To find one's purpose

@Medeia, @Amber Stone

Errings Rising had been good to Jen. So good, in fact, that she had been planning to start a new life with one of the top members of the guild. Unfortunately, due to irreconcilable differences with the guild master, Jen ended up leaving. Still, she did her best to remain in contact with Medeia, and with her sister, Amber. However, after having been kidnapped by the very same council member that Jen and Medeia had, themselves, captured on their first mission together, things began to unfold in a way that she couldn't really have predicted.

Normally, Jen and Medeia had an agreement of sorts, that they were free to be intimate with whoever they chose, with only a few restrictions. However, with Jen having been kidnapped, she kinda figured that Medeia would have mounted a rescue of some kind, like she had before. The fact that she'd been left to rot for a year made Jen more susceptible to the programming that they were feeding her. They showed her Medeia and Amber in situations that they shouldn't have been able to have eyes on, and at some point, Jen began to believe it. When she did eventually break out of confinement, she went back, and observed from the shadows, which wasn't exactly easy, but what she saw was rather different from what she had been shown.

Having seen the discrepancies first hand allowed her to think out her course of action in a more calm and collected manner than she previously would have been able to. While she was processing everything, she figured it would be best to lay low, and possibly just let things play out for a while, allowing her to strengthen herself in mind, body, and spirit. Essentially recovering from the experience she'd been put through over the past year. When the woman had sufficiently returned to her previous peak of physical and mental fitness, she started pushing further, finding that her previous limitations were no longer in place, and reminding herself that she could always get stronger. No mountain was too steep, no wall impenetrable.

But, without a guild, she would have a hard time fighting the fight she had fought so hard before. That didn't mean that she wouldn't try, only that she would have to start small, and in time, eventually raise herself back up to the threat level she had been treated with before. Once she was ready to announce her return, she sent letters to all the news outlets, as well as her favorite magazine, with a cryptic message that only those who truly knew her would be able to work out. Once that was done, she chose a few small villages to target, ones with small populations, and she would go to each with a simple choice. Either submit to her will, or bathe in hellfire. Sadly, the first few chose the latter, through the most direct means they could, and Jen responded in kind, razing them all to the ground... or so she thought. Unfortunately, what strength she could muster only harmlessly landed her in a rudimentary wooden cage.

---

[WC: 519]
[Goal: 500]

It had been quite a search and as Medeia approached yet another village, her powerful slayer senses picked up on a scent that she had not detected for so long. How long had it been since she had last had her senses captivated by this aroma? Months? Years? It was difficult for her to remember and as she paused and briefly looked around at her surroundings, the raven haired woman knew that she had last found what or more accurately who she had been looking for. Rumours had spread far and wide of a flame wielding mage who had been razing villages to the ground and from the first moment that she had tasted those exact same flames, she had known who they had belonged to. The realisation had rocked her to the core and even now, she was still coming to terms with the fact of what she had discovered. She was alive and not only that, within arms reach. The Warlord, normally so confident with her words, was at somewhat of a loss as to what she was going to say but for now, all she could do was ponder and muse.

She had been hesitant to ask anyone to accompany her on her search but Medeia just could not say no to Amber. The two had only just been reunited and the dark haired angel was reluctant to let the gorgeous blonde out of her sight anyway. That was not to say that the dark mage was certain as to whether it was the right idea. Amber was in such a delicate mental state and the concerned holy being was deeply concerned for her lover’s psyche. Her golden eyed love had suffered through so much. Was it right to truly put her in a dangerous situation so soon? Medeia did not know but she knew how strong Amber’s bond was with her sister.

The village was rather large compared to the others and as Medeia paused just out of sight of the guards at the entrance to it, she would turn her purple orbs towards her lover and speak. “I am unsure as to how many are in there but this could turn into quite a fight. I do not want to push you into anything, my love, so if you do not feel ready for this then you can simply wait here and I will go in alone. They are going to come at us as soon as they see us, judging by the guards but I can sense her from here. I know she is in there somewhere though and one way or the other, we are going to get her out.”

