Burning My Bridges [Venir/Exam]

Heat cannot be separated from fire, or beauty from The finite.

It was like any other day within the warm halls of Eclipse Soul. Venir as usual had risen with a yawn and a large stretch before glancing out her towers window. Outside clouds loomed in the distance, dark and threatening they promised an almost certain snowstorm. Blizzards weren't exactly uncommon in the Phoenix mountain range but they weren't welcomed. Still, that meant that Venir would not be going outside that day. Whether it was to travel to a job or for relaxation there was no way that Venir was going to be getting down the mountain before the snow storm reached the guild. That and the white haired mage wasn't particular fond of cold weather. After checking the rather disappoint weather Venir had lounged about in her bed for another hour or so before finally gaining the will to get out of her warm bed. Just like every other day Venir had followed her routine to a point, shower, brush teeth, dry hair, etc. Only when she was properly cleaned up did she leave the confines of her tower.

Then came the next part of her routine and that was the most important meal of the day; breakfast. The first task Venir had to accomplish when attaining breakfast was getting through a cluster of guild mates who also inhabited the kitchen. By now they had learned to not fear the white haired ace so it was hard to get what she wanted at times. Not that she was complaining, compared to her fellow ace Cirven, Venir was far more of a softy. She spoiled guild members rotten which could be both good and bad. The Ace had a habit of paying for things for them without them asking, how could she not when she had all these jewels going to waste? Then of course she had the bad habit of coddling them, quite literally leading them by the hand at times. She was one of the mother birds of Eclipse Soul. Where Alyia could be strict at times, Venir was lenient and quick to forgive. "Hey cut that out." She poked one of the mages in the side as she snagged a few pastries for herself and her friend that without a doubt waiting for her.

With pastries secured Venir had quickly fled from the kitchen before someone talked her into giving the treats away. Alyia would not be happy if Venir came to her room empty handed...The walk to Alyia's room was a rather long one with just how large Eclipse Soul was. One could easily get lost in the guild but not Venir. She had the place memorized like the back of her hand after being there for so long. The layout of the guild wasn't the only thing that she had memorized. "Good morning-" She spoke to every mage that she had passed, knowing each and every member's name by just their face alone. After her long walk filled with countless "good morning's" to countless members, Venir finally found herself standing in front of a set of oaken doors. It was always rather odd to Venir that she just entered the guild masters chambers as she pleased. That room had once housed great mages, powerful and strong. The chamber in which Alyia currently resided in was the very room in which the founding member Zeno had once occupied. Yet here stood Venir with a plate of pastries viewing that significant room as nothing more than the place that her best friend had resided in.


She tapped against the wood of the door always feeling a little odd just barging into Alyia's room. Venir waited for a moment making sure that it was okay to enter before turning the handle and opening the door. Quietly Venir slipped inside of the room and placed the plate of pastries upon a table within. The interior was a bit old and strange, not the kind of room that you would expect Alyia to live in but it was the founding guild masters legacy so there wasn't much room for change.

Venir's almost professional exterior was broken the moment she threw herself upon the couch, arms and legs flailing out. Within this room Venir was free to be her childish self. She didn't need to act mature for guild mates or handle any important business. In there she could be herself with her friend by her side. There were times that the two of course had guild matters to discuss, in which case they were always serious as they cherished the guild above everything else, but it wasn't often that the two of them really needed to get serious. More times than not they simply relaxed, discussed potential jobs to take, and talked all about their precious guild members. Most of those guild members were doing exceptionally well. It felt as if they had all grown up so much. All those mages had once been lost little birds, feeble they had fallen from their nest. Now those same birds were strong and flew confidently down their own paths. Venir's time with Alyia was cut short though by a sudden pang in her guild mark. Something was approaching the guild but for some reason it could not be confirmed on whether or not that presence was hostile or friendly.

The white haired mage had exchanged a look with her guild master as she plopped the rest of her pastry in her mouth. Venir gulped down the remnants of her breakfast before giving a small salute to her guild master. In a potentially hostile situation Venir was the one who had to go investigate, not that she really minded. Cirven wasn't there that day and it wasn't as if they could send out other guild members to go investigate. Considering that the guilds defense system hadn't taken them out yet, Venir could only assume that they must have been friends or perhaps some lost travelers seeking shelter from the coming storm. With her coat wrapped tightly about her, the icy wind still managing to send a chill down her spine, Venir greeted the group that had approached the guild

They had expensive coats on but most of them still seemed to be freezing. Feeling only pity for them Venir invited the travel worn stranger inside the guild to let them warm up some and wait out the coming storm. The travelers had thanked her causing Venir to grin as she fetched them so tea or coffee. Little did she know just what she had invited into her home.


