Victory of life

Like every gift, life comes with a price.

The feast was great but Lila felt uneasy. Her eyes wandered around, keeping an eye on her four surviving officers. If they would mention their retreat, she didn't know what the others would do to them and her. They seemed to feel the same about her, as their eyes crossed more than once. She tried to ignore the empty seats at another table. It was common to save the seats of brethren who had fallen trying to prevent a defeat. After a great meal, of which Lila had only had a nibble, the Soulless entered the hall. A devious smile masked some of the fat on his cheeks.

"My dear Rebels! Yesterday was a great day! We conquered the Necromancer city Ferinta and the Human mage's castle of Oocklace Peak! We will quarantine the people inside and make sure the threat remains contained."
He paused mysteriously and looked at Lila's table. Her officers looked away. Her dreamy gaze, on the other hand, was captured by the Soulless' piercing eyes.
"Aside from those great victories, we lost two other battles. May the souls of our dear Brethren roam alongside our ancestors forever!"
Another pause.
"I would also like to mention Lila. One of my little mice told me about her retreat two days ago. She will fight alongside the common soldiers in a victorious battle next time, or die there. I will not vouch for her until she has done so."
His words hadn't left the hall yet, or most of the attending Rebels started moving closer. They saw Lila as a disgrace to their race and wanted to punish her for her cowardice. She decided she would accept her fate, but her officers wouldn't let her. They understood the meaning of life now, and were thankful for the second chance she had given them. Lila saw the determination in their eyes and hers started emitting a lilac glow. The four Rebels turned into massive black bears, bigger then she had ever seen. Their eyes fiery red and their muzzles salivating, hungry for blood. Their will to live proved to be a great catalyst for her powers. She felt better than ever before and drew her own sword too. The Soulless was watching the display of power with an honest smile on his face. He turned to the doors and as he was leaving:
"Enough..."



(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 15 of the web story)

The enemy of my enemy

When a treachery proposal is the only possible one, it becomes considerable.

The fatty man sat down on a strong chair made out of stone. He smiled mysteriously.
"My little mice tell me your powers are without limits. Tell me more about them, child."
Lila grinned.
"Well, I am a Reaper and the souls I collect grant me my powers. With those, I can control people's actions. Necromancers and other Reapers are the exception, as they pay their own souls to Death in order to be able to release others. The sad thing is that every power is limited. If I don't free souls, then my powers diminish."
The Soulless rose and slapped her in the face and continued with contempt.
"You things do not free souls. You enslave and kill them. They are a natural element in this world."
Lila rubbed her sore cheek and eye before she answered.
"How can you be sure? I believe something else."
He grabbed her throat and looked her in the eye.
"I think you don't even have a clue what you're talking about and I should kill you on the spot."
Lila pushed away his hand and rose too. She started walking back to her prison cell until the Soulless pushed her against the wall. He came very close, which gave Lila a close-up of his fat face. She was clearly disgusted by it, which the Soulless seemed to take as a compliment. He smiled.
"Still, I know you only have enemies. And those happen to be my enemies too. I heard you're able to enhance Rebel bears' strength. I'll get you the necessary feed, and in return, you help me to create a safe place for the souls. You command and strengthen my warriors. I could use your powers and you could be mighty. "
"You want me to kill my own kind and become a master of your army?"
He pushed her back into the cell.
"Think about the power."