The Azra-El Series Ch. 17

She was a wide-shouldered, gruff-looking angel named Heidi Xuanwu, and was a proficient spear user. Her expression was always severe, but she was quite helpful to the students. Blaze had received from her a few tips on how to face against a bardiche.

"Today's lecture shall be a little different," she began, garnering the students' attention. "I've been tasked to speak about the Taiga warriors of Xian. Have any of you heard of them?"

"Aren't they similar to the grey ones of the Malakim?" answered Priscilla.

"No. In fact, that comparison is a little offensive to most Taiga warriors. We have no interest in political matters, and strive only towards martial excellence and protecting the Xian and the Heavenly Union from external threats," Heidi said, without mincing her words. "Our Empress is also a Taiga warrior and is one of the strongest deities of the Union.

"Though the Xian are as inclined towards the light, as any other angel, we also believe in the duality of nature. Light and dark, good and evil, positive and negative, absence and presence — none can exist without the other. Most angels recognize this, yet they reject the other side. The Taiga try to embrace the other side when required, and keep it at an arm's length when not."

Yin and Yang, Blaze mused. Of course, he rolled his eyes.

"So, what is the difference between you and the grey ones?" Priscilla asked.

Heidi answered by manifesting two pairs of pale pink wings. "Do these look like those of a grey one?"

Priscilla shook her head. The color of the grey ones' wings greyed in proportion to how tainted they were. Heidi's wings were pure.

"Now, watch this," the teacher continued, dematerializing her lower pair of wings and focusing on her first pair. Her face scrunched up in concentration as her left wing began to change color. The pale lavender pink turned a deep magenta, before it kept getting darker. Finally, it turned black, with a slight hint of maroon.

The left side of Heidi face held a sneer while her right rose up in half a smile, almost like a bipolar opera mask. Her expression, along with wings of two contrasting colors, made her look quite cool. "What do you feel right now?" Blaze asked on impulse.

"Everything. Love & hatred. Joy & anger. Trust & disgust... but mostly the instinct to protect overlapping the instinct to kill," she said, slowly turning her wings back to normal and dematerializing them. The sneer faded away. "It is actually easier in the heat of battle."

"So, you pretty much become a half-demon?"

"We are nothing like the demons," Heidi spat at him with a glare, before realizing he was only curious. "Well, maybe that is not entirely true. In the heat of battle, a half-demon may be exactly what we are. But, what makes a demon, is the inability to control evil impulses, not merely feeling them. The Taiga would never act out against an angel."

"How does it help?" asked some other student.

"Angels have always been known to be defensively stronger while the demons are more attack oriented. The Taiga try to match the attack prowess of the demons, without losing our defensive strength. However, it is not as ideal as it sounds," she explained.

"How do you become a Taiga?" Blaze asked, though he had no intention of embracing his dark side. He had grown to fear it.

"You have to undergo a temperance in war. It is not something you can force. I fought and killed many demons before I was able to grasp the concept. Many who try often become tainted. I do not think it is appropriate for the Righteous Fury," Heidi answered, with a slight smile.

"Just curious," he responded.

Heidi explained a few more nuances of the Taiga before moving on to topics more relevant for the students.

***

Elyssa showed up at his window that night. "Look who's suddenly enthusiastic?" he teased her.

"I am just making sure you don't take off without me. I still need to keep an eye on you," she replied flatly. "So, who are were scaring today?"

"CG," he replied, donning the harness and stuffing his 'ghost blanky' into his ring.

"Blaze! That's a little excessive. Besides, she may not be alone," she shook her head.

"No, I asked her. She sleeps alone. Besides, would a ghost differentiate between a princess and a normal angel?" he asked, waving his finger. "We prank her, and no one would even suspect us."

"I don't know. You are pretty suspicious."

"Ely..."

"Fine, but just do your thing from the window. Don't go to her bedside like you did with Priscilla. The princess is pretty tough," she said poking him in his chest.

"Okay, okay. Let's go."

The Xian princess' bedroom was located within the central dome of the building, with its windows facing the fountain at the front.

Blaze and Elyssa landed on the etched roof of the domes and like before, Elyssa lowered him down to one of the windows. It was a bit more difficult, as she had to hang on to a carved figure etched onto the dome while she held the rope.

