The gentle breeze of the Ionian countryside washed over Syndra as she tended to her small garden. The warmth of the sun combined with the peaceful spring breeze did a lot to calm Syndra's mood. After a whole day of dealing with "glory" seekers, Syndra was finally fed up with it. Soon after she sent the fifth one fleeing in terror, she raised her flying fortress up into the Ionian mountain range. Up here, not only would she be left alone, she would enjoy a truly breathtaking view off her bedroom balcony. Syndra may not have liked the people of the country, but the beautiful land was something she cherished deeply. If not for how gorgeous the land was to Syndra, Ionia might have been wiped off the map. But although the people of the land considered her a demon, or a monster, she was far from it. In fact, Syndra was just a woman. A woman who was possibly the most powerful mage in all of Valoran. Her power seemed to hold no end. The sheer power of her arcane abilities could rip a humongous temple from the earth, along with the ground underneath it, and hold it aloft for eternity. That power on top of Syndra's unending well of mana made for a highly deadly combination.
With a light sigh, the platinum-haired beauty rose from her spot on the ground and summoned three orbs to swirl around her waist. The orbs were a deep, dark purple that seemed to bend the light around them. They served Syndra in two ways. First, they were very dense, and so packed with her magical energy that they kept her floating off the ground. Second, they hurt—a lot. Syndra could control them with little to no concentration, making them deadly weapons at her disposal.
As Syndra slowly lifted off the ground, she began a gentle float towards the entrance of the white marble temple that was her home. Three stories tall and as large as a small village, it had nearly everything Syndra wanted. Three different gardens, one a with trees bearing pink blossoms and a large, crystal-clear pool at its center. That pool was one of Syndra's favorite parts of the temple. Because of its moderate depth and central location, Syndra decided it was the best place to store her prized possession: a dark purple crystal two feet tall and a foot in diameter. This crystal held a store of arcane power that Syndra infused into it, and used that power to keep the temple floating in the sky. The crystal was embedded into the stone at the bottom of the pool, suffusing the pool with energy that would rejuvenate the Dark Sovereign if she ever felt exhausted. This happened rarely, but occasionally, after hours of practicing her magic, Syndra found herself in need of a nice dip in the pool. The other two gardens held fruits and vegetables native to Ionia. Syndra never had much to do during the day, so she attended to these gardens on a fairly regular basis. A mage could only practice her magic for so long before boring herself to death. The rest of the temple was just as luxurious as the gardens, with almost every room kept in immaculate condition. The décor was pristine—simple, but also elegant. Having little reason to leave, Syndra occupied her time in learning things. Reading and gardening were her two favorite pastimes. Syndra's reading suggested other pursuits, of course, and with nearly thirteen years of alone time, she got to explore a lot of them.
The quiet air that filled the temple of the Dark Sovereign was suddenly disturbed as she threw open the large oaken doors of the temple. With a light snap of her fingers, the entire room was lit with a soft glow of light. The simple magical sconces of light made a subtle humming noise as her arcane powers brought them to life. Slowly drifting into the room, Syndra immediately began peeling off her dirt-covered clothes. She had decided to wear a loose-fitting pair of black pants and shirt. Now that she had dirtied them, they were useless, so she threw them into a pile near the back door. Now completely naked, she floated into a long hallway that led past a large library, a kitchen, a dining hall, and up a spiral staircase. At the top of the staircase, she turned left into another long hallway and, passing countless empty rooms, finally ending up in front of her bed chambers. As she opened the door, she sensed a slight pressure. This could mean only one thing. Someone had dared to set foot on the grounds of her home. With a low growl, she set off to where she knew the person was.
As she strode out towards the front door of her temple, she heard a soft clank that meant this person had also foolishly entered her domain. Rounding the final bend in the hallway, she summoned five spears to float menacingly around her. She stopped between two curved staircases that led up to a large, ornately decorated room where she meditated every morning.
"Who dares enter my home!" Her voice boomed, amplified by her power.
To Syndra's shock, a familiar voice called back to her. "Just someone who would like to speak with you over some tea." The voice belonged to Karma, an Ionian elder who was always trying to speak with Syndra.
