Yun Hee P.O.V.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Another turn, half a step and a dash.
SWUNG! SWISH! SWISH!
“Heeyah!”
DOOONG!
‘I am pleased.’
The exercises for the Vengeful Blade are complicated but the power and versatility are undeniable.
“Grow well with me my dearests.”
I decided to head to the panoramic shower area for rest.
“Paramour.” Hazu was here for something.
“What’s the matter?”
“Your lord has send you this, miss.” Hazu handed me a magically imprinted image.
It was the image of the fan cloths of the Singing Phoenix and some unknown player of a ketar. A strange ketar, slimmer. I read the contents carefully.
“He took great pains to make sure that you would be among the first to know about this through the magic parchment I gave you.” Hazu, polite as always.
Thoughts running through my head.
‘The Singing Phoenix!?! Brett Black?! That’s Ikrei! One night only? My one night out!!!’
“This is where we’re going! A public concert by the phoenix! This hasn’t happened in years, years!”
As a fellow musician I couldn’t be happier. I sat immediately in position to commune and felt his presence. A few sand grains later.
‘Ikrei s going to play something new, I can feel it.’
“Quickly, even if I am going in disguise, we have to make it fitting for someone like me! Also, run to the Madame’s personal shop and get me that white black attire we saw the other day, Hazu. Go! Before those bitches find out and steal my thunder! Go!”
Hazu disappeared so fast, there was no chance for a reply.
“I’ll dress up to the nines for you, my little lord. A deference not an obligation. Trades and all.”
I grabbed my harp from my ring and decided to practice seriously for a while.
‘We are playing together when my fourth chance comes, sneaky trader, you!’
The harp began emitting the melody I began preparing for a certain day.
“Blond Brett, meet blonde Yika.”
Let’s match transformations little lord.
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Lyros P.O.V.
“What in the seven depths is going on, Lyros?”
I was holding a promotional magical parchment with the announcement of a joint performance from our Goddess of Voice.
“She is going to play with Andurians! Promoting peace?!” The High Zigur was livid.
“The thing to note is not only the company but the title, “Rock Night”, must be part of what the Andurians want.” I said.
“Yes.These music loving feathers are compounding trouble. They’ll sing when you are in the parades, they’ll sing while your entire home is burning! Not that any of the great consorts are any easier. Malgrun, why do you permit this?!”
The High Zigur was extremely discontented.
“I don’t care about the methods you use, you are to summon or forcefully bring the consort here, immediately! I’ll deal with the people of the Burning Flame and tell the Fourth Seat to investigate what those Andurin bastards are up to. I have also other pressing matters. Got it?”
“Yes, your highness.” I’ll depart at once.
“One last thing, those music loving freaks are beloved by Malgrun even if they only go around doing what they want. Keep it in mind.”
I left the High Zigur’s sealed space with deep thoughts.
I sent a message through my magic pearl to a couple of operatives that had arrived in the region.
“Your testing has come sooner than expected Tosen.”
I sent the two of them a small coded encrypted message, the best I could do given the distance.
* Inform whereabouts and activities of the Singing Phoenix in Clariun. Suspend all other activities. Execute immediately. Notify when the target is found. Prove yourself. Master Lyros.
* Kazardim, Fuko Zarandel, find and target all associates of the Singing Phoenix, coerce if required. There is a CEASE FIRE. “Friendly fire” acceptable. Detailed report is expected. Forced Retrieval Authorized for the Singing Phoenix, bring her to the Eternal Moon using portals if needed. High Zigur’s Order.
“Does this bitch actually use her head? These artists’ types and their feelings!”
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Ikrei P.O.V.
“CUT!” Shouted Hau Yǐngr
The Singing Phoenix had just finished recording all her voice parts under three hours.
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‘She literally can sing anything!’
“I couldn’t believe it, any voice, male or female in perfect control and pitch. Her transformations should be on another level too.
“We will open with All Eyes on me!” The fiery red haired beauty gave the order.
“Good call, my phoenix.” Krigsain was beaming.
“Ikrei you will be playing Me and singing Knightcrawler with me on the night. Prepare yourself.”
So, one of my original songs and one of Krigsain’s throwaway tracks.
“Why? Isn’t that a bit much?” I said.
“Trust us, the Titty is still the Titty. It’s perfect! Besides it’s true, never screw with fake witches, no good.” There was a weight of honesty in Krigsain’s words.
Laughter came from the phoenix.
“Some things will never change. We will rework Knightcrawler into a proper rock number, Ikrei. It will be fine.”
“You sure, great consort?” I was troubled.
“A bard only becomes better by facing the crowd. Let’s commune my brothers.” The phoenix countered and ordered simultaneously.
We sat in a lotus position and prepared for soul communion. I was ready, having to deal with Yun Hee was enough of a preview for what was going to happen.
“ANAM KALIM DES GLAOH” I chanted and a three-way connection occurred.
The Phoenix, Krigsain and I.
I received all the information on how she wanted the show to go and our queues to act. She expected proper professionalism. I could also vaguely sense that Krigsain’s relationship with the great consort was far from simple. They knew each other well.
Her name was Ixur. A name she gave herself because she dislikes Zur. A curious tidbit of information. She probed into some small memories regarding Yun Hee, nothing major.
‘So women are always curious about other women, especially the ones that are similar or greater.’
And the great boon, many images and memories on how to behave and temper yourself on the stage. The communion ended and she was smiling pleasantly.
After a few more pleasantries, we left the studio for our daily battle practices.
