The Knight-Lord 650 Years Ago. What about that one? Uhhh... It looks like... an egg! Yeah!

! An egg with legs! A small hand pointed up to the pale blue sky, gesturing towards one of the many clouds that were drifting here and there. See? Theres the egg, and there are the little legs! Its hatching! Uh huh, I see it! Ok, my turn. A pair of young girls were lying in the long grass of a forest clearing. Brightly coloured flowers surrounded them, emitting their perfumed fragrance, intelligently opting to appeal to multiple senses. The late afternoon sun had sunk just enough to prevent obscuring of vision, but it was still pleasantly warm with a light, calm breeze to keep the ambience perfectly balanced. Despite the weather, the girls were both garbed in medium weight hide outfits. Theyd given the rugged leathers their own custom aesthetic; covering them with chains of small flowers and brightly coloured pigments. The one on the left was older, likely eleven or twelve. Her black hair was neatly groomed and pinned back with a brass broach. The one lying beside her was much younger, possibly only four or five. While she shared the elders colour, her hair was wild and totally unkempt. Her face was also caked in grass-stains and mud, she conveyed no remorse. Clutched in her left hand was the stitched wing of a stuffed-toy quish. It had buttons for eyes and patches where repairs had clearly been made. The younger girl kicked her legs idly in the air, waiting impatiently for the other to provide a critical analysis of the vaporous forms overhead. Heh. Alright. See that one? Uhh, yeah! Its clearly a moko. See its head? And horns? Uhhh.... The younger girls face contorted with heavy concentration, as if she was trying to decipher some sort of cryptic code. ....Yeeaaaaaah? The older one sighed, rolling her eyes, before returning her hand to the air to try and flesh out her description a little more Look, Elly. This little flick here is the horn. Its curved. Moko have horns. .....Whats a moko? Elly asked, hiding her face a little when her question received a giggle in response The fat ones! The ones with all the fur! Like Mister Gendrew has in his garden. Elly widened her eyes with realisation Ooooh. Oh I see it now, Jess! She smiled with pride Easy! Jess flicked a small beetle off her shoulder, before shielding her eyes and glancing towards the sun We should probably head back home, sis. Elly sulked, but tried to find a middle ground Ok... but one more first! One more! Its my go. Heh. Alright. Whatcha see? Jess glanced to her younger sister momentarily as she scanned the skies with a honed expertise. I see.... us! Hm? Jess followed the finger, a pair of clouds gliding into her line of sight. She frowned, sitting up as if it would somehow elevate her and allow her a better view. It was so bizarre... Yeah... That... Yeah... Elly was right, in every sense of the word. Not only were the clouds perfectly proportioned to match their scaled up sizes, but they were also developing features; as if a an invisible sculptor was using them as reference. ...Are those real? Yup. The addition of a third, new voice made Jess yell with surprise and bolt from her position. Lying in the grass, no more than a metre away, was a sight she thought shed never see in. Relaxing

her head in her hands was a seven foot tall larcertine humanoid with milky white scales, flowing black markings and shiny silver armour that was trimmed short to leave her stomach exposed. Her brilliant, yellow, reptilian eyes were focused upon the clouds overhead, the pupils darting about ever-so-slightly as she subtly modified the shapes to perfection. Jess scooped up Elly, who set about staring in awe, her quish toy dangling from her hand Woa... ...Do we kneel? Maybe we should kneel? Ma always said tha-... The creature interrupted Kneel? Nah. Youll make me feel even bigger! Elly giggled, but Jess shot her a warning glare to silence her. Sorry for Elly, Goddess... shes only young... please dont punish her... Driff frowned, losing focus on the clouds for the first time and rolling onto her belly, gazing up at the two girls Punish? What? I dont punish people! You were just playing a game I liked so I thought Id join in. She beamed Hi there! Hi! Elly replied. Jess remained vigilant, even taking a few steps back and dragging Elly with her We... should really get back... Nice meeting y-... Driff interrupted, addressing Elly while still smiling joyfully Oh, yay! You have a quish! Elly nodded, managing to struggle free from her siblings grip and pad over to the prone Divine. Uh huh! Look! Driff flopped into a seated position, gazing at the stuffed toy as it was presented to her by the little girl. He likes you. I can tell! Of course he does. Im so shiny! Driff giggled Quish love shiny things. Whats his name? Lord Pugglesmush! Driff widened her eyes, before bowing her head, respectfully I knew not I was addressing a lord, good sir Pugglesmush! She peered up from the bow, with a cheeky smirk Does he forgive me?... Uhhm. Yes. Great! Elly laughed quietly, but was cut off as Jess grabbed her wrist and began to pull her away. Come on. Were going home... Elly objected and tugged against her sisters weight But I wanna play with the shiny lady! You dont play with Goddesses, Elly. Besides, Ma told us to stay away from them... She leant in close and whispered, urgently You know what they did... Driff rose to her feet, blinking a few times as the girls disappeared into the tree line. She let out a long sigh, her shoulders slumping. She still wasnt quite used to this new attitude... usually children and parents alike were happy to see her. Was it really because of this one mistake? Matern had told her not to bother the humans until this affair had blown over, but this mystery needed to be solved, once and for all. Hey! Wait up! Driff called after the girls, breaking into a jog and following. Was this scary? She didnt want to look scary. Hyde had told her several times not to follow children but she saw no harm in it. It wasnt like she planned to hurt them or anything; thatd be horrible! Driff spotted the two girls up ahead. Jess was herding her complaining sister hastily away from the clearing. She glanced over her shoulder, nervously, to scout for followers. She noticeably picked up the pace when she saw Driff following. Hurry, sis... Lemme go! Shes nice! They pressed on yet further, with Driff slowly trailing behind. She didnt want to cause any more stress, but there were answers to be had. Perhaps the villages grownups would provide adequate information.

