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Two Worlds (Atherium x Rosie)

His thoughts were a storm and his world was spinning now more than ever, with the emotion that was building within him with each step that they took towards the place. Elvina seemed to genuinely have no clue of why he has called her to a secluded place, and, as soon as things began heating up, he wasn't exactly sure even he knew. As soon as she took off his gloves, he was almost decided to dismiss the proposal and simply give in to the temptation of letting himself fall into her and exploring more of their newborn love. He felt her heat radiating against his and it only made him ache. His hands now left hers and strayed until they caught a firm, yet gentle grip of her mid-section, as he returned her fevered kiss with his own. But, what if somebody got the idea of coming around and saw them? He legitimately wished to utter the question, but found himself unable to as this game was stealing his rational thoughts away. His armor clad body was pressing against hers as he planted soft, delicate yet fevered kisses upon the corners of her lips then descending down to her neck.


He was totally drunk. Drunk with alcohol, drunk with the miasma of this phantasmal night and drunk with the scent of his beloved, which gave him a feeling he discovered he has never experienced before. He felt powerful as well as weak, and his kneecaps were almost giving in. Suddenly stopping in his track as he was kissing the soft curve of her neck with ardour, he decided to firstly do what he came there for. It wasn't easy, given the fact that his fingers as well as most of his body were weakened by alcohol and emotion, but finally, he managed to pull out the small box within which the ring was found, and, taking just a little step away from Elvina, he tried to collect himself and find coherent words. "My love..." He began, smiling almost sheepishly as he tried his best to contain the emotion that overtaken him. "I... I mean... we... uh... Back home, I would have never thought I'd ever find somebody that I'd give my life for. And yet..." he paused "... and yet here you are... flesh and bones. I never knew that day, back when you've found me on the beach, that we would get this far... it is a constant surprise for me and at the same time a constant... uh... what is the word..." He mumbled to himself as the emotion was causing him to forget his own words.


"It's just the biggest... honor to have you stand by me... and a blessing to have you... unconditionally love me, like you do... you are magnificent... you are a whole universe that has opened up to me and I cannot say enough how much you mean to me but I wish to let this tell you..." He finally managed to speak before revealing the small box, which he opened with trembling hands. Inside it, a golden ring with a beautifully shaped diamond lain there, sparking as it reflected the flickers of the different lights passing through here and there. A trembling hand came to pluck out the ring from its confinement, before he dropped the empty box just so he could use his other hand to take hers. "I love you, Elvina. Now, and ever." He spoke with almost ragged breath as he slid the ring upon her finger with the same emotion that has been driving him thus far. He was sure that this moment was something he would never, ever regret, and he felt more than blissful that it was finally happening.


His arms now wrapped again about his beloved's figure as he pulled her as close into himself as possible. His lips captured hers with heat, as he kissed her ever so passionately and feverish. No. He cared no longer if somebody would see them, he cared no longer that it would be too soon. All he felt the need for was to become one with this girl that has turned his world upside down eversince they met. His hands ran up her back and his fingers, albeit being still weakened by the alcohol and trembling with emotions, found their way to the zipper of her dress, and began gently tugging it downwards, a gentle yet almost hasty move. The free fingers felt around the soft skin of her back that radiated a heat that was warming up the night air. He felt her hands working their way upon his armor, making the different pieces of plate attached to it fall one by one, She was his, and he was hers, undoubtedly, and so they headed somewhat hastily towards getting themselves lost in the magic of the night, all while the music still played withing the Great Hall.
 
His words were tumbling out of his mouth as if he had never strung a sentence together before. Hearing them so soon after such moments of yearning made the young woman's smile erupt with a fit of soft and breathless giggles. Her head was tilted back against the trunk of the tree, her eyes closed, lost in the moment of pleasure which had just been cut short for a reason Zael was failing adorably to articulate. His words were registering, yes, and when she felt a silver band slip onto her finger, her eyes flew open. With parted lips, Elvina had the intention to stop Zael in his tracks, to utter out some words of gentle and compassionate protest.


"Zael, I.." But her unsure response was bottled by Zael's lips which sank against hers in an strikingly intense kiss. When the two first met she would laugh in the face of anyone who believed he was capable of emotions beyond confusion and point blank rage, but this, this was something from another realm. Since that day he had blossomed into a fully rounded man with feelings and emotions that he would project onto her. Her trail of thought slowly turned to mush in the depths of her mind until disappearing completely. His mouth toying with her lower lip was enough to distract her from even the most urgent thoughts. She made no effort to remove the ring from her finger, and she also managed to wonder whether the lack of such an action could be misleading from her true thoughts on it, but she could not process a coherent thought, let alone settle into a mature discussion that she was not quite patient enough to see all the way through.


His plates of armour clanked not so discreetly against the stone ground they stood upon, causing them both to burst into fits of immature laughter. Elvina's wild eyes stared around the darkness that encompassed them. They hadn't been heard and she thanked the Gods that their moment hadn't been corrupted. The button down that adorned his body below the armour was being hastily unbuttoned so her hands could slip under the material and explore his skin with her delicate fingers. When the travelled across his stomach, it visibly tensed, and Elvina grinned up at him in response. "You don't have to be nervous." She whispered against his cheek, pressing her lips against his light stubble now and then while her hands continued to wander aimlessly, wanting to feel every part of him. It was not long until they gave everything to each other- it was a mess of tangled limbs and drunken chuckling that eased any anxiety the two had previously felt.


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Shortly after, the unlikely lovers had been hit with a wave of unwelcome sobriety that cascaded over them. Both of them helped each other change, but neither of them felt sick nor faint with the after effects of consuming so much. Both were still caught up with the giddy excitement that ensued and Zael found himself bending down to swoop Elvina up onto his shoulder in a fireman's lift. Blood rushed to her head, and her legs kicked in a half hearted protest that was overrun by manic laughter. She had never felt so happy, so content, but the glittering circle on her finger still needed to be addressed. It was simply a matter of finding the most appropriate time.


When she was laid down again, it was on the lush cushions that covered Zael's bed in the royal castle. He had marched through every corridor with her in such a position, blissfully ignoring the stares and laughs that the couple inevitably received from onlookers of every race. Her now rather unruly hair curtained her flushed face, and she raised her eyebrows doubtfully up at her beloved. "Could you have been anymore indiscreet?" She asked him playfully, moving up the bed so he could climb in next to her. "If my mother found out about that then she would be having some very strict words with you, I can assure you." Elvina reminded him with a mockingly serious tone, but the grin that played on her lips reminded Zael that her threats were empty. His hand found hers, and he brought it against the light which crackled from the fire opposite the bed. Both of them lay in silence for a minute, simply admiring the flickering reflection of the fire against the silver. Elvina's heart weighed heavy in her chest. Now was the only time to share her true thoughts.


"It's beautiful Zael, but I cannot accept it. At least, not now." Elvina spoke softly, hoping that her gentle tone would cushion the blow of her words. "I want to marry you, but I want to know that we will both live to see it happen." Of course, she was referring to their journey ahead. What kind of wedding would it be if only one of them was able to attend? Resting her head against his shoulder, she carefully removed the ring from her finger and placed it within the palm of his hand before proceeding to enclose his fingers round it. Bringing his fist to her mouth, she kissed each of his knuckles individually, hoping with all her swelling heart that he would understand.
 
When his mind went back out of the blank space it has been thrown into as their union reached a blissful end, there was only a slight sensation, a tingling that echoed through him. All of a sudden, the hazy state of drunkenness was dissipating, all while he breathed in the miasma of the night that suffused with the distinct perfume of his beloved, her skin radiating the purest light as he gazed upon her almost too perfect shape that lain there, just as breathless as he, exhausted by the resolve of their act of passion. However, what intrigued Zael the most was the feeling it has given him. Back home, he did this quite a few times, but it was never this intense and exciting. Of course, part of the excitement came from the fact that they have done it just under the night sky, at the risk of being caught in the middle of the act by who knew which of the many drunken persons that celebrated. But the rest of it, as he now realized, came from the fact that the simple craving for Elvina's body was ignited by the deep feelings he has grown for her. It was the full release of a love above all. The first true love. And as he vowed to himself silently, the last.


And now it was time to help each other get dressed, not wishing to risk being caught just laying there, with bare bodies, although they both would have loved to spend the rest of the night just gazing at the stars. Perhaps another time. The way back to the chamber that was specially prepared for Zael was funny, to say the least, and the vektrosian noticed right away the girl's mother's gaze as he made his way through with Elvina in his arms, all while both of them giggled and laughed like two children. It was either she already knew what has happened between the two, or that she believed they were way more drunk than they looked like. However, luckily, nobody has followed them into the private quarters, and so they could now share the room and spend the rest of the night together. He simply lain by her, taking her hand to admire how the beautiful ring adorned her slim finger. He was prepared to raise it to his lips and kiss it, when she broke out the moment, only to tell him that it was simply not the time.


