Before you read please note that the content of this chapter is sensitive and might be triggering for some of you. There are mentions of suicide inside so please read at your own risk!
Thorns. Thorns wherever she looks. They are on her right side, on her left side, in front and behind her as well above and under her. Thorns are everywhere, have always been and will always be. Shionne understood that early on in her life. She didn't know why it was her but she learned not to complain about it. The thorns were always around her and threatened to devour her soul and body if she was not careful and ever watchful.
A dreading fate indeed but humans have the tendency to adapt to even the vilest and most cruel of all situations. Besides, ever since she has seen the light of the world for the first time her vegetable curse had prevented anyone to touch her for more than a second so she never experienced the bliss a soft brush or a pat on the back could grant. And what she didn't know she couldn't miss. At least, that is what she has always taught herself and repeated it like a mantra so she would never forget that she was alone in this world and every other.
The only ones keeping her company, as morbid as it was, were ironically the same thorns that forced loneliness on her in the first place. She hated her thorns and she loved them as well. It doesn't make sense, she knows, but living too long in the dark corrupts your mind even further.
She learned that lesson when she attempted to end it all and let her fall from one of the tallest buildings on Lenegis. As gravity committed its work and her heart leapt wildly within her chest she closed her eyes. Finally, this sorry excuse of life would fade away into nothingness and releaser her from all her suffering. But her thorns do not only cling to her but life itself as well and therefore she does too.
Also, there's something else, something that hides behind the thick layers of cartilaginous and parched remains of once beautiful plants. She doesn't see it but knows that it is there, whatever it is. But even though unseen, she's aware that it is a creature dwelling inside the deepest depths of Dark Astral Energy only available to Renans like her, a manifestation of the dark energy itself. It lurks with feral carnage inside, lost to madness by an unknown cause.
And when the ground came closer and closer and with it her death the scenery in front of her inner eye suddenly shifted. Gone was the everlasting blackness of an empty void. Its place was substituted by an open sky. The universe with its billions of stars lay before her and the pink-haired girl was awestruck as she gazed in wonder into the limitless vastness of beauty. She didn't understand why she was brought here so suddenly nor did she care. If this is how she dies she will embrace death with open arms.
Suddenly a thunderous step resonated from behind her accompanied by a demonic and evil neigh drenched in utter despair and wrath. They shook the world's foundation she was in and shattered her soul alongside as well. Before she vanished completely she was able to turn around and was met with a pair of crimson red eyes staring her down. Behind a veil of complete darkness stood a gargantuan beast, its true form hidden beneath the thick and ominous mist. The moving shadow teleported and suddenly hovered above her. From within the thick veil came a gigantic hoof, set ablaze by the purple light of Dark Astral Energy and buried her underneath. The world crumbled to dust and she was forced out of this realm by the living nightmare.
She gasped when she opened her eyes, wide awake, and found herself in a dark alley. Above her towered the building she had jumped off but yet here she was, still alive. She couldn't comprehend how this was possible or what just had happened. Maybe she had just dreamed of committing suicide and the monster inside her mind was simply an imaginary creation of her own fantasy?
When she looked at the ground she almost vomited on the spot by the sight offered to her. She lay inside a pool of her own blood, squeezed out of her when her body tutted against the concrete with violent force. Yet there was no pain and only then and there did Shionne come to terms with the true extent of her curse.
The thorns and their hidden master are greedy about their possession over her and protect their property with eagerness not even the cold and merciless grasp of death can overcome. She is forced into solitude and unable to die. When that realisation settled into her mind and soul hot tears began to fall from her eyes and streamed down her face as she cried, also alone. Fate played evil tricks on her and she couldn't even understand why she was forced to suffer through such agony.
It was unfair but then again life is always unfair and never punishes those who truly deserve it. It always hits those of innocence and in her case, it began on the day she was born, this unfair treatment.
