Seated close to the centre of a busy open-air cafe, Nyx stared into the distant clear blue sky with dazed eyes as she rocked on the back legs of her chair in a lazy, somewhat listless manner. The soft, rhythmic beat of her right hand's fingertips on the wooden table was inaudible against the noisy, market-like din that surrounded her.

Slightly moving her right knee that was pressed against the bottom of the table, allowing her left leg to swing back and forth without unbalancing her, Nyx yawned without covering her mouth. However, even though her body language seemed to suggest that Nyx was relaxed and uncaring of the world, her forehead was creased with a faint frown.

Indistinct grey-black figures flickered across Nyx's stary, black eyes. The only reason the silhouettes were slightly visible was due to the contrast created by the reflection of the blue the sky above, distinguishing the hazy shadows from the motes of white light and abyss-like backdrop.

One of the shadowy figures appeared to be a tall woman with two large wings on her back. The other had a much smaller and more feminine appearance, its profile strikingly similar to Abnor's mother.

The smaller one knelt on the floor, apparently begging or requesting something, while the other towered above it with its arms folded. The sizable sword at its side made it look as if the shadowy silhouette had a pointed, demonic-looking tail. Vague shapes, one that looked like a sofa, marred the surroundings.

After an indeterminable amount of time, Nyx blinked as a large vulture-like bird passed overhead. A few seconds later, she released a deep sigh as her body sagged into her chair. As the breath left her lips, the slightly dusty air in front of Nyx dimmed significantly. Although the affected area was small, no bigger than a fist, it looked as if it had suddenly fallen under a sinister shadow. However, nothing was blocking the rays of light.

The strange occurrence disappeared almost as fast as it appeared, the blazing sunlight seeming burning it away in a matter of seconds.

Nyx didn't appear to notice any of this as she proceeded to stare into the sky. The hazy shadows continued to shift and swirl in the reflection hidden in her eyes, even as she tracked the few birds flying high above.

It was a little over half an hour later that something started to change. The vague shadow world abruptly became sharper as Nyx's breathing and movements slowed. As if Nyx existed in a different time and space, her actions continued to slow unnaturally as the cloudy image in her eyes became more explicit.

The winged women turned towards Nyx, or at least that was how it looked like in the reflection. While everything was now clear, revealing almost every tiny detail, the shadow world only existed in varying colours of grey and black.

The viewpoint reflected from Nyx's eyes lowered as two small, child-like hands appeared from the bottom. The boyish hands slowly reached out and grasped the outstretched hand of the woman with wings. Then, the perspective continued to change as the reflection made it seem as if Nyx was bending forward to kiss the back of the offered hand. Just as the image appeared to be a few inches away from the woman's hand, Nyx sighed loudly and closed her eyes.

"Disappointing."

Inhaling slowly, Nyx continued to drum her fingers on the table as her movements returned to their previous pace. However, the sound was now much louder and more pronounced. By the time she had opened her eyes again, the scene reflected in them had drastically changed.

There now seemed to be multiple worlds, merging or overlapping with each other. It was as if they displayed what hundreds of eyes were seeing at the same moment in time but from various perspectives.

Some of the viewpoints seemed to come from an extreme hight, looking down on the town. Others came from close to the ground, looking up at the world and the humanoid giants that dominated it. A few even appeared to be from a somewhat human perspective, all of the varying heights. Their origins walking, talking, playing or even in one case, thrusting into a women bent over and holding onto a wall in what looked to be a back alley.

Nyx's jaw clenched as a bead of sweat flowed down her neck, giving off a strange, unnatural white glow, before disappearing when it flowed into the rim of her leather chest armour.

After running her tongue across her top teeth and taking a few deep breaths, Nyx revealed a sad smile as she slowly shook her head. "Ahh~ little Regent. I had such high hopes for you."

The nearby waitress, who had just shooed away a murder of crows that were lingering at the edge of the cafe's area, turned her head towards Nyx. After seeing that she was looking into the sky and talking to her self, the waitress glanced at the contents of Nyx's table before continuing back to the bar to pick up a tray of drinks.

"Then again, I suppose I it's not completely unexpected."

Nyx breathed out slowly, puffing her cheeks outwards as she did. "And I guess that he did it for the right reasons. It wasn't for greed, power or fame but for family."

After lowering her gaze until she was staring at her table, Nyx sighed again. Her ashen skin appeared extremely sickly under the warm golden sunlight. Combined with her downturned lips, this gave Nyx a somewhat isolated, forlorn expression that caught the attention of some of the boys and young men as they passed.

Time slowly passed as Nyx's frown got more and more pronounced. After a while, she reached for the pouch tied to her belt and took out a coin. "OK, let's make this fair. Heads, he makes my list, tails, he lives."

With a flick of her thumb, the coin flew into the air. Each time it rotated, it's gold surface caught the sunlight, the reflection gaining the attention of many of those nearby.

The coin landed in the palm of Nyx's right hand before she slapped it on the back of her left. A small smile threatened to creep onto her lips as she shuffled in her chair. "Now, little Regent~."

"How good is your luck?" Nyx slowly lifted her hand, a flash of disappointment mixed with relief flashed across her face as she saw characters on the surface of the coin. Turning the coin over, she gazed upon the image of a serpents head. "Seems like it is pretty good. I guess you get to live to fight another day."

Nyx tossed the coin to a man who had been attracted by its strobe-like glints as it rotated in the air earlier. Judging by his rag-like clothing, he wasn't doing too well. While he wasn't the only one who noticed Nyx's action, he had lingered, seemingly debating whether or not he should approach. His unusual behaviour had drawn Nyx's gaze almost immediately.

Ignoring the man's continuous thanks as he retreated into the nearby stream of passers-by, Nyx picked up the cup that was sitting on the table before her and took a small sip.

Nyx's gaze returned towards the man dressed in rags just as he was about to leave the square through a sandstone archway. He was scratching at a small black spot that had appeared on his hand located at the same place that he had caught the coin.

A smirk appeared on Nyx's lips, only to be wiped away moments later as a group of noisy, young men exited the large arena gates situated to the right of Nyx. The adjoining wall, over thirty foot high and made of sandstone, stood behind the cafe in which she was seated.

Though they were only slightly more boisterous than the rest of the crowd that were entering or leaving the arena, the noise still caused Nyx to frown as she turned and glared at the trio of men as her ears twitched under her hood.

They were all dressed in light, somewhat flimsy, armour. Each piece displayed signs of wear and tear, marred with fresh-looking scratches and dents. The men's faces were jubilant, seemingly in high spirits after having achieved something noteworthy in the arena. A large, vicious, sand-coloured dog was trotting beside the oldest of the group.

