The church had taught Azura many things, one of which was how to fend off Fiend attacks. Particularly high-born fiends. Fiends who were closest to becoming deities and perhaps with enough time, gods. No one of course knew whether fiends could move up in ranks but there were various theories suggesting it was totally possible.

Still, Azura never really thought she’d be using those special techniques today, here in this muddy bog.

“Impressive for a human,” the boy said in a very, very deep voice.

It looked to be about seven. The top half of its face was hidden in darkness, the eyes glowed faintly blue and its whole body reeked of a foul stench. The stench of death.

It swiped its fingers towards Azura; a massive fist of tarry smoke crashed into her. Sparks flew as she deflected the attack with ease, foot swiftly mobile in the muddy water like she was practicing a traditional dance of the West Southern continent; cap flowing freely with the wind, partially hiding that shiny silver breastplate. “Likewise, impressive for a mere lizard.”

“RAGHHH!!!” It fumed, throwing more and more misty punches. Yet, Azura just deflected them every time. She glowed a faint green, holy.

Two days ago, she’d heard about a particular boy being contracted with a lizard here. She was quite far from home and still had some distance to cover before she reached the Fortress Academy of Nirvaine. Of course, her perspective changed when she realized the boy had lost control and the lizard monster had taken over him.

She knew that was inevitable and she was dispatched to prevent that. But considering it had already happened, her mission failed. So to say she wasn’t in the best of moods, was an understatement.

On top of that, she just got news about how the next ship leaving moon port would be significantly delayed thanks to bad weather. Yet, she maintained a calm, collected smile on her face.

She was neither calm, nor collected however.

“Hmph, mere human,” the boy’s teeth shook as smoke sizzled out of there. Seconds later sparks, and then… fire!~ “FUUU!!!” Big cloud of yellow fire!

“You speak too much,” she said, swiping her green blade vertically, effectively slicing the fire cloud in half. Her eyes a little narrow, focused on point. “Would you be willing to get out of the boy’s body? He has a future and I’d rather not let you destroy it for him.”

“A future? As a pig of the church? What did the high priest say to you, that he was going to baby this brat and let him screw all the women he can?”

“Vulgar,” she said. “You vulgar swine,” she lowered her gravity and jumped, slicing at the boy.

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

“Heh, losing your temper from such simple provocation.”

Grab!

The tarry smoke hands grabbed Azura, squeezing her body with great force. Yet she just stared at the boy, not even blinking. “He will have a great future within the church. I can guarantee that. I will personally-”

“You? Aren’t you the plaything of a priest yourself? You think I do not know what your kind does in that sacred place of yours? Massive Orgies, child prostitution, genital mutilation, and those are merely the acts on the surface. Everyone knows none of the templar knights are virgins. Even the male ones get raped. Deep in there, we both know what the high priests does to their servants such as you. Ah, perhaps you enjoy that, that is why… hmm… or is it that you love your prince of pigs; your high pri-”

Shing!

“Huh?” the boy’s mouth mumbled as the body tumbled over, falling.

Something else fell on the muddy waters with mild splash. Half of its head. Blood poured out, coloring the mud dark.

“Perhaps, I spoke too leniently,” Azura snickered. “On second thought, wretched filth like you would be better suited as fertilizer for the fish.”

“KNOW YOUR PLACE VERMIN!”

SPLASH!

Something, something big emerged. A white crocodile!

Not a lizard? Azura wondered, her blade perfectly clean and ready. “Know my place? I know it perfectly well. As one of the seven, I shall personally end you here, fiend. It is you who does not know their place,” her voice went cold. “You will pay for your blasphemy.”

“Seven? You…” the crocodile’s already pale face went a bit paler. But it quickly regained composure and gathered mana in its mouth, forming a ball of light. “That boy was my host, you’ll pay for what you did.”

“Thanks for the monologue, but I couldn’t care less,” Azura said, gently tapping her feet on top of the croc’s head. How did she even get there, the croc couldn’t imagine. “The moment you sullied the name of my lord,” her smile vanished, eyes glassy looking down, looking down at the croc as though it was an insect. “Your life was forfeit.”

Plunge!~

The sword went right through the head, between the eyes. The croc groaned, gurgled some blood, unable to open its mouth, it ran fast and crashed into a large tree, knocking itself out with ease.

She proceeded to cleave the whole head off just in case, with a single slice. Even butter had more resistance.

Azura sighed, staring at the dead boy. A little chubby, a gifted young man. Such a shame. And just when she found him too….

“Azura Genesis Pride?”

“Yes?” She replied, a sweet voice, smiling as she turned to the man on the tree.

“Express mail, mam. Sign here. And I would require ten extra gold,” he said, jumping down. Yet there was no splash.

A mailman. He wore all green, Hermes scandals, millennium wings, and tight pants. An express delivery mailman.

Azura signed and got her mail.

“Now then,” the mailman disappeared.

“The high priest?” She almost squeaked, cheeks a bit flushed. Heart racing, breath all erratic. She couldn’t wait to see what he wrote- “Huh?” Apparently, it wasn’t from her high priest. It was just some other dude who wrote about how she was on the wrong continent and the boy had gone to Schalion or some shit. “Tch,” she threw the letter on the ground and spat on the boy’s corpse. “What a waste.”

“Die!” Fangs of darkness just above her head, crunched down.

The lights went out.

The croc, with the last of its strength spent, perished; one with the earth.

Azura though, just stood there. “Should I apologize that, that level of attack isn’t enough to scratch my skin?” She shrugged and opted to head out instead. The bits of blood on her face was getting awfully annoying like her long hair though.

If the boy was in Schalion, that meant she could just take the ship to Sun port and see the high priest before actually heading off to the boy and-

“But isn’t the ship delayed?” ARGHHH!!!!’ She roared, slicing the whole meadow in two.