The air in the Hollow Oak changed the moment Asteria spoke. The heavy, stagnant dread that had defined their existence for years didn't vanish — not quite, it couldn't. But it was replaced by a frantic, disbelieving energy instead.
"Is she serious?" someone whispered. "A citadel? We can go home?"
Elara didn't ask for proof. She had the proof in front of her instead. Asteria was a survivor, she fought for freedom and now she's leading the rest home like a pioneer.
"You heard her! Move! Take only what you can carry. Weapons, dried meat, water skins. If it doesn't help you survive for at least three days, leave it!"
The gathering was somber and fortunately efficient. These people have lived on the brink for so long that they possessed almost nothing of sentimental value — not like they could take it with them to the waking world either, as most of them didn't have a storage memory.
They packed bone knives, cloaks stitched from the hide of slain nightmare creatures, and anything else that may be of value.
Asteria stood by the gate of the Oak, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the sun began it's slow descent, turning the white dunes into a sea of fire. She felt the weight of the souls now tethered to her own unshakeable resolve.
"Asteria," Elara approached, a small pack slung over her shoulder. "It's a graveyard... are you sure you can get everyone across that desert?"
'I hope so.. '
"I'm not the girl you found nearly dead in the sand, Elara." Asteria said, her voice soft but absolute. "I'm confident I can get everyone home."
Their exodus began as soon as the sun finally set — it was cooler that way, away from the terrible heat that scorched their skin. Asteria led the small caravan of shadows through the white dunes while moving in a tight formation.
As they walked, the silence of the desert was broken only by a crunch of sand and the heavy breathing of the survivors of the desert — the Hollow Oak. Elara walked beside Asteria, glancing at yer refined features and the way she effortlessly moved across the sand.
"You've been through hell, haven't you?" Elara asked quietly.
Asteria let our a breath that sounded like the ghost of a laugh."You could say that much. I went north, discovered an entire city of glass, fought my way through abominations and collapsed buildings to survive."
She paused, navigating them around a jagged outcropping where she knew a nest of abominations were left dormant. "I ended up falling into a second nightmare seed, I fought in a revolution, helped topple a tyrant and walked through a gate that led me to a throne I never wanted."
She looked at her hands, the moonlight catching the faint shimmer of her skin. "As soon as I returned I threw myself back into the dream realm to save someone else — funnily enough I was sent to the Tower that was west. The Crimson Spire. A place called the Forgotten Shore, I'm sure you'll hear all about that when we return."
Asteria paused, catching her breath before she continued, meeting Elara's easygoing gaze. "I've been chased by the divine and courted horrific monsters in death. I feel like I've died a hundred times, in fact you could say I've died; I'm not the same person as I was, after all."
The survivors listened in awe, their fear of the desert momentarily eclipsed by the sheer impossibility of Asteria's journey.
The Queen of Nightmare was forming her myth, and it all started with them.
By the second day, the horizon changed. The white dunes gave way to a landscape of pure, crystalline beauty. The Kingdom of Glass rose from the earth like a frozen song.
"By the dead gods..." One of the men gasped, dropping his water skin. "It's... it's all glass."
The survivors stopped, their faces reflecting the light of the spires in the shining sun. For the people who had lived in the dirt and the bone of the Hollow Oak, the sight was overwhelming. They reached out to touch the translucent walls, trembling against the cool, smooth surfaces.
"Stat close," Asteria warned, her voice snapping them back to reality. "This place is still infested with nightmare creatures — I've not had the chance to get rid of them all yet. But it's remarkably safer than before."
She led them through a side entrance; a narrow service tunnel she had discovered during her own conquest of the seed. It was a claustrophobic route, winding through the tunnels of the kingdom.
"We're taking the lower galleries," she explained, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "The main plazas are still roaming with stragglers."
They moved in an absolute silence. The Kingdom of Glass was a labyrinth of incandescent light and equally deep shadows.
