Two Fates: Divine Storm and War Maiden

Caged

"Princess! Princess!" The voices echoed, her body was being rocked back and forth. Panicked voices in the room, loud gasping voices. Prayers being uttered, whatever it was. Opening her eyes, the teenage princess glanced at the mirror before her. She was not Elena Strongbow, she was someone else.

"Inform the Consort!" The teenage princess glanced at her hair, it was black. Her eyes were golden.

"Maya!" the handsome silver fox ran to her, hugging her tightly. Elena or rather, Maya's memory was a bit of a haze. Unsure of what or where she is.

"Are you alright Maya? What were you doing at the river?! Didn't I tell you it was dangerous!? Lucky for us, that Sir Roderick was present!" Maya glanced at the knight who crossed his arms as he gazed at her.

"Say thank you, Maya." Maya did not say a word as she began to have a headache. Past memories.

"Princess Maya must be overjoyed that Sir Roderick is her fiancee. A Knight of the first Guard. He's handsome, he's rich. He's got everything you would need." The maids gossiped.

"Taking care of Her Highness is such a chore. She does nothing, she's worth nothing but... At least we get to bully her." 

"Roderick, be sure to have Maya taken care off. Do not allow yourself to be negligent. Maya's strength can be given to her younger sibling, Lashti who is of pure blood. Her blood is mixed." 

"Yes, Consort Graham. Shall we have her in a dazed state as we did before?" 

Maya looked at Roderick and the man she called as Father. 

So that's the reason why you jumped into the river. You poor child. It's fine. I'll handle it. You go rest well. Maya thought to herself as she let out a sigh.

"Leave. I'm too tired today." 

"Maya, why are you speaking like thi-" Maya slapped the maid to her right.

"You are to address me by the proper title. Have I ever given you permission to address me as such?" The maid paused.

"Do I have to repeat myself?" Her voice itself sent chills to the room, Roderick and Consort Graham felt their entire body scream for them to leave. It was if the room was possessed by a beast that was growling at their actions. They all left the room, where Maya raised her right hand. Snapping her fingers to the doors, then to the windows. Isolating them with magic, so no one may invade her privacy. Now was the perfect time for her to gather her mana. There was no impurities within Maya, but the problem with this child? Her mana flow was abundant, it was like a tsunami overpowering a dam. No wonder her magic would overflow carelessly. Though, Elena? Elena was used to it and she could roughly guess where Maya got her powers.

Maya, was a princess of the Strongbow family. The direct descendant of Elena's family line to be clear. Though there seems to be some issues with the details. She won't sweat the details but from what Elena gathers about Maya. Maya was always left alone, yearning for her father's affection and the approval of the Empress. A child will want the parent's blessing after all, but to Elena. That was worthless, she herself had slain her parents who became tyrants and then letting her younger sister take the reigns of Empress.

Well, Maya or rather Elena was going to use the technique that enhanced her strength. Maya's magic reserves were higher than Elena's. Perhaps it was cultivated to the point of absurdity, Elena felt the magic blanket her in its warmth with her letting it soak into her entire body.  If she were to compare, just by this one session alone. She has reached the state of her at the age of 20. Now, what was necessary was for Maya's weapons.  Maya's weapon was a long sword. She did not have the physique for it, contrasting Elena who was a master with such a blade.  Maya's physique would have suited the daggers much better or short swords. The Falcatas would be perfect, they were perfect for chopping and the pointed edge for any piercing attacks. Though Double Sabers would be perfect.

Maya thought about it as the magic kept piling up over every square inch of her body, into every organ. Making them sturdier than what it was previously. The layered energy would allow Maya to exercise more force with minimal effort. Though speed, was not her strongest suit. She is faster than most but Crow has her beat in that department. Layering energy as much as she could, trying to get it to the 3 layers she had. Yet, surprisingly she ended up breaking through that limit of 3. Now, she was at 10 layers .The 10 layers with an interesting addition, she could readjust layers of magic just by thinking about it. If she wanted to make an attack as a sure-to kill technique. She could layer the attack to her sword arm, so that the swing or strikes with that arm would be devastating.

The 10 layers acted as protection but it would be useless against someone who can pierce it. Crow, was the only swordsman she knew who could pierce it. Which is why her armor had special distinct protection spells to minimize damage to the layers. Crow's speed and the way his techniques could pierce through armor was what made him incredibly dangerous. They did make a lover's pact, and remembering the bits and pieces of what Goddess Juliet said was interesting. Is Crow here? 

I wonder if I can see Crow, again? What do I say? I'm sorry? Do I.. Those thoughts wandered her mind as Maya pinched her cheeks. This was not the time to think about boys, it was the time to strengthen herself. As she kept working on the layers to strengthen the individual layers, her mind played the memories of Maya.

"It must be a shame to have a princess as useless as you. All you're good for is to just be married off to others. What use is there for someone as pathetic like you?" Those words echoed in her mind, when she realized it was the Empress herself that said it.

"You're nothing Maya. Your power is weak and you can never be anything worth to the great Alistair Empire!" words echoed in her head. This time, it was said by her eldest sister, Princess Rosanna.

