Narcissa and Alkela were racing through the streets. The fact that they looked good doing it didn't help for once. No amount of leather or cleavage could make up for what was about to happen. And no one was around to appreciate them anyway. As they did, they saw the portal opening. Reality seemed to peel back, and many spheres of light came out. As they crossed the threshold, the lights transformed into flying beasts. They had the wings of bats, the claws of lizards, and the heads of vultures. And their features were all black with red eyes. They swooped down into the street, and Narcissa saw them begin tearing at the windows.

Narcissa hurled her axe, spinning through the air before she could think. It cleaved through the creature and returned to her hand. As Narcissa caught it, she felt a rush of exhilaration. It felt good to kill this thing.

Then, the others came swarming toward her. But Narcissa seemed to move off her own accord. She felt herself wielding her axe like one possessed. She was performing the moves she had been taught with absolute ease. And with each stroke, she felt power surge through her veins. Vaguely, she was aware of Alkela darting back and forth, crushing enemies with her fists. Sis seemed to enjoy herself, but there was always more to kill.

Strange snakelike beasts were landing in the streets. They had the heads of beetles and scythed arms that rent flesh. The city guard was fighting with them, but their movements seemed slow. The will of Zigildrazia had left them. She desired their defeat.

Screams sounded throughout the city. Among them were the cries of children.

"What is going on here?" thought Narcissa as she cleaved down. "Why is she doing this?" She knew why.

It was some combination of flippancy, spite, and a lack of caring. Zigilus meant nothing to her. So she had condemned it the moment it had become inconvenient. But... Zigildrazia couldn't be so petty, could she?

The sensation of death filling Narcissa's body drowned out her doubts. She fought harder, forcing herself to move. Forcing herself to kill one of the snakes as it tried to consume a guardsman.

"Stand up!" she yelled as she hacked down two more. "Stand up and fight! Don't let them kill you!"

It wasn't inspiring. And Narcissa felt something bite into her shoulder. One of the vultures had stabbed her and was bearing her down. But Alkela was on it and pulled it back, snapping its neck. Even as it fell back, Narcissa found energy coursing through her flesh. It healed before her eyes, and she rose to fight again.

So the fighting went on.

Fires began in several parts of the city. The raishans rushed to attack those who tried to put them out, and it was all they could do to hold the line. Eventually, they found themselves in front of Zarana's Delights.

Dozens of raishan corpses lay around the entrance. The windows had been smashed in. Within, Narcissa could see furniture crushed and broken. Narcissa stared. Part of her was laughing. These people who had tried to take advantage of her were now consumed. It was hilarious. But Alkela rushed on through with a fearful expression.

Narcissa ran after her.

They entered the main room and found tables and chairs upset and smashed around them. The drinks on the bar were shattered, and broken glass lines on the floor.

But there were no corpses?

Then, two familiar faces looked up from the bar. "Narcissa, Alkela, is that you?"

Narcissa flinched. "Sera? Ansora? What's going on here?"

"Raishans started coming from nowhere," said Sera. "They would have killed us if it wasn't for that customer."

"Customer?" asked Narcissa. "Who?"

"He didn't say his name," said Sera. "But he wore a mask, and the flesh around his eyes was mottled. So he couldn't have been from Zigilus."

"He wielded a katana and held himself like a soldier," said Ansora. "When the raishans came, he killed them. Then he went out and started hunting them.

"But-"

And then there was a feral snarling. Narcissa turned to see a massive wolf with antlers rushing through and leaping at her. Spinning around her axe, she brought it down to cleave the creature's skull with one blow. The force nearly jarred the weapon from her hands, but it was done.

More of them.

"Stay hidden," said Narcissa. "Get together your things and get your families and anyone else you can! Then, head for the Sanctum of Zigildrazia and ask for Illaryus. Tell him Narcissa sent you."

"But Matron Zarana-" said Sera.

"She's dead," lied Narcissa. "Zigildrazia killed her and said the debt was settled. That bastard Dakan got off with a slap on the wrist. This entire city is going to be consumed soon.

"But you've got to get out of here with anyone who will follow you."

"But we belong to Zigildrazia," said Sera.

Narcissa felt a surge of contempt for this empty-eyed creature. She should kill her where she stood. But, no, no, she'd known Sera for years. "She wants you to get out. She wants you to get out. Now go quickly.

