A piercing screech filled the skies as a black feathered bird with plumes of blue smoke shot through the void. Urza surged forwards, each beat of his wings carrying them hundreds of meters. Zee crouched low on Urza's back, the wind streaming around them as her newest spirit companion carried them away from the chaotic battle.
Having nearly doubled in size after her rank up, Urza was larger than a drop ship, and probably just as fast. Not only that, but he also had a domain that absorbed dangerous energies shot their way. That effect was incredibly useful considering the area was going nuts, the world river and the endless storm going out of control in response to the nearby battle.
Zee and her friends all rode atop Urza's wide back, a surprisingly comfortable ride, considering the large monster was moving so quickly. Even now she could feel Urza's concern through their soul link, pushing it to fly faster.
Unlike Dern or Kur Zul, Urza was an instinctual creature. He didn't have a lot going on in the mental department, but he would give his life for her in a heartbeat. Just like Dern and Raina, Urza was incredibly loyal.
All of her spirit companions were, save for Kur Zul, who was at times an untrustworthy ghost. If she tugged on her connection, she could sense Zul somewhere in the distance, but it was faint. Trying to call him back no longer worked, something she sort of expected. Reaching D grade was a huge stepping stone, not only for cultivators but also monsters and summoned creatures.
Urza, and Dern were a great example of this, able to exhibit far more range than while she was in E grade. With her new rank, their metaphorical leash was loosened considerably, which was a problem when one of them was a untrust worthy ghost with his own goals.
It wasn't all bad. With her new rank came new possibilities for her companions. Like the ability to shift to new forms for some companions. Urza was already a shapeshifter gaining a few new forms, while Dern was an Ashary, finally able to return to his former cloud-like form.
Zee still preferred his armor form, but she had to admit, his native form was nice too. He was like a miniature blue cloud, with silver and white smoke swirling within.
While Urza flew, Dern floated near the tail feathers of Urza, staring forlornly at the plateau and distant fortress.
Wanting to distract herself from Bastion's comatose form lying on Urza's back, she walked over and stood next to him.
"Sorry, we couldn't stick around and look for her. I know Sersie means a lot to you," Zee said.
Dern's body undulated, and he returned to his familiar armored form, his silvery armor gleaming against Urza's black feathers. "We did what we had to. I appreciate you looking as much as you did considering Bastion's injuries," Dern said.
Zee collapsed onto her butt, onto the soft feathers, letting out an exhausted sigh.
"Much as it pains me to admit, a couple of minutes won't affect Bastion's condition in either way. Taylor has done everything he can to stabilize him, and Yukna's arrays combined with my ritual to keep him from getting worse should help, but for how long? He's on a timer. Even with Urza flying as fast as he can, I don't know if we can make it back to the Fist in time," Zee said, feeling absolutely exhausted.
Dern's armor clanked softly as he sat down next to her. "All we can do now is wait and hope he can pull through. Bastion is a tough one. If anyone can survive that grievous of an injury it's him," Dern said.
Zee looked down at her blood and grime covering her hands, a dull ache radiating through her entire body. With the adrenalin fading, she was firmly reminded of her own injuries.
Everything hurt. If she was being honest, her condition wasn't much better than Bastion's.
She had really overdone it this time. Forming a core, facing heavens wrath, and then fighting the supreme ruler of the blood gorgers domain really took it out of her. Right now she was running on borrowed energy, the only reason she was still conscious being the pill her grandpa gave her.
"I wouldn't worry about him," Malden said, approaching her from behind, pausing on the opposite side from Dern.
"Maldy, have you suddenly become a powerful healer since last we talked?" Zee asked tiredly.
Malden snorted, his ears twitching as the horizon lit up with a bright golden explosion. A toothy smile split his cat like face.
"I know he isn't going to die because how could I be so lucky? I still owe that greedy merchant nearly a hundred thousand Ether crystals," Malden said.
"Me too," Taylor said. "I took a loan from him to buy a new staff. It wouldn't feel right if i didn't have the opportunity to pay it back,"
Allison, Yukna and Greg approached as well, each sharing a nod at Taylor's comment.
Malden gave her a toothy smile filled with certainly. "There is no way he will kick the bucket with all that future profit waiting to be collected. That guy isn't going to be content to die until he fills a castle to the brim with treasure and swims in it," Malden said..
"He probably wouldn't even be content then,"Allison said. "Bastion won't be satisfied until he is wealthy enough to make the imperial treasurer green with envy,"
Zee couldn't help but laugh at the supportive words. "Thanks guys, I needed that," Zee said, wiping away a few beads of sweat that pooled around her eyes.
