Desirae's charge met Celestia's golden light in a blinding flash, eclipsing the shadows as their powers clashed in a dazzling explosion of light and shadow, showering sparks everywhere. The impact's force sent shockwaves through the air, overturning tables and chairs; the splintering wood contrasted with the deadly duel between the two Elves.
Celestia's movements, fluid despite months of captivity, deflected Desirae's every blow with graceful precision. The former princess may have lost her crown, but her training remained ingrained in every fiber of her being.
"You fight well for someone who spent months in chains," Desirae taunted, her sword slicing through the air in rapid succession. "But I've grown stronger while you've grown weak!"
Celestia didn't respond with words but with action. She thrust her palm forward, sending a pulse of golden energy that forced Desirae to leap backward. The shapeshifter's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected show of power.
"It would be foolish of you to underestimate me, Desirae, despite my time in captivity." Celestia stated, light energy still surrounding her hands as she steadied herself, ready for another attack. "I see you've grown bolder, more judgmental. Already speaking as if you've already won." She stated. "Perhaps surrounding yourself with the Order has done more than make you lose your way," Celestia finished, her hands still glowing, Desirae gritting her teeth.
"The Order taught me much about what I truly am," Desirae hissed, circling Celestia. "They showed me how to take what I want—memories, faces, lives."
"And what did it cost you?" she asks, her voice soft yet unyielding as she maintains her defensive stance. "Your dignity? Your soul?"
A hollow and eerie laughter escaped Desirae's lips, filling the room with an unsettling feeling. "Such outdated concepts." She sneers, her form briefly rippling, features shifting subtly before settling back. "Power is the only currency that matters in this world. Something you never understood."
With blinding speed, Desirae feinted left before striking from the right, her sword slicing through Celestia's sleeve and drawing a thin line of blood. Celestia winced but countered immediately, a burst of golden light erupting from her palm that sent Desirae skidding backward.
"First blood to me," Desirae taunted, licking her lips as she admired the crimson stain on her blade.
Celestia pressed her hand against the wound, golden light seeping into it as the flesh began to knit itself together. "You've always been fixated on blood," she replies calmly. "Even before the fall."
Desirae's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her sword. "And you've always been too soft. Too merciful." She goes back to circling around Celestia again, trying to find an opening in the former princess's defenses. "That's why you lost everything. That's why your beloved kingdom fell."
With a sudden burst of speed, Desirae lunged forward, her form shifting mid-attack. Her hair lightened to violet, her eyes flashing crimson—Sylvanie's face now sneering at Celestia as the short sword thrust toward her heart.
"Sister, help me!" the false Sylvanie cries out, her voice a perfect imitation.
Celestia faltered for just a fraction of a second—enough for Desirae to slip past her defenses. But at the last moment, Celestia twisted away, the blade slicing across her ribs instead of piercing her heart. She responded with a blast of pure light that sent the shapeshifter crashing into the wall, splintering wood and sending dust billowing through the air. Desirae's form flickered, returning to her natural appearance as she slumped against the damaged wall.
"My sister would never beg." Celestia says coldly, blood seeping through her torn dress where the sword had cut her. "And she certainly wouldn't call me 'sister' while doing it."
Desirae laughed, a trickle of blood running from the corner of her mouth as she pushed herself upright. "So observant," she mocked, wiping the blood away with the back of her hand. "But so what? I don't need to be perfect. I just need to be good enough to take you down!"
With a feral snarl, Desirae launched herself at Celestia again, her movements becoming more erratic and desperate. The shapeshifter's sword flashed in the dim light as she attacked with renewed fury, forcing Celestia to defend herself with increasingly powerful barriers of golden light.
"You can't keep this up forever, princess," Desirae taunted, her amber eyes gleaming with malice as she circled her prey. "Your magic will drain you eventually. And when it does, I'll carve off that pretty face of yours and wear it like a mask!"
Celestia remained composed despite the threat, her breathing controlled even as sweat beaded on her brow from the exertion of maintaining her magical defenses. She knew Desirae was right—her time in captivity had weakened her reserves, and she couldn't sustain this level of magic indefinitely.
But Desirae's next attack came with renewed vigor, dark energy crackling around her blade as it sliced through Celestia's light barrier. The former princess barely twisted away, the sword cutting through her sleeve and grazing her arm. With a growing feral hunger in her eyes, Desirae pressed her attack on Celestia, her breaths ragged. "This is power, princess, bow down! Bow down! Bow Down!" A high-pitched scream tore through the air as she continues her frantic slashing, her body a blur of motion as she leaped and lunged, desperate to overwhelm Celestia.
