Wreathed in Sin - 635 Years Ago The crimson rays of the setting sun were just some of the

many patrons currently gathered within a small Norvaskan tavern. The mood was rather civil; everyone was either chatting merrily at tables or drinking at the bar. There was no savagery, no hostility, just a group of individuals enjoying one anothers company. Laughter and tipsy chatter rang through the wood building, almost dominating the yelled orders from thirsty customers. In one of the corners, a man was stood, fumbling with a stringed musical instrument; the first of its kind. He was about six foot in height, had shoulder length chestnut hair and a slightly exhausted but excited expression. The curious contraption caught a few suspicious and intrigued gazes from those that noticed. After a few moments of tuning, the bard-to-be slung the lutes strap over his shoulder, an eager and perhaps nervous gleam in his eyes. His genius was finally about to be recognised. He strummed forth a single, clarion note, turning every head in the bar. The room fell silent, with the odd exception of people muttering statements of inquisition. The heck is that? Whats he doing?... The bard suddenly began to change notes, his fingers dancing over the frets and plucking at various strings. He was soon playing a fully structured melody for an awe-stricken crowd. Alone, hed created an entirely new sound, with nothing but some scrap lumber and a few tough animal organs for the strings, hed ushered in a new musical era, starting here, in this tavern. The man stomped his foot along with the rhythm, breaking into a faster, catchier song. The patrons began to stomp along, some of them banging their fists on the tables or thudding their ceramic flagons on the bar. Some of them let out woops and cheers. Words could not express the excitement or joy currently causing through the lutist. He was going to be famous! Rich! Nothing, nothing at all, could possibly ruin this moment!! Then the taverns door slammed open. The arrival of just another guest would likely have had no impact, but this was no ordinary customer. Looming in the doorway, eclipsing the sun, was a seven to eight foot tall creature. Those within caught sight of cardinal red scales, of eyes that burnt with a dazzling light, of slightly transparent but very large, folded wings, and a long, slender tail that followed her in. The reptilian woman had a majestic form, a portion of which was covered by a long dress and an elegant collar that sat around her shoulders. A staff adorned with a chakra was clutched in her left, taloned hand. As she peered around, a bright circle passed from person to person, as if she were a spotlight. A few individuals shielded their eyes from the light, but most just stared in silent fear. The music, and indeed everything else, came to a sudden stop. The glowing circle that projected from those blazing eyes finally settled upon the bard. The longhaired man went pale, taking a few steps back, shrinking into the corner. A toothy smirk stretched across the lizards face, and a steely, seductive voice came flowing from her lips. Keep playing. Her tail coiled back, hooked around the doors handle and closed it behind her. She then proceeded to approach the bar, seemingly unaware of the dozens of eyes that were following her every move. Once shed arrived, she leant upon the wooden surface, leaning her stave at her side and casually placing an order Give me the strongest thing you have. The barkeep composed himself, professionally Thatd be the Noxka. Sounds good. Set me up. The barkeep turned, reaching up onto one of the high shelves and pulling down a slightly dusty bottle with a clear liquid within You paying, goddess? Luma grinned. She reached into one of her dresss pockets and slid over a pouch of coins. Course. Do I look like a thief? The barkeep seemed to relax a little as he poured the drink into a flagon rather than a shot glass to compensate for the size. Once hed passed Luma the mug, he began to count out the coins. Just before handing the still bulging pouch back to her, she stopped him Oh. No. Keep the change. Youll need it. The barkeep raised an eyebrow

Theres a lot in here. What would I need that for? Luma took a sip from her drink, wincing everso-slightly at the sting as it went down Ah... Youll see. She straightened up again, staring into the corner in which the bard was still cowering Come on! I asked nicely. Give these good people a tune! Still there was silence. It was broken for a few seconds as a new man entered the tavern, caught sight of the glowing lizard, turned around and walked straight back out again, with an audible Nope. Luma sighed, taking another sip of her drink and turning back to the barkeep Wheres the energy? Did I come in at a bad time? Beggin your pardon, Goddess.. A new male voice spoke out from one of the many tables Someone died... Luma turned, leaning on the bar, drink still in hand Thats too bad. My sympathies. What was their name? The man stood. He was a well built and grizzled individual with some impressive muscles and tattoos all over his upper body. His facial expression shifted to convey disgust and disrespect. Garth Patrice... Luma raised and lowered her eyebrows, almost mockingly Aha. That name sounds familiar. Hes the man you burnt alive... The one who stabbed me four months ago, you mean? Ever been stabbed? Its horrible. I mean really horrible. She feigned a ponder and then shrugged, before raising her glass into the air Well, at least I survived. Cheers. The man growled like a wild animal, taking a few steps towards the goddess, fists clenched You have no regrets?... Wheres your humility?... What example are you setting? Luma sized up the man, scanning him from head to toe before saying Ask any witness. I didnt provoke him. You didnt have to kill him! He was acting on idiotic impulse! It was an accident. Luma argued, calmly. Instinct takes over. You understand... theres a reason you dont prod ursorocs with sticks... The man pointed a thick finger towards the taverns door Ursorocs aint allowed to drink here. The barkeep leant forward for the first time, interjecting Draven, sit down. We dont want any trouble with the lady... No. The man objected This is quishcrap. We shouldnt take this garbage from the Divines anymore... I got word from my cousin in the West... they chased Driff out of their town and she just ran... He turned to the rest of the patrons in the bar. Some of them were already leaving, while were just watching the scene unfold with bated breath. Come, brothers and sisters. We dont need to live in fear. No more excuses. No more delays. No more leyborn. He got five or six small cheers, and two other burly men rose to their feet. They formed a small triangle around Luma, although her height still just surpassed theirs. Luma peacefully knocked back the rest of her drink, keeping the ceramic flagon in hand. She looked from one man to the next, tilting her head a little, focusing primarily on their biceps and chests I really hope youre all here to make an engaging proposition... Again, the barkeep leant forward to interrupt, but Luma just raised a hand to silence him Its fine. Ill handle it. She smiled, tauntingly at Draven Im not welcome here, so fine. Ill leave after my next drink. Give me two minutes. She then turned her back on the menacing trio and held up a talon towards the barkeep One more, hun. She then rolled her eyes and raised her voice And for crying out loud, lets have a song or two, huh!? Before her next drink had even found its way into her hand, however, she heard a rasping intake of air and sudden release. A glob of saliva hit the back of her head, spat by one of the three humans surrounding her. Luma closed her glowing eyes for a moment, burying herself into the mildest possible calm she could attain. Draven and the others chuckled, lowly. The music suddenly returned to the room; a series of high and frequent notes that almost felt like they were designed to build tension. The barkeep groaned and ducked out of sight. Most of the customers retreated from the building or crammed themselves beneath the tables. Luma drank down the noxta in one gulp, shaking her head briskly. Ah... You know, youre forgetting one very important detail, boys... She turned, quickly. Her