Malden tapped the haft of his hammer with a curved claw.
"You look like you fell down a whole towers worth of stairs, then pissed off a lightning elemental," Malden said.
Allison smacked Malden on the shoulder.
"What Malden is trying to say is that you should get some rest. The journey here was quite perilous. I doubt it's going to be a cakewalk to return home," Allison said.
Zee gave a glance back at Bastion's prone form where he lay on Urza's back, anxiety filling her. Allison was right. Right now she was as weak as a baby bird, injured and exhausted. If she wanted to be anything more than a burden, she would need to get some rest and recover.
After all, they were in the deeper reaches of the endless storm, where powerful monsters and freak storms could appear at any moment. Before she drifted off into the sweet bliss of meditation, she glanced back one final time. She could still see terrifying explosions in the distance, as the battle for the eternal throne raged on.
Zee had no idea who was going to win, and secure the prize inside, but it didn't really matter. As long as grandpa Julian came back, she didn't really care who got it.
In the end, the winner of the contest was out of her control. Her most important goal was to get Bastion home, to find a healer who could help him. It was a goal she wouldn't fail no matter what…..
The sharp toll of bells filled the air and a deafening cheer echoed around the capitol as a figure strode out onto a raised balcony in the imperial palace. Everyone from the poorest beggars hunting for scraps on feeder planets, to the highest nobility in their palaces, across the empire everyone could see the enormous illusion floating in the skies.
It was the newly crowned empress making her appearance on the palace balcony. Her blood red hair tied with silver ribbons and flowing down her back framing the sharp lines of her jaw.
She wore yellow robes of the finest silk, with dazzling red gemstones woven into the fabric. At her hip was an exquisite sword with a black gem in the pommel that gave most the chills to look at. Polished to a mirror shine, and matched with a pitch black belt, the sword was a perfect match for the obsidian crown atop her head.
The crown was made of pure adamantine, with seven glistening gems embedded within. One large black gem in the centre to represent the emperor, with three on either side, to represent the six founding noble houses of the empire. Standing atop the balcony, Zee raised her hand, and the cheers were deafening.
The sound was like a physical thing, slamming into her as hundreds of thousands of people cheered. All the while, that withering old man stood behind her, not even bothering to hide his smile. He was clearly enjoying this, which made one of them. Zee had never wanted to be an empress, but hadn't been able to finagle her way out of it.
That scheming old man was determined to cast it upon her, and with his recent rank up to the B grade, there was no stopping him. Zee could complain all she wanted, but there were a few good things about being the new empress.
Namely the fact she had access to the best healers in the empire, and if they weren't good enough to solve the problem, she had a treasury worth of resources to bring someone in.
Even with a Celestial grade healer on staff, Bas was still unconscious in the imperial medical ward. He had the best care ether crystals could buy, but recovery was not a given.
The months it took to reach The Fist, then return to Lorocos, had only worsened his condition. The healers aboard the Fist hadn't been able to fix the damage Elbious had done to Bastion's core. The damage was just too extensive and required a specialist to be brought in to hopefully fix it.
That was how Zee ended up standing atop this balcony and pretending to be happy to be there. The old goat behind her had simply refused to give her access to imperial resources until she accepted her fate.
It wasn't the worst deal all things considered. Becoming an empress was the least she could do if it meant saving Bastion. How bad could ruling an empire truly be?
The crowds cheered, and a party of immense proportions spread through all planets of the empire. It was a party on a scale not seen in the empire in thousands of years, with almost everyone celebrating.
There were of course, noble houses that would not be content with her rapid rise to power, but that was a problem for another day. She would deal with those people when the time came, but until then, she stood and waved. The parties raged for weeks, the cities a bustle of cheer as people not only celebrated the naming of a new empress but also the ascension of the former emperor.
With the death of Elbious bon Draknus in the battle for the eternal throne, the war with the bloodgorgers domain had essentially been won.
With five of their main heartland planets destroyed, and most of their leadership killed. The blood gorgers never gave their official surrender before they imploded, but the war was clearly over. Even now, civil war raged throughout blood gorger territory, as the various clans fought to fill the power vacuum.
Trillions would likely die in that gruesome struggle for power. Despite knowing that, the imperial strategists recommended they do nothing and just observe. Rivers of blood would flow, but in their eyes of the strategists, that just meant a lot less Lorocans would die in the future. Zee could only begrudgingly agree, deciding to play a wait and see strategy.
