Elegy For An Epilogue

Cecillia floated through complete darkness, and somehow she knew that she existed within a conceptual plane. Reality was only finite, a fragile construct to the observer. No light existed in this realm, it was as if it didn't exist.

Suddenly, she felt a soft prickling sensation running along her back. It pushed her forward and a spark of light emerged in the distance. The crimson sheen was faint, but it grew ever so slightly stronger as she approached.

Cecillia allowed the force to take her, knowing that whatever it was, was meant to be. As she neared, the gentle sounds of water swishing echoed from beneath her. A smell similar to rust entered her nose and the outlines of a lonely stone pillar revealed itself to her eyes.

Beyond that, the skies contained a scarlet hue and the water was washed with a pale tint of red. Cecillia was in a daze, the dreamlike state she was in felt so warm and fuzzy. She somehow knew that if she closed her eyes and paused to rest for even a moment, she would lose herself…

Slowly, after what felt like hours, her body came to a stop. The pressure behind her pushed her upon her feet and then ceased to exist.

Cecillia was met with a somewhat familiar sight and it was almost like a feeling of deja vu, like she had seen the image countless times before. Though, everytime she tried to recall any information surrounding the scene, a sharp pain would shoot through the back of her mind.

The pillar, now close enough for her to reach out and touch, had a long fracture running from the base to the top of the stone. Looking higher, a sudden flash of wretched sorrow filled the very essence of her being.

Black shackles created from void tangled together and wrapped around the pillar, the links themselves inscribed with glowing red runes. Vengeful white flames wisped along the chains, burning forevermore until the ends of time.

Cecillia took a step forward as if controlled by a marionette’s strings and the flames lashed at her body. Although, she felt no pain as the blaze gave way, crackling as her presence seemed to command a certain respect. As she stepped further, the runes on the chains glowed brighter and started to pulse with a sinister energy that sent a chill running down her spine.

“So you’ve returned…”

Cecillia’s heart froze as her mind registered the reality that she had been denying.

Suspended several feet above the ground and shackled by those very chains was the body of a young girl. She was naked, her skin was smooth and bereft of any flaws, akin to a doll almost. Her hair was snowy white, the silky tresses fell down beyond her toes and floated along the water’s surface. She was more than just beautiful, she was the epitome of perfection.

Scarlet eyes met Cecillia’s oceans of blue and Cecillia knew that somehow the girl was a reflection of herself, or at least some kind of faraway version.

The girl gave a smile filled with sadness before her eyes went glassy and unfocused. The last remaining vestiges of their clarity slowly faded away and her eyelids closed over themselves. The blood colored glow from the chains started to grow dim and darkness began to envelop Cecillia. Her body felt cold and as she looked at the girl’s face for a desperate warmth, the porcelain mask shattered and the hidden abyss drew her in.

Chains shot out, slowly forming around her limbs and another pillar was erected into the empty ocean. A ring of light formed around her shackled body, a cluster of white energy emerging behind her and the reality itself began to tremble. The beginnings of a scream formed within her throat, but nothing was emitted.

Suddenly, she felt a soft, cool surface beneath her body and a sharp, splintering pain exploded through her head. Her back was slick with sweat and her heart was racing, pounding against her ribs like a drum.

Feeling herself lying on her stomach, Cecillia’s eyes snapped open and a blinding light filled her pupils, forcing them to shut almost immediately. A cold crisp air entered her lungs and she swore that she heard the distant echoing of a wolf’s howl.

Rolling onto her back, her chest heaved as her breaths came out in shallow, ragged bursts.

‘What the fuck was that…’ she thought.

The dream or nightmare was strikingly vivid, the empty darkness, the chains wrapping around her wrist, the girl… It all felt too real.

Cecillia laid there for a minute with closed eyes and calm was soon restored to her mind. A faint warmth filtered on the skin of her face and she opened her eyes. The outlines of a canopy’s edge encircling around her was seen in her peripheral vision, and a grand blue sky was laid out above her. Large white clouds floated lazily, casting shadows across the land as the sun’s halo hugged the world with light.

The soft trickling of a nearby stream was heard and a sudden thirst grew within her parched throat. Cautiously, she raised her body and looked around, seeing forest in all directions. She found that she was in a small clearing, moreso a grassy flowerfield filled with daisies. The breeze swept through the greenery and the white petals waved gently as if to say hello.

