Fear's friend

Another chance in yet another battle. Lila's morale was low, but her will to live topped everything. She had been floundering through the mud, trying to hop over corpses and enhancing bear strength in the worst circumstances. The battle had been raging on for hours and the odds finally started to turn in their favor. It was just when the generals were about to enter the city when it struck her. She would never be allowed to regain her title and power by just surviving.

Lila rushed through the gate to follow in the footsteps of her victorious friends. She inspected the conquered citizens and saw the fear in their eyes, fear for her leaders. At a moment when no one was paying attention, she charged a woman who was standing next to a trading cart near the procession. She was wielding a meat cleaver and could just as well have been hiding. Lila raised her short sword and cut a deep wound into the woman's chest. She came to a halt between the dying woman and her leaders, who thanked her gratefully. She couldn't hear their voices but could only think about the butcher's wife she had just killed. Her body seemed to be paralyzed and only one thought raged on: Did she just murder an innocent woman?

- Fear your friends and even yourself, but never fear your enemy. - 

Mennor, leader of the 4th Rebel cohort.

(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 16 of the web story)

The ally of my ally

Betrayal puts his knife in the back of Trust.

A black eye decorated Corll's happy face as he was leading Lila through a desert. They entered a gray but lively castle not much later. Any guard could see anything arriving from miles away and a welcome party had been arranged to take them to see their leader. Lila was pleased to know Corll was important enough to be brought to there upon entering. When they entered though, things changed. Corll walked up to the ugly, fat and pretentious man who was sitting in the big chair.
'My great leader. I bring you the soul abuser who was the reason your son got killed!' He shouted.
Lila couldn't believe what she heard and before she could protest, two guards seized her. Corll continued:
'Watch out for this one, my friends. She can mess with your mind.'
The fatty rose to his feet, but didn't seem to be slowed down by his weight. He was three times as big as Corll and the fat was everywhere.
'Why should I trust you? You're only human. Who knows where your fealty lies.'
Corll seemed desperate and dropped to his knees.
'Please, great Master Morpher, I did everything I could to save your son's life!'
'Did you now? My little mice did tell me a different story to be honest. You're slow, and using runes to channel some magic isn't real power.' He gestured to two other guards and they took Corll and Lila to a dungeon. Before they left, the Soulless uttered a last warning.
'Stay away from the girl's cell, my friends. She does mess with your mind.' He smiled.
Four long days passed, while the only moment she saw some light was when they opened a small lid to shove her some rotten food. The screams and shouting was everywhere and Lila tried to keep her spirits up. On the fifth day, heavy footsteps arrived near her cell door. It was opened and the light revealed the fat contours of the Soulless. A guard took her by her arm violently. Lila knew the Soulless was not to be commanded by her magic.
'I'll have some questions for you now, girl.'


(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 12 of the web story)

Bar at war

Crossing boundaries ignites distrust and controversy.

The man's name was Corll. He told Lila he would not forget what she did for his leader's son and insisted she'd meet him as soon as possible. She had nowhere to go, so she agreed and they left Ferinta, the city of Necromancers. Corll helped her to understand her world better and told about how Necromancers had been the first 'releasers' to interfere with the existence of souls and how the Reapers came to the lands with their own beliefs and powers. Lila was obviously a reaper, using the power of souls to channel magic skills. Corll most vividly told about the youngest faction, the Rebels. He himself was one, and his leader was called the Soulless. He was a Rebel whose soul had been stolen in an extraordinary extraction performed by a legendary Necromancer. It had lifted all limits to his morphing powers, allowing him to become the most feared warrior in their modern history and king of all Rebels, uniting them in their quest to save the souls. By nightfall, they had reached the border to the Soulless' lands, but Corll insisted they would rest at an interesting bar and inn. Lila smiled as they entered. There were both Necromancers and Reapers sitting at the tables, though never at the same ones. Corll smiled at her and talked out loud.
"Now look here, Lila. These releasers are lurking around near our border to fight against the forces of our Soulless leader."
The whole bar was in awe, as there was obviously an alliance between a Rebel and a Reaper. None of these releasers was fond of the Rebel entering. Add to that the old grudge between them making the Necromancers distrust their like-minded Reaper allies and tensions rose. When one of the Necromancers started insulting Lila, and Reapers in general, all hell broke loose. Lila smiled, for she did not bother engaging the enemy without restraint. She just didn't grow tired of testing the limits of her powers. She fought Necromancers and opposing Reapers. She fought alongside Corll, without having to use her magic on him. She dodged and punched, enhanced his powers and supported him. Everyone seemed to want everyone else dead. Lila laughed aloud as she knew the night was young and this bar was a miniature of her new found war.



(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 11 of the web story)

The courage you need

You possess the strength you need, now find the courage to use it.

In the town of Ferinta, Lila would surely find answers as some members of the League had been seen there. Her face brightened up as she walked through the gate. There were lights everywhere, the buildings seemed to reach the sky and all sorts of pleasant noises teased her ears. She was walking through a desolate alley when a boy passed her in a hurry. A big man seemed to be chasing him. Lila followed them from afar as the agile boy leaped over a wall and climbed over a fence. At that point, the man shifted into a black bear and ripped the fence apart. The boy tripped over some stairs as he tried to look back. When the bear creeped closer towards its quivering victim, Lila called for its attention. It turned around and immediately started coming for her first. She grinned as her lilac glow blinded the bear, but had no effect on it. The boy on the other hand rose to his feet and charged the bear. As he jumped up to grab its neck, he himself turned into a big black scorpion. His stinger pierced the bear's skull, but before his claws could get a grip, Lila backed down. The scorpion turned back into a boy who then fell down unconscious. Lila looked at him, eyes wide open. She had no words for what had just happened. Shapeshifting enemies?

(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 7 of the web story)

Lost in souls

You don't stop a train of thought without facing the consequences.

She transcended, that's what her father had always told her. She had escaped the boring life as a mere human being to become a Reaper. Her father had taught her everything about being there for the lost souls of Men. Every freed soul would grant her more power. But she should never kill to be able to claim those souls. As she was thinking, she crossed a bridge. At both sides, a man came walking up to her. One of them smirked at her and pulled out a knife. They had noticed the golden necklace around her neck. But when they were within reach, they had a change of heart. Lila used her magic to such great level that the two men walked up to each other and stabbed one another to death for her. She smiled as she hesitated to collect their souls alongside those of their previous victims. Her hand caressed the souls, collecting them slowly. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
More souls found peace that day.

(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 6 of the web story)

Another question unanswered

When guilt meets doubt...

Lila's eyes were filled with regret as she gazed upon the blood and flesh hanging from the girl's scratched bones. The black bear's rage did not end just yet as he turned his massive body towards Lila. The lilac glow she emitted took him by surprise. He sat down like a pup, let down his head and slowly turned into a young man. Lila had heard of a movement of people who fought against the ones who collect souls. They possessed the ability to shapeshift and were known to fight for their freedom. All Lila knew was that she set those poor souls free, and that's why they granted her a fraction of their powers to enhance her magic. After a moment of thought, she walked away from the youngster and squatted near the corpse. There was no soul lingering around, nothing to collect and not even a thing to remind her of the girl she chased to her death. She rose back to her feet and started walking South. Away from the forest, with only more sadness and questions roaming her head.
She knew she had to know.



The new Two Steps from Hell album!




(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 5 of the web story)