By the Chains that Bind Thee (Part 4) by Fantasy Weaver

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We are getting ever closer to the awaited moment, yet still I want to pull you all further in, truly understand what awaits for Shay. You will be treated to a multi-chapter event for when his blonde locks finally fall, so I have no problem making this story just that much longer.

Do be patient.

Part four of "By the Chains that Bind Thee". Please read the previous parts for context.

-Fantasy Weaver.


Note

1: Some foul language ahead

By the Chains that Bind Thee

Part Four

XXXXX

"How do you do that?"

"Hm? Do what?"

Shay was wrapped in Eleos’ arms, the afterglow of his climax still coloring his cheeks, long after they had cleaned up the mess. How long had it been since they had simply lain by the willow, watching the Luna moths flutter by under the moonlight? The night was advancing, but Shay found he wasn’t ready to leave yet. Maybe never. He wouldn’t think of the technicalities, too content to sour the moment.

His blue eyes glanced up at Eleos, whose face was tilted toward a hanging branch, watching the moths gather on the long leaves. "Change the nature of your magic. You used radiant magic on the bridge to teleport away. Your hair glowed like mine. But before, it wasn’t the same."

"Oh, that." Eleos turned his face to him, eyes no longer that peculiar silvery hue, having returned to their glittering gold. "You’ve only ever known how to gather magic from the sun, so that’s what you use. It’s why your hair glows gold when you focus." Shay nodded, listening intently. "Like I said, I used to be a mage of the SunWover order, and though I no longer have any ties to Synn, the other nature of my magic allows me to absorb the arcane energies in sunlight, without compromising my safety, and without loosing control of myself."

A mage could do that? The entire reasons Orders exist is to allow mages to focus on a certain element or god -or both- in order to gain power. The SunWoven Order get theirs from Synn, the sun, the WhiteClaws from the mercurial ocean, the Order of Viridia from ancient forests, the Galernus Order from the stormy winds of their sky-high temples. That was the way. You are either born into an Order as he was or you choose one when the time comes.

Eleos was saying there was a way to absorb magic not through one way, but many at once? With as many sources of magic as there are, Shay didn’t find it all that surprising, but why would the Orders keep them from expanding their knowledge if they could gain magic through any means, so long as they know where to look?

"How can you absorb radiant magic with another nature?" he asked, "What sort of arcane nature would allow you to do that?"

Eleos held out his cloak, showing the insignia for the Circle of Stars. "I’m a Mage of Stars, Shay. You already know that. Do you know where Mages of Stars get their magic from?"

He had read about this, and answered quietly, eyes trained to the night sky, "From the stars, the moon, the planets, things like that."

"Yes, among other things." Eleos was looking at the sky now too, golden irises reflecting the constellations. "We Mage of Stars are one with the endless cosmos. Now, you said we can get our power from the stars, but WHAT are stars, little apprentice?"

He frowned, not understanding. "They are…simply stars. I don’t know why you ask me that."

"Because stars aren’t simply that." Eleos turned his gaze to him, reading his reaction closely. For a moment, the handsome man simply looked at him, lips thinning. Why was it that Shay felt he was about to tell him something of great importance? Eleos always fell silent before disclosing information to him that may change his views.

When he did speak, Shay found his instincts to be right. "They are suns."

"What?" Shay laughed, shaking his head. "You must be jesting. Suns? They are tiny compared to…"

"…They are," Eleos said at his tense silence, serious. "Synn is not the only god with a sun to their name. He is but one of many siblings, far beyond our comprehension. There are sun gods far weaker, and far greater than Synn. But in the vastness of the universe, they are far away from us, just as we are to them. The fact that we see the light shining from them, even as far away as we are, is a testament to their powers."

Shay gazed at the stars above them, eyes wide with wonder and confusion. "How do you know all this?"

Eleos tightened his arms around him. "Because Mages of Stars worship the bringer of all things, the mother of all gods. She is the beginning and ultimate end to life, and she is everywhere."

Shay stared into those wise, golden abysses, mouth open in awe.

"Musuni. The primordial being that is the universe. She is life, as she is death. She birthed the stars, and from the stars many deaths and rebirths, she created galaxies, planets, moons…us. And her children, as we all, will one day return to her, nothing more than stardust."

…

He couldn’t speak.

"…That is why I can still use radiant magic. There are no chains that bind me to Musuni," he emphasized gravely, "I chose willingly to worship her, and through those ties alone am I able to absorb the arcane energies of whatever I so wish. It’s why I can change the nature of my magic."

