Perspective : Conrad Garnier
By just looking at that thing, It was impossible to believe that creature was Emilia. Even though the red hue emanating from her blade was a dead give away.
With her body covered in leeches and roots, which caused her to move remarkably slower, her right hand gripping that red blade, which appeared oddly elongated compared to her other hand. This elongated hand was covered in twisting roots, culminating in a sharp point resembling a massive spike. Which emanated a red glow from the crevices between those intertwined roots.
And yet, she struck with an eerie grace, that seemed to be hindered by the constraints of her entwined roots, almost like a stringed automaton constrained by an unsettling sense of restriction. With each strike against the Ice wall, a burst of vibrant red energy was unleashed, gradually eroding the strength of the wall, bit by bit.
Patrick spoke assertively, saying,
"You know what to do".
In response, I promptly replied,
"Pray it works".
Meanwhile, Kyle addressed the group, ensuring that everyone was prepared by stating,
"Is everyone ready?"
Then, specifically addressing Regina and Yuna, Kyle added,
"Please be prepared to use your freezing spells."
Lastly, Kyle urged,
"And Yuna, for god's sake, stop drinking".
Yuna, with a slightly slurred tone, responded,
"Look at you ... being such a gentleman".
She then reassured everyone, saying,
"Don't worry .... don't worry... I can handle myself".
Kyle expressed his concern, asking,
"Why would you drink in such a moment".
Yuna countered, stating,
"If I am going to die ... I prefer it being drunk then sober".
Then,
Patrick directed his words to me, emphasizing,
"Remember, your objective is to detach their roots without causing harm."
I acknowledged his instruction by replying, "Understood."
Elkdrack informed the group, saying,
"Two more of them have appeared".
Kyle stated,
"Must be Ikbal, Marcus or Keira".
"Hope they are still alive in there".
As they relentlessly pounded and struck the ice wall, a haunting symphony of cracking ice filled the air. With each resounding crack, their fervent assault grew louder, until finally, the wall succumbed and shattered into countless pieces, creating a spectacle akin to a shower of dancing diamonds surrounding us.
Kyle shouted, addressing all of us,
"Now".
As those things drew nearer, Regina and Yuna unleashed their icy streams of energy, enveloping them in a freezing embrace. Meanwhile, we stood prepared, blades at the ready, poised to sever those menacing roots.
With every step they took, the sound of freezing echoes filled the air, as the icy assault caused the leeches clinging to their bodies to solidify and cascade down like a symphony of small pebbles or stones, landing in unison upon the ground.
They moved with a measured and purposeful rhythm, as if engaged in a constant struggle against the icy grip that hardened and stiffened their roots. Each step they took was deliberate and weighty, resembling the act of forcefully breaking free from the icy constraints. As they moved, shards of ice fractured and splintered, resembling glistening sweat made of frozen snow.
Their limbs moved with an unwavering rigidity, as if encased within an icy prison. Yet, in sporadic bursts of power and force, they shattered the grip of their frozen roots, causing stiff fragments and tiny shards of ice to cascade down. The resounding crack of breaking ice echoed through the air, heralding the release of pent-up energy within them.
With my blade held firmly in my hand, I took a deep breath, as I dashed towards Emilia. It's true that I didn't care about those turned, yet something inside still wanted them to be alive. And I really hated that part of myself.
Emilia with her body covered in those roots, up-close she really did look like an enormous monster.
With my instincts kicking in, I swiftly sidestepped Emilia's sudden lunge, her monstrous claws propelling towards me with menacing force, narrowly evading her intended mark.
With a swift flick of my wrist, my blade sliced through the air, executing a precise diagonal slash aimed at Emilia's right hand. The impact echoed throughout the chamber in a resounding "Clang," as the frozen roots shattered, liberating a portion of her arm. As the shards fell away, a disturbing sight emerged before me—Emilia's hand, covered in small, pores filled with oozing red blood. In that moment of realization, I couldn't fathom the possibility that she could still be alive within that monstrous form, for the pain she must endure would be unimaginable.
As the frozen roots fell away, freeing Emilia's hand along with her gleaming red sword, the fluidity of her hand returned, allowing her to wield her blade with agility.
As Emilia unleashed a powerful upward strike towards me, I swiftly positioned my blade at the perfect angle to intercept her attack, effectively blocking her attack. Then Seamlessly sidestepping towards the left, I moved in synchrony with my blade, executing a forceful horizontal slash aimed at her vulnerable left flank. As my blade connected, it caused her locked weapon to slide off to my right side. Meanwhile, the impact of my strike shattered the rigid roots, slicing above her shoulder and below her neck, ultimately freeing her shoulder and the left half of her upper body. In that moment, my attention once again was drawn towards the unsettling presence of more of those pores, scattered across her newly freed skin.