After taking on the imperial crown, she had a lot to do, from solidifying her position to reaffirming alliances and quashing rebellions.
It was all in a day's work.
Meetings with advisors, generals, and nobility took up most of her time these days. Everything from the management of planets to the trade of goods between allied nations crossed her table. After only the first few months, sitting in on another meeting and listening to the grievances of another noble over a perceived slight was really getting on her nerves. Today's meeting seemed like another one of those days, as two sons of high-ranking houses bickered like children.
Zee was only half listening, trying not to yawn as they got more and more heated. One of them about looked ready to burst as he spoke.
"Lord Andrus purposely changed his banners to look like a stag taking a crap on a red rose. That is a blatant insult to my house, and everything we have achieved for the empire. The rose and thorns have been a symbol of my clan for hundreds of years and with this display he metaphorically shits on it," the speaker said, his tone irate.
Lord Andrus stood from his chair, his voice echoing through the large atrium.
"This is a baseless accusation, Lord Fandar. You have no proof that I carried any insult with my change of banner. So what if I changed my banner to depict a stag taking a crap on a bunch of flowers. They are monsters and do that every day," Lord Andrus said.
Lord Fandar sputtered, his face red with barely contained rage. He clearly wanted to start shouting, but knew he would lose the verbal joust and some dignity he did.
Zee had to force herself not to massage her temples. She had been zoning out most of the meeting, and only perked up when a leather-bound book nudged her side.
"Thanks Raina," Zee said softly.
She really was not cut out to sit on a gaudy chair and listen these petty nobles bicker. Sadly, most of them were from the richest, and most influential clans and houses in the empire.
It really was a pain, but she had to at least pretend to care about these trifling matters.
Even if she didn't chime in most of the time during these kinds of meetings, she had to pretend like she was listening. It was all to not damage their fragile egos.
Judging by their glassy eyes, and distant stares, most of the others in the room, they were of the same mind. With these two getting so heated, nothing of any import was going to be done today.
This part of the job really was a pain in her ass.
This gaudy chair looked fancy, but it wasn't comfortable at all. Zee made a mental note not to make up some excuse for the next meeting. No need to attend them all. She was the empress, and had attendants who could act as a representative in her absence.
Yessss. That was a great idea. As she sat in her booth, an aide ran up. The imperial guard barred their path, waiting for Zee's nod before letting the aide through.
The aide paused next to her and leaned over, talking in barely a whisper.
"Your eminence, he is awake," the aide said.
Zee's heart skipped a beat at the words, her mind fully awake now.
"Bastion?" Zee asked, her tone sharp.
The aide nodded fervently.
"Yes, your eminence. I ran over as quickly as I could," he said. The aid had barely finished speaking before she was gone.
The imperial palace had incredibly potent arrays and ritual diagrams embedded into it to prevent any sort of intrusion, whether that be a skill or opening gates.
It would set off alarms across the palace and draw attention from some very bloodthirsty guards if anything like that happened. Thankfully, Zee wasn't restricted by such things. The imperial palace was her home, and her seat of power.
As the empress, she had ways around those restrictions. A unique token allowed her to bypass all these measures. It took only a few seconds for her to arrive at the healing ward, her mist form unhindered by trifling things like walls of stone or metal.
Bastion was held up in a lavish suite with the healer already standing beside his bed.
"How is he?" Zee asked, appearing from thin air.
Upon arrival, she noted that the two imperial guards at his door were still present as always. Not to mention Urza sleeping in the corner in his bear form.Urza peeked up from behind two large paws, going back to sleep as soon as he realized it was her. The two soldiers half drew their weapons when she appeared, but quickly sheathed them upon noticing who it was.
"You eminence!" They both greeted, giving her a deep respectful bow.
"As you were," Zee said, waving the two guards back to their duty, she turned to the healer.
Loran Fin Mal was a strange being by any standard. It was one of the elusive Kul A Var, a being whose body was not of flesh but more like a plant.
Creatures of immense vitality, the Kul A Var were a species who had numerous shapes and sizes, ranging from flowers to oak trees. They had no discernable face, nor a uniform amount of limbs, with this one having ten legs and four arms. Weird anatomy aside, they had some of the best healers in the galaxy and would even offer their services if the price was right.
Loran Fin Mal didn't turn as Zee appeared instead gesturing to the bed. Zee couldn't help the smile that spread on her face as she took in Bastion.
