Unia: Echo of Harmony

Night of the Departed Souls: More to Depart. Act 1

The room, once brimming with warmth and hope, had grown cold, its air thick with despair and fear. The village outside, once alive with celebration and joy, was now besieged by desperate screams and the relentless rumble of storms and debris, heralding the fierce battle of the heavenly titans overhead. Furniture shook under the vibrations of distant roars, the chaotic symphony of destruction echoing through the night.

Only the murky moonlight, seeping through the window, illuminated the room, casting ghostly shadows as Raquel's hands moved with frantic purpose, searching through the shelves. A cry of relief broke the tension when she found the source of hope. "I found it! ¡Lo encontré, Rigel!" she exclaimed, her fingers closing around a crystal-framed amulet, its facets flickering with a desperate gleam. Clutching it to her chest, she whispered, "Please, help us, please..." Her voice was a repeating chant of trust in the heavenly.

Beside her, young Rigel and Daniel stood, their faces etched with confusion and dread. Rigel's eyes, wide with the innocence of youth, reflected the storm of turmoil around them. Her voice, small and fraught with uncertainty, broke through the tense silence, "¡Mamá! What's happening?"

Raquel turned, her features strained as she enveloped Rigel in a protective embrace, her voice a trembling whisper meant to reassure. "Everything is fine, dear, todo estará bien," she murmured, though the tremor in her words betrayed her true feelings. She clutched Rigel tightly, as if her embrace could shield her daughter from the horrors of the night. "He will come, he must..." she added; the delicate quiver in her voice, however, did little to calm Rigel's mounting anxiety.

As the tumult outside swelled to a fever pitch, the door was flung wide with a resounding crash. A pulse of terror gripped every soul within; yet, this alarm swiftly gave way to a sigh of relief. In the doorway, a throng of anxious villagers, their faces etched with worry, gathered around the prophetess, seeking solace in her presence. Among them, Carlos and Miguel, their faces marked by deep furrows of concern, gently supported Tabitha as she entered. The father and son duo carefully steadied the druidess, whose formidable yet fragile form appeared as if it might collapse without their sturdy support.

A fleeting smile crossed the young boy's face as he rushed toward his mother. "Mother!" he exclaimed with a mix of relief and joy. Tabitha, summoning her fading strength, reached out a trembling hand to her son. "I'm back, chaver," she reassured, her touch gentle as she brushed his cheek, then turning her weary eyes to Raquel. "Thank you, my na'arah," Tabitha whispered, her voice frail yet filled with deep relief as she met Raquel's gaze. It was a mother's gratitude, palpable in her expression as she saw her child safe.

"What are these creatures? What should we do?" Raquel's words spilled out in a rushed torrent, her voice threading through the din of chaos.

Tabitha's eyes lifted skyward, observing monstrous entities that previously skirmished at a safe distance now entangled in battle directly overhead. Their colossal forms cast harrowing shadows upon the village below. With a heart heavy as lead, Tabitha turned back to Raquel, whose fingers were clenched tightly around the amulet, her knuckles white with tension. "You and Rigel must leave now, follow me," Tabitha commanded, her voice a firm anchor amidst the tumult. Supported by Carlos and Miguel, she pivoted laboriously, her weakened stance belied by the urgency in her movements. Daniel, small and shadow-like beside his mother, matched her determined strides with nervous speed.

As Tabitha crossed the threshold of the house, Raquel's imploring whispers halted her. "Please... I need you more than ever..." Raquel's voice, fragile and wavering, tugged at the still air. Her hands clutched the amulet tighter, her pleas intensifying. "Where are you... your daughter needs you!" The desperation in her voice filled the rapidly collapsing space around them.

"Let me stand," Tabitha insisted, steadying herself as Miguel questioned with concern, "Are you sure?" His reluctance was clear, but her firm nod dispelled any doubts. The men gently lowered the druidess to her feet; her legs quivered, barely supporting her weight. Summoning the last vestiges of her strength, Tabitha turned to Carlos. Relieved of her weight, Carlos straightened, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension. With a clear and authoritative voice, Tabitha commanded, "Summon the rest; we are leaving." Carlos nodded and, with a dutiful bow, quickly set off to fulfill the druidess's task, soon disappearing into the murky depths of the alley.

Turning back to Raquel, Tabitha's features softened yet remained resolute. "I will take care of you two, but we must hurry, Raquel," she urged, her voice cutting through the thick air. Raquel's response was a whisper, carrying the remnants of hope, "He promised..."

"I know... I know he did. But he isn't here now - we're on our own," Tabitha replied, her tone blending gentleness with an iron resolve.

Rigel, observing the exchange with growing anxiety, called out to her mother, "Mom, come on!" Her plea was both urgent and tender. With quick steps, she crossed the threshold of the house and joined the others, her hand extended to her mother, expecting that their palms would soon intertwine.

Heartened by the daughter's plea, Raquel rose with intent, Raquel's features hardened from despair to determination. Yet as she moved towards the threshold, the timbers above whispered ominously of impending doom. In an instant, the world turned treacherous—the ceiling groaned a foreboding squeal before yielding to gravity's merciless pull. A deafening rumble tore through the air, swiftly followed by a crushing sound as the roof caved in, its downfall heralding a cascade of darkness that enveloped Raquel.

At first, a sharp, excruciating pain lanced through Raquel, a piercing agony that seemed to drown out her own scream. Then, darkness flooded her vision, an all-encompassing blackness that devoured every speck of light. This merciless shadow crept into the corners of her mind, swallowing thoughts and memories alike, smothering her consciousness under its oppressive weight. In those final moments, a serene quietude enveloped her, a stark, chilling peace that promised an end to all suffering—a whisper of oblivion.