Not too long ago, Roe'nika was walking slowly through the immense darkness of the Akar Forest. The moonlight had been blotted out by a nasty cloud. It was terrifyingly huge, sheet lightning splitting ferociously periodically. Flashes of light covered the forest canopy as she moved.
Her crimson eye and the talisman on her chest, led her as she trudged on. Nothing motivated her, as a deadly stagnation grew stronger over her.
She felt dead.
Or almost dead, at least.
Rustles filled the forest as she squat under a tree. She clutched her knees, her fluids touching the grass.
Within her mind, her weakness pulsed like a second heart.
The events of the past day filled her mind. Even though it had been just a day, it had felt like a year.
There was no one else near her. Yet she felt the eyes of many looking down at her. Many eyes staring hard at her soul. Mocking her hope.
Her weakness.
Drawing her trousers back up, she stood once more.
The silence in the forest stood like a thick black cloak. She listened closely to it, standing still. Almost hoping to hear a voice. A voice that would tell her exactly what she wanted to hear. A voice that would tell her everything she felt was right.
Roe'nika sighed, looking down. Her grip on reality was loosening. Or rather, it felt like she never had any grip on it.
Quantum was taking Nekea away.
The thought multiplied like a cancerous cell, echoing with sickening melodies as it spread. The corner of her lip began to twitch. It twitched the same way whenever she experienced extreme frustration.
'It's because of Nhea.'
The talisman on her chest glowed a menacing red.
The voices chorused, bearing vicious fangs. Roe'nika covered her ears. They weren't in her head anymore. They were all around her. A dark cloud of witnesses. Footsteps began to ring in the distance.
Figureless footsteps.
Misty crimson figures materialized and dematerialized, steadily approaching her.
Roe'nika's heart raced.
Her wide eyes darted from one pile of mist to the other, her head turning sharply. She shifted over and over desperately tracking the red. Her back against the tree, figures chorusing about her, a single voice silenced everything.
"So, will you remain as you are?"
Roe'nika turned sharply as the voice met her ears. The red mist had disappeared, leaving a single figure. Her perfect likeness, her frame crystal clear even in the darkness.
Her arms at her side, she spoke once more.
"Oh come on. You know it's true."
Roe'nika's own voice met her ears.
"Answer me, Roe'nika," it said with a bold voice, "Will you let them take Nekea away from you?"
Roe'nika stood silent. The tension over her lightened and she straightened herself, stepping from the tree.
"Who are you?," Roe'nika asked, led by caution.
The entity sighed.
"Didn't Nekea fix your eyes? Or are you pretending…because you can't be serious…"
The entity smirked.
Roe'nika gulped. It was her exact likeness, but the tone of her voice was different. The entity spoke once more.
"You can see what's going on, can't you? Within a single day, because of those two monsters, you've practically lost everything."
Roe'nika stared hard, breathing carefully. The entity's voice rung in her mind.
"Cast your mind back, Roe'nika. Way back to the noble lady who found your broken body in that frightening forest."
The entity's voice softened, as though it were also in reflection.
Nekea.
Her image was on a pedestal in Roe'nika's vast mind, carved in a radiant gold.
She was Roe'nika's life.
Her heartbeat.
Roe'nika remembered the soft hands that had held her cold body. Nekea was so much younger then; it was as vivid as ever. Her warm smile eliminated Roe'nika's pain. She fed her, when she was too weak to even lift her own hands. She bathed her, cleaning her skinny little body. Her bad jokes filled her life with color. Nekea made a little seat for Roe'nika, like a chair with wheels. She would take her everywhere, and they would always watch the sunset together.
Roe'nika's hands shook.
"If you have a shred of compassion for her..."
The entity before her spoke like a divine herald. She knew it well, that what she was witnessing wasn't real.
However, the emotions that burned within her were as real as ever.
"If you really care about every memory you have shared over the years…then save her."
The last three words cut through the air in the forest. Blades of grass moved gently. The tall trees looked down, their branches tuned to her voice.
"For our sake, Roe'nika. Save her. You are aware of what you need to do."
The entity's figure began to waver. A red mist slowly enveloped her.
"She is our light, Roe'nika. Don't let them take her away."
Her voice faded away, echoing in the darkness, as the mist consumed her.
The biting silence returned once more.
However, its bites were now null. Roe'nika's mind was clear. She knew exactly what to do. Her hands shook less with fear, and more with eagerness. Her light footsteps filled the forest as she sped across the forest floor. She weaved past the trees, her arms barely dodging them. Her crimson eye trailed with a pale red within the darkness. The air seemed to part as she ran.
The hill of the Blood Witch's cove drew closer. Fallen leaves and grass crunched under the weight of her resolve. Climbing, she skillfully maneuvered past hard rock, stumps and vines.
Within her a resolve coated with molten platinum, veined with gold stood. Born from pain, it was carried along by the flight of her steps.
Closing up on the top of the hill, she slowed down, sensing multiple enemies. She climbed up, and hid herself in the forest cover before the clearing.
Before her was a lone soldier. He was leaning against a tree a little away, at the edge of the clearing. There were many others, white clad just like him. They sat in little groups, speaking amongst themselves. Soldiers sat further away, scattered in little groups. Roe'nika knew. The soldier close to her was one of the Erref.
