Memory is such a fickle whore. Making you remember the moments that hurt the most, and forgetting everything in between. I remember the feeling of taking my first life, destroying my first nation, and toppling my first world. How my friends were murdered. Vividly. I remember the feeling of steel sliding slowly through my skin, yet I haven't had a body for eons. I have seen so many people die and I have spilled actual oceans of blood, and yet sometimes I can't remember my own name. I don't remember my own face, but I know the history of a thousand worlds. The bad spots flare like the sun, while the good sink in valleys obscured by mist.

Sometimes all I remember is that I should be remembering something. Even now I can feel my lucidity slipping by, it's as though my life is a half forgotten dream. I wish I would never wake at times, at others it all I want, but waking up is more disorienting than dreaming.

Waking up not knowing who, what, where, or when I am. I am being of terrible power brought low by Alzheimer's.

Alas I bring this up not for pity, but because Stygian was experiencing something of the opposite. The little bugs consciousness, like a dim light grew brighter and brighter as it began to awaken. Feeling solid and warm Stygian was unaware that upon entering metamorphosis, a small magical cocoon would envelope it. This cocoon would help protect the deväk both inside and out. Feeling more awake and refreshed, by the moment Stygian began to hear a faint voice.

"Little oddity, heed me well. A great many dangers have come to my forest, and I need your assistance to rid me of them." Said the mysterious, and feminine voice.

"NoOO." replied the bug in its gravely tone as smooth as sandpaper.

"Perhaps I should be a bit clearer. I am up against a wall, and I need allies. You are my last hope for this, I need you and your abilities-"

"NNooo."

"Why?" The voice was baffled by the swift rejections. She had expected this bug to blindly accept which seemed to be its way in the past, but apparently no more.

"II willll noOot Heelp FOOrr freee, yoooUu Arre the Fooooreest, YEes?"

"... Indeed I am."

"Tttheen I neeeed maar- MARGS. ANd too fiiill GGgeennne pooools."

"A-are you barraging with me?"

"Yyees. Vae SAAAiid, sshhoUld Nnooot tAaake thiiinGs as OFFeerred."

"You know that I could destroy you right?"

"Yeess, you won't, YooU saaiid I waaas iimpORtAnt, Laaast HOOope."

"So I did." Sighed the forest entity, "How about this, I will reward you when you complete a task for me, and if you clear my biggest hurdle then the margs are all yours. Deal?"

"DeePends oon the TAasks, buuttt iiFF yoou Reewarrdd mme, theen OKKay."

"Fine then, get adjusted to your new body and help the pixies out the new mess they have gotten into and I will be in touch."

Stygian wanted to ask more, but as soon as the last word reached the deväk's mind, the forest had cut the connection. To the not quite as small bugs great surprise, it had that entire conversation psychically. Stygian's new ability was quite intuitive it seemed. It felt just like talking, which is why its mental voice was the same as its physical gravely tones. Stygian resolved that if it was possible then it would try and change its mental voice. So it would be easier to understand.

Stygian reveled in the warmth and comfort of the blanket like cocoon for a good long while. The bug had never rested like this. Truth be told Stygian didn't have much need for rest before, and when the bug did rest its own paranoia kept it from a deep sleep. It was only when Stygian began to feel antsy that our Psyling actively began to work its way out of the cocoon. It was slow going at first. Stygian tried wiggling free, first arms then legs, but the cocoon was thick and the deväk was like that of a newborn. Then Stygian remembered that sharp claws were a thing and began using its auxiliary arms to punch and tear holes in the cocoon. Working in wide arcs Stygian was eventually able to working their other arms free. Have blades for fingers was sure handy.

As Stygian worked noises could be heard from outside of the cocoon. Wishing for a weapon Stygian had completely forgotten about armored tentacles of death. Stopping all other movement the bug focused on moving shifting its new flesh around. It was delightfully easy. Which is not to say that it didn't require constant focus, but it was certainly better then either minor shapeshift or malleable tendrils could ever have been. Shifting the tentacles over chitin covered arms and molding the ending in to a spade shape Stygian had makeshift shield blades. It was also interesting to note that with the flesh shifted in such a manor it essentially double the strength of the Psylings arms.

