Editing Aeric Dalia/Chapter 3

[[Aeric Dalia/Chapter 2]]
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"It's just a routine task Aeric, we'll talk to the clergymen, and get them to back off the peasantry. Don't see why they asked for Paladins.."
<br>"Selena? You're alive?" Aeric spoke in a daze
<br>"Why wouldn't I be?" His companion shot him a confused look " Come on, It's not far from here, I think thats it on the hill."

The Paladin pulled the reigns on her horse leading the two towards the monastery. He was dreaming. It had to be a dream, Aeric knew how the events would unfold, he had been here before, but he was helpless to watch as they played out. While he slept the morning began to creep in and his winged companion began to wake from her slumber. She had not been so well rested in a long time. She lifted her body to stretch and noticed Aeric still fast asleep. She smiled simply gazing at him, then a thought popped into her head which made her smile turn more fiendish. 'Now I can get back at him.' She thought to herself playfully. She carfully moved as to not wake Aeric. For the slumbering paladin, his rest wasn't so easy as his mind was against him, offended at his peace. Try as he might, but he could not alter the events of his dream, even as it skipped from event to painful event.
<br>"I don' like how this is playing out. We should get out of here and warn the townsfolk." Selena said shuffling through some dusty records.
<br>" They are apart of this as well." His body acting of its own volition.
His sleep wasn't to be disturbed even as the succubus would slowly move about his body, positioning herself. Her hands slowly moving to his last article of clothing.
<br>"Oh the look on his face will be priceless." She whispered to herself. 

She moved carefully to relieve herself of an obstacle. She was silent, and efficient as she removed his vestment shooting a quick glance at her desire before she moved on. The paladin would continue his reluctant slumber. The painful memories of how the simple task when from bad to hopeless, and that there was nothing he could do. Soon they would make their move, and seal their respective fates. They confronted the head monk, and all would fall apart from there. As they charged the grand hall they became surrounded and summarily subdued. His mind would jump again to him and Selena tied to poles facing each other in a dank and putrid dungeon.
<br>"What do we do now Aeric?" Her voice full of poorly masked fear.
<br>"Now, we wait..."
The demon was sitting on her "prey". Placing her hands on Aeric's wrist to hold him down she carefully positioned herself, and wrapped her tail around his member, slowly stroking to get him worked up. 'Now, I wait' her grin never waning as her tail slowly whipped from side to side. 

The dark room was flooded with light and a thunderous blast as the heavy door flew open. A lone man in heavy wool robes stepped into the room, his bare feet making a scuffing sound with every step. In his hand shined a long knife. The paladins became tense as the silent assailant moved closer to Selena.
<br>"We tried to warn you that nothing was wrong here, but you just wouldn't listen. Now we have to silence you both." He grabbed her arm and slowly raised the blade to her neck.
Aeric began struggling, the rattling of his chains filling the room. The knife grew closer and closer to her soft neck, slowly pressing into it.
<br>"Don't watch.." She spoke as her eyes began to tear up.
The knife glided cleanly through her throat followed closely by thick trails of blood. Nothing could be heard in the room, save for Selena's gurlgeg gags. Aeric's thrashing had grown violent screaming the name of his lost companion. His arms jerked violently, slowly loosening the bolt holding his chains.. The monk stepped towards him. His one last scream he freed himself
<br>"SELENA!" His hands fled straight towards the monk.
His passion was so strong even as he lay with the demon hovering over him, he quietly whispered her name. Dalia raised an eyebrow, thinking that his dream was more enjoyable. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
The monk lay dead on the floor. His head caved in from the brutal bludgeoning of the furious warriors fists. The dungeon was silent all that was heard was the dripping of the blood from the fallen paladin.
<br>"Why did you replace me so soon?" Aeric jumped in terror. 

Watching Aeric stir, Dalia began to gyrate her hips holding the seemingly docile paladin down. She couldn't wait for Aeric to wake. The embarrassment he left her feeling on that wooden table would be repaid in full.

