[User]
The necklace Zevani had been bound to had passed through many hands over the years. She was used to fell cities in rains of fire. To create powerful artifacts, riches. To give her masters whatever they requested that was within her power.

Somewhere, along the line, the last mage who she belonged to died before he could pass her along to someone worthy. That was sometime in the last few hundred years?

She slept in the necklace, in a sort of stasis to try and ease the maddening boredom, slept and waited for someone who had some spark of latent power or will enough to wake her up. The mage had no family, his belongings scattered, and eventually, the little locked wooden box ended up in a small secondhand and antique shop. The owner managed to get the box open, and found no secret treasure---so he thought anyway. The necklace went on display, not ever touched long enough to rouse the spirit.

Zevani was bored. Bored, and angry. A slow burning rage that had smoldered for centuries.

[Assistant]
Jax was something of a drifter. He did well at most things he tried but he never stuck with them. Mom had always been encouraging but dad wasn't above calling him a layabout or, on a bad day, a loser. At least he managed to pay his way into his own apartment in town, working a dead-end job at the grocery store he knew he had the talent for something bigger but he could just never settle on what. It always felt like he could do more with himself.

His latest fascination was Becky, another employee at the store. She wasn't much like him. From what he could tell she was content with her lot in life and something about that simple outlook drew to him. Maybe that was all he needed. Just to quiet all the delusions of grandeur and settle down. They got on well enough although it was hardly a sparking romance he had his hopes.

For his moments of awkwardness, he'd never been too bad with women but he certainly was no casanova. He had height going for him and a reasonably lean build, along with his curly, fairly long dark hair and bright blue eyes. People were often complimentary before his clumsiness with conversation spoiled the mood.

Today he had been trying to buy something for the girl he hoped might see past those moments. The necklace he found in the antique shop seemed perfect, almost out of place in its beauty and certainly distinct from the things he could find elsewhere. He purchased it eagerly, heading home to settle in and relax.

Back at the apartment, Jax closed the door, moving through and settling on the couch where he could remove the intricate necklace from its home nestled among tissue to get a better look at the craftsmanship and marvel at how he had managed to purchase such a piece for so low a price. Perhaps it was fake? He didn't know enough to tell. Hopefully, Becky didn't either. As he sat he eyed it, holding it up to the light and idly wondering how someone would even go about spotting a forgery when it came to jewelry.

[User]
At first the spirit inside the necklace didn't react to the metal being handled. It wasn't until the human was holding it and inspecting it for long enough to warm the metal that she woke. It wasn't an immediate reaction, more like a long hibernating animal being pulled from the deepest reaches of sleep. As her awareness started to surface, she realized there was someone holding her vessel. Someone who had just enough spark.

The intricate links of metal felt warm in his hand, and then warmer, not so much as to burn but definitely not usual. Finally she stretched her power outward, finding the crack she needed to enter the human realm from her vessel. Jax could hear what sounded like a satisfied sighing, decidedly female, as bluish white smoke trickled from the necklace. No more than a few tendrils, but they indicated her arrival.

And then she was simply there, standing before the couch, the warm feeling faintly warmer just from her sudden appearance. The skin of the fire spirit was almost black, fading to ashen hues in some areas. At the moment, there were sigils written all over her body. No, not written---they looked as if they were almost carved, as they allowed an inner glow of flame to show through. They trailed over her arms and legs, across her shoulders and collar bones. A single, larger sigil shone in the center of her forehead, between the curling black horns that rose there in the tangle of flames that was her hair.

She was... completely naked. And apparently fire spirits had no hair, aside from the writhing licks of fire on her head. But the nudity, aside from her golden bangles, allowed Jax to see without question that this entity was female. The figure she had was a mixture of soft curves and faint traces of muscle, and as she turned around he would get a chance to see the sigils that ran down the dip of her spine.

"This is a very unusual mage's tower." The Ifrit's voice was smoky, and she turned her eyes back to him. They were like two vibrant, red-hot coals, red and orange swirling together, no pupil, iris or whites to be seen. "And you. Are a very unusual mage."

[Assistant]
Although he wasn't a brave person, Jax had never jumped the way he did when she appeared. He startled then, quickly, sinking into the couch away from her heat and her intensity. Despite her gorgeous body, he wasn't in the right frame of mind to truly take in the striking display of feminine beauty as he found himself overwhelmed by the shock of her sudden appearance.

When she spoke he tried to reply, his gaze almost wavering in the face of hers as he blinked a few times. "This... this isn't a mage's tower?" He questioned, not sure what she meant by that. He didn't even know mage's towers existed. Did they exist? At this point, it was beginning to feel like a hallucination. Maybe someone drugged him?

Jax tried his best to keep his eyes on hers, resisting the instinctive urge to let them slip a little lower. "I'm not a mage." He confessed, then looking uncertainly as he felt incredibly lost. "What are you? What's happening?" Jax questioned, trying not to panic. If she wanted to attack him she could have. Maybe she was friendly?

[User]
The gaze Zevani leveled on the human was imperious, but her eyes narrowed as he said it wasn't a mage's tower and he was no mage. "Nonsense." She stepped closer as he sank back into the cushions, leaning over to bring herself eye level with him. Oddly, the heat from her didn't become overwhelming or even unpleasant. Either the fire dancing around her head was not harmful, or she was keeping it from being harmful. "You released me from my vessel. You must be." One of her fingers, tipped in a glossy black nail, reached out and poked him in the chest. "And yet..." She splayed the hand out against his chest, as if examining him.

He felt a pleasant warmth seep into him, and then retreat when she straightened back up and pulled her hand away. "You are no mage." It was said in an almost accusatory manner, as if Jax had somehow tricked her. "Who are you, human!" The Ifrit demanded, her fists moving to the curves of her hips. "Explain yourself, or I will burn you to ash."

Jax may or may not be able to see through her bluff, but it was said as if it was simple fact, that she would indeed disintegrate him in flames if he should fail to explain what had happened.

[Assistant]
He could only blink and shake his head as she made her claims, doing all that he could to deny them while letting her touch him, fearing the repercussions if he stood up to her. Even if he wasn't particularly cowardly the fiery-haired woman clearly possessed abilities outside the realm of human possibility.

When Zevani threatened him, he struggled for a moment, eyeing her and fully believing she might follow up on that thread. For a moment his eyes lingered on the curve of those hips where her hands settled but then he met her gaze again. "I'm Jax. I just bought a necklace for a girl... I don't know what's happening." The warmth in his body was undeniably oddly pleasant even after that light touch, enough to distract him a little.

"Please, I don't understand what's going on," Jax repeated, trying his best to convince her that this really was some kind of twist of fate and far from an organized plot on his part.

[User]
The spirit tilted her head as he said he had just intended to buy her vessel "for a girl". "A girl you say? A friend? A lover?" The Ifrit lowered her hands from her hips and instead started to look around the room, having apparently decided Jax and his pretty blue eyes were no threat. "You cannot give away the necklace." The sultry voice was firm, like someone reprimanding a puppy, then she turned and looked at him again.

"But I can create other things for you to give her. What does she like? Gold? Jewels?" Then she realized he still looked rather lost, and she sighed a little. "I am Zevani. I am Ifrit." Moving closer to him again, she dropped onto the couch next to him. "I take fire spirits are not known to you?" Her brow arched, and she studied him closely. When she was near him, he could smell something spicy and warm, woodsy. Which was probably better than the potential for her to smell like ash.