"You…" the young mage swallowed, sitting upright, eyes shifting anxiously, "You’re lying. You have to be, you-"

"Shay-"

He turned his frowning face to Eleos, shaking, "There are no scriptures of this primordial being. None! Anywhere! The Order taught us that Synn was the creator-"

"Do you still believe that?"

"I can believe that Synn is a monster," he hissed, lifting himself and pacing the dew-strewn grass. "I can believe that the Order is hiding something, but to bar an entire goddess-"

"Primordial being."

"Bite me! To erase her existence entirely, so much so that no one has ever heard of her is preposterous! No human has that kind of power over history."

"You’re right." Eleos lifted himself, stopping him in his tracks. "No human has that power. But the gods do."

"What are you saying?" Shay scowled, eyes turning into slits. "That Synn is behind this lie you are trying to make me believe?"

"Essentially, yes, and it is no lie, you know that. Shay, listen." He grabbed his arms before he could turn away from him, talking quickly. "What the Order said is true in some way; Synn did create the other gods that rule over our Earth, he was the creator, but he wasn’t OUR creator. Not all of Musuni’s children are perfect, and Synn is a prime example of a prideful, jealous, wrathful brat. He does not care for humans, he only cares about power and control. Musuni holds dominion over life and death and creation, but it is a hard balance to maintain and not something to be trifled with in some sick game. She does not interfere with the course of fate; Synn blatantly disregards it for his own selfish gain."

"Stop! Enough already!" Shay pulled at his arms, his head aching.

"Why do you think Musuni has been erased from history? Synn controls the other gods and exerts that same control on humans. He is able to wipe those memories, and only those who are not affiliated with the Orders can remember Musuni. It is not that her stories have been forgotten, it is that they have been repressed, and when one turns away from the order, her memories come back to us."

"Shut up!" His ears were ringing.

"Do you think I left the Order without knowing what it would mean for other mages not as lucky as I? I come back in hopes of finding others who see beyond the veil that Synn has pulled over your eyes, and Shay, you have seen beyond that veil! You know what awaits you if you keep letting the Order dictate your path! I care for your wellbeing, and I can’t let you give yourself away to that monster!"

"Enough! I hate you!"

Eleos held him tightly, hard golden eyes staring furiously down into his. "You only say that because Synn is controlling you!"

"You’ll burn for this heresy!" His voice grew hoarse, his mind drew a blank. Rage filled him. Eleos was lying. He should have listened to the Order. Dark Mages lie and manipulate. He needed to be silenced.

He broke free from Eleos’ steel-like grip, stumbling backwards as a terrible presence filled his soul. Shay’s voice was a low, wrathful growl when he spoke. "You took advantage of me. You’ll burn in this world and the next when Synn gets his hands on you!"

Eleos grit his teeth, hand reaching inside his cloak, "Shay. You know better than this. I said you had a will of iron, so don’t make me eat my words now."

Shay’s eyes were closing when he spoke. His blond hair began to levitate around his form, that blinding golden aura of radiant magic surrounding it.

When the young mage’s eyes opened, they glowed white-hot.

‘Damn’ Eleos thought briefly as his own hair stirred around his form, the powers of the astral skies giving him strength. He wouldn’t use it if it wasn’t necessary, but his current guest required some delicacy in action.

Shay’s white eyes snapped to him, and when he spoke, Eleos knew Synn had taken possession of his body.

A distorted mix of Shay’s sweet voice and Synn’s ancient tongue came from the young mage’s possessed body. "THOU TREAD A DANGEROUS PATH, WRETCHED DEMI-GOD."

Eleos smirked, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. "It is good to see you too, dear brother."

"DO NOT INSULT ME. A HALF-HUMAN IS NO SIBLING OF MINE. THOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED LONG AGO."

"Unfortunately, you missed that chance, and now," Eleos drawled, hand closing around the object he needed, "you have no choice but to deal with me. Your chains could never bind me, could they?"

Shay’s possessed features scowled. "THOU’S GIFTS PREVENT MY CONTROL. THEY DO NOT PROTECT THINESELF FROM AN INEVITABLE END."

"The only end I will meet is the one destined to me. And as it would happen," Eleos concentrated his powers, eyes turning silver, "I doubt it involves a premature death from a self-absorbed godling."

