MTG Cardsmith Community Forums
Tournament of Champions 3 (The game has begun!)
This discussion has been closed.
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Comments
Deleting 'cause it's not what I want Niran to be XD
The Primordial Force of the Sea - (Part 1/X)
Lukaes mastered the ship by teleporting from side to side giving instructions to his sailors. Aeryn and Nyrea just enjoyed the view and the calm sea breeze. Lukaes, after the last instructions, appeared near them.
- So sailor, what happened in Vosanova?
- Long history and many lives lost. I want to at least end my story and save the few friends I have left. How did you discover my kingdom?
- Well, he was a longtime friend and I wanted some quiet for my family, and easy and good drink, of course.
They smiled briefly.
- But this route you passed me does not lead directly to Kiserova.
- I know. We need help to get there faster. We don't have time to waste and I know a strength that can take us quickly to Kiserova - Aeryn said looking at Nyrea, who knew what she was talking about.
With the calm sea, navigation became easy. Small waves broke in the hull where the ship passed, without taking the attention of the sailors who worked for the ship to work.
The moon divided the end of the day with the sun setting on the horizon, making the waning moon more imposing. With the night established, the silence now followed the darkness. The sailors continued their work until new orders were given.
In the first hours the tiredness was overcome and a comforting sleep restored Aeryn's energies, but when she woke up the hours were still far from dawn. Sleep was no longer coming, the waves breaking on the port and starboard sides did not help and the night, which made everything quieter, seemed to delay time. When Aeryn could not wait any longer, and the night taking on a lighter color, she decided to clear the deck.
Aeryn was surprised by a strong wind from the south. The gusts tumbled from side to side letting the waves crash into the deck. When the wind seemed to have subsided, the gusts came back with a high-pitched, muffled scream. Everyone couldn't stand it and immediately put their hands over their ears. At the end of the torment, the ship had already moved to the middle of the black clouds, being possible to hear the lightning resounding inside them
Water lines rose from the whirlwind intertwining each other. The fine threads began to form a kind of giant snake of translucent water, but the dark clouds gave a dark blue tone to the giant hand, smashing the fingers upwards, growing more and more until reaching the precise size of the ship.
Unexpectedly the snake intertwined with speed in Aeryn, taking the head of the snake that emerged from the sea.
- How dare you come to my home. I remember you and your sword. See what they did to my eye - One of the serpent's eyes was raw. She was blinded by the fire that Nyrea had poured out on one of Aeryn's missions - I have nothing to talk to you about, other than twisting your bones to certain death.
Aeryn fiercely struck the snake in the face with the sword. She was thrown into the open sea and began to sink with pain in the head from the impact. The runes were irregular and did not work. While submerging, she kept her eyes open at all times. The water was dark blue by the reflections of the clouds, but everything was clear in her mind. What stood out the most were two giant red dots, which sometimes disappeared in the water and reappeared similar to angry red eyes. At that same moment, the silhouette of the male serpent appeared with the water, making it clear that those angry red eyes were part of him. The leviathan crashed into Aeryn, throwing her deeper into the sea near a ruined castle.
. Second mission - Leviathan of Magic Depths - thirteenth page (part 1 and 2)
I will make a new card for Leviathan after the end of this part of the story. Aeryn's story is almost over.
With a jump, Aeryn woke up coughing up the water she had swallowed.
The mind was heavy and the legs and arms were sore. She sat with difficulties trying to catch her breath and understand where she was. Several times she tried to speak, but her heavy breathing prevented the sound from coming out and, looking at her slightly damp hands, she noticed something strange. Except for the soggy face and the neck running with water, which had been in the lungs before, the armor was dry, without holding a drop of water. That's when he realized where he was.
Columns and walls of shiny marble with details in gold threads formed drawings of sea creatures and the silhouette of an old man with red eyes, but the eyes in the design were green studded stones. The hall exhibited several cracks and a large hole in the wall, with greater details in gold. But what was impressive was behind the cracks and the hole in the wall. A blue and transparent sea struggled to try to invade the hall, but something strange prevented its passage, seeming to be stopped by an invisible force that passed inside the walls of the hall.
A muffled roar from the sea echoed through the room, echoing louder and louder, louder, louder, until it fell silent as the divine sword ran through Aeryn's damp fingers. No noise. Impatient hands taking turns with the sword were the sound that accompanied attentive ears. Seconds later, one of the red eyes appeared between the hole in the wall. The leviathan frowned, showing his anger at seeing Aeryn, a new muffled roar coming, coming back with even more force
Time? Two steps back and a giant tail formed by water entered the hole. The tail crackled and gushed water all over the room, but the sea kept fighting in vain to try to get through the cracks. The tail hit the walls and hit the ground unsuccessfully, sometimes it hit the blade of the sword making the leviathan angrier, hitting her harder and harder blindly. Unable to see what was going on inside the hall, it was easy to dodge the blows, however when the giant tail hit the blade, Aeryn felt her weight, a superhuman strength. With a single hit of success she would be finished.
Even losing the speed the blows were successive, successive blows that hit the blade of the sword managing to demarcate Aeryn's steps. With the rhythm dictated by the creature it would be difficult to hold on longer. I had to do something, and quickly.
In a moment, the tail opened until it hit the ceiling, arcing the top towards Aeryn. Tired, the forces fled her to avoid the great impact, which was rapidly descending on my encounter. On instinct, Nyrea appeared to contain the blow with the blade of the sword, which penetrated the water that formed the tail. The sword was slowly swallowed by the water, pressing Nyrea more and more on the marble floor, which broke weakly. The water around the blade darkened and the leviathan grunted, seeming to be in pain. Nyrea's feet couldn't take it anymore. She needed to get out as soon as possible before it was crushed. Then she tore the entire length of the tail in the form of water with the blade.
The leviathan roared furiously, especially in pain. Where the blade had passed, the water darkened and poured into the hall. At that moment the tail fell to the ground. Aeryn was satisfied with the result ... for a single moment. All the dark water began to return through the extension of the snake, flowing into the sea, being replaced by clean water, renewing the wounds. How would you defeat a creature whose mind, body and strength is all the water in the ocean?
The creature was not the only one to be made of water, the excessive sound on Aeryn's face made this feel. The constant blows, however, with less agility, still continued to strike with the sword, weighing in the hands. One blow, one more blow, and the creature was out of patience. The giant tail came sideways towards Aeryn's shoulder, at the same time that she sank the divine blade in the middle, previously injured. The water darkened with more speed, even imperceptible, where there was now a scar. The roar of pain echoed through the room and the tail moved backward, out of the pressure of the blade, causing Aeryn to almost tilt forward, and with all her strength she turned toward her. It rolled to the side and the tail hit the wall, forming new cracks in the ceiling and wall.
Standing, Aeryn and Nyrea watched the dark waters being replaced, renewing the tail that began to bubble with fervor, contracting it with a painful roar from the creature. Throughout the spray, the apparent scales of water stopped bubbling frantically, the extension came together to form a mouth, and, ice, teeth, the dark water constituted a horrifying tongue and angry red spots that penetrated Aeryn's incisors. Where it was once a tail, it was now a fierce water snake.
The creature was no longer blind and the blows were icy boats that resonated on the blade of the sword with its tongue without fear of tasting its metal. The ice teeth served as combatant swords against Aeryn's, showing inefficiency, because when the icy teeth failed, the mouth gave boats that scraped on the armor. So the snake threw Aeryn farther and farther away until she was trapped against the wall. Unexpectedly the snake was no longer long to continue and with useless attempts the tongue stretched to reach, but reaching the maximum the blade of the sword, no longer tasty and with a taste of failure.
When he thought of attacking, another snake appeared breaking the wall a few inches from Aeryn's side that shielded his face from the flying pieces of marble and the dust he lifted from the old building. The two snakes now looked at me angrily with flailing tongues.
The first attack were given. Even tired, Nyrea gave strength and agility to defend the attacks and the sharp ice teeth for Aeryn. In a moment one of the snakes lifted the venoms, spouting water that surely hit the rider's chest. Nothing happened. The snakes looked at each other, hissing at each other, realizing what had happened.
The snakes were not tired and she had to change the strategy. Defending would not help anymore.
Soon Aeryn hit the ice tooth of one of the snakes, breaking into shrapnel that cut the creature's tongue, so she started towards the head of the other, climbing the scales of water, slippery and disgusting. Aeryn immediately nailed Nyrea in the middle of the two nostrils, holding the serpent's hissing hissing head down, spouting dark water that stained all her clear teeth with ice. To no avail, the serpent stopped and crawled towards the wall, rising angrily to the ceiling, with its head raised to press the rider against the marble. Noticing the creature's purpose, it tore the right nostril and jumped before the snake hit its head hard on the ceiling.
In the meantime of the fall the other snake opened its giant mouth in a scary attack in her direction, but the speed of the fall was higher making the snake go straight and hit the wall. When Aeryn's feet touched the ground, rolling to cushion the fall, it was possible to hear the creature's dying hisses, with lots of black water dripping around the rider.
The serpent that had hit its head on the ceiling had made a sharp strike that sank its sharp icy teeth into the other, hissing in agony as the dark water dripped from its mouth. Moments later, the teeth of both creatures were stained and their tongues lost their dark color until the two snakes fell to the ground, struggling in something greater than pain. The snakes were now trying to return to the ocean to recover.
It was Aeryn's best opportunity.She climbed on the back of one of the snakes and struck successively until the water had no time to renew. Roars of pain were lifted by the leviathan, and he was forced to retreat with extreme voracity. Aeryn tried to follow, but it was too late. The snake and its silhouette had disappeared into the water. When she turned towards the other snake, she found a surprise attack throwing the knight into one of the fragile marble walls that broke.
Aeryn waited for the infinite ocean behind the wall, but on the other side there were limited circular walls that descended a brownish-colored marble spiral staircase, and no cracks or holes in sight. She was inside a tower and soon realized that it was part of the structure of a palace, temple or any other belonging to an ancient civilization. She grabbed Nyrea and sat down to catch breath, while the leviathan pressed the other side of the tower.
A loud crash echoed down from the top of the tower. Aeryn got up, listening closer and closer to the menacing sound of water, until a current came down the spiral staircases. There was no time to think just to stumble down and touch the damp brown marble on the walls. Looking back, she had seen several skeletons formed by the water rising up, bumping into each other, screams muffled by the shoves, with swords in their hands and helmets without visors, showing the empty and blue orbits, or the thirst for death and madness.
A broken wooden door appeared at the bottom of the stairs that made the color of a new hall white, brightening the tower and restoring Aeryn's spirits. Seconds after entering the hall the skeletons appeared with the end of the current barred at the door, surrounding it until they started to throw themselves without fear with strange swords in hand. The divine sword was not afraid and struck in the middle of the skeletons' ribs and throat until they became water again. The current barred at the door gave shape to new skeletons, being fought by the fury of Nyrea, which did not show its fury on fire, when at last the skeletons gave up, giving Aeryn time to notice the new hall.
The features were the same as in the old hall, but at the front, a structure similar to a large bridge that connected the hall to a clear palace. The bridge was covered with blue glass forming domes with the entire structure perfectly decorated in gold and marble, making none of the colors stand out in the blue of the glass and the ocean.
Aeryn dazzled the bridge, where the huge palace had the tip of the towers glowing in the moonlight on the distant surface, even worn out over time with thousands of cracks. In the middle of the structure she looked back, managing to see through the glass windows another palace, of identical features, but more worn out with several broken towers, cracks and blanks that took away the beauty of the building and with the little brightness received from the moonlight, covered by some corals that surrounded the palace, the great differences could be noticed.
When Aeryn looked ahead again, several water skeletons waited with open jaws where the air condensed their breath, with heavily puffed breasts and helms and blades added the moment they looked at her. The apparent leader raised his sword and shouted making all the skeletons run awkwardly in an attempt to strike their swords in Aeryn's armor, head, legs, arms and where they could immobilize the enemy or even kill. There was no fear in the looks of the creatures.
The divine sword fought the horde of skeletons that easily fell in simple blows to the false bones formed by water, but several times with their eyes penetrated outside the bridge, where the leviathan smiled when he saw Aeryn. She was vulnerable in that stained glass structure away from the two palaces and the leviathan knew it with conviction. When the last skeleton fell before the divine blade and the others broke down into the ocean through the stained glass cracks, preventing the water from entering, the leviathan brought his red eyes close to the structure, ceasing to smile when he saw Aeryn's serious expression.
Staring at Aeryn, the snake wound itself around the bridge's entrances, violently splitting the stained glass. The scales squeezed the structure, wanting to remove them from the connection between those in the palaces, but the gold that supported both entrances was unchanged, making the creature gritting its teeth in anger when it looked at Aeryn. Enraged, the leviathan raised his head and hit the structure on the stained glass windows near Aeryn, leaving only the water that formed part of the leviathan to enter the bridge. Soon the snake managed to remove half of the bridge, which slowly floated towards the surface and slowly let the water pass as it distanced itself from what was left of the structure. But the creature did not care and squirmed more on the structure and hit the bridge's stained-glass roof with its head, hurling the structure into the depths of the ocean.
The water started to come in more quickly from both sides as the stained glass smashed against the corals. The deeper it sank, the narrower the coral walls became, but by surprise the bridge stopped stuck between two marble walls that were part of the castle at the bottom of the sea. The water was now entering weakly, but it had already been used up to the height of the chest. Aeryn swam to the wall that gave access to the moonlit palace and hit Nyrea with the marble that broke easily causing all the water to be swallowed by the new hall, dimly lit with a single light coming from the top of a staircase.
There didn't seem to be an end to the staircase, and when she finally made it to a bright hall, Aeryn passed out from tiredness. When she woke up, she watched through the cracks noting the little movement of the moon and the little time that had passed. In the short time unconscious she remembered and wondered about Lukaes and the others. Lying on the damp floor, she couldn't find answers to get out of there. Touching Nyrea's sword, strength returned to her tired muscles, continuing to walk around the palace in search of a solution to at least one of the problems that surrounded her.
There was no time to relax. Unexpectedly the leviathan broke the castle walls and did, what the magic of the waters was, start to invade the castle fiercely. The leviathan snarled through the rubble and bit the air trying to find Aeryn.
- Only death is near.
- We'll see.
Aeryn jumped with some runes and started to hit Leviathan's head, who seeing the danger summoned more water skeletons that started pulling Aeryn away from her, while the ocean water invaded the castle. A mental bond with Nyrea was formed and time passed slowly.
- Now is the time. The leviathan is weak and we need to force it to emerge. I left it to me, just hold on to the sword.
Time returned to a frantic pace and Nyrea's astral form detached itself from Aeryn and ran to the leviathan, driving the sword into the serpent's nostrils. Aeryn started to summon some rustic runes to get rid of the skeletons and ran towards Nyrea who reached out a hand to get the sword holder. Aeryn succeeded and Nyrea nailed the sword further. Golden light began to emerge and the leviathan's only good eye grew wide with the power that began to emanate within his body. The light increased, filling the entire castle and much of that depth of the ocean.
---
The ancient humanoid form of the leviathan began to run and look at every corner in a dark, narrow place. Footsteps echoed and fear ran through the body of that primordial monster. Suddenly purple and blue lights came on and several panels and stones appeared beside the corridor. The leviathan froze when he saw Nyrea at the other end.
- Where am I?
- Where beyond my conscience.
At that moment Aeryn appeared opening a door in the back, where in the anatomy of the sword, was her cable.
- What are you going to do with me.
- For decades at the beginning of my life, I discovered and improved the power of taming primordial beings for a clear period of time. Unfortunately, I never had the strength and opportunity to do that, but it was finally time to test that power. It will be interesting to share the conscience with you.
A golden light began to emanate from the open door, calling for the leviathan that succumbed to Nyrea's power.
---
On the surface, Lukaes gave orders to the sailors. The storm had already subsided and the sun was beginning to shine on the horizon. He didn't want to believe that Aeryn was dead for good and he wanted to wait a little longer, but no human would be able to last that long at the bottom of the ocean, regardless of what happened ... or not?
- Let's go, sailors, I think we witnessed a defeat this time.
As a cliché, it was at that moment that the leviathan rose to the surface, roaring a lot. Lukaes's eyes were wide and trembling with what could be his end. The snake continued to squirm, but this time it seemed to struggle with something invisible. In the head of the leviathan, Lukaes finds Aeryn smiling without making many movements to control the snake that even went towards the ship. The snake lowered its head and Aeryn jumped onto the ship.
- Thank you for waiting.
- What happened? - Lukaes spoke without understanding.
Aeryn showed and looked at the sword hilt, which where there were three rune-free spaces, now had a lapis lazuli with a snake design.
- Nyrea got control of the leviathan.
Nyrea appeared in her astral form very satisfied with the result.
- Everyone hold on to your cabins - Nyrea signaled to the leviathan who answered in disgust. The snake curled itself gently on the side of the ship, breaking a few timbers - Kiserova is now not so far away. We have the best ship sail ever, the speed of a leviathan.
Lukaes didn't have time to reason and just gave orders for everyone to hold on. Aeryn smiled and did the same, letting Nyrea's astral form take care of the route and the grumpy, submissive leviathan.
The first day after the Arkanai had been defeated, another Medirnian army appeared in the north. As the night fell over Vosanova, a tall pillar of smoke and flames spread light from the north. Ovan Forra was being attacked.
The second day, words of a third Medirnian army came from the east. They had burnt and pillaged Ovan Estro beyond recognition and were now heading south. As night arrived so did more distant fires. In the west, Losen Ivio and Ovan Kemp were engulfed in flames. The same happened to Ilmenov in the north and Den in the east.
