Time seemed to fly to Maria while she staid huddled in the back of the van. The sun rose and began to set as she forced herself to eat, despite lacking all appetite. A few times she tried to speak to Melanie, but the words just wouldn't leave her throat when she needed them to.

Her human servant looked just as sickened as Maria was feeling, though she staid at her side nonetheless, offering her shoulder to lean on, which she did. The wind began to pick up, carrying with it the shrieking and howling of monsters in the distance, growing ever closer. They were coming. As the sun was setting past the horizon,

Sin returned to them, looking much more tense than ever before. After staring at her master and receiving a similarly empty gaze back her servant revved up the engine, racing out of the park and down the streets at a blistering pace.

The sounds of hundreds, thousands of feet, hooves, tendrils and claws surrounded them as they made their way into the last unspoiled part of the city. Maria had her eyes closed leaning into Melanie for support as she was trembling, dreading what was to come.

They parked the van in a small alleyway, and Melanie had to help her master step out to follow Sin and Elaine. For the first time since Menagerie's attack the streets were once more filled and bustling, though this time with her monstrosities. They filled the streets, making way only for Maria and her servants, they climbed up the sides of buildings, they clouded the sky with their wings.

From here Maria could already see their target, the large governmental complex, a good two, three hundred meters away. Every road leading to it was similarly filled, staying just outside the open space around it. Every now and then they could see one of her monsters chance and charge forward, only to blow up by stepping on a mine, or for the defenders to unload into the unfortunate creature, leaving only a bloody mess.

It took them five minutes on foot to reach the front of the line at the ruins of an old barricade that the defenders had abandoned. Atop the ruined structure stood Menagerie, trembling with excitement and adoration. Deeply she bowed to Maria and Sin as they made their way up.

"The last rays of the sun are spent, great sister. All my children are gathered, awaiting your command." Maria narrowed her eyes at her words, her glare so vicious it caused Menagerie to shake. "Do you not mean 'my' command? I am the master here."

Too anxious for words, Menagerie did not even attempt to talk back, instead she was saved by Sin who bowed deeply to Maria. "You are always in command, my master. My silly little sister gave command for me to lead the forces, while you lead me. The task is quite challenging, so it has usually been handled this way. Is this not to your liking?"

Once more Sin's soft and respectful tone was enough to dampen Maria's anger, until only her weariness remained. "It is fine, I was just making sure, that is all. You can lead these, things." All day she had been repeating her words, trying to get accustomed to the role these dreadful creatures played in her plans, but even now she could not overcome her disgust. "I thank you, my master, for the trust you are putting in me. I shall fullfil my duty with exception."

Right after she turned to Menagerie, and her servile demeanour washed off her face in an instant. "And you are certain that they are lead by a paladin? If you have me unveil the banner for anything less I may just forget that you are blood of my blood."

Menagerie shook her head wildly. "No, I swear upon my very bond, a paladin is championing the defences, it was she who took Trinity and me, had I not been able to flee." Maria was eyeing the two and bit her lip, mustering her strength. Finally she stepped forward, looking from one to the other. "I am tired of not being told anything, Sin! Why are we not just sending these monsters in and be done with it, how could they defend against an entire city!"

Sin leaned her head to the side, returning to her calm demeanour and lowering her head. "My fairly, lacklustre little sister informed me earlier that our enemy has dispatched one of their strongest to this fortification, a paladin. They are quite formidable enemies, and if it is one of stature, then our host here would barely serve as much more than a delaying force. And my intuition tells me they are not to be trifled with."

She stared off onto the large building in front of them, her eyes narrowing sharply. "One of them bested me, long ago. My master, I require your permission."

With these words she got down on one knee in front of Maria, keeping her head to the ground. "Against our enemy here I require the freedom to unleash my power upon any who we come across inside. I must ask of you master: Unleash me."

Maria stared down at her servant, the cold grasp of dread tightening around her chest. The sun had finally set, with it's last rays of light all warmth faded as well. A cold gust of wind picked up from the north, chilling her to the bone. "Very, well Sin."

She felt her power surging through her body, the bright red lines of her lore starting to form across her body. "I will allow you your freedom. For this battle." She could not breathe, her mind turned blank as if it did not want to bear wittness to her next words. "You are unleashed."

There was no sound of chains breaking, no ominous crack of lightning signalling what had just happened. When Sin rose onto her feet, she looked just the same as ever. Without a word she bowed, then turned her back to face their target. She stretched out her right, and an ancient standard appeared in her hand, the banner flying in the wind. Within a moment, there was silence.

All the monsters stood still, the skybound soaring without daring to flap their wings. All stared at Sin. It was as if even time had come to a still for a few, heart rending moments.

