Serra, Beacon of Hope

This story picks up where Yawgmoth, Lord of Innistrad leaves off. If you have not already read Yawgmoth, Lord of Innistrad please follow the link below:

Yawgmoth, Lord of Innistrad

Serra is another character from Magic: the Gathering’s early storylines. She ruled a realm of unimaginable beauty that was free of pain, suffering, and treachery. It was a paradise full of floating meadows in a sea of soft clouds lit as if the sun was rising gently in the distance.

Her realm was full of people whom she ruled with compassion. She assisted with the birth of every child and ensured none of her people would ever go hungry. She was deeply loved and revered by her people and the angels that helped her govern her realm. Unfortunately, the tranquility of Serra's Realm was not to last.

A major war was taking place and it eventually spilled into Serra's Realm, corrupting the very essence of the world. Serra sensed this and led her loyal followers in an exodus to another world. Serra would find love there only for her misfortunes to continue when her husband was killed in an experiment. She wandered aimlessly in grief until she was killed by a mugger who stole her wedding ring.

Serra remains my favorite character to this day, so let us give her one more fitting of such a noble character.

Serra walked along an empty street. The sun had dipped low on the horizon causing the gloom of the city to fall upon her. She was so withdrawn in her grief she hadn’t noticed, and even if she did she wouldn’t have cared. Feroz, the man she loved, had been struck down by a fire elemental he was experimenting on. In her grief, she left their home and the life they had built together and wandered so far that only those who were lost themselves could find her.

As she turned a corner she brushed arms with a stranger. Serra kept walking as the man said something to her, something she did not care to hear. She kept walking but soon felt something was off. Her senses came back to her as she tried to find the source of this feeling. She peered behind her and saw that the man was following her. Serra turned and continued down the street as she debated her course of action. She soon saw her opportunity in an alley they were approaching.

The last thing Serra wanted was to draw attention to herself and casting a spell on a street, even one seemingly empty, was risky. Serra put her hand above her heart as she turned into the alley and began pulling energy for her spell. Her assailant was several steps behind her, all the time she needed to conjure a spell to temporarily disable him so she could flee. A white glow emanated from her hand. Her spell was ready but her assailant was taking longer to appear than she anticipated.

A flurry of wings drew her attention to the sky above the alley. There, floating effortlessly surrounded by a swarm of bats and several opened cages, was the man she had brushed against. Even in the moonlight, Serra could tell by his pale skin that he was a vampire. A sense of repulsion came over her as he grinned upon seeing the spell she was casting.

“How lovely,” the vampire said coyly. “A white mage. My children have not tasted your kind before.”

“And they will not be tasting one today, bloodsucker,” Serra flatly retorted.

“So sure of yourself? So be it. I was going to end your life mercifully before feeding you to my children, but I think I will allow them to feast on you as you still live.”

“I will not be frightened of a threat from a creature who has to drink the blood of others to survive.”

The pale skin of the vampire’s face flushed red with anger, something Serra had not seen in a vampire before.

“Very well you impotent wench,” he said as he unclasped his overcoat and let it fall off him. “Your blood will sate my thirst and your flesh will satisfy the hunger of my children!”

The vampire descended with his fangs bared, his bats circled and followed him in his descent. Serra readied herself to launch the spell, but a flash of piercing light illuminated the alley. A ray of light appeared from the sky and struck the vampire in the back, piercing his chest where his heart would be. As he writhed in anguish, more rays came down and destroyed the swarm of bats.

From the glare of the light appeared a magnificent angel, her skin was as pale as the silver moon behind her and her flowing hair was white like the moonlight radiating around her. She held a silver spear that gleamed in the moonlight and she was held aloft by wings of the purest white Serra had ever seen. The angel radiated with such beauty and power that Serra could not help but bow before her.

“Forgive me, mighty angel, for any trespass I may have committed,” Serra said without lifting her eyes from the ground. “I have lost my way and…”

“You have done nothing you need apologize for,” the angel stated as she landed softly in front of Serra. “Rise, my lady, face me with dignity.”

