TEA;S_E

A black hooded trio stormed through the secret hideout located at the peaks of the Wastes, the cornerstone of rule among the six cities in the dying realm. Bandits and nobles of elite status trembled before the three, and although sought to prevent their entry into the main gate, they slowly followed afterward without uttering a single complaint. Their courage to serve and calculate were broken through the unjust rule, and their courage was seemingly false among all terms and conditions.

The jeweled hideout was the brilliant spectacle of the Wastes, reminding poverty that royalty once existed. At the highest point of the sand peaks and hills, the hideout was a make-shift palace adorned with treasures and riches of the highest caliber. Most individuals who left with a single scrap of precious relics and material could transform their lives from poor to rich in a single night, if they played their cards correctly.

There were hand-crafted gems and jewels spanning across centuries, goblets, mirrors, ornaments, crowns, bracelets, and mementos adorned across the walls and the floors, used to remind the lordship of their well-established and dominating power among the Wastes. Each specific room was hand-crafted by the slaves of the Wastes that were ruled without ease for years, never receiving a single penny for their feigned dedication to the cause. In spite of this, they lived on, some to die, some to survive with barely enough scrap.

Within the lord's chamber sat the imperial warlord, Kaiden Gizmalek, a fair-skinned hulking man whose behemoth arms and brute legs struck fear into the hearts of all the civilians of the six cities in the Wastes. Armed with a mechanical iron fist attached to his right hand, the legendary weapon was capable of tri-swapping from an explosive cannon, to a piercing drill, or to physical brutality with a metal gauntlet. Such weaponry was viewed as a symbol of monstrosity and lingering corruption over power.

During one bright afternoon, the lord sat among his golden throne, holding a woman with red long hair and violet lipstick. She edged the roof of her top lip with her tongue as she snuggled against Kaiden, pushing her small round glasses against the top of his sweat-roasted forehead.

"Giz," The woman whispered. "To spend every waking moment with you is all I have ever wanted."

Kaiden grinned with glee, but his happiness was short-lived as soon as he witnessed the woman's expression transform into an anxious frown. "If so, why is this waking moment filled with such anguish in your face?" His gruff and masculine voice was music to her ears.

The woman's eyes trailed off to the side, reluctant to respond. Kaiden's burly arms tightened slightly around her back, seeking her attention.

"Aema, what is the matter?" Kaiden asked, matching her energy with concern.

"It's just..." Aema whispered. "I'm afraid we won't be able to live in peace for long. The people in the Wastes are dying faster than before, and the money we use for them is not enough. The nobles are reporting them refusing to work, choosing forceful death over prolonger labor."

"Aema..."

Aema's eyes glimmered with tears as she held onto Kaiden's strong shoulders. "Please, Giz, you have to do something about this!" She exclaimed. "We cannot live in tranquility while those people suffer. If they suffer, we have nothing! We were built upon them!"

Kaiden gently released his grip of Aema's shoulders and touched her chin with his massive thumb. Aema whimpered as he caressed her face, leaning in to touch her forehead against his. "Aema, my love. I promise you I will not let that happen. Do you understand?"

"Giz..."

"You must do your duty as my financial body," Kaiden continued. "I shall not stoop to their level, nor will I ever consider it. The populace will sustain itself. They just have not seen it yet."

"Giz, you are being unreasonable!" Aema yelled. "I cannot... I cannot continue working in this condition, where death plagues my eyes! Do you truly value your wealth among our survival? Among our homes? Among... me?"

Kaiden held Aema closed and kissed her passionately on the lips before retracting back slowly. His powerful curt eyes scanned hers, intimidating her with his aura. "The only one I value is you," He spoke. "But you must continue. I promise you, it will not come to this. We will survive."

"Then... destroy the Sand Sinker." Aema begged.

Kaiden's left eyebrow shifted down as he sighed. "I... cannot do that," He said. "Order must be kept. You, of all people, should know this!"

The golden gates guarding the entrance to the lord's chambers opened, creating a brass echo that vibrated the coins and jewels among their presence. Ash from a pile of premium cigarettes scattered throughout the floors, and full attention from Aema was transferred over to the three black hooded figures who stormed the peaks prior to their talk.

Kaiden released Aema from his grasp and moved her to the side of his golden throne. He leaned forward, allowing his iron fist to cower underneath his bulky knees. "What is the meaning of this?" His booming and gravelly voice shook the ones behind the hooded figures.

"My lord, I could not stop them-" A old noble panicked, bowing to Kaiden in valiant respect.

"Make haste! Make haste!" Additional soldiers armed with spears marched through the lord's chambers, pointing them at the hooded trio.

