.:A TRAGIC TALE:. ~Begins~

[Crystal Tears]

Albel Lionet
.:| Prelude |:.
I’m numb to you - numb and deaf and blind.
You give me all but the reason why.
I reach but I feel only air at night.
Not you, not love, just nothing.

“Brother…”

Albel stared out at the village. He imagined they were trembling, the gigantic sandstorm brewing on their edge. Truth was, it was churning and choking only a few feet behind from where he stood. Yet no one on the Matria’s side tremble, no one dare take a step without consulting her first. Albel growled softly, they were lead by a damned magician, and nothing more. It had been surprising when she had rose up the ranks and taken control, blessed by the twin moons to control the sands of the plains. And now she stirred them, only to cast a shadow on their enemy, nothing more.

“Brother…”

“Hmm?” He didn’t look at his sister, only acknowledge her presence. Albel turned his head only slightly at the feel of her hand grasping his wrist.

“What’s wrong?” She sounded worried; Albel finally looked at Aurelia completely. “I thought this day would make you happy?”

Albel didn’t know how to reply exactly, he was aware that Aurelia knew of his growing distaste for the Matria; yet, he’d never reveal the full extent to her. She didn’t need to be bothered by his simple grudges, he shrugged and looked over his should at the Matria who was discussing some nonsense with the Versa.

“She makes us wait; for the sun to completely set.”

Aurelia looked up into the sky; it was nightfall, yet the sun still managed to peak out from around the swirling sands and the mountain. Complete darkness is what she wanted, and soon enough the Matria would get it.

Albel just hated waiting.

“Albel.”

Turning from his sister, Albel saw the Versa approaching, and he mentally groaned. She brought ‘orders’ from Zephys, and the gods knew that the queen loved to make Albel’s life a living hell.

“Yes?”

“She says we must take some prisoners.” Alvena spoke, taking a step back as Albel’s eyes became consumed by darkness.

Alvena showed promise, and Albel was quite aware she wanted to be on his ‘special’ battalion; which was only kept around because they were damn good at their job. However, most had begun to show signs of over-confidence, arrogance, and the idea they were somewhere close to being at Albel’s level. Morons. He thought coldly, Albel would never teach them everything; that would be a mistake. Only Aurelia would come to learn everything the desert taught him. And then they would answer to her when she was older. The fools weren’t even aware that Aurelia already could beat most of them, which this battle provided the greatest opportunity to dispose of them.

“And her reason?”

“She suggested that they could provide us with information about other villages. And access to the mountain pass.”

Albel’s anger swelled again; that damned pass wasn’t important! So they went through the Cisil Mountains, they could always go around, or over. They didn’t have to go through, no, the Matria probably just got greedy.

“Alvena, your main priority is to find the lowlife miner who knows the magicks to get in there and bring him to me. Any miner you see, catch them.”

Alvena nodded, “and the rest?”

Albel ignored that question, and turned to his sister. If he didn’t have to communicate with others, than he wouldn’t. Aurelia looked up at him with a weak smile, and tilted her head. He waited until Alvena walked away before continuing.

“I want you to eliminate Ret, Nami and Sesu.”

“Why?”

He smirked. “Because they’re no longer needed; and they make me… Unhappy.”

Aurelia nodded; eager to try and make Albel happy. “Just make sure you make it appear as if they were killed in battle with the enemy.”

“Okay.”

“Sir,” One of the lower awakeners mumbled, barely loud enough for Albel to hear. The Domin turned, looking ready to slaughter the man. “What about the younglings?”

Younglings: a term for the newest recruits and most inexperienced soldiers. Honestly, Albel hadn’t even glanced at them, considering them not worth his time; if they wanted training Alvena could do it. Yet she had been wrapped up with carrying out orders that the Matria had personally given her. Albel stepped over to the edge of the hill point and looked down at them.

“After the sand smothers the village… Send them in first.”

“Sir, none of them have ever been in combat-“

“Do they have weapons?”

“Yes…”

Albel smirked, turning from the younglings and back to his sister who was eager for the battle to commence.

“Whoever survives is worth training.”

The sun was gone now; disappearing completely behind the sandstorm and the mountains. Albel felt the wind pick up, and small particles of sand fell from the sky as the majority of the raging sandstorm was forced into a concentrated funnel, that swept from the air and flew at the village. Impressive… He had to give Zephys credit on that. Her magick ability made the sandstorm easy for her to control, other Matria’s had enough trouble summoning a funnel of sand, rather than a raging wall of sand. And now, she kept up the wall while sending a massive amount of rock, debris and Lumiun sand toppling down on the villagers. It looked almost like an hourglass, the sand pouring down on the houses and people.