<br>"I-I-I never replaced you." Aeric spoke as Selena rose, still shackled.
<br>"You waited a whole week before you threw yourself at that whore. Did I not matter to you at all?"
<br>"Do you know what I did for you? What I did because of this!" Aeric yelled
<br>"I never wanted you to become a murderer."
<br>"I...I never.." 
<br>"We both know it didn't end with him." She looked at the monk.
Aeric saw himself standing along a lightly wooded road tapping his sword on his leg, waiting. Soon a rumbling could be heard and wagons seen off in the distance. There were those responsible for this whole incident.
<br>"No.." He shook his head as he watched himself begin to march towards the people of Urle

Aeric's body began to squirm under Dalia. Taking this as a sign, she began to lift herself and drop, waiting for the paladin to wake to his lusty succubus' surprise. 

Screams of mercy, and begging, that is all he could see before he cut them down. It didn't matter, women, children, elderly. They were all apart of the evil that was taking place, and he felt they all had to die. He stood over an old woman, screaming at him. 
"Whatever fate you receive is better than you deserve, Murderer!" Aeric's sword fell.
The Bloody business was done. He looked over his creation and fell to his knees. Not a sound could be heard over the blood dripping off of the fallen paladin. Aeric was curled up beside Selena's ghost after reliving this moment. The moment he gave into his dark desires, and let his emotions run rampant. Aeric let himself die that day, and he would continue to be cursed with these dreams over and over.
<br>"Did I not mean anything to you?"
<br>"You meant everything to me." He spoke holding back his true feelings.
<br>"Then why did you do this?" Her words growing heavier on the poor paladin.
<br>" They were evil... They had to die!" Selena glared at Aeric as he became the blood covered version of himself. "I...I was so filled with rage. I was weak. I felt if I could end them, your fate would be undone... But I vowed I would atone! That I wouldn't let my blind emotions guide my hands again." He stood facing his former companion.
"Then why are you making the same mistake?" Aeric looked at Selena with a pained look of confusion. "Wake up Areic." 

The demon continued to have her fun as Aeric's eyes shot open. They shared a gaze as Dalia let out a moan. Aeri'c heart felt as if it stopped.
"So, who's Selena?" her voice playful
Aeric wouldn't lay still as Dalia had her "harmless" fun. He struggled violently to free himself, quickly finding out her true strengths. His jerking amused Dalia at first, then she began to worry as he started to yell. His mind raced as he tried to fight the succubus off him. 'How dare she speak her name!' he struggled a hand free. Dalia was quickly getting off Aeric, but his hand found her chest first. She expected him to push her, not what he was about to do. She felt a strong tingling turn into a powerful shock through her body. She was stunned as he forced her off him. She fell to the floor motionless, gasping for air. Aeric was motionless as well, taking in what he just did to his acolyte. His breath was heavy and his mind uneasy. He felt bad, but he was beginning to understand, he had let this happen. He pardoned one great offense from her, now she felt she could do it again. the severity of his actions may have been too much. He leaned over the bed to see her laying on the floor clenching her chest. She looked back at him like a frightened beast.
"Can you move?" The demon nodded slowly. "Then get up, we need to talk." 

Dalia forced her recovering body up off the floor, shooting a vile yet confused glance to her assailant. Aeric was still a torrent of confusion still trying to discern reality from fantasy. Slowly the realization of his situation became apparent. He sat silently as he watched the bare succubus stand.
"Did you just smite me?" Her voice hinting at a mild rage
"No."
His acolyte extended a hand asking for assistance, but Aeric remained still, instead he started her down, his heart still racing.
"This has gone on long enough."
"It was just a practical joke Ae-"
"You will speak when I am finished!" He barked. The demon fell silent and dropped her head. "I have been too lenient with you, and you have been like a spoiled child. But that is because I failed you." She lifted her head half hoping that she wasn't at fault. "Ever since I gave in to my desires and let you have your way, you have been acting up, and I was too trusting, and even played along, but it wasn't right. It was easier."
Aeric got up from his bed looking for something to wear. The demon tried to get in a curious glance, but was halted by Aeric cold stare again. Aeric took in another quiet breath before speaking again.
"We are not friends, you are My acolyte. I pardoned one offense and as I feared, I commissioned the likes of many."
"But It was just a." She was interrupted
"Demon you will be silent." He said in his usual monotone, only hinting at anger. "This is what I mean, you think you can do whatever you want because I let you a few times. I made a mistake, and now we will set it right. I will not let you return to your old ways." Her body language protested but she stayed silent. "Now leave, and get ready for the day, we have much to do." 

