As they entered the Blood Witch's abode, a barrage of strange fragrances, herbs and spices burst into Nhea's nose, as well as the distinct stench of blood.
Nhea's nose wrinkled as the latter scent met her nose. It seemed to follow her everywhere she went. She wondered when it would ever leave her.
The two walked down the corridor dug into the rockface. Glowing moss lined the walls of the corridor, filling it with mysterious red and blue lights. The stench of blood grew stronger as they progressed, Nhea squeezing her face with every step. Strange jars filled with even stranger contents, sat ominously on lines of shelves. Little tubes, some empty and others filled and corked, sat in racks upon the shelves. The corridor seemed to open up as they moved along, the sunlight filling the place more and more.
As Nhea's eyes accustomed to the changing lights, she saw many plants hanging from the ceiling of the corridor. Purple flowers grew from them; flowers Nhea had never set her eyes on before. The sunlight bathed the flowers, and they seemed to respond with their little implements. Little rooms were carved joining the branching corridor, leading deeper into the cove. Roots covered the floor, walls and ceiling, curling in and out.
Roe'nika's talisman clinked upon her chest complementing the sound of her leather boots. The heavy smell of iron, mold and other fragrances didn't seem to bother her in the least. Nhea felt a little awe within her. She had begun admiring the way Roe'nika simply resisted everything. She wanted to be strong like her as well.
After what seemed like an eternity of colors, tangs and herbs, they reached the end of the corridor. A large wooden door stood, and etched upon it, was a complex array of circles, lines and dots creating a general figure. The closest thing Nhea could liken it to, was the Sun, and other bodies surrounding it.
Roe'nika carried Quantum's body and placed it on her shoulder, freeing her arm. She knocked gently, the sound echoing through the corridor. After a short pause, she pushed the door open.
The door let out a loud, bellowing creak as she pushed it open. Nhea's heart was at the very edge of a precipice as the light from the chamber beyond fell into her eyes. She gasped at the sight she beheld.
There were even more shelves, lined with an even greater variety of materials than what she saw within the corridor. Fluids within their vessels bubbled softly, various herbs and strange plant parts within them. Scrolls, sheets of paper and whole books with disheveled sheets filled tall shelves lining the semi-circular circumference of the chamber. Wooden tables, clearly old, stood around the chamber, sets of notes and books upon them. Upon other tables lay bloody messes of little contorted organisms, breathing in fluids.
Thick, treeless, roots broke through the rockfaces of the chamber, crisscrossing. Smaller roots broke out from the larger ones, and covered the ground near the walls.
Sunlight poured in from a large opening in the ceiling, the white clouds watching down from above.
In the center of the room, sat a large table hewn from rock, tilted slightly. Mechanisms and gears were splayed underneath it. From its sides were two other smaller surfaces. Upon them were implements of all kinds, sharp tools for cutting and tearing through flesh. Metal restraints hung from the table, gleaming in the sunlight.
And finally, upon a ladder propped against one of the high shelves, sat the Blood Witch, Nekea. Her skin was pale, and as she turned, so were her eyes. Little crimson dots, within a pale backdrop. Her irises gave off an orange glint, reflecting the sunlight. She wore a long, dark robe, excellently cut with, accents of crimson within its length. Long lengths of tunic hung from the fabric upon her arms, draped like the wings of a crow.
She sat quietly, examining pages of material, and turned to see Roe'nika.
Roe'nika entered the room, her muffled steps sounding with the swishing of short grass. Nhea followed, going against every one of her survival instincts. Her sandals were torn and beaten, yet she carried them, following Roe'nika's steps.
The Blood Witch seemed displeased with what Roe'nika carried in her hands, and even more displeased with the little human cautiously hiding behind her. Her face broke into a slight frown.
Nekea carefully stepped down the ladder. Her black sandals gracefully flowing down the ladder. She touched the grass, and walked towards Roe'nika. Her movements her graceful and she walked every bit like a noblewoman, her hips swaying gently, her chest held high.
She stopped a little away from Roe'nika, observing what lay on her shoulder carefully. Her eyes were calculating and analytic.
"Roe'nika", she began, her calm voice sounding through the vast chamber. She looked at her with disdainful eyes.
"What is that upon your shoulder?", she inquired, pointing to Quantum's body, her other arm wrapped around her abdomen.
"Mistress", Roe'nika started, in a subservient, yet confident voice, lifting the body from her shoulder and placing it carefully on the ground.
"This is a fallen I came across while scavenging the western edge of Akar. He lay in a pool; with the same injuries you see before you. I believe he could be of great use to you…"
Nekea looked down at the battered and broken body. She sighed, and cut in sharply.
"Putting that aside, what is that thing behind you?"
Nhea gulped loudly, as her heart raced. She slowly stepped out of Roe'nika's shadow, into the light, in full view of the Blood Witch.
