*1 week later*
I awoke with a start. I could feel myself being watched. I grabbed the handle of my shardblade and used my senses to examine the room. My room, for the most part, looked completely clear of invaders—a little dirty, but you try not getting blood on you every time you walk in.
My powers of the warp seemed to be reacting heavily to something clawing its way toward me, an astral hound being my most likely guess, but that didn't make much sense. There are anti-psyker devices scattered throughout Commorragh; how could the damn thing even claw its way here?
Disregarding my sleep-addled thoughts, I allowed the warp to course through me, filling me with its energy. I felt its addictive song ring in my ears, the whispers of power, of sweet, delicate corruptions. I focused on the floor before me and shot the lightning at the seemingly empty space.
*WHINE* A loud sound emerged, and so did a shocked dog, half-covered in tentacles. I could see a small spasm run through the beast before it appeared to die. This did not make me feel better in the slightest, as these were not solitary hunters.
The moment my eyes averted from it to scan the room, I was tackled by a hound that appeared from the wall behind my bed. Tentacles lashed at me, striking my body and causing a sense of paralysis throughout. I could feel it bite my foot and begin to drag me as another jumped on my free arm.
"GET OFF ME, BEASTS!" I was scared, enraged, and filled with warp lightning. In a moment, the warp seemed to heed my call like an obedient child. Lightning shot directly at my attackers, vaporizing them with abandon. "DIE! DIE! DIE!" Lightning filled the room, and the sounds of whelps echoed. I could hear guards running, but that was the least of my concerns.
My blood from my hand and leg pooled thick like ichor, and I felt enraged, the warp bending to my will, covering me in a haze of red blood-stained aura. The first to enter the room was Celeste, who immediately upon seeing me hardened her eyes.
"By the Emperor," she muttered as she began reciting prayers. These seemed to both infuriate and calm me. The world seemed to spin, and I felt my thoughts snap back into place. I immediately reacted by withdrawing the warp from my body.
As the red light receded from my body, I felt the pain affect me, and given the mangled state of my leg, I wouldn't be able to get myself to a tank in time. "Know any Emperor-damned sorcery for healing?" I laughed through gritted teeth at Celeste.
"None I'd use on you," she scolded but still walked to my side and helped me up. "I'll need your help to guide me to the nearest recovery tank. I have one two rooms down, but you'll need to hurry." I said this and, despite my reservations, allowed her to take my weakened body there. I felt myself grow faint.
"EZDAZAR!" I could hear my mother shout as I was gently hoisted into the chamber. The capsule closed with a snap and filled with green fluids. "Don't kill her, Mother; she's not responsible," I managed to utter before losing consciousness.
Sleeping in the healing pods, as they are affectionately called by me alone, is like being bathed in the screams and torture of thousands of races, filling your body and repairing it to where it needs to be. My soul seemed larger than before; the purplish hue with specks of gold and red made it look otherworldly.
I could sense the warp was far more responsive than normal, as if the veil here was damaged in some fundamental way, but before I could continue to think of this, my eyes snapped open as the latch swung open, and I was tackled by mother. "Every time I look away from you, you're damn near dead." I almost chuckled if my ribs didn't feel like they were close to cracking and her armor piercing my body.
"I'll be okay, Mother, I assure you," she chided. "You better, or I'll have you locked away till you're old enough to fight." I laughed slightly but realized she seemed to be considering it. "Ahem, well, let's talk about where the wretched things came from?" She seemed less than pleased but chose to divert the topic.
"I did some research on the beasts and found markings for a beastmaster clan near and dear to our good friend Vect." I was instantly seeing stars. "Overlord Vect wants me dead?!" She chuckled. "If he wanted you dead, you wouldn't have had a chance to even figure it out." I nodded slowly at this revelation.
"Likely some underling of his is trying, though. However, this could be an excellent opportunity depending on how we play this. If we can find a way to attain vengeance for this slight and replace one of Vect's less important followers, we could have the potential to make some expansions."
"Understood, Mother. What do you need me to do?" She bristled. "Ideally, you do nothing and stay out of this conflict. However, more than likely, that won't be possible, so you'll be training double and helping acquire intelligence on who wants you dead." I grimaced at the thought of doubling my already intensive training but nodded.
"I understand. I will see what I can find out." She wouldn't ask how I got my information nor about why the creatures were electrocuted, but I imagine she had suspicions. "Give me some time, and I'll figure them out." She smiled at this.
"Excellent. Training begins in an hour, and unless you want to do four times as much, I expect you there on the double." She smiled and seemed to flicker from my vision. Celeste was still in the room, but I could see some slashes on her skin likely caused by Mother in her rage.
"I'll fix that up for you later. For now, follow me," I said and jogged towards the training grounds. The pain and slight fear she had were an excellent meal for me as I made my way towards the training ground.