Instinctively, Cecillia tried to activate her wings but nothing occurred. The familiar weight of her XM-IV Valkyrie was no longer there. A frown appeared on her face and she glanced down at herself.

Straight silvery hair flowed down her shoulders and a thin white blouse protected her modesty. Her skin was pale and unblemished and her arms seemed to be smaller than before. The muscles and definition she used to have were also gone. Cecillia felt like her body was lighter and skinnier, and her frame was noticeably weaker too.

“What the hell,” she mumbled.

Another frown crossed her lips as she looked around. Her eyes pierced through the trees, but were only met with shadows. Just how did she get here?

She had been flying through the night after celebrating her sister’s lone birthday, and then a series of odd messages had flashed across her eyes. And this was without factoring in that strange dream.

Immediately she raised her hand with the ring and a wave of relief washed over her when she saw that the silver band was still there. Though the runes she saw earlier were no longer glowing and had now become a faded engraving in the metal. A sudden knot formed in Cecillia’s stomach and a surge of nausea flooded her head.

Before she could even think, her body moved on its own accord and she was headed towards the sounds of the trickling stream. Small pebbles jabbed into her bare feet as she rushed through the undergrowth of the forest. She passed buzzing insects, and swept through the low hanging vines of the seemingly untouched forest.

Emerging out from the dense foliage, Cecillia found herself on the bank of a shallow stream. The water cut through the forest in a winding line, creating a rift in the canopy above. Her throat yearned for her to alleviate its thirst, but the hurricane of blades in her mind took precedence.

Urgently, Cecillia knelt down and looked for her reflection in the clarity of the water. The first thing she saw were her eyes, and to her horror, they were now grey. Her face was angled and sharp—and Alice’s face stared back at her through the water’s surface. The mirror image was impassive and frozen in time, a perfect replica of the face within her memories.

Cecillia’s eyes shook and a ripple in the water caused the reflection to flow away.

“No, no, no…” she whispered quickly.

Her hands trembled as she reached up to touch her face and the sick feeling within her gut jumped to her throat. Cecillia’s vision became hazy and as she whipped her head away, she vomited all over the rocky ground. She felt her head clearing up a little, but the sick repulsiveness encompassing her being caused her to again toss up what remained within her stomach.

Everytime she imagined herself, that she was now residing within her sister’s body, her throat would constrict and she couldn’t breath. Her hands clawed at the dirt and her vision started to blur. Until finally when they cleared, she was seventeen again.

The restaurant’s counter was there in front of her, and the tiled floor was stained with blood. She heard the zombies roaring as they encircled the car, the chittering growls of the Nightmare Legion’s dogs following. The explosion and the flames erupted then she noticed that she was running. An empty scream escaped her lips as the memories of that day were re-lived.

Suddenly, Cecillia tripped and she fell hard against the concrete. Panic welled up in her eyes as a zombie approached and she scrambled backwards on the ground. However, she felt a hardness pressing against her back and she could go no further.

The zombie came upon her, and she crossed both arms in front of herself, closing her eyes. But when the expected attack never came, she opened her eyes and realized that her body was incorporeal. Her eyes rapidly blinked and she stood, gazing back at the blazing skeleton of the car.

There Alice was, in the midst of the flame, gray eyes peering at Cecillia with a gentle expression.

“Go on, dear sister. Let these ashes rest,” Alice said.

The flames crackled, rising higher and forming a fiery veil around the silver haired girl.

“W-wait,” Cecillia reached out, her voice trembling. “Alice… d-don’t leave me again.”

She couldn’t.

It hurt.

Losing her.

Why?

Cecillia began to hyperventilate. Her chest tightened and tears streamed down her face.

“Alice, please!” she cried out, her voice cracking.

However, the only response came from the flames. They flared up brilliantly in a blinding display of light. Cecillia was forced to shield her eyes away but held through the pain to look through the gap between her fingers.

She saw Alice’s figure beginning to fade, the flames consuming all and she fell to her knees.

“I—”

“Take care of yourself, Ceci. Just know that I’ll always love you,” Alice smiled.

Her voice echoed, soft and distant as Cecillia blinked. She looked around, finding herself once again kneeling before the small stream. Although, now the sun’s light had vanished and was replaced by the faint trickles of moonlight that filtered in through the forest canopy.

