Elysia

Deanna's eyes flickered open with a start and she sat upright abruptly. She felt disoriented as she realized several things: She was in an unfamiliar darkened room lit only by a single wall sconce, she was lying upon a cold marble slab, and she was as naked as the day she was born.

This is not the sort of welcoming I would have expected from Elysia, she thought as she slid to the floor. Her bare feet touched what she at first perceived to be stone, but as her toes touched the ground, she noted the rippling her movement left. Crouching down, she allowed her fingers to graze the strange fluid like material, admiring the pattern they left as they trailed across the surface. How strange.

Deanna glanced around the room, her brows raising as she noted a door that had not been there previously. Cautiously, she made her way over to the door made of heavy polished wood and turned the handle. What she entered into, was unexpected to say the least. Deanna stared out at the sea of purple grass that grew tall and proud, swaying lightly in the breeze that blew. The sky was dark with thunderclouds that threatened to spill the rain that filled them. Lightning flashed in the distance, accompanied by rumbles of thunder. And then it did rain, just not water.

Flames poured from the dark gray clouds, pummeling down upon the lavender grasses, setting the land ablaze. Deanna glanced upward in amazement as she continued walking, thick plumes of smoke began filling the air, yet none of the fire managed to touch her skin, nor did she feel the heat from the flames. Though the air was thick with the acrid smoke, she could breath easily and freely. Without warning, another door appeared before her, and curiosity getting the best of her, Deanna once more turned the handle and stepped inside the threshold.

Her breath caught in her throat as she froze in place upon fully taking in the room she was in. There was no mistaking the altar that was alight with thick black and crimson candles, no denying the golden bowls filled with blood, offerings from her faithful. A statue in her likeness stood behind the altar, gleaming onyx draped with scarlet silks. Slowly, Deanna made her way to the altar, as she had done so many times so long ago, and placed a hand upon the cold granite.

“Have you returned to me at long last, my wayward daughter?” The voice that echoed in the temple was seductive, yet laced with darkness and death.

Deanna turned to face the goddess whom she once worshiped as her priestess, had loved as a mother, had trusted before the betrayal. Her features were as hard and cold as the altar she rested her hand upon. “What are you doing here, Sharay?”

The goddess' smile was brilliant as she stepped out of the shadows toward Deanna. Hair the color of the shadows hung in a silky curtain down her back. Her skin was as pale as moonlight and gleamed in the soft glow of torchlight, the curves of her lush form were clearly obvious under the diaphanous cream colored gown she wore. All in all, Sharay was lovely to behold save for her eyes, deep bottomless pools of glittering blackness that could devour a man's soul. Or a woman's.

“Where exactly do you think 'here' is, my daughter?”

Deanna's scowl deepened as she stared at the goddess. “Do not call me your daughter. You lost that right when you betrayed my love and trust.”

Sharay waved a hand in dismissal. “Such trivial matters, really.” She shrugged as she dipped a slender finger into the bowl of vitae that decorated her altar. The crimson liquid ran in fat droplets down her fingernail as she brought it to her lips, her tongue flickered out to taste, all the while her eyes fastened upon Deanna. “How quickly you forget, my sweet, that it was you who defied me first.”

Deanna glared at her. “He was not yours to enact your revenge upon. He was mine. You had no claim to him, Sharay. It was me he betrayed.” Deanna hissed vehemently before she stilled as the room suddenly grew colder. “I had no claim to him?” Sharay's contempt filled voice lashed across Deanna's skin. “He was my servant before whatever ridiculous proclamations of love were offered to you, stupid child! He defiled my temple, my Order, him and that slut sibling of yours. His insult was grave! You were to bring him and that whore to me for punishment,” Sharay's voice lowered to a purr then. “Yet once more, my defiant one chose to exact her personal revenge instead of that of the one she served.” The dark goddess paused then, anticipating Deanna's reaction. “You speak of my betrayal, Deanna. What of yours?”

Deanna advanced upon the goddess, fingers curled into claws as she reached for her, but clawed nothing but air as Sharay disappeared from her sight, her laughter flooding the temple. “You got your revenge in the end, didn't you? Didn't you?” Deanna shouted as she whirled around, seeking out the one she loathed most, who haunted her dreams. Sharay reappeared behind Deanna, ivory fingers snaking through her hair and yanked the therianthrope's head backwards, her icy lips brushing against Deanna's throat. “I did,” she whispered as she held the shifter close. “The sacrifice was suitable payment as far as I was concerned. The debt was paid, your sins washed cleaned. I forgave you, my love.”

Deanna felt her chest rise and fall with each breath, icy ropes of fear and panic gripped at her heart, only to be replaced by vile hatred. “I did not even know what was happening, until that first sharp pain tore through me, but it was too late. Your priests came for me in my time of weakness to bring me to you. I begged and pleaded with you, my dark mother, but you ignored my cries. I sobbed and begged you help me. You were so beautiful even then, even as you did nothing to save...” her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, yet she could not managed to choke out the rest of her words.

“Did you really believe, my foolish child, that I would allow you to get away with your treachery without any punishment?” The Goddess' words were a lash to Deanna and she visibly flinched at the cold reality. Sharay released her then and Deanna whirled to face the dreadful deity. “Punishment?” Deanna spat at her. “I served you faithfully! I trusted in you! I killed for you! I did everything for you, and one small act of disobedience, and you set out to destroy me!” Deanna's amber orbs were reddened and glassy with tears. “I hate you. More than I have hated any living creature in my entire life.”

