The Secondary Saga

[Gildarts]

Death.

It would be delivered to everyone if Christa didn’t fight. But the ghost before her was undeniably her sister. Even if she had changed completely.

“Katia.” Christa winced as she stood once more, this time, pressing against her sliced abdomen as her body fought against the heavy weight of gravity that crashed on her shoulders. “I won’t let you kill them.”

“Who wants to go first?” The Ghost Girl turned to the elf playing the flute, and then deliberated on the Pegasus. “You... Won’t let me, dearest sister? You’re a big bag of meat right now, and crumbling at the ends. I don’t think you really have a choice in the matter.”

The ghost seemed to smirk as she looked down on the agonizing Christa, who spoke, “The Katia I knew would never do something as cruel as this to random and innocent people. The sister I knew and loved, didn’t get to blow out the candles on her tenth birthday. And she would never, never willingly hurt the ones she loved.”

Persuasion. Too bad such things didn’t work on vengeance-hungry, disturbed ghosts.

“Aww, are you gonna cry? You’re the little sister now, Christa. I’m even taller than you.”

Something so petty. It was almost whimsical, childish even, and in the same simple way, didn’t stir the fury in the ghost’s sister that it was meant to. Christa fought the looming force that applied pounds of pressure on her shoulder. The woman’s eyes softened as she gazed upon her distressed sister, once so young, now older than she, only in a few short years.

The ghost seemed curious at Christa’s strength, or perhaps her willpower, that gave her the power to stand and allowed it before granting the power of gravity on her once more. "You're body is easier to cut than butter."

With a grimace, Christa’s teeth dug into her lip, drawing blood before the veteran fumbled for the pocket of her pants and pulled out a small glowing ball. Like an egg, it was crushed in her hand. And to the humming sound of an ocarina, Christa’s body was engulfed in blue flames.

There was no burning, no smoldering flesh, and no charred hair. The fire seemed to make it easier for Christa to stand, as the wounds that had drawn blood became distant stains on the fabric of her clothing. The leader's expression of pain dissipated and a gentle hand extended out to the ghost’s face.

Katia -who was still frozen with shock- could only gaze upon her sister with a mesmerized expression, as though captivated by the blue flame. As Christa’s flaming blue hand touched her sister’s cheek, the ghost became enveloped in light, before being freed by the binding sensation of anger, resentment, and fear. The apparition did not vanish as though it would return, instead, it drifted away as though melting into the wind.

Christa used her mystery item -”torch of a leader”

...


After dusting themselves off, the group stood and regained their balance. Many questions were left unsaid, mainly because people seemed too freaked out to ask Christa while her appearance remained fluttering with blue fire, and it spewed visibly from everywhere.

Instead, wordlessly, they trudged on after Christa offered Klaud a hand up, and the leader showed the group the way. Grobdum seemed especially keen on the magic and attempted to speak to the woman who once wielded man-made weapons, and now had seemingly changed her attack style to one he was more familiar with. His accent fell on deaf ears, as Christa's determined eyes never wavered from the invisible markers that showed her the path to the Void Gate.

The entrance neared, and Christa saw it just as it had flashed before her eyes the second she had freed the ghost from this world with one touch of holy fire. Hopefully Katia would rest in peace. The experience brought perspective to it all, saving the dead, her hope to return Katia to a living state. In truth, Christa had changed dramatically since she had seen Katia last. And surely, almost symbolically, Christa would be even more unrecognizable than her sister had been twenty-plus years in age.

As they grew closer to the gate, Christa’s light began to dissipate, but the composed expression that remained on her face was far from fleeting. A swift glance to the group affirmed those straggling behind had managed to keep up.

Before them spanned the gate. It was about twelve feet tall, and not quite as wide.

Within it, there was only darkness.

CONGRATS! You all survived this round *if you posted* however certain things will be taken into account!

Thank you everyone for doing SUCH a wonderful job!

E- awards will be sent via PM.

Also, Good luck in the Void next round. You are going to need it.