《Wicked Witch of Valentine》
Chapter 1: A Trial of Fire [2.0]
Darkness¡ª a curtain of black enveloped the lone woman. She sat in a daze, her eyes unfocused and unfazed by the world around her. She was tired of this life and this cruelty, but there was little she could do to change it. Water trickled down onto the cold stone floor from a crack in the brick ceiling that loomed over her. Drops fell incessantly, comparable to an endless glacial melt. Initially, it was torturous, like the droning buzz of a demonic insect that nested in her head. Yet now, it was the most comforting thing that filled her day¡ª something alive.
A solitary ray of light shone through, piercing through the smallest gap within the thick brick walls that enveloped her. It fell upon her face, on a single icy blue eye. Within her gaze¡ª a defiant will stirred, filled with unwillingness and fury. It remained hidden but fated to erupt. Like an insignificant ember buried in the ash. Easy to miss, yet dangerous once carried by the wind onto greener pastures. Her arms and legs were shackled tightly, restricting her to the corner of the room where she knelt. She was powerless to flee, helpless to do anything, and hopeless. Despite everything, the woman held on. In a situation where countless people would have given up, she remained steady. She knew her time was running out. They would never give her a path in life now, not after everything they had done to her. It was that which made her that much more stubborn and defiant. She had to keep her head high; how else would they regret what they had put her through?
She seethed inside as she knelt there alone with her thoughts; she did not dare show it, for their torment would only increase. But she could not let go; the feeling swelled inside her. They dared to frame her, deceive the world, and betray her trust. Her father¡ª the man who had given her hope after her mother passed. Or those rabble that dubbed themselves noble, if one could even call them that, who feigned their affections daily. She hated them all. Loathed their treacherous existence¡ª she wanted nothing more than to prove their rumors right and give them a taste of justice. Wishful thinking¡ª perhaps. But in this prison, she had enough time to spend on wishful thinking.
Her thoughts wandered, swirling in the room like a leaf dancing in the wind. Metallic steps sounded, thudding loudly against the brick. As the sound entered her ears, she winced¡ª an unfortunate effect of the torture and abuse that often followed in those footsteps. She closed her eyes, slowing down her breathing to a crawl. The steps continued, and the dull thud of metal and stone echoed, sending shivers through her body. It came to her cell and stopped, a momentary silence reminiscent of a beast eyeing its prey. The metal-plated door screeched against the stones as the men pried it open. The cell itself was an excessive display for a seventeen-year-old girl, but in reality, what part of her imprisonment was not excessive? As the door came to a halt, its confining embrace loosened at last, and the light of the external corridor erupted into the cell, overwhelming the darkness in the room with its scalding brightness, a volcanic beast of carnage personified that craved nothing but destruction. Thus was why the woman shut her eyes in advance. Priscilla had grown accustomed to the dark in her month-long confinement. When the doors opened, bringing the painful sear of light, she had to hide to avoid getting burned by it.
"Little Miss, wakey wakey. You shouldn''t be dead yet, right?" Elrick scoffed, prodding her shackled thigh with his metal boot. He paused for mere moments before the impatience kicked in; he kicked her leg ruthlessly, the metal plating of his boot bruising her tender flesh, forcing out a cry from the girl.
"Ah, still a lively one, isn''t she? You owe me five gild, Davies," Elrick laughed joyfully, gloating to his companion.
Priscilla could not help but glare at the men; her unkempt hair fell flat onto her face. She resembled a beggar, an unruly mess of dirt and grime, yet her instincts still kicked in. Priscilla was hardly frightening, not in the slightest. She could not intimidate the men nor escape their clutches, but despite her weakness, Priscilla glared, her unwillingness evident. Elrick laughed at her display, kicking her some more. The sound of chains rattling and her whimpering cries filled the cell with every kick. His metal boots were stained with her blood¡ª again. The other man, Davies, stood by the door, his arms crossed in front as he stood watch. He sniggered on the outside, but truthfully, Davies wanted no part of Priscilla''s torment; whether she was deposed or not, she was still the Princess. He maintained a distance, eyeing the woman carefully. She seemed pitiful to him, but the rumors about her kept him conflicted and at bay.
It was a frequent affair where they would come down to torment her. Laughing at her suffering and beating her senseless. ''Were they sick and perverted? Or had someone requested it of them? If there was, it could only be her loving father showcasing his affections.'' She thought, feeling the electrifying pain of Elrick''s kicks.
"Since you already lost your money, why not have some extra fun for once, Davies?" Elrick asked his companion while wiping the blood off his boot onto Priscilla''s gown. The blatant provocative lust in his words was compelling. Davies looked at Elrick and laughed, but inside, he cursed the bastard''s depravity.
"Let''s not overindulge ourselves, El," Davies replied casually, waving his hand at his colleague. He paused briefly before adding, "Even if the rumors are likely hearsay, I wouldn''t want to risk doing anything with this wench."
"Why are you so gloomy, Davie? She''s merely an abandoned Miss that no longer serves a purpose. You do not truly believe that she is some all-powerful witch? Would she be trapped here with us if she was?" Elrick chuckled.
Priscilla gazed at them; their voices were hushed and inaudible to her in her muddled state. Her head buzzed with pain from the kicks that peppered her legs. However, she knew¡ª she could instinctively feel what they were talking about, "Are you getting scared?" Priscilla asked with a smile, revealing her blood-covered teeth. "Worried that I''ll put a curse on you? Why are you both so confident that you haven''t doomed yourselves already?" She wanted to laugh, to make them tremble with fear, but spitting out those words was the most she could do. The pain of her body pressed down on her and forced her to quiet.
"You''re one venomous wench, aren''t you? Still have the strength to talk?" Elrick snorted as he kneeled beside her. He palmed his hand against her face as he drew close, whispering into her ear. "Your execution date''s decided, so talk while you still can. It won''t be long until you can''t talk anymore." Elrick playfully slapped her face before adding. "I''ll tell you another thing. Lord Valentine and Lady Nightshade have decided to wed after you''re gone. A new heir to Valentine will be born, and you''ll be a mere afterthought forgotten."
"You never should''ve had the Valentine name; you''re just an unworthy street urchin unfit for your position." Elrick patted her face as if she were some meager cat or dog. "Fortunately, you won''t have that name for much longer now."
The girl trembled, lowering her head instinctively. ''So it finally happened,'' she thought. ''I wish I could be the witch they thought I was¡'' She felt so helpless; she wanted to live, but how? She was just a girl, shackled and alone¡ª utterly powerless.
"Serves you right." Elrick laughed. He wanted to kick her some more, but hidden inside¡ª Elrick was disturbed by the rumors surrounding her. Orders were obligatory. He had to humiliate her¡ª torment her until she begs for death, but praise the star if the rumors about her weren''t bone-chilling. He didn''t want to suffer, nor have his family suffer because of it.
After a few more moments of verbal abuse, the men left, sealing the cell door behind them as they walked off. Once more, only Priscilla and her thoughts remained. ''Priscilla, oh Priscilla¡ what dark star were you born under? Mother... I miss you.'' Tears rolled down her face, warm against her skin yet cold in her heart.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Davies and Elrick walked down the corridor side-by-side. Elrick exhaled before wiping his brow. "Damn, I hate this job. Seeing her makes me tense every time."
Davies scowled, "Damned if we do, damned if we don''t. I don''t want to think about it more than we should. Let''s get the report over with.''''
They paced their steps, gathering their courage as they approached a large set of wooden doors adorned with golden emblazonment.
Within the spacious office, a large, stoic man sat rigidly in a regal armchair carved of walnut. He rapped his fingers against the mahogany desk, a clear display of contemplation. A soft knock resounded against his office door. Duke Valentine kept his gaze distracted before merely uttering a single command, "Enter," he said, his voice flat and emotionless.
"Yes, Your Grace!" The men outside exclaimed. Davies and Elrick entered the office chamber before offering Duke Valentine a kneeling salute.
"We have visited Lady¡ª the prisoner Priscilla, Lord Valentine." Davies stumbled on his words, quickly correcting himself.
"She is still quite persistent¡ª we have done everything as you have instructed, Your Grace!" Elrick added.
Lord Valentine stared flatly at the two men with his cold black eyes, devoid of ardency. "Very well," he uttered. "As long as she''s getting the attention she deserves, she is my child after all."
"You have a few more days to spend time with her. I''ve decided to move up the Unification Ceremony to next week," he said, the implication clear that she would be executed immediately after it. He then gestured toward the door, "Begone now."
"Yes, Your Grace!" the two men replied before scurrying off.
After they exited the office, Lord Valentine gazed into the distance, his cold stare unbothered. "My child deserves all of the best," he muttered with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
While he stared out, the door to his office creaked open; uninvited, a woman entered. Her rose-like lips playfully puffed as she walked barefoot toward the man. Her crimson gown flowed delicately around her, the delicate silk dancing like soft moonlight around her figure. The dress clung to her body, accentuating her curves as she swayed toward the man''s desk. Her every motion, every step¡ª playful and light. She twirled and sat on the desk opposite the man with her back facing him. She rotated her body, her bare feet settling on the man''s thighs, as her long blonde hair shifted behind her. "Husband..." she said affectionately, resting her face in her hands. "I''ve missed you¡" she nudged closer, leaping into his embrace like only a lover would.
"Maxine..." Lord Valentine embraced her, his cold exterior seemingly warming up. He felt her hands caressing him, her fingers running through his hair. There was a comfort to it, an inexplicable magnetism that bonded them. The woman leaned in, pressing her lips against the man''s. He closed his eyes, absorbing himself into the moment. He surrendered himself to that sensation, a forbidden dance of passion and desire.
Outside, uncertainty filled the air¡ª day after day, the only thing that remained preserved was the passage of time. The fateful day arrived; Lord Valentine and Lady Nightshade had completed the Grand Unification ceremony, as ordained by Imperial Edict. With Emperor Kyrian Ellis IV as a witness, House Valentine and House Nightshade had become one. For the two houses, it was a day of celebration and joy but also a tragic development for one, considering it was also the day the abandoned heiress of House Valentine was to be executed.
In the inner courtyard, a titan-like platform shadowed the grounds. Atop a grand pyre of blackened wood-rot wood sat, eagerly awaiting Priscilla''s arrival. Surrounded by manicured shrubbery and a carefully maintained garden, the platform was crude and ugly in comparison. Wrought iron benches sat in layers at the front of the platform. Crescent moons of encirclement as men and women crowded in, eager to claim a good spot to watch the show. Noble Lords and Ladies, merchants, and even mercenaries filled the seats. They were of mixed origins, yet all individuals of status. At the forefront sat a larger marbled bench; upon it was Lord Valentine with Lady Nightshade and Emperor Ellis to his right and left. None thought it strange, for the empire knew none were closer than the brothers¡ª Kyrian and Karthus.
Lady Nightshade¡ª now Lady Valentine, sat drinking her wine with relish. Her lipstick stained the glass red as it pressed against her lips. Meanwhile, Lord Valentine sat in silence. A rumble echoed from the backside of the yard as chains jangled, scraping against the hard stone as they pulled close. A contingent of guards pushed and pulled on Priscilla, nearly dragging the poor girl instead of letting her walk on her own. One look at her, and it was apparent¡ª compared to the fully armored men, she was ever so weak and small, exceedingly so.
They brought Priscilla to the platform, binding her, shackles and all, to a large wooden beam. The people in the crowd muttered between themselves, gossiping and laughing. To Priscilla, they were nothing more than creatures that found solace in the suffering of others, their inaudible whispers a venomous poison that crept into her ears. The guards hauled the beam up, placing it at the central point of the pyre. The men saluted the crowd and walked off to the side before facing the Valentines as they knelt, awaiting further orders.
Lady Valentine giggled, kissing the Lord. The man stood up and walked towards the platform; he looked at Priscilla for a moment before turning towards the crowd.
"Priscilla, deposed daughter of Valentine. With no claim to title or land. You are thus branded as a heathen! Guilty of witchcraft, murder, and rebellion against blood and empire." the man spoke each word with a harsh finality to them. "Do you acknowledge your guilt, child?"
Priscilla looked at him with unfamiliarity; she bit down on her lip, "I. Am. Innocent. Father." She spoke each word with conviction¡ª however meager it was. "I have only ever done right by House Valentine and the empire! Every request I dutifully fulfilled. I have never betrayed, father!" Her uttered words rekindled her hope. The thoughts she buried inside her all poured out at once; it made her believe¡ª for just a moment. Until she saw the contemptuous gazes of the crowd, eyeing her like they would a beggar on the street. Lord Valentine gazed down at her, unburdened and silent. Priscilla felt something snap¡ª something inside of her. She wanted to huddle up into herself¡ª to curl into a ball and escape¡ª but she could not.
"Disgraceful foolishness. The mind of a demon unsullied by virtue and morality. It desires not to admit fault, no guilt to utter. My daughter is dead, replaced by a foul creature wearing her flesh. This witch must die." Lord Valentine emotionlessly said before raising his hands towards the sky.
"As Lord of House Valentine, I beseech thee. As you sit and gaze at the sinner, offer up your condemnation. We shall light the pyre of judgment in the name of the Divine Ruler. The sinner shall burn, and we shall rid the empire of its evil. Rebellion is forbidden! Betrayal is forbidden! Witchcraft is forbidden! BURN THE WITCH! FOR JUSTICE! FOR THE EMPIRE! FOR THE EMPEROR!" his voice crescendoed, the audible passion igniting like a wildfire as his voice surged across the spectators.
Silence¡ª followed by uproarious cheers. The crowd''s chants filled the courtyard, condemnation akin to a knife digging deep. An elderly man with a hobbled step rolled in a cart with a small lit brazier and torches. The guards picked the torches up and lit them, marching in file toward the platform before spreading out. They circled the platform before lifting the torches overhead.
"DEATH TO THE WITCH!" Lord Valentine ordered. As the words came out, the men lowered the torches, igniting the black-rot wood and setting the pyre ablaze.
The flames gradually consumed Priscilla''s body; it was a slow, terrifying, and excruciating process. Her hopes and dreams went up in flames, just like her flesh. She wailed and thrashed as the rugged wood and scalding metal dug into her skin. She couldn''t think quickly enough to describe the sensation; the pain consumed her thoughts¡ª a gluttonous beast with no bottom line, but from within, Priscilla found a thread of solace. A single thought that gave her release from the pain and cooled down her burning body. ''I am... free.''
Bonus Artwork ft. MidJourney
Chapter 2: Echoes of The Past [2.0]
Silence¡ª a lifeless void that embraced the darkness and suffocated the warmth of life. Priscilla found herself enveloped by that same silence, the dark and silent abyss that she woke to, devoid of light or color. Her body felt weightless, a feather in a soft breeze pushed along without a destination. Priscilla tried to lift herself; the pain she had felt was gone, a figment of her imagination. She looked at her barely visible hands in the dark, her burnt flesh¡ª gone. Confusion struck her hard; she gazed around, darkness¡ª ever-present darkness, shapes shifted overhead, mountainous and large¡ª straining her sight; she could barely make out the landmasses floating like clouds above her head.
Priscilla looked down, but there was nothing¡ª no land beneath her feet, no grassy pasture to call her own. It was wrong to say even that there was nothing beneath her feet, as her feet didn''t exist in the first place. Priscilla hovered there, a mere soul drifting through the abyss. ''Where am I?'' She thought as she floated there. She began to move, to wander the space she found herself in, but she discovered that her senses seemed detached¡ª alienated from her form. Just as the cloud floats unbeknownst to it, so too did she. The emptiness was an infinite, incomprehensible abyss that she was thrust into, terrifying as it should have been, but to Priscilla¡ª It was something different. It was¡ª relief. It was¡ª freedom. The incessant harassment, abuse, and pain were all gone finally. She smiled, or at least she felt like she was smiling since, in this place, it was impossible to tell.
"It''s a bit lonely and dark... but it isn''t too bad!" Priscilla tried to say optimistically, but her voice barely drifted from her lips before fading into the void. Silence¡ª you could never cheat its eternal embrace. Priscilla looked ahead toward the floating mass, straining herself¡ª in an attempt to reach out and approach them.
Priscilla drifted through the void endlessly, carried by the flow of time, an elusive force in this place¡ª one that she could not grasp or comprehend. Her muddled and detached thoughts swam in stages; happiness and relief filled her with hope¡ª of the peace she could have, the freedom away from her noble life. Sadness and despair¡ª the fear of death that consumed her. But the stage she returned to the most was grief and indignation¡ª the burning anger that swelled inside her. It fueled her with no end in sight, forced her to the brink of insanity as she cursed her powerlessness, and forced her to scream and shout, but no matter how hard she tried, the void rejected her desires.
As Priscilla struggled to cope with her turmoil, she began to reminisce. She could see the day when her father came into her life, the way her mother''s lifeless, cold, and petrified body lay in front of her. Dead without warning, forced to abandon her most prized treasure¡ª her daughter. Priscilla''s mother had always been there for the girl, protecting and nurturing her with endless love¡ª something beautiful and rare for the slums they lived in. Priscilla huddled in a corner, trembling from the biting winter''s chill. She had nothing, and nobody left. Tears raced down her rosy face as she sat there, lost and broken, nibbling on scraps of bread that her mother had taken from the backside of a restaurant''s waste barrel a few days earlier.
There was nothing Priscilla could have done back then¡ª she had been just a child of six, and her mother had always warned her to be careful. Never attract too much attention, and do everything not to get sold off or enslaved¡ª she wracked her little head off, how to survive and what to do. It was then that she heard a loud knock on her slumhouse. The girl had flattened into the corner out of fright, pressing herself warily against the wooden wall, when a large man walked in uninvited. The man''s black eyes were chilling and cold, a hollow abyss that even as a young girl had terrified her. Young she may have been, but Priscilla recognized his garments as noble attire. It was not common in the slums, but sometimes they could be seen. She was too young to know that if nobles visited the slums, they had their agendas at play, seeking someone or something to further their plans.
Valentine gazed down at the woman, his cold gaze a mirror of disgust that reflected upon it. He stepped over her body, walking toward the small girl. "Child, come with me," Valentine spoke as he reached his hand out.
Priscilla had eyed him warily, pressing herself into the corner as far back as she could. In the moment, she was but a wounded beast¡ª If she had fangs to bare, she would have bared them at the man. Valentine merely sighed¡ª an emotionless sound that Priscilla couldn''t have understood back then. "Girl, I''m your father. Now that your mother is gone, you must come with me. Do you desire to die out in the cold?" He asked, his voice both firm and soft.
