Abyssal Awakening

Landing on the ground, Allura noticed that Alice was spacing out more than normal but chalked it up to Alice being enamored by the view.

"All you have to do is take a little soak in the water and the rest will sort itself out. Remember, you have to keep a clear mental image of the beast you want to hunt. In this case, you just have to keep reciting its name in your head and it'll be fine." Allura explained as Ria nodded her head.

Guiding the two to the base of the tree, Allura found a rock to sit on and pulled out a cigarette.

Meanwhile, Ria looked at the dark liquid with a frown on her face.

"Am I supposed to just… walk into the center?"

"Yep. It'll feel weird at first but you'll get used to it." Allura nodded her head.

"Urg… If you say so." Ria sighed.

Furrowing her brows, she took off her shoes and socks before placing them on the side.

"You know you don't have to take your shoes off you know. It looks like water but it's not exactly wet."

"It's just weird okay?!" Ria huffed before stepping into the water.

Upon stepping into the water, she could feel a jolt go through her body akin to being doused with cold water. However, this was different. It left a warm sensation in her chest and filled her with power.

Walking towards the core of the tree, the strange liquid eventually submerged her body except for her head. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and stepped into the core.

"And there she goes. Now then…" Allura muttered as she turned to Alice who was spacing out while looking up at the tree.

"Alice!" Allura called out but Alice didn't respond.

"Are you feeling okay?" Allura asked once more but Alice didn't reply.

Just as Allura was about to walk over, she noticed that Alice was crying from her right eye.

Little by little, dark energy seemed to emanate from her body as Allura froze up in shock, dropping her cigarette.

Standing up in disbelief, she watched as a dark halo manifested itself around Alice's head as her hair tie came undone.

Watching Alice's hair unfurl behind her while dark energy surrounded her body, Allura was overwhelmed by the rush of emotions as she was unable to speak.

There were so many words stuck in her throat, but she didn't know what to say.

Meanwhile, 'Alice' didn't seem to take notice of Allura's reaction as she walked up to the tree and placed her hand against the trunk.

In an instant, the tree withered up as 'Alice' pulled out a small crystal the size of her palm.

"W-Wait!" Allura shouted out as she bit her lip. Clutching her chest, this was the first time in hundreds of years that she felt flustered. This emotion, this longing, this pain.

"Master! Please… Tell me if it's still you?" Allura asked as Alice turned her head back slightly.

The white in her hair had become more prevalent as it dominated more than half of her hair while both eyes had turned black and purple.

There was a different kind of aura to her, an aura that belonged to someone who was above the masses.

"Sorry Lua." 'Alice' apologised as Allura kneeled down in sadness.

She knew this wasn't her master. This was just the residual spirit left behind, taking over momentarily.

"Why the long face… If Kaden saw you like this, he would think I bullied you." 'Alice' chuckled softly.

###

Meanwhile, Alice found herself walking in a strange void that shimmered with the light of countless stars. A realm that was similar to the black liquid she had seen flowing out of the tree.

'What's going on…' Alice thought to herself with a frown.

She didn't know what had happened but the moment she laid her eyes on that tree, she felt something taking over. Once her hand had touched the tree, her consciousness was dragged elsewhere.

"Greetings." A voice rang out as Alice instantly turned out.

There was a mirror reflection behind her. A woman who looked identical except for full white hair and a pair of black and purple eyes.

". . . You're the old master of Cayla aren't you?" Alice asked after a short pause. She had seen this person before in her dreams. Though they were mostly one sided interactions.

"Indeed I am. Though I'm nothing but a fragment of my residual spirit." 'Alice' smiled as she stepped out of the reflection.

"I didn't think I would 'wake' up like this. Well… Wake up is the wrong term as I won't be staying for long. Even if you meet another me, it would be different to the me here and now." 'Alice' shook her head.

Waving her hand, violet flames appeared in her palm.

"You have quite a strange body I must admit. I didn't think there existed a being that could resist the power of the Abyss. Even more so when this power takes several forms… I have taken the liberty to control your body momentarily. I've harvested a portion of my power that I've left behind. Unfortunately, it won't help you much right now.

It's something that'll come in handy much later." 'Alice' explained as the flames disappeared.

