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. In fact, 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. Weilding 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 he 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 traiblazer 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 your 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.