Chapter Text
On the Plane of Auros, many of its residents, most of which are human, do not use the mana that this plane is richly overflowing with. Not because they can’t, not because technology is more practical or more advanced, but instead because it’s true value is unexplored. Instead, this world struggles with constant wars between its factions, and has for centuries. Now was no exception.
“We can’t keep retreating,” Vinia proclaimed, her four attendants unsympathetic.
“With all due respect, Ms. Integla, it’s not like we can take them head on,” her first attendant argues. “We’ve lost eighty percent of our soldiers.”
“Oh?” Vinia asked, “Has the head count come back? How come I’m the last to hear about this?”
“We have three thousand, four hundred and nineteen soldiers in the barracks, twenty seven percent are injured,” the second attendant reported. “But they will fight if you give the command, Ms. Integla.”
“We’re backed into a corner,” Vinia continues. “They’ve forced us to hole up in the Palace, and now there’s nowhere left to run.” She slams her hand on the desk between them, frustrated.
A pause. “So.” the third attendant chimed in, “we surrender.”
“No!” Vinia knocked over the chair she stopped sitting in a long time ago and turned away, disgusted. “Waving the white flag gives them what they want; if Lancer’s army wins, it’ll mean sacrificing everything, our way of life, our values, our morals. They’re unjust.”
“If you still wish to fight,” the final attendant spoke for the first time this whole conversation, “there may still be a way to beat them.”
“I’m listening.”
“The same strength that let them get the upper hand in the first place, all that time ago. There is power in sacrifice. With equal numbers at the time, and arguably worse fighters, they still managed to win that battle. I recommend we make the same choices.”
Vinia didn’t turn around, and she didn’t respond as she contemplated her next move. “No.”
“My liege,” the first attendant said, “We cannot fight them properly, this may just tip the scales in our favor.”
“No,” she said sternly. “Though useful, we cannot corrupt our people. We will fight, just as we always have. Prepare the soldiers. Leave four to protect Mosin Palace, the rest will march to the front lines tomorrow morning.”
“Only four?” the second attendant asked innocently.
“If we could afford less, I would,” Vinia explained, “we need as many troops as possible on the frontlines for this battle. Go break the news: we die in glory, or not at all.”
… Vinia travelled through the halls of Mosin Palace. Every painting, window, pillar and wall have grown her into who she is. She was always taught to protect people, not just those around her, but everyone, even her enemies. She stared at the throne across from her, enough distance between them to seem insurmountable. She hated that chair. She recalled the man she took it from, and more hate filled her chest. She stared, and it stared back. Finally, she broke eye contact with it, now looking up into the support beams high in the ceiling. They seemed… distracting. Though they were her favorite part of the Palace, everybody commented on how they took away from the architecture… She laughed. Tomorrow she dies, and right now she’s taking time to think about things that have never crossed her mind. Her eyes fell back to the throne, and she turned to leave, an unknown tear falling from her eye. She only stopped when she heard a heavy creaking coming from directly above her. Within seconds, one of the large support beams she was just staring at started falling straight towards her, accompanied by a scream which could shatter glass.
She jumped out of the way in time, diving and rolling into one of the pillars lining the main path.
“Well shit,” someone exclaimed solemnly. Vinia noticed there was a young man straddling the wooden beam. He locked eyes with her, and gave the biggest expression of fear that Vinia had ever seen on anyone, not even on the battlefield. He deftly dismounted the tree-sized beam and made a dash for the exit. He was stopped by two armored guards who Vinia hadn’t noticed came running to the crash.
“Good,” Vinia said to herself as she got up. “Whoever you are, you’re under arrest–” She stopped as she heard the sound of both guards falling to the ground. She looked up only to see the man run out the door. In a quick hurry, she stood up and followed after him, her armor slowing her down more than before.
She chased him down the winding back halls of the Palace, each of which he seemingly knew where it led. But he was small, and, even though he wasn’t weighed down by a whole set of armor, he was not able to keep pace against Vinia, whom had been training as a soldier for most of her life. Vinia tackled the young man to the ground, digging her knee into his back and holding his hands unable to move. It was only now that she saw his appearance. He was young, almost her age, with short dark hair. He was wearing a thin black hooded cloak, and had many pouches strewn across his outfit; only he knew what was in them.
“Who are you?” Vinia said gruffly.
“I-I’m noone,” the man stammered. He was afraid, and justly so.
“Nonsense, you were spying on me, weren’t you?” His face told her she had accused correctly. “Who do you work for?”
“Noone,” His voice was shaky, “I can’t tell you. J-Just let me go.”
