novelraw Chapter 184 – A Clash of Questions
Chapter 184 – A Clash of Questions
Vivienne eased to a halt on the far side of the clearing, her breaths slow and measured as she let her body shift. Bones cracked and lengthened, flesh stretching and twisting as she sank into the change, her frame expanding, broadening. The lithe form of the wolf melted away, giving way to something far more monstrous. Obsidian scales rippled over her skin, their jagged edges gleaming faintly in the sparse moonlight filtering through the canopy. Her body coiled, immense and heavy, sinking into the underbrush like a living shadow.
She was slower like this—far slower—but she didn’t need speed now. She needed power.
Her massive frame slithered soundlessly through the undergrowth, muscles tensing as she settled herself just beyond the edge of the clearing. The ground shuddered beneath her sheer weight, but she remained still, watching.
It had been nearly a dozen soldiers who had pursued her. Close now, just at the clearing’s edge.
Vivienne’s many black eyes drank in the details of their forms. Their armor gleamed dully under the weak light, the metal reinforced with what looked like woven aetheric inscriptions, subtle but unmistakable. They weren’t ordinary foot soldiers. No, these men were disciplined, trained beyond the standard rabble. Elite. Possibly an exomancer’s personal retinue. That would explain how they’d managed to keep up with her for so long.
And she could smell them.
Aether bled from their bodies, so thick in the air she could almost taste it. Each one of them was packed to the brim with it, humming with raw energy. It sent a shiver of delight through her—oh, this would be satisfying. She could already imagine sinking her fangs into one, feeling the surge of stolen power flood her veins.
But she was patient. She could wait.
Then, the last figure drifted into view.
The priestess.
Vivienne’s tail curled slightly as she took in the sight of the floating woman. The moment she laid eyes on her, recognition clicked into place.
Solenne.
She had been there at the watchtower when Vivienne had crossed the border. She had been among the ones observing from above, cold and distant. A priestess of the Order, her robes heavy with sanctified embroidery, her presence radiating controlled power.
Vivienne’s lips curled in amusement. Oh, I do remember you, sweetheart.
Selene’s expression was unreadable as she hovered in behind her soldiers, her hands folded before her, her eyes sharp. Slowly, methodically, she let her gaze drift over the clearing, scanning the area with the patience of a hunter who knew her prey was near.
Then, without hesitation, her gaze snapped directly to where Vivienne was hidden.
Vivienne felt a flicker of something—curiosity more than alarm. Selene hadn’t even hesitated. She had known exactly where to look, like she could see through the shadows that concealed her.
The soldiers shifted slightly, adjusting their stances as they noticed Selene’s focus. One of them took a cautious step forward, tightening the grip on his weapon.
Vivienne’s tongue flicked out, tasting the air.
The moment was stretching.
She coiled just a little tighter, her body tensing in anticipation.
Let them come.
The priestess raised her hands, fingers weaving intricate sigils into the air as she chanted. The weight of her spell pressed against the night, the light in the clearing intensifying. A faint golden glow coiled around her like a living thing, laced with divine intent. The scent of burning aether filled the air, sharp and acrid.
Vivienne answered with a song.
Her voice spilled into the clearing, low and haunting. A reverberation through the trees, through the earth, a melody that didn’t belong in this world. It hummed against the bones, a discordant harmony that made the night itself tremble.
The ground beneath the soldiers trembled.
Then, it split.
From beneath the snow, something gleamed. At first, it was just glimmers—fragments of light, shifting beneath the frost. But then, the earth gave way, and they emerged.
Crystalline creatures pushed up from the frozen soil, their bodies jagged and gleaming, cut from the same strange, iridescent substance that shimmered along Vivienne’s scales when she sang. They rose in silent, eerie unison, their bodies catching the moonlight as they clawed their way into existence.
Some were small, little more than shards of living glass with needle-like limbs that skittered over the snow like insects. Others were larger, hulking things that resembled wolves or great hounds, their forms distorted and imperfect, as if frozen mid-shift between life and death. The largest among them towered, vaguely humanoid, its head an uneven mass of faceted crystal, empty sockets where eyes should be.
The soldiers reacted instantly.
"Form up!" one of them barked, drawing his sword in a smooth motion.
The others followed, stepping into formation, shields locking together as they prepared to meet the onslaught.
Solenne didn’t flinch.
