Two dead civilians in three nights. One of which was murdered for what they knew, trying to get into the fold. It made Andronicus feel sick to her stomach. She twitched and trembled, and not at all because of a lack of sleep. The Negaverse was becoming more ruthless, more determined to destroy the people of the city to get what they wanted. Frequently, visions of the future flashed in her mind, and it took all her will to fight them off. She started to lose herself among them, start to fear that she'd become the general she was in that terrible future. The dead civilians, those caught in the cross fire. Themiscyra dead by her hand, by the Negaverse's hand, by the will of the Cauldron. Her sister dead and gone, and the city lost.
At other times, she wondered just what went through the minds of the higher ups in the Negaverse. They'd done mass drainings before, but this was the first time she'd heard of prisoners being taken. It couldn't mean anything good, for sure, but what could they want with a glowing senshi? Her memories of the future gave her no understanding except that Themiscyra herself glowed. Not that she new what that meant, at all, but it was incredibly curious. And worrisome. Yet, again, came up the question of what was the Negaverse doing? How could this possibly benefit them?
Her mind would then turn to what she'd told that civilian. Sentinel. She called herself a Sentinel, but she didn't know what the meant. Her Sentinels - her Sentinels - had died in that future. Did that mean she'd created a team? Was it tied in the past? Was it only tied in the future? Without even knowing what a Sentinel was it was hard to answer anything. Andronicus wondered if she should even try for it, but then that brought questions of what were the Sentinels at all? Round and round the questions roamed, interrupted by flashes and restless sleep.
Everything was off kilter and confusing, and moving too fast.
She felt out of balance and disconnected from her power, an odd thing considering. It seemed so long since she'd last seen the towering sandstone building. The last she'd run from the map room in a panic, but perhaps now that she was a Squire... she could learn more of it. Yet with how out of balance her mind felt, perhaps she needed to fix that, first. She decided to focusing on observing her surroundings before going into the map room. Maybe that would help. Andronicus looked up at the sky, the pledge falling from her lips.
The warmth of the sand filled dunes seeped into her skin. She melted to the ground, the familiarity of her wonder momentarily overwhelming her. She didn't quite realized how much she missed the tower in the sand. It stood solemnly as ever, as though time mattered not to the building. A sort of reminder that not everything was affected by the passing of the universe. It was reassuring, especially during a time when everything seemed to change entirely too fast. Andronicus stood, dusting sand from her pants. The tower was bathed in a pre-dusk light, morphing into a tower of rippling orange and red fire. A sense of calm rolled over her then, and she smiled. Note to self: The Tower is calming to me.
The Squire pushed the door of the tower open, wedges clicking on the sandstone floor. The sound echoed through the entrance level and into the open door to the stairwell. Faintly, she heard it travel up the stairs until it faded from her hearing range. She carefully made her way up the stairs, watching the light play upon the stone. All too quickly (she could have stared at the light until it was dark) she came to the door to the map room. Andronicus hesitated briefly, wondering if the door would let her in. It seemed like a silly concept, but she'd only been here once months ago. A shred of doubt filled her mind for a moment, one she was quick to force away.
No, perhaps the books in the room could give her some clues about the Sentinels. Perhaps they would give her tactics on how best to fight Chaos or protect those around her. Andronicus twisted the nob and the door opened. The room spilled out in front of her, all bathed in gold and stark shadow. She stepped up to large wooden table and placed her fingers on the wood.
Perhaps, even, it would clue Andronicus on what the Compact was.
- "... Alexia, I highly disapprove of this," came her mentor's voice from across the table. He was ten years her senior, but in the evening light he looked like a Grecian statue. Not exactly something one thought of their ser, but she was no longer his young Page. She was a knight, wielder of the Gale Staff, and rightful owner of the Andronicus Tower. Elias was a fine man, still young by the standards, and untaken. Not that Alexia had a chance, but it did give her a bit of a boost to think about it. Yet, she reasoned she wouldn't be able to deal with his constant disapproval if she pursued it. He already disapproved of her as it was.
Even when it was unwarrented, like now.
