Roiling darkness frothed around the center of the dev?k's soul. It tried to hold the darkness at bay, but it became increasingly difficult. Most would find it incredibly difficult to keep all sides of the circle even, and it was even harder for our not so bright dev?k. As soon as one side would start to cave the dev?k would focus there to stop it, which would unfortunately cause a collapse elsewhere. Every little bit that the dev?k lost gave the darkness renewed strength, and diminished the dev?k's own. While quite impressive that a several week old creature could fight against the corruption of its soul for so long, it was nevertheless a losing battle. That is until Vae started to work her magic.

  Pixie magic, in contrast to the corrupting nature of demon magic, was the magic of the natural world. There are negative and positive aspects to all threads. For the pixies their inborn threads were meant as a curse rather than a boon. The magic was dense and unwieldy, and not only did it act as a lure for monsters, but it also took up far too much space. If you imagine a soul as a sphere, then a thread is like a rope attaching itself to your soul connecting you to the concept of your magic. The strength of the rope determined the strength of your bond. Now pixies have what is known as a perfect bond or a perfect thread, this is the least desirable condition for a thread. An amusing parallel for those in pursuit of perfection, in most cases it is either undesirable or unattainable.

  Regardless, this type of bond is all consuming, it's almost corrosive to your body, mind, magic, and soul. Aging you years for every day, destroying your connection to other threads, and eroding your soul. Those are just the effects of holding such a thread, using such a thread is beyond detrimental, and the more you use it the more it deteriorates your body. Most pixies couldn’t even use their threads in an active manner, just by existing their magic would affect their surroundings in minute ways. Few are lucky enough to be able to shape nature, few still can use it to attack. Vae had excellent control over her magic, but just because she had control did mean that she could bend her nature thread to the task. However, Vae was special amongst pixies; she possessed a second thread. This was far less powerful, but it could be used freely and for whatever she desired. Her second thread centered around malleability, versatility, and adaptability granting its wielder true creative freedom. It was commonly referred to as the “Basic Thread” or “General Magic”, but it was a stepping stone to endless possibility.

  Something she took full advantage of when helping our dev?k. First and foremost she had to put a temporary fix in place. Erecting a barrier to keep most of the corruption out, VAelin worked blindly. She couldn’t see the corruption, nor could she see our mutual friend's soul, but as corruption was such an anathema to nature that she didn’t need sight. The barrier fed the meger output of our dev?k’s soul. Meger, but it would hold for a time. Next she cast two spells from her arsonal, Fortify, and Enhance as she cast them she used her considerable mentality to bend these spells to her desired purpose. To shift the spells to target the soul instead of the body. It was a skill few mages could accomplish but one Vaelin made look easy.

  It was fortunate that even the bug's soul was twisted and small, otherwise she probably wouldn't have succeeded. Many things aligned in just the right way that made this second chance possible a chance our dev?k would not squander.

  The onslaught of prompts was a bit of a roller coaster for our newly limited bug. Going from pleased, to confused, to upset was taxing, yet our dev?k was always one to push its own limits. So it only saw opportunities to grow stronger. Opening its eyes, the dev?k was greeted with an image of a battered and bruised Vae, with a hand on its chest. Her limbs were twisted and she looked pale, far too pale. Whatever the pixie had done to stop the mudling had cost her severely.

  Before the dev?k could voice its concern, it heard something it had subconsciously never hoped to hear again. The screeching of a mudling, and then the screech of another. Our bug turned it's head to look at the noise, the dev?k saw at least seven mudling's swimming to shore and it looked like even more were coming from the depths.

  With the now broken spear still in its grasp, the dev?k prepared for one final stand to protect Lady Vae. Since the mudling's were so slow a snack couldn't hurt, right? There was a fresh mudling right there it was probably fine. Besides the dev?k doubted that Vae would want any, so it took a bite. Then a few more, before it was greeted with yet another prompt.