(447 Words)
(966 TWC)

There was a moment where Medeia did not look entirely convinced and her gaze briefly glanced down towards Amber’s quivering knees but this was the blonde’s decision to make. Before the raven haired woman led the way towards the village, she would speak once more. “If you find yourself struggling then just focus on finding Jennifer and leave the scum to me. I have more than enough firepower for these imbeciles and I confess that I would like nothing more to cut loose. Be careful, Amber.” It was not just an idle warning and the tone of Medeia’s voice would prove that, an undercurrent of concern and love that could easily be detected in her tone.

With that said, the angel would rise and walk towards the front gates, completely uncaring as to what the two figures guarding the entrance would do. Medeia could not help but notice that they seemed rather strangely dressed for simple villagers and she pondered just who Jennifer had gotten on the wrong side of. Her mind naturally jumped to a particular conclusion but for now, explanations would have to wait, until the scum had been removed. Mercy was not on the agenda here and no one would survive.

As Medeia walked her magical aura would burst to life as she silently cast a spell, resulting in crimson coloured figures to walk alongside her. Each one blood red in skin tone and wielding a blade that was dripping with the crimson liquid. They all shared the same look of overwhelming anger and hatred, the powers of both rage and blood fueling their powers. Every single one was identical and the guards seemed rather bemused about the sight that befell them but they would be for long. Without a word, Medeia would point a finger forward and her group of summoned warriors would engage. Their blades had some rather nasty effects, as not only did they leave a nasty and damage dealing wound but they also churned the hatred of those affected, turning them against each other. The two guards stood no chance and as the force burst into the village and started cutting everything to pieces, Medeia would slowly walk behind them ominously, allowing her minions to do the work. It was an absolute mess and the sounds of blood curdling screams would soon fill the air. The village had chosen incredibly poorly in capturing Jennifer and now they would pay the price. Every single one of them.

A particularly stupid villager would try and attack the dark mage herself with a sword but Medeia just leaned to the side to evade the attack, before surrounding her fist with her god slayer flames and delivering a punch that turned him to ash on impact. A horrible blow that seemed to petrify the remaining guards, the sight proving that they had not the slightest hope. They knew they were done for and that realisation seemed to drain the fight out of them. All they could do was wait for the fatal strike.

(506 Words)
(953 Med WC)
(1674 TWC)

Before the battle had even begun, Jen could tell exactly who had come to her aid. She and Medeia had a special bond, the likes of which could never truly be severed. It was an unbreakable bond that had been forged both in earth-land and in the fiery pits of hell. Jen could tell when her lover was near, even with her senses dulled. Similarly, because of their shared blood, she could tell that Amber was here as well.

So, at the very least she wouldn't be stuck in this cage any longer. She laughed in a somewhat hysterical, and some might say maniacal manner, knowing that capturing her was quite easily the worst mistake that these poor deluded fools could have made. "Well, I guess I might as well just sit back and watch the fireworks." She chuckled as she listened to the symphony of screams, and destruction caused by the two women she loved most in this world, and reveled in it. She might not have been as strong as she remembered being, but her tastes hadn't changed all that much.

At the very least, she would still be the same person that her loved ones had remembered. The only reason she wasn't joining the fight herself was because she didn't have the energy to do anything more than escape her cage. So, instead of doing that, she would conserve it, and await her rescue for the second time. Granted, she might have had some choice words for her saviors, had she not taken the time to think things through. Ultimately, she was just glad that they were here, that they had come to her aid when she needed them most.

That was all she could really ask of them at the moment. There were, of course, other things on her mind, but they could wait until after she was out of her box. With these two potential allies, she could begin to regain some measure of the strength she once had. It was just a matter of some incredibly intense training sessions. After all, she couldn't stay this weak forever and hope to survive on her own, or call herself one of Lucifer's heirs. No, that simply wouldn't do, for a whole variety of reasons. Not the least of which included her own personal crusade against the council.

It was going to be a long fight, but it was one she planned on being prepared for. Once she trained herself up, she might think about building an army of some sort, but for now, she was content with the current state of affairs. She just needed to wait a little longer for Medeia and Amber to arrive at her location. Luckily, from the sound of things, it didn't seem like that would take too terribly long. Maybe a matter of a minute or less, from her perspective. Then again, a minute for most people felt like a day for her, considering how long she'd spent in cages and cells.