"You're slipping, Desirae," Celestia observed calmly, though her breathing had grown heavier from the exertion. "Is this what the Order values? This frantic desperation?" Celestia replies, her face grim as she fought back with her light, the sounds of clashing energy and furious shouts filling the air.
"Shut up!" Desiraee screamed, her features momentarily distorting with rage. "You know nothing of value! Your precious kingdom is gone, your people scattered or enslaved. What do you have left to be so proud of?"
Celestia didn't answer immediately. Instead, she gathered her power, golden light swirling around her hands like liquid sunshine. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but carried throughout the room.
"I have my dignity," she said. "I have my sister. And I have the knowledge that I never betrayed my kind for a false promise of power."
"Stop preaching nonsense!" Desirae tried to cut Celestia's light defense in half, but Celestia held.
"It's the truth!" With those words, Celestia thrust both hands forward, releasing a blinding wave of golden light that surged across the room like a tidal wave. Desirae screamed, throwing her arms up in a desperate attempt to shield herself, but the purifying magic washed over her, slamming her against the wall with tremendous force. The wood splintered behind her as she slumped to the floor, her skin smoking where the light had touched her.
"Impossible," Desirae gasps, her crimson eyes wide with disbelief as she struggled to rise. "You shouldn't have this much power left... they broke you... they broke all of you..."
Celestia approached slowly, her golden aura still pulsing around her like a heartbeat. "They tried," *she says softly. "But some things cannot be broken, Desirae. Or at least I cannot afford to be." She looked down at the fallen dark elf.
Desirae's lips curled into a sinister smile as the words reached her, and a low, breathy snicker, like a viper's hiss, slithered out, making Celestia halt abruptly; her eyes narrowed in response to the escalating laughter.
"Stupid..." The snicker cut Desirae's sentence short as she slowly rose to her feet, dropping her sword to the ground. "You stupid bitch!" With a feral snarl, Desirae launched herself at Celestia again, her body shifting and changing mid-leap. This time, she didn't mimic someone Celestia knew—instead, her form became something monstrous, her fingers elongating into razor-sharp claws, her mouth stretching impossibly wide to reveal rows of needle-like teeth.
Celestia's eyes widened at the grotesque transformation, but she didn't falter. Golden light erupted from her hands, forming a shield just as Desiraee's claws slashed downward. The impact sent shockwaves through the tavern, rattling bottles behind the bar and causing dust to rain down from the ceiling beams.
"Desirae!" Celestia called out as the sheer force alone from her claws knocked Celestia back into the wall, causing her to grunt out in pain; but quickly went back to maintaining her defenses, just in time to jump out of the way of Desirae coming downward towards her again. "Desirae, what is this?" She struggled against this new monstrous force of Desirae's new beast like transformation, making her appear to be half elf, half beast.
What has the Order done to you?" Celestia gasped, struggling to maintain her barrier against the onslaught.
Desirae's distorted face split into a horrific grin. "They made me better! Stronger!" Her voice was warped, barely recognizable as she pressed her attack, claws screeching against Celestia's light shield. "They showed me what true power feels like!"
"This isn't power," she managed through gritted teeth, her arms trembling with effort. "This is corruption. Look at what you've become!"
Desiraee only laughs, the sound distorted and inhuman as she continues her assault. Her claws left gouges in the wooden floor as she circled Celestia, looking for weaknesses in her defenses.
"I've transcended!" the creature that was once Desirae howled. "While you clung to your precious principles in chains, I evolved! The Order rewards loyalty!"
With a sudden burst of speed, Desiraee feinted right before striking from behind, her claws raking across Celestia's back before the former princess could fully turn. Celestia cried out in pain, stumbling forward as blood bloomed across her torn dress.
"First you lose your kingdom," Desirae taunted, licking Celestia's blood from her claws with a grotesquely elongated tongue.
Celestia fell to one knee, her golden light flickering as pain lanced through her body. Blood trickled down her back where Desirae's claws had torn through fabric and flesh alike. Despite the agony, her eyes remained clear, focused on the monstrosity that her former subject had become.
"Then you lose your dignity," Desiraee continued, slowly making her way towards Celestia, her distorted form casting grotesque shadows on the walls. "And now, the little freedom that you had will now be forfeited once again." She snickered as Celestia's forced herself to stand, golden light gathering around her hands once more.
Meanwhile, Sylvanie and Oreon continued their battle against Vexes. The sound of metal clashing against one another ranged throughout the city streets as Sylvanie tried to slash high across the face of Vexes, but he deflected her attack with his curved dark blade and kicked her away, causing Oreon to take her place immediately, swiping with both his daggers as Vexes blocked and returned the attacks.
