Remuria's mind struggled to comprehend what had just happened to her. In an instant, she had been whisked away from her father and the prophet, and she now stood in a vast labyrinthian garden. It was a jarring experience. It was rare for Remuria to feel so lost and alone. Usually, she was always the one who was prepared and measured, she often had to be, for Rhea’s sake. But there was nothing she could have done to prepare for the situation she had just been thrust into. So Remuria did as she always did during tumultuous times: move forward.
As she walked through the garden, Remuria couldn't help but notice the similarities between the plants here and those in Vhael’s garden. The shadow vines that snaked through the air were twisted and menacing, while a multitude of perdition trees stood tall and ominous, their burning leaves billowing with dark smoke. Even the ground beneath her feet was familiar, littered with intricate runes and glyphs that shimmered softly in the darkness.
With every step she took, the daughter of Vhael could not help but feel a growing sense of uncanny dread. The gardens were so similar to that of her father’s, yet, upon closer inspection: she could easily spot the differences, ones that were not notable on their own, but made her feel uneasy the more she encountered them. It started when she noticed a strange, nauseating stench, which seemed to permeate the air. Then there were the occasional shadows which seemed to dance at the corner of her eyes, Remuria could have sworn that some of them appeared to be cackling maniacally. However, it was the occasional, shrill shrieks, which was most disturbing. Remuria had thought that it came from some kind of banshee somewhere, yet she did not see any signs of the ghastly creatures.
At least Oros was still with her: its grayish blade seemed to shine brighter than ever before within the confines of the strange garden she found herself in. The sword was one of the few things which gave Remuria relief. As she held the arcane sword in her hand, Remuria couldn't help but run her fingers along the hilt, she felt the soft hum of arcane energy emanating from the blade, as if it was alive and attuned to her every movement. Its familiar weight in her hand helped to ground her in the present, offering her a sense of comfort in an otherwise uncomfortable circumstance.
Remuria continued to traverse through the garden, peeking back at her shoulders every so often. With each step she took, Remuria couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling in her gut. She knew that she was not alone in the garden, and every time she looked back over her shoulder, she could swear that she saw the shadows of something tailing her, darting out of view each time her eyes tried to gaze upon it. What’s worse, the rancid stench which was already barely tolerable before was now completely unbearable.
The putrid odor clung to her nostrils, and she could feel her stomach churning in protest. She pressed a hand against her nose in a desperate attempt to block out the smell, but it was no use. The acrid fumes invaded her senses, causing her to cough and gag. Soon, she was on her knees, tears streaming down her face as she fought to keep the bile rising in her throat at bay.
“Do you need help, daughter?” a feminine voice called out.
Suddenly, Remuria could no longer smell the acrid stench which had assaulted her senses. She let out a massive exhale and began to cough so violently that she felt pain in her chest.
“Oh dear, let me help you.” With those words, Remuria felt soft hands patting her back, trying to comfort her. Then, she felt another caress her head. She was about to swat the hand away, yet, she couldn’t help but relax into the gentle touch she was feeling. It was oddly comforting, dangerously so, for Remuria realized that she was no longer gripping Oros. Yet, when she tried to reach out for her blade, a purple tinged hand swatted hers away.
“Relax, daughter, there is no need for you to worry about anything…” the strange voice purred.
This is wrong. Remuria thought to herself, she was beginning to lose herself to this stranger who somehow seemed to know her all too well. Yet, despite her mind’s apprehension, her body was all too eager to submit to the ministrations of the stranger. Remuria felt soft hands rub against her wings, another caressing the top of her tail, then, those same hands worked to relax her tense muscles. Yet when she felt something begin to coil and wrap around her body, Remuria’s body finally awoke from its trance, and she jolted back, trying to stand up once more. However, it was too late, the lower half of her body had been completely wrapped underneath a serpentine form.
“Tsk. Tsk. Come now daughter, we had just met, why leave so soon?” the voice said aloud, holding up Remuria’s head to face her own.
Remuria could not help but feel one emotion: awe driven fear. Whoever she was seeing now, she was beautiful, too beautiful. If an artist were to lose themselves completely in their craft for decades and were assigned the task of creating the most uncannily perfect face, the creature in front of Remuria would be the result.
Gazing upon the visage in front of her, Remuria was overcome with a sense of both admiration and terror. Every curve of her face was flawlessly sculpted, her skin glowing with an otherworldly luminescence that bathed her surroundings in their afterglow. Her eyes, a piercing shade of red, that seemed to beckon any who gazed back at them, drawing them into a hypnotic trance.
Despite her undeniable beauty, however, there was something unsettling about the stranger. Perhaps it was the way her gaze seemed to bore into Remuria's soul, as though searching for something hidden deep within her. Or perhaps it was the sense of otherworldly authority which seemed to emanate from the stranger, her very presence exuding a choking pressure. Whatever the reason, Remuria knew that she was completely and utterly powerless.
“What’s wrong, daughter? You should speak, I wish to hear your voice.”
“Who… are you?” Remuria said weakly.
