Tale I : The Swan Mother

The Village of Standauf. A strong proprietor of Stone Coal, Home to one of the Vauld Family’s Richest Lords and the closest Human Settlement to the vast Forest of the Forgotten and the Lands of the Fog, was now only a burned-down cemetery riddled with corpses of victims and perpetrators alike. Now even the last buildings standing were crumbling under the blazing fires which lit them. The remaining villagers searched through the wreckages to still collect heirlooms and loved ones, mourning in silence as they burned the bodies of their family members, friends, and neighbors, each of the bodies accompanied by their Mining helmets and Pickaxes, as a reminder of the good old days.

While the ceremonies took place, Swan and a couple of the other survivors searched the bodies of the Guards and the Castle grounds for Valuables and weaponry for they would need to for their journey outside these wretched lands.

Inspecting one of the Guards’ bodies, Swan noticed a peculiar fact about the Bloodlusty Servants of the former Lord.

“(It seems that they all share something. How very curious what your people are willing to do to one another.) Said the familiar voice echoing through Swan’s mind while she was inspecting the head of one of the guards, which bore not only bloodshot and empty eyes but also a sizably large amount of stitches at the frontal part of the Head. A feature that they all shared.

“Ms. Swan! We’ve found their Armory. You don’t carry anything else than this Chain of yours, right? Might have something in there for you.” A burly Villager said with a grin on his face as he carried a bundle of lances in his hands, calling out to her

“Remember that you are not equipping an Army. You all will have to travel light.” She said, intervening in the Villager’s plans to arm themselves beyond what was necessary

Afterward, Swan collected a group of villagers and pointed them to the mines to retrieve something for her. The rest of the Villagers now started packing up their belongings and needed travel gear for the journey they were about to take on.

The Villagers returned shortly with an enormous number of the same large sacks they carried up the hill days prior. The contents of the Sacks revealed themselves to be various sticks of Dynamite, most likely used to open up the mines further. Swan ordered the Dynamite to be placed around each of the Castle’s Corners and grouped up the rest of the Villagers down in the Village Square, loading carts with supplies and teaching most of the Villagers the basics of the weaponry they’re carrying for defense with the little time that remained as the Tavernkeeper approached her.

“Ms.Swan, I apologize for the Interruption, but I wanted to let you know that the Castle has now been sufficiently covered in the Explosives as you ordered,” Said the Tavernkeep wiping the sweat off with his soot and dirt-covered hands bearing a happy grin

“I see, then we have nothing more to do here. Most of the Villagers will be able to defend themselves now as well, but they can train themselves from now on, I have no doubt about it.” She said as she glanced over to the Villagers Training in Spear and Bow Combat, all determined and motivated

“But…does that mean that you won’t be coming with us, Ms. Swan?” Answered the Innkeeper in a surprised tone as Swan turned around and packed the rest of her supplies onto her Horse before turning her head toward the Innkeeper

“I have no reason to do so. My Journey lies elsewhere. It would put you all into too much danger if I were accompanying you than if I were not.” Swan stopped for a second before moving away from her Horse, moving toward the Tavern and picking up the shield the Innkeeper gave her earlier, it being barely dented by all the arrow fire as she inspected the Crest on It, which matched the Insignia around the Castle as well. The image of a Mine and a Hog painted onto it

“I was only a spark. The fire of these people will not extinguish without me. You all have each other now. It was the missing link all this time. There was somebody I traveled with who told me that we Humans could not stand against this growing threat. But I think he underestimated what we can do if we work together.” She said while fastening the shield to her Horse as well before telling the Innkeeper something in a serious tone

“You might think this is only more of a reason for me to join, but. I would never wish for my burden to become another’s. Ever” Swan said as she covered her masked head with the cloak’s hood turning to the other side, noticing another familiar face approaching her.

Approaching were the Barmaiden and the little Boy Swan brought toward the Tavern earlier, both being eager to see Swan again

“Ms.Swan, My Dear!” The Barmaiden called out to the two waving as the two came closer

“Ah, there you are.” The Innkeeper said, hugging his wife and patting the boy’s head

“The mood seems rather stale between you two. Is everything alright…is this a bad time?” The Barmaiden asked, noticing the situation between her Husband and Swan, now on top of her Horse

“I am sorry. I cannot accompany you and the rest of the Village. I will be traveling the other way,” She stated, looking at the Trio as coldly as before.

