Hello to the two people still reading. Not much to say right now, really. Only thing I can say is that I changed the chapter around a bit from my original plan - particularly the last segment - since I wanted to show off more plot given how...sparse my updates have become. This does mean some things aren't as dramatic as first intended, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
The character of Henrietta also became harder to write since I had to recall her changes in behavior post-Albion and after finding out about the cycles. As a result she might come across as needlessly nasty, but hopefully I did a good job justifying why.
Also making some headway with re-writing the first eight chapters both to remove the cringy as hell game mechanics narration but also changing some of Raziel's more boneheaded thoughts and dialogue to better fit his more cynical nature later.
Side note - Belated happy birthday, Sascha.
Raziel stabbed the spear through the orc's eye and slammed the fetid creature against the ground. It squealed and struggled, attempting to grab for him despite the steel gouged halfway through its skull. The Undead grit his teeth and stabbed down harder till the sharpened tip finally crushed through the remaining thickened skull and the spear jutted out of the other side of the creature's head.
Squealing came from behind and another orc, larger and smellier than the one he'd just killed, raised its club to bring it down on his head. He pulled the spear from the now-rotting pile of meat and stabbed the second orc through the throat before it could bring the bloody wood down. It stumbled back and Raziel kicked it in the gut before an icicle was impaled through the back of his head and through its snout-like nose.
Raziel pulled the spear from its throat and kicked it to the ground, "That is the last of them." He swung the spear down to remove the largest flecks of blood then used a nearby cloth to clean up what remained. A spear was hardly his most ideal weapon, though he'd used them a few times back during his journey in Lordran. Much as he loathe to admit it, the reach of the weapon helped him to adjust to his far shorter height better than Derflinger could have.
Cattleya made her way to the cages containing the captives and destroyed the rusted iron locks with a quick cantrip. It had been her idea to mount this rescue mission. The village they'd stopped over had been raided by orcs and a good number of their women and children had been taken by a nearby nest of orcs. They'd tried to defend themselves, but they only managed to kill two of the orcs in exchange for the half a dozen defenders they'd lost.
The nearby lord hadn't done anything about it - too busy with a land dispute to care about something so 'petty' - and the village didn't have enough money for the mercenaries to consider the rescue profitable. That had been the all the reason Cattleya needed to declare that they would help free of charge. He'd grumbled about it, but he went along regardless.
If he was being truthful, he didn't mind the diversion overly much. He wasn't egotistical and blind like Ciaran; he knew he wasn't a hero, that the blood on his hands numbered in the hundreds if not thousands after the events of Saxe-Gotha. Despite that he wasn't devoid of empathy and seeing the victims break down in relief that they wouldn't be used as food or, worse yet, breeding stock, brought a warmth in his chest.
"Are you sure you don't need to be escorted back?" Cattleya asked as he drew close.
"We're certain. You...You killed all of the orcs." The woman, who looked barely older than how he appeared, said, "Th-Thank you again, miss. I...I don't know how we could-"
"None of that," Cattleya interrupted forcefully, "Just make sure that you all make it back home safe, okay?" She looked to the child clinging to the younger girl's leg tightly. If they hadn't passed along he would've been used as ingredients for that putrid stew with no one being able to do anything about it. It frustrated her to no end that the so-called lord who was responsible for these people was too busy with his own squabbles to care about them and that she wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
They bade their goodbyes to the group and made their way to their own camp. They could've gone back to the village and been regaled as heroes, but Cattleya seemed to find the thought of drawing any more attention to themselves to be non-ideal. Raziel readily agreed with the sentiment. Far better for the villagers to assume they were just a pair of good Samaritans and leave it at that.
Besides, Cattleya said, she always did want to go camping.
"That was...interesting," Cattleya said eventually. Raziel nodded and she watched him stab her bonfire into the ground so it could light up. He'd been quiet for most of the journey and let her do most of the talking. She took no offense from it; from what she gathered he was quiet in general and he made it clear that he enjoyed their chats, as one-sided as they seemed at first glance.
Cattleya grabbed a book from her pack and picked up where she left off. Aside from her animal companions books were her most frequent escape from the confines to her room. Instead of being Cattleya, the bedridden noble who was nothing more than a burden to her parents, she could pretend to be an adventurer or an underdog hero fighting against the monsters and corrupt nobility.
A part of her felt giddy at the fact that she almost was an adventurer just now, though the thought of what could have happened to those victims kept her from being too happy at the thought.
Raziel sat in front of the fire and let the spear fall to his side. She'd been the one to suggest they buy it in favor of a sword, "..Are you alright?" he asked softly. She looked up from her book to share his gaze.
"Yes, I'm fine. I didn't get injured." And neither did he, which he claimed was a rarity before, "Why?"
"Nothing, it is just..." He brought a hand through his hair and let out a slow breath, "I...wish to be certain that you are well. The last time you had been forced to take a life was..."
Back when that mercenary had taken the academy. The fingers of her right hand grazed at where the burn scar would've been. The scar had long since healed and yet the mark it left would remain with her for the rest of her life. It was part of the reason she'd been so angry - angry enough to kill - murder - that man even as he begged her for help.
"I'm fine..." she said slowly, "Killing orcs...it's easier." Perhaps it was hypocritical of her to hesitate only for humans when she considered two Vampires as sisters. Teachings from her childhood were difficult to disregard. Everyone outside of humans and, to an extent, Winged Ones were considered aberrations in the eyes of Brimir. Daphne and Amethyst were exceptions, not the rule.
It didn't mean humans couldn't be monstrous, however.
Raziel reached out a tentative hand towards the bonfire. He was inches from touching the flames when he suddenly recoiled, his left hand blackening briefly before shifting back to normal, "Are you alright?" She almost stood when he raised his free hand and walked towards her. She waited for him to sit at her right side, hand pressed harshly against his chest.
She reached out a tentative hand of her own and intertwined her fingers with his. He flinched slightly and for a moment she wondered if he would recoil fully away from her, "...Thank you." He gave her a small, sincere smile and she reciprocated the gesture, a warmth settling in her chest, "I attempted to bond with the bonfire once more. It was...unwise."
"Because of...your condition." Manus. She didn't know as much as Louise, but he'd told her enough.
"Yes." He untangled their hands, "Derflinger stated that the seals remain even after we are separated, but the more I put myself at risk the more I slip into the abyss."
"Oh...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have dragged you to-"
"Do not apologize. Risk is something I cannot avoid, whether with you or elsewhere. At least this time I saw the results of our fight rather than doing so for an abstract goal." He looked down at the book on her lap and asked, "What are you reading?"
"Oh, uh..." She looked down as well, surprised by the sudden change in topic, "It's a book."
"Yes, I'm well aware of what books are." She could've sworn his smile actually turned teasing.