Serra hesitated for a moment but complied. The angel was more beautiful than any she had seen before. Her white eyes were fixed on Serra causing her to look away.

“I thank you for saving me, but I am afraid I must be going,” Serra said as she tried to will her body to move past the angel.

“I see you do not know me,” the angel said with stoic confidence. “But I know you. You are not of Innistrad. You are a traveler who journeyed here like so many others.”

“How… how do you know that?”

“I am Avacyn and I am the guardian of this world. I know when travelers like yourself come here and I know that you have truly lost your way. Unlike the others, you did not travel here to exploit Innistrad’s evil, and you have the ability to assist me in defending Innistrad against a new threat.”

“You need my help?”

“Yes, another traveler arrived here three years ago. He has begun corrupting my flights of angels and created a plague that is sweeping through my human followers. I need your help to stop him.”

“I did not come here for a fight.”

“No, you did not. You let your grief overtake you and ended up on Innistrad. I know you have suffered a great loss, but I do not see your arrival here at this time of need to be a coincidence. Help us, Lady Serra, and we will give you what you desire the most. A home and people who love you.”

A silence fell as Serra contemplated the offer. While she did not intend to help the world she had traveled so she knew she could not stand by and let another like herself corrupt it like her realm had been.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Travel to Thraben, the seat of my church, and find Thalia and Odric. They will know the next step.”

With a strong flap of her wings, Avacyn flew off into the night sky.

***

Thraben was not what Serra had anticipated. The city was far larger than the settlements she had passed through on her way to the seat of the Church of Avacyn. Thraben had several sections each separated by large walls, a far cry from the other settlements of Innistrad which typically only had a single outer wall for defense.

Serra weaved her way through the crowded city streets. It seems the plague she had heard so much about had been contained and life was finally returning to normal for the people of Thraben.

The ornate Thraben Cathedral loomed above her as she made her way to the final level of the city. This level housed the Church of Avacyn with Thraben Cathedral and several other buildings associated with the church. Serra entered a large open courtyard as she passed through a gate in the final wall of the city.

"Lady Serra," a gentle voice said from the wall behind her.

Serra stopped and turned and was surprised to see one of Avacyn's angels perched on the side of the wall she had just passed through. The angel has the same pale skin as Avacyn, but her hair was a beautiful brown and her eyes were a light gray. She was adorned in polished silver armor and held a silver scythe.

"I am Serra," Serra said in a welcoming tone. The angel let go of the wall and used her wings to silently glide to the ground in front of Serra.

"I must speak to you," the angel said as she extended her hand to Serra. "Please, come with me."

Serra took the angel's hand and was led into a small chapel off of the main courtyard.

"You should not have come here, my lady."

"I do not understand. I was instructed by Avacyn to come..."

"I know my lady," the angel said as she took off her helmet. "But there is a conspiracy at work, one that penetrates every level of the Church."

"What should I do?"

"Leave. Thraben is not safe. The conspirators will try to destroy you if you stay."

"I need to contact two people within the Church. Thalia and Odric. Once I do that, I will leave."

"Thalia is not here. She was branded a traitor and driven into hiding. Odric is inside the Cathedral—if you must enter, do so with care. Do not draw attention to yourself and leave as soon as you find Odric."

"Thank you, angel, I will heed your advice and will proceed with caution."

"Take care, Lady Serra."

***

The inside of Thraben Cathedral was even more beautiful than Serra could have imagined. Large windows allowed sunlight to enter from all sides, large and ornate pillars and archways with intricate carvings etched into them, and rows upon rows of wooden pews facing an altar of the same wood. The beauty of the cathedral was dampened by the spirit of the people inside, no smiles, no signs of happiness or cheer. Just a sea of somber and sullen faces.

Serra stood inside the entrance as she examined the faces of the crowd, she had a name but no idea of who it belongs to. There were a dozen people within her line of sight alone, a few nuns talking near a recess, several members of the congregation in the pews praying, several others talking to a priest near the altar, a few cathars standing guard throughout the cathedral, a priest was walking up the aisles spreading incense and a few other members of the congregation and clergy walking about to various parts of the cathedral.

