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 Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 4:03 pm
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By the time Ilea came to, her bodysuit-golem was curled up in one corner and his bodysuit was tossed over the desk. They were both laying on the floor in what had once been the torture room attached to the former bedroom. He was laying on his side holding her with her back to his chest in a firm grip that was endearing as it was possessive. She had no problem with him being possessive, though; in fact, she found that she actually liked it, though she wasn't too sure why.
She raised up on one elbow and gave a small hiss as the movement pulled at tender areas, a few bites, some scratch marks, and he'd surprised her with a few lash marks, a couple of small cuts, and a now-very-tender backside. Her legs still felt like rubber even though she thought they'd been asleep (passed out) for several hours.
She got a little distracted but finally started looking around the room from where she was, giving a soft surprised gasp at the sight of what he'd created. She somehow knew that he'd used only her blood to create and alter everything, she could feel that he'd changed everything in the entire suite of rooms. Her blood seemed to... resonate... to her from all the corners of the suite. She didn't understand how she could feel that but simply knew that she could feel it.
She turned to look at him and gave another soft gasp that held a bit of laughter to it. He had impressive bedhead again, but he was a bit marked up as well. But he'd apparently figured out how to tie her down eventually because he wasn't nearly as marked up as she was. But she loved every mark he'd given her. Including the tender backside.
She finally turned over and gently caressed his face for a moment, knowing that he wasn't going to let her go until he was ready to. Then she finally leaned in to give him a tender kiss to wake him up, giving a soft moan when his hands tightened where he held her.
There was a part of her that was proud of the progress he'd made so far, and another part of her that was silently thrilling at his possessiveness of her. She could also feel something else happening inside of herself, though she wasn't sure what it was yet... |
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 6:54 pm
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Shale’s grip tightened as he stirred. His well ordered mind was as jumbled a mess as his hair was and he struggled to reconcile the gaps in his memory. But, chaotic thoughts or not, Ilea smelled great. She felt great too. Thoughts skipped about, dancing around something that he was forgetting. It had something to do with why it felt like they were laying on the floor. Where were they again?
Ah, that’s right. He had gone to help Ilea deal with her former master’s private quarters. He had altered the rooms… and then…
His eyes snapped open and his awareness suddenly flooded the room. Ilea looked like she had been beaten. She almost looked like a wild animal had gotten to her, not that any normal beast would have survived trying anything. But, the look on her face said that she was savoring the afterglow. It was a look that she wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been the two of them.
The room didn’t seem to have too much obvious damage to a casual eye but there were deep gouges in some parts of the wall and some pieces of the table had actually been broken off. There were even places where powerful claws had punctured straight into the stone of the floor and the walls. The most obvious change to Shale was that some of the chains and other bindings had been broken or slashed and lay in pieces on the floor.
A very calm and rational part of Shale Elkiel’s mind deduced that the two of them had engaged in a violently passionate bout of intimacy and that Ilea was positively beaming over the results. That part of his mind was also, unfortunately, not paying sufficient attention to the surrounding environment. In particular, it wasn’t paying enough attention to the powerful surge of panic and creeping horror that had taken control of the rest of his mind and was busy trying to get his body to run. It was making very strong progress, though his body remained on the floor for some reason, and had succeeded in causing the majority of his body to change its shape.
In fact, only his panicked eyes remained the same.
His body was much like a wolf with fur black as night, yet tinged with deep blue and purple where the light struck it just right. He also had four tails tipped in razor sharp bladed spines and covered in alternating strips of fur and bone white scales. These tails were rigid with tension and his back paws faintly scratched at the floor, seeking purchase but too unfamiliar to be used effectively. A faint whine escaped from his throat as he finally gathered enough of his wits to fully understand what he was sensing.
“I completely lost control!” He thought, practically screaming in the depths of his mind. |
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 8:19 pm
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Ilea put a hand on his cheek and made a soft sound to calm him down, "Shhh..." she let her hand move over his cheek down to his chest over and over, giving him a brilliant smile. She hoped he'd understand what this meant, for himself...
"You found what was taken from you..." she whispered softly to him. This was a huge step for him and she knew it. He'd finally been able to release his demonic form. She found him beautiful and hoped he'd see that.
