Chapter 1 - Before the night

The bells announced the arrival of a horseman, a girl under a gray cloak. Amber sneezed when she saw, after a two-week mission, the white walls of the city of Frostown, welcoming her; a warm and necessary welcome.
 
Amber pulled off her hood, giving the women milling in the doorway the vision of the hope she knew they needed to bring happiness to the sad city. Being the prophetized heroine had advantages to her, it also helped that she was beautiful. Long ago, in a different world, Amber had had pale yellow eyes; her hair was battered, and her body was thinner than anything else. Now the green of her eyes lit up her face, adorned by her straight light brown hair. And her body had been thickened in the right places.
 
Amber entered the city, not for the first time admiring the architecture of the city. Each building had been lovingly crafted, more artistically than she expected from what was supposedly a fortress that had not fallen to any kingdom before.
 
Amber was still in awe of Arklyn's realm, a place with characteristics so different from what she remembered from her world. "You don't remember much though" she told herself. Luna had told her that her reincarnation could have consequences, which happened. She didn't remember much about herself anymore, she knew that she had a mother and friends, she knew that she had ugly yellow eyes and that she lived in a green house. She knew cultural things, but nothing about herself.
 
So a kingdom like Arklyn seemed a bit strange to her.
 
It was a matriarchal kingdom, with the men serving as farmers and soldiers, while the women ruled or prepared to be knights, contrary to the kingdoms she remembered. Amber knew that men rebelled, but they did not have the power to change anything, they were servants without their own power, they only served the other sex.
 
Of course, this had meant that most of the men of the realm had already died fighting the war against the dark forces. That was for the best, at worst, they had been captured by the forces of Darkwing, the dark lord. The knights had suffered hardly any losses, but they were necessary to defend the fortress and the innocent people. Amber didn't blame them.
 
The girls were circling Amber, spreading their hands at the heroine. Her bay horse danced gracefully through the crowd, dodging or finding routes she had never imagined.
 
-Make a damn path! shouted a high-pitched, sharp voice. Amber looked away to meet a familiar face.
 
-Nat! - Amber greeted her. The girl looked at her for a moment, silently, before greeting her with a warm (if sullen) smile.
 
Nathaly Amai, the orc slayer. When Amber met her, two months after being reborn in this world, she had been shocked at her appearance. Despite the ominous nickname she had for her, Nat was the most beautiful girl Amber had ever seen, in this world or her own world. Her lovely purple eyes matched her white, pure, and smooth skin so well. Her hair, short to the shoulders, was a pink rose color and tied in two tails on either side of her head: soft, curly and shiny. Her nose, sharp and thin, helped her beautiful face, pointed and elegant.
 
Had she wanted Nat she could have been a model or the most desired princess, but that was not what she did. Nat was the most fearsome swordsman in Serra. Her blade, which she called "Retaliation," was bathed in the blood of ten thousand orcs, including the dreaded eleven orc captains. The Twelfth, also called "The King of Broken Steel," had avoided her for years. Amber knew it wouldn't take long for him to fall too.
 
-Are you hearing me?- Nat's voice cut off her ramblings, her eyes fixed on her.
 
-Not really. What's wrong?- Amber asked, Nat bared her teeth in an annoyed grin.
 
-Are you stupid or what? Pay more attention to your surroundings!- She yelled at her.
 
-Sorry, sorry. Could you repeat it?- Amber replied, trying to ignore the voices of the girls around her.
 
-The witch summoned the ring- Amber's good humor disappeared. The ring was a council of the greatest heroines in the world of Serra, having more than two together, even these days, was alarming.
 
-Are you kidding, what happened? -She asked, alarmed
 
-She didn't want to say a word to us until we met with her. At least we know that she is not expecting Asleth to come- she replied, her cheeks had turned a bit red at the attention they received. She did not like to hang out in public.
 
-Right, how was it in the green mountains?- Amber asked, remembering where her friend had been. Nat snorted before answering.
 
-Horrible. The crosses are infested with monsters and hordes of orcs and savages. I freed about ten dozen orcs from the weight of their disgusting heads, also killed several savages, but we couldn't get through the wyverns- she complained
 
-Wasn't Lydia going with you?- She asked, as they approached the city castle. The home of the Frost queens.
 
