Chapter Eight The Youngest Dark Lady

Grasharlo's Apprentice

Strena walked along with Zaryb for a day pace with a fast strut. After three weeks on the public carriage. Her eyes were filled with anger and determination. All she could think about was what she had been through. She went over her mother and father's deaths, only to find that they were still as clear as day. Over the years, she had to. She feared that she would let the memory slip away if she did not. She had been forced to abandon her real name and take up the one that the man that killed them gave her. She often repeated her real name before she closed her eyes for bed. With the mere thought of forgetting it terrified her. Even worse; that she already had.

Then she remembered that he forced her to become a bounty hunter and pledge her allegiance to a goddess that she knew or cared nothing about. Yet she could handle this, at least she could take down the bad guys that way. Then he forced her to become an assassin. The man that had killed her parents put blood upon her young hands and she had to pledge her allegiance to another god that she knew or cared nothing about. Then he carved the F shaped scar. The mark of an assassin. The mark of a killer. The mark that would always tell people that she was a killer and they should do well to stay away from. This was when she knew she was far too young to be doing.

Would I be able to be loved by anyone? Will I be able to find someone to be a shoulder to cry on? Would I be able to last a normal life after all of this? Have friends like Lorana? Would anyone even want me to be their friend, would she still want me as a friend? Could I still call her a friend? Could she call someone like me a friend? Would I be able to find a handsome prince that would want me? Would anyone want me? Could anyone trust me?

She had to force herself to focus on something else to stop herself from crying. After all, the man that killed her parents did not like it when she cried. She knew that she would get hurt otherwise. Yet she hoped that, once this was all over, that she could cry. That she would still be able to cry without fear of being hurt or would she no longer have that ability as she had locked all her tears away. Never to be let out as she couldn't let them out.

Then her mind flicked over to the time she found out that was a child convinced out of wedlock. She still had not grasped that yet. Then she remembered that there was a man out there, an evil one, they hunted down and killed royals like her like that friend that Zaryb had mentioned. She just hoped that she would never be in his list or even be known by him for that matter! She could not quite remember the name of this man, no his name was just too long for her to remember. Nor could she remember the face of the man, only his crimson eyes.

Then she became a slayer. This was the only thing that she liked, even though she did almost get herself killed battling the hydra and dragon. She loved fighting that dragon. The only other thing that she liked was her beautiful sword Darkector. Her only source of company. Yet she could not help but feel like she should not trust him. However, who else could she talk to and listen to her?

Now she was forced to follow the man who killed her parents to a Dark Lady that wanted her as her apprentice. She hated this too. The Dark Lady that stopped her from sleeping, the Dark Lady that used her to try to kill the man that killed her parents. The Dark Lady that tortured both her and him four months ago. Causing him to give her another uncalled for beating.

They soon arrived at a red door over the mouth of a cave that seemed to fit snugly to the cave shape. She looked down to see, to her horror, that the doorknob was made of a shrunken human skull! Knowing that, she did not want to touch it. However she also wanted to get this over and with as soon as she could. She raised her fist and knocked on the door.

"Tell me Master Zaryb, how much is this witch's head worth?"She asked, thinking about what she had declared in that inn.

She rubbed her fingernails.

"Three Philosopher's Stone coins. Although, I have to admit, such coins do not exist."

She was about to say something when the door opened. Her eyes rested upon Grasharlo. She felt nothing but hate within her body. Yet she did all she could to hide it, which was not as difficult as she thought that it would be. After all, she had been masking her emotions for years, but somehow, Zaryb had always been able to see through her mask.

She showed her the sword.

"Sword's name is Darkector."

She moved as she smiled.

"Good work. Now come in, my new apprentice."

Strena walked in. There was a laboratory arrow in front of her, with bubbling cauldrons and liquids in glass viles and flasks. Behind that rougha long with chairs. All looked like they were made of bones. Then she saw the kitchen area beside it. She thena red door to the left. Beside that were several cupboards with plates, cups and bowls in, with a skull in between them.

"Alright, come on."

She raised her hand and a flight of stairs fell right in front of them. She then walked up them with the other two following her. This led to a small hallway with two doors to the left and one on the right.

"Those rooms where you will be sleeping in. Zarry, you know which is yours!" She sang as she gave him a sky look in her eyes.

He became pale as he nodded, wrapping his arms around his stomach.

"Strena, you can have the other."

She nodded as she took the one closest to the stairs. She soon saw the bed and walked up to it and slept.

Dark Lessons

Strena woke up early the following morning from her usual nightmares. She looked around at her new room, which would be her home until it was time to leave. It was narrow and had one single bed with black covers and pillows. Beside it was a bedside table where she dumped her bags and there was nothing else in the room other than her.

She reached over to her bag and pulled out her book, quill and ink. There, she wrote down the previous events, using her magic to dry as she wrote. Once she was done, she put away the book, cleaned the quill and put the lid back on the ink before putting them all away. She then put on a pair of black trousers and a grey top. She put on a black belt to keep them up. After she opened the door and stretched and looked around. She heard Zaryb moan, almost like he was in pain.

