Theft of Decks 4, CH 26

The following excerpts are selected from a very small series of tomes, books, and other writing material we have ascertained to be likely to be created within Liberty lands after they closed off. Actual verification is still outstanding. Again, I am absolutely in awe with the writers here. There is little padding, and they explain their sources. There should be laws for this. Now, let’s see what they have to bring to the table. (Page 46.)

There was a crowd today. In Salvation, that was something out of the ordinary. Yet, to Chase, crowds felt like the most natural thing in the world. Having people around you that you could navigate amongst, use for your own purposes, hide behind or interact with when need be – that was the native state of being. Not this weird civilization, where people stayed in their houses most of the day.

Even so, the crowd they were in felt off. Usually, a proper crowd was in a state of constant movement, hundreds of people going each their way, sometimes gravitating toward natural attractors, merchants, entertainers, priests or the like. Not this one. As one, they had their eyes and attention affixed to the one ongoing spectacle. As if their entire existence depended on it, they gawked at the massive, wooden platform liberally stained with the lifeblood of countless victims, and the stately five-Tier Liberator orating from above.

Chase knew good public speakers when he experienced them. He’d heard the high priest of Isarn nearly churn the public into a riot. Seen the bard of Esenti, as he made every single woman fall in love with him. Watched in horrified fascination, unable to tear his eyes away from the twenty-minute drug-fueled rant of an innkeeper cursing out the entire world, including his parents, his kids and himself with equal zeal and ardor.

The Pillar of Liberty – and what a horribly stilted title that was – was anything but impassioned. Her speech, ongoing now for at least half an hour, revolved around the meaning of life, and how it was supposedly fully intertwined with serving Liberty. Chase wasn’t too sure, and it appeared that the pillar wasn’t either. He’d stopped paying close attention a while ago. He did, however, have a bit of fun appreciating the irony of anybody preaching about life from the center of Execution Plaza.

The Tier five wielder was impressive enough, he guessed, standing out in a detached and proper way. She looked stern and authoritative, like somebody who could scold you and make you thank her for the experience. She also moved with the calm confidence and control of somebody who was no stranger to the battlefield. Of course, given that she was a Tier five in the blissful lands, that part was a given. She had to have faced, and survived, thousands of Guardians and enemy combatants over the course of her life.

Yet, there was something Chase was missing here. Some aspect that failed to make sense to him. Why, when the pillar was less inspiring than a preacher who’d sniffed chaosweeds, would these locals all show up, and be as caught up in the speech as they appeared? Was it truly that they were so bereft of entertainment that this was the good stuff? No. There was a tenseness to their attention, a fixed focus that somebody easily distracted like Kith could only aspire to at the best of times.

Maybe it was less a desire to listen to the sermon – because this was definitely a sermon, the speech having clear ritualistic repetition from the crowd, quotes from the Savior himself, and aspirations for how the mass should behave – and more a need to be seen listening attentively to the sermon? Perhaps part of being a Liberator was following the mass and being seen doing what you were supposed to do. Or possibly, Chase was just missing something fundamental.

At least, Cilia was getting exactly what she needed from this. She and Chase were the only ones of their group present – Chase to keep an eye on her and the crowd, and Cilia to get the perfect image of what the pillar looked like, to see if she’d eventually be able to create a life-like illusion of her. It wasn’t like the others didn’t want to be present, but they all had work to do.

Liam was touring the fighter training areas of Salvation, making friends. He was still attempting to see if it was possible to build up connections inside the populace that might help them with their endeavors, though it was looking more and more implausible. Apart from that, he was also simply learning more about the city and its people. That part was going much better.

Kith was spending a lot of time with Radine, pushing the limits on what their bond was able to convey. He insisted that they were slowly building an improved common language, a way that they could mentally talk without actual words. Also, he was putting a lot of work into preparing their escape plan. Knowing that the Savior had Guardians snooping on travelers throughout Liberty lands, put some natural limitations on free travel – limitations that they’d need to somehow circumvent, if they were to get away unchallenged.