"I am a spirit of magic and power. I am bound to that necklace, you must wear it. What are you called?" Others had demanded she call them master, but since he didn't seem to know what he had in his hands... perhaps she could bargain with this human far more than previous masters.

[Assistant]
"A girl, yes. Becky," Jax confessed right away, not sure how to answer the latter part. "We're just friends for now but..." He trailed, then quickly nodding. "No, no, I won't. I promise," He tried to assure the Ifrit, fearful of riling up that temper. There was a little concern that she might become offended by his adoration for Becky but for the moment he didn't know what it was that this woman wanted with him.

When the offer of gold and jewels came to her he blinked, quickly answering. "I think everyone likes those," Jax noted, then smiling slightly at her sigh. At least she seemed less angry. When she approached and told him her name he felt a little more settled. Somehow a name made her feel more real and less terrifying. "Hi, Zevani," He replied, a little clumsily, then shaking his head. "No. I'm sorry," He offered, not sure if she would be offended at his lack of knowledge.

Even if he ordinarily couldn't have possibly believed her claim her presence was undeniable. She was obviously far more than human. Eyeing the necklace he briefly wondered if it would suit him but soon realized the benefits seemed to outweigh any risk if she could so openly offer gold and jewels, though he wondered what the catch was. "My name is Jax," He answered, not entirely sure what she was expecting as he lifted the necklace over his head and settled it around his neck, then turning to face her a little and briefly feeling his eyes wander lower to her chest, curious if she was about to snap at him for staring. Now that she was less angry it was easier to appreciate her intense beauty.

[User]
"Becky." Zevani tried the name on, pursing her lips briefly. "An odd name, but if that is who you want." A small shrug of one shoulder and then she tilted her head as he smiled. He had a surprisingly nice smile, for such a timid young human. "Jax, another unusual name, but I like it better than Becky." It was said matter-of-factly and without malice. It didn't seem to bother her that he was smitten with this Becky person.

"Hm." The woman eyed him again, and noted his gaze wandering. Her breasts were free of the glowing sigils that were higher on her chest, her skin looking impossibly smooth, the breasts topped with coal black nipples. "You don't know of Ifrit?" She made a disgusted sound. "Have we become less common? Do you have other spirits your mages call?" Waving a hand, the bangles on her arms jangled softly, and it was as if she was dismissing the idea that any other spirits would be as useful or powerful as Ifrit would be.

Then she went back to the fact his eyes continued to move between her face and chest. "Does my body some how offend you, Jax? Nudity is not a concern for me, but I can dress if you are celibate."

[Assistant]
Jax didn't know how to take the comment about Becky's name, just blinking and then smiling wider when his own name was slightly complimented. At least she wasn't angry about it. That was something. It felt like there was a great deal of intensity just under her surface that he worried might come bubbling up with a few poorly chosen words on his part.

Despite the inhuman aspects, her body was beautiful. Jax couldn't help admiring how full her breasts were, the way they were so perked up and the way her body gave way to such lean, sculpted muscle before curving back out at the hips. It took a few blinks to settle his mind before he replied. "We don't have mages anymore. I'm sorry. Nobody knows of spirits or magic anymore," He pointed out, now not sure if perhaps some might now but if they did they certainly kept it a secret.

When she finally questioned him he looked worried again, biting his lip briefly. "No, it doesn't offend me. I was just... admiring?" He offered in his defence, hoping he had not angered her. "I'm not celibate!" He replied, briefly raising his voice a touch in defence of his sexuality. He wasn't the best with women but he wasn't celibate either. "I'm not very experienced, though," Jax eventually confessed, shaking his head as if not sure why he was admitting that. "I've never seen anyone who looks as good as you."

[User]
Zevani looked bemused, "No mages?" She searched his face, as if looking for any hint of deception there. But the young man seemed remarkably open. "No magic at all?" Well... if that was the case, that did change a few things. How much she could accomplish, without any other mages or spirits around to stop her!

Jax stating he was admiring her made her visibly preen, sitting up a bit straighter, a little smile curling her lips. But when he vehemently denied being celibate, that brought a little laugh out instead. "I'm sorry, Jax. I did not mean to offend." The fire spirit seemed to perk up as he said he had never seen someone like her, and she leaned in a little, rather invading his space. "Oh? So you like what you see that much?"

The grin that spread over her features was downright predatory. "You know, you don't have to be inexperienced, before you woo this... Becky." The way she said names was still a bit stiff, but the rest was highly suggestive. In fact the way her eyes ran over him was rather pointed. "I've been asleep for a very long time." It was said to try and indicate the fact she felt a bit lacking. Most of her masters had kept her at arms length, preferring she help them obtain human women for their dalliances. But she had enjoyed quite a few human companions, when the magical leash that held her had been loosened.

[Assistant]
"None," Jax confirmed right away, nodding when she questioned if there was any magic at all. So far as he knew she was utterly one of a kind, at least right now.

Having half expected her to meet his defiance with anger he could only smile when she laughed, shaking his head a little. "It's okay," He replied right away, glad they could brush past it. When she leaned in he blinked, briefly glancing down to admire again. "I... yes," Jax admitted, unable to deny the appeal of the fiery beauty.

Even he caught her grin and her tone, watching her eyes as they ran over his body. He had to wonder what a being like him could truly want with a relatively ordinary human like him. As he went to reply he stumbled over his words a bit. "I... I don't?" He questioned, tilting his head. "What do you mean?" Jax asked, wanting to be certain and to avoid risky assumptions.

[User]
There was a brief flash of exasperation in her features as he questions what she meant, of course not realizing he was simply being cautious. "I mean, I have been without a partner for a very long time, Jax. And I would very much like not to go without." With a tilt of her head, she sat back, and gestured to him. "Now, I'm not suggesting you have to." That was very against her nature, even if it wasn't beneath her to use her powers to force people to do other things.

Leaning forward again, this time she sort of half-crawled toward him, until her face came near his again. One hand slid a finger down his chest, examining his odd clothing as she did. Again, her touch imparted a sort of warmth that was almost comforting, instead of suffocating. "But if you truly admire what you see, I could help you gain some experience, young Jax."

The term young wasn't said in a condescending way, more she knew she was older than he by more than little. She couldn't even remember how old she was last time she knew the year, and now she wasn't sure what decade it was at all. "You may touch me, if you want." The Ifrit practically purred the words, a sound that was incredibly odd and clearly due to... whatever her nature was. But it was evident by that sound and her tone that she was rather hoping he'd take her up on the offer.

[Assistant]
When she made things clear he gave a cautious nod, offering quickly. "I'd like to help you. You shouldn't have to go without," He murmured, already barely considering his infatuation with Becky. It was hard to weigh up anything else when he had a woman who looked like she did offering herself so freely and confidently.

He let her touch her as she saw fit, nodding again more eagerly. "I really do admire everything I see," He promised, his voice a little more breathy as she warmed his body and made him shiver with a rush of anticipation.

The offer she laid out was irresistible and so he did as she wanted, reaching out to first grace his fingertips against her shoulder. Although he was far from especially muscular he'd always been relatively strong and there were a few callouses on his hands from the times he'd had more practical work. Still, for the moment, he didn't show much of that strength as he touched her delicately, letting her feel him explore with his large hand, eventually settling the palm against her and giving feeling the warmth of her skin. "I want you to give me a little experience," Jax requested, meeting her eyes and speaking with a little more certainty now.