"If bigger sister goes away, then I can be accepted by everyone!" She heard the voice of Lashti. 

Oh gosh. I knew these people were horrid but to think they'd treat a child like this. Is this why the Gods sent us back? To make sure we put these people in check? Oh well, the saying that Good men create good times, bad men create hard times... The saying is real as ever. 

Maya then looked at the racks of books in her library, there was a section on weapons and a diary.

"I wish... I wish I was free." 

"Why is dad so mean to me?" 

"Why is nobody on my side? Why am I always wrong?" The poor writings of a child, the doodles of happy families with a crossed out face. Elena could not help but feel for Maya, longing for affection. Just to be loved, was that such a grand sin? Was that desire to be loved and accepted far too insulting? 

Oh well, it did not matter. This room was Maya's prison, she would not be allowed to go out. At least there was the bathroom so she may shower herself. No bathtub, according to the diary. She did not do anything to deserve a bath tub. 

No mana crystal powered showers. So she only has cold water at all times. A brief glance at the mirror, she could see scars on Maya's body. The large human sized mirror showed everything. Scars all over her body except for her face and neck. Perhaps keeping those in perfect condition would benefit the family. When she turned the shower knob, she felt the water caress her skin. Seeing the memories of Maya having hot water poured over her hands, then being whipped by the orders of the current Empress. Then being forced to eat food with sharp objects in it. Elena was furious at the sight, she wanted to just go wild and kill everyone in here but that would not do.

I can fix armor but not simple dresses... Ah, I wish Crow was here. He's been good at that. Maya thought to herself as she looked around, there was a pair of pants and a white shirt. They were not worn out, no wrinkles or even any thread poking out from it. 

Maya put that on, she liked the fabric. Though it had an emblem by the shoulders, perhaps it is a school? Maya grabbed the books in her library, now beginning to study the changes of the current era.

Firearms were now mass produced, revolvers were deemed to be useless for frontline combatants. They were going for the direction of self loading weapons. One of which was a pistol made by the Federation of Union States, the 1911. Rifles were now introduced, replacing bows and lever action repeaters. Some of the riflers were a mix of bolt action and revolver types. Different calibers are now introduced. It seems the rationale is that firearms are easier to use compared to bows. The bolt action rifle and the self loading rifles have been said to have brought quite a bit of success in training. Simpler to use than a bow, but it lacked the silence a bow had.

Bows were perfect for stealth missions due to their near silent use, while lever action repeaters were used in mid-ranged combat but they were far too complex to produce. Even getting the revolver that Maya used when she was Elena was rare. It was a revolver given to her by merchant who owed her life to him. Though, it made sense to why Alistair and Triviana would not rely on them. They were countries who had access to magic far greater than most ordinary people.

The inclusion of firearms, slowly removed the need for swordsmen with weaker powers. Now, it was rifles that have been infused with mana crystals to allow for elemental type shots. Only those who have the appropriate magic would be able to apply as a Knight. Firearms have grown and it seems that Alistair has gotten much more militaristic over the decades. The addition of such weapons gave rise to armored vehicles like tanks and long ranged weapons like artillery. War has definitely changed, when Maya read the details. She understood their power, an artillery cannon had a reach of 25,000 marks. Which was roughly 25 Kilo Marks. That could cover a quarter of the battlefield with just one good long range attack. Cavalry would die before reaching it, the only swordsman that can get past such range would be Crow. 

Crow could cover a hundred KM within just a few minutes but he earned the moniker as Hell's Storm by Alistair soldiers because he would be there in a flash but his effects echo what he had done. Maya thought about how if it was her, she could withstand barrages but by the time she would reach them. She would be reduced to three layers of her mana.

Was it worth the effort? Definitely not, Maya could only hope that whoever Crow has reincarnated as would be someone as beautiful as before. Maya stood by the mirror, looking at her black hair. Smooth as velvet, yet there was that part where Maya's body looked a little off. She was a little thinner than what Elena was, the body difference was a little stark. By this age, Elena had muscles but Maya was thin. To compare it to a tree, if Elena was considered to be a large, pine tree then Maya was a banana tree. 

There were a couple knocks on the door, where Maya opened it. Seeing the plate before her. It was a steak with fries but she noticed a slight glimmer by the sides of the steak. A plate of strawberries but Maya was allergic to it. Perhaps they just want Maya to remain in bed. She picked it up. There was a lack of utensils, to which Maya then poke the steak with her fingers. 

Seeing something sharp sticking out. She ripped the steak to pieces, carefully as she looked at it. Rusted nails, seems like they really want to injure this poor girl. She ripped the steak carefully, separating the nails away from the meat. 

"I bet she's just going to leave it as usual. She should learn to finish her food. The Chefs took a lot of effort preparing it." Maya heard the voices of the servants outside.

"Well, Sir Roderick also made sure that the strawberries are fresh. Isn't it romantic? Ah what a lucky girl to be engaged with a handsome man like that."  Sir Roderick was only 3 years older. An 18 year old who was handsome but Maya could not help but be disgusted by the idea. 

Maya or rather Elena wanted the reincarnation of Crow as the partner. That is why she came back anyway, but there must be a lot more to do. Maya grabbed the diary, and began to turn the pages.