The snowstorm had been going on for days, its fury was relentless. The atmosphere within the guild had dropped considerably because of it. No one liked to be stuck indoors for that long, and the cold from outside at times managed to find its way in. The travelers which Venir had given entrance to the guild had also been stuck there for the last few days. Most of them keeping to their selves despite a few members attempts to make them feel welcome, Venir included. There was only one instance where those strangers had spoken to Venir in their extended stay and that was merely to confirm her name


Venir frowned her past a bit of a touchy subject with her simply because of its ambiguity. She had no idea why her parents, if she had any, named her Venir. For Venir was memoryless unable to recall why or how she had ended up in Eclipse Soul, but she was there and there was no going back for her. "Well," She began rather awkwardly always feeling odd when she had to explain her rather complicated situation, "I don't really know my parents...As far as I can remember I've just been here." She gestured towards the guild in general. One of the travelers had asked her another question wanting clarification on what she meant. Unaware of the importance of the information she was giving them, Venir continued on,

Venir gave a rather forced laugh but the travelers followed suit. Feeling more than a little awkward Venir gave them a wave before turning to head off on her own. The travelers each exchanged a look with each other until one of them cleared their throat asking for a tour of the guild. This made Venir pause for a moment weighing the idea in her head. There was parts of the guild that strangers could not enter, even certain guild members did not have access to, but next to the guild master herself Venir was one of the members of the guild who had access to almost everywhere. Of course, Venir wouldn't taken them anywhere in which they weren't allowed to go. Just a tiny tour wouldn't hurt anyone right?


The startled, almost fearful inquiry escaped her lips as a sharp pang was felt in her neck. Instinctively, her hand clamped over the afflicted area a needle falling to the floor. Her body wobbled, vision spinning. Her body was going numb, thoughts growing heavy. Venir leaned heavily against one of the stone walls of Eclipse Soul, red eyes glaring up at the travelers who had put something into her. They were in one of the more desolate parts of the guild, Venir having lead them there because....Why? Venir slid down the wall until her bottom met with the floor; she felt like she might pass out.


As the man approached her, a magic circle appeared in front of his hand, Venir desperately tried to call for help via her guild mark. Yet she didn't feel that usual connection with the rest of her guild. Was it the drugs? She had always thought that the day someone would come asking to take her home, she'd come along all too happily and willingly. A perfect mother and a father finally coming back for their daughter after so many years apart. There would be tears, hugs, and another person for Venir to love. However, this was far from those childish fantasies. Venir didn't want to go home with them, this was her home, Eclipse Soul was all she knew.


She shrieked as the magic circle made contact with her skin, even the numbing effects of the drug couldn't stop her from feeling that sort of pain. Whatever, previous spell that had been cast on her appearance had been destroyed. However, her body was rapidly trying to catch up with the changes. All she could do was let out ragged breaths, trying to curl in on herself. Venir did at least manage a glare at those travelers, her ruby like eyes turning more and more amethyst with each passing moment. The Eclipse Soul Ace couldn't see the changes happening to her body but the onlooker could. One of them produce a worn out picture looking it over and then passing it around the group. Eventually, the same one who had placed the magic circle upon her came to crouch down next to Venir's limp body.


Venir stared at the picture in horror, a little girl staring back at her. She had golden blonde hair, and amethyst eyes but she was far from happy looking. Dark burns decorated the girls body, a look of pure misery across her visage. "No." Venir shook her head weakly, something beginning to stir in her belly. "That's not me!" She shook her head again, one of her abusers gave a laugh and produce a small mirror. Venir tried to tear her gaze away from the mirror but she couldn't. Long blonde hair and amethyst eyes stared back at her. "Stop." She didn't want to know, why'd they have to come here? Venir wanted to continue living in her childish dream of perfect parents, one's who had to give her up because they couldn't protect her. Another harsh breath escape Venir's lips, silently mouthing "no" again and again. They had to be wrong! She had a family out there somewhere! She wasn't from some lab! Lab echoed through her hazy mind, why was she covered in burns?


