As I entered the Land of Sands, I walk onto a sturdy arch. In the distance the aloof intoner Three and her disciple. It was a bit weird, though she always traveled around for her desires. But in the Land of Sands? At night?
"Very curious."
If Four's cruelty has drastically increased, what does that say for Three? I'll have to find out.
Octa and I walked through the cold night of the Land of Sands. My scissors on the ends of my purple hair, chopping the ends carelessly. Even though my shoulders and collar were bare, no chill went through me.
Perhaps I am already too far cold.
"L-Lady Three. You never exactly told me of our reason for being here at night. Aren't you cold? Because I can warm you up~."
His usual flirtatious tone taking his voice at the end. As I slowly turn to him.
"We are here to find the perfect starting point."
"Starting point? I do not understand, my lady."
My scissors clink carefully, as I continue to press on, ignoring my disciple's question. For he will understand in due time.
The night is the time of the dead, a time before rebirth. So before the sun rises, let death be spread.
In the distance a small wooden fort looks down upon me. As soldier sat on its highpoints, looking out for threats.
"It seems that the King's reach even farther than we anticipated."
"No. This is perfect."
Before Octa can question me I begin a full-on sprint towards the fort. The soldiers noticing me and readying their cannons. Blasting them in my direction, as I simply jump over them, leaving the explosion in my wake.
"It's an Intoner! Close the gates!"
As the gates of the fort slowly began to close, I continue my sprint. As I lifted my scissors and sent a large lavender X in the direction of the door. Hitting it and slowing its closing.
When one door closes another is manifested. But will that door lead you on your desired path?
Just before the door shut my armored arms and scissors made it through as I forced it to open wider. Cutting its material almost seamlessly due to the damage I was able to inflict on it earlier.
Stepping in slowly, as the soldiers all back away from me. As my eyes scanning over all of the people within.
They're all alike. These wouldn't make good soldiers. Or good dolls.
They all finally begin to charge at me, as I lift up my purple shield. Their attacks unable to land on me as I lunge forward and slice a few soldiers. Their blood flowing onto the cold sand as I continued to slice my way through.
The fortress seemed to double as a place of lounging for the soldiers. As I spot more appearing from a back door.
"Octa."
"Yes, My lady?"
Octa fought a bit of a distance from me as I made my way to his side. Tugging his long sleeve and pointing towards the back door.
"We must go in there."
He seemed confused at first, but then he nodded as we made our way through the flurry of soldiers.
But before we could a roar echoes through the fortress. As a Grey Cerberus jump down in our way.
"The kings managed to tame a Grey cerberus?"
Looking in its eyes it had a weird blue glint. That was peculiar. Usually, a grey cerberus's eyes are red.
"This one is being controlled."
Pointing up to its eyes as it viciously growls and make its way to Octa and I.
"Controlled? By whom?"
As I looked around a bit before the beast took a deep breath and let out flames. Octa and I leaping away just in time. As I look and spot a sorcerer in the on top of the fort's walls.
"A Sorcerer, there."
Octa turns to him as he made a sound of understanding.
"Octa, kill the sorcerer."
He seems puzzled by my directness, but he nods.
As I charged to the Cerberus. One of its three heads leaning down to bite me. Quickly, I shift directions and ran around it, slicing its legs. It quickly hops around to face me and slashes down at me. As I dodge it barely making more moves to slice it.
When I finally made it to its back the tail swipes. Unable to see it coming, it strikes my back as I roll in the sand before stopping myself with my scissors piercing the ground. The cold wind stinging against the wound it inflicted me with. As my purple tresses cover my view.
Is pain inflicted on the victim or the burden? Will it spread by the will of the victim? Or will it suppress for the burden?
Letting my scissors go as I rise to my feet, looking down as purple clouds my vision and my body.
O, May you sleep eternally
I bless you with Death
I charged at the grey Cerberus, easily dodging the flames as I made my way to its side. Leaping and clawing the side of its body. As it whines and falls over onto its back.
O, May you sleep indefinitely
I bless you with this Chaos
Rushing over as I take root over the Cerberus slicing irrationally at its stomach, as wounds and blood gush all over it. As its three faces lean down and try to breathe fire onto me. As I jump up once more.
O, May you sleep eternally
I bless you with Death
I slam down into its center throat as I use my arms to slowly and agonizingly decapitate both side heads.
Sacrificed! Low-lives!
All may be Cursed!
As I slice the eyes of the Cerberus, and stand upon its writhing and crying body. Stomping down and watching as my heel cuts off the last head. The blood rushing out as my song fades, the aura leaving me as well.
I slide off the cerberus' corpse as I walk back and retrieve my scissors. Octa approaches me and pushing my hair out of my face and placing another pin in it.