She shook her head, looking down at the parchment between her hands. "Ser, it's a noble cause," said the knight in reply. The letter was their current... argument. It was from Diana, Knight of the City Themiscyra of Mars, requesting her prescence in the formation of an alliance. It had arrived a day before Andronicus was requested to the capitol city in a week's time. That had been three days hence, and Andronicus neglected to tell him until, well, a hour and half ago as she was packing. He'd walked in on her pack and they'd been arguing ever since.
"The capitol city, where your Princess is located, requests your aid in urgent matters and you think that vanishing to Mars is a better idea?!" growled the older man, his temper flaring. "In who in their right mind would ever think this is a good idea? With the others she has listed?!" The man ran his hand over his chin. Alexia ran her finger through her wavy hair, thankful she'd left it down today. Kept her hands busy when she wanted to send him flying through the windows behind him. Ah but that would be an inappropriate use of Andronicus' powers. Yes but it would make her feel better.
"Lady Diana's cause is just as important, if not more. You've heard what's going on outside the system, ser. Worlds are vanishing one by one. What happens if the Surrounding falls? Am I to protect the Princess, who I might remind you I am not on good terms with, with the countless other Knights of Uranus? Or do I protect something of far greater importance: the people of the Sol System?" she retorted, green eyes meeting his brown ones. Anger flashed though his eyes, likely at the idea that their Princess was worse less than the common civilians. She cut him off as he opened his mouth. "Moreover, she can more than handle herself, you know that as well as I do."
He locked his jaw, sucking in one cheek. It was a habit Elias had, especially when frustrated or angry. He probably didn't know he did it, honestly, but it were things Andronicus had picked up over the years. He looked to the side, then back at her.
"Your infatuation with her is clouding your judgement on your duty, page," he said low. Heat flashed through her, a mixture of anger at the use of 'page', as though she was still one, and a more liquid heat at the mention of her infatuation with the Lady Diana. Her cheeks heated and Alexia in turn locked her jaw.
"My judgement is clear. I will not be bound to a princess when innocent civilians are in danger and I can do something about it. You once told me that my duty was to the people, regardless of who they were, because a world is only as strong as it's people. I am going to help people who can't help themselves.
"You do not get a say, Elias, I have already told Lady Diana that I am joining her Compact. I have already sent world to the capitol of Uranus that I am taking a diplomatic mission on Mars. It's done." She glared at him across the table. "I'm going whether you want me to or not. Besides, my 'infatuation' is simply well placed respect." Not a... complete lie.
Elias locked his jaw again, anger turning his face an mimic of the setting sun. She waited for the yelling, the 'grounding', the 'punishment.' She waited for him to be disappointed in her for 'denying her duty.' Alexia waiting for everything she was very familiar with to come tumbling out of his mouth. He ran is hand over his jaw again, and let out a heavy sigh.
"... You're.... right. I do not get a say. You're the Knight of Andronicus. I am here to guide, to help you, but ultimately it is your path to tread. I... γαμώτο*," cursed Elias. Her mentor shook his head, muttering to himself. He looked up at her. "While I don't condone what you're doing, μικρή θύελλα μου**, but I don't condemn it. I'll act in your stead until you return."
She grinned, glancing down at the Compact symbol on the parchment--
The memory left her suddenly and Andronicus blinked. The shadows fell higher on the shelves, and the sky she saw flickering through the clear panes was dark blue. She shook herself a bit, looking down at the table. Fingers traced a symbol on one of the parchments, a symbol she remembered from the future and now from the past.
The Compact.
A concept - an allegiance - of her past, and her apparent future. An allegiance with Themiscyra and others, her sisters and brothers in arms. To protect... the people? Like those in Destiny City now? The reminder of her city sobered up. People were still missing, civilians were still dying. She needed to go join the fight and search.
She closed the map room's door behind her. A sense of calm and determination fell over her. First, the missing. Second, contact Themi about this Compact. If she was tasked with protecting the innocent, she'd better well do so.
A breeze passed through the stairwell as the Squire of Andronicus vanished.
[ * - Damn it ]
[ ** my little Gale ]
[WC: 1776]
