Light slowly filtered into the interior, falling through the stained glass windows that lined the chapel’s walls, dyeing the room in a multitude of colours. Around the periphery of the room scented candles burned, dousing the room in elegant and sensual aromas. All around there were desks covered in strange books and other numerous oddities.

Ahead a mass of silks and linens hung loosely from the ceiling drooping down over where the altar would have once sat. Within this palace of silk a figure could be seen, her shadow dancing in the candlelight.

“What was so important for you to come marching in here then?” A voice spoke, breaking through the silence of the chapel. Each and every word feeling like it was trying to reach out and caress your very soul.

Both Noelle and Alice quickly looked at one another before breaking the silence, "Alice has managed to get herself into a small predicament." Noelle began, stepping towards Risha.

"Oh... what would that be? It wouldn’t be a man would it.. you do remember what I told you? Don’t you Alice?”

“Of course..” Alice answered, a scowl breaking through her expressionless facade.

"So what then?"

"She managed to get herself caught up in a three way war over a certain object... which we are now currently in possesion of." Noelle explained.

"Go on Noelle, don’t hold details back..."

"The object in question is a case, a briefcase to be exact, within which is housed roughly one and a half million marks."

"Is this from the incident yesterday, the one from the financial district correct?"

"Yes... How di-"

"Noelle... I’m disappointed in you, I trusted you to look after Alice and yet here she is getting into all sorts of trouble. Not to mention you took so long to contact me about it." Risha interjected, her words cutting Noelle off.

"It seems to me you already knew about all of this..." Noelle retorted in displeasure.

"Of course I knew about it! Who do you think I am?"

"A crazy bitch..." Alice muttered under her breath.

"Mind your tongue Alice, lest it be removed," Risha snapped, her mood shifting drastically.

"..."

"Oh? Didn’t you think I couldn’t hear that?"

"Risha? Back to the matter at hand?" Noelle interjected, frowning heavily.

"Of course. Now Noelle, why did you come here? Just to tell me what I already knew? No, you came here to seek something, a favour perhaps? So what would this be? My aid, in exchange for what? What could you offer me that I’d desire..."

"The money! All one and a half million, it’s yours. To do whatever you want with it, just help us... no, me out of this mess." Alice declared, jumping forward.

"And why pray tell, would I do any of that?" Risha replied, seemingly uninterested.

"What do you mean? It’s one and a half million marks for one thing... Not chump change!"

"How naive! That amount of money is mere pocket change for me... do you know how much money flows through this place in a single day?"

"Why would I?"

"Well I’ll enlighten you on your ignorance... I make roughly twice that paltry amount in one day, and that’s just from this one Brothel. Not to mention the countless other lines of business I run."

"Okay..."

"Alice, Noelle seems to of forgotten to teach you, that when playing any game, you do need to have something to bet with. And unfortunately, the two of you currently have nothing to wager in this game of ours."

"We might not have something to wager but we do have something you desire, right?" Noelle explained, her voice softly echoing throughout the room.

"You do? What could I desire so badly that I’d involve myself in this mess? Go on tell me then, don’t waste my time!"

"It’s simple really, we’ll give you the one and a half million as well as allowing you to keep your precious toy, Alice safe."

"Ahhhaha, so you thought to use my interest against me, did you Noelle?" Risha giggled, parting the silks with a delicate wave of her hand.

Almost instantly, Alice felt herself drawn into Risha’s presence. Her delicate features and pale skin struck out in contrast to her long flowing black hair that draped itself across her waif like body, which in turn was concealed within a gilded robe made from the most lavish silks and satins. Yet what stood out the most about her appearance were her eyes, not unlike pearls in appearance. There they sat within their sockets, empty and white, blind to the world before them.

“Noelle, most people say I have the appearance of a goddess... That I enthral them with my presence but when I look at Alice... I find myself enthralled instead.” Her silken words seemed to cut right through Alice’s soul.

This woman before her, with her alluring appearance was deep down as cold blooded as a gigantic snake. Her silken words became her forked tongue that tasted the air, helping her constrict her prey and after she had left them with nowhere to run, she would devour them whole. Alice gulped knowing that one day that might just become her fate as well, her life devoured by this sorceress.

“I am a being who in our small world has almost absolute power, my domain, my castle is unbreakable. There are things only I can see, even with eyes such as mine. I have seen the futures of great men, yet.. with you I see none of this, it is hidden behind a veil of pitch black. This excites me more than any pleasure I have known in the last three hundred and seventy eight years I have lived!” She continued, a flash of bliss and excitement lighting up her sightless eyes.

