Chapter Text
I ran as far as I could with this red headed woman in my arms. Her skin was deathly pale and not complimented at all by the grievous stab wound that was inflicted upon her.
I had no idea where I was or how I got here, but I didn't need to second guess myself in helping this girl out. At the very least I was thankful that we were in a Blue Zone at least. Actual trees and clear skies was a nice change of pace compared to the carnage and distortion caused by Yellow Zones.
I had no problem picking her up, both due to my experiences in the field and due to how light she was for her age and size.
After running for several minutes, the adrenaline in my system couldn't keep up with my need for air, water, and just any type of sleep really. However, I needed to get this girl some proper care! The painkillers and applied bandages can only do so much!
My legs were about to give in from all the running, but I spotted a duo about to hop into a… carriage of all things? Horse drawn and everything. People in the Blue Zones are weird.
“Hey!”
I slowed my approach and stopped more than a few feet in front of them. They turned to me. One had a rather formal, if very old school, attire, and the other…looked almost like the spitting image of the girl that was injured in my arms. Were they sisters?
Their eyes had widened as big as dinner plates, but not for the reasons I was expecting.
“What the hell?! You followed us here?!” The man backed away from me and bumped into the cart, an absolute face of terror adorned his features.
“Even, I don’t think I can take her on, master.”
There’s no time for any tomfoolery, “Help me find the nearest doctor! We need to stitch her up as soon as possible!”
The man pulled out a sword of all things and I immediately backed off, putting my back towards them to protect the girl.
“What’ll happen from there, huh?! There’s no way you’ll just let us walk away after what we’ve done!”
What is this moron blabbering about? The girl next to him put a hand on his shoulder, “Think for a second, master. This is the Talonbreaker, there’s got to be a reason she’s not slaughtering us on the spot.”
“She’s infamous for loving to play with her food! My plans are ruined, but I’m not going down without a fight! I knew I should’ve just killed that girl in her bed!”
My eyes twitched, “You did this to her?”
I looked down towards the injured girl. Her breathing was low, but she felt warm in my arms. While she was completely out of it due to losing all that blood, it felt like her body trusted me completely. Her eyes had fluttered open on their own accord for but a second, but she smiled radiantly as she looked up at me.
“Mo…ther.” She closed her eyes as if she was confirming to herself that she was safe.
She didn’t die from that, thank god, but my resolve had hardened. I’ll get her back to her mother, safe and sound. I’m not gonna let you go back in a casket this time!
“DIE, MATILDA TALONBREAKER!”
…
Millie Talonbreaker is my name and well… I’m dead. I guess it was always meant to be this way, but I didn’t expect it to hurt so much.
My senses caught up with me as the blade pulled out of my chest. My own blood pooling around me.
It was far too late for me to act surprised. My mother would’ve seen this coming a long time ago. My brothers would’ve seen this the moment they stepped out of the house. I however, never saw any signs.
“What took so long?”
“I didn’t expect her to just outright refuse the medicine. I had to get creative. Guess having the name of Talonbreaker means you got some stubborn pride.”
“Hey look, she's still kicking.” A shadowy figure slowly approached me and lifted my head to look at its dark eyes.
“Pretty resilient for someone who has been on death’s door her whole life. Even now you can’t be a good girl and roll over.”
I couldn’t tell who else was in the room, but his voice sounded vaguely familiar, not that it truly mattered at the moment.
“I’ll give you something nice to look at before you pass on.” The shadowy figure’s form started to take an all too familiar shape to me. Her slim frame wore a simple white dress and was contrasted by long red hair that went down to her arms. Me. “Let your own visage be the last thing you see.” Even her voice was an exact copy of mine.
I merely let out a gasp for desperate air as the shapeshifter let go of my head.
“That’s all you have to say?”
“Let’s get going. I hope your acting skills are as good as your transfo-”
Their voices had faded and my vision was encapsulated in darkness.
I am the only daughter to Matilda Talonbreaker. The youngest compared to my three older brothers. She is a fierce and well respected soldier of the Marchfield kingdom, unrivaled in her determination and loyalty.
My eyes twitched open as I weakly looked upon the ground. A Familiar summoning ritual was right below me.
Most would assume I was destined for greatness. However, it was not meant to be. I had been afflicted with a terrible illness ever since I turned five that left me bedridden most of the time. I'm too weak to ever properly go out anywhere.
