Loyalty, Commitment, Discipline, and General Times

'Firmamentians?'

<I doubt it. Those stunted fools wouldn't dare go this deep in Dead Gardens. They're probably Vyurs. I can detect two of them, and they're slowly heading your way.>

'Should we be worried?'

<No. Not yet. It doesn't look like the Vyurs are hostile. Just keep walking and act like you can't see them. With their pace, I'm sure they'll reach you in a minute or so.>

It didn't even take half a minute before I heard loud flapping wings above me.

"You there, traveler! Can we ask what you're carrying?" A stern and commanding voice resounded from above.

<He sounds familiar.>

'You know him?'

<I think so.>

'Should we interact with them?'

<They seem awfully polite; it would just incite unnecessary drama if you ignore them. Just look up. That should be enough confirmation that you don't mean trouble.>

So I did. Two Vyurbornes were there, hovering from above. I couldn't see them well because of the sharp sunlight blinding my vision and bathing their winged bodies with shadows. But there's one thing I know for sure. They are magnificent. Their leathery skin was beige with a hint of pinkness. They had no arms; instead, they had long wings that looked to be about 20 feet long attached to their shoulders. The hovering strangers had tall and slender bird-like legs, clawed to show their barred talons. Their deep and perfectly circular sunken eyes were enough to leave any man spell-bound, and their long tails flowed from their crotch and raised into their backs, ending with a purple triangular tip. Lastly, their long black hair glistens like the midnight skies, filled with glittery stars that twinkled ever so beautifully under the orange sunset.

The Vyurbornes have got to be the most beautiful beings I had the privilege of meeting. They looked different from when I first saw one of them the first time I fell on Dead Gardens, and they looked much healthier than the one I'm carrying.

'Do you think they're searching for Miss Gertrude?'

<I'm not sure, but no matter what their purpose is, the Vyur you're carrying on your back definitely took their attention.>

I decided to strike up a conversation. "Hail, sirs! What can I do for you?"

"You can start by answering my question." The man who called my attention earlier slowly descended into the ground with another Vyurborne closely following him. I don't know what it was, but there's something about his demeanor that made me feel like I'm talking to some kind of high-ranking official among the Vyurborne people.

<Answer him, Aleph. Tell him everything, but don't tell him about me yet.>

"I was around these parts when I saw this poor Vyurborne wrapped in some kind of electric net."

I cautiously moved my shoulder a bit, but that was enough to alarm the other Vyurborne behind the man I was speaking with. The high-ranking Vyurborne stranger eased his companion wordlessly with a single gesture and beckoned me to continue what I intended to do with a nod. I nodded back without breaking eye contact with him. I then laid the wounded Vyurborne at the foot of a nearby tree. When I'm done with that, I took a step back with my hands raised, assuring them that I do not mean harm.

"I managed to get her out of the damn net, but I reckon she was already suffering long before I found her. They're already on the brink of death, so I'm hurrying to Skystead Keep to give them their much needed medical attention."

The high-ranking Vyurborne official looked at me appraisingly with his ghastly gaze; it was not an exaggeration to say that I could feel his eyes piercing my skin. I couldn't see him properly earlier, but I am now confident that he's an important figure in Skystead Keep. Both Vyurbornes wore light leather armor around their wings and a thin chain dress that fit their slender figure perfectly, but the one piercing me with his fervent crimson eyes was the only one with gold lingerie wrapped around his torso.

I'm guessing that the one behind the high-ranking Vyurborne official is some kind of warrior or bodyguard since he's the well-armored one between them: leather helmet, leather knee armor, and frighteningly sharp blades at the tip of his talons.

The Vyurborne wearing gold looked back at the man standing behind him and pointed at the wounded Vyurborne with a nod. The soldier followed the order without further ado and marched towards the wounded Vyurborne with a stern expression. He was looking at me with a nasty scowl, filled with distrust and caution as he did his duty. I raised my hands even higher to assure them of my commitment to uphold my peace.

And as I raised my hands, the high-ranking Vyurborne just looked at me with a forlorn but deeply angered glare that could send anyone with a faint heart into cardiac arrest.

<I can't believe it took me this long to remember him.>

'Fill me in with the deets here, Dominion. It doesn't seem like he's willing to be chummy with us.'

<Of course, he won't. Heck, you're lucky you're still alive. We've already talked about this man earlier, you know? Shit. What is he doing here?>

'What do you mean?'

<This is bad. This man is dangerous, the type who's committed to following orders, whether it be to aid in governing the people or slaughtering anyone who stood in his way. I'm glad you handled your meeting with him well because it gave him a reason not to pounce at you. I bet a part of him is already roaring to dig his claws on your skin and rip your chest apart, a technique he loves to use when he's in an extremely sour mood.>

'That's not really helping me be at ease here, Dominion.'

<This man had slain thousands of soldiers in a single night on his prime.>

'You're just trying to make me feel like shit right now, aren't you?'

<I still remembered hearing the countless cries of the people in Arania Village during the resistance war against Skystead Keep.>

'Alright… He's not listening.'

<Men, women, young, or old, they were all screaming for help when this man's winds had begun to rip their bodies to pieces. My god... The screams... I can still remember it... But this man, he just looked at it with such a calm expression... He was only sixteen then. Can you believe it? Sixteen and already winning his first battles. Before you stood the paramount image of Skystead Keep's loyalty, passion, and discipline.>

'... We are so fucked.'