As Zae-Rin spectated the battle with a cup of wine in hand she found herself smiling brightly to herself. She wanted to stop the trial several times, but the girl kept surprising her time and time again. ''Think of the heaven's, child! Broaden your mind!'' Zae-Rin's voice echoed softly through the valley, she sounded pleased and far less irritated than she had been previous times. This time her lecturing was more a helping hand, than a full on display of disappointment. It was evident she believed in Priscilla, she expected the girl to do well, she only needed the slightest nudge in the right direction.
It was silly for the woman to intervene however, as Priscilla too, had the same thought. An element that offered her a path to victory, it had speed, power, and viciousness that none other had before it. If she could resonate with it, harness it, the beast would stand no chance to prevent it. Priscilla breathed in deep as she faced the creature, she roiled the powers of flame and earth, igniting her markings with fervor as she slammed her palms together. The energy that swam around her fingertips melded together into a molten mixture. The beast flapped its wings, lurching back as the crazed woman began pelting it with clumps of that boiling molten mass. It ducked and dodged, avoiding the clumps as best as it could, several struck its body causing intense pain that distracted its intention. It had to focus as the molten clumps burst into tiny eruptions that struck it continuously. The creature felt confident as it avoided the majority of the frenzied attacks that came towards it, it was a guardian of the sky, a warrior undefeated— but to its later dismay, it would learn the same lesson Zae-Rin had taught Priscilla before. One can never over-focus on only the things in front of it.
If the creature had paid attention, it would've noticed that at some point the woman had stopped running, and had found herself in front of the large tree that she'd slammed against previously. Her back pressed firmly against it as the back of her dress tore, she dragged her back against the rough bark drawing blood willingly. As it poured down her back it covered the marks that etched the entirety of her back, causing them to glow with a crimson tinted gold. Her breath was laborious and ragged as she condensed and collected the energies that filled her body, circling around her heart. She began to comprehend, to see the flow of power at a far more intricate level before finally screaming with power as she slammed her first into the air, as if grabbing onto something, with a heave she pulled down, striking her hand down in the direction of the beast.
The heavens shook with thunderous applause from the excitement of witnessing that fateful resonance drawn in the woman's blood, lightning poured down in streams towards the wicked creature that dared to battle the woman. Without having a chance to react the creature found itself repeatedly struck, lightning coursed through its veins as its blood boiled. It howled in pain, lashing out uncontrolled as it destroyed trees and buildings around it without reason. Its body numbly stood there, the continuous barrage striking it into the ground, forming a crater in the earth until finally, it stopped moving.
Priscilla felt the relief immediately as her legs wobbled, she felt the numbness coursing through them as she slumped down, her back firmly pressed against the tree to keep her just barely stable. 'I did it!' she thought. She couldn't be more overjoyed, all her life she had been at the mercy of others, but she was finally finding strength in herself, the strength to fight back, and the strength to succeed. Despite her heavy breaths and the sweat drenching her gown, she radiated utter confidence and peace of mind in that moment.
''Holy...damn! I did it, Rin! Did you see?'' she said excitedly through gasps of exhaustion, she wiped her brow and was about to force herself up off the tree, when the world erupted into streaks of dazzling light. She found herself sat on the marble bench— back in Zae-Rin's garden once more. The woman sat lasciviously opposite of Priscilla, she smiled at the girl before taking a sip of her wine. The night-sky in Zae-Rin's world shimmered with countless dazzling stars as a soft breeze blew past them.
''I was of course watching, child. You did very well— a few questionable decisions, but it was good nonetheless. You're learning and adapting at a rapid pace, but don't let it get to your head. I've told you before. Once you return the resonance will weaken, you'll find yourself relying on your instincts and body more and more.'' Zae-Rin swirled her wine glass in hand, her eyes focusing on the motion of the liquid. Just like the whirlpools that Priscilla was destined to set off, once she returned. She set the glass down before getting up towards Priscilla— she put her arms around her neck, giving her a soft hug from behind. ''At least for tonight though, you can be proud. You've made me extremely happy.''
Priscilla softened from the woman's embrace. She felt the urge to tear up, but she resisted it. It had been such a long time, since anyone had shown her any kind of affection. It was a forgotten sensation to her— but she didn't complain.
''Thank you, Rin. Meeting you in this place... has been the greatest blessing.'' Priscilla said softly, placing her hands on top of Zae-Rin's own.
''Such is life— where there is darkness, there is light. The fine line between medicine and poison fades with a single drop added. The greatest power of the unknown is the casualty that anything can happen when you least expect it to.'' Zae-Rin said in her sagacious attitude. She put into practice what one might expect from someone who had lived through unmistakably many years. ''Now, why are you getting so sentimental? I'm not dying— I mean, we're already dead, aren't we?'' she chuckled as she took a seat next to Priscilla.
''Come on, Rin! I'm not sentimental. It's just— I never had any close friends before who weren't plotting how to use me, or planning how to betray me for the biggest profit. It makes me sad... knowing that we won't get to talk anymore if I leave.'' Priscilla replied somberly. The girl— she may have experienced so much, but in her heart she was still young and capricious. Even with the world of the living beckoning to her— even with all her desires for life, and vengeance. When she realized Zae-Rin's warmth, the kind embrace none had given her since her mother passed away, it made it so much harder to keep her convictions straight.
