Trees whipped past them. Hooves pounded against the road sending dirt flying. Magic crafted straight into the horses saddles prevented the wind from affecting them too much.
Rosalind peered over her shoulder and cast a spell. “Strip away the flesh of perception. Expose the pumping flow of life. Crimson cognizance.” Rosalind felt aether flooding her eyes. Then all obstacles that should have prevented her from seeing her pursues was gone. Rosalind allowed her spell to dissipate before looking down at the small baby she was clutching to her chest. Rosalind let out a deep breath before coming to a decision.
Rosalind slowed her horse down from the couple hundred miles an hour. That they had been traveling at to around 50 miles an hour. Rosalind looked over at the man traveling with her with a sad smile on her face. “Cedric thankyo-”
“No, my empress, I won't let you do it. I will burn my life mana if I need to but I won’t let you do it.” Cedric said, interrupting her.
Rosalind just shook her head before speaking. “Cedric, thank you for being my friend for all this time. I could not have asked for a more dedicated and loyal protector but you know that you won’t be able to do what is necessary.” Rosalind said before her voice changed and she continued to speak.
“Cedric Lorth I charge you with the protection and secrecy of Lex Lorthen. You are to take him across the border, raise him, keep him safe and when the time comes tell him who he is and what he must do. This is your final assignment. We can’t allow his uncle to retain control over the empire.” Her words were filled with an intangible power that seemed to weigh down on the world and pull at the seams of reality.
As she spoke an aura composed of winding veins, life giving blood, supporting bones and all encompassing flesh spread out around her. Before collapsing down and forming a beautiful and intricately crafted crown. The crown was crafted out of what looked like some kind of metallic bone. It was decorated with pinkish gems and it had jade vines wrapped around it. In the center of the crown was a large blood drop shaped diamond.
“Strip away the flesh and blood of time and space. Expose the pale bones of reality.” Rosalind's voice boomed out as the command of an empress. “Except my sacrifice to change the laws of nature.” As she spoke, the diamond in the center of her crown started to glow. In front of her massive circle with hundreds of incredibly complex runes were formed. A small cut in her palm was formed and a single drop of blood containing immense life mana fell into the center of the circle. “I claim my seat as the empress of life. Force apart the flesh of space. Open a channel into the artery time. Allow my child and his protector to pass through safely protected and supported by the bones of reality.” As she spoke, a beautifully carved staff appeared in Rosalind’s hand. “Imperial decree.” With that she slammed the staff into the ground and around her reality started to fracture. In front of Cedric’s horse a tunnel opened up and the moment they had stepped through they were gone. Despite them having seemingly disappeared Rosalind knew that the empire could still track them. Turning back to the people chasing them she spoke her voice filled with resolve.
“Strip away the flesh and blood of time and space. Expose the bare bones of reality. I am the empress of life and nature, ruler of the Lorthen empire and mother of Lex Lorthen. Mother nature I offer you everything I have and everything I am. My only request Is one hour. For one hour I wish to channel your power and delay this army from reaching my child.”
Beside her another form manifested this one looked like an old motherly woman. The staff in Rosalind’s hand floated out and into the old woman’s. “I also offer myself to you mother nature.” Her words were simple yet they resounded with far more meaning than simple words could contain.
An aura containing vibrant and overflowing life descended onto them. The two of them knelt to the divine figure that had appeared in front of them. “Hello my daughters.” The goddess said her voice soft and soothing. “Raise your heads. This is the last time I will see you and I don’t want you to be on your knees.” The two of them rose and looked upon the goddess.
The goddess had long dark green hair that went down past her feet. She was wearing a beautiful light green dress. The dress was covered in patterns depicting wild animals and beautiful scenes of nature. Rosalind looked up into the goddesses eyes. Her breath caught in her chest shocked and unable to move. The goddesses eyes seemed to radiate a feeling of boundless life and ever growing forests. Conjuring images of unquenchable life and vitality.
“My daughters, I accept your sacrifice. Go forth and destroy those who wish to defile the natural, burn down your groves and slaughter your children.” As the goddess spoke her voice changed from soft and soothing to vicious and commanding. Showing that nature was not just beautiful flowers but also viscous beasts.” As the goddess finished speaking a wind whipped up blowing her hair back exposing slightly elongated and pointed ears.
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The goddesses hands came together and a small blood red rose with a vibrant green stem sprouted out of them. “Take it.” Her words were no longer vicious and commanding but soft and filled with sorrow.
Rosalind reached out and grabbed the rose. The moment her hand touched it she instantly felt pain shooting through her entire body. It felt as if thousands of thorny roots were shooting through her body. Before finally rooting themselves in her magic scape. Slowly Rosalind stood up, already able to feel the plant draining everything she had.