It was at that moment that Priscilla''s fate shifted into something uncontrolled by her. The wariness inside her melted away, and she found herself feeling warmth from the man. Warmth she desperately wanted to take hold of. It caused her to reach out to him; reluctant she was, aware that it was a risk, but she took it despite the doubts.
Priscilla sighed; the reminiscence had been too much for her and her already emotional heart. She tried to comprehend how long she had been there, but time was fleeting within the endlessly dark scape she found herself in. Purgatory was a nightmare one could never wake from. It was not something she knew or would know for a long time still. Time in purgatory was fleeting, a cloud in the sky. You see it drifting by as you look up, but you blink, and it is gone. So, too, was time¡ª gone without a trace.
Priscilla''s restless, silent, and dark torment continued. The fierce determination buried within her thrummed in her chest, ignoring purgatory''s assaulting whims as she resonated with the space. It pulsed melodically and unnoticeably, awakening something in the deep, dark void.
Because of Priscilla''s efforts, despite that fact being unknown to her at the time, a gaze scanned her from countless miles away. Penetrating the darkness that surrounded her. It could see through the deceit and lies of the space, the lonesome girl swirling in a shroud of fog, her non-corporeal figure drifting atop a slab of land that floated softly across the darkened purgatory sky.
"What a fierce determination for such a young and tormented soul." The woman''s soft voice trembled the void around her with a strange power that resonated with the space. "How long has it been since someone has endured this place''s confining grip..."
"Has the time of providence come? Time, what a cruel mistress you remain to be..." The woman laughed, her voice stretching the ethereal space around her. "You hide everything out of reach, promising us release and never delivering upon it."
"What about you, child? What''s your story that caused you to have such apprehensions toward death? Such a strong attachment to the world, fueled by such torrentuous emotions?" The woman''s ethereal voice wondered, sifting through the darkened void as her gaze swirled with lustrous power.
Her verdant gaze penetrated the long-forgotten depths of the river of time. Before her eyes, the past opened. There, that woman knelt, her choked sobs mingling with the pattering of rain. Mumbles escaped her lips; she was begging in a hushed tone for the elder who lived there to help her. That woman was desperate¡ª but she knew she could not be loud, for the elder had a temper. The woman held her protruding belly carefully despite her forehead pressed against the dirt. Even the biting cold of that wintery night couldn''t force her to leave; she trembled fiercely, but she had to stay¡ª for her child''s sake.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
From within the house, the aged woman peered out, cursing under her breath. "Ya shouldn''t have come here. Ya damned optimistic fool." She muttered inaudibly, resenting the fact that life was so predictable. ''''Damn ya to hell."
"Ya don''t give up, do ya? Ya trying to freeze to death?" The aged woman''s voice croaked out from the closed door. It creaked open, revealing a leather-skinned old crone, her speckled flesh covered in blackened dots and patches of purple and green. Visible history of drugs, poison, and the violence typical of the slums. "Ya know I don''t service the slumrats anymore, Marigold." The old crone spat.
"Please, Madam! My child must get a chance; you know that she''s fated for more than dying in the womb! I don''t have the strength to bring her into the world. I need you, Madam! I beg you, please help me deliver my babe." Marigold begged, tears coating the icy earth in a mother''s warmth. She was powerless and pitiful, the definition of a slumrat without hope¡ª but even as a slumrat, she desperately wanted the best for her child.
The old crone stared down at Marigold with pity but also concealed disappointment at the woman''s decision, "Ya crazy wench, I swear! Don''t regret this." She sighed, "If ya die, don''t blame it on these old bones, ya hear me?"
"No, Madam! I could never blame you!" Marigold revealed a bright smile that warmed the chilling air, "Thank you, thank you so much, Madam! My babe''s life is in your hands!" She bowed her head with gratitude; her face had been caked in the dirt and grime of the slums¡ª a necessity one was taught at an early age, especially for women. But one could see the inherent beauty of the woman that underneath, the skin around her eyes creased from exhaustion, bruises healed¡ª but their marks remained. Her figure told countless stories¡ª tragedies of a slumrat''s life. No matter the story, however, gratitude remained ingrained into her. Marigold''s eyes glowed with joy, "Madam, she''s really a strong one! You''ll see... everyone will see her worth; she''s a fighter. I just know it!"
"Ya... damn... ai." The old crone sighed, uncertain what to even say in this situation. It had been a long time since she isolated herself away from the slum''s people, but faced with someone like Marigold, she found herself unable to reject her. "Fine... Get in, will ya." She finally spat, giving up on her struggle and letting the woman into her abode.
It had not been long after when the cries of life echoed from within. Marigold''s bright grin stretched from ear to ear as she looked down at her baby. "You''re beautiful, my child. You''ve got your mother''s hair and your father''s eyes." She kissed her on her forehead as fatigue took her into a long dream.
As the woman from purgatory peered into the past, a year passed as if it were the blink of an eye. The crack of dawn struck like lightning as Marigold weaved through the city; she had turned into a scavenger of the night, sifting through the detritus of the city''s nightlife, collecting every edible scrap she could find. Nestled on her back was her tiny child. Priscilla slept bundled in a warm cloth that wrapped around Marigold. Priscilla''s rosy face peeked ever-so-slightly from the bundle, her hands pressing against the woman''s back with every breath Priscilla took.
Marigold carried on like this day after day, scavenging in the outer districts for hours each morning before returning to the slums. She would feed Priscilla and put her to sleep before Marigold would head to a slumhouse bar. It reminded her of her past; the drugs, alcohol, women, and gambling were prominent. Vices were rampantly on display as those craving them indulged. She had been fortunate, though, that the Matron allowed her to clean. Instead of being a serving woman, it was a far better option. She did have to do the work of multiple people, as difficult as it happened to be, but it was the far better alternative.
Another two years flew by¡ª The pitter-patter of tiny feet echoed in Marigold''s slumhouse. Priscilla ran around chasing after a black-winged Cressel butterfly, her giddy laughter spreading contagiously. Priscilla had been energetic and full of life and vibrancy, something foreign and strange to the otherwise dull and depressing slums. Most tried to survive; they survived not to live, but they only lived to survive another day. Priscilla, however, was different; she instinctively lived, not for survival''s sake, but for the sake of living.
Nothing beautiful could remain pure forever; three more years passed in a heartbeat, and Priscilla''s sixth year came to be. The once giddy and happy slumhouse¡ª now drowned in sobbing wails. Priscilla leaned down, hugging Marigold with her paltry arms. Marigold''s pale complexion and hollow eyes became a sad contrast to the woman she had been only years prior. The woman coughed painfully as a trail of blood ran down the side of her mouth. Priscilla held onto Marigold tightly, resting her moist eyes against the woman''s chest. She feared letting go, as if letting go meant her mother would disappear from her life forever.
Marigold''s coughs thudded loudly against the inner walls of their slumhouse; Marigold mustered what strength she could¡ª to stroke her daughter''s head¡ª her weak touch, powerless. Tears continued rolling down Priscilla''s face, feeling her mother''s cold, weak hand.
"Don''t cry, my child," Marigold spoke, her voice rasping in her chest. She lifted her hand, pressing it lightly against the girl''s chest, feeling her heart beating with life. "You''re destined for happiness and greatness, my child. Never forget this."
Marigold''s gaze drifted slightly, eyeing the ceiling as a teardrop rolled down her cheek, "The stars above seem distant and cold. Powerful and unreachable, but you must remember that nothing in this life is unreachable." Marigold''s voice faded through her words, weakness setting in, "I''ll have to go, my child. But I''ll always be watching from above..."
"No, Mommy! You can''t... You can''t leave me!" Priscilla whimpered, tears flowing down her face, "What should Prissy do without you?"
"There there, my child. Hush baby, don''t you cry." Marigold patted Priscilla''s head lovingly, using what little strength that remained. "It''ll be hard on you, my child. You must go to granny''s house and keep growing until you realize your potential. Promise me this, my child. Go to granny''s!" The woman forced her words resolutely through pained coughs.
"No, Mommy! I''m not going anywhere!" Priscilla refused stubbornly, "I''ll be with you forever!"
"Child! Don''t be stubborn! Listen to your mother, promise me!" Marigold said sternly, a bloody cough erupting from her body from the strain.
Priscilla sniffled helplessly, her puffy eyes eager to burst into tears again. "I''ll be good, Mommy. I promise, so please... Don''t leave me!" She spoke through sniffles, her tears flowing uncontrollably soon after.
Marigold''s hand fell beside Priscilla; the woman had wanted to say more, but her sight blurred, and her voice escaped her. Priscilla cried out¡ª bawled until her voice was hoarse. Her mournful wails gave the silent room the only tinge of life.
Days later, Priscilla still sat there huddled in that freezing room, listless and devoid of joy. Her promise to her mother floated in her mind; she knew what she had to do. But the brokenness in her heart overpowered the logic. Marigold still lay there motionless in front of Priscilla. The biting cold snapped at her body¡ª preserving parts of it in an eternal embrace. It was then¡ª that man walked into Priscilla''s life. Calming her thoughts and granting her a path to follow, but also blinding her from her final promise.
Bonus Image; Priscilla drifting through the Abyss.
Ft. Midjourney
Chapter 3: The Souls Purgatory [2.0]
The abyss shook as the mysterious woman''s gaze focused on the present; she hummed, contemplating the scenes she spectated. ''A girl thrown into machinations that predate her a thousand years, a will of steel, and a heart of gold.''
''After a thousand years, history repeats itself. How unfortunate and cruel for such a young soul. Will you end up like me, I wonder. Tossed pitifully into the endless trials of despair that test your breaking point, only to abandon you in your hardest moment of choosing.''
The woman bared her pristine white teeth, revealing her defined canines as she thought, ''Surprisingly, Divala''s descendants still proliferate after so many years: traitorous scum, shameless beasts with no morality or loyalty. How dare they strut their foolhardy intentions before me.'' A tinge of anger emanated from the woman, forming a minuscule crack that spread through the void behind her before quickly sealing up.
The woman restrained her aura, a single thought festering in her mind, ''If you can endure this purgatory''s grasp, I shall help you, child. Endure, and I''ll give you your strongest desire without question.'' Her inscrutable presence shimmered, reflecting the ethereal mist around her in those crystal-like, verdant eyes. Her black hair flowed endlessly around her, crossing through past, present, and future as it whipped around that endless space.
While the woman considered her plans, Priscilla sifted through the void, her mind and thoughts blurring into a muddled state. "Am I truly dead?" She questioned, with no one in sight to answer her. "Was death always so quiet, so estranged and lonely?" Her words were despondent; the contemplations induced by purgatory threw her mentality for a loop. To her, it seemed as if years had passed by, causing her a sense of insanity that rose within, whereas only days had gone by.
The space Priscilla found herself in finally began to change once a week had passed since the day of her pyre. Ironic it was, the funeral pyre following her beyond death. Pillars of fiery crimson illuminated the four corners that stretched the horizon of her sight. They burned with a searing wrath, their terror sending shivers through the girl''s body. She cried out, terrified and trembling. Priscilla''s subconscious erupted with vibrant displays, the memories of her execution pyre flooding into her mind. The shivers evolved gradually, becoming a crawling sensation that spread across her limbs and back. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but there was nowhere she could run to. Her fears turned into reality as chains confined her, strangling her flesh against a monstrous mound of bones.
"Release me!" She screamed and struggled, "I want to live, I want to survive!" Her efforts proved to be in vain as the chains only constricted tighter around her form.
Terror flared inside of her as pain stabbed at her body¡ª unseen spikes dug deep into her flesh, writhing like gluttonous worms eager for a feast. "No, no, no!" She roared unwillingly, the crawling under her skin disturbing her greatly. "Please, Mother! Father¡ª Anyone!" She begged, tears rolling down her face. Her eyes darted in every direction, and her heartbeat quickened, drumming violently in her chest.
When faced with one''s fear, that is when a person truly demonstrates the qualities that make them unique. There was no mother''s warmth or a father''s stern care, only a painful solitude. For Priscilla, the pain was the principal burden. The loneliness she had grown accustomed to time and time again, but the everlasting pain of her flesh and mind reliving the moments her flesh burned and the fires gnawed into her flesh¡ª akin to ravenous beasts of destruction.
"No... I won''t break!" Priscilla muttered haplessly¡ª her mind confuddled with trauma. "Never again, never¡ª ever!" She gritted her teeth, grinding them firmly.
From afar, the ethereal woman gazed hopingly. She wanted Priscilla to succeed, to face her demons¡ª her nightmares and traumas, and to emerge a freed soul. But the woman knew this was merely the beginning of Priscilla''s trials and tribulations. This place served to cull one of their emotions and attachments, grind them into an empty shell that had nothing left. Priscilla had to face her demons¡ª everyone had to; there had never been a single exception to this iron-forged law of creation.
''I hope you manage, child. If you can''t, then everything will become meaningless, Divala''s dogs will run rampant in the world, and nothing pure will remain in this land.'' The woman thought as unease coursed through her chest. She had wanted to intervene, but in this space, it was impossible. It was an infallible law that bound all who encroached upon purgatory''s forbidden land.
Just as the woman had said, the crisis for Priscilla had merely started. From the bony mound that ensnared her, creatures emerged¡ª their forms no greater than apples as they swarmed the girl''s body. Their limbs were sharpened pricks that prodded the girl''s flesh¡ª the creatures gleefully snickering with sinister grimaces plastered on their faces. Priscilla screamed from the maddening sting that pierced into her flesh¡ª tendrils confined her, and creatures assailed her. It was insufferable¡ª It was insulting, an affront to her mind¡ª one she had to endure.
''Mother. Mother. Mother.'' She chanted softly, trying to ease the pain with the only warmth she ever knew. A long-forgotten song rose in her mind as she hummed it softly, letting the tune embrace her soul and guide her toward a better place.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Purgatory, however, had other plans. The shrunken creatures snarled with viciousness, emitting a horrendous sound that cracked her protective shell and thrust her into a world of her memories.
"You foul-mouthed wench, why can''t you do as commanded?" Valentine''s shout echoed as Priscilla trembled. The sting of pain against her cheek burned as she blinked in confusion. His large hand collided with her face again, leaving her stunned and keeled over on the floor. Priscilla caressed her face with her tiny hand¡ª that forgotten sensation against her fingertips pulsing with numbness.
"Reply, damn you. Did I raise a damned worthless mute? Did I bring you to sit there uselessly, wasting precious time?" Valentine continued shouting at her like a demon-possessed. "Why, why, WHY!? WHY CAN''T YOU BE USEFUL?" He roared with furrowed brows.
Priscilla quivered from the memory, ''Was Father always like that?'' She questioned in her mind as she gazed at his towering figure that stood over her furiously.
"You should''ve died on the street just like your damned brothel-whore mother!" Valentine snapped, kicking Priscilla against the wall. "You disgusting shell." He raised his boot once more, but Maxine grabbed his arm.
"Now, don''t be so harsh¡ª We still need her." She giggled seductively as her breath tickled Valentine''s earlobe.
Valentine snorted before kicking her once more; the girl helplessly embraced the darkness as she blacked out.
Priscilla relived the repressed memory thoughtfully, the pain intertwining with the confusion, ''Did that actually happen?'' She thought, ''Was father so cruel when I was young? They need me, but for what?''
Priscilla''s memory ended there with her consciousness faded. Forcing her to miss the moment¡ª Valentine dropped his hand down around the woman''s narrow waist and embraced her close.
"I''m sorry you had to see me like that, Maxie. It has to be those eyes; they make me so uncontrollably angry when they remind me of that bastard." Valentine''s gaze was chillingly emotionless as he stared at Priscilla''s curled-up body plastered against the wall.
Priscilla''s path down memory lane continued as she jolted into a spacious chamber with countless men and women sitting around her.
"She must be imprisoned, Lord Valentine! Marquis Varun''s whole family has fallen because of her schemes!" A gruff voice echoed within the illuminated chamber. Just one of many that say there, Valentine''s retinue of aides and advisors, all eager to pass the blame and guilt onto anyone they could find susceptible. "How can there be such a coincidence; just when their boy began to fancy and court her, the whole house falls into ruin!" The man added aggressively, slamming his fist against the marbled table.
"It''s true! Everything bad happens because of her; how long must we endure this dark cloud perched atop our heads?" A woman added with a disgruntled chide. "You must do something about it, Lord Valentine!"
Valentine sat comfortably in the largest chair, rapping his fingers against the table. "You all make valid points." He spoke flatly¡ª before he added, "I cannot fathom what has come over my daughter these days. It seems that each and every day there''s some tragedy brewing because of her involvement. It''s truly becoming a nightmare to handle." Valentine sighed, eyeing his people softly, "You have my word that I will do my utmost to discover what evil resides within her, no matter what it takes."
Priscilla sat there, pincered between two towering men in full-body armor etched with Valentine''s insignia. Her head curled to her knees, the unwillingness to be seen stemming from her innocence fueling her reluctance. ''No, that''s not possible. They told me they went South to their Villa. There''s no way something happened to them.'' Priscilla thought as the pain squeezed at her temple, forcing her to shriek and jolt into another memory.
Her internal struggles intensified, only serving to further fuel the visions with their soul-piercing toxicity that tore her vulnerable psyche, covering it with tiny cracks. Priscilla heaved and retched; her flesh and soul trembled with eerie detachment. It was uncanny and vile. Her flesh wrestled with the guttural viciousness of the creatures, whereas her mind bounced from memory to memory.
Priscilla thrashed against that bony mound that restricted her. Unwillingness, aggression, and determination brewed within her, "I will not surrender! NEVER!" She roared, her arms pulled from the mound, the chains clattering like the clash of teeth from the very skull''s her body lay on. She had to fight to survive; she had to escape to know. ''Were those visions real? Or fabrications? If it genuinely happened... I need to understand! Why was father acting so strange? What was it all for? Why did he take me if he intended to treat me like waste!'' Those thoughts gave her the strength to endure as the torment continued relentlessly.
The woman spectated Priscilla''s suffering, a passenger passively taken for the ride. She could not see into the visions that Priscilla witnessed; she merely watched as the shackles of purgatory ensnared her, and the bonds of life and death gnawed at her flash, attempting to free her from her attachments. A month passed before turning into two, followed by three. Nothing changed¡ª all remained the same, but truthfully, everything did change as Priscilla still endured strongly. Priscilla''s towering determination left the woman in awe, stoking the ember of hope in her chest and giving it life.
