Thundering cannon fire slammed against the palace courtyard, causing a deafening shockwave that spread across the Lacuna. As planned, Redrix's fleet had nearly scraped the station's top, utilizing every inch of high ground he could as the bombardment continued. In response several black cannons emerged from the castle's ramparts, their dusty barrels emitting bursts of red plasma towards the invading ships.
"Continue your bombardment shipmaster, we will land first," Redrix spoke over the intercom to one of the Valekry ships close by, his mind racing with what could only be described as overdue satisfaction. "Level the courtyard if you have to, I want an entire platoon down there before the enemy can engage. Speed is of the essence."
As the mechanical leader orchestrated the first steps of their incursion, Salem's children hurried into place near a series of drop pods, their unique frames crowding into each cramped metal shell in preparation for the battle to come. They had never fought a war, nor even trained for such a dangerous maneuver, and yet each machine felt perfectly comfortable.
"This is it," Anger spoke to his siblings over the radio, having already sealed himself inside his own pod. "The reason you were born."
"I never thought you would give the last motivational speech," Valor joked.
"Just don't disappoint our mother."
Each tear-shaped pod was then primed for launch as Redrix's ship hovered above the landing zone, its ruined surface thoroughly cleared by cannon fire. After a few brief moments of silence, the machines were launched into battle, accompanied by dozens of their own kin as the pods spiraled downward in a fiery blaze.
"Secure the courtyard! Kill anything that gets in your way!" Redrix bellowed over the intercom as the swarm of pods slammed into the earth, their hatches practically blowing themselves off their hinges in response.
Salem's children then came under a barrage of red fire mere seconds after exiting their pods- no doubt coming from Ina's honor guards behind all the smoke and dust. What ensued was a chaotic firefight of hellish proportions as both sides unleashed their mechanical arsenal against each other, filling the air with all manners of plasma and shrapnel.
"Follow me! We have to get closer!" Valor instructed as he narrowly dodged a large missile that breezed past him. "Let the other teams cover us!"
As Salem's children moved beyond the smoke, they saw several large figures towering over them, their red eyes glimmering behind their golden helmets. For most of Lacuna's history, It was nearly impossible to ever witness an honor guard in battle, making them an unpredictable foe. But Valor had no intention of underestimating his opponent like a fool, safely guiding his group around the preoccupied defenders.
"They seem...aloof," Valor thought to himself quietly as one honor guard turned to face him, its arm transforming into a large cannon in the process. "Like they don't care."
The large machine then fired at Valor, obliterating the central fountain behind him with its unusually powerful ordinance. Regardless of their age, Ina seemed to have built her protectors with great fervency, which became abundantly clear once Anger struck it in the face with a bolt of plasma.
The machine appeared unphased at first, before taking a mighty leap toward the group with its spear, smashing the ground as a result— valor made sure to duck under the attack, striking the honor guard at its golden-plated feet. But even while impossibly outnumbered the towering enemy refused to fall, thrusting its powerful spear towards Regret after sustaining another hit.
It took all four siblings to properly counter the machine's attacks, with Sorrow restraining its free hand and Valor climbing atop its back. Eventually, after a mighty swing from Anger's mace, the honor guard's chassis exploded with incontrollable energy; its own power source would sooner give out before its will to fight.
"Their shields were built for this," Anger nodded as he ushered his siblings into the palace. "As expected."
"What do you mean?" Valor questioned, looking back at the smoldering machine. "Are you suggesting they're all this strong for a reason?"
"Your aunt planned for every possibility."
"We have them outnumbered, no reason to delay!" Regret implored, pointing towards the crystalline hallways. "While we still have an opening!"
"I hope Redrix knows what he's doing," Valor sighed. "And whatever do you mean by my aunt? She's your relative too."
Anger did not respond as he strutted off, leaving Valor more concerned than ever before. But there was little time for debate, as chaos continued to spread from the courtyard as several Valekry ships began landing atop the ashen grounds. In response, dozens of honor guards emerged from the endless palace halls, marching without fear toward their opponent's position.
"Come on!" Sorrow placed a hand against Valor's shoulder as the machine appeared lost in thought. "Salem needs us!"
"But why...are we fighting?" Valor thought to himself as he considered all the possibilities behind the situation. "It doesn't add up. What could Ina possibly get out of this?"
Casting aside his doubts, the brave knight followed his sister deeper into the crystal hallways.
________________________________
"Oh brother she's pissed," Bear-Bear shivered as she peered out of Ina's room, her beady eyes staring at Salem in the distance. "Do you think...we made a mistake?"
"We have to trust her. Alia is counting on us," Ali shook her head. "We should follow her."
"Are you crazy? Heck no. I'm keeping you here missy. Salem doesn't need to be worrying about you now."
"I...you're right," the doll sighed as she looked down at the floor. "We did our part."
"What the?! Why is everyone getting all mature on me? First Salem and now you?!"
While the small bear continued to shroud Ali's presence in the bedroom, Salem strutted angrily down the crystal halls, segments of her hair shifting into a red hue as a result. She knew exactly where Ina had gone. Upon rounding a dark corner, she came across several machines protecting what appeared to be a large chamber near the center of the palace. But Salem was done letting her pathetic body take control. She had become one with the red flower, accepting its voice entirely.
"Move," Salem growled, flicking her wrist as a massive wave of energy swept the honor guards aside.
Eventually, the red mother found herself deep within the spacious chamber - with no manner of conventional defense capable of stopping her. Several golden chandeliers swayed above her, their dusty surfaces creaking in the wind. The carpet beneath her feet was old and dried out, its red surface nearly breaking apart against the force of her heels. No one had visited the room in years.
"Ina!" Salem called out from across the chamber. "I've seen him! You can't hide the truth any longer!"
In front of the woman stood a pale figure, her white dress blowing gently in the drafty air. She appeared transfixed, staring at a set of blue banners on the wall as if reminiscing about an age long gone. Ina was waiting for her.
"You know, I planned to meet our parents here. All of us, together. One big happy family in the ballroom. But the day never came. Not after one thousand years," Ina spoke plainly.
"Couldn't find that brother of yours?" Salem grunted.
"I confirmed his location...and I was too late."
"You can stop him Ina-."
"Can I? Will you order your army to stand down? Is there any going back?"
"They have a right to pursue their own destiny. I am saving this city sister."
"I know. But..I can't let you in that room Salem."