As if it had sensed Nyx's glare, the dog turned its head towards her. Upon making eye contact, the dog bared its large, drool-covered fangs as the hair on the back of its neck stood on end. At the same time, a deep, guttural growl thundered from its throat, startling the three men and all of those nearby.

The moment the grating sound reached Nyx's sensitive ears, the right corner of her lip lifted upwards in a snarl-like fashion as the faintest, almost-inaudible hiss escaped her throat. In the same amount of time it would take to blink, her eyes flashed a deep blue with lighter streaks running across its surface before returning to their disguised state.

"Brutus, what's wrong with you?" The oldest of the three glanced in Nyx's direction. Seeing that she was gently smiling at him and not doing anything threating, he looked at his dog.

The man's head flinched back slightly as his mouth dropped open, in a similar manner to his two friends standing who were standing in mute shock nearby. The brutish wolf-like dog was laying on the ground with its front paws covering its snout as it released a high pitched whining noises. As it did, it continuously shivered as if it was in the midst of a blizzard. "Brutus?"

Nyx watched in amusement as the confused trio tried to make sense of the situation. Eventually, after many threats, attempted bribes and even some brutal kicks, the trio finally managed to get the dog up. With their heads hung low and their faces burning red, ignoring the few jeers of those who had stopped to mock them, they disappeared down a side alley. Shortly after they vanished, two crows flew into the alleyway.

The smile on Nyx's face vanished as the shadows lurking within her eyes became clear again. The winged woman stood beside a towering man. The man's broad shoulders were almost double the width of the athletic robed woman standing by his side. Two more appeared. Due to the shadows, it was hard to tell them apart. The only noticeable difference was one had a much sharper, beak-like face and was a tiny bit taller.

Nyx eyes narrowed as she sucked in a breath of air through her teeth. Her bottom lip trembled for a moment before any sign of distress or discomfort faded. The shadowy figures seemed to agree on something and started to separate.

"Damn it." Nyx slammed her hand onto the table, causing the cup and an upturned glass that sat on its surface near the centre to jump slightly. Those closest to her flinched at the sudden shout and impact, their eyes scanning the many weapons attached to her mismatched, leather armour.

After taking a deep breath with closed eyes, Nyx shook her head slightly. After a few seconds, Nyx started to chuckle creepily. "Seems like everyone has picked their side, me versus the world yet again. Ah, and I was so close. Just a few more days and it all would have been in the palm of my hand. They even started the game without me. Pricks."

Nyx let her head flop back as she looked up. An almost unnoticeable, semi-transparent golden sheen moved from every side of the sky before meeting in the middle, somewhere high above her, and creating a dome-like structure.

"And~ it seems that they are going all out right off the bat." Nyx lightly shivered as she absentmindedly licked her lips. They were almost as pale as her skin, seeming devoid of blood.

With a snort, the vague, shadowy images reflected in her eyes suddenly increased in volume, making it almost impossible to discern anything. "I wonder what their faces will be like when they realise just whom they locked themselves inside a cage with."

The scene of a large compound comprised of many buildings, coming alive as if it were an anthill that had just been kicked, reflected in Nyx's eyes. Tiny people rushed about, their robes fluttering due to their haste.

Nyx snickered. "Idiots are even mobilising their weaklings instead of letting them escape. I guess they either don't believe or haven't bothered to look me up."

Nyx's fingers started to slowly curl as she lowered her gaze and scanned the crowd around her, momentarily pausing on the entrance to the arena. However, even though her face showed no negative emotions, a solitary tear traced down her cheek. "Damn you Dimi."

After a short while, Nyx took a deep breath.

"Her wings are dirty~," Nyx spoke in a soft, quiet voice, but strangely, everyone nearby could hear it clearly despite the everyday din that surrounded them.

"Her halo is cracked."

"She gets more and more evil."

The light in the surrounding area seemed to dim, drawing the attention of a few that were more observant of their surroundings.

"The more she is attacked." Nyx sighed as she clenched and then relaxed her right hand.

"What a... unique poem?" The waitress that had been delivering drinks earlier scanned her surroundings with a slight frown as she stopped beside Nyx's table. Like many others, she could sense something was not quite right but couldn't put her finger on the reason.

Nyx slowly turned towards the waitress. As she did, her eyes crawled across the nearby crowds, letting it linger for a moment on the street's adjacent rooftops.

While waiting for a reply from Nyx, the waitress's gaze moved towards the cup that was resting on Nyx's table. It was half-filled with a thick, red liquid. Faint red stains, in the shape of lips, marred the rim closest to Nyx. The surface of the liquid trembled due to an enormous, wasp-like bug that was flittering around the cup. Persistent in its futile attempt to land.

As her eyes scanned the insect, passing over its colourful markings and the tip of its stinger that emerged from the end of its abdomen, the waitress's frown slightly increased.

Looking to the side, the waitress found that the upturned semi-transparent glass a few inches to the cup's left had two similar insects inside. They were crashing into the glass, generating tiny clinks as they did. However, unlike their counterpart on the outside, they seemed much darker and slightly swollen.

A faint flicker of something dark flashed across the glass, catching the waitress's attention. However, by the time she had leant forward to get a better look, she couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

"Miss?" Without looking at Nyx, who was now facing the woman, she nodded her head towards the upturned glass. "Would you like me to get rid of them for you?"

Nyx observed the waitress with a blank face, her tone cold and devoid of emotion. "They are not ready yet."

"Not ready?" The waitress eyes slightly widened as she turned her gaze towards Nyx, who was now looking at the insects inside the glass.

"Yes, not ready."

"Oh... O-key..." The waitress frowned a little as she looked between the glass and Nyx a few times. "In that case, can I ask if there is anything wrong with your tea? My manager told me that you looked like you weren't enjoying it? If so, I can get you another. On the house, of course?"

An amused smile appeared on Nyx's lips. "As if anyone would enjoy drinking poison."

The waitress blinked in confusion. After looking around for a few moments, she hesitatingly opened her mouth. "I'm sorry the taste doesn't suit Miss. I can get you something else if you prefer?"

"Don't worry about it. It's not the drinks fault."

"Err..." The waitress took a deep but quiet breath. "OK, sorry for disturbing you."

"Wait." Just as she was about to turn around, Nyx called out. After she had somewhat brazenly looked the waitress up and down, who was wearing a summery dress with a white apron, Nyx revealed a slight smile.

The waitress's long legs and arms weren't covered, just like the top of her chest, revealing soft yet tanned skin. A small white scar run down her left cheek, making her seem slightly older than the mid-twenty-something she would have looked otherwise.

Just as the waitress started to fidget uncomfortably under Nyx's gaze, Nyx picked up the cup and brought it to her lips. While maintaining eye contact, Nyx took a long swig of the red liquid.

