C10 Meeting the Monster who Gave Life

The air seemed to become heavier and thicker with every passing second, as if dread was a physical presence that rippled in the atmosphere. Suddenly, the voice echoed menacingly through the entrance hall, breaking the tension:

"It was only a matter of time, Theodora, that you would graciously arrive and I, with bated breath, awaited your presence."

Theo felt paralyzed as her eyes met the tall figure emerging from the darkness of the corner. Guards moved swiftly to block its path, their swords drawn and ready. Way joined them moments later brandishing his weapons. Crawford stepped between them to protect his companions, extending his emerald staff towards the sky which lit up the room with a bright green hue.

The figure was shrouded in a deep gray cloak, hiding its face from view. Its eyes glowed a bright yellow and it seemed to emanate an aura of power that left Theo feeling exposed and vulnerable. She shuddered as the figure tilted its head to meet her gaze, sending chills down her spine. With a piercing voice it spoke again:

"My dearest Theodora, can your mind comprehend nothing of me? Even after all this time I presumed you would recall the timbre of my voice."

With the illumination of the staff, she could now clearly see its face. Theo's heart raced with fear and excitement as she had no idea who this figure was – but it had a very overwhelming emotion attached to it. Time seemed to stand still as the two stared at each other without saying a word, until finally the figure broke the silence with a chuckle:

"Well, here we are again after all these years!" She threw back her hood and Crawford gave an audible gasp. Theo starred at him in shock.

"Do you know who this woman is?" Theo asked.

"She is no woman. She's the first true witch there ever was." Crawford said through gritted teeth.

"You forgot the part where I'm also Theodora's mother." The figure added.

"Mother!" Crawford scolded. "You don't know the first thing about being a mother, Zandra!"

"You and Phillip never gave me the opportunity to even try!" She shouted back.

"Excuse me can someone please tell me what the heck is going on here?" Theo interrupted.

"Enough playing around." Crawford said and step forward wielding his staff above his head. A large electrified green light grew out of the stone on the tip of the staff and shot out directly at Zandra. It hit something midair and it crackled through the air a deafening sound as it dissipates into nothing.

Zandra was unfazed. Then she lifted her arms up and released a deep, shadowy voice that echoed in the abyssal darkness. "No object of this world can touch me," She bellowed eerily. "Your weapons will be useless against my might."

The room filled with an electric charge, the hairs on Theo's body stood upright. With a menacing wave of her hand, an impenetrable shield of glowing energy materialized around her sinister figure; a protective barrier that illuminated a strength far beyond what any mere mortal could possess.

Theo felt her heart racing as she stared in shock at what was occurring before her eyes. The guards stepped back cautiously while Way continued to grip his weapons tightly, his face twisted in confusion and disbelief. Crawford lowered his staff slowly and said in a soft voice, "What are you doing?"

The air around them seemed to shimmer and bend as Zandra raised her hands up higher, and with a loud chant, she uttered mysterious words that seemed to echo through the corridors of time. A bright light began to swirl around them and Theo felt like she was being pulled into an invisible vortex. She grabbed onto Caleb's arm tightly as if to pull him away from this magical force, but it was no use. The dense air made their breathing seem heavy as the mystical powers of Zandra's spell started to take hold.

Theo took a step forward into the center of the entrance hall, only to feel the room suddenly darken. A blazing light swallowed her up, and in a blink of an eye, she was gone.

When the light returned to Theo’s eyes she looked around in awe at her new surroundings, and it was then that she realized both she and Zandra were standing atop a large hill looking down over an infinite horizon. On the distant horizon, a castle-like fortress could be seen looming in the deep shadows of a never ending night sky.

With a voice that was cold and calculating, Zandra declared, "We are here. This is where you and I will fight for the right to take our place on the throne and rule over every corner of this world. This land between worlds pulses with an unparalleled power; it should be obvious to you now that we stand inside its confines." Her eyes shot daggers at Theo as she walked circles around her. "That's why I wanted you dead since before you were even born. It comes down to this: only females can attain the throne, and I'm not willing to relinquish mine without a fight!" She lunged forward suddenly, sword raised high above her head. Just in time, Theo wheeled her own weapon in front of herself, blocking the vicious blow. The clang of steel filled the air.