Deanna angrily swiped at her eyes. “When I first woke, I thought I was with Elysia, but now I realize upon seeing you here, I am in Chaos.” She turned to face the goddess for confirmation, who smiled and nodded in response. “I shouldn't be here. I don't belong here, not with you.”

The goddess sighed. “So cruel, my beloved. Truly you wound me.” She placed her hand upon her heart rather dramatically. “Ah, but you always were a cruel heartless child, were you not? And so bloodthirsty too!” Sharay's onyx eyes twinkled with amusement as she inched closer to Deanna, a few inches away as she tucked a strand of hair behind the therianthrope's ear. “My beautiful, perfect, child who worshiped me with all she had. My most faithful....servant.” Her smile widened even as Deanna turned away in disgust.

“A servant no longer, Sharay. I learned my lesson the hard way and have been paying for it ever since.” Deanna watched as dark curling tendrils of what she took for smoke began to rise from the ground, weaving their way around Deanna's form. The goddess grinned as more and more curling forms of darkness shrouded Deanna. “And will continue to do so, apparently. You are, and always will be, my love, a servant of Chaos. Why do you continue to deny it? To fight it? You accepted that role the moment you pledged yourself into my service, became my high priestess, accepted your role as my daughter.” Sharay explained.

Deanna lifted one arm as she calmly watched ebon tendrils encircle her arm, brushing against her flesh like a lover's caress. “I do not belong here with someone like you,” she repeated as if somehow convincing herself of a different truth.

The goddess laughed cruelly. “Truly you cannot let go of the past, can you? I betrayed you,” she drawled. “Because of me, you mistrust all deities, isn't that right, Deanna?” Deanna's jaw squared as she knew where Sharay was heading with her jeering manner. “Tell me, love, whose name did you speak before you drew last breath, Deanna, hmm? Was it that wolf or the vampire? You know, the two you proclaim to love most in this world?” Brilliant white teeth flashed as her smile widened upon seeing Deanna stiffen in response. “Yes, my sweet, I know of them. I know of everything that involves you, for you are mine. Now answer me, whose name did you utter?” Sharay continued on, enjoying Deanna's obvious displeasure and pain as she continued on relentlessly while Deanna remained silent. “You whispered her name, not mine yet where is she?” Sharay turned, her arms spread wide mockingly. “I thought you despite all gods, still you called to her? I don't see her, Deanna. Even she has abandoned you.”

Deanna's eyes were somber, her voice quiet when she finally spoke. “I called to Elysia because I am tired Sharay. I wanted my freedom. I wanted her to take me home. It was Elysia who could make that happen. That was all I wished.”

The dark goddess tsk'd. “My poor, naive daughter. When, Deanna, have you ever gotten anything that you have wished for?”

The tendrils of smoke now solidified around Deanna's body, an iridescent shade of black liquid substance that covered her from her neck downward. Deanna spent a moment or two watching the darkness envelop her, and when she lifted her head, Sharay was no longer present. A loud thunderous sound was heard, deafening Deanna as she clutched at her ears, and she could suddenly feel a scorching heat surround her. For a moment, temporarily blinded, Deanna cried out in fear and panic.

When all was quiet once more, and all she could hear was the thudding of her own heartbeat, only then did she open her eyes. Darkness still lingered close to her, making it difficult to make out any discerning shapes. Despite her keen eyesight, she strained in the near blackness to see. She felt something cold encircle her wrists and realized that she was being shackled by some strange form of stone chain that rooted itself within crystallized ground.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and somehow, she could sense she wasn't alone in the room. She could feel the presence of someone or something close by. Very close in fact. The chains began to clink as Deanna furiously began to yank on them, but it was of no use.

She wasn't going anywhere.

A single glowing orb appeared in the darkness, teal tendrils of smoke drifting from its cerulean surface. "Do not be afraid," a voice offered, then the eye blinked out.

The fire had stopped pouring from the sky when they dragged Deanna from the darkness of Sharay's chamber, screaming and flailing. The chains were thick and made of stone, and no matter how the woman resisted she was yanked out of the frightening chapel and back into the grasslands. Thin lavender leaflets had sprouted from the ground and offered a variety of blue flowers to the heavens, but they seemed ignorant to Deanna's shocked cries as her chains guided her through the dirt and sprouting grass. There was no way she could keep up and her feet trailed behind her, thrashing against the earth.

"Dohja solakin!" The voice demanded. Whatever dragged Deanna stopped and chains rustled to the ground.

Deanna lifted her eyes and saw before her a dead man - but surely that wasn't a surprise, seeing as she was also slain. With such names as the Seer or the Prophet of Ae'Vescra one might expect a glorious figure robed in gold, yet Djarin was meager and unassuming aside from his fierce gaze. A single brown eye regarded her coolly. His right eye glowed bright, and pale blue smoke drifted upwards towards the heavens.

"Welcome to Chaos, my lady." Djarin studied her. "No doubt you're .. confused. I am too, to be quite honest." He spoke the common tongue, a language he'd never known as a man. Then again, he wasn't a man, was he? He was a spirit. "Disregard the chains.. and our servants."

There were no servants to be seen, but their steps could be noticed in the fields as they paced around the pair. A snarl or growl could be heard occasionally. Aside from that the creatures remained entirely invisible.

Her chains trailed into the violet grass and ended harmlessly. They were made of thick granite, and seemed heavy enough to drag down any normal man. Yet they were as difficult to lift as the thinnest of gold necklaces.

