Edward
A letter, a location, and a comrade was all that was required to spur this fool into traveling hundreds of leagues to this forsaken place. Even more foolish he traveled alone leaving the rest of his men handle to tasks back home, but even if he had known he still would've had them stay back. At the edge of the forest he would dismount from his noble stead patting its head as he did so. He would remove his travel clothes and clad himself in steel for he knew not what to expect, but was not about to go in without protection. A blue silk shirt went on first before he put on his gambeson than his chain and finally the Jazarant. Putting on the last pieces of his armor he would than put his helmet on attaching his face mask as he did. The man would than arm himself before saying a quiet prayer to the goddess for luck before entering these woods. 

Every step was with purpose and with each one he took one step closer to what could be his doom for only an after hour in he would see the ruins of what he could only image to be a crypt of some sort. The letter made mention of this and so with caution the mortal would step into crypt despite what his gut was telling him. 

The dark bothered him little as years of fighting in the night from battling in the frontier had sharpened his senses and with each step he took care to not make anymore noise than what his armor would allow. He dare not even let a single word slip from between his lips for fear of whatever in this crypt could be holding. 

As he studied his surroundings his eyes would widen as he studied the architectural style of the crypt. Though it was dark and he could not capture every detail the scholar within him deduced that this crypt was ancient, but not only that the beauty in its construction told him it had to be important. 

'Goddess let my man live or else woe be upon what has brought upon his end.' 

Galal thought as he continued his descent deeper and deeper into the crypt.
Theresa
Alekhya hummed an eerie tune to herself as she slithered through the unlit corridors of her mother crypt, the construct was nothing short of breathtaking having been crafted by a goddess. The walls were littered with memorabilia of the girls youth and time under Scipio. Ancient vases rested upon carefully crafted pedestals, ornate blades and spell books nailed onto the wall, all of which surely worth a fortune- that or housing unbelievable secrets. 

The demigoddess had only recently woken up a few days ago, her peaceful slumber induced by The Goddess of Death Mortem, her own mother, interrupted by a pair of unfortunate travelers seeking treasure in an untouched cyrpt far from mortal reach. Alekhya had been roaming the halls of her crypt for the time being, the whispers of her father infiltrating her mind and filling it with rage. How dare Aeterna turn their backs on one of their greatest soldiers? How dare Noctis and Pride, her dearest friends, forget her and leave her to rot in such an unholy land. The girl screamed with agony as she recalled her woes, her shriek echoing through the halls of the crypt like a banshee scream as she held her head in her hands. Though her agony was interrupted by the familiar sound of rusting metal- of armor... Of man.

The demon giggled to herself before cloaking herself, her porcelain flesh unraveling into wispy smoke as she vanished from sight and made her way towards the delectable sound of armor. Though she had roamed the crypt for a few days, the layout was still a labyrinth to her filled with forgotten memories of a girl lost to war and agony. The woman then spoke, her voice traveling through the stone halls and grazing across Galal's ears like a sultry whisper. 

"Hast a great soldier come to save me?"

Alekhya's voice was enticing and sultry, the syllables of her archaic speek bouncing off her tongue like cyanide laced honey too intoxicating to put down despite its bitter taste. She wondered how so many mortals have found such

A place, why have three traveled into her web in such a quick succession? She only hoped this one was as delicious as the previous.
Edward
A scream? 

The man froze in his steps hearing the wailing and as lightning shot up his spin. Without even thinking the rasping of his blade being slightly drawn betrayed him as he realized the foolishness of making such noise. Such screams he had only heard from the burning of villages not the depths of a crypt. What followed was something he could have never expected for when he went to take another step he would hear the voice. 

The voice which spoke out from the crypt was all that was needed for him to finish drawing his steel for even though he had not truly determined if he needed it everything in his body was screaming at him to do so. His legs longed for him to run not towards it but away for something in his body was telling him what he faced was nothing he could handle, but either due to his own foolishness or fear he took another step forward blade drawn. The voice enticed him forward, but he did so knowing what lay before him could be his doom. 

He stepped closer to where he heard the voice taking it slowly until he stopped where he believed he'd be a few yards away from where the voice was. 

"Sharara" Whispered from his mouth as a torch on the walls contents was lit aflame and light now filled the area before he repeated it a few times to light up the area around him. 