But... how was that possible? She wanted to know they were both alive to enjoy their marriage? Well, they were both alive. What better time would it be than this? However, he remembered his earlier thought of Wouldn't it be too early? that sparked through his mind, and now, he could almost agree with it. But the fear still lingered, what if he didn't make it out alive? He now knew he was not immortal, and knew that the Bloodseeker held tremendous powers. If they were ever to meet him, the outcome would be most likely their deaths at his hands. No. His death. He would do anything possible to help Elvina get away even with his last breath. Sadness loomed over him, threatening to embrace him and cause him to simply spill out by turning away and eventually leaving the room to go get himself drunk again. But the thought faded, even though he felt the ring within his palm, and even though her gesture felt... painful. His fist was folded further in slight anger as she kissed it, and he feared that he would be unable to contain himself.


However, his body was soon taken over by another sensation, and he suddenly felt relaxed and unwilling to fight more for this. The time would be right when the time was. Not a moment before, or after. He only wanted to spend the rest of the night in peace with his beloved, to get the time to properly show the love he held for her. His hand that she held was gently pulled towards him, only so that he could place a couple of sweet kisses upon her hand, before he shifted so he could lie now on almost one side, to gaze better at her. His hand rested again upon the curve of her mid-section, only to then roam up to below her shoulder and then back down to her hip. The same hand then moved to delicately cup her face, only so that his thumb could brush against her lips. The silence outstretched as he seemed to ritualistically caress her, all while gazing in her eyes, those eyes that were like a whole new universe for him. "I don't care if you want the ring or not. You still belong to me, and I still belong to you. That is all that I care about. And we will live to see it happen." He said before smiling and gently approaching her, his locks now hanging over her face as he placed a soft, loving kiss upon her lips.


The Moon gazed upon the two through the window as they lain there, on the comfortable bed. He carefully tugged Elvina against himself, making sure that she was as comfortable as possible. To set his hand free, he placed the ring on the night stand beside the bed, and instead, occupied his hand with hers, while his free hand roamed randomly upon her form, caressing it, as if he wished to keep printed on the tips of his fingers every single curve of her body. He felt content, he felt safe and he felt like nothing could touch him. He just wished that the night would stretch forever, and the dawn would never arrive.
 
His tender and almost absent minded fingertips touching along her side assured her that he was not angry, that he had taken the news in the best way possible. Elvina had every intention to marry him, she was adamant that she would never stand by anyone else, but she also knew that marriage did not define their feelings towards each other. A piece of metal, no matter how glamorous, could not beat how she was feeling now. It would never match with her cheek against his chest while he undid her dress for the second time so she was more comfortable. She did the same for him until they lay naked with each other, being at their most vulnerable, yet most exhilarated. The room was silent but she had never felt more alive. From outside came the gentle clopping of footsteps, rather rigidly, and she assumed that whoever they belonged to had had a little too much to drink. A small crash, and a string of swear words filled the air, and Elvina giggled against Zael's mouth, breaking the kiss in the most delightful way.


"Don't let them hear us. I heard there's a rule about sharing beds amongst the Elves." Elvina whispered quietly with her fingertips pushing against Zael's in a lovingly gentle battle. She just enjoyed the feeling, and found the whole activity to be rather amusing. "Apparently it's to do with modesty." The girl continued, her eyes trained on their hands while hovered just above them. "But then again, I wouldn't know much about that." She added on with a brief gesture to her bare body, the duvet just coming up over her chest to keep her warm alongside her lover's safe embrace. It initiated a small smile from Zael, who began to peck playful kisses down her neck until her hand whacked down on his shoulder. Elvina was a mess of juxtaposition. While her hand did that, her cheeks flushed and she moved in closer to him. If they were anywhere else, somewhere more private, she was sure there would be no efforts of protest.


And so the two spent the remaining hours of the night in a tangle of sheets and whispers of sweet nothings. They took advantage of the peace that both knew would not last, not until peace had been restored. It reminded them both of worthy things to come. The thought that every minute they spent together could be like this was something to work towards. Elvina knew that even when times may seem the most bleak and unforgiving, she could cast her mind back to this moment, enveloped in Zael's grip while they blissfully passed the time. Busy doing nothing together.


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"So it is true." A deep voice boomed sadly across the Broken Wood Forest. Leave rustled to life and roots began to explode from the ground, revealing long and rigidly wooden legs with stumped feet that crashed onto the now shuddering earth. Trees gathered round their fallen brother, their warm orange eyes peering between the branches of those that stood before them. All of them were itching to get a look, and loud murmurs began to naturally rise from the group that had congregated. The murmurs rose to shouts of agony and grief, fists swinging in frustration. In the centre of the commotion was a dead tree. It had been dismantled from it's place of rest not two days ago and now lay uselessly with crooked limbs. It was a carcass of it's former majesty. The chest of the tree that had spoken first crackled with a frustrated inflation, his deep exhale of breath being lost amongst the billows of wind that flew past him.


"QUIET!" He yelled out, startling a flock of crows which hurtled in-between the group, signalling their eerie switch to silence. The tree's voice dulled with a collected softness, his voice controlled and tense. "It would seem that the orcs are upon us once more. The preparation for war has stretched their resources and so they are resulting to destroying their homes. To destroying us." In any other circumstances, the trees would cause an uproar of protest, but they remained still, desperate for more explanation. "Thorak is dead. His brother, also. There is no one here to preserve our species. Our alliance died along with their bodies. It will not be long until the King allows mass deforestation. We lie within our own hands now." He declared, gazing out at the stricken faces that mooned over at him.


"I saw two people with them." A small, yet gravelly voice piped up from the back. Stepping aside to reveal who had spoken, a smaller tree was allowed to step forward and address their elder. "A man and a woman. The orcs took them into a tree not two miles from here, but I saw them escape with a group of Elves a short while later." Bowing his head in a brief motion, the elder nodded in agreement. He had witnessed the same.


"Elves, eh?" He questioned with a curiously determined tone. "The Kingdom and Seviani we must journey there if we are to arrive by sunrise. Find out more. If they are our allies, then we shall defend their honour in the battle that will rise. I will go alone. Await further instructions." It was clear that the Elder's decision was not mutually agreed upon, but no one dare challenge him. He had never been wrong, and his decision was final.


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The morning came all too soon, and the rise of the sun simply made Elvina clutch onto her beloved tighter. They had stayed up all night, neither of them wanting to sleep in the fear that it would cause them to miss out on precious time together. "I better get back to my room and change. I don't want to cause any tension before we depart." She solemnly left the bed and wrapped a blanket round her body with her dress draped over her forearm. Leaning in to press one more memorable kiss against his lips, she made her way to the door and sheepishly checked the corridor. It was empty, and she padded to her own room with a grin plastered on her face. This was the happiest, and most satisfied she had ever been. Nothing could ruin it. Nothing except a living tree looming through her window. Scrambling back against her wall, Elvina grasped the side of the blanket to keep her dignity in tact. The tree, however, remained pleasantly calm, and simply eyed her with amused interest.


"Do you know of a giant named Thorak?" He asked as if this was a viable way to engage in conversation. Elvina's trembling head nodded a few times in an attempt to avoid any kind of confrontation. This creature could crush her in an instant, the least she could do was answer his questions and not scream for help. His eyes narrowed. "What is your name?" He questioned her once more, and Elvina's throat closed up upon being directly addressed.


"Elvina.." She answered with uncertainty, as if she wasn't sure of her own identity. Thankfully the tree seemed convinced, and his face was besotted with a fresh wave of understanding. Clearly, he had heard of her.


"Elvina Terrace? A poster with your face was nailed into my stomach not long ago." He grumbled, touching his leafy fingers against the organ in question upon registering the reminder. "I am here to offer my allegiance, now that battle is upon us. You laid down your life for Thorak who was passionate about preserving my kind. I owe you my life, and you owed him yours." Following this, the tree lowered his head in a bow until twigs began to poke into Elvina's legs on the opposite side of the room. She winced and flicked them off, trying to readjust herself to avoid anymore pain.


"T-thankyou. Please, stand up." She smiled gratefully when the prickles left her body and shakily rose to her feet so she could go to her window and face him properly. She took a moment to examine him. How wonderfully extraordinary.
 