"Enough of your life story... And please, stop trying to seduce a fifteen year old girl..." Noelle hissed, snapping Alice back to reality.

"Oh my! Noelle, sorry if I made you jealous."

"... Not at all, but you have gone to great extents to keep Alice out of harm’s way before so why not now?"

"Simple really, I do this purely out of self interest and currently I see no reason to.” Risha replied, shocking the room into silence.

Alice almost wanted to cower in this woman’s presence. Her fixation on her was no more than a passing hobby and Alice knew, she’d be thrown away as soon as was no longer entertaining. That woman, despite her waif-like figure and delicate features was one of the main powers that ruled over this city and for a good reason. She could be utterly ruthless and had the strength to crush those who opposed her like they were nothing more than ants.

Alice was bound to this woman this she knew all too well. With her fate resting in the palms of such a woman she always tried her best to avoid upsetting her yet there were still times she had befallen her wrath. It was vindictive and spiteful as only a woman could be, however it wasn’t the physical abuse she feared the most. Even with all of this Alice was still thankful for the roof over her head and the relative safety that Risha’s name could provide.

"You see no reason to? What about that whole spiel of how you feel enthralled by her and how being unable to see her future excites you more than you can imagine!?" Noelle ranted, the anger evident on her face.

"Destiny is a fixed path Noelle, one unencumbered by the attempts of even the most powerful Magicians, Mages, Sorcerers and Witches. Nothing I do will ever divert the path given to her. And while you’re right that Alice’s future does excite me, I merely want to witness it as it unfolds before my eyes. Nothing more, nothing less."

"So everything you’ve ever done to me is just for some sick sense of passing amusement, like what one would experience from seeing a film for the first time..." Alice cried, her voice straining in agony.

"Exactly, all of this is why I entrusted you to Noelle, Alice. Because I believed she could look after you in a way that I was unable to... Though it seems she’s been too lenient with your upbringing..."

"I’ve what? You dare say that to my face! What would you have me do, torment and beat her into submission like you used to do?" Noelle roared, her magical power soaring in anger.

"Noelle! Calm down." Alice desperately pleaded, standing in front of her, blocking Noelle’s path.

"Alice! Get out of my way! This bitch has gone too f-."

"I’m bored of this... Shall we take this elsewhere Alice?" Risha inquired, clicking her finger as she did so.

In an instant the scenery changed. The multicoloured interior of silks and candles disappearing, in it’s place a darkness formed, devouring everything in it’s path, leaving only Alice and Risha in it’s wake. Desperately Alice searched, spinning about in the darkness trying to locate Noelle.

"It’s no use, it’s only me and you here now Alice." Risha chimed, an elegant golden throne materialising beneath her.

"Where are we? Where’s Noelle!" Alice screamed, demanding an answer.

"She’s exactly where she’s always been, stood to your left by about five paces."

"Then why can’t I see her!"

"Because I wanted to talk in private, just the two of us. So I used a little bit of my magic to make it possible."

"You did what?"

"I created an illusion... well multiple one’s. Allowing me to separate you and Noelle, now please do take a seat." Risha explained, motioning towards the beanbag that slowly emerged from the darkness before Alice.

Alice didn’t budge, desperately trying to figure a way out of this predicament, her mind racing with countless thoughts and ideas. She’d already tried to cast her magic as soon as the darkness swallowed her, to no avail. This world seemed to be under the complete control of it’s caster, Risha.

"Don’t do anything silly Alice, I know what you’re thinking and it won’t work. So please, sit down." Risha stated, once again motioning towards the beanbag.

Reluctantly Alice gave in, sitting down heavily on the beanbag, it’s squishy exterior engulfing her. As she did so the room around her transformed again, the darkness being replaced with a beautiful vista of the countryside, complete with green fields and idyllic streams, while off in the distance, mountains charged, striking upwards towards the sky.

Alice was lost for words, her mind unable to keep up with the constantly changing scenery. Seeing this Risha spoke, her words soft and gentle, "Beautiful isn’t it? It’s from a fond memory of my youth."

"I don’t see what showing me this has to do with what we were talking about, from the sounds of it, you were this close to throwing us out the door," Alice recounted, her fingers mere millimeters apart.

"True... I was getting tired of Noelle’s endless pratteling..."

"So why are we now talking?"

"Because I feel you might be able to offer me something Noelle couldn’t."

