- The Woman on the Spire

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A/N: I'm not very happy with this chapter, though I deleted it probably about a hundred times and re-wrote it. There isn't anything significant in the first few bits, but towards the end there is some stuff that will be needed for the next chapter in case you wanted to skip it.

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Lia's mind throbbed, a pounding headache slamming against her skull, as she made her way down the busy streets, passing by all types of different people, whom she promptly ignored.

As of now, she was currently going through a difficult struggle. She had just been informed that she would be restricted from leaving the city, as long as Kara - the town speaker - was still doing her investigation.

A fact that she unfortunately had to accept, as even Randolph told her there was nothing he could do on his side, other than argue her innocence.

'How can that damned woman blame me for killing that group? There was even a witness and she threw it out.'

When Randolph had told her she would be barred from leaving the city, she had to unfortunately break the news to Rian and Lukali, who also agreed with her.

'That woman should not be in charge.'

'There wasn't anything wrong with our stories. She's just looking for someone to blame!'

And sadly, that person was Lia.

She couldn't blame the people in the Hunter's Post for not siding with her, though she was also eternally grateful that they hadn't outright accused her of anything.

All this seemed somewhat strange to her, though she knew it was probably just her anxiety speaking up. Her anger towards Kara would be unfound if she didn't have a reason to go against her.

All she could hope for was that this 'investigation' - or if you could even call it that - would end quickly when Kara realized there wasn't any evidence to condemn her to a prison cell.

'I hate this city.'

Lia had little time to argue with herself however, as she soon came upon the inn she had been staying at, a pair of guards outside waiting by the door.

'That's odd?'

Approaching the two guards, she made herself known.

"Excuse me, but why are you here?"

One of the guards quickly ignored her, while the other just gave her a sideways glance.

"We've been assigned to keep you under watch while Ms. Kara completes her investigation."

Taken aback, Lia's mind was instantly filled with curses and anger, all directed towards Kara.

'So she plans on keeping me prisoner until I talk, huh?'

"Listen, I wasn't told anyone would be guarding me. I was just told that I couldn't leave the city."

The guards glanced at each other, before turning to her, giving her the look as if she was stupid.

"And how do you expect us to keep track of if you leave or if you stay?"

"Well I have to leave by a city gate now don't I? Last I checked there wasn't any other way to leave this walled hell?"

One of the guards eyebrows twitch, clearly caught in his lie, his voice grew angrier.

"Listen here, we're set to guard you, and that's that. Don't get any ideas about leaving otherwise -"

"Yeah, yeah. I get it."

Ignoring the two, Lia entered through the front door, closing it on their faces.

Instantly, she was met by the innkeeper, who - at first glance seemed upset at Lia, though she couldn't blame him. After all, it was most likely due to the two guards out front that the inn wasn't getting many travelers.

However, Lia didn't take notice of the innkeeper's scowl, and simply walked up towards her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Everyone in the city seems to be at her throat, all thanks to the Town Speaker, Kara. Someone that Lia found herself hating and detesting above anyone she's ever met.

'If only she was a monster on the outside too. Then I would have a reason to kill her.'

"So angry are we?"

Snapping her head up to the sound of a voice, Lia's eyes found Cain sitting idly on the edge of her bed, seemingly waiting for her.

"Cain…"

She didn't run to him, she didn't hug him, nor did she shout out in glee. Instead, she just stood there, and looked at him, her anger somewhat dulling the feelings of happiness she felt when she saw him.

Cain, of course, noticed this easily, and sarcastically raised his hands out as if reaching for a hug.

"What? No hug? And I thought we were closer than that?"

Something came over Lia as she heard this, and - to Cain's surprise, embraced him in a hug, squeezing him tightly.

Surprised, Cain struggled to find the words to say anything, but stopped when he realized that Lia was in distress.

She just needed a hug.

"Glad to see you too. I hope all is well?"

Though he knew what was bothering her, he also knew that a human needed to rant their anger or feelings of emotion at times. It helped more than people might expect.

Trying to find where to start, Lia ended up recounting everything that happened to her, her fists clenched and her nails biting deep into her skin.

