As the sword pierced her body, the world around her slowed down, creating a surreal picture. A creature in mid-air, jaws open wide, her own body suspended with the sword still lodged in her, and the knight's desperate thought: "If I die here, you will die too." The creatures behind him had already sunk their teeth into his flesh.
In this slow-motion world, her blood danced in the air like flower pollen, some droplets landing on everything nearby. Her heart beat weakly against the cold metal, and she thought, "Is this the end? Like this?" Memories of loved ones flashed before her eyes: the butler, Aunt Karen (now dead), and her ailing mother.
As death approached, her eyes closed, and a solitary tear escaped, a poignant testament to her mortality. But instead of falling, the tear phased through the earth, entering a labyrinthine dimension where reality was woven by ancient, mystical looms. There, a crystal of forgotten lore, slumbering for centuries, stirred from its torpor, its facets glowing with an ethereal light as it absorbed the tear's essence, awakening a power that would shatter the boundaries between worlds.
The crystal exploded, unleashing dark, stratified shards that shot forth like a heartbeat, embedding themselves in her flesh with excruciating pain. Her blood, still suspended in the air, glowed with an ethereal light before turning black and flowing back into her body.
A radiant light burst forth, enveloping everything, and etching colorful emblems across the horizon. The night sky transformed into day, recording this phenomenon within its atoms. Time itself seemed to bend, suspending all living creatures in a state of animation, frozen in awe.
As the crystal shards embedded themselves, their dark essence seeped into the phenomenal dimension, shattering boundaries between worlds. The shards burst forth, piercing reality like jagged teeth, unleashing destruction upon the land.
In the midst of devastation, she stood, floating, eyes closed, her body aglow with an otherworldly light. The crystal shards reshaped her essence, forging her into... something new.
The dark crystal energy coalesced around her, forming a cocoon that encased half her body in shadowy power. The white light she emitted created a glowing lotus flower, its petals unfolding like a celestial bloom. The dark crystal energy, sharp and unforgiving, created the base of the flower, its jagged edges reaching upward like a spiral of thorns.
From the center of the crystal, black spine-like structures emerged, its twisted form curling outward in a spiral motion, as if threatening to engulf the glowing petals. Yet, it halted just short of touching the light, as if respecting the boundary between their opposing energies.
What did the lotus flower symbolize?, and what did it mean for her?. As the light faded, the glowing lotus flower dissolved, leaving behind intricate runic letters that encircled her wrists, ankles, and neck. The black crystal energy was then absorbed into the runic letters, which pulsed with a soft glow, gradually melting into her flesh, becoming one with her being and soul.
As the last wisps of light vanished, she lay softly on the flattened earth, her body adorned with the mysterious runic bands. The ground beneath her, once torn asunder by the dark crystal's energy, now cradled her form with a strange, newfound gentleness. The air was still with only the faintest whisper of ash and smoke lingering on the wind and the stars shone bright in the night sky, casting a celestial glow over the desolate landscape.
The aftermath of the event sent auras flowing far and wide, reaching the mountain region where a cluster of cottages and cabins stood, interconnected like a map. To navigate this labyrinthine community, one simply needed to know the right path to take. Beyond the small houses, a grand mansion with intricate designs rose majestically.
In the main hall, a man reclined on his seat, a throne-like structure that seemed designed for relaxation. His eyes closed, and his long silver hair cascaded loosely down his shoulders. As the auras reached him, his cells surged uncontrollably, as if triggered by an activator. The agitation of his cells unleashed a burst of powerful energy, causing the surroundings to shake and vibrate violently. Antique and glassware shattered, leaving behind a trail of destruction and cracks.
This sudden outburst alerted his subordinates, who rushed in with their own weapons at the ready, their free hands pulsating with diverse powers. Before they could fully assess the situation, the old man raised his hand, signaling them to halt and retreat, his eyes still closed. The others departed, leaving one man with brown hair standing at a distance, waiting for the old man to cease releasing his energy before approaching him.
As the old man's energy dissipated, his cells calmed, emitting a gentle hum of recognition that caught the other man's attention. "Did something happen?" the other man asked, but the old man remained silent. However, his recent actions spoke volumes, hinting that something significant had indeed occurred.
The old man, lost in thought, finally opened his eyes, revealing a unique, luminous torque eye color that seemed to pulse with life. A knowing smile spread across his face as he uttered a single, enigmatic phrase: "It's time."