With the lights on one could easily see the warrior in a brown Jazarant with a beautiful red cloak with a steel medallion on the front bearing his family crest. His blade held forward ready for what may come next was easily visible with the names of the previous wielders names written on the side, but from a distance one would only see the ornate inscriptions rather actually be able to read the names.
Theresa
Alekhya's vermillion eyes widened as she finally caught sight of the man at the end of a long corridor. She saw him clearly even before he muttered his spell to ignite the torches. He had quite the build, he seemed like a man who's taken a beating or two... Just the thoughts of it made the lashers protruding from her back writhe with excitement. The last two doves who wandered into her nest were nowhere near as strapping as the man before her. 

Though the halls were now well lit Alekhya remained hidden, the faint vermillion glow of her eyes the only telltale sign that Galal was not alone. With a whistle of wind Alekhya tunneled towards the man and slithered around his body until she was at his back. The woman clicked her tongue a few times before the wispy smoke that made up her body weaves itself into soft flesh. 

"Thou art gallant indeed..."

Her voice was more human than before, a sultry and enticing voice filled with false promises and deceit. The woman then slithered her hands around the man's torso, her clawed fingers making an awful sound as they grazed across his plated armor. Her left hand remained planted on his chest while her right slowly trailed its way towards his neck. As she embraced him she leaned over his shoulder and took a peek at the hilt of his blade, squinting as she read the etched names in the blade. 

After a tense moment Alekhya removed herself from the man's touch and vanished from sight once more. While cloaked she danced around the man, circling him as if she were a lioness hunting a bison. 

"Tell me little dove, what hast brought thou to mine *Temple*"

She laughed a maniacal and girlish laugh before moving closer to his ear and whispering. 

"Dost thou wish to know me?~"
Edward
For this first time in his life Galal he knew not what to do as whatever he thought was before him now signaled it was behind him. Before he could even move she was upon him for even with the mere moments he had he could not react fast enough as the voice was now upon him. 

The voice once more spoke as he felt it's body near his and his mind betrayed him as the voice almost soothed him. However as hands wrapped his torso he tried to turn to swing his blade, but his body betrayed him though his mind commanded it the body would not yield as it stood frozen. Something was stopping him some primal knowledge in the back of his mind warning him what he faces is nothing like what he has ever seen before. As the scraping of the claws grazed his plate and one leading up to his neck he would peer to his side seeing the assailant for a mere moment before she disappeared. 

He snapped out of it as he than drew his shield and hearing the voice once more he thought that he could at least speak to it to buy him some time. 

"I come for one of my men his name is Rayhan and his brother." 

As he finished he would hear the laughter before her whispering into his ear. No longer shocked he would move away quickly turning back to try and see behind as he spoke quickly. 

"By the Goddess who or what are you?" 

The man's voice remained steady despite the situation and was remaining calm as he knew better than to wildly swing or cast at what he could not see. 

"Shai." He said quietly as he waited for a reply as the spell ignited his swords blade as flames come out from it. This was mostly to help him see as though he did light the torches around him the dim light cast from such ancient devices could only do so much.
Theresa
Alekhya revealed herself once more at the end of the hall. The woman's back was turned to Galal with her hip popped out as she raised her arms above her head in a suggestive pose. Whilst she posed the lashers protruding from her back rose into the air and stared at Galal with an intense hunger in their glowing eyes. The two lashers then lowered themselves as Alekhya turned her head over her shoulder. 

"What dost thou see when thou looks upon me?"

Alekhya disappeared for a mere moment before reappearing a few paces closer to Galal. The demigoddess gaze lingered on the man as she moved closer to him, accompanied with a flirtatious yet uncanny smile. 

"A witch?"

Alekhya then chuckled, raising her clawed hand to cover her mouth as her smile turned wicked. Once she finished her laughter the woman's form twisted into a demonic one, her flesh turning to pitch black mist with a canvas of shadow as a face with two glowing red eyes and a tiara made from ivory. 

"A god?"

After speaking her shadowy form weaved itself back into soft flesh as she tilted her head to the side. 

"Perhaps something more?"

The woman then laughed a maniacal laugh to herself, as if she enjoyed her own theatrics before tapping her bottom lip with her clawed finger. 

"How did thine comrade learn of this place? Thou spoke of a pair of doves... I could take thee to them, if thou answer some questions hmm?"
Edward
As the gears turned Galal knew whatever he was facing was ancient it had to be. By the way she spoke as well as what he has seen so far in thus crypt whoever she was had to be from a different age at the very least. Though despite his scholarly curiosity he could not dwell on that for any longer than he had already. He remained steady flaming blade in the right and shield in the left though he did not know how much good it would do. 

Movements though alluring had struck him with a sense of unease as he could not identify why she would do that. Though it clear she was toying with him for if she wanted to kill him it was clear she could've done so very easily for despite his martial prowess it mattered little if your foe could do what she could do. 

