The Silver Sphinx

 

“Trust is earned, not given.”

Celestial proverb

 

 

Third Lower Day of Mortis, 126 HR

When one of the guards outside his office announced Factol Terrance, Sarin felt relieved and tense at the same time. Given what lay ahead of him, he would certainly need the help of such a powerful priest. But if this cleric hadn't been an Athar, he would have felt more comfortable. In addition, the last heated argument between him and Terrance still hung like a shadow over the room. Sarin rose and motioned to the guard to escort the Athar's factol inside. Terrance gave him a serious but not unkind nod, and Sarin bowed slightly. Terrance was, after all, a high priest of good alignment, and he respected that, even if he could not understand his faith - or what he called faith. He asked the Athar’s factol to sit down and took his own seat again. For a few seconds, there was silence in the room.

“Thank you for coming,” Sarin finally said, clearing his throat. “Your support in this matter is very important to me.”

“I am as keen as you are for this matter to go smoothly,” Terrance replied calmly. “A lot could depend on it for everyone involved.”

The factol of the Harmonium hesitated briefly, then said it anyway. “I apologize for my somewhat ... impetuous words in the Great Gymnasium. Even though I cannot understand the path you have chosen, I should not have spoken of betrayal. That was a bit too much.”

Terrance smiled a little, with an openness that seemed sincere. “It's all right. My words weren't particularly diplomatic either. Our factions and philosophies are very different, which doesn't always make cooperation easy. Anyway, I think we've managed quite well so far.”

Sarin nodded with a sigh. “On that note, I'm curious to hear what you have to say. This kiss ... What are the dangers, how exactly does it work and what can you do about it?”

The high priest of the Great Unknown leaned back and interlaced his fingers, as he often did when he was about to give a lengthy explanation. ”The influence exerted by a succubus is mental and spiritual, triggered by a physical component. This means that once the demon has gained influence over a mortal through physical contact, this influence has a mental effect but is anchored in the soul. From then on, the soul bears a kind of demonic mark through which the succubus can reach and manipulate it. In general, however, such a connection cannot be caused by a simple kiss.”

“Yes, that coincides with what I know,” Sarin replied. “And I'm sure you're about to tell me what the catch is.”

“The good news is: I can tell you for sure that a sexual climax is a prerequisite for such a connection to be established.” Terrance explained it as matter-of-factly as if he were describing the architecture of the Shattered Temple. “The bad news is that old and powerful succubi can trigger it with a simple kiss.”

Sarin was quite uncomfortable having such an intimate conversation with Terrance. He wouldn't have been keen to talk about it even with a close friend like Killeen, and what he was hearing made the matter even more precarious. But he had no choice but to face this issue and prepare himself. The factol of the Harmonium briefly buried his face in his hands. “She can trigger it with a kiss?” He was pretty sure he couldn’t really hide his horror as he imagined the situation. “Can I prevent that somehow? Or you?”

“Yes, possibly,” Terrance continued in the same neutral tone. “Firstly, you are a powerful paladin, which offers you a certain protection. But it's no guarantee, if I may be so blunt. You wouldn't be the first paladin to fall victim to such a kiss. Secondly, as far as I am concerned: taking into account Red Shroud’s considerable power, I suspect that I can either protect you from her gaining influence over you. Or I can prevent that this …” He made a vague gesture with his hand. “… happens at all.”

”In this case I would prefer you to protect me from the latter,” Sarin admitted. “I definitely don't want that to happen. Just the thought of it is ...” He felt that he was blushing from embarrassment and fell silent.

“I understand,” Terrance continued calmly. “However, I think it would be best to protect you from both – in case something goes wrong, we should have several options. I had thought of your wife at first, but since you two are connected by a deep emotion, specifically the one that succubi prefer to corrupt, I consider your emotional bond to be a risk in this case.“

”That's what Faith said too,” Sarin muttered.

“I'm glad to agree with a high priestess of Iomedae. Because it shows that, in all objectivity, our assessment is probably correct. So I have another idea.” Terrance took out a vial containing a greenish liquid and placed it on Sarin's desk. “However, it would be a solution that involves some ... final aspects.”

 

 

Sarin leaned forward and examined the small glass bottle. “What is this?”

