Chapter Text
Void.
Endless darkness wrapping around her, leaving the Scarlet Queen breathless.
In this void, it was simply vacant, devoid of all things, truly a world in between worlds, something that the human mind can not even begin to comprehend. There was nothing to grasp, nothing to feel, nothing to smell, nothing to lay eyes upon, there was no ground. Elizabeth could only think, to repent, to relive her mistakes over and over and over again.
With a slip of the hand, a key falls to the demon of sound, rendering the raven’s cage useless. A few chosen words and the guards surrounding the demon pups were joyfully walking away to their paid free time. A turn of gaze when she saw pebbles with pickaxes, digging out the Jewel of Emotions. And again… pitying a dangerous soul, one that was warned to her time and time again. This soul who was… locked up for… honestly, Elizabeth didn’t know why, under chains that not only weakened her but pained her.
Her blue flame falters as if a gust of wind she could not feel went through her.
That can not be.
The Scarlet Queen has lived with the flame in her chest since she could remember… it was the core of her strength, the origin of her power. She had it since she found her passion for singing ever since she was extremely young. It was an empowering moment for the young student… aspiring to be a swordmaster. She could wield the flame in her heart by simply humming a tune. Exhilarating. Powerful.
Now that blaze of a flame was flickering, in and out… barely illuminating its surroundings if… there was any to illuminate. What would happen if it fully went out? Elizabeth couldn't bear the thought. She wishes to erase it. The thought of the source of her power being snuffed out entirely, losing her abilities to conjure flames around herself and others be it as the sword or as the shield. The one thing that made her… useful to those above her, useful in battle, useful in any capacity. She couldn’t lose it.
But that was what was happening… wasn’t it?
…Surely not. The loss of this light would… would that be a fitting punishment for what she has done? She supposed it was. It had to be, who was she to question those above her, that was her first mistake. A horrible mistake, a stupid one, one that should not be overlooked.
She’s made too many mistakes, and she grew complacent, and over-confident in her own abilities. There was nothing she could do now, she couldn’t even scream. Elizabeth was restrained by unbreakable silence chained to her throat as she watched her flame grow ever smaller and smaller.
Elizabeth was a naive soul, and way too soft-hearted. She was someone not worthy of the praise she was once given as the Scarlet Queen. She used to be someone who shed blood with no mercy, through the blindfold that is justice. Cut through entire armies, her flames swarming around her as comrades and enemies alike struggled to get out of her way as best as they could lest they be burnt by her flames that singed friend and foe.
But now?
The Scarlet Queen grew doubt, questions arose where there should be none, and the blindfold fell and gave way to mercy. Mercy to those who have wronged Order, who have wronged Justice. She became someone who didn’t deserve the power to wield the flame in her heart. Justice must be blind, and yet she dared to take off the blindfold that was put on her for her own sake. Yes, this punishment was fitting. Truly fitting.
Another flicker and… gone.
The Void consumes her, freezing her fingertips as she seems to move somewhere, chains wrapping around her neck and wrists. Acceptance. Of her own mistakes, her misconceptions… the first part of re-education.