"I see an ancient being of great power and unfortunately it seems I have trespassed in your domain." 

He spoke to draw it into a length conversation so he could at least think of a way out of this situation, but than when she spoke of taking him to his men a cold chill went down his spin. By the Goddess he knew it couldn't be that simple, but if she had questions if answered properly he may be able to save their lives or at least recover their bodies for their family. 

"I know not how the two found this place, but I do apologize for their foolishness. As for other questions go ahead and ask."
Theresa
Alekhya smirked at his description of her, it seems not all mortals were as insolent as they made themselves out to be. She was enraged at the idea of *Mortals* Ruling the realm that she fought so hard to protect, the same world that cast her out due to the madness they induced upon her. She then winced as the rational thoughts left her mind and we're replaced by ones of depravity. The long lashers that's sprouted from her back slithered through the air towards Galal like a pair of demonic serpents. Their beaked skulls and glowing red eyes scanned him meticulously as they swirled around him, leaving him surrounded by levitating feathery ribbons. 

With a flash of movement, Alekhya was once again upon the man. Her lashers formed a seat of sorts that she sat upon in the air, her legs crossed in a provocative yet domineering stance as she rested her head in her palm. She stared at the man through her lower lashes, gazing down upon him with an intense stare before licking her lips. 

"What year is it, Little Dove?"

As Alekhya spoke she crawled down from her lashers, placing her hands on the man's shoulders as she planted her feet upon the ground once more. The demigoddess scanned the man's features from up close, her almond eyes dancing across his figure and up to his features slowly as she backed away from the man slowly.

"Hast the great Scipio fallen? Dost thou even know of him? Dost thou know of me?"

Alekhya giggled to herself before approaching a nearby corridor leading to a large room in the crypt filled with glistening white flowers and a pair of humanoid statues. She stopped once at the corner, half of her figure hidden behind the wall as she peeked out from behind it, her lashers slithering through the air behind her as she glided through the crypt. 

"Dear not little dove, for thine friends are here with me. Dost thou wish to join them?"
Edward
If Galal had been a lesser man he may have given into the knee jerk reaction to slice at the ribbons before him, but he knew better. This was her domain and should he act foolishly he could easily get himself killed. Once more he watched her simply appear before him as he could feel the breeze that was created by her movement stopping so quickly. 

As she asked the year he pondered for a moment though he knew the question he was more concerned about her reaction depending on his answer. So after a moment he would simply reply. 

"873 in the Age of Man." 

When she lowered herself to him she could tribal tattoos indicating him as a warrior along with the scars seen upon his face. The most notable feature she would notice however was that one eye was purple while the other was simply brown. 

As she asked the next question something clicked in his mind that finally made sense of this situation. He did not recognize which demigod she was for her corrupted form made this difficult however he had theories. 

"Emperor Scipio has not ruled in over a thousand years and as for you though I do not recognize your form you must be a demigod." 

As she walked away he would take this time to put away his shield and draw a history book out from his pack. The book only covered major events of the empire and even then it was brief. He had published it while he was attending the Scholarium and naturally kept one on his person. 

When he heard her words speak of his comrades his heart skipped a beat. For a moment he was excited, but he quickly realized so far this interaction has not inspired much faith in the fate of his comrades. 

"I do not believe it wise for me to further trespass in your domain, but I do offer you this it's a book it contains the basic information on what has been going in since you've been here I believe. If you'll humor me please tell me more about yourself for inside the suit of armor there is a scholar."

He was hesitant to enter that room and wanted to try to gauge who she was more before making that step. He prayed for the best, but knew the worst would probably be the outcome upon crossing that threshold. He knew he could not walk away and would remain where he stood holding the book out for her to take. 

"If you need help reading the script I can read it out for you."
Theresa
Alekhya scoffed when Galal mentioned Scipio, how gullible does this man find her? Surely Noctis and Pride wouldn't have left her for such a long time, surely they weren't foolish enough to believe *She* Had fallen in combat.

"No... No no. Thine tongue spreads falsehoods I-" 

When he pulled the history book out of his bag her face lit up with curiosity, though her twisted look of perverted desire remained. After reading a few words from the book Alekhya snatched the book from Galal's hands and flipped through the pages as a look of horror and pain washed over her. The demon's expression then shifted from sorrow to anger as her beautiful visage wrinkled and shifted with rage. 

"ᴬˡᵉᵏʰʸᵃ... ᶠᵒʳᵍᵒᵗᵗᵉⁿ?"