The night was blessed. Zael was caught in a trance as soon as he had revealed his beloved's body again, and the moonlight made its way through the window to let its rays caress her bare skin. Elvina was a piece of art, everything from the fair and soft skin resembling the gentle touch of silk to her hair that cascaded freely over her shoulder and hid away her bare chest. As soon as he buried his face in the curve of her neck again, the desire arose once more, intense and burning. But not in the same way as it did earlier. This time, the eyes of his mind carried him away to a vision of an act of much more grandeur. Their first time held the intensity and the anxiety of a new discovery in the heats of passion and lust. What he wanted now was to explore the newly discovered territory indepth, and uncover every of her secrets. But he knew it was not the time. Her mother could look for her in her room at any time, and, not finding her there, she could always turn to Zael's room. The last thing the two wished was for the girl's own mother to discover her in the act with her newfound love. However, this did not mean he couldn't simply restrain himself to only placing soft kisses upon her skin as a way to show her what he truly felt. He feared his feelings no longer, and as a result, he allowed them to flow and manifest on the outside.


When the morning finally arrived and forced the two to part ways, Zael felt disheartened, somewhat. Not because he knew what was awaiting for them, but because he couldn't spend more of that time, to prolong the moment of sweet nakedness between himself and Elvina, that unique bond that has created between them. Gods, he will surely miss the touch of her skin upon his, and the scent of her as he buried his face against portions of her skin. He relished in the lingering feeling of the last kiss he received from her upon her departure, and he watched her form disappear in the most rogue of styles through the door. He found himself alone, and the feeling was bittersweet, as he immediately noticed. But he was ready. Ready to fight so that they could enjoy these moments for the rest of the eternity they were to spend together, after they would achieve victory. His optics allowed him to cast a rushed gaze upon the ring that lay discarded on the night stand. If only he would have kept the small box in which he had it. He had the time to realize that vektrosian doctrine was right in one point. Love and feelings were the cause of bliss but also, a great source of pain. They installed in the mind and tortured the body greatly, like a drug addiction. There were just a few minutes since the girl left to her room and he already felt a physical need for her next to him again. He felt her side of the bed, warm as it was when she stood up, becoming cold. Her scent yet burnt in the air, and that gave him a slightly tingling sensation.


Up with you, soldier. His inner voice encouraged him, and he responded with a vigorous jump off the bed. He began picking up the pieces of his armor, discarded all around his side of the bed as Elvina left them. Clasps falling together, his hands working carefully on arranging the plating, soon enough, he was geared up and strapped, placing now the last piece, the long sword found resting carefully in its leather sheath. He strapped it to his back and closed the clasp of the sheath at the front, all while still thinking and wondering just where the hell was the special part of the sword that's been missing? He and Elvina have been so busy with their journey, the had forgotten of that part. Dismissing the thought, he readied himself to walk out of the room, hearing as the whole city was already becoming loud. From a relatively short distance, the distinct sound of marching was heard. Plated coifs were now shining on the streets, reflecting the light of the sun, and plated boots hit the ground in a short paced rhythm as the first battalion of the army of Seviani was being paraded through the streets. The tides of war and its imminence were now a certain, and so the guard of the city was being strengthened by the battle hardened warriors.


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King Onas, having retreated somewhat early from the feast of the last night, was now found within his personal armory. Two squires were working feverishly with assembling his golden plated armor as he sat down. As it was usual for the elves, even the plated armor looked a little too light and could make one wonder, was it really plate? Once finished with assembling the King's set, the two boys proceeded to polish the golden piece of warring art, making it so that it was almost possible for one to gaze at his own reflection in the chest plate. The armor in itself did not look exquisite, of course, it was a bit more special than the standard crafting for the usual soldiers, but the king requested that it would not be too different, because he wished to lead his army into battle not as a superior, but as one of them. And that was why his people loved him so. The sword that was now hanging in its sheath at his waist was also not too different, although, it was special. Runes were found on both sides of the shimmering blade, and it was known that once the sword killed, the spirit of the dead was to turn into a wisp, a strange glowing orb of light that was then becoming part of Seviani. The strange and dreamlike light of the whole city was caused by wisps, thus leading any stranger to believe that the king did indeed have his fair share of killings.


The King was now getting ready for the meeting that was going to begin in the throne room, before Elvina and Zael departed. He sat on the throne, clad in his armor, all while the queen and Elvina's mother were discussing in low tone voices. The entire Council was also present except the Ambassador Anaster, who has left the previous day to negotiate with the Stone Giants for the securing of the Therenar passage. Everyone was awaiting for the arrival of the two heroes, all while at the Seviani Landing, the elven ship "Storm's Lady" was in full preparation for departure. Crates with supplies for the sailing period were being loaded on it by the armor clad soldiers that were also going to be on it, to defend it should a war on the high seas spark. Everyone knew there were pirates sailing the seas. The whole city buzzed, strangely enough considering that most of the people have been feasting all night long. The dwarven detachments of soldiers were also preparing, encasing themselves in armors in the military quarter of their own district. They seemed not even affected by hangovers after the crazy night of drinking, but for them, this wasn't an unusual norm.


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"What do you see, Selin?" The guard asked. The two were on top of one of the watch towers erected on the front walls of Seviani, and upon the structures, a guard and a watchman were always present. The watchman's job was to keep his eyes on the horizon and report anything that he would see approaching the gates. It was never safe not knowing what exactly is approaching. These were still the early hours of the morning, but now that they knew that something was clearly afoot, they couldn't afford not keeping an eye out. Selin, the watchman, a young elf with sharp eyes narrowed his blue optics as he took a glance down the road through the forest. Nothing. From the road before the gates until the line would dissapear beyond the thick trees of the forest that lay before Seviani, there was nothing. Although, the distant sound of hooves drumming against the ground was audible, barely, but increasing in loudness. At that sign, Selin narrowed his eyes even more and followed the road closer, and suddenly, the flicker of a yellow robe was visible through the crown of the trees. Awaiting just a few more seconds for the horse to reveal itself, the watchman immediately recognized it was the white stallion that the Ambassador rode out of Seviani just the day before. And there he was, on the horse, the Ambassador's form slightly bouncing in the saddle. "Strange." The watchman mumbled to the guard in meditation. "I thought the Ambassador left yesterday with escort. Didn't he?"


Indeed, the Ambassador did, and thus the guardian was immediately suspicious. With a raised eyebrow, he yelled out for the guards at the gates to open them. The stallion galloped ever so fast, almost out of control, with what looked like an Ambassador that slept in the saddle. Was that even possible? The horse passed through the gates without control, the guards immediately rushing to block it from moving further as they now all knew something was not in its place. The first gaze that was lain upon the Ambassador's unusually pale face revealed the truth.


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The guard rushed into the throne room desperately, his armor clanking loudly as he ran through the hall. The gazes of the Council and of the King himself were immediately lain upon the hasty soldier as he came to a forced halt, nearly stumbling as he knelt all at once and looked up with desperation and concern easily readable in his gaze. "My Lord, the- the... the..." He tried collecting his breath and making sense of his words. "The Ambassador... he's returned! But he's dead!" He finally spat out, attracting a collective gasp from the Council, the Queen and even Elvina's mother. The King, however, tried to contain his concern as he shifted in the throne. "Hm... so the Stone Giants did not accept his offer, as I take it." He concluded, preparing to declare that the Stone Giants were now also enemy of the Kingdom, in assumption that they've allied with the Bloodseeker. "No, my Lord. His heart... his heart has been carved right out of his chest... " The guardsman replied as he recalled the painfully shocking moment of the discovery. "It is likely that he hasn't even reached the establishment of the giants before he was murdered."


Hearing it all, the King yet remained calm. Almost too calm. Nobody knew what was in his mind and nobody knew that he, just as pretty much everyone else, did have fear for the situation. It was all clear now that they were to be attacked within the next hours. "Go and alert everyone. Go to the military quarters and tell the instructors to rally all the troops. General, gather your elites and form the Vanguard outside the city. Give strict orders to the guard commander and enforce him. Nobody gets in the city and nobody gets out, as of now. Declare state of war." He ordered with a stone cold tone, the soldier standing and bowing respectfully before rushing out. The General was also quick to bow down and leave. As he rushed out through the door, a slender form slipped past him. Tall, lanky, fair skinned, dressed in a simple, blue robe. Her feet resting comfortably in a pair of boots made of cloth. She looked quite in her middle age, yet her beauty was radiant. Long, crimson hair cascading wildly upon her shoulders and vivid silver eyes gazing at her surroundings. She made her way in with ease, and the King was quick to regard her.


