"I'll find you."
"And I'm in love with you too, Seren of House Solari."
"And with that kiss, I seal my promise to find you and come back to you."
Those were the words that kept repeating on Chaewon's head. Yet she did not know who this Seren of House Solari is — or she did, she does, yet she can't remember. And every moment she tries to remember, her chest tightens, and a memory of a tear-stained kiss, soft yet longing, like a farewell, flashes in her mind.
She woke up in a cave by the plains, with nothing but an iron diadem by her side. Ever since then, she was wandering, alone.
Southeast, her body tells her to go. Is this Seren somewhere in the southeast?
The diadem was her only companion. She felt like she knew it — not it, her. They were — friends once. Always talking, yet now it is silent, yet she feels it call to her, like their souls are connected in more ways than one.
Soul? She thought... do inanimate objects have a soul? She remembers a conversation once, with this Seren, they discussed the soul and how she could... command it? That does not make sense, souls must have free will, so why would she command it? Why should she command it? What gives her the right to do so?
She finds herself talking to it during the nights when she had no company — which was most nights. And it felt good, like she's staving away madness.
She doesn't go hungry, nor does she thirst. Wild beasts do not avoid her, yet they don't attack her, instead, they watch, and when they get in her way, they part, and they bow.
Yet she tires, and the heat during the day drains her stamina, and the cold winds of the night forced her to seek shelter. She found companionship with the beasts of the wild. Small critters surround and play around her, while large ones, wolves — an entire pack of them, even a mountain lion, once guarded her as she slept. It's like everything that breathes knows her even if she does not know herself.
Everything that breathes — except humans. Twice she encountered brigands who tried to ravage her, another group attempted to steal her diadem, thinking her easy prey with her short stature and petite build. Yet, the sight of the wolves and beasts behind her seemed enough to deter these would-be assailants.
Not all are bad though, she met a few refugee caravans and traders who invited her with kindness to sit by their fire. Some offered food and water, yet she refused for she does not feel the thirst nor the hunger. It was the warmth and the companionship that made her stay, both comforting and painful.
They talk of a war, of divine beings and monsters and cultists ravaging the land. It did not matter for now, what matters most is her search for Seren.
She remembers that she has four sisters – vaguely. One, the eldest, with eyes of gold; gentle, caring, and wise — her guide, the one who always steers her at the right direction and the only one who can reel her in. Another one with eyes of fire, emotion and passion blazing like her wings — the one she clashes with the most, yet she knows that should push come to shove, they both have each other's backs. Then the graceful and elegant one, with eyes of silver and a love for dance — oh how she loved seeing her dance with all her heart. And their youngest, full of light, and joy, and hope — her pride, their pride. She remembers flying with them across the stars — then falling, for a reason she cannot comprehend nor remember, yet she knows it was because they fought for what was right.
A month during her sojourn, she heard from a group of traders that a certain Seren Wraithslayer was spotted south and saved a refugee camp from Zealots and a Purity Wraith. They also said that since then, the Wraithslayer had annihilated every squad, every platoon he comes across. Her heart skipped a beat, then two. Was this the Seren she's looking for? South, they said, so south she went.
It was in one of those days that she finally encountered them – the Zealots of the Choir, and unfortunately for her, or for them, they thought her weak and frail.
"Halt, little girl!" One said, a tall, lanky man with a crooked smile under his helm and a spear strapped on his back. "No one is allowed to pass without paying the toll!" He announced.
"What toll?" Chaewon asked.
"The toll!" The second said. He was shorter but no less thinner, with daggers sheathed on his waist. "We don't have to tell you, hand over anything and everything you have!" He said, grinning.
"I don't have anything." She said meekly.
"Oh you have something alright." The shorter Zealot said.
"You have a body, girl. A body that can pleasure us." The first one chimed in sinisterly.
They advanced, and Chaewon retreated. The wolves prowled behind her, if the Zealots noticed, they seemed undeterred.
Then they rushed in and tried to reach her. And she said one word — "STOP!" And they stopped. They tensed, as if their will is fighting against their bodies. Chaewon stumbled back and her concentration wavered. The Zealots regained control of their bodies and after a few beats of confusion, once again tried to grab her.