Louise, Siesta, Montmorency, Guiche, Zeratul, and Tiffa finally came to the Lake Lagdorian to fulfill the promise of so long ago, with only Tiffa being confused as to what was going on. It was the most peaceful they had ever seen it. They stood just beyond the ruins of the village that was flooded in the Spirit of Water's quest to find what was hers. The very ring that Zeratul now held. And that he swore to return.
The night did not chill them. Under the light of the twin moons, the most faint of breezes carried with it a temperate cool that brushed comfortably against those gathered here. As they looked out over the lake, even a certain wistfulness took hold of those present that mesmerized them. When there was no pressing issue… it was certainly a beautiful place.
The waters gently lapped against the shore they stood on. The smell of the water overpowered the musty smell of rot and decay from the former village behind them. And the stillness of the night, only sparsely broken by the sounds of crickets and owls, brought a certain calm to their hearts.
Just as what happened last time, Montmorency pricked her finger and squeezed a drop of blood onto her tree frog familiar Robin before asking her to summon the Spirit of Water.
It did not take long.
The Spirit of Water manifested itself much the same as it did last time. In a pillar of water that thinned and coalesced into a towering, feminine shape.
"You… things. I trust you have fulfilled my task?" The Spirit asked.
Indeed, Exalted Spirit, Zeratul confirmed as he produced and held out the ring to the spirit. After a moment, what looked like a tentacle of water rose from the waters before them and smothered the ring in his hand, with all who could see observing it being sucked through the tentacle and into the waters below.
"It seems my faith in you was well-placed, dark one," the Spirit said with a hint of praise. "And my trust in the legendary Gandalfr has also been emboldened."
Siesta gave a small smile and nod to the Spirit.
"Thank you, O Great Spirit of water. We are sorry it took so long to complete this humble task," Siesta apologized with a bow of her head.
"Time means little to a being such as me. I had hardly noticed you were gone," the Spirit reassured her, causing Siesta to give it a grateful smile.
"Still," Montmorency said, "We thank you for your patience, O Great Spirit. And your faith. It was a great honor to carry out your will." The ringlet-haired blonde bowed low to the Spirit.
"You have all done well, things," the Spirit reassured. "When your essence returns to the waters, I shall be kind to your souls."
At that, with a mighty splash, the Spirit of Water's manifested body fell back into the lake, with everyone peering out at it wistfully.
Louise broke this silence first as she turned and walked up to Tiffa, giving her an apologetic half-smile.
"I'm sorry," Louise said, causing Tiffa to look at her in confusion. "I promised to help you… and we've been so sidetracked. Just like with this task we just completed now," she gestured back to the lake, "but I promise, no more delays. We're going now. We're going to free your people."
Tiffa gave the smallest gasp before her face fell into a warm, grateful look. She nodded down at the pinkette.
"It's okay. I was there for almost all of it. I know you weren't avoiding the task. I mean… you can't help that the pope suddenly decided to kidnap me," Tiffa gave an awkward laugh.
Louise gave her a half-smile at this, "Still, I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Tiffa assured her.
Louise looked back at Zeratul and Siesta, who was giving her a look of conviction. She then turned back to Tiffa, "Let's go, then."
Sasha could feel it. She was getting hungry again. The hunger seemed to come quicker and quicker as of recent. It had never been this bad. After she feasted on those three Tal'Darim, their hundreds of years' worth of essence sating her, not even a week later she was already feeling the ravenous, gluttonous beast within her demanding more. This hunger could not be tamed by traditional food. In fact, for at least a millennium that could no longer sustain her. She shook her leg in anxious anticipation of her next meal. Hoping, praying that Ma'lash would try something with his Protoss warriors.
But she also knew that would not happen. Since that day it seemed all Protoss forces were withdrawn to the capital. She knew the purpose. Building a strong defensive perimeter.
They must be getting close, Sasha surmised as she looked out the window of her hilltop villa that overlooked her oasis, furrowing her brow as she did. She had long protected this place as a sanctuary for her people.
For the longest time, she only took in very few. Ma'lash's dominance and brainwashing was strong, and few would seek to leave.
Over the last few decades, however, the numbers picked up. With a noticeable increase in the last five years as the resistance was emboldened by some outside force Sasha was not privy to.
Not that she cared.
The only things on her mind lately were her hunger and her daughter.
A knock on her door told her that one of those was about to be fulfilled as a sadistic grin adorned her face while she licked her lips.
The group consisting of Louise, Siesta, Zeratul, Tiffa, Montmorency, Guiche, and Ei'lyx met at the girls' manor, which was empty, save for Eleonore and the Probe dutifully idling outside.
Louise and Siesta entered the home on their own to see their sister, who they met in the study/library downstairs that was still packed with junk. When she saw them she gave them a knowing, resigned look.
"You're leaving again, aren't you?" Eleonore asked, with no hint of accusation or threat. Merely resigned observation.
Louise gave a small half-smile and nod, to which Eleonore cast her gaze to the floor.
"I don't see why you have to do these things… You're still so-"
"Young?" Louise finished Eleonore's thought.
Eleonore gave a wry chuckle.
"I know… I can scarcely believe it, myself, sometimes." Louise paused as she thought about the sheer weight of responsibility that was thrust upon her barely a year ago. Siesta felt the crushing weight as if it were her own burden, and gently clasped her wife's hand in reassurance.
"But, you know I'm not alone. I'm never alone. Not anymore," Louise reassured her sister.
Eleonore met her gaze with a wry smile.
"I've already said my piece on this before. I know it would be useless to repeat it. Especially when I see that fire in your eyes," Eleonore observed.
Louise's smile at her sister grew. "Will you stay? Please? I'd feel a lot better knowing you were safe."
Eleonore paused for a bit as she considered. Then, she shook her head.
"I'm sorry. I still can't let you go like that. Not without me to at least try to look after you," Eleonore said as she stepped forward and hugged Louise, who reciprocated her affection.
"I love you, Eleonore," Louise said, muffled, into her sister's shoulder.
"I love you too, Louise," Eleonore replied, gently rubbing her sister's back. She then pulled back and looked at Siesta, a look of shame dawning on her face.
"I'm-." Eleonore cut herself off, her voice hitched with shame as she averted her gaze.
Siesta could feel what she wanted to say, and opted to be patient.
After a torturous, for Eleonore, silence, she finally furrowed her brow into her usual scowl and met Siesta's gaze with conviction.
"I'm sorry," Eleonore declared in a slightly raised voice, causing Siesta to raise her brows, "I… was terrible to you. I know I apologized to Louise, but I never apologized to you." Eleonore stepped towards Siesta, her body trembling with anxiety and shame.
"I said horrible things. Things I know I have no right to ask for forgiveness for. But… I ask all the same. Please, forgive me. Sister," Eleonore bowed her head in deference to Siesta, who, even though she sensed she was going to do this, was shocked all the same.
After a time, Siesta's face grew into a warm smile as she held out a hand to Eleonore, causing her to lift her head to meet Siesta's reassuring gaze.
"I forgive you, sister," Siesta said in a warm tone.
Eleonore's eyes became awash with tears as she stood up. Siesta stepped forward and took her into a forgiving embrace that Eleonore reciprocated while they both gently cried in gratitude for each other.
When they parted, with Eleonore's arms still wrapped around Siesta, the two shared a smile.
"Thank you. For being there for her. For taking care of her. For protecting her. For loving her," Eleonore said.
"It was no trouble at all," Siesta reassured her with a light giggle.
