The Windswept Haven certainly earned its name; the winds perpetually flew down from the cavernous walls and mesas, created a breezy cool air which, through the night and into the morning, became a crisp cold air. Upon the streams, a voice was carried, found its way into Demitra's ear. Her eyes suddenly sprung open. She sat up, glanced around, looked over to Ember to ensure the woman's continued slumber.
Ember lay beside her. While her body remained motionless, she emanated heat. Demitra had welcomed the warmth throughout the night, snuggled up to her lover. The woman had created a peaceful calm in Demitra, and every night spent with her seemed to dampen and lessen the nightmares she continually had since the night of her family's murder. She didn't know how long the remedy would last, but was thankful it was working, allowing her to rest from their weary time in the Desert.
Again, a distant voice was heard. "I have to investigate," she whispered as she kissed Ember softly on the cheek. Ember's skin was always so surprisingly warm, seemed to glow a radiant bronze. Demitra took a few moments to admire the woman, as she always did, but did so this time with an unperceived finality. The woman lay, animal hide hardly covering her naked form - Demitra had stolen most of those covers during the night. Her breath was long, her body rose and fell like geyser-dormant hot-spring tides. Demitra ran her hand up Ember's exposed side; her fingertips caused the woman's soft body hair to stand on end and Demitra giggled slightly. She brushed the hair from the sleeping woman's forehead, smiling as a bit of ash fell from it.
She'd fallen for her, bodily and spiritually. Though knowing this, she struggled with how to express it. Three simple words; yet not simply said. Her empathic powers relayed the same feelings from Ember… yet neither broached the subject. The closest she'd come is an utterance during the night, but such things were simply said in the heat of passion and could be embarrassingly explained away as such. But, in her heart, Demitra felt something she'd only felt for one other, and she knew this feeling to be love. Again she pressed her lips to the woman's cheek and whispered the words in her native tongue.
The voice prodded her more urgently. Demitra quickly slipped out of her room, quietly dressed herself, then traveled to the safe haven entrance portal. She paused at the cliff, again taking in the site of the structures below, as if it were the last time she'd see the endearing home. With a deep breath, she turned and ventured forth.
A steep rocky climb brought the woman to stand atop a plateau which overlooked the valley beyond, leading to the outside wall of the Garden of Seborhin. Her eyes surveyed the area, searching for the source. A dust-filled landscape held no clue, and after a few minutes, Demitra almost resigned to thinking the voice was someone within the Windswept Haven she had heard. She turned from the scene, when something... rather, someone caught her eye.
In the distance, through the fog of dawn and sands dancing on the wind, stood a female figure. Demitra squinted to see, and her heart shattered like one of her phantasms, suddenly recognising the woman. It was Valandra!
Demitra reached out, called out to her, began descending the mesa. "Valandra!" she beckoned. "Valandra, it's me, Demi!"
The woman remained silent.
As quickly as she could, she rushed through the valley, made her way to the wall. Peering up, she could clearly see; it was her first love, Valandra. Again, she called out, "Valandra, where have you been? How did you escape Joko?"
Silently, the mirage of the woman faded to sand, carried away by the wind.
Demitra held her chest, her heart choking her throat. The woman she'd lost, the woman she'd made such a horrible mistake with, the woman taken by the deplorable Joko... She had simply vanished, was simply gone...
Demitra wept. She wept for her heart; wept for Valandra; wept for Elona and the oppression of her people. Until... her tears stopped being tears, liquid replaced with sand streaming down her face. She looked at the piled sand in her hands, falling from her fingertips, then saw her fingers, themselves, began dissolving. She shrieked in horror, attempted holding what remained of her digits. They were no longer apart of her, however. Simply vanished... Simply gone.
She held the remnants, placed her palms on her cheeks. Was horrified to feel her face also turning to dust in the wind. She collapsed onto the ground, shocked, disturbed, appalled at what was happening. The fate of Vabbi, the fate of Elona... The fate of Valandra and the fate of Ember coursed through her mind.
"Em... Ember... Em... Emily?" she weakly muttered.
Her finger-less gauntlets were all that remained and they landed on the ground.
Demitra had simply vanished... simply gone.
Demitra looked around at the group. Dirt and suit covered their persons and she cursed under her breath. While the trip to their destination had completed, it was not without its share of hardships along the way. She'd managed to bring the group to the safe haven, yet personally made a mess of things. But, the group needed guidance and introduction to the safe haven, so she took in a breath, and reminded herself that duties must be performed first.
"Welcome to my homeland, welcome to Vabbi, and welcome to the Windswept Haven, our safe refuge nestled on the borders of our enemy's domain. I know this trip has not been easy on any of you, but I hope with this reprieve, you may settled and rest before continuing upon your respective quests."
Ryo looked around as Bella began inspecting his shoulder. "It's beautiful," he said in awe, then winced as Bella's heavy handedness.
Bella smiled at her husband. "At last, a quiet place to be for a bit."
Demitra nodded. "Aye. This place has avoided Joko's gaze, his destructive influences. While there are some Vabbians which praise Joko, it takes little effort (with clear eyes) to see Joko's desecration of the land outside these walls. This place, however..." She stopped herself from going on about the plight Elona faced. It had been a long harrowing journey, and the group'd moral needed rest and recuperation. "Well, there are many places here in which to rest; please make yourself at home."
"I'm never going to get the sand out of... well, everywhere!" Prymi removed sand from her ear. A few chuckled at the Asura's complaint; Khirra calmed her sister down.
Sirinous groaned, came close to stumbling, almost dropping her cain. Bella ran to help prop her up. "I can try to contact my sister; she's a healer. Perhaps she can help?"
Siri nodded, holding onto her chest as she leaned against Orabella. "I need to find a place to change my bandages soon. Not sure... how long I can wait."
Bella looked humbly at the woman. "I can try to assist, if you'll let me."
Siri flushed red. "Um... My wound is in a place... I will allow only a very few to help me with. But thank you for the offer, Bella." Her eyes trailed to Demitra, who witnessed the conversation.
Ember stood beside her, taking in the spectacle of the refuge below. "A new start..." she whispered under her breath. She reached over, took Demitra's absent arm, noticed this, then raised an eyebrow concerned. "Everything okay?"
Demitra turned to her. "Yes; I am tired from the journey, and..." she leaned close to Ember to whisper. "Would it be alright with you if I helped Sirinous? She is injured, and..."
"Fine." Ember interrupted, pulling her arm away from the Elonian's.
Demitra hesitated, worried she had been too bold in her assumptions. Clearly Ember was not okay with this, but Sirinous was injured and needed treating. "I... I shall assist you with your bandages," she announced, replacing Bella as her support.