In a burst of motion Stygian cut itself free and dropped to the ground preparing for a fight. Nightmare mouth writhing, eyes burning with uncontrollable violence, and positively pulsing with unsavory intentions the Psyling was quite fearsome. So it is quite understandable that when this young and unsuspecting pixie guard saw the Deväk he screamed for help and prepared himself to die in his own piss. Fortunately the pixie didn't get the chance to piss himself because he fainted. When Stygian saw that it was a pixie the bug relaxed and tried to mentally reassure the pixie that it would be okay. Unfortunately in the rush to reassure Stygian put to much pressure on the pixies mind and he fainted.

Looking around Stygian noticed that the hollow under the tree was significantly different. The roots that had compromised the ceiling were now fused together leaving no holes and created an umbrella like structure. This umbrella stretched downwards and just above the height of Stygian the ceiling met the walls forming a circular chamber with six tunnels sprouting off the chamber. The whole thing looked like it was made with nature magic, but Stygian found that unlikely. They wouldn't have attempted such a thing with Stygian in metamorphosis. Which raised another question of why even make it at all. Was this just for Stygian's protection or something else? Stygian wrapped up in musings, failed to notice the squad of guards careen around the corner until they were almost on top of the bug.

Seeing something from a nightmare standing over the limp form of a comrade is never an easy sight to deal with, and when the squad of guards came rushing towards the scream and found the new and improved Stygian they assumed a demon had found their hideout and they would have to lay their lives on the line so the councilors, or what was left of them, could escape. Quite alarmed at seeing so many pixies with weapons pointed at it Stygian formed a mouth reminiscent, of its tendrils and spoke, "WaaaiiTT, I ammm SttYYgggian."

Weary of a trap, the guards said nothing, though it did sound like the bug's voice. Our little bug spoke again, "I seeennd Staaatuuus?"

The guard captain nodded and stepped forward, Stygian pulled up the window and noticed that a month had passed, at the least, and made a note to ask Vae about that when there was time. The captain made a hand signal and one guard in the back ran off, but the others didn't move. Stygian cock it's head and stared at the pixie captain in confusing. Not only was this situation rather odd, but the surroundings seemed different. More, vibrant. Like someone had taken a filter off of Stygian's eyes. What Stygian didn't know is that from the moment our deväk emerged the wiring for its eyesight had been quite severely fucked causing everything to kinda blob together. With the eyes of the desecrator ants Stygian could finally see clearly as well as in color. The guard captain in front of Stygian, had brilliant green hair, with grey stone colored eyes, and what looked folded golden leaves for clothes.

Honestly, Stygian thought that the pixies were pretty before, but now? If Stygian had a jaw it would be dropped, well the tendrils mouth opened and was salivating, but Stygian's actual mouths were clacking unsettlingly. Which made the pixie captain sure that Stygian or whatever was in front of him would eat him, but he had to hold fast in front of the troops. So the captain began talking to avoid thinking about those needle like teeth and the quietly clacking jaws, which were like unspoken threats.

"An elder will be along shortly and we can confirm the validity of who you are as well as your status as the Lord protector."

Stygian only nodded, not wanting to reveal how tongue tied the pixie's appearance was making the bug. Stygian was excited to see Vae so soon after waking up, with much to tell and more to ask the deväk was a fair bit antsy. Of course this came across as irritation to the captain, who was already insanely unnerved being so near the a thing of nightmares and unfettered violence. It was accurate to say that both Psyling and Pixie were nervously awaiting the elder, and when they heard hurried footsteps, both were relieved.

