It didn't take long before all hell broke loose.
The entire city erupted in chaos. Attacked, destroyed, devastated by one single being.
In the distance, the wheat fields burst into flames, blazing high into the sky. On the opposite side of the city, the residential district was collapsing. Houses imploding as if crushed by an invisible force.
People were dying left and right, never given a chance to scream, much less fight back.
The few Awakened Weave had managed to gather over the years didn't stand a chance. They charged in desperation—and were obliterated in an instant, erased from existence by a power far beyond anything they could hope to resist.
Anna had no time to worry about that.
Their sailboat shot forward at full speed, cutting through the river like an arrow. Anna struggled to dodge the hordes of people desperately trying to flee the city—boats crashing into each other, some overturning entirely as panic spread like wildfire.
Sylas sat silently inside the boat, knees pulled to his chest, his eyes distant and empty. He was still in a state of shock.
She had no idea why he had become like that. The Nightmare Creature hadn't even looked at him.
But she couldn't spare a thought for it. Not while he was out here in danger.
There was only one place she could think that it could keep him safe, The Nightmare Temple, that's exactly where she was going now.
Although she also had a duty to the city, as one of the only Ascendent in Weave. One that would surely bring her death. There was no way that she would let her little brother die.
She gazed at Sylas, his body was still trembling deeply. Even Silk, who was trying to calm him down, didn't seem to have much effect.
'I just hope someone can take him out of the city…'
She made a silent prayer to Weaver—one that she knew was in vain, before focusing on her way.
As she dodged one other capsized boat, the wall at her side suddenly exploded. Behind the dust she could make out a silhouette of a man. Somehow she managed to dodge all the debris, escaping the figure before he attacked it.
'Dammit, can't this thing go faster.'
She cursed, knowing full well that she was going at the max speed she could.
A windcatcher sudden began to fall not far ahead. It fell perfectly on their way, as if someone had deliberated cutted and pushed at the perfect timing.
The wave it provoked made their boat fly.
Anna managed to catch Sylas as he felt. In the air, she summoned her memory.
In a show of sparkles, four thin wings appeared on her back.
They flapped fast—far too fast—creating a harsh buzzing noise that Anna hated.
The wings were too weak to lift her with all of her weight. So she used her True Name as an anchor and invoked the True Name of Light Weight.
Instantly, her body became as light as a feather.
If she was alone, she could have flown a moderate distance without issue, almost flying even. But Sylas was different. She couldn't cast the same effect on him—as he didn't have a True Name for her to anchor it to.
And even though he was only a child, his weight was still enough to drag her down. The wings couldn't lift the two of them—they could only glide, just barely enough to reach land.
Carrying Sylas in like a princess, she sprinted as soon as her feet touched the ground of a residential island. Dead bodies could be seen all around them. Children crying over their dead parents. A complete chaos.
Even so, she didn't stop for a second. With her light body she sprinted forward in a speed beyond that even an ascendent should be able to do it.
However, that didn't stop the shadow that was following her, to catch up.
The shadow shot forward, transforming into a man with pale skin, and a wicked grin. He swung a beautiful Jian made entirely of jade.
If it weren't for her Aspect Ability; [Guardian's Oath] she would not be able to react.
She managed to twist her body. The Jian made only a slight scrape on her. She didn't lose time looking at her pursuit, instead, she once again used her True Name as an anchor.
This time, invoking the True Name of Swiftness.
She speeded up, protecting Sylas's body from the cutting wind. Jumping from island to island her distance from the temple was growing short by the second.
'You won't make it. Sylas will die.'
A sudden voice resonated inside her mind. She wasn't sure if it were her own thoughts or the Titan speaking into her mind. But she didn't stop.
The strain in her body was already growing unbearable by the time she managed to get to one of the bridges that connected it to the Temple. Normally she would cross it with care, as the white web bridge was usually unstable and could break if pressed too much. But now she had no time for that.
She ran, the bridge falling as she crossed it.
'You and him will die. Just give up.' She ignored the voice.
When she finally stepped onto the island, she dropped to her knees, somehow managing not to drop Sylas as she canceled her Sorcery.
'He isn't even your real brother. Let him die.'
Only now, in this single moment of peace, she was able to distinguish the almost silent whisper that could be heard deep inside her mind. It sounded like her, but it wasn't her… or was it? She wasn't sure.
With a last glance at the ruined city, she headed towards the temple.
Inside it was unusually silent, with all that was happening outside, Anna thought she would find at least Alex screaming orders to the others, or maybe Grant trying to order the refugees inside.
'Something isn't right.'
Her sharp senses told her.
"Oh, you are here…"
A voice came from the shadows. It was horseal and terrifying, carrying a furious madness behind it.
'Now we all will die, Congratulations.'
The voice stepped out of the shadow. For the first time she managed to see the face of the figure. He was beautiful—no, he had been beautiful, a long time ago. Now, he had many scars on his face, scars that looked like he himself were the one who made them.
"Liking what you see? Unfortunately I already have a girlfriend, although she died a long time ago." He said jokingly.
Anna didn't respond, she kept her senses sharp to any talk. Her ability is already activated. But the attack never came. The creature only stared at her, no, it wasn't staring at her, but at Sylas, who was still trembling in her arms.
"Funny. I had been to Weave many times in the past… But I never saw him before, were you hiding him, Anna?"
She froze. How could a defiled know her name? Did they meet before? No, she was sure. She never saw him in her life.
"Don't wanna talk?"
He took a step forward.
"Well, because of your Flaw you won't hand him over, right? So let's cut to the chase."
'He knows our Flaw. It's over.'
Because of her Dormant ability, her eyes traced every movement of the Mad Prince. Instinctively, she managed to dodge the sword that came straight at her neck.
Activating her Awakened Ability, the Mad Prince aggression subsided just a little bit, almost nothing. But it was still enough for her to jump back, distancing herself from him.
"This ability of ours is this annoying, you know that?"
In that split second, she managed to place Sylas on the floor. Then, she summoned three memories.
She felt the cold leather handle of a slender rapier suddenly appearing between her hands. The rapier was long and sharp, made of a blue metal known as Moonstone.
Then, she felt the weight of her armor around her shoulders. An armor, dark as the obsidian, manifestest itself on her body. Taking exact proportions to fit her body.
Lastly, she felt the cold feeling of a black wooden mask on her face.
That entire show lasted only a second.
In the next one, the Mad Prince shot forward.
When their swords met, the entire hall shook.