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Tournament of Champions 3 (The game has begun!)
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- Again being useless, isn't it Nyrea?
Nyrea just smiled.
- If it weren't for me, how do you think you could control the white flame? You didn't need my astral form this time... But changing the subject... are you at peace now?
Miljivan tried to raise his sword, but he knew he couldn't. Next to her, Aeryn was hit and fell to the floor. Ryan placed the sword close to her throat. Aeryn took a deep breath trying to mentally concentrate a plea for Nyrea.
Ryan raises his sword for the last blow when a great light has taken the night in the forest.
Next to it was Nyrea with blond hair holding the sword with a light white flame. Aeryn expressed peace. Ryan looked blankly and tried to hit Aeryn.
Nyrea quickly ran and parried the blow genuinely and in the sequence she made two strokes to break the knight's sword. Aeryn felt refreshed and knew what to do.
In fractions of a second, as the pieces flew, Aeryn got up and went behind Nyrea covering her vision behind Nyrea's flowing skirt to finally hold the sword and make the transition. Nyrea's astral form soon returned to the sword that in Aeryn's hands flew into the chest of the knight and father.
"Free yourself and now I am here to help you," said Nyrea.
She closed her eyes, leaving a small tear in the corner of her right eye and cried out in pain and peace. The white flame emerged from the sword that consumed all of Ryan's armor. When she opened her eyes, she quickly saw a specter of light seeping out of Ryan's benevolent face. She only heard a buzz, but she saw in the expression a "thank you" from her beloved father.
Aeryn fell to the floor on her knees without crying and with inner peace. Nyrea stopped blazing and emitted the same aura of peace.
- I can't say - Aeryn took the tea -, I don't think it went as I expected. I came to this tournament was just a diplomatic action to promote the kingdom. You chose me as a carrier and it has reverberated in many kingdoms. I couldn't refuse, but I didn't want to be a leader or anything like that of a war. That abyssal strength came as a surprise to me.
Nyrea returned in her most depressed form with black hair, but this time without the place turning black. Aeryn stopped for a moment.
Nyrea took advantage of the moment to rediscover the astral consciousness of the sword. After the decoration work, Nyrea had a serious and sad expression. She sat in an armchair next to the cauldron.
The lights slowly started to get darker and the runes in purple and blue tones. The light took over the whole place, mixing with the remains at the end of the corridor. The strange creatures in the background felt the darkness and tried to leave. A shadow that looked like a deformed rat tried to get out and had its paw cut by the darkness made by Nyrea. It was not an abysmal darkness, but a darkness of emotions.
In the darkness her hair straightened and went black. The dress withered and turned black and purple. Nyrea put her hands on her face and started to cry.
- Yes. Just wait a little longer. Let's talk a little more.
They continued.
- So it's the end? - Aeryn said.
- I told you to wait a little longer. Let's see some memories.
They got up and started to dive into some memories. With each dive Aeryn grew weaker.
- Even if you lived my thousand years, you could get to know me. Aeryn, do you know how Mikhail died? - she replied immediately - Of old age and it hurt me more. We will continue in the memories.
- We couldn't explore everything, could we? - Aeryn said seated with tiredness.
- A lot was missing ... Twenty-four years and very young.
Nyrea closed her eyes and sighed and spoke, moving her black hair.
- Your father and Casimir were dominated by the same shadow. I have great suspicions that it is my brother or sister.
Memories: The primordial forge
Approximately 1200 years ago.
At the top of the hottest mountain, a forge in a cave was used to model powerful weapons. The crash of hammering and working gears echoed across the arid desert.
This primordial force that began to forge a sword with mystical runes, pulled an iron tube that extended through a large part of the cave to another hall with molds in silver, gold and diamond. There the tube fitted into the mold of a hammer.
While a hot liquid was poured into the mold of the sword, the same liquid seeped through the tube to the other mold in the other room.
It was not possible to store all the power of the runes in a single sword, so two weapons were created.
The forging hammer cracked the hot metal, echoing even more in the desert.
Nyrea clapped her hands hard to keep Aeryn from sleeping.
- Well, the time has come. Let me show you one last memory. A memory of yours. Our conscience came together at some point and some secrets you were unable to hide from me. It made me do some research ... The time has come.
They dove into memory.
...
"Look what I found, Aeryn," Casimir sat next to her. ''Do you know that word? ''Planinauta''. Here he reports that this type of entity has not been seen for centuries at that time and many seek rituals to forge and invoke that entity. But they always failed. They used artifacts as receptacles to contain the apparition, which they were unable to see. ''
