red-head leaned to one side, making sure that Ezio was okay. He looked okay, but looking okay, and being okay, were two very different things with Ezio, and Morgyn knew it, all too well.
“I’m fine,” Ezio said, taking Morgyn’s hands. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean what am I doing here?” Morgyn shot back. “Looking for you! Where the hell have you been!”
“Here,” Ezio answered. “Dealing with some remnant issues-look, Morgyn you can’t be here. You have to go back.”
Morgyn’s green gaze hardened. “You can’t be here either,” the red-head argued.
“Go home,” Ezio said, flatly.
“I’m not leaving without you,” Morgyn said.
“You stubborn shit,” Ezio said, groaning, one hand raising to press against his temple. “We don’t have the time to be having this argument, either! Go home. It’s too dangerous for you.”
Morgyn’s head shook emphatically. “If it’s too dangerous for me, then it’s too dangerous for you. I’m not the one that’s dying!”
Ezio released a great sigh, and winced. Morgyn squeaked, reaching up to rest both hands against Ezio’s chest.
“See?” the red-head argued. “This is what I mean, you shouldn’t be here. You’ve done your part, Ezio, this part, this is my part. The Sages’ part, not yours.”
“I’m not going,” Ezio said. “I’ve come too far to turn around now.”
“And what if you can’t handle this by yourself?” Morgyn asked, reaching down and taking Ezio’s hands. “I’m just supposed to go home so you can never come back? I don’t like that idea.”
Yes, well. There were plenty of things one wouldn’t like in life. Ezio decided to save his breath and not argue that point. He and Morgyn, as always, could go around in circles and never reach a conclusion. Both were too stubborn for anything else, and Ezio knew that.
He really didn’t have the time for this. This went beyond the sages, and Ezio knew that too. There were things about this that they didn’t know. Mostly, because Ezio had never told them, despite Makana’s warnings that he should.
Makana was never wrong, of course. He should’ve listened to her. But since when did Ezio ever do anything he was supposed to?
“Fine, fine,” Ezio said, releasing a breath. He didn’t have time for this, none of them did. “Just, stay close to me, okay?”
“Okay,” Morgyn answered, nodding once. And as if to make Ezio make good on that unspoken promise, the red-head let go of only one of Ezio’s hands. The other gripped Ezio’s hand even tighter. “We’ll find it together,” Morgyn said. “What are you going to do, when you do find it?”
“I don’t know,” Ezio answered. It was a lie; he knew exactly what he was going to do with it when he’d found it, but there were some things that Ezio didn’t tell Morgyn. This was not the first time Ezio had lied to Morgyn to protect the red-head. If things went remotely right, it wouldn’t be the last time, either, no doubt.
But that was the price one had to pay, sometimes. The older sibling was born first, to protect the ones that came after. Neither of them remembered, now, which of them was born first. Ezio had decided that he was. Because that meek and shy thing back at France wasn’t going to be able to do it, not without a lot of nudging.
The hope was that, once Ezio was gone, Morgyn would be strong enough to not need the protection anymore. Ezio doubted that, but now wasn’t the time for second guesses.
“Come on,” Morgyn said. “I think we have to follow the light.” The red-head pointed at the streaks of light that were pulsating through the stone. Those markings had always been there, but now they were awakened and alighted, pulsating in a certain direction. They all seemed to be leading the same way.
Ezio didn’t answer, aloud. Instead, he set his jaw, his eyes hardened, and he glanced at Morgyn one last time, before tugging the red-head along with him, and then he followed the light.
They’d been following the damned thing’s light for a good while now. Ezio was starting to tire out, but he chose not to say anything. Morgyn seemed quite happy about this, most likely merely pleased to be involved in this mess. Ezio stared at the red-head, for a moment, but then returned to watching the flagstone as they passed over it. Ezio didn’t know what to make of this situation, but it wasn’t how things were meant to go.
Of course, he remembered Makana telling him, once, that how things were meant to go, and how you wanted them to go, were often not the same thing, and it was easy to fail to tell them apart. Ezio didn’t think he was doing that, but he wouldn’t deny the possibility that he was.
“You know, Drake and Cassandra have not really been the same, since you left,” Morgyn said. “We’ve all heard conflicting stories about what you were doing, too.”
