Chapter 4

Love And War

Deep in the empty chambers of Lacuna's center, two sharp blue eyes glimmered in the night. A soft clatter echoed through the icy halls, its somber tune slow and graceful. Two white heels then came into view, their narrow structure glistening with the many jewels encrusted within. Each step was more painful than the last, as the figure continued to wander the ornate prison she called home.

A pale set of legs crept then past the darkness, their figure concealed by a slim white dress flowing in the wind. The white skin of the girl matched her attire well, with a silver crown resting atop her pure silver hair. At the center of the headpiece lay a sapphire jewel, signifying the girl's utmost importance. Her beauty was no secret in the hidden city of Lacuna, nor was her position of power.

The frail girl's name was Ina, princess of the Tella and the herald of love. And despite her hatred of titles and honor, she still held her station with whatever dignity she could muster. It was the life she had grown accustomed to, and the reason for her labored step.

In addition to her iron will, Ina had always been self-aware. She was a princess without power and an heir to nothing. Beauty was all that the Tella ever prized, and the crown had no true strength behind it. So long as the princess smiled and waved no one would ever care to question her role, nor would they notice her failing health.

"Not now please," Ina whispered sharply as her left leg began to limp, her voice calm and soothing like ice. "Just not now."

For hours, the girl would wander aimlessly in her icy heels, awaiting any curious visitor that wished to see their gorgeous princess. Typically nothing ever came, but in her mind, walking was better than the horrible nag of stagnation. And so Ina continued on her path regardless of the pain that struck her fragile body.

No matter how many ornaments of diamond and amethyst surrounded the princess, she saw only the taunting reflection of her own loneliness. For Ina, there appeared little to ever smile about. Even her own attire began to irritate the princess as she tugged at her silky dress.

"Worthless drivel," Ina whispered to herself.

A soft, but strangely masculine voice then called out to the princess as her pace began to falter, "You wander yet again dear sister."

The girl's eyes suddenly widened, glowing and sparkling with excitement. All sorrow turned to joy as a warm smile took hold of her expression. From a stranger's perspective, it appeared Ina hadn't at all expected to wander into her own family, as she was far too consumed by misery to notice the path ahead.

"Is it really an accident this time? Or have you just gotten better at lying to yourself," the young boy continued.

The royal brother was rather similar to Ina-frail and unassuming. But unlike his sister and the rest of the Tella species, he was male. Short hair and a tall slim body defined his weak, but masculine figure. His eyes glowed a distinct orange, signifying his outward confidence and ambition.

Ina stood in disbelief as she began to fabricate an explanation for her meaningless adventure. But before she could begin, the young boy interjected like he always did.

"Yes, you may enter Ina. Your presence is welcome here."

"Please Ocelot...do not tease me so," the princess whined, her icy voice barely escaping her mouth. "You know how I feel about inquiries."

"Just another task you're not brave enough to complete," he chuckled as he led her inside.

Like most men, the young Tella known as Ocelot preferred a snug basement over some lofty chambers. His room was everything but spacious and contained all sorts of engaging objects. He was never the type to simply mope about. And unlike his sister, he rarely slept, as proven by the thin layer of dust over his bed. Ina had seen Ocelot's habits in effect for years, as even the colors of his room reflected his spirit with its bright shades of gold and white.

"Now tell me, what troubles you today?" The prince kindly asked as his sister took a seat on one of many soft cushions.

"You act as if my burdens are ever-changing."

"Lonely then."

Ina's eyes lowered in shame, all life seeping out from her invisible tears. Ocelot was well aware of how she handled such pain. Nothing but cold, excruciating silence was to be found within her.

"Please, sister," Ocelot pressed. "What wretched cause is there? You speak to me so often, yet tell me so little."

"A reason?" Ina snapped as she decided to expose her own intelligence. "I am drawn into the mirror every morning to see nothing but her image. Or rather, a hollow copy of a goddess."

"You believe it's really her? Our mother?"

"I am certain of it," the princess stared, clenching her fists. "Not that it matters."

"Mother will find us...eventually. Then they will have their god. It doesn't have to be you."

"And if she wants nothing of the sort?"

"Have faith, Ina. The goddess of love did not inherit her title for nothing."

"No...no that would be me of course."

Ocelot reeled back in disappointment. He had been quite fed up with his sister's depreciative behavior for some time. She promised to improve many times but had shown no progress, and when matters became tense, she departed almost as hastily as she arrived. The absence of her idolized mother had taken a toll, and Ocelot needed no guidance or ambition to see such flaws in his sister. She wanted to become something she was not.

Several hulking machines then placed themselves outside the room, their mere presence issuing a command. It was time for Ina to depart. Before he could reply, the young Ocelot lost sight of his sister as she became enveloped in the mechanical entourage. Ina was all too quick to run away with her machines, and not even the prince had the authority to interject.

"I see how it is," the brother sneered, waving towards the silent warriors with his middle finger. "You were always loyal to her."

