In the pale starlight.
They stopped in front of the hotel, arousing noticeable terror of the security guards. The flies had passed and the sky was clear. The air was cold, filled with the smell of salt and baked food. At this hour, after passing by of flies, the city was coming back to life again, this time more mysterious and vicious… Dilayla squeezed outside, dragging Rosie with her, who said goodbye to their new friends. The prettiest of the beauties came out with her "babysitter", who now seemed to have aged at least ten years, stood behind them. Cala was so radiant that she was about to glow, and Miss Daisy seemed to be in an even grimmer mood. Well, given her experience in life, she sympathized much more with genuinely gloomy people than with falsely cheerful ones. Arkan-tar and Rechiza stood beside her, clearly waiting for an opportunity to discuss the events of the long day. Wrongdak seemed very tired and a bit confused, but he seemed happy.
"It's a really naive and good-natured creature. And it went to people like us." Rosie glanced over, yawning very tired after such an intense day. "You too are a kind-hearted creature who found herself in a place where she shouldn't be, among people who have done some nasty things in their lives" she thought and glanced at the dark sorceress. "Or Much More Than A Few"
„Well, today we will prepare everything for you, and you will sleep and pack, do shopping or go to the spa, because after that we will spend the next few months in space away from anything, so there will be no opportunity for such things." Bina declared and climbed into her insane transporter.
"Well, we need to notify Dr. Quin, pack up again that day, and hit the road tomorrow." Arkan-tar said and stretched. Rosie let out that weird moan of hers.
„Do we really have to take her with us? She is rude and treat me like mule!" asked the deaf girl.
"We have orders to take her, and she's a seasoned scientist." Arkan-tar said spreading his hands in a gesture of helplessness. Dilayla patted Rosie on the back.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you from that mean rat."
The girl nodded and together they entered the apartment. Dr. Quin, who had been watching a soap opera from fifty years ago, turned to them.
„Where have you been! I'm sitting here by myself, taking care of our equipment, watching over everything, and what? You're taking my only intern!" she said loudly and ran over to Rosie. "And you get to work!" I'm not paying you to wander around town and slack off!"
„You don't pay me at all! The government does it, and I haven't seen the money anyway, I probably won't!" The gloves were very loud now. Dilayla put her hand on the shoulder of the girl who was red with anger.
„Take it easy, young one, if this rat is going to fire you, I can afford to hire you to take care of my equipment. I'm guessing Arkan-tar, Rechiza and Miss Daisy will also contribute in return for your help?" she didn't want to suggest Lady Cala, because otherwise the girl would really end up as the aristocratic equivalent of a sleeping bag friend. Hearing her words, Arkan-tar adjusted his glasses coughing, Rechiza nodded, and Miss Daisy looked at her as if aroused from her thoughts.
- Yes, I will gladly support Rosie. She is a gifted and talented girl and I will definitely find a more suitable activity for her than carrying equipment that we will probably have no use for…. said the grim elf. Dilayla raised an eyebrow. She knew that the sorceress had a soft spot for the deaf girl, although unlike the hotheaded elf, she didn't think that she liked younger girls... though her reaction to the strange Pahtra was puzzling, it could have been sorcerers' quirk, they have a weakness for cats. Qin narrowed her only organic, and the metal gleamed ominously, and Miss Daisy smiled at her and snapped her fingers several times. Ysoka turned and then saw Wrongdak, who was reaching for caked hard candies. His strange droid was standing next to him.
"Hello, I'm Wrongdak, actually..." He didn't finish as Dr. Qin smiled at him and slapped his knee.
- I'm Dr. Qin... You're a very interesting creature... I've never seen anything like this! What are you? She watched him as a fascinating phenomenon.
„This is not creature! This is a person!" Rosie screamed in anger, but the scientist ignored her.
"I am a clone, a clone of Horde Prime from the Galactic Horde. But now I'm free…" he said patiently. Dilayla had the impression that she felt calm in the company of the scientist. It was probably the first slightly disturbing thing he'd done. However, he said that his friend was a very smart woman ... Maybe she was also a scientist?
