--- Aphrodite POV

Their love hits me like a physical force, a gale-force wind perhaps or a warm passionate rain sticking with me, never drying soaking into my skin. An adulation beyond worship and an all-new recognition, which they chant over and over again.

“The Goddess of many faces, for many faces …”

Her attentive fingers worm their way through my soft short golden fur. With strength, they massage down to the skin and muscle and I shiver with pleasure, my hind legs stretching taunt while my tail betrays me further by curling upon itself. The Gynosphinx form a slave to a caressing touch.

“How could you doubt their love, my Goddess?”

I turn my head to face my High Priestess who now brings a second hand to join the first. “Why would they love me? It is only after they demand the Truth from me that I confess and suffer their judgement … I … don’t volunteer my failings …”

My High Priestess rests her head upon the middle of my back, my resting golden wings providing a soft feathery guide on either side. Her fingers massage the muscles on the top of my shoulders and around my neck before answering. “Because being fallible means you are closer to them and therefore, they don’t need to reach an impossible height to emulate you in their lives. They know you strive for better. As you improve, they follow your example and since you appear to them wearing a familiar face you are welcomed as Kin at their hearth.”

A deep easy sigh escapes my lips, her sensible words and manipulating fingers ambush my trepidation. I open my heart to their devotion and reward their faith in me with a blessing, propagating the Fertility Rune amongst my worshippers, the mana cost is great and yet such is the state of joy and quiet in my mind, I freely share.

“I believe Goddess any work at the Temple today is momentarily suspended.” The mirth in my High Priestess’ voice is clear, waking me from my bliss.

I blink as pairs of worshippers partner up in a fertility rapture, oblivious to any others in their proximity. My High Priestess wraps her arms around my neck while dropping kisses on the nape. My body stretches in reaction.

She whispers in my ear, “I best take watch as our Stone Giant guards are amongst the pleasuring throng …”

With that my High Priestess unwraps her arms and pushes her body away. My eyes follow her; I feel like a child who has disappointed their mother uncertain how to make amends … Her Cardinal follows and I am content, she won’t be alone.

Strong powerful fingers knead the fur of my hind legs, paws with sharp claws plough my back, and my worshippers caress and at the same time coerce. A chorus of whispers reach into my soul, “Join us Goddess …” and their bodies flow towards mine, crawling, slithering in an ecstasy of affection. Several lay upon, underneath and over exploring the fur of my Gynosphinx torso. A bold few nudge their head into mine, an occasional fleeting brush of their lips upon my lips or cheeks. Once their touch upon me is satisfied they retreat into the throng of bodies and shortly after another occupies the vacancy. Over time the faithful surround me, I am their centre and more worshippers trance-like enter the Temple, while others bask in the emotions being shared across our [One Mind].

I reach through [One Mind] to my worshippers going beyond platitudes. Virgins couples I sanctify with [Bless Maiden] and married couples I sanctify with [Bless Wife] as easy as willing it so. Many discover a new love and I sanctify their union with [One Pleasure] to enhance and forever remember their climatic coupling. A few, especially Stone Giants yearn for many children from their coupling and I sanctify their tryst with [Abundance] where twins will be common, with the possibility of triplets real. Amongst the throng I discover loves of many years, their children near grown or childless by choice and sanctify their union with [One Love], which manifests a boon solely dependent upon the fullness of their relationship, my Divine Magic a catalyst while the quality of their love the key ingredient.

Withdrawing the fullness of my consciousness from [One Mind] I find myself on my side. Multiple worshippers suckle at my many breasts and my memory of this glorious feeling returns eight-fold as each of my eight breasts let down providing a mother’s milk, although the flow is now Divine and quickly satisfying those partaking who are immediately supplanted by another. In this intimate heady atmosphere of sustenance, I yearn to beget life as only a Fertility Realm Goddess can personify, the orgasmic scent permeating my Temple seducing me. I claim all the unclaimed. I claim all the unused. I claim all the surplus. I identify and locate each spilt sperm, the ignition to spark life and as golden motes of hope, they gather to me.

