Things between the Lumen and Umbra slowly began to deteriorate; the lines of communication were on their last thread. Balder and Rosa had neither seen nor spoken to each other in over several months, and his frustration over this fact could no longer be ignored. His patience with Isabelle were strained to its very end, as was Isabelle was starting to believe there was no point in having the meetings all together. The day finally came when all aggressions made themselves known.
Balder and Isabelle are in the middle of a shouting match. Both of their escorts have been moved far away from both of them but continue to watch anticipating for either one of them to give the signal to make a move. Balder slams his fists into the table. Isabelle sits there unphased by his reaction.
"How dare you try to act like you're innocent in any of this," he roars as he jumps from his seat. "We are approaching a new era and you want to continue being nothing more than a miserable old witch."
"If you don't learn how to mind your tongue when speaking to me, I will have no problem in removing it for you."
Balder hurls the table across the room, "I'd like to see you try."
Isabelle spots her escort take an inch forward, and she puts up her palm telling her to stop. The escort does as she's told.
"Balder-"
"-Call me, Father Balder," he growls as he clenches his fists.
"Balder," she says while folding her arms and contorting her lips. "Our job is to serve as the overseers for the Creator and to defend the passage of time; bearing witness to history and maintaining its balance. We tell humans what to do. Not the other way around."
"Well, I feel like you are no longer suited for this role."
"As do I, since you were so willing to jeopardize it all."
"And what do you mean by that?" he grunts daring her to say whatever she's insinuating.
"You know what I mean," she utters in an oddly low and menacing voice.
Their glares stay fixed upon one another. He knows what she's getting at, which infuriates him all the more. However, he brushes back his hair and whispers back to her.
"I've no idea what you're talking about."
She snickers, "I'm sure you don't."
Balder scoffs as he storms off yet again from another encounter with Isabelle.
She yells out to him, "This is the last time you will walk away from me."
Balder stops and turns around.
"This is the last time for any of this," she says as she walks to him. "The time of Umbra and Lumen working together has ran its course."
"So, you want to nullify the treaty?" he questions. "That is forbidden!"
"I will only govern my Umbran Sisters and we will no longer need to be bothered by the likes of you."
She expects Balder to surrender to her threat of ending a treaty that was put in place by the powers that be; not only given for the safety of humans, but more importantly for the very foundation of the two clans. This is the biggest gamble she could pull on such an incredibly intense moment fueled from hundreds of years of resentment, mistrust, and dissatisfaction. Without a single shed of doubt in his mind he knew the only response he could give. He had lost all respect for the Umbra for allowing Isabelle to continue her reign in the manner in which everything she does goes unchallenged. He could no longer be the voice of reason against the witch the he hated with every fiber of his being.
Balder takes a step closer to her face, "I, Father Balder of the Lumen Sages, follower of Laguna's beacon of Light, revoke all ties to the Umbra Witch and hearby cease any and all contact with the Umbra."
Isabelle's eyes widen in horror then frown out of anger as she is shocked. Balder walks away from her, his escort follows behind him in firm agreement with Balder's decision.
"Oh, and one more thing, witch," Balder adds not looking at her. "If I ever see you again, your life and anyone who gets in the way, will be forfeit."
Balder leaves, disappearing into the void before the door.
Deep inside the massive Umbra Clocktower, all Umbras gathers. There is a witch on the organ playing a very somber melody as the witches wait patiently. The nave is filled with chatter in regards to what could this meeting ordered by Isabelle could be about. Rosa stands in the middle of the crowd not interacting with anybody, she just look towards the pulpit expecting Isabelle at any moment. As the music slowly whines down, the Umbras cease their talking and the echos of Isabelle's heels fill the hall as she exits from a backroom. She glides to the pulpit and looks down at her Umbran sisters with their full attention. She grips the edges of the pulpit tightly.
"Sisters," she hisses in a soft yet stern tone. "The time has finally come. Though we never thought it could happen, time foresaw a fate that is beyond our control. We are no longer forced to limit our potential. We are no longer held accountable for inadequacies. We are no longer tethered to a group that we neither wanted nor need."