Dr. Qin waved her hand as if she considered what he was saying to be completely unimportant…
„ Yes, yes, it's very interesting. But I'm asking about the species! About what you are!" She tugged at his knees, excited but also annoyed. Wrongdak looked at her surprised and said slowly.
"We were never told that... we were just his brothers... little brothers... but he treated us like things... our only value was that we were his clones, poor copies of him." He sat down sadly. The droid came up to him and started rubbing against him. But Ysoka screamed loudly.
- Oh... Paldus Vagus, that's what your species will be called... I'll be famous for discovering and describing the first specimen of the White Demon, and this is only the beginning of the journey. she rubbed her hands. Dilayla thought it would be funny if the Order of the Eclipse would admit who attacked her planet and reveal what it knew about the Wrongdak species, the doctor might break down. She would love to be there. Wongdak sank into the armchair exhausted, and Rosie yawned and rubbed her eyes. Dilayla felt tired too. It had been a long day and full of unusual, unexpected events. Two of them have shaken her enough that she has to rethink who she should be loyal to and who a true friend is, and who's the enemy...
"Why don't we go up to the roof and discuss today's events? Meanwhile, Miss Rosie and Mr. Wrongdak will freshen up." Lady Cala said suddenly. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
„Keep an eye on him from Qin, because she will dissect him when he go sleep." She patted the deaf girl on the shoulder. Rosie saluted and giggled, which also sounded a bit odd. Then they went to the roof of the hotel, escorted by the disapproving looks of the staff. A cold wind blew overhead, and the pale stars shone coldly above their heads. When she was sure they were alone, she placed an armored hand on Arkan-tar's shoulder, squeezing it meaningfully.
„I have only one question for you. Who the hell is Dr. Sidonius and what is his connection to my sister! And don't you son of a bitch try to lie to me or I'll rip your hands off." she growled. Arkan-tar looked at the others, but they also wanted to know the answer to this question, so they were not going to intervene in his defense.
„Your sister?" he asked, obviously confused. At least in this regard, he seemed to have nothing to hide.
- The woman who spoke on the recording at the observatory. She was seriously… very seriously injured when Wrongdak's Big Brother attacked my home planet and much of her body had to be replaced with cybernetic implants. I left her with the Order of the Eclipse but… she ended up aboard that damn Galleon, I don't know how." she explained. She felt ashamed of actually abandoning her sister, but it made her feel even angrier.
The scientist swallowed and began to talk.
"He's a very old vampire…" she clenched her fist tighter, so he added. „But really very old, remembering the times of the Lost Golarion. He… I know he's been researching what happened during the Gap… quite obsessively, if you ask me. He's been dead for a very long time and is fascinated by the First Ones. Supposedly, he thinks they have to do with the break and memory loss for all of us. He is said to be one of the few people who know the language of this ancient race.„ Verthani explained.
„Really? I've only heard of one person who could speak the language of the First ones and it wasn't a damed hiding in shadows parasite." Miss Daisy said contemptuously and giggled. There was something really wrong with this woman...
„It's a fact ... he's not the only one anyway." Rechiza tapped one of her metal eyes „He made my eyes ... after my accident. „ she shuddered and added. "I could read the writing on that feline girl's hand.
"Eti's hand is a First Ones artifact?" exclaimed Miss Daisy, genuinely surprised. At the mention of the girl's name, Lady Cala winced. "Oh someone's jealous of mommy's attention!" thought Dilayla, smiling maliciously.
„Yes, the writing said "Here is the Punishing Hand which has been created to..." and here the signs ends. I have no idea where she got such an artifact, but it probably doesn't matter. We are far from Abbalon and are unlikely to encounter any ruins of this ancient race. Lashunti" said with a shrug.
"Oh, it's not that simple…" Lady Cala interjected. Everyone looked at her.
