Infinite Realm: Monsters & Legends

Interlude - The Night

THREE YEARS AGO

Reyla walked on top of the wall. It was a great honor being here, standing on top of these walls, protecting the heart of the Empire. It was something that she dreamed of when she was young. That one day she would become strong enough that she could be given enough trust to protect places like these. And now she was here, and all that she could feel was resentment. She knew that it was wrong of her, that she shouldnt feel this way, but she couldnt help it. She wasnt here because she earned it, she was here to support someone else. A footnote in someone elses story.

She glanced ahead at one of the command centers on a wider section of the wall. Her sister stood there, others looking up at her, waiting on her word and commands. She had an ideal now, she had power. All that Reyla had ever wanted.

She turned her eyes away and looked over the walls, at the desert beyond the shield protecting the city. There were no monsters coming, only the mountains of the dead ones that came before. She saw torch lights moving around, harvesting the monsters that had been piled up there for years.

The atmosphere on the wall was relaxed. People had hope for the first time in years. The wall hadnt been attacked in six months. She heard the whispers, the rumors, people believing that it was all over. Reyla knew that a team was sent to try and kill the Dome Leader a few weeks before the attacks stopped. She also knew that the Empires leaders were nervous. She had overheard that the team was yet to report back. She had seen the worry on her parents faces, and it wasnt hard to figure out that Erik had been the one to go.

Their family had been tasked with protecting a piece of the wall on their western border, but the Emperor had called her mother to the city only a few days ago. Only a few family members had accompanied her, while the rest remained back home.

Reyla saw Nayra talking with the few of the royal guards, gesturing and sending them away. Reyla envied her that, and resented the fact that Nayra didnt even care for it. She acted as it was all a bother. The trust that their mother had given her, that the Emperor had given her. To be in command of the wall protecting the heart of the Empire, even if only during the night, it was a grand honor.

Perhaps it was the fact that Reyla had done everything right. That she had stayed and taken the punishment meant for her. That she had been thrown out of the Order, that she had lost respect and hurt the family, by doing what she had always been taught to do. While her sister disobeyed, and gained everything that Reyla had ever wanted.

Nayra walked over the edge of the wall, and leaned on the parapet, her blood red armor reflecting the light of the gemstones around her. A masterwork armor, a gift for what she had done in battle. As if such a thing should be given so lightly. Reyla shook her head, she was being petty. Her sister had earned it, had done Had done more than Reyla ever could.

Reyla had seen the guides and instructors gushing over what Nayra could achieve. She had seen the projections. In the right circumstances, Nayra could touch the levels of their mother, of the greatest in the Empire. Hold the same power as they did. That was And with the new perk that they had her take from the dead, she could even survive holding that much power.

They called Nayra the Daughter of Dawn now, the name of her ideal, and seeing her twitch every time they gave her honors made Reyla want to scream. As if gaining power that few ever managed to gain was something bothersome.

On the other hand Power meant that Nayra could do whatever she wanted to, act however she wished to act.

Her words still echoed in Reylas head every time she went to sleep. Every time she tried to do something, to show her family that she too could live up to the family name.

Who do you want to be?

Reyla feared the answer. She hesitated for a moment, but then she walked over to her sister. As always, just seeing her armor up close made her filled with envy. Red plates covered her upper torso and back, and black chain mail peeked from beneath, the dress hanging from her waist was a mix of long bent plates, hide strips, and chain link. One arm was fully armored in plate, with a tall shoulder guard, while the other was almost bare.

It was an armor that the family had given her from their vaults, worn previously by some of the old House Ornn family members.

She turned her head away, looking in the same direction as Nayra did.

Do you think that it is over? Reyla asked.

Nayra turned her head, and Reyla felt her gaze.

No, Nayra answered.

They havent attacked in months, Reyla added. She knew that Nayra had more information, she had been spending more time with their parents, taking the role that Reyla had always dreamed of having.

They are still out there, I know it, Nayra said.

Reyla didnt say anything after. A part of her was relieved that there hadnt been any more attacks. She didnt like the fighting, seeing people around her dying. So many had lost their lives, people that she had known growing up. And she couldnt do anything to prevent it, she wasnt strong enough to stop the monsters, not like how Nayra was.