Kaiden nodded to Aema, signaling her swift leave. She passed through the guards and exited through the door with an anxious face. Yet she hid behind the doors, peeking in to see her love's next move with the unknown figures.

"Stand down!" Kaiden ordered his spear squadron. At once, the soldiers placed their weapons down, held their spears to their sides, and stood firmly, ending with a noble salute to Kaiden. "You three. Reveal yourselves!"

"Lord Kaiden," The leading hooded figure had a woman's voice that serenaded the entire brigade. She removed her hood, revealing a beautiful woman with alluring red eyes and long silky white hair flowing down her shoulders. Her mysterious presence was not only unwarranted, but no one had seemed to disprove of their arrival. "Forgive me for me and my subordinates' rude intrusion."

Kaiden was intrigued by the unknown woman. "Who are you?" He asked.

"I am Tieze of the East," She softly spoke, bowing to Kaiden in respect. "We come from across the seas beyond the Wastes seeking comfort among our journey across SIGMA."

"Beyond the seas?" Kaiden leaned back into his throne and crossed his legs, amused of their far travels. "In a journey for what reason, may I ask?"

"Religious, your lordship," Tieze said. "But I might also add that we've prepared a noble sum of gifts just for you and your beautiful palace, so that you may end this charade of never-ending survival."

Kaiden slammed his left fist against the throne's arm rest, quaking the room. Teize stood her ground. "You dare mock my leadership?" He increased his voice's volume. "My rule-"

"Has flaws among anything else," Teize interrupted. "A bat could see it from a mile away. But our gifts will change such a thing. We come bearing thousands of missionaries and workers across the seas who will accompany you and your rule to success. They work for no pay. They enjoy the sight of the sands, and they admire their noble ruler."

Kaiden chuckled. Aema, who peered from beyond the wooden doors, reacted disgustingly by shifting her suspicious eyes among Teize.

"To give is one thing, but to give more than requested is a highly doubtful outcome," Kaiden said. "This contract, bound by your voice... what is your true payoff and ultimatum?"

Teize smiled impishly. "Well, I'm glad you asked," She replied, taking a step toward Kaiden's throne. "In exchange for my people to remain and steer your brilliant country until success, I wish to serve as your noble servant. That is all I ask for. A position in your council."

Aema's breath was taken away, pushing herself off of the side of the doors with her sweat-riddled palm against her chest. The soldiers and nobles were breathless as well, viewing their astonished eyes toward Kaiden's supposed brutal response.

"A position in my council," Kaiden repeated. "And what good could you do for me and my people?"

Teize laughed, turning her head to the side until she faced her accompaniers. She then turned back. "My lord, I ask that you send away everyone else from this room, and I shall explain." She said.

Kaiden nodded and gestured at the soldiers and the nobles near the edge of the room. "Go." He voiced sternly.

As the doors were pulled back by the nobles and the soldiers who followed their lord's orders, Aema stood in the center, eyes wriggling with defiance and perceived anguish at the unknown traveler and her love's stubbornness. Before the ends of the door met, tears streamed down her face until it was all gone after the doors closed.

Teize approached Kaiden's throne and climbed through the golden steps leading to him. As the echoing clacks of her hidden heels pierced through the room, Teize unraveled the robes surrounding her, revealing her voluptuous light-skinned body to him. She wore a loose strapped covering for her breasts and knightly undergarments. Kaiden's breath was taken away by her overpowering beauty, so much that he had leaned back into his seat as she took her final step.

"I can offer you so much more," Teize said, leaning forward toward Kaiden's face to wink seductively at him. She then wrapped herself around Kaiden's lap, cuddling with him as he brimmed with delight. She whispered in his ear, stealing a swift kiss of his cheek before. "You just have to trust me."

"Trust is never undying," Kaiden whispered back, allured to Teize's gentle nature. "Why do you wish to serve? What do you truly want?"

"I want nothing," Teize said. "Nothing but the best of the lands I roam through. Nothing but the best for you, and I would do anything to protect the noble ruler of the sands."

Kaiden grinned before devouring her lips with overly passionate kissing. He chuckled, glancing at his riches from faraway. They broke off, with them eyeing each other like a baby would with their mother. "What a noble sacrifice, all for me?" He asked.

"Yes... I want you," Teize whispered. "And I want you to listen to me, and to be with me until the time comes, and I shall give you everything to save your world."

"Then... I shall accept." Kaiden said, smothering her neck with more barrages of kisses.

Teize giggled, placing the back of her hand against her soft lips. She then eyed Kaiden.

"Before we begin, I have a simple request." She said.

"What is it, my love?"

Teize chuckled and leaned against his ear, whispering something into his system.