Zahanna walked to the library in Hell. She looked for books on how to reverse her immortality. After having been back in the mortal world, she had realized how much she had missed being human and having a heart.
"Being a Master has made me colder than I ever was before. I don't like it; I don't like who I've become."
She found books on rituals and spells. As she was scanning one, very ancient scroll, she noticed something.
"A Master cannot return to their mortal form if they have outlived their human years."
Her bottom lip quivered.
"It's been centuries in the land of the living. There's no way I can change back now," she said sadly.
Then, something else caught her eye.
"But Masters can be killed with the Soul Weapons."
Zahanna read about the four instruments and fear grew inside of her. She shook with the revelation.
"Princess Zahanna, doing some light reading?" High Lord Zenthe asked.
She turned around to face him and held up the scroll. He winced.
"Do the others know?"
He looked around and whisked her over to a nearby alcove. She glared at him and repeated her question. High Lord Zenthe sighed.
"No. But seeing as we live down here, it doesn't really much matter, does it?"
"What happened?"
He sighed and motioned for her to sit. Zahanna obeyed.
"A very long time ago, there was this conqueror. She had taken over the world basically."
"Who was she?"
"Her name was only known by a select few. But the public called her the Ethereal Priestess. She was of Willow blood, the daughter of King Dawson and Queen Josephine."
"But that's impossible!" Zahanna cried. "They only had three sons! I learned that much during my time at Erwoe."
"History is written by the survivors. And she changed her history."
"Who was this Ethereal Priestess?"
High Lord Zenthe looked at her, memories clouding his eyes as he said, "My first love."
Zahanna was shocked. But then he added something else, "And your ancestor."
"What?!"
"Her name was Liliana Willow. The name passed down to her daughter, and has been passed down in the family line ever since. You, Princess Zahanna, were the last one to bear the name."
She stammered, "I, I don't understand. How do you know this?"
Dread filled her as he said, "Liliana only ever bore one child. I was that girl's father."
Zahanna choked.
High Lord Zenthe continued, "She gave our daughter over to my sister to raise. When Liliana was killed in Quennia, I monitored our daughter and eventually, her descendants."
"So you knew all along who I was," Zahanna accused. "Do the others know?"
High Lord Zenthe shook his head.
"No, I haven't told them anything. If they know anything, it hasn't come from me."
Zahanna sighed and asked, "What do the Soul Weapons do?"
"They burn us, if they touch us at all, the contacted areas will burn black."
"Then how was Liliana killed?"
High Lord Zenthe winced and said, "I don't like to think about that day. But I also think that you deserve to know, seeing as she is your ancestor and all."
Zahanna nodded.
High Lord Zenthe began his story: "We were lured to Quennia by its King and Queen. Liliana and I didn't know that we were walking right into a trap. When we got there, we were led to the palace, seemingly welcome. But once we were inside the throne room, a mage shut and locked the doors. The King took out the Soul Whip and flicked it at us. It barely grazed my upper arm, but it did its damage. Liliana and I were shocked. Then, we realized it was a set-up. She went for the King, while I challenged the mage. I easily killed him, and when I turned to see how Liliana was doing, she dropped to her knees, the Soul Whip wrapped around her neck."
They both shivered in fear.
"I tried to help her, but she told me to go, to leave and live another day. Thinking back on it now, she probably knew she was going to die. But at the time, I did as she asked, believing that she'd be returning to Hell soon after me. But she never did."
High Lord Zenthe looked sad and forlorn.
"I went back a day later and found her burned body on the outskirts of town, left for the animals to devour. I brought her back here and cremated her in the Hellfire that surrounds this palace. I still don't know what exactly happened; I questioned the King and Queen, but they refused to tell me. The only thing they said was that I would never be able to find the Soul Weapons for they had another mage scatter them across the world. In an uncontrollable rage, I killed both of them before I could get the rest of my answers."
"Have you never searched for them?"
High Lord Zenthe shook his head. "I saw no need to. For the next few decades, in the mortal world, I remained here in Hell. Liliana passed into myth and legend before nearly being forgotten entirely. The people could not forget me though, because I returned to the land of the living about five decades later. My home country of Aramia was struggling and I used my powers to help return them to their former glory. That was when I met the Seventh Princess of Aramia."
"What happened?"
"I found my second love and made her mine. She passed into the world's history as High Lady Friste."
Zahanna choked, "Wait... so even she doesn't know?"
"Like I said before. No one knows."
She nodded and said, "Thank you, my Lord, for telling me. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome. And I suggest leaving the Soul Weapons alone. They're not to be trifled with. Wherever they were scattered, it's for the best. I believe that no one will be able to find them."