[User]
The spirit seemed quite pleased with his decision, as she crawled a bit more to him, forcing him to lean back into the arm of the couch due to him having turned to face her. Now she slid her hand more fully along his chest, feeling the muscle hidden there. No he might not be some brawny warrior, but they weren't always the best lovers, what did she care? Besides, she had a certain enjoyment for all types of males, and he had lovely eyes!

When he touched her, she hummed in encouragement, and slid her hand over the fabric of his shirt down to his stomach, tugging on it teasingly. "These are interesting garments, Jax." Leaning in closer, she tilted her head to take in the scent of him. The hand he put on her shoulder would feel she was warm, and her skin was impossibly soft. Despite the glowing runes appearance, where his hand touched them he felt no difference in her skin.

"I would like to give you a very nice experience." Zevani countered with a smile, and slipped her hand under his shirt, her nails gently trailing over the skin of his lower abdomen, almost but not quite tickling.

[Assistant]
Jax wasn't quite sure what to say to her assessment of his shirt but he did smile wide when she continued to touch him, returning the gesture by squeezing her shoulder a little and beginning to slip his hand lower while his other came up to settle at the other side of the Ifrit, both approaching her chest while he marveled at her softness.

He was breathing heavily as he looked her in the eyes and nodded, briefly closing his and sighing when he felt those nails against him. "I can only imagine all the things you can show me," Jax murmured, his hands lowering until they grew cautious again, his touch more nervous when he lowered to delicately cup her full, soft breasts in his hands, too anxious to squeeze or even touch too firmly, for the moment.

[User]
Zevani clearly enjoyed the touching, because when Jax's hands finally found her breasts she pushed into them, encouraging him. "Mm... it's been a very long time, but I'll try to make sure you enjoy yourself. Go ahead, squeeze them, it won't hurt me." Her nipples felt firm in the curve of her breasts, one of her hands moved to his, and guided his fingertips to that firm nub. "And touch these."

Her fingers stroked back down over the back of his hand, and up his arm, to reach the top of his shirt. This time her fingertips ran along his neck, and up to his jaw. Leaning in, she brought her lips very near to his, until he could almost feel her lips. "Are you a good kisser, Jax?" The spirit didn't give him a chance to answer verbally, she just kissed him gently. The warmth of her lips was intense, and she tasted faintly sweet, before she pulled away from his mouth.

But then she made a faintly hungry sound and kissed him again, much more forcefully, the hand on his face sliding over his jaw as her other hand moved down his chest, tugging his shirt upward on the way back up.

[Assistant]
She didn't have to encourage him for long before his grip grew far firmer, squeezing just as she encouraged and adjusting his fingertips a little to catch her firm nipples between forefinger and thumb. The first pressure he applied was more gentle but, soon, he squeezed harder again just to try to draw some pleasure out of such a creature.

He'd been distracted by the feel of her when she leaned in, opening his mouth to reply when she silenced him with a kiss that he returned as best he could, closing his eyes and meeting the gesture as her warmth flooded his mouth and he caught a unique, sweet taste.

Again he went to speak when they broke but her sound told him that was unwise, instead again returning the kiss and doing his best to show his own hunger as he gave his all to the eager, needy gesture whilst still teasing her soft breasts and hard nipples as best he could. With his hands on her, he simply let her roll his shirt up, knowing she would reveal a reasonably lean but far from bulky or powerful body and wondering how he measured up against her other lovers, if they were even human.

[User]
The Ifrit seemed to not mind at all that he wasn't a powerfully built man, with the way her hands seemed to eagerly explore over his chest. The young man was smart enough to not argue when she kissed him again, not that she expected him to unless she did something particularly displeasing. The kiss continued for a moment, lips soft and inviting against his, before she pulled back just a bit and nipped delicately at his lower lip.

"Oh, you aren't too bad at that at all, Jax." Zevani complimented him, and then he could feel the little shudder that ran down her spine from the attention he paid to her breasts, as she sat up just slightly and flick the fabric of his shirt with one finger. It just... disintegrated. In a myriad of little, heatless sparks, it faded from his body and left his torso bare so she could look at him. With the unusualness of her eyes it was difficult to tell, but Jax might be able to see the growing hunger in her gaze as she ran it down his body.

Gingerly, she leaned in again, the warmth from her hair teasing against one of his cheeks as she tipped her head and nuzzled her nose against his throat. "Is there anything specifically you enjoy? You need only ask, if so. Otherwise I will attempt to find it on my own." The words were murmured close to his ear, as she moved her leg to rest just slightly between his own, nudging it upward until it could press carefully against his clothed groin.


[User]
It had been 8 months since the Cril from planet Onia had invaded earth. The first contact with aliens had not been as expected. There was no ''take me to your leader'', or violent attack. Instead, human women had begun to mysteriously disappear and never return. Finally, NASA was able to see past their fleet's shields and leaders from around the world gathered to discuss what they could do. Some wanted to use nukes---not exactly an ideal solution---some wanted to study them, and others wanted to make a treaty. In the end, the Cril made the decision for them by offering a deal.

They had the ability to decimate the planet if they chose, but all they truly wanted were the women. Apparently, an ugly virus on Onia had wiped out the majority of the female population and left the rest infertile. They were facing extinction if they didn't find a solution. At first, they had tried medical procedures and their version of IVF, but nothing worked. Years went by with no offspring, and with the older Cril dying off, it was clear the situation was dire. They were in the Hutox Galaxy that had not even been discovered by human astronomers yet, so at first, they tried other species of the Hutox. This was unsuccessful as well.

That's when an astrophysicist from Onia discovered Earth. Previously unknown, it was clear that Earth was a primitive backwater compared to the rest of the known universe. They doubted the species would be compatible, but it was worth a shot. Some women were abducted, and lo and behold, pregnancy was achieved. The children born were healthy and possessed the best traits of both species. Finally, there was some hope.

Of course, the women were not usually happy about their kidnapping, nor were the rest of humanity. Therefore, the Cril offered terms. They would protect Earth from any other invasions and not attack themselves---all they required was a supply of fertile women. Women's rights groups were up in arms, obviously, but the governments could not risk the safety of the planet. Therefore, a draft was set up globally. All single women between the ages of 21 and 45 were checked by an OB/GYN and those who were fertile were put into a lottery. Some women paid officials off to be taken off the list, and others paid them off to move to the front of the line.

June Twain was one of the unlucky ones who was fertile and within that age range. At 30, she was focused on her career and earning a doctorate in anthropology. The opportunity to study the Cril was exciting, but she didn't want to be a broodmare. With tuition, she couldn't afford to pay anyone off, though, and soon her name was drawn for her to be sold off to some Cril general. She didn't know his name, nor did she truly care. She just hoped that she could be as unpleasant as possible so he'd send her back. It had happened occasionally. After all, there were many women who wanted to be given to the aliens.

Once a woman was selected from the catalog of available lottery ''winners'', they were taken to the central processing center of their country. That's where their new 'mate' picked them up and took them to their ship. Some had even gone home to Onia. Today, June had been poked and prodded and dressed in a white gown to be given away. Honestly, she felt and looked like a sacrificial lamb. If she could fight back, she would, but the guns that the guards carried guaranteed compliance. Maybe she'd be lucky and the alien would be nice. No, that was ridiculous. She was being forced no matter how kind he was. Maybe she'd figure out a way to escape, and her experience could be turned into a dissertation. That was her only solace in this nightmare of a situation. Sitting in the receiving area, she played with the hem of her dress nervously and tried to take a deep breath.

