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For the first time in your arduous journey, Gale is completely speechless.
Elminster disappears into the mountain pass, leaving the wizard to collapse to his knees with his hand pressed against the now silent orb in his chest. Such a simple charm the old man had cast, but its effects were immediate: no longer draining him of his strength or his magic, both now wash over him in waves. He breathes in deeply. The air itself smells sweeter than it has in months: with the orb contained, he can feel again; feel every nerve in his body, every emotion he's tried to ignore, every sensation he's denied himself in fear.
"Gale?"
His eyes snap open and he looks up at you sheepishly, his grin fading when he looks into your eyes. The knowledge of his deceit weighs heavy in his heart. All this time, you had given of yourself so freely while he had remained so closed.
"I… suppose it's time I reveal to you the full truth of my condition," he says, his heart sinking to his stomach at the thought. "Do you remember Karsus' Folly?"
You nod, your brow knit in confusion. Gale quietly wishes he could smooth it away, just give you a kiss and reassure you everything will be okay. But Mystra had already decided his fate and he doesn't deserve your affection anyway.
"Give me your hand," he says as he holds out his own. "I would show you Gale's Folly, now."
He takes your proffered hand and presses it to his chest. The orb begins to glow a brilliant purple as he opens his mind to you, and although your tadpole wriggles uncomfortably in your skull, you open yours too.
—
Guilt and shame stream down your cheeks in wet rivulets as you burrow your face into a woman's arms. Heat radiates behind you and the smell of smoke and roses fills your nostrils. The woman rubs small circles into your back. As she whispers words of comfort in your ear, the shame nestles itself deep inside your heart.
—
Pride is your companion now as you feel the Weave course its way through your body. It feels like a warm embrace, comforting and encouraging - and you swear you can hear promises of your greatness whispered in your ear. As you move your hands before you, you say the words you committed to memory and are rewarded when a beautiful tressym appears before you. Her words may feel as sharp as her gaze, but you face her judgment anyway. You preen when she rubs her delightfully furry body against you in acceptance.
—
Rage threatens to tear you apart as you stomp through stone corridors. Your shoes squelch against the floor and your clothes are completely soaked through, leaving puddles of water in your wake. You vow that this is the last time someone makes a fool of you.
—
Elation, disbelief, true and utter happiness - you are on cloud nine, floating through the streets of Waterdeep with a sappy smile plastered to your face. You can only think of Mystra. Sweet, beautiful, beloved Mystra, who had gifted you with your talent and fostered your desire for greatness. She has just made you her Chosen, and you can't wait to shove that knowledge into the faces of those who thought to tear you down. You gently touch her symbol now hanging from your ear in reverence.
—
Passion burns in your breast as you meet Mystra once again in the Astral Plane. She lays her desires bare before you and lust pools in your loins as you join with her. Elminster's warnings fade under the heat of her gaze and the fire in her touch as she caresses your very soul. No mortal love could ever compare to the love of your Goddess.
—
Hubris and its friend, discontent, cloud your judgment every time your Goddess lifts the veil of her realm just for you to peek. She has only ever stoked your desire for greatness, encouraged you to perfect your control of her Weave, but no matter how much you plead or beg, she sweetly warns you to be content with your lot. Be grateful for what she has given you already. But you know these honeyed words only seek to keep you in your place. You want her to see you as her equal, blind to the reality that you will only ever be her pet.
—
Defeat, desperation, and pure, suffocating self-loathing poison your blood as deeply as the Netherese orb now trapped in your chest. It feeds on your magic, sucking you dry like a leech, its hunger stronger than anything you have ever felt before. Mystra has abandoned you too. In your thirst to prove your worth to her you committed the grave sin of defying her will - and she cast you aside like the wretched creature you are. Only your books might grant you supplication now.
—
Relief bursts out of you as a choked sob when Tara brings you a necklace infused with Selunite magic. You feel the pain the orb inflicts on you ease as it feeds on it instead of you. With this discovery, you resolve to hide yourself away in your tower - no more visitors, no more friends, no more mother. You will not leave until you can find a way to rid yourself of your folly.
—
Fear is now your only lover. It isolates you. Controls you. You've learned that if you die you will release enough netherese magic to turn the entirety of Waterdeep to ash. Any emotion too strong makes the orb volatile so you train yourself to feel nothing at all.
—
Hope comes in the form of a strong hand grasping yours, pulling you out from the dark into the blinding daylight. Hope has sparkling eyes that look straight into yours. Hope makes your heart flutter and you wonder if maybe, just maybe, you don't have to be so alone after all.
—
Gale gently removes your hand from his chest and lets it slip from his grasp, his fingers lingering just a moment longer before it falls back to your side. He looks up at you in quiet resignation, ready to accept your judgment and prepared to find his own way to death.
But instead, to his surprise, you kneel down before him. His eyes widen at the tears streaming down your face and he wants so desperately to wipe them away. He could peacefully face his end if he could just touch you one last time.
You pull him into your arms and bury your face in his neck, one hand tangled in his hair and the other pressed flat against his back, holding him closer.
It's as if the gate to his heart has finally burst open.
He all but collapses into your arms, wrapping his own around you as tight as he can. You feel his body tremble while he sobs into your chest.