"You'd just let Ocelot get what he wants? Is that really what you've settled for?!"
"...Yes," Ina frowned. "That is better than the alternative."
"And I thought you loved me," Salem gritted her teeth.
"I always have. But if you follow Ocelot. It would change you. Mother would agree."
"How would you know?!"
"The same way you've become certain of your path through father's guidance. Our flowers, once wielded by our parents," Ina explained as Salem slowly stepped closer to her, the two siblings staring each other down across the hallway.
"So that's it then? This was inevitable?"
"Mother always did run from fate. She never gave in. I...won't kill you Salem."
Ina then reluctantly raised her hand, shaping what appeared to be a transparent diamond out of thin air. Snapping her thin fingers, the glimmering object released a deafening chime, its tune similar to that of a bell. With just one simple show of force, Salem realized her opponent's true strength. Ina was never truly a damsel.
"I know," Salem clenched her mechanical fist, looking upwards to see the room become engulfed by a snowy mist from seemingly nowhere. "But I can't let you stop me."
Grasping at the thickened air around her, Ina then began to silently twirl and dance, gracefully manipulating her surroundings with masterful control. Using her flower with every step, she began to produce a thin rapier in her arms, piecing it together as the red mother watched in awe. For just a brief moment, Salem recalled Korus and his teachings, realizing how even his mastery of the art had originated from Ina. And just as she predicted the princess's silver-tipped blade appeared superior in its final shape, her flower marking its delicate surface with a cold blue as a result.
"So be it," Salem nodded before smashing the tiles of the palace floor, crudely reimagining their shards as a blade of her own without moving an inch. "Sister."
________________________________
As the battle continued over the palace courtyard, Korus looked on in horror. He had no means of containing the situation, nor did he possess command over the honor guards. Only Ocelot could manage the chaos, and he was nowhere to be seen.
"You must stop this at once!" Korus pleaded with a nearby honor guard as he wrestled control of its arm. "All of us! We are brothers!"
But before the honor guard could shake Korus off, its ornately decorated face suddenly shattered as a large broadsword came crashing through it. Korus reeled back out of disgust and turned to see none other than Redrix standing before him. Both machines stared silently at each other, having not met in person for centuries.
"You can stop the fighting Redrix. Perhaps then the guards will stand down as well," the white knight stretched out his hand.
"Yes, brother. Stop this carnage and step aside, we can end this quickly," Redrix nodded as he strutted forward. "With Ina out of the way Salem's coronation will be a peaceful one."
Korus then stood in the way of his taller brother, exuding an air of authority he wished never to wield again, "I...can't let you hurt her Redrix."
"You care about her that much? After everything?" Redrix groaned. "You were always the most naive for your age...my eldest brother."
"Spare me," Korus hissed. "Kalis had given me this speech before. It changes nothing. We were made for one reason and one reason only."
"Salem is that reason!" Redrix pointed towards Korus as he watched the knight unsheathe his blade. "Can't you see that?!"
"All I see is my duty and your shattered honor."
"What good is honor to a dead race."
"Then it has to be this way," Korus lowered his head in shame. "I never thought it would."
"I did," Redrix replied before lunging at his brother, crimson broadsword in hand.
With a blade large enough to be dragged around with two hands, the taller machine decimated the ground where Korus once stood, oblivious to the brewing chaos around him. Valekry fought Valekry, and spilled each other's blood in a battle that began to lose every fragment of strategy. For so long the tired machines had craved a sense of meaning, and now with their satisfaction overflowing, they abandoned all common sense.
At first, it was Redrix's soldiers who became impatient, leaving their hard-fought positions to fling themselves at the enemy with swords instead of rifles. Eventually, even the honor guards began to forget their programming, transforming into blood-lusted brutes that tossed aside their spears in favor of claws and fists. All the while two brothers battled for what they believed was best for their race, with Korus using his elegant training to evade Redrix's strength.
But as old as they were, neither combatant possessed a noticeable advantage. Redrix knew his brother was nearly untouchable, and kept his distance using the longer of the two blades. Korus on the other hand hesitated to truly harm his kin again, fighting desperately to avoid the same bloodlust that had consumed the machines around him. But of course, this was the lie Korus had told himself within the confines of his own mind, and Redrix knew it—years of making the same excuse repeatedly had turned the machine's act into something rather transparent.
"Why hold back, even now?" Redrix complained, daring his brother with the tip of his blade as if expecting him to avoid it with ease. "You are the best of us."
"Strength is not defined by-."
"Do not lie to me the way she does! I know what you are!"
"Then what do you want? Nothing you say will change me, nor will it make me stoop so low as to overshadow my own people." Korus exclaimed in a more annoyed tone.
"That so?"
Redrix then stepped back leisurely, resting the tip of his blade on the ground as he fiddled with a holographic screen.
"Then I will follow the path of Kalis," the voice of the Valekry shipmaster seeped into Korus's mind.
What his brother spoke of was the threat that once initiated a rage within him and a command he could not disobey. Standing before Korus with a proud stance, Redrix then issued a new order to his warriors remotely.
"Abandon Salem's directive. Eliminate the Palace's inhabitants. All of them."
Korus stood frozen in shock, unwilling to believe his own brother would stoop so low.
"Do you know what I've always wanted brother? Redrix bellowed, pointing a finger at the pale knight for all his men to see. "A good fight. One that will end me in a blaze of glory."
"What about our people?!" Korus pleaded, watching in horror as several Valekry began to surround him. "Do they mean nothing to me?"
"The whims and wishes of the world come second to what I DESIRE."
"Redrix don't!"
"Such selfish wants were always under your control," the towering machine gestured for his men to point their weapons at Korus. "Show us that perfection Korus. Or watch her die screaming."
Time froze all around Korus as nearly a dozen Valekry opened fire at him. But in that split second, he found more than enough time to ponder, showing once and for all what kind of machine he truly was. And after taking one last sigh of remorse, the pale knight sprung into action.
"Snowy?" Ina's voice echoed through his mind, her pitch much higher than what he had become accustomed to. "Are you there?"
"Can you hear me?" The voice continued to question him.
"Yes," Korus whispered to himself as he ducked under a streaking ray of plasma, practically ignoring his surroundings in favor of the creeping memory. "Always."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The first recorded memory is often the most defining for a machine. When Korus first opened his eyes, his boundless confusion was rather abruptly calmed by the gaze of a young child. Her warm complexion and innocent demeanor were quite the first sight to behold, as she peered into his soul with curiosity.
