As her shadow laughed with contagious joy, Isolde could feel their essences merging deeper than ever before. A remarkable transformation manifested on her physical form. Dark, intricate veins of amethyst-like patterns surged across her pale skin, resembling a beautiful, ethereal network of veins infused with shadowy energy.
Her eyes, however, were the most remarkable aspect of her fusion. They radiated a profound and eerie purple glow, like two orbs of twilight. In this combined state, she stood as a mesmerizing enigma—a creature of darkness and light, her physical form beautifully entwined with her shadowy power.
Returning her focus to the scene unfolding before her, Isolde extended her hand, fingers poised like a gun, aimed at the vampire's head. A radiant, electric surge of purple light surged forth from her fingertips, racing unerringly toward the vampire who met her gaze with intense loathing.
What followed was a breathtaking spectacle. A deafening detonation echoed through the chamber, accompanied by a blinding eruption of light and a cloud of swirling smoke and ashes that veiled the atmosphere. In that instant, the malevolent vampire, once menacingly alive, was reduced to lifeless remains strewn upon the ground.
The onlookers stared at Isolde, their faces etched with fear. Their collective terror sent shivers down their spines, leaving an indelible mark on their souls. Isolde's expression grew grimmer as she surveyed the children, their frail bodies chained, clad in tattered rags, bearing wounds, and suffering from malnutrition.
With determined precision, Isolde extended her hand and singled out each person clad in black, much like she had done with the vampire. She annihilated them without hesitation, leaving no room for escape, except for one who managed to slip away. He had been closer to the staircase, and in the brief moment Isolde shifted her attention to dispatch the others, he seized his chance and fled.
The children watched in awe, their wide eyes filled with a mix of astonishment and trepidation. There were five of them in total: three boys and two girls. All appeared to be around the same age as Isolde, their youth accentuating their vulnerability.
Isolde scrutinized the group, her attention drawn to the young boy who had pleaded with the vampire earlier. He knelt before her, repeating his pleas for mercy, "please spare us," his gaze firmly fixed on the ground. His fervent appeals continued until Isolde gently placed her hand on his shoulder, urging him to cease. With trepidation, he lifted his head, and Isolde's eyes widened as she took in his features—a shock of sandy blonde hair and striking electric blue eyes. In that moment, a peculiar sense of familiarity washed over her.
Isolde's mind raced as she observed the young boy before her. Thoughts swirled in her head as she couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity. She then turned her gaze towards the remaining two boys. The boy with brown hair and hazel eyes bore a striking resemblance to the one she had seen in a picture from the abandoned building. Meanwhile, the boy hiding timidly behind him had vibrant green hair and matching green eyes.
Among the girls, one had shoulder-length pink hair and pink eyes. She clutched the hand of another girl with long grey hair, whose silver eyes widened as they locked onto Isolde.
"Is she the savior you mentioned, Meadow? I can feel an intense foreboding energy from her," the girl with pink hair inquired, her voice laced with hope.
She then looked at Meadow, who's eyes were open for the first time and said, " Meadow, your eyes. "
Meadow hesitated for a moment, then she closed her eyes and replied, "No, Willow, she's not the person I saw."
'In fact, I've never seen her before in my entire life. Has the future changed?' Meadow thought.
"Did you sense her presence before she arrived here?" Meadow inquired.
Willow looked at Meadow and shook her head, replying, "No, I did not."
Meadow couldn't help but think, 'Willow is usually adept at detecting the presence of any being from miles away, yet she didn't sense her.'
Isolde noticed something remarkable about the children – they emitted an aura of holy energy. Her shadow pointed this out, further deepening the mystery. Seeking to learn more, Isolde inquired, "What are your names?"
Willow responded hesitantly, "M- My name is Willow."
"Meadow," Meadow replied flatly.
"I'm Rowan," said the boy with brown hair, wearing a slight frown. The boy with green hair, who had been shyly hiding behind Rowan, managed to stutter, "I... I'm Casper."
Isolde then turned her attention back to the sandy blonde-haired boy who had initially knelt before her. He stood up and introduced himself with gratitude, saying, "My name's Corwin. Thank you for helping us." Corwin bowed his head, setting an example that the others quickly followed.
"From today onward, all of you will be by my side," Isolde declared. The children exchanged bewildered glances at first, but gradually, they nodded in agreement, accepting their newfound fate.
