by Bri Sailor
“Vvhál vvám héáh m’hámm rímé. What was dead shall rise. What was broken, restored. Vvhál vvám dróhél, rém’lóréh. Drive away the Darkness and rise! H’ríwé ávváyu s’hé Hárh’lémm álh rímé!”
A brilliant light flooded the entire city. Buildings were restored. One by one people were healed and waking up. Ky and Ehren helped each other up. All eyes were transfixed on the goddess floating above them. She slowly descended from the heavens, stopping in front of Ky and Ehren. She flashed one more burst of light. Everyone threw up their arms and closed their eyes. When the light was gone, Cora stood where the goddess had been.
“C-Cora?” breathed Ehren.
Cora smiled. She was the same, but different. Her sandy blonde tresses tumbled over her shoulders and down her back. She wore a dress made of pure silver that glowed and sparkled with every movement. In the center of her forehead was a perfectly tattooed circle. From it silver lines traced down her jaw line, down her neck, to another circle in the center of her chest. More lines were etched down her shoulders and arms. The plunging dress revealed that on her back were seven perfect circles, all connected to the various lines on her body. The lines all gave off a faint glow.
“Everything is alright, my love.” She placed a warm hand on his bloody face.
She looked over at Ky. “It is time that you know who you are, as I have come to know who I am.”
The warrior looked legitimately scared. “Who are you?”
Cora smiled. “I am the Fragment of Herself. I was sent here to protect you. Both of you. And now the time has come for you to become what you truly are.”
Ky felt a force pulling her down, she dropped to her knees. Her whole body tingled and her muscles twitched. Cora place a hand on her head and over her heart, just as Oldrin had done with her. Ky’s eyes snapped open and were a brilliant gold. Similar silver tattoos traced all over her body and her entire body glowed brighter than the sun.
#
Saebic had laid the unconscious body of Atreyis on a makeshift altar. He sat and waited patiently for her to wake up. She was going to be the bait that would bring her entire army to their knees. At least, that was what Lusha had told him. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open and were glowing gold, her entire body became solid light.
“Lusha!” yelled Saebic.
The witch burst out of her tent. A wicked smile on her face.
“That’s it. Let it happen.” She purred. “Come on Ailana, I know you can do better than that.”
The glowing stopped and Atreyis began to wake up. The weight of her armor felt tremendous. She moaned and slowly sat up. The same silver tattoos were traced all over her body and glowing.
“Ky?” she groaned. “What happened?”
The princess’ head was pounding and every muscle in her body ached beyond belief. Through her bleary eyes she could see that she was no longer in the jungle.
“Lash her to the posts!” commanded Lusha.
“Wha—’’
Atreyis was forcibly removed from her altar and dragged to the ground. She kicked and screamed and tried with all her might to get away. Lusha laughed evilly. Atreyis’ head snapped up and all of the life drained from her body as she came face to face with the witch. She struggled even harder and Lusha just laughed.
“Pathetic mortal!” she laughed. “Do you see now what was the inevitable? Do you see how your pathetic struggles and attempts at fighting me were utterly and completely useless?”
“I’ll kill you!” was all that the princess managed to get out.
That made Lusha laugh even harder. The princess was chained securely between to posts that Lusha a manifested out of a black mist. The chains glowed with an otherworldly energy. No matter how hard she fought, there was no give.
“What did you do? Where is Ky?” shouted the enraged princess.
“Don’t worry, my dear. She will join you soon enough.” Lusha gestured to the battlefield. “I just thought you might want a front row seat to witness the destruction of your friends and your world.”
Thunder rumbled overhead as more clouds began to gather. It seemed that nature herself knew what was about to happen. The camp came to life as the soldiers prepared for battle. A mere half-mile stretch of land stood between them and the impenetrable Wilds. Atreyis’ eyes turned blue and she thrashed madly against her enchanted confinements. Her feet dug into the ground. She pulled so hard she feared her arms would tear off. She gave up and dropped to her knees, breathing hard.
“You won’t win, Lusha!” she screamed.
“Oh, but I think I will.” Mused the witch. “Despite what your new tattooing might suggest. In fact. After I kill your friends, what’s to stop me from going after the Aznurro and killing your parents?”
The princess held her breath. What did she mean? What tattoo? She looked at her hands and froze. On the back of her hands were long straight silver lines that ran the length of her fingers and up her wrists. Where had they come from? Lusha began laughing evilly again. Atreyis began thrashing at the chains once more. A deep rage burned within her so much so that she felt as if her stomach was on fire.
“Lusha!”
The witch turned around. Atreyis couldn’t take it anymore. The princess let out a lion-like roar that echoed across the battlefield as white-hot flames belched from her mouth. Lusha actually took a step back. This was something she had not expected. She regained her composure as the princess gave up again, not realizing what she had just done.
“Interesting.” She mumbled under her breath. “Very interesting. What game are you playing, Ailana?”