Unlike Priscilla's, CG's windows were closed. He hung from the window-lintel and gently pried open the shutter. Starlight streamed in, but the lights were off. It was too dark to notice anything besides a vague form of the princess sleeping in her bed. He placed a foot on the windowsill and stepped in.

"Hello, ghost. You do not seem like you can float without wings," Blaze heard CG's voice from his right, making him nearly fall off the window in fright.

She stepped into the light and it illuminated her grinning face.

"Boo?" he questioned.

The grin on her face only widened.

Shit. He immediately reached for the rope on his back, but the princess was faster.

"I know it is you, Fenghuang. And, I feel like you may need a third ghost," she said, grabbing his arm.

Five minutes later, three conspiratorial angels sat by the window and plotted against the poor students sleeping in the Agrasen palace.

"I hope you don't take offense, princess. It was just a practical joke," Elyssa apologized on their behalf.

"It is alright. I find this quite fun," CG replied.

"Since when did you know?" Blaze wanted to know.

"I had an inkling from the day the Malakim screamed. I was convinced it was you when you seemed a little too concerned over my sleeping habits... You were trying too hard, Fenguhuang."

"I told you. You were being too obvious!" Elyssa chided him.

"Well, it's not a proper prank if people don't at least suspect you of doing it," Blaze shrugged his shoulders. "So, you want to be the third ghost, huh? I have a good plan," he grinned at CG, rubbing his hands.

"I don't think you should be involved, princess."

"I disagree. It is better for all of us if I am involved. We get to share the blame. Is that not partly why you are tagging along with Blaze, Ms. Elyssa?"

"Friend," Blaze said, placing a palm over CG's knee. She glanced down at it but didn't seem to mind it too much. "Your role might put you at the most risk. Are you up for it?"

"Naturally."

"Alright then, since we are three now, we need a vow of conspiracy," he said, putting his right hand forward. CG immediately placed hers on his and Elyssa reluctantly followed. "Now, repeat after me," he said in a grave whisper. "We the ghastly marauders of the Agrasen palace solemnly swear that we are up to no good."

The two angels repeated after him. "This vow shall remain unbroken until I say mischief managed."

***

By the next morning, as no more apparitions had appeared since Priscilla's episode, most of the students seemed to have put the matter behind them. The ex-Houri seemed a little downcast, but Blaze was going to rectify it. Their target today was all of the Xian students.

After a long day of rigorous training, most students went to bed early that night, and fell into deep slumbers.

It was in the middle of the night that a Xian ivka sleeping in the corner room of the building woke up to a light knocking at her door, followed by a grating noise against its surface. She thought she had dreamt it, but she heard another light knock, followed by what seemed to be a muffled giggle.

Thinking it was one of the younger students, she got up from her bed and opened her door. There was no one around. She looked to the left, and spotted a figure in white gliding across the long and narrow hallway, lit only by the dim light of wall sconces.

The walls of the hallway were decorated with portraits of people who had once lived in the building, and the gliding figure seemed to have stepped right out of them for the night. The figure knocked once on a door and then scratched on it with long, purple nails as it walked past.

The ivka watched in horror as it suddenly stopped and turned around, revealing a face of two vertical hollow eyes and a horizontal slit for a mouth. The mouth began to open, and the terrified angel shut the door behind her. Knees weak and heart pounding, she leaned against the door as she clutched the doorknob and tried to calm herself down.

That's when she spotted the ghastly black figure floating outside her window. Blaze had given his white blanket to CG.

"Gaaaaastlyyyyy," he groaned. The ivka screamed, and Elyssa moved him to the next.

A series of screams followed the first, and Blaze and Elyssa were soon flying back to their dorms, while CG lay giggling in her bed— her expression quite contrary to her usual demeanor.

"How are they so scared of a couple of floating blankets?" Elyssa questioned as they flew back. She was beginning to feel a little guilty.

"Imagination is a powerful tool, Ely," Blaze snickered. "Don't feel too bad. This is all in the name of training. Mental training."

"You need some of it, yourself."

***

The next morning, before he could head out to the palace, he found Alice knocking on his door.

