FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I stand before a scene of pure carnage. The choking smell of blood and charred flesh fills the air, masked only slightly by the cascading rain that soaks the field. Bodies of dragonkin litter the ground, some still clinging to life, but most of them remaining still. The grass surrounding the palace gate is burned and blackened from dragonfire, causing plumes of steam to rise from the smouldering patches.

Though I scan the area for a familiar face, I already know what has transpired. Shen must have confronted his treasonous soldiers and taught them what it meant to defy him. Such a destructive display of power could arise only from him. As much as I desire to help the injured, my power and ability is best used elsewhere. Although I lament my sentimental delay, thinking I could have saved many lives here, I realize I would much prefer to face Shen alone.

"Zu... Zuro'ki..." I hear a voice call out, heavy with pain. I turn my head to the source, and see Kuris propped up against a charred tree trunk, his body decorated with fresh blood and vicious burns.

I rush towards him and kneel over his crumpled form, knowing that there is little I can do to ease his suffering. "Kuris..."

"He... was so powerful." Kuris gasps. "There was fire everywhere. He was so fast... we couldn't touch him." His face pulls into a rictus of pain, and he struggles to maintain his composure. Rain cascades down his scales, mixing with the blood of his wounds.

"Relax, Kuris. You're going to make it." I try to sound confident.

"Aah, it hurts." His breath catches in his throat. "So much fire, and his blades were... merciless. He... he said we... 'had to be shown our folly'. He laughed... laughed so much. He is mad, Zuro'ki... he is mad." His voice descends into pleading despair, distraught over the events.

"I will take care of it." I rise to my full height, looking down on Kuris with simple pity.

"I... hope you can." He mutters in response, before turning his attention to enduring his pain.

With no words left to be said, I walk towards the palace gates. They lie ajar, complimenting the gruesome scene left before them. The black and crimson walls, struck through with lines of shining gold, loom silently over the field. The small, defensive gaps in the construction are left curiously devoid of sentries. I peer inside the gaping doorway for only a moment before stepping in to escape the rain.

Before I can gain my bearings, a shadow takes form in front of me, stepping out of a trembling silhouette cast by the nearby torchlight. It appears as a dark, hooded creature, with scales as black as his garb. I spring into action to defend myself, but he lowers his hood, causing my hand to pause on the hilt of my sword as my jaw drops in surprise.

"Is that you, Zerius?"

The figure nods, now flanked by a short, lithe lizard that watches me with large silver eyes. Zerius's own eyes peer out from his blackened head, the glittering spheres being the only part of his body not muted by his strange transformation.

"Zuro'ki, you made it. I am glad to see you."

I marvel over the darkness of his appearance. He seems to drain the light from the room. "What... what happened to you, Zerius? And who is that?"

He pauses for a moment before glancing at himself with a look of realization. He speaks quickly and formally. "Ah, I have come with the Serysians. As we speak, they assault the eastern edge of the palace, where the remainder of the garrison has gathered." After a pause, he continues with a quiet, earnest tone. "I have changed, Zuro. I am stronger now, and I have found my calling."

I stare at him for a moment, taking in his new visage. It is so dark, and so imposing, but his gaze is different from before. It lacks the tension and frustration of his former self. It is as if he has somehow found some form of... inner peace.

He continues further, "If you are going to battle Shen, I would do it soon. I know you are capable of it, but... if you find yourself in danger, please... take care of yourself." He moves as if to rest a hand on my shoulder, but hesitates and pulls it back.

I simply stand in wonder at what may have happened to him in the short time he was with the serpents. I want to thank him for his efforts, to express my gratitude at him returning so quickly, but he does not give me a chance.

"The Serysians can handle things, if need be." He turns, nodding to his companion before muttering underneath his breath, "And I cannot play a part in another death of a friend."

Before I can inquire any further, he disappears in a whirl of dark mist, along with his companion. Many questions float in my mind, unasked and unanswered. I dismiss them and focus on my task.

