Stepping on to the gate , Astraea de Aeternitus reaches a cliff , a dark black sky with purple strikes hovering over her , in this new , yet familiar world. She steps here for the first time or sure , but this is not new to the source of energy coursing through her vein , it recognises the domain and the majesty of it . Tall buildings with yellow or blue hues towering over the rocky terrain . A calm sparkling river flowing under the pitch black landscape, mirroring the very midnight blue strikes on black sky . A peace . A satisfaction. It felt like Home.
Home…
Its hers. All her.
She dragged her hands in the air , by instinct , as a spear flew towards her . And there before her appeared a gate , a transient gate . A purple translucent frame of agate separating her from the path down the cliff , where she should walk on to the peaceful ,nostalgic other side of the gate .
She passed through the gate with ease with the dual spear on her back , tucked by the hem of her cloak just on her back . The narrow rocky terrain rough with pebbles and rocks on them with occasional view of wild flowers , enchanting the air. At first glance the purple gems of flowers might feel like an incandescentbreath of fresh air in that vuew , but fret not dear…
Its beauty is lethal . As in poison.
Its breath can , literally and very much truly take away your breath with their pleasant fragrance dousing all your senses without you even realising.
The funny thing is , every other gate is lined amass with these lethal beauties - which only the natives of Dominion can ever only relish in. Nonetheless, Astraea plucked some into her hands and hummed in low melody as she stepped forward following along the flowers that took her to the garrison area , from where you could also see the civillian area - if you scrunt your eyes a little that is .
The garrison is made to mirror the habitable area of Dominion - induced with mirror magic to confuse any intruder.
What brilliance did her precursors had.
The trail of magic finally took her to the gates of a castle. In ruins.
With nothing in plain sight except a few spider webs of purple venom , lined the gate - the gatekeepers of Celestial Dominion Castle - The Umbrasilks . The purple venom is woven deep into a tapestry of fine yarns , wof what felt like silk - it might even tempt you to touch it .
But a single touch and it can show you off of the eternal silk of life - in a single flash of memory - as in memoirs before death.
A few spiritual crow lined the fence of the gate with red eyes glowing high , perhaps gatekeeping , while as far as her sight took her , she could see some wolves and the rest was shrouded in heavy dust and a cloak of darkness ?
Well , we will see about that when we cross that bridge.
She burned down those intricate webs hanging down on that measly , broken , ruse of a gate in name . The venom spiders scurried away from her , while spitting venom from far in defense.
Damned Umbrasilks.
"Ugh…..couldn't wait to dirty my cloak could you ?" - the cloak faded due to the venom where it came in contact . Now that grand black cloak was left with a few rough holes. The Umbrasilks scurried even further with her low scowling voice .
The gate flung open meanwhile paving a way for The Architect of Ruins , welcoming her home . She stepped a foot inside while the dust on the spot cleared up with the mighty , heavy aura refurnishing the castle's entrance , while the wolves far in vision crouched back , getting defensive , ready to attack if needed.
Her steps met the land with a thump while she waltzed through the creaking bridge , ancient and old enough to have seen far too many generations , clearing up the bridge behind her with her majestic and grand aura . The wolves crouched even further with every step she took inside . She continued her venture of the free land , exploring places ,till she saw a timeworn, withering front …..
She glanced up at the old and half crooked signboard that read -
Aethermere.
It once used to be the herb yard of Dominion , situated in front of the Celestial Hall of Dominion - but now reduced to an earthen test of time with nothing but dust growing on the manaless land that once thrived with rare herbs sown with Arcane power.
Nonetheless , she entered the Aethermere with a look of disdain with the dust clamped up at everything that existed , when all of a sudden her footsteps drastically dragged her back before the venom hit her eyes with a dash . Her eyes wide in shock she glanced to her side to see what just happened.
"Sneaky pests."
She glared at the Umbrasilks crouching away , while clenching her jaws tight with annoyance. She was ticked off with rage and thus swiftly pulled out her double spears , as her hands gipped them tightly with anticipation of some action.
"Come forth you pests ." - her pitched voice echoed through the empty pastoral .
Low growls were resonated with a few shadows crouching out of darkness of the castle's entrance . Creatures different in shape and size with the wolves and some measely serpents , crouched low on the ground as their owner , the shadow knights faction stood commandingly looking her in the eye , ready for attack . The serpents hissed , while the winged beasts roared while ascending to the sky , the wolves let out a low howl - A mess of noise . But nothing could break Astraea de Aeternitus.
Its all hers anyways. She smirked instead.
The air was thick with tension as the pastoral suddenly turned to a battlefield with Astraea on one side and an opposing faction of shadow creatures - knights and their snarly pets . Everything was still for a moment , all calm before the storm . The air smelled heavy with bloodlust when all of sudden one of the knights raised a hand and set forth his wrist in command to Go.
The hounds , wolves and indescribeable creatures launched their attack racing through the gap to jump on their enemy , lest at the very moment .