"It's kind of embarrassing." She opened the page to a very well-drawn page depicting a knight clashing with a dragon, "The Hero of Ivaldi, a tale of a heroic knight saving a princess from a dragon. It's very popular with children." She traced a finger through the sketch, "It's one of my oldest books, actually. I've read it so many times and whenever I felt down i always went back to it." Now she read it for fun, and all because of the one beside her.
"Hm..." He scooted closer to her so he could see the pages, "Stories of adventurers saving damsels...what is the appeal?"
"It's an easy fantasy to get into. The knight in shining armor rescuing the princess from the evil dragon and being rewarded in riches and glory. It might not be the most creative tale, but that's part of what makes it so fun. It's simple and fun. Who wouldn't want to be a renowned hero gifted with riches and the love of a monarch?"
"If the monarch is anything like Queen Henrietta..." he muttered. She didn't say anything in response, "I suppose I understand the appeal of it, as a fantasy if nothing else."
"Why don't you try reading? I'm sure you'd like it."
"Ah...I cannot read." He did his best to not look ashamed at the confession. They hadn't had time and, back then, the interest to teach him. Louise never brought it up and, while Siesta had offered to teach him, the sacking of Tarbes and the war with Albion rendered the idea null and void. It made things a tad more difficult, but he'd survived just fine without it.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean..." She'd been trying to be more sensitive ever since he and Louise were reunited. On one hand he appreciated it, but on the other he found it somewhat patronizing, "You've spent so much time with Louise I just assumed..."
"It never came up." He waved a hand through the air lazily.
"Hmm, then would you like me to teach you?" He gave her a silent, questioning look and she continued, "I don't mind. I helped teach some of the village children a few years ago." Before her body became too deformed to even allow her outside. She wondered if Paul and Amanda ever finished that story, "Only if you don't mind, of course."
"I...would like that." He nodded slowly, "But I warn you that I am not a fast learner."
"I don't mind." She smiled and scooted closer yet again till their legs were touching. She set the book down with the left page on her right leg and the right on his left, "We can start by reading these. Here, this word means 'wrath'..."
They spent a few hours reading along together before sleep finally took Cattleya. Raziel kept watch and tried not to think on how odd it was that the silence actually bothered him. Nowadays he usually had Derflinger's company, and if not him someone else. Now it was silent save for the occasional sounds of the crackling fire or Cattleya's soft breaths beside him.
He picked up the ring from his pack and held it between his fingers. A part of him was tempted to throw it into the fire and forget the entire thing. This singular bauble had caused so much pain, and for what? What purpose could the spirit have had for even making it if she did not intend for anyone to ever use it in such a way? The magics of this land were as twisted as the ones back in Lordran.
Eventually the sun rose and Cattleya woke. They packed up camp quickly and returned to where they had left the horses. They'd traveled enough that the lake - which was much smaller now that it hadn't been flooded - was only a few hours away.
Raziel tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach as they drew ever closer. Their last meeting wasn't unpleasant, but he still didn't have fond feelings of it; especially considering the circumstances that brought them there. He wondered idly how Guiche was faring now. He hadn't talked with him again after returning from Albion. He probably still assumed he had perished along with so many others back in that gods forsaken battleground.
"We are here." They disembarked their shared horse and walked till they reached the edge. The ring would be enough to draw her attention, but having Cattleya on hand couldn't hurt.
"Alright then..." Cattlea pricked her finger with a needle and let the blood fall to water before kneeling down, "Oh water spirit of oath, please heed our summons," she chanted softly. Raziel stood nearby and washed impassively as the large sphere of water rose from the lake and transformed itself into an all too familiar figure that dominated the surface of the lake.
Cattleya. Her face and body, but translucent and alien like when it mimicked that witch Montmorency. Again the expressions on its face shifted from sadness to happiness to anger and to fear before finally settling on complete neutrality, "Child of decay, you return." Cattleya stepped back and it was clear from her expression she found her watery doppleganger unnerving.
"Yes. I have accomplished your task." He pulled the ring from his pack and offered it up to her. Even now he heard the whispers at the back of his mind, but an even louder one shut them down. Manus was never one for sharing, "With this our deal is complete." Thin tentacles of water snaked from the edge of the lake and slithered up his wrist to grab hold of the trinket. Raziel pursed his lips and stood still as the ring was taken from his palm and raised towards the Water Spirit's facsimile of a face.
Seconds of complete silence passed before the ring melted into water, leaving no trace behind, "Your debt is paid, child of decay. You have my gratitude." It's - Cattleya's - mouth shifted into a smile.
"Good...because there is another boon I would ask of you."
"Ask. You have proven yourself trustworthy."
Well, that was easier than he expected, "I am dying." Cattleya flinched next to him at the blunt admission while the spirit mimicked a look of curiosity, "Or I suppose it is more accurate to say that my mind is decaying. The dark magics that gave me 'life' are slowly but surely driving me to madness and in the end I will remain either only as a feral husk or a corpse to be buried."
"Yes. Your nature has changed since our last meeting. The fire and darkness still struggle against one another, but it is no longer equal." He looked down to his right palm and the dark fire that emerged. Even his pyromancy had been twisted, like the sorcerers of Oolacile, "What is it you want, child of the dark?" His right hand clenched and the fire was dispelled. The name brought no pleasant feelings to him.
He looked to Cattleya and she nodded, "Is there a way you can stave off the decay?"
The face morphed back to passive judgement and the tentacles returned. Raziel didn't say anything as they tangled themselves in his arms tight enough that he felt as if he was being bound in chains once more, "Mmgh..." The chain wrapped around his wrist flared with dark energy and the water tentacles recoiled before dissipating into the ground.
If the Water Spirit had any reaction to the attack she didn't show it, "Your nature fights against you. It is your will and your will alone that prevents you from falling to madness, child of decay."
"I have been told that before. Is there a solution or am I without salvation?"
"There is a way." Cattleya's eyes widened while Raziel looked at the spirit skeptically, "Water is the source of all life." And unlife. He still remembered the spirit that possessed Wales' corpse, "I can give you salvation, child of dark, but it will come at a cost."
"Another deal then?"
"No." The floating figure lowered till its 'feet' touched the surface of the water, "Your nature is that of a double edged blade. It harms others as well as yourself. It is both your weakness and your strength." Why did spirits insist on circular speeches so much? "To lose the blade which harms yourself would also mean losing the means to defend yourself."
"What does she mean by that?" Cattleya asked.
"She means that stopping the decay would mean losing Manus' abilities." And going back to being as he was back in Lordran. Undead were stronger than the average humans, but the things they fought...much as he was loathe to admit it he wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for Manus' 'gifts'. He'd been beaten, bruised, stabbed and left for dead more times than he cared for, but he survived.
"Do you agree, child of dark?"
"No." Cattleya's look of shock was more painful than he wanted to admit. He turned to her, "We cannot afford to lose Manus' abilities, Catt. What use is there in a long life if the world is damned around you?" She didn't say anything. Raziel forced himself to look back to the spirit and took a cautious step forward, "I cannot agree so long as the land remains at risk of damnation."