"You fight well for a human." Vexes stated as he blocked a heavy strike from Oreon's dagger to his neck with his curved blade. "But it's just not enough!" With a grunt, he shoved his blade away, his fist connecting with Oreon's jaw in a sharp crack, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Oreon, gasping for air, struggled to his feet, only to be met by Vexes's descending blade. With a desperate roll, he evaded the strike, using his agility to deliver a swift kick to Vexes's face, followed by a gut-wrenching blow to the stomach, sending him reeling. Sylvanie leaped over Oreon, her Scythe whistling as she aimed a blow at Vexes' chest. He smirked, a condescending expression on his face as he easily evaded her attack.
Sylvanie's scythe embedded itself in the cobblestone street where Vexes had stood just moments before. With inhuman speed, he appeared behind her, his curved blade whistling through the air toward her exposed back.
"Too slow, dark elf," he taunted, his voice carrying a hint of amusement even in battle.
"Sylvanie on your right!" Oreon shouts a warning, as Vexes quickly appears and tries to slash Sylvanie, but Sylvanie had already sensed the attack. She dropped to one knee, the blade passing over her head close enough to slice off a few strands of her violet hair. In one fluid motion, she yanked her scythe free and spun, the weapon's curved edge forcing Vexes to leap backward.
"I'm just getting started," Sylvanie snarls, her crimson eyes blazing with fury as she launched herself at him again.
Vexes parried her strikes with practiced ease, his movements economical and precise. Unlike the transformed Desirae, he fought with calculated control, each movement deliberate and measured.
"The princess fights alone against Desirae," he remarked casually, as if discussing the weather rather than engaged in deadly combat. "Do you think she'll survive? The shapeshifter has been... enhanced by our masters. Her transformation is quite remarkable? A bit on the brutish side, but remarkable nonetheless."
"Shut it!" Sylvanie swung her scythe again, the blade colliding with Vexes's once again, causing her to grit her teeth a bit more. "Celestia can take care of herself, if you forgot; she was the one that was gone to lead the kingdom before you decided to turn tail and betray us!"
"Oh," Vexes smirked as he pushed her away with his dark blade. "The same princess that was collared like a dog, forced to her knees like a whimpering puppy for the humans to see." Vexes's smirk grew as he taunted the young dark elf. "And you were right along side her weren't you, nothing but helpless house pets taken from your owners."
Sylvanie's eyes narrowed dangerously, dark energy crackling around her scythe as she pressed her attack with renewed vigor. "You damn monster," she hisses through clenched teeth, "I'll carve you into pieces so small even the rats won't find you!"
Vexes laughed, the sound cold and devoid of humor as he effortlessly deflected her strikes.
"Such passion! Such fire!" *He mocked, his blade a blur of motion as he counters her assault. "The Order appreciates these qualities. Perhaps you should have accepted their offer when it was extended."
Oreon circled behind Vexes, running towards the two Elves as they battled.
"The Order can burn in the nine hells," *Sylvanie spat, dark magic coalescing around her free hand. "And you along with them!" She yelled, the clang of steel echoing through the air as their blades clashed again, sparks of dark energy illuminating the scene; Sylvanie stumbled back, overpowered by Vexes' brutal strength.
Vexes smirk was still in place as he stood defiantly tall, before Oreon's swift kick to the jaw sent him sliding back, the impact echoing through the quiet alleyway. Oreon landed in front of Sylvanie, his duel daggers drawn, ready to strike, but he quickly glanced behind him at Sylvanie. "Sylvanie, Celestia may be in trouble. If what this guy says is true, you need to go help her. I'll hold him off." Oreon states.
Sylvaine's crimson eyes flashed with indecision, her gaze darting between Oreon and the direction of the tavern where her sister fought alone.
"Don't be stupid," she growls, her grip tightening on her scythe. "He'll kill you if you face him alone.
"Well it's not like I haven't been knocking on death's door before. "Oreon smirked as he kept his eyes locked on Vexes. "Besides, I think I can hold him off for a few minutes at the very least."
Vexes chuckled, casually twirling his curved blade as he watched their exchange with evident amusement.
"Listen to the dark elf, human," he called out, his voice smooth as silk yet sharp as a blade. "You're outmatched. Though I must admit, your determination is... quaint." He commented as the both locked eyes with one another. "But with your current abilities, don't you think a few minutes is a bit too long? You may be beaten before the dark elf can even turn her back."