frustration had transformed into a gleeful desire. Im not Driff. Before shed even fully finished the sentence, the ceramic flagon in her hand was already swinging through the air. Luma brought the vessel down upon Dravens head, where it shattered. He was already falling to the ground when Luma lashed a kick at his chest, sending him smashing through one of the nearby tables. The music immediately began to play more frantically; evidently the bard had found the performer in him once again. Luma found herself ducking quickly following this to avoid a heavy punch from the mans friend, lashing her tail at the left flunky and yanking him to the floor. She rose with a heavy uppercut to the remaining man, sending him several feet into the air. Gravity brought him crashing back down, shattering two barstools as he did so. Two more combatants entered the fray, to her obvious delight. She brought down her wing to shield herself from one of the men, while grabbing onto the second, wrapping her leg around his, tripping him and sending his head smashing through the bar. She quickly snapped her wing down, sending a flurry of jabs and hooks at the face of the one shed blocked, taking a moment to boot the head of a prone, recovering adversary. After delivering a vicious haymaker to the last man standing and nearly dislocating his jaw, she marched over to Draven, who was climbing out of the wreckage of the table shed put him through, his scalp bleeding from the opening attack. She scooped Draven from the debris, pinning his arms to his sides and moving her eyes close to his. The slightly concussed human had to squint to maintain his vision. I would have left, but you couldnt let it go. Why should I?... Youre a murderer... Luma leant in even closer, their noses touching Im a protector. Ngh... Who in Desolis are you protecting right now?! Myself! Luma almost shouted, shoving Draven towards the door and nearly off his feet For the first time, Im protecting myself. Thats all Ive done. You can either stay and accept that, or you can leave... because you cant beat me. She turned towards the rest of the bar, irritably That goes for all of you. She tried to hide what felt like her heart sinking as the majority of the taverns occupants headed out through the door, carrying the injured or unconscious with them. After a few minutes, she was almost alone in the building, with only the barkeep and the bard for company. The barkeep was surveying the damage, with his mouth wide open in horror, before he caught sight of the fat coin pouch Luma had given him just minutes before. Luma offered him a weak smile Told you youll see... The bartender shook his head, emptying the bag and counting out the coins properly Did you foresee this, goddess? Can you predict things before they occur?... Luma headed back to the bar, picking up one of the half-full flagons that a patron had left in their escape It happened in the last four bars I walked into... Guess I spotted a pattern. I see... He tried not to make any eye contact as he passively offered some advice Perhaps it would be best to avoid taverns in the future? Ill avoid this one, but I need a place to unwind every now and again. Even goddesses get stressed, hun. The barkeep finished the coin count, seemingly satisfied. He gave Luma a grateful nod, before fetching her another drink. A snap from the corner signalled the bard had finished packing away his musical instrument, and had closed it up inside its case. What is that thing, muse? she queried before he could get away. The bard cleared his throat, awkwardly, taking a good ten seconds before he could fabricate a coherent response Well... mlady, its uh... Well its a thing. You know... A thing that does things. A song that plays... an... instrument... that songs, mlady. He took a deep breath Its... a lute. A lute, huh? She beckoned for the nervous man to approach as she was presented with a third drink. The bard responded to the command, trotting over while fumbling with his own fingers. How does it work? Well... Uh... Mlady, dont you already know?...

I aint that kind of goddess. Come on. Details. The lutist cleared his throat, pulling up a seat beside the large reptilian entity and exploring his mind to find the right words Uh... Well it... It uses strings in varying tensions... The different tension applied provides a different sound... you can adjust the pitch of each string with your fingers and play chords... gives you a wide variety of sounds... For the woodwind instruments, you needed three flautists to create similar effect... with the lute, you can do it with just two hands... Luma gulped down some of her drink, leaning in, her eyes dimming down almost enough to make out some pupils And you made this? I... Welll... Yes. Mhm... So youre... a visionary... The bard managed a smile, scratching his head and looking away Well... I mean... I wouldnt say I was but...- He was interrupted, unexpectedly Do you live nearby? The musician settled his eyes upon Luma, trying to identify the look she was giving him Oh... well... yeah. I got my own place not far from here... You single? ...Yeah... he noticed Lumas tail flick in a rather predatory way, his gaze quickly shooting back up to her eyes Uh... Are you ok, mlady?... Mhm hm. Perfect... Luma quickly downed what was left of her beverage, dropping the flagon onto the bar. Lead on. ...What? Youre taking me back to your place. She replied, simply. The bard seemed unconvinced. He opened his mouth to question further, but fell silent as Luma leant forward and whispered into his ear. His mouth promptly shut, and his body language became more open. Luma pulled away, holding eye contact for a second, before pushing from the bar and heading for the door. The bard hurried after her Dont you want to know my name?... He chirruped. I honestly dont care. Luma responded, bluntly. She stooped a little, heading out of the tavern, the bard close on her tail .......Ok! he replied, cheerily, following the goddess with enthusiasm.

Wreathed in Sin - 635 Years Ago (Several Days Later) Within the subterranean sanctuary of the Divines, a low, pained groaning could be heard echoing through the caverns. Luma was sat at a stone table, her head rested upon it, one of the many pieces of rocky furniture constructed by Korl. Her head was swimming a little, and the sonar-singing creatures that called the caves their home were bombarding her with high pitched screeches, amplifying a throbbing headache. Several jugs of water were sat upon the table with her, and the goddesss passive glowing aura was flickering, ever-so-slightly, like a dying bulb. Her eye lids felt heavy, and her limbs felt limp. Perhaps she could get away with a few more hours of sleep. Even this solid slab would suffice as a pillow right now. As she closed her burning eyes, however, she was immediately disturbed by the sounds of clinking armour and heavy footfalls. She quickly muted her hung-over moans, so as not to come across as petty or weak. She didnt need to give Nox a reason to talk. Oh have the song birds silenced?! I was SO enjoying the dawning chorus! Hehehehehe! Damn it. Ears like a bat, that one. The maniacal giggles of Nox entering the central chamber added to the overabundance of noise, causing Luma to slam her hand down, irritably upon the stone Shut up. Shut up, shut up, shut up! Hoo hoo. What a hot head. What you gonna do? Burn me up? Ha! I know youll do it! The glinting grin in the darkness finally appeared, gliding through the shadows. His feet werent the only ones she could hear, however. It sounded like the others were approaching too. This was confirmed with the addition of yet more unnecessary resonance. Leave her alone, corpse. Materns voice called out Your voice is annoying enough when were not in pain. Lumas spirits lifted with the arrival of her green sister. There were a lot of hangover cures in this world, but none were more effective than the sire of the bioley. Eon! Luma shouted through the gloom Come fix me! Matern appeared through one of the chasms entrances, closely followed by Driff, who was stretching and rubbing her eyes. As Driff let loose a yawn and idly sniffed the air, she frowned Whats that smell?... Matern looked over her shoulder at the milky white lizard, still walking Thats alcohol. Lumas been binge drinking again. Luma raised her crimson hand, forming a mouth with her fingers, opening and closing them Yadda yadda. Talk, talk, talk. Less talk, more fixing. Matern sighed, strolling over to Luma whilst Nox yelled from the shadows You know, that reminds me of a joke! Where can you find alcohol and humans?! There was a slight pause as Nox waited for guesses. The silence was broken as Glace walked into the room, droning monotonously, as he always did. I estimate roughly twelve million locations on the continent where these perimeters can be met. Basic logic suggests the answer to your query is a tavern, brewery, or household. Nox shook his head, beaming Nope! Inside Luma. No one laughed, but after a brief silence, Glace continued walking, while adding with a tiny smirk Twelve million and one... Nox burst into hysterics. Matern looked disgusted, whilst Driff had her mouth open in horror Luma... You eat humans?... This only made Nox laugh more. Matern brought her taloned paw to her face, palming it in disbelief, before waving Driff away No... No, Rassha... Go and do something productive... Driffs expression took a dive, and her shoulders slumped with disappointment at her own inability to understand the joke ...Fine. Ill see you all later... Her wispy wings formed upon her back, and Driff took off into the air, shooting out through one of the caverns winding chimneys. Luma watched her go, before focusing her gaze back to Matern, who had arrived at her side. This is the last time, Lune. Im not your damn first aid kit. Luma carelessly shrugged, beckoning for her treatment Fine. Whatever. Just get rid of this headache before Hyde arrives and shouts at me.