"You will continue to do so, yes?" Eleonore implored as she fully separated from Siesta.
Siesta nodded, "Of course."
Eleonore smiled at her, "I trust you."
The three shared one more hug before taking their leave, meeting the rest of their group outside.
"So… how will we be getting there?" Louise asked Tiffa.
"I was thinking we go through Gallia, since they're 'allied' with you now. I guess all those 'detours' actually turned out to be beneficial to my request after all," Tiffa sheepishly laughed.
"Do you think Tabitha could spare us a ride? At least to the border?" Siesta asked.
"They did give us a way to contact them in case we had any needs," Louise noted. "I don't know, though, seems really quick to call in a favor like this. Especially when they're looking into the Chii thing…" Louise wondered, unsure.
"Couldn't hurt to ask," Siesta shrugged.
Louise matched her shrug as she produced what looked like a small rectangle of metal that fit into the palm of her hand. She clasped the top and bottom to extend it out, causing a light-based screen to appear between them. Unlike when she was operating the consoles on the Spear of Adun or Surtis, Louise felt no rush of knowledge when she used this, and had to rely on the instructions given by Tabitha, which, thankfully, Siesta was also there for so they could work together to figure it out.
After some finagling, Tabitha's face appeared on the screen, stoic as ever.
"Yes?" Tabitha asked.
"Hey, Tabitha, we were hoping we could get a ride, if that's possible," Louise requested.
Tabitha nodded. "How many?"
Louise looked up and counted her party, "Eight. Zeratul, Tiffa, and Ei'lyx among them."
"Doable. I'll send a transport to the academy. They'll pick you up there," Tabitha agreed.
Louise and Siesta nodded before the communication was severed, with the screen no longer having Tabitha's face on it. Louise closed the device by pushing the top and bottom half together and looking around for their carriages that Henrietta had left them, knowing that they were going to be leaving on their own task while Henrietta was dealing with the Jacobins.
Louise spared a thought for her childhood friend. Hoping she would be alright.
Siesta similarly spared a thought for her brother.
Tiffa was unworried. Knowing Agnes' enemies had more to fear from her than she had to fear from them.
They took the carriages, with the Elves needing to walk, to the academy. There, just as Tabitha promised, there was a ship landed near the Pylon. It was mostly gunmetal grey, with flecks of white paint and the UED symbol of a silhouette of a leftward-facing bird atop a globe with its wings spread up and two lightning bolts framing them, with a single star above the head.
A woman wearing some dark glasses over her eyes that blocked them from being seen and wearing a long-brimmed hat that only stuck out in the front, with her chestnut hair styled into a loose ponytail coming out of the back was leaning against it, chewing on something. When she saw the approaching group, she raised two of her fingers to her forehead in a casual salute as she blew a pink bubble from her mouth that popped in a small snap before gathering the contents back into her mouth and chewing it again.
Definitely something that was still very foreign to everyone present. Even Zeratul.
"Ready for dustoff?" the woman asked, expectantly as she kicked off the ship with one of her black-booted feet.
Louise and Siesta gave her a small, unsure nod, to which the woman cracked a smirk before cocking her head to the back of the ship. She walked there, with the rest of the group following her to see the inside of this ship that looked like it would be quite a tight fit for the Protoss and the two Elves along with the four humans present.
Siesta also noticed, as she touched it, it did not activate her Gandalfr powers. This was not designed to be a weapon.
Once they were tightly packed in, the ship hummed, then roared to life.
"Attention everyone, this is your captain speaking, we'll be cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet. I'd like to take this moment to remind everyone to keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle until it has come to a full and complete stop," the woman's voice announced from, seemingly, all around them as everyone inside could feel the ship jolt up, causing the humans, and Tiffa, to jump at the sudden movement. After a bit, the ship seemed still.
"Strap yourselves in, boys." With only those words as warning, the ship took off, nearly throwing everyone, who had not heeded those words, to the metal floor, with Siesta using her psionics to stabilize them on instinct. It was very soon that everyone except Zeratul noticed it was… uncomfortably hot in the ship. As though there was simply no insulation from the heat of the engines to the transport chamber they resided in.
They did not know how much time had passed, but very soon there was another announcement.
"ETA: One minute."
The humans present surmised ETA simply meant how much longer they had to go, and prepared themselves for a descent. Which never came. At least not fully. There was definitely a descent, but eventually… the ship simply stopped. Still hundreds of feet above the ground
"Here's your stop," the pilot announced.
Before anyone could ask what was going on, the pilot had joined them in the passenger bay. She reached up and began pressing buttons on the ceiling, which caused what looked like, to everyone but Zeratul, metal ropes with loops at the end to fall out and dangle expectantly in front of them.
"Admiral said you'd probably need this explained to ya," the pilot said as she gestured to them. "Everybody stand up and get the dropkits from your seats," the pilot instructed.
Her words were heeded as everyone looked for what she was talking about, swiftly finding them as there was nothing else near the hard, metal seats.
"Now," the pilot walked up to Eleonore, giving her a smirk, "ya mind, darlin'?"
Eleonore jumped and blushed before nodding.
The woman, while doing another round of blowing a bubble that popped and was gathered back into her mouth without her hands, opened the kit and pulled out a harness of some tough, black material that she wrapped around Eleonore's body and, to her mortification as she was wearing a skirt, between her legs before securing it with three metal clasps.
"Now this?" the pilot said as she finished the last clasp and clapped Eleonore's shoulder once before looking back at everyone, "is a drop harness. Rated for over half a ton, so don't think it's gonna fail on ya." She then pointed to some kind of oblong metal ring that looked like a thick, singular chain link.
"And this? This is the clasp, c'mere, darlin'," the pilot beckoned Eleonore, who, after a moment's hesitation, followed her to one of the dangling cables. "You hook it on this loop at the end here. Then I lower you down. Just stay still, try and be calm, and you'll be down in a jiffy," the pilot gave them an exuberant, closed-mouth smile as she said this and went to stand near the entrance of the cockpit while everyone heeded her instructions, nodding with approval as she did.
The dread for the humans present was now palpable as they were unsure of what was going to happen next.
Once they were done getting set up, the pilot clapped her hands as she blew another bubble.
"I'd like to wish everyone a good day and thank you all for flying the friendly skies. Remember," she said as she turned to go back into the cockpit, stopping before a center console that was near her seat and shooting them all a mischievous look that only served to stoke the humans' panic, "Flying is always the safest way to travel."
With those words, she slammed her fist on a button that caused the floor to drop out from everyone as they fell into a freefall, screaming as they did. The pilot giggled in amusement. It never failed to tickle her to see people pop their drop cherry.
The locks on the cables slowly engaged as they descended, bringing them to a safe speed at the perfect time for their feet to touch solid ground. Once they were, and unclipped from the ziplines, everyone except Zeratul and Ei'lyx needed a moment to breathe out the new event they experienced that still had their hearts pounding.
"That was-"
"-terrifying!" Louise finished Siesta's thought as they clung to each other, heaving ragged breaths and trembling as they did.
Tiffa watched them, Guiche, and Montmorency comforting each other whilst she clung to herself and spared a thought for how much she wished Agnes were here. She did see Eleonore was also on her own dealing with this, and, in a moment of sympathy, she walked over and wrapped herself around her from behind, causing the relatively much shorter blonde to jump.