"Such chains saved Blend. His flesh died a hundred deaths, yet he still lives. They say stone is the antithesis to Chaos. Men build castles of stone to protect themselves from it, and here we build chains. Come with me." Djarin motioned into the alien landscape. "There is much I can show you... and much you can show me. Chaos awaits us both."

Lightning sputtered across the sky and droplets of fire began to pelt the grasslands.

Do not be afraid.

Deanna stared at this orb, this being of sorts, her chin tilted in defiance as she yanked against her chains in anger. “Is this supposed to frighten me?” She challenged. “This is all you have to offer? Childish parlor tricks?”

Suddenly the stone chains freed themselves and Deanna found herself pulled along, dragged really, like some beast of burden, an animal. Her cries of protest went unheeded, and Deanna did everything she could to resist the invading presence that forced her body to move against her will. The previous scene of the meadow where fire rained from the sky changed as the sky glowed with such a radiant brilliance, and the most beautiful, most perfect of azure flowers sprouted from the earth. Deanna had no time to admire such beauty as her chains tethered to some unseen force continued to pull her along despite her cries to stop, her pleas falling once more upon the deaf ears of Chaos. Deanna stumbled as she tried to keep up, tripping over her own feet as she vainly attempted to anchor herself to the ground.

The sound of the authoritative voice, in a language that seemed vaguely familiar to her, shouting out a command finally ceased the involuntary movement, and her chains dropped without fail before her feet. The therianthrope's chest heaved as sought to catch her breath, her wrists raw from where fey stone scraped against her skin. I know I am dead. I should feel no pain, yet...

Amber eyes under a thick fringe of dark lashes finally lifted to view a figure whom she should have been surprised to see once more, but did not. Deanna stood proudly, her arms akimbo decorated with her chains, the dark tendrils of Chaos still swarming her naked form. Those predatory eyes of hers locked with those of Djarin, one brown, one the blue orb that wafted hazy smoke upward to the sky.

Djarin seemingly no longer required a translator as he spoke in the language that was native to most of the populace of Aleris. He welcomed her to the realm of Chaos and acknowledged her confusion as well as his. Deanna remained silent as the 'servants' he spoke of, beings that remained hidden from her vision, surrounded them. Deanna could hear their footsteps, could feel them as they moved behind her as a cold prickling crept up her spine. Her chains, once so laborious to lift, even one who harbored strength as hers, were now as light as a feather as she raised her arms up in awe. The clinking sound they made was no longer of stone grinding against stone, but of the sweetest music Deanna ever heard.

Djarin spoke once more to her, explaining the purpose of her chains, the stone that repelled Chaos from devouring her spirit, since it had already claimed her flesh. “This is some mummer's trick, is it not Prophet?” She asked as he motioned for her to follow him across the alien landscape. The shades of darkness that swirled around her covered her nakedness, though truthfully, Deanna was indifferent to her lack of modesty in front of this stranger called Djarin. “Some illusion created by Chaos. To show the beauty in the destructive nature, is it not?” Deanna raised her eyes to gaze upon the firestorm that began to rain down upon them once more.

Deanna kept her stride with Djarin, the two appearing as they were taking some common stroll through a grassy field, only this field promised death instead of serenity. “I do not belong here, Prophet, however familiar I am with Chaos. I assumed upon the release of my spirit from my physical body, that I would drift into the open arms of Elysia to slumber my eternity in peace.” Her lips twisted grimly. “It would appear that I am wrong. Chaos, undoubtedly, has some purpose for me, for I would not be here if not.” She tilted her head as she considered Djarin. “You are a servant of Chaos, are you not Prophet? Is that why I am here then with you, to be a servant as well?” Strangely, the idea did not seem unappealing, simply not what Deanna had anticipated when she breathed her last breath.

For reasons unknown to her, Deanna reached out one chained hand and sought Djarin's within her own. If she was going to descend into madness, into pandemonium, in the abyss of infinite disorder, she would not do so alone.

Djarin would remain by her side for however long her stay would be.

When Deanna finished speaking, Djarin allowed a moment of silence while they walked through the terrain. He thought about her cold touch on his palm, about how he'd lost his hand so long ago and how he now felt so many wonderful things with it. Even a woman's touch, he thought as his smile lingered. Only in Chaos will you walk with a woman through fields of fire.

"Do you remember how we met?" Djarin looked over to her as they walked. The ground crunched underfoot with the sound of cracking glass. "I remember. I had dragons with me. And sailors. We'd walked through a tunnel in Chaos to find you, a tunnel made out of Order. I had come all the way from Heruin. You took the revelation, and now you are here. Do you know that moments after I saw your face, I walked in Chaos and it saved my life?

"Come, I want to show you something."

Djarin led Deanna through the landscape. The wilderness grew more mountainous, but the mountains were made of black ice. Great trees stretched towards the heavens, and they grew thicker as the pair walked through the bizarre environment. The trees grew taller and the mountains larger as they made their way down a pathway.

As they walked, Djarin couldn't help but consider their brief interactions. They made unlikely friends, he realized. If it wasn't for the revelation, she probably would have killed him any one of three times - first when he approached her with dragons during the tidal wave disaster, again when he conspired to approach the king, and finally when he did approach the king.

He finally spoke, still making his way through the thickening woodlands. "You asked me earlier if you are here to become a servant of Chaos. You have been, your whole life." The trees were alive, and swayed slowly as they walked by. Their leaves made a rustling noise above. "We are all servants. The question is if we are willing, or not."

They came to the opening of a cave. A waterfall covered its entrance, but the stream flowed uphill and was made of a thin airy liquid that seemed eager to escape from the ground. Instead it coursed up towards the pinnacle of the mountain.