Looking back Shionne could only curse her own life, the world and everything else as well. If they reject her then she will reject them likewise. She doesn't give a flying fuck anymore what happens to her or her surroundings. She will do everything in order to fulfil her one and only desire. To free herself from the curse bestowed upon her, even if this means that she will die a second later. That one second of freedom will be enough to make amends for all her suffering. While she lay in her own blood the pink-haired girl made her decision. Her tears dried up and she hid them in the deepest part of her young heart as resolution replaced the watery fluid.
But in order to do this, she needs strength. Luckily the annual contest for the crown is currently raging on Dahna. Surely this will provide her with everything necessary in order to achieve her newly formed aim. But it won't be enough. She also requires pawns that will walk next to her without knowing her true intentions. There are more than enough Dahnans available and without a doubt, one or two will lend her a hand as long as she promises them the sweet opportunity of freedom. With that mindset, she prepared herself for the journey until she could finally set out towards Dahna so she could complete her selfish desire and destiny at the same time.
Those have been her thoughts and now she hates herself for it and it's maddening. She was prepared for everything except one thing. The gentleness of the people she had planned to use to her own advantage. Despite the gruesome fate every Dahnan endured, some of them still had an aura of kindness surrounding them at every given time.
They didn't care about her Renan roots or her thorns and accepted her simply as the person she was. Alphen and Zephyr were among those people and each of them gently tore at the barriers she had built around her heart and soul.
Then there were people like Rinwell. The young girl hated her, not much to her surprise, but nevertheless agreed to work together with her and accepted her presence among the group without that much of a fuss. From time to time they could even talk with each other almost as if Renans and Dahnans never existed. They chatted about god and the world and it was freeing for Shionne.
Finally, there were people like Law. Honestly, she can't say what he truly thinks of her because he treats her not different from how he treats Rinwell nor Alphen. It feels like he doesn't make any difference from the beginning and looks at the people who stand in front of him and not from where they come from. He acts like a large oaf ball and is treated as such by many but there's more to him than the initial glance can reveal.
Behind his young, boyish face sleeps a vivacious and complex personality hidden beneath the layers of many preconceptions. And Shionne has to admit that she fell for them as well. She had thought of him as nothing but a hindrance but she was proven wrong and some portion of her regretted this false view of hers she had over him. If it hadn't been for Law all of them would have been dead and she had ended up alone once again.
She only realised this when the blond girl with navy strands assaulted them. Take away Alphen's swords and he will be helpless. Take away Rinwell's spells and she will be helpless as well. And take away her Artes and rifle and she sits in the same boat. Law, however, is different from them. There was nothing left from him that could be taken away. His father, she holds in great regards even though she will never admit this, died in front of Law's eyes and she has to wonder whether there is a crueller parting or not. Most likely not.
Yet, the brown-haired boy with streaks of pink pushed forward, an epitome of his mental strength and when danger swept over them it was only he who could stand up against their for. All of them lay exhausted and beaten one way or another in the snow while he fought their enemy on equal fitting. The teenagers' fists and legs flew across the battlefield as they engaged in heavy and intense combat, their bodies the only weapons they needed and the only ones that didn't fail their purpose.
Shionne realised that the person she considered to be the block holding them down was actually the force that pushed them forward – all of them. And without their weapons, neither of them would even stand the slightest chance against the young martial artist. He would wipe the floor with each of them effortlessly. At first glance, it was not obvious but in fact, Law is their strongest fighter by a long shot. Neither of them could hold a candle to his physical abilities. They are rough around the edges and miss the grace of his father's polished moves yet they are refined nonetheless and effectively useable under many different circumstances.
So when she saw how the earth swallowed Law and the blonde girl she knew that they needed to rescue him no matter what. Without him, they don't stand a chance against Ganabelt Valkyris or any of the other Lords waiting for them for that matter.
But this is easier said than done. Their most capable fighter has vanished into the eternal earth leaving the broken rest of their team behind. Probably only Hootle is still able to do anything but what could this cute, little fluff-ball do? The actions he can take are highly limited as dreading as it is to admit.