Rechiza turned to Lady Caly. The beautiful aristocrat had been silent at the beginning of the discussion, but now she clearly had something very important, perhaps shocking, to announce.
"Mara, the woman I mentioned, was one of the First Ones."
That was shocking thought the witchwarper. There was silence, only a cold wind howling between the buildings. It was news she wasn't prepared for. Their companion is a descendant of an extremely mysterious and ancient race, those who left behind abandoned cities on Abbalon ... and monsters, like the one that made her lose her antennae and eyes. She looked at Miss Daisy. "Is that why you found this girl? Because of her origin? Like a parasite, you clung to a young woman to gain access to dark secrets… Dilayla broke the silence.
„Or maybe you still have an angel in your lineage or maybe some god right away? It is an enduring fashion among aristocrats." The blue-haired mercenary smiled. Rechiza had no idea why this woman was so mean, but her remark was not only insulting, but completely inappropriate.
"I'm sorry, but as I understand it, this Mara, even if she really was one of the First Ones., after all these countless centuries, the blood is absolutely diluted, unless you practice inbreeding, as is sometimes said of the Azlanti." He smiled with a bit of superiority.
"I never claimed that my blood made me better than others in any way, though some genes might have survived. But think about the implications of this fact..." said the noblewoman looking seriously at the three of them, while Miss Daisy stood thoughtful.
Rechiza was the first to understand.
„Etheria was the planet of the First Ones." she said. Arkan-tar whistled in appreciation, but Dilayla yawned. Lady Cala nodded and said.
"It was their colony, or rather a research center. It is full of precious and ancient artifacts, sometimes extremely valuable or powerful."
"And we're going there with one of the craziest pirates in the galaxy..." Arkan-tar said. Miss Daisy gave him a murderous look. Her earlier reaction to Captain Moonshadow was surprising, could the disfigured sorceress also once be a pirate? That would explain a lot.
„Yes, but there will be enough treasures and artifacts for everyone ... anyway, we only want to deactivate or annihilate the weapons that threatened the galaxy. Of course, we have to be careful not to let it fall into the hands of Captain Moonshadow, but we shouldn't have a problem with that, because we have the support of the Lord Admiral's armada. However, the biggest reward will be something completely different. On Etheria, we may find a way to the home world of the First Ones, Eternia.
It sounded even beter. If they managed to find their way to the home world of one of the most powerful races in known galactic history… Even if the First Ones died out, the potential was mind-blowing. Arkan-tar folded his fingers into a pyramid and smiled with greedy bliss.
"I guess that explains why the doctor is so interested in this place, but we still don't know what connection he has with Captain Blazebringer. These kids seem to know both, judging by their reaction to the broadcast." said Verthani, staring at the stars.
- I'm incredibly interested in extinct ancient species, it's normally my fucking hobby... But now will someone tell me who Captain Blazebringer is? Anyone know his identity?" asked the mercenary. Arkan'tar rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.
„Nobody knows anything for sure about him. Even his original species is unknown, only that he has undergone significant cybernetic modifications and is currently hardly considered a biological being. He lives quite a long time and has traveled all known worlds, and he was also supposedly in the farthest corners of the galaxy. He has the opinion of a pridefull, ruthless and calculating person. Supposedly, although we already know it's true, he came into possession of the "Dreams of Eternity" Void Galleon, which is a mystery in itself." said Verthani with commitment. This one likes to listen to his own voice, thought Rechiza.
- Void Galleon? And what the hell is that. I've never heard of such ships. Does my sister really have access to such an arsenal." asked the mercenary, radiating distrust.
„There is nothing strange about your lack of knowledge. These are the ships that were built during the Gap. At the same time, their construction began in different places in the galaxy, but all the ships were identical. At least at first. They had a strange silent AI and the ability to assimilate the technology they encountered. However, a drift drive was never installed on them. A hundred years after the end of the Gap, they've all been destroyed... Except for the last one. "Dreams of Eternity" is a legend in itself, not to mention its captain. As for the weapons... Captain Blazebringer is said to have come into possession of some ancient arsenal, but I don't know how true that is." he threw up his arms. The mercenary wasn't happy with his answers, but apparently she had to make do with them, because she wouldn't get any others.