"Hello?" The little girl inquired, her light blue eyes blinking rapidly. "Are you...working? Oh, I hope I didn't mess this up."
For a time the machine struggled to find words as if he lacked the programming to do so. But upon shifting through a series of unfamiliar memories, he began deciphering the girl's dialect, confirming it to be among one of the more popular languages in his database. It wasn't long before the tall machine began surveying the rest of its systems, making sure it knew what would be appropriate to say next.
"If only she was still here, I'm still not sure of all this. Follow your instincts she said, there's more than you know buried within. So very vague...and yet I've gotten this far," the little girl pondered as she played around with a series of dismantled parts scattered around her legs.
"Program...indecisicive. Upon which vessel did those parts originate?" The large machine pointed at the kneeling figure before him, his frame towering over her as he shifted. "Re-assembly may be required."
"Oh! Well, it wasn't me."
"Who then? This vessel can access security recordings of the installation. We have seen only you for the past several hours. No other breach has been detected."
"Right, you were a security frame," the pale girl nodded before placing a skinny finger to her lips. "You can't see the big scary lady? Hard to miss."
"Negative."
"Well...she helped me. And now I need your help mister...robot."
"New protocol accepted," the machine nodded as it stumbled to its feet, struggling to maintain its modified frame. "We will protect this vessel, as per the command of the blue flower."
"The what?"
"Do you require sustenance Isera? Your vitals are troubling," the machine ignored the girl as it continued to act upon a program it hardly understood.
"I don't understand any of this," the pale girl sighed, pouting on the floor as she pressed her palms against her cheeks. "So frustrating."
"We apologize, this frame has been...reorganized by you. Operation efficiency has been critically reduced. May we ask why you have done this?"
"Well, mister robot...I was lonely."
"We understand you alone woke from stasis."
"Yeah...she told me not to mess with the others till I felt ready. But...I'm scared. If I can't even get you right, how am I supposed to help anyone?"
"Dismay is unnecessary. Given your previous records of mechanical achievements, we have deduced your current work to be extremely impressive."
"Really?" The girl beamed with joy.
"You should be...proud of yourself," the machine chose its words carefully.
"Thank you!"
The pale girl then lept into the arms of the machine, desperate for its approval. In response the confused program began to cradle her, rapidly adapting to its current situation. From what little it could ascertain, the child was under his protection and would require significant behavioral changes - especially those pertaining to her emotional state.
"What now Isera?"
"I don't know mister robot. But I don't like that name, it sounds too...grown up."
"Perhaps a nickname then, until you feel ready."
"That would be nice," the little girl chuckled as the machine carried her away. "I should give you a name as well. How does Snowy sound? That's what you remind me of. Snow."
"Hmmm," the machine paused. "Perhaps we should both think of better names."
"Hey!" The pale girl blushed.
"Now then, tell me of this lady who spoke to you," the machine inquired as it guided the being it knew as the blue flower down a series of stainless white hallways. "We...are intrigued. No security breach regarding her has been detected, and the replicant ossuary is still sealed."
"You'll have to explain all those fancy words to me later," the small child winked. "And what can I even say about her? She was..."
Terrifying
_______________________________
"This way! I can feel her close by!" Anger exclaimed as he guided his siblings through the seemingly endless halls of Lacuna's palace.
To no one's surprise, navigating the interior of Ina's palace was rather difficult, even with the knowledge Salem's children possessed. The many unexplored chambers were simply too deep for any map or tracker to solve, leaving all but one Valekry utterly lost. Confused as to how their brother was still so keen, Regret voiced his concerns. And before Sorrow could stop him, he reached out a hand to stop Anger.
"Brother...how can you-," Regret stammered. "You've only ever been to one small part of the palace, Valor told me. This isn't the princess's bedroom. Where are you headed so confidently?"
"Not now," Anger deflected. "I understand her in ways you never will."
Having no choice but to focus on the path ahead, Valor shook his head and pressed on. But the deeper the group searched into the palace, the more lost he became, relying entirely on his brother's guidance.
"How large is this place?" Regret dismayed. "Haven't you seen it all brother?"
"I...can't say for sure. I've never seen any of this. Who would have ever believed Ina could navigate such a place," Valor wondered, looking up at the ceiling to see an increasingly expansive skyline of dusty stone and marble arches. "It's no home at all."
"She kept most of it hidden," Sorrow added, scraping her nails against a blue tapestry along the wall. "Why wouldn't she? It's dead."
"Focus," Anger hissed. "Mother has pursued her deeper."
"Deeper? The rooms keep getting bigger," Valor muttered to himself. "Perhaps the palace has its own story as well, just like what we found in our battle with Kalis. But that would mean-."
"Honor guards!" Regret pointed to a group of hulking machines who appeared beyond the hallway. "Ready yourself!"
But as Valor poised himself for another coordinated assault alongside his siblings, he found himself drifting further into thought. Just looking at his opponent stirred more questions, as their armor was coated in layers of dust and cobwebs, unlike the polished guards at the surface. Questions needed awnsers, and Valor felt almost betrayed by the untold story that lay before him.
"How old is Ina? Was there truly no princess before her?" Valor thought silently. "And why hasn't Korus spoken of this? What lies at the bottom?"
The brave machine's stupor was cut short as a lance brushed past his face, signifying the start of the next battle. Individually the honor guards were stronger than Salem's children, and yet when faced with an insurmountable object, they worked in tandem instinctively. Regret led the charge with his spear, utilizing its reach to apply pressure to the opponent without committing to anything dangerous. Anger on the other hand stood back almost lazily, waiting for a single opening so that he could crush the enemy with one savage blow, knowing full well his siblings would survive. In the meantime Sorrow and Valor moved swiftly behind the honor guards, harassing their flank with lightning-fast moves.
And yet despite their age, each honor guard stood strong against the mechanical family, stomping the ground with savage force and hurtling their lances through the air before calling them back using a technology not so dissimilar to Anger's mace. One of them even managed to grab Regret by the throat before the eldest brother cut its arm clean off. But most surprising of all was the secondary weapons located within the limbs of each honor guard, firing off a strangely blue stream of light from their barrels, utterly demolishing the walls around them.
"Stay clear!" Valor warned as a glancing blow from the blue stream disabled his energy shields. "They are more complex than our previous foe."
