Grunk continued his methodical approach toward Vexes and Eilist, each devastating footfall echoing through the devastated square.
"Finally," Eilist said with a satisfied smirk. "We can—"
"EKLANOS!"
With a sudden flash, an arrow-shaped blast of light blazed towards Grunk, causing his eyes to widen in alarm as he was engulfed in its glow. Everyone could only stare in shock as the blast continued to make its way down towards the square, slowly enveloping Grunk and Oreon in its blinding light.
A wave of old power fueled the dazzling light as it sliced through the sky. The blast's intensity was so great that everyone, whether friend or foe, had to avert their gaze as it hit Grunk squarely in the center, and for a moment, time appeared to stop.
"BOOOOOOOM!"
The impact produced a loud explosion, and the shockwave spread, breaking nearby windows and scattering debris everywhere.
"What the--?" Eilist stumbled backward, his confident smirk vanishing as the blinding light consumed the entire square.
Vexes's eyes narrowed, his composed demeanor finally cracking. "That spell..." A low growl escaped his lips. "...That's not possible."
When the light finally faded, Grunk stood motionless—his massive frame smoking charred marks across his chest and arms. His grip on Oreon had long since ceased as the human fell from his grasp, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
But Grunk himself still wasn't moving. His eyes were wide, staring at nothing as light cracks started to form in his body.
"Grunk?" Eilist called out, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
Slowly, Grunk's knees buckled. The enhanced dark elf, after dominating the entire battle, toppled forward like a felled tree, hitting the ground face-first with a thunderous thud that vibrated through the square.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
"No...No way...What...What just happened?" Yvonne's grip on Sylvanie loosened tremendously. "Did Grunk just...Did Grunk just die?" She questioned, doubt heavy in her voice.
Sylvanie didn't waste a second. The moment Yvonne's grip loosened, she twisted violently. "Get—OFF ME!" She elbowed Yvonne hard in the jaw, making her stumble and fall to one knee. Sylvanie seized the opportunity, lunging with an outstretched hand towards Celestia and summoning a shadow that engulfed her sister. With a repeated motion, Sylvanie conjured a shadow that appeared next to Oreon's wounded body, and they both tumbled out.
Sylvanie immediately dropped to her knees beside Oreon, her hands hovering over his battered form. "You'd better still be breathing, stupid human." She spoke urgently.
Despite her weakness, Celestia sat up next to them. "Is he—"
"Don't worry about him; he may have taken a beating, but he's been through worse." A voice called out from above them as Meara landed in front of them with an ancient Elven bow in her right hand.
"Old tavern woman!" Sylvanie's eyes shot up in surprise.
"Ms. Meara?" Celestia spoke in a quieter tone than Sylvanie, but the same shock factor plagued her features.
"That's right." Meara pulled back her bowstring and sighted the remaining Jaegers; a low, amused sound escaped her. " Though I prefer 'Meara' over 'old tavern woman,' thank you very much."
Celestia's words tumbled out. "You...You're"
"Wielding an ancient bow, given to me by the Grove itself." She kept her aim locked, her eyes focused.
"The Grove...?" Celestia's voice trembled with disbelief. "But that would mean you're..."
"A Keeper of the Eastern Grove, yes," Meara confirmed, her demeanor outwardly composed despite the charged atmosphere as she faced the Jaegers. "Although I haven't been a Keeper out in the open for about 200 years or so." She kept her bow aimed at her opponents, but her tone remained the same. "However, with the Order around it's hard for this old Keeper to retire and just run a simple tavern of her own."
Meara's arrival prompted a growl and a glare from Vexes. "...Keeepppeeerrr." A low, drawn-out utterance, imbued with malice, passed Vexes' lips as he and Meara locked eyes.
Meara's expression didn't waver, but something dangerous flickered in her eyes. "Vexes..." She spoke his name like a curse. "I see you didn't heed my warning last night." She tilted her aim towards Vexes in particular. "I told you, where I stand, in this town is under my protection. You and your band of traitors are not welcome here."
Vexes's lips curled into a dark sneer. "Your protection?" He let out a cold, humorless laugh. "You're nothing but a relic, Keeper. A fossil clinging to a dead era." He spoke with a hateful tone. "A long forgotten line of those who lost their lives because of some silly Oath. Tell me something, Keeper. How long do you think you can keep defying the Order? Playing pretend in some backwater town?"
Meara's expression hardened as she kept her grip on her bow. "As long as it takes." She responded harshly. "Make no mistake, Vexes. I've outlived empires and watched kingdoms of all kinds grow and fall. Your Order will be no different. No matter what, everyone answers to their consequences...Even your beloved purifier."
"Your words mean nothing, Keeper." He spoke coldly. "The Grove's power has faded, while the Order continues to rise. Even if you make a stand here, your power won't be enough." He let out a low chuckle. "You should have stayed hidden; you would have lived longer."
