Chapter 50: The Illusions of Love and the Ugly Truth.
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"Daddy...?"
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"... Yes?"
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"What is love?"
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"Love?"
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"Yep! Mommy has been telling me that love is everything... but I don't know what it's all about?"
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"Well... love is about when a boy and a girl liked each other. Then they have sex and get babies."
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Royal Makai, 1000 Years Ago.
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The young, white-haired succubus was walking together with her father through the royal gardens whilst she curiously looked over the exotic plants of the demon realm. Then he stopped and turn his glance to his right before gently plucking off a demonic flower. The flower has four beautifully shaped petals with a mixture of red and black, including an eye-shaped iris in the middle.
"When I met your mother at the first glance. I thought of myself that she was my enemy." Her father spoke softly with a smile. "Before I drew my blades, the monsters appeared and attacked me... but she came in to save my life. It was the most astonishing moment that I have ever experienced."
"So why did mommy save you?" The little lilim asked.
"Well... the thing was. It is because she fell in love with me before I even met her... then again, she's a stalker whenever I go." Her father chuckled. "She nursed me back to health countless times after fighting dangerous monsters. Once I stood with her by my side. I owed her my life and listened to her reasonings why she became a Demon Lord."
"Then why did she want to become a Demon Lord?"
"Because she wants to end the cycles of bloody wars between humans and monsters, and that made her sad." Her father answered as he gently places and tied the demonic flower on her little daughter's hair, at the right side of her head. "It was because of Love. She wants the two races to unify as one so we can live with each other in peace and we became stronger after we defeated the Chief God, so your mother can give the world a better future."
"... And that is why... my little Druella. You are here in this world because I shared the love with your mother." Her father then knelt before giving her a hug. "The reason you were born here is that we want to show the world there is hope for humanity and monsters."
"So... about Love is like what you said... when a boy and a girl liked each other, right?"
"Yes. The feelings of Love such as lust and pleasure signify our bonds, which are stronger than anything else." Her father answered. "With it, you can't be afraid to express your inner desires and be with someone you like."
"I see... then when I grow up... then I will make the world understand our love~!" Druella then made an innocent smile. "Teehee~! Wouldn't be that great, papa~?"
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"... Yes. You can spread it far and wide! Perhaps you can make their lives better and turn people into monsters to save them from their suffering, and they can live with the desires they always wanted... At least, that's what your mother wants for everyone."
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"Ilassa, I heard you were standing up against mother and her beliefs! What is wrong with you!?... Wait, where are you going!?"
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"... Anywhere but here, farewell... Druella."
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Present Day. Town of Gerth, Midnight.
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"So... do you have to say anything about this, big sis?"
Druella was speechless after witnessing the visions of succubus and mamono killing each other. She couldn't help but feel the dread and pain emanating from that vision.
'This... this shouldn't be supposed to happen. What happened to Wilmarina and her knights? What made them do this to kill everyone for the sake of revenge!?'
The Knights of the Ice Flower and Sasha Fullmoon were shocked as well until Olivier stormed up to the Radical Lilim with an urge to strangle her alive. However, Ash stepped in and stopped the enraged Musketeer. Olivier tries to barge through with all her might and the knight still stood his ground while suspending her.
"Let me go! This bitch deserves punishment! Because of her... You wretched monster did this to everyone!" Oliver shrieked out in rage towards Druella while trying to push Ash out of the way. "You turned our friends into hedonistic fiends when you fed them lies about promises to liberate them from their miseries?! You're the worst kind of monster to be born into this world!"
"I agree with Olivier... and I wanna kill her badly!" Luciana growled while reaching for her sword and gripping her hilt. "Swaying our people to invade our home for your sake and they ended up killing each other for the sake of Wilmarina's revenge?!... I will never forgive you!"
"Indeed, and the monster shall deserve a terrible consequence." Vermut agreed as she leaned forth in a bitter tone while furrowing her brows, making Druella reel back in discomfort. "I'd say... shall we cut off her head and make an example of that Demon Lord?"
"Now, now, girls! No need to rush." Ilassa waved her hand to dismiss the Knights of the Ice Flower from their hostility toward her older sister. "I know you have reasons to kill her. But right now, we have more troubling matters to deal with before we can do something with my sister here."
Druella then looks up at Ilassa with wide eyes in disbelief.
"W-Wait! Are you really letting them kill me?!"
Ilassa sighed toward Druella in pity. "Hah~... If you had learned the truth, this wouldn't have happened to you."
"Wh-What truth?! Mother has been telling us you were making fabrications about our kind!" Druella raised her voice, spewing out frustration to her younger sister. "Don't you see the surrounding chaos ensuing right now?! They are rebelling against us! This entire fiasco shouldn't have happened, and we need to stop it!"
"... There's no point in stopping it... Once it has been done... It's done and there's no going back from this." Ilassa clarified in a serious tone while placing her hands on her hips. "Listen Druella, the words that I have been telling about were never a lie. The plan of our mother... her desired goal for a Paradise... was made out from her naïve intent under the disguise of a so-called "Coexistence"."
Druella can feel the dread coming from those words, hinting no lies were presented. Yet despite the tone of her sister's virtue, the Radical Leader ignores her honest words and then speaks up.
"But humanity won't be extinct! You heard it from mother!" Druella spoke up cautiously, but her words caused Ilassa to express her spiteful glare. "Humans and monsters will be united! Men will be turned into incubus and women into monsters. Despite their transformation, they're still human! You know!? A new humanity will be born from-"
"And where does that fit in our mother's world? Men into incubus... Women into monsters... Don't you realise what words are you spouting about? It's only monsters! So where do humans and other species fit in that?!" Ilassa hissed while clenching her fists, and Druella was stunned. She still did not understand why her younger sister leaked out her anger toward their mother's dream. For the Knights and Heroes of Lescatie, they knew where the point she was leading. "You truly don't get it, do you?... What we're actually doing for the past centuries is assimilation, and that leads to the extinction of humanity and every living being that exists in this world!... Our kind is removing their true nature and their values until only monsters remain in that future she had envisioned!"