-I asked him to come, the rumors that Darkwing was preparing to attack the elves were worrying before I knew they were true. But a certain knight believed that it was more valuable to reconnect us with the temple of earth, wind and fire- Nat said, looking away from her at the entrance of the palace. Standing there was a girl in a reddish sweater.
 
-Having the brotherhood of wizards on our side is important- Amber pointed out -Not only for her power, but for her wisdom-
 
-This for her wisdom- Nat said before spitting on the floor.
 
-They could make one more prophecy- Amber insisted
 
-That does not change that because of her we could not reach the elves. If the orcs come to them, Retaliation will drink a blood with a different taste- she said. Amber smiled knowing Nat wouldn't. She liked to be tougher than she really was.
 
-I hope it’s not mine!- Said a new voice. Amber turned to look only to meet another beauty. Rina Frost was the heir to the kingdom they now fought for, and the best knight in all of Serra. Her eyes, still not fixed on her, were blue like burning ice, fitting her family name.
 
-You can bet she is, princess- Nat replied in a mocking tone. They liked to tease each other, although Amber noticed that Rina looked exhausted.
 
-Hush for a moment- Amber asked Nat, who immediately paid attention to her friend. -Something happened Rina? -
 
-You'll find out. Ally brought something with her ... not good news Amber- whispered the princess. Her red sweater brought out her bright eyes even more.
 
-Damn- Nat spat silently.
 
-Who are already there? - Asked Amber
 
-Together? Everyone but the two of you, Ally says it is necessary to gather information together. Apparently, there is going to be another mission into the green mountains, hopefully this time you will be lucky Nat-
 
-Shut up, it's that same witch's fault that we haven't been able to get there already- Nat claimed her, or rather, she claimed no one in particular.
 
-Come on, we already talked about this. Well, we better get going- Said Amber, a little more enthusiastic. She dismounted from the horse and then gave the reins to a squire who passed by at the time, Nat's horse accompanied hers.
 
Rina led them inside the castle and towards the council chamber. Amber admired the salons the whole way; there was gold and sapphires everywhere, adorning the building. Rina, unlike almost all of her family, had black hair like the night, so her clothes used to avoid the color white like the plague. She preferred red to highlight her eyes from her hair. But the rest of the palace was adorned with the previous queens in mind, who used to have golden hair like the sun.
 
Rina didn't like spending a lot of time in her own palace, so it must be a torment to think that one day, she will sit in that place and make it her home and world. Amber briefly remembered the green house of her world, thinking about how she would still hate spending her entire life there. Amber and Rina were somewhat alike, after all.
 
On the top floor of the main building, there was a chamber with a silver door. It was the only one that broke the monotony of the palace. Inside, to Amber's surprise, there were four people. Half of the council was already with Amber and Asleth hadn't left the green mountains yet, so intrigue overcame her as she saw the fourth person inside. Unfortunately, the girl was covered from head to toe in a white blanket. Ally was next to her, stroking her head.
 
-They're here- affirmed a deep and energetic voice. Lydia, for sure.
 
When they entered, the three silhouettes Amber knew came up to greet her. Lydia had a new scar on her left eye, making her look more austere. Katharine, lit by the window, greeted them with a clueless smile. Of all the heroines, she was the youngest of all, even younger than Amber (she knew she was about 19, in both worlds), having barely turned 18 during the war.
 
-Indeed- Nat said sarcastically who was staring at the witch. Allysanne was hard to miss, with her cardboard-colored pointy hat, haunting red eyes, and her black robe. The sorceress stood out as expected of the leader of the brotherhood of wizards. Amber respected and appreciated her in her own way, even though they were hardly ever together.
 
-What's going on, Ally?- She asked, ignoring the other heroines in the place. Lydia looked at her with disdain when she saw that. She was a proud woman, a natural consequence of hunting beasts that no one else could face. At least no one other than Amber.
 
-Speak witch, why did you call us? - Nat ordered, without patience for the purple haired woman who, at that moment, was kneeling next to a bundle.
 
-Gods- Rina exclaimed. Amber also froze.
 
