Zae-Rin sat herself in a decaying throne, watching over an open ballroom, once a flourishing hub, now reduced to a shadow of its former glory. ''Curiosity is not a sin, child, but some things are simply not meant to be known.'' she whispered while tightening her grip around the rotting armrest. ''Dream and witness the world of eras bygone. For now— this is all that I can do for you.'' she sighed, trembling softly as the void fluctuated with the sound of clanking chains and the foul odour of blood and rot.
Priscilla found herself strung along a dream that encompassed her being, she hovered in an ethereal state watching over the world. The times were tumultuous, countless races called the land and sea their home, they all had their own thoughts and desires. Some were ruthless and cruel, others cowardly and wary of the unknown. The most problematic ended up being the humans, who despite their large numbers and booming population never found satisfaction in life. They hunted the foreign races and the unknown with vehemence. They were vicious and desperate to gain hegemony in the land, but the other races couldn't stand their offenses for long. Some races were inherently ruthless and cunning and began to lure humans to their side— promises of power and wealth were frequent, the humans greed was known to all, and those smart creatures knew how to use the humans weakness against them.
Some creatures were blessed by nature, they had the means and methods to survive, so much so that even the humans decided not to pursue them. It was a time of development, prosperity, and endless bloodshed. A drawn out battle that spanned generations, with neither side truly benefiting in the grand scheme. But where there were emotions— there was room for manipulation.
Priscilla watched with astonishment as the history played out before her, she had studied for so long— but what the Empire taught, and the things she saw in her dream didn't overlap in the slightest. She saw the moment in which betrayal struck. Leaders of nations and rulers of men, they united under the guiding embrace of several cunning creatures, they believed in their promises— and in their powers. But these people were naive and foolish. Their betrayals only cost the humans the supremacy they craved for so desperately. They were pushed back, their borders cut down time and time again for generations, until in all of the lands, only one remained with humans in them.
She could see the rise and fall of nations, akin to the tides of dusk and dawn. Countless men and women became oppressed with the shifting tides of change, the only justice in the world was power— those without it merely became pawns for those who had it. She didn't know why but tears formed in the corners of her eyes— she didn't know whether any of this was real, whether it was her mind forming stories to fill the gaps of Zae-Rin's teachings, or whether Rin had done it intentionally to show her, but despite it all something about it... gave her a pang of heartache.
Was it the history of the Old World? It was hard to confirm or deny— but one thing was certain, it felt so genuine and real that it shook her to her core. She continued spectating, her form disconnected from the world, a mere specter of a different era viewing the world through the eyes of the past. Her emotions swelled and her mind grew— there was a maturity in learning, a joy in obtaining knowledge one had been neglected to all their life. It was a contentment that one could not easily replace, and a freedom that could not be denied.
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Zae-Rin's methods proved to be somewhat silly— in a place devoid of day and night, rest in itself seemed redundant. Their flesh and minds were ethereal and eternal for as long as they existed in it, yet despite that she found it necessary. A sense of normalcy to keep one sane, keep them grounded and functioning in a world of abstract perplexity. When she deemed it right she pulled Priscilla back, ending her rest in an explosion of vibrancy as her garden bloomed across the horizon consuming her view and blinding it with its beauty. Priscilla stretched her weary body, soaking up the visions of her dream-filled slumber. Her body felt rejuvenated and refreshed, a deep-rooted strength filled her with energy as she smiled towards Zae-Rin.
''Are those things the stories you wanted to show me, Rin?'' she asked playfully while stretching her arms overhead.
''That's correct, child.'' Zae-Rin replied with a smile of her own. ''The history of our world is a long one, the small pieces your Empire spread is merely the squabbling of one victor among many. They succeeded in some small battles and proclaimed themselves rulers of the land, they deny the people the truth with their falsities. You too suffered in that deception, thinking the Empire was all there is to the world, but it's wrong! The world is vast, always remember that. For your path should never need to be confined just to the lands of the Empire.''
''Priscilla Valentine, are you ready now to face your final trial— to test the limits of your body and your mind and find the meaning of your existence in this cruel world— to find the reason to return, to life— and to the world?'' Zae-Rin asked, her tone serious as she walked away with her back facing Priscilla. It was the first time Rin had ever used Priscilla's name, it magnified the finality of the question asked.
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''I am ready! I'll face any trials you send my way, Rin. For the sake of the future!'' Priscilla replied with confidence and determination. She understood that this trial would not be a simple one, but she had to succeed. She was done being weak, she was done letting others walk all over her, it was her time to shine, and nothing would get in the way of that. The time was now, for her return was imminent.
Zae-Rin smiled as she began waving her hands intricately forming shapes in the air as her markings manifested along her body.
