The blunt, metal pommel slammed into her gut. The teen cried as she choked a sound out. Holding herself, the girl fell to the floor. Tears dripped down her red cheeks. She opened her eyes to see Ayleth towering over her, holding her sword.

“Felicity,” She spit venom, “You are wrong.”

Felicity held her head, vision groggy as she pushed herself up to her knees. Her legs rubbed against rough, stone floor. The cold air of Coronian autumn was crisp and bitter. The nature surrounding them was dying, just like their relationship.

“No,” Felicity coughed, “You’re wrong. Think of all the people you killed! All the lives you stole and-“

She gasped in fear. The weapon she held was raised in a wrath guard. All the rage in the world was pounded into her as the force caused her to fall onto her hands and faced. Blunt pain burst into her head as her thoughts rattled. This conversation had only turned into an argument. And this argument had turned… into a beating.

Just another brutal lesson.

“Felicity,” Her voice seemed patient, yet everything else inside her obviously was not. It was nagging, tugging, “They got what they deserved.”

“M-maybe- they did deserve that, but-“ She wheezed, holding her chest, which was tightened by anxiety attacks. “-When you delivered the blow, we-were you worse off than them?-“

“-Shut up!” Ayleth kicked her side, causing enough pain to shoot through her like lightning. As the teen huddled into the fetal position, the woman scolded her. “I did what I had to do! Nobody was taking care of these murderers, slavers, robbers! The Rangers weren’t! The Bladesingers weren’t! Somebody had to do something!”

She lowered her weapon, head held high. The leaves falling behind were orange like the bonfire she lit on her twisted morality, “So I did. And I will extract justice onto every criminal in the world until there is only the good guys-“

“-If-“ Felicity managed a single shout before crying in whispers, “-If you killed killers to bring peace… there’s still one killer left.”

The wind was bitter, nipping them in the freezing air. Dead, brown leaves fell from the almost bare trees. Icebreaker bent down to her. Crouching to her level, she lifted her finger and shook it in her face, “Don’t you dare judge me.” Her quiet voice was so cold, one could feel the chill, “I tried using mercy and compassion. Those don’t work. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I will take every measure necessary to save the world.”

~ ~ ~

Her vision suddenly returned. No previous memory of where her feet took her. How did she come here? She had no idea. However, one thing did make sense. The dark.

The sun was setting now. A flame colored, brightly shaded sunset burnt the ground below. It was an isolated, lonely courtyard. The wall's tiny fountains had died long ago, not a drop of liquid in the small spewers. The cobblestone was cracked, coated with dirt and overgrown with twisting weeds. The pillars shooting high up were testimonies of a former glory, lived long ago. One at the left had been halved, the upper half completely cut off. It laid, crumbled, next to the ten feet tall remaining pillar.

Growing within the wall, embedded at the center top of the pillar's formation, was a towering, humongous, lonely tree…

Not a single sound whispered here as more memories consumed her.

~ ~ ~

She was aggressive.

The sound of steel clashing sounded from the forest clearing. It was evening. As dim grey skies floated above, the ringing metal and human grunts and shouts drove all wildlife away. Crickets still croaked as the fifteen year old redhead struggled; shaking in physical weakness.

Felicity was being continually forced back in the ferocious swings. With the blunt side of her sword sweeping the teen's lower leg, the half-elf forced Felicity to fall to her side, dropping her blade.

"Weak!" She shouted critically.

In the uncomfortable dirt and itchy grass, the teen tried to pull herself up. However, her teacher walked around her and raised her foot, pressing it against her back as her blade slightly pressed into the girl's neck. It was not enough to injure, but it was enough to hurt.

"A-Ash-"

"Ayleth!" She shouted in a dominating, rage filled tone.

"Yeah, that…" the girl grunted, visibly under both physical and emotional stress, "Ca-can we take five and-"

"No." Ayleth replied icily, "We will stop when your defense improves.”

Removing the blade and lowering her foot, she took a step back in apathy and waited for the sweating, bruised girl to return to her opening stance. "Get up."

Pushing her shaking body to respond, the young woman stood up, but did not raise her sword again, "Ayleth, please…"

The young woman walked up to her, lowering her sword. With bitterness written on her face, she raised her hand and backhanded her cheek. "Obey, apprentice."

Holding her cheek in pain, the girl struggled to stand, but held herself together. Closing her eyes to push back her tears, she responded timidly, submissively, "Yes, ma'am."

~ ~ ~

Her knees hit the floor. Hands slammed the flat stone as she bent over. Vibrating immensely, her mouth hung open, eyes shut, as she cried. Against the stillness of the lifeless courtyard, the girl let it go. One, long, tormented scream packed with every single wound, hurt, scar in this part of her journey. It was wordless, for no words could be used. The emotion itself threatened to destroy everything within eye shot; even the aged, sturdy tree some feet in front of her. Her head churned red, voice finally giving out. A slow fade ended the cry. From there, she sobbed. Her back heaved as tsunamis of tears flooded the cold, hard ground. She barley took in air between the long, bitter cries. She could hardly support herself on her knees and hands. She fell to her side, every ounce of energy poured into her weeping.

She stayed here, carrying on in her anguish, for hours without stop. Only when the last of her energy depleted did she end her wailing.

A depressed, exhausted hush came over the circular courtyard.