Lady Reyus of Arcvon

Hidden away from Arcvon's busy marketplace, in an obsidian lair always in flames, Mishanter paced before a holographic display jammed with data, charts, and feeds – everything on Admin's arrival.

So, Mishanter rasped, they're messing with Arcvon, just as I thought.

Around him stood his top generals like dark guards: Sylo, expert in sneaking and disguise; Vorlag, a tough commander who hated anyone who disagreed; and Zephyr, a smart strategist who pulled strings from the shadows.

Admin's bad news, boss, Sylo said smoothly. He's kind of unpredictable. Does crazy stuff.

Vorlag grunted. He's a loose cannon. We should smash him before he gets the slaves riled up.

Zephyr, being practical, saw it differently. Hitting Arcvon head-on would cost us. Other kingdoms would notice and we'd get attention we don't want. We must be sneaky.

Mishanter stopped and stared at Zephyr. Like what?

We sneak into Arcvon, Zephyr said. Look like locals, watch Admin, find his soft spots. Then, we hit him when it hurts and keep the mess to a minimum.

Sylo agreed. I like it. A spy could get us intel and mess with the rebels. Clean and simple.

Vorlag scoffed. Spies are for cowards. I like smashing faces.

Mishanter thought it over, his head spinning. He liked being sneaky, but he also wanted a fight. He wanted to see if he was better than Admin.

Okay, Mishanter said. We'll sneak in. But who's going?

The room went quiet. Sylo was the obvious choice, but Mishanter had other plans.

I'm going, Mishanter announced.

His generals were shocked.

Boss, Sylo argued, it's too risky. You can't just go.

Mishanter waved him off. Enough! I'm not staying here while they run wild. I need to see Admin for myself, know what I'm up against. Who better to fool these people than their future ruler?

He turned to Sylo. Prep the spell. I'll become just another face in the crowd.

Sylo hesitated, then bowed. As you wish, boss. But be careful. The spell is tricky, and even a little mistake could mess things up.

Hours later, Mishanter stared at his reflection, unrecognizable. The tough demon lord was gone. Now, a woman of striking, but weird, beauty stood before him. The spell had changed his bones, softened his skin, and added curves where there was only muscle.

A deep red silk dress hugged his new body, highlighting the hourglass shape. Long, dark red hair flowed down her shoulders, framing a face that was both attractive and unsettling. His orange eyes, still burning bright, were now surrounded by long lashes, making them pop even more. Mishanter looked down and thought, Wow, those are big. How do women even walk with these things?

Is this really needed? Mishanter grumbled, but a smooth alto voice came out. This is... weird.

Sylo, behind her, fixed the dress. It's key, boss. To go unnoticed, you must become unnoticeable. A rich woman gets respect, but not the same attention as some bigwig.

But why such crazy hair? Mishanter asked, frowning. And these eyes!

The hair is a distraction, Zephyr said. Flashy, but forgettable. The eyes grab attention, but no one looks close. You seem exotic, so they won't think about your manners.

Mishanter scowled. He hated feeling weak, like he was exposed. He ran his hands down her sides, feeling the curves. The spell was strong, too strong. But he knew they were right. To make this work, he had to go all in.

She breathed deep and relaxed. Straightening her shoulders, she tried to walk like a woman.

Okay, she said, her voice controlled. Let's see if this works. What's my name?

You're Lady Reyus of Arcvon, boss, Sylo said. A rich widow, coming home after years away.

Mishanter nodded. Lady Reyus of Arcvon, she repeated, testing the name. A returning, welcome daughter.

With one last look, Mishanter, now Lady Reyus, left, leaving his generals behind. He went into Arcvon's shadows, a wolf in sheep's clothing, ready to let loose on anyone in his way. Especially Admin.

Lady Reyus of Arcvon, who was definitely not Mishanter, the demon lord, made a big entrance. The red dress flowed, catching orange eyes, and the bright crimson hair bounced, adding to the show. The goal was to blend, watch, and gather info. But as soon as she hit the city gates, blending in was going to be hard.

People in Arcvon, used to simpler colors and manners, stared openly. Her hair, her dress, and her chest made her an instant attraction.

She was going to watch the marketplace without being obvious, listen to talk, and find sources. Instead, she got unwanted attention. Folks stopped to gawk, pointing and whispering.

Look at her hair! It's like fire! a boy yelled, pulling his mom's dress.

Those eyes too, she replied, eyes wide. Never seen anything like it. A witch?

Lady Reyus tried to ignore them, but it was hard. The whispers followed her. She tried talking to a merchant, hoping to hear about the slave trade.

Good day, she said, her voice sounding strange. I'm Lady Reyus of Arcvon, and I want to learn about the trade around here.

The merchant, fat and greasy, stared at her chest. Well, lady, he stammered, staring at her chest, we have spices, silks, herbs…

I want to know about the workers, Lady Reyus pressed. I hear there are slaves in Arcvon. Tell me more.

The merchant looked scared and glanced around. I don't know about that, lady. Ask someone else.

He ran off, leaving Lady Reyus annoyed and obvious. She realized her disguise was hurting her intel gathering. People were too busy staring to talk.

Walking on, she saw some slaves huddled in a corner, looking sad. She tried to talk to them, to comfort them or get dirt on their captors.

But as she got closer, they whispered and glanced nervously.

Look at her, one said quietly. She looks like a doll.

And those, another whispered, pointing at her chest. Bigger than my head!

Lady Reyus winced. Not only did she get attention from the rich folks, but she was alienating the slaves. Her large breasts, once funny, felt like a burden, showing how she couldn't connect with them.