"Stop it. Brother, please no! I don't like this place! NO! Don't do this! Please don't do this!" He wept in, to her surprise, her native tongue!

I didn't know that he knew my language. Then again, he does look like he was from there. He must be from the Desert Planes.

"You're up early!" Remarked Grasharlo.

She jumped slightly but she looked to the side. Suddenly she needed the loo.

"I always wake up early. Now do you know where I can pee?" She asked,trying not to appear to spooked.

She smiled pleasantly as she wrapped an arm around her.

"Oh, come with me."

They walked down the stairs and walked to the door next to the chimney. She opened the door and her eyes met a large tunnel that was lit by mushrooms that were glowing turquoise and the ceiling of the cave had crystals that glowed pale blue. She then followed Grasharlo to a large chamber with a natural light coming in from a hole in the top, revealing lilac grass and trees with black bark and maroon leaves. There was a clean stream in the centre. Where several fish swam up and down.

"Take a leak in the stream."

She walked up to it and let all the urine out and pulled her trousers back up. She then looked back to see that her urine was completely gone!

"What?"

"It's gone! The urine is gone!"

"Urine and dung eating algae. I invented them myself! Mainly so that I could take a leak or dump any time I want, without any fear of the water getting dirty."

"Oh!"

That's actually genius! I didn't know that magic could do that!

"Come along."

She followed Grasharlo as she did, she did not take her eyes off the woman for one second. Watching her every move as she rubbed to the main room.

"Tell me, can you cook?"

"Yes."

"Can you do it with magic?"

"I don't know. Never used it to cook."

"Why not?"

"Never thought of it."

She let out a lyrical laugh.

"Alright. Then let me teach you."

They walked to the kitchen area, where Grasharlo started her cooking, using magic to light her fire. Then moved all the meat and vegetables with her magic too.

"Tell me, do you know the name of the first recorded Dark Lord?"

"Danstainv Darlor."

"Good, good. Not the first Dark Lady?"

"Dalay Darco."

"What was the name of the kingdom of Dark Lords and Dark Ladies?"

"I don't know."

"Why is that?"

"I saw the posters of Danstainv and Daley on the poster on the Assassin's Guild's board. I read their profile and saw that they were both recorded to have been killed by Phorap The Mad. Yet there are rumours that they are alive somehow. I would have taken them if I had the skill and experience."

"Alright. The Kingdom of Dark Lords and Dark Ladies was called Kingdarlalor."

"Pretty name."

"Not a pretty place." She commented as she took out the plates.

"Which spell is the most forbidden to use?"

"I don't know."

"It is the soul destroyer." She said as she shared the meat and vegetables equally.

"Do you know what it does?"

"Destroys souls?"

"Good girl."

"Logic."

"Good girl. Now, onto a basic history. Dark Lord Danstainv was a royal born out of wedlock during the First Age Of Gods. He studied directly under them along with twelve others, of which he was the oldest. They were able to trick them into telling them all the dark secrets that they hid. He then soon saw a woman that he liked and stole her from her family and used his dark arts to marry and made sure that she bore him an heir. After he taught her all he knew while filling her mind with a strong passion and love. She fell for him only for their son to kill them both. Yet he was able to come back, somehow and was then taken down by Phorap Philosopher The Mad."

"Yet there are those that believe he is still alive somehow." Strena commented.

"Yes, there are. Do you know why that is?"

"Because when his son gave birth to his daughter, he and his wife died under suspicious circumstances which came after the battle between him and Phorap Philosopher The Mad. Also there were people who say that they saw him give a baby girl over to a King and Queen who raised her."

"And you know who that baby was?"

"Dalay Darco, who married into the family when she came of age, which was twelve then."

"Yes, and how old was she when she became a Dark Lady?"

"Twenty. However, she only studied the dark arts that her grandfather had ticked the gods and goddesses into telling him."

"And when she gave birth to fifteen princes and princesses she taught them all she knew. This was how Kingdarlalor was formed. Yet all of them killed their mother and took all her power. Yet they didn't graduate as a Dark Lord or Dark Lady until they were sixteen."

"And how do you graduate?"

"By killing a Dark Lord or Dark Lady and taking their power for their own. Now this lesson's over. Time for breakfast."

Zaryb came down and they started to eat.

"By the way, why is the soul destroyer so forbidden?"

"Why? It's there someone you hate that much?"

"No. I just wanted to know. I mean there are worse things like that or there."

She felt her fingers touch the Artemis Pendant. Grasharlo looked at it for a moment. She cocked her eyebrow and took a glance at Zaryb with a smirk.

"Maybe, but when it comes to the soul destroyer, the price for the caster is that they will always feel a torturous pain for the rest of their existence. Yet it will always increase once you get used to the pain. There have been many, many Dark Lords and Dark Ladies that have been rendered useless because of that spell. Also, don't think you can chicken out of it by dying. Another price of that is the caster is to be forever pinned to their bodies until they are killed by an immortal killer. But by that time they would have become a wraith."

She nodded. They soon finished eating.

"Now, time for your next lesson. Blood magic."

She frowned.

"No. Why that now?" Zaryb asked, worried.