"Like what? As I’ve said I only have the one and a half million to offer you and you’ve turned that down."

"Yes, a paltry and insignificant sum. What I want is something more personal... more intimate. Something you’ve denied me countless times before."

Alice ground her teeth, her expression changing drastically. "You’re asking for that?"

"Yes, a small and insignificant sum... but one I desire."

"Insignificant to you maybe..."

"That may be... but it’s all I’m willing to accept in this matter."

"And If I refuse?"

"Nothing. I’ll release you and you’ll go on your merry little way, back into the outside world where people want to kill you. Though... I can’t say the same for Noelle." Risha smugly responded, a cold smile spreading across her face.

"You bitch! Leave Noelle out of this!" Alice demanded, standing up.

“She’s disappointed me Alice... And you know those who disappoint me must be punished.”

"That may be... but I won’t let you lay a hand on her!" Alice declared, gathering her magical power, ready to strike.

"Sit down... there’s nothing you can do here, remember? I control this world."

"True, but that’s only because you displaying these illusions, if I can managed to break free then, then we’re playing an entirely different game." Alice snorted, completely enveloping herself in her magic power.

Risha frowned, as slowly but surely cracks began to form in the world around Alice. She knew it wouldn’t be long till Alice broke free from this Illusion, so with a loud click of her fingers she dispelled it, returning them to the familiar interior of the chapel. Noelle standing a few paces behind Alice blinked vigorously trying to assure herself of what was real.

"Alice..?" She questioned, unsure of the world around her.

"Noelle!?" Alice yelled in joy, promptly spinning on her heels and jumping straight for her.

"What’s going on?" Noelle murmured, as Alice continued to desperately cling onto her, tears in her eyes.

"Risha played a trick on us, trapping us in her illusions." Alice quickly explained.

"Then how did we get free?"

"I-I-I... D-Don’t know..." Alice stammer, unsure of the reason herself.

"It’s simple I released you both." Risha interrupted, disturbing the girl’s tear filled reunion.

"Why..?"

"Simple, so I can let Noelle know of the deal I offered you... well that and another one I just came up with."

"And they would be?" Noelle murmured, her breath seemingly ragged and uneven.

"They are as follows... Option one: Alice accepts the deal I offered to her, binding her soul to mind, giving me unprecedented access to her every waking moment, an action she has so bluntly refused on numerous occasion, all in exchange for my help... or option two: I let Alice go free, not a single hair out of place and you Noelle, you stuffer for both your and her transgressions. Assuring my protection once again."

"You’re out of your mind!" Alice shrieked, bearing her teeth in anger.

"Alice... Alice."

"What Noelle? Don’t tell me you’re considering it? Don’t tell me you’re considering giving yourself up for me... I won’t accept it!"

"It’s looking like our only option..." Noelle solemnly responded, biting her lip.

"I’m not accepting it!" Alice thundered, a fireball burning brightly in her right hand.

"And here I thought we’d talk like adults?" Risha sarcastically remarked, clicking her fingers, summoning the darkness once more, swallowing Alice with ease, pinning her in place.

"Let me go! Let me go god damn it! Risha!" Alice roared, her anger growing more and more violent as every seconds passed.

"Now that that’s been dealt with, what do you say Noelle?" Risha questioned, turning her head to face her.

"Do you promise me she’ll be left unharmed?"

"Of course, you have my word."

With that Noelle slowly stepped towards Risha, her steps unsteady, rocked her body back and forth. Alice unable to move, continued to desperately scream until her voice gave out. Yet Noelle continued on, walking past Alice and kneeling before Risha, her head hung low. Slowly Risha lowered her hands embracing Noelle’s head, in the next instant her magic power savagely flowed out, causing Noelle to break out in a blood curdling scream of agony.

It was several minutes before a silent sobbing could be heard, replacing the deafening cries from a few moments earlier. "Noelle... Noelle..." Alice cried in anguish, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Then suddenly from the darkness a voice emerged, whispering into Alice’s ear, "Now that was a depressing scene, wasn’t it? Have you changed your mind now?" It questioned, as hands appeared from the darkness, slowly wrapping around Alice’s face, caressing it gently.

"Huh?" Alice questioned, her distraught mind unable to comprehend what was happening to her.

"Oh my... I didn’t think this would have such a great effect on you. I had so many illusions I wanted to try on you, especially the one where Noelle threatens to; ’cut off my bloody head and mount it on a stake, for everyone to see’. I honestly thought the despair from having that reality crumble around you would of tipped you over the edge... Oh well. All that matters is the end result." The voice continued, it’s cheerful disposition instantly recognisable.