Meara's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps...But I didn't survive two centuries by running away when things got difficult." She combatted. "And I certainly didn't survive by letting children fall in front of me."
Meanwhile, Eilist's face twisted with anger. "This old human? This old human was going to feed me to Grove." He growled lightly as he remembered what happened back at the tavern the night they showed up and Meara called upon the ancient power to prove a point. "You're kind is supposed to be extinct! The Order saw to it..." He gritted his teeth.
"Is that what they told you?" A sly smirk appeared across Meara's face. "Well, I assure you, the Order tried...But they weren't quite thorough enough, because as you can see." Meara lightly gestured to herself with a slight head nod. "I'm still alive and well. I'd say that would suggest that your precious Order isn't as invincible as you think."
Eilist's jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists. "You--"
"Enough, Eilist." Vexes cut him off sharply, his eyes never leaving Meara. "Don't let her provoke you." He kept his composure as he crossed his arms. "She's buying time. That's all this is."
Meara's expression didn't change, but her fingers tightened slightly on the bowstring. "Smart man." She acknowledged. "But you're wrong about one thing--I'm not buying time. "Her eyes flicked briefly to Grunk's fallen form. "I'm making a point."
Vexes followed her gaze, his expression darkening. "You managed to fell one dark elf. What of it?"
Meara's smile widened ever so slightly. "That 'one dark elf' was enhanced with your Order's divine blessing, wasn't he?" She let the question hang in the air. "And yet...one arrow. That's all it took." She pointed out. "Makes you wonder...If your so-called 'Divine power' is really as absolute as you claim."
Meara's remark caused Vexes' expression to darken. "Spew your nonsense all you want, Keeper. But the world you know has changed while you cling to a dying dream. To an alliance that crumbled long before the Order stepped to our doors. Face reality, Keeper. The Grove is nothing but a memory, lost to an era the day the Order decided to showcase its strength." He looked over at Celestia and Sylvanie. "And your precious Elves." His eyes darted back to meet Meara's. "They're lost fragments of a failed kingdom.
The human Keeper's demeanor matched his as they both glared hatefully at each other. "Death awaits you, Vexes. There's no forgiving what you have done."
Another dark chuckle escaped Vexes. "Death awaits us all, Keeper. The only question is who meets it first." He kept his arms crossed. "And I have no intention of being the one to fall today." With a violent crackle, Eilist unleashed a dark energy bolt that slithered like a snake towards Meara at surprising speed, but Meara met it head-on, her arrow humming with the Grove's borrowed energy, resulting in a thunderous explosion between them.
Suddenly, before anyone could say anything, Divia transformed back into her gargoyle state and appeared close to Meara, her claws out, ready to strike the old woman down. Despite this, Meara's eyes immediately locked onto her, and she loosed an arrow at very close range.
Divia's eyes widened—but it was too late. The arrow connected with her chest with devastating force, emerald light shining brightly as the force sent Divia spinning backwards through the air. She crashed into a nearby building wall, hitting the ground while it crumbled on top of her.
"You're too slow, girl. I've hunted wildlife faster than you." She nocked another arrow and readied her aim.
Yvonne gritted her teeth, holding her wheel blades in her hands as she charged towards Meara."Damn you! You'll pay for that!"
Meara's eyes shifted toward Yvonne. "Another one?" She pivoted smoothly, her bow already tracking the movement." You children never learn, do you?"
"Keep your words to yourself, old woman!" Yvonne landed in front of Meara, slashing her blade wheels, trying to slice the Keeper of the Eastern Grove in half; however, despite Meara's appearance in her old age. She dodged like she was in her prime, and neither of Yvonne's blades hit their mark.
"Tch—" Yvonne's frustration could be seen on her face as she missed again. "Stop—moving!" she snarled, her wheel blades carving through empty air as Meara sidestepped another strike.
"And why should I make this easy for you?" Meara calmly replied, dodging another attack as a blade harmlessly moved past her face. "Your footwork is sloppy, and your breathing--" She ducked under another horizontal slash and then sidestepped Yvonne's next attack as she tried to slash up Meara vertically. "Completely off." She dodged again. "And you're swinging those blades, like you're trying to swat flies." She continued as she sidestepped another attack. "This is a shameful performance if the Order is the one who taught you, little girl."
Yvonne's jaw clenched, her teeth grinding together. "Shut up! Shut up and die, old woman!" She spun violently, both wheel blades whirling as she tried to slash Meara into pieces, but the second her right-hand wheel blade came close enough, Meara took a step back, the blade whizzing inches away from her face.
"Predictable," Meara muttered, her eyes tracking Yvonne's movements with ease. In one fluid motion, she swung her ancient bow like a staff, almost catching Yvonne in the face, but the red head dark elf, leaped out of its reach, but Meara quickly rotated her bow in her hands, quickly aiming it once again, shooting towards Yvonne's face as the young elf's pupils shot up in surprise—as the arrow went passed her face, colliding with Eilist who was charging another attack, causing another explosion the second the arrow hit, sending Eilist flying back.