As this thought drifted through her mind, Driff idly found herself stepping into the very settlement she had been thinking of. She shook herself from her distracted daze, spotting Jess and Elly disappearing into one of the many wooden houses that littered this large clearing. Dozens if not hundreds of adults and children alike were wandering the dirt tracks, visiting primitive little stalls and bringing back resources and materials from the forest. Some of the houses appeared to be under construction; their roofs and walls were damaged and some of their internal framing was exposed. As Driff made her way towards the girls house, nearly everyone in the village fell silent, and many of them drew to a halt. The ones that didnt retreated to the sanctity of their homes and drew the curtains, tightly. Unintelligible whispers from an untold number of sources began to fill the air around Driff as she walked on. She smiled to each and every villager she could, but received none in response; just looks of concern, and some even of contempt. Somehow managing to remain focused on the goal at hand, she approached the door shed seen Elly enter. The crowds parted, giving her a lot of room to proceed. That was awfully kind of them, if not a tad unnecessary. As she reached to knock upon the closed door, a male voice called out from the mass Must be some multi-tasker, Driff! Driff hesitated, turning her head upon hearing her name ...Huh? She said, innocently. A roughed up, scarred man came limping into sight, shoving aside some of his fellow villagers. Half of his body was horribly burnt, the right side of his face almost completely destroyed, including his eye. Driff grimaced a little, but tucked the expression away so as to avoid offence. Oh. Hi there... She said, in the best welcoming voice she could conjure Thats it? The man stopped, barely able to support himself. A greeting? How about a damn solution? Why in Benedis are you here, in our village... when you should be creating a remedy for this doom youve cast us into... A few murmured but nervous agreements emanated from the large group. Driff fiddled with her fingers, ignorantly trying to piece together what the man was asking for. Uhm... If you want to be fixed... then Matern could probably do it... Shes real good at that stuff. Could make you all nice again. She nodded, uncertainly. The charred stranger spat into the ground at his feet Imbecile. The murmurs grew louder and yet more fearful as this man took on a more aggressive tone Im talking about the leyborn... the monstrosities you created... one of them tore through our village, flames pouring from his hands... I knew the man... But I didnt know what you turned him into...He killed four people... four good people. Driff peered at the blackened houses shed spotted just minutes ago. Oh... Well... were trying our best. Well fix it. Your best? Then why are you here? What possible significance to your goal could the residents of this home provide? Again, Driff found herself fidgeting ...I just... wanted to talk... People dont seem to-... We dont want you to talk Goddess The man interrupted No one here wants you to talk. Youre not welcome here. Get out. It was hard to tell if anyone objected to this verbal assault, but if they did, they were stifled quickly by the mans supporters. He continued, taking a few more steps towards the Divine Maybe, maybe...Well consider that talk after youve cured this plague... Although I cant speak for the families of those you murdered... Driff stared the man down, her gaze soft and saddened. ...Maybe I can he-... No.

...Ill get Matern! Shell-... No. No more talking. Never come here again unless the leyborn are gone... Driff shuffled on the spot. She opened her mouth to say something else, but the speaker didnt allow another word Leave. Driff shut her mouth, finally getting the message. She glanced at the windows of the house she was beside, spotting Elly peering through the curtains. Driff gave her a half hearted smile, which was returned. She felt like basking in the moment, and likely would have done if it werent for the stone that struck the side of her head. She whelped quietly with pain, an experience she was completely unaware of, peering into the crowd to try and identify the thrower, but to no avail. Several more voices called out in defiance Get out of here! Murderer! Beat it! soon, nearly the entire village was practically up in arms, competing with one another to have their insults, threats and demands heard. Several more rocks came flying from all directions, most of which Driff was able to stop on her swift retreat. Jeers and laughs followed with her while she ran back into the tree line, several small, scratches now visible on her scales. She would not cry. She would not cry. Crying was for babies; thats what Hyde had told her. After running for around three minutes, the voices had faded into silence. She contemplated taking flight and returning to Matern to release some of her bottled up emotions, but she instead found herself slumping against one of the forests many trees and burying her head in her arms. She would not cry. She would not cry. Goddess?... Driff looked when she recognised the voice. Elly had followed her, Lord Pugglesmush grasped firmly in her hands Oh... hi. Driff frowned, checking the surroundings. There was still plenty of daylight left, but this was no place for a five year old to be wandering alone You really shouldnt be out here all by yourself... Im not! Lord Pugglesmush will look after me! Elly replied, beaming. Her joy quickly transitioned into concern, however Why did they throw things at you? Driff smiled, weakly We did a bad thing... by accident... People just dont like us anymore, I guess... Accidents dont make you bad! Theyre accidents! Elly nodded, with certainty And, and, I like you. And so does Lord Pugglesmush! Driff smiled, toothily, especially when once again presented with the stuffed toy quish We can be friends! Wanna, Miss Goddess? Driff paused, something the others said haunting the back of her mind We cannot afford attachments. We cannot afford secondary priorities. We need resolution now, or this will only escalate... and we wont be able to stop it if it does. That includes you, Rasshamey ...Sure! We can be friends! Driff eventually said, internally swatting away the warnings as if they were meaningless insects Oh, my names Rassha, by the way! But you can call me Driff. Elly offered her tiny hand in a surprising display of courtesy for someone so young. Ok! Im Elly! I wont throw stones or call you bad. Driff crouched down and shook the hand, gratefully Thats great! Oh, but its time you go home, Elly. Pugglesmush says so. Aw... Ok... Elly gave her toy a betrayed, pained look Bad Pugglesmush... but I guess hes right... Hey, wanna meet up tomorrow and play? Again, Driff zoned out

That includes you, Rasshamey. Theres too much at risk. Promise me... ...Alright! Ill see you tomorrow, then! Elly cheered, triumphantly, before skipping away, Lord Pugglesmush swinging in her hand. Driff felt her spirits rise, and her optimism returning. As she joyfully took flight, she hardly even acknowledged her own voice still echoing in her head. I promise...

The Knight-Lord 643 Years Ago. (Seven Years Later) The village of Stanzad functioned as normal, blissfully ignorant of the yellow eyes that gazed upon it from the surrounding forest. Driff kept herself concealed behind the same tree as always as the market stalls were assembled and stocked. This had become a morning ritual for her, and so far, it had never once failed. She peered around the bark cover, gazing at the familiar house and waiting, impatiently. She should have been here by now. Perhaps shed overslept again... there should really be some sort of thing that wakes people up in the morning so theyre not late for school or work. During the Divines reign, a public and free system of education had been put in place throughout the continent. While not every village had a school, most of them were within walking distance of one, and Stanzad was amongst these. She drew her head from sight as a single villager turned towards her. Fortunately, he didnt seem to spot her. Things had been escalating horribly for the past decade; it felt like entire regions were on the brink of full-scale war, all for the sake of defending or attacking gods that had never even claimed that title. Driff and the other Divines had been working on ways to combat the leyborn production tirelessly, but so far their efforts had yielded little to no results. Nox and Matern had been visiting figures of influence in attempts to defuse the tension and prevent further problems arising, but without a cure, their words often fell on closed minds. This war was coming, and there was very little they could do to stop it... other than the almost unspeakable suggestions Krosinox had made.

