The Kingdom of Ethene

Oberon, feeling the sudden change in mood from Haru, ran towards the door and smashed through without question. It was a heavy feeling that struck him, something that felt absolutely off and yet familiar. He knew a curse when he felt one hanging around his head.

Upon seeing the blood on Haru, Oberon froze up for just a second before running up towards her. He clutched her hands and felt around for the wound.

"MILI-AN," he cursed, "Haru, what ails your form?"

Haru squirmed, blinking back tears as the fire ate at her heart and at her flesh. Pain rippled through her body like the waves through the sea. Tears welled up in her eyes, her vision swamped in red and black as definable details began to swamp into fuzzy shapes. Oberon's voice was just an echo, shouting over her now as Haru begged for death. Her skin seemed to be devouring itself, disappearing more and more from the two points into larger and larger holes. Blood and tissue, veins and arteries were being severed at an alarming rate and little by little, Haru was dying.

Her heart beat, rapidly expanding as her chest quivered and jerked and she found she could suddenly scream as the pain intensified at the source. Her arm twitched, her lips parted in jagged breaths. The pain left her chest, her lungs drawing in a wet breath as Haru suddenly went very very still.

Not wasting a minute, he pulled her clothes back to keep the wounds in the open air. His mind frantically searched the area around him for something, anything, that he could use to treat the ailments, but there was nothing. A few precious seconds and he gulped, there really wasn't much he could do other than heal her himself.

Though there was some initial backlash in his mind, like the point about him simply touching her, he didn't seem to care about such things seeing as this strangely calming being was now dying in his arms. She was important, he told himself as he tried justifying removing his glove.

When his uncovered glove touched her wound, a sudden shock was sent through him and Haru. The feeling was absolutely invigorating as his inner energies forced itself through and into Haru. It was . . . pleasing . . . was this sex?! Wait, OH GOD, WHAT IF HE GOT HER PREGNANT FROM HIM TOUCHING HER!?!??!

He almost pulled back before he could heal her fully, but kept on as he powered through the embarrassment.

Haru gasped. Her hand grabbed at his own, tenderly, her skin silky and soft, as a strange sensation filled her body. It wasn't a feeling of dread, a knowing that one is about to die. It was a feeling of life and of power. It surged through her body, crashing against her quivering breath and stammering heart. She quieted under him, struggles vanishing as little by little the pain in her chest left, creeping back up along her arm until it had been replaced by a thick humming coursing through nerves. It was a feeling often given to her by Elisa in the dark of night, a rejuvenation ritual. Did he know of it too?

Her eyes fluttered and she locked them onto that strange metal helm, daring enough to reach up and touch the cold steel.

The first thing that Oberon did was pull back and put on his glove. With the look on Haru's face glaring into his soul, he just couldn't handle it embarrassment of being so naked in front of her. As soon as he did this, however, he pulled her in for the hug. Though he wouldn't have admitted it, he had been very much afraid of what had occurred. The thought of her passing was just such a earth shattering realization that he was shaking to the core.

"Obra-da-jael" he said with bated breath, "You made me feel fear priestess Haru . . . what was that?!"

"I-I," she stammered quickly, blushing as he pulled her close against him. Her cheek rested against his shoulder, her body giving a small tremble as she rested against his robes. What had happened? She hadn't been wrong in saying her illumination spell. It had only backfired into her. By what? It had to have been a curse, a backfiring curse. But who would want to kill her?

The only people who used the altar were her and Elisa. Elisa! Haru's eyes flew wide and her voice grew urgent as she pushed herself up to meet Oberon's eyes.

"I think someone tried to kill Priestess Elisa!"

"I think that is to be expected, no?" Oberon said still holding her in his arms.

Oberon didn't have much to say in terms of what she was suggesting. An assassination attempts were of the norm within Tyralin society given the amount of sects and sub-groups within their religious community. Indeed, though they were united under one banner and under the leadership of their Praetor, the Tyralins were, as they said, squabblers. Honestly, he was surprised that Haru wasn't remotely aware of being near a large political figure.

As his panic passed, he helped Haru up, looked around with his mind to see if there were any traces of magical intrusions. There were none and even the damn fish-man was no where to be found. Then again, Kilroy never did use curses . . . he preferred to carve his prey up.

"But what of you, has it passed?"

He knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from her. It would have made him feel better.

In all truth this was the first time she had been exposed to an attempt on Elisa's life. The Priestess had been wise to keep Haru in the darkness about the attempts. It was said Haru was so sweet and innocent, so pure and white as freshly fallen snow, that news of an attempt would have broken her heart. Elisa hadn't wanted to worry her pupil and so didn't divulge the information. However, this experience had shaken her to her core and as Oberon held her she trembled.

"I think I'll be alright," she said, smoothing down her dress with a small blush, "Thank you, Oberon. I don't know how you did it, but you saved me."

She reached up and gently kissed the metal mask where a cheek would be. She held both of his hands, her eyes were fearful, burning with a blue flame.

He was quiet at this. Technically, since he was only watching Elisa, he didn't have to stop Haru from warning Elisa. Following her would be the best option, or so he said to himself.

"And I shall follow," he said coming along her side, "If the assassin knows of his or her failure, you may be attacked as well."

