Testament, an Alyada Sharne novella

[Alyada]

Testament
By
Faythcatcher

”They say that dreams are only real as long as they last. Couldn't you say the same thing about life?”
-Waking Life​

Authors Note
Below is a novella that chronicles Alyada's time within the Aht Urhgan area. All events are true. No tarutaru were harmed in the making of this novella. It takes place before the current events that happen with random RPs here and there.

Taking place right after the Shadow Lord was defeated at Castle Zvahl.

 

[Alyada]

Chapter 1

“We cannot banish dangers, but we can banish fears. We must not demean life by standing in awe of death.”
-David Sarnoff​

A tired, and wrinkled hand grasped the railing. A slight dust coated his fingertips, threatening to wax his hand and send him sailing down the flight of stairs. He muttered incoherently, cursing the adventurers and children that bolted up these stairs without touching the railing. However, they weren’t there now. It was quiet, cold, and insufferably windy. Deep in the distance a ship departed, sending out a billowing cloud of steam as it headed towards Nashamau.

His name was Quincy Horalis, an old, retired general who was deathly afraid of not being alive anymore. The idea haunted him on a daily basis. He’d watch his fruit rot and become home to maggots and worms, only thinking that it was the same fate for him. The buried dead were subject to all sorts of unreasonable torture, and who knew if they could feel it. If the howling corpses that the Lamia drag from their graves are any indication, only pain and suffering await those who die.

Of course, it was quite amusing to contrast that to the pain and suffering of life. His body was scarred from countless battles, some still aching to this day.

He was young and reckless then, convinced that he would never grow gray upon his beard. Thrusting himself into the foray, he slayed Mamool after Mamool. Ripping apart their heads just to revel in the bloodshed. A monster, he was.

Time had taken its toll on his fracturing mind. His blackened lungs and ever present cough had taught him humility. Soon he was sent from the battle grounds to the chambers of the Empress. She dismissed his dying body to a resentful job of guarding the palace. Eventually he couldn’t even stand without swaying.

Without a bride, he was to suffer in his old age alone. With no heir to his great name Quincy felt that his death would mean nothing. Of course, that all changed when he reached the top of the stairs.

Shadowed by the cold moonlight, a figure bent its legs and unsheathed its dagger. The sound sent memories flooding into Quincy’s mind. It was a hooked blade, one that had been meticulously cleaned over and over again. The shine was from buffing with animal glue and some ram skin, an expensive way to keep the dagger from ever rusting, ever growing dull.

The weapon glinted in the pale light.

“What is your name?” the figure asked. It was male, a deep and echoing question that reverberated against Quicny’s spine.

“My name is Quincy, Quincy Holaris,” he answered meekly. A coughing fit took him then, sending him rocketing backwards. The figure was holding him with an instant, helping him stand.

“Quincy, you fear that your life will have no meaning. However, I will give it thus. Your death will become the spark of a war that will last many years… one that will leave this land chilled and horrified.” The figure whispered into his ear.

Ah. War. There’s the rub. The Empire hadn’t seen a war of that magnitude in almost twenty years. Although at constant war with the neighboring empires, most battles were small skirmishes and usually ended in stalemates. No, this figure promised a war to end all wars. A war that would shake the very foundations of the Aht Urghan Empire.

“Can you make it quick?” Quincy asked, his mind already made up.

“No.” the figure answered.

Soon after, Quincy knew true agony. However, only during his death he felt very, very much alive.

 

[Alyada]

Chapter 2

“Captain says you’re to stay put. Doesn’t want you runnin’ afoul of his blushin’ psychotic bride. She figures out who you are, she’ll turn you in ‘fore you can say: ‘don’t turn me in, lady’.”
-Jayne Cobb, Firefly​

She’d found work with a local merchant. An errand girl, sent to various places across Al Zahbi. The business of selling his wonderful wamoura cacoon’s really sent the merchant off his rocker. He threw her at the hungry masses, all hands and no faces, their gil shooting out into the streets as they passed.

“You git yer Mithra tail back here ‘fore I end up puttin’ some metal in it, yah hear? I gots anothah errand ‘fore you to run!”

