It was barely after dawn when Leoy’Shaah awoke to the smell of food. Rising from her bed, she followed the scent. It led down the hall, and across the center room. Pushing open the door, her face was hit with warm rayes of light. It was springtime, yet in all of her troubles, she had forgotten.

Eating at a single table, was the priestess.

Leoy’Shaah froze in shock, lost for words.

Yewnie beckoned Leoy’Shaah forward, to which she hesitantly obliged. She was hungry, and she decided she would not talk to Yewnie alone. She would not even look at her. Scarfing down some of the food immediately, Leoy’Shaah grabbed one of the goblets and began to chug, only to stop at the taste.

“That's some herbal tea I brewed,” Yewnie said, smiling, “Do you like it?”

Leoy’Shaah, not making eye contact, turned the goblet to its side and poured out the tea, it seeped into the cracks of the bricks that made up the large patio.

Leoy’Shaah did not steal even a single glance at Yewnie, though she could somehow sense that her smile faded immediately. She set the goblet back down on the table and uttered a single word: “Water.”

“Help yourself,” Yewnie said with a sad smile, motioning to a large kettle.

Leoy’Shaah poured her water, then she finished the meal. Having been satisfied with her hunger, she rose from her seat.

“Wait.” Yewnie commanded, “Be rude to me all you want, but I need some answers from you. You need to help us, please.”

“You don’t care about me, you care about my abilities,” She replied spitefully, “And I will not answer you under any circumstance.”

Yewnie was stunned for a moment, but apparently, she had prepared for this moment; she regained her composure relatively quickly, “And who would you rather serve, them?”

Leoy’Shaah gritted her teeth, “You are no different from them. The mere reason that you brought me here speaks for itself!”

“Hold your tongue! Do you hear yourself? If Kaqu and I were truly the same, would you be roaming freely?”

Leoy’Shaah took a single step forward, intimidating Yewnie to such a degree, she armed herself with a knife.

“I will never forget my mother, or Zayno.”

Yewnie blinked, as if she was confused, but she remained standing, and ready to defend.

Laughable. What would her puny knife possibly do that an axe could not?

Leoy’Shaah thought she saw somthing out of the corner of her eyes. She mouthed Hayden involutarily, but there was no one there.

Damn, this stress is getting to me!

“I do not know of the Zayno you speak of! I truly do not! I am sorry, but I don’t want to be here any more than y–”

“Speak for yourself!”

Yewnie sighed, deeply. “This is not your battle, it is ours. It is not your battle, because we have never been your people.”

“No, I have never been your people.”

“Listen to me!”

“Shut up hag!”

Yewnie sat down, exasperated. Then she began to weep a bit.

Leoy’Shaah felt a tinge of pity for the old woman, losing all will to continue berating her, silently entering the building. She made her way back to her room and stared at the ceiling until the sun came up.

When the sun came up, Leoy’Shaah expected Yewnie’s face to be one of grief, but she was suprised to find she had not a trace of sadness. Yewnie’s scarred and mangled face displayed only contentedness.

“Where is the shaman?” Lencan had asked one of the guards. The guard shrugged, “He left.”

“When? How did he leave?”

“I permitted it.” Yewnie said. “He had but served his purpose.”

“We still know close to nothing about Leoy’Shaah,” Hayden said, eyeing her with suspicion, “We know nothing about the men of the Kwnuollia, and what their purpose is here.”

“Their intentions are plainly obvious: We are but a stepping stone in their path for power. Quon laid the groundwork, as did I, when under Manipu’s influence.

“Who’s Manipu?, a voice asked.

Wylent.

“Oh, not him...” Muttered Sohee, under her breath.

Wylent was certainly a sight to behold, his proud stance, combined with his adequately equipped body, proved to be both charming and embarrassing.

He leaned against a wall, “So, have we seen Leoy’Shaah’s power?”

“If Leoy’Shaah is truly connected to a god, you must not say her last name so casually!” Yewnie barked.

Wylent flinched, but then he revised his question: “Have we seen Alexandra’s God power?”

“No. We do not know anything for sure, but what we do know is what we’ve seen with our naked eyes and what the shaman told us: Her body certainly brims with power.

“Immortality.” Leoy’Shaah blurted.

Wylent snapped his fingers; an annoying new habit that would soon become notable to Leoy’Shaah in the future.