She clenched her fist and tried to keep her face emotionless. Aeric was right, she was beginning to fall into her old ways, maybe she didn't wish harm on anyone now, but she felt her old temptations coming back. Aeric's cruelty, in her mind, was a blessing in disguise. She wanted to say a few words, but she was too frustrated to say anything. She turned and left the room her feet making more noise than usual like a reprimanded child. Aeric sat on his bed, taking in the already long morning. his dream still making him shake, but he was more curious about the meanings in his dream. 'There's no way I replaced with the demon..is there?' His mind began to recapture the events that unfolded, making him think again on his innocence of the slaughter. But he couldn't muse for too long as Dalia's voice broke his concentration.
"Fredric!" She spit his name in passing.
This got his attention. Brother Fredric entered Aeric's room with a floating smile and a red face after seeing the succubus in such a natural state. His face was to turn after on Aeric.
"Oh heavens! Put some pants on!"
Aeric smirked as the friar winced away. He also noticed he was still aroused from the demons "joke". He quickly looked for something to cover himself with.
"I see you two have had a bit of trouble in paradise." Fredric retorted smugly still covering his face.
"Nothing is going on between us." The embarrassed friar let out a hearty laugh. " What do you want Brother?"
"Aside from some decency around here? I needed to have a few words with you." Aeric had gotten dressed and Fredric's face was free to look again.
"Pertaining?"
"The mission. You are to attend a briefing in an hour with the other Paladins that will be accompanying you. Oh and Aeric." His words grew quiet at the end as he reached for the door and shut it. " I need to talk to you about... her.." The Paladins heart began to race again. 

" What is there to talk about?"
His bluff was very transparent. He felt as if he were standing before the Council again. Their cold hard silece after every question being answered, any attempt to explain himself shut out. Almost as if they had their minds set before. Aeric's palms began to sweat, his actions could easily re-earn their harsh attentions, only this time they would not be so lenient. 
"Please don't be coy, this isn't the first time I caught you two." Aeric's heart skipped a beat as a cold shiver went through his body.
"I-" The uncertainty gripping him. He tried his best to remain stoic
"Oh please, the bloody door was open! But I haven't gone to the Council about it." Aeric relaxed a bit. "I thought about your relationship with your last companion and figured it was bound to happen." He watched Aeric's face for subtle hints about his actions. "I actually don't want to see you hung for this, so please Aeric, I know she's beautiful, but some discretion is needed."
"Will you go to the Council over this?" The words almost jumping out of his mouth.
"No, not as long as it stays handled. You got your fun with her, now it is time to stop."
The two stood there for a moment. Aeric took a deep breath before extending an arm to the friar and patting him on the shoulder.
"Thank you Fredric. This morning as been a very informative one." Fredric nodded
"Cheer up Paladin, you look like you've seen a ghost." Fredric opened the door. 

