Hello, everyone. Hopefully you've all been well since the last story. Here's my next Heroes Lemon. This one will feature a lady I've been meaning to get to, and who I wanted to write for, that yearning partially being an inspiration for this series. I speak of…Ursula the Blue Crow! I've been on something of an Elibe binge over the last few weeks, and I had the idea for doing Ursula way back when I did Lyn's lemon. The two were meant to follow each other up as well as mirror one another. A lot has happened since then, but here I am finally doing the femme fatale of Blazing Blade. Except references to that game and some headcanons, not just on it but magic in FE in general. I hope you all enjoy the story!
I do not own anything.
Blue Devotion
"Hmm, you're nervous."
Kiran shot her an aside stare that made her giggle, as per usual. "Kind of hard for me not to be nervous. I'm about to throw myself into a four-round magical gauntlet in front of dozens of people. Several of whom have-"
"For one reason or another begun to see you as a hero." She finished with a smile reeking of mockery.
"And here I am about to look like a fool in front of them."
"Oh, you'll look like a fool regardless, but at least do so with a bit of bravery. Surely that'll lessen the blow." He could tell she didn't believe her own words. She was looking forward to him making a fool of himself just as much as several others were. It slightly stung a little considering she was the one who'd pushed him into this. "Kiran." Or maybe he'd spoken too soon.
From the moment he met her, Kiran knew that Ursula was going to be one of those people he had to be weary of. Something about her just set him on edge, and it wasn't just her good looks. He knew it was her eyes-those eyes that immediately sized him up upon summoning her. And promptly decided he was completely unworthy of her time and effort. She'd have either walked away or maybe killed him if it wasn't for their contract as a Summoned "hero" and Summoner. It was like that with a good deal of figures he summoned from other worlds. For better or worse, she was bound to him just as much as they were. Ursula hadn't been happy about it, and frankly, neither had several other people.
Contrary to what he'd been told about Breidablik, it could summon a lot more than just heroes from other worlds. He realized that rather than "hero," the mystical gun could simply summon anyone from anywhere in the "Fire Emblem" multiverse. That included heroes and villains, thus the blue-haired sorceress that openly compared him to scared puppy. Well, he liked to believe that he'd grown at least a little bit since then.
The rather serious, and focused way she looked at him seemed testament to that. "Be honest with me, do you really think I've got a chance?" he asked knowing he was going to get a straight answer. Good or bad, he wanted to hear it.
"Honestly, I doubt you will win this entire thing, but I have faith you will make it past the first round. Kiran Campbell, you appeared before me with no magical ability whatsoever. That aside, serving someone as inapt as you seemed like a sick joke more so than anything."
Kiran's focused expression never faltered. "Yeah, I know all that."
For a second, Ursula's own intense gaze broke. A sliver of amusement graced her face before she returned to her previous expression. "That was almost one year ago, and in that time, it is truly amazing the strides you have made. While far, far from being a master sorcerer…I would say you've passed the bar in becoming a decent one. Showing that in this tournament will be worth something, at least in my eyes."
Overall, it was a compliment. Not an overwhelmingly stellar one, but a compliment none the less. It was also a motivational speech. Those two things put a faint smile on Kiran's face. Ursula mirrored it, both knowing that he'd gotten the double-meaning of her words, and confident that he wouldn't prove her wrong. After all, her reputation was on the line as well, though she was being kind and putting him first. It was something he knew she was capable of, contrary to what he'd been told by those that had known her in life. Well, more like those that had fought against her in life.
He knew those people would be watching, openly cheering for him. As he stepped toward the door, he looked back at the short-haired woman. Despite knowing she'd be in the stands, Kiran still felt an impulsive desire to ask her. If he did, he knew he'd get a snappy response, one that might sour the aftermath of her words. That was one of the reasons he held his tongue. There might have been another reason though, one he certainly knew was better left kept to himself.
"Alright," Kiran began. "I'm off."
He was two steps out into the hallway when he heard Ursula's voice, flat and distant, yet still carrying a hint of something warm. "Give it your all, miniscule as that is, just like you always do, Kiran."
Hearing that, his small smile turned into a full-blown grin. "Got it."
"Hey, Kiran! Are you read…" There were several heroes he'd grown close to, either through his own actions, theirs, or some combination of both. With Lyn, it felt like a bit of the last one. She was quite an outgoing person, and while he couldn't say he was the same, he felt like he could trust her. She made it an effort to prove she was worthy of his trust and Kiran returned the sentiment. They had a friendship, and like a true friend, he was happy to see her, especially for such a big moment like this. "You're ready." She said after settling on him. It was clear Lyn was doing everything in her power to ignore Ursula's presence three feet from him.
For her part, Ursula seemed like she would have liked to do the same, but it was impossible. Her Kiran watched her regarding Lyn with a semi-cold stare that eventually got the swordswoman's attention. Once the two women locked eyes, an ice spell was cast and every second it was hard at work. Kiran could have sworn his breathes were coming out as clouds of frost.
Finally smiling, Ursula's expression held no warmth and her words were dripping with biting sarcasm. "Just making sure our dear Summoner is ready."
Lyn's response was immediate. "Yes, I'm sure you were. Now then, come on, Kiran, you don't want to be late." Reaching forward, she took his arm and ushered him completely out of the doorway. He was torn between looking back and keeping his eyes forward; in the end, he ultimately chose the latter. "She wasn't doing anything to you, was she?" The edge was gone and replacing it was the heartfelt concern he'd come to expect from the Sacae woman.
He was happy to see it, and happy to sooth it. "It was fine, Lyn. Believe it or not, Ursula…gave me a genuine pep talk." She stared at him with unbelieving eyes, causing him to chuckle. "Seriously, she did that."
"…I'll just take your word for it."
"I've heard that a lot, lately."
"That's to be expected, Kiran. You are contracted with some…truly unsavory individuals, to put it lightly." While he knew she was referring to some people far worse than the blue-haired assassin, she was still on her disliked list. From what he'd observed, it wasn't exactly hatred, but the animosity they had in life was clearly there. It was hard for Kiran to blame her for that. "Ursula is one such person, one that I'm reluctant to have training you in the arts of magic. There are far better mentors for you to study under, especially if you wish to learn the art of thunder magic."
That much he already knew. He'd gone from not believing in magic to knowing enough magic users he could count them on both his hands, and that still wasn't enough. Kiran knew as his stay in Askr was going to be extended, the number of magic users he was going to meet would only increase. How many he met and what kind though was up in the air. Honestly, he just counted himself lucky that he'd met a few kind-hearted ones. Ursula wasn't among them, but she was a sorceress that he'd…formed a bond with. For better or worse.
Obviously, Lyn thought it was for the worst, and he didn't blame her.
She looked at him a quiet intensity, asking him for a response to her statement. As she'd said, there were other magic users he could have gone to, and indeed he had. The truth was Ursula was just one of the many sorcerous tutors he'd gained. Could he have done without her? Probably. What that meant was he'd chosen her continued company and tutelage. As to why, he honestly didn't know, besides the obvious physical beauty she possessed.
That was something of an open secret, one that Lyn was privy to. "She's good. At magic I mean."
"Not as good as Lilina or Cecila though." The green-haired woman swiped.
Kiran gave a half-nonchalant shrug. "Maybe, but she's still proven herself. After all, she was able to give you Eliwood, and Hector a run for your money when you guys fought." He grinned at the cute pout that statement brought to her face.
"Fine. I will admit, her skill in the magical arts is undeniable. There were more than a few times where she came close to killing us. Dangerously close." For a minute he felt bad about bringing up what were probably bad memories. She merely smiled and told him he had nothing to feel sorry for. "In the end, we ultimately triumphed over her and her compatriots, not to mention her master. I'm pleased though that Sonia won't be attending this competition. Also, I'm happy you haven't summoned Nergal."
"Look, it's not like I try to summon evil maniacs. Grima was a complete fluke, one that I'd love to undone."
"I know, I know. No one's blaming you, Kiran. Not Chrom, either Robins, and not even Lucina." Lyn offered while reaching out and placing a hand on his shoulder. It came just as they reached the point of separation. The roar and hum of the crowd could be felt through the stone walls. It filled Kiran with both anticipation and anxiety. It must have showed on his face as Lyn placed another hand on his other shoulder; he was fully facing her, steadily losing himself in her confident green gaze. "Alright, Kiran. You've got this. You've-"
"You've been trained by the best, so go out there and show it." They were both startled by the voice, though he was sure he was the only one slightly happy to hear it. Looking to his left, he saw a faint glimmer of actual joy on Ursula's face as well. Immediately, he knew she was happy that he gave her his immediate attention. Lyn was a different story; she gave the girl another dark smile, as if daring her to say something. "Just making one last check-in on our utterly inapt Summoner."
"Good to go, and I'm off, ladies. Try not to kill each other while I'm gone." The black-haired youth half-jokingly declared stepping down the last stretch of the hallway. At the end of it loomed the arena where he'd be putting his magical abilities to the test. Just a tome, no Breidablik, which he'd grown used to using to cast magic of any sort. He was going to be doing it the traditional way, the way that was completely antithetical to everything he'd grown up believing and thus believed in.
Kiran didn't look back on the two former enemies he'd left alone. There was a small possibility they might go back to killing each other, even with his plea.
No explosions. He mused. At least not yet. Sucking in air through his nose, he stepped out into the arena, and was immediately hit with the roar of the crowd. They'd been expecting him. "Alright, Kiran, now's the time to do the Campbell name proud, again. However you can."
He still wore his hood. Almost two years into his time in Askr, it'd become part of his iconic look. Everyone in the kingdom, and the enemy, recognized him by the white hoods he wore. Of course, there were also the gun-like weapons he wielded, but his white hoods had become quite an identifying trait of his. That'd been one reason why he'd chosen to wear a white hood to this tournament. The other had been, well…he simply wanted to keep "the magic look" as he called it.
"Well, you're not exactly wrong. Mages do tend to wear hoods quite often." Merric had conceded to him.
"Either hoods or some pointy hats."
"I'd say such a thing is ridiculous, but the multiverse has shown many a strange things. That includes strange fashion choices."
After being given the "cloak of the Summoner," Kiran had gotten used to dressing up like he was cosplaying Dungeons & Dragons. Well, mostly. It still felt a little strange, and that included holding up a magical tome, a real tome.
Directly across from him stood his first opponent. A tall woman dressed similarly to him with a tome emitting an emerald glow. Wind magic. His own tome cackled with charged lightning. Not the best matchup, but Kiran had learned how to make do. Overcome obstacles had been the one constant in his life, and that had only increased when he found himself whisked away to this life of superhuman warriors, dragons, and magic.
Power coursed through his veins in preparation. He could feel the energy fighting to get out, waiting for a chance to manifest as the mystical force he once took to be nothing but make believe. Kiran felt that anticipation in his lightning-paced heart. When the gong sounded so too did the thunder, which also flew from his hands.