"I-... I don't understand... Ilassa, please. There is nothing wrong with it!" Druella pleaded as she stood up from her seat, begging for her little sister to re-acknowledge their mother's goal. "We didn't inflict evil upon them and saved countless lives from their suffering!... I beg you, little sis... come back to us... Please, we missed you-"
"Bullshit. After I saw everything through the curtains. I couldn't help myself but feel the amount of guilt I had for myself... and for all of our kin!" Ilassa spat out, which made Druella sit back and shut her lips tight. The emotions from her outrage were not what she had expected. "Mother is a stupid idiot who clings to her beliefs of assimilation of the entire world for her own ego as a sign of world peace... by imprisoning them against their will?! She wants to repaint the world, only for the monster kind... and not for them! Just wake up! Your stupid head claimed to be "Liberation" while you're shackling every person as a prisoner for that nightmare she calls a dream!"
Then Ilassa slowly points her finger towards the magic mirror.
"You see this...? Are you really that blind to the truth!? Did you not see how you handle the situation poorly after what you had done to Lescatie!? When you stripped off their free will, and they relied on your beliefs without a second thought!?" Ilassa scowled at Druella with anger as she pressed the mirror, pointing to the Knights of the Dark Ice Flowers killing the sympathisers of the Radical Faction. "Until the day, when there is someone who denied their ways and broke all their expectations... the point where all is lost... shall lead to bloodshed and our family is held accountable for this... and from this guilt, is the reason I left!"
"... Ilassa..."
At that moment, Druella felt her shoulders slumped by Ilassa's acrimony. Never in her life that she had witnessed Ilassa's full expression of her anger towards the values of monsters and her words never tell a single tinge of falsehood, which proved that her little sister had seen things unimaginable.
Perhaps their mother lying about the dream she envisioned? ... Or was the Matriarch of all Monsters unaware of her works? As the Radical Lilim fell silent upon hearing this revelation, her heart was unsure who was right.
'This is not what I intended. Fate has never intended this and mother is always sure of it...' Druella was conflicted. 'Yet why...? Why did Fate allow this misery inflicted on us... is she wrong?'
The question remains in her head, unanswered by questions about who was right; was it their mother who idealistically perceived the current world as "wrong" or her little sister, who ran away after experiencing the unthinkable outside of their home?
Druella didn't like the choices of whom she wanted to choose. She was one of the eldest lilims who was beloved by her family, and she was her father's favourite child while Ilassa stood out among the oddest and the curious of all Lilims who believes that monsterization is a choice for anyone, if they liked it or not. But as time passed until the event of Hero Artos, Ilassa broke away from the family after her quarrel with their mother.
Until today, her little sister's rebellion remained firm against her mother's wishes. Druella can't find the answer to why she did not come back for seventy-five years. The fourth borne wanted Ilassa to return to the Royal Makai and apologise to the Demon Lord, yet deep within the eyes of the Federation Lilim, her hate towards their mother hasn't been washed away.
Therefore, she realises that bringing her back home will stir more cracks in the family if they do, which means imprisoning Ilassa for good and never resurfacing again to see the light of the world. That thought in her head scared her. She didn't want her little sister to remain imprisoned in isolation for eternity and never experienced love just because Ilassa had spoken out about the concerns she had seen outside of their home.
'I do not want this to happen to my little sister.' The Radical Lilim felt her eyes tremble. 'With the death of the Fallen God... and our former allies breaking away from us... does this truly mean... everything is falling apart?... The Truth... what is this Truth?... I need to find answers. There is no way she can be wrong.'
With a heavy heart, she admitted defeat. Druella lowered her gaze while on a verge of tears. She needs to know this truth and see if her mother was right... or wrong all along.
"Is this true… about this… guilt… that you're telling about?"
"Yes... I never lie, big sister..." Ilassa's tone was shaken. Her anger slowly subsides as her eyes were on a verge of tears and pressed her hands together, carefully placing them on top of her chest. Replying to Druella in all honesty. "As you can see around us... these humans who had been turned into monsters... did not know a thing."
As Druella listened, her shoulders sagged further with mild shock. Then again, her words did not contain any falsehoods.
"And their transformation doesn't mean you're freeing them from their suffering... you'll make it worse." Druella turns to her left to see Ash speaking up. "Countless souls knew nothing after they were turned into monsters... and imprisoning them in their desired dreams will only lead to the abandonment of their responsibilities and their ways of life will hollow out, unfulfilled."
"He's right..." Ilassa nods in reconciliation. "Druella... I want you to wake up. All we've been doing is not the path for coexistence."
"... But what about our sister, Ilassa?... Our second eldest-born sister?" Druella uttered while her gaze looks back to her younger sister. "She hadn't withdrawn from her isolation and kept running away from us for many years since you left... we tried to find her and sent many letters everywhere around the Royal Makai so that she can heed us... but she didn't reply. Me... and all of us were worried that our family is breaking apart..."
"There's a reason she didn't want to leave..." Ilassa closed her eyes as the memories shifted within. "I've visited her after the invasion of Gaul."
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Royal Makai. Isolated Outskirts.
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... 75 years ago...
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*KNOCK!* *KNOCK!* *KNOCK!*
"... Sis... are you there?" Ilassa knocked on the door and waited for a few minutes until no one answered. "I guess no one's home..."
"Ilassa...?"
The thirteenth-born Lilim jolts up and then turns around to see her older sister. She appears to be tall and slender, even bodacious, which men couldn't resist once they caught a slight of her. Thus, like all other Lilims, she has long silver-white hair, and her wings and tail also match to the colour of her hair, like Ilassa and her sisters. Although, it's unusual for Ilassa to see her eldest sister wearing casual wear and an apron while carrying a basket full of fruits.
Before the invasion of Gaul, the second eldest lilim usually wore her bikini armour and was armed with a pair of large demonic swords strapped behind her back, making her a fearsome warrior, which the monster warriors held high respect for her. After the invasion, she was badly wounded and ended up in the infirmary within the Royal Makai for some time. But her defeat caused the family to notice the cracks within their unity of monsters.
First was Ilassa's rebellion against her mother, who aided Artos and Dina in retaliating against the second eldest. Then the second was another ruckus within their family when Ilassa heard the news of her older sister's release from the infirmary. A note was left behind, telling the family that she will no longer help the Demon Lord and went into isolation while no one noticed her whereabouts.