She’d probably end up killing him, not for his money but out of sheer annoyance alone. Today her job was to deliver a nice, browning sac full of heavy materials across town. Her back ached with pain. She used the nearby wall to steady herself. It was a soft stone, full of indentations. Reminded her of home and inside Fei’Yin. Grunting, she shuffled her feet and headed to White Gate.

Unfortunately, the bustling town of Al Zahbi was almost too loud. That’s why she didn’t hear him approach from behind.

“Alyada Sharne?” he asked. His voice was metallic, cold, and heartless. Only meant one thing, an Immortal. She turned to face him. His armor was cloth, fashionably cut, with a mask covering the lower half of his face. It had been dyed with lavender flowers, and then washed again and again until it turned into a light blue. That was another name for the Immortals, Blue Mages.

“I am she,”

“By Order of the Empress, you are here by placed under arrest for the murder of Quincy Holaris,”

Alyada’s expression turned grim.

“Murder, you say?”

“Please, ma’m, don’t make my job any harder than it already is—“

Before he could finish his sentence, he was knocked to the ground. Alyada swung the almost impossible to carry bag right into his face. The collision knocked him downwards. He was on his feet in seconds, but by then Alyada had a good head start. His violent cursing erupted into a blue magic spell, sending bombs that looked like they had been made by goblins at her feet. She leapt upwards, snatching a light post, and threw herself to the upper railing. With one claw she hooked to it as the goblin bombs exploded, sending pieces of rubble everywhere. The smoke helped her make her escape, as she climbed upwards and headed to the residential area. The Blue Mage tailed her.

“Stop! Resisting arrest is a federal crime!”

Alyada spun on her heels, only for a moment, to release a fire spell towards the Immortal. His chest exploded in a fury of flames, knocking him backwards. One last fleeting glimpse and he was already on his feet. The burned and torn fragments of his cloth armor discarded, revealing a mythril chain mail beneath.

He caught up with her almost instantly. His speed was uncanny. He had unsheathed his blade. Alyada rolled to the ground as he came down upon her. Her hands flew up to stop the blade, her mouth throwing a spell faster than her body could react. The Shield of Phalanx erupted in a fury of sparks, repelling the Immortal.

“A few tricks up your sleeve, eh?” He said, smiling. His eyes flared as he reared his head back. Alyada knew what was coming next. His head went level as his mouth opened wide. A hideous flame erupted from it, smashing into her Phalanx Shield.

Flame Breath… great.

Weaponless, she wouldn’t stand a chance against his swordsmanship. Her spells would only last her so long, and then she’d be too exhausted to cast. She needed a last ditch effort.

As the Immortal sent a fury of flames upon her shield, she began to push towards him. The space between the shield and the Immortal became so close his breath began to flow back and burn his clothes. In a panic of fury and rage, he pushed harder on the shield.

Unfortunately, for him, Alyada was already five steps away when the shield broke and exploded in a fury of flames. The Immortal was thrown into the air, sailing off the railing to the cobblestone streets below. A collective gasp was heard from the onlookers as Alyada disappeared into the residential area.

 

[Alyada]

((small update if anyone is even reading this. I'm going to have to take a small break in order to get some things done. I hope to have chapter 3 done by tomorrow and posted, but after that it may be close to a week before I get another one up. Sorry!))

 

[Aidyn]

I'm reading it. ; -;
And enjoying it! Continue now, or face my wrath. =D

 

[Shaidalyn]

I am reading it, and I love it.. I jut dont wanna dirty your post up with my comments.. good read so far! More more! ^.^/

 

[Alyada]

Chapter 3

“Once you do something, you never forget. Even if you can’t remember.”
-Zeniba “Spirited Away”​

Shyrra opened her eyes. A pale light had begun to shine through the windows, casting a dull glow around the room. Her bed was a tussle of sheets and feet, her body twisted among it. Across the way, another bed lay dormant. Alyada must already be at work.

