azazele

Arc 8-28 (Umphrieltalia)

What does it mean to be a flower of an elven clan?

That question defined Talia’s existence. It had no easy answer. When she imagined giving herself to Lou, she thought it would be in a more traditional role. A mistress perhaps, or a concubine if the noblewoman wanted to give her a more official status. She wouldn’t generalize every ext...

Arc 8-27

Despite having spent the night with murderers and thieves, I enjoy the rest of dinner, or really, the drink-fueled story time. My guests have lived interesting lives. A more virtuous person might say scandalous lives, but I’m in no position to pass judgment. Well, I am, because I could crush them with a pinky, but I won’t because I’m a mag...

Arc 8-26

“Interesting. I’ve never seen a parasite that can affect the host’s movements without inflicting damage to the brain. Whatever it’s methods, they are incredibly delicate and precise.”

“Mm. It has been pitted against itself, used to slow its own advance. A twisted physique.”

The two older elves exchange a running comment...

Arc 8-25

My hand snaps out, grabbing her by the throat, the slight pressure of my grip meant as a warning. I’d hate to kill her before knowing their story, but I’m afraid I might have to as the feel of my fingers clamping over her neck doesn’t stop the woman, this Rey. I ready myself to squeeze, knowing how little effort it would take to shatter bo...

Arc 8-24

“Thank you for hosting us on such short notice, Lou.”

“Always happy to see a friend and friends of a friend.” Saints, she’s really walking around with pirates. It isn’t even the leather that gives them away. It’s the look. The one that’s quietly appraising the furnishings and assigning them value while also mocking them. It...

Arc 8-23

For most of my life, meals were lonely affairs. How could they not be? It was just me and Father in that crumbling estate, seated at opposite ends of a dining table built to accommodate an expansive family and their guests. When he bothered to show up. Often, he took his meals in his study or wherever he was working. I know he wasn’t absent be...

Arc 8-22

“Such power must be fragile, no?” Kierra asks lazily. She’s switched from actively pawing at the succubus to merely hugging her as if she’s an upright pillow. “The hunters defaulted to what they know in a time of crisis, but it is only a matter of time before they come to resent these Traditionalists. Someone with the power to protect ...

Arc 8-21

“Shall we start with a recap?” Geneva says, neither Kierra’s attention or her food preparation giving her the slightest pause. My thoughts briefly drift to the thought of the amazing dinner waiting for us, but I quickly shove it aside. This is part of the problem, isn’t it? Why I’m not making progress. Not wanting to risk my most likel...

Arc 8-20

It takes a while to run off the anger. By the time I make it back to the estate, my shirt is clinging to me and a few strands of hair are sticking to my face. I took a liking to looking down on the city. Something that would have been much easier had I switched to the form of a dusk hawk, the first bird I ever copied, but leaping toward the heav...

Arc 8-19

“Good morning, my summoner.”

For the past few days, I’ve been avoiding my elven in-laws, fed up with their prodding and poking of my mind. Though truthfully, it’s less that I’m avoiding them and more that they’re allowing me a reprieve; saints know either one of them could make their presence felt if they desired. However, they...

Arc 8-18 (Marcella)

Marcella didn’t have many hobbies as a girl. She couldn’t afford them. Her father’s many mistresses were nothing to him, means to an end or pretty decorations to hang off his arms. But they accepted the marquis' selfishness because they were playing for the future; he would never share much of himself or his business with them, but when he...

Arc 8-17 (Marcella)

Marcella was in one of the offices of the Golden Feathers when she received word of her sister’s return. She spent most of her time in the hotel, which was true for many important persons in the city whose wealth hadn’t been swept away in the destruction; the Feathers was both the safest and most luxurious building standing, it was only natu...

Arc 8-16 (Marcella)

Despite its long reach, powerful reputation, and immense assets, the Guiness was a young family. Their bloodline stretched rather far but it had only been recognized as a noble house in the past two generations. Her father had taken their family from well-known merchants to nobles whose names could literally and figuratively move the kingdom. It...

Arc 8-15

The more experienced casters around me speak of a magical sense that comes with experience and an inflated core. Rolly swears that if a being lives long enough with their element, they can gain the ability to manipulate it instinctively, at least in small ways. Something akin to a lesser pure affinity. I don’t know if I believe that, but Alana...

Arc 8-14

Once I return, I head straight for the study, my mood sour but wanting to get my meeting with Morgene over with. Surprisingly, the room is empty. I barely have a moment to wonder where my wayward tutor is before a weight hits my shoulder, small hands latching onto me.

“Coo~” Bell says right into my ear, while the mature voice of her tr...

Arc 8-13

“Have you thought about our previous conversation?”