A small smoke cloud was created as Eilist could be seen, jumping back, his boots skidding against the ground. "Gah—Damn woman!" He pointed his staff towards Meara. "SERPENT FLAME!" His staff let loose a black unholy flame towards Meara, who merely scoffed at the attack." A torrent of dark fire erupted from Eilist's staff, twisting through the air like a living serpent. The flames hissed and crackled, their heat distorting the air as they surged towards Meara.
"Hmph, child's play." Meara's voice cut through the chaos as she nocked another arrow. The ancient bow hummed, its emerald light intensifying. "SALANTRES!" She called out. The shot forward, splitting mid-flight into three glowing projectiles that spiraled through the air. They collided with Eilist's serpent flame, and the resulting explosion sent shockwaves rippling outward--dust, debris, and smoke billowing across the square.
Yvonne used the cover to close the distance, her wheel blades spinning as she lunged at Meara from the side. "Got you--!"
But Meara was already moving. She twisted her body, the blade passing so close it almost cut a strand of her hair. In the same motion, she brought the bow's lower limb up, catching Yvonne square in the ribs with a sharp crack.
"Gah!" Yvonne gasped, jumping backwards to gain some distance, clutching her side.
"What the hell!" Eilist gritted his teeth, looking back directly at Meara. "Is this really a Keeper? This old human woman. Did she really accept the Oath and make a pact with the Grove?"
Yvonne landed beside Eilist and Vexes. "She's reading every move before we can even make it. What the hell do we even do against something like that?"
Vexes expression remained cold, his gaze studying Meara as she prepared another arrow for her bow. "She's not invincible." He spoke. "However, she is far from weak." He squinted at her. "The Keeper's role comes with a deep connection to the Grove. A rare feat for a mere human." He paused, eying Meara's stance. The way she held herself, the subtle glow emanating from the bow. "But even Keepers have limits," He continued. "She may have the Grove's power, but the flesh weakens over time. Her body won't be able to sustain that power for long."
Eilist gritted his teeth. "Easy for you to say." He muttered under his breath before rising with his staff again. "We have a mission, Vexes. If this fails..." He glanced over at Vexes.
Vexes's cold eyes remained fixed on Meara. "Then don't fail." His grip tightened on his curved blade. "The Order didn't send us here to retreat at the first sign of resistance. You've all been blessed by the purifier himself. The power of the Order flows through your veins, don't tell me some senile old woman playing with power that she doesn't comprehend has you ready to retreat."
A slight grunt escaped Eilist's throat before he took a step forward in front of Vexes, ready to face off against Meara again. "Tell me something I don't know," He commented, his eyes now transforming into the same pupils as Yvonne, with the Order sigils appearing as his staff began to wrap around in a light that appeared wrong as it formed into a snake, with the head of it positioned at the top of his staff. "Now, Keeper. Let's try this again."
Meara's expression didn't waver as she watched Eilist's slight transformation. "So...The Order's blessing finally shows itself within you as well." She pulled back on her bowstring, Grove emerald light-colored energy forming around the arrow." Come then, let's see how well you can dance with this old woman."
The fight was about to recommence, but Oreon was still unconscious. Unbeknownst to anyone, the dragon shard in his pocket pulsed gently as he drifted in his own world.
Within Oreon's unconscious mind, darkness surrounded him, his blinking as if he had just woken up and was confused about where he was. "Ugh..." He turned left, then right. "Wha...The...Where am I?" He questioned. "Did I?... Am I dead?"
"What makes you think that?" A familiar feminine voice that Oreon knew all too well. A voice that he had lived with for half his life had resonated in his ears. A sudden voice that was taken away from him on the darkest day of his life.
"Wai...Wait...That can't be." Spinning around. "Alice?" Oreon called his deceased big sister's name, but when he turned around, there was nothing there. Just the same darkness that surrounded him from all sides.
"Where are you looking at?" The voice sounded again, prompting Oreon to look around, yet again finding nothing different.
"Alice! Alice! Where are you?!" Oreon's voice cracked slightly, desperation seeping through. "I know it's you—I'd know your voice anywhere!" He turned again and again, his eyes darting in all directions. "Alice! Alice! Alice...If that's you... Please, I..."
"Behind you, dummy."
Oreon spun around one more time, and there she was—Alice. Before he could process it, the darkness vanished, replaced by his home and its land, and Alice standing on the front steps, having materialized along with the house.
There she stood, looking exactly as he remembered her. Long black hair cascading over her shoulders, warm brown eyes that hid a bit of mischief, and that gentle smile she'd always given him when he was upset or confused. She wore the same simple dress she'd been wearing that day...the day everything fell apart.
