"Ah, Alex, was it?" René greeted Alex as he walked into the Quenched Dragon Tavern. "It is good to see you again young man, I almost didn't expect you to return…" the older man's voice trailed off as he took notice of Alex's companion.
"It's good to see you too, René." Alex replied. "This is…um…Drew! She's my wife!" Alex then turned his head to see Druella staring at him blankly, clearly disappointed by his lame choice of a pseudonym.
Sorry honey. You usually come up with the pseudonyms, and I didn't have one ready in my mind.
Druella had gone rather low-key with her disguise this time, wearing a long, dark cloak over her body and a hood over her head. Her horns, wings, and tail had vanished underneath her glamor, while her tattoos were obscured and her eyes changed to resemble human ones. Besides that, however, her long white hair still fell down past her shoulders and her face was as beautiful as ever, making her appear human but still absolutely gorgeous.
"Oh, nice to meet you, Madame Drew." René said while bowing. "Welcome to my humble establishment." He then winced as a drunk belched loudly before dropping his beer glass and shattering it on the floor. "Er, I do apologize for some of my guests. Had I known I'd have a lovely visitor like you, I would have sent them all home."
"That is quite unnecessary, René." Druella replied. "I am not here to drink, at least nothing…on the menu."
René raised an eyebrow. "Ah, I see. Well, then I hope you know what you are ordering."
"I would like to partake in your last bottle of Lescatie Red Wine." Druella gave the password that Alex provided her.
"Excellent choice, Madame Drew!" René replied as he led Alex and Druella to the bar's storage area. "A shame that no wine will ever be coming from Lescatie again, not after the monster Druella conquered it. But that is why we must savor every bottle!"
Alex tried his best not to chuckle- if René knew who he was really talking to, he'd only need to ask to get a lifetime supply of Lescatie's finest vintage.
"Drink well, Alex!" René said as he opened the hidden door and bade Alex to enter. "As for you, Madame Drew, just ask and the red wine will be more than just a password!"
"Thank you for the offer, René." Druella replied. "But I will have no trouble getting some right from the source." Then she followed Alex through the hidden door and left the confused bartender outside.
The headquarters of the Tyrene Resistance Committee appeared rather packed this evening, with a large crowd of rebels all surrounding a table at the center of the room. Standing right around the table were Marina, Abel, Adele, and a few other Committee members, all busily arguing over what appeared to be a map of the city.
"Marina, we won't get another opportunity like this. Prince Julien rarely leaves the Palace anymore, so if we ambush his carriage as it goes through this narrow street…"
"For the last time, Abel, targeting the prince will accomplish nothing! The Order will just dig out some obscure cousin of his and crown him instead, making all our efforts pointless! We have no time to satisfy your personal vendetta!"
"Oh, do you have a better plan? Are you going to have us distribute some pretty little flyers again? I still occasionally find some rain-soaked copies strewn about in alleyways!"
As the two continued to bicker with one another, Alex looked over at the disguised lilim next to him. Druella appeared to be closely analyzing every member of the crowd, her eyes particularly resting on the many female members of the Committee.
Is she…licking her lips? Maybe it's best if we quickly get to business before this discussion turns into an orgy.
"Hello everyone!" Alex yelled, causing the Committee members to turn around and face him. "It's me, Alex. I'm back, and I brought someone with me!"
"Ah, Alex, it's wonderful to see you again!" Adele exclaimed as she ran over to him. "I was half-worried that you'd run away on us, but it's good to see that you're committed to creating a free Tyrene! So, how did your errands go? Were you able to report back to your…" she then noticed Druella standing next to him and trailed off, "...wife?"
"I did more than report to her- I recruited her!" Alex exclaimed. "Adele, meet Drew!"
Druella stared at the cheerful female rebel a little too long for Alex's comfort, but fortunately she only smiled and removed her hood instead of summoning her dark mana ball and performing some acts of sheer depravity.
"So all of you must be the band of resistance fighters my dear Alex will not stop talking about." Druella addressed the Committee members. "It is wonderful to finally meet all of you! I am…Drew…, and Alex is my husband!"
At the sight of Druella, the sounds of whispering could be heard throughout the room while all the male members of the Committee immediately stood up a little straighter and tried to adjust their clothing. One man whistled, earning him some dirty looks from the women around him. Even Abel combed his hair back with one hand before stepping forward and looking at both Alex and Druella with a cool, analytical gaze.
"So, you're married to this kid?" he asked in a disbelieving voice.
"He is my one and only!" Druella replied.
"Huh." he said quietly. "First he says he trained under Wilmarina Noscrim herself, then this." Abel then turned to Alex. "Are you rich or something?"
"Only in knowledge!" Alex replied. All Abel did was snort, clearly not believing his answer.
Marina Morgant then walked over to join them. Unlike the male members of the Committee, she wasn't drooling like a Saint Bernard at the sight of the disguised lilim, but her expression suggested that she shared Abel's disbelief.
"Welcome to the Tyrene Resistance Committee, Drew." Marina said while smiling. "Your husband was the first recruit we've had in a good while, we're glad to have him. I hope I'm not being overly presumptuous, but are you also here to join us?"
"Ah, you must be Marina Morgant." Druella replied. "Alex told me a lot about you. I am sorry to hear about the fate of your husband, Pierre- what The Order did was utterly abhorrent, ripping apart a couple like that! I promise that I will ensure you will both be safely reunited!"
Marina's face reddened. "Oh, um, thank you. Your words are kind." she replied, unsure of what to make of the lilim's words. "Many people have said that to me, but few actually sounded like they meant it."
"I despise seeing lovely couples broken apart against their will." Druella replied. "To go back to your first question, I share your goal of driving The Order out of Tyrene. But before we can discuss that any further, I believe Alex has something to show all of you. Please give him your undivided attention."
"Um, right!" Alex replied, trying his best not to be intimidated by all the pairs of eyes now staring at him. "If you could all just follow me, I have a surprise for all of you."
Alex then walked over to a particular crate, one that Adele had shown him the first time he visited the Committee HQ. As he pushed away the crate and exposed the trapdoor beneath, some voices of concern broke out among the Committee members.
"Hey, are you crazy?" one man yelled. "That trapdoor leads right to the Catacombs! Is your surprise going to be letting a monster loose on us?"
No!...at least not at first.
"Just what kind of game are you playing?" Abel growled, his right hand inching towards his rapier. "I always knew something was off about you- you're a spy aren't you!? Sneaking into our ranks just to lead The Order right beneath our feet and-"
"How dare you accuse Alex of performing such vile treachery!" Druella yelled with such fury that even Abel was taken aback. "My husband wants nothing more than to see the Committee succeed in its goals, and he has done far more for you than you can even imagine! It was only thanks to him that I even became remotely interested in all of you, so stand back and allow him to finish!"
"Abel, sheathe your blade." Marina said as she moved in front of him. "Alex, could you at least tell all of us what you're doing?"
Alex smiled before turning towards Adele. "Hey, remember the second thing I said before I took my leave of all of you?"
Adele nodded. "You said you were going to…resurrect the dead." Her eyes widened. "By the Chief God, were you really not joking?!"
"Relax. I was being metaphorical." Alex said as he unlocked the trap door and swung it open. "I'm not a necromancer, and I'm not going to release a horde of zombies on you. But I am going to blow all of your minds." He then looked down and yelled into the darkness below- "You can come up now."
The sounds of a creaking ladder echoed through the room as someone made their way out of the Catacombs below. After a few seconds, a man pulled himself out of the trapdoor before standing up and straightening himself. Abel and several other Committee members put some hands on their weapons at the arrival of this unexpected stranger, but they then all froze in place when they realized he wasn't a stranger at all. The man took one look around his surroundings before finally turning forward and giving the crowd a beaming smile.