The moment the liquid hit her stomach, Nyx grimaced.

Observing the waitress's expression, or lack of it, Nyx slowly placed the cup down and sighed. Coughing twice, Nyx cleared her throat as the muscles in her cheek twitched a couple of times. "I never knew you could make strychnine taste so bitter. You could have at least put some honey or sugar in it to mask it?"

"Huh? Strycheen?" The waitress frowned. "I thought you were drinking tea? Would you like me to get some sugar?"

Nyx gazed deeply into the woman's eyes while slightly shaking her head. "Seems you have been thrown to the wolves, little sheep. As I said, don't worry about it."

"Are you sure?" The waitress looked extremely confused. However, moments later, the expression lifted as she stared back into Nyx's eyes. Most of the motes of light were stationary, yet a few flickered across her eyes looking like shooting stars.

After a few seconds, Nyx tilted her head to the side as she hummed. "Be careful, little sheep. Staring too long into the abyss can be bad for your health."

The sound of Nyx's voice snapped the waitress from her thoughts. After blinking a few times, she blushed and lowered her head shyly. "My apologies, Miss. Your eyes entranced me for a moment. If I may ask, are they natural?"

Nyx's brow furrowed. After chewing the bottom corner of her lip for a moment, she shrugged and smiled. "Guess it will be public knowledge soon anyway so no harm in telling you."

Just as the waitress was about to respond, her face scrunched up in confusion, Nyx continued. "Alas. No, this is not their natural appearance. I'm using essence to manipulate them. I tried to copy the look of my adoptive mother but didn't quite get it right. It's close though, just not as realistic."

"Adoptive mother? Essense manipulation?" The waitress's eyes widened slightly before flashing to the mismatched leather armour Nyx wore. There was a faint stench of blood radiating from a few of the more damaged parts.

Although Nyx's attire seemed relatively simple and low cost, the many daggers and two short swords strapped to the small of Nyx's back were all in positions that enabled them to be drawn without hindering movement or flexibility.

The waitress's gaze moved to the black hood covering Nyx's head. The attached long cloak was hanging over the back of the chair. It looked pretty worn, like something that had seen a lot of use and wasn't appropriately maintained.

There were many tears along its base and neckline revealed lots of frayed ends. However, unlike the dusty garment, the damage seemed new and somewhat unnatural.

Returning her gaze to Nyx, the waitress showed a broad smiled. "Wow, you must be pretty powerful. I heard even top-ranked masters find it challenging to manipulate essence finely, especially when dealing with things like colour or shape. Are you here to challenge the arena or the dungeon?"

"Hmm~." Nyx chuckled slightly as her muscles relaxed a bit. After she stopped, she revealed a dazzling smile that showed a small number of her teeth.

As she did, the slightly shadowed area around Nyx brightened significantly, startling the waitress and those that had become accustomed to the slight difference in ambience.

The waitress's gaze moved to Nyx's white teeth before revealing a slight frown. Although it wasn't too noticeable, they were slightly pointed and beast-like. Her eyes then moved to the small bumps faintly protruding from each side of Nyx's head. After looking up and to the right for a moment, she tentatively opened her mouth. "Are you a demi-human?"

"Nope." Nyx chucked, her bright smile causing her eyes to turn into slight crescents.

Letting the front legs of the chair clatter onto the stone ground, Nyx rested her elbows on the table. "Pretty sure you wouldn't be able to find a trace of human blood in this body."

The woman looked over Nyx one more time as her smile became slightly stiff. "Then, Miss must be a supreme expert. Maybe from the Twilight Sect? I've never seen a beast maintain such a perfect hum-"

Her words abruptly cut off as she spotted the thin, black tail that had just unwound from the Nyx's chair's leg.

Nodding as if Nyx had vocally answered one of her questions, the waitress gave a small bow. Only after a few seconds passed did she straighten up and clasp her hands in front of her body. "I've seen many high beasts enter and exit the arena but never one with such a complete transformation or aura. Can I ask what rank you are at ?"

"Ahh, to be young." Watching the woman's behaviour, Nyx chuckled as she shook her head. "To ask so many questions to a stranger~."

Frowning slightly, looking at Nyx's youthful, almost teenage looks, the corner of the waitress's lip twitched for a moment. "Apologies, I didn't mean to offend. I've been told that I am too curious for my own good."

Nyx looked the waitress dead in the eye. "Indeed, you are. Ever heard the saying, curiosity killed the cat?"

The waitress's tan skin paled as her pupils widened. "I..I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset-"

Nyx's laughter interrupted the woman's apology. After a few seconds, she waved her hand as if to dismiss the matter. "Ahh, I'm only joking. Its a shame we didn't meet earlier."

The waitress slightly pouted, her cheeks flushed red. Looking at the cup on the table, she remembered her original purpose as she made a motion as if she was about to leave. "Would Miss like anything else? If not, I better get back to work."

"Hmm~." Nyx once again scanned the woman, her smile becoming warmer. After an awkward silence, the smile on Nyx's face grew.

"Do you like stories?" Nyx ignored the waitress's previous question as she asked her own.

"Huh?" The waitress was only stumped for a split second this time. "I do. I often go to the square with my boyfriend to listen to the bards and wandering storytellers."

When she mentioned her boyfriend, she quickly glanced at Nyx to gauge her reaction.

"Sit, and I will tell you one." Nyx was looking at the wasp-like creature that had returned to hover around the teacup as she indicated the other side of the table. Her gaze shot to the upturned glass, but after seeing that the two insects inside took up most of the free space, she returned her attention to the waitress.

"I'm sorry. I have work to do." The waitress made a sad face as she bowed her head slightly.

"Not a problem." Nyx casually threw the coin pouch that had been attached to her waist towards the waitress. She caught it easily, the sound of many coins clanking against each other, audible.

"This is... too much." The woman's eyes turned round as she glanced at the coin bag, gauging its weight and checked the few coins at the top before returning her attention to Nyx. Her hand moved as if she were going to hand it back but stopped in mid-air. A conflicted expression appeared on the waitress's face. "Also, I'm... I'm not available. I already mentioned that I have a boyfriend. A few of the other girls-."

Nyx snorted, rolling her eyes. "Do I look like I have time to chase tail?"

"Err... But you have time for stories?" The waitress was tightly holding onto the pouch while still holding it out as if she was going to hand it back. Realising what she had just said, she blushed and lowered her gaze. "Apologies. I-"

"Sit." Nyx pointed to the other side of the table. The tone she spoke with making it clear she was issuing a command and not a request.

Seeing the waitress tense as her eyes darted to the weapons on her body, Nyx forced a smile. "Trust me. While it might not seem like it now, and definitely not in the immediate future, you will not regret your decision. This story..."