***
The hooded figure who had managed to escape the chamber reached the heavy wooden door, his breath ragged and heart pounding with fear. In his haste, he collided with two other cloaked individuals, causing all three of them to stumble.
"What is wrong with you?" the first hooded figure growled, his voice rough and scratchy, as he glared down at the newcomer.
"Why are you running like that with that expression?" the second hooded person chimed in, their voice unnaturally high-pitched and hoarse.
The newcomer stammered, struggling to catch their breath as they gasped out, "T-The... Sovereign being... sovereign being..."
This cryptic utterance caught the attention of the first hooded individual, who frowned and impatiently demanded, "What are you talking about?"
"Sovereign being? What happened to the Sovereign being?" he pressed further, a sense of urgency in his tone.
"The sovereign being has been killed!" the newcomer cried out, their voice quivering with shock and despair. Overwhelmed by the revelation, they collapsed to the ground, their sobs echoing in the dimly lit corridor.
The second hooded figure scolded, their tone stern, "You should know better than to talk nonsense, especially when it involves the sovereign being."
"But, but it's true!" the distraught newcomer exclaimed, their voice trembling. "There's a young lady down there; she possesses power I have never seen before in my life. It was beyond foreboding... it was so demonic. She killed the sovereign being with one shot..."
The revelation sent a chill down the spines of all three cloaked individuals. The first hooded man groaned, realizing the gravity of the situation. Meanwhile, the second hooded figure took charge, their voice firm and resolute, "Go inform the priest; we will handle her."
The third hooded individual, still shaken but obedient, nodded and swiftly made their way down the dimly lit corridor, their footfalls echoing as they ran.
***
Corwin, his voice quivering with nervousness, finally gathered the courage to ask, "If I may ask, what is your name?"
Isolde, pausing for a moment as she considered her response, eventually replied, "I'm Isolde." Her voice carried a weight of experience and authority, causing Corwin to let out a sigh of relief.
A genuine smile broke across Corwin's face, his worry dissipating as he asked, "And how can I call you, milady?"
Isolde's smile was equally reassuring as she answered, "You all can just call me Isolde."
Meadow, standing amidst the group, couldn't help but think, 'I have never heard of that name.' She contemplated saying something but ultimately decided against it, leaving her thoughts unspoken.
Isolde turned her attention to the children's chains, her gaze holding a mix of determination and mystical power. With a mere gesture, the chains transformed into ashes, setting the children free.
As if their situation wasn't peculiar enough, the children now regarded Isolde with a bewildered mixture of awe and apprehension, their eyes locked on her as though she had become an otherworldly being. In stark contrast, Meadow remained completely unfazed, her composure unshaken.
After a moment of silence, Isolde decided it was time to move forward. "Now let's get going," she said with a calm assurance that mirrored her newfound presence and power.
Corwin, ever attentive, scanned the surroundings and noticed a dark mist beginning to rise into the air, slowly enveloping the chamber. Isolde's furrowed eyebrows reflected her deep concern. 'It still lingers,' she thought, a testament to the lingering malevolence that had infested this place.
Suddenly, a faint golden glow emanated from Corwin's body, casting an ethereal light that illuminated their immediate surroundings. Isolde observed with astonishment as the dark mist dissolved into nothingness, as if repelled by the radiant purity Corwin's newfound abilities exuded.
'Purification!' Isolde's mind raced to understand the significance of this power as Corwin turned his attention to the other children. A gentle golden glow radiated from his hands as he extended them towards each child, one by one. The radiant light enveloped their frail bodies, bathing them in its warm and healing embrace.
Isolde gasped, her heart filled with awe as she witnessed the transformation before her. The children's sunken faces filled out, their skeletal frames began to regain strength, and their tattered clothes took on a healthier appearance. It was as if they were reborn, no longer victims of malnutrition and neglect.
'This is truly amazing,' Isolde marveled at the transformation, her thoughts filled with wonder and amazement.
However, their newfound peace was disrupted by approaching footsteps. The children, their newfound vitality evident in their alertness, turned their attention to the source of the sound. Two hooded figures emerged from the shadows, but before they could utter a word or make a move, Isolde acted swiftly.
Pointing a finger at them, she released a burst of energy, turning the hooded figures into nothing but ashes. Their sudden demise hung in the air for a moment before dissipating, leaving no trace of their existence.
"We're leaving this place," Isolde declared, her voice filled with conviction as she led the children up the staircase.