"What a fortune and blessing you may turn into, child." The woman spoke, her soft voice chiming delicately through the space, "Even still, I can''t risk everything just yet. Show me more, child. Show me you''re worth investing in. Endure and face everything this place throws your way, that''s the only choice you have..."
Bonus Image of Priscilla lingering atop the mound of torment.
Ft. Midjourney
Chapter 4: Divine Awakening [2.0]
The woman''s desires and hopes were meaningless to Priscilla; she didn''t know they existed, and they didn''t offer her any solace in her pain. It was her hopes that fueled her struggles. She wanted to believe that there was a reason she didn''t simply pass on to the afterlife but was stuck here instead. Priscilla was strong, unquestionably so. Her willpower surged, unnaturally fierce against the torment as the desire to survive overpowered the fear within. Her subconscious burned with fury that empowered her struggle, all in an attempt to offer her a thread to hold onto.
"Damn it all to hell!" Priscilla cursed as her eyes burned, "I won''t submit, I won''t give in to this damned place. Mark my words!" She cried out in angry frustration. No matter how the torment stabbed at her flesh and her mind, she resisted and fought against it. Her wrists bled from the strained tugs against the chains that bound them, but it was mild compared to the pain she believed she would feel if she gave up. "You all wanted a witch; pray that you never meet a true witch!" She muttered through clenched teeth, uttering the words repeatedly in an attempt to spite Valentine and the others who framed her.
When the woman witnessed Priscilla''s curses and spite¡ª a broad grin smeared across her face, her eyes brimming with delight. ''Yes, child. That''s the spirit we all desperately need!'' The woman thought, an uncontrollable laugh escaping from her lips. ''Do you truly want them to meet a true witch? I wonder if you know the weight of that belief.''
A thousand years ago, they called her a witch just the same¡ª Zae-Rin the Demon Incarnate, the Mother of Witches, they said. A crescent-eyed smile plastered her face as she thought of those torturous days. Back in those long-passed days, there was a magnitude of mystical things, and now it was time for them to return. "Child, do you wish to become that which they fear?" She spoke, her voice drifting through the void and piercing into Priscilla''s thoughts. "Can you handle the consequences of that choice? Can you endure the pain of Divinity surging uncontrollably through your body, conforming you into a suitable host for its might?"
Priscilla''s eyes fluttered rapidly, disbelief painting her face. She thought she was going insane, voices ringing in her mind. ''No, I can''t go insane! Not yet! Come on, Priscilla. You can do this!'' She thought, pumping herself up with belief in herself.
Zae-Rin didn''t mind that Priscilla ignored her; she merely continued, "Child, answer me. Do you wish for the power to change your fate? Can you endure being brandished a witch in life, death, and beyond?" Zae-Rin asked, her questions burrowing deep into Priscilla''s mind.
Priscilla couldn''t comprehend; Zae-Rin''s voice spoke directly in her mind, tickling the softest parts of her soul that remained untouched by purgatory''s torture. The thought of whether she should reply or not swam inside her, ''Would something go wrong if I replied?'' She questioned, her eyes darting through the confining space that lacked any semblance of life beside her.
''No...'' Her determination flared, "I WANT POWER!" She roared with a heart full of emotion, "I don''t care what they may brandish me as; I will fight for my life and survival! I need the strength to do so; please help me!" She cried out, her earnest desires pouring out from her. "If I must become a witch¡ª then so be it!"
This wish¡ª this resonance, pure and powerful swelled through purgatory''s abyss-like void. Zae-Rin beamed with glee, "Good, child! That''s the spirit. You must face life''s challenges with a steely will and a resolute heart. Embrace the power, harness it for yourself, and brace your body for the impact." She laughed, and her eyes began to glow with thunderous sparks of green that irradiated outward. "The body is the temple, the heart is the furnace, and the soul is the kindling force that ignites the night''s sky with warmth."
Zae-Rin chanted as the distant void she resided in pulsed vigorously, her power slamming against it, forming cracks along the ethereal facade of purgatory. "Power of one begets into two. There is no limitation without inhibition. There is no control or creation that we can''t hold with our authority. I will reality, break through the falsity, and become the truth." Zae-Rin''s chants pulsed through the void, unseen but heard. They broke past the pillars of flame that swirled around Priscilla, onto the mound that ensnared her, and directly into her ears. Power swelled within Priscilla nearly instantaneously. It was a minute strand at first, something negligibly insignificant, but it grew along her warm, beating heart.
Priscilla''s mind opened up, and the world at large reflected onto her gaze as ethereal mists swirled in her cerulean blue eyes. The words Zae-Rin spoke and the chants she uttered¡ª they latched onto Priscilla, their resonance growing strong as the power burrowed into Priscilla''s heart. The words marked her¡ª they spread like gospel, gathering at the crown of her head and gravitating across her flesh; they swirled in emblazoned patterns brimming with the power of the Old World, a language long-forgotten and wiped out from the history books.
Priscilla felt an electrifying sensation in her body; it surged through her cells, a torrential flood of power that came¡ª ever so close to drowning her in its embrace. Her eyes burst open with an intense cerulean glow that drowned out the crimson flames, forcing them to retreat. "I can feel it..." She mumbled as she craned her neck from side to side, "Can there be such beauty even after death?" She questioned, as a single tear rolled down her cheek. Purgatory reflected in her gaze, an empty nightmare of hollow souls floating on tiny rafts of land, but among them was an innocence. Something beautiful that ferried them from one life to another. Priscilla laughed, her arms pulled at the chains that wrapped around her wrists. Tugging with an intensity she never could have imagined before Zae-Rin got involved. Priscilla grappled with them, moments that couldn''t last as the chains and bones crumbled into dust, drifting away freely.
Fortunately for Priscilla, purgatory was just¡ª her suffering had to come to an end¡ª and end it did. The floods may pour in, but the rains will inevitably stop, for the looming starshine of dawn shall always illuminate the night''s sky.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Priscilla heaved a sigh of relief as she sat on that floating mass of land¡ª silent comfort blanketing her. Darkness once more became the predominant color that stretched as far as the eye could see, like winter''s first snow. She clenched her fists in front of her eyes, indulging in the sensation of having her body under her control again. She rubbed her hands against her cheeks, testing to see whether everything was unquestionably¡ª as tangible as she had hoped.
Before Priscilla could adjust to her newfound feeling of power coursing through her, a path of light wove itself from afar, stopping directly in front of her. The surging waves of power pushed the darkness away, forming a traversable path, where a bare-footed woman walked towards Priscilla. Zae-Rin''s long raven-black hair swept around her, overwhelming the darkness enveloping the two women; her steps were soft and regal¡ª inherently deliberate. With every step she took, a trail of grass and flowers formed behind her, covering the construct of light with vibrant vitality. Priscilla gawked when she saw Zae-Rin; the woman was so mystical¡ª so inherently magical. Priscilla''s fingertips trembled; her eyes darted, but not out of fear¡ª but of a connection.
When Zae-Rin reached the girl, she bowed slightly to Priscilla, lifting her long and flowy gown of cyan with its golden accents slightly. "We finally meet face to face, child," Zae-Rin said sweetly with a smile, her ethereal presence illuminating the void tremendously.
"You¡ª You''re the one that spoke to me!" Priscilla gasped, taking a step back instinctively before stopping herself. "Thank you for your help! I don''t know how I''ll ever repay you..." Priscilla said with mixed emotions.
Zae-Rin laughed, witnessing the girl''s apprehensions. But she knew that it was normal for such a young and tormented soul after obtaining release from purgatory¡ª wariness was expected. "Fear not, child. You''ll repay me someday, far into the future." Zae-Rin said while walking up to Priscilla; she placed her hand gently on her shoulder. "My name is Zae-Rin, child. Over the years, I''ve been called by many names¡ª a demon, a witch, a deity, but you, child, can simply call me Rin."
"Okay, Rin. Thank you for helping me still!" Priscilla said nervously. The girl was confused; Priscilla was drawn to Zae-Rin and wanted to be in her presence. But her instincts guarded against Zae-Rin and yearned to pull away.
"Oh, child! Fret not; take your time. Purgatory is not something you can merely adapt to without some consequence. For now, come with me. A good rest will do wonders for your body, mind, and soul." Zae-Rin said with fondness, comforting Priscilla and her displays of vigilance and wariness.
Priscilla breathed out, gathering her wits. There was nowhere to go in this space, and there was no point in struggling against a woman who had helped her. Zae-Rin smiled and turned away, leaving on the path of verdant nature and life with Priscilla behind her. Priscilla walked for hours unbeknownst to her; the void was a behemoth space that stretched vastly.
Zae-Rin led her to an area that was an enigmatic oasis amidst the darkness of purgatory. Sprawling gardens of multi-colored flowers spread as far as Priscilla''s sight could extend; at the center of it stood a lavish marbled gazebo, with its thatched roof and embellished ornamental carvings that decorated it. Within sat a table with two reclined chairs with padded cushions. Atop it was a pitcher of wine and two goblets on both sides of the table, along with several fruit bowls and pastries Priscilla had never seen before.
"Take a seat, child, and relax." Zae-Rin gestured to the seat before taking a seat herself. "It must feel strange seeing such a thing in this purgatory; you can''t tell if it is real or an illusion. But I can assure you they''re all tangible in this moment." The woman smiled as she filled a goblet and took a swig of the dark burgundy wine.
Priscilla gawked in bewilderment as she sat down across from Zae-Rin, curiosity overtaking her as she picked up one of the pastries before biting into it. The flaky crust broke apart with practiced ease as a cream filling coated her tastebuds. Priscilla''s eyes widened blissfully, "What is this? It''s unreal! Am I dreaming?" She questioned with her mouth full.
"It''s a pastry from my hometown, in your world... long-forgotten, I''m sure," Zae-Rin replied, her voice tinged with subtle melancholy. "We call it a noon-khamei."
"It''s incredible!" Priscilla answered earnestly, her wariness melting away as she relaxed in Zae-Rin''s presence, "But what do you mean long-forgotten?" Priscilla questioned, craning her head slightly to the side.
"I''ve been in here a thousand years, child. Would you not be forgotten by then or forget everything by then?" Zae-Rin giggled, swirling the wine in her goblet before taking another sip.
Priscilla remained seated in silent contemplation before finally questioning Zae-Rin, "So, what is this place then? How did you discover it?"
"It''s incredible and different, more surreal than anything. I only found darkness and silence and then the flames and torture that followed. I can''t comprehend this place in comparison; it just seems too strange." Priscilla added, fiddling with her hands in her lap.
"Everyone has their nightmare, child. In this place, your inner world is reflected onto the landscape of purgatory, a means to an end to unchain your attachments to life. However, after a thousand years, one can definitely shift what is perceived and make the world their own. It won''t be something you need, however. You want to get out of here after all, right?" Zae-Rin spoke with calm intent, her finger tracing the rim of the goblet.
"What? Get out...?" Priscilla gasped, her eyes widening with shocked suspense and eagerness. "Is it true? Can I leave this place? But how can that be? I died..." The girl''s eyes glowed with desire, "Do you mean it?"
"Yes, child. Now¡ª anything is possible for you. If you wish it." Zae-Rin replied with a sweet, reassuring smile.
Tears streamed down Priscilla''s face, a weight crumbling off her shoulders. "Yes!" She whimpered loudly, "I want to live! I want to go back!"
Bonus Image of Priscilla resonating with her powers. Ft. Midjourney
Chapter 5: Unchained Potential [2.0]
Priscilla beamed the most radiant smile she had ever smiled; her apprehensions and worries fluttered away like the leaves in autumn. "What do I need to do? When can I return?" Priscilla asked, the chirp of her voice betraying her excitement.
Zae-Rin smiled at the girl''s excited chirp, her lips curving from cheek to cheek. "Patience, child. It will take time, unfortunately. For one, you need to learn to wield your power and of the world itself. There are countless things to teach you, miraculous wonders, and unheard-of beings that exist in your world beyond what your empire shows you."
"Secondly, and this is the most important. It will take me time to gather enough power to break purgatory''s entrapment and set you free." Zae-Rin added softly, her voice a comforting melody that warmed Priscilla''s excited heart and prevented her from feeling disappointed.
"Okay, Rin! I can be patient; I''ll listen to you!" Priscilla replied happily, a light tremble passing through her arms as they shook excitedly.
"You spoke of power, but what kind of power?" Priscilla questioned, realization dawning on her. "You were the one that asked me if I wanted to be free, and I felt great power surging through me, but is there more to it?"
Zae-Rin crossed her legs, her long-flowing gown rustling as she shifted. "Yes, child. When you agreed to my offer for power, you became something far more than a wretched, tormented soul. Now you have the power of creation dwelling within, an ancient pact that has protected the world for eons."
"It''s a great burden and responsibility, but it is also the only hope the world has in its darkest days." She added somberly.
"What do you mean?" Priscilla asked, her body arching forward with interest.
Zae-Rin paused, her finger tracing the rim of her goblet. "It''s difficult to explain everything in words, child. There are some things I will have to show you instead. The world you know is incredibly tiny compared to the majority that exists. The wars of old brought ruin and separation; races fought and struggled for survival, and the landscape changed until it became incomparably estranged from the past. Those same forces now attempt at a resurgence."
"There is good, evil, and all that lies between; they slumber or hide all for the sake of survival, whether of their people or their culture," Zae-Rin added. There was melancholy in her voice as the woman remembered her past and the history that once spread across the lands.
"That can''t be." Priscilla uttered confidently, "The only other race now is the sand tribes, if one can even call them a race when they''re only darker skinned than the rest of us, but the rest of their features are just human."
A glint of familiarity passed through Zae-Rin''s eyes, and she smiled, "You''re thinking of within the empire you called home, child. I talk of the world beyond the borders they branded their own."
"Are you telling the truth?" Priscilla asked, her body arching forward until her face was nearly met with Zae-Rin''s own.
Zae-Rin laughed, placing her finger softly against Priscilla''s lips. "Relax, child. Everything I said is the truth and something you''ll see for yourself."
"But, but... The seas are forbidden!" Priscilla exclaimed, her palms pressing against the table as she lifted herself off the chair. "Nobody''s ever returned from beyond the boundary. The sand tribes guard the North and West with ferocity. The South has become a natural breeding ground for nobles to lounge in due to the South''s temperate climate and sandy beaches. And the East is a wasteland none dare to explore."
"They tried to explore the south, only to give up when they clashed with the whirlpools that stretch across the Elisian Sea. That was the first and last expedition!" Priscilla was retelling the facts she knew as if they were the only truth, a side effect of her noble upbringing.
"Merely the result of the war that ended all those years ago," Zae-Rin stated while taking a swig of her wine. "The seas became turbulent as the Pelagonites fled into the depths to escape humanity''s grasp. The whirling rapids became the last bastion that split the dominions."
Priscilla blinked; understanding hadn''t dawned on her as she listened to Zae-Rin. To her, the empire was everything she ever knew, but to Zae-Rin, it was merely a tiny fragment of a far greater world.
Zae-Rin laughed, seeing the girl''s confusion, "It''s alright, child. Let me show you the things you''ve missed out on. I can also teach you about your powers as we go." She raised her hand, swirling her fingers in a pattern of movement that rhythmically pulsed with energy; her eyes glowed with a verdant tinge that erupted into a blinding light.
Priscilla opened her eyes, her feet pressing against the chillingly cold stone of a darkened cavern. Her gaze darted side to side frantically, "Where am I?" Her gulp echoed in the silent space, audibly bouncing off the walls.
"Don''t panic, child. In order to teach you and to show you the world, using my power to manifest the past is the simplest method." Zae-Rin''s voice dictated, directly entering into Priscilla''s ears. Zae-Rin continued, "In the northern stretches beyond the seas that you know lies a craggy jungle of stone piercing into the sky; within its creviced ridges lie a series of tunnels filled with Shademauls. They''re mindlessly gluttonous creatures that dwell in the dark depths. If they return into the world, they will bring endless slaughter to the masses with their ravaging hunger."Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"If thousands of them attack, do you have the courage to face them?" Zae-Rin demanded, her voice erupting in Priscilla''s mind.
"I can try!" Priscilla replied with questionable confidence.
"No, child. You will have the courage!" Zae-Rin huffed with unquestionable resolve.
Before Priscilla could muster an adequate reply, a ghastly screech filled the cavern with its shrill noise. The quickened rustling of wings flapping at tremendous speed roared, bouncing off the walls from all directions. Echoing violently with a suffocating proximity that breathed down Priscilla''s back. Priscilla''s gaze darted toward the long-spanning cavern; it didn''t take long before she saw those glaring, bloodshot eyes piercing through the darkness and staring straight at her.
''Well, that certainly does look like something that would be named a Shademaul.'' Priscilla thought as the creature''s vile figure reflected into her eyes. Its leathered flesh, with its fish-like snout and elongated maw baring dozens of uneven, jagged fangs and the feathered wings on its back, quickly became a nightmare to gaze upon the closer it approached. Priscilla took a step back out of shock, but the creature reacted even more aggressively from the movement.
"Fight it, child! Look inside you!" Zae-Rin''s voice sounded again, "There are eight laws of creation, the four elements of origin, the duality, and the truth and falsity."
"Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. Together or separately, they make the basis of the world and are the core you need to learn. And do not think of underestimating them, for they are the foundation of all life." Zae-Rin added pridefully, "Focus on yourself, resonate with the power, and try to extract one of them."
Priscilla breathed in, feeling the stifling cavern air against her lungs, before exhaling. Her eyes closed, and she looked into herself, feeling the beating of her heart as the power circled her organs. She saw the swirling multi-colored lights that pulsed with every beating thump of her heart. Listening to Zae-Rin, Priscilla tried to resonate with the power and call them to her whim. The multi-colored energies inside her chittered when they felt her call, pulsating as they attempted to erupt from her body. Priscilla''s body felt a heavy burden as she coughed up blood, streaks of crimson running down her mouth.
When the scent of blood wafted in the cavernous air, the Shademaul screeched with increased fervor as its wings fluttered rapidly. When Zae-Rin called it a gluttonous creature, she was not making light of the statement. Shademauls were the pests of the night with a penchant thirst for vitality.
Priscilla tensed at the Shademaul''s noise but ignored it, insisting on following Zae-Rin''s command. She tugged at the powers inside her, feeling their warmth and trying to evoke them outside her body. The screeching jitter of the Shademaul intensified as it reached Priscilla, flying past her. Its wing passed by her cheek, a bony growth hidden on its wing, as it sliced her cheek and drew blood.
