Narra was shocked as the dark mist slowly revealed the silhouettes of the mistresses that she had seen in Astrantia's past. The spectral figures began to circle Narra's shield, their ethereal forms casting an eerie glow in the dim light. Suddenly, Astrantia arrived, her eyes wide with recognition and horror. She saw that the mistresses were attacking Narra and, without hesitation, swung her sword toward the spirits, trying to fend them off.
Astrantia took a defensive stance in front of Narra, her expression a mixture of determination and profound sadness. She knew why the mistresses were angry. They had perished because she had broken her promise to protect them. The guilt weighed heavily on her, manifesting in her eyes as she faced the spirits.
One of the mistresses let out a piercing scream, the sound reverberating through the chamber and causing the very walls to shake. Narra and Astrantia recoiled in shock.
"You killed us!" one of the mistresses screamed, her voice filled with a deep, aching sorrow.
"Why did you leave us?" another voice echoed, laced with betrayal.
"I waited for you!" cried a third, her tone a mix of desperation and anger.
"You broke your promise," a fourth spirit accused, her words cutting through Astrantia's heart like a knife.
"You left us to die," another one lamented, her ghostly form flickering with grief.
"My child died because of you," a voice sobbed, the anguish almost palpable.
"Why did you not come back, Astrantia?" the final mistress asked, her tone softer but no less haunting.
Astrantia's sword trembled in her grip, her eyes welling with tears. "I... I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I tried to return, but I was too late. I failed you all, and for that, I will never forgive myself."
Narra, standing behind Astrantia, could feel the weight of the spirits' pain and Astrantia's remorse. She wanted to help, to do something to ease the torment of both the living and the dead. She stepped forward, her voice steady yet gentle. "Mistresses, hear us. Astrantia has carried the burden of your loss every single day. She did not abandon you by choice. Please, let us find a way to bring peace to your restless souls."
The mistresses cried out in anger, their wails echoing through the chamber. Astrantia stood her ground, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded with them.
"Please, listen to me," Astrantia begged, her voice cracking. "I didn't abandon you. I tried to come back, but I was captured. I fought to return, but it was too late."
But the mistresses, blinded by their rage and grief, refused to believe her. "Liar!" one of them shrieked. "You wanted to be a mistress so badly that you killed us!"
As their fury reached a peak, the mistresses began to merge together, their forms twisting and melding into a single, monstrous entity. The resulting spirit was a grotesque amalgamation, with long black hair and the face of Lady Camellia. Its body was a horrifying patchwork of limbs and faces, the latter contorted in expressions of agony, rage, laguhing and despair. The monstrous figure lunged at Astrantia, its many hands reaching out to attack her.
Narra watched in horror as the fused spirit launched its assault. She quickly erected a barrier to protect herself, but one of the spirit's sneaky, sharp hands slipped past her defenses and aimed for Astrantia's back. Reacting swiftly, Narra disabled her own barrier and cast a protective shield around Astrantia. In doing so, she left herself vulnerable, and one of the spirit's hands grabbed her by the foot, yanking her into the air and tossing her into the coffin. The lid slammed shut, trapping her inside.
"Let me out! Astrantia, help me! Astrantia!" Narra shouted desperately, banging on the coffin's lid.
Astrantia heard Narra's pleas and turned, her heart sinking as she saw Narra trapped inside. She started to run towards the coffin, but the fused spirit slammed her into the wall, knocking the breath out of her.
"Astrantia will leave you just like she left us!" the spirit shrieked in unison, its voice a cacophony of rage.
"She will leave you to die in that coffin!"
Inside the coffin, Narra could hear Astrantia's cries and the tormented words of the mistresses. Amidst the chaos, she heard Astrantia's voice, filled with sorrow and regret, echoing from her past when she was corrupted.
"I'm sorry, Camellia. I'm sorry, Dahlia. I'm sorry, Gena. I'm sorry, everyone," Astrantia had whispered, her voice a haunted melody in the forest as she wandered, corrupted by her grief.
"I want to free them. I want to go back."
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As Narra lay trapped in the coffin, she experienced a vision of the past. She saw the mistresses who was left in the dungeon, their faces gaunt with hunger, eyes hollow with despair. They were crying, arguing amongst themselves in the dim, cold darkness.
