These were the first two days where Maria was free of obligations, and she had grown so unused to it that the young master felt at a complete loss. She had her meals, but with her beasts busy, the servants polite but distant and fearful, and Lord Lavalier occupied with his work, she was on her own, yet again.
The TV was her friend in these times, for countless hours she laid in front of it on the sofa until she grew too tired and went to bed.
But on the night of the second day, she was roused when Menagerie tore the door open, storming into the room. "They've gone and left, all of them! Oh you should've seen how fast they're hurrying, young master! Come, come." Maria did not need to be asked twice.
Three times today had she packed her bag. Sir Screech, the ancient key, snacks and her trusty crowbar were all in their place. With it over her shoulder she stormed down the stairs. Tetra and Elaine were already outside, getting into the back of the van. Sin was at the wheel, Menagerie leapt into the passengers seat and Maria joined the other two in the back.
After the doors slammed shut they drove off. Tetra had a massive book with her, which she put on her lap and opened. She traced the words with her finger, quietly voicing the words. Elaine once more stuck to her master's side, resting her head on Maria's shoulder. "My beloved master, forgive me for being removed from your side for so long." Excitement swung in her voice just as much as sorrow. "I shan't be separate in this manner again, I swear it."
Maria laid an arm around the small beast, which did little to stop her excitement. "It is alright, now, now we are back and, so very close." Her face was red, her mind racing. "Soon I will be queen, I will actually, be queen." Her ears were still in disbelief at her own words.
The hour they had to drive dragged on in agony, especially as traffic had picked up. Maria was standing at the lid, looking outside as best she could. The closer they got to the city, the more black vans could she make out driving out of the city, too many and too similar to just be coincidence. "That's, that's them, right? The enemy? And they do not see us?"
"They do not, my master. None of us are using our Lore, they would need to actively search to find us. Armoire is truly doing an amazing job." They soon reached the outskirts of the city, and Sin drove the van to the rightmost lane. "Please prepare yourself to embark quickly, my master. And take with you only what you may need."
One more time Maria looked through her bag, as well as the supplies and keepsakes they had taken along on the journey. She gave sir Screech a pat on the head, and grasped the key tightly in her hand. Five minutes later, they stopped. "It is here, embark, now!" Sin yelled, and the beasts sprung into action alongside her master.
They opened the door, much to the surprise of the driver in front of them, and ran out the van, towards the right wall. Sin was trailing the wall with her hand, stopping close by. "Here, my master. Use your sight."
With a gulp Maria closed her eyes, the lines appearing across her body once more. A van on the other side of the highway stopped, and the doors burst open, Paladins disembarking. "My master, we must hurry!" At Sin's words Maria opened her eyes, and saw a small keyhole just next to Sin's hand.
Her hands were trembling and she almost dropped the key. The Paladins were marching towards them, weapons drawn. Finally the key fit, Maria turned it and with a quiet 'click', a bright silver light erupted from the wall, swallowing her and her beasts.
When the light faded, they stood on a street as well, though it was not the same. The wall in front of them, the ground they walked on, all was made of pure white, resembling marble. It shone, not from the light of the sun, which seemed completely gone, but from itself. The sight that took her breath away however, was what was in front of her.
Paris was gone, replaced by a different city, of titanic proportions. It covered her entire view, houses, towers and walls made out of the same white stone. Even the smallest house dwarfed the chateaux that Maria had seen in history class, each a palace fit for a world leader. "This, is the ancient world?" I, this, I." Lacking words she silently walked, her beasts following. Maria was so overwhelmed by the sights that she did not take note of the terrible melancholy Sin was displaying.
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The streets they walked on were clean, not a single speck of dust or dirt was found anywhere. They walked in absolute silence, there was no wind, no single sound of life, only the bright stone rising up into the darkness. When Maria tried to raise her head however, Sin immedeately reached out and pulled her in, laying a hand on her head. "Whatever you do, my master. You must not look up. Under no circumstance."
Maria was in shock, both at the sudden pull, and the harsh fear in her servants voice. "Al-alright, I wont. I'm sorry." she muttered, and made sure to keep her head from tilting upward. "So, this is how the world, used to be when you were around, right?"
The look of misery on Sin's face was near enough to move her master to tears. "No, my master. When I first was lead here it was abandoned for nearly two thousand years. I not ancient, only my blood is. This was how the world was long before our struggle, before man turned their back on their greatness."
"You mean before man grew wiser than to delve into an abyss that was never intended for them?"
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The last defences on her way were tenacious, almost enough for Armoire to feel her heart beat again. But alas, only almost. The sword of war sang it's cry, severing limb from body. The city outskirts were already in sight, and Armoire picked up the pace. In her hurry she was much less thorough, leaving behind wounded, not dead. Great arrows shone in the sky as they hailed down on her like rain, none managed to pierce her blood.
At the third shield wall Armoire dropped the sword of war, and a host of scythe blades sprouted out of her arms. "Get out of my way!" Her cries did not cause the Paladins to falter, they stood their ground and died standing. Armoire leapt over the roofs of cars caught in the crossfire, denting them on every landing. With every time she took to the skies she unleashed another flurry of white arrows of conquest, each found their mark, each ended the life of another Paladin.
She had nearly reached the city when a tall figure blocked her way, and the sight of them caused Armoire's heart to beat in fury. "So you finally decide to show yourself, traitor." Her voice was guttural and roaring, eyes pinned on the figure in front of her. They were dressed in pure white, unarmoured. Long silver hair ran down their back, and their androgynous face betrayed only light surprise. "That a beast would call a proud knight a traitor. Laughable."
"Have you already forgotten, you ragged old hag?" Armoire drew the blade of war once more, the blade quickly clouded in flames. "You betrayed me, left me to fend off the enemy while you ran with your tail between your legs, if you even still have one! You denied me the blessing, You let me fall, You watched as they dragged me away in chains!"
The drumming beat of her heart drowned out all sound, even whatever the chapter master was saying in reply. "But now, I am free, and I had almost sixty years to grow my fury. You will pay for leading the knights astray, you will pay for your pointless resistance, all the brave souls you sent to their death for nothing, you will pay for your pride, to think you could stand against my master, the heiress of the ancients! I am Armoire, the fifth rider, I will conquer the world, take peace from humanity, with famine and death I will take a fourth of the earth, until even the soul most sickened with pride will know their place and kneel."
She raised her blade as the Chapter master rose theirs. "Your end has come!" Armoire roared, and leapt towards her enemy. The blades clashed, again and again. Silver light against her blackened flames. The Paladins left alive in her wake charged to their Chapter master's aid. Armoire leapt into the air, sending out another hail of arrows. "This fight is not yours!" When she landed, the spear of famine was in her hands. The scales tipped, and while the chapter master grew weaker in strength, they managed still to ward off the riders onslaught.
But their time was nearing an end. The spear found it's mark, and every small cut they suffered sapped more of her strength, until it was all but spent. They fell on their knees, warding off one more strike. "I may die, but my legacy will endure, beast. The time of the ancient is over, and their sickening rule will never again put mankind in shackles."
Armoire pierced them with her spear, only to be dragged in by the chapter master. "We will resist you, until our bitter end. We will rather die before we let you put all of humanity in chains once more."
Armoire dropped the spear, her arm turning into a single blade of a scythe. She pushed the chapter master to the ground, raising her weapon "And I will continue to mow you down. Finally, my-"
Before she could finish, her mind went blank. Her body began to move on its own, running, leaping forward, toward the city. A single voice echoed within her head, a single note dominated all of her mind. "My master" Armoire cried out, but it did not ease the scream ringing through her ears.