"That's weird, but I don't think it fits here," snapped Aeryn.
"Don't worry, I'll leave that information stuck in my mind.", Smiled confidently Casimir.
...
- Just feel.
Nyrea touched weak Aeryn's forehead and the entire hall lit up.
Hi, I never played RPG so I'm not very good at developing characters. I'm going to edit this post until the deadline, but I'm already going to advance the character (I've even separated the arts to evolve it XD)
I also have a few story segments that I plan on finishing through the course of the week.
Congrats to @CassZero and @Usaername for getting 3rd and 4th place respectively! Both of you definitely deserved it.
I look forward to the final match. Congrats to @shadow123 and @MonkeyPirate2002 for getting there, and congrats to @CassZero and @Usaername for getting third and fourth place!
"İ̵͇ ̸̫̎w̶̻̿a̶͉͑ṉ̴͌t̸͖̐ ̴̠́t̸̳̑ơ̶̪ ̵̦̕ẗ̴̡h̷͒ͅä̷̝́ǹ̷͜k̸̞͗ ̵̟͋y̴͖͠ò̷̹u̴̠͑.̴̞̾"
"Huh?" Nilani asked, "Me? Who are you anyways?"
"I̸͙̔t̵̜̀'̶̼͝š̷̻ ̸͇͘c̸͉͠ơ̶̝m̶̓ͅp̵͠ͅl̵̝̔ȉ̷͜c̵̬̾a̸͙͆ť̸̥ệ̷d̴̝̚.̸̖͝ ̸͍͐A̴̡̎ṙ̵ͅe̷͇͗ ̸̬̏y̷͛ͅǫ̵̚ü̸͓ ̴̢͋w̸̲͌i̸̬̊l̴͈̈́l̶̼͛i̵͗ͅn̷̟͛g̷̙͆ ̸̗͐t̸̞̆ó̶͈ ̸̮̄ļ̸͒ị̶͋s̷͎͝t̵̻̔e̴̱̅n̵̘̋?̶͕͂"
Nilani nodded eagerly.
" I̴͔͒ ̴̲̊a̷̟͝m̷̭̊ ̴͔̒Ȧ̸ͅŕ̶̥d̴̯̈́ẽ̸̖n̵͔̓.̴̻͑ ̵̜̕O̷̡̓r̶̞̚,̴͙̓ ̵̚ͅẅ̶̢h̵̦͠a̵͑ͅṭ̴̛ ̷͔͌t̴̼́h̶͓̾ȩ̵̃ ̶̛̲Ṙ̷̪e̷̒͜d̴̩͗ ̵̦̚Q̶̩͝u̵̟̿e̵̯͑e̸̺͐n̶̛͇ ̴̥͘o̷̼̔n̴̟̚c̵̙̾ḙ̵̓ ̶͕̒w̷̨͝ȃ̶̳ŝ̵̟.̴̫̏ ̷͙͒Î̷̮ ̵̯͋w̴̽ͅä̸̼́s̸͑͜ ̶̑ͅẗ̵̜́h̶̤̑e̸͓̓ ̴̫̌i̴͎̓n̷̟̉n̴̻͝o̸̺͆c̸̝͊ë̶͜n̵͇̆t̶̲͒ ̶͍̑s̴̫̅ō̸͖ú̸͍l̶̘̈ ̶̘̈́w̸͘ͅi̶̗̔ṯ̵͆h̷̙͊ ̴̘̒a̶̰̽ ̵̻͆p̸̭̀u̴͖̕r̶̻̈́ë̴͙́ ̵̳̏w̸̮̚i̴̹̇l̷̘̆l̸͓̏.̷̹̈ ̴̗̈́Ă̵̲ ̶͖͋p̶͙̏u̴̢͝r̴͔̆e̶̥̿ ̵͔̉p̴̧̈́ụ̴̈́r̴̔͜p̷͓͋ȍ̶̲s̴̤̑ẹ̷͋.̷̘͛ ̶͛͜Ȃ̸̙ ̶̑ͅp̵̞͑u̵͇̅r̶̥͐ë̷̻́ ̸̞̌h̷̎ͅe̴̜͑à̸̳r̵̡̒t̷̨̾.̸͔͠ ̵̥̂I̷̞̒ ̴̡͠l̸̩̚o̶̭̍s̶̡̀t̸̳̐ ̵̮͝e̵͉͊v̶͚̽e̵̢̋r̵͔̄y̶͓͌ṭ̶͆h̴̭̓i̶̜̓n̸̂͜g̸̹̋ ̷̜̅b̸̛͎ȩ̶̽c̵̦̆ȃ̸̼u̸̳͝s̵͓͝e̵̘̾ ̶̮̌ȏ̵̥f̷̢͒ ̸̞̌t̵̫͑h̴̗͊e̶̥͂ ̸͎͆a̵̟̒b̶͔̿y̷̮͌s̵̜̆s̴̤̋.̸̜͝ ̷̜̑I̵̖̽n̷̠̾ ̷̘̃a̵̫̎n̷͚̿ ̶͚̐i̴͉͒ṋ̸͘s̴͈͌t̵̬͝â̶̝ņ̶̆t̸̖̊,̸̪͌ ̴̞͊ș̵̐ō̴̪m̵̢͆e̶͎͘t̴͙̀ẖ̸͌i̴̠̽n̵͎̒ġ̶̥ ̶̼́c̸̰͝ǒ̴͎n̶̲̋s̶͈̈́ù̵̗m̸͇̍e̵͖̽ḏ̴̅ ̶̮̍m̴̈́͜é̸̲.̶̤͝ ̵̠̽P̶͇̀ȯ̷̝w̶͖͑e̸͕̕r̷͉͆?̴̡͊ ̴̱̎Ǵ̸͔r̵̮̆e̴͐ͅe̵̼̎ḋ̵̝?̸̖̐ ̸̮̀Ï̴̹ ̸̼͂l̵͓͑o̷̲͑s̴̜͐ẗ̶̙ ̵͗ͅm̶͖͗y̴̳͂s̸̥̐e̴̯̾ḷ̵̾f̴̜̅ ̴͍̋w̷̹͑i̸̖̔t̶̲͝h̶̢͒ī̶̱n̷͓̓ ̴͈͝t̴̙̂h̷̦̉è̵̻ ̵̌͜p̴͈͗ő̷͍w̷͇̕e̴̥̽r̵̠͂.̶̟̂ ̴͓̽Í̶̩ ̵̙̉f̴̬̽ȇ̴̹l̸̫̽t̵̲̍ ̴̝̕p̸̻͛o̷̓ͅẁ̵͈e̸̟̎r̸͝ͅĺ̸̘ë̸̦s̵̡̎s̷̯̿ ̴̋͜i̴͈̚n̷̤͝ ̴͚͝m̷̦̍y̶̙͒ ̷̥͌n̴͎͛e̷̙͐ẃ̶͔ ̶̦̃š̷̫é̴̢l̸̹͠f̸̺̽.̸̻̐ ̷̨̐I̶̬̐ ̶̮̾ḵ̴͘n̵̮͑e̸̗̍w̵͚͊ ̴̬̽I̶̛̙ ̸̡͊ṋ̶̈e̷̟̕e̴̳̓d̴͈̒e̸̲̊d̸̳͐ ̸̤̓t̶͉͂o̴͇̐ ̵̀ͅe̶̲̋s̷̟̐c̸͖͝a̷̜͒p̸̰͊ȇ̸̗,̸̘̿ ̵͍̃b̸͖̈́u̶̘͗ẗ̵̘́ ̵͎͗Į̶͒ ̸̨̈́c̸̼͆o̴̢̐ǔ̵̫l̴̮̎d̸̪̀n̸͖̋'̸̢̚t̴̻͂.̴͓̏ ̷̰͆I̸̝̚ ̵̲͗w̷͗ͅǎ̸̲s̷̪̈ ̷͓͛t̷̛̰o̷̼͋ö̸͓́ ̶̩̑c̵̜̍ǎ̸̡ũ̷͉ǧ̵̱ḫ̴̏t̵͍͂ ̸̆ͅu̸͇͆p̵͈̈́ ̵͈͊ẉ̷͝i̶̮̚t̵̤̑ḧ̸́ͅ ̵̀͜ṛ̶̏e̶͎̾v̵̛̮ẻ̴͕n̴̨̏g̶̭̀e̶͓͒,̸̺͒ ̸̜̄g̸̳̀r̵͖̎į̵̆e̷̡͝f̴̙̉,̴̧̈́ ̷̖̈́ā̴̞n̸͕̑d̸͍̈ ̸̺̑g̷̠͗r̴͈̿e̸̛̜e̷̥͑d̶̲͐.̵̨́ ̷͍̒I̵̥͊ ̶̦̃j̵͇̏u̵̺̇s̵͙̾ț̷͠ ̴͘ͅw̷̞͐a̶̱̐n̴̜͝t̴͠ͅe̴̳͝ḏ̴̕ ̶̤͗t̴̮͊o̸͇̍ ̶̳̅d̸̫͆e̶͔͝s̶͕̊ť̷͚r̸͇̽ö̸̲́y̷̲͛ ̷͖̋m̵̭͆o̵̹͝r̵̭͊e̴̤͝.̵̗͛ ̵͔̂Y̴̝̎o̴̹̚u̴̹̎ ̵̭̿s̴͖̀ȇ̷͙e̵̝̋,̶͉͒ ̵̡͋w̷̮͋h̴̲̒e̸̝͂n̵͓̂ ̶͓͝y̸̥͠ó̵̱ü̴̜ ̴̺͑w̸̞̾e̸͜͝r̶̜̃ȇ̴̲ ̷͕̌b̵̹̅o̵̥̓r̴̯͌n̵̩͠,̸͇͒ ̵̻͌y̶͠ͅô̶͕ṵ̵̂ ̴̣͛ẃ̷̺e̷̛̟r̶̭͠e̵̙͗ ̶̞̔ẗ̵͓h̸̘̃e̸̾ͅ ̸̫̔r̵͚̀ě̸̙ḋ̸̯ ̷͎̊q̵͉̐u̴̝̒e̴̙͆ë̵̖́ṉ̵̊'̵̣̕s̵̬̀ ̴̝̐ẁ̷̮ô̵̮r̴̜͑s̵̠̾t̵̯̉ ̴̜͝ȅ̷̘ṉ̴͂è̵̗m̸͉͗y̷̖͌.̸̜̒ ̷͔̆N̸̦͗o̶̘͊t̵̥̆ ̶̭̆m̴̄ͅi̴̞̽ņ̸̄e̸͚̊.̶̗̈́ ̶̖͂T̷̡̚o̸͔͋ ̸̫̉ṃ̴́ẹ̸̎,̵͓̅ ̸̳̿y̴̹͒o̷̭͝u̵̟̍ ̴̛͜ẅ̵̜ě̷̱r̷̖̎ȇ̴͎ ̸̘̌á̶̦ ̶̧̎l̶̫̎i̷̛̖ä̴̜́b̶̪͝i̵͎̇l̵̖̇i̸̙̿t̸̝̅ý̴̘.̷͍͊ ̵̍ͅI̷͓̕ ̵̣̓s̸͈̑à̴̢ŵ̷̨ ̴͍̚m̵̞̔ȳ̸̼s̶̝̅ě̴̖l̸̖̀f̵̧̿ ̵͎̑ǐ̷͚n̸̟͋ ̴̏ͅy̷̪͌o̷̲͂ǔ̴̯.̸͎̑ ̶̳́Ḿ̷̨y̶̬͋ ̴͛͜p̸̧̑ỏ̶͖w̵͓̒e̵̤̊ȓ̷̞s̷̮͊.̷͚̕ ̵̪̐M̷̫̓ỵ̴̐ ̷̻̔ṗ̴͕ŭ̷̟r̷̩̅ê̸͖ ̶̧̓ȟ̴͈e̴̓ͅà̶̪r̷̮̚t̶́͜.̸̳͋ ̶̬͛Ỉ̴̘ ̸͖̿t̴͍͝r̵͈̊i̷͖̔é̴͓d̸̢̄ ̴̯̇t̵͚͌o̶̻̾ ̷̢̛k̸̲͗i̶̛̭l̶̪͝l̴̼̍ ̶̡̑ý̴̠ǫ̴̍ú̴̞ ̶̣̈́m̵̭̑a̷̳͝ṅ̴̞ẙ̵͈ ̵̱̾t̸̡̾ị̸̒m̴̳̍ẹ̴̐s̴̤̑,̶̤̐ ̸̲͊y̷͉̾e̷̡̍t̴̛̺,̷̱̚ ̵͚̓a̴̭̋f̴͔͂t̵͚̿e̵̩̕r̴͛ͅ ̶̯̑y̵̹͋ô̷̘ụ̴̕ṙ̸̩ ̷͔́ȩ̵̉n̶̘̕c̶̫̀o̷̡͂ų̶͌n̵̙̿t̵̗͋ȩ̶͝r̵̰̄ ̶̼͘w̷̤͊i̵̖̋t̸̑ͅh̷͙̍ ̴̱͊t̷̞͠h̸̭́e̴̝̋ ̴̙͌ä̷̢́b̴͕̔ŷ̷̜s̶͋͜s̶̤͝,̸̜̓ ̷̹̓Ḯ̷̢ ̵̟̑f̴̟̓o̸͕̐u̴̪̔n̶̗̓ď̴͙ ̶̯̚t̸̜͌h̵̻͑a̸͔͠t̵̬͝ ̴̩̽I̸̻͒ ̸̤̀c̵̘̓ọ̵̀ú̴̥l̴͓̀d̸̟̿n̴̟͝'̷̖̕ẗ̴̖́ ̵̩͛d̵͍͑e̶̕ͅf̴̱͐e̶̜̔a̵͕̽ṭ̵͐ ̶̖͂ỵ̵͆o̷̭͘u̵̧̅.̶̘̑ ̷͓͛I̵̥̊ ̴͈́ŗ̴͠e̷͈̽f̸͂ͅȗ̸͔s̵̡̓ē̸̺d̶̢̒ ̵̮̒ț̴̒o̴̹̕ ̴̦͑a̴̟͘c̴̗̔c̷̩͠e̵̳̅p̴̨̋t̸͎̐ ̸̥͐i̸͓͋t̷̩͋,̵͍͋ ̵̜͐a̵̝͐s̶̢̑ ̷͉̑t̶͎̏ẖ̷͠ē̵̙ ̴̌͜g̷͉̾r̵̛͎e̶̘̿ē̸̤d̶͈̃y̴̡͂ ̴̜͊q̴̥̾ŭ̸̧ë̸̪́ë̴͇n̶̪̅ ̴͙͘I̵̠͐ ̴̨́w̵̯̾ä̴̮́s̵̆͜.̵͙́ ̸̙̆B̶͕̊ù̷̟t̵̜̐,̵̳̉ ̴̮́Ḯ̵̦ ̸̹̃k̶͗ͅņ̷̿e̶͋ͅw̶̚ͅ ̴̅ͅt̷̲͑h̸̺͂a̶̗̋t̸̫͐ ̵̜̅y̸̝̿ȯ̶̳u̴̼̕ ̶͍͛n̷̜̓ë̸̩́ê̸͈d̴̩͒e̴̲͐ḓ̵͌ ̸̣̔ğ̴̩u̸̘̾i̵͓͐d̷͕͑a̵̲̾n̸̤̾c̵̜͌ĕ̴͚.̴͓̅ ̶͉̿T̴͔̊h̶͕̎e̴̤͐ ̶̠̾a̶̽͜b̴̊ͅȳ̷͔s̸͉͊s̵̯͝ȧ̴̦l̵̩̔ ̴̖́v̴̞͆o̷̙͊i̴͔̔c̷̼͒ȩ̶̔?̶͙̂ ̵̹͂T̴̩͂ḫ̶̄â̴͜ṫ̸̯ ̶̩̌ẁ̷̥ḁ̵̕s̵̭͊ ̸͓͛m̸̙̒i̴̜̅n̸̞̕e̷̳͐.̵͎̽ ̸̣͗Ỉ̶͓ ̸͈̽ḍ̸͊ï̵̜d̸̙̂ ̴̩̂e̶̠̊v̶̡̌e̴̞͑r̴͇͗y̸̜͠t̵̯͋h̴͖̉í̸̥ņ̷̃g̸̦̾ ̶͕̀Ǐ̵̦ ̴̠̓c̵̦̋ǒ̵̖ū̷̬l̸͇̓ḑ̷̈́,̷͚̅ ̷͕̾ó̴̼r̷̈́͜ ̶͍̈Ȧ̷̜r̵̬͑d̷͈̿e̷̜̚n̷̢̿ ̵̥̎d̷͈͠ï̷̹d̵͖͊ ̷̺̀e̴̬̒ṽ̴̖e̴͓͝r̵̛̳ỳ̶͚t̷͔̆h̸̼̊i̵̛͎n̶̤̿g̷͇͝ ̸̛̰s̵͈͝h̴̗͌e̴̡͋ ̴̦͊c̷͉̋o̴͈̓ù̷̫ĺ̸̻d̸̢̈́ ̷̼̿w̷̦̃h̶̜̕ĭ̷̢l̶̠͗ȅ̶ͅ ̴̡̈t̸͚̿h̶̗̐ē̵̝ ̶̞̋R̶͓͊e̸̲͑d̴͇̋ ̸̹̀Q̷͉͐ų̷̍ë̷͉́ė̴̙ṋ̶̈́ ̵͔̀r̷͖̆ả̷̱v̷̲͊á̷̖g̶̼͐e̸̩̚ḍ̴̌ ̵̦̌t̸̜͐h̸̼͐e̸͇̔ ̸̱̄ḽ̷͠a̵̳͝n̸̤͘d̴̬͛.̵̺͆. "
"This is hard to believe..." Nilani replied, "The red queen was my worst enemy? Why would Arden, or whatever her name actually was be any better?"
There was a painful expression on Arden's face. Something still felt...wrong.
"P̶͉̈l̶͇̓ẹ̴̉a̸͖͗s̶̭͐e̸̝̓,̵̠̈ ̴͈͋N̸̩͛i̶͈̐l̷͙̒a̸̡̎n̸̺̉ì̷̝.̶̘́ ̶̱̅L̷̢̀e̸͚̽t̵̛̥ ̶̘̿m̸͙͛e̴̯̓ ̴̢͆s̸̠̀h̵͇͘ô̶̻w̷̬͛ ̵̥͐ÿ̶ͅo̸͇̔ű̵͎ ̶̻̋m̴͖̃ȳ̶ͅ ̴̩̍s̸̤̍t̷̯̿o̵͖͐r̵̛͍y̵̯̓.̵̼̾ ̶̻̄Ỳ̷̰ȯ̴͈ụ̸̕ ̸̯̀m̴̤̌i̷̙̊g̶͖͘h̶̩̕t̶̯̾ ̸̬̈́f̵̯͂ĭ̵̖n̶͈̂d̶͇̉ ̵̦̃t̷̍͜h̵̥͑a̵͎͋t̷͚͋ ̷̝͑w̷̰̍è̸͇ ̶̜͋a̵̳͝r̸͕̈́e̶͙̿ ̵̮͝ǹ̴̜o̷̹͆ẗ̵͍́ ̴̨̊ṱ̵̅h̷̟̀a̷̙͐t̷͉̑ ̵͉̂d̵̼̔i̶͇̐f̶͍̕f̴͇̃e̶̬͘r̸̲͝e̸̦̚n̵̡͠t̴̪̀ ̴̝̓a̵̝͠f̸̨̃t̷̨̔e̵̮͆r̴̗͊ ̵̮͑a̴̼͒l̵̟̓l̸͈͗.̸̥̇"
Nilani hesitated.
