What Future Would You Choose?
Ardyn said yes to Sidus Serpens. She wanted to see what could be. She settled back down within herself, her soul now not merely accepting, but embracing her and gently taking her to truths previously unknown. The deep, rumbling pulse of the Serpent Lord's spirit was the only constant within the chaotic kaleidoscope of her awareness.
The vision began when she was a small child – a baby lying in a gilded crib. Her aunt, Anabel, looked down at her with a chilling, predatory frown. She looked to her uncle Michael and asked, a sneer on her lips, and palpable disgust in her voice:
"Why did you accept this? She should have died with your cheap brother and his wife."
Michael looked at the expensive crib, calculating the futures he could buy. "My dear wife. You do not understand. The ones who care for little Ardyn control her estate. Do you want a bank dictating where her money goes?" Anabel's eyes opened wide with greedy excitement. Ardyn watched, a detached observer, seeing the birth of her torment. It was never about her; it was always about gold.
Ardyn was pulled away from the scene, landing in the damp, cold corner of the family kitchen. She was six and scrubbing a floor with raw, bleeding hands. A shadow fell over her, and she flinched, seeing the moment her cousin's boot landed a vicious kick to her side. She saw herself—the child—refuse to cry. She saw the belt strike her back, and she saw the child-self harden. Instead of tears, a small, vibrant purple spark deep within her core flashed. It was not pain; it was the birth of an absolute magical defense. As she watched, the young Ardyn didn't absorb the abuse; she turned it into fuel, and the purple spark began to grow, hidden deep inside. Even then, she had magic, and it was growing within her even as she was used and abused. It was her soul saying, "I will not break."
She was pulled away again, spinning through time, seeing Varric in his treasure cave. She saw the true essence of the bond that formed between them, saw the raw, terrifying beauty of his serpentine form, and understood the moment he saw her worth when no one else could. Then, she witnessed the day Elsa brought her the Moonpetal Gems, seeing how her aunt and uncle had hoarded her inheritance, turning the simple act of receiving a gift into a moment of pure, blinding revelation.
Finally, she saw the choice.
She stood with Varric, joy resonating in both their hearts, and she saw two grand paths extend before them.
The first path, shimmering faintly and marked by a hazy silver light, was the Path of Happiness and Acceptance. It was filled with doubt, question, and hardship. She saw her future self on this path, occasionally stumbling, sometimes running back to Varric for reassurance, always questioning her right to stand beside him. This path was a happy ending, but one earned through constant, draining emotional battle.
The second path, blazing with a dazzling, intense amethyst and silver light, was the Path of Completeness. She saw her future self on this road, walking not behind Varric, but shoulder-to-shoulder with him. This path was not easier, but it was clear—filled with absolute confidence and a state of complete internal synchronization. She knew that only she could choose the power of that second path.
She chose the path to completeness.
With this path, she would not only become Varric's true, immortal equal, but she would also understand how to love herself unconditionally. But the complete path was unclear. There were places where the road was covered in impenetrable mists, and moments when she could not see or feel her own progress. She frowned, a flicker of her old doubt returning.
Before she could wonder, Sidus Serpens spoke, the voice deep and vast, resonating from the very bones of the world.
"How can you know everything about your fate when you do not know everything about yourself? Know yourself. Accept and love who you are, the Sorceress protected by the deep-seated purple spark, and all will be clear. I will allow you one hint of the power that resides within, and then you must wake and make your final decision."
The air cooled, and the intoxicating smell of strawberries and cinnamon—the sweet scent of her true self—wafted to her nose.
The scene before her changed. She looked out over a desolate valley, a place of hard work and rigorous discipline. A small, colorful creature sat by her side, a beautiful multi-hued cat that stood nearly four feet in height, its eyes as black as the midnight sky.
"We have searched a long time, Ardyn," the cat spoke, its voice a musical chime. "Are you sure the final part of your training is here?"
"How do you ask me, Marla? You are the guide to my Soul Core."
The multicolored cat, which was clearly a manifestation of her true spirit, scoffed playfully. "I am of your soul. Do you truly expect me to know more than you?"
Ardyn laughed, a pure, unburdened sound she hadn't realized she was capable of. She said no more. Her powerful soul stirred, and they both moved as one toward a distant, shimmering point within the desert.
"Learn," the sands and the wind whispered to her. "It is within you."
As Ardyn slept, she spoke Varric's name. It was a soft call of destiny, but it rang in spirit like the loudest bell. Varric, alerted by the seismic shift in her soul, went to her and was allowed entrance into her Tranquility Cave.
He laid down beside her, his huge serpent form curling protectively around her small body. He felt her heartbeat and the rhythm of her breath. They became in sync with one another, his own ancient spirit soothing her frantic human mind. He drifted to a brief, deep sleep.
Hours passed, and she lay wrapped in his protective embrace.
She suddenly sat up, eyes snapping open, blazing with amethyst light and absolute certainty.
"[Life Extraction Bond]!" she declared, the title of the highest soul spell ringing in her voice.
Varric, waking instantly, sat up beside her. They looked into each other's eyes—his gleaming silver, hers burning purple—and she threw her arms around him, burying her face in the warm scale of his shoulder.
"I will be your equal," she whispered fiercely, the echo of Sidus Serpens still thrumming in her soul. "I will make you happy and complete this story that you have begun. I choose the path of completeness, My Lord. And I choose you."
The dream had given her the ultimate power: the knowledge of her true value. Now, the training could begin.