//initialize: Covenant With Wrath

The pain had become bearable by now. She no longer grimaced in agony when her eye crackled to life every time she summoned a strong volume of Arcan power. If flames erupted across her skin, it felt like steak knives being pulled across her skin with enough force to tear but not enough to rip.

Ancient language heeded her to most degrees. Glyphs still foresook her, but basic control of elemental magic, Aether draws, teleportation, and simple healing were hers to command. Healing had been the hardest for her to accept. Healing involved binding more shards to her body, which went against every aspect of her judgement.

To heal, the Arcans summoned their crystalline powers to layer over cracks and breaks. Those new crystals allowed for bracing and sealing, much like casts and bandages for humans. Miu’s ribs had needed such care after her first fight with I’ah, but she had refused. It was only after a week of sleeping in agony did she finally concede. But that was the only time she had ever allowed any more crystal to marry itself to her.

More time passed, and the stillness finally became her truth. A placid, silent body hid a raging inferno of a soul, but for now, that was enough. The Arcans did not seem to understand emotion, so for them, this progress was proof of growth. For Miu, it had not felt much different than trying to come to grips with laying on broken ribs.

Malice still guided her thoughts and hate still influenced her judgement. By now, her hair was wild and tangled, falling to the small of her back in a knotted, unkempt mess. She was taller, leaner, and more harsh. Muscle lined her body with proof of strength and fortitude that sat just beneath the woven light that covered her skin.

In so many ways, she was a completely different person.

But she was also still very much herself.

That duality ate away at her every day, and she feared it would never settle. Thus, it surprised her to one day hear I’ah speak in her mind.

“Are you ready to fight?” I’ah asked in Miu’s voice.

Miu turned in surprise, wondering if this was some sort of test.

“You’re going to let me fight them?” Miu asked as her heart rate began to elevate.

“You have been here for over a year now. You have shown great improvement. And your stillness is noticeable. It is time for you to test your power and control in a practical form.”

Miu was rising before I’ah had even finished. Bloodlust drove her to almost smile as she imagined potential destruction. It was as though I’ah could sense her vision, so it clarified.

“You will be joining us on the ledge. Here.”

“Just here?” Miu asked in slight defeat.

“Yes. Just here. And just defensively.”

“Why? Why not attack? They fire at you without end?!” Miu dared to challenge.

“They fire without end but also without success. Every bullet and missile is dealt with. Rock and stone do not attack. They endure. Our defensiveness is our greatest strength. You will join us as we update our glyphs, and while you are there, you will absorb and destroy some of their offenses. That will be your proof that you have grown.”

Miu exhaled and closed her eyes in slight defeat. She did not want defense, she wanted wrath. But this was the best she would get for now, so she set her mind to accepting that at least this would be her first chance in her life to destroy some of their wretched weaponry. That would be enough.

“Are you ready?” I’ah asked.

Miu’s eye began to glow as her fists clinched.

“Yes.”

This was it. After all this time. Even if it wasn’t how she envisioned it. Even if she wouldn’t be able to inflict harm on them. This was the start. This was her chance to feel something finally. This was her chance to maybe feel something resembling peace.

I’ah may not have thought she could ever feel it again, and in so many ways she feared it as well, in her heart, Miu hoped that by finally hurting those who had hurt her, she might find something close to peace or closure. Beyond stillness, Miu craved some form of erasure. This day could be the start towards that.

Chaotic symphonies of dissonant rage roared in her soul as she dreamt of calamity and screams that might lead towards tranquility. As she inhaled and followed I’ah, she prayed that this showing would be the beginning of some manner of release for her.

There were no more tears. No more jitters of sorrow or uncertainty. Her footsteps echoed from the crystalline walls as they made their way to the familiar ledge. Dozens of other Arcans seemed to observe them as they passed.

Every step towards the ledge’s opening brought the volume of the artillery firing to higher volume. Murderous explosions sounded out in muted thuds that were soft to Miu’s ears but dense within her chest. Sunlight peered through the veiled opening, telling Miu it was time.

They stepped through the veil and out onto the enormous ledge. The winter sun’s glare illuminated the sky in a flat haze as the vast glyphs shone and flickered while they devoured every shell the screamed up from the humans far below.

Fire.

Seeing the explosions triggered something within Miu. She had witnessed the attacks hundreds of times now, but today was different for her, so her mind made them all the more menacing. Miu could swear she saw tracers of blood flinging out from each round. Each firing sounded like women and children screaming. The sloping foothills glitched and were littered with ruins of their home.

Fire.

“Miu, prepare yourself,” I’ah commanded as it rose and ignited in crimson flame.

Miu obeyed, and her eye sparked. Radiant sapphire flames exploded across her body as she stepped forward to join the Arcans as they looked down on their attackers.

For the ones close enough to see, their eyes revealed the truth once and for all. A human girl was with the Arcans. Wrapped in light, vibrant pink hair billowing in the wind, as glowing blue fire coated her body.

Fireinthesky

Confused cries blended into shouts as fingers pointed with indignation. Barrels rotated without pause for questions. Munitions were loaded in seconds. There was no time or consideration of what manner of circumstance might have led to that girl being there. Target lines were honed as computer programs ordered her death.

FireInTheSky

Code deployed commands to send annihilating metal to her with the swiftness of instant death. Explosions sounded. Machines whirred as hammers struck ignition systems. Concussions shook the ground. Hundreds of rounds screamed through the sky towards the girl and her partners.

But they vanished. Well before their usual point.

Fire in the sky.

Ravenous blue fire had appeared in the sky, consuming every shell and round. The military experts paused to observe the change as the concerned voices rose once more. Every single shot had been destroyed before they had even reached the glyphs.

There was a rush of wind and the fires disappeared. All that remained was the image of the pink haired girl standing at the end of the ledge, hand extended, covered in blue fire. If they had been closer, they would have seen Miu smiling a maliciously victorious smile as she observed the success of her spell.

It had worked. Her incantation had summoned the blaze all on its own, and the attack was eviscerated. For the first time in her entire existence, Miu felt a rush of actual power. No longer was she fully at the mercy of everyone else. With this burgeoning power, she might finally be able to do something.

I’ah nodded in approval, and Miu closed her eyes in momentary victory. After everything. After all the pain… This showing was just beginning. Miu’s first battle was about to start. Blue flame grew in fury as Miu let out a laugh of wicked anticipation.