Sera was spending time with Reen. When Kith found out that Reen was the one who’d betrayed them, he’d – impressively, despite the shock - had the wherewithal to set up certain hours where they’d be able to call upon Reen and go for a walk with him in the city to talk, without any watchers likely to spot what was going on. Of course, there was the risk that the Savior was able to notice Reen alongside any of them, and spot the connections, but they’d considered it as remote enough to risk. Regardless, they’d agreed that they needed the crafting materials, and also, that they needed the information that somebody as familiar with cards as Reen could provide. Sera was adamant that there was more to the banned cards and limitations than they were seeing, and she was going to get to the bottom of it.

“I think it’s trailing to a close.” Chase murmured close to Cilia’s ear. “Praise Liberty. I thought we’d be trapped here forever. I might have dozed off a little.”

Cilia pointedly did not smile. But her eyebrows did rise infinitesimally. She nodded. In her hands were several rough sketches of the pillar’s features, hair and ears. They showed an emphasis on her slightly upturned nose, and the prominent scar drawing the left side of her mouth downward. “I have enough for a start, I think.” She said.

Around them, the crowd was indeed starting to dissipate, a dispersing of the pattern, as they went each to their own. Chase was torn between several different ideas. He needed to get a better sense of the populace, to learn how not to stand out. For that, he should really try following different Liberators, see how they moved, where they went. That could be key to learning how the locals thought. Then again, did he really need that? They were aiming to leave this place. For that, they should really stay focused. And what would really help with that… “Hey. How about we follow that pillar for a while, see where she lives?”

“No. Horrible idea. If that was what we wanted, we should get Kith to follow through Radine. It would be so easy to give away what we’re doing.”

Chase considered what he’d just been thinking about and grimaced as he recognized the truth of her words. “Does it hurt? Being right all the time?”

This time, she did laugh. “No. It’s the only momentary pain relief from all the headaches you guys give me!”

They turned and started walking back home. Chase flung his arm around Cilia’s shoulder. In response she shrugged it off, glaring at him. They only got about a hundred feet, when Chase felt something off. He tapped Cilia’s arm and stopped to talk to her, keeping her back toward where they were coming from. Nonchalantly, he glanced out of the corner of his eye and did a double take as he realized what he was looking at. He flung his arm around Cilia’s shoulder again, putting his back toward the approaching person. He hissed. “It’s the goddamn pillar! She’s coming this way.”

Cilia’s eyes widened in a panicked grimace. “What? She’s after us? What do we do?”

Frantically, Chase let the emotions pour through him, focusing on what they’d done. “Relax. We just keep walking. You’ve got the sketches hidden away. We’ve done nothing wrong. Just out taking in the sights, right?”

“Right.” She said through gritted teeth. “Nice afternoon stroll.” She exhaled. “We’ve got this.”

Chase chuckled. Cilia really was not a fan of surprises. For himself, he’d done this dance too many times. He relaxed into his walk, letting his shoulders loosen, his gestures becoming more relaxed as he walked, starting into a story about an innkeeper back in Isarn that Cilia had heard a dozen times before.

“Hey.” The call rang out from behind them.

Chase ignored it at first. Reacting immediately showed that you were aware that people could call you out.

“You. Darkborn with the one hand. Halt.”

So much for dissembling. Chase turned around with a questioning smile. He immediately focused on the Liberator striding toward them, the already thinned crowd parting further at her advance.

There was one thing he hadn’t been able to tell about the pillar from a distance. It was rather obvious that she wasn’t the charismatic type, and if she was a happy person, she hid it rather well. However, bearing down upon them, there was one thing that became extremely apparent. Her eyes shone with intelligence.

With an effort, Chase kept the dismay off his face. He hated the clever ones. They’d be the bane of his existence. Then he decided on his approach. That part, at least, was easy. If there was one thing clever people always expected from their surroundings, it was that they’d be dumber than themselves. That, Chase knew how to abuse. “Ah. Honored Pillar!” He bowed. “What can we do for you?”

“I could ask the same of you. Pillars have convocations at least three times a month. Yet you chose to come to mine. Unless I’m mistaken, your companion here took some very detailed notes while I spoke.”

Crap. Crap. Crap. They’d been spotted. Somehow, that stupid – no, not stupid. Not stupid at all. That all-too-bright Liberator had spotted them amidst thousands and focused on them, enough to follow them. All right. Dissembling it was, but with a grain of truth. “Ah. You’re entirely right. I’m sorry if we seemed overly curious. We’re new to Salvation, and we’re–“ He waved out at the city. “Taking everything in. Learning. Trying not to make too big fools of ourselves, you know?”