"Sorry… I just… I can tell we're on our own here and I didn't want you to be…" Tiffa struggled to say as she made sure her grip was loose enough to let her know it was okay to decline this. Eleonore's fright quickly wore off as a sense of comfort washed over her. She had been so touch-starved in her life it still felt strange to have people comfort her like this. Without knowing it, a smile broke out on her face as she put her hands on Tiffa's arms.
"Thank you, it does help," Eleonore sincerely replied, feeling her heart rate slow and her trembling lessen the longer she was held.
Tiffa gave a contented smile down towards her. It was nice. Not having people be scared of her.
Louise and Siesta, once they had recovered, regarded this with mild surprise that quickly changed to warm smiles.
She's come a long way in such a short time, Siesta psionically said to Louise.
Yeah. Just like me. Being able to feel safe enough to be honest… it's… freeing, Louise replied.
Once everyone who needed to had recovered, they removed their harnesses as they turned their attention to where they knew was the border, with a great sense of trepidation of the unknown filling all but Zeratul and the elves' hearts.
"There is no need to worry," Tiffa said as she stepped before them all, giving everyone a confident, reassuring look. "We'll protect you, right cousin?" Tiffa gave Ei'lyx an expectant smile. He nodded while maintaining his furrowed-brow stoic demeanor before joining Tiffa. Once he did, they both turned towards their destination.
The Oasis.
As they walked, with the scant grass and trees giving way to rock, dirt, and sand, Tiffa wondered after something.
Ei'lyx, will Vishd'nir be joining us? Tiffa psionically asked her cousin.
I imagine at some point we will rendezvous with him. He must sense us, Ei'lyx answered.
Sure enough, hours into their trip, as daylight waned, they could see two figures manifest themselves from cloaks of red and black shadows within the canyon road they walked through that began walking towards them. As they met, everyone was met with one familiar and one unfamiliar face.
"Father," Vishd'nir formally greeted Ei'lyx with a nod, which the blacksmith returned.
"I did not expect to see you as well, Lukshana," Ei'lyx observed.
The other elf, a more feminine-appearing one, gave a small, solemn half-smile, "There are no more elves to gather besides you two." The implication in her tone struck a chord with those present. A moment later, she met Tiffa's gaze with a look of conviction.
"There is someone who wishes to see you," Lukshana informed.
Tiffa initially raised an eyebrow, before a look that was mixed with shock and realization manifested upon it.
"Y-You don't mean-?" Tiffa cut herself off, her tone hopeful, but fearful.
Lukshana stepped forward and placed her hands on Tiffa's shoulders, "You will have to see for yourself."
Another hour or so of walking later and the canyon gave way to what looked like a valley. Surrounded on all sides by plateaus and dunes, with a single hill around the edge of the area upon which rested a modest, white, two-story villa. What truly left the humans present in awe was everything else, though.
A sea of lights and tents. With more elves than they ever thought possible. Absolutely crowding each other around a barely-visible crystal-clear lake that shimmered in the waning light of dusk. They could hear a din of fellowship come from the elves. It was, however, tinged with a palpable feeling of fear. These people, no matter how jovial and relaxed they sounded, were scared. And even the psionically blind could feel it.
"Come, she awaits you there," Lukshana pointed to the villa overlooking this oasis, causing everyone to focus on it while they made their way there.
While marching, the humans present were briefly distracted by giggling. They looked to see what looked like elf children. Clad in clothes that would barely qualify as underwear to these humans who had grown up as nobles. The children, however, seemed unfazed by their own appearance as they pointed and giggled at the humans, whispering things to each other as they did.
Their merriment ceased when they beheld Zeratul. They let out squeaks of fear and ran into the arms of nearby adult elves the humans safely assumed were elder relatives. And these elder relatives, as well as the other, older elves, eyed Zeratul with equal parts suspicion, hate, and terror.
Zeratul could feel these things acutely. But let them wash over him as he stayed focused on his task.
He would be able to ignore it no longer when his shield flashed. Everyone turned around to look in the direction of the sound of stone impacting stone, and could see the rock as it finished its final movements. The rock that was thrown at Zeratul. Louise and Siesta immediately felt rage build up in them as they scanned for a culprit, with Zeratul stepping forward and raising a hand at them.
Do not mind it, my apprentices, Zeratul reassured them, distilling their rage. I cannot and will not judge them for their pain. I can feel it is acute. Zeratul looked out over the elves in the distance, who visibly flinched or otherwise recoiled at his gaze. It did not hurt him to receive this reaction. It did hurt him to know that such pain had been inflicted on them that they would have it.
Luckily they were able to scale the rest of the hill without incident, and they approached the plain wooden door to the now-moonlit villa.
Lukshana raised a hand to knock on the door.
"I don't know why you think that was necessary, I can already sense you're all there," a bored, and… scarily familiar voice answered from the other end. It sent chills down every human's spine. "Come in."
When they stepped inside, they were greeted by a lone, brilliantly blonde figure sitting in a chair facing away from them, looking out the open window that overlooked the oasis.
"You may leave us," a teenaged-sounding, feminine voice was heard from the figure.
Lukshana dutifully bowed before taking her leave, closing the door behind her.
"N-No… it can't be," Tiffa said in disbelief as she wandered forward, reaching out to the figure.
The figure stood up, revealing a petite individual with a lower-back-length head full of thick, voluminous blonde hair. She then turned, her thin gold and black robe swaying with her movements, and stepped, barefoot, towards them, looking them over with brilliant, glowing, crimson eyes.
What shocked Siesta and Louise the most was… she was remarkably, uncannily similar-looking to a certain petite pinkette. Except for the hair and eye color…Louise and her might as well have been twins.
The figure regarded them with a serene look that betrayed an age far beyond her appearance, with her eyes only mostly open and a small, calm smile on her face.
"Hello, Tiffania," the figure greeted Tiffa, who rushed forward and leaned down to embrace her, loudly sobbing tears of surprise and relief as she did.
"I-I can't believe it! You're really here!" Tiffania wailed into her.
Everyone else was confused as to what was happening, and their faces said as such. Seeing this, the figure patted Tiffa's arm to try and get her attention, giving her an imploring look that Tiffa heeded as she pulled away from the figure and stood beside her, wiping her eyes and nose as she did.
"Wait… Tiffania?" Tiffa asked, looking down at the woman in confusion.
The woman gave her a small, serene smile, "Yes. Your real name. A name I always kept in my heart for you. Even if I was too afraid to speak it aloud before because of Ma'lash's brutal laws that suppressed our language, culture, and magic. A proper elven name. Not one bastardized by the Tal'darim."
Tiffa's face broke out into a wide, open-mouthed smile as she gave a joyful sob. She always hated her name. To know it wasn't even the one that was intended for her made her heart swell with joy. The woman giggled as she hugged Tiffa, then turned to look at the confused group of faces before her.
"I don't need my psionics to know you're going to need a lot of explanation for this," the woman said.
The humans in the room nodded.
"I am Tiffania's mother," she announced.
The humans gasped in disbelief. Her? How did something as HUGE as Tiffa come from something as SMALL as her?
The woman laughed as she felt their acute disbelief, "It's… going to be a long story. But I'll explain it, I promise." Visible shameful melancholy took root on her face.
At this, she turned the chair around and sat in it once more, crossing her legs and arms while she smiled at them.
"I still can't believe it," Tiffa smiled, teary-eyed, at her mother, "I thought you were gone. When you told me to run? You were surrounded…"
The woman reached forward, causing Tiffa to reach back and take her hand, "You should have known better than that." The woman playfully chided as she winked at a giggling Tiffa.
