Aerial Cinder sat on a shelf in Rezu’s tailor workshop as he worked on stitching up Zagreus’ armor. She had spent three days in a healing tank after she gave Zagreus his Life Eternal mark.

“Are you hungry?” Rezu said. He was wearing his own stained work clothes with a leather apron.

“No.” She snapped.

“He’s not waking up anytime soon. Sulking is not going to change that fact.”

“I’m not sulking.”

“It takes days for a Life Eternal to set.”

“It’s been three.”

“He’s had a rough month. It’s going to take a little longer.”

“Heal him faster.”

“Do you want to ruin your mark?”

“He would be in better shape if you had stopped him at Founder’s Cove.”

“I stay out of Mecromancer relationships, for this reason.”

“He was awake the day after Founder’s Cove.”

“It didn’t fully take the first night. I guess they bonded while sailing or over almost being killed.”

“They went sailing?!”

“If you are going to bite my head off every time I say something, I’m going to order you out of my room.”

She crossed her arms and scowled at him. The worst of the punishment had been avoided, but the rank reset was permanent. Even Jade could order her around now. It was the constant reminder of her failure.

“I know you are frustrated. I don’t like pulling rank. I have a lot of work to do and much less time to do it. You screaming at me will only slow me down.”

“I could help you.”

He stared blankly at her for a moment. “I still remember the last time you tried to help me make something.” He shook his head. “If you are so worried then go sit with him. He will know you are there.”

“I did.” She sighed, “But he felt my stress. I left him to rest.”

Rezu nodded. “That is a strange power he has.”

She sat quietly and watched him work.

A few minutes later he put down his tools, went over to a cabinet and pulled out a familiar looking wooden box with fine carvings of aerials and golden hinges. Inside it was a cage, a fake cage. They had repeatedly used it to give Cinder as a ‘gift’ to enemy generals and leaders, to great success. It’s so easy to trick mortals. They forget most things in a generation or two.

Cinder hopped to her feet. “What are you doing?”

“Why don’t we go visit Gwenyr?”

Cinder grinned wide.

“This is to keep you hidden. You will not harm her.”

She scowled. “You ruin all of my fun.”

“You chose to share him. Honor your word.”

She took a moment to collect herself then bowed. “I will honor my Love Eternal.”

His clothes changed to a simple, blue and white dress.

She landed on his shoulder, “You smell odd, kind of sweet and sappy. Did you make some new cologne?”

“It was a gift from Jade.” He smiled.

They went to the teleporter room. Rezu set the destination then stood in the circle.

There was a flash of green light then a stiff breeze chilled her to the bone.

Rezu stood on a telepad. In front of them was a massive stone wall stretched across a narrow valley, between two rocky, icy peaks. Two massive turrets had five meters long arc-lance barrels aimed at the teleporter pad. They would give a warm welcome to any unwanted guests.

Cinder knew there was a kilometer high cliff behind them. This was their above ground fortress, where the Chosen were trained.

She hopped off Rezu’s shoulder and morphed to an infernal with her wings in. She spawned a fine blue dress and veil that covered her completely. Aerials have little mass and lose body heat rapidly. Even with her mecromail, this cold would be quite uncomfortable.

Infernals on the other hand are rugged creatures. They are capable of surviving many extreme environments and can eat just about anything. Only remnants surpassed their resistance to chemicals. Infernals are engineered killing machines. And here is where the mecromancers trained them.

“Why are we at The Fallen Fortress?” She said.

“Strip.” He said firmly.

“You tricked me.”

“I did not. We are going to meet Gwenyr. Don’t speak, unless I speak to you.”

She recalled her clothes and tried to figure out what was happening. The infernals raised by mecromancers had developed their own customs. Almost every ritual declared that the participant be nude. They would say nudity meant that an accused criminal could not hide a weapon. A different ritual would say removing all your possessions gave you a chance to reflect on what was important. Cinder thought it had more to do with making them feel vulnerable and weak. Something all infernals hated.

“Follow me.”

They walked the couple hundred meters from the telepad to the wall. There was no door in this wall. A door is a weak point. They used hovering platforms to lift things over the wall. This was the only place on the surface with this kind of tech.

“State your name and business here.” A stern female’s voice spoke from above.

“I am Rezu Archinius. I am escorting an infernal for an honor challenge.”

“Honor challenge?!” Cinder said.

Rezu’s hand met her face, sending her skidding backwards. He bowed to the person on the wall. “Sorry about the interruption. May we proceed?”

Motherfucker! She screamed in her head as she spilt blood. Rezu was not the strongest but he was fast. She could have tried to block or avoid that hit but it would have led to more punishment. Her torture was not over yet.

“You may enter.” The voice said.

Rezu snatched her to her feet. In an instant they were on the top of the wall. The next they were across the fortress in the middle of a large grassy circle fifty meters across. He pulled her along as they went into a small building at the edge of the field. It was a small room with a shower, toilet, sink and a bench. Rezu shoved her down on the bench.

She glared up at him.

“You put Love Eternal on one who was already marked. What did you think was going to happen?”

“I will destroy her.”

“No, you won’t.” He treated her face, gave her instructions and a package, then left

She showered, as instructed, a common part of most rituals. When she was finished she opened the package to find a simple leather shirt and shorts waiting for her. She dressed and went outside.