"Ah, Magistrix Kaeona, it is good to see you. What brings you here?" He asked, knowing that the elven woman was not one to show herself so often. Mostly, she was lost within her private library and studies. However, her concerned facial expression spoke for her before she even uttered a word. "Somebody, or something killed all my apprentices during the night and disabled the arcane shield. Seviani is now visible to anyone and everyone, my Lord." She spoke with a grave tone, and this time, not even the King could contain his concerned, rather shocked gasp. Standing, Onas now turned to the Queen, the Council men and Elvina's mother and uttered with the same cold tone that he has been using eversince the crysis arose. "This is no safe place for you any longer. The Royal Guard will take you to safety." He spoke before giving the signal to two of the nearest guardsmen that stood in the Hall. The two were quick to approach the Queen and the rest of the group and were ready to escort them to the specially designed tunnels for such situations. By now, the whole city was panicking, seeing as the military forces were being dispatched heavily, and seeing their own king, clad in golden armor ride through the districts, warning them to get in their homes as he headed towards the main military quarter.


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Zael's confusion was growing as he looked out through the window. What even was happening? Just a little while ago, he has been downstairs and shared a meal with whoever he found still hanging around the hall where last night there has been a total debauchery, and now... Now all he heard were the war alerts, the people crowding desperately in the streets, the heavy military presence. And Elvina was still in her room? With a sigh, he turned around and exited his own room, not even bothering to knock on her door. "Something is clearly happening." He uttered as he opened her door and entered the room, gazing at her with concern in his eyes. The treant that has stood at her window until just then was now walking away, having realized something was going on out there. The bad luck about it was that he yet did not get to deliver the news of his findings to the Elder tree, who stood yet in the forest, at a considerable distance, awaiting. And then was when a loud booming sound erupted, a sound that could only be compared with the possible sound of the sky breaking to pieces. The ground shook violently and so did every structure in Seviani. The loud screams of the population bulking on the streets in desperation completed the horrific sound, but were covered by yet another. "They're bombing the wall..." Zael spoke in shock as he gazed wide-eyed to Elvina.


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At least three miles away from Seviani, in the depths of the woods, the armies of Theodor Bane were stationed, along with the heavy machinery they have brought with them. Humans with shining, soulless eyes along with thousands of warmongering, furious orcs were prepared to burn the fair elven Capital to the ground. The machineries they used were of advanced technology, cannons with strange projectiles that could fire even from such a distance. Bloodseeker's army was a death machine, and Seviani was soon to meet its demise at the hands of the General that was now standing, along with his right hand men. His eyes were sparking with the energy that he was charged with eversince he first touched the Heart, and a malicious grin was playing on his lips as he watched in satisfaction from a watchtower erected by the crafty orcs how the projectiles the vektrosian machineries shot with such force it caused the very ground beneath them to shake were hitting heavily against the large walls of the elven capital. He knew that victory would be his.
 
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The whole room shuddered when the bombs began to crash against the once majestic wall. Elvina hurried herself to get changed, feeling awfully vulnerable in just a blanket that she stole from Zael's bed. Buckling the belt which held all of her weaponry, which she was now deadly certain she would need to use, she tied her hair into a ponytail so it wouldn't get in her way. "We need to get to the ship." Elvina declared. She felt selfish saying it when the Kingdom was under siege, but it was the truth. They were the reason this conflict was unfolding in the most violent way, and they had to fulfil their duty. Grabbing Zael's hand, she spun round to the exit with the intention to leave when a colossal wooden hand enclosed itself round the pair and dragged them from the room through the window. With their legs kicking, the two were forced out into the dangerous open in the clutches of Arledge, the Elder Tree who had journeyed here the night before.


"It seems as though you two are rather important in this." He mused to himself, looking round at the deteriorating surroundings with a quiet vengeance. In the distance the "Storm's Lady" awaited, the gentle rocking beckoning them closer.


"Over there!" Elvina called down to him, firmly placed on Arledge's shoulder with her hands grasping the leaves that sprouted from his arms to support herself. With a bow from the tree that made her head spin, he set off towards it. Meanwhile, Elvina was desperately searching for her mother. Her wild eyes scanned the land around her which stretched out for miles. People were like ants from up here, so finding her mother would be next to impossible. The woman foolishly leant forward in an attempt to see if she was to the left, and almost fell straight from her position. Her feet scrambled mercilessly, and she regained her balance. The tree gently scolded her, more concerned for her safety, and she spluttered quietly, almost to herself. "I'm sorry.. I thought I would see her.." Biting back tears now, Elvina held on tight, not daring to move a muscle until she was plonked on the deck of the ship. It had taken her nearly nineteen years to find her mother, and now it was being ripped away for the second time. What a cruel joke.


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The BloodSeeker's eyes narrowed, and he grasped onto the wooden bars of the watchtower. One of his men, Barric (his named was based on the term "Barricade", meaning to delay the movement of opposing forces, a skill which earned his position in the first place. No one knew of his real name, he was not even sure himself) twitched with curiosity. He was a man of few words, preferring to expose his emotions through violent force. Furthermore, he was an animated character that suffered from involuntary convulsions when angry, excited, or confused, meaning these movements were constant. "What do you see?!" He barked, darting his paranoid eyes from his boss, to the burning walls of the Elven Capital. BloodSeeker inhaled deeply and let out a mighty roar, causing Barric to lower to his knees in cowardice, spluttering out apologies. He had been taught to expect abuse when his boss was angered. It was a pitiful existence.


"They're taking to the sea. I can see it." Bloodseeker murmured, too busy concentrating on the boat which was now beginning to leave the docks. Although Arledge had provided a safe journey there, he was not exactly a discreet creature to behold. The transfer was easily noticed. "Send troops out to the sea. They mean to travel to The Heart. We cannot allow that." Bloodseeker was maliciously calm, and listened to Barric's grovelling compliance with a bored expression.


"I'll send the best men, my Liege. If the pirates don't get to them first, then they surely will." Barric reassured him before shouting down the orders to the troops that lay below the watchtower. It seemed as though the enemy had the pair cornered. Even the vast depths of the ocean was a wilderness.


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The journey was a dull and meek one. A heavy silence rested against the shoulders of the inhabitants of the crew members, who all sat silently while allowing the ship to run it's course. It was morning, so the sea was calm, and while a member of the army was whittling about the weather, and the consequential conditions that were to follow. As far as Elvina could tell, it would be plain sailing until tonight. According to the cloud spacing and shades amongst them, a storm was brewing. Then again, they were told not to worry, and to keep themselves safe below deck. Then again, Elvina was never good at remaining calm. Her head rested lazily against Zael's shoulder, only just managing to find comfort from his touch. She felt depressed and powerless, not being able to cast her mind back to the people she had met while being in the Kingdom. That place was a sanctuary for so many, and now it was being torn to shreds. Her brain was fighting against itself so her memories blurred together. At any one time, it would switch between the night her and Zael had shared, to the destruction that she had witnessed on Arledge's shoulder. And her mother, Gods be with her, she could only pray that she would survive. It was the inability to know, the fatal catastrophising that fused her fingers against the palms of her sweaty hands. All they could do was wait and try to survive the journey. Elvina was placing so much hope on reaching the Heart. She had convinced herself that it would solve all the trials her and Zael had been through. There was no reason to think otherwise.


From below, a grievous sound of mourning echoed through the midst of the ocean. It sounded like someone, or something, was weeping. What for exactly? No one but her was sure. A humungous tail, spreading at over 20 feet long swished harshly through the water, causing bubbles to erupt in every direction. Sharks swarmed out of the way for her, and her presence loomed over the sea bed, forcing the animals into darkness while she passed. A shadow formed on her back in the shape of an oval- the Storm's Lady was floating peacefully above her. Turning onto her back in a corkscrew motion to observe the ship curiously, she ignored the screams and cries of the souls that she had forced into early purgatory who thrashed beneath her. Their eyes were a disturbingly frosty white, and their lips were chapped from being beaten by the salty water. Their bodies were shrivelled, and they glared up at the ship desperately, willing for it to disappear for the safety of those who sat in it. Nevertheless, it was too late. The nameless woman had pinned her attention on it and moved her body to and fro beneath it like some kind of game.
 
