"Hnng..."

The blackness began to fade quickly. Deafening silence filled groggy ears. Blue eyes cracked open and fluttered shut again. The light was too bright. The silence was too deep. Every sensation or feeling came through in a jumbled mess. What was this? She didn't even remember falling asleep. Her heart was racing. Her chest felt so tight. Air... Air! She gasped loudly but it was followed by a fit of fearsome coughs. Her lungs felt raw, like they hadn't worked in a long time.

What the hell was going on?

The fallen woman fell into herself. She pushed everything out and focused on her steadying breathing. A little at a time, a bit more each minute. Her heart slowed and the senses that were arry began to function normally again. Those blue eyes peeked open again - but not to a blue sky - but a stone ceiling. Muscles tightened as combat instincts kicked in. The blue-eyed woman looked around, searching for the reason why she'd woken in this strange place. The space surrounding her was sparse to say the least. It was nothing but a large stone room with a single hallway leading towards...somewhere. That tightness in her chest was replaced by a slight weight which caused the woman to look down. "W-Wha...?" She found herself clad in the most illustrious silver and white armor that she'd ever seen. Her eyes gazed in the presence of the armor and trailed her fingers down over the feathers adorning her hips. She didn't get to feel them though because even her hands were encased in a intricate pair of silver gauntlets. Who had put her in this armor? What had happened to her old clothes and weapons? She couldn't question it right now. She needed answers or she at least needed to find out where she was.

The woman stepped off of the crystal throne she'd been sitting on and took a deep breath. Why did she feel so sluggish? So weak? Even with her Storm Goddess Slayer Magic, she should be stronger than this... Had she been drugged somehow? Was that how she'd been strapped into this armor? Too many questions... She pushed them away and slowly made her way forward. She focused on the sound of her metal boots clanking off the stone floor. As she moved along, it wasn't long before she could feel the soft wafting sensation of air caressing her skin. It send a surge of energy through her letharged limbs. Her pace quicked. Oh, how she missed flying, being one with those winds... Anger flashed through her body but she pushed that away too. She hadn't the time to worry about that again. She'd have her revenge for those bastards that took her magic.

In due time.
~~~
The woman kept walking for what felt like hours. How long was this hallway? It felt like hours had gone by before she began to feel the light at the end of the tunnel. As the light intensified, the woman began to slow. It got the point that she had to turn her head away from the light because it was scolding her eyes. Why was her body so sensitive to outside stimuli all of a sudden? The strange thing was that this illuminance wasn't going away. Nor was it getting stronger. The blue-eyed woman blinked a few times but the light was still too bright for her to bear. Still, she could feel a steady warmth radiating forth from it. Something familiar...

"Hello little one."

Her eyes snapped open from shock but cringed shut again. The voice belonged to someone that she never expected to hear again. The Storm Goddess, Ororo.
"How...?" The woman made another sound of surprise. She couldn't speak! Her mouth wouldn't even move! What was going on with her body?! The Goddess seemed to pick up on her distress. "Ah, it would seem your blood was even stronger than I thought." The perplexed woman tried looking at the Goddess full on but the light was still too blinding. "Do not fret now, child. It isn't the time for that. After my blessing was stolen from you and you set about finding the ones called Zeno and Kyll, something inside you awakened by the rage in your heart." The woman's brow furrowed as she recalled the events... The chains, the laughter... "Silence the memories. They will be sated soon enough. For now, you must heed my words."

"While my gift was stolen from you, I have bestowed a new one upon you. That armor you are wearing belongs to my avatar. The one I trust with my will." A feeling of pride yet anxiety fell over the woman. She was thankful, but did she deserve such a gift? "In doing so, not only did I strengthen you, but I also saved you. Your blood is...special, little one. You do not know it now but it will all come to focus in time. Until then, I have a task for you. Hold out your hand. Close your eyes." The woman conceded to the Goddess' will. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and outstretched her right hand. She felt another rush of warmth through her the armor - through her entire hand - and then felt a solid weight. Her fingers clasped a hilt. As her grip tightened, something opened inside her very soul. She could feel liquid strength pour through her veins. This sensation...! All of the woes and fatigue she was feeling before melted before this ambience of power. Those blue eyes opened again and the light was nothing now. She gazed down at the beautiful sword in her hand. She narrowed her eyes a bit as she even spied a barrel and some sort of firing mechanism as well. Was this a gunblade? They were one of the most expensive weapons someone could own and Ororo had gifted her one that held some otherworldy power. The woman stood up and looked her Goddess in the eye. She was surprised to see the being smiling. She looked pleased.

"I'm glad to see that your spirit is stronger than even the blood that runs through your veins. Now, my task is simple, yet far from easy. The friends you seek - Zeno and Kyll, it is imperative that you find them. You must find the Aspects of the Arcane. They are far more important to the fabric of the universe than most will admit. As you do that, your own power will grow. But you must take heart. Your blood will either be your saviour or you downfall. Now go, my Avatar. Find the Aspects. When you do... I will find you again."

The Knight - who had been kneeling to her Patron - looked up as the Goddess phased away into the heavens. She gripped the sword in her hand tightly as she stood up and took a deep breath. "It shall be done."

Alye Reyold set out on her quest.