Nyx paused for a moment. "It has the power to change the course of your life."

"It does?" The waitress looked a little confused. After hesitating a few moments, she took a nearby empty chair and brought it to Nyx's table.

"Of course it does." Nyx chuckled as she leaned back into her chair as she watched the waitress take a seat. "Stories are far more powerful than people give them credit. They are much mighter than the sword or pen. They are the foundation of every society and shape the beliefs of every self-aware creature. A good story can turn fiction to fact, wrong to right or even evil to good."

"And... which is this?" The waitress was sitting awkwardly, a little farther than she needed to be, with the coin pouch clutched in her fist. Occasionally she would glance at the man standing at the bar who was frowning as he glared in her direction.

"This story? Hmm, I would say its all of them and none of them at the same time. Its a way to kill the little time I have left, to lower people's guard and get me in the mood."

"Get you in the mood?" The waitress frowned slightly, her cheeks reddening. "Lower their guard?"

Nyx sniggered. "Not what you're thinking. More like..."

Nyx looked upwards for a moment as she rotated her hand in a circular motion as if she were searching for the correct words. "A reminder of the why, who, what and when. A way to centre while providing a small amount of comfort that, even if it's only a single person, my version of this tale exists somewhere."

The waitress didn't look convinced.

"When I say it gets me in the mood, I mean it clears my mind of any doubts or niggles that have crept in since the last time. Reminds me of what I am. What I am capable of and most importantly, what I must become. Most think in terms of black and white, but really, everything is shades of grey. If the mood and setting are right, an evil man can do good while a good man can do evil."

"I don't understand?" The waitress looked even more confused.

Nyx smiled, though she seemed incredibly sad all of a sudden. "Consider yourself lucky. I don't know if its the same for others, but it's something I have never been able to explain why I feel the compulsion to do this."

"If I had to have a guess, it's a way for me to feel a little bit more... normal. A memory to look back on that isn't stained with blood." Nyx frowned as she saw the lost expression on the woman's face. "Or take it as an immortality project of someone that doesn't need it anymore. A desire to be remembered that conflicts with one to be forgotten at the same time. Whichever way you take it, I'm sure that with enough time and experience, you will come to your own conclusions."

The waitress frowned, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. As she moved, her auburn hair fluttered in the warm breeze. "Forgive me for my impertinence, but why do you keep talking down to me? Like you're much older?"

"I'm just under five hundred years old." Nyx chuckled, her eyes locking onto the waitress with a predatory focus that wasn't there a few moments earlier. "Give or take a few decades."

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Initially, the waitress wanted to talk back. State that Nyx didn't seem older than seventeen or eighteen and that it was unheard of anyone, man, beast or elf to live over four hundred years. However, the moment she looked into Nyx's eyes, she subconsciously swallowed hard. She felt as if an enormous pressure was suddenly pressing down on her chest as the hairs on her arm stood on end. "... Sorry..."

"Good girl." Nyx's smile turned almost as predatory as her gaze while shifting to make herself more comfortable. The leather creaked, and a faint knocking sounded out from where one of the weapon hilts tapped the chair. "Such a shame."

The predatory glint vanished as Nyx sighed. "I wasn't expecting everything to come to a head so soon. One second I was poised to solve all my problems. The next, my enemies smelt blood in the water. The barrier that surrounds this town activated and they moved too quickly. Even if I acted now, it doesn't change much. Instead, I should enjoy the moment and watch them dance about like headless chickens."

After seeing the blank look on the waitress's face, Nyx couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry about it. Some things are best left in the dark. Anyway, where should I begin?"

After getting no response from the waitress, aside from her nervous expression as she pulled herself further away from Nyx while looking at her like she was crazy, Nyx's body slumped into her chair as her gaze become somewhat unfocused as she stared at the wooden table.

After a short spell of silence, at least for the pair and not their noisy surroundings, the waitress started to feel increasingly uncomfortable and started to fidget.

The cry of an eagle, soon followed by the caw of multiple crows echoed in the distance, momentarily distracting her. When her gaze returned to Nyx, she found her staring into the sky.

"A long, long time ago. In a place far, far away, lived a being who lived a simple, yet happy, life. The being was incredibly lucky, even if it didn't know it. Like all mortal creatures, it didn't value what it had and always wished for more."

"More excitement, more rewarding challenges, more... companions. It didn't take time to sit back and enjoy its labours. Instead, it threw them aside as it strived to fill the endless void it felt deep in its soul. Its hunger was like a bottomless, ever starving pit."

"The being's wants and desires knew no bounds, even if it came at the expense of what made its life comfortable. If it wasn't struggling against something, the being wasn't content. It sought perfection through trials and tribulations. It would pick the ideal outcome for its endeavours and stubbornly march towards it until it succeeded in a blaze of glory or brutally fell."

Nyx chuckled as she looked at her hand. Small black lines, like tiny veins, crisscrossed her pale skin. The lines seemed to pulse in sync with her core. "A destructive habit that seems to have engraved into its very soul."

Nyx lowered her hand. "And just like the best tales, the ones where the ignorant fools always believe the grass is greener on the other side without considering the consequences, the being didn't realise the impacts of such whimsical wishes should they be granted."

"One day, as if fate had grown tired of the being's incessant winging or taken pitty on it in a cruel yet ironic way, its wish came true."

Nyx paused as she stretched. Light popping noises emanated from her back and neck as the muscles under her skin seemed to move in an inhuman-like manner.

High above, the number of birds, mostly scavengers, had significantly increased. They circled lazily as their eyes scanned the ground below. The sight drew the occasional glance from those below. But while it was unusual, it wasn't anything special, and people quickly pushed it from their minds.

"With a flash of blinding light and a touch of agonising pain, the being was ripped from its home. Without any prior warning, it found itself thrown mercilessly into a strange, alien world."

Far in the distance, what sounded like the faint sound of thunder rumbled drawing Nyx's attention. "Don't ruin it. It's not like I'm revealing anything isn't already well known."

The waitress turned to look in the direction Nyx was facing, her frown deepening when she found no one there.

Ignoring the waitress's concerned gaze, Nyx smiled as she swatted the wasp-like insect lightly. It didn't go far, quickly returning to the cup as if Nyx had never hit it. "Where was I? Oh yes. In a split second, the being had lost everything it knew, loved, took for granted and undervalued. When it had finally recovered its senses, it discovered it was in a dark, dingy basement of a ruined manor."

Nyx shook her head as an awkward smile appeared on her face. "Something that also seems to have formed something of a bad habit."