The sun was rising on the third day.
"Come in." said a saddened Valierielle.
Arheksie entered the room to deliver the news but when he saw Valierielle standing at the balcony, he understood that there was no need. Tears were crawling down her cheeks and her eyes were filled with anger. Outside of the balcony to the south, a large cloud of black smoke was rising from the largest fire yet. Ovan Astova could not hold the Medirnian force for more than one night and now, Valierielle's home was turning to ash.
"Nova, evinia elo Nova."
Arheksie walked to a table that stood beside Valierielle. Arheksie picked up a wooden horse that stood on the table. The Medirnian has put up flag in the middle of the field. They request an audience with us. I want to go in your place."
Valierielle turned towards Arheksie and met his eyes. Arheksie put the wooden horse in her hands. Valierielle let her eyes rest on the horse. She nodded to Arheksie. Arheksie stepped back and gave salute. "You will see me again, my lady. I promise you." Valierielle did not say anything, she just let her eyes go from the horse to Arheksie and then out the balcony.
"Arheksie, before you leave could you tell Kaliegien that I want to speak to him?"
"As you wish, my lady." Arheksie gave a slight bow before he left the room.
Valierielle looked at the banner in the field. In less than an hour, she saw a company of twenty Rahandi riders led by Arheksie heading towards the meeting point. From the Medirninan camp in Ovan Hem she saw about fifteen knights ride out following their commander towards the point. Soon after them followed a Dormanian Royal dragon upon which a red haired woman rode.
Arheksie approached the meeting point where the Medirnians had already stopped. Fifteen knights, generals, bodyguards and their supreme commander who was dressed in red plate armor. Above them flew a woman with red hair upon a black dragon, larger than any Arheksie had ever seen. Arheksie and two of his bodyguards dismounted his their horses. The medirnian commander and his bodyguard did the same.
Arheksie and the commander met just beside the banner where they both took off their helmets. Arheksie did not give any sign of his guts getting cold as he witnessed the man with long dark brown beard stand before him. Zallados Beldanov, the king of Medirna himself.
"Where is Pontiff Cralmarov?" Zallados said short and direct.
Arheksie looked around at the Medirnian generals, bodyguards and the dragon above them. "I don't-." He began to say.
"Where is Cralmarov!" Zallados raised his voice.
Arheksie took a deep breath. "He is no longer in Ovan Nova. He is no longer here. We don't know where he is." He said as calm as only a soldier of his experience could.
Zallados did not like the answer. His eyes were reflecting with fury, but he did not say anything. He gave sing to one of his men who grabbed a large bag from his horse. The bag had five large ball shaped things inside, and dark liquid was dripping from the bottom. "A gift of a king." said Zallados. The man walked to Arheksie and handed the bag to him. The bag was heavy and had a too familiar smell.
Arheksie had his entire mind and soul tested but he did not let himself get bested. He looked straight into Zallados' eyes and said. "Your message is very clear." He turned around and walked towards his horse, he wanted to get away from there.
"Give me Pontiff or his whereabouts, and I will spare what's left of Vosanova." said Zallados. Arheksie and his men quickly mounted their horses. Arheksie looked into Zallados' eyes one last time before he turned back towards Ovan Nova.
As they came away from the Medirnians, Arheksie could think more freely. He thanked Avelaide that Valierielle did not go. "I curse you Zallados, I curse you and your entire army. May the silver steed trample upon your foul body." He said quiet to himself while he kept riding, holding the bag that contained the heads of the Vosanova Royal family.
Zallados turned back to his men. "They have until dawn. After that we'll burn the city to the ground."
Storyline cards
(The next one will be Aeryn's last story in the Tournament of Champions 3)
A calming, dark aura surrounded the young enchantress. An abyssal aura. Nilani could feel the very energy of the abyss. The abyssal energy seemed to be leaking out at a small shrine.
Maybe I can find an entrance there?
Nilani set out on the path ahead of her.
I found my purpose. I discovered who I am! I just need to know more. What does balance really mean? Is this war a proof of the balance? Must this balance be tested over and over? I know the abyss has the answers to this...is Septhis really the end? Is there something beyond it? Maybe...
Questions plagued Nilani's mind, distracting her. There were bodies lined up on the path. Nilani could tell that some had even taken their own life. Nilani freed their souls one by one. Each time, thinking about Akuma.
This madness is what I left Akuma for?
The enchantress could hear faint music playing in the background too. Nilani remembered something- it was a familiar tune.
"That violin girl, she's still in Ovan Nova?!" Nilani exclaimed, abandoning a soul in a twisted form. She ran over to where she heard the sound.
Nothing.
More smoke closed in behind the enchantress. She created a golden light and followed the abyssal energy she had detected earlier. She felt herself walking away from the heart of the city. The roars of dragons grew fiercer. The screams of agony grew louder. The ringing of clashing steel hung in the air for longer.
So this is truly a war...
Flashes of purple lit up the smoky sky from time to time- evidence of abyssal magic being used by few. Every time that happened, Nilani could hear screams follow. Every time she winced.
Is this balance? Is war proof of even power?
I̷̡̾t̴̳̍ ̴̲͝ẅ̶̼́ó̶͙u̵̼̒l̵̻̍d̸̹̎ ̶̭͝b̶͕͆e̴͖͐.̸̊͜ ̶̭͘Ṱ̴̽h̵̩͛ă̶̘t̵̟́ ̸̖̃ḭ̷̀s̷̓͜ ̸̭̚í̴̘f̷̻̿ ̶̗͆O̶͍̎v̶̬͊a̷̭̾n̷̨̿ ̸̘̈N̵̫̊ò̴̗v̵̖̄a̶̬̾ ̸̱̑w̷͚̍å̵̲s̸̯̒n̴̮͗'̸̮̐t̸̡͆ ̷͆͜a̵̳̋ḅ̷̕o̴̡̐u̸̗̓t̷̉͜ ̸̩̓t̴̤̕ô̴̲ ̵̖̔b̷͓͂e̵̼͒ ̸̻̉d̴͕̾e̶̪̓s̷̜̄t̴̼̂r̸͙͊o̶̰͘ỳ̶ͅȇ̶̳d̶̞̀ ̴̘͌i̶̠͂n̴̳͠ ̴̝̋â̴̺ ̶͔͂f̴̪́ḙ̷͝w̸̗̑ ̷̫̊d̷͇̆ä̸̯ỹ̴̘ş̶̂ ̷̢̓t̴̩͝ĩ̵ͅm̴͑ͅe̷̬̽.̸̦̓
"Arden! You're here?"
Nilani looked around. Arden was nowhere in sight.
"What's happening to Ovan Nova?"
As much as Nilani wanted to ignore it, she could feel the people dying. Kiserova had fallen. Vosanova was losing. There was no balance.
Would I be supposed to fight for Kiserova to maintain balance?
Ḧ̴̜́â̵̻v̶͚̀e̵̪͐ ̶͖̊ý̴̯ò̶͉u̶̗͒ ̸̞̎e̶̩͒v̶̠͝ė̴͖r̷͇̽ ̷̱̾t̷̹́h̴͉̓ŏ̵̺ű̶̙g̵̲͋h̸͕̀ẗ̴̢ ̸̼̎t̸̙͗h̴̡̽a̷͎͑t̷̯̎ ̶̅͜t̴͙͂h̶̩̽ẹ̶̿ŕ̸̥ȅ̸̟ ̶̫̈́ẃ̶̢o̷͉̊u̶̮̿ĺ̷͍d̴͖͛ ̸̫͆b̴̲͝e̴̟͠ ̵̹̅n̸͖̒o̷̩͑ ̷̳̃n̴͇̆e̶͍̓e̶̙̓d̶͈̂ ̴̭̓t̵̊͜ȍ̷̤ ̵̞͋m̵̮̃à̶̦i̸̢̿n̶̜͑ẗ̷͙́a̴̟͌i̶̞̚ǹ̴͎ ̵̟͂t̶̗̿ḫ̵̇e̵͈͝ ̸̠̈b̵̲̍a̷̯̽ḽ̵̏a̷̫̔n̴͖̄c̸̩͂e̴̋͜ ̶̪́i̴̯͗f̶̺̿ ̸̜̌e̶̤͝v̴̟̀e̶̯͑r̴̳̆y̷̫̽ṱ̴̏h̸̘͊ĩ̵͈n̷̥̋g̶͉͐ ̴̻̌w̶̳͆a̷̠̿s̷̛̮ ̵͕͌p̴̻͆ṵ̴̍r̶̰̉e̴̤̓?̵̢̏ ̴̩̀Ȍ̴̺n̷̞̎e̴̛̜ ̸̨͠n̴̼̋a̸͇͠t̴̼̂į̸̍o̴̘͂n̵̖̑?̸̺̚
"Arden?"
Words Nilani heard in the abyss echoed in her mind:
"...there can only be one pure monster and one pure slave..."
Nilani looked up into the cloud of smoke.
I must find Septhis. I need to find the final answers to my journey. The situation is getting worse and-
"Nilani..."
"That voice...Akuma..? Are you okay? Are you-"
No. I'm just imagining something...she's okay. She can't be dead. She's fine. I was just imagining...something. Stop thinking and focus. I just need to get to the abyss.
-----------------
Brynn walked the empty streets with letter held tightly in her hand.
"Nilani needs help," Brynn muttered to heself, "It's my duty to protect, right? Maybe she needs comfort. Maybe death might be ideal...I just need to find her first. I know what it's like to be taken over by the abyss. I can't let her suffer that same fate like me."
A little girl appeared in front of her. Brynn looked at the spirit. The girl made a gesture towards Brynn.
"You want me to follow you?"
The spirit nodded.
- Thank you, I needed to rest - the astral form disappeared and Aeryn wielded the sword studded in the sword hilt with the leviathan rune in lapis lazuli and a rune with a sword design in amber.
Days before
As the Leviathan curled on the ship travels furiously across the calm ocean, Aeryn and Nyrea talked in private. The place was small with only wooden crates. It was necessary to pass the time. Aeryn gently placed the sword against one of the crates until Nyrea appeared in astral form.
- We have a connection, so I imagine you already know what I want to talk about. - Aeryn said without looking at Nyrea and scratching her hands
- Unfortunately I know and I don't like the idea.
- I understand, but that is not my mission. I do not understand this power, but the little we have already talked about I do not like the idea of living longer than those I love - Nyrea was going to speak when Aeryn continued to know the rhetoric - And I know about your longevity and strength, but it is different. You know it’s different.
Nyrea reached out and rubbed her face, wondering what to say.
- You can't give up that strength. We can make a difference.
- And let's go, but everyone needs to move on. Think about it, it will be my gift to you. Your freedom. If you channel this strength only in you, when I go, you will be able to choose without prophecies, pillars that immobilize the next bearer. Think about it, it's my gift and you can't refuse gifts.
Nyrea and Aeryn laughed remembering happy times and the dances that Aeryn attended at school. The connection was so strong between them that Aeryn knew how to trick Nyrea at times and take attention away from serious matters. At the time, the sword shone relentlessly to keep Aeryn from getting into trouble.
- Are you really willing to give up power?
- Yes, but as long as I can wield you, I will still have the strength of that strange power, but it is your freedom and future. If your sister or brother is behind the deaths and moments in your history, as much as I have crossed your path, I am at peace with everything that happened and knowing that we have a chance in the future and having new allies is gratifying for me.
- You don't have to pour out nice words for me, Aeryn. I know what you want. After I fell in love with Mikhail and lost him over time, it is cruel and painful, but I understand my destiny. Today I also understand that my creation goes beyond what I can understand from human feelings, and it was he who gave me the best of feelings, no matter how much I suffered in the end. - said Nyrea.
- So more than anyone you should accept this gift and let my life end with the one I love and like, and you will be there until the end and that is enough. - Aeryn added.
- Well, then we can't waste any time. I don't have much experience with this power, but I think it will be easier to extract from within consciousness.
Soon Aeryn meditated and her mind flew to the sword's consciousness. Nyrea waited for her friend to open the door, where in the anatomy of the sword, it was the hilt of the sword. A strong light consumed the entire environment.
Old
New
I was talking to @MonkeyPirate2002 recently over discord and we both agreed the it might be helpful to postpone the fight two more days (Oct 20th) if possible. I know monkeypirate is planning something and I don’t want time to be a huge issue for him. I also have some more story segments coming tomorrow and this weekend.
Of course, as I said earlier, it is you guys who decide the deadline.
I will write the next story segment soon, probably today.
However nothing of the story will have any significant impact on your stories.
Medirna will attack with a large amount of dragons to burn the city. The silver steed will have awakened and broken out of its chamber.
Niran and Nilani are supposed to have escaped into the abyss before the fighting concludes.
Storyline cards
The last fight in Vosanova (Part 2/X)
Aeryn lit some runes on her boots to try to jump higher and face the dragon, which sputtered abyssal power, forming skeletons that ran towards her. The dragon seemed to control those creatures and to help some people who died in Kiserova and had not been collected for a decent funeral, now they stood up with the black goo scoring and covering their eyes. Running away was not even an option.
Attacking the skeletons was easy mentally, but facing the corpses of the inhabitants was painful. The sword with each stroke filled with the abyssal mud and quickly expelled with the power of the runes. The skeletons struck fearlessly with their fragile bones created by the abyssal force. There were many of them, but Aeryn managed to avoid the voracious hands and cut off the creatures' heads. More and more the street was filled with mud and Aeryn had to stop the dragon as soon as possible.
---
---
Aeryn suffered from the air fight. The runes were not enough to reach the dragon, and they did not bear much weight in a mix of levitation and willpower. Nyrea even managed to deliver a blow or two, but the lanky dragon hopped from house to house and hurled more abyssal skeletons made with unstoppable salivation. They needed to attract the creature to another location.
"So this is it," Nilani sighed, "Ovan Nova has fallen. The balance between the armies has been destroyed. But, I can't restore it. Not yet."
There were still a few fighting back, but Nilani knew they wouldn't hold up for much more than half a day.
The enchantress fled quickly. She could see some soldiers running from their fate. Deep into the city.
Poor souls...fleeing this battle will only lead to more pain...Ovan Nova is doomed...
She saw a mother running from her home with three children lagging behind.
Should I help? Should I have helped Ovan Nova before?
"Mama!" one of the children cried, "My toys are still in the house! Can we get them?"
"Not now," the mother whispered sadly, "We have to go."
"Mom?" another asked.
"Yes?"
"Will we ever see father again? He's fighting out there, right?"
The oldest child pointed to the fighting nearby.
"Um-"
"Will we-"
"Enough with the questions!" the mother exclaimed. Nilani could see her pain. She was annoyed at her children's questions. She was grieving over her husband's death. She was trying to sound upbeat so that she could help her children get to safety. A place which she knew might be razed to the ground. She was scared of the abyss creeping up on them through the ground and scared of the opposing army.
Didn't I start out my journey to help others? I could give them a chance! Right?
The mother leaned on a tree and buried her hands in her face.
"I've got to get through this," the woman cried to herself, "He didn't die for nothing..."
But my spells are darker now. My light is only there because of dark. I can't control the darkness inside of me. I can feel it growing. What if...I end up like Arden? Like the Red Queen! What if I mess up? Hope comes from balance. I need to seek answers quickly. Is the best choice just to free them? Is it worth saving someone in exchange for the answers to my journey?
Nilani made a decision.
Four invocations surrounded the group of people. Four dark blades flashed before each person's eyes.
Freedom...be free from your pain. Maybe then...you can find hope.
Each body dissolved into dark mist. Four golden apparitions leaped gracefully into the air. Nilani continued silently towards the abyssal entrance.
What's hope without pain? Without freedom? If there was no pain would people ever feel hope? If there was no freedom would there ever be balance? Did I make the right decision?
Thunder crackled above Nilani as she arrived at the entrance. She could feel the abyssal power radiating around her. There was a hole in the ground in front of her.
Nilani peered inside.
C̵͚̈́o̷̳͘m̸͙̍ë̷̖ ̸̡́t̴͉̅o̸͖͌ ̷͙̆m̵͇͊ȇ̸̼.̷̬͗.̶͚̌.̷͎̎
Nilani was confused for a moment. It wasn't only Arden's voice. Nilani looked inside again, cautiously.
"To think I would never enter this place again..."
Nilani looked back at the fires of war. The screams of fighting.
"I'm coming. I was scared of the war, so I'm running. I'm scared of Septhis, but I won't run away again."
Nilani jumped inside. A familiar feeling of peace and power greeted her. But somehow, something was wrong...
________________________
"Where are we going?" Brynn asked the little girl, "We can't run from the war! I need to save the people! I need to-"
The mysterious girl pointed at the note in Brynn's hand. Brynn gulped.
"Right. I must save Nilani from her darkness. I can remember what she was like before...the wretched abyss took control."
Brynn noticed four spirits fly into the air.
"Four more innocent people killed," Brynn sighed, "Slain by a monster..."
She found herself walking through dark mist, something reverberating with abyssal life energy.
"...no innocent slave of the abyss could kill someone this way."
- 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.
Niran awoke with a jolt, a sore feeling running all throughout her face. Although there was no indication of any physical damage, she could still feel the impact of Nyrea’s kick. Rubbing her eyes, Niran looked up into the moonlit sky, noticing Bernadette standing vigilantly right next to her. Seeing Niran’s wakefulness, Bernadette turned around and locked eyes with her, giving a brief—And hollow—smile. Niran was slightly concerned by her friend’s expression, but any thoughts of worry were quickly dashed as a pain surged through her head.