Roe'nika smiled. Considering what she was about to do, it was a wonderful opportunity indeed.
Roe'nika approached, her feet near silent against the earth. The trees watched her in silence. Reaching him, she clasped his neck with her arm, bending his head towards her.
In a flash, her dagger was at his neck. Blood oozed as its edge pressed against his throat.
The other Erref hadn't noticed. Roe'nika could feel the soldier's heart racing. The pulses sped up his neck.
"Listen closely," she whispered, "do not resist and no one will get hurt."
The Erref remained silent. His hands shook as he slowly raised them.
"Good boy," Roe'nika said, menacingly.
The two slowly emerged from the shadows.
The lights of the camp illuminated them more and more.
Shouts erupted as she was detected. Her grip on her daggers handle tightened.
Her hostage breathed sharply, the pain pulsing to his mind with the blood. Roe'nika guided his steps slowly, her grip on the blade unwavering.
Rasps filled the air as hundreds of soldiers surrounded her.Their alarmed expressions spoke volumes of confusion.
"No one stand behind me!" she screamed. It cut across the clearing, concise and definite.
The soldiers hesitated, slowly shifting to her side.
Her grip tightened with every step they took.
Her crimson eyes scanned them, their expressions and any unexpected moves they would make.
The Erref rushed forwards, their swords pointed at her. They stopped a good distance away from her. None dared to step behind her. They had all heard the order.
Adrel stepped forward, his silver eyes glaring.
"Fiend, are you aware you draw your sword against a blessed one of the Inquest of Karakh?" His voice boomed past the silence. His teeth clenched, Adrel knew they had made a blunder.
"Yes, I am aware. Are you their leader?," Roe'nika asked, her voice partly taunting.
Adrel answered, "Yes. I am the Inquisitor of the Erref, Adrel."
"Perfect!," Roe'nika exclaimed. Her shout sent shivers down her hostages spine.
She looked deep into Adrel's eyes.
"I bring you good tidings, Inquisitor. If you play by my rules, you will have Rahiel's head in your hands by morning."
The Erref gasped. Adrel's eyes widened as the words hit him.
Roe'nika pressured him more.
"If you agree to listen to what I have to say, I will spare this man's life."
The man shuddered in her tight grasp. He couldn't believe how strong she was; he could barely struggle. He could feel the cold steel against his neck, pressure at his jugular. Any move would render him dead. He gulped. The blade pushed harder. Sweat streaked down his face.
Adrel hesitated. But the psychological pressure forced his lips open.
"I will hear your demands," he seethed.
Roe'nika's lips widened into a sharp grin.
"I am Roe'nika, a servant of the Blood Witch..."
Their faces fell in horror. The blades of some soldiers began to shake.
Roe'nika stormed on, before they could recuperate from her words.
" ...And I know you seek a man called Rahiel, who carries a girl with him."
Adrel's grip on his blade tightened. Legt glared. Ut'ias gaze fell on Adrel. He couldn't make another mistake.
"Do you not, Inquisitor?!"
Roe'nika roared, her crimson eye burning with energy.
"Yes!," Adrel replied, desperately.
Roe'nika continued.
"Let us make a deal, Inquisitor."
Adrel listened.
"The man you seek is sending my Mistress down a path I dislike. He deceives her, for his own inconceivable goals. I seek nothing but my Mistress's wellbeing. Anything to take her from his grasp. As such, I am willing to go this far."
A breeze howled across the clearing, the grass shifting in waves.
"I shall give you Rahiel's location, as well as how to defeat him. In exchange you shall protect the Blood Witch and I."
Silence sat above the hill. The burnt tree looked on, its charred branches ominously looking down .
"I shall not repeat this. If you agree to this, I shall release your comrade. A seal will be placed upon this pact: if you or any of your comrades breaks it, this man shall die…"
Adrel's eyes widened even more. His heart thrashed in his chest.
Roe'nika went on.
"If I break it, I shall die."
A stormy unease settled on the hill.
Adrel's face had tightened into a nasty frown. Roe'nika shot him a smirk. He couldn't get out. Not without getting blood on his hands. The woman was cunning. He had already made one mistake. He couldn't make another.
All eyes were on Adrel.
There was a long pause.
Adrel was well aware. Soldiers of the Empire were forbidden from negotiating with enemies of the Empire.
"Time is ticking, Inquisitor. I don't have long! Let me know whether this man dies with me or not!"
Roe'nika's voice dug into Adrel's hesitance.
There was no way he was about to side with an enemy of Karakh. He thought of what his sister would do in such a situation. He seethed, more at himself than Roe'nika.
Ut'ia glared at him, a deep dissapointment welling up within her. Adrel stared hard at the hostage. He saw the fear in his eyes, death's cold hand on his neck.
Ehud.
He was the youngest member of the Erref, with the least experience. Yet, his love for his family was something Adrel had witnessed himself. The laughs of his little children rung around him.
The forest fell still.
'The Path of Calor is the path of holy strength...'
So they said.
Roe'nika's crimson eyes glowed in the orange firelight. Ehud's blood stained her blade, still oozing from his neck.
It just wasn't the same anymore.
"I agree," Adrel answered.
Sheet lightning scarred the skies in the distance, flashing light on his silver eyes. Far away, Quantum had noticed it.
He could no longer detect Roe'nika.