Chapter 2: Princess of the Abyss

A quiet fog filled world that seems ever stretch until eternity, it's embrace warm and comforting. Two giant blurry figures look down while speaking, their words almost entirely incomprehensible expect for a single sentence where the clarity in their words drown everything out.

The smaller of the two figures sitting down with their back leaned upon something looks down softly as they speak. 

"... we're sor... love... never forget w... Your name is Ashai, It means to 'live free' my..."

The words once again returning to being incomprehensible. Uncaring for Ashai's confusion the world around her keeps moving despite her efforts to interact with the two beings. Slowly and gently the larger of the two wrap their arms around her. Impatient and compelled by something that Ashai could not understand they began to leave the smaller figure in the distance. 

Ashai feeling an ever rising fear struggles with all of her might to reach out for them desperately wanting them not go. Despite all of her efforts it is no use as the world begins to fade rapidly. Leaving Ashai with her small outstretched hand grasping at nothing other than the cold biting winter air. Left with nothing but a pain she doesn't understand, she begins to weep weakly. Her cry raspy, sounding painful to even come out echo out into the surrounding tree line beneath her.

In stark contrast to the young child curled up sitting in the crown of a tree sorrowfully crying aloud, the base of said tree and across the forest edge around it are a sprawl of hardened mercenaries merrily drinking and eating their night away. Just a quick glance upon these monsters wearing human skin will let you know that most of them are no sell sword willing to bear their arms for the right price. No these are killers and slaughters who have sunk into the deepest pits of their own desires without any intention of ever coming up. 

"Holy gaze of Nezarene is her crying creepy" a young man new to their band, sitting with a group near one of the fires joked expecting some the rest to laugh along. Instead like a cold wind blew in everything went quiet and deathly still. Noticing the atmosphere around the fire and confusion on the boys face one of the older men in the group stood up to walk around.

Giving a fake cough and a light wave with one of his hands to signal to move on to the rest of the group he finally sits down. Taking a big gulp of his drink he finally turns to the new recruit with a smirk on his face. "little confused ain't ya boy? hmm?" earning him a scowl and glare in return. Speaking up before the boy can say anything "now now, you gotta get better at hiding those emotions. hehe I know watcha thinking 'yeah yeah I know I gots to looks tough to get respect around a group like this', buuutt no, nobody gives two shits about some silly thing like respect or looking tough, nope what's important here is ability to claim what you want without showing any weakness that could give someone a reason to get rid of some competition"

As he slowly stand back up cracks his back then heading to the food to get more he finally gives the boy a hint "Unlike most like us, most of our 'band' die from killing one another instead of fighting others. As for the girl last time anyone tried anything with her they were turned into... 'art' if you could call it that. If you keep an eye on the girl when we come across our next caravan then you can see where her nickname came from"

"Princess of the abyss" with that he chuckled and wandered off into the darkness, leaving the young man alone with his drink and thoughts.

Looking up at the tree where the crying was no longer audible, the young man stares for a couple of minutes at nothing in particular before deciding tonight was off putting enough and heading to his tent.

A few days later as they traveled staying along the tree line, early in the morning some their scouts returned and said they come across a potential target. Quickly everyone changed course and moved towards the path a ways away. A few hours later they arrived near a road, and off into the distance barely visible was a caravan.

Hidden in the brush and snow the group of a hundred or so are looking at their target trying to make any details. Some members began to turn around, slowly more and more members began to look behind them towards the same spot, following the crowd the young man turns as well. Standing tall in a loose cut linen shirt, some basic trouser and boots, with a sword at his hip. The leader radiates an air of violence and dominance, but surprisingly turns and looks towards his side, standing there the little crying girl. The so called 'princess'.

The young girl who can't be anymore than 5 years of age also looks into the distance to gaze at the caravan, for a moment an odd atmosphere of anticipation covers the crowd. Everyone staring expectingly waiting on her response. Confused by this the young man looks a little harder to try to find anything special about her. She looks malnourished, covered in filth and grim, tightly gripping a torn and ragged blanket to her body. She has no shoes and must have been a least a while since she had any as her feet look torn up plus some severe frostbite. Her face stands out a little but mostly due to her unhealthy copper skin contrasting to her somehow bright white hair. Even covered in dirt and filth marks it still remains bright like there is a soft glow. Now what has caught the young mans attention is her eyes, they look strange there are no iris's or pupils instead the entire eye looks like there are clouds or mist moving within them. 

She caste her gaze into the distance, no emotion visible on her face. Just cold dead apathy as she see's the caravan slowly moving along the road. After a few moments of making her judgement she slowly opens her mouth a couple of times like she is trying to remember how to speak again. Finally after a brief pause she says "-yes" the word came out dry and raspy. She seemed to try and catch her breath after that single word.

But the state she was in no longer factored into the minds of those around her. Instead an intensity the young man never experienced washed over their surroundings. Their leader who has been standing silently to the side of the young girl finally spoke up in a commanding tone.

"Alright, everyone here knows the rules... if you don't figure it out" scanning the group and taking in all the faces of those around him he continues "Let's go greet our new guests"