#Writing #BloodofSilenceSeries #BloodofSilence #BoS
"What?" I murmured--or tried to at least, but no sound managed to escape my lips, left only to echo in my mind.
"Zez? Where are you?" I called out, to no avail, once again.
A gust of almost blew me off my feet as a voice echoed throughout the darkness. It giggled playfully as I heard the pitter-patter of shoes running along the pavement.
"Who's there?!" I spun around rapidly, trying to locate the source of the voice, but unable to pinpoint its location. It seemed to be coming from everywhere.
I noticed a second pair of footsteps join the first. I began running, hoping that by joining in on whatever this was that I would find whoever the source of it was. The giggling continued, and I seemed to be going nowhere. It all looked the same. Pitch darkness with seemingly no end.
"Get back here, you little minx," a man grumbled.
"You're gonna have to go faster than that if you want to catch me Ha--woah!"
I heard something crash into the ground with an "oof" before the girl muttered to herself, "Shit. Stupid robes."
"Need some help there?" another man chuckled.
"Quick, hide me! Hurry!" she rushed him.
With a snap of fingers and the faint sound of magic, the girl retreated behind what sounded to be a bush of some sort.
The glint of something caught my eye, and I walked towards it.
Kneeling down, I reached to pick up a silver chain with a glittering key attached to it. Simple, and yet absolutely stunning.
Alas, it remained untouched in the abyss.
Knitting my brows in confusion, I tried to touch it again, but my hand went straight through it.
Before I could think on it, however, I jumped back reflexively as the necklace seemingly levitated, curling around some invisible object.
The first man sighed, "You really must be more careful with your things, my dear."
It was him that had picked it up, I realised. He was right there. So close I could practically feel his presence--almost feel his breath on my cheek, sending shivers down my spine. Almost. But when I reached out a hand to touch him, nothing was there.
"Ah--" a high-pitched noise tore through my ears, and I nearly screamed at the pain. "…my dear friend; what brings you here?"
The man groaned, "You can drop the innocent act. Where is she?"
He hummed in question, "Whatever do you mean?"
Silence fell between them for a moment before the man raised his voice a little "Make yourself known my dear, or else I suppose I will just have to hold onto this for you."
A small noise of indignance rang out, followed by some rustling, "You wouldn't dare."
"I fear you underestimate me". I could practically hear the smirk in his voice. "I admit, it would be rather nice to hold on to one of our treasured creations in your absen--" I saw the necklace fall as the man seemed to be pushed to the ground.
"Fine, you win." she huffed as I heard a click of fingers marking the release of the other man's spell. "Now give it back."
"What thou did was exceedingly reckless, child. Your blessing is not to be used for selfish means."
Yeah, yeah. Care to explain what that was I just saw?
"I do not watch over your dreams."
'Dreams,' I scoffed. I don't recall falling asleep.
"Such an abundance of aether is not meant for use by mortal hands, child. 'Tis only natural that thou didst faint in the act."
Or you're spitting shit again like you usually do Hydaelyn. I spat like it was venom on my tongue.
She sighed, "One day thou wilt realise the foolishness in not heeding my warnings."
And perhaps one day 'thou wilt realise' that I never asked for your godsdamned warnings! Is it so much to ask for some bloody quiet in my own fucking head?
When I finally awoke, I could see the oranges of the sunset painting the sky.
"Zez?" I murmured.
"Fi" he smiled with relief, "I was worried you'd never wake up."
I huffed a laugh, "You should know better than to think you could get rid of me with just a bit of aether exhaustion. Where's--" I sat up to look around before my eyes fell on a glittering object in my palms.
"It came from the crystal," he explained, "At least I think it did; it kind of just appeared."
"That's--" my eyes widened. In my palms lay the very same sparkling necklace from my dreams; albeit with a few pieces missing. A chunk of the top was gone, along with many of the glittering jewels adorning its exterior, but it was still absolutely beautiful. Something about it filled my heart with warmth.
I smiled, opening the clasp to place it around my neck. "What'd you think?"
"It suits you." he smiled back.
"Assuming it did come from the crystal, I must have run out of aether before it could completely take form. Still though, I mean, how many people can say they've got an ancient relic necklace formed of their own aether, hm? It's exciting!"
"Technically it was mostly Hydaelyn's" he laughed.
"Only thing she's ever been good for, and she was absolutely pissed!"
"You seem awfully pleased about that."
"Are you kidding? Absolutely!"
Sometimes I wondered myself why exactly it was that I hated Hydaelyn so much. Honestly? I don't think I've ever really found an answer.
Of course there was the fact that she was always watching, trying to influence my actions and opinions, and withholding information. Of course those things were true, but there was something…
I huffed in annoyance, heaving my bag onto my back as I set out to return to my home beneath the purple canopies. Nothing really felt like "home" to me, but I digress. I served well enough as a refuge.
"There was something missing", but that's what they all say, isn't it?
They say the feeling disappears with time. They say that everyone will find their "something missing"; whether it be a lover, a new best friend, or even a career.