"Who are you? Really?" Siesta asked, furrowing her brow at the petite elf woman before her.
The petite woman gave a smirk as she cocked her head at Siesta, her gaze indicating not to her, but to something behind her.
"Care to make the introduction, old partner?" She asked.
Siesta blinked. Along with everyone else as they regarded an oddly-quiet Derflinger.
After an eerie, deep silence, he slowly unsheathed himself.
"Wasn't sure it was my place," Derflinger said, causing everyone who could to draw in a sharp, shocked breath.
"What? Derflinger? Do you… know her?" Siesta asked in disbelief as she took him off, scabbard and all, and held him before her.
"Yeah," Derflinger began, trepidation and hesitation in his tone. "That's my maker. Sasha. The first Gandalfr."
At this declaration, Sasha held up her left hand, revealing the same Khalani runes that were upon Siesta's. Though, they did not look to be carved by magic. They were scars.
Siesta was frozen by this. As was everyone else. It was unbelievable to them. That would make her-
"Over 6,000 years old?" Sasha interrupted their various thoughts, causing them all to look at her with eyes of saucers.
"Aged pretty well, wouldn't you say?" Sasha joked with a lazy-looking smirk.
"But… how?" Louise asked.
"Same as Ma'lash, I suppose," Sasha shrugged, nonchalant.
Louise furrowed her brow at Sasha, causing her to chuckle in amusement.
"Sorry, let me be more clear," Sasha stood up and began removing her robe.
Every human present immediately turned a scandalized red.
"It's nothing like that, I assure you," Sasha said as she rolled her eyes and turned around, letting her robe fall from her to reveal a back that looked… meticulously scarred. Scarred in such a way that indicated intent. Not battle. With… more Khalani runes.
The humans present felt the heat leave their faces as they became awash with sympathy.
"I was Ma'lash's first success," Sasha explained, "and, coincidentally, his first mistake." She picked up her robe, throwing it back over her and tying it around her waist before turning back to them, the same semi-smug look upon her face. "His goal was to… change us. Make us more like him. Bring out our psionic potential to raise great warriors for his god."
"Amon…" Louise growled, clenching her fists.
"That was his name?" Sasha arched a brow. "He never mentioned. Only referred to him as 'Dark God'," she shook her head. "In any case… I was part of the first batch of elven women he gathered. He-."
Sasha's voice hitched, with audible fear. And sorrow.
"He… cut us up. Moved things around. Got a feel for how we worked while he figured out how to best change us into… something more like him." Sasha paused to cast her gaze away from them. Almost as if she was… ashamed.
Tiffa went to hold her mother, who took a moment before embracing her daughter back.
"Sorry," Sasha sniffled before pulling back from Tiffa to continue, "just… lost a lot of friends." She gave the wryest of chuckles. "Anyways… after… changing me? He could feel it. That it worked," Sasha held up a hand, manifesting a red psionic ball that crackled and thrummed with energy. "I was psionic. And he began using me as a template for others." She clenched her hand, causing the ball to dissipate. "What he didn't count on… was him passing on his secret to immortality."
What is it? Ancient One? Zeratul asked.
Sasha frowned. "I know you Protoss love your monikers but that was a little rude."
My apologies, An-Great One, Zeratul corrected himself.
Sasha gave a single, amused titter.
"Better. Now, the secret, as it turns out, was just a gift from his god. When he experimented on me and my sisters… he was grafting bits of his essence onto us. He made the mistake of using the bit that gave him his immortality." She turned to look at Tiffa, smirking up at her, "A gift I could pass on."
Everyone looked to Tiffa in disbelief as she started to try and shrink her presence, casting her gaze away from everyone.
"Tiffa…?" Louise asked expectantly.
"It's rude to ask a lady her age," Sasha playfully chided, defending Tiffa. Louise felt a heat of embarrassment manifest on her face. "Regardless… you may already be able to surmise it. Given her heritage."
Louise looked to her in confusion. Eventually, that confusion slowly turned to realization. She gasped, looking wide-eyed at Tiffa.
"N-No way! You're-!"
"Yes," Sasha interrupted Louise's stammering, "she is Brimir's first daughter."
Louise felt as if she may faint. She faltered, and Siesta rushed to stabilize her.
"Take your time with that revelation, but not too much because there's a lot more to go through," Sasha said with a chuckle.
"What else could there be?" Siesta faintly asked.
"Ma'lash's mistake from that time over 6,000 years ago has already cost him dearly. By imparting this power to me, I was able to immediately use his ability to drain others for power," a haunted look of conviction fell across her face, "and so I did."
The implication that everyone could sense caused everyone but Tiffa, who already knew this, to shudder both with fear and sympathy for her.
"When I had enough, I broke free of him. Of this place. And fled west. To the lands you came from," Sasha explained, "and… well… maybe it's better if you see."
Sasha's offer hung in the air along with the palpable trepidation of all those who were listening to her.
Siesta looked at Louise, who, after a moment, gave a slow nod. They then looked to the others, who all began nodding, in turn, before Louise and Siesta gave Sasha a look of conviction.
"Very well," Siesta and Louise said in unison.
Sasha gave a small smile at them as she raised her hand to them, fingers spread and palm outward, "See."
When Louise, Siesta, and the others opened their eyes, they found themselves standing in a large forest clearing, surrounded by large tents. Gentle plumes of smoke emitted from them. They could also see people. Clad in furs and their hair and skin dirtied.
Nomadic peoples. Their people. From long ago.
The humans drawn into this vision were left mouths agape at this. To experience history like this? Everyone but Louise and Siesta, who had experienced this once before, couldn't believe it.
These were their ancestors. Before the land was tamed. Before magic.
"Father," everyone's attentions turned to a boy with snow-white hair and icy blue eyes who appeared from one of the tents, walking up to a massive, hairy, mountain of a man perched on a log near one of the campfires.
The man briefly turned and regarded the boy with a grunt before turning back to the fire, a stoic expression on his chest-length, wildly bearded face.
Once the boy had drawn close to him, he stood there, his expression and body language emanating an expectant vibe. After a time, the man briefly looked at him once more before heaving an irritated sigh.
"What is it, Brimir?" the man asked, causing every human present in this shared vision to draw in such sharp gasps they bordered on shrieks.
This was the one? The legendary savior of their peoples? Who imparted the gift of magic upon all the peoples of Halkeginia? And drove the elves back to the Holy Land?
He's… a child, Louise thought sympathetically as she looked upon him giving a shameful, blushing look to his father.
"I… I have a plan. A theory. If you just-"
"No more of these," Brimir's father grunted, surly and annoyed at his son, "cease these idle fantasies. When will you learn something useful? The sword. The bow. I'd be happy if you even took up fishing. But you sit here. Every day. Nose buried in those 'runes' you obsess over. I don't care what that teacher of yours is filling your head with. It is all weak nonsense that will amount to nothing. You will amount to nothing if you keep following that path." The man sternly informed his son.
Brimir clenched his fists as impotent tears welled up in his eyes.
Upon sensing his son's weakness, the man glared at him.
"Go disappoint me somewhere else. I have real work to do," the man waved Brimir off.
At first, the white-haired boy was frozen with hurt. After a time, he inclined his head to his father and marched off beyond the edge of the camp.
The group observing this vision followed him, with Louise and Siesta sparing one look at the man before they left, seeing a look of sincere disappointment and resignation on his face. They then looked at Brimir, and felt a stroke of hurt seeing the genuine pain upon his.
