SERA

“…far-kin, never forget these words. Humankind are our eternal enemies. Their envy caused them to infiltrate our home and set fire to Yggdrasil. Just remembering it makes my blood boil, my eyes alight with hatred. They struck down the last remnants of her Divinity! Now only the burnt roots of what once was remains, its desolate figure striking upwards as if yearning for life still. We failed Her. We must forever be reminded of this failure and of our grudge that will never end. Never forget this grudge. If we wish to receive Her blessings once again, then we must strike down the sinners that blasphemed Her remains. Far-kin. Never forget.”

Elder of the Elteran

The path widened out after a period of traveling. In the time spent Sera had dispatched a few more of the creatures. However her heart couldn’t settle. As she drew further in, the vines and branches grew more twisted. Their colours shifted from a lighter purple to darker colours. Ahead of her Sera’s eyes could see the twisted branches blackened and gnarly. Something had taken over this place in a not so pleasant way. It is when she’s staring ahead that she feels something attack her from behind.

Her body starts to adjust with familiarity as she moves to the side to doge the attack. However even after moving her bodies tension only increases and Sera realises she made a mistake. This isn’t the same enemy. Her body shifts further as she leans forward and dives across the ground. At the same time a heavy strike can be heard cutting across the air and into the ground, the sizzling of something toxic following its momentum. As Sera rolls her body and springs back up, she gets a good look at the creature.

It’s still a Gaavani. However its features have grown more twisted, coloured in a deep black. Its body drips the black like a tangible shadow as it falls into the ground and sinks into it with a dangerous hiss. Its claws, equally black, appear even sharper with the same toxic ink covering them. And its eyes. They appear as if they’re not staring at anything. Lacking iris’s it’s as if its whole eye has become a black gem. It’s a disturbing site.

Undead Gaavani

[ Horror ]

Sera now had an inkling of what is going on further into this place. But she didn’t have time to dwell on it. The beast launches itself at her with an incredible speed. Unable to dodge Sera brings her hands up and infuses them with aura. The claw scrapes across her, unable to deal damage. However as the inky blackness drips onto her aura-covered hands, it starts to sizzle as it pierces, inch by inch, through her aura. Sera’s eyes harden at the sight. Instead of pulling back Sera steps forward and sinks her fist into the side of its skull. A crack can be heard as the creature’s skull caves in and its movements dull.

However as quickly as they dull they start to move again, another claw striking accurately at her. With a tense face Sera times her movement and steps alongside the attack, barely dodging it as another fist strikes through and takes out an arm. Before it can respond her other hand grabs onto one of its legs and rips it apart, causing it to collapse onto the ground. She kicks its corpse away at the same time that she twists around and uses her forward momentum to place her hands against the ground and spin. A heavy kick is sent flying toward another of the Gaavani that had tried to sneak up onto her. It slams through its torso and breaks into it, sending it crashing against the ground.

After picking herself back up Sera moves toward the monster and cuts through its limbs, leaving it lying there as it attempts to twitch its body. She then turns and carefully disperses the aura on her hands, making sure the toxic liquid falls away from her and onto the ground. It’s a disturbing sight to watch the liquid sink into the ground, rather than eat away at it, even as the hissing can be heard. Turning her head away Melody checks on the two corpses. Even now they’re still trying to move. But there’s nothing remaining to allow them. It’s a disturbing sight.

As Melody observes them she notices the inky liquid that drips off them. Her eyes settle on the black substance and a flicker of possibility passes over her. Perhaps it never revived in the first place, and that black ink is what’s controlling them. Which means if it touches her, it’s possible to control her too. It’s a small possibility but Sera felt more wary as she raised her guard at the thought. She’s already lost some of her Aura from it rendering her weaker.

Sera stood there for a moment. The monster was a little easier to fight then the other ones. Its speed increased, but its body was weaker and less durable so a single hit could take it out. As Sera thought over things she could see another three of the undead Gaavani approach. Her eyes sharpen as she readies herself. Her aura blazes a deep purple over herself as she brings her strength to the forefront. At the same time the three Gaavani start to circle her, their black eyes blankly watching her.

Sera doesn’t give them the chance to move first. Her body launches itself forward and immediately strikes towards the first one. As she does the other two pounce towards her. As they move Sera’s fist suddenly recedes and her body steps backward. As the two attacks pass harmlessly over her, her hand clenches around one of their throats as her other hand reaches its body and she rips it in two, quickly stepping back and discarding the body as the inky liquid scatters across the ground.

At the same time the third creature’s claws are already scraping toward her at a speed Sera is unable to avoid. Instead her hand stretches out and grabs the arm of the other over-extended monster and throws it forward to the attack in front of her. The creature cries out as the claws tear into it, shredding its body and veins. It falls limply to the ground, no longer able to move. Sera steps forward and strikes her first against the remaining Gaavani, sending it crashing to the ground. Then her hands tear into its limbs, ignoring the dripping ink as she moves to the other two and repeats the process.