Why would Hyde shout at you? Matern asked, taking Lumas hand, a green glow forming between her fingers. Lumas headache immediately began to fade I promised him no more nights out... Thats the third time. Is there a trend to breaking promises to Hyde that I need to get in on? Driffs been doing it too. Luma raised an eyebrow. A soothing, pleasant feeling washed over her as Materns ley flowed through her veins. That so? Mhm. Shes been seeing that human; Elly. Crafty! Im proud of her. Matern released Lumas hand, and the glow quickly faded. Matern smiled, but quickly her stoic, stern expression found its way back She has a job to do, just like you do. We cant spend our time on these distractions. There could be a war brewing because of our mistakes, Lune... If you cant keep a promise to Hyde, then can you at least keep one to me? Luma stood. Her luminescence was returning, and soon she was shedding a brilliant light. That depends what it is. No more brawls. I can feel the damage to your wings webbing... We cant afford to stain our reputation further. Luma sighed, loudly, ensuring her disapproval of this motion was perfectly clear Alright. No fights... I promise... Matern smiled, and began to leave. Before Matern was even out of arms reach, however, she stopped, once again turning towards Luma. A solemn, concerned expression was now present. Luma immediately dodged eye contact. Shed anticipated this, to some extent .Are you sure youre alright, Lune?... Matern asked, predictably Its not exactly difficult to determine at least something is wrong Im fine. Luma answered with a nonchalant shrug Peachy. Ill get to work soon. We have to talk about it at some point Since the attack youve come home with more bruises than a crate of bad fruit. Is this an anger thing? Because if it is, I understand, but- Were done. Luma interrupted, quite sternly, standing up and tucking her chair beneath the table with her tail in one swift movement. I can adapt. You dont need to pet me and make it better. Weve already seen that words arent enough. They can be. To us. You dont have to become them just because of what they did. Youre better than them Luma snorted, irritably, beginning her march away from the Divine of life Am I? Lets cure the people we afflicted then well decide whos better. Matern fell silent, shoulders sinking as Lumas radiant glow reached its peak. Like a firefly in the dark, she travelled through the cave, heading over to a selection of Glaces machines. The terminals and ancient technology had been brought on out from the adjacent laboratory complex from which the seven of them had emerged just over a hundred years ago. Everything had felt like an elaborate dream since; powers of unknown origin, memories from a life they never lived, and an almost overwhelming urge to fight a force theyd never encountered; The Prime Directive. Somehow together, theyd all overcome their blood-lusting compulsion and had used their powers to help the people of this world; people they could never truly relate to, but could act as their protectors. Even so, however, the feeling was still there, and it was there for all of them. A part of their souls craved conflict on a large scale. It was like a hunger that could never be sated, always clawing at the back of their minds; whether it was idle conversation or flying through the skies, fighting injustice or holding an innocent human child. The hunt for the Prime Directive was on, and one could not fathom to think how theyd respond when their prey revealed itself. The war that never came was one that raged in Luma, more so than the others. That human must have known. He must have known exactly which one of them to attack in order to become a martyr.

She hadnt been able to stop herself. She didnt even want to stop herself. For a brief moment, as his body was reduced to molten flesh, shed felt fulfilled but the sensation had quickly passed, replaced by cold, fearful dread. They would fight because of this. Because of her, and nothing they did seemed to help. Even ordering their own men to stand down wouldnt have been enough; the Reclaimers had vowed to massacre anyone with but a shard of loyalty left the humans theyd helped reduced to mere beasts in times of desperation. They only needed a few more years too, maybe not even that Then the cure would be ready But too long theyd waited. Their promises now fell on empty ears. After all, who would listen to a murderer? Luma practically slammed her hands down on the terminals console, booting it up. An ethereal display floated before her, trapped within a large glass cylinder. Glyphs and scripts floated through the vessel like fish in a tank, ready for her to input commands. She took a moment to get into the mental state required for quick calculations. Several more of the holographic displays lit up in the chasms various segments, each one signifying another divine initiating a start-up protocol. Glaces was already on, of course, but when was he not working? Strands of DNA and various algorithms appeared before her, fragments of her previous work which she hadnt completely abandoned. Hitting a few keys, Luma opened a panel on her machine. A handle emerged, attached to a transparent, perforated case. She tugged the handle, and with a pressurised hiss, the small cage came into view, filled with half a dozen syse. The small six legged furry rodents were scuttling about within the box, making use of its various wheels, platforms and toys. One of them was busy grooming its whiskers, when it suddenly sneezed. A small burst of flame emerged from its entire body, igniting another nearby, which immediately extinguished itself with a blast of cryoley. Luma smirked a little, opening the case up and lifting out her flaming favourite; a specimen shed come to call Drake. She placed Drake in a small container near her command console, before hitting a few more buttons. She worked for hours, as she did every day right through into the evening, examining the syses DNA for what felt like the thousandth time, trying to find something, anything which she may have missed in the past. She crossed all of her current equations and algorithms with the strands, but the simulations failed to yield any significant results. She sighed as Drakes digital representation, a series of small glyphs, died yet again. Perhaps acquiring a human specimen would further results. Would that be unethical? Even if they were an asshole? As Luma pondered, she felt a cold breath on the back of her neck. Great, she thought, what does the snowman want now? Turning her head, Glaces spikey features came into view. His glowing, smoky eyes were fixed on Lumas bountiful results. See something you like? Luma asked, after conjuring enough courage to put on a seductive tone for humours sake. I see something I missed. Aww. You could always come over and see me if you miss me I am referring to the calculations. Youve assessed the genetic matrix through alternate means. These strands- I know what you meant Glace Luma cut in, coldly. The game hadnt been as fun as shed thought itd be. Acknowledged. Permission to access your console? Luma moved her fingers away from the keys, taking a step back

