Priscilla found herself in an unfamiliar room, windswept silk sheets fluttered in the air, and an elderly woman stood in disbelief by the window. She took the sights around her in, a realization burning in her mind. She tried to vocalize it, but something about it seemed to bind her into a silence. What was it she realized? She knew... but at the same time it seemed hard to describe. She took a step towards the elderly woman, eyeing her up and down. 'Did she save me? Hurt me? Should I kill her?' her thoughts scanned through the scenarios within only a few steps, finally she halted and simply asked curiously. ''Did you save me?''
The elder still in shock looked at her, she lived enough years to know the Imperial tongue so she replied. ''The Matriarch asked me to heal you, our people found you buried in the sand after a rockslide.''
''I see.'' Priscilla said softly. '"Where is the Matriarch now?'' she asked, still unsure of how to treat the elder or their people as a whole.
''The Matriarch went to support our people. Those Imperial dog's are attacking us again.'' she spoke in annoyance, shaking her head. ''No offense to you.'' she added somewhat apologetically, realizing that the woman is also one of the Imperial's.
Priscilla shook her head. ''It doesn't matter. The Empire is rotten. I know this already.'' she muttered apathetically. ''They call you people barbarians, but they praise their own barbaric hypocrisy as gospel. The people just live in a prison unbeknownst to them.''
Elder Ebe was further in disbelief at the woman in front of her, something was bothering her deep inside. It felt like her perception had a veil over it, a small corner of darkness shrouding her vision and impairing it. ''If you just wait a while, they should come back soon enough. They can't do anything against the Matriarch.'' she said warmly, gesturing for the girl to sit down on the bed.
Priscilla however couldn't, she felt a thrumming in her chest, a sound calling to her. Flashes in her vision that showed rivers of blood and mountains of corpses littering the Empire. She felt the heaving push against her stomach as she retched, holding herself as her knees thudded against the chamber's flooring. Elder Ebe stepped towards the woman, but Priscilla held her hand out in front of her to stay away. The room spun before her as the visions intensified, she could feel the calling as it gripped her chest slamming against her heart with ferocity. Begging her to come, forcing her to.
The cold glint in her eye shone with anger as she lifted herself up and ran out from the chamber's window, slamming through it as the wind swept her up beneath her feet. In front of the elder a fog of darkness shrouded her as she blanked out for a moment, unaware. She blinked towards the bed but the girl had vanished leaving her in a confused state.
''Wat Mae.'' she called towards the chamber door, summoning one of the tribal guards. ''Have you seen the girl go out?'' she asked the man, who shrugged in disagreement, none had passed him.
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Priscilla rushed towards the depths of the city she awoke in, it reminded her so much of the one's she'd seen from Rin's manifestations, the adobe buildings that filled the space, consuming the sand and the mountainous hills without judgement. The sprawling palace at the peak and the slopes littered with significance. She found herself descending through paths leading into the heart of the city where the most housing was built for the masses, it surrounded the heart of the mountain where a mammoth arched gateway sat embedded into it. It was sealed shut, a singular forge of molten metal that merged with the terrain. As she walked up to it, she placed her hand on it, feeling the call pulse with feral intensity as it slammed against the gateway.
All the pulsing vibrations caused the gateway to react, like a thin membrane it became transparent as a suction grabbed at Priscilla, pulling her into it. As she jolted into it she found herself falling downward through a spiraling pit that seemed to pierce the very earth. The further down she went the more pleasant the calling became, it welcomed her with song and cheer. Priscilla blinked for a moment and found herself stepping on a path of stone that lead to a chamber deep in whatever mystical place she found herself. She couldn't know how far she truly went, or where she even went. She walked towards the chamber and entered in to see a sphere of light that hovered in the center of it. From its blinding glow a soft sound penetrated, an almost buzzing hum like the rustling of leaves or wings. Priscilla felt her forehead itch with a mild burning sensation as the mark on her body fully showed itself. She found herself resonating with 'it', her eyes seemed to meld into the glowing sphere as a connection formed between the two. She could see through its eyes as it oversaw the world from up above. Black mist swirled around her limbs as visions of catastrophe flooded her mind.
She saw her father before her, tall and proud, sitting atop the Empire's throne. The bodies lined the streets as the blood flowed through the streets forming distinct patterns visible from above. The crimson sanguine glow illuminated, causing the land to quake and the sky to fracture. The fractured sky seemed to blot out the shining Star as it tried to brighten up the day in its warm embrace, yet it merely could not keep up. Through the fracture a blackened void formed revealing a man with pale flesh and pristine white hair that outstretched past his feet, spreading into the unknown. Below the countless masses knelt and worshipped. Chanting his name for ages to come. His vile maniacal laughter echoed into the woman's ears as she shook her head forcefully, causing the vision to burst.
''What was that?'' she asked to the space around her, only to receive the cold shoulder of silence. ''Is that what's going to happen? Is the Empire doomed, is it because of my father?'' she asked again resolutely.
''Tell me, dammit! These powers, these visions, are you trying to tell me what needs to be done?''
''TELL ME!'' she roared. ''DID YOU ASK ME IF I WANTED TO FIGHT FOR THIS EMPIRE?''
The silence remained, the only constant despite her fluctuating emotions. Priscilla took a deep breath, calming herself. Before slamming her fist into the glowing bubble angrily. The buzzing hum intensified from the impact as the sphere convulsed ever so slightly.
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'Stop.' a voice resounded inside of her mind, more a construct than an actual voice. A sort of link that spoke through feelings and meaning, more than words. 'You must fight, not for the Empire, but for the world.'
'The Demon, they are trying to restore the Demon's powers in this world. To bring his reign of terror back.'
'Everything was doomed, until you touched the power. You touched it, now you must fight. You are the only choice we have.'