Priscilla''s eyes jolted open as the shock struck her, her pulse and breath quickening. The cavern chilled as the air coursed around her, lines of power etched around her legs and feet, swirling with majesty. Her instincts kicked in as the blood dripped down her cheek. At that moment, she forgot that she was in Zae-Rin''s manifestation; the one thing Priscilla knew was that she had to fight.
Wind surged around her feet, the markings that covered her glowing with ecstatic force. Priscilla moved her legs, shuffling with the wind as she bounced along the cavern. The Shademaul twirled in the air, rebounding off the opposite wall and returning for another taste of her flesh. However, before it could connect with her, Priscilla had already moved her position. It was akin to dancing with the devil; Priscilla moved freely with the wind, her agile steps feeling surreal to the girl who spent most of her life shackled and immobile. The Shademaul, on the other hand, felt nothing but mindless fury while being toyed by the girl.
Priscilla continued dodging the Shademaul skillfully; every time its wings were a hair''s breadth away from her, she would twist her body, using the fluidity of her movements to bypass the attack. When she saw that the creature''s frenzy intensified, she charged at it, using the speed and force of the wind to push the beast against a jutting stalactite. It howled in pain as the stone pierced through its torso, blackened blood spraying across Priscilla and the cavern itself.
"Damn!" Priscilla gawked as she heard the countless sounds, "Uhm, Rin. What should I do now?" Priscilla asked, but her question was met only by the sound of approaching Shademaul''s. Priscilla could only grit her teeth before heading toward the quietest of the tunnels in the hope that it would prove to be the safest. The wind picked up speed around her legs, carrying her like a leaf in a storm as she slammed into the tunnel full force. The Shademauls were startled by her sudden approach as she pushed them out of the way, their bodies crashing into the stone walls without retaliation.
Zae-Rin sat in the gazebo and reclined while holding her goblet. Her eyes glazed over with an ethereal mist that covered her pupils as she spectated Priscilla. ''It is not enough, child. Shademauls are merely the most mindless of soldiers in their armies... You must do better.'' She thought.
''One day, perhaps you''ll scorn me for this; I''ll apologize then, child. But for now, you must put your life on the line. It is the only way you''ll be ready before their plans progress too far ahead.'' Zae-Rin drank, emptying her goblet.
Her gaze frosted over as she spectated; Priscilla was struggling¡ª a dozen fattened-up Shademauls pestered her to no end, leaving minute cuts across her body. The more she bled, the more they hungered. It was a vicious cycle of violence that kept putting Priscilla on a tense tightrope of anxiety.
Priscilla''s impatience mounted as the creatures pestered her, sweat drenched her back with every attack the Shademauls launched. Her eyes began to burn with anger; tears formed along her gown as the cerulean blue took on a muddied crimson hue from all of the blood pouring onto it. "Damn it, will you stop already!" She roared as she tried to slam her shoulder into the closest Shademaul, only for it to dodge and Priscilla to wind up slamming into the cavern wall instead. "That''s it!" She uttered coldly, her eyes brimming with a fiery wrath. Her heart echoed her emotions, thumping with the same fiery wrath. Priscilla reactively lunged at another Shademaul, her hand extending in a claw-like vice toward its fish-like snout. The Shademaul jeered, its jagged teeth clattering with joy as it lunged toward her, opening its maw to bite at her hand. The foolhardy creature made a mistake as the moment its teeth came in contact with her flesh, a searing pain consumed it. Flames erupted from her hand, covering it in a blazing glow that enveloped the Shademaul in a scalding heat. Incineration was swift as the creature did not even have a chance to clench its maw for one final meal.
Bonus Image, Priscilla and the Shademauls
Chapter 6: Opportunities In Danger [2.0]
Priscilla''s breath was a hastened rasp, her eyes chillingly icy, while her flesh burned with heat. The Shademauls shrieked frantically, the sound of their wings flapping thundered within the narrow tunnel. Brightness was not their closest friend, and the fire was as bright as anything else to their eyes.
Zae-Rin grinned widely within the comfort of her gazebo; her back arched forward as her arms rested on the table. "Yes, yes!" She uttered happily, "You must always embrace your emotions, child. There is no escaping the past, but if you learn to harness your emotions, no one will ever betray your freedom again." The flowers rustled as a gentle breeze shifted through Zae-Rin''s garden, her energy fluttering gleefully along her emotional state.
The Shademauls erupted into berserk carnage; the creatures lashed out at one another, their echoing shrieks violently crescendoing through the tunnel and attracting their fellow kin. They loathed fire and the light; they pitted themselves against one another, devouring in a frenzy. Priscilla jolted, rushing toward the gluttonous creatures and their pincered maws. She weaved through the overhanging stalactites, feeling the vibrating force of the impending creatures against her skin. She moved with swiftness as the currents of wind carried her forward. "Let''s dance, you ugly wing-rats!" Priscilla yelled with a violent grin spread across her face.
Shademauls were mindless creatures but were also easily provoked because of it. Hearing Priscilla''s shout, their beady eyes flinched, focusing their full intent on the lone woman. Priscilla''s heartbeat quivered from their frenzied stares; a tingle of fear coursed through her, but the determination dormant inside her flared earnestly. She gritted her teeth and slammed her flared grip at the creature closest to her as the wind carried her forward. She slapped her hand against one of the Shademauls, the flame leeching onto it as it erupted into a blaze of glory. The creatures swarmed at her, but Priscilla flicked her body backward, moving with agility as the wind thrust her away from the bared fangs of the Shademauls.
Priscilla floated backward as the creatures approached her; the woman''s instincts kicked in, a subconscious tug that convinced her to stretch her hand out and spread her palm facing the Shademauls. The flames congealed in her palm, stretching and thinning until they turned needle-like. Priscilla roared, her eyes brimming with a reddish-orange glow that only strengthened as the markings on her body expanded, forming intricate patterns that embodied the flames. With a thrust of her palm, Priscilla''s flame needles burst forward; within an instant, they clashed against the Shademauls. The needles pierced into their flesh without hesitation and lit the creatures ablaze.
"That''s good, child!" Zae-Rin''s praise echoed in Priscilla''s mind as the dozen Shademauls before her became ash. "I told you you''ll have the courage to face them."
Priscilla''s vision blurred as she found herself floating downward onto Zae-Rin''s garden; her feet touched down against the soft grass, giving her stability. "Is it over?" Priscilla questioned as she breathed out a long sigh. "I can''t imagine the world if those creatures were on the loose, always bringing terror to people," Priscilla uttered as she lay herself on the grass.
Zae-Rin laughed, brushing her hair behind her ear, "Hopefully, you''ll never need to witness a world overrun by them." She said lightly. "You did amazingly well, though¡ª how did it feel resonating with the elements?"
"It was incredible! I don''t really understand it. I felt my emotions surge; the Shademauls were nerve-racking, and after that, I felt a snap as the wind and flame answered my call."
"But the power... was immense; it toyed with my instincts and enhanced them. I could feel its guidance as it pushed me toward the creatures. It was strange but amazing." She added with awestruck awareness.
"It is a great power. One that you''ve barely touched upon; it will take time, but you will master it." Zae-Rin reassured warmly, "We''ll repeat this until it comes naturally to you."
"Would you like to take a break and eat before you go again?"
Priscilla shook her head, "No, I''m ready! Let''s go again while I still have the feeling coursing through my fingertips!"
As such, time flew by, and the dread of purgatory washed away into a meaningful warmth between Priscilla and Zae-Rin. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. The cycle of learning repeated itself, and Priscilla grew to understand the energies within her. It became an enjoyable and fulfilling cycle that remedied much of Priscilla''s scarred mental state.
There was a sad irony in the fact that flame was the energy she resonated with the most strongly; it was the thing that took her life, but it also set her on this journey through purgatory. Next came the wind that fueled her freedom, unlike anything else. Together, they created a foundation for Priscilla, giving her the agility to remain safe¡ª and the raw power to vanquish the evil that stood before her.
Priscilla muttered under her breath with annoyance; she cursed her bad luck to have stumbled upon the Shademaul''s breeding room in a moment of carelessness. Now she had some seriously nasty Shademauls hungering for her. Priscilla flicked her wrist, sending a torrent of flaming needles toward the largest Shademaul, but it flapped its wings, shifting behind a far smaller Shademaul that took the brunt of Priscilla''s attack.
A fatal problem that Priscilla had was that her stamina was not infinite; even though she had trained herself to the brink of exhaustion countless times these past four months, it was still difficult for her to engage in long battles and chases while using two elements. Her body was still adapting to the power; Zae-Rin was hardly kidding when she said that the power was greater than one can imagine. Priscilla reengaged with the Shademaul, her body thrusting forward as the wind bounced her off the wall at incredible speed; the Shademaul reacted quickly despite its large stature and mindless state. It dodged her movement with ease and slashed down at her back with its bony wing-tip. Priscilla grunted; she felt the stinging pain of the creature''s attack cutting into her flesh before she rolled in the air, sending a blazing kick aimed at the creature''s wing.
Priscilla''s emotional stability was still fragile, so when she was thrown face-first into a dilemma, the flames within her burned with increased fervor. Her body propelled off the cavern walls, striking the stalactites with every twirl of her body through the stifling air that filled the cave. As the stalactites fell, thudding loudly against the stony floor, the Shademauls reactively pounced. Their muddled confusion gave Priscilla moments of respite where she could pace herself and position herself. Flames roiled around her limbs as she swept out her arms, the glowing marks that cradled her flesh illuminating the darkened cave as Priscilla struck out like an inferno. Blasting her flames throughout the cave until nothing remained. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Zae-Rin, on the other hand, remained a spectator. She leisurely sat in her gazebo, watching with a smile. Priscilla may have lived a difficult life that left the girl dispirited and fragile around the edges, but despite it, she was impressive to behold. To Zae-Rin, Priscilla was really a good sapling; she wasn''t as brutal as a warrior and didn''t have the stamina of someone born on a battlefield, but she was ingenious nonetheless.
"Are you ready to change the scenery?" Zae-Rin asked, her voice echoing in Priscilla''s mind.
"Yes! Finally! I''m sick of these winged rats!" Priscilla snorted with frustration.
A sprawling nightscape illuminated Priscilla''s sight, her feet flattened against the loose grains of sand that blanketed the coastline. The calming tune of waves rustling filled her ears as the ocean unfurled in front of her, stretching out beyond the horizon, looming under an eerily bright full moon.
"Do you remember what I said about the Pelagonites, child?" Zae-Rin''s voice sounded, "They rule the seas, founding entire nations and civilizations in the depths beyond humanity''s dominion. Humans will have soldiers, knights, and other classifications. So too will the Pelagonites have their classifications that create the foundation of their society." Zae-Rin lectured, her voice swirling softly in Priscilla''s mind.
"They may have retreated long ago, but there is never a guarantee that they will never return. Their numbers are unknown, their society in the current era is unknown, and their opinion of humanity... is unknown!"
"Face the Sythmorans, child. They are but one of the Pelagonite''s foot soldiers; do your best and learn!" After Zae-Rin spoke, an eerie death rattle melodiously piped, carried by the chilling wind that pushed the waves rapidly toward the coast.
The waves crashed against the coast, and from it, the Sythmorans came. Their shriveled-up rubbery flesh deteriorated from water erosion, and the sinister creatures snickered as they wobbled toward Priscilla. Their webbed hands clenched spiked tools of coral and shellfish; they were resourceful and used what they had available, but it was clear they were not kind. One of the Sythmorans threw its speared instrument, aiming ruthlessly for Priscilla''s face. It whizzed toward her; Priscilla in return, twisted her body, dodging it by a hair''s breadth.
Priscilla focused, snorting audibly as the markings on her body lit up. The wind swirled around her rapidly, picking the sand up around her and pushing out, blinding the Sythmorans in their approach. The Sythmorans were clever; they sensed the shift in the wind and threw barbed shells coated in a nerve-numbing toxin. It was a brilliant thought; as the shells spiraled toward Priscilla despite their blindness, she had to swirl her arm, calling the wind to her aid as it lifted the sand in a tightly compacted stream that the shells slammed into. The jutting barbs poked out from the sand, but their reach remained distant as Priscilla thrust her arm out, forcing the sand to burst, sending the shells flying and impaling into several of the Sythmorans.
Priscilla found herself having a delightful time in combat; the Sythmorans were far more defiant and capable than the Shademauls, but figuring out how to best utilize her powers against them proved to be something Priscilla enjoyed. Several times, the creatures managed to surround her or betray her senses and land several heavy blows, which resulted in her returning to Zae-Rin''s garden. However, after several lectures from Zae-Rin, Priscilla found herself smoothing out her strategies more and more with each battle. The fact that these were the weakest of the sea-folk wasn''t enough to hamper Priscilla''s joy but only motivated her to work harder.
"Onto the next one!" Zae-Rin''s voice echoed before Priscilla found herself floating freely underwater.
"The Pelagonites believe in the draconic deities that are said to have ruled the seas thousands of years before the history we knew came to be. If you ever come across their nations, they''ll always have a draconic pearl altar that you can use to negotiate with them in an unlikely worst-case scenario." Zae-Rin lectured as the icy depths of the ocean caressed Priscilla''s flesh.
"The problem you face now is that the altar is swarming with Sharnac guardians. They''re vicious aquatic serpents hungry for blood." Zae-Rin added with a chuckle, "So, good luck! You will need it for this one!"
Priscilla wanted to roll her eyes; she thought that Zae-Rin was sometimes strangely playful with her teaching methods, but at the same time, she did consider it rather charming. In her sight, a brightly luminescent pearl appeared; it shined with a multi-colored light as it floated majestically atop a draconic altar that lay nested in the blackened water that surrounded her. It pulsed with a harmonious rhythm that seemed to beckon her toward it. As Priscilla approached, her hair fluttered behind her; the wind swirled lightly around her body as it propelled her and kept the water somewhat at a distance.
Before Priscilla could reach the pearl, the Sharlacs appeared, blindsiding her as they rushed out from the depths of the murky water. One of the Sharlacs gnashed its teeth ferociously as it snapped at Priscilla''s legs, but she twirled with incredulous fluidity before she kicked the Sharlac into the head, sending it reeling backward. It roared with indignation as its body curled; it sent its tail slamming at Priscilla''s waist. She lunged back, avoiding it just barely, and then she sent herself toward the creature, launching a downward kick toward its temple. This battlefield was the Sharlac''s home ground, so it retaliated easily, wriggling free and striking Priscilla hard, causing her to hurl violently toward a coral formation that blanketed the belly of the sea.
As Priscilla''s body slammed against the rigid coral, blood flowed down her lips. Her eyes squinted as she stared at the serpents that swam mocking circles above her head. The Sharlacs weren''t aware that Priscilla had developed a temper in her life, and the provocation was enough to set her off. Her body glowed as markings slid down her arms and legs, a large one forming at the center of her chest as it swirled into a golden spiral. The sea roiled, mimicking Priscilla''s fury. The Sharlacs hissed their tongues, their slit pupils flickering as they focused on the strange woman.
Priscilla scoffed at their empty bluster. Priscilla felt the sea resonating with her as her eyes burned; she moved through the water with fluid agility that made her seem a part of the sea itself; every beat of her heart thrummed with power that caused the water to quake and quiver, giving her a free passage through its embrace. Her body moved with ease, approaching the closest Sharlac, and she slammed her fist upward, sending a torrential deluge of water slicing in the same direction. The Sharlac whipped its tail at her fist, but the water clashed with it first, carving through its scaly hide with deadly precision as its blood sprayed through the murky water.
"Come on! Is that all you can do?" Priscilla roared as she glared at the remaining Sharlacs. The creatures skittered through the water, slithering violently with mixed emotions. Their movements distracted Priscilla while another Sharlac approached from her blind spot; it slapped at her with its tail, shocking her in the process. She retaliated with ease, slamming another churning blade of water at it, dicing it into chunks, but she still felt the pain of the attack as she slammed into another cluster of coral. "Damn it!" Priscilla uttered through bloodied teeth.
Before Priscilla could move and continue her assault, she returned to Zae-Rin''s garden in an all too familiar way. Zae-Rin sat with her arms crossed in front of her chest, a tinge of disappointment painted on her face.
"You got careless, child. How many times must I repeat that you must keep your focus broad; otherwise, you will end up blindsided by your opponents all of the time." Zae-Rin chided, causing Priscilla to slink down on the grass and slump her shoulders dejectedly.
"I''m sorry, Rin." Priscilla replied softly.
Bonus Image, Priscilla Jones and the Snakey Pearl
Chapter 7: Wonders of The Old World [2.0]
Zae-Rin had Priscilla rest; even if Priscilla needed her emotions to most appropriately utilize her powers, she couldn''t afford carelessness.
A year passed for Priscilla in a flash, a perpetual cycle of bonding with and learning from Zae-Rin. Included were the countless battles against the different races. At times, Zae-Rin would send Priscilla back to face the Shademauls to make it undeniable that she wasn''t getting sloppy. And at other times, she''d continue facing off against the Sharlacs. Priscilla learned the art of patience and the best ways to harness her temper and power. It was difficult for her at times; she was still young, and the scars on her soul still existed, but she did her best and continued to grow well with Zae-Rin''s guidance.
"What will you show me this time, Rin?" Priscilla asked with beaming expectation.
Zae-Rin mulled over Priscilla''s question as she drank her wine, "How about a fragment of your empire''s past before the borders of the continent were reforged and later branded by your Ellis Imperial family?"
"Mhm! That sounds intriguing!" Priscilla replied, her eyes shining with curiosity.
Zae-Rin waved her hand, ethereal mist flowing around Priscilla as she spoke, "Khreece was a powerful nation long before the separation of the dominions. They were simple people, but the Khreecians were brave warriors who proudly fought for their culture."
"They also had some dangerous beliefs, but you will see this yourself."
Priscilla felt the weightless embrace of Zae-Rin''s power as her vision momentarily blurred before she felt the touch of grass beneath her feet as she stepped onto a verdant forest. In front, a valley loomed, a nation built within it as they carved themselves into the sides of the valley, fortifying themselves in its powerful embrace. Men emerged from the valley, their bodies huddled close to the ground as they approached Priscilla like hunters. They were clad in primitive rawhides while wielding spears of bone and obsidian. Within the valley, women and children chanted and danced around a large bonfire; drums thundered as a dozen large men beat on the drums vigorously. Priscilla could not understand their language, but the threatening atmosphere was something that could transcend language barriers.