  At least fifteen vole samples were nearby from the earlier slaughter, and it consumed a piece of each before the first mudling had even touched the shore. Raising the progress, but interestingly enough only to thirty. Guessing it was because it needed the other half of the hybrid gene's, the dev?k began to approach the shore. It didn't want the mudling's anywhere near Lady Vae. The new found desire to protect something other than itself was strange for the dev?k, yet the compulsion felt almost natural.

  However the introspection was cut short by the screeching of mudlings which made it hard to concentrate on anything for long. As the mudling closest to it set foot on the shore, our dev?k sprinted towards it. The lifting of its burden was amazing; our dev?k hadn't realized it, but towards the end the burden had slowed it so much that moving in any direction was laborious. Sins do far more than lower physical modifiers to negative numbers. As percentages grow higher and levels increase the tasks become harder and harder. Moving in its slow condition was nearly four or five times more difficult than walking should be. Meaning our dev?k could dodge once more and our bug was more than a little delighted when it dodged the mudling's first strike with ease.

  The haft of the bone spear had broken in half, but there was plenty of room left for the dev?k to grasp it. Our bug plunged the spear into the mudling's eye socket, the wide blade broke through the surrounding bone as the dev?k made sure it destroyed the brain. More screeching came from the water as this mudling died. Apparently they didn't take kindly to one of their own dying. The dev?k welcomed the challenge though. It felt like it could take an army of the slimy rats. Which appeared to be exactly what was going to happen, though it was admittedly a small army.

  Despite the ease of this first encounter, it should be noted that the mudlings were not just simple opponents. Many were stronger than the ones already slayed. Yet they still fell before the storm that was this dev?k. Hacking and slashing through foes, the dev?k finally began to accept and understand pain. Even with the relief of its burdens it is not as though our dev?k was an expert in combat. So it couldn’t dodge everything, and with the damage to its spear it couldn’t block anything. So the bug was sometimes just forced to take a blow. The chitin would blunt the heavy strikes, but the blows felt like they left the dev?k’s bones vibrating. Thus began the bug’s acquaintance with pain; pain wasn’t something to rage at, but to endure and overcome.

  The claws of the mudlings would occasionally glance and slip into cracks in the bug’s chitin. Which gave the flower ample opportunity to absorb blood and stitch the dev?k back together. The fight was sloppy but the rejuvenated dev?k held the advantage the whole time. It may not have been anything special, but it was the hardest fight our bug had yet been in. In short order the mudlings of the forest pond were slain. At least those that showed themselves. Dropping the broken spear, our dev?k made its way back to Vaelin. The bug had steered the fight away from the pixie, but stayed close enough to keep an eye on her. Plopping down next to the injured Lady a few prompts filled the bug's vision.

  Vae was just returning to the brink of consciousness, her breathing was shallow, and she was incredibly pale. It was quite surprising that she was still hanging, pixie constitution being what it is. Her magic had taken a toll, and unfortunately the dev?k could not do much of anything for Vaelin, except sit beside her. Vae smiled weakly up at her monsterous protector, as she came to full consciousness, and despite everything she was actually very happy to see our dev?k alive and well.

  “I knew you could do it. All you needed was a little support. You were outstanding, never seen anyone fight like that.” Vae spoke weakly, but with sincerity. She had been tiring to convince Gwyn to send the dev?k help, but had been refused. Gwyn had said that the black shelled monstrosity could take care of itself, and even if it couldn't, why should they save it? It could very well have turned around and eaten all of the pixies.

  That was all well and good before the magical insulation was created, but the bug had fought tooth and nail for the pixies, yet Gwyn still hadn't budged on the subject. Instead stating that the dev?k was already a lost cause, and they couldn’t risk anyone. Besides who knew what lay outside of the enchanted walls. However there was a chance, with the settlement erected all Vaelin had to do was wait. After a formal council session Gwyn had been stripped of his emergency leadership and they were at long last equals again. So with her autonomy restored Vae cast several augmentation spells upon herself to make her faster and stronger. When she saw the mudling about to kill their protector she removed the safety restrictions in her spells. Giving her unrivaled strength and speed at the cost of her physical wellbeing.