“Augh! Man, what a dream...” Niran groaned. Bernadette feigned a faint look of intrigue.
“Huh. You remember what happened?”
Niran clenched her head. “I remember… two figures, Aeryn and Nyrea, towering over me, and, well, I was powerless. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t fight back, I couldn’t do anything. And all the things they said…” Niran looked away, struggling to get the words out of her mouth. Bernadette smiled warmly.
“Hey, if it’s hard for you, we can stop talking about it.”
Niran was renewed in confidence by her friend’s kind remark. “No, this is something I have to say. They talked about striving to better myself, to be my best self. But how can I possibly listen to the ones who tried to put me down not long before? How can I heed the advice of someone who barely knew my own predicament?”
Bernadette slowly looked away, unable to keep her eyes on Niran. “You know, I think they might have a… point…” She muttered. Niran’s eyes narrowed.
“You think I don’t already KNOW?!” She exclaimed, taking a step towards Bernadette.
“N-no, I-I didn’t mean to say it like that! Please, I’m sorr—” Bernadette was interrupted as Niran took another menacing step towards her.
“Even since I woke up, there’s been a teensy little voice SCREAMING at me nonstop, saying ‘listen to Aeryn! Listen to Nyrea!’ over and over again! But I can’t! I just can’t! For why should I even bother to give my ear to a would-be MURDERER!” Niran continued forward, her ashen skin emanating a familiar shadowy aura around it. Her eyes began to glint with a maddening red. Bernadette backed away from her, her legs quivering in sheer terror. Unable to look away from Niran, Bernadette crashed into an abandoned cart and fell down. Niran continued her march, a dreadful gloom growing thicker and thicker, penetrated only by a red glare. Seeing nowhere to run, Bernadette cowered in fear, only able to whimper a quiet remark.
“Please don’t hurt me.”
Niran stopped dead in her tracks, the cloud of dread dissipating. The rage pent up inside her fizzled out, replaced by a mournful sorrow within her eyes. Apprehensively, she reached out to Bernadette, but quickly pulled her hand back in as her friend shifted away. With a deep sigh, Niran weaved around the wagon and further into the streets.
“Let’s go. Everything will be fixed once we find Relvas.” Bernadette carefully arose from the ground and followed behind Niran, keeping a moderate distance away from her. The last thing she wanted was to be in close vicinity to another of Niran’s outbursts.
After just one night of chaos, a still peace had already returned within the walls of Ovan Nova. Were it anyone else, it would’ve felt as though a wave of serenity overcame them, like a benevolent force watched over their home. But not to Bernadette, and especially not to Niran. A foreboding sense of doom pressed itself in the corners of their mind, reminding them of the looming threat that laid within the city. Despite all her self aggrandizing, deep down Niran felt completely powerless in the face of whatever obliterated the Arkenai.
The two skulked in the shadows of the streets, using the cover of night to avoid the surprisingly scarce patrols. As the two made their way to the center of Ovan Nova, Bernadette came closer to Niran and asked a question, one that she hoped was not infuriating to the short-tempered girl.
“When we finally reach the contact, are we actually going to be able to beat her?”
Niran looked at Bernadette somewhat confidently. “Our odds are pretty good as is. After all, it’s two against one. If she throws something at one of us, the other can cover for it.”
“This is Cralmarov we’re talking about. You and I both know that whoever has gained even the slightest bit of trust from him is going to be more than they seem.”
“Good point. I guess we should have a plan of some so—What was that?” Niran stopped talking and surveyed her surroundings, searching for the thing that halted her mid-sentence. It wasn’t long before Bernadette noticed the same thing that caught Niran’s attention.
Maybe… I’ll get to see it again...
Maybe… She’ll remember me...
Those words, repeated over and over, echoed through the two’s minds. Together they dashed through the streets, investigating the source of the woeful sounds. Eventually, they stumbled onto a sight that left Bernadette in shock, all the while Niran frowned. A mass of corpses laid in the middle of an abandoned street, left to rot by whomever was tasked with disposing them. A chorus of souls floated above them, each quietly wailing in their despair. Yet one soul lamented far more loudly than the rest, desperately flying to escape her desecrated body, that which laid with a lost arm and slit throat, in an all too familiar garb. It was Akuma’s.
Maybe… I’ll get to see it again...
Maybe… She’ll remember me...
“Those poor souls… Niran, we have to do something about this! Maybe you could release them, like what that hope-filled girl was rumored to do!” Bernadette exclaimed. Whatever fear she had toward Niran was suppressed by a feeling of responsibility to the damned souls. Niran gave a small grin as an epiphany hit her.
“Perhaps we could give them something more than a simple release.” Niran replied, a slight hint of glee in her voice. She walked to the field of souls with a skip in her step, but was quickly obstructed as Bernadette blocked her path.
“Niran, we can’t continue turning others into tools like this. Wasn’t Graagdord proof enough of the suffering it causes?” She interjected.
“What I did with Graagdord, that was an accident. A mistake. I did not have full control back then. But I’m different now! I’m no longer a puppet to anyone! I’m in control now! Just, trust me, please. I know what I’m doing.” Niran begged. Bernadette hesitated, then moved aside, allowing Niran through.
As Niran got closer to the souls, Akuma looked up from her lamenting, barely paying attention to her visitor.
“Who are… you?” The spirit spoke slowly, her voice fractured and broken by her despair made manifest.
“Hah… We’ve never truly met before, have we? I mean, even if we never saw each other face to face, I’d think you’d recognize me,” Akuma looked at Niran distantly, only partially paying attention to her. “Although, it does make sense, seeing you like this.” Akuma ignored Niran’s rambling.
“I need to see her… I need to go home…” Akuma solemnly looked up to the sky, longing to become one with the stars. Niran looked down at the tether that bound Akuma to her body: It was much stronger than the other souls around her. Niran sighed.
“You can’t. You willfully chose to commit what is considered highly taboo, and now you’re stuck here, unable to leave.”
“No… Why am I being punished? I did what is right… I did what is… honorable...” She pondered. Niran was confused. Why in the world did Akuma consider killing herself ‘right?’ She took the coward’s way out. She thought. But she kept her questions to herself and simply pointed to Akuma’s tether.
“Instead of facing your regrets in life, you chose to flee from them. Now those regrets have formed into an unbreakable chain holding you down. So long as those regrets remain, you cannot go to the afterlife,” Niran pitied the downtrodden spirit. It was clear she had not known at all. “But I can help you. I can bring you to her.”
Akuma gave a quizzical look, breaking from her somber trance. “What do you… mean?”
Niran held out a hand to the spirit. “I can give you a second chance at life. To be reborn, is that not what you want?”
Akuma hesitated, then resignedly replied. “...Yes… I’ll do anything… to see her again…” Akuma reached out to grab Niran’s hand, but was quickly intercepted by Bernadette.
“Akuma! Don’t do it! You won’t be yourself!” Bernadette exclaimed, her hands outstretched.
Niran glowered at Bernadette. “She is our best hope of finding Cralmarov. She is our only hope. Now get out of my way, before you make me do something I’d rather not do.”
Tears began to drip from Bernadette's face, with nary a droplet striking against the bloodstained road, as though they vanished mid fall. Slowly, she stepped out of Niran’s way, silently begging for someone, anyone, to step out of the shadows and stop her far gone friend. Nobody came.
“Good,” Niran replied. Pulling out her violin she played a single note, commencing a terrifying and phantasmal orchestra. Akuma shrieked out of pain, as both flesh and soul began to melt into one. A one armed, skeletal husk that once was Akuma stood obedient in front of Niran, awaiting her orders. But she was not pleased with the result. “Tsk, not good enough...“ Niran played with vibrato, and soon the other souls shrieked in unison. Altogether they flew into the husk, their bodies melting into fleshy goop that slithered onto it, adding to its mass and changing in color. The husk went from one arm, to two, to three, then finally four. Meanwhile, a sword formed within the husk’s body, its blade glowing a bright white fueled by souls. It was no Kevalerion’s blade; the white was pale and sickly, and only a deathly chill emanated from its hilt. The crown on the husk’s head formed small pieces of paper, showing vivid depictions of all that “Akuma” held regret for. As the song came to a close, the skull slowly turned golden, its ghastly eyes covered by the paper. All that remained of Akuma was now a hulking behemoth, patiently waiting for commands where originally she would have acted impulsively on her own. Indeed, it was Niran’s greatest creation.
(Now promoted to companion card!)
As Niran turned to exit the alleyway where the dead once laid still, Bernadette looked up at the husk in despair. She reached out to touch its face, in an attempt to find any trace of humanity within.
Nothing.
Bernadette silently wept, not wanting to draw Niran’s attention. She wanted to help Akuma, but there was nothing she felt she could do. She was completely powerless. All she could do now was keep an eye on Niran. Over and over again, she apologized to the ones Niran hurt the most.
I’m sorry, Akuma.
I didn’t help you.
I’m sorry, Nilani.
I didn’t stop her.
(To be continued)
(Side note: This still takes place the day after Niran's dream, which means this happens before the raid on Ovan Nova.)
The deafening scream echoed throughout the abyss. It was a scream of torture. A voice of terror. A familiar voice.
"Help! I'm-"
It was Akuma's. Disbelief. Nilani's heart dropped. Akuma was dead. She felt a tear roll down her cheek.
"Akuma!" Nilani shouted, "Why did you leave me?! Why did you have to die?"
The enchantress was unaware of the magic forming in her hands.
"How could you be so selfish?"
Anger welled up inside the enchantress. She was sad, and her sadness only fueled her angry magic.
N̵̳̎ḯ̸̭l̸̝̈́ḁ̴̚n̸̡͒i̸͖̍!̶̙̏ ̸̻͂S̵̜͘ẗ̴̺a̷̹̕y̷̢̿ ̶̠͑i̴̭͝ń̵̟ ̷̹̈c̷̳̆ȯ̴͍n̵̠̆ẗ̶̟́r̴̻͠o̷͕͐l̶̯̔!̵̪̆
"I don't care, Arden!" Nilani shouted into the oblivion, "I don't care anymore! Akuma was the only one I cared about! The only one who cared about me! How could she leave?"
Y̵̗̽o̶̲͂ŭ̶̮'̵̞̈r̶͎̔e̸̢̊ ̷̙́b̵̩͘e̵̛̙c̸̠̑o̷̲̕m̸̦̌ȉ̸̦n̸͉̏ǧ̷͇ ̸̣̚l̸̥͛i̷̓ͅk̵̯̎e̷̱̎ ̵̮͂ṃ̷̈ē̵̪.̶̣̃ ̸̥͝I̷̩͌ ̵̤͑s̷͆͜t̵̟̓a̶̱̿r̷̠̒t̵͇̅e̵̟͗d̶̡̋ ̴̖̂m̶̙̃y̷̛̯ ̷̯̈j̸͇̔ǫ̸̕u̶̢̿r̶̪̓n̶̪̋e̷͉̋y̵̺͐ ̸̦͝a̸̩͑s̷̢̈́ ̵̔ͅt̸̤́h̷̭͗ë̶̲́ ̸̬͝R̷̰̔e̴̛̞d̵͔̀ ̶̣̍Q̴͎͌ṳ̷͘e̵̫̊e̸͉͘n̶̼̄ ̵̮̈t̷̞̿h̸̜͗ẽ̶̢ ̵͔̑s̵͙̊a̴͍͆m̸̡̓e̸̟͊ ̵̠̈́w̷̫̿ḁ̴̽ẏ̸̱!̷̪̏ ̴̱͋N̶̘͛i̴̮̋l̶͉̀ä̷̻́ń̸̗ị̶̂,̸͍̕ ̴͈̋I̷͎̿ ̷̢̈b̶̮̒è̴̢g̵̦͝ ̵͕͘y̸͖͝o̷̺͠u̸̞͛!̵̕͜ ̴̬̚Ċ̸͓õ̶̻n̷͕̾t̸̳͘r̴̰͝o̶̬͠ḷ̸̚ ̸̣̀ȳ̷̝o̵̧͝ü̸̙r̵̩͐ ̷̱͛ě̷̤m̴̠̀o̵͕͒t̵̪̐ḯ̶̗o̷͇̽n̴̳̅s̵̪̉!̸͆͜
"Does it matter?" Nilani asked furiously, "Does anything matter now?"
Tears streamed down Nilani's pale face. Her hair stood up and dark magic surrounded her hands.
"Who did this?"
"Niran. The violin girl..."
The dark magic from her hands exploded. A wave of abyssal energy devastated everything around her. Everything was being destroyed in front of her eyes. The sparse trees, the abandoned cathedral. Everything, even inside the abyss.
Above the ground in Ovan Nova, the ground started to rumble. Nilani's dark magic burst through the barriers between the abyss and the real world. Houses crumbled. Dark flames engulfed people and buildings alike. Their pleading screams fell silent upon Nilani's ears. She didn't care.
In a matter of minutes, the magic faded. The small portion of Ovan Nova was devastated. No one was left alive. Everything around Nilani in the abyss was ruined. She sat in the middle of an open field, crying.
"I will find Niran. I will kill her. She deserves to die. She deserves to die a horrible death. She's a filthy slave of her instrument. A vile slave of the abyss. Akuma deserves better. And me?"
Y̵̮͂o̷̥̿u̷̗̔'̷͚̿v̸̯̾e̴͉͐ ̷̰͘b̷̧̆e̷͔̋c̶͕̎ō̷͜m̸͙̋e̸̲̐ ̴̦̈́a̷͑͜ ̸̱̈m̵͠ͅơ̷̫ǹ̴̹s̷̙͝t̵̻͐e̷͖̓r̸̺̋.̶̦̐.̶̯̉.̴̟̄y̴͙̚o̵̖͠ȗ̷̪'̸̫͊ŕ̴̞ḛ̸̛ ̶͓͛ḅ̷̌e̴̠͠c̷͍͘o̵̦̓m̴͓̿i̸̤̊n̷̼̍ĝ̴̤ ̴̪͗ṭ̶̅h̸͂͜e̸̗̿ ̸̤̅R̸̩̓ë̸̞́d̸̢̅ ̴̠͑Q̷̙͗û̴̟e̶̮̔e̷̫͊n̸̖̈́.̴̛̜.̴̱̃.̶̩̎
The Red Queen's words rang in her mind. Nilani looked up and surveiled the destruction, then remembered the Red Queen's memories.
"No no no...this can't be happening. I did this? I said that? Niran- I saw her on that day! She was sad! She was grieving. I can't kill her. But, she did this to Akuma... Why am I thinking like this?? I saw the pain in Niran's eyes. Does she deserve to be freed? No, stop! I can fix this, right? Maybe-"
Nilani sighed sadly.
So this is how it all starts, huh? This is how the Red Queen's story started. This is how Nilani's story will end...
Ỷ̴̩o̶̖̿ů̷̳ṙ̴͈ ̵̗͋ő̴̦n̸̩͑l̶̯̿y̶̼͘ ̵̠̎h̶̰͛o̵̫̒p̸̽͜ě̴̖ ̸̰̎n̸̫͝o̵̖̿w̷̰̌ ̶̱̆i̶̛̼s̵̤̓ ̷͔̆S̸͎̽e̶̙̿p̶͈͛t̷̯̾h̵͛ͅỉ̵̟s̶̛̙.̸̢̔ ̴̭̽M̸͆ͅa̸̝͛ÿ̴͙́b̴̙̉ë̶͇ ̴͙̀t̵͖̅ḩ̶̓e̸͍̽ ̶̩͝m̶̲͘o̶̮̊n̵͇̐s̸̬̏ẗ̴̞́è̸̠r̷͇͗ ̶̜͝c̴͕̐ä̶̗́n̸̫̆ ̷̧͌s̴͉̊h̴͔̐ő̵̞ŵ̶͍ ̷̳̎y̸͈͠o̸̪͘u̷̢͛ ̸̹̕w̵̤̍h̸̦̊ȧ̶̞t̸̟͛ ̸͖̎ÿ̸̝́o̵̖͂u̷̝̍ ̵͇̂n̴̳͠e̴̫͌e̸̤̿d̵͙̋.̵̹̿
The city showed no sign of life, but it was possible to hear some noise in specific houses. Did they still have citizens in the city? Thought Marian without turning her attention from the corners to reach the pier. Miljivan made improvised bandages on injured people as they walked. No one had a serious injury. Marian still thought it was a miracle, however few people are, that everyone arrived safely at their destination.
Anyway they got to the last corner. The ship was anchored near the wreckage of one of the docks. Marian remembered that place, the place where Cranket had been consumed by the abyssal force, the place where Marian changed her desire to leave Aeryn and create that unnecessary snowball of personal loss.
Lukaes appeared to help and show the way to the ship. From a distance, you could see a leviathan watching everything. Some were static and Marian raised his sword.
- Easy, people. This is, let's say, a friend of Aeryn.
- I don't believe much - said Marian, putting the sword away and boarding the ship.
- Aeryn is a fascinating woman - Lukaes smiled unpretentiously.
Miljivan was the last to go up and stood in the doorway with her hands clasped in the shape of a prayer. She wished with all her last strength and sanity that Aeryn would come back alive.
-
The dragon threw flames of fire everywhere in the arena. He had half of one wing and the flight was irregular. When the creature entered the arena, it did not know that it would be its final destination. The creature of pure abyssal strength stood in the center of the arena when she saw Aeryn enter, wielding Nyrea in golden flames. The dragon banged his fists on the ground, shaking the arena, and continued to fire everywhere, a bluish fire that dripped abyssal goo at times due to his weakness from his injuries.
