Shadow of the Past - Archduke's Ball.

She woke up

The carriage, drawn by mechanical horses, had just come to an abrupt halt.

- We're here, Miss Daisy. - Leris said in an excited voice. She thought it was strange, because girl would spend the entire party in the servants' quarters anyway. Although this celebration was so great that even the servants could taste the most wonderful dishes and drinks. Maybe they'll actually have more fun here. People like her, representatives of the aristocracy, to which theoreticaly she belonged,, had much more interesting things to do here. She stood on the step as she stepped out of the carriage and winced at the smell of the city air. It reminded her of the old days when she had lived in the Fright Zone contaminated and poisoned with toxic fumes. Lynortis numbered a million souls and was five times as many as her's old „home". The capital of Carurystal was an ancient city built during the Gap, though many scholars have argued that some of the artifacts and ruins may have been much older. The happiest part of her life had been spent among ancient buildings with dark secrets, so Lynortis felt almost like home. "But did I ever have a home, a place where I felt safe and loved?" she smiled grimly to herself.

She looked at the Archduke's palace. The building was magnificent, although it did not overwhelm with its majesty. The Lord of Carurystal was not a dictator or a living god walking the earth, but the first among equals. It reminded her of happier times too, a life she had so easily spurned. "Why do I feel so nostalgic for the old days? What has been will not return ... " She thought as she felt a cold sweat pour over her. "History likes to repeat itself, but only as a farce, they say. But in my case, it's a grotesque tragicomedy, nothing more" she thought, looking at the marble slabs beneath her feet. And she almost ran into Prince Henoh, one of the sons of the Archduke. But he just nodded politely and walked over to her.

- Are you well, Miss Daisy? - Leris asked with concern in her voice. She looked sideways at the young half-elf, saw that her face showed sadnes.

- I just got lost in the memories. Nothing special. - she said with difficulty bringing a smile to her face.

- Is it because Lady Cali's been gone so long? Don't worry, she'll be fine, you've trained her well. - said the maid in a comforting tone. She couldn't help but burst into hysterical laughter. "Indeed, I have trained her well. I gave her knowledge that none of my previous students had received. I've also never had someone so… smart and eager to learn… I should be so proud!" she laughed under her breath again. She was aware that Leris was starting to worry seeing her increasingly sullen and bitter mood, but she couldn't help it. She had hurt countless beings in her life, and she was expected to be willing to hurt more. She didn't feel like putting on a mask of joy...

She left her black coat to the servant in the hall. Te bowed humbly to her, and she felt a surge of good cheer. At least for a while, she will allow himself to forget about hers past and future. She will enjoy the moment, the life she has always wanted. For as long as she could remember, she had dreamed of being respected and admired, even if it meant being feared. Now she had finally got what she wanted… though she knew well the price she would have to pay. "Power has a price that most mortals on Etheria have never imagined. Were you Prime aware of the darkness that exists between the stars? Oh what a fool you were. If you really saw everything and knew everything, your mind would shatter into a thousand screaming pieces." She smiled with grim satisfaction before saying goodbye to Leris and entering the great ballroom.

She felt a satisfaction mixed with joy as she saw the voices stop and everyone turn to her. She was Miss Daisy, a mysterious and powerful sorceress with knowledge and power reminiscent of the Lost Golarion. None of them realized how much time she had spent learning modern magic theory... Or how little the modern mystics understood the power the First Ones had at their disposal. She greeted more people, so awkwarded in her presence. Most knew of her scars, but discretion was considered a great virtue in Carurystal, especially among the nobility. Everyone believed there had been an accident during the ritual…which was true. The few people who guessed the truth either stayed silent or served the same damed power which was behind her… But there were people who worried even her, a woman whose name was a curse spoken with fear or hatred. Archduke Adamson, a tall red-haired man whose cold blue eyes brought back too many memories for her to feel safe under their watchful gaze. The ruler of the planet was a mysterious person, a skillful politician who efficiently managed his domain. She guessed he maintained a spy network, though Carurystal officially had no intelligence agency. Alone in the Fright Zone she used Hordak's money to pay agents and informers, although she always had to be skillful in disguising such expenses. Her former superior treated such forms of warfare with contempt, although as it turned out later, he could appreciate them, which almost turned out to be her undoing. So she avoided spies and informers who might be hiding among the servants of Grayskull Castle and their neighbors, even though most of Lady Caly's and her allies' activities were concentrated off-planet. Better beware, especially since there were a few people on Carurystal who harbored some suspicions about her lady and the circumstances in which her relatives had passed away.

- Hello Miss Daisy. You are the jewel that embellishes every important event that takes place in our great kingdom. - Said a tall mechanical creature with a grey-green body. At first glance, it looked like a robot, one of those advanced and self-aware robots, but upon closer inspection it was clear that it had no electronic parts, and veins of red liquid were visible beneath the metal plates.