“Won’t that bury them all?” Alvena questioned, appearing by Albel’s side again.

Albel looked glanced at her; his incarta had begun to spread rapidly; Cerus was eager to slaughter anyone that got in the way.

“Bury most, leave the ones worth fighting alive.” He growled, unable to control it really; the sand stream was almost gone, the excess was beginning to swirl around the village itself. Albel only let Cerus transform him half way, with most of his body covered in gleaming obsidian black and four raven wings burst from his back. “Do not fail me Alvena.”

She only nodded as he let out an inhuman and terrifying roar. The younglings cheered, charging hastily towards the village.

“Albel!”

He snarled, turning to see the Matria staring at him.

“What about the Continental Command?” She paused, slightly taken back by his form.

“Surely they’ve taken notice your highness, any of the soldiers close by might come to fight us and our sand.” Albel clenched his fist and smiled. “Let them come, they will drown in our sandstorm before they ever get to us.”

~ . ~

The Awakeners have begun their assault on the White Emperor’s lands. King Dandis has just received word of this strange and terrifying sandstorm that has launched a part of itself at the village. While most of the high council say it is a form of forbidden witchcraft, others, such as the captains and General cry out Awakeners. The spirits have long been on edge as the sandstorm appeared, and now they tremble.

A TRAGIC TALE
The Dandis Dynasty

Part one: Opposition

[Haruko]

Sign up here.

::/latros arcenea
what that stark, lonely blue eye sees, i wonder..

'Why am I traveling again..'Latros thought to himself as he looked up to the sky, slowly treading at a pace as he kept Stelligar(or Stelli, as he so affectionately called it); that being the name for his war hammer, at his back. There were many reasons for him to travel. Money, food, jobs, knowledge. But none of them seemed to be the reason this time.

"Oh yes."He paused, looking around. They did not seem to be following him now; however the sense of paranoia that he had developed over the years of them watching him kept him on his toes. This was why he was traveling to this town. The sky was nearing sunset, and the wind blew a bit harshly than normal; such weather was probably normal around this part. Latros' scarf blew into the wind as he started his walk again, the cloth covering his mouth.

'I wonder how the women are in this town..'He tried to make an conversation with himself to keep him from going insane, although he knew that each woman was unique, and more than likely he'd find his share of rare gems in this town. Within each step he took, the sun drew closer to the horizon. For some reason, today didn't seem to be his day.

First was how he woke up; a huge insect had decided to make a home on his face. A slight fear of his, Latros had run around in circles until said bug ran away; and Latros himself nearly fell down from being dizzy. Second, was the fact that he had barely anything to eat all day. He was used to Stelli's weight by now, sure, but carrying it around all day - while walking - would drive any man to his knees. The fact he didn't already was due to the paranoia of being followed.

Hopefully things would turn around when he hit the village. A fresh bath, food and drink - even if it didn't include women the first night, it would be better than bugs and carrying around the hammer all day. This was all Latros could think about as he tried to shrug off the paranoia and forget the hunger.

The sun slowly set as he came near the foot of the town, but paused in near horror at the sight before his eye as the sun had set completely. It was like a hourglass pouring down on the village, pouring sand and other things onto the buildings, people - food, women, shelter; the things he was looking foward to seeing. Such things seemed to be slowly disappearing to the sands now..

'You've got to be kidding me..'Latros thought as the excess of the sand circled the village.

Hope this is alright.

[Mystic_clown]

Weiss Dandis
-----------------------------------

“A Sandstorm?”

News had reached the High Council fast. A freak sandstorm had struck a small village, practically burying it underneath the sands. Naturally this was a great cause of concern, as would any seemingly natural disaster that struck their people.

However, this disaster seemed anything but natural.

“We can say for certain,” one of the councilmen spoke up, “That this sandstorm was caused by forbidden magic. It seemed to have targeted the village directly, and the abruptness in which is started and ended only proves it further!”

Weiss had to agree. While sandstorms were not uncommon for that village, they were never strong enough to cause any real damage by the time they hit the village. The geographical area in which the village sat made it almost impossible for a sandstorm of that strength to form so close to the village. Not on its own anyway.