“Aha.” She said, her face not giving anything away. “How do you think you are doing at that?”

Chase frowned at the barely-veiled accusation. She didn’t seem belligerent. But then, why? He shrugged. “I guess, as well as you could expect from anybody coming from the outside who has no clue about the written and unwritten rules in this place? In fact, if you could come up with any advice to help us get better adjusted, we’d very much appreciate it.”

Cilia added. “That was my reason for taking notes. There is no literature on Liberty out there in the Lightborn lands, as you might imagine. We need any help we can get.”

She snorted. Then, still staring at Chase, her eyebrows shot skyward. “You actually mean that.” Her eyes glanced ever so slightly upward at the façade of a house behind them. “I will grant you one piece of advice. One that should have been your initial introduction to Liberty. There is one rule, when it comes to survival in the blissful lands. Do not cause a stir. Do not be the cause of attention, especially public attention. The public eye is supposed to be focused on one person and one person alone.”

“The Savior.” Chase nodded in understanding.

“Exactly.” She nodded, her strict demeanor wavering for a moment. “Even me chasing you down right now is outside of the norm. I wouldn’t have done it either, but the city is abuzz with stories about you. Trying to steal from the palace. Taking down a rebel army, and Guardians by the scores. It is all such a horrible idea for you, but it is also a breath of fresh air.”

“People… talk about us?” Cilia spoke up.

The pillar’s eyebrow rose slowly. An extremely uncharacteristic look on the somber woman. “Of course, they do. You have caused such a stir. That poor Elemental, Emily or whatever her name is, won’t stop talking about you. She doesn’t get it.”

“Get what?” Chase asked, exasperated.

That look again. She was looking sideways at a house. A… Keeper? Of course, that was it. The scrawny Guardian wasn’t looking in their direction, but it was less than ten feet away.

She seemed to come to a decision and shook her head. “Listen. Life as a pillar can be complicated. I noticed you in the crowd. I wanted to reassure myself that you weren’t plotting anything involving me. I am happy to realize that wasn’t the case. With that, our interactions are concluded. Best of luck for the future.”

She turned on her heels and started to march away.

To Chase, little of their interchange had seemed normal, or even the sort of normal they’d approach here in Liberty lands. He turned toward Cilia, only to realize that she was also moving forward, catching up to the Liberator at a brisk pace. “What the Pits?” He murmured, then started moving himself.

The women were facing off right ahead, having a silent stare-down.

Chase hurried to catch up. The last thing he needed was Cilia going off on one of the most powerful people of the entire damn place! He only realized what was going on, as he burst through the effect of Cilia’s heart card and the conversation came to life mid-word.

“-thing. Now, you have the chance. Nobody can listen in on us right here and now. Just tell us.” Cilia spread her hands in a beseeching gesture.

The pillar shook her head violently, eyes open in shock. “No! I didn’t have anything to tell you. Also, disengage that right now!”

“Or what? Are you going to attack us? For talking to you? Or is it just because somebody might suspect you of some conspiracy? What is going on?” Cilia pushed.

Her nostrils flared as her eyes shot to either side.

To Chase, she looked like a deer who might balk and sprint away at any given second.

Blinking, she gulped in deep and said. “Okay. Okay. We’ll talk. Not here, though. Two streets up, turn left in the alley at the second house belonging to a hand. Don’t’ follow me for at least five minutes!” With that, she shook her head in exasperation, turned on her heels and left.

Chase and Cilia were left staring at each other. Then they slowly walked the other way, trying to act naturally – like somebody who wasn’t about to follow a Pillar of Liberty into a dark alley.

“So, what was that about?” Chase said. The five minutes had passed in tense silence, as they tried to think of all the implications of what had just happened. The street was nearly empty by now, as the hour approached the evening meal, and Cilia had activated her heart card again. “You acted rashly.”

Cilia winced like she’d been slapped. “I know.”

“You showed her – somebody who should, by all rights, be our enemy – your heart card. What do you think is going to happen to us, if they realize we’re plotting in secret?”

“I know! All right? I know!” She huffed, avoiding his gaze. “I’m sorry. It’s just – that woman. There was something. I could…” She trailed off.

“Cil, you’re scaring the crap out of me. You’re supposed to be the cool, collected one, I make drastic decisions, and Kith does dumb stuff. You can’t just steal all our habits for yourself!”