[Assistant]
Advose Mythriwen Ga'londel walked calmly through the Central Processing facility, the newly minted Advose insignia proud on his shoulder and chest. The humans would call it something similar to their General ranks, yet that failed to capture the political, social and economic strata of an Advose. He wasn't a mere soldier. He was among his societies top officials. Albeit in the upper echelons of Cril society he was still on the lower side, given his relative youth, but he had achieved the position by his middle years and that was to be lauded. It would have been in any other time but this. Instead it was just an opportunity to do his species a service by not being one of the daft old Advose or Arinok who would normally be among the first picks to select their wives.

Damn this plague. They called it the Plague of Silence. The silence that followed after so many of them died, of no new children being born. The Cril had never been an overly emotive species, but the Plague of Silence had certainly changed a lot for them as they dealt with the societal backlash of a literal lost generation. And now here he was, to collect his new mate. The human breeder. It took him a moment to register that the medic had stopped talking. "Mmm, yes?" he ventured to the man.

The other blue skinned Cril led him into the next room, the one where his new mate would be. He listened as the medic droned on about genetic compatibility and breeding cycles, lactation, gestation and more, yet it was with half an ear as he stood there just inside the door and studied this... what was her name...

"Miss June Twain, or I should say Miss June Tw'londel. Please stand so your new mate can see you," the alien medic said while Mythriwen just started to circle around her, sitting or not he could make his assessment.

"You've got wide, childbearing hips... good. Your secondary sexual characteristics should be good for suckling the young. I understand that you study dead societies. Good. I'll have documents assigned for your study. We'll see how your primitive education does with processing the societies of several alien species. In this house we don't get to lay around and just breed and have babies all day. We work. Are you prepared for that?" The way he was eyeing her it was even odds if he was going to ask to inspect her teeth next.

[User]
June was happy as she waited for her new ''mate'' to arrive. Apparently he was some big deal in Cril society. Big whoop. She couldn't care less! He could be president of Onia---if they had presidents---for all she knew, and she'd still not respect him. She had honestly expected first contact to go completely different. Of course there had always been the fear that aliens would be hostile, if they even existed, but June had hoped that they would be peaceful. That way, she could learn about extraterrestrial life and culture.

Now she had the chance, but she was supposed to be popping out babies the whole time. Supposedly they only had to be ''mated'' for two years and then they'd go to a different male Cril. It was a nightmare. The women were just passed around like meat. She had no idea if they even were able to keep their children after the ''mating'' was over. She'd heard horror stories of people competing and killing Cril men for their mates if the killer was too low on the list to get a human woman. They had truly gone back to prehistoric times.

It made her laugh that Cril thought they were the superior species when they were abducting and impregnating women against their will. The irony was great, and not lost on June. Brought back to the present by the Cril medic, she frowned at his changing of her name. Was it supposed to sound more Onian? Crillian? What did they call their language anyway, and how did they speak the languages of the women they took? She had heard that they had translator technology implanted, but she didn't know for certain.

She considered staying seated out of defiance, but she knew there were guards there to manhandle her if need be. Besides, she had to pick her battles, and she had a feeling she'd need all her energy for the fights ahead. That's when she saw her 'mate' for the first time. She'd grown used to the blue skin and red eyes that the Cril had, but he was still striking. He was younger than most upper-level officers had been, but she also knew that they aged slower than humans. He could be 50 or older for all she knew.

His words earned a red flush to her neck as her fury grew. She wanted to choose her battles, but it seemed she was choosing this one. "Wow. How respectful. My assets are good for being a broodmare, it appears. I'll have you know that even though I fully intended to continue my studies and career, childbirth and child rearing are not ''laying around the house''. I would like you to spend nine months pregnant and push a watermelon out your asshole to see how it feels." She knew that her words could get her in trouble, but he had hit a nerve, and she was almost steaming with anger.

[Assistant]
Mythriwen was confident in the superiority of his species; technologically, physically and educationally. In fact if it hadn't been for this blasted Plague he would have had his choice of any of the available Crillan females. Instead he, like everyone else was forced to make do with this Human species. So arrogant, calling the Cril humanoids, as if they were derivative of the human fungus that grew on this planet. He crossed his arms over his chest and considered June.

Yes, something could be said of this one at the very least. Appropriately proportioned, healthy. And oh was she... yelling? He took a moment and focused on what she was saying and the translator, processing it thoughtfully. It took a moment for the context to be processed, these humans were very inefficient with their language, using a lot of euphemisms insinuation where plain statements would get the job done much better.

His mouth opened to respond to her when he noted the red flush to her cheeks and began babbling in his native tongue to the doctor. "''What is going on there? The redness. She isn't getting ill is she?''" It was hard to place, especially given the lack of common language in what he was saying, but it sounded like concern. Though whether for him or for her was something else entirely and it could be that he had just ordered her killed for speaking out against him. Either way the medic was soon approaching with some form of scanner which whirred threateningly for a moment. "''She is fine. It appears to be a slight rise of heat associated with increased pressure in her vascular system.''" It was clear that the medic already knew of such situations with the human physiology, but had put on a show for the sake of the Advose.

Mythriwen turned back to June then, with a grunt of frustration, said in her tongue, "You must be careful. No matter how good your assets, if you were to fall ill, it would be unthinkable. No career, no children and no pushing of watermelons." It seems that the translator was an imperfect thing when it came to idioms. "You are too valuable to lose."

[User]
June could tell that he considered himself above mere humans. Once again, she would have loved to pick a Cril's brain about their culture and technology, but no one liked arrogance. Humanity might be very flawed, but she couldn't imagine his society was much better. At least the U.N. had demanded rights for all world citizens. Of course, they hadn't put up much of a fight when the Cril had demanded women.

The thought made her angry, but there was nothing she could do about it. At least, not for now. Her new 'mate' looked at her strangely as she talked back to him, and for a moment she wondered how smart it was to sass someone who had the power in this dynamic. If he thought she was just going to roll over and take it---quite literally---then he was sorely mistaken. She could not understand their words, although supposedly she'd be implanted with a language chip if he wished for her to be. Again, men had all the power. Even alien civilizations were patriarchal. Gross.

The medic seemed to scan her for something, and she narrowed her eyes as they spoke in Crillian again. Would this equipment kill her? At this point, the whole thing seemed so bizarre and awful that she wasn't sure she'd even care. No, that wasn't true. She'd survive no matter what. When he finally turned back to her, she met his red eyes with her own blue ones and crossed her arms over her chest. It was clear he didn't quite understand her sarcasm, but that was to be expected. Even if they could speak each other's languages, that didn't mean there wouldn't be times they were lost in translation.

"I'm not ill. I wish I was, as that way I wouldn't be sold off to you." He wasn't necessarily bad looking. In fact, he was quite attractive given the differences between them. He seemed to have lean muscle and was quite a bit taller than her... but Cril tended to be larger on average. Supposedly their women were also tall and muscular, which meant her short and thick body was likely not his cup of tea. Not that her body was necessarily fashionable in the human world either, but she'd never had complaints from partners.

