Author's Note

This is a revamp-ish version of the original 2nd chapter. Enjoy.

Ch 2: To break the Endless Cycle

Losing someone or something that was loved or cared deeply about is very painful, excruciating at most. It gives the feeling of the world collapsing around you, hearing and seeing the horrible truth. Some say the wound that was given by the loss of another would heal through time but that is not the case for Celeste, Empress of the Equinn.

The room was dark with exception of a small lamp, shining onto the desk as the Empress worked. It was nearing midnight and like many nights before, she showed no sign of resting. Servants and guards alike have grown to respect her more than before, after seeing her work non-stop for three days.

Of course this caused worry to some while others saw this as normal work. There were some servants, those who served the former Empress Lauren, know the reason as to why Empress Celeste has been locking herself in her study for these past days.

As Celeste ripped and crumbled another page from the journal laying on her desk, she let out a frustrated groan as she rested her on her hands. She let out mumbles of pure frustration before raising her head and setting her gaze on the portrait of a familiar man.

The man was none other than The Royal Protector and father figure, Corvo Attano. It was made days after his demise, the demise that was brought by her own hands. She remembers the events clear as day only to wish to forever forget that day.

She focused back down onto the journal only see that the pages were stained by water. Looking up, Celeste scanned the ceiling of her personal study only find nothing.

Another droplet landed on the open journal, gaining the attention of the Empress. She looked down to find a newly made stain before seeing another one.

That is when she noticed that her vision was blurring. She wiped her eyes, feeling the tears as she did.

“Come on, Celeste. We mustn't be late.” The Empress recognized that voice. It was the beautiful and soothing voice of her mother.

She blinked once, the room now had trees. She blinked again and the wooden floor beneath her was replaced by a dirt road. She blinked a third time and whatever was left of her study disappeared. She stood in the middle of a familiar dirt path. This was the path to her mother's personal garden.

“Celeste.” The voice called out from behind her. Turning around, she took notice of two things.

The first being her height. Shrunk down to the height of a child but not only that, her age reduced as well.

The second was that this woman that stood in front of her and called her name was indeed her mother. With a smile donning her lips, this was indeed her mother.

Shocked, was the first she felt before happiness, for seeing her mother once more but then sadness and sorrow. Knowing that this must've been a dream, Celeste only felt more tears well up but a foreign hand gently wiped her eyes with a thumb.

“Are you alright, my sweet child?” The angelic like voice of her mother greeted her eyes. The same hand cupped her left cheek. Nodding, her mother smiled before hearing the sounds of sword clashing.

“Come, we don't want to be late do we?” Her mother's hand left Celeste’s cheek. With only the shake of Celeste's head, they began walking down the seemingly endless path. Silence filled the air between the two as they walked.

It felt like hours of walking and the sounds of swords clashing were still distant with no sign of it getting closer. The occasional bird chirping and leaf blowing would be heard. Then they stopped.

Celeste looked around her surroundings, seeing nothing different. The trees by the dirt path blocked out the view to the sky, only allowing a few rays of sunlight to appear from through the leafs.

Look behind her, Celeste saw a newly formed bench and sat on it without question. Her mother sat next to her with a smile as she looked towards a tree. To Celeste’s confusion, her mother waved.

“Mommy, what are you looking at?” She asked. Her mother turned to look at her, the smile never leaving.

“Can you not see?” She asked. The smile faltered only slightly as she asked. Celeste shook her head at the question. Celeste felt a pair of hands lift her up and placed onto her mother's lap.

“Look ahead.” Her mother said and Celeste did just that and what she surprised her. What used to be trees and grass was now marble and wood.

The sound of swords clashing brought her attention towards two men at the center. Their in the middle a duel. A guard and a familiar man. Both fought with prowess but the man showed to signs of slowing down whilst the guard did.

“Point!” Another guard yelled, signaling the mans win as the tip of his blade laid atop the guard's shoulder.

Celeste couldn't help but smile. The man her gaze sat upon was non other than Corvo Attano, her hero, her protector and role model. With a toothy smile, Celeste waved at the man.

“Corvo!” She yelled, gaining the man's attention. He waved back with a smile of his own.

With a blink of her eyes, Celeste suddenly found herself in the arms of Corvo.

“It's good to see you too, Celeste but couldn't you wait for your mother?” His voice was gruff but soothing in a way only Celeste understood.