“I don’t have any intention of explaining that one,” Ezio answered, abruptly. “It’s better for you not to worry about it.”
“Saying that just makes me worry about it, you know that, right?” Morgyn asked. It’d be pretty stupid if Ezio didn’t know that already. That seemed like something he should’ve figured out a good long time ago, but what did Morgyn know of what went on in Ezio’s head? Not much, the red-head was starting to learn.
Ezio didn’t say anything at first, and then he released a breath. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just had to find something, and I wasn’t going to find it out there.”
“You found it here?” Morgyn asked.
“Yes,” Ezio answered. “And no.”
Unconsciously, the red-head rested a hand against the sage’s abdomen. The hand dropped back to Morgyn’s side.
“You’re nervous?” Ezio asked.
“Of course,” Morgyn answered. “You know, I don’t remember our parents very well.”
“Neither do I,” Ezio admitted.
Morgyn went quiet, and Ezio did too, the two of them walking along hand in hand towards whatever their destiny was. Ezio didn’t really believe in destiny, not anymore. Destiny was, as Makana said, just a pretty word that humans used to absolve themselves of responsibility.
Ezio believed in taking control of one’s future. That was why he had to do this.
And he had to break Morgyn’s heart.
Unconsciously, Ezio squeezed Morgyn’s hand. The red-head glanced at him, and smiled.
“It’s just really nice to have you back,” Morgyn said.
Ezio smiled, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah,” he said. “It’s nice to be back, too.”
“What are we looking for?” Morgyn asked. “You’re the only one that’s seen it, besides Sarnai.”
“I’ll know it when I feel it,” Ezio said. “It is in this dimension, but not. Like it’s on the astral plane, I think.”
“Could you astral project and find it easier?” Morgyn asked.
“Theoretically,” Ezio answered. “But I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s too straining.” He was rather certain, by now, that his heart wouldn’t tolerate it, and he had to see the end of this, with as much strength as he could preserve.
Morgyn looked confused, and unsure, but didn’t press the issue. As they walked, though, Ezio started feeling cold. What-no, he knew what that was.
Ezio stopped abruptly. “That,” he said. “That’s what I’m looking for.” Ezio let go of Morgyn’s hand. The sage looked affronted by that, but didn’t argue, as Ezio held a hand out towards the air. A spark of magic later, and Ezio pressed the knife he’d summoned against his palm.
“Wait-” Morgyn squeaked, stepping closer, raising one hand, but it was too late.
Ezio’s blood splattered across the flagstone under them. Ezio didn’t seem bothered by it whatsoever, and truth be told, he wasn’t. Morgyn moved around the blood splatters, taking Ezio’s hand with both of the sage’s hands and looking at the injury.
“You shouldn’t do stuff like that so readily,” Morgyn said, tutting under the sage’s breath.
“It’s certainly not the worst I’ve ever lived through,” Ezio answered. “Hang on,” he warned, as the pulsating lights beneath them began to move faster. The lights then turned red.
“What’s this?” Morgyn asked.
“I’m bridging the realms,” Ezio said. “To bring the All to us.”
The lights converged, brightening to the point Ezio had to close his eyes, for just a split second. And when he opened them again, the gigantic crystalline structure he knew as the All towered over them both. The spirits told him that it hadn’t always been so large, that it had grown to the size it was at now. Ezio found that somehow upsetting.
“It… feels like it’s in pain,” Morgyn said, one hand raising to the red-head’s chest. Just so, very softly, Morgyn could hear a chiming song, melancholic in its tune. “Is this the song that you’ve been hearing?”
“Yes,” Ezio answered, nodding. “It comes and goes. Sometimes, it’s a screech, and other times, more of a roar.”
“How did it get so massive,” Morgyn asked, and then stepped closer.
Ezio reached out and pulled the red-head backwards. “Don’t get too close,” he said. “There’s a barrier around it, remember?”
“Oh,” Morgyn said, softly. “Right. You’re not breaking the barrier, are you?” He barely survived doing it the first time.
“No,” Ezio answered, looking up at it. “I’m going to destroy it.”
“What?” Morgyn asked, turning to look at him with wild eyes, as he moved around the All’s barrier parameter. “You can’t be serious! Why?”
“It’s not the source of magic, Morgyn,” Ezio said. “It’s something else. Something bad. I don’t know the details, I just know it needs to be destroyed.”
