Fallen Ambitions

by Vann, Eric J.

  Aziel didn’t waste his advantage; he moved and positioned his blade at Astrel’s throat, but made sure the sharp edge did not come into contact with her skin.

  Astrel blinked as she lay there, then shook her head as if trying to shake something off. Aziel had no doubt his strike had stunned her. As her eyes refocused, he could see her assess the situation before she grinned up at him.

  “Your win, my king,” she said, and Aziel smiled and lowered his blade tip. He offered her his hand, which she gratefully accepted, using it to pull herself back onto her feet.

  “Did I hurt you?” Aziel asked, his fingers tracing the crack he had inflicted on her scythe arm.

  Astrel shook her head. “Do not worry yourself. With some ointments, it will heal quickly—your strike did not reach anything important.”

  Aziel let out a sigh of relief. He did not know what he would have done if he had actually injured her. He then examined his own wound and saw that his bruised shoulder and the single cut she had landed on him had already healed, leaving only a thin line of blood behind.

  “Thank you for the duel, Astrel. It was… informative.” He smirked, adding, “You know things would have ended much quicker if not for my weakened state.”

  Astrel seemed almost offended. “Then we must duel again when you are fully healed. And maybe next time, I won’t hold back.”

  Aziel chuckled. “It would be a privilege to duel you again, Queen Astrel.” He glanced at her spear in admiration. “Quite an interesting enchantment.”

  Now that he had the chance to examine it more carefully, he could see the spear had the same overall aesthetic as his sword and Celia’s dagger, but the crystal inlaid where the spear’s shaft met its head was a dark purple. He couldn’t help it this time; he activated his All-Seeing Eye and winced at the tightness in his chest followed by a moment of sharp pain.

  You have successfully Analyzed your target.

  You have successfully Detected the magic within your target.

  * * *

  Dark Vengeance

  Type: Pole

  Quality: Mastercraft

  Mana: 2,150/2,300

  * * *

  Passive Enchantments:

  Sharpness: Cutting potential increased by 20%.

  Self-repair: The weapon will self-repair any damage inflicted upon it over time.

  Passive Regeneration: Will slowly regenerate its mana over time.

  * * *

  Active Enchantments:

  Instant Recall: When activated, Dark Vengeance will erupt into dark mana and manifest in its blood-linked wielder’s grasp.

  Blood Link: Astrel

  * * *

  Astrel raised her spear to an upright position. “It is, my king. I had to link the crystal to myself, so that it knows who to Recall to, and it has a limited range, but it is quite useful nonetheless.”

  “I see,” he replied. Though it was the first time he had heard of a Blood Link, he could infer the effects.

  Astrel moved closer and leaned up to give him a kiss on the cheek. “There is something I meant to ask you, my king,”

  “Yes? What is it?”

  Astrel pressed her lips together, then knelt to pull a handful of crystals from her dimensional bag. They ranged in size, but they were all generally small. From their brown color, Aziel could tell they were earth crystals.

  Aziel eagerly took one from her and re-activated his All-Seeing Eye, once again feeling the same tightness and momentary pain as before.

  You have successfully Analyzed your target.

  You have successfully Detected the magic within your target.

  * * *

  Earth Crystal

  Type: Mana Crystal

  Mana: 225/225

  Purity: 72%

  * * *

  The fact that they were not 100% pure was a clear sign these crystals were not the soul crystals he had converted himself.

  “Where did you get these?” he asked as he placed his hand over the small heap, sensing the mana within.

  “They are from our many hunts into Arachne territory,” Astrel said proudly. “The armor and weapons you have provided has made it possible for we Grauda to effectively fight back against them.” Here she paused, before adding, “at least when found in small numbers.”

  Aziel tilted his head slightly. “Did you not fight them in the past?”

  Astrel smiled, but there was no joy in it. “We did, but it was more of a retreat. We usually had to sacrifice a few for the many to escape.”