"But how?" Regret looked over with confusion, casting aside the dismembered arm that previously threatened to crush him. "Aren't they older?"
"Focus!" Anger reminded the family.
Desperate to end the conflict soon, Sorrow threw herself against an honor guard, allowing it to grab her before using her legs to twist apart its grip. Anger of course could see the opening clear as day, throwing his mace into the machine's exposed joints, before calling his weapon back straight into another guard's back. A few coordinated maneuvers later the opposition had been felled, with Sorrow rather unceremoniously shooting the last guard while it was down.
"We need to find Mother," Sorrow growled, tossing aside her sidearm after expending its battery charge. "Nothing else matters."
"Yes," Valor hesitated as he watched the group run off. "That is what scares me most."
_____________________________
Sparks both blue and red streamed across the foggy air as the sisters clashed, their powers causing a wake of destruction everywhere they stepped. Salem had chosen to completely embrace the red flower, divesting herself of weakness and fear in order to complete her task. Ina on the other hand moved with graceful restraint, using her heels to practically skate around Salem's attacks, spinning and twirling about with her thin rapier. It then became clear to the red mother just how similar her sister's technique was to Korus, only its execution was given a more feminine touch.
"Still holding back," Salem thought to herself as the red flower continued to move her body.
"She's more skilled and yet she refuses to capitalize."
Salem's mechanical arm managed to grab Ina out of her stance, digging its red nails into her flesh as she winced. In response Ina kicked Salem away before waving her sword slowly through the air, summoning a series of transparent blades that shot towards the red mother with blinding speed. Such was the fury of the attack that Salem couldn't even react, closing her eyes in shock before realizing her flower had already moved her body out of the way.
It was ironic then, how the woman obsessed with defying the flowers would allow herself to be supported by them in her struggle against the fearful girl who refused to imbibe in the strength of her own power.
"I'm sorry Ina," Salem whispered as she shut her eyes, allowing her flower to remold her hair into its shorter more crimson appearance. "But if you don't give in, you'll lose."
The red mother then shattered her blade with a clenched fist, using the reformed fragments to cover herself in a suit of armor inspired by what she had seen with Corian, covering her face entirely. From that moment on she refused to even look at the battle ahead, lest she risk seeing her sister get hurt yet again. As Cowardly as she may have seemed, Salem refused to take pleasure in the fight, dulling her senses as much as possible.
"Can't you see what it's doing to you?" Ina remarked calmly as she summoned a second blade into her hand, striking an elegant pose with both blades. "Inaction is our only option."
"Easy for you to say," Salem replied, struggling to hide the remorse in her voice. "You have all the awnsers."
"I never did. But the mere fragment of truth will only make things worse. Trust me."
"There really is no avoiding this," the red mother sighed. "Mother and father never agreed."
"I suppose they didn't," Ina nodded, determined more than ever to stop her sister.
Salem then launched herself at the frail princess, summoning various blackened weapons into her arms only to discard them just as fast. But after Ina managed to dance around every vain attempt, the red mother resorted to clawing and scratching with her prosthetic arms. She was like a beast in disguise, overwhelming the more disciplined warrior with brute force alone.
In response to her growing injuries, Ina combined her two blades into one, spinning its dual-edged surface to create a swirling storm of mist. The princess then disappeared into her creation, using its billowing strength to evade Salem. For a time, even the red flower failed to see through the diversion, clearly blocked by an element far stronger than mere ice and dust.
"What the-." Salem gasped, as she detected a surge of energy at the center of the mist.
Unable to see what her foe was planning, the red flower collected a mass of nearby shards and fired a stream of energy from their tips, causing the walls of the palace to shutter and groan. But after a few moments of awkward silence, Salem realized her mistake, staring in disbelief at what appeared to be a tall blue diamond above Ina's head. She had absorbed the attack, just like Salem had done against Alia months ago. That was the strength of the blue flower.
Ina frowned visibly, shrinking the large glowing diamond into a mere pebble in the palm of her hands before glaring at Salem. With a slight twirl, she then cast the diamond into the air, commanding its stored energy to be released violently. In response the red flower threw Salem's body out of the way, evading its own attack at the cost of her footing. But before the red mother could pick herself off the ground, she felt Ina's hand brush against her armor, the princess having already scurried to her side.
"Wait!" Salem's eyes widened as Ina violently tore off her visor, expecting the worst to come next.
But to her surprise, Ina gently caressed her sister's face, allowing her soft palm to calm her senses. Using what energy she had left, the frail princess began to push her flower's influence into the red mother, draining herself in one last desperate ploy. Salem tried her best to resist but was unable to stop the surge of power from entering her body, its calming effects completely disarming her.
"No-." Salem stammered, falling to the ground as she felt an overwhelming sense of lethargy.
"It's okay," Ina smiled. "If I give this to you...maybe...you'll handle the truth better then I ever could."
"Ina-," the red mother groaned as she clawed at the ground, her armor falling off her body as the princess cradled her exposed flesh. "What about you?"
"It doesn't matter. Never did."
"To hell with that!" Salem gritted her teeth, ignoring her flower's influence as she began to resist. "I WILL save you, sister!"
Using nothing but her own feeble strength, Salem attempted to remove her flower as well, placing her hand against Ina's in a desperate bid to replicate the technique.
"I won't be a coward! If you don't need that thing, then neither do I!" The red mother continued, screaming with a passion she never imagined welding without her power.
"Salem!" Ina gasped, uncertain of what would happen next. "Wait!"
A swirling vortex of light then emerged from the sister's connected hands, its primeval energy absorbing their bodies in a sudden flash. Segments of the floor then gave way, revealing a large chamber beneath as both Ina and Salem picked themselves off the floor, seemingly unharmed by the wave of destructive energy. Together, their flowers were in harmony, manipulating the world around them with a power beyond their imagination.
"All this time, I've been a coward," Salem grunted as she picked herself off the floor. "No longer."
Opening her eyes with clear intent, the red mother saw a constellation of stars glimmering above, their glow radiating from a fragmented sky similar to what she had seen in her battle against Alia. But at that moment, she was no longer afraid to face the unknowable horrors of her power. Salem then reached out with her prosthetic hand, concentrating on its metallic shape as she began to coalesce her power.
"In this space," Salem thought to herself, using what little wit she had. "I don't even need you anymore. It's my strength now. My fight."