Each of my six million eggs I mature into an ovum and pair off with one of the many golden motes I harvest while denying any egg ovulation for now as I am not ready to conceive. The potential sparks of life within me are overwhelming, the giving of my mother’s milk to my worshippers the fulfilment of a long-held dream and my happiness manifests as a burst of warm comforting light clearing any and all darkness within my Temple. I am in a state of total radiate bliss.

{Subject to Primary Emotional Journey - Happiness: +7% Sentient Dominate. Sentient Dominate 102%}

{Sentient Dominate threshold 100% met, Living Construct Feature unlocked: Conditional Mastery.}

{Lockout Monster Dominate (97%) due to Soul being Sentient Dominate (102%) Y/N}

I mentally scream Y with all the joy in my heart.

{Lockout Dungeon Dominate (95%) due to Soul being Sentient Dominate (102%) Y/N}

I mentally scream Y with all the joy in my heart.

{Sentient Dominate is attained. Body is transformed into Living Flesh. Mastery is awarded.}

{Dungeon Dominate Mastery: May give birth to Dungeon Cores. The personality of the Dungeon will depend upon the parents, although post-birth influence is still possible from the Mother.}

{Monster Dominate Mastery: May give birth to any previous Monster form utilising any egg/sperm pairing. The personality of the Monster will be true to its nature, although post-birth influence is still possible from the Mother.}

{Sentient Dominate Mastery: May give birth to any Sentient Being in which the Essence has been consumed, even one sample is sufficient, although further Essence consumption is now locked out. Post-birth influence is still possible from the Mother.}

{Sentient – Monster Dominate Mastery: While in any Sentient form body makeup can range from physical impervious Living Construct to varying physical invulnerability Living Basalt, to normal Living Flesh.}

{Sentient – Dungeon Dominate Mastery: Immune to Dungeon Cores. Able to educate and influence Dungeon Cores.

{Sentient – Monster – Dungeon Dominate Mastery: The blueprint of any Dungeon Monster is known.}

I am free! I am free!

Those closest, draw back, joyful tears flowing in jubilation as I share my celebration through [One Mind].

In an instant I am Snake Kin and kiss the nearest to me, then Lion Kin and embrace and so on as I happy dance through my Temple all night long embracing each and every worshipper.

---

Dawn sunlight greets me leading a procession of Kin and Stone Giants. I have no destination in mind simply following the well-worn path underfoot. The forest blooms as I pass, dropping flower petals and seeds. Unknown to me as I stride onwards the seeds germinate, whispers from my followers informing me. I fixate upon the Quest Plinth, drawn to the ancient magic within now clear and as recognisable as sunlight upon my skin.

I lead as Living Flesh, my ebony skin supple, black curly hair flowing in the wind. The magical scent of him invades my nostrils as I approach the pillar of sacred stone, hastening my need. I wrap my arms around the Quest Plinth growing my form, Stone Giant, then Frost Giant in size until the fingers on both hands touch on the other side.

“I answer your summons, Goddess.”

“I seek your permission to own the Dungeon Quest …”

“I am no longer Master of this world, vanquished and yet not by your good graces, what was mine is now yours and I celebrate and wait in anticipation.”

“Thanaron, the Plinth holds much of your magic and I am tempted to make it mine and yet … possibly I could siphon a portion off and grant to you …”

I sense his eagerness. I sense his resignation.

“The System locks me and my connection to the magic within the Plinth is a distant memory. The magic within is now yours Goddess, my claim invalid and I fear the System will not take kindly to any attempts to provide me with advancement.”

I draw in the magic, between the majority, which smells of him are droplets from the multitudes. Those who in past days, weeks, months, years and tens of years sort solace and guidance without reply. A Shrine gathering worship and yet unable to reward devotion. Bereft of consciousness and form how could stone speak to them? I convert his magic into mine and reinvest the bounty into the Quest Plinth maintaining purpose.

{Quest Dungeon Menu: Construction Options available – Materials; Forms.}

I blink.