This waiting Everyone on edge, it reminds me of back when we first joined the Order, do you remember? Reyla said, then turned her eyes to meet Nayras.

Nayra tilted her head golden eyes narrowed. She had advanced her Cultivation, gained new eyes. They had no pupil, but were just orbs surrounded by white. Hers changed color, at night they were golden, and as the sun grew brighter they started to glow until they had an orange gleam to them. They were just one more thing that separated them now.

Our first mission? Nayra asked.

Reyla nodded. We were stuck on a hill, watching a town of a small Frontier Kingdom, Reyla closed her eyes. And I remember feeling the same as now. Just this overwhelming anticipation, fear that we could be discovered and attacked at any moment.

We were children, Nayra said, not in a bad way. Reyla could almost see a hint of a smile on her face.

Do you remember how close we were back then? Not even half a day could pass without us speaking with one another, Reyla reminisced.

We were children, Nayra repeated, and it was an answer that told her what Nayra thought about the two of them.

Reyla closed her eyes. She missed what they had, and she knew that it was in part her fault that it happened. Neither one of them was without blame.

I never meant to force you away, Reyla told her. I never meant to make you feel like you were less worthy, to make you feel like you had to run away because you werent the perfect daughter.

Nayra laughed. And look at me now, she gestured at herself, at the armor she was wearing. The Daughter of Dawn. I tried so hard to escape that and here I am, standing on the walls that protect the Empire.

Reyla shook her head. You were always that Nayra, we I am sorry, I know that it was hard seeing me pull ahead, that it made you resent me, but What youve achieved now is the testament to what Ive always known.

Nayra shrugged. I dont I used to resent you, for being better than me. For being the golden child, for our superiors and trainers at the Tower taking me aside and pointing at you, telling me that I should be more like you. And it only grew, because no matter how much I tried I was never able to catch up. And they never let me do more, and I felt like I had to do something big, to prove myself. That is why I started making mistakes, she chuckled to herself. Why I messed up on that mission, so long ago. It is almost enough to make you think about fate, the fact that I ended up in the sect of the other Seventh Iteration Ranker, that both of them came here.

Reyla saw Nayras smile turn sad. I resented you even more after that, when I decided to stay. I resented you and the family and the Empire because the moment I was on my own, the moment I had the opportunity to grab for more power, I succeeded. True, the sect helped me, Ryun helped me. But in the end, I burned my way through a monster swarm, I survived where too many others died. And it all made me think about how everyone here wasstifling me, preventing me from gaining strength because they wanted to mold me into what they wanted me to be. I have no doubt that what they had envisioned wouldve been powerful, but it wouldnt have been mine. I wouldve been like you, Nayra met Reylas eyes. The perfect daughter, following the instructions of others and letting them choose who I am supposed to be. And you, I resented you for for staying with the family, for being weak when you couldve been strong. But time is a healer of all wounds, it seems. I dont resent you anymore Reyla, I understand, in part at least. Duty, loyalty. I am here after all, even when I could leave whenever I wanted.

Nayra turned around and looked at the city. These people here are they oh so weak, many of them. I can protect them, I have that power. I it is what Anrosh wouldve done, what Ryun does, though he is not a good man. He protects what is his, and perhaps that is enough. A good man mightve died long ago. The Empire is not my home, House Ornn is not my family, but I stay because I know that I can do good here. Because they need me, and because this here will let my home be safe.

Reyla glanced in the same direction that Nayra was looking at, seeing the city filled with light, and the citadel at the center of it all. A towering structure that was the symbol of the Empire, made out of yellow and brown stone, adorned with plates of gold that reflected the light of the city. It shone, the beacon in the night, the symbol of perseverance, a monument to the people that survived in the desert, people that endured.

She glanced at her sister and saw her people reflected in her face, in her eyes. Nayra didnt see it, she didnt understand. No matter what she said, the Empire and House Ornn were her people. She was the blood of survivors, and she inspired them. Reyla wanted to tell her all of that, but could find a way to get the words past her lips.

