Mana Bound

A sword that was so massive it could split the sky came crashing down on Antani. Had she been holding onto a normal sword, this would be the time for her to dodge to the side.

But the sword in her hand was far from ordinary.

It is the crystallization of her lover's soul, her essence made manifest, her Aeon. Not only did the sword possess otherworldly durability, the drider armor's godlike strength was now hers to command, as long as the sword is in Antani's hand that is. 

With a loud clang, Antani's sword and the giant golem's sword locked.

However, Antani's sword wouldn't stop at just a parry, its malefic sharpness that shied away from Antani was slowly wedging against the golem's behemoth of a blade. If the golem possessed the necessary faculties, it would no doubt be in utter disbelief at the human who wasn't even half its size, whose sword was now about to snap its into two.

"GYAAAAAAAAH!"

With a battle cry containing all of Antani's ferocity, she cut the giant golem's sword in half. As the giant fell forward by its momentum, Antani climbed up its climb to deliver the magical automaton's execution.

With a single swipe, the headless golem fell to the ground.

Antani glanced at the aftermath while sheathing her obsidian sword. She couldn't wait to get an Aeon of her own. What would hers be, then?

An Aeon only manifests in either one of two ways, you have reached the peak of your strength, or if you have an ideal, a craving honed to the point of extreme that it manifests in the physical world.

Aeons are usually categorized into three.

Dominion is the Aeon that does what its name implies, it dominates an area with a world of your own design. Within it, the users are usually deified in strength. But, since your world is battling with reality, the mana upkeep for maintaining such a spell can be quite heavy.

Regalia is what Antani held in her hand, and what she aspired to have. Weapons of war with fearsome might. Since it doesn't infringe on reality like Dominion does, it can be manifested outside of battle like Antani was doing now.

Eclipse are hybrids that contain the qualities of both, but they are rare. 

Meanwhile, the other golem just had its head ripped off by a werewolf. Shatter Sound landed gracefully on her feet while the armored golem fell with a thud. 

As Shatter Sound morphed back into her human form, Antani, like a concerned sister, wrapped Shatter Sound in a blanket. 

They have got to solve the werewolf's clothes problem and she knows just who to approach. Augustia. 

"Are we now heading back to Elaria?" The now human werewolf asked. 

"Yeah, I want to deliver my gift to Ellamir as soon as possible. Do you want to roam some more?"

Shatter Sound shaked her head, she knew the reason Antani brought her along, it was to help her cope. Even if this whole adventure was for her lover's sake. Shatter Sound is grateful. 

"No. I've had enough fun. Let's head back." 

The two of them share a solemn smile. 

A smile to let Antani know that Shatter Sound would eventually be okay. 

A smile so Shatter Sound would be aware that she has a friend in Antani. 

+++

"Wake up. I said, wake up, you wretch!" 

Blasted by a water spell in the face, Ellamir sprung into consciousness with a binding spell tying her down to a chair. The blue strands of mana were more sturdy than any rope could aspire to be.

Ellamir tried to break free but ultimately found the effort futile, with her Aeon not in range, she cannot recall it and summon her monstrous strength. 

"What do you want, Saheilla!?" Ellamir's expression twisted into that of annoyance. 

A grin crept onto the high elf's lips, the princess remembered her name! 

"You remember my name. Delightful." 

"How could I forget the name of the once proud high elf who fell from grace and became my mother's slave? I was there, when she whipped you, abused you, tamed you. Only for her to grow bored of you and throw you out." 

The grin on Saheilla's lips faded, giving way to a scowl. Saheilla shouted, "Your mother loved me, that's why she set me free!"

Ellamir let out a chuckle, the high elf before her had the makings of a jester. 

"She neglected both of her daughters, what makes you think she's capable of love? She set you free because she already broke you, she knew you would come crawling back to her." 

The scowl on Saheilla's face turned into unbridled anger. Ellamir was full of lies! Zorrla would take Saheilla back someday, she was sure of it. 

"Zorrla will come for me on these days! I have faith!" 

"Well, you placed that faith on the wrong person, hell would freeze over before that monster takes you back."

Monster. That word amused Saheilla. The dark elf seemed to regard her mother as if they weren't cut from the same cloth. Young as Ellamir is, Saheilla judged that her brand of cruelty hasn't matured yet. Given the time, Saheilla predicted that Ellamir would soon be capable of the sadism that Zorrla could unleash, they are both Lolth's spawn after all. 

And that sadism is what Saheilla was craving for, to submit under one's heel. To be abused, spat on, slapped, denigrated, the works. 

Meeting with Zorla forever altered her life, the mad Queen imparted to her the joys of being a doormat. Granted that she would be forever ostracized along their society if her secret was found out, but the taboo served to fuel her lust instead of deterring her. 

Saheilla closed in on Ellamir and cupped her captive's chin, forcing Ellamir to stare into Saheilla's deranged eyes.

If she can't have Zorrla right now, then what about her daughter? 

"What if I put my faith in…you? I had no idea that the Dark elf the guild took in was you. Did you know that I tried to get you kicked out from the guild today? I was hoping to rouse your anger enough that you would come and assault me. But after finding out who you were, this is much better. Tell me, Ellamir, does being bound like that make you angry?"

Ellamir Yanked her head, freeing herself from Saheilla's hand, there's only one touch from whom she welcomed. 

But Saehiella's twisted advances don't stop there. The high elf straddled the bound Ellamir, making herself comfortable on the dark elf's lap as if she was her lover.

"So feisty. Go on, use your shadow armor, break free from your bindings and hurt me." Sturdy as they are, Saheilla knew that her captive could tear through her mana ropes apart easier than wet paper. Just the thought of Ellamir, forcing her down to the ground, humiliating her, inflicting pain, was enough to make her nethers gush.

"Get off me! You crazy high elf!" Ellamir's anger flared up, she twisted her body trying to break free, but found it impossible without Lolth's boon coursing through her veins.

Suddenly, the door to Ellamir's apartment door opened. 

"Ellamir, I am back…" 

Saheilla and Antani's eyes meet. 

Saheilla knit her brow. Is this the aforementioned lover of the dark elf? Why is she wearing clothes fit for a barbarian?

Antani was in disbelief. Why was this high elf on top of her lover? 

"Learn to knock first, you primitive woman." Saheilla, had heard that the dark elf had a lover, it matters not for she can dispose of her quickly. Granted that she will not kill her in fear of her Guild rank being stripped, knocking her out was as easy as counting from one to ten. 

It took more than a second to process the sight of her lover tied up and strangled. Finally, Antani's vision dimmed, her hand gripping the blade in her waist. 

Whoever the high elf was, she was dead.