Oreon didn't take his eyes off Vexes, but his voice was firm when he addressed Sylvanie again.
"Your sister needs you right now," he insists. "I've survived far worse than this guy, so don't worry about me. I'll be fine,"
Sylvanie hesitated for another heartbeat, conflict evident on her face. Then, with a frustrated snarl, she stepped back.
"If you die, I'll kill you myself," *she threatens, though the concern in her eyes betrayed her harsh words. Without waiting for his response, she turned and sprinted towards the tavern, her violet hair streaming behind her like a banner of war. Dark energy crackled around her form as she ran, her fury building with each step at the thought of Celestia losing to Desirae.
"As if you haven't tried to kill me already." Oreon thought comedically at the irony of Sylvanie's words. He watched her go for just a moment before returning his full attention to Vexes, who observed him with the casual interest of a predator studying wounded prey.
"How noble," Vexes remarked, his voice dripping with condescension. "Sacrificing yourself for your Elven Masters. Tell me human, what do you hope to gain from this futile gesture?
Oreon adjusted his grip on his daggers, his stance low and ready, glaring at the Order's Assassin. "Not everything is about gain." He replies simply, his eyes never leaving Vexes. "But if you must know, you could just say that I'm helping a friend out."
With Oreon's response. Vexes couldn't help but roar in laughter. "Then you're an even greater fool than I thought." He says, his smile faded as he raised his curved blade. "Let's see how long your nobility keeps you alive.
-Back to the Tavern-
Inside the tavern, Celestia was fighting a losing battle. Her golden barriers were growing weaker with each of Desirae's savage attacks, the corrupted shapeshifter's claws leaving deep gouges in the magical shields. Blood trickled down Celestia's back from her earlier wound, her breathing labored as she struggled to maintain her defenses.
"You're weakening, princess," Desirae taunted, her distorted voice echoing in the destroyed tavern. "I can smell your blood, taste your fear. Soon you'll be back in chains where you belong!"
Celestia gritted her teeth, refusing to show weakness even as her strength ebbed. The golden light around her hands flickered like a candle in a storm, threatening to extinguish at any moment.
"The Order has poisoned your mind, Desirae," *she said, her voice steady despite her pain. "This isn't who you are."
"As if you know who I am!" Desirae's response was a feral roar as she launched herself at Celestia again, her monstrous form blurring with speed. This time, when her claws struck Celestia's barrier, the golden shield shattered completely. The impact sent Celestia flying backward, crashing into the remnants of a wooden table. Splinters dug into her skin as she tried to rise, but Desirae was already upon her, pinning her to the ground with inhuman strength. "You never knew me! None of you did!" She grabbed Celestia by the neck and tossed her to the other side of the Tavern. Her back colliding with the wall with a hard thud, causing Celestia to gasp out in pain as she hit the ground.
"Me! A prominent figure that sat at the round table of Elves! A high accolade for a Dark Elf like myself, but did your father see it that way! No! "She stomped forward as Celestia managed to barely lift her head up.
Desirae's distorted face contorted with rage as she loomed over Celestia, her claws flexing with anticipation.
"Your father looked at me with contempt! A dark elf at his precious table—what a joke! I served loyally for decades while he whispered with his advisors about my 'questionable heritage.' And you?" She grabbed Celestia by the throat, lifting her off the ground with unnatural strength. "You with your perfect light magic and your perfect bloodline—you never once spoke against him!"
Celestia struggled for breath, her hands clutching at Desirae's grotesquely transformed arm.
"I... didn't... know," she gasps, golden light flickering weakly around her fingers.
"LIAR!" Desirae slammed her against the wall again, wood splintering from the impact. "You knew! You all knew! But the Order saw my worth. They gave me power when your kind only gave me scraps!"
Blood trickled from the corner of Celestia's mouth as she fought to remain conscious. Her vision blurred, darkening at the edges as Desirae's grip tightened.
"The Order doesn't care about you," Celestia managed to whisper, her voice strained but unwavering. "They're using you... just as they use everyone."
Desiraee's monstrous face twisted into a snarl, her elongated teeth gleaming in the dim light of the tavern.
"You know nothing of what they've given me!" she hisses, her claws digging into Celestia's throat. "I was nothing before—a shadow in your glorious kingdom. Now I am power incarnate!"
Celestia struggled in the monster's grip, her hands clawing at the elongated fingers crushing her windpipe. Golden light flickered weakly around her fingers, but she couldn't summon enough strength to break free. Black spots began to dance at the edges of her vision as Desirae's grip tightened.