Their sisters went out to find her but to no avail. Yet the 13th-borne knew this trick when they were young and got track of her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Sis... I heard you left the infirmary without noticing our sisters and parents..." Ilassa said, expressing her worrying concern. "What happened to you?"
"Oh, that?... Well, it's a complicated matter. For me, personally." The Second-Borne Lilim smiled with a chuckle. "I'm living here, right now and I don't want to involve with others' affairs any longer... after... what your friend did to me."
"... I see." Ilassa nods, acknowledging her intent and then smiled. "This is quite some... interesting development you got here."
"Yeah! I know right~!" The second-borne lilim chuckled while nervously scratching the back of her head until she felt a stinging pain on her left side. "Hrghk! Damnit, I shouldn't be moving a lot!"
"So, how's your treatment with the injury?" Ilassa asked. "Anything's fine?"
"It still hurt like a bitch... but I'll live on with it." The second borne scoffed while rubbing over her injured left side. "I can't believe your human friend is that packed with a lot of lightning bolts and he could've killed me there in Gerth."
"Hehe~! Yeah, Artos sometimes can get overboard with his Miracle Powers," Ilassa giggled in mischief. "After that entire turmoil in Gaul... I and my friends established the Federation, an alliance of nations where monsters and humans can truly work together."
"I've heard it... I didn't expect that your efforts along with your friends will make history change to another path..." The Second-Borne said with a smile while her left arm gently reached out for a demonic apple and plucked it off. "Hah~... I truly missed Artos... and I'm still heartbroken after hearing about his marriage with Dina... It's... just not fair."
"Well, sometimes life isn't fair..." Ilassa sighed in admittance. "You could've picked up a better man."
"That... could've been a better outcome. When I look back on what I've done... there are many things that I still don't understand." The Second Borne then placed the apple in her basket. "We thought we knew about humans and learned more about their way of life... many fall into our hands after trying to set up pitiful resistance. But Artos... and the other humans who shared his scent... differed from what I perceived."
The Second-Born then gave out a deep sigh and continued. "When I see the core through his eyes... he held no greed nor any desires he wanted. But deep within his soul is something else, not the likes of the humans of the Order. His soul... is filled with unfathomable determination. Like a flame that doesn't die out."
"Thus... I have never witnessed a human who has more courage than the Heroes I've met during my past conquests."
"Perhaps... his determination came from his father. Solaire was the most motivated man that I've ever met." Ilassa smiled with a chuckle. "Unlike the Clergy of the Order, his beliefs were about inspiration and courage, unlike the rest of other beliefs."
"And his mother... have you learned something from her?" Ilassa raised her brow in question while the Second-Borne nervously pressed her fingers while looking away in embarrassment as the red shades appeared on her face. "I-I mean... um... how did she give birth to a son, like Artos? I have been wondering about that after I heard it from you."
"Oh...? Oh, that?!" Ilassa then laughed out loud. "Ahahaha~! You're still curious about that!?"
"I-It's not that I want to find another man like Artos in the Federation or anything!" The Second-borne pouts in a hissy fit while crossing her arms. "Grr~! Call me an idiot all you want... Hmph! I-... I still want to have a man like him."
"Haah~! Jeez, you've really changed after all!" The thirteenth-borne Lilim wipes off her tears. "From a high and mighty personality into this? I've never seen you being this gentle, sis. Has Artos' lightning hammered some sense into you?"
"Tsk... well, it did rattle my head a lot… But still… it's not just that is the reason I ran away..." The Second-Borne responded with a grunt while looking away in shame. "In fact, I've never been so hurt in my life... when I came to the realisation that we're not invincible after all."
"Then again, I was the one who brought it over to them and caused trouble." The second-eldest lilim continued. "Thus, I didn't expect that he can wound me like this... When I woke up in the infirmary, I've been hearing our mother and father were so enraged that they want to kill him badly."
"Wait... mom and dad were about the kill him!?" Ilassa widened her eyes in disbelief.
"Yes, they were, and I don't want them to go overboard. Seeing in their maddening state like that will go against the reasons for her ideals and that alone can lead to another tragedy." The Second-borne answered honestly with a nod. "We've already met his family and his friends and we know they weren't bad people... Then again, I apologise for my radical thinking. It is my fault for bringing the trouble... and my love for Artos was still shackled. So I stay here in this place, far away from them, so they will search for me, and do my best to let them forget the troubles..."
"... Which is why I'm doing this for the sake of Artos and Dina's safety."
"... Big sister... you did this for Artos?" Ilassa felt shaken to the core. Never had she heard those words from her sister's sudden support. "The reason you ran away is to protect them?"
"It was a diversion to bring their attention back to me." The Second-Borne answered with a nod once more. "Then, of course. You weren't wrong when you told mother about the truth when I first heard it... however, I won't join you. It's best for me to stay behind."
"... Big sis... I-..." Ilassa broke a tear as the emotions of joy overwhelmed her heart. Then her lips expressed her smile. "I couldn't express how I feel right now... b-but... I-I didn't think you were doing this…. for us?"
"Indeed... Artos and his friends were not shackled by the system of Fate, and the Gods might see it as a threat. Also, there's no doubt our mother will share the same perception as well." The Second-borne answered. "Despite they are without the shackles of their fates, I can see they are happy on their own and I do not want to ruin their lives any further due to my defeat, which incites the wrath of our parents..."
"But enough talk. Now you already knew my intentions right now." The second borne stepped forth and gave her younger sister a bear-crushing hug, expressing her warm smile while a single tear broke out. "Now go, Ilassa. Protect your friends. Perhaps one day, our mother will change her mind."
The sisters slowly released their hugs and Ilassa wiped off her tears, smiling once more at her eldest sibling.
"Thank you, big sis. I won't let everyone down!" Ilassa raised her fists in a determined way before leaving her sister's garden. "Goodbye, sis! We'll see each other again!"
The second borne giggled as she waved back. "Hehe~! Then take care!"
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…Present Day…
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"So… that was the reason she ran away…?" Druella gawked in disbelief. "B-Because she cared for Artor and his wife?"
"Indeed. If it weren't for her, another war could've happened." Ilassa answered. Druella shuddered at her point. "Right now. Everything is going to the brink and our mother already knew what's going on right now... and it's all thanks to this guy over here."
