Work Text:
It was meant to be a quick mission.
Investigate the area surrounding Hasaude Cathedral. A brief reconnaissance flight, entrusted to her personally by the Divine Dragon—one much like others she had flown before. She had been confident. Her life had been a path of sheer persistence, a struggle to prove her independence against the path others had laid out for her—but she had overcome all obstacles, and here she was. A retainer to royalty, and a soldier chosen by the Divine Dragon.
The land of Elusia was cold and devoid of life. In better days, the skyline would be filled with smoke—hearths, no doubt, of families, communities, keeping each other warm in spite of the freezing air around them. But the Corrupted needed no warmth, and neither did the Fell Dragon spawn that led them. The desolate sight left a chilling, aching void in her chest.
“...Focus, Chloé. There’s no room for distractions...”
It all went by so fast.
She felt her back get torn apart, before she felt nothing at all. Was she falling? How light the air felt around her... She heard the wind rush past her ears, faster, faster still...
Until it stopped.
What cruel mercy it was for the white blanket covering the vacant lands to soften the fatal blow. She felt nothing. She felt everything, but it no longer hurt. Perhaps it hurt, but she could no longer feel it. The arrow had broken in two. The hazy sight of a friend descended upon her, which made her smile faintly.
“Eres...”
She reached up to assure her steed, but found that she no longer could. She sat up and assessed her wounds, but found that she no longer could. She smiled at her friend’s needless concern for her, but found that she no longer could.
So this was...it, then. This was the path she carved out for herself. She was to be nothing more than another casualty in this pointless war, wasn’t she? And she was so close... so close... Her allies will undoubtedly succeed, even without her report. And...she won’t be there to see it...
Will they miss her? She wasn’t always the most cordial... Could she have done more for them? She had hoped that, if she just did her job...they would know...it was because she cared for them, but...how often had she actually said that? Céline...
Céline knew she cared. Céline...cared for her. Céline had seen how devoted she was to her duties... had encouraged her to devote time to herself, too...and...she never did. It wouldn’t be proper...
...but if she did...what could she have done? She had found her freedom... The world was at her fingertips, and...she only seized what was in front of her. ...Why was it so cold?
...She was on a mission...
...That’s funny. She...never had a taste for unusual flavours...
...but what she currently tastes...is very...distinct. What...is it?
...Ah. So it must be...