24 A memory and a goal (1/2)

”This can't be... This is...” Seraphina would push past Riyku and enter the room. Her red orbs glancing all around the room before plopping down. ”What, what is it?” Riyku followed in after her. ”This... my old room. I lived here when I was a mere child.” Seraphina stated which caused Riyku to raise a brow. ”You lived here?” Seraphina would nod softly, her eyes looking down at the rug beneath her. ”It was way before I even knew you, or even know anything about being a Queen of Darkness.” She stated as if she were about to explain.

---Many Eons in the past---

”Momma! Momma!” A small child with raven color hair and raven color eyes beamed up at a charming woman who smiled down at her. ”Yes, Seraphina. What can I do for you?” The woman called from the hinge of the doorway. ”Don't leave momma. Please.” The child, Seraphina's expression looked as if she were about to bawl her eyes out. The woman would turn to squat down next to her child and bring her in for a warm hug. ”Don't worry hunnie. Mommy will be back before you know it.” The woman stated softly, though anyone could tell she was lying through her teeth. Sadly, the child bought it. ”Promise?” She asked softly and the woman nodded and kissed her forehead. ”I promise. Now stay here and be a good girl. I'll bring you back Ice cream and all.” The woman stated and the child smiled brightly and nodded, wiping away her teary eyes. ”Okay!” She exclaimed before returning to her book on the floor. The woman would leave, with a sorrowful expression, ”I am sorry...” She whispered softly.

Time flew by and night came rapidly. Books upon books had been piled high on the floor. Yet the child's mother had yet to return. ”Mommy...” The child whispered softly as she flipped the page of one of her books. A few drops of tears splashed upon the paper. ”Where are you...? I have been a good girl... I have been reading.... Will you come back soon... Mommy.” The child would sniffle as she continued to read through her book. More time flew by, more nights came and gone and before anyone knew it the child herself had grown into a teenager. Mountains of books had filled her entire room, she had outgrown her clothing which torn to shreds and the darkness around her clothed her in the second layer of skin as if to act like clothes. ”You never came back, mom...” Seraphina muttered as she closed her book and pushed off the ground. For someone who had not eaten in days, she appeared rather healthy. Moving towards the door she was greeted with nothing, but ruin. Her expression was of utter shock and she collapsed then and there when she made note of a skeleton lying against the wall. ”No...” Seraphina would sniffle softly as she crawled over to the skeleton and reached out to it. ”Ma-Ma-Mama...” She whispered softly. How could she tell this skeleton was her mother? Well... it was the residue of energy that been left. Following a trail of aged blood that would lead to the door she had just opened, she would release one thing. ”Why!? Why didn't you let me come with you!?”Seraphina shouted with anger and frustration. The woman had used the last of her life force to keep her child safe in that room from any ruin that was happening outside of that room. ”Why momma?!” She shouted, knowing full well she would not get an answer.

Though her screams did attract the attention of lesser demons. Imps and demon dogs at that. ”Go away!” Seraphina shouted and her shadow would spike up in thorns the moment these creatures approached her. The thorns would pierce through the lesser demons and ultimately kill them. A dark mist would seep into her body shortly after, but she seemed to not care. Her main focus was on her mother's skeleton. For some time the woman would continue to mourn her death, and when everything came to a passing she had buried her mother in the garden that her mother, as well as herself, tended to.

Her raven orbs would look up at the crimson sky along with the ruin of this world before looking back at the castle she had just been in. ”I've learned much through the books I read mother. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. For being such a wonderful mother even after your death.” Seraphina would bow lightly to her ruined home as well as her own mother before turning on her heel to face the road. However, when she did she made note of something shiny sticking out of the ground. Approaching it she would pick it up only to find it was one of those vocal capsules that one would use to relay messages to another. The moment Seraphina injected her energy into it, the capsule began to relay her a message.

”To my dearest daughter, Seraphina La Stia. If you are receiving this message, it is because I am no longer bound to this world. I have passed on. Forgive me for being blunt, but I need to be hasty with this message. My daughter, I love you with all my heart and soul. It breaks me even now to know that I was unable to stand by your side. I am sorry that I left you all alone for all those years. But, It was in order for you to survive. Seraphina, you a Daughter of Darkness. I am one of the Five Queens of Darkness. Being my daughter means that you will inherit my origin. I do hope you read all of those books, my daughter because they will be your guide in your walk of life. But, just because you are one of my kin does not mean you need to follow in my footsteps. Venture out into the world and become what you want to become; however, If you choose to become a Queen of Darkness. You should find the Shadow King. You will know once you have found him, he will have a peculiar scent to him. Also, avoid the Angels as best you can. Once again... I love you, Seraphina.”

The message seemed to have ended there and Seraphina was now in a mess of tears. The message item seemed to have been taken in by the darkness around her as if she had stored it away. She would wipe her tears after recollecting herself. The expression in her eyes was one that held resolve. ”I will find the Shadow King, Mother. I will become the next Queen of Darkness. Watch over me from where you are.” Seraphina stated before venturing off.

---Present time---

”The journey was long, and I grew as a person. I never met the other Queens of Darkness' during my venture. But I did find the Shadow King.” Seraphina would state to which Riyku would nod. ”Well, I am glad you were able to achieve your dream of becoming a Queen of Darkness,” Riyku stated as he wrapped his arms around her to comfort her. ”As am I.” She smiled softly at him before getting off the floor with his help. ”If you need to rest more, we can,” Riyku stated softly and she shook her head. ”It is fine. I can keep going. I may not fully remember this castle, but I am sure that the people in this castle is not acquainted with me nor my mother.” Seraphina would state to which Riyku nodded. ”Alright.” The two of them seemed to leave the room and make their way towards Skylar's supposed room. Upon opening the door, it was just as Riyku had expected it to be. A replica of Skylar's room. Though there was this shine that struck out to him. Moving towards it he would reach for it only for the shine to which it would vanish and a text box to appear.

'Dagger of Rage acquired'

The text read. ”What did you get?” Seraphina questioned from behind him. ”A weapon. More specifically, A dagger.” Was it odd that he would get the same kind of weapon that Skylar would use? If so, didn't that mean that the other rooms may host weapons similar to their room owners? If that were the case then there should have been on in Mina's room at least. Lira was a guest, so maybe that was why there was not one, but who knew. Riyku would push this thought aside for now and proceed to exit the room only to look back down the hallway. ”Well, all that is left is other rooms. We should make a quick run through and return to the other world.” Riyku stated and Seraphina would agree. Both of them would venture through the remaining rooms, yet they turned up empty in the end. When they arrived back in the main hall they were greeted with another set of demon dogs. Riyku had shifted his gaze to his Shield Points and Mana Pool. The Shield Points were at a good set, and Mana pool was nearly full. Stepping forward he would use Weapon summon to bring out the Assassin's Dagger, and Night Crawler weapons.

Assassin's Dagger +4

Type: Dagger

Rarity: A

Condition: Sharp

A blade used by the Assassins of old. It is said that these weapons were capable of silently piercing their target's flesh from any direction and easy to withdraw for a quick escape. Effect: Deals addition damage if used on Vital points.

Night Crawler +4

Type: Claw

Rarity: S

Condition: Lethal