At first glance, the palace halls are still the same as when I left them. However, there is a very unsettling silence and a oppressive, unpleasant air to the entire complex. No servants walk the halls, and much of the structure is untended. Dust and dirt litter the environs, and everything seems to have begun to deteriorate. If I did not know better, I would say the place had been abandoned. I suppose that may not be very far from the truth.

As I adjust to the familiar yet uncomfortable surroundings, visions stir in my mind. Faint, intangible memories of Ren's connection with his wayward shard of essence. They flit through my consciousness, fleeting but familiar. I close my eyes, focusing on the errant feeling of each memory. A collection of images streak through my perceptions, but I see one thing that stays firmly in my minds eye.

The face of Rel. A face that is in pain. A face that is staring down death itself.

My heartbeat quickens as I gain my bearings, using the images to direct me. Recalling my knowledge of the palace layout, I try to place a location to the image that I saw behind Rel's pained expression. As I focus, the link that Ren once had flares in intensity, filling my mind with memories, pulled straight from the eyes of Shen himself. They are unfocused and chaotic, but as he strides down the hallways of this palace in my mind, I slowly piece together where he has kept Rel.

I dash down a hallway, propelling myself towards my destination with a wind of haste and urgency. I twist and turn down the corridors of the palace, heedless of any danger, a conduit of wind pushing me swiftly and desperately forward. Not once do I come across another dragonkin, though I do feel the presence of others in the complex. It is an unsettling new feeling, granted by my fledgling divinity, but I do not sense an abundance of hostility from the scattering of souls that litter the palace interior. One in particular blazes with anger and madness, like a beacon in the dark. It can only be Shen. No doubt he has sensed me too, and it seems he is awaiting me in the council room. It almost feels as if he is directing his rage towards me, beckoning me forth. I ignore his summons, for now.

Turning down another corridor, I recognize it as the very same one that Shen had walked down in Ren's cloudy memories. There is a series of doors set along one side of the walls, most of which are ringed with iron and locked tightly. One, however, is ajar. The same one Shen walked through. I slow down, drawing my sword and padding quietly to the door. My heart pounds fiercely, filled with worry and concern for Rel.

I hear faint sounds coming from inside the room. It is a song, as sad, quiet tune sung from what sounds like two different sources. One of them sounds familiar, and I briefly wonder if I am hearing things.

Resolving to find out, I swing in from the door and enter the room, blade forward. What I see when my eyes take in the scene nearly shatters my heart.

Razor is hunched over Rel's prone body, his arms wrapped around the pitiful form. Tears flow down his eyes, dampening his azure plumage. He holds an empty vial in his hands, along with a thin needle taken from a blowdart. A second figure fills the rest of the small room, a feminine looking Feithiro with ashen grey feathers. At my entrance, she draws a dagger and rests a hand on the pouch at her hips. A quick chirp from Razor halts her action, and she relaxes visibly.

I walk over to Rel, feeling my soul darken as my gaze slowly drifts over his weak, ravaged body. His flesh is marred along almost the entire length of his figure. Ugly, bleeding cuts spread themselves over his bare, unclothed flesh. His once handsome face is carved and sliced in a chaotic pattern of reckless agony. Crimson ichor seeps out of each countless wound, painting his emerald scales a sickening red, and the disgusting smell of his blood and excrement fills the room. Seeing my love in this condition breaks my heart, and slowly fills me with a dark, inescapable despair.

Tears form in my eyes, each blink sending a stream down my cheeks. I cannot find any words. He looks so hurt... too hurt. I can't believe this is happening. My world is crashing down around me.

"I'm sorry, Zuro'ki. I'm so sorry..." Razor says to me, his eyes glistening with a deep sadness. His voice is a familiar and pleasant memory, but I am distant, out of reach of the comfort he would lend. He rises and places a feathered hand on my shoulder, but I am numb to the touch. "I gave him something... it will ease his pain, he will go in peace."

"No..." Is the only word that I can say. My voice sounds so weak and feeble. "No... no, no. Rel, no."

