The Key

The realization of my mother's true nature left a bitter taste in my mouth, a mix of disgust and anger swirling within me. She was alive, yes, but the woman I once loved as my mother seemed like a distant memory. Her heart was filled with contempt and hostility, and the bond we once shared was shattered beyond repair.

Alone in my confinement, surrounded by darkness and silence, the weight of my emotions bore down on me. I tried to hold back the tears, but they streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably. The pain and sadness engulfed me, consuming my thoughts and leaving me feeling utterly lost and betrayed.

Despite the desire to escape and the knowledge that there was a chance if only my body would cooperate, the overwhelming physical pain rendered me helpless. I could do nothing but endure the torment of solitude and the harsh reality of my situation.

Unexpectedly, one of my trusted friends, whom I never expected to be as cruel as my mother, revealed their dark side when I witnessed them attempting to kill Commander Rivalz.

Adding to this turmoil was the realization that I was not human at all, contrary to what I had believed all my life. This revelation meant I could no longer seek refuge with my uncle, auntie, and Elizabeth. Moreover, I discovered that I was destined to be Ludwig's Fate, a revelation that instead of bringing happiness, only deepened my sadness as he chose Princess Amethyst over me.

It had truly been a dreadful day.

As I lay awake, cold and crying, I realized the depth of my solitude. There was no one beside me. I was utterly alone. I wished fervently that I had never discovered Amelia's true identity as my mother, that Leaf was the one poisoning Hiyasmin, and that I was an Elven being unable to coexist in the human world any longer. Learning that I was destined to be Ludwig's Fate only added to my anguish. If I hadn't learned all these truths, perhaps I wouldn't be in so much pain.

I tried to shut my eyes, to numb the ache, to pretend everything was alright. I tried so hard, but my efforts were in vain. I failed miserably.

In defeat, I surrendered to the icy embrace of darkness, hoping it would help me forget.

"What do you mean she doesn't have any presence at all?" The voice echoed so loudly that I had to cover my ears, wincing at Amelia's booming shout.

I was startled into movement, but to my surprise, I felt not restrained. I thought I was tied down awhile ago?

The darkness enveloping me gave way to light, and my eyes widened in shock as I saw my own body lying several meters away. How was this possible? Why could I see myself? Why was I outside of my own body? Had I already died without realizing it?

Amelia entered a cavernous chamber accompanied by Leaf and the Ravager who had previously clashed with Commander Rivalz.

Approaching my cage, Amelia exerted her power, causing it to tremble violently. A massive black flame materialized in her hands and she shook the cage with it.

When my body remained unresponsive to her efforts, Amelia intensified her power, burning the cage until it melted under the searing heat. Despite the agony the flames inflicted on my unconscious form, I remained inert.

I struggled to stand but felt overwhelmed by confusion and helplessness. As my body rolled within the remnants of the melted cage, Amelia attempted to rouse me.

The injuries inflicted by her actions multiplied, resulting in fresh wounds and blood loss, yet my physical state remained unchanged. I remained motionless, my spirit refusing to return to my defenseless body.

"She's not dead," Leaf observed. "But it seems she's also not alive."

Leaf's words confirmed my suspicions. It appeared that I was already dead, which explained why I could see my own body. I examined my hand, but it appeared completely normal. I didn't resemble a wandering spirit in any way.

"I thought you were going to demonstrate her power to us?" remarked another Ravager whom I noticed for the first time. Like the Ravager who had attacked us earlier, he also had horns and appeared human otherwise. However, there was something peculiar about his eyes. The left one glowed red, while the other emitted a golden light.

I felt a strong urge to escape, not wanting to remain in the room with them, especially due to the overwhelming presence of the Ravager. However, knowing that they were discussing me, I forced myself to stay.

"She's one of the Geass," Amelia began cautiously, her hand gently tracing my jaw as she examined my unconscious body.

I reflexively touched my own jaw, watching her closely as she inspected me.

"And what's her Gift then?" another voice inquired.

Amelia abruptly released my head, causing it to thud as it hit the ground.

I narrowed my eyes at her. She might be my mother, but if she was going to hurt me like this, perhaps we should never see each other again.

The desire to flee surged within me, but I hesitated. What about my physical body?

