I wake in the middle of the night with a head of pure white hair resting on my chest and a tightness to my heart. I gently push aside her hair to witness the remains of dry tears soiling the corners of her eyes.

Leomi would never allow me to witness her in such a state so the sight stuns me. I reach out and wipe this tar to her sharp beauty. I can't help but smile at her clumsiness as I recall her words before falling asleep.

Sometimes her aggressiveness is what it appears, a reflection of her ambitions and desire to stand above all, sometimes it is mere facade concealing a deep concern and tenderness.

“I love you, kitten.” I whisper as I caress her hair.

I admire her for a long while before shifting my gaze to my own self only to find my injuries from the battle have been bandaged and that Lance applied healing constructs to them.

These wounds are still painful but not so much I cannot shift them to the back of my mind. Only a singular one remains impossible to suppress through my will and it is the deep burn to my right thigh.

The pain it exudes reaches down to the bone and causes chills in my lower back. My fiancee applied a tight bandage and ointment which awoke my nerves.

I stir up with a tense expression, unconcerned about the mind-wrenching agony it causes me. Cheers rise and fall in the distance, caused by celebration I cannot share with my ties to the Rykz.

Lance shifts, waking up from her slumber. I reach out to the depths of my self to find Elizabeth lazily napping. She transmits an image of herself laying atop a roof as she bathes in moonlight with a naked body covered in fresh blood and a hand casually caressing her intimacy.

I feel my cheeks turn bright red and can't help but sigh at myself as the dream-like impression fades. Being tempted by another woman is one thing, but my sister who shares my body? Lance's hand falls on my cheeks before I can further mock myself.

“My love.” She whispers as she opens her silver eyes.

I meet her gaze and freeze because of the threat held within. Her expression turns to fury as she rises. I say naught to soothe her anger as I know ourselves guilty but internally mourn at the injustice of paying for what was mostly my sister's doing.

There is no doubt Leomi wishes to ravage me, her bravado of the day past is incomparable to the blame and hunger for dominance I now see in her eyes. She says not a word as she pins me down and turns me on my belly.

One knee falls on the center of my back while the other lands on my shoulder, sealing my movements. Her left hand falls on my head and presses it down against the soft satin covers while her right hand's lithe fingers trail down my spine towards my buttocks.

“Spread your legs, Jessica.” She commands.

Since I've no intention of submitting, it matters not the extent of my defeat at her hands. I could easily resist and she would likely give way because of my health but I refuse to take advantage of my weakness.

As such, I decide to deny the order and lay there as a statement of defiance that she'll no doubt enjoy to the utmost. Indeed, I soon feel her reach down to forcefully part my thighs.

Fully expecting to be taken, I take a deep breath only to be left in suspense as naught happens. As I narrow my eyes in suspicion and prepare to turn to ascertain Leomi's goal, she suddenly shifts. Smack. A hard slap lands directly on my sex, causing me a smarting pain.

“Uh!” This cute, timid, yelp escapes me in this moment of utter surprise as her act awakens even Liz.

Smack. Another slap soon lands on our flower that causes us a mixture of anger, humiliation, and lust all at the same time. Smack. A third more violent one lands and her unusual punishment makes us experience a delight that chases the depression clouding our mood.

Being spanked like this is beyond embarrassing and we can't help but experience a burst of rage, yet we also very much enjoy it so we allow these three for free but shift to throw her a beast-like glare so as to warn her from attempting a fourth.

Leomi's eyes narrow and the muscles of her jaw tighten at this sign of rebellion, yet her raised hand slowly falls on our buttocks in a possessive manner.

I frown as I expected to be had in return for suffering her blows, yet she acts not. Most startling is that Liz smirks and fades back to slumber without taking action. I have my own plans, I won't intrude in your play.

Fury overtakes me at the disdain showed by these two lovers of mine, the emotion causing my heart to lurch with agony, the extent of my weakness forces me to control my anger yet that does not mean I shall abandon it.

I can lose to her, I don't even mind a touch of disgrace, but I'm unwilling to do so without getting fucked in return! I gather my flow for revenge and command the air in the room to expel Leomi from my back with a strong burst of half-solid wind.

Lance's expression barely shifts as she is thrown off to land sturdily on her feet. I take a brief moment to admire her perfect tiny breasts and her delicate flower before rising to stomp over to her while shaping a thin air-blade at the tips of my fingers.

Leomi straightens her spine as she slowly retreats until her back is to the wall. I raise the construct to her throat, threatening her jugular to make it clear how much it offends me she would do this to me with no intent to following through with it.

