The Links We Forge

After an interesting and unexpected several days into an assignment, and having finally returned to the relative safety of Fort Ettin, Seraphina cannot help but think upon the few words Oziah had said to her.

“That’s not your own free will, I hope you know that. You were ten.”


Seraphina frowns as she finishes her meal and sets the cutlery down gently, at odds with the lively atmosphere of the Fort Ettin great hall. Perhaps she should speak with her about it, hopefully the fey woman’s charm has released its grip on her by now.

Oziah had left her outside the Gilded Mirror, alone with her last few words.
“If you ever want to fall from grace, I know how it’s done.” The mercenary had made the trip back to Fort Ettin alone, refusing even the company of Leaper, and hadn’t spoken a word to Seraphina since.


Eventually Seraphina enquired after the mysterious woman and after a few moments located her rooms within Fort Ettin.
She lifted her hand to the door and knocked, hopefully she would be in residence.
Nerves were not something she often felt but a tinge of uncertainty tainted her mood.
Upon hearing no answer she sighed and turned, heading out to the first floor lookout, the view was pleasant from here and perhaps she could clear her mind.

As she stepped onto the boards she couldn’t help but chuckle quietly to herself as she spotted Oziah leaning over the railings, staring at the horizon like an owl upon the highest branch.

‘Thank you my lady.’

Seraphina muttered under her breath.

Trying to sound nonchalant Seraphina approached Oziah
“Hello, I did not expect to meet you today.”

Oziah does not take her blue eyes off the setting sun.

“We live in the same Fort, Seraphina.”

“Ah, I suppose so.” she replies, resting a hand awkwardly on the railing and tracking Oziah’s gaze to the horizon, as if she could spot what she was looking at.
There was a moment of silence before she spoke again, “Forgive me if I am a little forward with you Oziah,” she says in her paced way of speaking “were you yourself in such an order as I?”

The brunette straightens up, but keeps her eyes fixed far, far away as she speaks.

“Well, I did tell you to come find me so that’s on me, probably.” She takes a slow, measured breath before continuing.

“I was. I was trained from birth for what I was told was my life’s purpose - to serve. When I was old enough to understand what I had agreed to, I tried to leave. Instead I was chained. I was shackled and bound and subdued with brute force until one day I managed to break free.”

She finally turns, her eyes dark as they meet Seraphina’s.

“And I’ll never let them chain me again.”

Seraphina looks at her with concern and bows her head,
“I am sorry they did such a thing to you, they do not seem like…” she pauses, “that is not the way of things, how it should be at least or rather my experience of it anyway.”

She subconsciously touches the idol that hangs around her neck, “Are you happy now, or rather, content?”

Oziah’s eyes track the small gesture briefly.

“Am I happy? Content? No. No, there are things I want, things I am due. But I am free.”

She rakes her eyes over Seraphina, taking in the white hair and the kind eyes, the careful hand resting on the parapet.

“Your chains may be invisible, and you may have agreed to them, may have turned the key in the lock yourself but Seraphina, they’re still chains.”

Seraphina tilts her head, “Now this is something I do not understand, my Lady’s love is something I cherish, she has taken care of me when my family could not. I suppose we all have ties to the great weave but ...chains?”

She straightens up and looks towards the setting sun, her buttercup yellow skin glowing in the light.

“Gratitude should not result in servitude. You were a child.” Oziah’s voice rises for a moment, something fiercer seeping through the usual dispassionate chill.

“If this is the only life you’ve known, how can you tell me you aren’t bound to it?”

The golden aasimar takes a deep breath - it wasn’t something she had ever considered before.
The lady Selûne loves her and so did she in return, she wasn’t trapped or chained.
She shakes her head, no it wasn’t like that, she would need to tell Oziah more, perhaps she would see.

A mix of emotions passes over her face before she speaks once more.

“My mother and father were both elders when they had me, I was unexpected but no less loved, yet they could not care for me or protect me. I was...unusual in their village and they were worried I would be taken, and so they took me to the town where a temple of Selûne stood, it’s arms welcome to those in need. The acolytes cared for me and loved me, though I cried for weeks after my parents departure, I was allowed to see them every so often when they visited the temple.”

