Chapter 20 – Natural Beauty
'Careful now, don't strain yourself.' said Soraka as she offered a hand to help Amber to her feet.
Simply putting her bodyweight onto her legs was enervating. She had no way of determining how long she had been in a comma, but enough time had passed to debilitate her ability to simply walk. 'I'm fine.' she winced as she put just a bit too much pressure on her left leg.
It had been two days since she had woken up and had made virtually no signs of proper recovery. Neither she nor Soraka could gauge whether or not this was to be expected in these circumstances.
'Are you ready to use one of the shrines?' Soraka asked.
'Yes, I think so.
'Alright then. Place one foot on it first and see how you feel before putting the second on as well.'
'You're making this seem like a very big deal, Soraka.' Amber remarked, half-jokingly, half serious. 'It's like giving me instructions on how to address someone important that I meet.'
'I don't mean to put pressure on you.' replied Soraka with a warm but worried look on her face. 'But I'm just being cautious. Bard is as much of a caretaker as he is an enigma. I said that Bard is only concerned about putting the right where there is wrong and restoring balance to the world, but if I'm being honest with myself and acknowledging what many scholars say about him, you can never be sure if anything said about Bard is true. I don't know the full extent of his powers, and I certainly don't know if everything he does can be considered benevolent. The apprehension of the unknown: that's how I'm treating these shrines.'
'I understand.' said Amber. 'There's no such thing as being too careful.'
'But don't think too much about it. I'm here, so just relax and let the Shrines work their magic.' Soraka smiled.
Amber nodded and took a deep breath. 'One… two… three.' She placed her right foot on the disk of the shrine. A warm sensation swam up her leg and reached her torso. There was nothing she could really compare it to, but it oozed with comfort.
'How do you feel?' Soraka asked.
Amber turned her head around and beamed. 'Brilliant.' she declared before putting her whole body into the light of the shrine. It energised her with an aura that was unlike anything she had ever experienced before in Remnant. She stood on it for ten seconds until its power was depleted. Stepping out of it was like exiting a warm shower into the comparatively cool air and it made her shiver slightly.
Soraka noticed this and grabbed hold of Amber's shoulders in alarm. 'Are you okay?'
'Soraka, it's alright. I'm fine: really I am.' Amber insisted. 'It was just so warm standing in the shrine that the cave seems rather cold by comparison.'
'As long as you're not hurt; that's what matters.' Soraka said, taking a sigh of relief and letting go of Amber. 'Bard's miracles really are more than just rumours. Oh, but has your magic returned?'
'Umm…' Amber searched her inner self, trying to inexplicably locate her own Aura. She had been reinvigorated with natural energy, but the fire of the Fall Maiden was still wounded with absence. 'It hasn't…' she said quietly.
'Yes, it seems like your magic is, as we theorised, something that cannot be replaced, but something that has to be taken back.' said Soraka.
Amber dropped to her knees, put her hands over her face and sobbed. In an instant Soraka dropped as well and embraced Amber in a tight but also comforting hug.
'Please, don't worry about it too much.' Soraka almost pleaded. 'I know it's a shock, and the woman that you described who stole from you doesn't sound like someone you can take lightly, but in the here and now, your wellbeing is what matters more than your duty as a Maiden. You're standing and are able to move after being in a coma. That's amazing and it's a start to your full recovery. Don't lose hope yet.'
'T-thank you…' Amber sniffed. She returned Soraka's warmth by putting her own hands around her as well.
'Are you still interested in exploring Ionia?' asked Soraka.
'Yes, I would love that.' replied Amber.
'Fabulous.' Soraka said cheerfully. She grabbed her staff and led Amber outside. The sunlight was initially too bright for Amber, but she quickly acclimatised to it, and in its place took something stunning.
First impressions are everything – as some people say – and nothing could adequately describe how mesmerised Amber felt as she took just one glance from left to right of the landscape before her. It was beyond beautiful. The trees were tall and painted with a plethora of colours. Sweet vegetation grew on the rocks, dowsing them in life. The grass was perfectly red and green and was garnished with pretty flowers.