-Wow, wow, wow- Nat said
 
-What? -Was the only thing she managed to whisper
 
From the bundle, an old blanket noticed her Amber, a girl slowly poked her head out, trembling with fear. She had green hair, so Amber didn't need to see her ears to know that the girl was an elf.
 
Elves were slender, sharp beings, and they were beautiful in their own way. Sometimes Nat reminded her of one, at least until she saw a true elf. The girl was slim, her pointed ears could pierce one eye. Her green hair, long to the middle of her back, was smeared with mud and something white at the ends. She had bright gray eyes that looked at her with a tired expression.
 
 -She is Selene- she said calmly, and a little pity deep down, Ally-she is an elf of the green mountains-
 
-The only one who made it out of there- Lydia said dryly. She looked a little furious.
 
-I found her among the prisoners of the enchanted tower, she had only been among the slaves of wild men and orcs for a few weeks. An achievement that has lived to get here, we lost a dozen other girls along the way- Ally said, the sadness in her voice touched the bottom of Amber's heart; if she was the hero of this world, she was doing a lousy job.
 
-Motherfuckers- Nat murmured. Her lips had closed like needles at the faint mention of the green-skinned creatures. There was a hatred in her that came out at the slightest provocation.
 
-That's not the worst- Lydia continued, Ally and she had done that mission together, it was obvious that they would complement each other -Most of them were elves from Asleth's forces. I think we can arrange that our friend is being attacked, if not that she was already defeated, by the forces of the three times cursed Darkwing-
 
-I don't think Asleth gave up so quickly- Rina interrupted thoughtfully
 
-In that you are right- Amber confirmed -Asleth would not let her people be defeated so quickly, not knowing what awaits them-
 
-No ... I don't think they could have done anything- Katy said, it was the first time she spoke at the council ... And nobody liked her tone.
 
-Asleth is strong- Nat affirmed, furious -I refuse to believe that she did not withstand the attack-
 
-I knew you wouldn't believe me- Ally said -Then get ready-
 
The green-haired girl covered herself with the blanket. A lilac light surrounded her in a perfect, luminous circle, which spread towards Amber and her two companions; slowly at first, then accelerate to engulf the entire room. By this point Amber had already realized that Ally's eyes were shining like two torches, red and dark.
 
The room darkened, filled with magic. Amber had magical power, a very great one, but Ally's spells always surprised her by how powerful she was hers. In the middle of the darkness, a vision slowly appeared of the place, Amber realized that they were more memories than visions.
 
There were some huts built among wood, dozens of people (elves) walked from one side to another with branches and leaves; the elves did not cut down any plants. A girl, the same one who was in the blanket, was walking around in a green dress while she was busy playing and distracting the children from the camp.
 
The memory stayed there for a moment, showing the peaceful lives of the elves. Until a column of black smoke rose in the east. By then, the peaceful village had changed. The torch in the center burned stronger than before, casting shadows all around. White arrows, made from the branches of albino maples, fell from the sky.
 
And the girl, "Selene," Amber thought, stood by the archers, raining death down on row upon row of dark-skinned men, the savages. In this world they were seen as monsters, aberrant beings. Amber didn't really dislike them, but she didn't like them either. Red eyes and black skin, with light or dark gray hair; they weren't people she wanted to go to for help.
 
Then the sounds of battle drowned out in favor of a more unpleasant, carnal sound. Then the complaints began, God if Amber felt sorry for the poor elves who were there.
 
There were a dozen savages and orcs around a few poor girls, whom they were brutally raping. Heads of male elves were on pikes throughout the camp, watching the humiliation of their companions. They weren't riding them with love, they looked like copulating dogs. They screamed and begged for mercy, but the rapists only cared for their own pleasure, entering their private parts with brutality.
 
They were tied with ropes and chains to pieces of wood like those that stop horses. Beneath them were traces of the semen of men who had come before.
 
But, in the center, was the green-haired girl. There were marks on her skin, evidence of the mistreatment that the savages had given her. Hands, whips and even bites, her poor pale skin was reddened in ten different places; her thin, almost nonexistent, breasts were the main focus, but her butt or, god help Amber, her crotch. Her face was streaked with traces of tears and blood, the first of her own, the second of others.
 
