"So many lines, so many great houses…"
A bright light filled the dark compartment. The monitor that filled the entirety of one wall sprang to life in a genesis of gold streaks that rose from the lower frame of the screen and began to fracture in various points, like lightning filling the night sky.
Or perhaps not lightning at all, but a tree…
The fracturing continued. At first glance, it would seem to be completely random—this blossoming of golden branches quickly taking over the black screen of the monitor. But upon a closer look, one would see dents in the branches of the 'tree' and flickers of dates and names.
There was certainly more to this 'tree' than a mere picture. A tapestry of fickle fate, fortunes and tragedy wove itself before the indifferent eyes of the lone occupant of the chamber. No closer inspection was needed; she knew every trace and shape of this tree.
"But it all had to end…and what a glorious end it was…"
And as rapid and brilliant the fracturing had been, it ground to a jarring stop. Some sort of catastrophic threshold had been reached-Something terrible, consuming and with mercy given to none.
But even in the darkest, most desperate hours, hope prevails.
It was as if the tree held some memory of its former momentum. Defiant little tendrils, not nearly as strong as their ancestors but rising in hope, dared to move on.
The audacity of those few hopeful survivors inspired a furious slap to the face of the console.
The screen went black.
The sudden darkness of the room was pierced by a cold, metallic hiss and a whisper.
"The culling of Arus will be completed."