Lexianna

Once we arrive, I immediately spot the Elder at the head of the table. I smile and wave politely but he’s not who I’m looking for right now. I wander the room, the train of my skirt whispering against the ground, and I spot him in a corner: Sven. When he spots me, he gives me a glare that would wilt common angels’ halos. I have a reputation to uphold though, as a kind and honest guardian, so I cross the room and take the seat next to him.

“Hello. I owe you an apology. I’m sorry my friends and I frightened you. It wasn’t right and not how I like to operate. We needed your help and weren’t sure you would help us otherwise. Now that you know the truth. I would like a chance to start over. My name is Lexianna. You’re obviously frightened by the Hands. We’d like to help you with that, but to do anything we need information. Please, could you tell me more about your village and what you know about the Hands? We’re here to help.”

Blackout
Sven scoffs softly and rolls his eyes. He's quiet for a moment.
"The Hands of the Father are exactly as the name implies. The are assassins, spies, soldiers, messengers, and whatever else The Father needs them to be. To cross one means death." Sven goes quiet again. The hall roars with sounds of revelry. "Sorry I stole your friend's Bloodstone. I just wanted to help my village."

Sia

Shooting the stink eye at Sven, i down another shot. "This stuff is weak." i mutter too the man passed out next too me. Turning too Sven i ask. "How are you throwing this feast? You said the village was struggling. How can you spare the fish? Unless you have a magic water cow were gonna be eating veggies..." Pulling the smokes out of my pouch i light one. "Can i smoke in here?"

Blackout
Sven turns to Sia. His expression is both impatience and guilt.
"I don't know. We have a small reserve of grains and dried meat gained through trade. But unless Furm is planning to give you the Tax Tribute I don't know." Just then servants enter the hall carrying tray after tray of fish. Every platter has a mountain of different kinds of fish prepared in different styles and cuisines. Sven is horrified. As is everyone else in the room. Even the children have stopped playing. Everyone looks to the Elder Furm. Who smiles and begins feasting merrily.

Furm smiles at everyone who looks hungrily at the food.
"Eat. And I will tell a tale I've not told for decades." Furm says. The villagers begin to fill their plates. Sven just stares at the twelve piles of food.

"There is a legend. An old old tale. One day a great darkness will engulf the land. Terror will run rampant and tyrants rule unopposed. In these times a woman will appear in the lake. Using her power she will liberate the people and cleanse the land of evil." Furm chuckles. "Though it should be said that the Frostlanders in the north have a similar prophecy. Only theirs involves an Old God." Furm scans the room for Ghaul. His clouded eyes proving to be no hindrance to his sight.

Lexianna

I reach across the table and place my hand atop Sven’s. “This may sound shallow right now but please trust me. I wouldn’t worry about the food. I have a feeling your luck is about to change.” I listen carefully to the Elder with his “legend.” I try not to read too much into it. That would be arrogant.

However, I can’t help feeling that his legend is more prophecy. The minute I realized these dear people were in danger of starving I made up my mind that I would bless their waters before we set out so that their fishing excursions would be bountiful without causing harm to the Eco system. Sometimes small changes like this is what my job is all about. It doesn’t matter the scale, if I can help I do. It would be prideful to assume the legend is about me but it’s an encouraging tale to hear and hopefully I’ll be aiding whomever the legend is about. I’ve been the center of several myself and also helped others realize theirs. It is my sincere hope that we can provide relief for this village.

Sia

"if it was just the fish I could help you for a day or two we'd need help and information about this place though." Turning too the elder with a suspicious look I listen intently too his tale.

Blackout
Sven pulls his hand away from Lexianna.
"You don't understand. The taxman will be here in the morning. Coin doesn't circulate much in these parts. So we offer tribute. If we don't provide half a day's harvest of fish they'll burn this place to the ground!" Everyone is quiet again. Sven is on his feet. Furm smiles.
"Sven calm down. The Lady of the Lake is here. She will protect us from the imperialist knights." Furm turns to Sia. "You will won't you?"
"Maybe she'll protect us tomorrow. But what of the next day? And the next? Even if she stays and fights they'll just keep raising their dead. You've doomed us all!" Sven storms out of the hall. The cheer in the room is dead. Everyone has a grim look of worry.