"But it was nice to see my successor. Look after Lua and Kaden for me okay? They're very dear to me and my unfortunate departure must've been quite the shock to them."

"I mean… It's more like they're looking after me…" Alice furrowed her brows in confusion.

"I see. . . Time changes people I suppose. Seems like the infusion process has been completed. Our meeting will end here." 'Alice' muttered as she glanced up at the darkness.

"Before you go… Can you tell me what I'm supposed to do? What does having Cayla mean? What does Kaden want me to do in the Abyss?" Alice asked as these were the questions that lingered in her mind.

"I'm unsure. My knowledge as a fragment is limited. However, being the new host for Cayla means partial dominion over the Abyss's influence. Use it well. If Kaden has entrusted you with Cayla then I will trust his judgement." 'Alice' shrugged as she started to fade away with this realm cracking apart.

"One last thing! Your name? Can you tell me your name?" Alice shouted out. She wanted to learn about Allura's master and her predecessor. The best starting point would be learning her name.

"Hmm… I don't believe there is a translation of my name in the new tongue. Perhaps the outlanders have given me a new name. Perhaps they have forgotten about me. But if you are curious, I believe Lua should be more than happy to tell you if she wants to. Farewell young one." 'Alice' waved her hand as darkness enveloped Alice's vision.

###

Sitting up in shock, Alice looked around her in confusion and noticed that she was sitting under what would've been the crystal tree. However, looking up, all she saw was withered wood and crystals falling down in the distance.

Looking to her left, she could see Allura sitting on a boulder with a cigarette in her mouth.

There was no smile, no boisterous attitude. Only sadness and longing.

Her slumped shoulders and silhouette had never looked so defeated.

Alice could see a hint of red around Allura's eyes and understood that she must've cried.

'Did Allura meet her master? Considering she took over my body for a moment… It seems likely.' Alice thought to herself as Allura noticed that Alice was awake.

The vulnerability disappeared as she recovered her energetic self and smiled.

"Seems like you're awake. Does your body hurt? Anything feel off?" Allura asked, walking over to Alice before sitting down.

"No, I feel just fine." Alice shook her head.

She wanted to ask about Allura's master but wasn't sure if she should.

"You know, I can practically tell what you're thinking from the way you look at me. Your thoughts are written on your face. We're family now, if you want to ask feel free to ask anything." Allura sighed and patted Alice's head.

"Mnm. When I was… passed out. I met someone who looked just like me but with only white hair. I'm guessing she was your master. Can you… Tell me more about her?" Alice asked as Allura thought to herself for a moment before nodding.

"I suppose it's only natural that you met a fragment of her. Now that Cayla is in the process of being linked to you properly, you'll become more sensitive to the Abyss and be drawn towards spots like this where my master's influence is the strongest." Allura nodded before tapping her chin.

"Now then… Where should I start? I'll only tell you a little about her since the more you know the more troublesome it might become. The knowledge you could learn is far too dangerous for you so I need to be careful. If you're unlucky you might run into people who have interrogation focused Sigils that can rip secrets right out of your mind." Allura warned as Alice swallowed her saliva in worry.

"M-maybe I shouldn't know then." Alice shook her head but Allura laughed.

"What I'm going to tell you is fine. I'm omitting the more important information for now. These are what you can find if you dig a little deeper into history. Anyways… Where should I start… My master was the founder of a kingdom.

"A magnificent utopia that didn't care about your background. A home for people seeing a second chance in life. And she was its ruler…" Allura smiled softly as she recounted the tales of this kingdom.

It was a bastion of safety for those who fell into the Abyss, the last wall of protection in an era filled with war and destruction. An era where monsters roamed the lands in swarms, killing anything and everything.

To the citizens of the city, her master was the fire in winter. The sip of water in the desert. A source of hope and protection.

"Unfortunately, a war none could imagine broke out. It fractured the lands and the era was erased from history. My master… She died in this war and the kingdom fell." Allura shook her head and finished her cigarette.

"Anyways. That's about enough. Seems like Ria is about finished as well." Allura said as she stood up and walked over to the black water that was slowly drying up.

"What was the name of the kingdom?" Alice asked after a short pause.

"Ayr. That was its name. The name of my home."