And then she raised aloft the terrible banner, and the monsters began to roar and scream, the same word out of thousands guttural throats. "Legata! Legata! Legata!" The cloth was black and tattered with age, yet the heraldry still shone clear as on the first day it was carried into battle:

The golden outline of an heraldic sun, circling a single, wide-opened eye. Under the Sigil was written a phrase in the ancient tongue of beasts, which the monsters all across the battlefield began to chant in a manic fervour, drowning out even the last thought. They were shouting "Drorgh yln Kyria", Rend all to the master

As the cries and howls reached a feverish climax, Sin echoed their cry, her mouth torn open and barring her fangs for the world to see, drowning out even the hellish symphony around her. With this the beasts charged on, descending upon the enemy fort. Within moments the sound of guns answered their howls, mowing down the monsters the dozens.

Explosions tore holes in their wave which were swiftly filled. The great and towering monsters trampled the lesser ones under their hooves as they roared, all in competition to outdo another. Hundreds of them died before even reaching the steps, but eventually they pushed through, leaping and tearing at boarded up windows, landing on the roofs, while the mightiest of them slammed against the heavy gates.

Then the sound of helicopters resounded, a hint of modernity amidst the archaic tide of monsters. Flocks of Menagerie's fliers let off the fortress to meet the new threat, bringing down most of them and forcing the rest to turn back around and flee back to where they came.

Sin was cursing, the banner disappearing from her grasp again. "They will be here soon, and we still have not gotten anywhere." She began to shout and scream, her anger causing even Maria to step away. But then, just as fast as her impatient anger had manifested, it disappeared again, making way for pure disgust. "She is here."

At here words a bright light began to shine through the main gate, which burst open in a massive silvery explosion. Any beasts close by were erased, leaving not even a trail of ash. A tall figure, clad in a full set of armour walked out, their face hidden behind the visor of a helmet. A bright red mantle was blowing in the wind behind them, and they held a spear in their right, the tip shining like a star.

The charging beasts fell in droves as they massacred their way through the mass of monsters, undeterred they marched forward, a beacon amidst the dark tide, so bright that the monsters could not ignore it. "Face me, Sin! Face me and meet your end at the spear of fate!"

With a shrieking howl Sin leapt from the barricade, closing the distance between herself and the paladin, and any monster unfortunate enough to not make way was left in pieces. Quickly a wide circle formed, leaving ample room for the two combatants.

Slowly they began to circle each other under the countless eyes of the beastly host. "You should never have come here, beast. The countless souls you have enslaved cry out for release and revenge, and I will grant it." The voice of the paladin was metallic and indistinguishable through their helmet. "You will no longer defile this world with your boundless resentment."

Sin had quickly begun to lose her control and temper, leaving her mouth agape and gazing at her enemy with a murderous intent long since divorced from reason. "You talk just like the last idiot who wielded that spear, paladin. If you make this quick I'll have you meet him soon." Her long tongue ran across her teeth. "Maybe you can even forgive him for setting you on this path of fail-"

Before she could finish her words the paladin struck out with her lance, closing the distance between them. All air left Sin's lungs as she arched her back to barely dodge the strike. The blade of the spear cut through her clothes and her skin, leaving a burning wound that had the beast howl in agony.

She leapt a few steps back, her eyes wide in disbelief as she laid a hand on her wound, only to pull it away at the mere touch. "How on-" Her enemy left no time for words, undeterred she charged forward. Strike after strike pushed Sin on the defensive, her strike and flames she conjured to fight back only scraping the armour of the paladin, leaving scratches but not more. Every strike, every slash left a wound, small or large, that did not heal and continued to burn with a bright silver trail.

Maria was watching the fight with bated breath, looking on in shock. "Kill her, Sin! What are you waiting for!"

Sin ducked under a massive overhead swing, pushing against her enemy with all her bestial might, and knocked them off of their feet and backward. In an instant the monstrous host began to leap at them, covering the paladin in a mass of writhing bodies. Sin was staring at her body in disbelief, clenching her hands to fists. "Just what on earth have you learned, paladin!"

In a massive burst of light, the monsters were scattered to the winds if not erased in an instant. The paladin surged forward, too fast for Sin to move. All she could do was raise her arms, and the spear sliced through both, diverted just enough to only push through her left shoulder. Her right lower arm fell to the ground, followed by her entire left.

Sin stared at her, unable to move. Maria screamed out, tearing at Elaine and Menagerie, screaming for them to go down and help, but both were frozen in disbelief at what they were seeing.

With Sin unmoving, the paladin slowly lifted their spear, aiming it at Sin's heart. "We know of the horrors you hold, Sin. The prison that is you. With fifty years of training, this blessed spear shall free all those you have robbed of everything."