---

[WC: 502]
[Jen WC: 1021]
[TWC: 2595]

Her clones were all over the place at this point and as they continued to butcher every target that the angel considered the enemy, Medeia simply kept walking, one calm being among the insanity that was all around her. Oh, she was angry, wrathful, incensed but it was perfectly controlled, bubbling just under the surface. She took immense satisfaction from every peon who died by the hands of her creations and Medeia could feel every death strike like it was herself holding the blade. It was a spell that she used so rarely and she was starting to wonder why she had not done so before. A battalion of minions to serve her purposes and what was more, it was getting larger. Those who were not instantly killed by her clones would become so overwhelmed by their own rage that they would lose track of who was friend or foe, resulting in them turning on their own companions. That fact brought even more pleasure to the Warlord.

As she moved towards what appeared to be the main hub of the village, a group of guards would charge at her, weapons ready to strike as though they believed that they had a chance. Such foolishness. With a flick of her hand, a powerful sand cyclone would appear from beneath them, lifting the imbeciles into the air and shredding them to the bone. It was not a pleasant sight indeed but Medeia’s gaze remained unmoving. Why did these groups continue to believe that they could clam those closest to her and think that it was acceptable? Did they not have the common sense to know that there would be consequences? It was all so raw, so soon after Amber’s return to her. It infuriated her beyond belief and there would not be a single being alive after she was finished.

Once her storm had subsided, the purple eyed mage would resume her trek, sensing that Jennifer was near. Medeia was still uncertain as to what to say but perhaps that was how it was meant to be. So much time had passed since she had last been with her first love. The holy being had grieved for Jennifer, mourned for her, cursed her name for disappearing without a trace. She had felt every emotion and feeling imaginable up until now. Had too much time passed? Had too much pain been experienced on both sides? Medeia did not have the answers to those questions.

Soon enough, a large wooden cell would come into view and Medeia knew for certain that Jennifer was in there. The angel could smell the blonde’s scent and what was more, she could feel her heart start to beat just a little faster. Before she could reach the blonde’s cell, a figure would block her path. A large male who stood at about seven feet tall, dressed head to toe in armour, wielding a large two handed sword. No words were exchanged and as he came towards her in an attempt to cleave her in two, Medeia would create a whip of magic and sidestep the blow, before letting loose on him with her foul weapon. Once, twice, ten times. She lost count of how many blows she delivered but by the time she was done, the armour was no more and his body was just little more than a stain.

Staring down at him, her expression one of cold fury and her voice icy, she spoke, moments before he finally expired. “This is the fate that befalls anyone who takes those that I love from me. Everything that you have done to Jennifer, I will make everyone you hold dear suffer one hundred fold. Know this as you rot in hell, your family will be there with you soon.” Her foot turning to flame, she would bring it down on top of his head as an exclamation point.

(659 Words)
(1603 Med's WC)
(3245 TWC)

"Well now, who should come to my rescue but the two women I love most. I'm really sorry about this. Must have misjudged my strength. Hell, after all you've done for me, the least i could do is rescue you once in a while." She chuckled lightly, sighing before she got up. "Listen, I...I'm sorry I was gone for so long. I got ambushed by council mages, and was left in a dungeon to rot for a year. They tried to mess with my head, to turn me against you, against...the two of you."

There was another sigh and an audible pause before she continued. "I don't blame you for moving on. In fact, I'm happy that you weren't alone, that you're not. I just wish I could have been there for you, like I should have, like you always were for me." At this point she turned to her sister. "I would have been back sooner, truthfully, but when I saw how happy you two were...I thought I might be in the way, so I figured I'd just stay out here and train...and to think, long and hard, about what I would say when next we met."

A smile crossed her face, as she pulled them in for a hug. "I've missed you, both of you, more than you can possibly know. I don't know where I'll be headed from here, but I want you both to know that you mean the world to me, and nothing will stop me from coming to your aid whenever you have need of me again. I'll need to get stronger, of course, but I don't want to lose track of either of you ever again. You're the only true family I have, after all. And I'm sorry I couldn't be there when you needed me." She was still smiling when her weight seemed to shift and she would begin to sink towards the ground.

---

[WC: 322]
[Jen WC: 1343]
[TWC: 3,777]