"You think Chaos is destructive? Not all of Chaos is. It's equal parts creative." He sighed and looked towards his right hand, which still held hers. "I lost my hand when I was alive. But it allowed me to touch spirits, to show them the path. My eye.. I lost it when I killed Blend. He's alive, and I was granted the gift to see spirits.

"You see, everything I touch is destroyed. And yet it will be reborn, stronger. It's my nature. But that isn't necessarily your nature, is it? Tempesturo works in a multitude of ways."

He led her into the mouth of the cave. "Within resides a creature I fondly call the Laser-Bear, after a jest. It's not in fact a bear. It's a guardian, as am I. As you might become. We called it the Guardian of Chaos. It has advice well worth its price." The creature had been a great crystalline bear the first time he'd seen it. The second time, it was a wolf with a black pelt of cooling stone. The third time, a monolithic man sat cross-legged in the fields of Chaos. He honestly didn't know what to expect inside the cave.

Djarin's pale blue eye lit the way.

Everything I touch is destroyed.

As they walked into the depths of the cave, their eyes adjusted to the dimness. Djarin's right eye wasn't the only source of light in the dark cavern - small rivulets of airy water seeped from the ground and up the walls, and it was speckled with red organisms which glowed as they wormed their way through the liquid. The walls seemed to sparkle with life.

The air was thick and moist, and as they came into a wide opening streams of this alien liquid poured from holes all around the cavern. They gave the room a vibrant red glow, and Djarin reached out with his left hand and touched some of the water curiously. It behaved just like normal water, but instead of going down, it wanted to go up.

Within the center of the twinkling cave was a black monolith, twice the height of a man and three times the width. Its surface was unbroken, and it rested in a pool of dark plasma. The energy sizzled and splashed against the monolith, absorbing light even as it released electricity. Four feet of this chaotic energy separated Djarin and Deanna from the monolith.

It will be reborn, stronger.

Djarin looked to Deanna. In the bizarre lighting of the cave, her face seemed splattered with a myriad of colors. Reds and oranges, and here and there the brief blue, danced across her beautiful face. It's no wonder she inspired so much desire and conflict between men when she was living. Such a face could start a war.

Djarin looked to her chains, watching as they crumbled away into dust. She was free. For a moment, Deanna appeared fascinated (or perhaps disturbed) by the removal of the chains, and her eyes were filled with questions unanswered when she looked to him. Djarin simply nodded his head towards the center of the room, his eyes on the mysterious stone statue there.

A shape appeared in the middle of the obsidian monument which dominated the room - a circle. The sphere creaked open and a single red eye peered out from within the stone. It looked around the room, then locked on Deanna hungrily.

Destruction is in my nature.

"I am sorry, Deanna. We all must make sacrifices."

Before she could react, Djarin yanked her hand and sent her flailing into the pool of destructive energy that oozed around the monolith. Fire sizzled and cracked, and green flames grew around the obelisk. Grey smoke began roiling from the spitting pool that Deanna's spirit flailed in, but Djarin only watched calmly as Chaos did its dirty work.

Tempesturo works in a multitude of ways.

The cave was mysteriously beautiful and terrible at the same time. She was enamored of such dark beauty, and did little to hide it. Deanna took tentative steps away from Djarin as she peered around the cavern, marveled by such unearthly artistry. Chaos could be a thing of beauty indeed.

It was the monolith that drew her attention away from the living organisms in the cave. The polished obsidian stone reflected her image as she stood before it. She stared in awe as the dark fluid that encompassed the monolith began to crackle and sizzle, a brilliant display of electric light, and Deanna began to believe that the monolith was alive as it pulsated with energy.

She paid no heed of Djarin as she regarded the block of darkness with curiosity, longing and a bit of fear, though she was acutely aware of his presence nearby. Somewhere during the time that passed, her wrists were no longer decorated with her chains. Surprisingly, Deanna didn't feel the elation she assumed she would have at the possibility of her freedom. The chains, she knew, were an illusion. Had she not been shackled to Chaos prior to her death, she would have already rested in the welcoming arms of Elysia.

A circle suddenly appeared in the black stone, and the monolith began to split and crack. An eye appeared and stared back at Deanna who reached out a hand to touch it while simultaneously stepping forward, unable to resist having found herself drawn to such a foreign entity.

“I am sorry, Deanna. We must all make sacrifices.”

Deanna's hand lowered and she was about to turn, ready to question Djarin's comment when his hand clamped down on hers and she found herself struggling against the pool of thick plasma. The fluid material burned against her skin and she saw Djarin through an obscure haze of vibrant green flames and the smoke that accompanied. She sunk below into the depths of the murky fluid before she had the chance to cry out to Djarin.

Never had Deanna felt so much pain in her life. Her entire body felt as if she were being flayed and burned alive. Her mouth opened as she screamed, but no sound could be heard as the plasma material poured down her throat. Her corporeal form was somewhere in the land of the living, her spirit was what remained of Deanna, yet she felt as if she were dying all over again. The deadly wound she received from Terra was nothing more than a paper cut compared to what she felt now.

I am being slowly devoured from within.

The pain was intense, agonizing and she could feel herself internally melting. She wanted nothing more for the torture to end, the suffering she felt to cease.

Cease your struggling.

Deanna complied immediately, though what possessed her to obey the disembodied voice was unknown. Daring to open her eyes, she could clearly see the eye that had peered out of the monolith staring back at her in the sea of blackness. One voice comprised of the souls of thousands spoke to her as, despite her agony, Deanna managed to still herself briefly.

