Sonnia skipped across the barren fields without a care in the world, her bare feet crunching over rocks and dirt, the air had a faint smell of corpses. In the distance she saw what seemed to be a decent sized village. It had two levels, the first level looked more for commoners, having homes and basic shops. The second level however was made of smooth stone, having more taller buildings that were better put together. Around the east side of the city there were a series of stone statues standing next to each other in tight formation roughly eight feet tall. It took over a decent chunk of the whole village.

  Then on the outskirts there were people working the fields along with a pasture full of livestock. Then small groups of soldiers walking around in leather armor wielding shields and swords. Working alongside the farmers were massive stone golems about 10 feet tall that were plowing the fields in slow mechanical walking. Following behind them were people holding up their hands as if controlling them. When Sonnia got closer more eyes started watching her from multiple groups, one of the soldiers approached her.

  “Sorry miss, we aren't accepting newcomers right now, I’ll have to ask you to return from where you came, we got our own issues right now.”

  She smiled at him with an innocent smile while she had her staff resting on her shoulders.

  “Ummmm nope, I don’t have anywhere to go back to and I am filthy. I want a bath and a place to rest that isn’t a stone road, soooo I’ll be going in, thank you!”

  She tried walking past him ignoring his presence, but the guard grabbed her arm firmly. Not with the intent to hurt Sonnia though.

  “I said back off. This is your warning.”

  Yet despite his hand on her arm, she continued to walk forward dragging him with her as if he didn’t exist at all. He strained himself, planting his boots into the ground, but he continued moving with her. He was forced to let go and then blew into a whistle which signaled other soldiers to come help.

  “We got a runner, help! She’s a stubborn one, send a golem!”

  A few more soldiers ran forward trying to restrain her, while in the background another man channeled energy into his hands and a golem stopped walking in its designated path, now slamming its feet slowly towards Sonnia.

  “Lady stop , we are trying to help you. Back off before we get physical. No one is allowed inside, caretakers orders.”

  Together the four men managed to stop Sonnia from walking. Sonnia then turned around looking at them frowning but her eyes looked more annoyed. She slammed her head into one of the guys' heads forcing him to the ground, he went unconscious from the blunt force. Her forehead bruised from the impact, her head sore but it didn’t slow her down. She smiled at the pain then pushed another soldier off, forcing him to the ground with a sudden slam. The other two men backed off drawing their sword and readying their shields at Sonnia.

  “Ooooooooo weapons out! Now I can have fun.”

  She watched and waited for the first man to strike as the golem stomped near at a slow pace being followed by the man. Sonnia’s free hand readied a spell as her hand glowed red and the scent of wine filled the air. The first soldier rushed forward with his sword aiming at her arm, still trying to subdue her without killing her. Before his attack could connect, Sonnia made a red magical shield that spawned from her hand. The man’s sword bouncing off of it, he had little time to react before the same shield smacked his face knocking him down onto the ground. He went unconscious from the bash.

  The other two stood ready watching her nervously with another soldier joining the frey. They spread out now surrounding her on three different sides. Each readying their sword and shields, Sonnia stood tall, she stretched her arms little without a warning she swung her staff into the ground scraping dirt into one of the guard's eyes. He protected his face with his hand but Sonnia quickly took advantage of his opening with a punch to his gut. The force of the punch was felt through his armor as if he had been wearing nothing he fell to his knees groaning.

  She lowered himself to his face smiling looking at him while he gasped for air. She was about to mock him but in her back she felt two consecutive stabs, on her shoulder and another on her lower ribs. The two men stepped back, one leaving his sword in her lower back. She stood and faced them ignoring the hunk of metal sticking out of her. Then with a small giggle.

  “Hehe, you would attack a woman when she has her back turned to you? That’s not nice…no manners.”

  Immediately she rushed the man who didn’t have his weapon swinging her staff at him, he didn’t have time to hold up his shield before instantly getting smacked in the face being forced to the ground he was knocked out cold. The last guard held up his sword, sweating and noticeably freaked out. He kept his guard up, while slowly backing away. Sonnia kept matching his pace, keeping a clean four feet distance from him no matter what he tried.

  “Where are you going? Your backing into the village you didn’t want me in….isnt that what this is over?”

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  Brshh Brshh Brshh.

  The golem approached, now caught up and stood obediently behind Sonnia. A mage from a distance channeled energy in his hands.

  “That’s enough leave him be or I’ll be forced to sic him on you, your no match for pure stone no matter how strong you are. Surrender now, you are under arrest.”

  Sonnia turned around looking at him and then to the golem as her back leaked out blood from the sword.

  “Mmmmmmm. I don’t want to be arrested. I refuse your kind offer.”

  She immediately rushed the golem with her staff ready to smack the stone into dust, it raised its arm in a slow manner about to punch her down. Sonnia slid in the ground, ducking under its fist, she smacked its leg with her staff leaving a small crack. The golem’s fist left a mini dent in the clay soil from its strong fist. She looked at the hole and whistled.

  “That wouldn’t have been good. That thing hits hard! Lets go for round two!”