She finished her chant, and the glow around her hands burst outward. A golden shockwave rippled across the clearing, slamming into Vivienne’s summoned creatures. Where it struck, the crystalline constructs cracked, fractures spiderwebbing across their bodies.
One of the smaller creatures shattered instantly, its form exploding into fine dust. Another let out a strange, warbling cry as its limbs buckled beneath the force of the spell.
Vivienne grinned. Good. Try harder, sweetheart.
She didn’t stop singing.
Her creatures surged forward, their movements unnatural and jagged, twisting around the soldiers with an eerie, calculated grace.
The first impact was immediate.
One of the larger crystalline beasts lunged, colliding with the shield wall. The force sent the front line staggering, boots sliding against the ice-crusted ground. Another creature leapt over their formation entirely, shattering like glass mid-air only to reform behind them, its claws raking down one soldier’s back. He shouted in pain, dropping to a knee, but another soldier grabbed him before he could fall completely.
The others retaliated swiftly.
Swords flashed, cutting into the crystalline beasts. Where enchanted steel met summoned flesh, cracks formed, but Vivienne’s song pulsed, and the wounds sealed just as quickly.
It was chaos.
The clearing became a whirlwind of movement—shouts, the clash of steel against summoned bodies, the shrieking wail of her creatures as they tore into their foes. The night itself seemed to twist, shadows deepening with every note of her melody.
Then, a beam of golden light seared through the battlefield.
Vivienne twisted just in time.
The ray of divine energy barely missed her head, burning through the trunk of a tree behind her. It hit with enough force to obliterate the wood, sending shards of splintered bark scattering in every direction.
Vivienne’s many eyes flicked to the priestess, and she bared her teeth. You missed.
Solenne’s expression remained unreadable, a mask of cold resolve as her robes billowed in the night air. She hovered just above the battlefield, her body illuminated by the golden light pooling at her fingertips, the makings of another spell forming fast. The glow intensified, licking up her arms like divine fire, ready to be unleashed.
Vivienne didn’t intend to let her finish it.
Her song never faltered. It slithered through the air, an eerie, layered melody that made the darkness itself tremble. She surged forward, her massive form gliding with deadly grace, and with a flick of her body, she lashed her obsidian-bladed tail straight for the priestess.
The air cracked as it cut through, sharp enough to shear through steel—
A soldier leapt into its path.
His shield rose in an instant, meeting the strike head-on. The impact shook the air. The force of Vivienne’s tail drove into the metal like a hammer, and the sound that followed was a wretched screech—obsidian biting deep, cutting jagged lines through the polished steel. Sparks flew as the edge of her tail gouged a path straight through the plate, the sheer force sending vibrations rattling up the soldier’s arm.
His knees buckled.
For a moment, it held.
Then, with a sharp snap, Vivienne twisted.
Her tail wrenched to the side, and the shield crumpled like paper, the torn edge catching against the soldier’s gauntlet and yanking his entire body with it. He staggered, barely keeping his footing, but she didn’t give him a chance to recover.
The moment his balance shifted, her tail struck again.
This time, it hit.
The jagged edge of obsidian slammed into his side, carving through layers of chainmail and reinforced padding. Blood burst into the cold air as the soldier was launched backward, his body flipping twice before slamming into the snow with a dull thud.
His comrades barely had time to react before Vivienne was already moving again.
Solenne's expression was unreadable, her robes billowing as she rose higher, golden light pooling at her fingertips, another spell forming fast.
Vivienne wasn’t about to let her finish it.
Her song never faltered as she surged forward, her massive serpentine body coiling through the clearing like a black tide. Her obsidian tail lashed out, a gleaming blade slicing through the air, aimed straight for the priestess.
A soldier threw himself into the way. His shield came up in a desperate attempt to block, but it wasn’t enough—Vivienne’s bladed tail struck like a guillotine, biting deep into the reinforced metal. The sheer force sent the man hurtling backward, crashing into the trees with a bone-snapping crack.
Another soldier lunged at her side, blade poised to strike. Vivienne shifted, her coils snapping taut as she reared up. Her enormous head swung down like a falling boulder—her jaws unhinging just as she crashed onto him.
Armor crumpled.
Bone shattered.
The soldier barely had time to scream before her teeth sank into his torso, crushing through steel and ribs like wet parchment. She felt him spasm, his limbs jerking in futile resistance—then she bit down and ripped him apart.
Warmth flooded her mouth. Rich, coppery heat.
But there was no time to savor it.