- Prince Zed, that's a nice compliment, but someone like me could be black garnet or something like that. - she said, smiling gently at the creature. A servant with a tray full of glasses of white wine approached them, and they each took one, though the automaton merely held it as if to make it appear more "alive."

- You are too modest, you are probably the most powerful sorceress on the planet, and this is just one of the many talents you possess. You shouldn't hide in the shadows like some outcast or black sheep.

She frowned. She wondered for a moment what the prince might know. He was not only one of the richest inhabitants of the planet, but also an ancient construct created by the Jistka Empire on the Lost Golarion, which he made no secret of. She knew the stories of these ancient beings, but she never thought she would meet them…" I witnessed the myth come back to life. Now I'm talking to a myth while having a drink... The world has gone mad, or maybe it's just me who's mad." On Etheria, the idea of self-aware machines was merely a matter of speculation, even after the arrival of the Horde, true artificial intelligence was virtually unknown. Until finally the sword was found, and the purple-haired girl got to one of the Horde bots. But the prince was something else, a machine based on magic. A creature that would arouse the admiration and envy of even the First Ones.

The problem was that the prince was a friend of the Grayskull family and felt sorry for her parents, or so he claimed. He was certainly on friendly terms with Lady Caly's father, Griefrag Grayskull, she even had access to their correspondence, and he had visited the estate several times and met little Lady. From what the ward told her, he tried to make friends with her, but at the time she did not understand the meaning of such relationships. Though he was kind to them, she knew he wanted to know the truth about the fate of House Grayskull. It was a blessing in misfortune that Lady Caly blamed her for the tragedies that befell the family and not the real perpetrator.

- It's not right for someone like me to outshine his employer. - I am a gardener and I know that beautiful flowers will never bloom in the shadow. - She replied with a modest smile. Together they walked across the hall.

- By the way, how is our wonderful Lady. He's still on the Pact Worlds? - The prince asked with a hint of sadness in his voice.

- She has gone on a very important visit, the purpose of which remains a secret that I am not allowed to reveal. - she said formally. Soon, at least partially, the truth will come to light and everyone will admire the courage of the young Lady ready to set off on a journey into the unknown. What would happen next, not even her dark patrons knew.

- We miss her. It's been over three months since she left Carurystal. Many worry that some harm may have happened to her. - Said the ancient mechanism slowly. She glanced sideways at him, not hiding an indulgent smile. "Hey really think I wanted to eliminate Lady Cala? If I really wanted to do that, I wouldn't be doing the whole show with a journey."

- You don't have to worry about Lady Cala. She grew up to be a strong and confident woman who can handle almost any danger. - „ Also with a machine pretending to be a living being,", she thought maliciously. They walked over to a table piled full of dishes. Carurystal's cuisine wasn't fancy, but it was hearty and much heavier than what the people of Mystacor were used to, though in truth she couldn't remember much of what it tasted like. Beside her stood Rakhe, Veskarium's ambassador. Warlike lizardmen had always evoked in her indescribable feelings. Many Vesks served in the Horde. On Etheri, however, they did not use their true name. Their name was Vaste, which many attributed, she had y discovered, erroneously, to their origins in the Crimson Waste. Even one of them was under the department she oversaw, and he was friends with Adora and perhaps a little with Catra, but if she remembered correctly, he had a much "closer relationship" with Lonnie and Kyle. I wonder what the Vesk ambassador would say to that.

- Another year of service on our beautiful Carurystal has passed. What are the ambassador's plans for strengthening relations between our wonderful planet and Veskarium - she asked her, smiling maliciously. Wet and cloudy, and above all reluctant to military solutions, Carurystal was a place of exile for the Vesks. During her rule, border with Kingdom of Snow was something similar

-Well, given your troubles with the Kranor Rill and the increasingly frequent Riliti attacks, perhaps I'll talk to the Archduke about possible military cooperation between our countries. - said Rakhe, baring her fangs.

She narrowed her eyes. She don't like Vesks. Fanatical devotion to the dark honor reminded her too much of those from the past to whom she had sacrificed so much. "Just who do I really feel sorry for?"

- The Riliti are savage beasts who can only use technology by imitating more evolved races. Only a sense of sapienism prevents us from completely exterminating them. - said Prince Zed with amusement, but she answered him with absolute seriousness pouring herself a glass of whiskey

- It is very imprudent to underestimate an opponent just because he seems to us primitive and technically undeveloped. It can hide secrets that we have never dreamed of. From my own experience, I know perfectly well that it is extremely easy to put a would-be winner in shackles. - she said angry tone. She knew she had revealed quite a lot about her past, but she didn't care. It didn't matter much now anyway. He'll be leaving this place soon anyway, and he'll never come back. There is no future for her.

