Heroes and Monsters

A Terrible Beauty (Prologue)

Sister Faith told me that we were surrounded. The whole fortress besieged by a mass of Marionettes and Abominations; a sea of tooth and claw. She increased my Royal Guard to 16 mortals consisting of various magic users and Weres in an effort to keep me safe. Captain Marcus tells me that I must be escorted to safety through the underground tunnels the previous residents had built during their own war. How terrifying to consider that our own has ended, that this siege be considered a skirmish when compared to our own bloody history. Sister Faith considers me an innocent child but I have been tutored in our history and the battles in which the previous generation of Guardians undertook to end the Blood War. Instructor Raziel has even told me tales of a time before Earth! An age of prosperity where our people reigned supreme in a coalition of races amongst the stars! Though he had me promise not to speak of it. At least not till I had advanced to the next stage of my education.

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My Guard has brought me to the entrance of the tunnels and is working to open the door but I hear the clashes from outside even from so deep within the old fort's halls. The sound of Terra succumbing to Mors Blades. The howls of the Blue's Abominations. So close and so real, all vying for my life and that of dear Sister Faith. I cannot fathom the courage she holds to be on the frontlines. I insisted on joining her on this deployment and convinced her that it would be safe. Reality has made me realize my foolishness and refuse the presence of my Knights. But how could she blame me! Their concern for me out of a sense of duty in intention but pure suffocation in reality! I think of it due to our disparity in age. Them being trained warriors past their maturity while I was raised in a separate Iteration and thus still a child. Alas this foolishness does not befit a Que-

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We heard the chaos of battle erupt from within our inner sanctum. The Guardsmen of the fort were defending against our foes from somewhere nearby. I knew without doubt that they would follow their duty to the death as any warrior of Sheilda would and it pained my very heart. How could I run? Would the Queens of old be so cowardly as to leave their loyal mortals behind when they and their Chevaliers could do so much more? I had heard Tales from Instructor Raziel about the defense of the planet Thaenus. Of the Order of the Stone Guardians and the Chevalier, Sentinel, holding the line while heavily outnumbered, until the geothermal reactor overloaded. Of Chevalier Edi shedding her mortal form and donning a cybernetic one in order to shepherd the future generations of Guardians. They were Chevaliers, those to be our most loyal. How could I, the next Queen of the Red not risk as much as those who followed our line? And thus I spoke to my dear Captain Marcus.

"We must help our comrades, Captain! Even now they lay down their lives to protect me, not a breath down this hall!"

"Your majesty, they do this for your safety. The bloodline of the Red lives in you and all of us would gladly give our lives to ensure your protection. They die in the hope of buying enough time for you to escape with us. Should Queen Faith fall ,you will be alive to continue the duty of the Guardians."

"I understand your reasoning Marcus but as Queen I will need to take to the frontlines. I refuse to be a coward. How could I face my fellow Guardians in the crypts? Please, your Queen begs you. Follow me through this hall and assist our comrades in facing our foe. Like the great heroes of my people's history. Even if you do not, I will man the charge myself."

"....if my Queen orders it we must do so. For Humanity and the Red, your Majesty. Your Guard follows you to the death. To arms all of you! The Queen's will be done!"

I was surprised to have them follow me so readily. They stopped their tasks and dropped to their knees. So strange. But then again I had never been allowed to interact with most mortals besides my Instructor. Perhaps I merely lacked the experience to understand. Captain Marcus had removed his helmet and dropped his head as if in shame. But no matter, I had succeeded in my goal to gain their support for the battle ahead. I would dwell on their reaction afterwards. I led my Royal Guards to the source of the disturbance. I in my pristine, white armor forged from Terra and they in theirs adorned with the azure robes of the Royal Guard. As one we charged down the hall and into the thick of battle, filled with the Blue's Marionettes and our own Guardsmen.

I was surprised really. Sister Faith had tutored me in the ways of combat passed down from our line. She seemed particularly insistent that I learn the style of Chevalier Edi, a famous duelist before she lost her body. The Dance of the Tempest. And so I used it here. It was marvelous how I moved about the tight hall, bounding off of walls and ceiling alike and parting the head of any Marionette I crossed paths with. How could these automatons and my warriors be so slow? Is this the true difference between one of the Red and our Mortals? I continued until I felt short of breath and then pulled back as I was instructed in lessons past. But what I saw behind me was horror. I alone had pushed through unscathed. I could not see Captain Marcus but several of the bodies on the dusty floor were draped in blue. All with varying slashes of a Mors blade. The sounds around me once so clear turned hollow and I no longer heard the clash of sabers on metal but instead the faint yelling of my warriors. They bounded towards me in their Terra exoskeletons but I only wondered how I could have been so far away. Lieutenant Percival pointed ahead of me as she dashed and I narrowly blocked a Mors blade out of instinct, only to receive what felt like a boulder crashing into my midsection. I lay at the feet of the Lieutenant writhing in pain. The thin Terra guarding my belly had been dented from the blow and ahead I saw a sight which froze my blood.

I saw blue eyes, glowing bright in the dim light of the hall. Not one pair but perhaps a dozen. The Neurological Comm in my exoskeleton screamed with a message from the Lieutenant to run for the hidden passage from before. That they would hold the Blue here until I could escape. I could only watch in horror as my heightened senses registered the Blue rush forward, as my guard reacted only as fast as the Neuro Links in their suits could warn them of the impending threat. But then all I saw was a grey light.

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She stood before me surrounded by a great ,grey flame which consumed the entire hall. The Blue screamed as if in anguish with it clinging to them but I neither smelled nor saw the burn it inflicted, as if her fire scorched their very essence. I know it was hers from the brand across the back of her Terra suit; a black scale with a grey liquid weighing down the left plate, originating from the markings adorning her suit's arms and neck. This was a Keeper, a living weapon whose purpose it was to destroy Humanity's enemies whereas it was our purpose to act as a shield.

She turned to me and removed her helm, smiling as I heard the screeching of the Blue. She grinned kindly with teeth resembling that of a shark, jagged and vicious, a predator attempting to be seen as a member of the flock. Her eyes were that of a corpse, made up of a dull blue which knew not compassion or mercy. Her hair was a mess of black curls outlining a pale face with a sharp jaw. This was the face of death. The fate of all Immortals who stood against her Master's will. Reaver, the Keeper of Vengeance, once known as Justice.

"Hello there little one, there's no need to fear. My forces have arrived and are helping Faith destroy the enemy. The Blue Bloods in the tunnel will be gone soon. You're safe here with me."

She drew closer with that same smile, going so far as to kneel to my level. Her scent was of blood and dirt.

"Keep looking at me, it'll be okay now, kid. Don't look behind you"

The Keeper said this as the remaining Blue twitched on the ground, now silent. Of course I turned. And what I saw was not just the corpse of dear Captain Marcus, but also the enemies whom I had beheaded during the battle. How some leaked blood from their wounds. Not all were Marionettes.

I screamed