18 Days Ago.

But the waves subsided, and the tides fell apart. The river crashed back into the shores, and for a moment, I saw several hundred bodies instead of water, drifting back and forth, smothering the women from before. They covered their ears, closing their eyes as they witnessed the complete and utter chaos that unfolded around them.

They were distraught, crying, moaning, shaking as if trying to suppress the madness that I brought to them.

I stepped forward, taking a deep breath. “These are the people that I wish to aid, that I wish to bring forth and avenge. Your king only wishes for destruction from what I’ve seen. I promise to bring something else, to bring something more! I promise to bring passion, renewal, and freedom! That’s what I am the Herald of! The Harbinger of Freedom, Jane Marcellus!”

At the call of her Name, the flames in the water burst open, now appearing both red and blue as they swirled around the women in the water, consuming and smothering them in the agony of broken memories.

“Come, join my hand, and I shall pull you out of the water! Only believe and trust in me, and I shall make your dreams come true. I ask not of destruction, but I offer in freedom, and in hope. I am… The Queen of Hope.”

A smile grew upon my face, yes, that’s who I am, the Queen of Hop,e and hmmm, I think Monarch of Salvation has a good ring to it eheheh.

I reached out my hand to them all, waiting expectantly. Luckily, I did not have to wait much. They all grabbed my hand, and that was when I remembered I’m still kinda human, and they were pulling on my hand, nearly pulling me into the river; however, Poli grabbed me by the waist, and her own strength managed to stabilize me as I shook hands with the other ladies.

“We have heard the cries of the damned. We understand their pleas. They have asked to be freed, and as those who guard the waters, who send those down into the Smorodina, we are compelled to listen, to follow, as long as you keep your promise.”

“I shall and I will. So please, settle for and join us, so that we may continue our path!” I raised my hand up, and like Magick, the rivers settled down, becoming calm.

“Then, you may use us to transport you all to the valley beyond. All those who cannot swim, you may build boats for yourself to sail in.”

I looked at those who could not swim, and uh, they were all monsters with as much cognitive function as any animal, so like, I had no idea how they could build boats and sail, but maybe the others knew better?

Suddenly, Poli waved her hand and several plants came forth, forming into large boats that were enough to fit in all of the monsters who couldn’t swim.

“Huh… Okay, that was super cool and convenient. Do we still go like jet skiing with you though?” I asked, turning to her as she just stared at me, utterly confused.

“She means, are we still going to use that method you used earlier?”

Then, Poli nodded, and as swiftly as the boat was made, the vines were once more by our feet, moving us onto the chilled waters. “You know, I was kinda wondering if there was an Eternal Storm and all that, winter everywhere, why does this place not really look so winter-e?”

Koschei, this time, was the one with the answer as he raced down the river. “That must be from the Skiper; his presence has changed this land. However, it’s not so different from the Eternal Storm, as it curses the land to bear little fruit, and for you to slowly become cold and hungry. Even if you would eat a dozen meals in a sun cycle, you would go mad. Only those who give themselves over to the greater powers would be able to survive for more than a sun cycle.”

I looked back. “How do you know this?”

“Because I have seen others come and fail, many thought themselves prepared when they could heat themselves up or could grow food. Some have tried to protect against the cold through various clothes, and many brought in many packs of food, frozen over or dried out to make them last. The madness of the Eternal Storm got to them in the end, however. Some are each other, and a few began to wear skins carved from the others' flesh.”

I shivered a bit, remembering all those corpses we found in the snow, and in the rivers and lakes. So many are floating around or even just lying there. I hope that the Descendants down south were also under the protection of the Harbinger as well.

“I’ll make sure this storm ends, and that nobody has to go and wear cut-open skin suits while eating the flesh of their friends. I just hope whatever it may be, I’d be able to handle it really…” I stared down at the water, my own reflection staring back at me.

She looked like such a different person than I remembered. On my face was confidence, and my hair went from brown to red. I looked so… Full, as if I was starving for so long and finally someone fed me.

“Heh, I will be able to handle it! Come on world! Show me what you got! Come at me! Throw everything you can! I can take it right here and now!” My voice echoed across the rivers as everyone stared at me, Koschei with pride, Poli with confusion, and Charlie, well, I could tell it was concern, but I’ll choose to think that it was with admiration as well.

“Onwards, to adventure and glory, and an unforgettable story!” And into the madness of the valley, we continued to venture forth.