She pauses. The witches are on the edge of their seats as they wait anxiously for Isabelle to say anything.
"The Umbra has finally been liberated from the restrains of the Lumen Sage."
The room immediately bursts into gasps and mutters by this revelation. Rosa only covers her gaping mouth as her eyes widen in shock. Isabelle zeros in on Rosa reaction in particular, a small smile form underneath her mask.
"Sisters! Sisters!" she yells out regaining control over the room. "Now, I know what you all are thinking. Does this mean they are our enemies? Is a war inevitable? Let your hearts be at ease as I assure you all, none of your fears will be realized. How this became our new reality is no longer relevant. The laws that were given to us, both Umbra and Lumen, are still enforced as this is the last notion we can agree upon. All this means is, they will keep to their own as will we."
That night, all the witches expel from the clocktower. Rosa among the crowd stops walking and looks up to the moon. It's a waxing crescent. She walks to the edge of the cliff and pulls out her lipstick which is in the shape of a bullet. She folds it in her grasp and starts to pray quietly to herself.
Isabelle emerges from the clocktower and spots Rosa standing alone.
"Sister Rosa!" she calls out.
Rosa's eyes shoot open as she turns to Isabelle.
"Is everything alright?"
Rosa only nods as she manages to make a smile.
"Then let's go home."
"...Right."
Rosa puts away her lipstick as she quickly hurries to the side of Isabelle and the two of them leave together.
Meanwhile with the Lumen Sages, Balder has become a tyrant himself, yet this was a welcomed change for the Sages. They were not as surprised as the Umbras were over the disbandment between the clans. They were pleased in seeing Balder take control like his uncle before him. So much so, they even brought to his attention some old torture designs from the archives. Balder wasted little time in getting these devices made, his intention for their purpose was purely for the sake of having them.
One afternoon, as Balder and two other Fathers have a small gathering in his study, Balder seems distracted. The two Fathers ignore it yet look at one another with concern.
"So, Father Balder," says one of the Fathers. "The humans a starting to put more of their trust in us more so than those vulgar witches."
Balder doesn't acknowledge his statement.
"Balder."
Balder finally snaps out of it and shoos them away with his hand, "Yes. Thank you for that. You two are dismissed."
The two Father slowly rise and leave together.
Balder wanders his palace alone. He feels lost and disinterested in everything. Despite the months that had past since he's last seen Rosa, he can't stop thinking about her.
"Why hasn't this become easier?" he mumbles to himself.
He places his hand on the top of his head and he massages his temples. Sages passing by notice Balder's irritability.
Finally away from everyone, Balder isolates himself within the sanctuary of his bedroom. He walks over to his balcony and leans against the railing outside. He gazes out at the people below him. Balder turns back into his room restless and looks at his mirror. He thinks about checking on Rosa but shakes the thought out of his head.
"What is wrong with me?!" he yells. "I've gone this long… why can't I-!"
He stomps around his room, pacing back and forth like a lion in a cage.
"Why am I suddenly…? I must be going mad."
He suddenly roars. His hair is disheveled as he looks at his mirror madly. He runs up to it, grasping at the face. The mirror trembles in his hands. Outside his room a sage passes by but stops when he hears Balder's cry. Hesitant, the sage eavesdrop.
"Show her to me."
The sage's taken aback and listens harder.
The mirror waves and shows Balder what he's been fiending for. He sees Rosa, alongside Isabelle working on some accessories.
"Rosa…" he whispers.
Strangely enough, Rosa looks up slightly as if she heard Balder say her name. Ignoring whatever she thought she heard, she goes back to work. The sage is a few feet away from Balder's door, walking away. Balder exists his room and walks in the opposite direction of the sage.
The sage runs a little faster down the hall to find someone. Anyone. He comes across Father Eberhard walking towards some unknown destination.
"Father Eberhard!" he says out of breath.
"What is it, young sage?" he inquires.