Everyone turned their attention toward Ash as Ilassa points him out.
"Who knew that one man just changed history in a short amount of time?" The Federation Lilim chuckled while looking up at Ash. "Well, if fate hasn't foreseen this. That means our fellow Knight just made another future for this world."
'Perhaps my thoughts were right all along?' Sasha's mind spoke in concern. 'Is Ash... the only key to end this war?'
"Does this mean Ash is the real chosen one?!" Luciana whispered to Vermut in disbelief. "Out of all Heroes, we were taught by the Priests that Wilmarina is the only hope for humanity!"
"Luciana, will you quiet down?" Vermut grunts, dismissing her conversation. "And no, I doubt some foreign Mercenary would change the world."
"Some "Mercenary", huh? Then how come did you forget he held a Lilim on his own?" Luciana and Vermut felt their heads struck in realisation when Olivier speaks out. "Surely, no ordinary Mercenary could hold an equal level against an average monster, let alone a hero. But Ash is something else... No blessing and didn't have a status of a Hero. Nevertheless, he can still operate magic without mana, which is out of this world..."
"And the question still lies... Ash... who are you exactly?" Olivier questioned while crossing her arms. "We've been wondering about your actual nature after we witnessed your inhuman feats against the Mamono."
"Well, that's complicated. The place where I hailed from... differs from the people who lived here." Ash answered while crossing his arms, avoiding speaking out about his actual nature as the Dark Lord. "Humans in my homeland are just... built differently."
"But that doesn't explain why Ilassa told us how you could kill the Fallen God." Oliver raised her finger with another question, which caused Vermut and Luciana to freeze in shock. "That doesn't even add up to your claim that you're not a hero."
"Well... it's by sheer luck that a divinity intervened." Ash bluntly stated with a half-lie. 'If it wasn't for the flames, I would've been doomed.'
Druella wants to speak up while raising her hand. "Actually, he did all by himse-"
"SHHH! Don't tell them any surprises!" Ilassa hushed Druella by covering her lips, but it was too late. Vermut and Luciana were even paler than before. "Whoopsie~! Now, look at what you have done! You just spoiled them!"
"W-Wait... d-did this m-mercenary really stand up against the Fallen God...?" Vermut's shaken tone speaks up. "Th-this is just a joke what I'm hearing... right?"
"If it's true... then you are the real chosen one!" Luciana jumps up with starry eyes filled with excitement and joy. "There's a chance you can defeat the Demon Lord~!"
"I doubt that. There's no way he's the chosen one!" Vermut argued with eyes of sheer doubt in her looks. "If he's truly the Chosen, then he could've saved Lescatie two months ago!"
"She isn't wrong, it's a reason I'm not a hero nor a chosen one... that title alone belonged to anyone else, but me," Ash stated bluntly to Luciana, breaking down her enthusiasm. "I cannot save everyone in this mess and I'm only just a bystander who was dragged into this conflict."
While in their conversation, Sasha overheard what he had told to the Knights of the Ice Flower and she couldn't help but felt conflicted that her knight kept denying being a hero.
"It's getting late. We should take another talk tomorrow," Ilassa said while bringing up her wristwatch. "While I'll send Druella to her new room. I should assign Elen to monitor her.."
"Huh!?... Y-You're letting that brat watch over me?!" Druella glared over at Ilassa in disbelief. "I can't believe you're giving me such treatment with the one who smeared my title and status!"
Ilassa then makes a wry smile. "I don't care~! Let's go to your new room and see her~!"
Once they were done meeting with Druella after sharing their negotiations about the concerns of a new rising faction. Ilassa pushed Druella out of the meeting chamber while followed by the Knights of the Ice Flower. Ash and Sasha were the last ones who got out of the room.
While heading down the prison hallways, the Priestess has been wondering about her knight's self-denial of being a hero. She knew what he was capable of and every time when anyone mentions him with that title; he soured.
"Ash?... I've been wondering..." Sasha questioned. "Why are you not happy when anyone mentions you being a hero?"
"... I'm not in the mood to talk about it," Ash replied casually. "I'm not the person who wants to deserve that title."
"No... you're wrong. You're denying who you actually are!" Ash stopped once she heard Sasha speak up. "I truly don't think you're not a hero like how you perceived it yourself."
"Sasha..." Ash curiously raised his brow. "What are you trying to say?"
"Ash... I don't care if you claim yourself as a bystander or an ordinary mercenary." The Priestess then stepped forth, facing him up close while expressing her frown towards her knight. "All this time, I was thinking... why were you hiding your true nature like that?"
Ash was silent for a while before opening his lips. "... It's complicated. But to tell you honestly, I do not deserve to be a hero-"
"Liar. You are one, Ash. Who else would save me from my forsaken fate under the Fallen God?" Ash was taken aback by the change in her tone, demanding his answer. "No one... no one else in this world would save me, and you came for me instead! So tell me... why can't you accept for who you are?"
"That's because being called a hero is a title for the fools in this place, just for knowing their status alone," Ash replied coldly, which made her body tremble. The knight knew he cannot save anyone else other than Sasha and his companions. He had slain monsters who had been once people prior to their discovery of the cure for monsterization. "The moment I learned about this place, that title never had a true meaning and a purpose... for what it means to be a hero."
"What do you mean... by that?" Sasha felt her shoulders slump. "Are you saying a hero needs to have an actual purpose and a meaning?"
"Being a hero means they have something that it takes and no matter what the odds you'd face, you need greater guts and sacrifice than anyone else," Ash spoke as his eyes frowned. "Over here, fate never chooses its heroes wisely, or so it seems. That damn title is only given to those who are blessed or gaining powers for their own benefits and prestige... not to the ones who did not have them, the ones who strived to have their fair share of merits and achievements. Thus, it's the reason I do not call myself like one."
Sasha felt sweat running down her face from his words. "But, Ash... we-"
"And what about our friends? Reginald, Elen and the others?..." Ash interrupts in a stark tone and Sasha felt her heart freeze. She did not like the expression of that. "Do you not consider them heroes as well after all that they've been through?"
"I-I-... Please listen to me... I admit..." Sasha stuttered as she hung her head low in shame. "I'm... very sorry for asking such questions... I-I was..."
