Chastity and Conquest
Special thanks and Image Credit: Iron Age Media
Chastity sat at the foot of the young man’s bed, when the Demon, Conquest, arrived in the bedchamber. He began to laugh heartily upon the sight of the wind spirit's latest principal.
“I had to see it to believe it,” Conquest said. “Rather than protect the virtue of a maiden, you, Sylph, have entered into the service of a young man!” The laughing became increasingly louder.
“You laugh, Demon,” Chastity said. “And yet you fail to understand that indeed, men need virtue as much if not in some ways, more than those maidens! And so, I watch and protect him.”
“He is corrupt to his essence, as all men are. They desire what I deliver them,” Conquest replied. “You, Sylph, keep this boy from his true path. He is designed for glory! He will be frugal with women! He will attain wealth and status! He will be worshiped by his stewards and the plebs alike! Why then do you rob him of his destiny?”
“Your pride deceives you, Conquest,” The Sylph retorted. “Your delivery is vainglory! Man may desire frugality in all that he does, but his innate desire leads him to perdition! Your false gift is worship from stewards, plebs and peers out of fear, not love! His destiny is to be a protector of virtue! As our creator is to his flock!”
The young master turned over in his bed. The two spirits immediately hushed and watched with intent. Their battle of wits was not to be expressed before humans. They were not to violate his free will, per the rules of the natural world. When he fell asleep again, the battle continued.
“That gift, Wind Spirit, allowed his ancestors to survive! His bloodline would not have brought us here had I not saved him,” The Demon exclaimed. “You, Sylph, cripple his line by limiting its growth!”
“His line will grow,” she replied, gently. Her orange eyes fluttered as she viewed his life on the incoming breeze. “It will be filled with kings, jesters, stewards, and plebs. They will rule with authority and the grace necessary to lead others to paradise.” Her gaze shifted to Conquest. The glow of her eyes beamed, causing the Demon to cower in fear. “Your ways, Demon, will not win over this young master! She shouted.
To the natural observer, the room was still and quiet. The battle was ethereal. A maiden of the house checked on the boy. Yet to her eyes, nothing was happening. The two spirits watched her. The door closed.
Conquest grew in size and began to charge The Sylph upon their distraction. A mighty gust of wind kept him from striking her. “I can crush you with but a twitch of my fingers, Sylph,” The Demon shouted. “When I am one with a human, I topple empires! I kill kings! I become a king! This boy will be powerful and his reign will be mighty! You dare take that from me?!”
Chastity used her glare again. The Demon exclaimed in pain. This time however, the Sylph did not waver. She stood from her position and approached him sternly. The light began to burn his skin. “YOU SHALL NOT HARM THIS BOY!” She shouted. The power of her voice was just below the threshold to penetrate the barrier between the physical and spiritual. “YOUR MISSION IS NOT FOR HIS BENEFIT BUT YOUR OWN! I WILL HELP HIM TO WIELD HIS ABILITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL! HIS LOVE WILL TOPPLE EMPIRES AS EASILY AS HIS SWORD! HE WILL GUIDE NATIONS! HIS NAME SHALL LAST THROUGH THE GENERATIONS! IT SHALL BE VENERATED IN THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT ONE! MY PATIENCE WITH YOUR DECADENCE HAS GROWN THIN! I DO NOT WISH TO HURT YOU! I COMMAND YOU THEN, DEMON CONQUEST, LEAVE HIM! I COMMAND IN THE NAME OF THE ALMIGHTY! SHALL YOU BRING HIM TO HARM, I WILL HUNT YOU WITH CHOIRS OF ANGELS TO THE ENDS OF EXISTENCE! BY THE NAME OF THE ALMIGHTY, AWAY!”
Upon the final command, Conquest scurried through the wall. The shouting caused the boy to toss again. When he went to sleep, The Sylph approached him and quietly sang to him through the night. He lived a quiet, happy life with his wife and children. His descendants, as she proclaimed, became rulers, entertainers, employees, and servants. His control of himself created a dynasty to last for generations to come.