“What does that mean? Why can’t you tell me? Who do you work for?” She shook him lightly, enough to scare him.
“I can’t.” He didn’t stutter at this line.
“Who the hell are you?” She asked once again.
“I can’t tell you. But I promise I’m on your side.”
Vinia, scornful, turned to the multitude of armed guards who had appeared at the scene. “Lock him up. He’ll talk eventually.” Was she planning on torturing him? She wasn’t quite sure either. Indeed, it worked like a charm, but the thought of inflicting that much pain made her uneasy…
Vinia sat in front of the young man, a set of heavy iron bars between them. Every item on his body had been confiscated, and Vinia had a soldier standing on either side, spears ready. Nobody had said a word for twenty minutes. Vinia stared, but his eyes were wandering.
“I don’t care who you are, or why you’re spying on us,” Vinia started, “just tell me how you knocked out two of my soldiers.”
“Would you believe me if I said magic?” The man answered, still cowish.
“Is it true?”
He nodded.
“Explain.”
“What? I– I just used my magic to make them unconscious. That’s it.”
“What are you hiding?” Vinia was suspicious.
“Nothing?” He didn’t understand the question. “That’s just how magic works.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Vinia leaned forward, “You say you can’t tell me your name. You can’t tell me who you are. You can’t tell me why you were spying on me. Why? What are you hiding?”
“I can’t tell you,” the man repeated. “Just trust me when I say I’m on your side.”
“You attacked two of my soldiers, don’t act like that’s nothing.”
“I don’t care about them.”
“You said you’re on our side.”
“No,” he finally locked eyes with Vinia, “I’m on your side.”
Vinia stared back. “Then tell me.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t.”
“Tell me.” Vinia was getting more aggressive.
“I can’t!”
“Why not?!”
“Because it would put you in danger!” He grabbed the bars, and both soldiers brandished their spears. Vinia waved them off.
“Leave,” she told the guards. They lifted their spears and exited without a word. Vinia opened the door to the man’s cell and walked inside. She stared into his eyes with no bars between them. “We are fighting tomorrow’s battle, and I don’t expect to win.”
“You shouldn’t do that–” Vinia trampled over the man’s plea.
“You hurt two of my men, so if all you have to say wastes my time, then you will be in here long after I’m gone.” She turned and walked out, closing the cage behind her. “Prepare for battle,” she said as she passed the two guards now waiting outside the room. They jogged past her down the hallway.
“Ah, I’ve finally found you,” Vinia heard a woman’s voice, but she couldn’t tell where it was coming from. It was loud, and suffocating. “ Did you think you could hide from me? ”
“Who are you?!” Vinia yelled, “Show yourself! I don’t want any more games today!”
“Dear, do you not remember me? How sad.”
“Vinia! Are you okay?!” The man called out from his cell, having heard her yell.
“Don’t listen to him, dearie. ”
“What’s going on out there?” The man continued.
“Leave me alone!” Vinia didn’t know what was happening. Who was talking to her?
“Vinia!” The man called again.
“He doesn’t care about you, Vin. ”
“How… How do you know my name?” Vinia was struggling. The voice was hammering into her skull.
“Vinia! Who are you talking to?” The man seemed worried. Was this the danger he was talking about?
Vinia limped back into the cellar. “Can you not hear her?” She asked through long breaths.
“No.” The man wasn’t answering her question, but instead confirming a fear of his own.
“What do you know?” Vinia asked him.
“It can’t be,” he didn’t answer. “She wasn’t supposed to find you again.”
“What do you mean again?”
“I told you not to listen to him. ” The voice wasn’t screaming, but it was loud. Too loud. She couldn’t hear what the man said next. “ How could you have forgotten me? ” Vinia screamed. “ The bond we had. ”
“I. Don’t. Know. You!” Vinia fell to her knees. She was in so much pain, clutching her head. Her vision was going blurry.
“You were always meant to be… ” Vinia didn’t know what happened, but her eyes closed slowly. “ Mine. ”
Folly sat quietly in her room. It was dingy in every corner: the floorboards were rotting, the walls were covered in mold, and there were spider webs across half the area. But it was home. The little furniture that was all she’d ever had was going to fall apart any moment. And she didn’t care, because her mind was colorful, filled with fantasies and images she found peace in. Each visual spiralled in her view, detailing events that were both familiar and strange. She recognised faces she had seen before, whether in reality or in her visions, and many that were new not only to her, but her entire world. The battle was tomorrow. She smiled, knowing she’d see her love again.