“I assumed such, to be honest. I just had a small hope that I was wrong. But we cannot ask anything more of you, for our debt to you is already impossible to pay back,” The Barmaiden said in a sad tone before remembering something.

“Actually, Ms. Swan, there is one thing, it might even lie on your way so that it will be no chore to you. There is a Hermit living in the Forbidden Forest…it would surprise me if she hadn’t noticed all these things happening by late. I doubt she’d wish to come with us either, but I ask that you may just let her know what happened should you run into her.” She said in a concerned tone before pulling on her necklace, ripping it off.

“It has been a year or more since she last visited the Tavern. She left this as her tab the last time. I just think she should have it back. I wouldn’t want to sell it or have it be stolen on the way. Tell her that Camilla cleared the tab,” She said with a smile before turning to her Husband and the Boy.

“In truth, I don’t think that Woman has ever paid any tab she made…But since you mention her. Ms. Swan, I think the two of you might get along well with one another. You are quite similar.” The innkeeper said, stroking his chin in thought. The mood is now being lifted as it has often been with this group of people.

“I will grant you this wish should I run into her. But I will speak out a wish as well…I never did catch your names up until now.” Swan asked in a soft tone

The group looked at one another perplexed, as they did not notice up until now before three names rang out at the same time

“My Apologies, Henrik at your service”

“Joshua, ma’am”

“As you heard, I’m Camilla. You best remember it should we see one another again in the Imperial City” The group smiled, as did Swan, even if not visible through her mask and bandages.

Swan said her Goodbye’s to the Villagers as they parted ways. Not before the Sticks of Dynamite had been ignited, blowing up the Castle, leaving only rubbles. As the entire surrounding area shook for a moment, the Villagers cheered and sang as the remaining Villagers walked out of the Village’s Gate, marching toward a new life. Swan, however, rode back into the Forbidden Forest, for she had remaining business there.

“(How Intriguing, lying to these poor Villagers just to protect them.)” Said the Voice in a sarcastic tone

“They will reach the Borders of the Imperial City in a few days. There is no reason for me to accompany them.” She answered in a cold tone once more as she rode along the path she and Martin had both taken earlier

“(Why I can hardly change your mind Swan of Ash, however I do find it interesting that there had been no word wasted on this Headsman you wish to bury. Almost like he had never existed.)” Giggled the Voice as Swan arrived back at the clearing

The Clearing had been left mostly the same, it now only being lit up by the sun and the beast still being in its place. Martin as well had stayed in his place. Surprisingly the animals of the Forest had not gotten to him or the Beast. Yet a sound of…sawing could be heard behind the giant beast’s corpse, breaking the silence.

“Are you here for this big brute or old Martin over there?” Asked a Feminine voice originating from the exact location as the continuous sawing noises

“It would be of little concern to you, Stranger,” Swan answered bluntly as she started to slowly make her way around the large carcass of the Beast, her left hand placed on the chain attached to her belt.

The sawing had stopped as the voice’s origin showed herself, rising from behind the Beast’s body with a handful of large claws sawed off of the Beast’s Paw

The Woman in question was pale-skinned, tall, and bore long, shining black hair reaching down to her hips. Her grey eyes stared at Swan with her face baring an innocent smile as the two of them now faced one another, the forest breeze blowing around them and the scorched grass and trees.

“I do not think that you will be needing that. This chain of yours did enough damage to our furred, big friend here already…with that, I mean that the pelt’s ruined. However, that might be more so due to all the scorching,” The Woman said in a disappointed tone frowning at Swan before putting the claws in her pouch.

“You do not seem like a person who’d be concerned much with Animal Pelts when all the clothing you wear is made from Silk,” Swan said, pointing out the stranger’s clothes, a long dark blue robe, cloak, and pointed and large hat made from silk which was not common on this continent.

“And I did not think of you as an expert of Clothing Materials either. Ms. Swan,” The Woman chuckled before moving over to the creature’s head, saw in hand.