Aeryn knew the monster was strong, but the wound on the wing was large, and it seemed that the rune blows were having an effect on the dragon's pain. She ran holding the sword firmly and tried to hit the dragon's head when he turned to set fire to another location in the arena.
Unexpectedly two giant skeletons, robust by cartilage made of abyssal force, stopped Aeryn's blow. The dragon summoned soldiers to surround and protect while destroying everything with fire. Nyrea soon emerged and used the runes Aeryn had reloaded to launch the skeletons to opposite sides. With force the skeletons broke, but soon two more appeared and pushed the knights.
The last few minutes were exhausting. As much as Aeryn and Nyrea attacked the skeletons, they returned to help their putrid master. The dragon no longer launched fire and while the servants took their attention away, he tried to strike with sharp claws. Always unsuccessful. Aeryn was very attentive throughout.
She thought about running away. What she came to do has been completed. But she knew that she couldn't leave that creature alive. She knew that if she had the opportunity to strike that abomination with abyssal force, she would do it. Furthermore, the dragon would not leave her alone until she reached the ship, and running away, not knowing what might come up in the streets of Kiserova could increase the dragon's strength.
- I think he's tired enough - Aeryn started to speak through the shared consciousness with Nyrea - Could you show me what the concentrated strength of a planeswalker can do. Incidentally, the leviathan's strength was not enough.
- It will be an honor to show you the strength you lost in claiming this power, but I thank you for your trust in this humble sword - Nyrea returned with a smile as she launched her astral form forward causing Aeryn to move away a little - Get further away, it will be something beautiful and dangerous to see.
The sword in Nyrea's hands began to take on the strongest and most imposing golden fire. She looked emphatically at the dragon, which turned its head like a dog without understanding what could happen at that moment. Nyrea dug the sword into the trembling ground. The flame grew stronger. Nyrea's hair started to flutter.
Two medium-sized slits opened and elemental lions came out in golden and red flames with many rustic details of the runes. The cats run around crushing the skeletons, ignoring the useless servants and putting all their strength into ferocious bites on the dragon's wings and arms. The creature roared with pain, but could not fight back.
The dragon started to head the lions and raised enough when it managed to launch its flames everywhere it touched the ground. At that moment the lions released their wing and arm, jumping backwards. Upon seeing the flames arrive, Nyrea forced the sword even further on the ground and the lions returned with fierce and golden flames, mixed with red fire.
The flame of the dragon and the lions were an incredible display of strength. Even with two forcing the dragon, he did not give in and propelled his body with stature forward to face anyone who crossed his path. At that moment his chest was exposed and Nyrea pulled the sword from the ground and ran with extreme speed until he was under the dragon. She could feel his heart, dead and full of abyssal strength, pounding. The sword quickly went through the dragon. The flames ceased, but the lions' did not, consuming and burning the zombie creature's face with force.
The dragon was dead in the center of the arena, lions disappeared and Nyrea, like a sword, was lying on the ground without a scratch. Aeryn walked over to her friend.
- Rest well now. You did a good job - She sheathed her sword - Let's go home finally.
-
Gradually the sun was setting on the horizon. Miljivan had not left her post at the ship's entrance, eyes closed and hands asking, for any spirit he might hear, to help Aeryn. Marian came close to her.
- You should rest. It was a long journey and your prayers will certainly be answered, but now it's time to stop - Marian lowered Miljivan's hands, who seemed to cry.
In the distance something shone as a reflection. Miljivan felt something and raised her head, opening her eyes looking for something. The reflection shone again around the corner. It was Aeryn, who walked calmly through her injuries. Miljivan did not move.
Aeryn walked a little further and stopped in front of the ship, near the ship's entrance. She smiled when she saw Miljivan. Both were in the last rays of the sunset. They kept looking at each other, a look that showed peace. Nobody has moved yet.
Aeryn took the first step towards Miljivan...
THE END ... for Aeryn in the Tournament of Champions 3
Thanks to everyone who followed the story of this character.
A legion of torches spread light through the hallway walls.
Valierielle followed her guards further down the old hallway.
Gravel and sand fell as quakes shook the roof. Valierielle starred forwards into the distant darkness with fury in her eyes. Her blood was boiling, her heart was burning, her mind was screaming yet she knew nothing of the royal family's fate for that Arheksie had spared her the knowledge of.
They walked through many old halls decorated with old, but not forgotten, paintings and statues. They represented leaders of the old Ovan and the horses whom they rod upon.
Among the paintings and statues were old tombs and memorial shrines.
The soldiers led Valierielle further down the hallways and multiple stairs. They came to a wall that had been broken open recently. The walls were cracked and stone slabs were stacked around the hall. They stepped through the opening and came into even older halls. These walls were dark grey and red of granite.
They walked past even more statues, old and cracked statues. They were made dark rock materials and not marble like those in the halls above. The paintings were few down there but the tombs were common, old and half broken, they almost stood stacked upon each other inside the walls.
Further down they went, past thousands of tombs, statues, shrines and offerings. They stepped through many holes in the walls and beneath shrines that had been opened by the soldiers. The air grew colder and colder the further down they went.
The light of the torches grew weaker and the halls, darker. Valierielle did not care for whatever it was, she knew what she was here for and she would watch it awaken.
She had known most of the people of the statues they walked by far above but down here, she barely knew anyone. Statues and tombs of people that had died at least seven hundred years ago.
They had walked past so many hidden doors and blocked openings that it grew obvious to her how it could have taken so many years to make a find, something that would have been almost impossible without Pontiff Cralmarov. It was not with fondness that the thought about that man but neither was it of disgust. He had helped them but disappeared without a trace almost as soon as Medirna stepped over the border.
Valierielle suddenly stopped. Before her far inside the darkness, a red object
that almost completely surrounded something. Almost all colors had been worn out by the age so it had to be something, probably alive. Valierielle looked at her soldiers who looked back, they did not seem to worry. Valierielle took a deep breath and then they continued forward. As they moved closer to the object, a figure revealed itself.
They came into another large room. Valierielle stepped down on her knees and bowed before a statue with long ruby hair. The statue was of a woman, a queen, but dressed in an attire used by the ancient great eastern horse cultures. In her left hand she held an traditional spear and in the other, a battle-horn. The wall behind her was an image of hundreds if not thousands of horsemen.
The thunder lady
Valierielle stood up after have payed her respect, and they walked into the next room which was huge in scale. In the middle of the room stood a 66 feet tall colossal statue of a horse made of - stone. A construction of wood had been built that lead up to the horse's head where something was reflecting the light from the nearby torches.
"Ah, lady Valierielle, we have waited patiently for you to finally come." A very old man in black robe approached them.
"Keliegien, was the steed not supposed to be made of silver?" Valierielle said with clear stress in her voice.
"Ah but it is of silver my lady. The stone is just to protect the steed." The man's hands were shaking as he pointed towards the statue's head. Valierielle looked up and saw a horn of silver reaching out from the statue's head.
"My lady, if I may ask. It would be a honor, no, a dream come true for me if I would be allowed to awaken the steed. I,- I have dreamed of this day for my long life, I have survived just for this. I want to give my life to awaken the steed. I beg you of this, allow me to awaken him from his slumber. Kaliegien held his shaking hands close to Valierielle's as if he wanted to grab them but he did not dare to.
Valierielle took the old man's hands in her own. "Kaliegien, you shall awaken the steed." Kaliegein shone up. "Thank you, lady, thank you. I will not make you disappointed."
A soldier led Kaliegien up the wooden ramp that lead to the statues head where the soldier left him before returning down.
Kaliegien approached the silver horn of the steed. He put his hand on the horn. "You have already showed me so much-" he looked up at a burnt hole in the roof "-but there is still so much you have to do. I shall awake you so that you may protect us as was your purpose. I will awake you so that you will feel the freedom that all your kin have the right to feel. The moon will shine upon you revealing your beauty to all, to Nova and her enemies. They have death, destruction and misery to our land with the beasts they fly upon. Bring them down from the sky." Kaliegien touched the tip of the horn with his finger so blood was sipping out. "I will awake you."
He stroke the bloody finger across the horn as he spoke the same names that were spoken when the soul of the silver steed was made in ancient times. "Keiga, Evineia, Vedinia, Pertana, esana, zetidna, Luxa-" He stepped to the tip of the horn and turned towards the stead so his chest faced the horn. He put his hands on it. "-Ovana." He thrust himself forward so the horn pierced his chest and heart. "AWAKEN!" he shouted with his last breath. As life began to escape his body he felt how the silver in his hands came to life as his blood soaked the horn. Old and broken he died with a smile on his face.
The stone protection cracked and large chunks fell to the ground.
"Take cover!" shouted a soldier. Valierielle, the soldiers and everyone else in the room ran out to the room with the thunder lady's statue.
Large stone boulder and rocks fell to the ground, shaking the many rooms so dust and sand fell over Valierielle and the soldiers. The ground became bombarded with stones and boulders to the sound of silver coming to life and moving back and forth.
The bombardment continued for a while and when it stopped, Valierielle was first to look out into the room and see the colossal silver steed come to life.
"Welcome back."
Zallados was watching the battle on the field outside of Ovan Nova turn into a slaughter as the Rahandi and Ovan horsemen- both were outnumbered and drenched in the flames of the attacking dragons. Fires were spreading through Ovan Nova as the attack of the dragons had just begun. As he looked upon his dragons above the city, he saw something. The sky began to twist and move. The ground beneath his feet were shaking. "Send word to the titan rider. I need him here immediately."
Two Days After Akuma's Ascension...
Monica sat near the window surveying the city, quietly taking sips from her morning cup of coffee. In her other hand she held an issue of The Steed’s Scoop, detailing the events of the night before. Unsurprisingly, the news was filled to the brim with stories of massacres all throughout the country. Ovan Forra Massacred, No Survivors Left Behind; Ovan Estro Wiped off the Face of the Earth by Merdirnan Dogs; the list continued on. It would only be a matter of time before the draconian empire made their move on Ovan Nova and burned it all to the ground. Monica gave a small chuckle. So, this is how I die? Just another casualty of a brutal war? She wondered, peering out her window. She saw people rushing panickedly, desperately seeking a place to hide from the oncoming doom. There was nowhere left for them to run. Ovan Nova was the last bastion, the final spark of hope in this horrendous calamity, yet there was nothing that could be done to prevent its extinguishment. She heard the muffled sound of jovial music in the distance, originating from a nearby courtyard. A small band of three had set themselves up on a makeshift stage, playing an upbeat tune that pierced the murky smog of dread pervading the city. People from all sorts of backgrounds danced together, forgetting about all their cares in the world. Monica could not help but be moved by the music as well, placing her newspaper down on the table and tapping her hand to beat. With each movement, a small glint of metal underneath her sleeve shined throughout the room.
Monica was truly envious of the people outside, of their ability to live the last moments to the fullest. Whereas they could greet death with a hopeful smile, she felt only utter terror at the prospect of facing her demise, assuaged only by the fact that there was no better alternative. Indeed, all her life she could never stop experiencing a single painful emotion: Fear. Fear of failing her master, fear of getting caught, and fear of so much more; it all morphed into a ball of pure anxiety that made it impossible to truly enjoy the things she once loved. How fitting, the price for power costs my soul. She thought, bemused. She silently thanked her mind for being as strong as it was; not collapsing inward from the constant terror she experienced was a sizable blessing. Yet the strain still took a toll on her psyche. Everywhere she looked, everywhere she turned, she saw the same cruel smile flash before her eyes. Despite being so far away from her master, it was like he was never gone to begin with. Compared to that, death seemed like a sweet mercy.
Then why do I dread it so?
The question rang in Monica’s head. It was a terrible truth which she had no good answer to. Surely there was nothing better than to be free from him, was there? Yet doubt pervaded her mind. What if something far worse waited for her beyond the grave? There was no good way to know what happened after death, and that truly terrified her. Her grip on the coffee began to waver, until a bit of the still hot liquid splashed onto her hand. Recoiling from the pain, Monica dropped the coffee mug to the floor, spilling the contents within. Monica sighed, then moved herself to another spot at the table. She didn’t have the nerve to call the inn’s cleaning staff, not just yet. Again, she peered out the window, observing the city streets below her lofty perch. She noticed a single raven landing on the roof of a nearby house, its gaze focused intently on her, just like it had done two nights ago. To see it in broad daylight, however, was an unusual sight.
Not wanting to heed the unsettling raven any longer, Monica grabbed her newspaper and began to read the rest. However, upon turning a new page, she discovered a letter addressed to her hiding within the paper, written by none other than the master’s closest advisor: Malkhan. Anxiety rushed back into her senses, causing her to shakily open the envelope and pull out the foreboding letter, reading it.
Hello, Monica
By the time this letter reaches you, it will be only one day left before Medirna burns this place to the ground. Until then, you should use this time to prepare for your departure, because today is your lucky day!
Monica humphed, she loathed Malkhan’s casual demeanor towards his subordinates. He always made sure that his lackeys knew how much they were truly worth, whether it be through speech or writing. But she continued on.
You are officially “Free To Go!” Yup! No more ‘always being watched,’ no more ‘forced to do inhumane jobs,’ none of that! However, there is one tiny condition that you must keep in order to stay free…
Monica glowered at the letter. Malkhan wouldn’t just let her go, would he? As she examined the opened envelope, she found a small brown pouch hidden within. Picking it up, she could feel something ominous lurking within the bag. Whatever it was, she did not want to know.
...Always keep the pouch from the envelope to your side, until you meet ‘them.’ I won’t tell you any details, of course. You’re smart, you’ll figure it out.
For now, I wish you good luck on the rest of your travels! If I were you, I’d get out of that hell hole while you can. Those Vosanovan’s think they can defeat insurmountable odds. Hah! What fools they are! But you won’t be stupid enough to stick around. At least, I hope so!
The Best Regards you’ll ever get from your superior,
Malkhan
Almost immediately, Monica jumped up from her seat and scrambled to collect her belongings. Keep such a small pouch on me for a while? That’ll be easy! She thought. Yet as she went to pack her clothing into her bag, she heard the faint sound of a violin eerily playing behind her. Turning around, Monica saw the door into the hallway under the influence of a black, viscous magic. It moved among itself, undoing all the latches and locks Monica had set the night before. All the while loud cawing came from behind her; the raven which had watched from a distance now was perched on the windowsill, its eyeless face staring straight into Monica’s soul. It continued to caw, almost like it was laughing at the miserable fate that entailed. Soon the door opened, revealing a ashen pale girl seeped in a dark substance, with deep red eyes that pierced the darkness and burned into Monica’s core. A wave of adrenaline overcame the woman, causing her to steel herself against the intruder. She held out a hand, showing the girl to go no farther.
“I-If you do not stop moving, I w-won’t hesitate to kill you!” She warned. The girl simply took another step forward, which was replied with a flick of Monica’s wrist.
Clang. Clang. Shrrk.
Three knives appeared from underneath Monica’s sleeve, flying straight toward the girl. Instead of hitting their target, two knives were lying on the ground, and one stuck itself squarely into a four armed abomination, wielding a pale white sword. Before Monica had time to grasp the situation, the abomination lunged forward, pinning her to a wall. No matter what trick Monica pulled out of her sleeve, no matter what underhanded tactic she used, it remained unfazed, allowing the girl to walk closer to Monica.
“Please, just, I don’t know who you are, but I can give you anything! Money, information, you know it! Just don’t kill me! Not when I’m so close!” Monica groveled in front of the girl.
“Tell me where Cralmarov is. Tell me where Relvas is.” The girl bitterly replied.
“He, he, they, they are at…” Monica tried and tried to spit the words out, but she couldn’t. A figment of Cralmarov materialized right next to her, putting a finger on her lips all the while grinning sinisterly. The girl, unaware of the manifestation of Cralmarov standing in front of her, was unamused.
“Fine. If scum like you won’t give me what I am looking for, I’ll just take it from you.” She harshly answered. Pulling up her violin, the girl played a violent melody of wrath and sorrow mixed into one, forming a serrated needle out of the dark substance. With a quick jab of the bow, the needle was sent flying directly into Monica’s skull. Agonizing pain consumed her entirely for what felt like an eternity. Using all of her effort, Monica looked out the window one final time, and saw an enigmatic man sitting on the rooftop of another building watching the commotion in her room. His face morphed into a vile grin, an image burned into the assaulted mind of Monica, before at last she blacked out.
Niran and Bernadette stepped out of the desolate inn and into the morning-lit streets. Niran had a skip in her step, while Bernadette sulked behind. After two days of stalking her target, Niran had chosen to bust in forcefully, confident that the arkenai formed from Akuma would be more than enough to counter any dirty play she had. In the end, she was right. But that did not make Bernadette feel any better. Slowly, she walked up to Niran’s side, and meekly asked a question.
“Where are we going, exactly?”
Niran looked at Bernadette and smiled. “Turns out Cralmarov is nowhere near Vosanova, and we’ll never be able to reach him without help, but in his hasty departure, he left Relvas behind here! We know where to look for Relvas, and once we find him,” Niran gave a little jump as she beamed at Bernadette. “we can solve everything altogether!”
Bernadette gave a skeptical look. “I don’t think it’ll be that simple…”
“Come on! Don’t be such a downer! After all, if everything goes to hell, we have this!” Niran tossed a small brown pouch; filled with an artefact of some sort oozing out abyssal magic; pilfered from the rambling husk that once was an informant in service to Cralmarov. Bernadette was about to reply, but then hesitated. It felt wrong for her to ruin Niran’s happiest moment right then and there. She had already suffered so much, Bernadette did not want to contribute to that suffering.