His back supported by a pillow, he was sitting up in bed, his curly black hair falling down over one eye. Bastion returned her smile with one of his own, giving her a once over.
"Well now, that's quite the outfit. It's not like you to wear something so gaudy," Bastion said.
Zee glanced down, just then remembering she was in her official imperial robes.
"Oh, right, you don't know yet, do you?" Zee said.
"Know what?" Bastion asked, raising his arms, letting out a jaw stretching yawn.
Zee let out an amused laugh.
"Well, a lot has happened since you were nearly killed. You have been in a coma for over a year. Since then we have traveled back to Lorocos and I have been crowned empress," Zee said.
Bastion brows rose as he looked around the room, taking in the guards who were pretending not to hear them, then the odd tree creature, then finally her opulent robes.
He frowned thoughtfully. "Empress? Not bad. I guess that means you are finally richer than me. Dam, I worked so hard for that money and you just shoot right past me no problem," Bastion complained.
Zee snorted out a laugh at his affronted look.
The healer who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up, its voice like wind rustling through the trees.
"He has recovered quicker than expected. From the tests I have been running, his core has for the most part stabilised and been reconnected to his pathways. Him finally waking is a good sign. It might be too early to say, but with a proper regime, he should make a full recovery," the tree said.
"Thank you Loran. This means more than you could know," Zee said.
"Happy I could help. Don't forget your end of the bargain," Loran said, slithering past, its body, making weird creaking sounds as it moved.
"Of course, your payment will be delivered in full as promised," Zee said.
Bastion cocked his head at her, waiting for the tree thing to leave before speaking.
"What kind of bargain did you make?" Bastion asked.
Zee smiled, walking up next to the bed, and grasping his hand in hers.
"Nothing I can't replace. Ether crystals or natural treasures are all replaceable. You are not," Zee said.
Bastion's face lit up. With surprising strength, he pulled on her arm dragging her onto the bed in a very unempress like manner. He gave her a deep kiss that was like the sweetest nectar. The guards at the door pretended to look anywhere else, having found a spec of dirt on their immaculate uniforms or a pesky fly buzzing on the roof.
This would surely be the gossip of the palace, but she didn't care.
Much too quickly for her liking, Zee pulled away. Bastion had that slight grin of his plastered on his face, his full lips quirked up into a half smile. Straightening her robes, Zee cleared her throat. She coughed, her cheeks flushing.
"As I was saying.. You need to get some food in you, and a bath. You better follow Loran's recovery plan to the letter. If I hear of you overdoing your recovery, I will not be happy," Zee said.
"Ooo? So commanding," Bastion gave her a half smile." And what if I ignore your orders?" Bastion asked with a cheeky smile.
Zee poked the thick scar on his chest gently with a bejeweled finger, her hand lingering on his warm skin.
"I'm an empress now, I can put you in the highest tax bracket. If you saw the amount you would loose, it would make you weak in the knees," Zee said mischievously.
"In that case, I will get right on it. Don't worry about me, I am not taking anything quickly. Slow and controlled recovery. Let no one say Bastion Gray is not a man of his word," Bastion quipped.
"Why don't I believe you?" Zee asked, giving him the side eye, noting that mischievous glimmer in his eyes.
Bastion laughed, the sound like music to her ears. His amused laugh was a sound she had missed a lot more than she realized.
He pushed away the blankets from the bed, and slid his legs over the side of the wide bed. He swayed unsteadily as he tried to stand. Zee was there immediately, putting his arm around her shoulder.
"Hey, don't over do it! You just woke up," Zee chastised.
"I am fine. I won't fall over, I am a D grade cultivator," Bastion said. He took one step and almost fell on his face, with Zee catching him at the last moment.
Bastion coughed. "On second thought, can you help me to the tub? That bath sounds great right now," Bastion said.
"Of course," Zee gave the two imperial guards a subtle wave. There was art to these gestures. It was a language in and of itself, her one gesture letting them know to wait outside the door, and not let anyone in.
If they needed the guards they would be close by, and Urza was still sound asleep, his loud snores echoing across the room.
It didn't take long before hot water was shooting from pipes, steaming as it filled a copper tub big enough to fit five people.
"Soo, I gotta ask, what with the giant bear? I almost had a heart attack when I woke up to see that enormous bear and that weird tree," Bastion asked.
"Ohh, right, I guess you haven't met Urza before. Don't worry about him, I formed a soul contract with him back in the labyrinth. He is incredibly loyal, watching over you for most of the time my duties have occupied me," Zee said.