"Hello everyone." Martin Talvert greeted his old comrades. "I, Martin Talvert, have finally returned to all of you!"
The room was utterly silent as the members of the Tyrene Resistance Committee stared in utter shock at the man they all had presumed dead. Adele's eyes were practically popping out of her skull, and she once again glanced warily at Alex. One man fainted from sheer fright and had to be held up by his companions. Even cold, stoic Abel was left reeling, his face blanched white as he struggled to comprehend who he was seeing. Finally Marina's gaze was a mixture of absolute shock, disbelief, but also the faintest trickling of hope.
"Don't worry everyone, I'm not a ghost or spirit!" Martin declared. "I am here in the flesh!"
"M-Martin?" Marina said as she took a step forward, her dark eyes still wide as saucers. "Is…that really you? But, they said you were dead…"
"It's really me, Big Sis." Martin replied. "I'm sorry I took so long to get back, but I'm here now, and I've certainly not forgotten our mission."
When he realized that Marina was still in a state of disbelief, Martin continued talking. "When Pierre got taken away, you nearly attempted to break into the White Bastion by yourself before I managed to stop you in time. Then we promised to each other to not rest until justice was delivered-"
Martin didn't finish proving his identity before Marina ran forward and hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"It really is you!" she exclaimed in between sobs. "Thank the Chief God, it really is you! Having Pierre beyond my reach was hard enough, but when you vanished I thought I'd be alone for the rest of my life! Thank goodness you're alive!"
"Don't worry, Marina." Martin replied as he hugged her back. "I'm not going anywhere this time. Not until we drive out The Order and get Pierre back."
"So you really are alive Martin!" Adele exclaimed as she and a few other Committee members finally approached their not-so-deceased co-founder. "This- this is amazing! It's like the miracles you'd only hear about in stories! You're right Alex, this is the kind of necromancy I can approve of!"
"Hell yeah, Martin's back!" another Committee member yelled. "With him, Marina, and Abel all together, we can finally turn this string of misfortune around!"
"Just how exactly are you alive?" came a voice that sounded far less jubilant. Alex looked over to see it was Abel who had brought up the question, his gray eyes staring warily at his co-leader.
"Ah, it's good to see you too, Abel." Martin said as he finally pulled away from Marina. "How have things been with you? Once we finish talking business, want to head into the tavern for a pint or two?"
"Yes, after business." Abel replied, his expression unchanged. "So, how about you tell us how you just came back after a month's disappearance? Several people confirmed that the last they saw of you was you being dragged into the deeper parts of the Underground by a monster. Did you manage to escape it?"
"Abel, save the interrogations for later!" Marina said angrily as she began to step forward. But Martin stopped her with one hand.
"It's alright, sis. I do owe all of you an explanation. But just get ready to hear a lot of surprising truths." Martin then turned back to Abel. "To answer your first question, Abel: Yes, I was captured by a monster and dragged into the depths of the Underground. But No, I did not manage to escape it."
Abel's expression turned to one of confusion. "Didn't escape it? But then how are you alive? How did you avoid being devoured?"
"Oh, I did get devoured, just not the way you think." Martin replied. "But throughout my time in the Underground, I was never at risk of being hurt or killed."
"How?!" Abel responded. "Monsters kill and eat the humans they capture, everyone knows that! Don't tell me that you somehow managed to charm a monster into sparing you!"
Martin chuckled. "Well, I definitely did charm her, but all my pleas for mercy were unnecessary. Do you want to know why?"
Martin's expression then became unexpectedly serious as he looked around at all his comrades in the room. "It's because monsters don't kill. They haven't done so for centuries. The Order has been lying to us the entire time, this war against the Mamono Lord is nothing but a waste of lives and resources."
The entire room went absolutely silent as everyone tried to process that bombshell revelation. Some people looked confused, utterly baffled by this sudden refutation of a truth they believed in their whole lives. Others, like Abel, looked far more disbelieving, their minds refusing to accept the possibility. Alex kept himself on guard; he knew that revealing the truth about monsters would be one of the most delicate moments in their entire mission, and it was entirely likely that not everyone would believe them.
"M-Martin, what are you talking about?" Marina asked. "You've heard the stories coming from Lescatie and the Mamono Realm. How could you possibly say that monsters aren't a threat?"
"I have no time for your little games, Martin!" Abel growled. "Now stop joking around and tell us what really happened."
"I'm not joking." Martin replied. "Monsters don't kill humans. They don't want to hurt us, they don't want to enslave us- well, at least not in a non-kinky way- and they are most certainly not our enemy. Once you realize that, the Underground becomes far less frightening."
"B-but that doesn't make sense!" Adele yelled. "I can name so many people who disappeared into the Underground and were never heard from again! What happened to them? What happened to you!"
"Oh, they're all still alive." Martin replied. "I even met some old friends down there. But here's why monsters still capture humans- they need us as breeding partners. There are no male monsters, so guys like us are sorely wanted by them. And it's not just a one-off act- monsters are all a bunch of hot little hedonists who want nothing more than to give the man they capture a good time and lots of love. I can personally attest to that."
Murmurs traveled through the crowd of Committee members as they tried to process this next little revelation. Alex could hear snorts of disbelief among the throng, but he also noticed a few people that looked on with curiosity or appeared to be giving the idea some serious thought.
"You know, he might be onto something." One man yelled. "Before I quit The Order, I always did find it weird that I never saw a male monster. And they were pretty nice to look at. My commanders always warned me not to question it, but if what Martin says is true…"
"It can't be true!" Adele interjected. "It just doesn't make sense! It can't-"
"It is." Alex spoke up. "Everything Martin said is true. Remember when I said that I was going to prove that The Order has been lying to us, Adele? Well, this is it. The Order has been disguising the truth about monsters ever since the current Mamono Lord came to power. She doesn't want to destroy humanity- she wants to end the unending cycle of violence and create a permanent peace. Monsters hate violence so much that all their weapons are only designed to incapacitate, not kill. Every single story you've heard of a city being captured and devoured by them is a lie concocted by The Order to maintain their hold over the population. The Fall of Lescatie? Life is now better there than it ever was under the Theocracy. You can visit anytime without fear of dying, though you won't be ending the trip single. The Disaster at Steylia? The Steylians were all using non-lethal weapons in combat- there were very few actual casualties. You'll find most of the "missing" men happily married in Lescatie."
Adele quivered as she tried her best to find some kind of counterargument. "B-but, the disappearances…"
"Look at Martin- he was clearly captured by a monster, and now he's standing here no worse for wear. Isn't that all the proof you need? And before you ask- No, no necromancy was involved whatsoever."
"But…if what you say is true…then…" Adele's expression remained unsure for a few seconds, then it turned to one of pure fury. "Th-THOSE LYING BASTARDS! Making us suffer and starve for a pointless war?! All the men sent off to the frontlines, all the resources sucked away for campaigns, all the innocent people punished for standing up to them…WAS IT REALLY ALL FOR NOTHING?!"
"I'm sorry, Adele." Alex replied. "But it's the truth."
"In that case, our purpose only becomes more clear!" Adele yelled. "The Order can't be allowed to stay in Tyrene for another second! They've deceived everyone!"
Adele's acceptance of the truth was the catalyst many other members of the Committee needed to finally shatter their hesitation. Shouts of anger and swearing echoed throughout the room, with one man being brazen enough to curse off Pope Callicstus himself. Marina also appeared to be finally accepting the truth, her expression becoming angrier by the second.
"If what you say is true, Alex," she struggled to speak. "THEN THEY TOOK PIERRE FOR NOTHING! If I ever get a hold of Tyrax, I'm going to skin him alive with his own sword!"
But not everyone had fully accepted the truth- Abel, along with a few others, still appeared to be doubtful.