"Why would I want to speak with a fool?" Syndra snapped back, her voice brimming with venom.
"Well, Sovereign, I was hoping that we could speak about a pressing issue that has come to my attention." Karma's voice was soft, and even had a friendly tone to it.
That surprised Syndra. Karma was a kind person, and always spoke respectfully to Syndra. She had never been friendly, though. That meant the Enlightened One was up to something.
"I don't know what scheme you are brewing, but know one thing. I am not a fool. Now leave, or I will force you too." This time Syndra amplified her voice only for the word "force." It wasn't a threat. It was a promise Karma knew the Dark Sovereign could keep. If there was one thing Karma knew about Syndra, it was that she was not someone to take lightly. Syndra was powerful, and by far the most irritable person Karma knew.
"Please, Sovereign. I am not here to scheme. I am here to ask for your assistance," Karma's tone stayed even, but her eyes showed the fear Syndra was looking for. Good, Syndra thought. At least she isn't a complete fool like the other Elders that come to try to "talk." That didn't mean Syndra was any closer to doing it though.
"Why should I help an Ionian? Clearly, you are an idiot if you think I would want to help you."
"Well, Sovereign, I was hoping you would help not for me but for the land itself."
This piqued Syndra's curiosity enough to want to hear the rest of Karma's "favor." "Continue then, and be quick with it. I have no time to waste with you."
With a soft smile and a nod, Karma continued. "Well, Sovereign, I am here to ask if you would aid Ionia with fending off an invading force of undead from the Shadow Isles. I have reports from some of our scouts saying these undead are approaching. It seems they are trying to spread a plague that affects the Isles." Karma hoped the rumors about Syndra's love for the land were true. If the mage honestly cared about the island itself, maybe she would be willing to aid Karma.
"Hmmm. What's in it for me."
Karma's mouth dropped open a little. "I'm sorry?"
"What. Is. In. It. For. Me?"
Karma was baffled. She had hoped, but never in a million years had she thought that Syndra would actually help. Karma stammered, then recovered from the shock. "Well, I really wouldn't know. What do you want?"
"You don't have anything I want. Well, maybe you do. Are you elders the ones who send these glory seekers?"
Karma thought for a moment. Glory seekers? After a moment, she finally looked up at Syndra's floating form. Heat swelled into her cheeks. Karma had just noticed that Syndra was naked.
Coughing to gather her voice, she responded, "I would be glad to talk about it, but…umm…would you like to get some clothes on first?"
"What? Oh, I guess. Wait in the first room on the left down this hall, then." With that the platinum-haired woman floated away towards her bedroom. As Karma waited, she took in the large parlor she was sitting it. It was spacious and had comfortable furniture neatly aligned around a six-foot-long coffee table. Everything about the Sovereign's home surprised her. It was immaculately kept, and very well-decorated, especially considering its immense size. Just as Karma was about to stand and explore the room a bit more, the door swung open. Standing in the doorway was Syndra, again without her headdress but now wearing long, flowing white sundress.
"So, you need my help. Why should I help you? What have you and your people ever done to deserve my help!?" Syndra's voice reached a crescendo towards the end, but there was no malice. Her question sounded, to Karma at least, genuine. It took Karma a moment. She really had to think about the answer. She didn't know much of the Sovereign, but what she did know was horrible. Syndra was a powerful enough mage at the age of three to warrant the caution of the elders at the time. They collectively decided she would be a threat unless educated properly. Thus, they stole her away from her family, and placed limiters on her powers. With these limiters in place, she was taken to a remote temple to train with Elder Kuan, who had the most experience in teaching young people how to use their powers. Kuan was also the one whom Karma replaced on the council when Syndra brutally murdered him thirteen years ago. Not many people interacted with the two during Syndra's training, but Elder Kuan's journals made it clear he had hidden the details of Syndra's past from her. This eventually backfired, however, when Syndra turned fifteen. The warning signs were there, slight changes in Syndra's behavior that belied her true power leaking through. Power that everyone in the world would soon feel. When Syndra realized that Kuan had hidden the true extent of her powers, she went ballistic, killing him in a fit of rage. Afterwards, she removed her dampeners and ripped the temple from the earth. That was the moment that all of Ionia learned of the Dark Sovereigns existence. Karma remembered that day like it was yesterday. She had been sipping tea and reading a book by a famous Demacian writer. Just as Karma was about to finish her tea, the earth shook. It was the only earthquake Ionia had ever had, but it was so strong that buildings collapsed all over the major cities. As the aftershocks died away, Karma finally felt the source of it: a pulse of dark purple arcane energy so potent it had brought even the Enlightened One to her knees, on the verge of vomiting. Weeks after the event, even the far reaches of Valoran reported feeling the wave of magic in some form or another. As Karma thought back on that day, she was brought back to her conversation. She heard Syndra growl, then quip some insult that Karma didn't quite catch.
