“How is she flying?” Tabitha questioned with a puzzled look at the pixie’s wings. “Her wings… aren’t even attached to her back.”
“Huh… hmm… you almost look like her…” Vale said with narrowing eyes. “But… no. You’re not her. You don’t fit the description correctly. Nope. She’s not you.”
“What are you talking about?” Mika asked shaking her head.
“I thought you were Mika Harollson,” Vale replied with a shrug. “My mistake. Sorry about that.”
“I am Mika Harollson,” the woman replied cautiously.
“No you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not,” Vale stubbornly argued. “Mika Harollson has two eyes. You’re wearing an eyepatch. Plus she’s a monster hunter. She wouldn’t be hanging around monsters like this. You’re not her, so quit trying to lie to me by saying you are.”
“I am her. I lost my eye from The Sisterhood,” Mika explained.
“But… then why are you sitting here with monsters and not hunting them? You’re a monster hunter, aren’t you?”
“I’m not a monster hunter, not anymore,” Mika replied lowering her head. “I’m just out here as a sorceress seeking redemption. If you have any business with me then spill it, otherwise please leave me be.”
“You… you really are Mika Harollson?” Vale wondered. She looked around to see the group nodding at her, then back to Mika with a puzzled expression before she slowly showed great surprise. “You’re… Mika? You’re Max’s sister?”
“Max?” Mika exclaimed. “Did you say Max? You know my brother?”
“You’re her,” Vale realized with a hop. “Oh my gosh, you’re really her. I found you. I found you! Hooray!”
“What are you talking about?” Mika shouted at the excited pixie. “How do you know my brother? Where is he? Who the hell are you?”
“This day isn’t a total letdown after all!” Vale cheered before she eyed over the puzzled woman. “This is amazing. I didn’t expect to find you here of all places, but I’m not complaining. It’s so good to see you, I’m so glad you’re okay. Well, mostly okay. Losing your eye… that’s not really okay. But at least you’re alive. Yeah, so that’s something we can be excited about, right?”
“Oh my god, stop blabbing about nothing!” Mika yelled at her. “Tell me where my brother is right now!”
“He’s in Shadow’s Refuge,” Vale answered, with Mika then staring at her in stunned silence.
“Shadow’s Refuge?” Forrus repeated.
“I’ve heard of that place from my mother,” Hollia recalled. “Yes, I believe that’s a sanctuary hidden away in our land.”
“It’s a monster sanctuary,” Tabitha mentioned. “Located on the southern border of Koskaysil. My aunt was once a resident there.”
“Mika’s brother is in a monster sanctuary?” Rulo snorted. “Poor kid.”
“My… brother,” Mika shakily uttered. “Is… in Shadow’s Refuge?”
“You got it,” Vale agreed with a hop.
“How did he get all the way down there?” Mika demanded. “How could that be possible?”
“I brought him there,” Vale replied with a shrug. “It was no trouble at all.”
“You… what? You kidnapped my brother?” Mika cried out.
“Hey, that’s not what happened!” Vale argued, pointing to Mika with a stern expression. “…okay, maybe it sort of was at first, but that wasn’t intentional. Okay, maybe it sort of was intentional, but not for the reasons you’re assuming!”
“What have you done with my brother?” Mika roared, grabbing the pixie and shaking her in a tightly formed fist. “Why did you take him to Shadow’s Refuge? Tell me!”
“To save him!” Vale cried out as she was shaken back and forth. Mika stopped and looked at the pixie confusedly as Vale groaned with rolling eyes. “So dizzy… so dizzy… so dizzy…”
“What do you mean to save him? What happened to my brother?” Mika demanded.
“The Sisterhood… attacked your home,” Vale sputtered before catching her breath. “I was passing by when it happened. Me and my friend got your brother out of there, as well as two monster children who were with him. Now please, stop making everything spin so fast… ughh…”
“Two monster children were with your brother?” Sasha asked.
“An elf and a centaur,” Mika softly remembered. “That’s right.”