Nevermore
Razz is still talking with the Young Hand. It's something to pass time I suppose. Suddenly footsteps being too echo from down the hall. They grow closer and finally The Father enters the room. His ornate silk robes are embellished with gold and diamonds. Extravagant is a mild way to describe his dress.
"Well, look who decided to show up." I jab. He turns his gaze to me and I can tell he's smiling underneath his extravagant mask.
"Pardon my hospitality. But I can't have demons running about." The Father says in a calm and smooth voice. It's almost familiar somehow. But from his mention of demons he knows about my heritage. Does that mean he can read existence like Galen?
"And to what do we owe this visit?" I jab again. He raises his hand at me, open palm, and my body is instant in agony. I writhe as blood comes pouring out of my face. It's over fairly quickly but I'm left reeling. My blood floats in an orb that crystallizes. The Father takes it and turns to leave.
"That will be all Ms. Rivera."

Blaze

I waltz into the hall and am hit with two things at once. 1 the overwhelming gloom and 2 I think someone just mistook my Blue Bombshell of being some high priestess from Arthurian legend which I suppose it’s easy to do. Girl’s got a trident and looks like a fish I’d peg her for the leader of Atlantis myself if I didn’t know better. I pull up a seat and drape my arm around Sia.

“The lovely Lady of the Lake here can easily face down any baddies thrown her way but that doesn’t come free. She needs information to work with. Am I right?” I wink at Sia and give her my most charming smile hoping she won’t punch me in it.

What about this gloom though? I glance around the room and see a few small faces staring directly at me, or more specifically my tail. I whip it around and one giggles. I motion the kids over with my tail. That seems to be all the encouragement needed and before I know it I’m on the floor, five kids piled on top of me. Two on my back a little girl at each ear and another kid trying to pull my tail. I keep swishing it back and forth so the kid can’t grab it. I glance to the side and see a couple ladies whispering about how good I am with kids. This is perfect.

Flame
This is a disaster! My brother is being violated by little demon midgets and I’m hopeless to help. Kids are perfect incubators for all sorts of sickness and he’s playing with them like he’s on cloud nine. It’s horrifying. It’s like watching an accident waiting to happen. I peel my eyes away though because I have a question. What that Sven guy said before he left doesn’t bode well so I speak up. “What’s this about them raising their dead?” I ask the Elder.

Sia

"Weather I'm this lady of the lake or not we're not gonna be able to do very much too help unless we get back too at least our normal strength. We'd stand an even better chance of we could get Darling and nevermore back. We're here too help but we're not at half our power let alone full power." Leaning into Blaze just a little I deadpan." I have three piercings you can't even see..."
Leaning forward too dodge the little gremlins I scarf down a whole fish and turn too the elder.

Razz

While the father and Nevermore are speaking I whisper too the child,"Get behind me little one, and stick your fingers in your ears really hard." After she shuffles behind me and as the father is walking past my cell I yell at the top of my lungs, "Hey fathead, if you like demons you'll love me!!!" I heave the bed as hard as I can at the bars, a split second later I spit a small puff of flame after it. As the bed smashes into the bars splintering and disintegrating into dust the fireball hits the cloud and ignites it. I turn and sheild the child as an explosion blasts its way through the cells. The small space amplifying the force of it bending the bars of my cell at a weird angle.

Blackout
Furm furrows his brow.
"I suppose i'l tell you everything. Considering you're an offworlder. From the beginning." He chugs a pitcher of ale.

"The continent we inhabit is known as Karna, named after the generous sun god. It is roughly in the shape of a four point star. Here on the South Point our kingdom is called Arolsaan. The West Point is home to Son Kai. The East Point is inhabited by Fawl. While the Dradher, or Frostlanders, inhabit the North Point. The Center, or Midland, is where the Karn kingdom lies. With the Grand Capital being the Great City of Kar. Imaginative, I know." Furm stops to take another drink.