“Did one of those stupid spirits of yours tell you that?” Morgyn asked.
“No,” Ezio replied. “The book did.”
“Why are you still listening to that thing!” Morgyn asked. “Can you even destroy it anyway?”
Ezio breathed out. This was the other reason he didn’t want Morgyn here for this. “Of course I can,” he answered. “I’m an Ember.”
Morgyn stared at him, like he’d lost his mind. Maybe he had. Maybe he hadn’t. After a moment, Morgyn released a breath, and then stepped over to Ezio, gently taking his hand. “Fine,” the red-head said. “We’ll destroy it. We’re in this together, and if this is what you want, then I’ll help you.” Ezio was coming home, this time.
Ezio’s grey eyes met Morgyn’s green gaze. And then, he smiled. “Yeah,” he said. “Together.”
He took his hand back, shuffling to one side of the All. Morgyn moved to the other side.
Morgyn wasn’t sure how close to this thing they could get, before they ended up zapping themselves. The red-head peered around the crystals at Ezio on the other side. He raised his hands, and channelled magic into the barrier. They’d have to break the barrier, Morgyn thought, if they were going to destroy it.
The sage still didn’t know if destroying it was the right answer. But Ezio was so much smarter than Morgyn was, of course he’d know what to do. He was probably right. Morgyn didn’t need to go questioning him. All Morgyn needed to do, was trust him, just like he’d always trusted Morgyn.
The red-head raised both hands, swirls of magic rising and moving around. The barrier shimmered to life in front of the sage’s hands, showing Morgyn where its parameter was. Morgyn’s magic pooled together, as Ezio’s spiked on the other side of it, both pushing against the All. Despite the feeling that this was a very bad idea, Morgyn put everything the red-head had into this, and right now, Morgyn was stronger than Ezio was. He’d tired himself out, over the last few months.
Ezio would never admit to it, but Morgyn could see it, in his grey eyes. Morgyn had never seen him so worn out, but all Morgyn could do was refuse to leave, and try and make sure Ezio came home to them, this time. He hadn’t been home in too long, out here chasing the All, or perhaps himself.
The barrier shimmered, and flickered in and out. Suddenly, it unleashed an audible, and loud, groaning sound, and shattered. Ezio loosed a yelp on the other side of the crystals, his magic dimming and flickering.
“Ezio!” Morgyn called. “Ezio are you okay?” The red-head’s hands lowered, and Morgyn moved to go around the All to Ezio, but he held his hand up.
“Don’t!” Ezio shouted. “Don’t stop! I’ll be just fine, keep pushing!”
Now, of course, Morgyn had a second question; of whether or not Ezio would survive them destroying this thing. But, that was what he wanted. Morgyn’s eyebrows furrowed together, distress clearly visible across the red-head’s face, but then, Morgyn returned where the sage had been before, hands raising again, magic pooling back together and resurging. The roaring began, along with a faint buzzing in the back of Morgyn’s head. Ezio could hear it clearer, the red-head could tell. Still, Morgyn pushed harder, hoping to make it stop sooner.
Cracks snaked up the crystal pillars. The stone groaned and whined, and then shattered, sending pieces of crystal rocketing in every which direction, the force of it throwing Ezio and Morgyn away from it, and then it unleashed a sudden flood of darkness. Ezio loosed a squawk, as the shadow burst forth from the pieces of crystal like billows of smoke. Morgyn sucked in a breath and stood up, meeting the darkness that enveloped the red-head, and then held both hands out, alighting with inferniate. It barely flickered to life, before it disappeared into the darkness, spluttering out like a candle flame that had met a typhoon.
Morgyn cursed softly, the All’s roar very loud and grating in the darkness. Morgyn looked around. Every which direction looked the same, but the red-head had to find Ezio, somehow, in this mess. Morgyn’s eyes slid closed, the sage focusing on the blip of magic that felt like Ezio.
A vibrant red light distracted Morgyn, appearing right below Morgyn’s chin. Green eyes opened, glancing down at the sage’s chest. The amulet, that matched Ezio’s, was alight with red fire. Another light burst into life, shining through the darkness. It was white, like Ezio’s amulet was. With one last glance downward, Morgyn’s eyebrows furrowed together, and the sage walked towards the white light.