Roe'nika answered, "This is a girl I found mourning the same body before you. She maintained a strict guard over the body, showing resistance to my affront. As much as it posed no problem to me, she said she wouldn't let the corpse go. I examined her and declared her worthy of entering your presence. Her name is…"
The Blood Witch cut Roe'nika short once more.
"For one you bring me a disappointing corpse. Lean, half-baked and significantly torn apart. Not showing any promise for accepting foreign blood or genes. For another you bring along a little girl? Roe'nika…"
The chamber fell silent. Roe'nika looked into her Mistresses eyes. A clear defiance burned strongly, but she didn't speak.
"Do you understand the implications of bringing a living one like this before me?", she demanded.
"Yes Mistress, I do."
"Then why?", she demanded, her voice stern and sharp.
The disdain in the Blood Witch's eyes had deep roots. It seemed Roe'nika had broken a very important rule. A loud silence randomly in the chamber, until Roe'nika finally spoke.
"Mistress", she began, "the same light you saw in my eyes, when I was broken and on the verge of death, I see in this girl. Her plea is to see the fallen rise from the dead. As little as she is she continues to hang on to this notion. How many her age would be capable of this? Breaking into unknown territory, hanging on to such a possibility…". She paused, and then continued.
"I beg you Mistress; I shall take full responsibility over the girl. All I ask is that you accept her plea." Nekea looked straight into Roe'nika's eyes. It seemed a bit of awe had been kindled by her words.
Bowing her head, Roe'nika continued, announcing, "Your capabilities are beyond astounding. Beyond what any man in this empire-no, the entire world even, can imagine. You have tapped into unknown realms and have understood secrets of the workings of life itself. I know that you are capable of this. I know that you can bring this fallen from the darkness into the light…"
There was a long silence. The Blood Witch looked carefully upon Roe'nika and said, "As much as I believe that all this happened because your talisman is failing…you have piqued my interest."
Roe'nika's heart fell at ease upon hearing this.
"My studies into the unknown do require some tests. If you have brought me this body, as disappointing as it may be, it wouldn't hurt to try something with it…"
Nhea was elated upon hearing this.
"However," the Blood Witch continued, "I won't to this to appease a little girl's dying desire…I shall do it to my own benefit."
Roe'nika looked up at her Mistress. A slight smile had formed on her face, her eyes sparkled with a slight glint of curiosity.
Roe'nika smiled as well. She knew that the girl had fallen in good light of the Blood Witch.
Turning to Nhea, who became suddenly alarmed, she said,
"As for the girl…it is as you say; she is in your hands. I like her eyes…"
Nekea looked deep into the girl's eyes and saw a pillar of light within them. A pillar that had been built by an unknown force. She liked to surround herself with the things that were interesting. The things that rejected mediocrity and stood out amongst myriads. Maybe, she might have some worth. For all her life, she had surrounded herself with interesting stories. Maybe, this would be one of them. A dying light within a little girl, and a strange connection to a battered corpse.
Nekea's smile widened across her face.
Roe'nika was elated.
Nekea turned to Roe'nika.
"This really isn't like me…", Nekea said.
"Place the body on the Workstone…and when you're done, sew some good clothes for the girl…and get her sandals as well. I don't want filth walking around in my abode."
Roe'nika answered, delight evident in her voice, "Yes, Mistress."
She lifted Quantum's body off the ground, and headed carefully to the platform where the Workstone was. She placed his broken body carefully upon the Workstone.
As she headed back, Nekea stopped her and said,
"The talisman, you forgetful girl."
Roe'nika quickly answered, "My apologies, Mistress!", and handed the hard wooden talisman to the Blood Witch.
As Nekea took the talisman, she suddenly turned and addressed Nhea.
"Little girl, prove your worth in my abode. Prove to me that there is something unique about you, and about that fallen. Prove to me that you are worth saving…otherwise…"
Her eyes suddenly burned with a deep crimson glow, even brighter and fiercer than Roe'nika's. Nhea's heart sank. The Blood Witch's aura was leagues above hers. Nhea stared at her with a mix of fear and awe. Deep within, there was something taking root. She was meeting her mother's wish of life. She was reaching at power, however far away it was from her. It was only a matter of time. She would become just like the Blood Witch.
Just like Roe'nika.
Just like Quantum.
The Blood Witch continued, "Now leave already…", her voice stern.
"I have a lot of work to do…"
Roe'nika led Nhea out of the Blood Witch's chamber, and slowly closed the door behind her. The glint of the Blood Witch's eyes was imprinted on Nhea's mind. There was an actual possibility. What she thought was lost had turned out to have a sliver of hope within it.
As Roe'nika took her deeper into one of the chambers, Nhea remembered the Blood Witch's words to her,
"Prove to me that you are worth saving…"
They continued to ring within her mind, as sun beat down upon the earth, and new light fell into a dark land.