Only-looks-shy-when-asleep

Venatori "Combative Mattresses" Grimaldi and Sansho "he who must not be named" were talking in fierce whispers.

"Are you sure about this boss?

"Yes, why do you ask?"

"She doesn't have the same commitment as the others." Meaning the newcomer, relative to most of the bodyguards, knucklebreakers and even Mattress' own adopted daughters, all rescued as refugees from Thorns.

"No, she is a professional. I can't let this become personal, but if we wait too long, that Madman is going to attack Nexus, before we are ready... Only-shy..."

"Please, Sir, call me Only, or Shy, we have so much to do, we can't stand on formality."

"I am to entrust you with my life, with the lives of my people, I will need to know your true name..."

"I was born Karal Mazen Kaizen, in Lookshy. I volunteered for the Battle of Thorns, and commanded those volunteers who'd come with me, since I couldn't bring my entire Field Force without orders. I would give those people their city back."

"This are my daughters, Apollonia Sophia Mana-V'neef-Grimaldi, Nightsweat-borne concerns, Caracol Unending, Trances of Vitriol and Warpstone, Kajilo Djenus, Cadence of Endless Vistas, Narel Pritaire and Navarone Zahre. In any place but where they are protected by my people, they cannot express this, but here, they can..." And the eight young women transformed, one subtly, gaining grey and light purple sparkles, and a simple plain gold ring on her forehead, while the seven others turned into animals. Devil-beasts all:

one a rodent of unusual size, its head to a man's chest, its fangs and claws not unlike a tiger's at all

one a humanoid-sized bipedal dragon whose pebbled skin brought silver most to mind

one a classic devil, humanoid with horns, dark green skin flashing in the dawn

one a humanoid phoenix, brawny and capable of flight, yellow and orange upon its feathers like a radiant dawn, it's beak larger than a horse's head

matched by her sister, a phoenix much akin to the first, but in a dark burnished color, the red of an arterial wound, with burning embers disseminated in its tailfeathers

another a tiger made of stone, lit from the inside by some magical artifice, gleaming gneiss lit from within making markings upon its pelt

the last a mighty blue-furred bear set upon by blue-shaded lightning

Their visitor only quirked an eyebrow, the petite woman engaging her own transformation:

- Orange, teal and green scales covered her body, as her spine lengthened to three meters in length, her head gaining a mane and whisker-tails. Her face gaining orange-bronze and aquamarine scales, as well as a long white beard with whiskers of its own. Upon its four feet were short, stubby draconic claws, pitted and scarred from much use. Her hair flowing, forming and reforming prehensile tail and limbs all along its body. It bellowed ancient words, a challenge in the ancient tongue, it called upon that great primordial fight in Zen-Mu, calling the other chosen to fair and honorable sparring, to see whose skills would be the superior.

But she saw no recognition in the eyes of the younger Infernals, no light of zest for battle, and so she withdew back into her mortal form, once again a middle-aged woman only slightly more muscular than average, clad in fine silks, who had come over for tea. "If there is time, girls, I will teach you some of the old ways. Theion may be dead, but not the the principle of hierarchy."

"Now I know why you got that name." Said Narel, in her tiger form, the words susurring, calm, and the others applauded her bon mot.

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