The foundation of the prison shook, causing Rosa to rise to her feet with a jerk. She ran to the jail cell bars, trying to peer up to see what is causing the chaos. Looking up to the ceiling above, the stones began to crumble and fall. She then could hear the cries and yells of her fellow Umbran Sisters rallying forces and commencing combat.
A siege was underway, one of large magnitude if the prison was close to it all. For enemy forces to get this far into the Crescent Valley, then the situation was direr than a common raid they would occasionally have.
Unable to do anything, all she was left to do was for her to struggle with the chains strung around her neck, arms, legs, and torso, as she had done hundreds of times before. But this time it felt different. She felt panic set in, a worry she had hoped to never feel.
"Cereza," She thought to herself. Her daughter, a small child that was still no older than six years old, was no longer by her jail cell. She would always fall asleep next to her, she remembered singing to her that night. And now she is gone.
In frustration, she tugged and pulled as much as she could on her chains. She knew it was a lost cause. For years, she had tried everything to get them off. But she couldn't just sit there and do nothing.
After one last tug, and with the chains still tight around her being, she gripped the jail cell bars, "Cereza!"
She called her daughter but heard no reply. She could still hear the howls and the cries of her sisters above.
"Anyone! If anyone can hear me! Let me out!" Rosa called out, hoping her sisters could hear her pleas. The guards would have heard her if they were nearby. But they had more than likely run off to help fight.
She sighed in frustration, gripping the chains with white knuckles. A wave of anger swelling within her. She was mostly bitter for her clan that had placed such a permanent restraint on her, and for herself. For not keeping a closer eye on her own daughter. The night was still young, as the gleaming moonlight peered into the small window on the opposite side of the room. She didn't know where she could be or who had her.
She attempted to kick down the cell door. Something she didn't even have the opportunity to do, being under close watch every single day. But the cell bars were just as strong. Her powers and strength meant nothing. It was all buried deep and locked away with these bindings placed on her. Her magic was less than a whimper, a pathetic cry than what they used to be.
After a few more attempts, she got nowhere. But then she heard something approaching. Loud, thundering footsteps. The ground began to shake as it got closer, nearing the prison entrance. Rosa barely had time to recoil back as a Brave came charging through the door, well, the whole side of the wall. Plunging in, swinging its weapon around blindly, and angrily. Rosa stood up to ready herself but saw the angel was preoccupied with another issue. An Umbran witch, poised atop the Brave, shooting down into the creature. She managed to dodge out of the way fast enough to avoid its huge hand coming up over its head to grab her. With a few more well-placed shots, the Brave fell, and the demons of Inferno greedily grasped the creature and pulled it down.
"You there! Let me out!" Rosa shouted to the witch, who spun around to the sound of the older witch bellowing to her in their ancient tongue.
She looked surprised to see Rosa, still locked away. Without a word, the witch hurried over to the cell and managed to release the binding curse on the cell door. Seeing the curse lifted, Rosa nodded to the Witch and kicked down the door as the girl just managed to move out of the way.
Rosa was still saddened to see the chains on her body still there. But the feeling of being outside her jail cell for the first time in years was enough to make her forget about them. She shook those thoughts away as her original concerns returned, and she faced the underlying Umbra.
"What is happening? Is Paradiso attacking?" Rosa asked in a stern but forward tone.
"Yes, a whole army of the Laguna, as well as the last Lumen Sage. The Elder says he is leading this attack," The witch spoke.
"What? Balder?" Rosa spun to face out towards the open hole in the wall, trying to get a glimpse of what is happening to the Crescent Valley.
"That's impossible," Rosa thought to herself, "He would never do such a thing."
"It cannot be his doing. He would not do this," Rosa spoke out loud to the Witch, swiping the air in front of her, as to reflect the accusations made against her husband.
"He has been seen leading attacks through the valley!" The witch said, more urgency in her voice.
Rosa turned back to the smoldering wall. She didn't want to believe her sister, she couldn't. She knew an attack like this was only meant for one thing, to wipe out the Umbra for good. The Clan War had put Balder into the position of being the last Lumen Sage. Both clans were far too weak and brittle to do anything. For an attack like this, it could be suicide for both. But it could not be Balder. He had sworn to never harm herself or Cereza. This couldn't be it.
"Cereza," Rosa breathed and she spun back around to the underlying. "Where is my daughter?"
"I have not seen her, nor have the others. We have been too occupied!" She pointed up to the night sky, as angels can be seen soaring through it. Silhouetted against the bright moon.
"I'm going to look for her. Get everyone to the Clock Tower. You will need strength in numbers!" Rosa instructed as she turned to the rubble to step over it.
"The Laguna are swarming us out there, and you are going alone?" The Umbra witch called out, baffled.
Rosa turned back out to the fiery battlefield ahead. At that moment, she finally had time to focus on something, something that had changed.
Rosa felt a tug at her chains. It felt it had...loosened? It was something she had never felt before. Since she had left the cell, she could tell some of the weight lifted off of her. Perhaps the jail cell held more of a curse than she thought.
