A/N: I have a love-hate relationship with Agarest Senki; I love a lot of the characters and stories, but the gameplay grinds my face into the dust. It seems like kind of a niche thing, too, so I figured it would be nice to add some fanfiction about it on here. I'll write what strikes my inspiration, smut or fluff or action or whatever. The stories will mostly be self-contained, although they all exist in the canon timeline of the game, more or less. They may not be in chronological order, however. It's tough to write fanfiction that can appeal to people who haven't played the game, I don't know how well I did.

This chapter contains smut. Agarest loves to tease and fanservice and bull around but this particular scene left me strongly annoyed that they pulled the double-trick at the end and had it be something innocuous like physical exercise. Screw that.

Under A Full Moon

Second Generation

Ladius x Sherufanir

Now that he was a wanted man, Ladius rarely got to enjoy a day free from his heavy battle armor. He'd crossed half of Graccea laden with his greatsword and gear, even sleeping with his kit in case an emergency came up during the night. Under his burdens, physical and emotional, he could find little rest, insomnia keeping him up at all hours. Often, he chose to stand watch over the camp with the sentries. A little idle chatter with men loyal to him did his soul good. It was a nice distraction from weightier matters, as well.

Recently, however, there had been little need for a guard. Within days of the dramatic battle that had scoured the legions of darkness and freed the south coast from its plague, people had started to welcome his army in their towns. Instead of avoiding the common paths, the deserters had enjoyed warm beds for the first time in over a month. Full of good food and drink, most of his men had turned in for some well-deserved rest, leaving their commander to sit up during the night.

He was contemplating a few sleeping pills on the veranda of the inn when he noticed movement in the distance. A humanoid figure, sporting prominent ears and a bushy tail, was walking down the wide, empty streets. "Sherufanir..." Ladius murmured to himself, leaning back in his chair. Where was she going at this hour?

On a whim, he grabbed his holdout knife and set out after her, clad only in his Grugund officer uniform. The imperial insignias and pips, each one earned through training and dedication and shined obsessively, had all been ripped away. His generalship now came from the men who followed him through hell, instead of thieving, scheming nobility in the capital. Even they did not understand his purpose, his destiny, but still they followed.

Following after Sherufanir at a brisk pace brought his thoughts to the hybrid neocollom, and their time together. She had only recently taken up with his forces, leading to their greatest victory yet, and in the process saving many lives. Although she seemed enigmatic and even dangerous, she had twice now interceded in conflicts and helped to end them. Their first meeting, what seemed like a lifetime ago, had in reality been only a few months back.

Sent to suppress a rebellion in the Tannus Mountains to the north, Ladius had agreed to do the dirty work for a landlord who had brought the entire conflict on by heartlessly overtaxing the peasants and driving many into destitution. They had finally taken up arms, only to find themselves confronted with the professional army, who should have been protecting them. It was now, to him, a great shame that he had gone so far in the service of Grugund. He grew up determined, even eager to fight monsters and even repel darkness itself from the lands, but now he understood that darkness could reside within men, as well.

Ladius had tried appeals to diplomacy, but the rebels would not listen to him, betrayed and embittered by the ruling class and the country at large. It had very nearly come to blood when, from the enemy camp, Sherufanir emerged with a small guard and asked to parlay. Sympathetic to their plight, she had joined the rebel forces and advised them, but she now saw clearly that Ladius' army was too great to overcome in direct combat. Instead, she challenged Ladius directly.

"If you win, we will surrender to you without a fight," She had told him, cunning eyes staring straight through him as if she already knew his answer. "But if I defeat you, general, then you will agree to march your army back down the mountain." Everybody but her had baffled a little bit at this proposal. The rebels certainly weren't happy about resting their hopes on an outsider, no matter how skilled. His own retainers, companions who had fought beside his father against the first wave of darkness, saw through the ploy. She was obviously trying to negate Ladius' advantage in terms of men and fighting power as much as possible.

