Once upon a time, there were five brothers who lived in a village with their elderly grandmother. The four brothers were strong, so they worked the land, producing potatoes and wheat to sell in the town. The last brother was frail and stayed indoors, keeping their grandmother company.
One year, the winter became cruel. It snowed very much. The grandmother became sick.
Desperate for a cure, the brothers asked around the town. They asked the baker, but he didn't have any idea. They asked the doctor, but his medicine wasn't strong enough. The town guards had their hands full, the beggar was no help and their fellow farmers could only offer some of their spare food.
In their desperation, they turned to the passing travellers. A strange man in the village square told them that a Witch's treasure had enough power to heal all sickness and restore their grandmother back to normal. And so, four of the five brothers set out while the youngest stayed behind.
The first brother travelled to an old castle in a far-off valley, where a Rose Witch slumbered beneath the ancient stones. He begged the Witch for one of her precious, life-infused flowers. The Rose Witch wrapped her thorns around his body and dragged him into her new flowerbed.
The second brother travelled to a fiery plain, where the Flame Witch roamed. He asked her to burn the sickness from his grandmother's body, like the phoenixes of old. The Flame Witch turned him into ash.
The third brother travelled to a crystal cave, where the Glass Witch lurked in the myriad reflections. He demanded a gemstone to sell for medicine. The Glass Witch took out her diamond spears and skewered him from head to toe.
The fourth brother wandered the land, having not found a Witch yet. One night, he went to sleep in a barn, thanks to the nearby couple's generosity. He woke up to see the wandering Blast Witch. Before he could get a word in, the Blast Witch seared him into dust.
The last brother, of course, did not set off.
He lived a long life.
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Lucy found herself surrounded by children.
It wasn't the first time this happened. The War Maidens prided themselves as one of Her greatest hopes, which made them attractive to the general populace, including children. Crowds of them would gather along with their parents at returnal ceremonies, cheering for the victorious troops as confetti and flower petals showered through the open air. The sight of one was a precious, innocent remembrance of what they were fighting for, and there was little better to get the blood of a War Maiden pumping.
But interacting with them? That was a separate matter altogether.
The children of the village were indeed innocent. Their parents watched her, the Chosen and that scavenger girl with caution and wariness. The children ran up to her and began tugging on her uniform, one young girl even reaching dirt-covered hands to her long blonde hair. She would have loved to play with them, if it weren't for her total lack of understanding of what they were speaking!
"Chosen, help me out here!" She said to Adam, who slouched on a nearby wooden bench. A disinterested look crossed his face as he counted the number of kids. He then smirked.
"They say you stink, Lucy."
The answer hit her like a frying pan.
"No! Impossible!" She cried, "I washed my clothes thoroughly in the river! I even used bleach! It can't be!"
He shrugged. "Maybe there was more wraith shit in the water. You never know, Lucy. These things happen. We did fight like two of them earlier."
Memories of the War Maiden Academy came flooding back. The first day in those honored halls, in which their Instructors walked among their ranks, and criticized them all for their poor civilian conduct. Endless repetitions of washing, folding and pressing her uniform, all under a strict time-limit. That one time she had to sit on night watch because she lost her temper with a friend and joined a food fight.
"War Maidens may douse themselves in the Scourge's blood, but that does not excuse uncleanliness! A hundred reps of your mystics, now!"
She shuddered. Now that she was older, she agreed with her instructors. She also didn't want to repeat those days! In panic, she raised her sleeve to her nose in a flash and sniffed it. Her eyes narrowed. "Chosen." She began, in a warning tone. It started low, then rose gradually, in an imitation of the Academy dorms' matron, "The truth, if I may be so kind to ask?"
"Alright, alright." Adam said, raising his hands, "The brats want to play with you. You want to play soccer with them?"
"What's soccer?" Lucy asked. "Is that what their ball game is called?"
"You guys don't have soccer?" Adam said. He sounded offended at that. He leaned back, hands behind his head, and whistled. "Man, you War Maidens…"
There he went again with that unfamiliar terminology. He wouldn't enjoy hearing this, but she was growing more and more curious about his home colony. It must be one of those remote, newly integrated colonies that still lacked certain important technologies from the main ones.
