The Magic, The Vortex
Varric looked up just before the others in the war room heard the sound of crystals tinkling together. Serpentia seemed to exhale, and a lilac fire burst into life beside Varric. The flames died as Ardyn stepped forth. Her skin glowed lilac for a few moments and her hair twitched, like it needed to stretch after a long journey.
She came to Varric's side at the vast table depicting Serpentia, the three villages within its territory, and the clans outside the Serpent Clan's territory—be them friend or foe. Serpentia had two mountain ranges within its vast territory, and the cave system that defined the territory spanned the entire length of both ranges.
Blackness Mountain was the smaller range and the home of Esmeralda the witch. Mount Saber was the second range, where the sunken plateau was located, and the closest range to Silver Vale. Ardyn allowed her eyes to flow over the map of their territory.
"Silver Vale is the closest village to the cave system, and Porter Sky is the furthest."
She drew a shape in the air and a rune appeared on the map. Serpentia seemed to settle under their feet as if it were a behemoth finding a more comfortable position. Varric nodded as he watched how the magic flowed across the map. He drew a shape into the air, and a rune formed, connected to the first.
This time Serpentia seemed to moan in contentment. The magic flowed stronger and covered more territory. Ardyn nodded.
"This is better. I think it would take us two days to complete the ritual." She looked to Varric to see if he agreed. He nodded and turned to her with a small smile. They looked back to the map as one.
"We should allow Harvest Glen to connect with Bratinus. It will solidify the vortex and feed a cornerstone."
Varric thought about her words. "Can we connect a vortex to a cornerstone? It will be a difficult weave."
Ardyn smiled and kissed Varric on his cheek. "I believe in your capabilities, love. My vine staff can center the spell weave and the ritual. We can hold it."
Varric smiled. "Okay, a two-day ritual will not be difficult. While you train Seraphis, I will work on my spell weave." He looked up to Marcus and their aides. They nodded as one and filed out of the room.
Varric drew Ardyn to him and kissed her forehead softly. "I feel a new depth to your inner peace. You are finished with the Stronghoods?" She nodded and pressed her forehead to his chest. Her soft, warm flesh against his cool scales warmed his entire body. He closed his eyes and pulled her closer.
His serpent tail wound around them and the magic of their lands began to flow through them—warming them and bringing them clarity. She breathed into his broad chest. She felt like being inside his arms was home, a safe place where she could be. She didn't have to think, try, or worry when she was with him. She was safe, and she was complete.
Their souls slid against each other and they dove into each other. Varric kissed her neck and she felt like he was reading her. Learning everything about her over and over again. Diving into her depths and discovering all she had become. It was sensual and undefinable at the same time.
They pulled away from each other at the same time and Serpentia shuddered in disappointment. They looked at each other for a short moment, Varric's fingers brushed her face, and they both disappeared from the war room as one.
Varric appeared in his meditation chamber and immediately sat down and began practicing his spell weaving. It took him a minute to focus, then it took more time for his spell weave to adhere to his commands. Ardyn was a distraction. He smiled—a happy, intriguing distraction.
His soul stirred once more then calmed. He closed his eyes and his spell weave moved forward like a serpent through tall grass. He chose six spells that he felt they would need and he began to cast them and allow them to weave together and move out and around him.
First, the spells wove as they chose, then Varric grouped them into two and wove them into an intricate pattern. He felt their intent and altered the weave until the spell was specific—until it was exactly what he wanted. Even when he got the correct weave, he continued on. It would need to be perfect. He needed to complete the task efficiently and he could never allow his spell to harm Ardyn.
Ardyn appeared in a valley within the Mount Saber Mountain range, next to Elsa. Shadows were moving in a large spherical pattern. They wove through the air—their intent rolling out of the valley. Ripples of power moved out in all directions. It was chaotic but still had a sense of order.
Atina was at the center of it. Her magic had become much more powerful, but Ardyn could sense her hesitation.
"Her confidence."
Elsa nodded as she pursed her lips. "You are going to have to help her with that. She is ready, Ardyn. You have to push her over the line."
Ardyn nodded but she did not respond.
"Where is your servant?"
"He will be here in a moment."
As soon as the sentence left her mouth, a portal opened above Atina and dense chaotic magic rushed toward her. She was almost hit but her wards activated and a dark wall of shadow rose and protected her. Seraphis stepped out of the portal, no emotion on his face. Chaotic shadow energy streamed out from him and toward Atina.
It was time to birth a new emperor and empress.