SCENE 2: TREASON

Two rows of sentinels stood facing inward on either side of a red carpet. Their tall, brass helmets hiding disciplined faces that stared forward blankly.

The corridor was long and well-lit, and the walls were adorned with sharp, angular designs made from copper and gold. Footsteps echoed coldly down the walkway as two court members strode through ceremonially, their metallic and purple gowns trailing on the ground behind them.

Gaia stood still, facing the row of silent guards opposite her and listening out for the nearing footsteps of the two figures. They approached, and she thought through her movements; the amulet around her neck pulsing with energy.

She would only get one chance to do this, and if she stumbled, she knew that it would be her end. She was already risking her life by carrying an unauthorised spell in the center of the sanctuary.

Once the two council members were close enough, Gaia lifted her gloved hand from her side and moved it quickly upwards. As soon as she did so, one -- then both of them turned to face her, alerted at the sight of a sentinel moving out of line. Gaia saw the one closer to her opening his mouth to say something just as she slid two fingers between the buttons of her shirt collar to touch the amulet. As soon as her fingertips came to contact with the warm metal, a blue aura exploded outwards from the piece of jewelry and shrouded everything and everyone within 20 metres of her in a bubble of magic.

Time was stopped before the council member could say anything and Gaia began moving, stepping from the row of Sentinels as quickly as she could towards the council member. She lifted his hand up to remove his ring, hearing the breaking of bone as his hand and his wrist moved while the rest of his arm attempted to remain frozen in time. She took her glove off and slipped the ring onto her own finger, feeling control flowing into her body. Gaia willed for the two kill-rods at the sides of her helmet to loosen, and with a flick of her wrist, the ring pulsed and the metal cylinders fell with a clatter onto the red carpet.

Next, she carefully took the ornamented key from around the neck of the council member and pocketed it. She had been counting in her head, and knew she only had seven seconds before the spell ended, so she began sprinting down the corridor, taking the first turn which she saw, through a door into a narrower and less guarded passage. In an instant, the blue shimmer that had coated the air came spiraling back into the piece of metal hanging from her neck. A second later, she heard the ringing of the alarm, and the two sentinels patrolling in the hallway turned and drew their swords...

SCENE 1: PURPOSE

Gaia awoke. She had dreamt the truth, as all sentinels do, but this truth was unlike any she had ever seen or felt. It took her a minute to process everything she'd witnessed, and when she closed her eyes she could still see the galaxies colliding and fragments of everything still floating in space.

Gaia thought of what she had seen in her dream. There was so much. So much that was going to happen and so much that needed to happen. The places and the people were so different but they were all part of it, somehow.

She pictured the light where everything belonged.

She understood, but she knew the Court would now. She knew that if she told them what she had seen she would likely be exiled. Or worse.

And yet, this was bigger than her. Bigger than the Court and Visil itself. She knew that what she had to do was both out of willingness and understanding, but also out of responsibility.

And she knew she would be alone doing it.