Aeric set back on the bed, running his hands through his hair letting out a deep breath. As he was leaving Brother Fredric told him to bring his Acolyte along, as he walked away, carefully avoiding Dalia's open room. Aeric began to muster his things in preparation for the day, giving him precious few moments to begin musing again. Mainly, why he let Dalia get so close, and so far. She bore a resemblance to his fallen companion, but that couldn't be all, could it? 'Am I using her to fill the void she left?' This began to weight heavy on him. Soon he shut his thoughts altogether, and continued to dress himself in his steel casing.
Once ready, he left for Dalia's room and simply gestured her to follow. She was still without her robes, but they had to make due. She had no idea what was going through his mind and why he had changed his attitude so fast. She was used to him changing from friendly to cold, but this time was different, he was shutting her out completely. She tried to understand what happened. 'I was just trying to play a trick on him, like he did at the table, so why attack me?' She clenched at her chest where his hand rested.
" Why did you smite me?" She broke the silence, and her turn.
Aeric kept walking, she asked again, growing closer to him. Finally he turned to her, growing annoyed that he had to relive yet another uncomfortable moment.
"I didn't! If I had, you would not be walking yet!"
'You did it again, Aeric. You let her have a hissy fit, and win.' He had to act quickly.
"Talk out of turn again and I will make sure you are so tired you cannot breath."
She felt a quip begin to rise in her mind, but fought to suppress it, and simply continued to follow her adept.
Being one to be early, Aeric led the succubus directly to the meeting room, where another Paladin and his Initiate were waiting. Aeric had seen this man before, but had never had the chance to work with him, or exchange more than simply greetings in passing. 

"Hello, Paladin Aeric."
"Voren." Aeric nodded
Voren was a young man, he hadn't been a full fledged paladin for too long. No more than his early twenties. He was young, but capable, he had seen his share of combat. Unlike Aeric, Voren rather hated to wear restricting head gear, which made it easier for him and Dalia to exchange glances. He too had a similar reaction to seeing the demon for the first time, but had less willpower. Voren was caught somewhat off guard and couldn't help to gawk momentarily. Dalia responded to his reaction almost instinctively and began to bat her lashes at the young man, but caught herself before Aeric nudged her with his arm to break the stare. In side his head Aerics mind groaned as a new unseen foe began to emerge its head. Aeric would be quick to force their attentions apart as he moved more in front of Dalia as even his initiate was still staring.
"I was not expecting you to be on assignment so soon." 
The young Paladin spoke trying to gather this thoughts from the seductive visage of Aeric's acolyte. He almost felt jealous, but he figured it was the demons nature that was affecting his judgment. Though unlike Aeric, Voren never fought a demon, and didn't have as deep of a hatred as Aeric did for them.
"I am fit and able just as you are." Aeric's words slightly evasive.
"Well, weren't you under review?"
"That would mean I'll act by the books, won't it?"
Aeric silenced the boy. 

Time would pass. Aeric, and even Dalia began to wish she hadn't lost her robes as more and more attention were to be placed on her. She was trying her best to follow orders, even with such a lack of explanation, and tried to figure that she needed to set her emotions aside. a daunting task for a creature of emotion. She had enough time to think about her actions and review how she was acting unruly as Aeric had predicted, and how she began to think more with her body than her mind. She even questioned her thoughts on how her joke would even be funny. For her the silence help her understand more than any lecture could. She tried to think back about what was it that made her want to turn from her old ways, why she felt she needed this change. She wanted redemption, but how can you redeem yourself if you can't change? Her thoughts were to be halted as the last Paladin would show up, along with the Cleric that would give the briefing.

"Hello boys and..girl. Shall we get underway?" The new paladin spoke as the Cleric lead them all into the empty room. The briefing room was a simple room, a series of benches facing an empty wall where detailed maps and charts were to be placed. It was a very modern practice, which the order used to great affect in maintaining order in the region, but some wondered if the old ways of sending paladins out into the countryside, rather than assembling sorties, were better. Aeric noticed there was a door to the side which lead to another room. The Cleric ordered the initiates to file into the adjacent room while they waited for the Apperentice taskmaster to give them their briefing. The Aeric became worried as this would mean leaving Dalia alone in a room with two other young men who haven't had time to build defenses to her aura. He moved towards the Cleric, and whispered into his ear.
"Do you believe it is a good idea to leave the succubus alone with those boys in the room?"
"If she is pure and faithful, she will not tempt them."
Aeric could not convince the man any further, and the Cleric shut the adjoining room door. All Aeric could do now was hope she would behave herself, however unlikely, he had to have faith, as a the cleric said. Words very rarely believed by Aeric, he was a man of action, he needed to be sure of something, faith was never a strong-suit for him. He reluctantly found his seat along with everyone else.
" Now then, lets begin the briefing." 