There was a figure amidst his blurry vision, one sitting to his left, watching over him. Focusing on it helped him claw his way back to consciousness; once his sight cleared up, he was happy that he'd chosen to do that. "So, what's my score? Did I just fall short of almost impressing you, or did I do the impossible?" Talking didn't hurt as much as he feared it might have. Perhaps the sight of the smile before him gave him an extra boost of strength.
Ursula pushed aside one of her shorter bangs while giving him another one of those proud, feminine smiles. "Let's see…when you regain the strength, you may stand tall, Summoner. You actually managed to impress me. All I hoped for was that you would make it past the first round. Making it all the way to the semi-finals was…an unexpected surprise."
He sat up despite a sense of emptiness in his arms. Ursula's words might as well have been a reviving jolt, and yet his onrush of energy was temporarily halted as she put a gentle hand to his shoulder. The look in her eyes was one of quiet care, telling him not to overexert himself. It wasn't a look that she gave out often. Nino was the only person everyone knew to receive it, and even that at times was done in a subtle manner. Here, that subtly was thrown out. Quite a remarkably thing, albeit no one was around to witness it save for him.
In sitting back down, Kiran realized that was the point, and that was something to be savored. He was no stranger to people having sides of themselves they didn't easily show. Sometimes it was warranted and sometimes it wasn't. For people like Ursula, it was a little bit of the former, but also a testament to the fact she still retained some decency despite her murderous profession.
It struck him as he stared up into her cobalt-colored eyes that he was lying in bed being watched over by a professional assassin. Given the myriad of individuals he'd summoned and met within the Order of Heroes, that might not have seemed so strange, but sometimes it just hit him. His weakened self no doubt had something to do with it. If Ursula wanted to, she could kill him with such ease and that'd be it. Being an assassin, the possibility might have been real, if not for the Summoning Contract that bound them. That contract had been the doorway for their…relationship to grow, as had been the case in several other heroes. Without it, Kiran was sure they'd never moved past their near mutual dislike of each other.
For him, it'd been her haughty demeanor. As much as he'd like to say her willingness to kill turned him off, he honestly couldn't. Not anymore. After his first three battles in Askr, he'd found himself developed a tolerance to killing. It wasn't something he was proud of, and it was something Kiran knew was probably going to affect him for the rest of his life. If he managed to return home after saving the Kingdom of Askr, it was going to be as a changed man-a man that had gone off to war and survived. He'd become the kind of person that could look at Ursula and commonly tolerate her willingness, and at times eagerness, to kill. That said, even she had her limits, not being the most bloodthirsty of the Order's darker members. Even some of them repulsed her.
And she'd been repulsed by him upon their first meeting. Her insults had all been exactly what he expected of a magical assassin, something he told several in private. That had led him to awkwardly explaining the fiction of his world, in which Ursula seemed a character straight out of. And that was before getting into the fact that her name reminded him of the sea witch from The Little Mermaid. In private, he was willing to concede she was a hell of a lot prettier than the half-squid woman that had tricked Ariel into giving away her voice for a chance at love. This Ursula seemed exactly like the type who'd trick someone into making a deal with the devil like that, thus Kiran had remained on guard.
The one insult of hers that'd struck him though was one he'd spent weeks dissecting-that he was so far from her ideal master.
"Look, I'm not trying to be your master, and frankly I don't want to be. I'm just asking you to fight, that's it."
"Oh, but in order to do that, at some point I will have to take orders from you. That will be quite difficult considering how…imperfect you are."
Admittedly, he might have been better off keeping his temper in check. While he managed that to some degree, a bit of anger still seeped out in his retort. "Sorry, but I'm not going to be the same kind of 'perfect' as your last boss was. From what I hear, it didn't work out for her on multiple levels."
The flash of anger in her eyes resembling lightning. Even without her tome, she could have cast a spell, one that could have came dangerously close to singing him. She may have been prohibited from harming him outside of being given his permission, but Ursula was the type of person who wouldn't hesitate to put the fear of the almighty in someone. Trashing Sonia's name in front of her made her try it with him, but Kiran had grown strong to weather that murderous gaze.
"I'll be generous and let you off with that one, Summoner. There will not be a second time." Her voice was the teeth-rattling thunder that followed the lightning flash. It promised more to come if he pushed his luck.
Just as mountains stood tall, so too did Kiran. "I'll try to remember that." His choice of wards caused her to flare up her magical power. The air became supercharged with ozone, the hairs across his body stood up, yet he did not waver. "Like I said, I'm not asking to be your master or anything like that. I just want you to fight and follow my orders. They may keep you alive, which I'm sure you'd like to remain."
Her murderous glare held, though he saw a minor crack in her stormy vestige. Kiran knew he'd hit the nail on the head-she wanted to remain alive.
He held onto that realization as she snapped back at him. "To live under the command of a fool as pathetic as you…fine then. I will stomach it for as long as I can. However, make no mistake, Summoner, there will only be so much I will tolerate from someone as lowly as you."
Well, here they were, just another a year later and things had changed in ways neither of them had expected. He was absolutely sure that Ursula wasn't expecting things to have changed in the way they had. If that Ursula could see herself now, he was sure the former would have really laid into her current self. As extreme as it would have been, Kiran actually believed the possibility of the past and present meeting might come to pass. Seeing Ursula's reaction would be something to see, but what about him?
Hey, younger man, guess what? You'll actually become good enough at magic that you'll reach the semi-finals of a magical tournament, beating out even some experienced mages! Crazy, right? Keep studying magic, you'll get good at it! Oh, and make sure Chrom never gets his hands on the prototype blend you're making! Or Lissa anywhere near the kitchen! Trust me, neither of those two can cook for crap, and Lissa will waste food on pranks!"
Both of them had been rooting for him in the stands, along with so many others. That included Ursula. Looking back at her, Kiran found himself drifting back to an old line of inquisition. He tried to learn something about each of the dozens of heroes and villains he'd summoned. Sometimes he learned those things on the battlefield, and other times he learned them off it. Regarding the latter, there were times he had to be direct and simply ask people. It didn't always work out, but Kiran took that direct path to getting to know some people.
With a person like Ursula, it was highly doubtful it'd work, but he figured what the hell. Contrary to her initial statements, she had grown a soft spot for him. "Why are you so focused on perfection?" There, he said it. Her eyes widened just a fraction at his question. "If you're a perfectionist, I can understand that, but…did you become that way over time, or is that how you've always been?"
"Why should that matter to you?"
"I want to know." Came his simple response. Behind her impassive stare he saw her wrestling with telling him. She knew she'd begun to let her walls down around him; she'd created an opening that he'd decided to take. Under ordinary circumstances, Kiran knew he'd be blasted to smithereens for that. Being on bedrest wouldn't have made any difference.
Blue eyes looked him over like he was some wounded animal, with the decision being rather to end him or leave him alone. Seconds turned to minutes during which the Fang debated which one to do.
"Perfectionist…yes, I am one of those. Much to the chagrin of those around him, including allies such as yourself, Summoner." He let his lips briefly curve into a thin smile. Ursula shot back with an amused smile. "You're the first to ask me why, Kiran."
"Hey, it's not often a guy gets to learn the backstory of a real-life femme fatale."
Her laugh was light-hearted and free of any underlying malice, or sarcasm, both of which he'd gotten used to from her. "Femme fatale, yes, I've heard that phrase from you, including what it means." Still wearing a thin smile, he laid back and closed his eyes, as if readying himself for the blow that would end his life. Ursula laughed again, and again, it was free of malice. "For the record, I take it as a compliment. To be a 'femme fatale' was my goal, I suppose. As you know, I've succeeded, greatly." A hand went to her chin as she cocked a brow at him. "I also heard you mention something else, a…film…series called-"
"'James Bond'." Kiran answered. "The most famous fictional spy in the world, and a hell of a lady killer."
"Ah, tell me, would I be one of those women he so effortlessly charmed if I were in one of these…James Bond films?"
There was a hint of true curiosity in her eyes. He knew it sounded absurd, and maybe a little sexiest. A smooth-talking spy continuously uses his charms to seduce every woman he comes across, including enemies, while serving his country. Undoubtedly a work of fiction, but it was one that had endured for the better part of a century and continued to, at least as far as he was aware.
I wonder if they've made a new Bond movie while I've been gone? Or if I go back home it'll be like no time at all passed. Looking back to Ursula, he shifted away from his internal musings so he could focus on giving her an answer. "To be honest…I'd say yes. I mean, part of James Bond's ability is he can charm the-"
"Panties off any woman he encounters?" She coyly swiped mirroring his own interruption.
Knowing his cheeks were a tinge red, he nodded.
"Hmm, interesting." He couldn't make out anything beyond that, and he was smart enough not to press it any further. Not unless Ursula chose to continue the topic. "Tell me more of this James Bond, what kind of man is he?"
"A superspy." Kiran immediately answered. Well, okay, I guess we're talking about this. "Smart, cunning, and incredibly goodlooking."
"Such that any woman he encounters will go weak at the knees, and then spread those knees for him?" She continued to press.
"Um…more or less. It's not like it happens immediately, and there are some women Bond never tries to woo." He paused for a minute running over every James Bond movie he'd seen. It wasn't like he was a superfan, but he knew a thing or two about the franchise. "Well, actually, he does try with a few, but they're…immune to his charms."
"And would you say I would be such a woman? I'm not so easily charmed, Kiran." While her smile wasn't threatening, he couldn't shake the feeling it was getting there. Keeping up the conversation seemed like a way to push it in that direction, but Kiran knew he didn't have much of a choice.
Sighing, he crossed his arms, partially to test his returning strength. The exhaustion that had came with using up nearly all of his mana, and getting knocked on his ass, was fading. "I know you're not, Ursula. In fact, I'd probably say you're close to Miranda Frost from Die Another Day, she was the devoted henchwoman of the villain, Graves." The pause that followed came from an internal debate. Ursula was many things, but disloyal wasn't one of them, at least not according to her. Others had a different idea. "Originally, Frost worked for MI6, the same intelligence organization as Bond, but she was revealed to be a traitor, having sided with Britain's enemies."
His explanation hung in the air like an echo of thunder. For once, it'd come from him instead of her.
"…You've been talking to Linus and Lloyd, I see." Her tone sounded more amused than angry. "Were her reasons expanded upon?"
"Nope." Ursula's expression didn't change, though he wondered if it might have if his response would have been different. "Eh, I'll say this though, she was a master fencer instead of a sorceress."
"Hmph, I've never had an interest in the sword, but I suppose we share the position of pinnacle of mastery. That's enough." His internal sigh of relief came too soon, as revealed by her next question. "So, how did she meet her end?"
She'd correctly assumed that Frost, being the villain, would die. "Stabbed through the chest by the real heroine and Bond girl, Jinx." He'd have added the latter used a book, The Art of War, if Ursula knew what it was, including if she knew who Sun Tzu was. "She went out fighting though."
"Hm, I suppose that's something to be happy for. I went out fighting in life, as befitting of a member of the Black Fang."
"Yeah, though for a group of assassins, you guys had a pretty big army. More like a small militia."
