Makings of a Monster

- "You know, Sarevok." Winski looked annoyed. "If you want to become a Grand Duke of Baldur's Gate, you need to have public support. And throwing people from rooftops can be really bad for public support. I imagine the stress-relieving effect was quite enjoyable, but people tend to be taken aback if they find the surroundings of official buildings littered with disfigured corpses."
- "It was late at night. There was no-one about." Sarevok's annoyance matched Winski's, and his yellow eyes flashed from inside the visor. He wore the hideous spiky armor more and more often now, as if it was a talisman he was vulnerable without.
- "And the corpse was still there in the early hours of the morning. I took care of it, but you need to think on this. You need to get a grip of your actions. Really, I have been worried of your sanity lately."

Bad idea. Like a flash Sarevok's arm rose and he effortlessly lifted the magician dangling in the air, then banged him against the wall.
- "You have said it yourself," snarled Sarevok, nothing human in his eyes. "Sanity is a question of definition, and definitions tend to uphold status quo. Don't overestimate your worth, Winski. If I run my sword through you, you would be just as dead as the next person."
- "You obviously wouldn't need your sword for that," answered Winski dryly. "I'll take it back, just let me go. This is getting uncomfortable."
Sarevok let his grip go, and dropped Winski down with a thud.
- "Go away now. I have work to do."

Winski went home. Even though he had kept his calm demeanour during the confrontation, he was shocked. Sarevok had never threatened him seriously before. Their relationship had still been that of a mentor and a protege, even though Sarevok officially was his superior, and the frictions between them had mostly been just bickering. But Winski could hardly reach Sarevok anymore. Just as he hid his physical person inside that monstrous armor, he hid his soul deep somewhere. He didn't accept any kind of critique and lashed out at the slightest provocation. Thus all his underlings were afraid of him, and people could only guess at what he was thinking.

He felt a nagging doubt he had tried to suppress. Sarevok should have been glorious, confident, in control... this was, after all the final stage before his ascencion to what Winski had intended since the golden-eyed child changed his life forever. But in reality Sarevok seemed, frankly, insane, suffering and completely out of reach. Winski's life purpose had been to make Sarevok everything he could be, to fulfill all of his tremendous potential. So why wasn't the boy happy and whole? Why didn't he control himself as he would control others? Winski felt a looming depression, the dream of the ascencion tasting like ashes.

Tamoko entered the kitchen and started to make tea.
- "You look shaken, Winski. What is it?" she asked. She looked sad and withdrawn, like she always did nowadays.
- "Sarevok. He didn't take kindly that I questioned his sanity. You did hear of the man he threw from the tower?"
- "Yes. It was a sibling. So he doesn't listen to you either anymore."
- "No." Winski's voice was a resigned sigh. Was this what would-be gods were like? Unreachable, destructive powers?
- "I... then the bitch is the only person he listens to. And then only because she says what he wants to hear. It is a vicious cycle we have going. If he goes to her, he feels remorse and guilt and comes to me, vulnerable and aching like a child. I comfort him, because this is the only moment he is still there, and once he calms down, I try to talk to him. And he wallows in the madness again and goes to her to be reinforced in it."
- "It is not madness. He is just doing it the wrong way. He should keep his head cool and listen to advice."
- "Winski, you don't see either. You..." Tamoko gave up. She was so tired, she hurt too much.
- "Tamoko, it doesn't matter if he kills me once I'm expendable. I only wish the best for him... but he doesn't take my advice any more. What if he destroys himself?"
- "Too late for that now. You encouraged him, and now it is out of your hands," answered Tamoko gravely.
Winski nodded. There was not much to add.

Tamoko went to the bedroom and dressed in her whole samurai gear. Now was the time to make decisions, and she felt that she would have the proper attire for that. Now was the moment when there was no hope left. If Sarevok didn't let Winski through his defences, he wouldn't let anyone. The situation was unbearable now, and Sarevok's plan was already at a scary stage. Peri was still at large, but Sarevok would already be in considerable trouble if he failed, and then there wouldn't be many allies left. Tamoko had tried enough to know that she couldn't make him listen, not when there was Cythandria to run to and the insane delusions in which to dwell. She would have to commit yet another dishonor, the worst kind possible. She would have to betray a promise of loyalty, a promise made to her soulmate and lover. She would have to seek Peri, and ask her help. She was the only one who could stop Sarevok.

Tamoko gripped her swords, wondering if she still was worthy of them. She could just leave and try to heal her heart, she thought. Would that be more honorable? Perhaps Sarevok would even succeed, ascend to be the beast he wanted to transform into. Or be destroyed in the process. But in the end Tamoko's heart knew. She hadn't chosen whom to love. And she could not leave the one she loved. She set out to seek Peri, proud and determined even in her betrayal.