"Or maybe I should wait here," she said suddenly, "You don't think they wanted me, right? Of course not, nobody would want me."

She shook her head, looking into the seeing glass above the altar.

"No, Elisa's being protected by the Lion, I'm sure she'll be alright. I'll tell her about it when she gets back."

"I would have liked you-" he said with the slip of the tongue.

He froze, that was not supposed to come out of his mouth. Immediately he tried to catch his words, "That is, if I was with them and you were away. You are pleasant company . . . and you would most likely prevent me from murdering one of the idiots around her."

Haru gave a small smile.

"Thanks. But you shouldn't joke about killing things, Oberon. I don't think you're a killer," she gave a small shrug, "Come on, we shouldn't linger here. Only Elisa and I come back here."

With that she walked forward, staggering slightly as her head spun. Blood loss was no small thing and Haru felt so thirsty. Her head hurt as she made her way to the entrance of the temple and out towards the soft glow of sunset with Oberon following as faithfully as he said he would.

Sunlight rose across the hill, gently caressing flesh though the window. It started along the hollow of her throat, kissing up along her jawline to land softly against closed eyelids. Pink lips parted in a breath and slowly muscles stirred, stretching and popping as bare flesh prickled at the brisk morning air. A hand wrapped around Haru’s chest and pulled her tighter, closer against the sleeping body as Haru gently stirred. Elisa mumbled in her sleep, pulling tighter against Haru as she released a little squeak. It wasn’t uncommon to find the Priestess’s sharing a bed, or time, or a meal, but the morning routine always found them apart. Haru rubbed the sleep from her eyes, the green orbs blinking against the light of day as her hands dropped to push gently against Elisa’s breasts. The High Priestess groaned and released her hold on her youngest, letting Haru free to sit up. Pale skin prickled at the cold of day, her breast bouncing as she shivered and placed her hands over them. Shirt it was. Haru was not about to poke someone’s eye out.


She rose, walking towards the high set window where the light shone like a beacon across her flesh, illuminating and highlighting her curves and darkening her shadows. Soon she appeared as glorious as she was mysterious, her muscles rippling as Haru pulled on her dress. It was the same one she had worn the day before, wrinkled and abandoned on the cold marble floor as her feet happily dove into the much warmer boots. Today was the day, she realized excitedly. The final day to prepare for the journey! There was so much to do! So much to pack and get ready so that she, Priestess Haru, would finally be allowed to go! Without a moment’s hesitation she finished quickly running her fingers through her hair, turned to kiss a sleeping Elisa on the cheek, and bolted out the door. Her footsteps echoed through the vast altar room, her eyes locked eagerly forward as she swung wide the wooden doors and greeted the lightening sky.


As promised she didn’t actually live inside of the temple. After completing the building, she had taken the liberty to build a small gift for herself. With the remaining stone material she had built, by herself, a one room cottage on the hill just below the temple. It was there she went now, a small dot of white darting across the green hill along the dirt trail. Her boots scuffed against the trail, kicking up puffs of dirt until she’d hit her garden, through the roses and past the small bird bath by the front window. Her hand flew to the brass doorknob when she finally paused.

Vines rose and curled up along the old stonework, locked into niches as bluebells and foxglove opened up to the light of the sun, drinking light like nectar. Two windows faced out towards her, Haru’s hand trembling on the door. Her eyes were locked onto a figure in her bed, curled up under her blanket. She’d nearly forgotten that the reason she’d forgone her bed was not because of the ritual with Elisa, but because of Oberon. She hesitated. Did she go in and try to move about stealthily? Did she leave him be and let him sleep? Haru was stumped. She let out a small groan, leaning back against the door as she puffed away a strand of hair hanging between her eyes. She only needed to grab a few things, most of which she knew exactly where they were. Surely he wouldn’t wake. Right? Haru turned, opening the door to her house and slipping inside, quickly removing her boots by the door. Her bare feet tip-toed across the wooden floor as the door closed behind her. Her hands grabbed the backpack behind the door on a hook of deer antler, the buckles on it clinking loudly as she flinched and quickly pulled it against her chest. The lump under the covers didn’t so much as stir. After a small sigh, she began collecting her things. Moving without so much as a sound, she danced around her house grabbing a cape, a few shirts, her pants, belt, bread, cheese, and a flask that she would later fill with water. All of it was stuffed into a bag when finally she rose on her tip toes to pull out a small coin purse from the rafters. She paused at the door after pulling on her boots, her green eyes resting softly on her bed. He still had his helmet on, her face reflected back at her curiously. How strange and horrible. They said his kin were worse than murderers: torture and limb removal were not uncommon when it came to their victims the stories used to say. And yet, here one was, sleeping as innocently as a newborn before her. He didn’t look the least bit dangerous, so was it true? Could he really be capable of doing such horrible things? Could he do them to her?

Oberon claimed he hated all the human race, calling them vile names and looking down upon them as if they were no better than….than… Haru frowned. There was nothing in the world that was a scourge. Every living thing had a purpose, a duty. The question remained, what was hers? Haru slowly closed the door behind her, giving a small shake of her head as the sun struck her in her face. Today was a new day, another chance to figure out what had brought her here, now, in this moment. But first she needed to visit her horses. She smiled, pulling on her cape as she secured the backpack round her shoulders and took off down the hill and into town with a joyful laugh.