"First time in the cathedral?" a voice asked from next to Serra giving her a start. "Oh, my apologies. I did not mean to startle you."

Serra regained her composure. A young priest had entered the cathedral and must have thought she was lost.

"It is alright," Serra said with a warm smile. "I was lost in deep thought but yes, it is my first time here."

"May I be of any assistance?"

"Yes, I was sent here to deliver a message to Odric. Is he here?"

"He is," the priest said as he pointed to the man burning incense. "That is Odric there."

"Thank you," Serra said with a smile before descending the stairs into the cathedral. She made her way to Odric slowly so as to not draw attention to herself. As she came closer to him she could hear him uttering a prayer, his palm glowing with a white magic spell.

"Excuse me," Serra said as she extended her hand out and placed it on his shoulder. "Please forgive the interruption, but are you Odric?"

Serra could feel the man become tense.

"I am," he said as he extinguished the spell in his hand. "How may I be assistance?"

"My name is Serra. I was sent here by Avacyn to find you and Thalia..."

"Shh," the man said as he turned and pulled Serra into a recess off of the main sanctuary. "You need to be more mindful of your surroundings. We are being watched."

Odric gestured to the rafters above the sanctuary.

Serra followed his hand and saw several angels perched throughout the rafters and beams. The interaction had drawn the attention of two angels who glared down at the pair.

"Come, we must go," Odric said as he led Serra down the side aisle of the cathedral and out a small door that led them back into the courtyard.

"Were those some of Avacyn's angels?" Serra asked as Odric closed the door behind him.

"Yes, they have been keeping a close watch over me of late."

"I sensed..." Serra started but could not finish. Memories of her realm rushed back to her causing her great sadness.

"What did you sense?" Odric asked bringing Serra out of her thoughts.

"They have been corrupted. I have seen it before."

"Someone corrupted them?"

"Yes, someone who is strong in the use of black magic."

"A demon?"

"No, it could be a person like us."

A flutter drew Serra and Odric's attention to the sky above them. The two angels who were watching them inside the cathedral followed them outside and had been listening to their conversation. Their eyes turned crimson red.

"We need to leave," Odric whispered to Serra as he took her arm. "Follow me."

"Stop, heathens," a voice bellowed from behind them.

Serra and Odric turned and found an angel in golden armor brandishing a serrated sword blocking their path. Serra could sense that this was not a lesser angel like the ones in the sanctuary—this was an archangel. Serra shivered in fear but Odric tightened his grip on her hand as if to reassure her.

"We mean no trespass, Gisela," Odric said in a calm voice to the archangel. "My friend here has come to collect me for an important errand."

"You will not be leaving the church grounds," Gisela decreed with authority.

"On whose authority? The Lunarch is a close personal friend..."

"The Lunarch no longer controls the church," Gisela said with a grin that sent a shiver down Serra's spine.

"Gisela... what have you done?" Odric demanded as he put his arm up and stepped between the archangel and Serra.

"A new power has taken control of the church and now rules over Innistrad."

Serra saw the other angels circling overhead and knew she had to act. She clenched her fist and began to work a spell that would stun the angels so she and Odric could escape.

"What new power is this?" Odric demanded to the angels, oblivious to Serra's actions behind him.

"You will not live to see his ascension, your lives end now!"

Gisela and the other angels swooped down like a bird of prey descending upon a meal. Serra lifted her hand and released a blast of light that knocked the angels back. She grabbed Odric's arm and pulled him towards the gate as he attempted to recover from the blast.

As they neared the gate a flurry of wings came from behind them, the blast had rendered the minor angels unconscious but Gisela had regained her senses and was pursuing them. Serra began to prepare another spell but a shadow past over her causing her to stop. The angel she had spoken to earlier flew over them and engaged Gisela.

"Run my lady," the angel said as she parried a strike from Gisela. "I will hold them while you escape!"

Serra hesitated but Odric pulled her towards the gate.

"We must leave!" Odric yelled as he continued to pull her away from the battle.

To be continued...