Snippet #2770988

(OOC: A collaboration with Kumori)

No
No it can't be no, it is an illusion, the Evil King is weaving an illusion over you stand strong snap out of it dammit
They will kill your vassals drink their blood rend flesh from bone sup on their marrow and they will laugh laugh at the weakling laugh at the dead the dead the dying laugh at me lying there on the ground they are laughing at me I am dead
No wait that isn't right there is a light what is the light oh gods what is that oh gods oh gods OH GODS OH GODSOHGODSOHGODSOHGODSOHGODSOH GODS!!!

* * *

Aznyxphia awoke.
She sat up, her back popping, and stretched her wings. She felt tired. So, so tired. It was so bright here, and she had to put an arm against her eyes to shield them. She didn't know where she was, but it wasn't where she had been. She looked down at herself and dressed not in her Darksteel armor, but in light, billowy robes, like those worn by priests or ascetics.
Where am I? she wondered, amazed.
Finally, the light faded away, she saw the truth. And all she had known crumbled to dust.

* * *

Even after the vision of the events of the world's creation were gone, she still sat there, stunned after all she saw. The light was gone, and she was in darkness. She was scared, and cold, and confused. She barely knew what to make of what she had seen.
Suddenly, footsteps in the dark. Aznyxphia turned and stared at the great dragon goddess - her true goddess - herself. Sil'Eph Niir. She was in human form, a mental projection. She was very beautiful; in spite of her piety, felt herself blushing a teensy bit.
Soon, they were looking at each other, face to face. Then, she asked the questions that had been nagging at her spirit:
"If you are not the evil king, as you say, then where is he? Why are we here if not to defeat our enemy?"
”Following his return to the Nether Realm after I drove him away, my Brothers and Sisters and I worked together to create a barrier between realms which has kept him sealed there for eons. But now his servants are siphoning magical energies from your world to fuel his escape. They also siphon the living energy of my Children, the Dragon Race, tainting their existence into the twisted forms you saw before to fuel the revival of my son, Maglissos, as a servant under his control... You and the others are all descended from ancient and powerful bloodlines blessed by the Gods. You have already tasted of our power when you defeated the dragons on your way to find me. You will need power comparable to that if you are to stop his servants from freeing him and unleashing my resurrected son on this world.”
"Why have you let us believe in falsities? Why hide your existence from the world?"
”Our existence was kept secret because we believe in your right as our Children to craft your own existence. Your own reality. We gave you a world to live in, but have left you to your own devices out of respect for your autonomy.”
"If we are to stop these vile monsters from resurrecting your son, then where are we to find him?"
”You must awaken the power of your ancient bloodlines. When you do, you'll be able to sense their presence to seek and destroy them.”
Aznyxphia kneels before her new goddess. "Forgive me for my naivete, my liege. I was blind to your holiness, corrupted by the unbelievers. I promise to be your faithful servant from this day forward, and I will lead the rest to victory."
Sil'Eph Niir smiled. ”Rise, young one. You do not serve me. You serve yourself and those who now travel with you. My body and power are not yet ready to join you in this fight, so I am useless to you.”
She approaches and places a hand on Az's shoulder. ”Seek the Diviner, a lonely hermit in the frozen North who dwells on the highest peak in the world. It is he who will teach you to unlock the power of your ancient bloodlines and allow you to take the fight to the servants of evil.”
She removes her hand. ”And please, I beg you. Should you encounter one of my twisted children, please save them. The Evil King's influence is strong, but if you combine your strengths you should be able to help them break free of His control. When they do, they will aid you in whatever way possible. I promise.”
"Fair lady, upon all of my honor as a knight errant, I swear it shall be done."
And just as she said that, the blinding light returned, washed over her in a gentle balm. And suddenly she was back in the cove, with the group and the dragons. Looking one last time at Sil'Eph Niir and nodding, she took to the skies, flying back towards the ships on which the others had said, motioning for the others to follow.
She had been sent on a quest by a goddess to fulfill her destiny. And she would be damned if she wouldn't do it.