Sin stared up to the paladin, and her lips curled into a smile. "Is that so? Then strike me, heir of the sacred spear." She did not have to wait, as the words left her lips the spear struck through her chest, piercing her body. The monsters around them howled in agony, writhing. Menagerie and Elaine fell to their knees, their bodies contorting in impossible shapes.

Sin stared back at the helmet of her enemy, letting out a last laugh. "You struck me down. Are you ready for the next?"

Her body burst into a thick white cloud, spreading across the battlefield. It robbed all of their vision, and Maria from the rest of the world. She was cowering on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, when she felt a weak grasp of arms around her shoulders.

"Fret not, my master. A loss is not defeat. Have faith, know you not the words inscribed within your very blood?" The voice filled her mind, with a warmth and calm that cast away her fears. She reached out her arm, and spoke the words that welled up within her from the deepest part of her soul.

"Len-Fey, and Sin, both eternal. One shan't leave without the other."

The White mist began to dissipate, leaving an icy cold across the plaza. The air itself was freezing, every breath of monster and human leaving a hazy trail. The paladin looked around, her spear raised after Sin's corpse had vanished from it. "What trickery are you pulling, beast? Your bond is shattered, the prison is opened, my spear made sure of severing your bonds!"

"You broke Sin, the maid, yes. One hast left the stage, though she shall return." Out of the receding mist stepped a woman. Taller, older and with the same bright rose-coloured hair, she wore a thick mantle of pure white, with an old officer's cap on her head. The sight caused the paladin to roar in rage, striking once more at the new figure.

This time their spear met it's match in the woman's sabre, with one hand behind her back she parried the strike. "You are dead, what foul trickery have you pulled, Sin!" The paladin howled as they were pushed back. The woman adjusted her cap and let out a laugh, clear and cold as the icy winds that had brought her here. "I died long ago, yes. In the icy wastes we fought last time, sacred spear. You were a pitiful adversary then, and I see that not much has changed."

Once more the paladin began their onslaught of strikes, but despite their relentless fury, it paled in comparison to the cold precision of their new adversary. This time the woman's sabre was the weapon tearing through her enemy's defences, every wound freezing up at the touch of the edge. The paladin managed to break the engagement, holding their spear in now trembling hands.

"Arch traitor, grave-digger of the lodge, spawn of the darkest abyss!" Their insults only earned them another laugh as the monsters slowly got back on their feet, resuming their howling and circling of the two combatants.

Maria was staring at the battle in awe and adoration, Elaine and Menagerie screaming and howling in awe. The woman slowly rose her sabre, pointing at her opponent. "Flattering, but no. I am Nadezhda, Sin of the whites." When she began her advance, her opponent began to falter. Further and further they were pushed back on the defensive, piece by piece of armour severed from her body, until a swift strike cut their helmet in half.

Staring back at her was a perfectly androgynous face, twisted in fear and anger. "I will not disappoint them!" They screamed, throwing themselves at Nadezhda. Yet with all their strength, they could only create a standstill. The long flowing blonde hair of the paladin fell across their face as they pushed and pushed, every vein showing through their skin. "The world is depending on me to free them from you, and I, will."

Her words were silenced as Nadezhda pushed the muzzle of a pistol into her open mouth, pulling the trigger. With a splatter of blood and brain tissue the paladin's body went limp, falling back and onto the ground. "You will fail, just like the last three." Holstering her pistol at her side she looked down at her blood stained mantle, sighing. "It is good that I wont be needing it where I will go from here." Dismissively she waved at the monsters still surrounding her. "Have you forgotten your task?" She barred her fangs with her grin, the familiar tongue sliding out as she howled. "Drorgh! Yln! Kyria!"

With the cry the monsters resumed their task, flooding the new opened gates. Nadezhda made her way back toward the barricade, the white mist once more starting to pick up around her. Maria was running towards her, stumbling and falling. She ignored Elaine's hand, picking herself up to race to her servants side, even if her knees and hands were now bleeding. "You did it, you, really did it I, I was so scared, Sin, I."

The woman smiled weakly, and pulled her cap as she bowed. "Your bond is remarkable, to call me forth, Maria." Her body began to glow in a pure white. "Returning under the command of a Len-Fey such as you was an honour, regardless of how brief my stay." The wounds that Sin had suffered in her battle began to show across her body as she closed her eyes.

"Please take good care of my little self, and best of luck to you. Until our next meeting." The white glow grew in brightness, before it dissolved.

In front of her, bleeding, bruised and with a gruesome but closing chest wound, her arms growing back slowly, was the Sin Maria knew so dearly. She could not hold herself up and fell forward, into Maria's awaiting arms. Her master held tightly onto her, tears still rolling down her eyes. "Thank you, my master, for your trust." Her voice was little more than a whisper

"That I could show you a less unsightly Sin."