To keep the Ether at bay

Jp with Winteroak and Bandorchu

Far too exhausted to resist the pull, Alexis‘s legs carried her over to the impossible figure of Tar without her prompting. Unlike before when she had seen only flickers of him in the evershifting fire light, this version of him remained.
She crouched next to him and looked down on the depiction of the Brotherhood’s revenge alongside him.

“So have I finally gone completely mad?“
she asked what was likely just a delusion conjured up by her battered mind, her voice barely above a whisper.

His hand appeared to reach out to the wall hovering over the depiction of Fosia's Hammer being snapped in two by the Black Hand.
"They didn't know at the time they would need it again." He whispered ignoring her question. "All they could think of was revenge. Revenge agaisnt those that took Her away." He looked back at the sleeping figures in the cave. Pointing at Silina. "She holds the answer. Or rather those like her do."

“Like her? What do you mean?”
Alexis looked back at the young witch.

“What exactly is she then?”

"Her powers. Even in the presence of your friend," he said moving his finger lazily to point at the prone and slow breathing Gonyaul.
"Continued to work. Magik and Faith have forever been enemies. The Gods have always worked to keep the Ether at bay. The Twins however found a way to use it to their advantage."

“So you are saying, what? That her magik is different from the ‘wild’ one created by the Ether? That it is somehow altered? ‘Divine’ magik, or something like that?”

It was hard to focus in her state, but she tried her best to somehow make sense of this obscure vision she was given.

From the corner of her eye she saw the ghostly figure of Tar nod. "The sunder of the Trinity was the price. It opened the way." He confirmed. "The Ether spills inwwards insidiously." The words merely an echo.

"If She returns the flow will stop but Her vengeance will be terrible..." He warned.

“I’ll imagine…’

Alexis said softly. Had there been no other way? Had it been worth it?

“But if so… would it not be better the hammer stayed broken?’

The image of Tar appeared to smile. "And that Alexis Greyriver is the real question..." He said before turning again to face the painting of the Hammer and the Black Hand.
"Fosia has shield you from his enemies. You are safe for now, Shield Maiden..." Alexis heard a voice from behind her and in the blink of an eye Tar was gone...