Book Three Chapter Thirty Nine: TT_Stretch_Effects

Book Three Chapter Thirty Nine: TT_Stretch_Effects

Having declared themselves leaders of their own lives, the group stood around for a bit, trying to figure out what they should do. It didnt seem right, somehow, going immediately from such a dramatic break up and discovery about the timeline of their world, to rummaging around in another drawer.

Predictably, the Chosen One broke the moment.

So, you guys dont feel like youre being controlled anymore? he asked.

Only sometimes, Sexy Screamy Spider Briar said. The Hunter gave a small smile. But I can always tell when it tries to force me back on track.

I am not sure, Definitely Bad Guy said, looking off to the side. I will need to do an inventory of myself, and see if I can detect any outside influence. Given the Evil Emperor has laid a curse over me, I must also catalogue my actions to see if he could be manipulating me through them. Other influences, he paused, and cleared his throat, twin spots of pink appearing on his cheeks, will also have to be accounted for.

I dont think Im being controlled by the Golden Prophecy anymore, Qube said, wracking her memories to try and recall when shed last felt the punishment dealt out by the rigid text. I dont think Ive had a headache or anything like that in quite some time.

The way you guysre talking about it makes it sound like it was really painful, the Chosen One said, worried.

Well, yes, sometimes it felt like my brain was on fire, but it needed to do that to help guide us! Qube said, giving the Hero a reassuring pat on the shoulder. He didnt look reassured.

It wasnt the fun kind of pain, Sexy Screamy Spider Briar mused. Not my sort of thing at all.

What about you, Sencha Bard? Qube asked, looking at the surprisingly quiet Bard. Is the Golden Prophecy still bothering you?

The Bard drew in a breath.

Theres something we should consider, he said, not answering the question. While were all familiar with the punishing side of the Golden Prophecy, we should also be aware of how it potentially rewarding us to shape our behaviour. Have none of you ever felt a rush of pleasure at doing something you know it wants?

I Qube had been about to refute the suggestion out of hand, when she forced herself to stop and think about it. How would we tell?

Have you ever felt an intense rush of pleasure, fair Healer? Something that seemed out of the ordinary, far more powerful than the situation called for?

N-no, Qube said, thrown off by the Bards intensity. I mean, yes, Ive felt happy before, but not in the way youre talking about.

Is that how the Golden Prophecy has manifested for you? Definitely Bad Guy asked, narrowly observing Sencha Bard. I have felt such intensity before, but I had not considered it to that is to say, I had not attributed the source to the Golden Prophecy.

For some reason the Mages response amused the Bard, breaking him out of his serious mood a little.

There are other reasons for intense emotion, former advisor, he said wisely, sneaking a glance at a confused Qube. A small smirk played across his lips as Definitely Bad Guy started blushing. The Bard looked at Sexy Screamy Spider Briar, who shrugged.

My pleasures are my own, she said. But I shall certainly keep an eye out to look for undue influence the next time I get overly excited.

Sencha Bard continued to observe her. Hed been watching her more ever since shed broken up with the Chosen One, sneaking glances at her, or just straight up staring. Was he hoping that hed have a chance with her now that she was single? But he didnt look like he was thinking about romance.

Not that Qube apparently knew what thinking about romance looked like. It had turned out that Qube knew a lot less about romance than shed thought. Definitely Bad Guys passionate declaration of protection of her had not, as shed so firmly believed, been a result of him instantly falling in love with her at first sight. Chalk that one up to her being misled by the few romance stories shed managed to read from the village library.

Which meant that all his subsequent behaviours that shed categorised as romantic (getting jealous of the Chosen One, blushing a lot, trying to talk to her one-on-one) were all just him trying to get to know someone he viewed as his masters lover or attempts to stop others from making her fall out of love with the Evil Emperor.

Look, Im not supposed to tell you this, he said to her. But they know certain things are going to happen. Not everything, obviously, but things like that traitors curse? Theres no way they wouldnt know about that. Which means, he continued heavily, that they either forgot to tell me about it, or just assumed I would find some way around it and didnt bother to let me know it was coming.

None of this was news to Qube. Of course the Devs knew of big events that was how the Golden Prophecy worked.

Maybe they dont know everything about the Evil Emperor, she said. After all, if everyone's so sure that, no matter what, he was going to kill Definitely Bad Guy, then doesnt that indicate that it was part of his Dark Prophecy? Isnt that controlled by the Evil Devs? She tapped her lips with a finger. Ah, I see what you mean, she mused. Since the Evil Emperor knew about our prophecy, then the Devs should have known about his. Would they be allowed to warn us about what was on his prophecy, though?

The Chosen One was staring at her, utter confusion writ large on his face.

What are you talking about? he asked, not in an accusatory manner, but rather in total bewilderment.

She looked back at him, now also confused.

Which part? she asked.

Lets start with the Dark Prophecy, he replied.

The well, all right, yes, the Dark Prophecy is more of a theory I have, Qube confessed. Its based on you telling me that he probably had an Evil Prophecy, and thats why the wolves and skellies couldnt see me. That proved to be wrong, since I was only invisible because he cursed me. But there had to be a reason he was so confident. The thing that made sense was if he had his own Dark Prophecy.

Really, the only sensible option, the Hero agreed.

I tried asking Definitely Bad Guy about it, but he didnt know whether or not there was one, so theres not exactly a lot of evidence for my theory, but I feel like he has to be working off of something.

You asked Definitely Bad Guy about this the Chosen One echoed faintly.

Of course! Qube chirruped. After all, he was the Mage Advisor, and presumably would be in the castle a lot, as well as potentially advising the Evil Emperor on prophecy-related matters, so it would make sense that hed know about it. Although now I think about it, it would make sense if he didnt know about it, if it prophesied his death. The Evil Emperor would have made sure to keep it hidden from him.

Makes sense, the Hero said, looking bewildered. When I mean, that is when did you first come up with this theory?

Oh, pretty soon after I realised I was cursed, Qube said, breezing over her rather hazy sense of time.

That early? The Chosen One looked rather pale. You were making theories like that and you didnt mention it to me?

I didnt want to talk to you about it until I was sure, you see, Qube said. She didnt mention that getting the Chosen One to pay attention was sometimes difficult.

Sure, the Chosen One said, before abruptly sitting on the stairs. I just give me a minute.

Qube sat down next to him on the steps outside the vault of the dead.

Of course, Chosen One, she said. Do you need healing?

No, he replied. Just need to think.

They sat in silence for quite some time. Qube had to fight the urge to fidget. She wasnt sure when the others would start wondering what had happened to them, and come out to check on the pair. The Hero buried his head in his hands, his fingers tousling his hair as he stared at the ground. Eventually he looked back up at Qube.

Okay, now whats this about Evil Devs?