Volcanic Embrace

You saw the next High Commander. Her solid black hair braided around her head in a crown type fashion. A few bangs dripped down her face as the dark eyeliner caused her already mysterious dark grey eyes to look even more out of this world. She was dressed in a dark brown skin tight leather outfit with a dagger as well as a short sword hanging off her waist, just like yourself. She had a long sleeved shirt with leather gloves that just covered the back of her hands and her pinky, ring and middle finger, keeping the entire palm open as well as her index and thumb. Her boots had belted straps that curled up her calves and ended just below her knees which could most likely easily deflect any type of slash.

As her eyes scoured the room ready to report her findings with Ashe she immediately recognized you and she stopped in her tracks causing the two Sunrider's behind her to run into her body, causing her to take two steps forward to regain her balance. "Ahhhhhh...." Her eyes looked at you with shock as her mouth started to part, dropping itself open.

"Hello Zoe." you smile at the black haired female.

And just like that, her intimidating persona ended as she leapt for joy "Darien?!?! Oh my god, Darien!!! You're alive! You're here! It's you! It's you! It's youuuu!!!!" she beams her toothy smile at you as she runs forward, leaping into your body and holding you tight "I-I..." she stutters "I'm here! I'm a High Commander! Look at what I accomplished! Oh my god, Darien! Look! She pushes herself backwards and gives a quick little spin showing off her outfit. "See! See?!?" she lunges back into your body wrapping her arms around your back and bringing her face into your chest "You're the best! The greatest! The most bestest person ever!!" her hands pull on your body tight, holding you close.

You chuckle back at the ecstatic women "That's quite the transformation, Zoe. I'm proud of you! I can't wait to see you in action."

"I've been training every single day!" she nods her head looking at you "All day every day! I need to be the best! The very best! Ashe has been helping me and guiding me and teaching me and training me and and and she's awesome because she's the greatest!" her nose suddenly scrunches up as she leans in close to your face "Well, second greatest after you!" she whispers making sure nobody but yourself can hear before she pushes her body back and looks up at your eyes. Her hands go up to your cheeks, playfully smashing them together "I can't wait to train with you! I can't wait, I can't wait! Training with Darien! It'll be awesome! I'm going to show you everything! Show you what I learned! Darien oh my god! We could go now!! Yes! Now! Oh my oh my oh my!" Zoe continues to rattle words off endlessly as the blissful women immediately pushes her body up on her tip toes and lunges herself forward bringing her face into yours as her lips mesh with your own giving you a friendly smooch.

It threw you off guard as the last time you talked with Zoe she was such an innocent, care free, underage girl but now, after thirty six days she is not only of age but also becoming just a little more forward it seems. It appears maybe weapons training wasn't the only lessons our dear Ashe was teaching. You felt no sexual feelings at all for the black haired Sunrider and instead felt more like a protective older brother. "Maybe this is how Claire always felt around me. Just trying her best to protect me when she could..." you ponder as her lips stay on your own.

She holds the friendly kiss on your lips a little longer than expected until she suddenly backs away quickly and then looks at you with fear "Oh my god!" her eyes go wide "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!!" she exclaims, before turning to Lexie with a look of pure shock on her face "Lexie! Oh my god, I didn't mean anything! I was just being nice! Don't hate me! He's yours! I don't even like him! I mean, I like him. Just not like him, like him! Ya know?! I-I...I blame Ashe for that one!!! She said I could do that to him! She did! Yes! Ashe did!" she blushes "I-I'm...I'm..." her cheeks go a full shade of red as her shoulders hunch down. Ashe and Lexie both seem as if they are about to lose it in laughter.

You place a hand on her shoulder "Hah hah, it's okay, Zoe! Apparently you've learned a lot on and off the battlefield" you give her a playful wink "and as I said, I can't wait to see you at the training grounds." you step backwards, giving her entire body and outfit a once over. "Dual wielding eh?" you smirk.

"Yup yup! You're the best and it's what you do! And and and since I'm going to be the best it's what I need to do!!" her head bounces up and down. "The best! That's me!" Zoe again leaps forward in your arms, wrapping herself into you and holding you tight "Thank you Darien!!" she exclaims into your body "Thank you thank you thank you for allowing me to come to the Syndicate! I'm so happy! So so very very happy!"

With that, you step back and contemplate the entire situation. You are ready to take charge of your Sunrider's again and now you have Ashe, Lexie, Rynlee and Zoe as your four high commanders. You know Lexie isn't in the position to fight anymore so even though you still consider her a High Commander you know you would never ask her to do any type of battles or go to war for that matter. Your mind also raced around the two new High Commander's that Ashe brought in. You figured Rynlee must be an okay warrior if Ashe trusted her and you know she's been in Sicilian for a long time but with Zoe you just weren't sure. She's still new and you honestly didn't think she'd be anywhere near skilled enough, especially in such a short period of time. You think Ashe may have promoted Zoe too soon but you haven't seen her fight yet so maybe she is a lot more skilled than you remember.

You also need to catch up with Lady Karisi to see how she's been settling in with the Syndicate. Has she been doing a good job leading or has she pissed a ton of people off? From the conversation you walked in on it seems Ashe and Karisi were having a slight conflict between the upcoming strategy so maybe things weren't all sunshine and rainbows.

"Guys..." you step backwards as you stumble, suddenly feeling very light headed. Your hand shoots up to your skull and you rub the side of your forehead "I know I just woke up but I think I"m going to go lay down again..." you take a deep breath "I may have been out, but I feel so tired still. I'm just going to go relax in my room a bit."

"There's still the matter of your assassin..." Karisi replies. "I'll get somebody to fetch Rivianne as she would like to tell you..."

"Tomorrow, Karisi." you interrupt her "Let's talk about that tomorrow. Right now..." you look at Lexie "I have a fiance to catch up with." you smile at her.

"Awwwwwwwwwww!!!" Zoe squeals from behind you which causes Lexie and Ashe to laugh.

With a quick hug from Zoe, Ashe and Karisi, as well as a "Go get em, Tiger" you grab a hold of Lexie's arm and bring yourself back out of the throne room. Step by step you hold Lexie close as you return to the very same room you were awoken in. "I feel so exhausted. It's like my brain wasn't fully awake yet and I just had to absorb all that important information...Ugh. I just want to relax with you Lexie." you mumble out.

The two of you step back inside the room as Lexie closes the door behind you.

"Darien, I know you're exhausted but..." Lexie begins.