"You will always find a smart woman in the middle of politics, for she doesn't need to prove herself with the fool errand of counting the corpses of their fallen enemies. No, she has better things to do; like ruling the lands his Lord Husband rarely spends time on." – Records of the High Queen Olivia.
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.
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The temple was beautiful.
In the center stood a statue of the Seven, proud and magnificent. Incredibly detailed, all the spirits were exquisite and haunting in that beauty, otherworldly and terrifying.
Behind them stood a mural of colored glass that told the story of the Empire's creation. It was as captivating as the day Hunter kneeled, right here in this place, and was entrusted with the duty and honor to protect the weak.
The private room the priest escorts him to is different, the spirits are carved in wood and there are no windows. It's small too. A little rustic but not less charged with electrifying energy coming out in waves, Hunter touches the statues with the care you would use in a lover.
He then kneels, forehead touching the ground.
*Thank you, thank you. Thank you so much!* Hunter prayed like a man who had been lost in the sands; devotedly and desperately. *Sun, Moon, Sea, Wind, and Desert. You cannot know how much I appreciate your Gift, I vow to use this second chance at life. I vow to protect this country and all the people that wash under your glory.*
Then, he straightened his back.
Staring up to the masks adorning the walls, the less renowned but still adored spirits. Wild and rambunctious, you usually only came to them with important things, for they had lacked the patience of their more known companions.
The one that could grant Hunter what he wanted was the Blue Spirit.
A demon with bared teeth, peculiar and picky. The Blue Spirit was a trickster at heart, he was both a savior and tyrant. Ever changing, he changed sides as he pleased and was loyal to himself alone.
To many a bad omen.
To a few, the greatest savior they would ever know.
The Blue Spirit was the one who turned abused wives into free men. The law of the Empire was clear: If you changed your sex, you were considered a new person entirely. Free of sins, yes. But a pariah all the same.
A man marked by the Blue Spirit -black hair, emerald green eyes- could not inherit his family fortune or title, and if your family refused to acknowledge you, then you were renouncing your name as well.
It was a difficult choice to make.
Even when the temple offered sanctuary and would help these men to get a job or integrate them into their ranks as they usually retained their ability to learn and cast magic, something only women were able to do in normal circumstances.
Men turned women was even odder.
Far and few in the records of the Empire for it was easier to become a Knight if you wanted to be free of the chains of your family ties -as was Hunter's case- or if you wished to avoid fights over who was the heir -like his nephew Arnold- when the Lord chose to have more than one wife or was freer with his affections than what propriety allowed.
"Blue Spirit, I ask of you to turn my flesh into the one of a woman." Hunter's voice didn't shake as he sliced his palm opened and offered the blood to the wild spirit; an ofering unlike what the Seven demanded. "My intention is to play the biggest prank that had ever happened in the history of this country, I'll even get the entire royal family to play along."
A small pause.
"Wouldn't it be funny to watch? A former Golden Guard becoming the pampered and silly companion of one of your own, Second Prince Danuja." Hunter allowed himself a smirk, feeling how the temperature dropped until he was able to see his own breath like smoke. "Let me become the Fox to match his Serpent."
Prince Danuja was poisonous; a lying snake ready to snap his fangs at anyone who dared to look badly at his brother. A master in bending the truth to his favor and always whispering the right words in the correct ears.
He was the ever-growing shadow of the Crown Prince's light.
One of the best advisors Erdem had. If only the blond prince would make good use of all that brilliance he had at his disposal instead of surrounding himself with a pack of hyenas.
If only…
No. There was no time for '"what ifs." Not here. Not now. Hunter had a mission and he would ensure things changed, starting with avoiding the murder of King Alfor and making Erdem a more competent ruler.
Hunter loved the Prince, he did, but spirits were he annoyingly oblivious most of the time.
[I've heard what you are not saying, little fox.] The mask seemed to start laughing, no sound coming from it as it shook. [But I do not like to share. If you want my favor, you need to break your bond with Agni. The Old Man is all about rules and honor, you must know already that those sails will never take you to the shores you want.]
