A Night of Fate

“Next please, come in.” Syldan heard a mysterious, female voice call from beyond the fringe
doorway. He couldn’t see anyone else in the foyer so he reluctantly took a few woozy steps
through to the next room. The decoration in Madame Levar’s - Late Night Therapy and Fortune
Telling main room was drastically different and more atmospheric. Lighting was kept to a
minimum by only a handful of candles around the chamber and its walls were almost completely
hidden by drapery, bookcases, trinkets, arcane scrolls, and astrological maps. In the middle of
the room, a canopy veil hung from the ceiling and within it sat a tall, slender woman in robes of
the darkest black. Tiny little lights were glimmering on her garment, reminding Syldan of the
night sky, a sight he had not witnessed in decades. They remained fixed on their spot even as the
figure moved, like looking at the stars from a moving window. He stood there for a moment,
mesmerized by the spectacle but Madame Levar’s question shook him back to reality. “What
brings you here, petal?”

Syldan took a few more steps and sat on the pile of pillows she pointed with her inviting gesture.
A low table stood between them, several books and trinkets spread on it. “G-good evening Mrs.
Oracle” he muttered nervously, obviously tipsy. “I saw your shop on my way home, you know I
live just around the corner. I haven’t seen your place before, you must be new in the
neighborhood, when did you set all this up, it’s …”

Levar raised a finger signaling him to stop and spoke in a sweet, motherly, almost condescending
tone “I am only where I am most needed. I am here to help you cope with your troubles, offer my
advice, grant you your deepest desires… Now dear, why don’t you tell me your story?”

Syldan’s gaze lowered to the table as he brought the recent events to mind. “You see Mrs. Levar,
She took my family. That Lady of Pain, right in front of my eyes, one moment they were there and
the next they were gone, there was nothing left of them, I don - I don’t know what happened” he
weeped, unable to control his sobs anymore.

“Oh, come now, flower. Here, have some bub” she offered, pushing a glass to his direction. “I am
sure there is a perfectly logical explanation. You know, the Lady doesn’t punish anyone without a
reason. Your wife must have done something terrible to be exiled to one of Her Mazes, along
with your child at that.”

“But that’s impossible!” Syldan exclaimed chugging almost all of the cheap wine. “My Bella is
always so kind, and strong, and caring, she wouldn’t hurt a fly! A-and she’s no berk either, she
was managing our shop better than my Maw ever did and she got us out of our servitude to
those filthy nobles after Maw was gone, and she always knows what to do” he started sobbing
again.

“Oh dear, you must feel so lost now with no one by your side …” Levar started responding.

“...And the other Sensates say they can’t help me a-and they don’t want to mess with the Lady
and...” Syldan paused as an expression of horrified realization formed on his face. “It’s this
cursed city! Ever since I found that damned portal in the woods this city and its ruler have been
taking everything from me.”

“Hush now, flower, worry no more. Mother Levar is here to help you” the fortune teller tried to
calm him down. “Everything is going to be alright.” She leaned forward and pulled a platter filled
with a glistening liquid. “Now, let’s see what the Fates have in store for you.” She spoke a few
words of power in a deep voice and swiftly moved her hands over the platter upsetting the
liquid’s surface. Once the ripples settled, a scene of himself reuniting with his wife and child
appeared on the liquid’s surface.

“Bella! Where are they?” Syldan exclaimed, focusing on the image.

“See now? I told you it would all work out” she smiled at him. “You already know where they are,
little sprout. What you lack is power. You can’t expect to make it into such a dangerous place
with just your little dancing. It would take years of practice to become strong enough to delve
into one of Her mazes, and who knows what will have happened to them by then. But...” she
continued swiftly standing up, “I already said that I would help you, didn’t I? I can give you all
the power you need to save your loved ones, the power to defend your closest allies and punish
your vilest enemies, the power to take your fate into your own hands.” Hypnotized by the
sweetness of the prospect, Syldan kept his eyes locked on the rippling image of happiness in the
platter. “All you need to do is let me bind your soul to mine, and then you’ll be able to access this
power whenever you please. What say you, pet?” Levar whispered in his ear, her arm hugging his
shoulders.

In his haziness, Syldan thought how soothingly familiar the fortune teller smelled and mustered
to say “Y-you would do this for me?”

“But of course I will, I merely wish to help you” the witch assured him standing over him, placing
a wreath of dead, black wood on his head. “Do we have a deal?”

“Yes, Mrs. Levar, how can I ever repay…” Syldan started thanking her but his words were
interrupted by a horrendous pain on his forehead where it touched the wreath. He tried to jump
straight but the pain and the booze had taken control over his body. He collapsed to the floor
writhing in agony, watching his body transform, his cries of torment muffled by the hag’s
giggling, echoing voice until he gave in to the blackness.

“Only a year shall you have if you bring your dream to life
should you fail though, my dear son
In an instant you’ll be mine”