"...Zuro'ki..." Rel rasps, his unfocused eyes wandering towards me. It seems that he cannot move his body, but he does not appear to be in any pain. His mind is free from this bleak reality; his eyes stare into a dream all his own.

"Rel, oh gods, Rel." I choke out a sob and lean in close, wrapping my arms around him. His blood smears onto my scales.

"...You're so beautiful, Zu..." He whispers, his voice almost too quiet to hear. "I love you so much."

"Rel, I love you too." I squeeze him tightly, tears cascading down my cheeks. "Don't go, don't leave me, please."

"... I'm not... going anywhere... my fasra. Come into... the cabin with me...?" His snout pulls up into a weak, delirious smile.

"Rel... I... I..."

"... come... into our... cabin... my... love..." His voice trails away into silence, and then into one long, wheezing breath. And then he is still. And all is quiet. The golden eyes that I had fallen in love with now stare lifelessly into the abyss, never to shine again.

I sit for a moment in a shocked, stunned silence, my heartbeat pounding rapidly in my ears. And then panic begins to set in.

"No... Rel. Don't leave me! No!" I plead and whine, gripping him tightly and burying my head into his scaled chest. "No! I took too long! Why, why did I go to the hatchery!? Why did I waste so much time!? I could have saved him... I could have..."

My words descend into sobs and cries. I hold Rel's body tightly, clinging desperately to it, as if my tears and my embrace could bring him back. I never want to leave him, I want to be at his side forever. My every thought is poisoned by the knowledge that Rel will no longer be with me.

My entire world is nothing, now. My heart is nothing, my soul is nothing. Everything is hollow. It feels as though I will never smile, never laugh again. There is no room for joy amidst the overwhelming ache. My heart is empty, a black void, never to be filled again.

I hear Razor speak, but his words do not reach me. I am lost to everyone, now. I press my face into Rel's bloody scales, closing my eyes and wishing this all would go away... that it is all just some bad dream, and I'll wake up beside Rel... and everything will be okay.

A crooning song issues forth from the pair of Feithiro that stand behind me. The soft, lamenting notes are a requiem for a lost life. The sound drifts through the empty hallways of the palace, echoing onward to its absent audience.

Memories surge into my mind. Memories of the first time we met. How young we were, and how quickly we came to care for one another. Memories of our time as friends, the short year as Advisor and Prefect, before we even knew our true feelings towards each other. How liberating it felt, how pure and fulfilling it was to finally be with him, in his embrace. We were young and foolish not to realize it sooner.

Memories of our mission to the Feithiro, where we stood together, pursuing the truth despite our doubts and fears. Memories of the shrine, where adversity had tested our resolve, and how we found support in one another. Memories of Hearth, where I learned of his true fear of losing me, and yet having it only strengthen our bond. His grinning, flushed face at the feast... the last time I saw him before he was taken. How I wish I could return to the time of my memories. To take it all back.

All of my fears and doubts crash down on me, like an avalanche of regret. Why did we do this? Why seek the truth, why seek justice? It has only led to tragedy, pain and death. So much death. Shen can have his divine essence, Long Ren can have his genocide; all I want is Rel to come back. I just want to be with him again. We never got to live our lives together, to grow ancient together, like we always wanted. It feels as though our lives had only just begun...

My thoughts serve only to poison me further, tainting my mind with despair and sadness. I am swiftly falling into a black void from which there may be no escape.

But I don't care. I hold the lifeless body of my one true love, my fasra, the only person I may ever truly care about. I just want him back.

***

Time passes. Though it is only a handful of minutes, my suffering stretches each moment out for an eternity. I sit beside Rel's cooling body, idly twisting my tailring, the words 'Vero Kirtortia' continuously rolling through my mind as they roll along the metal. I am consumed by my thoughts, and by my regrets. Razor and his grey companion silently watch over me, seeming content to allow me some time to grieve. His eyes are filled with sadness and concern, but I find I cannot meet his gaze. The compassion and care that radiates from it reminds me too much of Rel's own golden eyes.

