For as long as they have existed, Anella has never been free. Always caught, always tangled, always trapped.

The twin sibling of Azrena, One of Fate, born to Anos and Zora; Anella, One of Freedom, was born in shackles.

Azrena was born first, and when Anella attempted to follow suit, they were entangled in their twin's threads of fate. The Great Four, rushing to the young One's assistance, managed to remove all but one. Enchanted string tougher than diamond bound Anella's hands, crawling up their arms whenever they attempted to escape. By the time Anella matured, the threads had travelled down to their chest, squeezing tighter than any mortal could bear. But Anella was not mortal, so they endured.

When Chaya and Aklys partnered, Anella gave them a gift: hope. Mira, a young Ithean goddess, Anella's divine child, immortal embodiment of hope.

Mira served as Anella's handmaiden and connection to Ithea. She watched over her parent, constantly attempted to loosen their bindings, fed them, bathed them, kept them company.

Azrena did not like Mira. Fate had no need for hope, only faith. There is no need to hope for better days when you have faith that your path has already been laid out for you. But while freedom lives, hope cannot die.

And hope needed to die.

Hope need̵̤̕e̵͈̾d̵͓̉ ̷̤̀t̶̻̐ŏ̶̝ ̵̙͊d̸̒͜i̵͈͆e̷͙̕.

//ERROR: TALE UNTOLD. THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE YET TO HAPPEN. PROCEED WITH CAUTION//

In the year ?̷?̸?̵?̶?̸?̶?̷?̶, Azrena decided that they had had enough. Anella needed to die, and Mira along with them.

T̶̝͝h̵̟̊è̷̹ỳ̵̜ ̶͉͗á̴͔p̴̩̈́p̸͕͛r̴͈̆ò̵͕a̴̠͠c̵̺̚ḧ̸̨́e̷̙̍d̵̙̓ ̶̨̊Ć̴̜à̷̫ŕ̷̘a̶̭͒,̶̙̅ ̵̿͜O̴̧͗ǹ̵̲e̴̼͝ ̷̻̊ő̶͕f̸̬̆ ̷̪͠Ĺ̶͓ò̴͔v̴͉͝e̶͕͋.̴̢̀

They approached Cara, One of Power.

The two deities formed a plan to rid themselves of Anella and Mira, once and for all.

Anella was a powerful Ancient, and Azrena's bindings could never suffocate them completely. But if they could weaken Anella enough, they might finally be able to.

Azrena captured Mira in her sleep, and sent her to ?̷͉̌?̸̱̱̓̿?̷̭͌͘?̴̢̟̆?̸̲̻̍?̵̛͍̼̓?̸̛̝̩̑?̴̪̅?̴̫͕̊̅?̷̫̣̂̇

//ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR//

Mira awoke with a gasp. Her robes felt sticky and hot, and her breathing was heavy and laboured. She felt alive.

//ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR//

Azrena captured Mira in her sleep, and sent her to Cara.

//ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR//

Mira awoke with a gasp. Her robes felt sticky and hot, and her breathing was heavy and laboured. She felt alive.

She was lying in a pool of blood.

She was lying in the centre of Cara's ever-beating, ever-bleeding heart.