Grasharlo smiled.

"Stay out of this. If you interfere again I will pay you a little visit tonight!" He sang as she walked up to him and sat on his knee.

He suddenly seized up.

"And make you do all those things you don't like." She said, leaning back into his chest.

He looked away as he looked as if he was about to throw up as he became subdued.

"Good boy!" She purred, kissing his neck, which made him narrow his eyes.

She then got back up and skipped over to the black board. She picked up a piece of red chalk. She started writing on it.

"Now blood magic was invented in the Fourth Age Of Gods, with the appearance of Goddess Clohida who taught the Dark Lady Darbloa. When she returned to Kingdarlalor, she was able to teach the residents all that she had learnt on the subject. This includes the different potencies of blood. Animals, aside from magical animals, have a low blood potency rate. Which is why they are used in weak potions. Meanwhile infants, family as well as royals, especially ones with magic, have a high potency rate. Nobody knows why it is that way, but it is. Which is why whenever Dark Lords and Dark Ladies need a strong spell or potion they would seek one out." She said as she took out a knife.

Suddenly Strena felt her blood run cold and suddenly she felt completely afraid. That she was about to slice her and this all had been an elaborate ruse to get her blood to just for her own nefarious means. Then she gave the knife to her.

"I want you to use this, think of something and cut yourself and put you will into it."

"As in my whole will?"

"Yes, the stronger your will the stronger your magic will become. Although you will need training for greater power and durability."

She nodded as she looked down at the blade and her arm and the cuff.

"Girl, I would like you to know that the cuffs are too blood magic." Zaryb said, sternly.

"Good boy! But I told you not to interfere! So tonight I'm going to visit you!" She sang, licking her lips.

He let out a deep breath as his eyes looked down. His body shook slightly as his breath became long and deep. Then he drew himself in and wrapped his arms around his legs.

Ignoring this she nodded. She then thought of the necklace around her neck. She thought of how much she would like to get rid of it. So she thought about that. She cut herself and drove this thought into her blood. She felt pain rise up in her hand. Then the blood started to flow but it stopped before it even reached the ground. Then it shot at the necklace as swift as a striking snake. Then it fell after the blood cut it. She then looked down at the necklace as it hit the ground. Then another thing she wanted nothing more than for it to be completely destroyed. Then her blood shot to it like an arrow and covered it. The blood burst into flames and the flames spread throughout the necklace and devoured the necklace until nothing but ashes remained.

Then she felt herself become drastically weak and she fainted. Zaryb zoomed at her and caught her. Then Grasharlo clapped.

"That girl has talent! In fact I know someone who would love to meet her. You should be proud. Yes, I can tell she will make a very powerful Dark Lady."

"Glad to hear it!" He said, bitterly.

"You know, I have an older brother who would find what she did very exciting."

"In what way?"

"In the stirring way. Although I don't like him much nor does he know that I'm his little sister, nor would it matter to him. Yet I guess we are alike." She said leaning in. "Our lust is something that is very powerful."

She kissed him on his lips. He then froze.

"I hope that lust of yours will be your downfall."

She let out a laugh.

"Maybe. By the way, the last lesson of the day will stay once she wakes up."

He nodded as he looked down at the girl.

Looks like I will have to keep this brother away from her.

She smiled.

"You can try but once someone's caught his eyes, he usually follows them until it comes time to kill them."

Even more of a reason…and stay out of my head!

"No! But tell me, are you hoping that she will do it?"

"Leave me alone."

She then wrapped her arms around him.

"No. I guess I'm glad that you interfered. I guess that you have been feeling very lonely."

"Stop it!"

She leaned in close to his ear.

"And maybe I can help you with that."

"No. Just stop it!"

"But you like it, don't you?"

"I really hope that lust of yours gets you killed."

"Me too. Although, I hope it won't be a disappointment. But don't deny me. Just imagine what I could turn her into and what I could make her do."

Sure smiled as tears fell from his eyes as he kissed her.

"Better."

Forging A Dark Side

Strena woke the next day. She, at first, thought that the day's events were nothing but a strange dream. Her hand touched her chest, still feeling it around her neck. Almost like its ghost was still there. Yet upon feeling that there was nothing there, she knew that it was not. She had to rub her entire neck, just to feel that it was gone. There was nothing around her neck and it felt good to have the air touch her whole neck. It was true, the Artemis necklace was gone! She smiled, finally glad that she was free of it. After all these years she was finally free from Zaryb's control! She laughed and laughed. She laughed until she cried. Once she was done she let out a sigh as she wiped the tears away.

I'm finally free!

Not quite yet. She had to remind herself.

I still have one or two more steps to go. One, I still need to get this cuff off and then I need to kill Zaryb and Grasharlo. But I need to take everything one step at a time. Just play along. After all, she must have a way to get this darting cuff off. I just need to find it. No. I have to kill Grasharlo first. Then get the cuff off and then kill Zaryb. Then I can finally go home and tell the whole of Merth that my name is Arielsa Zuvé and not Strena Azlok.

Yeah….I would like that.