She also gave a slightly more shy smile as she leaned in and rubbed her cheek against his, not bothering to hide the shiver that ran though her at the contact, "That was fantastic! And I can't believe that you made all of this... It's amazing," she added, not really thinking that he'd altered the place for her. She thought he'd just altered it for him to work in and occasionally have fun with her.
She pulled back and continued to run her hand through the fur in a manner that she didn't realize would be soothing on its own, but she kept smiling at him as well. Finding that she loved the way he'd lost control, knowing that it meant more than she could ever say. To her, it meant that he cared more than even he guessed. To lose control like that showed a measure of trust and care that she knew he'd never felt before.
It was also showed how much he'd gained of himself and she loved that in and of itself... |
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Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2018 7:28 am
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Shale’s world had changed. Sound, sight, smell, and sensation had all changed. Ilea’s scent seemed to fill the world. While panic filled the depths of his mind, its waves never managed to crest. At every surge, his body trembled. At every surge, Ilea’s scent was there to calm it. Her touch was there to pull it back down.
The panic was strong, as was the shock. He had believed that his demonic form had been completely extracted and destroyed. Discovering it this way was unheard of! His thoughts were racing, bouncing from the damage to the room to the numerous marks on Ilea and himself and the sensory information from his newly gained form. The flow of information was swift but uneven, punctuated with surges and moments of total stillness at unpredictable times.
It was too much.
Normal demons could take their demonic form with little to no effort. Shale was far from normal. He was far more than a normal demon but also far less, in certain ways. The altered state of body was a strain that he could not maintain for long. Even with Ilea’s comfort and support, he couldn’t handle the ramifications of his outburst and the change in his body at the same time. He shifted back with a soft whine that transitioned into a groan as the change progressed.
Shale had regained much in his short time with Ilea. But, he had gained far more than what he had before. In fact, he had gained things that he had never thought of wanting. But now, on the floor of such a room, another of those things rose to the surface.
He needed her.
Every part of him demanded her, cried out for her. His grip on her tightened again and he pulled her closer until there was no room between them at all. His hands began to slowly explore every place where he had marked her as his lips found her neck. Last time he had lost himself in her. This time, he found himself again the same way. Urgently and tenderly, he expressed everything he felt without words. Ilea had saved him, restored him, motivated him, and inspired him.
Everything else could wait. |
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Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 5:48 am
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This time was slower and less violent but no less intense, leaving Ilea barely conscious and Shale feeling quite thoroughly fatigued. It had been a busy and draining day. He rose from the floor first, lifting Ilea and carrying her from that room into the newly shaped lounge. The couches were his objective and he gently laid her on one while he went back to the other room for their body suits.
The changes to the rooms would not keep them at a soothing temperature like what he had done in the Amber Forge. The coolness of being underground would remain and the floor would likely be cold year-round. However, the couches, desks and work tables radiated a gentle warmth to maintain a comfortable area around them. After all, most who decide to stay in one place and read or write usually want to be warm enough while doing so. This area of warmth would also soothe some of Ilea’s sore muscles and relieve fatigue to a limited extent.
Ilea’s bodysuit understood his gestured instruction and slithered from where it lay to rest itself on the back of the couch where Ilea was resting until she needed it. Shale’s own suit was unceremoniously donned as he emerged from the Crimson Conservatory, so he thought of it although he had not formally named it, and strode to the couch where Ilea lay. Once there, he gently lifted her head and sat so that her head rested on his lap with his fingers gently running through her hair again and again.
His mind was focused again, and clear. But, he could still sense that his more primal demon nature was going to be a repeating factor in his life from this point on. Still, while he frowned briefly at the thought, he couldn’t bring himself to actually dislike or reject it and the frown faded quickly to be replaced by a soft and thoughtful smile. He replayed the events of the previous hours in his mind, those that he could recall. It was almost like hearing Ilea’s words again. Her praise and brilliant joy at both his work and his transformation warmed him from within. He hadn’t known her for very long. Even humans had relationships that developed slower. But still, he couldn’t imagine being without her.