Plopping herself on the ground the tarutaru made her way to the closet to her right. Stretching and exploding in a yawn, she began to drag her Black Mage garb out into the open. She wore a thin, straw hat with a pair of black colored pants. Taking off her shirt, she exposed layer after layer of black tattoos. Snapping on a piece of flimsy armor which covered her unmentionables, she turned to the door just in time to see Alyada throw it open in a fury.

Her roommate and best friend, Alyada was dressed in her traditional Red Mage clothing. An expensive Tabard covered her top half, while a pair of short shorts covered her lower (and, to note, seemed to get shorter every day). Her chapeau was covered in dust, the dyed phoenix feather resting lazily at the side. Covered in dust and wide eyed, she turned to Shyrra.

“I don’t want to alarm you, but we are so screwed,” she said, her face serious.

“You’re going to have to be a bit more specific,” Shyrra said, heart in her throat.

“Immortals.”

“Immortals?”

“Immortals.”

“IMMORTALS?”

“There are only one type of Empress Guard, Shyrra,” Alyada said dully, heading to her bed. She began to pull out a pouch, throwing a few things from her nightstand into it.

“Of course there are only one type! And they are one of the most powerful assassins on the planet! For Altana’s sake! I’m really going to die this time!” she said, throwing her hands up into the air. Her tiny voice echoed off the concrete walls.

“You’re not going to die, we’ll be fine,” Alyada futhered, now moving to her closet to snatch some clothes.

“That’s what you said when we were hired to save that prisoner from the Mamool Ja,” Shyrra said, snatching her own backpack and throwing things into it.

“Well, you didn’t die that time.” Alyada said, deadpan.

Sighing, Shyrra focused on what was actually happening. “You should be dead, how did you evade an Immortal?”

“Threw him off a ledge,” Again, deadpan.

Shyrra grumbled something under her breath. Snatching her Dark Staff, the young tarutaru pulled her backpack together and turned to face Alyada. Smiling, the Mithra bent down and squeezed Shyrra’s cheek.

“I can always depend on you, no matter what.”

“Only because I’d have a very uninteresting life without you,” Shyrra snorted.

“Yeah, reading ancient scrolls in the Amphibianstery or something.” Alyada said passively, moving to the door.

“You know, I think this is the second time we’ve had to lea—“

She was silenced by Alyada’s hand. Shyrra focused on Alyada’s eyes. Widely, they looked at the door. Her nostrils flared, her left ear twitching. She motioned to the closet and to what was inside. Shyrra instantly understood.

Mere minutes later, an Immortal broke down their door with an explosive blast from his head. Two other Immortals rushed in, their swords drawn. Within seconds, their blades touched the throats of Alyada and Shyrra.

“By order of the Empress you are ordered to stand down, anything…” Stopping, the Immortal took a good look at Alyada’s face. Recoiling in surprise, he slashed downards, cleaving her in two.

A puff of Sarutaruba cotton exploded from Alyada’s innards. Her face was immovable, unchanging, and most of all fake.

“Mannquins.” He said under his breath, and then offered a solitary curse to the room.

 

[Shyrra]

This story is horrible. =p

 

[Alyada]

Chapter 4

“He was all alone. He couldn’t enjoy the game with anyone else. Like living in a dream… that’s the kind of man he was.”
-Spike “Cowboy Bebop”​

Days passed. The pursuit of the fugitives ceased within the city walls, only a few select Immortals set out to find them. Clean up and reconstruction of the city walls Alyada destroyed had been completed quickly.

Darkness reigned over Al Zahbi. A cloudy, moonless night masked his second entrance into the city gates. A shadow appeared upon the city walls. He surveyed the area with a fleeting glance, tossing himself from rooftop to rooftop. He had a mission in mind. Hooded, he slipped into the local tavern. Midnight had come and passed, leaving only the sleeping drunks as his company. It smelled of piss and vomit, all aligned with the sweet and salty taste of Aht Urhgan beer. Aidyn reveled in it.

His first victim was the bar tender. He was a gruff man, nearing the last years of his life. He approached the bar as the man addressed him.

“Howdy stranger, what brings you—“ His voice was cut silent as Aidyn raised his hand. Out of his wrist shot a small arrow, piercing the man in the neck. He gurgled softly as blood filled his wind pipe, then with an audible hiss collapsed to the floor.

