Statement

It was awfully strange how from one moment that Maria was helping the inept Sister in washing laundry to standing before a serious supervisor in an office in the next. It wasn't a place she visited often, more so because it was Louise's domain. The woman seemed ever ominous seated between the erect suits of armor that seemingly stared at the girl.


It was only natural for the nun to ask. The Demon Weapon was a property of the Government and it was a long five year investment. This night was a test if that investment was worth anything, and it was. The girl's presence in this room was evidence of this. Maria only nodded, "I was able to use her. But she's not interested in talking right now."

The Coffin remained inert with the Demon Weapon sealed inside. But, it was ready to use at anytime. As Maria had stated, no words seemed to emanate from it. Whether the Demon inside was sleeping or watching, it was hard to tell. Louise tented her fingers together and decided to broach upon another topic. "The Queen. How was she?"

Where could she begin? That night was a special one. To see the Queen once was a special privilege given to the few. Yet, she was clearly special as befitting of her actions and station. There was something inhuman about that woman. Bewitching and beautiful, they were the ingredients of a dangerous personality. Maria didn't know what to say as she remembered each movements that Matriarch made and each actions she partook in the whole span of the ritual.


Maria found herself trailing off in thought. As if deciding whether if invoking the next word is the right idea or not. With the wrong word, she felt that she could be spelling her own doom.

"Terrifying?" Louise curved into a small grin as she finished for the girl whose eyes grew a size bigger. The girl remained silent. "Of course, she is. She's our Queen. Our Savior. How can she be anything less? Remember. She is your Master. You are her tool. You haven't forgotten about it. Right?"

"Of course not, Sister," she replied, "I still remember."

"Wonderful. Then we have no problems. It is admittedly very late now. You've done well. Sleep tight and attend at the Building as the Commander said. You're dismissed."

Maria wondered why this exchange seemed so inconsequential and short. That didn't seem like Louise. But perhaps the first success in having Andraste awakened warranted it. Though it was more likely just another blatant reminder on her role. The nun bowed from the hip and left the room upon the Sister's command.

As she did and was just a few steps away from the door, Maria felt weaker than ever. It was that time again. She grit her teeth tightly against each other, trying to hold back her ragged gasps. Maria felt increasingly nauseous. But the coffin started to feel like lead, forcing her to drag it.

It took time until she reached her room, where a single syringe of clear fluid waited for her on the table. The coffin fell with a single thud as she finally let go. Her feet doggedly moved her closer to her goal, hands slamming on the tabletop while struggling to keep herself standing.

"Ggh..." the unpleasant feeling of the needle digging into her artery caused her to painfully utter. As the fluid entered her artery, there was a sense of grim relief. Maria threw the emptied syringe right into the trash can with a lazy throw, nearly missing it as it hit the edge and fell in.


The city lights softly entered through the window she peered through. This was what she had to protect. It was a vast undertaking, but she wasn't exactly alone. Yet... was this a wise choice? Was this what she really wanted?

Weakness: