94 SUBTLE WINDS - FURIES

[DYLAERIA - MORTAL PLAINS]

The ground of this plane stretching in all directions past the Five-ringed City was an unending expense of clouds. The white fluffy-looking matter was as hard as the stone ground of the mortals when the messengers stepped on it. Above in the white and blue expanse flew several messengers.

From the mischievous and pesky Geminis to the proud and pious Divinas various groups of the two messenger species darted past in the sky. Always hidden within the second ring were the Bravurans. While the Divinas were seen as stuck up and arrogant, the Bravurans were cold and unfeeling, their very being focused on keeping the Divinum sentinel safe from all threats.

On the clouds amidst several buildings carved from the should-be fluffy cloud of the Dylaerian realm were the Furies. Clad in simple togas, spears in hand, and shields strapped to their left arms. The furies grunted and groaned as they pushed their body to follow the rhythm of battle. Spears jabbed, shields bashed and feet moved in a synchronized dance.

Above some Divinas and Gemini would halt to observe the display before flapping off to their intended destination. The messenger society had barely had enough time to grow since the first birth. With more messengers filling the ranks as the faith energy came in and several Geminis now walking Vaustaris a sort of messenger society had grown.

The Divinas were the Undisputed Rulers of the Ringed City. The Bravurans were in no way bothered about sticking a nose in any of the other messenger affairs, relegating themselves to teaching newly spawned messengers and guarding the Divinum Sentinel. The Soliverts were rarely seen in Dylaeria while the Gemini were basically reality hoppers, jumping from Vaustaris and back.

Within the crowd of battle-trained Furies, following in the synchronized movements of the rest was Jarla. Just like the others, the female Furian was clad in just a free simple red robe, feet bare and braided locks whipping about with each sharp movement.

Light from the sunless sky gleamed off their ebony dark skin accentuating the muscular physique both males and females of the Furian species had. A physique that was only challenged by the Divinas but still nothing compared to the bulking beasts that were the Bravurans.

Jarla's spear made the final twirl coming to a practiced halt right by the head of the Furian ahead of her stuck in the same position as she was. The group exhaled in fatigue as they disbanded to head back to their cloud huts or homes. As the only species not given a section in the ringed city, the Furians had made themselves comfortable on the clouds forming a widespread city all over the ground. While not as numerous as the Gemini, as mysterious as the Solivert, and as holy as the Divinas the Furians made do with their capabilities.

As the only species not under the rule of the Divinas it put them as a segregated species in Dylaeria.

Of course with the stuck up holier than thou attribute of the Divinas, said species saw themselves as better and mightier. Divinas Supremacy. While not bad enough to lead to an outright antagonism, it still meant that the rest except the Bravurans were seen as nothing but fodder

Jarla took in the grand sight of the looming ringed city towering high into the cloudless expanse of their sky. It was always a thought as to why the mother made no such residence for them, leaving them to care for and make their homes. While she knew that they were not left alone due to their perk, Environment mastery letting them get skills that aided in adjusting and blending into whatever place they found themselves in. It still felt bad to her that they were the only ones not comfortable.

Arriving at her Cloud home she dispersed the door with a hand wave before entering and resetting it. Amongst the Furies or a few of the messenger species as a whole privacy wasn't a concept. But since only the Furies had the Environmental Mastery perk the cloud homes were an assured security feature to keep all the other species out. It was made even more effective with the realization that none of the messenger's powers could affect the cloud environment. To them, it was just a piece of land.

Changing her attire Jarla headed for the center. Located right at the edges of the Ringed City was a cloud wall. Formed by the Furians to keep the others in and them out. While it was not an official barrier it was a statement calling into ownership the unclaimed lands of Dylaeria.

While many especially the Divinas would have rebuked such claims, the mother's words to let the Fury be had kept most of them at bay. As such Dylaeria had been split into two parts. The Ringed City and the Red Lands.

Jarla stood her right palm to her left breast as a greeting while gazing upon the Ringed city that loomed over the land. It was a prayer of sorts offered to the Mother while focused on one of her many works. While all messengers were her works none felt it proper to gaze on the other while offering such a prayer. So the next best thing was the Ringed City, a citadel created for them.