“Are you still not the most dangerous being alive? When have injuries ever held you back? What difference is there between a weak heart and a severed limb?” She asks me with a calm voice.

The three questions back to back startle me so much a thin red line appears on her skin. Lance doesn't even flinch despite the fact I could have accidentally cut her artery.

The sense of this rhetorical inquiry, of her previous provocation, is clear and it stuns me. I'm evidently far from as weak as I perceived myself in her eyes, her provocative attitude this morning and yesterday makes it clear that is how she's always felt.

After all Lance only truly fought to have me when I began resisting her in truth, she's been like this from the start so she would have no interest in me right now if I was weak yet the glistening between her thighs makes it evident her desire for me is as strong as ever.

I retract my hand and dismantle the air-blade to reach up on my toes, kissing her while palming her left breast with a firm grip. She passionately snags my lip between her teeth, refusing to allow my tongue entrance so as to demonstrate her resolve of being on top.

“Since you won't take me, I'll have you.” I casually declare, smirking at her challenge.

“Tss.” Lance snorts in disdain with an arrogant tone. “In the end, you kneel all the same.”

I don't contradict her and, in fact, slowly bend my knees while making my lips trail down her body, causing her to shudder as they brush past a nipple. Leomi places her right hand atop my head as a victor yet has to know that I am about to seize her.

Pain shakes my thigh as I hit the ground so I take a moment to kiss the tree and road engraved in her flesh before my tongue finds her flower and intertwines with its petals. The steely taste of her dew takes over as I penetrate her.

“Uhm!” The small whine escapes Leomi as I begin conquering her from a position of weakness.

Her delightful cries of pleasure soon fill my ears as I play with her body's most intimate and sensitive place. I lose myself to the music of her to the point where my vision blurs and naught else than her ecstasy remains in my hazy thoughts.

It takes a while for her to finish climaxing and then she takes time to stabilize her shaking limbs but, in the end, she sits down before me with a stunned and amazed look on her face.

“What difference does it make whose knees touch the ground between equals?” She asks with curiosity.

“None but that of pride.” I answer.

“Makes sense.” She murmurs.

I smile and leave her there, exhausted, as I rise to slowly stumble over to the basin of water set in a corner of our room. I clean myself up with a towel under her gaze since my injuries prevent me from taking a bath.

“At least allow yourself to limp.” Leomi tells me with a soft sigh.

I ignore the suggestion as I finish up and use my flow to fit my cuirass on. I then fasten my three broadswords around my waist without forgetting the pouch containing the item my sister seized from Leomi.

“You could at least wear a dress to meet with our Emperor.” Lance reproaches.

“I doubt Emperor Rasaec would appreciate you confabulating your desires for his.” I return, making her chuckle. “In all seriousness, today may be the day I die so I would rather it happen with a weapon in hand.”

“... so would I.” Leomi acknowledges after a pause.

I feel a burst of affection at the fact she didn't challenge my assertion that the Emperor may kill us and because she is sternly stating she would fall by my side if that were to happen.

She rises and cleans up at the basin before taking out her uniform. She doesn't go pick up her plate armor, or even a leather one, but does grab a sword to hang at her waist.

While she dresses up, I make my way to the living room and start rummaging through the cupboards. I find bread, dried meat, cheese, and milk which I pile up on the table.

Leomi comes out a few minutes later to find me devouring through her reserves as if I'd been starved for months, which isn't too far from the truth considering I had to restrain myself with my lacking funds.

“Are you planning to eat your own weight in food?” She asks as her eyes fall to the pile.

“I'll need plenty of sustenance once I begin using the fortifying construct.” I explain.

She nods and joins me. A quarter of an hour of stuffing myself later, Yvonne and Rowland get up. They were likely awakened by us but they don't complain and join us for breakfast.

We don't converse much but the mood is peaceful and, by the end of the meal, dawn rises. I rise first and make my way downstairs to the training field. I spend a half-hour turning a training dummy into splinters merely using the sharp edge of my blade without exerting myself.

I find this style of battle focused on steadiness and endurance unpleasing but it is the only way I will be able to fight for a long while so I don't give up training this way of fighting because I must be able to use it without causing my heartbeat to raise.

As I make my way back inside to wait for Idali, a group of Hospitaliers comes out and crosses paths with me. Among them, two pause at my sight and stop. The one on the left, a redhead I've seen before in Meria, spits out in front of me.

“Vile ambusher.” She throws out.

“Serves you right that you further crippled yourself.” Her companion utters.

I blink, stunned by their hatred, and thus fail to react as they move on. Kill. The thought is accompanied by a yawn underlining how little she cares for these people who seem to have admired her but I dismiss it instantly.