"The Black Fang had built up quite a reputation, and that always draws would-be recruits." Something entered her eyes, a sense of longing that he'd spotted a handful of times. Given their current subject, Kiran ventured a guess what it was. "Brendan was…quite the leader. A great deal of our members came to us solely so they could follow him, that included former soldiers."
Now was his window, and he took the shot without hesitation. "Did that include you, Ursula?"
The swiftness of her gaze befitted a howling wind before the storm. Rather than shirking from it, he rose to meet it. "…Yes. I…had already stained my hands with blood, and in Brendan, I found a place where that would not make me reviled. More importantly, at least I could shed blood for what I believed would be a worthy cause."
"Then why did you choose Sonia over the Reeds?" Kiran asked point-blank.
Ursula knew answering his question would be like pushing a boulder over the ledge-once it started rolling there was no stopping it once it reached the bottom. That was reason enough to end their conversation here. "Because she was perfect…or at least, I believed she was."
A half-humorful chuckle forced its way out of his lips. "And you only serve the perfect."
"Yes…although as of late I've had to reconsider that policy, what with you being so far from my ideal of perfection. At least…initially."
Throughout their whole talk Kiran hadn't been expecting to hear that. At least not hear it and realize that Ursula really meant it. His arms uncrossed and his expression broke into one of slack-jawed shock. Basking in his stunned expression for another second, she eventually turned her back to him with a laugh.
Common sense would have been letting her take her leave without another word. He'd impressed her far more than he ever thought he would this afternoon, yet the idea of spending more time with her gnawed at him. Alongside that was something else, something that he felt like he needed to say. Or maybe something he wanted to say.
So, he said it just before the blue-haired assassin could leave. "You know there's no such thing as perfect, right?" he called out. She froze, half-way between the room and the hallway. Kiran could sense the change in her mood; it would have been an indicator for him to stop after that, but he chose not to. Confident in his words, he pressed on. "Perfection is something you strive for, but it's not something you'll ever achieve. Or at least, it's not something you should obsess over."
"…Oh? So, would you say my view is wrong? That I've wasted away my life? That I did waste away my life?"
Now, this was the question where he could screw things up. It was a matter of trending careful, but Kiran chose to continue to be honest. "No, I wouldn't go that far. I just…think you focus too much on perfection. Let me rephrase what I said, few things in the world are perfect. From people to places to concepts to just…everything. Besides, perfection isn't the end-all-be-all."
"Nonsense." She swiped without turning to face him. Kiran could tell he'd struck a nerve.
"How's about perfection is a dead end? Once you hit it, there's nothing left to strive for, and striving for something is always better than just standing still." Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he showed how healed he was. Sensing his movement, Ursula swung around to face him. Finally, he saw her face in response to his words. She was angry, that much he could tell, but there was more to it. He saw the doubt in her eyes, how she was so fervently fighting to hold onto her beliefs. To see such a fierce and proud woman crack like that was startling, but it wasn't the first time Kiran had seen such a thing. His hold on the edge of the bed briefly tightened, but he kept his steely gaze on her. "Continuously improving yourself, that's the best way to live life. That's what I apply to myself."
"And yet your numerous inventions verge on perfection." Came her tight voice.
"Well, I won't deny that. I try my best when it comes to them, but I'm always open to making improvements on them." He admitted trying not to lose his stride.
Breaking from her tempestuous mood, Ursula released a surprisingly casual laugh. "Yes, improvements. That's the other word I believe I would associate with you, Kiran. You took a broken down prototype of the Breidablik and made it into a second, fully-functioning model. A feat that everyone, even the royal mages, thought impossible." Her eyes fell, symbolizing the truth of his words dawning on her. "And even now, you continue to improve upon the Breidablik, turning it into a weapon that can potentially rival the Eight Legendary Weapons."
"That's because as good as it is, I recognize it isn't perfect. Hell, it was far from perfect when I got my hands on the first one. Sure, it could summon people from other worlds and pulses of energy, but…well, I'd seen way too many movies, read too many comics, and played too many video games."
Another light-hearted laugh flew from her lips. "Such ingenuity, and to come from the fantasies of children of all places. Then again, you are still young." He joined her in laughing, though it ended too soon for his liking. "Maybe that's a part of your viewpoint."
"Wrong. Even adults and older people can strive to get better. You're living proof of that, Ursula. Contrary to what you say about yourself, you're out there training with everyone else. You know you have room to improve, and you take that chance to do so. That's…that's something that I respect about you, Ursula."
His words hit her hard enough to leaven her wide-eyed and gasping for breath. He'd have liked to have known what shook her more, but he decided not to pry too deeply.
An impassive expression returned to occupying her face. After everything they'd said, Kiran took it as a plus. She could have looked like she wanted to rip his face off for challenging her beliefs. Maybe she was just hiding it; as soon as she was somewhere private all the anger he'd stoked would come lashing out. Or maybe she'd just save it for the next time they met, potentially at Askr Castle.
She left without a word. Kiran wasn't entirely left alone though. Not long after Ursula left did his room receive several new occupants.
"Master Kiran, I must say…that was-"
"Ballsy as fuck! Jeez, I seriously underestimated you, kid!"
Having a kunoichi as a bodyguard wasn't so bad, if at times it could get a little…awkward. Kagero at least did her best to give him his personal space.
For an assassin and someone with the title of "Mad Dog," Linus could be a rather jovial person to be around. Aside from Nino, he was undoubtedly the nicest of the Black Fang members that'd been summoned to Askr. And the loudest.
Grinning, the hulking giant barged in and patted him on the shoulder. "No one's ever talked to Ursula like that. Or at least no one I know and lived. Heh, then again, she may try to rectify that last part."
"Not on my watch." Kagero casually corrected. Linus simply looked back at her with a grin.
"Or mine either!" Expectedly, Lyn walked in as well. Her eyes swiftly moved to Kiran, a mixture of concern and awe in her gaze. "I, for one, agreed with everything you said, Kiran."
"As do I." Spoke the Hoshidan kunoichi.
"Heh, suppose I do too. Gods know I'm not perfect by any stretch, and no one I know is either, including my brother. Still, we all try like hell to be better. Like you said, striving to be better is the point, and being perfect just kills all the fun." Linus spoke, rounding out the trio. He crossed his thick arms and looked down at Kiran with an intrigued smile. "You rattled Ursula more so than anyone else I've known. Nino never had the same kind of curiosity, or guts to take that many digs at her. Just so you know, you might have to watch your back a little bit. Who knows if she'll try to get back at you for it, Kiran."
His words caused Lyn to make a face, one he was quite familiar with. "She can try, but it'll only end up failing."
The potential scenario seemed to kickstart a conversation between Lyn and Linus. Though former enemies, they seemed a bit more amicable than the former did with the latter. Kiran knew that was because despite their differences and violent history, their hearts ultimately lay in the right place. In life, them being enemies to the bitter end kept something from coming out of that. As allies in the Order of Heroes, something finally was.
While the two talked, Kiran looked back toward the door. His mind was occupied with what would come of his next meeting with Ursula. Though he was partially looking forward to it, he considered the possibility the Blue Crow was going to have some harsh words in store for him, along with a thunderbolt or two.
Wherever there were battles with the forces of Múspell, the smell of soot would be present. Be it a victory or defeat, the volcanic odor would be somewhere on the battlefield. In the worst case, it would be mixed with blood creating a truly sickening odor. For some, it was cause to end the battles as quickly and efficiently as possible. Sometimes though, that simply wasn't what happened. Battles could be unpredictable, chaotic things.
That said, one adapted.
Across the once burning fields soared a blue light that carried with it a mystical freshness that seemingly purified the air. It certainly went noticed by the soldiers, several of whom looked skyward to see the blue light. The faint blue glow it emitted stood out in the evening sky, and eventually the black knight sky. For several, the blue light was one they'd seen before, during the latter stages of the battle. Hands were raised in gratitude to it as it continued to watch over the joint Askr-Nifl army.
The blue light gradually descended as it completed its task, somewhat eager to return to its home. That home was the outstretched arm of a single member of the army.
"Excellent work, Miranda." Ursula affectionately spoke causing the crow to caw in thanks. Beside her, Kiran smiled, whispering his gratitude to the bird as well while moving in to remove the spherical device attached to its neck. It'd hung from it while the magical familiar had been in flight.
Upon removal of the mobile air freshener, the bird turned to him with curiosity in its gaze. At its owner's behest, Kiran held his own arm out. In a flash the bird jumped from the sorceress to the Summoner, happily finding a new home atop his arm. "I guess he likes me." Kiran remarked with a smile.
"So it seems." Ursula agreed with a smile of her own. "She even seems to enjoy flying while wearing one of your contraptions. Perhaps we can test her to see how much she can carry."
"Or how fast she can fly." He added with a grin. The continued smile of the sorcerous woman told him she was looking forward to the idea. A caw from her creation showed the sentiment carried down. "Better get ready, Miranda. We're going to put you through a bit of a ringer, but that' the sort of thing you live for, right?" Another happy caw and he was laughing in joy. Reaching out with his left hand, he gently stroked the type of the crow's head. In addition to its unique blue coloration, he felt the pulse of magical energy beneath his fingers; the creature was truly a magical familiar the lies he'd seen in games and comics.
As such, it disappeared in a flurry of magical particles, dismissed by its master and creator. He looked to said creator, finding himself quietly enamored with the beauty of the true Blue Crow. She looked back at him, her gaze unreadable yet focused entirely on him. The army continued to buzz around them, but for the shortest moment it was just the two of them. They knew they had a to talk about between them, though where to start was up in the air.
That talk would have to wait as Kiran was called over; Ursula chose to follow him, intending to stick close to his side. As the army truly wound that, that's exactly what she did. There was a practical reason to stay beside him-the chief sorceress of the Múspell army could be lurking about. The last thing anyone needed was her getting too close to the Summoner, a feat she'd achieved several times before. Much to Ursula's displeasure.
While Kiran was aware that Loki had earned the animosity of several heroes, a few seemed to have developed a particular loathing for her. That certainly included the assassin beside him.
It wasn't long before the crescent moon had climbed into the sky, illuminating the lightly snow-covered fields of Nifl. To the relief of many, the horrid smell of soot and blood no longer polluted the air. Still, a watch was maintained in case the Múspell Army tried to attack again.
If that happened, the Order would spring into action as it had when news of the attack reached them. If not…everyone was in the mood to enjoy a peaceful night. That certainly went for the Summoner and the Blue Crow, who found themselves sharing a warm tent together.
Kiran's cloak lay folded up behind him, as did the winter coat that Ursula wore. When it came to Nifl, everyone dressed appropriately, even those with access to magic. Mana was best preserved for fighting rather than trying to continuously indulge in impractical fashion senses. Between them burned a bright fire that heated up the interior of their tent; the flames were reflected in their eyes as they mutually stared one another down.
"Thanks for the backup, Ursula." Began the younger of the two.
She merely waved a hand in dismal. "As I told you, as an assassin, I operate in a certain way."
"One that came in handy today." He clarified, getting a small smile in return. "And I can tell you enjoyed yourself."
