Within a small underground candlelit room is Loc, Lady Agatha, and a sleeping Hannah. In a dark narrow hallway leading to the room is Rivna, who is leaning on the wall with her arms crossed. She’s positioned in a way where she’s not visible to those inside the room.

Loc gives Agatha a surprised look.

Loc: A Soul Pact?!

Lady Agatha chuckles.

Loc: But how? My nation has lost the knowledge of Soul Pacts for centuries, if not millenniums.

Agatha reveals a crystal shaped marking on the base of her neck. Her eyes briefly glow gray, and so does the marking. Loc looks highly intrigued.

Lady Agatha: Believe it or not I was once a young wing seven centuries ago. And quite a fair one I might add…

Agatha leans back in her chair and lets out a deep breath of content. She smiles from reminiscing.

Lady Agatha: He was such a kind and noble soul. He truly had the heart of a saint. It was one of the greatest honors of my life to serve him.

Loc: Serve who?

Agatha lets out a saddened sigh.

Lady Agatha: His name, and his face escapes me. The Queen of Queens damn near erased his existence from the Terrestrial Realm. Well everything but the warmth and love I once had for him. Now all I can do is try to live up to the honor of The Iron Witch.

Loc pauses, astonished by her statement.

Loc: You were there. You were in my dream, weren’t you?

Agatha chuckles.

Lady Agatha: Are you sure it was a dream?

Loc gently presses his hand against his forehead.

Loc: It was more like a nightmare.

Hannah shifts in her sleep. Loc looks annoyed but doesn’t disturb her.

Lady Agatha: Are you familiar with the realm beyond time, Young King?

Loc: I’ve heard stories from my father and uncle.

Lady Agatha: That’s good. But you should know that when The Will wishes to reveal his secrets unto us, he does so through our dreams. However, what you just experienced was not a mere dream but a vision.

Loc: But I was asleep.

Lady Agatha: So you thought. Don’t you know that the Queen of Queens can read every one of our thoughts? She is empowered by Alkadeius after all. And that means no mortal can keep a secret from her. No my Young King, you took a trip to the land beyond space and time, the Celestial Realm.

Rivna looks intrigued.

Loc: The Celestial Realm? No wonder it felt so real. It was real.

Lady Agatha: But it doesn’t have to be.

Loc: What do you mean?

Lady Agatha: While it is true that you experienced the days that will shortly come to pass, not every detail has to be exact. There is an uncertain fate in the future you experienced.

Loc: What is this thread of destiny you speak so cryptically about? And for that matter how can I sever it now before I reach its end?

Lady Agatha: You already know the answer to that my Young King. You must, as your forefathers say, examine your own spirit to find this foul thread.

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Loc sighs.

Loc: Where are we anyway?

Agatha hesitates to answer.

Lady Agatha: Impatient are we?

Loc: I can’t be privy to my own whereabouts?

Agatha stops knitting.

Lady Agatha: Tell me, Young King. What makes a witch a witch?

Loc briefly reveals a puzzled look by the sudden question.

Loc: They’re evil, powerful, and worship Alkadeius.

Lady Agatha: No, no, no you unlearned Palyth. They cast spells.

Loc looks at her impatiently.

Loc: And?

Lady Agatha sighs in disappointment.

Lady Agatha: Allow me to humbly impart unto you what a witch truly is, Young King.

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FLASHBACK SEQUENCE:

In the grand courtyard of Clockwork Castle are two young girls frolicking through a snowfield. Both girls are Iarlan but one is human, while the other is a Veguhl. The human girl is wearing the attire of a royal princess while the Veguhl girl the attire of a royal servant.

Lady Agatha: Many moons ago there were two kindred spirits. Twins in every way but the wombs they were born from.

The Veguhl girl is flying the human girl through the beautiful skies. They’re having a wonderful time as they fly over a large medieval city, Iarlec capital. Within the city the humans and the Innokians live peacefully together.