“There’s no doubt a powerful sorcerer is behind this!” another councilman called out, “We must seek out this menace and put a stop to them before anyone else is hurt!”

“Seeking them out wont be necessary. We already know who are behind it.”

All eyes fell on the general of the Continental Command, the protectors of the people.

“And what is your suspicion?” one of the councilmen asked. Weiss had a sneaking suspicion he knew what he would say.

“This sandstorm,” Tthe general spoke, “Is clearly the work of none other than the Awakeners.”

Chatter broke out amongst the Council.

“I mean, It makes sense!” the general continued, “The village is along the borders of the Lumiun Plains, where the Awakeners were exiled, they have control over both magic and demons AND they despise each and every one of us! There is no doubt that this attack was caused by them!”

A number of members, including the captains, spoke out in agreement.

Weiss sighed sadly. He had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.

The original Dandis king, Dandis Page, was, in few words, a tyrant. He had used his power to usurp the thrown and under his rule, the Awakeners ruled while the common folk were considered less than human. Dandis Page’s tyrannical rule caused a great deal of tension between the common folk and awakeners.

When Dandis Page’s son, Dandis Jemiah, overthrew his father and took control, things went completely in reverse. He started a which hunt in which all awakeners, even children who were innocent, were slaughtered without mercy. Those who escaped were virtually exiled to the Lumiun Plains.This only worsened he hatred between common folk and awakeners.

Weiss was determined to quell this bitter hatred, to try and ensure that all people, whether they be Awakener or not, could live in harmony. It wasn’t easy. The fear and hatred of the awakeners were deeply engrained in his people. Even against his approval, many newly discovered awakeners were chased out of the kingdom. It was only now that he felt he was staring to make this progress.

But now, this attack, if it had been caused by the awakeners, had virtually crushed all of Weiss’ attempts at peace. He couldn’t ignore it, especially if his people were at risk.

“Your Majesty?”

Weiss was knocked out of his thoughts to see his entire council looking at him.

“What shall we do?”

Weiss thought for a moment.

“General, some of your men are close to the village right?”

“Yes your Majesty.”

“Good. Have them go down to the village and aid any survivors.”

“And the awakeners my lord?”

Weiss swallowed hard.

“If the awakeners are there, and if they are indeed hostile, then you have my permission to fight.”

The General and his captains stood up.

“Sir.”

They bowed before leaving the chambers. Weiss slumped back in his seat, sighing sadly.

What series of events have begun?

[Samchu]

NAME: Alvena Gundisalv
AGE: 24
GENDER: Female
SPECIES: Reial
APPEARANCE: Vena stands just 5’5 but has a build that makes her seem taller. Her body is designed to be agile and athletic but hides surprising strength (for a woman of her size). Her hair is the colour of ebony and stretches down her back in one long braid that ends an inch above her waistline. Her eyes are a deep (murky) shade of brown. The armour she wears is a padded black body suit designed to protect the chest, back and stomach. It is skin-tight, giving the impression that she is wearing no armour at all, and concealed beneath a baggy, deep green shirt. She also wears baggy, dark brown pants and no shoes (she’s very in touch with the naturist side of her species despite being separated from the forests she grew up in and distanced from anything resembling woodland). Her incarta stretches across the back of her waistline. The base of the incarta resembles the bumpy line used to represent waves and is about an inch high. From the top, thin lines bend upwards, crossing over and wrapping round each other to look like a forest of thorns.
PERSONALITY: Vena’s personality can be summed up in 3 stages. The first is the one she is most commonly known for. She keeps her emotions strongly under wraps and that makes it very difficult to tell what she is thinking – a problem as her mind always seems to be at work. She likes to keep herself busy; throwing herself into whatever odd jobs she can. Her work seems to devour her at times and she can become lost in it, doing things in a trance-like state that she will either snap out of in her own time or by sheer determination being shown by the person wanting her attention. She also seems to show more of her sensitive side; offering to help others if they need it. She considers other Awakeners to be part of her family and would fight and die to protect any of them.
Her second personality is the one that appears during battle. It is cold and ruthless, driving her to lengths far beyond what people believe to be her natural limits. She believes in vengeance and rage and will never take prisoners unless it will result in even greater bloodshed later. Despite her drive, she remains calculated and quickly thinks through her actions before deciding her next move. Her physical agility plays a huge part in this, allowing her to slide past enemy attackers with ease. It makes her very difficult to surround. She prefers a close, physical battle; something that allows her to smell the blood of her victims when she kills them (thus her weapon of choice). Her malice in battle has given her a reputation amongst her fellow outcasts whilst her drive has often resulted in her going against the orders of one of her superiors; siding in the one that allows her to cause the most bloodshed.
The side of her personality that no one has ever seen is bonded tightly to her race. Reial’s have always been a race considered to be ‘in-tune’ with nature and Vena is no different. When she feels like she needs to sort out her mind or become more centred, she seeks out an area of the Lumina Plains that remain untouched by her comrades hands and meditates. This allows her to come into contact with her childlike innocence – an aspect of her self that her banishment forced her to lock away.
ALLIANCE: Awakener
RANK: Versa
INFERICUS OR NATURAL: Natural
IMMORTALIS: N/A
MAGICK RANK: N/A
MAGICK SPELLS: N/A
WEAPON: http://www.thevaultofhorrors.be/images/resident%20evil%20extinction%20foto%201.jpg just like this, except that the edges of the blades are more strongly defined and the handles are curved to fit her grasp (appearing less like the handles of butcher knives).
HISTORY: Nothing really beyond the usual. Being of a spiritual race, Vena didn’t succeed in hiding her Incarta for very long. The adults of her tribe chased her through the village, trapping her inside a small granary used to store food during the winter months when the forest could not provide for them (they weren’t ones for immigrating). Believing that her incarta was the result of an impure soul (she was the first to be discovered) they tried to burn her alive. Vena escaped by tunnelling her way out using her bare hands and ran for the Lumina Plains. She wandered for so long that she became delirious and tried to fight off the party that found her despite being only 9 years old. Admiring her ‘spunk’, one member of the party agreed to raise her and helped her to channel her energy into the art of battle. He was the one who granted her her blades and she refused to accept another weapon.
OTHER: mehhhhhhhhh

