The End is Near...
Thank you for reading this far! The ending is near!
I will continue to work on Exuberance and update this web novel. Please leave a review and some feedback if you get the chance.
All following content is a WIP.
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"This was a mistake."
"It's my fault."
"I brought her here."
She could remember that night clearer than ever, despite the ages that had passed since the collapse of the Flora empire. Keira had nowhere left to run, and unlike the others, she had no heroic last stand to perform. She was running for her life.
"Oh shit oh shit," Keira muttered to herself, hearing nothing but the patter of her own feet as her little body scampered across the steel floor. "Please leave me alone."
She was stuck in her true form, too frightened to even try a disguise as she wandered the stainless halls of the Flora's prized haven. She could hear the sounds of gunfire and battle beneath her, as well as the screeches of the monsters she couldn't bear to face. It was in Keira's nature to flee from the commotion, choosing to trek across the floating buildings high above the city.
Each cold hallway seemed to lead to another, their diamond-shaped surfaces far too large for Keira to simply sprint through. But that was how the Flora operated, scattering their silver pyramids far above the clouds where only the rightful heirs to their power could navigate them to any effect. Keira figured she was in a research station of sorts, judging by the countless holographic panels around her. But she didn't care. She had to run.
Every turn she made revealed some new horror in her delusional mind, only for it to be another blue light or sealed door. Any minute she figured, a monster would leap out and grab her. But as she made her way closer to the center of the station, she began to hope for the best.
"Oh-," Keira's reptilian eyes widened as she came to a screeching halt. "That's where you're all hiding."
Before the little creature lay a rectangular chamber divided into several floors, their winding platforms almost completely submerged in an ocean of black corpses. Only the top walkways remained untouched, leaving Keira a narrow bridge across the horde. But luckily for her, the husks appeared to be asleep, having dozed off to the sound of the workroom they lay atop.
"I can do this," Keira gasped, hyperventilating as she transformed into a small mouse. "Just...don't look them in the eyes."
Keira knew better than most that a thousand of those creatures were swarming the city beneath her at that very moment, and in mere seconds, the small horde close by could rip her to shreds. But of course, there was always the possibility that she would be even more unlucky. They could capture her, and take her to their queen.
"You'd like that wouldn't you," Keira thought to herself as she monitored the husks beside her, their lanky bodies twitching every now and again.
She tried not to look at their long claws and gnashing teeth. She tried not to imagine the people they used to be. And most of all, she did her best to avoid looking them in the eye. Nearly across the platform, Keira quickened her pace, relying entirely on her transformation to avoid making noise. But just as she reached the end, she heard a crunch. One of them had turned their heads.
Keira froze with fear, swiveling her little body around to see a pair of red eyes staring at her with excitement. The husk smiled with its soulless face, seemingly overjoyed at the prospect of finding new prey. Having cast aside her disguise out of sheer terror, the little lizard then ran as fast as she could, scampering off into the distance before her nightmare could give chase.
But somehow, there was no chase at all. The horde did not wake, leaving Keira perplexed as she once again turned around. Somehow, she regretted her decision even more than the last. Locking their limbs together, the pit of corpses had begun to churn, their flesh combining into a new abomination at the center of the chamber. Her worst fears had come to pass. They knew who she was, and they were preparing themselves to deny her any chance of escape.
"I-...I," Keira stammered as she watched the mess of bodies twist and snap into pieces, their shadow looming over her as the singular entity took shape.
If there was one compliment in the world to be given to the creatures, it was their creativity. As if taunting Keira, they had taken the shape of a puppet beast, their limbs carefully formed together to create an eery imitation of a lion. A long black coat draped over their bodies, obscuring the entire inner workings of the beast save a row of thin black hands that held the construct together. And upon the creature's face appeared a large white mask, staring coldly at Keira with its motionless gaze and frozen smile.
Keira had always hated puppets and creepy masks. Every time she would watch a group of humanoids perform a lion dance, or a woman wear a mask with closed eyes, it would make her skin crawl. Somehow, the husks had known her distaste from the start and had come together to maliciously craft her nightmare using nothing but their own bodies and a touch of boundless power. But of course, form never came before function with the parasite, and the beast soon reared up on its hind legs, releasing a bellowing roar from its fake mouth.
What little remained of Keira's survival instincts kicked in as she dodged to her right, narrowly avoiding an attack from the creature as it slammed its entire head against the ground, leaving the rest of its body dangling in the air. Again and again, it lunged at the little creature, flailing about the air like a strung-up toy as it smashed the walls of the station with ease.
Transforming into a small winged creature, Keira flew under the beast's draped body in a desperate attempt to flee. Yet regardless of her efforts, she could not have imagined there would be dozens of black feet beneath the drape, scuttling about in unison like a ravenous centipede. She then felt a crushing weight fall upon her as one of the many legs flailed violently in her direction.
"Eek!" Keira squirmed, transforming into a little ball of slime to avoid her demise. "Get away from me!"
Realizing it could not simply smash her into a red stain, the beast then used a pair of black hands to open its metallic mask, unveiling a ball of red energy within. Using one of its hands to clutch the orb, the creature then lept into the air, calling forth a bolt of lightning to empower its assault, shattering the roof above Keira's head. Time seemed to be frozen in that moment, as she took in her final breath.
"I tried," Keira grimaced as she reverted back to her original form, shutting her eyes in submission.
But before the beast could hurl its voltaic energy at the lizard, a wave of blue energy slammed into its body, causing it to pause in what appeared to be amusement.
"Huh?!" Keira gasped. "Who-."
Laying helplessly on the ground, Keira couldn't quite get a view of who had saved her, yet the monster blocking her view seemed rather alarmed. The beast was so enraged by the site of its opponent, that it managed to open its eyes beneath the frozen mask, revealing a pair of bloodshot pupils. It was at that moment a soft hand scooped Keira off the ground, whisking her away with incredible speed.
"Are you okay?" A young woman spoke to Keira with a labored voice. "I came as fast as I could."
"ISERA!?" Keira opened her jaw as wide as she could, genuinely flabbergasted to see her new savior. "What are you doing here? H-how are you doing this!"
"Later," Isera released a warm smile, her body visibly tired by the mere act of standing. "Let me take care of this."
The woman with blue hair then spun around to face the monster, pointing her pale staff at it with determination. The two then engaged in a bloody duel, leaving Keira to watch in amazement as the rather frail girl clashed against the unstoppable beast. She would have never expected Isera to be capable of such feats, and yet, there she was, ducking and weaving under her opponent like a skilled warrior.
"A-aren't you scared?" Keira muttered as the space around her shuttered.