But the worst thing was the figure riding her against her will. There was a tall man, taller than anyone in the room. He had bat wings and a wicked smile behind a black beard like a starless sky.
 
-Darkwing !!! - Nat yelled when she saw him.
 
-That coward- Rina muttered silently, more subtle, but just as furious as the pink-haired girl.
 
The vision moved one last time to a tower with blackened forests. Standing there stood the figure of a dozen wizards wearing pointed hats and glittering staffs. It was a prison (or worse, a voice whispered in Amber's head) out in the open where dozens of red and green haired elves were chained to their knees. All of them naked, with semen-stained hair and, some, with early pregnancy bellies.
 
The vision faded, but Amber knew that the memories of that vision would haunt all of her companions for the rest of their life. That was what they were fighting against, those beasts were the ones who wanted to destroy their homes. They couldn't lose.
 
-Do you believe me now?- Ally asked once the darkness had disappeared. Selene looked at them with teary eyes.
 
-Of fucking course- Nat stated. Rina seemed to have given up as well. After that vision, it became clear to everyone that the elves were lost. It was something they had already thought about for weeks, that they should gather their forces and focus on attacking Darkwing instead of trying to save a force that, perhaps, was already lost.
 
The people of Arklyn had a saying: "When the cold and the night falls, some candles have to be darkened so the torches can last a little longer." Amber didn't want to leave anyone behind. "But you have to" said a voice in her head, she had a duty to this world.
 
But doing the right thing and doing her duty weren't aligned.
 
-We have to march east. Selene has confirmed the prophecy of the brotherhood- said Ally -The three bloodlines have to be found in the lonely mountain: The queen, the heiress and the foreigner-
 
-Three queens- continued Katy
 
-Three crimes- Lydia said.
 
-And who are these bloodlines?- Nat asked, knowing something of the answer. There were two pieces to the puzzle.
 
-Amber and Rina are queens by blood- Ally said, how everyone expected. -But we are missing a third member-
 
-Wouldn't my mother be more valid?- Rina asked. Her face was flushed, annoyed at being referred to as "queen."
 
-You are not the queen- Lydia affirmed -You are the heir-
 
-And I'm the foreigner- Amber completed, still thinking about the elves.
 
-Exactly! Now we just need the queen- Katy said, with a carefree smile.
 
But the only queen in Serra was Rina's mother, a woman over 40 with a disease that prevented her from moving her legs and kept her on the brink of death. Rina could be the queen any day now, but the heir would still be missing. In any case, it took one person to achieve the power of prophecy, the one necessary to defeat Darkwing.
 
Unless the solution was in front of her eyes, in front of everyone's. Amber stared at Selene, remembering the dark fate that her friends, the elves, had suffered at the hands of the dark forces.
 
-Ally- she said to get the witch's attention. She spun around, fixing her red eyes on her own eyes. -And if the queen we lack is within our reach? -
 
-What do you mean?- Rina asked, her eyes full of curiosity. Ally's gaze lit up with understanding.
 
-What if the queen is the leader of the elves?- She said, leaving a silence in the room.
 
It was the only thing that made sense, she knew. The elves would be the third lineage: The heroine born in another world, Amber Moonsbright; the human queen, Rina Frost and the elven queen: Asleth Leafy.
 
-Then the thing is easy- Lydia cut, with an excited smile on her face -I was already thinking that I would miss the wyvern that Nathaly faced-
 
-It's very possible- Ally said, focusing on her own thoughts. -Well, it's decided- she said.
 
Amber smiled to herself as Ally began planning the foray into the Green Mountains. She could save the elves, the ones that were left. Lydia, impatient, was the first to leave, accompanied by Selene and Kate, hoping to slip into the enemy ranks. Rina, Nat, and Amber were leaving the next day, accompanied by 100 knights from the defenses of Frostown.
 
Ally, more taciturn, decided that she would accompany them later. The prophecies, and the interpretations of it, had to be discussed with the sorority of wizards and Ally was going to go and discuss with the rest about the prophecy and, their new way of reaching it. Amber regretted not being able to chat with her before she left her.
 
Night fell in Frostown when the ring parted.