''You've wondered about my story, child. So I'll show you some of the past, remember it well. My nation was once one of many, we crossed our borders with the sands of Khreece, our fates and people intertwined by the long passage of time. Once we were united— we were strong, but as all things do, it inevitably changed when ruin came.'' she said in a somber tone as she continued weaving her powers intricately.
''There are things one cannot say, I say once more— it is not that I wish to keep it from you, but it is merely the way it must be. There are beings in the world, detached from us— they exist afar, but they desire nothing more than to connect and latch onto something tangible. Akin to an irrevocable karmic bond— there simply is no alternative.'' she said softly, looking up and afar as her powers surged around her. ''I know the eras of old fill you with wonder and curiosity, child. Having been trapped for so long— the world at large fills you with eagerness and longing, but there are limitations nonetheless that we must follow. This is why I showed you aspects of the past through a dreamscape made just for you, and the different trials you've faced while training. It's all for the sake of giving you glimpses of what it is you crave to see, without disturbing the powers at be.''
''Trust me when I say, that the curiosities that fill you will unravel themselves in due time. Impatience is the natural course, even more so in your situation, but free your mind of strain, focus on the trial, and live your life. That is the most crucial aspect to focus on currently.'' As she spoke the garden trembled with fervor, her powers agitating the space around her, conflicting with the concepts she was preparing for Priscilla. Zae-Rin finally placed her hands down, a swirling aura surrounding her as she looked at Priscilla. ''This trial will be your most important, it'll test your wit and understanding, your comprehension, and your stability with the powers that circle inside of you. Do well, child. And we will bid our goodbyes after.'' she said, before wrapping Priscilla in her powers, sending her off into the manifested world of her final trial.
It too was a manifestation of the Old World. One fatal moment where the line between reality and falsity blends together in a blurred state, a space of frustration and tyranny. Zae-Rin however believed in the woman. Nurturing her had been a blessing and a joy, she greatly cherished the time together, but she had to leave soon. The torments of purgatory could only be deceived for so long. Even now they gnaw at her soul, piece by piece, a respectable attempt at breaking the woman from inside out, only with Zae-Rin's protections she lasts, unbothered by their efforts. But even this, can only last for so long.
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Priscilla meanwhile found herself sifting through the sandy depths of an unknown region. The sandy dunes spread behind her as far as the eyes could see, vast and numerous, the closeness of the Star burned as it hung overhead, it illuminated the land leaving no shadow unturned. Shriveled remains of nature spread across, their roots prodding out from the earth in dismay, rejected by both land and life. The dry wind of mid-day blew across her face, reddening it from the subtle impact. She took her steps slowly, feeling her feet melt into the sandy embrace of the soft earth— the grains against her toes felt abrasive, but not irritatingly so. They were rough, but they had a softness to them that was worn out from countless years passing. The woman took the sights in without restraint, absorbing all the details into her memory. 'Was it Rin's nation?' she thought, as she looked around. Even if she couldn't see much of anything, she wondered nonetheless. Zae-Rin had gone into details about her life for the first time, Priscilla really wondered whether it was related to the trial in play.
Did Rin's nation have an enemy terrifying enough to compare to the countless creatures Priscilla battled previously? Would it be challenging enough to justify saying that she's adapt enough with her resonance and capable of utilizing her powers properly? Priscilla's eyes burned with excitement at the thought— she was so close. Just one more challenge, one more battle, and she'd return. She vowed to resist any and all setbacks, as she began moving away from the lumps of sand that specked the horizon, the sound of rumbling echoed far off to her side. A cloud of dust lifted rampantly to the heavens as a grouping of men on horseback raced across the desert. They passed her without sparing her so much as a glance as they flailed their scimitars in the sky, gurgling a strange indecipherable war-chant as they rode over a large dune that blocked Priscilla's vision of what was in front of her.
She walked up, feeling the freedom of the emptiness that surrounded her, it was distinctly different than the emptiness of purgatory, there was a vitality that electrified the air with every step she took. As she stepped atop the sandy peak her gaze became awestruck as a sprawling city clouded her vision, it wasn't as glamorous as the Empire she knew, it wasn't constructed of marble or steel, or any dazzling materials that set it apart. Yet it was just as beautiful to behold, a mecca of culture unmolested by the perversion of society. The city gates adjoined a path of carefully lined bricks that coursed straight through the city, into the heart of it where temples and palaces nested, delicate canals lined them with their presence, a testament of the wealth and status of those who resided there.
The contingent of men she had seen ride past her stormed through the wide paved path, heading into the depths of the central area. Leaving only a trail of dust behind them to prove their existence in this massive nation. Priscilla walked towards the city gates, as it neared she was mesmerized by the sheer size of the city, the gate was etched with intricate carvings of battles between man and beast. The woman steeled her resolve, and took her first steps into the city, entering into the unknown and starting her final trial.