"...and Randolph told me I couldn't leave until the investigation was over. Whatever investigation she thinks she is doing, I just have to last until it's over."

Hesitating, she gleaned over at Cain, who had taken a seat on the bedside chair, and was calmly listening to her recount the story.

"But I don't think I'll last that long."

"Why's that?"

Groaning, Lia pounded her fists on the table with a loud Thump! causing the items on the table to shake.

"That woman makes me so angry! But what's worse is I don't know why."

"Why? Isn't it because you're upset about how unfair this is?"

Lia scoffed, realizing just how much Cain was acting like a therapist, hearing her worries and doubts, and trying to work with her and guide her into fixing them.

"Of course I'm upset about all this. But normally I would be calmer, more focused, you know?"

Cain nodded his head, shifting in his seat and glancing out the window.

"I do. However, I also believe that your mad because of this situation, not because of how you can't control your anger."

"Why is that?"

"You're upset because you know you can't do anything about what's going on. All you can do is sit still, and watch as she walks all over you."

Clutching her knees, and bridging them close to her chest, Lia rested her head on her crossed arms.

"I guess you're right. This whole situation is just so…so…"

"Unfair?"

"Exactly! But I know the world is unfair, and that I shouldn't be complaining, and instead working to solve this issue."

Cain shook his head, finding truth in her words, but also misunderstanding.

"I think you're confused about something here. The world isn't naturally unfair."

"What does that mean?"

Standing up, Cain gestured to each of his two hands individually, as he held them out open palm.

"The world is only unfair because people like her who have power, abuse it. She's looking for an excuse to seize power from the Hunter's Post, and while that alone is wrong, she's looking towards you to disprove them."

"How? What could I do to them? Half of them either hate me, or are wary of me because of what happened at the fortress. There isn't much I can do against them."

"Lia, the Hunter's Post is defending you, but if it is discovered by the people that they're harboring and actively defending a murderer, then they'll all lose faith in them to protect the city, and Kara will use that chance to steal their power from them."

"But how could I prove that? It's not like I have anything against her."

Cain shook his finger, and gestured to the outside world through the window.

"Humans and nature. One works with a system in place. The other works towards their own goals. Nature is one entity, working with different parts of itself. Humans are all separate, and therefore you know nothing about how they'll work. My point here is that you don't know what she's planning next, but you do know she's scheming something. Therefore, you have the advantage."

"How?"

"She is human, so she can't know what you're planning next, just like you have no way of knowing what she will do, she will have no idea what you will do. You're playing a game of power here Lia, you just need to be ready to move your own piece when the time comes."

Lia thought in silence for a moment, her mind whirling through the different ways she could hurt Kara, but her thoughts were interrupted by Cain.

"Don't look to hurt her, but instead look to strengthen yourself and others. As you are now, you have nothing to fight her with, yet she has everything. Meaning, she can do a lot more to hurt you as you are now, than you can do against her."

"But I can't leave the city. How can I build trust with the other Hunters if I can't even go out Hunting?"

"There are many ways, some you have to find out for yourself."

Lia was silent for several minutes, her mind empty of any thoughts.

Finally, she spoke, her voice frail and distant.

"Cain, I - I don't know what to do. I'm so lost."

Hearing her distress, he didn't make any motion to comfort her, nor did he reach out to calm her. He just let the emotions flow, and let them leave.

An unclouded mind is a much better weapon than a dull one.

"Lia. All this time you've been asking me how? How do I do this? How do I do that? How can I fight?"

He let those words sink in as they attracted her attention back to him.

"Not once did you ask why? Not once did you say 'I can't.' You asked me 'How?' And that proves to me that you're at least willing to move in the right direction. You just need a little push."

A warm fire rose in her chest, as her eyes, once teaming with water threatening to fall, were now sizzling away. The warmth brought her comfort, and security.

"Then where should I start?"

Cain smiled when he heard this, but if one paid close attention, which Lia was not given her state of emotions, they could see the hidden meaning behind his eyes.

'Now we're talking.'

He held out his hand, waiting for her touch in his.

"Come with me, and I'll show you."