Driff took another peak. Where was she? Surely she knew how risky this was? She was being awfully selfish. As Driff contemplated knocking upon the window using her powers, a familiar but unexpected voice sounded out near her tail. Youre doing it again, arent you? Driff gulped, hanging her head, guiltily. Even with her body language saying otherwise, she uttered a response ...No... Look at me, Rasshamey. Driff slowly turned, keeping her eyes fixed on the ground. A pair of large, three-toed, blue-scaled feet came into sight. A few drops of water fell from their gnarled talons. ...I am looking at you... Stop acting like a damn child! Look me in the eye! She flinched at the mans rage, slowly raising her head. Some thick blue grieves came into view, followed by a decorated navy set of plate mail, and eventually a pair of burning cyan eyes. Hyde was holding a trident in one hand, as per usual, and his head displayed a series of fin-like crests, and a few shards of coral. Some of his scales were encrusted with salt. As he spoke, he revealed jagged, predatory teeth, like a barracudas. Ill repeat myself. Youre doing it again, correct? He was at least a head taller than Driff, and he always made her feel a little small. His blazing eyes eroded her will, and she tore her eyes away ...Im just making sure she gets to school safely... Rassha! Youre to sever all ties with this girl and resume your duty. There are people dying out there, and youre burning your time and energy socialising with a potential future victim of this conflict. There can be no secondary priorities! Driff kept her eyes down, but clenched her fists, containing an outburst as best she could. ...Its just an hour... Youre lying. Again. This is more than just an hour. This is a commitment. Hyde spread his wings a little, making himself seem even larger. He loomed over Driff in an attempt to intimidate her. How often do you spend time with this human? How old is it? ...Shes not an it. Shes a she, and shes twelve... Youre over a hundred years old, and youre spending time with a twelve year old. Youre meant to be a figure of power, of respect. Why are you still acting like a hatchling?! Driff shot her head up, eyes narrowed Because thats who I am! I dont want to be this anymore! I just want to have a life, like they do! I want to have fun, and play, and laugh! What I dont want is some sort of... global authority! Hyde hissed, lowly, eyeing the skies for a moment as a series of dark clouds amassed overhead. ...Youve had a century in which to play. Its time to grow up, Driff. We need to stop this war, whether you like it or not. This isnt about you, or your juvenile friends. This is about global peace! Take up some damn responsibility for once. A low boom of thunder cam rumbling down from above. The villagers all stopped what they were doing and looked up, most of them fearfully so; theyd never seen a storm like this manifest so quickly. I do have responsibility. I have a responsibility to Elly. Just give me a few hours a day, Torr, not without breaks... I need this. Hyde pointed his trident, accusingly Goddesses dont have breaks. Driff snapped, punching her clenched fist forward and opening it into a flat palm inches before Hydes scaled face. The divine of water was launched back by a pulse of air, smashing through the bark of a thin tree, which then toppled beside his prone body.

I am NOT a Goddess! Driff yelled, pursuing Hyde and pinning him down with the ley before he could stand I cant just separate from this! Youll never understand because youve never had friends! Because we cant afford emotional attachment! Hyde growled, struggling against the extreme force that was keeping him down Emotional investment can cause compromise, and you know what happens then... Driff applied more pressure, baring her small, sharp fangs Nothing! Nothing happens! Youre lying to pull me away! Hydes expression softened immediately. In a display of his regular inconsistency, he gave a rather warm but weak smile, and said simply Rassha... Look up... Driff blinked, and peered to the skies. The dark clouds had warped almost beyond recognition. They were swirling angrily, with a terrifying presence. Lightning crackled within the mass as it spread uncontrollably over the forest around them. Listen. The surrounding villages were veiled in darkness. Screams and shouts echoed from all directions, and the wind violently increased in speed and strength, felling several large trees almost instantly. Its a force to be unleashed, Rassha... not controlled... Remember what we are... and remember what we cannot be... Driff immediately released Hyde, staring around in panic. A particularly hostile wind shot through Stanzad, tearing apart some of the stalls and sending some of the fleeing villagers tumbling to the floor. She turned to Hyde, helplessly, not resisting as he pulled her into a soothing embrace. Shhh. Let it go... Just like we practiced... Driff clung to Hyde, quivering and drowning out the sounds around her. She kept her eyes tightly closed Focus on your thoughts... seclude yourself. Breathe, Rassha... The storm began to subside, little by little. Driff inhaled and exhaled, deeply, emptying her mind of all aggression. The dark clouds overhead dissipated into nothing, like ashes scattered on a wind, and the gales dropped back to a gentle breeze. The aftermath consisted mainly of people shouting to one another, but the majority of the urgency had passed. Driff whimpered a little, but sustained her composure, just. By the time Hyde let her go, her scales were almost as damp as his were. He stared at Driff with a fragment of empathy. She quickly looked back towards the village to assess the damage shed caused. Thankfully, it appeared no one had been seriously hurt, but some of the stalls were damaged beyond repair. The villagers were focusing the blame internally, and already the first signs of a witch hunt were developing. No doubt they thought a leyborn was responsible for this, and they couldnt be far... ...Please dont lock me up... It was an accident... Driff managed to whisper I... I wont do it again... Consider what your rage could extinguish... when were not around to calm you... Driff looked over her shoulder, her expression drained and miserable ...Did you make me angry... just to prove a point?... What about all these people, Torr?... Hyde spread his arms, shortly followed by his wings Thats the thing, Rassha. I know where sacrifices are necessary... and I know where risks should and should not be. If I have to wreck a few houses to get your full and undivided attention, then so be it... Driff opened her mouth to retort, but turned her head quickly as she heard a girls voice calling Heeey! Hello?! You out here?! A girl was just visible through various gaps in the still swaying foliage. Driff widened her eyes a little, looking to Hyde, as if for permission. The blue reptile held up a single, clawed finger

One day. Say your goodbyes, and then I want you working on neutralising the ley within mortals... along with the rest of us. Understand? There cant be any exceptions, and we cannot afford to have friends outside of our circle. Were all the friends you need, sister... Youll just have to mature up a little until you appreciate that... He glanced towards the trees to the south as Elly shouted a second time Helllooo? He looked back to Driff, before holding up that single finger once again. Without another word, he took flight, a shower of rain in his wake. He disappeared through the canopy, just as Elly emerged into full sight. There you are! She had changed a lot in the seven years theyd spent as friends, and now was almost the spitting image of her older sister when she was this age. She had a rucksack on her back, which Pugglesmushs head was poking out of, innocently Listen, if you want this village to like you, then youll probably wanna avoid scary clouds and breaking markets. I mean yo-... she stopped, speaking, her smile twisting into a frown. ...Whats wrong? Somethings wrong. Driff giggled, softly, hanging her head That obvious, huh? Come on... Ill tell you on the way... Driff began to walk, with Elly jogging a little to catch up and trot by her side The others giving you trouble again? Mhm... Might have to meet up less from now on... Only less? ...Eh... Maybe not at all... They want me to work on the Leyweave without distraction... Ellys spirit visibly sunk at these words Oh... Well... youre an adult... what do you want to do?... Driff sighed and shrugged Both... I guess... Then do both! They cant control you, Driffy! Youre a Goddess! Driff rolled her eyes, a very small smirk appearing on her face I told you not to call me that... Elly giggled, mischievously It was Pugglesmushs idea. Anyway, if youre worried about the other Divines telling you off, then just be more secret! Well meet up at other times! Oh! We can have secret signals and signs and all sorts of complicated stuff. Itll be awesome! Driff pondered, running a finger over her lips Hrm... that does sound awesome... Alright! Deal! Lets talk about secret signs! Yay! The two females discussion and playful giggles faded into the distance, leaving Hyde hovering above, irritably. He had tried, but even in her youth, the little girl was right; there was no way he could force Driff to cooperate... Yet.

