A young girl with short white hair walked the alleyways of this fair city. She wore a black shirt covering her chest, but she revealed her stomach with a red jacket over it. She also wore black pants, but one look would make you notice that only their right pant leg was ever complete.

Her hood was up to obscure her face; it wasn’t that it was ugly, far from it.

Her peach lips and slightly pale skin could draw in any man.

Yet once glance at her eyes would send shivers up any spine, crimson eyes full of malice.

“Hey, there's sweet stuff… Why dontcha come on down to my place, " a man uttered, putting a hand on this girl's shoulder.

She blinked, stopping in her tracks as she uttered only two words: “Hand’s off.” It was a single warning to the foolish drunk who would dare put his hands upon her.

A warning that the drunk would not heed, for the minds of the glutton were all but tainted with impurity.

“Aw, come on, sugar, don’t be like that. You know you wanna be with me…” his hands began to lower.

Lower.

The girl’s gaze narrowed, and she let out a small sigh as his hands reached a forbidden area: “Fool.” With that single word, she began to move forward, the man behind her reduced to a sputtering mess. The sputters then turned into screams.

He shouted outwards, “W-What did you do to me!?!!!” falling flat upon his ass, the man looked up as,

The girl blinked, turning around and raising her right brow curiously at the panicked man who sat in a pool of his blood, hands cut off to the side.

“Hmm.” the girl blinked, tilting her head to the side curiously, walking forward unflinchingly even as her shoes made contact with the blood. She knelt, looking at the horrified man, “Still alive, eh? Even while losing that much blood…?”

Her eyes flashed a bright crimson as she looked the man over. She reached out with her right hand covered by a black glove, “Adrenaline coursing through your blood… Caused by fear? Not enough to keep a man from bleeding out, so what is-”

She was cut off by the man thrusting his right hand forward, a pulse of electricity firing towards the girl. However, it seemed to bounce off this girl’s skin and fire skyward, causing the girl to smirk lightly. “Aha, a mage…” She then lunged forward, digging her fingernails into the man’s eye socket.

“Even as a drunk, most people wouldn’t be so daring to try and get handsy in broad daylight… Yet you had the balls to make that attempt.” Her gaze was cold, calculating, her nails digging deeper and deeper into the socket, “The way your veins pulse, the way your blood moves.” she spoke, fangs bared as she pulled back, removing the eye from this man’s socket, “A mage through and through!”

She then dropped the eyeball to the ground, all joy sapped from her face, “And yet you're so weak… so irritatingly weak, so weak that you may as well be an ant smashed under heel.” The corpse of the man lay before her.

His blood leaked from the holes that she had made, so she sighed, “Oh well… Thanks for the meal.” she reached back down, grabbing the eyeball before casually inserting it into her mouth.

A soft blue glow came with the satisfying pop; oh, how she yearned for these moments.

Where peace rained, and meals were easy pickings, it was enough to make any girl smile.

She frowned, stopping at the edge of the alleyway, “I feel as if I’m forgetting something…” she blinked, humming in thought before her eyes lit up in realization, “Oh yes! It never is good to leave a body in public… But then it would also be a waste of good food…” she turned back to the body tapping a single finger on her chin contemplating her options through the insane gaze on her face.

“...I suppose I shall just have to store it away for later.” So she lowered that finger and extended her right hand forward, uttering a single word: “Providence.”

With that single word, the land bulged, and a pink glow surrounded the corpse from below, a liquid substance twisted and malformed into razor-sharp jaws that snapped at the corpse before returning to the surface.

Yet it left the ground undisturbed as if nothing had occurred that day.

The girl nodded, satisfied with the results, “And with that… Time to head home!” she smiled gleefully, turning around and practically skipping away...

A full meal.

A fool destroyed.

And of course… A reunion is soon to come.

Indeed, this could not be a better day for this girl.

Chapter 2: The Passage Of Fate.

----------------------------------------

There… was this misty fog surrounding me as if to cloud every thought I could ever have, and then a door opened.

The wood beneath my feet felt odd yet familiar.

A man entered this room, setting down a bundle of firewood. He wore a gray shirt and baggy sweatpants. He then glanced over his shoulder right at me and waved me over.

Having nothing better to do, I walked up to him, kneeling before the fire. He spoke up, “See this? If you think about it, Fire is like the human spirit.” He reached for a nearby stick, prodding one of the many logs, “Calm, contained… burning gently with that nice warmth.” He then let that stick catch fire, “Its warmth spreads to others, calling out to them.”

The flames then began to rise from the pit. “But if you say or do the wrong thing, then it rages out of control…” he glanced to the side of the fireplace; a rusted crowbar lay there.

Long untouched by the hands of man.

This man then turned to Skylar, “I suppose that’s one interpretation, but I could be far off… After all, the soul is ever evolving, ever-changing. It’s hard to keep track of,” the man explained.

Skylar looked at the fire, blinking as she did so: “I… Think I get it.” Yet even so, a frown deepened upon her face, and the man seemed to take notice.

“Seek to understand, not to harm. Learn to love rather than hate.” He then stood up and said, “The road ahead is long… walk it with pride, no matter how much blood must be spilled.”

The air around them grew thick. Skylar could barely see the man in front of her anymore.

She passed out.

***

Slowly, Skylar’s eyes opened, her vision was somewhat blurry, and her head pounded rapidly. The pain was clear, yet even so, she looked to her right.

The room was foreign to her. In front of her was a dresser with a clock on top; it read ‘3:42 PM’. To the right was a table beside her. A sword was upon it, still within its sheath.

Skylar took in a breath. Now that the pain in her head had begun to subside just a bit, she turned to her left. Upon a wooden chair, Icon sat her helmet on her face.

“Awake at last, are we?” Icon questioned, tilting her head to the left.

All at once, the rage returned, and Skylar tried to get up, yet the pain in her head rushed forward, making her think twice about such actions.

Icon blinked, noting the actions of this girl.

“You hate me.” she commented, frowning beneath that helmet, “I suppose that is only fair. I’ve never been delicate when it comes to revealing the important matters.”

Skylar narrowed her gaze, “What did you do to my home?”

Icon sighed, looking down, “We. Didn’t do anything. That island was doomed the moment you anchored the tower to it, for there was something within it that we were unaware of… A god.”

