A subtle humming permeates the halls of the creche. It only grows louder the closer we get to the infirmary. Upon entering we are overtaken by the sound. My body buzzes and I begin to feel sickened. The smell is bizarre. Like steel and sweet meats. The towering device is a metal frame woven with living tissue. With each surge of the hum, the device beats like a heart without a master.

Lae'zel looks on in wonder. She smacks her lips. Her mouth's gone dry. "This… This is it!" She turns to us, and for the first time since meeting her, she has a brightness in her eyes.

"The Zaith'isk."

"Yes." We hear a languid voice slithering from the corner of the infirmary. A gith woman hovers over a desk. Beakers, vials, and strange devices clutter the tabletop. She's muttering quietly to herself, observing a tadpole through a spying glass and vigorously taking notes. The thing is dissected. Useless.

"Ghustil!" Lae'zel swiftly approaches. "We have come to be cleansed."

The Ghustil continues to fuss over her experiment.
"Cleansed?" She mutters, scrawling a final note before turning to us. "You are infected?"

"Yes." She steps forward, controlled, but almost rigid in her stance.

The Ghustil mutters something under her breath, before addressing Lae'zel with an immodest smile. "Yes, of course. By Her will." She leads us to the steps of the living machine. "Vlaakith'ka sivim hrath krash'ht."

Lae'zel nods solemnly to whatever the Hells she just said.

I grab her arm, and her eyes snap to mine. I smile despite myself, seeing her zeal ignited and pointed in the right direction for once. "Be careful."

She holds the moment, her face softening, staring up at me.

I let her go, and she turns back to the Zaith'isk. She is transfixed. "My slaves." She murmurs. "They'll need cleansing as well. Once I'm done."

"Of course. By rights each one of them will be cleansed."

A cure, fucking finally. I pull the sending stone from my pocket and turn my back, speaking softly. "Bex. Send Karlach and Shadowheart. We have a cure."

I turn back to see Lae'zel perched inside the recumbent meat machine. The thrumming quickens at her presence.

"The extraction is efficient. It will only take a few moments. You must endure." The Ghustil coos in titillation.

My hair stands on end. Something in her words... I glance back as subtly as I can.

Shifting shadows cross through the light under the door. I tap Gale and Astarion before resting my hand inside my cloak. Fingers poised next to a dagger hilt.

The Weave shifts around Gale.

Astarion has his hand on his hip, next to his holstered blade.

My tadpole begins to bend behind my eye and I shudder. The Ghustil lowers an organic apparatus over Lae'zel's head. It has four clawed feelers that extend outward like a beetle's jaw. The activation is abrupt. It consumes Lae'zel's mind.

My thoughts buckle and I double over in pain.

Lae'zel's mind rips under the power of the Zaith'isk's supposed healing energy.

The collision of psionic power leaves a dark, primordial residue permeating the room. I reach for it. Its power begins to hum in time with my mind. With my tadpole. The boundary between us falls away.

Gale's voice, shrill and enraged, tries to split my concentration.

Astarion begins shouting and I feel him push past me.

The threads of Lae'zel's mind unravel.

I remain focused. Something is pulling me forward. I reach the edges of my mind. Something ancient answers.

I know it. I see it. I feel it now.

An explosion rocks the chamber and knocks me on my back. Pieces of flesh spray across the infirmary and chunks of metal pummel the ground.

The Zaith'isk is shattered.

The ringing in my ears drowns out the pandemonium around me. The room fades back into focus.

Lae'zel is shrieking. I rise to my elbows, seeing Gale crawling over to her through the rubble. He tries to stead her as she grips her head and thrashes in agony.

The power that permeated the room dissipates, but the residue clings to my mind. It feels ancient, and hungry.

What follows is a quiet rise of whispers that lay as a veil over my violent urges.

Thoughts. More thoughts.

Militant thoughts that settle into feelings of gratitude. Lae'zel.

Panicked thoughts that settle into resignation. Gale.

I slowly rise and search for Astarion. He's lying motionless against a far wall. I stagger over to him and kneel gently.

I check his pulse and then drop his hand. How does one check if a dead man is alive?