And with her, the only healer of the group, swimming through her own unconsciousness there is little hope for any of them. Her curse may keep her alive but it won't take away the terrors of pain and agony. If nothing happens she will walk through several hells of physical and mental torture, lost in this icy land of Cyslodia.
Suddenly, however, her mind became shrouded in misty fog. The invisible walls froze over at a slow, yet steady tempo. Even though it was her own mind Shionne began to shiver violently. Her breath frosted the moment it left her warm mouth. She rubbed herself up and down, trying to somehow reclaim some of her lost body heat but it was in vain. It felt like the manifestation of winter had taken a hold on her and was reluctant about letting her go anytime soon. What was a soft, snowy layer at first morphed into thick barriers of massive and bulky icebergs. Her soul was trapped from every side as she froze to a living sculpture, bound to live for eternity not once but twice.
Slowly the pink-haired girl's eyes fell close, soothed to eternal rest by the relentless coldness but suddenly light invaded her in a merciless flood and pulled her out of the frozen confines of her own world. She gasped awake and saw a familiar, youthful face hovering above her own.
It was Rinwell. She looked wide-eyed at her and it seemed she was just as surprised as Shionne felt at the moment.
However, Rinwell's facial features were contorted in pain as she ground her teeth on each other in order to bite through it and Shionne wondered why as her mind malfunctioned in her delirious state. That was until she saw the purple sparks dancing across Rinwell's right hand which the girl held tightly on. There was also a stinging sensation on her left cheek and slowly she realised what must have happened.
Rinwell was the first one to fall victim to the merciless assault of the blond-haired girl with navy blue strands si it was only natural for her to be awake first as well. Being the sole pain soother of their jumbled group the young girl must have prioritised her so Shionne could take care of any wounds, especially Alphen but the Renan girl couldn't find it in her to care about the silver-haired man at the moment. She was too caught up in the scene playing directly in front of her eyes since there was only one thing that would cause the purple lightning.
Her thorns.
They crackled and danced around the right hand and forearm which the young sorceress protectively held in order to prevent any further damage to her charred limb. Hootle hooted agitated and the worry he felt for his most trusted friend was clearly visible on his puffy face. Sadly for the small ball of fluffy ball of feathers, there was little to nothing he could do to erase the pain coursing through Rinwell like molten stone. And even she herself, the spring for the girl's suffering, the origin of everything was unable to soothe the pain away. As long as she's alive this will happen time after time again but ironically and morbidly as it is she's unable to die, kept alive by the very source of the purple flashes.
Shionne wanted to ask her why she did what she has done but suddenly winter brushed her again, invaded her body effortlessly and forced her mouth shut as she took in the dreading sensation of icy chills. However, the frozen winds blowing through her inner world changed something inside her and she could feel how her supply of Astral Energy was slowly replenished, the ratio of how fast, coaxed forward at a steady pace by the soft winter storm.
Inside the blizzard, she could make out a figure but couldn't decipher who exactly it was but a new chill pulled her out of her misted thoughts and drew her attention elsewhere. When it had settled she understood many things which throw up many more questions. Her eyes rested on the frame of the large ice wolf they had intended to hunt down. He was the reason for them being where they were in the first place. His cold stare unsettled her and if she tried to muster her remaining strength in order to grab her rifle but she was too weak to do anything except to observe him with wary eyes filled with fear.
He was surrounded by the same swirls of frozen water that slowly but surely encaged her insides without leaving a single speck unoccupied but in contrary of her expectations his expression was of calm nature and not a feral one as he simply laid within the snow. The clouds carrying his Astral Energy crafted a path that connected both him and her and she realised it must be his doing that her reservoir was replenished.
Why he would do this Shionne didn't know and couldn't even begin to understand the reasons for. With all of them utterly defenceless he should have ripped them to shreds and feasted on their flesh in carnal desire and delight but instead, he chose to share his Energy at least with her. Unintentionally her eyes returned to the young magician whose face was no longer distorted by agony. Not a single word was spoken because there was no need for them. The questions were written all over the Renan's features so Rinwell readied herself to somehow explain what let to their former prey refilling Shionne's tanks for Astral Energy.