The Ranger General of Seviani, Aegon, was already on the walls, shouting at his men, elven archers with tens of years of experience. Eagle eyed soldiers who would be able to shoot a point in the distance from half a mile away. Bow strings were drawn to the limit and arrows were ready to be sent with high speed, to cut through the air and stick into the bodies of the first line of stalwart orcish warriors that were charging towards the Vanguard that has already been established as a last barricade before the gates of the grand elven city. The orcs were savage in their charge, raising axes and clubs in the air and waving them furiously all while their throats let out violent battle cries that seemed to rip their beings in half. What a sight to behold for the heavily armored knights of the Vanguard who stood as a well defined, thick line, as a wall that awaited for the wave to crash into it. They seemed undisturbed by the projectiles that hit the walls like lightning, by the crumbling stone that was rolling down just behind them, by the thunders and by the cries of the city folk who ran terrified left and right, seeking cover as their city was being turned to ashes. Several fires have already started burning within the walls, and the huge treant that was carrying Elvina and Zael was trying his best not to step into any. In the chaos, nobody noticed how several of the apparently panicked citizens were quick to drop the disguise and show themselves as human folk with shiny eyes who began mass slaughtering every single citizen, guard and soldier in their reach. The once majestic town was slowly being bathed in blood.


"Marksmen! At my command!" Ranger General Aegon shouted to all his rangers, who in return kept their bow strings drawn and at ready. Below, the General was riding in front of the Vanguard, giving his knights a last encouraging speech to keep their morals up. The words were getting lost in the whole cacophony of chaos, but for the knights it was enough. The orcs were drawing closer, screaming their thirst for blood as they were already preparing for the slaughter. The seconds stretched painfully for all the three parties involved, the rangers, with their General standing tensed up and prepared to shout the order, the Vanguard knights, with their weapons ready to clash with the orcish savages, and the orcs, already feeling the delight of slaughtering the puny elves. "Fire!" Aegon shouted out to his men, who responded by setting the bow strings free, a thick rain of arrows already showering and piercing through the air. The orc horde began thinning out as one by one, beasts fell hit by arrows and were stomped by the boots of their own charging comrades to death. The bow strings were simultaneously pulled a second time, each and every archer working in a perfect synchronization with the others, ready to deliver yet another death rain upon the foes that now were met with the resistance of the knights of the Vanguard. Weapons were clashing fiercely, heads were being savagely ripped from bodies, screams of pain and battle shouts were mixing painfully with the orc battle cries and grunts.


But before the archers could release their strings again, a blinding light took their sights. Aegon raised his gaze towards it, but it was all he managed to do before the impending doom struck him. Following a roaring thunder and a vigorous earthquake, the wall just left to the massive gates of the city crumbled, defeated by a projectile that hit an already weakened spot. A rain of debris and elven corpses hit the ground, burying beneath it other soldiers that stood just behind it. The apocalyptic scenery was completed by more troops of orcs and humans marching now from behind the ones that had taken the battle to the Vanguard, ready to invade the whole city now that the wall was down. The last thing Zael saw as the Storm's Lady departed sorrowfully was the King forefronting the large troops of elven foot soldiers and dwarven ones. And for some reason, he believed... no, he knew that Seviani was meeting its certain demise. Bows and swords were no match for the advanced cannons stolen right from Vektros, siege cannons with a firepower ten times (if not more) than the ones currently in the possession of different royal fleets. Seviani was over.


The days since they have been on the sea have passed painfully. The only thing that gave Zael a sort of comfort was the presence of Elvina, although she was also torn and ripped. But the simple fact that she was there made him feel... different. Something gave him the certainty that they will reach the Heart and find the power to end all the massacre. To end the Bloodseeker and all the evil he has caused. He knew that they would not be able to reverse everything he has done and sure as hell, they would not be able to restore all the thousands of lost lives, but at least, they could stop him before he got a full control of the world. That was what they had to prevent at all costs. With each day that passed, the morals of the soldiers embarked on the Lady were also going low. Most of them left families behind, and now they were confused and afraid that upon return, they'd only find ruins of their homes. But this particular morning was even more strange than the others. The wailing. It was heart, and gut wrenching. Zael was the first to be alerted by it, and as Elvina was laying her head against him, he gasped. "Did you hear that?" He almost whispered to her.


The bosun of the Storm's Lady was the first to alert the others about the sights. "Men overboard!" He shouted out, a few of the crewmates already hurrying to the deck and looking down into the water to see what exactly was happening. "I'll be cursed!" The second in command, a dwarf, shouted as he gazed overboard at the shining of the strange, huge eyes that gazed from beneath the waters. "Tyris is watching us!" He yelled out, attracting the attention of the whole crew. By the time, Zael and Elvina were already equipped and out of their cabin, holding hands as they beheld the whole crew being petrified in fear. "Change the course!" was the immediate order of the captain after the latter pondered a second upon the situation. But a ship would not be steered so easily. Zael, still holding hands with his beloved, stepped up to meet the captain, who had clear concern read in his gaze. "What is Tyris?" The vektrosian asked, unashamed by his blatant ignorance. The captain tried his best not to seem too dramatic about it, and exposed the legend to the two. "Well... It is said that Tyris was once the kind Goddess that watched over the waters. She fell in love with the god Nythar, and they loved each other for a while. But Nythar was unfaithful to Tyris, and, once she caught word of it, she was shattered. She became nothing but a shadow of her former self, and it is said that she exacts vengeance upon the sailors, as she believes they are all unfaithful."


Zael was baffled by the explanation, to say the least. So, they really meant a mad goddess was right at that time swimming with them? Have they all lost their minds? Apparently, yes. The agitation on board was increasing at a fast pace as the course of the ship was changing ever so slowly, all while everyone reported that Tyris was still beneath them. But not only that. The waters began stirring. Zael and Elvina had little time to assess the whole situation as the chaos around them unfolded like a recurring nightmare of the last day in Seviani. The waters stirred with vengeful madness, waves crashing on the deck and other waves simply grabbing the otherwise large ship and pushing it around with ease. The loud, monstrous wails were intensifying, almost covering the voice of the first mate who was desperately trying to tell everyone to launch the boats and save themselves. What an incredible storm has awakened in nothing but a few seconds. Zael could do as much as embrace his beloved protectively, as he worked his mind in fever to find a solution. Nobody could see the vortex of water that was opening right beneath the ship, tugging it forcefully underneath the sea. By now, the panic was at its maximum and no hope was left. He could hear the wooden seams of the ship cracking under the devastating force of the waters, he could see how one by one the crewmates were being washed away. Was this really the end?


The last wave that rose threateningly tens of feet above the breaking ship was when Zael simply accepted his, and his lover's fate, and embraced her tightly as a last goodbye. How stupidly they would die. having gone through everything else so far and now... drowning at the hands of a mad goddess. The wave finally rolled and crashed down the ship, sinking it and taking every inhabitant of it to the Abyss.


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He could hear them as if through a dream. The wails. The wrenched his senses, and he could feel the sorrow contained within them. His body felt light, but at the same time, he felt as if he was floating. Attempting to move, he felt a strange force opposing his arms and legs greatly as he did. Was he dead? Most certainly, he must have been. He recollected yet the last wave that came crashing down and took him and... Elvina! The thought of her made him open his eyes at an instant. He only saw... what did he see? He saw the sun shafts sparkling through the water and... and a massive form floating his above him. The giant being then spun around and turned, presenting her front side towards the bottom of the sea. And then was when Zael saw them. Those huge, piercing and strange shining eyes. They burnt with utter hatred. He could see her hair spread about the water, long lashes of white and black. He could easily compare this being with a super sized siren, but it would have not been enough to just call her that. She looked majestic, in a way, but mostly, threatening. As soon as she saw that the vektrosian was not dead, her loud voice boomed through the water, the vibrations of her tone alone catching and shaking him violently almost.


You! Mortal man! Why are you not dead yet?!? She hissed, extending a huge finger that ended in a threatening claw straight towards Zael's face. To this question, Zael had no answer, but he discovered that in fact, he was not even going to the bottom of the sea. He was simply... floating underneath the water. He gazed the magnificently terrifying fallen goddess, unable to actually believe that this was indeed real. Not that he would care. All he wanted to know now was where his beloved was. "Why have you done this?" He questioned in anger, surprised at the fact that he could speak under the water and it all came out as a strange echo. What even was happening? "Where is my Elvina?!?" He questioned further, this time not holding back from growling threateningly at the giant sea being who gazed upon him with nothing but scorn and disgust.
 
Elvina's body crashed into the whirlwind of water, tossing and writhing to reach the surface again with her screams being lost in a cloud of bubbles that emitted from her mouth, along with the shouts and wails of the trapped souls that Tyris had damned to swirl round her for eternity. Her body got lost in the darkness of the ocean, floating almost gracefully downwards into the depths. Fish flicked round her curiously in a frantic inspection until her back rested against the ocean floor. Sand rose up softly on either side of her on impact and then settled in a deadly harmony with her. From above, Zael noticed her figure on the floor and instantly dismissed the infuriated goddess and began to swim down towards her in a desperate attempt to get to her and drag her from this nightmare. Escaping from the sight of the now insanely angered goddess, who was easily provoked from her ingrained bitterness, she snatched Zael back towards her with a new understanding of the relationship between the two. Her sharp teeth, deformed along with her soul and heart, bared close to Zael's face in a way that made his blood curl.