Suddenly, the tavern wall exploded inward with such force that it tore from its hinges, splinters flying across the room like deadly projectiles. A wave of dark tendrils, surged through the opening, slamming into Desirae and hurling her across the room, causing her to release Celestia as she fell to the ground, coughing trying to catch her breath. The shapeshifter crashed through a table, wood shattering beneath her monstrous form.
"Get away from my sister, you abomination," came a voice like ice, dripping with barely contained fury.
Sylvanie stood in the doorway, her crimson eyes blazing with murderous intent, dark energy circling around her like a storm. Her violet hair whipped around her face, moved by the currents of her own power rather than any natural wind.
Celestia collapsed to her knees, gasping for air as her trembling fingers touched the bruised flesh of her throat. Despite her weakened state, her eyes sought her sister's form in the doorway, relief washing over her features.
"Sylvanie," she managed to rasp, her voice barely audible.
Desirae rose from the splintered remains of the table, her monstrous form seeming to grow larger as shadows gathered around her. Her distorted face contorted with rage as she fixed her gaze on the newcomer.
"The dark princess joins us," she snarls, flexing her elongated claws. "How touching. Now I can send both of you back to the Order in pieces."
Sylvanie stepped fully into the tavern, dark energy swirling around her like a living cloak. Her crimson eyes never left Desirae as she moved to position herself between the monster and her wounded sister.
"You've made a grave mistake," Sylvanie says, her voice deceptively calm despite the fury radiating from her. "No one touches my sister." Her scythe held at the ready by her side.
Desiraee laughs "Your sister was just telling me how the Order uses people. Rich coming from the royal family that used me as their token dark elf." She flexed her grotesquely transformed hands, shadows seeming to gather around her claws. "You should feel the same as I do." Desirae stated pointing a claw at Sylvanie. "You weren't born as her sister, why do you protect someone whose family treated you like scum? Was it because they offered you the title princess, so long as our spoiled brat over here harbors you as a pet?" Desirae smirked as she narrowed her eyes at Sylvanie.
Sylvanie's expression darkened, the shadows around her intensifying as her magic responded to her rising anger. For a moment, the tavern grew unnaturally cold, frost forming on the broken furniture around them.
"You know nothing about my sister or me," she replies, her voice dangerously soft. "Celestia never treated me as a pet. She was the only one who saw me as an equal when others whispered, 'dark elf' behind my back."
"Then we're one in the same." Desirae states. "How her father looked at you for being different, YOUR father." She pointed at Sylvanie with a sick smirk. "The kingdom that you both speak so proudly of was nothing but lies under pretty promises. The feeling of disgust hidden under the false pretense of being loved." Desirae spats. "You two don't know anything on why your kingdom actually fell, how weak it was from the very beginning.
Desirae began to circle the room again, her eyes never leaving the two Elven sisters. "You don't know about the discords your father has caused, but I bet he lied to you and said that we should stick to the old traditions, the old ways; do you know why that is your highnesses?
Sylvanie stepped forward, her eyes narrowed, dark energy sparking between her fingers. "Our kingdom fell because it was betrayed." She hisses, her voice cutting like a blade. "Betrayed by those like you who sold their souls for scraps under the Order's tables!" She pointed her Scythe at Desirae.
"Those like me?" Desirae snickers, pointing an accusing finger towards Sylvanie. "That Elven mother of yours protected you from the truth, do you have any idea of how she fell, the last good thing that the kingdom had before she died; Are you two so blind and naïve that you aren't aware of what actually happened?"
A heavy silence fell over the tavern as Desirae's words hung in the air. Celestia, still on her knees, looked up sharply, her sapphire eyes widening with confusion and alarm. Sylvanie's grip on her scythe tightened until her knuckles turned white, the dark energy around her blade pulsing with her heartbeat.
"What are you talking about?" Celestia asks, her voice was stronger now despite her injuries. She struggled to her feet, one hand pressed against the wall for support. "Our mother died of the wasting sickness. Everyone in the kingdom knew—"
"Everyone knew what they were told!" Desirae snaps. "The noble Queen Xalith, taken by illness before her time. Such a convenient tale for your father to spread."
Sylvaine took another step forward, her crimson eyes blazing with dangerous light. "Choose your next words carefully, shapeshifter," she warned, shadows dancing around her like living things. "Or they will be your last."
Desirae laughs, the sound echoing unnaturally around the destroyed tavern. "You think your threats frighten me? I've been remade by powers you can't comprehend." She flexed her claws, shadows gathering around them like smoke. "Your precious mother wasn't killed by any sickness. She was poisoned, slowly, day by day, by the man you called father."