The Knight-Lord 635 Years Ago. (Eight Years Later) The gentle waves of the sea sloshed against the cliffs and crept along the shores, adding a pleasant ambience to the currently unnamed coastal region. A calm salty breeze periodically swept through the sunny region, causing the lush plains of grass to sway and bob. Perched just out of reach of the tides was a quaint little town consisting of no more than thirty cottages, all of which had advanced architecture for the current era: They had brick walls and clay tiles, with lead framed windows and straw insulation. They were all very new and desirable, and seemingly ideally placed, but the location came with its own, irritating problems: Dragons. Thousands of them: Tiny little reptilian pests that shot through the skies in colourful flocks. Despite their presence, however, this brand new settlement had been constructed in the last two years, and today, the habitants would receive a new neighbour. A woolorth pulled cart had stopped outside one of the house on the villages edge. It was a small cottage, only really big enough to support one resident (maybe two if you didnt mind sharing a room). The cart was currently being unloaded. Crates and pieces of furniture were being carefully removed from within and placed on the ground, including a desk, a dining table with chairs, and a bed. Two men were performing the bulk of the task, and making quick work of it. Standing near the cottages door (which had been removed from its hinges to allow the larger pieces of furniture to enter) was a woman with sleek black hair, a slightly frilly pink dress that reached her knees, and a white dragon on her shoulder, which she was currently feeding. Once gorged with scraps of meat, the dragon attempted to take flight, but instead hit the ground with a squeak, and started to waddle away. The woman giggled at it, before turning back to the labourers. As they pulled the last of her belongings from the transportation cart, she approached with a grateful smile. Thank you, gentlemen. Ill take it from here. The two men blinked, and looked at each other, uncertainly Uh... Elena... Some of this stuff is... pretty heavy. We can help you set it up inside, no problem... Elena waved a hand, dismissively Oh hush. Ill manage. Besides, I have some friends coming over to help. Well make a game out of it. Theres really no need to burn off all that energy on accounts of me, hun. You can... wait... Elena peered at one of the boxes, which wasnt quite closed. She approached it, quickly, pulling open the lid and gazing inside. ...Something has fallen out... Could you... check the cart? One man nodded to the other, signalling him to follow the request. What have you lost? Oh just.... Its nothing really... just an old toy... The cart rocked, the thuds of footfalls emanating from its interior. After a moment, the second man jumped out, holding an orange, rugged bundle with buttons for eyes This it? he said, bringing it over. Elena found herself letting out a subtle sigh of relief, raising her hands and receiving the chewed toy Thank you... She turned the doll to face her, one of its colourful feathers dropping from its colourful crest. The coastal wind carried it away into the distance before she could snatch it from the air. She woefully watched after it. Had him for a while, huh? one of the movers asked, while he shut up the transport cart Since I was born... Its... silly really but... He looks after me. The men both chuckled Thats a big duty for a quish.

An old quish at that. Ever thought of outsourcing to someone a little more... alive? Elena smiled. She turned and placed the quish back within its box Sure. Ive thought about it... Well... One of them took a step forward What about me? How about I buy you a drink and you can decide if Im a viable replacement? Elena straightened up, rotating around to face her bold Prince Charming. Not a bad try, but... youre not exactly my type. She scooped up the box, staggering a little, but stabilising herself successfully. The man shrugged with a cheeky grin You barely know me. Maybe I can surprise you. Elena shrugged, carrying the box towards her door Think anatomically. The man immediately stopped his pursuit, blinking Oh... Youre into vermus or something?... Elena placed the box just beyond the threshold, before exiting the house and beaming, innocently Something like that. She dusted down her hands As I said before, you two can head on to your next job. Ive got this. The second man had already climbed into the drivers seat of the cart by this point, but the other awaited final confirmation Are you sure, Elena? Its really no trouble... Im sure. Elena answered, while picking up a second box. It let out a series of ceramic clinks. Thanks ever so much! You both travel as safe as safe can be! The man sat on the cart tapped his little hat Will do, maam. Come on, Mick. Maybe the next client will like humans. Mick chuckled, climbing onto the seat beside his colleague. Our next client IS a vermus. Then maybe you can surprise her instead. Screw you. They both waved as the cart began to roll away Good bye, Elena! Farewell, maam. Byyyyyyeee Elena called after them. She found the clip-clopping of woolorth hooves quite pleasing, so she stayed a moment to listen to it fade before carrying the box of crockery and cutlery indoors. The house was well lit thanks to the windows, with two rooms divided by a single door; a living/cooking area, and a bedroom. Other than the single box shed brought in, there was also a hearth, a small stove and single, currently empty lantern hanging from a small chain from a wooden ceiling beam. Beside the stove were a few units of storage space for both food and cooking utilities. Elena looked around the space, smiling broadly, before carrying her new box over to the kitchen area. She placed it down with a clunk and checked the contents for any damage sustained during the trip. There were a few cracks, but nothing too problematic. Rather than sorting them right away, she left the box and went to tend to the rest of her belongings that were waiting outside. As she approached the rest of the crates, a large shadow briefly overcast her as something flew by. She smirked, not even looking up as she went to pick up another box, barely even blinking as it mysteriously levitated into her hands. Nice place! Driffs voice sounded out from the cottages roof. The divine was sat there, dangling her legs over its edge. She was holding the red feather that escaped earlier in her claws Its been forever, Elly! When did we last talk!? Oh its been ages! I think about... four days!