I step inside without responding because, in the end, their animosity is based on a lie of mine so it wouldn't be right to take revenge over it. I find Idali waiting with my other minions, except Rowland, in the hall.

“The fortifying construct you gave me has no mistakes, but it might be dangerous for you to use it.” Uhla speaks up immediately, as if worried I'd already started.

“I've been told of the risks, don't worry.” I reassure her.

“Are we to wage war?” Nahl directly questions.

“Ooh, fun.” Idali cheers on but her heart isn't in her smile.

“No, you're merely to accompany me to the Emperor's Palace if you wish to.” I tell them.

“I'll remain here.” Uhla speaks up with a slight frown.

“Likely the better choice, I'm ill-suited to society.” I say with a wink to ensure she knows my words still stand, they can all do as they wish. “Did you spread the word?” I ask Idali.

“I have.” She nods seriously.

“Nahl?” I question.

“I suppose someone has to keep an eye on you two madwomen.” He says with an exaggerated sigh.

“Go put on your best uniform then.” I instruct.

As they leave without bothering to acknowledge me with either a nod or salute, Leomi arrives with Yvonne and Rowland. An officer of the Hospitaliers wearing chevrons designating him as a lieutenant turns to watch her walk downstairs.

“Coldhearted.” He quietly utters as she passes by him.

Leomi freezes for a moment while Yvonne snaps a deathly glare at the man and Rowland reaches for the bastard sword at his waist. I simply raise my hand and shape a javelin to impale the man to the wall.

“Jess!” Lance snaps at me first, her eyes never left me, causing Yvonne to shift her gaze to me.

“Don't!” She exclaims in panic.

I ignore both but, just as I was about to launch my construct, Mary stomps to the officer and smashes her fist in his face. The man is launched back with a sharp scream as I hear the bridge of his nose crack from where I stand.

The woman, leader of Leomi's bodyguards who were the first to join her, snaps a glare to me as if challenging me to launch my attack. I casually dismantle my construct, considering the man punished sufficiently now that I've had a moment to think.

“I'll have no more of this.” Mary coldly addresses all those present at the ground floor of the headquarters. “Henceforth, the Justiciers shall be called upon to judge the next incidents.”

Silence spreads throughout the room and I notice more than a few shivering. It seems like there were other events apart from those I witnessed, which isn't surprising considering some had the guts to speak up to Leomi and my face.

“We are to go to war against the ancestral enemies of this Empire to defend its people, behave as such!” Mary berates, her gaze remaining fixed on me.

I stand as I am, unperturbed by her speech or oblique rebuke of my character, I agree with her choice of words so I don't speak up to lessen their impact. Although, it matters not to me the species of those who stand against me, I understand it cannot be the same for others.

The crowd eventually begins dispersing so I take Leomi to make my way out to her carriage where my minions eventually join us with Mary and her squad of bodyguards wielding halberds.

I sit on the other side of Leomi on the carriage, choosing to sit besides Yvonne for multiple reasons. It's best to keep a distance from Lance to avoid mishaps but there is also the necessity to keep my best-friend in check.

“How arrogant is the Emperor.” I quietly ponder, causing the other three to stare at me. “What? One is meant to guess they have to present themselves when he merely expresses interest in meeting them?” I ask with a dissatisfied frown. “If he wants to meet, he should just come by.” I grumble.

“Kh.” Lance barely manages to suppress a laugh.

“Leomi.” Yvonne berates.

“She has a point, it's a bit ridiculous.” My prideful fiancee notes.

“As far as I'm aware, it's an old way of doing things that the Emperor clings to.” Yvonne explains. “It should only stand for private invitations so it's a good sign.”

“I doubt it.” I quietly cut in. They turn to me with puzzled expressions but Rowland's suddenly sours as he guesses my meaning more accurately than the other two. “Have you ever met me?” I say to clue them in.

“Don't you mess with the Emperor, Jess.” Lance exclaims. “It's not an enemy we can afford to make.”

“I'm not crazy.” I dismiss, rolling my eyes. “Well, no, I am.” I correct. “I just mean to say I won't be intentionally causing problems but... again, have you met me?” I question.

“She makes a good point.” Yvonne notes with a nervous expression.

“Can't you control yourself?” Rowland asks worriedly.

“She can, but she won't.” Leomi answers for me.

“I am who I am.” I explain.

The three all glare at me as if my explanation didn't grant them answers. They've known me for a long time now, these words should be enough. I break eye contact to gaze out of the carriage to look to the white and gold dome perched atop the Emperor's Palace, wondering whether I am to meet a centuries old undying man or a fraud skillful enough to trick even the Rykz.