Despite the leisure nature of her smile, he knew she was reminiscing on the covert killing she'd done on the Múspell forces. They'd been so focused on them, they'd failed to notice the blue-haired mage silently killing her way through their ranks. By her own admission, if they had noticed before she was finished, she wouldn't be worthy to be called an assassin.
Knowing it, Kiran silently pondered over the fact he was casually sharing a tent with a woman with a body count likely in the triple digits. A certified killer, and not one who did so out of noble duty like the heroes he'd first summoned. The woman in front of him was a villain, and yet…he felt a sense of safety around her. Not only safety but attraction.
She was a femme fatale, so there was no surprise there.
"What would you grade me, for my performance today?" Kiran inquired. As always, he knew she had something to say about his abilities.
"You were holding the line and even making progress by the time I showed up. To be honest, I actually think you could have won without my help, although my arrival certainly tipped the scales further in your favor."
"And no one's complaining about that. Not even Lyn." They shared a mutual chuckle at the mention of the Secae swordswoman. Kiran had a hunch that she might have sensed in her tent.
"Her performance was admirable as well."
"I'll make sure to tell her that." He coolly stated. Her glare was severely lacking in intensity.
Dropping her glare, she spoke in a quiet tone, "You haven't asked us to…bury the hatchet."
"I already told you, I'm not going to force everyone to hold hands and sing kumbaya."
"You will tell me the meaning of that." Just as he opened his mouth to speak, she held up a hand to silence him. "But not tonight. I wish to discuss…other matters with you, Kiran."
He knew exactly what those matters were. Almost two weeks had passed since their talk at the magic tournament. While he'd had enough things to fill up his schedule and occupy his mind since then, the tense standoff they'd had always remained in the back of his mind. Kiran knew it was heavy on Ursula's as well since she seemed to go out of her way in avoiding him, yet keeping a watchful eye on him. Recognizing she needed her space, Kiran gave her exactly that. He knew at some point they'd have to talk to each other eventually. True to form, here they were.
A chilly wind blew outside their tent, almost acting as a sort of prelude to the conversation that was about to begin.
"You once asked me if I'd always been a perfectionist or if I became one. I would say it was always a bit of both. From a young age, I always possessed an impulse to do better, to be at my very best. I suppose you could say it was also engrained in me via my parents, both incredible mages who rose through the ranks. It was their rising that caught the eye of a noble, Samuel Larsson. Doing so was not easy as Larsson had high standards, but my parents managed to meet them."
Kiran knew that story, and he knew that feeling. "What happened next?"
"All was well for about a year. Larsson was a good employer to my parents, and it seemed we would be on our way to becoming nobility ourselves. The name Antell would become a respectable one." Ursula heaved out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of years behind it. "Sadly, our patron had enemies, rival nobles who coveted his wealth and property. Typical affairs for nobles; however, amongst those who coveted what was his included his own cousin, Hubert. At a family gathering that mine had been invited to, he struck, slaying not just Samuel, but many others…including my parents. In an instant, everything I had, everything I was on the verge of having, was taken away." Brief as it was, he saw the tightening of her fist against her lap. It was correlated by the anger that flashed in her eyes as she continued with the painful memory. "In a show of what he believed to be mercy, Hubert offered me a choice, to join him or die with the rest of my family. To join him meant…unspeakable things that I would have to endure, so I fled. My lungs burned as I ran back to my parents' home, grabbing what tomes I could before running away. For several weeks I remained in hiding, honing my abilities."
"So you could take revenge." She nodded. "How old were you?"
"Eight years old. Hardly the age for one to be on their own, but such was the nature of the world I lived in. Hubert basked in his newly gained wealth and power…until I finally caught up to him a year later. Sneaking past his defenses and slaying him in his living room." A dark smile spread along her face; Kiran had known it was coming, so he wasn't as put off by it as he might have been. Especially almost a year ago when he was still accustomed to normal life in the twenty-first century U. S. A. "Lightning was my affinity, and I used it o rain divine fire upon his manor, destroying it and everything he'd gained. Ah, Kiran, if only I could show you how beautifully the flames burned."
He held his hands up. "Uh, no thanks. I've seen enough fire for one afternoon."
While her giggle was humorous, the dark glint in her eyes remained, but only briefly. "While I got my revenge, there was a fair bit of collateral damage. It wasn't something I couldn't handle, nor was it something I regretted. When those seeking 'payment' came for me, I fought back. I would like to say I held my ground, but…even I could only do so much, even with what skill I'd acquired. That was when Brendan and the Black Fang took me in. I had a roof over my head I would not have to worry about being taken from me, and I had people who would not think ill of me because of the blood on my hands."
"You found a new home, and people to care about." The softening on her face confirmed his words. As much as Kiran would have liked for the story to end there, he knew it hadn't. Ursula had become a villain in the eyes of many for good reason, one of them being her blindly following a woman as rotten as they come, and who in turn served a greater evil. "When did…"
"Sonia enter the picture? Not for another several years, little more than a decade. By then, I had well established myself as the premier mage of the Black Fang. Then, when Sonia appeared, I…I realized I had further to climb. She was so powerful, so graceful, so beautiful, so-"
"Perfect?" Kiran chirped. She shot him a dry smile that too answered his question. Hunching his shoulders, he took his next shot, feeling a great tightening in his chest. "Did you want to be her, or were you…"
"…Again, maybe a bit of both. I had…learned of my…bisexuality years before. Sonia was attractive to me in numerous ways, as well as inspirational. As I-as you said, she was perfect, at least in my eyes. I became so enamored in her that I forsook all the bonds I'd made prior. That was why…" If Lloyd and Linus could see this, he wondered what their response might be. While neither of them had outright said it, Kiran had picked up on the slight grudge they held toward Ursula for siding with Sonia and the "New Fang" that ultimately led the Black Fang to destruction. Ursula herself was aware of their feelings, but she never seemed to let it bother her. Now, he was seeing on some level it did. "In my heart, I chose to follow Sonia, believing her to be perfect in mind, body, and ability."
"But what about soul?"
"I suppose that too. Kiran, I was an assassin, we were all assassins. Our souls were tainted black."
"Not entirely," he pressed. "Not even yours."
"Such a bold declaration, Kiran." She didn't refute his statement. "I had my…misgivings about Nergal, but Sonia was…she was…"
"Look, I get it, you had the hots for her."
"Such a crude way to put it," the woman critiqued. "But I suppose you're right. For an assassin like myself to so blindly follow her emotions…I hid it behind the code of loyalty of the Black Fang, but I knew the truth deep down in my heart. Even up to my final moments." Her blue eyes stared straight into his. The fire continued to cackle between them, being the only sound in the tent for several minutes. "Well?" In response, Kiran merely shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, come on. Out with it! Ask me if I had a second chance, would I do anything differently! I know you want to say it. Ask me if I would choose to remain with Brendan and the Old Fang instead of following Sonia and-"
"Ursula!" Though it was a shout, he made sure to keep it as low as possible so no one outside could hear. "Look, I…a part of me does want to ask you that question, but…another part of me is just…I'm willing to respect your answer. I sure as hell don't agree with following an absolute, abusive bitch like Sonia…but…but…but…you were in love with her, and I can understand that."
She seemingly deflated, shocked at his acceptance, even if somewhat begrudgingly.
Abusive, the blue-haired mage mused in her mind. Wait, Kiran, I heard that your…
"I've noticed since I summoned her, you haven't been as…close to Sonia as you used to be. Hell, everyone's noticed that." He sounded off. It wasn't a hard turn away to a different subject, more like evolution of their current one.
Sonia slumped as she entered it headfirst. "She's…she's not quite the same woman I once knew. The revelation of her true nature broke her more than I ever thought possible." Her hand rose to her chest, sympathy for the woman she so adamantly adorned evident. Sonia was one of the few who'd truly been shaken by the events of her death, it leaving an indelible mark on her new life in Askr. "So determined to prove her superiority to others, as well as find a way to truly become human in such a mad way. I'll admit…seeing her has given me a newfound appreciate for my own humanity, as well as made me pity those lacking it. Or rather, those lacking will of their own."
"So, can I at least guess that if you had to do it over, you wouldn't want to be brought back as a morph to fight for Nergal?"
"…No, I wouldn't. Nor would I…wish that fate on my fellow Fangs. When we were summoned, that thought lingered in the back of our minds, if our 'contract' with you would result in us becoming mindless puppets." Her smile was one of not just relief but affection-affection directed toward him. Kiran was so taken back by it he blushed. "That said, I still quietly wonder if I can corrupt you into becoming such a master."
He made a sour frown, "If I did, odds are you'd eventually end up one of my mindless slaves, ya' know."
"Yes, I do, just call it the cynic in me." Ursula leaned to the side, further emphasizing her beauty, yet further revealing a vulnerable side of herself. "Being a morph didn't make Sonia less beautiful in my eyes, but…watching what she has become now with that knowledge, it's been…hard. Unfortunately, my words are lost on her, and I believe Nergal of all people may be the only one who can get through to her, although I honestly pray you never summon him."
Kiran had heard a lot of that from those hailing from Elibe. Including Ninian and Nils, his own children. Facing their father once had been hard enough, but being constantly forced in proximity of him while fighting an intercontinental war? That was asking a lot. For Ninian, the burden would be extra great since she was finally able to be with her son, Roy. The young redhead was vaguely aware of who his maternal grandfather was, and that included the reasons why he was told so little of him.
He remembered talking with him about it after a studying session in war tactics. Roy was torn between two extremes, wanting to meet the man who at one part so dearly loved his family, yet dreading meeting the man who'd also gone completely insane with hunger for power. Kiran remembered all the inner turmoil the debate had brought, it led him to opening up to the Young Lion about his own familial history. He had to stop himself from saying Roy was better off not meeting him; those were his feelings toward his grandfather, not Roy's. Still, for all the scorn he had for his mother's father, at least he wasn't a power-crazed madman who tried to destroy the world.
Looking back to Ursula, he saw something else continuing to shine in her eyes, which remained honed on him. He could sense there was something she wanted to say, something major, yet held herself back.
"Just to be hypothetical," Or maybe I just tempted fate. The black-haired youth bemoaned. "If I summoned Nergal, would you-"
"I would kill him the moment he became more trouble than he was worth, damn the outcries from those who would argue they had more of a right than I." was her swift response. It was even complete with that silent, dismissal glare that came with her assassinations. "Though I know the power vacuum is great, not to mention it was tried before-"
"It was?" Given what he'd heard of the dark druid, Kiran shouldn't have been surprised some members of the Black Fang had tried to kill him. He didn't ask whose side Ursula had been on for he already knew.
"Several, but…mad as he was, Nergal was powerful. It's just…I could clearly see the kind of power he possessed was of the darkest kind. The sort that would defile anyone who attempted to master it. Such was the price of dark magic."
"Which explains why you never pursued it." Leaning back, he gave a casual snort of disgust. "From what I heard, it's bad for your looks."
Ursula's laugh rung out through the tent-it brought out a small smile to his face. "Yes, that is amongst its dangers. I know my physical beauty will one day fade, but it will do so with the passage of time."