Siri was red, her voice cracked a bit. "If… If you're okay with that…" Demitra nodded silently.
Bella rejoined her husband. "I guess we should find a spot, set up camp, and rest a bit. That journey was long and me and the baby need some rest." Ryo nodded, helped the woman up onto her griffon, then the couple retreated to the haven.
Khirra was conversing with her sister. "I had told you to wear something more comfortable. It's not my fault you were taken in by Elonian fashion!"
Prymi humfed. "Yeah, well, I still think I should get a refund."
"I'll see you both later," Demitra said. "And I shall find you, Ember, so we may speak." To her chagrin, Ember said nothing. The Elonian sighed, then led Siri to a sanctuary below. Demitra laid the woman down on a small cot, gathered medical supplies, then returned, knelt down and prepped her hands. "Where?" she asked, attempting to shun the awkwardness with seriousness.
"My… My upper thigh; on the inside…" she said as she slipped off her boots and lowered her pants. Her thigh was wrapped in blood-soaked bandages, with a wound traveling from the top of her knee, stopping right before her privates.
Demitra cleared her throat, purposefully subduing any facial expressions at both the wound and the woman's bare nakedness. "What… What happened," she asked, slowly and methodically removing the bandages.
Sirinous winced. "I… was helping the village where I ran into you guys; fighting off those damned Forged a few days ago. A small Forged I didn't see slid between my legs and gave me this while I was locking swords with another. I… I should have been more careful. I was rolling away, and his blade… it was in perfect angle to slice right into my leg."
Demitra removed the bloodied rags, came closer to examine the wound. While it was deep, it looked as though the healing process had already begun. Maybe once a qualified healer worked their magic, it would be but a small blemish on the woman's light complected skin. She took a washcloth, began softly cleaning the wound.
"I almost forgot what it felt like," Sirinous whispered the words, her eyes locked on the Elonian's beauty.
"What do you mean, 'Almost forgot what it felt like?'" Demitra asked as she carefully, gently wrapped the new bandage around the woman.
"Your touch… Your hands…" she smiled slightly.
Demitra froze, blushed deeply. Words escaped her. "I… Um… I am finished," she stammered.
Siri smiled warmly, carefully testing her leg, bending to ensure the bandage allowed for a small amount of mobility. "Thank you, Demitra. Can you help me up?"
The Elonian nodded, helping Siri to her feet, pulling her bodily onto herself and shifting all weight onto her. Attempting pressure by standing, Siri quickly stumbled and fell, her face landing in Demitra's cleavage.
"This a bad time?" Ember's voice erupted.
Demitra was a caught child. She released the woman instinctively, almost knocking her down in her scramble. "E- Ember!" The shriek was almost inaudible.
Ember frowned.
"Her wound…" Demitra stuttered, trying to explain, she was suddenly very aware Siri still stood without pants. "Her wound… It's lower… I needed to…"
Ember sighed, disheartened. "No… I get it," she said stoically. "She was there before…"
Demitra took an imploring step forward. "No, that's not what this is…" She glanced over her shoulder at Siri. "I need to… I must leave you to recover."
Siri slid on her pants. "Sure. We… We can talk later; I should go talk to Prymi anyway." She grabbed her staff, limped past the frozen scene.
Ember stared unblinkingly at Demitra, then finally held up her hands after Siri left the room. "I… Uh, I can leave you be… I can just leave you… and her, if that's what you want."
Demitra rushed to the woman, grasping her outstretched hands, stared lovingly into her eyes. "Ember… Shut up," she said as she pulled Ember to her and kissed her passionately.
Ember yelped at the surprise, and a zap of electricity felt from the woman's lips and tongue. While she wondered if this was a side effect from their recent event that happened to her, she melted in Demitra's embrace.
After a long exchange, Demitra pulled back, smiling her thick full lips. "I'm… I'm so sorry for that," she whispered.
"What… What was that," she gestured toward the scene she'd witnessed. "You… and her…"
Demitra sighed. "Sometimes the past, it seems… is not 'just the past,' but that appearance was like one of my illusions: it was simply not true."
Ember's brow furrowed. "But she wasn't wearing pants!"
"Her wound was below her waist; her inner thigh. I had to get to the dressing and reapply the bandages, Ember. There was nothing more than that." Demitra tilted her head to the side, placed her palm on Ember's warm cheek. "There won't be… Ever with Sirinous. She was someone I could see myself forming something with. That opportunity, however, was fleeting. She chose to stay in Tyria. I left for Elona; left that in the past. And then… Then I found you, Ember."
Ember nodded slowly, her worrisome expression gradually changing.
Demitra continued. "You remember when we first met, Ember? When you and I first truly talked?"
"You mean that night in Amnoon?"
"Aye. For the first time in a long while the stars were aligned the way they should be. While it may have simply been the locale, I believe, more than that, they were aligned because I met you."
Ember rubbed the back of her neck, reddened from the compliment. "I… I guess you're right…"
Demitra pulled the woman back to her, looked deeply down into her red eyes. "I shall not let someone with an infatuation for what might have been get in the way of… of my feelings now," she whispered the last part.
"Good," Ember nodded. "Then I won't let… uh… Cinder get in the way!"
The Elonian giggled.
"What? Just watch her! Cinder will try!"
Demitra pressed her body against Ember's. "I won't let Siri, Cinder, or anything else… Not the Forged, not crazed Djinn… nothing separate us now. This, I promise to you, Ember."
Ember squeezed Demitra. "I'm… I'm so glad you are so on board with me," she said cheerfully.
"And are you not 'on board' with me?'" Demitra joked. "I saw your reaction to Siri and I, the smoke rising from your head."
"But, well… she was gonna grab you! I could see what was gonna happen!"
"Have faith in me, Ember. Besides, as I know you, would you not have set her arm on fire for the act?"
"Not just her arm," Ember grinned impishly.
Demitra laughed. "So, you are 'on board with me' as well?"
Ember looked up into Demitra's emerald eyes, seriously, solemnly. "Yeah. You are stuck with me."
A loving smile came to Demitra. "Good," she said as they held each other.
Both women retired to a more intimate setting, gave in to a night of passionate romance that one only finds after that romance is questioned. Neither wanted to say the words, but both knew it to be true. In their darkest places, most treacherous journey, most challenging social awkwardness; they had found blossoming love in the deserts of Elona.
Emerald eyes gazed into red eyes as Demitra and Ember strode together slowly toward the tavern. It had been a harsh trip thus far, their journey to the safe haven. Some unknown event had happened to Demitra; some unknown power unleashed upon the creatures that almost destroyed her. She had no memory of the event; of what happened to cause this, but looking into Ember's ruby eyes ensured they would discover the answer to those secrets, together.