The griffins and hawks screeched through the sky , calling forth the rain of disaster . The ground felt sticky with the heaving chaos.
Growling at her , throwing themselves on her , baring claws and fangs to tear her apart only to be met with her wrathful Spears of Vengeance .
Her spears tore through the insignificant beasts' flesh while her fast and furious footwork kept her safe and steady . The venoms coursed all directions , blocking her vision and challenging her focus. In remark to which she had to weild the Sword of Vengeance to make sure she could cut through the posion spell cast on her by the serpents . Tucking one of the spears away in the griffiths bosom , she proceeded to weild the sword and the spear.
The attacks kept growing even through the turmoil , bare fangs meeting her raw skin wounding her. Even though her wounds can easily heal in an instant , it was a humiliation to her skills as The Architect . Letting out a frustrated sigh she formed the Orb of Vengeance. And thus was successfully able to draw their attention . The griffins seized screaming , while the serpants backed in corner behind the wolves curling themselves and the wolves astound with the sudden mana stood stuck to the ground.
As the attacks slowed down to the glowing blue and purple alternating aura around her , she saw this chance and took it to unleash a manastorm upon the Aethermere , capable of reducing every single thing to exist around her to mere dust with even a fragment of her power , but she couldnt harm her own precious creations could she ?
But to claim Sovereignity she had to unleash some , if not all of her energy to clear her way ahead and so began the weakest mana storm generated , with faint green hue in the dark pitch air .
Echoes of howl and screeching guttural noises filled the sky , as the pets of knights were reduced to her pets one by one upon their elimination. They began tearing apart their own kin with her Sovereign rule, as the knight faction just stood watching her dance to the melody of war.
A while and later , the pastoral ground stood in ruins , even the crooked nameboard laid in ruins before The Architect of Ruins .
She walked through the narrow path exiting the yard , onto the front of the castle doors , where the knight faction stood , while there laid a dark red pool of blood slowly dragging along her footsteps , while the once slain beasts now stood behind her - her loyal pets .
She can and would slay any opposition beast and it would only take a wishful thinking for her to turn them to her own beast faction army . The next was the knight faction - who didn't move a muscle - yet.
With a single flick of finger from their superior commander …wait commander ?
Ah.
Memories.
Commander of Knight Faction - Nexus Ignatius.
She was recruited as the Celestial Commander , after cultivating for a period of five thousand years , after her mortal body was shed off . She used to be a mortal Battle General - witnessed the rise and fall of empires - serving nations and thrones as her predecessors vowed to - and finally not being able to tolerate the greed for power , she surrendered the flesh and embraced the ether . And was personally recruited by Her Majesty , The Divine Queen Mother XVIII , after her ascension .
The whole military charged at their to-be queen at once with a roar. Horned beasts flew over the landscape as it turned shallow in that darkly lit place with dust raging the floor .
Attacks from all direction prevailed as she struggled to keep hold of her armour. Spears clunked heavily with the swords as rough panting and grunting echoed the still land , with black gory blood dripping on her spears as she pierced her opponent and their tough armour while continuously reforming shadow allegiances were formed with those she won over .
The enraged knights like beasts mounting on their prey to showcase dominance headed towards her with uproar , as every single one of them ended up with utmost Sovereignty, similarly tearing apart their own with her orders.
"How dare you....How dare you stand up to your own ...your own queen you mooncalfs ?! How dare you ?!"
She panted and grunted through the ongoing massacre furiously , as she tore down the last of remaining soldiers , before head on facing Ignatius. Ignatius , as one of the handpicked members of security , was not to be underestimated . She swiftly escaped the Architect's planned and structured raids while also managing to scar the Architect.
"Monstrosity." - and thus Ignatius , called for the huge , gigantic titans of underworld to crush - ahem....to test the Architects 's viability . She stood behind the titans watching them go berserk on Lady Astraea.
She would ever only serve able rulers - aware of their subjects . She didn't want any immortal puppet , unbefitting of worship and loyalty, mounting on the heavenly throne her Masters had mounted upon. She cannot serve a mind untethered from reason.
Every victory, has to be bought with the coins of suffering.
But , The Dominion Ruler , wouldn't and won't back down either - following the attack of titans - and using their own body as leverage , she fluidly glided through the castle walls , landing on the sharp , barbed fences - and escaping just before taking a hit .
The titans could only bear so much amassing of thrashing - before falling steadfast , crashing to the ground with their body almost in decay with the thrashing it took on the concrete , giant walls and barbed guards .
Astraea leaped over the Titans shoulder built momentum .
"Vengeance."
She shouted and scurried head-on towards the general and landed a plow to her bosom - rendering her unable of motion or any further strategies - as she thumped on her knees .
And at last the long awaited victory was won , as besides her kneeled on the ground her Knight Commander - Commander Nexus Ignatius. As a single spear pierced Lady Ignatius' heart and her head hung low .
She quickly made sure her army could stand back up with vigorous black flames coursing through them - the essence of life for all Dominions .
