The sound of a whip cracking pierced the silence in the midday air, followed by a pained scream. The hulking apelike dreamkeeper holding the whip smirked as he looked down at his victim, an orange digitigrade lizard girl with tattered clothes, a kitelike tail, a pair of white spines on the middle of her lower back, and brown leathery frills covering her head and shoulders. Her red eyes wavered as she stared up at her attacker.
"Well, Veil? You learn your lesson yet, or do you still need a few more lashes to beat it into you?"
The girl could only whimper in response. Across her back, a lattice of wounds that had been carved through her scales left her blood dripping beneath her. As her vital fluids left her body and seeped onto the ground, they were quickly camouflaged by the red of the sand under her prone form.
Veil, he called her. She had only recently come to understand that she had been named for the long frills surrounding her head, which covered her like a veil. She understood that her attacker and master, a Walker by the name of Kamal, had a tendency to name his slaves based on simple physical descriptions like that. What she didn't understand was why she was being punished in the first place.
Kamal had requested her to bring him a jug of water to cool him down in the desert's heat. As Veil had been carrying her task out, she passed by a public statue of Serapis which a number of other dreamkeepers were performing their midday prayer at. Not wanting to insult the All-Mother, she joined them, prostrating herself before the divine effigy for the required six minutes of worship.
The wrath of the One True Goddess, she reasoned, would be far worse than the wrath of a Walker, whether he was her master or not. And surely he would understand the importance of her diversion, right?
The stinging pain that assailed her back was proof that he did not.
"Veil! Answer when I speak to you!"
He punctuated his shout with another strike from the whip. As Veil endured the abuse, she looked down at the prayer talisman wrapped around her left wrist, then turned her gaze to her master.
"I, I was praying," she said as soon as she found her voice. "It's the will of Serapis that-"
"Serapis doesn't care if a little slave bitch like you wastes time to pray to Her," he said, striking her with the whip yet again. "Time you should be using to satisfy your master's wishes!"
As Veil collapsed yet again, Kamal dropped the whip to the ground and walked up to her. With a quick movement, he grabbed her by the neck and stared directly into her eyes. With a whirr of energy, a light blue halo ignited over his head, drawing her attention.
"Veil, surely even an embarrassment like you knows what this is. This is the power that Serapis gave to me, proof of my divine right as your master. Something a disobedient slave like you will never experience in this life, no matter how many hours you piss away praying!"
As the glow of the halo increased, Veil could feel her master's hand around her neck getting colder. Within moments, she was shivering and gasping for breath. As the freezing power continued to ravage her, Veil came to a realization.
Master… with a power like this, he never needed the water!
Veil felt something boiling inside despite the chill of her master's power. How many demands had he made of her over the years? And for what, more belittlement, more abuse? And Veil knew she wasn't the only slave to endure Kamal's cruelty.
With the effect of the power still chilling her to her bones, Veil managed to choke out a few words, glaring at Kamal as she did.
"L-let me go."
The man who had been the source of Veil's grief smirked. "Hm? What's that you said?"
"I-I said-" Veil started as an unusual feeling began to take hold in her body.
"Let…"
The feeling grew stronger around her head and frills.
"Me…"
Veil's eyes widened as an orange halo began to manifest over her head.
"GO!"
As she screamed the final word with all the energy she had, her halo started burning bright, and her frills opened up, causing Kamal to drop her in surprise.
"I, th-this is…"
As she gathered herself, Veil scurried out of the way as Kamal reached for her again.
"So," he said with a rueful chuckle, "looks like Serapis listened to your prayers after all. For all the good it'll do you. Power or no, I'm going to freeze you to your core and crush the disobedience right out of you!"
Veil glared daggers at Kamal. "Serapis gave me a power… She rewarded the devotion you punished me for. I, I think maybe She blessed me to punish you for once!"
With only a moment's focus, Veil activated her power. A white ball of energy emerged from the yellow underside of her frills a split second later, and as her halo glowed brighter, the ball shot straight for Kamal's face.
Kamal reacted quickly, grasping the energy ball in his frigid right hand. He grimaced in pain as the projectile started to burn away at the outer layer of his flesh, before tossing it straight back at Veil.
