[Lillian] - V

The wind howled making me shiver. Dark clouds covered the night sky and there was a storm approaching, I could feel it in my bones. A storm that would cause destruction of everything. The sky seemed to mirror my emotions.

I stood watching the place that I once called home. A beautiful cottage now reduced to nothing but burning debris. It used to be a vibrant green with bright colors everywhere. Now it was nothing but a wasteland with blackened ruins littering the land. Alana lay lifeless near the cottage. Her beautiful black coat ruined.

Tears streamed down my face, and I collapsed onto the ground, unable to handle the pain anymore.

Just what did I do to you? I never bothered any of you, always let your children reach the village without being harmed. Then why?

Humans are always despicable creatures. Perhaps I was once too.

"Mistress..." Ren called out to me in a worried tone. Their wings once again hugging protectively.

What has become of us?

"I am fine," I smiled at them reassuringly. My voice quivered and I felt as though I was about to lose control.

If only I was the true Crone. If only I had known that they would come. I could have protected her. I could have done something for her.

"You need to go. We will follow."

"No, no, no!" I snapped angrily causing Ren to flinch slightly. They were usually the most calm when dealing with me.

"I will not be running away. The villagers will pay for this. My Alana. They took my Alana from me!" I wailed, tears streaming from my eyes.

They didn't know what to say so I continued talking.

"This is my fault. I should have protected her! Why couldn't I see what those humans were like?! She trusted me, she loved me! And because of them, she.." I choked.

I looked back at the debris. The rain had chased away the flames but it left behind an awful smell. It almost made me gag.

"She...she wanted me to tell her that everything would be alright... That I could get through it all. But what did I do?" I whispered brokenly.

My heart shattered into millions of pieces when I saw her lifeless body. It wasn't a cruel trick of the light. It was real. She was truly dead.

Alana...

"Mistress....I know you're hurting right now but please don't blame yourself. We will get revenge on those who are truly at fault."

"Yes."

I stood up, anger and determination filling the place of grief. I stalked towards Alana's body and gently lifted in. Ren flew over and sat on my shoulder, leaving a light peck on Alana's forehead.

We went over to the backyard, heading to the flower bush that was Alana's favourite. I took out my staff and began digging, Ren helped Once we dug a big enough grave, we placed Alana's body inside. Ren laid by her side, occasionally licking her wounds until they healed completely.

Wick, I'm sorry for making fun of you when your dog was killed. I know exactly how you felt now.

I kissed Alana one last time before burying her.

"Alan-" I started sobbing violently before choking back my words ."Thank you, Alana. Goodbye." I whispered.

I stayed by the grave until the rain stopped.

"Ren, put a barrier around the village. No soul must be able to enter or leave."

"Yes, mistress."

I pressed the end of my staff to the ground and began drawing a magic circle with runes around the cottage.

"ክሮኑ ወደ ኋላ የሚመለስበትን ጊዜ ይጠይቃል። ትእዛዜን አድምጡ።." I chanted over and over. Laying my intentions before the entities.

The circle glowed a cloudy silver, the colour of my magic and soul. Flames began to arise from the debris and slowly receded as time turned back in the cottage.

Powerful magic users would have sensed this. But the circumstances made me ignore that fact com. This isn't about magic, its about justice.

I watched as the fire disappeared into the wood, the house beginning to regain its former glory. Soon I heard a familiar noise. A crackling sound echoed through the air. And the cottage stood, like the fire had never happened.

'I need to hurry.' I rushed inside my home, and searched for my satchel.

It was something I bought about fifty years ago. I could fit in infinite amount of things inside, like Doraemon's pocket. I went around the house and started shoving things inside.

Ren's food, healing herbs, my books, Alana's toys and all the necessary items. I went to the basement and grabbed three books. Books people would ruin kingdoms for.

"I don't want them to ruin anyone else's lives. Not yet," I mumbled to myself, tucking my belongings inside the large bag. I then grabbed the last item; my favorite blanket.

The crackling noise sounded again.

'Fuck.'

I rushed outside and turned to look at the cottage turn to ashes once again.

This time I knew it was going to happen for good. There's no way to fix this...

I looked down at a book that I hid deep underneath. One that would keep me sane during this ordeal.

It was a collection of spells, mostly curses. Spells that would bring destruction, if misused. I sat on the ground and opened the book. I skimmed through the pages, searching for a specific rune.

Sunlight streamed through the trees, signaling the arrival of dawn.

'I wonder what kind of trouble that rune would get me into.' I thought with a smirk.

When I found it, I took out a dagger from the satchel and began carving the rune on the back of my hand, pausing every few seconds to take a breath. It burned more than usual, but I ignored it and kept on. It didn't take long for blood to start seeping from my hand but I managed to finish it anyway.

"ከአሁን ጀምሮ፣ እኔ፣ ሊሊት ጨለማው እንዲመራኝ እጠይቃለሁ."

[ From now, I, Lilith ask the darkness to guide me.]

I chanted, abandoning the path of light completely. Wind howled, and the rustling trees and flipping of pages made the displeasure of the entities apparent. But I did not care. They would understand.

Blood disappeared and the rune began glowing silver before darkness began to engulf it turning it into a beautiful gradient.

Of course, I couldn't be fully dark. Curse the goddess.

"Mistress, welcome." I heard Ren, a creature of the night, call out overhead.

"Happy to be here." I grinned. "Let's head to Gralianc."

Dark mist arose from Ren, engulfing me. The world spun and I felt nausea invade my senses. When the mist retreated, I was no longer standing in the forest, but in front of an old man sitting on a throne.

"Augustus Obelonia de Kraizer." I said, ignoring the gasp of the crowned old man's aide at my lack of respect. "It's time for you to show me your gratitude."