But a blood-curling scream interrupted her from doing so. The volume was so high-pitched that it sounded like the screech of a banshee, scratching at the very bones of their bodies but in fact, the source for the scream was none other than a freshly awoken Alphen. The left side of his face, where the blond girl had punched him, was shattered and broken by the teenager's insanely physical power and his forearms still remained frozen solid to the very bone from the touch of winter. Cracks had already formed and threatened to destroy his fighting abilities for the rest of his life.
The silver-haired man may be unable to feel pain but there are always exceptions to rules such as this one and his screams of agony indicated as much. Rinwell wondered just how much pain he must go through as she listened, paralysed by the shock, to the vocal echoes of madness bubbling from Alphen's throat.
Feeling a surge of hidden strength dwelling inside her, Shionne stumbled to her legs and hurried to the man's side and upon arrival immediately started to cast her strongest Healing Arte. His injuries are severe and she worries that she might be too late already. But that doesn't mean she will give up this easily as she focuses on mending broken bones and reconstructing cells from the very foundation. Everything becomes a blur as she loses herself in concentration, not even the presence of the feral carnivore matters to her anymore.
The ice wolf observes the scene in mild curiosity before he turns to look at the youthful spell caster. She meets his gaze and understands well that it's her turn now to keep her end of the bargain. When she looks at the buried crater, while the waves of Shionne's Healing Arte and Alphen's screams fill her ears, her words from earlier surface and she can't help but question herself, whether she did the right choice or not.
"Help us to find Law and in return, we will help you to find the blond girl." That was her suggestion and it was the suggestion the ice wolf miraculously understood and agreed to. She watched in awe and completely stupefied that her plan actually worked as the Zeugle started to recharge Shionne's energy, already aware that she is the healer of the group, in order to accomplish his side of the deal by keeping all of them alive.
This Zeugle was so different from others that Rinwell was utterly speechless by his actions. It felt more like speaking to a human than to a beast and she can't deny the fact that the wolf reminds her strongly of Hootle. They are animals but they have the complex soul of humans with all the ups and downs it offers and at that though she is remembered to never judge someone by outer appearance alone.
Still, she can't stop herself to worry about the stupid idiot with spiky hair because somehow she has the feeling that they ended up with the member of the team of beast and girl that could be reasoned with. There's nothing she can do about her worries at the moment though. First, they need to fix Alphen, then she must convince Shionne and Alphen to tolerate the presence of the Zeugle at their side for the time being – something she has no clue how to achieve – and after that is said and done they need to find a path leading into the innards of the earth. They could try to dig up a hole but she doubts that will be a possible solution since this is far too time-consuming. There must be another way and maybe their guest has an idea where to start but for the moment she can only wait and lick her wounds until the time for their departure towards an unknown destination.
She casts her gaze into the sky and watches as the aurora shimmers dance across the heaven. Her eyes follow the soft swings and she is lulled to sleep by the arctic lights and falls asleep in order to rest.
Plated steps echo through the vast halls of the castle from Ganabelt Valkyris. Every servant and every soldier bowed their heads either in fear or in awe as Cyslodia's White Flash passed by. When he was out of sight they returned to their tasks unaware that the mighty soldier didn't care in the least for formalities. He always wonders what they would say if there were to know the truth about him.
He's certain that fear and awe will turn into hatred but even then he wouldn't care. For him only the safety of his Lord matters and nothing else. And the same Lord has requested for his presence in the throne room and that is where he is currently headed towards. Lord Ganabelt Valkyris is more than capable to protect himself and has a habit of disappearing without leaving a trace during one of his many strolls throughout Cyslodia. The White Flash is aware of this so it's a rare event when the Lord of light wishes for his participation in a meeting.
Arriving at the gates leading into the throne room, he easily pushed the doors open with his raw, physical strength. He is greeted by emptiness, much to his surprise. His eyes roam the vast room until he finds his master sitting in a comfortable chair located in front of a small table, sipping from time to time on a glass of wine while he observes the snow dancing outside the windows.
