"You ready?!" the Erpeopian mocked, dashing toward her. Freya’s eyes widened. He was fast - faster than she expected. His blade whistled past her skull as she threw herself back, strands of her hair drifting to the forest floor.

She hit the ground hard, rolling, trying to create space. But he was on her instantly, his blade stabbing down again and again. She rolled left. A blade embedded where her chest had been. She rolled right. Another strike split the earth beside her ear.

Before he could even lift the blade, she dug her heel through his, sweeping him off his feet. The other took off in a sprint for her direction. Her gaze snapped to him, pivoting out of the way as he launched himself from where he was.

The Erpeopian grinned, reaching for the lance stuck in her arm mid-leap. The sound of tearing flesh rang through the air as crimson shot to the sky, the wound tearing flesh to the bone.

Freya’s voice caught in her throat, stumbling to her knees as she clutched her arm desperately.

"I can’t believe you let her sweep you like that!" She could hear their laughter, mocking her as she kneeled there hopeless...

"Freya..." Sylvi couldn’t help but whimper at the sight.

"Hm? What was that?" The Erpeopian muttered, picking up on the tiny cry from the helpless girl.

"It’s probably nothing," The other groaned, getting up from the ground.

"No I swore I heard something from that bag," He turned to go take a look walking towards it.

Before he could even lean down to open the pouch something flew straight at him from the corner of his eye. The sound of shattering bone crackled against the air, Freya’s staff flying straight into the lizard’s face.

Gust of wind followed the blow as he was sent skidding across the earth and straight into a tree.

The other grew startled, his eyes widened as he saw the woman that stood before him. Her skin was hot, it was as if the blood was literally boiling beneath her, turning her cyan blue color a deep blood red.

Her head bobbed loosely, the warrior trying to stay conscious despite her body screaming for her to stop.

"Never...again" She muttered, stumbling from one foot to the other as she got closer to the other Erpeopian. "I’m not going to fail her anymore!"

"What do you want, brat?" Veira’s voice rang in her head, a memory popping up in the back of her mind as she stumbled forward. The woman towered over the kid, taking in her tattered clothing and muddied face.

They were in the middle of an Aelvarian village in the east, the scientist wearing a tattered cloak over her very being.

"I—..." The words got caught in her throat when faced with her stare, the stars in her eyes doing nothing but staring holes into her. Without saying a word, Veira kneeled down on one knee, digging through her cloak to pull out provisions she brought on her journey.

Freya could only watch, the scientist soon growing impatience and forcing it within her hands. "Take it," She insisted.

"T-thank you!" Freya cried, indulging herself right there. Tears stung the back of her eyes, nothing had ever tasted so sweet to her before...

"Where’re your parents," Veira asked.

Upon the last bite Freya paused, her hand reaching to pull at the hem of her shirt. "They...they’re dead..."

Freya was in and out of consciousness, snapping back as the Erpeopian charged right at her. He swung his blade for her neck, woman sidestepping the blow. Her staff flew across his face causing the reptile to stumble.

"You bitch!" The other roared as he just managed to stand again. The staff he wielded twirled in his hand, the wind whistling through the beam as he tried to stab the blade into her. Freya’s staff came down on his, knocking it out of his arm.

Before he could even react steam gushed from her staff, sending it flying for his ribs. His eyes snapped to it, his hand rushing to block the attack even as it pushed him back.

A dark red line bruised on the reptile’s pale skin, the Erpeopian panting heavily as he watched as she stood between him and the pouch.

"Your moves are sloppy," she spat, saliva mixed with blood shot to her feet.

"The king he..." her child self cried between tears, she couldn’t bare to look up at Veira back then.

"You’re one to talk!" He snapped, turning to see his friend now gaining his bearings. They nod to each other, before their glare fixates on her.

"He killed them! Because they stole for me!"

Without a word they sprinted forward. She saw this, sending her staff in a downwards arc, only for both of them to pivot on their heels, dashing off in different directions at once.

They had her surrounded, their blades whistling as they bled through the air in an emerald blur. Freya hissed, planting her staff firmly into the ground. Her arms screamed as she vaulted herself upward, her core tightened, and her leg arched in one fluid motion, catching one of them by the jaw.

"Y-you—!" His words were interrupted as she landed, while she was distracted he tried once more, striking her with his blade only for it to graze her cheek. She side stepped the attack, driving her foot into his rib.

"Does it anger you?" Veira pondered, bringing out nothing but a weak nod from her.

The reptile’s pupils dilated, spit flew from his mouth as his knees buckled beneath him. She watched as he fell with a thud, immediately looking for the other one, but he was no where to be found.

"Then that very emotion, that anger you feel... " Veira’s words trailed off...

"Freya!!" A voice called out to her. Her heart sank when she saw the Erpeopian she kicked, grabbing Sylvi by the hair. His claws bare and ready to slash her throat at a moment’s notice.

"Take it out on all of them, on the very world that cursed you," She took her hood down to reveal her face fully to the girl. "Join me,"

"Stay right where you are!" He roared causing her to hesitate. "If you move I’ll slice her throat!"

"And kill everyone who made you an outcast in this cursed world."