"Ten years ago. Our patron deities went silent. Our prayers left unanswered. The Father slew every god in every pantheon. Any who could stand against him. Priests and oracles committed self murder by the thousands. Then in the anarchy six people wielding strange and otherworldly powers declared war on the kingdoms. They led small war bands at first. But it became apparent no matter how many times their followers fell they would rise again and again to fight. Soon many of the Dradher flocked to them filling their ranks with wild and fearless warriors. One by one the noble families were put to the sword." Furm sighs and takes a puff from his pipe. Before exhaling he takes a bite of sushi and downs another glass.

"The six established themselves as lords then divided up Karna into territories for each of them. South Point is controlled by The Shadow. East Point is The Mystic. West, The Rider. North, in the icy mountains, is rumored to be the Base of The Valkyrie. The City of Karr belongs to The Commander. And the Oceans and Islands of Umi are patrolled by The Admiral. Of course the people did not take this lying down. A rebellion was raised under the leadership of Karnariel." Furm spits. "An arrogant man with an arrogant name. Who wasted countless lives in a fool's war."

Furm is dead sober again. His age is showing in his tired and weighted slouch. "That is more or less everything I know. I'll try to answer any additional questions but I can't promise much."

The Father's Prison
The explosion doesn't even faze The Father. He observes the Young Hand shielded by Razz.
"You shared my light?" He asks with a calm cadence.
"Only a little." The young hand mewls. "I'm sorry."
"I know. I know you are." The Father raises his hand and the Young Hand's eyes gloss over. Streams of harsh golden light erupt from her eyes and collect in the palm of The Father's hand where it's absorbed into his body. The Father shakes his head in disapproval. "Shame she had such potential."

Lexianna

Sia's right. We can't be impulsive about this and we shouldn't wing it. But...

Why risk anything saving her? Nevermore hates you.
Nevermore doesn't know me.
You're taking too long to find them. Razz will lose hope.
This makes me want to laugh. Have you met Razz? That wouldn't happen.
They're being tortured. They could be dead already.

My blood turns to ice in my veins. Heartrendingly, the Dark Lotus could be right.They very well could be being tortured, I have no proof otherwise, but I can't allow myself to believe they're dead yet. I think I would feel it. Besides, Razz and Nevermore are strong. They'll hold on. We just need them to be strong for a little while longer. This settles it for me though. We need to find them and I think we might finally have a lead.

I lean into Sia and whisper. "This rebellion he's talking about surely would've gathered vital information on an enemy they've fought this long. They might even know where "the father" is keeping his captives. I think we should try and find the rebels."

I turn to the Elder and speak softly. "Do you happen know if the rebellion is still active and where their leader might be?"

Sia

Nodding too Lexianna i turn back too Furm and adding too Lexiannas question i ask, "You said he was a bad leader? he wasted lives? if its as bad as it is here everywhere else we should be able too rally the people...i love an old fashion rebellion."

Razz

Eyes glowing and the air around me snapping with sparks and wisps of light i stare down the father and speak, my voice layered over itself several times. "How dare you call that light. Thats not what light does or what its intended for. Its not too be bandied about and given and taken away at your whims. Let me out of these chains and fight me on even ground you coward. Your called Father but a father watches and protects, Not punishes absent cause."

Blackout
The Father chuckles softly but ominously.
"You are brave. An admirable trait. But it will serve you poorly here. If you want to fight I will be waiting at the top of the prison. Where I always am. But if you want to break these bars or even stand a chance. You will need my Light." The Father cackles wickedly. "There may be Light yet, in the girls body. But tell me. Are you willing to mutilate a corpse to defend your ideals? Or will you sit here while she rots? I am so very curious to see how you justify your actions." The Father leaves making his way up the stairs and out to the lush overgrown courtyard ruins. The entire castle that serves as the prison is floating is a massive void of endless cloud spotted blue skies. In every direction including down is an insurmountable sea of while splotched blue. He strides across the courtyard over a massive bridge that twists and turns in ways that defy logic and understanding. Gravity seems to be inconsistent, affecting only the intended pathway. Finally The Father comes to a plateau of swaying grasslands which are perpendicular to the ruined castle where Razz and Nevermore are held.