'It's gorgeous.' Amber whispered.
'Well let's keeping going then.' Soraka smiled as she directed Amber towards the west, hoping to show off more of Ionia's exotic wildlife in West Navori.
Amber was easily distracted by the scenery, which allowed Soraka to keep a close eye on her. Based on the way Amber was able to turn pirouette and absorb her surroundings without looking exactly where she was going and not fall over was a good sign for Soraka. Hopefully all this travelling won't be overwhelming and tire her out.
They walked past nests of birds and habitats of mammals that Amber had never seen before. At first some of them looked almost freakish, but she almost immediately warmed up to their cute looks. Amber was particularly enthralled with what appeared to be a half monkey/half squirrel with wings.
'The fauna here is so rich. I've never been so in love with nature as I am now.'
'I told you that you would love it.'
'So, Soraka, as we walk together, is there anything else you can tell me about yourself or of Ionia. I feel so close to you, yet I only know your name and that you describe yourself as a healer.'
'Which would you like to hear about first?'
'I guess… I would prefer to learn more about my new friend.' said Amber. 'That is, if you don't mind of course.' she added quickly. 'You don't have to be too personal. I'm just intrigued.'
'It's absolutely fine Amber. I would be glad to share my story with you. I'll warn you though that what I have to say might be a bit unbelievable. If you feel incredulous about it, that's absolutely understandable, but I ask that you give me your trust in that I am not lying.'
'I trust you.' Amber smiled.
'Very well then. So, you may be curious about my appearance, I imagine?
'Umm…'
'Just be honest. When you first laid your eyes on me, I probably startled you.'
'A little bit, yes.' said Amber, trying not to sound hurtful.
'You might find it relieving to know that the majority of people that live on Runeterra look just like you. "Humans". Is that the right word?'
'That's what I refer to my kind as.'
'Great. So yes, almost all corners of society in Runeterra are run by humans. Virtually no one looks like me. You know, I still cannot get over the fact that we speak the same language. What are the odds this being the case?'
'I would have thought of it as being impossible, but it appears that it's not.'
'Incredibly, absolutely incredible.' Soraka marvelled. 'But I digress. I cannot properly describe my form, but am a celestial incarnate.' She paused to see how Amber reacted.
She was amazed but did not doubt. Her staff, ability to heal Amber and otherworldly appearance was evidence enough for her that Soraka was telling the truth. 'That's amazing.'
'I… do sometime wonders why I was given such an unusual appearance: I certainly did not choose to look this way. It's inconvenient for both me and the person I'm trying to help when they run away at the sight of me, however that is not important. I left the celestial realm because my heart had – and still does have – an overgrowing concern with the lives of the mortals that live on this planet: and I don't mean "mortal" in the derogatory sense, but literally, people with finite lives.
'Mankind is wild and unpredictable at times. They would engage in conflict and violence, selfishly seeking for their own gain at the expense of other people. The celestials were there to passively provide guidance, but many of them would misconstrue our cosmic messages and use it as justification for committing wrong.
'So I eventually decided that I could not remain in the heavens; I had to be active and literally help those in need. By making this choice, I sacrificed my immortal form and took on one of flesh and blood. By doing this, I could come close to Runeterra and its fauna and humans for the first time. I saw what human wars were like and how devastating they were. My impressions in the celestial realm were that people are innately bad, but as I got to know more humans on a personal level, I realised that they had as much capacity to be kind as they had to be evil: but it is all dependent on which way they turn their hearts.