Silence followed; Icon dared not utter another word out of fear of enraging the child before her, whereas Skylar could not utter another phrase, trying desperately to process the information given to her.

Icon leaned forward on her chair, letting out a heavy sigh before speaking up at last, “If you want to hate someone, perhaps you should detect that hate where it matters,” Icon then looked to the door, “These so-called gods of ours, they will never be satisfied. Not until every last drop of life force is taken.”

Skylar looked at the sword on her bedside table, “If… If I take up arms to join this fight? Could I see them again? Could I see my family again?”

Icon leaned backward, humming in thought, “Perhaps… But if you do, you wouldn’t like the sight.”

Skylar gritted her teeth. “What’s that supposed to mean?!?” In that instant, all exhaustion was removed from her body as she stood up, yet despite it all, Icon kept her gaze straight, unflinching.

“As I stated before… You have no home to return to anymore. Love it or hate it, your family, your loved ones. Everyone and everything you’ve cared for. Now lies beneath the cloud sea. I don’t need to tell you what that means, do I?”

Skylar grits her teeth, looking down, a silent confirmation, “E-Even so. I still… I want to see them again.”

Icon heeded those words carefully, “...In that case, top drawer. There’s something you’ll want to see… Once you're done with what I assume will be a ‘panic attack,’ I’ll be waiting for you down the hall to your right.”

With that, Icon stood up from her chair and walked to the door, swinging it open. Skylar took a moment to examine herself as soon as the Icon vanished. She wore her regular clothes, which seemed a bit smaller than before.

Or perhaps she was taller? She wasn’t sure just how long she was truly asleep after all.

She blinked, turned her gaze to the right, and breathed as she opened the drawer. There was only a single item within.

A hand mirror, gazing into it, she stared with eyes wide.

Her hair, once a golden blond, was as silver as the moon's glow, whereas her eyes now showed a new color.

Crimson, bright crimson.

“What… Happened to me…?” She questioned, setting the mirror down and taking a few breaths to calm herself.

Whatever this was, there had to be a reason, and she wasn’t going to find an answer; she was just sitting around.

So, taking another breath of air, she grabbed the sword on the table, hooked it onto her belt, and walked to the door swinging it open.

The hallway was made of white stone bricks, and paintings of a particular man decorated it, though Skylar couldn't tell who the man was.

She walked forward, letting her shoes hit the red carpet before walking along.

Soon enough, she found yet another door at the end of the hall; she took in one last breath to steal her nerves before grabbing the handle on this door and opening it wide.

Shock overcame her face as she stared forward; Icon stood with her helmet off, purple hair flowing in the wind as she leaned forward on the stone castle walls.

Her steely gaze turned to the right, “Faster than expected; perhaps you're more resilient than I thought.” Icon then pushed away from the wall, turning her full attention to Skylar.

In response, Skylar turned her gaze to the right, eyes somewhat wide as she stared at the city below, “Where…”

Icon shrugged, “I figured it’d be obvious; we are within the castle.” she declared, a sly smirk on her face.

Wanderlust overtook Skylar’s gaze as she took a step forward, taking in every second of the view, “I never thought the city would look so different from high up.” she muttered, looking down at her hands.

She turned to face Icon again, “...I-I told you what I want to do. So how can I help!”

Icon blinked, pondering that question for a moment, “...Typically, we don’t send Junior Executioners on missions; recruits are few and far between, so it’s better to ensure that they are fully prepared.”

Skylar muttered a soft ‘oh’ before frowning and looking down at her feet.

Icon returned her gaze to the city, sighing, “But this isn’t a typical moment. Return to your room; I’ve had a few handmaidens set upon multiple clothing sets. Pick from that, and I will escort you to your station.”

Of course, Skylar looked up, eyes somewhat wide, before asking, “What… will I be doing?”

Icon shrugged, “Recon work with Leon. That man has a knack for inviting trouble, so I’m sure he’d appreciate an ally on his side.” Icon picked up her helmet from the walls, “Now then, off you go. Won’t do to keep an Executioner waiting.” she put her helmet back on, covering her face again.

Walking forward, Skylar followed close behind.

“I didn’t know then if I could trust Icon, but I was desperate to leave this place to see what happened to my home with my own eyes… Little did I know I was about to get more than I bargained for.”

***

Deep within the airship's chambers was a small room with a desk in the far right corner and a window beside it. No light shone within it anymore, as night had recently arrived.

However, there was a light in the center of the room. It took the form of a lamp with a small red crystal inside, and it hung from the ceiling.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough to get important work done. Currently, Leon was using the desk, scowling at the papers on it.

He leaned back in his chair, holding a stack of papers, looking up from them as the door opened, “...That’s the new outfit you picked?”

Skylar put her right hand on her hip, a white glove covering that hand. Her red belt matched her long black pants with red stripes along her legs. She smirked, confident in her style.

She wore a white jacket over a black shirt that just barely covered her chest. A red scarf flowed elegantly to her right as she spun around. “It’s not that bad, is it?”

Leon sighed, setting the papers down, “I won’t deny that it suits you… That said, it’s a bit flashy, isn’t it?”

Skylar nodded, “That’s the point! If I’m doing this Executioner thing, Then I’m going to wear something that screams ‘Confidence!’ If someone can describe me at a glance, then my name will spread like wildfire!”

Leon narrowed his gaze, “Being an Executioner isn’t a popularity contest, Skylar.”

She shrugged, “It doesn't matter to me either way; I’m just in this for information anyway… If I can stop other islands from meeting the same fate as mine, then all the better.” She then walked forward, “So then, what’s on the agenda for today?” She practically bounced over to the side of the table.

Curiosity overwhelmed Leon’s gaze, yet he returned to the papers, “A round-up call. Simple stuff.”

Skylar blinked, tilting her head in confusion, “Round-up call?”

For a moment, silence came, then Leon leaned back in his chair, a heavy sigh escaping his lips, “Twice a year, we as Executioners cycle through the remaining islands, checking up on each one and its citizens… We usually receive letters in advance to inform us of the current ‘ruling status’ of each island… However, this time around, one island failed to do as such.”

Skylar nodded, “And that means…?”