"The Disaster at Steylia…few casualties?" Abel whispered to himself. "Does that mean…, no, don't get your hopes up." He then turned back to Martin and Alex with that cold, analytical gaze of his. "So you say monsters don't kill, huh? Prove it. Words are easy to say, I want cold, hard evidence."
"Oh, I can prove that!" Martin replied. "I'll introduce you to my dear Celia, the monster who caught me!"
A few shouts of alarm rang up at Martin's proposition, but he gave them all a reassuring smile. "Don't worry! I, Martin Talvert, swear to all of you that she's a sweet if shy spider who wouldn't hurt- okay, she might hurt a fly. But she won't hurt any of you! Alex, why don't you go call her up!"
The crowd still looked rather shaken at the idea of meeting a monster face-to-face. "Did he just say…spider?" One man asked.
"Right to it!" Alex replied as he headed back to the trapdoor. He briefly glanced over at Druella, who smiled and gave him an approving nod.
So far, things are going well. Now I just hope they don't freak out at the sight of Celia.
After teleporting out of the Ruins, Alex and Druella had split off from Martin, Celia, and Mimi to go to The Quenched Dragon Tavern and get the Tyrene Resistance Committee ready to meet their long-lost co-founder. Meanwhile, the trio had traveled to the tavern's access point to the Catacombs, waiting to hear Alex's signal to come on up.
"Celia, you can come up now!" Alex yelled down into the inky darkness.
A few seconds passed with no sound of anyone trying to climb up the ladder. Instead, all Alex could hear was the sounds of talking and arguing below.
"Celia?" Alex called for the Arachne again.
"She's refusing to come up, Alex!" yelled Mimi from below. "I'm trying to tell her that she'll be safe, but she won't budge!"
"Celia" Alex yelled back down. "I know this is a rather stressful moment for you, but I swear that none of us are going to let anything happen to you! Once everyone here sees that you're not a threat, they'll accept you completely!"
"I'm not going up there!" Celia's voice echoed. "A room full of armed humans who could easily kill me? Forget it!"
Martin then walked over to the trapdoor and peered down below. "Hey Celia, I know this whole setup is a little frightening. And if you really don't want to do it, that's fine. But I know that you're brave enough to face all my comrades head-on; after all, you would've never caught me if you weren't brave enough to leave your webs and go on the hunt. So please, give it a try, for me at least?"
"...Fine! I'll do it! But after this I'm sewing your mouth shut before you convince me to do even more of your bizarre schemes!" Celia yelled from below.
The sounds of scurrying could then be heard as something climbed its way out of the Catacombs. A few Committee members grabbed their weapons a little tighter and stared warily at the trapdoor, anxious to see what would emerge. After a few more tense seconds, a silken beret emerged from the trapdoor before stopping and quivering in place.
"Monsters wear hats?" Adele asked. "Huh, I never expected that."
"Well, is she coming up or not?" Abel said. "I never expected a monster to be so…hesitant."
"You can do it, Celia." Martin said while offering a hand. Finally, the arachne reached out and accepted her husband's grip, and she pulled herself completely into the room.
Shouts of fear rang out throughout the room at the sight of a full-grown arachne. "It-it's a giant spider!" One man yelled while holding his shaking sword up. Another man, who had just regained consciousness after fainting at the sight of Martin, took one look at Celia before his eyes rolled behind his head and his comrades had to catch him again. Marina Morgant looked on warily, her right hand resting on a knife she had sheathed. Abel was also ready to attack at any moment, his gray eyes firmly locked on the arachne. However, Adele along with a few other Committee members didn't look as ready to spring into a fight, instead gazing at Celia with open-eyed curiosity. As for poor Celia herself, the frightened Arachne took one look at the room of armed humans in front of her before squealing and hiding herself behind Martin.
"Hey Hey, no need to be so freaked out!" Martin yelled. "Like I said, Celia doesn't want to hurt any of you. Isn't that right, Celia?"
"Y-yes." the arachne responded in a whisper.
Abel circled around to get a better look at Celia. "Hmm, it might just be a very skilled ploy, but she definitely acts harmless. Is this really the enemy The Order is so terrified about?"
Marina also took one cautious step forward. "Martin, is this really the monster who captured you?"
"You're entirely right, sis." Martin smiled. "She's also now your sister-in-law. Celia, meet Marina, my older sister."
Celia glanced from behind Martin before giving a nervous wave. All Marina could do was give an unsure wave back.
"So, is it true?" she asked the arachne. "Did you really catch Martin with no intention of eating him, but rather to keep him as a…mate?"
"Of course!" Celia replied, sounding rather offended. "Why would I ever want to eat a human- it's hard enough to find one! But I found Martin, and he's mine now! My very own human, and so handsome too! He's going to give me an entire brood of beautiful dark-haired children!"
"Wait, was Martin really not joking about the "breeding partners" part?" asked a rebel with an eyepatch. Then he looked at Celia a little longer. "You know, I'm starting to actually believe it, the spider's got some curves. Martin, I know you've always had a bit of a rakish streak, but you really outdid yourself this time!"
"Yeah, I can't disagree with that." Martin replied. "But my old philandering days are over! I'm staying loyal to Celia from this point onward!"
The other Committee members in the room were beginning to drop their guard as they accepted that Celia wasn't a threat. Adele in particular took the brave step of walking directly up to the Arachne.
"I…like your hat." she said while smiling, though she still sounded a little nervous. "It's cute the way your hair falls around it."
"Th-thank you, human." Celia replied, her cheeks red. "I wove it myself."
"Huh, she almost seems human herself at times." Marina whispered. "Monst-ah, my apologies. Celia, while I'm still unsure of what to make of you being my sister-in-law, I'm at least willing to admit that you don't appear to have any hostile intentions. Welcome to the Tyrene Resistance Committee."
"Thank you for welcoming me in." Celia replied, and she managed to force a small smile. "Martin did tell me a lot about you, and he only had nice things to say. It's good to finally meet you."
Marina smiled back. "You as well". "Then she turned to Martin, still smiling. "So Martin, you spent an entire month in the Underground as a monster's mate?"
"You're entirely right, sis. But I always planned to- OW! HEY! HEY! BIG SIS!"
Marina had boxed him in his right ear and was now twisting it backwards. Celia's expression soured at the sight of her husband getting a firm thrashing, but Martin managed to put one hand on her shoulder to dissuade her.
"You little lecher!" Marina yelled. "Do you realize how many losses we've suffered since you were gone? How badly our situation fell apart while you were busy dallying with spiders! Were you ever planning on coming back before Alex found you?"
"Ow! I'm sorry Marina! I really am!" Martin yelled back as he tried not to fall over. "You're completely right- I should have gone back to all of you! But I promise that I'm not leaving ever again!"
"Oh, you better not." Marina threatened. "You're going to be making up for this for a long time!"
"Please, let him go. It's all my fault." Celia spoke up, causing Marina to finally let up on Martin. "I kept him from returning to the surface. I was terrified that if I let my new husband out of my sight I'd never see him again, but if his absence did cause you all to suffer so much…" She took off her beret and held it in both arms. "Then us monsters still have much to learn."
Marina stared at the arachne for a few seconds, unsure of what to make of this apology from a monster. Then her expression softened a little.
"You really did take my brother as a husband, did you?" she whispered. "I know that fear, the fear of losing your other half. I feel it every single day that Pierre isn't here. While my dear brother here-" she gave Martin one more dirty look- "still has a long way before he can be in my good books again, I will hold nothing against you." Marina's expression darkened. "As for The Order, nothing can ever convince me to forgive them now."
Shouts of agreements went up throughout the room, with all but a few paranoid individuals finally accepting the truth about monsters.
"Once everyone else in the city hears about this, The Order is going to get eviscerated!" one man yelled.
