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Kartikeya1 waited, heart pounding, but eyes kept close and muscles carefully relaxed not to give away that he regained consciousness. Tension was the first sign that a victim was awake, Kartikeya learned that well. And so he let his breath flow deeply, no matter how the scorch mark on his chest hurt with the stretch of every inhale. He waited, listening to the medic’s quiet rummaging in the small apothecary. He couldn’t hear anyone else - beside’s the assistant’s quiet snoring one table over - so he hoped the rest of the party retired to their rented rooms. He waited until the medic, who hid a steel forged gaze behind mushroom smoke and ancient power between moldy book pages, closed the door to his adjacent office behind him.Only then did he open his eyes.He half expected to be greeted with a dagger to his throat, but only the ceiling illuminated by the late midnight moonshine filled his vision.Slowly - both to reduce noise and to avoid worsening the ache of the leftover restless energy from the ritual bond backfiring - Kartikeya sat up. The room still spun, and a fierce pain bloomed behind his eyes. Kartikeya grit his teeth until his jaw spasmed and pressed his claws onto his eyes until rainbow-colored spots danced behind his eyelids and the ache dulled to something he might be able to think around. This was nothing. He’d had worse, he told himself. He would be fine, and he still had things to take care of before the night discarded its shadowy protection.Kartikeya struggled to his feet. His muscles still twitched with a foreign feeling from the lighting bolt, but Kartikeya wasn’t an inexperienced fledgling anymore, who’d buckle under his old teacher’s threats and magic alike.He ignored the memory of mocking laughter haunting his head like a particularly stubborn ghost and forced himself to walk instead of wasting time with sentimentals.Kartikeya froze in the door.His companions were sprawled on their bedrolls - or in Cinaed’s2 case, on top of the others - in the apothecary’s sell room.The draconian spent a precious moment pondering the shop door. Then he carefully stepped around the sleeping figures, keeping his tail high to avoid the spines snagging on any bedding. He still froze at every twitch, every hitching snore, frozen to the spot with his heart in his throat chocking him. When he was halfway across the room, something sent his alarm bells ringing, as if he was forgetting something - something important, something lethally vital - he just couldn’t pinpoint it.The door's hinges were well oiled. It swung open with merely a whisper of wood on polished stone. Kartikeya slipped into the cool night.Immediately, he breathed easier. The familiar sharp angles of draconian architecture were a familiar soothing balm on his innards strung tighter than a zither. They threw sharp, deep shadows in the moonlight; perfect guards for someone who did not desire to be seen.Kartikeya dove into their protection like an otter into a lake. Once indigo, his scales would let him merge with the shadows seamlessly, but these days were long gone. Instead, he pulled the collar of his coat up to his shin in the hope the dark fabric would help even a bit. Hopefully, Iksong’s3 citizens were more occupied with themselves than the gossip-hungry vultures in the capital’s more affluent districts.Kartikeya turned a corner then another before he oriented himself West. A quick glance confirmed he was still alone in the alley, then he pulled out the strand of hair he managed to sneak into his sleeve earlier. A flick of guilt threatened to ignite at the thought of what would happen to its owner, but Kartikeya pushed it down with well practiced vehemence. Instead, the hair lit up in his hand in a small burst of flame. The acid smell of sulfur assaulted his nostrils, which Kartikeya carefully ignored, just as the ache under his ribs. He did not need to lift his clothes nor the illusion hiding the fresh marks from view to know some of the recently carved runes reopened. Whatever blood his illusion wouldn't cover would hopefully go unnoticed in the dark fabric.Now he only-Kartikeya froze. The hairs on his neck raced, and a cool shiver went down his spine. The night around him froze equally as if even the darkness held its breath upon recognizing a larger predator. Kartikeya knew what he would see before he turned.Ama4 stood in the dim alley, a sharp humorless smile illuminated by the light of the waning moon. Godkiller5 hang ominously from his belt.