"Really? You're not interested in trying to find some safer way to hold onto your youth through magic?"
"Why, Summoner, are you trying to give me ideas?" He grimaced at the naked implication. Ursula again laughed. "Admittedly, the thought does tickle my fancy, but I must ask…would you prefer it if I aged gracefully alongside you?"
"A-Along…side…me?" He stammered. In a single heartbeat, she moved to his right side, practically brushing herself against his shoulder. Kiran turned around to face her, and scooted back.
"It's really me, Kiran." It wasn't just the softness in her voice but the look in her eyes. Somehow, he could tell that it really was Ursula. Still, these naked showing was different from her previous actions. That included her reaching out and gently placing her hands on his cheeks, framing his face so his brown eyes were locked with hers. "You remind me a lot of Brendan Reed, one of the men I greatly respected, and in some ways…you remind me a bit of my father. Always pushing yourself, but also doing so with the desire to carry those you care about. Such noble intentions, such kindness…oh, Kiran. Do you not know how easy those things could be taken advantage of?"
"Hasn't stopped me before, and it won't stop me now." He firmly replied despite the smoldering heat amassing within him. It wasn't just from the fire.
"Yes, I imagine you won't…and honestly, I don't think I'd want you any other way. How you are now, as imperfect as you are, yet how you strive to be so better than before, it-!" In a flash her expression changed. Her walls returned, with them the seriousness that she brought to the battlefield.
He knew what it meant. "What is it?"
"One of the feathers Miranda left behind has been tripped. It means the enemy's likely sent scouts to survey us. I will go take care of them."
"Then I'll go-"
"No," Upon turning back to him, her serious frown softened. Her hand gently pressed him back down. "I'll go take care of it, Kiran. Until then, just lie back and enjoy your night. You've earned it." Smiling, she leaned forward and pecked him on the lips, a second of lip-to-lip contact that still sent shivers down his spine, which remained long after she'd pulled away and left the tent.
Though he was alone, Kiran still felt that smoldering fire within him, it was burning hotter than the one in front of him. It fueled the miniature tent that had formed between his legs.
"Oh…oh, come the fuck on!" He groaned falling completely onto his back. "Alright, next time I see one of you flaming bastards, you're getting frozen down to the molecular level. Count on that."
Normally, the air of Nifl was permanently chilly at best. For a kingdom of ever-winter, it was entirely normal. When the temperature rose above a certain threshold, it was abnormal.
Coming from planet Earth, that's exactly what magic was-abnormal. It was antithesis to everything Kiran had been raised on, and yet here he stood, an aura of pulsating magical energy dancing around him. It intensified alongside his concentration as he raised his weapon, his "dominant" Breidablik to the sky and pulled the trigger. The golden designs glowed blazing red, and from the barrel shot a swirling beam of fire. It shot straight upward until it collided with the descending lightning bolt, summoned from the mass of dark clouds. Those clouds had turned the already dark sky darker, and made it impossible for many to get any sleep.
That's why a handful had decided to watch the spectacle. Given the heat of the battle, they'd discarded the thick winter coats they wore as a necessity to Nifl's wintery climate, especially at night.
The clash of fire and lightning continued as the two pushed against one another in a vertical clash. Around the Summoner the ground cracked and heaved, yet he remained as stalwart as a statue. His posture remained even as his opponent moved toward him in a blue blur, her hands cackling with more azure lightning. Her blood lusted smile would have been frightening at one point, but not now.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ursula smile vanished as she was forced away from her prey. Each landmine blast would have been enough to fling her into the sky, and break the focus of her Bolting spell. Being forced to fall further back, she decided to focus the whole of her energies on it, but upon turning back to it she saw it was already too late.
In a brilliant display, Kiran's fire beam drove her empowered lightning bolt back up into the clouds. It pierced through them like a skyward arrow, dispersing them. The sight was truly awe-inspiring, even to the fire-avoidant people of the Nifl keep.
The Blue Crow herself was in awe of the display, but not enough to completely leave herself open. Or so she thought. Lightning coiled around her left hand before being shaped into a dagger she was ready to fling toward her opponent. She found herself staring up the flaming barrel of the Breidablik instead.
"I win, Ursula." Declared the black-haired youth with a slight pant in his breathing.
Her hands immediately fell and smile quickly blossomed along her face, a genuine, heartfelt smile. "Yes, you did, Kiran. Yes, indeed."
Sighing in relief, Kiran turned back to the audience…and pointed his other Breidablik directly at Ursula as he addressed them. "Sorry for the late night rumble, everyone! We promise, no more fireworks for tonight!"
There was a chorus of responses, praise, calls for more, and people just downright grateful they'd finally be able to get some sleep. Kiran believed he'd be amongst that group soon enough, and so would Ursula.
The last to clear out was Lyn, who looked between the two of them with troubled eyes. Eventually, she settled on Kiran, giving him a smile before leaving as well. Once she was gone, it was truly just him and the Blue Crow, alone in the cold fortress keep. Turning around, he saw Ursula still smiling; she seemed to be smiling even more.
"I've trained you so well." She declared.
"Hey, it wasn't just you. Some others had their part in making me stay alert, like Kagero." Her dismissive laugh was cute. "So, are we really done for the night? I'd like to be, to be honest."
"Eager to go back to tinkering with your toys, Summoner?"
"And if I were to say yes?"
Her smile fell a little, although it was still retained a playful air about it. "I'd be disappointed."
"…And if I said no?" Ursula's smirk was enough of an answer. Holstering his guns, he turned to the door that the rest of their audience had re-entered the fortress through. Now that their battle was over, the common coldness of Nifl was returning in full. Kiran was glad that he'd kept his coat on. He was about to pull his hood back over his head when a gloved hand reached out to stop him. It guided him back to Ursula, whose expression had become intimately inquisitive.
"Beating back my Bolting wasn't easy. I practiced specifically so I could overpower you. All that work, and you proved it wasn't enough." Her arms fully looped around his neck, pushing their bodies closer together. "I was very impressed, Kiran."
"Happy I've been able to continuously impress you." It was a fight to wrap his arms around her waist. Even though his gut told him it was safe, that they were safe, he still hesitated.
"You know, sometimes I find it insufferable how right you were back then." His blink of confusion drew a short giggle from her. "About how striving to be better is preferrable to being perfect. You know, the first time you told me that, I felt angry, yet…deep down, some part of me saw the wisdom in your words. After all, if we'd been truly perfect, Eliwood and his merry band never would have defeated us. If I'd truly been perfect, I never would have taken the time to improve myself, including attempting to create a magical familiar." Her sigh of discontent released a small cloud of frost, further proof that the cold was returning. Still, Kiran couldn't say he felt its all-consuming chill, not like before. Another sigh left her lips, albeit it came with an endearing smile. "Kiran Campbell, I never believed I would say this, but…you were right, and I was…wrong to some extent."
"Getting a woman to admit she was wrong and I was right, man, what my dad, uncles, and grandpa wouldn't give to see me now. I'll have a hell of a story to tell them when I get back home!" She let him get his laughs in for a few seconds, then she kissed him. It wasn't like the quick peck she'd planted on him, it was long and lasting and full of passion. That fire that had smoldered within Kiran that night in his tent two days ago reignited, potentially stronger it would have if they hadn't been interrupted. Faintly, he found himself thanking those now descended Múspell scouts that had turned their night of rest into a constant watch.
Ursula's lips tasted, unsurprisingly, like blueberries. He wondered if they were always like that or if she'd chosen a special brand of lipstick this morning.
Their lips were warm, practically on fire when they finally pulled apart.
"Tell me that you choose me." Alongside hunger there was an acute desperation in Ursula's words.
"I do, but I'm not going to stop talking to every other woman in the Order, and that includes Lyn." Putting a hand to her face, he gave the older woman his best smile of encouragement. As happy as he was, Kiran didn't let it slip the woman who'd just more or less confessed to him was a dangerous assassin with a kill count in the triple digits.
Seemingly aware of that, Ursula looked away with a haughty puff. "Don't take me for some clingy stalker like Tharja. I just want to know now that You've made your choice, you won't renege on it."
"Sure," Now his arms were tightening around her waist. The hesitancy, the doubt, it was all gone.
"I'm serious, Kiran." She pressed staring straight into his eyes.
Merely smiling, he reached up to the back of her head and pressed his head against her. Their lips met in their second true kiss, tongues shooting out and colliding against one another as the cold wind swept pass them. Its chill was barely felt though.
Ursula gave in to the near desperate hunger that had long loomed within her. That desperation, that fear, that rested deep within the bowls of her soul. She buried it so deep that it was almost easy to forget that it existed, but it did. The feeling of Kiran's lips on hers, his arms around her waist, banished it to the void of oblivion in a burst of blazing light. It was ironic, as an assassin, she should have shunned the light, and yet over the past month she'd found herself desiring it more and more.
"Even we assassins need little rays of light in our life to hold onto our humanity. Particularly, as we are sworn to stay our blades from the innocence, we must hold fast to these bits of humanity, least we fall into depravity."
She never thought she needed that ray of light, or that she'd find it after dying once. As she'd said, she'd been wrong, and Ursula was so happy to be wrong.
"Make me yours, Kiran." The hushed plea was hot on her lips when they broke apart. "And if you do, know that I will lay my claim to you."
Kiran knew instead of just a casual fling; she was asking for something more-a lifelong commitment. Given the fact that she was near thirty, he wasn't surprised she was thinking of a partner for life. Kiran was ten years shy of that, so one could say he still had plenty of "free time."
As he hoisted her into his arms, he decided that he too was ready to find that special someone. Scratch that, he'd just found that someone, and he was ready to go full force on his commitment.
"Tell me," Beckoned the blue-haired woman whom he took up in his arms. Weeks of intense physical training were once more yielding their results. "Did this happen in those Bond movies? Him carrying away his women to be bedded?"
"Heh, you have no idea." He replied with a sheepish blush.
"Kiran, if you can, exactly how old were you when you saw these…films?"
"Finally caught on, huh?" the Summoner laughed. She gave him one of those haughty smiles that he, for whatever reason, just found so charming. "Well, I think I was about ten years old. The first Bond movie I saw had Sean Connery, who was my favorite, in From Russia with Love." I can't believe I'm seriously doing this! A chibi version of himself repeated over and over as he continued to regaled her with his transformation into a James Bond fan while carrying her in his arms to his room for the express purpose of sex. Any second he was expected someone or something to snap him awake, or some director yell "Cut!" revealing this whole thing was nothing but a movie.
Step by step, he, they, eventually made it to his room. His leg kicked the door shut; Ursula waved her hand to magically lock it behind them. Once they hit the bed, she pounced on him like a wild cat. Her gloved hands were pulling at his clothes from multiple angles, stripping them off him faster than he could comprehend.
By the time she stopped, he was on his back, realizing he was shirtless, barefoot of his socks, and his belt was in the process of being undone. Oh, and a familiar tent had risen in-between his legs. Catching sight of it, Ursula slowed down; an utterly seductive smile grew along her face as she laid eyes on his clothed erection.
