Escape

[Rhaine]

Rhaine walked into the hall of Adventurer's Guild, heavy fog clouding her senses. She was suffocating in the air her comrades seemed to breathe without problem, their willingness to aid others and rush into an insane mission was an oddity, a weirdness, a fluke! And now this conversation with Etherean Esperwind... She had hoped the mage would give her the answer to her problems, the key to returning her combat caster abilities - but her hopes were in vain. There was only one solution, the one she feared most. No workaround. Touching the spell knot, weaved into her memory, with her own healing spells, has always caused a reaction and rendered her unconscious for hours. Etherean advised to isolate a part of memory that was responsible for combat casting, erase it together with the spell that tortured her every time she dared to cast, and start everything from the very beginning

Rhaine remembered Esperwind's words. "You need to find a local deity that favors you. Or have a case of selective amnesia, removing the block and learning your destructive abilities anew". The words sent shivers along her spine, yet the priestess didn't allow the wizard to see her weakness. Finding a local deity? Never! She may have left the Temple of Asmodeus, but she would never betray the memory and will worship the Grim Lord even now, when she is no longer the Head Priestess of Crystal Sect, when she is naught but a shard of the past, floating freely and aimlessly... Asmodeus has never aided those exiled from His Temple. Finding someone to deal with the spell and face Morrigu's wrath, if she finds a way to another realm? No, there are no local allies a former priestess of Asmodeus can trust enough.

Rhaine remembered the suffocating touch of Shadow Phoenix's temple enchantment surrounding her, the icy voice that stopped her from following Tenebris into Spire of Morrigu, the searing pain of being teleported into her home in the Halls of Creation and almost torn apart by her own spells. She had to find a way out of the trap. Had to do it, whatever it takes. The name that had saved her from dissolution, burned brightly before her eyes. Focusing on it, Rhaine watched the energy leaving the spell knot, outlining its cold tentacles. Slowly and accurately, she weaved an antimagic shell - the spell once granted by Asmodeus to warriors of His army - but in an inverted variant. Strangely, the spell worked. The priestess felt cheered up by this. "You are still with me, Lord... Thank you". Rhaine empowered the shell. The spell knot, isolated from her mind, tried to wriggle and beat, like a living creature, spreading waves of torment - but was there ever pain beyond pain of being helpless? With one last effort, the priestess channeled more energy into the spell, feeling her mind burned and torn, and slipped into sweet oblivion

[Rhaine]

Rhaine returned from the arena at Twilight Isle, first duels teaching her the spells local used for competition. Her enhanced eyesight gathered information at the speed normal humans would have considered odd at the very least.

The only odd thing for her, was Vanion. Why would the former Champion of Myr'khul be in RhyDin, and moreover - lie when there's no need for it? She remembered the moment when elven vampire tried to smash her head on the bar stand, his aggression coloring the air red. Vanion seemed to be concerned about anyone knowing about his past... why? His promise to kill her wasn't anything unexpected, Rhaine was used to insane bloodlust dwelling in minds of Myr'khulians. But why promise to kill - why not just do that?! Why ask about her reasons to be in RhyDin, why lie - instead of finishing her existence once and forever as he claimed he could do?!

There was definitely more to this encounter than superficial analysis could show... Rhaine frowned, and her mind focused on calculations and interpretation. For a brief moment she thought about keeping the experience to herself instead of reporting to Rakeesh, but swept away the thought. She has given her word to Rakeesh - to assist the Guild. Now it was time to keep it. Vanion alive and unleashed - that was something Rakeesh should have been warned about.