The jewel; our radiant light, they wished to extinguish you, I cannot allow our Empress to meet her demise this way, Forgive me Seraphyn but you must leave. Be strong, your highness.
The last memories of her homeland, the sky falling in rains for fire. Demon kings rode their chariots of human remains, infernos trailing behind them, their hellish stallion’s howling and screeching could be heard echoing all over the city. The palace gates had succumbed to the attack, the army of darkness ravaged the courtyard, slaughtering all those she knew and loved. Fleeing seemed like a cowardly response to the attack, especially since everyone went to the front lines to barricade the entrance from those foul fiends. Up in the highest tower she had one last glimpse of her beautiful city of Illysanoor, engulfed in flames, the screams of the residents would forever haunt in her memory. She failed them. If not for the heroic deeds of her court Mage, she too would have had her head on a pike, but fate seemed to carry her from her war torn land to another, strange, yet just as terrifying world.
It had been hours since she had fallen from the portal, her face laid nestled in foliage of the forest floor. Nikkalyn had been unconscious for some time, the memories of her past traumas repeating in her mind. With a sudden gasp for air she awoke. Opening her eyes the empress looked around at her surroundings, unsure if she should be comforted or frightened by this silent serenity. Slowly she brought herself up to a seated position, giving herself a few moments to adjust to her body. Something seemed off, she felt different. Lifting her hands, she ran her finger along her arms, the sensation of her own touch fascinated her, but that fascination turned to fear once she realised. “Oh no, I am mortal!” She shrieked. These emotions, this fear, anxiety, this was all new, and there wasn’t someone around to explain to her what was going on, or even where she was.
The Empress dove deeper into her shock of what had happened, her heart rate pulsing through out her body, and her breathing quickening. What did this all mean? Never had she left the palace before, even as an immortal she did not feel comfortable to venture anywhere alone, but now that’s all she was- alone. While it was not appropriate for an empress to show vulnerability she begun to cry, clutching her chest, her heart feeling like it was going to race right from her chest. Attempting to compose herself, she closed her eyes, trying to let the breeze’s whistling soothe her nerves. The wind did not simply carry it’s own melody but the sounds of running water.
Budding her lips together she hadn’t realised how parched she was until the sound of running water whispered in her ears. Gently she rose, her legs wobbled a bit, again another symptom of her mortality. She took baby steps, not exalting herself or risking taking a tumble. Persistently, Nikkalyn took her time but made it to a gushing waterfall. Standing in awe, she simply watched the water tumbling down, and array of hues reflected from the water as the light struck it. “Beautiful,” she softly exhaled. Once she had taken in the beauty, she made her way to the waters edge. Kneeing down gracefully she dipped her dainty hand in the water, cupping a small amount of water, and then brought it to her lips. Once she had quenched her thirst, the Empress laid down in a bed of grass, and just gathered her thoughts.
Everything she knew, everyone she loved, gone in an instant, and now where was she?