Arcane Drill

(Kingdom of Greenfen)

Ember, with her flame-kissed curls, dark red eyes; and Kaede, with his light scarlet colored hair and same color eyes, bearing the strength of the ancient oaks in his name, meandered through the cobbled streets of Glimmerhaven. Their early encounters weaved through the bustling market square, where merchants hawked gem-encrusted goblets, proclaiming each to be filled with the light of the twin moons. They wandered through arbors twisted with vines heavy with starfruit, the sweet scent hanging in the air like a promise.

'I met this girl only about a few days ago, and already I feel like we're totally meant to be.'

No words were spoken between Ember and Kaede as a spontaneous melody of lyre and flute wrapped around them. They watched, side by side, as trained griffins performed aerial dances, their feathers glinting with the touch of dawn, guided by tamers with silver whistles. Children laughed, chasing the ethereal wisps that escaped from the delicate tips of fae encircling the beast handlers, casting ciphers of joy into the air.

'She came up to me and was all like, "Hey are you that powerless and manaless guy everyone talks about?"

And I was like, "Yeah that's me." I was going to run away in embarrassment like a little punk-ass, but then she revealed she didn't have magic either.'

The high-pitched bell of the town crier sliced through the hum of the crowd. "Hear ye, hear ye! The Iron Monarch's benevolence shines upon Glimmerhaven! Our forges roar day and night, crafting the might of the Ninth Empire!" His eyes, bright with fervor, scanned the gathered folk. "Let no shadow encroach upon our prosperity, for the Nine Towers of Vigilance keep watch—ever-present, ever-vigilant!"

They savored midday in the Gardens of Eternity, where flowers bloomed in orchestrated perfection. Amid the menagerie of colors sat legendary ents, who whispered ancient tales to the saplings. Kaede's hand invisibly brushed Ember's as they passed a circle of sylvans gracefully tracing arcane symbols into the Earth, nurturing the flora with whispers of growth.

'This would be our 3rd date now, and I was looking forward to this. Where the hell did she come from? A beautiful one like her, coming to me? Out of nowhere? I'm not gonna lie, I don't think I'm the best of looks, don't get me wrong, but what did she see In me?'

The conversations of passersby floated towards the pair, a murmur of awe and uncertainty. "The Ninth Empire stretches its arm further each day, some say soon there'll be no place the sun touches that isn't theirs." A woman clutched her shawl closer, her eyes darting. "But it's the Order of Onyx they're after, I hear—dark mages stirring things they ought not. Makes you wonder, are we any safer?"

Ember and Kaede climbed the Tower of Sight, where the city unfurled below them, a tapestry of human toil and triumph. They gazed outward, where the distant silhouette of the Ninth Empire's capital loomed, guarded by titanic golems that moved with the slow certainty of the ages.

'We connect on different levels, we both come from a family of those who rejected us because we lacked magic and all that traumatic shit. We wondered the world looking for at least someone to accept us, and we're both 20 years old. I think I've finally found the one.'

The crier's voice rang out again, a rolling thunder in the daylight. "Mark this day, for the Empress decrees aid to our brethren in Snowmarch! They face the Order's uprising in blood and shadow. United, we shall snuff out this darkness!" Heads bobbed in agreement among the crowd, hands tightened around sword hilts and staffs.

As dusk approached, they arrived at the Crystal Lake, where water sprites danced upon the surface. Ember watched as the crafty creatures lured leviathans from the depths to play among the shimmering icebergs that floated lazily.

A hushed conversation pierced through the silence of evening. "Have you heard of the Bloodthorn curse?" a man in a hunter's cloak asked another. "They say it seeps from beneath, turning friend to foe, mage to madman, and beast to fury. They've become twice as deadly, thrice as cunning, and some say ten times as powerful."

The couple then ambled through the Twilight Bazaar, aglow with enchanted lanterns that sang softly in a chorus. A centaur bard recited sonnets with a voice that brought forth laughter and tears, singing the saga of Atherion's mighty past and the unity against lurking monstrosities.