  She readied her fist and started punching the golem’s legs. She did no damage to it but still kept repeatedly punching it. The golem turned around clenching its fist, then suddenly going in for another attack. She was about to dodge when she heard a voice in her head, the other her.

  “I’m ending this Sonnia, I won’t watch you terrorize another city.”

  Dark Sonnia quickly shook off her voice but it was too late she took the golems punch clean to her face. A tooth flew out of her mouth along with blood that seeped out of her mouth and nose. She looked up weakly with a sarcastic smile.

  “Damn you So…nnia always ruining my fun….ouch.”

  Her eyes slowly closed and she went unconscious, more guards surrounded her dumbfounded on what just happened.

  “What the heck was that about? That was insane. Is she dead?”

  Another man poker with his sheathed sword.

  “No, looks like she is just unconscious…..she is only unconscious? That’s scary to say out loud. She took a golem hit head on.”

  The man controlling the golem walked over kneeling down at her with a frown.

  “Let’s arrest her and lock her up, she wanted in so badly now. She can bear the curse with us. Maybe she’ll be of use, anything is possible these days. Worse comes to worse she’ll have uses after dying.”

  The men agree and hoist her up, even unconscious she holds onto her staff as if her life depended on it, with few men tried to pry it out of her hands but to no avail. They finally stopped, deciding to take her limp body along with her weapon into the cell. Carrying her through town, it busy enough. With many holes leading below the city. People at work repairing houses, a man pulling a small cart ringing bells with bodies in it. Children playing tag in a alleyway with soldiers in light leather armor walking around patrolling. The guards taking Sonnia approached a building with big bold letters spelling Jail on it. They opened the door and a man in Chainmail stood up quickly looking at the woman.

  “What the heck happened to her?”

  The first man spoke while holding Sonnia over his arms.

  “She tried coming into the city and fought us, she is crazy, took a golem to bring her down. We are bringing her in, hopefully only for a day or two.”

  The jailor shook his head looking at Sonnia.

  “Fine, stick her with Freeg, I’ll handle it from there. Maybe she’s a drunk adventurer or something.”

  They took her down the hall, a bunch of empty cells were laid out, a heavy gate opened where she was thrown in with a frail older human wearing a simple dress and flowing green hair. She sat in the corner of a cell humming to a flower in a pot. After seeing Sonnia tossed in the woman approached curiously observing her and looking at her arms. There was a stale smell in the air as if the hallway itself was never cleaned. In the ceiling was a opening that let sunlight pour in.

  “What did they do to you? Gods they lost their mind, oh sweet flower please give this woman your vitality, heal her.”

  She tore a petal from the flower and slipped it into Sonnia’s mouth, the pollen from it made Sonnia glow a little as if a spell was being cast which then quickly faded out. The bruise was a little bit lighter along with the wound on Sonnia’s back pacing itself back together. The woman then coughed aggressively as a bit of blood went onto her lips. She smiled and sat back against the stone wall smiling.

  “Another soul saved…..I should rest as well.”

  Closing her eyes to rest with a faint smile, she almost blinked; the window above had no natural light. Faint torch light was flowing in barely illuminating the room, and Sonnia, now conscious, was crouched in front of her, looking with a curious look.

  “Hellooooo, I am Sonnia. What’s your name?”

  Sonnia waited patiently staring at the woman now with. Goofy smile. The woman calmly responded.

  “I am Freeg healer of sorts.”

  She held up her flower which itself was a purple rose that had pollen on its petals that seemed to glow lightly.”

  “This is Marm, a special magical flower that protects the city.”

  Sonnia stared at the flower closely but gave in with a smile and played along waving at the flower.

  “Hello Marm, I am Sonnia!”

  Sonnia then turned her head around looking at the cell and its bars.

  “Where are we? I was having fun and poof here I am and my mouth tasted awful!”

  Freeg looked at her with a confused smile while holding her flower close cradling it with love.

  “This is Lowmere. The city of the silent dominion. We have our issues but it’s a great place to live. The upcoming festival is a marvelous sight, we wanna make Veythe happy.”

  Sonnia frowned, she walked to the bars and lightly tuggied at them.

  “Veythe? Veythe. Veythe! I know her, Lyra used to worship her. The dead woman god.”

  Freeg stared confused at Sonnia and her remarks.

  “Yes…Veythe the mother beneath. This is her region, the silent dominion. She helped us become what we are. Thanomacy is a blessing to us all. Death is only the beginning.”

  Sonnia giggled at those words straightening out her robes then asked.

  “Is there a place I can take a bath? I am filthy. Then we can gossip about Veythe….Thats all I wanted to begin with.”

  Freeg looked with a smile at her.

  “Sadly no baths in jail, but least I don’t mind the smell, it’s not so bad. Maybe we can get you one later.”

  Making a pouty face Sonnia looked at her then to her lips and leaned in closer to Freeg.

  “You're bleeding? Did you get hurt?”

  Freeg touched her lip the looking at the blood and wiped it off using her clothes.

  “No…I am sick, least have been since I was a child. My body has been fighting it best it can. Sadly it’s not winning. Marm has been the reason I've lived so long. She’s a magical flower that chose me as her friend.”