How many hours had it been…

When she had arrived in this unknown place it seemed to be noon, but her eyes were telling her that the sky was washed in darkness. She could see all the way down the stream, as far as the nearest bend. No doubt it was night, but the two moons in the sky proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had been transported into a new world.

Sighing, Cecillia quelled her raging thoughts. Her throat was dying of thirst and she leaned forward to scoop some water from the stream. Though, thanks to the moonlight, her reflection stared back at her and she paused.

‘Who am I…?’

Suddenly, a translucent blue screen materialized before her and glowed with an ethereal light. Words revealed themselves, written in what appeared to be Times New Roman depicted an rpg-like status menu.

Name: Alice Black

Age: 19

Race: ???

Attunement: Ice

Aspect: Vainglory

Origin: ???

Class I: Empyrean of Frost

Class II: ???

Level: ???

Skills: Identif—

Cecillia winced as her eyes ran over the name section, but before she could do anything else, the screen vanished and was replaced by a series of notifications. Her eyes widened as the flashes of light continued to ring out in her head.

[Error detected. Code 63-42/INT. Commencing re-calculation…]

[Please wait.]

[Processing the Soul Overwrite…]

[Analyzing the integrity of the soul…]

[Damage cannot be repaired. Soul cannot be fully processed, proceeding.]

[Executing program 727-63B. Outcome may result in an altered physical appearance.]

[Cannot override innate origin. Commencing re-calculation…]

[Calculating: 10%…]

[Calculating: 42%…]

[Calculating: 96%…]

[Physical alterations complete. Commencing the class program.]

[Wiping previous da—]

[Error detected. Code 241. Cannot erase class: Empyrean of Frost; due to host’s Attunement: Ice.]

[Wiping all data from class: ???]

[Demoting class: Empyrean of Frost -> Cryomancer]

[Initializing class restructure for class ???]

[Congratulations, Cecillia Black. The restructuring of your class has been successfully completed based on your previous feats, achievements and personality. Unfortunately, access to your second class is restricted due to the unsustainability of your current body.]

[Your updated status is—]

Name: Cecillia Black

Age: 19

Race: Human

Attunement: Ice

Aspect: Retribution

Origin: ???

Class I: Cryomancer

Class II: [Locked]

Health: 125/130

Mana: 180/180

Stamina: 63/100

Attributes:

Strength: 10

Constitution: 13

Endurance:10

Agility: 17

Wisdom: 18

Intelligence: 22

Soul: 0

Skills:

-Active: Identify

Glean the basic information of any creature, construct or environment within direct line of sight.

Limited to: 50 m

-Passive: Elysian Standard Language

You can speak Elysian fluently.

Class Skills: Cryomancer

Active: Cryomancy

Create ice from your mana to cool a drink or build a ‘cool’ sculpture.

[Final note. Your status can be changed at will. You can customize the appearance and layout, removing and categorizing as you wish.]

[Good luck on your journey.]

Cecillia blinked as she took in the waves of information. From what she understood, it was a video game-like interface that had merged with reality. She assumed that a person could reach a level of supernatural strength, depending on their level of course.

Though, the first thing she did before exploring her options was check for the physical alterations mentioned. When the process itself had happened, she hadn’t noticed or felt any change occurring in her body. But it was always best to double check.

Peering into the stream for the nth time, she looked at her reflection and was surprised to say the least. Her silver hair was now restored to their previous striking blacks and her eyes were their former shade of blue. However, her body and facial features hadn’t changed in the slightest. She looked like a clone of her sister, just with a filter applied.

Cecillia gave a bitter smile. It helped to know that she wasn’t an exact copy, masquerading as an imposter within Alice's body. Although, she couldn’t shake the theory that she had forcibly kicked out her sister’s soul.

Sighing, she pulled open the status menu, dwelling on such thoughts wasn’t something she could afford to do at the minute.

‘Origin, Aspect, Race, Attunement, Age… I don’t really need to display these, do I?’

The things listed after each category didn’t make much sense to her, but she did have an inkling idea of what it could be. But for now, it wasn’t important.

Not too sure on how the menu worked, Cecillia concentrated on phasing the unwanted information out. She narrowed her eyes and blinked as the screen briefly flickered before returning back to her vision.