Kaede and Ember made their way to the crumbled ruins of what was whispered to be an ancient library, now inhabited by shy creatures of ink and story, books fluttering about like winged secrets, binding the past to the present with their tales.

"The Bloodthorn curse afflicts all! Mages lost to their incantations, hunters ensnared by their own traps," cried the crier, his voice echoing with the urgency of the night. "Yet fear not! For the Eye of the Empress is vigilant, and the Ebon Sage wields his wisdom! Together, they shall uproot this vile scourge!"

As stars began to pepper the firmament, Ember and Kaede stood shoulder to shoulder at the Celestial Pier, watching as the sea drakes emerged from the foam to cavort under the silver glow, their scales a kaleidoscope of nocturnal wonders.

Ember smiled, "The Bloodthorn, Hm? Sounds really destructive."

Kaede chuckled, "Yeah, those hunters and mages can handle all of that."

"Even without magic, you probably could take them, you're really tough you know?" Ember smiled.

Kaede was flustered, looking away, "Haha..haha…haha…you see there, that's funny!"

Ember smiled as she locked hands with Kaede, saying, "Oh trust me, you could."

Kaede, still flustered, looking in the sky, thought, 'Marry me now.'

People of all walks of life filled the docks, fishers coaxing bounties from the deep, alchemists gathering drake scales for potent elixirs, lovers entwined in each other's arms, all participants in the grand, ceaseless dance of life.

Upon the ancient Bridge of Sighs, lined with lanterns pulsing softly with faefire, Ember and Kaede passed a troupe of acrobats vaulting through the air, their bodies weaving a tapestry of grace and agility. A phalanx of dwarven blacksmiths strode beneath, singing a rhythmical lament of the earth, hammers striking anvils to a timeworn beat, each strike igniting sparks like temporary stars caught in the night's embrace.

The crier's heralding voice once more split the ambiance. "Beware the crepuscular forests and the unhallowed vales! The Bloodthorn's curse weaves its malignant threads through the roots of the world, sowing chaos in the natural order!" His gaze held an intensity that crowned his words with an air of solemn prophecy.

Amidst the twilight of Vesper Gardens, where the glowshrooms illuminated the landscape in an ethereal radiance, Ember and Kaede witnessed a congregation of druids, their chants swirling with the wind, binding wayward spirits that flitted too close to the mortal coil. Nearby, a family of unicorns grazed, their luminescent horns piercing the creeping mist that dared to touch their sacred enclave.

Ember, in awe, smiled, "It's so beautiful.."

Kaede walking beside her, thought with a panic gesture, 'Kaede, SAY something. Compliment her. DO something. I'm not really the mushy mushy type, what if she runs away if it comes out wrong?! I'm not used to saying this kind of stuff to ANYONE. Well there was my mother until she saw I couldn't use magic before an old man and she threw me in a volcano. But still!'

Kaede cleared his throat, putting his hand on his face dramatically, saying, "You said it's beautiful.."

Ember nodded with a blush, "Yeah?"

Kaede looked at her, trying to make his cheeks sucked in, "Like..you..?"

There was a loud silence, and Ember just stared at him, and her right eye twitched.

Kaede looked away, screaming and covering his face, "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! That was embarrassing—!!"

'I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I GOTTA RUN AWAY NOW WHILE I HAVE THE CHANCE! That cliff maybe?! Yeah I'll jump off that—!'

"Hahaha! You're funny, Kaede. This is why I grown to be attached to you." Ember hugged Kaede, as he blushed.

Kaede and Ember found solace in the wisdom of the Whiteleaf Library, where the air was thick with gathered knowledge, and sage owls roosted amongst tome-laden branches, their hooting a haunting melody of intellect and insight. Scrolls unfurled like banners, heralding the triumphs and trials of ages long past, while scholars debated below with fervent oration.

Wisps of overheard worries trailed them through the Moonlit Plaza, merchants conversing under the watchful gaze of stone guardians. "The Ninth, ever so mightier... but at what cost? Harmony or dominion? Protection or subjugation?" The words fluttered like moths, seeking the truth within the flames of doubt.