It nodded, "It is your choice."
"But there is another question I wish to ask," he said. The water spirit again waited for him to continue, "The way you referred to me as child of dark hints at a certain familiarity. Have you encountered others of my kind?" Not undead. He was close enough to be considered as such but Alsanna and the rest of his 'sisters' could hardly be described as festering corpses, even if most of them were more dangerous than even the most feral Hollow.
"Yes." Its expression mimicked that of quiet contemplation, "You are not the first of your kind I've made pacts with, child of dark. You are simply the first to have honored the end of one."
"If so what made you decide to trust me?"
"Your bond with the child of entropy. It has been severed now, frayed but still present." He looked down at the faded runes on his left hand. Derflinger had been stubbornly tight-lipped on his status as a Familiar now. So far Louise had been too relieved to have been reunited to consider summoning him again. That and whenever the topic came up she became hesitant for whatever reason.
"Do you know about the cycles?" he asked softly.
"I would not use the same words." He'd take that as a yes, "Water is eternal, child of dark. I have seen the beginning and the end time and time again. It is an inevitability." His fists clenched, "Is that your only question?"
"No...I wish you to tell me what you know. Please."
It stared at him for a few seconds before the edge of the lake parted slightly as if to invite him, "I can show you." He shared a look with Cattleya then stepped forward. As soon as his feet touched water a painful thrum echoed from the left side of his chest. The same place where the Hollowing corruption would've been, "Do not be afraid, child of dark."
"Easier said than done..." The shirt he wore suddenly felt suffocating. He shrugged it off and winced when he saw the dark, pulsating tendrils atop the pale skin, "Damn it..." He looked back to Cattleya and her eyes drifted down to the aberrant growth. It probably reminder her far too much of her own 'sickness'. Raziel mimicked a deep breath and stepped into the water,
The chill was far more than he expected. Raziel grit his teeth to keep from shivering and continued ahead till the water went clear past his waist, "That is enough." The water spirit appeared in front of him far smaller than before. Even now she used Cattleya's face, "It will be difficult to understand." She raised a transluscent hand towards him, "Are you certain of this?"
He grabbed the offered limb without a word and everything went dark.
It was hard to describe what happened next. After months of living with Manus battering his mind to the point of colapse he'd gotten used to the feeling of not being in control. Still, this was another thing entirely. Raziel felt immaterial. He couldn't move his arms and legs; even moving his head was impossible. He tried to open his mouth but no words came.
Suddenly the darkness receded and Raziel saw it all. Kingdoms at the height of power, humans who worshiped gods and the gods in turn blessing and favoring the most faithful of their sycophants. It wasn't Lordran - different gods, different kingdoms, different beliefs- and yet it matched the legends of his carcass of a 'home' close enough. This was the utopia people like Ciaran and Elizabeth believed their world to be.
It couldn't last. He saw an all too familiar sight: the first of the Undead that began to rise. Manageable at first, but eventually they began to overwhelm them. It was a story he'd heard all too many times and yet seeing the fall of a civilization with his own eyes was harder to swallow. Humanity was killing each other while the gods either perished or ran like the cowards they were.
And then the darkness came back. The last of the humans fell and the structures that remained crumbled to dust. Nothing remained except a few sparse ruins that the next cycle would ponder the existence of.
And it happened again. And again. And again. The darkness receded, civilizations rose, civilization fell and then the darkness came. Time and time again it happened, and with every cycle that passed the realization weighed heavier in him. It was real. Light, Dark, Light, Dark...all in a constant battle for domination with mankind trapped in-between. It would happen to them as well and...and...
Raziel didn't know when he'd closed his eyes, but when he opened hem again he found himself floating on the water's surface looking up at the sky overhead. The water spirit was gone, and the vision she'd left behind only made him choke on his own barely suppressed tears.
He stood up shakily and looked down at his faint reflection in the water, "It is inevitable..."
The water displaced in front of him and Cattleya stopped when they were only inches apart. Despite her water magic she'd chosen to wade in without a care. Was it worry for him or something? "Raziel, are you okay?" She tried to reach a hand out. Raziel moved first and suddenly embraced her, wet face pressed against her shoulder, "H-Hey, what's the matt-"
"Two years," he said in a raspy whisper. She held onto his trembling shoulders tightly "She showed me that...we only have two years before it all ends."
And no one had ever stopped it before.
"What are you talking about? The end of what?"
"Everything."
Not just his death - he could live with that. No, the end of everyone and everything he grew to love. Louise, Siesta, Tiffania, Cattleya, this whole world...it all would've been doomed to the abyss, "Raziel..." He continued to hold her tightly, afraid that if he let go he'd see the end once more. Elizabeth was right. They were at the precipice of annihilation and they'd all been so blind to it.
A shuffling figure from behind Cattleya drew his attention. He looked past her and felt both relief and distress when he saw Louise standing there frozen, her expression one of clear shock, "Louise..." Cattleya looked back and gasped. Judging by the horse at her side she must've followed them.
And walked in on them hugging in the edge of a lake. Gods damn it...
Henrietta would be the first to admit she had a distrust of the Undead. Perhaps it was a poor showing for her considering she wasn't the the most trustworthy individual, but she couldn't much help herself. She grew up with stories of Vampires, Elves, Undead and other Firstborns. To them she was the bogeyman, the monster under the bed used to scare naughty children.
That impostor who imitated her dear Wales and Raziel didn't do much to improve her opinion. While she wasn't so ungrateful as to ignore the contributions that latter had done she also wasn't ashamed to admit she found him personally repellent. The fact that he'd been rather unpleasant to her long before she did anything to deserve his ire only worsened that idea.
Or perhaps she was simply biased. Gwynevere and Manus did not have fond feelings for one another after his fall.
Still, she'd gotten the impression that Undead were dour, almost emotionless to a fault. That made her new acquaintance a somewhat pleasant surprise, "This is paradise." The female Undead - she still hadn't given Henrietta a name - downed the mug of alcohol and dug into the turkey leg like a woman possessed. It contrasted rather heavily with her regal appearance and exotic features.
The woman contrasted rather heavily with the only other Undead she knew. Whereas Raziel appeared frail despite his abilities the woman appeared far healthier, the arms hidden beneath the long sleeves of her shirt muscled and more well defined. Her features also showed no signs of the androgyny or corruption, which she'd joked was the result of her 'long beauty sleep'.
All in all she appeared far more human than Henrietta expected.
Henrietta sunk into her cloak and poked at her food. She'd disguised herself in order to meet her outside the castle. Back then she'd always felt a thrill in it, in pretending to be someone other than the crown princess of Tristain.
Now it just felt like another part of her duty.