Maybe, I do want to know more...
She nodded curtly. Arden smiled. There was an odd aura surrounding the spirit. The flowers on the tree wilted and died. Nilani felt an odd feeling in her stomach and then a dark spell flew towards her. Nilani didn't have time to react. It contacted with Nilani's head and she immediately fell into a trance.
(To Be Continued)
She only took since it was supposed to be her last fight after all, but since she did not lose it would make more sense if she still had the last still possession. (Except the whole summoning a Terror Arkanai thing, but not everything can go by the book.)
Usaername I think my message came out wrong.
If a match would have been fought under the current conditions, Aeryn would have won. Thus she receives the 3rd place. It is not an act of kindness.
(FLASHBACK INTO ARDEN'S MEMORIES!! - 27 years ago)
There was a young girl standing in a ballroom in a large castle. She had long jet black hair that beautifully contrasted her pale skin. Beautiful red lights soared from the girl's fingertips, lighting up the dark ballroom instantly.
Two people watched the girl- the king and queen of the small kingdom.
"Her magic- Isn't it beautiful?" the queen asked softly.
"Indeed. But we must know that power lies within that beautiful power. We must be...careful."
The young girl seemed to hear the conversation. The glowing lights flickered out and Arden ran to her parents.
-----
The colors faded away. Nilani felt herself falling through more memories. The girl seemed to be growing too. Happily. Just like Nilani. Then, lights flashed again. Something jerked Nilani into a new scene:
(24 years ago)
The young girl had grown now. She was a teenager. Maybe thirteen years, perhaps? She was in a large open field practicing her magic. Red light swirled around her as red invocations towered over her. She felt happy. She was free.
"Arden!" a male voice snapped, "Practicing magic again? You ought to stop this! You could hurt someone."
"But Papa, I would never-"
"This is not up for debate."
Arden stormed inside, dispersing all the beautiful light she was playing with. A few minutes later, she heard voices inside.
"You think it's wise? To keep her magic chained? She's almost captured in her own home." Arden's mother said.
"It's for her own good. Besides, she's defying us and practicing anyways! Someday, she'll regret it when she loses control," the king responded.
-----
That's just like me! In a way... I mean I was chained by Mystus. And I did practice in secret too...
Then, Nilani felt herself enter another memory:
(22 years ago)
Arden was walking in a park. She was fifteen now. Her father was harsh to her, like always, and her mother didn't ever try to stand up for her. Well, not much. That's for sure. While she continued through the path she walked every day, she made eye contact with someone she had never seen before.
He was tall and had beautiful hazel eyes. His hair was a handsome dirty-blonde color and he was well built too. He walked over to Arden.
"Hi," He said, "My name is Oswald."
Arden blushed. Her cheeks were almost the color of her deep red magic. She tried to respond but nothing would come out. Finally, after a few moments, she managed to say, "A- Arden."
-----
Nilani thought about Akuma. Her best friend. Would Arden lose Oswald too? Nilani fell into another scene:
(20 years ago)
"Arden?" the queen asked her daughter as she left the castle, "You'll be safe won't you? Be careful. You never know what will hurt you in the outside world. You're a powerful mage, but don't let anything get to your head."
"Yes, mama."
The girl stepped out of the castle grounds for the first time. Excitement filled her heart. She was to meet her prince from the neighboring kingdom for the second time. Ever since she had met him, she had fallen madly in love. She trained for him. She worked for him. She laughed for him. She cried for him. Not that he knew anyways.
It was a weeks journey to her prince's castle and Arden had so much to think about. She was young. Seventeen to be exact and the prince, Oswald, was 19. He had hazel eyes and handsome dirty blonde hair. Not to mention that he was quite tall and well-built too. Arden couldn't stop thinking of him. Oswald was kind and always put a smile on her face. In her traveling robes, she carried a note that she'd give to him when she arrived and an expensive present for him before she left.
Days later, she arrived at the beautiful castle. It was much larger and prettier than her own, that was for sure. She was anxious to see him. With a quick wave of her hand, she cast a spell to move the door knocker. The door opened slowly. Oswald's parents greeted her oddly.
"Oh, Arden!" the king smiled halfheartedly, "Come in!"
"We didn't know you'd arrive so early," the Oswald's mother added, "W-we haven't prepared everything yet!"
"You don't need to prepare anything for me," Arden replied sweetly, "All I care about is Oswald. I think I'll surprise him in his room now if he doesn't know I'm here!"
She walked up the large flight of spiraling marble stairs to the top, where Oswalds room was. Before she entered, she took the note out of her pocket.
She burst open the door and yelled, "Surprise!"
No response. She was appalled to find her prince sprawled on the floor. There was a knife in his hands with blood on it. There was a clean cut in his neck.
"Did he..?"
There was a note in his hands. It read:
Today I discovered power beyond any other in my own closet. I found a dark portal. When I stepped inside it, I found a domain full with a powerful force- the abyss. I had only heard of it in ancient tales about Septhis, the monster of the abyss. The power overwhelmed me. I felt like I wanted needed it. I'm scared of what I could do with this power so close to me. Scared of what I could become. Arden, the love of my life told me what could happen to those with such power long ago. So, I decided to end it. End everything. I can't let Arden or anyone else get hurt. I just wish I could have spent more time with her.
Oswald's parents burst into the room.
"She-"
With tears streaming from her eyes, she let a blast out from her hands. It struck the king in the heart. Killing him instantly. Oswald's mother backed into a wall. Her eyes were pleading for mercy from Arden's devastating magic.
"How could you?" Arden shouted at Oswald's mother, "How could you let him? He was the only one I cared about. How could you be so careless?"
The princess let loose a powerful blast in a cry of fury. The castle crumbled to dust. So did Oswald's mother and everyone else inside it. The princess didn't care anymore. She didn't have to. She had cared for only one person. And since he was gone, everyone and everything would pay. Arden turned to the black portal that survived the blast. She entered it.Darkness overwhelmed the 17 year old. She felt power around her. It was comforting. It was comforting in the midst of all her pain. She embraced it. She knew there was no turning back. The princess walked down the dark pathway. Something inside her was trying to escape. Something inside her was crying over the destruction she had caused. But the problem was, the alluring power of the abyss made her want more. The old Arden became became buried inside her greed and rage.
Months later, when she arrived back at her home, both of Arden's parents were sitting peacefully in the throne room. Then, there was a huge blast of energy. In an instant, both of them were dead, the room was destroyed. Arden emerged from behind her mother's broken throne. She wasn't crying. Her face was just full of rage.
"The world won't know me as Arden anymore. When they hear my name, they will fear me."
She raised her hand, reducing both thrones to dust.
"I am The Red Queen"
The lost "Arden" inside of her tried to escape. She pleaded for help. For a way to escape the grasp of the abyss.
----What if...I become like that? Is- is Akuma okay?
Nilani awoke from her trance. The spirit of Arden was gone.
"Arden? Arden!"
I need to find Septhis. That monster I saw. Maybe, I can find answers to the final questions I have...
*crying intensifies*
Marian heard screams outside the library and left without talking to her informant, but she would be back soon. As she left, the streets were in chaos. From afar it was possible to see dragons and volleys of arrows looking for a common opponent. She ran to the city entrance. I hoped Aeryn hadn't gone to a losing fight.
She ran through the city and felt a pain in her ribs. Marian hoped the stitches hadn't opened up.
Suddenly a crash indicated an invasion. She picked up her pace. Seconds later a strong light appeared in the skies and an agonized roar ceased. Marian ran without caring about the pain in her ribs.
Coming close to one of the main streets, amid rubble and a small shower of ash, Brynn came to Aeryn's stillness.
- What happened here? - shouted Marian from a distance. Brynn turned but paid little attention.
Marian came closer where, unexpectedly, Aeryn started to shine forcing Brynn to distance herself. The light grew stronger and Aeryn's white whips started to hit the street. Marian stepped back and Brynn was thrown into a barrel in the street.
Marian ran to Brynn with the broken wing.
- Are you alright?
- Yes - said Brynn -, who are you?"
- I'm Aeryn's friend and supportive knight - Marian said -, but the question I ask is what happened here?
Brynn showed to be strong and it was not possible to see if she was crying or if it was the mixture of the pain of the wing with the ashes of the monster faced by Aeryn.
- I dont know. This kingdom was corrupted by this strange force. I need to recover to fight again - Brynn staggered.
- Calm down - Marian said -, you are hurt. I remember your fight with Aeryn. Come with me. I had gathered some people to get away from here before something bad happened. It was Aeryn's wish, but I ended up convincing her to stay. The fault is mine.
Marian gritted her teeth in anger. Brynn put a good hand on Marian's shoulder for support.
- Let's get out of here. Guilt is far from here and it is not a person we can face now.
Moments later Marian and Brynn arrived at the library. It was empty and dimly lit. At the end of the corridor they met the others mentioned. Renain was with his wife and child. Lady Miljivan was apprehensive about the last of her guard knights. And finally a woman with brown hair.
- I don't think we have any more time. I saw from the pages of my book that Aeryn was defeated. Let's just get out of here. It's over - said Marian's brown-haired informant.
@Atriark
Deep within the desecrated forest, Niran patiently observed the dying white fire. Even at such a distance, Niran was forced to squint as the power overwhelmed her senses. Its warmth was so intense that it slightly singed Niran’s ashen skin from miles away. But she did not mind the pain. In fact, it was refreshing to be awoken from this power-driven stupor, to realize that she was not on top of the pecking order. All it meant was that she would have more fun knocking the whole thing down.