“The highly concentrated extract of the Elysian Moonweed. Certain constituents of this plant are known to strongly reduce the male libido.” A brief smile flitted across his lips. “Clerics and monks in Elysium who have taken vows of chastity like to use it in ... difficult times.”

Sarin briefly closed his eyes and shook his head. He was very grateful for Terrance's reserved, almost cool objectivity on this subject. Nevertheless, he wished he wouldn't have to discuss such matters in the first place. “And it works?” he then asked, just as matter-of-factly.

Terrance nodded. “Yes, it works. I have brewed a very highly concentrated extract for this specific purpose. If you take it shortly before the kiss, Red Shroud should not be able to arouse you so much that ...” Tactfully, he fell silent.

Sarin's dark eyes showed a mixture of exhaustion, skepticism and embarrassment. “Should?”

“There are no guarantees, especially since we don't know exactly what Red Shroud is planning. But in my opinion, it's the best chance we have. Because that way I can concentrate on blocking her influence on your soul should the extract fail. You would be doubly protected.“

Sarin nodded. “That sounds reasonable and is probably the best solution. You mentioned earlier that this extract has final aspects. What do you mean by that?”

Terrance remained as matter-of-fact as he had been since the beginning of the conversation. “The Elysian Moonweed not only lowers the libido, it also reduces fertility. With this high dose ... you would no longer be able to beget children.”

Sarin paused, but then smiled for the first time since the conversation began. “I understand. That is alright. I have nine children, and the twins weren't even planned anymore, so ...“ He paused once more. ”Um ... but it only affects ... fertility?“

Terrance nodded with a smile. ”I can assure you that your marriage - or a significant aspect of it - will remain completely unaffected.”

The paladin nodded, cleared his throat and looked away as he felt that he was blushing again.

Terrance noticed, of course. “Factol Sarin,” he said, his voice tinged with genuine sympathy. “I understand that this topic makes you uncomfortable. I feel exactly the same. But I swear by the Great Unknown that everything we discuss here will remain between the two of us. No one will learn anything from me, and I will never attempt to use it in any way to compromise you, no matter how tempting it may be politically. You have my word on that. Besides, there is nothing you have to be ashamed of.”

Sarin looked up, his gaze somewhat pained. “I'm not so sure about that. Actually, what I'm about to do is ... out of the question.”

Terrance eyed the paladin intently. “Then why are you doing it? No one really expected it. On the contrary, we were all a little surprised.”

Sarin sighed deeply. “Do you remember what Lady Elyria said to me when she and Sir Lorias revealed the Prophecy? Begin to dare means: fall and yield ...”

“But you don't know exactly what that means,” Terrance objected. “Besides, the Envoy said that this kiss is not necessary for the Prophecy to be fulfilled.”

Sarin laughed bitterly. “And what is the goal of the Prophecy anyway? That hasn't been said yet. We were told about the past and that the Chosen have awakened. And now? How is the Prophecy supposed to be fulfilled? By finding the God Machine? By using it? To what purpose? Or by destroying it? We don't know anything. Apart from that ... I have a feeling that this isn't about the Prophecy, but about me. Something deep inside tells me that I can't escape this bloody kiss. Believe me, under normal circumstances, I would never allow to be extorted in this way. But in this particular situation, I believe we have no other choice, because I take Red Shroud's threats very seriously. I think she knows more about the Prophecy than we assume, but she obviously doesn't care if the Chosen die - unlike us. The lives of three very important members of other factions depend on me. Factions with which mine is closely allied in one way or another. I can't just ignore that. Not in this particular case.“

Terrance nodded slowly. ”You've taken me by surprise, I admit. And I'll do what I can to support you. What does your church say about this?“

”Nothing,“ Sarin replied curtly. ”I haven't discussed the matter with anyone except my wife and Lady Juliana.”

Now the Athar's factol couldn't hide his astonishment. “Because you fear they would be opposed to it?”

Sarin's gaze hardened and he answered in the voice he used when giving orders in a bad mood. “Because I am the factol of the Harmonium and accountable to none.”

“Not even to your goddess?”

Sarin waved it off with a brusque gesture. “My goddess and my church are not one and the same. I am at peace with my goddess, and that is enough.”

Terrance's gaze became observant and interested for a moment, but he immediately leaned back again. “Very well. Shall we do it that way, then?”

Sarin reached across the table and pulled the vial towards him with determination. “Yes,” he replied curtly. “We'll do it that way.”