Perhaps that isn't the case, and we just forget how to notice the feeling. Perhaps we convince ourselves it isn't there anymore. After all, everyone wants to feel fulfilled in the end, don't they?
I stared down at the half-formed necklace hanging low on my chest with a frown. There was something missing.
Suddenly I felt a pair of eyes prickle at my spine, and spun around to meet a figure clad in black.
"Ah, the Warrior of Light, I presume?" she smiled.
My head rang with a familiar ache--a warning--as my eyes grew wide. "You-"
"Hm?" the cloaked woman hummed, tilting her head inquisitively. "You look as if you've seen a ghost."
"Sorry, I just-- You…surprised me is all, but I could have sworn I've seen you somewhere…"
She hummed once more, examining me closely with eyes that seemed to hold the expanse of the ocean itself. Her inquisitive gaze--so intense it felt as if it could see straight through me--was uncomfortable, to say the least. "I can assure you, we have never met. Unless there's something I'm missing?"
"No--no, you're right. Please, pay no mind to my strangeness. There aren't many that recognise me for my connection to Hydaelyn; is there something you needed from me?"
"You can commune with her, yes? With Hydaelyn?"
"I can, but we're not exactly on the best of terms… You could say she isn't particularly fond of my field of work."
"Oh?" she seemed interested at that, bringing a hand to her chin in thought as she waited for me to elaborate.
"Well," I started, awkwardly rubbing at the back of my head. "I tend to do a lot of work for researchers of the ancients, trying to uncover how we ended up as we are now."
Her eyes widened a little in realisation, "I see…"
My field of work was…controversial, to say the least. Many believed it was dangerous to uncover the past--that it would anger the gods, and lead us right back to where we started.
After all, if the ancients were so great, then why did we end up like this? It was an interesting question.
There were many theories. Some say we committed a great sin that led to the city of legend itself abandoning us. Others say we angered the gods, and they fought and fought until there was only Hydaelyn left.
Whatever it was, we were left confused and afraid. Our home was gone, our memories were gone, and the only thing there to guide us was the mother crystal.
Whether the paradise we supposedly came from actually existed is debatable. Perhaps it was simply a strange dream shared by our ancestors, perhaps not. Maybe we simply just existed one day.
I, however, believed that every story came from somewhere. Every legend or fairy tale was influenced by something, and there lay the truth to its origins.
"Be wary, child."
What, going to scold me again?
Irritatingly, she ignored my question.
"The darkness has come."
"What?" I murmured aloud, eyes wide.
The woman was looking at me strangely, seemingly on edge.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No…it's nothing," I muttered, but quickly changed the subject before she could ask any questions. "Anyway, what was it you needed from me again? A prayer, a message sent to Hydaelyn?"
"You say that like you're used to those kinds of requests."
"Ever since I was a kid, yeah. Not so much now, though."
She hummed, "As it happens, I am somewhat versed in the ancients myself. Perhaps I could help you."
"Help me?" my brows raised in surprise. "No one's ever offered to help me before."
She chuckled at that. "A rather interesting subject, is it not? But one cannot hope to get far in their research alone."
"I've never really worked with anyone before," my eyes widened at her offer. "I usually just find things on my own and take them to professionals."
"Not the most efficient of arrangements, I would imagine." She gave me a sheepish, pitying smile.
"That there in your bag," she pointed. "An ancient crystal, is it not?"
"How did you--"
"I can see the glow, silly. Show it to me."
I removed the bag from my back, opening the top so that she could see the crystal properly.
"Ah, this one is locked to a specific aetherical signature. You can tell by the colour." She pointed to the purple glow of the mysterious crystal. "Regular concept crystals take on a green, orange or blue colour. They also have a bronze sort of encasing, while this one's is silver."
"Concept crystals?"
She nodded, leaning down to inspect the crystal further. "Although…this one has small amounts of orange in it too. Perhaps it was accessible to multiple individuals? Either way, it's of no use to us, unfortunately."
"Actually--" I started, "I think I managed to activate it."
"Did you now?" she looked surprised. "With what aether?"
Briefly, I conjured another crystal of light to my hand, so that she could see.
"And Hydaelyn allowed you to do that?"
"Well--not exactly, but that's never stopped me before."
"You must have some guts to go against a goddess," she smirked back at me.
"I'd like to think I do."
She stared at me for a moment before sending me a smile as she huffed laugh. "Well, consider it confirmed. 'Tis no small undertaking."
"That's for sure," I muttered, mostly to myself. If she heard the comment, she paid it no mind; opting instead to close the flap of the bag and stand up once again.
She held out a hand to me with a smile, "You can call me Ines."
I took it, returning the smile. "Firyna. But if we're going to be friends, Yna is fine."
"Yna it is then," she said cheerily.
With a flutter of dark robes and long blue hair, she began walking ahead in the direction I'd been heading. "Now where is this village of yours? Think they'll mind if I stay for a bit?"