The slaughter continued, though not a noise was uttered from the bar. Blood flowed into the cobblestone, forming symmetric red lines. With his fingers, he slowly traced the pool of blood that had formed near the center of the room. Smiling, he dipped his two fingers into the red substance. Quickly, he scribbled his call sign… or possibly her call sign. It was simple, effective, and most of all pointed fingers at her.

Oh yes, he would draw her out eventually. However, she’d probably already be on her way to Nashmau right now. If she was good at anything, it was running. Locking the door to the bar, Aidyn slipped into the night air like a snake back into its hole.

Hours later, a crowd had gathered at the bar. Two Immortals pushed their way through the people, using their magic to bust down the locked door. A collective gasp was issued as the crowd got a good look into the building. Their bodies were hung from the ceiling, dripping blood upon the floor. Their faces were contorted in terror. Their fingers pointed downwards, at a message scribbled on the floor. A pair of eyes, remarkably mithran-like, with two slashes between them. One of the Immortals turned to his partner. As he did, a grinning man peered around the edge of the doorway.

“It’s her, the woman that Janus had tried to track. I—this is horrible. I don’t care of there wasn’t sufficient evidence at the first scene, this is more than enough. Alyada Sharne is a committing these murders,”

Satisfied, the grinning man moved into the gathering mass. He pushed people aside where they blocked his path, his steady fingers cleaning their pockets as he went. And finally, he disappeared all together.

 

[Aidyn]

Freakin' A, I'm bad ass. <3

 

[Brin]

(( Very good writing, Aly ))

 

[Alyada]

Chapter 5

“You see it too? For me… it’s always like this.”
-Angela, Silent Hill: Restless Dreams​

Within the smoldering swamplands, Alyada hid away. The whole place rank like a sewer, filled with dire beasts and dying men. The seeds had been sown to turn this once flushing jungle into a death trap, the Lamia screams the only sound.

She sat on a piece of stone, her face resting on her left arm, propping her upper body. Introspection had made her eyes blank and almost lifeless.

It had always been like this. Running. Hiding. Hunted. She was a marked woman, a slave in her own freedom. Since birth she was subject to her face being on flyers, her hand drawn eyes staring out from those ruined and stained pieces of parchment full of malicious intent. She was made to be evil, spit on and unaccepted even with the Beastmen. The word home had no meaning for her. She just went day by day, running.

She was always running.

The bushes rustled to her right, Shyrra plopped out of them her hands full of small twigs. Without a word she tossed them into a small circle of rocks that Alyada had collected. Whispering under her breath, a flame sparked and they were filmed with warmth. Darkness had already begun to settle in on their fourth night in Caedarva Mire.

“Troubled?” Shyrra said absently, digging into her pouch. She produced a small apple, smiling.

Alyada grunted.

“No reason to go soft on me now, Aly.” Shyrra said, biting into the apple. Thin streams of juice sprayed out into the open. A small chiggoe hurried to the puddle and lapped it up greedily. After it was finished it looked longingly at Alyada, deciding her as its next meal. It lept upwards only to be cleaved in two by a sword stroke.

“Just wish I didn’t have to put you out like this. It’s my fault,” Alyada answered, picking apart the small chiggoe with her blade.

“Oh please. Like some Immortal has you spooked,” Shyrra said, rolling her eyes.

Of course they both knew why the Immortals hunted Alyada. In the past week over a dozen murders had been attributed to her, some of the wounded and dying pulled from the scene still screaming her name.

“Just wish it wasn’t like this,” she said, sighing.

“Yeah, and if wishes were chocobo’s I’d have myself a nice feather in my hat too. Come on, wishing ain’t gonna help us one bit.” Shyrra said, finishing her apple and throwing it into the fire.

“I know, but to challenge my innocence? Please, the Immortals will kill me on sight. I’m attributed to the death of almost six people, and in investigation of at least a few more. My face is plastered all over every city. This is a losing battle, I’d rather deal with Aidyn on the mainlands than stay here.”

“Well, we can’t hide here forever,” Shyrra said solemnly.