A long scythe then appeared in her hand, its silver edge encrusted with red jewels, unlike the mundane trash she had been piecing together against Ina. She then stood proudly, shedding what remained of her armor as she faced Ina across the chasm that had separated them. The princess responded with much the same attitude, taking in the splendor of their accident before reforming her blade.
"Love and Malice together," Ina muttered as she stepped closer to Salem. "And yet still even through all this beauty, our battle feels unavoidable."
But the red mother had no response, leaping over the gap in the ruined floor to attack her sister. She knew Ina had to have been tired, and using what little training she could remember from Korus, Salem managed to keep up in the ensuing duel. Once more the sister's blades clashed, the lethality of their steel matched only by their desire to win. But in the middle of the ensuing chaos, a voice called out from below the chasm.
"Mother!" A tall Valekry called out. "We're coming!"
_____________________________________
"How in good heavens do we get up there?" Regret complained as his siblings stared helplessly at the chamber above. "A climb would be painfully slow, even for Anger."
"Hmmm," Valor thought patiently as he stood beside Sorrow, her expression seeming equally confused. "If only."
"Our mother gathered allies for a reason yes?" Anger interjected, turning around sharply as he spoke. "Or were you planning on just standing there?"
A feminine figure then appeared out of thin air, her uncloaked appearance giving way to a snickering voice. "Oh my, look who's perceptive," Iris giggled.
"How-." Regret questioned as a group of Tella appeared all around him.
"You do the fighting honey, we do the sneaking," Iris clapped her hands together. "But do accept our thanks for dealing with those guards. They've gotten smarter since last time."
"No time for talk, do you know a way up there," Valor snapped at the woman, clenching his fist. "Come now!"
"Yes well, I was practically raised here years ago," Iris bragged. "Helps with knowing Ina's superfluous tricks.
"Then aid us."
"Just don't say I didn't warn you."
Refusing to elaborate, Iris tapped the sides of her metal bracelet, calling forth a swarm of tiny machines that lept from the various bits of jewelry on her attire. The spider-like automatons scuttled about the room, creating a tight formation before glowing with energy - the color of which resembled Anger's mace. In response, each of Iris's posse tapped their heels against the floor, ensuring they were prepared for what came next.
"Have fun!" Iris waved as several loose chunks of rock began to float into the air.
"Oh! It appears she has reversed gravity!" Regret pointed with his finger in the air as all four Valekry began to hurl upwards towards Salem.
"Why yes, thank you for clarifying that," Sorrow sighed, glaring at the Tella who stood calmly on the floor.
Managing to avoid various pieces of rubble and debris, Salem's children maintained their course as the second floor continued to fall apart. From the red mother's perspective, it was sheer insanity witnessing her children fly in out of nowhere, causing her to nearly drop her blades. Ina of course looked downward with disappointment, spotting Iris in the distance winking at her.
"We are here mother!" Valor cheered, picking himself off the floor after smashing into the ground.
"H-how?!" Salem held back a smile. "My children."
Realizing she was outnumbered, Ina made yet another hesitant act - and with one swift motion, raised her hand into the air before materializing a small bell.
"Come to me. Aldria!" Ina cried out as she rang the rather quaint-sounding bell.
A massive bird then appeared from above the rafters, covering Ina with its mechanical wings as it stared Salem down with its glowing red eye. In addition to this new threat, several honor guards appeared from the dark corners of the room, having been apparently summoned by Ina's desperate cry. It was at that moment Salem realized just how fearsome her sister truly was.
"She's calling in everything she's got!" Iris spoke to Valor over the intercom, having secretly planted a device on his arm just moments ago. "All over the palace!"
Indeed, from just outside the crystal walls, waves of unseen machines came crawling out from beneath the floor - their bodies buried for what could only be a millennium. Korus was the first to take notice, still locked in an endless battle with his brother. But after divesting himself of his humility, had become nearly unstoppable.
"You are far better like this!" Redrix laughed, ignoring the various cuts and scratches on his metallic frame. "Just look at you! Coprse and corpse left in your wake. A true bringer of death."
It was then that Korus became aware of his surroundings, as both the words of his brother and Ina's bell forced him back to reality. Just as Redrix had proclaimed, a mound of bodies lay strewn around him, no doubt cut apart by the silver knight's fury as he battled his way closer to Ina. For all tense and purposes, he was better than them.
"That little part of you that remains? Discard it. Kill me!" Redrix bellowed, throwing his weapon at Korus with great strength. "Now!"
In response Korus lept into the air, his perspective slowing things down as he unleashed a flurry of attacks so swift the outline of his blade created an after-effect akin to that of a storm. It was a dance of death, placed carefully against Redrix's joints so as to not fully destroy him. Such a large Valekry was truly the closest thing to Korus's match, but even he could not last forever.
"I won't let you have it!" Redrix growled, grabbing Korus and slamming him to the ground.
"That moral high ground you so desperately crave!"
But just as Redrix finished his attack, he felt his limbs deactivate, becoming lifeless and still. Korus had baited him into short-circuiting his own damaged body, and with that, the fight was over. The silver knight would rather injure himself than kill yet another member of his family.
"I know," Korus replied, picking himself off the floor with visible regret. "I always was self-righteous. When this is over, I hope you can find yourself."
The silver knight then looked over the horizon to see Redrix's armada clash with Ina's summoned guards, both sides calling upon reinforcements to preserve the carnage. It was a never-ending nightmare for the machine who always sought peace. But at that moment, he felt he deserved it. And after taking in the view, Korus turned to find Ina, his footsteps drowned out by the sounds of gunfire and death.
"Redrix," Iris called out to the silent commander over the intercom, his body lying still as he knelt on the ground. "We've finished disabling the anti-air cannons. Send in everything! Before Ina overwhelms us!"
"I already did," Redrix replied calmly. "But good luck stopping my brother."
"You couldn't beat him?!" Iris gasped audibly.
"Of course not. He was always better. But he did give me the fight I wanted."
"Then so be it. I'll do what must be done." Iris scoffed before abruptly leaving the call.
____________________________________
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
*Some things were never meant to be*
A shallow breath reverberated against the foggy glass, followed by two small hands stretching outwards. The young girl had just awoken within a prison she did not understand, trying in vain to claw her way out. After what felt like hours of fruitless effort, the capsule broke open, revealing a small child trapped within.
"Ow!" The small girl yelped as she stumbled onto the floor, its smooth white surface chilling her to the bone.