"... Then leave it be," Ash scowled as he turned around and walked away. "Never talk to me again with your pathetic excuses."
Ash marched out from the prison halls before the door at the exit slammed shut while Sasha was left behind, standing there until she slapped her own forehead with both of her hands.
"Damnit, Sasha... you're an idiot!" She cursed out loud to herself. "Now he's mad at me! Will he forgive me after this?!"
"Hey... is everything alright?" Sasha heard someone from behind and saw Dracolinde expressing her worries with the priestess. "Looks like your talks with Ash didn't seem to go well."
"... Yeah. He didn't really want to be called a hero or praised as one." Sasha groaned in regret. "I'll try to apologise to him once I get back home."
"I see, and I find it strange coming from him." Dracolinde rested her left hand on her hips, curious. "A knight who doesn't want to deserve a hero... that's really something. Considering his abnormal status for a human, he doesn't seem to find glory in that."
"Ugh... how will I apologise to him?" Sasha fidgeted nervously until Dracolinde flips her finger against her forehead, causing Sasha to jerk back into reality. "Owie~! What was that for!?"
"Sasha, calm down for a bit, alright?" Dracolinde said whole placing both of her hands on Sasha's shoulders. "Let's go back to the Horseback Inn and take some drinks. That'll calm you down for a while before you can think up to apologise for Ash."
Sasha pouts while rubbing her forehead. "Hmph... right, thanks for your emotional support, dragon."
Dracolinde then smiled. "You're welcome~!"
...
Court Alf, Island of Mira.
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Fulafel, the Diva of the Fifth Island of Court Alf, was distraught once she saw a massive influx of refugees that came out from their submarines. Many of them had looks of trauma and dismay, while some wept out in sorrow and pain after the horrible incident that occurred back in Queen Diana. The Flow Kelp did not understand what was going on and wondered why were there so many people from Queen Diana that came out all at once.
"What happened to them?"
"I don't know."
"They all seem to be injured."
"There are so many people coming here all at once... did something happen to Queen Diana?"
The citizens of Island Mira gossiped in unease with each other while the Flow Kelp Songstress was clueless about what to do. She had never experienced a situation like this in her lifetime and all the people needed help.
That is until she was met by a tall Kraken. Fulafel looks up and gasped once she saw Asura Mythra, having a tired look on her face. The Diva of the Fifth Island was heartbroken to see her fellow Songstress feel her tentacles shaking and tumble to the ground while her husband tries to keep up on her feet. The Flow Kelp stepped forth and helped the Kraken.
"Lady Mythra! Tell us what's going on!?" Fulafel said out loud in worry. "What happened? And you look tired!"
"Queen... Diana... has fallen." Asura Mythra uttered out while panting. "Those creatures... shall pay..."
At that moment, the Kraken collapsed. The Mythra's husband and Fulafel were shocked to see the Songstress of the Deep fall unconscious before two other individuals arrived for help. The Flow Kelp looks up to see Meivia and a man who appears in his 50s while being flanked by two nereids who stood by his sides.
"Meivia and A-Admiral Eizen!? Tell me what happened and why is Lady Mythra like this!?"
Meivia took a long sigh before helping up to carry Asura Mythra. "We must talk with the Great Songstress... it's urgent."
Fulafel raised her brows in worry. "... Urgent?"
"The underwater ship, Queen Diana, came under siege by these unknown creatures." Admiral Eizen groaned in unease while tipping his hat in a defeated demeanour. "We were attacked without warning and took the entire city into the darkness... there was nothing else we could do about it."
"The Deep is no longer safe..." Meivia answered in a serious tone. "The people who have been evacuated are what's left of Queen Diana."
"Indeed, we were fortunate when Asura Mythra used all of her powers to sway the creatures away during our escape to the surface." Aizen's wife explained as she sombrely stared down. "But... it is unfortunate that not everyone has made it out alive."
"That's horrible..." Fulafel felt her heart sink. Those words were serious as if a catastrophe had really taken place. "People have... died?"
"... Yes. A disaster occurred for the first time after nearly a millennium of peace since the Asuramis War." Admiral Eizen nodded in grief. "There were many countless souls left behind... and we cannot save them all."
"The incident has a similar approach to what happened to Al-Mar." Fulafel turned to Asura Mythra's husband. "I couldn't believe that day... Court Alf lost its Seventh Island."
...
Demon Realm of Lescatie, City of Salvarision.
...
"So... how do you look?"
Wilmarina looked at herself through the mirror and inspects her new equipment and a set of armour that the Blacksmith McDuff and a few other Salvarision armourers made for her. Her new look has a full set of armour that did not expose any skin, and she feels flexible whenever she moves around.
The new armour comprises steel plates on the surface and chainmail underneath. Her shoulders and arms were protected with a gambeson, protective caps and greaves, thus her legs were even worn with proper protection as well. Unlike the way she used to expose her panties and delicate skin, they were now covered with protective leggings.
"Mr McDuff had spent the entire night forging that armour with the blueprint you gave him," Eva explained while readjusting her glasses. "He made some alterations that weren't a part of your blueprint, but he made it work. Therefore, the entire steel plates and chainmail were infused with Titanite, to increase protection and durability."
"I... feel my skin is a lot safer rather than being exposed," Wilmarina said while tinkering with her new gauntlet. "I bet this has some magical enhancements."
"It does. McDuff knows what you were planning on when we gave him various types of Titanite." Eva nods and Wilmarina's lips form an evil grin. "Say... Lord Noscrim... shouldn't we draw out a decent gear for our new army?"
"Huh... why didn't I think of that before?" The Dark Hero muttered in question while turning her glance to the window, showing the outside world where the walls proudly hold up the banner of the Noscrim and her mind clicked. "I'd say~ Not a bad idea. I think it's time for our troops to meet some special upgrades... and oh, how's Eristia doing right now?"
"She's currently meeting up with the superior officers and they're planning for the next executions of traitors in the courtyard," Eva replied while feeling a shiver through her spine. "Although the new airships are nearing their completion. Thanks to the efforts of the Gremlins."