Priscilla''s gaze narrowed as she felt the threat of the Khreecian people. Her body lit up as patterns carved the palms of her hands; she slapped her hands against the ground and pulled up, lifting two earthen daggers from the land beneath her. She lowered her posture and prepared herself for a tense battle. But as soon as the Khreecians saw Priscilla perform her magic, they halted their approach. Their tongues hissed, uttering foreboding words that Priscilla herself did not understand, but they spoke them to warn their brethren.
The cacophony of drums rose into the clouds, a quickened ascent with no stop in sight. Drumming intensified, the men pounding with their souls on tenterhooks. The altered pace caused the flaming bonfire to erupt in a somber violet hue that replaced the once soft crimson glow. From the flame, a large beast''s head manifested; it walked out with a knotted muscular lion''s torso on display. It had the head of a snake and wings of a hawk, which added to its mighty display. Its narrow pupils gazed venomously at Priscilla, its tongue flickering as the creature took on a physical form.
Khreecians knelt and prayed to the large Khimra formed of flame; their spears lowered respectfully. Priscilla may not have known what the creature was, but she could feel the power emanating from its gaze alone. It made her happy. Setbacks allowed her to adapt to her powers more, even if sometimes it angered her to no end failing. But if the battle did not challenge Priscilla, she would still get careless, which she was still learning not to do. Zae-Rin always told her, ''Harsh circumstances were the best remedy to nurture a strong person.''
Priscilla watched as the Khrecian''s bonfire puffed circles of smoke into the clouds, and the Khimra hissed its tongue. The creature moved; its snake-like head flicked its tongue as its momentum mounted. Its hind legs lunged powerfully forward while its wings flapped. Priscilla felt the sheer pressure from the creature''s approach; the wind surged around her, her hair billowing as she arched her body, awaiting to receive the beast.
A Khimra was a clever beast; it lunged with its head in an attempt at biting her neck with its venom-filled mouth, but Priscilla weaved through the wind, dodging it and maneuvering past the creature, twisting near it and launching a kick at the lion''s side. Priscilla''s attack caused the Khimra to howl, its wings flapping aggressively. It rotated its body and struck Priscilla with its powerful legs. Priscilla reacted instantaneously, striking out with her arm to block the kick, but the mass and force of the Khimra pushed back and caused her to hurl against a tree.
Priscilla craned her neck, massaging it lightly as she peeled her body off the tree. She could not waste time; she launched herself off the tree, sending her body upward as flames wrapped around the earthen daggers in her hands. Priscilla used the wind to guide her steps, keeping them graceful and light before she struck the beast''s long neck with the fiery blade. The Khimra was not blind, however, and it reacted with a dodge, albeit just barely, as Priscilla''s dagger managed to nick it ever so slightly, drawing blood. She could not relax; the Khimra glared at Priscilla, coiling its neck tightly to protect its vital points as it flew away from the fierce woman. It opened its large mouth wide, condensing a spark at a point at the back of its throat.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"...Damn," Priscilla uttered, her gaze narrowing, but before she could make a move, flames erupted from the Khimra''s mouth.
Flames descended with a vendetta, surging hastily toward Priscilla, but she lit the markings on her body, her eyes erupting in an azure glow that pulsed with energy. She reached out and dragged her hand downward; the moisture in the atmosphere condensed into a multi-layered bubble of water that took the brunt of the flame breath''s clash. Misty steam exploded, filling the valley with its warmth. The Khimra closed its mouth with smug confidence, but Priscilla took advantage of it; she wrapped the mist and steam around her body, roiling around in it as it spiraled, striking at the Khimra like a loosened arrowhead at the end of its path. The beast could not react in time as it all happened so quickly; the attack struck it in the chest, scalding its body with soul-wrenching pain before its wings ceased, and it crashed to the earth¡ª lifeless.
Zae-Rin spectated with a bright smile as she swirled her goblet of wine; Priscilla had impressed her time and time again; it reminded her of the old days when she was first adapting to the powers herself, the struggle and pain of inadequacy, and the pleasure of growing stronger. In the past year, Priscilla had grown tremendously, had grasped the four elements of creation, and even had insights into combining them. It had taken Zae-Rin a decade of strife before she could wield the four elements with the same expertise. Granted, Zae-Rin had to wield her powers in life, whereas Priscilla had the benefit of learning in purgatory''s embrace and with the aid of Zae-Rin herself.
After the Khimra fell, Priscilla exhaled sharply, her legs wobbled, and she slumped down. ''I did it!'' Success passed through her mind; despite the sweat drenching her gown and the heavy breaths from her heaving chest, Priscilla beamed confidently. Finally, she had the strength to fend for herself; no longer did she feel that she would be at the mercy of others.
"Did you see that, Rin? I did it!" Priscilla said through excited gasps; she wiped the sweat from her brow and was about to lift herself when the world erupted into streaks of dazzling light. Priscilla blinked and felt the cold touch of the marble bench underneath her. Zae-Rin sat lasciviously opposite Priscilla with a beaming smile on her face. Zae-Rin sipped her wine beneath the shimmering stars that blanketed her manifested landscape.
"Of course, I saw it, child." Zae-Rin chuckled as she placed her goblet on the table. "It seemed dangerous for a while, but you recovered remarkably. Your adaptation period is rapidly advancing, but don''t let it get to your head."
Zae-Rin stood up and walked around the table toward Priscilla; she placed her arms around Priscilla''s neck and hugged her from behind. "You deserve a rest."
Priscilla softened from Zae-Rin''s embrace, the urge to tear up swelling inside her. It had been years since anyone had shown her as much affection as Zae-Rin had. It was a forgotten sensation but a welcome one that she accepted fully. "Thank you, Rin. I appreciate it..." Priscilla muttered as she placed her hands on Zae-Rin''s own.
A sigh escaped Priscilla''s lips as she melted into Zae-Rin''s embrace, the thoughts on her mind hidden from the woman behind her. "What was that last creature, Rin? You haven''t told me about it before." Priscilla asked.
"That creature was what the Khreecians called a Khimra; it was a name and a title¡ª one that had been born out of respect and fear. It was a deformity of nature. Essentially, it was a byproduct of the strife in that era that forced its mutation to occur. It roamed the outskirts of Khreece, tormenting its people ceaselessly and preying upon them with endless hunger. As a result, the people of Khreece grew equally vicious and monstrous. They were warriors and beasts, fighting bitterly for survival, and in the end, they brought their strength out of Khreece in an attempt to destroy the Khimra." Zae-Rin paused momentarily, the memories of the old days swirling in her mind.
"Those days were the beginning of the end for the Khreecians just the same. While many warriors believed in eliminating the Khimra, many Khreecians thought the Khimra were the children of the Deities. Khimra were unnatural, so they believed that only the Deities could create them; they could never be born."
"How was the world so strange back then?" Priscilla interrupted before Zae-Rin could continue. "When I had learned about the surrounding nations, the Imperial lessons made the land seem so barren in comparison."
"Too many things changed over the years; forces slumbered, and others hid. Truthfully, there are too many wonders in the world. After a thousand years, there''s no telling what remains and what''s lost in the sands of time." Zae-Rin responded.
Priscilla remained star-eyed as she listened to Zae-Rin''s stories; to the girl, it was fascinating and new; even after a year in purgatory, she still relished the moments they spent together.
Questions remained on Priscilla''s mind, and she was about to ask them when Zae-Rin placed her finger on Priscilla''s lips. "It''s enough for now, child." Zae-Rin uttered softly, "You''ve endured several trials now without rest; your body and mind need to recuperate. It''s time for sleep." Zae-Rin weaved her hands lightly in the air; the gazebo and garden flashed in a flurry of light, turning into a cozy cabin. Priscilla lay on the comfortable bed while Zae-Rin stood near her. "Sleep well, child. Let your weariness fade until a new dawn arrives."
Before Priscilla could reply, a blanket of darkness covered her, and her limbs softened as the weariness and fatigue melted away; Priscilla floated off, embracing the darkness and falling asleep.
Zae-Rin walked out of the cabin, closing the door behind her; her powers fluctuated as the embrace of purgatory seeped in. Her steps landed dully against the crumbling path of stones of the ruined land she once called home. Her gaze lifted toward the dilapidated palace that perched atop the distant cliff as she walked toward it. The shadows of the past reflected in her eyes, eternal and unforgotten.
Zae-Rin''s gown rustled along the path, the lone companion to silence''s dance. She loathed this nightmare more than anything, but the woman had to endure for Priscilla''s sake.
Chapter 8: The Other Side [1.0]
Hurried steps echoed through the vast corridors; a man rushed to the large gilded doors of the Emperor''s chamber, swinging them open with the loud caw of metal rubbing against the tiles.
"What is the meaning of this?" Emperor Ellis shouted, slamming his fist against the armrest of his throne.
"Please, forgive me, Your Majesty!" The anxious aide stuttered, his legs trembling at the Emperor''s reproach. "I have an urgent report to make! Duke Valentine has disappeared, Your Majesty!"
"WHAT?" Emperor Ellis questioned sternly, "Are you certain about this, Gregor?" Kyrian''s stern voice continued to weigh on the poor aide.
Gregor was unfortunate to have chosen the short straw among the aides to have to report. Now, his life hung by a thread in the process. "Yes, Your Majesty! We have confirmed reports from the Valentine House¡ª Chaos has overtaken it as the servants fled. They all refused to tell us what happened; all we know for certain is that Duke Valentine and his entire retinue vanished without a word." Gregor spoke with a hastened pitch.
The man breathed deep and exhaled before quickly continuing, "Additionally, after word of Duke Valentine''s strange disappearance spread across the noble houses, they began to act strangely. Your Majesty, they''ve gone mad!"
"Baroness Mugwort began capturing fertile boys of sixteen and under. Her entire barony is up in arms as mothers are threatening to torch Baron Mugwort''s mansion. Our messenger hasn''t returned from the barony even though he should have returned by now!" Gregor dictated with urgency.
"And, Your Majesty... Count Blackthorn started rambling audaciously; he was at a ball days after Duke Valentine disappeared, and he began reprimanding you. He claimed that if you can have a full harem of consorts, he would not restrict himself either. Since then, he''s taken girls and women alike from all across the Empire''s borders!"
Emperor Ellis stared with cold eyes, his left-hand fingers tapping against the armrest with mixed emotions. Gregor noticed the tense quiet halting his dictation and lifted his head slightly to see Emperor Ellis'' chilling death stare. "Gregor, are you making fun of this Emperor?" Kyrian enunciated calmly.
"No! Your Majesty. I would never!" Gregor flailed, waving his hands frantically. "I swear on my family that everything I''ve reported is accurate!"
"I see," Kyrian muttered flatly. He rapped his fingers against the armrest, causing an excruciating unrest within Gregor. Kyrian leaned back on his throne, crossing his arms before his chest. He stared attentively, his gaze focusing beyond the room. Various thoughts assailed his mind, and he recalled a story that his father used to tell him. ''My son, one day you''ll be the Emperor. But I fear that you may be the last. My father had told me, and his father told him. For generations now, our family has retold this tale. This world is headed for great peril, my son. The consequences of the past will rise, and insanity will take hold of people''s hearts. Hope will turn to ash, and our people will turn¡ª to a monster of two dominions.''
Kyrian rose from his throne; he took leisurely steps as he walked past several maids scrubbing hastily on their knees. Splatters of crimson painted the decorative tiles as they dug their scrubbers into them. Their gazes glued to the floor, but hearing Emperor Ellis'' footsteps, shivers ran down their spines. Kyrian pulled out a sword lodged in the floor near one of the maids before walking out of the chamber with it dragging along behind him. "If the noble houses think they can walk over me so easily, I''ll have to show them who this empire belongs to."
Elsewhere within the empire, a harrowing scene unfolded as cowled men dragged a line of chained men and women. Their feet dragged and scraped against the jutting stones of an overgrown cliffside path that led up to an altar. At the sides of the congregation, masked men followed along with torches in hand. Typically, people would wail miserably, yet these people walked with muddled, empty gazes. The eerie silence accented the procession, following it to the peak where a large altar stood; atop the altar sat the entrance to a well, the sides of it carved with patterns of feathered wings and countless eyes gazing out at the world in every direction.
The procession reached the peak, the cowled men unshackling the people one at a time and pulling them to the well; they took out daggers of chiseled bone and slit their necks in one fluid motion, allowing the gushing flow of blood to seep into the well. Corpse after corpse parted with its blood as the people''s bodies were flung apathetically to the side under a large tree. One girl approached the well, her muddled eyes flickering with struggle. Something snapped within her as she pulled away from the cowled man; her screams rippled across the landscape.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
As her voice echoed, the eyes on the well wriggled nervously, focusing their piercing gaze on her. The masked men lunged at her, kicking her onto the ground and stabbing a dagger through her mouth. The woman gurgled blood as the life fizzled out of her eyes.
"Forgive us, Lord Joz-Run! The child had not absorbed enough of the trance drug!" The cowled man spoke as he kneeled beside the well. Gurgling sounds rose from the depths before quickly settling into quiet.
The cowled men sighed with relief and moved to finish off the rest of the chained prisoners.
A large armored man walked out from the brush with arms crossed, "Pawns, you almost angered the Lord." He uttered flatly, his husky voice drumming toward the cowled and masked men. "Pitter off and gather more sacrifices. We need the young and innocent blood now. Leave the aged ones for the others."
"Yes, Sir A. As you command!" The men replied obediently and left.
Such were the tides of time and fate, an insurmountable obstacle that took no chance. At the same time, Priscilla enjoyed a comfortable life for what one would have expected of purgatory. She grew as a person, adapted to her newfound powers, and spent quality time with Zae-Rin, which she could never have imagined. It was a vivid contrast to the empire, shrouded in a shadow that encompassed it with its vile machinations. The people could not know just how deep the plots went; the commoners lived to survive, but to the nefarious, they were mere tools to use and abuse to achieve their goals.
Another plot unfolded in the depths of the south, where Duke Valentine sat leisurely in a glass garden. Maxine nestled into his embrace as she sat in his lap.
Another woman stood behind him, massaging his shoulders. She leaned in, her breath tickling against Duke Valentine''s ear, "Do you think Kyrian is losing his mind about now?" She questioned, her voice warbling sweetly.
Valentine snickered as his hand caressed Maxine''s lower back. "He probably is." He uttered with mocking disinterest, "He won''t last until the Millennium with this anger and impatience, though, Beatrice."
The woman, Beatrice, leaned in more, nibbling on his earlobe softly with a smile. "Don''t be like that; we should show him the world his family ran from." She whispered.
"Perhaps; there''s no rush to deal with Kyrian immediately. There are still two and a half years until the dawn of the millennium. He''ll be a wonderful stepping stone once our plans settle and the day of reckoning comes." Valentine replied.
Maxine arched her back, soft to the touch, as Valentine caressed her back. "We still need someone to go and find out what that greedy bag of bones plans to do." She uttered through whimpers. "Why don''t you go, Bixxy? Leave the two of us alone."
"How about you go, Maxxy," Beatrice replied sweetly, hiding the cold venom in her eyes. "Or we can just send the pretty boy; he has time to spare."
"That is for the best. Let Carlisle know he needs to go to Bi''Sha as soon as possible." Valentine said with a smile.
If Priscilla could have seen the man once called her father, she would have been shocked to find out how incomparable he was. The once cold and stern man was now grubbing his paws all over the two women. The insatiable greed in his touch was vivid as they fooled around without a care in the world.
They had executed her in the nine-hundred and ninety-seventh year of the millennium; months later, they ingrate themselves into the empire''s schemes. They propelled to the surface. All in the pursuit of the fateful day. The people suffer, and villages burn. A thousand years of development headed for an unstoppable climax.
A year and a half after Priscilla''s execution, the turmoil within the empire intensified. Emperor Ellis ran rampant through the noble houses while attempting to quiet dissenting voices. His troops marched valiantly across the cities and towns, weighing down on the families and their cruelty, but in the process, Emperor Ellis managed to harm the people only. His troops were not solely extensions of his arms; they came from various backgrounds, including those from the cult who had wormed their way into the ranks of the empire. That was a fact he could not have known when he started his crusade, but even if he knew, nothing would have changed.
Time was an infinite constant, an unavoidable mistress that would take all that she desired. The seasons changed, and the avoidable turned into an inescapable net. The seas roiled, and the land quaked. Reckoning approached, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
The events had nothing and everything to do with Priscilla, but in her position, there was no way she could know or care about the extent of her bond to the empire. She awoke in purgatory, feeling the refreshing touch of a new day. As much as the past had scarred her, the only thing she desperately needed now was that her days with Zae-Rin continued. Priscilla could not explain what she felt; being with Zae-Rin was akin to time with a mother''s warmth, a friendship that transcended time, and more. It was the thread that kept her sanity grounded, an escape from the dread of death. Her time in purgatory was nearing its end, and what the fate of her sanity would be after was yet to be seen.
Chapter 9: Dreams of Reality [2.0]
Priscilla shuffled through a ruined coastal city; the wind beneath her feet gave her figurative wings that carried her across the rooftops. The dark-lit sky hung overhead as Shademauls screeched behind her in a frenzied pursuit. The shore trembled as the waves recoiled off it. Sythmorans crawled onto the land with bloodthirsty eyes. Shademauls swarmed her from behind, but Priscilla flipped in the air, leaping gracefully down the side of a building before she thrust a dozen flaming needles from her palm at the creatures.
Shademauls erupted in a blaze, illuminating the darkness and stifling the Sythmorans who dragged their venomous javelins from the sea toward the city. Priscilla eyed the scene silently, shifting into the dark and weaving through the narrow streets; when she reached the sand, she slapped her hand down against it. The marks on her body glowed and shifted before the sand rose in a glimmering display of sand and glass that pierced through the Sythmorans. They howled in a gurgle as their water-decayed lungs cursed the woman.
Before Priscilla could breathe a sigh of relief, the sand churned near her as large dome-like insects swarmed, their pincered mouths clasping with an intensity that thundered across the night sky.
"Ah! Not the Skriythe!" Priscilla cried out with disgust as a four-foot-long insect lunged out toward her. Priscilla''s eyes glowed with azure as the moisture condensed, her chilling disgust enhancing the water to a breaking point as it chilled into a blade of ice. She thrust it down at the creature, but it deflected with its pincered mouth, breaking her frost blade in half.
Priscilla snorted; the Skriythe were one of the races she disliked the most of those Zae-Rin had shown her. She kicked out toward its domed carapace, forming an icicle on her foot as it pierced through, drawing a deluge of green blood. The Skriythe retaliated, its pincers snapping toward Priscilla''s foot, but the girl pushed her body back with the wind, causing the bug to snap at empty air. Before it could collect itself, she moved again, but this time forward. Her body reappeared before the creature as she kicked out again straight through the Skriythe''s temple.
