Meanwhile, in Cairnvale, a realm between the worlds, where the banshees live, every clan of the banshees stood in rows before the Wailhound Court. They all bowed reverently as Maevan — the queen of the banshees walked in. She sat on the emerald coated throne and her eyes scanned the banshees intensely. She let out a silent cough and said, "Where is Nymera?"
The banshees began to mumble loudly, their attention already diverted from the question.
Maevan slammed her staff on the ground and a loud growl emitted from it.
"I said where is Nymera? I called a meeting because of her and she has the audacity to not show up", her gaze became icy.
The banshees went silent.
"She is probably roaming the human realm again.", One of the finally spoke, without raising her head up.
"I think you give Nymera too much liberty just because she's the last existing banshee of her clan...", another one spoke, her voice trembling in fear.
"Deal with my unrest for one day.", A voice retorted behind them. They all turned to look at Nymera. A white cloudy mist surrounded her glowing white dress, her hair danced gracefully behind her as she walked to the front.
The court was silent yet again. Nymera bowed before the queen.
Maevan spoke. "Where have you been?"
Nymera stood poised, her hands crossed behind her. "The human realm..."
The other banshees began to murmur again.
"How long do you have to roam the human realm?", Maevan asked, her eyes squinted.
Nymera shrugged. "Until I find my rest."
"Is it until you have no chance again? There are better things you should be doing rather than roaming the human realm and interfering with human's fate."
Nymera lips curved in anger. "Do you think this is my fault? Do you think I derive any joy from roaming the realms? Damn me if I do", she kissed her teeth.
Maevan sighed. "Your spirit bird— the raven, is getting old and losing it's feathers. If it does without you making atonement, you'll become..."
"A damned cursed banshee and be exiled! You've said this a thousand times.", Nymera cut in sharply, her arms crossed.
"You have less than six moons to make the atonements.", Maevan replied.
Nymera's eyes widened as she strode before the throne. "Six moons? How am I supposed to make atonement for thousands of souls within six moons? It wasn't my fault they died."
Maevan gazed at her. "But you wailed for them." She said and stood up, walking out of the court.
"Such a disgrace to her clan."
"She should be exiled."
"Nymera really thinks she's all that because she's the last existing banshee of her clan."
The banshees gossiped amongst themselves as they began to disperse.
Nymera frowned, her fists clenched in anger as she stood alone in the court. "That damned storm warrior king caused this! Today is the day we put an end to this foolery!", she turned abruptly and flouted out of the court.
Nymera arrived at Dareth's palace. She roamed the palace, as she silently looked for Dareth. She hummed a low dirge as she approached Elira's room. She walked in silently and stood behind the door. She watched on as Dareth rubbed his sister's had back and forth. She smirked, watching the half sigil on her chest, pulsing faintly like a forced heartbeat.
He stood up, and bent over her, his face twisted as he watched Elira shivering gently.
"Elira...", He called out silently, wiping the beads of sweats on her forehead with the back of his hand.
"She's here. Save me, Dareth...", Elira's voice trembled as she spoke without opening her eyes.
"Who...here?", Dareth turned slowly as he felt an unusual cold.
Nymera came out of the corner she had been hiding in the cottage, shrouded in a silver mist and her eyes glowing like the moonlight. She began to walk slowly towards him, drops of water dripping from the white dress that floated freely around her body. She didn't flinch as the thorn on her wrist pierced her body. Dareth let out a soft gasp. He had never seen something like that. How could one be resistant to such pain? How could water drop from a dry cloth?
You really aren't what people said you are", She murmured.
Dareth knew her voice was not human. It was like a wolf howling in the wind. He gripped his sword tightly.
"Who are you?", His voice a little above a whisper.
Nymera paused. "I'm not the question", She stared into his eyes. "You are." She suddenly sat bedside Elira, rubbing her chest roughly. Elira let out a soft scream.
"Stay away from her!", Dareth yelled as he lunged at her, drawing his sword out. But before the blade could meet her skin, she vanished into a mist. His strike sliced only the air, a thick fog wrapping around his arms.
"Coward!" He shouted, spinning. "Come back!"
"Am I really the coward, Your Imperial?", She asked, her voice filled with mockery.