My mind follows the magic. Two tendrils are on offer, I explore the one on the left and in an instant, my presence invades a Dungeon Core Room. There are barriers, of course, magical, physical and illusion and yet none bar my way, I am {Dungeon Dominate} I own Thanaron’s former construct, this manifestation of the System.

“Azizos!”

“Where? Who?” he replies. I sense his unease, his rapid questioning and answering trying to discern an explanation for the improbable, no impossible invasion of his Dungeon Core Room. Nehal dashes about trying to seek out the physical owner of the voice in his Master’s Core.

Should I curse, belittle, or handicap my former Master? Make him pay for the torture he freely subjected me to? My faithful sense my change of mood and fill my heart and soul with joy lifting me beyond the petty. Rejoice Goddess step forward into the future don’t dwell in the past they remonstrate. Your past led you to us … hardships endured, strengthening, forging you into a Goddess of resilience, encounters with others solely due to your journey shaping you into a Goddess of compassion and forgiveness.

{Quest Dungeon Azizos: Magic Grant due to adhering to Purpose – Twenty-Five Thousand Mana.}

He questions my boon. “The System?”

“Yes, both reward and compensation.”

“Compensation?”

{Quest Dungeon Azizos: Living Construct Denizen and Menus removed.}

“I understand,” he replies with a tinge of sadness, which I admit to myself surprises me.

I want to question the sadness and shake him for an explanation. My removal squeezes out this unexpected reaction …

“What do you understand?”

“She female kind, confusing and yet I underestimated her value, in the end, trying to dominate her … I am incomplete … she, I thought my missing part, the one to complete me not as a partner of equal but a thrall to do as I command … a mistake.”

I vacant his Dungeon Core Room, my mind returning to the plinth. The other path leads to an obvious destination.

“Arsu!”

“System?”

I contain my smile. My ally, my friend doesn’t recognise me. Should I leave it that way?

“I command you to return to your purpose.”

Her mind generates a multitude of thoughts, in the main scenarios and postulations.

“I thwart the Humans, preventing them from discovering the Beast Kin. I am satisfying my purpose …”

“Not all though …” I reply.

An angry confusion replies, “My friend told me of his cruelty … “

“You are half of him, he is half of you. Evening Star and Morning Star must reunite and discover their whole is more … satisfying.”

Knowledge from the Quest Plinth and the actual Quest details within, enlighten me, Arsu is the Evening Star, while Azizos is the Morning Star and they must unite in Dungeon Design, two Cores sharing their existence and purpose, coupling.

“My friendship with another … I thought our relationship special and yet in the end not enough to complete me.”

There is an undertone of remorse, Arsu wanting her friendship with me to be enough to scratch the itch of an incomplete quest. Then sorrow …

“Within my halls, I succoured another, once female and then male. Two halves forever separate, being one or the other her/his condition … familiar, ringing true for me and yet I am at a loss now, lonely. My friend hasn’t returned, the humans I capture as Invaders try to explain a new concept, which they name love without details or directions to discover the bliss they forever chase. I am left with another, a spirit worshipper of the Goddess Aphrodite, he teaches magic distaining personal feelings although I at least know what has become of my friend from him. She has returned to her Beast Kin.”

My heart cries out to reveal my presence and yet like Azizos, except for different reasons I remain aloof.

“Find your missing half within the heart of the mountain, not along the length …”

She doubts, her mana low the first excuse. Her belief wavering as the Quest only provides pain, an emptiness. She wants what, he/she quests for. This human reveals his/her thoughts while within her halls through dreams, snippets of sleep talk and lengthy verbal self-berating. This manifestation of lost love rings true, she knows the emptiness herself and wishes to seal the bottomless pit of loneliness even though her comprehension of love is incomplete …

“I will,” she answers, without reservation and bereft of excuses.

{Quest Dungeon Arsu: Magic Grant due to adhering to Purpose – Twenty-Five Thousand Mana.}

I enjoy her reaction of surprise and withdraw to the Quest Plinth. The Quest Dungeon Menu offers more after further study, production of tendrils for one. My arms release the plinth and turning around, my back leans against the warm stone to allow my hands to caress my womb, egg ovulation will create a Dungeon Core if I so wish and the tendril, like a tube, will deliver the creation to a new beginning.