He gazed at her resting form tenderly before reaching into a subtly concealed pouch that was at the end of the couch and pulled out a thin blanket that resembled silk but radiated warmth like the couch. He carefully placed this over Ilea to cover her from the neck down and tapped the edge that touched the back of the couch, causing it to cling there and resist slipping. They could rest like this for a little while. But, they would have to get back to work sooner or later.
Though, thinking of work reminded him of the female servant who had brought him word of Ilea’s situation. That had taken both bravery and independence. Taking initiative like that would likely have earned her a terrible death under the previous lord of this castle. It was a thing that Shale would have to reward. Well considered initiative was a trait that he found valuable. Those who could be proven to have it as well as loyalty would be indispensable to stabilizing this volatile and dark region.
He would need to learn that servant’s name. She would likely be getting promoted soon enough. |
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2018 10:24 pm
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Ilea slowly came to her senses to find herself warm and resting on something soft with her head in his lap. She simply laid there like that and enjoyed the novel sensation. She'd never had her head in someone's lap like this. Not once. Certainly not with someone's hand moving through her hair like he was doing.
She could remember resting her cheek against Goh's leg and him petting her hair. But that was nothing like this. It didn't compare at all. She only remembered it now because it was so different from this moment and the comparison was inevitable.
Maybe someday she'd stop making such comparisons and stop remembering such things. But for now, moments like this were so far out of what she knew that comparisons simply had to happen in her mind.
She finally pushed those thoughts away and turned so that she could look up at him and knew in that moment that she wanted to give him something. She knew what she wanted to give him but hesitated to speak at first, not sure of what his reaction would be.
After a moment of simply looking at him, she licked her lips in a small show of nervousness then plunged ahead, her voice still slightly hoarse from all the screaming he'd made her do, "I made something once... Intended as a gift, at the time... But there were flaws... It didn't go over well... So I worked on it in secret, fixing it, perfecting it..." she started, not sure if she was saying any of it with any semblence of sense.
But she was trying. She was taking a step with Shale that had led to pain under Goh. She was doing something that she could only hope wouldn't lead to pain.
She licked her lips again and met his eyes, "Would you look at it? See if..." she hesitated there, not sure of how to word her request right. She wanted him to see what flaws were still there, what she needed to do to fix what had been flawed.
What she didn't know was that Goh had written in his journals about that gift, so Shale would likely know exactly what she was talking about. She'd created a personal guard for Goh using the necromancy he'd taught her. But she'd surpassed Goh's skills in doing so and he'd reacted in such a way to stunt her growth in that area, to keep her from realizing that she had real skills. He'd obliterated every one of the guard she'd created and made her clean up the mess by hand, all the while telling her of the imagined flaws.
So for her to make the request she had, meant more than even he could guess. It showed courage and a true desire to give him something that she had created.
As for the servant that had shown initiative, even Ilea didn't know of her name. She'd stopped learning any of their names a long time ago so that it wouldn't hurt as much when Goh killed them or did worse to them. So they would both have to learn the woman's name... |
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 4:00 pm
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Ilea offered a small smile at his words, feeling a thrill of joy that he was willing to see something she had made. Of course, there was a thread of trepidation inside of her at what his reaction would finally be, but she was putting forth a great deal of trust with this.
She closed her eyes as his thumb moved over her cheek, not bothering to hide the effect his touch had on her. From a shiver of desire to the simple enjoyment of his skin moving against hers to the pure joy of the fact that he was willing to and even enjoyed touching her. It amazed her every time he touched her like this and she couldn't help but turn her face into his hand to place a featherlight kiss to his palm.
After a moment, she had to work to pull her wits back into place and looked back up at him to consider him for a briefly, "I'll go and get it, bring it here," she offered softly, somehow thinking that he needed a few moments to himself. Somehow, she could sense that he needed to think about something, though she wasn't sure how she knew that. She simply accepted it.
She also had no idea that he was going to need to figure out something to wear. Thankfully, he'd retained enough of her blood to work with in a pinch.
She pushed the blanket aside and got to her feet, her bodysuit golem moving from the back of the couch to slide over her skin slowly. Truthfully, she should have needed a relaxing bath but she was moving as if she felt none of the discomfort she had to be feeling by now. In fact, she loved every single small pain she felt as she moved and loved it all simply because of him.