É̷̝̰̓̍̄͊͛̔͛̃̈́ṋ̸͇̯͍̉̽̉̇̆͑̀͐̋͛̔͗͝j̸͉͉̱͇̲̱̼͔̘̗͗̄̇ő̷̧̨̹̋̀̀̕͘̚y̷̨͙̦̫͓͓̪̱̼͊̽͂͑͗̔̄̃̕͜͠ï̵̛͖̃̄͋͌̓̆̿̄͘͠͝ṇ̸̨̨̛̪͈͔̠̠̠͍̉̊̎̂͑̍̾̍̏̾͂̿ģ̵͎̹͍̯̻̳̼̿͗̒̍̈́̇̈́ ̶̛̍̒͛̒͜y̶̟͈̙̐̅̋̓͋̈́̒̎̉͝o̵͙̎̈́̾̾͘͜ų̸̡̢̛͍̞̜́̆̐͗̃̾̑́̓͑͘͜r̴͍̆s̴̯͉̰͓̤̜͙̗̀̎̔̂̅̈͊͆̅̽͝ͅe̴͎̰͕̰̳̮͍̱̙͛̅̄̎͊̂͑ḷ̴̰̹̘̻̋͠f̴͍̩̰͖̬̤̫͈̩͐͒̅̏̆̿,̷̨̳̯̮̞̱̤̪̻̟͎͈͙̋ͅ ̴̦̟̙̘̞͓̼̣͓̝̝̼̟̤̃̐̿̅͑̈̀̿͂̕͝a̸̢̰͙͉͕̯͗r̶̨͇̥̪̺̯͔̹̾͌͆̿̍̑́͒̐̈̈́̚͝ę̵̩̭͉̳̥͍̗̖̥͇͚̩͇͍̓͗͒n̶̡̨̤͕̮͎̋̇͆͒̀͛̍̃̈́͗̉̚͝͝͝ͅ’̸̙̺̜̥̹͈̼̜̙̣͓͗͜t̵͕̤͚́͊̾͛̀̒͌̅̽̂̈͐̀͝ ̸̟̬̋̿͗̓̆̈͑̿̓̂͝ͅy̶̲̥̗͚͉̥͊̊̈̌̅̑ơ̶̮̬̹͚̻̗̰̏̎͒̈̈́̓̑͐̚̕͠͠ͅu̶͎̖͋̓̇?̴̡̥͓̜̠̻͕̫̝͕̥̩̘̥͋͋̈́̇͒̓͑̈́͑̀
̶̧̛̙̘̰̻͎̫̘͎̩̳̗͔̥͔̌̍͂̑̈́̉́͑̍̍͑͑̕B̵̢͚̜̞͚̈́̓̉̋̆̓̅̀ű̶̡̡͓̰͕̘̠̬̘̯̪̺̔̊͗̽̑͜͠͠t̷͙̜̖̱̪̟̬̆̿͋͋̀́͛̏͌͝͝ ̵̥͓̠̜͉͙̖̬͕͈͍̍̎̈́̇͑͑̀̀͌i̵̢̨͎̬͕̅̀t̴̢̎̋̈͊̍̆͌̎͝͝͠’̶̛͕̱̲̮̬͉̳̋͒͊̃̓͌̀̍͂͒̎̕ͅs̵̟͉̍̂͌̓̀͘ ̵̡̧̦̭̀͌̎̈́̈̽̅̃̿̎̐̕͜͝͝s̷̛̩̟̹̩̝͈̖̣̖̖͛̈́̎o̸̢̦̝̩̩̫͈̖̠̦̦͌̋̃̔̍̂̉̇̄̾̋̀͗ ̶̡̘̳̯͎̟̝͈̪͐̑͌́̔̐͜͜ͅm̵̧̜̻̠͔̳̩̽̊̌̕ͅu̶̬̬̙͙̜̰̜̰͚̩̲͐́̅̉̆̚̕͝c̷͍̤̜̹̤̀̏̏̇ḩ̸͎͎͕͎̩̎́̽͑̋̏͘ ̵̳̆̐̔̀́̀̑̊͊̃̂̃̚͘͝f̷̢̨̛̯͓̩̹̳̟̪̺̰͙̬͊͆͒̓̆́͒̌̽̏̈́̾͝u̵̡͎̲̰͖͂͑͑̎̄̚̚̚ù̴̮ͅu̶̮͍͙̣̮̖̽͘u̷̠̼͕̬̼͚̱̩̟͓̔͗̾́̋̀ͅų̸̟̯̘̠̰̫̗͕͍̠͉̪̜̆̽̊̓̈́̃̽͘͜n̷̤͚̳̟͉͑̅̃̑͋̑̐̕ͅ ̸̡̛͕̖̭̫͍͙̠̗̖̹̫̝̌͒̈͘͘ͅt̴̬͚̼̞̥͎̫̻͖̂͜͝ō̷̳̗̔̃̀͆̌͋̐͊̾͘͝͝ ̵͚̤̦̱̖̪̯͐̿ͅî̴̢̤̤̦͈̠̱͈̩̒̿̒͊͋͒́m̸̧̢̛̼͓͍͔̣̱͇̰͓̯̱̆̔́͗͛̌̂̈̚͝͝͠a̵̧͓͔̥̝̣͋̔͂̑g̴̢̭̝̯̟̗̫̓̉͑̌̔i̵̬̳͈͎̳͙͙̺̰͖̥̪̻͊̊̒̈́̍͘ņ̴̺̲̯͔̗̙̘̘͉̆̕͜ẹ̴͖̇̍͌͊̈́̐̌̾͐̓͠͝͝ ̵̢̡̛͕̥̹̠̙̗͆̈̈́͆̽̄͌t̶̛̰͇̞͚̠͖͕͉̣͉̖̝̹̮̍͗̒̈́̈́̓̈́͜͠͝h̴̻́̃͐͑̋̕͝è̶̲͔͔͎͙͙̰͍̆͛̑̋́̉̓̾͑͘ͅi̸̩̩̊͋̈́͋̉̃̅̆͌̒͆̿͘r̴͚̤̳̹̮͖̼̭̗͇͉͎̭͊̊͊̋͊̾͂̾͘̕ ̸̫̙͋̑͐̿͋̾̐̚̕͠d̵͉̯͇͒e̸̜̫̳̻̗͉͙̝͓̣̦̗͂͌̂̈́͂̆̈͌͛̏̅̀́͘ą̷̡̛̹̤̬̤̺̯͉̣̹̰̦͖̋̈́̈́́̈́̿͊̈́̒͝t̸͕͉̬̯̮̱̦̫̣̾͑͜͝ḩ̵̡͈͇̩̩̯͇̥̑̀̓s̵̡̘̮̰͔̦̤̗̳̔̈͐̉̉̽͘̚ͅ!̴͍̮͓͇̲̬̞͙̠̘͇̣̄͛̇̃̏
̵̟̭͙̳͕̀͗͆͋̄̃͠N̴̛̳̝̖̤͈͉͍̾̿̊̂̊̔̉̒͆͋̅̓̒e̸̛̻͕̺̘̻̩̩͎̦̙͔͒̉͗̓͛̍͗̉͑͜͜ͅe̴̟̼̗̱̟͎̓͌̂̆͊̉̓̄̓̓̈́d̵̲̦̍̊̍ ̸͙̣̌͂͗̿͝ͅI̸͉̰͇̯̭̬̾̍̄̈̈́̓͜ ̵̧̨̫̝̜͉͈̮̤̗̝̩̣̖͋͒̃r̷̡͉̞̠͚̜̪͕̖͇͇̈́̑̈͌̑̏̎ę̶̛̳̼̆͊̄͘͝m̵̟͕̰̳̹̌͌̏̍̾̊̌͂͂͗͘͘͠ḯ̶̹̫̜̉̈̓͑̾̈͂̓́͊͐͗̽͋n̴̢̢̡̗̰̣̰͗͒̀̋̌̀̎͑̏͂͛́̄̑̚d̴͇̱̠̦̪̪̱̺̙̭̽̈́̿̏̑̒͊̾͛̍͑̕͜͠͝ ̶̨̡̙̦̻̳͓̗͉̩̪̬̣͛̈́̈́̒̍̿͑̅̈́̚͝͝͠ỷ̷̡̛͈̩̫͉̪̼̥͔͍̓̍̈́̈́̎̊ỏ̴͇̟̯͖̘͉̦̪͂́̈́̿̓̂͒̏̑ṵ̵̙̩̹̗̰̲̞̫̰̯̹͊̒ͅ ̵̤̼̰̦̎ẗ̶͔̱̹͍͍̮̰͖͇͚̠͈́͂̓̾͆̈́̀̊ͅh̶̠̤̠͖̤̆̈́͘͜ä̶̰͚͓͖̗̹̼̙̠̤̪͈́̓̇̅̃͗̈́̈͝t̶̛͍̦̖͓̩̯̳͈̬̗͎͋̎͒̀̋̐̀̎͜͜͝͝ ̷͚̮̬̭̦̖̠͈̫̝͖͚͖̺̾͛͐̔̅̄͊̀̂̇͝͠ț̶̫̤̹̑̓͒͘ͅh̸̜̦̠͈́͒̊e̸̞̯̋̈́́̋̓ŗ̷̼̱͕̟͔͓̥̮̿̍̆̀̐̈́͊͗͗e̸̢̬̥̳̝̟̻̯̰͇̜̥͕̠̅̎̿̎̈́̌͝ ̸̛͖͖̹̦̟̣̟͙͖̯̥̆͊̈̊̔̿̍̒͌̿͗͐͠ą̴̦͕͚̥̟̽̍̈́͊̿͐̋̈̅̆͝͠͝ͅṟ̵̉́̾́̕͘e̷̢̨̳̮̱͆̆̈͐̀̅͗̓̚͝ ̴̼̦͓͚̺̲͈̿̌̿̒̔̋͝͝g̸̢̩͔͕͓̬̹̖͋̅̿̍̆͛̓͊͝ṛ̸̢͈͖̝̼̙̰̈́́̃̂̊͠e̵̡̬͖̬͇̮̭̘͓̳̪̠͎̥͑̿̆͗̐́̋͂̂̋̕a̴͚͚̳͙͗̿ţ̵̢̨̢̱̯͔͈̇͛͜͜͠e̷̖͇̞͔̞͈̅͌͆̔̈́̓̿͌̒̀̀͗̓͠͝r̸̮͎̠̝̀̍͆͌̔̽̈̈́̅̔̆͝͝ ̷̡̡̧͍̼͕͈̽̊̊̓̏̀̃̃̐͌f̶̙̙̓͘̕͝o̶̪̮̲̤̦̅ͅr̵̡̧̢̰̲̳̺̐́͐ͅç̷̠̜̥͉̺̣̺̯̘̓̂̊̇̀̒́̀̄͘͜͝ë̴̡̨̢̢̢̩̦̟̳͕͙͔̭́̀̀̒̔̆̏̀̿͘s̶̢̛̱̟̯̗̠̘͔͈͉̮̙̈́́͗̍̃͠ ̴̘͊͋̋̒̈́͆̂͗̉͝ͅa̵͔̖̦͒́̈͂̃͂̎͗̚͘̕͝t̶̡̡̹̲͍̜̯̬̂̈́͐̌͊͛͐̆͐͌̉̄̕͝͝ ̴̛̬̏͑̈́͋̒͑͘͠͝p̶̪̩̦͓͓̣̻̈́͂̓̃̿́̏̆͒̍͊͋͘̕l̴̢̢̜̘̟͉͓̩̙̤̘̊̃͌̑̈̿̀͐̒̌̓̏͑͛̚a̵̘͔͔͚̤͎͇̼̮̳̭̍̃̽̓̅̋̈́͛͘͜͠͝͝ÿ̶̠͇͕͙́͐̓̔͐̾̂͝ ̵̧̢̡͚͕̖͖͈̤͍̻̠͇͗̌̍̇̑̎̌͐̑̔͆̄̑̕ẖ̷̛͍̲͖̤̼̱͌̇͑̋͑̿́̑̑͐̕̚͝ẽ̵̫̽̔̒͂̂̉̌͗͒͂̈́͘̕͠r̸̦̩̮̳͐̈́̈́́̇̕̚ę̴̨̼͚̪̣̹̰͇͖̈́̽͊͂̒͐̓̄̋͒͂͆̚͜͠?̸̨̛̜̟̺͋̆͋̂ ̸͚̦̿̐̍W̶̨̬̙̥̹͙̼̜̼̬̺̟̙̙͇̉́̂͗̌̀̆̈́͘e̴̝̅̊̆̂̔̀͠ ̷̥̦͎̫͐̔͂̋̄̆͘w̴̡̺̠̗̳̻̣̟̘̆̏͂̈́̄̔́͆̚͜i̵̛̳̝̘̰̒̓̑̓̉͛̀͌̚͝͠͠l̶̖̍͋̈́ḻ̵̄̎̊̇̔ ̵̞̫̜̺͚̇̉͆̉͆͑́̅̋͒̈̄͑́ó̵̧̨͖̟̤̜̇͌͆͊͆́̚̕̕͠͝n̶͙͙̙̣̔̄̓̆̔̒̕͝͝l̵̨̙͎͓̭̲̝͉͙͇͆̂̀̉̑͑̊̓̓̔͜͝ẏ̵̩͇̱̥͖̬͎̠̠̹̿̂͜͝ ̸̨̖̳̦̟̰̓̅̽̐d̶̛̗̺̿̌̎̔͒̔͌̒̐͘͘̕ͅi̴͓̘͍͖̜̭̮̜͉̜̯͓̺̹̭̐̍̆̑̑̿̄͂̆̚͝ȩ̶̙͔̣̖̪̀̒̿͘ ̸̨̟̮͌͛͛͌̈́͋͑͛̽͘̕͜ͅị̸͕̤̞̻̩̭͇͔̺̟̟̫̥͋̿̎͂͠͠ͅf̴̨̢̢̙͍̯͓̳̤̰͔̺̼͐̀̃͒͘͝ ̵̨̹̰̹͈̫̰͓͇̥̠͇̮̩̉͂̀̏͑͊̒͒͊̉͠w̶̧̳͇͚̗͓̩̩̮̅̈̂̓͛̑͂̋̆̕͝͠ͅë̴̡͚̣̹͈̥̰̣̦́̽́͋ ̸̛͕̭̟̥͔͙̩͇̾̎̍̾͐̈́̂̒̀̀̋̕ͅf̷̡̛̠̥̱͙̬̘̞͎̥̩̣͈͙̒͗́̎̒́̌͐̌ạ̸́̍̅́́͐̊̐ͅç̷̪̼̺̜͍̻̞̰̋̍̿̽͊͆e̴̡̻̩͍̣͓̟̱͖͚̣̗̗̰͔̐̈̂̓̓̀͊̈́͗̈́̓͝͠ ̷̧̨̢͙̞̝͍̻̖̗̹̾̊́̄͒̅͜͜t̵͙̯̳͈̤̳̲͔̮͛̊̇̔̏̔h̷͔̰͚͑̄̈̈͌̉͘̚͠ë̴͔͇͔̲̜͖̲͕͖͇͈́̋̅̒̚̚ͅṁ̶̯͉͙̘̱̓̉͆̇̿͘ ̶̪͍̜͚̹͍͈̩̳͎͔̣̬͈͐̐̉̓̿̀̎͝ͅh̵̡̜̣̲͈̻̣͓͈̪͙̣͖̺̉̾̎̌̿̅͑̎̚͜͝͠ḛ̶͚͇̳̔̋̄͛͑̎͐͌͘ȃ̵̧̫̣͑d̸̜͑͗͊ ̶̨̮̻̻̞̹̾̊͝ͅo̵̧̲̩̞̥̱̟̩͋̽̌̐̀̊̊̃͘n̵̝̙̩̼͍̫͚͇͔͍̥̹͌.̵̛̳͓̞̼͍̮͉͖̓͆̒̾̈́̈͘