Looking down at her thin hands, the girl caught sight of her reflection before releasing a sharp gasp - the appearance of two glowing eyes nearly frightened her to death. A moment of utter confusion then followed as she began to grapple with her own mind. The girl was a child, and yet a torrent of wisdom and memories surged through her conscience, causing her to feel an overwhelming sense of despair.
"Hello?" The young girl asked herself as if she had done something wrong. "Who are you?"
But after a moment of contemplation, the girl realized nothing was speaking to her at all. She was merely ingesting a lifetime of memories, breaching into her mind like waves against a ruined dam.
Picking herself off the floor, the girl who would later be known as Ina began to survey her surroundings, all the while repressing the sensations of failure and travesty from her soul. It was as if a great journey had occurred before she woke, only to be missed and then thoroughly forgotten.
"Hello?!" the young girl asked again, as she paced around in circles. "Is anyone out there?"
Surrounding her were countless foggy pods just like the one she had emerged from, encased within a large rectangular room filled with spotless white floors and florescent blue lights. To put things bluntly, Ina was out of place. She should not have woken up. A small square object flew past her, observing its surroundings in a drone-like state, yet somehow it failed to spot the girl despite visibly scanning her body.
"Curious," Ina smiled as she chased the drone, reaching out for the blue light that emitted from its center.
But as the young girl continued to pursue the object, she came upon several others, each consumed in their work. And as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but a blank white room, filled to the brim with pods and circuits. What little she could find in the way of doors were sealed shut, their steel surfaces lifeless and cold. Ina was trapped.
"Hello," she whined meekly, a feeling of loneliness washing over her swiftly. "Anyone?"
After wandering for hours the girl gave up and sat back down in her pod, unable to fall back asleep as boredom consumed her. Focusing on what little she could scavenge from her fragmented mind, Ina deduced her awakening was rather unfortunate. If not an accident, she had done something terribly wrong by breaking free of her slumber.
"Giving up so easily?" A twisted voice spoke to the girl from behind. "How uncharismatic of you."
Wah!" Ina screamed, turning around to see nothing at all.
"I was expecting that same exhausted attitude towards everything. But then again, you aren't really your mother are you," the voice continued with a sinister chuckle, taunting Ina from an invisible space.
"My mother?" Ina questioned.
"Isera. You know, Goddess of Love, hot young lady. Don't tell me those narcissistic freaks didn't give you any memory."
"I-I know!" The young girl stammered. "It's just...I can't make any of it out."
"That would be your flower honey, not them. And good luck figuring it out. Your mother could barely use it."
"Who are you?" Ina smiled warmly, having already begun to trust the creature.
"Oh ho," the voice laughed. "This is a rare sight. Do I finally get an unbiased first impression? Well, allow me to reveal myself."
A rose-colored portal appeared in front of Ina, its round shape dripping a strange liquid from each of its borders as a torrent of whispers emerged from within. A skeletal figure then stepped out, bearing a toothy smile and two serpentine eyes that stared into the girl's soul. Despite seeming so friendly, the creature that spoke to Ina was shockingly grotesque.
"Who am I you ask? Why, I'm your friend."
"Oh," Ina gasped as she tried to hide her fear, withering away from the monster that towered over her. "G-good to meet you."
Flexing its bony hands, the creature pointed at the girl, threatening her with its sharp nails and slender joints. If it had merely bumped against Ina she might have even killed her, yet the creature still showed restraint. In fact, something about the monster seemed oddly feminine in a way, calming Ina's senses if only by a smidge,
"Well? What do you think? Am I beautiful?" The creature smiled, stepping forward to reveal her mostly pale frame decorated with pink petals and sharp bone. "Just kidding."
"You're the one who released me," Ina surmised. "Right?"
"How clever. Yes, it was I who shut off the poultry security. And it was I who woke you from your deep slumber. Yes me, the magnificent, gorgeous, and ever brilliant-," the creature paused. "Actually it's better for your health that you don't know my name. I have some VERY serious issues with the kind of monsters you don't want to mess with."
Ina barely nodded in response, unsure of what to think.
"What you think I'M bad?" The monster chuckled. "Girl, you haven't seen anything."
"And what have I seen?" Ina questioned. "Can you help me with my memories?"
"No. I shant. But I will help you realize your potential."
"My potential?"
"Tell me, little girl, what is it you wished for the most before you saw me?"
"Anyone. I hated being alone."
"Of course. You want a friend. I do too! And when I get lonely, I make one!"
"So can we be friends!" Ina smiled.
"No."
"Oh," Ina frowned. "I see."
"But you can still make one. Behold!"
The monster then snapped its spindly figures, causing a howling screech from the distance. In a few awkward moments, a pile of metal then appeared from behind one of the pods, its figure understandable to Ina.
"What is that?" Ina pondered, staring at the pile of metal.
From what the little girl could observe, the frame once belonged to a machine of sorts, its composition similar to that of the pod she emerged from. But its features were far too damaged to be seen clearly, and the wonders it could once perform were forever tarnished.
"Don't worry about it," the monster shrugged, picking the body up from its leg before hacking it apart without moving a muscle. "Just give me a bit here."
Ina stood in shock as the creature tore the machine apart piece by piece, clumsily slamming it against the floor like a ruined toy before crushing what remained of it in the palm of her hand.
"And for good measure, have some of these," the monster clicked its teeth together, pulling a group of the drones Ina had observed into her hands, before crushing them into a pulp.
"There!"
"Why?" Ina gasped, watching the little flying machines release their last bit of life as their eyes turned red.
"Cause you need some materials girl. Go ahead! Use it!"
"H-how?"
"Make that friend you wanted so badly."
"Sure you can. It's all in there," the monster smiled as she tapped Ina's forehead. "Everything you need. What, you think those cocky heralds have a PhD in robotics? Do you think they actually put together all those abominations with raw talent? Don't be silly. Use the flower."
"My flower?" Ina cocked her head sideways.
"Of course," the monster nodded, gesturing with her hand.
A great force then ruptured Ina's tiny chest, spilling her blood to reveal a shining blue flower. She wanted to scream, but the amazement of what she saw drowned out the pain. She had something special within her.
"It's like they only get hurt when it's convenient," the frightening figure giggled, looking away from Ina with embarrassment. "Well, that's all for me! Toodles!"
"W-wait," Ina stammered, still staring at the floating petals in front of her.