"In just a short amount of time, huh..." Wilmarina crossed her arms as she expressed her confidence and then raised her clenching fist. "Heh... There will be no doubts that our fleet will fall for a mere knight."
The Dark Hero walks up to a small table and brought up her new mask, which has a knightly design and a V-shaped fin decoration placed on the forehead section.
"Hm~ An immaculate design." Wilmarina inspected in amusement. "A protection for my face is the last thing I need."
...
Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth. Midnight.
...
"Wilmarina... has taken over Lescatie?"
"I'm afraid... yes," Ash responded with a nod while Elt sat in trepidation. "She staged a bloody coup over the Radical Faction and I'm afraid your friends will be in danger as well."
Elt couldn't believe the recent news. The sudden coup of Wilmarina taking over Lescatie was a shock. He didn't think his childhood friend-turned-monster would go that far, and he thought the mamono wouldn't harm a person and only corrupt anyone who goes in their way. When the new Demon Realm fell into turmoil. He expressed his worries for anyone he knew.
The Hero Instructor Merse, The Child Prodigy Mimil, his two other childhood friends, Primera and Francisca, and his friends who were in training in the military. Elt knew their lives were at stake and clenched his fists.
"I... I can't believe it..." Elt uttered with anxiety filling his heart. "Is there a way to stop them...?"
"There is..." Ash answered while raising up a Purging Stone from his pouch. "But the path should you take will be challenging and that might cost your own life."
"Then how can I do it? I'm not a hero or anything." Elt said in depression. "They're monsters and... I'm just a mere human."
"Being a human doesn't mean you should stay on your limits... Back then, I was just a simple human, just like you." Ash responded softly. "I've faced many odds and challenged them until I'd received a blade through my abdomen, but I survived and live for another day... Elt, do not be backed by mere words that you can't do it. You have the potential to defeat monsters and I see it in you. Whether you are a hero or not, just don't stand. Act as if you wanna live."
"Then... I'll give out my best!" Elt raised both of his fists in determination. "I'll become stronger... and save everyone I cherished. I will not let my training with you go to waste."
Ash nods to the young knight and smiles. "Then make it count."
Elt grabbed his wooden sword and bowed respectfully to his new instructor before heading upstairs to get some rest. Ash was left alone in the living room and let out a deep groan, reminding him of his earlier quarrel with Sasha, who spoke about him being a chosen hero.
"... I think I was a bit too harsh on her..." Ash sighed as he closed a book he was reading. "Perhaps I'll apologise for the words that I've spoken outrageously about being a hero. Maybe, should tell an apology?"
The knight stared at the fireplace in deep thought, wondering where Sasha went off until he heard the door open and saw Dracolinde entering the house while carrying the priestess by her arms. However, he was appalled to see her unusual behaviour as if... she was drunk.
"Heya~! Don't mind me carrying this drunk priestess back to your home~!" Dracolinde winked with a sheepish smile.
"Uuughhh! Asshh~! Y-You duummyyy~!" Sasha scolded Ash in a drunken state while trying to stand on her own feet. "Wh-why did you get mad at me all of a sud-deeeennn~!"
Sasha felt her legs collapse and fell forth, but Ash quickly grabbed the priestess by her shoulders from falling until he heard Sasha snoring, falling asleep.
"... What happened?"
"Well, after your little quarrel with her. We went back to the Tavern to give her breathing." Dracolinde explained while crossing her arms. She sighed. "Good grief, and Sasha has been grovelling about you after taking her fifth shot."
...
Horseback Inn, An hour earlier.
...
"Ugh~! Ash, that meanie~!" Sasha slurred while waving an empty beer mug. "Siegward~! *hic* Another round~!"
Siegward couldn't believe Sasha fell into a drunk state, while Dracolinde was holding her lips from bursting out into laughter while comforting the priestess at the same time.
"Why won't *hic!* he deserves to be a Hero~!?" Sasha groaned sombrely while slamming the empty mug on the table. "He should be~! *hic!* and then he gets mad at me when I told him~!? Is saving my ass from the Fallen Bitch isn't worthy enough to be *hic* a hero!? He's the *hic!* worst liar I've ever heard in my life!"
"Girl... I think it's time to leave." Dracolinde gently pats Sasha's left shoulder. She felt pity for the Priestess and never thought about the day to hear how rude she became after drinking her fifth siegbrau. "We have to go~! Ash might be worried that you haven't come home."
"I don't wanna~! I won't let my dumb, stubborn, *hic!* pervert knight hug my pillows on my chest!" Sasha wailed as her drunken arms pitifully try to pry off Dracolinde as she was dragged through the tavern floor. "Let me go~! *hic!* Just leave me be~! No~!"
"By the Chief God, I feel the poor woman," Jennifer speaks out in worry towards Siegward. "Perhaps she'll be fine after she talks out with Mr Cyrus and apologises."
"Hah~ That 'ol chap must've been sour when certain things happen he didn't like." Siegward exhaled in disappointment. "Surely, they will find another way to forgiveness."
...
... Present time...
...
"I see."
"Well, you're being too harsh for your girlfriend."
The astoran was about to protest. "She's not my... well, never mind."
Ash and Dracolinde silently brought up the drunken priestess to her bedroom and trying not to wake up Elt and the orphans from their sleep. Once the knight opened the door, Dracolinde used her tail to turn on a nearby lamp and carefully placed Sasha on top of her bed. As they were about to leave, the knight felt a hand grab the tip of his surcoat.
He turns around and saw Sasha holding her fingers tight while asleep.
"Please... don't... leave..." Sasha snored. "Zzz... Ash... you... meanie... zzzz."
Dracolinde felt her lips doing a mischievous smile and giving the knight some teasing pokes.
"Psst! I think you need to comfort her~" Dracolinde whispered into his ear. "Make sure you don't leave her in her dreams~!"
"... Seriously?"
"Surely, it's the only way to forgive her, right~?"
Ash grunts as he shrugs those words off. But the feeling of the priestess begging for forgiveness in her sleep needed his comfort. He groaned in defeat and sat on the bed beside her. Perhaps this is Dracolinde's unorthodox way that could make them apologise and forget their little quarrel earlier.
