And Halmae saith to her; Comfort, prophetess, comfort Alam with the inherent truth—when I permit apocalypse, I too will permit your reincarnation; Saviour of Alam

Ilmu 09:7

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𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐐𝐚𝐥, 𝟕𝟗𝟏 𝐈𝐇 — 𝟏𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐯𝐞 . . .

You slowly open your eyes, and a waft of warm, freezing winds welcome your new morning. Each wave of breeze showers you from the spruce leaves inclined throughout the peaks, descending down the foggy cliff. Naught of any memory, you only know that your hands were cuffed the moment you sat atop this moving carriage.

"Hey . . . you're finally awake."

Gently whispered the fellow captive beside you, a female Lummoth. You look to her, and a few more glances confirm you're sitting amongst prisoners of the Colonant Queendom.

[Ephra]: "I'm Ephra. You were trying to cross the border right? Same as us . . . And Onnurul, that priestess over there."

She glance to her left, and you notice the Lummoth's referring to a Sa'kharakh priestess whose pure, white apparel made herself stuck out like a sore thumb.

[Onnurul]: "Damn thee, Sistren . . . Had you simply accept your place in the world, not waste your lives for a fruitless cause—I'd already be preaching in Gahannagn!"

Snarled Onnurul, the priestess in question, evidently spiteful of the Lummoths and Nymphs around the both of you. She, like yourself, appear to be mere, collateral arrests. Ephra rolled her eyes at the whiny Sa'kharakh.

[Onnurul]: "And who's that Nymph, anyways? how whore can a man be, to fight a woman's battle?"

[Ephra]: "Watch your mandible, Sa'kharakh! You're speaking of Cylymie, hero of our struggle!"

Immediately, the priestess's judging glare droop into a look of fear and concern. Cylymie, remaining stoic, nod at you before returning his look to the priestess.

[Onnurul]: ". . . Plaum nun-Cylymie? leader of the caterpillar rebellion? but . . . if they've taken you . . . Sa's pheromone, where are they taking us?!?"

[Cylymie]: "I'm not so sure priestess, though I'm very sure we'll be meeting your goddess in a moment. But I guess Sa isn't the most merciful of divines, is she?"

The allusion to death immediately shook the priestess, and she began praying in whispers. Ephra and a few other captives laughed at such sight, urging the driver—a Colonant—to shush them with a whip to the back.

[Colonant Driver]: "Shut up back there!"

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Minutes pass, and the carriage halts at the steppes of a village flying the Queendom's flag. Colonant gendarmeries opened the carriage vault loose, dropping you down to the tundra floor. You and the other captives were promptly paraded through the entire village, down to the gallows which stood by the well. Its wooden post look rusted, and the rope verdant of grey arctic moss—testament to the contraption's age. Small crowd of families, villagers and caterpillar slaves alike, spectated from cobble settlements and mounds respectively, eager to watch the week's series of public execution.

You and your fellow captives were lined up towards the gallows, awaiting the final roll call before the afterlife; Indeed, within the Queendom's dominion, even death has its own bureaucratic and administrative pre-requisites. Names were called in order from last to first to be executed . . . and lackluster luck would have you placed second, right behind the shivering Onnurul. Ironic, for the faithful to earn the shortest stick of the bundle.

[Ephra]: "Tch.. I know that Colonant. We called him Polan, he used to offer us slaves food out of pity . . . now look at him, a secretary to our enemy. So much for sympathy."

Ephra remarked beside you, as she hatefully glared towards the Colonant executing the roll call. Eventually, he strolls up to your wake, but your presence seems to have bedazzled the secretary. So much so, he promptly rechecked the list held in hand, though it only serves to further embed the confusion which remains evident in his expression.

[Polan]: ". . . Who are you?"

This unordinary delay of the roll call process summoned the immediate attention of the present Colonant cardinal, who walks up to you with both of her antennae impatiently curved.

[Polan]: "Carokann— I-I- mean my lady.. uh, this one's not on the list."

[Carokann]: "... Forget the list."

[Polan]: "But-"

[Carokann]: "Or will you disrespect my title once more? learn your place, male."

The Colonant cardinal remarked coldly, before turning her attention back to Cylymie in the middle of the line. The secretary, who could only offer you a look of pity, sighed in guilt.

[Polan]: "Forgive me, prisoner. We'll bury your carcass somewhere peaceful."

And so, your fate appears sealed and opaque . . . looks like Onnurul couldn't accept her own. Being the first in line and all.

[Onnurul]: "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!!"

Screamed the Sa'kharakh as she violently brushed past the secretary, running towards the gate. Sadly, it was but in vain, as all it took to overthrow her escape was a Colonant guard's crossbow. From it, an arrow swifts through the winds, its sharp, jagged crystalline blade finding its mark dead at the back of Onnurul's head. It pierced her all the way to the horn's end, and with that, the priestess fell deafened.