- You have a lot to say about waging war as for an elven…witch. - Veska said, looking at her with - superiority.

- Much more than any Veska ambassador. On politics and economics, probably also - "Idiot, I just supported you."

Theoretically, the ambassador could challenge her to a glorious combat now, though she would probably lose her post. But Rakhe knew she wouldn't stand a chance of surviving this encounter. She stared at it for a long moment, until the Ambassador looked down. She smiled grimly with dark satisfaction, feeling a pleasant shiver. She'd always been good at that, at making others tremble with fear. Fear made them easier to control.

"I'm still the old me. I'm still…" She felt a wave of self-loathing wash over her and reached for her glass of red wine, which she emptied in one gulp.

- Slow down, Miss Daisy, we have the whole night ahead of us. - Prince Zed laughed. His voice was surprisingly melodious and pleasant sounding.

- I thought a little ... Returning to Riliti, you have to transfer the war to their territory. Constantly harass their settlements with constant attacks. Break their fighting spirit, because when they lose it, they will easily succumb to us.

- You really do have a lot of experience in warfare, especially for an ordinary ... What is your profession exactly? - asked the automaton, delight in his voice. "Do you want to examine me? Exmine me, if you want, you won't learn anything new.

Several people gathered around her, listening to their conversation. The Riliti have always aroused great emotions among the otherwise peaceful inhabitants of Carurystal. Rakhe decided to take oportunity and left with a sour expression on her face.

- I had to learn very fast to survive. The prince cannot imagine what things living beings can do to survive. - she said in a grim voice. Food has lost its appeal to her. "You're getting sad drunk, my dear Shadow Weaver, that's a lot of progress, You don't spark kids" she laughed inside.

- The truth about war can only be learned by facing the enemy and learning from our own and others' failures. - said a voice she had never heard before. She looked up to see a tall woman dressed in the black and red Hell Knights dress representative uniform with the symbol of the sun in an eclipse. She had red-gold hair and a scar on her cheek, probably from acid. She was about forty human years old, though there were ways in the galaxy to stay young. She was quite attractive, like a bronze statue forged in the heat of battle. "What am I thinking about. I must have had too much to drink" she thought with a strange embarrassment.

- Is it some sort of quote from the sacred books of the Order, or your tactics manuals? -Prince Zed asked with a surprisingly polite smile on his face.

The woman winced.

- No, that's the saying of Lord Admiral Antares. - she said with a barely perceptible, probably unintentional, contempt in her voice. – Antares is a real source of sayings that sound very wise. - said the woman from the order of the eclipse. Hearing the Lord Admiral's name, she raised an eyebrow. She had already gathered information about him, and most of it focused on his accomplishments in the Swarm War. More accurate information, especially from thirty years ago, before he was banished from Tarak, was unfortunately hard to come by. "Thirty years, what an important date for both of us. At the same time, we lost our home… although in my case it was a consequence of my ambition." Unfortunately, she had no direct access to the espionage network of Creeping Chaos and their allies everywhere in the galaxy. Now she had found a source of information, and that source was interesting in itself. She searched her mind over the list of people who might have attended the ball, but there was no hellknights on it… but she remembered the latest rumors.

- Ah, Lady of Blades, Asindesa di Vir... I didn't know you'd want to come to the Archduke's birthday party. - she said, not hiding the surprise in her voice. Asindesa winced.

- I didn't do it for fun, but out of duty to represent the Order of the Eclipse. If it were up to me, I would oversee the repair of my ship. Unfortunately, I still have to wait for all the parts to arrive. - the knight said firmly. Prince Zed nodded in understanding.

- You were attacked by a space monster. You were very lucky that all ended only with damaged ship. My memories of the old Golarion are very fragmentary, but I remember how great fear aroused in sailors the prospect of an attack by sea beasts that could drag them into the abyss of the seas, and yet the abyss of space is much more terrifying.

The Lady of Blades glanced at the automaton, then gave her a questioning look. She shrugged and said.

- Prince Zed is from Lost Golarion. He is an Automaton if I understand correctly, a being created by magic, not technology. - She explained to the knight, and the prince bowed politely.

- Indeed, you are absolutely right, but now I would ask the ladies to let me go. - Much less pleasant matters are calling me, involving the investment in the construction of an orbital station. Carurystal deserves it! – He uttered the last point in such a tone as if it were an election slogan. They both snorted. They were left alone, for the guests who had gathered around them had discreetly dispersed.

- Hellknights are as popular here as anywhere. - Asindesa murmured with a hint of satisfaction mixed with bitterness.

- It's rather my fault. I have my ways of letting people know that I don't want company. I enjoy a certain… authority here. Would you like to walk? - she asked the Lady of Blades, who nodded her agreement. They walked together through the huge banquet hall.