Shay’s form erupted in searing light, the boughs of the willow trees catching on fire, the moths turning to ash as they sought to hide themselves. He struck a chord, of that, there was no doubt. "HOW DARE THOU INSULT MY STATUS. THOU SHALT NEVER KNOW OF THE TRUE INJUSTICES OF THIS WORLD, AND THOU SHALT NEVER LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO GRASP THEIR VASTNESS."

"I know of injustice enough" he bit back, "One such injustice is that you take away freedom from humans, who are not yours to shackle. That young mage has done nothing to insult you," Eleos pointed to Shay’s body. "Release him from your hold. This dispute is not his."

"THIS HUMAN INSULTS ME BY MERELY SEEKING THOU’S PRESENCE. BUT THAT IS OF LITTLE CONCERN."

Eleos’ brow furrowed. Just a few more minutes; he had to keep him talking. "Is it? And here I thought you hadn’t changed in the last millennia, and yet you’re showing a remarkable improvement on self-control. I was certain you would have struck down the poor lad by now." He simply hoped his taunt would not invoke Synn to do so.

"THOUS’ ATTEMPTS AT TEMPTING ME WILL PROVE FUTILE." Shay’s possessed hand caressed his features, languidly stroked his body. "THIS VESSEL IS NOT MEANT TO BE DISCARDED. THIS BODY’S POTENTIAL HAS BECOME APPARENT. ANY OTHER HUMAN’S ASTRAL PROJECTION WOULD HAVE SHATTERED IN MY REALM, WOULD HAVE DISINTEGRATED THEIR MIND AND SOUL, BUT ALAS, THIS ONE LIVES."

Eleos had to focus double time to keep his concentration and to listen to Synn’s foreboding words. "What are you implying?"

A hideous cackle came from Shay’s lips. "MY FORMLESS BODY COULD FINALLY HAVE A CORPOREAL FORM, AND WITH IT, I COULD FINALLY MAKE THIS WORLD MY OWN. MOTHER BINDS US ALL IN THESE INTANGIBLE BODIES THAT DO NOT ALLOW US TO PHYSICALLY INTERFERE WITH HER CREATIONS, BUT WITH THIS VESSEL," Synn touched Shay’s body through the possession, caressing it tenderly, "I CAN DO WITH HER CREATIONS AS I PLEASE."

Enough information. He knew what he had to do.

It took a second. Not even. A fraction of one. No, less still. The rift opened for him.

Synn could not react fast enough when Eleos alighted behind him.

Shay’s head was pulled back in one swift motion, Synn’s distorted voice crying out as Eleos gripped the glowing blond hair in his unyielding grasp.

Eleos brought his glowing dagger out, pressing it just enough at the base of Shay’s nape to let Synn know his intentions.

The effect was immediate. "FOOL! DO NOT ATTEMPT IT! THOU SHALT MEET THY END IF THOU LIFTS THINE BLADE!"

Eleos felt the searing flame at his back, but he showed no fear. He knew Synn’s weakness. "You’ll kill me if I slash his hair off? I should be honored to return to Musuni if it’s to keep you from possessing his body," he hissed. "Tell me again; can you regain control over him quite as easily as you think once his hair is cut off? How long do you think it shall take to get him to follow you so blindly again? Perhaps by the time he does, another demi-god will have been born and grown-up. You know if you kill me another will return. You know it isn’t worth it."

The light and fire burned hotter, but it did not singe him, even as Synn screamed in that terrible ringing sound. "THOU’S REINCARNATIONS SHALL MET THEIR DEMISES AS LONG AS THIS BODY STILL BREATHES!"

"Do you really want to take that chance? You have no idea how to find us. Your light cannot reach where the darkness holds dominion. In the vastness of Musuni’s realm, remember that you are nothing but another little speck in the sky."

He pressed the knife just a tad more, felt the first singular hair slice.

Synn shrieked harder, his fire all-consuming around him, yet still, Eleos was untouched. He had him. "Let the boy go. Do it. Or would you rather I do us both a favor and cut his hair now?"

"THOU INSOLENT BASTARD CHILD!" Synn screamed at him, Shay’s head pulling hard on his tight, magic-infused grasp. "THOU SHALT NOT! THOU SHALT BURN IF THOU ATTEMPTS!"

"I’ve already made peace with my fate, but can you say the same?" He lifted his blade again, another three hairs slicing-

"ENOUGH!"