But she could feel it. The power returned to her. Deep, coursing, magic still in her veins. Her body felt rejuvenated with the strength she thought she had lost forever. She still couldn't access all of her strength with the chains still on, and only one person had put them on, and so only one person could take them off. But for now, this would do.
With a deep breath and the flick of her wrists, she summoned the Unforgiven, her guns, that she had long awaited to use again.
"I can handle myself," Rosa said, spinning the barrel of each gun. "You should hurry up now, to the Clock Tower".
And with a swift leap, Rosa was gone, vanished into the smoldering ruins that were becoming The Crescent Valley.
Deep in a woodland area, stretching along the outskirts of the main center of the Umbran Clan, two small figures hurriedly scamper through the brush. Young Cereza and Jeanne, the outcast and the Heiress running out of terror. The cries of the Witches and the harrowing screeches of Angels can be heard in the far-off distance. Neither of them could tell if they were getting closer or not. But they didn't risk knowing and kept running.
"This way!" Cereza called out, as Jeanne followed closely behind. Huffing and puffing as they tried to catch their breath. Each girl clutched onto their small stuffed animals. Jeanne's small crimson cat, beautifully crafted and adorned with his small green hat. And Cereza's Chesire, her raggedy cat doll, which she adored. Its charm came from its mixed cloth pattern and mix-matched eyes.
"Are you sure?" Jeanne said, worriedly. She slowed down to a small jog, looking back over her shoulder. "I don't think it was this far out. We missed it!"
"We didn't miss it! It's just up ahead, come on!" Cereza said, looking back at Jeanne and waving her hand overhead to encourage her friend to follow. With a huff, Jeanne picked up the pace and kept going.
Deep within the woods, the two young Umbra were able to find what they were looking for. An abandoned house, but not just any abandoned house. An ancient home with many tunnels underneath its floorboards, leading to various exit points in the valley. In their mischievous adventures, the two young witches stumbled upon it. They had explored its caves for hours. Though they would usually come out dusty, they also knew where each tunnel went and which one to take, for the most part.
Stepping into the house, they immediately beelined to the basement. Finding the hatch to the underground labyrinth closed, but still uncovered. Just as they left it.
"Come on! We can make it to the mountain if we hurry! Then the big monsters won't find us!" Cereza said, a hint of joy in her voice despite the dire and dangerous situation at hand. Jeanne was surprised to see the enthusiasm in her friend's voice, considering how scared Cereza usually gets.
"But what about your mummy? Or my mummy? Or everyone else? There were too many monsters, they couldn't fight them all!" Jeanne protested, gripping her cat tighter.
"Our mummies are very strong, and fight the monsters all the time! They'll get them all and then we can come back after they are done!" Cereza said, grabbing Jeanne's hand to comfort her, and keeping a beaming smile on her face. Jeanne seemed uncertain for a moment but then nodded.
"Okay, we'll make sure we'll come back!" Jeanne said, trying to be just as upbeat as Cereza was. But the faint cries of the so-called monsters in the distance kept reminding them of their dire situation.
Cereza tugged at the floor hatch and was able to loosen it. Jeanne gently put down her stuffed cat to help Cereza lift it all the way. The dark tunnels below didn't scare them, they found more comfort in it than anything.
Jeanne grabbed the lantern on the table nearby, one they had used countless times before. Lighting the small wick within the box, they descended the rickety later into the dirt path below.
"Down this way, then a right, then a left then a...uhh," Cereza stopped to think, looking at Chesire like the cat would give her the answer.
"Straight for what feels like forever! Then another right!" Jeanne said, jumping down into the dirt with a huge thud. Cereza giggled as she waved away the dust cloud.
"Right! Another right! That should lead us to the mountainside, where the river is!" Cereza said. With a lantern in one hand, Cereza's hand in the other, Jeanne followed close by as they trekked onto another adventure. At least, to them, it felt like it.
An Umbra Witch made a charge but was soon brought down and slaughtered in one fell swoop of a Belief. Its tendril arm is peeling itself back up the front of the ground, as the witches remain peeled with it.
With a cry of anguish and horror, more Umbra witches charged in. But all too soon, they were meeting the same fate. As the Second Sphere of the Leguna began it's the entrance into the valley. The Powers, the Virtues, and the Dominions began their march into the valley. Slaughtering any Umbra they come across. Not too far behind, a looming figure begins to rise, blocking out the moon's light.
Fortitudo.
One of the four Cardinals of Virtue began its great descent into the valley, bellowing prayers towards its fellow angels, and belittling curses towards its foes. It was about to make its way towards the Clock Tower when a figure of a person caught its attention.
A Lumen Sage perched atop a broken building, overlooking the destruction.
"Father Balder, Master of the Heavens, witness this great plight be wiped from the Earth. We have already almost rid this world of all Umbra," Fortitudo bellowed in the angelic language, its draconic right head veering over to look down upon Balder, as the Left head looked out amongst the destruction. The center head's unsettling face speaking to the Lumen Sage.
Balder remained quiet, his eyes and ears seemingly focused on the Umbra cries from below.