Be my guest. Glace silently approached the controls and his fingers began tapping away at unnatural speed. Dozens of symbols, numbers and measurements flicked by on the display, too fast for Luma to comprehend, but just the right speed for Glaces brilliant mind. So hows the old ice doing? Luma began, glancing around the cave complex, idly Are you trying to engage in small-talk? Glace asked, his almost invisible pupils darting from left to right as he read Reckon I am Very well. The ice suffices. Luma sniggered, rubbing her eyes Was that a joke? Did you perceive it as such? I guess? Then yes. Well perceived. Glaces typing slowed, before he pushed away from the console with one final push of the send key. The computer began to process his calculations in relation to Lumas, predicting a result. After a few seconds, the cylindrical display flashed a pale green, and the glyphs aligned to form, what could well have been, a cure. Luma quickly scanned the image, her mouth slowly dropping open. Holy crap Did you do it? The simulation suggests as such. The mist will be able to devise a serum using these results. The pair of them made eye contact for a moment, Lumas filled with excitement, Glaces almost void of all emotion: There was something there, perhaps; a flicker of pride, maybe. Load it up. Glace nodded, leaning back into the computer and punching in a rapid command. Hisses from the large machines rear sounded out as the mist canisters enabled the creation of a physical cure. A tiny aperture slid open to the left of the command console, and out popped a brass and glass syringe with a sterilised tip. Glace plucked the medical instrument betwixt finger and thumb, turning and holding it out to Luma. She shook her head, quickly No, no. You do it. My hands are shaking Glace gave a second nod, twirling back towards the console and looming over Drake the syse. Temporarily and harmlessly rooting him still with a few frozen feet, Glace injected the faintly glowing compound into the rodents veins. The cryoleys sire retreated slightly, monitoring the figures overhead, whilst also keeping an eye on the animal subject. A grid of light was projected upon the syse, causing it to squint and squeak. Its vitals appeared within the cylinder; a quick pulse and neural activity. Luma watched with anticipation, her hands clasped together, unable to even blink. Drake seemed unfazed, initially. He continued his investigation of the box he was in, occasionally standing on his hind legs and sniffing the air, whiskers twitching. The ley is retreating... Glace commented. Lumas hopes rose, dramatically This could be it, Krosinox... This could save the world... Affirmative. The pair of them watched some more. Luma drew closer, standing right at Glaces side, wide-eyed. Her heart was racing, but she remained as composed as she could. Suddenly, the vitals began to decay. Drake collapsed and began to spasm, violently. Glace grunted, quietly, squinting up at the display before him Prognosis... Negative... Luma pushed Glace towards the console. He did not resist. No, no. Were too close. Fix him. Fix him now! The glyphs warped, and the spasms stopped. The pulse had vanished, and all cerebral signals had stopped. Drake was dead. Damn it! DAMN IT! Lumas hands blazed with a furious fire as she sent her fist through a nearby stone desk. It crumbled

into rubble ...Can you get anything from that?... Glace?... Krosinox took a moment to respond, perhaps lost in thought following what hed just witnessed. After a pause, he spoke, his back still to her Send me the data. I shall investigate further... Does that mean youve got something? Luma asked, attempting to shroud her desperation, abysmally. ...This is possible. Relay the data to my terminal. He turned, meeting Lumas gaze Perhaps acquire rest. You are in no state for further calculations. He took a step forward, which almost felt tentative Perhaps consider your social obligations. Your progress may be factored to your synergy with the mortals. Luma smirked, chuckling weakly. She felt drained after being dragged from the moment so viciously ...Dont think they much care for me out there, Glace... There will always be those that do, else there would be no conflict. Perhaps locate those still loyal to us... As RasshaMey has. Does everyone know about Driffs playmate except me? What gives? Glace remained silent, which only drew a sigh from Lumas lips Urgh... Alright... You have a point... I always, as you say...have a point. And with that, Glace twirled on the spot, his wings letting loose a small shower of snowy flakes, and walked back to his lab. Luma took a moment to transmit the figures from the test to his mainframe. Her eyes fell upon Drake, her tail sinking to the floor in dismay. Shed deal with the body tomorrow... maybe Glace could still get something from it. She glanced over to Materns segment of the cave. The emerald divine was still present, trying to create a cure of her own, no doubt. After a quick decision, Luma beamed the data over to her as well. By the time the information had appeared on Materns display, and shed looked up from her work to check on the sender, she only had enough time to see Lumas glowing tail disappearing from the chasm up one of the many vertical chutes. Matern sighed, surveying the statistics before returning to work. How many promises would she break tonight?

Wreathed in Sin - 635 Years Ago (Two Weeks Later) The head ache came first. Then the dryness of the mouth. What followed next was usually the fuzzy memories and familiar wave of regret... but they never came. That was unusual... She had no recollection whatsoever of the nights events. Not even vague flashes or groggy echoes entered her mind as she pondered around the void. She could hear birds singing, their high pitched chirps piercing her brain like hot pokers through her ears. Her nostrils stung a little as she inhaled through them: Smoke. She could smell smoke. Thats normal, right? I mean, she was the Goddess of fire. Smoke is normal. This is fine. This is just fine. She hadnt lost control of her leylines, so it couldnt be that. After a moment of internal preparation, Luma opened her eyes. The morning sun forced her to squint, the sudden influx of unwelcome light flooding her vision. She was on her back, her wings splayed out beside her. She grimaced, dragging her tail to a more comfortable position. This wasnt a bed... This was far too hard to be a mattress. It felt like wood. Who the hell has a wooden mattress? It soon became clear that Luma was lying on the floorboards of a building; a building that had been reduced to a blackened skeleton by flames. Even now, ashes floated through the air, dropping from the various beams and supports that once made up the buildings frame overhead. The thatch roof had been totally incinerated; thats how the light had breached. Clever light. Turning her head from left to right, Luma surveyed the damage. Based on the bar-like structure at one end of the room, and the large quantity of flagons, bottles and tables, she, with her infinite wisdom, determined she was in a tavern. Glace would be proud of this astute assessment. It took her a few moments for her heart to truly sink in realisation. Had she done this?... With a groan, Luma pushed herself to her large feet, almost tripping over her own tail, catching herself on more than one occasion. She took a moment to acknowledge the fact she was, apparently, naked. Perhaps investing in a fireproof dress would have been worthwhile after all. Her staff was leaning against the smouldering bar, so that was her first destination. Stumbling clumsily over to her weapon, she took a moment to brush some ashes from her skin. Finding wounds was always tricky when your bloods as red as your scales. She failed to locate any injuries, although she ached plenty from her awkward, drunken nap. Picking up her staff, The Setting Sun, Luma supported herself and once again scoured her subconscious for some form of remembrance. She recalled voices, cheerful ones, followed by yells of dismay and fear. There didnt appear to be any bodies, so at least she hadnt killed anyone... again. Luma jolted, becoming fully alert as the door in the charred threshold teetered for a moment before snapping from its damaged hinges and hitting the floor. A bulky looking man entered the taverns remains, peering around in trepidation. He eventually caught sight of Luma, who promptly used her tail and free arm to shield her more intimate areas Look what you did... The stranger sadly said, stepping into the wreckage. Uh... I... I didnt... You burnt it down! Luma felt herself starting to panic Ive never burnt down anything! You came in, you drunk more alcohol than anyone Ive ever seen, and the next time I looked your way, the table was burning! We had to evacuate the entire building, but you were too pissed to even acknowledge it! He stomped forward, clouds of ash clinging to his clothes I think you enjoyed it! I think you enjoyed taking in the flames! After we treated you with hospitality... after you came in claiming that most humans turned you away! We welcomed you, and STILL you ruined everything! Luma could barely dish out another sentence. She stared for a moment, her mouth slightly open as

