Order and Chaos

as for the feet... You'll just have to dance

As I stared at the grueling sands before me, a voice called out in my mind.

"Dance."

It sounded like De. Had she survived Father's assault, or was this her final word to me, passed on even after her death?

There was no way to tell, and no use dwelling on it. I had spent years learning to dance, and years learning to move swiftly on a battlefield. It was time to put both skills to the test.

I grabbed some spare rags to use as a cloak, both for modesty and for protection from the searing sun. Then I leapt as far forward onto the scorching clay as I could, landing on the very tip of my toes for but a moment, and continued the brisk-yet-dignified dance towards the city.

Two hours of dancing with no chance for a break was no easy task for most. But I had danced twice as long at the height of my training. Even so, the ground was unforgiving, and I had no chance to soothe my toes. I was forced halfway through to land on my heels instead as my toes could no longer take the pressure. Yet my heels lacked the stamina; a half hour later, I had to resort to landing on the sides of my feet, then the soles, then awkwardly on the tops, and finally for the last five minutes I stood on my hands and scrambled for the gates as fast as I could.

By then, I had no strength left to knock. But it seemed someone was watching for me, as the gates swung open and I saw the glorious, if tiny, city that lay before me.

behind the gates, a city of cat worshippers

It's a city of foot-healing carpets!

This was a city dedicated to Felus, the Cat-God of Comfort. As I stepped forward onto the softly carpeted road, I felt a cool sensation fill my feet. I couldn't help but kneel down and press my hands against it as well. The aches and pains seemed to vanish.

Of course, from my religious studies, I knew enough to realize that this was essentially an illusion. Felus could not heal; he could only ease your pain, and once you were outside of his influence, it would all come back. Still, even an illusory relief was welcome at this point. And if I could find some ointment for the burns, I could be genuinely refreshed when it was time to leave.

It soon become apparent, however, that I was not here to relax. Not when the procession of Felus' disciples was marching towards me, carrying a very catlike suit of armor and a glowing sword. I had a feeling I was in for more than I had expected.

"Mary Lee Vindictus!"

The voice came from an ornately-dressed woman who had walked up beside me while I was distracted by the spectacle. Judging by the impressive cat-ear miter, I could only conclude this was the High Priestess.

The fact that she already knew my true name was ominous. I said nothing, not wanting to confirm or deny my identity until I knew more.

"You have come to us, as Felus spoke, to bring vengeance upon the mortal world! Your father has raised arms against the gods, and all mortals are to pay the price! And you, Mary Lee Vindictus, are to be the instrument of this vengeance! With this blessed armor and blade, you will march across this sinful world and herald its end!"

This was not where I had expected De's guidance to lead me, but here I was all the same. For reasons I could not even begin to understand, I had been chosen to usher in the apocalypse.

What could I even say? Was I to take up this role that had been thrust upon me? Or would I fight it, fight to save a world I barely knew outside the castle walls? Faced with such a grave choice, what would I do? What could I do?