She woke up.

She started coughing. There was an oily liquid in her lungs. A foul taste filled her mouth, like a mixture of blood, pus and sweat. She squatted on her lap and vomited bile. Then she looked around

She regretted it immediately.

All around was an undulating plain, shrouded in a foul-smelling yellow mist. The ground was like the rubbery mantle of some mollusk, covered with numerous pools of black liquid she had just gulped out. There weren't plants, just clumps of something, they looked like ulcers. The air was musty, smelled of sweetly rotting flesh. Four-legged skinny creatures scrambled along the surface of this place, driving long probes into the "ground", like mosquitoes into a human body.

- Orocorans are parasites that feed on the sap of this planet ... A bit like you our dear Shadow Weaver ... though they are never so greedy.

She turned to see a tall man dressed in a tight-fitting black outfit enveleped by black smoke. He had a golden mark on his chest, resembling an inverted aankh. He had a handsome, thin face. His eyes shone with a golden glow and his head was burning. He bowed mockingly.

- This face is Carsai The King, Keeper of the Divine Planet Aucturn, whose infinite beauty you can watch.

She looked at the place, that surrounded her. The same space she had seen before stretched out everywhere. The only diversion were the hills stretching in the distance, disturbingly resembling vertebrae protruding from a skeleton half buried in the ground.

- You have to get used to being able to enjoy its charm, but we didn't invite you here to admire the views.

She pursed her lips. For most of her life, she wore a veil and then a mask. Now, with her face exposed, she felt uncomfortable.

- I should be dead… - She said hoarsely.

- You were dead, our dear Shadow Weaver. You were as dead as mortal can be, but that does not absolve you from paying your debt. - said Carsai and they came up to the woman.

She swallowed loudly. She felt sick from the bittersweet aftertaste. She knew in her heart that power always had a price, but she had never imagined she would pay it so literally.

- But sacrifice ... - she said in defensive tone.

- Your sacrifice has been recognized, and that's why we talk so politely. Otherwise… This discussion would be absolutely one-sided. - his eyes lit up with a glow so bright that he was blinding - And I remind you that you tried to kill us ... Or at least this face.

- It was not my intention ...

They ordered with a gesture that she should be silent.

- By accident, then, you allowed, or even helped, to activate the weapon of the First Ones, which was aimed at their enemies, including that face ... Perhaps it was an accident, or perhaps you wanted to free yourself from our contract. - said Carsai.

- I haven't made a deal with you, I've never heard of you. - she said resigned. She did not know who this creature was. It didn't matter, though. She was so incredibly tired, she doubted anything could agitate her.

- You know us. Carsai The King is one of thousands of masks that share one name ... Nyarlathotep. - They smiled and Shado Weaver shuddered. She now fully understood what a terrible situation she was in.

- But, we are not mortals. We are stranger to such feelings as pride, lust for power, envy. We also do not hold a grudge, especially since you got rid of a few problems that have plagued the galaxy from many millennia, and for that we are grateful. However… It doesn't mean we'll forgive you your debt. You see, you may prove to be of use to us. After all, the universe abhors a vacuum ... - they laughed - Sorry for the bad joke, we have more important things to discuss. - they said and approached the sorceress. They knelt down.

- You should be pleased that your ward survived, safe and sound. Or maybe you will be sad about this? You've never been a too loving mother… - They smiled and their eyes glittered.

- I just wanted ... That she would complete her destiny, that she could be what she should become and ... I think I did my job well ... No matter what I did. I made her who she is. I can answer for that. I know I hurt her ... both of them and so many others. So if you're going to punish me for something, punish me for it. - she said and looked fiercely into the eyes of the Outer God.

- You have a lot of old strength left in you. That's good. We do not judge you because your morality is stranger to us. We are as old as time itself, and we don't see the world in your terms. The suffering you caused ... The pain you inflicted... is meaningless in the face of the infinite vastness of the indifferent universe ... - he said, and in his eyes she saw the light of stars so old that they were dead when Etheria arose - Likewise your sacrifice, but not yours debt. However, we are infinitely gracious, and instead of suffering unimaginable, we will give you the opportunity to return.

