19.4c

ACT 963161069-26889.20-23.(M3.D9-M4.D10)-Eve-Smith-Silver Prime

Charlotte watched the battlefield flow with tired eyes. She ruled the land with an iron fist, striving to bring order to a world consumed by chaos. For four long years, she had been bereft of her strongest ally, the terrifying Eve, who had left to heal Ralph’s wounded soul. Ralph had returned, but Eve had not.

In those four harrowing years, Charlotte had not been alone in her struggle. By her side stood Iantha the Seer, whose mystical powers allowed her to perceive the unseen and predict the future. Alongside Iantha was the High Priestess Bennie, whose divine blessings from her Silver Goddess and unyielding faith gave the people of Zienfer hope. Finally, there was Justin, the Blood Mage, an old school friend of Charlotte's whose mastery of blood magic granted him immense power, but at a terrible cost. Even with allies like that, it had taken every bit of cold survival calculation to reach this point.

The screams of battle flowed through the Air around the young duchess. Zienfer had always been aligned to the Element of Air, but Charlotte had blossomed into a genius of unparalleled gift. Her entire Blessing doubled down, granting control of vast quantities of power. She smiled as she watched Ralph flow through the battlefield, crafting pits, walls, and spikes against the enemies. The Outcast Royals, the Church, and the Ten Companies of the Mercenary Guild were butchered like pigs. Even if they managed to wrest control of the Duchy from her, it would be at a steep cost in lives.

Charlotte allowed her mind to wander back to the past while the battle raged.

She saw the rough night when the winds howled, and the clouds veiled the moon. The invading forces had reached the plains outside of Zienfer, and the duchy’s defenses were crumbling under the relentless assault. Charlotte, dressed in her battle-worn armor, paced the halls of her once-magnificent castle, her heart heavy with the weight of her people's suffering. The walls echoed with the distant cries of the wounded and the dying, and Charlotte knew that the final battle was approaching.

Arriving in the castle's dimly lit chamber, Charlotte saw that Iantha the Seer had gathered her weary council. High Priestess Bennie stood tall, her face etched with concern, while Justin, the Blood Mage's eyes darkened with the burden of his powers, listened intently. Iantha's voice quivered as she revealed her latest vision, a prophecy of a devastating loss and a glimmer of hope.

"The battle's outcome is grim, my friends," Iantha confessed, her eyes filled with sorrow. "But there is a way to turn the tide. I have seen it in my visions. We must summon Eve to return and aid us in our need."

Charlotte's eyes widened in disbelief. "Eve? But she's been gone for four years! We don't even know if she's alive!"

The High Priestess, Bennie, placed a comforting hand on Charlotte's shoulder. "We must have faith, Your Grace. If there is even the slightest chance of her return, we must take it."

Iantha nodded in agreement. "It is true. But to summon her, we will need the powers of the Blood Mage. Justin, only you can perform the ritual necessary to bring her back. The seed within you will call out to her across the countless worlds."

Justin's face paled at the mention of his name. She knew the ritual would require tremendous power, and the price for that power was steep. To summon Eve, he would have to sacrifice, which would be bloody. But as he looked into her eyes, Charlotte saw his resolve harden into steel.

"I will do it," he said quietly, his voice wavering with determination. He had already cast Blood Siphon, staving off early victory for the enemies.

Her mind raced ahead to a short while ago, just before dawn. They had met the enemy forces at the chokepoint. Charlotte had fortified her position with archers and shield shells. There was no more time left. The Summon for Eve had to commence immediately. With no time to waste as the battle raged, Justin, prepared for the dark and dangerous ritual. Servants following exact instructions designed their tent.

Charlotte, Iantha, and Bennie had taken to the field command position. Through her power over Air, Charlotte watched as the candles in the tent flickered when Justin drew an intricate circle on the ground with his blood, the life force of his magic. His face contorted with pain, but he pressed on, his eyes focused on the task.

As Justin began to chant in an ancient tongue, the air grew heavy, and the shadows seemed to dance upon the walls. The pain was immense, but the Blood Mage held steadfast, his voice growing louder and more relentless with each word. Charlotte saw the circle on the ground glow a deep, crimson red, pulsating like a heartbeat. With her heart in her throat, Charlotte watched with a mixture of awe and dread.

The ritual reached its climax, and with a guttural scream, Justin drove a dagger into his heart. The blood poured forth, mixing with the glowing symbols on the floor. The room shook violently, and a whirlwind of shadows and crimson light swirled around them. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the electric charge of magic.

Suddenly, the energy storm subsided, and the chamber fell into an eerie silence. The circle on the ground was now a pool of blood, and at its center stood a figure – Eve, her silver battle robes without tarnish, but her eyes blazing with the fire of a truly enraged individual.

As Charlotte watched through Air, Eve noticed Justin slumped on the ground, his face pale and lifeless. The Blood Mage had paid the ultimate price, sacrificing himself to summon Eve. Tears filled Charlotte's eyes as she turned to Iantha and Bennie, her voice shaking with anger and grief. Before she could speak a word, Eve’s voice echoed with terrible power, “Show me.”

There was a pause as Charlotte saw Eve read Justin’s mind.