Ocelot knew all about Ina's honor guards, the royal Valekry who took orders from none but the primordial princess herself. Their bright orange garb and golden lances reflected perfectly off of their steel chassis, as their hulking frames dwarfed even the tallest of Valekry. It was an imposing, yet efficient design for a silent servant. They were meant to be truly unmovable, their minds lacking in all worldly want. And if the time ever came the royal protectors would sooner battle their own than allow the princess to fall. Ocelot sat in silence as his sister departed, his mind consumed by disappointment and regret.

"What are you not telling me," the young boy sighed, realizing his sister's attitude could not have possibly been born out of chance.

The blue-eyed sister was indeed full of excuses, as she did little to hide her flaws from the perceptive prince. Her pacing was a waste of time, and her programmed guards were an excuse to usher her out of trouble and towards more distractions. But no amount of awareness could help Ocelot cure his sister of what ailed her. Accepting his limitations, the prince turned away from the door and began to ponder his next move. By then, he knew Ina wasn't far from the gardens.

"If only I knew what it is you do out there."

______________________________________

Even while trapped within the palace walls there was no shortage of space for Ina to wander. It wasn't long before she stepped outside the stale halls and into the outer courtyard, her eyes quivering in the light as she gazed up towards her royal prison. Four gothic spires surrounded the capital with unrivaled height and a unique texture of pearly stone. Such beauty had been long observed by the restless princess, who had grown to love the unique traits of Lacuna's older architecture. At times Ina would pause and even smile while admiring her surroundings. Yet still her heart ached with an indescribable pain that slowly gnawed at her sanity.

"Distractions won't solve anything," Ina frowned before pressing on.

Dashing past the courtyard as fast as her heels could take her, the princess soon stood amidst the royal gardens, their luscious foliage serving as the perfect disguise for her activities. The leaves and grass of the garden glowed just like the girl, their sapphire spirit illuminating the air and providing a warm light that calmed her senses. But not all was right with her so-called haven, as several spore-like orbs rose from the depths of her garden and began to spoil the air she breathed.

The very ground beneath the princess's feet appeared ruined, with all forms of excrement and foreign corruption seeping beneath the garden. But Ina seemed entirely unconcerned as if such defilement was merely an aspect of nature. She knew in her mind how little the decay and rot of beauty mattered to the world, and instead chose to believe in knowledge and truth. To this end, Ina was willing to hide her secrets and push on regardless of whatever pain lay ahead.

"Almost there," the princess sighed as she began to climb a set of wooden stairs.

Far atop the spiraling mess of blue lay the princess's royal patio. Its structure was akin to a pearl chandelier, hanging precariously over the swamp-like gardens. It was here that Ina found some comfort in concealment, far away from her worries and the preying eyes of her brother.

"Insight," she mumbled to herself as she stumbled into the private library of her patio.

For years the princess had grown weary of fruitless research and unanswered questions. But as long as the story of her past remained a mystery Ina could not afford to rest. Even after all the time she had thrown away from life and family, victory would still be worth it in her mind. No longer could Ina bear to live without a sense of belonging in the world she so clearly disdained.

"Isera," the princess continued as she opened her palm, its pale surface producing a feint blue energy in the shape of a diamond. "That is your name. But what else are you?"

Whatever scraps of legend Ina could manage to recover detailed the life of an everlasting goddess whose beauty was said to be unfathomable. But to her dismay, the loving deity seemed more infamous than anything. Whatever crimes her so-called mother had committed, all life had apparently suffered from it. But this did not phase the princess, who had grown to expect expected nothing less of her bloodline.

In the text, the goddess of love bore the symbol of the blue diamond, its perfect symmetry reflecting her gorgeous devotion. This of course greatly inspired Ina who took to wearing the symbol every day. It was only a matter of time before she had the legendary icon plastered all over her body through various ornaments and patterns.

According to the preying eyes of the Tella, two blue diamonds rested on the sides of Ina's breasts, while another pair was placed on her shoulders. But in the eyes of her brother, that was only the beginning of the overcompensating act. Yet another set of diamonds had been placed on her calves and thighs while an array of jewelry continued to enforce the trend of blue symmetry. And while the sight of the princess was indeed dazzling, she still knew so little of the mother she chose to idolize.

"Isera," Ina continued to mumble. "The goddess of love, and breaker of worlds. I cannot tell if she may be the fiercest woman alive, or the frailest. Either way, I cannot help but feel that I do not live up to this legend. It appears I am a disappointment...again," the girl pouted as she closed the diamond-shaped book she held in her hands.

"For what am I compared to her? She was beautiful, and I am but a simpleton. She was brave, and yet I am a coward unable to assist my own kin. Everything I have made is for naught. They do not love me, and they never will."

Ina continued to wallow through the night as she stared into the misty waters, her very existence becoming the forefront of her obsession. Without a reason to justify her life, she felt empty and useless. Such a terrible fate was precisely the reason the princess chose to leave her brother ignorant and alone.

