A soft humming similar to vibrating glass slowly stirred Diana from her deep slumber. Her eyelids were nearly sealed shut from the dried mixture of blood, sweat, and dirt. A throbbing headache pounded at the side of her head as heat radiated from it. The memories of the fight came flooding in as she grunted while rolling over to sit up into a seated position. After she wiped away the mixture and was able to open her eyes, she was met with blurred and distorted blends of colors. Mixes from deep purple to light blues filled her vision. In a dazed state, she rubbed her eyes more, trying to gauge where she was. As her eyes finally came into focus, confusion set in as she realized she was no longer in the Leviathan.
She was alone in the middle of a crystalline cavern. Each gem swirled with vibrant, rich colors on the inside as if liquid were moving around. They gave a soft, dancing warm glow which brought light to this alien space. Her breathing and movements were the only noises that could be heard, every sound echoed throughout the space.
With a pained groan, she forced her stiff body to sit up without using her damaged arm or with aid from her exoskeleton. Once she was up the mounting tingling numbness in her arm called her attention. One glance at it caused her stomach to flip, becoming lightheaded at the sickening unnatural sight. The creature had decimated her forearm, several gouges exposed raw muscle, in some places the white of her bones showed. Even with all of the damage, no blood spilled outwards. Instead, it flowed around the inside of the wounds like small rivers flowing out from one opening into another. She had to plant her other arm to stop her from curling over as her stomach lurched and convulsed in disgust. Several deep breaths later she gathered the nerve to move and find out where she was. Her body protested in soreness as she attempted to get up, her head felt as if someone was driving a knife into it. With another long and pain-filled grunt, she was on her feet now swaying unsteadily. The lightest breeze could knock her back down to the hard floor. She limped a few steps forward as she looked around, each step echoed throughout the crystals as if her footsteps were amplified.
Her confusion only grew as she wandered aimlessly around the silent halls, unsure of where to go or where she even was. This was far too different from the clergy’s description of the Mother’s Garden so she did not quite believe that she had passed away. She felt what she would describe as alive, she had a pulse and was still breathing. She regrettably saw her own blood flowing even if it was in such an unnatural and disturbing way. The more she explored she felt the stiffness in her body relax and the pain subside at an increased rate. Walking no longer was a task that required all of her attention to not stumble or trip, now just a slight limp.
The crystals seemed to flow with more energy as she passed them as if reacting to her presence. Every glance at one near her stirred something inside, an unexpected and random feeling with each close passing as if something was pulling at her memory. Off to her right the familiar sound of her rifle's bolt being pulled back broke the silence and caused her attention to snap towards it. No person was there, instead a sizable crystal that swirled with an intense energy sat in the middle of a gap. Beyond it was an endless expanse of pure darkness. It emitted a low hum at her approach, the shifting colors inside started to swirl together until it became a cloudy mass. When she was within a few feet of them she felt a forceful remembrance stir within her. The feeling released from her mind as the crystal cleared up showing a time she remembered well from several years ago, like a portal into the past through her eyes.
Diana was much younger, having been eight at the time. Her small frame was dwarfed by the massive rifle which she thought she would never have grown into. It was set up on a table pointing out towards a stretch of the wasteland. A deep shifting rumble echoed through the expanse, and a feeling of comfort and safety washed over her. Something sounded so familiar about the rumble, its pattern, the fluctuations. Suddenly it came to her, it was her father’s voice. Though around her it was still an unintelligible rumble, it became perfectly clear in her mind as she focused intensely on the crystal. She could feel the scorching heat of that day on the back of her neck as her father coached her through marksmanship techniques. She felt her heart race as fear and excitement welled up inside her as her younger self placed her little finger on the trigger and tried to peek down the lengthy scope. Out in the distance was the pile of scrap with several empty cans of various sizes placed around it. At the end of her exhale she gently pulled the trigger until a thunderous boom, accompanied by a smoke cloud, kicked the rifle back almost sending her tumbling backwards out of her chair. With that, the crystal faded back to its swirling colors. Diana withdrew from it with a soft involuntary smile. She remembered how she insisted it didn’t hurt even though tears were running freely, leaving little streaks on her cheeks. How she could barely move her right arm and how tears only flowed more when her father insisted they go home so her mother could check on her instead of shooting again.
She pulled herself away from the cluster, wanting to find more information on where she was and potentially indulge herself in more of these memories. Her search was cut short as a mighty clang shook the entire space. It felt as if a hammer struck metal, the vibrations knocking Diana to the floor with a yelp of pain. A crack shot along the ground and started to permeate a vibrant shining gold light just under the crystalline floor. With another grunt, Diana pulled herself up once more. Observing the crack, she saw it flowed around the different crystals as if paving a path through them. Diana hesitantly followed the crack, not quite sure where else to go or if she wanted to stick around in one place for too long.
