Danafall

-Back on the Isle-

--Lia's Perspective--

I often remembered my times in the swamp and right under Orion's Castle. I think of those days as the worst days of my life, even if I'm only thirteen, they will forever be the worst days I've ever experienced.

Tavian had walked out of a room up in his Redwood Base and instantly hid me away in one of the rooms set off to the side of the base, hidden away from Sky. Although Tavian explained my backstory to Sky, he fears it won't be enough. Understandably so, I don't think I deserve to be seen by Sky right now as is.

"I'm sorry I left you with Ellie, but there was no other choice. Lily is okay, but I don't know where she's at on this Isle. I hope that news was what you wanted to hear." Tavian told me. I nodded, looking down at the ground.

"I don't know if you're aware, but the end is nigh. Once I'm done here, I plan to start forming a plan to fight back against Orion. I'd love it if you were on the front lines. Our force would remain eternally strong if you stood with us." He told me.

I giggled, "You don't have to flatter me. I would fight with you, Tavian. You saved my sister, after all." Tavian nodded, pouring me a glass of water.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come back for you, and I'm sorry you had to kill my family. I don't despise you for that, just so we're clear. I know it's what you had to do to survive, and I've accepted it." He said to me. My expression turned sour as tears fell down my cheeks and onto the ground below us.

"That man… Orion, the things he's done. He shouldn't get to live. Why can't anybody just kill him already?" I muttered.

Pent-up hatred slowly started to release, and Tavian consoled me, placing his hand on my back and rubbing in circles.

"That's going to change very soon. The end date is approaching, and this world has gained a new fighter as of a month ago. That White Stone everybody keeps ostracizing, Sky, he's going to help us fight against Orion. I wish he could truly understand the pain Orion inflicts, without having to actually suffer through it of course." Tavian commented. I nodded, realizing I caused him the first experience of pain he's probably felt.

"All those years of suffering are going to end in a matter of three weeks. For both of our parents and our friends, their deaths will have meaning in the end. We will win this, and Lia, you and I will triumph over his body in the end." I nodded at Tavian's point, peering down at a man running down in the forest.

"Who is that?" I pointed, and Tavian began analyzing the person as well.

"Is that… Sky? No, that's Carl. What is he doing running towards Orion's base?" Tavian asked with concern.

I instantly thought he would try to betray us, but that wasn't who Carl was, right?

"I'll send Ellie to intercept him. Lia, you stay in this room, do you hear me?!" I nodded, peering down at Carl some more. He didn't pack any food, so he didn't plan on being out for too long, but what about water? What was he planning to do?

He obviously used the elevator, but I couldn't analyze anything that would've given away his motive. As I turned around, Ellie started to pound a mace against her hand while staring at me.

"Lia, right?" As soon as she said that it began to click in my mind. That was Ellen… Ellie's twin sister. How the hell did she find us up here?

"Chill out, I won't attack you. I understand the disadvantage I have right now. I just want to discuss some things with you… like, perhaps, Lily's location?" Ellen reached into her backpack and threw out a severed arm. I felt myself get more and more impatient with her. I have my weapons, but could I best her in combat?

"Now, where should I begin, Lia Danafall?"

…

…

…

--Carl's Perspective--

Looking straight ahead, I could see Orion's castle from the bottom of the forest. All I had to do was walk there with no weaponry and offer to talk about things. As individuals, we know nothing about Orion at all. We've seen him once standing around while Sky fought off the other White Stones, so I need to believe we're misjudging him.

In the grand scheme of things, Orion could be misjudging us just like we are him. We have no relevant evidence other than stories from untrustworthy people. If I can talk to Orion, no more people have to die.

I just barely cleared the Redwood Forest and started to look up at Orion's castle. It stood high up on the glacier. The top ledge of the glacier blocked most of it, but I could see a tower with a thin line forming a peak above it. There was a perfectly well-kept staircase leading up the glacier, which made my journey really easy.

I walked up the steps, running into several people on the way.

"Oh? I don't remember seeing you around. What's your name?" I stopped by an old lady who eventually started a conversation. I was nowhere near the peak of the castle, but I could ask her for help.

"I'm Carl, ma'am. Say, is Orion in? I'd like to speak with him." I told her.

She stared at me blankly for a few, "I'm sure he is, you'll just have to go up the glacier to catch him. He should be getting ready for dinner right about now," she then told me. I nodded and thanked her, continuing my journey forward. I was surprised at how much closer we were to Orion's. Sky's theory happened to be wrong, we were about an hour-long walk away from Orion's main base.

I continued my journey up the glacier and could see some soldiers training in the courtyard. Before long, I could see the soldiers turn to me.

"Eh? What are you doing here?" A short, skinny girl with bleached hair began talking to me.

"Do you know me?" I asked her. She put her hand on her hip, scanning me from my head to my feet.

"Yeah, of course, I know you. You're the man that killed some of Raven's Fleet. Why would I not know you? I was there, after all." She explained to me with a disgusted look. I sat in shock. She was right. I had brushed off the fact I killed some of those people.

"T-They were attacking me… they took the first shot, that was self-defense purely," I confessed to her. The girl shrugged.

"I don't care enough to hear your excuses. Coming here was suicide, you should've been smart enough to realize that." She told me. She drew her sword and the crowd of swordsmen behind her started to stare in our direction.

"I-I didn't come here to fight! I want to talk about a solution… something to stop the killing." I admitted to her. She laughed, closing the distance in one fast burst while running.

"This Isle is a wasteland! To think you could resolve by acting civil and moral is the stupidest thing I've heard of!" She yelled out. The girl put her sword against my neck but was stopped by a shout up above the two of us.