A cascade of chimes sounded as the crier's voice soared again through the gathering darkness. "The Citadel's Eye unveils treacheries most foul! An Enchanter of Onyx was unmasked beneath the Crescent Bridge," he exhorted, "The vigil must not wane, for the Empire's safety is the shield against these sorcerous storms!"

Ember and Kaede's journey took them to the spectral wonder of the Luminaries Field, where the ground itself shimmered, blessing lovers and dreamers with moments of pristine beauty. Here, phoenixes soared above their heads, trails of golden fire etching stories of resurrection and eternity in the firmament above.

As the crier's words reverberated through the square, "Let us stand as one against the encroaching blight, the Bloodthorn's venom that seeks to corrupt the heart and snare the soul!", he shared a vision of unity, instilling a bond shared across the land, from the harbors of Glimmerhaven to the solitary peaks of Winterspire.

In the waning light, Ember and Kaede climbed the spiral path to the star-gazer's overlook, where the threads of destiny were woven by oracles of old. The air here was thick with the fragrance of nocturnal blooms, their petals unfurling to embrace the night sky, while ethereal sprites traced the trajectories of stars across the canvas above.

Passing a lively tavern where tales of heroism and folly mingled with the fragrant smoke of hearth fires, a snippet of ale-soaked philosophy graced their ears. "Does the Empire seek merely to stave off the darkness, or to shape it to their own shadow? Only the moon knows, and she's not telling."

At journey's end, upon the tranquil summit of Hope's Crest, Ember and Kaede sat silently, the world sprawling beneath them—a tapestry of life and legacy, woven through with the ephemeral threads of fear, hope, and destiny. As the sun made its final descent beyond the horizon, spilling majesty in hues of crimson and gold, their fingers intertwined, a silent pact made beneath the gaze of a sky painted with promises and the whispers of twilight. Together, they watched as the stars awakened one by one, the night unfurling its celestial shroud, their silhouettes etched against the fading light, holding hands in silent accord as the dusk embraced them.

Ember rested her head on Kaede's shoulder, saying, "I had fun."

"Yeah I did too."

"Also.."

"Hm?"

"There's something I wanted to show you. I don't show this to anyone because I didn't grow to like them like I did you."

"Oh..okay.."

'What could she possibly show me?'

…

Ember's hand, sure and steady, found Kaede's in the gloaming of a cave that yawned wide before them, an orifice leading into the very bowels of the earth itself. The air was cool and damp, thick with the musty scent of forgotten epochs and the tang of mineral-rich stone. All around, the chittering of unseen critters echoed off the vaulted walls, an eerie symphony punctuated by the occasional drip of water reverberating through the vast chamber.

Their path was a sinuous trail, meandering through the subterranean night. Tiny radiant fungi clung to the jagged walls, casting a pallid, otherworldly glow, painting their surroundings with hues of phosphorescent blue and green. The rustle of leathery wings fluttered overhead as a congress of cave nadders took flight, disturbed by the intruders' passage through their dominion.

Further and further they delved, the air growing increasingly thick with the earth's breath, until they arrived at a precipice. Before them was an immense platform, artfully carved from the living rock, suspended in the cavernous space like a defiant declaration of sentient will against the dark. It was surrounded by a chasm so profound that its depths swallowed all sound and light.

Upon this monolithic stage, the silhouettes of four gargantuan beasts came into focus, each one ensnared by chains glimmering with runes pulsating with an ominous aura. The Bloodthorn curse had marked these mythic beings, morphing them into monstrous versions of their former selves: a gryphon, now fearsome with barbs of jagged bone jutting through its plumage; a basilisk, its scales weeping venom that hissed as it fell; an ancient wyrm, its eyes ablaze with verdant flames, writhing against its bindings; and a wendigo, elongated arms crowned with cruel, curving claws that sliced at the air.

At the far end stood a figure, more phantom than flesh, shackles of sorcery binding its wrists. A mage, once a beacon of wisdom and power, now a vessel of the curse, its power contorted by corruption—veins glowing through translucent skin like molten gold, eyes of pure, unremitting obsidian.