She heard a knock on the door. She looked up to see a beaming Grasharlo looking at her. There was an arrogant, entitled look in her eye. Part of her suspected that she knew what she was thinking about, just now.

"What is it?" She mumbled sleepily as her adrenaline rush came down.

"Come with me. Breakfast is ready."

They soon walked down the stairs and she spotted Zaryb and that there were heavy bags under his tired eyes. His cotton white was messier than usual. He looked away from Grasharlo with shame and anger in his eyes. In fact if Strena did not know any better, she would have thought that he was on the verge of tears. Yet of all the people she knew of she was the only one that made him cry.

She sat down and ate her breakfast. Yet she could not help but wonder what was wrong. Not out of concern but curiosity. Yet she decided against it. Which was why she ate and finished her breakfast in utter silence.

Then Grasharlo brought out a toad.

"Am I supposed to turn that into a handsome prince?" She asked mockingly.

She smiled and laughed. Wiping her hands.

"Oh! Dear no! Now come over here." She said, gesturing for her to come.

She got up and walked to her, knowing that there was no other option. She could feel her gut start to fill with dread.

"Now I would like you to learn, when you hurt someone, to like it."

Strena felt her blood run ice cold as she looked at her shocked. She could feel her heartbeat faster as she did not want to like it. Yet she remembered how she was able to get Darkector then the creatures she had slain. She remembered how she liked those moments even though she did not like the idea that she did.

She wants me to do what?

Grasharlo walked behind her.

"Now think about all the pain that you want to deliver to someone and drive all of that to the toad in front of you."

She looked at the toad and willed, with all her emotions into the toad. She felt with every part of her body. Soon the toad buckled and croaked and croaked out of pain. It struggled and struggled and soon the croaking became a scream. Yet upon hearing this and fearing what the pain the toad was going through, she stopped.

She collapsed, panting and shaking.

"Good, good girl. Now run along to the library. It's just through there to your left."

She nodded and once she was in the library, she read the first book that caught her eye. There she stayed until Grasharlo came in three and a half hours later. 

"Time for lunch."

She looked up in dread.

"What will we be doing after lunch?"

"You will be doing to, what you did with the toad, with a mouse. I caught him last night in Zaryb's room. He can be such a nuisance. Eating all my food, nibbling on my precious potions. That sort of thing."

"Oh." She said, trying not to expose her dread.

She saw Zaryb in a chair. He was sleeping deeply and took heavy laboured breaths. He was covered in sweat. There were traces of blood on him but there was not a cut on him. She wondered what was going on, but she knew that she needed to focus upon what was a head. 

Don't think about that just yet.

She did not have time to focus upon him. Especially as she was about to torture a mouse. 

She knew that she had to play this part. Play it, until she has the chance to strike. So letting herself get distracted by Zaryb was the best that she could do. She had to bury all those emotions. She could indulge in them later. Now she had to put on the mask of cold-heartedness and do what Grasharlo wanted her to do.

Her eyes slid to the mouse. She looked at its tiny brown body and its long worm-like tail. Then the tiny set of black bead-like eyes. They looked up at her. Even though they probably knew nothing about what was about to happen, the mouse's eye looked pleadingly at her, almost like the mouse had an inkling of what she was about to do.

"Go on. Do it."

She looked down. She shook her head. The image of the toad became very clear in her mind. She suddenly felt like she felt like she could not do it. She looked back at Grasharlo, almost pleadingly for her not to ask this of her.

"Go on. Just do it. You don't have to do it for long. You can do it just a little."

She suddenly felt strangely reassured by her words somehow as she returned to the mouse. She remembered all those times she killed and how easy it had been. She had even killed animals yet, for some reason she could not muster up the will to do it.

That was when Grasharlo pulled out a dress. It was royal purple with a golden rim with a golden belt with strange runes going all around it. With rubies, diamonds and emeralds embroidered into the collar and rim of the sleeves.

"Do it and I'll give you this!"

Her eyes widened. Then she turned back to the mouse. She then closed her eyes and drove all the pain that she could into the mouse, with all her will that she could muster. Then she heard the first squeak of pain. She stopped. Then she heard a voice inside her head saying.

No, continue. Earn that dress.

No! 

Do it! 

No! 

Go on!

No!

Imagine that mouse as Zaryb. That might help.

She closed her eyes and imagined it as Zaryb. She felt all her hatred of him run throughout her body. Every vane became consumed by the hate that her heart had for him as it pumped it through all of them.

She then pushed with all the will she had into then mouse. She did to that mouse what she wanted to do to him. She then heard the squeaks of pain again. She did all that she could to ignore the sounds. She pushed their cries for her to stop out of her mind and drown them out. The next moment she was on the ground, shaking and had tears running down her face.

She felt a hand pull her up. She looked up to Grasharlo.

"Here. Put it on. Don't worry, he'll be asleep for a long time."

She nodded as she pulled off her clothes and put on the dress. She then was guided to a mirror. She looked at the girl in the mirror. She really did look like a princess from her native kingdom. She even looked like a normal girl. She even  felt like an ordinary girl.