Fear had always been her greatest weakness. And after that night, Keira vowed to stay away from the parasite no matter what. But of course, she couldn't deny the irony of her current situation. There she was, coaxing Ali to unleash that very same power, even if it was barely comparable to what she had witnessed all those years ago.
"Oh no," Keira panicked as she snapped out of her own dream. "W-what have we done..."
But it was too late. Ali walked back into the room with a stoic demeanor, before nodding her head. She had already called the Vornex to Salem's aid.
"Ali," Keira spoke quickly. "Did you see anything in there?"
"No," the little doll replied as she fidgeted with her hands. "Just the Vornex."
"Good. Never go back in there. She'll find you."
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Black soot began to envelop the sky as the battle of the sisters raged over Lacuna. Not even the most aloof among the Tella could ignore the commotion, staring out from their windows and the vacant streets with morbid curiosity. For a moment, it seemed that all life had come to a standstill for the pale creatures.
The Valekry on the other hand were dangerously pleased with their new predicament. As the endless waves of Ina's creations emerged from beneath the palace, more and more Valekry came to meet them on the glorious battlefield. It wasn't long before even those outside Redrix's fleet became involved, abandoning their mistresses in favor of the one thing they were made to do.
What could only be described as carnage ensued, with Valekry of all types crawling towards the palace as if they had lost their minds. What was once an organized assault was swiftly becoming a disorganized massacre. And yet despite that awful truth, Redrix seemed unwilling to lift a finger to stop the calamity.
The shipmaster had instead taken to the battlefield, ignoring his grievances with his brother in exchange for glorious violence. Wielding a large spear he had scavenged off the battlefield, he posed an equal match to the honor guards with raw strength alone, smashing countless foes as the battle raged on. But amidst the chaos, an invisible fog swept over his mind, blurring all semblance of reason and restraint. It wasn't long before even his formidable mind had succumbed to the bloodlust.
"Is this what you promised us?" Redrix spoke to himself as he held what appeared to be a Valekry's detached limb. "Already the fruits of your actions are undeniable."
It was then that the towering general noticed several figures scuttling across the ramparts, their silent steps unmistakenly foreign to him. A closer look revealed the machines to be none other than the Vornex, carefully taking advantage of the chaos to move into the palace. Had they been any less single-minded, it wouldn't take much for them to be lured into the fray. This greatly amused Redrix, who was once again impressed by Salem's ability to escalate the conflict.
"What new horror is this?" He chuckled, watching carefully as the masked figures climbed across the walls like spiders. "Wouldn't it be clever of me to not inform Iris of this development?"
Redrix then ducked under a volley of plasma, turning to face a Valekry who had recently fallen to the rising tide of chaos. Without even a moment of hesitation, he engaged the enemy. The concept of friend and foe no longer meant anything in Ina's palace.
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A dreadful feeling washed over Korus as he sprinted down the hallways of the palace, remembering the words Ina spoke to him when they first met. In his mind, the very idea of losing her was rather incomprehensible. She had defined every bit of the machine's life. And yet, he could not shake off the sense of betrayal that followed him, as if he should be fighting on the other side. As far as Korus was concerned, Salem was Valekry, and opposing her was tantamount to abandoning his own kin.
"Hold on Ina," Korus reassured himself, practically feeling the princess's close vicinity to him.
But unknown to the pale knight, a group of Tella stood silently in the rafters above him, watching carefully for intruders. Looking back to see Salem's hectic battle with Ina rage on, Iris nodded in approval, signaling for her underlings to move into position; for as long as they could keep Korus away from the princess, she would tire out eventually.
"There he is!" Iris hissed. "Just on time!"
Reaching behind her, Iris unfolded a long rifle of sorts, decorated with jewels and beads along its slender frame. The fragile thing was good for only one shot, but with the right opportunity, she was confident it could kill the machine she could never hope to defeat honorably. The other Tella spread out around her, posing themselves for action.
"Now!" Iris signaled as the women around her flung a barrage of small orbs toward Korus, causing a blinding light to emerge from their impact.
At that moment, Korus was momentarily confused, his senses dulled by the frequency of the light. But Iris could see just fine, aiming her rifle directly at the machine's eye thanks to a special lens attached to her scope. Korus knew a trap had been sprung, and could already detect a series of light footsteps surrounding him. But in truth, the Tella who had lunged at the machine was a mere diversion, a clever trick designed to mask the true threat. Iris had the perfect chance. But just before she could take the shot, she felt a wet splash in her left ear, causing her to hesitate. Swiveling to her left, the Tella was shocked to see a Vornex towering over her, its smile bloodied by the woman it had just finished gutting with its long spindly hands. What little of her entourage remained fled in terror, abandoning their mission with all haste. Left alone and backed against a wall, Iris stared at the Vornex looming over her, unable to move or speak as fear took over.
Korus quickly caught on to the situation, watching with mild amusement as the Tella assassins were suddenly ambushed by the Vornex, their merciless smiles seemingly emerging from the floorboards of the palace. But just as he prepared to engage with the fearless opponents again, he heard a scream from the rafters above him. Korus knew it was Iris almost instantly.
"H-help!" Iris gasped as the lone Vornex prepared to impale her with its claws.
Suddenly Korus lept onto the rafters, pushing the monster off before grabbing Iris by the hand.
"Come with me if you want to live," the Valekry nodded.
"Huh?" Iris stammered.
Iris couldn't believe what she saw, her keen intellect being reduced to that of a frightened girl as the machine carried her away from the danger like she were his closest ally. Moreover, she hadn't personally seen the Vornex in action, having merely observed the conflict with Alia from the sidelines. Suffice it to say, she was entirely reliant on Korus mere moments after attempting to kill him.
"W-what the hell are you doing!?" Iris complained as Korus pushed her into a nearby closet, his free hand managing to ward off the enemy as she spoke. "I was trying to kill you, idiot!"
"I know," Korus replied before shutting the door in the Tella's face.
Iris was then left flabbergasted, pondering her situation as the sounds of battle drifted off into the distance. She wanted nothing more than to leave the stuffy little room and trade a broom for another rifle to kill Korus with, but after a moment of thought, her mood shifted dramatically. If the Vornex had been unleashed, Salem would no doubt be closer to victory. Perhaps then it was just safer to lay low for a while and let things blow over.
"Why would he save me..." Iris stared at her own colored nails, inspecting them like a cat. "After everything I've done."
Korus in the meantime was closing in on Ina, the sound of her powers becoming more audible by the minute. But upon dashing his way past another group of Vornex, he came across a terrible sight. In front of the knight lay his newfound family, locked in battle with the love of his life in what appeared to be an endless duel.