'Millennia has passed since the day I descended to Runeterra, and I have done my very best to tranquilise ongoing or potential feuds. Where someone is injured from wounds of flesh and bone, I grant them a physical healing. If a person is suffering from horrors stemming from the mind, I give them a blessing. Counselling someone who is in pain and letting them confess their anguish does so much to alleviate them of the trauma that they are experiencing, however this is something that any person can do with enough practice and charisma. Wounds – and seemingly irreparable ones – on the other hand need something that transcends the mortal roof. Although I may not be a full celestial anymore, the power of the stars still flows through my body. I do not mean to praise myself, but I have saved a lot of people and led them into a greater way of life. Whilst my work is far from over yet – and I still unable to save everyone – I press on, determined to save civilisation from its own demise and I will not give up until the day I succeed or the day I am incapable of doing it anymore.'
Amber stopped and let this news sink in. 'And I thought my duty was overwhelmingly difficult to bear…'
'Amber, please do not let my story make you feel inadequate by comparison. Remember that I am a former celestial with thousands of years of experience. You are a young human with a daunting task. Do people get a choice of whether or not they become a Maiden?'
'No.'
'Then it is not right to compare us, in that sense. I do not doubt for a second that your duty is just as hard, relative to mine. I am just telling you more about who I am, but I guess you were not expecting that.'
'I wasn't, but then again you did tell me that it would be hard to believe.'
'Don't think any less of yourself. I know you're a wonderful person with a heart of gold.'
Amber wiped away a tear that had escaped her right eye. 'Thank you, Soraka. You're an amazing person too.'
'Thank you as well.'
'So what is there to know about Ionia?' Amber asked, bringing the subject back to Runeterra.
'Oh, right, of course. Ionia can be summarised as a land where its people and communities try to live in harmony with nature, but also magic. The wall between the spiritual and physical realm is so thin here that almost anyone can have an encounter with the impalpable. Some do it on a far more regular basis if they develop a relationship with the land around them and the spirits that inhabit it. As you can probably tell, nature here is far more prevalent here than anywhere else in Runeterra and many people use the natural resources at their disposal to live. Technology and industry is almost non-existent in Ionia. For some people this would be a boring place to live, but those who are more emotional or have less interest in gadgets will thrive here and live happily with their family, friends and spiritual neighbours.
'Here's an interesting phenomenon. Many Ionians live in trees, which have grown at the behest of a wood weaver, who persuaded the tree spirit to mould in such a way that people could live in it. Therefore the tree still gets to live without being chopped down, and the people get a roof over their head. Farmers and harvesters who have lived here for a long time are in tune with the spirits, for many of them are itinerant. They know where food is likely to sprout and what gifts the spirits will want in exchange for crops. It sounds like something out of a fairy-tale, but that's what makes Ionia so literally magical and appealing.'
'That sounds wonderful.' Amber remarked. 'If it wasn't for the fact that I need to get back home, I would love to live here.'
'I've never lived properly in Ionia myself, but I know from the way that Ionian immigrants have described it that it takes some getting used to. Many Ionians are arguably less educated than people in other regions, since there is less emphasis on the disciplines of science and the potential that can be done with technology and engineering, but the alternative is far more satisfaction with the simpler things and an understanding of culturally rich philosophies.'
'To be honest, that sounds almost exactly the way I would like to be: someone with a greater appreciation of the natural order and not as much avarice, which many people can fall for.'
Soraka smiled. 'Ionia's culture and history is absolutely fascinating, but it has been a bit rough here in recent decades. Some of the newer generations have adopted different ideologies, which clash with the traditional Ionian teachings; I suppose that it's inevitable though: older people are very conservative to the things they grew up with, whereas young people are more adaptable to what they truly believe once they make it past adolescence.
'The most notable thing to have happened though was nine years ago, when the nation of Noxus invaded Ionia's west coast. Noxus is a ferociously imperialistic region that is always looking to expand its borders and landmass. With Ionia's lack of a central government and technology, it was a tempting target to make a colony out of. Eventually, the Noxians were driven out, but not without the costs of so many lives from both sides. Whilst I never engaged in the actual warfare myself, I was here, healing the wounded and attempting to raise the victims' morale. It was truly an awful time, and the aftermath can still be seen to this day. Ionia is slowly returning itself to the country it was prior to the Noxian invasion, but it still has ways to go and the stain on its history will probably never be wiped off completely.'