Help me. Her thoughts implored. "I'm dying...

You are already dead, the voice uttered without compassion. Therefore, you cannot die again.

I am in pain. So much terrible pain. Deanna flailed around the plasma once more, attempting in vain to reach out to the eye as if it would assist her.

That is simply you shedding the mortal aspect of your soul. Mortals, you all seem so attached to your skins, your memories of what you once were. Such denial and refusal, and you wonder why you all suffer so.

Even as she burned Deanna began to swim towards the eye. I am suffering because you make it so.

Even now, you deny yourself truths, child.


What truths? Deanna cried out in her mind. I did not willingly go into the pool. He flung me in against my will!

My servant, Djarin. This is so. You claim you did not come on your own accord, yet you did not refuse him when he wished to reveal truths to you. You claim you did not go willingly into Chaos. You believe you are here accidentally, is that so?

Deanna was silent in mind as well as body as she ceased struggling.

The eye, the being of Chaos began to glow in hues of red and orange, illuminating around her form. Here is the truth that you deny, child. You are destructive by nature. You are mystified by your life and the disorder that accompanied it, but never stopped to consider that you have and always been drawn to Chaos. You clung precariously to the foolish belief that one day you would find the harmony you 'sought' in life, but the truth is, Deanna, you never truly sought it, never truly fought to achieve it. You managed, without even realizing it on a conscious level, you repelled and rejected this 'peace' you craved, instead choosing to revel in Chaos. You deny your very existence, your very nature.

This is what you are. This is what you have always been.

Slowly the burning began to subside as Deanna listened, acknowledging and finally accepting the reality of what was being told to her.

Is the truth really so difficult to accept?

Moments passed before an answer was given.

No.

Then you finally accept that you are a servant of Chaos?

No.

The voice was silent.

I am no servant.

You are a fool if you believe what you claim. You are a servant, as much as Djarin is. He accepts what he is. Perhaps more persuasion is required for you to do the same.

Deanna floated in the fluid liquid, her hair streaming outward around her face. I accept the truth of my nature, but I tell you truly, I will not serve.

The voice of Chaos was silent once more, for so long in fact that Deanna had thought it had finally left her.

You wish to return to your mortal life?

No. Deanna shook her head. I knew the price I would pay when I took up sword against Terra Vale. I had no illusions that I would survive the fight.

Was your life so pathetic, then?

Deanna's featured hardened as she managed to float closer to the eye. My life was not pathetic, nor meaningless. Regardless of all that I have done, I have no regrets.

Then why end your life? Were you unable to find purpose?

Deanna closed her eyes and nodded. Yes.

There was no mistaking the smug tone in the disembodied voice. Excellent. For too long you fought your nature, pretending to be something, someone that you are not. Indeed your life was meaningless, Deanna, but if you can prove yourself patient, I promise you, you will have purpose.

Amber orbs peered out under heavy lids as she regarded the eye curiously, her lips parted to question the meaning of the words.

You will receive no answers from me, child of Chaos. Not now. You may have shed your mortal skin, traces of your humanity on your soul, but much lingers on. You cannot serve until you are cleansed.

I told you, I will not ser-

Your wishes are of no consequence. It is simply the matter of what will be. We are finished here.

The eery orange-red glow suddenly disappeared and Deanna found herself rising to the surface where Djarin stood waiting for her. The therianthrope climbed out of the pool, rivulets of black liquid traveling down bare skin. However long she remained down in the abysmal pool was unknown to her, nor did it matter. It was time for her to leave. When she stood before Djarin, she regarded him for a moment in silent consideration before finally speaking.

“Thank you my brother. Perhaps I will see you soon.” Her features were expressionless and she made no move to embrace him or offer what was revealed to her.

Deanna nodded once to Djarin before walking away toward the cave's mouth. She would see him again, of this she had no doubt, but for now, her place was elsewhere. When she stepped outside, she found herself surrounded by bluish-white foggy light. The air felt cool against her spiritual form and Deanna stood among this cloudy haze, her head tilted upward.

“Elysia. Take me home.”

As Deanna stepped out of the cave that Djarin brought her to, the world around the therianthrope began to flicker into a hue of bluish-white foggy light. Behind Deanna, the cave that reeked of all things chaotic disappeared completely. As Deanna would continue walking onward, she would find herself surrounded in a field that was covered in a thin dusting of white. Light snow fell from the sky, but it never seemed to build up on the ground. From the earth, flowers with cerulean colored, petals almost crystal like in appearance, bloomed beautifully despite the snowy conditions. Clearly, it was unlike anything Deanna might have seen and felt before. The snow strangely enough was not cold, but instead adjusted to Deanna's skin and fell gently across her bare flesh.

After a few minutes of Deanna's footsteps carrying her forwards, she would come face to face with a wooden cabin the middle of all of this. It was small and quaint looking, though the windows were decorated by blue and white stained glass formed into the shapes of snowflakes. Behind these windows, one could see there was a flickering of light within the cabin as if someone was home. Before Deanna could reach for the door knob of the cabin, it had opened for her.

Stepping inside, Deanna would be met with a comfortable looking fire in the hearth rather than the chaotic fires she had seen earlier. The room was otherwise empty, save for a plush looking seat that was wrapped in black colored velvet and a wooden table. After the door shut behind Deanna, a noticeable weight was draped over Deanna's shoulders. Elysia was behind Deanna suddenly and had placed a fur blanket upon the therianthrope which would allow Deanna to cover herself should she so choose. With a guiding hand upon the small of Deanna's back, Elysia ushered Deanna to the chair where the therianthrope could sit. There was much they needed to talk about.