Whaaaaaaaaaaaat? Driff giggled, flipping from the roof and landing on her feet. Thanks for the invitation. I think youll be a lot safer here... Really didnt like stand Stanzad was taking... Mhm. Thanks for the house. Its lovely. You should have seen ma and pa when I told them Ive gotten hold of one of the north coast cottages. They think I have some sort of secret admirer... Driff waved her hands towards the furniture, and it all began to float and head towards the door in singlefile formation I totally admire you! In a secret sort of way... so I guess theyre not that wrong. Driff suddenly stopped, peering closely at Elena with concern. The furniture all gently dropped down again as she lost concentration. Wheres Lord Pugglesmush?! Hm? Oh hes inside, in one of the boxes. The box is no place for a lord, you harlot! Driff quickly ran inside, practically tearing open the first box she saw and lifting the quish ragdoll out Duntuntunduuun! Lord Pugglesmush presiding! Driff gave Elena a wide-eyed look as she brought in the third box You need to place him somewhere where he can see everything. How else is he going to watch over you? You cant put him in a box! Apologise, Elly! She held Pugglesmush a few inches from Elenas eyes. She smirked and rolled them, playfully, before feigning sincerity Im sorry, Lord Pugglesmush. Driffs long face peered out from behind the quish He forgives you. And now hes off on his next wild adventure! Driff bounded away, holding up the doll and supplying it with sound effects as it soared gracefully through the air in her grasp. Elena giggled, placing the new box down beside the first Do you ever think about growing up, Rassha? Driff stopped, going silent for a moment. She awkwardly started trying to place Pugglesmushs lost feather back into his little head crest. Uh... Well... I am grown up. Im grown up when I need to be... s just more fun this way. Elena stepped aside, moving out of the doorway and allowing the dining table and chairs to float in after her Its not just about fun, though, is it? I mean... isnt it a little... silly to actually assume Pugglesmush will look after me? I mean hes just a toy. Driff pointed a denunciating finger towards her host Heresy! Treason! More long words that equate to bad! Dont make Pugglesmush pass judgement! He kills sea monsters with toothpicks! It was hard to tell how serious Driff was actually being these days. The ley she controlled seemed to be affecting her overtime. Sometimes she was childish or cryptic, and sometimes very lucid and clear. It was heartbreaking to see it corrode her overtime into something somehow unaware, but right now, she seemed to understand what was going on. The table set itself down, and the two chairs positioned themselves neatly on either end of it. A few clinks from the kitchen caught Elenas attention. She turned to see all of the plates, pans and cutlery floating about, individually, sorting themselves into respective cupboards. Next the bed and the desk came floating in, along with some more boxes which positioned themselves around the space while the remaining furniture made its way to the bedroom. Wow... you really make this easier. Elly stated, watching her friends handy work Not everyone agrees. Did you hear about what happened in Sepulco? Of course... news spreads fast... Driff exhaled with a hint of frustration, before laughing, shortly You know, I always thought itd be me who did it... by some accident one day... always thought itd be me who started the war... turns out it was Luma... Luma didnt start this. She acted in self defence. That man attacked her.

Ive been attacked before... I just walked away... She tilted her head from side to side Well, technically I ran. What I mean is, there were alternatives, but uh... I guess he picked the wrong lizard to stab... Or the right one... Driff glanced to Elena, the cottage still filled with the sounds of moving property What do you mean? Maybe he wanted to be incinerated. Maybe he wanted start a war... Good way to get people unified, I suppose... Driff nodded. When the last of the objects and appliances entered the building, she set about fixing the door back onto its hinges Theyre already doing that. Theyre calling themselves The Reclaimers. Never thought thered be a group dedicated to... well... killing me. Its... She pulled the door closed, testing its lock Its scary... Isnt there anything the seven of you can do? Youre more powerful than all of their armies combined. Driff padded into the bedroom, following the bed and closely being tailed by a box filled with pillows and duvets. Elena followed her Rassha? Mhm. Theres things we can do. Not a lot we should do... The bed began to make itself and clothes from another crate began to float into the dresser, nicely folding and categorising themselves Krosinox keeps talking about a pre-emptive strike... Killing off the human insurgents before they amass more followers... but... I couldnt just... She angrily fluffed up a pillow to burn off some of the tension I couldnt make myself do that... Probably wouldnt be that simple anyway, hun. Elly began If you kill one, you send a message to a thousand... if you kill a hundred, you send a message to a million... Youd make it worse for yourself... part of why we support you is your mercy, and your kindness... I hope these Reclaimers remember all you did for us before the leyborn came... The moment the bed was made, Driff sat upon it, her tail curving onto her lap, Lord Pugglesmush still cradled in her arms We messed up bad, Elly... I keep thinking... maybe we should just... turn ourselves in... It would solve the problem... although itd bring the cold back... I cant imagine what Rime would be like if it froze for half of the year... it sounds dreadful... a few leyborn are worth it if it means we can keep living like this... besides, youre all working on a cure... She sat beside Driff Plus, youre my best friend. Lets not talk about you sacrificing yourself, because I have a problem with that. Mhm... Driff nodded slowly, before holding up the quish toy What do you think, Pugglesmush? He says hell look after you, too... even if you are a goddess. Elly answered for him. Driff smiled, leaning her scaled head against Ellys ...Dont call me that... but, thanks, Lord Pugglesmush. Elena found herself shivering a little at the Divines cold touch, but welcomed it, eagerly. Hey so... Your family... and your sister... reckon if it comes to it, theyll take up this Reclaimer banner too?... Elly sighed as she considered this very real possibility Id rue the day... but I suppose if the movement spread this far west... I hope it remains a stand off until you make some progress... its possible your supporters are already taking up arms... They wont if we tell them not to... and we will... but if they start attacking unarmed Faithful... we cant exactly command against survival instinct... Hopefully itll just-... What are you doing? Driff raised an eyebrow at Elly who had begun nuzzling her neck, affectionately. Elly immediately broke away when Driff inquired, scratching her head and glancing around, aimlessly and awkwardly

Nothing! Its uh... Its a human thing. Very normal. Lets uh... Lets get the rest of the things unpacked! Then go to the beach? Driffs eyes filled with glee Oh my gosh, yes! I love the beach! she immediately placed Pugglesmush down on the bed, shot up and darted out of the room, leaving Elly sat there, alone. The woman rubbed her eyes and shook her head, slightly bewildered by her own actions. Come on! Come on! Driffs voice called playfully from the next room. Im coming, Im coming! Elly replied, before standing. She caught sight of Pugglesmush, who was staring at her, incriminatingly. She frowned, picking him up and turning him one hundred and eight degrees so he was facing the wall, while muttering Dont you give me that look, my lord... With this deed done, she exited the room, closing the door behind her.