[Ephra]: "...it's been an honor, Cylymie"

[Cylymie]: "An honor as well, Ephra."

With such remarkable archers present atop the castle walls, both Ephra and Cylymie, alongside other of the Sistren, saw their predicament as it is. Escape is simply unfeasible. On the other hand, Polan the Colonant secretary slowly stagger up, brushing the snow off his skirt, before he'd escort you up the gallows. He hitched the rope over your neck, but hesitated in fastening. Carokann, the Colonant cardinal, shortly took over his place, bearing a bible in hand.

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[Carokann]: "Daughters, sons, I welcome you all to this week's redemption. These vermins, the Lummoths and Nymphs who'd defiantly metamorphosed, have long attacked the Queendom's peace and taken Colonant lives as they see fit! Truly, the Cocooned Sistren is-"

𝕄 𝔼 𝕆 𝕎 𝕎 𝕎 . . .

. . .

Silence.

[Polan]: "...did you hear that?"

Polan asked, earning a furious backhand as a response by the cardinal. It marked his cheek red.

[Carokann]: "... as I was saying, the Cocooned Sistren is nothing short of a terrorist organisation! and from this day forth, peace and prosperity will return to usher the Queendom. Starting with the first of their wicked bunch... whoever your name is, may Halmae forgive your soul."

She leered at you, a feigned expression of sympathy plastered over her face. She walks down the stairs' steppes to lower the lever and enact your execution. You look up to the dimming sun, embracing the inevitable . . .

Suddenly . . .

"WHAT IN HALMAE'S NAME IS THAT??"

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You jolt awake, immobilised as debris of cement and gallow platform weighed down your might. Sirens of death and destruction wailed and ravaged throughout the village, whose homes burnt down in the fire, blazing amidst the freezing cold.

Before you could process everything, Ephra dragged you out of the rubble, helping you back to a stand.

[Ephra]: "Hey, come on! Halmae won't give us another chance!"

Together, you and Ephra scampered throughout the village, cover to cover, until eventually reaching an in-tact church. Inside, you're relieved to find the rest of the Sistren, Cylymie amongst them. The Nymph relieved himself off the task at hand, brisking to check up on the both of you.

[Ephra]: "Cylymie! Praise Halmae, you're alive . . what is that thing??"

He cuts you loose off your own cuffs, before replying to Ephra in a somber tone.

[Cylymie]: ".. Apocalypse, no doubt. Just like the prophecies. Harbinger of the end times."

[Ephra]: "But that's impossible! We're not that far to the future, aren't we? we can't be!"

[Cylymie]: "Yet here we are, Ephra... and you, I'm glad you're safe. You don't deserve whatever's happening here, stranger, and you need to escape now. Don't worry about us, head up the stairs and jump to the next house. You'll be a step closer to the gate, now GO!!"

Heeding Cylymie's words, you brisk up the stairs, leaving behind the distressed Ephra and the Sistrens. Stopping atop the second floor, you see the aforementioned house right where he guided you. The house is largely burnt to crisps, but there's still enough flooring to provide safe landing. At the face of heat and pressure of chaos, you decide to make the jump . . .

In your leap, you locked eyes with Apocalypse.

It is a beast, one whom you'd quickly recall from a variety of childhood folklores; a cat

A black cat, whose size dwarves every building of the village. Its paws struck down a whole armada of Colonant guards in one sweep, shaking the ground down to the roots. Its claws sliced towers and insects alike, adamant in obliterating everything beneath its wake.

" 𝕄 𝔼 𝕆 𝕎 𝕎 𝕎 𝕎 "

Instantly, Apocalypse charged at your direction, punching the house and yourself within. The entirety of the struggling wooden structure fell apart like mere clumps of fluttered haystacks. The monster raised its hands, bent on smashing your ragdoll into ashes . . . before its paws land, a familiar hand nabs you in a mutual dodge from the incoming attack. You narrowly avoided the claws, it sliced a fibre of your shoulder's garments, and the shockwave emanated knocks the two of you to a safer distance—out of the burnt house and into the streets. Looking up, you identify your saviour to be Polan, the Colonant secretary prior.

[Polan]: "With me, prisoner!!"

He muttered, urging you to follow him down the streets, constantly swerving below the wrath and omen of the feline giant. Eventually, you lose sight of the beast, and find your path offering two points of exit; The mines or the sewers. In this crossroad, Ephra catched up with the two of you from the other street, halting her tracks as she was about to hop down the sewer hatch. Alas, even under cataclysm, the clear hostility amongst enemies remain spontaneous.

[Polan]: "Ephra, you filthy caterpillar, out of our way!!"

[Ephra]: "We're escaping, Polan! You're not stopping us this time.."

[Polan]: "So be it! And I hope that monster takes all of you to Halmae's embrace!" ——— You're presented with two choices—follow Polan down the mines, or Ephra down the sewers . . . which of the path and first ally shall you choose? or will you forge your own?