"Deanna, first, please forgive me for being late," Elysia said as Deanna would sit down. "Considering the situation, Aleris' Goddess of Winter has been quite busy."

It was an almost amusing thing to say. Elysia was sure that Deanna was certain of how much death had occurred after Grand City's battle, as the shifter had fought during a good portion of it before succumbing to her own death. The factor of Chaos had also detained Elysia from bringing a struggling Deanna to her sooner. Unfortunately, Chaos and those minds plagued by it was not something Elysia could heal so easily; instead it was really up to the person if they wanted to be cured and to be at peace. Deanna, as she sat patiently, may have been unsure of what she wanted and Elysia could only guess Chaos had tried to do a number on the therianthrope while the Goddess of Winter was not present.

"Actually, I was quite surprised... For the many times you have cursed my name in the past, it was me who you called out to upon your death and to take you home," Elysia said and then she gestured with one hand to the small room about her. "So, I welcome you home. I know, it may seem rather... bare and vacant. For others, when they come here this room is often filled with their personal memories, trinkets of their past life, but for you Deanna, I thought this room would be better left empty at the moment. You have so many things in your past haunting you and holding you back from finding your true self. Consider this blank slate a respite, a sanctuary if you will, and as you rest here eventually things may appear as you remember what was important to you. After all, you did proclaim to Chaos that you were unable to find purpose. This is something I do not believe. Every being has a purpose, however small it might be. The sad truth is that many die before they can carry out this purpose."

Elysia's hand dropped back towards her side and she studied Deanna with her dark colored eyes. "No doubt you have many other questions. Some I can already give you the answers to, the others you are free to ask as you wish. For now, there is something you need to know about the Dark Goddess Sharay. When she intercepted you upon your death, Sharay made a mistake and weakened herself. Her greediness overcame her and she has forgotten that if a deity tries to steal souls from another realm, they have forsaken themselves. Sharay is lucky enough that she did not get held captive here; instead she has a permanent mark of burned flesh signaling banishment from this realm. Such marks are the tattoos of foolish gods; those would turn themselves into thieves. Sharay has no hold over you now, nor did she in the past when you stepped foot onto Aleris and claimed your allegiance by praying to me many months ago."

The Goddess of Winter moved back towards the table and sat down on it, crossing one leg over another. For a moment, her eyes drifted towards the fire. It was not her favorite element in the world, but this particular fire did not bother Elysia and for those lost souls who came to her, it was but a gentle comfort she could offer them. Outside, the snow fell steadily still, a constant reminder that Deanna was indeed in Elysia's domain and under her care. Elysia turned back to face Deanna, nodding to the therianthrope.

"You were also right to let Chaos know that you are not a servant," Elysia said. With a soft smile she added, "I am not exactly sure who the Agent of Chaos was trying to fool. You are quite the proud and strong individual even in death Deanna, despite how you may have felt fearful earlier. This is only an illusion Chaos wanted you to feel. Let me tell you something else about these so called 'Servants of Chaos'. Djarin, and many others, are lured into delusions thinking there is such a thing as being a 'Servant of Chaos', but in reality, there is none. Chaos is an unbridled and unrestrained force; it does not have time to pick and choose its servants. These helpless souls are actually working on their own accord, blinded by their own lust to cause misery in Aleris. Think of Chaos as... Mother Nature. While Mother Nature can be both beautiful and alluring, it can also be destructive and take millions of lives with it. But it is in no way driven by the hands of chaotic individuals; it is instead driven by the hands of fate. My brothers and sister could tell you a thing or two about this also had you have called to them instead of me."

Elysia slid off the table, her booted feet landing gracefully on the wooden floor. She moved closer to the hearth and ran her hand along the top of it, keeping her eyes on Deanna.

"To be honest Deanna, I was unsure at first if you belonged here or not with me. There were many times since your coming to Aleris where you took lives without mercy when you did not need to. As I'm sure you know, I am not just a Goddess of Ice and Death, but a Goddess of Compassion also. It is a little known fact to many that with death there should be compassion and I dare say that when you killed as many as you did, there was little compassion to be had. Nevertheless, I also believe that this was not entirely you acting on your own accord either. I'm aware of your past, Deanna, and I do think you are capable of acting otherwise. There is something very strong inside you though, some deeply rooted emotions of anger, mostly fueled by your other half." To this, Elysia pointed to Deanna's heart, referring to her were-hyena form. "Which, in the end, is why I believe you do belong here - to learn about yourself and to learn about compassion. Ultimately, compassion for others does not make you weaker, but stronger. This is why this room is empty, Deanna. If you weren't able to tell, your inner-beast is no longer with you. I am allowing you to choose which things you want to remember and which you want to shed. This room shall be your canvas."

As she moved away from the brick fireplace, Elysia stepped towards Deanna and bowed down momentarily to place a kiss on the forehead of her possibly confused child. After, Elysia moved back and stood straight, nodding gently at Deanna.

"Now, I'm sure as many others do, you have some questions for me?" Elysia said slightly tilting her head in curiosity. Truly, she was always interested in hearing what the recently deceased had to ask. "I will be happy to answer anything."