Her bodysuit settled into another set of her favorite crimson leather, this time in a set of shorts, laced haltertop, flat-heeled boots that moved up to midthigh, and fingerless gloves that covered her arms to just below her elbows. She finger-combed her hair back and gave it a simple braid that she dropped to hang down her back.
While the outfit showed alot of skin, and all the marks that remained there from him, they both knew that her golem wouldn't allow her to be harmed by anyone but him. So she was safe enough without weapons.
The one shard of her daggers that she'd brought here to open the wards on the suite was now laying on the desk he'd created. The rest of the shards were still in the box in her bedroom. By now, she'd pushed the broken blades out of her mind, though it was something that Shale would be addressing soon enough. He was the type that never forgot something like that, something that was important. And those blades had meant alot to Ilea.
She finally put a knee on the couch next to him and leaned in closer to him, hesitating briefly with biting her lower lip gently, then pressed in and gave his lips a light and teasing kiss. She was still new to initiating any kind of touch on her own, so this one was yet another step in the right direction for her.
She pulled back and looked into his eyes from bare inches away and pulled her lower lip into her teeth again before flashing him a slightly shy but very pleased smile before moving to leave. Her walk wasn't as enticing as it was when she wore heels, but it was still a pleasure to watch with his marks marring her skin for everyone to see. It was a very primal method of laying a public claim on a lover, but one that still stood the test of time.
Outside the main door to the suite, she saw the female servant from before and paused to consider something then made a decision, "Go get Baron Shale a glass of wine and a plate of food from the kitchen. Something simple but high in protein and iron," she told the woman simply then watched her face to see how she'd react.
The woman looked down at first then glanced a the door to the suite the looked up at Ilea and gave a deep curtsy, "Yes, ma'am. Right away," she said softly, her voice still shaking with a touch of fear but holding a bit more backbone to it this time. She rose and turned to do as she'd been told with the golem guard dutifully following her.
Ilea watched her for another moment then moved on to the subbasement.
She would be gone for a bit, giving Shale time to himself as well as time to deal with the servant |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 10:20 am
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It was a pleasure to watch Ilea move. Her enjoyment was pure and strong, personal and decadent. Shale could clearly see that she relished every sign that he… cherished her. Her every little moment of growth from the touch of her lips to the small signs of uncertainty as she continued to bloom by his side. Still, she would likely be walking a step behind for awhile yet. Eventually, he was certain that he would be able to savor the sight of her walking beside him. For now though, there were other matters to attend to.
Shale stood as Ilea walked down the hallway, noting that the servant had been given a task and sent elsewhere. That servant… he needed to think of a proper promotion for her. But, there were three other issues to address while he had a moment alone. He had to be quick. Neither the servant nor Ilea would dawdle.
First, Shale strode quickly to the desk. He had felt a familiar form during the reshaping. And, there it was. It was small but it was still a piece of one of Ilea’s daggers. They meant too much for him to simply dispose of them. He had cleansed them of Goh’s blood instead. For now, he picked up the shard and took it into the Conservatory. He would see to the repair of the daggers later.
His body suit had suffered damage during his earlier… outburst. He removed it again and laid it out before him on the table that had already seen so many interesting forms of use. Now it would see another. He drew from the shadows in the room, threads of glittering darkness slipped into the suit, binding and repairing the damaged portions of the outfit and further strengthening it with subtle magic to dissuade flames and cold. His time in King Lareth’s company taught him that his loyalty might not always be enough to protect him from his passionate King’s wrath and the guardian of the castle would not simply sit by idly if the King seemed to be in danger. These enchantments were potent and well concealed, but Shale was certain that they would only serve to slow down such power as those two could command. The completed suit looked much as it had before, but it was slightly more embellished with delicate patterns in ruddy gold and amber that somehow glittered with hints of blue.
It was time to test the most important alteration.