"Hey." I nudge him.

"Nngghh..."

The moment the noise escapes his throat, a warm relief floods me. But it's followed by the hiss of whispers rising from his mind. No words. Only white noise.

More noise.

There will always be more noise.

The Ghustil is draped over a table. She lifts herself with a grimace. Shattered glass litters the ground around her.

I'm on her in an instant, flipping her over and lifting her by the collar. "The fuck did you just do to Lae'zel?"

Her head lolls as she tries to come to her senses. "My life's work..." She breathes incoherently. Blood leaks from the corners of her mouth.

I throw her onto the ground, and we hear pounding on the door. "Ghustil Stornugoss! What was that sound?" The doorknob rattles.

She coughs and spits out a mouthful of blood. "Get the key! Hshar'lak! Hshar'lak!"

Lae'zel is dappled with sweat. She swallows as Gale helps her sit up. "Hshar'lak?" She says with a pinched and ragged voice.

The door rattles once again. I swiftly scan the ground and see a tadpole writhing in a puddle of broken glass and suspension fluid.

The whispers coming from the abomination curl around my ears. I take it in hand and siphon its memories. My brain begins to itch, and I run a clawed hand over my scalp, jaw tight.

The tadpole collapses as it shrivels and turns to ash.

The knob of the door jerks and turns.

"Good."

It bursts open.

"Now!"

I unleash a blast of psionic energy that hits the Kith'rak that charged through the door. He jerks. His eyes roll to the back of his head and he drops. Staggering the novices' attempt to flood the chamber.

"Oh, so now you're speaking to me." I murmur.

"Now I can."

"Alfira's voice haunting me. What fresh hell have I found myself in?"

"Stop wallowing. Keep going."

"I swear on Bhaal's blade, if you start singing to me, I will throw the prism into the nearest volcano. Tadpole be damned."

I shake the ash from my hand as Gale coats the ground in fire, blocking any further attempts at entering the infirmary.

Astarion jumps the Ghustil as she tries to stand. His blade meets her bracers, and she's pushed back against the wall.

Arrows begin to rain in. Lae'zel and Gale take cover to the left; I duck to the right, avoiding the barrage.

We retaliate with magic missiles. Two novices are taken out, but one braves the flames, leaping into the room.

I reach for my greatsword, then stop.

Gale has rapier in hand and charges the warrior.

One more gith warrior peeks from around the doorframe.

I draw my greatsword and kick off, flying low over the fire with what little flight charge I have left. I touch down, immediately getting struck across my right shoulder by a silver longsword. The gith flicks the blade up, cutting my ear.

I can't be angry. I flew into that.
I'm still angry.
My hilt guard blocks the next strike. We hold, locked blade to blade before I push her back.

She's barely staggered.

"Htak'a!"

The space between us closes quickly as she strikes. Fierce. No wasted motion.

My palm hits her chest. Thunder cracks, throwing her back and slamming her into a stone column.

Greatsword meets armor with a sharp clatter. The acrid power of my smite erupts, splitting her chest plate and battering the edge of her head. For once, I keep my footing.

She slumps, still breathing, but barely coherent.

My arms are buzzing from the shock. I find myself dropping my sword and kneeling next to her. My hands close around her throat and I drag her to the ground beneath me. I press my full weight onto her. She barely fights, her arms flail listlessly, then fall still.

My hands ache as I pull away.

I feel something press against my arm and I slap it. I see nothing but hear the distinct sound of something greasy hit the ground a few feet away.

"Master Neely!" Shovel phases into view, clutching her head.

"Shovel!" I slide over to her, lifting her to her feet. "You can go invisible?"

"Special sneaky powers for sneaking." She says a bit dazed.

"Next time say something before you touch me."

"Oh! Yes, good planning. BUT I FOUND IT! SHOVEL GETS TO STAY NOW?!"

"Take me to it. I need to see it before our bargain is complete."

"UGH. But there are SO MUCH green ladies! All of them angry. It's why Shovel had to go invisible!" She pouts and turns her back on me, sitting with her legs and tail splayed.

"We'll have to find a way."

The fire at the doorframe smolders down, leaving a dark streak across the elegant, marbled floor.