There were no words to describe the beauty of the field she found herself in. This was Elysia's doing, she thought as she spun around slowly to admire the fey landscape. Snow fell in soft white flakes and landed lightly upon her translucent skin. She was careful as she took each step, not to crush flowers in all shades of blue that decorated the green grassy carpet below. There was a light dusting of flakes upon the grass, yet they did not bother her as bare feet carried her onward into this magical field. Never before had Deanna enjoyed or appreciate winter weather, but now, now was a different matter. Now she could not feel the cold, now she did not feel the ache in her bones associated with prolonged exposure to icy and wind.

It was breathtakingly lovely. It was Elysia.

The smile on her pale lips never wavered even as the snowflakes began to build in her dark hair, and widened even as she came upon the cabin that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Deanna took the opportunity to marvel at the quaint charm of the cavern, from the reddish brown of the cedar from which the cabin was built, to the gorgeous stained glass windows in the shape of snowflakes. It was a sight to behold indeed. Deanna arched a brow at the door that opened without the aid of her touch, beckoning her to enter, for which she did without hesitation.

A fire burned, red and orange flames danced within the hearth, the wood crackling was soothing music to the otherwise silence, bathing the cabin in a warm glow. There was naught but a comfortable looking chair and simple table made of the same cedar as the structure. It was simple and unadorned, as was she. She heard the door close quietly behind her and suddenly felt a blanket of soft furry warmth enveloping her. Deanna did not need to turn to see who her visitor was, for she knew at once it was Elysia. The woman drew the fur around her naked form even as she felt the subtle pressure of Elysia's hand guiding her forward toward the chair where she took her seat.

“There is no need to apologize to me, Elysia,” she murmured softly, fully aware of the Goddess of Winter and Death's responsibilities concerning the recently dead, considering she was now a full fledged member. Deanna felt Elysia's steady indigo gaze upon her and for reasons unknown to her, she lowered her gaze to stare aimlessly at her hands, feeling rather uncomfortable in the presence of the deity. Deanna noted how deathly pale her skin had become, death seemed to have instantly stripped her of the perpetual tan she had acquired in life. Veins that should have been a perfect shade of blue under the tender flesh of her wrists and the undersides of her arms, appeared a prominent black, a sight that was rather disconcerting to her.

Idly Deanna wondered if the dark tendrils of Chaos that had once surrounded her, had somehow managed to seep within her spiritual form. When she finally lifted her gaze to meet that of Elysia's, Deanna shifted some in her fur. “You already know where I was taken before coming to see you here, don't you?” A foolish question to ask, for she already knew the answer. Elysia seemed to be aware of her discomfort, and said nothing in response. “To be honest,” her voice had lowered to a near whisper, “I am no longer sure I belong here.” It was the truth and Deanna meant every word of it.

She listened with quiet intensity as Elysia began explaining the reason for the cabin and its sparsity. A blank slate, the Goddess proclaimed. A chance to sweep away her past, her memories and begin anew. Inexplicably, Deanna felt a burning in her throat, her eyes misting over with tears that would not fall as she nodded her thanks, not quite trusting herself to speak.

When Elysia uttered Sharay's name, the terrible Goddess she once loved and worshiped, her dark mother, Deanna shuddered visibly. To hear that the vile Goddess was now nothing more than a bad memory (or none if Deanna wished it so) was a burden that had been lifted from her soul. It was Sharay who shaped the latter part of Deanna's life from the events of her past, even if the wicked deity didn't have a particular handle upon it in the present.

Elysia was lovely to behold as she smiled at Deanna and explained the situation regarding Chaos, Djarin, and the idea of servitude. Although not quite convinced of Elysia's words, it was comforting to hear all the same. That comfort did not last, for even as Elysia announced her own uncertainty regarding the specific place where Deanna would spend the Afterlife, Deanna had to sadly agree. She did call to Elysia, many times in the past frankly, but never was one so heartfelt than the fervent plea to the Goddess just before her last breath. She couldn't even begin to explain the reason why, just knew with clear certainty that it was Elysia she last thought of as her own life's blood began pouring out of her body.

Nor was there any denying the heinous acts and crimes committed by Deanna, in Aleris and worlds beyond. Thrice in her life, Deanna had brushed with Death, and thrice somehow, someone deemed her worthy to return to the land of the living, for whatever purpose was deemed necessary. This last and final test with her own mortality would prove final for her, and for that, she was grateful. Deanna's eyes widened a fraction as Elysia continued speaking, revealing her knowledge of Deanna's present actions, as well as past. It should not have come as a surprise to her, still a wave of shame fell upon her and she cursed herself in anger as more tears spilled from her eyes.

I do not deserve your forgiveness, Elysia, or your compassion. The words were there, in her heart and mind, but she was unable to give them voice upon her lips. When Elysia tapped at her heart and intoned that her beast, the hyena that had been a part of her for the last several years of her life was no longer with her, Deanna let out a sob. Whether it was from relief or grief, she couldn't be sure, but the sadness was there all the same. Had she a mirror to peer into, she would see that the once amber glow of her eyes had faded into the simple hazel green color she was born into this world with. Her beast was gone, and she was so very alone.

It was Elysia's words that declared the cabin Deanna's canvas, her blank slate to decorate or to leave bare. It was an opportunity for her to remember or to forget completely. It was a chance for her to live in peace. Deanna wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand and peered around the cabin once more. She could decorate it with memories, items of her past, or she could leave it in its spartan state. It was her choice. Only hers.

Her hazel orbs closed briefly as she felt Elysia's light kiss upon her brow, and as Elysia withdrew, Deanna could feel a lingering coolness where the Goddess' lips touched her skin. Deanna couldn't seem to gather her thoughts, or rather what was left of them, to answer Elysia when prompted to ask any questions she could think of. Did she even have any? The situation was pretty cut and dry. Deanna would spend her eternity here in her cabin, choosing exactly how to live out her time. She was no longer mortal and therefore did not require food or drink to sustain herself. There would no longer be wars to fight, no more hurt to have to overcome, no more emotional turmoil.