"Perhaps the lack of family has always been my problem. Could there be another, truly related to me?" Ina sighed as she began to stare into a crystal mirror on the wall. "And could they handle the truth? Perhaps they know more than me?"

In her pursuit of answers, Ina had attempted many types of sorcery before, yet still, she was unable to detect another kindred soul. For years she had only located a total of four creatures similar to herself, and they of course couldn't be further apart in terms of blood. But things felt different for the princess. The usual sensation she felt in the air seemed more potent than usual. In the past, the power she called upon for answers would ebb and flow like water, only now it quivered within her body like a restless dog.

"Should I try once more? I know she would," Ina groaned as she clutched her chest, the power within her bursting at the seams.

Ina stood up from her chair and began to concentrate with all her inner might. If there was indeed a new power aboard this station, then she had to find it at all costs. Four holographic images then appeared before her, their many colors sending the room into visual chaos. But as she began to focus and reach into the light, her goal became more clear. Ina was not interested in purple or yellow, nor did she care for orange and green. It was the crimson glow she sought, her trembling arms reaching out to the red power with great difficulty. Soon every other glowing entity vanished from sight as the abnormal symbol expanded in size and scope, its influence dominating every corner of the room. A single blue diamond then began to form around Ina's frail hands as she collected her efforts for one final push. But just as soon as the princess began to pry into the crimson anomaly with all her might, the blue diamond in her grasp splintered into several blue petals, marking the end of her procedure. At first, Ina thought to cry in despair and lament her failure. But only moments later she froze in place, as the invisible warmth of another caressed her hair.

For ages the clever princess had searched beyond what many believed to be possible, but only now could she feel such a familiar sensation. It was as if she had somehow reached out and grazed her own body with another pair of hands. Such a phenomenon could only mean one thing to Ina.

"Sister?" She gasped, creating an image of a pale girl in her mind

After feeling the beating heart of her family, Ina had nearly expected to find that long-lost mother she dreamed of. But instead, she became certain of a much stranger revelation. Somewhere in the reaches of Lacuna lay another sibling of sorts, lost and out of sight. It was because of this truth that Ina nearly smiled. There was finally hope after all for the jaded princess of Lacuna.

______________________________

Exhausted, Ina returned to her chambers with a mixture of excitement and dread. Looking back at her discovery she was quite unsure of what the future might hold. But for once the pain in her heart was caused not by despair and boredom, but by excitement.

Unfortunately for the princess her trek from the gardens to the lofty spires of the palace was not at all agreeable to her lesser strength. Ina almost failed the trip altogether as the stairs proved to be more than a match. But after great effort, she finally found herself within those same winding halls.

"Do I allow myself to dally? Or does my sister need my aid?" Ina scoffed as she opened the small oak door leading to her room.

Similar to her brother, Ina's room resembled much of her true character, its structure appearing in the shape of an ancient cathedral with a large steel cage around her bed. Nearly every corner of the room had been decorated with sapphire gems and dark wood furniture. Additionally, a large desk lay next to her bed with an assortment of jewelry and makeup strewn about its pearl surface. Typically Ina took painstaking efforts to upkeep her beauty. Such standards were expected of the most appealing attraction in Lacuna. But that night Ina chose to rest, forsaking her duties in favor of whatever health she had left. Groaning with frustration, she tossed aside her crown and leaped into her bed. All she could hope for then was a good night's rest.

Since birth, Ina's only memorable experience was the sweet release of sleep. Most children had always loathed the idea of letting a day's adventure escape them. But the princess knew her idea of fun had always been the absence of stress and excitement. Yet not even the warm confines of her blankets could soothe Ina's crippling loneliness.

"If only," she whispered loud enough to be heard.

Ina was not truly alone, for like many lonely souls she decided to own a pet of sorts. An ear-piercing screech then reminded her of its presence, as she rose out of bed to comfort her equally forsaken friend. Ina's eyes softened with the gaze of a mother as she spoke to the creature in a soothing tone.

"Aldria, fear not, I am here," she smiled, looking upwards toward the hulking machine atop her cage.

Ina's pet was a bird of sorts, its wings and frame entirely made of Valekry alloy. And just like its predecessors the head of the creature contained only one singular lens, giving its eagle-like stature some favorable beauty. Aldria was a rather large guardian, its body barely able to perch atop Ina's cage. It chirped and squeaked like a lost baby, eager to socialize with its owner.

But after detecting Ina's need for rest Aldria began to sing a soothing melody with as much care as it could manage. The princess smiled in response and hummed along with the tune as she undressed. Something about her pet's lullaby had always been calming, no matter how many times she heard it. In a way, it reminded her of the mother she never had. Ina then lay comfortably and closed her eyes in peace as the bird sang softly into the night.

"Perhaps I may now look to the future. I do hope you are well dear sister," the princess whispered as she dozed off.