AN: How close to being done are we? Well, I'm working on the Epilogue right now, if this gives you any ideas.

As always folks, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.

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"She has come of age, My Lord High God," spoke Brutus, as he and the Ageless in the form of his skeletal self stalked the silent halls. His garb chosen that turn was of a white, silk robe in order to allow the blood of others to stand out. For he had been tasked with creating another rare feast for his god. However, they did not know who would be coming for this event, even though the invitations had been sent to all adjoining worlds as well as their own.

Yes. The god could simply divine who would be appearing before them, but he chose not to in order to simply watch their reactions when he is in their midst. For although he is able to do much, divining who may come would alert those who believe he is still far from Terra, and does not wish to give away the surprise so early.

"Yes, but she has failed in her task as Regent. What of the other tasks?" The giant's voice was neutral during the conversation, as he does not wish to convey his thoughts at that time.

This query caused the smaller skeleton to sigh greatly, both mentally and physically, "She's failed at cooking, and has even managed to burn everything in the kitchen when nothing was lit. This was all under the supervision of a minour god, mind you, and he actually stormed out after she tried to cook a pate, which is normally served cold."

"So her culinary skills are nil. Anything else?"

"No for sewing, broidering, or anything to do with threads; those even caught fire somehow. So we placed her into the smithy, then promptly removed her due to the fact she tried to melt the Dwarf's anvil." The Lich's right, clawed hand rubbed the top of his skull with embarrassment, "We took her to see a Fire Mage afterwards, then came back later that turn to find the teacher half frozen due to the fact that she had managed to freeze the entirety of it all.

"I don't know, My Lord. She seems to excel at doing the opposite of everything we put her through. Destruction instead of creations; creation instead of des-truc-tion..." A thought came to him just as he spoke these words, which caused his person to halt in his walk, "My Lord? Do you require another apprentice?"

This query caused the Ageless to pause in his step, and turn slowly to stare down upon his servant, "Why do you ask this?"

"She is chaotic in nature, My Lord, and would need more training if she is proficient in such a thing. Also, because if I ask Siuun, she would just drag Denna off to cause havoc with who knows what just because she finds them funny. Then there's the issue with all of the other Lords of Chaos who simply desire more power, and would try to use her for some other scheme involving your person."

The lights in the God's sockets dimmed for a time, then flared back into life as he contemplated the words of his servant for a moment, "Very well, Brutus. She will become another apprentice of mine. However," a single digit was raised from his lesser right, clawed hand in order to waylay any more words, "if she fails in the trials I have set for her, then her fate will be mine to command. Understand?"

"Perfectly, My Lord High God," Brutus saluted the other, and bowed slightly, "I wouldn't dream of going against your person."

"Too bad," the other's voice rumbled with slight amusement, "It would have made an interesting story if you had such ambitions."

*****

As the day-star slowly sank below the horizon of the world called Terra, the city known solely as Necropolis became alive with the sounds of merrymaking. As many skeletal heralds wearing the ancient livery of an opaque, skeletal dragon one a red background came before them all in order to spread the message of their Lord High God's return and the abolishment of all taxes and slavery upon their world. This was met with a mixture of emotions, for many were delighted such things were removed, whereas those who profited greatly from such ventures were not at all amused. For their stock of persons had been removed by those called "Dolls", and many of their associates either slain or captured where they would be publically executed within the next sennight.

"How is this possible?" Growled an unknown being hidden beneath a thick, dark robe of crimson. The voice of this one was grating upon the senses, and sounded much like that of sharpened nails upon a chalk board. Of which caused four other equally robed creatures to visibly wince at the words.

These five had situated themselves within a small cottage a few kilomteres south of the capitol city of Terra, and were discussing various topics about their enterprise of slavery when reports began to flood in about their product being freed, and their underlings killed or captured. These reports, though accurate, did not bode well for the five, as another came through with the return of Terra's God called Ageless.

Two of these individuals desired to quit the business altogether, as they remembered the history sessions where this God would spare nothing in order to squash all who dare impose their will upon His world. Yes. Such tales shook the other three, but one of these individuals still refused to back down, even as all of their associates simply vanished along with any new prospects of continuing such an enterprise upon Terra.

"That girl was supposed to be in charge for another fifteen cycles, what changed?"

"Perhaps I can help with that," spoke a new voice, but was muffled as it was coming from outside the cottage. This cause the group to jump as they frantically called upon their energy in order to prepare various magicks for the perceived fight ahead. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," it continued, "We have the building surrounded, and will remove you by force if necessary. So come on out, if you would be so kind."