She felt a ripple under her skin, a charge of electricity that ran through her form, fleeing from her as soon as it passed through. She smiled then.

Deanna finally stood, her nude form shielded by the fur provided by Elysia and shook her head, her dark auburn tresses shifting against her face, her back. Her eyes were dry, her voice was devoid of emotion as she spoke.“I thank you, Elysia for all that you've done, but I have no questions at this moment. I understand all that you've said.” She nodded to Elysia before returning to her chair, drawing her legs up near her chest. She curled herself against the velvety softness of the chair draped in her fur, her gaze focused upon the hearth.

And watched as the fire slowly burned.

A dark mist gathered shape as it traveled along the field of flowers and snow covered ground. It had taken weeks before the entity was able to access the realm of Elysia, the land of the death that the Winter Goddess claimed as her own. Only time, perseverance, and a thirst for vengeance had fueled the entity in its nonstop quest to formulate such a plan to defy the Goddess.

The “false goddess” as far as it was concerned.

The cabin remained as it had been when Deanna found herself led to it, as Elysia had offered her final embrace so that the fallen warrior might finally find peace and eternal rest. The entity paused at the window, annoyingly decorated in the shape of a snowflake. How cliché.

Before making its entrance, it observed the slumbering form of Deanna as she lay curled upon the plush velvet chair, enveloped in furs. The fire that burned at a steady pace in the hearth bathed her in a warm glow, yet cast shadows upon her serene features even as she slept. As Elysia had left her, so had the entity found her for she had not moved from her spot in the weeks that she had arrived. The cabin remained as it was when Deanna had first entered, an empty canvas. No traces of her past life, her memories or mementos had decorated the spartan wooden structure.

How very interesting.

The entity in its mist form, easily slipped under the doorway and found itself hovering over Deanna as she lay motionless, her eyes closed. She appeared so peaceful, so comfortable and warm.

The entity observed that though the woman slept, she did not sigh or shift position. There was no rapid eye movement under the delicate lids that covered eyes it knew should be amber in color, no rise or fall of her chest for she no longer required breath to sustain her. As the mist brushed against her pale cheek, it confirmed what was dreadfully suspected: all traces of Deanna’s bestial form, the hyena that had been a constant part of her very being for the past several years, was now wiped away and Deanna was as pristine as the cabin she resided in.

Did she dream? Was it possible to be in such a deep state of sleep that one did not dream at all, merely succumbed to the sweet, sweet dark? The mist swirled once more in anticipation of invading Deanna’s subconscious. It had plans for this child.

The mist grazed against her spirit, nearly recoiling as it felt Elysia’s mark upon her. This would not do, not at all. It forced itself to push deeper and was met with a barrier. Some sort of metaphysical wall blocked it from entering Deanna’s state of being any further. The resistance to her subconscious was no match for sheer will. The mist probed and forced itself within further; shattering the shield that guarded Deanna’s most private of thoughts, wishes, and dreams. There was a moment of triumph as it sought out something useful.

There was nothing.

The entity was puzzled. Within the confines of Deanna’s mind, was a sea of nothingness. Not a single thought, not a brief memory, not a fleeting emotion.

Nothing. She was as empty as the cabin.

The mist retreated from Deanna’s form, swirling throughout the cabin in a fit of rage before disappearing in the flames where it calmed. It was patient. It would wait. It had waited for so long already, what was another few days, weeks? There had to be something lurking deep inside her mind, and the entity would find it eventually.

It waited. It watched. The spiritual form of Deanna did not stir an inch. She did not open her eyes and awaken, therefore ignorant of its presence.

Time, in this particular plane of existence, truly has no meaning, but if one was to attempt to measure time, then three days had passed. The fire continued to burn though no wood had been fed to it in weeks. The room remained barren, and Deanna still had not awakened.

Once more the entity swirled in its misty shrouded form, and reached out to Deanna’s mind. It lingered on, forever searching, yet always lacking. The child simply erased all that was known to her. Her life, her memories, her feelings were gone, as if they never existed. As if she never existed.

The mist shimmered in agitation. If its plan was to work, there had to be something, some small shred that could be used. Onward it searched and searched, and there it was. So brief, a split second of a fragmented image, that had Deanna been projecting, the fragment would have gone undetected from the human eye. For whatever reason, it appeared like a shining beacon of light in the dark, and was gone before one could even notice it had been there.

The entity saw though. It was enough. It could not smile with satisfaction, but the sensation was there. Slowly, as to not disturb the sleeping woman, it withdrew from her subconscious, yet lingered upon what remained of her spiritual form.

Time for the restoration to begin.

The entity was not nearly strong enough to complete its plan in entirety; still enough energy remained to manage the task at hand.

The mist covered the woman, shades of darkness that swirled and formed around her, with but a single speck of light in its midst. What was plucked from the abyss of Deanna’s mind was suddenly infused with the energy of the entity, given meaning and purpose once more, but brutally thrust inside the woman once more.

There, child. You are whole.

Deanna stirred some at the invasion, her brow furrowing in distressed before smoothing out, and she appeared at peace once again.

It was time for the being to take its leave. There was further work to be done. The knowledge it had gained would fuel its purposes, and time would be required before all would be complete.
The mist swirled and fled the cabin, leaving the slumbering form of Deanna alone.

For now.