Cutting of the Strings - from Roe

The taiga was overtaken by gnashing teeth and blood – on the snow, splattered on trees, drenched in Alec’s clothes. What was responsible? A shadow beast scaling twenty feet when it stood, with exaggerated claws that arched like hooks, and emitting a thunderous growl that could strike terror into the bravest heart.

Except Roe’s, who neither ran nor flinched. Just as the predator was one with the darkness, she was one with her weapon – after all, it was an extension of her own threads. She was fleet-footed, dodging the anomaly’s attacks in the fluid motions of a seasoned fighter – ducking low, as the creature often aimed for the head, jumping off trees, and shifting her position at just the right moment before her flesh was slashed to ribbons.

But despite her speed, her opponent was possessed by an unsatiable hunger for death, and that primal need is what powered its strength. Roe didn’t escape every offense – she couldn’t. Claws would tear through her armor and cover the area in red.

Roe ignored the pain, no matter how intense. His life was at stake. She regenerated her armor within seconds, and continued on against her foe.

She grew weary, but the anomaly did not – which meant, she couldn’t allow it either. The battle would only end with a victor, and by all means, it was going to be her. Roe evaded, lunged, and stabbed her blade into any vulnerability she could reach.

But what was wrong with this anomaly? It just wouldn’t weaken. Whenever it was hurt, it only became more ferocious, relentless. The harder Roe fought, the harder she had to fight back.

Yet, even this anomaly could not survive decapitation. The problem was, its neck was so thick, it’d require multiple hits for the head to be cut off. Roe glanced at Alec, her breath hitched as his blood kept spilling. The anomaly had to die before he did. Quickly.

“Idiot, why did you do something like that?” Roe said, panting. He shielded her when the anomaly pounced from nowhere. The result… Unconscious and dying. She jerked back to the creature when it snarled.

“You’re going to keep making this difficult for me, aren’t you? Can’t just be a good boy and die already?” she asked it, firmly planting her feet on the soil. “Very well, I’ll just have to match you, and trust me – I will gladly enjoy every minute of your demise.”

But that was the past.

Roe snapped back to the present, awakening in the middle of the night. Her body still ached from the encounter. Alec laid in bed, the only noise in the nunnery being the light scratching of a mouse in the walls.

She had killed the thing, after countless trial and error – but where there was one anomaly, there were others. She was fortunate enough not to have run into them, instead a traveling Mender staying in a nearby Showyth hamlet, who treated Alec well enough for him to survive until she found Yohan.

At that time, only he mattered. Not her duty, or even those at risk of the anomalies. Roe never imagined she’d be so selfish, but what was done was done, and with the knowledge that his life was saved, she didn’t regret it. Unless, she wondered, that feeling had not yet arose due to not seeing the consequences of her neglect.

Seeing Alec stir, those thoughts were shoved away. Roe bolted out of her chair, arriving at his side in a heartbeat. His head turned, and when his eyes fluttered open, she could barely contain herself – but to not startle him, that’s what she did.

“Roe…? Where- where are we?”

“A Visean nunnery.”

“But… We were just in Showyth— the anomaly!” he sprung up.

“Calm down, it’s alright. I handled it.”

“All by yourself?” he gripped the sheets, forming fists. “I’m so sorry, Roe. I was too weak, and because of that, you could’ve gotten killed.”

“No. Don’t blame yourself. Who would’ve expected an anomaly? Especially one like… That.”

Alec reached for her hand and said, “I— yeah. Guess you’re right. But you’re here, safe… So, that’s a good thing.”

“I can say the same about you.”

He smiled at that, but it didn’t last, replaced by seriousness. “Do you see what I mean, though?” he asked, his voice quieter. “Just like that, we almost lost each other, without ever making the most out of our life together. Is that really what you want, Roe? If it is, then I’ll shut up, won’t ever bring it up again – but if not…” he squeezed her hand, “Just – be honest with me. And with yourself.”

“There is no ‘Roe’ without ‘Guardian,’” she had said to him back in the taiga.

Was that still true? The idea of losing him gave her a fear she never knew existed, but after what happened, thinking about forsaking her role as a Guardian…

There was only instinct. A natural sense to serve without genuine want. Simply because she had to do, like a puppet on strings. What would it be like to cut them? Shameful, even terrifying?

She watched as Alec gently rubbed his thumb over her armored palm. His presence was warmth, in contrast to the chilled nothingness of her “purpose,” if it could be called that.

“I’ve never been sure of anything,” she said. “Nothing in my life has ever been a result of my own will. And as ironic as it may sound, I don’t know how to exist without that service,” her eyes switched back to his, “But you – are the only thing I have ever chosen. So, if you are asking me to choose… It would be impossible to pick anything else. It’d just end up being you again.”

Alec’s expression was an odd combination of emerging happiness and confliction. “Is that a ‘yes,’ or are you saying I’m not being fair?”

Roe gave him a lighthearted scoff, remedied by a soft kiss to his lips.

“Does that answer your question, dummy?”

Euphoria swept across his features, his smile and bright eyes lighting up the room.

“Yes… Yes, it does.”

They held each other under the moonglow, Roe’s face resting in his neck. But realizing it was only a matter of time before their bodies were burnt to crisps, embracing the moment proved to be impossible. She withdrew from his arms, her doting eyes changed back to a void.

“There are at least two things I have to do first,” she said abruptly. “One – warn Seris of the anomalies, in case nobody has yet. And two – Dulcie.”

“Dulcie? What about her?”

“Severing the bond. If I’m not upfront with her, she will continue to seek me needlessly.”

“That would probably be best. But you know, she is quite fond of you. Her grandson, too. They won’t be pleased about this, and given Dulcie’s position…”

“Elder or not, it doesn’t matter anymore. Besides, it’s not like I’m breaking the law.”

Oftentimes, a Guardian could be requested to serve a person or family for a period of time, providing them with security. Roe was a favorite of the elusive Elder Dulcie, who was impressed by her capabilities right when they met. But just like everything else, she and the boy were no more than a responsibilities to Roe.

“To be honest,” she said further, “I’m tempted to handle her first. Finally, a thorn out of my side.”

Alec chuckled. “Well, she can be a bit… Odd, when it comes to you.”

“A ‘bit’ is an understatement. Severely.”

Every trip to Elakin was shrouded with dread thanks to Dulcie’s… Tendencies. The grandson’s clinginess didn’t help either. Roe would purposely take the long way, a rare deviation from her militant adherence to Guardianship. The Elder always encouraged her to go through Highland Pass, a convenient route that stretched along the main regions minus Showyth. Mandated and created by the Reapers, travelers had to pay a price – but Roe had access for free.

She didn’t like it. Not one bit.

But she couldn’t afford to be selfish another time. The anomalies needed urgent attention. Only after that, would she finally be free of that woman for good.

Or so she thought.