Karta Stryker

Chapter 29: The Light

I was in a void, no ground for my feet to associate with. Only the stars and planets of the vast galaxy could be seen, and a woman stood in front me. She had olive skin, and beautifully bright violet eyes. She wore a golden headpiece which strands of chained pearls hung from. She wore an off white silk dress, but no bra to support her breasts, nor cover them. While I floated in the air, her bare footsteps created ripples throughout the empty space.

"Karta Stryker. An honour it is to finally meet you." The woman spoke.

"Am I dead?" I asked without hesitation.

"No."

"Then where am I?"

"My domain. No one can touch you here." The woman smiled.

Her voice wasn't threatening, or ill informed. It was soothing and calming, a voice you would expect a pure mother to have.

"I am responsible for the visions you've had. I am responsible for the communication between you and your parents."

"So that was all a trick?" I nearly shouted.

"No, I simply allowed it. Your souls were already screaming in hopes of reaching each other. The universe is way more complex than most believe it to be." The woman continued.

"Why let me talk to the dead in the first place?"

"Because it was necessary to Galgamere's defeat. Once you recovered your memories, you were certainly the hero that the Stryder race long sought for. You became your true self."

I looked upward, seeing a blurred vision of my current reality. Ashes and embers fell from the volcano's cry, strikes of lightning illuminating the sky. Everything happening at once in slow motion, Marcus and Jade screaming to Arcadia, trying to bring her back as my body vacantly watched. I began to comprehend the raw power of this woman standing before me, as she basically ripped me out of my own body.

"Who... who are you?"

"My name is Sumatra. I am the Overseer."

What is all of this?

"I've been waiting for the right moment to reveal myself to you. I'm afraid that from now on, your life will never be the same. Galgamere's fall is only the beginning."

"The beginning? And how are you even sure Galgamere will fall?"

"Because you are leading the elementals into battle. You have the determination to see this through."

I looked around, and couldn't bear to rid the thought of Arcadia and the others.

"Arcadia..."

"Yes, child?" 

"Is she dead?"

"Only if you let her die." A blinding white light formed, making me coil my arm over my eyes.

I stood over Arcadia's body, as it laid on the ground, pale and lifeless. As strong as I was, I was unprepared. The harrowing pit in my stomach became apparent, the hole which my parents left now only growing immeasurably, carrying with it a weight of familiarity. I couldn't let Arcadia die. My parents were slaughtered in front of me. Back then, I was a child. I was hopeless to stop it. 

But not now. 

I will not let another loved one die. 

I dropped to my knees, my eyes anxiously scanning the gaping cavity in her chest. I ripped my trench coat off, leaving only my dark grey t-shirt, pushing it to Arcadia's ribcage in an attempt to stop the flow of the crimson iron. I felt the wind press against the hairs on my neck, sending them standing. The Ashanti Knight was flying towards me. My eyes turned to embers, as my wings extended fully to the sides. I turned to face the Ashanti Knight, my wings swinging forward towards him. The power in the wind halted the beast's movements, sweeping his feet from the ground. He fell backwards on his back, Marcus and Jade progressing towards him to hold him down. I raised my eyebrow at Marcus.