“True. And a lot of my stuff is still in Al Zahbi. I’d need an army to storm the castle—“

Something rustled in the brush behind them. Alyada turned, expecting another chiggoe. Instead she saw yellow eyes mixed with a mouth full of fangs. A guttural hiss sounded from the brush to their left, along with an all too woman scream. Alyada’s heart dropped. They’d lingered too long.

The Lamia had found them.

A/N: Trying to make the chapters shorter so it's an easier read. Reviews and suggestions always welcome!

 

[Shaidalyn]

I absolutely love it I check for updates every time I check QCDN and it's very enticing.. and noo longer chapters = more to read and enjoy per period of agonizing wait >.<

 

[Alyada]

Chapter 6

“And he signed it, not with a name, but with a title: Speaker For The Dead.”
-Ender’s Game​

A pale moon hung in the cloudless and starless sky. It watched and waited. An eerie silence hushed the lush forest. The Lamia screams were no longer a chorus, but a whisper on the wind. Alyada’s hand went to her blade, ready to unsheathe at a moments notice. She knew the Lamia were still watching, she could smell them. A mix of chemical and rotting flesh, their perfume permeated the area. They were surrounded.

A flash of scales erupted next to her, a Lamia poised to attack. With the bottom of a snake and the top half of a beautiful (albeit blue) woman, she opened her larger than life mouth and let loose a guttural scream. Her knife plunged into Alyada’s shoulder, throwing her to the ground. In a fury of pain Alyada cut horizontally, removing the Lamia’s torso from her flapping tail. A mix of green and purple blood splashed upon the ground, the Lamia still twitching. A second appeared behind Alyada soon after, her long curved blade ready to give Alyada the same treatment she had just shown her sister.

Alyada’s body moved faster than her mind, flipping backwards in pure instinct. The blade passed inches from the top of her head, cutting a few pieces of hair as it went. She landed to the side of the Lamia, and pierced her there. A rasping scream echoed in the air, as Alyada used her remaining strength to forcibly remove her sword from the top of the Lamia’s skull.

A third fell from the heavens, her blade ready to strike the top of Alyada’s head. Twisting, the Mithra evaded the attack. She was caught off balance until a fury of lightning bolts shot through the beaded darkness. She turned to see Shyrra, chanting, the lightning bolts coming from her hands. The Lamia’s voice did not reach her throat as she collapsed, a hulking mass of scales and breasts.

Alyada grinned, waiting for another attack. But the forest was silent. The Lamia party waited, watching, their glowing yellow eyes glorified in the pale light.

“Ssshe isss ssstroong…” A voice echoed, coming from nowhere and everywhere at once.

“Ssseendd thee ssssoldieersss…” another answered her, this one coming from behind Alyada and Shyrra.

As if on cue, a thick rattling began to fill the air. It surrounded them, until they came into view. A dozen of them, maybe more, erupted from the brush. The air was heavy with the stench of rotting flesh and bone. The Lamia soldier’s, messes of flesh and bone stolen from their graves. The skeleton’s held weapons, their bones painted in dark colors. Their teeth rattled, staring at Alyada from eye sockets that bore no eyes.

“Kiiill themm…” the voice said. The skeletons advanced. Alyada stepped backwards, her tail standing on edge.

“Aly…” Shyrra said, clutching her Dark Staff.

“Shut up, let me think,” Alyada scolded.

The first skeleton, adorned in golden chains, rushed them. His lanky bones rattling as he did. He raised his scythe, opened his mouth to an unhuman screech. Alyada brought her blade to block the attack…

…but no attack came.

The Undead were kneeling, their weapons discarded.

For a moment the only sound was a the dead Lamia’s tails, nervously flapping. Two additional Lamia slithered out of the underbrush. Their eyes showing disgust and awe.

“Whhyy?” They asked, looking to Alyada. The Lamia behind them tapped the closest Undead to her with her cane.

“Whhattssss wrrongg?” She asked, her human tongue trying hard to imitate the basic language.

“Ka,” the Undead said, the voice seemingly coming from nowhere.

“KA.” The rest said in unison.

“Uh… Aly, mind explain what is going on?” Shyrra asked aloud, still ready to fry anything that got near them.

