Executioner [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOseQhjo_8ur7oJrvShk5MctVg_Bw2ABti7VdD040gsSvDZu8vf91R5_kLRD5qQBcsNFc3WhZtgQ9FbgfzZFziUqp9xA8D2InnyFix9bHcrNfvJD3NYAStuonxaQoMkSwB9mywS_KEhSb6-5D9EZDh_=w613-h919-s-no-gm?authuser=0]
“Well, that was intense,” Rayna said to her as they stepped out the front door of the Wayland estate. Snowbelle lazily flapped pure white wings as the Familiar trailed behind them before keeping watch in the air above the pair.
Saiya took her sister’s hand and agreed, “I can’t say I’m looking forward to watching him hit Emerald in a few years, despite the fact it should be a happy occasion.”
The bard looked down at her curiously. It still took her by surprise sometimes that she wasn’t the same height as her twin anymore, but she liked that they didn’t look completely identical anymore, their ascensions moving them each closer to their own ideals for themselves rather than what genetics might have randomed up for them.
“You say that like you plan for us to be there,” Rayna said quietly, pulling her forward to walk and talk as they made their way towards the other side of the inner city to shop for another round of Spirit Gems.
She smiled and nodded, “I know that last time we spoke of it, you and I were a bit uncertain about the long-term prospect of it all.”
“Well, we had just found out about Phoenix’s quest and odd talent,” the bard recalled, “I know I was excited about helping with the quest, but you seemed unsure about it when we talked in private later. You’re good now, though?”
Saiya looked up at the snow drifting down softly on them as they went through the elegant gate separating the estate from the city street, her ears twitching to remove the annoying flakes from them, “I know we’ve talked about returning to Epa Toivo to rebuild our clan but–”
“You know I don’t care about that, Sai,” her twin interjected angrily, “It can die with us for all I care. Abyss, I think it should have died years ago when we miraculously survived the slaughter.”
“I still want a new family someday,” she continued, not wanting to retread those terrible memories whose sting had dulled over the years.
“I know,” Rayna said with a grin and a roll of amber eyes that still matched hers, “Loving husband and lots of kits playing in barrels. A picture-perfect family of chaos to rival what Patricia has.”
She returned the grin, basking in the mutual feeling of adoration her sister was radiating, “Aren’t they a beautiful family? I miss having that.”
“I know,” the bard replied, continuing down the semi-crowded streets that held a mixture of celebration and sorrow from the victory over the Soul Reapers and the toll it had cost the city. “You’ll get it again someday, but that’s in the far future, right? Plus, you don’t need the clan name itself to gain it. We can both join another House –or even a commoner family– and leave the Dewsong clan in the sands of Epa Toivo. We don’t need to keep it alive if we don’t want to.”
Saiya nodded thoughtfully, letting herself be pulled along as she let her mind wander. She realized Rayna was trying to think more about the future now, something the battle-happy pugilist rarely did, and put in more of her own effort to the conversation, “I think I want to stay with them. I feel like maybe I can help them with their issues as a Healer, but I’ve found myself… happier around them. Inspired even. They all try so hard for each other, and it makes me want to do the same.”
“I get that,” the bard said with a nod and a wag of her tails, “You know I’ll go with whatever you prefer–”
“I told you not to put aside your own desires for mine,” she scolded softly. It was an old argument that she rarely won.
“I’m not,” Rayna retorted, “You know that all I really desire is fighting monsters and discovering cool treasures. Phoenix has been an extra fun experience with her looting on top of the book surprises,” her twin added with a grin.
“You want to go exploring the world and follow this crazy quest with them, too?”
“It sounds like I won’t run out of monsters to fight and loot that way,” Rayna acknowledged with a nod.
“What about Mohala?” Saiya asked, having felt the stronger connection forming between the two when the bard had half-dragged the dryad off the battlefield.
The Striker’s grin widened, “I’m hoping she joins us.”
“What about the potential conflict of interest?” she teased, “I seem to recall you not wanting Polissa to go on a joint mission due to her interest in Phoenix.”
“Yeah, I’m a hypocrite. I realize that,” Rayna admitted, “I think I was more worried about Phoenix being so… naive?”
“I think it’s more than that,” the Healer noted, “I honestly haven’t felt any trace of attraction towards anyone from her. I don’t think you should push her on the matter anymore.”
“Really?” the bard asked in surprise, “Nothing at all?”
“It’s not completely unheard of, you know.”
“Yeah, but… I don’t know; I guess it just seems a bit sad to me. I like these feelings I’m having towards Mohala. It’s exciting and joyous. I feel happy just by being near her, let alone the ecstasy of touching… It just seems unfortunate that Phoenix won’t experience that. She could use more happiness in her life.”