̸̳͕̃̏̀̆͗̅̇̑̋͠͝Ḁ̷̛̞̤͎̣̭̗̖͓̋̈́͗̌̅̌̎̓̐̈́̕̚͜ẅ̷̭̻͍̯́̓̄̄̋͑ͅw̶̛̳͔͕͙̜̘̜̣͉͍̺̔̽̇̿͊̃̒̋͋͛̀͝w̶̨̡͍̮͇͈͇̪̄̑͌́͌̾́̈́̿̑̉͘̚̕͜ŵ̸̬̙͓͈̭͜w̵̛̭̟̺͇͍̰͇̺̃̓̀̈́͠,̶̰̯̬͕̮͌̇͐̑͗ ̵̖͓̌̈́̿̀̊̑͘c̶̫̥͆̃̈́̀͆̾̋́̚̕o̴͍̩̻̺̥͎͕͔̖̤̼͈̫͇̣͆͐̓͂͛̾͛̀̐͂̋̏͑̓̍ḿ̷̡̬̩͔̯̟̆̔̔̂͌̈́̈́̿̕͝e̵̢̢̘̩̙͕̩͙͑͆̋̈́̈́̇̎̕͜ ̷̢̧̡̢͚̳̅̎̀̃̓͆͌̒̀̍͆̈́̂̕͜o̴͈̓̓͘n̴͇̣̟̮͚̤͍̲̈́̃͌̉͐̋̋̀͠!̵̞̩͈̥͕̩͆̂͘ ̵̳̦͖̬̈́̅W̴̧̡̛̫͎̳̻͆̓̅̂̎̇͋͋͊͊͊̚͜͠h̶̫̘̤̰̦̭̤̘̩͛̅͜ỹ̷̛͈̦̙̜̰̜̳͚̝̦͒́̐͜ ̷̗̮̗͇̜̞͛͌͒̕ḑ̵͇̩̩̻͚̦͚̳̥̱͕̹͔́̓̄͑̓̅͌͛̇̚͘͜o̶̡̧̜̰̹̼͔̼͚̭̠͙̝̮̓̈́̀̓̍̉͌̅͛̆͘͘ ̸͔̩͓̜̙̞̟̗̩̲̗́͌̔̈́̃̒̏̔̽͘̚̕͜͜y̸͙͈̰͚̝͕̺͕͖̩̌̂̈́̅̈́̓̌̆͘̕͘͝ọ̵̠̦̬͍͍̗̦̣̻͇̘͕͍̈́̅̉̂̄͂̌u̵͋̀̅̀͑͑͗͗̊̓͜ͅ ̷̲̣̠̬̗̲̮͓̞͈̝̊͋́̊͋̍͛̍̈́͛̕̕͘͜h̷̙̟̗̃̀́̽̍͐͌å̶̯̪͚̼̝̬͖̜̣̖̮̃͑̍́̈́v̶̺͈͓͊̐̊̔͊̓͊̒̊̂́́͆̀͠ȩ̴̨̨̖̯̬̠̤̰̗̬̙̿ͅ ̸̭̱͔͈̬͈̮͍͛̾̊̀́͋̈́̑͌̃̕ͅţ̴̨̡͉̮͓̺͙̆͑̈́̾͌̈̉̈́̒̍͠ō̶̯̟̩̝̞̱͙̜̭̥̼̪̜̾̌̚̚͠ͅ ̸͖̩̥̣̦̺̩͍̉̂̅̾̈́́̉̓ͅb̸̧̛͎̲̗͉̟̰̮̜͈̗͙̑̊͊̆̃̉͗͗͠ḛ̸̜̫̹̫̳̜̩̜̙̯̼͕̍̀͛͂̑͂͜ ̶̧̡͙̩̦͇̯̮̳̥̟͍͇̲̿͐̉̎̄̿̆̓͗̔̔̕s̶̢̳̩͍̫͈͉̳̼͒͊͛̓̔͐̎̈́̍̃̚o̸͔̗̜̲̪̯̳͖̗͇͇̼͑̿̓̋͜ͅ ̵͕͉͎͔̩̃́̏͊̃͋̎̉̀b̸̨̠̖͈͖̘̮̥̩̟̅͗̽̃̊̾̌̾͗̏͝o̶̢͎̞̫̩͔̺̝̲̮̽̾͋͛̄̎̈̈́̾̄͋̉̕͜ǒ̸̢̝̞̣̭̼̣͉ö̶̡̖̩̰̺́̅̊̕̕ǫ̸̡͉̭̙͇̘̹͕̠͈̜̮͇̑̈͐̄̓͒̐͛̚̕ͅô̷̢̠͉̬͕̮̭̪̤̳̇̎͘͜͝ͅr̶̢̢͙͕̝̦̪͍̞̐̿̆͗į̶̩̠̖̦̥͙̯͍͔͒̔̃͗͋̆̈̓͑̏̏͂̚̕̕n̶̼̬̰̰̣̙͠g̷̢̧̭͔͚̬͍̪̺̈́̊͜?̴̲͖̯̣̌̍̐̋̏́̐͊͜͝!̶̡͚̗͉͎̥͉̘̰̩̗̹̲̮͕̓̒͂̅̾̇̍̑́̓̌̎́͘̚
̶̡̪̳̫̩̂̈́̅̎̎͐̓͛̓͑̂͌Ĭ̸̧̫͎͕̭̼̱͔̭͉̬͌̈́̏ņ̵̨̻̭̺̙̝̣̮̭̥͙̙̥͑͊̊̃́̓̈̒͌̕s̸͓̼͌̃̅̀́̏̚͝ǔ̷̡̨͚̜͎͓̯̮̮͖̦̰̓̈͑͋́̐͂͜f̷̧̨̟̹͖̞̣͎̥͕̥͎̯̰̫͂͊̈́̐͒̊͠͝f̴̧̺̖̪͕͙̞̬͎̣̭̪̺͋̂̔͑̂̈͊̂͐͒̚͝ȩ̴̥̱̭͉̘̏̓͌̈́͋̋͛̋̈́̽r̸̯̹͇̤̹͉͈̟̪̲̄̐̋̑̂̍͆͋ą̴̢̳̠̜͖͙̬̣̲̝̎̒͌̾͐̈́̈̆̂̒͗̑̚͜ͅb̴̨̧̺̝̜̻͚͈̱͕̈́̀̚l̶͕͈͚̿͊̄͒̀̈́̽̽̓̇̑̔ę̷̙̜͙̺̗̟̠̀̀́͆̊͂̚ ̷̰͈̬́̾̇̑͐̉́̑͂̃̒̕͝͠ͅb̸̹͇̝̣̻̯̘̫̿͑͑̅̈́̅͌̐̈̀̽͘͜ŕ̷̞̳̇̌̄̋̊͝͠ą̵̨̫̙͈̠̯͈̎̀̑̅͝͝ţ̴̛͚͇̼̱̟͍̫̂̈̒̏̅͋.̴̢̪̺̳̝̻͕̰̔̈́͌ͅ ̷̘̯͓̥̝̜͊͒̌͜ͅĮ̴̛̼̖̤̙̘͈͉̩̰͆́͛̌̍̈́̂̂̄͘͜͠ͅ ̸̡͇̟͙̞͔̲̠̣̦̍̾̓͝d̶͈͇̩͕̜̠̝̒ó̶̫͍͈͇̯̺͖͎̽ ̶̡̞͚̫̪̮̘̔̓̽̒̆͑͑̆̕̚n̷̡̨͓̥͍̠̼̩̞̮̯̯͙͍̈́́̐̔̉̽̇́͋̏̅͂̀̾͝ͅò̵̧͓͖͎̞̱̤̻t̷͈͚̘̾̑͂̈͒̾̾̽̕͜͠͝͝ ̸͉͖̂̄͐͆͊́͐͒̿̑͑̔ͅk̴̊̾̚͜n̴̡̡̗̖̳͕͈͍͔͍̜̯̻̬͖͌̎̈̾̽̓͘ö̷̡̢̝̤̫̰͎͇͉̯̦̗̘̦̻́̄́̎̐̏w̸̨̗͛̌̍̓̍̃̈̽̄̒͋̑̕̕͠ ̷̧̰̠̘̐h̴̛̳̆̽̔̂́̍̋͑̏͛͘͘͝ỏ̷͔͙̘͕͎̣̖̽̿͑͘ͅw̶̞̬̩̫̹̼̙̓̀̑̒͐͘͝ ̴̨̱̼̞͕̹́s̶̡̡̹̟̦̥̦̟̜̭̜͍̿̿̑̆̐ḩ̴̧͍͉̣̲̣̰̽͐̂͂̒̍̏̉͋̔̿̾̓̾̚͜ę̶̲̙̯̗̦͖̟̂̿́̋̃̇͜ ̴̞̖̗̻̲̲͖̜̩͈̓̐̋̒̆͗̂i̷̛̙͖͙̹̯͐̎̾̀̏͌͝s̶̡̛̯̪̱̗̺̪̥̗̖͒̈́̑ ̴̣̤̱͍̫̙̲̗̳͗̎̀̈́̕á̵̮̗̲̭̭͑̍̀͜b̶̳̤̹̂͌̿͐̈́̀͑̽̇̎̅́͠ͅḹ̴̡͓̪͉͖̥̺͎̺̬̐̈͋̆͛̌͘͜͝ͅe̸̛̫̹̠͍̻̞͎̮͕̻͌͋̇̽̀̀̈́̽̒̃̄͠ ̸͍̭͖͚̫͇̯͊̊̆͋͗̿̐͘t̶̲̞̲̟̤̜̖̰̤̤̲͇̦̯̒̆̾̌̎̃̔ȍ̷̧͓̳̦̼̪͕̻͎̻̪͕̓̆́̇̽͝ ̵̨͍̲̳̾̐c̴̙̻̜̳͠o̸̖̱͙̲̜̔̈́̎̌͘͜͠ͅp̵̡̧̙͕̤͇̫̖͖̩͓̒̍͑͘ẽ̵̱̈́̍̀̎͆̈́̒͂̑͆͘ ̴̼̖̰̟̺̈̿̋͒̽̓́̈w̸̧͍̬͚̜̜̻̖̾̎͒͋̋̽̀͌̍̈̓͑̋į̶̰͔̣̫͍̮̂̉̿̾͂̊̐̓̊͐̚͜t̷̹̗̗̮̥̬͖͒͗̈̓̂͌̊̎͂͒̌͘̕͘͘ḥ̸̢̮̦̬̖̖͎̔̽́̋͆̐̑͛̑ ̵̘͇̣̟̹̳̈͐͋̏̓̌́̏̈́̈́͘̚y̷̢̯̥̩̭̺͎̌͆͘ò̴͔͕̟͖̝̗͚̼̮͎͎̘̦͔̽͗̽̓͒̑̊̊͝ú̵̡̘͎͚̬͖͇̭̙̜̞̀̂̚,̶̪͎̼͛ ̸̨̦̀́̀̐͠͝͝l̵̢̰̥̩̘̯̤͙͆̇̈̂̃͗͛͐̈́̋͘͝e̸̬͍͙̿̓t̷̡̨̛̼̭͉̮̖͈̺̠̦̪͉̄͗͆͜͠ ̸̡̣͕̻͈̪͙̜́̂̇̐͂̒̀͊̏͗̕̚͝å̸͚̹̻̪̻͓͔̲͓̩͎̌͗͛͘͘͘l̵̦̹̼̰̰̭̹̤̤̾͂͛̓͆̃͛̋͂̏̒̚̚͝ȯ̸̢̡̡̹͓̣̤̟̤͔͚͓͈͇̖͐̽͆̏̓̇͆͒͊̈́̚n̵͈̤͔͖̳̳̗̈́͛̿̂͒̐̀͘̚ę̴̖̹͉̦͉̩̱͉̻̬̼̏̓͌̀́͝ͅ ̷̤̙̞̯̞̈́̓̈͑̉̃̊̅͆̌͜l̴̹̗̫͓̥͎̫̩͖̓̑͌̉̍́̐̇i̶̡͔̩̳̻̙͙͖̻͕̫͇͕̿̇͆͛̽̽̃̂̀̕͘ṡ̷̙̝͑̀̀̃̀̀͠t̴̨͇̎́́̚ȩ̴̨̘̳͉͎̝̙̰̥̦̮̱̤͑͌̓ͅn̶̰̍͌̑̔̑́̌̾͛͆͘ ̴̳̭̝̈́́́̎̔̃̀̒̀̈́͒͛̿̕͠t̸̲̘̝̲̞̜̞͌͋̿o̶̡̲̫̳͔̼̯̮̠̠̪̭͊͆́̔̿̈́͋̈́͠ ̵̱̿̽̋́͠y̶̬͎̯͂̌̀̈́̉ŏ̵̺̲̇̈́͜ư̴̧̢̡͔̫̲̮͓͓̠̞̘̜͗̀̔̾̀̓̃̋̇͝͝ŗ̷̮̣͎̻͚̦̗̥̱̞̹͇̱̇ ̶̛̫͎͓̜̮̫͖͉̳̫̲́̈̂͗̇̒̾̌̿̅̈́́̚̚͜w̶͉͓̲͖̩̗̲̖͗̆̆̑͑̀̄̚̚͜ḩ̴̱͕̱̻̩̭̩̟̪͍̣͆́̇͊̇͗̊͌̀̉̕i̷͈͖̝̪̗̥̫͓͗͊̈́͌̿̔̇͐̓̄͆̄̉͝n̴̼̫͝i̶̛̺̻̲̯̩̙͕̝̘̣̣̓͊̎̄̿̿̆̀̎̊̚̕ṅ̵̡͍͖͈̘̰̻̺̘̝̖̮̮͘͝g̸̨̢̤̣̞̼̭̭̣͗́̋̾̉͑͂̄͠.̷̡̳͎̲̳͇͓̻͈̫̮̦̞̼̍̑̓̽͂̐̾