“Taking a late night stroll?” Ama’s nonchalant voice cut through the suffocating silence, sharper than any blade.Kartikeya forced his feet to take roots on the cobblestones as Ama sauntered closer. If you wanted a wolf to chase you, the surefire way was to flee. And Kartikeya was done running.“Fresh air makes for a sharp mind,” Kartikeya pressed out, barely daring to blink.His thoughts raced as the shadowy figure stalked nearer, reminding him what a true fool he was. He never knew when to stop; a trait that's gotten him exiled miles from home in the first place. Why else would he poke the tiger with a stick, no matter if he hadn't believed to survive the next hour? He couldn't just fade from this world; No, he had to flaunt his intelligence and tell the servant of chaos he'd seen through his charade in steadfast belief he wouldn't live to bear the consequences.Well, the consequences were currently barely a step away with an amused, curious look shining in Ama’s bright eyes.Stolen eyes, Kartikeya reminded himself. What part of the underworld might the poor oni’s soul currently wandering, as the Iwardin6 paraded around in his body?The shadow demon pinned him with this mere gaze like a butterfly. There had been few people in his life who could make Kartikeya freeze in fear with a mere look, and even fewer he didn't outgrow the fear. But here, right now, in this alley, was the first time Kartikeya truly felt like prey.“I think,” Ama whispered, “it’s long overdue that you and I have a proper chat. With some honesty, this time, if you'd please.”Kartikeya shook his head. “I don't-”All air left his lungs, then the impact registered. Pain bloomed in his back where he'd been slammed into the brick wall. Cracks lined the stone like a fine spiderweb.Kartikeya grasped for breath, but a strong hand - the color of torn liver in the night light - kept him firmly pressed against stone. The other arm rested against the wall next to his face, trapping Kartikeya in position.It also meant Ama was impossibly closer than before. Kartikeya could feel his breath brush against his skin. It made goosebumps race down his arms.“Honesty,” Ama purred, “I thought we'd agree you try your hand at it, dear. Better practice it now before I take your tongue and solve our problem the easy way.” He paused, then chuckled. “Well, easy for me.”Inky shadows swirled through Ama’s eyes. Fools, the lot of them, that they didn't notice before. “How long?” Kartikeya gasped out. “How long did we harbor a monster in our midst?”“Monster?” Ama tutted. “You wound me.”“How long?!” Kartikeya demanded, temper flaring.“Ever since we reunited in the Singing Forest.” Ama pressed closer to whisper in his ear.Kartikeya’s head swam. Weeks passed since then. It was worse than he'd imagined.“Don't look so disappointed,” Ama’s light tone poorly concealed the mocking tilt. “We can still be friends, you and me, little blood mage.”Kartikeya scoffed. “I have never needed nor wanted to be friends with the likes of you.”“Really?” Ama’s eyebrows raised in fake surprise. And looked horribly out of place on the kind face of the gentle oni paladin Kartikeya learned to appreciate during their common struggle on the pirate ship and the following fight in the advisor's cursed tower. But that friend was long gone, a corpse puppeteered around to fulfil a vile goddess’ decree.“I’d thought you cleverer than that. Think of what you could gain.”Rage flared in Kartikeya. He shoved Ama's arm away and tried to duck under the other one.With embarrassing ease, he was pushed back in place.“Or think of what you could lose,” Ama hissed into his ears, features twisted in annoyance. “Don't you think, I didn't notice your little scheming with our young Hilo.”Kartikeya’s head jerked up with a growl. “If you touch him, demon-”“Then what?” Ama grinned.Kartikeya felt his stomach sink. He’d taken the bait; Hook, line and sinker, like a quelldragon7 damned fool.Ama shrugged. “Good for both of us, then, that I have no intention to harm the little dragon. Not until you give me reason to. And then, what would become of all your grand plans?”Kartikeya tried to swallow down the cresting wave of despair. If he'd let it drown him now, after he fought tooth and claw to get this far, despite all he had to sacrifice...“What do you want?” he asked, tired even to his own ears.“Not much,” Ama hummed. “Your silence. And your cooperation from now on. No more silly interferences like killing my disciples. You will-” Ama stopped, tilting his head, listening.“Ah, I thought we had more time.”Kartikeya looked at him questionably. Ama ran a clawed hand through Kartikeya’s dark hair. He tried to jerk back, but Ama merely tightened his grip.