"Forgive me Father but I feel I must bring this to your attention."
Father Eberhard puts his arm around the sage to calm him down.
"Let it out, child."
"It's about Father Balder."
Father Eberhard's slightly narrows his eyes as if he already knew something was going on with Balder, "Please, go on."
Rosa's alone in the middle of her target practice with Unforgiven. She hits every wooden target dead center with 100% accuracy. She stops stylishly with her gun smoking at the barrels. She twirls her guns before putting them away. She seems bothered when she thinks about Balder for a moment. She shakes her head and leaves. Rosa passes by a few of her pupils. She smiles while she watches them practice a few wicked weaves. Her eyes sharpen when she spots one of the girl's about to perform a summoning.
Her hair untwists itself from around her body and opens a portal to Inferno as she summons Malphas, a mysterious raven with a sharp beak and razor-like talons breaks into the sky. Malphas soars high above them under the control of the trainee until she collapses to the ground clutching her head in agony. Malphas breaks free from her hair-like restrains. The other trainees surround her making sure she is alright. Malphas seizes this opportunity to attack them all! It nose dives for the trainee Umbras, they try to fend themselves by shooting it. It doesn't work.
In an instant, Rosa jumps in between Malphas and her students. She quickly shoves her arm in the Moon of Mahaa-Kalaa and uses its power. A circular glyph of energy form in front of her and her pupils, with the symbol of the Umbra Witches that repels the incoming attack. The impact is strong enough to not only shatter the glyph, but stun Malphas momentarily while hurling Rosa several feet from the trainees. She struggles to her feet as Malphas is slightly disoriented.
"Run!" she screams.
The students take off running. Rosa looks at her arm and the Moon of Mahaa-Kalaa is broken! She furiously rips it off her forearm and throws it to the ground. Malphas screeches and again lunges for the students! Rosa takes out the Gaze of Despair and without hesitation she puts it on. Malphas suddenly pulls up from its initial targets and turns to Rosa who stands defiantly. It's eight eyes are fixed upon Rosa.
"Come to mummy."
Malphas fiercely comes after her. She takes to the air as she slips on the Climax Brace and starts to glow red. Malphas strikes and misses! She summons Madame Khepri's fists and repeatedly strikes Malphas. Malphas crashes to the ground thrashing about. It takes to the air again. Rosa continues throwing punches its way but it avoids them all, and causes a tornado which surround her. Trapped in the middle, Rosa cannot see where the demon is hidden. Suddenly, it screeches in from one side and barely misses her. Gone again, Rosa keeps her guard up waiting for the next attack. It's head pokes from a different angle and pecks at her. She dodges and kicks it several times in the head followed by rapid fire.
It does little damage as it screeches, creating a sonic boom effect. Rosa struggles to not be blown away, then it headbutts her out the tornado. As she floats mid-air it comes at her with it's talons wide open to grab her. She dodges but the talons cuts her deeply. She hits the ground like a ton of brick. She holds onto her side. Malphas turns around with its beak open ready to devour her! She's barely about to defend herself from it's rapid pecks. It knocks her over with it's wing. Rosa barely has the strength to look up as Malphas slowly stalks her as it trots on the ground.
Then a flash of white light yanks Rosa out just before Malphas has her. Rosa opens her eyes when she realizes she's laying in Balder's arms. He cradles her body with the utmost care.
"Hmm," he starts. "You're lighter than I expected."
Her mouth opens to respond, yet Malphas interrupts her with a piercing cry.
"We must get out of here," she warns him.
Balder stares down Malphas. He floats high in the air with Rosa tightening her grip around his neck. Malphas takes off after them. Balder waits for Malphas to attack.
Balder's right eye flashes a blue light and a golden orb of energy surrounds them completely. Malphas claws sink deeply into the forcefield and it viciously hammers its way inside.
"Balder!" she cries.