They followed Brimir to a clearing. Once they arrived, everyone could feel a sense of deep shock emanating from Zeratul that compounded their own.
It cannot be… Zeratul said, as if in a trance, as he approached a familiar figure that was turned away from them.
The form was unmistakably Protoss. With the broadest shoulder pauldrons that any human here had seen one adorn. He was also… floating. Something no human here was used to seeing a Protoss do, with the ones that had seen it before only experiencing it once. One other thing that shocked them all was the long, braided cord of "hair" that erupted from the back of this being's head that reached down almost past his feet. They had not seen a single Protoss with full nerve cords before.
The figure turned around, and his shining blue eyes met with Brimir's icy blue ones.
Greetings, my apprentice. How go your studies? The voice that emanated from this Protoss carried with it a kind formality that was some mix of Karax and Artanis. It was also a bit sharper than any human here was used to.
"Hello, Tassadar," Brimir said.
At this, every human present was shocked to see Zeratul fall to his knees while an acute, deep sense of mourning flooded their senses.
Old friend… Zeratul said, his tone heavy with grief.
Brimir sighed, "I fear my progress is slow. I have… worked out some things. Words like Akhundelar, Rholudin, Mendei'in, Bae'stian. They… jump out at me. But I have no idea what they mean."
Tassadar gave a sympathetic nod to him.
Would that my own mentor were here instead of me. I am but a novice in the ways of the Void, myself, Tassadar replied, Still… the will of the Void must have some purpose for drawing us together.
"But you said yourself… you sense no presence of the Void within me," Brimir declared, his face heavy with concern.
Indeed. But as I have said, I am merely a novice in the study of the Void. Perhaps I merely lack the attunement to sense it within you. The fact that some of my people's words speak to you on an instinctive level tells me there is more to you than meets the eye, Young Brimir, Tassadar replied reassuringly.
Brimir gave the smallest smile up to the Protoss as a moment of silence fell over them.
"What do they mean, Tassadar?" Brimir asked. "The words that stick with me?"
Akhundelar means "Tip of the spear". It is a moniker given to warriors meant to break themselves first upon the enemy to clear the way for additional forces, Tassadar began explaining.
Rholudin means "Strength of the Heart", though, otherwise, it is a word that serves no specific role.
Mendei'in means "Master of the Mind", it is a rare compliment given to High Templar masters.
And the last one is strange… as I cannot understand why that word would stick out to you. Bae'stian would roughly translate to "Heart of the Beast". It is a much more ancient word from when our people were not starbound. We believe it was meant to refer to those who would tame wildlife.
As Tassadar explained these things, and though he knew it was a vision, Zeratul could not help himself. He rose to his feet and slowly walked to Tassadar, reaching out to him with a feeling of desperation emanating from him.
No one dared chastise him for this. They knew that he knew what he did was to be fruitless. But he needed this.
Before he could reach the vision of his past friend, the silent scene was interrupted by a rustling in the tree line, causing Brimir to tremble with fear while Tassadar placed himself before the frightened boy.
Stay close to me, Young Brimir, this one feels… familiar. In a dangerous way, Tassadar warned as the disturbance among the trees grew louder. Until a figure broke through them. One that looked the same as the woman that had granted them this vision. Sasha.
She was covered in dirt, sweat, her body's oils, and blood of kinds that were and were not her own. She was wild-eyed, gripping herself, and gritting her bared teeth while she growled in a feral manner to the two.
"PROTOSS!" Past Sasha cried out as a red energy manifested on her hands and she struck a wide-legged, aggressive stance. Paying no heed to her unclothed state as she did.
Tassadar manifested light blue energies in his own hands in response.
Sasha screamed and lunged at him, with Tassadar only barely dodging the attack before launching a psionic bolt at her. It impacted her shoulder, causing her to falter as she landed before Brimir.
Brimir saw the flash of genuine fear within her fury before she turned around and leapt at Tassadar once more, screaming wildly while Tassadar shot lightning from his hands that caught her in mid-air, turning her screams from rage to agony.
From behind, Brimir could see something else that gave him pause. The meticulous, fresh scars along her back. It was enough to compel him to rush forward.
"Tassadar! Stop!" Brimir desperately cried out.
Tassadar immediately acquiesced, allowing the woman to roughly fall to the ground, sputtering and twitching in pain while the bits of her charred flesh smoked.
What compels you to grant mercy for this one, my apprentice? Tassadar asked, with not a hint of judgement in his tone. Only curiosity.
"She…" Brimir looked down on her and removed his fur cape, gingerly draping it over her nude form, "She was in pain. Even before this."
How did you come to this conclusion? Tassadar asked. Again, only curiosity in his tone. Now with a hint of instruction.
Brimir paused as he knelt beside the twitching, whimpering woman.
"I could see it. In her eyes. Just before she went after you again," Brimir looked up to his teacher, a pleading look on his face, "fear."
There was a pause that Louise and Siesta could tell Tassadar was allowing for Brimir to continue to surmise things. Just as they, too, had been instructed.
"And along her back. Scars. Like… she was tortured. That, combined with her immediate hostility to you on the basis of you just being a Protoss, and her knowing what that is, tells me more than enough," Brimir drew closer to the woman, holding her in a comforting embrace whilst her whimpering and growls turned to sobs.
"Please…" the woman croaked out, causing Brimir to draw in a sharp breath as he looked down at her giving him a pleading look, "Flee from here. From him. He will torture you as one like him did to me. And my sisters-." Her voice hitched with overwhelming grief. She curled herself into a tight ball while Brimir held her.
The snow-haired boy looked up to Tassadar once more.
I implore you, Wounded One, Tassadar asked, causing the woman to flinch, allow me to see your scars. I may be able to surmise what manner of torturer you were subjected to.
Sasha froze. Brimir's gentle touch upon her head, however, caused her to look up and regard his warm, reassuring smile.
"It's alright. I promise, he's not going to hurt you. Neither of us will," Brimir cooed to her.
Whilst she hesitated, after a moment she stood, still clinging tightly to the gifted cape before eventually lowering it to reveal her scarring to the Protoss and this other being she had no name for.
These bear the telltale signs of Tal'darim, Tassadar observed. The markings… They have an… "accent" as you Terrans would call it. Sharper. More brutal.
Tassadar stopped floating as he approached to get a closer look, causing Sasha to crouch down and give a small shriek of fear that gave him pause.
Your pain is acute, Wounded One, Tassadar sympathetically observed as he took a knee to not tower over her nearly so much. I assure you… we are not all alike. Us Protoss. The one who did this to you is part of a power-hungry and conquest-driven sect of my people. We Khalai, and the Nerazim, do strongly denounce them.
Sasha seemed to calm at this, loosening her grip on herself.
"Do you…" Sasha began speaking up, "know him? Ma'lash?"
Tassadar shook his head, I do not, Wounded One.
Brimir also shook his head.
Sasha's tears had now stopped and she was now looking upon Brimir, who she matched the height of, with curiosity. She absentmindedly reached out and placed her grimy, scraped hands on his face, gently turning it to the sides and cocking her head in confusion.
"What are you? I've never seen a being such as you," Sasha wondered in amazement.
Brimir chuckled awkwardly, "I am… man? Human? Terran? I don't know. We've… never needed a word to differentiate ourselves from others before."
"Human…" Sasha began rubbing his face, dirtying it with her hands as she did, "you are soft," she observed in a dream-like tone, "weak."
