Azura stood in the shadows of a large building, waiting. The night air was unpleasantly warm and sticky like melted cheese. Except that cheese was pleasant. And tasty. Especially on fish. With toast. And a side of rice. Perhaps she should have eaten before starting the mission. Ah well. Azura dismissed the thoughts of food with some difficulty. That would come later. After this she would most certainly need something comforting. However it wasn’t her time yet. She turned toward Hamal and nodded. She was the Warhammer. Now, it was time for the knife. Hamal returned the nod as he, a dozen rat-kin, silently made their way to the manse. Azura waited as the night deepened for dark deeds to be done.
Hamal dashed from shadow to shadow, careful not to be seen. One of kin’s biggest fears was for the mages to discover that Azura wasn’t alone. Their constantly growing number of cultivators were their biggest advantage. So he and his brethren had to be unseen as they took out the guards. That could all be blamed on Azura later if they had too. Harsh, but necessary.
Soon they were just outside the manse. The property was worthy of the elf’s status in the city. The three floor structure was elegant with an expansive garden fitting for one of the elven aristocrats. Hamal crouched low nearly crawling on the ground as he drew ever closer to building’s exterior. He froze as more of the side was revealed. There. He nearly had missed it. Near the back entrance a single guard sat lounging in a chair on the patio. A glance to the shadows showed his fellow rat-kin encircling the place. Hamal drew a steadying breath as he focused on the guard. This was the moment.
He moved. His mana infused body making the motion faster than he had ever dreamed was possible. Within three heart beats he was behind the elf his dagger buried in the elf’s throat. A violent tug and the head neatly fell from the startled elf’s neck. Blood erupted briefly as the body collapsed. The head rolled a few feet away, the eyes still blinking. Without time to use their magic it was too easy. Hamal wondered if he could take an elf in a straight up fight. Probably not. Their magic was too advanced. Soon that would change. For now he had his skills painfully developed over long years, and most notably, his mana. It changed everything. He grinned as he entered the foyer.
The manse was bathed in shadows which was expected considering the time. Comforting for his chosen profession. Behind him two other rat-kin sneaked around taking left and right passages. None of them made a sound. Except perhaps the slight scraping of the body outside being moved by another of his kin. They were professionals. He revised his opinion when his brother Tallous started kicking the elf's head between his feet. His face scrunched in concentration, his arms out for balance.. He stopped when another of his siblings hit the large rat-kin on the head. At least most of them were professional. As if to demonstrate the difference a pair of his sisters began cleaning the spilled blood. He moved on. Hamal’s job was the blade the others were support. They would get the kin out leaving the way clear for Azura. He moved on.
Another elf turned a corner slowly walking the halls yawning loudly. Hamal shook his head sadly having already hidden as the sound of the elf's boots. Such poor security. It wasn’t unexpected. They were in their enemy’s strong hold. He doubted this would remain true after tonight. As the elf neared his hiding place Hamal readied himself. He tensed with each steady foot fall. The guard just passed him when he sprung. A snake would have been jealous of the speed and accuracy of his strike. His knife buried itself deep into the elf’s throat. Crimson arced in a delicate pattern decorating the walls. Elf thrashed which was as effective as a toddler wrestling a boar. Hamal’s mana infused body quickly overpowered the elf even as he muffled the elf’s voice. Not that he had one left consider the slash to his throat. Still he was a professional. Leave nothing to chance. The elf went limp after a final struggle. Hamal quickly dragged the corpse back to his family for cleanup. As a rat-kin took the body to stack with the others more rat-kin rushed forward. They gave him aggrieved looks as they wiped the blood from the walls. Whoops. Should have made cut on a downward angle to make cleaning it easier.
A survey of the first floor showed it was clear. Hamal sent Tallous to fetch Azura while he began on the second floor. He doubted there would be much resistance left. Only sleeping bodies to silence. The first died with a knife thrust through the eye and hand covering his mouth. The body was then covered and left where it lay on the bed. Two more were executed effortlessly. Everything went fine until the last door.
It started like the others. Hamal silently opening the door before stalking in. However it was the tiger-kin that changed everything. She laid draped over an elf blocking easy access for a strike. He pondered what to do when her eyes opened. They stared at each other for a long moment. Hamal cursed his luck and put a finger to his lips. Her eyes went wide as she noticed the blade. She frantically shook her head. Incredulously, she threw herself protectively over the elf. The elf muttered in his sleep but didn’t wake. They continued to look at each other a long moment her silent plea weighing between them. Slowly he backed out of the room closing the door behind him.
Fuck! Hamal swore at himself. Why'd he do that? He should have knocked her out and taken the kill. Now there was an elf that could be trouble. Azura could surely handle an elf, but it was an extra risk they didn’t need. As much as the situation warrant the kill, he couldn’t. The look in the tiger-kin’s eyes wasn’t that for a master, but a lover.