“You should've seen her when we arrived.” The voice of her mother sounded behind her. Celeste felt herself being lifted up as Corvo straightened up.

“Hello Corvo.” Her mother greeted with smile.

“Hello to you too, your highness.” Corvo said with a smile of his own. They started to converse with one another while Celeste clung onto Corvo. For what felt like hours Celeste shown no signs of letting go of the man who carried her.

“I miss you.” Celestewhispered in a hushed tone as tear slowly streamed down her cheek and onto Corvo’s shoulder. She was surprised to feel both Corvo and her mother's hands on each of her shoulders.

“We miss you too, there will never be a moment when we won't.” The said in perfect unison as Celeste’s vision slowly went white.

Celeste’s eyes lazily opened only hiss and close them again. The light of the sun shone through the curtains of the large window behind her.

Slowly, Celeste raised her head from the desk she slept on before looking to see if there was a mess only to find nothing. With sigh she leaned back onto the chair before rubbing her eyes.

She stood up from her chair and turned towards the curtains before taking a hold of them then fully opening them. The once dark study now lit by the light of the morning sunrise.

Looking out the window, she saw her mother's garden being properly kept by the old gardener. A set of knocks brought The Empress from her thoughts.

With haste Celeste went to answer the door, almost tripping as she did. A mental note to pick up the mess of books.

Reaching the door and grabbing the handle, she then pulled the door open and looked at the person responsible for the knocking. It was a guard.

“Lady Luna requests to see you at the dining hall.” He informed. Celeste nodded before dismissing the guard. Looking back at her desk, Celeste saw that her lamp had been turned off and with that she left to see her dearest sister.

~Ω~

The infernal bell rang once more as woman in my arms, Lauren as she sighed her last breath of air. I held with an expressionless face, knowing that I am unable to change this event.

The echoing shouts and footsteps of the Guards swarming the gazebo greeted my ears as I placed the body down gently as I did so countless times before. I then stood up from my kneeling position before noticing the Spymaster walking up to me with a few guards in tow. His words muffled by the many shouts, only as he stood a foot away from me that his words were clear as day but I've heard them before.

“So that's it then… You've given up after all this time.” His voice echoed around me as everything was slowed down to a crawl. “The great Corvo Attano, finally accepts the truth. How unexpected of you.”

After those words were said, the silence began to settle in once more and the slow yell of my arrest was the only thing I heard. I stood unmoving and uncaring as my surroundings shattered like glass, leaving me in what looked to be a shattered bit of the Palace Gardens.

“You have surprised me once again, Corvo.” The voice spoke closer than before. Glancing behind me, I was greeted with the gaze of the being that keeps me here in this realm.

The Outsider. He who is one with the Void, the very man that keeps me here. Whether to torture me with the ever repeating cycle that I had grown accustomed to or to speak as if we were acquaintances.

“I'm done trying.” Were the first words I had spoken before looking down the other side of the marble railings, seeing nothing but the endless Void below. “I know that no matter what I do, it will always end the same way. With Lauren dying in my arms.” I added, gripping the marble in anger. I glanced back as I heard the sound of feet touching the marble floor.

“You've done many things, Corvo. The least I'd ever expect from you was to give up.” Spoke the Outsider as he leaned onto the marble railing beside me. “To quite honest, I'd expect another twenty or so years before you would've gone mental.” He added before pushing himself off the railing just as it crumbled out of existence. I did not reply to the man beside me as he turned to face the gazebo behind me.

“Maybe it's time.” Said the Outsider. I ignored his words and looked up as what appeared to be a broken piece of the pub floated over me. He let out a hum in deep thought. “Hmm, perhaps it is.” He spoke in cryptic manner before snapping his fingers.

It was then I felt something grip onto my foot. I quickly looked down only to see a shadowy claw grip my foot as another claw gripped the other. Before I knew it, fifty or more of those hands had grabbed onto me and began to pull me under.

“What is the meaning of this!?” I said as I struggled for my freedom. I looked up at the Outsider as he began to walk away from the scene. “What are you doing to me!?” I yelled in anger as half my body disappeared into the floor while more claws began to take hold of my head, stopping me from moving it.

“May we meet again soon, Corvo.” Spoke the Outsider, raising his left hand and waved it before closing it into a fist. Seconds after he did that, my vision turned dark and my consciousness slipped away shortly after. The last thing I felt was pressure being put onto me and pain unfamiliar to me.