Darkness....

Ilumination only by the lava and Fire surrounding me....

Dirimerx is not a nice place to be.

Especially when you're trapped in it for God knows how long.

A year could have gone by, And I'd think it were a day.

How old I am I don't even know anymore...

What's my Name?

Where do I come From?

And Why did I leave?

.....Because I didn't leave.

I was forced here, And the portal closed after me.

FoRced bY yOuR PrECIouS PaAreNtS Eh?

....No.

It was...

What was it?

.....I'm forgetting again.

I've spent so long in this demented version of Hell, I'd prefer death over this anyday.

I struggle with my memories every second I'm down here. I've forgotten what it's like to be free and breath fresh air and see the sun.

When I try to remember, I can only feel my suffocating armor and crushed lungs, and glance at one of the thousands of lava falls surrounding the nether.

I'm a lone Tenebris Knight. I haven't been caught up with anything the arising army is doing, But I have heard gossip from passing Tenebris Knights.

Honestly, You'd think they let anyone willing to become a Tenebris Knight actually become one these days.

It's that, Or the only ones willing are blunt idiots who can only fight and talk.

I can't even remember what I look like, my sword not being able to show me with the flunked up lighting here.

Which is why I'm getting out.

I've been searching for awhile, looking for a portal. I know They're everywhere, I just have to find-

"OVER THERE!"

Crap.

Thanks to quick thinking, I managed to dodge behind a wall of the strange volcanic rock just in time to watch three other Tenebris Knights run past.

Curiosity got the better of me, And I followed in pursuit. They couldn't hear me over their own footsteps and loud shouting, But I still remained quiet and secure.

The one in front led the other two, who were chasing after them with speed.

But why would they be chasing their leader?

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" One of the followers yelled, And it dawned on me that they weren't doing their rounds.

This was a chase.

You don't see one of those everyday.

Curious, I followed by closely

The forced huffing and puffing of all three filled the already hot air as I kept to shadows and stayed hidden behind falls of lava and stacks of netherbrick.

Eventually, I realized I had lost track of the first one just as the other two reached a pair of tunnels.

They went to the right.

I went to the left.

Upon going futher in, I heard even more heavy huffing and puffing, feeling a small smile creep onto my face.

"Finally.... I got away.."

For the first time in a long time, I shivered, recognizing the voice of none other than Jonasus Tropje.

Senses tingling and prickling, I cautiously peered around the corner to realize....

There was an open portal right in front of him.

Tucking something away into the chinks of his armour, I watched him step through and disappear.

This was my chance to go back to the overworld!

WhY wOuLd YoU wAnT tO gO bAcK thErE?!

I have a family that I need to get to!

ThE sAmE oNe ThAt DoEsN't CaRe FoR YoU?!

They do care. And they do miss me! You'll see!!

And with that, I ran through the portal as fast as I could.

And was instantly greeted by wailing sirens and shouting guards.

——-
"THE PORTAL HAS OPENED! ALL MEN STAND GROUND!"

I could barely hear this over the way the fresh air filled my lungs and choked me, my eyes sensitive to the sudden sunlight and breeze blowing through. I was so caught up, I tripped right into Jonasus.

"What the-?!" He began, turning to me as his bright pale eyes focused on me. "You..... You're that little punk who tried breaking my arm the first time you saw me!!"

"My name is Amilia!" I fired back, but didn't have time to do or say anything else before a guard ran up to attack.

"Oh this should be fun!" Jonasus laughed, as he fended off guard after guard.

I didn't want a part of that, which made me try to sneak off. This didn't work, as another guard instantly caught me, launching me into a sword fight with him. His steel sword was good, But not good as mine, crafted from the finest Materials of Dirimerx.

I managed to beat him, and launched a kick in his chest.

I didn't want to fight.

I wanted to go home.

A sharp laugh came from none other than Jonasus himself, causing me to chest-kick someone else.

"I can't go home if I'm associated with /him/." I muttered, knocking down everyone that came at me.

That was, until they stopped within a short amount of time, and It was just Jonasus and I.

....Until a Woman with short curly blonde hair landed in the pit of walls, and instantly glared at Jonasus.

"Jonasus Tropje.... It can't be..." She gasped, the daggers in her hands almost slipping to the ground as they hung by her sides.

"Oh, But it is!" He laughed, which made her angry. She launched herself at him, and they began fighting teeth and nails.

I had begun to feel light-headed, my vision blacking out at the edges and my feet feeling lighter than air.

Without realizing it, The Woman had knocked Jonasus out cold, and turned to me.

She ran over, expecting me to attack first, but kept her distance.

"And you?! Are you some sort of follower of his?!" She accused.

I could only shake my head, sheathing my sword to show her my empty hands.

She looked down at them, and looked back up at me, as I could do nothing but glance at Jonasus before everything turned on it's side, and my world went dark.

~§~§~§~§~§~

Sight is the last thing to regain with consciousness, So the first thing I knew was that I was on stone.

Cold stone, at that.

I was on a flat surface, all of my body parts intact and attached.... Except,my chest felt heavy.

I didn't Remember having asthma back then, so I slowly sat up, and the weight became only a touch better.

"Glad to see you're awake." A disgruntled voice hissed, causing my eyes to snap open as I quickly looked to the side.

And there Jonasus was,sitting on the floor in full armour, behind a set of bars.