Damn it!
He better let Azura know when she got started. He would handle the elf if he caused trouble. Hamal made his way back down. The way was clear except the target which they confirmed was alone.
For the next ten minutes kin were quietly evacuated. At least those that were mostly whole were. The others… well he wasn’t sure what to do with them. They needed healing before they could be moved far. He had his family escort them to the staging area for now.
“Nice place,” Azura said as she stood in the foyer. Her lack of stealth made Hamal want to face palm.
“Can you at least try to be quite?” Hamal whispered.
“I guess,” Azura whispered back. “But didn’t you take care of all the others? Besides when I’m done I think stealth will be ruined anyways.”
“It’s the principle,” Hamal argued quietly.
“Okay. Okay,” Azura said. “Did all the kin get out? Not sure how much noise I’ll make.”
“We secured all but one out of the grounds… Some of them were bad. Not as bad as the three you healed but still pretty bad,” Hamal said. Azura face darkened. He was glad it wasn’t directed at him.
“What about the one you didn’t get out? Are they in her room?” Azura asked.
“No. It was a tiger-kin sleeping with an elf. She… protected him. I don’t think it will be an issue. I’ll keep watch while you take care of things.”
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Azura looked at him. “Be careful. I don’t want to lose a friend tonight.”
“I will,” Hamal said as they both went upstairs.
Ulvandia woke as a sudden weight pressed on her bed. Had one of her servants sent a play thing for her enjoyment? How thoughtful. She turned toward the unknown figure a wide smirk on her face which froze as she gazed at the white paw on her bed. The paw led to leg covered in blue fur that ended at the knee. Pale skin took over at the thigh which was mostly hidden under a pair of half trousers. The figure leaned toward Ulvandia fury on her face. The blue fur… it could only be…
Ulvandia shrieked. “DEATHBOLT!” The Azure Magebane slapped it away. The foul energy stuck the wall where it began to decay.
“Guards!” Ulvandia screamed followed by several more casting of deathbolt as she rolled out of bed. Each was slapped away as the Azure Magebane stalked toward her.
“DEATHB…” Ulvandia began again. She stopped at the slap. Her world spun as she did likewise. Several teeth were loose as she dropped on her ass. Dazed she could do nothing as the Azure Magebane shoved her down. A hand that made mithril seem like warm butter gripped her throat and squeezed. Her air gone Ulvandia felt her face go hot while the rest of her went cold. She feebly struggled in the Magebane’s grip. Was this it? Was this how she died?
Apparently not, as the kin did something strange. Her grip loose just enough for Ulvandia to drag in a ragged breath. But that wasn’t what she was focusing on. Instead it was on a brilliant crimson light on the Magebane’s fingertip.
“I know this will be your first time. I won’t be gentle,” the kin said as she plunged her finger into Ulvandia cheek. As if the appendage was made of steel it didn’t bend or even flex as it parted Ulvandia’s flesh. However, the pain became meaningless as she marveled at the spectacular particle that entered her. For a moment she beheld something greater than anything she ever known… then she began to scream. Her mana! The speck was ripping apart her mana channels as it made its way to her pool. She called out to her mana to stop the intruder. It was like a bird trying to push back a hurricane. The force that entered her was unimaginatively vast with more control than she could conceive. Fearful Ulvandia looked at the kin. Her fear morphed into mind-numbing despair. As the speck had entered her it focused her elven sight to what was invisible before. Power. Unbelievable, overwhelming power. Enough power to topple mountains. How!? How couldn’t see such raw force before!? The kin was a force of nature, utterly unstoppable. She ate mana like it was bread crumbs barely satisfying her. The swirl of energy in her was so great that it seared her eyes too look upon it. Yet she couldn’t look away. Like a moth to flame it burned her as she neared. Then the speck reached her pool.
Agony. Utter agony tore through her as her mana pool was ravaged. Her magnificent pool to which she was born too sprung leak after leak as the speck tore it asunder. That should be impossible! That was when her fading senses saw it. Her blood infused with her own mana was ripping her precious mana pool apart. The Magebane somehow had seized control of her very blood. Ulvandia couldn’t resist as her pool shrank with every rip piece from it. Then her magic sight faded all together. Ulvandia reached back inside to continue the fight, yet she felt nothing. Empty. She was empty. A howl escaped her lips as tears sprung to her eyes. She didn’t even notice the finger withdrawing with the hateful speck attached.
“Noooo…” Ulvandia moaned as the figure stood up.
“I hope it was as good for you as it was for me,” The terror of mages said as she walked away.
“GIVE IT BACK!” Ulvandia screamed.
“GIVE IT BACK!”
“GIVE IT BACK!”
Each cry became louder more frantic than the last, foam forming at her lips
“GIVE IT BACK!”