Lady Agatha: These two were inseparable and loved each other dearly. One didn’t see the other as greater or smaller, just as another soul to respect.

The silhouette of the Queen of Queens’ giant hands can be seen hovering over Clockwork Castle and the kingdom of Iarlec at large. Strife can be seen within the city of Iarlec capital as war breaks out between the humans and Innokians.

The two girls, who look like they’re in their teens now, fly over the city and view the mayhem down below with great concern.

Lady Agatha: But then, a great spell was cast, by our favorite witch no less. What was this spell you might ask? But the enchantment of pride.

The humans within Iarlec capital have the Innokians, particularly the Veguhls, in chains and are treating them like slaves.

The two kindred girls, who are now adults, are in a beautiful regal medieval bedroom. The Veguhl woman wears an iron collar around her neck and urgently brings the human woman a silver tray with a cup of tea on it. The human woman is sitting down in an extravagant chair; it’s a young Queen Clockwork. She takes the tea and sips it, but quickly spits it out and chucks the tray at the Veguhl woman who looks sincerely upset. She races out of the room with teary eyes.

Lady Agatha: The spirit of pride wrought hatred into the hearts of the humans. And soon after a great rift was wedged between the once kindred spirits.

The Veguhl woman flies away from Clockwork Castle on a dark and stormy night. She stops in midair to briefly turn back to the castle with longing eyes before soaring off into the clouds.

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BACK TO PRESENT:

Lady Agatha: Now as a living Soul Pact never once did my master show me disrespect, or treated me unjustly. He always selflessly tended to my needs. Never forget Young King; true equality is not a virtue in this world. It goes against the natural order of The Will. However, the mightier one is in this world the more humility they must display, lest they kindle the wrath of The Will, and he humbles them himself.

Agatha pauses as she smiles to herself.

Lady Agatha: I suppose, in a beautiful way that’s a form of true equality in and of itself.

Hannah: So then, what is a witch?

Slightly startled, Loc quickly looks at Hannah who’s gazing at Agatha, enjoying the story time.

Lady Agatha: One that sows the seeds of wickedness into the hearts of others to do their bidding. Whether it be through their words, their gestures, or their doctrines. But the greatest of witches need not any vyrkra to cast their spells onto others. No, they are truly terrifying, for they puff up their victims, and make them believe they are immune to witchcraft itself.

Agatha pauses and smirks.

Lady Agatha: Isn’t that right, Witch Tier?

Rivna jumps; caught eavesdropping. Loc and Hannah watch her saunter in with a slight look of guilt on her face.

Rivna: Good morning Great Elder, and good morning Loc. How was your rest?

Hannah: Oh look, it’s my big sister’s arch rival in love.

Rivna: As if I could fall for a non-Tahlyan--

Rivna stops herself upon glancing at Loc.

Rivna: Your sister is the most delusional woman that has ever lived you little imp!

Hannah sticks her tongue out at her. Agatha smiles.

Lady Agatha: She too never left your side for a moment while you were unconscious.

Rivna slightly blushes.

Rivna: Of course! I can’t leave my captain here all alone with the daughter of our sworn enemy. The notion of having her join us in our endeavors is pure madness!

Hannah: It’s not madness, it’s simple; I’m family. I’ve known Loc far longer than you have. You’re just some freak that was found in a dusty old cave.

Rivna grows furious.

Rivna: Why you… If we weren’t in the presence of the Great Elder I’d rend you in two for that!

Hannah chuckles.

Hannah: You’re too weak to accomplish such a feat, remember?

Rivna grunts in frustration. Loc clears his throat, halting the conflict.

Loc: Between the three of you can someone tell me what the hell is going on? Just where are we?

The room rumbles from a violent boom, freezing the action. Lightning races into the room.

Lightning: Great Elder! Armolos and his band of pirates are on the attack again! I’ve come to take you someplace safe!

Loc, Rivna, and Hannah look confused.

Chapter End