The Homecoming

The Battle of the Gorge was a decisive victory for the Empire. The Republic lost an estimated three-quarters of their army and was forced to cancel their invasion and retreat. However, for Velvet, it was the most crushing loss she had ever experienced.

As soon as the battle had concluded, she was already prepared to leave.

“Velvet!” Akira called out to her.

“What is it?” She replied coldly, not even turning around.

Akira hated watching her sisters fight, but this was not something that could be resolved with words. Not to mention, this was all her fault in the first place. She exhaled and told her sister what she needed to know, “Gwehrtain Manor. It’s north, only about half a day’s walk. Just follow the river and you’ll find it.”

“I understand, thank you.” Without another word, Velvet left.

The journey was easy, but she was worried about Felix. She could tell he was alive because of their connection, but she knew he was in trouble. Each minute that went by, he became weaker and weaker. Even just imagining what might be happening to him made her furious. Edea might’ve been evil to the core, but this time, Velvet wasn’t motivated by any kind of justice, it was all about vengeance. Edea wouldn’t just be killed, she’d be made to beg for that.

The sun was setting by the time Velvet arrived. It had been so many years, more than a century, in fact. The once beautiful gardens were overgrown and the building itself was practically falling apart.

Velvet was really getting tired too. Whatever Edea was doing to Felix, his energy had been almost entirely drained. But that wouldn’t stop her. Velvet approached the large front doors and pushed them open.

In front of her was the foyer, once a marvel of architecture and design, now had cracked floors, a collapsing ceiling, plants growing throughout, and grime everywhere. However, the sight that really struck her was Felix who had been tied to a cross. Barely conscious, he was bleeding out of gashes all over his body. Slowly, his head lifted ever so slightly, and his lips moved, mouthing her name.

“Felix!” Velvet cried out as she ran into the room, but she ground to a halt and a magic blast was shot right in front of her.

“Oh, Velvet, you’ve finally arrived.” It was the voice of Edea, sounding more smug than ever before.

“Edea!” Velvet screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Calm down, calm down.” She appeared from behind the cross. “You look so much uglier when you’re angry.”

Velvet clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted to blow Edea to bits with a spell, but her mana was too low to cast magic frivolously. Even though she wanted nothing more than to rush in and rip Edea apart, she had to stay calm and be smart.

“You know, Velvet, I was able to get very well acquainted with this ‘Felix’ character you seem to be so fond of.” She hovered next to him and wrapped her arms around his head. “Quite the young man, he’s even made me realize something very important.” She summoned Crini, her dark tendrils slithering across his bloodied body. “He’s made me realize why I hate you, why I hated Gwehrtain, and why I hate humans.”

Velvet watched as her sister played with Felix like a toy. She was enraged, ready to erupt like a volcano, but no matter how much she wanted to draw her sword and lunge at her, she knew she had to wait.

“See, when I first saw him, I thought he was Father. Strange, isn’t it? How could that be? But once I got a taste…” She put just the tip of a tendril into one of Felix’s open wounds. He moaned in pain as she sucked out his mana. “I realized it. Him and Father, they shared the same ability. Their souls were the same type.”

Velvet took a step forward and yelled, “What the hell are you talking about!?”

With a laugh, she replied, “I don’t understand it myself, but they both share the soul of creation.” She retracted her tentacles and held up her hand. “See, they say that humans can’t use magic, but that’s not quite true. Their magic is just different, but infinitely more powerful. The magic of humans is creation, and both Father and this man are the strongest creators of all.”

Velvet was almost dumbfounded. She wasn’t expecting a speech like this.

“The magic of creation, that’s all alchemy is, you know. They create all sorts of things, but the greatest of which is us, living dolls. Sentient, living beings created from nothing. In a sense, alchemists are like Gods.”

“And why are you bringing this up!?”

“Well, what right does God have to dictate anything?” She slammed down her fist on the cross, shaking both it and Felix. “Don’t you see!? How wicked God is!? How cruel must one be to create a living being with free will, but then demand that it only follow you, demand that it only love you, demand that it reject its own nature!? God plays with his creations like toys, and just as God is evil, so are doll makers! Gwehrtain was evil and so is this man! To him, you’re little more than a slave!” She calmed down, lowering her voice to what felt like a whisper, “And you embrace it.”

“You really don’t understand anything at all…”

“Oh? And why do you say that?”

“It’s pointless to explain when you lack even an ounce of love in your heart. Even after all this time, you’re still the same miserable little pile of junk.”

“Shut up, bitch! What the hell do you know!? Your whole life you were just a perfect little princess! But that’s not how things really are! You talk about love!? Love is meaningless! To a human, you’re just a tool! It’s nothing but a lie!”

“This is the crux of the issue.” Velvet confidently stepped to the side. “You don’t understand love because you are incapable of love, and that’s because you hate yourself.”

“Excuse me!?”

“You were never Father’s favorite, far from it. You could even say he neglected you. In fact, he never even finished you. You’re still incomplete to this day, right? Under that dress, your body is rough, imperfect. He couldn’t even be bothered to sand you out.”

“Shut up! Shut up! What does it matter!? I don’t give a damn about that bastard!”

Velvet let her sister stew in her anger for a few seconds until she finally replied with a voice as cold as ice, “You really were Father’s greatest mistake.”

“You bitch! I’ll kill you!” In an instant, Edea drew her broadsword and lunged at Velvet.