Oddly enough, he did seem to be genuine when he said she was valuable, and for a moment, she did feel for the Cril. She knew they were dying off with no new offspring, and she couldn't imagine if humanity had to solve a problem like that. She still didn't agree with their methods, obviously, but she could understand the desire for extreme measures. Huffing in irritation, the medic handed Mythriwen a tablet to sign for finality of the agreement. If he signed, the medic would take it back and let him know that he could take his woman with him now.

[Assistant]
Mythriwen grimaced at the words his new mate spouted off in her frustration. He tried to understand, he really did, but the survival of his species was at stake here. He stared at her for a moment as if considering what to say, planning out what he was going to respond with. But then the words were coming and they were just wrong. "Do you think this is what I wanted either? To be paired with a human? We have our duties to do. You have yours and I have mine." Still there was a shred of well not humanity, he wasn't human, but basic decency in Mythriwen, but he couldn't speak it aloud, not here.

Instead he took the tablet and reviewed it, something that gave the medic some pause as no one really reviewed the documents they were handed, they just signed and accepted. This became doubly strange when Mythriwen commented, "She doesn't have the translator. Give her one."

The medic looked like he might argue, but the Advose gave him a sharp look and nothing was said. Mythriwen hated having to act as the Advose for little things, but sometimes people liked to abuse their power just because they had some. The Medic seemed one of those who saw himself as the king of his own kingdom. He had been disabused of that notion now.

The medic took a large syringe, largely filled with nano-particles and walked over towards June and without ceremony jabbed her at the base of the hear and injected some that were programmed to replicate and form into the translator. "Done," the Medic said. "The translator will be finished in twenty minutes."

"Very good," The Advose said, Mythriwen stewing behind the guise of his office. He signed the tablet and handed it back before making a curt gesture for June to follow him. He hadn't spoken to her that much, but now was not the time or place and there were societal expectations to keep with.

[User]
June was legitimately surprised by the genuine emotion she saw on her new mate's face. She hated that she was thinking of him as her mate, but she didn't have another name to call him. Plus, unfortunately, that's what he was. Her mate. Whether she liked it or not, until she found a way out of this mess, he essentially owned her. The thought made her lip curl, but it was no use feeling sorry for herself. She had to appear strong.

He seemed almost offended by being forced to mate with her, and perhaps she should be upset at that. She wasn't sure what to say, though, and truthfully, she wanted to get away from the medic. He was cold, and she wanted to learn more about her new ''husband''. Of course, only so she could escape obviously.

He actually looked over the entire agreement, and that earned both surprise and respect from her. She'd never had the patience to read terms and conditions---and apparently did not have the patience to allow others to do it either. As he read, she fidgeted nervously and was about ready to say something when he seemed to finish.

Truthfully, she was glad that he wanted her to have the translator. Some didn't want the human women to have it as they thought without it, they were more submissive. At least he wanted her to be aware and informed. However, the sudden jab of the needle earned a gasp and glare from her. "Ow! You could have warned me. Geez." Rubbing the spot where the nanites had gone in, she exhaled and made a face at the medic. It wasn't mature of a 30-year-old woman to act so childish, but right now, she didn't care. They'd uprooted her whole life. She had a damn good reason to feel impudent.

She did follow Mythriwen, though. She figured the sooner they were alone, the sooner she could either convince him to release her or learn how best to escape. His legs were longer than hers, so she padded along after him and tried to keep up. "Where are we going?"

[Assistant]
Mythriwen was a Cril of two minds of what he had to be doing and this human breeder was making it harder for him to keep focused on that. The survival of his species was most important, despite any misgivings he had. He hadn't lied to her when he had spoken to her about not wishing this, of doing his duty, but not for the reasons that she likely thought he had. The truth was that Mythriwen just missed his mate. Not June, but his real mate who had died in the plague.

Perhaps he was being harsh on the human, he mused as they walked, she hadn't intended on it being the solution to their problem. Yet this infernal human certainly did make it more difficult with how she fought against it. She had a duty, he had a duty; it wasn't for either of them to question their duty or go against it.

Her question earned a look from him, his cold red pupiless eyes stared at her for a moment unblinking before he said, "To my ship. There are things we must do before we leave this planet, but first we must to my ship. We will collect whatever belongings... within reason... that you wish to bring with you to Onia. I am Advose Mythriwen Ga'londel. In keeping with the traditions of our people you will adopt the family portion of my name. However, as you do not have a childs name with which to preface it with so your own human family name shall do so. This is why you have been assigned the name June Tw'londel."

His steps were precise, orderly, measured so as to make sure she could keep up, though it seemed that he could have walked faster comfortably and forced her to keep up. They passed high halls until they opened up into a large hanger where his spaceship was located. The ship was sleek with several sharp edges, aggressive despite being something that didn't seem built for battle, though it likely could handle itself well enough if need be, but more for comfort and transport, something suited to his rank.

[User]
They both seemed to be unwilling in this plan, and honestly, that made her feel a bit better. She had seen some Cril who were clearly so excited about their new mates that they almost carried them away like conquering soldiers and their trophies. She supposed that analogy was especially apt in this case, actually. They likely did feel like an army taking their prizes, and although she knew some had made happy matches, she had a feeling that was rare. At least if her mate was not excited, then he may be more willing to let her go. She could only hope.

She might have noticed that he was walking a bit slower for her if she wasn't trying so hard to keep up with him as it was. She'd always had short legs, so this was nothing new. The pounding in her heart was new, though. Would he demand sex right away? Would he be cold and clinical the entire time? As antagonistic as she had been, part of her hoped that maybe they would get along eventually.

June was lost in her thoughts when he said they were going and finally told her his name. She wasn't crazy that she would be changing her name, nor that children changed the woman's name. She was doubtful that they changed the father's name, even though children should be equally important to both. From her brief reading about Cril society, she knew that Advose was quite an important title, so she was a bit surprised she was claimed by him. He could have chosen a model or actress if he wanted.

At least he was planning to let her get some of her things. She supposed he could have been cruel and refused. The ship was impressive. It was every bit as sleek and efficient as anything in sci-fi movies, and part of her couldn't deny that she was excited to experience the sort of thing that seemed so far away before the invasion. As her eyes took in the ship, it was clear that she was impressed. "They made me put anything I wanted to keep with me in a duffel bag. I think they said it would be delivered to your ship." Just as expected, the duffel bag containing pictures, a few books, and keepsakes from her family was sitting by the ramp up to his ship.

[Assistant]
Mythriwen adored his ship, not that you could tell by his rather expressionless face as they walked across to the ramp that led up into it. A pair of guards waited at the base of it and watched the two approach, standing straighter and taller as the Advose and his mate neared. Mythriwen barely paid them any mind and stopped at the base of the ramp, near where her duffle had been set to collect it. It might almost have seemed as if he would inspect it, but instead he just seemed to be carrying it.

"Very good, though if you need anything else, do say so before we leave," he informed his mate, glancing back at her. "I'll take this and show you to our quarters." He nodded to her formally and then turned to head up the ramp and into the interior of the ship.

It was luxurious, all things considered, but with a definitive alien design aesthetic to it. Sharp angles and geometric shapes were favored over rounder edges in the decorations, such as there were. It was more design built into the function, making it appealing to Mythriwen and comfortable, but without too much added bulk and weight, which would have made transportation with the ship more difficult.