Once more, that sigh escaped Leon’s mouth, “Either they have no current ruling leader… or their leader is trying to hide from us. Though as for why, I can’t say for certain.” Leon explained, “Perhaps they have done something wrong, or perhaps…” He trailed off, glancing at Skylar, and then shook his head. “No. It’s nothing. Let us prepare to set sail.”

With those words, he stood up from his chair, gathering the papers and setting them into a drawer on the desk. Pulling a key out from his pocket, he locked that key tight.

He then glanced at Skylar, looking at the sword attached to her belt, “Do you know how to use that thing?” he questioned suddenly.

Causing Skylar to blink, “Well… Err… Not really…” Leon pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyance plain upon his face.

“Very well, then I suppose I shall teach you at least the bare basics… It wouldn’t do if you challenged anyone unprepared.” Leon declared, reaching up to the sword upon his back, “Against a normal person you would want to take them out before they have the chance to strike; however, against an enemy far above you… It would be best to keep your distance until you're certain you can land a fatal blow.”

Skylar nodded slowly, gaining an understanding of Leon’s words: “That is what we will be up against, by the way.” Leon explained, “We aren’t going up against mere humans; we are going up against something far beyond. Gods in every sense of the word, gods that would plunge these islands into the poisonous sea below.” He then unsheathed his blade, pointing it forward: “Do you have the resolve to keep going? Knowing that you will be striking down divinity?”

Skylar blinked, looking down to the ground. She then gritted her teeth, reaching up and unsheathing her own blade. “...I don’t care what’s in my path. These things have destroyed my home and killed those I cared for. I will not forgive that.” She held her blade at her side, calm and collected; it seemed as though her guard was down.

Yet the bloodlust in her gaze was unmistakable.

Leon took in a breath. “So you say… but talk is cheap!” he shouted suddenly, causing Skylar to flinch. “In battle, our hearts are made known; through action and deeds alone do we betray those words. So show me, Skylar, Show me who you are.” With that, he blasted forward. Red lighting flowed through his blade as he thrust towards Skylar’s chest.

Taking a breath, Skylar's eyes seemed to flash almost emerald. As she quickly moved her right arm, a slight gust of wind came with it, forcing her blade to collide with Leon’s.

His eyes widened before he looked at the sword that had made contact with him.

There was silence for a moment before a small smile appeared on Leon’s face, “So your conviction matches your words? Good. Very good.” He lowered that blade, sheathing it again and walking back to his desk, “In that case, I shall do everything in my power to protect you while we work together.”

Skylar raised a brow, a look of confusion washed over her face, “...W-wait, didn’t you say you were going to train me?” she questioned.

Leon put an arm upon his desk. “It would seem there’s no need for that.” He yawned before smirking, “Didn’t you feel that little gust of wind as you slashed at my blade? The wind itself guides your sword… Your wind magic will only grow stronger, and it will always serve as your guide.”

Skylar blinked, looking at her sword, “The wind…?”

Leon nodded, “Wind mages are truly rare, you know. Besides you, I only know of one other… As such, I have nothing I can teach you. Perhaps you shall meet him someday.”

Leon turned back to his desk, “Now, off to bed with you. The night is still young, and it wouldn’t do for you to be loopy in the morning.”

Skylar took in a breath, sheathing her sword. “Y-Yes, thank you very much, Leon! " With those words, she ran out the door, closing it behind her.

Leon blinked, heaving a sigh. “Heh. “Thank you,” huh…? I doubt she’d say that if she knew how powerless I was to save her family.” Leon leaned back in the chair, staring at the lamp in the center of the room for a moment.

He then clicked his tongue in annoyance, slamming the chair legs back down, grabbing a single piece of paper, and walking to the door, “Once we return, I shall confront the king directly. To hell with right and wrong if this action is treason then so be it. I can’t just sit idly by and let Skylar live her life without justice.” the words left his lips. Still, it was more so to convince himself.

So he opened that door and entered the hallway ahead.

It was going to be a long night.

***

Skylar looked over the railings of the airship with a small smile as it reached the dock. She raised a brow, seeing a similar airship to the right of the dock.

“Interesting, I wasn’t aware that other Executioners were around…” Leon suddenly spoke up, walking up to Skylar though his gaze was transfixed upon that airship.

Skylar tilted her head to the side, bewildered. “Is it odd to see other Executioners around here?” The question was genuine and filled with curiosity.

Leon nodded, “It is. It harbors little to no benefit to move in groups, and we always keep tabs on each other's movements… well except for…” he blinked before shaking his head, “Never mind. Come on, we have to begin the inspection.” Leon declared, walking to the deck.

The island ahead was about the size of the one Skylar lived upon, yet there was only one house.

Yet it was rather large as far as buildings came.

And a forest to the left.

Skylar blinked, “Who lives here anyways?” she questioned, running to Leon’s side.

Leon frowned, “Children mostly, many have lost their lives in the battle against the gods… So this place was created as a way to protect the children from those horrors.” Leon explained, “As such, checks are performed more regularly in this place than in the rest of the islands.”

Skylar nodded. Looking to the building ahead, a stone pathway led from it to the airships. The building itself was about three stories tall and had multiple windows.

Yet you could see into them, perhaps as a way to hide what’s inside.

The front doors suddenly swung open, and hundreds of children rushed to the playground.

Smiles upon their faces as they all went off into their activities.

Leon glanced at Skylar, smirking a bit, “Why don’t you go play with them for a bit? This next step isn’t something a child needs to learn about yet. And besides, it will do you some good to learn about the other children.” or so he reasoned.

Skylar looked unconvinced before turning to the playground. “You're nicer than you let on, " she said, without giving Leon any time to respond. She ran to the playground to join her fellow children.

As soon as Skylar entered the playground fence, Leon’s smile instantly dropped as his gaze shifted to the building in front of him. “Onto business, then.” He walked forward, and information flowed through his brain. Typically, a checkup like this is done without notice.

This is to catch the owner off guard and see if they’ll slip up and let something spill.

Is it wrong? Perhaps, but he always convinced himself that he was in the right.

Not that this information mattered to anyone besides him.

The other ship docked here meant that, for whatever reason, another Executioner was on this island, the question is. Why? What for?

All this did was complicate matters further.

The front door was open and inviting, so Leon stepped inside. The floors were made of dark wood, yet none of them was cracked. They were shiny to near perfection.