"Just as I feared," Korus lamented, looking over to see Aldria wrestling with Anger in the corner as a group of Vornex crawled in through the ceiling.
Before he could even choose what to do next, the mechanical puppets began to swarm the winged beast, tearing at it like insects by the dozens. Even Anger appeared rather phased, watching with visible disgust as the monsters ignored their own safety in exchange for their enemy's destruction. Aldria released an ear-piercing screech, crushing the Vornex with its talons as another wave climbed on top of its body.
"No!" Ina reacted with a gasp, unable to help her creation as it crumpled to the ground.
In but a few painful moments, the winged machine was dismantled, releasing one final squawk before its eye was violently torn from its neck as the Vornex continued to devour its corpse. Such horror caused the princess to hesitate, leaving Salem with her first and only opportunity to strike. She already hated herself for what would happen next.
"Just ignore it," Salem whispered to herself as she plunged her blade into Ina's chest. "You were made for this. Ignore the pain."
Lunging at her sister with a blade in her hand, the red mother prepared herself for the finishing blow. The steel edge dug into the princess's shoulder, only to be shoved away with force. The battle was not yet over, but Salem had gathered all she needed to know. Ina was getting weaker. In the meantime, Ali's Vornex were still proving useful as they scattered across the hallways, engaging the honor guards at every turn. They may have lacked the intelligence to do little more than arrive at the scene, but once the chaos had begun, they would ensure Ina's encirclement. A sliver of opportunity had finally shown itself.
"Now Redrix," Salem whispered into the air as her eyes glowed red. "Throw everything you have at her."
Having received the message in his vacant mind, Redrix pulled himself together before signaling his fleet.
"All surface cannons, fire at will!" He bellowed as he pointed a metallic finger at the center of the palace where Ina resided.
A barrage of plasma then rained down from the sky, having been shot forth from the bowels of the Valekry's largest ships. Realizing what was about to occur, Korus focused his attention on Salem's most vulnerable children, ushering them away from the fight before they could properly react. It all happened just as Salem expected.
"Salem!" Sorrow cried out as Korus took her hand, leading both her and Regret away from the destruction.
But with a flash of blue light, the crimson projectiles detonated prematurely, their fiery combustion having been thwarted by a visible barrier that hovered above the Princess's head. It was Ina who had used her power, saving both Salem and herself as she lifted a hand in the air. A gleaming energy began to radiate from her crown, its center-most jewel enveloped in the same color as her beaming eyes.
"The crown," Salem thought to herself as she widened her eyes. "It has power."
The sheer magnitude of Ina's projection began expelling Salem from the center of the barrier, causing her quite the struggle. But remaining undeterred, the red mother swiftly sent another signal toward Redrix before clawing her way forward. She was determined to win at all costs, even if it meant exploiting her enemy's love for her.
"You could just shield yourself," Salem muttered under her breath as she drew closer to Ina. "It would be so easy. But no, you have to protect me from my own mistakes. I suppose we do have something in common after all. Our own worst enemy has always been ourselves."
Suddenly, the barrage came to an end, leaving Ina in a staggered daze. Before she could even begin to compose herself, Salem thrust her blade into Ina's chest, knocking her crown to the floor in the process.
The ruined chamber then reached an abrupt silence, as every sentient mind looked in shock at what had occurred - save for of course Anger. Ina looked down at her chest with horror, unable to process the pain that coursed through her bones. She then released a feeble gasp as her crown tumbled onto the floor.
Salem might have well stabbed herself in that moment, falling alongside Ina as she held her broken sister. Ina tried for a moment to rise to her feet, but after seeing Korus mere steps away, she lost all spirit as the color faded from her eyes, leaving nothing but a grey sheen in its place. Korus on the other hand rushed over as fast as he could, only to be gently stopped by Valor's careful hand.
"I'm sorry brother," Valor shook his head. "You were too late."
Salem then gave a silent glare to both Anger and the Vornex, ordering them to step away from Korus. The pale knight nodded in response, dropping his blade as he lowered his head. There was nothing else to do.
"I'm sorry Ina," Korus cried.
He already knew what the princess had to say, their minds melding beyond the use of words. She was glad he wasn't there to fight for her, for she knew only more death would come of his protection. The battle was lost the moment Salem had made up her mind. Everything after that was merely the wallowing of a dying dream.
"As always," a soft voice spoke into Korus's mind. "You did your best. I'm glad you have a chance now...to live without me."
A feeling of shame then washed over the crowd, going as far as to noticeably affect Iris, her slim frame standing completely still like a mournful statue. Even one as depraved as she had wished for a different outcome, but when faced with the consequences of her actions, she did no better facing it than Salem. Surely there had to have been a reason for the battle to happen.
"T-take care of them Valor," Ina spoke out loud with a raspy voice. "Keep them from their own shadows."
The princess then shot one last glance at Salem before falling unconscious, seemingly dead the moment her flower left her body. But Salem knew better. Ina wasn't truly gone, for if she was, her grief would have shattered the palace in a cataclysm of energy. In her last act, the princess had, at the very least, de-escalated the conflict.
Salem then reached out her hand to grasp at the air, calling forth a thin petal from within Ina's chest, its transparent surface gliding gently into her palm. She hadn't the slightest clue what to do with the new source of power, and yet her instincts drove her to take it nonetheless. Perhaps it was what Ina would have wanted.
"Korus," Salem groaned, picking herself off the floor and placing Ina in Valor's arms. "You deserve better."
"Don't we all," the pale knight responded, surrendering himself per Ina's wishes.
"I shan't pretend to know what to do next regarding the violence outside these walls. Will you accompany Valor to resolve it? I trust you in these matters," the red mother droned on, her voice seemingly more contained than before. "Please."
"It will be done," Valor nodded as he placed a hand on Korus's shoulder.
Holding back tears, Salem tried her best to ignore the sound of the machine's footsteps as they left the room, the image of Ina's broken body still vivid in her mind. She knew Valor could be trusted to find something to do with her before she woke up, and yet still she felt like a worthless coward for abandoning the princess so soon. If only Salem were brave like her son.
"W-where are they taking her?" Regret asked with a frightened voice. "Did we really have to do that?"
"I don't know," Salem muttered. "Ask them if you must. I...I need to find her brother. Put an end to this nightmare. Please follow Valor. Leave me."
"B-but," Sorrow interjected.
"Listen to her," Anger growled. "Now."
"Aren't you coming?"
"I would have words with Mother. It's what she wants. What she needs."
Sorrow and Regret turned to leave the room, before looking back at their mother with something akin to fear. Iris made sure to follow along, unsure of what she should even do. After all her plans, the leader of the Tella was left clueless in the face of such a calamity.
