Kaede immediatly rushed up to Lyra and tackled her, saying, "YOU! YOU GOT ME IN HERE! LET ME OUT!"
Lyra tackled Kaede now, getting on top of him, saying, "Don't pin this shit on me, weirdo. I didn't do this. I don't even know how I got in here either-."
Kaede flipped over and tackled Lyra again, replying, "Lying now??"
"Get offa me! I had nothing to do with this!"
At that moment, Elysion asked, "Lovers Quarrel?"
Kaede and Lyra scoffed at Elysion, "No!"
Lyra added, "Why would I wanna love someone like HIM?!"
Kaede added, "Y-Yeah! Why would someone like me be loved by her?! Wait what am I saying?"
"HA!"
"HOLD UP! I meant to say how could someone like me love this cat WITCH!"
"How fucking dare you…"
Elysion sighed, "It's still confusing, the two of you were able to enter this prison. Eolande managed to get in here, due to the fact that she is a pawn of Moros."
Kaede whispered to himself, "Eolande…that's what the first dark elf was talking about. She must be the reason he's in here too! Or no? I've been hearing her name a lot, and since I'm the main character, I need to be updated on the lore."
Lyra whispered to Kaede, "You're not the main character."
"STOP LISTENING TO MY INNER DIALOGUE."
"I can do whatever I want, cat."
"Shut up. You're a cat too. A pink and white one. What kind of breed is that?"
"…It's not what you think. Don't try and pry yourself into my business."
"I can do whatever I want cat. Now then, can someone PLEASE dump some lore on me?!"
Elysion replied, "The Heartwood, an ancient tree at the center of the forest in the Emerald Glades, is revered as a life-giving force. The Heartwood was gifted by the benevolent trio of deities - Yuna the Life Weaver, Brod the Nature Guardian, and Lucien the Harmony Keeper. However, an old deity of decay and rot, Moros the Blight Bringer, who was banished by these deities, has returned. Moros seeks to corrupt the Heartwood and destroy the Emerald Glades as revenge against the elves. I can feel the dark energy and aura every second I'm here, corruption is filling this once vibrant forest into a den of ashes.."
"Does this relate to that nightshade crystal thing I been hearing about?"
Lyra said, "Don't even think of trying to be the hero. Queen Eolande will get the crystal and make the entire elven kingdom face their fears."
"Listen, I'm not trying to be the hero. My only goal is to find out how I got here, and why I'm here. Any kind of lore might help for my predicament."
"What are you? You're able to come in here…"
"Why are you in here?"
"I've been gifted some of Eolande's dark magic, which allowed me to come here. You came here naturally. Meaning, you're not a normal cat."
"I don't think I'm normal. I have superpowers."
"It's called Magic."
Kaede rolled his eyes and mocked, "It's cALLeD maGIc."
Elysion says, "You..pink and white animal, you were with the woman…Eolande."
Kaede gasped, thinking, 'No way no way no way. SHE'S WITH THE BAD PEOPLE? I mean it's not really a surprise, she's evil.'
Lyra replied, "Yeah, so what? She promised to fix me, and whatever she wants, I'll do."
Elysion continued, "Those who dabble in darkness are covered in lies, deceit, and decay. Their world, veiled in obscurity, is a labyrinth of duplicity where truth is often distorted and reality twisted. It's a realm where the line between right and wrong blurs, where morality is muddled by the shadows they have chosen to envelop themselves in. But darkness is not inherently evil, nor is it the abode of malevolence as often depicted. Instead, it is an arena that tests our resolve, our character, our very essence. It is the crucible in which the mettle of humanity is tested, a place where our true selves are mirrored in stark relief against the backdrop of the abyss. Yet, those who shroud themselves in darkness often fall prey to its siren call. They lose sight of their own reflection, caught in a web of deceit so intricate that their own lies begin to sound like gospel truths. They become the puppeteers of their own demise, their strings tangled in the labyrinthine design of their own creation. However, it is essential to remember that darkness is but one side of the coin. As much as it represents chaos and deception, it is also the fertile soil that nurtures growth. From the depth of the darkness spring the seeds of change, resilience, and rebirth. The night gives way to the day, the storm to the calm, the despair to hope. It is in this paradox that the beauty of darkness lies – its ability to simultaneously embody both destruction and creation. It is a testament to the duality of existence, a mirror to the human condition. We are all, in essence, dwellers of the darkness and the light. We are all capable of deceit and truth, decay and growth, chaos and calm. Thus, it is our choice – to let darkness pull us into its deceptive labyrinth or to use it as a catalyst for growth and understanding. Do we let it cloud our judgment, or do we illuminate it with our inner light? Do we become lost in its maze, or do we use it to find our path? Do we let it define us, or do we define it? And so, I tell you today, do not fear the darkness, but respect it. Do not shun it, but understand it. Do not become its victim, but its master. For those who can navigate its depths are those who will emerge stronger, wiser, and enlightened. Embrace the night, but always, always carry your light within."