He donned the bodysuit once more and took a step away from the table to have sufficient room. Then he closed his eyes in concentration and willed himself to change forms. The change happened smoothly, but slowly. It was nearly a full minute before he stood with good balance on his paws and felt that it was complete. The change in balance was dramatic. He felt strong, physically strong. It was the first time that he had felt like his body could fight, rather than just his magic. He flexed his tails and moved them around, accidentally bumping the walls and table several times before he started to get a feel for their reach and flexibility. He would need a lot of practice in this form to truly make the most of it. But this was a good beginning. He changed back, calmly and slowly. When he stood again in his normal form, he took a good look at his remade bodysuit. It had adjusted to the change and had not suffered any damage. The garment had also added somewhat to his natural defenses in his demon form as well.
Shale allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction at the success of this minor but vital project. He had practiced his new form, repaired and improved his bodysuit, and collected the small shard of Ilea’s precious dagger for later repair which now rested within a small pocket of his bodysuit. It had been a very productive period. But the servant or Ilea would likely be returning soon and it would not do to be unprepared.
He reclaimed his staff and returned to his seat, restored the blanket to the couch’s pouch and placed his staff standing upright beside his knee. It rotated slowly, glowing with a dim and ruddy golden light. He was still seated in this position when the servant returned, bearing food and wine. Ilea’s orders, no doubt. He granted her permission to enter with a small gesture and conjured a small stand to support what she had brought out of shadow and magic. Only when she had set down the food did Shale speak.
“What is your name?” |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 8:06 pm
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The woman was hesitant, especially at the show of magic when he created the table, but she did as instructed and set up the meal she'd brought for him. Then she opened the bottle of wine and carefully filled his glass, making certain that she didn't spill even a drop. She set the bottle down on the table and set up the silverware then placed his napkin over his lap. Her task done, she was prepared to leave.
Then he asked her name...
She hesitantly raised her eyes to his face then looked down again. A repeat of looking at him had her keeping her wary gaze on his face as she licked her lips nervously before answering, "Kirsa, Master Shale... I was... I was taken from the village by..." she hesitated to say the name but it wasn't that hard to figure out that she was talking about Goh.
It was just as easy to figure out what she was describing. The golem guard appointed to her made it even easier to figure out. She'd been one of the prisoners in the dungeon and hadn't escaped Goh's touch, though she'd been one of the lucky ones in that she'd been healable. She carried some new scars that were easily covered by her clothes, but she'd managed to survive Goh's torture table which said alot about her ability to survive.
She also revealed that she used to live in Darkness Village, the place that passed as the local town in this realm. In fact, it was the only real town. And it was mostly populated by those kicked out of the other realms due to being a proverbial bad guy. From there, they interbred and began to have their children influenced by the realm itself and became even more evil than their parents. From there, it more or less snowballed into a never ending cycle within the realm Goh had created for himself and allowed a place of evil to perpetuate itself and its inhabitants.
Kirsa was just one of the latest of those inhabitants. She didn't have any special abilities that she knew of, but something about her had to have attracted Goh to her in order for him to have collected her for his dungeon... |
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 9:33 am
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Baron Shale’s gaze was keen as the sharpest edge and as dispassionate as though he were observing the qualities of a stone. Indeed, he was. He was trying to determine this girl’s potential.
Being born of this place and having attracted Goh’s attention without desiring it meant that there was something special about her. The fact that she had survived and succeeded in remaining so intact was a testament to her tenacity and endurance. Her initiative meant that she instinctively understood the concept of service better than most. Shale’s newfound hedonistic streak also took note that she wasn’t bad looking at all.
No she wasn’t.
But…
Ilea was several orders of magnitude better on that score, to say nothing of every other level of comparison that Shale could come up with. His hedonistic side registered this girl’s attractiveness in much the same way that a scholar enters an obligatory footnote into a report. It was worth noting but not worthy of action. Though, it might be a useful trait later. Time would tell.
“Your initiative was well considered and timely. You know how to serve well.” Shale said without emotion touching his voice. “I will offer you a promotion.”
Shale’s staff glowed brighter for a brief moment as he drew from the Amber Forge to weave amber and shadow into a living golem in the shape of a three headed snake made of blackest shadow with gold edging on its scales and eyes of glowing amber. The body of the snake, as it formed on the table, was long and loose and slender. It seemed such a delicate thing, yet it radiated power and authority. It would make it difficult for those with no resistance to domination to disobey its wearer. Yet, it also had fangs concealed within its mouths. Treason against Shale or Ilea would cause it to bite its wearer, sealing them in a timeless moment of burning agony for three days before it would let them die. Of course, this would only matter if treason occurred. If not, there was no reason that Kirsa would need to know about it. The snake curled upon itself and looked at Kirsa with three pairs of glowing amber eyes.
