Whispering Darkness

Natalia Camryn's POV

8 years ago, I suddenly awake to a large room along with other young women. Our ages ranged from 15-18 (from the looks of it), and for some reason... I couldn't remember who I am. Imperial Soldiers escorted us out eventually, and apparently we were all part of some illegal experimentation conducted by High Alchemist William Cray. We were safe now, they said.

We didn't know who we were and where our families resided, and so some of us (including me) resorted into serving the Empire through the holy church. The others set off on their own paths into searching for the truth.

38 out of 300 did just that.

I didn't know what happened to the rest, but me and 4 others were assigned to serve under holy Archbishop David Delphino. We stood in line, waiting for something to happen while he inspected each and every one of us. After that, he named us one by one, and with each bearing the same name as the villages in the South.

"Xylan Frey"... "Eliza Liberte"...

"Glace Verdi"... "Lucy Runewood"... and of course,"Natalia Camryn".

He got us to train with the most well known assassins in his time, namely Damien Morozov and Gladys Kailen. From dawn till the set of sun, we were forced to run as fast as we could from the top of Mt. Heraia to the plains of Whestphal, with the hounds chasing right behind us.

We learned how to survive in harsh environments and temperatures. We learned how to craft the tools necessary in order to survive. We were placed in an arena to fight against dangerous prisoners who committed serious crimes against the King. We were even severely punished when we failed at one of those tests.

And we did that for 5 years, until the day of testing has begun. During those 5 years of training, Lucy had enough... and so she deserted, never to be seen again. It was rumored that her body was found severely mutilated deep in the Quebecian Forests, but there really wasn't any proof... and so we just assumed that she has found her place in the truth as with the others... well, that's what the Archbishop said anyway.

The hardest training of all, was when they made us kill each other. We were led inside a huge, stone room with no openings except that of the door and the ventilation for air to pass. There was some kind of circle drawn in the middle, and so we wondered what kind of test this was. That was when the trainer, Captain Reginald Blade, stepped forward and closed the iron door. He opened a small hatch just big enough for his voice to be heard, and what he said was far more horrifying than the ones we fought all those 5 years.

"The perfect assassin knows no friends... she knows no companion.. nor ally.. nor family.. nor lover.. and she will be willing to sacrifice everything (even herself) for the sake of completing the mission." He says before clearing his throat for another round. "A weapon is hidden inside the room, and the clock shall be set to 5 minutes."

"Within these five minutes, you must fight each other, leaving only one to leave the room alive and victorious. Any dirty tricks will be overlooked, but if no progress is made within the given timelimit, armed guards of the Church shall enter and slay ALL of you there. That is all."

And in those 5 cruel minutes, the 5 years of trust building and friendship was broken. I didn't want to fight the sisters I grew up with, and so I avoided each of their attacks while they continued killing each other. Eliza was the first to go down, dying with a broken neck. Xylan, with tears on her eyes, sets her sights on Glace. I pleaded for them to stop whilst trying to find the weapon (I thought that once I grab hold of it, I would gain the upperhand and will not suffer any disadvantage...) and force them to stop fighting.

I managed to find a small gap from within the wall and removed the fake stone that hid the weapon. It was none other than the legendary Golden Claw. As I turned around, relieved to have found the weapon, Xylan tackles me, sending the weapon straight towards the ground.  I immediately tried to stand up, however Xylan was one step ahead of me. She knocks me out using a swift kick to the head, and when I finally regained my vision, she already held the claw in her hands.

"What about the things you said?" I asked with a desperate will to survive. "About escaping this wretched organization and going to the new world?"

She wiped off the tears that she gathered in her eyes and equips the gloves, which responded by glowing like a star in the night sky. "I will honor that wish, and bury your bodies on top of the highest mountains of Dawn. But for now, I can do nothing but beg for your forgiveness."

I was about to embrace my fate with a smile, looking at the sister who always looked up to me. The little sister who I always wished to protect.

But the glowing stopped, and she dropped to the ground, the life in her eyes fading away as the light did on the Golden Claw.