„The matter of vampires and mysterious ships is settled. Lady Cala took over the discussion. "Do we need to talk about our new captain?"
„What about her? She has a somewhat uncouth and very young but surprisingly knowledgeable crew. I can't say too much bad about her, have you noticed anything disturbing about her? You know her less than we do, but we know her only half a day." Lashunti said. Suddenly, Arkan-tar spoke up.
"She's fine, except she looks like Lady Ka, the Lord Admiral's Left Hand, as she likes to call herself."
„Are they very similar?" Rechiza asked surprised. Bina was the last woman she would suspect of being connected to someone like the Lord Admiral.
„They're identical. Almost, because they lead a decidedly different lifestyle." Arkan-tar said Miss Daisy looked at him surprised.
"Twin sisters or clones?" Rechiza asked the scholar.
"I don't know, but I think it's best if they don't find out about each other." Verthani said.
"Back to the clone issue..." Dilayla interjected. "Our new companiom Wrongdak is one of them, which I can confirm both from my own memories and from what I learned from the knights of the order. More importantly, his master, Horde Prime, The creator of the ravaged zone and its undivided ruler has been destroyed.
It shocked her too. The Order could barely manage with a small scouting force, thanks to the summons of their infernal allies. The one who was able to defeat him...
„Well, not only will we not encounter The swarm, but the white demons will not be a threat to us either. This trip is starting to look more and more like a summer walk." Arkan-tar said, smiling with relief.
„It won't be that easy." Dilayla said and showed them a strange coin and told them about her meeting with a Shiren miner. To her, it looked pretty ordinary, though the words "United we will cast out shadows" sounded defiant, but it wasn't unusual. Miss Daisy and Lady Cala examined the coin carefully. She had the impression that the dark sorceress smiled crookedly at the sight of the coin and sighed as if with resignation. That was interesting too. Arkan-tar looked at the coin and laughed briefly.
- It's quite funny ... Did you know that I saw such a sign? On the other side of the galaxy, on the planet Ashenzee, but life there was destroyed thousands of years ago.
This time they all looked at him with a silent question. The scholar shrugged with feigned modesty.
- I took part in an archaeological expedition. We studied the remains of a long-extinct civilization there. They were small bat-like creatures. They had rudimentary wings that disappeared in the process of evolution. They were descendants of night creatures, and in their culture this sun was the personification of evil and hatred... They were to lose their wings as a result of a contract with this "Demon", in exchange for protection against his hateful rays. They developed normally, until a group decided to reject traditional beliefs and flew into space, although it was forbidden. Soon after, there was a regression of civilization among those who remained on Ashenzee. After several hundred years, their rebellious brothers returned, but they were changed. Taller and fitter, but above all, winged. They overthrew old beliefs and subjugated their less developed relatives. They were worshiped like gods, and this symbol, the bat's wings, became their symbol. They called themselves Sun Slayer. said Verthani with the skill of a professor.
"And what happened to those 'Sun Slayers'?" asked Miss Daisy.
„What always happens to the proud and the arrogant. They fell and only ashes remained." Arkan-tar said smiling ironically.
"You've been ran from justicee Horde Prime for a long time, but it's caught up with you anyway. Now I know your great secret, or at least part of it... Though Sun Slayers was a much more... poetic name, you should admit it yourself, she thought as she looked at the coin. She also ordered the money to be minted, for many reasons, though Hordak never quite understood why she did it. "But I wasn't cheating on the bullion. The loss of reputation wasn't worth the small savings." she thought. But this coin showed that something of Prime's empire had survived. It didn't surprise her, the spies of Creeping Chaos had heard rumors that the situation in the Ravaged Zone was complicated, but still she felt... disappointed. She hoped that after so many years of war, the people of Etheria would find peace. "At least until you return, my dear Shadow Weaver."
