Tyrsyss

The smell of medicines and tonics filled the air, and Tyrsyss's wounds still throbbed with pain. The bandages had been wrapped tightly, enough that it was uncomfortable to move. Even so, she sat up in bed, grasping the headboard to support herself. Looking around, the large room was devoid of life aside from her.

The room was large, with a wide window encompassing the entire southern wall. The floors of the room were carefully cut marble tiles, woven silk rugs covering them around the large bed. The bed itself was much larger than normal, custom-built in order to accommodate Tyrsyss's height. The ceiling domed upward slightly, dark wooden indentations across the coffered surface. A faint and warm light flooded the room from the various sconces across the walls, giving the room a comfortable feeling.

Placing a hand over the wound on her stomach, Tyrsyss slowly pulled the covers back and attempted to stand. Using the bed's post as support, she managed to shakily stand for a moment. Realizing the futility, she fell back onto the bed once more.

"Damn it," Tyrsyss whispered, clutching at the wound in frustration.

As she pulled the covers over her lower half once more, she reached out to the small golden chain that hung by her bedside. Pulling on the small sphere at its end, she was sure that a bell would sound somewhere else in the palace. With a sigh, Tyrsyss settled in the middle of the bed once more, resting her back against the headboard of the bed. As she waited, she began to flood the area surrounding the wound with additional energy from within, It wouldn't allow it to heal immediately, but it would dull the pain and accelerate the natural healing process over time.

A knock sounded at the door, which opened a moment later. A small woman stepped through, her chocolate brown hair tied in a bun behind her head. The black and white of her maids uniform flowed with her movements. She turned to face Tyrsyss, looking terrified to meet her gaze, bowing her head instead.

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"My Lady, I have come as requested," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "How may I assist?"

Tyrsyss looked over the maid's small form, examining her closely. She had been a recent addition to the palace's ranks, a personal choice by Tyrsyss. There were few that did not back away under her gaze, yet this girl, Diane, refused to back down or flee when she saw them for the first time. It was obvious that she was still afraid, but even now she did her best to hide it. There were few that had earned Tyrsyss's respect, but she was one of them.

"If you would, please retrieve the file on my desk," Tyrsyss ordered, her gaze sweeping over to the wide window in her room, "I left in on my desk, the one labeled with the Empire's seal"

"I understand," Diane said, bowing her head before retreating through the door once more.

The window was wide enough to provide a view over the entire city of Highmaw from east to west. The arid plains to the west expanded off until they rolled out of sight, growing greener and greener the further they were from the city. To the east, a dry and rocky desert expanded, the high walls of the city keeping the sand from blowing further westward. The desert, the Border Desert, had long been an obstacle for expanding the Empire's borders, the inhospitable land nearly impossible to traverse or build in.

Shaking her head, Tyrsyss tried to put her thoughts of expansion aside. If she failed in her mission, there would be no Empire left to expand. At that moment, the door to the room opened once more, Diane stepping through with a sheaf of papers in her hands. Rushing to the bedside with small steps, she held them out to the Empress.

"Here you are," she said, her fingers trembling as Tyrsyss took them from her grasp, "Will there be anything else you might need?"

Taking the papers, Tyrsyss looked over the dark ink on their surface. The symbol of the Astus Empire, a dragon in flight with flames wreathed around it.

"Tell me Diane, have you ever heard of the Elite Guard?" Tyrsyss asked, flipping the papers open and examining the detailed profiles within.

"I-I have," she stuttered in response, "They were disbanded not too long ago, If I remember correctly"

"Indeed," Tyrsyss smiled, glancing out the window once more, "I am planning on reforming them. When I do, they will assist me in saving the Empire, no, the world as we know it"