'How dreadful.' said Amber. 'Who could possibly be so inhumane to organise such an attack on a peaceful nation?'
'Boram Darkwill was his name: an expansionist who was the impetus for Noxus finally invading Ionia after years of debate and consideration. He was a nasty man, who sent countless amounts of people to their deaths. But after Noxus retreated from Ionia, he was usurped by a cunning, ruthless man known as Swain. I saw his face only once, but if he was capable of overthrowing Darkwill, of all people, and unifying the whole of Noxus once more, you know that you're dealing with a man who is not to be messed with.'
'Just thinking about that gives me shivers…' Amber commented.
'But yes, that is the essence of Ionia's culture and history. What do you think?'
'Enchanting and beyond engrossing. Never could I have imagined that such a world existed outside of my own.'
Soraka and Amber resumed their walk on the linear path and eventually they reached the entrance to a thicket of trees. It was surrounded by a kaleidoscope of butterflies and tiny flowers.
'I don't think I have ever been in this forest before.' said Soraka. She poked her head inside and had a quick look. The sunlight was making its way into the groves through the gaps that the trees allowed it to pass through. It wasn't as bright as the clear sky, but the way in which the light was dispersed was nothing short of beautiful. 'It looks safe though. Do you want to come in?'
'I don't see why not. I would love to see what a forest in Ionia looks like.'
They stepped inside and both let out a quiet but potent 'Wow'. In addition to the trees and tall brushes of perfectly green grass, the bases of the trunks wore a variety of different mushrooms and funguses. Little birds had made their nests inside the trees or on the branches – just like the Ionians did.
Flowers – dozens of them grew all around and there even some cute, furry animals and other species from different genera.
'How can nature possibly be so beautiful?' Amber vocalised, speaking her thoughts out loud. 'This would have been unimaginable, had I not seen it for myself.'
'Welcome to Ionia.' said Soraka jokingly.
As they went deeper into the forest, they found even more bizarre animals. Fat frogs with ginormous mouths and bellies, rocks that seemed to be sentient, with feet, and even adorable three headed wolves that were taking a nap. A short, grey snake emerged from the grass to their left; Amber jumped back, surprised by its sudden appearance. It analysed the two of them before slithering away.
'Just a snake.' Amber said to herself.
'Are you not a fan of them?' Soraka asked.
'It's not that. I just didn't expect to look down and see it by my feet.
Soraka chuckled they continued exploring.
A few minutes of walking past. They found a bush of red berries, and Amber noticed that she was hungry. 'I haven't eaten in a while.' she said. 'Do you know if those berries are edible or not?'
'They look familiar.' said Soraka after going forward for a closer inspection and fondling one in her fingers. 'I must have had one years ago, so I think it's safe to eat.'
'I would rather not desecrate it, but I really do need some food.'
She reached out with her hand and put her finger around one of the riper looking ones.
'Stop! Don't do that!' cried out a voice from behind them.
Amber let go of the berry in fright, and they turned around to see a lanky tree-like thing striding towards them. It had a face and a concerned look on it. 'Please don't pull it from its branch. They haven't lived their life to the fullest yet.'
Amber would have run away in fright if it was not for the tree's seemingly friendliness. 'Sorry!' she cried out apologetically. 'I was just hungry. I didn't realise this was your forest.'
'Ah, yes. Humans don't photosynthesise like I do…' said the tree. 'They need food to survive. Perhaps then you would like one of my cupcakes?' He reached behind him and pulled a pink-iced cake from who knows where and handed it to Amber. 'I promise it tastes as sweet as it looks.'
Hesitantly, Amber took the cake from the tree's hands. 'Thank you, Sir.' she said before taking a bite into it, unsure of what to refer to him as. 'It's delicious.' Amber said after swallowing her first mouthful.
'Do you want one as well?' the tree said, addressing Soraka this time.