"The Valekry won't stop fighting," Iris whispered to herself as she squinted her eyes. "Focus on that, not Salem."
In the meantime, Anger stood in silence alongside his mother, waiting patiently for her to say the words he knew were coming.
"You won't be following me this time, my sweet child."
"I know."
"Then why do you still linger?"
"Because you are lost."
"There are some things not even you understand Anger," Salem sighed as she looked down at the ground.
"You mistake me. What I say comes not from false confidence. I have known what you've felt since the day I was born."
"What do you-."
"Did you really think me to be so arrogant? That I was made better than my siblings? No mother. I am different. You and I share an inseparable bond."
"The red flower."
"I hear its voice from within you," Anger spoke with some cadence of worry. "I am sorry."
"You wouldn't be the first to protect me from myself."
"And I doubt I will be the last."
"So it finished then. My delusions of self-autonomy. I am the red flower. There was never any difference."
"You believe that to be a limitation?"
"How could it not? This...thing has driven me every step of the way. Salem is just a vessel."
"And yet never has the flower independently resided in a host such as yourself, nor has it colluded with your sister. Use this opportunity. Embrace what you have always been."
"A tool," Salem scoffed, hardly believing her creation's words. "Just a tool."
"A weapon. Honed to fight horrors beyond our comprehension."
"You sound like my dad. Is that funny?"
"Perhaps. But if your father were here, you know what he would say."
"Maybe I do," Salem frowned, looking down at the blue petal still lingering in her metallic palm. "Would he have used this to further his goals?"
"You are the red flower now. It is your choice to make."
Salem stepped closer to Anger, realizing she could confide in him more than ever. For months she had shielded her children from her pathetic self, but now that Anger had revealed his true intentions, there was nothing left to hide. She could speak plainly as the red flower.
"Then what do I do," the red mother stared intensely at her child. "I have to find Ocelot before it's too late."
"Ina's secrets lie within. Absorb her memories."
"Were it so easy," Salem scoffed as she reached down to collect Ina's lost crown. "I can hardly piece together the red flower's history, let alone this foreign entity."
"You underestimate yourself."
"Is that really all you have to say?"
"Yes. You no longer need my guidance."
"B-but."
Salem's moment of fear lasted only a moment as confidence swept over her once again. Her son had spoken the truth, unveiled in its entirety. To succeed, the red mother would abandon all notions of humility and uncertainty. She was the trailblazer on a path undefined by both gods and men. She was the red flower.
"Mother come in," Valor spoke to Salem through Anger's body, his voice being projected for her to hear. "The situation is dire."
"What is it?" Salem leaned closer to Anger, his towering frame having wandered close to a window overlooking the palace's courtyard. "Is Ina safe?"
"Korus has her. Trust him. As for the untenable situation..."
"Just say it," Salem hissed, knowing full well what would come next. "It's not over."
"The Valekry won't stop fighting. I've tried to contact Redrix but he's ignoring me. The Vornex are swarming as well."
"Ali called them, didn't she."
"I imagine she thought we needed the support. A monster savage enough to force its way into the fray with no regard for its life. She was right Salem, only know they've outlived their usefulness," Valor spoke with an unusually crass tone.
"How bad is it?"
"See for yourself," Anger interjected, gesturing for Salem to look out the window.
Before Salem lay a battlefield of increasing magnitude, as metallic frames of all types slammed into each other with endless savagery. Whether they were Valekry, honor guards, or Vornex mattered little as the violence continued. What began in the city streets of Lacuna so long ago was beginning to erupt once more, only this time it had grown in severity thanks to Salem's incursion.
"Now is your chance," Anger encouraged his mother. "Save your subjects. Find the interloper. Kill your enemies. Become their queen."
Looking down at the slim crown in her hands, Salem took a deep breath before placing it on her head. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting its power wash over her as the crown's center jewel became washed in a crimson hue. The red queen had begun to bloom.
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The frail husk of a vessel housed many things, least among them memories. Years of patient crafting had led to a brilliant civilization, all born from a singular lie. Ina held secrets from the start.
"How about this one my dear?" A pale woman spoke to the princess with excitement in her voice, holding up a cloth embroidered with a diamond symbol.
"It's beautiful Iris," Ina smiled, folding her hands together as she looked down at the young Tella. "Where did you get the idea?"
"From you of course. There's a little glimmer in your eyes just like it. I think it's beautiful."
"You flatter me," the princess giggled. "But I really don't deserve the praise."
"What do you mean? You're royalty around here. Your visage should be the mark of all Tella, plastered across every building we construct."
"I assure you Iris, I'm no princess. I just...woke up one day, and wandered out here like everyone else."
"You keep telling yourself that," the young girl shrugged as she looked down at her little dress, its soft laces carefully woven together by Ina some time ago. "But you're the oldest among us. And the smartest too."
All around the Princess stood many small pale figures, scuttling about the scaffolding of the palace like insects. Back in those days, they were unimaginably busy, always up to something new as they hammered away at the endless chunks of rock around them. Every now and again they would look up and stare, wondering how they could get back to the birthplace they only vaguely remembered.
"When do you think we can get more?" Iris pouted as she pointed towards Korus, his towering figure carrying a stone bundle as he walked past.
"Almost," Ina smiled softly again, like a worried mother. "The design is...intricate"
"I know you will. You're so smart...and pretty."
"Oh, you flatter me," the princess patted the girl on the head as she spoke. "But you place too much faith in me."
"And you don't place enough in yourself. We're counting on you, Ina. Thanks to you, we have a home."
Without the blue flower, Ina felt a void within her mind, gnawing at her memories as if her very identity had been erased. But truth be told, her inner being had decayed long ago, and even as she remained trapped in her unconscious state, she felt no fear. Some part of her was aware of the Valekry's presence, the cold feel of their hands grasping her flesh as they carried her to safety. But without the blue flower, she could no longer feel the warmth of their souls, nor did she feel the desire to find them. Everything had been given to Salem, leaving Ina with nothing but her own regrets.
"What are they?" Iris asked with curiosity, her taller frame peering over Ina as the princess toiled over her newest creation.
"Tella. Just like us, only these belong to the male gender," Ina responded, her voice echoing across the palace's spotless halls. "Aren't they beautiful?"
"Why make them?" Iris frowned as she ignored Ina's statement. "The males on the surface are horrible violent creatures."
"Men can also be protectors and providers. They can care for us in ways we've never imagined."
"But don't we have the Valekry for that?" The taller woman shrugged as she placed a hand on her hip, staring intently at Ina's long hair as she spoke. "They finished our palace and expelled any chance of the surface dwellers spoiling our haven. What can these men possibly do that the Valekry cannot? What can they possibly provide that I have not already given to you?"