I stood there in horror, trying to prevent myself from being too nauseated. The door opens, and the Archbishop... our father... steps inside with a couple of guards by his side.

"I expected as much, Natalia." Father said. "Those who kill by the sword shall also be slain by it. Those words still hold true this very day."

"B-but... she..."

"The Golden Claw is the perfect weapon for the perfect assassin, who is capable of using and protecting it." He says, helping me up my feet. "However, it is tainted... forged by a madman.. a witch. It is an evil tool that is coated with all things good. It brings destruction and envy."

"And before the Holy Church could place its hands on it, the sorcerer imbued upon it a very powerful magic spell, saying... 'The first man who equips the claw shall be a part of the claw.' "

"And for many years it has been kept in this very room... for the perfect assassin to claim it... she who knew no family, ally, companion, friend, love and defeat..." He continues. "But there's more."

"She who has made the ultimate sacrifice... the sacrifice of blood."

.

..

"Natalia!"

I awoke to the sound of Tigreal's shouting. He closes the door behind him and grabs my hand.

"W-what's going on?" I asked after I had snapped out of my sleepy state.

"It's happening." He says while closing the curtains. "And it's time to go, dear."

I nodded and reached for the secret switch that opened the floorboards... and from there, I grabbed the Golden Claw and head outside with the one who saved me.

_______________________________________

???'s POV

Throughout the known universe, great civilizations have risen and fallen due to the unpleasant truth that nothing in this entire life truly lives on forever. I, along with my entire race, have long believed in this ancient philosophy, and although we can live up to a thousand years... we still vanish.. and die. Extinction happens to every specie unfortunately due to certain weather or insufficient resources... however, we plan to change that. Atleast I did.

My people have suffered the same fate as the other creatures before us. Our sun's core was destabilizing, and thus sent numerous heatwaves that wiped most of civilization. Instead of fleeing for dear life with the technology that my race has long developed, the monarchy simply chose to stay and accept their fate. The sun gave up giving heat but surprisingly did not blow up as we had predicted. Instead, it just consumed itself bit by bit until only darkness remained in its place. Dark times were ahead, and mass suicides were committed all over the Kastiyan Empire. Some of the Empire's planetary colonies rebelled and separated to escape extinction, but they were easily dealt with sfter they were obliterated by a massive cannon fueled by some strange but powerful enemy.

And that's how I and a few others in the security department came in to play. After knocking past several Guards, we finally reached the deepest part of the Empire's dungeon, where the unknown fuel resided. We were hoping to control it and force the monarchy to its knees, THEN escape from this dark world. But it was more than that.

The mystical fuel was held inside a huge chamber, and was nothing but crystals in a staff. After securing it, we finally learned that an ancient spirit called the "Domorey", was trapped inside these very crystals...

The one who wields it... wields the entire universe.

I quickly blasted my comrades in order to take the staff. Those men would do nothing but use it for pleasure. But I was different. I shall use this to save our race!

After delivering a successful revolution, I named myself 'Zhask', the King of all  Kastiyans and ordered everyone to board the remaining Interplanetary Spacecraft that was available.

I was able to divide the Domorey into different drones while keeping the largest portions from within the staff. I then sent the spirits out to scout for other worlds that may be of use to us.

And for 2,000 years, that was how we survived. We proved the monarchy wrong by surviving... however we couldn't find a home suitable for our needs. Most of the planets were either too hot.. or too cold for my kind... and even though their resources was sufficient enough to last us all these years, it wasn't THAT enough. We have lost countless lives in searching for a new home with only little to no success.

However, that all changed when one of my scout drones went missing. It was impossible though, since the crystals would always find a way to return to the mother gem regardless of both physical and mental barriers... unless something much more powerful than those things kept it from returning.

It has returned now.

We have set sights on a little blue planet 200 lightyears away. Not too hot. Not too cold. Suitable for my kind's needs.

We will do whatever it takes to reach it... no matter what resistance may face us. We have found salvation. We have found resolution. We have found our destiny.

We have found Earth.