Reflections of Ruin [End]

[Khei Noh]

Ul’duin's colossal form barreled through the devastated landscape, leaving the smoking ruins of Dabih’r far behind. The ground trembled beneath the beast's weight, each stride covering vast distances with terrifying speed. The sky above darkened, reflecting the chaos that trailed in Ul’duin's wake—a whirlwind of dust, debris, and an unsettling stillness that hung in the air, as if the world itself recoiled from the monster’s presence.

Ul’duin was in pursuit of that faint energy signature that had first stirred deep within Khei back in the Lost Wastes.. The energy was elusive, flickering in and out of focus like a distant flame, yet constant enough to keep Ul’duin locked onto its trail.

Forests gave way to barren plains, then to rolling hills and rocky outcrops as Ul’duin traversed the vast, empty spaces between the cities and settlements of Muu. Wherever the beast went, the land bore the scars—trees uprooted, hills leveled, and streams diverted by the sheer force of its passage. Animals fled before it, their natural instincts warning them of the catastrophic power that thundered across the land.

For hours, Ul’duin ran, unstoppable, unyielding. The world seemed to shrink beneath its pace, the beast covering the vast distance with terrifying ease. Yet, as it moved closer to its target, the energy began to flicker more erratically, becoming harder to track. The wild, destructive path that Ul’duin cut through the landscape began to slow as the beast's monstrous form seemed to lose some of its earlier drive.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ul’duin’s pace began to falter. The relentless chase had drained even this formidable creature. Each step became more labored, the ground cracking underfoot with diminishing force. The energy that had fueled the hunt began to wane, slipping away like sand through fingers, and the beast’s focus wavered.

The terrain around Ul’duin shifted as it entered a verdant stretch of wilderness. Here, the energy signature that had driven the beast this far flickered one last time before vanishing completely. Ul’duin slowed to a halt, it's massive chest heaving as it tried to grasp at the fading trace.

And then, slowly, the monstrous form began to shrink. The raw, chaotic energy that had transformed Khei into Ul’duin receded, pulling back like a retreating tide. Muscles shrank, the massive, armored body dissolving away, leaving behind a fragile, human form.

Khei collapsed onto a nearby tree, her body trembling with exhaustion. The ground felt cold beneath her bare skin, a stark contrast to the feverish heat of the transformation. The ground was wet with fresh rain and the wind blew gently across the darkening woodlands, carrying with it the distant echoes of the destruction left behind.

She laid there for several moments, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear. Memories of Dabih’r came to her fleeting waves– at the forefront, the faces of the Niyotomi warriors.

Karasu stepped closer, his voice a low growl. “If you mean your words, then surrender and return to us willingly. Spare these people, and my men the fate you’ve condemned so many to.”

“..tch.”

She usually couldn't remember much following an incident that triggered her transformation— if she wear brutalized, maimed, or otherwise "killed", Ul'duin would force itself to form and she wouldnt remember anytning outside of the pain when she woke up. But this was different.. This time the vindictive words of Marcel and Karasu lingered with haunting clarity. Along with the faces of the innocent citizens she failed to protect.

She glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar landscape—rocky hills rising in the distance, the sky painted with the fading light of dusk, and verdant sea grass and arbor sprawling out before her. The realization of how far she had traveled set in, and a deep, bone-weary fatigue settled over her.

"..agh.. fuck." She struggled to sit up, every muscle in her body aching from the ordeal. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she tried to make sense of what had happened. Ul'duin had taken her farther than she had ever imagined, chasing a phantom that had depleted her reserves in the end. And now, in this foreign place, far from any semblance of civilization, she was left to grapple with the aftermath.

Khei shivered, the cool evening air biting at her skin, a brewing storm looming above. She had no clothes, no supplies, nothing but the overwhelming fatigue that threatened to drag her back into unconsciousness. But she couldn't afford to rest, not yet. She needed to find shelter, to regroup and figure out her next move.

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Current Energy Level: 30%
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[Khei Noh]

The darkening sky above threatened an impending storm, the clouds roiling in shades of bruised purple and charcoal gray. Khei’s body ached with every movement, but she knew she couldn’t afford to stop. The rain would soon come, and with it, a cold that could sap the last remnants of her strength.