“Mika?” Hollia questioned. “Your brother was friends with an elf and a centaur?”
“Aeon mentioned that when we first spoke,” Mika admitted. “She said a centaur and an elf wound up in his company somehow. The centaur was from Ruhelia, and the elf was from Green Haven.”
“And you believed her just like that?” Rulo dryly asked. “You really are gullible, aren’t you?”
“There was a centaur buried behind our house,” Mika retorted, with the girls showing surprise to that. “Three copycats there were killed by an archer. Aeon’s story seemed to check out pretty well. Those two kids sought refuge with Max after The Sisterhood attacked their homes.”
“Your brother took in a centaur and an elf?” Forrus wondered.
“Yeah… he did,” Mika softly said as she became lost in thought. “I was surprised to hear that too.”
“What did you say?” Vale groaned shaking her head. She blinked a few times before looking to Mika with pleading eyes. “Look, your brother is fine, okay? Shadow’s Refuge isn’t just a sanctuary for monsters, humans are welcome there too. Your brother is perfectly safe there, I promise. Now please let me go. I saved his life, you can’t treat me like this! Let me go, let me go!”
Mika released the pixie while staring at her in wonder, watching the flying girl straightening out her kimono before scoffing at the human.
“Geez, you need to calm down. I know things are going to hell out here but that’s no reason to lose your temper like that.”
“My brother… is really okay?” Mika worried.
“Yes, he’s perfectly fine. He’s safe and sound in Shadow’s Refuge as we speak.”
“Max…” Mika whimpered, tears forming in her eye as she felt a wave of relief washing over her. “Thank god he’s still alive. I was so worried about him.”
“He’s going to be so happy to hear you’re alive too, Mika,” Vale empathized with a kind smile. She looked around then moved closer to the woman. “Where are your sisters? Max said he had two more. Mae and Milly. Are they around here?”
Mika looked to the pixie with a heartbroken face before lowering her head and shaking it slightly.
“No, they’re not,” she mourned, with Vale’s smile quickly vanishing. “The Sisterhood… killed them both.”
“Killed them? But… but they’re Harollsons,” Vale worried. “Everyone knows how strong you girls are. You’re famous monster hunters. How… how could…”
“The Sisterhood killed them,” Mika cursed. “They ambushed us in Nibelvale. We weren’t prepared to fight so many at once like that. Mae and Milly… they were murdered by a scorpia and a witch.”
“Nibelvale,” Vale gasped. “I know about that place. But it’s all gone now. It just vanished somehow.”
“That’s because of me,” Mika told her. “The Sisterhood… they took my sisters, they killed every human in that city. There wasn’t a reason for me to hold back any longer. So I didn’t. I used every bit of power I had to try to avenge them.”
“Wait, are you saying you’re the one who wiped that city out?” Vale wondered.
“She did indeed,” Hollia agreed. “We caught the show from close by. She used quite a lot of her magical prowess and leveled the entire city to the ground. Took out most of those wicked fiends in the process.”
“Unfortunately the witch and scorpia that claimed her sisters’ lives weren’t included,” Sasha mentioned. “They fled the scene after we approached Mika.”
“Wow,” Vale softly said. “That does sound like something a Harollson could do. But… oh dear
. Max isn’t going to like hearing about this. One sister lost an eye and the other two lost their lives. He is really not going to be happy about this.”
Mika wiped away her tears then looked at the pixie curiously as the tiny monster floated in place before her.
“What’s your name?”
“My name is Vale. I’m a caregiver at Shadow’s Refuge.”
“My brother… he’s going to be alright where he is, right?” Mika worried.
“Of course,” Vale promised. “Shadow’s Refuge is built on hallowed ground. It isn’t just a monster sanctuary; it’s a sanctuary for all, including humans. I swear that as long as he stays inside those walls nothing bad will happen to him. None of the monsters we have for residents will lay a hand on him. He’s as safe as can be there, I couldn’t have brought him to a better place in all honesty.”
“I’m thankful for what you did,” Mika gently praised. “I really am. I was so scared when I saw what remained of our cottage. I feared the worst for him.”