"Are you alright, My lady?"
"Yes."
Nonchalantly, I continue on towards the back door, as no other obstacle stood in our way. Entering the door, we found a hallway full of other doors and rooms and in the distance-
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"What could that be?" Octa said as he follows me in deeper.
As we drew closer we could hear a voice with it.
"Let me out! Let me out!"
When we finally found the room that the banging is coming from, I knock on it. And the banging stopped. As a male voice spoke.
"Please, let me out! I'm not with these soldiers! They kidnapped me from my wife and daughter!"
"That's terrible. The kings are getting more ruthless by the moment!"
This man…
"Step back. I'll open the door."
"Thank you!"
I heard a few footsteps from the door as I lift my scissors. Easily, slicing through the door and kicking down the remains. Revealing the owner of the voice.
A man stood up, not much taller than I, with tan skin. He wore the clothes of a civilian with a jacket akin to a lab coat. As he sighed and thanked Octa and I.
I tilted my head at him, "Why would they take you?"
He sigh sas he dusts himself off. "The King wanted to use my studies of magic against the Intoners. But I initially refused! So he had his men barge into my home and take me from my family!"
A scientist..
I took a step closer as he pleads with me.
"Please, could you help me get home? My name is Doctor Freesia. My wife is-"
I took my hand and put it on his stomach, pressing it against the muscle that was there.
Lean…
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
He pushes me back as I stumble back having Octa catch me. As he looks up at the doctor with contempt.
"Do not harm Lady Three!" Octa protectively said, holding onto me.
"Lady Three..?" the doctor took a step back, shock obvious on his face at the reveal of my identity.
Expressive…
"Octa.."
Octa's hands left my form as I slowly stood up, staring at the doctor before me.
"He's perfect." the words left my mouth as I step closer to him, my scissors clinking together slowly. The doctor took a step back, eyes fearful.
"P-perfect for what, my lady?" Octa's voice stuttered as I lunge at the human.
My hand grips his wrist as I manipulate it around him and stop at his back. Taking my scissor and placing them at his eyes.
"Lady Three!?" Octa reached out to the man, eyes dashing from him to me. As a smile came to my lips.
"Octa, he is the one! He's perfect! The perfect starting point for my precious soldiers!"
My speech became erratic, my heart was pounding. It was like the first time I held a doll all over again!
I tugged his arm closer, as I hear his shoulder pop from the pressure, as the doctor grunts. Wincing and struggling in my grip.
"Don't you see, Octa? His intelligence is above average and he is far more expressive than the nearby wildlife. His emotional connections and knowledge could make him a loyal, strong, pretty soldier." I use my scissor to point to his stomach. "and he is built enough to warrant some damage control. He could be a great attacker." dragging, the blade up I poke his head with them. "and with his knowledge, I could possibly make him able to speak! Right, Octa? Right? Right?"
My disciple stares at me, his eyes wavering with something. I can't put my finger on it and I don't want to. As I look closer at my new doll.
"My lady. Y-you cannot."
My smile fell as I looked at Octa.
"Why?"
He gulped. "B-Because, My lady, he isn't an enemy. He is an innocent person. And Lady One said-"
"He is a casualty of war."
"A…what?"
"He is a casualty of war." I repeat, as I brought the blade back up to my doll's eyes.
"In War, people die. People go missing. And we are in war. So-"
My blade made it to his eyes as his blood flood and his body lashed. My doll let out a cry, but don't worry. It'll end soon.
Octa leaps forward as my doll thrashes about. Slowly, I press my blade deeper and then I yank it out. The blood obscured his eyes as a blood tear fell.
Taking my scissors I angle them to his neck.
"My lady, please! No more!" Octa cries.
"But Octa," I continue to angle my blade. "If I avoid the vocal cords It'll be easier for him to talk. And I need his brain."
Wordlessly, I pull my hand down and plunge my scissors into my doll's neck. The angle I went had avoided the vocal cords but was good enough to end it. Its body stilling in my hold.
As Octa follows me out of the fortress, as I held my new doll, I was almost skipping!
This will make a lovely soldier! A lovely,pretty, stronger, smarter soldier!
"Octa, Octa! If his hippocampus is still okay, maybe he can keep his memories. Do you think he'll remember me? Hey, Octa, do you? Do you?"
Octa has been quiet since we left the fortress as he gently looked up to me. Again, more emotion that I can't read in his eyes.
"...Yes, My Lady. He will certainly remember you."
"It is just as I feared."
Three's acts of cruelty and her experimentations have seem to increase as well. She is utterly lacking in empathy much earlier and much worse.
That poor man.
So far, all of the Intoner's fatal flaw has seem to be increased in severity. But what about Two?
What will the cause of change be there?