  Our dev?k knew none of this, it only saw the battered pixie and remained silent, revealing in the calm after the storm. Our bug had been sure that the pixie had abandoned it, yet Vaelin had come to the rescue. Which had only served to confuse it more. The only thing it could think to say was, “whhhHHYyy Ssavve mmeeE. wwhhHHYyy nNNoow?”

  Which, thanks to the dev?k's grating tone, came out accusatory. Vaelin looked away ashamed, before speaking in a quiet voice, “I was bound to obey Gwyn while he was leader. I know that doesn’t excuse my inaction, but it's the truth. When his authority faded I swear that I did all I could to try and save you sooner.”

  Our dev?k felt the oath tighten around the pixie, she had infused her own magic into her word and our bug knew she was telling the truth. Unfortunately that only made our bug more confused. The genuine regret and guilt seemed a bit over the top for a stranger. Why would she have tried so hard for the dev?k? As if she could hear the bug’s thought, she spoke again, “I know that we just met and so I’m not sure why I’d try so hard… The easy answer would be something like I see great potential in you, or that you seem wholly unique, but I don’t think that’s the case. I think that we could get along. For whatever reason, and despite your deformities, you seemed like a friend. With that said, do you think I could give you a name?”

  She paused her shaky speech to cough before continuing, “I know you said you'd think about it, but can I give you a name? It feels... strange to address you without one.”

  Originally the dev?k hadn't given a flying fire slime, let alone a fuck about having a name, but it seemed important to Vae. Plus she did save its life, so it kinda owed her. Nodding its head and tendrils in ascent, our dev?k smiled a deformed smile of assurance.

  Without a trace of hesitation Vae smiled right back, and stated weakly yet with full confidence, “I dub thee Stygian Half-light.”

  A sense of dignity washed over Stygian, as it realized the rightness of its own name. Many scholars have debated whether the soul is molded by the name or if the name is molded by the soul. None can say for sure which is true. Well I can, but that is not the point. For you see my dear friends, a name defines you, cements you gives one a place in this world. It may only define the smallest pieces of you, yet those pieces can cause a cascade and affect your entire being.

  Just as our dev?k began to truly understand the rightness of having a name, Vae continued talking, “And if you agree to it I also have an idea, it’s a small thing, but it could keep Gwyn from trying anything too overt. I’d like to make you my personal knight.”

  “OOKAy.”

  Vae was a bit taken aback by the dev?- no, by Stygian’s ready ascent, but it really shouldn't have been that surprising. Our bug had more than a bit of hatred towards Gwyn and his defective spear. So it didn’t need any more of a reason to agree.

  The ceremony was a bit unofficial, involving Vae placing a hand over Stygians heart and she poured her magic into the bug.

  “As we stand together I ask that you should be my sword and shield. To protect me from harm and to serve me not as a slave, but as a friend would. I swear to share my boon of growth with you, as long as you keep your oath.”

  No prompts greeted the dev?k at the end, but it felt the power from the spell spread throughout its body. It was a bit of a disappointment to not know exactly what was happening, but it was short lived. Vae told Stygian it was free to feast to its heart's content, and well our bug was more than pleased with the arrangement.

  And the good news kept coming, it was a shame that it wasn't completely stable, but more food would probably help.

  It seems that this ability was time sensitive, which the dev?k thought was pretty neat, and had intended to activate it right away. The thought of its empty pools made it hesitate though. Then Gwyn and a squad of soldiers left the magically insulated metallic dome, making a beeline straight for Vae and thoughts of metamorphosis fled. Stygian, who was still riding a battle high, noticed that they seemed awfully aggressive towards its Lady. These pixies seemed to be wearing unnatural mottled gray and brown hide armor, as though whatever creature that had produced these pelts had its fur stained before death.

  Perhaps not stained, but corrupted like the mudling. Like Stygian. Then more of the picture clicked into place. Stygian had been a distraction, these troops were clearly more combat capable than your average pixie. They weren’t aggressive toward Vaelin or not just towards Vaelin. Stygian was ready to jump back into action, but saner heads prevailed. Lady Vae commanded it to stand down, and take up a position behind her.