She'd agreed to meet the second Undead personally in order to judge her for herself. So far she still didn't know what to think. Raziel, that daughter of Chaos Quelara, Alsanna...all of them had shown at least some signs of the trauma they endured, the years of suffering that had marked them. This woman showed none of that, or if she did she did a remarkable job hiding it.
"Uh...you're paying for this, right? Cause I don't think they take souls here."
Henrietta smiled slightly at the image of someone trying to pay in spirits, "Yes, don't worry." She sipped her wine and eyed the Undead's mug of beer. She was never much a fan of it, "I trust you've enjoyed your stay in Tristain so far?"
"It's not as breathtaking as Drangleic, but the lack of monsters trying to kill me is a huge improvement." She gave the monarch two thumbs up and a goofy grin. Again Henrietta had to remind herself that the woman was more than she seemed, "It's...nice seeing so many people at once. I mean we had our little hamlet, but the actual kingdoms were long, long gone by the time I got there."
"I've heard." Alsanna was very thorough on how her home had fallen, "And I suppose you know why I'm here."
"You want my help." The Undead's smile had turned far more somber.
"Yes."
"Then I suppose I can't say no." She let out a single, soft laugh and finished off her drink, "...You know, before I sat on that throne I had a choice. I could've walked away, tried to find some other solution as the world was engulfed. Instead I became the monarch, and before I slept a part of me hoped that my sacrifice would be the last."
"We will make this the last." Henrietta reached out and held onto the Undead's left wrist tightly.
"Somehow I believe you." She held Henrietta's hand in return, "I gave everything I had. My life, my death, my friends...I've forgotten even my name. Alsanna's the only one I still know here and she's lost everything too." She let go of Henrietta's hand, "Whatever you need me to do make our sacrifices worthwhile, tell me. I'll give anything to end this madness."
"On that we are agreed." Henrietta nodded, "Pardon me for saying so, but you aren't what I expected. After Raziel I expected you to be more..."
"Broken?" She smiled, the gesture all teeth, "It's probably because I didn't burn. For me it was a deep sleep rather than suffering. I even dreamed sometimes, fleeting memories of friends and a life I can never remember."
"I feel that way sometimes..." Henrietta said softly, "Even now I have dreams of a life that doesn't belong to me. Gwynevere was her name." The one who ran away and left behind her home for the sake of a doomed romance - the same thing Henrietta tried to do, "I hate her. She reminds me of what I could've been; what I tried to be." It was one reason she drank so much. Enough alcohol and the dreams stopped.
"We make quite a pair, don't we." She breathed out softly. The gesture looked far more alive than Henrietta expected, "Well, I suppose I'll be staying here for the foreseeable future."
"Yes. I'll keep in contact." They exchanged mutual nods and Henrietta made to leave. The disguised monarch stepped out into the crowded road and sunk into the folds of her hooded cloak. She'd done a lot to disguise herself - dyed her hair, changed her clothes and even made sure to change the little things such as posture or the way she walked. As far as everyone else was aware Queen Henrietta was still in her room resting.
She stopped when she caught a hint of an all too familiar and tantalizing smell, "Crepes..." The last time she'd had them was back in Albion. Though, she was too busy discussing past lies and the end of the world to really enjoy it back then.
She knew she shouldn't have, but she stopped and bought one. The vendor smiled and showed no hint of recognition as he handed her the confection, "Thank you." A hint of a smile appeared from underneath her hood and she sat down on the nearby bench under the shade of a particularly large tree. For just a moment she could forget her responsibilities.
Out here it was easy to lose herself. Henrietta watched the children playing, watched the vendors hawk their wares while a few men made their way to bars, some of them already reeking with alcohol. She wondered idly what it would've been like to be one of them, so blind to the doom that loomed over them like the sword of Siorecese. Ignorance was bliss, as the saying went.
"Mommy, come on!" A little boy dragged an older woman along. Henrietta watched them turn the corner out of sight with a somber expression. She'd never been particularly close with either of her parents. Her father was too busy being king then afterwards he was too busy dying of sickness. Mother was always somewhat distant. Not cold, but not warm either. Cardinal Mazarin was more present in her life than either of her parents, which was rather ironic considering he took a vow against marriage and children.
She ate her crepe slowly. Right now Agnes and Amethyst would've been worrying and wondering what was taking her so long. Again she was reminded of the few times she'd snuck out of the Valliere estate with Louise as children. It always ended in a lecture or, Brimir forbid, a tongue lashing from Eleanor. Still, both of them always thought it was worth it to be normal children for at least a few hours.
A woman took a seat to her right. Henrietta paid her no mind and continued to eat till she suddenly spoke, "Nice day out, isn't it?"
"I suppose..." Henrietta gave a sideways glance. She was well-dressed with long blonde hair that stuck out among the sea of brunettes, herself included. She'd chosen a dark hair dye for today's 'expedition'.
"Yeah, really. So different from back home."
"A traveler?" Henrietta felt a weight in her stomach. Something was wrong.
"Oh yes. I frequently come this way, though really only at the border to visit my cousin and aunt." Her smile turned predatory, "You're not much of a traveler, hm? Though I suppose your job leaves you too busy for leisure time. Right, Queen Henrietta?"
A few months ago such a bold admission would've left her gaping in shock or scrambling in a panic. Now her eyes simply narrowed and she pursed her lips. Not smiling, but almost there, "Are you an assassin? If so you chose an extremely poor time to try and assassinate me. I would've waited till I was alone at the castle. Much less of a crowd." She gestured all around her.
"Yes, but then you'd have to go through all the trouble of trying to sneak out versus just losing yourself in the panicked crowd. That is unless you think every single man, woman and child here would rise up to defend their queen." She chuckled, "Then again I suppose they might. Even back home we heard about how you suffered along with them in poverty during the war. Being one with the people, hm?"
"Are you going to tell me who you are or do you just plan to be vague till I finish my food?"
"So touchy! I expected a bit more charm from the untouched flower of Tristain. Speaking of, real smart the way you managed to make that truce with Germania without having to spread your legs. Fear is just as effective method, isn't it?"
"Who. are. you?"
"I expected you to recognize the daughter of the man you killed."
Joseph's daughter, she realized numbly. She recognized that manic smile anywhere. Henrietta did her best to keep her expression neutral as she spoke, "You're from Albion, then? I'm sorry if you lost family in the war-"
"Let's cut the games, shall we, your majesty?" She leaned forward, that manic smile still on her face, "If you think I'm here to seek revenge for my dearly departed father's death, don't worry. No love lost there. He was...rather unpleasant, as I'm sure you know. That little facade of him being the Mad King, this bored manchild obsessed with his figurines, wasn't something he bothered to keep under closed doors."
"...Assuming you're who I think you are, what makes you think I had anything to do with your father's death? From what I hear Gallia is a dangerous place." Germanians reveled in open warfare and shows of strength while the Gallians were more about stabs in the dark and poison in your chalice. Kings were usually off-limits, but someone power hungry and greedy enough could very well decide that the throne was too tempting a prize to ignore.