Priscilla clenched her head as she felt the weight and pressure of the emotions transferred. 'Are things that desperate?' she wondered, was it all really because she connected to something unknown to her in that place between life and death? She just wanted to live, she wanted to see the world, she wanted to get her revenge on her father and the Empire that gave him such power and confidence; yet how did it all turn out like this?
'Was there really such a plot. Was father involved in it? Why would he be on the throne and not uncle?' she pondered, her head a veritable mess of pain as the link between her and the light silenced. She thought about punching it again to see if it'd say more, but part of her was wary and scared. It felt like her head would burst if she tried to do it again. She had to gather her thoughts and resolve herself to what she'll do.
As she pondered she could feel the beat of her heart clearly, she looked at her hand feeling the power coursing through her fingers. It was not as clear and forceful as the times when she practiced with Rin, but it was far clearer now than when she first returned. Was it while she was blacked out or was it the connection to the light that strengthened her link? She wasn't sure, but she smiled. Having power was far more reassuring than not having it. There were too many uncertainties in her life, the more power she had at her disposal the more confident she felt in handling them.
She lifted her spirits up and looked at the glowing light. ''I don't know what you are or what you truly want, I don't know if the Empire is rotten and needs saving, or if the world is doomed. But I will live my life as I wish, I'll stop my father for my sake, not for the world's.'' she said coldly as she walked out of the chamber. The light flickered slightly, it was uncertain what it thought about her resolve, but as long as she did her part, everything would be fine— surely.
Once she reached the path once more that lay outside of the chamber, she found herself momentarily feeling a sense of weightlessness, before she blinked and found herself at the sealed gateway once more, her hand pressed against it feeling the warmth of the starlight that blanketed it in its presence. She shook her head and looked up at the Star above, before moving her gaze towards the mountainous range she came from and the borderline that was near it. ''Matriarch was it. I should meet her and see if she can be helpful.'' Priscilla muttered somewhat coldly as she began to rush towards the battle at the border.
She ran with light steps that propelled her down the winding paths with ease, each step pushing her as far as dozens of steps would take a normal person. The feeling of being as free as a bird brightened her heavy mood as she made her way down. The people around her seemed blind to her presence, the non-combatants went about their way doing their normal duties, the children played amongst themselves, and the warriors that remained stood on duty to guard and protect the people and the city. Priscilla looked at them with disconnect, they were not her people nor the ones she was familiar with. But she could see a warmth in them that was completely unfamiliar to her, the nobles were never so kind. Those who strived for success in the Empire could never afford to be someone like this. Even the slums were far harsher of a reality, beside her mother none of the others could be described as warm.
Priscilla shook her head, she couldn't think of it. It hurt somewhat knowing that the life she lead was so much more bitter than what others seemed to live, would it have been better if she was born outside of the Empire? Is that why her mother always told her to leave? It was such a helpless little agony that gnawed in her mind, that she had to ignore.
As she neared the border she could see the billowing sand as horses approached. She finally got a look at the woman who she assumed was the Matriarch. Her flowing wavy hair made her look as dignified as any noble woman, displaying the full grace and slenderness of her face. Her body adorned in gold that wrapped around her tan cloth gown exuded a particular charm that was unmistakable. Despite being what the Empire called a barbarian; she had the grace, style, and attitude of someone born to rule.
Mother Ora saw the woman approaching with a tinge of surprise. ''You've awoken.'' she spoke warmly in the Imperial tongue. Which surprised Priscilla as she didn't expect the woman to be so fluent.
''I have, yes. Thank you for your care.'' she said, bowing slightly with her hand against her chest. Her action gave Mother Ora a chuckle as she jumped off of her steed. Before she could say anything however a muffled man's voice broke her attempt.
''PRIS! YOU'RE ALIVE!'' Jens voice groaned out from a muffled binding that wrapped around his mouth. He lay on a horse strapped in ropes to its back instead of a harness. This made Priscilla wary as she glared at the Matriarch. She thought they trapped him, hurt him. But in reality...
Mother Ora laughed. ''Fool. He was just injured helping us, we're taking him back for treatment.'' she said through laughter. The girl reminded her of a wounded pup always baring its teeth at the slightest inconvenience which she found too funny.
''It's true, Pris.'' Hallie's voice came from nearby as well, as she took hobbled steps forward holding onto the other side of Jensen's horse. ''Those creature's were attacking while we were looking for you... so we helped them...'' she said through hoarse breaths.
Seeing them Pris felt relief, but she couldn't help but ask. ''Did you find Ferro already? We were together while tumbling... but all of the debris and rocks separated us in the end.''
Her question caused Hallie to stiffen, her eyes watering. ''We found him, Pris. He was alive, but...'' she choked out the final words with difficulty. ''He's gone now. Jared too. Killed by a monster from the Empire.'' she broke into tears as she uttered the words, the crowd of people silent as she wept.
Priscilla felt the stun of her words, 'they're dead?' she thought in disbelief. They were just together, she was wary of them, yes. She couldn't trust easily, but... they were becoming her friends. No, they were her friends. And now they're gone? She felt the chill in her veins and a fury in her soul. It was always the Empire screwing with her. She would not let it rest. If the monster wanted to kill, it better be eager and ready to die instead.
She was in disbelief; it had barely been long since they met, but they went all this way to find her. Ferro jumped off the cliff to save her, to grab her hand when most would've abandoned it. It was a critical offense that changed her mind in that moment. ''Where's that monster now?'' she asked coldly.
''He fled after I used the blessing of my people, but he will come back. I need to rest now, else I won't be able to use the blessing if he returns again.'' Mother Ora said softly as she got back on her steed. ''Let's go into the city. We'll talk about this then.''