As I jogged towards the training grounds, I could feel Celeste's eyes on me. Despite the slashes on her skin and the remnants of terror in her gaze, she followed without question. The corridors of our stronghold were dimly lit, the flickering lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. I could sense the presence of others, their whispers and hushed conversations a distant hum.
The training grounds were a vast expanse of steel and stone, littered with various weapons and training dummies. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and the echoes of past battles. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
The warp energy still thrummed within me, a constant reminder of the battle I had just fought. I needed to control it, to channel it into something productive. I closed my eyes and began to focus, feeling the energy flow through my veins, letting it guide my movements.
Hours passed in a blur of sweat and exertion. Mother was not merciful today, not that I expected her to be after this. The blade was the way we voiced our concerns. It was like through our whirlwind of blades we had endless conversations. For a moment, I lost myself in ecstasy, the feeling of losing myself and becoming a part of the dance.
I couldn't ignore the sense of unease that had settled over me. The attack had been too calculated, too precise. Someone wanted me dead, and I needed to find out who. I drew the warp in myself and pulsed a question to it. Eagerly, an answer arose: "Syren Baela."
The warp recently has grown more and more eager for it to come to my beck and call. While overtaxing on my body, it seemed to continue to rise in power and potency with each passing day. My soul has grown considerably since first arriving here. This world was strange.
This universe was so vastly different from my time. My sensibilities have long since changed and my morals are significantly different than before. I am Drukhari before I am human. I will cause suffering and enjoy every last delectable morsel of it.
If this Syren thinks herself my or my mother's enemy, then it shall be my blade to do the culling. I shall not take the risk that this event won't repeat itself. It's best to cut off the root of the issue and rest slightly easier in this dangerous city.
I've long since learned that convictions hold power in the warp. If you are strong enough, you can make the impossible possible. Learning how the warp receives my call, I strengthened myself and struck harder and faster, boosting myself with its corrupted powers. I could feel my speed increase, and my strikes grew stronger.
Mother smiled and beat me black and blue. I had slashes all throughout my body. Serrations covered me, small trickles of blood ruining my tight-fitting clothes. I particularly enjoyed the sensations. I have never once landed a blow on Alera. I have gotten close, although I believe it's more my mother enjoying giving me hope than anything.
She was truly everything the Drukhari strive for: ruthless, vicious, cruel, beautiful, and absolutely beyond all dangerous. I knew she was stronger than she let on. She was simply the best of Drukhari culture, and yet I could feel her concern for me through years of life here. I have grown wary of growing close with anyone.
The Drukhari don't have friends; they have pawns, allies however temporary, or enemies, and I learned my lesson more than once. Giving even a modicum of trust to someone is inviting death. However, my guard with her was rarely raised. I only keep my warp abilities and past life secret.
I will likely never divulge that information until I can confidently protect my life. "Cut your thinking and strike, Ezdazar," Mother commanded, running at me with blades pointed down. I struck out, and she swiped my blade away and pulled closer. I used my proximity to strike with an elbow to give myself space. She avoided it with a slide, placing the blade at my throat.
"Sorry, Mother," I let out, sighing at another failure. "Don't be, my son. Although distracted towards the end, your fighting has improved dramatically. I can see the makings of a great warrior." She was smiling while sheathing her blade. I could sense Celeste was still in the room, seated and watching.
Her fear had grown a bit since I had stepped out of the vat. She seemed more pliable to my whims, which confused me. Did Mother do more than hurt her? Was there something major that happened during my sleep?
"Thank you, Mother," I smiled up at her. "I'll land a hit on you one day." She laughed melodiously. "We will have to see about that. I think you're a couple thousand years too young." I snorted.
I was no prodigy, but I was growing at an exceptional rate if my tutors were accurate. I had absorbed knowledge like a sponge and rarely had issues with memorizing formulas and advanced knowledge.
"You'll see." She smiled at that and ruffled my hair. Life was nice here; not everything was easy, but these moments were the ones I treasured. A pity the threat of assassination was so common in this warp-forsaken city.
"I'll have my contacts investigate who exactly put the hit out for your head. In the meantime, I am assigning more Sslyth guards around the spire. With any luck, this situation will be cleared up in time for the raid." She shook her head.
"Keep these two with you at all times from this point forward, just in case." She handed me a small button and a splinter pistol. "Assuming you're bound to get kidnapped, press the button and hide it on your person. I will mount a rescue." "Thank you, Mom."
"If I could make a request to try not to maim my Sister of Battle, Mother, I quite like her." She snorted dismissively. "She'll be fine. I have every indication to make her worthy of your trust, my son." I felt a shiver creep up my spine.
It appears she caught my mother's eye. Apparently, something did happen while I was out. "Try to keep her in one piece, or at least recoverable." She smirked. "We can only wait and see" I sighed and shook my head at the very least she'll likely be trained unfortunately that mind of hers may end up broken.