"Oh, so eager, but I can hardly blame you, Kiran." Pulling her hands away gave him a few moments of reprieve. His brown eyes watched her remove her elbow-length gloves, rather slowly at that. "I left you quite wanting back in your tent, didn't I?"
Not trusting his voice, and knowing she'd get the truth out of him eventually, he simply nodded.
"Did you…self-pleasure that night? Were you unable to handle my absence?" Her silken voice questioned.
"No." he immediately answered. Ursula's eyes narrowed while her smile remained-it sent the message she didn't believe him. "I swear, I didn't. I…I…I just…thought about other things to calm down. You know I had a lot to think about. Especially when you reported back that there were Múspell scouts in the area."
"Yes," she conceded with a frown. "Those pyromaniacal bastards just had to ruin the evening. Not to worry though, I made sure they paid for it, dearly." Kiran honestly didn't want to know how his assassin lover had tortured the information out of the scouts before killing them. He knew it'd been painful and that was all he needed to know. "Luckily, we have no need to worry about them now, nor anything or anyone else." His arms snaked around her waist as her hands caressed his cheek. "It's just the two of us, my Summoner. My Kiran."
It was their third kiss. He was shirtless and she was gloveless, they could feel one another's naked skin in different areas and it aroused them. For Kiran, that was evident in his hips, occasionally thrusting upward while Ursula thrusted down. Her legs occasionally grinded against his sides, further feeding the pent-up lust within him.
Seemingly hours later, they pulled away. Ursula looked down at him, realizing in that moment she couldn't contain herself anymore. Kiran didn't want her to either.
Her hands shot to his half-undone belt where they quickly finished their prior work. Ursula could practically feel her heart thumping in her chest in excitement. There was no teasing on how big her black-haired beloved's manhood would be. While she hoped it would be of decent size, she was far too horny to take the time in teasing him. That could wait for another round of sex, assuming he was-
"By Saint Elimine's light," she swore.
Kiran bit his lip and silently watched the blue-haired woman's jaw hit the ground. "I…uh…take it you…approve?" The size of a man's cock was a private matter. Shared potentially only in the company of his fellow men. At least until that pivotal moment where he hopefully got that intimate with a woman. Though Ursula wasn't the first to see his dick, she was the one whose opinion he knew would matter the most. Hey, odds are she's a believer in the saying, bigger is better.
Unknown to him, that's exactly what the infamous Blue Crow had on her mind. Seven inches, maybe a little over it. Thick as a tree trunk and covered with veins. The organic blade twitched as her bare hands slowly moved toward her; her mouth still hung open in slack-jawed shock. Even after she finally grasped it did Ursula's mouth remain a gaping "O" that was so uncharacteristic of her.
"U-U-Ursula!"
His shouting broke her out of her stupor. Glancing down, she realized she'd already begun stroking her beloved's member, perhaps she'd been stroking it for several minutes. Kiran's manhood was twitching from her touch, veins popping and his tip trembling like the prelude before an eruption. Now consciousness, she began actively stroking it, eager to make his seed spurt from his tip.
Lifting her head up, she stared at him with hungry eyes. "You truly haven't lain with another, Kiran?"
While tightening his hold on the sheets, he managed to find his voice. "N-No, Ursula. I….I had a blowjob, b-b-but…I've never…I've never gone all the way with someone. I'm still-"
"You're mine, Kiran Campbell. You. Are. Mine." With each punctuated word her mouth descended lower until they were practically on top of his cock. A shudder of anticipation raced through the Summoner feeling her hot breath against his tip. That shudder turned into a full-on shout as she wrapped his tip up in her glossy lips.
"Ursssulaaa~!" His hips rocketed upward, pushing his cock deeper into the mage's mouth. She welcomed it, turning it into an unexpected deepthroating. "U-Ursula! Ursula! U-U-Ursula~!" Kiran heatedly repeated.
It was just what the Blue Crow wanted to hear. That's it, call my name! Yearn for me! Yearn for me and only me, Kiran! As she sucked him, Kiran thrusted his hips forward, stretching her mouth to its limits. She'd been left utterly speechless at his size and girth. Honestly, who could have imagined that he'd have such a massive cock hidden away? Actually, a handful of women had speculated it, though Ursula hadn't been among them. She would have laughed at the irony if she wasn't so focused on pleasuring her young lover. What she did do was quietly (or loudly) bask in the fact that despite that, she was the one now claiming Kiran for herself.
"Ahhhhh~! Ahhhhhh~Aaaaaaahhhh~!" The memory of his first blowjob was distant, and it grew more so by the second. Ursula seemed to be trying to blow it so far back that it faded into obscurity so that all he would remember was her. If that was her plan, it was working, in spades. "U-Ursulaaa, I-I-I feel like I-I'm going to cum!" That was a lie, he didn't feel like it, Kiran knew it. His knuckles were turning white against the bed as his hips continued to haphazardly work. The assassin maintained her tongue-filled sucking of his cock. Any second now he was going to pop like a balloon. A part of him could hardly wait despite his attempts to hold on.
Slowly, the raging assault on his member lessened. With that loss, Kiran's clarity returned, albeit it carried a sense of disappointment too. Peering down, he watched Ursula slowly remove her mouth from his cock. She did so at a slow place, leisurely dragging her tongue along his cock until it finally separated from it. Saliva licked her tongue and his tip until the bridge snapped. Kiran panted while observing his cock, it was a twitching, saliva-coated mess that called for further stimulation. He looked up to Ursula, quietly asking her for that stimulation.
There was still that lustful hunger in her eyes; she desired to have him cum in her mouth as much as he wanted to, but she wanted to play these teasing games some more. Her hands reached forward and stroked his wet manhood, pumping it with slow, seductive glee.
"You caught me off-guard, Kiran. Hiding such an impressive blade from me." Leaning in, she planted a sweet kiss against his cock. He gripped the sheets again, just barely keeping from cumming from that erotic incitement. "I'm going to enjoy playing with it."
Oh, he knew she meant it. From this point onward, she was going to get a hell of a kick out of teasing him. Odds were, not even being in public would stop her, more like incentivize her. At the same time, a thought struck him-he could do the same to her. The hunger in her eyes, the way she threw herself at him, he could use that desire to tease her as well.
Or, called a deep, fiery-eyed version of himself. You could just fuck her whenever you want. Come on, you two will be able to find some places to do it. Just like you've always wanted to.
The lascivious part of him merged with his waking self. From that merging came a sweeping desire that he immediately gave into.
Ursula was about to feast her lips upon her Summoner's manhood when she felt his grip atop her head. Raising her gaze, she met his heavily shadowed eyes and crimson face. "Kiran," she called.
He panted hard. "This blade…is going to cut you down to size, Ursula."
His words left her momentarily stunned, a weakness that the killer in her would have groaned in disgust at. Such a thought was short-lived as she felt her mouth once more filled with the entirety of Kiran's penis. Though Ursula's eyes did widen in surprise, she quickly rediscovered her acceptance of his manhood and went back to sucking it. Just like before, her sucking was mirrored by the Summoner thrusting his hips forward, but this time his thrusts were more focused. Gone was the frenzied thrashing that marked their first time. In this new intimacy Ursula realized something-this time it wasn't going to end until he came in her mouth. She would be the first member of the Order to taste the Summoner's masculine juices.
Her pussy pulsated with excitement at the thought, as well as the implication that this mighty blade would eventually be sheathed in her. A sudden eagerness seized her, leading her to increasing her licking and sucking of his dick. She dragged her tongue across his rod as it pushed in and out of her mouth; Ursula employed her honed technique of scrapping her tongue along his dick, knowing it would give him a rush of euphoria. It did, but Kiran gave her a gift of her in-a powerful, vigorous thrust that pushed his cock all the way to the back of her throat.
"Gluuurk! Glluuurrrk! Mmmmmppph~! Mmmmmmppphhh~!" More of those thrusts came, thank the heavens. Each one pushed her mouth to accommodate the gunman's unexpectedly massive girth. Ursula felt the growing moisture between her legs, the near maddening desire to have his seed spill down her throat. Maybe even have it splash over her beautiful face as a type of marking.
"Ahhh! AAAHHH!" Grunted the twenty-year-old male. He was undoubtedly in control, holding the Bern assassin's head as he thoroughly deepthroated her. Such an explicit act, one that he'd only dreamed of and one she might have originally laughed or snorted off as a nightmare. Looking into Ursula's lust-filled violet eyes, he saw she was living no nightmare but a dream just like him. She begged him for more through her gaze. "AAAAHHH!"
Though he pulled her back, Ursula knew it was only temporary. She instinctively inhaled as much air as she could in the split second her mouth was free. That second passed, and then she felt the return of his manhood completely stuffing her mouth. It pulsated within her oral hole, sliding as far back as it could. "GLUURRK! GLURRRRK!"
"AAAAARRAAHHH~! URSULA!"
"MMMMMMHHH~!"
His balls slapped against her face with the force of a gale-force wind, and yet Ursula loved it. She couldn't recall the last time she'd felt so happy to feel such blunt-force trauma. It came simultaneous to Kiran's seed finally exploding from his tip and rushing down her gullet. Ursula tasted it, and she savored ever last drop of the sparkling waterfall that emptied into her stomach. The storm clouds amassing between her legs cackled with lightning, even emptied a bit of their payload into her panties. The Blue Crow paid only minor attention to that, her focus centering on swallowing every bit of Kiran's cum as he blasted it into her mouth.
He rocked his hips forward as he came, either consciously or subconsciously. Ursula loved it none the less. She swallowed as fast as she could and drunk more, as if she'd spent days wondering the Nabatea desert only to find precious water. Kiran gave her all she could drink, his own thirst being fulfilled to his heart's content.
As he pulled away, he shot a brief spinel of cum against the sorcerous assassin's face. His eyes widened at the sight, his heart quickening, partially in preparation for what was about to happen next.
Ursula scooped up the seed off her face and faced him. "Mine." She simply declared with a smile before licking up the Summoner's essence. The sight brought a wave of calmness to Kiran, such that he almost fell entirely onto his backside. Having watched him, Ursula laughed in jubilant amusement. Licking her lips, she leaned forward again, her eyes on his semi-hard member. "This is all mine, Kiran. Mine alone."
When she kissed his cock, he felt the pulsation of magic in her lips. It added an extra jolt alongside the sheer physical euphoria. He was being marked-she was marking his penis, and him, as hers. Just as she said. Such a kinky yet affectionate thing to do, seemingly straight out of a hentai; that just made Kiran all the happier she did it. The truly odd attraction he'd felt to the killer woman was panning out in ways he never could have imagined.
Pulling away, Ursula revealed how she'd left her mark. The pinkish-red imprint her lips left on the tip of his member glistened with blue sparkles. They potentially added to the residual warmth left behind by her kissing imprint.
Brown eyes and violet-blue met, simply staring at one another before the faces they belonged to were pulled toward each other. They slid shut as lips reconnected, tongues passionately slapping together. The Summoner's back finally hit the bed, his body sandwiched between it and the blood-stained beauty above him, continuing to lay her claim to him. He did the same in roaming his hands over her body.