Alvena "Vena" Gundisalv

He had that slight superior grin etched across his face as he spoke calmly to the Matria. He was the only one of us who could speak to her like - perhaps the only one who dared - and it always seemed to give him some kind of self-satisfaction to do it. It wasn't a surprise really. His dislike of the Matria was hardly a secret. But that didn't neccessarily mean anything. That was the problem with Albel; you couldn't read him. I had tried many times to study his untranslated features but had met only failure in return. Perhaps that was why I wasn't getting anywhere with him. Maybe...

Still, as he stood there next to me, I could tell he was itching for battle. Sometimes at least I was thankful for that incarta of his. At least I could tell when he was ready for bloodshed.

With a hardened battle cry, he sent the younglings down to finish off the villagers that remained. I almost pitied them. Some were innocent. Some had chosen not to hunt us down and drive us out of our homes. But they had not defended us either. Those who had stood by us were dead. Therefore the living were guilty. The living needed to die.

We watched the slaughter from where we stood; Albel, our leader, and myself. Aurelia was at her brother's side of course; hovering there like a puppy begging to lick scraps from its master's hand. It was safe to say that the two of us had never seen eye-to-eye. We were almost rivals though we never competed at anything - not openly anyway. It was definately due though. Perhaps we could settle our differences after our conquest was complete.

The youngling army had halved and although it still held strong against the poorly armed peasants that were its opponents, the stronger of our forces were heading in to finish them. Albel went with them of course, shooting me back a glance to make sure I didn't forget my mission. I almost resented him for it. Surely he knew of my love of battle and here he was ordering me to carry out the most trivial of tasks. Hunting down some pathetic human miner. Where was the glory? The bloodshed? The fun? "Damn him for this..." But as much as I resented him I had to obey him. His orders fell in with the Matria's and to disobey both my superiors was not something I was willing to do. So, as the battle raged on before me, I crept around the village's edges and sought out the man-made hellholes they called mines.

The sand had buried the miners as they worked and it was taking them forever to dig themselves back out again. I thought briefly about helping them but I was too downtrodden by my mission to bother with it. When the first miner emerged he looked so relieved that I almost pitied him. Almost. Not enough to stop myself from driving on of my blades through his abdomen. He choked on his blood and fell when I withdrew my blade. His friends gathered behind him, awestruck and quivering with fear. I could almost smell it it was so obvious. "No then," I flashed the bloodstained blade, "which one of you knows the way through the mountain pass." I eyed each one of them in tern. "Hm?"