Outside, however, was a male Dragonock atop a silver and blue hued Wyvern which growled at the wooden building before them. This male, though coated in endarkened scales, had the features of a Human, but with golden, serpentine eyes. His garb, however, was of leather and chain, and in the dying light it looked to be coated in blood and viscera. However, this was merely an illusion to unsettle those perceived as an enemy.

To his right was another Dragonock, but a female who simply sat upon the grass, pulling up several chunks as she stared blankly at the world. Every now and again, she would giggle at something within her mind, which tended to upset and unnerve others, but not the one atop the Wyvern. Instead, he simply ignored the female, of whom wore a simple stained and torn linen tunic and trousers. Although she was indeed a female, her chest was nonexistent, even if the tears in her tunic revealed it slightly. Resting within arm's reach, however, was a large scythe with a serrated edge. This was given to her as a gift from the pair's Lord and Master, just as the Wyvern was gifted to the male.

Now, however, the pair were tasked with hunting down all remaining cells of the slavers which plagued the land. Both of them were given a large contingent of Dolls in the shape of Arachne, half female human, half spider. These were great hunters, and could function in both darkness and light. Of which were of great use, as they held both abilities of a giant spider and Human, but without their many weaknesses.

At this time, they had surrounded the cottage by coating much of the structure with a more flammable thread. Of which only a few of the more resilient of the Dolls held torches of emerald hues. These were given the task of burning the threads should those within desire a fight to the death as opposed to simply giving up.

"Hey, hey," called out the female in a melancholic and melodious tone, "Please stay and let me kill you. I haven't had blood in a while, so please let me kill you." She giggled unceasingly at her comment, which caused her to clutch her stomach as she rolled around onto the ground.

Whereas the other simply sighed along with the wyvern as they turned their attention back towards the cottage before them. It was here that they felt the onrush of energy flowing within the building, as though the residents tried to teleport themselves out of their predicament, only to find it had failed. Cursing soon erupted from within, as muffled voices tried a second and third time. "This has gone on long enough," grumbled the male, of whom had grown weary of such attempts to escape, "Burn it down."

After such words were spoken, the Wyvern gave a howl which signaled the Dolls to torch the threads. Of which they responded with haste, and soon the entirety of the structure was burning a beautiful glow of emeralds and shadows. This caused those inside to make an exit for which to escape, but only found a Dragonock female with insane features within her eyes. "Blood!" she cried out, raising her scythe high as she charged towards the group who were now frantically trying their best to escape.

Unfortunately for them, before they could use whatever means they had to teleport far from their position, the female was upon them and swung her scythe horizontally. This action caused two of their number to freeze, as they believed the other had missed. However, their facial features soon turned to horror, as their lower half fell one way, their upper the other whilst their organs flowed freely outwards upon the now stained grass. These pair screamed greatly, reaching for their companions to save them, whilst they desperately tried to stuff their organs back inside their bodies. However, those they had considered colleagues turned and flew into the nearby forest, as the female stood above the fallen with an open maw containing several rows of sharpened teeth. "Blood!" she cried out, launching herself onto the bodies of those she had sliced in half.

*

High above the forest, flying above the sparse clouds was another creature which appeared to be draconic in nature, but was something more. For although its body was that of a small drake's, as were its large wings upon its shoulder blades, and the tail which extended far past its legs, that which was between the shoulders of such a creature was not one, but two long necked heads. Both of which appeared to be similar, but were wholly not when closely scrutinised. As one was of a Wyvern's shape, whilst the other was of a Dragonock's.

Indeed, this creature is the combined form of the male Dragonock and his Wyvern mount. For long ago the pair had been part of a ritual which fused their essences and bodies together. Why such a deed was done, however, only the God of Terra and the male knew, as it was stricken from the history books long ago.

At that time, however, the dual creature had folded its arms as both heads watched the fleeing trio, only glancing at the female and her feast for, but a moment. 'What should we do?' hissed the Wyvern's mind to the other.

"Our Lord demands only one of them to be given to His person," spoke the Dragonock's head, "Therefore, we are given leave to do as we wish to the others. Which is why Siuun," the right clawed hand of the creature waved in the direction of the female, before returning to its folded position, "is allowed to do as she wishes this time.

"So let us go and do what we must in order to please our Lord High God. For He has returned to us after so long, and I desire to bask in His glory once more." In so saying, the pair of heads howled with a mixture of joy and hunger, before diving towards the trio who had frozen in fear from the noise above their heads.