"Aside from the trail of bodies you left in your wake?" Henrietta had to stop herself from crushing the crepe in her hands. That was the mad king's fault. From what she'd gathered from Lady Charlotte and Amethyst the entire castle had been rendered mad prior to their arrival, "I happen to know about my father and his little slave's games with you. He giggled like a little boy whenever he talked about it."
"So you schemed together, is that it? Father and daughter bonding over their own depravities?" Henrietta's smile had turned nasty.
"Heh, hardly. I just heard him giggling to himself. Whenever he got into one of his moods he pretends nothing else exists, myself included. He talked on and on about you and that little pink haired girl. Louise was her name, right?"
"...If you so much as glance in her direction-"
"Don't worry, I have no interest in her. Unlike my father I'm not a child who gets pleasure tearing off the wings of an insect." That was a load of griffon shit if she'd ever heard it, "No, my interest lies in another girl. I think you know her."
"Pretend I don't."
"Little Charlotte, though I suppose she calls herself Tabitha now. No idea why." She waved a hand through the air lazily, "See the two of us have unfinished business and I have it on good authority that she's over here enrolled in the Magic Academy."
"And you came to me about this because? You are aware that the academy has a large degree of autonomy with regards to their goings on." It was an unwritten rule established long before she was born; a rule that she'd broken when she'd attempted to conscript the female students into the Albion war. That had lowered the view of her for many noble families. Parents tended not to like it when their marriageable daughters were put at risk.
"We both know that doddering old man follows whatever you say. If you asked him to jump off a cliff he'd do so." Henrietta pursed her lips. That wasn't the full truth. Mostly she'd kept her plans hidden from him apart from a few sparse details that she could use to convince him, "So let's make this simple. You give me Charlotte and we can both part ways as friends?"
"Friends?" Henrietta's expression was dry and unamused.
"I don't see why not. My dad's game with you was his business, not mine. I actually care about my home." Henrietta had to keep from snorting like a child. Yes, she'd heard all about that 'care' - taking supplies people needed, ripping young men away from their homes even when there wasn't a war...the new mad queen had quickly gone from eccentric to tyrannical and made her subjects long for when their king was (seemingly) just useless and ineffectual.
Henrietta would've condemned her more if she hadn't done similar just a scant few months ago.
"So...one girl's life in exchange for your friendship."
"Exactly. So, do we have a deal?"
She would've been lying if she said she wasn't tempted. How many lives had she thrown away for the sake of accomplishing her goals? Lady Charlotte was just one, and she'd already worked against them at least once. If Alsanna hadn't been there she and Tiffania would've perished and Raziel would've gone completely mad. What was one more life in exchange for the aid of a whole country against annihilation?
"Go to hel." She had to admit, seeing the smug blonde's expression turn into shock, however briefly, was incredibly satisfying, "After everything your father did to us, everything you're doing to your people now, do you honestly think I'll trust a word you say?" Henrietta laughed, soft and bitter, "I have no reason to believe you aren't as mad as your father, and I'd rather not have another dagger against my back."
"So you'd risk going to war?"
"On what cause? Because your cousin is schooling in Tristain? If you wish to go after her then be my guest. She's not under my rule and I won't stop you from doing so."
She wanted to believe she was doing this out of some kind of moral stand, and perhaps that was part of the reason, but the truth of it was that Lady Charlotte had become far too valuable to lose. They couldn't give up a Void Mage, even if it meant making Gallia her ally.
"Right, you'll just warn her so she'll hide." Henrietta's response was a thin, cold smile, "You know, for being the untouched flower of Tristain you're certainly more conniving than I thought you'd be. I mean, Vampires in the castle? And from a proud Brimiric, mind you!"
"Says the woman with Elves under her employ."
"Oh, him? No, he had a deal with father and I inherited that deal. It wasn't a pre-planned arrangement." A fact they shared. She only found out about Daphne and Amethyst later on. Henrietta idly wondered if her mother and Cardinal Mazarin knew as well, "Still, that is something, isn't it? I wonder how your subjects would react if they knew their oh-so-perfect Queen was a heretic."
"Probably the same way your subjects are now with their Queen being a paranoid tyrant."
"Yes, the 'paranoid tyrant' who has an army that trumps yours. And if I want, I could burn this country to the ground."
"Germania-"
"Fears you. That's the only reason you managed to keep that truce without having to spread your legs." She leaned forward and put a hand to Henrietta's thigh, "But guess what? Fear fades and other things can take its place. Do you realize just how many people you lost in Albion?"
"Over 30'000..." She'd spent days in prayer, trying to assuage her guilt any way she knew how.
"Exactly. And that was after the Emperor and his sycophants allied with you on the assumption that doing so would be less costly after your little pet's display of power against the scouting fleet. But the thing is, do they truly stand to lose less when allying with you cost them their entire country's weight in bodies and gold? Even moreso after your rather spectacular failure to give them any recompense for that loss."
"We won that war."
"Only because of that little miracle beast who drove the Albion army insane, and what did you get in return? A two way split of an island that's so far into debt that letting it crash to the ground would've saved you more trouble? The way I see it allying with Tristain is chaining yourself into a sinking ship, and more and more people want to to take their chances at the sea."
"...You think you can convince Germania to break our treaty."
And then Tristain would burn.
"Right on the mark." She let go of her thigh, "It's quite funny how quickly fear dissipates, hm? The voices of discontent screaming louder and louder. All it takes are a few voices pushing them past that slope."
"They won't go to war with us."
"Ah, but they don't have to. While I've no doubt I can convince them that this hole in the ground is of some value I don't really need that. I've seen the state of your country, Your Highness. You're all so fragile that a strong gust of wind would cause you to come crashing down. In an open conflict Gallia's more than powerful enough to crush you and you know it."
"We're not speaking in hypotheticals, are we?"
"So smart." She clapped her hands mockingly, "I've already got a little man by the name of Basil who's all too willing to be my voice. He's a greedy thing, but in this case it works to my advantage. It'll take a while, but eventually his shouts will reach the emperor's ear; and that'll be enough to make him start to think of your worth."
Henrietta's eyes narrowed and it took all she had not to reach for her wand or, more temptingly, the smirking woman's throat, "Why are you doing this? Just to spite your cousin? You're willing to throw all those lives away for that?"
"Says the woman who went to war because her lover died." Her smile almost split her face open as Henrietta failed to suppress a flinch, "Oh yes, I heard about that from father too. You can claim it was far your subjects or honor or what have you, but we both know it was only one life you cared about. So yes, I am perfectly willing to do whatever it takes to get dear Charlotte back."