  Aziel nodded in understanding, sorry to have brought up a painful past. “So what of these crystals? You wish to give them to me?”

  Biting her lower lip, Astrel looked away, as if uncomfortable. “You are my king, all spoils are yours by right,” she murmured.

  Aziel held back a chuckle—she was no good at keeping her intentions from showing. The Grauda queen clearly wanted to keep the crystals, likely to use them in further enhancing her breeding rooms. But she also didn’t want him to feel slighted if she did not offer him the crystals as was supposedly his right, under a tradition he hadn’t even know about.

  Aziel raised his hand and gently ran it through her hair before settling it against her cheek. Astrel’s antennae relaxed slightly at his touch, and she closed her eyes and let out a soft breath as he leaned in to kiss the top of her head. She looked blissful, content. It was a look he would have thought impossible for the Grauda queen before the events of Whiteridge, and somehow, it helped settle Aziel’s mind on the matter—even helped make his actions that day less… monstrous.

  “Thank you Astrel,” he whispered into her ear, causing her to open her eyes again. “I appreciate your offer, but I think you should keep these. They are the results of you and your people’s hard work, and I’m sure you will put them to good use.”

  Astrel came closer, catching Aziel by surprise, her strong and lithe body pressing against him. Heat radiated from her. She rose on her toes and brought her face to his, allowing her warm breath to brush over him. She took a moment, then gently and excruciatingly slowly, ran her lips up the side of his neck. Aziel shuddered at the sensation, completely caught off guard. He was certain he felt Astrel’s lips curve into a smile against his skin. She made her way up his neck and to his cheek before she leant in for a kiss, the tip of her tongue stealing a small flick against his lips as she pulled back.

  Aziel was spellbound. She separated herself from him, her eyes locked on his before bowing her head with a grin. “Thank you, my king,” she said, and knelt to return the crystals to her pack.

  Aziel watched her work, astonished. He swallowed hard as he tried his best to control his thoughts and quickening heartbeat. This sort of teasing was not what Astrel usually did—it was something more within the domain of a certain Succubus. And with that realization, everything regarding this sudden and surprising change in confidence within Astrel made sense.

  Aziel raised a fist and lightly bit into it to hide his grin: it appeared that Astrel’s budding friendship with Celia was far more encompassing then he had thought. Who knew what sort of secret knowledge the fiery Succubus was sharing with the Grauda queen. A dangerous development indeed. Celia could get him to agree to almost anything once she got him going; thankfully, she had not taken advantage of this power. Not yet.

  “Since you brought up the Arachne, can you update me on the situation?” he asked, trying to regain his focus. “Do we really know nothing as to why they became so suddenly violent and erratic?”

  Astrel paused as she placed the last of the crystals back into her pack, thinking about this. “No. But as far as we can tell, they have recently stopped killing each other. It is the main reason we ceased hunting in their territory—they are more dangerous now that they are working together again.”

  Aziel was watching her lips as she spoke, remembering the sensation of them on him. Astrel’s grin left Aziel in no doubt that she could see how effective her teasing had been… but she suddenly glanced at the exit
, her antennae twitching. Then a bright smile spread across her face. “My king,” she said, “I need to return to the colony. Another female just hatched and I wish to tend to her.”

  “Of course, I’ll be sure to call you if I need anything,” he said. “And… congratulations, Astrel.”

  “Thank you, my king,” she said with a grateful smile. She was almost at the tunnel entrance before she paused and turned to face him again. “You should go back to your room and rest,” she added. Aziel just smiled and waved her off.

  Alone again, he began collecting the many pieces that made up his outfit and donned them before clicking his belt back into place. His thoughts wandered, and instead of Astrel’s teasing, he found himself thinking of Melody.

  Aziel had sent the Beastkin on a mission to negotiate a deal with the merchant houses in the country of her birth, the Free State of Tijar. Since her departure, however, there had been no sign of her. Had she even made it out of the Wilds? Or perhaps she had decided to make a run for it, given that he had destroyed her slave collar and therefore released her from the ritual that bound her.