“Yeah… sorry about your home,” Vale sheepishly said away from the woman. “The Sisterhood really wrecked the whole place when they attacked your brother. I mean all of that was entirely their fault.”
“Not all of it,” Sasha spoke up, gaining their attention. “The monsters we found there were slain quite well by her brother’s saviors. I feel confident in assuming you and your mystery friend may have had a hand in the destruction we saw there. Am I right?”
“Well…” Vale hesitantly said. “The important thing is Max is safe. Let’s not get sidetracked from that crucial detail.”
“Way to dodge the blame exceptionally well,” Hollia dryly mentioned.
“Anyway, let’s go see him,” Vale said to Mika. “I can take you straight to him on this very night. I’m sure he would be thrilled to see you again. Not so much for what happened to you and your sisters, but he’ll be grateful to at least have you back.”
“Thank you,” Mika softly replied before lowering her head. “Thank you for the offer, but… I can’t go back with you. Not yet.”
“What do you mean you can’t go back? Mika, your brother has been missing you so much, he’s been so worried about you. You have to come with me and see him.”
“I can’t, not yet,” Mika worried shaking her head. “Please, I just can’t face him yet.”
“But why not?”
“I… have something I must do out here still,” Mika shakily told her. “I’ve made some bad mistakes, Vale. I’ve done things that I can’t forgive myself for. I have to do what’s right and correct these faults of mine before anything else. I’m sorry, but I just can’t face Max yet, not after all I’ve done.”
“But, Mika…” Vale frowned.
“Please, I need to do this to make things right, especially between me and Max. You don’t have to understand, I don’t expect you to, just know that I cannot return to him until I redeem myself. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself otherwise.”
Vale looked around at the others, seeing only solemn faces remaining silent near the campfire, before turning back to Mika with a quiet sigh.
“Well, I can’t force you to come back with me,” she reasoned. “I only came out here to check on Green Haven, the elven child I mentioned was worried about her home and people. Now she’s going to have even more cause to be upset. But when I return with dire news for her, what am I to say to Max?”
“Just tell him… I’m still alive,” Mika answered. “You don’t have to go into any further detail than that. Just that you heard I was still alive. When I do face him, when I’m ready for it, I’ll tell him everything myself. You don’t need to bear that burden. Just please, take care of my brother until I’m ready to face him again. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I hope you’ll honor my request, if at least for his sake.”
Vale ruffled her hair with a low murmur as she considered the request then nodded with a small smile at the woman.
“If that’s what you wish,” she conceded. “We’ll keep him safe until you return. He’s more than welcome to stay with us. You know where to find us whenever you’re ready. I hope you don’t keep your brother waiting too long.”
“Thank you, Vale. For everything you’ve done for my brother, thank you,” Mika dearly said.
Vale nodded and started to float upward, the pixie glancing around at the others near the campfire before she stopped and turned to Mika with a curious smile.
“I have to say, I’m glad to see you’re getting along with monsters now.”
“Why is that?” Mika asked.
“Otherwise it would have been an even more awkward conversation between you and your brother when you do see him again,” Vale winked with a giggle. “Aside from myself, he’s made quite a few friends with monsters. Especially that young centaur that’s with him.”
“Lelu,” Mika recalled. Vale looked at her puzzled before the woman shook her head quickly with a weak smile. “Um, my sister Mae met her briefly, mentioned that she was Max’s friend. But she didn’t see she was talking to a monster then. Lelu, that’s her name, right? She’s who you’re talking about, isn’t she?”
“You got it,” Vale answered with a nod. “In fact, Max even admitted that she’s his best friend. Glad to know when you reunite with your brother you won’t hunt her afterwards. We were kind of worried about that scenario.”
“He said that about her?” Mika wondered. She looked around to see the others watching her curiously before turning up to the pixie again as she was at a loss for words. Vale giggled and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say a word a bright streak of light zapped through the air into the campsite and struck the pixie with a blinding flash.