“S̷̼̾̚͝I̸͚͎͐L̸̗͛̇Ē̸̲Ň̵̩͈͚C̵͍̱̘̾͝Ë̸̳́́,̶̧͊͊̕” Niran spat, her very words freezing the air around her. “Y̸̞͗̒͗Ő̵̬͔̎͠Ṵ̷́ ̴͎̓Ẅ̶͚́̈́̎I̷͓͛͊L̴͚̹̽̏̀͜L̶̮̊ͅ ̷̞̔S̵͕̎̊̂P̷̈́͜E̴̱͖̣̾A̶̛̮̾̚K̵̪̘͆ ̷̻͑O̴̖̭̔͜N̴̩̱̈́̐̏Ļ̸̞̅͗̂Ẏ̶̞͙̒̌ ̵̢̥̖̊̌̕Ẅ̸̘̪̓̓H̷̹͐̈́Ę̷̗͆͘͠N̶̯͝ ̸̼͉̻̈́̏S̴̳̓P̶̢̏͋̇O̴͚̾̈́K̷͎͓̈́͘Ḛ̴̀N̵̩̗͛ ̷͖͍͆̏̍T̷̜̼̹̆͐͠O̷̩̪̚,̶͓͋͆̇ ̴̡̙̳̉͂B̷̺͓̌O̴͙̜̎͐T̷̬̦͋̂Ȟ̸̙̪ ̶̧̲̹̈́͐̌Ȏ̵̭̱̭F̵͇̾͜ ̵̼̅̋Y̵̫͊͌Ò̶͇̀͑U̸͈͚̕͝.̶̯̰̌̇̚ ̶̢̱̇I̵̦̖͛̀S̸͔͇͇͝ ̷̛̬̺́̾Ţ̵̖̋H̷̭̲̊̏̾À̸̠T̶̺̻͗̅ ̸͕̓͛Ç̴̤̏̈́Ḻ̶̟͚͆È̵̟̠̕̚ͅA̷̗̖͊R̴̝̆͜͝͝?̸̢̲͖̅”
Ọ̶̲̦̖̻̼̯̹̖̠̊̽͆̃͂͊̈͒̾̓̌̐͑͘f̴̡̦̘͇̰͖̐́̀̅ ̶̖̪͙̰̺͌͆̃̇̑̆̇̌̊̀͋͐̚c̵̩̲̝̲͔͖̗̎͛̄͌͜͠ọ̶̢̧͙͙̲͋̔̀͆͂̓͂͐̒̚̚ȗ̸̢̳͖̓̿̿̾̕r̷̨̉̅͒̄̿̒̇̂͌̑̚s̴̨̖̣̰͖̖͓̦͐̈́̽̄̏̿͠͝ẹ̶̡͈̤͎̳̤̺̉̊̈́͐̀̾̄̄̔̌͝͠͝ ̸̢͍̱̥̗̤̥̫̫̯̙̕ͅḿ̴̨̂͒̓͂̀̉̆̍͆̍͊̍̚̚y̶͖̝͚͓̼̺̏̃́̊͑̽ ̵̗̹̲̫̊̚̚ͅḑ̵̨̨̨̛̩͙̠̼͇̫̱̞̫̼̓̑͆̓̌͌̋͂̄̾͜͝e̷̛͈͙̤̤̫̽̉͋̽́͐̏̃̆̒͋̈́́͜͝a̴͇̣̮͆̋̎̑͜͝r̷̢̡͇̱̞͙̩̱͒͑̈́͜͜ͅ.̸̢̢̭̼̤̋̈̆̎̊̈͋̋͑͗̕̕͜
̷̛͖̟̪̻̺̬̲̪͙̫̦͉̽̓̂́̿̆̐̈̚F̵̧̧̧̻̯͖̹͔̪̫͎̭̭̼̀̈̍̈̀̓̀̊͋͒̍͒̎͝i̶̺̭̼͇͔͔̝̫̲͚̐̿́̚͜͠ͅḯ̴̛͇̩͍̦͆̽̿͋̋͂̒ͅī̶̢̡̨̠͔̻͚͖̯̖̯͖͚̄͗͒͜ͅį̶̡̤̖̘̂̈͊̂́̀i̵͉͚̋͝i̴̡͓͍̞̝̺̭̫̓̉͌́̔̒̚ȉ̸͕̮̠̍͊͐̚̚ì̵̛̜͖͚̦̫͉̎̇̒͂͆͝i̶̩̞̎͆̉̊͛̐̀͑̚͝͝n̶̼̤̬̰̰͕̤͌͆̐͑̓͌͊͠e̶̹̫̠͑̽́̓̓̍̋́̈́́͝͝.̶̜̤̙̼͚͉͍̞̪̭͚̟̳̉̉̃͑̓̃͌̊͂̒͐
“Ġ̶̘̙͊͝O̶̞̕O̸̪̔́D̸̟̤̫̓.̵̹̱̎ ̵̘̂Ṉ̶͐̿̾O̶̝̮̓̌͝W̶̨̯̞͋͐…̷̲̰̤͌” Niran inhaled deeply, gathering all the abyssal energy around her, then exhaled loudly. Tendrils of her power seeped into the air, no longer bound to her skin. Slowly, her body returned to its normal form… Almost. Her eyes still glowed a faint red of rage, and parts of her skin could be seen peeling off. She would never be able to return to the past. She would never be able to return to the scared, naive person she once was. All that remained of her was wrath.
“Took you long enough, B̷e̸r̷n̸a̶d̶e̴t̸t̸e̴,” Niran didn’t even bother to look behind her. Her affinity to the abyss told her all she needed to know. The sudden disturbance her friend created was intriguing, but not important enough to stray the violinist from her path. “We got no time to waste!”
Niran took a step out of the forest, but Bernadette hesitated. “Are you sure we should go now?” She said, pointing a finger at the white flame. Niran smirked.
“Oh please, as if a little fire will scare me. Are you coming or not?”
Bernadette began to take a step backward, but then rushed to meet up to Niran as she watched her friend glare at her in disgust. Together the two made their way towards Ovan Nova, the warm light of the rising sun shining behind them.
Corpses upon corpses of soldiers and civilians alike littered the streets of Ovan Nova, indicating the devastation the Terror Arkenai caused upon the last bastion. In its fervor, Niran’s pet chose not to consume the lost souls, leaving them trapped and crying out for help. But Niran could care less; it was their fault they died by the hands of the Arkenai, not hers.
Those who survived the chaos were running about, providing aid to wherever it was needed. Thankfully none of them noticed Niran passing by them, who was all too eager to find the informant she sieved from Milijivan’s mind. She paid no attention to those helping the unfortunate, that is, until she noticed a familiar angel standing over a limp body, isolated from the rest of the helpers. Niran watched as the angel tried to carry the corpse to safety. The angel pulled and pulled, but could not hold onto her for long before exhaustion overcame her. She looked out into the streets, then back at the body, then uttered one final thing before spreading her wings out.