As she does she feels a familiar energy flow into her. She had felt it with the previous Gaavani as well, noticing she gained an essence each time she killed them. It is a step up from her previous battles. Sera moves the bodies to the side, making sure not to touch any of the black ink, before sitting down. After confirming no more enemies are approaching she rests her eyes and spends a moment to recover her Aura. Then her eyes are cast forward once again, and she picks herself up and sets her feet along the path.

The further she goes, the further the vines and branches twist. Like a gaping beast welcoming her further and further in, as Sera stares at the now spiraled roots and wood that bend in on themselves, she feels a little disturbed. Her feet slow and her caution raises. She can feel something now. Something she couldn’t feel earlier. There is a living presence inside this place, like a tumor grown in the land itself, breathing a stifling air that seeks to choke the life out of anything that nears.

As Sera’s feet continued to move forward the feeling only grew stronger, its corrupting nature rising higher and higher until it reaches a crescendo. And when Sera feels that crescendo, she is suddenly beset upon by the roots around her. They strike toward her as if their twisted nature is a lie, quickly unwinding. Sera dodges the first branch that heads toward her from behind only to forcefully throw her body forward again as the uncurled branch twists back around to strike her from the front.

Rolling across the ground Sera immediately passes across another vine, this time her aura-filled hand striking against it and cracking it apart. As she does so another two come toward her causing her to duck and then weave against its attacks, only to be forced to defend herself against them as they turn again to strike her for a third time. Sera is sent flying back from the impact but the aura protects her. Using the momentum she turns her body around and pierces her hand through the wall she impacts against, grabbing the vines heading toward her and breaking them.

Sera then rips her hand back out and pushes her body off the wall at the same time a vine strikes against it, causing it to shake against the weight. Another strike cuts it apart as Sera dashes forward. She uses her speed to strike down another two branches as dozens more start to form and pierce toward her. Her feet never stop moving as her senses heighten to their limit, Sera’s eyes darting around her as she ducks and weaves and dodges and cuts while continuing to run forward. A mass of vines and branches can be seen behind and around her like a huge blanket covering the sky as they continue to pierce toward her over and over, turning in on themselves in almost impossible ways.

Sera refuses to relent as she continues to run. As she makes it further and further into the path the crescendo of suffering that instills itself into her starts to die down little by little. The branches that pierce toward her, too, grow weary in their momentum. But they are still dangerous and Sera remains high-strung as she does all she can to avoid being hit by them. Many cuts and bruises form on her as the branches sometimes make it through places her aura fails to cover, but Sera merely grits her teeth and continues to run forward. Finally her tenacity is rewarded.

The vines and branches appear as if they have reached a limit as they all freeze in the air, unable to move further along the path. Sera’s footsteps slow as she feels the change until they stop. Turning her body she simply looks at the phenomenon, waiting. Sure enough they start to recede. The stifling aura had left her completely now. Gasping breaths echo out of her as she watches them leave and waits. And waits. But they don’t come back. Finally Sera collapses to the ground as immense exhaustion threatens to overtake her.

Sera simply lays there for a while. The deep heaving gasps turn into a rough breathing before finally settling into a steady rhythm. Some of her strength returns and her mind clears. Sera stares at where the branches receded. It was close, but it at least confirmed something to her. This enemy isn’t impossible to overcome. If she could liken it to something, it’d be ‘control’. It is able to dominate things. But equally its own presence must be weaker. And it can’t control everything. It must have set up that place beforehand to trap her. If she can find where it is and get close she has a good chance of killing it.

The only worrying thing is that it’s aware of her, and will undoubtedly do its best to prevent that. Sera’s brows furrow as she sinks into thought. She is considering what to do when something unexpected happens. A Gaavani approaches her. But it is completely different from the other Gaavani. Especially its name.

Gaavani

[ Monster ]

The first thing Sera notices is that its head, that strange elongated rose bud, has a soft pink light glowing at the tip of its bud. It exudes a pleasant feeling. Its body too is a lighter shade of green with less aggressive decorations. However the sharp vine that trails from its back remains. As it opens its mouth a pleasant feeling, a heavy contrast to the previous grating voice, flows over. It’s a voice that almost seems to sing as it speaks, images conjuring in her mind as they soothe her.