She had not finished with the battles as the city continued swarming with different creatures; Zae-Rin''s trials were always creative, simple, and effective. They put Priscilla on a thin line where a single mistake would chuck her back to Zae-Rin''s garden in failure. Priscilla continued like this for another hour before she cut down the final creature within the coastal cityscape. Priscilla stood over a Sharlac that extended deep out from the sea. Blood gushed out onto the pale white sand, contrasting with the glimmer of her blue gown.
Priscilla blinked and returned to the tranquility of Zae-Rin''s space, "Ah, I can feel the stable ground beneath me again!" Priscilla chirped as she sat down next to Zae-Rin. She grabbed a pastry off the table, indulging in it with a smile. "The ground was so shaky when the Sharlac slithered out of the water! I didn''t know they could even get that long!"
Zae-Rin laughed as she sat leisurely, "Sharlacs are constantly eating the nigh-infinite resources of the sea, so they tend to grow quite large in their matured state. One of the longest I''ve seen was perhaps almost a thousand feet long."
"The night is young, child. Shall we go for a walk?" Zae-Rin asked.
"Mhm! Let''s!" Priscilla nodded happily.
The two women walked through a path of wondrous flowers, small butterflies fluttering all around them, painting a magical scene. Priscilla latched her arm around Zae-Rin''s, just slightly above her elbow.
"I''m so glad to have met you, Rin," Priscilla uttered softly as her gaze drifted toward the shimmering stars overhead. Even if she knew they were not real, she loved their presence and the normalcy they gave. "I never would''ve known how magical the world was and still is without you. I would''ve been trapped without hope, always struggling to satisfy everyone''s greed and hypocrisy."
Priscilla''s eyes reddened as her emotions piled up. Zae-Rin''s support had reminded her countless times of her pitiful mother, the unwavering and infallible care that had no strings attached.
"Oh, child. Don''t cry." Zae-Rin replied softly as her steps halted; she placed her hand on Priscilla''s cheek, wiping off the tear that had formed. "Life is an enigma beyond our control. The past may have been bleak, but the future is still long and just ahead. The darkness can only last so long before the dawn of starlight illuminates the sky."
"Soon, you''ll be ready to return. My power has nearly gathered to release you from the binding shackles of purgatory. And your trials are close to done; your mastery of the four elements has been incredible, and while your use of duality is still rough, I believe you''ll master it."
"Only reality and falsity... will take far more time, but that is normal. The two are the greatest laws of creation, so don''t feel bad about not resonating with them." Zae-Rin added reassuringly.
"Can you... leave with me?" Priscilla questioned, her voice quivering as the words left her. She knew the answer, but she still needed to ask again.
"No, child. Even if I were at my strongest, I would not have the strength to leave here. You shouldn''t focus on that; your second chance is far more important." Zae-Rin said with a smile as she caressed Priscilla''s cheek.
Priscilla sulked, knowing that when she returned, she would be all alone. She would return and be alone, with no friend or family to call her own. Zae-Rin understood what was on Priscilla''s mind, but there was nothing Zae-Rin could do or say. The girl had to leave, and she had to fight. It was the only hope they had.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The two women sat on a slight slope blanketed in crimson lilies, their hands behind them as their backs arched, gazing into the sky in silence. Melancholy and understanding wafted in the air, for they both knew their time together was approaching an end.
As the days rolled by in blissful togetherness, the time came when Priscilla would experience her final trial. Zae-Rin stood amidst the flowers, her hands behind her back. The woman''s posture was upright and rigid for the first time that Priscilla had seen. "Priscilla Valentine. Are you prepared for the final trial?" Zae-Rin asked, with her back turned toward Priscilla. It was the first time she had ever used Priscilla''s name¡ª a fact which did not go unnoticed by Priscilla, who felt the tension increase.
"I''m ready!" Priscilla yelped, her nervousness getting the best of her. She understood that the trial would not be easy based on Zae-Rin''s tone. But Priscilla also knew that the time for weakness and powerlessness was over. She would clear this trial and return to life with a fury.
Zae-Rin only grinned as she began waving her hands intricately, forming shapes in the air as markings manifested along her body, not much different than the marks that would wrap around Priscilla.
"Priscilla, impatience is natural, even more so in your situation, but you must free your mind of burden and focus on the course of your life." As she spoke, the garden trembled with fervor, Zae-Rin''s powers agitating the space that enveloped them. Zae-Rin pulled her hands down, causing a swirling, ethereal aura around the two women. "But my nagging doesn''t mean much, for I believe in you, child." Zae-Rin smiled as the boundary between reality and falsity melded in a blurred state, and Priscilla blinked into her trial.
A loud thud echoed as sand billowed into the air. Priscilla lifted herself from a mound of course sand that latched to her skin. Her eyes slowly scanned the landscape, witnessing the dawn of the pale bronze that coated the entire horizon. Dunes spread¡ª a vast and numerous culmination of countless weathered storms. The closeness of the starlit sky overhead burned with wrathful indignation that left no shadow unturned.
Priscilla moved¡ª shuffling awkwardly through the sand and shriveled remains of nature. Her feet stumbled as her toe caught on a gnarled root that prodded dryly from the earth. She resisted the pull, avoiding falling flat. With every step, her face reddened as the midday wind blew across it.
It was deliberately unhurried¡ª and enjoyable. Priscilla took her time, feeling the grains against her feet. The sand was abrasive to the touch but not irritating. It was a soft roughness that brought with it comfort.
Before Priscilla managed to get far, the thundering roar of war chants filled her ears. Dust clouds rose toward the heavens as men on horseback rode past her with belligerent negligence. The men flailed their scimitars in the air with wanton abandon, charging over a large dune that blocked Priscilla''s sight.
''Who was that?'' Priscilla wondered as she hastened her steps. Pushing herself through the sand and reaching the top of the sandy dune. As she stepped atop the sandy peak, her gaze glimmered with awe as the sprawling city filled her vision.
It was not as glamorous as the empire she knew; it was not constructed of the finest marble or used the wonders of steel-craft. It did not even use the dazzling materials she was familiar with¡ª and yet, regardless of everything. It carried with it an aura of civilization. Unmolested by the perversion of society¡ª a true mecca of culture.
The city gates were colossal, adjoined to stone walls that brought shade to the citizens. A singular path of carefully lined bricks coursed through the cityscape''s heart. Stretching out toward the upper trenches of temples and palaces, which nested beyond a web of delicate canals that divided them from the commoners.
Priscilla saw the contingent of men that rode past her dismounting; their horses beamed with valiant pride as they huffed and kicked, lifting themselves off the ground. The man tied their horses to a series of wooden railings that latched to the shadowy reaches of the wall before trotting off toward the city''s upper reaches.
The girl knew the time had come as she took to the unknown city. Priscilla''s steps hastened as she covered her eyes with her hand to block the starlit warmth that blanketed her face. Once she reached the gates, she could truly see the detail of the divine city; columns spread outward from the gate, stabbing toward the heavens as they ascended into the clouds. Upon each column were scenes etched into the stone, depicting battles and the prosperity of the city''s people. Priscilla walked the paved road calmly as she soaked in the depictions of the columns. It was a never-ending conflict as the warriors on horseback rode through the sand aimlessly in pursuit of evil to vanquish. The forces encroached upon their territory with a viciousness unparalleled; they wanted to devour the people and burn them alive. But such a thing was easier said than done as the people fought with their souls lit ablaze.
"How divine..." She uttered softly, a breath escaping her lips. She caressed the column softly, feeling the gritty stone against her fingers. "These people were incredible compared to the people of the empire I knew. When faced with such despair and evil, instead of turning against one another, they fought their bitter battles as if they were the last."
Priscilla continued on the path; once she reached the halfway point, she began to see masses of people. Devout¡ª It was the first word that came to mind. The people prostrated on the ground with their heads bowed and arms outstretched toward the hanging star above. Men marched between the rows of people, fanning them with an overgrown leaf drenched in water as the water coated their flesh; they lifted their heads to the star before bowing again. Priscilla had never spent too much time studying people, yet she could still feel the inherent emotion in these men and women. There was fear and unwillingness¡ª even the dimmest of hope.
"Hello..." She uttered in a hushed whisper as she approached a woman near her. "Can you hear me?"
"Hello..." She repeated; Priscilla knew that the people Zae-Rin had manifested before had some vitality in them, fake as it may have been, but they still responded to her presence. She reached out, placing her hand on the woman''s shoulder, but the whole city shuddered the moment that she did.
Priscilla jolted her hand back, but it was too late. The woman turned toward Priscilla, her eyes hollow¡ª and gouged of life. She wailed¡ª silent and eerie. It was evident she was crying out, so why was it quiet? Priscilla shivered, taking a step back, but the woman followed with a crawl. Blood gushed from her emptied eyeholes, and her flesh began to crack; the life drained from her as she crumbled into sand.
The ocean of people jolted as the woman crumbled; they turned toward Priscilla one after the other. Howls gushed from their mouths, quaking the paved earth beneath them. This time, to Priscilla''s dismay¡ª she heard their wails perfectly. The blood flowed profusely from their eyeholes the same way the woman bled. They squirmed with unknown insanity, lurching toward the heavens. Finally, the last dregs of vitality bubbled within them as they roared a fervent chant, "Azzi-Dahka! Azzi-Dahka! AZZI-DAHKA! AZZI-DAHKA!"
And then there was only silence¡ª and sand.
Chapter 10: Emblazoned Tyranny! [2.0]
Priscilla ran, her steps flying as she moved toward the centermost part of the city and the palaces that overlooked it. All around her, the decayed sand of the people''s bodies swirled, and the columns shook, the scenes depicted on them gradually shifting into scenes of carnage and evil. Priscilla had no time to pay attention to the depictions in her haste; if she did, it would have chilled her to the bone. The people pursued evil vindictively and righteously. They chased after it, but that, in turn, became their sin as evil set its sights on them. Death was a river that drowned everything in its path; they persevered through countless conquests, but no matter how blessed they were, they could not stop his approach.
Misery and strife etched themselves into the depths of the columns, plagues struck them uncontrollably, and their villages desecrated by ravenous insects that came in like wildfire. Demons flew through the sky, bringing a rain of fiery brimstone down on the land. Priscilla passed the final column¡ª and scene.
The last thing the people saw was tyranny! He stepped toward the city, quaking the earth beneath his colossal steps. He towered at twelve feet, overshadowing the burning wastelands before him. The title ''Tyrant King'' was no understatement; his three heads were rife with indulgent arrogance and inescapable tyranny that existed purely to harm.
Priscilla crossed a thin bridge that passed beyond the nearest canal, stumbling upon more people staring blindly at her, their mouths gaped open and gushing blood. "Azzi-Dahka! AZZI-DAHKA! FOR THE KING''S GLORY!" They roared as their bodies shriveled, the final dregs of vitality fading from their crumbling form.
It was a terrible sight, but Priscilla had to push past it as she reached the end of the paved path, which turned into a staircase stretching out toward the peak; well-lit luminescent gems adorned every stone, illuminating the intricate designs of the craftsmanship that built the city. Priscilla walked up the sizeable steps, her knees buckling and sweat coating her back. Azzi-Dahka''s presence and pressure weighed on the steps. Every step she took grasped at her feet, pulling them into a heavy embrace like quicksand. She struggled and grimaced, but she broke free of that strained hold that had her at its mercy; as she finally reached the peak and took her final step, an eerie wind blew, slapping her across the face. Fog roiled angrily, consuming the palace grounds under its might, a haunting display of sinister intentions and a pitiful attempt at frightening Priscilla.
"Invader. You are not one of mine." Azzi-Dahka''s hoarse voice sounded from the inner palace, like the scrape of steel against stone; it trilled angrily in Priscilla''s ears.
"Worship this king! Kneel before him and submit!" Azzi-Dahka continued, deeming it pointless to give the intruder a chance to retort.
"KNEEL." One of Azzi-Dahka''s heads roared, "SUBMIT." The second echoed, "OBEY!" The third added. The egoism of his existence was prevalent; he truly believed everything to be inferior.
"You inferior creature, you dare disobey! This king shall lop your head off and have it roll down the cliffs!"
A thundering quake sent the land into a frenzied struggle, lifting dust and crumbling buildings. Azzi-Dahka''s footsteps weighed on the earth like a black star erupting with force. He emerged from the palace with three heads rife with wrathful indignation, his six arms bulged with strength, two arms prayed by his chest, two wielded halberds of steel that towered over even him, and two dragged maces covered in lacquered spikes that dripped venom behind them. He bared his serrated fangs, snarling at Priscilla with his beastly grimace.
"Will you kneel now, intruder? Or will you face your punishment?" Azzi-Dahka spat.
"You talk too much!" Priscilla chimed, her ears ringing from the beast''s endless prater.
"Why''s a beast acting all haughty for even?" She added, questioning the arrogant demeanor that surpassed even the Emperor.
"Insolence! Intruder, you dare?" Azzi-Dahka snarled with one of his heads.
"KNAVE! PEASANT! ANT!" His three heads berated before one of them howled, "THIS KING OFFERS YOU AMNESTY, AND YOU DARED REJECT HIS KINDNESS!"
Azzi-Dahka gazed at Priscilla as if she were a mongrel on the side of the street. He took his halberds and slammed them down, hitting the butt of them against the solid ground. The force of his thrust cracked the ground, forming a crater beneath the weapons. His palpable fury changed the color of the sky as the viscous bloodthirst filled the air.
The Tyrant snarled, lunging toward Priscilla with his halberd, slicing a clear arc aimed at her neck. Priscilla twisted her body, avoiding the strike narrowly as she pressed her hand against the ground, kicking off it and striking the halberd with her foot. Priscilla had not expected the creature''s halberd to weigh as much as a building as her strike barely nudged it. Priscilla''s thoughts stirred as she spun, redirecting her other leg toward Azzi-Dahka''s nearest face.
Azzi-Dahka sneered as he lifted his free hand and caught Priscilla''s uplifted foot. He lifted her coldly, dangling her in front of him. "Got you, little rat."
"Bastard," Priscilla muttered, her gaze blazing. Her eyes oozed a crimson fury as a spear of flame manifested in her palm, stabbing at Azzi-Dahka''s solar plexus. "Put me down, beast. Or the next one will go through your throat." She threatened as the flames drilled into his stomach.
Azzi-Dahka grimaced, grasping his stomach with pained fury. "VERMINOUS WRETCH, I''LL DESTROY YOU!" He threw Priscilla down angrily against the paved stones of the palace ground. His stomach churned with pain as his hand grasped it firmly.
Priscilla rolled, the wind gliding around her to soften the impact as she lifted her gaze toward Azzi-Dahka. The beast roared as he charged at Priscilla, his halberds rapidly moving as they arced downward. Priscilla lunged, pushing herself to the side; his attack kicked up a frenzy of dust as the blades ripped into the earth where she previously was. The Tyrant slowed down; he could still feel the searing pain in his midsection. His six eyes indiscriminately flared with anger as he whipped his halberds down continuously.
"Audacious, audacious, utterly audacious!" Azzi-Dahka bared his fangs, whipping his mace with a flick and hurling it toward Priscilla. Again, again, and again. The ground became peppered with craters and puddles that wafted toxic smoke into the air. Priscilla weaved through his attacks gracefully; her body slid as her hand caressed the earth, a mark forming along her upper arm as she ripped out an earthen blade from the ground. She huffed, the energy radiating from her as flames consumed the blade in a deluge of crimson. It was the time for Priscilla to strike; she hung low, using Azzi-Dahka''s towering stature against him as she chopped at his legs relentlessly.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"For a beast, you sure are persistent." Priscilla mocked as she pulled her hand down, condensing water in the air that sprayed into Azzi-Dahka''s eyes. She had a simple strategy¡ª wear him out and stoke the flame of his agitation. "How did a mindless brute like you even conquer this brave nation?" She questioned, with another slash to Azzi-Dahka''s thigh.
"Wretch, this king has ruled for centuries! How dare you blaspheme him!" Azzi-Dahka growled in his hoarse voice, scraping against the stone like steel. He struck with his halberd and mace in unison, slicing and smashing the ground. Malice gleamed in his eyes as he monitored Priscilla''s movements.
When Priscilla dodged the flailing mace, Azzi-Dahka clapped his two praying hands before thrusting them outward; a deluge of blackened smoke burst out from them, striking Priscilla and pushing her back into a coughing fit.
"What was that?" She said through pained coughs. There was a lethal venom coursing through her lungs as the smoke entered her airways.
"Do you know your place now, vermin?" Azzi-Dahka snarled with a gloating grimace on his three faces. "My kingdom has thrived for eons in the Domain of Death; do you truly think some rat will make me kneel?"
Priscilla''s response was a cold glare aimed at Azzi-Dahka. Her body burned both figuratively and literally as flames erupted from her pores. Her heart thrummed¡ª a drumming thud of liberation that echoed across the landscape. The impurities that coursed through her body burst into flame and vanished.
"You were saying?" She asked with a bright and innocent smile.
Azzi-Dahka''s pupils constricted with a mix of shock and anger. He dug his halberds into the ground and let go, dropping his maces behind him as his body contorted, and he kneeled like a beast ready to pounce. His hair bristled as blackened energy swirled around him. "You''ve crossed the line, you wicked witch."
The Tyrant King howled as the earth quaked beneath his power. His hulking body enlarged as he towered over the small-statured Priscilla many times. He faced Priscilla with focused eyes, his expression gradually calming into a silent and seething fury. Priscilla looked back, a painting of calmed determination. She spread her arms slightly as water condensed and hardened, forming ice blades in her hands. All around them was debris and demolished ruins, but it was only about to worsen.
The two charged almost simultaneously as they met in the middle; Priscilla''s blades arced to the side, meeting Azzi-Dahka''s gnarled fangs. He bit down, fragments of ice and blood spewing along with it. The woman bounced back with a push of the wind, twirling in the air before recoiling forward again. She glid with the wind, aiming low and striking Azzi-Dahka''s heel with her blade. Priscilla ripped up, sending flesh flying from heel to knee.
Azzi-Dahka screeched, blood gushing from his mouth and down his leg. The beast slammed upward, sending a kick flying at Priscilla, who was mid-attack, her body coiled as it flew back, tumbling against the earth. She lifted herself, her hair messy and covered in dust.