"Do you have any idea how foolish this is? How close we are to damnation? We don't have time for this. We need to-"
"I offered you a chance, and I'm perfectly willing to play nice if you give up my cousin-"
"The world is ending." It was a miracle that Henrietta hadn't shouted that statement, " All these wars and power plays, do you think any of it will matter when we all face the same abyss?"
"Trying to appeal to a bigger problem? I thought you'd be more creative than that." She clicked her tongue, "Do you think I particularly care if this world falls? Father knew all about that and he didn't worry either. Why waste time trudging along for years just surviving when you can spend months just doing what you want? So no, appealing to some fear of the unknown end doesn't scare me. Try harder."
"...You're insane."
"Maybe, but at least I'm happy." She laughed like she'd just been told a joke, "You know my deal. One week to give me Charlotte before I revoke my offer of friendship. You're a pragmatist, so make the right call. Or..." She suddenly leaned forward and put her right hand on Henrietta's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "I'm going to burn everything you care about, and no amount of Vampires of miracles will save you."
Henrietta shuddered at the cold breath against her ear and shoved her away. Isabella stood and made to walk away when Henrietta suddenly spoke, "Be careful, Queen Isabella." She turned back and gave Henrietta a raised brow, "Your father thought he was untouchable too. Don't make the same mistake."
The mad queen grinned and walked away without saying a word. A bit of cream dipped into her hands and Henrietta was suddenly reminded of the confection she held, "Damn it..." She looked down at the dripping cream and let it drop to the floor, "Damn it, damn it, damn it..." She clasped both hands together and pressed them against her forehead, barely managing to suppress her choked sobs.
That witch was right. She'd heard whispers of Germania's growing discontent in recent months but she'd never had the time to do anything about it. Dealing with the end of this damned cycle had taken all her attention and now this?
They should've been working together. All their petty squabbles and power plays didn't matter with Hel looming over their heads, but she knew no one would believe her. The church had been screaming about the dangers of the Elves for thousands of years now and yet they still fought amongst themselves rather than banding together. This would be no different.
Eventually she mustered the energy to trudge back to the castle. She stopped at the closest secret passageway and, after making sure no one was around, went inside and muttered a cantrip spell, "Light." The tip of her wand lit up and she made her way slowly through the winding halls. She'd only found out about the tunnels a scant few months ago and yet she navigated them with such familiarity now that it was second nature.
She made it to the tunnel door that led to the basement and shoved it with her shoulder. The passageways went years without being used and the lack of maintenance showed. The royal families were supposed to use them in case of a siege, but Tristain hadn't experienced a true invasion in hundreds of years. If things had been different in Tarbes perhaps they would've used these passages more.
Or maybe if the Mad Queen was true to her word...
Dust caked her shoulders as the hidden door slowly opened. Henrietta coughed, walked through and began to shut the door again.
"Henrietta."
She raised her wand and pointed it straight at the intruding figure. Her mother's eyes widened in shock at the sudden action and stepped back, "Mother..." Henrietta sighed and lowered her wand, "What are you doing here?" The door behind her still hadn't been fully closed. The older woman looked past her and Henrietta immediately saw the disapproval in her eyes.
"You snuck out." It wasn't a question.
"Thank you for stating the obvious." A part of her was aware that being snippy helped no one, least of all herself, and yet she couldn't stop herself from continuing, "I'm surprised you realized I was gone. Finally left your room?"
"What are you...why are you acting like this?"
"Bit too late to notice my change in behavior, mother." She shut the door fully and wiped the dust from her shoulders, "What is it that you wanted, cornering me like this? Do you need something?"
"No. We need to talk about your behavior." Henrietta's eyes narrowed. What in Brimir's name did she mean by that? "I...understand that being Queen is difficult, but your recent behavior has been worrying Cardinal Mazarin lately."
"Worrying him? I suppose you don't much care then?"
"Of course I do." Henrietta actually did roll her eyes at that, "It's the truth, Ann-"
"Don't call me that." She only ever called her that when she needed to lecture her. Considering how she was, Henrietta could count that amount with one hand, "If you want to say something then just say it. Don't treat me like a child."
"Fine then then. Your...behavior has been poor lately." Henrietta crossed her arms and raised a brow, "You drink so much that the cardinal can smell the alcohol on you, you...you sneak out at odd hours and ignore your responsibilities-"
"What would you know about responsibilities?" The scathing intensity in her voice surprised even herself, "You don't do anything. Ever since you married father you've been nothing more than decoration, and after he died you let Mazarin run the country in your stead. If he hadn't been so loyal you would've given up the throne to a despot without so much as a hint of hesitation. Because the thought of actually being responsible for anything scares you."
"Henrietta-"
"Do you have any idea of the things I've been dealing with? Do you think this has been fun for me? That...That I've been ignoring my responsibilities and that I don't care that with the choices I've made I've killed thousands of people? That I'll have to carry that weight with me till the day I die? Because if you honestly think that then you can just...you can just go to hel."
She put a hand on her shoulder, "Ann-"
"Don't touch me!" She batted the older (would-be) royal's hand away, "Shut up! Just...Just..." She took a slow, deep breath, "I am...I'm dealing with so many things right now, things that make me dream of the time I only had to worry about being the queen, and the last thing I need is you telling me that...that I'm anything like you."
She shoved past her mother and didn't stop till she made it back to her room. A few of the guards took notice of her odd appearance but she paid them no mind. Henrietta slammed the door behind her and Odette jumped up slightly on her pedestal at the sound. She ignored her startled Familiar and trudged to the nearby cabinet where her alcohol was stored. She needed something to distract herself.
It was empty, "Damn it..." She slammed the door shut and paced around the room, hands clasped in front of her shut eyes. She couldn't leave her room. Not now, not after what she'd just done. She trudged to the bed and all but collapsed.
Henrietta cried. And cried. And cried. Months of built up stress and anxiety coming out without stop. It wasn't fair, she thought. Wasn't fair that she had to be the one to deal with this, that she had to carry the burden of her entire world falling to darkness. Why couldn't it have been her mother? Or some far off descendant she wouldn't live to see? Why her?
Half an hour passed till the tears eventually stopped and she managed some semblance of control once more. Now wasn't the time for tears. She had to fix this first, "Calm yourself. Focus." If Isabella hadn't been bluffing then they needed to fix this now. Saving the world would've been impossible if their country was burned to the ground first.
Time to get to work.
Karin sighed and looked up at the ceiling. The pink haired chevalier was slowly getting used to the idea that she was, in fact, in the future and that in all likelihood she'd be here for a while yet. So far this Queen Henrietta hadn't contacted them, though she was generous enough to give them some money to fund their stay here. She and Estelle hadn't even left the attic room in order to save some ecu.
Speaking of Estelle.
She tilted her head to the side to look at her roommate sitting on a nearby chair. Ever since their meeting with the queen days prior she'd let her mask down. Literally. When they were alone in the room she let her face show but the second they left or she heard someone coming down the hall the mask went up again. Something told her it wasn't just the scars she was worried about.