The opportunity to avoid thousands dying for his mistake was appealing to Ladius. He grasped at the challenge immediately, admiring her on their very first meeting. Really, they were both on the same side, seeking to avoid a battle. He also admitted to himself that he was a fairly proud individual when it came to his martial skills, and such a beautiful lady couldn't possibly match up against him, right?

It had been close. She was so fast, he could barely even keep track of her, much less match her moves. He had trained all his life to move quickly in heavy gear, but against her, he couldn't land a single hit. She danced around him and tagged him, drawing blood twice, all the while smirking like a fox. She had psyched him out as much as outfought him, at first.

He was, though, a real tank, absorbing hits on his finely-crafted armor plate and barely even seeming to flinch when her blades slashed him. The fight had stretched on, and he attacked at every opportunity, enduring until she slipped up just once, stumbling on the uneven ground. He nearly took her head, but stayed the impact so the great, blunt sword merely hit atop her shoulder and rested there.

"I win," Ladius said hoarsely between heavy breaths, holding his sword in both hands and tensing up for her next action. He was so close that he heard her breathing, too.

"You win," She replied, and she dropped both of her daggers, bowing to one knee. "And I am at your mercy, general." She turned to look into her eyes and saw in them heat and passion. The fight was a strangely intimate experience, given that thousands of eyes watched the proceedings. Winning the gamble and ending a war before it got started was sure to be the crowning achievement of his young career.

True to her word, she convinced the leaders, such as they were, of the rebellion to accept a blanket pardon, lay down their arms and stolen property, and return to their fiefdoms. To convey their legitimate concerns to the capital, Ladius took a personal envoy from the rebellion, and to nobody's surprise, Sherufanir accompanied his troops on the march back.

He'd never expected the pain and bloodshed that would flow after he returned to the capital. Upon his return, he was quickly seized and thrown into protective custody. It didn't seem much different from prison, although the nobles assured him it was only a precaution while the courts investigated his actions at Tannus. It was clear from the outset that his mercy was unacceptable, to the people of the city as well as the ruling class. He was charged with no crime and was guilty of nothing, but would rot in prison all the same.

When Sherufanir showed up a week later, to bust him out and secret him from the city, he was more than ready to leave. Stout in defense of his country up to that point, he had seen, clearly as day, Grugund's corruption and failing. Betrayed and embittered, he gathered his retainers and as many loyal men as he could find and began his march towards the south and safety. She hadn't come with him, though, leaving for parts unknown.

The trek so far had been arduous. As he moved south, Grugund's forces were soon upon him, led by a childhood friend determined to bring him home. Raising his arms against her had been tough, but it was painfully obvious that he would never get a fair trial in his home now. He had become a rebel, one way or another. After two great clashes and the loss of many men, he had escaped to the eastern swamplands, trading the hazard of imperial troops for monsters in the bog. Through the journey, he had also gained new allies from the swamp and, finally, made it to the Republic of Fensarril's territory. Ever Grugund's adversary and rival state, Ladius hoped they of all people would be willing to grant him and his troops protection.

No sooner had they landed across the great river, though, than they got word of a mysterious and wealthy lady in the area. Sherufanir had recently come to the coast to investigate a gathering of orcs and goblins. The dark forces were threatening towns across the entire south coast, and Fensarril troops would be slow to react. Although their quest would ultimately take them north, Ladius had made the decision to turn southwards and aid the people.

Thus, he'd stumbled upon Sherufanir for a second time. She was happy to see him, and his troops, quickly providing him with critical intelligence and joining his retainers. Thanks to a well-timed strike against the makeshift leaders of the dark army, the enemy had evaporated into confusion. Defeating them in detail was almost a simple matter.

He had passed the gates of town in his musings, heading out upon the road, barely keeping Sherufanir in sight as she ducked into a light forest and then headed for the beachfront. The moon was out, nearly overhead, and full, showering plenty of light upon the slumbering landscape. He could see the beautiful ocean, dark and calm with few waves, stretching out and occasionally lapping at the sands. It was a wonderful country, and no wonder that so many wanted to live there, even though the coast was a wild place.