Aeric couldn't sit still. He figured the other Taskmater would have entered the room by now, but his mind couldn't help but depict wanton acts of lust she could be committing. As he would, he remembered the warmth, and the sensations she brought him and his mind began to become foggy. Hardly paying attention to the briefing. He would notice how off track his mind had gotten and still wander back off. when he changed his thoughts from Dalia, they whent to Fredric and his insight into their relationship. He couldn't focus. Beads of sweat began to form under his humid steel cage.
" And Multiple cells of the Hidden blades have popped up around the country, along with numerous cults, though unrelated, we are investigating them as well."
He was missing the briefing in its entirety and only heard a few sentences or two. Only the other paladin knew he was nervous. Paladin Faline was a long serving member of the order, and Aeric's former instructor. An odd one, She wasn't comfortable unless she was encased in armor, or wielding a weapon that was dwarven. All the more peculiar given the fact she was an elf. No one knew her from before she entered the order, and she has never bothered to tell her past to anyone. Though peculiar she was a rather dependable person, and she knew her acolytes well.
"This will be a walk in the park, Aeric, its a good straight fight." She whispered to him.
Aeric calmed a small bit as she made it easier for him to focus on the briefing, but he would still begin to worry. He was in the room but he was not present, he trained his ears more on the side door than the Cleric. All the while he wasn't noticing himself, being so worked up over the succubus, and his worry that she would be sexual with the initiates then it occurred to him. 'Am I being jealous?" 

She truly had taken root in his mind. I wouldn't be easy to go back to how he was before he met her. The fact remained, that Dalia was becoming a force to be reckoned with in his mind. His couldn't figure out if it was distrust or envy of the other initiates, but his separation from the demon became unbearable for some unknown reason. ' This is a mind trick, it must be, It has to be!' He began to use his willpower to focus on the briefing.
" And now the Information you are privy to."
His timing was impeccable.
"As you know, the nation of Kharoth as been in turmoil since the war with the neighboring nation of Varvistahd. Now these cults, bandits and uprisings only aid the destabilization of this nation. This has incurred the attention of the Empire. With their invasion of nearby Varvistahd, Kharoth will be next. Another War will only bring more disorder and chaos."
"Which is why we need to hand over the bandits to the local authorities, instead of ours." Voren spoke feeling proud of himself.
"Precisely. If we can make it appear that the nation is still governed, the The Empire of Arnay will think against sending their army this way." 
Politics. Another word Aeric cared nothing about. Too complicated, and too involving. What other nations wanted were a matter of indifference, all Aeric cared about was protecting innocent lives, that deserved to be protected. Though unfortunately it was a game he had to be a part of, and as long as his mind was focused on this, he wasn't worried about Dalia.
" I don't get it though. Why would the Empire invade both nations?" Voren spoke again
"Childish thinking, if you don't know how to play with your toy, I will." Faline glanced over at Aeric. " They don't really think beyond that. Arecs are a rather simpleminded people. They don't care much for the geopolitical game."
Aeric began to trail off in thought again. 

He half listened to the young Voren and Faline discuss the matters of politics. He knew the Empire well, nothing was going to stop them from invading. 'Only if the Order would think about the small picture, instead of involving themselves into the politics of this land...'
"What does any of this really matter?" Aeric spoke at long last. " Shouldn't we be worried about the people? What Arnay does is their business." The Cleric was slightly taken aback to his abrasive tone.
"It's still a matter of Importance. Paladin, you may be small, but you are apart of a big world."
"The empire doesn't slaughter populations, it prevents their enemies from rebuilding. Though this shouldn't matter, not since the order decided to become a political force."
" Paladin!, you are out of line! When the order decides to do something, its for the benefit of the people, and the will of the gods!" The Cleric becoming increasingly tempered
"I am inclined to agree with Aeric, actually." Faline spoke to defend her former pupil. "The order does seem more interested in the surroundings politically rather than protectively." Her words less combative.
"This briefing is over. We have our orders, and we will follow them to the letter." 
Aeric stood up despite the Cleric. He would leave the room, and the others would follow. 
"Are you a fucking idiot?" Falines words harsh, but lacked obvious tones of anger. " I don't like having to keep sticking my neck out for every time someone says something you don't agree with."
"Faline I just can't sta-" He was interrupted
"You will hold your tongue until I have finished!" Aeric began to feel like an acolyte again. He was always an opinionated one, Faline learned this long ago. The quickest way for him to fall in line, was aggression of words. 
"I know you don't like it when things get a little complicated, but it doesn't mean you make a scene out of it."
"...Yes....ma'am" It seemed to weigh on him to use the term. 

