Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

"Um Thanks, I guess," Evian said with furrowed brows, "So what now? I get a shiny new seal?"

"Well yes," Astrid said and leaned back from her desk and pulled open a drawer from which she picked up a bronze-colored badge that she tossed to Evian to catch.

Evian caught it and looked it over. It was identical to the seal he already had as a border Knight except there was a symbol for Six written on it and above that was a symbol Evian didn't quite understand.

"That seal marks you as my subordinate. Makes me aware of your location in the Verlice Kingdom at all times. Of course, you're not directly below me because you are still under Zayda's command but that seal connects us enough for me to summon you for a task.

And you should expect to be summoned."

"So this is a leash," Evian said.

Astrid grinned, leaning forward again to place her elbows on the desk and clasp her fingers just below her perfect nose,

"You can choose to see it as such or you can choose to see it as a gift. Not many have the grace to claim to be MY subordinate. It could open doors for you."

Evian looked from Astrid's face to the seal, knowing this was not some favor she was doing out of some mysterious generosity. He just didn't know why she would want to keep track of him but of course, if there was an interest, why would he, being who he was, attempt to squash it?

With a smile, he sent the seal into his Spatial ring and gave Astrid a small bow,

"I'm honored."

"Good. You should be," Astrid said, "Moving on, I like to think you owe me a rematch to our 'friendly' spar."

"Oh," Evian said.

The use of the word 'Friendly' just had to be her mocking him for the absolute control she had over the altercation and the fact that he only 'won' by sneaky trickery. It was a win he was proud of but still.

Anyway, Evian felt better about a rematch. He was much better prepared, had stocked up on Eldritch spells for use, and believed he would not be pushed too much on the back foot.

He had also used the war to amass an incredible sum of Soul Points that could skyrocket his Wraithic levels whenever he pleased…

"Let's reschedule it," Astrid said which pulled Evian's mind out of his thoughts so he blinked a few times.

"I'm sorry what?" he asked.

Astrid was now reclining in her chair, her arms on the armrests of her seat and her robe still as wide open as ever and presenting a view of her delectable body,

"I said, Let's reschedule," she said, "My space isolating device was damaged by that self-immolating dullard, and despite my resources, it doesn't come cheap.

When I have replaced it, I shall call for you.

Consider it as me giving you more time to prepare which means I shall accept no trickery the next time we meet.

You either prove yourself a man worthy enough to bed my mother or I break every bone in your body."

'She's making it all seem like a frat initiation. Oh Frida, If only you told me your daughter was this much of a psycho.'

Lost in his thoughts, Evian did not notice Zayda's jaw drop at this discovery. So far, she had had no idea why Astrid pulled Evian aside into the space-isolating Sphere and it had bothered her even if she made no mention of it and to realize it was because of a relationship with Astrid's mother was certainly —interesting.

"Will that be all?" Zayda asked once she was able to close her mouth.

Astrid was silent at first. She looked from Zayda to Evian and the two held each other's gazes. Blue eyes stared into Grey ones. Impeccable Beauty against Impeccable Handsomeness.

As one, the two smiled, and then Astrid nodded,

"Yes, that will be all. Until we meet again."

"Can only hope that's not any time soon," Zayda said with a scoff as she turned around and led the way out of the room.

Evian did not quite agree with her but he said nothing more and left just a few paces behind her.

"Hey Zayda," he called as they got farther away from Astrid's quarters.

"Yes?"

"I'm going to take you up on that break you offered," he said.

"Really?

"Really. There's somewhere I need to go. Someone I need to meet."

"Where is it?"

"Sacrosanct," Evian said casually but the reaction Zayda gave was anything but casual.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop,

"You mean the headquarters of the Arcane Church. THE Sacrosanct?" she asked.

"Well, yes," Evian said with a smile, "Is there another place that goes by that name in the Verlice Kingdom."

Evian was not surprised by Zayda's reaction. Even if he did not care for the spiritual mumbo-jumbo that he had heard about the place, he knew it was a big deal to even consider an excursion of the convergence of Arcane Excellence in the entire kingdom.