"A-Alice..." His voice cracked a bit as he took a small step closer. "Is that...Is that really you?" He took another hesitant step forward, his hands shaking.
"Who else would it be?" The response came as she tilted her head slightly, still with the same smile, before it turned into a light scowl. "You look terrible. What the hell have you been doing all this time? Have you been getting proper sleep?" She sighs, placing her hand on her forehead dramatically. "See what happens when I'm not around."
Oreon's eyes widened, and for a moment, he just stood there--frozen. Then, without warning, his legs gave out beneath him. He dropped to his knees, his eyes began to water, and his vision blurred slightly. "I...I don't understand. How are you--" His voice broke. "You're...You're gone. You died. I saw...I saw what they--You..."
"Died?" Her tone was direct but not unfriendly as she finished his sentence for him. "Yeah, I know. Trust me, I was there." She crossed her arms, her expression shifting to something more serious. "But that doesn't mean I'm not here now."
"But how...I...I don't understand..." Oreon choked. "How? Why I--" He shook his head frantically. "This doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense!" His voice cracked again, raw emotion pouring through. "You can't be here. You can't be real. This has to be some kind of...dream, or...or--"
"Does it matter?" Alice gently interrupted, stepping down from the porch. She approached him slowly, her feet making no sound against the ground. "Real, not real...does that change anything right now?" She knelt in front of him, meeting his eyes. "What matters right now is..I get to see you. Even if it is in this weird space."
Oreon's breath hitched, tears streaming freely down his face now. "I...I missed you so much, Alice...You, mom...Every single day. I--" He couldn't finish. His hands trembled as he reached out toward her, hesitant, as if afraid she might disappear if he touched her.
His sister's expression softened, even more than it already had. She reached out, gently taking his hand into hers. "I know," She whispered, her voice tender. "I know you did. And I'm sorry...I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me most."
The warmth of her hand felt so to Oreon. So real it was like she never died. Oreon's breath caught in his throat, and before he could stop himself, he pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face against her shoulder as sobs wracked his body.
"I--I tried..." His voice was muffled, broken. "I tried so hard, Alice. I tried to keep going, tried to be strong like you always told me to be, but I..." He pulled back slightly, his tear-streaked face looking into hers. "I couldn't save you. I couldn't save Mom. I couldn't do anything!" His hands gripped her shoulders desperately. "I was useless! I'm still useless! Even now, I--"
"Stop." Alice's voice cut through his spiral gently but firmly. Her hands came up to cup his face, her thumbs brushing away his tears. "Listen to me right now, Oreon. You were just a kid. A child. There was nothing you could have done." Her brown eyes bore into his with an intensity that made him freeze. "Nothing. Do you understand me?
"But I--"
"No buts." She shook her head slowly. "What happened to me, to Mom...that wasn't your fault. It was never your fault." Her expression softened again, though her grip on his face remained firm. "And you're not useless. You've survived this long, haven't you? You've kept fighting. Even now, you're still fighting."
Oreon's lip trembled, fresh tears spilling over. "I...I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this, Alice. I'm so tired. So...So damn tired of fighting."
Alice's expression shifted--sadness flickering across her features."I know," She whispered, pulling him close once again, holding him as she used to when they were younger and the world felt too big and scary. "I know you're tired. It's safe to say that life hasn't necessarily been easy for you. You've seen some rough years, little brother...but...as much as I hate to do this." She slowly pushed him back gently, cupping his face again, giving him a determined, no-nonsense look. "Oreon, what are you doing?"
On the outside, Meara leaped out of the way of a shadow snake strike from Eilist and then sidestepped Yvonne's blade wheel as she tried to slash her again."
Meara's boots skidded against the ground as she landed, her breath steady despite the relentless assault. Yvonne's blade wheel carved through the air where Mear's head had been a heartbeat before, sparks flying as they collided with the ground, as Meara countered with a sharp kick to the back, sending Yvonne out of her way and then leaping back as two dark shadow snakes covered in corrupted holy energy slammed into the ground, missing her completely.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," Meara muttered, nocking another arrow and quickly firing it, causing an explosion as it collided with the two dark energy snakes that came from Eilist's staff.
"This damn—" Eilist gritted his teeth as he pointed his staff at Meara. "Here, try this! HOLY SERPENT!" With a shout, he sent a snake-like white energy projectile from his staff, which sped toward Meara, its mouth agape and its form aglow with white lightning.
"You're still not taking me seriously!" Meara shouted back as she nocked another arrow in her bow. "EKLANOS!"
The arrow she released erupted forward with a spiraling vortex of emerald energy, tearing through the air like a miniature hurricane. When it collided with Eilist's Holy Serpent, the impact wasn't just an explosion; it was a violent clash of opposing forces. The white lightning and emerald Grove energy wrestled against each other, crackling and hissing before detonating in a blinding flash that sent shockwaves rippling outward.