How could she tell her? It was so hard after so long, theyve become strangers to one another. How could she say that she loved how she stood on her own? How could she tell her that she admired that she didnt bow to anyone, that she was willing to fight against great odds? How she didnt stop, and kept fighting on.

She wanted to say that and so many different things. She wished that she was li

The ground shook, and night turned into day.

Reyla turned her eyes back at the city and saw rising clouds of red fire. Entire sections of the city blown up. A piece of the citadel exploded outward showering the city with debris. And then the great barrier surrounding the city fell.

Sounds of horns filled the air, alarms and calls to arms.

Oh no, Nayra whispered, and Reyla turned, saw that her sister wasnt looking at the city but over the walls.

She followed her sight and didnt see anything but darkness, and then she realized that the shadows on the ground were moving, a wave crossing the ground and a cloud across the sky.

The dome monsters were back.

Karya looked out at the city from one of the citadels balconies.

The lights were shining brightly, in every imaginable color. It was a sight that inspired, that kept the Empire together. They had endured much, had sacrificed a lot, made deals and compromises where they had no choice. She herself had done things that she wasnt proud of, but in the end it was all worth it. They had built something that would last. Or at least that was what she had thought before. Now

She looked at the city, the people living their lives without a care in the world, or at least pretending to. They all knew, just beyond the walls were monsters. Their dead, scourged land and fallen cities. The Wall was now the border of their once great Empire.

And just as they had prepared for the fall, prepared for their final stand, the monsters stopped coming. And somehow, the only thing that she could feel was dread.

They failed, didnt they, Erakael said as he joined her on the balcony, placing his clawed hands on the railing and looking over his city with her.

We cant know that, Karya said, but her words rang hollow. Her son The Ethereal is a fickle thing, it couldve taken them longer even with Anashis perks.

Erakael didnt answer, he knew how unlikely that was to happen. A few moments later he spoke again. Our scouts havent returned, not through Ethereal or through the desert. You know as well as I do, this is all just the calm before the storm.

It was her turn to remain silent.

I am so tired Karya, Erakael said. I never wanted to rule, this So many years spent trying to build an Empire that could take on the Core. So many years spent in hate.

Hate helped us survive, Karya said. They had needed something to cling to, something to aspire to. And hate was a powerful emotion. She had made them hate, she knew that, but the alternative was worse. She remembered how bad things were, and where they had headed. Anatalien and she had done what they did to save them from a war of madness. They had caused the deaths of many, perhaps too many, but she still believed that it was better than what wouldve happened if they hadnt killed off those who were truly mad.

Hate, Erakael whispered. It is because of hate that the world is fractured. It is the reason why we hadnt been able to defeat the forces of this Dome. If the world was united A fools dream.

We gotten a reprieve at least. And we really cant know for sure. They couldve succeeded.

Erakeal gave her a long look. I know that you worry for your child, that you wish that No, I am sorry, you are right. We shouldnt lose hope.

The ground shook and light filled the sky.

Karya saw parts of the city explode, immediately knew that those were city garrisons, where most of the defenders were resting. Horror gripped her heart. Something deeper shook the citadel, and she saw a part of it explode outward, then the barrier protecting the city fell.

Heavens, Erakael whispered, then his wings unfurled and he was up in the air. A moment after Karya followed.

She looked from the sky, saw the burning, the garrisons, the hangars with their airshipsonly a few of those were currently in the air, their defense was crippled. They flew, heading toward one of the explosions while horns sounded and alarms were being raised. The defenders, those that had been on the streets mustered.

They saw fighting, and Karya realized.

Taken, she said as she saw her own people fighting against the defenders, those who fell to the enemy.

It came, finally, Erakael said. His tone was almost grateful. And she understood. Months of waiting, of anticipation, of having no eyes on the enemy.

Karya heard a specific call, a two long sounds of the horn, an incoming attack, and she turned to the Wall. Far in the distance, she saw the monsters coming. More than any time before.

Black glass, Erakael told her.

She met his eyes. I we are the only high tiered people in the city, the only ones that can do anything If we do that

No choice, we stop that army. If there is more We are doomed anyway, Erakael kept his eyes looking beyond the wall.

Karya nodded her head, and they flew toward the Wall.