  Even from this distance, Vae could tell that Gwyn was angry. After all, she had stolen his prize right out from under him. He had even gone so far as to bring his whole squad of Chain Keepers just in case Stygian hadn't been saved by Vaelin. Seeing the dev?k standing in a guarding posture in front of Vaelin, he felt the bond between the two. A piece he had been missing fit into place. Very few pixies that could accept a vassal, it was a move Gwyn hadn’t expected. A move that was the final stroke in dividing them. He’d love nothing more than to remove these two as obstacles here and now, but he wasn’t in charge anymore. It was a move that was too risky to take, for now he could only wait. So Gwyn grit his teeth and made a hand gesture that caused his troops to relax.

  “Stabilize her, and get her inside.” Gwyn commanded in a clipped tone.

  Relief spread throughout Vae, counting on Gwyn’s restraint was always a gamble, but it had worked and she had won the pot. Several Chain Keppers used their powers to lock her limbs to her body so there would be no further damage before a stretcher gently lifted her from the ground. She plastered the most shiteating grin that she could muster, as she passed Gwyn. Though she was bound by the Chain keeper and therefore couldn’t speak, the smile said enough.

  “We are here to escort you to safety.” Gwyn said in the same tone as before, while he ignored the clear goading in front of him. In truth Gwyn wasn't a very bad guy, he could at least admit when he was wrong. Sure he would spill the blood of newborns if it meant furthering his magical research, but he wasn't a sore loser and that is what really matters, right?

  Roiling darkness frothed around the center of the dev?k's soul. It tried to hold the darkness at bay, but it became increasingly difficult. Most would find it incredibly difficult to keep all sides of the circle even, and it was even harder for our not so bright dev?k. As soon as one side would start to cave the dev?k would focus there to stop it, which would unfortunately cause a collapse elsewhere. Every little bit that the dev?k lost gave the darkness renewed strength, and diminished the dev?k's own. While quite impressive that a several week old creature could fight against the corruption of its soul for so long, it was never the less a losing battle. That is until Vae started to work her magic.

  Pixie magic, in contrast to the corrupting nature of demon magic, was the magic of nature. The magic of growth and rejuvenation. There are negative and positive aspects to all threads. For the pixies the negative aspect of their threads was the space it took up. It granted significant magical power, but it didn't leave room for other threads. Theirs threads allowed them to take care of nature and that was about it. Few are lucky enough to be able to shape nature, few still can use it to attack. Vae had excellent control over her magic, but just because she had control did mean that she could bend her nature magic to the task. However, Vae was special amongst pixie, having a second thread. This was far less powerful, but it had the versatility her nature thread didn't. Her second thread, commonly known as basic magic, could do just about anything she desired.

  She did two separate things to the dev?k. Firstly she constructed a wall around the center of the dev?k's soul, trapping most of the corruption outside. Some remained inside, but her second spell helped considerably. The spells in question were Fortify, and Enhance. Both were never designed for this use, but a skillful mage can bend spell to suit their needs. It was fortunate that even the bug's soul was twisted and small, otherwise she probably wouldn't have succeeded.

  Vae forcibly enhanced the dev?k's soul, at least the bit she had already walled off, and was able to subdue the corruption inside it. Unfortunately, such hefty magic subtracted a toll on the pixie. Not only had Vae used powerful physical augmentation spells to make herself faster and stronger, but she also made contact with another beings soul, not easy tasks. It left her disabled and the dev?k was the only one nearby to protect her. The price was doubly extracted on her because in order to protect the dev?k, she had to neglect her own protection. Shattering most of her bone on the mudling. After she had preserved what she could in the dev?k, Vae passed out.

  Speaking of dev?ks, the first thing our dev?k became aware of when it finally came back to reality was a prompt in its vision.