Ahead of the couple, a woman clad in brown and black flowing robes exited the tavern. Her head was hooded, concealing her face. She carried a walking staff, though it did little to assist the woman's mobility; a limp in her right leg. Upon passing the women, she abruptly stopped, her mouth agape, completely startled. "D… Demitra?"
Demitra spun on her heel, hearing her name and turned to the cloaked woman. The woman's hood dropped to reveal a thin face with light blue eyes, blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. While she looked different from when last they saw each other, her face was unmistakable. Demitra blinked in shock. "S- Sirinous?"
The woman dropped her staff, limped to the Elonian, threw her arms around her. "Demitra! I found you! I've missed you so much!"
Demitra stood as a statue, still in shock with the woman's arms encircling her.
Ember gritted her teeth, raising an eyebrow at the display. "What… What the hell?"
"Siri… You… You are in Elona?" Demitra muttered the words, the surprise written on her face.
Sirinous reached to cup the Elonian's face, but pulled back. "Um… Yeah," she said a bit shy from the reaction. "I came a few weeks ago… I've been searching for you."
"You… Searching for me? Here? I… I thought you were determined not to make the journey to Elona!"
Siri sighed. "I couldn't stand not being with you; I thought about you the entire time. When I found out you already began your journey home… Well, I soon followed." She took the Elonian's hand into her own. "I'm not leaving you again."
Ember fumed, her head billowing smoke.
Demitra glanced at her companion, released Siri's hand. "You…" she struggled to grasp herself. "But you did; you decided to stay behind!" she said, her words fused with emotion.
Siri closed her eyes a moment, when she opened them, they were like glass. "I… I will explain it to you. May I?" she said apologetically soft.
A few flames manifested atop Ember's head as her red eyes glanced from Demitra to Sirinous.
Demitra turned to the woman, with imploring, empathetic emerald eyes.
Siri glanced for the first time at Ember, then back to Demitra. "Oh… I see…" mumbled quietly.
Ember stormed off. "I hear Cinder calling me," she grumbled.
Demitra reached out, but stopped herself. Ember needed some time to herself, and she genuinely wanted to understand why her ex had initially rejected her offer and what changed. Her eyes glazed over as she stared at Siri. "You… You stayed behind!" she repeated.
"Come this way; let's talk." she said with a sorrowful expression. She picked her staff off the ground, began using it for support again, still limping as they made their way into the tavern. They came to a long table, where Siri promptly leaned against it.
"You… are injured?" Demitra stated the obvious, an attempt to ease into conversation.
Siri nodded. "This town… We were attacked a few days ago by some of those Forged things," she kept her voice low. "I was… I was cut… But that's not important right now." She cleared her throat. "Demitra.. I came here the first time because I was on the trail of my birth mother. When I found her," tears came to her eyes, "she was working for him. For Balthazar, leading some Forged. We fought and I injured her badly. She wasn't aware it was me until after the fighting stopped." Siri took in a deep breath. "She asked me to free her from pain… so I did." Tears ran down her cheeks.
"Siri… I'm so sorry."
After a moment, Siri wiped her eyes. "I didn't want to come back here after doing that, so I returned to Tyria. And, then I met you. And, I fell for you; finally happy again." She sighed. "Then I let my fears get the best of me. I'm not asking to just pick up where we started… I just… I just want a second chance; I don't wanna lose you."
Demitra sighed. She hadn't expected this; hadn't expected to ever see Siri again. "Sirinous, when we first met, I was completely alone, displaced from the world I knew…" She shook her head. "And you were someone with whom I sought companionship. You helped me when I was in such a vulnerable state, and I cherish that time we spent together. But, Sirinous… that night in the ball; that night when you said only simply that you wished to remain and no accompany me… That night, my heart was broken."
Siri closed her eyes tightly, futilely fighting back the tears as she listened.
"You did not explain at that time, and while I understand it was difficult to do so, from my perspective, you wished to stay, thus ending whatever developments would become of us."
"But I'm here now," Sirinous reached out.
Demitra took Siri's hand, placing it on the table, with hers covering it. "Indeed you are: a vision from my past, spawning like rainbows after a storm." She hesitated for a moment staring into the woman's sky blue eyes, then removed her hand. "But, in that storm, something happened, Sirinous. Time did not stop that night at the ball for me. I believe I have found someone that wants to be with me as I do her… This solitary life I have lived has been difficult; lonely. Ember offers companionship in a way that I think we both need."
Siri winced, grabbed her chest, leaning against the table as she cried.
Demitra stood awkwardly, glanced to the entrance where Ember stood, attempting not to act unconcerned with the ordeal.
After a few minutes, Siri wiped her tears. "If… If she hurts you…" She stepped to Demitra, bringing her hands to cup the woman's cheeks gently, then leaned forward to kiss the Elonian's forehead. She wrapped her arms around her. "I just want you to be happy," she whispered.
Demitra wrapped her arms around the woman and whispered back, "Why? Why did you not just come with me? Everything… Everything would be different now."
"I was scared I would bring you into more danger."
Demitra frowned and pulled away from Siri. "I can take care of myself, you know. Everyone seems to regard me as a fragile thing; like a mirror or pane of glass: afraid I shall shatter. I am the one who shatters things of my own accord."
"It's not that. I just think you are worth saving." She pushed off the table, began to walk toward the exit.
Demitra watched her walk out and sighed. "Am I really though?" she mumbled.
The group was anxious to leave. Prymi made mention of Butterscotch eating various flora in the area, and Ryo was obviously ready to get underway. Bella had fallen asleep, her hands on her unborn child.
Demitra mounted up, rode up beside Ember. "We shall talk later, yeah? You alright?"
"Yeah. Fine," Ember mumbled. She clicked her tongue and began to pull away. "Let's just go."
Demitra watched as Ryo and Bella readied themselves and mounted their griffons. She nodded at Prymi and Khirra, both looked eager to get underway. Finally, Demitra glanced back at Siri, slowly limping in the opposite direction. Raindrops began falling, as the sun began to set. The entire scene hurt Demitra's heart. She sighed. "Siri? You may come, if you wish it." she offered.
Siri paused, turned, then slowly nodded as the rain fell. Demitra turned, looked into the rain, letting it wash away her own tears.
The morning had been like most others in Amnoon; the merchants chanting about their wares, drawing customers in, the early morning bank patrons huddled at various tellers. Demitra took the time to stroll through the city at a slower pace than she'd done since her arrival. Amnoon was charming, like an unpolished jewel. The potential here and its enthusiastic people and tourists were infectious, and it was with a sadness that she strolled. Her mission, however, was to see that such people remain this way, and the destruction of Palawa Joko's empire was the key to achieving that.