“GIVE IT BACK!”
“GIVE IT BACK!”
“GIVE IT BACK!”
“GIVE IT BACK!”
“GIVE IT BACK!”
“GIVE IT BACK!”
She tried to stand but a pain in her foot made that impossible. She looked at the offending body part to see it twisted, clearly broken. When did that happen? She began crawling after the Azure Magebane only to collapse. Her wrist had been broken too…
“GIVE IT BACK!!!!” She shrieked one last time before curling up in a ball. She rocked back and forth.
“Give it back,” she said in a teared filled whisper. Her eyes became glazed as she rocked muttering ‘give it back’ a long after everyone left the manse.
Trenton stood at the doorway looking at the mumbling Ulvandia. She had seemed so mighty once. So commanding. Now… it was just pathetic. He would have love nothing more than to stomp her head in. But that wasn’t important. What was important, was the Azure Magebane as she stomped toward him. Asami shield him with her body as the blue hair cat-kin approached. A rat-kin stood off to the side watching. Trenton swallowed as the kin stopped before him. Her eyes… they held barely contained anger.
“Please!” Asami said. “Trenton didn’t do anything wrong! He…” Asami suddenly went silent. Alarmed Trenton tried to move but found his entire body immobile. It was like water had frozen all around him.
“I’m going to ask you a single question,” the Magebane said looking into his eyes. “I remember you. Did you help in any way to kill a half rabbit-kin when the kin were taken as slaves?”
Trenton saw the rat-kin stiffen a knife suddenly in his hands. The Azure Magebanes eyes were death. If he answered positively he had no doubt the kin would tear him in half. Suddenly the pressure holding them released. He stumbled catching Asami as she began to tremble.
“No,” Trenton whispered. He recalled the body now. How they had found her… holding a dead kin.
“I didn’t kill any kin,” Trenton said. Rat-kin and the Azure Magebane seemed to relax at that.
“Good,” the Magebane said.
“You have the kin safe?” The Magebane said turning to the rat-kin. He sheathed his blades scratching his head.
“Mostly. Many are too badly hurt to travel fast.”
“Shit,” the Magebane said.
“I can help,” Trenton said. They both turned to him in surprise.
“How?” The rat-kin asked.
“The sadistic bitch,” Trenton said gesturing toward Ulvandia’s room. “Often had me sell her slaves. I could take them on a cart and just ride out of town. No one would question me.”
“That could work,” the rat-kin said rubbing his chin.
“He can do it!” Asami said.
“Fine but I want some assurance,” the Magebane said looking at Asami. “You’ll come with me. We will meet outside of town by the edge of the mana forest where the road circles around.”
“No! That won’t…” Trenton began.
“I’ll do it!” Asami said quickly.
“Asami…” Trenton said his eyes hurtful.
“It’s okay my love. I’ll see you soon.”
“She won’t be harmed,” the Magebane promised.
“I’m sure the Azure Magebane will protect me,” Asami said confidently. “She protects all kin.”
“Just call me Azura. And yes I’ll make sure nothing happens to her.”
Trenton gave a reluctant nod as he kissed Asami. He then left with rat-kin to gather the wounded kin, looking back briefly. He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake.
Azura frowned at the elf as he left. He seemed to genuinely care about the tiger-kin. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She left it alone. There was plenty of time to worry about that later. She turned to see Asami looking at the muttering Ulvandia.
“What did you do to her?”
“I crippled her mana pool. She’s no more magical than a rock.”
Asami gasped. “You can do that?”
Azura shrugged. The answer was obvious.
“What are you going to do with me? With the kin?”
“The kin can come with me if they want. I have a safe place. A place where they can live and become strong,” Azura said then looked directly into Asami eyes. “You’re more difficult. You plan on staying with the elf?”
“His name is Trenton. Yes, I’m staying with him. I love him.”
“I was afraid as much. I want to offer you a place but I’m unsure about the elf, err Trenton. If he was trust worthy then I’m okay with it. In fact it might have some benefits. But how do I know I can trust him?” Azura tapped her chin. “I suppose I could make him do a mana oath…”
“He also just abandon her,” Asami pointed to the elf curled into a ball. “He’s also helping kin escape.”
“That’s true…” Azura said as she walked down into the foyer. All but two of the rat-kin left to help gather the last of the kin. Azura stopped as the pile of dead elves. With a pull she siphon the remaining blood essence from the elves leaving them shriveled husks. It had quickly become apparent these last few months that blood was the fastest way to make progress on her cultivation.
“What did you do?” Asami said backing away a step.
“I can draw power from blood,” Azura said simply. No reason to confuse the girl.
“Oh…”
“So tell me about Trenton. Tell me why I should trust him. Perhaps I‘ll have a spot for both of you.” The more she thought about it the more Azura liked it. Having an elf on their side could be useful.