Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

The siblings stared hard at each other and then Myron opened his mouth to let out a retort only to stop when a sharp clap called everyone's attention to Zayda who had so far been quiet to it all,

"I think it's pretty clear what should happen now," she said with a smile, "Let's have a duel. The once brilliant Myrine against the subpar but still fairly competent Myron."

Myrine cocked her head to the side confidently,

"That doesn't sound bad at all," she said, "Myron, care to run it back and have your ass kicked again?"

Myron frowned not at his Sister's words but rather at the disparaging words Zayda had used to describe him but he dared not speak the insulting retort at the tip of his tongue. Instead, he composed himself,

"A duel this night?" he asked, sounding like he was suggesting the day was over and it was much too late for a spar.

Zayda shook her head,

"No, no, Not today," She said, "Tomorrow. I'll preside."

"What about our return to the Temple?" Myron asked. Rightly, they were meant to be on their way first thing in the morning for the official handing in of Adrian's credentials as a new disciple.

Zayda waved him off,

"It can wait one more day," she said with a dismissive smile, "I want to see this."

"Will you really do this?" Lord Stygian asked his wife who briefly went silent before nodding resolutely,

"Oh course," she said, "A playful spar to put my brother in his place will be just like old times."

"It'd be anything but playful," Myron said with a smirk, "But I consent too."

It was settled.

The two spent the rest of the Feast glaring at each other and when it finally came to an end late at night, and everyone dispersed, Zayda chuckled to herself at the event she had so quickly put together but little did anyone know, she had an ulterior motive for staying just a bit longer at the Stygian Estate.

***

-The Next Morning-

Evian and Ember woke up well past dawn and the Redhead wasted no time shimmying down to the rod and kickstarting yet another session in a classic insatiable fashion.

That went on for a few hours before they finally pulled away from each other, washed themselves in the bath (proceeded to have a quickie there), and then put on clothes to exit his room to quite some surprising news.

"They're doing what?" He said to the Guard who informed him of the decision that had been made during the Feast he and Ember had declined to attend.

"Lady Myrine and Sir Myron are having a Duel at the Family Arena." the guard repeated but Evian was not really listening as he had already started walking towards the Duel's venue. Ember was close behind.

They arrived to see Stygians gathering at the Arena with Myron already on the raised stage, swinging the large sword in his hand in practice to brush up his skills, and even then, he did so with the confidence of one who did not need it.

Adrian was there with a big smile. Looking ready to cheer on his Uncle against his Mother like the unfilial scum that he was.

"Welcome you two."

"Ah," Ember let out, startled when Zayda approached them from behind and spoke in a silky voice, "Dame Zayda, I didn't hear you coming."

"That was by choice," Zayda said, looking from Ember to Evian who had turned around and was giving her the undivided attention of his Grey eyes, "You two were in quite the hurry to get away last night."

"Well, we felt it was time," Evian said with a shrug, "Staying longer would have been pushing it."

"Perhaps," Zayda said with a nod, "But I wonder how you did it. What sort of supernatural speed do you possess to get you away so fast and even more impressive, get you out of range of my senses."

"I'm just gifted I guess," Evian said with a smile.

Zayda watched him for a while and when she noted nothing in his expression, she looked at Ember whose cheeks were a bright red.

Memories of the night before rushed quickly to the forefront of her mind. How she had gyrated while being watched as well as how she had climaxed so intensely were the most powerful elements of her shame.

"Is that really it, Ember?" Zayda asked.

"What?" Ember let out confused, her mind having not really followed the conversation.

Zayda saw this as her being jumpy and chuckled,

"Relax, it's not an investigation. I'm just curious," she said before walking past the two toward the stage. She paused before she got too close and turned around to look at Evian,

"By the way, Evian, you should reconsider your stance on the Martial Temple."

Evian shook his head,

"No, I made my decision already."

"It was a decision lacking sorely in information," Zayda said, "The Martial Temple is not all about being a disciple of the Sects. In fact, that's an honor only reserved for the very best. For others, the best they can do is join outposts, and barracks and battle at the front lines against the Kingdom's enemies.

Take your Redheaded 'friend' for instance;

Should she join the Martial Temple, she is not very likely to join the Sects. She must serve at an outpost or Barrack and slowly make her way up the ranks because she's not truly a noble."

Evian looked at Ember and before he could proffer a question, she was already nodding,

"It's true," she said looking like she had long accepted this as a necessary step to the strength she sought.

"Oh," Evian said. It was actually not the first he would hear of 'serving at the frontlines' as Daria had once made mention of it. That said, hearing it now, he wondered...

"You want me to join an Outpost?"

"If you seek excitement, this might be just how you find it. If you enlist as a Frontline Knight, you surrender yourself to be sent all over the Kingdom and beyond, squashing threats to the Kingdom."

"Why are you suggesting this?" Evian asked with furrowed brows.

"Well, if you decide to enlist right now, you will be beneath me," Zayda said with a smile taking a few steps towards Evian and dropping her volume so the conversation was much more private despite the presence of many Stygians at the Arena.

"What?" Evian asked with a particularly intense blink.

Zayda nodded,

"As a Knight of the First Rank, I am eligible to become a Commander. I can wait to get naturally promoted through more meritorious deeds or I can force it by organizing a Squad of my own."

As she spoke, Zayda looked from Evian to Ember,

"You're welcome to join too, Red."

"Oh," Ember said and then smiled before giving a small curtsy, "I'll be honored."

As Ember began to gush at being 'personally' invited by a soon-to-be Commander, which was apparently a great honor, Evian's brows remained furrowed,

"What's the catch?" he asked, "What are the tests?"

Zayda shrugged,

"There are none. Only aspiring Temple Disciples require tests that certify their talent or potential. The average Outpost Knight can be weak for all anyone cares."

"That... seems lax," Evian said.

Zayda chuckled,

"Not really," she said, "To serve at the Frontlines is to put your life on the line on a long journey to prove yourself worthy of the Martial Temple's resources. The Temple loses nothing by accepting all and so it does, provided they attain a level of Martial excellence that could prove useful.

Our indiscrimate acceptance rate is what distinguishes us from the Arcane Church.

For us, the worthy move up and get a chance to truly join the Temple, while the unworthy either die or remain Outpost Knights for the rest of their existence."

Evian wasn't going to lie, he found the idea intriguing but before he could make that known, the surrounding murmurs and chatter hiked up in volume as all attention turned to the entrance of the Arena where Lord Stygian had just arrived with a hardened Lady Myrine by his side.

"Think about it," Zayda told Evian before climbing onto the stage.

Evian acknowledged her with head jerks but his attention was on his Mother who was dressed in the most Martial-ready attire he had ever seen her wear.

There were gauntlets on her arms and there was a double satchel pack behind her back with two handles sticking out of opposing ends.

Every part of her beautiful body was highlighted in an imposing manner of one ready to crush her opposition.

"Mother," he said, looking wowed as he looked from her ever-impressive bust to her face, "You look incredible."

That broke through Myrine's hardened exterior and she chuckled as she arrived in front of her Son and raised a hand to press against his cheek while staring into his eyes,

"First time you ever complimented my dressing... Do it more," she ordered while giving his cheeks a few endearing pats.

Myrine then looked at Ember,

"Dear, I apologize."

Ember shook her head quickly,

"It is I who should apologize, Ma'am... For leaving as we did." Your next chapter awaits at m,vlempyr.

Myrine smiled kindly,

"It's fine, Dear. Let's have that talk after this..." she said as she edged past both Evian and Ember and stared at her brother on the stage,

"... Right now, I need to teach a Brat a lesson in Respect."