'You know, it kinda reminds me of Nephis and Sunless when I think of it that way...' Asteria chuckled inwardly, remembering the two opposites that seemed to attract one another. 'I do think Sunless might try to take my life though, which is a problem for later.'
They passed through grand halls where the ceilings were lost in a haze of crystal mist, and crossed narrow bridges over chasms that glowed with a faint, bioluminescent blue.
'Hey, that's where I was sent in my Nightmare! Damn you Spell.'
The survivors' reactions were a mixture of terror and religious awe. They were walking through a dream, led by a girl who moved through the splendor — they were walking their saviour's steps.
Finally, they reached the heart of the kingdom.
The Theatre of Crystal loomed before them, a palace of such staggering opulence that it felt like an insult to the suffering they endured. The walls were made of seamless diamond-like substances and the air inside was cool, a stark contrast from the blistering heat outside.
"Is this... yours?" Elara's whispered as they entered the grand palace.
"Sure is." Asteria confirmed, leading them down towards where a massive, swirling vortex of silver light and faint runes scratched into floor laid. The Gateway.
The survivors froze. They stared at rhe light — the bridge back to the world they thought they had lost forever. Tears began to stream down their faces that had forgotten how to weep or feel. The reality hit them all at once: the desert was over.
Their nightmare was over.
"This is the way home." Asteria said, standing before the gateway. She looked at the survivors, the ragged group of them. "Go through. Go home. The people on the other side might be surprised, but you'll be under my protection. You tell them I led you to safety and that you are my people, and do not speak a word of this place to anyone. For your own safety."
One by one, they approached her. Some touched her arm in thanks; others simply bowed, unable to find words. As the last of the survivors vanished into the silver light, only Elara remained.
The older woman looked at the throne at the far end of the hall, then back at Asteria. "Are you staying here?"
"Not for long," Asteria said, her gaze hardening. "I need to do what I can, right? The Great Clans are desperate for this citadel."
Elara stepped forward and pulled Asteria into a fierce, bone-crushing hug. "Don't lose your way, little one. You're destined for very big things."
With a final squeeze, Elara turned and stepped into the light.
Asteria stood alone in the vast, silent Theatre of Crystal. The silver glow of the gateway reflected the violet in her eyes — a solitary figure in a kingdom of light.
She was a Master, a Queen, a saviour, and soon, a Princess.
She had saved them. She had repaid her debt. But as the gateway flickered, the silence of her palace felt heavier than it ever did.
"Now," Asteria whispered to empty air, her voice cold and determined. "Let's see what Seishan can offer me on behalf of Song."
***
The transition between worlds always felt like being pulled through a needle's eye.
Asteria stood in the centre of the Theatre of Crystal, the silence of the vacant palace ringing in her ears. She closed her eyes and reached inward, grasping the invisible, ethereal cord that connected her to the waking world — her tether.
She had been careful this time, before venturing back to the Hollow Oak; she had fortunately created a new tether within the private quarters of her own room.
She pulled.
The world of glass dissolved into a blur of light and static. For a heartbeat, she was nowhere — suspended in the cold void between dimensions — and then, reality snapped back into place with a disorienting madness piercing her skull.
Asteria stumbled, her boots hitting the plush carpet of her room. The air here was climate controlled and sterile, devoid of the scent of blood or parched sand. She gasped, clutching the edge of a mahogany desk as her sight fought to recalibrate itself.
"Oh for Spell's sake..." She moaned loudly, embarrassed. "I could've just used the gateway! I'm not a masochist... I dont need to suffer..."
Asteria walked over to the mirror, staring at the woman reflected there. Her iridescent hair was a mess and her clouded, violet eyes looked older than they had a few days ago.
"I'm ready." She whispered to her reflection. "That's a lie, I'm not ready at all."
She picked up her communicator, her fingers didn't tremble as she opened the encrypted channel for Song that she received. She didn't type a long message, she didn't need to.
[Seishan, I've made my decision. Meet me at the Academy gardens, sunset, if you can.]