Nevermore
Razz assaults The Father without considering my proximity to him. The explosion hits me with a delayed reaction. I can feel my organs bouncing around the inside of my body as I'm thrown across my cell. But I don't die. I gasp in pain and cough blood. But still Life clings to me. Is the cell keeping me alive? I feel myself beginning to lose consciousness. The Father offers a challenge to Razz before leaving. I want to warn him against it but the world goes black.

Furm
The girls ask a flurry of questions. I answer the dark skinned angel first.
"Last I heard he was here in South Point; harassing The Shadow. As for the Rebellion itself... it's nearing the end of it's life. Karnariel has resorted to using children in battle. Plus he's no tactician. He's lost almost every engagement he's been in. There's a rumor his campaign in the ocean was successful. But I'm not sure what successful even means these days. The rebellion is doomed."

Galen
"Lilianna let me out of these chains." Galen is furious but he restrains his voice. Zaak chimes in.
"She knows you for the impostor you truly are." Zaak says shifting in chains of his own. "But if we are going to end this she should be somewhere she cannot interfere."
"I agree." As Galen says this he Existentially Shifts her out of the 2nd Blackout and safely back into the oasis. Suddenly The 2nd Blackout "clenches" and becomes inaccessible. He could have done that at anytime. Galen ponders of why for only a moment.
"Shall we?" Zaak hums.
"I hope you're ready. I'm not holding anything back." Galen taunts.
"Since my first awakening, my birth, all of reality has been my enemy. The only difference now is it has a tangible ass I can kick." Zaak fires right back.
"Oh ho, tough talk for a dead man."
"After this is over you'll be the one who is dead."
"Just so you know, I'm gonna rip those Seals out of you and toss whatever's left of your corpse into The Endless Abyss."

There is a spark. A flash. Lasting for only the briefest of moments. And the world around them blooms into beautiful cataclysms.

Galen, without lifting a finger, hurls trillions of elemental and arcane attacks at Zaak who counters with his own endless storm of destruction. The landscape for thousands of miles in all directions is transformed, reshaped, and destroyed countless times over and over again. Zaak conjures Infallible Self, an straight katana with no handle or tsuba, the embodiment of every weapon he's ever used. Galen holds out his hand and his longsword Lex, The Bloody Monarch, emerges from a small pool of blood in his palm. The two drop slowly into stance.

As the two face off Reality warps and bends, occasionally fracturing, to accommodate their power and wills. But when Galen and Zaak cross swords Reality buckles and gives way to an endless sea of Formless which spills forth unchecked by any conceivable understanding. Yet the two fight on and each new clash of their will infused blades creates fonts of Formless that reach out in all directions resetting any existence it touches to its primordial state of nothingness.

Galen is beaming and laughing. He and Zaak relent their aggression and observe each other. Then prepare to engage once again. They drop into stance. Aim. And strike. Galen comes in low with an ascending cut. Zaak goes high with a powerful two handed downward cut. Galen knows it's a trap but its too late. He's committed to his next strike. If Galen were to abandon his attack Zaak would get a clean hit and Galen would land a glancing blow at best. His last chance. He decides to risk it. Pulling back the force of his strike he uses the remaining momentum of his cut to parry Zaaks strike with a hanging guard.

It doesn't work completly. Infallible Self cuts into Galen's upper shoulder. But now Galen is in an advantageous position and stance. He returns his own descending cut. But just before it lands Zaak, using one hand, makes a quick cut at Galen's abdomen. It lands but doesn't have any force behind it and could barely be considered a flesh wound. Galen smiles as hits sword bites into Zaaks shoulder cleaves through his collarbone. A clean hit. Zaak stumbles back. It's only when Galen sees Zaak's smile does he realize something is wrong.

Galen's legs buckle and stumbles about.
"What did you do?!" Galen shouts. He can feel something spreading through his body like fire. Then he understands. He severs his connection to The Oasis.
"Its called Umbral Reality. The antithesis to the Formless. Where the Formless is nothingness. Umbra is everything all at once. The Umbra you are experiencing now I crafted specifically to kill you. It acts as a poison to Ontological Beings." Zaak motions to everything. "All of his. Just to kill you. This entire Blackout. All for you."