"Abyssal Wayfarer," Amelia announced with a smile to her companions, as though she had stumbled upon something incredibly important and rare.

Abyssal Wayfarer? I echoed in my mind, bewildered by the unfamiliar term.

Approaching the cage cautiously, I strained to see my physical body but made sure to keep my distance from the others.

"Abyssal Wayfarer?" a different Ravager inquired in a new tone. "She's an Abyssal Wayfarer?" It laughed and moved closer to me as well.

Fearful that they might touch me and realize I was still present in spirit form, I stepped back cautiously. Until that moment, I had no understanding of why this was happening to me, but at least I was beginning to grasp some information.

"Are you sure?" the Ravager asked eagerly, its curiosity shining brightly. "She can traverse different dimensions and timelines, and she can transport anyone to other places even if those locations are beyond the scope of teleportation spells?"

Amelia nodded gravely, her gaze locked onto my face. "I first suspected when I discovered she was from the human world. As a Fae, I could sense if there was a portal open, but I felt nothing. I wondered if she might be the child we've been searching for. Seeing her confirmed it. She is the one we've been seeking, and the reason we couldn't find her was because, as it turns out, she wasn't in Quailsham but on Earth."

"How can you be so certain?" doubt crept into the Ravager's voice.

"We witnessed her conjure a void just before we brought her here. The person who struck the void vanished suddenly," explained the Ravager who had previously attacked us, his tone respectful toward the newly arrived Ravager with unique eyes. 

Amelia spoke proudly, "I am certain she's an Abyssal Wayfarer, which is why we've confined her in this cage reinforced with magical barriers. She cannot escape from here. The cage won't allow her body to leave."

Her words sent a shock through me, almost causing me to lose my balance.

"That means she could be a great asset to our plans," remarked the Ravager. "Does anyone else know about her?"

Amelia paused before replying, "Not yet, but I intend to present her as a tribute to our ally, Aetherius."

My eyes widened in terror. Aetherius.

The door suddenly swung open, revealing a dignified man with a prominent scar on his face that made my forehead crease in recognition. It felt oddly familiar, and then it struck me—he was one of Ludwig's ministers, the spy.

As I processed this surprise, my astonishment deepened as another figure entered behind him: Amethyst.

Surprisingly, I didn't feel the expected pain in my chest. It dawned on me that this lack of physical sensation was likely because I was separated from my body. But then a troubling thought crossed my mind—was Amethyst also part of Aetherius?

I had always known Amethyst to have a difficult attitude, demanding obedience and going to great lengths to get what she wanted. However, I never expected her to align herself with such extreme actions. What she was involved in now was no joke. It was serious and horrifying. She was collaborating with Amelia, who had committed mass genocide.

I couldn't comprehend why Amethyst would go this far. Didn't she have Ludwig? What more did she seek? Why ally with Amelia and partake in such atrocities? The motivations eluded me entirely.

The Ravager interjected, "If she truly is an Abyssal Wayfarer, we won't need to wait for any Transcendence to open for our allies to be transported to the human world. We can utilize her ability."

Amelia nodded with keen interest.

I lost track of time, consumed by a deluge of information swirling in my mind. The revelations—from my destiny intertwined with Ludwig, to Amelia being my mother, then discovering my Elven heritage, and now realizing I could create portals—left me overwhelmed.

I sat quietly in a corner, lost in my thoughts as my mind wandered through this tumultuous sea of knowledge. Meanwhile, Amelia persisted in her attempts to rouse me, trying everything she could to bring me back, but so far, her efforts were in vain.

Tears streamed down my face involuntarily as I witnessed my own mother inflicting wounds on my arms in a desperate bid to awaken me and hand me over to her companions.

Conflicted emotions surged within me. Should I be grateful that despite everything she did, my spirit hadn't returned to my body yet? Or should I cry for the agony my mother inflicted upon my defenseless form?

Amelia's actions turned increasingly violent as she slapped my body three times and then delivered a forceful blow to my stomach, leaving me winded. Despite the pain, I knew she couldn't kill me. She needed me alive. If what she said about my abilities was true, then my survival was crucial for her plans.

Her face contorted with anger and frustration as she shouted, but I couldn't see my mother in her at that moment. Physically, she resembled my mother in every way, from her nose and lips to her hair and physique. However, I couldn't find any trace of my mother in her eyes or actions.