A voice caught his attention. “Ah, we don’t receive guests here often. Who do I owe the pleasure of meeting?” It was a man. He stood next to a staircase with a mug in his grasp.

His shoes were black, his hair was red and combed back, and he wore a dress coat with a white undershirt.

Everything about him radiated elegance, even that perfect smile on his face. A door to a kitchen opened behind him, and to his left was another door.

Yet Leon focused on this man’s eyes, which were bright crimson, the sign of a mage.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“Leon. Executioner.” It was blunt and straight to the point, yet the man didn’t even flinch. The only change on his face was that smile, which turned into a frown.

“Ah. I suppose I should have expected this. You're here because of my ‘neglecting’ to send your kingdom a status update, correct? " the man questioned.

Leon blinked, taking another step in, “That I am, and the fact that you are even aware of that raises some questions…”

The man returned to that once-perfect smile: “I’ll answer them to the best of my ability, of course. Oh, and my name is Nero. A pleasure, I’m sure.” He then reached out with his left hand, grabbing onto the handle of the door to his left: “If you wish to speak, it would be better to do so in here. I trust you have no objections.” With that, he pushed forward, opening the door.

Leon kept his gaze narrowed in suspicion but followed Nero into the next room. It was a simple living space; a desk was in the back, whereas in the center, it was a simple table with a chair on both ends.

Nero sat on the chair closest to the desk in the back, leaving only one open for Leon.

He frowned, taking it. “Let’s start simple with ‘why.’ Why didn’t you contact the kingdom?”

Nero chuckled softly, “Straight to the point,, eh? I can respect that.” Nero then leaned forward, smirking lightly, “To put it bluntly, I figured a… personal meeting would be best. As I am not the original caretaker of this place, he had all but recently passed away.” Nero explained, “My position is not official either, but I do have a deep desire to run this place where my predecessor did… As such, I wished to prove myself.”

Leon blinked, taking in those words, “That so? Nevertheless, this place is highly important to the kingdom; your silence could have cost lives.”

Nero looked down, “I’m more than capable of defending myself and the children of that, I assure you.”

Leon narrowed his gaze, deadly serious; in response, Nero kept his gaze firm and resolute.

They stayed like that for a moment. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife.

Before long, however, Leon let out a sigh, “Fine. So long as the children are safe, that isn’t my concern. I do hope you understand. Our men haven’t cleared your position yet; we’ll send someone over next week to see if you qualify. I assume you won’t care if we examine the corpse of your predecessor?”

Nero put his perfect smile back upon his face, “Of course, that won’t be an issue. I understand that you're just doing what needs to be done.”

Leon stood up, “Your cooperation is appreciated; with that out of the way, I’ll take my leave.” Leon declared, walking to the exit. Nero raised a brow to that.

“So soon? I figured you’d have more questions…” Nero muttered, tilting his head to the side while leaning back into his chair.

Leon stopped at the door. “Even if I did, it wouldn’t yield me any results... not against someone like you.” His gaze then shifted, looking over his shoulder. “That said, if there is some reason to be suspicious of you, it will be investigated immediately.”

Nero kept that perfect smile. The glow in his eyes brightened some at those words, “Of course.” It was a simple response, but it was all that was needed.

With those words said, Leon passed through the door; a bell rang out throughout the orphanage.

All at once the children exited the playground, running back into the orphanage, save for a single child.

A young boy in a white t-shirt and jeans Skylar sat beside him near the fence, a look of surprise on her face, yet that boy stood up walking back to the orphanage.

Slowly, she got to her feet, blinking as Leon approached. “Something the matter?” His question caused Skylar to look in the direction of the orphanage.

“No… It’s nothing,” she muttered, but her gaze told a different story.

Still, there was no point in pushing it, or perhaps Leon simply thought better of it. Instead, he looked to the airship and frowned as the sun began to set.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a green crystal. The glow that came from it was faint. “Wind currents are slow… But…” he looked up to the horizon before looking at Skylar, “Don’t suppose you can generate your own wind currents?”

Skylar blinked, shaking her head, “Only in small bursts… and certainly not enough to push an airship.”

Leon nodded, looking ahead: “It could easily take us to our next destination if we had a stronger current… The ship itself does have a wind crystal to push us along, but it’s not advised to use it while we are setting out.”

Skylar blinked, “Why not? It’s used all the time, isn’t it?”

Leon folded his arms, pondering the question, “Think of the crystal as a whiteboard…. You draw something on it, let's say for instance. The number ‘1’ it will be there for as long as you need it… but soon, you’ll have to erase it. Erasing, in this case, would be docking the ship.”

Skylar pondered the meaning of this for a moment before speaking of her conclusion, “And the number is… the strength of the wind current?”

Leon nodded, “The wind current that is currently being used, yes, but since the wind current isn’t even strong enough to get us where we need, the crystal won’t be much help.”

Skylar folded her arms, frowning, “So what? We’re stuck here?”

Leon shrugged, “At least for the night. At least this way, we can get some sleep without bumping and sliding.”

Skylar shrugged before walking toward the airship; Leon looked to the second one, “Maybe I can search for him while I’m at it…”

***

(10 minutes earlier. As Leon was speaking with Nero)

Skylar walked into the playground for a while. She tried to join all the other’s games, but all she found was half-assed excuses.

“Oh, we were going to play somewhere else…”

“Sorry, but this is only a game for my friends.”

“No thanks, we don’t want your cooties”

. . .

Actually, that last one might have been real. That child did seem rather dumb.

Nevertheless, Skylar sat on the wood chips near the back fence.

There was another child near her. The silence between them was awkward, and when it became too much for Skylar to take, she let out a heavy sigh, turning to face him.

“Hey, " she said, trying to get his attention. The child in question wore a white T-shirt and black pants, with his head firmly upon his knees. He blinked, looking up. A bruise was on the left side of his face, and it looked rather old.

“What do you want?” he questioned, raising a brow.

Skylar smiled, “Just to chat… I’m waiting for my ride out of here anyways.” Skylar explained. The kid blinked, looking at Skylar and noticing the badge on her torso.

“You're an Executioner…?” he questioned with skepticism on his face.

Skylar nodded, “Still in training I guess, but an Executioner all the same.”

The child looked down once more, frowning. “Maybe it’d be okay to tell you then…” the child concluded before looking up.