“Only gods are immortal!”

“Incorrect. The priestess said, “But, you might be onto something, Wylent. All the gods the travelers and messengers speak of do not wield the same power as you. Their leaders and hosts have other abilities, but if you are truly, completely immortal, as we hope… you might just be the leader this village needs.”

Leoy’Shaah didn’t want to face it, but that was the case. She was destined from the start to rule the people who once hated her. Now, there was an entire group awaiting her supposed ‘Arrival’, which they believed would mark the beginning of their salvation.

“Is there a certain time I could reveal myself fully?”

The priestess nodded. “That time is now, Alexandra. People have not stopped talking about the girl who survived death three times! It's been almost ten years, and they have not been silenced. You can kill a person, not a belief.”

“Then how were the old gods murdered?” Asked Hayden. Leoy’Shaah now realized something: The kind, mild-mannered Hayden was slowly fading. In his place was a man ten years older.

“Leoy’Shaah had not changed in her time locked away. Which was a both relieving, and depressing revelation. But she would soon come to realize that her time was not finite, yet she arranged her day almost religiously, as if death was lurking around the corner.

“They weren’t murdered!” Yewnie replied, “They were eaten. A god’s energy cannot be destroyed, at least, you cannot see it that way. My theology comes back in bits and in pieces, yet I put it all together faster every day; I have studied countless of these incidents, and most have ended the same way, being eaten.”

“Think of it now – think of it carefully – imagine two droplets of water on a leaf. One a blue drop of the berry, and the other a red drop of blood. Let we say the Blue drop is bigger – bigger tenfold – and he falls upon the red drop. The blue drop has been destroyed, hasn’t it!? Nay, If you look carefully, you may see that the blue drop is not perfectly blue. This is what it is. Now imagine oil and water – well! That would be so different, now wouldn’t it? You–”

“I’ve had enough of your blabbering!” Wylent blurted, “We should take her right now!”

“For once, I agree with Wylent. If Alexandra can gather a large enough following… She might become more powerful.”

“Am I just a weapon to you?” Leoy’Shaah said, feigning indignance; really, she had gotten over her supposed ‘salavtional’ value, perceived by these people she barely knew.

“No way!” Wylent shouted. “I wish to be ruled and would not question your supremacy! You would look good, resting upon a pedestal!”

For the first time, Alexandra directly acknowledged Wylent’s existence. She stared into his eyes, seeing a soul full of personality, hope and joy.

Phantom tears plagued her.

“I see no peasants.” Leoy’Shaah said, overlooking the village from the mountain, dressed in a cloak.

Nisha, and Yewnie also dressed in a cloak, one that well hid their face. Leoy’Shaah was forced to cover her face with a mask.

“Because there are none,” The priestess said, spitefully. “It became too much of a problem, so the poors were moved down the mountain, near the gate.”

“And let me guess…?” Leoy’Shaah started.

“Bah, there be no need for guessing. Go down and see it with your own eyes if you must.”

“I shall decline that offer.”

“Apologies for an intrusion, but there is a situation – one that requires your immediate attention.” Lencan’s voice rang out from the back.

Yewnie straightened her back.

“So… I guess it’s just us again. Nisha chuckled awkwardly. How has it been? You know, all this time?”

“Horrid.” She turned to Nisha, “I watched a starving man eat himself alive, starting with his feet, and ending with each of his hands. He cried all night. Then, one of the other prisoners managed to find a way through – my good friend Eleren – strangled the crying man with his bare hands, wishing him a peaceful afterlife.”

Nisha’s face dropped expectantly. If it had been an exaggeration, Leoy’Shaah would have been smiling behind the mask, but it was not; and Nisha would never know if Leoy’Shaah had been stretching her leg or not.

Hello again, Gretel. Fancy a visit sooner?”

image [https://i.postimg.cc/W1kPGpzk/kld-ksad-lk-lsdk-removebg-preview.png]

After Marak had taken his morning bath at the hot springs – nigh deserted of all but him – He dressed and took a ride on his finest steed to the edges of the forest, humming as he went.

