Victory through sacrifice

You’re not sure how long you’re in the dark silence, but after a time, you become aware of light. From behind your closed eyelids, it’s still almost blinding bright. As the light slowly dims, you try to move, and you groan in pain. Everything hurts. When your eyes open, you realize that you’re laying on your back, still in the same room. You look around as much as you can, but all you can see is a glowing, from somewhere beyond your feet.

As you try to lift your head, you hear a pair of voices, one familiar, the other not. They speak in unison. “Do not try to move yet, champion. Rest. You are victorious, but your regeneration is not yet complete.”

You relax slightly. “Poena? You sound…odd.”

“It is I, both sides of me, though the chaos is diminishing.”

You close your eyes again. “So…I won? Really?”

“You did. Not the most graceful victory, but a victory nonetheless. It was a close run thing though. Niran simply died before you did, but it was only a matter of moments before you would have been just as dead. However, as the victor, you earned revival.”

You sigh. “I killed him? I didn’t think he would die so easily. A broken neck doesn’t seem like much, to a creature like him.”

“You underestimate the strength you had drawn. You may only remember breaking the neck, but most mortals cannot survive a decapitation. You were quite thorough, even if you were not aware of it.”

You open your eyes again, and see Poena standing over you. Her form is mostly familiar, but half her face and one arm are dark purple, with angry red lines that are fading even as you watch. Her voice, too, is receding into the more familiar tone, in unison with her appearance.

“So…it’s over? What about Ferra? Is she…”

Poena shakes her head. “Your companion did not survive, but that is not a concern. She shall be returned to you, though she will be changed. She had a fervent wish, and I will grant it. Your other companion, however…”

Poena points towards your chest, and you’re able to lift your head enough to look down. Your armor is a wreck, shredded and blood spattered, but you gasp when you see the center of the breastplate. The gem that once was embedded there is gone. Fragments remain, but it looks like the whole thing shattered.

“Lilith? What happened?! Are you still…”

Poena interrupts. “No. She gave her entire essence to grant you the strength you needed. A noble sacrifice, and one that I shall reward. She will be restored, but not to the armor. But enough of that. Are you capable of movement now?”

With a groan, you sit up. Your armor, or what’s left of it, rattles around you as you slowly struggle to your feet. Looking down at yourself, you see that through the tears in your armor and clothes, there are scars where wounds once were. They appear old, as if they had been there for years, but healed well. You still ache all over, but you’re whole. You look at the towering entity and nod.

“Not quickly, but yes, I’m good.”

Poena nods, and waves a hand. Your armor falls away, clattering to the floor. “You won’t need that. Come. I shall reward you.”

She gestures towards the doors at the end of the hall, and follows you as you slowly walk towards them. Though your mind is still reeling, you wonder what comes next, and there’s only one way to find out.