It shows many Gaavani that made it here. They live inside a worn down settlement made of a durable red bark and sticky leaves. However unknowingly something had encroached this area. It started to corrupt the Gaavani and twist their minds, turning their gentler nature into a more ruthless one. They even started to turn on each other. And when they died, the being took their bodies and used them as puppets. The Gaavani understood what was happening too late and collapsed against this unknown monster. They were quickly consumed. They had lost too many of their tribe. The last image Sera saw is of a few dozen Gaavani huddled together, the last remnants of their people. At the same time a box appears in front of her. Near its top is the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’ highlighted in dark gold.

Gaavani’s Salvation YES / NO Request

The Gaavani have become enslaved.

They are requesting aid in return for giving up their right to Conquest. Completion

Essence Offering Enlightenment

It is something Sera did not expect. No, it is impossible to expect. “You…” Sera felt muddled with her words as she stares at the creature. “How can I trust you?” The Gaavani looks back at her with confusion. More musical words flow out of it and dance inside of her. They attempt to convey feelings of hope and grief and need. The emotions that push through her are mixed and wild but Sera could get the picture. Trust or not, this is there only choice. The monster they’re facing has already taken over most of their tribe and are overwhelming them in numbers. She is strong. They need her.

But Sera can’t trust them. As she stares at the Gaavani her heart feels a mix of confusion. She can’t trust them. She wants to reject and leave. But her feet aren’t moving. As she stares at the vulnerable creature, its hopeful note still lingering in her mind, Sera can’t bring herself to look away. She’s reminded of her vulnerable moments. If someone had reached their hand out to her, stood out against the cruelty they knew of instead of turning a blind eye, would things have been different? “A foolish thought,” Sera breathes out. This isn’t the same. She shouldn’t be risking her life.

But her feet still won’t move. The feeling is disconcerting as Sera stares at the Gaavani. And then a short self-mocking laugh escapes from her lips before becoming snuffed out. “Yes. I am foolish.” Sera considers to herself. In the first place, things are no longer so complicated. Raze would say the same thing. She should just do what she wants to. Yes. Just like when she was a little child. Otherwise, how would she have met him? “Okay.” Sera nods her head, confirming her stance with the Gaavani. “I will help.”

The box seems to register her decision as it highlights the ‘yes’ option and then fades away. The Gaavani sings a sweet tone of joy as it moves, its claws seemingly clacking together in happiness. Sera found it curious. What just occurred has opened up a lot of questions. What are they fighting? Or perhaps, the wording should be changed to who. The system and its status that has been forced onto the world. It might not be as clear cut as it appears. Another note of the Gaavani’s musical voice passes through her, this one beckoning her forward as she turns and sees it ahead of her.

Discarding her thoughts Sera motions it to continue and travels behind it. The trip is uneventful with whatever monster she had encountered seemingly unwilling to, or unable, to provoke her further. And no dangerous Gaavani in sight. After a lengthy walk the Gaavani finally stops and motions for her to wait. It then turns to one of the walls and digs away at it, revealing a hidden path leading down a new trail. As both of them pass through onto the trail the wall is again covered up appearing as if nothing had changed.

It is another quiet walk. As they travel further the twisted vines and branches start to untwist, turning back into their original purplish colour. Some semblance of peace returns to nature. The Gaavani seems more and more excited as they travel until it’s practically running forward. Its figure disappears as it escapes through the pathway’s exit. As Sera follows behind her eyes are blinding for a moment by the light. After her eyes adjust and the area is revealed to her, Sera cannot help but gasp a little.

It’s a beautiful place. It’s like a little haven with the small circular enclosure. A few new buildings made of a mix of red bark and green leave paste dot its inner area, all interweaving together in a homely manner along a small well kept road made of the same red bark laid flat. In the middle of it all is a large centre with a huge fireplace situated inside it. Small strands of light trail down from above with the thinned roof of vines letting the light in. They all gather together like a group of angels as they highlight the enclosure.

Sera notices the Gaavani at the same time they notice her. A few are going about some activities but the majority lay around the fire. Even from this distance Sera can feel an obvious despondence from them. Still the Gaavani next to her merely cries in excitement as it races forward. Some of the others too race to meet it as the rest have their faces perk up. As Sera walks further in she can hear a myriad of musical voices sing through the air, many different personalities mixing their own notations in.

After a bit the excitement dies down and the group turns to Sera with warm eyes. At the forefront is a Gaavani much larger then the rest. Its rose bud glows a deep red as a gold light highlights out of its tip. Their body too has an obvious luster across it as Sera notes the box that forms above it.

Gaavani Queen

[ Origin ]

As the Gaavani Queen speaks, its voice travels over Sera. Unlike the other voices formed of simpler emotions, her voice carries a royal lilt in it that sinks into Sera like honey. As Sera receives its singing, instead of images forming words arise in her mind instead.

“Greetings friend.” The Gaavani Queen speaks. “My name is Leisare.” Her face tilts downward as her body enters a bow. “I thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”