A second glance told me I was in a cell similar to his, and I frantically looked around, then... Down.

.....

What the fuck?

Those were bigger than last I saw....

"You're sixteen, if you didn't know." Jonasus rolled his eyes, having shifted to watch me. "Your armour was too small on your chest, I suppose that's what happens when you become a runaway. They had to strip you to check your medical conditions. You're wearing villager clothing, and I was tossed into here. They took sympathy on you, Amilia. But don't get used to it."

I looked down at my outfit, and sure enough. A knee-length skirt, knee-length boots, a white tunic, and a brown waist-coat....thing.. to go over it. Kicking my feet, I wiggled around my toes with a big smile.

New clothes! New, Fresh clothes! Nothing like the hot purple and black armour I had worn for two years straight!

"Childish...." Jonasus grumbled,and I glared at him.

"Who are you talking to, Jonasus?" Came a familiar female voice, causing me to walk closer to the bars. "Oh...."

Then there was the blonde-haired woman from earlier standing on the other side of the bars. Now that I wasn't passing out, I could see that she was only a couple inches taller than me.

"Jonasus didn't tell me your name, But I'm Berrmia."

"My name is Amilia."

"Sorry if you don't like the clothes, They were what we had on hand that would fit."

"I love them, actually. Thank you for being kind enough to lend then to me."

"You're welcome! But I am curious.... What's a young teenager doing as a Tenebris Knight?!" Berrmia whipped around to face Jonasus, tapping her foot impatiently.

"Oh, I have no idea. She's hated me for as long as I can remember, though. I know that much." Jonasus shrugged, pulling himself up by the bars to face her and I.

"Well that answers so many of my questions.... Just... Come on. We have to go somewhere.... And figure out where she belongs. No doubt someone somewhere is fretting over her." Berrmia sighed, and left before coming back with several guards.

They unlocked Jonasus's cell, and he rolled his eyes as they grabbed his arms and kept all weapons pointed at him.

"I'm unarmed, You idiots." He grumbled, and kept grumbling as they led him away.

Berrmia glanced at me, And gave a friendly smile. "If you were wondering, we've kept your armour and sword under lock and key. They'll be transported with us on the boat."

".....Boat? I've forgotten what a boat is, I'm Sorry." I frowned, as she unlocked my cell, allowing me to walk out and down the passageway she had come from.

"Yeesh..... Do you remember much anything from up here?" Berrmia frowned, and I thought for a moment, before shaking my head.

"No.... I remember very little.."

"Then let's start with what you do remember."

——-
Berrmia was a really nice woman.

She had a zest about her.

Something that craved for the peace of others.

"I'm taking my chances not dragging you off like Jonasus." She had told me. "Can I trust you to do as I say and not betray me?"

"Yes, Ma'am." I nodded, and she pat my shoulder.

Currently, I was sitting in a hammock below deck, gently swaying with the breezes as we passed over waves.

My hands were cupped in my lap as I attempted to produce something... Anything, Really. A spark. A ray. A life form.

"You look like an idiot with your tongue stuck out like that."

Oh yeah.

And I was stuck down here with Jonasus.

Of course, He was in a cage, limited to a 5×5 space. I was limited to the whole underdeck. Slipping out of the hammock, I carefully walked closer to a window.

I saw the moon. The full moon. She was beautiful. I had completely forgotten what she looked like. My chest swelled, My eyes watered-

"Its just the moon. Stop looking so impressed." Jonasus grumbled harshly, his eyes seemed to be glowing from the darkest corner of the room. "...Actually, I want to see too."

"Not a Chance, Tropje." I spat. Wether from jealousy, Hatred, or possesivness of the Moon, I didn't want him to see her.

"I can smell the wolf on you."

Oh, And there was the Wolf-like tendencies that caused me to believe he was a werewolf.

He seemed taken aback. Quite literally as he pressed himself against the farthest corner of his cage, bringing his knees to his chest and using his cape to cover himself.

"Hm. Seems fitting, Don't you think? That the once Highest Prince of Tia'Rian, who had anything and everything he ever wanted, that destroyed villages who wouldn't follow his rule, who killed whomever he desired just to climb to the top, who raised armies when he was denied his silver spoon, Is Now nothing to the point of being denied the chance to see the moon." I spat. "Let's not forget that in all your terrorism, I lost My first few villages, homes, and parents."

He looked up at me, His dead mulberry eyes actually shining with curiousity.

"Oh, Yes. You really think I've forgotten my birth parents? Oh, No. My Father with his Pale skin and bright yellow hair, and my mother with her purple locks and gorgeously olive appearance. I even had a sister- even if I don't remember much of her. We were happy in our little village nestled between a mountain and the ocean. And then came you. You, Who declared our village for Tia'Rian. You, Who threatened to kill anyone who said otherwise. You, Who ruthlessly slaughtered the adults when they calmly explained the Village was rightly owned by them. You, Who took every child you could find and shipped them off to Tia'Rian to become guards for your army-"

"Me, Who Burned that village down once it was looted of anything useful."

"Precisely." I spat. "Clearly, You forgot searching through rubble was something important to remember."

Jonasus' bone-white hair fluttered softly as he and I stared each other down.

"It is so relieving to see you get what you deserve, you Incubus Low-Life."

There was a crack of thunder off in the distance, and then a flash of light.

——