"Iris," Ina smiled as she turned away from the pale figure in front of her, its thin frame suspended in a liquid pod. "You've aided me for years. And so have the Valekry. But people do not need to fulfill a purpose to exist. I am merely presenting their qualities to you."
"I still don't get it. Women are just...all we need.:
"You're afraid I'll replace you?"
"I-," Iris blushed. "Don't you be teasing me!"
"It's gotten harder to do these days," the princess giggled. "You've grown so much, Iris. Don't think I haven't noticed."
"Ina-."
"You cut your hair. You've traded dresses for slim tunics. You direct the Tella with your every move. I can see your boldness, Iris. That won't go anywhere just because I've made an addition to our family."
"I suppose I'm just afraid of the uncertain."
"Of course, they'll no doubt struggle to find their place. But you can help them, Iris. You can be their inspiration, just as you've done with us."
"Perhaps...I will try," Iris nodded, trying her best not to look Ina in the eyes too long. "But only for you Princess."
The princess laughed once more, causing a warm pounding in Iris's heart. She always loved to see Ina's smile, especially as it became scarcer over the years. But in due time, the ambitious woman would never see it again.
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"Can...we speak now brother," Valor spoke softly as he followed Korus down a set of spiraling stairs, its location hidden behind a set of curtains known only to the silver knight. "Where are we taking her?"
"I should have been there," Korus lamented as he carried Ina in his arms.
"She wouldn't have wanted you to face us."
"I should have protected her."
"You hoped for the best when you left her side."
"I was naive in thinking I could stop this conflict."
Valor shook his head, realizing the futility of his words. His friend was grieving, and nothing could change his current state of mind. Instead, the brave knight focused on the path ahead, remembering what Ina had said to him.
"Do you have someplace in mind?" Valor gestured.
Just then a bolt of plasma tore through the brick wall surrounding the Valekry, causing them to cease their descent immediately. At first, it seemed like an unlucky chance, but after a missile struck the chamber above them, it became clear they were drawing too close to the chaos beneath them. Valor turned to Korus as he shielded Ina's small frame, his face marred with sadness despite its simplistic design.
"I can stabilize her condition in a variety of places, but not without leaving this warzone. Salem has already stirred this violence beyond the point of return."
"I'll do it," Valor interrupted as he prepared to leap through the weakened brick that surrounded them. "Please get clear."
"Wait!" Korus reached out, realizing what Valor intended to do. "Do not let your bravery turn into recklessness. I can't lose you too."
"Ina may yet live brother," Valor shook his head. "There is still hope."
"No...her hope is what killed her years ago. And now it threatens to take you as well," Korus lamented. "My only mistake was allowing her to pray for a better future."
"You were the one who taught me the value of hope. That naivety is the essence of all living beings," Valor nodded. "Despair won't take us yet."
"Valor!" Korus called out one last time before the brave knight slid past him, tearing his way through the wall before disappearing into a cloud of dust.
_________________________________
"It's out there," Salem muttered to herself, discerning what information she could have with the crown, its power emanating from the direction of Ina's garden. "But I can't...the chaos."
Knowing she had to somehow control the battlefield, Salem began to step towards the hole in the palace caused by her battle with Ina, inching closer and closer to the carnage beneath her. In that moment she wanted to glide down there and lead, but something held her back, as if waiting for the right opportunity. One might even say a piece of her courage had left her.
"Wait," Salem gasped, looking out onto the horizon to see a mound of rubble with a flag at its utmost peak.
What she saw then was a similar figure push its way through the battle, ignoring all urges for conflict as it climbed up towards the flag. With immense bravery, the lone Valekry took hold of the flag and waved it in the air, its red fabric depicting Salem's flower with streaks of silver. The voice that bellowed out from the figure was nearly unmistakable, rallying the Valekry around it so that they may rise from their blood-drunken stupor. It was Valor who stood proud, shining as a beacon for Salem.
"For your queen!" Valor screamed as he ducked under the blade of a nearby zealot, its blue figure having flown up to the mound in an attempt to silence the brave knight. "For your queen!"
Several Valekry began to pause, having been reminded of their duty. A similar phenomenon then seemed to spread among the ranks of the honor guards, as their more rudimentary programming kicked into effect. As Valor's words continued to reach them, they began to reform their assigned positions, casting aside their previous obsession with violence - with even the previously hostile Zealot abandoning its attempts to slay the knight.
"Valor!" Salem cried, reaching out to her child as he rallied her army.
Having gained her courage, Salem took a deep breath before stepping outside the palace walls, her powers allowing her to strut across the very air itself - a transparent red shadow cast over each of her steps. As the red mother descended, her crown glowed brighter, its gemstone having transformed into a violent red hue in response to her strength. Valor looked upon his mother with amazement, pointing his flag towards her as a last rallying cry.
"forward," Salem muttered silently, allowing her mere presence to cast her commands as she pointed her finger toward the garden.
As the red mother's feet touched the ground, Redrix's forces rallied around her, forming a tight defensive formation as they marched forward. A second force led by the shipmaster himself pushed ahead, silently understanding the message behind Valor's words as they followed the glowing crown. As if deciphering their enemy's next move, a set of taller honor guards emerged from the depths of Ina's decaying garden, their metallic hands grasping a large cannon that hung beneath their waist.
Once the two forces clashed, and plasma bolts began to streak across the air as the more organized armies came to a head, Salem refused to budge an inch - instead, she calmly strolled her way toward the garden. Even as a lone honor guard pushed past the defensive line to lunge at her, she remained still, fully confident in her people to protect her. And sure enough, every opponent that lept at her was thrown aside, either by the force of Anger's mace or another Valekry's loyal blade. Even the shrapnel that flew past her face was carefully blocked by an arm or a shield, as the Valekry defended their would-be queen like a hive of insects.
"Target their heaviest flank," Redrix commanded, his strength having been clearly restored after his battle with Korus.
As if waiting for his request, several thin bolts of silver plasma struck the largest honor guards in their eye, as a pair of cloaked figures stood watch over the battle from the palace's ramparts.
"She's really doing it," Iris smiled, motioning for her agents to keep an eye on Salem. "After so many years, we finally have a chance of breaking Ina's hold over us."
As she drew closer to the garden, Salem still had nothing to say, focusing all her efforts on the path ahead. But as a barrage of projectiles flew towards her, their explosive shells glimmering like stars, she finally averted her gaze towards the threat, reaching out with her hand as the crown upon her head glimmered with energy. A red dome then formed around her body, emanating the same power that Ina had used beforehand, destroying her enemies' futile attempts to delay her advance.