Admiring the scenery had caused him to lose her completely, though, and he frowned in confusion before deciding to follow the coast and hope for the best. Wandering too far from population centers, especially during the night, was a blunder. He heard murmurs and whispers upon the wind, and finally, from the treeline, low groaning.

It grew louder as he approached and his hand found its way to the knife, adjusting it for a quick draw. He crept forward, curious and alert, but it was obvious that he was spotted. Something leapt from concealment in front of him and he drew on it in an instant, heart thundering and ready for battle.

"Waoooo~" There, standing before him and howling skywards like a beast, was the lady herself. It was no wonder the people of the coast figured her for royalty, with her beauty and elegantly-tailored dress. It was much simpler than what a lady of a court might wear, though; no ruffles or expansive layers to restrict her movement. It was cut in an alluring way up her leg and the material seemed to shift from black to purple with her movements. Her ears and tail were, just like her hair, golden blonde that seemed to shine in the darkness. Even at a distance, she was unmistakable.

Ladius let out a sigh and slumped slightly, securing his weapon. "Sherufanir. I apologize for following you so suddenly, but leaping out upon me is an excellent way to get hurt-"

She interrupted him by howling again, and his brain, still surging with sudden adrenaline, was having trouble interpreting the scene. It was a little absurd. "Um. What are you doing?" He was no match for his father Leonhardt at the best of times, he was honest enough to admit that, and his fatigue wasn't helping matters. It was probably some strange tradition that he had, like a fool, interrupted. "If, uh, I…"

Stretching broadly, she groaned and finally seemed to notice Ladius again. "Oh, uh. Hello, Ladius! I, just…" Well, at least she was reduced to staggering words for a moment, too. He noticed her cheeks start to heat up just a bit. If drink was involved in this, then things certainly made a bit more sense. "Oh, how to put this…" Her pitch changed slightly as she talked, as though she were having difficulty focusing enough to form words. "Well, the neocollom part of me, uh, once every lunar cycle, or about a month, uh," She pointed up in the general direction of the moon for emphasis.

Oh. "It becomes more difficult to compose yourself." She nodded. "So you venture out alone to work out your animal instincts, to avoid bothering others. And I've disturbed you for no reason other than idle curiosity." He let out another sigh and shook his head. "I'm deeply sorry, this is clearly something that's a little embarrassing, I'll-"

"Well, it is embarrassing," She interrupted him again. It was very uncharacteristic for her, and Ladius was grateful; being interrupted was pretty annoying. "But! I'm actually glad that you came along when you did." She batted her eyelashes at him.

"Why?" He asked, and with the beastly aspects of her personality firmly in control, Sherufanir burst into loud, raucous laughter.

Taking a few steps forward brought her almost nose-to-nose with Ladius, although she was noticeably shorter. He was built like a statue, after all. "Working out my stress alone gets boring. I need somebody else with me." In case that didn't penetrate the armor around his head, she followed up a moment later with a low, husky murmur. "And I'd rather you than anybody else."

Comprehension dawned on him and he got a few shades more red, immediately trying to take a step back. She moved closer, though, putting her arms around his neck and pressing against him lovingly. Where he was hard, she was soft. It was such a sensation for the inexperienced young man, barely nineteen and accustomed more to the battlefield than the bed. "Sh-You're not in your right mind-"

"No, wanted to do this since we met," She replied, her eyes glazed slightly but still staring directly into his. What a beautiful shade of blue. "Next full moon, you were all I could think about. Pretty crazy." She kissed him, hard, basically ravishing his mouth before he could reboot his brain.

She had a taste and it was distinctive, but Ladius could barely keep from falling over, much less identify it. Probably something very expensive. His eyes shut and, in spite of everything, he just went with it. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned into it, forcing himself to breathe through his nose to stay alive.

