Owlriel

Devouring Light

Mara saw the rings, and her eyes widened they glowed for a moment. Those were powerful magic! But who could have given them to these eyesores? She couldn’t attack now, not one on one. Those guardians would destroy not even dust would remain. Quickly she fled going to lady wrath.

Wrath was pissed she’d trashed the guest house in a fury. Fire dancing around her body as she screamed for blood, and murder. “Damn that priestess! Who is helping her,” she screamed. When Mara arrived she had calmed down some, and was now plotting her revenge. Somehow someway she would need to deceive Ayrie in taking off that damn ring.

Devouring Light

Nadia sensed Ayrie, and used a shadow elemental to surround her. They teleported away before Ayrie could see Nadia’s true face. She trusted the priests to say nothing of this. Though just to be sure she had an air elemental whisper in their ears, “Do not tell Ayrie any of this. Give her the remaining ring.”

——-/

Asran looked out the window his eyes tired, but he remained awake worried. Worried that Wrath would try something without him there. “Damn this curse, damn you Astoria. Why did you have to betray me? Was I not good enough? Did I not prove myself good enough to be loved? Why, why did you betray me for him?” All of this talk of Astoria by wrath had dredged up awful memories. Of Astoria turning to a man clad in a godly holy glow. The man that founded a church upon his pain a man that used Astoria’s magic and then her life as a martyr to help him ascend. How could a man like that become a god? A god of lies, a god who builds temples dedicated to his supposedly good name on the mass graves of his people. He held his head as the pain caused by these memories courses through his head. He screamed out in agony as he remembered her name be buried by his pope, and bishops. Becoming only something whispered about by the supposed nuts of the church.

Devouring Light

Nadia seemed to tense angrily at those words. She then let out a sigh as she regained her calm composure. “It is not my place to color your judgment. I’ve already learned once what results from it. Just know this, without him I would not be here to heal you. I will protect you from Wrath I know of ways to deter her, and the demons who wish ill upon the three of you. While also allowing the lord of Gluttony to come near.”
She clasped her hands in a praying pose then chanted an elven prayer into them. Light flowed forth between them slowly she opened them causing the light to pour forth, and take shape. They took the shape of three rings made of intwined silver, and gold engraved on the inside were blue runes. Nadia then offered them to the priests.
“Wear these, and those who wish to see you come to harm. Shall be unable to harm you. For inside these rings lay guardians who only need to be fed a small portion of your energy. Which can easily be replenished by food, water, and sleep.”

Devouring Light

“As it is mine, for Ayrie is Astoria reborn. She is my chance to set things right. Asran is a good demon, and yes I know to most if not all such a concept is alien. But, the demon serves his duties in keeping the balance of all things. He does not go to extremes like the other sins do, and usually keeps to himself. Only ever extending a hand when he sees he is needed. However, as he weakens the other sins become emboldened. Leading them to wreak havoc on the world, and soon a war will break out. Which is why to restore the balance Ayrie must stay here, she must fix what she’s done in her past life. To set right the mistaken judgment,” Nadia said soothingly.
She walked over to them carefully as wind spirits unpacked the priests things. Nadia set a gentle hand to Gerrik’s shoulder healing his limp. Then smiled at him again it was so serene.

Devouring Light

Nadia approached the car looking at the priests curiously. “Hello, what are you two doing, Why are you packing?” She then had an aha moment, and started giggling. Two massive golems surrounded to car stopping the Priests. “I’m afraid I won’t be letting Wrath have her way. Ayrie is needed here,” she said. Then created an impenetrable barrier stopping Wrath from seeing them. “After all she needs to correct a mistake of mine,” she said. Her hair blew back as shimmering godlike elemental magic flowed around her. Lifting an illusion spell pointed ears, and gorgeous elven features were revealed. Elves were for the most part extinct, but in the past they were bastions of the light and nature. “She needs to fix what Astoria messed up, and my mistake. You do remember Astoria do you not?” Astoria was one of the 7 lights, the cosmic balancers to the sins.

Devouring Light

Wrath was in the guest house living room. Sitting on a plush couch leather couch, her legs up on a wooden coffee table. Her coat was off, and hanging over the back with her hat on top. She was enjoying a bottle of ale as she watched a crystal ball with rapt attention. She was watching her brother Gluttony saying goodbye to Ayrie. As she was passed over to a demon who was going along with her machinations.

————-/

“Hello priestess, my name is Mara. I’ll be esscorting you home you’ve nothing to fear while I’m here,” the demoness said. Her voice was soft with a light rasping hiss. Her eyes a cloudy blue a trademark Ayrie May have noticed was found in all the demons under Asran’s employ.

“Mara will take good care of you. She’s good at finding 3 dimensional solutions to problems. I trust her with my life,” Asran said smiling at Ayrie. He was forced into a wheelchair at the doctors orders. Even though he could easily stand by now, then again walking was another matter.

Devouring Light

“Nah I already got you an escort. Besides I don’t want them looking for you, and find me in this state. I do not doubt they’d take advantage of the situation,” Asran said. He smiled at Ayrie trying to comfort her. “Besides we will see each other again soon.”

Devouring Light

The doctor was in her office asleep in a cot that was in the back. A medical journal on her chest as she lightly dozed. When Ayrie got close the doctor slowly opened her eyes to look at the priestess. “I’m sorry what,” she asked. When Ayrie repeated herself she hummed in the thought, then went over to Asran’s bed.

He was already getting up which made the doctor run over. She tried setting him back down to rest. “You need to lay down what in the hell are you thinking?!” Asran grimaced as he tugged a shirt on. “I’m thinking that unless Ayrie has an escort home then she’ll end up getting hurt. Or worse,” Asran said. “You have people for that you don’t have to go,” the doctor practically screamed at him. “Enough, that’s enough. I’m fine,” he snapped. Making the doctor even angrier, and she smacked him full on the face. “Listen to me! You may be the lord of Gluttony. But, that doesn’t make you impervious. You’re tired, and you’re still injured. It won’t take much to get past you, and to Ayrie. You are better off letting your demons or someone else escorting her,” she said grabbing Asran’s shoulders.

Asran growled because he hated it when the doc was right. “Damn, fine. Get me the phone,”’he said. The doctor nodded satisfactorily, and left to go grab the phone. She walked over, and presented it to him. Asran called up a guard he trusted was fast and strong enough to carry Ayrie to safety if wrath struck. With that done he sighed deeply hanging up the phone. “Damn... I’m sorry I can’t take you home myself. But, the docs right. I’m in no condition to square off against wrath if she came our way.”

Devouring Light

“Unfortunately I do not know, my brother is shielding her from detection. Plus in his current state he’d only end up killing and eating the both of you. For now I suppose it can wait,” Wrath said with a sigh. Asran really was more trouble than he was worth some days. But, even in his weakened state he was able to shield Ayrie from detection. Which only hinted at what he could truly do if he was at full power.

Devouring Light

Asran smiled softly at Ayrie he cared about her. But, was at the same time bravely concerned for her. As he knew Wrath wouldn’t stop till Ayrie was either dead or out of his life for good. He didn’t know why, but he knew he had to keep Ayrie with him no matter what.

————-

Wrath gave the priests a wry smile as she circled them again before stopping in front. “It is good to see that you priests have gotten smarter over the years. I want her gone it doesn’t matter if she’s weak. For every day that she remains here I will visit upon you both a new torment. Small or big you’ll never know.” She smiled as those words would torment the two of them already. After all they deserved every bit for bringing her here in the first place.