“If you accept, pick up the symbol of your new position. It will take its rightful place, as will you. This promotion will place you above all of the other servants on the main floor. You will be responsible for overseeing all common tasks on that level, including the maintenance of the throne room.”
Shale then fell silent and waited. Goh had never allowed promotions. Kirsa would likely not know what to do. Still, this would be an excellent way to see if she had a greater measure of ambition than of terror. If she reached out to touch the serpent it would slither up her arm, under her clothes, and wrap its body around her neck to become a choker. One head would position its gaze forward and would rest at the center of the collarbone. Each of the others would look right and left, respectively, and would rest at the midpoints between the shoulder and the neck on the collarbone. It would feel warm and metallic, soothing and empowering. Yet, it also would allow its wearer to sense the difference between their power and that of their master with greater… accuracy. |
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 3:08 pm
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Kirsa was so shocked that she raised her eyes to look at his face wide-eyed, partly to see if he was serious. She did lower her eyes again, but that one moment showed the keen intelligence of her mind and a hint of what Goh may have seen when he looked at her: a metallic sparkle in the hazel color of her eyes, more of a hint of fine glitter than anything definite but it was there and spoke of mixed heritage. It was a physical sign of something Goh saw in her and drew him to her, caused him to take her from the village. It also added to her aesthetic appeal, which didn't hurt her at all.
Once she determined that he was, in fact, serious, she bit her lower lip briefly in a nervous gesture of hard thought. A brief moment and she reached a hand out to the snake. Her hand shook briefly at first but firmed up by the time she actually touched the snake. She shivered as it moved up her arm and settled around her neck and shoulders, able to feel the power in it as a warm current of sorts as it moved through her then settled.
By the time it settled into place, she was almost a different person. She stood taller and showed less nervousness, not full confidence yet but the hint of it was now there. She kept her head lowered but not as far down now, more at a position where she could see his face without directly looking at him. She also gave him a small brief smile before she gave him a more formal curtsy, "At your service, Master Shale," she said softly and simply then turned as she heard footsteps in the hallway.
She guessed that it was Ilea returning and gave another curtsy to him before heading to her new duties with the golem behind her, walking with a firmer step and a hint of the confidence she would later gain.
Ilea passed her on the way in, pausing in the doorway to watch the woman walk down the hallway before turning back to the room with a small shake of her head, "Only here would Elf and Demon mix. Pretty far back in her heritage, but the potential power in her is probably what drew Goh's attention to her," she commented with a shrug of one shoulder. She didn't miss the new 'ornament' the woman wore, "You promoted her?" she asked and at his nod she gave one of her own, "Good. She's got the potential in her to do good work here. We'll have to keep an eye on her as she progresses, though. The hint of power could spontaneously become more than a hint at an odd moment. The mix could be dangerous. Demons and Elves don't generally mix for good reason, after all," she added with another shrug of one shoulder. Still, the 'snake' would give Shale plenty of warning if Kirsa was going to suddenly start showing the powers now dormant within her...
But now that that was past, Ilea put the rest of the subject in the back of her mind and moved further into the room to stand next to the couch and called the 'guard' into the room. She watched Shale, though, as they formed up in a line several feet away from him but facing him. She didn't say anything, that alone showing her nervousness over his inspecting them. She simply watched him to see what his reactions would be.
They were all similar, but held the various differences that marked them as individuals. Their similarities were in their creation: crimson eyes similar to Ilea's, well-developed musculature, pure loyalty imprinted into every line of their make-up, and captured souls now altered appropriately inhabiting each created body. They were all fully created from scratch, essentially, but had been 'sculpted' to physical perfection.
She'd used so many different magics and abilities to create and alter them all that she wasn't sure if she could remember everything she'd done. Well, that wasn't entirely accurate. She remembered every detail, but the exaggeration made a point. Each time she'd gone to work on them over the years, she'd altered something, aiming for a perfection that Goh would accept.