“I wonder, how would you know my name or that I slayed this beast? I don’t think we’ve met.” She said, keeping her distance from the Stranger as she watched her Saw off one of the Beast’s Large Teeth

“Oh, I know quite a bit about you in truth, Mysterious Stranger, Huntress of Beasts, Hero of Standauf Village, and Heaven Sent Saint of its Inhabitants or what other titles I could come up with, to sum up, your actions around these parts in the last couple of days,” The Woman said, turning her back on Swan and moving over to the body of Martin, still propped up against the tree.

“I believe your question was how exactly I know all these things. Why the answer is on your person right now, in fact.” She continued as she placed Martin’s body flat on the ground, putting the large tooth in his hands

Swan would now start cramming trough her satchel, remembering something

She pulled the necklace, given to her by the Barmaiden earlier, out from her Satchel, showing it to the Woman, still from a distance, when she noticed that the attached pendant started to move and turn to face the woman directly.

“Ah, oh dear, do I really look like this from afar?” She spoke in shock, holding her hands in front of her face before her face turned into a wide smirk as she stared her down once more. Since her face was now even more visible, Swan noticed two peculiar small dots on each of the Woman’s cheeks.

“So you must be the Hermit this necklace belongs to. So you’ve spied on these villagers with the help of it.” She said, clutching the necklace in her hands and approaching the Woman slowly

“I see. You now wish to accuse me of not helping these poor souls with their “Demon” Problem. Instead, me merely watching for the better part of a year,” The Woman answered as she placed the saw she had been carrying next to the Tree Martin had been propped up to moments earlier, facing the approaching Swan smiling still.

“I care not for your reasons. I was only tasked to return this item to its owner should they cross my path.” Swan said as she threw the Necklace to the Woman before turning her back to her to receive the shield she’d been given by the Innkeeper from her Horse

“So you do not care for me being a renegade sorceress either? I hear we go for quite a high sum if surrendered to the Order. From what I get, you are a Bounty Hunter, after all.” The Woman said teasingly, placing the necklace in her satchel before lighting the torch she previously removed from Martin’s Body with a flick of her finger.

“I have no quarrel with Mages or affiliation with the Order of Longinus to warrant such a thing. I believe such is the job of an Inquisitor, no?” Swan said as she walked toward Martin’s Body and the Woman carrying the shield in her left hand

“My My, so you Slay Beasts, Man, and Demon’s but not Mages. You are quite an interesting individual, Ms.Swan,” She said, laughing as she took a few steps back from Martin’s Body. Torch in hand

Swan now equipped the shield to her back and started carrying Martin over to the Beast, laying him down atop the Beast’s Back and placing the Shield on his chest. No words were exchanged between The two Women during this process. As she kneeled before the beast serving as Martin’s Prye, her back turned toward the Woman as she took off her mask and bandages, but still kept her hood on as she started whispering, her head lowered.

“I apologize for failing you, Martin. Know that your death will not be in vain as long as I draw breath. I will fight for the world you and I once knew and will bring it back to its old glory. Rest Now,” She whispered before equipping her mask and bandages again. Standing up to face the Woman again

“If you would. Your Cloak seems rather flammable,” The Woman said, urging Swan to get out of the way as she formed her left hand into a tube, blowing through it, which caused the torches small flame to burst into a large stream of Blue Fire, instantly engulfing the Beast and Martin in roaring blue flames, yet leaving the surrounding area untouched.

“I must say, this ability would have been devastating to the Beast when it still lived,” Swan said, standing next to the Woman with her arms crossed, the fire reflecting in the lenses of her mask.

“And would have also made the Lord’s troops hunt me down and burn me on a stake as well, most likely. I am not much of a Warrior, Ms.Swan,” She said, glancing over to Swan, who was still focused on the fire.

“The Troops and the Lord himself are, as you may know, no longer a threat. So you can rest easy, even though I cannot speak for the beings lurking in this forest, but I bid you Farewell, Sorceress.” Said Swan as she started moving back to her Horse, having now completed the rest of her Tasks.

“Tristana works fine, Ms.Swan, and I think your goodbyes will have to wait.”