"Hold the line here," Anger pointed his mace as Salem stepped onto the wooden pavilion at the center of the garden. "Give her time."
"She wishes to venture alone?" Redrix asked in an approving tone as he looked above to see more vessels descending upon the garden. "Very well, we can do better than that. By the time Salem returns, we will have taken this place. Nothing stands in our way now!"
Amidst the cheers of her people, Salem began to concentrate her might on the pavilion's floor, trying her best to ignore the familiar space where she once fellowshipped with Ina. As she continued her efforts, a foreign voice then suddenly spoke to her in a robotic tone, its power resonating Ina's flower.
"Eikon recognized. Access Approved. Welcome Isera."
"Mother?" Salem's eyes widened as she watched the wooden floor give way to a silver ramp leading deep beneath the surface of the garden's rotting foliage.
Looking at the foreign surface with amazement, Salem began to realize just how much was hidden from her within plain sight. Yet without the approval the "Eikon" gave her, it was doubtful the white ramp would have ever actually materialized in front of the naked eye, judging by its inability to meld with the environment around it. Coming to terms with this revelation, Salem began to delve deeper into the hidden path, having complete faith in her followers to hold up their end of the conflict.
"Finally," Salem muttered to herself, her voice echoing across the smooth white tiles. "No more secrets."
As Salem followed the dark hallway, her metallic heels scraping against its smooth white surface, she felt a particular sensation behind the direction of the path. The red mother was indeed moving farther away from the center of the palace, its oldest and deepest chambers being unable to match the sheer depth of the hidden pathway. In truth, the garden pavilion was a mere access point for something much grander.
It wasn't long before Salem encountered a small dish at the end of the pathway, its recognizable shape telling the red mother all she needed to know. Upon placing her feet down against the plate, it hurled itself into the air, thrusting upwards with a greater velocity than any lift she had taken before. Salem could hardly believe that Ina would have navigated such a path before, especially with her tender feet.
"You really hid all this," the red mother sighed. "And for what."
As if it were not already evident enough, the silver platform continued to ascend higher and higher into the station, proving the sheer scale of the secret facility. After quite some time, the elevator then lurched to a halt, its sophisticated mechanisms somehow keeping Salem from smashing into the ceiling. At the end of the cramped tube lay a square door, its surface decorated in the same pristine white metal Salem had seen before, only its corners had been seemingly reinforced with a darker alloy containing several blue lights. From what Salem could see, nothing the Tella had constructed before could even compare to a mere door, cementing her suspicions about the facility.
Salem then strode forward, closer to the door as she stretched out her prosthetic hand, scraping its sharp nails against its smooth surface. Just as she expected, the door slid open, its corners unfolding simultaneously as a strange voice spoke out to her.
"Eikon recognized. Welcome back Isera."
A cold burst of air slammed into Salem as a bright light enveloped her, causing her to falter briefly. The small stuffy room her eyes had been accustomed to had given way to a well-lit square room, her frame appearing as a spec in its overwhelmingly large interior. Yet despite the sheer scale of the facility, its entrance was rather sparse, with only a few short pillars guiding Salem's path, their surface interlaced with holographic data pads and shiting metal gears. As she stepped forward, her sharp heels occasionally stepped over a rougher metal grate, but for the most part, it was nothing but a stainless white floor as far as the eye could see, its clean surface reflecting her image almost perfectly. But what stuck out the most to the red mother was the large transparent pipes running along the walls and the ceiling of the white chamber, its translucent contents shimmering with a strange pale liquid.
"Excuse me?" Salem raised an eyebrow, realizing the voice that spoke to her was more than a mere automation. "Who are you?"
"I am the monitor of this facility, as ordained by the Lifrian," the voice responded, taking on a more feminine tone to match Salem's. "The Astral Efraim remains open to you by her command."
"I see," the red mother nodded her head.
Besides the bodiless voice, all Salem could hear was the faint presence of air flowing through the room, followed by an overwhelming silence. Every instinct she had was screaming at her to leave the facility immediately as if the presence of life was somehow forbidden within its lifeless walls. Whatever Ina was hiding, it already felt like a silent crypt more than anything.
"And when was the last time Isera was here?" Salem asked after considering her next words.
"Your Eikon was registered two hours ago."
"So this is mother's flower after all," Salem muttered as she opened her palm to reveal the glowing petals, their transient surface still pulsating with Ina's signature glow. "No lies there. Tell me, what is the structural integrity of this...installation."
"Structural integrity at acceptable state. Currently, a foreign object has been detected surrounding the installation, yet no damage has been registered."
"And when exactly did you first feel this mass?"
"seventeen hundred days and four hours."
"Of course," Salem growled as she pressed onwards. "Lacuna was built over this."
"No mention of the word Lacuna found in my files, I'm afraid that cannot be answered, Isera."
"Right."
The red mother then began to feel a heavy presence loom over her as she crossed through an archway leading to an auditorium of sorts, its contents having seemingly been scattered ages ago. At each corner of the room lay another pathway, proving she had finally reached a convergence of sorts. Yet even with her few scraps of information, Salem could feel the gravity behind the room's history, causing her to stop in her path.
"What...is this?" Salem gasped, staring at a pile of rubble surrounding a black scepter of sorts, its design unlike anything she had ever seen.
"Data file incomplete. Would you like to survey the last recorded movement of this item?"
"You..can do that?"
"Affirmative."
A holographic image then appeared before Salem, displaying two figures darting around her like they were truly present. The first and most visually distinct figure appeared in the form of a monstrous black creature, its recorded image towering over Salem as it skillfully swung the now dormant scepter at its prey. The face of the black creature was entirely obscured by a bizarre mask, the structure of which was far too slim for there to be any features beneath it. Yet despite its size, the finer details of the figure were difficult for Salem to observe, as it rather gracefully danced around the room on a pair of sharp heels.
"Wait..." Salem stammered, her eyes glancing over at the second figure that was found in the recording. "That's!-"
Projected through the image stood a woman Salem had never seen before, and yet, her identity was certain the moment she appeared standing in the monster's path, bravely fighting against it with a much smaller white staff.
"Mother!" Salem gasped.
But before Salem could reach out to the familiar woman, the recording ended just as her opponent fell to the ground, its seemingly indestructible frame having been dissolved by a torrent of blue energy.
"W-what happened!" Salem screamed at the bodiless voice, demanding an answer. "Where'd she go!"
"Would you like to view more?"
"Of course!"
"Was your query not answered?"
"Forget the damn staff! I don't care what freakish abomination dropped it, that was my mother back there!"