Yet she then was brought back into reality by that scar. That scar not only broke the illusion of the normal girl but also reminded her of everything that Zaryb had done for her. Everything that he made her do. Everything that he turned her into. He forced her to kill, he forced her to make those vows. Because of all that he had done she may never be wanted because of it.

She saw the girl in the mirror as the girl she should be. The girl that she always should have been. The girl that she should have been raised to become. This girl was who she should have been raised as. This girl is what she wanted to return to, but she did not know if she could return to now.

She looked at Zaryb. Her eyes ablaze with rage and anger. She hated him. She hated him more than she had ever been in her life. He was the one that killed her parents. He forced her to stop using her real name. He forced her to go by the name Strena. He forced her to become a bounty hunter. He was the one that forced her to become an assassin. He put blood on her hands before she had the chance to fight back. He carved that scar into her cheek,marking her forever as a killer. He turned her into his slave. He forced her to become a slayer. All of the pain that she had experienced over the last seven years was because of him.

She wanted him to feel a little of it. She felt with all her will that she wanted to hear his screams for once. She wanted him to cry for once. She wanted him to be at her mercy for once. So she drove it all into him. Soon he started to groan and then he woke up. He let out that scream, as she drove the pain into every pore of his skin. He started to sweat as he screamed and screamed and screamed. 

He looked up at Grasharlo, who was smiling. She looked at the girl.

His eyes widened in shock. Yet he buckled and screamed more.

She suddenly felt a dark joy run throughout her body. She knew that it was not good for her but she did not care one bit. She liked this. She liked this feeling. It was addictive. It filled her with a dark thrill as she found herself smiling. Yet she wanted more. She wanted to see his tears. She wanted him to beg her for once. Then she saw the tears. She felt a rush of satisfaction run throughout her as she enjoyed her power that she had over her tormentor. After all these years it felt good to make him feel all that he had put her through. 

She let out a laugh.

"Stop! Stop! Stop it!"

"Did you?" She asked in a malicious voice that seemed alien to her.

He looked down as she continued.

"I'm sorry."

Then she stopped.

"All I wanted to hear."

Dark Killer

Strena looked at Zaryb. He was looking down, he had barely spoken a word to her. He looked up at her a few times. Almost like he wanted to say something yet he, for some reason, decided not to. He looked aside with shame in his eyes. However, to her utter annoyance, there was a peace to them. Almost like he was looking forward to something.

She ignored this as she looked at Grasharlo, her eyes were like that of a predator, carefully watching her prey. She had said that she was going to kill that witch and she meant it. Then she would drag Zaryb along with her, for once, to find someone to get their cuffs off their wrists and then he would be next. After she will go home and be the queen, no, the empress that she should have been a long time ago. Then she will live happily ever after regardless of her strange dreams. The end!

Yet, to her utter bitterness, she could not shake her gut telling her that there was something else going on. Something more than that she was seeing or had learnt. She could not get the sneaking suspicion that Zaryb wanted that. He wanted her to kill him. Yet, for the life of her, she could not come to why. She also had another sneaking suspicion that there was something else too. Something to do with her father, and this something she did not want to admit to herself, the thing that her dreams were trying to tell her.

Grasharlo brought out the toad that she had tortured the day before.

"Guess you want me to kill it?" She asked, her voice ice cold and still not like hers.

"Oh? You're a smart one."

She shrugged.

"It's only logical." She replied, brushing off the compliment.

Good. I'm on her good side.

She did not do this out of humility but out of the very fact that she did not want to enjoy it. No, if she did that then she knew the chances were she would develop an emotional attachment with her. Which she knew would end up stopping her from killing her. Which was something that she could not allow to happen so regardless of what the witch said or did, she would have to do all that she could to not grow any love for her.

Keep in mind what she did to you and in the inn.

She looked over at Zaryb, wondering if she had developed an emotional attachment to him. If so then how deep was this emotional attachment? How could she uproot her emotions towards him and finally kill him? She decided to address that bridge when she came to it. After all, she needed to train to cross this bridge first.

Her eyes turned back to Grasharlo, maybe she could start with her. Then it occurred to her that maybe she could start to prepare to kill Zaryb right here and now? 

Then she looked at the toad.

Time to get that ice back into your heart. Otherwise I can never be free.

She closed her eyes and willed death into the heart of the toad. When she opened them again, the toad was dead. Disappointment entered her heart.

Is that it?

No. This would not do. I want to hear it scream and squirm as it dies. I want to perlong every moment. So that they know that they are at my mercy. I want to hear them beg for their lives as I have already taken them. I want to see the light in their eyes as their life fades away. I want them to know that they are in my control and none can ever control me ever again!

But how will I control myself?

I have no time to think about that. No, not when I have a job to do!

"Another!"

This time earn it!

Grasharlo smirked as she brought out a mouse and placed it on the table. Strena looked at it and closed her eyes to concentrate. She breathed in and out to calm herself. Now it was time. She focused all her will and gathered her magic. She then started to feel a part of her pleading for her to stop and not do this. It was so clear and she suspected that if she took a step in this direction, then she would never be able to return from it. Not completely. Yet she also felt that if she did return, she would be who she was.

No, I have to go down this path. There's no choice. I have to leave behind all, in order to become free. I need to be free.