"I'm going... to find... some help... I won't be... gone... for long..." She heaved, then took to the skies with all her might. Niran quickly ducked into a corner as a strong gust blew through the streets. Intrigued by the angel's presence, she carefully peered around the corner, scrutinizing the corpse the angel left in her wake. A familiar sword laid right next to her, yet what once blazed with a brilliant white flame now only glowed dimly, as if desperately clutching onto what little life it had left. What interested Niran the most was the presence of not one, but two souls, inside the body, not crying out, but rather in deep conversation. Curious, Niran crept closer to the fallen warrior, then sneered as she saw her face.
“So, it’s you,” Niran remarked to the fallen Aeryn. She saw her former foe breath deeply and slowly, as though in a comatose state. “You know, ever since I was kicked out of that orphanage, I have always hated people like you. The knight in shining armor, here to save those in distress! To slay the monsters who oppress the meek! To fight against the evils of tyranny! A hero.
“Niran, we have to go—” Bernadette tried to interject, but was cut off by Niran.
“And when you finally notice my cries, do you reach out to help me? N̶̜̹̔̄Ô̴̜̦!̷̬͊̚” With all her might Niran stomped on the sword that contained Nyrea, attempting to snuff out her spark once and for all. “You pointed your sword at me! You deemed me worthy of being slain! Ÿ̸̫͙̃O̷̰̰̒Ù̸͔ ̵̱͕̓B̵̼̱̀Ȑ̷̫̰̑A̴̟̐͝N̶̞̎ͅD̸̺̥̂̅É̴̜̗͑D̶̠̟̂ ̸̖͑M̸̤̼͑̚Ȇ̸͈ ̵̬̫͐̎A̸̱͛S̴̯͆̄ ̸̙̃͐Ą̷̺̂ ̷̱̗͆͑M̴̝̆O̵̗̒̂N̵̯̳̔̊S̵͙͕̊͛T̵̚ͅẼ̸̛̻̺R̷̼̗͌!̶̖́̎͜!̴̛̹̘!̵͖̌̐” With each yell Niran stomped again and again, causing the sword to shake under her feet. “You all branded me as a monster…
“But that doesn’t matter anymore, does it? I have been made the villain—Once by Irene, and once by you—Yet here I still stand! I have stood over Irene’s ruptured corpse, and now I stand over your motionless body! How does it feel, oh hero, to be defeated by the very thing you looked down upon!”
“Niran, plea—”
Niran grabbed Aeryn by the collar, an unnatural strength fueling her, then yelled straight into the knight’s unresponsive face. “A̶̻̻̽Ṉ̵̋͐S̴̳̈́W̵̼̃E̴̠̿͝Ṙ̸̻͐ ̷̛͓̱̀M̷̥͉͝Ę̷͍́!̸̢́̉!̷̹̝̆͋!̵̥͠!̸̖̅̇”
No response. Niran attempted to shake Aeryn awake, but was interrupted by a tug on her shoulder, causing her to drop the unconscious knight. She found herself pulled into the shadows of an alleyway, not long before the angel clumsily descended down to where Aeryn fell. Niran tore the hand off her shoulder and spun around angrily, staring straight into the eyes of a fearful Bernadette.
“D̶̝͕͊̚͘O̴̡̤̥̚N̶͚̭͙̅̃’̷̡̔̍̌T̷͚̺͎̭̐͠ ̶̲̩̭͋͗̃Ţ̶̡͆̑O̶̧̜͎̓U̵̲͚̔̽C̵̡̈͊̎H̴͇̒ ̶͔̹̪͇̅͑͝M̷̞͊̀͜Ë̵̝̘̫͓́̿!̷̙̥̾̃” Niran exclaimed. Bernadette cowered in fear.
“I’m sorry, but you would have been caught if I didn’t pull you into this street!”
“I was this close to waking her up! I wanted her to be conscious when I showed her where she belonged! To give her the death she was so eager to give me!” Niran looked away from Bernadette, focusing her spiteful glare upon Aeryn, who now had another person, that of a young human woman, observing her wounds. “‘Tis no matter. We can just wait for a better time to strike, right?”
Suddenly a white flash of light emanated from Aeryn’s body, blinding all who looked upon her. Niran was forced to turn away, as the light burned her more harshly than most. As the light subsided and her vision slowly restored, Niran glanced at where Aeryn once rested, only to see the faint marks of a planar rift: The sign of Aeryn’s disappearance.
Niran howled loudly into the dawnlit sky out of anguish, muffled only by a small incantation muttered under her friend’s breath. All the while Bernadette looked longingly at Niran, her doubt only wedging deeper inside her mind.
A̶m̷ ̴I̴ ̶r̸e̵a̶l̵l̸y̵ ̶a̸b̴l̴e̸ ̸t̸o̵ ̷h̸e̶l̵p̷ ̶N̷i̷r̶a̸n̵?̶
Jonteman93 wrote
Brynn continued towards Aeryn. She found her, lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Her broken body lied completely still. "Please, don't be dead. You don't deserve to die."
What is the chance that she abandoned Aeryn? In addition to Brynn meeting Niran from the tournament, if she saw it she wouldn't be cool.
(Sometimes you just need to use a sledgehammer to refit the entire timeline.)
Nyrea was sitting on an old chair in its original form with red hair. The feet touched the creaked wooden clubs. She was in her own home near the knights' school. Mia, her mother, entered the room and when she saw Aeryn she started to cry and ran to hug her daughter.
- You did not imagine how I asked the gods for you to be well and alive - she kissed the daughter's forehead, which did not react immediately, but soon returned the hug. - Your friend ... I mean, sword, told me everything. And about your father too. He was here - Mia lowered her head sadly.
- We'll talk later, mom. I'm glad you're fine ... that I'm fine - She kissed Mia's forehead and left the room. She felt renewed and unmarked by the struggle with that strange creature in Ovan Nova. Something was different, but I still didn't know what - Come on Nyrea, we need to speak to the Knight School board.
At every step on the sunny streets of the kingdom, some people recognized Aeryn. Rumors quickly surfaced in the realm that she would be trapped in a war and would not be back anytime soon. Soon the mix of people's admiration was confusion and even joy at seeing Aeryn well. No one dared to stop her, even for the serious expression that emanated. The most innocent children smiled and wanted to know about her adventures. Aeryn just kindly walked away saying she would tell them later.
Upon arriving at school, in the main hall, she noticed the broken sword pillar.
- What happened here? - Aeryn said to Nyrea.
- When I broke free the pillar was no longer needed. I was my ancestral strength that broke.
They quickly arrived at the staircase and began their journey to the highest tower to go to the main dome of the school.
Some students were stagnant when they saw Aeryn. Hendriksen caught a glimpse of his apprentice from a distance and didn't know what to think other than strangeness. He started to follow Aeryn, feeling a different aura about her.
Aeryn arrived at the very well adorned gold door of the school dome and without much delicacy opened it firmly to attract attention. Nyrea just followed with a lot of curiosity and a sense of fun. The few members were seated at an oval wooden table, with gold and silver accents. Everyone was surprised by Aeryn, reaching the front of the table.
- You owe me a lot of explanations - Aeryn spoke firmly to whoever was there. Hendriksen came in standing in the corner of the room without interrupting her - It was supposed to be a friendly tournament to promote the kingdom. I know Nyrea is a symbol, but you knew about the war that could happen. Why didn't anyone come to help? Why did they send the worst knights just to give me that ring?
Aeryn hit the table, took off the promotion ring and threw it in the center of the table, falling to the floor through the opening of the oval table. Hendriksen made a gesture that was going to intervene, but one of the members of the summit started to speak.
- Yes, we knew about the political intrigues that could lead to a war, but we didn't know that it would break out soon in the tournament. The lath was made to prevent this from happening - An old man without much hair and a very well-shaved beard, with an overcoat with a high collar began to speak to Aeryn without being intimidated - We would never send our knights to a political war in another kingdom mostly distant like Vosanova. We have our own problems and we haven't forgotten about you, but we had nothing to do.
Aeryn tapped the table again without intimidating that man.
- That's fallacy. Did you really think about letting one of you die in a distant land? This happened to Maycon - Aeryn hit the table, this time pulling Nyrea's astral form for a sword and nailing the table. Now everyone was scared. Aeryn felt the confusion - Did they forget that Nyrea is a magic sword? However strong it is, you would lose a very powerful tool for nothing.
- I see - replied the lord - but that does not change the facts. We had nothing to do.
- But now we have Marian trapped in that realm. We need to help urgently. You have it and you owe it to me. It is one of ours and saving it would be a sign that the kingdom does not abandon its countrymen.
- Sorry, Aeryn. We appreciate your help and kindness for the kingdom, but we have nothing to do. It is impracticable to send troops and could be suicidal. Even a rescue team would be in trouble. Sorry, but it is impossible.
Aeryn had an angry expression at everything that had happened. She pulled Nyrea and left the room with a brusque tone. Hendriksen bowed to the members of the dome, went out and closed the door.
- Wait Aeryn - Hendriksen ran to accompany the apprentice - What was all that about? I can't imagine what you went through and I apologize for not helping, but think about what you are going to do now. Let's talk. It's great to see you here.
- It's good to see you too, but I need to help Marian. It is my last mission in that realm ... to save her and my friends.
- Don't forget what happened on your fourth mission before the final promotion. Don't let that happen again.
Aeryn sighed.
- Forget the fourth mission. I don't want to remember it.
- I understand. Think about what you are going to do now. They will demote you to third in the kingdom's cavalry.
- Third? It's not that bad.
Aeryn smiled and went down the stairs thinking about what to do to save Marian. She wouldn't fight, but if anyone got in the way, she would taste Nyrea's blade.
She couldn't tell if the multiple cuts or the broken wing hurt more. The arkanai knew how to hit, at least. That much could be given to it, even as it burned in white flames. The angel chuckled to herself. So that's what kind of creatures come from the Abyss.
What the arkanai had done to her was nothing to what it had done to Aeryn, however.
"Please, Aeryn," she begged softly as she limped towards the knight's fallen body. "Don't be dead." Brynn barely noticed Niran being pulled into an alleyway. She just prayed that somehow, Aeryn could live, at least long enough to get help.
Then Aeryn's body was engulfed in blinding light and a thunderclap. Brynn stumbled away, falling and covering her head. Finally, the light disappeared, and Brynn looked up to see that Aeryn and her sword had vanished.
The angel looked around. Where had she gone? She couldn't have just vanished. Unless...
"Are you alright?"
Brynn looked up. A knight was walking up to her, holding an arm across her ribs.
"Yes," Brynn said. "Yes, I am." She paused for a second before asking, "Who are you?"
"Marian," the knight said. "I was...with Aeryn. What happened?"
Brynn turned and looked around the city. Bodies lay under rubble from crushed buildings, and the burnt remains of the arkanai was laying in the middle of the street. People were hurrying to the wounded, working to save and heal them. The place where Aeryn had been was empty.
"I don't know," she said. It sounded distant, even to her. "Some corrupting force, and a monster working for it. I need to-" Brynn swayed, blinking away a sudden burst of light in her vision.
"Calm down," Marian said. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine," Brynn lied.
Marian sighed. "Come with me. I've gathered a few people to leave the city. One or two of them can help you. Aeryn...would have wanted it."
Brynn put a hand on the knight's shoulder for support. As the pair walked away, a howl rose over the streets of Ovan Nova. Brynn could feel a surge in abyssal energy, and shuddered.
If that's who I think it is... The angel closed her eyes, remembering who she'd seen by Aeryn's body before she'd gotten there and bringing up an image of her in her mind. Brynn burned the image into her mind. If the two ever met, the angel would do her best to, if not outright stop her, then stop the Abyss.
@MonkeyPirate2002 and I talked about a soft deadline we wanted to set for ourselves. Apparently MonkeyPirate has lots more to do with Niran and I do have a little bit more that I want to do with Nilani too. Is October 18th a good day to start the final fight or is that too late?
