Cancus: "And so the slave becomes the master... The doll replaces the puppeteer."
He grinned, a sharp, humourless expression, as he looked up into the seemingly infinite darkness of the shafts above. His thoughts, cold and clear, turned to the architect of his current frustration.
Cancus: "Serves you right, guardian of the 'witch bitch'."
The memory was as sharp as razor blades. Years ago, they had met. He had been one of the first to receive her, a duty he had performed with perfect, resentful obedience.
Cancus: "Hmph. Despite seeing what it can do... you still seek to use it?"
He had escorted her then, as now, through a domain of shadow. The ruined obsidian hallway seemed to drink the light, the polished black stone cool and dead beneath their feet. Every sound was swallowed by all-encompassing silence.
Master: "It is *because* I saw it that I seek it. My peers fear that which they cannot control... My aim is to extinguish that fear."
Cancus had grinned then, too, a flash of teeth in the gloom as they approached a set of massive, iron-banded double doors.
Cancus: "I applaud your courage, miss Purdamma."
He put his shoulder to the great doors, pushing them open with a groan of protesting metal.
Cancus: "Or, as most would rather call it... your stupidity."
The doors revealed a cathedral of impossible scale, its vaulted ceiling lost in shadow. At the far end, upon a throne carved from a single, colossal geode that glittered with a faint, internal light, sat a massive humanoid entity.
Cancus: "In the fading light..."
Entity: "... Salvation shines brightest."
The entire structure seemed to vibrate with the sound of its deep, overpowering voice, a resonance felt not in the ears, but in the very marrow of one's bones.
Entity: "It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, prodigious sorceress Purdamma."
Purdamma inclined her head, a perfect, formal bow that did not betray an ounce of fear.
Purdamma (Master): "The pleasure is all mine. This opportunity I could not pass up."
Cancus crossed his arms, eyes narrowed, watching the exchange with cold assessment.
Entity: "Dear Cancus... Come, stand beside me."
Slowly, his armoured boots ringing on the obsidian floor, Cancus made his way to the dais, a silent guard beside the towering figure.
Entity: "So. I take it our deal still stands...?"
Purdamma nodded, her expression keen.
Cancus: "Purdamma has agreed to take the doll into her custody, in exchange for knowledge. She wishes to learn to... 'control' black magic."
The entity laughed, a low, tectonic rumble that sent dust sifting from the unseen ceiling.
Entity: "How very ambitious... And surprising, given what I've already heard about your past. Do tell me, miss Purdamma... What makes you think black magic can be 'controlled'?"
She gestured, not vaguely, but with a sharp, pointed finger directly at Cancus.
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Purdamma: "I have seen what your agents are capable of. Despite its dangers, I have seen them manipulate it, some with great precision. I have seen how it can maim horribly... But also perform supernatural feats of healing."
Cancus's grin remained fixed, a mask of cold fury.
Entity: "... I see. But are you aware of what they had to do, in order to gain that kind of proficiency...?"
Cancus's grin grew wider, crueller.
Purdamma: "With all due respect... I do not think I am any less capable than they are. Quite the contrary, if I can be so blunt."
His mood instantly soured, the false smile vanishing.
Purdamma: "With my talents for understanding and channelling magic, I have no doubt I could accomplish much greater things than your agents managed to, so far."
Cancus: "Y-you have no idea-!"
The entity raised a hand the size of a shield, and Cancus's retort died in his throat.
Entity: "Now, now... Do not be so harsh to my men. I understand your perspective, sorceress. For you, magic is the art of the locksmith -- a delicate craft, a puzzle to be understood and mastered for its own sake. To my agents, it is a crowbar. They care not for the intricacies of the lock, only that the door is opened."
Purdamma nodded solemnly, accepting the wisdom.
Entity: "I do admit, that I am rather interested to see what you can do with it... Perhaps Cancus could learn a thing or two. Get out of his comfort zone a bit... Sometimes, I feel like he is getting too... *settled*."
Cancus's spine straightened as if struck. Purdamma's lips curved into a triumphant, knowing smile.
Purdamma: "It would be my pleasure to teach your men in kind, if you wish. I'm sure there's much they can learn."
Cancus clenched his gauntleted hand into a fist, the leather creaking in protest.
Entity: "Very well. Let us talk business, then..."
The entity leaned forward, a mountain shifting, its elbows resting on its knees, vast hands clasped beneath its chin.
Entity: "As you have already been made aware, we are interested in securing a very peculiar sorceress. One who has a demonstrably exceptional aptitude for wielding the dark arts..."
It produced a rolled piece of parchment, handing it to Cancus, signalling that he deliver it to Purdamma.
Entity: "... Her name is Mola. She will soon be judged for the murder of her parents. I trust you are familiar with the fate of sorcerers who are discovered to wield the dark arts..."
She took the parchment from Cancus's stiff hands, unrolling it. It was a charcoal sketch of a young woman's face, haunted yet apathetic.
Purdamma: "No fellow magician will want to take her into their custody... Far too dangerous, far too unpredictable. And without a guardian to rehabilitate her, she will be beheaded on the spot."
The entity nodded, the movement slow and deliberate.
Entity: "And that, we cannot have. Your duty is to shelter this girl, protecting and nurture her, until the day comes where we come for her."
Purdamma met its gaze without flinching.
Entity: "In exchange for your services, we will share with you the techniques we use to manipulate the void. But, consider this a warning. Think of all your learning as a map of the known world; you have charted every mountain and forest. Yet the Void is not on that map. It is the crushing dark of the deepest sea. To enter it is to leave the sun behind... and the pressure can break things that believe themselves unbreakable."
She glanced at Cancus, a dismissive, up-and-down look, before replying to the Entity.
Purdamma: "I understand. I believe I will be just fine."
Cancus grit his teeth, the sound sharp in the vast hall.
Entity: "Very well! So, it is settled. We shall await confirmation that the girl is in your care... once it is such, we will contact you to provide further instructions."
It looked over at Cancus, its shadowed face unreadable.
Entity: "Would that be all then, Cancus?"
Cancus bowed his head slightly.
Cancus: "Yes, sir. I believe so."
The entity relaxed back into its throne, a gesture of finality.
Entity: "Good...! Then please, do be so kind as to escort her out of the premises."
Cancus: "... Of course."
Cancus walked towards Purdamma once more, turning back to face his lord before leaving.
Entity: "Blend with the eternal black, Cancus."
Cancus: "Blend with the eternal black, sir."
Purdamma turned to leave, but his gauntleted hand shot out, gripping her wrist with bruising force. He stared at her, his expression a mask of cold fury, a silent, furious reprimand. Realizing her mistake, she quickly turned back and offered a final bow to the throne.
Purdamma: "... Blend with the eternal black."
Then, and only then, did he release her, and they proceeded to exit through the great double doors.
Such had been their first encounter. The light of the upper levels flashed across Cancus's face once more as the elevator slowed its ascent.
Cancus: "Stuck-up whore... Where'd your reckless ambition get you, in the end...?"
He grinned, the expression containing no joy, only a bitter, vindicated triumph.
Cancus: "Stupidity it was, after all. Worry not, sir."
His hands clenched into tight, resolute fists.
Cancus: "I'll surpass your every expectation."