She scanned the terrain, her sharp eyes settling on a cluster of trees that leaned into one another, their thick branches intertwined to form a natural shelter. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. With a weary determination, Khei staggered towards the trees, her bare feet sinking into the damp earth with each step.

Once there, she quickly began to gather materials, her hands moving almost mechanically as she pulled down large leaves, broken branches, and thick grasses. Each action was deliberate, driven by a primal instinct to survive. She piled the leaves and bramble against the largest tree, creating a rough barrier against the wind. The branches she arranged overhead, forming a crude roof that might hold back some of the rain.

The rain began to fall, cold and heavy, splattering against her skin like ice. Khei rushed to finish her shelter, shoving the last of the leaves into place just as the sky opened up. She ducked beneath the makeshift tent, pulling her knees to her chest as she huddled against the tree’s rough bark. The storm descended with a fury, the wind howling through the trees and the rain pouring down in relentless sheets. Thunder rumbled in the distance, a deep growl that echoed through the hills.

As she sat there, shivering from both the cold and exhaustion, Khei’s mind drifted back to the devastation she had left behind in Dabih’r. Imagery of Ul’duin’s rampage played out in her thoughts, a nightmare of blood and fire. The faces of the Niyotomi warriors flashed before her—Marcel, with his steely resolve, and Karasu, his eyes burning with a hatred that mirrored her own inner turmoil.

“A monster hiding in human skin,”

Karasu’s voice echoed in her mind, a bitter reminder of what she had become. She clenched her fists, the memory of his words cutting deeper than any physical wound. They were right to hate her. She had brought nothing but destruction to her clan, to the city of Dabih’r, and to anyone unfortunate enough to cross her path.

She could still feel Ul'duin's power, surging through her veins like wildfire, unstoppable and all-consuming. She'd grown accustomed the loss of control– the sheer horror of being trapped within a body that wasn’t her own. It used leave her left clasped with fear. The thought of transforming again, of unleashing that beast upon another innocent place, used to fill her with dread. But she'd grown beyond such pointless self loathing.

"..you should have left me alone."

What choice did she have? From birth, Khei's destiny had been tied this omen. She had never known a life outside of this curse, one free of doom and devastation, and she was nearly twenty years old. Suicidal guilt and turmoil had driven her through stark epochs of depression years ago; and what emerged was the jaded, calloused human woman who refused to succumb to her cosmic fate.

So as any creature too stubborn to die would, she adapted to survive.

The storm continued to rage, but inside the shelter, a calmness began to settle over her. Perhaps it was the exhaustion finally catching up to her, or maybe it was the cold numbing her senses, but for the first time since she left Dabih’r, Khei felt a sliver of clarity. The energy signature that had lured her this far had faded away, and with it, the only lead she had.

She had no direction, no solid plan, and the only ally she had was a mysterious woman.. who was undoubtedly hundreds of miles away.

"Teh, I don't even know how to contact you.. But now would be a hell of a good time!!"

She roared into the thunder, making herself laugh with the abusurdity of her words actually reaching Qarinah's eara. All she had was the bitter realization that she was alone in this—alone against the monster within, and against the forces that would stop at nothing to destroy her.

As the storm howled around her, Khei made a silent vow. "I..can't keep running.." She would find the source of that energy, no matter how far she had to go or what crucible she'd have to endure. She'd was either gonna have to learn to control this power find someone who could help her do it, or at the very least, understand this transformation enough to prevent another disaster.

The rain began to ease, the storm’s fury finally spent. Khei leaned back against the tree, her body relaxing for the first time for what felt like days. She closed her eyes, letting the exhaustion pull her into a restless sleep, her mind still haunted by the memories of Dabih’r and the uncertainty of the path that lay ahead.

But for now, in this small shelter, she was safe. And for a few brief moments, that was enough.

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Current Energy Level: 35%
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[Qarinah]

The storm had long since passed, leaving the forest wrapped in a damp, misty silence. Khei slept fitfully in her makeshift shelter, the exhaustion of her ordeal weighing heavily on her. The night’s chill seeped into her bones, but soon, a different kind of cold would stir her from her restless sleep—an unnatural, almost otherworldly presence.