The palace is quiet. No servants, no ministers, and no guards roam the halls, giving the entire complex an eerie stillness. The only presence I feel nearby is Shen, still exuding his madness and fury from deeper within the palace. The dark soul that I recognize as Zerius seems to flit about the palace, disappearing from perception one moment just to appear in another location entirely. My mind does not allow me to wonder what lends him this power, so fixated on Rel it has become.

He was afraid that he would lose me. It is darkly ironic that the opposite has come to pass. Rel feared that my divine essence would take control, and that we would be forced to slay one another. It would have been so tragic to end in such a way, but it pains me no less to have him die in my arms from the blows of another.

If I were to have done the deed, I would have been able to exact vengeance on myself, and join Rel in the abyss.

Vengeance...

A cloud forms over my thoughts. The ache and pain that grips my body begins to turn inward, twisting and transforming into something worse. It turns my idle musings towards dark purposes. It is a faint sensation, at first, but soon I feel it grow as it takes hold of my heart, compelling me to rise to my feet. It takes some time, but the urge grows every second, the seed of hatred beginning to blossom in my soul. I grit my teeth and clench my fists tightly, my claws digging into my palms.

"Zuro'ki?" Razor's faint voice reaches my ears, muffled by the growing haze that has descended over my senses. "Are you alright?"

"Razor..." I speak slowly, taking great care with each word. "I will destroy Shen."

His eyes widen and his voice becomes urgent. "I see the rage in you, Zuro'ki. Do not fall sway to it!"

My voice rises in volume, my shout booming down the hallways. "Stand aside! It is too late. I will end him!" My face flushes red and my hands begin to shake.

He briefly considers defying me, a stern look crossing his features, but wisely concedes and shakes his head sadly. "Oh Zuro'ki... I am so sorry. It is a terrible, tragic thing to lose ones heart... but I fear letting your grief and anger take hold of you will only lead you to ruin."

I ignore his words as I brush past, heading directly towards Shen. Each of my steps brims with renewed purpose and sharpened fury. I don't need to look behind me to know Razor and his companion are following along.

It feels like only seconds before I am standing before the council room. With a stiff wave of my arm, a powerful gust of wind issues forth and slams into the doors, sending them flying off their hinges and into the room beyond with a deafening rumble and clatter.

"SHEN!" I shout. My sword is already in my hand, though I do not recall drawing it. The furniture of what used to serve as a room of government has been chaotically cast aside; only the imperial throne remains in proper order. Shen stands before it.

"Zuro'ki, you have finally arrived!" Shen opens his arms in a welcoming gesture, his white eyes gleaming with poorly restrained madness, set above his sinister grin.

He has little time to say anything else, as I am already soaring across the room towards him. A clash of metal echoes from the room, Shen having drawn his weapons just in time to deflect my lunging slice. He looks surprised at first, shocked, but his expression twists into sickening amusement.

"Yes! Yess! Such anger, such fury!"

"RAAAAAGH!" I cry, my blade sweeping in deadly arcs towards Shen. He parries each blow in succession, the speed of our swordplay nearly invisible to the eye. I hate him, I despise him for what he's done, the damage he has caused. If it were not for his greed and ambition, there would have been peace. Rel would still be alive.

I raise my arm, swinging downwards at him in an attempt to cleave him in two. He crosses his blades and halts the attack before forcing me backwards with a strong swing of both weapons. I am knocked across the room, skidding along the floor but keeping my footing as I prepare another assault. The air in the room begins to heat up, and I see Shen directing a huge torrent of fire at me.

The burning flames streak across the room, the cascade of fire meeting my outstretched hand. Shielding myself, the flames bend around me and sear the walls behind, and I swiftly turn the remaining flames back at Shen. He rushes me, slicing through each whip of fire and meeting my steel once more.

As the combat proceeds, my unchecked anger begins morphing into a sharp, grim determination. I want to shout at him, demand an explanation, a reason for his sadistic tortures, but I know that his addled logic would give me no solace.