Celestia's face drained of color, her golden light flickering with her shock. "No... that's not possible. Our father loved her more than anything."
"Did he?" *Desirae's distorted face twisted into something resembling a smile. "Or did he love the alliance her marriage brought? The legitimacy it gave his rule? When she began questioning his methods, his treatment of the dark elves and other 'lesser races,' she became... inconvenient."
Sylvaine's expression had frozen into a mask of cold fury, but beneath it, doubt flickered in her crimson eyes. "You're lying," she says, though her voice lacked its earlier conviction.
"Am I?" Desiraee counters "Think, Princess. Why did your mother's 'illness' only begin after she started advocating for dark elf rights? Why did she deteriorate so quickly after she confronted your father about the missing dark elf servants? Why did he forbid her personal healer from attending her in those final weeks?"
Celestia shook her head, her golden hair swaying with the movement. There was pain in her eyes that went beyond her physical wounds.
"No... there must be another explanation," she whispers, but doubt had crept into her voice.
"And you…" Desirae pointed towards Celestia. "You…The oldest of the two, ready to accept the throne; but didn't even know that before the order attacked, your father had already made plans to sell you off, all because of your sisterly treatment to the dark elf princess over here." Desirae sneers. "Did you not notice how your father looked at you when you played together? The disgust on his face once his pure elf daughter began to act like her fallen mother. So beautifully diplomatic. The times you spoke about fair treatment amongst the Elves, the advocation for Dark Elves, how much you love your sister whose defending you right now."
Desirae tilted her head slightly looking at the two Elven sisters, her smirk remaining. "Your father hated it. Hated it all. He hated that you became just like your mother, always fighting for something other than the throne. How your eyes were filled with warmth and not the coldness that it takes to run a kingdom. So," Desirae continued to circle the room again, her monstrous beast nail dragging against the remaining standing tables of the Tavern.
'He began to put his plans in place." Desirae began. "How to get rid of his oldest daughter, and then with the oldest daughter out of the way; disposing of the younger Dark Elf Sister would be nothing short of child's play, a chore that would just have to be done."
Celestia staggered as if physically struck by Desirae's words, her already pale face turning ashen. The golden light around her hands flickered and dimmed, responding to her emotional turmoil. For a moment, she seemed unable to speak, her lips parting but no sound emerging.
Sylvanie's reaction was immediate and visceral. A surge of dark energy enveloped her, shadowy serpents coiling as her crimson eyes burned with murderous intent.
ENOUGH!" She roared, her voice carrying an otherworldly echo that made the remaining intact glasses in the tavern vibrate. "Enough of your lies, monster!"
Desiraee's distorted face twisted into something resembling amusement. "Lies? Why would I need lies when the truth is so much more devastating? Ask yourself, dark princess—why were there suddenly so many marriage proposals for your sister in those final months before the invasion? Why was your father so insistent on sending Celestia to the human kingdoms, far from Vel'Andria's borders?"
Celestia's hand moved to her mouth as memories surfaced—her father's increasing insistence that she consider suitors from distant lands, his cold dismissal whenever she questioned the need for such haste, the strange documents she had glimpsed on his desk bearing the seals of human kingdoms she barely knew existed.
"He... he was pushing so hard in those final months," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I thought it was just politics, strengthening our alliances before..."
Sylvaine turned to her sister, momentary concern breaking through her rage. "Celestia, don't listen to her. She's trying to manipulate us, to break our resolve."
Desirae's voice erupted in laughter. "Oh, the irony! The dark elf princess defending the memory of the king who would have discarded her like trash once his true daughter was out of the way." She flexed her monstrous claws. "Do you know what they called you in the council chambers, Sylvanie? 'The king's burden.' A political necessity to be tolerated, never truly family. "She directed her attention to Celestia. "And you, the naïve princess, who loved a man so much that she couldn't see that he was so concerned with purity and tradition, that he put a plan in place to sacrifice both of his daughters to maintain his vision of what the kingdom should be. The order didn't destroy your home, princesses—they merely finished what your father started."
Celestia's legs gave way beneath her, and she sank to her knees on the tavern floor. Her hands trembled as she pressed them against her face, tears streaming between her fingers. The golden light that had always surrounded her—her birthright, her power—flickered like a candle in a storm.
"All those years," she whispered, her voice breaking. "All those times he spoke of duty and honor and protecting our people... it was all a lie?"
Sylvanie moved to her sister's side, kneeling beside her. For once, the dark energy that constantly swirled around her seemed to calm, becoming a protective shadow rather than a weapon poised to strike. She placed a hand on Celestia's shoulder, her touch uncharacteristically gentle.