Then, from the shadows that clung to the edge of Khei's shelter, a figure slowly materialized. It was as if the darkness itself had taken form, coalescing into the shape of a woman who moved with an ethereal grace, barely disturbing the ground beneath her feet.

Qarinah stepped forward, her pale, elegant features framed by a cascade of raven-black hair that seemed to blend seamlessly into the shadows she emerged from. Her eyes, glowing faintly in the pre-dawn gloom, locked onto Khei with an intensity that was both unsettling and mesmerizing.

“Restless even in your sleep, I see.." Qarinah’s voice was smooth as silk, carrying a melodic tone that belied the deadly power Khei knew lurked beneath her calm exterior. She moved closer, the mist parting before her like a veil. “But I'm afraid this is no time for rest. Time to wake, dear.”

She said, folding her arms now as her voice worked its way through Khei's sleeping mind— calmly stirring her from her slumber with a delicate touch of magic.

[Khei Noh]

Khei, who had propped herself up on one elbow, felt a wave of unease wash over her as the figure emerged from the shadows. Every muscle in her body tensed, her senses screaming at her to be on guard. The weight of the night’s events still clung to her like a heavy shroud—Dabih’r’s destruction, the relentless storm, the exhaustion that gnawed at her very bones. And now, this mysterious presence, this woman who moved with the fluid grace of something not entirely human.

“What do you want?” Khei’s voice was rough, the edges frayed by sleep and fatigue, yet it held a sharpness born from instinctive distrust. Her mind, still sluggish and clouded from the remnants of troubled dreams, immediately recognized Qarinah's voice and features. She blinked, trying to dispel the disorienting fog, and focused on the her face—pale, serene, almost ethereal in the dim pre-dawn light. Though despite her allure, Khei didn't seem too enthusiastic to see her. Sure, Qarinah claimed to be an ally. But that didn't make up for the fact that she was nowhere to be found when Khei was in danger.

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Current Energy Level: 40%
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[Qarinah]

Qarinah smiled, a gesture that might have seemed warm if it weren’t for the unnerving chill that seemed to follow in her wake. “Why else would I be here, love? In these god-awful woods..” she said, her voice a smooth blend of reassurance and teasing familiarity, as if they were old acquaintances reunited under strange circumstances.

She stepped forward gracefully, the shadows seeming to retreat before her, and brushed aside a protruding branch with an effortless motion. "You’ve had a difficult night, to say the least," she continued, her tone softening slightly, though her eyes still gleamed with a sharp, almost predatory light. Her gaze scrutinized Khei's makeshift shelter, a crude construction of leaves and brambles hastily thrown together in the midst of exhaustion and desperation. The faintest hint of haughty disdain tugged at the corners of her mouth as she surveyed it.

"Consider me the calvary, here to strengthen your spirits.” Qarinah added, the words slipping from her lips like a promise wrapped in velvet. She reached into the folds of her dark cloak and pulled out a small bundle, wrapped in a unique silk that resembled a spiders webbing. “Now, I must insist you come out from under this pitiful shelter you've made for yourself.. I'm here to help you, but I simply refuse to crawl in there to meet you, or anyone for that matter.."She gestured elegantly, as if the command were more of a gentle request, though the underlying authority in her tone left little room for argument.

[Khei Noh]

"A difficult night."

The words felt like an understatement, a feeble attempt to encapsulate the dread Khei had endured and orchestrated, all within a span of a day. A bitter, humorless laugh escaped her lips, the sound grating against the oppressive silence that hung over the forest.. But after her chuckle, Khei fell eerily silent, her gaze narrowing as she studied Qarinah with sharp, calculating eyes before she crawled from her tent.

Khei's movements were slow and deliberate as she gingerly crawled out from beneath her makeshift shelter of leaves and brambles, her muscles aching with every shift. The crude construction barely shielded her from the elements, and now, in the pale twilight of the creeping dawn, it felt even more inadequate under Qarinah's disdainful scrutiny.