Nilani sighed and walked into the abandoned house she was staying in. The enchantress made her way to the wooden table and sat down. She took out a piece of paper and began to write to her parents. She knew they were gone, but something about this comforted her.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm glad to inform you that I'm not doing terrible. I haven't sustained any major injuries from my time at war, and I feel like I'm doing the right thing, I think. I've completely changed- my life has become the abyss and protecting the balance of this plane now. I never thought I would get so close to the abyss now. Something about its power comforts me. It compels me to keep going even when no one else is there to help me. I've fought day after day to sustain balance in this plane. I fear that something is coming. Something big. Something terrifying. Something that even an enchantress like me can't hold back. See, I still can't control my powers completely. That one spell- I lose control every time. That's not the only thing I've lost. I lost my best friend too. Akuma, remember the awesome samurai I told you about? We got into an argument. About the war. About the abyss. It spiraled out of control. She tried to kill me, but I overpowered her. Still, I spared her and walked away...did I make the right choice? Should I have ran away from everything with her? Maybe she didn't care for me after all. I don't know anymore. I just feel like a failure. I feel like after all I've done, maybe I was destined to be a weak enchantress from the start. Maybe fate had already planned my future for me. I found my purpose. I finally found who I am! But at what cost? The war has taken everything from me. My honor. My friendships. My confidence. My family... I can’t bear seeing another loved one die. Do you think Akuma and I will be able to make up again?
Your daughter,
Nilani
Nilani put down her pen. She read the note over, realizing how badly written it was, but something else stood out to her. There was a teardrop on it. Right on the last line close to Akuma’s name.
“Stop it, Nilani!” the enchantress told herself, “Our friendship is over! I’ve got to move on, right? The people need me...”
Nilani noticed the mysterious little girl next to her. She seemed to be reading Nilani's letter. The little spirit had a sad smile on her face. She looked at Nilani.
"What?" Nilani asked, "What do you want now?"
Nilani took a small daisy out of her pocket and gave it to the girl.
"Happy?"
The little mysterious girl smiled. She was fascinated by the little flower. Nilani felt herself smile weakly too. There was nothing to be happy about in this war. But somehow, Nilani still smiled.
After a few minutes of just sitting there and smiling, even reminiscing upon her past, Nilani stood up.
"I have a purpose in this war. I can't let my emotions get in my way. I was born with a purpose."
Nilani tossed the letter into the wind.
After this war, I'll find Akuma. I can explain everything. Maybe...we'll be able to be together like before! But for now, I must bring hope to those in need. I must find Septhis to answer my final questions of my past. The final questions of my purpose.
----
Brynn was outside flying when she spotted a paper being tossed through the wind. She dove down gracefully and caught the note. She started to read it to herself.
"What's this?"
...
With each yell Niran stomped again and again, causing the sword to shake under her feet. “You all branded me as a monster…
...
Niran grabbed Aeryn by the collar, an unnatural strength fueling her, then yelled straight into the knight’s unresponsive face. “A̶̻̻̽Ṉ̵̋͐S̴̳̈́W̵̼̃E̴̠̿͝Ṙ̸̻͐ ̷̛͓̱̀M̷̥͉͝Ę̷͍́!̸̢́̉!̷̹̝̆͋!̵̥͠!̸̖̅̇”
A small spark, a single sliver of light to pierce a memory, passed through Niran's eyes without realizing it. When she falls asleep she will receive this message. A message that would be erased from her memory, just know if she would like or endure the words.
The place was dark. Niran at one end of the darkness lit by a spotlight and in front of him Aeryn lit by another spotlight. Neither moved, just looked at each other. Niran tried to speak without success.
- Only I will speak now - said Aeryn - Do not worry, it is the effect of the light awakening in me ... you were unlucky to be close.
Nyrea appeared in another spotlight, but well away from the two fighters.
- Nice words I must say. I mean, words thrown in the wind - Aeryn looked without much concern - You think like a spoiled child. Expelled from an orphanage? Calling for a hero without being answered? I don't think that can justify their actions. Who waits for a hero and someone who is not ready to walk on their own legs. I can't say what it's like to be forced to grow up without someone around, but that can never justify your actions.
Niran tried to speak.
- Only I speak this time and you receive this message when you sleep - replied Aeryn seeing Niran's jaw move - I don't know you and you don't know me. I only know your actions that are worthy of imprisonment and even death, why not?
Aeryn moved her arm to fix her hair. Niran failed.
- Hero? Having Nyrea gave me that title for osmosis, but I don't consider myself one. But do you think heroes don't suffer? My father disappeared and was considered dead when I was little. My best friend, Casimir, was killed by my hands for being controlled by a shadow similar to the abyss. One of my missions, I discovered that my father was alive and possessed by monsters and I had my back burnt and even today I have big scars on it. All my missions saw friends being killed. When I came to Vosanova, things were no better.
Aeryn paused for a moment looking back and watching Nyrea get a little closer.
- Do you remember Cranket? The robot that didn't pass at the beginning of the tournament? He was corrupted by the abyss and guess who had to kill him? If he thought Aeryn was right. Nothing that comes from the abyss can be good, no matter what they say. When Kiserova was in shambles, we had to flee without knowing if we had a chance to survive ... My friend Maycon was killed by my father, who guesses again, wanted to kill me. Easy hero life, isn't it? ... Well, I had to kill him in the end. I think it was the worst feeling I had in the midst of my spiritual liberation. We all have losses in our lives and difficult decisions to make, so I don't choose to do evil to people like you, naive girl.
Nyrea came closer. The sword also wanted a voice, but it waited a little longer.
- You wanted help, you want help and without it not from me, but from anyone, but acting in that way you just keep people away who don't understand your being. I didn't join you in the tournament because you were never close, just isolating yourself - Aeryn took a step forward - Do you want help? First reflect on yourself and what your actions have brought so far, then hopefully someone will help you. I'm not in Ovan Nova anymore and I don't know if I would help you ... but I wish you the best. You are not a monster like you said, but you are considering yourself one, which is worse than others thinking you are one.
Aeryn took a little breath.
- I imagine you still want to know the feeling of being defeated by someone like you, correct? It feels like pure adrenaline to get up and try again. If I'm a hero I don't know, but I know that heroes don't give up after the first fall. I could do this all day, but not today and not against you.
Nyrea felt it was her turn and ran to Niran who did not move with trembling eyes. The sword stared at the girl with a friendly but macabre smile. She walked the girl and ran her hands between the girl's shoulders. Niran could smell the mint breath and smell the flowers on the spectrum. Nyrea rests her head on Niran's shoulder.
- You are no better than anyone. I'm not even better than anyone. But I, like Aeryn, strive to be better versions of ourselves. Learn that life is hard and different for each one. I am over a thousand years old and have seen more deaths than you can count in the abyss. Breathe and think about your next decisions.
Nyrea dropped the girl and went right in front of her. She stopped smiling and her red hair swayed as she stretched the skirt of her voluminous dress a little.
- And one last thing. The next time we meet, that kick will be real.
Nyrea with elegance and strength kicked Niran in the face. The lights went out.
MonkeyPirate2002 never kick my sword again.
(Don't worry she's gonna give you more reason to hate her!)
Usaername I only plan as far as I could expect, and loosely a little further. I assumed it would be Nilani vs Aeryn before I made up the fights for the semi-final since that felt most probable and it would have been a nice way to end the tournament, with dark vs light.
shadow123, @MonkeyPirate2002 18th will be fine.
Nothing is really "too late" for me anymore. I won't get any less time and neither will I get any significantly more.
That is also another reason why having you write sections of the final fight will just help me and my time issues.
I will give each of you more information later where you will be fighting and what reason I can see why you would fight.
Feel free however to fill in any more motivations your characters would have, if you can think of any.
Also another thing.
Nilani and Niran will very soon have to flee to the only place which they can escape Ovan Nova. Down into the depth of endless halls
- and darkness.
Everyone else, I suggest also find an escape route.
The first light of the day painted the clouds red and the sky blue.
Valierielle could barely keep herself straight where she stood at the balcony to the temple, watching the black beast's corpse burn in white flames.
Her arms and legs were shaking so she almost fell to the floor. She leaned on her arms as she moved herself towards a chair in which she sat down. She took a heavy breath as she tried to not cry nor laugh.
Ten minutes later. an old man in a white robe followed by two soldiers stepped into the room.
"Lady Valierielle, the steed has finally awoken."
For a moment, Valierielle laughed as a tear fell from her eye.
"Thank you. Thank you." her words trembled yet they were filled with appreciation.
"Shall we release it, my lady?" said the man.
"No. No, I want the king to see it in person. We shall wait."
The man bowed, then he walked out of the room followed by his soldiers.
Valierielle turned towards the balcony and the burning light from the Medirnian camp far in the west.
Nothing better than confronting captains than the main tavern on the pier. The mix of fish and spices from all corners of the world was both sickening and exciting. The movement on the docks was frantic, with many laughs of jokes that only sailors understood. Where Aeryn passed, they looked on in awe and even revulsion at those who did not believe in the position of the knights before a magic sword.
She entered the tavern without much fanfare, but enough for everyone to look in her direction. Aeryn went down the central hall to the counter for a cold, non-alcoholic drink. The bartender was unresponsive and said he had nothing without alcohol, just water. She then asked for a strong drink to open her mind before she started to speak. The first sip of the drink stung, but she soon got used to it. Nyrea felt the strength of the drink in her runes and connection with Aeryn.
She started to speak without turning around. Everyone was still looking at her.
- Well, everyone knows where I've been in the past few weeks, but it's not over yet. At the end of the quarterfinals the regular tournament ended, so the title would not be of such importance to the kingdom anymore, since Vosanova went to war. But one of our countrymen is stuck in that land and I need the help of one of you to navigate as close as possible there. I manage to rescue my friends.
- No way - said a half drunk - One will not be missed as much as he understands the patriot side.
Aeryn turned with an angry look. Nyrea shone, but this time in gold.
- We need to show that our kingdom looks after anyone. The mission to elevate the kingdom failed with this war, but we can show the world our strength. I know that I am being selfish to rescue just one life, but in your vocabulary, I will pay well.
A mysterious man emerged from the back.
- It will not be necessary, Aeryn - said the man coming out of the shadows and lifting a letter
- I received your letter just this week, it would be impossible to have helped you with so little time, but in this kingdom I got a ship and it will be yours for this mission.
Aeryn smiled when she saw the man.
- So, where are we going sailor?
Aeryn then said...
Old Lukaes
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/lukaes-lost-in-fantasy-2
- What is that Miljivan? - Marian ran speaking loudly in his direction - We cannot take many people, we are surrounded and a new caravan is suicide. We have to get out of this war area. Ended. We lost and there is no way to defend all the innocent with as little strength as we have.
- I understand - Miljivan wanted to cry - It's my fault for bringing everyone here. I thought we would be safe, but I was wrong.
- I took too long to answer, but there is no safe place in a war. Dispense them.
- No - Miljivan shouted - I know you feel guilty for Aeryn, but what we can do to honor your memories I will do.
- Don't be silly, woman - Marian didn't know whether to cry or laugh - Aeryn wanted to be gone before the war started. I convinced her, you convinced her, now there's no turning back. If you want to be responsible for them, great, but I won't protect anyone.
- The show is over girls - Annita spoke in a quiet voice and holding a book - We need to go now. I managed to elaborate a route and if we follow the river we will go far if we are disturbed. But the worst will be going through the field where the dragons are using it for rest. When we reach the border, we will use the underground passages of the chain to reach the port.
Before anyone asked anything, Brynn spoke up.
- I will stay - the angel said holding a letter in her hand - I have matters to resolve here, and there is no one who can help me.
- Are you sure about that Brynn? - Marian said changing the focus - You are hurt. Don't think about fighting a lost war.
- I do not intend, but I think I have unfinished business to resolve. If all goes well, I will meet you at the agreed point.
At that moment Renain intervened.
- But exactly where are we going?
Annita then said...
- For Kiserova.