"We have to keep faith," Camellia whispered, her voice weak but resolute.
"Astrantia will come back for us. She promised."
Dahlia nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Yes, she wouldn't abandon us."
But others were less hopeful.
"She betrayed us!" one spat, their voice filled with venom.
"She's with the king now. She will never come back."
The room descended into a cacophony of accusations and defenses, the women torn between hope and bitterness. The days passed slowly, and as starvation took its toll, their arguments grew quieter until they were silenced by death. Heartbroken, angry, and starving, they perished in the dungeon, their souls restless and filled with unresolved pain.
Narra understood now what needed to be done. To obtain the key, Astrantia and the mistresses had to resolve their misunderstandings. Only then would the key materialize.
Inside the coffin, Narra struggled to move. She remembered the ancient book she had with her and opened it, finding the page that described the Psychostasia, a mythical weapon of balance and truth. She grasped it tightly and began stabbing the coffin, each strike causing the lid to crack open a little more.
Finally, there was a small opening.
"Astrantia, help me!" Narra shouted, her voice strained but determined.
Astrantia, battling the monstrous spirit, heard Narra's cry. Gathering her strength, she used wind magic to push the fused spirits away, creating a brief window of opportunity. She rushed to the coffin, using her sword to lift the cover.
With a final push, the lid gave way, and Narra scrambled out, gasping for breath. She immediately grabbed the book and pulled out the Binding Pillars, ancient artifacts of immense power that could restrain even the most vengeful spirits.
"Narra, what do we do?" Astrantia asked, her voice urgent but hopeful.
Narra, panting, held up the Binding Pillars.
__________________________________________________________
BOOK NOTIFICATION:
Item Name: Binding Pillars
Description: The Binding Pillars consist of five pillars that serve as a containment mechanism. They imprison any entity—whether it's a spirit or a human—within their confines.
Effect: The Binding Pillars consist of five pillars that serve as a containment mechanism. They imprison any entity—whether it's a spirit or a human—within their confines.
Physical Form: The Binding Pillars take the shape of 10-inch white rods. Their simplicity and unassuming appearance belie their powerful function.
Creator: Blacksmith Hepestus
Rank: uncommon
Price: 10 tokens
Usage: permanent
Temporary Free Usage: 0
Tokens available: 180
Used: none
_____________________________________________________________________
Narra took a deep breath and summoned the Spirit Coin Lady once more. The ethereal figure appeared before her, shimmering with a ghostly light.
"We need your help again," Narra said, urgency in her voice.
"Take these Binding Pillars and place them around the fused spirits of the mistresses. Astrantia will assist you."
The Spirit Coin Lady nodded solemnly, taking the Binding Pillars from Narra. Astrantia stepped forward, her determination evident despite the tears in her eyes.
"We'll do this together," she assured Narra.
Narra closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself, and then activated her Great Eyes Skill: Sight Lock. Her eyes glowed with an intense orange light, and the fused spirits of the mistresses froze in place, their furious movements halted.
"Now!" Narra commanded.
Astrantia and the Spirit Coin Lady swiftly moved, placing the Binding Pillars in a circle around the immobilized spirits. As the last pillar was set, a bright light erupted from them, creating a radiant prison that trapped the fused mistresses within.
Narra then took out the Ribbon of the Star's Maiden, its fabric shimmering like the night sky. She wrapped it tightly around the fused mistresses. The moment she deactivated her Sight Lock, the ribbon ignited, its flames engulfing the spirits.
The mistresses screamed in agony, their voices a chorus of pain and fury.
"You betrayed us!"
"Astrantia, why?"
"We hate you!"
The flames of the ribbon intensified, filling the light prison with a blinding radiance. The sound of the mistresses' cries echoed through the room, growing fainter as the fire consumed the dark energy binding them together. Finally, the light prison began to crack, the barriers shattering and releasing the burning ribbons.
When the light dissipated, six mistresses lay on the ground in their true forms, their spectral appearances no longer twisted by anger and despair. The Spirit Coin Lady, her task complete, vanished into the ether.
The mistresses slowly awoke, their eyes focusing on Astrantia. Pain and anger still marred their faces as they shouted,
"Why did you leave us?"
"Why did you not come back?"
