A bucket-based washroom is no way for anyone to practice hygiene. I roll my eyes and sigh as I bring forth the procedure for a water creation incantation from far reaches of my memory. I shan't be bothered with this, I snap my fingers and wait for a the help to arrive after hearing some groaning in the bedroom. A moment or so before I lose my patience, two of hostel's staff rush into the washroom on all fours as trained. I've seen this thousands of times, but it never ceases to bring a curl to my lips. The chain links on their collars strain toward my fingers as the humble staff awaits my next order, no doubt ogling the vision that is my form. I motion for one man to crawl behind me, and he braces himself as I plant myself on his back to sit while I am served. I motion to the bucket and loofa and look at the other, "Scrub."

He scrambles for his tools and pauses before he looks me all over like an untrained beast. I grab his leash and wrench him towards me by the neck. "You must look as a part of your service to me, but a gaze must be earned."

He opens his mouth to speak, and chains spill out to his astonishment. I smirk as I grab the saliva soaked links and wrap them around his ears and eyes before guiding him back to his task. "We speak when asked to speak, after the work is done."

I felt my seat begin to tremble, "Hurry now, my chair is growing weary. How fortunate, now you'll have to do your job by touch. Be sure to be thorough though, if you miss a single spot, I promise you'll never feel anything again. Now start with my feet."

I don't know why I played along with Junior's idea for so long, wearing these brown rags to fit into this place. I was born to stand out amongst these sorts. At last, with the kiss of my scarlet robes on my skin and my regalia recalled onto my body I felt like I had been reborn. With my soul refreshed from my morning pampering, I take one last look at my toys from the night before whilst leaving my room. Despite the locale not having any noteworthy features for my ilk, the lowborn here had chiseled bodies with skin of bronze, perfect for services of all kinds. I blow a kiss at them as they dangle in their bonds, completely spent, and shut the door.

I had seen all there was to see. After a week of "reconaissance", I've found this settlement to be yet another pile of sticks serving as a breeding space for the lowborn of this world. Densir, a city full of common bloods, who make their living through manual labor and trade, without a single establishment committed to the study of the magian arts. The buildings were made of mudstone, all light sources were based on incandescense. It's so primitive here that it forces me to admit that there may be some merit to father's theory. If there were a place to hide a young Maiden in hopes of keeping her abilities dormant through lack of stimulation, this was the place. However, this setting with its dirt roads and dirt people is far too droll for me to spend another day of my life residing within. I haven't felt a trace of magis other than my own since I have arrived, and I do not like wasting my time. Since I am not a woman who goes anywhere and leaves empty-handed, I made my way for the council hall.

As I stride through the streets, letting my golden locks flow freely, I take pride in the looks I receive from the riff-raff that decorate their drab domicile. Women whispered to each other while men fought to keep their tongues in their mouths. When I finally arrive at the steps of the council hall, two guard cross their halberds, barring my entry. How quaint. " I'm going to speak with your councilmen about the state of affairs, it's imperative that I make my way inside."

The two of them looked at one another, " Foreign women are always so bold, so repulsive. Isn't that right Arnon?"

The one on my left stroked his chin, " Insolent as it is, I find it kind of interesting my friend." He puts one hand up in a non-threatening gesture, all gestures fall under this category from my perspective, but the intentions were cute. "Listen ma'am, perhaps you could make an appointment." He grins, "Then later, maybe you and I could-"

He couldn't finish his sentence because I grew bored, I tap a fingernail against their intersecting weapons and transmute them into chains that spring forth and bind the two of them together. The two lummoxes grow wide-eyed when they realize their hands had been married through my craft. They faced each other, fell to their knees and began to holler. "What manner of-! what have you done to us?!"

I continued past them holding in my laughter. It has room for improvement, but I can't wait to make this settlement a seasonal home. My eyes meet with the interior of the councilmen's chamber and it only reaffirms my newly piqued interests.