Hunter shivered, eyes wide with fear.
Where Agni was warmth and comfort, the Blue Spirit was cold and sharp. His words and presence cut like a blade, pushing deeper and deeper. The injury in Hunter's hand continued to bleed.
A few drops soon formed a small poodle at the Seven's feet.
Hunter gulped. His determination burned, he had said anything and what the Blue Spirit asked was small in comparison to what he would do in the future if his plans came to fruition.
"I shall not serve anyone but you, Blue Spirit."
[No.] The mask was suddenly angry, the shaking had stopped but once closed eyes were glaring at him now. [My chosen do not serve me. They are mine because they held a part of me in them. Wild and untamed, you shall be. No one will ever chain you again, little fox.]
That…
That was not something Hunter had ever experienced.
From birth, he belonged to the Hansen. Then, he left them behind and belonged to Agni and their line. Then, to the King. And to the King alone. All his life Hunter had served someone. Not having to do it anymore was frightening.
Way worse than facing a Dragon, if he was honest with himself, but…
If this was the price, he would gladly pay it.
"To serve only myself, to follow my dreams and my goals." Hunter said, the words coming out without his control. "And to crush anyone who gets in the way."
[I recognize your pleadge, little fox.] The injury on Hunter's hand stopped bleeding. [A favor for a favor, a gift for a gift, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Remember my words and you'll make yourself Great.]
The ceramic mask fell to the ground, eyes wide open, and a fierce snarl on the demon's lips.
It landed with a clank and the echo shook the entire room.
Hunter's bone cracked, his flesh and muscles ripping and stitching, organs shifting and rearranging themselves to fit Hunter's new form. The transformation was fast, barely a couple of minutes.
For minutes Hunter could only feel pain. Hot and burning, not entirely different from the moment of his death. Perhaps a show of Agni's displeasure with him, a punishment for breaking the bond that held them together.
Then Tui and La put their hands, cooling, and healing, over him and the pain faded as he gasped for air. Head bowed and back arched, fighting hard to not end on the cold floor. His entire body shaking from the effort.
Lond, wavy locks of black hair hung at the sides of Hunter's face. Before today, his hair had been red and he used it very short so it wouldn't stuck on the helmet by accident.
He was… smaller. The armor sit wrongly on some parts of his body but thankfully it was still comfortable and as he stood, Hunter noticed that he could still move with the same ease as before.
With trepidation making knots on his stomach, Hunter drew his sword from the sheath.
It was heavy, yes. But not more than before.
Relief almost sends him to the ground. This was the one thing he didn't want to lose; learning how to fight from nothing would put severe obstacles to his plans. He was so very grateful he could avoid all that entirely.
The Sword of Marmorra will continue to stand proud in the face of danger; will stand between the danger and the royal family. Even if Hunter stops being a Knight, he will be able to keep a small token of the future that never was to remind himself of why he's doing this in the first place.
Hunter bows one more time to the Seven, whispering his goodbyes. By the time Hunter leaves the room, the Blue Spirit mask is carefully hidden in his person. Or is *her* person now? Mmm, that will take a while to get used to.
But she will try her best. She's to be a Lady, a trickster, if she wants this mess end on a happy note.
The priest is waiting, they nod their head. "Dusan."
"Dusan?" Hunter parrots back, confused. Doesn't that word mean Spirit?
"You're a walking spirit now, Dusan." The priest points to the exact place the mask is hidden, a smirk visible on his lips.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Hunter stiffens, there's no doubt a priest's eyes see more than any normal human should.
"Of course, Dusan." The priest doesn't even bother in masking his mocking tone and Hunter bites his -her- bottom lip to halt her answering words. She knows better than to get into an argument she will not win.
Especially with a holy man.
They're all arrogant know-it-alls who can and will kick her ass in a duel. Plus, she has better things to do (like gathering her allies and preparing for the incoming assassination attempt), and wasting time has never been one of the sins she indulges in.