Brimir's face fell at that statement, despite her tone carrying no hint of judgement or mockery.
"Your ears…" Sasha turned her head to indicate to her own elongated ones, "what happened to them?"
"I was born this way. As are all like me," Brimir replied.
Sasha hummed in curiosity.
Their moment was interrupted by another disturbance among the trees. From behind Brimir.
His father emerged, along with two of their strongest warriors.
"What in the name of all that is under the sun is this?!" Brimir's father demanded as he regarded the petite, knife-eared, wild-haired blonde woman whose hands were all over his son's face. Brimir's father's face contorted with rage as he raised his axe and stomped towards them. "You were not content to bring one demon among us, but TWO?!" Brimir's father demanded.
Brimir turned and used his body to shield Sasha, trembling even as he met his father's gaze with conviction.
"She is no demon! She is someone in need of help!" Brimir shouted.
"Do not think I would hesitate to cleave you, boy. If it means protecting our tribe, I gladly would!" Brimir's father shouted.
"Then do so! I won't let you hurt her!" Brimir shouted, his tone wavering ever so slightly as he held out his arms to shield Sasha.
Brimir's father hesitated as he looked over to Tassadar, who was hovering and gathering energies in his hands in preparation. After a moment, he heaved a deeply disappointed sigh as he chopped his axe into the ground beside his son, causing Brimir to flinch.
"Leave this tribe," Brimir's father growled.
"What? Father?"
"Ymir, don't you think that's a little-?"
"Silence!" Ymir shouted, cutting off the warrior who dared to contradict him. He thrust a finger at Brimir, "You have brought enough danger and shame upon us. I can always make another who will not disappoint me so."
"Not without mother, you can't!" Brimir defiantly shouted.
Ymir struck him with a closed fist, sending Brimir straight to the ground.
"That is the last time I tolerate your disrespect, boy," Ymir snarled. He then shot a glare at Tassadar and what he did not know was an elf. "Take your demons and begone from us."
At that, Ymir took his axe and marched back to camp, with the one warrior who bothered to try and defend Brimir shooting a single, hesitant, sympathetic look to Brimir.
"Come, Zelpust," Ymir ordered the hesitant warrior, causing her to join the village patriarch in taking leave.
Brimir, now alone with his mentor and a wild woman of mysterious origin, drove his fist into the ground and gave a pained shout through gritted teeth.
"Dammit!" Brimir, hunched over, growled and sobbed at his uselessness. He did not know how long had passed before he felt a hand on his back, and he shot his head back to look upon the red-eyed gaze of the woman he gave up the only family he'd ever known to defend.
"I'm… sorry," Sasha said, her voice heavy with shame.
Brimir took a moment before shaking his head, "No," he sniffled before changing to a seated position, facing up at her as she was on her knees, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that the first human you came across is a pathetic weakling." Brimir gave a wry chuckle.
Sasha once again took his face in her hands with a small smile, "I could sense you were fighting with all your will to do what you did," she reassured him, "what strength you lack, I will provide. I will be your left hand. Your shield. Just as you protected me, I'll protect you."
Brimir looked at her in disbelief, "B-But that's-! No, that's not right. You just met me. You know nothing about me. It's not… logical. I'm a weakling who will only bring you down," he cast his gaze down in shame.
Sasha gave him a concerned look of conviction, "Look at me," Brimir obeyed, "you just did the same for me. Why would I not return such a favor?"
"Ah, transactional. That makes more sense," Brimir wryly observed.
Sasha scoffed, "Are you determined to make this difficult? Someone stands before you and offers to help you and all you can think of is why they don't mean it? Are you a slave to your insecurities?"
Brimir gave a solemn chuckle, "I guess."
Without warning, Sasha slapped him, causing him to go wide-eyed, "Cease that. Or I shall make you."
Brimir gave her a confused look as he rubbed his cheek, "How exactly are you planning to do that?"
Sasha scowled at him, "I have my ways." She stood up, offering a hand to the sitting human before her, "Now will you stand and fight for your place in this world or will you grovel and wither into the dirt like a dog?"
Brimir blinked in disbelief at this figure before him. That disbelief was becoming tempered with other feelings he'd never felt before as he reached out and took her dirty, wounded hand. Once he was on his feet and looking into her determined, red-eyed gaze, he matched her countenance and nodded.
"Very well, I trust you, partner," Brimir said. "After all, if we're all on our own, I guess we have little choice," he wryly observed. "So what should I call you?"
Sasha gave a small smirk, "Sasha. Sasha Westwood."
The scene before those observing this vision began fading, as the world around them twisted and contorted to another scene. This one in a large tent where they could see Sasha and three humans gathered, their forms lit by dim firelight.
They watched as Sasha finished carving something into her left hand, giving a pained grunt as she finished. After a moment, she used a wet rag that was soaking in a bowl of a murky white liquid to wipe away the excess blood, hissing as she did. Those who could see, and knew, saw that they were the same as the runes on Siesta's own left hand. And present-day Sasha's. The Khalani runes that read "Akhundelar".
"Let me see everyone else's work," Sasha ordered to the three other beings present.
One, the group recognized as the warrior who briefly defended Brimir from his father. A deeply melanated woman with mid-back-length red locks adorned with shining, precious metals and piercing, amber eyes. Now that they looked at her more closely… she seemed… somewhat familiar.
And the other two? They were also simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar. One had sky-blue, shoulder-length hair and a slight figure, with a stoic expression upon her face. One had brilliant, wavy purple locks that fell to the small of her back. All were adorned in animal furs that obscured their forms.
As they were bid, each of the four revealed their handiwork. With the dark-skinned woman flaunting her chest that had the bloodied letters that read "Rholudin" to those who could read Khalani. The stoic one pointed to their forehead, raising their long bangs that would normally hide it, revealing the Khalani word "Mendei'in", and the purple-haired one revealed, on her right hand, the Khalani word "Bae'stian".
"Is there a reason we all had to carve this on different parts of our bodies? And… in some sensitive places?" the melanated woman asked.
"Yes," Sasha answered as she regarded the self-inflicted wound on her left hand. "The words correspond to where they draw their power from. Therefore they must be where they are."
"Sounds made-up," the stoic one chided.
Sasha scoffed as she smirked at her, "Isn't everything? Look, the point is I know this is how it will work."
"Just… seems a bit… much," the purple-haired one said, itching her right hand.
"I know better than all of you what 'much' is," Sasha darkly rebutted, causing the other three women to silence themselves out of shame. She then sighed, "Look, based on what I've studied with Brimir, this will bind Tassadar's power to us."
"Seems a bit… ghoulish. Doesn't it?" the melanated woman wondered, a hint of judgement in her tone.
Sasha shot her a scowl, "Tassadar alone should not be in possession of so much power. This is Brimir's destiny. He gathered us all at great personal cost to himself. Proved over and over he would fight and die for us. But his power is only so much. I can feel it. A greater power is calling out to him that he cannot answer due to it being trapped in another vessel. In Tassadar. If we are to save your race from conquest by Ma'lash and those of my people he has either brainwashed or willingly joined him? Tassadar and I alone will not be enough. We will need more."
"And how will this help create more?" the purple-haired one cynically asked.
Sasha smirked, "Genetics."
Everyone present regarded her with confusion, prompting her to continue, "It's how I was altered to be… what I am," Sasha explained, "and when you are all altered, in a way that will prove to be far less… invasive than what I had to go through, you, too, will be able to grow this power. Beyond yourselves."