But before the girl could look up, the monster was gone, having completed its scheme. Ina understood little of what happened that day, but even after completing her new friend, she continued to fear the strange monster. If only she knew that years later, the very same figure was spotted once more by the unlikeliest of creatures.
___________________________________
"Not again," Corian muttered to himself as he crawled through a patch of blue bushes, narrowly avoiding an explosion mere feet from his position. "Not this again!"
Even with his armor on, the young knight felt truly out of place in the war-torn palace, frightened by his memories of carnage and loss. In the old days, he would have been overjoyed to throw himself into the fray, but with so much on the line, he felt scared - not for his own life of course, but for the consequences of such a large confrontation. He knew more than anyone else what it cost to come on top of a battle, and what kind of scars they would leave.
Now and again he would see flashes of that familiar black face, its soulless eyes staring into his soul with a wide happy smile. Of course, the Valekry around him had nothing in common with the parasite he once fought, and yet the sound of their gunfire most certainly reminded him of the resistance those terrible creatures faced, as well as those who died bravely fighting against them with everything they had. Luckily the man was rather inconspicuous this time around, as the Valekry were entirely preoccupied with the carnage in front of them.
Even those observant enough to spot the humanoid couldn't care less.
"Corian, are you there?" Valor spoke over the intercom. "Bring aid."
"How? Why?" Corian grumbled.
"We found Salem. But there is interference. Follow the coordinates I send you, quickly now!"
"What exactly am I supposed to do? Redrix doesn't even know me, and the Tella will probably just try to eat me."
"Then it seems we have both been given impossible tasks," Valor replied before the intercom cut off.
Corian then stood silently in the bushes, grappling with his new task. There was no doubt Salem's children were fighting hard, outnumbered in a hostile maze of Ina's making. But as things stood, there was little to be done about it.
"Why do I have to do everything myself," the young knight complained, fidgeting with a panel on his arm as he pulled up a virtual interface. "And since when was I the strategist?"
Corian did his best to concentrate and observe the image of a map within his visor, squinting at it with a suspicious glare. A series of trackers then came into view, revealing the locations of every member of his new family. What he saw there did not surprise him in the least, in fact, he was almost impressed with its most blatant problem.
"See if you had a brain, you'd have stayed home," the young knight chuckled as he focused on the distinctly purple dot in his map. "But hey, you might just save us all."
Kicking his feet into gear, Corian then sprinted across the courtyard, avoiding all manner of gunfire and shrapnel in the process as he made a beeline towards the icon on his map.
"Hold on Ali."
_______________________________
The floor shook and groaned as the battle raged on in the ruined chambers of Ina's palace, leaving Iris rather confused about what to do next. After receiving the bad news from Redrix, she stayed hidden a fair distance away from Salem and Ina, watching every door for Korus's arrival. In the meantime, the creature known as Aldria was flailing its large frame about the room, causing more than enough chaos for Ina to avoid being surrounded by Salem's entourage.
"Stupid thing," Iris growled at the winged machine, knowing full well it was constructed after her last encounter with Ina. "You can't protect her from me forever. Neither of you can."
Pulling a dagger from under her leggings, she pointed it playfully at the nearest entrance, as if imagining its tip entering Korus's eye. She would do whatever it took to remove him, even if she had to play dirtier than she usually did. Salem's family on the other hand was caught in a very different dilemma, as they grappled with their new foe.
"Is that a bird?" Regret asked pensively, ducking under an honor guard's sweeping strike as he gestured playfully. "Where was she hiding that?"
"Focus brother," Sorrow groaned, realizing her twin had become rather confident in his abilities. "We are still in danger."
In response to its nimble opponents, Aldria began to alter its own face, revealing a large cannon within its large red eye. Predicting the attack long before it happened Salem cast a spell over the creature, absorbing the beam of energy that emitted from its face. The resulting effect of its destructive ability caused a deafening sound like a blade scraping against the glass; and as Salem began to feel her grip on the spell loosen, the beam escaped with a flash of energy, scouring the floors and walls with its heat. The ensuing calamity was rather delayed at first, leaving a red mark all around Salem's children before a large explosion emitted from the beam's path.
Luckily, Salem's efforts delayed the attack greatly, giving the Valekry plenty of time to back away. Collecting what she could from the absorption, the red mother then called forth a heavy black hammer, chucking it in Anger's direction with all her strength. It came to no one's surprise that her firstborn needed no warning, as he caught the blade with ease, wielding it one-handed as he stood to face Aldria.
"Focus on Ina," Anger spoke calmly towards his siblings. "I have the beast."
"It seems you always do," Valor joked to mask his worry. "Don't worry about us."
In truth, Salem's second-born would have rather stayed to fight the bird-like monster, for he did not wish to face Ina. After everything she had done for the family, it almost felt like a betrayal for Valor to point his rapier at her, knowing it was her knight who gave it to him. When the time came for him to attack, he felt a sense of hesitation, watching helplessly as Salem and the rest of the family lunged towards Ina.
The blue princess of course remained unphased, taking a deep breath before summoning a horde of transparent blades around her. With each step and swing, she would attack Salem while her blades moved in tandem, creating a whirlwind of steel in the process. Using her unmatched skill and seemingly endless power, she managed to keep up with the red family, if only barely.
"What are you doing?" Salem whispered to Valor through his mind. "Hit her!"
"I...can't," Valor confessed. "I will try to talk to her."
"I already tried that!"
"And your diplomacy skills are lacking Mother!" Valor snapped. "Respectfully. She's done so much for us."
Valor then sheathed his blade before lunging at Ina, ducking under her suite of blades as he spoke to her amidst the chaos.
"Must we continue to fight like enemies?" The brave knight implored, focusing all his energy on navigating the whirlwind.
"Your mother won't stop Valor," Ina solemnly explained as she swung her blades, panting from exhaustion. "She has divested herself of all hesitation."
"How can you be certain of that?"
"She made you."
"But that means-."
"Korus was my sense of bravery too."
"Nonsense! Mother is still whole, I've seen it."
"The process is gradual, and on top of her natural stubbornness, I can't reason with her."
Ina faltered for a moment, wincing with pain as Sorrow's whip glanced at her cheek. She too was hesitating, failing to find the will to kill her opponents. But even if she had the guts, Salem's creations were simply too skilled to be cut apart, leaving her in an impossible dilemma. She needed Korus.