"Now, you''re the one pissing me off!" She muttered resolutely, her body launching forward as the wind swirled around her like a torrential tempest. Azzi-Dahka charged at her, slamming his fist down forcefully; she ducked past it, manifesting a small dagger of ice in her palm as she thrust it, stabbing into Azzi-Dahka''s eye with abandon.
Azzi-Dahka''s other two heads turned, clasping their teeth down at her, but Priscilla turned, shuffling her body behind the beast, as she stabbed again into another eye. He flailed his arms violently, swatting the woman away like a fly and creating distance between them. Priscilla snorted, moving her body agilely as she bridged the gap. She toyed with Azzi-Dahka, using her size and speed to her advantage. With a flick of her wrist, Priscilla slashed down a third time, stabbing into another eye. She sliced up, ripping the entire eyeball out in the wake of her fury.
The man''s eyes bulged, and in that moment¡ª he snapped. His palpable desire for Priscilla''s death seethed the air around him as the hairs on his body stood firm. His aura surged¡ª intensifying and transforming. His neck snapped¡ª detached from his torso. It was absurd; Azzi-Dahka''s three heads began to rotate and gyrate around his torso as the blood flowed around him from his wounded eyes.
"I. AM. AZZI. DAHKA." The beast''s heads roared unanimously. "I HAVE RULED THE ELEVENTH KINGDOM FOR EONS. I RULED THE DAMNED. AND I HAVE WIELDED DEATH. I WILL NOT BOW TO MORTALITY."
His torso contorted, bones cracked, and ligaments snapped. He squirmed like some soft-bodied creature. Azzi-Dahka''s limbs swelled with pustulant growths, and his once man-like figure became monstrous and bestial. He stood in his quadrupedal glory; atop it, a growth of flesh formed his torso, connected to a singular spinal bone that ran tall as his neck rotated violently around it.
"YOU TOO SHALL KNOW THE MEANING OF DEATH." The creature spat, its voice grating to the ears. "NONE SHALL DEFY KING AZZI-DAHKA."
Priscilla scoffed. "Death? I''ve stared into the face of death before¡ª it will not frighten me again." She uttered resolutely as her eyes glowed. "If you''re the ruler of the Eleventh Kingdom, then I''m the woman who slayed you. Remember my name¡ª Priscilla Valentine!" She added with a sinister reverb in her voice. The markings on her body glowed with fanatical vibrancy as they resonated with her emotions and beliefs.
Across Priscilla''s back, a winged pattern stretched as she jumped into the air, seemingly hovering in the skies above. Storm clouds brewed, billowing overhead as the land and sky flipped in contrast. Lightning crackled, and thunder roared, electrifying the air with violent intent.
Azzi-Dahka''s instincts screamed for action; crimson mist poured from his wounded eyes, causing pillars of blood to twist from the earth¡ª frenzied cyclones that brought devastation to the already ruined landscape.
Priscilla waved her hand down, causing thunderbolts to rain onto Azzi-Dahka. She had to use everything she could¡ª her resonance, emotions, even energy. If Priscilla fell here, the trial would end in failure, but the woman had to resist. Her breaths became ragged and forced, but she continued badgering the beast. Azzi-Dahka fumed, sending the pillars of blood twisting in Priscilla''s direction. She burst into flames, encasing and protecting herself with the fire, offering them redemption for the pain they once caused her.
The woman''s body shimmered and dulled the glow around her flickering, like a firefly at the end of its path. Her energy was running out quickly, but Azzi-Dahka still fought back. Her emotions flared. ''I will not fail.'' She thought as the flames erupted into an all-encompassing sea that spread out.
"NO! YOU DARE!" Azzi-Dahka roared as he felt his soul ablaze. The cyclones of blood were formed from his essence¡ª the blood of his creation. The burning flames latched onto the cyclones, an impossibility to rid oneself of. He charged toward Priscilla, his mind in a muddled, berserk state; he made it halfway before his body burst into flame.
Priscilla plunged to the ground, a candle at the end of its wick. She kneeled on the earth, grasping at the grains of sand beneath her. She raised her head, her eyes glowing and an enormous smile spreading. "Yes! I did it! I did it, Rin!" She cried ecstatically as the world around her burst into a pristine white glow that blanketed the landscape.
Chapter 11: Farewells Come, Memories Remain [2.0]
Priscilla returned to Zae-Rin''s garden with a beaming smile. Zae-Rin stood near her with a soft smile, welcoming the girl.
The girl, having returned from her trial¡ª as tired as she may have been, leaped up and hugged Zae-Rin. Her arms wrapped tightly around, unwilling to let go. "I did it, Rin! I did it!" Priscilla spoke happily.
"Good, child," Zae-Rin replied, her hand caressing Priscilla''s head. The soft touch relieved much of the fatigue that had built up within Priscilla. "How did it feel witnessing the Tyrant King''s presence?"
"Strange," Priscilla uttered instinctively, "The previous creatures you''ve shown me, there had been a certain logic to them and how they came to be, but Azzi-Dahka was something far stranger." She added, collecting her thoughts.
"Especially in the end there... There was nothing logical about that form."
"Yes, it would be hard to comprehend his form. He''s a demon from the Dominion of Death, one of the kings that rule with ferocity and fear. Compared to those of the Dominion of Life, the difference truly is night and day, isn''t it?" Zae-Rin chuckled.
"Does it disgust you, that form that''s neither human nor beast?" Zae-Rin asked.
Priscilla thought for a moment, "Not really. It was strange and¡ª had been a fight for the trial''s sake, but I didn''t feel much besides a desire to win. Compared to some of the nobles I''ve met in life¡ª he''s hardly a demon."
"But, Rin! I''m so tired!" Priscilla added with a playful whine.
Zae-Rin laughed, her voice warbling like a summer bell through the garden, "Alright, child. Rest for now. You deserve it." With a wave of Zae-Rin''s hand, the garden shifted, bringing Priscilla into the warm embrace of the cozy bed she had met previously.
Priscilla lay flat, her thoughts actively swimming. She would return to the empire soon; it was incredible to know that she would be back to life, but at the same time, it was melancholic. In the empire, she had no friends or family left, but here she had Zae-Rin at least. That thought alone made her saddened at the thought of leaving.
''I wonder if I can do something to help, Rin, get out from here... Can I use this power?'' Priscilla wondered as her eyes began to shut, ''Maybe if I can fully master the final elements... I hope so...''
Priscilla opened her eyes in an all too familiar slumhouse as a cressel butterfly flew past her hand, "Now, my child. Do you remember what I taught you? If someone does good to you, you must always repay the favor!" Her mother lectured as she rubbed Priscilla''s cheeks fondly.
"But, mommy! What if Prissy doesn''t know what to do?" The girl asked with a torn expression, her hands lifting grubbily as they latched onto the hem of mother''s skirt.
"You''ll keep it close to your heart until the time comes when you know. Those who cherish you enough to help you in your time of need won''t fight with you if you don''t repay the favor straight away; they''ll wait until you''re ready." Priscilla''s mother replied.
Priscilla churned in her slumber, latching onto the blanket. The warmth of Zae-Rin''s kindness and support radiated off it as her power resonated with Priscilla''s. Rest was such a simple thing, but one easily forgotten. When you are alive, you find yourself constantly busy, preoccupied, and unable to slow down. When you bridge the gap between life and death, time seems to slow down, and one can finally be at peace with the world and themselves.
Such are the seasons constantly changing and the days fleeting. The nine-hundred-ninety-ninth year of the millennium came, and the time for farewells with it. Two years since Priscilla''s execution passed like a winter tide; besides the six years she spent with her mother, these two years proved to be the most memorable years she ever had.
Priscilla stepped out of the cabin, spotting Zae-Rin immediately, sitting in the gazebo with a goblet of wine in hand.
"You''re up, child," Zae-Rin said softly, "Good, the time has come, child. Your return to the Dominion of Life is now."
"Rin... Is there genuinely no way you can come with me?" Priscilla asked hesitantly, her eyes wavering as the thought of separation passed through her mind.
"All things must come to an end, child. Farewells may come, but memories will remain forever. When you find yourself at the top of this world, maybe you''ll have the strength to change the laws, but until then. Don''t feel sadness for departing; feel the joy of life and a second chance to do things better." Zae-Rin said, the warmth of her words causing Priscilla to tremble.
Zae-Rin downed the glass of wine before walking out of the gazebo with light and airy steps. Her dress billowed behind as the energy of her world swirled around her, condensing rapidly as the garden shook. "You must do one thing, child. Close your eyes and don''t reopen them until you feel the weight of the stars carrying you away. Promise me this." Zae-Rin said in all seriousness.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Priscilla merely nodded silently, shutting her eyes firmly as she allowed Zae-Rin to do what she had to do. She trusted Zae-Rin wholeheartedly, so she would do as told.
Zae-Rin began to hover as the power carried her; she lifted into the sky of her manifested world as her hair fluttered aggressively behind her. Each strand latched to the space nearby as it formed a resonance with the world. As her powers focused and condensed, they could not keep up the facade of the space around the two women, which began to silently crumble and fade.
The once beautiful garden turned into ruins of dilapidated buildings with corpses strewn across the ground. Their bones were bent and broken in gruesome ways, a clear display that not a single one of them had a peaceful death. Beyond the gazebo, as it faded, a palace emerged equally in ruin. Steel pikes stabbed into the ground with a series of skulls atop them, lined from small to large.
As the facade of the landscape unraveled itself, so too did the shroud that veiled Zae-Rin. The space she hovered in was actually her prison; there she hung, chained to the void. Her haunting form was a drastic comparison to her once glamorous appearance. Her hollow eyes caved in visibly through the decaying bandages that wrapped around them. Her skin was shriveled and frail. The only vitality in her form proved to be the hair that intertwined with the abyss and became a part of it. Zae-Rin''s nightmare was more a reality than anything, a testament to the ages she had spent trapped.
''Goodbye, child.'' Zae-Rin muttered in her heart.
As the surging tide of power culminated around her, Zae-Rin screamed, slamming the energy outward and aimed behind Priscilla. The space began to unravel and shatter rapidly; the void struggled to resist and reform, but the cracks could not heal fast enough. It continued to shatter, widening the gap as Zae-Rin pushed out all the strength she could muster until it was enough to push Priscilla through it.
Before Priscilla could react, she felt her body jolt, weight burdening her body. She opened her eyes to see streaks of light shimmering past, heading into the ether. Priscilla looked back in an attempt to get one final glimpse of the woman who had saved her, but she could only see cracks in space closing up and healing behind her. ''Rin...'' Tears began to flow uncontrollably down Priscilla''s face. It was too late now to regret it, but it pained her nonetheless. Would she ever see Zae-Rin again? The thought flashed through her mind as the sadness weighed on her heart more than the weight of the stars shooting around her.
"I''ll be back, Rin. Some day, I promise!" Priscilla yelled as she let her emotions out, "Wait for me, Rin; if anyone tries to stop me, they''ll rue the day they messed with me!"
Parting was painful, but it was a necessary pain for Priscilla to condense all of her teachings thus far. She had to be strong, independent, and fierce. A fact that would not have been possible had she remained under Zae-Rin''s care eternally.
After she yelled out her emotions, Priscilla gazed at the space that surrounded her. She soaked in the sights, realizing just how wondrous they were. It was surreal and other-worldly. Marbles of light filled her sight; they blurred into the space, congregating into ones and twos, sometimes even threes. They were big and small, multi-colored and magical. They came off indistinct, shrouded in a fog that obscured her vision, yet despite it, they contained a strange magnetism that drew her eyes.
The further she got from purgatory and Zae-Rin, the weaker Priscilla felt for some strange reason; it was like whispering behind closed doors as the suppression weighed on her heart. But Priscilla shook her head, reaffirming her beliefs. Nothing would stop her; if the world tried to shackle her and her powers, she would simply destroy the shackles until nothing remained to stop her.
Instead of focusing on things she could not control, Priscilla focused on the stars around her. It was indescribable to her that such a thing existed in the world; she could not comprehend it, but she could almost feel in her heart what it was.
Priscilla''s travels continued ceaselessly through the streaking road of stars, paved purely for her. The stars flowed without end, and so too did she. She did not know how long time had passed, but she finally saw one distant marble calling to her. Its decorative hues of gold and violet swirled aloofly, wafting a primal mist that beckoned her forcefully to approach.
Her body began to gravitate toward the marble freely and unimpeded. But before she could arrive, the space around her quaked as darkness blanketed and the lights proceeded to flee and scatter. Overhead, a monstrous entity loomed behind a veil of darkness that shrouded its form.
Five gigantic pillars rushed at Priscilla with indescribable fury. The rush shook Priscilla to the core as her eyes burst into a vibrant glow; lightning crackled and struck at the pillars, but the once serpent-like bolts were now comparable to worms in the mud. They phased through the pillars that continued toward Priscilla, unfazed.
"YOU SHALL NOT HARM HER." Zae-Rin''s voice roared out of nowhere as space cracked with thunderous wrath; light erupted, blasting into the pillars with incredulous force. The once-scared stars blazed gloriously, swirling around the darkness and streaking through it as they clashed with the dark hand that held the cycle of death within its grasp.
"Is that you, Empress of Parthia?" An emotionless voice stirred from the depths of the darkness, "To think you would breach the contract. How foolish."
Zae-Rin merely huffed as the stars stormed into the darkness, illuminating the path before Priscilla once more. Her body gravitated fast toward the swirling marble below, her gaze pulling back as she witnessed Zae-Rin''s powers colliding with that towering figure. It was not something she could participate in, not yet anyway.
The marble below pulled her intensely, giving Priscilla no option to resist as she fluttered down into its embrace. The time had come for her to return to the world that she once knew. It was an inescapable moment; her body became wrapped in energy and flame. Primal force surged with intensity as the marble enlarged in her vision.
The world came to her; it enveloped her and brought her into itself. She fell with careful delicacy as the power of the dominion protected her body. Life awaited her, and the world was blissfully aware. Priscilla turned back, resisting the pull as much as she could. ''Farewell, Rin.'' She muttered, unable to do much else. Priscilla did not know the price Zae-Rin would need to pay. But one day, she would return the favor.
''Life, here I come. Father, wait for me. I will correct everything wrong, one by one. Mark my words.'' She thought resolutely as her gaze chilled and narrowed at the world before her.
Chapter 12: Wicked Deeds, Wicked Witch [1.0]
Within the confines of Blackthorn County, a procession of chained women dragged through the woods. Their limbs shackled to one another as soldiers whipped them from atop their horses. They whimpered in pain and fright, begging for the men to let them go. The women had husbands, children, and families to be with. ''Why must our families suffer because of Count Blackthorn''s depravity?'' The thought circulated through the procession unanimously.
"By the order of Count Blackthorn, all who reside in his territory belong to him!" A knight uttered from atop a white steed adorned with armor.
"Screw that fucking pig!" One of the women finally snapped, her anger erupting in protest. She had just been celebrating with her parents that her fianc¨¦e asked her to marry, and now she was at risk of being some bed warmer for a lard-bellied toad.
"Wench, you dare criticize the count?" The knight uttered as he dismounted his horse. He unsheathed his sword with one fluid motion that showed his experience and aimed it toward the woman.
"Why are you acting so haughty for?" The woman snarled, "You''re just a dog, wagging his tail for the count''s favor!"
"You don''t know when to quit," the knight said as he approached the woman and pushed her down. He stabbed his sword into her thigh and, with his steel boot, stepped firmly onto her calf. "You wretch, if one of you disappears, Count Blackthorn won''t be upset by that fact. Know your place."
The woman cried out in pain as blood gushed out from the stab wound. The man''s boot placed pressure on the wound, causing the blood to flow out without stopping. "Damn you!" The woman spat, "Where are the chivalrous knights the empire prided itself on?"
The man was about to strike again when a change occurred. The skies shook, and the land quaked. From above, flames of azure and gold roiled through the clouds. The nighttime sky lit up like the end of times, a drastic change that paused all the soldiers in their tracks.
"What''s going on?" The knight muttered as his gaze turned to the sky, where the blazing light approached ever closer. Sweat rolled down his brow, and his nerves were taut with tension.
Before he could think about it, the light struck into the forest, and debris and trees flung across as dust billowed into the air. It was a loud crash that splintered everything in its path, startling the men and the captive women.
"Go check it out!" The knight ordered his men, who were reluctant to leave. But orders were undeniable, and they had to accept their duties.
Meanwhile, in the woods, Priscilla stood in a crater, her body shimmering in a translucent glow that protected her from the crash. Her eyes scanned the area, her lungs breathed in the fresh forest air, and she felt the nighttime chill against her skin. ''I''m back...'' the girl thought, clenching her fists. A wide grin spread across her face as she took the feeling in; Priscilla was so distracted that she did not sense that the woods were stirring around her location and that the sound of rustling approached her.
It took a while, but the noise finally came close enough to Priscilla until it awoke her from her stupor. ''What? Is there someone near me that got attracted by the crash?'' she thought, her wariness bristled as she took the sounds in, ''Bandits? Merchants? Is there a town near her?''
"Who''s there?" Priscilla yelled coldly; if someone wanted to start trouble with her the very moment she returned to life, they should be ready to face the consequences.
As she spoke out, several men emerged from the underbrush wearing light armor emblazoned with a crest that Priscilla recognized as a noble''s emblem. She did not know which noble it belonged to, but the men were likely a nearby noble''s retinue.
Priscilla noticed the blood and furrowed her brow in displeasure. ''Why were a noble''s soldiers resembling common bandits and thugs?'' She wondered as the men approached warily.
"Girl, how''d you get here?" One of the men asked angrily. "This is Count Blackthorn''s territory! All women belong to the count; submit now. While we''re being nice."
The men unsheathed their swords, circling the suspicious woman. "I repeat, submit! The count demands all of his territory''s women to present themselves while he is being kind!"
"What?" Priscilla asked in a chilling voice, "Are you bandits playing a game?"
"You dare! We are Count Blackthorn''s guard! How dare you compare us to mere bandits!" The leading soldier hollered with a belly full of fury.
At the same time, the forest rustled once again as the knight approached with a long chain of shackled women breaking through the canopy of trees that separated the path they were on¡ª and Priscilla''s crater. "What''s the situation?" The knight asked, his voice booming across the landscape.
"Sir! There is a strange woman in front of us; we''ve got her encircled for now."