A blast of golden light slammed into her side, searing through flesh and scale. Vivienne hissed, the impact throwing her weight to the left. She caught herself before she fully collapsed, her massive coils digging trenches into the snow.
Her five black eyes snapped to Solenne.
The priestess hovered just beyond reach, her face still impassive, her hands raised for another spell.
Vivienne’s tail lashed, the wind howling with its speed.
Another soldier intercepted. Another shield. This time, her tail didn’t just dent the metal—it split it straight down the middle, shearing through like paper. The man behind it barely had time to react before the force sent him sprawling, bloodied fingers scrabbling at the ground.
The others were getting smarter. They had spread out now, circling her, moving with careful precision. Not a blind, terrified mob, but trained fighters. Their armor gleamed with aetheric reinforcement, their weapons humming with power.
Elite soldiers.
And every single one of them was brimming with the kind of energy that made her mouth water.
Vivienne grinned, her long, black tongue flicking out to taste the air.
Fine.
If they wanted to drag this out, she’d make them work for it.
She let her song rise, her voice threading through the clearing, weaving itself into the earth. The sound vibrated through the ground, deep and haunting, carrying a resonance that her crystalline creatures responded to immediately.
From beneath the snow, they emerged—shards of living glass, angular and jagged, limbs gleaming in the moonlight.
The soldiers had only a heartbeat to react before the swarm descended upon them.
Vivienne moved.
She surged forward, her coils crushing the ground beneath her. The nearest soldier raised his sword, but he was too slow. Her tail came whipping around, smashing into his side, sending him flying into a tree with an impact that cracked bark and bone alike.
Another soldier leapt, aiming for her head—he was fast. Too fast for a normal human. His blade sang with aether as he swung, aiming for her eye.
Vivienne twisted.
The sword missed by inches, carving a glowing arc through the air as she slammed her weight down, her body crashing onto him like a falling avalanche. He had no time to dodge.
Metal crunched.
The wet sound of ribs snapping filled the air as she pressed down harder. The soldier choked, blood spilling from his lips, his fingers still clenched tight around his sword—
Then Vivienne rolled, her immense form twisting, dragging him underneath her. When she lifted again, the ground was painted red.
Another light flared from above.
Vivienne jerked back just as a spear of holy fire came crashing down where she had been a moment ago. The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, vaporizing snow, leaving only scorched earth behind.
Solenne's voice rang out, clear and sharp.
"You dare defile this land with your presence, beast?"
Vivienne laughed. Low and velvety, her voice wrapping around the battlefield like silk.
"Defile?" she purred, her coils shifting through the snow. "Sweetheart, I’m just here for a meal."
Her five black eyes flicked to the soldiers, her grin widening.
"And you all smell delicious."
Solenne’s expression finally shifted—just slightly. A flicker of something. Disgust? Contempt? It was gone too quickly to tell.
"Burn it away."
The remaining soldiers moved as one, their weapons igniting with blinding radiance, their aether flaring to life in a synchronized wave of power.
Vivienne’s song shifted.
The resonance deepened, threading through the trees like a living thing. Her crystalline creatures chittered in response, their jagged forms shimmering in the moonlight as they skittered forward, a relentless tide of glimmering shards.
And after a night of gorging herself, she had plenty in reserve.
Her form rippled, obsidian scales vanishing beneath a rush of thick fur. She shrunk in an instant, coiling her immense body inward—then burst outward again, shifting into her giant wolf form.
She leapt.
A blur of black fur and gleaming fangs, hurtling through the night.
The soldiers barely had time to react.
And then—midair—she changed again.
Her body warped, twisting with a sickening fluidity. Limbs stretched and thickened, flesh twisting into something more.
By the time she landed, she was no longer a wolf.
She was so much more.
Her amalgam form slammed down into the midst of the soldiers, her massive bulk cratering the frozen earth. The force of impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, a burst of snow and shattered stone rippling outward like an explosion.
Most of them managed to dive out of the way—quick, well-trained, their aether enhancements making them faster than normal men.
But not all of them.
Two were caught directly beneath her.
Armor crumpled like dry leaves.
Their bodies gave way beneath her weight, bones snapping with sharp, wet cracks. A strangled scream choked out—then cut off entirely as she pressed down, her colossal form grinding them into the frozen earth.
Vivienne grinned.
And then she changed again.
Her form swelled, her flesh stretching, multiplying.