'I'm okay, but thank you for offering them to me.' Soraka replied.
'Normally I get very nervous at the sight of two people walking through here: because sometimes they are callous towards nature. It's like they forget that plants and vegetation are living things too. But you two ladies have the look of nature enthusiasts. If I am right in assuming that, I welcome you to my forest.'
'This is a wonderful forest you have here, Sir.' Amber complimented. 'Its beauty makes my eyes water.'
'I return your commendation with thanks of my own.' said the tree merrily.
'Please pardon my rudeness, but may I ask who you are?' Amber asked.
'My dear lady, you truly are a flower of politeness. I'm a tree-hugger, in case you couldn't tell.'
'Yes but, do you have a name? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I'm just curious.'
The tree chuckled. 'I've gone by many names and aliases overtime. If you wanted to go by a title, I am known as "The Green Father", but you can just call me "Ivern". Honestly, you could call me anything. "Tree Man", "Friend of the Forest", maybe even "Candy King". Oh, but I would rather that you did not call me "Barbarian" or "Monster". That would hurt my feelings.'
'Very well then. It's nice to meet you, Ivern.'
'A pleasure it is.' Soraka agreed.
'And you as well.' Ivern responded. 'What are your names?'
'I'm Amber.'
'And I'm Soraka.'
'How lovely. The next time a tulip sprouts, I will name it after one of you, and the next one will be named after the other.'
'So Ivern, how is the nature here so indescribably stunning? Do you nurture it?' Amber asked.
'Every day of my life.' Ivern confirmed proudly. 'Nature is precious, but also delicate and needs protection from those who don't carry the same passion for it. If there is any way of describing it through analogy, I am the caretaker of the forest. I greet every living organism I come across and hope to bond with it. Some are shier than other, but each flower and animal has its own personality. That may seem ridiculous at first, but when you spend as much time around nature as I do, you soon realise it and develop a sense of plant and animal behaviour and how they respond to stimuli. Perhaps it is because chloroplasts run through my body instead of blood, or because I am essentially a walking and talking tree, but I find it so easy to communicate with all forms of life. It's a skill that I wish other people could develop. You get Ionians with pets and gardens, but it's not the same as creating a personal relationship with it.'
'Do you not lose track of everyone that lives in the forest though?' said Amber. 'Are there some you know better than others?'
'You are right. Sometimes I have to ask a plant or animal to repeat its name for me. My memory is not perfect, after all, but they understand that that is just how it is. As they mature and become older, I am more likely to remember who is who. For instance, say hello to one of my closest friends: Daisy. Come out, Daisy!' Ivern cued.
A large boulder with giant arms and flowers on its head, similar to those on Ivern's, came out from behind a tree. Daisy stumbled towards them and waved once it reached Ivern's side.
Daisy did not say anything – or at least, Amber and Soraka did not hear Daisy say anything audible – so they hesitantly waved back. 'Hi, nice to meet you too Daisy.' they both said.
'Don't worry, Daisy's very shy and also rather clumsy at times, so if she seems socially inept, it's because she struggles when meeting new people.'
'I see.' said Soraka.
'That's fine.' Amber agreed. 'She doesn't have to be.'
'Thank you for not intimidating her.' said Ivern with gratitude. Also, take a look at this snake.'
The snake that Amber and Soraka had seen earlier on their trek through the forest crawled out of the bush on Ivern's face. 'This is Sviper. He's two years old now. They grow up so fast.' said Ivern. His voice was full of affection. 'He told me that two people were walking through the forest. Naturally, he was frightened – bless his soul – and he came to warn me. I am glad though, because he managed to inadvertently save a berry from death.'
'I'm sorry.' said Amber once again. 'It was nothing against the berry: really it wasn't. I just didn't realise how precious it was to you.'
'There's no need to trip over old roots, Amber. Even if you had eaten it, I would still be able to deduce that you two are not enemies of nature. Today is a really happy day for me. You have cheered me up greatly after I discovered the change of night and day.'