"Alkela and I will deal with the raishans."

Then they rushed out into the streets and found more raishans waiting. They ran to fight them. As they did, Narcissa began to fade. She felt less and less herself and more like someone else. Blood spilled over her as she hacked and slashed. Her flesh was torn, only to recover. And Narcissa felt joy at how these lesser creatures had their skulls and limbs crushed. Happiness at the bodies around her, raishan and mortal alike.

Joy at the deaths. Joy at the killing. At the suffering that was happening. If only some children would scream in the background. That would make this perfect. If only she were killing her sisters' slaves instead of protecting them...

Then, these thoughts began to fade. Narcissa became aware that she was no longer with Alkela. Instead, she was fighting alongside a familiar figure clad all in black. He wielded the Sword of Order to carve down one raishan after another. She did so with a speed and intensity Narcissa could not match. He was the faster, but she kept him at a distance. When he ducked past a stroke of her axe, she vaulted over him, using it as a pole. Landing, she spun around and went for his neck. Yet he ducked under it and spun around to slash at her again.

Backing away, she warded off several strikes and spun her axe to a defensive position.

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What was she doing?

There was no bloodlust in his strikes. But he might be of use.

There came an end to the combat. The street had gone dead and silent. Narcissa turned to him, leaning on her axe while putting out one hip. "So, I'm guessing you're the mysterious patron my friends talked about. You're halfway decent at all this.

"So, who exactly are you supposed to be?"

The man halted and did not even look at anything other than her face. He merely sheathed his sword in a smooth movement. "I am Abdul Sahshir. I'm looking for someone."

"A lot of people are looking for someone," said Narcissa. "Sometimes, they even find them. But they only sometimes like what happens once they do.

"So, handsome, who are you looking for?" She put forth her will to try and grasp his as she had Narcissa's. As she did, she leaned forward to show off her breasts to absolutely no effect.

She got his attention, at least. "...Garacel."

"Oh, him," said Narcissa. "Well, you'll regret finding him. The man can't be killed." Her memory turned to her training in better days.

"You don't seem stable," said Sahshir.

"Maybe I'm not," said Narcissa, smiling. "Either way, if you want to avenge yourself on Garacel, you should head for the Sanctum of Zigildrazia. After all, it worked out so well for you last time."

"Who are you?" asked Sahshir.

"I don't blame you for not recognizing me," said Narcissa. "Last time, I was wearing something a lot less comfortable."

Alkela landed next to her. Sahshir set a hand to his blade. Then, the portal above widened, and the monsters poured in ever greater numbers.

The battle began anew, and Narcissa rushed to it in glee. She hewed down one enemy after another, carving through them like a hot scythe through wheat. Finally, none could stand before her. "Yes!" she screamed as she hacked her way through several. "Die! Die all of you!"

Such was the carnage she spread that the raishans were drawn to her like moths to a flame. And they were consumed just as quickly. Sahshir had left alone at some point, so the sisters fought alone. Every wave was cut down with ease. Narcissa felt as though she was merely an extension of something greater.

And extension that was growing in power. She'll kill all these raishans, the legions, and these miserable mortals. They'd all die!

Then Alkela slapped her.

Clarity returned. As she finished another wave, she fell to one knee. Her body was thrumming with pleasure. And yet she was not exhausted. She looked at the axe she had been wielding and saw it glowing red. She tried to throw it away, but it would not leave her hand. She stepped back. "I've got to get rid of this axe."

She noticed Alkela above donning the ring. Narcissa quickly caught her hand. "No, don't.

"We can't use these, Alkela. They'll get in our heads, drive us insane." She looked around. The flames were being contained, and the fighting had moved from this section of the city. "I'm going to go get my old axe back. Hold down the fort, and don't put that ring on no matter what happens." Why would this be affecting her? "I need to check something."

On the way, Narcissa passed many bodies. Wherever she walked, corpses could be seen. But the buildings were empty; doors and windows were hanging open. Occasionally, she found guards standing among the smoldering wreckage.

And in the distance, Narcissa saw that the Sanctum was teeming with people who had fled into it. Raishans were clustering around the gates but dared not pass the threshold. Finally, Illaryus emerged from the crowds, limping forward.

Setting a hand to his scimitar, he brought it out and slashed.

There seemed to be a wave, and the creatures fled before him. Narcissa moved to meet him, and he smiled. "Narcissa, you have returned. How may we help you?"