Eventually the quiet became too much and she said, "Ecu for your thoughts." Estelle looked up from the bow in her hands and tilted her head to the side in confusion, allowing Karina a better look at her. Pale skin, even paler hair with a heart shaped face and scars that did little to hide her unique features. She looked Romalian, though that was just the closest approximation she could guess.
"Hm?"
"You're quiet." Karin sat up and looked at her properly, "We haven't talked much since we got back."
"I...didn't know what to talk about." Without her mask it was much easier to read her. What Karin thought was stoicism and control was more clearly just shyness and embarrassment, "I hadn't shown anyone my face for so long. Only Vent knows, and even he told me that keeping my face hidden is for the best. Never know if someone might see the resemblance."
"Yeah, the Queen looked like she knew you. Why is that?"
"She doesn't. It's...someone else she's acquainted with." She looked down at her bow again.
This was going nowhere. Karin sighed again and made her voice louder, "Wanna play twenty questions?"
"What?"
"Twenty questions. It's a game where you ask someone a question and they have to tell the truth. So I'll ask you a question then you ask me a question and we go back and forth till we reach twenty or one of us can't answer anymore."
"That doesn't sound very fun..."
"What? Of course it is. Come on." She patted her side on the bed. Estelle looked hesitant for a moment till eventually she stood up and sat next to the older(?) girl. Karin wrinkled her nose as soon as they were side by side, "Ugh, no offense, but your clothes reek." Smelled like mud, dried blood and something else she couldn't place. Not terrible, but not pleasant either.
"S-Sorry, still getting used to the idea that..."
"That baths are a thing." The only time she'd seen the other girl bathe was the occasional quick dip in streams, and even that did little to stem how poorly kept her clothes were. The makeshift armor and cloth was practically in tatters after their constant misadventures the past few weeks, "You know what, just...take your clothes off. I have some spares and you can wear those."
"A-Are you sure-"
"Yes, I'm sure. That outfit of yours is a falling apart."
Estelle nodded hesitantly and stripped out of her poorly kept attire. Karin grabbed the discarded clothes and stuck them on a corner (probably have to burn them later) as the other girl changed. She looked back and frowned when she saw Estelle's back. Like her face it was marred by scars, claw marks, permanent bruises that left the skin looking deformed and somewhat grotesque.
Of course, that all paled in comparison to just how thin she looked. Rather than an attractive slender figure the other girl's arms and chest were dangerously malnourished and looked like someone who had little in the way of nourishment. How she was able to fight and use a bow so deftly in her state Karin had no idea.
"Hold on." Karin grabbed the shirt and undergarments from Estelle's hands, "Those scars on your back...I could help you with them, if you'd like?"
"How?"
"Magic." She laughed under her breath, "I'm not a water mage or anything, but I know how to patch up wounds. I can't promise I'll be able to fix all of them, but I can try."
"I...o-okay. Thank you." Estelle nodded and sat on the bed with her back facing her. Karin sat behind her and began chanting the healing spells Centurion had taught her. He was always better at it than she was and she appreciated it.
Still didn't mean she would've married him, though.
"You've...done this before?" Estelle asked softly.
"Yeah. For a while me and Centurion didn't make much money, and what he did make he put towards his boozing, so we tried to save up where we can. Much cheaper to heal yourself than going to the apothecary for potions or paying a healer." Except that one time Centurion got bitten by that basilisk. That left her, Centurion, Barkus and Rancis out of pocket for months afterwards.
"Oh..."
"That was your first question, by the way, so now it's my turn." Karin smiled slightly at the girl's weak protests, "You know the rules. Anyway, I'll start off light. Favorite food?"
"Um...there was this pastry with butter and caramel I had when I was younger. I don't remember the name of it though." A beat, "What about you? What's your favorite food?"
"Girffon steak, no question." One cut looked better now and she got to work on three claw marks, "When I got officially knighted me and the others went to this fancy restaurant to celebrate and I fell in love with it. I would've gotten seconds if Barkus didn't tell me just how insanely expensive that thing was. Centurion said we could just make it a yearly thing..." She paused, "We were supposed to go when I got back."
"I'm sorry." Estelle tapped her hand gently, "I'm...glad I got taken here."
"Yeah, no doubt. So...will you finally tell me what's the deal with you? You know I came back from the past, so..."
"I'm...from the future." Huh...in hindsight that seemed just a bit too obvious, "The time where I came from...cities like this are just a distant memory. I saw it once, when I was younger. It was...rotting, covered head to toe in the Corrupted. Some people tried to reclaim it, maybe instill some hope." A pause, "You did too, from what I heard."
"You knew me?"
"No." She shook her head, "I heard of you, though. Karin the Heavy Wind, a beacon of hope. I grew up hearing tales about you...her." Another shake of the head, "Fairy tales weren't much common in my time."
"What happened to...her?" It was someone else, not her.
"Thought I was supposed to ask the question this time." She saw the other girl's smile on the nearby mirror, "She...um, she fell. I never got the exact details, but apparently she gave her life trying to keep a group of people safe."
"Oh..." Karin stopped her spell and just let her hands settle over Estelle's back. She'd done the best she could. This was so surreal to her. Just a few months ago she found out vampires weren't all alive and now she was talking to someone from another time. Hel, she was from another time herself currently, "So...what's your question?"
"...What would you do if you couldn't go back to your home?"
"Honestly? I have no clue." Karin laughed sat next to the pale archer. Estelle put on the undershirt and the hooded coat in a rush, "Ever since we woke up in that Brimir forsaken forest I've just been trying to survive till the next day. Right now all I can focus on is helping that queen to stop this end of the world she seems to think is happening."
"It's the truth. I've lived it."
"I'll take your word for it." Karin took a deep breath, "...Why do you hide your face?"
Estelle pursed her lips into a thin line and for a second Karin thought she'd leave the room altogether. Eventually she looked down at her clasped hands and let out a soft breath, "Because a lot of people don't have fond memories of who owned it last." Karin waited quietly for her to continue, "I...hold a resemblance to someone who's rather well-known in my time. I took most of my features from him, really."
"That queen seemed to recognize you."
"She knew him. Raziel."
"Raziel?" Not a name she recognized, if it even was one. It didn't sound like a word from any language she knew.
"Yes, my father." Estelle clenched her scarred hands, "He is...difficult to describe. When he was lucid he was one of the greatest assets against the abyss, but during his times of madness he was a worse monster than those that many of us fought. I kept my face hidden because I couldn't be sure that the Corrupted wouldn't recognize my features and mistake him for me or other people would consider him and I to be one and the same even after he'd been dead for years now."
"Oh..."
"The only reason I'm telling you this is because we'll very likely meet him and I don't want for you to be confused and ask him questions. In truth I'd rather he didn't find out of my relationship to him. And..." She bit her bottom lip, the pale skin turning slightly red at the contact, "I trust you. I think you're a friend and...I don't want to lie to you."