The fire around them promptly went out, the shadows of night rolling in. The air smelled of soot and cinders. The grass at their feet had turned to ash, the ground had dried.

Eleos panted, hand shaking in Shay’s still-glowing hair. The hand on his dagger tightened, knuckles turning white.

After a moment, Synn’s voice broke the tense silence. "I SHALL RELEASE THE HUMAN."

Eleos smirked, but kept it to himself. "I knew you would."

"SILENCE! THOU SHALT RETURN THE HUMAN TO THEIR PLACE OF WORSHIP."

He ground his teeth. "I will once you release your hold of him!"

"THE HUMAN WILL NOT RETURN WILLINGLY, AND THINE WORDS ARE NOT TRUSTWORTHY. BESIDES, I BELIEVE THOU HAST MORE IMPORTANT TO FEAR FOR THAN THINE LIFE"

An ancient seal began to take shape around Shay’s head, and Eleos swallowed, knowing full well what that seal could, WOULD do, if he acted too harshly.

"THOU HAST AFFECTION FOR THIS HUMAN. WOULD IT BE A SHAME IF THE HUMAN’S MEMORIES WERE TAMPERED WITH? IF THOU’S PRESENCE IN THIS HUMAN’S MIND WOULD BE FOREVER FORGOTTEN?"

Outrage overtook him. "You sick monster. Has your selfish charade of power blinded you to the affections Musuni has shown you? What heartless being are you that you would dare erase memories of love from one’s mind? You are mad!" He began to press the dagger-

The seal began to take shape, and despite everything, Eleos stayed his hand.

He shook when Synn’s voice came then, a cruel taunt. "GO ON THEN. SLICE HIS HAIR OFF. IT WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE IN THE END, WHEN THOU’S AFFECTIONS WILL NO LONGER MATTER TO HIM, WHEN HE WILL NOT EVEN REMEMBER THOU’S NAME."

Synn be damned…

"Fine" he spat. "I will bring him to the SunWoven Order. I swear it on Musuni’s name. You will swear to release Shay on mother’s name as well or I will not move a step."

Synn laughed. "I WILL SWEAR BY NOTHING."

"Why?" Eleos bribed, "Are you that afraid of incurring her wrath? I thought you were above her."

Synn was silent at that.

"I SWEAR IT."

"Swear what?" He pressed the dagger.

"I SWEAR ON MUSUNI’S NAME THAT I SHALL RELEASE THIS HUMAN WHEN HE IS DELIVERED SAFELY TO HIS PLACE OF WORSHIP."

"That’s more like it. Walk!"

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Shay’s subconscious floated in a haze of bright white and gold. It felt like the astral realm, but different somehow.

He was aware of something akin to shackles binding everyone of his limbs. Limbs? Did he even have any here? Where was here, even? Something weighed heavily on him, something far too heavy that he could not shake off.

Eleos…what had Eleos been saying?

Whispers of a name came to him. ‘…return to Musuni…’

Musuni.

Eleos had said something about her just now. Or had it been yesterday? An hour ago?

‘…release your hold…!’

Was that Eleos speaking? Had he dozed off in his arms, watching the stars, talking about everything the Order didn’t want him to know?

He sounded so distressed though.

‘…swear to release Shay on mo…’

Release…Shay?

It was like the fog of his mind had lifted, and suddenly, he could see again. But, it was odd. It was as though he were seeing things through a fish bowl, distorted, as though his mind was kept away from the rest of his body, and that’s what it felt like too. He couldn’t move his limbs, not willingly at least.

He could see the willows pass by his vision as his body walked on without his conscious consent. He could see the moon and the stars and the creek they had passed by earlier that night.

The reflection of his body in the creek caused him to gasp.

Was that…him?

No, it couldn’t be- he didn’t have those searing white eyes. His hair was glowing like it would when he was using magic, but something was off about it; it usually floated around his head, but now it was like…

Another reflection came into view.

Eleos?

He…why was he holding his hair back like that? Not holding: he was physically pulling it as his body moved forward.

He spotted the knife.

"Eleos?" he called out.

He didn’t answer him.

Could he even hear him?

Panic began to claw at his chest. What was going on? It looked as though his body were possessed and the handsome mage was-

Possessed.

The headache. The buzzing. The incessant ringing. He had heard and felt them when Eleos had began speaking about Mususni. It had come to him so fast and yet so stealthily, by the time he tried to push back, it was already too late. He had said so many horrible things to Eleos! All the words came back to him in a tidal wave, all of them things he did not believe, that had spilled forth from his mouth like a man possessed…because he had been.

