"Smelt it."

After the sudden loss over the control of my weapons, as well as the regression of my arms, Anaz rushed to gather the two people most likely to know what was happening. She grabbed Zana, who's study of my unique body had recently been somewhat upended by my Light Infusion; as well as Ashes, who would be looking into why the Chains had suddenly left me. The Saltmoore duo went to work quickly, while Anaz returned to her search in the Mapping Room.

"Hmm..." Zana hummed, looking closely at my arms. "Maybe it was... no, not that. Maybe a..."

I grumble to myself, annoyed at never fully understanding this stupid body of mine. One second, I'm flying around an Arena, punching my enemies so hard they leave craters in steel walls; the next, I've stubbed my toe, and now my head is somehow about to explode.

"Got it!" Zana exclaims, pumping her small fist in triumph. "Those Chains were providing a **** Evolution to your body; your arms, mostly. Since they went haywire, the Evolution reverted. At least it didn't..."

"Re-melt my hands, yeah." I say, tightening a fist; yep, my right grip is still weaker. "Let's go see what Ashes has on the Chains. Ugh; I just got a new weapon, and something bad happens..."

A short jaunt into the Worker's Quarters later, and an odd sight comes into view. As if alive, the Chains had coiled themselves all around Ashes' body. The inanimate weapons were like perverse serpents, sliding between her thighs and breasts; under her clothing, producing a flustered looking Mohun.

"The hell... is wrong... with these things..." Ashes moans, pulling at the chains.

As if they had spotted our approach, the Chains suddenly go limp; at which point Ashes rips them from her clothing.

Ashes drops the limb masses of metal. "Monster, your weapons are almost as perverted as you."

"Hey!" I cross my arms. "Look who's talking; might I remind you about how you peeped on Eve and I during... my therapy session."

"Oh yeah, how did I do that... Oh right! Through your hidden portal to the bathing chamber." She replies, sticking her tongue out playfully. "But, returning to your Chains... have you see this engraving? It lit up when I touched them."

Ashes grasps the Chains once more, a sickly green glow coming from the inner lining of the front most chain-links. Zana approaches first, squinting through her glasses.

"I can't read that; what language even is this?" She asks.

I take a close look as well, at which point, I become quickly confused. Despite the engraving seeming like nonsense scratches, I could read the words as easily as basic Common. I read it out for the other two to hear.

"When the Throne Betwixt lies empty..." Read the White Chain.

Followed up on the Black Chain. "... seek the Three-Tailed Queen."

While Zana seems simpy confused, Ashes is utterly awestruck; her mouth hanging open as she tries to find her words.

"The Three-Tailed Queen!?" She repeats, her body visibly shaking.

Now finding myself in the same boat as the Balistress, I perk a brow. "I know I'm halfway through Cilla's history lessons, but come on. You people need to stop talking about important things like I know what they are."

Zana ignores my complaint, cocking her head a bit to the side; her hat flopping slightly. "Isn't that just one of your people's bedtime stories?"

"It is! I mean; I thought it was. But these Chains make it sound like she was real!" Ashes begins rocking excitedly on the balls of her feet.

I find myself so annoyed that I begin contemplating ways of gaining the attention of these two. My ideas range from dropping my pants to the ground, to lightly-smacking the tops of their head, or possibly even going the Gabriella classic, and hugging them both so hard their spines crack...

As if finally hearing my words (or seeing the grimace on my face), Ashes speaks. "Oh, uh... well, you'd need some context about the **** Mark, and..."

"Ashes." I take a deep breath, trying to keep from shouting. "Just... whatever you need to tell me, tell me. Ihsrom left me these chains. I want to know why."

She gives a sheepish smile, taking a seat, and beginning her tale.

...

"First, you must know of the **** Mark. It is what binds the Mohun to Ruyanei, as part of an ancient pact with ****; proof of our status as Guardians of the Balance. When we reach adulthood, every Mohun within our homeland is expected to seek one of our High Priests; who will bless the backs of our necks with the visage of the land's most fearsome beast, the **** Mark Scorpion. When the mark is placed, there are two possible outcomes...

First, and most common, is the One-Tailed Mark. Upon ****, they will remain as Skeletal Warriors. While the Soul departs for the afterlife, the body remains animated; retaining no memory, or personality. They are the backbone of the Mohun Military... hehehe.

Ahem. The other outcome is a Twin-Tailed Mark. Upon ****, their soul is bound to their bones; turning them into a powerful Lich. These lucky few maintain their memories, personality, and status within society. In life, anyone who is marked as a Twin-Tail is seen as a sort of nobility; some think it means you have superior blood, or that you're simply more favored by ****. This status, combined with their eternal life, mean that Twin-Taileds make up the majority of our ruling class; using their tens of centuries worth of experience to effortlessly crush the enemies of the Balance.

Then, comes the story; the Legend of the Three-Tailed Queen...

In the Mohun Capital, Mortijha; there was once a nameless girl who wandered the streets, who the people simply called... Orphan. Orphan avoided the living, only ever seeking the company of two undead soldiers that walked near the street she called home, or the ephemeral attentions of the local Twin-Tailed Lich-Lord. She could not speak, and so when many saw that she had gone unmarked, their questions of why would always go unanswered.

One night, Orphan ran across a boy at the edge of the city, dying of thirst. She gave him all of what little water she had, bringing him to the alleys she called home, and attempted to nurse the boy back to health. Three days would pass, and on the third night, under a full moon, a woman came to visit the boy. This woman... was ****. The mute Orphan stood between **** and the Boy; refusing to move, even as ****'s scythe slid it's sharpened blade across her cheek.

It was then, that the boy marked her neck; for his name was Ihsrom: the God Hunter, and son of ****.

This Three-Tailed Mark, the only of it's kind, was proof of ****'s approval; and so, the Orphan became our Queen... the end."

Ashes rubs at her throat. "Oof, I need some water."

"Oh, here you go, Ashie." Zana pops a hand into her hat, producing a filled waterskin.

I really need to see how spacious that hat is...

She takes the beverage, gulping down as much as she could; meanwhile, a question was forming on the tip of my tongue.

"How is your Queen just a bedtime story?" I ask, cocking my head to the side. "Wouldn't she have heirs, like the Kings of Krow did?"

Ashes wipes her mouth, taking a deep breath of air after chugging down so much water. "Ahh... Well, not really. My people don't have any records of a bloodline, or any history of the Three-Tailed Queen beyond the story of Orphan... so seeing this, on these Chains; written by someone who was in that story..."

Her words are interrupted by an excited cry from outside the room. Peering out the door, I see Anaz dancing about with a map in hand.

"!ti dnuof I !ti dnuof I"