“I don’t think pressuring her to feel that way will make it happen, though,” Saiya pointed out, causing her twin to sigh heavily.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll back off, but I’m not giving up hope that she finds someone to experience those things with.”
She chuckled, “Just don’t make her feel bad if she doesn’t find that person.”
“What about you?”
That caught the Healer by surprise as she looked up and asked, “What?”
“You seemed happy with Uriel on the wall the other day.”
She burst out laughing at the idea.
“I’ll take that as a no. I haven’t really seen you with anyone else except Sim–”
“No, I don’t have anyone like that right now, but I’ll keep you informed if that changes,” she reassured her sister, then had another thought about something she promised to update her twin about, “That reminds me, though. I think I’m going to go through with joining the clergy of the Traveler. If we’re going to be sticking with Phoenix, I think it will be an even greater benefit for us, and I liked the Path they have that works alongside the Mender’s followers.”
She felt herself flush as she admitted, “I think helping people on the long journey of recovering from trauma will be a worthwhile endeavor.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“That’s great, Sai,” Rayna said, squeezing her paw tighter, “I think you’ll do awesome at that. It’ll probably be useful for our party of Adventurers too. I doubt our traumas are over, but we can try to prepare for them as best we can.”
“Prepare for the worst and hope for the best?” she asked.
“Isn’t that really all we can do?”
Saiya laughed, “I think there might be a bit more to it than that, but essentially. To that end, I’m hoping to find a gem that can help boost my mana a bit. I kept running out on the battlefield, and that felt worse than watching Uriel choke off his emotions. I could have saved more–”
“None of that now, remember?” Rayna interjected, “We promised not to blame ourselves for any losses. We did our best.”
“Right, but it still makes me want to push my best to be better.”
“I think I’m going to aim for something that might help with singular targets more,” the bard mentioned, moving the topic back to their shopping goals, “I think my worst match-up was that Marsh Walker we ran into that ate Phoenix. I wonder if there’s something that could help me take something like that down without completely exploding it.”
Saiya laughed, “You’re a Shatter Bard. Breaking things is just what you do.”
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Veldrix Thevaris had been a Knight for the monarchy of Blomsterang for decades now, becoming the Royal Executioner not long after joining. It was a highly honored and feared position within the nation, and only one person was granted it at any given time.
As the knight’s magically constructed [Blade of Execution] swung downward, a trail of flames coming from its tip created an effect that Veldrix thought was beautiful but caused inexplicable terror in those who observed the visual that made the heavy axe-like blade appear more like a scythe.
Perhaps it was the fact that whenever the crowd saw the effect, it was shortly preceding the death of a convicted criminal that incited the odd terror among the masses who were currently observing the execution of the noble on her knees in front of the revered knight.
Despite the apparent honor, Veldrix felt bored as the blade easily sliced through the Sapphire Caster’s neck, ending the life of Lady Glasciel Ruwena, the traitor of Tulim –and, by extension, the nation. The Royal Executioner didn’t care about bringing death upon a weaker opponent, only that they were ridding the world of convicted criminals and respected for the undesirable job that was well suited to their powers.
Veldrix was a Pyre Executioner with Fire, Burst, Potent, and Death as their Aspects and the limit-breaking Natural Talent that let them have multiple Execution abilities –which every one of their Class abilities had become. The garnet gemite was built to accomplish a quick and sudden end of life.
Executing perfectly healthy Casters, in general, wasn’t an easy task for any Class. Depending on the Caste difference, it took whittling down their health first and shutting down their regeneration and ability to fight back. For the justice system, that meant using a special set of [Chains of Silence] that also drained the wearer’s health down to around ten percent of their total. Then they just needed someone with a powerful Execute ability to finish them off, ideally in a single strike.
Veldrix had five such abilities, which gave the crown the bonus perk of getting to choose from an assortment based on how clean, dignified, or painful they wanted the death to be. Getting the job that fit their Class best wasn’t that large of a surprise, but the absolute tedium of it had been unexpected.
As the queen herself walked over to touch the headless corpse and loot the body, causing it to partially break down into blue ash, Veldrix tuned out the speech the monarch gave about justice having been served and assuring the same end to any who turned on the nation. They had heard the speech before, and they knew it wouldn’t be the last. It was always the same message at its core: break the rules the monarchs made, and you’ll die for it.
