Corruption is Magic: Iosis

I walk down the hall that leads to the dining hall of the castle, my gut swirling at the thought of what this could be. I had thought I was just seeing things when Luna’s face changed… be it due to stress or some other thing but now with another occurrence I have to take this seriously. Something is wrong and it could be due to the ones that left the message at my coronation. Opening the dining room doors I see Alexander sitting at the table writing out things, books and scrolls scattered about as he looks at it earnestly. This… is odd. Clearing my throat Alexander looks up and to me and gets his usual grin as he closes the books he has. “Ah, hello my dear. What brings you here?”

“I need to talk to you.” I say as I walk up and glance at the papers which are mostly covered by his arm, what I see is magical scripts one makes when crafting spell matrixes before trial casts. The books however are odd, they are not tombs of knowledge, instead they are books that seem like they would be personal log books, or journals.

“What is it you want to talk about, Dear?” Alexander asks as he takes a book and covers his pages so I can no longer look at them. Looking at Alexander I smile lightly. He is hiding something from me… I wonder what that spell does.

“I’ll try to recreate it and study it in here.” Corruption says and I mentally thank them.

“I know this might sound strange but… I think something is trying to take control of me or something.” I say, I wait for a response from Alexander who just watches me expectantly. “Alexander?”

“There must be a reason you say this my Dear, please share.” He says happily as if he isn’t surprised or even doubting my words. With a sigh I rub the back of my neck.

“Alright, it started this morning. I remained with her brewing potions after you and Gaurt left but at some point… her face changed and was this black… writhing fleshy thing and her voice wasn’t her own. The voice said something about keeping it waiting. But then it reverted back to Luna's face. I then went to train and it happened again when I went to train with Korzak. I powered up my fist with a large amount of magic, though this time it seemed to be intertwining with my magic and as it got more and more power fed in to it… the form the face and fleshy mass made grew and seemed to ooze lava from its mouth as it made to eat me.” I say, but as I explain to Alexander his face never changes he just sits and listens to my words.

“Well, that certainly was quite the explanation. From what I can tell, it might be the disembodied essence of one of this world's Gods. Though that is just a theory, the way you described him fits how he is described in document’s from others who have had run-ins with him.” Alexander casually explains as he waves his hand. “Pay him no mind my dear.”

“I… I would but it… I mean he said something along the lines of me being his vessel.” I say and for a split second I could have sworn Alexander's eyes shined with delight. However in the next moment he is booking at me as he usually does.

“Hm, well it might be that he sees you as a potential person they can have as a kind of Avatar or something along those lines. From what I recall he has been formless for time immemorial.” Alexander says offhandedly, my heart however skyrockets in its pace upon hearing this. How can he be so calm about this?

“How do I stop him?” I ask and this time Alexander remains silent for quite some time. Compilation on his face for a while, when he finally snaps from his contemplation he shoots me a wide smile.

“I have heard stories that might help you. You see Jekiir, the god you are having problems with was one of two here. He lived with his sister who supposedly inhabited statues in this world. Together they ruled but then the sister vanished and left her brother who got bested by the first Prime Evil in her unification. The story goes that Nilnira didn’t kill him but separated his spirit from his body and dumped the body into a vast canyon system that later became the red sea.” Alexander explains and I look at him with an arched brow.

“How does this help me?”

“Well you see, if she just bound up the body and threw it down into a canyon that is now below the red sea, then if you get it back. He will have his old form back and won’t need you.”

“I… how exactly should I get what is likely a melted body out of the ocean of Lava!?” I yell feeling a blood vessel in my head about to burst from what was just suggested.

“Oh come now Darling, you think Lava would melt his body. He is a god, his body is near indestructible. Now getting it out, that will be a challenge. Give me time, I might be able to figure something out.” Alexander says giving me a beaming smile to reassure me but it does little to help my worry. I reluctantly give him a nod and turn and walk out of the dining room but as I close the door behind myself I hear Corruption speak up.

“This… isn’t good Twilight.”

“You heard that too.”

“Well yes but the matrix. I haven’t fully combed over it but Alexander knows more than he let on.” They say with worry etched in their voice.

“What do you mean?” I whisper as I walk away from the dining room down the hall as I also cast a silence bubble around myself.

“Well… The spell he was modifying is a matrix that is sacrificial and from what I can tell… it's to allow one’s soul to be ripped out and another person's soul to be forced into the vacant body.”