"Not everything was a lie, sister," she says softly. "Our mother's love was real. And what we built together—that was real too."
Desirae watched them with her distorted eyes, her monstrous form shifting restlessly in the shadows of the destroyed tavern. "How touching," She sneers. "But Sentiment won't save you. You will be going back to your chains and the Order's plans will succeed.
Sylvanie rose to her feet, positioning herself between Desirae and her still-kneeling sister. Her aura of dark energy flared up again, menacing and lethal.
"You've delivered your message, shapeshifter," she says coldly. "Now I'm going to send you back to the Order, with your head in a box." She threatened.
"Are you just about done here Desirae?" The question hangs in the air as Vexes is seen walking through the open space of the tavern with an unconscious Oreon in his arms, his blades dangling from his fingertips as they walked through. "We've spent too much time here, it's about time we take our prize and leave."
The atmosphere in the tavern shifted instantly as Vexes entered, carrying Oreon's limp form. The Assassin's casual stance belied the deadly precision with which he moved, his blades catching what little light remained in the destroyed building. Celestia's head snapped up at the sight of her unconscious companion, horror washing over her tear-streaked face
"Oreon!" she gasped, struggling to her feet despite her injuries.
Desirae's monstrous form seemed to relax slightly at Vexes' arrival, her distorted features twisting into something resembling satisfaction. "Just finishing up," she replies, her unnatural voice grating against the ears. "The princesses needed to hear some family truths."
A dangerous glint appeared in Sylvanie's crimson eyes as she assessed the situation. The dark energy around her scythe intensified, shadows coiling like serpents along the blade. "Put. Him. Down." Each word fell from her lips like a stone, heavy with promised violence.
"I'm afraid I can't do that princess," Vexes remarked as he gestured down to the boy he was holding. "The purifier specifically asked that his son be returned, along with the two slaves he freed," his smirk widened a bit. "So don't worry, you will all be together, at least for a short time." Vexes remarked.
Celestia rose slowly to her feet, her sapphire eyes fixed on Oreon's unconscious form. Though tears still stained her cheeks, her expression had hardened into something regal and dangerous. The golden light around her hands returning. "You will not take him," she says, her voice quiet but unyielding. "Nor will you take us."
Vexes laughed, the sound echoing through the destroyed tavern. "And who's going to stop me? You? The merciful princess who couldn't even bring herself to execute traitors when she sat on her pretty throne?" He shifted Oreon's weight in his arms, seemingly unconcerned by the growing tension in the room. "Or perhaps your sister, who couldn't protect your kingdom the first time.
Both Celestia and Sylvanie looked at each other, years of sisterhood allowing them to communicate without words, as they both prepared themselves for their final push.
Vexes and Desirae smirked at the scene, their power clearly outmatching the princesses. "Fine, fight all you want; it makes no difference." Vexes replied.
"Soon, that beautiful collar will be right back around your necks, then you'll realize that all your nobility is worth nothing. " Desirae stated as she stepped forward, towards the two Elven girls. "I'm going to make this very painful for you." She adds as she took another step forward, the determined looks on the girls' faces as they faced their looming threat.
As Desirae got closer a large lightning bolt of light shot through the tavern connecting with Desirae sending her flying through the wall, with incredible force, causing the attention to be drawn to the stairs, but not specifically the stairs, it was Mira standing there, Ancient Elvin bow in hand, used by a human.
"Drop the boy Vexes," Mira stood at the top of the stairs, her figure silhouetted against the dim light filtering through the tavern's upper windows. The Ancient Elven bow in her hands glowed with a pulsing energy that seemed almost alive, responding to her touch despite her human blood. Her usually warm, kind eyes blazed with icy fury as she nocked another arrow of pure light, its ethereal glow illuminating her face as she aimed directly at Vexes' heart. "Or the next one goes through your chest." She finished, her voice sharp and cold, a stark contrast to her usual gentle demeanor.
Vexes expression flickered briefly with surprise before settling back into calculated arrogance. He shifted Oreon's unconscious form slightly, unknowingly waking him up, his eyes blinking slowly. "The human keeper plays with Elven weapons." He remarked, his tone mockingly light. "How quaint. Did your mistresses teach you how to hold it properly, or are you just hoping it doesn't backfire and kill you instead?"
Ancient magic swirled around Mira as she confidently held the bow, her steady stance ignoring Vexes' taunts. The weapon hummed with power that seemed to recognize her, defying all known lore about Elven artifacts.
