Chapter 54
"Who are you?" Telu asked the woman standing in front of her. Then, she turned her head to look around at her surroundings. Rather, she looked at the lack of surroundings. Telu quite literally stood in the middle of nowhere. Everywhere she looked, all she saw was white light. The ground she stood on was the same with the exception of faint mist rising up around her legs. "Additionally, where am I?"
"Neither are questions of much importance," the woman responded in a low tone. Her voice was sultry and dripped with malice, almost the complete opposite of Telu's. "The question we need to ask is: who are you?"
"Who am I?" Telu asked with a bit of surprise. "That hardly seems pressing. Certainly when considering the fact that I stood on a battlefield mere moments ago, and now I find myself in unknown territory. I must leave this place. My people require my help."
"Telucani, the great Water Elemental. What makes you so special? What makes you think you can save your people? You won't even be able to leave this place alive. I will end your life here, then I will proceed to murder your precious Lux. The entirety of your people will be slain this day, and you are powerless to stop it."
The eyes of the graceful warrior clearly conveyed shock. For a moment, she couldn't believe the words reaching her ears. She had originally considered the possibility of this woman being an enemy, but this became something else entirely. This woman was not just an enemy. She represented Telu's worst nightmare in human form.
"Who are you?" Telu muttered quietly. Then, raising her voice a little louder, she questioned, "Why do I have no knowledge of you? What is your identity? What part have you to play in this war?"
The menacing woman shook her head and began walking toward her, "Foolish girl. You have no place to question me, neither have you earned the right to hear the answers. Now, I have given you every opportunity to defend yourself or flee. Your time is up. Die along with that curse called the Primis!"
At untraceable speeds, the woman ran forward with an open palm. She struck the defenseless soldier's forehead. Telu's vision went dark as she sank through the ground into blackness.
She briefly heard the woman utter her last threat before falling completely into the nothing awaiting her, "This will hold you until I gather the rest." Then, Telu fell hopelessly into the woman's trap.
The fair blue-haired warrior floated in a seemingly endless void. She shivered in the cold darkness as she contemplated the woman's words. Something about the situation felt wrong. The nightmare of a woman seemed somewhat inconsistent in both her words and actions. Telu's mind worked tirelessly, but slowly, fear of the worst outcome began to grip her.
***
"So predictable," Chisei laughed. He sat comfortably at a round table with his legs crossed and head resting on an arm propped up on the table. He casually looked at Ignis' silent figure, then continued, "I knew you didn't get your proper revenge last time. I'm the one who ran the tests on your woman, and I stabbed your little friend in an attempt to kill both of you. I knew you would take the opportunity to kill me if it presented itself."
The powerful warrior looked around the room as he half-listened to his opponent. This location was nothing special. Basic stonework and a table, Ignis felt somewhat disappointed. He suspected that the room would be interesting since it lay hidden in the walls. He frowned as his eyes finally landed on the enemy sitting in front of him.
"If you think so, I will not argue. Let us finish this quickly. I am quite bored with this nonsense."
The sitting imperial leaned forward in shock, "What? This is not the same wild and raging inferno I met last time. What happened to you? Don't you hate me?"
"Actually, I should apologize for that outburst. You were certainly in the wrong, but I had no right to lose my temper in such a way. I let my anger build up for so long, it reached a dangerous level. That is because my energy is a little strange. My rage manifests itself as raw power. If I stayed for a moment longer, I might have killed you. That is truly terrifying for me."
Chisei jumped up and slammed his fist down on the table, "Don't you dare apologize to me! There is no greater insult for a warrior than receiving pity. I can see now that you don't take me seriously anymore. There is no one to blame but myself. I haven't given a proper introduction. I am Chisei; Wielder of Mysteries. Now that I have made preparations, you have no chance of victory."