While Elona, as a whole, needed this cleansing, the people of Vabbi were particularly in need. For generations did the scourge of the desert loom, ensuring dominance over the freedom of Vabbi's people. Joko had crippled the sunspears, devastated the land by diverting the Elon river, captured and enslaved those that would speak out against him. As time passed, her people's perspective was warped: Vabbians truly looked at becoming one of Joko's minions, the awakened, as a rite of passage; even considering it an honor to serve the tyrant. Demitra had studied the history recorded, and despite the biases written therein, one thing remained an unrelenting and absolute truth: Joko had crushed the Elonian spirit.
It was within Vabbi's Garden of Seborhin that Demitra saw the first flicker of resistance in a kindred soul, and the path to her life's purpose was paved. The secret band of freedom fighters invited her into their guild, their hearts, and Demitra learned that while the majority of Vabbians had resolved to Joko's propaganda and brainwash, the true spirit of the Elona was not dead, simply hidden and nestled at the border of the enemy's domain. It was from this sanctuary that launched attacks on Joko's forces, coordinated efforts and served as a haven for those fighting the tyranny that had befallen under Joko's reign. It was to this safe haven she intended to bring the able-bodied fighters she'd discovered in Tyria; it was from this safe haven that Joko would be destroyed and her people freed.
A warm nose nuzzled Demitra, startling her. She yelped and quickly grew embarrassed for her loss of composure.
Ember giggled. "Lost in thought, I see."
Demitra smiled bashfully. "Indeed," she said, looking up to the woman, already on Cinder's back. Their time together in the Crystal Oasis had been a wondrously magical time. It was yet another reason that made this departure melancholy. The adventure with a kindred soul which had changed them both forever, not just emotionally, but physically as well. While she hadn't understood all that transpired in their previous journey, Demitra felt a power beyond herself; was scared of what it could potentially mean.
As if in her thoughts, Ember probed. "How do you feel?" A worried smile from her almost melted the Elonian's heart.
"I still feel different, but today it's almost…" she paused, struggled to find the words, "natural feeling? It is all very bizarre. One moment I feel as though I am no longer part of this world, then instantly and holistically a part of it. I... have no words to describe it, except that I almost feel like I am still dreaming and attempting to lucidly wake myself." She shook her head, the train of thought derailing their conversation. "What of you? I see your hair is still a lovely ebony."
Ember looked up at the hair hanging in front of her face; a white streak clearly predominate against the black. She shrugged. "I guess it's alright. I mean, I don't know exactly what happened in that dungeon, but I guess I feel fine," she said a bit confusedly.
The Elonian simply smiled, continued walking to their rendezvous with the group. "Well, I, for one, think the hair suits you well."
"Th… Thanks," Ember struggled, as Demitra predicted, with the compliment.
The two walked slowly through the city's promenade, both recalling various locations they'd laughed, shopped, kissed and slept within Amnoon. There was a bittersweet sadness that was a cloud drifting with the couple. Once or twice, either woman would attempt to bring their mood to a happier one, but both were awkward in their delivery, and both eventually resolved to the quiet walk to the entrance plaza.
In complete contrast, the group from Tyria were already excitedly wrapped in conversation. Demitra grinned at the intrepid group. "Ahai, everyone!" she said, striving for positivity.
Orabella, Ryo, Prymi and her sister all greeted the Elonian and Ember with smiles and pleasentries. Prymi wrapped her arms around Demitra's legs, while she patted her Asuran friend gently and thoughtfully.
"Ready for the next part of the trip, love?" Bella asked Ryo.
"I am," he nodded to his wife. "We heading out soon, Demitra?"
Demitra was busily petting Buttercup, Prymi's giant hare. The animal loved the attention, began thumping her leg. "Aye; we're leaving shortly. I trust your stays in Amnoon were accommodating?" she asked broadly to everyone.
Ryo glance around. "Quite a city," he said in a tone that made Demitra wonder if it was meant as sarcasm. She simply didn't know the gentleman well enough to judge, so decidedly she chose to believe it was genuine.
"It is not quite as lovely as Vabbi, but aye… It does, indeed, have a certain charm!" she said, still playing with the hopper's ears.
"Yeah, it was great… Except for the part where everyone was wondering if I was a deformed child," Prymi shrugged with a little laugh.
Everyone looked at each other, then erupted in laughter.
"Well, at least they didn't think you were a 'he!'" Demitra offered the condolence.
Orabella rubbed her pregnant stomach. "Hope this new armor's protective enough," she said aloud, not necessarily meaning to.
Ember approached the couple. "What of your old armor?"
"It got a bit too… snug," she said sheepishly.
"If there's any fighting, I'll do my best to keep the focus on me." Ember was uncharacteristically soft-spoken, her words filled with reverence for the unborn child; even though she couldn't help but think eggs, like those laid by drakes, were so much more practical.
Bella smiled uneasily. "Thanks, Ember. I'll be using my bow mostly to keep them away from me and my baby." She carefully mounted her griffon with Ryo's help, who did the same thereafter.
"Can Buttercup keep up, Prymi? And Khirra's moa as well?" Demitra was careful not to insult.
Prymi nodded, mounting Buttercup as Khirra came to stand beside them. "She's faster than she looks."
"And Featherless here is pretty agile too," Khirra asserted.
Demitra gushed at the two Asura. She genuinely missed seeing the race around, and had gotten used to their presence in Tyria. While Elona saw many travelers, Asura within Amnoon, at least, seemed to be a rare sight.
The ground swirled with sands, which coalesced into Demitra's raptor. She did this without clicking her bracers together. Ember noted this; planned to inquire later about it. Riders in position, Demitra explained, "We shall travel along the southern road. Many dangers await, as I'm sure you all have no doubt experienced here in the oasis, already. We shall stop ahead to address any concerns before we increase pace. My hope is we will avoid said dangers."
Ember frowned and shifted in her seat. Cinder seemed to echo the woman's anxiousness and hunger for battle. Demitra beamed a smile at them both, then turned to lead the group down the corridor that was the entrance-way to Amnoon. Ember caught up to ride beside her friend.
"You don't anticipate any fights?" she asked.
"Well, earlier there were reports of Forged on some of the roads; I would not be surprised if we ran across them. I certainly don't envy them, with this group of fighters, though. And," she glanced down at Ember's recently acquired flamesword, "I don't envy those that meet your blade."
"Yeah. Careful… I just stab ya!" she joked.
Demitra smiled flirtatiously. "And who's to say I wouldn't want you to?"
Ember flushed. Demitra giggled. The group remained in conversation until meeting the south road. They lined up, looked down the path before them, each knowing the journey was leading to something personal. A moment of silence hung amongst the group, but was quickly interrupted by Prymi.