For now, I will do a simple transformation. I stroll into the town proper leaving behind a smooth black basalt plinth, proclaiming my ownership. The swelling crowd pauses as I advance and soon the reason for this is plain.

Zeus’ Temple rises before me. The stone construction of the Temple is a foreign architecture, with high columns bearing a separate, yet affixed roof. Upon the steps, arms folded across their chests Panther Kin, Lion Kin and ones and twos of other Kin.

Each step of mine expands my consecrated ground, an extension from my Temple and with minimum will I encourage in a definite direction, onwards to join my Temple in the Badger Kin Quarter, the sole direct opposition to Zeus’ Greater Temple. Zeus’ faithful sense my invasion, tracing the encroachment with wide eyes, their hands reaching for the sky before dropping, unable to influence the growing doom surrounding them.

A Panther Beast Kin challenges me with her gaze, I remember his High Priestess. My golden eyes unfurl my Divine Aura. Her arrogant posture resists, confidence found by drawing upon her faith while on Zeus’ sacrosanct ground. She is doing more, and I nod in recognition of her efforts. Each of Zeus’ faithful channel their faith via quiet prayer to their High Priestess.

“I will leave a path for you if you go now?” I announce. My holy ground is a poison to them, which they know and once surrounded, even the simple tasks of existence, food, water, and waste will be a deadly or if others help, a costly activity.

The High Priestess casts her eyes down, shoulders slump losing their determination. She turns to her faithful and with both hands waves them back. “Gather what you can in haste and go …” Tears stream down the black fur of her face, the droplets riding high and quickly falling away.

Unable to raise her head she turns towards me and my faithful. “Zeus will revenge our humiliation, his anger will show no restraint, so be warned.” Her arm extends and singles out as many of my followers as possible before she swivels and marches into Zeus’ Temple.

Prayers from my Badger Kin faithful inform me of their scurrying retreat, the High Priestess the last, although head held high and shoulders straight maintaining a steady dignified pace.

I am unable to assimilate Zeus’ Temple. The Divine of Zeus, Ruler God invests the ground beneath and the building itself. The silent disobedience to my will is a defeat, there is no other interpretation. I stare at this sore, which will remain within my consecrated ground reminding me of my weakness, burning me all the more given my worshippers and their looks of expectation. As time passes their pent-up glee subdues. Confusion and questioning decorate their faces.

A painful yell breaks the silence. Eyes, including mine, find Priest Nasim scooping away giant handfuls of stone. Lacerations manifest upon his flesh and yet he continues. I step forward and yet I am unable to reach him, Zeus’ holy ground repels my advance. There isn’t any pain, only an invisible wall.

The screams end and my eyes lock upon Nasim. His chest labours for breath and in a hand waving high in triumph, a foundation rod. I step forward and wrap his body in mine flooding his flesh with Divine healing. Thanaron materialises and he bends a knee before me then his arms pass through the Stone Giant body of my Priest. Nasim’s spirit smiles upon me. My heart breaks as I reach out to touch him, passing through instead. A pregnant Fabia and their two children shed tears over his body. Thanaron rises conveying the spirit and soul of my Priest to a higher place, the need for funeral rites seemingly unnecessary in this instance?

Fabia’s drowning eyes find mine, her words without emotion. “His love of you, the greater.” She tugs at his body and I release him, in death, he finally belongs beyond any doubt to his wife and children. Others rush to her aid and upon high the body of Nasim, Priest of Aphrodite rides across the gathering of my followers, all wishing to honour him with a final touch until his body heads off towards my Temple, six Stone Giant pallbearers the final guardians, Fabia grasping his cold hand in hers, while their children follow as do all my Stone Giant worshipers.

“Goddess, continue. His sacrifice can’t be in vain. Claim Zeus’ ground and complete the consecration of Quest Town.”