"All this, for love?!" She spat the word as if it was poison. To her it was exactly that. The spirits of the lost souls began circling round Elvina in what looked to be a dance of death, but upon a closer look, they were ensuring her safety. One went so far as to lift her hand and watch her fingers twitch. To her dumbfounded surprise, Elvina managed to open her eyes without having the salty water sting her pupils, she managed to breathe in without having her lungs swim in murky water. It was as if she was on land. Peering past the white figures, she made out a ginormous figure around ten feet above them. Recollecting her memories, she recognised her as the same being that sunk their ship. Reasons as to why were lost on her, but she could not think about anything but Zael. Her eyes now locked on his restless body, she pushed herself up from the ground and kicked her legs to begin her journey upwards. She made it halfway and was just about to yell out her love's name when ice cold fingers grasped her ankles, easing her back down to her original position. One figure in particular shook her weary head at her. She had been reincarnated into a rotting corpse of what she once was, but Elvina seemed sure that she was able to trust her. It was her correct assumption that Tyris had kept them all here. Following this, another lifted a weak arm that hung with dead soaking flesh towards a small glimmer under the sand. They clearly didn't have the strength to dig to it themselves. With eager eyes, Elvina began to make her way towards it as discreetly as she could and dug her fingers into the sand, bringing it away until a small glowing orb revealed itself.


"Love is nothing but deceit-" Tyris began with venom, but suddenly stopped her misconceived declaration to place her long and crooked nails over where her decaying heart was beating irregularly against her stained ribcage. Her whole body had turned sour, like a flower that has shrivelled up and died. She looked unusually confused, and in a vague attempt to find a solution, she peered at Zael with a look that could possibly be described as vulnerable. Meanwhile, Elvina's fingers were spread over the orb, the only contact it had received in centuries was being transmitted directly to the body of the beast. Retrieving it from the sand, now, Elvina held it in front of her as a means to decipher what it was. She looked to the sailors for guidance, who moaned and pointed up at the suspiciously still figure that was Tyris. Then, they placed their hands over their hearts, as if to refer what it was to her. That was it. It was the dusty remains of her heart that refused to go out. After all this time, it still glimmered hopefully. Now she had to figure out just how the hell to reunite it was it's misled owner.


"What is this.." She muttered, releasing Zael from her now distracted grip and tossing him onto the seabed. His body landed next to Elvina's, and she took the opportunity to enclose her arms round him for a sweetly brief moment.


"We have to connect this to her heart, somehow. It's what remains." Elvina informed him, smoothing her palm over it so that Tyris remained engrossed in the unexpected warm sensation that began to glow within her chest. Zael's partner's face screwed up in frustration. How the hell was this supposed to work?! "Any ideas?" Elvina asked him, tantalised by how close, but so far away they were from solving the problem that was swishing above them.


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From afar, a pair of emerald green eyes watched the events unfold. The woman that they belonged to was situated behind a piece of seaweed which had rooted itself into the sand and stretched across the width of the water she had grown up in. Elvina and Zael were known not just on land, but their legacy had spread through the ocean, carried by the currents of the waves and into her ears. She couldn't quite believe it. Tyris had dominated the waters since she could remember, but no one had been capable enough to get this far up until now. She normally had them added to her collection of victims before anything could be done. Tyris was her own worst enemy. Too scared to let anyone help her. That is why she had observed from afar, but now the opportunity for her to finally help had presented itself. Wandering over the water as if it was a pavement, she emerged behind Zael, much to Elvina's terror. She instantly recognised the woman to be a siren, and her hand began to thump on Zael's back to alert him. This was the last thing they needed. Sensing the suspicion, she raised her hands in defence, allowing her a moment to explain herself.


"My name is Saskia. You resisted the temptation my sister brought your way during your journey to Skystead." Zael remembered it effortlessly, how he had managed to differentiate between her, and the Elvina that he had grown to love. This siren's features were more well meaning and genuine than that of her sister's. "Tyris has reigned over the ocean since I was born, meaning I have had ample opportunity to seek out a way to resolve this." Pointing upwards now, Saskia brought their attention to a jagged hole in Tyris' left shoulderblade. "It was from there that she ripped her heart from her own vessel, and it is only from there that it can be returned." Daring to get closer Saskia lowered herself to sit on the sand so she became equals with them. "I have built up my power to transform into Nythar, the god that caused her to sink into this sorrowful existence. If I do this, you can return her heart from whence it came." Finishing her speech now, Saskia looked upon the two with sadly hopeful eyes. Her hands placed in her lap like an attentive child awaiting a response from a figure of authority, hanging on their every word.
 
It seemed Tyris' rage was growing exponentially, seeing as she was not able to send the pair in the same place she sent all the marines, all the sailors and pirates alike that fell into her hateful grasp. The sea was becoming dangerously agitated yet again, all while she growled and cursed in all the tongues of the world. It seemed all the while that something... was fighting within her. She seemed to be going through an internal struggle that was ripping her being apart. Nooooo, this cannot be! I banished you long ago, why have you returned? Why do you jump to their defense, why do you need to try and ask for help? Oh... I am all you need, my dear. There is no true love, and those that claim it exists and that they are living it are nothing but delusional, lying infidels... But... I am tired of the pain... The last words were spoken in a more sensible manner, so soft and soothing, and also filled with pain. It sounded as if a completely different entity had managed to get a good grip on the body of the sea goddess. Perhaps, this was the true Tyris.


Although Zael did not particularly care to listen to a siren's blabbering, it would seem he didn't have much of a choice. It was either that, or they were going to suffer Tyris' endless wrath when the insane side of her took control again. However, he could not stop doubting the siren's plan will actually work. And why would she actually help them in the first place? He nearly killed her sister in the previous encounter. However, hearing how the struggle of Tyris was slowly coming to an end, with the broken side taking over yet again, Zael shook the thoughts off. They needed to act, and Saskia's plan was as good as any at the moment. "Fine." He eventually nodded as he gazed at the siren, then back to Elvina. "But you wouldn't do yourself much service if you tricked us, so don't think of it." He warned. The siren did not respond to the threatening tone, and instead she simply swam away to prepare the field for the plan. Zael smiled to Elvina reassuringly as she placed the small, yet so heavy orb. He felt a strange warmth being let out from it, and he understood that this was all the goodness left from Tyris.


"I'll set things right." Zael smiled to Elvina before placing a soft, meaningful kiss upon her lips. He knew all too well that he was setting onto this risky mission all for her. He needed to save his beloved. Saskia has already approached the maddened sea goddess enough, and now, her body began glowing as she let herself enveloped in the energy she gathered throughout the time. She began slowly morphing and growing in size, yet unnoticed by Tyris who was still heavily fighting herself for dominion over her own body and mind. Zael launched himself swimming upwards towards the scenery, as his eyes were being filled with the light of the mermaid's transformation. Her body had now lost its shape and it was just a giant pool of energy, massive, restless. Tyris' eyes flared with anger as she turned towards the manifestation, all while the strange glow began dissipating, leaving exposed the body of Nythar. He was not, in any way, a solid being. His body looked like nothing but mere swirling fumes through the water. Big, blue eyes gazed towards the maddened goddess who immediately recognized the familiar face of the one who was once her beloved. His voice echoed as he spoke to Tyris, trying to extend a vaporous limb towards her. "Tyris... my dear. I am sorry..."


Tyris remained silent, still. The waters became quiet for a second, all as she stared back into the eyes of the one she once adored. Zael was slowly advancing, but steadily, and soon, he would reach the spot he needed to get to. Liar! Tyris hissed loudly, cutting with her sharp claws through the fumes of the illusion's limb, causing Nythar to retract his hand from her. And then was when Zael could notice her eyes sparking with primal hatred, all while the waters became turbulent yet again. He found himself now struggling to swim against the current that was forcibly pushing him back towards the depth. He could see how the surface was stirring and becoming a vortex again as Tyris' madness was warping her body yet again. Her gracious curves were erecting sharp spikes from which oozed pure venom, the venom of her hatred that infested the water. Her voice warped again, from desperation to sheer madness, and there seemed to be no track left of the loving, kind goddess of the sea. I will make you pay for your betrayal! She spat out before throwing herself at Nythar's illusion, using her claws to try and scratch at the ethereal form. Zael was now swimming closer and closer, and tried to keep the jagged hole in Tyris' shoulder blade within his sight. The orb in his hands began glowing stronger as he approached the more, exposing himself to the spikes that were now violently shooting out from the whole length of the marine goddess' body.