“How long have you been watching me?” Khei asked outright, her voice edged with a wary curiosity. Her eyes flickered between Qarinah's face and the bundle she held, suspicion and hunger battling within her. She searched Qarinah's porcelain features, looking for any telltale sign of deception—a glint of insincerity, a shadow of ulterior motives. But Qarinah’s expression remained disarmingly calm, almost maternal, as if she truly intended to help. The sincerity in her demeanor only heightened Khei’s unease; such kindness felt alien, especially after the horrors she'd survived.

It was then that Khei’s nose caught the aroma wafting from the bundle in Qarinah’s hand. The scent was intoxicating—warm, sweet, with a hint of spice that made her mouth water. It smelled like a confectionary treat, or perhaps a breakfast dessert, the kind of indulgence she hadn't had in what felt like an eternity. The low, rumbling growl of her stomach broke the silence, betraying the depth of her hunger.

“How... have you been watching me?” Khei added, her curiosity piqued not only by Qarinah’s sudden appearance but by the enigma of her apparent abilities. The woman had an ethereal quality that defied explanation. Was she some kind of psychic? It seemed like the most reasonable answer, yet it failed to explain the otherworldly occurrences Khei had witnessed—like the castle that vanished the moment she stepped beyond its gates. Qarinah was clearly more than she appeared, a creature of mystic charm and hidden depths. Khei's mind raced with questions, each more unsettling than the last. Just how powerful was this woman?

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Current Energy Level: 45%
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[Qarinah]

Qarinah chuckled softly, her laughter ringing like a silver bell, its sound almost too delicate for the grim surroundings. “Oh, Khei..” she said, shaking her head in mock exasperation. “Your skeptical outlook is almost endearing. Always questioning, always doubting. But this line of questioning lacks vision, don't you think?” She held Khei’s gaze, her eyes gleaming with a knowing light.

“I am a sorceress, dear.. keeping an eye on those I find intriguing– or valuable such as yourself– is simply within my talents. And lending them my assistance when they so clearly need it? Well, that’s just common courtesy, wouldn’t you agree?” She teased, extending the bundle of goods towards Khei, her movements graceful and deliberate.

“I think.. instead of asking how long I’ve been watching you or how I’ve managed to do so, perhaps your focus should be on something far more pressing.”

Qarinah’s lips curled into an almost wicked smirk, the corners of her mouth curving upwards in a way that was both teasing and slightly menacing, as if she enjoyed the dance of words as much as the choking silence that followed them. She leaned in slightly after handing the bundle off to Khei, casually cleaning some dirt from the disheveled young woman's shoulder as her voice dropped to a clandestine whisper.

“You should be asking, ”What is this place?”

[Khei Noh]

Khei's eyes widened, the sudden shift in her understanding striking like a bolt of lightning. She quickly masked her surprise, but the unease lingered, gnawing at the edges of her thoughts. She took the bundle from Qarinah with one hand and immediately stepped back, her other hand tense at her side, ready for whatever might come next.

"Where am I?" she murmured to herself, her voice low and controlled, though the question carried the weight of her mounting dread. She glanced around the forest, now more ominous than ever, its shadows deeper, its silence louder. The realization that she might be far from where she had last thought herself to be was disorienting. But she couldn't let Qarinah see that. Not fully.

"Well?” Khei snapped, her voice edged with a simmering frustration that masked the tremor of fear beneath. “Are you gonna’ tell me or not?” The question was more of a demand, a challenge issued to the mysterious woman before her.

The edge in Khei's voice revealed her lingering suspicion, her unwillingness to be a pawn in someone else’s game—no matter how charming or powerful they appeared to be. If Qarinah had been watching her, she would know that Khei was certainly in no mood for games, despite whatever gift she was given. She was incredibly agitated, cold, along with a bevy of other vexing emotions. In the back of her mind, Khei wondered if Qarinah was in charge of alerting the Niyotomi Clan to whereabouts– but the thought felt more and more far-fetched as Khei's stomach growled louder. If this sorceress was truly her enemy, she wouldn't have brought her food and goods. Khei brought the bundle to her nose and sniffed it, though her gaze on Q never faded.