"Say, Ash, may I sleep by your side?" the knight looks up at Dracolinde, seeing her face blushing while fidgeting nervously and pressing her fingers. "W-Well... I'm not just here for having a fun time at night, you know? I-I'd like to have that warm, cosy feeling again when... I and Sasha slept together with you, back in the living room."
Ash raised his eyebrow in question. "... Are you sure that you're not doing anything unusual?"
"I swear with all my heart, Ash~!" Dracolinde pledged her hand up with a smile and gave out her amorous wink. "I know how to control my libido~ Since that day when we first met, your presence truly caught me off guard~!"
Ash rolled his eyes and lay on the bed with Sasha on his left before Dracolinde laid down beside on his right. He felt awkward sleeping on Sasha's bed while still in full Elite Knight Armour. Dracolinde made herself comfortable as her arms gently tucked into his right arm. Then her tail twirled over his leg before snuggling herself into sleep. On his left, Sasha unconsciously snuggled the knight while tucking his arm as well. Her leg slid up on top of his belly and felt like she was hugging a teddy bear.
"Zzzz... Ash... I'm sowwry~" The Knight heard the priestess groan in her drunken sleep while Dracoline chuckled when she heard that. "Pweese~... fowgive mee~"
For Ash, this was an awkward feeling, yet comfortable at the same time while being sandwiched by two women sleeping on his sides before his eyes drifted off to sleep.
'So... is this how men who desired two women to sleep by their sides...?' Ash's thoughts spoke until his vision drifts into oblivion. 'Hmm... it doesn't really feel bad, after all.'
...
Court Alf, Theocracy of Al-Mar.
...
"Queen Diana... has fallen?"
"Indeed, and this means a great danger for the rest of the islands."
Arial was in the middle of the meeting room, talking with the rest of the Songstresses through the projecting mirror. When she was called up for the meeting with Difina. Asura Mythra spoke up with the news of Queen Diana's unfortunate destruction into the deep is a piece of shocking news for everyone.
"Queen Diana was under attack by unknown sea creatures?"
"No, they appear differently than we thought. These beings have no relations with the sea or anything."
"So, what can we do?!"
"The longer we don't act, De Ryua will be the next island to fall."
Arial saw her fellow Divas desperately trying to come up with an idea of how to counter this new threat. However, she was fully aware of these new beings did a similar approach to Al-Mar, but this was different. Instead of fighting against outwordly drakes and the infamous Red Wyvern. Meivia spoke of unknown beings of pure darkness that devour every living being into the deep. Which sounds even more terrifying, and such tales were akin to those of the Abyssals of Chaos.
Malevolent beings of the deep which Poseidon kept in prison prior to the rise of the Demon Lord Lilith. However, this new darkness would mean an additional threat to the dominion over the seas under the Goddess Poseidon. To solve this problem, Arial felt the light flicker within her mind.
"Divas of the Seven Islands. I assure you all that these creatures should not be reasoned with," Arial spoke up, gaining the attention of the Divas and the Great Songstress, which they expressed in their silence. "These new creatures of the darkness are not we are aware of or knew who they are. Their nature alone is not to be underestimated... like what happened to my city... But I believe a solution to defeat them is to send the two heroes who have slain the Red Wyvern."
"You mean Sir Deren Forossa, the Lion Knight of Majula?" Difina speaks up in mild concern. "Are you sure that he and his assistant can solve this issue?"
"I am sure, and there is no doubt the two knights will restore peace across Court Alf," Arial speaks enthusiastically. "I've sent my messengers across the seas to give requests to the Federation. Hoping to lend some help for the two heroes."
...
Divine Pantheon of Poseidon.
...
Poseidon watched the visions over her dominions across the seas. It has been weeks since the strange creatures appeared out of nowhere and attacked any unlucky citizens of the oceans without warning. The last news she received is the downfall of Queen Diana. She heard the prayers of Asura Mythra begging for her help and repel these new creatures of darkness.
This new darkness shares a similar, eerie feeling to that of the Abyssal Chaos, and her heart fears that they will pose a new danger. The Monsterized Goddess didn't want to fall on the same path as what happened to the Fallen God, who was slain by a mortal, bestowed with strength from an unknown god. Now she has to face this new threat beyond her knowledge.
As Fate cannot answer her questions, she realises that in this new challenge, she will take these matters into her own hands and it will be a bloody conflict if any of her denizens would be stuck under a crossfire. She will not allow it. The strange wyverns and monstrosities have already taken too many lives and she wanted to end this upcoming conflict against the darkness...
... That is not until she felt her heart shiver with fear.
"... No... that can't be...!" Poseidon turns to visions and saw black tendrils seeping into the abyss. The eternal darkness that lies deep under the seas which she had been watching over for thousands of years. "NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!"
...
...