For Stygian however, that relief only lasted until the counselor had turned the corner. For you see dear friends it was not Vae striding towards the Psyling, but the elder that had named Stygian Lord protector. Which made some sense to the deväk, but it was also confusing. Vae understood the deväk best and would recognize Stygian from the oath that bound them. Whatever the reason why, a seed of equal parts concern and dread rooted itself within the deväk's mind.

Stygian was soon distracted from thoughts of Vae by a golden aura that surrounded the white haired and clean faced elder. Stygian remembered this aura, apparently the golden aura would make lies and falsehoods appear as a black mist when uttered in this aura. At least that is what Vae said. The elder had used it on Stygian once before when testing to see if the deväk was really an ally or an enemy spy.

"Are Stygian Half-light, the recognized and current Lord protector of the pixie clan Stone Heart? The same Stygian who fought and protected our home while we were constructing it?" The elder spoke in soft, but firm tone.

"YYYYeeess."Ground out a bemused Stygian.

"Are you a demon possessing Stygian on Gwyn's orders? Or an entity that harbors ill will towards clan Stone Heart?"

"NNNnnoo." Stygian would have asked what the hell was going on, but figured the elder would explain. Probably.

Relief broke on the elders face before he spoke again, "It is good to have you back Stygian. We have much to discuss. Honestly, I thought we had lost you, but it seems Vae wasn't mad. Though I wished she would have said how drastically different you'd be."

Like a dog hearing walk, at the mention of Vae's name Stygian lost the thread of conversation and loudly blurted out, "WHEREE VAAAEE."

Flinching the elder looked away, and said, "like I said we have much to discuss if you'd follow me-"

"Wheere. Iss. Vaaae." The mental tone of Stygian may have been calm, but it wasn't gentle. It reverberated through the elder with the force of a raging river. There is two factors when determining the strength of a mental. Well to be technical there are thousands of factors that determine the effectiveness of every psychic encounter, but what I am referring to where like adjustable knobs. In normal conversation you can whisper, scream, or anything in between if you think of this as your volume knob. Then in psychic communication you have an extra knob. This one would be best described as pressure. The pressure nob is how prominent you want the words to be. They could ring through someone like a bell or be a quiet itch in the back of your mind. If you crank the pressure knob then the thought, no matter how quiet volume wise, would be the only thing on the target's mind. Vise versa, screaming something with low pressure would be like a terrifying dream barely remembered, but it definitely still there.

Stygian had cranked the pressure and with low voice had felt like thunder in the elders brain. The elder flinched at the words. Ratcheting Stygian dread up twelve notches.

"Would you kindly refrain from speaking into someone else's mind it's ru-"

"WHEERE. VAAAEEEEE." Stygian positively roared, max volume and pressure. Stygian accidentally projected the thought in an area. So both elder and captain were caught up in the force of the thought. The elder dropped to a knee looking winded and furious, while the captain froze in utter panic. In the dumbstruck panic refusing the demand of tall experience monster slayer seemed exceptionally dumb. So the captain pointed down a hall and Stygian was off like a flash.

Our bug could help hear the indignant gum flapping of the elder, but was more focused on the sound of its beating in it ears. At the end of the hall was a staircase leading down. With every step it seemed the worried dread grew. What happened to Vae? Did the elders do something to her? Maybe tortured her in to tell them where Stygian was? Unlikely, but if they did, they were already dead. They just didn't know it yet. Titles be damned.

Maybe it was Gwyn? Probably, he was always doing something shitty. If he had done anything to Vae Stygian would eat him alive. And the idea of eating pixies slightly sickened Stygian, not because they were intelligent but because the twisted bug thought it would be wasteful.

The Psyling reached the bottom of the stairs and was greeted with a wooden door. Checking the door to see if it was locked would have been the proper thing to do. Instead Stygian reduced it to splinters. For a moment Stygian was completely speechless. This was not at all what was expected. No chains on the walls or odd instruments for torture. There wasn't even a coffin. No instead there was a very surprised and stunned looking Vae, sitting on a bed in the back of the room in a rather see-through robe reading a book. The was a plate and drink on the table next to her as well as a wardrobe in the corner and a bookcase next to it. All in all it seemed rather cozy. Looking at it all Stygian began to feel a bit foolish, yes everyone's behavior had been odd, but there were other explanations for that.