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“Silly child, I am your mother.” The stranger said, caressing Remuria’s head with one of her hands.
“Mother…Ixhana?”
Remuria forced herself to look away from Ixhana’s visage, now trailing towards the rest of her serpentine form. The serpent goddess seemed so different from what Vhael had told Remuria, her scales were not white, but rather, a dark purple hue, her skin was an alluring violet, and her eyes were a bright scarlet. Only her hair matched what Remuria had heard from Vhael: a brilliant silver which glimmered every so often underneath even muted light.
“You cannot possibly be her, father told me you died giving birth to me.” Remuria said, still struggling to accept that she was indeed talking to her mother.
“And I did, daughter, I did die.” Ixhana replied with a giggle.
“Then how are you here and speaking with me?
“Now that is a long story, why don’t we discuss other matters instead?” Ixhana cooed, drawing Remuria closer to her. “I heard you even found a lover.”
“How… did…you know?” Remuria said with a slurred voice, she could barely concentrate on speaking, as if a fog had clouded her mind.
“I have my ways, daughter.”
“What…do…you…?” Remuria couldn’t finish her sentence, her mind lulled into a deep slumber.
Ixhana kissed Remuria on her forehead. “Sleep well my child, there is much I have prepared for you.” The goddess said, lovingly caressing Remuria’s cheeks.
“Hands off, foul creature.” A voice boomed, accompanied by thunderous stomps which announced the displeasure of their master.
The serpent goddess turned her gaze towards the source of the interruption. Her expression quickly turned into one of contempt and bitter enmity, one word escaping her lips, “Deathbringer.”
“Release my daughter!” Vhael commanded, his black wings spreading out in an intimidating display.
Your daughter? She’s mine as well, you know.” Ixhana chastised, undeterred.
“I know you are not Ixhana, just an impostor wearing her skin. I broke your prophet, and I have no qualms with breaking you as well.” Vhael warned, the runes on his pale hands shone brilliantly, ready to unleash his full wrath should the need present itself.
“Pity, they were one of my favorites.” The impostor scoffed. Very well, I suppose there’s no need to play pretend with you.” She said, releasing Remuria from her coils.
Before her daughter’s body could hit the ground, Vhael was already weaving a myriad of spells. The first was one that locked Remuria’s body in place in the air. The second was a barrage of hellfire directed at the impostor’s head. When the false serpent goddess was about to deflect the flames, the harbinger unleashed his final spell: lifting the impostor’s torso to the air in direct collision with his vengeful flames.
As the impostor reeled back from the torrent of searing flames unleashed on them, Vhael had already moved to carry Remuria in his arms. Yet, the harbinger did not seem ready to lower his guard just yet. His dragon skull visage still directed towards the serpentine impostor, who has already begun to slither back towards Vhael, the flames that once licked her flesh extinguished until only smoke remained.
“Bravo, deathbringer.” The impostor said with a mocking clap.
“What’s your true name, deceiver?”
“I have no name, for I am but a shard of the underworld, but if you wish to refer to me as deceiver, then so it shall be.”
“I figured as much, is that why you walk in Ixhana’s skin?”
“Ah yes, the divine serpent has proven to be a most useful vessel.” The deceiver said with a wry smile.
“Is the Princess of Ishgria next?” Vhael pressed.
“Your daughter’s lover? Why of course, she’s already accepted the underworld’s gifts.” The deceiver said. “I foresee her becoming the greatest chosen that the underworld has ever had.”
“So it was you who interfered with the princess after all.”
“Don’t act so surprised, harbinger, you too have been touched by the nether realm. You should know better.” The deceiver said in a contemptuous tone.
“Perhaps, but why her?”
“What’s this? You care for the Ishgrian Princess?” The deceiver teased, slithering around Vhael in their serpentine form.
“Not as much as you think, but my daughter is enamored with her.” Vhael stated frankly, “I’m here to protect my daughter, that is all.”
“I believe you already have the answer to your question then, harbinger, you merely need to kill the Ishgrian Princess and your daughter will be saved.”
“I don’t think my daughter will ever forgive me if I harmed her beloved.”
“Then it must be painful for you. To know the solution to a problem yet unable to actually act on it.” The deceiver taunted.
“If the Princess of Ishgria has been chosen by the underworld, there’s little I can do regardless, isn’t there? She’ll just be resurrected, again and again, until her usefulness expires.”
“That’s an awfully heartless way to put it, harbinger.” The deceiver teased sarcastically.
“Enough games, we are done here.” Vhael said, preparing to leave with Remuria still in his arms.
“If you ever wish to speak to your wife again, you know where to find me.” The deceiver mocked.
Vhael did not bother to give a reply. The harbinger took off on his black wings and soared away, cradling Remuria in his rune scarred arms. He was not sure if taking his daughter back to Rhea was the best course of action, He knew that it would make Remuria happy, but Vhael had many reservations regarding the Ishgrian Princess. She was still a mortal at heart and prone to temptation. The harbinger contemplated his actions as he soared throughout the starless skies of the underworld. Wondering if he should take a more proactive approach after all.