It ended when she decided to end it, pulling back, but just slightly. She glanced down at him and felt how hard he was getting. She practically growled, and Ladius recognized the look on her face now. It was that of the fox, looking at her next meal.

"It's alright with you that it's my first time?" He asked. Ever since he'd run from Grugund, he'd started feeling older and older than he was, but that all melted away and he got a real perspective of himself. Especially compared with Sherufanir, who exuded confidence and experience with barely any effort, he was a child when it came to these matters.

She rolled her eyes. "Thought so. Don't care… No, wait, I do. I like it. Give you a first time worth remembering." Her words sent a shiver down his spine and caused his breathing to hitch. Before he could think of another objection, she took his hand with one of hers and started to drag him, bodily, away from the water and towards the trees. "Personal experience. Never in sand."

As soon as they reached the grass, she tossed him down with inhuman strength. Before pouncing him, she produced her lucky knives and tossed them aside, and then began to slip out of her dress. Instead of just ripping it apart, she carefully unhooked it and allowed the beautiful, shifting fabric to fall away from her body. There was nothing underneath it, and Ladius would have realized that much sooner, if he'd had any experience. As it was, he was now reduced to staring as she bared herself to the chilly night air.

He stared, shame forgotten as he took in every detail of her body. She was healthy and even curvy, with smooth skin, and it was no wonder she was mistaken for a royal lady by the locals. Compared to regular people, she seemed better somehow. Her attitude was just as attractive, though; she carried herself with a complete confidence, in herself and her actions. "Glad you like me," She purred, still talking only as much as she had to. It seemed he wouldn't snap himself out, though, unless she helped him along. "Yours, now."

He nodded, swallowing nervously and tossing away his own blade. His uniform was of great emotional value to him, even though it didn't confer him authority anymore, and he appreciated that her concern was enough to avoid just ripping it off. He didn't take long, though, tossing aside his jacket, undershirt, and then standing up long enough to slip off his pants. "Meant me~" She grinned and, unable to wait any longer, advanced on him until she was within grabbing distance. "This is good too."

Sherufanir bent down and he felt her cool hair against his abs. She kissed his skin, causing him to shiver and get hard. The smallest things could send electricity down his spine, and she suckled on his skin as though she was literally going to eat him. Kneeling for a moment, the neocolom grabbed his boxers and slipped them down until he could step out of them. She planted a kiss on his bare cock, wringing a little noise from him, but then stood back up and stared him in the eye.

Without another thought, she pressed against him in a hug, sweeping his legs out from under him and then depositing him on his back on the grass. Mesmerized by her, he barely struggled against this, and she was far too strong to be denied. She went down with him, sitting upon his lap and reclining for a moment. Her weight pressed down on him and his erection poked the side of her thigh, and she looked down at it for a moment. "Mmmh~" He noticed, clutched in one of her hands, a small package that he ripped apart to reveal a smooth condom. She grabbed his throbbing cock and rolled the condom down upon it, hands rough and insistent and nearly blanking his mind already.

Ladius opened his eyes as well as his mouth to say something, but she shook her head and pulled herself up, aligning their hips together until he felt himself right up against her, intimately. Without much foreplay, she was ready to go, dripping wet and driven mad from her animal instincts, and she took her partner into herself. Both of them grunted and sucked air as shocking feelings coursed through them. She shivered and pulled herself down until she was filled up with him.

"Sherufanir," He gasped out, watching her body writhe and twist above him and feeling her tighten and squeeze around his cock. "My God…" He choked as she pulled out, leaving him slick with her fluids, and quickly plunged back down, more aggressive and powerful. Whatever he'd expected his first time to be, it definitely hadn't been anything like this.

It wasn't bad, though. In fact, after the initial shock, the sensations were absolutely amazing, and he basically allowed her to ride him all she wished. Her energy seemed limitless and she barely slowed down as he came, and came again, quickly hardening after each time thanks to his own endurance as well as her continuous motion. Her powerful thighs milked him urgently, and time seemed to stretch on forever until she finally reached her own peak. She howled, as loud as she could, and her sharp nails scratched across him and brought him a flash of pain alongside oceans of pleasure. Mostly, though, she managed to claw at the ground instead, until she pulled back and gasped.