The entire spectacle lay within an orb of Breathlight, a spell that held the swathing darkness at bay, preserving the platform as a sanctum of unwavering attention. Magic of such potency was dissonant here, amidst the crude simplicity of earth and stone.

Without a shred of doubt in her voice, her tone resolute amidst the overture of a quiet before the tempest, Ember declared, "Alright, let's get this shit over with."

Kaede's pulse quickened, his reply a mix of incredulity and dawning realization. "Uhhhhh what?!"

Ember's strides forward echoed with an authority that demanded the cave itself to observe in silence. Each footfall seemed to draw the molten fire from the earth's veins, the air shimmering as if in anticipation of her intent. As she moved, a throne constructed from the essence of lava rose behind her, forging its form from the seething pyres beneath the crust, a beacon of dominance amidst the subterranean shadows.

Almost in chorus with the throne's creation, armor began to weave itself over Ember's form. It was as if the molten rock itself was honoring her, each plate solidifying from liquid fire into an exquisite cuirass of ember-infused obsidian. A helm formed, crowning her head with horns that curled like the tendrils of smoke from a dragon's maw. In her hand congealed a scepter, a twisted piece of work that pulleyed the very heart of the earth's fury. Each detail was a litany to her power, each curve and spike a threat of war.

With that same undaunted expression, Ember began to explain, one hand idly twirling the hellish scepter. "The Bloodthorn curse... the Order of Onyx... nothing but gnats in the air, trying to vex me. Their attempts are as futile as trying to douse the sun with a drop of water. They block my path, Kaede; trifles, really. Annoying vermin scuttling about, miring in politics and pretense. Can't wait to show them what real power looks like, to clobber the lot until they realize their place beneath my boot." The words rolled off Ember's tongue with a casual flippance belying the depth of her irritation yet interspersed with a thrill for the conflict to come.

In the midst of this chaos of creation and confessions, Kaede's mind was mounting an upheaval. He stammered, voice colored with panic and fascination, "Why?! What is going on?! I'm definitely confused right now!" The surreal scene before him twisted his perception, challenging his grasp on reality.

A smirk edged on Ember's lips, her demeanor unchanging, even comforting despite the throne of flame and the arsenal she now wielded. "There's a reason you're here, Kaede. It's not about right place or right time; it's about the right person. And for what's to come, for the fate that's been laid out before me, I need more than just an ally. I need someone who ain't chicken shit when the void stares back, someone to ride or die with me."

Her eyes, ignited with a spectral light, locked onto Kaede's, and her voice lowered to a sinister purr. "I've met many, suffered fools and vanquished enemies... but love? That was foreign, 'til you." A brief vulnerability shimmered through the stoic mask she wore. "Listen, Kaede, I am a queen—a demon queen. And with the blood kiss of marriage, the man I choose, the man I love... he will rise as the king of demons. Our bond, it's more than just rings and vows; it's power, it's passion. With each beat of our hearts in tandem, you'll ascend, and if our love proves true, you'll stand beside me, not just as a king, but as a god amongst demons."

The air grew heavy, and Ember continued, with an almost solemn nobility lacing her words. "My lineage, it traces back to the infernal courts of Hell, birthed from the chaos at the world's dawn. Each queen before me faced this choice, to seek a consort whose soul could intertwine with the infernos—a duty, a legacy. Our ancestry ensures that our dominion isn't just within the depths of Hell, but wherever darkness swathes the land, wherever power demands to be seized."

She leaned closer to Kaede, the heat around her unfaltering, yet somehow not scorching him, as if her will alone kept the flames at bay. "In our union, we'll forge an empire, outshine the Order of Onyx and sever the Bloodthorn curse. We will pen a new chapter in the chronicles of shadow, a saga sung by the denizens of the deep." Ember stood resplendent and ruinous, awash in the glow of her infernal domain, extending her hand—a lifeline in the abyss and an offer to reign in Hell itself.