"What could be so important?" Valor pleaded. "What are you hiding from her!"
"The center of the station," Ina continued, her voice whispering into Valor's mind as her mouth appeared still. "The crypt. She can't reach it."
"And what if she does?"
"She'll be broken. And from that anguish will come an unstoppable determination. It's what they want."
"You can tell me," Valor replied in a much calmer tone.
*Her name could not be spoken*
_______________________________
Back in Ina's bedroom, the doll waited eagerly for Salem's return, ignoring the rumbling sensations around her. She knew a battle was no place for her, and could do nothing but sit on the bed, hold her bear, and stare anxiously at the door.
"Where the hell is Corian!" Keira complained as she waved her bear paws in the air. "Lazy bum!"
"I'm sure he's with Salem. Shouldn't we be the ones leaving?" Ali tilted her head.
"Not unless you want to get turned into jam," Bear-Bear scoffed. "Those vents ain't safe anymore with all the commotion, especially with that twink rummaging around the backrooms!"
"What do you mean?"
"You really think Ocelot just up and disappeared after he stabbed Salem? That little turd is trying to do something his sister would never allow. That can't be good for us!"
"So what does Corian have to do with it?"
"Besides Ina, he's our best bet at finding Ocelot. He knows his way around this place."
"So...we go looking for him?"
"Ah," Bear-Bear hesitated.
"You can shroud us right?" Ali nodded with confidence. "Like you did before?"
"Well...I don't do too good in battles."
"Hm?"
"I'm scared okay!" Keira snapped, losing her bear-like demeanor. "I don't like big fights!"
"Oh," Ali lowered her head. "I'm sorry."
"I never was good at the whole courage thing. Not even in my golden years."
"What happened back then?" The doll spoke calmly, trying her best to ease her partner's worries.
"Ask Corian. He had to do all the fighting. I just hid."
"You mean...you were there?"
"During all that crap he was talking about with Salem? Yea. I was."
"Must have been scary, if only we had Corian now-."
But just as Ali finished speaking, the young knight suddenly ran into the room, his feet grinding against the floor creating a shower of sparks. Never before had the doll seen him run that fast, nor was she prepared to respond. In fact, his entrance was so abrupt, that she practically fell off the bed in shock.
"Eek!" Ali jumped.
"Oh shit," Keira froze, realizing the young man might have seen her move.
"Yea-Yea," Corian panted, shutting the door behind him. "Big palace. Easiest spot to reach though. The only place without five layers of dust. How ya doing?"
"Is everything alright mister Corian?" Ali shuttered as she picked herself off the ground."
"Sure, and sorry for the fright. We just...need a little help."
"How can I assist," the doll smiled as she approached the young knight, staring at his visor with wide eyes.
Having encountered many instances of unlikely cooperation, Corian was certain of what had to be done. He had watched Salem long enough, her potential shining brighter than ever. And with Alia's lingering influence, there was yet hope his plan could work.
"Call the Vornex."
"Huh?!" Ali gasped. "Surely you can't mean-."
"Call them," Corian repeated. "They will rally to Salem."
"B-but, it will be madness! Redrix would never approve!"
"Sometimes a good ol clusterfuck is what we need little girl, and besides, who's to say the Valekry and Vornex can't get along?"
"I...don't know how," Ali grimaced.
Looking towards Keira's plush form with a stern gaze, Corian nodded his head in approval. The game was up. They had to face reality.
"We know what you have within you little doll. There's no shame in using it."
"But-."
"Do you want to know why I came here to Lacuna? The real reason?"
"Yes," Ali sighed, feeling the gaze of her two friends bearing down on her.
"I knew...we both knew it would happen here. The next step. I'm sure Alia mentioned it to you before. Salem, the crisis of Lacuna, and her battle with the others. Now it's your turn."
"Look within," Keira added, speaking through the bear's soft frame in her natural voice. "Feel their cries. They are your brothers and sisters. Both creations of Alia."
But Ali faltered, seemingly too embarrassed to use her power. She then bolted out of the room, desperate to find some form of privacy. Luckily, most of the battle had centered itself far away from Ina's bedroom, giving the doll at least some reassurance as she stood silently in the long hallway.
"Did you think it would go down like this?" Corian asked politely, directing his gaze at Keira as if she were a familiar friend. "Dolls and killer robots?"
"Never in a million years. But what can we do?" Keira muttered.
"Hey it's okay, I'm scared too."
"I just wish...after all this time, we'd be more ready."
"What, to even talk about it?"
"Good to see you too Corian."
"Yeah," the knight shrugged. "Been a while."
"You haven't changed one bit, still drooling over Isera. The audacity to get with her daughter is so..."
"You too Keira, oh master of hypocrisy. Letting me do all the awkward talk while you cower in fear."
"Hey," Keira snapped, referring back to her reptilian form for just a moment. "Didn't you ever learn how to talk to ladies?"
"Apparently not."
Some distance away from the bedroom, Ali stood in silence, concentrating on every word Alia had spoken to her. Somewhere deep within her frame lay a power greater than she could possibly imagine. Anger had seen it, and now so had Keira and Corian. She was imbued with such potential and yet shuttered at the thought of using it. It was almost as if everyone had been sheltering her, lying to her about the true dangers of existing. But perhaps some things were better left unsaid.
The doll then shut her eyes, abandoning the cramped spaces of the palace in favor of an endless void that stretched far beyond her wildest imagination. Here, in such a place, she could feel the tugging threads of her creator's will, whispering to her from afar. It was the same place Alia had been too many times before, only now it was nearly empty. Ali had no intention of staying there for long.
"Please, I ask of you to fulfill your oath," Ali stretched out her hand to a group of thin figures in the distance, their mechanical bodies nearly impossible to see. "For your masters, both new and old."
Within their shared space, the Vornex could hear Ali's call, leaving behind their own present reality as they turned to face her. Despite lying still for months, it seemed as if they were waiting patiently for her arrival, locked away in a realm only they could see. Both the doll and Alia's morbid creations came from the same stock after all.
The Vornex then stared at Ali intently, their true expressions obscured by the grinning mask upon their face. And after a long pause, they disappeared from the realm, presumingly focused on their new task in the physical world. Only then did Ali realize she was entirely alone as the soul entity within the blackened abyss. It was time to leave.
But before she could open her eyes and return to the palace, she felt a frigid hand brush against her neck, followed by a haunting voice.
"We see you."