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''Ah, child. There's no need for such gloominess when your second chance at life nears. I have existed for longer than you can imagine, I have seen the tides turn more times than you can count. You, my child— do not need to worry. If anyone has the potential to release me from this place, it will be you. I have the utmost faith in you, and you too— should believe in yourself.'' Zae-Rin replied seriously to the girl, before adding sternly. ''More than that— think of your own desires. Do you not want to return to the Empire? Do you not want to get back at all those who betrayed you? Do you not wish to see the vast world that extends past the borders of the Empire made by those foolish troublemakers? Broaden your horizons! You have a wonderful life that needs you to experience it. Don't let your views narrow, simply because of my presence.''
Priscilla kicked her feet softly against the marbled table, her head down in a gloomy thought. She knew Zae-Rin was right, that she meant well and wanted the best for her. The logic didn't escape her— but despite it she still felt sad hearing it. ''Rin... how much time has passed outside of this place?''
''Has father made a new heir with that manipulative woman? Does anyone remember me? Would it even make a difference if I returned now?'' she asked conflictedly. She didn't know what kind of answer she wanted— what she expected, maybe she just wanted some thread of disappointment, something to keep her in the abyss with Zae-Rin. But those silly thoughts couldn't be brought to life.
''I've told you, child. Time is neither your friend nor your enemy. Here it tolls— eternal. In the realm of living— a stationary construct. The time that's needed, and the time that's not. Everything will fall in place. I do not know what transpires in the world of the living, but what I do know is— it's futile for you to worry about it. When you return the fundamental laws will all balance one another and place you, where you must be. So for now, focus on what matters. Learn, and grow. Become the woman that can face any threat in front of her, instead of seeking your immediate demise.'' Zae-Rin replied comfortingly. She patted the girl's shoulders softly before muttering. ''It's okay to be worried, or even eager— but don't get carried away. If you get ahead of yourself too much, it'll quickly turn into a poison for which there's no cure for.''
Priscilla sighed as she gazed at Zae-Rin, there was a glint of longing in her eyes that wanted to burst out, but the girl remained silent. ''You're right, Rin. It's better to be ready for everything that'll come for me... and when I'm strong enough, I'll find a way to fix everything that needs to be fixed...'' Only after several moments did she finally reply in a serious tone.
''Tell me, Rin. What world do you see when you manifest these beings. What was that final creature supposed to be?'' Priscilla asked curiously, trying to shift the subject herself before getting caught up in her emotions. ''I've never read anything about it— nor those people. They seemed savage and barbaric— even more so than the sand tribes that border the Empire.''
''That creature... They called it a Khimra, long ago. It was a deformity of nature— a byproduct of strife that forced a mutation to occur. It was vicious, utterly monstrous, a hybrid that obeyed no man. It roamed the outskirts of the nation of Khreece. It would torment its people ceaselessly, preying upon them with endless hunger. But that too— was a fundamental law of nature. Because of the beast the people of Khreece needed strength, they fought bitterly for survival, and in the end they became the most fierce warriors. Back then, there were countless Khimra invading, but the warriors of Khreece slayed them down to the last. They left not one!'' she paused momentarily to take a sip of wine, before continuing. ''Not all were warriors however— and that fact cost them in the end. Some thought that the Khimra were the children of God, a creature that could never be born naturally— only created by the all-powerful. Those fools, collected the remains of blood and gore that the warriors left, they built shrines and altars upon the land in the depths of the jungles that bordered the nation. They created an even worse monster in the end— something neither beast nor god, but the worst of both.''
Zae-Rin spoke with relish of the times long-forgotten— yet eternally remembered for someone like her. She spoke of the Old World— where all races and species thrived, countless religions amassed the continents, and all the cultures that formed over the course of centuries.
Priscilla war star-eyed as she listened carefully to the stories of the past. In her mind she saw the importance of the knowledge, she didn't know if it would ever prove useful— but she believed Zae-Rin has her own purpose in talking about it in the first place. Some things she would brush off, no matter how Priscilla asked— she'd never mention it, but the things she saw importance in, she always would say without complaint.
She wanted to ask more questions, but Zae-Rin placed her finger to her lips. ''Enough for now, child.'' she said softly. ''You've endured several trials without stop. Your body and mind need to rest— even in a place like this, you cannot neglect yourself.''
Zae-Rin weaved her hands shifting the gazebo and garden in a flurry of light as it turned into a cozy cabin. Priscilla found herself laying on a comfortable bed, while Zae-Rin stood nearby. ''Timeless as the void may be, sleepless as the nights are, but despite it all— rest. We can continue with the stories later.'' she said in a hushed whisper.
Priscilla wanted to speak— but a blanket of darkness covered her, she felt the weariness and fatigue melting off her limbs, before she floated off— asleep.
'Good, child. It's so easy to neglect yourself in this place. You must not become like me.' Zae-Rin thought, as she walked out of the cabin, her feet stepping on a crumbling path of stones as she walked towards a dilapidated palace.