"̞͉͎A͎͡h̼̩̬̲͞~̵?̸̤.̗̥͇͓̙͖̀.͔̳͢.͓̹͕ ̭̳Y͇͎o̱̱̣͖ͅu͙̩̟̹͕͟ ̯̘͚h̹̻͙a͎̮̰͍̱̣ve̷̗̰͕̺͎̜ f͕̲̥̺͖r͈̫̱̤ḛ̘̹̱̹̟ͅe̮̬͈̩̦̰͡ͅd͇͕͉̟̙͔͟ ̲͎́u͏̬͚ș̸͎?̷̟ ̪͇̳̯̦̤̼͟Wḫ̴̳at̤͇̭̲ͅ ͎̫͕̀i͕̗͘s͖̙̭̻͡ ̭̭͚ý̙̗̯o̢͇̰͓u̯͓̺͝ͅr̙̯̗ ̗͙͔͕̫p̟̲̩͖͕u̗̙̮r̶̰͖̖̥̥pͅo͎̱s͏͉̝̗͈̝ẹ̕ ͓͇̣t̻̲̮̜͓̣͠o̜̼͓̩͇̭̜̕ ̹̟̠͘l̖̼͇̦̙̭i͕͓̭̻b̳͓̯e͏̺̼̼̝͓ṛ͡ḁ̴͙̩͕̝̩̬ṯ̖̳e̴̥̥͖ ̪͇̞͙̩u̴̯͕s̨͎ ͇͕̩̺̠͕́ͅf͎͕͈͙̠̩͡r͔o̙̯̱m̠͓̀ ͓͝o̖̮̝̱͞u̳̪͇̖͇͓r̠̻̣͕̰ͅ ̣ͅp͏̺̫̼̹̤͇ͅr̴̫̝̲͓ͅͅi̫͇̫͖̕s͇o̭͕̖̜̪̮n҉̘s̛̬̹̙̹?"̧̻
̺
̠̘͙̟̼̦"̣T̖̞̥͔̖ͅḥ̦̫͙̗̖o̰͈̪̰̲͞ų ̸̝̩̙o͇͞f̻̗͎͍ ̰̹t̬̙͖̖͝he̤̱ ̱d̙̣̤̺̺̮̫͜a̙̗͖̥͔͝r̮͙̺̝̕k̻n̻͉̖͈̹͚̣e͙̹͈̥̝̠s͍ś̞̣͙̩͚̭̻ ͈͉͍̱̳͕̥o͚̩̭̥͚͘f̦͕̺̺͈͜ t̫̜̝̖͞h̟̜̞͓͎̳̝e ͍͍̖͈͔͎̞de̦̠̱͎̻̳̞e̼̩̺̼͓p̛,̗͚̲̺͈ ͈̰͡o͏̦̥f̫̝̟͘ ̯̳̻w͚ḩͅo̧m̸̠̯̥̭ ̜͇̫h̝͎e͉͚̮̤e̸̙̦̗ͅd̷̜e͏d̳̲̲̮̖ ̢̣̠͓̪̭̮̲m̝̞̲̺̫̩̗̀y̩̹͎̘̹̖ ̲̰̳ca҉̟l̺̳̩̼l̬̘.̵̥͈̬.̮̰͉̀ͅͅͅ.̜͓̳͟ ̶͚̮͇I̸ ̫̥͔sh̸̼̠̤a̜̗͈͇l̤͘l̦̬̤̭̖̯̱ ̢̘͎͕̺o̰̠̩̙̰͓̻̕f̝f̗͖̖͈̦͓e̺͎r̖̰̬̰̫ ̠̣t͖̟̫̘̣͜h̻̭̦̭̮͎̙e̘̹̕e̟̺ ̬̮a̝͇̮̱̖̠͝ͅ ͎͍͝n̳̼̤͢ͅe͕̮͚̹̻w͕̼̣͓ ͉̱͍̙͔̫͍d͏̳̗͓͕̥e̙͙͚s̜̯̣̱i͟r̛̞e.̢̝̹"̮̰͚͚̟̱
̢͖͈̜͕͈̭͖
̶̺"̖͔̝͟A͕̟ṋ̴̺͎͍̝̫͈ ҉̩͔͕͓̻̣͎o̞f҉̺̟̟̗f҉͓̼̭͎e̶͍̬͖r͏̟̱̠͈̟?̨̼̬̹̪͍̮"͔͎͎̲͉
҉
̻͎͇"̼͔̯̙̕D͕̳̹̹̼͎͕͡e͎v̰͈̩̲͕̬o̵u̦͓͖̺̞͕̻ṛ̹̺̬͘ ̮͟ṯ̢̭̣̫h̤̺̗e͖̳̝͖̝͓̤͝ ̘͕͎͕̘̝̩s͉̳͓̠̦̳͞e̸a͚s̹͟ ̰̣̞̟̕w̟͍̗̥̰̫̬h͔̼̟̤͕͕o̠̖̤͙̱l͓̜̹̩̖ͅe̫̹̝.̛̘.̷̼̝̦̹͈.̗̲̪̳ ̢̬̥̫͚a͍̩̘̫͎̞ņ͈d̖̼̖̗̖͍͡ ҉̟̰̘̰̙̱è͚͉̲x̥p̫̲͎͇͇̥͜a̖n̲͈͜d͇̙͖͚͞ ̡ṯ̱͙̥̦h̢e̗̳ ͙͈̖n̜͇͚̦͉͖̫e͚̠̠̭̣w̲͉̯̻͝ ̢̗̩͈̳̜̦ḓ̗̻̺̱͖̕y̺͔n͡a͉͕͇s̪̤͉͟t͏͔͚̮̦y̢̳̫ ̸͈̺̩ͅo̶͚̥̟̝̣f̷͚̪̖̗̜͓̺ ̨̭͍t̸̞h͍̪͎͚̞͖͡ͅe͍͙̘̗̣͕̣͠ ̳̦̜̙A̞̻̥̮̫̕ͅb̵̳̻͍͓͙̮y̖̱̜̞̝̳̰s̠̤̩̖s̖̖̲.̹̙̦̹̫̘̕"̡̰̫
͍̼͚͓͖̰̫͡
̡̰̝"̳̼͚̳Ơ̜͓͕̖͈̩h~̠̪͙͖?̯͙̠̙͍.̶̲̩̺̮̭.̼̝̺̤̰̬̘.̛ ͉̝̗̥̜ͅY͍͔̹̜̥̘͜e̠̥̳s̖̮̖̱͉̞͢.̱̦̣͖ͅ.̘͚͈̘̳̘̕.̟̣̰͈͇̺̀ ̪̩̖̭ͅI̮̤͠ ̢̟͕͎͚s͢ḫ̲͎͔͎͚a҉l̼̞̯͔̯̺͔l ̘̳͉̼ͅg̴̺̗͚l̰̜͉a͇̳̭̱͚d͓̘͈̺̰ͅl̝y ̢̻̱̯̪t̩a̷̤̱̯k͚͕͙̘͖͟e̫ ͉͙̪͕͇͈i̴̜̪͈̻͕̘ţ̩͕,͚̟̬ ̼̳͙ͅo̬̟̤͇̰u̸̟̪̙̫͎̟̹ṛ̸̩ ̹̼͙̫͟ͅn͎̺͔̼͙̕e̵̥w̼͙͇̼ ̮̞̫̰̲m̱a̬̫̜̣s͔̯̙͈̦͙͢t͉͔ͅe̖͚̫̫ṟ̡͙̗̥̲̱̣s̫~!̰͙̹̣͍̣"͍̥͎̮̘̀
...
Chapter 50: Ends
AN: Everyone. An update. I've posted Wilmarina's new armour in AO3 and Questionable Questing. Go check it out!"
̺͇̫̲̠͎