First came the cold, before darkness completely enveloped her and cradled her in her long slumber. She waited for death, but it never came–she felt her body pushed up, her legs slowly taking steps. Lyanna could not comprehend what was happening around her for she was only surrounded by darkness, but she was indeed taking a really long walk.
As she walked her dark path slowly lit while images flashed on both her sides, it took a while for her to realize that those were her memories–memories of a past she never thought she had, with every step it showed her an identity, a birthright, a family then finally the destruction. The emotions rushed to her like a tidal wave, unrelentlessly reminding her of the truth as her tears fell from her cheeks.
They were abandoned and forcibly ripped away from the only life they knew.
Like a flicker of light, something inside Lyanna burned, and she started to remember who she was. Lyanna was not just some genius girl with a talent for magic artifacts, she was a descendant of the Founding Mothers of Magic, her bloodline was blessed and loved by the gods of Celestia.
Everything started to fall in place and then she stopped and stood in front of another memory and before she could say anything, tears started falling from her eyes, she stared at the two figures in front of her, a majestic aura surrounded them. She could not make up their faces since it was a blur but she remembered them. How could she not?
-----
Lyanna was 12 years old and she was assigned to be Young Master Klein's personal maid, she was happy to serve the people who saved her, so she served the Young Master well.
It was her first time to join the Marquise family's Weekly attendance at the church and after that, she was allowed to go around town for the rest of the afternoon since the Marquise was to attend a tea party with the Queen of the Helios Empire.
She, together with the other servants and the family butler followed the Marquise and the Young Lord to the Priest's private quarters for a privy matter after the sermon, when something caught Lyanna's eyes. It was a portrait of two people, a man with golden hair and eyes and a woman with beautiful blonde hair and amethyst eyes. They were equally beautiful, but that was not what made her stop her movement; it was the sense of familiarity and sadness. Lyanna drew herself closer, her eyes seemed to try to remember every detail of the portrait.
"The Heroes that ended the Dark Lord's terror, and stopped the wave of corrupted monsters," a voice said which snapped her back to reality, Lyanna turned to the man, and realized it was a boy dressed in a robe for young talented Kids that showed talent in holy magic. They are trainees of the holy land who were about her age. The boy was dressed in all white and silver accents that matches his silver/gray hair and eyes. "Sadly they passed together with their children and the Crown Prince of Helios when the Demon Race destroyed their Empire." he continued.
"They're gone?"She asked out of curiosity, but she felt her heart clench.
"Believed to be. No one can confirm even the Grand Duchess despite wanting to search for her sister. They're lost in the mist" The boy answered, then turned to her. Anna noticed him took a clower look at her, his brows met for a moment and finally he looked back at the portrait and back to her, "You…look like her, if only you have amethyst eyes too."
"Y-yeah…" her eyes traced back to the portrait and could not understand why her heart hurt, a lingering longing for these two strangers, "Can I…come to visit the church often?"
"Sure, not that my opinion matter. Everyone is allowed to visit the church…ah I'm Callan and you are?"
"I'm a maid–"
The boy burst out laughing, "Obviously, I meant your name."
This made her laugh a bit at her silliness, "I'm Anna."
-
Lyanna remembered the past, she remembered how that portrait was the only thing that gave comfort in her lonely world.
Lyanna also remembered how the boy Callan was the only person who searched for her at the Marquise when she completely stopped visiting the church, but his actions was met with silence. Eventually he needed to leave the empire, he was called back to the Holy Land when a new Saintess appeared.
She looked at the portrait again, a solemn smile on her lips, "Mom…Dad, I should've remembered at that moment. I'm sorry." Before she could even continue, a sudden gust of wind greeted her and the light which was at the end of the road drew in closer.
The light called to her, asking her to come closer. Was this really the end? Will her journey end without even fulfilling anything meaningful in her life? Where are her siblings?
[You're ready.] A familiar voice spoke, it was gentle she immediately knew who it was.
"Mom? What do you mean–"
[The moment you return, this will trigger their awakening.]