----------------------------------------

Two things have come so far. First was the night, where the stars came up into the sky, shining, shimmering, and indeed splendid. I can’t really stop myself from looking up and smiling all the time/

The second was that a hill was thrown at us. An actual hill was thrown directly at us.

We saw it physically lift off the ground, and chucked at us, spinning in the air like some kind of fast ball as it hurtled towards us as if we were playing dodgeball.

I had no idea what was even happening at that point. I was too stunned to think of anything but:

‘Is that a hill being thrown at us?’

Luckily, it seemed that Poli and the mermaid-like women had experience with protecting people who had hills being thrown at them. She raised her hands up, conjuring large vines that pushed us forward, while the mermaids used the river water to nudge the hill away, moving them to the sides with controlled jets of water.

“W-What was that?” I asked as I gestured to the earthen projectile that completely missed us.

“That right there was the giants. They, too, must be working with the Skiper.”

“Oh… There are giants here, too?” I asked with a tone dripping in sarcasm as the matter-of-fact tone of Poli made me sigh.

“Indeed, they live by the mountains near the heavens and enjoy throwing down rocks and boulders at those they believe to be small and inferior to them.”

“And hills too I’m seeing.” I muttered as I turned to face the mountains again, only to find that a second hill was being prepped in the distance.

“By the gods, they’re loading a second one.” Charlie muttered as if she couldn’t believe this either.

I can’t blame her. I’ve seen missiles being used, but actually just throwing a hill was unthinkable.

But what I was gonna do next was also unthinkable. They think they can intimidate us by throwing a big rock? Hah, fat chance. A queen would never allow her subjects to merely skate on by in such a manner!

I raised my hands in the air, focusing more on area rather than precision, without a second thought in my head, I fired away, flames erupted from my hands, completely and utterly enveloping the air in my fire. As the hill passed through, it broke down, disintegrating into nothing as not even the breeze was left.

That’s when I pointed to the mountains. “Faster! I wish to speak to the fools that dare try to stop us!”

I laughed manically. It felt good to have so much power now. I didn’t have to hide in the shadows, I didn’t have to work around some bullshit policy. I could change the world now, and I could make it a better place. I was the hand that shall break the chains, and shall strike down those that continue to use them!

To this end, I moved ahead with the help of Poli and the mermaids, pushing through with the rest of my army until we made it to the mountains, which blocked our path to the valley, the final stretch that needed to be cleared. There, I saw the giants, towering monstrosities that were as big as the hills themselves. They had fur-like skin, with misshapen and horrid faces, and hair like seaweed. They eyed me carefully, as if waiting for me. In their arms were the hills they were hugging as if they were giant stuffed animals.

“I’ve never seen them like this at all…” Muttered Koschei as he looked at the giants.

“Those are grown giants, too, well, not nearly adults, but they’re grown. They usually rest, never moving, and yet for some reason, here they are now. I’ve never seen them so active.”

I looked at Charlie, who was staring at the scene, eyes wide open as if she were wondering what to do next. I held her hands and gave a smile.

“Yeah, guess that’s more of the Skiper for you.” We got close enough to the giants by the mountain pass that I finally mustered up the courage, took a deep breath, and spoke up.

“Hey! All of you! Let us through right now! We know you work for the Skiper, but you’re making a big mistake here!”

I shook my fist at them, and Poli once again helped out, lifting me up into the sky with long branches and vines as I met the giant's face to… Body.

“If you don’t move out of the way, then we shall move for you. Or you can help us out. That option is way, way easier, I can guarantee that. Or do you need some persuading?”

The giants bellowed, their laughter shaking the ground beneath them as they stared at me. “The Skiper has offered us a feast that would last us all throughout our lives. Your world shall be trampled for us as we shall rule by their side once there is only rubble. What hope do you have? What gifts do you offer?”

I blinked for a moment and scratched my cheek. “I mean, what do you want? I don’t think destroying the world would lead to anything good at all. Maybe once the world is better-“

“Once the world is better, then we shall return to our slumber. It is the era of upheaval, of new beginnings. The world is to be filled with fallen rock once more, and outsiders such as yourself have to make a choice. Shall you join us in this upheaval, or shall you be devoured whole.”

I narrowed my eyes, flames burning my body on command. “I don’t really do well with ultimatums. But here’s mine: get out of the way, or else the only world to be destroyed is your own.”

“Bold words from such a feeble mortal.”

“Is that a no?”

“You do not honor a response any more than-“

And before he could finish, I blasted the giant’s face with my flames.