Name: Cecillia Black

Class: Cryomancer

Class: Locked

Level: 0

Status:

Health: 125/130

Mana: 180/180

Stamina: 63/100

Attributes:

Available stat-points: 0

Strength: 10

Constitution: 13

Endurance: 10

Agility: 17

Wisdom: 18

Intelligence: 22

Soul: 0

Skills:

-Active: Identify

Glean the basic information of any creature, construct or environment within direct line of sight.

Limited to: 50 m

-Passive: Elysian Standard Language

You can speak Elysian fluently.

Class Skills: Cryomancer

-Active: Cryomancy

Create ice from your mana to cool a drink or build a ‘cool’ sculpture.

The updated version was much more compact, only taking up half of her vision. Cecillia was satisfied with the changes and her eyes moved to the skills menu. She skipped past the attributes menu because it seemed simple enough. If it were like a video game, then the functionality would be the same. Allocate agility to increase her speed, strength for her physical strength, constitution for her health, and endurance for her stamina. Wisdom was easy enough to understand, if she were to allocate points into the attribute, she figured the amount of mana she had available would rise as well. Though intelligence was a little confusing, Cecillia wasn’t sure whether it would literally make her smarter, but she could always test that later. Soul on the other hand… she would have to get information from someone else, assuming there were others on this planet.

Continuing, Cecillia read the description of the first skill she had.

“Identify?” she murmured.

The skill sounded interesting enough. In the war against the Nightmare Legion, just gaining the basic information about an enemy was enough to turn the tides of battle. Bending over, Cecillia picked up a small pebble and willed the ability to activate.

Instantaneously, a screen flashed to life.

[Small Pebble]

Cecillia raised a brow and she searched for another object within the trees.

[Green Fir Leaf]

‘Interesting…’ she thought.

Turning her gaze to the two moons, Cecillia squinted and activated her ability.

[Target cannot be reached.]

As expected, she hadn’t been able to use the skill on an object at that distance. Cecillia shrugged off the minor disappointment and focused her attention back on her surroundings. She waited, and several minutes passed, until suddenly out of the corner of her eye a flicker of movement was seen and she activated her skill.

[Rabbit - lvl 3]

The creature darted back out of view in an instant, but the screen still remained. Cecillia nodded and dismissed the screen, she had fully grasped how the ability worked.

‘Seriously though, how is that rabbit a higher level than me…?’

She chuckled to herself and continued through her abilities. Next up on the list was the skill called the Elysian Standard Language. She surmised that due to inhabiting Alice’s body, she had gained some kind of language skill for this world.

“Elysia,” she mumbled. “Nifty name.”

Ignoring the skill for now, her attention shifted to the last remaining skill on the list, Cryomancy. Excitement filled her heart and the corners of her lips quirked up. For the first time in a long time, she felt like a child again. If this was what she thought it was—

With a growing grin, Cecillia activated the skill and a cool, refreshing sensation flowed through her veins. It felt and had the same consistency as ether, but instead of being like a puddle, it was like a torrenting sea. The ‘mana,’ was denser, and she felt that it was purer than anything she had ever came into contact with back on earth.

‘Dad would love this stuff.’

Instinctively, she reached out with her arm, palm facing upwards as she circulated the energy within her body towards her hand. Frost started to build upon her wrist, and snowflake-like patterns spread across the tips of her fingers. The beginnings of a small ice cube appeared and materialized on the palm of her hand. To Cecillia, it didn’t feel cold, rather it was more of a refreshing feel, while her very own mana felt like a warming hug.

She smiled and pulled up her status menu, focusing squarely on her mana bar.

(178/180)

(177/180)

(176/180)

As she continued to use her ability, her mana would decrease at a rate of one mana per second. When she tried to increase its output, her mana would of course be drained at a faster rate.

But as she continued to use her skill, a notification suddenly rang out in her mind and a deep scowl graced her lips.

[Ding! Mana Corruption has been detected. Due to incomplete overwriting of the soul, your mana has been sealed for your own safety.]

[Afflictions gained: Mana Corruption, Divine Seal (XX).]

[Effect: Prevents use of all active and passive mana-based skills. ]

[Estimated time for body to acclimatize: 13 days 23h]

[Forcibly attempting to use sealed abilities will lead to severe backlash.]