It was beyond my expectations, considering what I had experienced so far in this hole. The chamber was filled with delectable looking fruits, wine, and several fully-cooked birds. Three men sat together, each with hair trailing down their backs, wearing some of most comfortable looking robes I've witnessed since my time here began. They were smoking out of a lengthy pipe, drinking their wine and watching scantily clad women dance. Their bejeweled veils and silken garments jingled with every sway of their hips, I'm starting to find myself bewitched by the display, but the dancing stops once one of the men raises up their hand and all eyes rest on me.

Two of them glare, the one with his hand raised decides to speak "Who allowed you in here? I've heard no mentions of audience requests for the council on this day."

I continue to study the dancers; one begins to take a pose in an effort to cover her exposed abdomen and I involuntarily lick my lips. How indecent of me. "Yes well, fair councilmen of Densir, I happen to be a woman who doesn't make requests."

They all look at each other incredulously, and after a moment they burst into hearty laughter together. This continues for longer than I'm willing to indulge.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I clear my throat as obnoxiously as I know how, and the silence returns. I'm ready be done with my business here. "You three men have a wonderful operation going on here. I've witnessed the remarkable capacity for labor your people have, amongst their other physical talents..." The three of them glance at each other, unsure of what I'm speaking of, or where I might be going with all of my praise. I strut closer to them, slowly, taking in their gazes as the anxiety begins to build in their infantile minds. "I've made a decision during my time here, that I'd like to make this one of my homes! An honor that is, well beyond any boon you might deserve if I must be so frank."

No longer finding amusement in my declarations, two of them stand together and begin to utter some rudimentary incantations under their breath. It's just as I thought, of course the would-be "lords" of this domain have kept their knowledge of magian arts out of the hands of their workforce. My studies have shown so many examples of this dynamic through history, limiting the capabilities of one's constituents in order to maintain one's hold on them. It works in the short term, but it erases the potential for any significant contributions from the masses. These fools are unfit to rule over anything.

The one to my left conjures a whip of flames, the shaping was a tad crude, but I suppose it gets the job done for commoners. The one on the right began to swirl his hands together, and grains of sand from all over the floor began to gather in his palms. While I begin to ponder if they'll continue to attack me on a united front, I feel a flash of cold on my neck as my regalia begins to tense. I turn to look at the source of the feedback and I'm actually surprised.

"My... maybe I've underestimated the council. That was a well-executed assassination... attempt, as it were." I smirk as I turn to meet the horrified gaze of a rather toned woman, who had just slung some sort of curved blade right into my neck. "Had my regalia not been bonded to my skin, I would have been cleanly beheaded by this... gorgeous little assailant of yours!" At my behest, the metal of her blade had been transmuted into chains, which formed the base for my regalia to conjure the rest of the links, binding her arms to her torso nice and tight. I then point to the ground, directing her bonds to form tethers into the floor, in case their servant proved to be the tenacious sort. The chains constrict and bring her to her knees in restraints.

The councilmen were only in awe enough for a second of pause. The moment I turned around, the sand manipulator made a screen to obscure my vision while the fire user took his whip and licked at the sand, sending glass shards in my direction. I raise my robes and activate my regalia once more, creating a chain curtain that stops their projectiles in dead in their tracks. This ranged assault continues for several beats before I hear the voice of the central councilman roaring furiously. The pelting stops and I lower my curtain arm, just in time to witness the councilman with spear in hand. He drives the spearhead into my breast with all his might, the force was exhilarating, the amount of power this man's body just slammed into my own... delectable.

His smile fades soon after he realizes that he didn't pierce my skin, but instead it was a focal point of my regalia that he had struck, and chain links had taken hold of his weapon. The poor fool's face sinks into despair as he desperately tries to jerk his weapon free. "It looks like you'll have to be the example, dear." I blow him a light kiss before the material from the spearhead and my regalia extend into slender spikes and perforate my feeble foe.