She rose from the impact crater, her body unraveling into something far larger.
Six heads snapped into existence, each one sleek and serpentine, their jagged teeth gleaming.
She roared, a monstrous, discordant sound, six voices layered atop each other, the sheer force of it rattling the trees.
The soldiers reacted fast.
One lunged, his blade glowing with golden aether, aiming for her underbelly.
One of her heads lashed out, fangs bared, colliding with him before he could strike.
His sword met her teeth, and for a moment, the two forces clashed—his glowing steel digging into her fangs, her maw pressing harder.
Then his weapon snapped.
Vivienne snapped him up in the same motion, his upper half vanishing into her jaws.
A second later, she bit down.
The wet crunch of ribs collapsing, the hot rush of coppery blood flooding her mouth—
Delicious.
Another blade sang through the air—
She twisted, a second head catching the next soldier mid-swing.
A third head surged forward, slamming sideways into another opponent, sending him hurtling into a tree with a brutal crack.
Solenne hovered above the carnage, her face impassive, her hands still raised.
Light gathered around her again, another spell forming.
Vivienne’s six heads snapped toward Solenne, black eyes gleaming with malice.
This time, she wouldn’t let the priestess get a shot off.
She coiled her muscles, ready to lunge—
But even as the thought crossed her mind, the air shimmered around Solenne.
Bright orbs of golden light flared into existence, hovering in a loose halo around her floating form.
Vivienne snarled, baring her fangs.
Then the orbs moved.
They shot outward in seemingly random directions, scattering across the clearing.
For the briefest moment, nothing happened.
And then—
Pillars of light erupted downward, slamming into the ground like divine lances.
Vivienne reacted, twisting, coiling her massive body in an attempt to dodge—
But she wasn’t fast enough.
One beam struck her in the shoulder, and suddenly it was agony.
It wasn’t just light.
It was fire made of divinity, searing through her flesh, cutting through thick muscle and hardened scales as if they were nothing.
Another one hit—this time against her flank.
Then another—gouging straight through the base of one of her heads.
Her bodies convulsed, six necks thrashing, her jaws snapping wildly as pain flooded her senses. A cacophony of screeches erupted from her throats, a discordant howl of agony that rattled through the trees.
Her scales blackened and peeled, the divine fire burning deep, searing through her flesh as if it sought to rip her apart from the inside.
Vivienne recoiled, her massive form crashing backward, gouging deep furrows into the frozen ground.
But she wasn’t dead.
She wouldn’t die from this.
The pain was nothing.
Just another sensation.
Her remaining heads snapped up, jaws gaping wide, and she let loose a fresh roar—not just of pain, but of fury.
Solenne remained above, unmoving, her expression still unreadable.
Vivienne snarled.
Fine.
She might not be able to fly—not yet—but she could reach the priestess.
Rearing up on her hind legs, she lunged, all six heads snapping toward Solenne, black maws gaping wide. The priestess remained just out of reach, floating beyond her fangs’ grasp, her expression still eerily calm.
That was fine.
Vivienne felt the sting of steel as the remaining soldiers hacked and stabbed at her legs and underbelly, their weapons carving into her flesh. Black ichor spilled onto the snow in thick, steaming rivulets, hissing as it met the frozen earth.
She barely reacted.
Let them think she was a mindless, single-minded beast.
Let them believe she was some dumb brute, too caught up in hunger and rage to do anything but throw herself at the priestess like an animal.
It was what they expected her to be.
Then, in an instant, she changed.
Her form twisted, flesh expanding and reforming as she surged upward. Obsidian scales gleamed in the moonlight as her already massive body grew larger still, her six heads merging into a singular, more monstrous form.
She became a colossus.
And now, she stood eye to eye with Solenne.
Before the priestess could react, Vivienne’s enormous claws snatched her from the air.
There was no grace to it. No slow, delicate movement.
She crushed Solenne in her grasp, massive fingers curling around the priestess like a vice.
The woman let out a strangled gasp, her golden light flickering as the air was forced from her lungs.
Vivienne grinned, her colossal fangs gleaming.
"Not so high and mighty now, are you, darling?"
Vivienne swept her tail in a wide, brutal arc, the sheer force sending the remaining soldiers flying like broken dolls. One struck a boulder with a sickening crunch, the wet sound of splintering bone echoing through the clearing. The body slid down the stone, leaving a dark smear against the frost-covered surface before going still.