Of course, she never realized that Goh would likely have destroyed her over what now stood in front of Shale. Even now, she had no idea how far Goh would have gone to to keep her progress limited, or how far he'd already gone to in limiting her. Only now, with Shale, were her powers able to move forward past the limitations Goh had put on her.Time would show how far they could go. Shale would have an unpredictable time ahead of him, depending on what happened to them as time progressed. But he would still have his hands full with helping her cope with each power that 'leveled up' as time passed and the limitation 'caps' and blocks faded.
But, for now, Shale had Ilea's work in front of him and her steady gaze ready to catch his reactions to that work. Her crimson eyes showed her caution and nervousness, but she otherwise showed nothing as she watched and waited... |
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 5:22 pm
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Baron Shale sat quietly as his servant accepted her promotion, watching every detail and motion. She had ambition to spare and her pride was blooming quickly, very quickly. For all the power of Shale’s magic, that choker shouldn’t have effected such a dramatic change unless there was already a strong and assertive personality underneath it. She would need some oversight to ensure that she didn’t grow too… confident. But, he was more certain now that she would be of great use later.
He let her go with a silent gesture. Her rank might have increased but she was still very close to the bottom. Greater acknowledgment would be unwarranted at this stage. His eyes seemed to stay focused on the space where Kirsa had been standing while Ilea came in. But, this was mostly because he didn’t want her to see his curiosity and the strength of his interest in these guards that she had made.
“Kirsa. She has potential but, you are right. She will need to be watched closely. Her talents and bloodline could be of great use, but her place will have to be… very clearly understood.” He said to Ilea once they were alone and she had voiced her opinion. “Keep an eye on her for signs of growth as well as signs of … excess.” If Kirsa could be groomed properly then she might make for a decent Lady in Waiting for Ilea. It would be another step in the direction of having Ilea at his side instead of behind him.
With that business attended to, he finally allowed himself to look at the guards that Ilea had brought. He had to suppress a twitch. They were… heavily customized. Each one, right from the start, was clearly adjusted with meticulous care. In fact, they did arouse his concern a little. Ilea’s insecurity was written into their design as well as practically shining forth from her body language. He didn’t want to cause her distress. Goh had been very careful to destroy her previous attempt with decisive prejudice. He would have to be very careful with his criticisms. At this point, these were Ilea’s best work.
He stood, slowly and easily. His staff in hand, he walked to the end of the line to examine the first of his new personal guards. He began by examining it visually, walking around it and studying the materials and organization. Then he stood in front of it and tapped the butt of his staff on the floor, creating a small spark of magic that hopped to the floor between the guard’s feet and grew into a circle that emitted waves of light upward as it scanned the golem’s internal structure and magical makeup. After a few moments, the spell faded and he moved on to the next one. The procedure was the same with each. It wasn’t as hard to maintain a neutral expression as he thought it would be.
They were fascinating. Obsessively detailed, honed, modified, and perfected in each particular over and over again. They were almost a perfect depiction of how Ilea served. Total commitment, total loyalty, no inherent contradictions or self-defensive desires at all. Unfortunately, that combination isn’t always ideal for every position. Though, here it seemed necessary. Shale had always avoided using souls. They carried fragments of the being they came from and that could be troublesome if they were given complex orders that were open to interpretation. Yet, these seemed to have been made at ease in their new forms. In fact, there were elements of the design that made Shale think of rumors regarding the possibility of Necromantic Resurrection.
Though, there were no records of anyone succeeding in that particular feat.
He had finished his examination. It was time to give his assessment to Ilea. He turned to her and gestured for her to come to him and stand before the last of the Elite Guard. Then he cast a slower and more persistent version of the spell he had used to examine their magical makeup so that she could see exactly what he was describing.
First, he put his hand on hers and guided it to touch the center of the magical web that flowed through the guard. He then used the bond to expand her perceptions just a hair. With that tiny boost she should be able to feel the qualities of the flow much like having a hand in a stream of water. While she had done an amazing job with these guards, there were flaws.