" Good, now don't let it happen again. I can't always be there to coddle you like a child. With your bullheaded attitude you're bound to get yourself into a situation you can't get out of."
"Too late" Voren whispered to himself.
Faline could hear the young paladins words, and would scold him later for it. Aeric knew he wasn't well liked in the cathedral for what he'd done, just very few had the courage to berate him in his face. It still wasn't something for a comrade in arms to say so close to a battle.
"You mentioned something about the 'Old ways', er at least in a round about way." Voren looked towards Aeric trying to peer through his narrow vision slit.
"The Order reformed about fifteen years ago when we still fought members of opposing churches. Back then it was just two paladins wandering from village to village doing the best they could to make the world better." Faline spoke. " Now the order is very centralized and cooperative with other churches. Now we are given assignments, and patrol routes. Its like we are becoming a small nation. Aeric has his right to be concerned, but as long as we do what we can to help those in need there isn't really a problem." She shot a quick glare at steel clad man. 
"All change needs to occur is compliance." Aeric retorted.

"I've seen the order reformed twenty-six times in my short 300 years. This isn't new..."
Soon the doors would open and the acolytes exited the room. Aeric scanned their faces carefully to make sure that the demon was behaving. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and that she must have behaved herself. A part of his mind felt let down, almost as if he wanted her to act up, then he would have a reason to discipline her. Still looking for reasons to pin his frustrations on the demon, the hardest working acolyte he's seen in a long time. Though he wouldn't admit it to himself. She made her way gracefully to his side as the other did to their respective instructors.
" Tell me Aeric, you've been teaching her to fight haven't you?" 

He knew where this was to end up. The last thing he wanted was for Faline to believe that she could still teach Aeric a thing or two, and make snide comments about how the succubus' form reflected on his teaching. Not while Dalia was watching. 'Why does what she think matter to me. I want her to respect me, but why am I so reluctant to let her down?'
"She's somewhat competent, but I wouldn't say her skills are honed enough just yet."
He was lying, he knew she was a decent fighter, and so did she.
" But sir." Her warm voice tickled his ears again. "I think I am competent enough to at least give her a single bout."
" What you think and what you are, seldom are the same." He was putting up his shield against her again.
" Very well, how about my acolyte against yours?" She wasn't going to back down, she wanted to see how well trained the demon was.
"...Just one bout." He finally conceded. At least if she were to make notes of Dalia's performance, he could commend on her acolyte.
Voren had disappeared at some point during the brief conversation. While Aeric didn't feel any ill feelings against the young man, he was glad to not have him nearby. There was just something scratching at the back of his mind all day. Those visions, he couldn't shake them. They were making him more brash. The slightest hindrance became an annoyance. He needed a moment to collect his thoughts, a moment of peace with no distractions. He knew fully well that those chances were gone with Dalia taking every chance she could to be with him when he would be alone, or during the night. That thought strangely made him feel somewhat at ease. He put his thoughts aside as he handed the eager demon the practice sword.
"Remember what I showed you, keep your footing balanced, and your swings controlled." She winked at him.
His heart skipped a beat. 