He rode slow enough to be seen, and to be intercepted rather quickly. Not by steeds, but by something much slower, and more powerful than a steed. Marak knew for sure that he had been spotted when he heard the horn blow somewhere behind him. He took a quick glance ‘hind him, to find a trio of unbon trailing him. The horse grew frightened at the sight of, not the unbon themselves, but their steeds: Lizards with tongues that flapped about viciously, they moved slyly, close to the ground, but were the fastest Marak had ever seen. Even slowing his horse just a slight amount, would result in these unbon riders gaining an absurd amount of distance.

The horse neighed and winnied in fear, It knew not the pact between the intelligent creature that rode it nor the intelligent creature that rode its natural predator.

The horse galloped faster, putting all of its speed into several powerful bursts to put as much between its fears and itself as possible. Marak was keen and expertly trained, he knew that the horse was doing it all wrong, burning all of its energy in one go. Marak could have easily steered the horse away from danger, had it been the case. But this was exactly what he wanted.

Sure enough, the horse began to lose its energy, and momentum. Finally, it slowed to a trot, and kneeled down, accepting its imagined fate.

Marak leaped off the horse with giddyness seen only in children. The thrill of it! Marak had imagined for that brief chase that the Unbon had been after his head. The more enduring lizal-beasts caught up in a matter of moments, yielding obediently to their masters. Marak exchanged glances with his horse, its confusion, his of disappointment.

The lead scout dismounted his steed and approached Marak.

“What are you here for so early?” Demanded the Unbon.

“I just wanted to greet you and your people formally,” Marak said, innocuously.

The Unbon grunted. “You let us chase you… Why?”

“Oh, you wouldn’t get it.” Marak said, trying to hide his excitement.

“Please, do try and explain.”

Marak ignored him now.

“Did the governor send for you?”

“No.”

“Did you come bearing important news?”

“No.”

“Then what are you here for?” He demanded again.

Marak sighed. “Haaa… You people have no formalities?”

The Unbon blinked. “I do. We do. Stop running around like a little child and tell me what you would like me to bear to my chief.”

“I have nothing to tell you, but what I do have is an offering.”

The Unbon relaxed, and what would that be?”

“Feed me?”

The unbon behind the leader laughed. Marak mimicked his laugh…

…Precisely, and accurately.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The unbon stopped short and terror filled his eyes as he heard Marak imitate his voice in perfect detail.

The front Unbon took a vaguely combative stance. Not openly expecting battle, but responding to its increasing likelihood.

“Go home, Mr. Marak. We have no time for your nonsense.”

“I believe you do. I would like to have all of your religious men relocated to our establishment.”

The Unbon looked startled at the request. “Why?”

“Because this is no place for a god to grow!” Marak threw up his hands. This place is desolate; unsuitable for incubation.”

The Unbon scout scratched his chin. “I will send this to my chief. There are no promises.”

Marak stood in the sandy wind as the Unbon scouts mounted their reptilian steeds and headed off into the dust distance.

The wind was picking up further.

Marak walked back to his horse, who had regained his energy, and was awaiting to return.

image [https://i.postimg.cc/W1kPGpzk/kld-ksad-lk-lsdk-removebg-preview.png]

“You must look regal.” Insisted Nisha, “That is the only way they are to believe it is you.”

Leoy’Shaah had a question on her mind: “How have the last ten years been, really?”

“Oh, probably nothing compared to what you went through.” Nishas replied hastily.

“Oh, all I did was rot.” Leoy’Shaah said, stopping in her tracks, Nisha walked ahead, then when she realized Leoy’Shaah wouldn’t continue, she stopped as well.

Leoy’Shaah crossed her arms. “Tell me about your late husband, Nisha. I have not gotten to know any of you all too well. And if times have truly changed, perhaps I should give assimilation another go.”

Nisha looked worried. “My husband died many years ago – around a year after your disappearance – After that, the resistor magic went down, and the Unbon closed in. They… Took the front by force and rammed down the gates. If you go down to where you used to live, you probably won’t recognize the area, for it's been changed completely; all the trees are chopped, downed, and gone. The gate has been rebuilt as it was previously constructed, but the Kwnuollans plan to build an entire fortress around the establishment, sealing us under a tight fist.”

“And how do you know this?”

“Kaqu. Well, not him directly, but through Yewnie. She is one of the few people he still trusts…” Nisha trailed off.

“I was going off on a tangent, wasn’t I…?” She sighed, “After those bastards the Kwnuollans took the gate and entry section–”

“Entry section?”

“Entry section,” Nisha looked down at her sandals, “The part near the gate. The Kwnuollans have been dividing the plateau into multiple sections."