She smiles though it doesn’t reach her eyes.

“Eventually they stopped visiting, I was told Selûne had called them to their rest.”

She laces her fingers together and turns her hands over as if in reverence.

Oziah’s face is an unreadable mask once more and she turns back to the setting sun, streaks of red like blood painted across the sky.

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”

She doesn’t turn back around.

“I, I don’t know.” Seraphina says quietly “I suppose I just wanted to explain.”
She watches a few adventurers milling about below them, one or two stopping to talk, adjusting a cloak or a weapon in hand.
“What things do you need to accomplish Oziah?”

The brunette huffs a small laugh.

“The list is long. And many items on it would most likely offend your sensibilities. Suffice it to say, I want what I am due.”

“Well,” Seraphina says with a smirk, “offend me.”

The comment garners a glance over Oziah’s shoulder at her fellow aasimar, an eyebrows raised in amusement and perhaps curiosity. She studies her for a moment before giving Seraphina an answering smile, sharp as a blade.

“I want the money that was taken from me. I want the power I was promised, that was stripped from me. I want to be assured of the freedom I had to rip from their hands.”

She straightens once more, stepping closer to Seraphina, her bright eyes daring the other aasimar to back away.

“I want their fear. I want them to beg me for forgiveness so I can refuse them.”

One more step and she’s close enough to lean in and whisper in Seraphina’s ear.

“I want... everything.”

Seraphina holds Oziah’s gaze before her.
“I have cared for many people, from all corners of the known lands, you tell me of what you want Oziah, but not what you need.”
She tilts her head with a kind smile, like that of a mother to a child, without malice or mockery. Oziah’s smile melts like snow in spring.



“I need those things. I need retribution. I need it like breathing.”
She steps back again, visibly composing herself.

“And I will have it. No matter the cost. No matter how long I have to wait. Until then I’ll do jobs with unprofessional idiots, for fey creatures who take advantage of my mind, and wait until the moment presents itself, until I am powerful enough to do what I need to do.”

She cocks her head at Seraphina, a darker reflection of Selûne’s chosen.

“Why are you here, Seraphina? What do you want? Not need. Want.”

“I am here because something was stolen from my temple, a book of great, terrible power and to look upon its pages or merely glance at the bindings can send someone to lose their mind. It was in our care and we...have failed.” She frowns and looks out to the nearly set sun.

“As for want, I haven’t had wants for a long time but I suppose I would like to find friends.”

Oziah huffs another small, incredulous laugh.

“Even that, they took from you. You have power that most people on this earth can only dream of - and you’ll have more, most likely. And what you want.. Is friends.”

She gives a small shake of her head.

“Find the book, if that’s what you truly want to do. Just know that after the book, there’ll be something else for you to do, another task, another quest, another holy mission, and before you know it, Seraphina, your life will have disappeared. It will run out, and you won’t even have lived it. Not unless you take it back.”

Night is falling around them, magical torches lighting up around Fort Etting one by one. Oziah takes a breath.

“But I won’t be trying to convince you of it. It’s something you can only understand for yourself. I wish you the best of luck, angel.”

Seraphina studies the fierce woman before her, seeing how angered she became at her injustices, “Oziah, I would offer my help should you need it. After all, justice and revenge are but two sides of the same coin, and the fates spin it for us. I feel it is no mistake we have met.”

She moves to put a hand upon Oziah’s shoulder in an automatic and practiced gesture but stops herself. Oziah quirks an eyebrow at the aborted movement.

“I’ve had people offer me their help before, and without fail they’ve all balked at what I’ve asked of them. As will you, I’ve no doubt. But not to worry, I’m used to it and I won’t hold you to your word. I’d be careful offering my services in the future if I were you. You’ll have enough blood on your hands as it is.”

She takes a step back, turning on her heel and walking away.

“Goodnight, angel. And good luck.”

“Goodnight Oziah.” Seraphina replies as she watches her, friend? She wasn’t sure but it was perhaps the first step towards that.
She lingers a little longer on the walkway as the first few stars glimmer through the inky dark sky before turning in for the night herself.





In collab with Oziah Daybreaker