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Current Energy Level: 50%
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[Qarinah]

Qarinah’s eyes glimmered, savoring the tension that hung thick in the air. She let the silence linger, allowing the weight of the unknown to settle heavily upon Khei’s shoulders before finally speaking. Her voice was smooth and deliberate, each word carefully measured.

“After your… impressive display at Dabih’r,” Qarinah began, her words slicing through the stillness like a finely honed blade. She took a casual glance at their surroundings, the unfamiliar foliage and distant sounds of a strange ecosystem making her statement all the more unsettling.

“Ul'duin carried you far from where you last stood. Very far.." Qarinah continued, her tone weaving between genuine admiration and something sinister “You’re no longer in Muu, I'm afraid, but a remote island, just off the eastern coast of the continent.” Q let the revelation hang in the air, its implications sinking into Khei’s consciousness. “It's quite lovely, really. A perfect sanctuary… or perhaps, a perfect prison, depending on how you choose to view it.”

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Qarinah’s lips as she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, her gaze drifting back to Khei. “I've taken the liberty of packing you a pair of clothes and some food—a truly delectable meal, if I do say so myself. I prepared it with care, knowing you would need every ounce of strength for what lies ahead.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, her tone shifting to one of caution laced with intrigue.

“—I'm willing to bet Ul'duin didn’t bring you here by chance. He is drawn to his counterparts, bound by a cosmic tether that none of us fully understand. Something—someone— awaits you, Khei. And whatever it is, you may need to be at your best to face it.”

[Khei Noh]

Khei’s grip on the bundle tightened, Qarinah’s words settling in her chest like a heavy stone sinking into deep water. The realization that she was no longer in Muu, that Ul'duin had carried her far from where she last stood, filled her with a mix of bewilderment and rising irritation. "Shit, not again.." she thought bitterly, her mind racing to process this new, disorienting reality.

Her gaze swept across the unfamiliar landscape, taking in the dense forest around her. The towering trees cast long, twisting shadows as Vescrutia’s two suns began their slow climb over the horizon, spilling golden light through the thick canopy. The air here was different—dense with the salty tang of ocean spray and the earthy scent of unfamiliar vegetation. It was a stark contrast to the arid, scorched ruins she had just left behind.

"Where the hell have you taken me this time?" she lamented inwardly, letting out a sigh of exasperation that echoed in the quiet. This wasn’t the first time Ul'duin had dragged her across vast distances in pursuit of some mysterious objective. The habit was unsettling—one she had never fully grown accustomed to. If his hunger became too intense or if her Naten dipped dangerously low, she would sometimes awaken miles from where she had fallen asleep, gnawing on the bones of some enormous creature she didn’t even remember hunting. But this… this was different. The island felt like a place out of time, a place that didn’t exist on any map she knew.

Her thoughts churned, piecing together the fragments of information she had. ”If you brought me here, there must be a reason..” she mused, her irritation giving way to a steely resolve. Something on this island caught his attention.. Immediately, she recalled the faint energy trail she had sensed back in the Lost Wastes, a nearly imperceptible thread that had tugged at her consciousness, elusive yet persistent. "Maybe.."

Her thoughts turned to the Pyre, the fanatical sect of cultists she discovered within the Hidden Temple who brought upon their own annihilation by trifling with the powers of a Primordial being. She thought maybe that a separate sect of the zealots could have survived their initial cataclysm and relocated here. It was either that, or it was the creature they summoned that brought forth that abhorrent golem she fought a few days ago within the temple.

Khei’s eyes narrowed, her instincts sharpening as she considered the possibilities. Whatever it was, it was something powerful enough to draw Ul'duin’s attention—and hers. “Heh, are we finally on the same page?” She jested to herself, musing at the idea of her and Ul'duin working in tandem before her reflective trance gave way to bundle of goods she grasped so tightly. The alluring smell now undeniable.

“Thank you.. for this.” Khei responded, her gaze softening on Qarinah’s as a weak smile played on her lips. “I'm not used to people looking out for me without asking for something in return so.. this is new for me.”

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Current Energy Level: 55%
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