With a gasp, Veil tried to dodge, but stopped as she noticed the energy ball was slowing down as it made its way to her. On a hunch, she thought about the ball disappearing, and to her surprise, it faded away.
She smiled at the realization, but her relief was short lived as Kamal started rushing towards her. As he approached, his power grew in intensity, and Veil shivered as the air between the two of them became noticeably colder.
"You little bitch! I'll teach you to respect your superiors yet!"
Veil tripped as she tried to run. As she fell, she rolled to avoid Kamal's grasp, enduring the stinging pain of sand getting into the wounds on her back before shooting another ball of energy at him. As he focused on dodging the projectile and freezing it before it could strike him, Veil dragged herself away, focusing on reaching the discarded whip as her power continued to harass Kamal.
I need more… Can't handle him with just this power…
As she thought, the glow of another energy ball forming in her frills caught her attention. Sparing a glance towards Kamal, she saw he was still swiping at the first one, blasting it with icy winds born from his power.
The faintest smile crossed Veil's face as she guided the second ball of energy to slip behind Kamal. Her smile only grew as the sneak attack made impact, producing a primal yell from him as it burned several layers of fur and flesh from his back.
"Aah, aaahhh… VEIL!"
"Does it hurt, master? How many of us slaves have you done that to? It's only right that you know how it feels!"
"Shitty little bitch, getting a kick out of this! You still need to learn your place! This is only happening because Serapis took a little pity on you! I… I am going to…"
"You are going to do what, exactly, Walker Kamal?"
Kamal and Veil both froze in place, their respective halos fading away as they heard a third, authoritative voice. Veil knew the voice well, as it was one of the few that all members of the House knelt to. As she instinctively assumed a servile position, Veil spared a quick glance at the woman who was second only to Serapis Herself in her life: Daughter Tenebri Adelin, the matriarch of House Tenebri.
As befitting a Daughter of Serapis, the batlike Mistress Adelin carried herself with a sense of divinity. Her handless wing-arms draped and obscured her form like an elegant gown. A symbol representing House Tenebri was tattooed on her right shoulder, its location representing her place in one of Serapeum's highest castes.
Kamal's right arm bore the same tattoo, though his was on his upper forearm. Veil glanced down at her own right hand and saw the House's symbol at the lowest point possible, a stark visual reminder of her social standing compared to her present company.
Terror mixed in with the pain she felt along her spine as she considered the implications of the Mistress's presence. Veil had just attacked and injured a Walker, her own master no less! With her head bowed low, she quivered as she awaited what she knew would be either her Mistress's judgment, or a swift death.
"M-mistress Adelin," Kamal began as Veil pondered her imminent future, "You were watching us?"
"Not until recently, but when a Walker lets out a scream like that, one tends to take notice. Now if you would answer my question. What exactly led to this incident, and why are you now threatening one of your slaves in such a way?"
"I was simply reminding her of her place when she used a power to attack me! Such an insult cannot go unpunished!"
"I see. And this slave of yours, she did not have a power before now?"
"No, Mistress, but if I may ask, why would that matter? She attacked me, isn't that what's important?"
The Mistress sighed. "I wouldn't expect a brutish male like yourself to understand. As for you, slave, look at me and speak. What is your name?"
Veil, still quivering, turned her gaze from the sands beneath her up to the Mistress and spoke as she was ordered. "M-my name is Veil, Mistress."
"Well then, Veil, is it true that you did not have a power before now?"
"It is true, Mistress. I don't know why Serapis would bless me of all people with one, but…"
Veil bowed yet again, her head audibly making contact with the sand beneath her.
"I'm so sorry, Mistress! Blessed or not, I should not have attacked my master!"
"Raise your head, Veil. I do not intend on punishing you."
"I, you don't, Mistress?"
"WHAT!? But Mistress!"
"I did not give you permission to speak, Walker. You may not be able to comprehend it, but a blessing from Serapis Herself is never something to be taken so lightly. No, for something so auspicious, it is surely a sign that the All-Mother desires for our House to make use of such a gift."
