Far away, a woman rest in armchair in the middle woods. She sat next to her tent with a book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. She thoughtfully looked over the book as the sun began to rise. Anyone who saw this would think the sight of her and her heavy wooden table would belong in a princess's waiting room rather than the middle of the woods.
Cynthia looked up from her book at the two gentleman companions that were unceremoniously spread out and snoring on the ground. Cynthia was the only one that thought to bring a tent. After all, a lady can't just sleep on the dirty ground. She was the picture of regel elegancy.
"I wander how my little student is doing right about now... I can't wait to get back to see what he is up to." Cynthia sighed to herself.
She finished her tea. As she stood up the side table and chair vanished into fragments of silver light. She held the book and slammed it shut. The closing of the book reverberated through the area snapping the two men out of there slumber.
Both the men jumped to there feet like they were under attack. "Oh good, you two are awake." Cynthia smile like she wasn't the one who woke them. "Hurry up we are almost at our destination." She waved her hand an the tent disappeared as well as Tunk, the hulking orc, and Hans, the scrawny man, ran about finish cleaning and readying all of the carriage.
Both of them knew better than to keep the demon woman waiting to long. They have been walking on eggshells since they began this trip. The display that she gave had firmly planted in their minds to the point they could barely sleep.
"Are we ready go?" Cynthia asked with a pleasant tone like they were the best of friends. Both of the men flinched like they had guns to their back. Every step of the way every time they meet a monster Cynthia would crush it in seconds. In their eyes, she was a genuine monster.
"Oh yes Ms. Aphrodite. Just climb in. We will be under way shortly." Hans hurriedly explained. Cynthia climb in in the carriage and they continued deep into the woods. "Ummm. Ms. Aphrodite, if you don't mind me asking...." Hans tried to get the words out but something about the way Cynthia was smiling told him to be very careful.
"Just how deep are we going into the Forsaken Woods. There are so many emperor level monsters. I... mean... sure they are no threat to you, but... Me... and Tank... we... just.... knight-level..." His voice keep dying in his throat.
"We are going to the deepest part." Cynthia stated bluntly like it was no big deal.
"The deepest... Most people don't survive in the outskirts. Just what are you after." Tunk stated bluntly with fear in his voice.
"I am visiting a friend." Cynthia said with no hint of worry or fear.
"A friend.... any friend you might have had is long dead." Tunk screamed.
"Tunk, don't be rude." Hans warned his companion.
"Hell no." Tunk was done with this crap. "She dragged us to the most dangerous region in the kingdom for someone that is most like dead." Hans looked between the woman and his friend fearing the woman's wrath.
The ground began to quake, and rumble as a giant worm-like monster shot from the ground. The creature writhed and screamed at the carriage before launching its monstrous body at the small carriage.
Tunk and Hans screamed from fear, but their voices were cut short as a bolt of thunderous azure lightning cut through the air. The bolt moved like a vicious serpent and plunged into the worm's mouth causing to reared back in pain.
Cynthia waved her hand lazily like waving away a fly. The wind moved with her delicate hand and storm of leaves came from the surrounding trees and bushes. She brought her hand down. The leaves responded becoming sharp as knifes. They burrowed into the worm's flesh.
A flame danced on her slender fingers before she flicked the tiny flame at the beast. The flame attached to the leaves that were sticking out of the beast. The leaves acted as kindling and engulf the beast in a tower of flame. The worm screamed in pain as fell dead.
Both Tunk and Hans looked at Cynthia in shock. A creature that size was killed in a few seconds before either could react. They have come to expect this from their female companion, but no matter how many times they see it, it left them dumb struck.
"The drybone tree leaves would make great kindling if they did not burn so easily," Cynthia spoke as if she did just kill a monster just a second ago, but in the back of her mind she thought, 'A king desert guardian. An emperor level monster from the desert on the western continent. What is it doing here?'
Realizing that both of the men had not stop staring. "I recommend we get moving. The smell of burning flesh will draw other soon." The man agreed and they move on deeper into the woods.
They traveled without any more incidents at getting to the center of the woods. Both the men had no idea what waited for them in the deepest part of this fertile hell scape. Or why this insane woman would want to go headfirst into it. But when they arrived, they were dumb struck by the sight of a beautiful meadow.
The carriage traveled down a little dirt road that end at a small cottage on a hill. It was like something out a fairytale. The dark and scary wood full of monsters held a paradise like this. A small river that was the clearest water they had ever seen. This place was like looking at a contradiction. You knew it could not exist, but it sat right in front.
As they approached, Cynthia told them to stop. "You gentlemen stay here. The person I am meeting doesn't like surprise company. I doubt they will like me dropping in unannounced to much." Both the men cursed as they were anxious to learn the secret of the paradise and just what kind of creature would even live in a place like this.
Cynthia continued on foot to the house. As she approach, she spotted a woman kneeled in bed of floors. She was petit and sickly with silver hair. Her dress fell elegantly despite it being dissolved dress and apron, and two butterfly wings that trailed behind her. As Cynthia moved closer, the woman turned to her showing the bandages that covered the woman's eyes.