Sasha was met with looks of confusion that eventually turned to ones of horrified realization.
"Y-You can't be serious!" the melanated woman stuttered in disbelief.
"So you do understand now?" Sasha smirked.
"But we can't possibly-?! Doesn't he get a say in all this?!"
"We do not have time to worry about such things," Sasha chided the purple-haired one. "Besides," she shrugged, "He's a man, now."
"Barely," the stoic one retorted in a small voice, causing everyone to snap their attention to her, "It's wrong. Using him like that."
Sasha's face fell into a scowl for all three of them. "Fine. If you wish to surrender your race to my people? That is your call. As for me? I will do whatever it takes to both preserve Brimir and his people." She was met with countenances of discomfort at this, which caused her irritation to grow to rage. "It's this or extinction!" she shouted.
"Has to be another way," the stoic one said. "Maybe we can beat them. Won't be necessary to… do that."
Sasha trembled with rage at this. "Every moment we waste is precious time that Ma'lash can utilize to fortify and regroup for more attacks! The sooner we get Brimir on this path? The sooner your people can be saved!"
Not one of the women before Sasha looked at her. And all looked disgusted. Sasha intensified her glare at them.
After a time, the melanated warrior met Sasha's gaze, "What if Tassadar does not or will not give up his power?"
Sasha shifted her eyes to the warrior, "I have a plan for that."
The look in Sasha's eyes involuntarily made the warrior shudder and avert her gaze. "The less we know, the better?"
Sasha nodded in confirmation.
The warrior then looked to the other two women besides Sasha, who each met her gaze with a look of discomfort before they nodded.
"We'll take our leave," the warrior stated as she stood up, with the other two women following suit. The warrior opened the tent flap for the other two, waiting for them to leave before shooting Sasha one, last, disgusted look. "The sooner we can be done with you, the better."
With that final barb, the warrior left, leaving Sasha seemingly alone. After a bit, she stood and turned around, walking to a chest behind her. She opened it, revealing a long object wrapped in leather. She slowly unwrapped it, revealing a form that caused Siesta and Louise to gasp in shock.
Sasha grabbed and raised a freshly-forged Derflinger before her, with his point facing down.
"How are you doing, partner?" Sasha asked.
"Not bad, all things considered. Pretty snug in there," young Derflinger answered, his voice exactly the same.
"You know your purpose, yes?" Sasha asked, her tone more serious.
"Yeah, yeah, you made me to fight psionics. Not like I really care," young Derfligner answered.
Sasha smirked, "There's a good sword. How about a nice coat of oil for you?"
"Oooooh you spoil me, partner. Lather me up!" Derflinger excitedly exclaimed, causing Sasha to give the smallest giggle. While she proceeded with this in silence, everyone present in this vision looked at the current-day Sasha that had entered these visions with them, giving various looks of disgust at her.
"I know," current Sasha said, her tone heavy with shame as she averted her gaze from them, "at the time… I was… blinded. By my rage. I wanted the quickest, easiest solutions to fight back against Ma'lash. So much so… I abandoned any sense."
"That's no-"
"Not an excuse, I know," Sasha answered, cutting off Louise, "just… an explanation." She took in a deep wavering breath as the shame she emitted intensified. "But it doesn't end there."
The world around them once again warped to a new setting. To one of chaos. In an open field that bore no obvious landmarks, with the night sky dyed red with fire, and the air thick with the scent of blood, the group found themselves amidst a battle.
Elves. Their wrists, hands, and weapons alight with red manifested psionic energy.
Humans. Desperately trying to keep distance with their bows and arrows. And failing.
And among them, the only ones pushing back against the onslaught, Sasha and Tassadar, each unleashing their psionic powers in full force against the Elves, but both knowing acutely that they were failing. Brimir was among them, surrounded by the other followers who did their best to avoid the psionic blades while breaking the shields and flesh of the Tal'darim-enhanced Elves' ranks.
Brimir was chanting in Khalani, and the others were working desperately to grant him the time he needed. Sasha, her fists alight with burning psionic energy, made use of her smaller frame and superior agility to weave around the Elves as they came at her.
"Traitor!" One of the Elves yelled at her.
Sasha couldn't help but scoff as she caught the Elves' wrist blade in her psionically-wrapped hand and severed it with a swift chop from her other, causing the elf to stumble and fall back. Sasha, her eyes alight with fury, granted him no mercy as she psionically lifted and drove the elf's head through her fist.
She was too accustomed to this now. Her body being awash with her own people's blood. They never listened to her. So why should she even bother trying, anymore? That was her thought process as she leapt over two scythes that cleaved at her, summoning psionic power to her feet to decapitate both elves that would call themselves her killers.
"Sasha!" one of the women screamed out, seeing the stoic, blue-haired one clutching a stumped right hand as it looked like an elf was about to launch a psionic bolt to end her. Before Sasha could react, blinding, blue psionic lightning threw both that and a column of other elves away from the group.
Sasha looked to Tassadar, who was now sweeping the lighting through all the nearby Elves, with most thrown back, but others reduced to ashes. Her eyes widened. And she salivated. At the idea of possessing that power.
She drew Derflinger and took a step towards Tassadar's back, only for Brimir's echoing voice to indicate he had finished chanting.
A great swath of Elves were driven from the humans, who found themselves encased in bubbles of energy that protected them from the lightning made of pure psionic energy that rent the Elven forces, pushing them back and away from the humans, Sasha, and Tassadar.
Sasha beamed at Brimir with pride, only to see him falter.
"Brimir!" Sasha called out as she dashed and caught him before he hit the ground, his sweating face and labored breathing indicated he had already reached his limit. "Oh, Brimir…" Sasha whispered to him with worry as she held him close. She soon became aware that Tassadar had approached. No longer floating.
Their eyes met. Sasha's desperation was plain for all to see.
"Please," Sasha begged, "if there's anything you can do…" Her heart and throat were clutched with fear as she held this snowy-haired young man close, and looked down to see how he'd… changed since they'd known each other. Those boyish features were nearly gone. Buried under the wear of the sun and scars of conflict that they'd faced. How had time flown by so fast?
I understand, Tassadar answered, causing Sasha to look up at him with a small sense of hopeful confusion. I have sacrificed myself once before for my world. This… second chance is infinitely more than anyone could ever ask for.
The hope and anticipation in Sasha's heart grew.
I know you have ulterior motives, Wounded Sasha, Tassadar observed, making Sasha wince, Mind that your hunger for vengeance does not consume my Apprentice. Tassadar rose to hover again, turning to meet the Elven forces. On his own.
Tassadar, Sasha reached out, causing him to turn and meet her gaze, thank you. I… will make sure he's safe.
Tassadar regarded her with a nod as he finally left, his aura so dense with psionics it became visible.
Brimir stirred in Sasha's arms, causing her to feel a wave of relief. When he opened his eyes to see what was happening, however, he immediately began struggling.
"Tassadar! No!" Brimir cried out to his leaving mentor. He had heard his story. Of how he came to this world. Of the sacrifice he made. And could tell he was going to do it again. He thrashed against Sasha, occasionally hitting her as he did.
"Tassadar! Sasha! Let. Me. Go!" Brimir screamed through a wave of tears.
Sasha did not budge.
"It's alright, Brimir," Sasha held him tighter, unflinching against his blows. "Everything will be alright."
Sasha felt the energies Tassadar was gathering reach their apex, and closed her eyes, covering Brimir's, as well, even as he continued to scream and struggle against her.