"A woman?" The knight asked in confusion as his eyes narrowed upon Priscilla, "Who are you? How did you get here?"This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Priscilla''s eyes narrowed as she gazed upon the women, covered in blood and wounds. The women''s clothes were torn to shreds, leaving them distraught and weary. Priscilla recalled the month she spent imprisoned, the torture by the guards her father sent day in and day out. It was clear these women were experiencing just the same.
"What do you think you''re doing to those women, you damned animal?" Priscilla questioned. Her voice was the lowest it had ever been as the atmosphere around the men chilled.
The knight laughed at Priscilla''s outburst; it would not be the first time a woman was upset at him in the woods. "Didn''t my men already tell you? All you wenches belong to the count. Kneel and beg for mercy; perhaps we''ll take better care of you than the rest of the fodder."
"Get her." He added flatly, signaling to the soldiers to attack.
The soldiers began to approach her, their feet sliding down the slope of the crater that Priscilla stood in. Priscilla became encircled by eight soldiers instantly, while the knight stood back, holding onto the chained women. "C''mere girl, submit, and you''ll have nothing to worry about for the rest of your miserable life," one of the soldiers said while reaching his arm out toward Priscilla''s shoulder. The soldier''s kind offer was responded to with pain as Priscilla slapped his hand away with a forceful gesture. "YOU DARE?" The man snarled.
"I don''t plan on going anywhere with you pigs, and if you keep pestering me, you won''t be going anywhere either." Priscilla threatened as she glared coldly at the dead men.
The men laughed uproariously at her threat, "Who do you think you are, girl?" One of the soldiers said as he spat a large wad of phlegm on the ground. "You look as if you barely weened off your whore mother''s teets. Kid, who the hell do you think you are to threaten us?"
The soldier''s face dropped with a chilling intent as he frowned upon Priscilla. His hostility radiated off him as he held his sword readied. He lunged swiftly at Priscilla, ignoring the woman''s demeanor. Had he paid attention, he would''ve noticed the murderous gaze that gleamed in her eyes at the mention of her mother.
Priscilla threw herself forward with a swift step, slapping the man''s sword-wielding wrist hard enough that it detached from the bone. The man howled in pain, but Priscilla merely continued striking him in the throat, silencing his porkish squeals. She twirled, grabbed him by the hair, and jumped, kneeing the man in the jaw. With his hair still in hand, she pulled down with a strength that belied her petite form and smashed his face into the earth.
The other men were startled by her actions. They rushed at her all at once; their minds could not and would not process how the woman moved so agilely as if the wind was carrying her. Their swords pierced at her from all sides, intending to make a training dummy out of her. Priscilla leaped into the air, propelling herself upward with the wind. Her foot stepped on one of the blades before she turned with inhumane velocity and struck the man with her foot, twisting his neck in one fluid motion. She then jumped backward, placing distance between her and the remaining men. The man toppled to the ground lifeless; half his face caved in, and his neck turned to the back.
"DEMON, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" The knight shouted frantically, his mind buzzing with disbelief at the way his men died.
Hearing this, Priscilla froze for a second. ''''What did you just say?'''' She asked flatly. Her heartbeat intensified as it coursed blood through her body.
''''You heard me! You''re a monster, a demon, a witch! You killed him!'''' the knight uttered like possessed, his legs trembling. ''''Screw this bitch, attack her! ATTACK!'''' he shouted, throwing the chain that latched onto the captive women down and rushing toward Priscilla.
His words were a point of no return when something snapped inside Priscilla. Her silent, seething fury burned inside her chest as she lunged at the men closest to her; she grabbed their heads with her palms open and toppled them to the ground. Her fury sparked as her hands glowed a deadly crimson that snaked out from the tips of her fingers and covered the men in a searing flame that consumed their flesh instantly. The two men howled and rolled on the ground in an attempt to put the flames out, but they could do nothing to a fire that defied life. They cursed and spat and foamed, but all it resulted in was them turning to ash and bone faster.
"Impossible! You truly are a demon!" The man cried out in fright; he and the soldiers felt a deathly chill run down their spines as they stared at the demonic woman before them.
Genuine fear seeped into their souls; she was beautifully flawless on the outside, but they could only see her as a monstrosity of death. They regretted it¡ª they regretted everything; why did they provoke this creature? One of the men pissed himself as the foul odor wafted into the air. They were losing their minds and their lives. They knew it¡ª they felt it. They attacked with abandonment, flailing their weapons with no skill or logic. Priscilla dodged simply to the back, avoiding their attacks with graceful movement; she kicked her foot out, slamming it hard against one man''s ribs and sending him tumbling on the ground. He coughed and held his torso as he felt the throbbing pain assault him.
Priscilla was out of control; she attacked with cruel intention¡ª but they provoked her first. She couldn''t care less about them now; she hated being called a monster; it was the same as her father¡ª her friends. They all treated her like a monster, and it angered her immensely. ''''Fine!'''' she muttered, ''''You wanted a monster, then you''ll get one.'''' her cerulean eyes glowed crimson as she kicked out at one of the remaining men into the chest. He heaved as he felt the forceful disconnect of his bones shattering and the ungodly pain.
Priscilla was a beast unshackled; she went through the soldiers as if they were beasts for the butchers. It did not take long before only the knight remained, kneeling before her. Tears and piss flowed in equal parts as he begged for mercy. Clarity struck Priscilla''s mind when she witnessed the pitiful state of the man. Reason told her that she should act with grace and dignity. Being heavy-handed cannot cure everything in the world. But the other part of her mind spoke as well. Telling her that she was always the one being put down and labeled and that no matter how innocent she was, they still found a way to besmirch her. Her momentary pause gave the knight a chance; his eye gleamed with viciousness as he pulled a short blade from a harness on his back and struck it toward Priscilla''s heart.
"No, Goddess! Be careful!" One of the women shouted¡ª the same one that defied the knight earlier.
Her warning, however, was unnecessary. Priscilla''s instincts, honed by countless battles in purgatory, were honed to perfection; when the knight struck out, she reflexively clashed with him. A blade of ice severed his head cleanly as it rolled on the ground with widened eyes. ''What a wicked witch!'' The thought flashed through his mind for a split moment before the life faded from his eyes.
Chapter 13: New Life, New Bonds [1.0]
Priscilla stood in silence for a brief moment, taking her actions in; she did not know what she should feel. Should she feel sorry for them? Sad? But, truthfully, she did not mourn for them. She turned to the women who also stood in silence; the chains twined around their arms and legs. Some of the women showed signs of fright, but most had reverent gazes.
"Goddess¡ª can you unshackle us?" The fiery woman who defied the knight spoke out first.
"Goddess?" Priscilla questioned slowly; as she walked toward the women, she placed her hands on the chains, releasing a chilling mist that dug into the chains and shattered them one after the other. "Why do you keep saying Goddess?" Priscilla asked, turning to the woman.
"You came from the sky¡ª and brought salvation to us. If that is not a Goddess, then what is?" The woman asked with brightened eyes.
"Well, I''m not a Goddess. You don''t think I''m a monster like they claimed?" Priscilla asked, an uncertain knot in her heart quivering.
"Heavens, no! Had you not appeared, we would''ve been goners. Count Blackthorn is a depraved swine that''s been ruining women for months now. Those who survive him have yet to been discovered in the county." The woman said, waving the thought off. If there were a monster present, it would be the count.
"By the way, I''m Hallie Eckhart! It''s a pleasure, Goddess!" The woman added with a bright smile. The woman radiated a certain charm; her smile matched her tall figure and fiery hair. It was not a stretch to say she seemed more valiant than the knight and soldiers who had entrapped them.
"I''m Priscilla..." Priscilla responded, pausing at the end to not reveal her family name.
"Priscilla, what a beautiful name!" Hallie uttered before asking, "Would you be so kind as to help us back to the township, Lady Priscilla?"
"If we go by ourselves, we might encounter more of Count Blackthorn''s men..." Hallie added.
Priscilla felt confused by Hallie''s reaction. She had been burned alive for claims of being a witch¡ª when she had no power or magic inside her. But now, when she had powers, it was treated as nothing? "Can the count not find you in the township later, regardless?" Priscilla asked.
"But, sure... I don''t mind going with you." She added after a momentary pause.
Hallie beamed, hearing Priscilla''s response, "No, thank you so much, Priscilla! My husband and his friends should be there. He likely hasn''t heard of what happened yet because I was caught while tending to errands on the outskirts of the township. But my husband is a mercenary, so he can help us keep safe."
"I see. That''s fine, I can help you. But do you not have anything you want to ask me?" Priscilla asked, her head craned slightly against her hand.
Before Hallie could respond, the forest shook as the rampaging hoofsteps of a dozen horses echoed. Men emerged from the canopy of trees with weapons readied and faces of malice. The leading man was large, wearing leather hide pants and a bare torso that rippled in the subtle glow of dusk. They charged in a violent display that caused Priscilla to pull back, ready to fight, but Hallie jumped up in front of her, "Jens! You''re here!" She yelled with a beaming smile.
The man tugged on the reins, stopping his horse skillfully where the horse''s front legs lifted in an arrogant display of might. Its black mane fluttering in the soft breeze. "Hall! You''re okay! Thank the Star, I was ready to fight to the death with those count''s dogs if they harmed you!" Jensen uttered, his husky voice thumping against the spacious forest grounds.
Jensen leaped off his horse and embraced Hallie with a loving bear hug, caressing her cheek as a joyous tear streaked down her face. "Oh, Hall. I was so incredibly worried; you have no idea."
Priscilla¡ª She was touched by Hallie and her husband''s displays of love. Hallie and her husband were very affectionate, something she could not imagine herself. Maybe Zae-Rin? But that was a platonic love, closer to maternal even. Not something like this. Her eyes glazed over slightly, a translucent film coating them. The girl wiped her eyes with her forearm and turned her body toward the woods. ''They should be fine now.'' Priscilla thought, seeing Jensen and the men''s appearances.
Priscilla took one step before she felt a tug on her arm. Hallie looked at her with both hands clasped around her hand. "Jens, this is Priscilla. She saved all of us," Hallie said softly; she looked at Priscilla with starry eyes, "Why don''t you come with us, Priscilla? If you don''t have other plans..."
"You should be fine now that your husband and the rest are here, right?" Priscilla asked, avoidant of the question Hallie asked. "I should go."
"Please, Priscilla! Even if you don''t fight for us, you can still come and have a meal." Hallie convinced the girl, unwilling to let go.
Jensen rubbed his bearded chin in confusion, but as his eyes scanned the craterous remains, the bodies strewn across, and his wife''s freedom, he began to piece together a possibility. "Hall, don''t be a pest," Jensen muttered in realization. "If she doesn''t want to come, then so be it. If the count wants to fight us all to the death, it''s our battle to face, not hers."
"Sorry, Priscilla. My wife means well, so don''t misunderstand. You did all of this, didn''t you? I won''t ask how, but judging by Hall''s excitement, the method you took down these men with was incredible and magical. No wonder she wants you with us when the count retaliates."
"He will retaliate; he''s a short, petty, vulgar little piglet. But that''s for us to worry about; you''ve done enough already." Jensen stated with crossed arms. "You should collect what''s left of the soldier''s valuables and leave the county''s land for your own sake."
Hallie''s arms slumped; hearing her husband''s words, she sighed helplessly. "Jens'' words are true, Priscilla. I''m sorry, you should go!"
"I didn''t mean to deceive you, but the count is a vile man." Hallie stepped back, walking toward Jensen with a dejected air.
Priscilla''s hand jolted, grabbing Hallie''s wrist. "No, Hallie, it''s okay. I understand why you were acting like that."
"I''ll go with you," Priscilla said softly, her mind trembling as she took the fact that they needed her in. Hallie and Jensen did not treat her like a monster but as someone who could help them. "I''m not worried about the count or his men, so I may as well see what all the fuss is about, right?" Priscilla smiled, revealing her dazzling grin to Hallie.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Really? You mean it?" Hallie questioned as she jumped back and hugged Priscilla. "Thank you so much, Priscilla! You''re a lifesaver!"
Priscilla walked with the group for a little under an hour before they reached the township''s gates. It was far smaller than most towns Priscilla had ever been in. The gates, made of rough wood, were durable but flimsy for moments of serious conflict. As Priscilla''s eyes scanned the perimeter of it, she figured there may only be a couple thousand people living there. Perhaps there were even fewer due to the count''s insanity.
The streets were paved with a course stone adequate for a smaller town, something one would never find in the proper towns and cities of the empire. Houses thatched large but evidently hollow. Still, despite the glaring flaws and the looming threat of the count, there was a surprising level of peace among the townsfolk.
Children frolicked, exuding an air of innocence and naivety, while parents walked behind them casually. Priscilla did not understand it¡ª would the people not be more panicked knowing that the count was capturing their women ceaselessly? Or was it merely how the common folk lived, knowing their lives did not belong to them? "How can everyone be so carefree?" Priscilla asked, turning her gaze toward Hallie.
"What else can they do? We have enough warriors and mercenaries in the town to prevent the count''s men from coming freely; at worst, they''ll capture a few people on the outskirts. But if they attack with everything they have, then there is nothing we can do but fight. So they may as well enjoy themselves while they can." Hallie stated matter-of-factly, her shoulders shrugging in helplessness.
"Why don''t they just leave?" Priscilla asked, which raised several eyebrows from the others.
"And go where? Have you not seen what''s going on throughout the empire?" Jensen uttered in annoyance.
"Jens, calm down. She doesn''t know." Hallie chided, resting her hand on Jensen''s chest. "Priscilla, I don''t know your circumstances or the life you lived before you came, but¡ª the empire is not a place where one can simply move freely¡ª whenever they wish. The southern seas have been merciless as of late, turning the entire south into a perilous land. The eastern barbarians defend their lands with fury if any approach it. The northern mountains are impassable and most tragic¡ª the emperor himself has gone mad."
"What?" Priscilla asked hastily, "What happened with the emperor?"
"We don''t know! It''s been months since he began crusading against the noble families that once supported him. It''s why we have people like the count doing whatever they wish." Hallie responded before adding, "If he were still in control, maybe none of this would have happened, but now it''s too late."
"But that''s impossible. If something happened to the emperor, should Duke Valentine not intervene?" Priscilla asked in disbelief; her father would be the first to support the emperor. They were brothers, after all. "Everyone knows they would support one another against all odds; how could the emperor face contention from the noble houses that are so far beneath him?"
"Duke Valentine? He''s been missing for some two years now." Hallie uttered flatly, "It was several months after the duke vanished when the houses began to rebel, and the emperor''s crusade unfolded."
"WHAT?" Priscilla''s voice cracked. "That''s impossible!" She added unwillingly, her gaze turning unfocused as she slumped into a daze.
''Has something happened to father? No, no, is it a part of his plan? What does he have to gain? Is it related to the claims back then? Or is it Nightshade? Is he hiding somewhere?'' Priscilla''s fist unknowingly clenched as a stormy wind blew past the township, shaking the roofing of buildings in their area. Priscilla''s eyes glowed with a subtle chill, but before she could get swept up in her thoughts, Hallie reached out and touched Priscilla''s shoulder.
"Are you okay, Priscilla? You look a bit unwell." Hallie asked.
Priscilla trembled slightly from Hallie''s call, her dazed eyes clearing up as she lifted her head. "No... I''m okay, don''t worry." Priscilla smiled weakly, shook her head, and added, "I was just lost in my thoughts for a bit."
They walked for a few minutes more in awkward silence. Jensen, if he did not fully understand things before, was gathering clues from the strange phenomena. They reached a house that nested off the beaten path; an elderly couple walked out to greet Hallie and Jensen, paired with three young children who rushed at the two with grins plastered across their faces.
The two had brought Priscilla to their family home, which gave Priscilla a pause. ''Did they trust her to that extent?'' It was a strange, unfamiliar feeling. They sat in a warm lounge room with the dim rays of dawn starlight peering in. Jensen sat with spread legs and crossed arms, quiet but clearly in deep thought. Hallie played with the children while her parents brought tea for the trio.
Jensen finally could not handle it anymore as he scratched his head and broke the awkward silence, "Hall¡ª are you sure about this?"
Hallie did not spare him a glance, merely nodding in place, "Mhm!"
Jensen scratched his head harder, putting his precious mane at risk, "Fine, I''ll trust your instincts. Dammit." The man sighed before turning to Priscilla. "Priscilla, right? You''re not from this world, are you?"
Priscilla''s eyes widened with a slight curve, "What do you mean?" She asked in genuine confusion.
"What''s your family name?" Jensen asked bluntly.
Priscilla froze for a second¡ªthe girl did not know if she should give a fake name or if she should admit to being a Valentine, but what if people knew of her execution in this part of the empire? "I cannot say..." She finally muttered.
"Mhm." Jensen made a noise while rubbing his chin, "Do you know the Temple of Starlight?"
"Uh¡ª yes, I know of them," Priscilla replied without understanding why the question suddenly came up.
"It wasn''t long ago when the temple''s men rode out from the Starlight Temple. They took to every corner of the empire chanting out a prophecy," Jensen stood up and walked to a side room before returning with a rolled-up parchment. He unfurled the scroll and recited, "The Dawn of the Millennium comes, and the harbingers of the end roam the empire, rivers of blood and mountains of death become commonplace, as we await the Starlit Dawn when the Starborn of two worlds descends to bring salvation."
Hallie spoke up at last, "You descended last night, Priscilla. Didn''t you? That''s why the crater was there, and it''s how you took down those men so easily, and the magic¡ª it''s not of this world."
"The timing is too coincidental for it not to be you."
"It''s true¡ª the way those soldiers were killed wasn''t something one person could normally do," Jensen added.
Priscilla sat in silence, and the two did not interrupt her. Thoughts passed through her mind; there was a lot she did not know. It had been years since her execution, and the empire was as familiar as it was foreign. Priscilla did not doubt their words¡ª she had developed more than a sixth sense for lies in her time in purgatory. But knowing that¡ª what did it mean for her and the empire? Was the end genuinely approaching, and she was responsible for saving everyone?
Did anyone consider asking her first if she wanted to be some savior? Priscilla wanted to live her life, take revenge on her father, and find her purpose while exploring the world. It began to make her angry, the thought that the world''s fate was suddenly thrust upon her shoulders, but Priscilla calmed down. The realization came just as quickly¡ª if the world were nearing the end¡ª maybe she would find a way to save Zae-Rin. If the empire''s problems were going to erupt regardless of what she did, she should get to them first.
Priscilla sighed and turned to Hallie and Jensen, "I''m Priscilla Valentine." She said flatly, "I don''t know if the prophecy is talking of me, but it wouldn''t be wrong to say that I''m no longer solely from this world."