Bear Witness

[Yeva]

T I M E L E S S

The echo of a stranger's voice played in her mind. It was an introduction, a letter addressed with familiarity. Veronica and Songbird. Each syllable was stilted, being read by a third party, a mysterious narrator.

A man.

The written word played without source, revealed to her as the memory it impacted formed into a scene of Zaichaer. Yeva stood upon the steps of the Hall of Reconciliation, stumbling back as a man with long blond hair and a woman, emerged from the doors. Up the street, Reconciliators came and went, their presence shocking the young elf. She was no longer falling, but how was she here? Yeva clutched at her shirt, where Galetira had been pierced in the chest, feeling as if she stood within a dream. She turned, dazed, her body shaking. She felt numb, not like herself at all, "Galetira?" she cried out, tears rolling down her cheeks. She could still see the monsters. The teeth and claws, scratching from the darkness when she closed her eyes.

She tripped going down the stairs, legs weak as she followed the duo, "H...Help," her voice was soft, cracking as she searched for her mentor, feeling a horrible sense of dread, "Help me."

No one turned in her direction, nor acknowledge the half dressed woman in Ecithean attire sobbing near the front door.

[Yeva]

T I M E L E S S

Her limbs felt heavy and numb, disconnected from her body. Yeva's voice felt small, crushed beneath the weight of her circumstances. A cosmic shift had been witnessed and now she was separated from Galetira. How long would it be before the dragon found her, pulling her close like her mother after a night terror? What would come of the all-seeing goddess? An outsider in a new world, Yeva wandered forward, trying to orient herself and remember the streets of the city, her adrenaline making her mind move slower. She knew where she was and yet did not. There was a mental block, a fumbling.

Before her, a figure emerged from the shadows of the street, nearly brushing against the mystic. Yeva jumped backwards, slamming into a cart parked on the side of the street, although the harsh jostle of the impact did nothing to draw eyes. The new arrival, a woman with dark hair touched the man, her voice low and soothing as she greeted him, "...Don’t make a scene, nephew. I would prefer you alive for at least a little while longer.

What?

Yeva watched closely, the memory around her sharpening as her focus honed in. Colors solidified, dim but present. The air felt heavy, threatening. His bodyguard began to take notice, but the visitor gave a flick of her wrist and the redhead looked on in horror as Natasha's eyes fluttered, glazing over and she turned stiffly and began marching down the road. Magic.

“Don’t fret, nephew. She will be fine." Yeva blinked, looking between the bodyguard leaving and the remaining pair, "Come, walk with me."

With unsteady feet, Yeva followed.

[Yeva]

T I M E L E S S

What Yeva witnessed next was neither planned nor expected. In fact, it might have been better if her first memory after experiencing the events of Galetira's injury did not result in a conversation of power and a battle between... who, exactly?

Veronica. That was the woman's name. No.

Read words resonated in the air from an unknown author, unacknowledged by those present, except for the mystic who heard the narration and sought its source.

Prisoner 117-VC-EX.
Name: Childs, Venetia
Place of Birth: Unknown.
Family Relations: Unknown.
Coven Relations: Suspected ties to the Grymalka.

Witch responsible for the defacement and intrusion into the inner sanctums of the Arcaeneum. Subject responsible for the death of six Reconciliators, three soldiers, and at least three civilian power plant workers. Shows no remorse for actions and has been deemed a threat to national security and an obstacle to the Ideals of the Order. Judgement for execution to be carried out by burning.

Yeva did not understand, catching bits and pieces from the revelation.

Remarkable resilience to mental intrusion... primary objective of retrieving a suitable power source. Elementalism... Traversion...

Execution failed.

Criminal.

Venetia, or Veronica, walked gracefully through the alley, seeping danger. The man beside her willingly followed to a food stand, where she paid for a meat bun and something to drink. The food was passed over and it became more apparent that Yeva was unable to be seen or heard each time she tried to catch the attention of the civilians moving along their business. Hope left her, and she helplessly observed Venetia and her nephew.