Their bodies rolled over, Kiran now looming above the Bern woman while she stared up at him with naked want in her eyes. A similar look in his own eyes, he sat up, removing his shirt and finally revealing his entirely naked body to her. Ursula purred in tender approval of his upper body. The intense physical training he'd undergone at the hands of so many was on display in his well-defined chest. What was also on display were the scars he'd accumulated during the water. A specific jagged scar stretched from his right shoulder almost down to his left hip. Ursula sat up, gently stroking it with her right hand.
Looking into his honey brown eyes, she whispered, "You've been through so much, yet you go on."
"That's all I can do, that's all anyone can do. This probably isn't the last scar I'm going to get."
"Well, it could be the last from that insufferable little princess." There was something darkly charming about her desire to murder the second princess of Múspell for him. Ursula had her sights set on them regardless, but Laevatein's near killing of him had, ironically, lit a fire in Ursula. She looked away from the scar back to him, steely determination intermixed with the tender love she'd exhibited over the last several minutes. "She will never get that close to you again, and if she tries, only a charred corpse will remain."
"I know, Ursula." He knew that was going to be the fate of anyone that tried to take his life. Grim as it was, he took comfort in the dedication Ursula would show in safeguarding his life. It was going to be a two-way streak though. He'd gained the will to kill long ago, and for the woman before him, Kiran realized he'd go far in protecting her-it's what a man did for the woman he loved.
His woman removed herself from his embrace to stand before him on the side of the bed. She gave him a show in undressing herself, revealing the full beauty that she liked teasing others with. The feminine curves of grown woman, soft, round breasts that were larger than average complete with pink nipples. She emphasized those, intentionally groping her own breasts right in front of him. The show had his cock returned to its original hardness at the display. Her panties were all that remained, and she too made a show of removing them. Ursula dipped one finger beneath the dark blue fabric, which had a massive stain in the center of them-a glaring admission of how aroused she was.
Slowly, they fell, at last revealing the Blue Crow's full naked splendor. Her clean-shaven pussy was indeed wet, so wet that when she lifted her finger back up, he could see the sheen of cum on it. It disappeared into her mouth, being affectionately sucked until she released it with a pop! that shook his heart.
"You're…you're fucking beautiful, Ursula." He could spot not a single scar on her body, in stark contrast to his.
"But of course," she giggled stepping toward him. "And you, Kiran, are such a lucky man."
Taking her up in his arms, he grinned. "I know." The next kiss was extra electric thanks to their mutual nakedness. Her flawless, goddess-like body pressing against his harden and scared one. Their hands were now free to roam down their naked backsides. Ursula felt the scars that were back there, her fingers curling against them while his continued tor roam the scarless expense that was hers.
She would have called it a meeting of opposites, perfection and imperfection, but Ursula could admit she'd somewhat moved past that. Put another way, she honestly didn't care.
Kiran rolled them over so that he sat above her again. Ursula's breath hitched as she knew what was coming. To speed things up, she lifted her now truly bare leg up to entice him. His left hand grasped her right leg, the skin-to-skin contact making her moan. Her cry was silenced by a kiss initiated by him. Arms reached up and wrapped around his neck, deepening the kiss, and holding him in place. He was in the perfect position to thrust his manhood into her. Ursula would have demanded he do so if she didn't feel another intrusion into her pussy.
Their kiss was broken, "A-Ahh~!" Looking between her legs she saw his hand. "K-K-Kiran," came her breathless gasp. Those fingers she'd seen squeezing a trigger. Those fingers that she'd seen tinkering with machines and trinkets for hours on end. Those fingers were inside of her, thrusting into her again and again-and Ursula loved it. Despite their association with metal, they were so soft. "Yessss," she slurred. "Aaahh~! Ahhh~!" Her lover moved his lips to her neck, planting butterfly kisses along her shoulder. It was a good move, making sure she was bombarded with amorous affection.
Fingering her and kissing her, doing both simultaneously was easy despite it being his first time. Despite his previous…mini-experience, this was all still a first for him. Given the woman he was making love to, Kiran was summoning every bit of amorous knowledge he'd accumulated from books and movies to give Ursula the pleasure she wanted.
His right hand fingered her cunt so while his left hand massaged her breast. Ursula continued to cry out, loving the treatment her womanly features were receiving. He heard the intermediate whispers she made as he continued to kiss his way down her side. His name shot from her lips when he assaulted her left side breast with his tongue. He felt her grip his ebony-colored hair, her nails digging in as his assault on her body continued. Without a doubt, he had her locked down, he had the infamous Blue Crow utterly whipped, and he wasn't going to stop until she was an even big withering mess than she already was.
"OOOOHHH~!"
A triple strike, a pinch of her nipples with his fingers and teeth, and a hard thrust with his fingers. The latter were tightly compressed by her vaginal lips. An outpouring of feminine nectar followed as the assassin's orgasmic cry turned into a drawn-out moan. Kiran continued to fiddle with her nipple as he removed his hand and brought it up to his face. Casting her an aside smile, he licked the nectar off his fingers; she put on a show for him, so he decided to return the favor. Ursula kept watch of him through hazy, lust-laden eyes. She didn't speak, only pant, and occasionally smile.
Once he was finished, he returned to her breast, but he only spent a minute tending to it. His left hand left moved with him as he scaled his way down. Her previous orgasmic had left her pussy a leaking like a reservoir forcing its way through the earth. Kiran's nose wrinkled as the lovely aroma beckoned to him. His hands moved to her thighs, gently pushing them aside so he could better access the delicious nectar that called his name.
"Ki~raaaaaan~!" As with his fingers, his tongue was a swift, powerful intrusion. He went at it with the same speed as well; Ursula was overwhelmed immediately. Feeling wave after wave of ecstasy crashing into her, Ursula could only turn her head from side to side. Fuck! I…can't remember…the last time I had someone…this…good. Oh, heavens! I'm…I'm going to…a-a-already~! Though she knew logically close her legs wouldn't stop her coming orgasm, she could still prolong the scorching-hot buildup to it. She also found something absolutely delightful in having her legs closed around Kiran's head. His mouth pushed deeper into her feminine snatch because of her enclosure. "Aaaaaahhh~! Aaaaah~!"
At first, she gripped the bedsheets, but that wasn't enough. Sitting up, she locked in on the black mass between her legs, the source of the fleshy flicking sounds that permeated her ears alongside her own rapid pants. Ursula her right hand out, grabbing onto it and using the hold to anchor herself as she rocked her hips forward. She and Kiran moans in joint pleasure and continued to do so as they found a sensual rhythm.
She didn't know how long they'd been in synch, but Ursula could feel herself close to cumming. While she'd held it off, it was still on its way. It was also going to be even bigger and better than she could have imagined.
One hand on his hand the other tearing at the pillow, no, it became both hands on his hand. The walls separating her from her euphoric release were sundered by the second. Ursula could see it happening right before her eyes. Knowing what awaited, she threw her arms out and basked in their complete destruction.
"OOOOHHHH~!"
The sorceress' back arched off the bed as she let loose her second orgasm. This time, her juices flowed straight into the Summoner's mouth. Kiran's eyes briefly widened before reflex forced him to shutter them, Ursula's juices splashed over his entire face, not just his mouth. Despite the flood, he pushed onward, continuing to flick his tongue against her cunt. It brought him more of the Blue Crow's sinfully amazing love nectar. She continued to cry out, her body shuddering and her legs maintaining their hold on his head.
With the same dogged determination he approached serious matters with, he held his position between Ursula's legs. The woman shuddered and moaned, no longer thrusting her hips against his mouth; she didn't need to for Kiran did all the work himself. She kept her hand atop his head, remaining aware of his tender and occasional fierce licks that left her body shacking atop the bed.
Ursula moaned at the eventual loss of his head between her legs, yet a part of her felt happy. Now, they could move onto the truly fun part of lovemaking, the part that she'd eagerly been looking forward to since she laid eyes on his cock. Sitting up, she saw that surprisingly sharp and stout blade was ready for action.
Her legs spread out. "Take me, Kiran."
He immediately crawled atop of her, grabbing his cock, and angling it just right. Ursula loosely wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart making a roar that could rival her arsenal of thunder magic. That arsenal was put to shame the moment Kiran thrusted his hips forward, ramming his cock clean straight through pussy. Her previous orgasm had left her folds so wet that his member was able to slide in without a problem, not that there would have been a problem without it. Ursula was far from a virgin, which Kiran had previously been.
As her vaginal muscles seized upon his cock, she claimed his virginity, and his cock, for herself.
"Just…as I envisioned it. Absolutely perfect." She whispered with her face even with Kiran's.
He chuckled, "Alright, here, I guess I can go for that."
A short giggle preceded her reaching up and kissing him. Amidst that kiss, he began to move his hips, gently thrusting his member in and out of her. Sparks of euphoria danced through the mage and the young engineer. Their kiss ended, then a new one began, albeit shorter than the first.
"Perfect, and yet…as you've taught me, Kiran, it can always get better."
That statement, and the glint in her eyes, warned him. Bracing himself, the Summoner remained somewhat aware of the world spinning around him. He felt his back touching the soft, and somewhat wet, fabric of the bedsheets. Rather than down, he was staring up at the somewhat smug looking Blue Crow, in all her naked beauty.
Again, he found himself laughing. "Why am I not surprised."
"Would you rather be on top? Fucking me into submission like I was your personal slut?"
The way she shook her hips, the tone of her voices, Kiran had a feeling on some level she wanted him to do exactly that. Hell, even he wanted to do it; in his defense, the idea was so tantalizing that he was hard-pressed to turn it down. That said, in the end, he did.
"I would like to," he admitted as he moved his hands to her waist. "But I'm fine like this. I can see all of you, Ursula. My Blue Crow." Her eyes shimmered with affection as she leaned down. It answered the question of if it was alright for him to refer to her as his. Their hips rocked against each other as they kissed. His were moving at a faster rate than before, partially fueled by the sweltering kiss he and the older woman were engaged int. her arms were looped around his neck and her breasts pounced against his chest. Feeling the constant scrap of her nipples against his chest further excited him, leading to more thrusts.
The Summoner's room, normally silent at this hour, was filled with the sound of flesh slapping together, tongues flicking at one another like blades, and the hot pants in-between it all. Two bodies moved in perfect rhythm, even as one rose, blue hair flailing about and breasts jiggling.
"Aaaaahhhh~! AAAAHHH~!" Screamed the Black Fang's blue-haired sorceress. Memories of previous nights like this were faint, blown far back by the gust brought about by Kiran's affection. She couldn't explain it and she didn't care to. The feeling sweeping over her-utterly joyful and fulfilling-was all she needed and it was all she received with each thrust of her lover's hips. Her head fell back, allowing her to look down into his focused yet loving brown eyes. "My beloved," she called.
