Her breath alone was strong enough to push the fog to the side, giving me a clear view of who, or should I say what, I was speaking to. The glowing eyes were accompanied by large disk-like scales of an iridescent green and dark navy blue. Four large horns that looked like intertwined roots came out of her hair. Her body was serpentine as it coiled around a pillar in the center. The lack of legs made it clear to me that although she was draconic, she was no dragon. But I was not foolish enough to think less of her for being an amphiptre. The stench of divinity was so heavy on her that I had to hold back a sneer from my face.
Her piercing gaze met my own as neither of us moved. "And what if I was?" There was barely controlled anger in my voice. Her massive form shifted slightly as I spoke, the scales along her body grinding softly against one another like polished stone. The sound alone carried the weight of a small building.
The fog retreated over her once more while a large influx of mana filled the room. "You have quite the opinion of yourself. I can practically smell your self-assurance." This time, a human voice spoke from within the fog; gone were the serpentine undertones. And in its place was a hypnotic grace that seemingly drew you in.
A long human leg stepped out of the fog. Soon, it was joined with the rest of her. The only thing that made me sure I was even talking to the same person was the root-like horns poking out of her hair and the orbs of living storm she had for eyes. She had deep blue hair and wore a beautiful green dress that hugged her impressive figure. A playful smile hugged her lips, but to me it looked like the smile you have when an ant amuses you.
I met her gaze without flinching. "Confidence and delusion are often mistaken for one another," I said evenly. "I simply know which one I possess."
Her smile widened a fraction. "Do you now?" There was a challenge in her voice, as if daring me to continue.
She took another step forward, her bare foot making no sound against the stone floor. Yet with each step, the pressure in the room grew heavier. It was subtle at first… then undeniable. The air itself seemed to thicken, clinging to my skin like a second layer.
I did not move. To retreat would be to yield. And I had never been fond of yielding.
"You stand in the presence of something far beyond your understanding," she continued softly, her voice wrapping around my senses like silk. "And yet you speak as if we are equals."
"We are not," I replied. There was no hesitation in my reply.
A flicker of amusement passed through her eyes. "Good," she murmured. "At least you are aware of that much."
"You misunderstand," I said while shaking my head. My response gave her pause.
For the briefest moment, the air shifted. A dangerous glimmer entered her eyes. I felt as if I was in between two sharp blades and a single misstep would cut me. A fire lit within my eyes in front of me stood not the enticing serpentine woman but the man who called himself the judge. The so-called god that caused the death of my planet. The very man whose heart I ripped out before being accused of high treason. "I've killed a god before. They bleed like everyone else." I sneered at her.
Now, you would be correct to assume that patronizing a being that could turn me into paste within seconds was not the wisest of decisions. But you have to understand that I do not have the healthiest relationships with divinities. The silence stretched for an uncomfortable amount of time. Neither one of us broke eye contact until a molodius laugh echoed through the room. "I don't know whether it is arrogance that makes you so confident or if you are actually being serious. Either way, I am intrigued." Her words were accompanied by a crushing presence that sought to bring me to my knees.
Stubbornness and defiance would not allow me to kneel. With every ounce of strength I could muster, I resisted her pressure. The pressure was so great that a part of the shard cracked like shattered glass. Void energy, like a corruption, began pouring in. The crack led to somewhere so dark that calling it black would have been an understatement. A wave of disgust passed over her features when she saw this. She immediately retracted her presence. "Tsk," she clicked her tongue in annoyance.
With a wave of her hand, the crack repaired itself. "Today, you have amused me, Drakkus. Although my influence over the mortal realm has been limited as of late… The law of equal exchange remains in effect. So I offer you a deal: accept my patronage and I won't kill you where you stand." Her voice was so cold and devoid of emotion that you could have mistaken it for a glacier.
This time it was my turn to show disgust. "Not much of a choice, is it?" Her melodious laugh graced my ears as darkness descended around me. When I appeared back within the marble room, I was covered in cold sweat, shivering. Although there was no fighting involved, that was the closest I had ever come to death. Only now did I realize I never asked for her name. Aeron, what the fuck just happened? "You just got played."
'You know that's not what I meant. What did she do to me?' There was a pause. I could feel him observing my soul before responding. "You've been marked with a symbol of a tree surrounded by lightning. What it does, I have no idea." Too many questions flashed through my mind, but one thing was clear. I never wanted to be at the mercy of someone else ever again. You promised to teach me wizardry. I think it's time to collect.