Another soldier crashed through the brittle limbs of a tree, his armor screeching against the bark before he tumbled to the ground, unmoving. The rest scattered, groaning, struggling to rise—but none of them were in any condition to fight.
Good.
Vivienne turned her attention back to Solenne, held tight in her clawed grip. The priestess’ face was contorted in pain, yet her fingers still trembled with divine light, lips moving in a desperate, breathless chant.
Vivienne squeezed.
A ragged gasp escaped Solenne as the spell flickered out, her ribs straining under the immense pressure. She thrashed weakly, nails digging into Vivienne’s scaly fingers, but it was pathetic. Her breath came in choked, shallow pants, her once-calm expression finally cracking under the weight of fear.
Vivienne grinned, her many fangs glinting.
"Ah-ah,” she chided, her voice a low, pleased rumble. “None of that, darling."
She tightened her grip just a little more, enough to make Solenne’s spine creak.
"Now," Vivienne purred, bringing the priestess closer, their faces nearly level. "Let’s have a little chat before I decide what to do with you."
“I have nothing to say to you, beast,” gasped the priestess, her voice strained as Vivienne’s grip tightened around her fragile frame.
Vivienne’s face twisted into a smile, her teeth gleaming as she watched the priestess struggle in her colossal hand. “That’s a shame because there is much I want to learn. I suppose I could just eat you and be done with it.”
For a moment, Solenne’s eyes blazed with defiance, but it flickered before fading into a knowing glint. “You were at the watchtower,” she rasped, her gaze locking with Vivienne’s.
Vivienne grinned even wider, her jaw opening to reveal rows of needle-like teeth, each glinting with predatory hunger. “So you do remember me,” she purred, her voice deep and rumbling as it vibrated through the air. She raised the priestess slightly higher in her grasp, allowing her to feel the weight of Vivienne's immense size as she towered over her. The coldness of the winter air seemed to vanish in the presence of Vivienne’s overwhelming heat.
Solenne’s eyes shifted slightly, scanning the surrounding battlefield where her soldiers now lay, either incapacitated or dead. Her lips quivered, but her resolve remained strong. “What do you want, creature?”
Vivienne’s grin didn’t falter. “I want to know how you got the dawn titan on your side, where the champion is…” She leaned closer, her gaze narrowing, “I want to know how you knew exactly where I was.”
The priestess remained silent, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to regain her breath. Vivienne’s grip remained firm, and she could feel the power beneath her skin crackling, her aura pressing in like an oppressive storm. There was a tension between them, one that only grew more unbearable with each second.
“You won’t get anything from me,” Solenne finally spat, her eyes flicking down, perhaps considering her next move. “We were sent to end your existence, creature.”
Vivienne’s tail lashed behind her, the tip of it striking the snow with a thunderous crack. “How… quaint,” she murmured, watching as the priestess’ body swayed from the force of her movement. “But that won’t be happening today. You’re going to tell me everything, priestess. You see, I’m not someone who is hunted… I am the hunter.”
The pressure in Solenne’s chest increased as Vivienne’s fingers tightened just a fraction more. The priestess’s body trembled, and her breath became quick and shallow. Vivienne felt her pulse under her fingertips, a rhythmic reminder of the woman’s fragile mortality. For a moment, Solenne’s eyes flickered with something close to fear, her muscles straining against Vivienne’s grip, and it seemed as though she might collapse under the sheer weight of the colossus's power.
Vivienne’s smile never wavered, her six heads looming, their predatory gazes all fixed on Solenne. “You feel that pressure, don’t you?” Vivienne’s voice was like the rumble of distant thunder, deep and resonant. “This could be the last breath you take, priestess. Or we can make this easier.”
Solenne’s gaze hardened, but the flicker of panic she couldn’t suppress betrayed her. She was smart—too smart to fall into the trap of thinking she could escape. Vivienne could practically feel the priestess’s mind working, calculating, weighing the consequences.
Vivienne tilted her head slightly. “How about this? You answer a question of mine, and I answer one of yours. We take turns, and I’ll let you, and whoever is left here, live. Sound fair?”
The priestess’s breath caught for a moment, and then she let out a harsh laugh, her voice strained. “Why would I trust you, beast?”
Vivienne’s lips curled into a toothy grin, her black eyes glittering with amusement. “Why would I trust you, imperialist?” Her voice lowered to a growl, each word carrying weight. “You’ve come all this way to end me, just like every other fool who’s ever tried. You think you can break me with your light, your so-called divine powers, but what I’m really after is your knowledge. And unlike you, I’m not going to pretend I have all the answers.”