"The headmistress requires your presence," she told him with an indecipherable smile.

Uh oh.

However, once they stepped outside and manifested their wings, Alice turned in a different direction.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I have other chores," she said simply.

"Oh!" he said, unable to help the lascivious grin that sprouted on his face. Fiora just wants to do more research. Hehe.

Alice gave him a knowing grin before she flew away.

Fiora opened her door herself when he knocked on it, and once he stepped inside, she hurriedly closed it behind him and bolted it.

Blaze began to say something randy, but his words got stuck in his mouth as he saw her pull out a straight edge.

"W-What's that for?" he stammered, his voice gaining a higher pitch as he stepped back in fear.

"I have been a headmistress for over a hundred years, Ms. Blaze, and I never had to spank a student. You not only cause trouble, but you've somehow managed to corrupt Ms. Elyssa, who has been a model student for forty years," she told him, as she stepped towards him with a stern expression on her face.

Blaze kept stepping back, his eyes focused on the straight edge gently striking her palm. "I don't know what you're talking about! And 'corrupting' is such a harsh word," he cried as his behind hit the table. Pasting himself against it, he tried to protect his rear from its impending doom.

"Do you think I'm stupid, Ms. Blaze? I don't know how you did it, but I know that the ghosts of the palace are your doing. Your matron also spotted you coming back late last night. It is an awful coincidence, is it not?"

"You've got no proof!"

"I don't need it. Now tell me whether you prefer the stick or my hand?"

"Neither!"

"I am giving you a choice. I am willing to make it for you," she told him seriously.

"...Hand?" he squeaked. If he was going to get spanked, he might as well feel some skin.

So, leaning over Fiora's thighs, Blaze took his punishment like a man -- screaming, struggling, and shouting of murder. She didn't hit him too hard, but it was a matter of honor, you see.

***

When Blaze stepped out of the building fifteen minutes later, with a smarting rump, he found Elyssa heading towards him.

He ran towards her and caught her hand. "Don't go, Ely! Unless you want to get a spanking," he cried out, exaggeratedly pulling against her arm. He didn't want to picture Elyssa getting spanked.

"Let go, Blaze. I know she knows. I don't think I will get a spanking. She will probably just tell me off," she said, prying his hand off hers.

"No, she gave me one!"

"I can imagine. But, I am a little old for a spanking," she shook her head and began to head in.

"Seriously! How old do you guys think I am?!" he shouted at her back.

"Exactly how old you are and act. Zero."

You don't spank a zero year old, he complained in his head and waited for her to return. She came back ten minutes later, but didn't seem to be in any discomfort.

"What happened?" he asked her, curiously.

"She just wanted to know the whole story. She was surprised that the princess was involved. She also sorta thanked me for keeping you from causing more trouble than you already have," she replied, with a comical smile. Even she hadn't expected to get off so lightly. "However, she did tell me to keep away from scaring anymore of the Xian."

"What? That's so unfair!" he whined. Damn Fiora! See if I don't make you scream in pleasure while I spank your butt until it's as red as your hair.

oOo

CG had her private spar with Elyssa the day after. Even Blaze had not been allowed to watch. When they returned to the training area, neither displayed any strong emotion.

"What happened?" he asked Elyssa, when she walked up to him. Despite her spear-wielding costume at Seshat, CG used a narrow longsword. He had seen her fight during practice and knew she was strong, but he could not get a good gauge of her strength.

"I won, obviously," she replied, matter-of-factly. "But she is strong, Blaze. You should feel happy she is not taking part in the tournament. She would've been another tall hurdle for you to leap over."

"Oh?" he said, unsurprised, before walking up to the princess. "Chenguang, let's have a duel," he said, bluntly. The Xian around her had stopped caring about his casual tone with the princess. They did at first, but their displeasure disappeared after a couple of days.

"No."

"Why not!?" he huffed. He wanted to measure himself against someone close to Nikolett's strength, and Elyssa made it seem that CG fit that category.

"I just don't want to," she said. "It's not because I think you're weak or unworthy."

Blaze simply gave her a disappointed sigh and walked away. The princess had made it clear from the beginning that she wasn't going to spar him. It was just that it didn't make much sense.