"Very well."
A blue-haired woman then stood beside Salem, panting as she leaned against her staff, its edge stained with black liquid. Throughout the recording, she would wander across the vast auditorium, limping her way as if she were about to collapse. Occasionally she would be assaulted by another enemy, yet despite the odds and her terrible condition, she would always come out on top, defeating all manner of nightmarish creatures. From what Salem could observe, her outfit appeared to be a tight leather tunic of sorts, covered in white scales and blue diamonds that provided an elegant yet practical sense of style. In fact, most of the woman's equipment seemed to be involved with the practice of beauty, as she wore both a slim set of white heels and a pair of fingerless gloves.
"Isera," Salem whimpered to herself, mesmerized by her beautiful mother. "It's...really you. Tell me machine, is she...okay in this recording?"
"You were severely injured at this point, that much has been confirmed."
It felt almost silly to be worried about her mother a millennia ago, and yet Salem felt a distinct pang in her heart as she watched Isera press on, the frail woman brushing aside her long hair as she panted like a wounded animal. If only Salem could have entered that point in time and assisted her mother; perhaps she would have felt whole inside.
"What happens?" Salem spoke, her voice booming with anxiety. "Where does she go?'
"This recording will continue for the next few minutes," the facilities guide informed Salem as it kept the image of Isera playing in the corner of the auditorium. "Would you like to see the next point of interest?"
"Y-yes," the red mother nodded, not even bothering to ask why Isera had been in such a place.
As if her mental fortitude had not been compromised enough, Salem had no response to the next holographic display, her eyes staring soullessly at the life-like depiction of Isera kneeling before a small child. Without a shadow of a doubt, the child was Salem, her red eyes and white hair distinct even with her tiny frame. If she hadn't been so distraught, Salem might have even bothered to call herself cute, considering her past self couldn't have been any older than five.
The image of Isera seemed to display the same reaction as her older daughter, staring at the child with her eyes widened, almost as if she wasn't expecting to find her.
"Are you..." Isera spoke, her smooth feminine voice coming out with an ethereal touch, its perfection captured flawlessly by the facility's recording. "How did you get here?!" The woman gasped as she dropped her spear, placing both her hands against the child's sides as she tried to avoid breaking down.
"I wanted to find you!" The child smiled as she giggled, her facade unphased by the carnage that surrounded her. "Are you my mommy?"
"I..." Isera hesitated, thinking to herself in silence before responding with confidence. "I am. What is your name little one?"
"I don't have one yet, Papa said he'd think about it."
"You've seen him!" Isera cried out before lowering her voice. "Is...is he alright? Is Ceris still..."
"Papa is fine, he's just very busy."
"I'm sure she is," the woman sobbed as tears rolled down her eyes, her hands shaking as she tried to speak clearly. "Listen...I'm sorry little one. I know things didn't go the way they were supposed to. I know you have so many questions about who you are, how you got here, and I-."
"It's okay Mommy," Salem's red eyes beamed with energy. "You're doing your best."
"You're so sweet," Isera formed her best smile. "How have you stayed safe in a place like this?"
"My little friend here guided me!" Salem smiled gleefully as she pointed down to the small bear she was holding, its appearance unmistakably similar to that of Keira. "She's been very helpful."
"How kind of her. Listen, we need to leave this place little one. We need to find your father."
"What will we do then?"
"We can..." Isera paused before retrieving her white lance. "We can come up with a name for you...together."
"I like the sound of that." Salem giggled before the recording came to a stop.
A few minutes of silence passed, as the present Salem stood in shock, her eyes still locked on the position of the hologram. After finally processing what she had seen, she broke into tears, falling to the ground as she cried out. She had finally begun to understand what Ina was hiding. It was the burden of knowledge, to know that their mother was once within their grasp, and that their innocence had been taken from them. Salem had lost everything, even with her lack of memories, she knew then that her childish self was perfect. Such an untarnished creature was, at some point in time, utterly ruined, and that was all she was now.
"W-where did they go," Salem mumbled as she clawed at the smooth metal flooring. "Where did they-."
"The recording cuts short, an unknown interference interjected at that point in time."
"Of course. You Flora couldn't hold it together, could you?"
"The facility is intact," the machine spoke with a smidge of arrogance, its programmers having clearly taken a liking to their own achievements.
"No, no it isn't. My mother loved me, and now she's gone. What good is this place?"
"Unable to discern."
"Just...lead me there. Whatever it is Ocelot's looking for."
Picking herself off the floor, Salem wiped away her tears, reminding herself of her duty. If her mother was still there, she would do the same, that much was clear even after witnessing mere minutes of her life. Such a revelation gave Salem courage, and she moved on, ignoring the other recordings that began to play around her.
______________________________________
After following a series of glowing blue lights towards the east side of the auditorium, the red mother found herself standing in front of another large door, its immense size somehow even more foreboding than the first as if its contents were meant to be kept away at all costs. Reaching out with her hand to open the door, Salem started to ask the machine one more question, knowing full well she could regret it.
"What is this?"
"You stand in the Astral Efraim's primary containment unit."
"And it's contents?"
But before the machine could respond, the door had already unveiled its contents, causing its voice to break apart as another torrent of air blew across Salem's face; this time feeling far more chilling than the last. The red mother truly had no words for what she saw, and as she stepped into the chamber, she was almost relieved to find herself alone again.
Within the white room lay a series of pods, their transparent surfaces containing one pale figure each, submerged in the same liquid Salem had seen flowing in the previous chamber. The exact contents of the pods were rather plain to see, and the red mother struggled to even look at them, at first. Within each capsule lay a pale woman, whose features uncannily resembled Salem and Ina.
"Corian," Salem muttered, walking past a row of pods as she spoke. "You said...I looked like a mother."
There were thousands of capsules for as far as the eye could see, each bearing Salem's resemblance, with only a fraction of them appearing to have been emptied some time ago. With such a revelation, the red mother felt sick to her stomach, suddenly understanding the meaning behind Ina's warning. But it had to be worse she thought, or Ina might have at least revealed the capsules some time ago.
"I wonder," the red mother pondered. "Are they all...mother? But what would anyone need with so many of her."
Unable to stare at her visage, Salem pressed onwards, lowering her head towards the ground as she felt a thousand eyes set upon her. For the first time since her meeting with Kalamis, she was genuinely too frightened to even process her dismay. Something about looking at a blank image of her, naked and empty within a cold pod sent shivers down her spine. It almost felt like anything and everything she had ever felt was mere chance, and that she did not deserve her sapience.