"My Lord." the White Flash said while he bowed his head in humility. Even though Ganabelt Valkyris is not even looking at him he still has the urge to lower his towering body in the presence of his Majesty.
In response, the Lord of Cyslodia gestures with his free hand for him to come closer and sit in the second chair placed at the opposite side of the small table. Not daring to disobey his Lord's order the White Flash does as he's asked to. With every step, his armour clicks and the metallic sound fills the otherwise silent room.
He sits down in the chair which is barely able to contain his colossal frame and makes him look out of place. He remains silent for he does not know what his Lord wishes. For the moment he seems content to simply watch the performance of the frozen water until his lips finally part. The words surprise the White Flash for they were beyond his expectations.
"I'm surprised you haven't taken your weapons with you since I'm sure you desire to slay me with your own hands." the Lord of Cyslodia says with every word laced in confidence. Before he could respond to this outrageous claim Ganabelt stops him in his tracks with a new order.
"Take off your helmet." The order is silent and almost similar to a whisper but that doesn't lessen the demand within. Also, he begins to understand the reason for this meeting because there is only one possible cause. Lifting his adored helmet off his head reveals a face all too familiar to Ganabelt Valkyris who has shifted his attention from the dancing snow to his best soldier.
Below the piece of armour hides the face of a middle-aged man, He has short and spiky, greyish hair and grows a short beard across his chin. The lines of his face are sharp and prominent and his crystal-teal eyes are highlighted by the stern look he wears.
"Zephyr," the Lord begins with a small smirk on his lips now. "It's the name of the leader of the rebel organisation called "Crimson Crows" and it is the name of Agent Law's father as well," he continues while he watched the reactions of the muscular man sitting opposite from him.
"Further, this name belongs to the man I killed with my own hands but this is not all that is there to it, am I right?" The White Flash has visibly tensed by every word spoken by the Lord of Cyslodia. Secretly he had hoped Ganabelt would let it simply slide by but of course he wouldn't do that, forcing him into this sort of situation.
"Zephyr, that is the name you know as well and have, in fact, known for a long time because it's the name which belongs to none other than your twin brother. Isn't that correct, Boreas?" The White Flash sighed audibly at the reveal since it was the truth. This reaction was enough of an answer and both men knew this very well.
Boreas and Zephyr. These are the names given to them at their birth. Two men look completely identical since they are twins. Boreas is the firstborn but only by a few minutes. During their childhood, they were inseparable and even when their paths were cruelly ripped apart not once did a day go by where they didn't think of the other. But they would never get their happy reunion since Zephyr's life was ended by the Renan Lord sitting across from him.
"At first, I thought you had betrayed me and played two games at the same time but something seemed off about the situation. Imagine my surprise when I figured out the truth. I must admit I never anticipated that you would be twin brothers but this throws another question off. You came here without your weapons although you must hate me. So please enlighten me, Boreas. Is it because we are master and slave? Or is it because I will call you, a Dahnan, a friend without remorse and a second's hesitation?" the Renan Lord asked.
Friend. A single word yet it holds so much meaning. Boreas stood up and moved to one of the many windows. He cast his gaze into the wilderness where his nephew, his sole remaining family and Zephyr's legacy is living on.
His mind wandered back to the day when he was captured and afterwards brought to Lenegis. While playing outside Zephyr was caught by a Renan patrol but Boreas managed to assault them by surprise. He was not strong enough to defeat the armoured soldiers, he knew that but he was at least able to take the place of his younger brother since they looked identical. With tears streaming down his face he knocked an equally crying Zephyr unconscious and hid him from the Renans. It was the last time he would see him and what little hope he had was destroyed when he was sent to the orbital satellite.
There he experienced terrors he doesn't dare to repeat until he was rescued by the man staring holes into his back. In the three hundred years since the invasion, it was unheard of that a Renan saved a Dahnan but Ganabelt broke this record. Since he belonged to a prestigious family, whose head he had already been his word held great weight and nobody who knew about Boreas laid a hand on him. They were still young during these days but Boreas had already understood how cruel Renans could be, no matter whether they are children or adults.