"My cousin disappeared in the Catacombs a year ago. Does this mean he's perfectly fine? That I can see him again?" one woman asked.
"I don't believe it! Those Order bastards have been hiding these lovely monsters from us! They'll pay for this crime!" yelled another man.
Alex smiled- it appeared that their mission was approaching success. Celia had gotten comfortable enough to step out from behind Martin, and some more people were approaching to have a closer look. Even Abel had sheathed his rapier and examined the arachne with curiosity.
Once we start spreading the truth to the rest of Tyrene, The Order's control over the populace will crumble to dust! Then it's only a matter of time before they have to flee Tyrene!
"Alright, I can't deny what's right in front of me." Abel said, almost smiling. "You seem to be harmless enough, spider. And it's nice to hear that The Order really does have no purpose for existing- just one more reason to ensure they don't. And it is good to see you, Martin. And to think that maybe Jean…no, I'll save that thought for later. But while you've proven to me that monsters aren't a threat…" his expression suddenly darkened as he rapidly slid out his rapier and pointed it right at Alex's throat. "...I still have some questions for you. There are just a few things that feel off about all this."
Alex gulped at the sight of Abel's blade hovering just over his jugular, terrified of making any movements. Druella hissed in fury behind him and took a step forward, but Alex raised one hand up and motioned her to hold back. The other members of the Committee looked over with trepidation at their co-founder's sudden switch to hostility, while Marina, Celia, Martin, and Adele looked absolutely furious.
"Abel, what the hell are you doing?!" Marina yelled in anger. "Alex here has brought back Martin and exposed The Order's lies to all of us! You should be thanking him!"
"What gives, Abel?" Martin asked, his expression unsmiling. "Alex is a good guy- I'd still be down there if it wasn't for him! Lower your sword before I fetch mine!"
"Oh, I am thankful for what he's done." Abel responded. "But it's all just a little too…convenient. Adele brings him in out of nowhere, and he turns out to be a model recruit trained by Wilmarina Noscrim of all people! Then, the second time he shows up, he brings back Martin and all these sudden revelations that monsters don't kill!" He looked at Alex with his cold eyes. "What's your angle in all of this? What are you trying to achieve? How do you know all these things about monsters?" He then turned to Druella. "And where do you fit in all of this?" Then he turned back to Alex. "And who else were you speaking to at the trapdoor?"
"You insolent man!" Druella growled. "How dare you turn on Alex like this? I'll have you-"
"Drew, it's fine. I'll answer his questions." Alex replied. Damn it, I really hope I don't have to expose us already! I was hoping to tell them about me and Druella later, once they've taken time to accept all the other unbelievable news! This could get ugly if I'm not careful.
"Alright, Abel." Alex said nervously. "Let's start with the last question first. Down below is Mimi. She's also a monster- a succubus to be exact."
"A succubus?!" a Committee member yelled. "But since you told us monsters don't kill…"
"That's right." Alex replied. "They won't drain you to death, they won't break your minds with pleasure, and they certainly won't steal your soul. Succubi, like all other monsters, just want to have a guy of their own. Do you want me to call her up? You'll find that they're really pleasant to talk to!"
"Fine." Abel huffed. "Call her up."
Alex then went over to the trapdoor, Abel's blade still following his throat, and yelled down below- "Hey Mimi! They want to meet you now! Please come up!"
"Really?" Mimi yelled in response. "Then I'll be right up! I can always handle a room full of men!"
And the ladder creaked once again as Mimi made her way up into the Committee HQ. As the scantily-clad succubus pulled herself out of the trapdoor and into the room, Alex noticed that all the men- even Abel- had their eyes locked on her. Although her eyes widened at the sight of a rapier pointed at Alex's throat, Mimi managed to compose herself enough to perform a curtsy.
"It is nice to meet all of you! My name is Mimi, and I do hope we can cooperate in driving the Order out of Tyrene!"
"She really is a succubus!" One man yelled. "Look at her wings and tail!"
"Damn, she's quite the looker! No wonder it's said that men can't escape them once they catch sight of their eyes!"
"But if they really don't steal our lifeforce and soul…then where's the downside?!" yelled the shabby-looking rebel with the eyepatch. "Your name's Mimi, right? Is what Alex said true, that you demons just want us guys as husbands? Well, ya can consider me a volunteer!"
Mimi smiled. "Alas, I already have one man in my sights. But if he eludes me, I'll keep you in my thoughts, my dear one-eyed saboteur. But to answer your question- Yes, you are completely correct. You have nothing to fear from us."
Excited noises came from some of the men in the crowd, while the women looked at them in disgust. But Abel hadn't lowered his rapier, and his gray eyes were now fixed on Mimi.
"You…seem familiar." He said. Then his eyes widened. "Now I remember! I was thrown off by the horns and wings, but you're one of Prince Julien's palace maids! I remember seeing you when I still worked at the Palace- those brown eyes are unmistakable!"
Mimi stared at Abel for a moment. "Hmm, I remember you too! You were that one Guardsman who barely smiled! I always wondered what happened to you after you killed those soldiers!"
"It's not that interesting of a story. I just made my way here." Abel replied. But then his expression turned back to one of cold anger as turned to Alex and once again pointed his rapier at his neck. "But now I have even more questions for you! Why are you cooperating with a succubus masquerading as a palace maid?! Just what kind of scheme are you plotting? Answer me now or your guts are spilling the floor!"
"Do that, and I'll show you the true sight of hell!" Druella snarled, her hands raised and ready to perform some magic. Mimi also shifted into a combat stance, ready to defend her Lady's spouse.
"You've taken this too far, Abel!" Marina yelled. "Sheathe your blade!"
"Alex helped me out of a tight bind! I won't let you accuse him like this!" Adele snarled.
"Alex just wants to help the Committee in any way he can!" Martin interjected. "Let up on him already!"
"But he does have a point." another Committee member spoke up. "We barely know Alex, and he just shows up and brings all these monsters along! Sure, it turns out they're not going to eat us, but he definitely is involved with something else!"
As all eyes trained on him, Alex could only gulp. Part of him wondered if he should just yell out the safe word he and Druella had chosen so she could teleport them all out of this situation at a moment's notice.
But I guess I have no choice. I just hope they don't immediately assume the worst when they see Druella. Even if they are accepting that monsters aren't the enemy, they definitely wouldn't tolerate a full-on takeover.
Alex took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll answer your questions, Abel. The reason why I came to the Committee was-"
Just then, the hidden door to the room slid open, and an out-of-breath René came running in. The portly bartender took a moment to catch his breath before looking at all of them, his expression one of pure panic.
"Abel! Marina!" René screamed, his eyes wide open. "It's The Order- a large contingent of soldiers is heading right to the Tavern! They're just down the street, and they have knights and heroes with them! Oh, this is a disaster! This is-" then he noticed the arachne, the succubus, and the supposedly-dead Martin Talvert standing in the room, and his eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
"I can explain everything later, René!" Martin exclaimed. "But is it true?! They're already almost here?"
René gave a panicked nod, causing shouts of fear and terror to echo throughout the room.
"If they're already down the street, we won't be able to make a run for it!" one woman cried out.
"Oh gods, we're done for! The Committee is finished! And just when we found out the truth…" another man wailed.
Other Committee members simply looked resigned to accept their fate, their gloomy eyes filling with despair as they pulled out their weapons for a last stand. Marina picked up a nearby crossbow in her shaking hands, while Adele's rapier quivered in her grip. Even Abel looked grim as he finally retracted his rapier away from Alex.
"Well, shit." He grumbled. "I guess this is it. There's nothing left to do but take as many as we can with us."
"H-hey, wait a minute!" Alex yelled, causing everyone to look at him. "Why are you all accepting your own deaths?! You still have a way of escaping!"
He then pointed at the trapdoor. "See, just get into the Underground- The Order won't follow you down there!"