  He thought he had made himself clear when he warned her not to betray him. Aziel clicked his tongue and stopped himself from going any further down this train of thought. He might be over-thinking matters. It was entirely possible that she would simply show up any day now.

  Aziel paused at a sudden groaning of wood behind him, followed by a light yawn. He turned.

  The base of the large Dryad tree was moving. The section of trunk just above where his curved rock had been started to extend, as a familiar Dryad form separated from it. At first Niyela’s skin remained rough like the bark of her tree, but slowly the rough texture faded as it sank into her, leaving behind smooth green skin.

  Niyela let out another adorable yawn, then curled up on a section of the trunk above his chair, apparently ready to go back to sleep.

  Aziel gazed at her, transfixed. It had been some time since Niyela had disappeared into her tree. He had been in such a state of shock as a result of the tree’s unprecedented growth it was the first time he was properly seeing her new incarnate form. The Dryad was truly stunning.

  And very, very naked.

  A leafy vine was entwined into her long, thick, dark-green hair and a pair of pointed ears peeped out to either side of her head. Her lighter-toned skin was flawless, and her lips were brown and full. Aziel watched as her chest rose and fell with every breath. It was almost unfair how physically perfect she was. As he watched, Niyela rolled onto her side, her head resting on one curled arm, and Aziel noticed her long nails.

  He went to her. Forcing himself to not stare, he touched her cheek, causing her beautiful face to scrunch up in response. “Niyela, wake up,” he whispered into her ear.

  The Dryad let out a sweet moan as she battled to open her eyelids. “Grove Master?” she mumbled. She lifted both her hands and wrapped them around his neck, pulling him closer to her. The movement and her surprising flexibility and strength forced Aziel to sit down, square on his new and improved seat.

  Niyela lazily rested her head on his shoulder as she rolled over and draped herself across his lap. Aziel remained as still as he could. Having the naked Dryad so close to him was not what he had been expecting, but it certainly proved something in his mind: he was now confident that Dryads and Succubi had something in common. Niyela had the same captivating, almost hypnotic effect on him as Celia did—the need to be close to her, to have her. With Astrel’s recent warning in his mind, Aziel knew he would have to be especially careful. He honestly didn’t think he had the willpower to hold himself back if he found himself under the alluring effects of both at the same time.

  Niyela seemed completely oblivious to all of this—she had gone straight back to sleep. Aziel smiled as he held her close, not knowing what else to do.

  He stayed like this for a while, holding the sleeping Dryad in sweet silence, until he finally decided to try and wake her again.

  “Falling asleep so quickly after awaking is quite an impressive feat,” he quipped. “How are you and your tree?”

  Niyela let out another soft moan before unwrapping her hands from around him and sitting up on his lap with a pout. “Dryads usually hibernate for a long time after evolving,” she complained in the midst of a yawn. “I’m doing quite well, and my tree is the healthiest I have ever seen,” she added, stretching her arms high. “I never thought I’d ever say this, but I have too much mana running through me and I’m trying to put it to good use.” Niyela dropped back down and rested her head on his shoulder, but instead of going back to sleep, Aziel heard her inhale deeply.

  “Mmm, you smell nice,” she mumbled.

  Aziel chuckled. “I highly doubt that. I’m in desperate need of a bath after that workout,” he said, leaning back on his seat and closing his eyes. While the bark of Niyela’s tree was not exactly soft, it still made his favored seat much more comfortable than the cold rock it had once been made of.

  Aziel felt Niyela move against him and he opened his eyes again to see her face blocking his view. She had used this time to inch closer, to the point where their noses were near touching. She inhaled again and smiled enchantingly, before placing a finger on his face and slowly stroking it down his cheek and his mouth, her touch tugging at his lower lip.

  Aziel had seen the look in her eye far too often not to recognize it—the hunger as she stared longingly at his lips.