Balder grins as the force field pulsates, then several giant golden spikes with jagged edges stab deep into Malphas's body. The raven yelps in pain as it tries to break free, however, it's useless. Balder and Rosa float out of the orb which now engulfs the bird. Rosa watches in amazement as Balder effortlessly destroys the demon. The orb shrinks until the spikes stabs through itself and crushes Malphas to a bloody lump of flesh that disappears back to Inferno.
All is calm again. She slowly looks up to Balder as he's looking down at her. He holds her tightly as he teleports them some place far from here.
The two of them show up in a secluded part of Paradiso. The brightness and shimmering feathers are overwhelming for Rosa.
"This place…" she starts.
"Yes," he says still carrying her in his arms. "It's Paradiso, a place where the likes of you are not permitted."
She stares at him with hope filled eyes expecting him to not do anything rash.
"Can you walk?"
"...Yes."
He gently puts her down as she stands on her two feet. The tension is heave between them. Neither one of them knows to say or do. Rosa takes a deep breath to break the silence.
"Thank you, Balder for saving me," she says looking him in the eye and trying to stay emotionless. "My pupils were practicing. Clearly, they're not ready to summon like I suspected."
Balder says nothing.
"...I'll have a word with them about that, when I get back. So, when are you taking me back?"
Balder still says nothing.
Rosa's getting nervous and she struggling to hide it, "Also, I guess I should apologize for the last time we spoke to each other. I didn't intend to sound so harsh. But you understand what position I was in. The position we were both in. Right?"
Balder continues giving Rosa the silent treatment. Now, Rosa shyly looks away from him feeling embarrassed for saying anything to him. Balder moistens his lips.
"Rosa," he begins. "Since the first day I've laid eyes on you you've done nothing but torture my entire being. You were like a plague to my soul which I absolutely refused to cure for some reason. I did everything I could to physically, mentally, and emotionally eradicate you from memories, and do you know what I found out?"
Rosa shakes her head.
"That this entire time, whether we are together or apart, that I have fallen in love with you."
Rosa's swell up with tears that pour down her face. Balder cups her face in his hands, pushing her hair behind her ears, and thumbing her tears from her eyes. Balder leans in to kiss her. She allows him as she grabs hold of his wrists. He pulls her in closer as her arms wrap completely around his body giving into the passion that the two of them have been holding back for so long. Rosa breaks free from his kiss and kisses him several times all over his face. He chuckles as he continues to kiss her. Then she rests her head on his chest.
"What do we do now?" she sighs.
Balder says nothing as he pulls her in closer, a look of concern appears on her face, yet she buries it in his chest. He senses this but refuses to let it ruin the moment he longed for for so long.
"I want you to meet with me tonight."
"Where?"
"A place where no one will ever find us," he starts as he nudges her away, gripping her shoulders. "Just meet me at the town square, and from there you'll just follow."
Rosa nods. The two of them passionately gaze into one another's eyes, sadden, knowing that it's time for them to depart yet again. Balder waves his hand and a portal opens. Without saying a word, Rosa approaches it and proceeds to walk through. Before she disappears completely Balder rushes towards her again and kisses her sweetly on the lips. She smiles after the kiss is over and vanishes into the void.
"See you tonight."
Rosa's gone.
"Until then, my dear Rosa…"
The day came and went, and Rosa waits at the town square in Purgatorio sitting on the edge of the fountain. Her fingers lightly glide across the water making little ripples in her reflection. Balder's reflection appears behind hers. She turns around and without saying a word he extends his hand to her. She smiles and takes hold of it. He teleports the two of them away.
The two of them reappear, still in Purgatorio, in a moonlit wilderness. The moon is full and bigger than Rosa has ever seen. Balder wraps his arm around Rosa's waist and just keeps her close to him. She places her hand on his chest as she rests her head against his shoulder.
"This is beautiful," she smiles.
"I'm glad you like it," he says. "Here we won't have any interruptions. Come."
He takes her by the hand and leads to her to a lake close by. She see Balder about to walk into the water. She tries to stop him.
"What are you doing?" she laughs. "Going for a midnight swim?"
"It's fine," he smiles.