The Lumen Sage was adorned with his battle attire. A tight-fit white robe, with golden rosary beads that were diamond shape dangling from his sleeves and back. His Holy Glaive at his side, its golden metallic sheen reflecting in the moonlight. His long flowing platinum hair glistened against the pale moonlight as well. His singular eye monocular was placed over his left eye. And his peacock feathers, waving in the wind off the tail end of his robe.
He still refused to say anything to Fortitudo. Something was wrong, and he knew it. He came here to end a possible rebellion the Umbra was planning. Fearing the fate of the balance, he wanted to help the Laguna keep them in place. Being the last Lumen Sage, he needed to remember his duty, as well as being the Right Eye. Keeping the balance was key to ensuring survival for both clans.
But this wasn't that. This was genocide, an annihilation on a scale he could not stop now. He has realized too late what is happening. His stomach churned with an unfathomable regret. Hearing the cries of the dying Umbra only made him remember the death his clan faced. Being the last Lumen Sage didn't bring anger towards the Umbra if anything only understanding. He did not wish this lonesome life for anyone.
But he has no time to wallow in it. He has only one directive in mind. Two people, he has sworn to protect and stand by until the day perishes from this world.
"The Umbra Witch, Rosa. And the young child, Cereza. No harm shall come to them. They shall be granted freedom from this end. I am going to seek them out," Balder proclaimed, swinging his glaive to his side, sweeping it across, gesturing to the city below.
Fortitudo let out a grinding, echoing laugh. One that made Balder stop in his tracks before he could venture out. He kept his back turned to the behemoth of an Angel.
"It is our duty of the Laguna and the Lumen Sages to keep balance in this world and to keep the darkness at bay. If these Umbra Witches get in the way of that, then they shall not be spared, no matter-" Fortitudo was cut off as Balder swung around, Holy Glaive in hand to meet the angel at its gaze. Keeping the blade outstretched, he brought it up to the draconic head in an intimidating manner.
"They will not be harmed. Rosa and Cereza. Do I make myself clear?" Balder thundered, spitting out the Laguna tongue like it was his own. The angel hesitated, then let out a bellowing 'hmph'.
"Very well. But we cannot promise their safety. We are in a grand fight, Father Balder. I advise you to seek them out soon if you truly wish them to be safe. The cleansing is at hand," Fortitudo exclaimed, turning back to the marching forces and flying further into the Crescent Valley.
Balder seethed, damning the angel for its lack of cooperation. But without any hesitation, he took a mighty leap from the crumbling rooftop and set out into the valley.
Trudging through the dusty and dark tunnels, Cereza and Jeanna hurriedly push onward. Using the small little lamp as a guide, they raised it to see further into the tunnel. Another left and right turn were upon them, and they remembered right this time, making sure they were heading to the small out cove that would give them sanctuary.
"Cereza?" Jeanne asked, her small voice echoing, despite her small stature.
"What?" Cereza asked, her spirits still higher than Jeanne's.
"Is your daddy a scary monster?" Jeanne said, trying to hold the light up more. Cereza looked over at her friend with a furrowed brow.
"No, my daddy is nice! Mummy would tell me about him all the time! He has silver hair, big blue eyes, and can even turn into a wolf!" Cereza said, getting more excited with each trait she named off.
Jeanne seemed to burrow into herself a little bit, like a turtle into a shell.
"Well...does he work with the big scary monsters?" She asked.
"I don't think so… If Daddy is nice so he wouldn't be helping them!" Cereza decided.
"My mummy said that he helps the monsters because he is a Lumen Sage. Your daddy wouldn't hurt us would he?" Jeanne asked, looking for her friend for confirmation.
"No! Daddy is big and strong, but helps those that need it! Mommy would tell me all the good things Daddy would do. She said that he missed us a lot. Mommy wouldn't lie about that!" Cereza said, stopping in her tracks to face Jeanne. She gave her a big beaming smile to help reassure her.
Jeanne came back out of her shell, a small smile to show Cereza she wasn't scared anymore.
"Okay then, I trust you Cereza. If we see your daddy, we can ask him to help us!" They kept going, kicking up the dirt below them. One of them hummed as they skipped along.
"What's a wolf?" Jeanne asked.
"I don't know! Mommy would talk about it, but I've never seen one! I guess if I see Daddy I can ask him about it!
"I wonder if he can turn into a raven or a snake!" Jeanne asked, pondering aloud.
"I don't know, maybe an owl? Or a crow!" Cereza chimed in.
The two small witches continued their journey, cheerfully talking amongst themselves. They tried their best to forget about what was happening, and what they knew they saw. Or even what they could hear.
As the sound of footsteps could be heard above. To the young witches, it only sounded like distant rumbling. Nothing different from what they had been hearing before. To them, it was merely a distant problem.
But about the ground, the hammering feet of and hooves of Laguna raised across the woodlands, chasing down and eliminating Umbra Witches that tried to flee from their burning city.
The Laguna were persistent in their pursuit, heading towards the mountainside many witches seemed to be running to.