Solenne’s jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing. Vivienne could see the internal conflict—the priestess wanted to fight, to refuse, to remain steadfast in the face of this beast that had already slaughtered her comrades. But Vivienne knew the pressure was mounting, that her refusal would only bring pain.
“I could kill you now, priestess,” Vivienne continued, her voice more like a low rumble now, “Answer some questions and live, or be eaten right away?”
The priestess’s lips pressed together into a thin line, a flash of defiance crossing her face. She had no intention of answering immediately, but Vivienne’s grip tightened just enough for Solenne to gasp again, her breath catching in her throat. It was a silent warning, one that needed no words.
With a small, almost imperceptible nod, Solenne relented, her eyes narrowing slightly in frustration. The pressure in Vivienne’s fingers tightened just enough to cause the priestess to stiffen, but she didn’t break. The fight in her still burned, but there was an unmistakable crack in her resolve. "Fine," Solenne spat, her breath labored, the words laced with a bitterness that only deepened as she spoke. "You’ll have your answer. But first—one question from me."
Solenne’s gaze bore into Vivienne, and for a moment, the colossus could almost feel the weight of the priestess’s thoughts. She hesitated, her lips pressed into a thin line, before she finally asked, "Who are you, truly?"
Vivienne’s grin widened, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth, a smile that could swallow a person whole. She let the tension hang in the air for a moment, savoring the priestess’s unease. "My name is Vivienne Marie Castillo," she said, her voice like the rumble of distant thunder, calm but powerful. "Champion of Akhenna."
Solenne's eyes went wide, her lips parting in disbelief. She stammered out the words, too stunned to contain her shock. “Akhenna’s beast…” she muttered under her breath, the words almost a prayer, as if saying them out loud would make them more real.
Vivienne caught every syllable, of course. Her grin only grew wider, her black eyes glinting with amusement. "Is that what you’ve been calling me?" she asked, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "It’s rather rude to call a lady a beast, is it not?" She leaned in closer, her massive form casting a shadow that seemed to darken the very air around them. Her claws, still wrapped around Solenne, flexed just enough to remind the priestess of the power held in her grasp.
The priestess flinched, the words catching in her throat. "You’re—" Solenne started, but the words seemed to falter, as if she could not quite wrap her mind around the reality of the creature before her. "You're alive."
Vivienne tilted her head, eyes narrowing as she considered the priestess’s reaction. "I’ve always been alive, priestess," she said, her tone low and almost teasing. "Just not in the way you’d understand it."
Solenne’s gaze flickered, her mind racing to reconcile the pieces of the puzzle. "But Akhenna’s champion?" she asked, the disbelief still lingering in her voice. "The goddess of chaos... she chose you?"
Vivienne’s smile faltered, just for a moment, but it was enough for Solenne to see the brief flicker of something ancient and unsettling in her eyes. "Yes," Vivienne said slowly, as if the answer was the simplest thing in the world. "She did. And in case you’re wondering, I didn’t ask for her to choose me. But she did. And now," Vivienne leaned in closer still, her voice growing softer, more dangerous, "I intend to make the most of it."
Solenne recoiled ever so slightly, as if Vivienne’s words had physically struck her, their weight sinking deep into her chest. She clenched her teeth, her breath ragged as she met the colossus’s gaze. For a brief moment, she hesitated, as though the enormity of what Vivienne had just revealed was too much to process.
"What does that mean?" Solenne’s voice was strained, almost hoarse, as a mix of confusion and underlying fear made itself known. "What does she want with you?" she repeated, though she knew, deep down, that it wasn’t the question she truly wanted answered. Her mind raced, thoughts tumbling over each other, trying to make sense of the truth behind Vivienne’s cryptic words.
Vivienne’s smile twisted into something darker, a grin that could swallow the sun, before she leaned in closer. The air grew thick with the pressure of her presence, her claws scraping against Solenne’s robes as she shifted her grip. Her voice dropped into a growl, low and resonant, a rumble of power that vibrated through the ground beneath them.
"What does she want with me?" Vivienne echoed, her tone mocking the question, savoring the moment. "That would be two questions, priestess. It’s my turn now."
Solenne’s brow furrowed in frustration, but she nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Fine," she spat, her patience wearing thin, but she knew better than to resist the inevitable. She would have to play this game on Vivienne’s terms.
