STORY ARC #3: THROUGH THE BLACK DOOR
The Last Promise
Magic snaps through the air, as the colt’s vow binds him to his word.
This is part of a Choose Your Own Adventure story, Through the Black Door. Go back to the first chapter, written by Novus Grey. Or return to the previous chapter by Sieran Lane. Find out how you can contribute to collaborative Choose Your Own Adventure stories here!
In the dark church room, the colt pronounces, “I swear that I will never willingly harm any human being as long as I live.”
Magic snaps through the air, as the colt’s vow binds him to his word. He looks undaunted and determined.
“Wait,” Asha said, her eyes still stern in their expression. “As long as you live? You mean you’ll still harm humans if you die and become a ghost?” Her posture is stiff and unyielding.
The foal grimaces, and he repeats his vow without the “as long as I live” part.
“But what about the qualifier ‘willingly’?” Asha asks again. “You mean that you might harm a human being accidentally?” Her voice is a high-pitched shriek, like a siren against the scarlet red amulet on her chest.
Shi Lei narrows her eyes. She flicks her tail with impatience. “The qualifier ‘willingly’ is reasonable. If my son is unable to harm humans even unintentionally, that will lead to a lot of dangers down the road. Imagine the things he would not be allowed to do, because it could potentially cause him to hurt someone by accident.
“For example, if he shapeshifts to human form, he would be forbidden to drive a car because he might hit someone with it even though he never meant to. He would be prevented from talking to rich and powerful people, because he might influence them in a way that hurts poorer people, again, through no intention of his own.”
Asha’s face is sour throughout the mare’s explanation. And the church’s dim lights do nothing to banish the bleakness of the woman’s expression.
The colt stands a little taller. “If you really don’t like this and would rather not have the chance to restore your youth again, that’s fine. Mother and I will just escape again the next time you try to capture us.”
His mother tapped him on the head with her muzzle. “Don’t say things like that, Qi Xiong!”
The old woman folds her arms over her chest, deep in thought. Her jaw is still tight, but for once, you can see more pain than anger in her face. “I’m still not sure whether to trust you.” But her voice is wavering.
“Asha,” you try again. “You don’t have to take their offer if you don’t want to, and it’s understandable if you don’t trust that this spell won’t have nasty side effects.” You pause. “Would you like Shi Lei to vow not to harm you with her magic, either?”
The black mare shoots you a glare, but otherwise doesn’t object. Asha smirks. “All right. Swear an oath to me, faerie.”
The black mare looks indignant, but her tone is calm when she speaks, “When I cast the youthful spell on you, I swear that I will not use my magic to bring any harm upon you.”
Asha squints with a suspicious glower. “Wait, so you mean you can use non-magical means to harm me during the spell?”
The black mare seems to roll her eyes. “I swear that no harm will come to you, by magic or any other means, when I cast the spell of youthfulness on you.” Shi Lei adds, “I’m not heartless. I am sincerely sorry that this happened to you, Asha, and I hope to make this right. I have no desire to cause you any further pain.”
It’s hard for you to believe that the cunning faerie is truly sorry. The only thing you can be sure of, is that she wants her son safe and sound, which you can sympathise with.
At long last, Asha nods. “Okay. And you say that this will restore my body’s youth, but not my mind or my heart. My brain and my blood-and-flesh heart will also be restored to their youth, right?”
That is a good catch, you admit. Shi Lei might let Asha die early from heart disease or collapse from dementia, since the brain and the beating heart, can be seen as the mind and the heart.
Shi Lei lets out a snort of annoyance. “Yes. All of your organs, including your brain and your heart, will be restored. You will retain your memories, personality, and intelligence. Are you satisfied?”
You can’t think of anything else. And from the looks of it, not even Asha — nor Lionel — seem to see any more tricks to cover.
Shi Lei nods. “Good. Now please remove the iron reinforcements from the church so that my magic can work properly.”
Lionel gets busy moving the reinforcements away. You realise that the black mare and her colt are holding up quite well despite their proximity to the iron. Now, unimpeded, they would be unstoppable. You hope that you aren’t making a big mistake, but it’s too late to turn back now.
As soon as all the iron is put far away, the black mare and her son visibly relax. The mare starts an incantation, which sounds like a river of music. Asha’s eyes light up with a strange blue glow. The glow expands to cover her entire body, until she is nothing more than a light blue silhouette.
Then, Shi Lei stops chanting, and the blue light disappears.
You gasp. Indeed, blinking back at you is the gorgeous Asha you once knew and loved. But that isn’t it. She isn’t quite the same. You realize instinctively that she isn’t an eighteen-year-old, but a twenty-four-year-old, just like you, at least in body.
Asha stares you down, as if daring you to say something. Her attractions are undeniable, and her face is perfect. Yet…you don’t feel desire anymore. From Asha’s scowl at you, she doesn’t seem to want you anymore, either.
There’s something profoundly sad about two lovers being ripped apart like this. Even with her youth restored, things have still changed beyond repair.
Asha speaks, and her voice is beautiful like a flute’s. It’s surreal that she sounds like a stranger now, even if she looks so familiar. “Thank you, and you have my word that I won’t try to catch or hurt your son anymore.”
You only just realize that Asha did not swear an oath before Shi Lei chanted her spell. Was Shi Lei too distracted by the iron’s influence that she didn’t realize this?
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