A few moments later found the Furian seated with many of her species in an open house. Since Dylaeria lacked rain or sunshine the messengers knew not the need for shelter. Forming their homes only from the little knowledge brought by the Gemini. Few Divinas had ever gone to the surface mostly because of the ignorance of the mortals and even when a Divinas was summoned he or she mostly just accomplished their duty before getting booted back to Dylaeria with no time to explore more than that in their very vicinity.

It made the Gemini, the free messengers information brokers for their race. With little to no activity and little to no summons from the mother the Furies were feeling a plethora of emotions that did nothing to help their motivation. As immortals in their plain with nothing to do but sit around with no risk of death boredom was not far off.

As such gathered for yet another meeting to discuss daily matters that most really knew were nothing more but an event to alleviate their boredom, the Furies did not expect the next event.

It came in the form of words emblazoned into their brains, lacking form but having meaning. Like knowledge poured into their minds and making itself known. All sat up eyes following one another. Before any could speak though screens appeared before them with two single lines obscuring their vision.

[Now Leaving Dylaeria]

[Now Entering ××××× WORLD]

All were unaware of the fact that every one of them had been consumed by multicolored flames and erased from the Dylaerian reality. For the first time since their existence, the messengers found only emptiness and heard only silence in the vast clouds that stretched out in the Red Lands.

*

[UNKNOWN LOCATION]

JARLA'S POV

The words in my vision vanished just as quickly as I had understood them. But things were not like I knew them. My tongue which previously knew no taste could suddenly taste the acrid texture of something. My nose twitched at the slight burn of the air, my skin pricked at the heat and finally, my eyes devoured the sight before me.

It was not Dylaeria. The words leaving Dylaeria replaying in my mind once more. Where we had entered had not been stated, hidden beneath a line of corrupted text. This place was a world on fire. Red streams of what should be colorless water like the Gemini described were instead red and yellow with a sort of white or gray steam floating off it.

The grounds around were black or dried brown and there was no green vegetation or brown trees like we were told was on Vaustaris. A glance in all directions showed me mountains far to the distance spitting out the colored liquid and coughing up the white or gray steam. Sometimes it was even black. At intervals, balls of colored rocks on fire would shoot out the mouth of those mountains and descend onto the ground around them.

"Where are we?" a voice behind me took my attention to the speaking Furian. A male, one I knew too well but barely saw around. Must have appeared right next to me.

"Not sure. " was my answer as I went back to taking in my environment. The main question in my mind though was how or who brought us here. A part of me suspected that our rest was done.

Making a quick look around I noted that the number of Furians I could see was lesser than expected. Either some of us were left out or not all of us were placed at the same point. Which made me think about what we were supposed to do here. Not once did I think we were here for any harsh or bad reason. Just the doubt of what we were meant to do was all that plagued me.

"I don't think all of us are here" the male commented. I didn't bother with a reply as something more interesting caught my sight. Far away amid a rushing golden stream was a sight that made my skin shiver. Goosebumps traveled up my body and even my wings instinctually folded over my body.

It was hard to describe, but I was certain it was an entity. The light it gave off was neither bright nor dim, silhouetted as a feminine saturated by colors. A white arm moved up to its cheek halting right next to its face before it waved. A set of sounds, jumbled but loud and with clear meaning permeated my mind and struck my brain.

It was less refined than the system words but more raw and abrasive. My feet shook as I stumbled back in fright and shock my eyes shutting for just a second to withhold the brain freeze or was it brain burn? Shouts and gasps from my species had me forcing my eyes open.

It stood right in front of me. Unmoving. Like a tree bark untouched by the wind. The silhouette's arm suddenly moved, rising till it was outstretched. Then what was a finger poked my forehead. My vision came to an end, blackness consuming my sight. Then like a star coming in from a distance, several scenes began playing out.

A blazing trail of Light through a dark void.

Contact and an explosion.

Fire and dust, shards of earth, and cracked ground.

Little creatures. Fierce and bloodthirsty from all angles.

Black lifeblood. Corpses of the many little ones.

Darkness.

More of the ferocious ones.

Death and victory.

A pillar of stone and a... Key?.

Nothing.

A beautiful world. Life and plants. Animals.

The scenes came to a screeching halt just as fast as they had begun. The being in front of me was gone, in its place was a rack. Spears and shields, short swords, and daggers. Two lines in a language I had never seen but somehow understood.

"Be my fury".

"Cleanse this world".