The White Darkness

By Helbaworshipper

Lotis Theives Arc: A Bond's Severance

Even without her Lotis, Mayura knew something that other Lotis users had only thought of at her age normally. The power of the stench of maram blood. She was currently in her tent which for some reason was quite protected. Queen Seno was still sleeping peacefully when she could hear the distant scream. Slowly, she got up from the bed and pulled on her normal clothes. Even without her Lotis, she understood it was a matter of time that this defense was breached.

She couldn't feel the effect of any of the words outside, which must mean her connection with Alice provided some defense. However, she could tell it was only a remnant of their connection before. She would not be able to use Lotis words or robes to get through this. She moved to her mother and slowly shook the woman to get up.

"Mayura, what is-"

"We're under attack," the woman looked even more startled. "Get dressed quickly and prepare to have at least something to defend against incoming damage." While she was busy with that, Mayura needed to figure out the next move. If they were attacking this camp, there were chances they had to split to defend Wakamiya and Seno Kingdom. There was no telling if Weilhausen would even remotely help them at this point.

"Why do we have to defend these people? Shouldn't the woman who is so powerful defend us?" Voices she heard as she looked into some of the supplies. A part of her might have yelled at them. Still, she didn't want to push her luck as they might be traps. It wasn't the first time someone did try that, but she had been confident enough to defeat them then. She grasped a knife and what looked to be a probable hammer. She held them carefully as the voices silenced. She motioned for her mother, who was currently holding the table and a chair for defense. The woman remained in the center of the room as Mayura approached the tent flap.

"Come on in if you are finished insulting us." She spoke as she stabbed into neck of the first maram user that came in. This normally would be nothing to her, but seeing it in her current state felt like it was a bit more than she was used to. Still, she drew out the hammer and hit the head of the second person coming in. As she felt the energy trying to hit her, she pulled back and kicked the half dead maram user into the speaking one.

"Looks like she's not use lotis. That is rather odd, we weren't told anything about this..." The strangest chuckle came out. "Eric will be so happy to hear about-" A hand grasped the maram user by the neck from behind. She saw dark skin, robes of lotis… Billy, right?

"Well, certainly was quite a setup here, huh?" He didn't look comfortable. She could tell from the way he moved the Byoma outside must be strong. In here, he seemed to at least relax. "Glad to see that your combat skills are still useful, your highness."

"It's hard enough fighting with Lotis." She commented back, the hands tightening on the tools. "Do you have something better than a dagger?"

"Let's get your mother somewhere safer and then I can at least give you something better than a dull hammer."

The tent was full of who was able to get out of the ambush. She also noticed people that were from the Wakamiya kingdom, though. It worried her as she saw Mei Lin in probably not the best state. Yet the woman was already heading out as she was coming in. As the woman's torn and somewhat tarnished robes left her mind, she felt the hands of a small child grasp one of hers. From what she could tell, this child wasn't here earlier and many people from Seno Kingdom where here as well.

"Mommy… She..." The child was trying to say something to her on what happened. She could tell what the tale might have been. This child was of a lower class and probably not attending any higher education. It wasn't required and it didn't mean it was bad. Still, from the calloused fingers and the smell of sweets, the child probably helped out. She knelt down for a moment and used her free hand to pat the child on the head.

"She might be saved and come here." Her voice was calm despite the situation. It surprised most of the people in the tent. "If you stay here and get lots of rest, we'll know exactly when that might be." The child continued to let out tears, but seemed to calm down enough. Slowly she moved to where Billy was handing weapons to the less injured of the people in the tent. As the line moved to where a lotis thief was giving the battle plan, she asked the best she could to know what was going on.

"From what I've been told, Seno, Wakamiya, and this camp are all infected with the same stones your sister was triggered by. Following the release of that maram force earlier..." He seemed to hesitate for a moment. "It looks like an ambush. Chris is headed towards Seno Kingdom and going back and forth to get as many people as possible evacuated. Kyou and Mei Lin are doing it for Wakamiya Kingdom. We're not sure how long we can keep it off before Prince Frei finds the stones to at least give us an advantage."

"They must be using their connection with Master Darva to overpower everyone they can. Is there any word other than Prince Frei about additional..." She shook her head a moment. "No way that Weilhausen would bother. They'd just use it as an opportunity at this point."

"We're not sure if they'll even bother to come help. Taking in refugees is pushing it if we even try to get it to happen." Billy commented softly as he thought about it. "Either way, I'll have to head out and keep patrol. Don't kill too many people in sight. I know you're used to it, but kids like that don't have to see it for a reason."

It was quiet again. Mayura didn't sleep on the battlefield. What she did was take short micro-naps to keep her mind clear. She opened her eyes from one and simply kept her mind aware of her surroundings. A few time she could tell when Billy and Mei Lin came back. Kyo for reasons did not come back very often. She couldn't remember if he did at all, but that was easy enough to happen on a battlefield.

"Do you love him?" A voice she couldn't quite recognize for a moment. She looked towards the figure. Since it was so quiet and everything was so still, she could tell it was someone who had protected this place for even a moment. It was Alice. The guardian was not nearby, but she could feel the woman's physical presence.

"Kyo? Or you?" She asked as she kept her eyes on the entrance.

"Kyo," she spoke, sitting next to her.

"In a way," her voice was softer as she answered. "All I wanted was to have power of my own choice after the time in the battlefield at some point. Perhaps I was jealous of the friendship and potential love relationship there was."

"Yet there was no relationship so far. Even if it was possible, you can still have it."

"Do you love Frei?"

"I do not have… words for my connection to Frei. There is a lot about him that truly makes him special." She felt strangely tired as the woman's hand gently placed her head in a warm, but calming lap. "However, if I do not end up with Kyo, this world will be normal again."

"Normal?"

"Lotis only has power because of a power source. Words have always had a power to them, just not as explosive as the forces here."

"Does it really mean anything to be powerful enough to destroy or save someone with words anymore?" Her voice was almost wistful. "Even without Lotis, one can wage war. Certainly this world will not be as magical, but… War can always exist. So can peace. I just want to live with my family again." She started to close her eyes as she could see what looked to be Frei's robes enter the tent. Perhaps he had found the stone and it was all over.