There were flickers of golden and violet light in the darkness, and curiosity almost got the better of the sage, but Morgyn continued on towards the white. Morgyn drew closer, and then, just when the sage would’ve kicked him if Morgyn had continued walking, Morgyn could see Ezio, curled into a ball on the stone. Morgyn knelt down beside him.
“Ezio?” Morgyn asked, cautiously reaching for him.
“There are so… many…” Ezio ground out, through clenched teeth.
“So many what?” Morgyn asked.
“Spirits,” Ezio said. “There were so many spirits in the All.”
What? Why? Morgyn almost asked, but then figured Ezio probably didn’t know any better than the red-head did. Morgyn tried to think of a way to help, but, Ezio raised one of his hands, reaching out into the darkness. The swirls of snaking tendrils notably slowed.
“Ezio no,” Morgyn said. “You can’t control it on your own, not with you like this, please.”
“You need to go,” Ezio said.
“What?” Go where?
“Go, Morgyn,” Ezio replied. “Magic realm is collapsing, I can’t control the chaos, not for long, and if you don’t leave, you’ll be stuck here forever.”
“What, and you will?” Morgyn asked. Ezio didn’t say anything, but the answer to that was clear in his eyes. “I’m not leaving you! I left you in France, Ezio, I’m not leaving you here, too. I’m not losing you again.”
They didn’t have time to argue, once again. Ezio’s teeth grit together harder. “Morgyn, you’re not going to like what I have to do.”
“There’s sentient darkness trying to destroy everything,” Morgyn said. “I don’t think I’m going to like anything, but at least I’ll be able to live with myself if I stay.” Morgyn reached up, taking both of Ezio’s hands.
“In this together, huh?” Ezio asked.
“Exactly,” Morgyn said. “And even if we die, at least we’ll be together.”
“We’re not going to die,” Ezio said. “Just change, that’s all.”
“When did you become an optimist?” Morgyn asked.
Ezio snorted, smirking in mild amusement. “I don’t mind anything, as long as you’re still here.”
“Yeah,” Morgyn said. “I don’t either. Ezio, I love you.”
Ezio’s hands sparked with magic. Morgyn wasn’t sure what he was doing, but it didn’t matter anymore. Instead, Morgyn focused on feeding his magic with the red-head’s own. The snaking darkness was pushed back, and then drawn towards them.
In a blinding, sudden flash of light, they both crystallised, taking the chaos with them, and trapping it in the pillar they created together. The magic realm stabilised, bits of the islands that were being pulled into the chaos falling back down.
And then, Ezio’s crystal amulet glowed first. Then, Morgyn’s glowed in response. Another brilliant flash of light burst out from the crystal tower, and Morgyn hit the flagstone, hard.
I’m so, so sorry…
Morgyn winced, sitting up on one of the red-head’s sides. Oh, ow… for a moment, the sage was confused. What were they doing? No, Morgyn knew what it was, they were creating…
The red-head looked up, catching sight of the crystal, and Ezio encased in it, alone. No. No, this wasn’t happening, this wasn’t funny. With some work, as Morgyn’s hip was sore, the sage stood up, and reached towards the crystal. The barrier shimmered to life beyond Morgyn’s hand, warning that it was there, and then disappeared again.
Ezio had become the new All. “No,” Morgyn whispered. “Ezio, no, please, please tell me this is a dream, you can’t, you can’t stand this.” Morgyn reached out, the barrier shimmering to life again, just visible through the blurry haze of tears.
“Don’t… don’t make me lose you, please, not like this,” Morgyn begged, one hand resting against the barrier. Despite the warning, the barrier didn’t shock the sage. “Ezio… EZIO!” Suddenly, Morgyn rammed into the barrier, once, twice, beating against it frantically. “Ezio COME BACK, PLEASE, I NEED YOU! I CAN’T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU, PLEASE, EZIO, PLEASE!!“
The barrier refused to give. Morgyn slammed into it, with all of the sage’s body weight, one more time, and then slid down the barrier to slam into the stone, crying so hard Morgyn could barely breathe. Then, the sage drew a great breath in, and unleashed a heartbroken, screaming cry.
And somewhere, beyond the new All that contained the chaos, and kept magic realm together, now, the star creature raised its head, up to the sky. It was always like this, wasn’t it? An endless cycle, of loss and sorrow, sustaining magic realm, forever.
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