Then why do I feel like this will only turn out for the worse?
Bernadette tried to push her skeptical thoughts down, but they only continued, growing stronger and stronger until finally a flood of doubt overcame her.
Am I wrong? Have I failed her?
Have I failed Niran?
(To be continued)
(This is it folks! The penultimate post before the final battle!)
Nilani paused.
Is this what I'm becoming?
Screams echoed through the abyss again. They were from the people of Ovan Nova. Dragons were approaching the city. People were dying.
"I can't forget why I came down in the abyss again. I can't forget my purpose!" Nilani lectured herself.
Nilani felt weak. Emotionally her mind was clashing with itself. Friendships and balance both clashed in her mind vigorously. Nilani felt like she was losing her identity all over again.
Akuma's warm voice echoed in Nilani's mind.
"Moktaractus. Septhis. The abyss. The end of the world? not to mention the political turmoil. I'm worried that if one thing goes wrong, it's all going to come crashing down. The tournament. Us too."
Memories of the moments Nilani shared with her friend flashed through her mind.
"Why do I care about Akuma so much? I can't be like the Red Queen! She became evil because she cared! But, my mission is only there because I do care! I care about hope, yet there's no trace of hope for me to find. I care about balance, but Vosanova's defenses have finally been destroyed. I care about freedom and friendship, but I feel like all of that is long gone. I care about the abyss, but I don't want to let it take over me..." Nilani trailed off.
Nilani looked up to the inky black sky of the abyss.
"I don't have any choice but to keep going. This plane needs balance. These people need hope," Nilani said to herself, "At whatever cost it takes."
Nilani after what seemed like hours of walking, Nilani found herself in a dark room. There were no lights, so naturally, Nilani tried to create her own light. She opened her palm, but no golden light appeared.
That's odd...
Nilani tried again and again. Still nothing.
"What's happening to me?" Nilani's voice echoed through the room.
Nilani moved blindly through the room as she stumbled over broken pieces of furniture. Suddenly, a raspy, dark voice boomed throughout the room.
W̵̩͌h̶̡̛a̴̪͗t̸̜̽ ̶̢̅i̸̒͜ŝ̷̪ ̶̤̃ḷ̷̓ĭ̷̩g̴̜͗h̵̳͛t̷̟͝?̴̢̃ ̸̞̍W̶͇̍h̸̥̅ă̸̧t̷͓̒ ̶̮̓i̵͇̕ș̵̂ ̷̝̎h̴͉͠ō̶̫p̸̪̌è̴ͅ?̴̜̃
"I'm not in the mood for a stupid lecture right now, Arden!" Nilani yelled in frustration, "I just need to get to Septhis!"
S̷̡͑ő̷͔ ̴̺̓b̷͚̀ę̸͝ ̸̟̉i̷͜͝t̸̝̿.̶͚̍
Miraculously, the room lit up. Gold light blinded Nilani's eyes. Then, the room around her melted away. Nilani felt herself get yanked through the dark folds of the abyss. In an instant, she was standing at the top of a cliff. And in front of her, towered a monster. A dark, powerful monster of the abyss. Septhis.
---
(One or two more parts to go!)
"Go back and if you ever need to return, do so with purpose and you will never be a slave."
"I have a purpose. I need to find the final answers to my journey. I need to restore balance and hope to this plane."
Is that truly your purpose, Nilani?
Another wave of energy washed over the enchantress. She took a step closer to the edge of the cliff. The power was so tempting.
"Yes."
Do you know what balance is? Can you remember what hope truly is? You seem to have lost yourself.
A hand of shadow reached out towards the enchantress. Nilani was fixated on the dazzling power that she barely had time to evade it.
Like you, I must protect the abyss. You have become a liability...I had thought you were pure. Unlike the other contestants. It seems not even you could resist the allure of the abyss. It seems that you may turn out like the Red Queen after everything you've done to bring hope...how...
Another blast of shadows barreled towards Nilani. She barely dodged it again. Nilani had a bad feeling. She could feel herself falling to the abyss. She had no escape. Even if she did, the power was just too tempting.
...ironic.
"C'mon!" Nilani whispered rapidly to herself, "Find the light! I can create invocations to buy me the time I need!"
Nilani tried again to create her golden invocations, but failed. Her shadows were quickly pulled away into the essence of Septhis.
"No no no. Don't fail on me now!"
Nilani waved her hands over and over, but the beautiful golden light that Nilani once wielded refused to come out. Another hand of shadows lashed out towards the enchantress. Nilani scrambled out of the way clumsily.
The power, isn't it tempting?
"It's a trap!"
Couldn't it be yours? Don't you feel at peace with the presence of the abyss? Could it be your only possible way to escape? Is that right, Nilani?
Nilani felt more of her willpower breaking down. She raised her arm to cast a spell, but it felt too heavy to do anything. Shadows creeped up around Nilani as she stood, helpless. The abyss felt too peaceful- she didn't want to walk away.
"S- so this is how it ends?"
Ends? Oh, this is only the beginning. Do you not remember the Red Queen's story? Arden's story? Arden was a slave of the abyss. But her true form, the Red Queen, was a monster.
"Can you at least answer one question?"
The shadows halted abruptly around Nilani. She was surrounded.
"What is hope? All my life I've strived to create hope. I've strived to bring hope and freedom to everyone. Now, with everything that's happening, I realized that I never understood what hope was..."
Hope is a feeling of comfort. A feeling of belonging. A light within the darkness. A light that couldn't be there without it. Hope is not being free of pain. It's knowing that you can withstand it. There can be hope during the war. There can be hope when it seems like everything is lost. But most of all, the greatest hope comes from kindness, love, and friendship. Alone, no one can fight off their pain. But fighting together means the world. Fighting together means there's still hope. But you're alone, aren't you, Nilani?
The shadows sped towards Nilani. The peacefulness and power was overbearing, and Nilani fought against it hard.
Akuma...you gave me hope...you were the greatest friend I could ever ask for. Can you ever find room to forgive me in your heart?
"That's it! Akuma!"
Nilani's hands shook. She had attempted to use this spell twice. Every time she had, she lost control of it. Her hope twin spell. Nilani thought about Akuma as she channeled the dark energy around her into a spell.
Inside her head, the gentle voice of Akuma reassured her.
Don't give up! I know you can do it!
To Nilani's amazement, the magic she channeled with dark energy swirled into golden light. The light Nilani had failed to reach before. She knew she was in control of her spell. She couldn't lose it this time.
A hazy figure of Akuma formed from the golden light. An ethereal form of her. It warded away the shadows around Nilani and drew her sword. Shadows rapidly flew towards Akuma, but her blade sliced them apart.
Nilani ran across the edge of the steep cliff, searching for an exit as Akuma warded the shadows away.
Foolish girl. None can defeat Septhis. None can defeat the abyss.
A beam of dark energy soared towards Nilani. Akuma quickly blocked the energy.
"Go," the invocation smiled, "Save yourself."
Nilani smiled for a moment, then frowned. "There's so many things I want to tell you-"
Akuma cut Nilani off with a look of desperation.
"This is true honor. I'm saving my best friend even if it means my so called life all over again. Now, find a way out of here."
(this is not my signature card! The signature card will come soon though!)
There was no way out, and the invocation Akuma was slowly weakening to the powerful abyssal beam.
With Akuma weakening, slowly, the temptation of the abyssal power grew stronger and stronger. Nilani was going to lose...again. She stepped closer to the mosnter. Then took another step. And another.
Then, something caught Nilani's eye. It was the little girl. Nilani snapped out of her power hungry trance.
"You?" Nilani asked, "You followed me here?"
The girl smiled as she held a small daisy in her hand. An angel swooped down and picked up the girl. Then, it sped towards Nilani.
"Grab my hand!" she yelled.
Nilani grabbed her hand. She looked over at Akuma. She could see a faint smile on her face. Then, with a faint pop, the invocation disappeared. Shadows spread everywhere blocked every exit.
"What do we do?" the angel asked.
The little girl pointed down into the abyss. Beyond Septhis. It was the deepest, darkest part of the abyss.
"There?" Nilani asked. Then, Nilani realized who the angel was. It was a tournament contestant- Brynn.
You can't win Nilani. Only escape. Septhis is an avatar of the abyss and I am only the monster...
The girl nodded. Brynn dove down, artfully dodging tendrils of shadows while Nilani lit up the path ahead. The little girl smiled serenely as the chaos erupted around them. Then, something slammed Brynn's wing. It jerked her to the side causing Nilani's light to disappear out of her surprise. The three plummeted down into the darkness. Past Septhis. Into the depths of the unknown darkness beyond.
_______________________
(one more part incoming!!)
Underneath one of the many labyrinthine mansions Cralmarov owned in Ovan Nova, Relvas hung limply within its damp catacombs. His physique was sickly and gaunt from malnutrition; The body did not fare well within 12 days of his brutal imprisonment. 12 days of bloody torture. He was covered in large gashes everywhere, and his eyes had lost all light in it. All that laid in the aftermath of his abuse was a broken husk, physically, and mentally, scarred.
Inhale… Relvas looked to the right; rats feasting on the rotting corpse of a forgotten prisoner were his only company.
Exhale… Relvas looked to the left; a small barred window granted sunlight and breeze into the otherwise pitch black and stale cell. However, what was once a warm yellow light was now a sickly orange, and the air wafting in smelled a choking brimstone.
Inhale…
Exhale…
Inhale…
Exhale…
A large roar echoed throughout the entire building, soon followed by the boom of soaring wings overhead. The sudden noise broke Relvas from his torment-ridden stupor, his eyes glinting with life once more, if ever so dimly. The scattering of rats from their feeding briefly caught his attention, until the distant sound of rumbling piqued his ear. With each crash, the noises got louder, until he could hear panicked yells and a discordant melody in the halls. He watched motionlessly as a guard scrambled down the hall towards his cell, a direction with no escape.
“Help! Sh-she’s coming after me! I-I don’t w-wanna d—” His cries were cut short as a dark tendril impaled him through the back and slammed him to the ground, leaving a crater of stone and flesh. Relvas gazed upon the body without any reaction; any sense of fear or disgust had been deprived from him long ago. Eventually the creeping of black tentacles signified the approach of the monster that killed the guard so brutally. As it floated to Relvas’ cell, its form came into full view: a small girl wreathed in inky shadows, its wide eyes burning a murderous red. A more grotesque creature followed closely behind, its fleshy physique housing four surprisingly muscular arms, while its face was covered in binding runes of all sorts. The latter’s obedient nature was reminiscent of the zombies Relvas worked on while in Cain’s service, although he could tell it was fueled by something much more concentrated than mere vis. Meanwhile the former stared at Relvas, its rage suppressed by a sense of relief. Slowly, Relvas raised his head up to meet its eyes.
“Who… What are you?” He groaned. The monster’s face contorted into a look of sorrow. It replied slowly, shadowy tears dripping from its face.
“̴̹̑Ǐ̴̡̆ ̷͔̀̓t̸̗̽̾h̵̳̭̎o̸̱͚͗u̴̠̤̅̓g̷̩̀͂h̶̨͓͠ṱ̶̰́…̷̮͐̔ͅ ̵̬̒I̵̪͒̅ ̸͚̞̓̕t̸̢̛̗̑h̶̨̯̓ǫ̸̍̕ư̴̲̑g̶̱̮͂h̸̖̥̽̆t̸̰̰̏͂ ̵̯̥̃̏y̸̗̫̐͗ơ̴̦̲ǔ̶̹͠’̶̰̉́͜d̵̫̈͋ ̸̟̲͝ṛ̸̽e̷͖͓͋c̵̫͎͆͑o̵͓̗͊g̷͔̙̚̚ṉ̸́i̵͖̓̉͜z̵͈͛ȩ̴̬͛ ̷̟͓̒͠ṃ̴͌̉ḙ̷̿̏…̶̡̮̈́” In spite of the abyssal distortion the monster had in its, no, her voice, Relvas immediately realized who it was. There was only one person who had ever spoken with that much pain in her voice.
“Niran? Is that you?”
Underneath the veil of shadows, Niran beamed a smile so bright it pierced her darkness. After 12 days of separation, finally she had found the one whom she loved the most. “̴̡̻̌́Ý̵̢̤ȩ̷̋̿ͅs̴̄͜!̸̛̲͝ ̵̯̀͘I̵̻̰̓’̵̲̅̓v̷̮̆̏͜ẻ̶̝̺̈́ ̴̞͌͘c̶̩̿͊ó̷͕̟͂m̷̥͐̆e̶̲̜̓͝ ̷̝̌t̷̗̿͜ỏ̴̩͘ ̷̰͑̌b̵̼̄̿r̶͍͝e̴̞͉̽̔ạ̴̇̄k̶̲̹̀̂ ̷͍̓̏y̴̭̍͐o̴̙̺̚u̸̡̼͛̆ ̸͈͓͌͝f̴̨͖̂r̴̩͝e̶̺̎̉ȅ̷̩!̵͍͔̃”̸̞̬̎
Relvas looked down, unable to hold his head for any longer. “Why did you come back? I’m useless... to you. I’m useless to everyone…”
Niran felt her heart drop as Relvas spoke. “̶͚͙̈̕B̴̲̈́ͅu̵̟̒̄t̶͖̃…̶̙͖́̄ ̵̱͍̈Ŷ̷̘̘o̵͓̩͌̑ú̵͉̣͝ ̷̘̅͜m̵̜̐̎e̷͓̓a̵̖̙͒n̶̹̞̈́ ̸̨͕̓t̷͖̃̄h̵͓̩͂̐e̸̛͔̥ ̷̞̐̂͜w̷̳͑̿o̸̰͗r̵̻̖̈́͠ļ̸̬̂͛d̷̺̊ ̸̣̺̂̄t̶̠̼̏ò̵̡̍ ̵̛̭̌ḿ̵͓̋ẹ̶̤͑!̷̯̮̏̏ ̷͕̌I̸͙̼͗̅ ̴̱̤̈́̆ç̸̞̐o̷͓͋u̸̳͈̒l̸̨̟͆d̴͕͌͜n̴̯̝͑’̶̭̇̉t̵̫̀͒ ̸̬͎̋j̵̲̄ũ̶͎̳̽s̵̬̙͑̒ṫ̸͍ ̸̯̃ļ̷̮̒͘ẹ̷̓ͅa̵͖̽́v̴͎̗́e̴̞͆̀ ̶̟̣̆͂y̴̥͝o̵̧͙͠û̶̲̚…̶͉́ ̸͕̘͗e̵̠̽̕s̷͖̫̄p̶̥̂e̶̙̼̍̆c̴͖͓̚i̶̬͂a̵̦̿͘l̴̬̆l̴̖͔̊͛ȳ̶̧̫ ̴͉͐n̸̳͋o̷̡̰͐ṯ̴̜͠ ̵̱̋̽ḻ̷̠̓i̴̐ͅk̷͓̅e̵͙̫̒̐ ̷͔̎́t̵̤̀̊h̷͓̩͆͐i̴̹̪͝s̴̼͊…̶̲͑”̴͈͚͂
“Why though? Why did you... put all your love… into someone as worthless as me?”
“̶͆ͅS̴̺̓̚t̴͙̅̿ö̶̖́̀p̸̘͎̀͠ ̶̝̰̓̒s̴̖̫̔á̸̜̚y̴̪͑i̷̤͔͝n̷̞̊g̷̰̝̒ ̴̟̎͑t̷͚͂̏h̵͔̋̅a̷̞͈͊͒t̶͔̠͌!̶̧̕ ̶̱̓̿Ÿ̶̛̱ộ̷̘ù̴̧̕ ̵̙̄̇ả̷̧r̵̙͒̏e̴̦̯̿ ̷̙̽ŝ̶͉ͅo̴̞̭͌͗ ̷̢̋m̵̥͓̐͘ŭ̸̢̞͝c̵̘̜̔h̶̹͕̃̈ ̸̻̣̑͂m̷̲̖̔ô̷̹̳͠r̷͖̫̄̓e̵̼͛ ̷͇́t̶̞̘̂ḩ̶̯͘a̴̝̟̕ǹ̴̬ ̵̳́͛ý̵̙ȍ̴̖̥̆u̶͉̯͂ ̸͇̜̿ş̴̽̽a̶̓̑ͅy̵̫̔̾ ̶̜̪͌ÿ̵̲̜́͛o̵̜͒̚ṵ̵̍ ̶̩̋͒a̸͔͗ṙ̶͙͔ẹ̵̘̃͝!̷̩̣̇”̷̨̓̑
“...”