Eilist was thrown backward, his boots leaving the ground as he slammed against the side of a building, dropping down to one knee. "Damn it—" His anger slowly rising as his pupils began to glow brighter. "How is she this strong?!"
Yvonne jerked her head towards Eilist. "Stop with the damn flashy attacks and fight like you were blessed with power." She turned her head back and leaped in the air towards Meara again, striking and slashing, but Meara danced around her attacks. "I'm not!" Yvonne slashed horizontally, hitting empty air. "Going to lose!" Slashes again. "To some old lady, who thinks she's better than us!" She slashed vertically, but Meara quickly parried her attack with her bow and slammed her foot into Yvonne's gut, causing her to gasp, spit flying out of her mouth as the force sent her flying into another building, her back smashing against a brick chimney as the bricks cascaded down on top of her.
It didn't take long for Yvonne to recover, but the damage had already been done as she slowly rose from the debris, blood dripping from her mouth along with scratches and slight bruises on her face. "You..." She was breathing heavily. "You can't be serious..."
Eilist growled under his breath as Meara dispatched Yvonne. "Grr...Useless." He slammed his staff down again. "I'll end this once and for all."
Meara's gaze shifted toward Eilist, her expression unchanging. "You're welcome to try, boy." She readied another arrow. "But you'll find the same fate as your friend over there."
Meanwhile, Celestia and Sylvanie couldn't help but look on in shock at Meara's performance.
Celestia's sapphire eyes widened as she watched Meara effortlessly dispatch two blessed warriors of the Order. "That's...incredible," She breathed. "I knew Keepers were powerful, but this..."
Sylvanie let out a low whistle, her eyes gleaming with admiration. "Damn...and here I thought she was just some old woman who ran a tavern and looked after the idiot human. "She crossed her arms, a grin tugging her lips. "I take back every doubt I had about her." The two kept watch. "That old tavern woman is making them look like amateurs. Like, even with the Order's blessings. It's not enough."
Celestia kept her eyes locked on the battlefield, almost as if she were reading everything that was going on. "Maybe..."
"Maybe what?" Sylvanie glanced at her sister, noticing the contemplative look on Celestia's face.
Celestia just kept staring at the battle as Eilist tried his hand again, his anger evident on his face. His staff surged with dark energy as he slammed it into the ground. "HOLY SERPENTS!"
"Same old trick." Meara taunted as multiple dark white energy snakes shot out from Eilist's staff. "Did the Order not teach you how to use that power they blessed you with, boy!" Meara quickly pointed her arrow at Eilist's attack. "EKLAN—" Her eyes widen suddenly.
"Not so fast...Keeper." Back in her gargoyle form, Divia returned and appeared flying towards Meara with her claws extended, ready to slash Meara into pieces.
"Tch—" Meara scoffed as her eyes darted between Eilist's blasts and Divia coming straight for her.
Back in Oreon's mind. Confused, Oreon looked up at his older sister. "What—What do you mean?" He asked. "What do you mean, what am I doing?"
Alice's expression softened, but there was a certain firmness in her eyes that Oreon hadn't seen in years. "You know exactly what I mean, Oreon."She released his face and stood up slowly, looking down at him. "You've been fighting against the Order for a while now, a long while. Mom is proud, you know. We both are."
"Mom...?" Oreon's voice cracked again, his chest tightening. "She's...she's there too? With you?"
"Where else would she be?" Alice giggled. "Yeah. She's watching over you, just like I am. We've always been." She paused, tilting her head slightly. "But that's not the point right now, Oreon."
"Then what is?" His voice came out harsher than he intended, frustration bleeding through. "Why are you here? Why now? I don't—I don't understand any of this!"
Alice continued to stare at him. "Because mom wanted to send you a message." Her tone was blunt.
Oreon blinked, confusion dawning again. "Mom...? A message?" His voice cracked again. "What—What kind of message? Alice, I—"
"Oreon, why haven't you used it?" Alice questioned him plainly. "Mom taught you something just in case anything happened. Anything that was way out of your control. Way beyond your limits. So, why...haven't...you...used...it?" She watched him as Oreon looked away from her. "She trained you to say a safe word only when you need it." She got in his face. 'So, why haven't you said it yet?"
Oreon's jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "Because I—" He stopped himself, the words catching in his throat. His gaze remained averted, staring at nothing. "Because...Because I'm scared, Alice." His voice dropped. "I'm scared of what happens if I do."
Alice didn't move. She just watched him. "Scared of what?" She blinked. "Scared of losing control. Or...Scared of you...Or should I say, what you really are? What we really are?" Her pupils turned gold. The same gold from that night when her powers finally blossomed, and she fought and slaughtered Order knights for hurting Oreon. The same golden eyes his mom had when she fought against his father and ultimately fell. "You once said that my eyes look like Mom's." She added. "That one day, you'll get the same eyes so you can protect me and everyone else who needs it."