As the body slumps, I take the opportunity to enrich my regalia with iron and extend the spines to the other side of the chamber, behind the sand screen. My favorite feature of my beloved regalia, using the spilled blood of whomever is daft enough to stand between me and what's mine to strengthen the bonds of my chain armor as well as extend its range as I please.

As expected, my attack strikes true, and my final protestor begins to quiver. The whip dissipates from his grasp as he witnesses the vessels of his two cohorts drain of all of their fluids, their faces becoming sunken husks.

"Rahmet! Salim! No, please!" He drops to his knees; his resolve having left his heart. He continues to fixate his gaze on me as I approach, before finally prostrating himself before me.

"I don't know what manner of deity you are, but please! Spare me! I was ignorant to challenge you... You have to understand I had no way of knowing!"

Somewhat irate, I grab him by his beard and pull him up to speak face to face, the cowl of my chain link regalia drops beneath my chin to allow me to speak more clearly. " At least you were wise enough to understand when you have no choice other than to submit to your greaters." I toss him over to a stack of cushions before sitting in his place and grabbing that interesting pipe to try whatever they were inhaling. He stays silent as I take a long, deep breath and savor the vapors. "Delightful, it's reminiscent of fresh grapes."

I snap my fingers at the dancers, "Go on then, as you were darlings. I'd like all of that energy from before to return." Soon after they begin to dance warily, understandably unable to relax after the display that just took place. I take a few more puffs before establishing the new order.

"Your name?" I inquire to the lone survivor of the councilmen.

He forces his composure, "I am Debeck, councilman of Densir."

"That last part was obvious and no longer accurate. You are Debeck, magistrate for the new Duchess of Densir. That's me by the way, I am now your Duchess." I toss him the pipe, gesturing for him to get comfortable. He hesitates before partaking.

"This isn't going to shoot chains down my throat and kill me, right?"

I study the assailant that I tied up earlier while I ignored him. Her body, is enticingly taut... I wonder how big and firm those legs of hers are under those baggy pants?

"Um... Duchess?"

"Not today, Debeck. I'd like to keep someone here running the place while I'm gone. To be honest I'd like you to do it while I'm here too. I've decided that I'm going to claim this settlement as my own, so I'll be visiting from season to season to enjoy myself. Honestly neither of your compatriots had to fall today. It's a shame really, all they had to do was come to the same conclusion you did. That being that there wasn't an alternative to my desires." I hold out my hand waiting for the pipe to be returned to me.

Sweat trails from Debeck's brow down to his chin as he obliges my gesture. " Then, *ahem* my duchess, how would you like to be... served." His pride was still being choked down. Ah, the sight of it is enough to send a woman's heart aflutter!

"I'm going back to my home, to see my kin and update them on my findings here. Nothing for you to concern yourself with dearest Debeck." I exhale, creating an obnoxiously large grape-scented haze. "Just tidy things up in here and keep the settlement fruitful until my return. I'll be leaving on the morrow."

I stand up and begin to make my exit. With a snap of my fingers, I release my former assassin from her bonds. She kneels and looks up to me, and my lips curl involuntarily after our eyes meet.

"You'll be accompanying me on my travels. That impressive display would've had the head of a ruler who was any lesser." She stands and bows toward me, seeming to acknowledge the new hierarchy. "Oh, I think I'm going to like you very much. Your name?"

She looks down, before shaking her head a tad too forlornly for my enjoyment. "Hm, I'll call you Khopesh. Yes, ooooh! Khopesh I love the sound of that!" She bows once again before following me out of the halls.

I stop to consider my options, and relay a final order before parting ways with my new constituents, "Debeck darling, while I'm gone I'd like you to arrange the teachings of fire affinity based magian arts to the masses. If this place is to bear my name in any way, it will develop. Your days in this age of bronze are at an end. This is the first decree of your new ruler, Almira Dominia Strauss."

His eyes widen at the mention of my full title, and he drops to one knee immediately. Now seeming to fully understand his position, he belts out a confirmation with zeal.

"Yes, my duchess!