Cervato - Girl On Fire (Part 1 of Cervato's Saga)

Glass Heart

Frustration flared in the woman's mind as she walked along Gendarren Fields, passing by the shadow of the Vigil Headquarters. Had she been this difficult to manage in all her years of being a soldier? It was as if they wanted to make it easy for Artemis to pick them off, one by one. Though, that was not their fault. Indeed, they should have lived their lives as they wished carefree, without her interference.

The strangled and desperate cry rang out past the tree line along the path. The woman's blood ran cold. Something foul was at play and Cervato had the choice to flee or investigate. Another painful cry joined the other before silence fell once more. Urgently, she ran beneath the low limbs of the nearby pine though what she witnessed caused her to stop. Bodies missing their lower extremities and throats torn out. Why does blood always greet her eyes?

Deronjur.

Why was he here? Had he not gone into hiding with Caolan? It had been well over two Seasons since she'd last warned both sylvari. Since Caolan had burst into a furious rage over Cervato's gall to even come close, knowing that Artemis was more than likely seeking her closest contacts from their days in House Zwe.

The creation that resembled a hound, formed by the workings of flesh and Deronjur's talent with necromancy began to growl at her, blood dripping from its maw. Had these men tried to attack her dear friend? Why did she feel the need to clutch the grips of both blades in her hands? Deronjur was not a threat.

Then why did Deronjur stare at her in such a manner? The beautiful golden eyes held such animosity and Cervato felt it aimed directly at her.

Cervato winced as the older woman in the dark parlor, tucked along the side streets of Lion's Arch. Her eyes returned to watch the needle dipping within the ink, gold dripping from it as it returned to the inside of her right wrist. Her first tattoo.

Deronjur stood nearby, watching Cervato and the woman as the needle continued to be pressed into her skin, blood pooling at times before being wiped away. Eventually, there would be a crown, more feminine in design as if it could be worn by a matriarch. The beautiful jewels that aligned it with red and golden hues, to match Deronjur's coloring. How she loved her friend dearly. How she had wanted something to permanently show the entire world that she would always have a part of him with her.

Once finished, Cervato displayed the permanent artwork to Deronjur with a fond smile.

"Experiments, Cer. I told you. I never thought of you as stupid, but now I'm considering it." His voice was laced with malice and annoyance at her repetitive inquiry as to what had happened.

The sudden realization that Deronjur had done such a thing caused something to fall within her throat and low into the core of her body. The one who never seemed fond of any physical contact with anyone had purposefully committed these horrible acts of violence. Her overly cautious friend, that preferred to avoid conflict if he could manage, had intentionally slaughtered two humans.

Darkness. Her entire form was chilled. The distant echoes of combat entered her ears, and the voices of others hovering over her would not let her rest.