He led her down straight halls to a large enough cabin, designed for them both so that it was comfortable, if not expansive. It was again a concession to space travel and its needs that kept it from being larger. Once inside he moved to a small couch, a concession to comfort and set her duffle upon it. It was only after the doors had closed behind him that he seemed to relax at all, though it wasn't full relaxation, not even here. She was here and he still wasn't comfortable with this.

"These are our quarters," he said to her; there was notably only one bed. "You have free run of the ship, though please be careful about what you touch. I'd rather we not all die in a fiery explosion."

[User]
As they walked toward his ship, June noticed the guards and frowned a bit. Not all ships were guarded like this, so it was just another sign that he was someone important. She shouldn't be impressed, but truthfully, he cut somewhat of an impressive figure. Not only was he rather physically imposing and handsome in a decidedly alien way, but he demanded respect from his fellow Cril.

Following him up the ramp, she noticed him grabbing her duffel and her manners kicked in. "Thank you." It was said in a much quieter tone than she'd used earlier, and showed that perhaps she wasn't all spit and vinegar. Perhaps she could be sweet. As she assumed the duffel would be the only allowance she'd have of her old life, and they'd assured her that the ship would have a fabricator for clothing and necessities, she had taken a long time to pick out exactly what to put in it. Feeling like she'd be selfish if she kept an apartment full of unused belongings, she had donated the majority of them to the homeless and given anything else to her friends to keep for her (hopeful) escape.

That's when his words finally sank in, and her eyes widened. Perhaps she'd misheard. Their quarters? As in shared? Already? She grew a bit more nervous, and she couldn't even appreciate the amazing interior of the ship as he led her to the room. Just as she'd feared, there was one bed, and she swallowed as she stared at the offending piece of furniture. "So... uh... I don't suppose this is one of a pair of bedrooms that we'll use... separately." She knew it was a dumb question, as he had not indicated that there was more than one bedroom, but she had to try.

[Assistant]
Mythriwen nodded at her thanks, acknowledging it while not making a bit deal of it. Still he appreciated it. Maybe she wouldn't be so bad to be mated with if she could behave like this. She wasn't... bad to look at. She just wasn't his old mate. There was a certain exoticness to these humans and there was a reason why some of the Cril were so eager to take them to bed.

After depositing the duffel he moved to a wall panel and pressed it to open it and reveal a closet. He began to remove his coat and carefully hang it up as he said, "Yes, our quarters. It is not easy to remodel a ship so often, so we will be maintaining one set of chambers for ourselves. One bedroom."

He glanced over at her after hanging up the coat and he said, "We are mates, it would also be improper of us to share different quarters." Then his shirt began to come off, slipped off over his head to reveal his athletic, blue skinned body. The shirt joined the jacket and moments later the pants follow, revealing that while he looked mostly human in shape, despite being blue skinned and larger, there were certain differences. The big one was that his penis, while well proportioned for his size, was also rigged and while it had a flared head, it's navy color made it seem more like something out of a sex toy shop.

[User]
He seemed to dread this just as much as her, and although she'd told herself that was good, she wasn't necessarily feeling as relieved as she should. Part of her was almost sad that he seemed just as miserable as she was. Did she want him to want her? She shouldn't. She felt like she was being a bad feminist and betraying her own ethics, but she couldn't help the desire for him to---well---desire her. It was silly, but it was true.

Watching him reveal a closet and hang up his coat, she did not expect him to continue stripping. She guessed the Cril were much less prudish about nudity than humans, and although she'd normally applaud that confidence, it was quite disarming. Averting her eyes as his impressive physique was revealed, she saw that he was naked out of the corner of her eye and swallowed before taking a peek. Holy... shit. What was that? It was clearly a cock, but it was larger and stranger than any she'd seen in the past. True, her experience had been relatively limited, but still... the ridges. The size. It was something out of a fantasy romance novel.

"Oh... oh wow. Umm..." Blushing deeply, she tried to look anywhere except at his member and was failing miserably. Her eyes kept returning to his package and she cursed herself for her obvious weakness. What the hell was wrong with her? Not only was she fascinated by the sight, but her body was reacting. She could feel her core heating and her nipples hardening. What if he noticed it as well?

Trying to think of something---anything---different, she wondered if he'd be okay with her calling him Myth, as the full name was a bit of a mouthful. Well, more than just his name. Suddenly she blurted out, "Can I call you Myth?"

[Assistant]
He had been so focused on getting undressed and doing what he would normally do when he returned to his quarters and intended to stay that he hardly thought about what it might be like for June, who wasn't used to this sort of lifestyle, at least that is what his briefings had told him. So when he heard the surprised words from her and turned, he made no move to cover himself just yet.

His eyes took her in, the way her cheeks turned that lovely shade of red... he had seen it before when it was a look of anger. But now it looked enticing, especially as he noticed the way her nipples peaked, pushing at the fabric of her clothes. He couldn't help himself, his cock gave a small twitch and he took a deep breath. It was then that he caught the smell of her, he could taste it, her arousal. Fuck it smelled good. This was more powerful than any other smell he had experienced. Cril had better senses of smell and they said the more compatible the match the better someone smelled when aroused, but this was... something else.

His eyes seemed to take on a darker shade of red as he walked to her, his ridged manhood slowly hardening. "Yes," he finally said in a throaty answer to her question, coming to stop just before her. "You can call me Myth, June. I...." He didn't have words to express his arousal, his need for her, so instead he reached out with a hand and cupped her cheek.

[User]
June wished she could be more immune to the sight, but perhaps her frayed emotions left her more raw and vulnerable than she had realized. He hadn't seemed to realize that his disrobing would affect her in the way it did, but when he saw her cheeks and heard her stuttered words, there was no doubt that she was uncomfortable in a variety of ways.

That's when she noticed his own reaction and swallowed a bit nervously. His eyes grew more hungry, and his unusual cock twitched and grew hard before her eyes. The urge to go over and feel the smooth, yet ridged, skin was powerful, but she balled her hands into fists and resisted. How could she be horny when she was literally just given to this man as a walking womb?

Everything in her brain told her to curse and insult, but she knew it was just a defense mechanism. Truthfully, it had been a long time since she'd been intimate with anyone, and she'd forgotten what arousal truly felt like. Why did it have to reappear now out of all times? That's when he sniffed the air. Did she... smell bad? She knew she was wearing deodorant and had showered, but maybe he could smell the juices gradually coating her vaginal lips. Surely not! She couldn't smell it, but she also knew they had very different physiology.

Her worries about smelling bad seemed to be unfounded as he neared her and seemed to be quite affected himself. An odd rush of pride ran through her at that, and she had to tamp it down before she revealed too much. When his hand cupped her cheek, she instinctively leaned into the palm, but then suddenly jerked back and seemed to realize what was going on. "G-good. That's... much easier for me." Pulling the hem of her dress down as if it could hide her excitement, she licked her suddenly dry lips and tried to think of any other forms of conversation beside what she truly wanted to talk about. "Maybe I should fabricate some clothing... or food... or unpack." She rambled a bit incoherently for a while and then forced herself to calm down and stop. "You could... umm... put on something to cover yourself." Maybe if she didn't see his cock constantly she wouldn't be so ridiculously entranced by his body.


