(Synn)<br/><br/>The Goddess wrapped her ethereal arms around Zion. Her warmth could be felt and comfort set into his very soul as she held her Champion. She stroked his hair and caressed his cheek. “Fear not Zion, I will not forsake you as others have. You will triumph, but the road will be long, hard, and bloody” she whispered in his ears. A kiss on the lips and the warmth and comfort had left him as she departed.<br/><br/><br/>Azurine knelt before her God Maddox in the north tower, naked and obedient. He placed reached down and offered his hand. She placed her small hand into his as he pulled her to a stand. He admired her body which he claimed as his. Those voluptuous curves, the milk white baby soft skin, her buxom bosom, and her almost angelic facial features. He pulled her close by wrapping his hand around her waist. He pressed his thin sinister lips to hers and from his mouth exhaled darkness, a billowing cloud of night that seemed to enter her through his kiss. Her body trembled as the void seemed to fill her with its evil. Her eyes turned solid black and every vein in her body coursed of shadow. Once he was finished, she collapsed onto the stone floor. He chuckled as he nudged her body with his boot to wake her. She groaned as she sat up.<br/><br/><br/>“Rise Azurine, you have work to do” he ordered.<br/><br/><br/>“Yes Master” she replied as she stumbled to her feet. He reached for her once more and kissed her hard, running his fingertips over her nipples as she gasped. Then he shoved her back and pointed to the door for her to leave.<br/><br/><br/>Azurine walked out of the room, barefoot and clad, heading to her chambers to dress for the day. Her mind swimming with visions of this blade Oscar had read about and the darkness that swirled in her very soul. Maddox had given her strength, he had gifted her a level of magick that would match the gods. He was preparing her for war.<br/><br/><br/>An emissary from the Empire in Exile had arrived in court. The Queen sat on her throne, eyes widened with anger as the stubby man approached the throne. Oscar placed his hand on the Queen’s shoulder, reassuring her that he was present and nothing would befall her as he gripped it gently. Azurine sat adjacent to the Queen, examining this emissary as he approached. The man was short and stalky, adorned by the Empire’s finest clothing which was feeble compared to their kingdom. His shoes had been worn as he had walked the distance between kingdoms.<br/><br/>Disease had befallen their lands shortly after the attack of the dragons. Azurine was going to make that kingdom suffer one way or another and was tired of Anthony meddling in her affairs. This disease attacked their livestock and stables, flesh eating bacteria that would transfer to other races should they come in contact with it. There was no cure and many farm hands perished before the disease was discovered by a lowly village physician. The diseased were burned immediately whether animal or humanoid, alive or dead. Again screams would echo throughout their kingdom and the sweet smell of burning flesh would fill the citizen’s nostrils.<br/><br/>“Queen of Tekatus, we beg your forgiveness and ask that the attacks on our kingdom cease as we have lost much” he humbly asked. Azurine’s lips curled into a wicked smile and leaned forward, her glowing orbs burrowing into the man’s soul.<br/><br/><br/>“Kneel” Azurine hissed as if her tongue was that of a snake. The man stumbled down on one knee quickly as he bowed his head. The Queen glanced over at the Dark Mage in fear. She had never seen the Dark Mage in this state and it frightened her.<i>What had happened to her?</i>she asked herself before returning to the emissary.<br/><br/><br/>“I ask for fealty. Pledge your lands and holdings to the kingdom of Tekatus and no more misery will befall you” the Queen stated. Oscar squeezed her shoulder to comfort her as he sidestepped closer to his Queen. He too looked over at the Dark Mage whose veins still ran black and were visible beneath her pale skin.<br/><br/><br/>“I do not have the authority to make such a bargain” he pleaded, looking up to the Queen.<br/><br/>“Then I suggest you take yourself back to that shit hole and send somebody who can!” the Dark Mage demanded, chuckling afterwards as she was quite amused with herself. The Queen and Oscar remained silent as the man rose to his feet and scurried out of the throne room, followed by a set of imperial guards to ensure he left. Azurine’s eyes glowed an eerie green light as she rose from her seat. She walked over to the Queen and touched her cheek, her fingertips grazing her soft skin. “My Queen, you did well today. The Empire in Exile will succumb to you in time and then we will spread our wings and take the next and the next one after that” she stated as the Queen’s eyes started to glow with the same light as Azurine’s. Oscar stepped back as he watched the two. The moment he took a step backwards, Azurine’s stare shot right to him. “Now Oscar, where do you think you are going? Hmm?” she grinned as she walked over and placed herself right in front of him. She leaned forward and kissed his lips, drawing in his life force as he struggled to stand. He held onto the Queen’s throne as she sucked it from him. He collapsed to the floor. “You’re well suited to be on your knees” Azurine chuckled as she walked away from him and out of the throne room.