Amber and Soraka looked at each other and then back at Ivern.
'The lengthier days and nights?' Soraka inquired, wondering if Ivern knew more about what was going on.
'It was just so sudden but subtle as well. First it was a vicious earthquake, then the plants were absorbing too much sunlight. At that point, I noticed that the sun has been in the sky for longer than usual. The animals are getting irregular hours of sleep. The excessive sunlight is also hurting the plants, and the younger ones are beginning to wilt before they've even bloomed into a full flower. It saddens me deeply, and I don't know what to do about it. I can't simply wish for the sun to behave normally again…'
Ivern sniffed. He probably would have cried as well if that was possible for him.
Soraka turned her head to Amber. She nodded to say 'It's okay. You can tell him.'
'Ivern, if we may tell you, we think we know why the sun if behaving the way it is.'
'Hmm, you do? Oh please then, do tell me.'
'It sounds absurd, and it is, but we have evidence to believe that Runeterra has physically merged with another planet, causing the overall mass to increase in size. This means that the planet has more surface area to cover before it can finish one rotation.'
Ivern contemplated this news. 'I am not saying that this is a lie, but what is the evidence you speak of?'
'Well… Amber here is not from Runeterra.'
Ivern's eyes widened and he adopted a crouching position, lowering himself to Amber's height. 'Really?' he said inquisitively. 'That is extraordinary. How could this be?'
'In case you are wondering, I am not responsible for it, and neither Soraka nor I know how it happened.' Amber said quickly.
'Oh… I was hoping you would know how to make the planets become separate again, but I'm not sure what I was expecting. I guess the best I can do is adapt my style of nurturing to the new, longer daily cycle.'
'Yes, that is probably the most you can do.' said Soraka. 'I'm really sorry to hear that this has heavily impacted you and your forest, Ivern. If there was anything we could do to help, we would.'
'Honestly, there isn't much that can be done. It's up to me to make the most of an unideal situation. It'll take time of course and the process will be rather painful, but I will not give up: not if it means that I will save the forest.'
'That's the spirit, Ivern.' said Soraka. 'Well we'd best be on our way then. I'm giving Amber a tour of Ionia and we've still got so much more to see.'
'That is understandable. I'd love to chat for longer, but I also have responsibilities that I must attend to. It's nearing midday now. My plants are going to need to be properly watered.'
'Once again, it was a pleasure to meet you, Ivern.' said Amber emphatically. 'I wish you the best of luck with your forest.'
'Thank you so much. Please come again if you have the chance. Oh, but before you go, I imagine that you'll soon be in need of more food. Daisy, do you have any Ivern-crisp apples to give away?'
Daisy nodded. Ivern then stood up, reached behind Daisy and pulled out some a few apples that were indeed crispy. 'Don't ask how I make them.' Ivern said with a wink. 'It's a secret.'
Amber and Soraka received the apples: three each.
'Thank you so much, Ivern.' said Soraka.
'Yes, a massive thank you.' Amber added.
'My pleasure.' Ivern said, bowing his long body over. 'Be on your merry way and live your very best.'
Amber and Soraka departed and began munching on the apples once they were out of sight of Ivern.
'This is a mouth-watering treat.' said Soraka. 'How does it compare to the cupcake he gave you?'
'Just as good.' Amber replied, savouring its flavour. Once she finished the first apple, she asked: 'Are you able to heal flowers, Soraka?'
'Umm…' Soraka paused. 'In truth, I've never actually tried doing that. I probably would have offered if I knew that I could. Looking at all of these flowers though, I cannot tell which are healthy and which aren't. Ivern is probably the only one who can spot the differences.'
Soraka and Amber reached the other side of the forest. It had an almost identical entrance: with pretty butterflies and miniature flowers. They took one last glance before leaving and going out into midday sun.
'What did you think of the forest then?' Soraka asked. She hoped with all her heart that Amber was enjoying her tour and that she was not being too exhausted.
