( Iris and Aether)

The Hotel Celestine's lobby, a white marble colossus and magical stained glass, was decorated with floating rugs, enchanted mirrors that praised guests, and a bar that mixed liquid alchemy with rare millennia wines. 

There, among masters of embroidered cloak, arcane courtesans and nobles of esoteric blood, he was axiel, leaning against the Black Onyx counter. The symbiotic costume had molded like a gala clothing: dark vest, shadow tie, polished shoes. No hat, messy black hair and red eyes burning in mild light. 

He watched the wine in the glass. I thought about the elf girl who had visited days before. She was fine. He smiled at him. And that, strangely, affected him. 

Loriel had not yet reappeared. And for the first time ... he missed the acid jokes, the indecent nicknames, the faces in the air. 

- Boredom ... It's worse than thirst. - murmured. 

That's when she appeared. 

A woman - perhaps human, perhaps mestizo - went down the hotel's curved stairs as if floating. Pale and shiny skin. Long and black hair. Wine red dress, with a slit that climbed beyond the thigh, revealing the naked hip without underwear. Enchanted jumps that made no noise. Winding body. Look dangerous. 

She walked straight to the bar and sat next to him, crossing her legs naturally. 

- Red eyes. she said, bluntly. - Rare. Beautiful. 

Axiel turned his face slow. 

- And you ... there is something between sin and sculpture. 

She smiled. Her eyes pulled, brown-hives, seemed to laugh with him. 

- I don't usually see men praising hips ... with such sincerity. 

"So you don't see sincere men." he said, openly staring at the exposed thigh skin and the hip. 

She gave a short laugh. Then he touched his hand gently. 

Axiel felt the touch. But something else ... came in. 

Thoughts. 

"Too beautiful to be a real client. If it was another day ... maybe for free ... but I need the rent ... If he pay, I stay all night ..." 

Axiel widened his eyes for a moment. A new skill? Reading thinking by touch? 

She didn't notice. I just waited. 

He, smiling with corner, said: 

"You look too experienced to try to curl me." 

"And you look too dangerous for me to try." - She said. 

He pulled a small bag of silver coins and placed beside her, with carelessness. 

- I don't like silver. But you seem to like it. - he said. 

She smiled, touching the bag with her fingertips. Then she looked at him. 

- My name is Iris. 

- Axiel. 

Between smiles, wine and shameless looks, the night went to the fifth floor room. Between silk sheets and muffled sighs, Axiel put the boredom aside ... for a few hours. 

Next morning - Main Hall. 

Axiel descended the steps with supernatural elegance, wearing the noble-shaped molded costume, while Iris, next door, was just a loose white dress, hair stuck in a loose bun, and post-prais smile on his face. 

In the lobby ... instant freezing. 

Aether and Elena Van Lanfoi, Aeltherion's leading sisters, in ellical diplomatic costumes, surrounded by counselors and guards, turned their eyes at the same time for him. 

Both greeted him with sober nods. But the feminine eyes fired on Iris, analyzing it from head to toe. The light dress, the absence of noble amulets, the expression satisfied. And worse ... the accomplice look she exchanged with Axiel. 

Elena frowned. Aether looked away, clearly uncomfortable. Iris, innocent, smiled at them with an polite gesture. 

And then... 

- Yes, I arrived! Good morning, prince of darkness! Did you sleep well with the priestess of pleasure? - Shouted Loriel, appearing in the miniature air, floating among all with golden shine and lively voice. 

"Loriel ..." murmured Axiel tense. 

- Conference Today, Arcana Room on the Third Floor, Free Coffee in the Annex Hall. And look, "she turned in the air - Whool, she is beautiful lady ! What a class! What curves! What hips! As efficient as an ellical sword. 

Elena and Aether pale. Iris widened his eyes. 

- Are they yours ... Wives? 

The silence swallowed the hall for a second. 

- NO. - said Aether and Elena in unison. 

Aether turned red, the neck to the ears. 

Malak, entering his pupil and some crusaders, stopped and saw the scene. Tension in the air. He faced Axiel. Elena looked away. Aranna looked at everything with her fallen chin. 

Aether discreetly pulled Iris to the side. Trying to contain the flushing, he whispered: 

- How was it ... at night? 

Iris, embarrassed, lowered his eyes and whispered something inaudible. 

Aether froze. Then he looked discreetly to the lower part of Axiel's costume, which noticed her gaze with an arched eyebrow. 

Loriel, yawning in the air: 

- Hm. And I thought boredom had come back. 

Hours later. 

The great conference hall was an enchanted crystal vault, with vivid columns that changed color according to the tone of the lines. Wizards floated above in magical circles, recording everything with runes of light. 

In the center, three side thrones: 

- One for the Holy Primate of the Church of Solarius (old, hooded, eyes closed and shaking hands) 

- One for Aether Van Lanfoi, Aeltherion's Queen (cold and beautiful, but restless) 

- One for the Wizard king of Vandorion, Tholmeras, wrapped in white cloaks, silver eyes and voice that echoed even without speaking. 

Axiel remained in the background, observing, between shadows. Malak was on the other side, firm. Elena, close to her sister, avoided getting it. Loriel, eating invisible fruit, floated between pillars, happy in life. 

The said: 

- We met to avoid war. But something bigger than politics rises. Something ... Divine. And wrong. 

At the bottom of the room, an ancient tapestry shaken. The image of the sun god shone ... and for a moment, a second face came after him. 

Arkaaniel. 

No one saw. Only axiel. Only Loriel. And the dead -eyed eyes smiled.