Ascension - (Alarian Warriors)

She couldn’t even remember how, or when they had made it back to Earth realm. Aveyon slummed to the ground as Vincent finally let her go. Her wrist ached from his tight hold.

They were talking to her. Surely trying to reassure her, but her mind just wouldn’t comprehend any words. Her own inner voice tormenting her...

You failed! How you ever thought you could stand a chance, just idiotic. You are utterly useless.

Non censorial thoughts ran through her mind. She felt numb to the outside world, she knew she should be feeling more sadness, anger, or even frustration. She knew she had grown, but still nothing but dismay and self-loathing filled her, overpowering everything else in that moment.

So useless! You left him behind! And for what!? Another chance? If you failed him, how can you ever think to succeed now? How can you possibly think you can help others, let alone save others!

With a gasp, a sharp pain filled her cheek. She came back to herself with a jolt staring up at Erisena puzzled, the elf had just slapped her.

“Don’t you DARE.” She hissed the words, baring her fangs. She was clearly angry; her eyes were red, and her face strained with frustration and tears. “Don’t you dare tell yourself those things!”

Aveyon’s hand rose to rest on the cheek that still stung from the impact. Her vision finally coming back in to focus, as she looked to the concerned expressions around her. Those faces staring at her, they all cared. Emotions flooded her as she finally came back to herself.

Erisena was in tears as she held her wrist in hand, the one she had slapped her with. Vincent was knelt down before her, his hands resting on her knees. Samuel was in his Lynx form at her back helping to prop her up. And Kirra was to her side, a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Shaking her head she stood, for a moment she had been trapped within herself, about to drown in her own darkness. “I am sorry, I lost myself for a moment. Thank you all for snapping me back to reality.” She told them in earnest.

A muffled cry from behind the group sounded causing her to frown.

“Don’t mind him. He jumped through after us on our way out.” Vincent informed.

They had bound and gagged the pursuer. Leaving him sitting on the graveled entrance to the city, as the group had tried to sort her out.

“Followed us?” She questioned.

“I believe that Ashera has lied too many of the Alarian’s. He was screaming cuss words at you while attempting to target only you. He paid not mind to us, fully focused on you, my Lady.” Kirra frowned.

“Are we to bring him into the city?” Erisena Asked.

Aveyon walked over to the man who seemed to stare daggers at her. Placing her hand on his shoulder, his head shot back, and his eyes opened wide. But he did not struggle or scream from her touch. She searched his memories for what she wanted and looked to the group.

“He is able to open a fissure to Terramore, I believe it is beneficial that he remains with us, so that we may be able to hasten our return and take more warriors in an all-out assault.” she offered.

“It’s time to gather everyone, isn’t it?” Kirra asked.

Aveyon nodded. “It is time. It will take the Sanctuary two days to send reinforcements, the elves are already here and ready. The dwarfs are on their way as we speak, and the Fae want nothing to do with this fight. I do not give a damn what the elders say, I’m going, with or without their blessing.”

“Then all we can do is wait?” Samuel added concerned. He clearly wanted to head back in as soon as possible, like her.

“Of course not. I already dislike the need to wait so long, but time is necessary to gather people.” Aveyon cringed. “However, there are other things to be done in the meantime.”

Vincent placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, having joined her as she stood. “We will get him back.”

“Only if he is still alive.” She sighed. “We can imbue weapons and armor with essence, strengthen them for the fight to come. Ashera’s power is immense, but Lady Vexous lives. All we need do is get her and Vincent together and hopefully we make it to Alarious.”

“She was referring to me?” he asked creasing his brows.

“You have the power of an aura, but have never had one, you appeared at the exact time all auras were being destroyed. Coincidence, I think not, she could have only meant you. I do not know what I need to do in order to open the fissure, however, she does. If you are the key, then we need you both.”

“Then we will start work immediately. Princess, what did you have in mind for the weapons and armor?” Kirra asked.