Leoy’Shaah cocked her head, “I’ve never noticed that before. Huh.”

“Yes,” Nisha replied again, “I’m not sure what the point of it really is, but Yewnie has told me she suspects Kaqu is beginning to lose trust in her.”

“All this lying!” Leoy’Shaah said, turning so the suns rays lit only half of her face. “If Kaqu falls, I think he wants to bring down everyone with him.”

“We must not let that happen then,” Nisha said, invigorated, “If we want to prevent this… we need you, Le– Alexandra.”

“You barely even know me.” Leoy’Shaah said, almost whispering, “Neither does that boy.” Nisha nodded her head back into the compound, but he sympathised with you – and I do as well.”

“It's decided.”

“What?”

Did I say that out loud?

Leoy’Shaah sighed. “Lesser of two evils, so I’ve heard… I will help you drive these madmen out of our home.”

Our home…

“Leoy’Shaah, I…”

“Don’t. I am glad I am out of that hole. And it wasn’t your choice to make, Nisha, It was theirs.”

image [https://i.postimg.cc/W1kPGpzk/kld-ksad-lk-lsdk-removebg-preview.png]

“How do we know we can control her?” Lencan asked.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself, Lencan. We should be focusing on keeping her with us, then we can worry about that later.”

“Pardon, but it seems like an issue that we would have to address at some point.

Yewnie rose up from her seat indignantly, “Does it make sense to worry about controlling something when it is not even in your possession yet?”

The Mountain village didn’t have a mouth to dispute that. Hah! If it did? Nay, forget it.

“I suppose not.” Lencan said. Does Kaqu know of Leoy’Shaah?”

“No. And the villagers pose no threat either. He is a smart man underneath all that shell; he won’t believe something unless he sees it with his own eyes.”

“May I leave now?” Hayden asked.

“You could have left whenever you wanted.” Hayden got up and exited the room, to which Yewnie sighed.

“I would not recommend keeping secrets from Kaqu. You are right, he is a smart man, but not smrat enough to avoid this trouble in the first place,” Lencan warned.

“Exactly why we must replace his power with a fresh one.”

“That was not what I meant…”

“What did you mean?”

Lencan sighed. “And how will we allow her to spread influence if we cannot allow Kaqu to see her?”

“He won’t.” Yewnie replied, smiling. But her face dropped quickly, “Kaqu is the least of our worries, let me deal with him. You and your men, as well as the carpenters, will deal with the Kwnuollans and the Unbon.”

Lencan frowned. “Kaqu poses a bigger threat than you might realize. He bows to the Kwnuollans, and if he finds out, so will the Kwnuollans.”

“You are wrong, Lencan. I have been around him for many years; he has kept me close, as I am one of the last members of his father’s covenant.”

Lencen looked at her with worry. “I shall leave now, my priestess. Please be safe.”

“Save your worries for yourself and your men,” replied Yewnie.

If they kill me… Kaqu will have not a shred of sanity left.

image [https://i.postimg.cc/W1kPGpzk/kld-ksad-lk-lsdk-removebg-preview.png]

The next morning, the collectors entered the village, led by Marak himself, they entered through different gates, their armor reflecting in the rising suns. People stumbled into their houses to collect whatever they had and throw it on the road for the collectors to grab. The smarter villagers let their door be broken down and their house ransacked, for they knew that collectors would do it anyways, no matter how much of offered.

“If there is nothing of value,” Marak said, “Return it to them. We are not thieves. We are caretakers.”

The soldiers returned the items to houses indiscriminately, leaving the owners and residents very confused and rattled.

Another man that accompanied the collection, and one that Marak hated very much, Lanzat, came to him.

“Front section, ser?”

Marak plunged his face into his hand, his pale face wicked with frustration. “God may blink twice… You really are as stupid as they say!”

“Dunno what you mean ser.”

Stupid…

“The front has nothing, travelers that come and go before tax day.”

“So why don’t we catch them?”

“Why not hunt rats instead of deer?” Marak asked. “Go do your job.”

Lanzat ran off, mumbling. Marak glared into the distance. He gazed at the compound integrated into the side of the mountain.

Someday… It will be mine.

Leoy’Shaah and the rest of the group awoke to the clamor and confusion that came with such an event. “They just come and go as they please.” Wylent said, seething. “We will destroy them in your name, Alexandra.”