Her voice was soft and meek, akin to a hurt child in emotional distress as she threw the book across the room where it collided with the wall harshly. The voices in her head sang dissonant songs of carnage as she cupped her forehead and shut her eyes pensively, looking up to Galal- remembering his question. The rage surging through her veins told her to slay the man where he stood, to dampen her own sorrows with his own- but it would be wise to learn a bit about this *New age of mortals* Before taking a bite. 

"Trespass? Oh~... Can't thou play with me a while longer? I'll tell thou mine name, if thou utters thine own first."

Alekhya slinked closer to Galal as she spoke, her hips waggling hypnotically with each step as her heels clinked through the empty crypt.
Edward
From her reaction it all but confirmed his suspicions. She was a demigod, she was ancient, but who she was exactly was an unknown. Though he was familiar with the different Demi gods her form was unlike any the descriptions listed. However her reaction to reading the book was unexpected, but to be fair he did not know what to truly expect from her. 

The book being tossed aside though disheartening was the least of his concerns at the moment as she finished processing what she had read. At first he thought he may have to defend himself, but she began to speak asking for his name in exchange for hers. Under different circumstances he may have lied, but at the moment he knew better than to potentially set her off anymore than she already was. 

"I am Galal Salama Al-Malik I am what you would call a nomad as well as a citizen of the Empire. My men are also nomads and though those fools should not be here it is in our blood to travel." 

As he finished speaking he would reach up to his face with his left hand and remove the death mask he wore revealing his face proper to her. She would be able to clearly see the features on his face. 

"I understand you may be shocked considering how much time as passed, but if I can help you will you assure me the lives of my men. I give you my word as an Al-Malik." 

He would bow to her respectfully after this keeping his mask in his left hand as he moved himself back upright.
Theresa
Alekhya watched attentively as *Galal* Introduced himself, he was quite well spoken for a mortal. More interesting was his *Clan* Of nomads, a group of mortals whom's lifestyle revolves around traveling aimlessly was fascinating to her. The concept reminded her of her youth, how she spent her childhood wandering the beyond lands, being taunted by malevolent demons and night creatures beyond human comprehension- fog that boils your skin at the touch, trees capable of eating you whole, and *Them*. Years ago this recollection of traumatic violence would have sent shivers down her spine- but now... Now it was *Invigorating*.

"Galal... Ga-lal"

The demon spoke with a sultry tone, each syllable of the nomads name flowing through her plush lips like honey. She sounded out each syllable of his name slowly after first speaking before smiling for a moment, followed by a flirtatious chuckle. Though she was a murderous psychopath, she was certainly a woman of her word as most demons were as they typically worked in contract. The demon leaned back away from the man, lengthening the distance between their faces from inches to a few feet as he removed his helmet. She grinned at the sight of his exposed face and more importantly his *Eyes*. She was thrilled to finally divinely judge him, to plunge into the depths of his soul and find that little morsel of discontent drowning in an ocean of bliss... But instead she found a swamp of guilt and regret... Simply unfit for her terminal embrace, unworthy to revel in her burning embrace. 

After a few silent moments Alekhya sighed, her flirtatious demeanor shattering into one of distance and condescension. Her vermillion eyes now a deeper red as she peered down at him through her lower lashes. The demon then parted her lips as the lashers that protruded from her back flourished in the air. 

"I am Alekhya, first born of Mortem"

The demigoddess then paused and turned away from the man, slowly walking down the corridor of the crypt as she ran her

Claws across the stone walls, sparks flying from her finger tips as she etched fine claw marks into the solid stone. She then stopped and looked over her shoulder, her porcelain features now replaced with a canvas of shadow and gloom as her glowing red eyes peered at Galal.

"Princess of Lust, sole spawn of Asmodeus"

Alekhya then spun her body to once more face Galal, her face once again a beautiful picture of beauty unlike the horrifying visage she donned moment ago. 

When Galal attempted to strike a deal, Alekhya smirked and began making her way towards the man. She was of no need of *Help* Let alone from a mortal- but his submission was noted. It seemed the mortals of Aeterna haven't forgotten their place. 

"Mmmm~... Thou surely has a way with words. How about this, little viper."

Alekhya was now once again face to face with the man as she raised her hand to his face and squished his cheeks, her sharp claws probing against the sides of his face. 

"I'll bring thee to thine men, and in return I ask is..."

Alekhya then moved closer, leaning into the man's ear and softly whispering.

"Submission"
Edward
Hearing her say his name sent a shiver down his spine for a feeling of regret came over for even uttering his true name to her. Though he knew lying would only cause trouble part of him wished he had simply done so to avoid hearing it being uttered by this demonic being. 