"R-Risha..."

"Correct! Well done Alice, how’d you like my little show there?"

"..."

"Stunned speechless? I would be too if I’d just witnessed a loved one tortured to death... even if it was an illusion."

"You... Bitch..."

"I thought I told you to mind your tongue young lady. Noelle really hasn’t done a good job of disciplining that foul mouth of yours, has she?"

"Where is Noelle?"

"The same place she was the last time you asked, trapped safely within my illusions. Now... if you want to free her, and yourself, I suggest you do as I say. Unless that is you want her to suffer as you have?"

"Fuck... You..."

"Now that is a shame. As you know Alice, unlike you Noelle doesn’t have the ability to break free from my illusions. So why don’t you just wait here while I do pay her a visit?" Risha mockingly replied, disappearing into the shadows once more.

"Fuck this! Fuck her! I am getting out of here, and so is Noelle," Alice thought to herself.

Outside the illusion, Risha slowly strolled across the stone flagged floor, heading straight towards Noelle, impish smile across her lips. She was enjoying this, more so than she’d enjoyed anything in quite a while. Noelle had always been a straight edged bore and her master made her a hard woman to get close to when he was in town. And she had brought Alice, the gem of her affection and attention, getting to see her twisted and pained face brought her so much pleasure, she had trouble containing it.

Standing mere inches away from Noelle, Risha stopped, something grabbing her attention. Behind her, to her right, a silhouette shone vividly, their presence emanating an almost peerless amount of magic power. Inside this well of surging energy Alice stood, her hands clenched ever so tightly, with blood dripping onto the floor below.

"Damn it!" Risha thought, cursing her foolishness.

Alice had already demonstrated her ability to escape Risha’s illusions, yet she’d thought the mental trauma would’ve been enough to hamper her attempts. She should’ve know that it would’ve only caused her magic to surge along with her emotions, using it as kindling, allowing her magic powers to burn hotter and hotter. There was almost no time to react, as magic power overflowed into the chamber battering into Risha and Noelle And in the center of the storm Alice stood, an aura of mana coursing across the surface of her body.

"Impressive..." Risha muttered, surprised at just how much progress Alice had made in the past few years.

In the next moment a giant plume of fire barrelled into Risha, forcing her backwards. "Hmmm... You’ve managed to not only learn [Single Chant Casting] but [Null-Invocation Casting] as well. That’s is quite a feat for someone so young." Risha commented, emerging from the fire completely unharmed.

"Get out my way Risha." Alice growled, marching towards where Noelle stood, frozen in place.

Stepping back Risha silently observed, wanting to wait for the opportune moment to intervene. She knew that in a fight between the two of them, one mistake could cost her greatly. Yet Alice continued past her, ignoring her entirely and focusing on Noelle completely.

Seeing this Risha couldn’t help but chide Alice for her foolishness, "Nothing you do will break her from my illusion Alice! She hasn’t got the same talent as you do."

Hearing this Alice turned her gaze from Noelle, facing Risha instead. "Is that so? What if I beat you down and force you to undo it? Will that work?" She rebutted, a fearless grin breaking out across her face.

"You impudent brat! Very well, let me educate you on the vast difference in our abilities."

At this Alice stepped back away from Noelle, wanting to put distance between her and the action, making sure she’d remain unharmed. As she did so she sent the surging magical energy into her hands and arms, reinforcing them for what she was about to do. Once she confirmed that the magic had succeeded she quickly summoned two fireballs, one in each hand, that burned ferociously.

"More fireballs?" Questioned Risha, her face showing evident distant at the perceived mockery.

"You’ll only hurt yourself with something of that level. This will hardly be worth my time..." She continued, relaxing her posture slightly.

"Then just wait for what I’m about to do!" Alice exclaimed, further reinforcing her magic power.

Slowly before everyone’s eyes the fireballs began to constrict, burning brighter and brighter as they did so, causing steam to rise from the surroundings. As soon as they constricted to the size of her palm quickly flicked her wrists back before grasping her hands tightly around the fireballs, making them disappear from sight. Then without warning Alice’s forearms erupted in flame, tearing her jacket to shreds.

"[Elemental Resonance]?" Risha questioned, murmuring to herself in surprise.

That brief moment of surprise was enough for Alice, who charged rapidly at Risha, her flaming fists sat raised, ready to strike. Like a flash she closed the distance, leaping the last few feet. Aiming directly at Risha’s face a blow struck out, connecting cleanly, a large eruption of flame bellowing out in it’s wake.