***

A few days after the incident with Fiora, Blaze found himself itching for a soak. That evening, he had asked one of the tougher Xian seniors to duel him. She was a ninety-year-old expert spear wielder, while he used nothing his gauntlets. The result was as expected. However, though he was defeated and utterly tired after dueling her for almost an hour, he wasn't unhappy.

He had fended off her attacks quite well and even managed to land a couple of solid punches on her. It counted as an accomplishment, as the ivka was one of the best fighters representing her country in Elyssa's category of the tournament.

So, later that night, when he was sure that no one else would be around, he headed to the stepwell of the Agrasen palace. They were other pools on the campus, but he had been meaning to check the baoli out.

The baoli was located behind the palace and was surrounded by an otine tree grove, hiding it away from prying eyes. Blaze had heard plenty about the exquisite architecture of the step well, but when he reached it, he was still amazed.

It was a three or four-storied square well, fifty feet wide. The winter rain of Aranya ensured that its water level was high, and he could not tell exactly how deep the well was.

Each floor consisted of stepped corridors and a marble-pillared pavilion. The steps and pillars were etched with images of clean and intricately etched bathing angels in various degrees of undress.

Blaze swooped down and landed on the rock cut surface of the leading step. He pulled off his shoes as was customary, and began to climb down the steps that were dimly illuminated by the hazy light from the lampposts that surrounded the stepwell. Rolling his toes against the rock cut surface, he found it hard, cool, and gravelly, but it oddly seemed therapeutically good against his bare feet.

He took in the warm, musty smell of the well water wafting upwards, as he gazed at the naked figures. They were definitely great beauties of their time. Some only wore sheer transparent silk that was somehow perfectly depicted on the surface of the beige marble pillars, while some others were covered in nothing but water. Blaze couldn't help but get a hard on. His dream of bathing amongst a large group of naked angels was at least fulfilled in stone.

When he reached the water, he tested it with his foot. It wasn't heated but it was warmer than the ambient temperature. He gave a quick look around before discarding his clothes and stepping in.

He sat on the step submerged under water and leaned back to gaze at the starry sky while letting his legs float. The rough stone surface of the step felt pleasant against his spanked butt.

The night was silent except for an occasional cricket and even the nighttime breeze seemed like it couldn't get through the surrounding woods.

Suddenly, he heard a flutter of wings, and he hurriedly sat up straight and closed his legs, hiding his secret between his thighs. He looked in the direction of the sound, and saw an angel with a beautiful pair of white wings glide down to the top of the well.

It was Priscilla. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed his presence. She was wearing a loose white top and a short brown skirt.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her.

"The same thing you are?"

"I'd like to bathe alone, if you don't mind," he told her, rudely. He may have tried to be polite if he wasn't naked.

"Do I look like I care?" she said, scowling at him as she slowly descended down the stairs.

Damn, I should've told her that I was meeting Siofra.

The Malakim chose to walk towards him and stopped a few feet away before beginning to untie her pigtails.

"There is plenty of room for you to sit anywhere else, beside here," he commented, as she let loose her long brunette hair held in two pigtails. It was sleek, full, and reached past her waist.

"I like it here just fine," she said, grabbing the hem of her top and quickly pulling it off. A pair of gorgeous titties jiggled once before coming to rest; they were big, round, and beautiful, with small pink nipples.

She shook her head to spread her hair behind her before glancing at him. Finding him ogling her, she returned a smug grin. His flat chest was quite striking even when he wasn't naked.

Blaze felt his dick threaten to surge out of his thighs, and he hastily overlapped his legs to prevent it.

"You are quite flat," she said, taking his muddling around as a sign of discomfort. "But, I guess you have time to grow."

"Hmph. I don't need no lumps of fat hanging off my chest. No, thank you. And I've seen bigger and better," he let her know.

She scowled at him again. "I was trying to be nice, for once," she said, reaching for her skirt.

Oh, I'd show you nice, if you weren't a Malakim, he thought as she slowly pulled down her skirt and panties by leaning forward. Her back arched and her butt erotically projected upwards, while her tits lolled like two massive jugs. He had always wondered why women did that while disrobing—maybe it was the shape of their bodies or the plumpness of their behinds.