The woman said, shouting after Swan, who had already gotten on her horse and started moving away from the clearing.

But as she’d reached the clearing’s exit, Swan was abruptly stopped by the Surrounding Trees and their Branches closing off the Exit forming a thick wall blocking her off. To her Surprise

“My Apologies, but I don’t think I can let you leave this Forest,” Tristana said in a serious tone, her face hidden by her big hat as she started to point at her.

“I was foretold to meet a lost Wanderer here in this forest. And this would be you. I urge you to please come with me.” She shouted over to Swan, who only stared at the Mage

“(Encountering a Hermit Mage deep within a Spiritual Forest and them not becoming hostile toward you seems like wishful thinking. Don’t you think so, too, Swan of Ash? She only halts us in our Journey. Let us get this over with)” The voice said calmly as Swan.

“I shall give you the option to open the exit and walk away from here unscathed, Tristana. I have no reason to follow you. Now do not test me,” Swan shouted back, readying her Chain.

“Ah, I’m afraid that I cannot do that. Maybe this will motivate you to hear what I have to say,” said the Mage as she rummaged in her satchel, finding the item she spoke of

The Item in question would be a bright red scarf befitting of a child due to its small size, which Tristana waved around, staring at Swan, grinning as she now caused Swan to ride toward her at a rapid speed similar to a charging bull as she quickly turned around and formed another exit behind her leading deeper into the forest which she disappeared into.

“Impossible…” Swan whispered to herself in an aggressive tone clutching the Horse’s stirrups in her hands

“(I believe this Sorceress is leading you to a trap. It would be unwise to give in to this Woman’s games. Your Mission takes priority Swan of Ash.)” The voice said in a more assertive tone than usual, yet it would be in vain since Swan now rode after her

Tristana was nowhere to be seen due to the heavy wall of fog which engulfed the entire path Swan rode on as it continued to get thicker to the point where she could not see what lay before her as she also became increasingly drowsy.

“I can’t-…Not…now-“ She said before falling victim to the Fog, losing consciousness again.

The fog cleared, and Swan could be seen lying on the ground, her steed nowhere to be seen as she woke up. She’d find herself surrounded by flowers, plants, and green grass in an area lit up by the shining sun above—an image out of place in these lands. The site is surrounded by tall trees reaching up farther than any other she’d seen, and in the middle of it all, a lone House made from wood and Stone, its Roof Covered in Moss and Straw and decorated with even more flowers and plants.

In an area next to the House, there was a small garden filled with all manner of vegetables, inside of which there was a person visible, a person of small statue with neatly braided blonde twin-tails crouching down and watering the crops. It was just a little girl smiling and singing to herself before she noticed The Figure in black who had entered the place

The girl dropped her watering can out of shock, and her eyes opened wide as she let out a loud scream running inside the house. Swan barely being able to stand up as she stood there unable to move, only staring aimlessly at the home and her surroundings before a familiar voice made herself heard as she opened the window on the house’s second floor shouting from it.

“So you’ve come. In truth, you did frighten me with your reaction there. But I believe you now know why I brought you here, no?” Tristana said, showing herself in the window as she looked at the aimless and lost Swan standing frozen in place.

“T-The Girl, is she scared of me?” Swan shouted, stuttering as she still stood in place, now looking at the window Tristana was in

“How would you react if you were a little child seeing whatever you dress yourself as showing up at their home?” She said, laughing sheepishly

“This is my home, you see, so I may ask you to please remove your mask and cowl if you would. Might ease the tension you created. But well, this is not the first time this happened, am I right? We’ll be with you in a moment,” Shouted the Mage in a friendly tone to her Guest

Tristana, with the girl behind her, now opened the door to her house, watching as Swan slowly walked towards them, stopping a few meters in front of the door, and looking up the stairs toward the entrance.

“S-…I,” Swan could not continue her sentence as there could be only sounds of sobbing being heard from behind her mask as she looked toward the ground, averting her eyes from the little girl.

Tristana looked at the girl before pushing her to the front and nodding to her as the girl slowly walked down the stairs as Tristana leaned herself against the door

“I’m guessing the two of you know one another, right. Ms.Swan?”