Skylar quizzically tilted her head to the side, “Tell me what?”

Leon exited the building behind her, looking in her direction as the child spoke, “The caretaker Nero… I’m pretty sure he’s killing the other kids.”

Shock overtook Skylar’s face; the thought hadn’t even occurred to her, but the child took the shocked expression the wrong way.

“Tsk. You don’t believe me, do you? Why’d I even bother?” Before Skylar had time to respond the child stood up walking back to the orphanage.

The words hung heavy in Skylar’s heart.

What should she do? Should she tell Leon? Would he even care?

Thoughts constantly ran through her head until… she found she was stuck here for the night.

A plan was formulating through her head as she entered her lodgings; she was in a position of power, right? And that kid did seem somewhat worried, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to check around, would it?

Of course not.

Waiting an hour or two, Skylar hopped out of bed, ensuring her gear was in check. She then slowly opened the door.

There was little light in the hallway ahead, but it was okay. Once she was sure no one else would exit into the hallway, she closed the door behind her delicately, heading to the deck of the airship.

The stars shined bright in the night sky this evening. At the peak was a single star that glowed more colorful than most, a brilliant crimson that reflected in Skylar’s iris, an omen for what was to come.

Taking a breath, she walked down the path, heading straight for the orphanage, determined within her gaze.

Yet for a moment, she wavered; standing at the front door, she felt her heart sink as if something was about to go wrong.

That was until a voice caught her attention, “Why do you hesitate?”

Skylar blinked, turning around, there the man from her dreams stood hazy in her vision.

He stood there with his arms folded, “People will die if you do not act. So why do you hesitate?”

Skylar looked to the ground, “Because… I’m scared of dying…”

The man frowned bitterly, shaking his head and unfolding those arms, “So you would abandon your cause out of fear, then? Pathetic.”

Skylar looked up, locking her gaze on this man, “A-As if you haven’t been scared before!”

“Fear is normal, but you must push through, or nothing will get done.” The man countered, “The longer you stay here afraid, the worse the situation could get.” he then turned around, “If you wait around here too long, then perhaps this place will end up like your home island.”

Before Skylar could respond to the claim, the man vanished as quickly as he had appeared. His words were harsh.

But they struck a chord with Skylar, she took in a deep breath before opening the door quietly slipping inside.

There was very little to light up the halls, making Skylar narrow her gaze in annoyance, straining her eyes to see in the dark.

That was until she felt something push up against her hand; she blinked, looking to the hand.

There was nothing there, just a soft breeze.

With no other option, she breathed and let the wind guide her steps. She found her way to the office door.

Opening it, she found this room a little brighter than the last, and as such, she could see clearly now.

A small gasp came from the right, Skylar reached up to the sword on her back gripping the hilt only for her to lower her stance when she saw the young child she spoke with on the playground there. Right next to the desk in the back

His eyes widened as he saw Skylar, and he spoke in a harsh whisper, “What are you doing here?!”

Skylar shrugged, walking forward; she blinked as she looked behind the desk, a trapdoor led down into what seemed to be a basement just behind the chair.

She muttered under her breath, “Well, that’s unsettling…” She then turned to the child, smiling lightly, “Why don’t you return to bed? I’ll handle whatever’s down there myself.”

The child growled, still whispering, “I-I came here to find out what’s going on myself. I’m not going back empty-handed.”

Skylar thought about trying to convince the child further, but time wasn’t on her side, so she frowned, taking in a deep breath: “...Very well. Then, stay behind me. If the worst comes to worst, I’ll protect you so you can run.”

The child stopped pondering the suggestion momentarily before nodding, stepping back so that Skylar could walk ahead of him.

Skylar smiled at the gesture. Walking to the trapdoor, she pulled it open, revealing a wooden staircase. It was rather old in comparison to the wood that made up the normal floors.

She blinked, taking a step on one of them.

Sure enough, a loud creaking noise came from it. " Well, so much for stealth,” she muttered bitterly as she walked down those steps.

The basement walls were made of red bricks, and the floor was made of cement.

Soon, she reached a corner.

As she rounded it, the sight before she made her stomach drop.

There, a child hung from a meathook, head impaled, shirt thrown haphazardly onto the ground, as for their chest.

It was torn open, flesh peeled to the side, and there in front of the chest stood a lone man.

The man’s ear twitched, and he turned to face Skylar with a smile.

Nero chuckled, “Oh dear… It seems my secret is out… Junior Executioner.” He turned his gaze to a heart within his hands, beating still as though it was freshly extracted. Nero reached up, taking a bite of it, letting the blood run down his chin. “I mean no disrespect, but it's rather impressive that you’ve found me out… going so far as to break the rules of your predecessor to ensure the safety of these children.”

Skylar’s eyes remained wide. She held out her right arm out of instinct to protect the young child behind her. Nero took notice of the movements. “Oh? Do you think you can stand up to me…? I’m not used to my meals being so… active.” He then cracked his knuckles and walked forward.

That was… until it came.

“Oh, so that’s what’s been going on here.” A voice echoed within the orphanage. There, on the stairwell, a man stood smirking slightly despite the stakes.

A black jacket on his torso covered the white shirt underneath; gray pants adorned his legs.

His chin was slightly raised as he looked down at the ruined basement. “I’ll admit, I’ve had my suspicions about this place for a bit and never had a ‘good cause’ to investigate, though… Not bad, kiddo. " His gaze glanced at Skylar before relocking on Nero.

“So you're a god then? A rank? No B, at least.” The man nodded before looking at the young girl beside Skylar, reaching out his left hand. She was thrust into the air and flew up the stairs, landing in this man’s grasp, “Hey there, little one, this is no place for children… Run through that door and head straight north. There, an airship will be waiting to pick you up.” he spoke, setting the child down on the steps behind him. Making sure to keep his gaze locked on hers.

Nero tilted his head to the side, confused by the man’s presence and actions. “Are you dense? Did you think I would just stand idly by as you make off with my meal?” A fireball formed in Nero’s right hand, and he hurled it forward with deadly precision.

Yet the ball of flames stopped just short of the man’s head, floating there for what seemed like an eternity as the man slowly stood, reaching up, putting a hand on his neck, glancing over his shoulder, his eye flashing with determination as he spoke, “Return.”