Lia glanced at his hand, suspicious and hesitant, but nonetheless, she took it.

Instantly, she felt the fire, the warmth, and the anger burning inside her vanish, replaced by a bone chilling cold.

She shivered, as her vision grew black, her mind faded out, and the world around her turned to nothing. Yet despite all this, Cain's eyes glowed through this nothingness, and brought her an undeniable sense of comfort.

And then it was gone.

***

When she awoke, her feet were wading in some dark sea, the ripples white against the black and empty landscape.

Around her, she could see the white of the horizon, the gray of the sand beneath her hands, and the cool feeling of the sea on her feet. But above all else, she saw only black.

Empty. Cold. And dark.

Nothing.

"Vox aeterna."

Her head snapped to the owner of the voice, Cain, who stood higher on the bank of gray and black sand, overlooking the dark sea.

"It's a skill that removes the spirit from the world around it. Bringing you here, into a plain of nothingness."

Lia could hardly hear him as she struggled to get up, her mind still fuzzy, and her vision blurred.

Yet despite this obvious state of struggle she was going through, Cain continued speaking, as if it didn't matter to him.

"That skill isn't what you think it is . In fact, the only use of that skill is to gain access to my plane of eternity."

"Your plane?"

Lia said, struggling to find the breath in her lungs to speak.

"Yes…"

He waved his hands before him, as if to push away the air.

"...my plane."

Lia vision wavered, her mind blanking out again, as if a force caused by Cain's hands crushed her.

All of a sudden, her vision changed, and she was in a flowing meadow, bees and birds humming around her, deer teetering along the edge of the forest, and the sky was bright and blue - a stark contrast to what it used to be.

So empty, yet so full of life.

"Wh-What the -"

"This is my home, and I can change it as many times as I want. It's a place of my own existence."

"You?"

"Yes."

Cain stopped as his voice grew serious, waving his hand across the air, as if to dismiss the scene before him.

And just like that, the scene changed from a flowing meadow, to a sea of flames and death - a war field of destruction.

"This is my home, and I live and breathe within the very workings of this world."

Again the image changed from the sea of war to a majestic mountain view landscape, a valley full of trees and beauty.

"I'm trusting you with something Lia, and I hope you won't take it for granted."

Again the space distorted, reverting back to its original form, a dark and empty expanse of existence.

"Me? What do you mean?"

"I have seen many things in my life, and I know more than I let on at times. But this is the first time in many years I have seen someone with as much tenacity as you. Your bond with your friends means you won't ever let them go. And you've shown me your willingness to do anything, proven when you came after me."

"That…I'm sorry. I stepped out of line there, especially when you told me to go back for my own good. I didn't mean to cause you stress."

"On the contrary Lia, you've proven to me that I can in fact trust you. Many summoners in the past I've known only care about their own goals, yet here you are, ensuring that I survived. Now, whether that was for your own benefit or not it doesn't matter to me. You proved me wrong Lia, and for that, I owe you something special."

"But you don't owe me anything. I should be the one thanking you, not the other way around."

Smiling, Cain snapped his fingers, and the sky and air around Lia began to distort again, making her vision blurry.

Suddenly she found herself standing not on a beach of gray sand next to a sea of black and murky water, but on a flat and vast dark floor.

It was hard like stone, but made a tapping sound like glass whenever she took a step.

"But I do, Lia. And it's time you learned the price of trust. Why? Because I'm about to show you how much mine is worth."

From the darkness, thousands upon thousands of eyes, all different colors and sizes appeared, staring at her from a wall of nothingness.

"One summons. I will let you choose one to add to your ranks. I don't think Kal will be enough forever."

Dumbfounded, Lia couldn't speak, as her mind locked up, afraid, but amazed at the same time. Each pair of eyes was alive, and each one was looking at her differently.

In the end, she could only stare at Cain, shocked and unmoving.

But his voice filled her with a flame of pride, purpose, and belief.

"The game is set, the pieces are in place. The players are ready."

He held out his hands, gesturing to the wide ray of eyes that stared on from the darkness.

"It's time to begin this game of War."