“You can’t cut through stone yet? Thought you were better than that,” called a voice from above.

Sayhas craned his neck looking up. First, he noticed Trellis, the broken moon, most thought of it as a bad omen but Sayhas liked it. Then, he noticed the person who seemed to be wearing the moon. She—she looked like a she—was wearing a red shawl that covered her face in an ominous shadow. She seemed to be lying down on the air, completely motionless; not even the wind stirred her shawl.

“Who are you?” Sayhas breathed, mostly to himself. But the passages high walls carried his voice and she heard.

“I’m simply a casual passerby, skimming for jewels. Happen to know where I can find some. I really thought I’d find some.”

Sayhas blinked, confused. “Get back Mizu.” He put Maaier Speal behind him, touching the ground with the joint between the blade and shaft. He wouldn’t swing it again. Wouldn’t make the same mistake a third time.

Maaier Speal screamed joyously. It was only on rare occasions that Sayhas allowed it to let loose. Like a flood gate bursting open, Maaier Speal lent Sayhas its Discord. Pure, ancient Discord invaded his body, invigorating him All his senses exploded, every breath, footsteps and heartbeat. He heard it all. Twilight coloured half-moons formed around him. Spinning. Festering. Multiplying.

“Oh, you're doing that,” Mizu commented. She stepped back.

The wolves barked at him. With the addition of Maaier Speal’s ancient Discord, his hearing that—had reached the pinnacle already—was even further developed. He sensed a fearful undertone in barks, like cornered dogs. Curious, most of them weren’t soul-spliced but they still understood that they were about to die. Which in hindsight, made sense. Even the must dull-minded could sense the dense cloud of malevolent Discord emerging from Sayhas. This wasn’t even Resonance. Ridiculous, ancient aspects really are of a different breed.

The half-moons vanished.

The Discord ripped out of his body. His heightened senses dulled without warning. Sayhas stumbled back. He was walking through a forest blindfolded, with Georges Discord, it was day time and he could see. Without, there was nothing.

He raised his scythe in a battle-ready stance, knowing he was throwing ash against the wind. Blessed chains, she managed to interrupt Maaier Speal’s Discord. What chance did he have?

“Who are you,” Sayhas asked, unable to keep the shake from his voice.

She kicked her legs under her and began to descend, like a red angel from the heavens.“I am simply an apologetic passerby who’s found the jewels that she’d been looking for all this time. Turns out they were hidden from plain sight.”

The rapid thumping in his chest rang in his ears. Calm he berated himself be calm. Sayhas stood to his full height, rolling his shoulders back and adopting confident demeanour. It took everything in him to keep up the facade.

A blast of lightning arced towards her. Midair, she shifted to the left, leaving an afterimage. She spun and cleaved the bolt in half. In that same swing, a nearly identical bolt shot out of the tip of her blade. Her bolt was even stronger than the original. Sayhas, in an instinctual act of preservation, covered his ears and looked away. The silver blade’s Discord was overpowering.

“Take notes,” the mysterious woman called.

Sayhas pried one eye open to look at her. She was all he could see, a black silhouette in a very very bright, oversaturated world. Something materialized in her hand. A weapon. He couldn’t tell what type though; his ears were shot.

“I think they’re all dead,” she mused, “but overkills never hurt nobody.” She chuckled mirthlessly, “Cause dead things don't get hurt.”

Sayhas shook himself, his hearing was returning. Right on time too. An even stronger sound erupted from her spear—he was able to figure that out before being deafened again. The earth shook and seemingly snapped. Stumbling, Sayhas braced himself against the shaking walls and closed off his senses. Hiding from the sounds.

He stayed there in deaf darkness until someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was more of a punch actually. Blinking his eyes open, he tested the waters with his ears. It was safe now, no oppressive Discord crushing his soul.

“Are you ok?” the woman in red asked, hooded head tilted. “I’m not the best at controlling my wide-ranged attacks, especially the expensive ones.” Seeing no reaction, she snapped in front of his face, “you alright, anything hurt?”

Sayhas grunted. My pride he grumbled internally. Pushing off the walls and steadying himself on his two feet, he tried to get a good look at who she was. But before he could, she skipped backwards, landing lightly on her long leather boots.

“Let’s make this quick,” she said, reaching into her hood. She took out a rose, holding it like a dart aimed at Sayhas’ heart. “You are so lucky Roses got so much more practical over the years.”

Sayhas stepped back, raising Maaier Speal as if warding the mysterious woman away. Mizu stepped up next to him, daggers in hand.

“Oh relax,” the woman in red scoffed, “I just want to poke you in the heart with this.” She twirled the rose with nonchalance.

“Is that supposed to be reassuring?” Mizu asked, without the slightest tremble.

The mysterious woman gave an exasperated sigh and stepped forwards. "No, maybe. Doesn't matter." Although her head was hidden beneath her hood, her entire face veiled in a mask of dark, Sayhas could feel her cocky, arrogant grin. "You're not in a position to resist anyways."