Orum’s question pulls me out of my silent contemplation. As usual, he found me in the early hours of the morning and led me on a tour of the city. This time, we settle in the shadow of a half-decimated building, the right side a pile of rubble leaning up against the surprisingly int...

Arc 8-12

We didn’t make it to dinner.

Predictably, Kierra ended the game. Not that anyone blamed her. It’s fairly obvious to anyone that sees her in that setting that the poor elf has no control over herself when it comes to these things. It was a testament of her love that she could pretend to be meek for even a moment. And there certainly wer...

Arc 8-11 (Kierra)

Arrogance, the confidence of no substance. As fleeting and vicious as a storm, as useless as a string of pearls on a swine.

Kierra had been called arrogant many times in her life, her family many more times. They were Atainna, the royal blood. The blessed blood. The cursed blood. What they were called depended on the perspective, but one t...

Arc 8-10 (Alana)

Before meeting Lou, Alana could never imagine herself as an informal actress with her lovers, weaving stories around indecent acts. She didn’t imagine anything related to the bedroom aside from being grateful to collapse into a decent bed after a long day of training. A condition wholly unique to her. The north was a place of passions. The sta...

Arc 8-09

Alana’s normally stern gaze is softened with an endearing mix of eagerness and anxiety, contrasting her pretend frown as she joins the game. I can’t hide my smile as my familiarity with her practically points out the signs of her nerves: the tension throughout her whole body, the slight trembling of her lips, the way she can’t quite look m...

Arc 8-08

Despite her eagerness, Alana does not get out of the chair quickly. She’s in charge tonight, but she also recognizes what I’m trying to do for Talia. She doesn’t rush our flower who insists on perfection, uncaring about the tension in the room as she finishes with Alana’s nails and moves on to her hair. Her only concession to the situati...

Arc 8-07

“You’re messing with me.”

“I am~”

Alana sighs as I giggle at her expense. My poor knight is feeling a bit frustrated, I imagine. After soaking until the bath cooled, she was eager to get her hands on me, getting very daring with the towel as we dried each other in the bedroom. The look in her eyes said she wanted to tackle ...

Arc 8-06

“Something wrong?”

Ugh. I hate that’s the first thing that comes to mind when she sees me. Have I really been that bad?

“Nothing. I just wanted to see you. We’ve missed each other lately. Or should I say I’ve missed you?”

She narrows her eyes, but I know that’s just to stop herself from rolling them; saints forb...

Arc 8-05 (Alana)

Block. Chop. Thrust.

Alana’s movements were sharp and direct. There was nothing elegant about northern swordsmanship. Their soldiers didn’t train to fight against men. Monsters didn’t care about feints and fancy footwork. They didn’t yield at first blood or understand any rules of engagement. Only one thing could stop titans: stren...

Arc 8-04

I wouldn’t have minded passing out for the rest of the day the way I felt. Sleeping until my problems passed me by would have been even better.

Instead, judging by the dying light painting the bedroom in shades of gold, I’d say it’s afternoon at the latest. The exhaustion that made me take an early rest hasn’t gone anywhere, my nap...

Arc 8-03

It’s funny that my thoughts should have drifted to my tutors, as Morgene has taken to the role with gusto. It’s not just me she pokes and prods every day, she’s taken an interest in all of us. In her own words, it’s our fault for being so strange.

She’s delighted by the siblings, children being molded by a master, adores the quir...

Arc 8-02

“Your father is a strange man.”

While I’m learning to enjoy a moments of peace, I find myself craving company the moment I return from our daily walks. Following the closest heartbeat, I find Kierra in the dining room, dressed in casual clothes with her long, silver hair pulled back, likely because it would have fallen into her face ...

Arc 8-01

My childhood is defined by the things we didn’t have. Or rather, I define it so. For some reason, the negative memories, recalling that which I never had or was taken from me, is so much easier than thinking of happier times. Summoning was an escape but a rare one, as Father was always more concerned with entertaining himself. Every day was a ...

Miniarc-Villains-33

“Do you miss it?”

A week and a day after the attack, Samuel found himself once more seated across from Cecilia in the Gold Dorm’s dining room. He’d kept the promise he made to himself and didn’t return to the camp the weekend past and was glad for it, the extra rest having left him with a good mood and refreshed body. He’d even...

Miniarc-Villains-32

Samuel had a dilemma.

His chosen representative to take the weight of his unwanted fame was rapidly becoming unsuitable. After watching Robert maim a second rebel, Kern gathered his courage and tried to stop the young hero. Samuel suspected that he was indeed nervous about facing the future Harvest Hero alone, as he tried to enlist the hel...