The Knight-Lord 634 Years Ago. (Four Years Later) Wooooooaaa.... Do you like it? Like it?! I love it! You made me a castle?! Technically Krennuus did, but I drew up the designs based on some of your pictures... Driff and Hyde were currently standing within the immortals conference hall; an enormous underground cave, carved by their geomancer, Korl. The space had been stylised as such to give it seven distinctive sections; one for each of the Divines, although currently a large majority of this space was being taken by an enormous fairy tale castle with spires, turrets and banners. Driff bounced on the spot, before throwing her arms around Hydes neck and hugging him, tightly Its the best present ever! Thank you so much! Hyde hissed lowly, before pushing Driff back a little and gripping her shoulders Dont thank me yet. This exists for a reason... one you will not like. He gestured vaguely to the surface We failed, Rasshamey... Were doing everything we can but theyre already fighting... the size of the battles are... oceanic. Its like stopping a charging scim hog with your little finger... it just cant be done. Driffs joyful demeanour dropped away quickly ...Uh huh... Ever thought that... maybe were doing the wrong thing?... Hyde shrugged, before glancing over his shoulder to Glace at a distance. Glace was working away on one of his lysus terminals, toying with complex equations and symbols. Sometimes... Wheres Big Sis? Shes still at the aftermath of the last battle... trying to save who she can... This war is killing her... Do you think shes right? Would sacrificing ourselves make things better?... Their echoing voices bounced around the caverns, reaching Glace from a distance, who hit a button and shut off the strange machine with a click. No. He said, in his monotonous and dry voice This fight isnt about us anymore. Its about ideology, and those that conflict it. If you kill a god, that god will still be worshipped. Furthermore, the fragmentation of the Leyweave has a sixty eight percent chance to cause cataclysmic effects should its progenitors lose their lives. The Cold Dark will return if were not all able to maintain it. Furthermore, weve yet to encounter our primary directive. We must continue operating until then. Cheerful as always, Krosinox. Hyde snapped back at him. Glace just stared, before walking away Im not here to be cheerful The icy reptile approached an exit point and spread his wings, a flurry of snow dropping from its webbing. Where are you going? Driff called out, her voice reverberating, pleasingly. To confirm some suspicions. He responded, before leaping out of sight. Driff fixed her attention back on her elegant fortress. So, whats the reason? The six of us had a talk... Were going to continue to intervene in this war where we can to prevent bloodshed... but if that fails, and this war blazes on... in the aftermath, it would be best if we werent here... We need to disappear. Driff whirled around to face Hyde, angrily. But the aftermath is when theyll need us most! She objected People will be dying! Homeless! Children will be orphaned! You think I dont know what war is?! Im not an idiot, Hyde! Why wasnt I invited to this meeting?!

You were chasing that butterfly, remember?... Driff thought back, before giggling Oh yeah. That was the best. She quickly snapped into a more serious mood once again But you should have stopped me! The point is that the Faithful will not win this war... in suppressing them theyre outnumbered, and outgunned... the Reclaimers have prepared for this war... developed new ways of killing which had never been necessary before... In the peace we created, we pacified our own subjects. There will be no reason for us to linger once their regime is put in place... Well split up, find separate homes and conceal our locations from one another in case one of us is compromised. Driff blinked, confused Compromised?... Wait, are you saying I cant see you anymore?... Any of you?... Im afraid so... Well need to keep the Leyweave functioning so the cold doesnt return, but we can do that in seclusion... Well continue to work on a cure of the leyborn too, although it currently seems like fruitlessness will become a trend in that department... Driff briskly shook her head No, no, no, no, Torr. I cant live alone. Not forever! Even if I do have a nice castle, you cant just lock me away! I need... contact. Hyde nodded I know. Krosinox determined you would be uncooperative under these circumstances, so weve devised a solution. Your human friend; the one you think youre hiding from us... perhaps she could live with you? Driff quickly looked at the cave walls, then at the floor What human friend? Lies. Liar. Are you sure youre not an idiot?... Hyde asked, with a smirk. Driff scoffed, shoving him away She has a life too. I cant pull her away from that. Krosinox anticipated that reaction too. Hes going to have a lysus transporter concealed somewhere for her private use. She can come and go as she pleases, so long as she is not tailed. It is essential this remains strictly confidential. Driff blinked, before smiling a little That does sound better... I mean... not great, or anything... still dont wanna be locked away but... at least she can come and see me... Good. When her time comes, and her soul departs, well think about finding an alternative means of socialising. Rest assured, Rassha... I will not have you wilt in total isolation... Even I am not that cruel... Driff opened her mouth to answer, but was interrupted before she could by the sound of a heavy impact at the other end of the cave. The shafts of light bleeding in through the various tunnels seemed to be dimmed by this new presence alone. Driff and Hyde peered into the darkness, where a form was walking amongst the seemingly writhing shadows. Youre gonna make some nice lady cry one day, Noctahmork. Heh heh heh heh... But Im the life of the party, darling! Hows it looking out there?... Hyde asked, almost reluctantly. The form stopped walking, and a pair of maniacal, gleaming eyes appeared in the darkness, staring at the pair Glorious. HA! HA! Although you have to have the right perspective! The eyes narrowed a little Between you and me... I wouldnt want to be standing at ground level... heh hehehehehe....... Oh my... The eyes had somehow only just caught sight of the enormous castle that was dominating the chamber What an eyesore! Hey! Its beautiful! Driff snapped, pointing into the black Shut your face! And its not glorious! Its awful! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, precious! Take these battles, for instance! I wish someone would! Theyre stirring up real mess! So much clean up! But for a moment theres this calm before the storm... but filled with this incredible suspense... its truly thrilling... until the screaming starts...

heh heh heh... Then the narrative is just thrown into the fire... the plot derailed, the script defiled! Chaos!... Itll be the death of us all.... Heh heh. Nox clicked his fingers That does remind me... wheres our little anarchist? Krosinox just left. Hyde answered, bluntly Youll catch him if you leave right now. Your chances are likely improved if you never come back. Oh hush, Hydey! Nox called back, stifling a chortle Always so watered down! We all know youll miss me when Im gone... Hehehe... The eyes focused on the castle once again So wheres this abomination going to rest? Thats up to Rassha. Ooo. Big desicion... perhaps crammed inside a rainbow? Balanced on the spine of a wellgroomed quish? Driff pondered, tapping her chin I do like rainbows and woolorths... But I think Ill have it floating over the northern coastline, so I can see the towns. Nox chuckled, stepping out of the shadows for the first time, his ceramic skulladorned armour and tattered hood coming into view. Perhaps our preferences arent so different after all... Driff blinked, tilting her head, curiously What? If you overlook the northern coast... you will see death... Driff opened her mouth in shock. ...W...What? The war isnt there! It wiiiillll be. I had a little chat with Commander Knox. Theyre purging the northern coast of all Faithful the moment they arrive, later today. They think it will prevent flanking... Tragic, really... I kinda liked those guys... hehehehe... Driff immediately began to run, heading for the exit tunnel. Hyde shot Nox a furious glare, before pursuing Driff. The pair of them flew out of sight, leaving Nox standing alone, staring half vacantly at where the others had vanished to. He sniggered to himself, before turning and wandering away into the inky darkness The show must go on...