'How can I possibly describe it with enough praise? It was just incredible. Wildlife has never made me feel this joyful before. Admittedly, I did find Ivern a little bit creepy at times, but his heart and genuine kindness could not be mistaken.'
'I feel the exact same way as you.' Soraka concurred. 'A spectacular home of nature and an equally amazing caretaker.'
'So where are we heading now?' Amber questioned.
'It looks like we've coming closer to the edge of Navori, so I think there isn't much to see from here, if I remember correctly. Let's head eastwards. Maybe we can get closer to civilisation. Is that okay with you?'
'Yes, that's fine with me. Let's go then.'
This route took them closer to the mountains. It was slightly colder here and had less green, but the breeze was refreshing and there were plenty of birds soaring across the sky above.
'Do you want to take a break? We've been walking for a long time.' Soraka asked, concernedly.
'Yes, I suppose that would be a good idea.' Amber replied. Why don't we lean against that tree over there?' She pointed to a lone, red leaved tree, standing away from the mountains on the opposite side of the trail.
Amber stepped underneath the branches and in an instant felt dizzy. A voice whispered in her ear.
'I knew you would find your mark, eventually.'
'Amber, watch out!' Soraka exclaimed. She threw herself at Amber and tackled her away from the tree. An explosion erupted from the ground, mere milliseconds after Amber had just been standing there. Had Soraka been any slower and they would have both been blown to pieces.
Soraka quickly stood up and analysed the area in more detail. The tree had a perfectly round bullet hole through it.
Amber regained her footing and also looked around in a frenzy. 'Up there, on the mountain!' she yelled.
'Wait, what?!'
Bang!
Something struck Soraka hard in the chest! She immediately began to feel dizzy, and stumbled backwards, unsure of what was what.
Bang!
A second shot following, hitting Soraka once again in the chest. She was blasted away and cried out in agony as the shot knocked her down.
Amber looked to the mountain again.
Bang!
She dove to the side, hoping to evade whatever it was that was targeting them, but somehow the shot still hit – as though it had predicted in advance where she would go. It launched her backwards. She gritted her teeth, barely able to recover. Amber rolled forward, hoping that the assailant wouldn't be lucky twice in a row.
'The face of your killer is identical to mine.'
She looked below her to see another trap beginning to detonate beneath her feet. It was no use: her body felt so heavy, she was slow and unable dodge.
BANG!
The fourth and most lethal bullet found its target, hitting Amber in the chest. At the exact same time, the trap exploded, enveloping Amber in an excruciating blast. She screamed in torment before the lights were cut.
The nightmares of Cinder gnawed at her throat. The red and yellow dress, the feeling of her magic being sucked away from her and the devilish grin she had given; it flooded Amber's mind as the anguish wrapped its way around her body. Never in her life had she felt so much pain.
She opened her eyes. Her sight was impaired and everything was blurry. Even after blinking over twenty times, her vision recovered only slightly. The room was a dark grey colour, but that was all she could decipher: not even how big it was. Amber tried moving but nothing happened. Her wrists were suspended from the ceiling, and her ankles had also been immobilised somehow. She was completely helpless. Moving her head was the only thing possible, but this action only exacerbated the anguish. Still though, looking to her right, she could just about see that Soraka was there too, hanging from the same fate.
A door at the opposite end of the room was bashed open. In walked… someone. Amber really could not see who it was…
The person strolled closer to Amber. It seemed to be a man, based on the muscular left arm, but his right arm and legs had been replaced with mechanical counterparts. He wore a white robe and dark trousers. But her attention was immediately drawn to his face – or more specifically, the mask he was wearing. The look was disturbing, and his heavy breathing only made it worse.
He suddenly grabbed her by the face with his robotic hand and squeezed tightly, whilst pulling out an ostentatiously designed pistol with his normal hand and held it to her chest.
'It's four past four!' he whispered menacingly. 'The perfect time to start the performance!'