"Could any one of them have been me?" Salem continued to think out loud, her head still fixated on the floor instead of the figures in front of her. "It...doesn't matter. Not anymore. I have to reactivate that voice, ask it why this place was built."
But no matter how many times Salem attempted to reach out to the mechanical guide, it appeared to be absent within the crypt-like chamber. All she could do then was press on and hope for the best. But just as soon as she found an ascending staircase at the far end of the chamber, she heard a different voice call out to her from above.
"So you finally found it." Ocelot sneered, his voice drifting down to Salem from where he stood. "Ina's lie."
Looking up at the floor above her, the red mother surmised her brother's location as she stepped closer to the staircase, its metal surface acting more like grated protrusions rather than anything elegant. Once she reached the top, a strange assortment of metallic shelves surrounded her, their contents just as undiscernible as the panels that were placed next to them. What Salem could comprehend was the function of the room, serving as a control unit for the pods below, as evidenced by the recognizable icon on each screen.
"Mother," Salem muttered out loud as she stared at a symbol depicting the blue flower. "So they cloned her here...didn't they."
Ocelot then appeared from behind one of the tallest shelves, strutting towards Salem with fragile confidence. "So you finally figured it out."
"Is this Ina's big secret?"
"What, that the mighty Tella are all genetic offshoots from a millennia-old humanoid bred by the Flora? I think not."
"Elaborate," Salem sighed. "Be nice to your sister for once. We are related you know."
"You have no idea do you?" Ocelot laughed, his voice seeming more unhinged than ever before, reminding Salem of Alia's crazed demeanor. "The true extent of the madness goes far deeper than you can possibly imagine. Look at our skin. It isn't pale for fashion."
"Well, it's not like I could ask the monitor of this station." Salem groaned, pacing back and forth like she was itching for the fight she knew was coming.
"Why of course, whoever hampered its data must have been looking out for us. But I know the truth regardless."
Ocelot whispered, his eyes meeting Salem's with an alluring gaze, "The Black Flower was never alone."
___________________________________________________
"I can remember it," Ocelot spoke to himself in silence, his mind wandering as his thoughts became a muffled echo. "Every moment after my creation."
Time had slowed greatly from the young prince's perspective, allowing him much time to reflect as he stared at Salem's determined visage. Even as he spoke to her, seconds felt like hours, trapping him within his own mind. Yet somehow, such an out-of-body experience felt quite fitting for Ocelot.
"Ina had already fostered much of her empire, instilling Lacuna with great fortune and splendor. But nothing she had ever made before could compare to...me."
"I was her crown jewel. Her first bio-organic infusion. Even the Valekry was child's play compared to the work that went into me. Playing god was perhaps her favorite pastime."
"What the hell?" Salem's voice echoed as she experienced what appeared to be the same phenomenon as Ocelot. "What did you do?"
"Sharing my perspective," Ocelot replied as his surroundings began to reshape themselves in a dream-like state. "I...always wanted to give my thoughts on things. But Ina never really let me, I was always so...stunted."
The spotless chamber began warping into a familiar yet distinct frame as the young prince spoke, with a set of windows replacing what used to be another slanted metal wall. Salem then realized she was looking at an older version of the Astral Efraim, its pristine exterior no longer trapped within the rest of Lacuna. Looking outside into the vastness of space, she could see a litany of bright stars, their brilliance outshining what she had seen before during her ascent into Lacuna.
"That over there is a Nebula," Ocelot explained, pointing towards a purple cloud out in the distance. "We don't see those anymore. Not after what happened."
"So you figured it out. Does it make you content?" Salem shrugged, unphased by the revelation that the universe was sprawling with life no more than a few millennia ago. Nothing could compare to the pain she already felt after seeing her beautiful mother.
"You'll see," the young prince sighed, envying Salem's ignorance as he gritted his teeth. "Ina couldn't keep this secret forever."
"Then show me, use your window into the past, or is this mere snippet the limits of your power?" Salem taunted.
"Impressive, you figured that out fast," Ocelot nodded as he looked down at Salem from where he stood, as an orange flower appeared floating above his shoulder. "The power of faith lets me bypass her sabotage."
"Ina's you mean? Did she break the security system? I only saw brief instances of mother."
"Oh, you sweet summer child," Ocelot frowned, seeming genuinely concerned for Salem. "You have no idea."
"It...wasn't Ina?" The red mother gasped as she turned around in great haste, nearly missing Ocelot's unveiled image as it began to conjure. "Then..."
Looking back down at the Efraim's containment chamber, still filled to the brim with specimens even in its past iterations. But in this rendition, the sterile facility gave way to a one-sided conflict between its defenses and a foreign invader with indescribable power. Just like the Black Flower's servants, the entity was completely alien to Salem, yet unlike them, she appeared to maintain a level of agency in her step; a fact made most obvious by her unobscured face.
"A follower of life." Ocelot claried before Salem could even get a good look at the creature. "She came here long ago, and this facility attempted in vain to repel her."
The security frames of the facility had all the bells and whistles one would expect from the Flora, with a humanoid figure defined by its metallic sheen and foreboding presence. Yet beyond its maker's mark, the frames all possessed an uncanny resemblance to the Valekry, with their signature height and eyeplate. Yet unfortunately for those ancient frames, they could be seen torn asunder, their attacks seemingly useless despite their ferocity. Even the projectiles that spit forth from their silver arm cannons vaguely resembled what would later become the Valekry's plasma weaponry, only these possessed a lighter hue with much greater intensity.
As for the invader, her skeletal body dwarfed the security frames, with a set of fearsome claws replacing what could have once been hands. Her face was that of a flayed creature, with her teeth visible behind the absence of flesh, and her eyes peering out at her prey with soulless cruelty. Unlike Salem and the specimens in the pods, this creature seemed void of all softness and frailty, yet still, a smidge of feminity could be found in her broad frame.
"What the hell is that thing." Salem grimaced as she watched the creature snap its fingers at its attackers before sending them hurling into the nearest wall.
"A herald."
"But of what?"
Ocelot then brought a sudden end to his visage, causing Salem to turn back around and face him.
"Don't you get it?!" Ocelot cried out. "Our entire life is a lie."
"And? We both knew that ages ago," Salem pointed at the young prince with her prosthetic finger.
"Yes, but never the severity of it. That's what Ina was hiding. The sheer hopelessness of things. We were born as fatebreakers, but doomed to be trapped forever."
"I don't think you get it," the red mother scoffed.
"No, YOU don't get it! Everything around us is a ruse, planned out by entities far greater then we can hope to imagine. And even they are mere puppets to...that thing."
"What thing? Spit it out already!"
"The white flower," Ocelot spoke solemnly.
Red lights began to blare