Where was the woman who used to care for me, the one filled with love who would embrace me and soothe my tears when I was hurt as a child? I searched for her in Amelia but found only a monster consumed by greed and hatred.

Hours passed, and I remained unconscious while they all left, leaving me alone with my physical body.

Disappointment was evident on Amelia's face, mingled with annoyance at the failed initiation due to my unconscious state.

I couldn't help but smile wryly at the irony. My strange predicament had inadvertently saved me from being entangled in Amelia's twisted schemes, at least for the time being.

Despite her being my mother, I resolved not to join her or aid her in any way. Even if she tortured me, I wouldn't comply. I couldn't bear to harm Ludwig or anyone else. Despite him not revealing that I was his Fate and marrying someone else, I couldn't bring myself to act against him. I couldn't allow Amelia to harm him. She had caused enough pain already. She was the selfish one, the villain in this story.

Perhaps it was right that Ludwig did not choose me. What if he learned that I was Amelia's daughter? That my mother was the woman who killed his father. He would hate me, then leave me. And I knew I could not handle that. I could handle his anger, but I don't think I could handle his rejection. I understood if he really had to marry Amethyst to save the kingdom, but I could not bear it if he left me because of who my mother was.

I was scared to get near my body because maybe my spirit would go back if I got too close, so I just sat on the ground on the other side of the room.

Although I wanted to approach my body and witness the extent of the harm inflicted by Amelia, I refrained from doing so. I knew that if I woke up, Amelia would persist with her plans, despite my resistance, so it was best for me to remain unconscious for now.

Even though they were no longer in the room, I could still hear their hushed voices. Amelia was furious about my current condition. She desired my awakening to prove to her skeptical companions that her assessment of my abilities was accurate. They were eagerly anticipating my ability to create a portal, so they could swiftly transport themselves to the human world and wreak havoc there.

I couldn't help but laugh at myself. I had spent countless nights reading dozens of books, sacrificing sleep to uncover how I ended up in Quailsham. The portals, collectively known as the Transcendence, were believed to be the only means of traveling to the human world. According to the Faes, no portals had opened, leading to speculation about my arrival. Little did I know, the answer was within me all along. I was the key, if Amelia's claims about my abilities were true.

Raising my hands, I examined them closely. Could it be real? Were these hands truly capable of creating portals? If so, did that mean I didn't kill Commander Rivalz but instead transported him to another location out of danger?

Somehow, I felt relieved and hopeful that I hadn't killed Commander Rivalz, but there was still a lingering sense of confusion, sadness, and fear within me.

When the door to the room opened once again, I wearily glanced at the newcomers. Through the small gap in the door, I could see that sunlight was already streaming in. How many hours had passed?

I was exhausted, likely from being separated from my body for an extended period. Weariness seeped into my bones, and I feared that if this weakening continued much longer, I would lose consciousness.

"Why hasn't she woken up yet? It's been three hours since she lost consciousness!"

I couldn't comprehend what Amelia or the others were saying anymore. Darkness enveloped me, and exhaustion weighed heavily on me. Just before I surrendered to my weariness, a loud explosion echoed nearby.

Surrounded by darkness, I felt a chill of fatigue wash over me, as if I were being cradled by the sounds around me. Various tones mingled together, but I couldn't distinguish what they were saying.

Several more explosions rang out, each one jolting me slightly before I was suddenly bathed in bright light.

Once I saw the cage and the ceiling of the room, a few seconds passed without me moving.

I realized that I had returned to my body because I was immediately assaulted by intense pain. I was so focused on the pain that I gasped when I heard a different sound filling the entire space.

The entire place began to shake, and I desperately wanted to know what was happening, but I couldn't move my body due to the restraints.

I forced myself to regulate my breathing, trying to maintain composure despite the panic rising within me as I remembered what I witnessed and heard while I was out of my body.

The fear intensified when I realized that once Amelia saw that I was awake, their plans would continue. To buy myself some time, I closed my eyes again, pretending to still be unconscious. However, my ruse was interrupted by another explosion, causing the bed I was lying on to shake violently. I fell from the bed, and the cage toppled over, sending me rolling across the ground.

Amidst the chaos, a voice called out, "Louise..."