He walks out on the water. A white glyph appears under his feet which allows him to walk on water.
"What do you Umbras call it… 'witch walk'?" he asks. "It's similar to that. Only difference is us sages don't walk on walls when the moon is full, but water."
Rosa folds her arms not completely trusting what Balder's saying, "You don't say."
Balder slightly rolls his eyes, "If you need me to explain the mechanics it's simple: When the moon is full that means both the moon and sun are on opposite sides of the earth; the counterparts are balanced. To the humans this symbolically relates to their Summer Solstice, which is the time of maximum light."
"Thanks for the lesson, teacher," she says playfully sticking out her tongue.
"Well, you were the one who didn't know."
"Then you know the same rules apply," she says sneering at the water. "Us witches don't fair too well with water. Not to mention ruin my outfit."
"Of course, but you know I wouldn't let that happen to you. Now, come on."
He extends his hand out to her. She grabs it and cautiously steps out onto the water. He leads her out to the center of the lake.
"You know one thing I've always wanted to do?" he asks.
"What?"
"Go dancing!"
He spins Rosa around. She screams thinking she's going to fall in without being extremely close to him. He pulls her back in.
"Can you waltz?"
"I'm aware of what it is," she laughs.
"You must be joking," Balder guffaws in shock that there is no way she doesn't know how to dance. "I thought that's all you Umbras did was dance."
"Well, maybe I'm letting on more than I want you to believe."
He smiles, "Okay, show me what you got, Rosa."
They get into formation with his left hand and her right raised with their fingers slightly intertwine. His right hand is place on her back right under her shoulder blade while her left arm rests on top of his right arm.
"Okay," he says pretending to be impressed. "You at least have the correct form and placement of your arms."
"Trust me, Balder," she says turning up her nose at him. "The only lesson you'll be giving me tonight is how you can walk on water. Dancing is my forte!"
"Ha," he chuckles. "Where was all that confidence when I first asked you?"
"Are we waltzing or no?"
He chuckles again. The two of them start off with the basic box waltz. Their movement is a little stiff starting off but the two of them soon relax and really let their bodies become in sync with one another. The two of them begin to turn as they continue to box waltz.
"You're very light on your feet, sage," she teases. "I'm surprised you're not falling all over the place."
Balder just nods his head when he turns around, and meets her perfectly not missing a beat as they dance on the reflection of the moon. Now they travel across the lake while waltzing. They waltz in promenade, then he turns Rosa on each side of him as he continues waltzing. Rosa is actually impressed by his waltzing capabilities.
Putting their playful banter aside they look lovingly into each other's eyes. Balder knew in his heart there could only be Rosa in his life and he would stop at nothing to protect her from any harm. Rosa knew Balder was the only person she wanted to spend all of eternity with. She no longer care about what rules she had broken, but more importantly the wrath of Isabelle. She knew the worst thing that could happen to her for falling in love with a Lumen was being stripped of her Umbra Rite and the removal of her witchclock, rendering her human again. She would gladly take this punishment as long as she could be with Balder in the end.
"Moon river…" Balder softly sings under his breath.
"What?" Rosa questions. "What are you saying?"
Balder gathers his courage and croons with more confidence in an attempt to serenade Rosa.
"Moon river, wider than a mile I'm crossing you in style some day. Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker," he sings as he caresses Rosa's face. " wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way. Two drifters, off to see the world, there's such a lot of world to see. We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend, my huckleberry friend, moon river, and me."
Balder repeats the lyrics again but this time Rosa chimes in every other word as the two of them waltz and sing in harmony. Balder ends the song and waltz dipping Rosa with one arm. He holds the position, when her hand brushes a few loose strands of hair away from his face.
"That was beautiful, Balder," she whispers as if she's out of breath.