Cilia laughed. Her voice was just a bit too high-pitched. “Earth smother your annoying tongue. I do love you sometimes.”

Chase’s eyebrows rose even further.

Cilia scoffed. “Like you didn’t already know it. Here’s the deal. You remember back on the Waves. I was alone there. Even with you boys. I never had anybody I could share with – my interest for books, for knowledge. How it was to be a mongrel, hated by everybody.”

“Of course you could share that with us. We’re your damn family!”

She shook her head sadly. “It’s not the same, though. And that’s my point. That woman, back there? She wanted to share something, but she was afraid. Deadly afraid.” Cilia took a deep breath and nodded. “So, yes, I took a chance.”

Chase’s eyes narrowed. Then he burst out into laughter. “You know Kith is going to love this.”

“You are never telling him.” Cilia’s voice was calm as the grave. “We are going to have a chat with the pillar, and then we are not going to go into details about this ever.”

“Yeah, I’m not seeing that. If we avoid getting ourselves into a serious mess, I see two options before me. Either, Kith and I get to berate you for all the times you’ve been our backs… or I’m getting your desserts and your komainey, forever.”

“…Two weeks.”

“Done. Aaand I think this is our alley.”

The alley in question looked like any of a thousand others in Salvation. Clean, wide enough to not be oppressive even walking two at a side, going straight through to the opposite side.

The pillar was waiting two thirds down the alley. Miraculously, they weren’t ambushed by anybody.

The Liberator spoke without preamble. “Is that silent card of yours activated?”

Cilia nodded.

“Good. This is a dead spot, to my knowledge. That is what we call a spot where we can talk without getting overheard by the Keepers. You should still keep your eyes open. Some of them do move around, if slowly.”

“We will. And we’ll try not to take too much of your time.” Cilia said. “But there was clearly something you wanted to tell us before you left.”

She didn’t say anything, gaze shooting every which way. After a deep breath, the Liberator spoke up in a murmur. “It’s too late anyway.”

“What was that?”

“It’s too late anyway.” She said, louder. ”You’ve caused enough of a ruckus. You’re bound to be raised to Heart any day now. Then, with all the attention on you, you’ll see action all the damn time, until, eventually, you’re dead.”

Chase looked at Cilia. “This feels like those math puzzles Sera favors. You know, the one, where you get the solution, and then you’re supposed to figure out the rest, like magic.”

“For once, I agree.” Cilia turned toward the woman. “I will admit we’ve managed to… draw some eyes on us. Not all of it by design. But how does that amount to us being in danger? How do you know?”

“Liberty free your glacial mind. Because that’s how it works!” She snapped. “You think you’re doing good. That you’re protecting your brethren. Yet, slowly you realize a number of things are off. That, even as it becomes harder to improve, the pressure is increased. That the fights you face are harder, you gain less support. That the numbers don’t add up.”

“Oh.” Cilia said. The voice sounded forlorn. “I suspected something of the sort. Do you know what happens?”

“I’m so lost here.” Chase said.

“Nobody knows the exact details. Most don’t even realize anything. But once you learn more, have access to the numbers… it starts becoming clearer. We should have more pillars. People at Tier six, or seven, even. We should be stronger. Instead, we fade. We die. As heroes.” She snarled that last word.

Chase hissed as he finally caught the implications. “Are you close to Tier six?”

She nodded. As she responded, her voice cracked. “Close enough. I figured… Heh. Even if they learn I talked to you, it won’t make a difference. But somebody like you. Young, coming from the outside – you still have the chance to find an alternative. Flee. Escape. Do something, before you’re as caught up in it as I am!”

“Thank you for telling us.” Cilia said. “But why not do something about it instead?”

She started laughing. Loud, sobbing peals of laughter with an edge of hysterics. “Do what exactly? Anybody who has risen up against the Savior dies. The very few who hit Tier six dies soon thereafter. Anybody who speaks out dies.” She bowed her head sadly. “I’m too old to make a run for it. I’ll enjoy what I can of my life until there is no more. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find a spark of joy in having found the courage to warn you and your friends. I hope you find a pleasant life, outside of Liberty.”

She turned on her heels and walked away. Her head held high, stiffly, unwavering. Even so, the cracks were showing.