Galen draws his hand cannon Lucy but Zaak shoots her out of his hand using his Type Zero 45. handgun. Galen curses. With a motion of his hand Zaak disarms Galen of all his weapons. Galen curses at Zaak calling him a bastard. Zaak strides up to Galen who has fallen to his knees.
"Any last words?" Zaak asks solemnly as he aims the barrel of Type Zero at Galen's chest.
"Fuck you..."

Zaak pulls the trigger and softly kicks Galen into a pool of Formless. The Formless hungrily gobbles up Galen's now mortal corpse. As Zaak watches his hairs stand on end. The 2nd Blackout has dissipated, having served its purpose. Zaak takes a deep breath.

Gaul has been lost in thought ever since Furm mentioned the Frostlander prophecy. There's that word again. Frostlander. The boy in the mask had called him that at the end of their fight. Spat it at him like a curse. Were these Frostlanders somehow related to his people? He was dying to know. But first...

"Elder, I have two questions: What is this stone that whispers promises of power, and how is it used?" Gaul holds aloft his smaller bloodstone, barely visible in his massive hands. Its voice in his head has been a constant, nagging presence, and it was starting to turn into a headache.

Blackout
Furm eyes the stone.
"Ah, the Bloodstone. Yes." Furm holds his hand out. "I relinquish my claim to your light and the power it gifts." A drop of blood appears in his palm slowly growing larger and larger until it drops onto the table. Furm's cloudy eyes lose thet faint light in them. The entire hall is watching their eyes glued to the stone. A few drunk fishermen have wanton greed plastered on their faces. Furm reaches down and takes the rock once more.

"I lay claim to your light and the power it gifts." Furm clutches the Bloodstone tightly in this hand. He winces as the stone liquefies and seeps into his hand. "These stones are valuable in this world. They can be used as currency to bribe most common folk. Or their power can be harnessed for yourself. Be aware, however, they will not sustain their form in the presence of The Father's light. If a Hand shines their light on the stone it will disintegrate and the light within will be released. Likewise if it is claimed and The Light touches you it will strip you of its power and wreck your bodies in the process."

Li-Li
The moment it happens everything slows down for me. A gaping void of a wound tears open inside of me. I can taste my pulse and hear darkness. Everything is wrong. The beating of a heart roars around me. I sink to the floor of the Oasis. Galen sent me here to keep me safe. He was teaching me. I held him at arm’s length still not completely ready to forgive my abandonment and now it’s too late. I was stupid. I was weak. I saw Zaak and didn’t do what needed to be done. I should have shot him where he stood.
My mind scrambles to make sense of this thing that doesn’t make sense. One thing I do know is I don’t have time to fall apart. I can’t deal with this loss right now. The loss will swallow me whole and reality is at stake. I have to push this down and pull myself together. Compartmentalize. Think it through. What’s your next step?

My eyes zero in on Zaak. The traitorous murderous nit. He defied me. He deserves to die and he looks as if he’s about to accomplish that all on his own right now. I shake my head. He’ll die when it’s convenient for me and right now would be terribly inconvenient. There’s too much to do and he’s the only father I have left despicable as he is.

I open a dimension underneath him and he falls into the Oasis seconds later. Along with him falls Galen’s weapons. Zaak doesn’t deserve them so I gather them up. I spend a moment longer with Lucy, running my hand along her barrel before putting her away. Finally, I look at the lump on the floor of the Oasis, my Oasis now. I force the weight of my existence on him, much like I did Nevermore. He’s harder to do so with but it’s still possible sense he’s unbelievably weak from his fight with Galen. I push and push until he’s on the brink of death and then I pull back. I can’t deal with him without the all-consuming need to kill him, to seek revenge. I’m going to need someone who can. Someone I can trust. Time to summon her in.

Lexianna
To hear Furm explain it, sounds like a double edged sword. I’m not exactly sure how to feel about it. I excuse myself for a moment and step outside. I walk along to the edge of the water and take my scythe out. I touch it to the waters sensing the great expanse of the river. Then, I turn my head to the sky. Stars twinkle brightly above in the blanket of black. It’s late and the tax collectors will be on this village first thing in the morning. We should probably get started. No better time than the present. I’ll need Sia’s help.