With that single word, the ball of fire was sent spiraling down, hitting Nero in the face, however, as he was a god of flames.

The fire did nothing at all, yet even so. A single cut appeared upon his cheek.

“Wha-”

As the door shut behind him, the man began to descend those steps, setting his left hand into his pocket and looking deadly serious.

“I haven’t even introduced myself yet, have I?” the man declared. Reaching the bottom of those steps, he raised his hand, pointing a finger to the skies: “The name’s Tetra. The First Executioner.”

The words that escaped his lips already held massive weight upon them, and what happened next only proceeded to back up his claim.

As the wind suddenly sparked to life, blowing upward with tremendous force, pushing Nero up the ceiling instantly, Skylar almost went with him.

Only for Tetra to reach out and grab Skylar by the arm, fear was within her gaze even at this moment.

Tetra smirked lightly, saying, “Just hold on, and you’ll be fine.” He then returned his attention to Nero and said, “Winds of the heaven, heed my call! Bend and twist, tear down the very fabric, and remind the gods of their place! TEMPEST!” At that moment, he made his power known, for a tornado was born in the center of that room.

Tearing the roof asunder and blowing Nero sky-high as soon as he was sent flying, Tetra pulled Skylar down to the ground. Glancing at her to ensure she was firmly upon it, he let go of her wrist before looking up, “Up the stairs with you; tell Leon to get his ass over here. I’m going to need a hand with this one.”

Skylar nodded, getting ready to run to the door, but a cracking sound came from the center of the room. Tetra’s gaze immediately turned to the sound.

Gritting his teeth, he saw Nero on the ground, left palm on the wood, cracks surfacing upon its texture.

Nero’s eyes shot wide open as he looked right at Tetra, “I saw a glimpse of children making their way onto an airship while up there… You granted them escape.” Nero clicked his tongue in annoyance, slowly getting to his feet.

Skylar reached up, grabbing the hilt of her sword on instinct.

Only for Tetra to extend her right arm, and the joking attitude he once held left his face as he stared forward, “Fancy trick you have there, could have sworn that fall would break some bones at least, yet you seem to be completely unscathed.”

Nero chuckled, “I’ve been feeding on the lifeforce of these children for a few months now… why, as of this moment, I’m among the strongest of my fellow gods.”

Tetra’s gaze focused as Nero got to his feet, standing at his full height. He threw his hands to the side, flames bursting to life within them. “Wanna see?”

With those words, Nero blasted forward, pulling back his left fist. Tetra’s eyes flashed, and a wild smirk appeared on his face as he ducked under Nero’s left fist, letting it soar overhead.

“Predictable.” Tetra declared, slamming his right fist into Nero’s chin, “Power is nothing if you're up against someone who can’t even comprehend basic combat!”

Suddenly, Nero lunged forward, gripping Tetra’s face. Tetra’s eyes widened as Nero swung him around, making Tetra’s back hit the wall. “So cramped… shall we move outdoors?” Nero slammed his boot into the wall, flames bursting to life on them, melting the wall to make an indent of his boot. In a single swift movement, he shot up, running up the side of that wall.

Making sure to drag Tetra’s body alongside it, soon enough, the wall ended, and Nero shot up into the skies.

Flames burst to life from Nero’s boots, propelling him upwards.

With a single swift movement, he pulled back his arm and sent Tetra plummeting down in a ball of flames. The flames hit the orphanage once more, spreading across it and causing the building to collapse beneath them.

Nero smirked lightly at the sight. “No one could survive that… Then again, Executions have a nasty history of being… Lucky.” So he raised his right hand. A small fireball appeared within it, slowly growing in size. “I’ll erase this land and start anew. There will always be more islands to feed off of.”

Yet before the ball of flames could be finished, a bolt of red lighting shot through the skies, piercing the fireball and striking down upon Nero, sending him tumbling to the front of the orphanage. “What th—” he growled, getting to his feet.

There, straight ahead, was Leon, blade drawn. Red lighting sparks upon his blade as he keeps his gaze narrowed.

Nero stood up, “Of fucking course. ANOTHER interruption, I swear you Executions are like roaches!” his comment was met with another bolt of lightning hitting him on the head. Forcing him to fall to one knee once more.

Leon then began to walk forward, “Accept your death with grace, and we can all move on. Otherwise… I’ll leave nothing behind of you.”

Nero chuckled bitterly at those words, “Oh? …Ohhhh…. You don’t know. Do you? What that girl is. Why did your king want her to join your side so badly?”

Leon blasted forward blade coated in lighting; he then ran forward, swinging horizontally, attempting to cut Nero’s torso clean off.

Only for his eyes to widen as Nero caught the blade with his bear hands, eyes flashing red as he did so, “She is an anomaly, something that should not… cannot exist. Through her ascension, she has gained the ability to feed off the lands, much like the gods you choose to fight.” as those words left his lips he slammed his fist into Leon’s face.

Sending him flying backward. His sword never left his grip, and even as he hit the ground, his eyes flashed with rage as he looked upward.

Yet it was still enough time, time to process those words.

Nero then extended his hand, “Give her to me, and she shall live as her peers have, a god in every sense of the word!”

Leon looked down at the sword in his hand, reminding himself of his creed.

All gods must be slain, no exceptions…

And yet.

“I promise to keep you safe.”

Leon blasted forward, clashing with Nero, whose eyes remained wide. “Who are you to decide her fate?” he suddenly shouted, gritting his teeth even as the heat exuded from Nero hit higher levels." She is her own person! No one else can decide what she can and can’t be!”

Nero scoffed, “Idealistic prattles from someone who refuses to accept the truth!” He then pushed upward with his hand, parrying Leon’s sword upward, throwing his left fist forward and slamming it into Leon’s face, “That girl is no Executioner! Nor is she some mere human; she’s a god! Through and through! It’s all she can ever be!”

Leon thrust forward with his sword in response, only for Nero to effortlessly catch it within his palm, “Those very creatures that you swore to kill… You now have one fighting on your side! If that isn’t a sick joke, I don’t know what is!”

That blade then shattered, and with his left hand, Nero pulled back on his wires, tying up Nero; in response Leon grits his teeth, looking down from where he was hung, ‘You… Won’t stop us, we’ll defeat all of you!”