Mistress Adelin walked over to Veil. With a gentle whirr of energy, a deep violet halo began to glow over her head. As Veil watched the Mistress use her power, she stifled a gasp as she felt a series of claws reaching out from her shadow grabbing her. With a quick motion, the claws set Veil on her feet before dissipating.
"Starting now, you will be under my direct authority. As one of Serapis's gifted children, you will represent House Tenebri, and you will henceforth use the name of the House before your own. Are my words clear to you, Tenebri Veil?"
"Y-yes Mistress. If it is the will of Serapis that I serve you directly, I am honored to obey."
"Good. And as for you, Walker Kamal," the Mistress said, turning to Veil's former master.
"Y-yes, Mistress?"
"Take the injuries that Tenebri Veil inflicted on you to heart. I would advise you to treat the House's property with more respect going forward, and when that property is blessed by Serapis, avoid making light of such miracles in the future."
Kamal bowed his head. "Yes Mistress."
"Very good. Come along then, Tenebri Veil, you have much to learn before you can be of use to the House."
Mistress Adelin smiled and beckoned Veil to follow. Sparing only a momentary glance at her dejected former master, she quickly caught up with the House's matriarch, her mind rushing with thoughts of what her Mistress had planned for her.
—
What she had planned, evidently, began with a bath. Mistress Adelin guided Veil to a small one-room bathhouse owned by House Tenebri, and commanded a retinue of slaves to bathe Veil and tend to the wounds on her back.
As Veil reveled in the treatment, the Mistress began speaking to her.
"So, Veil. How much do you know about House Tenebri's dealings with the other Houses?"
"U-um, not much, Mistress. My previous master never told me anything about that."
Mistress Adelin gave Veil a gentle smile. "You are blessed with ignorance, my dear. I deeply regret that for you to fulfill your obligations, I must now curse you with knowledge. House Tenebri is, shall we say, an unfortunate House. We have few holdings, and many of the more blessed Houses are unaware that we even exist. Why, this tiny bathhouse stands at the high end of what we claim as ours!"
"O-oh my, I didn't know we-" Veil started, then caught herself. "S-sorry Mistress! I spoke out of turn, and-"
"Relax, dear. We are having a simple conversation. You are free to speak as you see fit."
"Oh! Thank you, Mistress! But, if we have so little, how much more could I even add to our fortunes?"
"Well, that's where your gift from Serapis comes in. In all my years as the matriarch of this House, I have never seen such an impressive power given to one of our own. As soon as I saw the wound you dealt to Walker Kamal, I knew that you were blessed with a truly amazing destructive power. I would have you use this power to claim certain victories in arena combat."
"You want me to fight in the arena? Mistress, not to question your wisdom, but is that even something I can do? I don't know how to fight, and aren't fights with powers rare, even in the arena?"
The Mistress smiled yet again. "It seems you know more than you might think. As you've said, fights between power users in the arena are uncommon, but they do happen from time to time, and I believe you could use your power to claim victories in them. Victories which would advance our station among the Houses, and perhaps even grant you a rise in your personal station! Surely such a thing would be desirable as opposed to being a mere slave all your life?"
Veil's face lit up, and her frills rose slightly. "Y-you mean I could become a Servant?"
"It is possible, yes, but why stop there? I see the potential for greatness in you, Tenebri Veil. Greatness held back only by your placement in a caste that limited it. And your glory from rising through the castes would also be the glory of House Tenebri, as well as the glory of Serapis Herself!"
"I, I could… But, I still have no idea how to fight! What if I end up failing? I'd be a disgrace to the House, and even worse, to Serapis! All because I tried to reach for something that I never deserved…"
"Well, dear, if you still feel you need a push in the right direction, I have already prepared a plan for that."
With a quick use of her power, Mistress Adelin ushered another slave over, drawing his attention with a claw reaching out from his shadow.
"Ah, y-yes Mistress?"
"My dear, go check to see if Sef is here yet. I had another slave call for him some time ago."
"Yes, Mistress."
The slave nodded, bowed, and departed for the bathhouse's entrance. Moments later, he returned alongside a quite literally statuesque dreamkeeper who stood head and shoulders above most of the other people in the room. His deeply muscled flesh appeared to be more akin to stone, covered by a thin layer of gray fur. Much like the Mistress, he had the symbol of House Tenebri tattooed on his right shoulder, and also shared many batlike features with her, though his arms ended with sharp clawed hands.