Annoyed, Lady Reyus gave up on getting info for now. She had to rethink her plan, find a way to blend and connect with the people.

Turning to leave, she bumped into a woman with a basket of veggies, spilling it.

Oh sorry! Lady Reyus said, helping her pick up the food.

As she touched a tomato, her fingers brushed the woman's hand. They looked at each other, and for a second, Lady Reyus saw something – a spark of understanding.

Maybe, she thought, there's still hope. Maybe she could connect with the people and help them fight for freedom, even in this weird disguise. But first, she had to make talking easier without her chest being the main event.

The looks, once funny, now felt heavy. She wanted to gather intel, to trick, to win. Instead, she was a joke, just a set of curves.

She realized, with a blow, that she had always been proud of her strength and smarts. But here, she was weak, a tool, defined by her looks.

The whispers, stares, and leering glances all turned into a wave of shame. She had become what she hated: a thing defined by her looks, not her actions.

Tears blurred her vision. She stumbled, knocking over some pottery and breaking it. The merchant glared.

Watch it, clumsy fool! he shouted.

Lady Reyus, ashamed, ran through the marketplace, tears streaming. She didn't know where to go, only that she had to escape.

She found a quiet alleyway and leaned against a wall, sobbing. A shadow fell over her. She looked up and saw a kind-looking man. He seemed familiar.

Are you okay, my lady? he asked.

Lady Reyus shook her head.

He knelt and offered a handkerchief. Here. Dry your eyes. Can't be that bad.

As she took it, she saw Mirai, her hand on a sword.

Memories flooded back, clearer than any video. She, Mishanter, had brought Mirai here. He remembered the summoning, the energy in the air, and the girl appearing, scared.

He had lied to her, promising power if she signed a contract. The contract made Mirai his weapon. He had given her an axe and sent her to kill Admin. Because of him, Admin knew Kowareta Mirai.

Seeing Mirai protect Admin, with a sword now, made her sick. It reminded her of her own cruelty, her own lies.

She had destroyed Mirai's axe, and now Admin had brought Mirai back to her standing, Mishanter realized how genuine Admin was, as Lady Reyus.

But Admin and Mirai weren't the only ones there. Tundra, her TV head flickering, stood calmly. Eyrie, wings folded, peeked out from behind, looking curious. Behind them, Kaelen, Elara, Bram, and Lyra – rebels from Arcvon – watched with suspicion. This was no accident; she had found the heart of the fight.

The looks, full of judgment, were hard to bear.

Mirai… Kowareta Mirai? she asked, trembling. The words were heavy with guilt, knowing how much she had messed with Admin's past.

Admin frowned and turned to Mirai. You know her?

Mirai's hand tightened on her sword. No. I don't. But her eyes, on Lady Reyus, showed something else. Recognition? Unease?

I'm Lady Reyus of Arcvon, she said, trying to act normal. Nice to meet you. She nodded, hoping to seem harmless, but her mind raced. She needed to get out of this without blowing her cover.

Admin frowned. He studied her, looking for any clue.

Don't think we've met, lady, Admin said, polite but firm. Maybe you're thinking of someone else?

Lady Reyus forced a smile. Maybe. Sorry. You look familiar.

She turned to Admin, hoping to change the subject. I couldn't help but hear you talking about the slaves.

Admin's eyes narrowed. That's right. He glanced at Kaelen and the others, telling them to be careful.

Lady Reyus went on, her voice softer. As a rich woman, I'm upset about the unfairness here. I've wanted to help, but I don't have the resources.

She paused, meeting Admin's eyes. Maybe we could work together. Your skills and my knowledge could do some good.

Admin thought it over. He knew it was risky, but Lady Reyus could be a good ally or a spy.

What's your reason, Lady Reyus? Admin asked. Why risk your position to help us?

Lady Reyus looked down, sad. I've seen too much pain. I can't watch people being treated like animals. I want to make things better.

She looked up at Admin, sincere. Besides, I haven't always made good choices, and I want to do good by repaying the people that suffered in my past.

Admin looked at her face, searching for a lie. He sensed a real desire to change, a flicker of regret. But he knew looks could be deceiving.

He turned to Mirai, asking her opinion. Mirai nodded simply. Admin trusted her most. If Mirai sensed danger, he would say no.

Alright, Lady Reyus, Admin said. We'll think about it. But we'll be watching you. We won't stand for betrayal.

Lady Reyus sighed with relief. Understood. You have my word. I won't let you down.

Then let's start with the slaves She exclaimed, I believe that some of my properties still hold the most number of slaves in the kingdom. I'm willing to give them up for free.

Admin nodded and turned to Kaelen. Kaelen, what do you think? Do you trust her?

Kaelen stepped forward, wary. Hard to say, Admin. I've never met her, but I've heard things. Her family is rich and powerful, but also mean.

He paused. But if she'll free her slaves, that's a start. We can use them to help our cause.

Admin agreed. Okay, Lady Reyus. Start with the slaves on your land. If you want to help, that's the way to show it.

Lady Reyus smiled. Great. I'll take you to my place now. It's just outside town.

With a last glance at Mirai, Admin agreed. He, Tundra, Eyrie, and Mirai, along with Kaelen and the others, followed Lady Reyus out of the alley and towards her estate, filled with hope and worry.

As they walked, Admin felt like they were walking into a trap. But he knew they couldn't ignore Lady Reyus. The slaves needed help, and if Lady Reyus was willing, he had to take the chance.