“You’ve done very well. Many who learned from proper masters spend their whole lives and still fail to approach the level of skill you already have. These are capable of standing against many of my own. If they had been at Goh’s side, the trap… would likely have failed without other efforts, or sacrifices.” His voice was even but his touch was warm and certain. “The imperfections that I see are simply the product of the complexity of the layered modifications. These will serve by my side very well but I want you to see how your skills can further improve. Seeing these, I am even more certain that your future power and achievement will be… amazing to see.” A smile spread across his face unconsciously as he said this.
Then he proceeded to point out the specific points where layered modifications and repeated alterations had constricted or diverted the flow of power, making the guard slightly less efficient. There were also places where certain fine tuning elements had been adjusted to be a little too precise, making the guard more vulnerable to disruptive magics and attacks. The flaws were small and each one was a product of Ilea’s devotion to the task, her devotion to her master. As that relationship had been tainted from the start, such a clear product would have flaws in its fundamental psychology and architecture. However, for all that, Ilea’s natural ability and grasp of the material had carried through and produced a series of masterful creations. After he finished with the one guard, he moved down the line and showed Ilea everything that he saw. There were several that only had small weaknesses or flaws but they were planted so deep within the structure that they were interfering with later modifications and having a more significant effect. Thus, they went down the line.
Shale knew that Ilea was probably going to feel terrible after this, but it was the final outcome of this that needed to be positive. This would teach her a great deal about streamlining and simplifying the magical architecture of her constructs. It would make it easier for her to make more of them, faster, and avoid any inefficiencies. It would allow her to stand more powerfully at his side, with elite creations of her own answering her call instead of her needing to use ones that were from Shale’s army.
After finishing his analysis and explanations, Shale proceeded to go back down the line with Ilea. This time, he showed her exactly how to correct the issues and imperfections that he had described before. He walked her through every step, teaching her every skill involved along the way. It would be a lot to learn in a short time but Ilea had bet a lot on this moment. He had every intention of giving her a suitable return. And, when they finished with the last one and the polishing was done, he took her by the shoulders and turned her around to face him.
“I am proud of you. These are amazing work and I know that I can expect even more of you in the future. Thank you for this precious gift, my Ilea.” Then he leaned down to kiss her lips gently and softly. |
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 12:22 am
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Ilea took his criticisms with a better air and attitude than she once would have. Her initial caution had been habit-ingrained, an old fear that would take her a long time to fully overcome. But once he got to showing her where she'd gone wrong and helped her with the corrections that needed done, she was more than accepting of it all and even offered him a shy smile at the end.
When he said he was proud of her, though, she actually blushed. She was not used to hearing anything like it. What she liked best, though, was when he called her 'my Ilea', right before he gave her that gentle and soft kiss.
When he pulled back, she was still giving that novel blush and offered him another of her shy smiles, "I will do better with time. Thank you for showing me how to fix them. I knew there were flaws, but I couldn't see them until you showed me where they were," she explained softly, her tone showing him that she was serious and more accepting of those flaws in her work than she once would have been.
She finally turned from him to look at the creations and silently called their attention, "Your new master is Baron Shale. Protect and guard him as you have been created to do," she told them simply, turning them over to him with those words.
She offered him another small shy smile as they moved to guard the door and gave them privacy in these rooms, "They were originally trained to only guard the main door in here as well as the study. Everywhere else, you will have two of them with you. Outside the castle, all six will be with you," she explained to him then paused and reached up to gently push back a lock of his hair then caressed his cheek with a featherlight touch.
"I can feel what I mean to you now... But if anything happened to you I would, in essence, die and only awaken again to a new master. One that, most likely, wouldn't hold me as dearly as you do. So please, allow me this and let them protect you. I can defend myself in a fight. You are best with magic. Let them fight for you. Please..." she said in a soft whisper. Such a softly spoken request, but one that spoke to her newest great fear.
It was also only the second time she'd made a request of him. The first time had come at great cost to her, but had given him her in every way that counted, completely and uncontested. This one was of a similar vein, but one that allowed them both more freedom instead of less.
Only time would tell them what their true threats were, where the dangers would come from. But these guards ensured not only his survival, but her own as well by guarding him. As long as he lived, so would she. Goh had seen to that when he'd altered her DNA.... |
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