she tried to think of some form of defence, but it never came. Demoralised, she hung her head, and went for the next best thing; an apology ...Im... sorry... She said, glowing eyes fixed upon her own feet. The man uncrossed his arms, and for a moment, looked a tad sympathetic. ...Will you help us rebuild, Goddess? Luma, not considering the consequences of the potential absence this promise would bring, nodded. Of course. Good... But no more drinks. Someone with your power shouldnt lose control... Luma felt a twinge of frustration zip through her. She was so used to obedience and respect, but now the humans were talking to her like she was a child. If anything, they should have been more afraid. Perhaps if they all feared her, they wouldnt consider this stupid war. Rather than voicing her inner monologue, Luma instead shared an honest truth to try and bolster her standing with this stranger ...Usually its all in moderation... Ive never... done anything like this before. Mhm hm? Well, maybe you shouldnt be so... cooperative next time. Luma blinked, focusing on the man as he began to shift the ruined furniture. What do you mean?... Well... figure the only reason you drunk so much is because Tsar and the others kept buying them for you... Barely gave you a moments rest... Dont you remember? Luma narrowed her eyes. Finally, someone to blame other than herself No... I dont... They locals? Sure are. Why? Id like to meet them...Again. Im sure if I asked nicely, I could get them to help The barkeep grunted. Perhaps it would be best not to resist Right... The three fellas youre after are Tsar, Ben and Irvine. They all work at the blacksmiths on the villages east side... But... Goddess... If youre headed over there... maybe put on some clothes... My clothes burnt up. Unless you have anything thatll fit someone of my proportions then I suggest you take a more helpful tone. The man grunted, shoving a few of the tables out through the broken door. They collapsed on impact. He dusted off his hands, before saying ...Maybe the wifes got a few things she can stitch together. If you wait here, Goddess, Ill return with something thatll suffice, for now... Luma managed a warm smile, but received none in response. It was almost like he was helping due to religious obligation and nothing else. Well... Thanks, mortal... You got a name? Troy, Goddess. If youll excuse me... The man slunk out through the door. Was that disappointment in his voice? How dare he be disappointed! Goddesses should be allowed to get away with a few torched buildings! They did it all the time in the books. Now alone within the husk, Luma started some basic detective work, pawing through the debris, hoping to find something that might remind her of the nights occurrences. Troy had mentioned the fire had started at one of the tables, so she scoured the area for a point of origin. She knew how fire worked. She was looking for something which had exhausted its flammable potential in the form of energy before everything else. After a few minutes, she settled on a table in the corner. It was producing slightly less smoke and ash than the rest of her surroundings. Furthermore, upon closer inspection, she discovered claw marks that matched her own. There were four chairs pulled up, one of which was larger than every other seat in the bar. For a moment, Luma saw a flash in her mind of Troy happily bringing in this seat from his own home to maximise comfort. People were cheering for her. It felt good. Snapping back to reality, Luma checked the space around the table. Broken glass. Perhaps the others had spilt their drinks in their desire to escape... but the spread of the shards suggested the bottle had been hurled with some force. In addition to this, some of the glassy shards were buried within the soot upon the table itself. How could a fallen bottle fling its pieces so high? Locating a large piece of the scorched glass, she lifted it into her claws, turning it and having a look at the label. It was barely legible, but she read the words Dire-Down Whiskey.

She grimaced. She wouldnt be caught dead drinking this swill. Her friends must have had poor taste. She investigated some of the other bottles that were present. Curiously, most of the drinks seemed to be non-alcoholic. The only alcoholic drink she could find was brasslight ale, which was what she always ordered (she had a sponsorship deal with the brewery). If these men were insisting upon her consuming copious amounts of alcohol, why would they avoid it themselves with the exception of one bottle of mediocre whiskey that tasted like lighter fluid? As this comparison came to mind, she frowned, leaning in and investigating what appeared to be a point of impact upon the table, right in the centre of the broken whiskey bottle remains. Again, a vision came to her as fragments of the previous night broke through from her subconscious. She was laughing, smiling, enjoying a pleasant evening with new-found friends. Shed teased them for their choice of whiskey, and as shed looked away for a moment, glass shattered, and flames spread. People yelled as the fire crept up the walls and to the ceiling, but she just sat there, entranced by its beauty. Shed always had a soft spot for the primal elements. Things started to go dark after that point. She must have blacked out soon after the fire started. She felt shed confirmed something, however: She didnt start the fire. She spent the next twenty minutes or so inspecting the scene further, but she couldnt recall any more significant details. She was sat at a stool, head in her hands when Troy returned. He appeared to be holding a robe-like structure made from curtains. It was hideous, but practical enough. Here you are, Luma... he said, averting his eyes and holding the dress at arms length. Luma headed over and gratefully accepted it. Thanks. So did those men I was with not drink anything but juice and non-alcoholic ale? She pulled the dress over her head and popped her arms through the sleeves. Once shed clothed herself, Troy returned eye-contact Hrm... Believe they ordered a whiskey towards the end of the night... At the end, huh? Figures... Im not sure I understand, Goddess... Mhm... Luma snatched up her staff and brushed some ash from the head. The blacksmith, you said? To the east, aye... But, Luma... You said youd help rebuild. Luma walked by Troy toward the door I will. She said, without turning her head, stepping out from the smoky interior and into the clear dawn. The ambient temperature, hilly environment, lack of tree density and local architecture suggested she was probably in the north. She must have made a beeline for this region following word of Reclaimer absence. She wasnt far from the coast, an expanse of blue stretching into the horizon. She gave the sea a disapproving glare, before turning using it as her compass. This was the northern sea, ergo, east was to the right. Citizens had already begun to mill about on the streets, assembling stalls and opening shops. Many of them looked fearfully towards Luma, whilst others simply appeared confused at her bizarre new fashion sense. Every few minutes, shed ask for directions to maximise efficiency. Everyone was cooperative, although some more so than others. She walked for roughly fifteen minutes, admittedly feeling a little more self-aware than usual, but it was nothing she couldnt handle. After this time had passed, she began to feel the heat of a burning forge. Like a moth, she was drawn towards it, weaving through alleyways and gardens (much to the dismay of some homeowners) until she eventually arrived at the reinforced metal door of the local blacksmith. A sign depicting a sickle and a sword swung on a chain above, and the clanging of metal and metal sounded out from just around the corner. Rounding it, Luma came across a pair of men. One of them was shaping a red hot iron blade with a hammer, whilst another was pumping the forge billows. They were chatting in familiar voices. Luma recognised their faces after another brief flashback; Ben and Irvine. Luma, being a very hard person