I intend to see Shen's life end here today; he will be punished for the many misdeeds he has wrought. He will pay for the death he has sown, for the tortures he has done. He will suffer for taking the life of Rel'zeo.

By the Dragon, I will kill him.

Our blades meet, again and again, neither of us able to find an opening in our lightning-quick swordplay. All the while, he grins at me, relishing in my anger and despair.

Static electricity crackles in the air as Shen leaps away from a vicious swing and unleashes an ivory bolt of lightning at me. The lash of raw energy streaks across the room, burning and stripping away the ground beneath it. With a swat of my hand, I deflect the bolt, sending it careening into the wall in a shower of sparks. Another bolt surges towards me, and another, each one knocked away with a strike of my arm. The raw, unstable energy painfully courses up my limb with each bolt, but I do not flinch.

Shen cries out in manic exertion, still wearing a malevolent grin, as he channels a massive sphere of lightning between his palms. Tendrils of electricity trail along the ground and up the walls, the room filling with the staccato crackle of power.

A flash fills the room from the snap of energy as Shen hurls the sphere towards me. I lash out with a bolt of my own to attempt to halt the blast, but the thunderous whip does little to deter it. Flush with reckless frustration, I soar towards the sphere, and towards Shen, my blade coming between me and the deadly energy. I slice into the electric ball, the surging power imploding and coursing through my blade and through my body. I grit my teeth, focusing some of the power and holding it within the metal of my sword. The wild current tears through my body, held only barely in check by my sheer mental will. The pain is intense, even through my numbed senses.

After this brief moment of agony, the sphere disperses. I continue my lunge towards Shen, but just before I reach him, I slam my sword into the ground, unleashing the charge within the steel. A blinding finger of white lightning bursts forth, striking Shen squarely in the chest and sending him sailing into the wall with a crack.

Without missing a beat, Shen leaps from the wall and comes down on me with the fury of steel.

Forcing his blades away, I leap to the side, hurling a sheet of flame towards him. Unfazed, he bounds back up, twisting into the air over my attack before reaching out with a flick of a claw. I brace myself for a return blast of fire, but am instead struck off my feet by the large, solid projectile of a broken door slamming into my back. Tumbling along, I thrust a hand downwards, pushing away from the ground and flipping upwards as gracefully as I can, but Shen is already upon me. Bringing both pommels down, he slams me into the floor, the impact sending a web of cracks through the polished golden surface.

Pain explodes through my entire body as my bones are jostled and cracked, but I manage to mitigate some of the damage with a quick, mental cushion of wind. I kip up to my feet, wincing in pain as Shen renews his attack.

He is powerful, brutal, but I can sense that this is almost the limit of his power. Somewhere deep inside him, the real Shen peers out, his mere presence locking out a portion of Long Ren's full potential. It still feels as if the divine essence is still detached from the physical form, but only barely. It feels as if... it is within reach, just waiting to be seized.

Our steel cuts through the air, our evenly matched skills once again holding us at a stalemate. I hesitate for a moment as I consider the essence within Shen, and the means to tear it from him. As I do so, I am overcome with the feeling of being watched, an unnerving sensation that many eyes are upon me. Even the shadows seem to be peering out at me, along with a carefully hidden Razor and his companion.

In this fraction of a second hesitation, Shen swats my blade away and thrusts, his second sword aimed straight at my heart. I attempt to push him back with a wall of wind, but he wills the air around him into stillness. I can only blink as the pointed steel closes towards me, too fast to evade, my sword too out-of-position to parry. I consider that my life may be about to end from something as harmless as a momentary pause.

A swirl of mist surrounds me as something leaps out of my shadow. A flash of azure and a clash of metal ensues as my eyes comprehend Zerius's ebon form, guiding Shen's weapon away with his own exotic blades.

Roaring in anger, Shen brings his first sword back around, and another whirl of shadow introduces Zerius's smaller companion, who halts the blade with his own crossed pair of weapons, causing another flare of azure to spark from the deadlock.

Knowing the danger they are in, and only too aware of Shen's power and speed, Zerius and his comrade spring away from further retribution, but Shen is close on their heels.

