Chaos: Genesis

Spero embarks on a journey to the villages beyond the Anshan territories. He approaches the citizens, seeking any hints about the mages of the Divine Covenant. He was greatly disappointed by Nefarious's unhelpful advice before leaving,

"I don't keep in contact with the others, they are all bothersome. Perhaps one of them is towards the West."

Spero relentlessly presses on. After numerous inquiries, Spero is directed to a group of mages. As he approaches them, one of the mages turns.

"We've heard about you... searching for a sorcerer of the Divine Covenant?"

"That's correct."

With a knowing expression, the mage reveals, "If you go to the tower in the Northeast of the City, you will find the one they call Zatara."

Zatara: The grand mage of talismans and artifacts. She has the knowledge of ancient ruins and magical tools that I need.

"Thank you."

Spero nods in appreciation before heading towards the tower in pursuit of Zatara. Spero ventures into the tower. As he ascends the winding staircase, each step seems to crackle the air with mana. Upon reaching the top of the tower, Spero is surprised to find the door ajar. Stepping inside, his look is immediately drawn to a striking woman standing before him. Her tall frame and light blonde hair give her an ethereal appearance, accentuated by the tight black dress she wears. Her piercing bronze eyes lock onto Spero, exuding a confidence that both intrigues and unnerves him.

"You've been asking about me?", she inquires, her voice laced with coyness.

Spero, though caught off guard, quickly composed himself, "Yes, I have a few questions for you."

"Oh, well you've always been quite interesting yourself."

Her lips curl into a knowing smile as she gestures for Spero to take a seat. With a graceful movement, she conjures a spell, and the chair slides towards him.

"Please, sit," she invites, her tone tinged with both warmth and intrigue.

Spero slowly unclasps his sword from his back, the weight of the hilt comforting in his grip as he settles it down carefully beside him. His eyes darted from the sword to the woman before him. Zatara's stance exudes a calm confidence, her body at ease and her gaze fixed intently on Spero, waiting for his words to break the silence.

In a moment of respite, Spero allows his muscles to relax slightly, "Out of all the artifacts you've studied, how well-versed are you in holy relics?"

Zatara smirks, "Well I've been fortunate enough to examine many, a few temples across these lands have one or two of them, but only a select few have actual ones from angelic beings. Why do you ask?"

"Because I'm interested in how they compare to demonic ones."

A sudden hush fell over the room, BAM, the abrupt sound of the door slamming shut behind Spero. His hand instinctively reaches for the comforting weight of his sword.

"Don't be alarmed. I don't want any ears listening...tell me what you know."

Spero's breaths slows as he collects his thoughts, "There are some aaevas who have an interest in me. I do not know their names, but I need to study them."

Zatara sits in her dimly lit study, feeling a mix of nervous energy. Understanding the gravity of the situation, she focuses her thoughts and chants a spell. A book from her cluttered shelf floats towards her, guided by unseen forces. She grasps the ancient book, its pages flipping rapidly on their own until they settle on a chapter about demons.

She turns the book around to face Spero. "As you know demons have specific weaknesses: holy weapons, blessed tools, and even light magic or energy. The names of many daeves in these lands are unknown but there are old temples of worshipers with scriptures.... however, they are usually protected by powerful magic."

"Yes, I figured, I've had my hands on such tools before, but I no longer have access to them. But I was given the name of one daeva, Asto Vidatu."

Feeling a shiver run down her spine, Zatara ponders the risks involved in confronting such a formidable foe.

"The demon god of death, are you insane?"

"It's the only lead I have."

She rises from her seat, pacing the room, lost in thought, her finger pressed against her lips in a gesture of contemplation, her voice tinged with uncertainty,

"Asto Vidatu possesses incredible magic. His ethereal rope is said to seize the very soul, rending it from the body."

Spero ponders silently, his thoughts racing,

If I could somehow get a hold of this rope, it could benefit me in the long run, but that seems to be an impossible task.

Spero voices his question to Zatara, whose eyes gleam with suspicion, "Does this rope work only on mortals?"

Zatara's gaze sharpens, a silent warning veiled behind her piercing stare, "No, not only mortals, but it can also affect any being that contains a soul, well that's what the myth states."

"One last question, what do you know about the gods that watch over these lands?"

Zatara gets close to Spero. She speaks in a hushed serious tone, "Who the hell are you?"

The air crackles with unspoken truths. Meeting Zatara's intense gaze head-on.

"That...", he declares with quiet conviction, "...is precisely what I am looking for."

Sensing a shift in the currents of their conversation, Zatara takes a cautious step back,

"There are only two Yazatas that I am aware of. Most of them have wandered territories beyond. Atar the god of fire and Vayu the god of wind."

Spero couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment lingering within him from the scant information he had acquired. As he reflects on the details he had garnered, he finds solace in the fact that he now possesses the names of two gods he could potentially seek out.

A faint smile plays on his lips as he mutters, "Thank you for your time."

Spero rises from his seat, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword.

Zatara, noticing his movement, straightens up and raises her voice, "Wait... There's something that's been bothering me, not just your aura but something you carry."

Spero pauses, his grip on the sword tightening as he turns to face Zatara, his expression guarded.

She speaks again, "I would like to see it... if you are willing?"

Reluctantly, Spero lets out a soft sigh, acknowledging that Zatara posed no threat. With a deliberate motion, he reaches into his pouch and retrieves the ring.

Zatara's eyes widen in disbelief, her voice fills with awe. "Oh shit, it can't be! The fabled Ring of Solomon. How did you acquire this?"

"It was given to me by a dark spirit in the mountains past Babylonia" Spero replies, a hint of weariness in his tone.

Spero hands the ring to Zatara. She carefully examines the artifact, holding it up to the sunlight that streamed in through the window of her study.

Her eyes widened with excitement, "This ring has been lost for generations. I've been wanting to research this for so long and I'm finally holding it in my hands! This tool built his great temple. The legendary sorcerer, who commanded 72 powerful demons!"

She then turns to Spero with a serious expression, "I see, I have one piece of advice to give you. Do not use this ring."

"Why not?"

"This artifact is far too powerful, even for a mage of my caliber. You will not be able to control the mana from inside, it will only consume you. The souls trapped here will never be completely under your command."

He accepts the ring back from Zatara and secures it in his pouch. With a nod of thanks, he prepares to take his leave.

But before he departs, Zatara says, "Come by anytime, I would like to learn more about what you find."

She smiles and winks at Spero as she effortlessly opens the door with a flick of her hand. He blushes, nods his head and leaves.