Five: Rise of Malevolence

Chapter 4: A Dance of Regret

POV switches come into effect due to Chapter 3 and the "event"

Cordelia's POV: It's been five months, since I saw that dark light shoot up from the mountains from the north, and how it changed everything I thought to have truly known. Recently news of two girls causing such event have been spread around the kingdom most notably the town in which my journey begins, The Grand Oasis, Desera.
    "Cordelia!! Get on stage! I don't pay you to lay about and worry!" Yells a raspy, and loud voice.
    "Yes, M'lord would you like me to get in uniform or just-
A swift strike from my lord hits me like I was a dog getting disciplined.
"You would do best to not question, I only need actions from such an unworthy piece of life such as yourself!" His voice thunders through the room. I got up from the ground still somewhat dazed by that sudden strike, and made my way out onto the stage fearing what may come if I protested.
"Ohh hoo?! Now this was worth the wait!"
"Yessss! She was the highlight of the last performance!
"Is she single?!" Comments make their way onto the stage where they bombard me to the point of getting nervous, after all I am the best dancer in Desera, I do have a reputation to uphold.
Here I sing my song, silently and in my mind, I will achieve complete peace, for that is the Calldor way.
Move like the wind, Lucia we shall mend, fall like the rain and slow down the pain~
    "Wow! It's like she's flying in the air!
    "That was so quickly done truly it was like a swift gust!
    "She's like a water fairy so graceful and beautiful!" Countless voices, rarely ever harboring ill words, only praise rained onto my stage.
Dance like the flame, burn through the shame~
     I opened my crimson red and vibrant orange fans to imitate the flames that represent my strength to carry on and survive this now cruel world.
Here I dance for the light to grace this land. Here I dance in the name of light~~
    My song comes to an end, and so does my dance.
    "And here is another spectacular performance from our magnificent Cordelia Calldor!!" The host of the show yelled. I bow and then take my leave dreading the thought of another smack from Lord Vallhelm, one of the grand elites of the Desert Order.
    "M'lord?!" I yell in the backstage. No response. "Perhaps he went back home to the manor?" I grab my stuff which isn't much, since Lord Vallhem doesn't give pay to his workers if he does it's only enough to get food and other necessities, and it's not like I want to work for him, I have no choice, since he did take me in when I was a child with nobody else to take care of me. I truly have no where else to go, I'm trapped. I leave with my bags and walk out of the grandiose doors of The Desert Flower and into the intense heat that constantly reminds me that I'm just a girl in the sands with nothing.
    Ever since that dark beam shot up into the sky, or what most people refer to as The Dark Beginnings, everyone changed. everyone is so on edge. everyone talks about a goddess, that descended onto the land in response to the darkness that arose from the mountains. I think to myself as I walk on the path to the manor. While on my way out of town I notice a group of people standing just next to the manor gate.
    "You must be The Firebird Cordelia!" Yelled one of the people in the group.
    "Umm, I don't know about the "firebird" part, but you got Cordelia." I responded. I sensed tension in the hearts of these people, so I reached for my hidden knife obscured only by my fans and dancing robes.
    "We would like to see a private performance, would you accompany us?" Said an older man in the group.
    "My services aren't free you'll need to pay." I reply to the old man, he clearly didn't like that response, since he proceeded to inch closer to me as the others dispersed around me.
    "Oh, I'll make them free." The old man smirked as he lunged at me. Anticipating such action I dodge the attack swiftly, but little did I know that I practically positioned myself to be restrained by the other group member. Little did he know though that I wasn't going out without a fight. I complied and was taken to the older man all the members were around me.
    "You put up quite a fight, you'll need a little spirit especially where we're taking you." All the men laughed, thinking that they got me they all lowered their guard for the moment which was their downfall. I had my knife in hand and I slit the man who held restrained me in the wrist, then like it was instinct I quickly went for the throats of the other men, it helped with the fact that they were all close to each other so one forceful slice ended them all. After a few seconds it finally hit me.
    "What have I done?!" It's like my body was taken over during that battle, like an evil aura clouded my better judgement and forced my hand to do its bidding. I did not even think about anything in that fight, only killing. I looked around myself there was no one, since where I am is technically private property, so at least nobody saw the crime.
    "There she is the murderer!" A Vallhelm maid screamed.
    "Damn it, I'm sorry to have taken your lives they won't go to waste, I assure you." I run from the scene and make my way to the slums hoping to find a quick escape. "I really don't need the Desert Order on my trail, their judgement will surely be death the moment I become vulnerable." Running and regretting, I make my way closer to what looks like a tavern.
    "Almost to my get-away, hopefully my assets and looks can score me a way to disappear from The Order's detection." Running faster than the wind, I bolt into what I assumed was the doors, but in reality it was two girls.
    "Oww!" Both girls say in unison. They get up from the ground and instant shock went through me, it was the girls from the posters around town, it was the girls whose powers supposedly caused The Dark Beginning, it was the girls whose run-in with me changed the world that I thought to have known entirely...