"Are you ready?" Yrix squinted. "Last time we were interrupted."
Sonera nodded silently in response.
"Very well then. Do you want something for the pain? If not, well, you'll pass out soon enough."
Again, the assassin had little to say. She was just a doll on the Arch-Flayer's workbench, laid bare like a pale sack of meat. That if her surgery could be worth it, in any way resembling a victory, then it would all be as ordained by the beastly spirit that had inhabited her since birth.
"Hmph," Yrix mused, her voice conveying a bit of pride. "Of course. Let's begin. It won't take long."
She wasn't one to mince words.
Not at all.
After a brief flick of the Arch-Flayer's spindly fingers, Sonera's arm slid off her body just above the elbow, forcing a brief yet muffled grunt from her gritted teeth. Yrix almost hesitated at the student's short-lived flailing. Something about it disturbed her.
"You still have your limits. A good thing, really. Who'd want to be awake for all that?"
Yrix was careful in her operation, using an invisible stasis field to hold Sonera's blood in place. Anything less than complete mastery of her abilities would result in the girl's fleshy nub bleeding out. Yet that was only the beginning.
The Arch-Flayer had grafted before. It was a form of art for her bloody lineage. Though as much as she would loathe to admit, Sonera felt different. The young girl consented to her operation and was the first to do so. She saw it not as a punishment, but as a rite of passage.
Something she needed to do to save that wretched Infestare.
Only, for all her schemes, Yrix never could have predicted Lunae would play such a part.
She hummed almost like a child as she continued her work. Limbs rolled off the table, and an occasional spurt of blood stained the wall. It wasn't long then before Sonera was nothing but a reduced shell of herself.
But that wouldn't last. Yrix would see to it.
- - - - - - - - - - -
"I...ugh..." Lunae held a palm to her temple, leaning on Lila's shoulder. "I can almost feel what she's doing to her."
The Earthling had stowed away her previous attire, opting for Yrix's more decent uniform. But the time for jesting on that affair had long since passed. For in the days that followed the Aerie's reconstruction, there was nothing but silence and suspense.
"She'll be fine." Ivy groaned, sitting on top of the bunk bed like a sentry. "Stay positive."
"Says the pessimist who built a pillow fort." Lila quipped.
Indeed, ever since the night Sonera and Ivy spoke, the heiress had taken to constructing a bastion around their bedding using every type of furniture she could gather. Yrix, fortunately, only shot her a strange look as a result. But the message was loud and clear.
No Alia allowed.
It was a somewhat frugal plan considering the abilities of a Psion. But in some ways, Lila felt the gesture was adorable. Her mimic heiress was apparently quite protective.
"It's called a defensive installation." Ivy rolled her eyes. "Read a book."
Lila frowned. "Let's...just focus on cheering Lunae up," she pursed her lips, waving a bit of bread around the princess's mouth. "Like this."
Lunae took the offering, shoving it into her mouth before making that same saddened expression. The girls were quite hungry after all, given the sad state of Yrix's kitchen after the attack. It took her at least a fortnight to get things running again.
But at least all the walls were back up. Lila could distinctly remember how cold it could be without them. In some way, the Aerie had become her new home. And she felt naked outside it.
"I just..." Lunae spoke in between muffled chewing. "Ugh."
Her markings flickered with agitation.
"At least she'll look like a real badass." Lila managed a smile. "I mean...she's getting cool prosthetics, right?"
"Indeed, she is." A voice wormed its way into the Earthling's mind.
All of a sudden, Yrix appeared, her height easily allowing her to peer over the fort. It seemed she had something to boast about.
"Nice warning, Ivy." Lila jumped. "Real good watchtower we got here."
"Sush Lila," the heiress leaned forward, waiting patiently for the announcement. "Listen."
Lunae stammered nervously, biting her lip till it bled. "Y-Yrix."
"She's fine. Come and see."
The Arch-Flayer was heading for her office at a hastened pace, forcing the girls to scramble on after her.
"Sonera!" Lunae bolted into the workshop where the girl lay. "Oh...oh no..."