But will I? Will I ever be free again?

Yes.

But how do I know? How do I know that in a bid to becoming free, that I will not be putting myself into a worse cage?

Ahh! I have no time for this!

She then pushed it all aside as she drove her magic, with all her will, into making the little more flare up in pain. She heard the squeal of pain, even though she felt part of her recoil inside, she felt another part liking it. She felt the rush of the dark joy rise up in her as she felt like she finally had power over life itself. This was another thing she liked. The dominance that she felt was the mouse's life was in her hands. Soon every squeak started to sound like a strange and twisted song she wished more of. It was like a drug that she knew that she could get completely addicted to.

Then as the pain became more and more for the mouse soon it could no longer take it. Yet she only drove more and more pain into the helpless form of the mouse. She did this to enjoy every minute of the mouse's tournament. To prolong the sensation of power she held over the creature. Wanting every second to count. Then she finally ended the mouse's life.

"Good, good girl!" Purred Grasharlo, stroking her on the back. "You're progressing faster than my last student! Do you want another?"

She waited for her to stop panting.

"Sure." She said as she shook slightly.

She felt slightly tired and drained but she wanted to continue nevertheless. So when she saw a rat the size of a cat in front of her, she immediately went back to work. This time she started to hurt the rat only slightly. Then she slightly increased the pain. She waited for the rest to get used to the pain before increasing it again. She soon became inpatient and this was taking far too long. She increased the pain again and again, soon the rest was crying out in pain.

There it is!

She increased the pain again and again. She wanted to hear more and more of the cries of pain. She wanted to increase the pain until she felt the dark joy again. She felt a strain inside her, yet she ignored this and continued and drove more and more pain into the rat until the rest died.

She felt the strain get to her and her eyes rolled up and closed. She felt her body fall as all went black. Grasharlo caught her.

"That was impressive. She will make a fine dark lady."

"Well she is his daughter." Zaryb said, bitterly.

"Oh don't be like that! I'll make you happy later! Although I hardly put any stock in rumors, I never expected her to really be Arielsa Zuvé. How very interesting! Which makes me wonder if you're going to tell her?"

He looked away, keeping quiet.

Graduation

Strena spent the next three months reading all the books that she could get her hands on. She mainly skim read each one first and wrote down as much as she could remember which was a surprising amount even to her. She studied hard and diligently. She hardly took a break, no her mind was far too focused on her plan to do that. She hardly went to the loo or spent time washing herself. She made sure she wrote down everything that she could to a point her fingers and hand hurt. Paying attention to every word of the page or Grasharl's lessons. She did not want to miss anything out. She then would go on to read each book deeper and read all that she had been taught.

"Lady Grasharlo, at what age was the youngest Dark Lady when she graduated?" Strena asked, slowly and cooly.

"Sixteen and that was me."

"And could you tell me anything about yourself?"

"Sure. W hy are you so interested?"

Zaryb chuckled bitterly.

"Girl's curious, that's all. Just humour her."

She smiled.

"Oh? I suppose I could. By the way I suppose that she's asked you about yourself?"

"Once or twice."

Her lips curled up higher.

"And what did you tell her?"

"Just the basics. So not much."

"Alright then, I will!" She sang as she curled her finger and motioned it towards her. 

She got up and followed her to her bedroom. Her eyes lit up after seeing a black leather book. Which she gave to her.

"Here. Read this. It'll quench your thirst for knowledge. Also do well to learn all that you can. You should not let silly little things like a conscience get in the way to quench your curiosity."

"Alright!"

 She soon returned to her reading. She soon learnt to read fast and gather as much as she could and soon she wrote down an abridged version of what she had read. Barely within the day she gave them back to her.

"Tell me, have you taught me all that you know?"

"Yes. Yes I have. I must admit that you have proven to be a good and diligent student and you have progressed faster than even all my students combined! Even Chash' yet he was a loner too. Although he was more of an observational learner."

'Chash''?

"So can we spar against each other some time soon?"

"Sure. When?"

"Seventh of Octmoon?" 

(The seventh of August in our world.)

"Why?"

"It is my birthday. I think it will be a good present."

"And how old will you be?"

"Thirteen. Last I checked!"

"Anything else?"

She thought about it and then looked at Zaryb. She knew immediately what she wanted as she walked up to him.

"When it is my birthday, I want you to call me by my real name. I mean every birthday, not just this one."

He looked at her. His eyes were filled with shame. They became watery. Yet he looked left and then right. He thought about it and smiled.

"Alright. But do you remember it?"

"Of course I do. That's the one thing I kept remembering!"

"Good. Then you won't mind a little game. I want to test you." 

He took out three pieces of paper and wrote three names down.

Relin Chro

Shardi Sharé

Arielsa Zuvé 

She immediately pointed at Arielsa Zuvé. He smiled and clapped.

"Good girl! Then yes. As a reward for being able to do that, I will." 

She smiled.

"Thank you."

She spent the rest of the month both studying and training with her magic every morning. She would also train with Darkector in the afternoon. Then she trained with Zaryb in the evenings as hard as she could. She even found that she started to enjoy the sessions. She even started to look forward to the times when she would not have to spend her time training. Uet she knew by that point she would earn that. By the time Octmoon the seventh came, she knew that she was ready.

