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18 Years ago, a young woman gave a passionate kiss to her beautiful girlfriend, before watching her board a plane.
Her hair shone almost silver in the stark lighting of the terminal, her piercing blue eyes drank in the sight of the most beautiful woman in the world giving her a final coquettish smile before turning around.
She did not realize the kiss would be the last she would ever give.
17 years ago, the woman watched in frustration as the same face dissolved in static on her screen, the videocall cutting off in mid-flirt.
Her anger at the technical difficulties was only one small drop among many that had been building up since her love had been ordered abroad. But the knowledge that it would not be long until they saw each other in person again helped her ignore the little voice in the back of her mind that urged her to furious action.
She did not realize her love would not return. She did not yet know about the nuclear fire that had consumed over a million people in that city across the sea.
The Voice knew. The Voice was ready.
A little girl watched the stars fall from the sky.
The golden sparks racing across the heavens matched the sparks in her golden eyes. She ran inside, shouting excitedly at her mother to come look at the pretty stars.
She did not realize those stars were coming closer all too quickly, and all over the world.
A very old woman sat in a mountain shrine and felt the world shift in its foundations.
She was on her feet and calling for her daughter to get ready before the first of many alerts rang on her terminal.
She did not realize how much she had already lost, and how much more she was about to sacrifice.
All for the mission. Again and again. A hollow existence.
17 years ago, a young valkyrie full of grief and rage at the senseless violence of humanity listened to the Voice.
17 years ago, the Herrscher of the Void was born.
11 Years ago, a Knight learned of an insidious laboratory, a place where human bodies were made, studied and discarded.
To vanquish this evil, he called in favours and armed himself with weapon and information alike, and he prepared to breach the evil lair of one he had once called his liege. He could not persuade his child to remain behind, for her determination to do good matched his own.
He had taught her well, after all.
He did not know that no amount of training could prepare anyone for what they would find. And nothing could make up for what was lost. A knight and his squire entered.
Only a broken man and his dead child emerged.
7 Years ago, a man who had once been a hero raced through the snow towards the sounds of screams.
His daughter had gone into the forest at the wrong time, and his enemies had made their move in the worst way.
He knew what he would find, and he knew what he would have to do.
A young valkyrie raced through the snow, away from the flames and the beast and the terror.
She had not even gotten to see the monster they had come to take or destroy, had been held back for her safety. And now her whole world was the roar of flames and the hissing of steam and the bone-deep knowledge that the whole squad had sold their lives to buy hers.
She cannot yet know how much this day will ripple down through the years, and how much their sacrifice has truly bought.
5 Years ago, a Woman who was young but not young encounters a girl who is old but not old.
As they are now, they have never met, and yet in some ways they recognize one another. One is a child without parents, the other a teacher without students.
They are empty vessels, waiting to be filled.
Not long after, they stand on the edge of a crater and make plans to turn this monument of strife into a place of life and hope.
5 years ago, the great Phoenix took on a new disciple and became the protector of the coast.