“Quiet, Wylent.” Leoy’Shaah waved him off, then turned to Nisha: “Why do they do one section at a time?”

“It's too difficult to tax them all at once.”

Leoy’Shaah squinted.

“I don’t see any sections, can you explain them to me?”

Nisha pulled a small scroll out of her robe. “I have a map you can look at.” Leoy’Shaah took the paper and unfurled it. Sure enough, there was a map of the village. It was different from what Leoy’Shaah remembered. When she had looked at a map in the village before, the mountain had been grand in size compared to the part of it they lived upon. And for the longest time, Leoy’Shaah had been under the impression that those parts of the mountain were inhabitable.

She had been mistaken.

Where those blank areas used to be, were instead shaded areas, indicating civilization. Leoy’Shaah turned to Nisha, “How is this possible? Those are unstable areas.”

“Tell that to them.” Hayden’s voice came from behind. They both looked at him with intrigue. “I was one of few lucky people not to be completely out-skilled in my work.” He explained, “Cutting down trees is all I know, and they would use those logs to build their structures.”

“How’d they do it?” Leoy’Shaah asked.

He shrugged. “I really don’t have the faintest idea.” He began to fish something out of his pocket. “When I was working there, I managed to sketch down their designs.”

He handed Leoy’Shaah another piece of paper, which she took hurriedly. “This is a triangle,” She stated.

“After I told Yewnie about this, around five or so years ago, she told me these were our designs, the ones Quon possessed.”

Leoy’Shaah was taken aback, “That can’t be true. Why would Quon not expand the village? If he had these notes…”

“I don’t know, Alexandra. Yewnie didn’t know either, apparently, Quon had kept that even from her.”

If he had these notes… Why would he not use them to expand? It makes no sense.

Come on down now. The collection is over, you need to make your debut.

“C-can’t we just prepare a bit longer?”

“There's no time left, Alexandra. If we don’t do this now… Things will just get worse.” She swallowed. “I am not… I don’t like being around many people.”

“I don’t like it either. But they need you. We need you. And so what if Yewnie thinks you’re just a tool? She doesn't command your every step, nor your every thought! Don’t think you will be serving her. She can’t control you anymore, Leoy’Shaah. Move on from the past, Alexandra, or there won't be any future.”

Sitting in the dressing room was a tailor managing his articles. He had a thin needle in his mouth. It nearly flew off when he saw Leoy’Shaah enter the room. He looked very afraid.

“Ahaha! It is you. I’ll go fetch some of your articles…”

“What did she tell them…?” Leoy’Shaah hissed to Nisha.

“Whatever she needed to — in order to make this work.” Hayden whispered.

Stand up here, p-please.” The tailor said, motioning to a small pedestal. Leoy’Shaah stepped upon it.

“How does this suit you? He asked, waving a silken dress.

Leoy’Shaah hesitated. “H-how many options do I have?”

“As many as you want!” The sailor cried with forced enthusiasm, “And if you don’t like any of them either, I’ll just have some more made.”

She exchanged glances with Nisha and Hayden. What do you think? Do you like it? Mouthed Nisha. Hayden was inspecting the other suits.

“It doesn’t look all that good. No, I don't think I would like it.”

“No problem, now take another look at the re–”

“I don’t like any of them. No… Not any, no…”

She saw the light in the man’s eyes fade as he clasped his hands together, seemingly tring to produce any response; he found none and silence followed.

“Can you make armor? I think I should try some on.”

He cleared his throat. “L-let's have a look at some of these… I’m sure you might change your mind. “Ahh, here it is.” He pulled out a very thin bodysuit. “What do you think of this–”

“How dare you suggest such a revealing outfit!” Wylent said, frustrated, “If she said she wanted a damn armored one, and make her an armor one!”

More silence followed. But she didn’t tell off Wylent this time.

The tailor quickly threw the dress onto one of the tables and rushed for his kit. He began taking out threads and muting to himself. Eventually, after getting out the things he needed, he raised his head.

“What sort of armor?”

Before Leoy’Shaah could speak, Hayden interrupted. “Stop. Alexandra, the armor would send the wrong message. We don’t want to suggest war or aggression… Not yet at least.