“Such faith,” Eve said as Charlotte saw Bennie’s head to her left snap backward in the distance, searching. The doctor, now a high priestess, cast her silver-tainted eyes looking to where Justin’s summoning circle had been. Eve spoke once more and said, “Such faith makes one desire to make it justified, does it not?”

"It does,” Charlotte murmured as she watched the terrible wounds fade from Justin’s body.

Eve’s position shifted too far above them, where the Elemental Lords watched the battle for Zienfer’s fate. Charlotte let a terrible smile grace her countenance as Iantha said simply from her right, “The Mistress has returned.”

“She has,” Bennie spoke with glee. The high priestess had been limited. Her miracles were potent but, without a direct line, relatively minor.

As the grey-silver dust swirled outward, coating the entire battlefield, Charlotte saw an expression of ecstasy on Bennie’s face.

“Consume and Multiply,” Bennie said with conviction. Shouts of terror began to sound among the enemy forces with increasing vigor.

With renewed enthusiasm, Charlotte prepared for the mop-up operation against the invading forces. Even with the outcome now hopelessly tilted in her favor, Charlotte watched the battle rage on, her side gaining the upper hand swiftly. The clash of steel, the cries of the fallen, and the fury of magic filled the air as the defenders of Zienfer fought to protect their home. There would be no retreat from the enemy forces. In the past, Charlotte had seen what the Outcast Royals, the Church, and the mercenary considered mercy.

She would visit the same on them today.

As daylight burned, Charlotte cast her eyes upwards, linking to the Air above. At that exact moment, the enemy command began to flounder, and the tide of the battle began to turn; she saw Eve. Her ally was fighting against multiple Elemental Lords. Charlotte saw the lords and ladies of Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Space. Eve moved as a terrifying dancer, her sword cutting through the enemy ranks like a scythe, her silver eyes cold and unyielding.

They are dying. Charlotte thought, shocked like villagers armed with sticks fighting a master sword mistress.

Charlotte held her breath as the Elemental Lords sensing their impending defeat, began to falter and retreat. Space was the first to attempt to flee, and Charlotte knew he would return with a vengeance. The Elemental Lord of Space had always kept his eyes on things below her face when they met, causing her irritation.

“They are asking for surrender,” Iantha said to her side. Charlotte didn’t take her eyes off Eve’s fight as she replied, “Surrender? Do they think my Duchy is a playground? Bury them to feed the crops of next year.”

Bennie received the command of her temporary liege lady with a madcap grin. “Reap to sow!”

Charlotte no longer focused on the battle. It was won, she had no doubt now. Instead, it was more interesting to see Eve fight. She saw through Air that the very space around her ally was solid in a strange way. That substantial space prevented the Elemental Lord of Space from escaping. Seconds later, he fell apart in chunks soaking the carpet beneath him in bloody meat. The Elemental Lord of Earth followed shortly after, and that of Fire joined the other two after a pathetic struggle.

“How is she keeping the carpet floating?” Charlotte wondered, feeling along the magic item with Air. There was no worry the Elemental Ladies of Wind or Water would bother her. Their situations were entirely reversed now.

“She’s solidified space underneath it,” Iantha said, using her Sight.

“This is why no one plays poker with you anymore,” Charlotte replied as the massive magical item descended.

“Cowards,” Iantha said, looking up as a square shadow covered the battlefield.

“Ladies, gentlemen, and esteemed guests, it is an absolute honor and a pleasure to stand before you today, basking in the sweet, sweet taste of victory. I, Charlotte, the Duchess of Zienfer, have emerged triumphantly in our little tussle. A most refreshing experience, I must say.” Charlotte replied with a smile. “Now, dear Iantha, when we first embarked on this battle, I had doubts. But alas, here we are, and it seems the universe has spoken in my favor.”

Iantha rolled her eyes at the grandstanding. “Practicing the victory speech to the walking dead now?”

“Ah, the sweet smell of success! Blood, guts, and feces, too, but I’ll take that any day over losing my head.” Charlotte continued digging in with relish. Too often, the Seer had needled her with a perfect one-liner!

“Fine, let us return to the matter at hand. Eve is back; may the world tremble.” Iantha said with aplomb. “Kudzu’s offshoot will finish Rooting, and that will be that. Your lineage is protected by more than mere rumors and words now.”

“Indeed,” Charlotte said as both turned to watch Bennie cast powerful Divine Curses upon the remaining enemies.

“Are you afraid, Charlotte?” Iantha asked.

“No. Eve is a force of nature. I understood that early on. Like all forces of nature, you either bow before it or are blown away.” Charlotte said, paraphrasing the Book of Air.

“Too true,” Iantha said. “Ralph should be happy, at least.”

“We should probably warn him the power gap is greater than he remembers,” Charlotte said, not moving an inch.

“We should, indeed,” Iantha said with a straight face.

“You first,” Charlotte said as the corners of her mouth turned up.

“Oh, I couldn’t interfere with a noble of your stature, milady,” Iantha said.

“You aren’t going to say anything, are you?” Charlotte watched as Ralph took notice of the shadow now blocking the sun.

“Heaven forbids I in any way interfere with what will be a resounding pleasure to hear,” Iantha said as the battle drew close.

“Let’s go meet our strategic deterrent,” Charlotte said before encasing the giggling Bennie in a solid mold of Air.