The golden light faded behind as she walked, any movement away from it caused a flare in brightness as if it was trying to grab her attention back. It guided her through many intersections, this place almost reminded her of home with its unpredictable and random pathways. With that thought she stopped and looked around her, the formations, the pathways, the distribution of these crystals. It dawned on her that that's where she was. This place was an abstract representation of not only her home but also where these memories happened. She pressed on with greater confidence in her direction now. Down one intersection she caught a glimpse further in, the crystals were faded to an almost gray color. Just the sight of one planted a weight in her chest, her body felt sluggish and wanted to just curl up on the ground, her good hand instinctively fell to her hip where she would keep her knife only to find it was not there. If these memory crystals did indeed match the location she knew to not dare enter that alley. Nothing good could come of it so with a brief shake of her head, she turned back onto the path and continued.
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Eventually, the pathway evolved into one that she knew was the way to where her home should be. The clusters of crystals grew denser as she got closer. The final stretch she had to traverse would be the supported walkways between the houses. Crystals jutted out at odd and awkward angles, one trip would send her tumbling off the edge into the endless darkness. After she tested the strength of them with probing footsteps she slowly made her way up the path. Diana turned the final bend to an awe inspiring sight, where her house should be was a beautiful shimmering mass of crystal clusters that formed a sizable platform. She ascended the steps, with mixed anticipation. In front of her was a vast expanse of nothing, in the middle of the platform the golden crack formed a perfect circle. Unsure why, she stepped in it as if she was called into it. As the glow intensified slightly, she heard the heavy movements in the darkness of something immense. Before she could retreat down the stairs, a wave of heat and embers washed over her so intensely it felt like she was next to a mighty forge. Two eyes as red as fire appeared in darkness. It looked as if flames danced within them as they were locked onto Diana.
“At long last,” Its deep grizzled voice bellowed out in a slow and methodical manner. Diana took a staggered step back involuntarily due to the sheer force of this being's voice. “It has manifested in you, generations later.”
Diana took a more defensive stance in terror of this figure but was able to collect herself enough to respond.
“Who, are you?” She said trying to sound bold and authoritative, but ended up nearly squeaking out her question.
“I am many things, I have gone by many titles to many people. None that you would know now, but will come to learn them.” It bellowed in response.
Diana nodded in response, not quite sure what to make of its answer.
“Where am I then?” She asked with more confidence this time, seeing the entity so far does not mean any harm.
“A place beyond your conscious mind where I could reach you.” Another short and cryptic response that left Diana slightly annoyed at the vagueness. Another wave of heat and embers blew over her which caused her to shield eyes shortly.
“I am here then, what is it you have to say to me?” Diana responded after shaking off the heat.
“Your guardian awaits you. Your destinies have become intertwined.” As it spoke a piece of burning paper spun downwards and landed at Diana’s feet. Slowly smoldering she saw the picture of her destination. Her heart sank at the image of this place, this single photograph ruled her emotions.
As she looked up she no longer stood on the crystalline platform, but instead at the gates of the ruins from the photograph. The pictures did this site no justice in terms of its scale. The black metal doors could fit four Leviathans side-by-side with ease. The mighty metal spires that reached into the sky cast vast shadows over the land. The sand and wind whipped around her, stinging her skin as if she were there. She reached her good arm out to touch the door at what seemed to be a handle and as contact was made the world went silent as if it was holding its breath. The colossal door slowly opened effortlessly with only a small squeak. Inside was a pitch black void except a stone altar covered in a variety of scrap metal. Diana’s eyes locked onto a mighty matte black armored gauntlet, the hand could nearly wrap around her entire head. The craftsmanship was immaculate and unlike anything she ever saw. A small twitch in the hand caused her to jump back. Before she could get a second glance the door slammed shut, throwing sand into the air blinding her.
As it settled she stood in the middle of a vast field, in the distance a village was set ablaze. Smoke choked out the sky causing it to snow ash, its acrid smell burned her nose. Shrill screams of terror filled the air, Diana stood there in horror at the sight. As she finally mustered the courage to move her feet forward an explosion in the village sent a shockwave out knocking her onto her back. As her back hit the ground she was standing once more on the crystalline platform under the gaze of the entity. She looked around and found comfort that she was back in this place, even with how alien it felt. She looked up to the entity to speak but was cut off before she could get anything out.
“There are things coming to this land that you will need his assistance in handling, as he will need yours. Now go, he has waited long enough, he is ready.” The fire in its eyes became more intense.
Diana looked at the eyes as countless emotions clashed inside her, unable to form a continuous thought, “Wait! Who is…” Before she could finish her sentence a hammer with a head the size of her entire body ignited in a roaring fire, runes ran in perfect lines across its length. It swung with such tremendous force that it left streaks of embers in the air behind it. Another rune lit up in its path as if it were on an anvil and glowed with such intensity as the hammer neared it. As they connected, a mighty ring sounded out and sent Diana flying backward at lightning-fast speeds into the black abyss. What could have only been a few seconds felt like an eternity flailing helplessly in the darkness until a sudden slam at her back against some unseen barrier.