to miss on account of her being a crimson eight foot lizard monster, caught the attention of the two smiths. They looked more than nervous, to say the least. Oh... Hey, Goddess... We thought youd uh... Left... They exchanged worried glances. Yeah... hell of a night though, huh? Man Im uh... Im so hung-over, right now. Yup. Me too. Were just both really used to it, though, so were not displaying any of the symptoms. Luma frowned, stepping closer. They both immediately stopped working and backed away What are you so scared of? Luma asked, idly and casually pointing her staff in their direction Didnt we have a fun night? Full of whimsy and wonder? She continued to advance, enjoying their fearful rambling. S...Sure did! Were just uh... Again, they exchanged looks, before Irvine took a slightly more confident stand We just dont want you to burn down our home, too! Yeah! We saw you... You burnt down the tavern! Luma spread her large wings, making herself seem even more imposing. Did I?! I must be some kind of idiot, then, right? Go ahead... say Im an idiot. Unsurprisingly, the two men did not begin to throw insults. A new voice however seemed to fancy its chances Youre an idiot... Luma... The divine turned, rounding on a third man whod emerged from the house. He was a bulky looking smith with a sword pommel in one hand. She must have interrupted his work. This was Tsar, their so-called leader. You burnt down our best tavern... You cant handle your liquor, so you destroyed a very important part of our village. Luma marched towards the man, quite quickly, but he stood his ground. Luma bent down a little to move her face mere inches from Tsars You started the fire and framed me for it. Why? Tsar held the glare, boldly I did no such thing, but if I were to do that, itd be because youre a murderer and a danger to everyone that accepts you. But dont worry... no one here is going to do that now... Ive made sure everyone knows what you did. Lumas eyes began to blaze with a fierce rage. She grabbed the mans collar, pulling him so their noses were touching If Im a murderer... you really think pissing me off is a smart move? He didnt answer Well!? Luma insisted, shaking the man like a ragdoll. You think I wouldnt do it?! Is that it?! Why should I let y-. Luma was interrupted by a few quiet gasps. She looked up, restraining Tsar and peering around. It seemed her shouting had drawn a small crowd. Around a dozen men, women and children had appeared, some of them potentially customers for the smith himself. Shoving Tsar away, Luma gestured to the crowd which flinched, cautiously Tell them the truth, Tsar. Tell them you burnt it! Tsar remained silent, still just staring. Angrily, Luma raised an open palm, a dangerous looking orb of flame appearing within it TELL THEM THE FUCKING TRUTH! ... Tsar took a few deep breaths, closing his eyes, before slowly saying ...Youre a criminal... and youre playing the oldest trick in the book... attempting to pass on your consequences to another... More civilians had gathered. A lot of them were shouting now, angrily. The scene looked all too familiar to her. Some of them had weapons, too. Two or three were advancing. The pot was boiling over. ...Son of a bitch. Luma hissed, before lowering her hand and taking flight. There was nothing she could do. Even the villages that supported her had Reclaimers within, dedicated to turning her world to ash. That was too close, but it wasnt her she was worried about. Shed failed to stop her instincts kicking in when attacked before. She couldnt allow that happen again.

Wreathed in Sin - 635 Years Ago (Two Months Later) Luma?... Luma, are you with us? Luma opened her eyes, wearily. Her six fellow freaks were with her, stood and sat in a semi circle around Matern, who was presenting some finds on the cure research. Mhm hm... Carry on... Are you drunk?... Matern asked, irritably. Drunk? Her? What an outrageous accusation Veeery. Luma responded with an awkward, unstable thumbs up. I havent seen you sober for over a month. What the hell is wrong with you? Luma reached beneath her stony chair, opening a hidden compartment and pulling out a bottle of whiskey. She peered at the label: Dire-Down. Shit. Oh well, anything was better than thinking straight for a few hours. Popping the cork and ignoring the six pairs of eyes staring her way, Luma waved towards Matern with a stupid grin Carry on, Fey! Tell us how to fix the humans! Oh... wait... They were broken before we found them. She took a swig, pulling a disgusted face as it flowed down her throat. Driff fidgeted awkwardly, whilst Nox just sniggered. I like drunk Luma. Shes funny. He said, that unnaturally wide grin gleaming out from within his hood. Keep it up, Nox. Luma said, glugging down more of the drink Maybe youll find a girlfriend one day. Nox laughed hysterically before rather uncharacteristically hanging his head and saying Im so lonely. Matern abandoned her presentation, marching right up to Luma. Her terminal buzzed and shut down without her presence, coaxing a sigh from both Glace and Hyde. Luma wooped, loudly before pointing to the roof of the cave Woo! Meeting adjourned. Im outta here. As she got up, Matern looked to Hyde Hold her steady. Hyde obeyed, a little too eagerly. He raised his hand, manipulating the water within Luma and holding her still like a marionette on invisible strings. She tried to struggle, but in her intoxicated state, it was no use. She glared to Hyde and Matern, who both maintained very serious expressions. You need to tell us what this is about... Matern asked. Her ignorance was infuriating. Surely they knew what this was about? How could they not? How could they have forgotten what shed done? Driff nervously stood as well, padding over. Before she could even say a word, however, Matern dismissed her Go to your room, Rassha... Driff didnt move. As Matern spoke, she snatched the whiskey bottle from Lumas helpless clutch, peering down at it This poison is breaking you, Lune... Give that back... You dont even drink this whiskey! Youve ranted to me about it! Is staying inebriated really more important than forsaking your own values?! Luma thrashed about, trying to free herself from Hydes control. She only stopped when she spotted Driff, looking horrified at this feral display. Swallowing her pride for a moment, she nodded in response to Materns question ...Mhm... It... makes it easier... Materns eyes showed a flash of sympathy, but already her emerald green hand was stretching toward Lumas muzzle. Luma shook her head, trying to pull her nose away from the encroaching talons Dont... Dont! Unable to escape, Materns hand rested upon Lumas head, and immediately the ley began to purge the poison within her body. She felt her mind returning to her, along with the weight of this sad, sad world. Being tossed back into reality so quickly was like falling from a hot bath into an icy pool. It stung, horribly. Matern tossed the bottle over her shoulder, where Hyde caught it. Despite its lack of cork, Hyde managed to keep all of the liquid within as it soared through the air. Once the bottle was in his hand, he released Luma, letting her regain control of her limbs. Luma fought the urge to lash out, more for Driffs sake than her own. ...Whyd you do it?... Are you punishing me? Luma grunted, quietly. Matern rubbed her eyes, frustrated, more than anything Punishing you? Youve got a problem, Sis. Im helping you. She looked over her shoulder to the others Krosinox, could you continue with the update? Im going to speak to Luma, alone. Glace quietly acknowledged Materns request by heading into the semi-circles centre. Matern took Lumas

