The last few days had been a blur between waking and sleeping. Syluss’s comforting presence keeping her grounded to an extent. She hadn’t had the drive or want to do much after the events of their last mission. The nightmares hadn’t even stilled with Syl’s comforting presence. Not this time. Vaguely remembered her brother’s concerned presence when she refused to do their usual lesson the next day.
Everything just felt sort of… Hollow. Even as she walked through the Shroud while the rain fell down. Closing her eyes and just tipping her face into the drops that fell.
Wincing as her mind recalled the events again with her eyes now closed. Her feeble attempts to protect herself and fight back. Anata… Anata’s sword swinging at her after one of the headache inducing waves of darkness had struck.
A thump as her body fell backwards onto the wet leaves and grass. Normally blue eyes staring straight up into the rain with a faint glow. That normal shade of cerulean blue lightened to almost ice. Staring blankly for a long moment before drifting closed.
“Are you really going to keep losing it now? I always thought you were tougher then this. What a shame really.”
Destiney blinked as she slowly looked around the darkness. No rain. No forest. Just impenetrable darkness. No sign of some other person with her despite hearing a voice. A familiar feminine voice at that.
“Who is there?” Her voice sounded small even to herself as she sat up to better look around.
“You know who I am. You’ve always known who I am. You just never want to admit to it. You’re scared. Until that day you fully accept the truth… You always will be scared. You will never truly move forward past it.”
Destiney climbed slowly and stiffly to her feet. Feeling for her bow or sword. Neither were there. The edges of fear at being alone in the dark with whatever was taunting her… She took a shaky breath as she tried to focus her aether. Again she was unarmed. Not even aether responding to her.
“Stop being such a coward. Stop hiding behind tools.” A dark clothed figure finally stepping forward. Eyes glowing softly with a blue aether. But nothing more could be discerned in this darkness.
“They banished you. Go away you demon.”
Destiney tensed and readied herself for a possible fight. Even then her hands still shook.
The being shook her head as she sighed in disappointment. “The demon is long gone. You know that. Stop running from the truth! Open your eyes and accept your fate!”
Destiney flinched when the figure’s shape changed. A Imperial with a sneer on his face. Sword in hand. Shaking her head as she took an unsteady step back away. That look… That man… All far too familiar. The fear threatened to swallow her whole.
Suddenly the Imperial lunged for her. Sword aimed for her heart. Just like then. Just like before. Only as the figured lunged, it changed shape. A familiar face. A trusted friend. A part of her family.
Anata’s face. Anata’s sword. Blue eyes widened in surprise. Froze her in place long enough for that sword to plunge right into her chest. Gaze moving to Anata‘s face. The shield woman’s face was expressionless. Tears began to fall down Destiney’s cheeks as she stared at the face of a person she would never expect to harm her.
The voice was now distorted. Like one voice layered over another as it spoke. “Wake up to the truth. Otherwise… You are dead.”
Destiney gasped as her eyes bolted open. Still icy blue and faintly glowing with aether. Breathing rapidly in short gasps. Rain still pelting down over her prone form. Clothes clearly soaked now. Just how long had she passed out for?
It took her a long several moments more before she began to move to a sitting position. Letting the aether fade from her grasp as she began to calm down slowly. Still alone in the woods. Burying her face in her hands.
Was she going mad? Was this her fate? To lose her mind because of something that was entirely her fault?
Anata’s sword flashed through her mind again. Maybe fate wanted her to die… But… She didn’t want to die. What would everything have been for then? She’d lose everything. She’d lose Syluss… Her family… Her friends…
Destiney climbed to her feet as she wrapped her arms around herself. The chill of the rain didn’t bother her so much as her thoughts did. Taking a deep breath before moving forwards. She had to keep moving forward. Had to keep being stronger then the things trying to kill her. It just hurt so much… All she could do was hold onto the things that gave her a reason to fight.
Spirit of the Warlock 