"Wha-we can't do that!" Adele yelled back. "Like I said, the Underground is dangerous and full of mon…sters…" The implication finally hit her.
"Yep, the monsters of the Sewers and Catacombs aren't going to do anything to you, or at least nothing violent!" Alex replied. "Matter of fact, they'd be more than willing to help you out! Adele, Marina, Abel, Martin…are you all willing to help me and Drew hold them off until everyone gets to safety?"
Marina managed to shake herself out of her despair. "Y-yes, I will! The Tyrene Resistance Committee won't be dying today!"
"You can count on me!" Adele smiled while twirling her blade.
"Of course! After all you've done, Alex, I'd have to return the favor at some point!" Martin replied with a grin.
Abel stared at him before nodding. "Our conversation is not over. But I'll stick around."
"Perfect!" Alex replied. "Mimi, can you lead everyone else to safety…and keep the more desperate monsters at bay?"
Mimi nodded before turning to the crowd. "Alright, follow me down the ladder, and be sure not to go down too fast! Once we're in the Catacombs, stay near me the entire time…unless you're no longer content being single! Understood?"
"Y-you expect us to just follow you, a succubus, in the Catacombs?" one rebel asked with suspicion. "This screams trap to me!"
"Would you prefer sticking around and waiting for The Order's mercy?" Mimi asked in a matter-of-factly tone. "I thought so. Now let's get moving, it'll take time to evacuate everyone!"
"Celia, you should go with them." Martin pointed to the Committee members following Mimi into the Catacombs. "If The Order notices a monster within our ranks, they'll destroy our reputation before we have the chance of spreading the truth to everyone!"
"Absolutely not!" the arachne huffed. "It was one thing to allow you to come back up to the surface, it is quite another to leave you in a life-threatening situation! I will not allow any chance of you dying!"
"It makes me feel really happy to hear that." Martin replied while smiling. "But please, don't worry, I swear that I, Martin Talvert, will not be dying today! I'll promise this to you as well, Celia- once we drive The Order back to Tyrene, I'll spend the rest of my life by your side!"
Celia still looked extremely nervous. "You better keep your promise. If you get hurt in any way, you'll find out that your sister isn't the only one who can twist your ears off!"
"What a frightful thought." Martin shuddered. "Now I'm definitely motivated to stay alive!"
As the human/arachne couple said their goodbyes, Alex began walking towards the hidden entrance to wait for The Order's arrival with everyone else. But a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Alex, while I am impressed at your little show of leadership, you're doing it again." Druella whispered to him.
"Doing what?"
"Getting so caught up in being heroic that your rationality is replaced with recklessness and you find yourself in situations far above your ability." Druella replied. "The Order is here to exterminate the Tyrene Resistance Committee, and you just volunteer to help defend it?!"
"Hey, we can't just let them get captured or killed! Besides, they'll trust us far more if we help save them from annihilation!"
"I am in full agreement with you in that regard, Alex. But I'm referring to you- fighting lowly soldiers is one thing, but Knights and full-fledged heroes is another matter entirely!"
"Then I'll promise that I'll stay by your side the entire time and not challenge anyone stronger than me!" Alex offered. Then he gave Druella his best puppy-eyed look: "Please, let me have this chance to demonstrate how much stronger I've become since I've started training. Please let me have the opportunity to be your companion in battle."
That did the trick- Druella still looked extremely reluctant, but his pleas had moved her. "Well, I suppose you did handle yourself well when we faced Turgal Khan. Fine, I will allow you to stay. But next time, leave the volunteering to me! Understood?"
Alex nodded in agreement, leaving Druella satisfied for the moment. The two joined Marina, Abel, Martin, Adele, and a few other Committee members that volunteered to stay behind in a semicircle facing the hidden entrance from the tavern. They had dragged as many crates as they could to form a rudimentary barricade, but that was as much as they could prepare in the little time they had. For the moment, they could still hear the typical rowdy noises one would associate from a bar. Then the shouts began.
"Hey, get the hell off of me!"
"What the hell! Are we being detained? We didn't do nothin'!"
"Don't resist unless you want to be branded a collaborator! Now get in line with the rest and out the door!"
The panicked shouting and resistance continued on for a minute before ceasing entirely, leaving an eerie silence besides the sounds of people climbing down the trapdoor.
"Maybe they don't know about the hidden entrance, and they'll just get bored and leave?" Adele whispered hopefully.
Then they heard a loud crunching noise as something smashed against the barricaded entrance.
"...Or not." Adele murmured in disappointment.
"Don't give them any room to maneuver!" Abel yelled as The Order continued to beat down the entrance. "Bottle them up in the doorway!"
Their makeshift barricade continued to tremble with each successive smash, until finally there was a loud crunching noise as a hefty warhammer smashed through the door. The bulky Order soldier that held the hammer grinned at the sight of the Committee members in front of him, and he stepped forward to seize his prey…
…only to get hit by a crossbow bolt right in the eyes, causing him to stumble backwards into his companions. He was dead before he hit the ground.
"Good shot, Marina!" Adele yelled. "But I think we definitely pissed them off now!"
Alex looked on with horror at the dead Order soldier in front of him. He should have expected casualties to happen- after all, the Tyrene Resistance Committee didn't carry mamono realm silver on themselves- but he still felt an incredible sense of guilt that it even happened at all. Alex glanced over at Druella; judging by her disgusted, regretful expression, she was not happy about this either.
I guess this is a Resistance bent on fighting to the death, and both sides know exactly what the stakes are. But once we get out of here, I'm going to ask Druella to ship crateloads of mamono realm silver over to the Committee. We're here to end the violence, not perpetuate it.
"Take them down! Tyrax wants them all in chains!" an Order Captain yelled. At his command, the soldiers lined up behind an Order Knight holding a shield and tried to force their way in. Marina's second crossbow shot harmlessly bounced off of it, but Abel, Martin, Adele, and their fellow fighters quickly attacked the flanks of the unit and prevented them from fanning out into the room. Adele and Martin were elegant in their fighting styles, their rapiers practically dancing in their grips as they exposed their opponents' weak points and struck them down. Abel, on the other hand, was a far more aggressive fighter, his rapier singing through the air as he cut down one soldier after another. Meanwhile, the Order Knight advanced right on Alex.
"Hmmph, you're a little young for this rebel business, aren't you?" the Knight asked him, sword drawn. "What a shame, but orders are orders. Just be glad you get to die quic-GYAH!"
An energy blast exploded beneath the Knight's feet, knocking him into the air and making his sword slip from his grasp. As he crumbled back down to the floor, Alex quickly ran in and neutralized him with one stab of his sword.
"Excellent work, Alex!" Druella said. "I was going to finish him off myself, but this arrangement is more than effective!"
Alex couldn't help but grin. Finally, we're fighting together in a team!
The two of them then formed their own little team system- Druella used her magical abilities to knock their opponents off balance, and Alex would be the one to finish them off. Through their efforts, one soldier found himself fast asleep in a block of ice, another found his weapon ripped right out of his hands by Druella while Alex cut him down, and a third soldier was put into such a dazed state by one of Druella's charm spells that Alex only had to lightly cut the man for him to fall.
The fighting was also going well elsewhere in the room; with the rapier-wielding rebels preventing the soldiers from getting any room for maneuverability and Marina providing cover fire with her crossbow, The Order's attack party was getting completely bottlenecked. One Knight managed to strike down one of the Committee members and nearly broke free of the semicircle, but Abel quickly jumped in his path and forced him back. As they found themselves being pushed back through the entrance, Alex took this opportunity to raise a mana shield over the doorway, leading to cries of anger and fury as The Order banged their weapons uselessly against it.
"Hey, you're able to create barriers?" Abel exclaimed with annoyance. "Then why didn't you do that from the beginning?!"