"Eyes closed!" Razor shouts.

Something is flung past me and into the floor before Shen, shattering with a crack. I shut and avert my eyes as instructed, despite being given no time to comprehend the order. A flash of white light sears into my eyelids, causing me to furrow my brow and shield my face from the uncomfortable brightness. I hear Shen roar in frustration, his swords scraping into the ground. After only a moment the light is gone and I open my eyes to see Shen blindly whirling his blades around him.

"Curse you, insects! I will destroy you all!" His sinister grin is gone, replaced by a snarl of fury. Fire issues forth from him in curving lashes, impacting and shattering chunks of the walls and floor, but Zerius and his friend are already gone.

Shen turns to me, sensing my presence through his obscured vision. A whistle of metal sings through the air as a blade of Feithiro metal soars through the air towards him. With one swift cut, Shen knocks the dagger out of the air, but I have picked this critical moment to strike. Not with my blade, but with something that will end this battle.

My palm slams into Shen's chest and a flare of brilliant white fills the room once again, if only for a brief moment. I reach out with my mind, the tendrils of my consciousness probing and sneaking past Shen's defenses to bore deep into his soul. His mental barriers are weak, either due to the true Shen's presence, or from the schism between soul and body, I cannot say. I feel the thrumming power of the divine essence harbored within, the burning shard having almost completely overtaken the original soul that was once Shen'zuka.

Wrapping my mental cords around it, I seize the shard of essence and wrench it violently from the glimmering soul. I feel Shen writhe in silent, unspeakable pain, my every pull tearing more of his very life essence from his body. My arm vibrates as it remains in contact with Shen, forming the critical physical connection for my vicious extraction.

"How...?" He growls, his every muscle tensed, helplessly paralyzed from my mental constriction.

I grit my teeth, focusing intently on ripping the evil essence straight out of his body. Every pulse of my mind shears apart more of the fragile soul within. The knowledge that Shen will not survive this ordeal does not give me pause.

With one final, exhausting tear, Shen's very soul disintegrates as the loose presence of Divine Dragon essence shoots into my own body.

I feel it attempting to grab hold of me as it manifests in my mind. It tries to assert power over my body, as had once happened in the shrine, but it flounders and struggles to simply exist in my psychic realm. My every fiber and thought is caught on holding fast the wayward presence, keeping it still, as a prisoner of my mind. A foreign panic and anger throbs in my consciousness.

"Mortal! No... you are no mortal. You have stolen my essence and claimed it as your own. I will destroy you and unite my power!" The malevolent voice of Long Ren echoes in my mind; the sound is familiar, faintly reminding me of my lost companion, but it is feeble and weak despite its threats, a tiny speck amidst a sea of my power.

My anger, despair, and hatred flare up and surround the intruding essence, drowning it in a power that originates from me, and yet is not wholly my own... just as our baser instincts arise from within us, but cannot be completely controlled. Every thought of a slain dragonkin and Feithiro, every injustice, and every tragic memory of Rel crushes the essence further.

Long Ren cries out in abject pain and disbelief. "Erraagh! What is this? Such hatred, such darkness! I cannot-"

The next word is twisted into an agonizing cry of pain that reverberates deep into the corridors of my mind. With a final flare of mental energy, I squeeze the last remaining spark of Long Ren from this world.

I pull my hand away from Shen's trembling body, and he falls backwards onto the ground, becoming quiet and still. He is still alive, and he is Shen'zuka once more, if only for a brief moment. I step over and stare down at him, hatred still rimming my gaze.

He looks back up at me with an expression of relief and peace. The remaining life rapidly drains from his soulless shell. His mind and body are finally his own again, and whether the guilt of his deeds crushes down on him in his last moments, I cannot say. As I glare down at him, my unleashed anger and spite blazes within me, and I battle with the urge to wrap my claws around his throat as a final gesture of vengeance. However, I hold my violent emotions at bay, my thoughts towards Shen tempered by something else, something that manages to restrain my hate.