While a vast terrain of military with their armour and swords kneeled behind their Queen , in Sovereign Allegiance to the throne. Her cloak , long , burnt and dusty hooded her face perfectly , with only her jaws and lips visible , as she opened them to -
"Charge"
And the whole of military charged towards the entrance of the castle now , flinging open the gates everywhere dusting and getting to work , in their roles of garrison town , while she headed to the Throne Room of her castle with Knight Commander Ignatius at her footsteps. Lady Ignatius flung open the huge gate separating the Throne Room from the rest of the hall , with loud creaks heard from the old and dusty gate , spawned with venom webs , capable of reducing any superior human Mage to purple gooey puddle with one spit of venom.
The Throne Room was silent like it was the very reflection of The Void. The floor painted in striking blue and black marvellous artistry.
The floor shimmered with celestial artistry—swirls of obsidian and sapphire flowed together like liquid galaxies, echoing the vastness of the cosmos. Each step seemed to ripple across a nebula, the polished surface reflecting stars that weren't there. The vast hall was lined by pillars and vaccant air - albeit with dust , and there was a colossal hall stretched from the entrance to the extended flight of stairs - to the Throne placed at the crest.
The old venerable Celestial Hall of Dominion was silent - like a spellbound sphere of illusion . Even their footsteps echoed loud and clear in that empty hall with nothing but a huge , obsidian throne sitting atop a myriad of steps leading to the throne . Knight Commander Ignatius and Architect climbed slowly towards the throne sitting atop , while slowly taking out her Spears without making as much a noise with concealed footsteps while humming to her self a little , as she smirked under her hood.
No way a throne supposed to be empty would be left alone as is. Not a chance.
And as soon as was she was to touch the obsidian throne of arcana crystals , two raving dragons with red and purple eyes flew over her in an instant with their tails almost grazing her hood.
She turned back and smirked at Knight Commander while slightly tilting her head in
I Knew It.
A familiar smirk playing her lips. She gripped her Spears while flinging them over her shoulders , her legs apart , getting into stance.
"Come forth . You two."
And the dragons charged at her from both sides swinging their massive tails to upsurp her balance off the ground . Knight Commander seeing her in danger , was about to swing forth to defend Her Majesty , but instead raised a thumb.
Clean Cut.
Like a child encouraged by her peers , she let out a low satisfied laugh.
Astrea already made her exit with a additional roundhouse kicks to both the dragon tails , as they slammed with each other with a thud , slowing down the dragons.
Astrea saw this as her chance . She flung across the room stepping on the pillars in zig zag to hide her trace , before making a full on dual attack with her spears into the dragons eyes . A dragons core is located in its eyes .
It was a bewitching sight . It seemed less like a battlefield and more like a sword dance as her elegant footwork landed her in swift motion on the pillars to the blue mauve castle walls , gliding through the beautiful tapestry of silk curtains , while the dragons thrashed around trying to locate her .
She placed herself with measured finesse and balanced herself on the huge central relic of a chandelier in the throne room with honed reflexes while her sword flung across the room aided by her dual spears - all three in haunting Motion for the dragons core.
The dragons alerted by the new threat tried to escape through the pillars as shield but their magnificent size and stature failed them as they slammed furiously into the chandelier , handing their core outright to The Queen of Ruins - trapping them both between two pillars with the dual spears stumped on their purple and red eyes .
Both the red eyed and purple eyes dragons fell on the castle floor with a heave . And thus she mounted the stairs steadily before making a short pause near the throne . She circled round the grand black , throne carved of the most superior obsidian and amethyst arcana stones. The seat , endowed with the most luxurious of quilts , albeit She frowned under her hood a little , as she smeared the dust collected at the quilt.
"Allow me , Your Majesty."
Then Knight Commander swung over her scythe from her back , over the quilt and with a swish of mana dust all the dust in the room cleared up , and in an instant it was a well- lit , elite space suitable for The Architect of Ruins .
"Hm.... Good Work Ignatius "
"My pleasure Your Majesty." - as the Commander bowed in reverence.
"Assemble the military at once with all its factions . And yes , make sure to call the Architect and Blacksmith faction forefront. …- she glanced across the room - the castle surr needs…a lot of work."
"Shall be done in an instant." , she took her leave from the throne room.
While the Commander was off , the dragons rose from their mortality .
"Took you a while . Sweet time eh ?"
The dragons bowed to her in reverence before circling atop the throne on both the armrest like ornaments to the already formidable throne. She patted them gently on their head as then closed their eyes , basking in the cold warmth of her gloved hands.
"You will be Garnet - she pointed at the red eyes - and you will be Amethyst ." As she points over to the purple eyed beauty.
They roared , squinting their eyes in response like a toddler. She was pleased to see them happy.
Meanwhile ,a shadow guard from watchtower came rushing in the throne room, heaving desperately.
"Your Majesty ! we have a guest !!"- he bowed while still catching his breath.
Ah....
I can't catch a breath can I ?
"Show them in."