Yrix crossed her arms proudly. There was barely a scratch on Sonera, aside from her new prosthetics. And what a wonder they were.
"Built them myself, custom-fitted for your little wolf."
"Holy shit." Lila's eyes widened. "That's uh-..."
Ivy stared with visible disgust. "My father would be proud."
Yrix turned away from Lunae, preparing her lengthy explanation as the princess placed a trembling hand on her partner's temple. Nothing the Arch-Flayer could say would capture her attention. Not when Sonera was so pale.
"Her cybernetics, forged from neuro-plasteel, have a direct link to her Psionic consciousness. They will feel as light as a feather, but can strike with the weight of a Daragen. More than that, really. The potential for dexterous destruction will be my finest work yet."
From what Lila could tell, Sonera was just wearing a real neat suit of armor on her arms and legs, its grey alloy dotted with orange scales and yellow spikes. If not for her skinny mechanical joints, she might have even doubted the extent of the surgery. But there was no doubt in the end. Sonera had given up all four of her limbs in exchange for power.
"I can wake her up when you're ready." Yrix fiddled with the air, her sharp nails clacking together. "You four always seem to like that sort of thing."
"Is she...ready?" Lunae whimpered.
Ivy and Lila shot each other a glance, unsure of what to think.
"I've kept her under with my mind. I can wake her up doing the same. She'll be...fine."
The princess muttered under her breath, "Do it then."
Yrix pushed Lunae aside before pressing her hand against Sonera's heart. A Psionic pulse emanated from the Arch-Flayer's flesh, its coloration sickly and purple. And with a flash of that terrible light, Sonera began to convulse.
"Ngh." She barely even winced, her tired eyes pried open as she clutched the table.
"Sonera!" Lunae gasped.
The assassin was awake, her death grip leaving a mark on Yrix's table. Her eyes spurned. Something about them was emptier, like she lived forever in the moment of numbing pain.
Grace had left her soul. Yet something soft remained. She looked at her family with tormented compassion, as if she owed them something.
"Holy shit part two." Lila leaned forward, instinctively grabbing Ivy's wrist. "You okay?"
"Fine." Sonera clenched her mechanical fists, staring down at their skeletal shape with silent determination.
"Feel stronger?"
"We'll see." Sonera's words trickled out of her lips like glass, splintering against the floor with jagged intent. "When is it."
"Hm?" Yrix cocked her head, surprised that one of her students could read her. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Someone's coming. I could...feel it in you." Sonera spoke with a low growl.
Ivy turned towards Yrix, her eye twitching with a mix of fury and anticipation. Her grip on Lila had tightened.
"Her royal majesty, the Princess of the Consortium." Yrix explained.
"Holy shit part-."
"Lila." Ivy pinched the girl. "Listen."
"Her arrival was delayed by the threat of Infestare. We keep good tabs on it. Fortunately, her ship stayed clear and was even accompanied by nearby family. She's in good hands."
"When were you going to tell us?" Ivy hissed, putting herself in front of Lila. "Yrix."
"Considering that I need you all dressed well and cleaned up by this evening...well...now."
Sonera shot out of bed, caressing Lunae's arm with a departing hand. She seemed ready enough. Though, as Ivy noticed, her eyes were still a bit off.
She knew all about that sort of feeling.
The uncanny resemblance.
"Let's go then." Sonera brushed aside her silver hair with a claw-like hand.
"Sonera," Lunae whispered.
She was shocked to see the assassin stand tall, her new legs allowing her stability despite her visible exhaustion. But then again, spite could do the same for that girl. Lunae could hardly tell the difference anymore.
"So...em...why is she coming?" Lila raised a pensive finger.
"To inspect my work on behalf of her father." Yrix approached the girl, forcing her to lower her finger with presence alone. "You will be on your best behavior, understood?"
"So like-."
"Line up like good schoolgirls and don't talk."
"Right, gotcha."
"Now then." Yrix turned to leave. "Make sure you're presentable."
The girls stood in silence.
"Well, shit." Lila crossed her arms and pouted. "At least Sonera is okay."
"That she is." Lunae smiled before giving the assassin a peck on the cheek.