Before the dust had even settled, Alice stepped back, ever so slightly, shifting her weight and using the recoil from the first impact to launch a second blow. This struck cleanly as well, a second eruption of flame exploding out around the impact. Gritting her teeth she stepped in a third time, her first arcing upwards in a vicious uppercut, it’s impact causing a rain of cinders and ash to fall all around the chamber.

"Well I am impressed" a voice crispy and clean declared, the playfully tone aggravating Alice further.

Directly in front of Alice, Risha stood, as she had done before Alice launcher her attacks. There she stood, completely unscathed, a fine outline of magic shimmering softly around her.

"Damn you!" Alice bellowed, her magic power surging once more.

In desperation Alice summoned more and more magic power, letting it overflow haphazardly into the surroundings. She knew she had no chance at beating Risha unless she exhausted all her energy in this last attack. Raising her hands above her she began to chant a magic circle appearing beneath her.

"[Earthen King’s Grand Spear]! God damn this fool..." Risha cursed, recognising the chant.

"[Earthan King’s Grand Spear]!" Alice yelled, grasping her hands together and slamming them down towards the ground.

"[Sovereignty]!" Risha called, her own magic power swelling, devouring the room within it’s raging currents.

Once it died down, calm was once more brought to the room after the raging storm from moments before. Alice sat crouched, her magic power thoroughly depleted, leaving her breathing heavily and unable to stand. Yet while her body sat defeated her eyes still stared at Risha fiercely, their will unbroken.

"I think we’ll call it there for today." Risha sighed, her presence much weaker than before.

"..."

"Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything to you... Or Noelle. Though I’m sure if I tried something right now she’d probably cut me down before I could do anything." She remarked, staring towards Noelle, who stood their, a look of confusion evidently plastered across her face.

"What the hell happened? Last thing I remember was... Wait Risha this was your doing! What did you do!"

"I just had a little fun Noelle, that’s all. Though... It might of gotten a bit out of hand."

"A little bit of fun?" Alice scoffed, dragging herself off the floor.

"Well... maybe more than a little bit of fun... But! All the same Alice here has struck a deal and I will endeavour to resolve this issue she has caused for herself." Risha joyfully explained, sitting back down upon her pile of silks.

"I did what now?" Alice exclaimed, almost lost for words.

"Yeah I don’t think Alice looks like she’d done anything of the sort Risha..." Noelle chimed in.

"Well either way, it’s all resolved so everything is okay! Correct?"

"Hell no!" Both girls shouted in refusal.

"You’ve still got to pay for trying to hurt Noelle!"

"Yeah... Wait! What? Explain..?"

"While I’d love to continue this strange comedy routine with you... I do infact have other prior engagements to see to. So I will have to ask we continue this another time." Risha insisted, her words almost ushering the two to the door.

"Hmmm... Okay." Noelle responded, still unsure of what on earth was going on.

"Wait! Noelle..." Alice cried, her face still red in anger.

"Look Alice, the way I see it. We’ve done what we set out to do, jobs done. Let’s go home. There’s no point pushing Risha, it’ll only hurt us now. You get what I’m saying?"

"Not really... but you think this is the right plan, don’t you." Alice responded, her voice sounding quite despondent.

"It’s the only one I’ve got..." Noelle sheepishly replied, smiling idiotically.

"Then I guess I’ll trust your dumb idea." Alice retorted, hugging Noelle gently as they walked towards the exit.

"One question before you leave Noelle?" Risha interjected, a sickly smile on her lips.

"What?" Noelle snapped back, stopping in place.

"Where is this briefcase?"

"I thought you’d know where it is?"

"Cut the humour and answer me Noelle."

"It’s in the our safe, back at the store. Mihai’s [Fortification] is on it and he’s on standby in the store. So don’t worry it is in the safest of hands." Noelle retaliated, her words cutting the air sharply.

"Yes, it certainly is with Mihai around..."

"Oh, Risha?"

"Yes?"

"I’ve got one more thing to say before we leave: You dare do anything like this again or anything to harm Alice. I mean a single hair out of place, one extra scratch or bruise, anything! And I’ll come back here, cut off your bloody head and mount it on a stake, for everyone to see! Am I clear?"

"Crystal..." Risha begrudgingly acknowledged. Leaving Noelle and Alice to exit into the world outside the chapel.

Next Chapter: Intermission II: Enjoy The Silence