#
Kova raced back to her quarters, she still couldn’t believe what she had seen. Maybe she really was in over her head. She knew the witch had powers, but not like that. And Cora. She was a god now? Her mind was racing as she threw on her specialized armor. It had special plates of steel that were linked together in a way that allowed for more natural movement, however it did put her at a higher risk of taking a shot, even with her chainmail. She threw open her chest of weapons and dug around. Hanging from her waist was the sword she had taken from the vault. Her father’s. Near the bottom of the chest she found her prize. It was a pair of gloves. On the back side were plates similar to her armor that had a nasty punch. On the inside were specifically placed metal claws. They allowed for her to make a fist unencumbered, and to rip through armor and flesh at will. In all they resembled something akin to a bear’s paw.
“Usariel!” she yelled.
Her trusty friend lumbered into her room. She held his head in her hands.
“I don’t expect you to fight today. I would understand if you didn’t. I just want you to be safe.” She said with a tear in her eye. “I won’t stop you either way.”
The bear blew hot air in her face and gave her a sloppy lick. She somberly smiled and gave him a hug.
“Thank you, my friend.”
She took off in search of Ehren and Ky. The bear stayed behind looking forlorn and confused. Kova found them readying their horses. The farmer had fulfilled his promise and brought them to the city not too long after they had arrived.
“Here.” Ky shoved Lux’s reigns into her hands. “Atreyis would want you to ride him.”
Kova looked around for the princess. “Where is she?”
Ky’s face was drawn tight, Kova could feel the anger seeping out of her pores.
“She has her.”
Kova looked at Ehren. He nodded.
“How?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” Ky said flatly, her voice steadily rising. “How was she able to destroy an entire city? How was Cora able to bring us all back? I don’t know!”
Ky mounted Luna and spurred her away. Kova looked at Ehren.
“You don’t think she would—”
Ehren shook his head. “No. If there’s one thing Ky isn’t, that’s crazy. No she is up to something though.”
#
Kova rode Lux up and down the front line. Ehren, Ky, Cora,
and Drax were all at the front, and ready for battle.
“This is it!” yelled the Queen. “This is the day that we have been preparing so long for. Today is the day that Xaemoan and Firancan ride together as one!”
The soldiers cheered.
“Today is the day that we reclaim our homelands!”
More cheers.
“And today is the day that we end this witch once and for all!”
More battle cries rang out through the trees as horns began to blast. On the battlefield Black Army soldiers nervously watched the trees. They could hear the shouts and horns. It seemed as if it were coming from all around them. Deep in the trees the march forward had begun. Thousands of soldiers marched expertly through the jungle. The sounds of their armored footsteps thundering in the trees.
“Ready your troops!” shouted Saebic from atop his mount as he raced across the lines.
One by one the legions fell into position as their captains shouted orders. Catapults were rolled into position and their payloads readied.
“Wait for my signal!” roared Saebic.
Across the lines a mix of blue, green, purple, and mostly red eyes popped up. The thundering footsteps grew louder.
“Ready the first wave!” shouted Kova at the top of her lungs.
The battlefield came into view.
“Now!” she screamed.
Hundreds upon hundreds of beasts exploded out of the trees. Big cats, bears, apes, and wolves. All screaming and roaring and howling. All headed directly for the Black Army.
“For your empress!” shouted Saebic.
The entire army gave a yell and charged forward. The first waves clashed into each other. A mess of teeth and claws and metal. The beasts were making a significant dent. Saebic gave the signal and the catapults launched their first payloads. Kova burst through the trees with her army on foot and horseback behind her. Saebic was shocked at their numbers, he had seriously underestimated them. Thousands upon thousands of soldiers flooded out of the jungle. Kova led the charge through the front lines. Lux expertly leapt over the bodies of the fallen as he and his rider plunged into the fray. Ky and Luna followed suit with Ehren and Cora not too far behind. Far away, on top of the hill surrounded by an elite legion of warriors, Atreyis watched in horror as hot tears flowed down her face. They were strong, but they were severely outnumbered thirty to one even with the beasts. Lusha sat down on her throne and enjoyed the spectacle below her.
“Why are you crying, princess?” she teased. “You should enjoy this! A sight that only an Empress usually sees.”
The captive princess could do nothing but watch helplessly as her friends were massacred. Lusha laughed at her misery and continued to watch the carnage gleefully. Everything she had ever worked for had finally culminated into this bloody crescendo. The wind picked up and the clouds began to swirl overhead. The battle raged on, with the rebels’ numbers quickly beginning to dwindle. Explosions dotted the field as the catapults launched their deadly payloads.