The Knight-Lord 634 Years Ago. (Later that day) The air rushed by Driff, almost deafening her as she broke the sound barrier with an explosive shockwave. Hyde had long since fallen behind. She was the lady of the winds; nothing could outrun her, especially not an army. Even at this speed, it still took several hours to reach the northern coast and begin to fly along it. She waited until she smelt the brine of the sea and shared the skies with the coastal birds before twirling down through the layer of cloud. The sun was already setting, staining the skies a dangerous shade of red. As she descended rapidly through the vaporous forms, she felt the smoke polluting the air around her. It reached her nostrils next; that foreboding, charred scent. She erupted from the clouds and fell into a hover just below them, her lips trembling as she surveyed the land below. The villages were engulfed in a flaming light; every single one of them that dotted the cliffs, beaches and dunes were ablaze. The forms of tens of thousands of men and women were dashing about below, most of them holding weapons and torches. Screams of fear and roars of bloodlust were audible, despite her height. ...No... No... she whispered to herself, before quickly pinpointing Ellys small settlement. There it was; burning like the others. Driff had said shed be safe here. Shed said itd be safe! Without hesitation, she dived, descending into the choking smog. She broke into a rapid spin when she was near ground level, zooming over every village she could and extinguishing the flames as best she could, never once breaking from her original path. Several arrows flew through the air, some of them dangerously close to her body. They were shooting at her! Theyd come a long way since theyd thrown stones! Driff came to a stop and thudded to the floor outside of Elenas cottage. It was no more than a blackened inferno now. Driff rushed forward, raising her palm and stripping the flames of their oxygen, reducing them to nothing in seconds. Elly!? Elly! she yelled, rushing into the skeleton that remained. Everything had been destroyed, but the door to the bedroom was still intact. Driff quickly charged into it, smashing it off its hinges and scanning its internals. The fires had ravaged the bed and dresser too, but there were no signs of Elly, or Pugglesmush, for that matter. Her scales were stained with soot and ash by this point, and it was becoming awkward to breathe, but she shouted out again Elly! Where are you?! Over her own cries, she just made out the crunching of a nearby boot. She quickly turned, spying a silhouette through the smoke, before an arrow came whizzing from it, embedding in Driffs shoulder. Driff screamed with pain; shed never felt anything so horrible in all her life. A red, viscous liquid began to ooze from the wound, and her left arm went numb, but even so, she would not cry. She would not cry. In fierce retaliation, she raised her free hand and cleansed the house of all smoke, sending the reloading individual tumbling out into the grass. The masked human landed on his back, preparing to draw a sword, but the blade went flying from his hand before he could properly prepare it. Driff emerged from the smouldering building, a terrible rage in her eyes. She lifted the man up with the ley, spreading his arms apart like a puppet and rendering him totally immobile. Grgh! Lemme go, lizard! Driff casually dislocated his left arm, causing the man to scream in pain as she approached Where is she? Where are the villagers?... Ngh... Arggh! What the... what are you doing?!

Where are they? Driff drew one of her short swords. Shed not done that for over forty years, and even before, it was only for cutting cheese. Several bolts of lightning as large as fields started crackling over the coastal settlements. Answer me. She started to twist his other arm into submission. Eventually, he complied ARARGH! Theyre in the hall! Theyre being processed! Driff peered down from the slope the cottage was sat upon. A single large building in the villages rough centre was currently not burning, but there were a series of Reclaimers standing outside it, holding swords. Thank you. Driff said. She released the man, who thudded to his knees and started trying to push his arm back into its socket Ngh... You think theyll support you after they know what you are? Driff smiled, softly, before she conjured her wings They wont know. A series of sickening cracks silenced the masked man as every bone in his body simultaneously snapped. He thudded down, blood escaping from every facial feature visible. Driff took flight once again, diving down into the village, yanking the arrow from her shoulder as she did so with a yelp. She slammed down before the four Reclaimer guards, sword in hand. They all braced, while one of them grinned and spoke So... youre finally doing something? Driff flicked her tail in a predatory manner, before smirking Between you and me... I think I am. She twirled her blade and slashed it horizontally through the air, sundering three of the four men in half, leaving the speaker alive. She then approached, casually, while the man glanced in horror to his fractioned comrades ....Youre a monster... MONSTER! He began to run, in panic, in fear. Driff raised a single finger and flicked it towards him as he fled. His neck snapped and he fell to the ground. The fires died down around Driff as she starved them, before ripping the door to the village hall from its hinges and entering. The building was empty, but there were several more rooms that branched off from the main hall. Signs of a very evident struggle were present; the great banquet table in the rooms centre was home to scattered clutter, and the table cloth was torn in places. The walls and floors were also scarred, and stains of sanguine were splattered here and there. The building was unusually quiet, with the exception of one sequence of arrhythmic banging, coming from the other side of one of the many doors. Driff hurriedly approached the door, keeping her sword drawn. Her blood was trickling down her arm and armour, but she paid it no mind. As she drew closer, she heard a muffled voice screaming and yelling. She quickly tore away the door and rushed into the room. It was a dressing room, filled with coats and jackets, and most notably, a cupboard that was rocking on the spot as someone struggled to free themselves from within. Driff carefully adjusted the tumblers of the lock within and pulled the doors open to reveal Elena inside. Driff smiled when she saw Elly was unharmed and she even had Pugglesmush in one of her hands, but her joy was quickly eradicated when the woman spoke No! Driff! No! Run! They know! Its a trap! Driff just stood there, blankly, before tilting her head What? GO! She didnt need telling twice. Sheathing her blade and grabbing hold of Elenas hand, Driff began to bolt towards the door. But then the roof came crashing down. Enormous stones and flaming projectiles came smashing onto the building, fired from siege weapons. The deafening sounds of devastation filled the hall as it crumbled around them. In mere seconds, Driff and Elena were buried underneath a thick layer of rubble.