My finger had already been draped with blood and I was going to die anyway. I had always wanted to try and summon my own familiar.
In the few banquets I could attend. I've overheard sayings that I was never supposed to hear. Things like the guests muttering among themselves about when Mother would bear another healthy daughter? When would Mother figure me for a lost cause and abandon me? All to further their own goals of marrying their sons into the family.
My finger started to carve the symbol of my family into the ground. The faint trace of magic in my being transferring with each stroke. I’m not sure if I would even have the strength to complete a summoning.
“When will you drop dead?”
I made one last stroke and brought my finger back to me. Yet, I knew that wasn’t enough. There needed to be a desire..something strong…and a chant…my eyes feel heavy…
Once you've heard it for the dozenth time, you get over it. However the sting of the first few still shook me to my core. Much more than any accursed illness. The pain is eased by the fact that my mother does everything in her power to show how much she loves me. I remember the first time I sat in bed crying from the words I've heard from the banquet, she told me that no amount of pressure from her peers could ever stop her from taking care of me.
“You are a Talonbreaker. MY daughter. You're a warrior just like your mother, maybe even moreso. You haven't given up, nor have you've admitted defeat to this illness that has availed you all these years. You fight an endless battle that I don't think I could ever possibly withstand, Millie. I will always be proud to have you as my daughter, no matter what those cowards think.”
Oh Mother, I wonder what you would think of your foolish daughter now? For just a few moments she let her guard down to explore the outside world with someone she thought she trusted.
I shook my head, this pain I felt was nothing compared to the long nights I spent bedridden, unable to do a thing as my insides felt like they were constantly ripped apart! I needed to say something…anything for a chant…a vocal component…just like the books say….
I'm sorry I couldn't live up to your name for once. I'm sure you would've caught this betrayal if you were home this time around. I pray that you forgive me for when we meet in the afterlife.
Tears clouded my vision as I could not think of anything to chant. There was truly ever one person that was on my mind right now.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t be as strong as you…Mother.”
My vision faded for the last time.
…
..
.
My eyes had fluttered open for what I hoped to be the afterlife. Instead what was strewn out before me was the visage of a struggle. The corpse of a familiar man on the ground and…me…getting the life choked out of her before a small knife was plunged into her neck. The shapeshifter reverted back to its shadowy form before disappearing completely.
The assailant took a few moments to gather her breath as she leaned on the carriage. Her armor was strange to say the least. At least I assumed it was armor. It was a tight fit around her figure and only seemed to cover her chest, shoulders, and knee areas. At least I assumed it was armor. Nothing to protect her fully as if she expected to only be hit in those areas. The main colors seemingly being gold and white, with browns and an eagle of sorts adorned the back.
When she turned to me, the world had suddenly glowed a heavenly white brighter. I would recognize that red hair and red eyes anywhere!
“Mother!” All my previous ailments and woes were at the back of my mind as I smiled. She had once again come to my aid in my darkest hour. I don’t know how she found me, but I was glad she did. I thought she was off in the capital doing her usual business, but that didn’t matter now!
Mother tilted her head and rushed over to me, The blood splattered on her strange attire only highlighted how much of an angel on the battlefield she was. I heard stories from my brothers of how she was on the battlefield, but seeing it first hand was amazing.
“Your wounds are gone?” Mother simply stated in awe. Her hand hovering over my body carefully to confirm for herself that they were indeed gone. I was just as surprised as well. Maybe she healed me without realizing it as she killed the two for daring to harm me. Though her voice was slightly different for some reason. She usually carried a deep tone that commanded authority, even if she only spoke to me with a lighter tone.
“What happened? Can you move?” Right now her tone was noticeably lighter and didn’t carry the authority that she usually had. It was hard to explain it, but still she is my mother without a doubt. Though, her figure looked a bit lighter than usual as well.
She pulled her hand away as she looked at the back of it intensely, “What’s this?”
Didn’t Mother have multiple scars on the right side of her cheek? When did she accumulate more on her forehead and left cheek? No, the ones on her right are absent completely…
Mother flipped her hand over to check the other side of it. Our family symbol was glowing brightly upon her hand and I could feel a strong connection from it…a binding sort of connection.
“I’m glad you came, Mother. I thought I was going to die, but you saved me.”
“I think you’re confusing me for someone else. I’m Matilda Wynand.”
Huh?