“Ms. Swan…is that really-“ The girl said, now standing in front of her as. Swan could not look at the girl as she fell to her knees.

The girl, now no longer frightened, slowly grabbed Swan’s Cowl, which she pulled down, being at first reluctant to touch the boney mask, someone she knew hid behind, before unbuckling it as well. Removing lowering the Coif and her bandages as well in the process

She’d reveal a crying Woman, baring short and messy curly hair in the color of a faded Ashen Blonde, her eye color a sparkling blue with tears still running down slowly. A black piece of cloth covered her right eye, and her lower mouth was filled with scratches and scars. The before cold and focused Beast slayer was now nothing more than human in its purest form. The girl’s eyes lit up as tears also began forming on her face, none of them exchanging words, for there couldn’t be enough to explain what they felt at this moment as they only fell into each other’s arms.

“T-These clothes don’t fit you. What happened to your dress?” The girl said under tears, wiping her eyes as she looked at Swan’s Armor and the Mask placed next to her on the ground

“Left it at home. I didn’t want to get it dirty.” She said, a smile forming across her face. It had been long since such a thing happened to her.

“I thought you also…you know,” The girl said in a sad tone as she looked at Swan, who now lost her smile again.

“I did die, everything I loved had been taken away, and there was nothing that I could do to change it, never have I ever wished to die more than then. I thought none of you were able to escape. I looked everywhere and found them all…aside from you,” Swan said, holding the girl close as she looked over to Tristana, who had still been standing at the door

“Don’t know what to say, right? … Well, I do not know the full extent of the story, but you are very welcome, Ms.Swan. Now if you and Sonja would please come inside, we can talk more there.” Said the Mage, with a wide smile on her face being, clearly delighted with this outcome

The two of them stood up and entered Tristana’s house, the inside littered with shelves filled to the brim with books, ingredients, and tools alike as they sat down at the rounded table on the second floor.

“Tell me, Tristana…how did you come by, Sonja ?” Swan said in a calm but serious way leaning and resting her elbows on the table and glancing over to the girl whose name had now been revealed to be Sonja

“A mixture of luck and fate, you could say, Ms.Swan…to keep, I often travel outside of the Forbidden Forest to see how the world changed and to get not perish from boredom sitting here. So it was that on one of my travels that led me to the Seldina Province, I found Sonja here, barely scraping by. She’s really a stubborn little thing. She was as much not interested in joining me as you were earlier. But I suppose that is no surprise,” she said, chuckling before also glancing over to the girl who looked as happy as if she had been blessed with all the riches in the world.

“But the hows aside. Ms.Swan, there is something more important to Sonja that I think you didn’t realize before—also, one of the reasons why I kept her here all this time. Your foster child here shows an above-average level of proficiency in the Arcane arts. She’s a Magi by blood and since birth.” Tristana said, smiling proudly at her Foster Mother

“A Magi…I had no knowledge of this. But she is kept safe here, no?” Swan said in a concerned tone calm tone as she looked over to Sonja, who only sat there twirling her thumbs and blushing

Swan was confused about her odd response as Sonja had no desire to talk at the current moment, glancing back to Tristana for support.

“Ah…you see, she often gets embarrassed if we talk about her Magic abilities. You raised a really humble girl, Ms.Swan. Most children would brag and overdo it if they were in her place,” Tristan said, scratching her head in thought.

“M-Ms Swan, are you going to stay with us now?” Said Sonja, out of the blue. Her eyes lit up again, staring her down.

Tristana sat there, crossing her arms and tilting her head, staring her down before shrugging, seemingly leaving the decision up to her. As Swan looked at them both with a slight frown, glancing at her right arm in the process before clutching it into a fist

“I…am sorry I can’t, dear. I am needed elsewhere, and I do not doubt that you will be safer here when I am not around.” She said in a pained tone clutching both her hands under the table before averting her eyes from the both of them

Sonja’s expression changed into one of sadness in response, and letting her head down, not saying a word.