"Oh, well...I appreciate it." Despite the tense atmosphere Karin managed a small smile, "If it helps I'm glad I met you too. Like I said before, I probably wouldn't have survived in that barbarian hole if it wasn't for you. And don't worry, I won't say anything about what you told me to that Raziel guy. Cross my heart and hope to die."
"Stick in an arrow in your eye." She laughed softly, "Thank you. For that and healing my back."
"That? It was nothing. Actually I didn't do much. If we really wanna fix up those scars of yours we need to go to a water mage healer. Though, it'll probably be really expensive..." Face and body healing wasn't uncommon among the higher nobility despite its high price. Anything from removing debilitating scars to smoothing out wrinkles could be done if the price was right.
"It's fine. As long as you don't mind then I don't either," Estelle said, "My sister used to help me with that, but after a while it became too difficult."
"You have a sister?"
"Had. She's...passed." Estelle took a deep breath, "Sorry, I didn't mean to bring down the mood."
"It's fine." Karina waved a hand through the air, "My sister wasn't the best. When I got officially knighted I went back home to tell my family. Mother and father were ecstatic but she was just...she was the same as she always was." Sneering and putting her down. That was when she'd resolved to never talk to her again. Judging by her older counterpart she kept that promise.
"Family always seems to end in tragedy."
"You're telling me." She sighed, "Come on, let's go get something to eat. Looking at you just makes me depressed."
"I'm not-"
"And if you finish that sentence I'm gonna shove an entire roast turkey down your throat." Karin beamed while Estelle scooted away in slight fear, "Eating won't kill you, Es. Come on."
"...I don't want them to see my face."
"Why? Is that Raziel guy famous around this time too?"
"I'm...not sure, but one of the people down there was an old friend of his. I don't want her to recognize me. She'll ask questions I don't want to answer." Must've been that Siesta woman. Estelle already knew her name before she introduced herself.
"Then I'll get some food and bring it up. We'll have a little two person party."
"...Thanks, Kari." Karin's chest warmed slightly. It was nice seeing Estelle smile.
Two hours later and Karin had fallen asleep. Estelle leaned over the window and watched as dark figures with lanterns crossed the road below. Back home lanterns were a mixed blessing. it helped you see and at times could even repel the corrupted, but they were also beacons. Dependent on where they made camp they either surrounded their tents in a barrier of light or they slept in absolute darkness.
Estelle waited till the number of lanterns faded before closing the window. The sounds of laughter and drunken screams from below were loud and fast. She still had mixed feelings on crowds. Sometimes it relieved her seeing just how much more of humanity there was and at other times she wanted to run back to the forests she called home for months and return to her life of solitude.
This was one of those times. Estelle made her way down and slipped out of the back door before anyone else could see her. The alley outside was dark, cold and smelled faintly of garbage. Estelle shrunk deeper into her torn coat and just let the night air cool her down. Sometimes she just needed to go outside and remember that she wasn't trapped.
She was almost to the end of the alley when she felt a tingle that ran down her body. Estelle stopped and put a hand on the wall, "...I know you're there." Nothing, "No use hiding. You might as well be screaming into my ear."
Almost a minute of silence passed before the already cold air turned chilling. Estelle suppressed a shiver and kept her face impassive as she stared at the tall, lanky figure of the woman who seemed to materialize straight from the shadows. She didn't know her name, but she was all too aware of what she was.
"How long were you listening?"
"You are family." Well, that answered that question. Estelle sighed and sat with her back against the wall, "You are Raziel's child."
"We share blood, yes, though that hardly matters now. Considering my circumstances even that relation is suspect." Estelle looked up to her, "Don't tell him about this."
"Why? You're family."
"No, I'm not." The words came out softer and more bitter than she intended, "Trust me, it's for the best. Less trouble for all of us if you don't say anything."
"He would be happy to know."
"Really? And how happy was he when he found out about you?" She didn't say anything. It said more than any other answer she could have given, "Our family wasn't happy, and I'm not looking for a reunion. I just...I don't know why I was taken back here, but I'll give anything if it means I can help stop the nightmare this land could become. That's all."
It was quiet after that. Estelle expected her to leave but instead she sat down next to her, "...You're cold."
"Apologies."
"No, I'm sorry. I was being rude." She squeezed her knees together, "I understand what your intentions are, but there's no world where it ends well if you tell him about me. Let him live his life and I shall live mine."
"...Very well."
"Thank you." Estelle smiled and stood. Hopefully her 'aunt' wouldn't spy on her again or their next conversation wouldn't be as pleasant.
"Another question, if I may." Estelle stopped, "Who is your mother?"
"...I'd rather not say." Bad memories came from both sides, after all, "Good night."
"Good night..."
Raziel and Cattleya got found out, Henrietta's delving back into politics and the time travel kiddies are trying to make sense of their situation. Oh, and in one future Raziel's apparently not sterile and someone was dumb enough to have his kids. Twice. I pity the poor woman.
Also, originally Estelle was supposed to be male and hiding his gender as well as his face. I changed it around to her just being female to avoid some plot complications, even if it means lacking a new male character.
I don't know when my next chapter will be. Work and Thesis has picked up and while I've recently found a bit of a spark again due to playing games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Tyranny I still find myself drawn to superhero fiction. I'll see you when I see you, I guess.
Questions:
1. So what do you guys think of Raziel and Cattleya's interactions so far? Does it work or does it feel forced?
2. Is Henrietta still sympathetic or is she becoming too much of a callous and nasty person? While you could justify her behavior to her mom due to stress and accurate criticism her delving back into politics could lead to a lot of moral compromises.
3. Out of curiosity, I wonder who you guys think is the poor woman who ended up with Raziel in the future. Estelle's mother is set and won't be affected by reader choice, but I'm still curious nonetheless.
Review Answers:
Warden of Lore - Love blooming on the battlefield always seems like it's doomed to fail come peacetime.
Zorix - The Robin personality is essentially what Raziel would be like assuming he didn't have the memories of his trauma from Lordran. Tabular Rasa, essentially. Whether that's what he's 'really' like is hard to gauge since I'd argue that Raziel's trauma is an integral part of his personality and without it he's essentially a different person.
Raziel appears to be 14-15. Still better than Louise looking about 10-12 and marrying Wardes, but not by much. As for Estelle...well, she's Raziel's kid. Jury's out on the mom though.
Remvis - Estelle is a cinnamon roll, that's what she is.
Metal Vile - Raziel's 'original' form was the copse the Manus shards possessed in the asylum, so it's not even really his to begin with. It was just some poor Astora knight.
MattDaemon - Aldia is outside the purview of the cycle, though.
ArkT - Still not a fan of Raziel and Cattleya? Also, Dusk wasn't involved in the last chapter iirc? Estelle is a different character.