"I don't need their teaching to know how to put an arrow through your skull." Mira replies, her voice carrying a deadly calm that no one had heard from her before. "I was raised by the Elven bow master when I was thrown out on the streets. Taught the ancient techniques and what it takes to handle such a weapon." She gritted her teeth. "This bow chose me. Can you say the same about your pathetic blades, your hand-me-down from your masters!" She shouts at him.
Sylvanie's eyes widened at Mira's unexpected appearance, a mixture of relief and concern crossing her features. "Old Lady, be careful! He's faster than he looks!" She screamed.
"Aye, I know that child, I've known this demon a lot longer than I care to share." She kept her aim on him. "Drop him Vexes, Alaric doesn't get to try and be a father today." She demands.
Vexes' eyes narrowed at Mira's words, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing his face before his features settled back into calculated menace. The casual way she spoke Alaric's name—with such familiarity and contempt—clearly caught him off guard.
"Well, well," he drawled, though there was a new tension in his voice. "The human knows more than she should. Interesting." Despite his mocking tone, his eyes assessed Mira with renewed caution, recognizing a threat he hadn't anticipated.
Celestia and Sylvanie exchanged quick glances, both registering this unexpected connection between Mira and their enemies. Sylvanie's crimson eyes darted between them, gathering information, planning.
"Last warning," *Mira stated, her arrow still trained on Vexes, the ancient bow humming with power that seemed to respond to her resolve.* "Put. Him. Down."
Vexes sneered at Mira, his grin stretching across his face. "You wouldn't dare shoot me, not with this boy in my…
."You probably should do what she says." Oreon's voice catches Vexes by surprise as he looked down at the body he was carrying. "Hi there, nice to see you again!" Oreon quickly twisted his body and kicked Vexes hard in the jaw, causing him to drop him as Oreon quickly rolled towards the two Elvin Princesses before standing up, his dual daggers gripped tightly in his hands.
Blood streaked down Oreon's face from the wound on his head, but his eyes were clear and focused, burning with determination. He positioned himself protectively in front of Celestia and Sylvanie, his stance low and ready despite the slight sway in his movements.
"Guess you were right about how strong he was Sylvanie," *he says as he glanced over his shoulder. "But I thought it'd be best to rest while Mira had him distracted for a bit."
Sylvanie smirked a bit. "Stupid human, I told you; he'd beat you in a one on one fight."
"Yeah well, I did have him guessing for a minute, that's got to count for something, right?" Oreon responded as Celestia and Sylvanie just gave him a light smile, glad that he was alright.
"You had us worried," Celestia stated, wiping her tear stained cheeks. "How about not doing that again," Celestia slowly stood beside Oreon. "Or else you'll have two Elven princesses to contend with."
"Well I wouldn't want that." Oreon replied, turning his gaze back to Vexes. "Sylvanie already tried to kill me once." He added as Sylvanie gave him a comical angry glare.
"When are you going to let that go!" Sylvanie playfully shouted, slightly forgetting that they were in a fight at the moment. "I said I may have been in a bit hasty! Just take it and drop it already!"
Vexes recovered quickly, wiping blood from his split lip with the back of his hand. His expression had darkened from arrogant to murderous.
"Clever boy," he snarls. "Although, it doesn't change the outcome of your situation." Vexes glared at Oreon as Mira kept her aim locked on to him.
Outside the tavern, a terrible crash and roar indicated that Desirae was recovering from Mira's surprise attack. The walls of the building trembled slightly, dust raining down from the ceiling.
Sylvanie moved forward to stand beside Oreon, her scythe held ready, dark energy swirling around her like a storm cloud. "We need to move," She says urgently. "We're both are slowly losing our magic and we haven't fully recovered from the escape last night, we don't stand a chance if this keeps up."
"No…" Oreon simply stated as he glared at Vexes, before straightening his posture. "They're not going to let us leave, and with all the chaos we caused, the Order isn't going to let this town stand, we have to finish this here and now. "Oreon stated as he looked over at Mira, who locked eyes with him, her look suddenly faltering a bit as she realized something. "Mira, I'm going to have to go back on that promise I made to my mom." Mira's eyes widened in surprise as Oreon made his statement.
"NO! Oreon you mustn't! You can't use that!" Mira screamed.
Oreon's eyes, now flickering between brown and gold, narrowed on at Vexes with fierce determination, a small, ominous red aura sparking around him. "Enhance" and as he spoke, the frantic flicker in his eyes vanished, replaced by the steady, intense gold of his now fully transformed irises, the red aura circling his body as he grips his dual daggers, staring a hole through Vexes.