Rising up from the seat she had taken, the Mistress turned to give the newcomer a kiss on the cheek, which he responded to with a warm look and a gentle embrace.
"You wanted to see me, Adelin?" He asked with a voice that mirrored his physique.
"Sef, my love, this is Tenebri Veil, our latest slave to be gifted a power by Serapis. Tenebri Veil, this is Tenebri Sef, my husband and one of the only men who even approaches being my equal. He will instruct you in the art of arena combat."
Veil bowed as Master Sef gave her a quick glance. After an exchange of whispers with the Mistress, he spoke up.
"I see. Well then, Tenebri Veil, if you are to fight in the arena, then by Serapis's will, I will do my utmost to prepare you for it."
"Ah, of course, Master Sef! Thank you!" Veil said, bowing deeply.
"Excellent, then with that said, everything is in place. I will begin scheduling your first fight immediately. May Serapis smile on our future."
With one final smile, Mistress Adelin departed the bathhouse, leaving Veil alone with Master Sef. After a moment, he spoke up again, briefly startling her.
"So, have your wounds sufficiently healed? I would like to begin training you at the earliest point of convenience."
"Oh! Y-yes, Master. I think I can handle training right now."
"Good. In that case, follow me. Adelin believes your gift from Serapis will be of use to the House, but I would like to see it myself as the first part of your training."
Master Sef gave Veil a short nod and headed for the bathhouse's exit. Not wanting to upset him, Veil followed close behind.
—
With the day-moon hanging low in the sky, Veil followed her Master across a number of red dunes until the two of them reached a secluded area. The moment he came to a stop, Master Sef activated his power, causing a blurry gray halo to appear over his head.
"Strike at me with your power," he said immediately after, taking Veil off guard.
"A-are you sure, Master? I've seen what it can do if it hits you, and-"
"Do not question me. Strike, and let me see what you know of fighting."
"O-okay then…"
With nothing left to say, Veil activated her power. Her frills responded only a moment after, rising up and producing a ball of energy. Sparing a second of concern that was interrupted by Master Sef grunting at her, Veil launched the ball towards him. In the instant before her attack could make contact, Master Sef vanished.
"Hm, a plasma ball power. Interesting."
Veil turned around to see the source of the voice, only to be knocked to the ground by her Master.
"O-ow, how did… Is that even fair?"
"This will be your first lesson, Tenebri Veil. You are going to enter the arena fighting against other power users, whose powers will often catch you by surprise. If you truly believe what I just did is unfair, then you have already failed your first lesson."
As Master Sef spoke, Veil redirected the plasma ball to aim for him again. With only moments to spare, his halo flared and he vanished once more.
"My power," he said, striking Veil in the chest as he reemerged, "is displacement. Judging from what you have shown me thus far, it will be an impossible obstacle for you to overcome. Your first lesson will only conclude once you have managed to prove that judgment wrong."
"Then," Veil said between gasps for air, "I guess I need to show you more!"
Veil focused on her power, and another plasma ball emerged from her frills.
"Interesting. Perhaps Adelin was on to something taking you under her wing."
The Master blinked away with his power, leaving Veil to keep her twin plasma balls in a close orbit around herself. A strike to her head dropped her to the ground before she could figure out its origin.
"Your instinct is commendable, but you forgot to check above yourself," Master Sef said before vanishing yet again.
"U-ugh, is every lesson going to be like this, Master?"
"Unless you can prove to be a quick learner, then yes. They will."
Master Sef punctuated his statement with yet another unpredicted blow to Veil before using his power to disappear. For the next few hours, the two continued in this pattern of attempted attacks from Veil, successful ones from Master Sef, and notes on Veil's technique, which she struggled to apply as she continued to endure blow after blow from her seemingly untouchable Master.
After what felt like an age of little progress, night had fallen and Veil was battered and bruised. Apart from that, she was mere steps away from passing out from fatigue, and her halo flickered as she struggled to stay conscious. Master Sef, meanwhile, only appeared mildly winded from the exercise. Canceling out his power, he grabbed Veil as she slouched into his arms.