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Fuko P.O.V.
“I assume everything is ready as I planned?” I asked my team.
Thy were gathered for one final rundown before beginning the retrieval of a certain feathered troublemaker.
“Yes, young master. We are ready.”
Ethola, the experienced tracker, who was leading the group answered with certainty.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Powerful steps were heard.
We were hidden underground in one of the secluded unused teleportation circles of a cultivator friend. We couldn’t use sealed spaces easily as Malgrunians on a foreign kingdom where we were not welcome.
“War has made everything even more complicated.”
We were all alerted, ready to pounce at my order.
A coin flew turning in the air and into my right hand.
“The coin of the High Priest.”
“Correct. I am Zigur Tosen.” His hood came down revealing his face.
He was also hidden; I could tell from the clothes he was wearing. He threw three heads on the floor, they rolled next to my foot.
“Two kingdom operatives and a nosy Andurin. You were being tailed.” He explained with a clam demeanor.
‘Too calm to be honest.’
“An Andurin? There is a cease fire brother.” I highlighted the obvious.
“Only a problem if you get caught. Like you. Better said, like them. That’s how I found you too.”
He pointed to each member of my team with the exception of Ethola. The group put their heads down.
I wasn’t happy. Not happy at all.
“Then, what is it you want brother?” I asked with courtesy but not too much.
“I have been watching your little group and I want in.” He calmly stated his terms.
‘Beware of the schemes of the High Priest.’
Gormesh warning was ever present.
“Sorry but I refuse. As a noble and a Kazardim my rank is of equal standing to yours.”
“I know your reservations; I would have done the same.”
He took out a parchment. The soul contract type.
“Let’s use this. The specifications will allow only to know what the other allows in respect to the integrity of our words. Let’s protect each of our interests. The soul communion will be heavily restricted.”
We eventually came to an agreement.
A Kazardim noble and a High Priest Zigur communed together for the first time in decades.
About an hour later.
“Let’s catch a bitch brother!”
I was smiling happily; he was still very passive, like a leaf stuck in a rocky floor
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Tayfal P.O.V.
“My consort, all preparations are done. Here’s the layout.”
The great consort was sitting while I stood behind her.
I handed her the last crystalink with the magical modifications. The device displayed like the grand magical mirrors where floating information tends to appear.
Through her own personal funds and a last gasp effort from middle ranking members of the Burning Flame, the Arts related consortium of the Eternal Moon; the venue had been modified into a 10000 seater. Magical sealing spaces combined with the magical devices of the empire provided by the Heavenly Demon himself.
‘No one can resist my consort, even someone like him wants a taste.’
Great consorts don’t have that many sexual partners, few match up to the demands and needs they have. Mostly through soul communion they will have intercourse with a client but not be physically touched.
My consort has only been truly touched by seven men. Her services for a Deathbed Lullaby are legendary. The number is going to increase to eight, the Heavenly Demon is going to have a night to remember, even if he is far more powerful, she has been one of his “eternal” desires. More likely because of his penchant for creating music.
‘He might even forcefully impregnate her. I’m jealous.’
It is going to be glorious when two lustful music grandmasters go at it. And because of all these things, the great dragon hasn’t spare anything.
“The added runway looks nice. Make sure the VIP seating tables are properly distributed. We don’t want fights inside my show. What about the rest?”
“We will have healers on standby. The main crowd will be standing in front and around the stage. Be careful my consort, they might die by your presence.”
She laughed, she laughed heartily.
“Not happening this time. We are going live to the whole world. Security, my team?”
She was asking the key question.
“They have returned to the Eternal Moon, the Kolga doesn’t approve of this as you know. I have secured new security my consort.”
“Very well, it is just a precaution and a formality, this is Zunar. We should be fine long enough to leave leisurely after the show. The tickets? The album? My clothes?”
“Sold out, first official show in a long while that’s not a closed private venue will do that. Fans from all over the world will be here. Malgrunians and Andurians too. It is an explosive mix. The ones that don’t want this war will be attending. All costs have been recouped.”
She was nodding.
“There will be two. The first album will be titled in minimalistic fashion, Rock by Ixur Ember. The second, a live recording of the show, A Night With The Phoenix And Friends. The cultivators are especially happy that you are playing Knightcrawler as an added track.”
She nodded again.
“Your clothes are ready, we just need to head to Zunyl for final revisions and approval. Your fans are going to love seeing the modified leather. The amplification belt is also ready. The legendary jacket makes its return!”
She stood up and guided me towards the exit.
“Point the way, Tayfal. I want to see how they look now.”
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“We are using a new portal; this will lead directly to the deluxe shopping district in Zunyl where your clothes are.”
We were being guarded by our new security of five. Not as strong as my consort, but they were full of artifacts and acted like a lustrum. Not easy to deal with them.
“Where is Kurohyou? I can’t sense him.”
The consort is always an alert one. He was assigned by the Heavenly Demon when he knew what had happened with the people of the Burning Flame.
“I gave him a copy of the Rock album. Cultivator Konoe should be back with us in a jiffy. He is just a big fan.”
“Very well, it is just twenty minutes given the new portal. Thank you Tayfal, these days have been hectic. I could not do this without you.”
“Great consort, lead us triumphantly into Zunyl.” I said as we headed towards the portal.
She smiled sincerely with those red tendrils of hers. An unforgettable memory as the sun reflected behind her.
After checkup procedures she entered the portal first.
‘Apologies my consort. The Kazardim will kill my family if I refuse. I am sorry.’