Astarion stumbles out of the infirmary, holding his side. An arrow lodged deep.

"Gods." I jog up to him. "Here."

"No!" He tries to swat me away.

"Let me. ...Please."

He stares up at me and pulls his hand back.

I press my fingers onto the skin around the arrow when I hear his voice, hushed.

"...can't be worth all this..."

"What can't be worth all this?"

He looks up sharply. "What?"

The hush fades into the silence of the temple.

"I didn't say that, Vash."

"Don't move." With a sharp tug, I pull the arrow free and quickly coat the wound with a pulse of blue light. He barely winces and his side begins to knit.

I glance at him and begin to walk.

"No, no, no. You're not going to brood your way out of this. How long have you been listening to my thoughts?"

"I haven't been listening to your thoughts."

He stomps forward. "You just did."

I press my lips together. "The Zaith'isk. It did something to me."

"Is that why you were frozen?"

"Yes."

"So now you can just... hear my thoughts? Can you read everyone's mind?"

"I hope not. The last thing I need to know is every arbitrary detail running through everyone's mind. I have enough whispers in my head as it is."

He raises his eyebrows.

Fuck.

"And what whispers are we talking about?"

Fuck.

"It's nothing." I gesture to my head. "The shades from the Necromancy of Thay are a bit chatty."

"I see." He purses his lips. "Are you going to be poking around in my head, then?"

"Preferably not. Your mind is a carnival of suffering."

"A carnival of... excuse me!"

"I won't invade your thoughts. I'm not interested in knowing how little…"

My shoulders tense.

"How little... what?"

I search his face before giving him a gentle smile. "You'll be happy to know that Shovel found the treasure." I move past him. "Let's head that way."

He steps in front of me again, placing a hand on my chest. "No."

I stop.

"How little, what? Finish the thought. I want to know."

"Astarion. What are we doing?"

"Right now? I'm trying to crack open an Ostrich egg." He says, knocking his knuckles on my head.

I snatch his wrist and firmly pull him into me.

He breathes in sharply and goes stiff. "Don't-" He whimpers.

My heart wrenches and I drop his hand. "I'm sorry."

He steps back, clutching his wrist.

We watch each other quietly before he finally settles. His soft cocky smile returns. "Well. What a fuss I made about nothing."

"Nothing." I say quietly.

The space outside of the infirmary is a communal area attached to the dormitories. Floor pillows are strewn near a couple of bookshelves. I walk over and sit, leaning against the wall and closing my eyes.

After a moment I feel him gently tap on my arm. I shift to make room. He nestles next to me. We sit in silence.

"Ambition feels so natural." I mutter. "But how much does wanting something cost?"

Astarion snorts. "Wanting something doesn't cost anything. Getting it is a different matter."

I smile softly and take his hand, tracing my thumb over the back of it.

He looks down at our hands before leaning his head on my shoulder. "If you really cared about her, you'd leave her be." He runs his hand along my arm. "I know how that sounds, coming from me. But think about it practically. If you push her, and she chooses him over you, what then?"

Dust motes drift in the light between us. "I keep forgetting she's married."

"Cold. As usual. Do you think about anyone other than yourself?"

"What kind of question is that? After everything I've done for you."

"Yes, you'll do anything to protect a valuable asset. Who doesn't want a gorgeous vampire at their side? The Peace Bringer needs his magistrate."

"Astarion."

"And when I'm no longer valuable, what then? Will you trade me for power like you almost did with Lae'zel?"

"Astarion!"

"Am I wrong?" He snaps.

"Yes! That's not how I see you."

"And yet you want to pursue Bex."

I press my lips together, looking down at him.

"So. What are we doing? That's a question you need to ask yourself. Not me."

Gale and Lae'zel emerge from the infirmary. Gale clings to her hand, holding it against his chest as her head rests on his shoulder. Her brow is pinched, but even so, the faintest smile curls on her lip.

I rise, but Astarion remains rooted in place. "Are you two okay?"

Gale nods. Lae'zel doesn't acknowledge me.

All is well.

"Shovel found the relic. Let's head out."