What is that?!? Tyris spat out as she observed the glowing of the orb and felt it near her. In an instant, she recalled the moment when she buried her last remnants of love and warmth deep under the sea bed, hoping that nobody would find them. But so it seemed they did. Noooo, I will not let you! She hissed loudly before violently throwing her claws in Zael's direction, missing him by such a small distance but managing to stir the water around him even more and causing his body to be moved aside from the course. You will not give me back what I have long tried to forget!! She growled, stirring the waters even more with her fury. Zael only hoped to be able to reach in time. It seemed harder by the second to swim, and the currents were way against him. Tyris was now unleashing her hatred upon the fumes of the illusion of Nythar, while Saskia whispered to Zael with an exhausted tone. Hurry up... I can't hold much longer... The situation was geting more and more tensed as Zael once again gained his course and struggled to swim through, being met with the strength of the water trying to push him back. He was, however, stalwart, for he knew that Elvina's life, as well as his, depended on it.


He envisioned the clear spot where the orb would fit, and in that moment of struggle, he almost felt his hand, holding the orb, placing it back where it belonged. The struggle was coming to an end ever so quick as Zael's hand forcibly shoved the orb that by now shone a blinding light into the jagged hole in the flesh of the sea goddess. Her warped voice let out a sharp hiss and a thundering roar as she realized she has been defeated, all while the light of the orb mercilessly spread through her. Her claws caught the vapor body of Nythar one last time with all the force, cutting through it with utmost hatred before the light covered the whole scenario, and a loud and violent explosion ripped through the waters. Zael's body was aggressively pushed back by the wave, propelled through the water at high speed and sent straight against the sea bed, unconscious. And there it was, now. Remnants of what once was Saskia, floating through the waters after she had paid the supreme price for helping her goddess. And Tyris. Her body, although still as mighty and massive as she was before, it was now defined delicately. Her eyes no longer wore the poisoned sparks of hatred.


The silence stretched for a mere second while the waters regained their calm, before Tyris' voice finally came out slightly fragile. "What... happened?" She asked as she cast her confused gaze downwards towards Zael's lying body and towards Elvina, who now looked worried enough about the outcome of it all.
 
The transformation stunned Elvina more than the body that lay against her lap, holding down her dress which was hovering against the current of the sea. Through it all, fish darted in and around her, which she batted away in an attempt to see what was happening clearly. Tyris' face was downturned and she seemed to have conveniently forgotten the torment she had waged among the ocean for decades. Nevertheless, Elvina felt pity for her. If she too was her, she would not want to remember the crimes she had committed. Even the souls which were trapped fell silent, the finalities of their longing wails being carried away by the water which blanketed them all. Tyris' glowing eyes darted to Zael, and then to the woman who was holding his limp body close against her. Elvina's hands clasped against his head, burying her face into his hair for comfort. She did not answer, for Tyris would manage to put two and two together soon enough. Upon this recognition, she swooped down towards them and peered at the two closely, examining unadulterated devotion in action. Elvina held him close against her with the refusal to open her eyes or bring his body from hers. He made her feel warm and safe, even at the bottom of the ocean.


"Let me see him." Tyris demanded with a voice that could melt even the toughest of men. Gently, ever so gently, her large fingers prized Elvina's arms from round him and crossed her legs, watching calmly as she traced the outline of his face with her nails. The wretched souls began to circle round her, irritating her and luring her away. Elvina's expression hardened, and she waved her arms, shooing them away with the knowledge that Tyris meant well. Of course, she understood their anger and wariness towards her actions, but no harm was to come to Zael, she would make sure of it.


"Get away, please!" Elvina cried out, glaring as they all swamped behind her, watching closely for any wrong moves, as was she. Their cold breath was tangible against her neck, and although she had warmed to the water, she felt it as if it was ice. Tyris moved closer again and placed her fingertip, which was the same size as Zael's whole chest, against his heart. It was still beating.


"He will regain consciousness within the hour. You must wait." Tyris declared, her eyes sorrowful and aching with regret. "How can I repay you for what I have done?" She asked, tears beginning to bubble against he was brought swiftly back into the safety of Elvina's grip. The large orbs of salty water merged into the sear in an explosion of bubbles which made Elvina jump at first, it was almost funny to see. Nevertheless, Elvina did have one way in which Tyris could compensate.


Her head began to nod vigorously, and she rested her chin on Zael's shoulder. "Take us to Vektros. We were travelling to The Heart." With that, Tyris' eyes widened until they were giant orbs gazing down at her.


"Vektros.. but that is destroyed.. all life has been-"


"I know." Elvina exclaimed, cutting her off short, so her lips pursed inwards, as if glued together. Managing a tight smile, the woman took a deep and controlled breath. "I know, but we have business there. Since you wrecked our ship, we have no other means of travel. That's where you come in. Now, if you'd be so kind as to lower yourself so we can climb aboard." It wasn't even a question, it was a demand. On cue, Tyris eased her boy down and aided Elvina's effort to get Zael on her shoulders. He slumped against her dress and Elvina situated herself so she was lying on her front next to him, her arm across his back to keep him from falling. "Head north, and when you return, free the sailors that damned." She saw Tyris' head move in a nod, and kept her eyes peeled for any kind of change in surroundings, anything that would signal their arrival. Her mind wandered to what Vektros would actually be like. When she was a child she imagined flying machinery, stuff of which she did not believe even had a name yet, large buildings made from shining and pristine white material with long and never ending windows. However, she imagined that now the reality would be much different. A wasteland, even.


--------------------------------


Tyris' head dipped upwards to observe the progress made, and the force from the water increased when she sped up, clearly something catching her attention. "We have arrived." She announced with her voice booming loud enough for them to hear, even while her head was surfaced. After another five minutes or so, all three of them had washed up on the rotten shore of what was once a great land, since corrupt by humans. It was an old and painful tale for anyone to hear. The earth was grey and dusty, sticking to their soaking wet clothes as Elvina slumped onto the floor with Zael still wrapped in her arms. She couldn't make the journey with him like this, and she pressed her lips to his forehead, willing for him to awaken. Suddenly, water spurted up from his mouth and he spluttered, writhing in instant panic, which was calmed by his love's soothing touch. She beamed down at him and watched Tyris retreat back into the water. "Don't forget my second request!" The woman called after her, being responded with a wave of her hand until her fingers curled back into the crashing waves. The wind made their freezing clothes cling to their skin, and her teeth began to involuntarily chatter while she looked upon the wreck of what once was. "Zael.." She turned back to him and relieved a few strands of hair from over his cheeks. "You need to take me to The Heart. I need you to do that." He looked weak and disorientated, but she refused to give up.
 
The shores of Aldurath. Once the cradle of an ancient civilization, this land was now but a barren waste. Towards the inner side lain what remained of a great, lush forest, burnt down to ashes, turned into a carpet of black over the ground. Beyond it, the sands of a desert were clearly visible, and within the desert, at many miles away, there they were, visible to the eye, vaguely so. The torn remains of Vektros, the great city. A giant brought to its knees and brutally decapitated while in the peak of its glory. There was nothing beyond it, and nothing more that could prove how vile the Bloodseeker and his men were. Along the shoreline, just half a mile away, was the crushed skeleton of what back in the day was one of the trade posts. A city designed especially with the purpose of welcoming various races of the world to expose their craftsmanship and trade it. One could have said it was a node of civilization. The docks were long forgotten now, broken and buried under the sea, just as more than half of the glorious, futuristic constructions. That was the fate of the whole land.


The awakening was rude, and Zael almost gripped at Elvina's clothing the moment he managed to come back to his senses. In his mind, and in his being, he immediately felt it. The call of the Heart. It vibrated from a place afar and whispered words that only he could hear. Oh, the energy that it gave him, despite the fact that his hands now buried in filthy sand mixed with dry soil, the sheer energy of the heart caused his body to hunger for more, the need for that energy that he has not felt in such a long time. For a moment, he would have gladly traded away Elvina's comforts just to spring to his feet and sprint away towards the beloved source of his very life. But guilt struck him immediately as he realized how, for a mere second, he has just thought of leaving Elvina there only to make contact with his dream. Elvina, the girl that has been there with him during all of this. Her words rang into his mind, and for a second, he only gave her an estranged look of confusion without even noticing. His blue eyes have regained, for that second, their initial glow, just like that evening when she found him on the beach.