She looked up at the creature that barely look like a human. She knew suffering, it had filled every moment of her existence for so long. She-Ra treatment, or honestly Adora, helped a bit, but it was only a slight relief. But now it was different. She could breathe freely. Despite the scars, hers face no longer burned with the cold flame. She was able to move like a young woman, more agile before Micah failed her. But such a gift always came at a price. And she was afraid she knew what she was like

- If you want me to betray ... that I deny the choice of which ... - he will interrupt her, raising his hand.

- Betrayal ... It's such an ambiguous word. Can be betrayer someone who has served only himself for almost all his life? You've always wanted power, but when you knew you weren't strong enough to get it, you were using others. They were extensions of you, your ... Shadows that you could send to obey your will ... Only one time, when you did not act selfishly and now you are at our mercy ... But we only want the universe to become a safe place for mortals again, we love so much in all our masks. - Carsai smiled, and that smile could burn souls - We want to make sure that in the future no one wants to release such power ...

She shook her head vigorously. something

- Nobody will use the EtheriaHeart again, you said yourself that it was destroyed ... The First ones are dead, so no one can rebulid it anymore!

Carsai looked at her silently. She felt that she wasn't noticed something, Something extremely important.

- That is not dead which can eternal lie and with strange aeons even death may die. You know that at least one of them is alive, but it can't be the only one ... They are hiding somewhere far away, in a place unknown even to us. So it is imperative that this place be found. - they said and stared into the distance expectantly. Shadow Weaver felt relieved. She won't have to go back to it all. It always seemed to her that everything she did was for a greater purpose. But it always came at a high price, and she wasn't sure she wished others would have to pay it again.

- However, in order to find the Firsts ones, you must return to Etheria. Not alone, of course. Some preparations were made long time ago with such a moment in mind. You have to understand something. We are an emissary of the Outer Gods. Their Soul. And we are always happy to help each other…. There is a Key and a Gate. The Key and the Gate! Do you Understand? We have prepared a special gift for the inhabitants of Etheria, but you must hurry, my dear, because those who want to regain their inheritance have already began to plot ... We are not alone in the darkness between the stars. They have many plans ... Many servants ... And some of them are Everhungry. But our gift should… make us able to take the lead. It is a very beautiful gift. You'll love it.

First she smelled the smel…. The smell was strange, a bit repulsive and unnatural, like it should'nt never be on earth. Then she felt a Presence… An alien presence even for this place… Then she heard the words.

- Hey Mother… We have many wonderful adventures ahead. [/i]

A few years later. Fringe of the Pact Worlds.

The research vessel of the Kemanis University – Wisdom of Triune had travelingtraveled the vast expanses of the fringes of the system collecting samples for research. Businessmen from Absalon, especially from Abadar Corp, often commissioned remote areas to be explored so that raw materials could be harvested here. Of course, the main task was to study the history of the development of the system and such things, but Captain Ricat, Ysoki of Absalon Station, was well aware that finding economically valuable places was an important source of income for the University. The work was boring and tiring, but not too difficult and also well paid. So he didn't have much to complain about, even in the case of a pirate attack, the University would buy him out.

But now something has interrupted this boring journey across the endless void. Signal detected. Weak, barely detectable at this distance, would most certainly be overlooked by someone less meticulous or… less bored. A small object in the middle of the void could drift here alone for countless eons, but it was found by a Ricat who would not have missed such an opportunity. If only because of Ysoki's healthy curiosity. He ordered the ship to be directed at the object, and when they were within range, he launched a scan. It turned out to be a rescue capsule of unknown origin. More importantly, there was life in the capsule. Well, even if he wanted to, he couldn't back down. By law, he now had to take the survivor aboard, help him, and drive him to the nearest place where he could find a safe haven, which Ricat didn't mind much, because the capsule itself seemed valuable enough to go to the trouble of himself. So he ordered the grippers to be fired and the object pulled in. Then he and Ikt, Shiren technician, went to the cargohold. There they looked at the capsule. It was ancient, with an indeterminate origin. There was a symbol of a white rose on the lid ...

Hello, this is my first text here.

The first text comes from the pbf game, which unfortunately did not take place.

I will also be drawing some themes from Revelation Space and the Black Company (Only idea of antymagical girl).

The story probably won't be very dark, although it can be sad.