Dareth gazed at her intensely before speaking. "You did this to her", His voice trembled. "You did this to my sister"
"Yes", She replied unhesitatingly, her eyes not living Elira. "But, I didn't kill her. "
Dareth scoffed. "Of course, tell me the obvious."
Nymera glared. "I could have chosen to but I put her on the brink of death. Oh death, my beloved friend!", She pouted, wrapping her arms around herself.
"Just know you have no power over my sister. She's the princess of this kingdom. She's the bride of Tempestys..."
Nymera laughed and cut him off. "You keep telling that lie to everyone, right? Bride of Tempestys? You think a mighty storm god will choose...", She gave Elira a disgusting look and continued. "A mere human as his bride?"
"You know nothing! Don't act like you do", Dareth said, swallowing hard.
Nymera moved closer to him. She began to circle him like a predator, laughing loudly"You know exactly why you're so desperate to save the princess. And you and I know it's not the siblings affection you have for her."
Dareth eyes became cold. He gripped his sword in anger, his palm firmly wrapped around the edge of the sheath. He gritted his teeth and furrowed his eyebrows as he glared at Nymera.
"Who are you? Don't act like you know something because you don't!"
Nymera scoffed. "Everyone sees you as the powerful storm warrior king. The one whom everyone in need could call upon and would come dashing to save them. The one who could beckon on Tempestys at will to grant him his wills and desires through the manifestation of his powers in you...", She paused to look at Elira. "No one knows how destructive your powers really are. So to cover it up before it becomes known, you want her to gain her powers "
"What are you?", Dareth twisted his brows in confusion but a thread of fear could be seen as he nervously ran his hands through his hair.
Nymera didn't reply. She continued. "The princess is the balance to your powers", She crossed her arms.
Dareth staggered to the back, his eyes anxiously scrutinizing the unknown woman before him. "Guards!", he managed to gather up his courage to call out.
"If you even call Tempestys, he won't answer you", Nymera stared at him.
"What did you do? Did you kill my guards too like you did to the princess?", Dareth screamed, trying to make his way out.
Nymera stomped her feet on the ground. "I might deal with dead people but I'm not a murderer...", she paused and crossed her arms. "Like you", She said firmly.
"Blasphemy! How dare you blaspheme the king?", Dareth shot back.
Elira's tiny voice and cry for help cut out their back and forth. "Dareth, save me. I don't want to die", Her voice trembled silently as her eyes rolled back in.
Nymera smirked.
"I will save you, Elira. Just hang in there"
Nymera laughed. "You want to save her but you can't save what you don't understand."
Dareth swallowed and sighed. "Then tell me what you did to her!"
"I really didn't do anything to her", She said. "I just put her on the cliff of death. One little push and she is down... in the land of Hades.", She sealed her words with a devilish laughter.
Dareth froze in fear.
"But..", She began to circle him again. "I'm not an heartless being. I will give you the path forward. The answers you want. But it requires a price", She leaned in closer to him and continued, "Are you willing to do it, Your Imperial?"
His eyes pandered to his sister who lied helplessly on her bed. He then looked at Nymera again with narrowed eyes. "What price?"
"You will become my herald for six moons.", She replied. "You'll travel to the places touched by your powers...and face every calamity you've caused."
He flinched. "Herald? Calamity? Which calamity did I cause? The deaths?"
Nymera tilted her head. "Yes. The people you killed with your powers..."
He cut in. "I didn't kill anyone... It was my duty"
"You didn't kill but you didn't save either ", Nymera replied.
Dareth clenched his jaw. He thought of his sister. He hated to see her helpless and powerless like that.
"Six moons?", He whispered.
"Yes."
"I do this and you help me save her?"
Nymera moved closer to him until her breath ghosted his face. "You do this and you realize you and I are the ones who needs saving"
"But how can I be your herald if i don't know who or what you are"
"Those are things you'll discover later"
Before he could say any more word, he reached out to him and placed her hand on his chest.
There was a blinding flash of silver light and Dareth screamed.
Not from pain but it seemed as though something clawed inside of him.
He looked down and saw a glowing sigil on his chest. He had seen all types of sigils from all gods but never had he seen this.
Nymera's voice rang in his ears, low and final.
"The mark binds us now. You are mine now, herald!"
And with that, she vanished.