"Aaahh~ Aaaahh~" he couldn't say anything beyond that, though he didn't need to. His eyes told her all she needed to. In a flash, they were suddenly closer. Ursula brought her hips down, squeezing even tighter on his manhood. She didn't scream and neither did he-their lips had melded together muffling the erotic shouts they might have otherwise made.
He's filled me to the brim. He's so…warm and thick, he's so…oh, by Elimine's Light, Kiran. I can't believe it, but…you might be the one. The mental revelation might as well have been restating the obvious. Ursula's subconscious had realized that already. Somehow, someway, this young lad whose heart was brighter and kinder than hers, was the one for her.
So…this is what…ah, I feel…I can feel it. I'm going to-! His hold on her hips tightened as he felt that buildup in his sandwiched cock. N-No! Not yet, I want to…and I want Ursula to keep…feeling this way. Oh, God, Ursula, you're… With his tightened hold, he lifted her up then slammed her down simultaneous to thrusting his hips upward.
Ursula threw her head back and yelled, "AAAAAAAHHH~!" he'd hit her center. The resulting shockwaves reached down to her soul. Her hands clawed at his chest as more of those powerful thrusts followed, each one forcing her to cry out. "HAAAA~! HAAAAAAHH~! HAAA~! K-KI-KIRAN~! KIRAAAN~!" The stamina and determination she'd witnessed and admired was being brought to bear in the most sensual way possible.
Watching her yell his name, watching sweat pour down her brow, watching her boobs bounce from his thrusts, Kiran felt it come together in an irresistible lure. Ursula unknowingly pulled it, and he followed it upward. His hand shot back, grabbing at her head, and pulling her into a kiss. Her immediate participation in it allowed it to reach new heights. Kiran gripped her ass cheek with his other hand, though Ursula still managed to move her hips up and down despite his vice grip. He kept moving his hips as well, repeatedly bashing his tip against her core.
They told one another how close they were through their eyes. No words passed from their mouths, which were repeatedly slamming into each other, sucking each other like their lives depended on it. Any space between their bodies was practically nonexistent as they continued to make love. They were rapidly building toward the climax; the closer they came the more intense their kisses became until they reached the final threshold.
Little more than an inch separated their lips as they shared a mutual smile. After that, their voices rose in tandem.
"URSULAAAA~!"
"KIRAAAAANNN~!"
The Summoner thrusted upward, shooting his seed into the assassin's womb as her vagina exploded in white joy. It was the tightest feeling the former had ever felt around his member, and the latter had never known a sense of fulfilment like this in her life-both from the seven-inch cock lodged in her pussy and the seed it deposited in her womb.
For both, they could only describe the sensation as heavenlike.
Falling forward, Ursula's hot breaths rolled down Kiran's shoulder. He slid his hand from her head to her backside; he held her in his lap as he continued to pump his essence into her, and she showered him with hers. The intermix dripped down their legs and onto the bed.
He's…still standing. Sometimes, her partners would flop onto their backside after their first round. While not always an indicator of their low stamina, it was something Ursula took notice of. Lifting her head up, she saw the wellspring of energy that still lay within Kiran through his eyes.
She lifted her hands up to frame his face before kissing him. Her suspicions were further validated in the way he kissed her back. Half consciously, Ursula lifted her hips up and brought them down. The twitch of his cock within her sent a sizable wave of ecstasy rippling through her. They pushed into giving into the next idea that crossed her mind.
Shooting one quick, longing stare, she broke not only from the kiss but him. Ursula moved to his left side, coming to rest on her hands and knees while sticking her rear out.
The position called to mind only one thing. "U-U-U-Ursula," stammered the young man. An all-consuming blush and the immediate, almost comical, straightening of his cock put a mischievous smile on the assassin's face.
"You remember what I said earlier, Kiran?" she called.
He was already moving into position behind her, his heart on the verge of exploding. Woah, I'm…seriously about to do this. "I do, and…like I said, a part of me wanted to."
"Well, I'm your woman, so why not?" Grinning, she shook her ass, almost making him cum a little just from the sight. "If you want…you can-AAAAAHHH~!" Yet again, the lightning strike could put her Bolting to shame. Ursula fell forward, half-burying her face in the pillow in front of her.
Kiran was already thrusting into her-it was a subtle but consistent pace that was still enjoyable none the less. That was tantalizing enough, but then came the kisses to her backside. Ursula shuddered beneath them, and then from his whispering voice in her ear. "I want to take that hole, Ursula, but first…I want to take you like this. I loved being inside of your cunt, so I'll take it again." His voice was brimming with confidence, the sort she wouldn't have expected from someone like him, especially with his lack of experience prior to their union.
Whipping her head about, the Blue Crow called, "Please do."
With a hold on her waist, Kiran rocked his hips forward, pushing his dick down the familiar pathway of her pussy. She cried out in ecstasy as her walls squeezed his member once more. His original steady rhythm began to increase in speed. Each thrust sent a surge of electricity not just through her but the Summoner as well. He'd not only stuck his first foray into sex, but he'd also found himself to be surprisingly good at it. Maybe some of Ursula's confidence had bled into him. Or maybe he really was just a natural.
He looked back at Ursula's blue hair, finding it a great contrast to the red he once knew and so dearly treasured.
"I promise I'll give you my all. I promise, I'll be there for you." He whispered while maintaining his thrusts.
Clawing at the bedsheets, the sorceress assassin whispered, "I…know you will, Kiran. Oohhh~! Aaaaaahhh~! Aaah~! Haaaaaahhh~!" A drivel of drool ran down her lips as the lightning bolt that was Kiran's cock continued to pound at her. She relished every thrust, especially as they grew in intensity. The greatest came after a near complete removal of his member. "AAAAAAHH~!" Thundered the blue-haired beauty.
"Haaaaaaaahh! Aaaaaaaahhh!" Kiran yelled as he completely lost himself to the rhythm of his thrusting. "AAAAAHHH!"
"YESSSSS~! OOOOOH, YESSSS~!" Before had been the heartfelt lovemaking that told them where their hearts truly lay. This was the raw fucking that they'd tangled with, and now had fully embraced. "I AM YOURS, KIRAN! YOUR WOMAN! YOUR SLUT! YOUR…YOUR…YOUR-AAAAAAHHHHH~! HAAAAAAHHH~!"
Having a woman give herself to him in such a vulgar way was definitely a turn on for him. Kiran made several more thrusts, his hands practically searing an imprint into Ursula's ass. It was another mark of ownership-his ownership over her. "AND I'M…YOURS, URSULA!" he shouted intending for the declaration to be a two-way streak, just like a real relationship."
Hearing that made the older mage push herself up. Her navy-blue hair swerved in front of him as she craned her head back. Their lips slammed together as their bodies did, sweaty and united in passionate love.
"Haaaaa~! Hmmmmmh~! HMMMMHHH~!"
The bed continued to shake as the pair indulged in this new position. Ursula's back repeatedly slammed against Kiran's chest while her breasts bounced about up front. At least they did until he reached forward and grabbed one. She screamed in further euphoria as her pussy was pounded from behind and her right breast squeezed and groped. In no time, Ursula felt herself pushed to the brink. She turned back, looking into her lover's heated brown eyes. A hand rose and looped around his neck, dragging him into a kiss.
Kiran eagerly returned it, feeling his own climax approaching. Even with it, he had a strong feeling it wasn't going to be the last one of the night. He felt boundless despite approaching the end of his restraint.
This is…what…love…feels like. Unknowingly thought the pair in unison. Their bodies likewise reached that familiar threshold together. Thunder clouds condensed and then released their payload with a final thrust of the Summoner's member, shaking the Blue Crow's skies.
"KIRAAAANNN~!"
"URSULAAAAA~!"
They shook as one, millions of jolts of ecstasy shooting through them. Kiran held Ursula against him as he shot his second load into her pussy, filling her to the brim for the second time. He was lost in the wondrous feeling; he knew he would never get tired of it. Likewise, Ursula knew she'd never tire of Kiran's cock, or his arms, chest, and especially his eyes. Looking up into those tender brown orbs, she found herself leaning upward and kissing him. Naturally, he kissed her back, rocking his hips against hers thus furthering their orgasm.
It wasn't long before their bodies began a concentrated effort to move as one again. Their mouths continue to embrace one another and their hands roamed about. The each other's delight, they still had more energy to burn, and that's exactly what they did.
The Summoner's bedroom became the epicenter of a storm, one whose echo could at times faintly penetrate the stone walls. Eventually, they would fade, as the shaking of the bed would cease. When it did, sheets had been ripped, stained, and thrown about. Still, they were good enough to cover the quivered, naked bodies of the Summoner and the Blue Crow.
"I will follow you anywhere, Kiran." Whispered the latter to the former as she curled against him. Her arms were wrapped around his body as his coiled around her. The embrace brought not just a sense of security but a happiness she hadn't felt in years.
"Thank you, Ursula, and I promise, I'll keep doing my best to be the man you've fallen for." He responded. Sleep was approaching for both of them. How much of it they'd get, he didn't know. He was too tired to check any nearby clock. Frankly, any amount of rest he could get with the woman in his arms would be enough.
"Just keep being you, imperfect, brave, intelligent, daring, and most importantly," she fixed him with her violet eyes shimmering with heartfelt love. "Inspirational." A single kiss, another cementation of the promises they'd made, and then the couple were asleep.
Fin
That's finally done with. Ursula's the first villainous character I've done, so writing her was a bit different than normal. I like to headcanon there's still some friction between heroes and villains even in Askr, though between who it varies. You've got extreme cases like the Shepherds and Grima, then you've got slightly lower cases such as what I tried to depict with the Elibe Lords and the Black Fang, or specifically Ursula.
I decided to just go ahead and make her bisexual since I felt it would explain a bit of her devotion to Sonia, whom I had go relatively unseen throughout this story. Originally, I wanted to include her, but I couldn't find a way to include how I wanted to have her show up. As with many such ideas, it'll have to wait for another story. Regarding Sonia, I decided to go with her being an example of a character deeply shaken by the events of her life-namely her finding out she isn't human. If I remember right, her final moments were spent assorting she was, which did paint her in a slight tragic light despite all the things she'd done throughout the game. I decided to have that carry over into Askr with Ursula witnessing, thus causing a crack in her beliefs regarding perfection. While on the subject of Morphs, I chose to have being turned into one something that even Ursula drew the line at, alongside Nergal. Since I was thinking of Kurotsuchi from Bleach when writing Kiran's counter to her views, I think the latter's zombies from the TYBW arc would turn her off even more, then again, there's few characters who'd be (willingly) tolerate of a guy like Kurotsuchi.
Given the premise of Heroes and the reunions it's allowed FE fans to create, I'm patiently waiting for the day when Nergal becomes summonable. As I wrote through Kiran, it'll be a hell of a family reunion with his daughters and potential grandson. I might do a story focused on that, and maybe Ursula's hesitancy toward him. Even she had something to say at how insane he'd become thanks to pursuing dark magic.
I hope you all enjoyed this story! More await, so be on the look out for them. Let me know what you thought or what you might want to see in future stories, and happy Easter! Until next time, readers!