"Because they don't last forever and I need to save some juice for the wounded!" Alex yelled back. "Let's take this chance to re-barricade the entrance!"
The opportunity was not wasted; the party soon began stacking as many crates, boxes, and tables against the barrier until they were certain that The Order could not break through without a battering ram. Only then did Alex drop his shield.
"That should buy us some time." Martin said. "Maybe enough for everyone to escape!"
Half the membership of the Committee had already traveled down with Mimi into the underground, while the other half was hurriedly trying to expedite the process. Alex was initially elated at how well things were going, but his elation vanished when he took notice of the dead soldiers strewn about the entrance.
If I had allowed Druella to forcefully conquer Tyrene, would these soldiers all still be alive and partnered to a monster? No, don't let the guilt devour you- the stakes are far higher than just the fate of Tyrene!
One still-living soldier groaned and clutched his stomach wound as he tried to crawl away from them, his eyes filled with terror. Abel, however, took notice and began walking towards him, rapier drawn.
Alex couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, stop it!" he yelled as he ran in front of Abel and examined the soldier. His wounds were severe, but within his ability to heal. The soldier stared at him with wary eyes, but he didn't try to fight back.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Abel said in annoyance. "Get out of my way so I can finish him off!"
As he tried to step forward, however, Druella stepped in and gave him such a pointed glare that even the hardened rebel flinched for a second. Meanwhile, Alex's hands glowed green as he administered a pharmacomancy spell on his patient, stopping the bleeding and closing the soldier's wounds. The Order soldier briefly stared in surprise at his healed wound before turning back to Alex.
"Th-thanks for that." he said in a still-terrified but grateful tone.
"Ugh, are you kidding me?" Abel groaned behind him. 'You're far too sentimental for your own good. He's only to come back to fight us again if you let him go. And where the hell are we supposed to hold him prisoner?"
"Oh, I know of some individuals who would gladly take him off your hands." Druella interjected. "Don't be afraid," she addressed the soldier sweetly. "Just let them escort you down below and you'll soon be safe. We do not harm our prisoners." Druella made sure to emphasize that last line.
The soldier, left with no other options, could only weakly nod as he allowed two Committee members to escort him off.
"Ugh, pacifists." Abel grumbled as he walked off. "You lot are always a bunch of useless idealists."
'Ignore him, Alex." Druella whispered in his ear. "You performed most excellently! I am very proud of you!"
"Thanks," Alex replied. "But I just wish we could've avoided the rest of the casualties."
"Do not let the guilt wear you down, Alex." Druella replied. "Instead, let us both promise to never let this happen again."
Alex nodded before turning to face the door again. The Order had given up trying to break through their barricade, allowing a tense silence to fall over the room. The silence was then suddenly broken by an angered cry echoed from outside.
"Arggh, you lousy ingrates! How could you fail to break through some ragged rebels?" yelled a familiar voice.
It sounds like Commander Tyrax himself has arrived to witness the final defeat of the Tyrene Resistance Committee. I'm sorry buddy, but it's only going to be all downhill for you after today.
"Perhaps they'll withdraw?" Adele asked. But once again her wishful thinking was not fulfilled.
"It's your turn to fight, mage! Go and tear the whole front of the building down!" Tyrax yelled.
"With pleasure!" yelled another voice.
Alex gulped. Ah crap, René did mention that Tyrax brought along heroes! This battle is only just getting started!
"Everyone hit the deck!" Alex screamed as he cast a mana shield in front of them all. He only had seconds to spare before a blinding explosion consumed the front of the tavern and left everyone's ears ringing.
[]
After finally blinking some sight back into her eyes, Druella examined the carnage in front of her. The Quenched Dragon had been utterly immolated, with nothing but a gaping hole where there had once been a thriving bar. Flames burned everywhere, with charred tables and chairs littering the ground while black smoke billowed into the air. Beyond the smoke, Druella could see the soldiers and knights of The Order in a crescent formation around the destroyed bar, the flames reflecting off their helmets and armor. And beyond them, Druella could see a bulky man in white armor atop a massive horse, his expression one of triumph as he gazed at the burning rubble in front of him. A hooded, red-robed mage stood to his left- a pyromancer whose hands still glowed from his most recent incantation. To his right stood two other heroes- a female rogue equipped with daggers in both hands and a well-built warrior armed with a scythe.
"Nowhere to hide now, rebels?" Tyrax bellowed. "Surrender now, and maybe I'll commute your sentences to penal labor. Resist, and you'll get to be participants in a bloody show I'm planning at the White Bastion Square!"
Not one member of the Committee accepted this final offer of clemency, with the only responses being gritted teeth and tightly-held weapons. While Druella did admire their determination, inwardly she was extremely concerned about how she and Alex could navigate their way through this near-hopeless situation.
If I had just a little more warning, I could've teleported them all to safety! Now I doubt I'll even have enough time to escape with Alex!
"No one?" Tyrax asked. "Hmmph, you really are all just useless ingrates, throwing away your lives in hopeless defiance against the Chief God! First two lines- move in! I want enough prisoners for the mass execution tomorrow!"
The first two lines of Order soldiers bellowed their war cries before advancing into the burning bar, weapons drawn. For a few seconds, they appeared to disappear within the black smoke…only to emerge from it like phantoms as they charged down their quarry. Soon, the clash of steel once again echoed through the room.
Two soldiers immediately charged down Alex, who parried the strike of one man while Druella sent the other one flying back the way he came with a simple wind charm. The second man continued to spar with Alex for a few more seconds before a slice through the ribs made him crumble to the ground. But even as Alex caught his breath, three other soldiers were already approaching him.
"Stay away from him!" Druella growled as she weaved another spell. The three Order soldiers continued to approach Alex, not even noticing the glowing threads of mana forming around their ankles. As the first man tripped and dragged his comrades down with him, Alex was quick to finish them off.
"Excellently done- ALEX!" Druella's acclamation turned to a scream of panic as another soldier hoisted a javelin and tossed it at her husband. Fortunately, Alex noticed in time to raise a mana shield seconds before the projectile could've lodged itself in his skull.
"Thank god Primera keeps me on my toes." Alex muttered to himself.
He truly is well on his way to become a Hero. Druella thought to herself with pride. Perhaps I really do need to learn to be less concerned about him…but this situation is not looking good.
Despite fighting valiantly, the members of the Tyrene Resistance Committee were now outnumbered and in the open, all their previous advantages having gone literally up in flames. Adele was being forced back by a Knight, his heavy broadsword easily knocking back her rapier. Martin found himself fending off two soldiers at once, perspiration running down his face he desperately tried to keep up with them. Marina fired and reloaded her crossbow as quickly as she could, but two more men kept arriving for every one she shot down.
"I'll cut all you bastards down!" Abel hissed as he parried the blades of two soldiers. "You lying, worthless, pointless, vile…" the insults became indiscernible within the cries of battle.
Damn it, we are about to be overwhelmed! For a brief, selfish moment, Druella considered snatching Alex and making a break for it, but she managed to suppress that cowardly thought.
No, I won't abandon these brave rebels, but we are running out of options! If only I didn't have to maintain my glamor…oh how I wish for a fight where I don't have to hold anything back!
"Drue-Drew!" Alex yelled as an Order Knight approached him. Although Alex had formed a shield in front of him, the Knight was wisely holding back, waiting for an opening to strike. Another knight tried to approach Alex from behind, but with a cry of fury Druella lunged forward and knocked him to the floor with a paralysis charm.
Alex! No, I have to end this fight before he gets hurt!
Druella took one last look outside at Tyrax, who was still grinning with mad glee at the sight of his cornered prey. After stretching her limbs and taking one more deep breath, she was now ready to put an end to this nightmare.