His ears rung in the silence, and they locked gazes for several long moments. "I called out your name last month," She told him, voice quiet and even hoarse. She seemed to be peering right into his soul and he flushed more, despite how intimate they'd already gotten. Imagining her, curled up on the ground and desperately fingering herself to relieve her heat, pressure, pent up energies… her melodic voice calls his name… "Oh, again?" His cock stirred quickly, but although she was sweating and panting, she didn't seem tired. "Good. You are mine, all night."

After a short break to catch her breath, she went at him again, using his body in ways he had scarcely ever dreamt of. Occasionally, she was able to convince her to stop, but that never lasted long, and he quickly lost all track of time. Eventually, though, she started to waver, and he seized the opportunity, gripping her legs and flipping both of them over until he sat astride her. She let out a little squeal of surprise, shifting to allow her fine tail to get out from under her back, but his lover seemed more happy than annoyed by this change.

She lifted her legs and locked her ankles, pulling him in and encouraging his hips to thrust against her. He was still, in a way, under her control even as he held himself over her body and pushed in, watching her shapely breasts bounce from the motion and hearing her growling and moaning. He didn't need to worry about holding back one bit, putting all of his remaining strength into her and pressing her into the ground. She cooed and encouraged him loudly, and he was grateful they'd found an abandoned place to act out in.

The fatigue that had plagued him seemed to melt away almost entirely, even though he should have collapsed. Her expectation and affection kept him feeling alive, and several times she slipped out of his grasp only to replace his condom. Every time, she made a great show of trying to clean off his spent cock, revitalizing him and tasting of his seed before she put on a fresh condom. The kind of lives they led, war and chaos, would not allow them to raise a child safely, although both of them privately thought of such things even as they continued to fuck.

Ladius was a man bound by his destiny, a contract forged by his father that demanded the ultimate sacrifice from him. There would be no time of peace afterwards for him; when it ended, so would he, and he'd grown up fully aware of that. She was a free spirit and independent soul, his opposite in so many ways, physically and emotionally, but they both found a part of themselves in the other.

Reflection and thought in general was hard, though; each moment they were together was entrancing and they carried on as the moon passed overhead. His strength, only a human's regular share, soldier or no, faded before hers did, and even as he fell into sleep she continued to grind and writhe against him. Finally satisfied, she eventually collapsed against him, and, nude and soaking in their sweat as well as sexual fluids, twisted together on the grass, they slept.

He slept soundly that night, without a single interruption, in her warm embrace.

"I thought you might sleep forever," Ladius heard as he searched the nearby forest for his left boot. He'd already gathered up the rest of his uniform, which had seen worse tatter and wear over the years, and gotten himself looking decent. He felt far worse for wear, though; he could barely get his legs to move. "It's already noon."

He finally found it and slipped it on after shaking out the grass, letting out a sigh. "I've got a few things to do before that." He looked back at the sound of refined laughter and saw Sherufanir had also gotten dressed. Her hair was a mess and she had dirt stains marring the beautiful, silken fabric of her dress, but even though she looked so disheveled, she was still beautiful.

"Yes, Dyshana told me yesterday." She stretched and let out a groan, flexing a little bit and seeming to bounce on her heels. Evidently, last night had been just what she needed, and he couldn't help a bit of envy at her vitality. "She wouldn't say too much but I gathered the important part. I know of your destiny, Ladius." Far from her usual smirk, Ladius saw that now she was frowning.

He gingerly made his way over to her until they were once again close. "I'm not as quick as my father was, but I recognize a piteous look when I see one."

She looked like she was going to laugh, but instead she shook her head. "No. Well, I cannot help but think it a little unfair, you know. Your father made a contract binding you, and your entire line, to Dyshana's war to save his own life. I get the impression you were never offered the chance to decline this destiny."