"You can't go there," Zayda said, shaking her head.

"I must," Evian said.

It had been weighing on his mind for a while and now was probably the best time to make the journey. He was a wraith Lord (The Equivalent to the Fifth Arcane Circle) and had enough Soul Points to reach the equivalent of the Sixth Circle so this was as good a time as any.

"You don't understand," Zayda insisted while shaking her head,

"The Holy City is governed by its own rules which gives them a somewhat unofficial but still binding authority to persecute anyone they don't like as Heathens and they DON'T like us.

They treat us like trash. They don't care how strong you are there, as long as you're not an Arcanist, you might as well be a peasant —A slave!"

"You've been there before, haven't you?"

Zayda started walking again, slowly. Evian walked beside her.

"Once," she eventually said, "I was part of a group of Knights sent as an Emissary of the Martial Temple to discuss an upcoming crusade and they still treated us like shit."

"Can you tell me all you know about The Sacrosanct? The entrances, the landmass, everything."

"Well, I was only there for a few days back when I was still at the Fourth Order but adding to what I have read about the place, I could still have a bit to tell you.

I doubt I'll be able to talk you out of it anyway."

"Nah, you can't," Evian said, "Besides what fun would it be if there wasn't some challenge."

"It'll probably be more than a challenge but good luck, I guess."

"Thank you," Evian said with a smile.

He could see it in Zayda's eyes that she hadn't truly let it go but was rather strategizing for a new approach.

•••

Their Squad packed up their things and were soon ready to depart.

Zayda only had to speak a few words into her communication bracelet for their Carriage to get driven over and they all boarded and were pulled away from the Western Fort.

As they rode, the Squad got back into conversations about breaks or no breaks and the only one who wanted to have their Squad pick up yet another task was Gryon and he argued vehemently for his cause.

Evian could see he was cracking. He wondered if that was enough and if he could attempt the branding now.

His Seal had a lot of advantages which involved summoning branded members of his Wraithic household to his side no matter the distance which would prove handy no matter what.

From what Zayda had said, The Sacrosanct was not a place he should take lightly, and while Ember and Carleine were fantastic Knights, a burly man that had the potential of being a massive wrecking ball couldn't be unuseful.

After two days of being in the Carriage, they stopped to make camp. With no mission calling for urgency, they could afford a rest.

Fire flickered between the encirclement of Tents and Gryon stared at it, sulking, when he felt a tap on his shoulder,

"Come with me."

Gryon looked around.

He recognized the voice to be Evian's but there was something eerily hoarse to it and when he turned around, he saw Evian's retreating back moving away from the Camp so he followed.

"Hey, Evian," he called, "Where are we going?"

No response.

They walked for ten minutes and considering their quick strides, they had walked three times the distance any peak human could ever walk within the same time frame.

And then Evian stopped and turned around slowly as his body began to release Eldritch Energy that swarmed Gryon and overwhelmed him with a deathly chill,

"W-What is this?" Gryon asked.

"Power," Evian said calmly, "Your hope of overcoming your limitations."

"What?" Gryon struggled to say as the Eldritch chill weakened his large knees and forced his legs to wobble.

"I know you feel weak. Feel useless. You ARE useless. You only have your muscle-enhancing tattoos and even they cannot get you far if you can't progress in the Martial path.

I can help you."

"How?" Gryon scoffed.

"I sense doubt. Well then, maybe you have an explanation for how Ember and Carleine have now surpassed even Gillert."

Gryon paused and looked up into Evian's face as he nodded,

"Yes, I did that. And I can do the same for you… Without the intimacy of course."

"What do you want in return?" Gryon asked, getting a feeling he was making a deal with the devil of some sort.

"Just your cooperation," Evian said before he pulled Gryon's mind into his Astral plane to commence the branding.

No need for Gryon to know that there would be nothing he would not divulge to Evian once he was branded a member of his Wraithic family.

A slave to a Wraith Lord.