They practically tripped over themselves to push their 'comrade' forward. He stood there, shivering under my gaze, reeking of sweat and - I regretted to notice - urine. The cowardly swine. I motioned for him to step closer. I couldn't tell if he was a competent magician from a distance, I hadn't mastered that technique well enough yet, but once he was close enough I knew he was the one I wanted. I let him step a little nearer and then took him out swiftly with a sharp kick to head. I didn't use enough force to kill him, just enough to knock him out. The orders were to keep him alive after all.

I turned back to the others, flashing them one of my patented bloodthirsty grins. "Thank you for your co-operation," I withdrew my other dagger, "but your services are no longer required."

It wasn't long before I was treking back the village outskirts, my target draped across my shoulder. Behind me I left the bleeding pile of remains that was one this poor human's friends but they were no longer my concern. The desert could have them now; let the sands and vultures feast on their remains.

I dropped the unconcious man before Zephys and bowed quickly to my superior. "This is the prisoner you need. He has the magic to get us through the mountains."

"I believe my orders called for multiple prisoners. He can get us through the mountains but I doubt he can tell us what we need to know about the other villages."

"Forget the other villages. With our army and our magic we can make quick work of them all."

"And what of the Continental Command, hm? We have no knowledge of their strengths or their numbers. How can we prepare for them?"

"We have waited years for this. We don't need preparation. I agree with Albel, let them come, their blood will stain the ground along with that of the sinners they are so desperate to protect."

"You think only of the battle before you, never of the war that will surely come of this. Look!" She pointed down to the battlefield below. "How many of our fallen do you see? When this is over we must count the dead and restructure our legions to hide the gaps their deaths have left us with. Our enemies are not so unfortunate. If the Continental Command loses 10 men they can replace them with 100 equally as strong. We can merely mourn the passing of those who have left us. Our numbers are restricted, there's are unlimited. We cannot afford to risk losing any of our numbers. This is why we need information and why I need information. Do you understand?"

I nodded, wiping the blood from my blades with a defeated sigh. "I understand. One side order of human trash coming right up."

[Roy Karrde]

NAME: Serafina (Sera) Lionet
AGE: 14
GENDER: Female
SPECIES: Deatu
APPEARANCE: She stands around five foot, four inches, with wild hair and golden eyes, just like her brother. She allows the hair to dip down to her shoulders, and has a scar across her forehead from the many training sessions she participated in when she was younger; she tries to hide the scar with her messy hair. She has a clear complexion, and light skin, and a somewhat thin frame, with small breasts and hips. She wears a long black shirt that she ties off to become a tank top, as well as leather leggings, with two rusted bronze pieces of armor on each side of her legs. She wears a rusted necklace with a twisted piece of metal with a blue gem in it. It belonged to her mother and was the only way to prove her birth. It is known as the Star of Sunde
PERSONALITY: Sera is very short tempered and quick to anger, she spends very little time with others and has very little to no time for social gatherings. She has never dated a boy, nor does she have any interest in boys, or girls. She wants to become an elite soldier, and surpass her brother, anyway possible, and she does not care who she has to step on to realize her dream.
ALLIANCE: Awakener
RANK: Soldier
INFERICUS OR NATURAL: Natural
IMMORTALIS: Will post later
Weapon She keeps a Short Sword and Dagger, using them both as a one two punch in battle.
History She was only eight years old when her incerta appeared, while it was barely visible, her mother had no choice but to try and smuggle the little girl out into the desert. She was told to find her brother, and that he would take care of her. She had only heard stories about him, and had grown to admire him from a young age. Although she was always angered that nothing was good enough, nothing measured up to her brother.

Dazed and dehydrated she found her way into the Awakener’s sanctuary. There she continued to hear whispers about her brother, through out the next six years she always felt her goal was just out of reach. This began to frustrate her, and she soon began to hate her brother, and wanted to finally prove herself.

When she was finally old enough, she signed up to be a soldier, against the wishes of those she was living with. She knew this would be the only way to finally step out of her brother’s shadow, and prove herself.

Serafina (Sera) Lionet
~*~*~*~*~ My Brother’s Keeper ~*~*~*~*~

Brother…

His shadow seemed to stretch on for miles in each direction, the darkness of the shadow seemed to be nearly blinding, suffocating in that it squeezed out the air of everything around me.

Brother why…

“WHY!” I screamed out, clinching my fist as I shook them in the air. “Why must you be a God?” I asked, there was never a answer, only silence, and the suffocating shadow.