She didn't think to ask how Adam knew these children were playing this mysterious 'soccer' in this untamed, corruption-infused world. In the beginning of the universe, evil scattered humanity across the cosmos, fearing the power of their unity. Her Providence was their undoing, as She dedicated her existence to threading humanity's shattered brethren back to together. Humans developed in similar ways, even when isolated, and the acknowledgement of this fact was one of the fundamental principles of Astraea.
The children giggled and shouted something. One of them raised the ball in a gesture of offering. She shook her head. She didn't know the rules of 'soccer' and her enhanced strength might harm them. Instead, she clapped her hands and pulled them apart, revealing [Photokinesis] sparkles weaved together like stardust. The children stopped their ball game and crowded around the display. Lucy curled her fingers, and the sparkles formed into the shape of a hexagon. She created more shapes—a stick figure, a tree, the six stars of Astraea—and Lucy smiled at the children's oohs and ahs. She had seen those kinds of looks when tutoring mystics in kindergarten.
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If that were the case, it only fit that she showed her techs off more, no? Lucy clasped her hands together and summoned more lights. They swirled into the air and shaped Her divine majesty.
"May this humble War Maiden borrow your likeness, our Providence." Lucy intoned. She snapped her fingers, and Her image spread her arms and flapped her six wings. The core in the centre grew brighter and sharper, like diamonds reflecting the radiance of a star. Small stick figures gathered at Her feet. They bowed, then knelt. She picked one up and rested Her hand on its head.
"And the gathered thirty-six leaders lowered their heads, for through the First Maiden She had shown them the folly of disunity. Alone in the universe, with the evil encroaching on all sides, the thirty-six linked their hands and raised them to the mystic of the First Maiden. They—"
"Alright, that's enough of your lot." Adam grabbed Lucy's arm and pulled her away.
"Eh? Wait, Chosen!" Lucy cried, as the lights dispelled, "I haven't gotten to the best part yet!"
"We're done here! Leave this to the experts."
"What does that even mean? Chosen, this isn't fair!"
"The brats can't even understand you!"
"Maybe, but there's no harm in trying!"
Honestly, the boy was such a strange Chosen. His personality…well, she didn't want to say it was bad. He possessed admirable qualities. The fight against her corrupted form proved his resourcefulness and inner resilience. He took initiative to better himself. He didn't whine (much) about his predicament. These were all qualities even the most detached of ADO soldiers could respect.
"Chosen, I was performing important work. Please don't disturb it next time!"
"No you weren't. You were playing with brats. That's wasting time."
"Oh my gosh, Chosen!"
But he could be impulsive and a little too blunt for her liking. She folded her arms and stared him down. He rolled his eyes and turned his back to her. That stung a little. Adam didn't trust her. It was okay at first; Lucy herself wouldn't trust a complete stranger. Yet, his aversion ran deeper. He kept himself guarded and she caught him observing the environment for exit routes more than a few times. She appreciated that mentality as a soldier, but it also seemed like he didn't understand she existed to protect him.
Again, this was likely related to his upbringing. There is a nil space where the downtrodden do not realise they have in their hearts. Or was this a man thing? A downside of being a War Maiden was that she spent less time around the opposite gender. Father did have a scrap with Mother about his independence when she was young.
Her heart clenched. She hadn't thought of her parents much—an intentional act, partially excused by her duties of taking care of the Chosen. Her parents stood in the upper-class of Astraean society, but their influence in the ADO was limited. Had they heard of the news of MOB Tiferet-56's disappearance? Were they knocking on a Proselyte's door, demanding answers? Perhaps they'd…no, what was she thinking? Mother and Father loved her too much for them to even consider that!
"That damn hick, he didn't tell us a single useful thing about you guys." Adam grumbled, snapping her out of her thoughts. "All we got were a bunch of old rumors and fairy tales. This isn't intel at all."
"I'm not surprised, Chosen." Lucy said, "This village is primitive. The most advanced tech they possess is a gas-powered farming car, or that old non-holo calculator. They don't have the capability for recon."