Oreon's breath hitched, his entire body going rigid. "Alice, I--" He lowered his head, his eyes now looking at what could be called the ground. "Alice, I--That's...That's different. You and Mom both knew how to control it. You were strong. I'm not-- I'm not like you two."
Suddenly, Oreon's face was forced right as a loud slap echoed throughout the plain. "Stop lying to yourself." She glared at him. "You are exactly like us. You have the same blood running through your veins. The same power sleeping inside you." She took a step closer, her golden eyes boring into him. "The only difference is that you're too afraid to embrace it."
"I'm...I'm...not afraid, Alice." He muttered under his breath.
"Then what are you?" Alice's tone sharpened, cutting through his defenses like a blade. "Because from where I'm standing, little brother, you look terrified." Her eyes narrowed. "Mom didn't teach you that safe word so you could die with it on your tongue. She taught you so that you could survive. Because even though she wanted you to live a normal life, she knew that with the Order being around, that would probably be impossible."
Oreon gritted his teeth. "Alice, stop it."
"No." Alice's voice was firm. "I won't stop. Because if I don't say this now, you're going to die out there, Oreon." She grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to look at her. "And I didn't die protecting you so that you could throw your life away because you're too scared to accept what you are."
"I said stop!" Oreon's voice cracked as he shouted her hands away, stumbling backward. "You don't—you don't understand! You just don't get it!"
Alice didn't flinch. She just stood there, her eyes unwavering as she watched him unravel. "Then make me understand." Her voice was a bit softer, but still kept its firm tone. "Tell me what I don't get, Oreon. Because all I see is someone who's running from the tru—"
"WHAT IF I'M NOT STRONG ENOUGH!" He screamed at her. "I saw you when you used that power! I saw mom and you both still—What if I'm the same way?! What if I use it and I still can't do anything?!"
Alice's expression didn't change. She just stared at him, letting his words hang in the air between them. "And what if you are strong enough?" Her voice was quiet now, responding to him more gently. "What if you use it and you save everyone? What if you use it and you become exactly what mom hoped you'd be?" She tilted her head slightly. "But you'll never know, will you? Because you're too busy asking 'what if I fail' instead of 'what if I succeed.'
Oreon slightly turned his head away from his sister, avoiding her gaze.
"You're not mom." Alice continued. "You're not me. You're Oreon." Her right hand gently turned his face towards her. "And maybe that's exactly what everyone out there needs right now. Not someone perfect. Not someone invincible. Just...You. The real you."
"But...I don't know what that is..." Oreon responded. "Mom never told me. Mom never told me what any of this meant. It was you who got the special training from the elves. That was you that mom started telling her secrets to. You were old enough...You could handle it."
Alice's golden eyes softened for just a moment, and she let out a quiet breath. "Yeah...I was older. I got the training. I got the secrets." She paused, her hand still gently holding his face. "But you know what else I got, Oreon?" Her voice dropped lower. "I got the burden of knowing exactly what we were up against. I got the nightmares. I got the weight of understanding that no matter how hard I fought, it might never be enough."
She let her hand fall away from his face, stepping back slightly. "Mom didn't tell you everything because she wanted you to have something I never did." Her expression was bittersweet now. "She wanted you to have a normal life. A life without the violence. Without the Order. A life where you could continue seeing the elves, growing up, and being something you wanted to be. Not what life picks out for you." She sighed once again. "She wanted to believe that...Maybe...Just maybe...You wouldn't have to go down the same road that we did."
Alice crossed her arms, her eyes never leaving his. "But life doesn't work that way, does it?" A sad smile tugged at her lips. "The Order doesn't care what Mom wanted for you. They don't care that you just wanted to live quietly. They came for you anyway." She took a step closer again. "And now you're here, standing in your own mind, talking to your dead sister because you're too afraid to accept the truth."
Oreon's hands balled up into fists as his sides. "What truth?" He muttered.
"That you were never meant to be normal, Oreon." Alice's words hit like a hammer. "That no matter how much mom tried to shield you, no matter how much she wanted you to have peace... You were always going to end up here." She gestured around them at the endless white expanse. "Fighting. Struggling. Choosing between running away and standing up."
Oreon growled under his breath. "I--I didn't ask for any of this!"
"None of us did!" Alice's voice rose sharply, making him flinch. "You think I asked to die at eighteen! You think Mom asked Father to bring his damn holy knights to our front door! You think she asked to fall in love with a man who would eventually betray everything she believed in?" Her eyes blazed. "We don't get to choose what happens to us, Oreon. We only get to choose how we respond."
The silence stretched between them for a moment.