Alba speaks to me harshly and yet as I climb to my feet, sorrow replaces purpose my eyes skyward seeking, I know not. A soft leathery paw grabs my hand drawing my attention.

“Lean on me Goddess, lean on all of us and go forth …” Dawnanda Gentlewind of Meadowvale Sett waves an arm over my faithful in a wide arc.

This call for solidarity washes over me, joyful purpose, now determined resolution. Zeus’ Temple first, Quest Town next. I guide my consecration forward willing the conversion of Zeus’ Temple.

[Failure: Sacred Ground unsuitable due to incorrect building configuration]

I find the foundation rod and kneeling plunge the missing piece into place with all my pent-up sorrow and unleash my will in a rush.

[Consecration of Temple +0% Divine Dominate. Total Divine Dominate 76%]

I climb to my feet and wave my worshippers forward. As I step, so do I consecrate the Town until all my Temples share in the joining.

Once complete the Faithful and Faithless are known to me and I begrudgingly accept the few unfaithful as each need to discover enlightenment in their own time. I am patient and tolerant.

One subject is neither of those, like a glowing beacon a non-believer trespasses upon my holy ground. I discover a Heretic.

--- Tuttle, Fox Kin Slave Scout of House Silver Scale POV

I lean against the side of a well, a relaxing casual repose. The tall building, stone columns holding up an odd roof, again of stone and yet fragile, or precarious perhaps. Another Temple, although gaudy, is different from the others. Then Cat Kin spill out from the rear. Single file, each Kin stepping on the footfall of the one before making a beeline for the centre of the street and then along the centre, no deviation. Curious, I push off from the well with my hip and casually take a stroll down the same street.

The deep black fur coat of the female Panther Kin flashes towards me arms full of scrolls. She glances once and then holding her head high follows the tracks of the others and without deviation struts down the exact centre of the street. I continue across the street and stop dead within eyeshot of the trampling. A repulsion exerts upon me and I dig deep within to drive my next footfall forward a slow-motion endeavour as if moving through a swamp. My second step follows naturally, and the same for my third. An unease travels up my spine but nothing else as I shortly find myself examining their tracks. The footfalls are almost perfect, one upon the other none straying. Why?

I straighten, a casual look confirms that none take an interest in me and with the repulsion now a manageable itch I am free to move again. Have I defeated the compulsion magic in some manner? Sensing new freedom, I return to the main street, the amphitheatre is directly ahead, the Cat Kin Quarter on the left, the Temple, and the Badger Kin Quarter on the right and further along the Quest Plinth, whatever that is. The rough sketch of the town I purchased at the guard post is remarkably accurate leaving only the subtle detail to be committed to my memory to complete my mission while Alasse, Daughter of House Burning Fang I am told is in the Temple beyond the Plinth so the path I am on is the correct one. Soon I can return triumphant to my Matriarch where her favour will shorten my slave debt by another month … freedom, the word an impossible dream three years ago.

Projectile vomiting empties my stomach as an indomitable repulsion smacks into me. I stagger away, well what I think is away. I stumble before the doom, finding haven in an alley. With the brief respite I recover and yet I am certain this wave will spread across the town if not already. I need to escape. A parade of sorts passes by one end of the alley and at any moment a passer-by could check. My back is flat against a wall a slim support post of some sort as my sole cover. At the other end loiters a solitary Badger Kin. Why? Move on stupid …

The parade mills about, their attention elsewhere. The mystery is no more when a speaker proclaims the Quest Town the hallowed ground of the Goddess Aphrodite. Goddess? Bah! The Badger Kin isn’t drawn away? Surely hearing words about the Goddess is important to her? I sidle along the building walls until I peek out of the alley. My head dips into a hornet’s nest of repulsion and I grab at the wall to stay upright. I don’t need to clench my jaw to prevent my scream from escaping, the repulsion slams my open mouth shut for me.

I blink once and then again, the repulsion is a visible thing, magic? It creeps towards me along the alley and I now have no choice. I liberate a short dagger from a boot sheath, the handle in one hand the blade up the long sleeve of my other arm my hands together. For some reason, I take a deep breath as I step out of the alley. The repulsion hits my entire body and while I stagger, I push through, my eyes fixed upon the Badger Kin, my all-consuming destination.