“I am of no authority to intervene but. What could possibly be more important than the well-being of the child you raised?” Tristanta said in a serious tone, also frowning, questioning Swan’s decision

“My Mission is highly important, and I cannot stay in one place for long. There is no place for me here. I am so glad that you found a new home, Sonja. Think of it as being adopted. I’ll not be gone forever. Maybe someday-“ Swan was cut off by a less than impressed Sonja intervening.

“No! Tristana said someone was fighting the Monster in the Village and that they almost died fighting it. That was you, Ms.Swan. If the next Monster kills you, you WILL be gone forever. All- All the others are gone, so why won’t you stay…

The before, Happy Sonja was now sobbing, clutching her skirt in anger as she stood up and left the room abruptly, leaving only Swan and Tristana in the room. Swan, now visibly distraught by her actions, looking down.

“…The Ms.Swan she knew really did die back then, but I cannot explain to her why. I am not the same. I believe it is best if I leave.” Swan said in a sad and quiet voice as she stood back up, not looking at anything but the ground

“It seems that none of you two wish to enlighten me about what exactly happened a year ago when you two were separated, and I can do nothing more than respect this decision. Yet I believe this bundling up of repressed emotions does none of you both any favors Ms.Swan.” Tristana said in a loud and assertive voice, standing up as well facing the now much more emotional Swan

“She is just a child who went through hell and made it out. Nobody would wish to talk anything about it, let alone someone her age. I myself only remember slivers, most of them repressed or just buried somewhere. This is not the time.” She said, leaving the room and going after the girl

Swan found herself at the end of the Corridor at the last door. Behind it were the slightly muffled sounds of sobbing as she entered the room slowly until she saw Sonja sitting next to a large window watching the birds on the outside.

“What happened to your eye?” Sonja asked bluntly in a monotone voice, her back still turned as she continued to look out the window

“It’s gone, dear. It happened during the attack. It’s fine. I got used to it,” She answered in a calm voice to try and loosen the situation both found themselves in

“Why is this Mission so important…why,” Sonja asked, turning around. Still teary-eyed, looking at Swan for an answer.

Swan would pause for a moment to collect her thoughts and contemplate about the answer for this question, for in truth. She did not know herself, so she tried to explain it.

“These Monsters that attacked the orphanage on that Night, well, they come from a different plane of existence, hell. They are not like you or me. They do not feel or care for anything or anyone. They only wish to destroy and cause suffering. And I know how to stop these Monsters from entering our world. But I first have to slay many more Monsters to get there, Sonja. I can’t do that if I stay here with you two even though I really wish I could,” She said, kneeling on the ground, looking into the girl’s eye and holding her hand.

“So you go on this mission to save us all. Like a Hero from Legends?” She said, smiling through her tears, gripping Swan’s left hand tightly, looking at her brand

“Maybe, imagine if there were a children’s story about me one day. You’d have to read it to your children and grandchildren daily.” Swan said, smiling, comforting the child, who would now start chuckling

Tristana also joined the pair in Sonja’s Room with a heavy and old-looking book which she placed down on the floor without saying anything, crossing her arms as the two of them looked at its contents.

The outside of the book was bound in a black leather with no inscriptions or letters to be seen anywhere on the outside. After Swan turned to the first page, the Book only showed a page with a single image of a snake on it. The rest of the pages were completely blank.

“What is this Book, Ms.Tristana?” Sonja asked curiously, suggesting she had also never before seen it.

“Ms.Swan, please place one of your fingers on the snake’s head.” She said in a monotone voice waiting patiently as Swan placed her left index finger on top of the Snake drawing on the first page of the mysterious book

The image of the Snake would now move, opening its mouth as real fangs shot out of the page, piercing Swan’s finger, drawing blood that directly inked the pages of the book to the confusion and shock of the two. Tristana, however, being affected relatively little by this display.

“What form of Magic is this? I believe you will need to explain this before we go any further,” Swan said demandingly as the pages filled with more and more letters.

“This is a book from the great library of Lebab. It holds infinite knowledge in exchange for finite sacrifices through the user depending on their wish. For you, Ms.Swan, it merely requested a drop of your blood. Quite mild considering that it wished for both of my ears,” Tristana said, her arms crossed, glancing toward the writings in the book that have now revealed themselves.