“̶̹̃ͅL̶͖̑̈o̷̻̼̔͒ö̵̪́͠k̸̬͉̈͋,̴̗̗̌̑ ̵͚̮̎͊I̶̺̎͘’̵̬̀m̷̡̹̓̿ ̴̟̍ͅg̷͓̃͛͜ë̴̢͚́t̶̲̘̃͘t̷̜̮̀i̴͕̭̔ǹ̵̟g̴̫̈́̿ ̷͇̬͊̒ẏ̵͔o̶̬̣͗̍u̴͉̺͂ ̸̧̌ȍ̷̬͘ừ̸̦t̶̢̠̏̂ ̸̳̃o̵̫̫͋f̸̛͓͍ ̸̛̲̪͋h̸͔̦̒͘ȇ̵̮r̸̢̰̔͑e̸̻̚,̴̱̞́ ̷̫̘̈́w̴̹͙͊h̵̫̀ȇ̵͈t̷̢̋̑ḧ̷̬́e̸̬̔̾r̵̛̲̓ ̸̖̫̆ÿ̴̲̤́͘ö̷̮̂u̴̪̾͘ ̸̱̄̀l̵̟͌͘i̸̟̿k̴̢̦̓̾ḙ̸͝ ̷͙̆͝ĭ̷̧͘t̵̮̭͂̀ ̸͍̚ŏ̶̞̤r̵̻̃̑ ̴̉̾͜ṇ̵͚̄ǒ̴͚̟̔t̷̝̍!̵̡͔͆”̸̫̯̊̇
______________________________________________________
Akuma tirelessly sprinted through the mansion, carrying Niran and Bernadette on its back while gently holding Relvas in two of its hands. The halls were littered with corpses all about, some bashed to a pulp, others sliced to bits. The construct paid no mind to the bodies on the floor in its rush, sometimes accidentally crushing the dead and splashing blood all over its legs. Thankfully Niran, Bernadette, and Relvas were not hit by the spray of gore. With each stride it grew closer to the exit, the door already torn open by Niran’s initial break in. A reddish-orange light seeped into the halls, giving the interior a ghastly glow. With one giant leap, Akuma jumped out of the mansion—
And into total calamity.
The world burned everywhere the eye could see. All of the buildings were consumed by flames, while civilians fled in random directions, trampling over each other. Peasants dressed in Medirnan military garb pillaged the homes that were not already reduced to ashes, slaughtering anyone who dared cross their paths. And the dragons. Oh the dragons. They circled the entire city, their wings casting a despairing shadow over it. Every so often the dragons would swoop down and breathe fire, leaving screaming bodies and razed buildings in their wake. Whatever fragment of hope Ovan Nova had left was burned to ash by Medirna’s brutality.
Without a second thought, Niran silently ordered her construct to run to an abandoned alleyway, where they’d be safe from the ensuing chaos, even if only temporarily. Akuma obeyed, weaving through the soldiers and dodging burning debris. Eventually they made it to a nook that was left unburned and intact. Niran and Bernadette hopped off of Akuma, while Relvas was set down near the corner of a building to rest on.
“I… need to… keep going… on…” Niran wheezed. Bernadette gave a reassuring pat on Niran’s back while Relvas looked blankly. Slowly, the abyssal veil covering Niran faded away, revealing ashen skin and brown-black eyes in its place.
“You’re pushing yourself to the limit. Akuma is taking a constant toll on your magic reserves. You can’t keep going on like this.” Bernadette replied concernedly.
“How do you… even know?” Niran tried to remark defiantly, but was too exhausted to put anger into her words. Relvas looked confused at Niran.
“Who are you talking to?” He asked. “It’s no one but you, me, and your puppet.”
“Wait, you can’t see Bernadette? But she’s right there!” Niran pointed to Bernadette, but all Relvas saw was smoky air and the… shadow of a dragon?
“Look… out…” With the last of his energy, Relvas quietly warned Niran of the incoming danger. She looked up, and without hesitation ordered Akuma to grab Relvas and Bernadette, shielding the three from the descending dragon.
WHOOOOOOOOSH.
It took all of Niran’s concentration to manifest a shield of dark tendrils, protecting them all from the dragon’s searing hot flames. The house they were under caught fire almost instantly, quickly burning away. The flames spewed for what felt like an eternity; with each second Niran growing weaker and weaker. Right as the dragon left, Niran fell to her knees, dropping the shield and leaving Akuma inert, not even a sliver of magic being used to animate its idleness. But it was far from the end, for the worst had yet to begin.
The burning house began to creak, its structural integrity smoldering away. Relvas looked up and smiled at the house. Here they were, laying underneath what would be his demise. He knew that Niran would be able to avoid the debris, but she would never make it out in time if she tried to save him. With a deep breath, Relvas uttered his final goodbye.
“Please, leave me, Niran… Do not put your worth on me. For I am just a failure. Enjoy a life of your own. Don’t waste it on mine.”
The house creaked again. Niran refused to listen, instead ordering Akuma to grab Relvas and get him out of the way.
No response. The house creaked again, a cloud of embers appearing off of it.
I command you, you useless servant! Niran yelled within her thoughts.
Nothing. The house creaked one final time before falling apart, dropping debris on the area where Relvas lay. Niran was frozen in shock, but was pushed out of the area by Bernadette, leaving Akuma and Relvas to take the blow. As the debris hit the two, Akuma arose once the dust settled, seemingly unharmed. Relvas wasn’t so lucky.
“No… How… How could you, Bernadette?!” Niran was filled with sorrow, which quickly turned into innumerable rage “How could you let Relvas die?!”
“It was either him, or you! I-I can’t bring myself to let you die!” Bernadette answered, covering her face in fear.
Niran shoved Bernadette to the ground and walked to the grave where Relvas lay. With all her might, she tried to dig him out of his tomb of rubble, all to no avail. Sobbing, she turned around to face Bernadette again. “You should’ve let me die! Now that Relvas is gone, we can’t fix anything anymore! It’s over!” She yelled.
Bernadette tried to step closer, then moved next to Niran again when she saw no hostility towards her. “It’s not all over. There’s still plenty of things you can do in the future!”
Niran was hit with an epiphany, and smiled malevolently. “You’re right! I still have so much unfinished business. Everyone who has ever wronged me; Vosanova, Medirna, Cralmarov, no, fate itself! They all DESERVE TO D̴̯̆̅Î̸͉̩̐E̸̻̚!̴̠̭̓̀!̴̩̍̀!̶͓̥̐͝!̸̳̄͛” Mania had overcome Niran, consuming her sense of being.
“That isn’t what I mea—” Bernadette was interrupted by Niran as she pulled out a small brown pouch from one of her coat pockets. Opening the pouch, Niran carefully grabbed a single seed within, It was black and inky, with tendrils floating about like the other abyssal seeds she had consumed, yet this one was covered in wicked barbs all over its shell. She held it out for Bernadette to see in all its glory.
“With this, I can bring justice to all those who have wronged me, and they will be helpless to stop me, just as I was when I tried to stop them!” With a slow motion, Niran elegantly lifted the seed closer and closer to her mouth, until—
“̷N̴o̸.̴”̸
Bernadette snatched the seed from Niran’s grasp and hopped away from her before she could retaliate. Bernadette’s hand bled a dark, inky substance as they pricked the seed in their hasty maneuver. Niran tried to reach for her violin, but was effortlessly stopped by her former friend holding her hand in place with her foot. Bernadette all the while looked down scornfully at Niran, pacifying the violent violinist.
“̷I̶ ̸b̵e̷l̴i̸e̴v̴e̵d̵ ̵t̴h̴a̵t̴ ̸i̸f̷ ̶I̶ ̵l̶e̸t̵ ̵y̷o̴u̸ ̴m̸a̶k̷e̸ ̸y̴o̷u̷r̴ ̵m̶i̷s̶t̵a̵k̴e̴s̶ ̵a̸n̷d̶ ̶l̴e̷a̸r̷n̵ ̶f̵r̶o̴m̵ ̸t̷h̶e̸m̵,̸ ̷y̷o̷u̴ ̷w̸o̶u̴l̴d̴ ̴h̸a̶v̸e̸ ̷g̵r̷o̵w̴n̸ ̵b̵e̷y̶o̸n̸d̷ ̷t̵h̶e̸ ̴w̴h̴i̵m̸s̶ ̴o̵f̶ ̸t̶h̷e̵ ̶A̴b̴y̸s̷s̸.̷ ̸B̴u̸t̶ ̴I̸ ̶w̴a̵s̵ ̵w̵r̵o̴n̷g̵.̷ ̵I̴ ̶s̵h̸o̶u̶l̷d̷’̸v̷e̸ ̸b̶e̷e̵n̷ ̸m̴o̴r̸e̷ ̷a̶c̸t̷i̸v̶e̷,̴ ̷f̶o̸r̷ ̴i̷t̶ ̵s̴e̵e̴m̶s̸ ̷t̷h̷a̵t̶ ̵i̵s̵ ̵a̶l̸l̴ ̴y̵o̶u̶ ̴l̶i̸s̵t̵e̵n̸ ̴t̴o̴.̷ ̴A̷c̴t̶i̶o̴n̶s̴.̶ ̶D̷e̴m̴a̴n̶d̸s̴.̸ ̸P̴o̸w̶e̶r̷.̷
̶“̸I̷ ̷k̶n̶o̷w̴ ̵d̶e̴e̶p̷ ̴d̶o̸w̴n̶ ̴i̵n̴ ̷y̶o̷u̷r̸ ̴h̸e̶a̷r̶t̵ ̴t̶h̸a̶t̵ ̷y̶o̵u̷ ̷a̴r̴e̸ ̴a̵ ̴c̶h̸i̵l̵d̶ ̸w̸h̵o̷ ̶w̶a̸n̶t̵s̶ ̷t̶o̷ ̶k̸n̷o̶w̴ ̷w̷h̷a̷t̴ ̶t̵h̴e̷i̷r̴ ̵p̵l̴a̶c̴e̶ ̶i̶n̴ ̸t̵h̷e̴ ̵w̶o̵r̸l̸d̸ ̴m̷e̸a̸n̶s̶,̸ ̴b̶u̴t̵ ̸y̴o̶u̸ ̸h̵a̵v̸e̸ ̶t̶a̴k̴e̴n̷ ̵t̸h̷e̶ ̷b̴e̵l̴i̷e̶f̵s̵ ̸a̵n̷d̶ ̴f̶e̸a̴r̸s̵ ̵e̶v̸e̶r̷y̴o̵n̵e̸ ̷h̸a̷s̴ ̸o̴f̵ ̷y̶o̸u̵,̸ ̴a̷n̶d̶ ̶y̷o̸u̸’̶v̷e̷ ̷m̴a̶d̷e̸ ̴t̸h̵e̶m̸ ̸t̶h̸e̵ ̵t̴r̵u̶t̵h̶.̵ ̴Y̷o̸u̵ ̸h̶a̴v̶e̶ ̸b̶e̷c̵o̷m̴e̵ ̵t̴h̷e̷ ̵m̵o̴n̵s̸t̸e̸r̶ ̸e̸v̷e̶r̶y̴o̷n̵e̸ ̴w̸a̴n̶t̸e̶d̴ ̵y̵o̶u̸ ̸t̷o̷ ̸b̷e̴.̵
̸“̴T̶h̷e̸r̷e̷ ̸i̸s̷ ̸s̷t̴i̸l̴l̴ ̵h̴o̷p̷e̴ ̷f̸o̷r̴ ̸y̴o̸u̷.̵ ̵Y̶o̸u̵ ̸a̵r̴e̸ ̵a̵ ̵s̷t̶r̴o̸n̷g̴ ̴s̶o̸u̸l̴,̶ ̸a̵ ̴d̵e̶f̸i̴a̶n̵t̵ ̶o̴n̴e̸.̴ ̸B̸u̴t̴ ̵y̷o̸u̴ ̵m̶u̸s̶t̴ ̵l̷e̸a̵r̵n̷ ̵t̶o̵ ̸r̸e̵s̷i̸s̵t̶ ̷t̴h̶e̷ ̵b̴e̷l̸i̸e̸f̷s̷ ̷t̶h̵a̸t̴ ̸e̷v̵e̸r̵y̴o̴n̵e̵ ̴h̴o̸l̷d̶s̶ ̵a̴g̷a̵i̶n̴s̵t̴ ̷y̶o̶u̴.̴ ̵Y̶o̶u̶ ̵m̸u̴s̸t̸ ̸l̶e̸a̸r̵n̸ ̴t̶o̴ ̶a̷c̵c̴e̵p̵t̴ ̵t̷h̵e̶ ̸h̶e̵l̷p̴ ̵g̵e̵n̸e̴r̸o̷u̶s̷l̵y̶ ̵g̴i̴v̴e̷n̴ ̷b̵y̸ ̵o̷t̴h̵e̴r̶s̸.̷ ̸O̴n̴l̶y̶ ̸t̶h̵e̸n̴ ̴w̴i̸l̷l̵ ̷y̶o̸u̷ ̵b̵r̶e̶a̷k̷ ̶t̷h̴e̷ ̵c̴h̶a̷i̸n̶s̴ ̵t̵h̴a̷t̴ ̵b̷i̶n̷d̶ ̵y̶o̸u̷ ̷t̷o̸ ̸t̵h̶e̷ ̶A̴b̶y̷s̴s̷.̶”̷
Niran was stunned; she had never expected Bernadette to secretly house such confidence. “W-wh-who… What are you?” She stuttered.
“̴T̶o̷ ̷p̷u̸t̶ ̴i̷t̵ ̵q̶u̷i̶t̵e̵ ̶s̴i̵m̶p̶l̷y̴,̷”̶ “Bernadette” sighed, and became enwreathed in shadows. Her eyes became completely white, yet did not glow with any sort of malice, rather they gave off a warm and caring light. “̵I̵’̶m̷ ̴n̷o̸t̴ ̸B̷e̶r̶n̴a̸d̵e̶t̶t̸e̵.̵ ̷I̷ ̸n̴e̸v̴e̷r̸ ̶w̴a̵s̵ ̴t̷h̶e̶ ̵u̵r̸c̵h̸i̸n̷ ̷g̵i̶r̵l̷ ̶I̶ ̴t̶o̶l̴d̷ ̵y̸o̶u̷ ̶b̷e̷f̵o̶r̶e̸,̷ ̸y̴e̴t̷ ̶a̸t̷ ̸t̶h̵e̴ ̶s̸a̸m̵e̸ ̷t̸i̶m̷e̵ ̶I̶ ̶a̴m̷.̸ ̸I̶ ̷n̷e̵v̷e̵r̴ ̶h̷a̴d̴ ̸a̵ ̶m̴o̷t̵h̸e̶r̵ ̶t̴h̴a̶t̷ ̷h̵e̸l̸d̸ ̴m̷e̵ ̵p̸r̸i̷s̷o̷n̵e̵r̴,̶ ̸b̴u̸t̶ ̵I̴ ̵w̸a̶s̵ ̷c̷o̸n̵t̸a̵i̷n̷e̵d̴ ̵w̷i̷t̶h̴i̷n̵ ̸y̵o̶u̶r̸ ̴o̶w̷n̷ ̴m̵i̴n̴d̵ ̷b̸y̴ ̷a̴ ̷g̴u̵a̷r̶d̷i̵a̶n̵ ̶t̵h̸a̸t̸ ̸d̷o̷e̵s̸ ̶n̷o̷t̷ ̶h̵a̴v̷e̵ ̸t̵h̴e̴ ̷b̵e̶s̶t̴ ̴i̷n̷t̷e̵r̵e̸s̴t̷s̶ ̵f̶o̸r̸ ̴e̶i̷t̴h̸e̸r̸ ̶o̴f̷ ̵u̶s̷ ̷s̷i̸n̸c̷e̸ ̷I̵ ̵w̸a̷s̸ ̴c̸o̸n̶c̵e̷p̴t̶u̸a̸l̴i̶z̴e̵d̵.̶ ̶T̸h̷e̷ ̷s̵a̸m̸e̸ ̴g̴u̷a̸r̷d̵i̴a̵n̸ ̸t̶h̴a̴t̷ ̷p̶l̷a̷g̴u̴e̶s̶ ̴y̵o̵u̵r̵ ̶h̴e̸a̵d̷ ̴t̶o̸ ̴t̵h̵i̵s̴ ̴d̵a̷y̷.̵ ̶T̶o̵ ̸s̷a̷y̵ ̶t̸h̵e̷ ̶l̶e̸a̸s̷t̶,̵ ̸I̴ ̶a̶m̷ ̵o̵f̵ ̸a̵b̶y̷s̴s̴a̷l̸ ̵o̷r̴i̷g̸i̴n̸.̴ ̵B̸u̵t̸ ̸t̶h̶a̴t̶ ̴d̶o̶e̷s̶ ̸n̴o̵t̸ ̵m̶e̴a̶n̴ ̴I̸ ̶a̸m̵ ̴t̵h̴e̴ ̷A̷b̶y̷s̶s̶.̴ ̴N̶o̵r̶ ̴d̷o̸e̵s̴ ̴i̴t̵ ̶m̸e̴a̴n̷ ̴I̶ ̷a̶l̵i̷g̵n̸ ̶w̴i̷t̵h̷ ̵i̴t̷.̴ ̷B̸e̶c̵a̶u̸s̵e̴,̷ ̶w̴e̸l̵l̶…̸
̸“̵I̵’̵m̶ ̷y̷o̶u̴.̷”̷
Niran could not speak, nor could she act, but it was not out of malice from herself. Rather she was utterly dumbfounded by the revelation set in front of her. Tears that came from a place far deeper than loss rolled down her face as she came to the full realization of what she had done. It was like a kick to the gut, a harshly unpleasant feeling that would never go away.
Without uttering a word, “Niran” formed a circular black portal, leading to a place Niran had never seen before. It was a peaceful green hill, with a lone tree swaying vibrantly in the wind. The bright blue sky shone through the portal, giving life to the smoldering alley. “Niran” stepped into the portal, but popped her head out just as it began to close.