"Ohh? Is that untrustworthy ghost around? I have some very strong words I wish to say to him," Bastion said.
Zee shook her head. "Zul is not here. I honestly have no idea what he is doing right now. Our connection is still there, but I am pretty sure he is still stuck in the inner reaches of the endless storm," Zee said.
Bastion grunted at her response. "Well, that's probably for the best. Can you ask that bear to leave, it's making me uncomfortable to bath with it in here," Bastion said.
Zee chuckled. "Of course." She tapped the leather bound book at her side. "Raina, would you like to take Urza and go explore?" Zee asked.
As if she had always been there, Raina appeared beside the tub, her bright green eyes lit up with excitement.
"But, I wanted to play with Bastion. He just woke up," Raina pouted.
"You can play with Bastion later, after he has his bath. How about you take Urza and do some exploring in the palace, when you get back, you can play with Bastion," Zee said.
Raina slowly nodded.
"If you go, these are all yours," Bastion said," still sitting in the bubble filled tub, Bastion reached out his hand and opened it.
Raina's face lit up as a small jar filled with sweets appeared from nowhere.
"Your are the best uncle Bas! Common Urza, let's go!" Raina called, deftly snatching the jar before running towards the door.
Urza slowly stood, and lumbered after the girl, rapidly shrinking into its fox form as it followed.
Bastion whistled softly. "A shapeshifting monster. That's pretty handy. What else can it do?" Bastion asked.
Zee patted him on the arm.
"I'll tell you some other time. I should really get back, I kind of left a meeting to rush over here," Zee said, as Bas leaned back into the steaming water.
"You are leaving? Already?" Bastion asked.
"A Lot of important people might get offended if I don't return soon," Zee said.
A mischievous glimmer filled Bastion's eyes as he stretched in a slow and methodical way, showing off his toned body. Months of unconsciousness did nothing to diminish his toned and muscular physique.
As he stretched, his corded muscles rippled, the dozens of scars only adding to his allure.
Zee's heart skipped a beat. "On second thought, I suppose nothing important was going on in that meeting. A bath would do me wonders. If those nobles have their egos bruised by my absence, how is that my problem?" Zee asked.
Bastion laughed. "That's what i like to hear,"
Zee reached up, and tugged at a jewel encrusted broach at her collar. The pin came loose and her entire outfit, costing more than most castles, fell unceremoniously to the tile.
His mouth dropped open ever so slightly in a dumbfounded O.
Like a starving man who hadn't eaten in weeks, his eyes drank her in from head to toe.
Zee had always been lean with dense corded muscle, and that hadn't really changed even after she formed her core. Her silky red hair was tied up in an intricate braid, doing very little to hide the scars across her chest and legs.
Zee was well aware she wasn't the prettiest girl around.
Not everyone thought scars were very appealing, nor the fact she lacked in the curve department unlike a certain white haired pyromaniac. When Allison strode down the street she turned every head, whether it was that graceful stride or her envious body.
These days, for obvious reasons, Zee attracted attention, but not that kind when she strode down the street.
Being empress had that effect. Bastion's stare was nothing like the envious looks she got from the nobility, or the looks of adoration she got from normal citizens. It was a look of desire that made her heart race.
"My eyes are up here," Zee said with a smile.
Bastion cleared his throat, his eyes slowly wandering back up until he met hers.
"You know, that clasp is pretty neat, taking off everyone in one go. Though, it would be quite unfortunate to go into battle with something like that. I mean, I wouldn't complain, given the uhh… Stunning view. But combat like that might be uncomfortable for you," Bastion said.
"That is not a concern. The clasp only works when I tell it to.It will refuse to activate from anyone else," Zee laughed amusedly, stepping over the edge and slipping into the tub next to him. The water was hot on her skin, the smell of lilac drifting to her nose as he wrapped an arm around her bare shoulder.
Bastion's eyes glimmered as he looked at her. "You know, I have never been with an empress before," Bastion said, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
"You just woke up from a year long coma," Zee said.
He gave her a dazzling smile that made her heart flutter.
"Only that long? That just sounds like an extra long nap. Don't worry about me, I have plenty of energy," Bastion said.
"You are incorrigible-" Bastion cut her off by pulling her against him, and kissing her deeply.
The water sloshed over the rim onto the tile, but Zee found she didn't much care at the moment, as his hands traced over her body, sending chills of delight through her.She had made the right call, his was way better than going back to that meeting.