„It's fascinating. I feel surrounded by extinct civilizations. You may have some more up your sleeve. the halfelf asked in an annoyed tone. "She pretends to be a simple bully, but this woman is very smart. She is better aware of what is going on around them than an educated archaeologist and witchwarper. "She doesn't trust Lady Caly, which in itself is a sign of great shrewdness, since all of Carurystal has fallen for this masquerade."
I think two will be enough for us. However, we must determine what we are telling the Lord Admiral. Arkan-tar said, massaging his temple. He smiled slyly.
„We must surely inform him that neither the Swarm nor the whole Horde are waiting for him there, at least not in full force." Rechiza said, looking hard at the others.
"It's rather unavoidable, because and yet his fleet may be needed." Lady Cala said thoughtfully. "Only to whom and for what? Are you already planning something?" she thought, watching as her ward effortlessly takes control of their small group.
"But I see no reason to tell him what Etheria was, at least for now." He'd be sick of the job of bringing order to the ruins of an empire anyway. We'll tell him everything, in the right way, when we need his fleet's help. continued the aristocrat. Everyone nodded, agreeing to her proposal, though the mercenary didn't look convinced.
"And what shall we tell him about our new captain and her crew?" Rechiza asked.
"That's the problem... This woman looks identical to one of the Lord Admiral's subordinates, and somehow I doubt they're twins. And with her is a girl so similar to Catra. It's not a coincidence"
'I don't see the slightest reason to bother the Lord Admiral with this. Likewise, we don't tell our new associates anything, including Wrongdak. Ignorance is bliss, at least sometimes. "I need time to discover the truth. And I have so little of it."
It seemed to her that everyone agreed with what she said, although Dilayla smiled mysteriously. "I have to keep an eye on this woman, she might get in our way.
-„Is that all? Arkan-tar asked. „We hold our tongues until the situation is fully clarified." he was about to go to their room to rest like the rest, but she decided to ask him one more question.
„Captain Moonshadow... Who is she?" She stared hard at the scholar, wanting to make sure he wasn't fooling her. Verthani thought, as if trying to remember what he knew about the woman.
"It's not my favorite subject of study, but I know quite a bit about pirates. Captain Moonshadow is one of the most dangerous. She was first heard of when she launched a rebellion on the Azlanti prison planet of Jadehell. It's a scary place full of poisonous plants. They poison the air there, but not enough to kill you right away. He does it slowly, day by day. It damages the lungs and eyes. And the Azlanti don't provide adequate protection. Plus, fungus spores can enter the brain through the eyes… Life expectancy there is six months, and she was there ten months, but came out in acceptable health. She has to wear a mask to help her breathe, and her wings have also been damaged, so she has to cybernetically assist them. I don't know what happened to her hand. It has a cruiser that we've already seen. His name is Merciless. The name fits very well with the character of the captain herself. She ruthlessly fights the Azlanti. He hunts their ships and loots their outposts. He does not harm the helpless, but he knows no mercy when the soldiers of the Star Empire are involved. It is said that he has several cell on his cruiser where he grows Jadehell plants. All the officers go there and die slowly. She mentioned them to you… They're called the Gardens of the Long Death." He looked at her as if expecting praise.
She wanted to laugh. She couldn't stop herself. It was all so… unfair. She, the woman who ruined the lives of so many. Shadow Weaver, who has worked so hard to be hated by everyone she knows, has spent the last five years in luxury. She was widely estimated, arousing respect and even sympathy from those who knew how disfigured she had been. And Angela, the woman who suffered so much, who sacrificed her life to save them all, ended up a pirate. She became a ruthless and cruel woman whose soul burned with a thirst for revenge. She has received so much grace that she does not remember who she is. But she would return to Etheria, and she would have to confront what she was with what she had become. "Oh, you don't lock prisoners in a spare bedroom anymore. You show them a lot more respect." And she burst out laughing, a loud uncontrollable laugh that was devoid of joy. Tears ran down her face. The others looked away from her in embarrassment, except for Lady Caly, who looked at her with undisguised contempt. But now she didn't care. It was just too much for one day. She stood up and, with difficulty, refrained from laughing and crying, she said in a broken voice.