“AHHH!” Vale shrieked as she was thrown back into the rocky wall, her wings cracking from the energy surge with the top right corner of one breaking off entirely.
“Vale!” Mika cried out. The group saw the pixie drop to the ground smoking while the piece of her wing that snapped off dissolved into small cubes of light. Vale whimpered as she tried to move, her antennae giving off electrical zaps while her kimono was scorched clean off her left shoulder.
“What was that?” Hollia demanded, quickly standing up and snatching hold of her spear.
“Vale!” Mika called out, rushing over to the pixie and holding a hand over her.
“Who’s out there?” Rulo shouted as she and the girls quickly got up, all of them peering into the darkness that surrounded their camp. Tabitha and Forrus scanned the area before they both locked onto the same thing, with Saffron also noticing it as she squeaked and pointed at the culprit while reaching back into her satchel.
“Are you okay?” Mika worried.
“I can’t… feel my face,” Vale whined as she struggled to move. “Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.”
“That was uncalled for,” Daemon said as he walked out in front of the group. He and the girls watched as a soft white glow was seen floating in the dark, the strange light wavering slightly before it began slowly approaching them. The sound of hooves clacking along the ground was heard, with all the fighters remaining on guard as the assailant calmly came towards them.
“No,” a sly woman retorted. “That was indeed called for. That little pest is going to die. It is quite necessary. Do yourselves a favor and leave this place while you still can.”
“I don’t believe we’re going to be doing that,” Hollia snidely remarked. “She was kind enough to save Mika’s brother after all. The least we could do is not throw her to the wolves.”
“Wolves?” the woman laughed as she came into view from the fire’s light. Daemon kept a sharp eye on the newcomer while the girls showed puzzlement from what they were seeing.
“That’s no way to speak to your fellow sister,” the centaur replied, stepping forth into the light. She stood taller than Hollia did, her fur being soft white on her legs and horse body. Her tail was colored black and stuck out behind a cover that rested over the back half of her body, the silver stitched dress havi
ng golden embroidery near the ridges and a black center that bared an odd white diamond crest that appeared irregular and broken. The cover only reached down to her knees however a longer black loose-fitting stocking was covering her rear left leg entirely. Her human half wore a white sleeveless vest that was left completely open with large golden rings pierced through her nipples. Around each of her arms was a black armband bearing the same white diamond emblems, around her waist was a golden and silver belt also adorned with the same crest, around her neck was a spiked choker with a round bell attached to the front, and on her head which had very long locks of smoothly combed raven hair was a circlet made of bright silver. Her eyes were crimson like blood, her smile was considerably dark and unnerving, and she wore a steel bracer on her right wrist while the one on her left had golden chains attached from it to a steel guard worn over her middle and index finger.
And in her grip was a spear by design, however it did not come from the centaur homeland nor any typical blacksmith. It was a larger pole, with its end having not a typical steel blade but rather something far more ominous. It was gigantic, easily being the size of the centaur’s upper body alone. The razor-sharp end was constructed out of a strange yet familiar metal that everyone had seen before, the same indestructible metal that was forged for the entrance to the City of Eden. It was polished dark steel with glowing white engravings running through it, the blade’s center having an ominous silver glow to it, and the handle displayed spiraling white markings running along it towards the bottom where it had a sharpened end.
“Come now,” the stranger urged Hollia with a wicked grin. “Aren’t you going to speak more kindly towards one of your own? Such horrible manners. And here I expected a warmer welcome from a fellow noblewoman. Hahahaha!”
“What… the… fuck?” Tabitha managed to say.
“It’s a centaur,” Forrus cautiously remarked.
“That’s a pretty big spear,” Scay marveled.
“What kind of spear is that?” Hollia spoke in disbelief. “Who… who in Eden are you?”
“Cataclysm,” the centaur replied with a fanciful wave of the hand. “My name is Cataclysm. It was my master’s choice, one that I hold close to my heart. But that is no concern of yours. What is, however, is getting in my way. Stand aside, this is your final warning.”
Chronicles of Eden - Season II - Act I Page 8