Ky had long left her mount, telling Luna to get to safety. The horse obliged her master and raced towards freedom. The warrior had taken a sword from a fallen soldier and was a duel-wielding monster. Foe after foe came after her and she cut them down. Her blood-red eyes were wild and her braided hair was a bloody and muddy mess. She cut her way through the sea of black. Further away Ehren and Cora were fighting side by side. The priestess was solely using magic this time. Throwing ice spikes, spewing flames from her hands, hurling massive pieces of earth and knocking down her enemies with a concussive force of wind. Ehren mowed down his opponents with his trusty claymore. He swung the sword with deadly precision, not even noticing his own clawed hands covered in deep blue scales. Even further away from them was a green-eyed Kova. She had made her way towards a nearby catapult. Lux had long been freed and sent away. The queen’s true fighting form could now be seen. She raced through the ranks, slicing at the backs of knees and ankles, places that were unarmored where she could exploit with her armored hands. Lowering her enemies to her level. They would slice at her with their swords. She expertly caught the blades in her metal claws and wrenched them out of their hands. She would then swipe at their throats like a mother bear protecting her cubs. Slowly, she made her way to the first catapult, faultering only briefly when she discovered her green-scaled claws. She broke off the ladder and began climbing up the scaffolding as if it were a tree, knocking and throwing soldiers off as she went. Once she got to the top she cut the ropes, rendering the machine useless. She quickly jumped off before it exploded with its unlaunched payload. Her fall was eased as she landed on a rider and knocked him off of his mount, taking his sword. Spurring the horse she made her way to the next catapult. All across the battlefield each of the Descended on both sides began growing claws.
Ky smiled wickedly as she watched the first catapult go up in flames. There was something to learn from Kova. She continued to fight her way. That was when she noticed it. Over half of the Black Army stood waiting in the hills. She looked back over the field. Their numbers were quickly diminishing. The warrior pressed on. She had to have faith that reinforcements would arrive. The battle raged all around them.
“You see?” said Lusha. “They are almost finished.”
Atreyis refused to look.
“Pity. I would have preferred to kill Ky myself. But I guess I can settle knowing that she is dead.”
Atreyis wanted to fight but there was nothing left in her. All hope was lost. Suddenly, there were multiple horn blasts coming from both east and west of the battlefield. Some of the fighting stopped. Ky looked to see waves of blue and waves of yellow and purple cresting over the hills. Lusha jumped up from her throne.
“Impossible!” she hissed.
Toran, Arainya, Rússe, Doan, and Joslette sat side by side on their mounts, looking across the battlefield at Lusha.
“For the Light!” boomed the king as he dove headlong into the fray.
Saebic raced towards his unused legions and gave commands for them to split up and attack the newcomers.
“Father!” yelled Ehren with pride.
Blue and yellow and purple crashed into black. Their numbers were nearly even now. From over the hills Aznurro and Quinmoran catapults returned fire.
“This was not how it was supposed to happen.” Hissed Lusha. “They will still lose! It’s too late!”
Lusha stood eerily still. Her eyes were drawn to a particular spot. She knew that blonde hair all too well.
“Ky…” venom dripped from her transformed fangs.
The warrior paused a moment, she could feel eyes on her. She looked up and locked gazes with Lusha. The witch smiled and gestured to her left. There chained and crestfallen was Atreyis. A fire lit inside the warrior as she slashed her way towards the witch. Lusha laughed. She clapped her hands together in front of her and waited a second. Then she opened them. Soldiers were pushed aside as a path opened up for her directly to her. Ky didn’t care if it was a trap as she raced towards Atreyis. Ehren saw what was happening and got Cora’s attention.
“It’s Atreyis!” he yelled.
Cora’s heart sank as she saw her friend chained to the post. It fluttered a moment as she watched Ky race towards her.
“Ehren!” she yelled. “We have to get up there! Now!”
The prince could sense her panic. They pushed for the hill. Ky had already made it to the top and was now standing face to face with pure evil.
“Welcome to the end of your world and the beginning of mine.” Lusha was power-drunk.
Ky caught her breath.
“This will never be your world.” She stood steadfast. “I will see to it myself.”
Lusha laughed. “Oh, my precious Ky. What a strong warrior you have become. But those tattoos can’t hide who you really are. From a sniveling, selfish, self-righteous murder, to would-be hero.”
“Enough!” shouted Ky. “This ends now!”
The warrior sprinted at the witch and jumped high in the air,
bringing down her twin blades. Just as she was about to cleave the witch in two, Lusha threw up her arm and manifested a black sword. Ky brought her steel down with such strength that she broke both of her swords with an earth-shattering crash. Before she could even react Lusha caught her by the throat. The warrior kicked and clawed at the hand, her red eyes quickly returning to normal.
“Pesky, pesky, pesky…” chided Lusha, her cold dead eyes staring lifelessly into furious gray. “I really did think that spell would have put you out of your misery, but I guess your goddess had one last trick up her sleeve. I should thank her, really. Because now I get to end your life with my own hands. How satisfying is that?”
She tossed the warrior fifty feet away with ease. Ky landed with a hard thud and the wind knocked out of her. She rolled over and got to a knee, gasping for air. She held her ribs. A bruise was already forming on her throat.