"I'm sorry, it's just that life just seemed so…comically unfair to me, don't you think?"
Rosie couldn't sleep. The experiences of that day were comming back to her as soon as she closed her eyes. She wasn't used to fighting gunfights. To someone wants to hurt her. Nor to meet other people, so unusual. She tossed and turned in bed, unable to calm down. She woke up in a cold sweat, so she finally decided to get up, knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep again. In her room, Dr. Quin slept snoring loudly. Wrongdak took a sofa too small for him, but it didn't seem to bother him, because he slept the sleep of the righteous. Lady Cala lay on the bed like a bas-relief on a tomb, beautiful but almost too perfect, almost unreal. Miss Daisy was asleep at the desk, above the datapad for retirees. She smelled of some sweet alcohol. She was curious about it. On the datapad screen, she saw the hand of a woman holding a plant. The hand was troughed with numerous calluses, like a warrior's. The person it belonged to must have spent a lot of time training with weapons... It certainly didn't belong to Lady Caly, for her hands were graceful and delicate, although she had seen with her own eyes what an excellent swordsman she was. In the background she could see some cavernous swamps.
-„Glmh. wht yu to". The gray-skinned elf said indistinctly, opening her eyes. She blinked a few times and shook her head.
-„Ah, it's you Rosie... I took you for someone from my past... What are you doing here? You can not sleep?" she asked. She was sleepy, but regained consciousness quickly.
„No ... It's like this ... I wasn't peeping ... I just can't sleep, so I decided to pass „ she felt herself blushing. Miss Daisy looked at the Datapad and smiled sourly.
"I guess I'm getting old... I used to guard my secrets much more carefully..." she said and turned off the datapad.
„You couldn't sleep either?" Rosie asked the older woman, who sighed.
My body hardly needs sleep or food anymore... But sometimes my mind needs to sleep... but it's already rested... Want to get some air?" she asked her. Rosie was surprised by the request, but after a moment's thought she nodded her agreement.
Miss Daisy led her to the roof, from where they could admire the panorama of the city, or rather, several nearby rooftops. Not a very picturesque view. But when she looked up, she saw a clear night sky and felt it take her breath away. She had never seen him with her own eyes, she was sure of it, though she remembered so little. She felt as if she could see the whole universe, all its mysteries and secrets. You just need to focus your eyes a bit more. She felt so small, like an insignificant bug standing in front of a colossus, unimaginably beautiful, but at the same time completely indifferent to her existence. It should have terrified her, but somehow it soothed her. The awareness of her own fragility in the face of this immensity was liberating, she felt that no one was imposing on her the path she should follow.
„What do you see in them? In these stars." said Miss Daisy, as if she were talking about something disgusting. She was sitting on the edge of the roof, her legs dangling out. She had a bottle of Brandy in her hand. Rosie sat next to her. The height didn't scare her.
„You don't like stars? I thought all the elves loved them." she asked surprised.
The grey-skinned woman smiled and took a long swig from the bottle.
„As you can see, not all of them. Besides, I haven't seen them for most of my life, and even then, on Carurystal, I rarely had the opportunity to see them. You understand because of the clouds. „she said, and then her face kind of flickered a bit.
"Your face... something is going on... is it supposed to be like this?" she asked scared.
You have good eyesight", Rosie. said the sorceress and reached behind the nape of her neck. Then the holographic mask disappeared and she saw her true face. It was covered with wide scars, as if someone had broken porcelain. Her hair was jet black and her eyes were yellow with vertical pupils. Her lip was torn on one side and a sharp fang protruded from it. The hands ended in long, sharp claws. She covered her mouth at the sight and stepped back, but then came back. "I shouldn't act like this. You shouldn't judge others by their appearance.