Pity.

He struggles to speak, and his voice is but a whisper.

"I am... free." He seems surprised and relieved, but his eyes are cloudy and unfocused. "For...give... my... ambition."

Those are the last words that Shen'zuka, 7th Emperor of the Divine Dragon Empire, will ever speak.

***

My task is completed. Shen has perished, and the Empire may now recover from the damage that he has done. Though the throne may be empty, the people still live on, and will continue living for as long as they are able. With the ordeal over, my thoughts drift to the future, and all I can see for myself is darkness and despair. Without Rel, my life holds no meaning, no happiness, no purpose.

As I ponder things In the wake of the battle, I feel tears streaming down my cheeks. A sob chokes its way from my throat. I am empty again, temporarily free from the hatred that had consumed and directed me, but once again falling into a black pit of despair.

The sound of armored soldiers echoes in the hallways, getting louder and closer with each second. In a cloud of shadow, Zerius and his companion appear before me once again. His eyes look down at Shen before flicking up to me. There is no smile on his face, it instead holds a tense expression of neutrality. He does not look surprised at my sorrow... he must already know.

"You did it, Zuro'ki." He says, trying to sound encouraging.

I do not respond.

"The Serysian troops will be here shortly, they will wish to discuss the terms of their assistance. I... am not sure who they may speak to. The palace is empty, except for us."

Assistance... they simply slaughtered loyal dragonkin. I was the one that defeated Shen, I did not need their help. Idle scenarios play in my mind, of me battling the garrison myself, as I try to judge the worth of the Serysian efforts.

Razor chimes in. "Did Shen'zuka have a successor?"

Zerius would not know this for certain, so I opt to speak, in order to answer the question. "No. He took females, but as far as I know had produced no heir."

"That means the council must elect a new emperor..." Zerius trails off as he considers the ramifications. Both Rel and Tero'rui are dead, leaving only Zerius and Erun'razel as proper Prefects. He rubs his chin in thought.

I do have a say, as Advisor. I speak once again, though my words are bitter. "I suppose I may vote for the west. I do not care who ascends the throne." Gen, Advisor of the east would hold a vote as well, but I do not know what happened to him after the siege.

Zerius fixes a hard stare at me, his eyes judging my expression. "Zuro'ki..." There is a long pause, his eyes roll over my figure, considering his next words very carefully. "As Prefect of the south, I vote you as the next emperor. If you nominate yourself as well, it will not matter what Erun decides."

Nonsense. I am not suited to be emperor. Not before, not now, and not ever. I shake my head.

Razor chimes in again, his tone earnest. "Think of it, Zuro'ki. Given the power that you wield, are you not the only one truly suited to sit as Divine Emperor of a Divine Empire?"

The prospect is unappealing to me, but Razor does speak the truth. I am the successor to Long Ren himself, now. His power is my own. I am a more appropriate emperor than any other that has sat on the throne. I would command a great deal of respect. Still, I balk at the notion.

"It is not my place." I say. My darker emotions continue to roil unchecked through me.

Both Razor and Zerius step forward, but Zerius speaks first. "You are a fine leader, and an exceptional dragonkin. You have been through an ordeal that would have ruined a lesser one."

I -am- ruined, though. I feel as though I will never be able to reclaim my innocent, older self from the claws of my broken heart. Still, I find myself entertaining the idea of being emperor, of righting wrongs and changing the land for the better. To change and transform it to my ideal vision. Under normal circumstances, such thoughts would feel dangerously treasonous, but who better to rule a nation than a demigod?

Razor speaks next, his voice somber and respectful. "Zuro'ki... I know your heart is aching, and you are in pain, but... I think this is what Rel'zeo would have wanted." The name spoken aloud causes me to wince in pain. "I believe you can do much good as Emperor, given time."

Rel... is this what you would want me to do? If you were here now, would you encourage me to assume the throne? If only you could tell me, even just so I could hear your voice one more time...