It can’t be a foundation, no…

“Well, what do you propose?” The tailor said, exasperated. Hayden looked at Leoy’Shaah, who turned away in embarrassment. “Make her a cape.

Make it from your hair…

“Make it from my hair.” Leoy’Shaah blurted.

Hayden and the other looked at her with confusion.

“What do you mean by that?” Asked Hayden, cutting off the tailor who would have asked the same exact question.

“The smell of cinders… It’s comforting to me.” She said.

“Yes, but… How would we make it from your hair…?

“Cut it.” Leoy’Shaah said.

The suitor blinked, as if seeing an opportunity for the first time, “W– How would we cut your hair? I what I’ve heard–”

“What did you hear?” Nisha asked.

“I’ve heard… Well, she was the one taken to be executed long ago… And she survived the fire, rock and blade.”

“You saw it, not heard it. Yes?” Wylent remarked.

“Y-yes…” The tailor’s eyes darted around, looking for a rational conversation, “How woulld I cut your hair if it is as indestructible as you?”

Everyone turned to Leoy’Shaah.

“I don’t know… Could you try cutting it?”

The tailor was done questioning anything at this point, muttering to himself and walking into another room. When he returned, he held a giant razor. “Shall I do it for you, madam?”

Leoy’Shaah nodded, and the man closed the blades around her long, loose hair. He grunted and she felt a light tugging at her head, but the blades did not snip shut.

“Impossible…” He muttered. “It is true…”

“Allow me to try! Wylent said, sitting up from a stool, “If I cannot do it for you, then I will.”

“Please, go ahead.”

Wylent marched over to the razor and snatched it out of the man’s hands, he marched back to Leoy’Shaah, holding it around her hair.

“Shall I?”

She smiled at him. Seemingly flustered, he quickly closed his arms together. The hair did not budge.

He retracted, ashamed.”

“Please,” Leoy’Shaah said, stretching out her hand for the tool. Wylent handed it to her and retreated back to the stool. Leoy’Shaah pushed down on the handles like she had seen them both do.

Snip.

A good majority of her hair fell to the floor. Shocked, Nisha yelped, Hayden’s eyes widened, and Wylent’s face was cracked with a smile.

Shaking, the tailor had been still as a statue, but now he was fierce with the sudden motivation to show as little reaction as possible to this event he beheld.

“What sort of trick was that!?” Hayden said, astonished. “How did you do that?”

Leoy’Shaah was also still, her eyes halfway closed. She touched the back of her head, feeling the fresh stiff strands that gave a sense of almost addicting pleasure to rub her skin across. Retreating her hand, she brought a small tuft of loose that had not fallen. She let it drop from her hand to the continued bewilderment of her associates.

“How?” Hayden demanded, but she saw in Leoy’Shaah’s eyes that she had not the slightest clue.

“She can will her own mortality!” Yelled Wylent. “Truly a master of her own body and self!”

Leoy’Shaah smiled at that one. Nothing to bring up such an uncomfortable mood like this boy Wylent. He was potentially a secondhand embarrassment, but Leoy’Shaah found him to be endearing at the end. He saw her satisfaction, and fell silent with her emotion as well.

Just then, Sohee ran into the room.

“The people are becoming impatient, what–!” Sohee stared in confusion at what she saw, but shook it off quickly. “Please, they are asking for the new god!”

“New god…” Leoy’Shaah muttered to herself, “Perhaps I should ask this sailor to sew her mouth shut.”

“Well, It’s about time I saw this… I’ve had to witness the start of a magnificent era! I’ve had no god to pray to since I was blessed with the sight of your smoking figure! The tails of heat whipping around to destroy those who oppose it!” Wylent blurted furiously, “But what excites me the most is we’ve but only scratched the surface. I’ve heard gods rise and fall, and gods who have not cared for their supporters… I have the right to walk aside… “

“Imagine now that others are graced with the sight!” he said, shaking with boldness. “I would love to trek among this small group, but others must see what this new era shall bring forth!”

Soon, the group marched outside the compound, onto a stage, and Leoy’Shaah took fron to that stage. There were not as many people as she had imagined, which had been tens of thousands of heads bobbing up and down, making her feel so incredibly small. She had to admit, she did feel a bit disappointed that reality did not live up to Wylent’s fevered outburst.