"Hot leather on naked thighs is not fun," she said, struggling with her outfit. It was one which she'd been told was proper Elonian travel attired; obviously she was conned.
"Well… it certainly can be fun," Demitra laughed, winked to Ember, who turned red.
Ember clicked her tongue. "I'll… uh... I'll scout out ahead," she said, trying to evade the awareness.
"Let's go!" Demitra announced, beginning the sprint. The rest followed on her lead. Their pace was fast and purposeful, dust being thrown as they made their way down the path. The quick travel came to a sudden halt, however, as they caught up to Ember. Between the mesas, in the valley ahead, was an contingent of Balthazar's Forged.
Ember looked at Demitra, her eyes ablaze, memories from their previous battle with the monstrosities prominent in her mind. Sharing the woman's thoughts, Demitra nodded. Without hesitation, Ember rushed into the encampment, leaping from her raptor, plunging her crackling fire blade into one of the armors.
"Vanquish these beings of the fallen god!" Demitra yelled, charging forward; behind her Prymi, Bella and Ryo.
Bella's arrows found their way to several of the unsuspecting enemies, while Ryo flew in with sword and shield bashing another. He quickly pulled his bow, along with his wife, began a barrage of arrows to clear the area for those running ahead.
Prymi ran between them, channeling lightning, which found its way to electrify the sentient armor. The Forged stood shocked in the grips of the little Asura's arch until finally exploding into pieces.
Demitra twirled into a line of Forged, replicating herself in the process. Four Demitras encircled the group, each unleashing a flurry of attacks, eventually exploding into a fuchsia cloud of smoke throwing shards of shattered glass into them.
The group fought tirelessly, flawlessly through the Forged until breaching the other side.
"Everyone alright?" Ryo asked, rubbing his shoulder.
"I'm alright, love." Bella held her stomach as the baby kicked.
Prymi removed a torn piece of fabric from her outfit. "I'm fine, but I'm going to have to get some better gear on. This outfit isn't good for riding or for battling, it seems."
Ember looked around. "Where's Demitra?"
"Oh no… I thought she was here," Prymi said, panicking. "She was right beside me!"
"She didn't make it through?" Bella asked.
"Demitra!" Ember rushed back toward the encampment.
Suddenly a guttural scream echoed within the canyon walls. A blinding fuchsia wave of energy exploded, slammed into the group knocking them down. Ember immediately recognized her voice. "Demitra!" she screamed, scrambling to get up. "No..."
Where the encampment had been, lay a pile broken armor and rubble. The dust settled, then silence and stillness. Nothing had survived. The group stood speechless, the defeat of one of their own, still unfathomable.
Just in front of the rubble, the silent scene slowly gained movement. Sand seemed to rise, swirled around on its own accord, and casually came to stop in front of the the group. All quickly stood, armaments ready. The vortex paused, turned a brilliant azure and indigo, then magnetically drew inward, coalesced into Demitra's form. She shared the same shocked expression as her companions.
Without thinking, Ember through her arms around the woman. "I thought you were a goner! What… What happened to you?"
Demitra looked dumbfounded. "I… I have no idea. I saw you all at the camp's exit, and was making my way there, when an Elite Forged blocked my path. I… I fought the monster, but… he bested me."
"But you're here; you're alright!"
"I… I don't know what happened. I felt something… powerful; something… ancient. He held aloft his bladed arm, about to strike a final blow. I… I screamed, and felt myself… shatter, like one of my illusions." She stared at her hands. "Am… I even here?"
Ember kissed Demitra's cheek. "You're here; you're you. Come, we should get to the next town and regroup." She helped the shocked Elonian onto Cinder, mounted behind her and took the reins, her arms tightly around her waist.
"Yeah, let's head out." Ryo agreed. He rubbed his shoulder again, having received a blow from the battle.
Bella looked concerned. "I'll take a look at it when we get to the next town," she said lovingly.
Featherless and Khirra hopped through the rubble of the decommissioned camp, joined the group, then all began their journey to Destiny's Gorge, at a much slower pace than previous. Upon arrival, each went about their anticipated business, all planning to reconvene later in the evening.
Demitra looked around wearily. Children played and merchants sold goods in the windy valley of peaceful shade created by the overhanging cliffs. "The wanton destruction these Forged cause… I shall never understand."
Ember tied Cinder to a nearby post, habitually scratched behind the animal's horns. "It's how you conquer a place. You block the roads… You destroy resources… You starve a place."
The Elonian looked around, noted the dilapidated structures. "Looks like it is working." She watched several kids run by laughing and sighed. "Look at how close to the monsters these people are; the proximity to Balthazar's blight on the world. I won't let villages continue to burn like mine was, Ember. This has got to stop…"
Ember squeezed the woman's hand. "Then let's continue. We can do this."
Demitra grinned slightly. "Aye. We can do this. First, let us rest though… Whatever that was from before… Whatever happened to me has exhausted me. I should feel better after a bit of rest, if it would be alright."
"Of course," Ember said with a quiet smile. Ember put her arm around Demitra as the made their way to a tavern.
The Elonian had a thick, full-lipped, heartwarming smile painted upon her.
The sun threatened the first restful night sleep Demitra had experienced in quite some time. The Elonian's tan skin was bronze from the rays gracing her exposed body. Emerald eyes grumpily squinted at the brightness, choosing the dark retreat of her eyelids, and a smile came across the woman's lips, remembering the previous night. She reached to the other side of the bed, expecting to meet her lover's body. When her hands grasped only sheets, she only slightly opened her eyes. They were still warm.
Ember stood in the morning light, busily buckling and latching her armor. Yet, attempting a stealthy escape while in a hurry made each movement louder than she wanted, and a few curses made their way out at the annoyance.
Demitra stirred in bed at the disturbance of silence, mumbling something from a dream. "Em… ily…" she unconsciously uttered.
The name sent shivers into the white-haired woman. She stiffened, inadvertently scowled. "Don't call me that," she snapped, foregoing the attempt to be quiet. Her voice was hard, annoyed, harsher than she'd meant to sound.
Demitra stirred again, rolled over, opened her eyes, and beamed a smile to Ember. "Ahai, there, you…" her tone was light and airy.
Ember realized immediately the woman had been speaking in her sleep. A small puff of smoke came from her head. She looked over her shoulder and gave a tight-lipped smile. "Hey," she said sheepishly, hoping the woman hadn't registered the outburst.
Demitra yawned, stretched, blinked a few times before coming to the realization Ember was already dressed and preparing to leave. "Everything… okay?"
"I…" Ember hesitated, then exhaled. "I need to go. It's… It's complicated."
"Then… Uncomplicate it." Ember made no response, no movement. Demitra sat up in bed, reached out and grasped onto Ember's gloved hand. "Just tell me," she implored a worried expression.