"We all have a choice," Ladius said, pulling her into an embrace. "I was born for this purpose, and raised for it. I know nothing else aside from it." Even as he said that, he realized he was starting to tear up, his vision blurring.

Sherufanir realized that anything she could say, he'd already probably thought to himself a million times by now. "Yet it hurts. You bear up so well under it… a lesser man would have ran away long before now. I surely could not bear the burden of all Graccea and its fate."

He smiled, a small, sad expression on his grim face. "Ah, I mistook your feelings again. Please, don't denigrate yourself. Twice now you've been in the right place, at the right time, to save lives and prevent wars. I can't believe that happened by chance. You are free, but you do take on burdens and you follow what your conscience demands. I'd rather have your pity than your admiration."

"That's not true," She insisted, taking his hand in her own. "Ladius, if you only fight because you must… why not run away with me? We can find somewhere safe and allow destiny and fate to rage without our contributions."

"Run away…" Ladius chuckled even as he wiped his eyes clean with his sleeve. "I'm sorry, Sherufanir. I'd never even considered such a thing. If I went with you, and abandoned my duty… we wouldn't find peace. Not truly. It would haunt me until the darkness, unchecked, came for us, no matter where we went to hide."

She fell silent and pulled away, although she held onto his hand tightly. "… I know. Come on, let's get back to town before we're missed."

Somehow, going back there wasn't appealing to him, but he didn't want to stay. He nodded in agreement and took the lead, never letting go of her hand as they walked back to the road. From there, the outskirts of the town wasn't far at all. The morning watchmen at the town gate were just changing shifts, and talking leisurely with a distinctive man in an old brown coat. "Great, just who I want to see us together," Ladius murmured in annoyance. "Knowing Winfield, he will promptly assume that we slipped off during the night to…"

"Fuck like animals?" Sherufanir finished his sentence with a grin and she saw him avert his face, because he was blushing again. "Well, we did. I didn't say this already, so I will now; I appreciated that, Ladius. Thanks for putting up with me."

"As long as that only happens once a month," He cautioned her. "Any more frequently and you'll wear me out for good." She quietly giggled and he braced himself for a little more embarrassment. Hopefully, in time, he would get used to it, especially if Sherufanir was joining his party for good.

"I see your confidence has grown. Although, you are right to assume I would spend my next wild month with you again. You were the best I've ever had."

Upon their approach, a guard waved to the two of them and got Winfield's attention. After a moment of shock, the ageless rogue ran towards them, the biggest grin of his life plastered on his face. Recruited by Leonhardt, Ladius' father, Winfield had been there as something approaching a father figure since he had been born. Now, he seemed also to be on the verge of tears. "My lord, it looks as though… oh, it's true, isn't it?" Sherufanir nodded and Ladius felt himself betrayed. "By God, the day has finally come! I am so proud of you, my son!"

He soon turned upon her. "My fair Sherufanir, please, take good care of him from now on! He has so much to learn, so much to experience! If you can give him happiness before the time comes for his destiny, then-"

She held up a hand and said, "Don't worry, Winfield. After what's happened, I won't give him up for anything."

Without another word to either of them, Ladius trooped back into town, heading straight for the inn and barely sparing a greeting to his men as they stirred and woke alongside the townsfolk. Perhaps staying another day in town wouldn't be so bad, especially since he felt ready to sleep the rest of the day away. He certainly didn't need the pills anymore, and was asleep as soon as he hit his comfortable bed.

Whatever that night had meant, and Ladius was honest enough to admit that it certainly meant something, they had to press forward. Matters of war and blood were still to be decided, and then he would be called upon to make his sacrifice. Sherufanir had, like a harbinger, arrived just as the darkness descended upon the land, and now, she would be there for him as he fought. It made his duty a little less crushing, a little less lonely, and only solidified his determination to see things through, to the end.