hand and pulled her away from the others towards the far end of the room. They left together, heading through an aperture style doorway which led into their birthing chamber. Luma didnt like this room, but she suspected thats why Matern was using it. The birthing chamber was filled with complex terminals, but its most notable pieces of scenery were the large glass cylinders against the back wall: The cylinders which spawned her and all of her siblings. Once the door had slammed shut behind them, Matern stepped before Luma, confrontationally. Whats going on with you, lately? I think I actually preferred the crap you did before this. At least you didnt work while pissed back then... You wouldnt understand... Luma said, walking past Matern and leaning against one of the large terminals, staring at the sterile piece of technology that had spawned her Try me. Matern answered, following closely. ...I cant cure the sick... Sis. I cant close wounds. I cant make crops grow... I cant make the world a better place... All I do is set things on fire... But just a few years ago, the people never really... cared about that... I was a protector... but now Im just... A murderer? Matern interrupted. She didnt have a cruel tone, but it was still enough to send a twinge of ire through her body. ...Yeah... Yeah... That... Do you regret what you did? Matern rested against the terminal at Lumas side, staring at her own spawning pod. I dont even feel like I did it, sis... I feel like... that did. She pointed to the pod I couldnt stop myself... I dont think Ill ever be able to. Now I cant go out there without them stringing their bows and sharpening their blades... I feel... dangerous... Its horrible. They all hate me... and it was just an accident... It wasnt even an unreasonable one! The man attacked me! I could have incinerated him as he ran for me, but no, I did it AFTER he stabbed me, and STILL Im the bad guy!? Her anger was rising. The terminals metal casing began to glow red hot around her hands They want everything to be perfect! They want us to be perfect! Why expect that of us?! So thats why youre staying in. Why are you drinking so much, then? I... It makes me feel safe. It helps me forget... what happened... I cant stop thinking about it because no one else can... Im grounded because I cant go out there without endangering them... If I drink then... It feels easier... Matern stared at Luma for a short while, before straightening up This stops now. Luma bared her sharp little fangs, turning and glaring at Matern I will not be miserable so I can adhere to your damn regime. Why the hell should I dedicate literally all of my time to helping the humans when theyre so ready to use our mistakes as reason for murder! Let them fight. At least there will be less of them when the smoke clears. Materns eyes narrowed You cant possibly mean that... Youre talking about genocide. Im talking about WAR, Sis. We should know more than anyone, or did you forget the Prime Directive? You damn child. Youll throw away your own mind because you cant stay and play with the masses. Are you seriously that self centred? Have you considered that maybe you have a higher purpose?! Were here to fight. You think they gave Krosinox a sword so he could make fucking sandwiches with it? It was your idea to help the humans! I could have kept you all warm throughout The Cold Dark, but you wanted the whole world to be safe. If you werent prepared to lose all of your pets, then you should never have brought them into our war! We dont have to be about war! No, Sis. YOU dont have to be about war. You dont even have to be a freak like we do. You can look just like them. The rest of us? We dont have a choice. Were designed to be soldiers; weapons. Sometimes, I dont want to think about that, so yeah, I drink. I will continue to do so, too. If youve got a problem with that, then stay the hell away from me. Luma turned sharply toward the exit.

Heat distortion waves rippled through the air around every inch of her body. Matern kept her mouth open in slight shock for a moment, before half-heartedly pursuing Were worried about you, Luma... For crying out loud! Please. Youre more worried about the humans. Why bother worrying about me? I cant get sick. Drinking isnt going to put me in an early grave. Its literally going to do nothing but make me happy. Staging an intervention when there are no negative side effects is going to be tricky, but I fucking applaud your attempt. Luma.... Matern stopped as the door slid shut, leaving her on the other side. She gave up the chase, hanging her head and sighing. Back in the central chamber, Hyde was holding onto the whiskey bottle, peering inside it at the contents. Rather than listening to Glaces droning voice, he brought the bottles neck to his jagged lips for an investigatory swig. The bottle was snatched from his claws by Luma before he could taste the contents, however. Luma marched straight on by without a word, storming off to her quarters. Hyde looked after her with a smirk Another time, then? Screw you. Luma called back, before disappearing from view. Hyde and Nox chuckled, turning their heads back toward Glace. Driff hung her head, helplessly, whilst Glace paused for a moment and looked after the fiery Divine. Perhaps it was time someone efficiently dealt with this problem.

Wreathed in Sin - 635 Years Ago (Two Days Later) Luma groaned a little in her half-slumber as the room immediately grew colder. She was lying upon her bed in her own private quarters. Fiery embers decorated the walls and ceiling, glowing softly with a pleasant light. What do you want? She asked the intruder, without even looking toward him. To show you something. Glace responded, leaning against the doorframe. I am failing to detect signs of inebriation in your vocal patterns. This suggests you are currently sober. Luma snorted, blindly reaching for her bedside table. Gimme ten minutes. Ill fix that. Triumphantly, she felt her fingers close around a bottle of brass-light ale. Still without looking, she banged the bottles neck against the tables corner, removing the cap and bringing it to her mouth. She was however disgruntled to find the contents were now solid, flash frozen by the snowy prick, no doubt. ...Youve just made a powerful enemy. Luma said, darkly. Glace turned, heading out of the room, which instantly grew warmer Come. I guarantee satisfaction. Luma laughed, loudly, rolling out of bed and onto her feet Oh baby, talk dirty to me some more. Glace led Luma out into the central chamber, where he spread his wings. Luma did the same, although not without some reluctance I dont go outside much these days... This has been noted. You fear for the safety of others. Luma rolled her eyes, glaring towards Materns quarters Did Green talk? Negative. I simply made calculations. Luma let out a short, quiet laugh Heh... Of course you did... So where are we going?... Glace paused for a long time, before saying with the least amount of energy imaginable. Its a surprise. And with that, he beat down his wings and took off, a flurry of snowflakes left in his wake. Luma watched him disappear through one of the winding chimney structures. She grinned. A surprise from Glace... She had to see this. Her wings took a few beats before she could rise from the ground. She was a little out of practice, but it wasnt something shed simply forget. After a few practice flaps, she was able to follow Glace up the vertical passage way and out into the warm midday sun. Without a word, Glace shot off toward the south. Luma followed. She was a little faster than he was in the air, which let her weave around him and over his head, mockingly. As expected, he did not react, but Luma liked to think he had some sort of furious inner monologue at times. There was just no way anyone could be as calm as he was. After roughly twenty minutes of flying, an enormous and famous tree came into sight; Yehoven. The tree was ancient, and had been around long before the divines had emerged. It was visible for miles around, right in the centre of the Fields of Old. Luma barrel-rolled, floating above Glace for a moment and pointing towards it We going there? Indeed. There is a settlement at its base Id like to introduce you to... ...This sounds like a horrible idea... I have made calculations. Please trust my conclusion, Lunelahtek. ...Alright, Glace... Just... Stay close, alright? Very well. Please define close with an approximate measurement. ....I... guess...Eight metres? Thats not approximate. Thats exact. Oh for... Ok, around eight metres. Acknowledged. Despite the fact it was within visual range, the tree was still miles away, and the trip took a further twenty minutes. As the time passed, however, they were at Yehovens trunk. It was larger than any man-made structure on the planet, and larger than many of the other natural ones too, stretching to roughly two thousand metres in height. The pair of them hovered for a moment before Glace