The fight began swiftly. Dalia brazenly charged her opponent. Aeric's mind groaned at her recklessness but it somehow worked. The acolyte was caught off guard and hastily tossed up defensive swings. She was using brute force to try and knock the young man down. Her wild swings started cutting back as the acolyte began to recover from her blitz. Dalia went for a high swing which the acolyte evaded causing the graceful demon to stumble a bit. They continued to exchange blows as Aeric looked over to Faline. She was growing in anticipation, getting engorged into the fight. Her arms and legs slightly phantomed the movements she anticipated her acolyte to use, or the ones she'd have done. She'd let out a quite 'yes' or a grunt depending on how the fight went. Aeric stood there hiding himself in his steel caccon. The less she showed Faline, they less he could expect in criticism.
The fight turned into a grapple, much to Aeric displeasure. Dalia's sword arm was held in the air by the wrist, and she held the acolytes arm in a similar fashion. Suddenly she grew a mischievous grin. A metal clang was heard as Aeric's hand covered his face. Just as he anticipated, Dalia stepped closer to the acolyte. The young mans mind became clouded, and in that brief window, with swift legwork Dalia tripped her opponent and tackled him to the ground.
"Enough!" Aeric barked as he moved to break the two up.
Dalia quickly recovered and got to her feet before Aeric could get to her. 'Well that was interesting, who knew she'd give up an opportunity to lay on a man.' He thought in an almost jealous tone. Before he could say another word, his former instructor pushed him to the side she had grabbed a wooden axe from the weapon rack.
"Best one opponent in battle, be ready for the next." She said as she began to swing down on the demon. 

Surprised, Dalia quickly flung her wings to evade the hefty swing. An annoyed Aeric went for a practice sword himself until he saw the paladin swing at her own acolyte. 'There she goes trying to give lessons when she doesn't have to.' His mind reminisced for a moment. He had a similar bout with her many years back, only the other person in the spar was his former companion. 
"Selena" he whispered.
Before he could let his mind think he grabbed the practice sword and joined into the fray.

The fight lasted a good deal of time, all four pitted against each other. After awhile the event became somewhat of a game and they were all enjoying themselves. The paladins saw openings in their acolytes and truck. Ending the fight. They left the initiates to place the weapons back, giving them a brief moment.
"Good to see you haven't gotten rusty." She smiled at her old student. " If you can ever get a free moment, I think we should get together, and remember old times."
Aeric smiled though his visor. " I would like that."
" Aww how cute." The succubus said smugly.
Aeric's head shot at her, and she quickly fell silent, though still grinning. Returning to his cold and stern self, he began to bark orders at Dalia.
The day would drag on as it normally would. Aeric would put his best effort to whip the succubus into shape, and try to exhaust her to the best of his abilities. She was improving. While he had grown to like her mannerisms and crude outbursts, she was becoming more professional with each passing day. Finally at the end of another long day, Aeric retried Dalia to her room, and he went to his, casting his armor off in his tried and true method. Only instead of resting, he set out across the cathedral to the other quarters. 

Dalia cast off her vestments and relaxed herself on her bed when she heard Aeric walking down the corridor. Quickly bolting from bed to meet him in the hallway. He was becoming very accustomed to her natural appearance. He still derived the enjoyment from seeing her, but it no longer made his heart pound uncontrollably, or his mind become clouded, almost as if he was resistant to her alluring aura.
"Where you heading off to?" She asked in a playful tone and she leaned up against her door frame.
" I just need a night to think somethings over. You will stay in your room until I get you in the morning."
" Gothcha..." Her tone like that of an annoyed adolescence.
He glanced back indignantly but continued to walk. He heard the door close behind him, he hoped she'd stay in her room. Walking around in regular cloth without the constant weight of his armor felt so foreign to him, yet so pleasant. His body felt so free. He let his mind go blank as he walked across the courtyard, listening to the ambient noises of the night. The pounding coming from the blacksmith, the chirping of crickets. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes as he stood there in peace. A smile grew on his face as he finally let himself relax. After what seemed like too short of a moment of peace it ended. He was where he wanted to be. He reached out to knock on the wooden door. After a moment Faline answered the door. She stood before him in an elegant silk robe complementing her figure, stark in contrast to the metal she encased herself in during the day. She stood with a grin on her face as she greeted Aeric.
" It's been too long..." She purred
She grabbed him by the arm, pulled him into the room and the door shut behind the two.

END CHAPTER THREE
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[[Aeric Dalia/Chapter 4]]