Vida gazed upon the wreckage that was Kyrarae, the once proud capitol of Aequilla. The walls of the city were in shambles and fire spread from house to house, its endless appetite consuming the ancient structures. She arrived late to the scene of battle but early enough to catch sight of Kalim and the two maidens fleeing the city.
"It's not too late for us to return," Vida said, removing her helmet and letting it vanish in a burst of magic. Blond hair fell to her pauldrons as she faced her master. In her left she carried a greatsword by the sheath. The blade was too long to be worn at the hip and wearing it on her back would be practically impossible to retrieve.
Telium remained firm, watching their allies approach. Despite his high age, Telium would train regularly to keep his body in shape. Even so, he knew the upcoming battle would be too much for him. "I've committed enough shameful acts in my life. I don't intend on ending my life with another."
Attia came to a halt in front of the knight and set her master down. "Look who decides to finally show up. No wonder Markus managed to kill Justinian if you dragged your feet."
"That's enough," Kalim said, holding his hand out to silence his maiden. He turned to Vida with a sense of authority as if she recognized him as her master. Only the bearer of the opaque earring could be her master. "Javed's been slain. We must avenge his loss and retake the initiative. Rouya refuses any attempts at negotiation, it's time for us to take off the gloves and up the stakes. Do it."
"You're aware of the consequences of what you ask of me?" Vida asked, holding the sheathed sword out in front of her. She met Kalim's eyes to see into the soul of the man who would have her unleash her ultimate. Not even Justinian had her do the same during the Magi War.
"It's the only way to snuff out any future conflicts. We need to erase all traces of the empire and the family that built it."
"Drawing the Zweihander would kill my master. I can only accept such a command from him and even so I do not wish to unleash the potential of my weapon. Please, master, have me seek out Rouya and end this fight by traditional means so you may return home."
Telium took a step forward on his uneasy legs. At nearly sixty years of age he was the oldest of the separatists. He removed the earring and held it in the palm of his hand. "I want you to do me a favor and see to it my grandson is made heir and receives his relic. I've seen my share of war for the Shah only to be defeated and serve the Padishah. I want my grandson to grow up a free man and rule our people with dignity."
"Of course. Once we've brought this to an end, I'll go there directly and tell him of your heroic deeds today," Kalim said.
"Swear by your life!"
"What's the matter my friend, don't you trust me?" Kalim grimaced. "Fine, I swear. By this time tomorrow, your grandson will be the new lord."
"Vida, I expect you to hold Satrap Kalim to his word. As your master, I order you draw Zweihander and strike down our foes."
"It was nice knowing you, master. Farewell," Vida said, unclasping the lock and pulling back on the handle. A blinding light burst off the surface of the blade accompanied by the chants of a thousand daeva as it came free of the sheath. Night turned to day, and the light bathed the land in gold. Intricate inscriptions were engraved into her sword in the old dervish tongue, a curse. It had been centuries since Vida saw the elongated blade the last time. She whirled it around so the tip faced the ground and plunged it down. The tip sliced through the earth with ease, expunging built up energy.
An eruption sounded dozens of miles beneath them in the planet's core where her strike landed. Cracks emerged all around them, small at first but swiftly growing and deepening as they spread towards Kyrarae. Trees became uprooted and fell over. A swath of farm land broke free and plummeted to the depths below. Entire planes shifted and crumbled. Kyrarae slowly crumbled as the cataclysm spread across the world.
Vida moved the sword back into her sheath and clasped the lock shut.
"So this," Telium took a final breath, "is freedom." He toppled over, the earring still clutched in his palm.
Vida turned to Kalim and hardened her expression even as she began to lose her form. The wind carried away trails of magic. "You may have been able to fool my master but I've seen plenty of men like you before. I don't expect you to hold your word but I'll remember this day for eternity."
Kalim shrugged and took the earring from Telium. "Once it's all over, I'll see to it you find your place at my side."
Vida disintegrated, returning to the earring with an uneasy feeling for what she had unleashed.