“Protection, shields, and barriers. Anything that can withstand the impact or the elements. Groups of four or more would be vital. Ashera is faster than any elf or Alarian I have ever seen. We do not have enough time to build barriers and protections in the heat of battle.” She offered; she wasn’t going to let her time with the bastard be for nothing.

“Ah, to be able to defend against all elements in turn.” Kirra pondered out loud. “It could work.”

“It is the only thing that may give us an edge. If the protections are pre-done in advance, we may just stand a chance with large enough numbers.” Erisena concluded for her.

“They wouldn’t be as strong as weaving them on of the spot, but it would offer some protection, I agree it is better than nothing.” Kirra nodded along.

The group disbanded, Erisena taking charge of the restrained soulless Alarian. Both Aveyon and the elf were curious if anything could be done about the condition, perhaps even be reversible. Either way, they wanted to research the forma Alarian, now turned into a mindless creature of the night.

Kirra offered to provide Samuel with a tour, while Aveyon headed for the armory.

“Shouldn’t you rest? Recharge?” Vincent protested.

“I will rest when I am dead, we do not have much time. If I can be on use, and even place protections on a small number of items, I will.” She concluded.

Vincent didn’t make any more attempts of protest, simply following behind her. He could feel everything she was going through, the determination, the sorrow and the guilt. She needed something to keep her mind and body busy right now.

“You do not need to accompany me.” She glanced over at him from over her shoulder.

He gently reached for her hand, stopping her from walking any further. “I don’t want to feel what I did today, ever again.”

“You won’t, we are in the say realm again.” She refused to turn to look at him, but she knew what he was referring to and it wasn’t that. “Besides, you did not feel it was a problem when you left me alone the other night.” The words came out before she could restrain herself. Saying them now, they felt petty.

“That was hard yes, but I’m not meaning that... Wait did that upset you?” He added softly.

“No.” It wasn’t a lie; it hadn’t upset her. But it had irrigated her.

She felt his body move closer to her; his hand slid off her wrist so he could grasp her hand allowing their fingers to interlace. Finally, she turned toward him and their eyes locked. The darkening of her mood, the sadness in her soul and the torment of her mind, all reflected in his face. He was suffering as much as her, she realized. Amplified by her darkening mind that she was trying to run away from in the moment.

“You feel it too...” She whispered, a shiver running up her spine as she felt fear grip her, how could she forget. Her metal breakdown earlier would have affected him too.

His eyes were glassy and red, like he was about to weep, his face worn with lines of worry. Not worry for her, for Damon, for the elves, for his own future.

“I am so sorry.” She placed her free hand on his cheek. “I never meant to be so cold toward you.”

He lent into her touch closing his eyes for a moment. “You can never deter me, I will always stay by your side, for as long as you wish me to be here.”

She felt herself fill with a warmth that surprised her. “I do.” Before things turned awkward between the two again, Aveyon retrieved her hand and spun on her heels continuing her path. “Come then, if you are to be by my side.”

She heard his soft laughter from behind and a small smile of her own appeared. These were in dire times, but at least she had someone to share the ups and downs with.

Many of the elves worked alongside Aveyon and Vincent. Striving well into the hours of the next day, managing to shield and imbue every piece of weaponry and armor that they had on hand.

“I cannot believe we finished in only one night.” Kirra mumbled yawning. She’d joined them after settling in Samuel with a place to stay, though he had also tagged along in the end.

“It is best this way; we still have the time and the means to add protectors to the newcomer’s pieces as they arrive.” Aveyon’s eyes had dark circles under them, but she remained alert.

Vincent was struggling to stay awake next to her, his eyes drifting shut every so often. Their bond meaning, she could call on his essence when hers started to diminish. He was more exhausted than her because of this.

“I think it best we retire, at least for a few hours. The sanctuary’s reinforcements are due tomorrow evening. I best get Vincent to his bedding before I will be forced to carry him.” Aveyon sighed while Kirra giggled.