  “I need more time to prepare to spawn seedlings,” she whispered, her disappointment evident.

  Aziel shook his head, causing the suddenly glum Dryad to withdraw her finger. “Don’t worry, I am sure you will let me know when you’re ready. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Good. We will need to work hard to expand our grove, for you to make me yours,” Niyela replied with a half-smile, but then her eyes lost focus.

  Aziel smirked, not sure he wanted to know what was going through the Dryad’s mind at that moment. “Take your time, Niyela. I would prefer things go smoothly rather than quickly.”

  Niyela’s gaze snapped back to him and her smile grew brighter as she slid off his lap. “We will have many beautiful and powerful daughters,” she said, as she spun with her arms spread wide to indicate the area around them. “I will tend to a grove to rival even the legendary Jade Grove!”

  While Aziel found he enjoyed seeing Niyela so excited, he was still somewhat apprehensive about the idea, especially as he had planned for none of this. He had no idea what it meant to father Dryad seedlings. What kind of responsibility was he undertaking? Would he need to plant all of them in his place of power? Did the chamber have the capacity for that? Aziel looked about, scratching his cheek in contemplation… it probably did. A single Capital Crystal usually supported whole nations. Surely they could easily support a single grove, especially with eight. Aziel blinked as a thought came to mind. “We will cross that bridge when the time comes, Niyela,” he said quickly, in an attempt to move on.

  Oblivious to this, Niyela nodded. “Good! I need to go back to my tree. The more I rest, the faster I will be ready,” she said, already skipping back to her tree—but Aziel put out a hand to stop her.

  “Niyela,” he said. “There is something I wish you to do first.”

  Niyela looked at him for a moment, then seated herself upon his lap again and let out a soft sigh of contentment.

  Aziel wasn’t going to complain. In fact, it gave him a moment to review his decision. With Niyela’s tree and future grove planted in his place of power, that meant she would be here for most of her life. And if his future Dryad daughters, or any other Dryads for that matter, planted their trees here…

  He stood, pulling the Dryad up with him, and placed her on her feet before him. Niyela frowned at the separation, but didn’t resist.

  “Kneel,” he commanded.

  Niyela tilted her head, confused, but then grinned impishly and did as he ordered. On her knees, she gazed up at him, the tip of her tongue licking her upper
lip. “As you command, Grove Master… Use me, I am yours.” Her hands slowly stroked down his legs and inner thighs before rising again to begin undoing his belt. Aziel reacted then, gripping both her wrists firmly.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I thought…” Niyela began, with another slight tilt of her head.

  Aziel shook his head at the disappointed Dryad. “As much as I look forward to us being together…” And it was true; Niyela’s incarnate form was gorgeous, easily rivaling Celia and Astrel with her beauty. It was almost as if it was made for him in some way. Aziel collected his thoughts and finished, “I only wished to ask that you swear fealty to me.”

  The Dryad opened her mouth as though to protest, so he quickly cut her off.

  “I know you are already devoted to me as your Grove Master, but I want you to swear fealty to me as your Ascended and as Faction Leader. Both for my sake and for the sake of the others, who will more than likely see you as your mother’s spy if you do not.”

  Niyela pursed her lips for a moment, then nodded, her expression turning serious. She lowered her head before she spoke. “My Grove Master, Aziel. I, Niyela, former seedling of the Rosa Grove, swear fealty and offer all that I am, and all that I will become to your service, to be commanded in any way you see fit.”

  Niyela then raised her head and met his gaze once more. Aziel stared into her gleaming brown eyes, entranced by her beauty, and the sheer devotion he saw within them. Was being her Grove Master really so important to her? He raised his right hand and rested it on Niyela’s head, her soft green hair brushing against his skin.

  “Niyela, Blossom of the Shimmering Grove, I accept your fealty,” he declared. “I also name you Head of the Guard for the Fallen, to be entrusted with the protection of my faction and person. Serve me well and I will ensure you are properly rewarded.”