“I hate you so much.” My voice reaching as loud as possible. “I HATE YOU.” I shouted to the shadow, jerking awake as I always did. The dream never seemed to change, it was the same dream I had had since my early childhood, what was worse, was that ever since I had come to this place, the dream seemed to blur the lines between the dream world, and reality. As if my brother was actually on the end of that infinite shadow.

“Why do I have to live in your shadow?” I mumbled to myself, unsheathing my sword in the dimming candle light.

--------

“CHARGE!” Those around me screamed, rushing forward into the hell that had become the village. Sand rushed around me, blowing through my hair and clinging to it as I unsheathed my sword, slashing my way through the gore, and into the village.

“Sand storm!” Some one screamed, the wind picking up, blowing sand through the village with a ferocity that seemed unbelievable. “It’s going to bury us.”

"What?" I yelled out, using my sword to perry one's, and then used my dagger to gut him, slicing it into the soft flesh.

"Sand Storm!" The voice yelled again, sand getting into my eyes and hair.

While the sand was annoying, I had very little chance to deal with it as another soldier came to my left, swinging his sword wildly. "Damn it." I swore, using the dagger to block his attack and push him away.

I shook my head, the sand falling out of it as I used my smaller dagger to stab some one in the leg, at this moment I could care less if he was friend or foe, I just needed a step stool. When the man came again, I used to sword to slice at his arm, and then dove to the ground, diving the dagger into his leg.

When he bent over in pain, grasping the dagger in his leg, I made my move. Jumping onto his back and then leaping to a second story window, using my strength to slowly pull myself into it.

“My brother wouldn’t let a sandstorm kill him..” I coughed, trying to clean the sand from my throat. “And I wont either.”

[Weasel Overlord]

Zephys Xiomara || Warrior Queen

Zephys glared at the cowering prisoner from the eye-slits in her helmet.

“You’d better be of use to me, miner,” she growled, “Or your life is forfeit. And my people are hungry for spilled human blood. You would not last to see the morning sun rise. So tell me. What do you know about the villages leading up to the Cisil Mountains?”

“The mountains? I’ve mined them all my life, lady…”

“I did not ask you about the mountains themselves! I asked what you know of the villages. Speak!”

“Between here and the pass there are a further two, ma’am, Thrace and Cisil itself.”

“And what are their populations? Numbers of warriors? Do not forget, human, I hold your life within my grasp. The moment you become of no use to me, you will die, have no doubt about that.”

“Cisil is the most heavily guarded; last I heard there was a small battalion of Continental Command stationed there. Thrace has no soldiers, it is a small, unfortified village, probably no more than thirty houses, you cannot possibly gain anything by destroying it -”

“I will travel through the Cisil Pass and lay waste to any human settlement I may pass through. You have been informative, human. Do you have any magic? Any intimate knowledge of the ways we must tread to cross the Cisil Mountains?”

“None, lady, I am just a humble miner.” Zephys smiled a grim smile and tossed her head, fluttering the feathers attached to her helmet impressively.

“Then you shall die.” She turned swiftly on the heel, thrusting her lance directly into the heart of the miner with such power that the blades touched the earth where they exited his prone body.

Zephys dashed the body aside and stepped over it fastidiously. She glared down onto the battlefield, wondering whether her inept Versa had found her a practitioner of magic yet. Her eyes swept over each personal battle and she suddenly longed to be in the midst of it all, leading her warriors as a true Matria should.

Gripping Rhon decisively, she strode to the bottom of the hill and plunged into the fray, giving a blood-curdling shout as she tore into the nearest hapless human, neatly separating his head from his body.

She picked her way through the fallen, humans and Awakeners alike, to stand at Albel’s side. She watched him sink his changed claws into the chest of a fallen woman with a fierce grin and waited for him to notice her presence.

“Matria, why are you on the battlefield? Do you not trust your generals to carry out your orders?”

“I grew tired of waiting for them to be carried out to my satisfaction, Lionet. Where is my Versa?” He pointed wordlessly towards an almost-capsized tent with a scowl.

“We do not need you breathing down our necks. You should let us do our jobs without interfering. Or do you think us so incapable that you must hold our hands every step of the way?”

“And I do not need inept commanders, Domin. You will keep a civil tongue in your head when talking to your Matria!” Dismissing him with a wave of her hand, she walked to the tent Albel had pointed out, where the Versa Alvena was meant to be finding a magic user.