"Mom left you that safe word because she knew." Alice's voice softened again. "She knew that one day, you'd be cornered. Desperate. Out of options." She placed both her hands on his shoulders again. "And when that day came, she wanted you to have a choice. A real choice." Her eyes locked onto his. "But power. The power to fight back. The power to protect what matters."
"You're not weak. You're not useless. So, stop letting those pitiful excuses plague your mind." She continued. "If you recall...I didn't get these eyes until that very night. The second that knight slashed your back was the second I decided that no one else would hurt you." She continued. "You think I was strong before that? You think I knew what I was doing?" She shook her head. "No. I was terrified. I was angry. I was desperate." Her voice grew quieter. "But I made a choice. And that choice awakened something inside me that mom had been trying to prepare me for..." She placed her hand against his chest. "Prepare me for what...I really was...What we really are."
"You're at the same crossroads now, little brother." Alice's tone was growing serious. "The people out there. They're fighting for something they believe in. They're giving everything they have." She stopped again, letting her words sink in. "And the moment you stop thinking up here." She placed a finger on his forehead. "And start using more of this." She placed a hand back over his chest. "The moment you decide that enough is enough. From the moment you stop running and start fighting for what matters." She looked at him, dead in his eyes again. "...Is the moment you'll realize mom was right." She smirked at him as her eyes slitted just a bit.
Back to the battle, Meara leaped backwards, avoiding Divia's claws as she focused her arrow in mid-leap and fired. The blast connected with Divia, creating a small cloud of smoke, which Yvonne leaped through, her wheel blades in tow.
"Tch—" Meara quickly stepped left and then right, dancing around Yvonne's wild swings. "When are you going to try something different, girl?" She dodged once more, rapidly whirling behind her opponent. Grabbing the back of Yvonne's hooded cloak, she pulled her backward and swiftly fired an arrow. The projectile detonated upon hitting Yvonne, propelling her through several small structures.
Eilist's eyes widened as he watched Yvonne get tossed aside like a rag doll. "Damn it!" He slammed his staff down again. "Hurry up and fall, you damn Keeper! HOLY SERPENTS!" Once more, the dark white energy snakes shot forward, hissing as they tore through the air towards Meara.
But this time, Meara didn't dodge. "You're still showing off the same tricks." She said as Divia came up from behind her, claws ready, growling loudly.
"You're dead!" Divia roared, her monstrous form descending on Meara as her claws began to glow bright red. Surrounding her, with Divia coming from behind her and Eilist's attacks coming from the front.
However, Meara's expression remained calm—almost bored—as she stood in the center of the pincer attack. Her eyes flicked between Divia's descending claws and Eilist's serpentine blasts closing in front of her.
"Dead?" Meara repeated, almost amused. "Not today, child."
In one fluid motion, she dropped into a crouch—so low her knee nearly touched the ground—and spun. Her bow swept in a wide arc as she drew and released in the same breath. "EKLAN VORTIS!" The arrow split mid-flight into dozens of glowing shards that exploded outward in all directions. Eilist's serpents disintegrated on contact, and the explosion sent Divia back as she landed on top of another building, glaring down, gritting her teeth in anger as she glared at Meara.
Meanwhile, Eilist gritted his teeth angrily, his pupils nearly pulsating as he stared at Meara as if he hated her. "I...I can't stand this!" He yelled. "How the hell is she beating all three of us!" He then turned his attention to Vexes, who stood behind him with his arms crossed, observing the entire spectacle.
Vexes didn't respond immediately. His eyes remained fixed on Meara, analyzing every movement, every breath she took. The faintest hint of a smile played at the corner of his lips—not one of amusement, but of recognition.
"Because she's not fighting three Jaegers." Vexes finally said, his voice calm and measured. "She's having the time of her life making you! The Order's shadow unit! Look like fools!"
Eilist's face twisted with rage. "Then get in there and help us! You're supposed to be the strongest among us!" He yelled slightly, frustration bleeding through every word. "Or are you going to stand there watching like a--"
"I would suggest you think about the next word that comes out of your mouth, Eilist." Vexes slightly glared over at him. "Besides, you're letting your anger at being outclassed blind you." He turned his gaze back towards Meara. "You may have been blessed by the Order, but you're not fighting some low-class human with a bow. You're fighting against a Keeper of the grove."
"Outclassed?!" Eilist's eyes went wide, his pupils dilating with indignation. "Outclassed?! By some—some human with a bow?!" He spat, his hands beginning to tremble. "I don't care what title she has! I don't care if she's a Keeper or a Queen or a—"
"Eilist, calm yourself." Vexes kept his eyes locked on Meara, but all the while, a dark aura started to appear around Eilist.