"I will." He said, finally, adopting a stalwart demeanor as soon as he realized he was becoming a little too strange, even for himself. It didn't take him much to stand. In fact, the energy of the Heart was, apparently, still pulsating throughout the land, and therefore, it all but acted as a charger for him. For the first time in long, he felt like a huge burden has been lifted off his shoulders. With a small smile, he looked his companion in the eyes, this time displaying the same behavior as he had for the past few days, eversince they confessed their mutual love, and his hand was quick to catch hers. "Well... here we are. This place was once my home." He said with a somewhat regret readable in his gestures and speech pattern as he began taking steps with her towards the ruins of the trading post. "Here is where our refugees were taken, to these very docks. Unfortunately... or perhaps... fortunately..." He corrected himself immediately. "... our ship was crashed by the mad Tyris. And I say fortunately because, if it wouldn't have happened so... well... we wouldn't have been together today."


Giving her hand a light squeeze, he led her around the debris remained from the huge stone walls that surrounded the city, walls that had been taken down and rammed. Inside, only a building still stood, although, severely affected by what looked like projectile marks and holes. Zael knew precisely what Bloodseeker's army had used during the assault. "When I was but a kid, I used to come to this trading post. My parents, or at least, those to whom I have been assigned to when I was created, used to forbid me to come here, saying they feared that I might jump aboard who knows what ship that used to board at the docks here. They knew I was a curious one, not that it was any actual surprise. Curiosity was our main trait, and curiosity is what brought us to this damned end..." He mumbled, with clear irritation in his voice. "If that first expedition wouldn't have been sent out, we wouldn't have met the human race and perhaps all our problems would have been avoided. Perhaps."


Apparently pondering on the chances of his theory to have happened, Zael held onto Elvina's hand as they mad their way on the road leading from what once was the entrance within the trading post's walls to the now burnt down forest. "The travel to the Heart is not really short, though. Without means of transportation, it will take us a good few days. The Heart is right in the middle of the desert, and the climate in the desert is very hot, so we will first need to find a river. Although I doubt there is anything left here, all thanks to those savages."
 
"A few days?" Elvina repeated with exhaustion, stumbling along next to Zael. Of course the Heart had to be in the middle of the most remote and inhabitable place in Vektros. For an intelligent race, they sure did make some stupid decisions. Nonetheless, her head nodded in reluctant agreement. There wasn't anything she could do but trust him. This was his home, after all. "You can't think of any river that might still be in tact? Or even some kind of sewage supply we can cut through?" Zael shook his head, and Elvina tried her absolute best to keep it together. It was now that his lack of social conduct began to grate on her. Everything was very matter of a fact. "Fine." She muttered, keeping her eyes on the ground below them and forcing her feet to keep on moving. She was tired and weak beyond belief, again, something that Zael didn't tend to feel. As they ventured deep into the broken workings of Vektros, a vile stench began to engulf their senses, and Elvina stopped in her tracks, pulling Zael back so he could walk no further. From behind a few scattered and crisp trees was a large pile, nearing 15 feet high, compiled together of rotting bodies and scattered machinery. They all lay on top and amongst each other limply, their expressionless faces gazing straight through them. From her partner's baffled expression, she gathered that he hadn't seen it just yet. A distraction was what was needed.


"Let's try this way." She quickly stuttered, attempting to turn him round before they got too close. Of course, it was a silly request, as he knew the land far more than she did. Elvina had never been here before, yet Zael had lived here his whole life, or rather, up until a couple of months ago. Seeing it in it's shredded pieces was painful enough for him, she knew, and so seeing a mass grave of his beloved citizens would reek something far more horrific. It was a matter of seconds before his eyes lay upon the sight, and Elvina made sure to keep a steady grip on his hand, enabling some kind of support for him. "Zael.." She began, not being quite sure what to say. Nothing she was able to verbalise would compensate for this. Eventually, she let go of him, allowing him to run over to it and collapse just in front of it. Slowly, she joined him, and lowered a hand onto his shoulder, rubbing across his shoulder blades gently. Her senses were being violated and abused, but that was the least of her concerns. From where she was standing, she could see that each of their wrists had been slit, although the wounds were old and encrusted by now. At the bottom of the pile was a dried out pool of collective blood. This was a mass grace of hate crime victims. There were times when Elvina had been disgusted at the human race, but this was the worst thing she could imagine. This was barbaric. "You don't have to look at it." She quietly reminded Zael, moving down so she was kneeling next to him. However, his eyes remained glued on the bodies, and she fell silent, letting him feeling whatever was coursing through him.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------


The dry and desolate desert earth began to rumble, the ground beginning to physically shake under the pressure that had erupted. Seconds later, large cracks ripped through the earth, and the ground broke away to allow a bright gold beam of light shine up from under the ground. The Heart had awoken once more, and the ground was breathing in time with it. Around it, stood three Vetroskians, who glared down under the ground with giddy enjoyment. They had waited months for this to happen. One of them, a woman around the same age as Zael, looked up and scanned the empty area around them with exhilaration. "They're here." She announced, standing back so the light could shoot up into the air and bask in the sunlight once more. It was visible from every corner of Vektros, the beams glorifying the earth below it. Elvina dragged her eyes away from the bodies and peered up at it, feeling an involuntary pull within her body towards the mysterious orb. Without a word, she stood and headed the calling. It was as if it was transmitting messages to her, begging her to find it. "We need to head West. We can reach The Heart by tomorrow's dawn if we are lucky."
 
Zael did not have much time on his hand to think as Elvina seemed to have taken full control of their whole expedition. What did she even know about these lands more than he did? Nevertheless, he decided not to go against her, seeing the beam of light being shot into the sky, he simply thought of it as their waypoint. So, did this mean that someone else was awaiting for them? That perhaps someone was there already, retaking what was their land once? But what if... what if it was a trap meant to attract them? It wasn't as if the Bloodseeker now had some of the best technology and methods to set it up. Elvina was rushing it, perhaps way too much, and this didn't sit well with him.


"How in the world do you know more about this place than I do, Elvina?" He questioned, assured enough that he won't receive much of an answer, and not even feeling the dire need for one right now. There were much more important things that swam through his mind as of now, and one of them was the fact that he felt strange. The fact that he felt that he was beginning to slip. All those lively sensations that happened within him eversince he left Vektros were beginning to fade, being replaced by a stiff sensation of... cold. Yes, it was all cold. The more he stepped on the burnt grounds that were buzzing with the energy of the Heart, the more he felt as if he was slowly returning to his former self. Perhaps, what he has been was merely an effect of the lack of energy. But the question now was... what if he would lose his feelings completely? The thought in itself scared him. He cast a gaze upon Elvina, in silence, as they advanced forth.


And so they continued to walk. For Elvina, it might've been tiresome, but by now, Zael was fully recovered, due to the fact that the vibration in this part of the land, the large, almost infinite desert, was very intense, therefore, it was a huge amount of energy that the vektrosian received constantly. He felt at home, just like in the good, old days when Vektros stood as a glorious city. It was now all but ruins in the distance, and the sun was making it nigh impossible to distinguish them. The two have already walked good miles since the moment Elvina began leading the way, and Zael managed to grab the reins of the expedition yet again, becoming more and more irritated with the fact that she seemed to become colder. Or was it that he was the one becoming cold?


The sand was so soft and deceiving under his boots, that not only once has he felt his feet slipping into the ground. Good thing was that once with his coming back to normal, his perception and sensitive traits all went back to working at full potential, and therefore, he was more aware of his surroundings. Although there was absolutely nothing in sight, the man couldn't stop thinking about when, or where, they would find a human colony among the giant mounds and dunes of sand, and he was already getting prepared for what might follow after that. Nothing near peace, he noted in his mind as he continued walking, coming to step in the same pace with Elvina.


Casting a gaze upon the girl, he found it odd enough that he was not able to gaze upon her as he did not even two days ago. The reverses were happening so quickly, he was beginning to think of actually speaking what he felt before it would be too late. But you won't miss the feelings, his inner voice told him, making a triumphant return, as it has dissapeared eversince the day when they had that conflict back in Skarvald. The day when he first experienced jealousy.


"We should stop for now, Elvina." Zael commanded, halting in place as he took a look around. "The night is falling and these lands are not safe to walking. We need to stay in one place, or else the sand worms will spot us with ease." Sand worms. A native species of the land. Massive, standing even at tens of feet tall and ginormous, these beasts were feared alongside those places. By day, they were buried deep beneath the sands but by night, they traveled, and rushed the sands from underneath any unaware traveler's feet, thus turning him into a sure meal.
 
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