“Thank you mother. Now if you will excuse me I have some revenge to take before I rejoin my husband.” Rosalind said her back already turned striding toward the oncoming force.
“Of course my child.” the goddess said as her form blurred and then dispersed.
Rosalind spread her hands out to either side of her body and spoke. “I am the empress of life. I claim the wheel of season. I set their cycle to its final phase.” Around her the wind whipped up and the jewel in her crown started glowing. “The flesh of space. That which makes up all that exists.” The jewels' light grew even brighter and a large symbol was projected over her head. “The blood of time. Arteries that allow all to flow. Bringing life and movement.” The symbol radiated an absolute and utter dominance of all that fell under her domain. “The bones of reality. The laws and structure that everything is built on.” Thorny vines with budding roses burst out of her palms and quickly formed large circles filled with complex runes. “I rewrite and regovern the whole of existence. Bending it to my will and my goal. I change the very nature of reality to that which will serve me.” More circles spread out and blood began to flow out of her palms covering the vines. “It is time for nature to seek out its nourishment. All before me will fall and the grove will regrow from the ashes of our battle stronger than before. Edict of life.”
The vine made circles of immense power shattered. The bloody shards falling into the ground below her. The plants exploded with life and growth. Everything was suddenly far taller, far greener, and far sturdier.
Yet again Rosalind began to speak. “Mother of life and nature. She who ushers in all that lives and she who embraces all that die. I seek help from your guardians.” As Rosalind spoke, small rose buds began to sprout in her hair and 6 large circles formed in the air. “Sentinels of ancient groves. They who watch over all under their branches. Providing sustenance to the starved and shelter from the weather.” Two of the circles broke off from the others. Floating over to a set of trees before merging with them. The two trees up rooted themselves as their bark, branches, and leaves started shifting around. Until they had formed into two massive men with leaves for hair, branches for arms, roots for legs, and armor formed of bark. “Midnight sentinel. He who silently watches and hunts in the night.“ A third circle broke off from the others merging with a flower. Out from the head of the flower the head of an owl emerged with the petals framing its head. The steam twisted, forming into its body with leaves for wings and roots sharpening into pointed talons. “The pack hunting in the night. Hunters stalking that which intrudes in their territory. Both thinning and supporting the forests. The final three circles shot out towards a tree. with one entering into the branches and leaves, one entering into the trunk of the tree and the final one entering into the roots. The tree began to writhe as if it was not a solid as a canine head appeared from each spot that a circle had entered. From the leaves a wolf whose coat was made of laid back leaves and body was densely packed branches. Pulled itself away from the rest of the tree. From the trunk a blocky wolf that looked like it was completely square with no round edges. Its joints non existent seemingly held together by nothing at all. Its entire body covered in armor like bark split off from the roots of the tree. Finally the roots began to twine together forming into another wolf. This one formed from ever moving densely packed roots.
Rosalind looked off into the distance curious just how much time she had left. “Strip away the flesh of perception. Expose the pumping flow of life. Crimson cognizance.” Rosalind felt aether flooding her eyes. Then all obstacles that should have prevented her from seeing her pursues was gone. She could see the large force that was coming at her less than 5 minutes away.
“Just enough time for the last spell” Rosalind muttered to herself before her voice rose commanding all under her to obey. “I am the empress of life. Guardian of my grove. Keeper of the eternal cycle.” Another massive circle spread out above her though this one wasn’t like the others. Instead of being filled with rotating line after line of runic script. This one spread out and down forming a massive dome of leaves held up by pillars of script that looked identical to tree trunks. Hanging from the center of the dome was a massive bulb about to bloom. “I call upon the tree that offers shade and protection from the harsh weather. Whose roots can be found burrowing in the farthest reaches of reality. Whose fruits offer eternity to those who eat them. Whose life sap curses all that drink it with more power than they could ever use. Whose wood once lit could even burn the gods of fire. Yggdrasil’s canopy.” The massive flower bloomed letting out a scent so sweet that even the sweetest of food would seem like biting into a lime and so enticing that even the hardiest mind would be drawn in.
Rosalind looked forward, the force arrayed against her less than a minute away from her. A single thought playing through her mind the entire time. “I will not allow you to reach my child.” the words slipped in a low mutter. Rosalind felt Lav’s hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry Rosalind, we won't let them reach Lex. together we will annihilate each and everyone of them.”
“I still think that you should have broken your contract with me and gone with Cedric and Lex. I am sure that he would have been an amazing bond partner for you.” Rosalind said.
Lav just shook her head at Rosalind’s words. “No, they kill my mate and I won’t allow them to live any longer. Plus I just like you do not wish to wait before seeing my mate. Now let us attack them before they have the chance to attack us.”