‘Keep walking. The SunWoven Order is just after this bridge. You will release him when he gets to the gate.’

That was Eleos speaking, Shay realized. He sounded so distant in his head though. What was he talking about?

The weight on his mind seemed crushing just then, and as he battled to remain conscious, another voice spoke. Not the detached tones that made Eleos seem so distant, but right in his own mind, as though mere inches from his ears.

"THINE MIND PROVES TO BE DIFFICULT TO MERGE WITH."

That voice. He could never forget it. It had scarred him from the moment he had heard it in the High Mage’s vision, the image of its owner branded blindingly into his subconscious. If Shay had control of his own body, if he had a corporeal form in this hazy plane of existence, he had no doubts he would be shaking from the fear alone.

"S-Synn…" he whispered, frightened beyond compare.

White eyes seared before his vision, just a fleeting, painful moment, but it was confirmation enough. Confirmation not needed. It could be no one else.

Is that why Eleos had a knife to his neck? But no, Eleos was holding the shining dagger as though ready to slice his hair off. He was even holding his hair back. What purpose would it serve?

"THAT DAMNABLE DEMI-GOD HAST CAPTURED THINE MIND. THOU MUST RESIST."

Resist. Yes, he had to.

Which one though?

Which one is he supposed to resist?

In his head, he could hear the echoes of the material world, of Eleos shouting ‘Call anyone to your aid, fire any spell, and it’s over!’

"RESIST. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY HIS TEMPTATIONS. I AM THOU’S MASTER HERE."

His vision was blurry, but he could make out the distinct architecture of the SunWoven Order, the high entry gate, the many Elder Mages standing guard. Their hair was glowing. Their hands were outstretched, but nothing happened as Eleos had his possessed body walk towards the gate.

"Eleos, please…" he called out, but it was like trying to scream underwater.

His body was beyond the gate. Eleos had let go of his hair, had lowered his dagger finally. Synn made his body turn towards the retreating Dark Mage, and for the first time since his possession, Shay could truly see the distress, the fear, the anger contorting Eleos’ features. Eleos was saying something about releasing him again.

In his trapped mind, there was only Synn to taunt him though. "THOU’S AFFECTIONS FOR THE DEMI-GOD BASTARD HAS PROVEN USEFUL. WATCH NOW," that wrathful voice was saying, as Shay saw the Elder Mages’ invisible forms in this plane, forms Eleos could NOT see, forms which were closing in on the man, "AS THE FOOL IS DEALT WITH."

He couldn’t turn his face away, couldn’t do anything but stand there, trapped in his own body, unable to cry out as the unseen mages moved ever closer to Eleos; Eleos who still was telling Synn to release him.

Something fierce burned within him, but it wasn’t Synn’s presence that made his body burn. He thought of what it would mean if Eleos was caught, what it would mean for himself if he was questioned, what all this meant in the grand scheme of things. Fury at being lied to, not by Eleos, but by the SunWoven Order, by the High Mage, by Synn himself, had Shay’s form rippling with energy. Beyond furious however, was this immeasurable sadness and fear of what would happen to them, should those Elder Mages get to the Dark Mage…

Just that night, he had allowed himself to bond with Eleos in ways he had never done with anyone else, had began to unravel the many mysteries and lies of his broken world, had found solace, release, comfort, in the arms of this man. He understood now, why Eleos was so angry with the SunWoven Order, why he tried to get Shay to leave, and to be subjected to this horrifying reality before him, that Synn wants him to see, to feel the cruel stab of betrayal from the deity he had done nothing but worship for his entire life, he too, now knew of that same, boiling anger.

He wanted more than one night with Eleos. Wanted more than a broken heart.

It was his own rage and terror alone that pushed him into breaking the possession himself.

Seconds slowed down as white eyes turned to panic-struck blue. Like a pane of glass shattering, as though his body flung itself through a window, was his return to the material world. Shay’s body, in his own possession, flew towards Eleos. Bright golden chains fired from the guards’ hands towards his body, and just before he could reach Eleos, his voice cracked on a blood-curdling scream.

"Eleos, GET AWAY!"

The last thing he saw before his world grew dark, was the panicked golden gaze of a man he loved, and the intangible mages turning against him.

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Comments are appreciated. Next part should be out sooner than this one.

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