I turn to head back inside when I’m stopped suddenly. There’s a weight pressing in on my heart. It makes my legs go weak and I lean heavily on a dock post for support. I feel like it’s crushing my lungs, ripping at my soul. I start shaking and tears prick in my eyes. I put my weapon away and sink down onto the dock to catch my breath. What just happened? Even as I think this I already know that whatever it was, it was terrible. This heartbreak…. my thoughts immediately go to Li-Li. I dismiss the idea moments later. She’s with Galen and he would never let anything happen to her. I suck in a deep gulp of air. When another horrible thought hits me, Razz. I can’t really dismiss my feelings but there’s not much I can do right now. Until we find Razz and Nevermore, we won’t know anything. All I know is we need to hurry.

I rush back into the hall and poke my head in the doorway. “Sia, I could really use your expertise out here.” I motion her out and walk to the dock again. There’s raised platforms along the walkway before you get to the dock, where I’m assuming the tribute of fish are supposed to be. “We need to refill those platforms with fish. I’m also going to need to borrow some of your fishing knowledge to spread. So…” I summon my scythe again and hold the end out to her. “Will you please touch the edge of my scythe?”

Flame
I glance over to the floor where my brother was last seen playing host to the viruses known as children. All the little menaces are gone and my brother has fallen asleep in a nearby chair. They must have completely worn him out. It's the price you pay when you fraternizing with the little terrors. I attune my hearing to his long deep breathes, definitely asleep. He suddenly whispers something obscene about Sia and unseen piercings and I flinch. Sometimes I curse my super hearing fox ears. I flatten them against my head and turn my attention back to where it should be, on this conversation.

Gaul asked the million dollar question. After seeing all the eyes in the room that filled with envy over the rocks, I decided not to flaunt mine. I sip the drink in front of me. I'm surprised by it's smoothness and slightly sweet after-taste. It's delicious. Unfortunately, the more of it I drink the more I start to lean into Gaul. That's fine, I'm sure he won't mind. I'm also starting to feel sleepy.

"Elder. Is there a place we could rest?" I indicate my brother passed out in the chair. "I think the travel has taken its toll." I polish off the drink in front of me and think over what the Elder has told us so far. All this sounds exactly like the kind of thing this group specializes in, if my brother's stories are to be believed anyways. He also sounded confident that we could help these people before he sold his soul to the little devils from earlier. I hope he's right because these people look lost.

Sia

Turning away from the elders explanation i stumble out the door after Lexianna. Looking from her too the scythe i reach out and shake the blade like a hand. "You know normally dinner comes before this yeah?" Turning away towards the water i weigh the blood stone in one hand. Raising it in front of my face i say, "I lay claim too your light and the power it gifts." Cringing as the stone seeps through my skin i fall too one knee, it passes quickly and im filled with energy. Turning too one of the boats and lifting it over my head i yell, "AAAHA! LEXIANA LOOK!!" throwing the boat twards open water. "Care for a swim dear?"

Razz

"Little one wake up...i didnt mean too get you in trouble what can i do?" Shakeing her tiny shoulder im zapped by static.

Blackout
An elderly lady makes her way to each of the members of the group. One by one she informs them of the hut set side for their stay. The hut is next to Furm's home in the center of the village.
The revelers are making their way, drunkenly, home to get rest for the morning. Many are still worried and others find that sleep is difficult. Many of the villagers are certain that tomorrow will hold nothing but misfortune.

Father's Prison
The young hand wakes and mewls out a unintelligible response before passing back into unconsciousness. Nevermore lies unconscious on the floor of her cell. For now Razz is alone in the silent prison.

Zaak
Liliana attacks me I'm too weak to resist but my seals protect me. Their dense reality holds my frail existence together.
"I understand your frustration. But I am still your father." I say standing. "I am not here to usurp the imposter. I simply wished to dethrone him. I've had my chance at ruling. Now I only wish to serve the new monarch. You." Zaak looks out at the oasis.