Taking a deep breath, she continued as she tapped the glass that contained the trapped insects absentmindedly. "A young, beautiful girl stood before the being. Well, at the only exit to the enormous cavern of a room. While she was only a teenager, she appeared to be the epitome of power, grace and laughably, what the being assumed to be, virtue. She looked to be a natural ruler. One born to rule, not artificially created. The embodiment of the things that the being subconsciously sought and desired."

Nyx paused as she took another sip of the drink before her, never moving her eyes from the waitress's face, which revealed a confused, slightly worried expression. Seeing this, Nyx clicked her tongue and took a deep breath.

"It took the being a long time for the being to realise that it was at that moment, naked and surrounded by other terrified creatures that were in the same situation, that it was treading the first few steps of a path that would never be able to return from."

"In that dark space, even though things were as good as they were going to get in this new world, the being began to... let's say, evolve."

"The creatures beside it were not all human, and even if they were, they spoke different languages. In their scared and confused state, a violent battle quickly broke out. One the strange girl was content to watch. Well, until they turned their attention to her. She was dressed in a fine robe and seemed unconcerned while they were naked and pumped full of adrenaline. As they say, the nail that sticks out gets the hammer."

"Some screamed and shouted, others hissed and roared. Covered in blood and injuries from their previous infighting, they charged at the young girl who stood by the only exit as if she had slain their closest relative and drank their blood before them."

Nyx's chuckle was dark and foreboding. "And thus, they became the first examples of the being's future weapon of choice, fear. In a display of might and magic that left the survivors stunned, the young, charming girl slaughtered those that were foolish to challenge her in the most bloody and brutal ways. The girl that had seemed so pure turned out to be the devil in disguise. The being, as well as most of the others, vomited from the sight. The rest had passed out or were shivering in a corner like pathetic mice."

"The survivors, covered in the remains of those who had charged forth, quickly understood their position in the new food chain and submitted. Even the being knelt without struggle, staring at the gore-filled floor, as a metal collar fastened around its neck."

"However, unlike the rest that listened to their instincts and sought the girl's favour throughout her gruelling selection process, it retreated into the shadows and watched. From the sidelines, it analysed everything it could. It was never the first or last for anything, be it test or meal. It always fell mundanely in the middle."

"As it continued to observe, its fear and respect for the girl grew by leaps and bounds. However, it also felt increasingly uneasy. Every word or action of the girl felt as if it was leading towards a certain purpose. There was no wasted energy or time."

"After a few months, communication was possible between the girl and the summoned creatures. At least the ones that were capable of it, and they truly fell into her hand. They were asked their names and, thinking nothing of it, most revealed them freely."

"Luckily, the being, trusting no one since it had first arrived and witnessed that bloody scene. It gave the girl the fake name it had given the other summoned. A name that it had randomly chosen while staring at the basement's ceiling while wishing it could see the night sky. Desiring the fresh night air to caress its bruised and battered body."

"That wasn't the only reason the being came up with a fake name. It also naively believed that its new name would be a temporary alias. Something it could pin all of the sins it was forced to commit and abandon when it returned home. All it needed to do was survive, find a way home and reclaim its name and its previous life and forget that this event had ever happened."

"Pfft." Although she was speaking with a severe tone, Nyx couldn't help but snort with laughter. "Ahh, how naive~. The more it struggled to survive, the further it got from ever being able to return. It wasn't just the killing, the battles over food or who would be used to relieve the stress of others, but nearly every decision it was forced to make in that damn hole in the ground sanded off what others would call humanity. Even if it could return to where it came from, it would never be accepted."

Nyx yawned, though it didn't seem very authentic.

"Eventually, it noticed that the others had been summoned with it starting to behave weirdly. If they disobeyed the girl's orders, they would fall to the ground clutching their heads, vomiting blood or screaming until their voices were hoarse."

"This terrified the being, and it retreated more into the shadows, trying to stay out of sight. Unfortunately, its actions seemed to have the opposite effect. Just as it had noticed their strange behaviour, the girl and her minions soon realised that the being wasn't under her control."

"One day, during yet another death march thinly disguised as a test, the creatures that had turned into the girl's puppets swarmed the being. Without being able to put up much of a fight, it was dragged before the demonic girl."

"Its life became a living hell as it was isolated and subjected to many strange and bizarre rituals. However, this let the being observe its former peers much easier. It wasn't long before it realised that no matter where they went or what they did, they had no real control over their thoughts or actions. They were autonomous as long as the girl wanted them to be. Mere puppets when she didn't."

Nyx sighed as she shook her head, a strand of black hair escaping the hood. "It was only later it discovered that creatures that travel to another plane could be captured and controlled by their name. Still, even in ignorance, the being was suspicious of everything. No matter what it suffered, it refused to reveal its true name or any information that wasn't already known."

"The experiments and torture continued. In a half-crazed state, the being repeated its new name over and over again. It also developed a few phrases that it had made up as reality started to meld with delusion. Soon, its mindless chanting had become somewhat hypnotic, giving the being something to distract itself from its misery and pain. And so, over an extended period, the many of the beings memories of its former life and even its name faded from its mind. In order to survive, it had cast its old identity away and fully adopted a new persona."

"While the girl was initially furious with the stubborn, unyielding being, having spent an incredible amount of time and ritual resources on it, she soon turned to morbid fascination. She enjoyed watching the being's personality break and reform in a seemingly endless cycle. She became even more excited when she discovered that the being was growing stronger with each iteration, the summoned around it strangely becoming weaker and weaker."

Nyx shook her head. "One of the many mysteries it left buried in that place."

"Anyway~. The level of torture increased as the being's will was destroyed, reformed, tempered and twisted. At some point, it believed it found enlightenment as its perception of the world radically changed. For some reason, it became a game for the being. The challenge it had always wanted, or so it thought. Who would give first? The girl, or its sanity. "

"A couple of times the being seemed to crack, only to reveal some mad bid for freedom, revenge or death. A pointless struggle. A couple of times, it even managed to see some of the outside world. It even managed to eliminate more than a few of its peers along the way."

"Over time, its resistance grew as it enjoyed the tit for tat game against its former comrades. However, against its expectations, it eventually seemed like it won."

"The girl became bored and seemed to have other matters to attend to and gave up trying to bind its soul for eternity. Instead, she chose a more temporarily, if risky, alternative. Without the binding that would bring it back if it died, she shattered its soul. As the soul reformed, a sliver of it condensed into a tiny, green soul stone."

"It had taken her a long time, far longer than the others, but she finally had bound the being to her will."

"Whoever held the stone could summon it from the other side. Controlling the being with unbearable pain with a mere thought. They could even declare automated rules that it would need to obey or trigger the binding magic."