(If she is still suffering)
The more I saw those, the yearning for freeing her from that torment became stronger, I wanted to Kill her, right then and there and yet, I stayed my blade from touching her flesh.
However, to my surprise, the roots I had severed regrew again, and they covered her exposed skin.
Now un hindered by freeze, they were stronger and more sturdier.
With the help of her new root covered blade, Emilia unleashed a powerful attack with her rooted claws, causing me to quickly evade and narrowly escape her grasp. Thanks to the help of Regina and Yuna, the regrown roots became frozen and stiff once again. Seizing the opportunity, I directed my blade towards Emilia's chest, aiming for the densely covered area. However, as I thrust my blade forward, it abruptly halted, suspended in mid-air. In that moment, time seemed to freeze for Emilia and everyone else present. Amidst the chaos of combat, a brilliant green light illuminated the chamber.
I asked, bewildered,
"What's happening? Why can't I move?"
"I am stuck?"
Elkdrack exclaimed, his voice filled with panic.
"Same here, I can't feel my hands anymore".
Kyle chimed in, expressing concern,
"This is not good."
Yuna, with a mix of relief and melancholy, uttered,
"Finally, after all those years of solitude, death has arrived at last."
Then suddenly,
In an instant, the chamber was consumed by a dazzling explosion of green energy. A thick mist, tinted with shades of green, billowed out and enveloped the surroundings. Emerging from the mist, a woman appeared, her face concealed beneath a black cloak. The only visible feature was her vibrant green hair, cascading down around her. She loomed above us, seated upon a colossal hourglass, her lips moving in a constant, mysterious chant.
Regina exclaimed, urging everyone,
"Everyone, look up!"
"There's a woman floating in the air,"
"She must be behind this".
she pointed out, convinced that she held the answers we needed.
Elkdrack voiced his frustration,
"Where? I can't move my head."
Patrick, attempting to restore a sense of calm, intervened,
"Calm down, everyone... Calm down."
In that very moment, as the red mist enshrouded me, the voices of everyone else faded into the background. Once again, the familiar red shadow emerged.
I questioned the shadow, frustration evident in my voice,
"You again? What do you want now?".
Shade retorted, his voice filled with a hint of amusement,
"Hold your horses, nephew. As I mentioned before, it is you who summons me."
He redirected my question.
"What do you want?".
I responded, uncertain,
"I don't know. That green hair of that woman... It reminds me of something. But I can't remember what?"
Shade suggested,
"Perhaps it's a memory you sealed away."
I replied, my voice filled with confusion,
"No, it feels more recent. As if I had seen her just a few days ago".
"It feels recent yet so distant".
Shade pondered and replied,
"Perhaps it's something one isn't fated to remember, like in a dream. A dream is never fully remembered by a person, yet it stays buried in one's conscience."
I questioned, seeking clarity,
"Why? Why are you helping me?"
The shade responded, his tone enigmatic,
"That's an Intriguing question, nephew .... Perhaps a part of you still yearns for my guidance."
As he uttered those words, the shade gradually faded away, and the voices of everyone around me came back into focus.
(No ... Don't go)
(Don't leave me)
Regina exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency,
"I can hear chanting. Is she casting a spell?"
Yuna responded, her voice tinged with anticipation,
"Ohhh, after all this time."
Kyle interjected, his voice laced with disbelief,
"No, this cannot be. Elise..."
Elkdrack exclaimed, his voice filled with impatience,
"Oye! What do you want, woman?"
[The spell sounding distorted, being casted by that mysterious figure,
"o time's eternal tapestry, i beseech THEe to heed my plea,
from The depths of lIfe's Majestic well, lEt thy power swell,
a WITCH's fate forever entwined, in a cycle undefined.
through the threads of destiny i weave, a tale of looping time conceIved,
unravel the knots of past and preSent, let history's grasp relent,
reverse the sands in the hourglass, let moments rewind and trespass.
with this spEll, i seek to restore, a lost soul trapped foreverMore,
from the realm of the fallen, to the world reborn, let resurrection be sworn,
and as I mend the fractured souLs around, let healIng energies Act resound.
may afflictions UNBind and mEND, as time's pendulum continues to bend,
in this rhythMIC dance of eternity, let harmony and solace deCREE.
oh, great timekeeper, heed my plea, unlock the chains and set us free,
break the cycle, release the binds, grant us autoNOMY that intertwines,
with the power to shape our own fate, no longer traPPED in loops ornate.
by these words, let the spell be cast, a bridge to a future that's unsurpassed,
with each tick of the cLOCK, a fresh beginning, our will guiding, destiny spinning,
frOM the story's loop, we now break free, embracing a life that's meANT to be."]
Patrick began chanting his own spell, as a divine light emanated from his suspended body.
Just as Regina warned,
"Everyone, watch out for that bright light!"
A ball of immense light materialized and burst forth, enveloping the entire chamber.