I may have to limit myself to the magic and abilities a human hero could reasonably have…but Tyrax will soon find out why you should never mess with a cornered lilim! Then, after one last deep breath, she charged forward into the approaching enemy.
The first soldier she ran into barely had time to lift his sword before Druella knocked him out of the fight with just a stroke of her fingertips. She barely even took notice of him falling to the ground in a lust-fueled torpor before she was upon the next soldier, grabbing his sword-arm as he attempted to swing at her before quickly whispering an incantation in his ear that drained all strength from his limbs. As two more soldiers advanced to take his place, Druella quickly raised both her arms and knocked them both out with a stun blast. The whole exchange had taken less than ten seconds.
"Shit, that one's strong!" A Knight yelled. "Line up with me, we'll encircle her from all sides!"
About ten soldiers listened to the Knight's call as they spread out and began approaching Druella in a semicircular position. But all Druella did was smile.
You poor dears, you've lined yourself up so perfectly for this! Then, with a flourish of her right hand she unleashed a wind charm that knocked all the men off their feet, sending them flying back outside. As the Knight crashed before Tyrax's mount with a loud thump, Druella could see that the commander was no longer smiling.
Now to help out my beleaguered allies. Druella relieved Adele first as the Knight who had been assaulting the rapier-wielding girl suddenly found himself grabbed by an unseen force before being hurled into a nearby wall. Although Druella had been careful to throw him in a way that wouldn't leave any permanent injuries, he was not getting up anytime soon.
"Oh, thanks for that!" Adele yelled in gratitude.
But Druella had already moved onto her next targets as she rushed towards Martin, whose leg now sported a nasty cut as two Order soldiers continued to press him. Before they could bring down the injured man, Druella slid in behind them and whispered one quick word to both of them: "Sleep". As the two soldiers dropped their weapons, laid themselves on the floor, and began snoring, a very relieved-looking Martin turned to thank her.
"You can express your sincere gratitude at a more opportune time." Druella spoke up before Martin could utter a word. "Follow the others down below, you'll only get yourself killed if you stay."
Martin Talvert looked like he wanted to protest, but he clamped his mouth shut after he remembered a certain promise he made. Already preemptively rubbing his right ear, he limped off to the trapdoor.
Druella then turned towards Abel, who was still fending off three soldiers at once. The deadly rebel's eyes were wide open and desperately keeping track of his opponents before a sudden blast of mana threw him out of focus. When he managed to blink his eyes back into focus, all his opponents were now unconscious on the floor with Druella standing over them. Behind her, he could see all the other soldiers present in the destroyed tavern eyeing her with fear, all of them too wary to approach. A few were already retreating in fear, dragging their injured comrades out with them.
"They are already neutralized." Druella said warningly. "Do not try anything…regrettable."
All Abel could do was stare at her slack-jawed. "How did you- just who exactly are you?!"
"Your savior." Druella replied. Before Abel could question her further, the sound of Tyrax's fury echoed from outside.
"How are you all being forced back by a single woman?" Tyrax roared. "Archers, take aim! Strike that woman down!"
The bowmen dutifully notched their bows with arrows before taking aim and loosing them right into the half-destroyed building. The cloud of arrows arced directly into the exposed smuggler's den and could've easily turned Druella into a pincushion, but Alex was ready for them. As the arrows bounced harmlessly off his mana barrier, he gave her a quick grin.
"I told you I've gotten stronger!" he proclaimed.
Druella smiled back in return. Yes, you have, my dear husband. Hmm, perhaps when we return to Lescatie, I can think about giving you a proper position within my command?
"Arrgh, that's it! Forget taking prisoners- all lines, move in!" the irate commander yelled. "Focus on taking down that woman first!"
The soldiers and Knights of the Order all advanced forward, their blades out as they rushed into the destroyed tavern. The Knights marched in front, intending to beat down their opponents while the soldiers could rush in from all directions. It was an overwhelming force, one that could have easily overran the remaining ragged defenders no matter how hard they fought.
But something tells me Tyrax never expected to go up against me!
Druella stepped forward and raised both her arms in front of her, arcs of mana traveling between her fingertips while a glowing magic circle emanated beneath her feet. In front of the shocked members of the Tyrene Resistance Committee, Druella took another step forward and unleashed the spell from her hands, sending a wave of pure energy crashing into the approaching Order lines. Shouts and screams echoed through the night as men were thrown backwards, their armor clanging as they collided with one another. Those unfortunate enough to be standing behind a Knight were either knocked unconscious outright or left groaning as three hundred pounds of muscle and armor collided into them. The soldiers unlucky enough to be closest to Druella were hurled into the air and over their fellow soldiers' heads, though curiously they all landed softly enough to avoid any permanent injuries. The soldiers lucky enough to be outside, meanwhile, were able to stand back up without issue, but Tyrax's horse had reared up in panic from the spell and had thrown its rider to the ground. Druella could just barely hear the sound of Tyrax's curses as men continued to scream and groan.
A few concussions and broken bones, but nothing incurable. Druella thought to herself as she dispelled her last levitation spell. Humans are such fragile creatures, that is why they need strong monsters like us to protect them!
"Holy shit." was all Abel could say as he examined the carnage in front of them.
"Alex did say you were a powerful magic-user, but…" Adele's eyes were wide open. "Just what other surprises is that boy hiding from me?!"
Marina looked as equally shocked as her comrades, but she managed to look Druella in the eye and give a nod in gratitude. That small gesture actually left Druella taken aback for a moment- when was the last time a human woman looked up at me with such thankful eyes…or at least before I monsterized them?
"Drew!" Alex came running up to her. "Everyone else is safely underground. Let's all take this opportunity to get out of here!"
Druella glanced back at the carnage in front of her- the soldiers Tyrax had brought were being very slow to get up, but the pyromancer and his companions were already on their feet. Meanwhile, Tyrax gazed at her with a look of pure malice as he tried pulling himself off the ground.
"You! Burn her to smithereens!" Tyrax yelled at the heroes. The pyromantic mage gave one last salute before slowly approaching the building, his arms already wreathed with flames. His two allies followed him on either side, weapons pulled out.
"All of you- go ahead of me." Druella addressed the group. "I'll ensure that they won't be following us."
"Hey, there is no need for that!" Adele responded. "You've already done enough. Alex, tell your wife not to-"
"Don't worry, Adele." Alex replied. "Three heroes is nothing me and her can't handle!"
"That includes you, Alex." Druella continued. "You still have much to learn before you can face heroes on your own."
"But-" Alex interjected.
"No "buts". Go and heal Martin's injury, I'll follow you soon." Then, in a more sultry tone, she added: "You really impressed me tonight, my dear Alex. Fufu, you really are well on your way to be my partner in battle!"
That last line did the trick- Alex's cheeks turned bright red, but the smile on his face was unmistakable as he headed to the trapdoor with the remaining Committee members.
Fufu, two can play at this game, Alex! I know exactly what to say to make you melt!
For a moment, Druella was all alone in the smoldering room. Then, the pyromancer stepped out of the smoke, followed by the scythe-wielding warrior and the dagger-equipped rogue.
"You're strong." the pyromancer said to Druella, his amber eyes barely visible beneath his hood. "A shame that I have to kill you, but someone like you must've been trained by the very best!"
"You are entirely correct, my dear pyromancer." Druella replied. "My father is the greatest hero to ever live!"
The Pyromancer snorted. "So was mine. Let's dance." Then he unleashed a fireball from his right hand while his two companions rushed forward.
Druella easily dodged the first fireball before ducking to avoid the swing of the warrior's scythe, gracefully sliding past him before grabbing the scythe with both hands and snapping it in two. All the warrior could do was stare dumbfoundedly at his ruined weapon before Druella sent him flying to the opposite wall with a snap of her fingers. Unlike the soldiers and knights before him, however, the warrior was able to handle this battering, and he slowly pulled himself up before reaching for a backup sword.