Ember was transfixed on the woman's eyes: those emeralds conveying such passion, such concern; one could lose themselves to them. "I… There has been this voice. It's been calling me. It is…" A scowl interrupted the speech as she forced the rest out. "I'm getting to it. I need to get rid of it."
"We, Ember… We shall go, together."
"I don't want you to get… hurt." The last word squeaked out.
Demitra raised and eyebrow at Ember, jerked her arm, spinning the woman around to pull her close. "Ember, I have been alone for a long while. I can, indeed, take care of myself. This, I have shown you! But if you think I am not to be by your side, you are most mistaken."
Ember frowned, attempted to pull away. "I… I just worry I'll become something dangerous," the woman closed her eyes, whispering, "again."
"The past is just that: 'the past,'" Demitra explained softly.
Empathically, Demitra could feel her friend's worry; the confliction, the anger: so many emotions bundled into this marvelous red-eyed, white-haired woman. She leaned forward, planting her plump lips on the woman's. Ember comically squeaked as she surprisingly received Demitra, but her resistance instantly melted. The world grew quiet as the two women embraced, sealing that moment in time. Eventually they separated, yet neither let go, both staring back into the other's eyes.
"Fine. Just, make sure you're right," Ember conceded.
"I know things have been difficult for us both, but I feel as though together…" Demitra smiled warmly. "Maybe things will not be with such difficulties?"
Ember nodded a few times, blushingly. "Y- Yeah," she stuttered.
Satisfied, Demitra rose from bed, allowing the sheets to fall behind her as she glided, completely nude, to her gear. Her movements were calculated: swaying her hips purposely. A glance over her shoulder ensured the effect was as predicted; the Elonian didn't have to be an empath: Ember's hair had magically burst into fire. Demitra giggled and continued methodically sensuously putting on her attire. More than once, she glanced back to see if her audience was still attentive, and while Ember knew this process was counterproductive, she was captivated by the mesmer.
After a fashion, Demitra returned in full battle wear, save a final detail. She smiled at Ember as she placed an emerald jewel in her navel. Thought lost in the cabin prior to their departure, Demitra was overjoyed when presented with it. Ember had told the woman to close her eyes and traced the jewel from the woman's lower half to upper half before surprising her with it. This jewel meant the world to Demitra and she hoped her excitement for its return was conveyed the previous night.
"Ready?" Ember accidently shrieked. Her voice was shrill and she was a shade of red. She turned from the sight, attempting to regain composure. "Time… Time to go! It's… I think it's south." Ember walked toward Cinder, placed the harness on and battle gear, and mounted her flamelander raptor. The animal excitedly growled and Ember lovingly scratched behind the animal's horns.
Demitra approached tapping her bracers, which swirled blue and golden sands from them, coalescing into a crystalline raptor.
"That's a neat trick," Ember mused.
Looking at her gauntlets, Demitra considered. "I suppose it is, isn't it? I shall have to explore this further. Perhaps after our adventure?" she reckoned.
Slowly the two began trotting down the ramp which led to the temple. Ember looked at the beast closer when they rode parallel. The scales on the mounts surface looked as though it was in a constant state of flux, like the rivers of sand she'd experienced here in the deserts. "So this isn't a raptor then?"
Demitra winked. "Do not say such things, you'll offend it!"
Ember blinked. "Okay," she said singsongingly. "So then… the gloves; where'd you get them?"
"They were a gift, actually, from my mentor, who vanished after he had awarded me with these."
"Who was your mentor?" Ember's curiosity was piqued.
Demitra simply smiled. "A Djinn," she said nonchalantly.
Ember pulled back on Cinder causing an abrupt stop. "A Djinn? Your mentor was one of those four armed floaty guys? I thought they were just legends and tales!"
The Elonian paused her raptor to face the inquisitive woman. A charming smile came to her face at Ember's shock. "Legends like Elder Dragons? Tales like that of the Six Gods? Is it such surprise to you that these beings exist?"
Ember huffed, clicked her tongue at Cinder, trotting ahead. Demitra could feel her embarrassment, felt ashamed at herself as well. An apology and a few quiet sand dunes later, Ember suddenly chuckled. "Did he have… like a lantern you had to rub to call him?"
For an empath, Demitra failed to see the humor, her answer thoughtful. "Most are free like you and I. Some are, indeed bound to objects, from my understanding."
"It was a joke, Demitra!"
"Oh," she blushed. Uncomfortable, she downed her head, staring at her azure sparling fingertips, finally raising an eyebrow. "Bound to objects…" she mumbled, considering.
Demitra's epiphany was inturrupted as they came to a large contingent of metal and fire beings, spiked constructs raised from the ground. It was the Forged: Balthazar's personal minions created for the soul purpose of death and destruction. She hated these beings, could feel Ember's own, but moreover, a longing for expedience dominated the white-haired woman's thoughts.
"I don't have time for this," she said, pensively. "As much as I would like some payback for last time…"
"We can run through," Demitra offered. "Perhaps they will not have time to notice. Can your flamelander leap through these minions?"
Ember and Cinder looked at Demitra simultaneously. "Can your… non-raptor?"
Demitra raised an eyebrow, took off into the valley.
Cinder growled softly. "Yeah, I like her too." Ember exclaimed. She clicked her tongue and charged through the monsters.
The desert began to cool as the sun slowly began its descent. The narrow valley came to a small oasis which cooled the breeze. Both Demitra and Ember paused for a moment to enjoy the scene. Palms swayed in the wind and the reflection of the high mountain cliffs made their imposing presence manageable. At the far end of the valley, a small door seemed to shimmer into view. Demitra glanced back to Ember, noted her resolve and the two ventured to the entrance.
"I think this is it," Ember considered, hopping off her mount, leading it to the large door in the side of the cliff.
Demitra dismounted as well, the sands from disintegration returning to the gauntlets. "How… How can you tell?" She examined the oddly placed door.
Ember scowled. "I can tell cause this damned voice is loud!" She reached out, channeled her magic and let out a concussive blast, throwing the door inward.
From the entranceway, a long hall lay before them, complete with burning torches; yet, Demitra noted, dilapidated walls and spiderwebs were the décor. Grass had sprouted from cracks in the floor and in a few sections, the floor was completely missing. This place had been abandoned long ago.
"This place is a tomb, dusted and decrepit, so why are the braziers lit?" Demitra's words fell flat; Ember was already walking down the hall.
The women came to stand in the middle of a large circular room. Four doors lined the walls, some spaces apart, encircling any that entered. Two seemed to hum with a magical energy a small plaque on each slightly illuminated.
"Ember?" Demitra nervously asked. The woman's red eyes hadn't blinked since they entered the structure.
