>>6317840Crest bearers possessed stronger Quintessence than non-Crest bearers. That much seemed obvious. But Tristain was unlike the others of his kind. He somehow held two Crests. And that made all the difference. She’d hoped to uncover the reason for that, but alas, her forays into his essence had not produced the answer.
As Nadia stares down at the Klement construct, she wonders what would have happened had her connection to it somehow been severed. It was easy to think of these creatures as mindless, but in reality, they were far from it. They may not make great conversation partners, but they still had a personality influenced by the Quintessence from which they were made. Knowing what the real Klement was like, losing control of this construct for even a second would have resulted in her head being smashed open.
She turns back towards the first construct, recalling the events in Ithaca, when the Riahi had attacked her in her lab. Without access to her magic, she was as good as dead. The only chance she saw at life was releasing her newfound creation upon her foes, despite the fact she’d be unable to control it. She’d known the risk was great, but what other choice was there? If it killed her too, at least she’d die by her own hand and not that of her assailants. Her plan had worked, but not because she’d managed to outrun the construct. Rather, it had let her get away, even after having torn the Riahi into mincemeat.
For months, Nadia had wondered why it had done that. In lieu of a real answer, she could only hypothesize. The reason it had spared her was because it held Tristain’s personality. It had seen her, wounded and under assault by her foes, and chose to come to her aid. Perhaps because that was what the real Tristain would do? It seemed ridiculous, but that was what she chose to believe. Had the construct truly been bloodthirsty, it would have easily pursued and killed her.
Nadia wondered if there were stranger circumstances to fall in love with someone under. By that point, she’d only known the real Tristain for a few minutes. But the hours that she spent with both his Quintessence and construct were something else. She’d gotten a deep look at the man. Deeper than anyone else ever had. But what surprised her the most was how kind he was. It was easy to be kind when you were weak. But to possess the type of strength Tristain held, dual Crests that by all rights should make him an emperor, and still go out of his way for others? Despite his peculiarities, at his core, he was a righteous soul.
On some level, this work repulsed Nadia. This was grim sorcery, the type of which could lead down a very dangerous road. But she knew she must master it. Not for any petty accolades or recognition, but because the one she’d pledged to serve would have need of it.