„Are you not afraid of me? I don't disgusting you?" Miss Daisy asked and took another sip from the bottle.
„A bit ... - admitted the girl with shame. „But it's not your fault ... How we look doesn't determine who we are ..."
Miss Daisy looked away from her and gave a hoarse laugh.
„Twice you're wrong girl... At least in my case. This is all my fault, the price I paid for the choice I made. However, its consequences have affected countless people ..." she drank again from the bottle. The sorceress stared thoughtfully into space. She seemed so gloomy and depressed now, more so than usual.
"Did it hurt…?" she asked, and immediately feared she was being too nosy. Miss Daisy looked at her in astonishment.
„Did it hurt... Heh, no one asked me that question. Yes, it hurt a lot. I spent decades experiencing constant agony… but also euphoria. A power beyond comprehension flowed through my veins. It gave me strength and made me powerful. But right after that she was running away from me like by a sieve with holes in it."
„ But how did it happen ... Did someone hurt you? she asked not sure what she should think about what the grim elf told her.
„Yes... Someone hurt me." Miss Daisy began to speak, she seemed animated. „Myself." she glanced at the astonished Rosie. "You see, I used to be a teacher at a magic school, a real magic school that educated students from all over the world where I was born. I was a very capable and strong sorceress, whose wisdom was widely appreciated by all. I have trained many skilled sorcerers, but one of them was special. I had never seen anyone so powerful before, and then only one person… I was proud to be his mentor, but part of me envied his power… But it was a trying time for all of us. Because a great evil… No, let's just call it a mighty adversary, has hit our world. Few could stand up to them. I tried to convince other sorcerers to support the war effort, but they were skeptical, they valued our neutrality so much. But I worked hard to devise a way to defeat the enemy. I found a ritual, ancient and forbidden. It summoned a powerful, terrifying being that gave great power, but could turn the user into a dark being… a magic-eating parasite. However, I was so proud and arrogant, I believed that I could harness this power… I went to the other sorcerers with an offer, but they turned it down too. How angry I was with them. I thought I would become a true heroine, the savior of my world, a great heroine who All power was to be mine, and no one could match me. My disciple was carried away by these desires. He agreed to help me perform the ritual. We prepared ourselves, or at least we thought we were. But the being we summoned… I didn't understand what terrible power we summoned. My apprentice deviated from the ritual, and I hated him for it for many years. Now I know it was the smartest thing he could have done. The entity easily absorbed me and turned me into what I am. The Head Sorcerer came to prevent the ritual, but he arrived too late. He enraged me, so I killed him, and then the whole council… Only my apprentice was spared. I ran away. I wanted to live so badly… So I swore to serve the same enemy I swore to fight. I was... a devoted servant... To a time" sShe took another big gulp from the bottle.
"But now you are with Lady Cala and with us! Everything will be fine." Rosie said. Miss Daisy smiled sadly and stood up. She walked over to the deaf girl and touched her face with her clawed fingers.
"You're a good kid…" said Miss Daisy, but then pulled her hand away. „No, there are no bad kids. It's others who instill their evil in them ... I've learned that. Now forgive me, even in my state I have needs that I cannot avoid." Rosie must have looked confused, because Miss Daisy smiled warmly. "I need to go to the toilet, then I'll try to take a nap." she said and went to their room. Rosie stayed here a while longer, trying to digest what she had learned. She saw what power Miss Daisy wields, and that it is a dark force. But… She was kind to her and cared for someone as wonderful as Lady Cala. She couldn't be that bad...
Then she felt someone clapping behind her. She was so scared that she jumped. She turned, ready to face a potential attacker, but saw Eti standing with her face uncovered. She sighed with relief. In fact, she was glad to see it.
„Oh, it's just you!" She smiled at the feline girl.
„I am not just me. I am something great" Eti replied looking where Miss Daisy had disappeared.
„What are you doing here?" asked Rosie, looking at the strange girl.