"I'm… I'm okay," she shook her head a moment, then honed in on the far left door. "That one," she said, drawing her sword as she approached.
Demitra called, "Ember! Wait!"
She paused a moment, looking over her shoulder. "What? This is it! This is the one!"
"Okay, just… Don't… Don't just attempt to blast this one down. Look! There's an inscription; what does it say?"
Ember approached more closely and read. "It says, 'Outcast by mortal, chosen by flame. Inside you shall, find all you desire." She rolled her eyes and groaned.
Demitra came to stand beside her. "All you desire," she pondered. "Does it say nothing of a lock; of an enchantment?"
Ember hefted the sword, the flames from her grip engulfing the blade. "One key, coming up!"
"Ember wai…" Demitra's words were too late. Ember swung her sword into the door. Her sword immediately exploded, shattered, sent shards flying. Having armor herself, Ember was protected from the blast, Demitra however, was not. One shard flew past Demitra's arm, slicing her flesh.
A loud string of curses came from Ember, before she came to realize the Elonian was injured. "You okay?" she asked, still irritated.
"I'm… I'm okay," she said meekly, clutching her injury, blood streaming down.
Ember surveyed the woman. What a brave face she was trying to exude, but it wouldn't be good for her companion to bleed out due to pride. "No, you're not… Let me see."
Demitra held out her arm as a child would do to a mother. She reluctantly removed her hand and blood free flowed down her arm.
"Oh no!" Ember exclaimed, quickly ripping a piece of fabric from her armor. A quick turnicid was fabricated and the blood flow stopped. "That should hold, for a while. But… I mean, now what?" she said, looking back to the door.
As if mocking them, the doors slowly creaked open.
Demitra put her arm around the woman, who helped her to stand. She grinned at Ember, hugged her with their embrace. "This will hold; come let's see what's behind your magic door, shall we? All you desire?"
Ember nodded and the pair stepped inside the room. Inside was a small pedestal, with a sword perpetually on fire. Beside it, a small lamp and a pile of ash. The walls were decorated with images depicting a white-haired girl throughout various stages of her life.
Demitra's emeralds grew wide taking it all in. "Is this…" She pointed to a white-haired childlike figure on the wall.
"That could be anyone," Ember grumbled as she approached the pedestal. She paid no more attention to the tapestries and paintings, instead examining the objects in the center.
"If… If you say so," Demitra frowned, obviously knowing better. She knew she'd get nothing more from Ember on the matter, decided to look on her own. The first showed a white-haired infant being thrown into a large fire, another showing that same child with a drake. Another tapestry showed Ember at the front of a classroom, perhaps in the roll of a teacher? Demitra grinned as she viewed these. However, she paused at one dimly-lit painting, the image difficult to discern, yet the horror was conveyed: a white-haired being of destruction breathing fire into frightened people; behind her, a dragon of fire guiding her.
Suddenly, Demitra's bracers began to vibrate on their own. She dropped her torch, spun on her heel to see Ember grasping onto the lamp. An explosion sent Ember to the ground with a thud.
"Finally!" a voice boomed. Above the pedestal levitated a large frustrated Djinn. His skin was grey surrounded with an aura of deep red. He had two arms, opposed to the usual four she was accustomed to, but the Elonian immediately recognized the energy. He looked to the Demitra, tilted his head. "Wrong room…" he hissed, then instantly flew at Ember, entering into her body.
"Ember!" Demitra screamed, rushing to her friend's side. "Ember, are you alright? What did it do to you?"
A guttural groan came from Ember, followed by a bout of coughing. Demitra helped prop her up, when suddenly she began to vomit viscous pitch tar and onyx stone.
Demitra stepped back, shocked, worried and bewildered. "E- Em… ber?"
Ember gagged and choked, spewing forth vile filth, which began to move on its own. Like a wet sheet draped over, the putrid rock arose, flowing, dripping, vileness. It tightened, solidifying into a winged beast of a giant dark destroyer harpy.
"Ember, your expertise would be appreciated… Now please!" Demitra shifted her weight, readying for battle.
Ember coughed, weakly threw fire at the being. It did nothing, bouncing off the creature. "J- Just k- kill it!" Ember coughed out.
Without hesitation, a barrage of energy bolts blasted from Demitra's scepter; beside her, replicated version of herself also sending a flurry of energy projectiles at the creature. The dark harpy writhed in pain, swiped it's boned wings through Demitra, instantly shattering the illusion. Three more were already on the being, running up and exploding as quickly as the real Elonian could manifest them. A concussive blast shot through all the clones from the real mesmer, breaking their mirrors, adding to the power of the fuchsia energy blast, which struck the creature. Demitra funneled as much power as she could into the attack and the electricity brightened the room with the final destructive wave. The creature fought the wave, attempting to gain ground and strike the now only target, but it was a futile attempt. In a plume of fire, the beast was no more, its last wailing, screeching echo resonating in the empty structure.
Swiftly, Demitra was at Ember's side, pulling the woman up. "Ember? What was that? How… Are you alright?"
"I… I'm alive… Guess she wasn't gone," Ember mumbled. Ash fell like snow from the woman's hair.
"She? She wasn't gone?"
Ember grinned. "I… My birth; I was… possessed by the fire dragon." She laughed weakly, in spite of herself.
Demitra watched as Ember's hair dimmed, slowly starting to grow dark. "Ember, your hair…"
"Is it on fire again? S- Sorry about that."
"No… it's… It's miraculously dark!" she exclaimed.
"Oh?" Ember asked, patting her head. "How's it look?"
"It's gorgeous!" Demitra complimented with a warm smile.
Ember made her way to the pedestal after gaining her footing, retrieving the sword of fire. "Guess this is a reward, huh?"
Demitra giggled, then suddenly spun around, facing the entrance. "Who's there?"
"What's going on?" Ember came to her side, newly acquired weapon at the ready.
"Did you hear that?" Demitra asked.
Ember listened intently. Nothing other than the wind from the distant entranceway was heard. "I just hear you."
"DEMITRA NAJA NYMIAH!"
"Yes?" Demitra called out, wandering into the central room of doors. "Where are you? Where is that coming from?" she asked. "Me? How do you know my name?"
Ember followed her friend to the room, trying to grip the situation. "Wrong room…" she hypothesized aloud. "He said wrong room."
Demitra turned to look inquisitively at Ember. "The Djinn did say that, didn't he? Was… Was he speaking to me?" Demitra screamed, grasped onto her head as the voice boomed within.
"COME!"
She winced as the pain subsided. "Is this what you hear, Ember? Is this how it feels to have a voice commanding you?"
"Heard…" Ember corrected, then revealed her solution by pointing to the next door. "Maybe you are supposed to be here, too."