Zephys flung aside the torn door covering and narrowed her eyes at Alvena, who was currently engaged in a struggle with a hefty, bear of a man clad in scale mail and wielding a miner’s pickaxe with a surprising amount of skill for such a weighty-looking man.

Taking control of the situation, Zephys brought the butt of her lance down on his head, knocking him clean out.

“Is this one the magic user, Versa?”

“He is, highness.”

“Excellent. But next time, Alvena, I expect you to carry out your given task efficiently and swiftly, and preferably without allowing a mere human to overpower you in strength. Your training hours will increase by three per day, until you can satisfactorily take on a man double your size and win without a doubt.” The Versa grimaced, her brow knotting up in anger, but she mastered it and gave a curt bow before quickly exiting the tent.

Zephys stabbed Rhon into the earth beside her and picked up a coil of heavy rope. Crouching down in front of the unconscious man, she swiftly bound his hands and feet, running a line between them that bent his body into a curve that would not allow him to straighten up when he awoke. Then she gave him a resounding slap across the face that dashed him back to consciousness.

He glared about him and then stared Zephys straight in the face, no fear in his eyes, only anger at his plight.

“What do you want with me, devil woman?” he spat, as if even the thought of speaking with an Awakener was foul to him.

“You have magic, human man, and I will use it. You have knowledge of the mountains, and how to pass through them with no danger, and we will use it to navigate the Cisil Pass and from there, to the palace of the Dandis King, the White Emperor himself. And you will know that it was you, and your unique knowledge that brought about the destruction of your King and his Continental Command. How does that sound to you, human?”

“I would rather die, Awakener scum!”

“I’m afraid you will die when I say you die, human. And you can be sure it will not be a good death. I will personally make you suffer for every death you have brought to my people; for every hurt your kind has piled upon us.”

She stood up abruptly, tugged Rhon from the ground and was gone, gesturing to two of her warriors to take the human away.

As they scurried to their task, Zephys smiled grimly. There was only one thing left to do.

Raze the village to the ground.

Every human would know that the Awakeners had been this way, and that their wrath was terrible to behold.

Their homes would burn; their dead would burn, and the Awakener warriors who had lost their lives would not have done so in vain. Their sacrifice would stain this village with their precious ashes, and all would know that the Matria Zephys Xiomara was taking revenge for her people.

It would serve as a brilliant beacon of defiance against the King, and against all humankind.

“All living Awakeners, take heed of your Matria! This village shall burn under our wrath! Help all wounded, take to the hills while I do this, my final task. I will meet you there. Go!” Zephys watched in satisfaction as her warriors swept from the village as noiselessly as sand on the wind, helping their wounded to safety as they put distance between themselves and the fire that would rain down on the now-abandoned village.

“You!” She pointed at the pair of burly warriors who half-carried, half-dragged the miner. “Let him stay. He can watch the razing of his home and know that there is nothing he can do to stop it happening.” They hustled the prisoner into a seating position to Zephys’ left and scurried off after the rest of the warriors.

She turned to him and grinned wildly, before closing her eyes and preparing herself to tap into the vast amounts of mana she would need to utilise for this spell.

Taking a deep, calming breath, she stabbed Rhon into the hard earth and reached out with her hands, pulling tendrils of blood-red mana skywards. Her voice lowered in pitch as she began to chant, the mana filling her up and turning her eyes black as pools of depthless tar. The miner looked wildly around as a chill wind began to whip sand into his face, and to pull and tug at his clothes until it became an effort to remain in his seated position, his hands and feet tied as they were.

Zephys, in a sudden, whip-like movement, snapped her head towards the silent village and in one fluid movement, she moulded the mana into a dagger-shape and thrust it out towards her target, before finally bringing her hands together in a fist and driving them hard and fast into her breastplate.

The miner’s mouth fell slack as a column of pitch black, roaring fire tore from the heavens to engulf the village. Everything that was directly underneath the column was decimated instantly, and the rest of the wooden houses went up in flames as a burst of heat was flung outwards, hot enough for Zephys to feel from her vantage point on the hill.

She turned her still-black eyes on the miner and was gratified to see him shrink away from her. She laughed down at him, and gazed upon the destruction she had wreaked with the fire of vengeance alight in her eyes.

She would see the humans utterly destroyed; burned to ashes in black flames. And she would rejoice in their deaths.