***
The sun was dipping below the skyline of the NQSC, painting the clouds in a bruised purples and deep, bloody oranges. The Academy gardens were empty, the manicured hedges and artificial ponds glowing in the moonlight.
Asteria was sat on a stone bench, her posture as poised and regal as she could force herself to be — even if internally her heart was hammering against her ribs and her head was spinning.
She didn't hear Seishan approach — at least, pretended not to. A hauntingly beautiful figure clad in a red, bloody silk dress of crimson was before her.
"You're punctual," Seishan began, her voice a smooth, elegant caress befitting of a legacy scion. "A trait of the disciplined, or perhaps the desperate?"
"I don't like to waste time, you see." Asteria countered, standing up to meet her.
The Princess of Song stepped into the light of a nearby lamp. Usually the Awakened legacy was a reserved, frigid perfection, but today she couldn't quite maintain that façade. A slow, predatory grin was spreading across her exotic features — a look of triumph.
"We received your messages. Is it what I think it is?"
Asteria shrugged, her garments flowing over her figure fluttering in the wind, "It is."
Seishan's smile deepened, eyes softening a touch. "Mother was pleased. She's been looking forward to a new addition for quite some time."
"I accept the offer — I suppose I didn't have a choice to, really. Your offer was quite generous, I only hope Song can keep her word." Asteria said, her voice clear and cold. She wasn't going to beg, a Queen should never beg; nor was she going to pretend she was doing this out of love either. "But what I do want to know is what this adoption truly entails. I'm not interested being a doll on a shelf or a tool."
Seishan chuckled, a low sound that vibrated Asteria's own chest. She began to slowly pace around the Queen of Nightmare, like a panther circling a curious new arrival.
"I can't believe you think so little of us, Asteria — or should I say Sister? A Princess of Song is to be part of the most exclusive sisterhood in the world. You will be formally introduced to the Clan and our vassals, as well as the rest of the world; as one of our own. You will have the full backing of Song's armies, our armouries and our Mother's protection."
Seishan paused, her eyes flashing. "In exchange, you are Song. Your victories are ours. Your Citadel becomes part of our territory and domain. You will ideally move to Ravenheart to greet our Mother and sisters. There are a few things you will have to learn as a Princess: how to lead, how to conquer and how to carry our name without disgracing it."
'Domain? Where have I heard that before... Was it important!?'
"And my freedom?" Asteria asked, her eyes narrowing and her jaw tightening an inch. "I'd still like my autonomy."
"You won't be a weapon, don't fret." The Princess quickly replied, gesturing vaguely to the distant spires in the distance. "Not to them. Within the Clan, you have autonomy and all the freedom you desire. But a daughter must listen to her mother, Asteria. It's the natural order of life."
"I can live with that, " Asteria lied, her voice as smooth as butter."For now."
Seishan's grin widened, revealing a glimpse of the frightening nature that lay beneath her exquisite beauty. She reached out, her cool fingers grazing Asteria's chin, forcing her to look up.
"You think you're clever, don't you? Mother knows why you accepted our offer, and all the secrets you may hide. She doesn't mind, she likes it when we're sharp. It makes it so much more rewarding when they realise their place."
Asteria didn't flinch. She met Seishan's gaze with a chilling violet fire of her own. "I look forward to seeing her try."
Seishan laughed, a bright, dangerous sound that echoed through the quiet garden. "Magnificent. Truly. A transport is already being prepared for your arrival to Ravenheart. Do dress nicely when we arrive, we'll be greeting our mother straight away."
As Seishan turned to melt back into the shadows, Asteria stood alone in the darkening garden. She had made her choice. She had traded her solitude for a name, and her anonymity for a throne.
She looked down at her hands, imagining the blood she'd have to shed for her new "family."
'Princess Asteria of Song. It has a nice ring to it.'
She had spent her life running from the danger of the outskirts, only to walk willingly into the most dangerous shadow of all.
The Great Clan of Song will prepare to greet their new Princess.
And Asteria will realise the mistake she made.