“̴O̴n̸e̷ ̶m̷o̸r̷e̶ ̶t̸h̶i̶n̷g̷.̴ ̷O̵u̵r̷ ̶p̴r̴o̸m̶i̴s̴e̴ ̷i̶s̴ ̸b̵r̴o̶k̷e̶n̶.̷ ̸A̵n̸d̸ ̸i̶t̷ ̵w̶i̴l̶l̴ ̴n̷e̷v̵e̴r̵ ̵b̶e̶ ̵r̴e̸s̴t̴o̴r̷e̴d̸.̶”̵
With her final words, “Niran” pulled her head out of the portal and left it to zap out of existence, leaving Niran alone with her motionless construct. She wanted to feel angry at her other self, but she just… couldn’t. Everything “Niran” said was true, and there was no way she could deny it. All of her life, is that what she had been doing? Deny, deny, deny… That was all she was good at. She couldn’t face her fears. She could only run from them. And now she had run into a corner.
(This is another signature card, replacing Profane Fervor! Niran's not in a very hopeful place right now...)
P̴̧͇̻̼͚͎̭̪̉ͅa̷̖̙̻͇̝̯͖͇̭͎͆̐t̷̝͔̆̀̄̂̀͆̉͂͜h̷̻͍̯̐͗̒͒̄̈́̽̾̃͝e̴͖̪͔̼̜̜͎̻̰̠̍̐́t̵̨̢̻͕̙͉͇̎̾̅͐i̷͎͋̇͊̑̑͋̑̚͜͝c̶̨̺͔͔̹͕̥͐̋̌̉̈́͐͘̕͠,̸̣͎͉̖̖̤͊͋̓̏͜ ̶̲̰͇͎̦̄̽̽͘ỉ̶̳̘̓͘s̵̲̽̈́̀̄̓͆̎͆̒̕ň̶̙̞̥̘̖̊̽̉̍’̵̬̮̼͙̰̳͓̆̈͗͒̊t̵̛͖͗̒̆̽͌͂̉̄͝ ̶̢͕̠̞̤̩̱̈́̅̽̆̈́̓į̷͎͉̝̹̭̼͖̐̍̋͝ͅt̶̨̯̼̘͌͛́?̶̡̯̠̮̫̭̝̣̩͊̏̏́͜
̸̢̥̗͔̺͖̝͂͋̈́̌̊Ŷ̵͙͍̟̋͗̍̕ẽ̶͓̳̜͈̞͔̯̳̈́̑̓̀̋̕͜ã̷̻͙̳̆̏̍̏͘ͅh̷͈̪̖̑͒́̔,̵̛̙̳̼͎͓̥̌̾̓̀͆͒͛́͜ ̷͍̺̿̔͌̈͑̎̚͠ỵ̷̹̹̈́͌̃e̸̛̗̤͎̳̦̎̈́̆̓̾̃̔͛a̷̡͆͜ḩ̴̨̙͕͇̠̣̪̲̈́̀̈́̎͒̾̏̚͘͜.̴̰̕ ̵̗̘̾̈́̕͘Ṯ̸̤̣͆̃͝ḩ̸̦̰̮͚̯͍̹̘͙͂͊̎̕a̵̟̘͇̭̓̉̇͑̎̈́͠t̴̙̯̖̦̳̖̙̗͊͐̈́͋̉ ̶̢͎̳̘̞͔̰͇̉͑͊̈́̃͝g̸̨͚͇͇̲̀̊i̷̲̦͚͈̳͓͙̮̅̿͑͋̋͑͠ͅŗ̸̼̞̽ļ̷̢̖̝̟̤̺̹́ ̸̧̦̖͔͕͕͈̺̹̦̔̾̀̇͒͊̀̈́̓̚w̶̨͈̦͇̬͐ȃ̸̱̙͙̄͜s̷̬̋̕͝ ̴̛̪͚̏́̚͝͠͠n̶̲͓̝̩͋̊̊ö̶͕͍̝̩́̒̔̌̒̽̓̎̏̀ ̴̡̛͓̼̪͙͈̭͚͎͈̓̈̀̚f̵̨͙̫͚̤̈́̈͐͗̅͑̅̀̏͘ǔ̷̢̨͙̫̃̊̏̐̈́̾̀͠͠ͅǹ̷̟̱̺!̵̯̭͓̘̫̟̼̙̭̪̒́̀̒̅́
̷̢͖̭͖̼̯̯͍́̑̓̑̌̽̽̌̿̚I̵̡̿̆̄̆̈̉̐͠͝ñ̸̛͎̰̬̘̆̔̈̂͛ḑ̴̧̗͓͎̯͍͓̮̾e̴̜͚̎̈̀͊̏͛̿̈́̐̕è̶̮̖̔̀͛͘͘͝͠d̸̰͈̩͋.̵̹̆͂̕ ̶̛̩͔̤͇̤͇̪̜͈̉̽̈́̿͛͛̆̀̿͜I̸͖̜̟̓ ̷̲̟̟̺̥̯̬̽̈̈́͛̔̕t̷̗̗̤͚̳̰̓̉̈́̽̑͆̿̆̂̔ḫ̸̭̻̜̣͇̣͌ō̵̟̝̥̙̗͕͈̹͉̈́̇͗̀ü̸̢̩͇̥̇̎̑̽̒ǵ̸̠̰̹͎̯̥̎h̷̨͙͍̖̓t̵̨̼̩͖̝̂ ̷̡̡͉̣͔̫͇͑̓͌͗͌̈́̈́͛͂ṡ̴̢̥̲̣̥̙͙̈̍́͒h̴͖̅͝é̵̯̤̯̺̬̠͙̇̈͒̉͌̓͝ ̵̙̲͂w̸̡̺̎̿͐̀̈́̓̚̕͝ͅǫ̵̻͙̼̋̉̌͊͋̋͐ù̴͇̭̱͂̇l̵̩̠̋͌͋d̸̠̣̞̣͉͍̺͑̈́͂͊̈́̐̈́̿ͅ ̸̧͙̞̪̬̺͉̤̘̀ḩ̵̯̹̯̹͕͚̋̒̕ã̶̲͙͙̬̜̺͚͊̓v̴̹̉̎͒̚ȇ̸̮̘̀ ̵̱̘̤͗̈́̔̃̀̈̓̃ľ̶̡̥̥͎̣͔̹̯̃͊̈́̚ḛ̵̢̺̱̳̬̲̙̩̐͊͜͝ẗ̵̺̱͇̩̬͂̾͜ͅ ̶̙̣͙̰̝̜̭̦̑̍̈̿͆̈́͠͝ŏ̸̼̟̮̼̬̝̍̋̑͒̎͝͝ų̷̨͎͕̜͓͖̟̤̂͜r̵̛̬͙̱̥̼͖̝͉͑͒̐̎͑̚̕ ̶̼͚̮̲̹͈̈̀͛̏̉̀͠͠h̵̡̞͈̝̞̺̊̂o̶̯̱̰͎̗̗͔̭̟̿͌̒̅̉̚͜s̶̗̳̈̿̆t̴̡̧̨̬̩̃̀ ̴̰̗͖͖̙͗̂̒̄͒͛͛̏͘g̶͔̲̬͉͖̰̭̫͇̔̉͗̈̋͘̚͝͝ͅĕ̴̢̟̣̮̉̓t̸̨͚̯̫̺̙̝͇̀̈́͌ ̷̼̕ǎ̵̤͈̂ẅ̶̢̥̳̭̙̬̜̯̳͂̀̏̓̒͂̄́̒a̷̢̛̭͓͓̽̒̀͛̆͐ͅy̸̻͈͇̞͍̯̯̻͒̆́̈̇͗̕͝ ̸̛̝̩͈͕͙̗́ͅw̵̧̥̤̩̹̜͇̖͍͂̂̌̓̑͂͋͂̏͘ͅi̵̡̞̲͇̿̇̈t̷̛͈̤͚̦̲̘̣̀̏͆̿̇̊h̵̛̻̑͑̃͛̚ ̵̢̧̜̤̱̝̙̥̻̾̑̂̓͠ș̷̨̯͓͖̦͇̋̽̇͘o̵͉̪̲͑̕ ̸̡͕̉̀̌̒͐͘͜m̸̧̛͈̖͉͉̠͎̗̉̑͋͂̔͝ù̸̘̖̭̥̤̯̔̎̒͜c̷̲̚h̶̡͈͓̬͕̣̽̍͌͐̾̀̍̆̑ ̷̫̹̣̩̽̔̒̑͑̃̒m̷̢̧̭̣̰͇͖̍͒̎̐̅̌͑́͂̕͜ȯ̸̫̗̲̦̦̱̘̞́̊̽̈́͝r̸̠̟̐̑̒e̷͕̰̱̘͖̥̩̤͊ͅ.̴̘̟̪̬͔͙̣͋̀̆̏̑ͅ
̴̖̬̉̉̕͠͝W̷̘̥͕͍͔̅̓͆̉̆̋͋e̵̡̛̪̜̱͚̳̗̟͚̿̋̿̈́͐̈́̽͗̚ ̴̪̥̣̥̝̥̭͔̙̑̈́͋̑̅͘c̸̨̧̤̟͓̹͕͐̐ő̶̡̯̠̟̼̥̤̭͍̦͌̾͆ư̶̊̔̓̊̑́̕͜l̴̨̡̡̙̟̤̲͉͕͓̽̔̎̈͑̌̓ḓ̷̛͍͍̱̤̹̟̙̲̀̄͠ ̸͈̬̺͙͇̦̑͂̕̕͝ą̸̧̛̹̳̙͚͖̪̝̟̒̿̀̄͋͌͘ļ̴̙̣̺̰̮̣͇̤̑̈́̉̑͋́̽̐ẅ̸̧̱̻͚̿̈́͗̀͘͝ͅa̷͍̒̇̒̿̾̕͠y̷̜͍̤͉̪̔̍̏͆͂s̸̡̧̠͙̘̬̰̺̊̅͋́̊͆̈̄ ̷̯̖̅͊̒̏b̴̛̛̦͎̲͕̱̥̠̰̩͊̈́̑͘u̶̡̧͔͚̥̇͊̈l̸͕͕̀̃̈̏͊̋l̴͓̫̭̤̖͋̈́̍͂͂̎̔̓͂͒ý̵̧̡͖̩̲̈͘ ̸̤̭́̄̈̒̔̅̉ĥ̶͕̝̗̺̤͕̏̇́̇͛̓̀͘ë̸̡̨̯̲̰̭́͐̃̂̚ͅr̶̨͈͉̐̊͂̐͆̂ ̶͇̣̪͕̪͈̫͊ạ̷̼̱͕͓̞̿͆̋̌͝n̴̛̛̞̖̩̼̮̦͖͋͋̑̊̇̈́͘͝d̶̢̛͙̤̤̑̒͊̾͋̾͋̔̎ ̸͓̻̳͙͎̜̤͖̹̿̈̌̚ǹ̷͖͎̲͇ȩ̵͍̹̣͎̻͙̍̀͆̅͝͠v̷̡̨̘͓̙͓̭͑̀̽̔̍̾̚͜ͅę̶̛̩͚̞̙̻̣̗̪͗̄̊̉̌̋̀̄̕ṛ̴̻̹̏͜ ̸̮̩̗͇͓̱͙̼͇̬̒͋ş̶͔̮͖̫̺̻̦͓͌͜t̸̺̓̍̓͊̕ò̴̡̼̳̰̫̼ͅͅp̷̧̢̧̞̼̺͓̻̂̀!̵̱̖̦̫̋
̷͉́͂̓͋̐̂̆̈̆ͅƠ̵͖̠̐͛́ḥ̷̰͍̠̒̈́̒̀͆̌̓̐,̸̨̘̮̰͍͒͘ ̷͚͑̑p̶̫̩̲͓̳̘̈́͗̉l̸̢̨̠̻͕̫̰̍͑̿̐̂̽̐̕ẻ̸̤͉͓̭̓̐̾͊̑͘͝͝ả̸̡̡̭͇̝́̔̅̈́̈́̌̿͝ͅś̷̛̲̜͓͚̙͉͕͊̑͆͑̇͛͘ẽ̴̦͚͖̞͇̈̇̊̿̽͝.̶̢̞̳̫̙̃ ̸̢̮͉̠̞̩̳̏̎͊̀̅̍̔Y̴̛̬̳̳͙͈̮̩̠̹͈͆̃̀͝ỏ̷͓̠͠u̴̥͉̗̣͎̳͓̖̭͉̇͋ ̶̛̮̜͔͆́̓̾̎̋̈́͂ä̷̲͖̻͙̬́͠l̵̯̞̫͚̥̐͘͠w̷͔̹̹͖̭̬̺͌͛͆̀̌͗͘a̷̧̛̪̦̥̬̍͆͠͝ͅy̷̯̖̩̖̹̭͇̦̱͂̇͛͌͝ͅṣ̴̗̣͈̅͐́̀̒͐ ̷̨̗̗͇̈́̒̆́̎̐̉͒t̷͓̆́͠h̷̠̲͎͚͇̱̣̯̟̽͝ĩ̶̡̼̌̅̿̽n̷̮̜͎̺̙͌̔̚͜ķ̴̼̣̐͋̔͜ ̶̢͚͙̜̟͍͕̞͆͆͆̊̒̿͌͛̎̋ͅͅs̷͈̱̪̞̮̙̯̟͓̮̐õ̵̱̮̺̜͉ ̷̜̻̻̫̎͊͝s̴̢͓̻͍͉͂̔͒̐͑̊͠ǐ̷̛̦̻̲m̵̼̪̲̹̺̙̱̝͍̪͗͊̂̄̌̉p̵̧̙͔̬̦̜̙̫̏̉̀̓͘͠l̷͇͙͖̩̃ê̷̡̠̤̲̻̌̃̎͗̔͛̚̚ͅ ̵̢̛̦̮͈̯̦͎͓̗̀̌̉̉̈́m̸̧̢̠̦̰̼̳͊́i̸̝͗̓̏͘͝n̷̡͎̰̻̣͖̲͊̅̍̿͐̑̚͘d̸͕̾̀̈́̏̕e̷̡̢̩͎̊̓͛̂͛d̸̨̥͖̬̼̼̻͚̏̅͗̈́͊̂l̶̰͉̻̟̪͇̙̫̭̎̈̃̊̍͠y̷̨̢̹͚̫̦̒̀̾̑͗̏̚̚͝.̸̮̟̯͈̂́̓̈ ̵̡̜̠̬̦̼̬͈̼̆̀̂̾͗̍̌M̷̬̮̩̲̤̞̰͌̌̃̏͐̽̀̏y̸̛͉̹̐̆̓͗̿̀̀͘ ̷̧̹͚̠̦̺̃m̴̻̩̹̓̓̾e̸͓̘͐t̶̤̄̂̋͠h̸̘̬̟̱͉̬͔̰̖́͗͗͋͌́̉̓̄͘ọ̷̺̭͒͒̾̈́͐̏̾͐d̶̥̼͈̭͚́̑s̴̡̨̙̖̮̓́̂͊͆̈́͒̇́͑͜ͅ ̶̮̏̆͑͐̊̋͋a̶̝͙͝͝r̸̝̞͇̱̜̱̦̺͙͒͗̆̓͝͝ë̷̡̛̜͇͎̖̤́͂̾ ̷͓̎͐̔͆̾́̑͂m̴̰̻̮͙̖̄͆̈́ͅö̶̪́̇͋̾̀̌͋̊̓͘͜r̵̦̉̓͊ė̷̮̯̺̞̪̜̠͘̚͝ ̸͉́̿̏̄͑̒͐ē̸̦̣̦̩͍͉̣̤f̶̯̗͉̱͈̆͘͝ḟ̷͕̋é̶̢̪͙̭̥̟͚̞̂̋̔̃͊͐̄͘c̶̛̛͈̞̬̠̞̠̾́̀̒̏̏̽͑͜t̴̰̥͉̖͈̒̑̋̒̀̽́̀͘̚i̵̺̬̣̜͂͜v̵̪̟̝̒͑̈́͜ę̴͔͇̯̫̈̆͊̿̍ ̸̨̨̛̪͙̭̜͔̩̈́͌͝͠t̸̟͓͔̊̔́h̵̪̀̏͑͋͆̾̋͛͠a̵̢͖̬̬͇̞͉̫̎̾̇̀̓͗̕͝n̷̢̩͎͉̣͋̏̀͋̓̒̾͊̚͠ ̵̝̱̝͚̗̀̾͒͊͆̈ÿ̷̦͇͋̀͆̊̑o̷̭̳̦̱̘̅—̶̠̋̒
̵͕̹̺̠̽̈́̅͆̕ͅS̷̨̞̮̰̅̏͂̿͗e̶̤̥͚̠͈͚͓͒̑̓̓͐̾̈́̕͝͝p̷̺̜̜̫̞̼̘̬͕͋͆͛̀͂̐̓̍͊t̵̮̳͖͍̙̮͑̀͛ͅͅḣ̶̩̗̩̘̲̀͂͘ͅi̵̪̥̜̾̽̕͝s̷̟̈̓̈̈́͆̕ ̴̖̉̐̏̊͒̀̊̍̚͝c̷͖̥͕͙̈̐͘͝ą̵͛̿̅̅̈́̀̽̔͘͝l̴̛̫̰̪̥̻̋͑̀͆̈́͋̌̈́͘l̸̨̨̗͙̰̙̠̬͎̾̓̔̅̋́̐͠s̷̗̒͒̋͜.̴̘͈̅̿̀̆̍̂̔̈́̚͝