- How do you know the Lord Admiral? – she asked hellknight

- We fought together against The Swarm. Why do you ask, Miss Daisy. - she asked, looking at her sharply.

- So you know who I am. - "Or rather, you think you know." - I am worried and would like to know who I am dealing with. - "Rather not for Lady Caly's safety, though. Actually, I'm more worried about this man." she thought with grim amusement. Asindesa thought for a moment.

- He is an outstanding commander, especially when it comes to space combat, but he also knows how to conduct battles on the surface of planets. But above all, he is a brilliant politician. He can turn every battle, even a defeat, into a great triumph. They say war is just an extension of politics, for him that's truth. He wins every fight first in salons and in the media. As he used to say, the greatest victory is the one you get without firing a single shot. - Asindesa said sharply.

"Oh Hordak, this is something even your brother couldn't comprehend... Though should'nt I have told you off, since I was your's right hand responsible for most of what you did."

- What do you think of him as a person? - she asked the knight again, reaching for another glass of red wine, ignoring the fact that Asindesa gave her a surprised look. "Why do I feel ashamed?"

- He's… very reserved. He never reveals what he feels or thinks. He is always prepared for what the future may bring... He is absolutely focused on the goal and nothing can distract him... has something happened? - Asindesa asked suddenly as she saw her shiver. There was concern in her voice.

- It just reminded me of a certain horrible woman I knew. - she said far too fast to sound believable. Asindesa nodded and asked herself.

- Was it worth it? What have you done… - Asindesa asked her . She replied with a bitter smile. "Hellknights know a lot about dark pacts, after all."

- No... And not just because of the scars...- She said sharply and finished her wine, then looked down. "You did what you did. You brought suffering and you knew very well that you were hurting others."

She felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. Asindesa smiled at her. She felt a strange, almost unknown so far warmth spreading through her body. "It's stupid. It's so stupid. Focus idiot! After all, that's what you've always demanded fro others." she reprimanded herself.

Then the music started and she felt Asindesa grab her hands. Like most planets in the galaxy, Carurystal had no prejudice against same-sex relationships, but of course appropriately polite and unobtrusive ways of signaling one's orientation had to be devised. One of them was inviting someone to dance. She looked at Asidesa di Vir in genuine surprise

- Can wizards dance where you come from? - asked the knight of hell with a swashbuckling smile

- No worse than the Helknights. - She replied and laughed happily. She felt young for a moment, not least because of what Nyarlathetop had done to her body. She learned dancing in her family home, where she studied for Pajęczyca's chosen one. She had to be good at it because she had no choice. She taught them… Adora and Catra how to dance and it was one of the few good things she had done in her life.

She has slept with both men and women in her life. But she had never felt what she felt now. "It's the alcohol in my veins, nothing more," she repeated over and over again, but deep down she knew otherwise. There was the first dance, and the second, and the tenth. Finally, they stood looking into each other's eyes and feeling their hearts beating in unison.

- I never thought I'd ever dance with a hellknight.- she exclaimed, laughing happily.

- Most people think we only live to wage our war. Maybe there is a bit of truth in it, but ... I did not think that I would find someone on this planet with such a hunger for life inside. cried the Lady of Blades.

Yes... Hunger, she thought. Creeping Chaos completed the ritual she had begun so long ago. It wasn't until she was resurrected that she realized that Mikah's sacrifice was necessary for the ritual to be complete. Creeping chaos liked to play with fools who believed that power would make them happy.

- I... I've really never met anyone like you. For now, Lady Cala is in the process of fulfilling her mission. So I have some free time, so I'd like to invite you to Castle Grayskull to spend some time together. – she said, feeling like a teenager inviting her friend to spend the night together.

But then Asindesa looked down and pursed her lips.

- I am so orry, but I have to decline. I'm getting ready for an extremely important mission and I don't have time for such nonsense.

- But why? Have I offended you in some way? she asked strangely sad. She knew the taste of disappointment well, but this was more than that. She felt as if she had lost something very precious, something much more precious than the power she had been chasing all her life.

The hellknight shook her head.

- We both have our responsibilities. Each of us serves someone and in no way can we abandon this service. I guess this could be the beginning of... something beautiful, but none of us can afford it.

- Well, the war with the Swarm ... - she said gloomily, but after a moment of thought the Lady of Blades denied

- No ... the Order chose me to participate in an extremely important and dangerous mission. It is related to Lord Admiral Antares... that's why I quoted him, because I've been thinking a lot about him lately... I can't say anything more... - Painful sadness could be heard in the knight's voice.

She put two and two together and understood. "So you're going where we are. If you knew the truth… the truth, you'd understand that someone like you has nothing to fear out there… except for people like me… And like Calamity." She thought sadly, but she was already planning how to continue this relationship, even though deep down she knew it would end in their shared suffering.