Why was she covered in burns? She didn't deserve those burns, surely such a young child couldn't have done anything to warrant those burns! The one who needed to be burned was them..."No what that's not...."That wasn't something Venir would do but a feeling was beginning to bubble within her. It was something that wasn't entirely unfamiliar but it felt....It felt so good to just let herself be swallowed up by it. It was a warm no a scolding embrace, a fire burning in her belly at these cruel hearted people. How dare they? How dare they!? Flames licked their way through her veins as a smoldering fire becoming a blaze in a moments notice. Sometimes all one needed is the right fuel to get the fire started again. Venir felt hot, half worried that she was going to overheat, but it felt....It felt so good...Grasping onto that anger, that broken dream of a family, Venir let everything sweep over her. Tears threatened to spill but when they did they disappeared when they made contact with her overheated skin.

Words that would have never escaped the Aces lips did all it took was a bit of prompting from a voice. That vengeful voice, was warm and sweet, so hard to resist and why would she? Whether it was her own voice or not it did not matter. All that mattered was how good she felt, and her sudden need to release all of those pent up feelings. The hidden worries about who she was, the stress, and all of those negative emotions after having been forced back for so long finally needed to be let loose. Much like her emotions there was something else that needed to be let loose. The inferno inside of her felt good, amazing even, but just like her emotions it sought release. Who was Venir to deny it? Slowly, Venir raised a hand shocking the onlookers who were not yet aware of the changes occurring within her. They were shocked that Venir was even able to move let alone left her hand. Her body was rapidly burning away the poison inside of her until there was nothing left. With her head leaned back against the stone, amethyst eyes glaring at her abusers, Venir managed to give them a sly grin as she raised her middle finger at them,


An explosion had rattled the entire guild, an entire section of it having crumbled. However, there were countless explosions that shook the guild. It had to have been a terrifying experience that resembled that of the attack upon Karakuri city. Unlike that attack though, this one left black flames littered about the guild. All consuming flames that burned anything and everything they touched. They would not cease they just continued to destroy everything in their wake as they tore through the guild, as their user tore through the guild. The young Ace of Eclipse Soul was without a doubt anything but herself. Truth be told the young woman wasn't truly conscious, some higher power, instinct taking over her body. Not that anyone knew that.

It was a miracle that Alyia had reacted as quickly as she did. When it came to disasters Eclipse Soul knew how to effectively handle them. As difficult as it was, the other members of Eclipse Soul came before the rampaging Ace. Despite her appearance change Venir was recognizable at least to her guild master. That and the pink mark of Eclipse Soul still lay upon the woman's thigh. The guild and all its inhabitants had been evacuated into the blizzard that awaited them outside. All they could do was watch in horror as flames and explosions ran through the castle like structure...

There of course was still a few survivors within the guild but they were not guild mates. No a few of the travelers from earlier had managed to survive the initial blast from Venir. Most of them running away after as Venir gave chase. A certain pair had slipped away, the blonde couldn't possibly chase all of them at once if they went separate ways. As they tried to find a way out, one of them couldn't help but curse as they searched, not yet having taken notice of the presence behind them,


What other choice did they have? Eclipse Soul's reckoning day had come, and the destruction of the guild and was just another reason for the guild to finally meet its end.The other members of the guild, every single one of them was well and accounted for. Well, all except one. Alyia was almost certain that her friend could not be alive midst all of the black flames and rubble. That fact only made her decision that much easier. The angel had done her job, she had guided so many onto their paths of redemption that she could no longer lead them. There was nothing left to teach them. On that day outside, the snow storming still going full force, the third and final master of Eclipse Soul had made her final request of her guild members,



A body lay among the remnants of the guild known as Eclipse Soul. The once pink mark that showed her allegiance to her guild had long since disappeared from her thigh. A soft moan escaped her lips as something wet met with her cheek only for that feeling to disappear. Slowly, her eye's opened to watch as snow fell from the sky only to evaporate when it met her skin. Venir was dazed and confused, the smell of smoke still hung in the air. Her fists were bloodied but not with her blood, and her entire ached but felt alight at the same time.