“You dare to seek a power you don’t understand. You don’t even know the possible risks, yet you continue on your quest of madness without a second thought. I must say, you are certainly determined.”

“Determined? That’s all you can compliment me on after all these years? Is determination the only thing you ever saw in me? What about talent, knowledge, power? Was I nothing but a hopeless cause desperately trying to claw her way up to your level? Did you truly see nothing in me?”

“Yes. Your lust for power blinded you to what our purpose was. You only wanted another outlet for strength, you didn’t truly want to learn.”

“No, it blinded me to your purpose. I wanted to learn from the people who were willing to teach me, not old hags too wrapped up in their omens and potions to even realize what was happening in the world.”

“I suppose that’s true, though I can assure you I am not old.”

“That isn’t the point. Even if you say otherwise, you still follow those stupid cranes! I’m sick of it! I will not be dragged into that mess myself. I need the power to defeat them, and I will have it.”

“You don’t mean…Yara, no! You can’t release that foul creature!”

“But you said you didn’t care for those stupid animals! You always said that you were neutral, so why won’t you join me. He will destroy them all, and we can finally be free!”

“No, that’s the problem. He doesn’t care who he kills! Everyone will die by his hands, including the cranes, the humans, and us. You must never release him!”

“Oh, dear Veronica, but I already did.”

“No…”

???: “Hello again, it’s been oh so long since we last spoke. How have you been since that battle? Are you finally ready to give in?”

“Why…why has she done this…you fool…Yara you goddamn fool!”

“Now now, she only did what she was told. Let me see, weren’t you the one who said she needed to look at her life ‘from a different angle’?”

“Why would you do this…”

“Are you crying? Honestly, I thought you were stronger than that. You always put on such a façade, but I see now that even the strongest stone can crack if you hit it hard enough.”

“I…will…kill you…for WHAT YOU’VE DONE!”

“Easy there! This is a borrowed body, so unless you want your precious apprentice to die in our little scuffle, I suggest you cool it.”

“I will never give up on ki- what the AGHHHH”

“I hate to do this, Veronica. I wish you would only see reason, but if you won’t, you’re a threat.”

“This…isn’t…the end…”

“Oh, I know that, you silly witch. This is only the beginning: the beginning of the end. Now, bleed out like the good little nuisance you are.”

“I hate…to fight…but I won’t let you…hurt her…”

“Oooh, a knife! I wouldn’t expect that from someone like you, especially someone who just got stabbed. Don’t you prefer to hide behind your magic?”

“Gracious goddess, holy and divine, answer to the call of nine…”

“Ah, I see, you intend to pull something off? Oh, I can’t let that happ- ugh, what the?”

“…One, I stand before thy throne. Two, I invoke thee alone. Three, I hold aloft my blade…”

“What the hell? Why can’t I move? What did you do to me, you witch! Set me free this instant!”

“…Four, defend as the spell is made. Five, lend thy power to give it life. Six, thy power into my knife…”

“YOU CAN’T DO THIS! I WILL DESTROY YOU YOU MONSTER!”

“Seven, on earth, in sky and shining sea, gracious goddess Hecate be with me…”

“Gah! Finally, free at last. Now then, I’m going to make you pay for your insolence!”

“Eight, come now the call is made…”

“JUST DIE!”

“Nine, give thy power unto my blade!”

“What the hell! What are you doin- AGHHHHHHH!!!”

“If I cannot kill you, I can delay you, and that is what I have done. In that form, you can’t do anything.”

“You think by stealing my body you steal my power? Ha! I will return soon enough, and once I have destroyed these cranes, you’ll be next!”

“I will wait for that day then. Goodbye.”

“Ugh, goddess my head is pounding. What happened? Veronica, what did you d- oh my god you’re bleeding!”

“I know, I’ll be fine Yara. Just, please stay away from that monster.”

“I can’t promise anything. We have a common goal, and he gives me the chance to see that goal fulfilled. Here, let me heal you.”

“Then I won’t stop you, but I also won’t help you. Just, trust in our goddess, Yara. Hecate will light your path.”

“Yes, I will. I won’t let him control me again. Now, where did that candle go? Ah, here it is. Now, let me see…Magick mend and candle burn, sickness end, good health return.”

“Good…you have grown…I hope that you find what you seek.”

“I will find my revenge; that is what I seek.”

“That may be what your mind wants, but what of your soul? That is where you must search.”

“Every ounce of my being yearns for their blood to be spilt as they did to our kind. I hope you will come to see that someday. Goodbye, teacher.”

“Goodbye, Yara. Let us hope you will not repeat history.”