Nero scoffed, letting go of his strings and letting Leon fall to the ground, “And at what cost!? It wasn’t me who sent this island spiraling downward; it was her. How many must be condemned before the fighting ends?! How many must suffer this same feudal battle before it can all be brought to an end!”

Leon grits his teeth, trying to stand tall despite his injuries.

But the words cut deep, weighing heavy upon his mind. Nero frowned bitterly, “...So you can’t even tell me that?” He then sighed, walking forward, flames bursting to life in his right hand, “Farewell.”

And he threw that hand forward; Leon smiled softly, closing his eyes, knowing there was nothing else he could do, “Guess I couldn’t keep my promise after all.”

***

Skylar woke up in the rubble of the orphanage. She groaned, getting up and looking around the island in shambles. Her head was still foggy. “How did I get…” She glanced to the right, seeing Leon on his knees and Nero reaching out with his flaming hand.

Move. MOVE GOD DAMN IT

Stumbling, she forced herself to stand, eyes wide in fear. She ran forward, tripping on her own feet a few times, and frantically stumbled forward, running in a desperate attempt to save the man before her.

Yet despite it all…

She was too late; Nero put his hand on Leon’s face and set him ablaze.

In that single moment, she let out a primal roar, blasting forward. Nero let go of Leon’s corpse, letting the ashes hit the ground before ducking to his left, dodging Skylar’s fist. “Oh? And where did you get this strength?” he questioned, his eyes lighting up in delight.

With a red aura now surrounding Skylar, she grits her teeth, slamming her fist into Nero’s face with enough force to send him spiraling backward into the orphanage that was still ablaze. He groaned, getting back up. “It’s a wild ride… This cycle of life.” He spoke up, smirking. He then locked his gaze on Skylar. Her eyes flared a bright red.

Yet the energy that she absorbed from the lands was being redirected back into the island; Nero took note of this before continuing his speech.

“Just when you think you have everything figured out it tosses another ball into the field… And before you know it, the game changes, new rules are put into play that you can never fully comprehend…” he then walked forward from that burning building, the corpses of those children around him, “Come on then. Show me what you are! GIVE ME EVERY LAST DROP OF YOUR EXISTENCE!!!”

He blasted forward, flames overtaking his body and forming a sort of armor. Skylar narrowed her gaze, instantly dropping her wind magic, knowing it would be a bad match against the flames. She ducked under Nero’s fist, spinning around. She then slammed her right fist into Nero’s chin.

Following up immediately with a blast of wind to his chest, her intent was to send him spiraling into the clouds, but flames burst to life beneath his feet, acting as makeshift jet boots to keep him afloat. He smirked a little, “Not a bad idea… but it’ll take more than that to kill me, sunshine.”

His eyes widened as Skylar instantly closed the distance, breaking through the barrier, her eyes flashing with rage as she slammed her right fist into Nero’s face as a cracking noise came from it.

She reached out with her left hand, grabbing him by the collar.

Her eyes shone a bright crimson as she pulled back that fist again, “GRIT YOUR TEETH!”

Her killer intent shined through, and Nero’s eyes widened fearfully as blue flames wrapped around Skylar’s right fist.

No.

It wasn’t just flames manifesting; Nero’s red flames flowed into Skylar and then came forth, taking on a new color and strength.

Nero stared forward fearfully, “W-What in the hell are you?!” Nero’s question was met with Skylar’s steel gaze as she slammed that fist into Nero’s face.

Before throwing him down onto the island below.

The bones in Nero’s legs cracked as he hit the ground, and his eyes widened in pain.

He gripped his legs, paying no heed to Skylar as she landed just before him; after regaining his composure, Nero looked up, “...M-My power… where did. Where did it go?”

Skylar grits her teeth, “That’s it? That’s all you have to say after everything you’ve done?!” Skylar shouted, grabbing Nero by his hair as the flames threatened to burn to life once more.

Nero locked onto Skylar’s eyes, a flash of hatred within his gaze, “Everything I’ve done. I’ve done it in the name of survival. I have no regrets.”

Skylar closed her eyes, taking in those words, “Then may the heavens have mercy upon your soul,” in an instant, he was set ablaze; his screams overtook the island as Skylar stared forward unflinchingly, “Because I will have none.”

As most things do, Nero falls silent, hitting the ground dead.

As soon as he did so, a wave of exhaustion hit Skylar, and she fell to the ground.

However, as she did so, Tetra approached, blood flowing down the side of his head, “Guy hits like a fucking truck…” his gaze fell upon Nero blinking, before glancing at Skylar, “We barely landed any good hits on him, yet this girl managed to kill him with just a few of her own blows.”

Tetra smirked, kneeling down and picking up Skylar, carrying her bridal style, “Yep. A prodigy in the making… Though I doubt anybody will be happy to hear about her… extra skills.” Tetra began to walk forward.

Frowning, he sighed, “Sounds like a pain to explain… Maybe I’ll just keep that detail to myself.”

***

Deep within cold red brick walls sat a young woman stabbing her fork down into an eyeball. She blinked, looking up. " It would seem Nero has fallen.” She then bit down into that fleshy orb, her eyes narrowing in disappointment.

In front of her was a man who wore a white cloak over his body, “Oh? You can tell?”

The woman nodded, setting her fork down. “We forged a pact a while back, nothing too major… just enough to ensure we knew if the other was alive or not.” She then leaned forward. Of course, I already knew he was going to die. Still, I expected it to take a little longer.”

The man chuckled on the other end of the table, smirking, “Rather brutal of you, and here I thought you’d rush to his side.”

She scoffed, “There was a man, Tetra was his name, who called himself… the first Executioner… Though from what I could tell, he was rather weak.” She explained, and the man nodded, leaning back in his seat.

“Ah, yes… Well,, the name isn’t a lie; I can tell you that much, though its meaning is rather different from what you may think.” The man then reached into his pocket, pulling out a green crystal, setting it upon the table before him, catching the girl’s attention. As you see, the crystal’s glow is faint… Wind is the only element tied to its surroundings.”

He then gestured to a nearby window. In an instant, it shattered, and the wind blew in, causing the crystal to glow brighter. “The more wind there is, the stronger it becomes… as such, what you witnessed on that island was Tetra at his weakest… I’m sure you can understand the horrors he may have wrought at full strength.”