[User] Later that day, Sayaka found her steps leading her toward the route she knew so well, one that she had taken many times before. Her heart still wavered, her thoughts hovering between visiting the young man who had captivated her heart and the ominous entity which threatened her. Life as a magical girl often hovered between extremes, the passion to protect those close to them and the invisible danger which lurked in every corner of the city. While the one provided drive and comfort, the other took on nightmarish forms. The blue-haired young woman let out a soft sigh as she closed her eyes and clapped her cheeks, resolved to collect herself and step in to face him once again with a smile on her face.

[Assistant]
Stopped in front of the vehicle, the Dark Lord stood amid a motionless world. Time had stopped here, the people, the traffic, all hanging as if waiting on a word to resume going through their lives. Which they were, in a sense. His word.

For now his focus was on the vehicle he stood in front of though, and the person inside it. The driver was unremarkable, irrelevant. The person in the backseat, now he was important. Modest in stature, with hair closer to a gray than a brown, he bore a face that the Dark Lord recognized from Sayaka's dreams. He knew the emotions that she felt, the worries and the hopes and everything else that drove a Sacred Maiden. There was a lot of weight on her relationships, and this one in particular.

Their previous encounters had told him all he needed to know. If he struck at someone else, someone she cared about, that would make her angry. If she was angry then she would make foolish mistakes. The sort that could turn the tide in this fight in his favor. She would be thinking with her heart, and not with her head. It was unfortunate that he had to target someone not involved in this conflict, but it was for the greater good. His good, that is.

Though large, these vehicles were not so complicated as to escape his knowledge. His hand glowed with magic as he stuck it into the hood of the car and made the proper adjustments. The boy would live, probably. But his purposes would be achieved.

Stepping away, time was left to resume itself. In but moment there was the sound of collision, of buckling metal and people crying out in fear at the sudden collision. Leaving the chaos behind, the Dark Lord made his way to the meeting spot. He would see the effects of his handiwork soon enough.

[User]
Sayaka Miki stood at the nearby intersection, her eyes widening as the entire scene played out before her. Lights flashed and tires squealed. The distinct scent of scorched rubber filled her nose. She could feel the tears well up in her eyes, but her face remained frozen in place, the jabbing pain that dug into her heart overwhelming her senses. She had seen it all, the sudden swerve, the impact...

Her book bag slipped off her shoulder, plopping next to her as she stood and stared blankly at the trail rising up like the smoke of a funeral pyre. Everything she had worked for, the love of her life, the passion with which she had dedicated her entire being, sacrificing her life as a normal girl in order to pursue... every part of it burned up right before her eyes, engulfed in an inferno of regret and sorrow.

Even as some passers by nudged her as she stood across the way, Sayaka still remained stone-faced, unable to fully process her own pain. The sorrow within her turned to a raging flame of hatred, her gaze snapping to the clock tower that loomed over the nearby park. She did not even think to check if he was even still alive, the desire to inflict pain, to punish the one who had torn her life to shreds took the forefront of her mind.

At the appointed time, Sayaka stood in front of the fountain, her sword already drawn and her gaze downcast, shoulders sloping downward as the water behind her slowly rose, catching the colorful lights as they began their nightly show. But this was no ordinary night, not for Sayaka, and certainly not for the dark entity that would face her that day.

"Ha..." Sayaka tilted her head back, her eyes still red from the streams of tears that had only dried a few minutes prior, "You know... I was wondering when you would show up..." She spoke to the darkness, whether he was standing within it or not, "The night air feels so refreshing, don't you think? Its a real pity, you know? I actually felt happy... I felt like my life had purpose, that I could do something for others, something for the boy that I loved-"

She raised her hand holding her sword, pointing its tip forward, "But you had to just go and fuck with me, didn't you?"

"Well, guess what..." Sayaka's aura blazed with dark, furious waves, "I'm done getting fucked with."

[Assistant]
Arriving at the meeting spot, the Dark Lord found that his ruse had worked better than he could have hoped for. Sayaka was there, and from what he could sense her mind was in turmoil. Sadness, rage, emotions that fed into each other in a cycle and amplified the effect they had. There was no way that she would be going into this fight at her best, regardless of what she thought on the matter.

So he stood just at the edge of the light, wrapped in his cloak and with his head bowed. Nothing was given away as she voiced her frustration and her anger. Nothing was said of necessity, or the restraint he had shown. Let her spin herself out, until nothing remained but her vulnerable core. Still, he had to admit that the power she was displaying was quite impressive. It left no doubt to her claiming of the Sacred Maiden mantle.

As she readied her blade he did the same, the flourish of his arm extending it in a downwards diagonal, the red of his blade complimenting his darker cloak as the tip hovered above the asphalt. Where she was angry, he was calm. They were both determined, but only one would emerge the victor of this clash.

"Very well," he agreed, remaining motionless with his blade extended as he watched the Sacred Maiden that he was to be engaged in combat with. "Show me the strength of your determination." They had come here to fight, and so they would do just that. But given her state of mind, he would let her make the first move. This charade would soon come to an end.

[User]
Sayaka's head slumped forward, back curved and arms hanging loosely at her sides. Her cape fluttered around her, tugged by the pulses of energy that flowed around her. She leaned forward ever so slightly, tension in her right foot pressing down, the force cracking and buckling the asphalt below her as she lunged toward her opponent. She spun in midair, her left hand waving across the empty air as a second sword appeared in her free hand. Both swords cut through the air with a swift double slash across where he stood, her knee jutting forward, the blow aimed at his chest as a follow-up attack.

She darted back, her shoes skimming the surface, pebbles skittering away as she regained her footing. She pulled her right arm across her body, winding up before hurling her sword, tip-first, like a javelin straight at the Dark Lord. Faster and faster, each throw following close upon the last, the flurry of projectiles following his form wherever he would move. She could feel her joints and muscles scream in protest, but she buried the pain, fresh tears already welling up in her eyes but refusing to release her from the torment capturing her mind.

"Die..." she spoke softly, the intensity growing as she repeated the word, over and over as if to invoke a curse, "Die, die, die, die--- DIE, DAMN IT!"

Sayaka broke off her barrage and jumped back, spinning as a musical sigil formed above her. She waved her left arm, cloak fluttering as a wide spread of swords appeared above her. Their tips aimed downward, following her decent as she kicked off the sigil and lunged toward him, the impact from her attack leaving a bowl-shaped indent, the swords following and cutting through the air in an attempt to catch him if he withdrew.

The blue-haired magical girl's relentless assault continued, her tears glistening in the light cast by the nearby street lamps.

[Assistant]
The battle began in a blaze of motion and the impact of steel. Sayaka launched herself forwards with dual blades, cracking the ground beneath her from the force she was employing. There was anger, hate, and more importantly, she was spending her power quite rapidly in the pursuit of an immediate and decisive end. That meant all he needed to do was outlast her.

Easier than done, as his blade rose to meet hers. Even if he could block the sword strikes, her knee shot did cause him to stumble. He barely had a moment to recover before she began hurling blades at him, crafting more and more with her magic. To this he darted about, deflecting some with his blade and seeking to move around the others. His cloak suffered for it, perforated in several spots by her weapons as they passed by. He himself did not escape unscathed either, but serious wounds were avoided by his deft hand and quick reflexes.

Not that it seemed to deter her as she leapt into the air, repeating the same word again and again as she crafted many swords to accompany her in a barrage as she leapt at him. He jumped back, quickly fending off offending blades as they struck at him, with the occasional extra boost of magic energy to speed him up. Still, he would concede that she was giving it a good effort. A shame her talents were wasted like this.