The voice spoke again as Lyanna once again took her steps to the light, her paces slowly increasing, [The pain…I'm sorry–It was not supposed to happen.]
[I'll return what I took my daughter. ]
Her mother continued to speak but her voice and words were incoherent, regardless Lyanna continued to run towards the light, "Mother please, where are you?" she asked desperately as her surroundings started to be engulfed with the light and the last words that she could understand was spoken to her before she lost consciousness once again
[Don't-Be ca..reful…My daughter…your aunt—I love …you]
—
When Lyanna first came to be there was a strong ringing in her ear followed by a strong pounding of her head, that's when the memories came like a floodgate opening. It rushed in her mind as the memories of her past, present and future stitched each other in one, and then the ringing stopped.
She's back. 7 years in the past before her misfortunes happened.
As Lyanna assessed her situation she slowly stood up from the tree roots she hid herself, Klein was out of town, at the Athens Academy taking the final exams to enter the specialized courses of the school, and because of this Lyanna had the opportunity to take a night stroll in the forest by the Vander Estate.
Lyanna continued to walk and reached the cliff, she knew this place well. She had multiple opportunities to just jump off this place after all, just ending it was better that time. She looked up but she felt a searing pain on her back making her wince in pain, it was a few lashes she received just a few days ago from The Young Lady and Klein's fiancé, Count Trombley's only Daughter, Lady Angelica.
They both despised Lyanna, she was Klein's apple of the eye after all. She could only shudder in disgust. Marquise Vander's household took her in, in disguise of goodwill. Could it have been? That they knew, all along? The truth of her birth, and lineage? She did remember how the Grand Duchess relentlessly searched for the children of her sister, but she was only met by frauds. The Grand Duchess made sure to search for Kids with blonde hairs mainly.
"Bastards. How dare they." She turned her back to where the bright light was at the end of the forest, her amethyst eyes glimmered with anger, "I'll start with you." she declared, she still had many unanswered questions but she needed to escape as fast as she could.
She hugged her body, a shiver running down her spine. It hasn't happened yet to this body, but 14 years of abuse from her life before coming back is deeply engraved in her mind. Lyanna shook off the feeling and bit back her tears while her breath spiked up. She held her chest till she finally calmed down and she was finally able to see what was in front of her.
The vast greens beyond her were breathtaking at the top of a cliff, this was the place where winter and spring meet.
"How, the hell and I supposed to get down here."
She had once read that entering the Vishar forest when it was under the influence of 'hibernation' was impossible. The forest was unique for it houses many strong familiar beasts--which makes the place in springtime weather for the rest of the year, except winter season--the place closes off from humanity.
She leaned forward, the cliff was clearly high, it'll be suicide if she jumped.
The cold air blew onto her flushed face and Lyanna ran her fingers through her long beautiful blonde hair, as she stared at the moonlight which was similar to a distant future, an enchanting smile was on her lips. Lyanna's fair and rosy skin glowed under the moonlight and her eyes were no longer in the illusionary glow of purple, her eyes were in a beautiful light purple shade under the moonlight. The scars on her face were still there, but to anyone seeing the sight they should see that despite the scars on her legs, arms and even face.
She is a beautiful Lady.
Lyanna also noticed that her senses heightened when she returned. Well, that's not exactly the only thing that was new to her, she was a lot more sure, reckless and determined. Deep down she had a feeling that everything would turn out okay this time.
"Forest! Oh great Vishar. Please welcome my stay." She lowered her head as if greeting an equal, while she spoke the words which are used before entering the forest.
She stepped back, "Find my brothers and sisters. Find the Emperor…find answers-"
"LYANNA-"
A voice she recognized called out to her, stopped on her tracks and turn to the direction of the voice. It was him. The first person who finds her in a future she wants to change. The future Emperor of the Helios Empire.
"Killian." she whispers as a warm feeling stars to grow on her chestfinally a familiar face the only person she trust now outside her family. She watched him stand there, his crimson eyes wavering, Lyanna saw the disbelief in his eyes.
But just before she could take another step the soil she stood on crumbles, and finally falls into the Vishar Forest.