"Everything will be alright," she whispered to him one more time. Before it sounded like all the sound had been ripped from the world.
And the scene disappeared. Leaving those who observed it in horrified silence before a new one slowly faded in.
This one leaving the humans present scandalized, horrified, and disgusted. Sasha and Brimir were among various animal furs beside a fire within a new tent. Both their bodies nude as they held each other.
Brimir, they could see, was silently crying into her while she stroked his hair.
"It's alright, Brimir," Sasha cooed, "we're safe now. Thanks to his sacrifice."
Brimir shook his head, "It's still not fair. I had… so much to learn from him. He was my first real friend that I can remember… And now he's-" Brimir choked on his tears as he clung tighter to Sasha, who reciprocated.
"I know. He was an honorable warrior," Sasha said in a tone that felt to all as comforting.
Those observing this vision could feel a renewed sense of mourning from Zeratul, bringing foreign tears to their eyes.
To be given a second chance… to meet the same fate… Zeratul, his tone heavy with grief, began, it is as this Young Brimir states… it is unfair.
Siesta and Louise each placed a hand on him in a feeble attempt to give him comfort. He could find none at this moment.
"But his legacy will live on, Brimir," Sasha assured the hurting boy in her arms, "in you. And now… in me."
Brimir jerked his head up and gave her a wide-eyed look of shock and disbelief. "W-What are you saying?"
"When Tassadar… passed," Sasha was trying hard to be gentle about this, "his power did not just disappear. It transferred. Me and the other women. Your most loyal followers and protectors, have each inherited pieces of his power. As well as you."
Brimir's disbelief only grew upon hearing this. Sasha straddled him as she placed a hand on her belly, "And now… we will all be blessed by his sacrifice. Humanity will not just survive, but thrive thanks to it. And you."
Brimir's eyes widened in new understanding.
"You mean-? How do you-?" Brimir wondered, seemingly unable to manifest the questions he wanted to ask in their entirety.
Sasha smirked, "I just know."
Brimir's expression became blank. And he sunk back into the bedding, staring at the roof of the tent.
"This will be your duty, Brimir," Sasha leaned down and kissed the side of his mouth, with Brimir giving no discernable reaction. "You must make more heirs. Not just with me."
Brimir blinked with disbelief. He turned that expression on Sasha, who furrowed her brow at him.
"Like it or not, this is your responsibility now. To be fruitful and multiply."
"But… Sasha," Brimir said as he gently caressed her face, "I… I can't do that. You're the only one that I-"
"Stop being a coward," Sasha's furrowed brow evolved to a scowl, "You bear a great honor and responsibility now. You cannot turn away from it. To do so would nullify his sacrifice."
"There… there had to be another way," Brimir near-whispered, his tone desperate and wavering, "One where he didn't-"
"Stop making a fool of yourself," Sasha sat up once more and tightly, roughly gripped Brimir's wrists, pinning him down while she glared at him with her glowing red eyes. "This was what he was sent here for! He has fulfilled his purpose in passing on the power of the Void to you! Now it is your purpose to pass on the power you've inherited to the rest of your species! Just as you'd done with me! Just as you will do with the others!"
Brimir trembled with a growing fear at the woman holding him down as he clenched his eyes shut and shook his head.
"No, this isn't right. I don't want them! I only want you!" Brimir declared.
"Again, stop making a fool of yourself," Sasha said with a light, exasperated sigh, "I already knew you wanted me. I knew you've wanted me for so long. I can hear and feel your desires. Remember?" Sasha dispassionately reminded him.
"Then you should know," Brimir said in a wavering tone as he opened his eyes, now awash with tears of desperation, "That it goes deeper than that."
Sasha's eyes widened, "Don't."
"Sasha," Brimir looked at her with conviction, even as he trembled, "I love you."
At this, Sasha loosened her grip on his now-bruised wrists and sat up, her fingers lingering on his belly while she looked down at him with pity. Brimir beheld her look, his own face wracked with desperation at his admittance. Desperation all could tell was for her to reciprocate those feelings.
After a long silence that was only broken by the crackling of a dwindling fire beside them, Sasha gave a disappointed sigh as she reached down and cradled his face in her hands, her look of pity not faltering.
"Oh, Brimir," she said in a disappointed tone as she shook her head. She kissed his forehead tenderly before pulling back and meeting his gaze with a pitying frown, "You are a naive child. What could you possibly know about love?"
Those present in the vision could acutely feel the sharp pain Louise experienced upon hearing that. It was enough to make her nearly fall from the wound it reopened, only staying on her feet due to Siesta's efforts.
After Louise gained enough awareness, she looked over at the current Sasha, and her face became contorted with wrathful disgust.
Sasha, her countenance and aura dripping with shame, could not bear to look at her.
Brimir, just as Louise had remembered being when she heard those exact same words from someone much older than her that she thought she loved, looked visibly heartbroken as Sasha got up from their bed of animal skins and straw, adorning herself in her previously discarded furs while Brimir stared up at the top of the tent in horrified, stunned silence.
Once Sasha was ready, she spared one, last, pitying look at the boy she had her way with before turning to leave, pausing as she held open the tent flap.
"Do not neglect your duty," Sasha declared, "I shall return on occasion. To produce more heirs. Do not wait for me." At this declaration, Sasha left.
Brimir, left behind, placed his hands over his face and curled into himself, silently crying.
Louise wanted nothing more than to hold him and tell him everything would be okay… but based on what she had seen… and based on the fact that she even existed… she knew that would be a lie.
"Follow her, the vision does not end here," the current Sasha said to everyone.
With a brief moment spared from everyone to ensure that she knew they were disgusted with her, they obeyed and walked through the tent walls to observe a leaving past Sasha be confronted by the redheaded warrior. She greeted her with a disgusted glare and arms crossed over her chest.
"Did you do it?" the warrior asked, her tone dripping with revulsion.
After a moment, Sasha, while averting her gaze, nodded.
The warrior gritted her teeth and clenched her fists before spitting on Sasha and walking past her towards Brimir's tent, taking a moment to stop next to her, "I hope we never see you again."
Sasha made no reply as the warrior marched past her to the tent, while Sasha wandered off into the night.
At this, the entire world warped again, and everyone found themselves back in the oasis, in Sasha's home. She stood before them, nakedly ashamed and disgusted with herself, while everyone around her also expressed the same contempt she was emanating.
"You're disgusting," Louise venomously shot at her, her face awash with wrathful tears.
"I know," Sasha admitted. After a moment, she gave them all a wry smile, "I ask that you do not hold it against my daughter."
There was a dead silence as none knew how to address… everything. It was so much to take in. All at once.
None of this answers the question of how my old friend came to be on this world, Zeratul spoke up, interrupting everyone's thoughts.
"Brimir once told me it had something to do with something called an Overmind. And that while he was in the Void, he heard Brimir's pleas for a mentor, a protector, and a friend, and followed it to him," Sasha explained, "I didn't get any details directly from Tassadar. He was always giving simultaneously lengthy and cagey responses."
Louise and Siesta had to fight smirks at that, knowing that that sounded too familiar.
"In any case," Sasha said as she turned to look up at Tiffa, crossing her arms, "the time has come."
Tiffa looked down at her in confusion.
"I can sense it. Our people have little time. And… you are their only hope," Sasha said.
Tiffa's confusion started to turn to worry.
"What must I do?" Tiffa asked.
Sasha gave her a look of conviction, "You must challenge Ma'lash in the right of Rak'Shir."