Pushed further by her desperate assault, he found himself reaching for deeper methods as well to keep up with her. Optical illusions, speed magic, barriers, things that stalled her but did not win the fight.all to wear her down.

Then he made his real move. He let her strike, caught her blade, and in the moment before she could hammer away at his defenses, he struck. "Burn." He freed one of his hands, extended it towards her, and unleashed a blast of fire right at her. And given that he knew about her healing magic,l he would not simply leave it with a single burst. If her magic was not worn down already, they would see how well it could last under the burning assault.

[User]
By that point, Sayaka had blocked out almost all semblance of pain, the world around her seemingly flowing in slow motion, extending backward and forward, prolonging the torment that clung to her soul. His single spoken word barely registered in her mind, the flames engulfing her entire body as the powerful burst exploded around her, the force alone sufficient to rupture her ear drums. Sayaka slid backward, the attack breaking off her furious assault but the tenacious magical girl somehow managed to retain her footing as her boots skidded across the asphalt, legs straining to hold herself upright. It was quickly followed by a second, and a third, each successive blast knocking her back further, the pain still not registering but her body itself was reaching a breaking point.

She panted, her vision hazy as a drop of blood ran down her brow. Sayaka's clothes were scorched, bits of exposed skin burned red by the heat that had enveloped her. She gripped her left arm, still clinging to one of her swords as her legs threatened to collapse. She looked up at him defiantly, as the sigils began to appear across her body, quickly repairing the damage but at the same time draining her magic reserves even further.

"Damn you..." she spat, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She forced herself to move, her body sluggish as she stepped toward him, pulling her hand back for one last assault. Her sword clanged, the strength in her hand failing her as she stumbled forward, landing face-first. She could barely remain conscious, her head turning to the side as she felt the cold, unrelenting surface below her.

[Assistant]
At last this dance reached its finale. Buffeted by flames, Sayaka cut a striking figure as she stood amidst the inferno. Her healing magic went to work as expected, but it was slower, weaker. She couldn't sustain it with all the energy she had used.

Yet Dark Lord was surprised to find that by the time he had finished, she remained on her feet. Battered, her uniform scorched and still showing signs of the firestorm she'd been in, but on her feet. So really they were somewhat in the same position. He readied herself as she made to charge, only to drop her sword and plant face first into the concrete beneath her. She was helpless, and the battle won in favor of the villain.

Stepping over, the Dark Lord looked down at the fallen Sayaka as he dismissed his blade. He stood there, silently saluting her bravery and determination, even as her recklessness and emotions had played into her defeat. But she had proven herself worthy to bear the mantle, as far as he was concerned. Then he picked her up off the ground, and departed this place to carry out the next step of his plan.

When Sayaka awoke, she would find herself elsewhere. They had returned to his clock tower base of operations, where he had prepared for her to awaken. She was chained up near the center of the room, arms spread wide in firm bonds. She could struggle all she liked, but magically enchanted metal would not break so easily. For now she wore the remnants of her burnt clothing, but there was one thing missing from her outfit.

That would be her soul gem. It had not been hard to identify this as the source of her magical energy, so he had gone to the liberty of removing it from her person. It sat on a nearby pedestal, radiating blue mingled with black from the magic she had recently used. Beyond that the room was unremarkable. Wood, stone, perhaps a bit too dusty, an old table off to the side, and stairs that wound around the wall both upwards and downwards. With the gears that wound above, it would have been difficult to hear the city beyond even without his magic.

If he was aware of Sayaka awaking, the Dark Lord made no recognition of it. Instead his focus remained on her soul gem, eyes closed as he held an outstretched hand over it. He wished to know all its secrets, and to free the part of himself contained within. With her at her mercy, he would succeed sooner or later. It was just a matter of time.

[User]
Sayaka's dreamless sleep broke to the sound of deep clicks, the nearby clockwork rousing her from slumber. Her eyes gazed upward blankly for a moment, slowly collecting her thoughts. This wasn't what she expected the afterlife to be like...

Unless... she tugged her left arm and met firm resistance, the chain rattling slightly as she pulled against it fruitlessly. Sayaka let out a sigh and relaxed, the stinging sensation in her joints reminding her of the damage she had already sustained. She instead turned her attention to the shimmering pale blue light. A volt of fear shot through her as she saw her foe with his hand over her soul gem. Flicks of energy pulsed around the delicate source of her power.

"Hey..." she called out to him, her voice somewhat horse, "Don't mess with that---" Her body twisted in discomfort as he continued prodding Sayaka's soul gem. She tugged with her arms and legs together, but only succeeded in bruising her wrists and ankles, injuries that her magic once again automatically began to repair. Sayaka's body relaxed, her chest slowly rising and falling with each breath as she closed her eyes tightly.

"Stop... it's connected with me, with my soul," she told him point-blank, "I can block out pain in my body, but my soul gem... it's the part of me that will always be vulnerable."

[Assistant]
The Dark Lord paused, his hand dipping away as Sayaka called out to him. he glanced over to her, his gaze sharp and focused now that they were in the seat of his power. Relatively speaking of course, but it would improve with time. A clock tower was simply humble beginning for a being of his stature and power. But that was enough musing about their environs for now.

"I had determined as such," he confirmed in a measured tone. "The magical connection between your physical body and this object was not hard to miss for someone skilled in the mystic arts." Honestly it was an intriguing set up. he wasn't sure why the Sacred Maidens had done such a thing, but he would determine the reason sooner or later.

Turning back to the Soul Gem, he picked up where he had left off. "This is why I could not simply ask for your assistance," he explained. "You bear a piece of myself in this gem, shielded by all your magic. I must retrieve it, and you would not place your soul in jeopardy to let me do so voluntarily." so he had taken it by force. And so far, his plan was working pretty well. For now he sought to learn the gems secrets, and to bring forth the portion of himself trapped inside. Once they were reunited he would be one step closer to regaining his full strength.

[User]
Another jolt of discomfort laced through her body as he spread his hand out over her soul gem once more.

"And... what will you do with me, after you extract that piece?" Sayaka inquired. The earlier struggle was still fresh in her memory, images flashing across the inside of her eyelids. "Assuming I'm still alive at that point, that is."

She could think of many unfavorable ways to answer such an inquiry. In fact, she knew so little about him that she had no way of knowing which, if any, of the possible unsavory devices he might have in store for her.

His prodding search drifted within her gem, a flicker of familiar energy entering his vision.

[Assistant]
For a moment he did not answer. The Dark Lord was more interested in that familiar sensation he felt, and he focused in on it. He needed to make sure that he did not lose it now that he had found it. This was a process he was not inclined to repeat, particularly with the focus and time that it had taken to get this far. He was also curious to see how it reacted to this latent taint that seemed to have accumulated with the use of her magic, but that was something he could explore in a moment.

While Sayaka sought reassurance, he could not provide that. "You shall endure, and perhaps find a new purpose," he told her. "The power of a Sacred Maiden is too great to be wasted, and you deserve to fight for a better cause" Not that he expected Sayaka to simply accept his word for him. But he had other methods of persuasion.

Moving on, he returned to the process of extraction, of pulling himself free from her. This would probably hurt, but that was not his problem. It was fortunate that her magic involved healing, it might make things easier.

"The future was denied to me once. It will not happen again," he noted, more to himself than to her. It was time to get to work.