"Hm, I believe you've worked hard enough today. Wouldn't do to have you passing out-" he said, then paused. In his arms, Veil was smiling, and on his left shoulder, a tiny flickering wisp of plasma was singing his fur lightly.
"D-does that count, Master? You told me to hit you with my power, and I did. If you say it's unfair, then you'd be failing your own lesson."
"Heh, let's say it does count. It also wouldn't do to end the lesson without anything to show for a hard day's work. But tomorrow, I'll be expecting you to do it without relying on a technicality."
"O-of course, Master."
"Good, now take some time to relax. You've had a long day, after all."
Veil nodded and let herself get comfortable in Master Sef's arms as he carried her back to the bathhouse to get her new wounds treated. As she looked up at him, she noticed him mutter something with the faintest hint of a smile.
"To pay attention to my lesson like that… Yes, I would say that definitely counts for something."
—
After their return and Veil's treatment, Master Sef led Veil to a shrine to Serapis - a statue of the Goddess which stood at least three times Veil's height - where a number of the House's other members had already begun to gather for the nightly prayer. Mistress Adelin stood at the foot of the statue and greeted the two of them with a warm smile.
"Ah, you've arrived just in time. Both of you, come, tonight is a special night for all of us."
As Veil and Master Sef approached the foot of the statue, the Mistress started speaking to the crowd of dreamkeepers with passion pouring from every word.
"My sisters and brothers in Serapis, friends, kin, and slaves of House Tenebri alike! On this day, we have been blessed by the Goddess Herself! One among you has been chosen and blessed with a great and auspicious power!"
The crowd began to murmur among themselves as Veil arrived at the statue's base along with Master Sef. Wasting no time, Mistress Adelin gestured for her to come forward and present herself.
"Indeed, the slave girl you see before you is the very blessed one herself! Tenebri Veil, show your sisters and brothers the gift that Serapis has granted you! Show them the hope that Serapis has granted House Tenebri!"
All eyes in the crowd fell on Veil as the House's matriarch spoke. For a brief moment, Veil could only stare back before a gentle nudge from Mistress Adelin's wing brought her back to reality.
Breathing deeply, Veil drew upon the gift that Serapis had given her one more time. The crowd grew silent. As her halo slowly flickered into existence, her frills opened up, gently stretching out as her power reached the height of its intensity.
Raising her eyes to the sky, white-hot plasma began to seep upward from her frills. With all the focus she had, Veil pushed her power to create the largest plasma ball she could muster. In time, the ball had reached the size of the statue's head. The entire congregation was bathed in the light and heat of the artificial star Veil had created, and as she stood holding it together with all her energy, the crowd erupted into cheers extolling the glory of Serapis.
In time, her energy gave out, and Veil bade the massive plasma ball to dissipate. As the sphere and her halo faded and she started gasping for breath, the crowd's cheers only grew in intensity.
"That was an excellent display, dear, but you didn't have to push yourself so hard," the Mistress said, wrapping one of her wings around Veil.
"Y-you said my power was, phew, the hope of House Tenebri. I, I know I could've done something small, but it felt right to show everyone our hope is something that burns bright."
"Ah, it seems Serapis gifted us with not only a great power, but a great user of it then," Master Sef said with a short chuckle.
"Perhaps you are right, my love. And Tenebri Veil?"
Veil looked up at her Mistress. "Y-yes Mistress?"
"I'm sure that with your gift, you will bring glory to House Tenebri."
With a smile on her face, the Mistress looked over at the crowd. "Now, everyone! With this gift from the All-Mother in mind, let us begin our nightly prayer, and thank Serapis for not only this gift, but for all that stems from her infinite generosity!"
With a final cheer, the crowd focused their attention on the statue. Veil and the House's leading couple turned to the statue as well, and prostrated themselves before the great effigy of Serapis. Clenching her prayer talisman in both hands as she began her round of prayer, Veil whispered a short prayer all her own to the Goddess.
"Serapis… Thank you for this gift of power. I promise, with all that I am, I will use it in the name of your eternal glory."