Of course, not every crime was met with death; sometimes, they were fined Bits or sentenced to silenced servitude, but more often than not, the worst criminals met Veldrix’s flames. The fact that the knight had used their fiery blade instead of the [Pillar of Consumption] that burned the enemy from the inside out, or the [Inferno Crypt] that summoned a forge-hot metal coffin that basically boiled the enemy to death within a few seconds, was a mercy bestowed upon the noble at the king’s request. The man was much kinder and more merciful than his wife, but he wasn’t the ruling authority, having married into the human bloodline.
Most of Blomstra –the capital city they were currently in– was populated by humans, and it made a gemite like Veldrix stand out even more than their occupation did. You couldn’t tell they were an Executioner from their glittering red garnet hair after all.
They weren’t the only garnet gemite in the capital, though, which helped them walk down the streets without inciting fear at least; though their aura gave some pause when people were able to sense it, but that usually took a Ruby Caste to accomplish in the first place. Most people in the capital were Emerald or Sapphire, with only their younger family members being lower. The zone itself was normally mid-Emerald and didn’t give many challenges for the Ruby Casters outside of a blood moon.
Veldrix gave a soft sigh, which earned them a glare from the queen, who continued her speech. The knight rolled their garnet eyes behind the helmet that hid their tan face. They were grateful that their complexion at least matched the humans of this region.
The Royal Executioner was ready for a change. Not wanting to keep dealing with the monotonous job and the bickering nobles at court that either hated Veldrix for their position as executioner, desired them for their Shiny beauty, feared them for their overwhelming strength and magic, or were envious of all three.
When the queen finally turned to leave the dais, and others moved in to clean the stage of slaughter, Veldrix silently fell in line after the monarch, leaving the job and crowds behind. The queen didn’t speak right away, waiting till they were in a private room before turning and gesturing for the knight to remove their helmet, which they obligingly did and rested under an arm and against their hip.
“Did my speech bore you somehow, Knight Thevaris?” the queen asked, and they recognized the blatant trap.
“No, Your Majesty,” the executioner promptly replied, “Your speech was as magnificent as ever. My sigh was in sorrow over my duty to take yet another life, no matter how justified.”
The woman scoffed, moving closer to them, “Don’t lie to me, Veldrix. I know you care not for the lives you claim in the name of my crown. Now speak honestly, and I may give you the honor of being my guest for the night again.”
It took every ounce of self-discipline the knight had not to roll their eyes at the invitation that they knew would have been extended even if they had made a worse faux pas than sighing.
Even this aspect of their life had become predictable and tedious, the not-so-secret plaything of the queen and king. Both monarchs had become a bit smitten with the gemite over the years, and Veldrix’s dual gender fulfilled both of the royals’ desires, but the knight already knew a relationship like that wouldn’t be fulfilling for them. They didn’t want to be the spare wheel to a power couple.
“I would be honored by the invitation, Your Majesty,” Veldrix lied with a subtle bow and palm over their heart in deference, “The truth is that I believe I am ready for a new assignment. Being your Royal Executioner is a great honor, but I believe a change of scenery away from the capital would do me well, at least for a few years. My appreciation for what I have has waned, and some distance would likely help me reinvigorate that.”
The queen’s face contorted in a mixture of rage and disgust at their words. They were the same Caste, so a slap would most definitely sting and be well-deserved in this case, Veldrix felt; they had just met a lover’s invitation with a request to leave the city after all… but at least a slap would be a nice change of pace.
They were almost disappointed the slap didn’t arrive. Instead, the queen turned away and took a few paces before saying coldly, “There is a request that has come in that will probably be a few months at least. Until the end of the war with the Soul Reapers, most likely. The Duke of Tulim has sent word that the invaders have moved an army from the east against the duchy, numbers impossible for a single Emerald combatant to face with only crafters and some newly ascended. He’s requested a Ruby Caster be sent for support, especially after this mess with House Ruwena.”
“Tulim? Again?” the knight asked with a raised brow, “Why are the enemy so interested in it, and what combat-focused Emerald would agree to go to that backwater duchy during a blood moon?”
“Lord Paul Wayland was sent, and he didn’t appeal the position. He has family there, after all, and he wouldn’t dare disobey my orders.”
The other brow joined the first as Veldrix asked incredulously, “You commanded the Blade of Pure Wrath back to the home that outcast him?”
She waved a hand dismissively, “Please, that was years ago, and it was pointless to let him wander during a blood moon.”
“Wait, so you want me to go play nice with a pissed-off Fallen Paladin in the middle of a frozen wasteland until the war ends?”
She glared at the executioner, “Consider it a punishment for your sigh earlier.”
“I thought being honest about that would get me a reward instead?”
“I’m still expecting you to accept that invitation for tonight. Then you can leave for Tulimeir in the morning,” the queen replied with a wicked grin.
Veldrix held back another pained sigh but bowed lower and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. As you command.”