"It still sucks. After all that trouble running around that damn cabin, wasting time I could've spent training or earning money." He kicked a stone into a wall, then levitated it back with [Psychokinesis], "We don't even know if the names we got are correct. What did I expect from a hick town?"
"They mentioned me," Lucy said. "They knew where I was."
"Yeah, you only. One out of five. Not exactly the spitting image of reliability. Pretty sure there were over five War Maidens stationed at the MOB too." He looked at her, frowning. "You still antsy about that?"
"Pardon?"
"I recited Cole's bullshit back to you and you looked like someone forced you to eat a turd." Adam said.
"No, I'm fine, Chosen." Lucy said, "It was a little shocking, but nothing unexpected.
"Good. Because if I can't, we're doomed." Adam said, turning around. He paused for a moment. She heard him inhale and exhale out, working up the nerve to speak. "It was that fucking red's fault, got it? Not you. You…didn't deserve that."
"Chosen, that's…" Her breath caught in her throat. She felt the corners of her eyes moisten. "Thank you. That means a lot."
"It's obvious. Thought you already knew, but in case you didn't, there you are. I'm not saying it again." He sounded a little embarrassed.
"Yep! I understand, Chosen. Let's keep going!"
He grunted and walked on before she could. She caught up in a few quick strides. See? Her Providence had guided Lucy to a worthy Chosen. His rough edges would sand off in time, as they journeyed this primitive world and gathered the remaining War Maidens. Someone would archive his story in the Lexicon of Heroes for a new generation to read and gush over. Until then, she would protect him with her heart, mystic and soul, no matter what the cost.
That's why she exited the inn when night fell. She stood atop its roof, staring past the walls with her scope. A faint orange glow blossomed in the distance. Small plumes of smoke rose from its edges. The Chosen was right. Trouble was indeed brewing this way. Part of her wanted to help this village out, but the Chosen, and his mission, came first.
She climbed off the roof and slid down a nearby wall. Her boots made nary a sound as she landed. A member of the village's night-watch passed by, holding a lantern. The man glanced around, shrugged, and continued on. Lucy popped up from behind the old barrel. She scarpered down the street, avoiding the rest of the watch. The public saw vids of the War Maidens leaping through the air, slaughtering the Scourge with their high-powered mystics and drenching themselves in the blood of their enemies. They often forgot that subterfuge was an equally important part of war too.
The bandit named Rick was kept confined in a small shed at the west side of the village. It was trivial to pick the lock and slip inside. She pulled open the trapdoor. She stepped down the flight of stairs. The boy was bound to the wall in chains, his clothes matted with filth from rotten fruit and animal feces. Bruises from stone throws ran up his forehead and neck. The two made eye contact, and the blubbering started instantly. He curled up like that scavenger girl back at the base, fearful, pleading, and pathetic. This was a person who showed remorse, but only for themselves, instead of a greater whole. It was disgusting.
Man had once been adrift and alone in a vast cruel universe. To unite humanity and let them stand as one was one of Her greatest desires.
Conversely, for any human to betray that unity, and fall into depravity, was one of Her greatest fears. It was a heresy most repulsive. All heretics were hunted, captured and smited in full view of Astraean society. Their titles were stripped, the innocent members of their families were rebranded, and their entire existence was marked in history as an example of what to never, ever do.
Rick was not aware of Her, being from a non-integrated world. Yet, did that lessen his sin? Did it make him inhuman? Of course not. She also couldn't let this boy run his mouth and accuse her of a Witch. While the townsfolk did not believe him, yet they did not execute him. These remote villages were prone to mass, ignorant hysteria. It would also take a single seed of doubt to set off a chain reaction and bring the entire town down on their head.
Then, what would become of the Chosen?
The thought steeled Lucy. By Her Providence, sinners would find redemption, pending their punishment in the mortal world. A War Maiden was Her instrument in her grand goal to safeguard and better humanity. A single shot could take out two targets at once.
"May you understand the weight of your sins in the present, so that your future can last beneath Her wings."
Rick screamed. Lucy forced his mouth open and yanked out his tongue.