̴̧̧͈͇̳̝̔̑̉̊̅̃̋͛͒͊Ṧ̷̛͕̎̄̑͛̈ȩ̵̩͍̰̱̣͑̌̑̒͛͊͂̀͘͠ͅp̷̜̬̼̯̙̦̜̆̈́͂́̂̔̈́̊̍͜͝t̷̨͔͓̰͇̼͖̓h̸̡͎͎͙͙͙͚̟̗̽̎̈́̍̊͜͝i̶͇̫̟̫̺̭͊́͛̏̒͝s̷̫̥̻͔̙̬̩̀̓̽͆̌̏́̈́͝ ̸̡̳̼͂̿̿͋̍̈́̋̕͘c̴̨̜̭̱̭̹̝͖̜͂̽͐͝a̷̦̞̲̘̙͚̳̪͛̃ͅl̷̛̺̗̒͌̍̉̽̈́͋l̷̫͎̯͈̄̄͑̑͋s̵̛̙̞̣͕̾̇̚̕?̶͈̥̋͋̈͆͌̅̕
̵͉̳͔̱͉̈̈̈́̐Y̸̺̦̺̫͈̘̙̝̒è̷̪̮̖̳̙̼̤̱͋͊̆̕s̵̺̹̗̬̩̎̆̕!̵̻͗̑͑͌ ̶̡̨̞̘͎̘͖̾S̴͇̲͚̟̣̾̅͘ͅȩ̶̠̜̲̤͈̞̞̙͇̎̈́͋̓́͝p̸̛̲̞̬͎̮̜͊̾̐̎̊ͅt̶͇͙̣͐͊̏̋̒́̀̚͜͠h̵̟̰̩̦͙̟̯̻́̑̀̈́͘î̴̯̣̱͍̱͔̩͙̺̍̓͆̇͛̉̂̈́̚s̶̡̱̰̖̙̖̰̻͗͆̚ ̴̠̬͂̈́̋̋̎͆̊͆̎͝c̷̛͕̐̋̾̂́̕a̴̰͔̅͒l̵͎̹̞̮̉̿̔̊̀͠l̸̨̪̺̦͖͈̳̺̄̓͜ͅs̷̡͚͓͇̱̳̙̜̄̃̒́̄̕!̸̢͚̠̘͙̳̦͉̺̀́̌̌͒͑͌̓̌͝ͅ ̶̧̻̱͓͔̟̈͛͝͠͝͝T̷̨̧̨̻̘̻͔̭̫̪̅͊̆̍͘ḩ̴͔͍͉̞̜̿͌á̴͚̣͕t̶͖̎͐̂̋̀̑̂̚ ̸̣̪̘͇͓̀̌͆̔̈́̊̋b̵͍̪̈́̿̎̂̆́̎͊ͅĺ̶̰̹͍͓̭̹̥̈́́̅͝a̴̜̱̟̝͉̫̎́́́̒̈́͗͊̌̕s̴̡̨͍̠̭͖̊͌͒̀̀͒t̸͓̺̥͍̋͆̔͗͌̀̈́͜͜͝͝ę̴̨̪̟̙͕͖̿́͂̊̀ḑ̵̨̖̱͙͎̹̂ ̶͔̼̥̣͈̟̰̝͗ͅh̶̢̭̤͉̐͊ͅõ̸̼̦͚̗̦͑͂̀̇͘͠ṕ̴̧͔̻̭̭͇͖̦͗͂͆̏̀͋e̴̡̛̗̗̪͙͍̯̋̎̌̊̆̓͛̈́ ̴̺̮͇̘͇̥͔͇̾͒̏̑̄͝g̸̎̏̉̃̇̿͋ͅḯ̵̬̾r̵̡̪̬̩̯̫̦̤͌͊̊̓l̷͉̲̑̎͆̇̆̄ ̸̛̜̦̳̳͉̏͐̿į̷̛̱̮̠̙̯̠͈̇͒̈́͆̐͌̓͜s̵͇̲̟̮̮̖̰̈́̍͜ ̶̖͓̹̜̩͕͛̿͒̈́̎̾͌̾̕͝t̴̡̰͔͓̳̩͎͓̽̉r̸͉̻̫͇͚͖̜̎̆ͅy̷͓̞͇̋̾͋͆͂͝i̵͓̱̜̹̇́ǹ̸̠̥̮̰̄̈̊̆̎͋͘g̷̡̛̤̦̈́̍̆ ̵̨̥̻̮͈͙̦̣̪͊͆͆̍̈̈t̵̯̼͙̦̞̭̫̖̦͑͗̏̽̈́̚o̴̟͙̙̭͉̭̰̣̦͂̒́͂̀̓̃̈͑ ̸̧͇̹͚͉̠͍̈́͒̄́̏̔͒͌͒͘d̶̨̗̙͉͍͕̥̺͓̈́̇́͘͜͠e̸͍̰̠͇̦͖̦͓̫̍̀̋̀̀͘͘f̵͍̰̹͇͌̅̎̆͒̃̌̀͜͝ỳ̸̝̹͚͍͍̝̠̗̙͆͊̈̕̚͝ ̶̧̙͉̈̈͋̆͆̊̚̕͠h̷͚̆̓̓̏̚í̶͖͕͉̣͈̓̋ͅm̶̤̋̀͆̎̈̚!̷̡̢̯̜̟͕͐̋̎̋̕͝ ̴̻̳̮̦̍̈́̈́̓̄̀̈̓̎S̶͈̯͊h̵̦̞̔̉́̿̃̑̉̿͛͠e̷̡̗͈̱̍̔̌̿͆́̒͝ ̸̦̂̐̓̔̾̀̿̋͝m̶̨̢͓͍̪͕̈́͌͋̈́̂̓̚ū̴̘̙́̋̂͛͠͝s̷͓̼̣̤̮̪̣̳̍͊̌t̸̮̼̱̪̮̠̼̠̫̾̿͑́̓͑̏͊̚͝ ̵̝̬̺̲͗͊̃̐͗̃̿b̸̛͔͙͙̘͓̱̤͂̌̎͘e̵̢͇̘͇̹̘̘͖͚͌̆́̃̔͆͑̄̉̅͜ ̴̞̮͚̯͔̫͎̀̎̂͌̊̓͝ș̶̨̳̣͔͖̹̼̎̎̇͗͆̃̈̓̈͘ţ̶̡̣̰͈̥̥̘̖͒̓̅̓͘ǫ̵̥̘̜̗͂̐̀͘p̵̩͉͍͇̒͆̑͜p̴̝̠̱̬̲̺͐͋͛̃̓̔̉͝ę̷͖͍̮̏ͅḍ̶̡̛̂̎̏!̴̠͌͂̀̂̃̾́͝
̶̛͇̣̖̉͑̊̍̓͌̈͝F̴̖͐̽̈́i̴̺̬̓̐̌̏͆̂̌̓́̈́i̴͖̗̅ï̶͓̦̮̗͋̔į̵͛̔̔̑͘n̸̳͙̈͆͆͝ẻ̸͇̮͗̓̀.̵͚͛͂̑̌ ̸̟͓̰̙͓̹̥̤́͋͋̈́̔̌Ì̸̲͎͕̼̘̦̘̣͋͐ͅ ̶̡̛̝̙̯̘̙̼͇̝̆͌̋̾̐̔̕g̴̛̤̦̯̣̹̿̔̉͌̅́̄͂̐ų̵̱̀̂̆͐̊͝ę̸̫̞͈̦̰͇͐͛ͅş̸̧͚̉̍̃̀̕s̵̳̥̤̳̜̤̭̺̫̽ ̷̟̗̈͂̈́͐̽͌̃͆w̸̭̱̮̺̝͓̿̋͊̃̓̚͝ȩ̵͔̬̥̗̃̀̓͌͗̔’̷̧̨̳͙͓̳̦͐̓l̵̖̬͈̮̖̲͖̀̀̈́̋̐͜l̵̢̛͔͉̮̙̦͆̌͐̔̑̈̚ͅ ̷͙̩̟͋̊̃̓͝ǵ̴̢̪̜̫̑͜ò̷̡͓̪̹̰̍͌͠o̷̢̻̥͝o̶̲͕̫̾ǫ̸̛̳̏̇̆̍̆̃̀͐͠ ̵̥͍͈̘͙͊̂̌͆̈́̿h̴̖͈̬̭̮̦͖͈͎̅̊͑͝ͅo̷̡̮͈͇̮̱͈̹̯͊̇͐̀͘͝͝o̸̠̫̞͓̖̩̜͔͎̔͋ͅố̸̘̩̟͙̰̽̂͒̋͋̃m̵̢͉̟͔͍͇͂̒͛̎̆́̉̉͑ȇ̵̖̬.̸͚͇͚̘̈́͆̄̀̀͊̓̈͘͜͜͝ ̷̢̞̪͇̙͚̋̓T̵̙͚͛́̆̏h̷͕̦̫̟̱̹͉͉̩̟͂͊̀̏̓͂̆̚i̶͖̣̝͕̥͔̗͔͍̊ş̶̘͕͆̊̈́̎͝ ̶̨͚̰͚͍͚͈̿̚p̶̪̳̩̼̻̭̄̀̾͐̈̿l̶̩̜̝̥͒̄͒̂̾̓̓͘͘͝á̵̳ċ̵̱̪̜̬̟̺͌e̸̼͓̙̞͓͚͖̒͒͐̾́̾̑̕͘͜ ̷̨̲̦̦̪̫͕̘͋͆̈̇̾͜ͅǐ̵̧̧̛̱̮̥̑͜s̸̫̰͠ ̶̙̻͙͍̏p̴̣͍̹͓̣̱̫̘̝̌r̵̺̥̭̞͓̠̺̽ͅę̵̥̰̫̜̞̩̤̗͎̈́̈́̋̉̔̓̏̚͝t̷̢̛͎̘͔̭͉̻̜̂̈́̃̽́͆̂t̸̘͗̓̊̈ÿ̵̧̛̛̱̥̗̘́̇̄̊̈́̈̈͘ ̵̮͔̭͕̗̆͊͆̊̓̃͛̾͂ą̵̧͚͍͐̋̾̿̏̀̑̕͜͠ẉ̶̩͕̄̾͆̀̎͐f̸̧̙̜͈̘̐̄͂̀͒̕͜u̴̧͕͓̜͈͕̯̟̓̑̃̚l̷̥̮̙͗̉͆͐̑̚͝͝ ̶̢̛̖̤̬̞̥̤̊̆̈̈́̈́͜à̴̈́̔̚ͅn̶̜̞̓̃̈́y̸̨̼̦̜̜̆̾̈́̿̈́͌͠ẁ̵̡̛͖͍̪͂̊̋̈́̔̋̚å̵̱̖̱͚͕̟̮͕͌͋͑̏̕͝y̷̝̮̪̺̮̠̯̬̞̑͂͌̓̐́͑̒ͅs̷̨̨͙̯̦̳̱͚̠̒̀̐͆̃͋ͅ.̶̨̢̞͇̣͇̱̭̰͕͑̈́̇ ̸͖̼̺̩̋͒͗́̒̚D̴̨̺͒͊͐̽͑̀͒̑̈́r̴͈̘͇̥̝͈͛̎̃́̈̽͆̎́a̴̡͔̳̰̩̗̹͇͔͍͋̎͗͌͋͑̑̍̐g̵̣̱̺̥̈̊̃͛̓̑o̵̻̲͍͉̦̞̊̃͌̀ͅͅn̸̡̨̼̮͔͔͈̳͋̀͋͐̂̌̃͆͂͝ ̶̨̝͇͕̥͎̯̗͌̈́̔̓̎̃̔̕͝s̶̛̭̠̎ơ̸͈̤̟̺͓̥̘̖͙̌̽́͆̏͆̚̕ȗ̷͙͑̀͘ĺ̵̪ş̸̭͍͖͈̰̠́ ̵̟̠͌̀̒̆̓̆a̴̧̬̘̠͔̰̰̪͌̉̒͠ͅr̷̩̤̗̃̚e̶̡̻̲͕̳̘͊ ̴̛̣̣̜̘̫͇̉͋̏͒͐̈́̽̕̚t̶̛̠̥̫̍̎͜ḣ̶̨̛̬͚̳͕̭̹̳̋̃̉͊̇͆̉͝ͅe̵̛̤̒̋̿͊̂̊͝ ̸̨̧̝͇̫̗͇̬͊̏͜w̸̢̽́̽͊́͗̃̈́͐ơ̴̢͈͕̆͑͋͆̈͝ͅr̴̨̰͓̟͎̪̻̜͚͛̈́̅s̶̛͎͇͈̣̼̥̱͈̍̾͆̆̀̈́̆̔͜͝ͅṱ̷̛̲̺̰͚̅͊̍͋̌̎̀!̸̬̟̝͇̿̈̏̃̎̈́̽͒̈́
̷͚̮̠̯̜̗̭͚̻̎̀̈́̍̈̌͝T̴̰̖̤͇̰̺̰̉̃͛̅̑̑̐̑̄͜͝h̵͋͛̄̀̀̀͐̚ͅḁ̶̲̋̀͛ț̴̰̘̯̹̹͋̽…̸̲͖̻̱̗̘̯̙́͑̒̉̆̿́͛̾͝ ̵̢̛̰̯͉̭̖͇͌i̴͎̤̼̪͊̊͐̔̕͠s̸̨̹̙͔͚̗̪͇̯͚͋̐́̒̌ ̸̢̳͖̼̞͍̬͐à̴̧̤̹̮̠̖̦̯̝̤̑̍̉̃̈́̊l̸̗͚͉̃̑͋́̌̂͆͑̀͜͠l̴̨̧̤̻͓͚͍̙͈̯̓͆̄ ̶̫̗̘̲͙͇͍͐̇̓̅̏͘y̵̡̛͖̹̩̤̐̒̊̿ò̸̫̤̰̹͖̺͓̏̿͛͜͝u̷͓͉̤̲̘̫̙̓͛̀͜ ̸̢̻͓͖͠t̴̖̻̾̍̈̀͐͒͛͝h̸̛̓́͊̈́̊͆̍͂ͅȋ̴͓̜͕̻̥͓̻̦̈́̀͌̌̓̈́̆͝n̶͔̝͔͖̜̟̲̤̺̽̿̈́k̶̖̼͖̲̒̋͜ ̶̤̬̋͆͋̓̃́̇́̉ạ̷͔̫͓̱̥͓̇̊͑b̴̛̛̜̥͈̯̟̜͇̪̉́́͗̔͠ò̵̡̗̺̗͝ů̵̢̪̮̦̜̬͇͖̮t̵̢̻̠͎͋̒̅͜,̵͉͉̳̼̖͆͒̑͆͌̅̎̓̏ ̵̱͍̉͒̃i̸̗̫̇̀̇́̓͗͊̌͝s̸̡͎̝̗̙̣̩͓̐̐͌̃̾̓̑̊͘͜ͅn̵̛͈̦̊͆͊̾̚’̷̖͈̦̬̝͉̊̆t̴̡̙͇̠͈̄́̏̎̃̍̽͘͝ ̵̥̊̀̈͒̊͝i̸̹͗̔̓́̅̔̚t̸̨̳̭̂͂̊̂̒̊̽̋̕͝?̵̦̰̠̺̾͜͝
̵̧̯̭̳̲̰̗̜̺̮̆̈́̌̓͋̂̕…̴̦͙͈̲͎̥͗̎̊̕͠͝
̷̣͍͚͓̬̳̹̙̼̐̀M̶̧̲̠̳̬̟̦̳͇͛͐͂̑a̸̮͙̯͛́͠y̵̩͙͈̱̥̪̲̓ͅͅb̴̡̞͇̽̐̃̽e̶̡̡̞͎͙̻͉̒ͅ?̴͇̥̭͌̉͐͗͗̆̑͘͝
̷͎̪͇̟͓̟̀̈͊̒̿L̷̩̹̩̹̻̻͔̊̏ͅe̴̗͖̲̮̭̓̀͂̓͒̈́͗͂t̸͔͍̗̥́͑͛̕’̷̤̮̠͍͛̂͛̿̂̈̽͜ṡ̸̠̩͖̟͖̀̅͒ͅ ̸̱̱̯͙͉͑͗͝j̷̡͈̗̩̼̃̓͒̾̎̂̔̑͝͠ư̴̢̘̫̎̇̃̒̇s̷͇̫̯̲͉̠̹͖͗̆͗̎t̶̙͙͇͊́̌͌̓̇͋͠͝͠ ̶̡̢̱̤͔̳̯̩͇̮̓g̷̤̞̣̲͓̞̍e̸̡̲̐͗͊͋́̎͂̏ṱ̵̢̏̌̎̌̈́̄͐̽ ̴̜̫̊̔́̽͛̐́̚ǫ̵͖̺͙͇͕̥͉̈́͂̐̍̐̒͗͐̕͜ͅn̶̡̲͍̿̄̎̓͛̔̈́̓͛ ̷̡̫̖͈̫̟͛̀̔͊͑́w̵̼̫̬̥̳̜̑ͅi̵̧͖̣̿̈́̔t̶̡̻͇̬̳̱̞̊̓̈́̂̀̚ẖ̷̡̢̩͎̬͔̭͙̱́̆ ̸͙̹̘͓̜̳͔̯̮͆̋͊͌͋̓́͗͒ï̴̻̗͙̹̚ͅţ̸̱̝̪͕̹̙̦̎̀͊̇̕̕͝.̴̡̖̘̻̀̆̊̄́̚͝
A black pool of oil oozed from the violin, spreading out to both Akuma and Niran. As soon as Niran noticed the oil creeping up to her, it was already too late. It had clung to her feet, pulling her down through the inky puddle no matter how hard she struggled. Meanwhile, Akuma sunk easily into it, disappearing from sight almost immediately. Slowly but surely, Niran sunk deeper into the pool in spite of her frantic flailing, until at last she took in her final breath, and dove deep into the dark abyss that awaited beyond.