„I think I'm wasting my time. I expected Grimmy to want to kiss you or suck your soul. Instead, I heard a tearful story." she said and yawned.
„That would be terrible!" Rosie shuddered.
„What? Kissing girls or sucking souls…" Eti asked, raising an eyebrow.
„That's the second one!" said the deaf girl energetically.
„Oh, so kissing girls doesn't bother you ... „ said Eti, staring at the white-haired girl. Rosie felt herself blush. She decided to change the topic.
"Doesn't anyone worry that you're gone?" she asked, and Eti shrugged.
"They're more annoyed that I've avoided redecorating. You see, we have to prepare a ship for you. „ she thought for a moment. "Actually, I didn't realy suspect Grimmy of anything. She... sincere. Dark, a little scary, but sincere ... I don't like the other one, Reeka. There's something wrong with her, but I don't know what." Eti said, staring thoughtfully into the night.
„But she's wonderfull." protested the deaf girl.
Eti snorted.
„Those are the worst." she said and wanted to go.
„And in your case... What happened to you? I mean your hand?" Rosie stopped her.
This time Eti smiled for the first time since meeting her. There wasn't pleasant smile. There was something dangerous and predatory about him.
"A wonderful woman did this to me..." She ran into the night leaving Rosie confused.
Bina hated lying to her wards. Of course, she knew that they also sometimes stray from the truth. But more should be expected of her. Especially since it was a very serious lie. And it affected them all. She was on the outskirts of Saltmarsh, in what was supposed to be a kind of plaza where whole families would hang out. Of course, the planet had fallen and now there was nothing but wasteland. She stood by the dry well and looked around, crossing her arms over her chest. She saw him sitting on some lamp post. The black raven stared at her as if she were a very funny creature.
„I see that the doctor is in a good mood. „ she said smiling. The bird with a loud floe landed on the ground and turned into a man. He was quite tall, dressed in a black tailcoat and wearing a top hat. He was wearing mirror glasses that reflected starlight. His face was pale, like the bird he had been a moment ago.
"Good night, Bina, and indeed, joy fills my heart." he said, bowing courteously.
„Are you suggesting you have a heart? You shouldn't, as a scientist, draw such far-reaching conclusions. Bina said smiling sarcastically. The doctor spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
-„What harsh words! But since the courtesies are behind us... How's about Eti's hand." he asked, showing his sharp fangs in an almost happy smile.
„I'm glad you asked about GIRL. All is well with Eti. She is healthy and reasonably content with life, as are all of us." Bina said in an annoyed voice.
"She's a fascinating genetically engineered creature, but not even unique. But this hand ... - The doctor rubbed his hands clearly excited.
"Dr. Sidonius, you personally made sure she is unique." Bina said in a gloomy voice.
„Nonsense!" cried the Doctor indignantly. „The experiment was successful! There is no doubt about it!"
„Yes, your applesauce carton ... Well, we'll find out about everything on the spot, but don't count on miracles." said the thoughtful woman.
„I don't count on miracles, I rely on them" Sidonius laughed heartily.
What a messed up son of a bitch you are she thought contemptuously,
" By the way, we visited the observatory. The good news is we found your maps and all the records are fine. Angry that we fought the bodak you summoned without informing us and the damn Azlanti. Bina snapped irritably.
-„Azlanti... I'm not surprised... But I have another message. The Lord Admiral is also heading deep into the Zone" Doctor Sidonius said, ignoring the bodak case. Bina uttered a bunch of curses.
„What's that son of a bitch doing there?" Captain of the Sword asked sharply.
„What's strange about it? He's been preparing for this trip all his life. And this time, he might succeed." said the vampire.
„We take these guys from Kemanis University with us. They have maps not worse than ours and a lot of equipment. Only the cursed pirate, Captain Moonshadow, is flying with us."
The doctor didn't seem surprised by the woman's presence.
„I know her ... we had an interesting conversation once. Just like me, she lost the most important part of herself ... the past ..." he said with full seriousness.