Our discussion is interrupted by a host of serpents entering the room, led by a large, rugged lizard in armor extravagant enough to indicate him as the leader. He glances around the room as his soldiers take up positions, and his gaze settles on the body of Shen before turning to Zerius.

"Tose se ses?" An unfamiliar language, I assume it is the serpents own.

Zerius turns to the lizard and nods. "Sat."

The fact that Zerius already communicates in their language surprises me a little. The lizard turns to his soldiers; strange, half-snake people with large builds and ornate but intimidating equipment. Their bared weapons glow with a soft bluish hue, but they are not raised in hostility,

The lizard utters one word to them. "Nesat."

The serpentine soldiers slither out of the room with no hesitation, and the rugged reptile steps up to me. "You must be Zuro'ki. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." He bows courteously before continuing. "I am Skandar, Viceroy over Testral, of Serysia, under the command of Khosrau Sirilrai. Your kinsman, Lord Zerius, enlisted our aid for your ailing Empire, and we were happy to oblige."

His command of our language is impressive, almost as if he was a native speaker. I stare at him, trying to read his expression. He is clever; he displays no emotion other than what he intends to show. It is already apparent that there is much more to this lizard than meets the eye.

"I appreciate Serysian assistance, but as you can see, it was not entirely necessary." I perhaps speak a bit more tersely than I should, but Skandar receives it well, and with a smile.

"Very good, I am glad you could resolve things under your own power. However, I have noticed over the years that the Divine Empire has always tried to keep Serysia at arms reach. I had hoped that this gesture would help open the doors of friendship between our peoples."

I continuously try to read between his meanings, but I know little of Serysian politics, nor the methods of their statesmen. I simply nod. "What do you intend?"

Skandar considers his words carefully, more so than before. "Ah, as a token of appreciation for our assistance, we had negotiated a fair, beneficial deal with Lord Zerius. Both our peoples will prosper from it."

Zerius shuffles nervously at this, gazing at me with a concerned eye.

I pause, stroking my chin, trying to avoid showing weakness or uncertainty. "I intend to ascend to the throne of Emperor. It is currently vacant, and I have received the majority vote of the remaining council. As such, I would hear the terms of your deal."

"Of course, Your Grace." The polite use of his words is not lost on me, though they are a little premature.

Skandar draws out the terms of their assistance, no doubt done alongside Zerius during his time there. Hopefully he has used his wits and not fallen sway to any coercing by the Serysian diplomats.

The farthest towns and villages to the east are to allow Serysian citizens to immigrate to and inhabit them, to exchange their cultures and learn their ways. To protect the interests of these pioneering serpents, a small Serysian garrison will also be assigned to each village, to compliment and assist the dragonkin militia that resides there. In addition, any dragonkin that wish to move to Serysian lands will be welcomed, and will be offered full rights and citizenship within Serysian borders. Finally, at least one representative of the Serysians must be allowed to have a say in the development of each given township, in order to provide the wisdom of a different point of view, and prevent any persecution of the new inhabitants.

It is, on the surface, a very fair and innocent opening of borders. The east will likely benefit greatly from Seryisan influence and resources, but it could all very well be a framework for something greater. I am skeptical of their intent, but I am not in a position where it would be wise to refuse. They could simply destroy the Empire I'm sure, but instead, they offer the hand of friendship.

"These are fair terms, but you are taking a lot of the responsibility and power from the eastern Prefect."

"His people will still answer to him, and our citizens will not be deaf to his concerns. Communication and dialogue is encouraged; we seek to ensure friendship, not usurp."

There is barely a break in his logic. He is either very earnest about this, or a complete master of negotiation. Perhaps both. I am forced to concede out of respect, but I find that the thought is less distasteful after hearing him discuss it.

"Very well, I accept these terms for your assistance. May our peoples prosper together."

Skandar smiles widely and nods. "Indeed! And may your rule be long and wise, Emperor Zuro'ki."

I am not Emperor yet, but... I find the thought pleasant, all of a sudden. I do not correct him. Perhaps the power and responsibility will fill the void inside... and distract me from the life I had once wanted to live, and now never can.