The woman narrowed her gaze bitterly, her intense gaze trained upon the man before her. “Tell me. Where does humanity gain such strength? Despite my best efforts, I’ve yet to understand what it is that lets your species consistently ascend to new heights.”

The man blinked, smirking beneath that hood, “That is an age-old question… One that I’m afraid I don’t have an answer to…’

The woman scoffed, standing up from her chair, “Then perhaps I require a second input.” The candles on the walls lit up as she walked forward. The man remained in his chair yet posed a question.

“And who will you go to?” His question pierced the air, and the women stopped at a nearby staircase, smirking.

“To pay a visit to Skylar Shadewalker.”

***

The king sat on his throne in a massive room, and the red carpet flowed straight to the giant doors.

In front of him was a knight that he personally called here. The Icon stood at attention in front of the king. The king let out a heavy sigh, gripping the armrest on his chair. “...And you certain of this? Leon is surely dead?”

Icon blinked, looking at the ground, “I’m… afraid so…”

Before another word could be uttered, the massive doors swung open.

Tetra walked into the room with a look on his face that could only be described as defiant. As he sauntered forward, hands in his pockets, the Icon turned around, scowling, “Tetra, what are you doing here? This is a private matter between me and his majesty!”

“Shut it half-pint.” Tetra scowled without lifting a hand. A gust of wind knocked Icon into the wall. His gaze then turned to The King, “What’s this I hear about you leaving an entire island to die? You think I would just sit around and let that slide, your majesty?” Malice dripped over every inch of Tetra’s voice, and Icon moved for her sword, only for the pressure of the wind to increase.

Planting her firmly on the wall, cracks spread throughout that very wall, but Tetra’s gaze never left the King’s.

The King narrowed his own gaze, “A decision had to be made Tetra; it is… regrettable that you were not there to place your vote bu-”

The King’s eyes widened as he felt the air in his lungs get stolen away in one swift movement. He fell to the ground, eyes wide; Tetra then walked forward, staring down at the so-called King, “Let me phrase it this way since you don’t seem to get it… I don’t give a damn about your reasoning; what you did is simply unforgivable.” Tetra declared.

In that instant, the air returned to The King’s lungs, and Icon was removed from the wall; the King grit his teeth, looking up, locking eyes with Tetra, “So what now…? Will you commit Regicide in an attempt to claim justice? Is that your scheme!?”

Tetra blinked, leaning backward, “Yeash, lighten up Your Highness, I may be absolutely livid, but I don’t go around actively seeking murder.” Tetra then turned around, walking back along the carpet, “I’ve got a more fitting punishment in mind for you…”

Icon grits her teeth, taking a step forward, “Tetra, what are you pla-” her gaze widened as Tetra threw an ID card onto the ground.

“I quit,” he spoke with the casual tone of one who just gave out the most straightforward news in the world. His right hand was now outstretched, having thrown that card to the side.

Icon and The King both stood there, eyes wide, “A-Are you insane!?” Icon shouted, slamming her foot down onto the ground, “If we do not slay the gods, then who will protect the peop-”

Tetra shook his head, lowering his right hand, “Now hold your horses… I never said anything about stopping my rampage against the gods… I simply said I quit being an Executioner.”

The King narrowed his gaze, and hatred was evident within it. “You would form your own group?”

Tetra smirked, nodding, “Course I would, and who would blame me!” he declared walking to the door once more, “After all, I doubt anyone would want to work with a False King who’d betray kith and kin in a grab for more power.”

With those words, the doors closed behind him.

The King let out a shaky breath, taking a seat once more.

Icon took note of this, saluting, “What he did was absolutely unacceptable. I will chase after him at onc-”

“LEAVE HIM!” The King’s voice carried over the area, and then he looked to the ground once more, “We have more important matters to attend to. What is the status of Operation Rainfall?”

Icon blinked before glancing to the side, “We have yet to obtain the required amount of mana… But the flow has yet to halt, it’s proceeding smoothly.”

The King then leaned back in that chair, frowning deeply, “But with Tetra gone, my rule will be called into question, love him or hate him… There is no denying that he is a true Executioner… The first man in the line to truly slay a god is not to be underestimated.” The King tapped his fingers impatiently on the side of his chair, “This complicates matters immensely… time grows short.”

The King closes his eyes,, thinking for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh: “We have no choice. Call in Skylar… we shall be making use of her immediately.”

Icon nodded, “Of course sir. I shall go and retrieve her immediately.” with that Icon was the next to exit the room.

The King remained on the throne, sitting quietly, before opening his eyes. “You heard all of that, I presume…?”

A man in a black cloak walked out from behind the throne, reaching up with a gloved hand.

Gripping the mask upon his face, “The unenlightened are so quick to judge… It’s striking in its absurdity.”

The King nodded in agreement, “Yet we must bend to their whims at least somewhat, or our goals shall never be achieved.”

The man shrugged in response, “Perhaps.” He then walked forward to the center of the room, “Of course, you do understand that the loss of Nero is rather grave, do you not? If the gods are completely eradicated, then Stella shall never be made manifest.” he then turned his full attention to The King, “Or need I remind you of what is required?”

The King closed his eyes, sighing, “Of course not, but how was I to know that Skylar would discover him so quickly?”

The man frowned bitterly at that before sighing, “Bah, it matters not… but you should know that those other ‘gods’ are deeply troubled by Skylar… I can only reign them in for so long your highness… A storm is brewing, and it seems there is little we can do to contain it.”

The King nodded in agreement, opening his eyes, “Whatever comes to pass, we shall weather this storm like we have for so long… Come hell or high water; we shall see our duty through to the end…”

The man smirked at that, “I look forward to it. Now then, if you excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.” The man then turned around, and a portal of darkness opened in front of him. He stopped just short of it, “Oh, one last matter.” he turned back around, locking eyes with the king, “Do take care to ensure that Skylar doesn't come into contact with our mutual friend; she has taken a… particular interest in her and it wouldn’t be good if she got a little to intimate. If you catch my meaning.”

With those words, the man walked through that dark portal.

“Eternals… Bah, they are just like the rest…” The King leaned forward in his chair, “But if it is to obtain Stella then I shall use every tool I can.”

“Now matter how much it may cost me.”