It's my first time witnessing the Wretched Overgrowth in bloom.
Circling high above the sprawling grasslands at the heart of the Eddyryl Theocracy, I watch with dissonant apathy as the roses take everything. Their roots rip up the ground and break apart the boulders, their vines constrict around and penetrate through stone fortifications and castles, and the blossoms expand from every node as they reach and reach and reach for the moons, the stars, the Rings of Avi, and me. The pungent fragrance of their rich scent clouds the mind, the sky, and the ground, all in hazy shades of red.
I can't see through the brush, but I now know what's happening down there. The vines and roots are breaking people, cutting them to ribbons and ripping them limb from limb, to gluttonously drink up every drop of blood from every living creature caught in the rushing death.
There are screams. Cries for help. Wails for mercy.
And then there's silence. Only the wind.
The Wretched Overgrowth has feasted.
I continue flying for another few minutes, taking it all in. This is the price of our revenge. This is the cost of Aurora's downfall. This is what it takes to stab directly at the core of all that is wrong in the universe. I do feel sorry for the thousands and thousands of people my Queen just slaughtered. But in the end, killing Raiden, Kayus, and Lucien means more to me than they do.
I suppose that's how it goes.
I think that's how a person becomes evil.
I believe I've already succumbed to cruelty.
I'm not the one killing them, but…
Ahh. This sort of thinking goes nowhere.
I invert and dive, streaking downward so fast that everything blurs like wet paint. Within the thickest of the Overgrowth, I meander and navigate, following my peculiar and uncanny sense of knowing, as I'd describe it. Through these dark magic ties, I know exactly where my Goddess is at all times. I could simply teleport to her, but I prefer to fly.
The colossal titan of blood red lies in wait.
I speed into the glade and latch onto one of her bony ivory horns. It's been ages since that first night we might, and not once have I seen her in draconic form since. It seems it slipped my mind just how horrifically and terribly enormous the Goddess of the Dark truly is.
"Hells," I mutter, crawling down to flop flat atop her head. "I forgot how big you are. You must be six times my size."
She giggles beneath me as she stirs. "And this is my most agile form, little rose. If I chose to… I could become so massive I would be able to crush the world of Avi within one hand."
"Hm?" I creep forward to look into her pale eye. "What? You can change sizes? At will?"
"Indeed I can. In both humanoid and draconic forms. Would you like me to become smaller for you? Allow you to lead our lovemaking… for once."
"I'd… rather not… I like when you take control…"
"Of course, little one. Simply an offer. Now then." She lowers herself to hide amidst the dense foliage, obscuring us both in vines and thorns. "We wait. It won't take long."
I relax into this, laying in perfect comfort.
After dozing off a few times, I wake in full when she hisses, "They've arrived. I smell many more of them than we arranged for. As expected…"
"Who do you think has joined them?"
"I don't suspect more than one or two more heavy hitters. And likely a number of auxiliary reinforcements. Tailored to counter your squadron. Strong pyromancers to clash with Vander and Plutoryl. Support physical fighters to clash with Alabaster. Fast movers to clash with you and Haunt."
"Hells. If you weren't here…"
"It would not go well. But keep in mind. We too have dispatched reinforcements. You may not require my assistance at all, though you absolutely have it."
"Right." I take a deep breath and flutter my wings. "Like you said prior. It's best if you don't reveal your direct involvement. I think… I think if you can help me with the fast movers, victory will be ours."
"I suspect the same. Yes, my little rose." She lifts her head and purrs a low rumble. "I will protect you. Always. The moment you see them coming after you…"
"Yes. Lead them to you. I will."
"The moment you see them, Crimsy. Do you recall why?"
"Because by that point they're already set up to intercept me." The thought is a little frightening, because I know it's coming. They will be arranging tactics to remove me from the equation, and that means multiple coordinated amphitheres targeting me at once. "Yes, yes. I–I'll bring them…"
"You can do this, Crimson. I believe in you."
"I suppose that must mean something, coming from a Goddess."
"Mmhmhm. Yes, you have the faith of a divine."
"Then there's only one thing to do." I crawl down her snout and kiss her upside down. Even draconic, her lips are soft. Nudging my nose against hers, I mutter, "Count on me, Umbra. I won't let you down."
"You could never. Success or failure. I will adore you just the same. Are you prepared? Do you require anything more from me? Or perhaps another moment to ready yourself?"
Roars, blasts, and booms start ringing out over the infested plains, and the clouds above light up with the myriad colors of magic.
I shake myself out and take another deep breath. "It's begun. I won't hesitate. And I won't let them take me away from you. Never. I will be back soon. With a few rotten drakes for us to kill. I'm going now. I love you, Umbra."
"Hm?"
My heart lurches with a sickening twist.
Did that just happen? Did I really say that?
Did I just tell her that I love her?
"Um! I–I don't know! Time to fight! Bye!"
I take flight at maximum speed, nerves jittering through my veins. Well, that's not good. I did not intend to say that. Not at all. It is true… But I wasn't ready to tell her that! It just slipped out!
"Damn it," I snarl as I cut through brambles. "Focus. Get through this fight, and then I can worry about my infernal love life."
I try my hardest to put it behind me for now.
I have draconids to kill.
Gritting my teeth, I rush into the fray.