Sacrifice of the Mind

Ever since the Kraken brought Kaladin back to life, he had been strangely levelheaded, even when he or his friends were inches from death. But today, he was angry -- at the stubbornness of LJ's family, at the archfey who incited violence and almost got the people he cared about killed, seemingly on a whim. At himself and his weakness, at his inability to do anything more than shield LJ even with all the power he had been granted. In the face of a being as powerful as a deity, what use was struggling? They could create and destroy so easily. His suffering was inconsequential.

Kaladin's anger and rage at the futility of it all bubbled up through his chest, and it felt like the blood in his very veins was boiling. He clenched his fists, and his grip was so tight the nails drew blood from his palm. Kaladin didn't know this himself, but the blood of a barbarian runs thick. As the rage reached a peak... his vision went dark.

The ice-cold abyss of his dreams enveloped him, and he was left floating in a black void. The boiling rage that filled him chilled, and instead of a burning anger he was left with a cold hatred for the whims of archfey and deities.

"It seems... I had more of an influence on your mind than I intended."

The Kraken's voice boomed, not from within Kaladin's head, but from everywhere around him.

"No. These thoughts are my own."

Kaladin knew that beneath the Kraken's magical sopor was a being fueled by a rage as deep as the ocean itself, a rage aimed upwards, at the gods. He did not know why it was this way, but even through this weak magical link across the continent, he could feel its rage rolling over him like so many waves on the shore.

"Hmph. Minds are more malleable than you may think. But... your anger... is not misplaced."

As it said this, Kaladin felt the Kraken's emotions swell and grow. The gentle ebb and flow transformed into waves of rage that seemed to crash into him even as he floated in the watery void. The water around him rumbled, and past the darkness he caught a glimpse of the Kraken's thoughts, not so much a memory as it was a bundle of emotions.

Then... Kaladin understood. the Kraken was no mere being of destruction, no simple creature of evil. Its hatred for the gods was boundless, and given its full power, it would not hesitate to reach into the sky and crush the deities itself. This is the strength he needed, to destroy even the deities that dare threaten what he valued.

Mixed in with its anger, though, Kaladin felt notes of other emotions. Was this... sorrow? Sympathy? Coming from the Kraken, these emotions felt... odd.

The storm calmed, and the Kraken continued, slightly slower, as if the release of emotional energy had tired it somewhat.

"Ambition is admirable. But you are still weak. Sealed as I am, I can only lend your body so much power."

Still dazed from the rush of emotions, Kaladin took a long moment to think, then responded.

"I know. That's why... I will give you my mind."

Kaladin knew that while the Kraken could have warped his mind just as it warped his body when it brought him back to life, turning him into an unquestioning servant, it did not. He suspected that it was not merely a lack of magical power, but a choice... perhaps independent minds made better envoys. As it was, he felt no particular alleigance to the Kraken other than a sense of responsibility to see his mission to its end.

But now he needed power, and power always came at a price. Given access to his mind, the Kraken could probably give him more potent magical power. But there was no telling what other effects it could have. Even if it chose not to take this opportunity to remove his free will altogether, he could be irreversibly changed by the Kraken's force of will.

But even if he didn't intend to be, Kaladin was a true warlock. He needed power, and to obtain it he would not sacrifice merely his time, his devotion, or his belief, but his very being.

As he spoke, he began to use the language the Kraken did when it used its power, a strange mixture of Abyssal and Primordial, a tongue dripping in dark magic.

"The recesses of my mind are yours to rule. You may do with it what you will. In exchange, I ask for strength."

"Oh? Very well. I will not refuse such an offering." The Kraken responded in kind, and Kaladin noticed It did not betray surprise at what he said. In fact, it seemed to expect this would happen... a cold chill ran down his spine. Did it predict all of this? How terrifying. But whether he was playing into the Kraken's plans didn't matter at this point. He only needed its power.

"Your weakness is not in your will, but in the shape of your mind. So simplistic and fragile. I am surprised your kind has accomplished as much as it has."

As the Kraken spoke, Kaladin felt something cold and slick wrap around his arms and legs. The back of his neck strangely began to itch.

"I will implant a seed of my consciousness into you. With this, you will be remade."

It was strangely talkative. What was it going to do? As Kaladin thought this, he felt a sharp point where his neck was itching.

• Shlick!*

For a brief moment, Kaladin felt *something* pierce through his head, a sharp blade followed by a slimy, cold appendage.

Then the pain set in.

Kaladin screamed, and died for the second time.