Nyx chuckled, the smile on her face not matching the current atmosphere. "While it seemed terrible for the being, it was worse for those that followed in its footsteps. The girl refined the process, learning with each case until she had full control over her summoned army. The being's binding was lacklustre in comparison, but it couldn't be reformed. There was a chance it would slip away during that time and lurk in whatever realm it visited when its body was destroyed. An ever-present, unpredictable danger. As such, it was quickly discarded as a faulty product and slowly forgotten."

Nyx's fists clenched as she slightly shivered. However, the smile etched on her face was so enchanting that it attracted the attention of those passing on the street nearby.

After a small period of silence, ignoring one or two catcalls, she sighed. "The being cursed it's existence at the time but really, what followed were the freest and most liberating days for hundreds of years."

"No longer of any interest to the girl, the being was shipped off to nearby arenas and death pits. Similar to the one behind me. There, the being rose to the top of the food chain. Its inability to die permanently becoming its greatest asset. Each cycle it learnt and grew. However, there was a price. The personality and morals that broke during its time in the manor twisted further. It became an entity of many faces and behaviours."

"At the start, it faced much more powerful foes, yet it would always emerge victoriously in the end. It died as frequently in the cells as in the arena and quickly learnt that no matter how powerful it became, those beneath would always try to use it as a stepping stone. It was when it was losing a fight with a much weaker foe, having been poisoned the night before, that it remembered the lesson taught by the girl when it first arrived. That fear was a weapon, armour, and deterrence all rolled into one. It was a universal truth that spoke every language and crossed the boundary of species. And so, without a shred of hesitation, it started to emulate and improve upon the girl's traits."

"Demons, humans, elves, titans, beastmen, wild beasts and monsters. The being faced them all. It killed, and it was killed. Each time it rose, its body and available skills were different, yet its vicious personality remained the same. And just like that, its reputation started to flourish. It began with a few whispers, then rumours spread like wildfire. That there was an undying lunatic that would avenge any slight and take on any foe. Soon everyone knew that if they wanted to live, or at least die a good death, not to provoke the strange body changing being.

The waitress was leaning forward, now listening with rapt attention. Realising Nyx had paused, she spoke. "Sounds... horrific. What a terrible life to lead."

"Terrible yes, pitiful, no. Apart from fighting to the death every day, the being was free. Free to haunt the dungeons of the arenas and pits. To hone and practise its skills. To be looked at with the fear it deserved. To be left alone when it wanted peace."

"Sound's quite lonely." The waitress sighed, leaning on one elbow. "Can't you add a bit more... diversity to the story? Maybe a romance or something?"

"All in good time." Nyx chuckled. "And how can you be lonely when every day is a battle? Loneliness worms it's way into the soul when its at rest. When it's given too much time to think and feel."

The waitress looked like she wanted to disagree but stopped when she saw Nyx was about to continue.

"However, this small slice of heaven that it had sliced out of the bowels of hell didn't last. A couple of years after the being had started flexing its figurative muscles in the arena and secure its claim as top dog, the girl's sect was invaded."

"Recalling all her assets, including those long forgotten, she marched to war with her brothers and sisters. As it could be revived, along with old and new summoned brethren, the being was thrown onto the meat grinder known as the front lines. They were mainly used to test the skills and defences of the enemy before any major assault."

"The perfect creatures for reconnaissance as even if they fell, they could still make their report after spending a few resources and preparing a suitable container. However, even though most found the war in the mountains to be a new kind of hell, the being adapted quickly and found a new path that it could walk."

The waitress leant her head on her hands, seemingly disappointed with the way the story was going.

Nyx's eye slightly twitched as she let out a stale breath. "It was sometime later, that the being slowly and unwillingly, fell in love. Well, as close to the emotion as you can get while fighting, dying in violent, often gruesome manners, and being reborn again and again in a foreign body."

The waitress leaned forward as she propped her head upon her hands, her elbows resting on the table. "It did? With who? Another creature like it? A summoned?"

"No." Nyx sighed as she shook her head and revealed a rueful smile. "It fell in love with the girl."

The waitress frowned. "That doesn't seem very realistic-"

"The girl had grown into a beautiful woman. Her aura and bearing made it seem as if she were royalty were walking amongst peasants. But that isn't what melted the being's heart, though it helped. It was because she valued her most useful tools, and the being had almost forgotten what it was like to feel needed."

"Her most valuable minions were given special treatment. Good food, partners to use as they saw fit, power and authority over the others. She even kept them safe from risky missions unless it was necessary. Especially after a few of their summon crystals, or binding marks started to break. She didn't realise this yet, nor did the being, but it was mainly due to the deteriorating conditions and sanity of those she had summoned."

The waitress tilted her head. "So they weren't immortals?"

"They were immortal until the point they weren't." Nyx chuckled while revealing a mysterious grin. "Anyway, as the war got more and more brutal, the being began to stand out. It had long since got used to living in the darkness, and its somewhat theatrical habit of inflicting terror on the survivors had an outstanding effect on the enemy's morale. It had somehow become an almost the perfect, and at the same time useless, assassin. And as such, the woman treated it exceptionally well."

"How can it be a perfect assassin but be useless at the same time?" The waitress interrupted as she straightened up and folded her arms.

"Because a good assassination is one that's believed to be due to natural causes." Nyx's eyes seemed to sparkle as the waitress's confusion grew.

"Given all the resources it needed, as well as plentiful missions and no persistent consequence of failure, the being's skills and abilities grew in leaps and bounds. So much so that, even though the war was but a mere sprinkle of rain that didn't impact many on the prime continent, its reputation started to travel."

"The war, if it could be called that, didn't last too long — maybe ten years or so. When it ended, so did the beings somewhat comfortable life. Perhaps the woman was just using its feelings as a more effective method of control, or maybe she had felt a spark of something that had dimmed with time. Either way, after becoming her champion, reaper, and bedmate for so long, the abrupt separation that soon followed the end of the war devastated the being. "

"They were separated?"

"Of course they were." Nyx chuckled, her smile warm and friendly. However, the waitress couldn't help but feel cold even though the breeze passing by felt so warm. "The woman was an heir to a great sect, and the being was nothing more than a summoned tool. While it wasn't uncommon for..."

"Masters." Nyx's eye twitched as she uttered the word she hated. "To have relations with their summoned beings, especially since it was a new profession that had only existed for a couple of decades. Though it was more of a use and abuse situation."

"It was around this time that the world started to question the nature of summoned creatures. The church declared them abominations that went against nature and the will of the gods. Things that shouldn't exist. As summoned, including the being, were used to do the dirtiest, immortal acts across the continent, this view soon spread, and the new profession became something of a taboo. Still, this was driven mostly by the ordinary powerless people, and so the sects chose to ignore it temporarily.

"After having been sent on assassination missions that took a year or two multiple times, hardly ever seeing the woman, the being finally managed to track down the woman and confront her."