 The moment that she woke up, after an early night and staying awake since three o'clock from excitement, she had finally entered into a light sleep and dreamed of a hot land with many pools. She saw that she was as tall as in her previous dreams. 

She sat down in front of a man with black hair, sunburnt skin and crimson eyes. A man that she could have sworn that she had seen before but she could not quite remember where. Yet it did not matter to her where. After all he could have been someone she met along with her travels with Zaryb.

Next to him was a strange man in funny clothes. She did not look at him but she knew that he was there.

"Don't worry." He purred, pulling out a shell. "They'll be fine! Here, have a drink. It will help cool us down."

The man rolled his eyes as they drank. Her eyes opened.

That was that all about?

"Good morning."

"Good morning. Tell me, what time do you want to start the fight?" Grasharlo asked.

"This morning." She mumbled, as her mind became as sharp as a blade.

"Now remember, magic only." She said.

"I know!" She moaned as she yawned.

She walked out of bed and put her clothes on. She then walked into the kitchen and they both started cooking. That was when she noticed that Grasharlo looked back and she quickly poured a potion into the soop. It was a potion of her own design that would excite the magic within anyone that ate it. Then they took their time to set the table and started to eat when Zaryb came down. Strena gave him his portion as she could feel her heartbeat in her ears. She felt both giddy and sick. She let out a deep breath as she knew that she had to appear as calm as she could.

"Good morning Master Zaryb."

"Good morning St- Arielsa." 

She smiled.

It was far too strange for her, being called by her real name again. She could feel a strange happiness rise within her as he remembered and kept his word. She was glad beyond what she could put into words. She would have, at least, one day where she would have her true identity back. This, for now, was enough for her. Even if she got it under unsavoury means.

Yet she knew that she could not let this excite her too much. She has to act as calm as she could. She could feel her giddiness build within her. Yet she did all that she could to look as calm as she could. She noticed that Grasharlo showed no sign of giddiness either. So they soon finished their meal.

"Are you ready? Lady Grasharlo?" She asked.

"Yes. In fact, I am quite excited about this."

"That's alright. I'm excited to. Then let's go. Master Zaryb, finish your food in your own time. Maybe if you're fast enough you'll be able to watch."

He smiled. Clearly liking the should if that.

"Then I better get a move on and good luck girl. Remember all that you have been taught. You will need it, Arielsa."

She felt her happiness rise slightly.

"I will."

 They walked to the corridor to the waterfall. They passed it and walked to a metal staircase and then climbed up them. This led to a large field with a large river to the left and there was nothing else but lime green grass.

They looked at each other. Strena ran to her. She fired a ball of water at her. She closed her eyes and then fired a ball of fire at her. Yet Grasharlo flicked her wrist away. This tld her that physical attacks were allowed. So she thrust her fist into her gut. Yet she stood there unaffected by it. Grasharlo caught her wrist. She then pulled her up and she was blasted by a wave of light. Suddenly pain entered her every pore in her head. She would have cried out in pain but she had become tougher than that.

 She then blasted her with fire. Then she thrust her fist into her throat. Only for Grasharlo flicked the side of her hand to her throat. She ducked and dived down and thrust two fingers into her hips. Grasharlo flicked her elbows down. Strena jumped back and threw fireball after fireball at her. She threw her arms in front of her face. 

She then went to punch her yet she felt something around her throat. She looked down to see that there was a snake around her throat. She looked down further to see that the snake was growing from a blade of grass!

I didn't know that that was possible!

She then felt the snake coil tighten and tighten. Her hands dropped slightly. She then looked up and fired a ball of black smoke at her. She then fired a ball of green smoke that stunk of urine and dung at her.

"Urgh!"

The snake let go. She then fired fire at the snake's head. She could feel the giddiness rising up in her. She then, just to calm herself down, gathered her magic to form a ball of rock and lava and threw it at her. She saw it and used her magic to pull it in half. She threw both halves at her. She ran on and then let a blast of smelly smoke at her. She then threw another. Then she threw a ball of fire at the girl. She hit and blood fell. She then saw a blast of lightning and spun in the air, filled with pain. She then was about to land but was then hit by another strike. Then she was back high in the air. She felt another and another and another, not even having a moment touching the ground. Then she landed with smoke rising from her body.

She was about to get up when she felt fangs strike her body, sinking her teeth into her flesh. Then she felt more and more strikes, again and again. She could feel panic rise up within her as she felt their coils around her body.

Need to-

She used the panic and giddiness to release a large pulse around her, turning everything around her to dust. She quickly got to her feet and she soon met the sight of Grasharlo's palm. She was blasted away before she could react. Then she rushed to her and was hit by the side. She was flung to the right. She saw another and willed the water to her. She then willed the water to boil and Grasharlo cried out in pain. She then splashed her with the boiling water, again and again. Then suebfwlt the giddiness rising up more and more. She had to release another pulse. Grasharlo was blasted away. Then as she fell, she ran and released another pulse. She spun as she fell.