"I never agreed to come with you on this little quest of yours." Gale snaps. The hush of his thoughts echo him.

"Please." Lae'zel says.

"...Please?" I focus on her, my brow tightening.

"This weapon could give us a powerful advantage. We'd be fools to dismiss it so easily." Her voice is softer than normal. Slightly slurred.

I flex my hand and catch Gale's eye. "...Right..."

Shovel leads us down a corridor toward a chamber where many voices rise.

"Angry green ladies." Shovel whispers and gestures towards the door.

I crack it open and peer inside. There is a Gith Knight sitting at a large desk, githyanki disks stacked neatly to the side. A Gith Captain hovers over him, and a few warriors stand at attention.

"I doubt we will find anything at the goblin camp. They seem to be searching for it as well, thinking it to be some sort of weapon. The grove is the only other civilization nearby, outside of the Underdark. We're still searching for a clear access point."

"Then send more scouts! You're being too precious with resources when your orders come directly from the Undying Queen."

"Of course, Ch'r'ai W'wargaz." She dips her head.

The man glances up and sees me. He abruptly stands. "Seize him!"

I quickly pull my head back, arming myself. Two gith soldiers charge through the door. I am drained of the tadpole's power, but unleash a thunderous blast, sending them flying backward.

"Get ready!" I bellow.

A soldier barges through the door and we clash blades. I work to push her down, but she holds steady. A few more seize me as Astarion charges, dagger low. He's struck with a crossbow bolt to the leg and crashes into the ground.

"SHOVEL WILL EAT YOUR ASSHOLE!" She charges, biting into the calf of one of the gith soldiers.

Astarion grunts. "That’s not..." He chokes on his own words and falls back, holding his thigh.

She's kicked into the wall and falls still.

My sword is pulled from me and tossed aside. My palms touch skin. Bolts rip from me and tear through two soldiers. Their bodies lock and they drop. One remains hanging from my shoulders as I tackle the archer. I'm dog piled and finally restrained.

Lae'zel holds Gale back. "Comply! This is Vlaakith's will!"

"Lae'zel!" My jaw is tight as I'm pulled to my feet and dragged into the Captain's Quarters.

W'wargaz approaches me with a vague smile on his face. "You're that brigand that organized the insurrection at the grove. The Peace Bringer." He says with a curled nose.

Despite my struggle, they hold fast. One starts going through my pockets. Their hand lands on the prism and a deep hum begins to resonate from within it.

It's pulled free and the room goes still. W'wargaz snatches it from the soldier's hand.

"The prism."

The humming grows within his hand. It begins to rumble. A battering psionic force pulses against him and he releases it. It levitates and spins before darting toward me. The soldiers loosen their grip, staring. I pull my arm free. The prism lands neatly in my palm.

W'wargaz leans back, eyeing the prism in my palm. His fists go tight. "Interesting." He measures me for a moment before turning back to the desk and sitting. "Release him."

They relent. I straighten and adjust my cloak.
"Allow me to check on my Magistrate. He was wounded in the skirmish."

W'wargaz grunts. "Quite articulate for a thug." He looks at his soldiers. "Escort him. Return the moment he's made peace with the death."

I give a soft bow, and turn on my heel, trailed by the soldiers. Astarion's whispers are present, and they feel appropriately irritated.

The bolt is free and Lae'zel is feeding him a healing potion.

"That's twice in one day." I murmur. "An omen."

"Now's not the time to be foreboding!" Gale says, holding Astarion's hand like a fainting duchess. "By Mystra's Mercy, what do they want?"

I glance at Shovel. She slowly lifts herself, shaking her head. "Ugh... Shovel wishes she had died..."

I step back into the captain's quarters. The door is shut firmly and a few of the guards reach for me.

I move past them and sit across from W’wargaz. I reach into my cloak and set the prism on the desk between us.

”What are you doing?”

I settle into the chair. My arms rest lightly as I pick my thumb against my forefinger, watching him.

W'wargaz folds his hands neatly on the desk. The captain stares down at the artifact.

I focus on settling the hiss of my companion's thoughts, before addressing him.
"What do you want with the prism?"