dropped into a dive, speeding down to the roots of the great tree. Luma inhaled deeply, trying to find some sort of solace, before following her robotic friend. Glace opened his wings mere metres from the ground (as he always did) and glided into an efficient landing near a series of simple wooden houses perched atop stilts. Luma touched down a few feet in front of Glace, causing him to step backwards several times until he was approximately eight metres away. Luma smiled and shook her head at him, before raising her arms and indicating to her surroundings So here we are. What did you want me to see? She looked around. It was a quaint and interesting village. The smouldering remains of an enormous pyre stood in a ceremonial circle. Nearly every house and shop was stood atop stilts above the swampy marshes at the ground level. Cute little bridges connected the dozens of islands. Brightly coloured toads and frogs were hopping all over the place, and wispy kyne were floating through the forests that surrounded the village in almost a perfect circle. Glace didnt answer immediately, and looked towards a house hed landed beside. Knock. He said, simply. Luma smirked. Shes play the icicles game. Naturally, Glace had to back away even more as Luma approached the door and knocked upon it, thrice. There was a bit of movement inside as a light-footed individual approached. The door swung open, and Luma was greeted by a middle-aged human woman wearing braid robes. She had some interesting tattoos covering the left side of her face, and her brunette, slightly greying hair was wild and unkempt. She smiled, kindly, something Luma hadnt been expecting. You came. Glace said you would. Im glad... Luma peered over her shoulder at Glace. He was eight metres away, and innocently staring off into the distance. Come, Luma. Walk with me. The woman left her house, closing the door behind her. Luma did indeed follow, taking in the details of the environment as she did so Glace said Id be here?... Thats right. Did he say why? He did, and from the very little time weve spent together, I believe he is right. Luma frowned, stepping over a dream toad as it hopped obnoxiously into her path. Enlighten me. Youre guilty, child. I can feel it seeded within you... The woman continued to walk, her robes brushing through the damp grass. Luma twitched a little at this condescending term. Child? Do I look like a child to you? Again, the stranger laughed Were all children of The All Bearer, Luma. It doesnt matter what powers we possess, or from where we hale. ...The All... Bearer? That sounds... strenuous? The All Bearer is the creator and warden of all life upon Rime. She fabricated the miracle of birth, and in death, she cycles our essence into a new form. The All Bearer is forgiving to those who deserve her sympathy, and she understands the difference between a sin and an accident... The woman walked over a small wooden bridge, crossing a tiny, shallow river with Luma still hot on her tail Ive never heard of this religion... Perhaps it wasnt until now that The All Bearer felt your pain, Luma. Im not in pain... Youre in agony, child. Not of the body, but of the spirit. I can feel the turmoil and confliction within you... In instinctual self defence, you claimed a life. Whether or not you should have stopped yourself is irrelevant when compared to whether or not you could have. Whilst you possess incredible power and a unique anatomy... What truly makes you different to us? The All Bearer understands your struggle, and she forgives you for your unwilling mistakes... The woman came to

an abrupt stop as Luma jogged forward and positioned herself in her path. Glace was still following, at a distance. Im not in pain. These are just beliefs. Beliefs wont help... In fact, theyve been screwing us over for the past few decades. And what do you believe, Luma? Do you believe youre a Goddess? ...I... Did you even know what a Goddess was when you first came to us? What truly defines what a Goddess is? Must you possess omnipotence? Perfection? Should your mistakes be written into The Accounts as noble acts of flawless divinity? Here, Luma, we will expect no more of you than we would from our fellow brothers and sisters. .... Luma felt a warmth she hadnt for some time. For several moments, she was unable to utter even a single word. The priestess-like woman walked by Luma, once again coaxing the lizard to follow. She did so, without a shard of reluctance. ...Do you think we can... fix what we broke?... Can seven men and women fix the entirety of civilisation? If we walked through this village, and I burdened seven strangers with the power to shape the environment... how could they change the way people think? ...They could cure the leyborn. This isnt about the leyborn, child. The leyborn are nothing more than an enabler for the masses mindless violence. A wave formed the moment you and your siblings appeared, and only now is it crashing upon the shores. The Cold Dark claimed more lives than your leyborn... The leyborn, in recent manifestations, have caused damage, but theyre nothing compared to the death and misery caused annually by Glacenox. Glacenox?... Thats what theyre calling it now, should it return... It wont. We cant let it... Your responsibility cant extend to the preservation of the entire world, child. Remember, youre not perfect... And thats what makes you beautiful. Luma couldnt help but smile at that. She felt like a blushing idiot for a moment, before snapping back to her serious demeanour. If we cant be perfect, then why is The All Bearer?... The priestess beamed up at Luma as the pair of them walked side-by-side Because she is not among us, Luma. Turning a corner, a busy market came into sight. Luma came to a stop quickly at the sudden appearance of dozens of humans, but the guide turned, and offered some morale support Come, child. Theres a second home for you here... We understand. Luma nodded, slowly. She surveyed the crowd. The seemed docile enough, and none of them appeared to have weapons. Perhaps there really was no danger. The woman winked and began to descend a ramp into the market Wait. Luma said. The guide turned her head What is it?... Who are you?... The woman beckoned, yet again Let me show you. She began to walk away, while waving to the crowd My name is Lila, and were the Wicker Witches. Luma had to run a little to catch up, but she did so with renewed enthusiasm. Within the cheerful crowd, Luma felt accepted. Whilst she turned a few heads, there was no fear or hate. Perhaps even more wonderful was the fact there was no reverence or fanatical love. She simply felt... normal. She moved through the masses, closely following Lila as she approached a

market stall. An assortment of mushrooms and taproots were available for sale, none of which really appealed to Luma, but the fact she could be here was satisfying enough. Glace had been right, again. Hey there, Lila. I got some cylo mushrooms in from the other side of the continent. Only after hed pitched his stock did the stall-keeper even acknowledge Lumas presence Good day, Luma. You much of a vegetable eater? No one had ever asked her that before. Usually they asked her if shed smite them, or if shed set them on fire, or if shed set something on fire for them. They never asked her if she wanted a carrot. I... No... Im fine... Your loss! Here, Lila. Try one for free and I guarantee youll want to buy more. Lila smirked, accepting a small pale blue mushroom and taking a bite. She tilted her head from side to side, before swallowing, and nodding. Good prediction. Lemme just release our guest. I dont need to hold her hand all day. She turned to Luma You see? Youre welcome here; not as a goddess, but as a woman. Luma nodded, fidgeting as she tried to find something to say that could appropriately convey gratitude ...I... I dont know what to say... I understand... well... I try to. Weve heard about what happened out there... We dont know if the war will avoid us... We can only hope The All Bearer will separate us from the violence... Luma looked around yet again. There were families here, with no interest what-so-ever in mortal combat... What if they were pulled into a fight they wanted nothing to do with?... Just like her. ...Ill protect you... She said, without even thinking. Lila giggled, shaking her head You cant stop, can you? Luma sighed at the laugh ...I dont know... maybe not... Dont worry about us, child. If our home falls, then it is the will of The All Bearer... Lila seemed content with this rather morbid conclusion. She turned back toward the shopkeeper, glancing over her shoulder as Luma asked one final question So... What is this place? This village? Its called Glade. Think of it as a sort of... Haven... Luma smiled, toothily Yeah... Haven... I like that... She nodded, turning away and approaching Glace Haven... As Glace began to back away, Luma called to him through the crowd Stop moving, you damn fool! Are you redefining the distance? I am. Two metres. Here. Glace obeyed, approaching, weaving between the pedestrians, nonchalantly. When he came to a stop, Luma looked Glace up and down, before starting a ruthless interrogation So. Was this your plan? By re-establishing your love for the humans, your work efficiency will increase by fifty six percent. Luma tilted her head, raising an eyebrow So this was for the humans? Not for me? Glace didnt answer. He simply remained silent, staring, awkwardly. ...It was for me, wasnt it? .......No... It was! Why are you blinking like that!? Is that how you lie!? Your attitude was unhealthy for productivity. I merely-... Glace was cut off as Luma took a quick step forward and threw her arms around him in an embrace ...Surprise... he eventually said Thank you... Glace shuffled, uncomfortably, before dryly stating ...This is closer than two metres... Stop talking.