"I need to get my axe back," said Narcissa. "I left it here. And I need your help with something. Something... something is happening to me."

Illaryus remained silent for a moment. "Well, we'd best go to the library, then."

They had to go through many terrified people to get to the library. The priests tended to the wounded as best they could, inspiring regeneration. Narcissa saw a child reunited with her mother.

She wondered how all this fit into being Zigildrazia's tool. She asked if she wanted it to. Why was she paying heed to these worms? They were beneath her!

Narcissa remained silent as they entered the library. Here, in this place, there were hundreds upon hundreds of books available for reading. Some were forbidden for any save the priests. Others were available to the public.

"Now, my dear girl, you've had some trouble, haven't you?" said Illaryus.

"Yes, I..." Narcissa paused, hesitating to speak. "I've found that something is surfacing inside me, and when it does... I want to hurt people. I may lose myself in it."

"Well, that is a risk to our profession," said Illaryus. "We are extensions of the will of Zigildrazia. By becoming such, we gain powers and abilities that would take years to master otherwise.

"But, we are attuned to her will."

"It isn't that, though," said Narcissa. "I feel like... like there is something else growing inside me. A different person."

Illaryus frowned. "Ah. In that case, we'd best consult the bloodline records." He went over to a shelf, scaled quickly up a ladder, and took out a book. Sliding down, he set it on a table and opened it. "Now, your father was Esmond, was he not?"

"Yes," said Narcissa.

"And your mother?" asked Illaryus.

"Areya," said Narcissa.

Illaryus sorted through the bloodlines little by little. His eyes glazed over as his fingers went from one to another. "Did they have family names?"

Narcissa felt like something was looking through her as much as the book. "No. They were native to Zigilus."

"Ah, of course," said Illaryus. "Family names are uncommon among the lower orders, I'm told. I never had one myself."

"Why is that?" asked Narcissa before realizing she'd asked a stupid question. "I mean, why do other people have family names?"

"Family names provide a sense of identity beyond who you are," said Illaryus. "I gather they are used for legal matters. However, we are all, at our base nature, extensions of Zigildrazia. So we do not need for them.

"Besides, it is Her Radiance's will that citizens remove them. One moment." He came to some names. "Hmm, very interesting."

"What is it?" asked Narcissa.

"You are descended from Her Raidance, but the line is not as strong as we thought," said Illaryus.

"What do you mean?" asked Narcissa.

"Your ancestors were born from one of Amysta's daughters on one side. The other was from Zigildrazia's grandsons," said Illaryus. "Thus, Amysta's blood is stronger in you."

"But Amysta is dead," said Narcissa.

"True," conceded Illaryus. "But her essence was absorbed into Zigildrazia, even if her spirit is gone. Thus, in a sense, you are descended from Her Radiance through two sources."

"What do you mean 'her spirit is gone?'" Narcissa asked. "You taught me that killing a soul is impossible."

"It is," said Illaryus. "Or so we believe, at any rate. It is impossible and varies by age. But after Amysta realized she was doomed, she performed a ritual. We do not know the exact details, but somehow, she divided her spirit and sent it away. It is similar to what was done with the Demon King Diabolus long ago.

"We have never found the pieces, despite our best efforts."

Narcissa remained silent. King Diabolus was a figure in every mythology she'd read about. Yet very little was available to her on him. "What does this have to do with me?"

"Quite a bit, potentially," said Illaryus. "There are many theories. Some say that she found some means to obliterate herself. Others that she exists in the subconscious of Her Radiance.

"However, I believe she imparted her spirit to some of her descendants. Perhaps as part of some plan to engineer her resurrection.

"If she did so, and her will were to return to power, over time, she could consume the spirit of whoever she inhabited."

"You knew about this before, didn't you?" asked Narcissa.

"Forgive this old man his parlor tricks, will you?" asked Illaryus. "But I have done my research. It wasn't relevant until now.

"Whatever our bloodlines, we all serve Her Radiance.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Amysta was within her. Narcissa could feel her now, rising to take on dominance over her spirit. In an instant, she found herself someone else. "No, nothing right now.

"Thank you. You've been of immense help to me, priest."

"You know my name, Narcissa," said Illaryus.

"Of course," said Narcissa. "Sorry, Illaryus, I've gone through a revelation."

Then there was nothing.