Lyra's eyes flared with anger as Elysion finished his speech. She flicked her tail, a low hiss escaping her throat.
"Oh, how noble," she spat, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You speak grand words about darkness and light, choice and growth. Yet, you fail to understand what it means to be bound by an agreement. You see, not all of us have the luxury of choice."
She prowled closer, her fur bristling. "Eolande," she growled the name, "may be a puppet master, but don't you dare assume I'm her puppet. I'm nobody's pawn. This is an agreement, a deal. I work for her, and she provides what I need. It's a mutual exchange, nothing more."
Lyra's claws unsheathed, catching the dim light. "As for your enlightened talk about mastering the darkness... I am the darkness. It doesn't control me; it fuels me. I don't need to carry any light within me. I am my own light."
She turned her back to Elysion, ready to stalk away. "So, save your speeches for someone who cares. You might understand the darkness and light, Elysion, but you clearly don't understand me."
Kaede looked Elysion, then at Lyra, and said, "Ummm…am I involved in this conversation or..?"
Lyra responded, "No. Back to the topic at hand, I don't care what the hell Eolande does with the Nightshade crystal. Moros and her are working together to bring about another war, but guess what? I don't care. As long as I get to get what I'm promised, I can't give a shit about any of you or any so-called innocent people or big eared elves"
Kaede said to Elysion, "Damn she's pretty rough."
Lyra said to Kaede, "What about you? Do you even know what's going on?"
"Not really, no. I mean, I don't even know how I got here. I'm from another world, called Earth."
Lyra gasped, and thought, 'Just like me.'
Kaede asked Elysion, "Can you give me some more lore? So that I can impress my elf friends?"
Elysion said, "I was betrayed…by Moros. I was known for my radiant joy and unending laughter. It was infectious, promoting harmony among the other celestials and fostering growth and happiness in the mortal realm. But my entrapment has cast a lasting shadow over the divine and earthly realms. The once joyful celestial now weeps, my tears seeping into the Heartwood, both nourishing it and expressing his sorrow. My laughter is but a distant echo, my joy a forgotten memory. All because of Moros' pride. Eolande wants to use my head to find the tear, the crystal, since I am connected to it. Even though it would release me, it will also start a war if the crystal is found. But my revenge against Moros will come to pass as well."
Kaede thought, 'I'm starting to understand now. This guy is trapped in this tree-forest called the Heartwood by another guy named Moros. And on top of that, they are keeping him locked in here for I don't know what reason, but they want to use hun to find the crystal to start another war with the divine circle of celestials. If I ask how any of this relates to bringing people from another world, can I ask it? I don't want his guy getting super mad and all that. I'll wait, and get more answers out of him..'
Lyra sighed, "The thing is..Elysion, it's starting to piss me off now that you won't cooperate with us. All you do is cry, and stuff. I really don't have time for this. Eolande is more patient than I am…I'll beat it out of you. You're gonna help me…"
Kaede thought, 'Oh shit this isn't good..my black whisker divination is going off…it's like spider senses.'
Lyra's eyes glowed ominously as she summoned her pink and white magic. She cast a binding spell, causing ethereal chains to wrap around Elysion, restricting his movement and causing him to grimace in pain.
With a flick of her tail, Lyra amplified the chains' constricting force, causing them to tighten around Elysion. The increased pressure made him gasp for breath, his face contorted in agony. Lyra then focused her magic into a potent beam of pink and white energy, striking Elysion directly. The impact jolted him, his body convulsing from the sudden surge of pain. With a malicious smirk, Lyra conjured a flurry of magic-infused feline claws that rained upon Elysion. Each claw that landed sent a jolt of pain coursing through his body, each strike more agonizing than the last.
Elysion thought, 'She can harm me..?'
Lyra then manipulated her magic to form a force field around Elysion. The force field started to shrink, gradually squeezing him and intensifying his discomfort. Summoning a pink and white spectral cat, Lyra commanded it to attack Elysion. The spectral cat leapt, its claws raking across Elysion, drawing lines of pain across his form. Lyra then intensified her magic, causing the ethereal chains to sear with magical energy. The burning sensation added another layer of torment to Elysion's ordeal. With a swish of her tail, Lyra summoned a whirlwind of pink and white energy. The cyclone engulfed Elysion, the swirling energy causing a constant barrage of pain. Lyra then conjured a magical cage around Elysion. Each bar of the cage was imbued with her magic, causing a painful shock whenever Elysion came into contact with it.