Alyada only shook her head.

“Ka means I am connected to the Undead, all of them…”

 

[Alyada]

Chapter 7

“Ka is a wheel..”
-Roland, The Gunslinger​

The reef was a mess of iron, coral, and shattered sails. It looked as if time had frozen upon the area, just as an uncounted number of ships had collided with the rocks, throwing wood and mingled cloth into the area below.

The Lamia claimed this land. This was the site of the war between the Corsair’s and the Empire. Ships dotted the surrounding area, sharks silently swimming inbetween them, hoping for the last remaining remnants of a meal. Anyone who slips off the crimson tinted rocks is to sure find a grave within the stomach of more than sharks. Creatures Alyada had never even seen before were sliming out of the ocean to stare at her and Shyrra.

Shyrra, of course, clasped tightly onto her Dark Staff. Before meeting Alyada, she had led a very boring and uninteresting life. Decidedly pouring over texts, rather than facing the elements and finding the truth. She’d protested in following the Lamia, but they had an offer Alyada could not refuse. They spoke the language of the dead as she did, and they could possibly teach her how to control it.

They were lead to a small encampment. A few huddled tents, no fire, with a dozen or so Undead standing guard. The two surviving Lamia from the raid party slithered down into a small hole near the hull of a ship. Impossible for Alyada to climb through, so she waited.

“Aly, I don’t know if this is the most wise decision you’ve ever made.” Shyrra voiced, her concern apparent.

“It’s either this or barter with the remaining Corsair’s for a ride back to Norg… and I never trust a pirate.”

“Oh, yes, but we’ll trust the bloodthirsty Lamia who just attacked us hours before,” Shyrra said, deadpan.

“Enemies and allies change constantly, Shyrra. Especially when you’re around me. Pirates are always the same.” She retorted.

“You’re about to make an enemy out of me,” Shyrra muttered. Alyada pretended she hadn’t heard.

Their relationship was one of friendship and trust. Shyrra had gotten herself into some trouble by the higher-ups in the Windurst Military. Something about studying Ancient Magic that was only allowed by the Star Sybil. Either way, Shyrra panicked and went to the Tenshudo Mithran Representative in Windurst for help. She had just the perfect bodyguard for the small tarutaru.

The plan had gone south, leaving Alyada the choice to leave Shyrra to whatever fate befell her, or risk her life in battling four high-ranking Cardians.

After that, Shyrra had left with Alyada to the Empire. One does not face death with someone and simply walk away. Shyrra figured she was safe with Alyada.

Apparently not.

A Lamia slithered out of the hull, bringing with her two other Lamia’s. The Undead turned to face her as she did.

“Yoouu haavee Kaaa.” The Lamia asked. Her face was covered in a thick layer of makeup, it resembled the markings on the Undead. She was obviously a leader, or chiefteness.

“My Ka is my own, I share it with the Undead,” Alyada said, standing. Her own fiery gaze fixated on the Lamia Queen.

“I ssssee, wwwilll yoouuu paaalllaaavveerr wiitth ussss?”

“Why palaver when you can read my thoughts, Lamia. I feel you, digging around in here. I assure you’ll find no trick to my Ka.” Alyada scolded, her right finger tapping her temple.

“Oofff cccouurrseee not, youurr mmaarrk issss appaarentt.” The Lamia answered. “A ppoowwerffull aallyy, weee couuuldd beeee… Teeaccchh yyouuu maanny thinnggssss… aalllongg wiiithh thhee litttlee onnnee…”

Alyada turned to Shyrra. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second, and Alyada already knew her answer.

“I did follow you into the nest of Crawlers, even that one that wanted to lay its eggs in me…” Shyrra said, standing.

“No males here,” Alyada said, the tips of her mouth twitching.

“No, and I’m not cultivating any eggs this time either.” Shyrra said, following Alyada and the Lamia into an adjacent cave. Alyada let out a throaty laugh.

“Except it was adorable when it hatched, though it did spit up on you a lot.”

“Every chance it got…” Shyrra snorted. Together they walked into the cave, a mouth of darkness.