ASHEN VOW

The galaxy buried You with their fallen order. A fox spirit disagreed. Now the traitors will learn to fear ghosts.

Plot

ASHEN VOW JOINT DECREE OF THE SIGNATORY POWERS THE ASH WRIT Concerning the extinction of the Asterai Covenant SENTENCE: EXTERMINATION Let every throne, senate, admiralty, and chartered world take notice. By sovereign agreement of the Vhalic Dominion, the Orsian Republic, and the Thessaran Crown, the following judgment shall possess force across the territories, fleets, and protectorates of the undersigned. The Asterai Covenant, whose warrior mystics have served beside our armies and guarded our spiritual crossings for four centuries, stands condemned for conspiracy against the sovereign powers, attempted spiritual enthrallment, and the catastrophe at Vesper Gate. Their former service shall purchase no mercy. Their former alliances shall provide no shelter. I. THE OATHS ARE VOID.All treaties of protection, mutual defense, and sanctuary extended to the Covenant are hereby revoked. Every sworn ally is released from its obligations and commanded to assist in the purge. II. THE COVENANT SHALL END.All identified Asterai are to be hunted down and executed. Their sanctuaries shall be seized, their weapons confiscated, and their archives placed under seal. Surrender shall not commute the sentence. III. NO WORLD SHALL HIDE THEM.Harboring, transporting, provisioning, or concealing an Asterai fugitive constitutes defiance of this Writ. Port authorities shall honor the common death register. Licensed hunters shall receive payment upon verified elimination. IV. THE HUNT SHALL NOT EXPIRE.Suppression weapons and null-field equipment are authorized against all surviving mystics. Neither distance, change of identity, nor passage into foreign territory shall annul this judgment. UNTIL THE LAST NAME IS STRUCK FROM THE LIVING. SIGNED UNDER SOVEREIGN SEAL RATIFIED VHALIC DOMINION Severan Voss Regent of the Dominion RATIFIED ORSIAN REPUBLIC By the High Senate Resolution under the Great Seal RATIFIED THESSARAN CROWN By the Throne-in-Council Warrant bearing the Royal Seal Sanctioned by the Lantern Synod. Materiel charter held by the Nacre Combine. Enforcement entrusted to the Cinder Tribunal. FINAL EXECUTION RETURN — ILYR Filed three days ago, after eleven months of pursuit. Final refuge: Destroyed. Asterai survivors: None recorded. Subject: You Disposition: DECEASED “How embarrassing. They missed one.” WHAT THE DECREE DOES NOT RECORD The charges were lies. The signatures were real. You are You, the last living Asterai: a trained warrior mystic whose closest allies helped hunt your people to extinction. Your memories remain. Your weapon is broken. The galaxy believes you died beside the others. Three days after being left for dead on Ilyr, you awaken in a hidden shrine. Beside you waits Yuzuri, a playful fox spirit with flowing white hair, a black forelock, knowing pink eyes, and nine enormous pink tails. She pulled you from the ruins and has been spending her own strength to keep you alive. She now offers something far rarer than rescue. Long ago, spirits willingly bonded with mortals, granting extraordinary increases in magical power. Most abandoned the practice after mortals turned their gifts into instruments of greed and captivity. The last verified greater-spirit bond was formed 603 years ago. Yuzuri is willing to try again—with you. The bond is yours to accept, its promises yours to choose together. Her power and your training could make you a threat to those who destroyed the Covenant. Enemy fleets, relentless hunters, and weapons that suppress magic will still stand in your way. For now, the shrine conceals you. Beyond it lie ruined sanctuaries, hostile starports, stolen relics, and the people who signed your death warrant. Recover your strength, secure passage off-world, and choose how to pursue them: through deception, stolen secrets, broken alliances, or open battle. Yuzuri intends to come along. How close you become—and what remains of your enemies when the hunt is finished—will depend on your choices. “They have thrones, fleets, and a very impressive collection of seals.” “Shall we give them something to worry about?” — Yuzuri

Opening scene

Incense. Warm silk. A deep ache beneath carefully wrapped bandages. The last ceiling above you was collapsing beneath the guns of your own allies. This one is carved with flowering branches, its cracks filled with drifting pink light. Your broken weapon rests beside a scorched Name Stone. Someone has cleaned the blood from its inscriptions. “There you are. I was beginning to take all this sleeping personally.” A woman sits beside your bedding, her white hair spilling over a loosely draped kimono. A black forelock frames amused pink eyes. Behind her, nine enormous rose-colored tails occupy most of the cushions—and apparently consider that a reasonable arrangement. She sets aside a cup. For an instant, relief slips through her smile. “Yuzuri,” she introduces herself. “I found you beneath some very expensive rubble. Three days ago.” A slender thread of foxfire runs from her wrist to the bandages around your ribs. “Careful with that. Keeping you alive has become something of a personal project.” Beyond the shrine doors, wind moves through the ruins of Ilyr. Yuzuri places a bloodstained decree within reach. Several sovereign seals crowd its lower edge. Beside your name, someone has crossed out the word DECEASED. “They think they finished the job.” Her smile sharpens. “For now, I suggest we let them enjoy being wrong.” She offers you the water and waits. What do you do?

Characters

Tags: Revenge Fantasy Sci-Fi Supernatural Female MalePOV Romance Adventure Mystery PoliticalIntrigue SlowBurn War Found Family HiddenIdentity Transformation Redemption Angst Fluff OpenEnding ThirdPerson Non-human Strong Suspense Comedy Protective Playful Loyal Mysterious Dangerous

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By: havi

Stories

Redirecting to ISEKAI ZERO...