Finally, Lyra channeled her magic into a single, potent blast of pink and white energy, directly striking Elysion. The impact sent waves of intense pain through him, a final crescendo to the symphony of torment. Despite the intense agony, Elysion remained silent, enduring Lyra's onslaught without retaliation.
Kaede thought, 'Shit! Shit! What should I do?! She's torturing the poor guy! Should I do something? Or try and find a way out? But am I able to find a way out if I use the big guy for help? If she kills him, I can't leave or get any more info!'
As the final blast of Lyra's magic receded, Elysion stood tall, his face a mask of calm despite the clear agony he had been subjected to. He took a moment to steady himself, then spoke, his voice steady and clear.
"Lyra," he began, "Your magic is powerful, and your anger, palpable. You've made your point, and I have endured. But understand this: The darkness you channel, the pain you inflict, it does not define you. It does not make you stronger or more powerful. True strength lies not in causing pain, but in enduring it, in understanding it, and in rising above it.
"I bear your pain not out of weakness or submission, but to show you the strength of endurance, of resilience. Pain is a teacher, a guide. It reveals our true character, strips us down to our core. It's a test of our resolve, a measure of our spirit. And as I stand here, battered but unbroken, I hope you see the lesson it holds.
"I won't retaliate, not because I can't, but because I choose not to. I choose understanding over retribution, patience over anger, peace over violence. In this cycle of pain and darkness, I choose to be the break, the light.
"So, Lyra, continue if you must, vent your anger, release your pain. But remember, every action has consequences, every choice, a price. What you choose to do next, that will define you, not the magic you wield, not the pain you inflict.
"You say you are not a pawn, that you have an agreement, a deal. Then I implore you, reconsider the terms. Is this what you want? To be known as the harbinger of pain? Or do you want to be remembered for something else, something more? The choice, as always, is yours."
Lyra's fur bristled at Elysion's words, the anger in her eyes flaring dangerously. "A lecture on strength and pain from someone who's never had to fight to survive. How... enlightening." She prowled closer, her pink and white magic still crackling around her. "You speak of understanding, of patience and peace. But what do you know of my pain? Of the battles I've fought, the sacrifices I've made? You stand there, high and mighty, doling out wisdom as if you've lived my life." Her emerald eyes glowed ominously. "You think enduring pain makes you strong? That it's some noble act? It's not. It's a sign of weakness, a sign that you can be hurt, be controlled. Real strength comes from power, from control, from making others feel the pain before they can inflict it on you." The spectral cat beside her growled lowly, echoing her anger. "So, save your speeches, Elysion. I don't need your lessons or your pity. I am Lyra, the wielder of the pink and white magic, the master of my own fate. I choose to be feared, to be respected, not pitied or lectured, everyone has a breaking point. Even you!"
Lyra dashed forward to land another attack, thinking, 'You will submit..bastard..'
At that moment, Kaede blasted in, and tackled Lyra, rolling all over the floor as magic light blasted all over the place.
Kaede said, "Look..I don't know what your deal is…but you gotta chill.."
Lyra responded, "No one tells me to chill, cat. Seems like I won't get far if you're here, I'll just have to kill you. You were entertaining, but it's time to put that to an end."
"Let's rumble then. Crimson and Obsidian Inferno Transformation,"
Kaede transformed into the giant lion covered in red and black flames.
Kaede laughed, "Haha! It worked!"
Lyra gasped, and said, "Tsk! You're not the only one!"
Lyra chanted, "Pink Radiance.."
Lyra began to transform as well.
**Pink and White Radiance Transformation:**
Harnessing her raw anger and the power of her pink and white magic, Lyra can envelop herself in a brilliant aura of radiant energy and transform into a giant panther. As the transformation occurs, her body grows exponentially, her feline features morphing and intensifying. Her fur turns a dazzling white, and her eyes glow a vibrant pink, mirroring her magical energy.
Upon transformation, her strength, agility, and endurance see a significant boost, making her a force to be reckoned with. In her panther form, she can execute devastating attacks of pink and white energy, capable of inflicting significant damage.
Her roar alone in this form carries a potent wave of magical energy, capable of causing physical harm to those in its path. The trails she leaves behind while moving in this form remain charged with her magical energy, creating a hazardous terrain for her opponents.
However, this transformation requires a significant amount of energy and can only be sustained for a limited time. After reverting to her normal form, Lyra is left exhausted and needs time to recover her energies.
Lyra and Kaede stared each other down.
Kaede said, "This just got crazy."