“Shhh, we are about to have company. Let's give them a convincing reason why we snuck off in the middle of the night, huh? Wouldn't want anyone to get suspicious now, would we?”Kartikeya didn't even have to time for a reply before Ama’s lips pressed against his own.Adrenaline rushed through his veins. A shudder raced down Kartikeya’s spine, and he couldn't be sure if it was due to repulsion or a growing desire for more. Ama's hand tangled in his locks, tilted his head back, and deepened the kiss. Kartikeya shuddered again, this time in delight. He couldn't remember the last time he was kissed like this, like a craving man’s meal about to be devoured.He didn't know if Ama moved him or if he moved on his own accord, but he gradually became aware that he was no longer touching the wall but pressed himself against Ama’s chest, each point of contact a warm burn against his skin like sun-warmed stone.Someone, in the entrance of the alley, cleared their throat.As if electrocuted, Kartikeya jerked out of Ama’s hold. He felt his dark gaze follow him like a physical weight, an expression between prideful self-satisfaction and something else Kartikeya couldn't discern and was allowed no time to ponder.Because Hiro8 and Cinaed stood at the entrance of the ally with varying degrees of shock and disbelief on their faces.White-hot shame flooded Kartikeya.1 Kartikeya is a draconian mage - similiar to dnd's dragonborn race but with more human features where the amount of dragon features a person has determines their standing in society. He had joined the group out of self preservation after being freed from captivity on a pirate ship.He has dark long hair to cover the torture scars he recived during that time since the pirates ripped his scales out. His horns have been broken off at the root - a common punishment for exilants to broadcast their shame to the world. return to text ↩2 Cinaed - nicknamed Hilo - is a young draconian who had grown up in the wilderness far away from his culture after his egg was abandoned in the woods. The other members of the party adopted him early on in their adventure. As some draconian children do, he still has the ability to shift between his dragon and his human form. return to text ↩3 Iksong is a draconic city near the boarder to the human kingdom Malitan which the draconians are currently on the brink of war with as centuries of resentment bubble to the surface. return to text ↩4 Ama is a red oni paladin currently on his journey away from his remote living tribe to gain the experience required to teach and guide future generations. His blood red skin, broad muscled frame bared by his traditional roman gladioator-styled leather skirt, and his giant horns paint him an imposing figure despite his patient and kind heart. return to text ↩5 Godkiller is a sword of legend that once was used by the godess of chaos to slay the god of the kitsune. Both the sword and the old goddess vanished with the destruction of the old world. Only recently the sword resurfaced as the Nijura, the goddess of dreams, gave it to Sayuko as her chosen to aid the mission of the party. After Sayuko was mysteriously murdered, Ama as her mentor and friend, took to carrying the sword. It is a xiphus (a double-edged, straight sword) from blackened steel with engraved runes down both sides of the blade. The meaning remains unclear but parts of the engravings became illuminated after Sayuko used the sword to kill a powerful mage. return to text ↩6 Iwardin are shadow demons, incorperal beings now banished to haunt the plane between life and death by the new gods. Under the old order they served the godess of chaos with their taste for bloodshed and suffering as well as their ability to posess bodies and drive the living to madness with fear or rage with a simple touch. return to text ↩7 The quelldragon is the highest entity the draconian worship and believe to be above the new gods. He is their collective ancestor, gifting them their draconic traist and elemental magic. He died during the creation of the new world. The draconian kingdom is located where they believe his body crashed down from the sky, the massive mountain range dividing the kindom into eastern and western parts the remains of his spine that the years turned to stone. return to text ↩8 Hiro is the last member of our party - a water mage kitsune with white fur. His noble heritage and his parents' expectations brought him to join the adventuring party to make a name of himself. Although from the start he'd seemed a lot more successful in getting closer to the party's himbo oni than earning his family honor. return to text ↩