Zandra surged forward, her sword glinting in the light as she unleashed a storm of attacks upon Theo. Theo's heart raced as she watched Zandra's weapon move with lightning speed and force, slicing through the air towards her with an almost supernatural power.

With every strike, Theo felt a strange energy surge through her veins, like something within her was stirring to life. Her body reacted instinctively, and with an agility that seemed impossible for one so small; she managed to block each attack effortlessly, even though they were faster and more powerful than anything she had ever faced before. She felt unstoppable, as if a hidden power had been awoken within her.

Theo's blade moved rapidly, her body shifting from one position to the next as she parried and thrust with Zandra. She felt her muscles straining and her breath coming in ragged bursts. Sweat trickled down her forehead, but still, she pressed on. Gradually, Theo could feel herself improving, each motion becoming more fluid, each counterattack faster and more precise. Until suddenly, it seemed like they were virtually dancing together; their movements so in sync they appeared to have become one entity.

Theo realized then that this fight wasn't only about survival or victory; it was about unlocking powers within herself that she never knew existed.

Theo's heart raced as she sidestepped Zandra's strike, her sword clashing against the other woman's with a loud clang. She felt fear and doubt beginning to take hold in her chest, until suddenly something welled up within her that was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. A warmth spread through her body, giving strength to her arms and steadying her blade. The steel of her sword glowed and seemed to pulse in response to the invisible energy that coursed through her veins. With every counterattack, Theo felt a surge of power course through her; she spun and dodged each incoming strike with grace and agility. Zandra's attacks became slower and clumsy, and eventually Theo struck with effortless force. The air crackled with the sound the two blades made.

Zandra stepped back in surprise, her eyes narrowing as she tried to figure out how this girl had suddenly acquired these abilities without any kind of training or practice. But before long it became clear that Theo wasn't only just defending herself but also attacking Zandra in return - using the same techniques that Zandra had been using. Step for step, strike for strike.

Theo seemed to have an endless reserve of energy as she fought, her strikes growing in strength and speed with each passing second. Finally, with a loud cry, Theo lunged forward, driving her sword through Zandra's chest plate armor with enough force to lift her off the ground and send her soaring backward.

Zandra crashed into the ground and Theo quickly advanced towards her, the sword still glowing brightly in her hand. She pointed it at Zandra's throat and for the first time since they had started fighting, Zandra looked truly afraid. "You are not worthy of your position," Theo said softly as she prepared to deliver the final strike.

Suddenly, a strange energy seemed to fill the air and before either could react, Theo felt herself being pulled away from Zandra. The next thing she knew, she was standing on top of the hill again; looking out at the same horizon that had been there before.

Zandra too had vanished from sight leaving behind only an eerie silence that echoed off into eternity.

Theo stared in disbelief and awe at what had just happened. She could feel the energy of the land still coursing through her veins, giving her a sense of power that she had never experienced before. She was unsure how to explain the events that had just occurred, but knew one thing for certain: she was now capable of things that were beyond imagination.

Theo looked down at her sword and felt an even greater respect for it now more than ever before. It wasn't only a weapon but also an extension of herself; a physical representation of the power she had unlocked within herself. She knew then and there that whatever force had given her these abilities, it was something far bigger than either she or Zandra could comprehend.

As Theo stood on top of the hill looking out into the horizon, she realized that this strange land between worlds would forever be a part of who she is - not only as a warrior but also as an individual capable of discovering new

Theo looked down at the sword in her hand, its blade still glowing faintly as if it was burning with an inner fire. It felt different now, lighter somehow and yet strangely more powerful than before; almost as if it was part of her. She raised her eyes to look at the horizon once more and this time she noticed strange shapes moving around in the distance – creatures of some kind, like nothing she'd ever seen before. They seemed to be gathering around something that glowed brightly in the center like moths gathering around a light.

“Well, well, what do we have here? Of course something else has to happen. This day just couldn't possibly get any better." She spat mockingly. She took a deep breath, stepped forward with purpose and raised her sword at the ready to strike at a moment’s notice.