Yulia's Fury

4 days before the festival...

Insides Zariel's synagogue, her faithfuls all gathered. Ranging from new initiates, paladins, clerics, priests.

The surroundings illuminated not by crystals, but by fiery braziers. Flames left and right imparted to the place of worship an almost ominous flare. A reminder of what the fallen lady championed, and to them the power they held, theirs is a flame that burns the wicked. None embodied this creed more than the paladin in red armor that sat at the lavish couch by the mezzanine. Laxed and unbothered, as if the praise and murmur of those beneath did not perk her ears. Her strength, her devotion, her sacreligious ways, all fllowed from theie lips.

At the stage below, a sermon would be given before the fallen angel's worshippers. The hooded woman with a black and red robe stood at the center.

The woman pulled back her hood to reveal the mature beauty of a middle aged, human woman. Braided black hair, falling down to her waist.

"Greetings, brothers and sisters of the faith!" The entire crowd silenced by her preaching timbre. "It is with great joy that inform you, Since Yulia bested that Helel 3 years ago, by our fallen lady's grace, The Cult of the First Fallen's poaching of our followers had come to a halt."

The murmurs once again erupted among the crowd, Exalting Yulia's name. She didn't really best the fallen angel, but she sure gave her an asswhooping so hard, it shattered her mortal vessel. And Yulia? Almost sliced in half, dead if wasn't for Zariel's powers amplifying her tiefling blood's natural healing. A lethal trade, Yulia would say. The scary thing is, Helel's vessel was still incomplete, unable to channel her divinity. But if their head priestess would spin it as a victory, she wouldn't dare deny inspiration to her fellow brothers and sisters of the faith.

"Zariel chose well, for if it wasn't for Yulia the First Fallen would have amassed enough power to rival us! My brethren, we must remain ever vigillant, ever faithful for this Helel has escaped Zariel's judgement, that which I'm sure Yulia will bring to her personally...!"

Yulia listened well, attentive to the head priestess' sermon, holding in her grin from all the praises as to not appear haughty. She will never have to worry about such image since the preaching that called for vigilance turned into an inquisition within their ranks.

"...until then, Zariel's chosen one must act with pedigree, do you not agree, brothers and sisters? Instead, she spends most of her nights drinking and chasing skirts!"

Ah, there it is. Yulia smirked. Classic Varna, always had Zariel's rosary stuck up her ass.

"This is merely a warning, Zariel's champion must not become those which we hunt! Zariel's chosen must become a paragon of virtue, justice, vengeance!" Her finger pointed the unconcerned tiefling above. "You must abandon your heretical ways if you wish to keep Zariel's favor!"

'Sure, sure, let me try and abandon it tomorrow. It's getting a bit late.' Dripping with sarcasm, Yulia muttered under her breath.

Varna's forehead crunched, such arrogance to act like whatever she just said didn't concern her. Varna's lops curved into a sinister smile. Let's see if Yulia can still act unbothered by her next revelation.

"And that's not all of it! It has come to my attention that you are fraternizing with a whore."

Yulia's smile faded, anger lit up beneath her gaze. A gaze that fed into Varna's play. Oh, how long had she waited to illicit a reaction like this from Yulia!

"Laying with a filthy harlot, you tarnish Zariel's name!"

As a high priestess, Varna has the privelege to berate, belittle, shame Yulia. It is Zariel's church, Yulia would respect its hierarchy. What she would never tolerate is the slander of Magna, a succubus trying to get by in a way that is less harmful and would allow her to earn a living.

Triggered by her immense anger, it had opened the pathway to vengeance, manifesting as flames upon her back. A flaming halo above her horns to complete her transformation as the fallen angel's avatar.

Yulia jumped down, Varna's retribution quickly descending. Her sword gripped tight in her rind hand, the head priestess trembled as Yulia stared her down.

"Y-you wouldn't dare!"

"Are you sure about that?" Yulia chuckled. "By how you're always mouthing off on me, it's like you want to fight me for Zariel's favor. Oh, silly me, you can't fight. Won' fight! While you were here sitting cozy, it was I that hunted Zariel's enemies, that bastard of a cult led by another fallen angel, in the fucking flesh mind you! Fought tooth and nail against Helel that her axe almost split me in half! That might not be enough to garner your respect because of my inherent vices, but the next time you insult Magna again..."

Hellfire bathed Yulia's blade, swinging it with fury! Varna flinched, was Yulia going end her!? Alas, the wave of hellfire shoot towards the far end of the ceiling, its explosion opening up a hole where its debris would harm none.

"...I'm going to make sure you'll be meeting Zariel soon enough."

++++

"My word, I...I'm afraid I would have to stop visiting for a while. I feel my soul about to be sapped from me."

Although fully clothed, the aged man remained panting. Streaks of grey adorned his hair. Some strands developed only after her visit to the Grey Temptress. Such was Magna's allure that her 'customers' would risk even a sliver of their own youthful energy just to be with the succubus.

Her smile, wicked yet benevolent at the same time, Magna saw her client by the door.

"That's because it's about to be. I would suggest for you to recover for a good a while."

The man scratched his sideburns. Curious as to when he might be able to indulge in this exoticically draining pleasure that only one like Magna can provide.

"Unless you have a deathwish, I would expect your next patronage to be by next month." Magna warned. For an ordinary mortal, their mana does not recover fast unlike those that use them on a regular. Adventurers and other vocations. Like muscles, the more you work with it, the more your mana reserve will expand.

"A whole month!? Goodness gracious! I hate to, but I feel I must abide by your warning. Any moment now I am certain exhaustion will claim me!"

Magna giggled, "If you're going to collapse, please do so at the comfort of your home. The madam will chew me out if she finds you sprawled on the floor."

"Then I...I shall take my leave."

As the man did his best to hold onto the golden railings of the stairs, there is some sort of sordid satisfaction that bloomed with Magna's smirk. Yet another in her long list of clients that's ready to offer their life for her. A life she must depend on to continue hers, such was the life of a succubus.

One guest made his leave, another arrived.

The sound her landing on the balcony alerted Magna of Yulia's arrival. The air burning crisp with her blazing wings. The door opened, Magna gazed at Yulia. The tiefling's sullennnes obvious, and yet Yulia still had the strength to smile. Yulia's aura changed color but her vision as a succubus was not needed to see the hurt in Yulia's demeanor.

"Is something the matter, honey?" Asked Magna. Her hand caressing Yulia's cheek. Dousing Yulia's flames of anger with Magna's gentle touch, the fiery wings behind Yulia snuffed out.

"There isn't. I simply miss you."

"What are you on about?" Magna giggled. "We shared the same bed last night."

Caressing Magna's hand, Yulia carried the succubus' hold towards her lips. A slut, harlot. Whatever they label Magna wasn't important for Yulia. Magna was only one thing for Yulia, her woman.

Pulling Magna for an embrace, Yulia teased with a smile, "Then let's go share some more."