Walking through another passage of the cave, Ember's subordinates were coming through.

Valkan - A woman with literal flowing flames for her, and literal flames for eyes and peach skin wearing a ll black spiked armor with glowing golden Sigils within them.

"Yes! The ceremony is beginning! We'll get to see a bloodbath in real time!" She spoke.

Roo - A humanoid red chicken with glowing red eyes, and spiked red crystal like feathers.

"Ugh. She found her husband? This fast? He doesn't look like shit at all. This is definitely a mistake. I'm leaving. Wake me up when he's dead."

Rowan - A man with black hair in a ponytail, dark pale grayish purple zombie-like skin, and dark tired red eyes, he had his hands in his pockets.

"Aw man. He's gonna take all of the attention off of me! The Queen always calls me her trump card! That's fine though, I'll go out and find some woman, I'm a ladies man after all."

Connor - He had dreadlocked red and black hair, a red beard, pale skin with red face paint on, and was holding a large mythical glowing ax.

"Enough of this. The Queen is happy, so we must be happy, despite her choosing a powerless brat. For the honor of love and vigilance is the perfect weapon against the flames of evil…"

Rowen replied, "Agh here he goes again quoting things and being dramatic. Go have some kids or something."

"Find a wife. Or something."

"I-I…"

Roo chuckled, bumping into Rowen, "HAHA! That dramatic subordinate just destroyed you with words, zombie boy. I wouldn't take that shit. I'd fight him if I were you, just saying."

"STOP INSTIGATING! CHICKEN"

"You wanna fight? Let's go. I got all day."

Valka stepped in, "Guys! We must watch the bloodbath that will take place in just mere seconds! We can't miss it!"

Connor agreed, "Valka is right, for her warrior mind truly depicts leadership—."

Roo and Rowen said at the same time, "She doesn't want you."

Connor exclaimed, "Damn you both! You know nothing, fools!"

Another subordinate approached with another one.

Kaiju - A hybrid wyvern man with bushy hair in a ponytail, but had dragon nails, red and yellow dragon pierced eyes, and a dragon tails, and his light bronze skin was scaled in certain areas.

"I was just tending to my garden until the Queen released the signal, I hope that's not an issue that I tend to gardens and feed my rabbits. Right?" Kaiju stared at them with an emotionless face.

The group fell silent, fear drawing upon them, besides Roo.

Roo thought, 'They're really scared of him.'

And the last subordinate was Phoebe. She was wearing a nightgown, always carrying a blanket everywhere she went. She had long brown hair, and light hazel eyes.

She rubbed her eyes, saying, "Did he die yet…? Or is he still alive…? Oh..he still is. That boy that queen chose..he looks weak."

Roo scoffed, "Hey. Get some sleep will ya? You've always been like this."

Rowen added, "Yeah it's making me sleepy."

Phoebe responded, "..No."

Back at the platform, Kaede stood there in shock, his legs trembling, he thought, 'Demon QUEEN?! HELL?! SHE HAS MAGIC?! HELL?! DEMON QUEEN?! HELL?! IS SHE GONNA EAT ME AND I BECOME REBORN AS A DEMON TOO?! I GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE! But my legs, they'll move freely, but I'm not running. Why? Because I have feelings for her..? Who knows if I'll ever find someone like her again. This is a lot to take in…'

Ember's voice rolled through the cavern, a command wrought from the depths of her infernal heritage. "Release them," she uttered, each word a key unlocking the shackles that bound the Bloodthorn cursed beings. The ensnared creatures, now unrestrained, unveiled their zealous fury, eyes flaring with a predatory light as they focused on the lone, vulnerable Kaede.

The Bloodthorn infected, malice embodied in every snarl, surged towards him—a monstrous assault of twisted muscle and wicked intent. Kaede's breath hitched, terror underpinning his quivering voice as he screamed, "WAIT! WAIT! I DON'T HAVE MAGIC! WAITTT! YOU'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO CLOBBER ME?!" Every desperate word punctuated with the dawning realization that he stood on the precipice of a nightmarish demise.