A cruel smile appeared on Nyx's lips. "After a brief yet fierce confrontation, showing that even a discarded tool can have sharp edges and that the rules that bound it were not infallible, the being was sent to the wastelands to hunt monsters."

Nyx wet her lips. "Not the pitifully weak beings that live amongst beasts or the ones commonly found near large populations. These were entities that caused the blood to turn to ice and the soul to quake in the body. If anything didn't deserve to exist in this world, it would be them."

Nyx closed her eyes for a moment, her eyes moving behind her eyelids as if she were having a bad dream. "The being died so many times it lost count. Over and over again, seemingly without any progress. Each time it prayed that the woman would forget about it. Let it rest in peace. Yet each time it opened its eyes, it was disappointed."

"For the first time, the being felt true despair. However, it didn't stop or crumble like the other summoned. Each time its warden revived it, it would grab whatever weapon was available and march into the wasteland. Any positive thoughts of the woman evaporated as it honed its craft. Its growing hatred for her becoming the fuel that sustained it during the coldest of nights and most bloody of deaths. As it fought, it tested the restrictions and rules placed upon its soul, expanding on the loopholes and exploits it had used to challenge the woman. Its mind no longer set on the present, but towards the future. A future where it would have its vengeance."

"There was no peace this time. No sense of belonging or control. The monsters developed almost as quickly as it did. While they grew with each new skill, ability or tactic it employed, it grew with each gruesome experience and death it encountered. Years went by before it finally learnt to avoid and move amongst the monsters, staying in the wasteland for weeks or even months at a time as it stalked its prey. Still, it only managed to kill the weakest. The young, old, sick or dying."

"At one point, it even had relations with a humanoid monster. It didn't last long, as they mated the monster dug out its heart, devouring it as she pleasured itself with its rapidly cooling body."

"Eww..." The waitress flushed a little as she revealed a disgusted look towards Nyx. "Did you have to add that?"

Nyx sighed, rubbing her left eye. After looking at the glowing, yellowy liquid that had formed in the corner, she wiped it on the table. "Whatever. It was around this time that the great war started. A simple feud over the assassination of some merchant's son led to an ambush on the woman's sect. In it, her father was killed, and so, she became the new sect master."

"Yet, surprisingly for one that seemed to delight in the misfortune of others, she took her fathers death to heart. Within months she had mobilised her sect for war, annexing the nearby weaker factions, and recalled every available man, woman, child and summoned that were out in the field."

Nyx glanced at the nearby queue into the arena. Its length had slowly diminished as the sun caused the shadows to stretch.

The waitress impatiently waited for Nyx to carry on, seemingly captivated by the story she seemed dismissive of. A few times she had spotted hints of the shadows moving in Nyx's eyes. Yet, every time she looked closely, they seemed to vanish. "Are you talking about the Great War that killed millions. The one where a Summoner tried to take over the prime continent?"

"That's the one." Nyx nodded. "The war started small, but soon grew in ferocity and size. Thrust back into the world of man, the being returned to doing what it did best. But this time, it ensured it enjoyed every moment. It actively went out of its way to weaken the woman's forces, made friends with its targets, relishing the emotions and bonds formed before killing them in the most human way possible. Even as the woman became smart to its methods and increased the restrictions, the being still found ways around them. Yet, in the end, she couldn't do anything. Even with the being's sabotage, it was by far the most effective tool she could wield. The gains easily outweighed the cost."

"Others summoned would quickly break or become useless, especially during the later years of the war where any that were captured were tortured into insanity. No beyond insanity. The goal was to make them lose any sense of identity or self they had so they couldn't return.

"It killed those it made friends with?" The waitress's eyes held a faint trace of disgust. "Didn't it ever get caught like the others?"

"A couple of times but they let it die before they could do any permanent damage." Nyx giggled sinisterly. "That or it escaped and had its fun. And yes, it killed those that it had developed relationships with. Most were friends, while a few became temporary lovers. Like a fish returning to the sea, the being thrived and almost became as infamous as the woman."

"How could it do something so cruel? Killing those that it tricked into trusting it. Shouldn't the being have known better with everything it had been through?"

Nyx shrugged. "If it didn't kill them, others would. And with the escalation of the war, not only would their deaths be extremely unpleasant, but everything they valued or loved would be destroyed to send a message to others."

"So it was doing them a favour?" The waitress shook her head. "How? By killing them? It wasn't like they were suffering and needed mercy."

Nyx raised her palms slightly in a shrug-like motion. "Whose to say they wouldn't have suffered if they didn't die? As I said, the being's perception of life had changed. In the big picture, death isn't that bad, especially when it's inevitable. Life is about the journey, not the destination. Someone who enjoys ten years and dies a happy man is far better off than someone who lives sixty, only to see everything they love and care about go up in flames around them. To suffer agonising pain until they can bear it no longer and their being is destroyed."

"I don't agree." The waitress was still shaking her head. "I mean, it's a good story, but it's unrealistic and full of holes. The love part just feels wrong, and there isn't any message or meaning behind it. The lead seemed to have become worse than the woman in the end. There wasn't much emphasis on why she did what she did, but it makes sense if you stretch it. It was either research, the responsibility to her sect or vengeance for her murdered father. On the other hand, the being cared about nothing other than its own survival, even when it couldn't die. What makes it worse is that it found a sick sort of enjoyment from what it was 'forced' to do and made up a flakey excuse. Killing someone for their own benefit."

Nyx tilted her head slightly. "The story not finished."

The waitress looked around, the man at the bar long given up trying to tell her to get back to work and was carrying out his tasks. Squeezing the coin pouch, she sighed. "OK, but make it quick. I really should get back to work before I get fired."

"Don't worry. There isn't much time left even if I wanted to tell you everything." Nyx shook her head, the smile she had been wearing waning at a visible speed. She gazed at the cup that was almost empty before picking it up and downing the rest of its contents. As she did, a few figures stealthily appeared on the rooftops opposite as those entering the street from both sides visibly diminished.

"The war was unwinnable. Even with better... technology, skills, innate abilities, magic and a seemingly undying army, the numbers were against the woman and her sect. Especially when her enemies put aside their differences. Eventually, they were pushed back to their stronghold, and a final battle raged. The second from last to fall was the being, missing out on watching the woman's demise by a few seconds. At that moment, it believed it was free."

Nyx sighed, her gaze scanning the edges of the street, lingering on a few glimpses of silver and white.