"It belongs to our people. It was ordained by Vlaakith herself that it be found. It is the reason for my visit to this filthy outpost." He flicks his hand, as if to dismiss the entire Sword Coast. Not an incorrect position to have. "It is fortunate for me that it's stumbled right through my door. But it seems to favor you." He rests his elbow on the table. "This is a problem."

The captain stands vigil, silent, folding her arms behind her back.

I continue to pick, before speaking carefully. "What do you know of the Cult of the Absolute?"

His eyes meet mine for the first time. "An interesting question. One I have no intention in entertaining."

"That would be a mistake."

He grunts. "Why would I waste my breath on a local mob? The cult is your problem, not ours."

"A cult being controlled by illithid parasites."

He draws himself up, focusing on the captain. "Therezzyn, is this true?"

She holds her posture, but her eyes shift and her cheeks grow tight. "Yes, Ch'r'ai."

"Yes." He says in a cold tone. "And why am I learning about this only now, and from an Istik of all things?"

She glances at the guards briefly. "Notice was sent to Kith'rak Voss on multiple occasions."

"Voss." He shifts subtly in his seat. "There is a breach in our intelligence if it never reached him."

The prism pulses with light, flicking every so often.

"So, Istik, you clearly know about these cultists. Speak, before I lose my patience."

"The Cult of the Absolute has been spreading across the Sword Coast. More are becoming infected, and I may know the location of their headquarters. A stronghold called Moonrise Towers. I aim to travel there and scout the area."

"You? Why would you do such a foolish thing?"

"Don't!"

"Because I am infected."

His eyes narrow. I hear plate armor shifting as feet settle.

"How is that possible? You are far too cogent."

I take the prism in hand and hold it up. "Because it protects me."

His jaw flexes. "Why would he choose to protect you?"

"He?"

W'wargaz grunts. "You clearly don't even know what you have."

My eyes briefly flick to the prism. "Even so. I have the unique advantage of being able to move through the cultists unchecked. I've already infiltrated the goblin camp and have a route to Moonrise secured."
I turn the prism in my hand before setting it down.
"The Grand Design is a threat to us all, and I am aware of what lies at the center."

W'wargaz shifts to Therezzyn. Her pinched brow betrays her rising concern.

"An Elder Brain." She murmurs.

"Yes." I place my hand on the desk. "I propose an alliance. I can help find the Elder Brain that's controlling the cultists, but the prism must remain with me. Obviously. In return I require a militia at my disposal."

W'wargaz stands, slowly.
"Retrieving the prism is an order from Vlaakith herself. It has become her highest priority. If she found out I let an Istik walk out of here with it, there would be a reckoning unlike any other."

He walks toward the soldiers. "What you have witnessed today is historic. The Grand Design threatens the Githyanki people once again. The fate of our people is in our hands today. One misstep could destroy our chances at stopping it.
I will not allow that to happen."

Silence falls.

Each strike has purpose and four soldiers fall.

One breaks away and runs for the door. The survivor grabs him and plunges his sword into his back. The body drops with a clatter. The survivor falls to his knees before W'wargaz and holds his sword across his palms, offering it to the Ch'r'ai.

W'wargaz takes it and draws it across his neck. The last man topples onto the bodies of his kin.

Therezzyn draws a breath as he approaches her. "Sha'vah zai." She utters before her throat is opened in a clean stroke. She falls and fades in peace.

He wipes his blade clean before sheathing it.

He hands me a gith disk from the table. "We stay in touch. Report all movements of the cult."

I take the disk and tuck it into my cloak. "Once the Elder Brain is defeated, I will require a Zaith'isk to be cured of the abomination in my skull."

W'wargaz pauses. "Where did you hear about that?"

"I have a gith in my party. Lae'zel of Creche K'liir."

"K'liir?" He snorts. "A more zealous group than most. It's what makes their soldiers so effective. You're lucky to have her if she survived Alchaia's training." He collects a few disks and loads them into a satchel. "Despite what she was taught, the Zaith'isk is not a cure. It harvests the minds of the infected and stores them in a database. There is only one true cure for the tadpole."
He slings the satchel over his shoulder.
"We must kill the Elder Brain."