Still in the leaning position Balder lifts Rosa slightly and kisses her passionately. She wraps her arm around his neck. He lifts her up, still kissing her, and carries her in his arms. He walks back to land where he lays her down in a bed of moon lilies. The petals explodes from underneath her and fly off into the night. Balder lays down next to her and continues to kiss her wildly. Passion began to take over on both sides as Balder's hands started to act on their own. His right hand has a fist full of her hair as her arms are wrapped tightly around his neck. His left hand chase down the side of her body when it finally stops to rub her inner and outer thigh. He feels her thighs quiver in anticipation.
Rosa slightly moves her head away from him breaking the kiss. Balder is lost in a trance.
"Balder…" she purrs.
Balder climbs on top of her getting in between her legs as he removes his monocle. He takes a dominant position over her.
"You are all mine, Rosa," he hums in her ear.
Her legs wrap tightly around his torso inviting him in. Balder's tongue invades Rosa's mouth once more. Her back arches as her hands stroke his back. He groans as he feels her nails dig into his back, however, he loves the pain. They consummated their love that night until they're both fully satisfied and beyond. They spent the entire night into the following day together.
Under the rising sun, Balder and Rosa are asleep in each other's arms, naked yet cloaked under Balder's magnificent robe. Rosa's eyes slowly open as she listens to the sound of Balder's beating heart. She gazes at his face and he seems so at peace, then he does a weird snort as he smacks his lips still sleeping. She only smiles, then gently wakes him.
"Balder," she whispers. "Time to get up."
He rolls over to his side ignoring her.
"No," she says shaking him hard. "Time for us to go."
"In a minute," he yawns.
"No more minutes. Now, Balder."
"Ugh, I was expecting a more pleasurable way of waking me up," he grins.
"Maybe next time," she teases.
"I like the sound of that."
Balder finally sits up. He stares at Rosa's amazing naked figure as she dresses herself. She catches him looking at her. She smiles.
"No."
"What?" he asks innocently.
"No."
"Rosa, what on earth are you saying 'no' to?"
"Balder, no."
"...Why not?!" he laughs. "I'll be quick I swear!"
"You know that's not your style," she says winking at him. "Now, it's time for you to be a good little sage and run off home back to your boys. I know Isabelle must be looking for me by now."
Balder grunts, "Well, that killed it for me."
Balder dresses himself, while Rosa fixes her hair. Now dressed the two of them look at each other. He holds her hand as they leave.
"When am I going to see you again?" she shyly asks.
"Tonight."
"The town square again?"
Balder nods. A portal opens to the Umbra's training hall. Balder and Rosa kiss again just before she steps in.
"I love you, Balder."
"And I love you, my dear Rosa."
She walks through and is gone. Another portal opens and Balder heads back to the Lumen.
Rosa arrives at the training hall and sees a gathering of Umbras.
"Hurry up, Sister Rosa it's time."
"It's time?" she questions.
"You can't have possibly forgotten!" says a trainee Umbra. "Isabelle's going to announce whether or not she conceived last night."
A look of horror washes over Rosa's face. Rosa had totally forgot that last night, the night she and Balder made love for the first time, was Garbhadhana. This was the only time when witches infertility bonds are broken, however the only person who is allowed to conceive is the Elder unless given permission. How could she have let this day of all days, to slip her mind! Rosa looks down at her stomach fearful that there could be something inside. Rosa follows along with the other Umbras praying that she would be okay.
Inside Isabelle is already in the middle of her announcement. She has a huge smile on her face.
"My sisters," she yells. "It took hold of my body! I am with child!"
The hall is filled with cheers and praise.
"Soon, there will be a little Umbra among us! A hopeful heir to the Umbra throne! I haven't thought of her name, but I assure you it will be very fitting for her," she beams.
Everyone claps and cheers and Isabelle basks in the affections. Rosa quietly sneaks off away from everyone. She cowards outside and leans against the wall. She presses her hand against her stomach. Rosa's lost in thought not knowing to whether to wish ill or hope for what could be inside. Rosa is so confused. Her head hits the back of the wall as she slides down it to the ground. She cups her face in her hands and openingly sobs. All Rosa can do is cry uncontrollably not her fate, a possible child, nor Balder's reaction.