"It's beautiful. Much more so than I could have ever dreamed. And all of it, as I'm sure you've decided, is your birthright. I had intended for your mother to rule until you were ready. But given the circumstances..." Zaak muses solemnly. "It wasn't fair. And I'm too blame. I know that. And now you, my beautiful daughter, have a responsibility far more burdensome than I would wish upon you." Zaak looks into Lilianna's eyes. "I've spent my lives trying to take the bad out of the world. It's no small truth when I say that you are the only good I've brought. I'm proud of how far you've come."

Li-Li
His pretty words just serve to confuse me further. I’m still reeling from him murdering Galen so I’m not quite in the forgiving mood. Especially, sense he’s the object of all my angst. The reason I’m in this mess. It sounds to me like he wanted to do the right thing the wrong way. If he honestly thought it through he would understand that his ways were counter intuitive. Galen was teaching me. He was actively grooming me for my role. If it wasn't for Zaak murdering Galen I wouldn't have this problem to begin with. I wouldn't have to take over a throne I haven't fully had time to understand. Zaak says he didn't want me to take on this burden so young but he's the very reason why I must. He can't see the forest for the trees.

I have to focus on one thing at a time. So I ignore Zaak for now. It’s time for me to rise, to claim my cracked crown. First though, I need someone who can help me keep an eye on Zaak. He’s ruined enough as is.

I was told to only use this during emergencies. I’m pretty sure my dead dad coming back to kill the other and succeeding, is an emergency. The bastards. Focusing my mind, I hold out my hand palm up, close my eyes, and visualize what I want. As clear as glass, smooth as polished pearl. When I open my eyes two very different but very beautiful small wing symbols float in my open hand. I pick the first set without hesitation. She’s duty driven and will probably provide a calm, critical buffer between Zaak and I. She’s a replica, not the original. The original is impossible to isolate considering she’s woven through the fabric of and is the foundation of her existence. Just like memories of the past make us who we are. The parts make up the completed whole.

Radiant light slashes through the Oasis. I hear the clack of her high heels before I see her. I’m stunned the moment she appears by how much they do and don’t look alike. She has the same waist length white hair, dark skin, and golden eyes but she’s slightly taller and has a slightly slimmer figure. White leather thigh high boots cover her slender legs. Her sheer golden skirt, stitched from starlight barely reaches mid-thigh and has a train that trails a foot in length behind her. The same golden pattern edges her white leather corset that comes down to just above her navel. She also wears a white leather bolero jacket and golden lace fingerless gloves. All of her long thick winter white hair is pulled back away from her face by a lotus flower in full bloom.

Her golden eyes land on Zaak and pass over him without much enthusiasm then she turns her attention back to me. I clear my throat and glance over at my once-again half dying dad. “Not that she needs much introduction but let me present the Mistress of Light, the First Lotus. She’s going to mend you sense I can barely stand to look at you much less let you live. She’ll also be your jailer. You so much as flinch wrong I’ll have her take your head. She’s already done it before so with my help I’m sure you’ll stay deceased.” She stalks forward and starts healing him so he stops bleeding to death. I don’t know how he’s standing. It must be those unusual seals, which reminds me…” How did you do it? How’d you kill Galen?”

Lexianna
I can't help but giggle at Sia's energetic antics. She makes me eager to join her but first...

I take a deep breath. Exhale slowly. I take the rock out and copy Sia's words.
"I lay claim to your light and the power it gifts." Immediately I feel a swell of energy filling me. After feeling so weary, it's like a breath of fresh air. Being mortal takes its toll. It's a wake up call on how much we rely on our separate gifts.

With my power restored, I can already sense the waters around me. The wind whispering, the earth sighing. The hollowness of being cut off from the elements lifting. In answer to Sia's question, I slip into the waters. It’s refreshing to feel reconnected to the area around me. I lean back and float letting the water hold me. “Honestly I’d love to do this all night.” Pity we’re in the middle of a disaster. You could almost forget in this quiet space.

With the knowledge of Sia’s fishing expertise stored in my scythe, I can now gift it to the rest of the village. It would have been a lot more difficult and more tiring if I had to rely solely on my scythe to do so. With barely a thought, I expel her fishing knowledge from my scythe to disperse it through the village. Come sunrise all those able will be seasoned fishers. I propel myself upwards floating above the water to stare down at the starlight speckled river. “Shall we get to work?”