Through a clenching jaw, I murmur, “lead me out of the town before my blade guts you …”

She jumps and then nods. “Please don’t hurt me, I can help you. I will help you.” The tremor in her voice is music to my ears as I lay an arm across her shoulders and lean into her. My dagger I conceal under her furry arm and within the hollow of her armpit.

---

The lifting of the repulsion wakes me. The Badger Kin continues to plod forward. I can only assume my legs carry me without instruction, while my arm around her shoulders enough to prop up my body. My dagger hand is empty which I quickly remedy by fetching the other boot dagger. I work my jaws, dry, my saliva thick and yet to reach for my canteen would mean releasing her shoulder and probably falling flat on my face or releasing my threat of death, yet haven’t I already done so?

I guide her with grunts, follow this stream, keep this hillock on your right and she clearly understands as my Matriarch’s camp is soon before us, nestled in a shallow valley and I smile for the first time.

“You can go.” I steady my swaying by leaning against a nearby sapling.

The Badger Kin reaches into the stream and brings a full waterskin to my lips, gently tipping the bag up and I drink, swill, and spit away from both of us. I then drink a couple of mouthfuls and she lowers the bag and slings it across her back. Ignoring my dagger, she grabs and then places my arm across her shoulders. Her hand opens underneath the dagger and I freely drop the blade into her possession. She reaches down and sheaths the weapon in my boot.

A Badger Kin smile is a wonderful thing. Hope and kindness are a given and yet the promise of more ever-present.

Shortly after a rush of several Snake Kin guards envelop us. They recognise me and carry me away. Painful Badger Kin yelps reach my ears and while the temptation is strong to check, I realise my concern will change nothing.

---

A brief rest, a hearty meal, and an ale, and I recover most of my strength.

“The Matriarch requires your presence.”

Her timing of course impeccable, although more likely she told one of her Daughters to spy upon me and my recovery. I don’t hesitate, much. I find the Matriarch’s tent easily enough, the largest and the camp is always laid out the same even if trees and bush need to be cleared. The Guards clear my passage and with a flourish I present myself before my Matriarch, ready to report my success. The words catch in my jaws.

The Badger Kin is a ball of blood, the white of her fur red, the black remains black and yet I suspect more unseen blood within. I steel my heart, if I show weakness or worse sympathy the Matriarch may insanely conclude I plot somehow with this unfortunate creature.

My Matriarch lays back in a relaxing pose upon her new prize, a stone lounge. Low to the floor and yet the curves compliment a Snake Kin body to perfection. In her hand is a glass of wine, the drinking of which a recent pleasure.

“We questioned your … mmm … helper and you know why she helped you?” She laughs, a hissing cackle.

I see her humour, helper and force myself to laugh with her until the moment she stops, at which point I shake my head in denial answering her question.

“She thought you needed help and being kind is its own reward. Oh, and she hopes to please the Goddess Aphrodite.”

I nod.

“The best part though is she doesn’t expect Aphrodite to reward her in any way, no she wishes to live her life by the Goddess’ example. Again, such a thing is its own reward.” Matriarch Naesatra’s hand slaps her tail while throwing her head back in boisterous laughter which echoes momentarily around the confines of the tent before escaping through the thick canvas.

In a black, white, and red flash the Badger Kin rises and in a heartbeat, her paw is squeezing the Matriarch’s neck. Her bodyguard throws their spears. Each spear bounces back, the tips bent over as if striking stone. In the following heartbeat fire forms and dies in the Matriarch’s hands. Lightning arcs from one of the members of her court, to strike the Badger Kin and yet there is a fizzle.

The Badger Kin doesn’t lift her intense gaze from the Matriarch when she speaks, “The next who attacks me will regret their folly.”

Chills travel down my spine, the words are spoken without feeling or emotion, simply resonating with undeniable truth. In haste I sheath my two throwing daggers and observe others stand at ease, while two of the Matriarch’s court flee.