Vivienne's smile stretched further, her black eyes glinting with amusement. "How’d you get the Dawn Titan to fight alongside you?" she asked, her voice dripping with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, as if the answer would reveal a secret she had long been waiting to hear.
Solenne stiffened at the mention of the Dawn Titan, her expression darkening for a brief second. She gave a small, sharp shrug, attempting to mask the discomfort. "She saw reason in the grace of Praxus," Solenne replied, her words clipped and firm, but Vivienne could sense the lack of depth in her answer, the way it didn't quite ring true.
Vivienne’s grin faltered, turning into a smirk. "That’s a non-answer," she said, her voice light with sarcasm. Her claws tightened around Solenne’s form, a reminder of the power she wielded. She leaned in closer, her breath hot against the priestess’s face. "You’re not getting off that easily."
Solenne’s gaze flickered with something like irritation, but she held her ground. "That is the answer I have for you," she said with a cold finality, as though daring Vivienne to challenge her further.
Vivienne rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Fine," she muttered with a dramatic sigh, as though indulging the priestess’s attempts at avoiding a real answer. "What’s your question, then?"
Solenne’s eyes flashed with a moment of determination, as though she had been preparing for this. She straightened, ready to fire her question. "What is your goal?" she asked, her tone sharp, cutting through the tension that hung in the air like a blade.
Vivienne hummed thoughtfully, her gaze flicking over the priestess as she considered the answer. "The rather vague goal of making Praxus annoyed," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, a hint of amusement dancing across her face. She didn’t elaborate further, leaving the priestess to stew in her response.
Solenne’s expression shifted to one of disbelief. "Is that it?" she asked, her voice laced with contempt, as if Vivienne’s answer was beneath her.
Vivienne grinned, flashing her jagged teeth. "Indeed," she said, her tone airy and almost playful, as though it were the most natural thing in the world to state such a ridiculous goal.
Solenne narrowed her eyes, biting back the urge to lash out. "Fine," she muttered, conceding the point but unwilling to show any more weakness.
Vivienne cocked her head, her voice turning playful again. "Why must you wage war on the steppes?" she asked, her curiosity genuine, though laced with an undercurrent of disdain. "What’s your true reason behind it all?"
Solenne's eyes hardened, and she lifted her chin, as though preparing to deliver a sermon. "The Lekine people live in chaos," she said, her words firm and unwavering. "All deserve to live under the grace of Praxus." She spoke with conviction, as though the idea had been ingrained in her for years, perhaps her entire life.
Vivienne’s eyes flickered with amusement, though it was tinged with a faint hint of disbelief. "Okay, and the real answer?" she pressed, her voice coaxing but still sharp.
Solenne stiffened at the question, her expression hardening. "That is the real answer," she said, her tone becoming colder, more distant. "I weep for those who live outside the grace of Praxus. To live in uncertainty is to live in pain itself." Her gaze met Vivienne’s, and for a moment, the weight of her words seemed to settle between them, as though she truly believed every word she spoke.
Vivienne snorted softly, the sound almost mocking. "Ah, so you believe in your own bullshit," she said, her voice dripping with cynicism. "Understood." She shook her head in mild disbelief, her grin widening again. "It’s so easy to convince yourself you’re the one in the right when you’re standing at the top of your own little mountain of lies."
Solenne’s face flushed with anger, but she said nothing, the truth of Vivienne’s words stinging far more than any insult the colossus could throw her way.
“Who raided our camps with you?” Solenne asked, her voice steady but the glint in her eyes betraying a growing suspicion.
Vivienne chuckled softly, the sound rumbling from deep within her chest. It was a low, throaty laugh, almost predatory in its tone. “I did it alone,” she replied, the grin on her face widening, almost playful.
Solenne’s eyes narrowed, and a flicker of disbelief crossed her features. “No. Too many are missing. You are lying.”
Vivienne’s expression shifted just slightly, her eyes glinting with something dark and mischievous. She shrugged, the motion slow and deliberate. “I spent most of my time doubling back, keeping the pattern random, but when it came time to clear a tent, I did it in mere seconds.” Her voice was casual, as though recounting a simple task.