  Going from pleased, to confused, to upset was taxing on the now limited dev?k. Yet our dev?k was always one to push its own limits, so it saw the new sin as an opportunity to grow stronger. Opening its eyes, the dev?k was greeted with an image of a battered and bruised Vae, with a hand on its chest. Before it could voice its concern, the dev?k heard something it had hoped never to hear again. The screeching of a mudling- no, make that plural, mudlings. As it turned it's head to look at the noise, the dev?k saw at least seven mudling's swimming to shore and it looked like even more were coming from the depths.

  With the now broken spear still in its grasp, the dev?k prepared for one final stand to protect Lady Vae, but since the mudling's were so slow a snack couldn't hurt, right? Since the mudling was right there and the dev?k doubted that Vae would want any, it took a bite. Then a few more, before it was greeted with yet another prompt.

  At least fifteen rat samples were nearby from the earlier slaughter, and it consumed a piece of each before the first mudling had even touched the shore. Raising the progress, but interestingly enough only to thirty. Guessing it was because it needed the other half of the hybrid gene's, the dev?k began to approach the shore. It didn't want the mudling's anywhere near Lady Vae. The new found desire to protect something other than itself was strange for the dev?k, yet it felt completely natural to protect Lady Vae. The horrid screeching of mudlings made it hard to concentrate on anything for long.

  As the mudling closest to it set foot on the shore, our dev?k sprinted towards it. Feeling the lifting of its burden was amazing; our dev?k hadn't realized it, but towards the end the burden had slow it so much that moving in any direction was laborious. Sins do far more than lower physical modifiers under ten to negative numbers. As percentages grow higher and levels increase the tasks become harder and harder. Moving in its slow condition was nearly four or five times more difficult than walking should be. Meaning our dev?k could dodge once more and our bug was more than a little delighted when it dodged the mudling's first strike with ease.

  The haft of the bone spear had broken in half, but there was plenty of room left for the dev?k to grasp it. Our bug plunged the spear into the mudling's eye socket, the wide blade broke through the surrounding bone as the dev?k made sure it destroyed the brain. More screeching came from the water as this mudling died. Apparently they didn't take kindly to one of their own dying. The dev?k welcomed the challenge though. It felt like it could take an army of the slimy rats. Which is actually what happened, though it was admittedly a small army.

  The mudlings were not just simple opponents, many were stronger than the ones already slayed. Yet they still fell before the storm that was this dev?k. Hacking and slashing through foes, the dev?k finally began an acquaintanceship with pain. Being unable and unwilling to block strikes with its spear, the dev?k was forced to try and dodge every strike. Our dev?k wasn't perfect far, far from it actually, and took many a glancing blow and sometimes more than that over the course of the battle. Which gave the flower ample opportunity to absorb blood and stitch the dev?k back together, but there wasn't really anything to write home about during the fight, and in short order the mudlings of the forest pond were slain. At least those that showed themselves. Once again in a very short time the dev?k received a few prompts.

  Never forgetting its new oath, the dev?k rushed to check on its pixie savior. Vae was just returning to the brink of consciousness, her breathing was shallow, and she was incredibly pale. It was quite surprising that she was still hanging, pixie constitution being what it is.

  Her magic had taken a toll, but she would recover with time, and unfortunately the dev?k could not do much of anything for Vae, except sit beside her. Vae smiled weakly up at her monsterous protector, as she came to full consciousness, and despite everything she was actually very happy to see our dev?k alive and well.

  "I knew you could do it. All you needed was a little rest and a bit of help, but you were outstanding." Vae spoke weakly, but with complete sincerity. She had been tiring to convince Gwyn to send the dev?k help ever since the start of the construction, but had been refused. Gwyn had said that the black shelled monstrosity could take care of itself, and even if it couldn't why should they save it? It could very well have turned around and eaten all of the pixies.

  Of course they could have stopped it with magic, but that would have brought a different hell down upon them. That was all well and good before the magical insulation was created, but after it was, Gwyn still hadn't budge on the subject. Instead stating that the dev?k was already a lost cause, and who knew what lay outside of the enchanted walls. So defying logic Vae cast several augmentation spells upon herself to make her faster and stronger. Unfortunately, the penalty for this kind of magic is severe if you don't alsl increase your resistance to physical damage.

