Part 2: "Cloaked in Ash"
The morning sun barely peeked through the shivering trees when Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir cracked open her eyes.
A faint translucent glow hovered above her vision—her system screen, patiently waiting.
She blinked at it once. Tapped twice. Then again.
Her lips curled upward. Not sweetly. No—this smile had teeth.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Aha... why not?”
She murmured, voice silk over steel.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Become a hunter, hmm?”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
She stretched like a cat beneath silk sheets, long limbs uncoiling with a grace that betrayed danger. Her black hair spilled over her shoulders, cascading down her back like ink poured from the heavens. The silk clung to her, sensuous and soft, but her attention wasn’t on comfort—it was on opportunity.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“If I remember right"
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
She continued, her voice musing aloud to herself.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“this world’s practically drowning in Guilds. Hunters, killers, scavengers, and fools. Hmph.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Her fingertips traced the faint swell of her belly.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Even a pregnant woman needs entertainment."
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
"Sitting still like some porcelain queen in waiting? Not my thing."
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
"And those guys watching me… tch. They wouldn’t dare stop me.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
She giggled then—a soft, musical sound.
Then suddenly, without warning, it turned wicked. Delirious.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Besides”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“what’s life without a little chaos?”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
She had everything prepared the night before. A hidden system feature had caught her eye—and oh, how her eyes had glowed like silver flames when she’d found it.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Inventory: unlocked. Limitless storage...?”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
She muttered then, eyes wide.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“So I can shove a whole mansion in here? Cute.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
The cozy wooden cabin she’d made her home seemed even smaller now. She glanced around, hands on hips.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“It’s charming. I might burn it down just to say goodbye properly. Or maybe not. Depends on my mood.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Now, she stood outside—cloak draped over her shoulders, boots laced, a scabbard at her hip. Her silver gaze turned skyward, past the trees, past the clouds. The morning wind tugged at her cloak like whispers trying to pull her back.
With cold elegance, she raised her hand to the sky.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Just in case you’re watching, guys”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
She said quietly, voice like frost.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“I’m off to do something monumentally stupid.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
A few startled birds scattered. She watched them go, then smirked.
She took her first step toward the Empire of Reqiorny.
Maybe forty-five minutes. Maybe less.
Because peace? In her world?
She sensed them before they even stepped into view—the stink of desperation, the clink of rusted metal, the heavy breath of men who thought they were wolves.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Five of them. Three from the trees. Two more from a rocky slope above.
They tried to surround her like hyenas, blades out, grins stretched too wide.
？？？
What do we have here?”
？？？
“And all alone. Perfect.”
The leader stepped forward, his rusted blade angled lazily at her neck. His teeth were yellow. His eyes gleamed.
？？？
“Hand over anything shiny, sweetheart”
？？？
“Unless you want something worse than a bruise.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Her eyes? Unblinking silver glass.
Then she tilted her head slightly. Almost curiously. Like a predator analyzing its prey.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“…You smell like you haven’t showered in three months”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“And your blade? It’s crying. I can hear it begging me to melt it down.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
He began, but she cut him off with a smile that looked more like a threat.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Darling”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“It’s adorable that you think you’re dangerous. Truly. But I’d rather be kissed by a thornbush than touched by your kind.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
She caught his wrist mid-air.
He screamed. It wasn’t the scream of someone in pain—it was the scream of someone realizing too late they picked the wrong opponent.
His knees buckled. She raised her leg and calmly shattered them both with two precise kicks.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Gentlemen…”
She began, voice sing-song sweet.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Has anyone told you today that threatening a pregnant woman is a sign of... low IQ?”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Another rushed at her. Fast. Desperate.
？？？
"Fuck You!? You son of bitch-!?"
Another tried from behind. She didn’t even look. Just caught his throat, yanked him over her shoulder, and slammed him into the dirt.
The last two didn’t move.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“You’ve got two options”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova said with a polite smile.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“One: run. Two: beg.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
One chose wrong and tried to strike.
She ducked, kicked his legs out from under him, and stepped on his face with all the delicacy of a queen testing the temperature of bathwater.
The last one? He dropped his weapon.
？？？
“No—please—lady, please—”
Yieshanova crouched beside him.
Her eyes glinted with malicious glee. Her voice dropped to a purr.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“You know what’s hilarious?”
She whispered, lips near his ear.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“You were going to rob me. But now…”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
She reached into his pocket. Took his gold. Then his earrings. Then his belt.
Then the others’ things too—every coin, every gem, every dagger, even their filthy socks
And then, with an exaggerated pause...
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Now, five groaning half-naked men lay bruised and humiliated in the dirt.
She held one grimy shirt between two fingers.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Ew”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Smells like failure.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Blue fire erupted from her fingers, dancing across the stolen garments like spirits on a feast.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Their clothes. Their weapons. Their pride. Burned into ash.
She turned her back to them, casually brushing soot off her cloak.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“If you survive"
She said without looking.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“remember this.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Then smiled coldly over her shoulder.
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“I didn’t kill you because I’m merciful. I stopped because I got bored.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Be grateful I’m in a good mood. On worse days, I don’t leave survivors.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
“Threaten me again… and I’ll make sure you can’t beg next time.”
Yieshanova Volkonskagev Vladimir
It was a laugh soaked in chaos, sprinkled with madness, and wrapped in the silk of superiority.
Psycho. Sassy. Colder than winter.
Then she vanished into the wind, walking toward Reqiorny like nothing had happened.
And above, in the distance, four unseen figures silently watched.
？？？
“…She’s hunting again”
PEJ Author
This is my second chat story, and I’m trying to make it more fun for you.
PEJ Author
I’ve seen others use images to show expressions—thought I’d give it a try too!
PEJ Author
Hope you enjoy. Feel free to comment—I always read them.
PEJ Author
Follow if you’d like, no pressure!
PEJ Author
Thanks for being here 💬💖
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