Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #16 July 2015 | Page 16

Draticornix
Idraya

small hallway, she froze in surprise—the inside layout
was simpler than the ornate façade had led her
to believe.
Lilith walked into a huge room with a hundred
armed celestials and daemons all scattered, leaning or
sitting on the tables in very informal positions. The
females, all humans from what she could tell, looked
like small satellites orbiting them.

Chapter 1

Her eyes narrowed as she gazed around to
give herself time to keep her composure. Thankfully,
the men were going back and forth to the bar or were
occupying themselves with the women. As for the
women, they were solely interested in the men.

Djenny Floro

***
On this Monday, the 13th of Winter 1301,
Orion era, cold, blue snow was piling up as the wind
picked up speed. It didn’t matter to Lilith who was
going down Viroqua Street, heading toward its tallest
building.
She passed by a few people deeply bundled up
in their coats, looking at her curiously. Yet, it was only
the noise of the fluttering banners attached firmly on
each side of her destination’s entry door that led her to
leave her thoughts. The Draticornix guildhall’s carved
wooden door was framed in Redin stone. As expected
from the wealthiest mercenaries of the country, she
thought, impressed. Even nobles can’t afford Redin.
There were esperites inlaid in the vermilion
door frame with runes circling these small magical
gemstones to ward off whoever was not wearing the
guild’s symbol. It was currently deactivated as the hall
was open to public.
“It’s here,” she said, a puff of warm breath
leaving her mouth.
Passing through the entry, Lilith felt the
incredible magical pressure. She checked to make sure
she hadn’t been seen and was silent, taking a deep,
long breath to compose herself. Once through this

He was here to have a drink while engaging
in polite conversation for a change. Sirius scanned
the room to see if a woman was standing out that he
might be interested in approaching for a night. But all
that was offered to his senses were boring, one-pattern
dressings and overly perfumed women. Worse off,
some had voices that felt utterly inharmonious to his
extremely sensitive ears.
Then Sirius noticed someone who, indeed,
completely stood out. Her face was completely
painted in pinks, greens, and whites, and a big fluffy
crimson hat featuring a monster’s face was covering
her head entirely. Her bangs were long, covering her
eyes, which gave off a comically messy impression.
Over her corset, she wore a short tulle tutu and
crimson shorts, and finished her outfit with short
black boots. A faint smell, very discreet and most
agreeable, emanated from her. She felt like a fresh set
of sensations to his bored senses. He abandoned his
search of the women to focus on her.
A magician, eh? thought Sirius. And one whose
magic is already strong enough to infuse her aura at
her age?

16

***
Her little adventure took Lilith closer to the