“Seconds?” Solenne asked, her brow furrowing as the words sank in. “How could you—”
“Measurement of time,” Vivienne interrupted, her voice light but laced with an odd, unsettling calm. “Something like, Tick, Tick, Tick.” She made a quick, exaggerated gesture, a flick of her hand, as if the act of slicing through the air with her claws might convey the speed and precision she was referring to. “About that fast.”
Solenne’s mouth pressed into a thin line, a ripple of unease flashing across her features. “How do you know about other measurements of time?” she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion, as though she expected some trick to the answer.
Vivienne’s grin only deepened, a sly, knowing smirk tugging at her lips. “I know many things, meat,” she purred, the word ‘meat’ dripping from her tongue with a kind of condescending amusement, as though Solenne were nothing more than a mere morsel to be consumed and discarded.
The priestess’s face hardened, her fists clenching in anger. “You ate all of them,” she hissed, her voice almost trembling with the accusation. “You are a monster.”
Vivienne’s shoulders rose and fell in a languid shrug, her claws brushing lightly against Solenne’s skin as if the weight of her words held no meaning. “We both are, priestess,” she said with a dismissive tilt of her head. “The only difference is I admit to it, and you believe your every atrocity just.”
The words hung in the air like a cloud of smoke, thick and choking. Solenne’s gaze hardened, but she couldn’t deny the truth in them. Vivienne, monstrous and brutal as she was, was unashamed of her nature. And here, Solenne stood, cloaked in the righteous mask of a divine cause, pretending her hands weren’t just as stained with blood.
Vivienne’s claws tightened around Solenne’s robes, her grip almost affectionate, like one would pet a loyal dog, but much more sinister in nature. "You lie to yourself, priestess," Vivienne murmured softly, her voice suddenly quieter, but no less dangerous. "I am a monster, yes, but at least I don’t pretend I’m anything else."
Vivienne’s grip loosened, and with a casual flick of her claws, she let Solenne slip from her grasp. The priestess’s body fell like a ragdoll, landing lightly just above the snow, the impact muffled by the soft blanket of white beneath them. She tumbled, unceremonious and graceless, before finally coming to a stop, her robes spilling out around her in a disheveled heap. Vivienne didn’t watch her hit the ground; she was already in motion, her body shifting and folding back into her preferred form.
The colossal shape of her body shrank down rapidly, her limbs reshaping into something more nimble and familiar—her usual figure. Her obsidian scales glittered in the waning light, and her elongated tail swished with a gentle, serpentine motion as she stood there, slightly shorter than Solenne, the difference in height only emphasizing her power. Her six heads, each one a sharp and predatory gaze, glanced over the priestess and her ragtag group of soldiers. She surveyed them with cold amusement, her body radiating a languid kind of superiority.
The soldiers, bruised and bloodied from the battle, groaned in pain as they struggled to right themselves. Some were already pushing themselves to their knees, clutching their weapons weakly as if the mere thought of facing Vivienne again drained them of strength. The sight of her—so confident, so effortlessly dangerous—brought fear creeping into their veins. They looked to Solenne, but she lay crumpled on the snow, still reeling from the force Vivienne had applied to her.
Vivienne gave them a mocking smile, eyes scanning the ragged group. She didn’t need to say much—her mere presence, the way she held herself with such ease, spoke volumes. She almost felt sorry for them, though the sentiment was fleeting.
“Run along then,” she purred, her voice light and casual, as though they were nothing more than bothersome insects. “We have a war to fight, do we not?”
Her words hung in the air, thick with irony, as she stood there, watching them. The soldiers hesitated, unsure whether they should flee or rally to their fallen leader. But the sight of Vivienne—her eyes gleaming with the remnants of her power and the thrill of battle still buzzing in her veins—made it clear. The hesitation broke, and slowly, they began to retreat, some staggering away from the scene as if the ground beneath them had turned to quicksand.
Solenne, meanwhile, struggled to get to her feet, her chest heaving with shallow breaths as she glared up at Vivienne. Her pride had been shattered, but her resolve wasn’t so easily broken. “You’ll regret this,” she spat through gritted teeth, glaring daggers at Vivienne, but the threat was weak, hollow.
Vivienne chuckled softly, her long claws tapping idly against her side. “Perhaps,” she mused, “but not today, priestess. Not today.”
And with that, she watched them retreat, the sounds of the soldiers’ hurried footsteps crunching through the snow fading into the distance. This little battle was over for now, but the war would continue. As she turned and began walking in the opposite direction, her body still thrumming with the energy of the fight, Vivienne couldn’t help but smile.