She could feel sweat all over her. She started panting as her body started to shake. Suddenly she felt sick. She could not allow herself to give in. She then ran to her and then noticed that Grasharlo was twitching and vomit was pouring out of her mouth. She coughed and coughed and blood poured from her mouth. She looked up at the girl with both outrage and yet pride too. She spat everything out.

"Congratulations, Dark Lady Strena Azlok, no, Dark Lady Arielsa Zuvé!"

She collapsed.

Grasharlo's Tip

She was about to hit her again, just to be sure that the witch was dead. After all, she knew better than to not be absolutely sure that someone was dead. She had learnt that much during her year with the assassin's guild. Then Zaryb grabbed her by her arm seemingly out of nowhere. She looked back to his warning eyes. He shook his head. She frowned accusingly at him as she pulled her arm out of his hand.

"What? Is this not what you want?"

"No, Arielsa."

She narrowed her eyes in confusion.

"Then what?"

"Be careful. She might not be dead just yet."

She let out a moan.

"Oh come off it! Why do you think that I'm doing this? After all, I want to be sure that she is dead!" She snapped as she went to poke her to prove her point. 

Then her hand whipped out and Grasharlo bit deep into her arm. She let out a scream. This was silenced when she felt Grasharlo shove her arm into the girl's mouth. She breathed in and out of her nose. Then she felt her nostrils being blocked up with thick snot and she soon could no longer breathe out of them anymore. Then she felt the arm being shoved further into her mouth. She felt the skin tear and she could taste the iron in her mouth and she could not stop herself from gulping down her blood. Which made her feel more ill. Then the arm dropped and she pulled away.

"Do not think that you should enjoy this little victory, Dark Lady Arielsa Zuvé. I will return from the Demon Realm and, one day, I will take you back with me! So here is my tip; commit yourself to the darkest of magic because next time I will show you my true strength!" She said with her final breath.

Zaryb then pulled her back and threw his body over her as the witch's body burst into flames. He then jumped away as the body became completely consumed by flames. Soon it left behind nothing but ash. She looked back in shock.

"W-what was that all about?"

"She was burning away her body."

"Wouldn't that destroy her magic?"

"No. It won't. She forced you to drink her blood. Which means her magic will transfer into you." He explained.

She nodded as she became pale. He looked at her and frowned slightly. He looked aside for a moment. He then picked her up and walked on.

"What are you doing?"

"Going to attend to your wounds."

"And why are you carrying me?"

"Because you are out of energy and your legs are riddled with snake bites. Even though none have any venom, the blood loss alone is a problem."

"What? No, I'm not at the end, and I can walk!"

"Really? Then why do you look as if you're about to pass out? So I will carry you down, attend to your wounds. Then you will have a long nap. Then we will debate on what we will do next."

Taken back by this, she nodded.

"Alright." 

He climbed down the stairs and then walked to the table, where he rested her down gently on the table. He wasted no time to attend to her wounds. He then wiped a green cream on her wounds. It stung slightly, yet she found the cold texture soothing. She soon fell asleep right there and then on that table. 

She had the dreams of the pools again. Then everything faded. Her eyes opened and soon closed again. She saw Grasharlo. She saw that she saw something in her hand and put it on a man that she could not make out what he looked like, only the fear that was so instilled in her stuck.  

She woke up again. Her mind was strangely clear. Yet her heart sank in shame over all that she had done. Especially over the past couple of months. She looked at herself in the mirror. She was now in a black dress with blue gemstones on. She could see now, her new dark look in her eyes. She really did look like a Dark Lady. This shook her to her very core.

"You slept well!"

"Master Zaryb! How long was I out?"

"Four hours."

"Oh." She said looking at the table with guilt.

"Arielsa."

That was when she felt a ripple run throughout her body. It made her look back at herself in the mirror. She realised, with utter horror, of what she had done and every action she had made. She remembered all the thoughts that she had thought about. She started to tremble with fear. Yet it had nothing to do with what Zaryb could or would do. 

"Yes. You need to know, that dress that she gave you, had an enchantment on it. It would increase your darkest tendencies."

She felt shock strike her like lightning and, like a stone being thrown into a large body of water, it ripped throughout her body. The very fact that the witch had manipulated her in such a way was like a knife in her heart. Yet what scared her the most was that it only increased her dark tendencies, not put those dark tendencies in her.

She, making all this, nodded as she looked down.

"I'm sorry. I did all those things to you!"

"It was not you, it was the dress."

"I still have to say it." She said sullenly, however she knew what he said meant nothing.

The fact was, she still did it. She still tortured him. She still killed using her magic. She, still, tortured before she committed the killing. She still enjoyed it. This very thing was what frightened her the most!

By Strena and Lok of the hunt and kill! What am I turning into?

"Now what?" He asked.

"I-I think I want to go back to the Bounty Hunter Tavern."

"Right. By the way, why didn't you destroy those?"

 "You told me that it wouldn't wor- hold on! Why didn't I get her to teach me?" She remarked.

Yeah, then I would be free of both of them and I would be able to go home!

Dart, I'm such an idiot!