"Who is there?" the woman spoke with a melodious voice that was pleasant to the ear.
"It is good to see you, sister." Cynthia spoke calmly.
"Cynthia. How long has it been since you payed me a visit?" The woman thin lips tightened. Her skin was worn and weather compared to Cynthia's flawless skin. She looked much older. "What do you want?"
"Can't a big sister come and visit her little sister?" Cynthia spoke with an innocent tone.
"A big sister can, but you didn't." The woman walked to a small tree that sat in the center of the meadow. The roots and vines shifted and moved creating two chairs and tables. The woman sat in one chair and motioned for Cynthia to sit in the other chair.
Cynthia sat next to her sister. "What me? No. What make you say that?"
"You come here every 99 year 7 months 6 day and 11minutes on the dot to ask me about the if the future has changed." The woman stated bluntly.
"Okay fine. But can you blame me? Oracles are nonexistent these days, and I have to know if it has change." Cynthia said pleading. "I have been living with this since well you know."
"The fall of Elysium. The loss of the Hamadryad. The death of our people." The woman scowled at her sister.
"There is nothing I can do about that now. I have already paid for that. My wings..." Cynthia looked at her empty back longingly. "Please I have to know." Cynthia pleaded with the woman.
The woman sighed. Energy began to swirl and spin around her. Swirling galaxy spinning wildly and coating the area in a thick layer. When the woman opened her mouth opened, her voice was different like an ominous force speaking through the woman.
"The wheel of fate stagnant in time shall begin to turn and the three chimes of the bell of destiny. The first shall chime at the reresection of the king of demons and his cry to destroy heaven. The second shall chime with the death of the demon witch. The final will chime to start the war between the king of demon's army and heaven's force of order. The wheel will progress onward to destruction or salvation."
The energy disappears as quickly as it came. "See nothing has changed." The woman sighed. "You always ask me to see what will happen and it will occur the same no matter what."
"I have been waiting for it for a long time. You said yourself that your predictions are just the most likely are just the most likely outcome." Cynthia tapped her finger on the table.
"Finally, sick of your little 'blessing.'" The woman playful teased.
"'Blessing. Uhm. I wouldn't call it that." Cynthia spoke. "Anyway, what happened to you? You look... less.... corporal. How did it happen?" Cynthia looked over the woman. If she looked very closely, she could see that the woman was semi-transparent.
"I died what do you think. I can't leave the world yet, so I became a wrath." The woman spoke with sadness in her voice. Sorrow creeped over the Cynthia's face. "Don't be sad. Bodies age and break down. Last winter, it was too much."
"Atropos." Cynthia spoke softly.
"Now now. It is everyone's fate to die. Don't pity me. Celebrate my life." Atropos spoke.
"It still isn't right. A big sister should not have to outlive her little sister." Cynthia sigh sorrowfully.
"What about you? I am sure that you have something interesting." Atropos smiled trying to cheer up her sister.
"I took a student. He is very intelligent and adorably motivated." Cynthia smiled despite her heavy heart.
"Oh. I thought you said you were never going to take another student 500 years ago. What changed? Who is this person?"
"He is a duke's son. From the holy kingdom, he showed up with knight core and could use magic without a core." Cynthia spoke softly and kindly.
"Really, he was able to use magic without a core. And he is from the Holy kingdom. The nation that come from the Holy Empire, right? That's where you have been hiding." Atropos tapped her chin as she tried to remember the details. "This boy must be special for you to take him in. You always hated watching your students grow up and die."
"He is. He is so cute when he studies. He has a bad habit. When he is confused about something, his left eye does this little twitch. When he figures something out, his eye light up. It is funny to watch him learn."
"Sounds like a little girl I knew from a long time ago." Atropos smiled. It had been a long time since she had Cynthia like this. "I think you see that too, and you don't want him to end up like you."
"It is the older generations responsibility to guide and pass on the knowledge they have collected to the younger generations. Otherwise, the knowledge is in vain." Atropos rested her head on her hand.
"You're starting to sound like you use too." Atropos said. "Should I look into this boy's future?"
"No, it would not be right. Not to mention he is still young. He should not have to worry about the future just yet. He still has a lot of possibility."
"Oh my. Guess with age does come wisdom. You're starting to sound like an old hag." Atropos laughed loudly.
"I will remind you that only one of us is dead right now." Both of them when deadly silent before laughing loudly like two sisters would.
"I suppose you will be leaving soon." Atropos sighed. "Do me a favor. Could you handle my body?"
"Of course." Cynthia followed the wrath to the cottage. When the door open, it led to a small room with a kitchen and bed area. On the bed was her sister dead body. It took a while but after a few hours it was laid to rest under the tree outside.
"Are you sure you don't want me to send you on?" Cynthia asked her sister.
"Don't worry about me. I will move on when I am good and ready. I still have something I have to do." Atropos spoke lively.
Cynthia smiled and waved good-bye to his sister. Her companions were waiting on the edge of the woods like they were told to. Both of them looking around skittishly. They were relieved when they saw Cynthia returning. They all left as quickly as they could.