Abomination

Clenching his iron throne that cracked and splintered. King Cyrus could only lament at the news he was receiving.

"Are you sure of this," The King asked in a bit of panic.

Nodding her head grimly, Theia holding her hands behind her back and her legs parted, nodded in a stance that gave the King respect without falling to one's knee.

"Yes. An abomination has been spotted just a little way out of this kingdom near the Spring of Neeba. A few of our disciples were caught in its sights. A single glance and three of our students fell crippled, bleeding puss from their eyes. Their skin began to rot, stretching all the way down to their bone. "

"By the time they reached us, maggots and various larvae ran wild within their bodies, breeding pestilence. Three days was all they had, and that was from a single glance."

Cyrus grew pale, having dreaded the day his kingdom would face such a beast. Abominations were known by many to be the birth of a coming catastrophe. Some fall quick; while others are so strong, they are known to be the catastrophe themselves.

"Azalea save us all," Cyrus bitterly whimpered, appearing like he had lost most of his strength, "We cannot afford such a beast with tensions rising so much. Tell me more about this beast if you can?"

"It was triced the size of your average man, with a black mist of almost like flames pouring off of it. Its head held two horns, sharper than any blade my students had seen, with Azure eyes. We could not find any weapons, only their claws, which smelt a bit poisonous, but that was about it. " Theia retold the limited information she had gathered.

Cyrus' brow could not get any more creased. Covered in a mist of perspiration that clung to his skin, he closed his eyes. only to open them, with a mighty conviction. "Can we expect The Strix of Trinity to aid our cause?"

Showcasing the warmest smile, Theia touched her lips with her finger, revealing a mischievous glint. That sent chills down her student's spines. "Maybe."

"What is it you want?" The King grimly inquired.

"I met with Duke Blackwater a few hours ago. Tell me why one of our future professors is being monitored so heavily? Has he attacked you? Killed anyone of relevance?"

"You would let that monster run wild? And what of Aurelia Morningstar? From the reports I hear, she may very well be the cause of that scarlet moon." Cyrus defended appalled by the very idea of allowing two unknown factors to run amock in his kingdom.

"Trinity is willing to send two Salem Scholars here, along with a ninth-year student. That should be more than enough. He or she will be sent to carry out any mission designated into leading the cause against this beast."

"And the Salem Scholars are there to keep them in check?"

"But of course. While we adhere to the idea of giving our students some type of freedom, it is but an illusion. It is discipline and planning that will kill this beast, not wild nights and woman or men." Theia said with a faint blush. She liked her lips sending a wink to the King that had the hairs on his back on end.

Weighing the pros and cons over and over, Cyrus fell into a hopeless conundrum. To him, Duke Blackwater was the biggest threat than anything he could face. But he was not an enemy, at least not yet.

"Fine, but you must understand that there are many groups within my kingdom that want those two dead." Cyrus could not help explain, knowing a certain order wishes for Aurelia.

"That is fine. The Strix of Trinity has already sent out a set of assassins to take care of undesirable. We wish to have Duke Blackwater and will if it means destroying a kingdom; it's of no consequence to us." Theia mentioned, teleporting from sight before Cyrus could say a word.

Leaving him petrified where he stood, Theia appeared within her room connected to a tavern below. Finding a weary frown on herself, she slipped into bed.

"I hate working in the day. So exhausting. Why didn't Red-Red, do this? He likes traveling?" Sinking deeper into her bed. a wave of drowsiness consumed her mind. Yet the sounds of knocking soon echoed, ripping her way from the sweet night.

"DAMN IT!!! Red-Red is that You!!!' Theia screamed, with scarlet eyes that burned like fire.

Pushing the door open, the Red Priest appeared, shaking his head, "Did I disturb your rest?"

"No shit! You did that on purpose, didn't you!"

"What? Wait till you are just about to enter deep sleep and knock? Of course not; that would be unbecoming of a priest like myself." he said, holding a cheeky smile.

"Keep up the act!" Theia glared, pursing her lips, "What is it you want, Red?"

"Just here to make a report. Another sighting of that Abomination has been found." The Red Priest stated, startling Theia where she lay.

Standing on her two feet, she sighed, "who died?"

"Two-third years. It seems like the beast attacked, tearing out their eyes and playing with them till they bled out. It then ate their liver and heart before leaving. Heading to Broma, I suspect a few villages will be massacred soon."

Recounting the slaughter he had seen, The red Priest sighed, shaking his head, "I am pulling all of the disciples below the seventh year out of the area. Broma and Ferrum are but small kingdoms, so not much resources can be found here, so it's not that much lost."

"Odd timing, won't you say?" Theia softly muttered, glancing from out the window to the blanket of ice sheeting the kingdom.

"I agree. But I am sure our lady is quite aware of it as well. We simply need to keep doing our jobs. If the beast becomes too much of a problem, we will personally deal with it." Said the Red Priest, shaking his head, a little dismissive of the Abomination.

"Yes. But do you think this beast is from up above? The timing is simply too perfect." Theia coldly mentioned, "I say we make a bit of effort this time instead of being passive like we usually are."

"Oh," Arching his brow, a single eye of amethyst appeared upon the red priest, "I have always trusted your gut. Fine, I will follow up."