All sentient life is connected. The appendages may be different, we may eat different things, and live in different universes, but at the end of the day, we’re all one big family.
It’s time to explore the branches of the multiversal family tree, and today, we present:
Wielders of the Violet
– Issue 1 – The Return of the Death Witch Coven
A reunion of family is usually cause for celebration, but the sisters of the Death Witch Coven are angry at Detritus.
After her brief collaboration with the Mmoatia, Detritus went directly to the Mire of Teal, a large bog located in the overlap between the Discs of Age and Agbe with waters so acidic, only Fonlanders born in the bog could withstand it for long. The Decay Witch made the Mire of Teal her headquarters when she was on the surface, and following her confrontation with the mmoatia, she mostly left the Deep to Detritus and made the bog her permanent home. After a life of so much conflict and separation from others who meant the most to her, Decay was happy to live a life of solitude in the bog and over time, she became a fixture. The mokele dinosaurs that lived in and near the bog came to like Decay because her presence alone sped up the decay of material in the bog and allowed for easier movement of the large beasts from the oceans of the Disc of Agbe, to the land of the Disc of Age. The hippos that lived in the area were skeptical of Decay because they are known to be vigilant detectors of dark magic and many use their Divine Essence to shield themselves and loved ones from evil-doers, but even they eventually came around to her when they discovered that a specific grass that grew in the bog was delicious after it had decayed in the acidic waters.
When Detritus arrives at the home she had built with her magic as a cozy cabin, Decay is reminded of the past that has been happy to forget and she responds poorly.
“I have done it sister,” Detritus says with a smile on her severe face that made her look as though she was in pain. She looks up at Decay who stands on the wooden porch of her cabin looking down. “I have freed them all. The Coven is reunited.”
“Why couldn’t you just leave me alone?” Decay asks and Detritus is taken aback.
“It has been so long since we’ve seen one another and I come with news that all of our sisters have returned to Fonlands, and this is how you greet me?”
“I have known so much more life as a Fonlander without a true name than I have known as a Death Witch. We have failed so many times, Detritus, our vision of the Fonlands will never come to fruition and the life I have had away from it, the death and imposing our will on others that have no interest in it, made me realize that I am not interested in it. When we gave up our lives as star eaters of Tinyalari, I thought that I was embracing a new life full of possibility and hope, but we have only been preoccupied with ruling and dominating. That is all there is to being a Death Witch, trying to be a ruler. Well, I don’t want it. I like my life here. I don’t want to be like the azizas or the mmoatia, and it is sad that you have lived so much of your life to prove yourself their equal. If you and the others in the Coven want to continue on this path, so be it, but I will not.”
“But you are a Death Witch,” Detritus says, still in shock. “You are Decay who made your companion, the Dark Witch Sorcerer, into a powerful and fearsome ruler…”
“Who is now dead!” Decay yelled. “He is dead and our death magic cannot restore him. Go, Detritus, I have lost all that I can bear.”
“Death Magic cannot restore him because he is not dead,” Detritus says and walks over to the porch. “You can retrieve your Dark Witch Sorcerer, just as Ahdis has retrieved Shini.” Decay looks angrily at Detritus who can tell that this news intrigues her sister. “We have lost a lot, you are right, but all can be made whole again. There is just one thing that we must all deal with first, and then I will tell you how to retrieve your sorcerer.”
“Tell me how, or you can leave.”
Detritus sighs heavily. She doesn’t want to lie to her sister, but she doesn’t want to reveal the truth just yet when there is so much to be done.
“I will tell you if you promise not to act on it until we have completed the most important task ever put to the Death Witch Coven.”
Decay nods.
“The Dark Witch Sorcerer cannot be retrieved with Death Magic because he is not dead. He is a prisoner of Ahdis, Supreme Mmoatia of the Deep.”
“That can’t be right,” Decay says incredulously. “The Mmoatia don’t have a prison. They don’t take prisoners.”
“Ahdis is the jailer and the prison,” Detritus says. “Her Essence ability allows her the forcefield that she can use to absorb other powers. She has your Sorcerer.”
“Prove it,” Decay says.
“After, sister. First, the Coven will be here soon, and then we have to help save the Fonlands from utter destruction and devastation. Sit, I will tell you all about it.”
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