He feared for the worst but surprisingly he was treated well by Ganabelt. Later the man revealed to him that it was an experiment of his fuelled by curiosity. He wanted to see how a Dahnan would live among Renans when treated well and to his surprise, the result was quite boring. He saw not much of a difference to Renans but at that time the borders of civilisation had already blurred and they called each other their best friend.
Boreas, who has seen both sides of the coin came to the conclusion, that there was not much of a difference between Dahnans and Renans if one were to take away the issue of slaves and masters. What remained were merely humans who all desired one thing or another. There were as many bad Renans as there were Dahnans and the same applies to good ones as well.
He's aware that not many will share this view but he doesn't care. Good and evil is decided from where you look at a person. Many will call Ganabelt Valkyris an evil man but for Boreas, the same man is his saviour and the man he calls his best friend whom he had sworn to protect during this battle. With that in mind, he gave his response in a collected manner.
"I can't deny that you are the man who has killed my beloved younger brother and the scars left by that inside my heart will never heal completely and I doubt that I will ever be able to forgive you for this action. However, you are also the same man who has saved my life and given me a chance for a second life as well as you are the man I call my dearest friend. I promised that I will stay at your side during this battle and I have no intention of breaking my oath." Boreas said with his arms crossed over his chest.
Ganabelt knew the tall man long enough to take this action as resignation to not answer any further inquiries regarding this matter. This was the final statement and Boreas wouldn't budge from that. Ganabelt had crossed his legs and rested his face on his right fist as he sunk deeper into the plushy chair.
"I see. A straightforward response as always. But what about the atrocities I have committed and still do against the Dahnan people? Can you continue to watch as your people suffer by my actions?" At that Boreas turned around and faced his friend and master with fierce determination burning in his eyes.
"For that, you will one day receive your punishment."
"A punishment delivered by your very sword?"
Before Boreas responded he kneeled down and bowed his head "No. By someone else's. On that day your life will perish and mine shall do so as well for the crimes we both have committed on our own accord."
Suddenly something shifted in the air as the tension became so thick that it could be cut with a knife as Boreas returned his view to his lord. "However, I will not permit you to hurt my brother's legacy. This is the one crime I will not forgive so if you desire to taste my blade simply raise your hand against the boy and I will cut you down without a seconds hesitation." The speech was calm but the threat residing in every letter was more than obvious.
The next second the Lord of Cyslodia's bellowing laughter filled the vast room. He's seldom jubilant but if anything makes him laugh he does so wholeheartedly. His body shook for minutes before he recovered from his rare outburst and refocused his attention on the still glaring man. A smirk still graced his features as he retorted.
"As you wish. I shall not lay a single hand on the boy and leave this matter entirely in your hands," he reassured his best warrior. But when he saw his bowing frame something about it irked him greatly so he stood up and moved to the tall man.
"One more thing. Friends don't bow in front of each other. Instead, they meet each other face to face," Ganabelt said and offered his hand. Boreas was startled by these words since he didn't expect them in the least but after overcoming his initial shock he accepted the help and faced his friend face to face as he had described it.
"Now then. I believe it's time I tell you why I called for your presence." Taking his friend's silence as a cue to continue the Lord of Cyslodia revealed his true intentions.
"There are two people I must talk to and therefore I need your help." Without questioning who these people are, Boreas immediately wanted to know, where he must go. Ganabelt Valkyris smirked at the eagerness of the White Flash.
"Ganath Haros."
The plot Zeugle did a good number on me when this came to my mind. I suppose you didn't expect a twist of events such as this right? At least I hope that I managed to surprise and shock you at the same time^^
The more I write the more ideas come to my mind and this story becomes longer and longer. I hope you are in for a long journey because this will be an enormous endeavour! I hope I will live long enough to actually finish this xD
Thank you so much for all the support! I hope you liked this chapter and are looking forward to the next chapter. If you get bored at waiting for the next update I have two other stories waiting to keep you company during the wait :)
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