“A wise choice.” The Priestess added, before leaving to find her own relief.

Aveyon helped Vincent up the stairs, down the paved roads and back to the little inn that had been their home for the last several months. Vincent let himself in and headed for their room as she took a moment to take the small building in. Very soon she would never see this place again.

Its walls protruded from the mountain face, blending in seamlessly with the marbled white rocks. It was exquisitely crafted stone, merged with pieces of delicately detailed wood carved pieces, which framed windows and doors. The rooms scaled up the mountain side as far as the eye could see. It was simply beautiful, pure, homely, and most of all welcoming.

She felt a tear slide down her cheek as she released something very important. She was going to miss it here, Elendor had in a sense become her home. The Sanctuary was a safe haven and the Earth felt better to live on than her own time on Alarious. But here, here she could see herself living a life of joy... if only she’d let herself. A flood of emotions filled her, a looming sense of dread pulling her deeper down. She had to say goodbye to it, there was no other choice.

Not everyone gets what they want out of life, least of all her. And what were the chances of her actually returning? If she was going to end this war and set the world back on the correct path, sacrifices would need to be made. And she had already started thinking of what she had to do, it involved her and Alarious of course, but it had dire consequences. If she were to take her place as the head of Alarious-

“You coming inside? Or you going to fill me with sorrow until I can’t sleep?” Vincent yelled down from their window.

Wiping her tears, she shook her head with a light laugh. She headed inside and nodded a short hello to the elf behind the counter. The elves didn’t exchange money for the rooms, it was more like they exchanged favors, or traded goods. Aveyon and Vincent had been deemed warriors, so they paid their dues for their stay by taking shift watches, and missions outside of the city. Though their case was a special one, she had seen others provide the inn with silks, linens, metals, and even fruits.

“My Lady!” The elf suddenly looked surprised. “Wait, you may not know, so I must inform you.”

Aveyon tilted her head confessed but walked over to the counter none the less.

“Priestess Kirra makes it a point of putting on a small festival the night before a big battle, she may not have told you.”

Aveyon shook her head. “No, she has not.”

The elf laughed. “She may have simply forgotten; you have been with us so long now.”

She felt her heart ache, tightening her chest, the elves had been so kind to her. “Is there anything I must know or do for this festival?” She asked.

It wasn’t that she agreed with the tradition, but she could see ration and reason behind it. The night before a battle would always be tense, minds filled with fear, tension and thoughts that would not cease. A celebration with good times and good people around you, one could get lost in such a notion. And for many it would be their last night, there was no telling who was to return after the battle. She would not object, and perhaps she could convince Vincent to a company her to the festival. She’d never been to such a thing.

“A nice gown, one for dancing! We elves like to dress up nice and dance the night away!” she exclaimed excited.

“Very well, then I shall see you there.” Aveyon bowed slightly, wishing the elf a good day, before ascending the steps and making her way to her room.

Entering the well-furnished dwelling, Vincent was already asleep. She felt tired yes, but she could not bring herself to sleep. There was too much she needed to figure out and plan with so little time left.

She had never had a desire to take control of the situation, until now. All this time, everyone around her, Vincent being the exception, expected her to step up and play a greater role. But being here with the elves, she learnt that she didn’t need to do this alone. She had slowly come to realize that that fact was key, and possibly a means to gaining victory.

Opening the window, she sat herself down on the ledge and looked out across the golden white city. The streets were almost empty, only a few souls wondered from building to building. She rested her head against the frame and sighed.

Why hadn’t she seen it before? The path that was now right before her. It made so much sense now, for her to finally have a way to save the Earth, she needed the will and the want to do so. Turning her head to look at the sleeping Vincent, she smiled sadly.

“If I truly do manage to restart the cycle of rebirth, maybe then. Maybe one day you and I...” She trailed off. “But only in another life.” She whispered.