“Ah! You mentioned the Grand Library of Lebab to me once. It’s a place that exists outside of reality. It is not quite a different plane like the Heavens or Hells, the Library of Lebab does not exist, yet many claims to have visited it in their dreams.” Sonja said in an excited manner looking at the book as well

The book, written in Swan’s Blood, now read as a Story, yet no author was credited to it all, nor did it bare a Title.

“ In a world different from ours, one would say reversed, upside down there was the King of Man, ruler of it all. Having achieved peace throughout his lands, The King had done it all and had nothing more to gain. So after a life of success, The King had Died, happily leaving his lands behind to the next King to arise. After the King had arrived in the Second Plane, the World between the living and the dead, he approached a River, not too large but also not small enough to hop over; it was but a stream of dark, almost blackish blue. No one would be able to see what is inside. On the other side was a Gate, Shining in white and glowing lavishly, almost blindingly so.

“Are these the Gates to the Heavens?” The King asked himself as another appeared on the other side of the River, also a King. The King of Man was Impressed, for he knew this King so much that he needn’t speak his name. For it was Holy among the living, all he could ask the King was

“Oh great, King, may I enter these gates and become your equal?” The King before the gates only smiled softly as his voice rang throughout the King’s mind. “You may enter, should you get the permission of the King of the River before you, for only they can let you pass” The King of Man found it no challenge. He called out to the King of the River, which shortly after emerged from within the blackish waters.

“Pardon me, Great King of the River. I must ask thee if I may pass your humble abode for I wish to enter the Gates of Heaven” However, the King of the River was not fond of his proposal “You are but a King of Man, tis’ but a realm of the Kings of all. You are but a fleeting memory, a Temporary King of a Race of Temporary beings. There is no place for the Temporary in the world of infinity.” The King of Man, now offended, could not believe his ears, becoming enraged toward the King of the River

“I have created greatness and peace for my people for years to come; I achieved my utmost to deserve my rule. This is no different, I am deserving of becoming the King of Man amongst your Realm, so I order thee to let me pass!”-

The writing would abruptly stop at this point as the rest of the pages were still blank.

The three of them watched over the book in perplexion and confusion as they looked up from it to face one another, none the wiser.

“I am guessing that this book is not too fond of giving you its knowledge outright, is it,” Swan said, instead disappointingly so looking toward the other two, arms crossed and reclined in her chair.

“I don’t understand what it means either, but the world described in the story seemed familiar….” Sonja said, contemplating over the meaning of the story until she noticed Tristana still staring into the book

“The River of Souls separating purgatory from The Golden Gates of Heaven. The Realm of Gods. They appear in the Gospel of Longinus the Conquerer…yet this story was totally different from it. There is no King of the River or any of the others that were in this story. How frustrating,” Tristana spoke out, struggling to find meaning in the tale as well

“The story does not seem finished as of yet…however, I have no desire to know what else this book wishes for me should I try to use it again. There is no use in getting lost in the occult…excuse me, I’ll be outside for a moment. To think,” answered Swan, standing up from her chair and moving out the door.

Now outside the House, Swan placed herself on a bench located on the terrace, taking in the scenery of open grassy fields and high tree’s all around before the voice made herself clear once again.

“(Oh Swan of Ash, quite an unusual situation you’ve found yourself in again. In truth, not even I could have imagined this outcome. To have one of your children be alive still and it still having such an effect on you.)” the voice said, surprised.

“It matters not. She is safe here, so there is no reason for me to worry,” Swan said coldly, looking toward the clear and sunny sky

The Voice chuckled continuously inside of Swans’s head, which bothered her little as she tried to enjoy the last moments of her fleeting peace.

“(Well then my Champion, let us go and continue our journey. We’ve rested enough.”) The voice said in a pleased tone as Swan stood up and started walking toward the clearings exit, mask attached and cloaked as she heard a voice shout from the house

“I’ll not let you go without me again!”

The girl’s strong determination had opposed Swan’s plan. Now dressed in long boots, a puffy silken jacket, and donning a hat similar to the one worn by the Sorceress and with many more things stowed away in a big traveling backpack, Sonja made her intentions clear, she would not let her off this easily