Still, there were more people than she could count, and she stopped at ten when she became aware of how her finger instilled fear and uncertainty into these potential subjects. They flinched when she traced her hand across her view of the crowd, and rightfully so; She had heard of witches that could eviscerate an entire group with but the flick of her hand, and these people saw her had a force that could dwarf any magic aped by those who merely studies, and did not allow it to fully consume or merge with them.

And Leoy’Shaah closed her eyes, hoping this crowd would disappear now. She thought of Zayno, unfortunately.

She tried to hide this feeling many times. Rarely had she felt love from another human. Was this love? Or was it fear? She couldn’t tell the difference. Sometime it got to her, and memories in that dreaded dungeon surfaced. She would start crying every so often without the means to stop or be comforted. This went on more after Eleren died. One day – or night – Leoy’Shaah had called out to Eleren, and he had not responded. After some time she discovered his cold body on the other side. He had not taken his own life. It had been taken from him. Leoy’Shaah still wondered to this day if it had been the other prisoners who had done that to Eleren, or if his body had finally given out; she had been too afraid to confront the others about it, as they seemed trapped in their own hell.

Three men now, when the light had been shed, and the half-eaten remains of a fourth, and by whom, whether it were the rats that had feasted, or another desperate prisoner, she also did not know.

Yes, she had exited that wretched place with a smiling face, not looking back…

The crowd was beginning to chatter.

Establish your authority – no, superiority!

She cleared her throat and the crowd went silent yet again, but this time, she would speak.

Give your mouth’s keys to yer’ heart, your brain is out working… Think, Leoy’Shaah…

She cleared her throat a second time, further demanding the attention of every soul that stood before the altar-stage. Flashbacks hit her with a lightning strike; Quon standing on the altar – thirty years before… his eyes flashing with dissatisfaction and yearn, but not that of man. A man’s stomach was only so large. He had the hunger of a monster, that bastard…

She cleared her throat a third time now, however this last bodily reflec had no purpose besides buying time for the scheming Leoy’Shaah. The dungeon might just have eviscerated all social skills from her mannerism, but her logical mind had only gotten stronger.

Begin.

“Good to all of you people of the mountains… I have lived among you for more than two decades before I received my gift from God…”

The crowd stirred with anticipation. She saw near the edge of her vision, two figures approaching her from either side. One she made out from his proud march, to be none other than the diligent Wylent, and the other to be the stern Hayden. The latter of whom drew most of her attention; his dirty-golden armor made him look dashing in the noon suns.

Her heart skipped a beat looking at him… She remained focused on the crowd, who grew impatient by the second.

“I have a very special ability, one that no witch, wizard, sorcerer, summoner, or God-linked possesses: Immortality.”

Leoy’Shaah twitched… She was tempted to speak on how horrid her upbringing had been. The callousness of these people.

“And I am like all of you, except the fact that I have not felt the tender care of another, no, rather I had been ostracised for my prophetic visions of my powers, those same powers you callously praise now.”

The crowd began to shift and murmur uncomfortably to her speech; slowly becoming evident that they were beginning to feel afraid and uncomfortable

“What the hell is she doing?” Yewnie cursed to herself from undercover in the crowd; one that had begun to grow.

“She’s speaking from her heart, my Priestess.” Lencen replied.

“Idiot…” But all Yewnie could do was watch. Too late to stop her now… Leoy’Shaah was beginning to gain momentem in her monologue.

“I ask from you one thing… For you to decide who you want to serve. Shall it be a cowardly chieftain…” She motioned to the compound in the mountain, “An oppressive enemy… Or, perhaps a person of your own…”

There was a bit of worry among the attendants, but they stayed fixated on Leoy’Shaah awaiting whatever she spoke of next, even if it might be their deaths.

“But I am not who I was ten years ago…” And neither are any of you… She thought at that moment. “But here I am. There are those who use their power to oppress, destroy, and manipulate… and then,” She dragged her hand across her chest, motioning to no one but her.

“Then there is me… My time locked away has only given me time to heal, and I have grown to see the vulnerable side of the mountain. There are people who wish to rip that away from us, and I will not let that happen.” She extended her hand to the growing crowd, “Give me your strength, and your loyalty… And I shall never wane.”

What followed next was an uproar. People cheering, and screaming that a new god has graced them.

Leoy'Shaah walked away, finally having a taste of power. Eventually, she would come to yearn a feast of it.

"May you never waver!" She exclaimed.