Eilist's breathing picked up. "Calm? CALM?!" His voice pitched higher, almost hysterical. "You want me to calm down while she's making us look like fools!" He pointed over at Meara. "The order gave us a mission! A mission to retrieve that blasted shard and the human who stole it!" He spat loudly. "They said nothing about a Keeper getting in our way! Humiliating us! Playing with us like we're insignificant! We're elves, dammit!" He whirled back around to face Meara, still glaring hatefully at her, the sigils in his pupils pulsing rapidly. "The order gave us power! They blessed us! And some human is over here making a mockery of everything that we are! We're...We're." The dark aura intensified and swathed him like a living shadow; his words degenerated into unintelligible snarling.
Vexes's expression remained neutral, though his eyes narrowed slightly. "Eilist—"
"I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" Eilist screamed, his voice cracking as the dark aura flared violently around him. "I'M GOING TO KILL HER! I'M GOING TO RIP HER APART! I'M GOING TO SHOW HER WHAT IT MEANS TO MOCK THE ORDER!" The dark around Eilist exploded outward, snakes made of dark energy coiling around his body. His eyes--once merely pulsing--now blazed with an unnatural crimson light that seemed to bleed into the air around him. The sigils implanted in his pupils began to rotate, spinning faster until they blurred. "I WILL NOT BE LOOKED DOWN ON! NOT BY A KEEPER AND ESPECIALLY NOT BY A DAMN HUMAN!" Eilist's power skyrocketed as the aura grew out of control, creating a strong gust of wind that blew in all directions.
Yvonne couldn't help but stare wide-eyed in shock as she watched Eilist's body begin to transform.
Divia, herself, carried the same expression as Vexes. Except hers was mixed with a slight hint of disgust.
Sylvanie and Celestia had no choice but to use their arms to try and shield themselves from the wind as well as to try and guard Oreon's unconscious form and Meara, eyes slightly widened as Eilist's body grew longer, his arms and legs disappearing as his face began to morph.
"So, that's what the Order's blessings really does..." Meara uttered to herself as she narrowed her eyes as Eilist continued to grow, long and lanky, the end traveling down the road of the square and his head rising above the buildings. Fangs began to show along with a long, slithering tongue as his transformation finally finished with a deafening roar.
Eilist had become a massive serpent—easily thirty meters long, his scaled body coiling around the ruined buildings like a living nightmare. His eyes, still glowing with that unnatural crimson light, were the size of wagon wheels, and the sigils within finally stopped spinning. The dark aura that had surrounded him now radiated from every scale, pulsing like a heartbeat.
The serpent's head swayed back and forth, its forked tongue tasting the air before its gaze locked onto Meara. When it spoke, Eilist's voice came out distorted—layered with something inhuman, non-mortal, something wrong.
"I...WILL...DEVOUR...YOU!" The words rumbled like thunder, shaking the very ground beneath them.
Celestia stumbled slightly, her hand instinctively moving to shield Oreon. "What...What is that?!" Her voice trembled despite her best efforts to remain composed.
"Is... that..." Sylvanie began. "Is that a damn Serpentine!" She yelled, just as shocked as her sister was.
Meara's expression remained steady, although her early demeanor had changed considerably. "No, not quite." She muttered, her eyes tracking the serpent's movements. "That's not a serpentine." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Just another twisted experiment created by their blasted blessings." Meara quickly nocked her bow and aimed it carefully at Eilist's. "Damn, Order and their corrupted means for power." She gritted her teeth as emerald energy surrounded her arrow.
Vexes watched from his position, arms still crossed, and his stoic expression, while Divia landed beside him.
"Tch—pathetic." She hissed. "Letting himself become that...thing. Where is your pride as an elf?" She muttered as she glanced over at Vexes. "Well? Aren't you going to stop him?"
"No," Vexes replied. "Our orders are simple. Retrieve the shard and the purifier's son. If this gets the job done, then so be it." Vexes kept his sight locked on the battle.
Meanwhile, the serpent that was Eilist coiled tighter around the buildings, his massive body crushing stone and wood beneath its weight. His head reared back, jaws opening impossibly wide—
"EKLAN—" Meara began, her arrow glowing brighter—But Eilist struck first, faster than Meara could release her arrow, as he shot forward towards the group and still knocked out Oreon.
"It's time, little brother." Alice stared at him with a smirk on his face as she stood in front of him with her right hand placed on her hip. "Say it, Oreon. Say the word that mother taught you." She commanded as Oreon gave her an intense look and then calmly uttered the words from his lips.
"Reveiller"
A loud explosion occurred as Eilist made contact. A large dust cloud enveloped the entire area, making it impossible for anyone to see because of the impact created by Eilist.
For a moment, nobody said anything, and within seconds the smoke dissipated, revealing that Eilist hadn't touched anybody. To everyone's shock, Oreon was standing in front of Meara, his right hand out, stopping Eilist's head in its tracks. Surrounding him was a true red Aura, lightly outlining Oreon's body as he glared at the monstrous serpent, but not with his own brown eyes, but with the same golden eyes as his sister.