In what seemed to pause time itself, Ember's smirking visage betrayed a hint of pleasure, her eyes alight with an inscrutable delight. "Damn you're amazing," she praised, a whisper that traversed the distance between them on the back of the fear-charged atmosphere.

Like a fallen angel claiming the sky to meet him, Ember blurred across the space, her movement a cascade of ethereal elegance and controlled havoc. She reached Kaede, and with the world holding its breath, their lips met—a passionate, fervent collision warmer than the fires around, a kiss that bore the promise of unity and upheaval alike.

Triggered by their union, the air crackled with a nascent power, and the runes from Ember's kiss crept onto Kaede's skin. Then, under Ember's lips, Kaede's form began to shift, contort, and expand. Wings unfurled from his back, enveloping them in shadows licked by flames. His body stretched and morphed, clad in scintillating, sanguine scales. Two spiraled horns burst forth, crowning his head with a diadem of destruction, while a sinuous tail thrashed the air behind him, powerful and defiant.

A sharp cry of shock and transformation sliced through the chamber as Kaede's mouth expanded, revealing rows of teeth honed sharper than the finest blades, each capable of rending the very fabric of the cursed beings that dared defy him. His eyes rekindled with a deep crimson glow, mirrors of the molten core of his newfound essence.

With a sound akin to the rushing of solar winds, Kaede vanished in blinding speed, evading the onslaught. The Bloodthorn cursed, disoriented, found nothing but afterimages where their prey had stood—as volatile and intangible as smoke caught in a tempest.

Engulfed in the newfound inferno of his essence, Kaede hovered in the heart of the underground chamber, a figure of doom crowned with a nimbus of flame. The Bloodthorn cursed advanced, their cursed forms twisting in the dim light, hungry for his essence. But Kaede, now an embodiment of hellfire, drew upon the chaotic currents that surged within him.

A deep, instinctual command of his powers blossomed, an intrinsic knowledge of his celestial pyre that danced at his very whim. His wings unfurled to their full, intimidating span, each feather a blade of fire seared into existence by his transformation. He whipped them forward, fanning the flames that clung to their majesty.

With a primal roar, he spun. It began as a slow gyre, his body orienting with the inevitable precision of a whirlwind's eye, muscles coiling with the potential of devastation. He plunged downwards, the tips of his wings tracing a serpentine spiral that pulled the live embers from the air and from the stone around him, knitting them into a column of incandescent wrath.

Faster, ever faster, he twirled, a living spindle within the loom of annihilation. Kaede's spiral descent transformed into an arcane drill—a swirling conduit of violent energy. The flames clung to him gathered momentum, forming a vortex of fire that expanded outward, a sunburst of destructive magnificence.

As the maelstrom of Kaede's making collided with the Bloodthorn cursed, it enveloped them in its vehement embrace. Each thread of fire, each smoldering plume carved through their blighted forms with the ineffable grace and finality of a reaper's scythe.

The Bloodthorn cursed beings met their demise, ripped asunder in a spectacle of crimson and black, the essence of their corrupted life-force scattering like ashes lost to the darkness from whence they came. Their remnants fell to the ground, a grotesque tapestry of what once had been creatures of nightmare.

Silence descended, the echo of their destruction a dirge hummed by the cave. At its heart stood Kaede, his chest rising and falling with the rhythm of newfound power. Flames caressed him, a lover's touch that spoke of fury and strength, imparting an enthralling dance of light across his imposing, majestic form.

He exuded an air of dominion, a conqueror among ruins, a testament to the transformative embrace he had received from the demon queen. In him burned the fiery core of a phoenix demon, a confluence of passion and command that would herald a reign of flame and shadow.

Kaede, once man, now more—much more—stood amid the carnage, the fires of his ascension searing his claim into the cavern's memory. Time would remember him, the being who flared to life in an inferno's kiss, and in his wake, even the darkness seemed to retreat in awe.

The subordinates were in shock, besides Roo and Kaiju, who kept straight faces.

Kaede stood with Demon Queen Ember, side by side as flames ascended off of their forms.