"I hate you!"
"You killed us!"
Astrantia fell to her knees, her tears flowing freely.
"I'm so sorry," she cried, her voice breaking.
"I tried to return, but I was captured. I fought with everything I had, but it was too late. Please, forgive me."
Narra stepped forward, her voice calm but firm.
"Listen to her," she said.
"Astrantia never betrayed you. She was captured and fought to get back to you. She never stopped trying."
The mistresses, taken aback, exchanged glances. Their anger began to wane, replaced by a deep sadness and understanding.
"We... we didn't know," Camellia whispered, tears forming in her eyes.
"We thought you had forgotten us."
Astrantia shook her head vehemently.
"I never forgot you. I carried the guilt and sorrow every day."
Dahlia stepped forward, her voice softening.
"We were so afraid, so hungry... we thought you abandoned us."
"I'm so sorry," Astrantia repeated, her voice choked with emotion.
"I failed you, but I never stopped loving you."
The mistresses moved towards her, their expressions softening. They knelt beside her, their tears mingling with hers.
"We forgive you," Gena said, her voice breaking.
"And we are sorry for doubting you."
They embraced, the circle of forgiveness and sorrow transforming into one of love and reconciliation. A brilliant light erupted from their union, spreading throughout the house. The darkness lifted, revealing the house in its former glory, vibrant and beautiful once more.
As the light settled, a key materialized between them, glowing with a pure, ethereal light. Narra and Astrantia stood, their bond stronger than ever, as they reached out to take the key. The mistresses, now at peace, smiled softly at them.
"You've freed us," Camellia said, her voice filled with gratitude.
"Thank you."
The key in hand, Narra and Astrantia knew they had not only unlocked a physical door but had also opened the way to healing old wounds and forging a new path forward, one guided by forgiveness, understanding, and unbreakable bonds.
As the key materialized in Narra's hand, she could hardly contain her excitement.
"It's the key, Astrantia!" she shouted, her voice filled with joy and relief.
Astrantia looked at the key with a mixture of awe and hope.
"You will be free," Narra said, her eyes shining with determination.
Astrantia handed the key to Narra, who then summoned the Crab. The mystical creature emerged, its eyes glinting with wisdom. '
"What must I do?" Narra asked.
"Toss the key into the air," the Crab instructed.
Narra did as she was told, and the key transformed midair into a beautifully crafted hammer, its design still retaining the essence of the key. The Crab continued,
"Use the hammer to break the coffin. It will release Astrantia from her shackles."
With renewed vigor, Narra approached the coffin. She raised the hammer high and brought it down with all her strength. The coffin shattered upon impact, sending fragments flying. As it broke apart, the shackles that had bound Astrantia became visible and were subsequently destroyed, releasing her from their grip.
Astrantia took a deep breath, feeling the freedom she had longed for.
"Thank you, Narra," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
"You saved us and brought us back together. I promise to serve and protect you from this day forward."
The mistresses, now at peace, began to fade. They approached Narra, their faces serene.
"Thank you," Camellia said, embracing Narra.
"You have given us the peace we never thought we would find."
Each mistress took a moment to hug Astrantia and Narra.
"We are grateful," Dahlia whispered.
"Take care of each other."
As the last of the mistresses vanished, the Crab stepped forward, its voice resonating through the now-restored mansion.
"Narra, you have successfully completed your mission and gained your first inheritance treasure: The House of Magnolia. This house symbolizes new beginnings, born from the flowers who once lived here and guarded by a star."
The Crab's eyes gleamed with pride.
"Congratulations, Narra Bani Molave, the new owner of The House of Magnolia."
Narra felt a surge of pride and accomplishment. She turned to Astrantia, who stood beside her, a look of unwavering loyalty in her eyes. "We did it," Narra said, her voice full of emotion.
"We did," Astrantia agreed, placing a hand on Narra's shoulder.
"Together, we can face whatever comes next."
Narra looked around the beautifully restored mansion, feeling the warmth and light that now filled its halls. She knew that this place, born from pain and transformed through love and forgiveness, would be a beacon of hope and new beginnings.
As they stood together in the House of Magnolia, Narra and Astrantia understood that their journey was just beginning, but with the bond they had forged, they were ready for anything that lay ahead.