"Umm, excuse me do I... Wait Stygian? Is that you?!" Asked a bewildered, but safe Vae.

The bug was right to have been worried about what improved sight would do to its sin. The effects of seeing and hearing Vae hit Stygian harder than dragon plate armor, she could be accurately be described as breathtaking. She had long hair of rose gold, slender but full of soft curves, bronze skin, one eye was the color of the deep dark woods and the was sky blue. Stygian barely managed to nod in affirmation.

A smile lit up Vae's face, and then she spoke again. "I'm surprised to see down here. I didn't think the elders would let you see me until you'd dealt with Gwyn now that I'm not a member of the council. Judging by the way you knocked on the door, I'm guessing you forced you're way down here?"

The words she spoke stuck in Stygian's brain so hard that calling them honey was an understatement, but her voice sounded just as sweet. Aväk's wouldn't normally be attracted to anything, but being a deväk with a human brain made things quite confusing. Stygian wasn't sexual attracted to anything, no genitalia, but was still possessed with a strong desire to hold the pixie close to feel just how soft she was. Stygian nodded again spun to face the door. Not because of embarrassment, well not just because of embarrassment. Stygian heard pixies land at the bottom of the stairs, and well wasn't really in a Lord protector mood.

Stygian shifted the spade tipped tentacles into a more hammer like shape, and knocked the two pixies into the wall. Or from the pixies point of view next week.

"What are you doing?!" Asked an incredulous Vae

Stygian turned to look at her cocked its head and spoke into her mind. "Whaat do yoou mean? Theey are holding yoou captive riight? I aam fiight us a way oout.

Bewilderment was shaping up to be the emotional of the evening. "Psychic communication? Where did you get that? No wait, Stygian stopped I'm not being held captive, I'm just being protected and kept at a distance. I resigned from my seat on the council."

"Prootected?"

"Yeah, Gwyn went dictator on us, took over city killed most of the elders, and tried to convince me to be his bride. I managed to escape with some of the elders and a squad of guards, but Gwyn is looking for us."

"WHAAT?! Hee coould do that? Hoow?

"I'll explain, but you have to stop attacking guards okay?" Vae wasn't really asking either being her vassel Stygian had to obey or risk breaking the oath to her. The following thirty minutes involved a lot of yelling from the remaining elders. The guards keeping their distance it had been proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that this Psyling was in fact Stygian Half-light, and they didn't want to risk being in striking range after seeing the aftermath of pixie guards that Stygian had already dealt with.

After the elders finished their ranting they began to lay out a deal for Stygian. They were offering Stygian weapons and training, as well as rare trinkets if the deväk agree to stay on as Lord protector. Stygian flat out told them no. The Psyling had a strong feeling that they elders would have lied to Stygian about Vae's where abouts judging by Vae's comment. The council began to beg our little bug to help promising more and more outrageous things then the last. Finally Stygian had enough and offered them a deal. If the pixie's provided Stygian with payment then the deväk would act as a mercenary for the pixies, but would no longer function as their Lord protector. Vae was the only pixie in the room that seemed pleased with this deal.

Being unable to swindle an idiot and then being swindled in turn was quite tough to swallow and left a bad taste in the mouth, but what were the elders to do? Gwyn had backed them into a corner and Stygian was their only way out. Shortly after the second deal of the evening had been struck some other pixies brought down food to Vae's. Stygian was quite unwilling to leave until all had been explained. Feeling that its luck had run out and would needs Vae's assistance.

Vae began to explain what exactly happened while Stygian was in metamorphosis, and our little bug took a bite of pixie fare for the first time. The bug found it quite, disgusting.