However as her name was uttered confusion was the first feeling he felt, than dread as he began to piece to get her an idea of what's going on. He had seen images of her, but all sources state she had been slain in combat in the name of the Empire. Yet now before his very eyes there she stands a corrupted version or maybe what she always looked like. 

In the flesh one of the demigods of old and unfortunately he was at her mercy. Despite being lost in thought he snapped back out of it upon her squishing his cheeks with her hands. For a flash he felt fear, but his resolve remained true as he looked upon her crimson eyes unflinching as she laid out her demands. 

'Submission.' 

A wave of rage washed over him at the very thought of submitting himself to another again as a lamb to the slaughter. Though once more he found his center and whispered back. 

"Tell me Alekhya and for what am I submitting myself to? Though I am mortal I am not arrogant enough to enter into this contract without knowledge of what you yearn for."

Galal's right hand still gripped his sword but dared not move the blade yet as he knew better than to bear steel against a demigod in his current position. His left hand however moved up and grabbed the hand that held his face. He did not do so to force its removal, but rather as a precaution and upon touching her skin his warmth graced her. 

"First born of Mortem why have the gods placed you here?" 

The words foolishly slipped out his mouth and they burned as they exited his throat, but he could not help it. The fool yearned to know why for than he may learn for what she wants of him.
Theresa
Alekhya turned her head to the side as Galal questioned her. Her eyes flooding with rage as *He* Questioned her, in her eyes this was an act of heresy, how dare he question a god? Her anger told her to slay the man where he stood, after all it would be so easy. Constrain him with her lashers and she poked and prodded at his flesh, but she knew better than to kill the first mortal willing to answer her questions.

"I just ask thou answer my questions, I'm quite helpless... The world has changed and i've been shut out. In exchange... I'll free your little friends. Though I will say i'll miss them dearly, they make *Great* Company."

Alekhya's eyes shifted to his hand that gripped her own, allowing him to remove her clawed hand from his face before adverting her gaze back to the man before her. 

Her eyes widened when he muttered his last question, her face twisting into a visage of anger and melancholy as she recalled her final moments in the bedchambers of Yoesuf, a demi god of Vendetta. How she slowly pricked and prodded his skin, questioning him about his betrayal against the empire- how cute he looked when he cried out for her to stop. A perverse smile crept upon her face as she reminisced on her past, her sinful joy clouding the true agony of the situation. 

"Well... That's quite a loaded question *Galal*"

Alekhya's eyes shifted down to the man's blade, a chuckle escaping her lips at the sight of his hand clasping the blades handle. She then resumed eye contact with Galal, her expression comfortable and prideful as of warning him of what would come if he decided to draw his mortal blade. 

"I was born out of a contract. Demons once ravaged the lands of Aeterna- flooding the realm with melodic screams and painting its rivers a delicious shade of red. This angered the gods but none more than my mother, so she made a deal with one of the kings- Asmodeus, my father. Upon my birth the demons left the realm and contained their horrors to the lands beyond... Time passed and I

Found myself fighting for the eternal empire. I obeyed *Every* Order, killed thousands in the name of peace- and the gods repaid my servitude by casting me away to this... Lovely establishment. The world has forgotten me Galal, I simply wish to remind them of who I am."

Her retelling of her past was clouded with delusion and malice, a perverse parody of the true events that unfolded- but real as the man before her in her twisted mind. 

"I'll allow one more question, little dove."
Edward
Galal knew he may have angered her with his words however they had to be said except for that last foolish question that he regretted. Yet upon hearing what she wanted relieved him, but he knew there was always a catch. Though the way she put it only called into question her true motives for these actions and he prayed she did not 'play' with his men too harshly. 

Though what followed certainly proved why his question was foolish as her face twisted before him only to revert back. Her chuckle and comfort with his blade reminded him she was nothing short of killer. He knew that look well and knew better than to test her with any foolish actions. 

He had begun to sheath his blade as she spoke of her past and as she did his stomach turned as he was early reminded of a similar situation he had been in. Though he knew something may be off in the story he did not question it as so far her words did ring true to the standard behavior of the empire for even he had been burned by it. 

"I need not ask another for I believe I know enough. I will help you so go and demand what is asked of me as long as I receive the lives of my men." 

As he spoke he removed his helmet placing it down gently alongside his face mask. He than proceeded to respectfully bow. His curly hair now free from his helmet flowed down as he bowed. 

"I Galal Salama Al-Malik son of Hakim Salama Al-Malik is at your service."