--- Aphrodite POV

With a paw around her neck, I want to squeeze and yet my High Priestess’ words of advice come to mind. Her plan would be best, and I wait while staring into the Matriarch’s eyes.

A shout goes across the camp. “Azarya returns!”

Shortly after the shout dies and a buzz of conversation rises.

“Your moment is upon you Matriarch.” I lift her from the lounge and side by side we exit the tent my paw is no longer around her throat, instead, the appendage takes up friendly residence on her back.

She swallows several times and then hisses, “What if I slay you now you have erred?”

“If you thought you could succeed you wouldn’t be asking the question,” I reply.

Venom drips from her fangs and I hope she tries to plunge them into my flesh, instead, one member of her court approaches, a sideways glance at me first and then in a wavering voice she reports, “Matriarch … Azarya challenges you …”

The back of Matriarch Naesatra’s hand swats her Snake Kin Daughter, the total surprise of the strike dropping the messenger to the ground like a tree falling in the forest, a slow collapse hastening.

The Matriarch marches onwards, hissing, “Is this your plot? A distraction so a challenger can confront me?”

Alasse knew the Matriarch would assassinate any prospective challenger the moment the challenger’s entourage made an appearance. The Beast Kin slaves alert; on a promise of freedom if they succeed in this task, and such motivation made for nearly unstoppable assailants preventing challenger after challenger from ever confronting her. Yet this time the challenger slithers forward alive and well.

The camp separates, a gathering to the left and another huddle to the right. None spectate from behind either the challenger or the Matriarch. There isn’t an announcement, a ceremony … upon sighting each other the contest begins.

Naesatra conjures forth a ball of fire and launches the conflagration at Azarya, her dark silver snakeskin glowing, in reaction, as she zig-zags to dodge the trajectory. Sunlight oddly reflects from her shield as she needs to angle her shield to fend off the ball. Ice crystals shatter and spray from her shield. Two smaller balls of fire strike the challenger between her shoulder blades, pushing her forward. Two torches held by the throng are now black and inert.

I realise she can create fire from nothing, or command existing fire and I suspect the latter the easier and more affordable in terms of mana.

Azarya recovers quickly, continuing forward either dodging or deflecting each ball of fire to the frustration of the Matriarch. Each hit melting ice to ice water with Azarya forming a new layer to replace the loss. The Matriarch glances at Azarya’s sunlit sword. Alasse informs me of Azarya’s skill in the weapon, earning her position of bodyguard, at the cost of much blood, belonging to others.

Matriarch Naesatra charges Azarya immolating herself into a fiery ball, her hands, twin balls of flame reach out. The corners of Azarya’s lips turn up for a moment and then she reaches back and flings her sword, end over end, sunlight intermittently reflecting. The melee warrior strikes from a distance and the Matriarch rushes forward believing her flames would blind her opponent perhaps.

The flames extinguish revealing Azarya’s sword embedded in the Matriarch’s shoulder causing her to lean back favouring one side. She then struggles back into an upright position using her tail as leverage. In those moments which capture our attention Azarya countercharges, her hands wearing a layer of ice appearing like magic around the Matriarch’s neck. Flames burst from Naesatra’s hands and she smacks them against her attacker’s arms, melting off the layers of protective ice. Azarya ignores the assault. The flames wilt and the blows weaken until no more.

With an echoing crack, Azarya liberates Naesatra’s head from her shoulders, the frozen flesh and blood in an opposing jigsaw. I imagine the two could be reunited and appear whole. As Azarya holds the head of the former Matriarch high, all in the camp except me bow low.

Thanaron appears and scopes up the Matriarch’s Spirit and Soul and disappears just as quickly while Azarya sends a curt nod my way.

After several heartbeats, the new Matriarch of House Silver Scale speaks, “Stand and offer me your loyalty.”

As all move to line up, I leave with an odd taste of dissatisfaction in my mouth, not entirely certain why. Did Naesatra’s Spirit form stare vengeance upon me?