Everything went black. Everything went silent. A high pitched tone greeted Driff as she woke. Her vision was blurred, although there wasnt much to see other than the stone and wood that entombed her. She wiggled the fingers of her right hand. They werent holding Ellys hand anymore. She immediately began to panic and struggle, shoving and heaving at the objects that pinned her. Ngh! Grrrgh! Elly! Elly! She got her hand free and blasted a wave of air upwards, giving her a hole in the rubble that she could climb out from. Her cast revealed the night sky, practically shrouded by the smoke and dust of the ruins. She clambered from her would-be grave, her body covered in cuts and bruises. Elly?! She crawled about on top of the rubble, peering down into it, trying to spot something, anything that could indicate to her location. Eventually, she saw something moving, and her heart skipped a beat. She began to delicately remove chunks of the fallen building so as not to hurt the one trapped beneath. Elly, is that you?! Her own blood dripped onto the stone slabs around her. It was impossible to tell if Elly was responding or not, what with the ringing in her ears. Little by little, the rubble came away, and soon enough, there was a large enough space for Driff to hop down into and extract the remainder of the fragments. Elly... she said again, before applying a great deal of force to completely part the rubble into two sections and reveal what was underneath. She would not cry. She would not cry. Elena was lying there, breathing weakly. A shattered floorboard had impaled her left lung. The grizzly spike was caked with her blood. Lord Pugglesmush was sat beside her, still firmly clenched in her hand. His orange body was now tainted with flecks of crimson. She caught sight of Driff, and managed to reveal a strained smile ...Youre ok... She glanced down at the spike ...Pugglesmush says Im.... in a bad way... Driff wiped her eyes, dropping down to Elenas level and crouching beside her Pugglesmush doesnt know anything. Hes a lord, not a doctor... She started to assess the damage. It did indeed look bad ...Ill take you to Matern... shell fix you...shell fix you... ...Dont think shes here... Rassha... Driff took a shaky breath, quivering uncontrollably. Here... Elly said, holding up Pugglesmush with a great deal of effort He needs... to look after you... now... Driff took the quish toy. Hed been damaged in the collapse; clumps of stuffing were hanging out, and one of his eyes had fallen off. By the way.... hes really... bad at it... Elly giggled, but it was cut short by a whimper of pain. Driff started to look around, gazing to the skies, waiting for that miracle that always saved the day in the storybooks. ....Help... she uttered Help... Help... her own calls died in her throat, coming out barely as whispers. Rassha... Driff looked back down again, leaning closer so she could hear. Im here... Avoiding the wound, Driff pulled Elena into an embrace, resting her forehead against hers. ...I love you, Rassha... Driff nuzzled the human, gently ...I love you too, Elly... They both remained silent for moment. Driff took a few uneasy breaths, before a determined expression dominated the previous one Come on... Im getting you out of here. She straightened up. Elly didnt respond. Elly?... Elena? She shook her friend, softly Elly?... Wake up... Were... Were going. Were leaving now, Elly. Matern is going to fix this... shell... shell fix everything... Elly was limp, and her eyes were closed. Driffs lip trembled, and she shook the

woman more aggressively. Elly! Elly! ELLY! She leant down to listen to her heartbeat, but couldnt find it. ...E...Elly... Im... Im sorry... Elly... She would not cry. She... would... not... Tears began streaming from her eyes as she held Elly close. She let out a few wailing shrieks, and the clouds above began to churn, angrily. She pressed her head against Ellys neck and chest, sobbing feebly. A winged shadow passed over her, but she ignored it, whispering incoherently in her native tongue to Elenas body. Soon, Hydes voice spoke between intervals of thunder. Come... Rassha... we must leave... Driff held onto Elly, unwilling to let go I dont understand, Torr... this isnt how its meant to go... This isnt how its meant to end... Life isnt a fairy tale. Come. Ill take the body... Driff finally let Elly go, gently lying her head down to the ground. ...Theres something I have to do first... Rassha... revenge wont change anything... Youre stronger than this... remember... youre a force to be unleashed... not controlled... We all are... You wont be able to stop... Do you think Elena would want that?... Driff gave her friend one final look before peering up at Hyde She once told me I cant be controlled. Not by you. Not by anyone. Hyde narrowed his eyes, predicting what would happen next. Still scarred and battered, Driff conjured her wings and shot off into the air. Several bolts of lightning from the swirling aerial abyss struck her body, infusing her with formidable power. Hyde pointed his trident towards the ocean, before swinging it in Driffs direction. An enormous pillar of salt water came hurtling towards Driff, but it evaporated on impact. Hyde directed two more, larger hydrocasts in her direction as she set her sparking gaze upon the siege engines in the distance. The water bounced harmlessly off the shell of energy shed created. The clouds formed a black vortex around Driff, and the lightning became even more frequent as she placed Pugglesmush in the grip of her coiled tail, and used her now free hand to draw her sword. THIS WILL NOT BRING YOU PEACE! Hyde roared at her, bracing a little to keep himself from being carried away by the wind. Trees and houses toppled down below. The waves rose to twenty five, sometimes even thirty feet in height. The smoke was almost immediately cleared, revealing the armies that were busy preparing for whatever threat this almost unrecognisable entity posed. Driffs draconic eyes zoomed and focused upon a single man near the siege engines, mounted upon a woolorth and holding a banner ...Commander Knox... she whispered to herself, before raising her hand, the lightning somehow amassing within it. Just seconds before she cast the lethal projectile, a bolt of green dived down from above, penetrating the clouds and slamming into Driff. The two creatures went crashing into the oceans shallows, and the storm immediately began to subside. A large pulse of water and sand erupted from the point of impact, like itd been hit by an artillery strike. Driff gasped for air, climbing out of the sea, her body fizzing and sparking. What in Desolis were you thinking?! A stern female voice called behind her. ...Sis... theres a girl... inside the collapsed building. She needs your help! Please! Nothing lives within that village, Sha... You know I cant bring back the dead... Driff looked over her shoulder, crawling into the sand. The emerald scales of Matern were just visible through the foggy daze

Please try... Please... try... She lost what was left of her second wind, flopping into the damp sand, and slowly losing consciousness Please...help her... Please... the world swam around her, before fading to black. ***** Two days later, and Driff still hadnt regained consciousness. Back in the Divines hall, the six others had gathered after placing Driff in an unbreakable prison made from Korls stone. Whats that in there with her?... Luma asked, as she peered through the stone bars Its a quish doll... Matern began It belonged to the girl that died... shes been holding onto it ever since she fell into this coma... Its a miracle it wasnt damaged by the lightning... Luma straightened up, and approached the table where the others were waiting. She needs to remain sealed away... Matern continued Will the castle be capable of containing her? Hyde shook his head Very little will... Shes naive, however... and gullible... we can make her think it can... and that will be enough. Luma glared, her glowing red eyes illuminating the cave around her How could you all be so callous? This is Rassha were talking about, not some animal that must be caged. Shell only fall into this loop again... and next time she cracks, shell be in a world that was built on the foundations of our own defeat... Shell be killed... this is for her protection. Matern said, sombrely But... There must be something we can do to keep her... entertained... Glace gestured to some of his many complicated devices I can implant an A.I into the building. It might provide her with some company... I can also establish a link between the castle and the northern coast, so she can watch the world develop... By my calculations, those stimuli, combined with her own guilt on this delicate matter should provide enough incentive to neglect escape. And what if the primary directive returns? Korl asked, lowly, slowly. The divines all fell silent, glancing to the rocky prison theyd created. Well...Heh heh Nox said, eventually, with a quiet chuckle When that day comes... Lets hope shes still... Angry....