  Our dev?k knew none of this, it only saw the battered pixie and remained silent, in awe of her selflessness. The only thing it could think to say was, "whhhHHYyy Ssavve mmeeE?" Which, thanks to the dev?k's grating tone, thoroughly shattered the peaceful moment.

  Vae chuckled in a subdued manor, trying not to aggravate any of her broken ribs. "I would say something like I see great potential in you, or that you seem wholly unique, but honestly? I thought that we could get along. For whatever reason, and despite your deformities, you seemed like a friend." She paused her shaky speech to cough before continuing, "I know you said you'd think about it, but can I give you name? It feels... strange to address you without one."

  Originally the dev?k hadn't given a flying fire slime, let alone a fuck about having a name, but it seemed important to Vae. Plus she did save its life, so it kinda owed her. Nodding its tendrils in ascent, it then completed the macabre display by smiling.

  Without a trace of hesitation Vae smiled right back, and stated in a confident voice, "I dub thee Stygian Half-light."

  A sense of dignity washed over Stygian, as it realized the rightness of its own name. Many scholars have debated whether the soul is molded by the name or if the name is molded by the soul. None can say for sure which is true. Well I can, but that is not the point. For you see my dear friends, a name gives one power in this world- it defines you. For example, if you wish to heal or harm, knowing someone's true and original name will increase the effectiveness of both. This is why it is important to not give out your full name to anyone you don't trust completely.

  Just as our dev?k began to understand the power of names, Vae continued talking, "And if you agree to it I'd also like to make you my personal knight... Or just my friend, if that is too much of a bother."

  "Wwhattt? Meee thhoouuught YYoUu Aall ddiiSSlikesss mmMMMEe."

  "No, not as far as I'm aware. It is just that Gwyn either wants to kill or control you. Probably one then the other, but if you agree to become my knight I can protect you from him and help you grow stronger."

  "OOKAy."

  Vae was a bit taken aback by the dev?- no, by Stygians ready ascent, but it really shouldn't have been that surprising. A dev?k or an av?ks main goal was to grow and survive. If Vae had even just mentioned growing the dev?k would have been enthralled.

  The ceremony was a bit unofficial, involving Vae placing a hand over Stygians heart and uttering some flowery words. No prompts greeted the dev?k at the end so it assumed that title was just ceremonial. Which was a disappointment, but when Vae told Stygian it was free to feast to its hearts content, well, it was more than pleased with the arrangement.

  It seems that this ability was time sensitive, which the dev?k thought was pretty neat, and had intended to activate it right away. Then Gwyn and a battalion of soldiers left the metallic and magical insulating dome, making a beeline straight for Vae. Unfortunately for them, Stygian was still riding a battle high, and they seemed awfully aggressive towards its Lady. Fortunately for our wound up killer and potential victims, its Lady commanded it to stand down, and take up a position behind her.

  Even from this distance, Vae could tell that Gwyn was angry. After all, she had stolen his prize right out from under him. He had even gone so far as to bring a necromancer out with him just in case Stygian hadn't been corrupted, but died instead. Seeing the dev?k standing in a guarding posture in front of one of the few other pixies that could accept a vassal, Gwyn could only grit his teeth. Technically Gwyn ruled with Vae and council of others, and had been given very brief emergency powers. Which had expired as soon as the rest of the pixies were safe.

  "Heal her." Gwyn commanded in a clipped tone

  Relief spread throughout Vae, and she thanked the healer before plastering the most shiteating grin, that she could muster, all over her face. "Got something to say Gwyn?"

  "We are here to escort you to safety." Gwyn said in the same tone as before, while he ignored the clear goading in front of him. In truth Gwyn wasn't a very bad guy, he could at least admit when he was wrong. Sure he would spill the blood of newborns if it meant furthering his magical research, but he wasn't a sore loser and that is what really matters, right?