Death in Spring [wlw]

Chapter One [A]

Aviva

The sun rises over the fresh drops of rain soaking through the tips of the tall grass. One by one, the nymphs of the Western Forest begun to rise. I'm awoken to a deep hum arising from the lake, the Rusalki.

      Recently, the creatures have been creeping towards the territory of the nymphs. Strict boarders were installed after the Thousand-Year War to insure the peace of both people of the surface and the deep. Yet, the movement of the Creatures of the Dark began to cause disruption in the order of balance.

     I prop myself up lazily against the blossoming trees near the shore to see what was the matter. A group of Rusalki seemed to be deep in an argument with another nymph, Ilaria.

    "You're not welcome in the depths of these woods, I've explained this a million times. Creatures of the Dark belong to the caves."

      "We require fresher water in order to survive. The cave springs have all but dried up. Where are we to go-" One argues beneath his sneer.

     "This is sacred ground." Interrupts Ilaria. "This is the place of Her Majesty and Her Daughters of Light."

   Another Rusalki places his arms on the side of the lake but is instantaneously stunned by a spell casted upon the land by a high mage. He hisses and begins to rise from the water.

     "You dare curse us-?"

      "This ground is protected. This is your last warning, you shall leave or be damned."

      The Rusalka from before begins muttering an enchantment beneath his breath. Quickly without thought, I sprint over to intercept.

"Zablokovaný," I mutter and casts away the spell, "We do not wish you ill. We welcome you to the Eastern part of our woods. Yet, allow us to have this center for our Goddess, blessed be Her name." The group hesitates, considering. They converse in their native tongue deciding on the outcome.

     "Uzrozumený."
      Agreed.

      With that, they vanish beneath the stream.

     "Gods, I thought they'd do something worse..." Ilaria exasperates. "I don't like them near us. The Darkness should be kept where it belongs."

     "What else was there to do but agree, the Rusalki are stubborn people. I had no choice."

     Sighing, Ilaria points towards the Goddess' temple. "You must tell Her what you agreed to. She won't be happy."

     "I suppose you're correct. Yet, She has a good heart. She'll understand." I hesitate, "...right?"

     With a pathetic look, Ilaria gestures to go off. Gods. Why did I say that? It was time to face Korrin, the Mother Goddess of nymphs.

~~~

     Walking up the steps was the most humiliating moment of my life. I gave orders regarding the land of nymphs without permission from the Goddess Herself. I was screwed. This wasn't the first time I've defied my expectations as a member of Her Temple.

     Korrin is a... fair Goddess. Yet, her heart is more focused on the rights of nature rather than the rights of man. She would be willing to go to war to preserve her land. That's what worried me. However, it was not my place to doubt Her Excellency. And now, I had to pay the price.

     The doors opened as I approached. "I request an audience with Her Grace, Korrin Goddess of Nature and Mother Nymphs." The high priestess gives a wry smile.

     "Follow me," She nods. And so I do. Up the stairs and to Her private rooms. I was so used to this by now I could've led the way myself. The priestess knocks at the engraved door and disappears down the corridor.

     "Come My Child," Breaths Korrin, "For I have known what you've done."

     Shit.

     "Good morning My Queen." I state, bowing down.

     "Forget the formalities. Out of everything you've done, this may be your most idiotic. You had chosen to disband the situation without requesting my presence, or even asking for my order. You've disrupted our peace."

     "Please, you have to understand the Rusalki had casted a spell towards the land, I had to negotiate in order to protect it. I dismantled the situation." I bow in attempt to show my forgiveness.

     "You've dismantled nothing. You've only heightened the tension. What is stopping them from spreading to our quarters?"

     "I..." I hesitate, unsure of what exactly would come next.

    "This is no where near your first offense towards the nymphs. Must I remind you of your countless errors? I have no choice, you are a threat to this settlement."

    "WHAT?" My heart skips a beat and my stomach drops. I felt as if I'd be sick. What was she implying?

     "I see a shroud of darkness around your being. You are not suitable for my children."

     "W-what are you saying...?" The words somehow leave my mouth.

     "I'm saying you are no longer welcome in this place of worship. You are to preform a final task for me and then will be dismissed."

    Rage fills my body, "You can't. I've been loyal since the moment I was brought here. And for you to cast me away with no reason other than a fucking vision-" my voice rises but catches in the back of my throat. Tears begin to form in the corners of my eyes. Where was I to go?

    "Do not swear at me you pitiful creature. Forgive me for it ending in such a way. For your final task-."

     "What's stopping me from not doing it? As if I would serve someone who has taken me away from my home." I spoke my mind a bit too openly... Korrin's face grows dark.

    "If you do not do as I say, you will be placed under a curse of my own choosing. Shall I do to you what I did to your captures that brought you here? I cruel twist of irony I think."

    I go silent, the pit in my stomach only growing more.

     "There we go, now for your final task you'll go to the leader of the Rusalki and pass along a letter from me directly discussing the previous negotiations. Do you understand."

    I glare up at her, I couldn't defy a god. Not even a weak nature goddess. The cost would be worse than death.

    "You're dismissed." A letter appears in front of me on the ground, I crumple it in a fist and begin my trek out of the door.

    "Ah, as for your powers," I freeze, unsure how to process. "They're mine once more." A warm feeling builds in my head and is released in a beam of light.

      I felt weak, no longer did I gain strength from the woods around me. My eyes began to flutter, I couldn't stand straight. In an instant, everything went dark.