Demitra raised an eyebrow. "Me? What am I? I am just…" She rubbed her temples at another booming command. "Okay! Okay!" she yelled. "Fine!"
She approached the dilapidated door. This door seemed to have been in even more neglected decay, long forgotten, almost supported by the spiderwebs which decorated it. "There's an inscription on this one too, but it is very badly faded."
Ember looked at her new sword. "Need a light?" she said with a cheeky grin.
Demitra nodded and Ember lifted the sword like a torch. The inscription was barely legible, most worn by age.
Enter: Abandoned… something something… Alone;
With imbued sand… something… atone;
In your darkest… something… shall it be shone."
"Not the best poetry," Ember joked.
But Demitra's face was pale. She slowly turned to Ember. "Is… Is this me? How could they know… What of consequence am I?"
Ember shrugged. "There's only one way to find out. Try opening it."
Demitra reached to push the door, but it quickly disintegrated, falling as a pile of sand. She coughed from the desturbed dirt. Ember also coughed, covered her face. "Well, that's neat. At least it didn't break your weapon."
The two ventured into the room. Inside was another mural of images decorating the wall, most of them too damaged to ascertain. One wall clearly showed a village burning, with a little girl being spirited away. Another showed a woman standing in the palm of an enormous being. The pose seemed eerily familiar to Demitra.
Ember looked it over. "I know I'm not the brightest candle, but even I know that's you."
Demitra stared for a moment longer, then gasped. "No… Not me. That's… That's someone from my past. Her name was Valandra, and… that being that's holding her: that's Joko." Her tone was ominous and disheartened, and she turned away from it with disgust.
"Oh… I'm so sorry." Ember apologized, a frown on her face.
"It's alright; the past is just that, remember?"
Coming to the center of the room, Demitra examined the pedistal and a small chest that sat upon it. She reached for the chest, hesitated a moment, feeling the vibration of her bracers again. "Be ready for anything, Ember. We saw what happened to your lamp!"
Ember readied her weapons.
Demitra continued, carefully and nervously unlatching the chest, slowly pulling back the lid. She frowned. Nothing happened at all. A look inside was equally disappointing: A small pile of sand was all it contained. "Is this… Is this some kind of joke?"
"Maybe this wasn't for you. Maybe another door?" Ember tried.
Still grasping onto the chest, she gestured to the few murals that exist. "No! This… This is me! My family on fire; my lover taken by the scourge… This… all of this reminder, for what? A pile of sand? Desert sands?" Frustrated, she threw the chest against the wall, causing it to rupture. The sand from the chest seeped out, then suddenly moved on its own, flowing around Demitra. She was lifted off the ground, levitating at the sand's whim.
Ember yelped. "Demitra!" She attempted a step forward but the sands and wind forced her back. "Fight it, Demitra!" She yelled, futilely flailing her weapon at the sands.
The Elonian gasped for air, sands entering her from every orifice. It filled her mouth, her lungs, found its way into the wound on her arm. The sands flowed into her bracers, which expelled blue smoke and crystalline sparkles into the dust storm surrounding the woman. "Em… brrr," she tried to utter, her sounds became inaudable as she gasped for one last breath. Demitra collapsed lifelessly onto the floor.
The grip was off, Ember charged forward. "Come on now," she said, as she slid over to the woman, sitting her up. Unresponsive, Demitra jerked around limply; her face cold and pale. "Get up!" Ember panicked. The woman was not breathing! She attempted resuscitation, discovered Demitra's mouth completely filled with sand. She rolled the woman on her side and started rigorously slapping her back. A bit of sand came from Demitra's mouth, but it wasn't enough.
Her eyes rolled back.
"Demitra! Wake up, dammit!" Ember screamed as she picked her up, bent her over attempting to heave the rest of the sandss from the woman's lungs. A tear rolled down Ember's panicked cheek. "Please?" she said in desperation. She placed a hand on Demitra's back, tried to use more magic than she should to blast as much sand as she could out. "I hope this doesn't make things worse!" she said as she let forth a powerful magical blast directly to the woman's back.
A ton of sand spewed forth from Demitra's mouth. She coughed, vomited, gagged, but the color returned to her and her eyes sparkled back to life. Ember was beyond ecstatic, she scooped up the woman, held her close and kissed her. Demitra's expression was elation and smiles in between coughing fits.
"You try dying on me again, and I'll revive you again and again and again! As many times as it takes… You're not leaving me like that, Demitra!"
"Wasn't… Wasn't my attention," she feebly joked. "What… What do you think that," she paused to cough out more sand, "was all about?"
Ember mumbled, "I don't know; maybe you pissed off a spirit?"
Demitra sat up, removed her bracers, staring at her bare hands. "No. I don't think that was it. There's… Something… Something's different."
"Okay, well, as long as you're okay," Ember said, taking one of Demitra's hands. She stared at the tingly sensation - the same one she'd experienced upon Demitra's touch with the bracers on. She blinked. "You feel funny."
"I feel… I feel different."
Ember cocked her head to the side. "Different good?"
Demitra rubbed the back of her neck considering, then also noted the same tingling sensation. "I don't know if 'good' is the correct verbiage; I definitely feel very odd."
Much more coughing and a few more jokes had both women rising to their feet, however weakly. Slowly making their way to the exit, they passed a final wall decoration neither had noticed before. This was a tapestry, ripped and old, worn by time. A faded picture was protected under a fold in the fabric. Demitra pulled back the flap to reveal a scene of two woman facing each other in battle. One woman is impaling the other, their faces lost to time and too obscure to recognize. "This… This is not the past."
"Hope I'm not the impalee…" Ember barked.
"I hope not either," Demitra said, growing faint from the previous ordeal. She lost her balance, held onto the tapestry, ripping it from the wall. With a thud she hit the ground. Ember was instantly over to prop her up. However, looking up from the ground, towering over her, was an engraving of Joko. Demitra glowered at the statue. With Ember's help she stood, approached it, then with a scream borne from a child's nightmares, she struck the statue with her bare fists.
Suddenly the statue cracked, a bright fuchsia light pouring from inside. In the next instant, the statue disintegrated into a pile of sand.
Demitra took a step away, staring at her fists, confused. For a split second, a shimmer appeared around Demitra, but as quickly as an eyeblink, it was gone.
She sighed. "Yeah… Okay. Let's… Let's leave this accursed place."
Ember nodded. "Should we get a healer? I really… I don't know how to help you."
Demitra smiled an unapologetically loving smile. "Oh you help more than you know."
The two made their way to the entrance, upon exiting, the door vanished. Neither decided to comment on the event, both exhausted from the entire ordeal. Without thinking, Demitra tapped her bare wrists together, out of habit. As it always did, her celestial mount manifested… this time without her bracers…