"Yet, decades later, the being discovered it was mistaken. The cycle continued but this time with different players. Luckily, they did not realise what they had summoned, and it escaped. Twice. From there, it found a charming little paradise where it could hunt and live out its existence in peace. That was if it could ignore the threats to its existence it uncovered while escaping. The woman wasn't dead. No, she had found a way to migrate her soul to another body. Not only that, she planned to turn herself into a god by gathering and sacrificing as many summoned as she could. Also, the soul stone that had bound it for so long was close. It could sense it at the peripheral of its mind. A grim, constant reminder and threat at the same time."

Nyx looked at her now empty cup.

"It was already tasting the freedom it had desired for so long, but at the same time, felt the noose tightening around its neck. And so, the being left to resolve the most pressing issues. Well, at least the ones that it could resolve with its current power. The stone and the two men who had brought it back into the world."

A small commotion occurred at the ends of the street as silver robed disciples started ushering people away from the area. At first, the waitress didn't seem to notice, but soon she heard a couple of loud complaints from those that didn't understand why they were being pushed away.

Nyx continued as if she couldn't see or hear the sect disciples slowly cutting off all exits. "And so, it met a man and made a deal. A deal that it felt was strange but fair. It also made a friend. This time, not a target or someone it had to kill. Someone that had seen its past and didn't recoil or reject it as it expected. It also found and took in a descendant of one of its past friends."

The waitress turned back to Nyx, believing that whatever was occurring was minor and unrelated to them. "A descendant of one of the 'friends' it killed?"

"One of the friends it killed. Yet, in the end, it didn't really matter. It was betrayed, and the cycle resumed."

"Betrayed?" The waitress was distracted, continuously looking over her shoulder to try and work out what the commotion was while trying not to seem rude.

"It didn't have a heart, but the being still felt the pain." Nyx moved her right hand to her chest. "But that pain… it wasn't bad. As its foes rushed about planning, setting up traps and watching its every move, it reminded her. Reminded her of what she really was. Of why she had become one of the most notorious entities of an age. The reason why her enemies had cowered in fear and had avoided her like the plauge. Something that seemed to have been forgotten with time."

As she spoke, her voice became more passionate, and at the same time, a hint of venom crept into the tone.

"Umm, don't you think we should find out what's going on?"

Nyx sighed as she watched a towering figure emerge from the alleyway opposite and slowly approach.

As soon as Timur appeared, with a wave of his hand, the disciples that had been trying to act as subtly exploded into action. They quickly grabbed all but those closest to Nyx and escorted them away. On the rooftops nearby, Angelica landed with a squad of her clansmen. To the sides, Jorm and Hrafn appeared, surrounded by heavily armoured knights and mages dressed in battle robes.

Finally realising that the situation around her wasn't as simple as she had initially thought, the waitress shot to her feet. Her chair crashed into the ground as she looked around in confusion while searching for the danger that would elicit such a massive response from the Twilight Sect. As she noticed everyone was looking in her direction, she froze as a bad promotion surfaced in her gut.

"That story... How much of it was true?" The waitress didn't turn back to Nyx, her skin prickling as felt a strange, primordial fear raising the hackles at the back of her neck.

"As much as you want to believe." All warmth had fled from Nyx's voice as a terrifying, primordial pressure started to ooze from her body. The air directly around Nyx shimmered violently as the surroundings, the entirety of the cafe and even some of the nearby shops, dimmed significantly.

"Why me?" The waitress had the urge to run towards the Sect members slowly approaching her, but her instincts kept her locked into place. She had felt uneasy many times during her interactions with Nyx. Thinking back to the story she had just heard, and the massive sect presence before her, her fears and imagination started to spiral out of control.

"Why not? You were available, and I wanted to talk to someone. Now, go. I really wanted to finish my tale, but it seems like they got impatient."

Even though Nyx had told her to leave, the waitress couldn't force her shaking legs to move. The pressure coming from behind made her feel as if she couldn't breathe. Her heartbeat felt so heavy that she thought she could hear the blood pulsing through her veins.

It was only when a white-robed elder, one Nyx hadn't seen before, flickered into existence and grabbed the waitress before fleeing at an incredible speed, that Nyx was finally left alone in the open-air cafe.

Seeing that there was nobody close, as well as on all the rooftops, arena wall and exits had been covered by sect elders and disciples, Timur held his hand up before stepping onto the cobblestone that marked the cafe's territory. Ten metal balls, half the size of a fist, slowly rotated around his body. "Nyx."

"Hallmaster." There was no emotion, not in Nyx's tone or expression as she responded to Timur. Slowly she leant forward and flicked the insect that had remained hovering over her cup high into the air. It was quickly gobbled up by a swooping crow. Next, she moved her hand to the side and uprighted the glass that had trapped the other two. They groggily flew away before suffering the same fate as their predecessor.

At the edge of the area, standing with the rest who had been near Nyx, was the waitress. She watched on with a confused, fearful expression having not received any answers from the sect disciples that were standing guard nearby.

Timur, still frowning, released a deep breath. "Nyx. I'm so-"

"Don't" Nyx held her hand up, causing the nearby silver robbed disciples, and even a few of the white-robed elders, to flinch. Seeing this, the corners of Nyx's lips started to twitch upwards. "Seems I haven't been completely forgotten."

"Nyx..." Timurs eyes scanned the darkened area, noticing the twisting shadows that seemed to be coming alive. "Don't do anything you will regret. We know about the elemental poisoning. You can't escape, and you can't fight."

"Regret?" The smile that had been threatening to break Nyx's mask vanished. "Do you feel that someone like me would feel regret in a situation like this?"

Timur was about to speak when Nyx shook her head and slowly stood up. "The stage has been set, the cast gathered in the wings, and the audience is waiting. Now~."

Nyx slowly swept out her arm in a dramatic fashion. "Hallmaster Fang of the Iron Hall. Will you do the honours of announcing the start of the show or would you like me to take the lead?"

Timur stopped walking forward as he clenched his fists. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Are you?" Nyx stared blankly into Timur's eyes. If it weren't for the slight sway of her body, it would have been easy to mistake her for a somewhat creepy doll.

Timur sighed before taking a deep breath. "Nyx, thrall of the Mad summoner. In the name of the Twilight Sect, you are hereby under arrest for crimes against nature, man and the gods. Surrender willingly, and you shall be treated with uttermost respect in accordance with the Sumi convention. Resist, and you will receive no mercy."

His voice boomed across the now silent street as a small circle of dust blew outwards with him at its epicentre.

Nyx's emotionless mask shattered as her face warped into a savage smile. The blast of Timurs voice infused with essence had blown her hood back, revealing the tips of Nyx's pointed ears.

Timur's eyes locked onto her ears, his pupils slightly growing as his frown deepened.

Seeing the worry in Timur's eyes, Nyx's smile grew, revealing her slightly pointed teeth. "Too bad~. It seems she didn't tell you everything~."

With that, Nyx slowly raised her arm until it was outstretched directly above her.