"I apologize, Sovereign. I was deep in thought, trying to find an answer to your question. I must be honest with you. You do not owe Ionia anything, but I am willing to offer my aid. My aid in any request you see fit to be worthy as payment for helping Ionia, whether it be to try and recant your exile, or even to aid you in becoming a citizen of Ionia again."
Syndra's laugh boomed in the open room. She had almost made it to the couch across from Karma, but had to stop in fear of doubling over in the laughing fit she was experiencing. Karma's friendly smile dropped into a look of confusion. Did I say something funny? Karma was perplexed because she never intended to make a joke. This was a serious topic after all.
"I can't believe you actually think I care about Ionia. The fact you could even say that with such a serious face makes it all the funnier. Let me tell you something, Duchess. I absolutely loathe your petty, insignificant, and hypocritical country. The only reason my fortress still floats above these lands is because of their beauty, and the stunning view I wake up to every morning. I could care less for your people. If you want my help, there is only one thing that you could give me." Syndra's mirth was gone. Her voice had transformed, turning dark and sinister. Replacing a twisted but genuine smile, her visage turned angry with just a hint of venom in her eyes.
Still in shock, Karma spoke with a trembling voice. "Alright, and what would that be?"
"Guarantee that no one, and I mean absolutely no one will bother me. I want to be left alone. Your foolish glory seekers, moronic bounty hunters, and selfish people stay away from me and my fortress." Syndra's eyes began to glow as she informed Karma of her "request."
"That is quite simple. I assure you that I will try to complete this request to the utmost of my ability."
"No Duchess. There is no try. There is only do. If you peasants don't stand up to your end of the deal, I will consider it a person insult, and I hate being insulted. Do you understand?"
"Of course, Sovereign. I will complete my end of the bargain. Now that we have an agreement, please meet me and the soldiers of Ionia at the eastern shores of the island on the third night of next week."
"I don't need your help, nor do I need the help of your armies. I will complete my end of the bargain and destroy the undead scourge that threaten this beautiful land. Then you and your council of pigs will leave me and my fortress alone."
"Don't be ridiculous. You won't be able to stop them all by yourself."
"I SAID I DO NOT NEED YOUR AID! I AM NOT AS WEAK AS YOU, OR YOUR PEOPLE!" Syndra's voice echoed in the room at an ear-piercing level. Her eyes had turned deep purple, almost black, and she had risen off the ground nearly two feet. The aura of power surrounding her sent a wave of nausea over Karma. Staggering, Karma kept herself standing, and nodded in agreement to Syndra's staement.
"Of course. Unfortunately, I will have to be there regardless, but I will be sure to come alone."
Karma wasn't sure if even that would be good enough, but after a moment, Syndra nodded. With a dismissive wave, Syndra floated off into the depths of the temple. Karma took that as a sign to leave, and so she did. On her way out, she noticed that the floating fortress felt different than before. It seemed darker, as if Syndra's anger had affected the island in some way. Karma didn't like it at all, and she sped up. Getting off the floating island was as hard as getting on it. Karma had to climb down the same way she climbed up, and it was exhausting. As she left the mountains, Karma realized just how potent the aura of Syndra's power was. Despite being almost completely out of the mountains, Karma was still able to feel her arcane energy. Just how powerful is the Dark sovereign? was the last thought Karma had as she rejoined the guard who had escorted her to the mountain side.