The pyromancer then shouted in anger as a circle of eight fireballs appeared and revolved clockwise over his head before he raised his right arm and rapidly fired them at Druella. The disguised lilim smirked before breaking into a sprint and outrunning the approaching balls of flame as they crashed behind her. When only one remained, she stopped and whispered a protective charm before catching the approaching fireball with her now-glowing right hand. Then, she calmly leaned over and blew it out like she would a birthday candle.
"That was delightfully…dull!" Druella exclaimed as she gloated in front of the pyromancer. "Is this truly the best The Order can scrounge up these days? Did Tyrax train all of you as well-"
Druella stopped speaking and quickly wheeled around, catching the rogue by both arms as she emerged out of nowhere and attempted to plant two daggers in her back.
"Did you really think I forgot about you, my dear rogue?" Druella asked the squirming, wide-eyed hero. "I could smell you beneath your invisibility spell." Then, with a quick flash of her eyes, the rogue's eyelids drooped and her daggers clattered to the ground as she fell fast asleep.
A shame I do not have the time or space to monsterize her- she'd make for an excellent Mantis!
Druella's ears perked up, and she quickly jumped out of the way to dodge the wall of fire billowing towards her, the rogue still in her grip. As she quickly placed her down in a spot away from the flames, she turned to glower at her two remaining opponents.
"Putting your companion's life at risk for an opportunity attack?" she growled. "How disgraceful!"
"She'd do the same thing if things were in reverse, lady!" the warrior responded. "Now die already!"
The warrior rushed forward, his sword already out and swinging…only for Druella to leap in the air and flip over his head as he swung where she had been standing moments prior. Before he could regain his bearings, Druella knocked the man unconscious with a single strike to the head.
Poor human, he'll need some ice for that. But sometimes a little bluntness is needed to get things done.
"That's it! There won't even be ash left when I'm done with you!" The pyromancer roared. Then, with both arms wreathed in flame, he yelled "Dragon's Kiss!"
A glowing-yellow jet of flame burst out of his outstretched arms, its front resembling the gaping, sharp-fanged maw of a dragon. Druella jumped out of the way of impact, but the "dragon" hissed as it curved in the air and went after her. The two of them danced around the room, Druella dodging all of its attempts to dive after her. But with the mage not breaking off the spell, the flaming dragon was only getting longer and leaving Druella with less and less room for maneuverability.
Then, Druella decided to do something unexpected- she jumped out of the burning tavern and ran straight towards Tyrax, the dragon spell still following behind her. There were some Order soldiers and knights stumbling to their feet, but they all yelped and jumped out of the way when they saw what was coming after them. The pyromancer panicked and shut off his spell, but the flaming dragon continued to follow Druella as she made her way right towards a wide-eyed, terrified Tyrax…
…before stepping to the right at the last moment and leaping to the air, causing the "dragon" to hit a nearby building and explode in a brilliant fireball of yellow and orange. All Tyrax suffered was a few singed beard hairs and the traumatic fear of impending doom.
"Commander Tyrax, my apologies!" The pyromancer stammered as he ran towards his commander. "I didn't think she'd be so fast, that she'd do something so suicidal-"
Druella landed behind him and struck him unconscious, leaving her face-to-face with Tyrax. The commander stared at her with defiance, while the soldiers around her looked on with apprehension.
Druella regarded the man in front of her. I could take him with me and end his command right here…but if he disappears, The Order might replace him with someone actually competent. No Tyrax, your end will come soon enough, but for now you may remain as the fool in charge.
"Prepare yourself, Tyrax". Druella warned the commander. "Your reign of terror over this city will soon be at an end, brought down by the very men and women you oppressed. When that day comes, we will meet again."
Then she turned around and sprinted back the way she came, with Tyrax too stunned to even order his men after her as she made her way to the trapdoor. As she closed it, the last thing she saw was the commander's fury-filled eyes, his gaze filled with hate as she disappeared beyond his reach.
[]
"That cut is now completely healed, Martin," Alex said as the green glow faded from his hands, "but I'm afraid you're going to have to deal with that ear of yours on your own."
"Yeah, I guess I do deserve it." Martin grumbled while Celia stared at him with the look of a disappointed housewife. ""I got hurt, and she fulfilled her promise."
"Hey, but you fulfilled yours too!" Alex replied. "You're still alive, after all! We're all still alive!"
Martin smiled. "Haha, that we are, Alex. That we are. And it's all thanks to that amazing wife of yours."
"Amazing is a bit of an understatement!" Adele interjected. "The way she weaved around all her opponents without even being scratched was…spectacular! Yeah, that's the word! Spectacular!"
"I agree, I wish I danced as gracefully as she fought!" Marina added in. "But will she be okay by herself?"
"Drew can easily handle anything The Order throws at her!" Alex responded. "I trust in her strength enough to not even be remotely worried right now!"
Marina raised an eyebrow. "Not even worried that she's facing three heroes? Alex, where on earth did you meet such a powerful Hero?"
Alex smiled. "Let's just say that she was doing what Heroes were meant to do- saving people."
"Oh, do tell us more!" Adele squealed. "I want to know the full story!"
But then the sixth individual in their group finally decided to speak.
"I'll give credit where it's due- your wife Drew is strong." Abel said with a hint of respect in his voice. "And thanks to her, we all escaped safely. But there's one thing I noticed that's still bothering me- although she obviously possesses immense physical and magical strength, her attacks all seemed to be…restrained. Her blows always slowed down before they made impact, her magic attacks were lacking in lethality, and she took extra care to ensure any incapacitated soldiers were safe and on the ground before moving on. And then there was that business with that one soldier… Now, this could all just be the ultimately futile actions of a pacifist…" his cold eyes once again trained themselves on Alex. "...Or, there's another story you still need to share with us."
…Here we go again. But at least I don't have a blade on my jugular.
But before Alex could say anything, another voice broke through their conversation:
"Hey, don't touch those! They're royal property!" the Sewer King yelled from his gelatinous throne as a Committee member eagerly trudged through a crate filled with fruit. "Do you know how long it took for one of my dear Queen's divisions to find and bring oranges to Tyrene? I will not stand for this transgression!"
The Committee member ignored the irate monarch, leaving him fuming.
"Don't get too agitated, my dear." the Queen Slime cooed. "These poor humans are clearly malnourished. Let them have their fill, and I promise that I'll get ahold of some more oranges soon."
"...Fine." the Sewer King grumbled. "But can they at least acknowledge my authority? Or the fact I'm even here!"
After fleeing the burning remnants of the Quenched Dragon Tavern, Alex and the rest of the leadership of the Tyrene Resistance Committee had caught up with Martin, Celia, and the people Mimi had led off at the Sewer King's domain in the Tyrene Underground. The Committee members were initially apprehensive about stepping onto the slimy surface of a Queen Slime's kingdom, but Mimi eventually managed to convince them forward with reassurances, charm, and "a succubus' instinctual talents!". Alex didn't ask her to elaborate. Their septic sovereign was rather annoyed at the unexpected arrival of a multitude of guests, but his wife seemed to be far more understanding of the situation. Fortunately, it appeared that the Sewer King was holding true to the promises he made to Druella as the other resident slimes of the Kingdom did not attack any of the Committee members, instead observing them from a distance and around corners with eyes filled with curiosity and longing. The Committee members were still rather shaken about their current situation, nor had they fully processed the truth of what Alex had told them, so they stayed clear of the slimes and kept to themselves. But Alex did also notice a few who were more relaxed and even willing to approach the slimes to observe them from up close.
"I hope we can find ourselves a new HQ- I didn't run away from one pathetic monarch to deal with another." Abel grumbled under his breath. "But for now, let us resume our conversation from earlier, Alex. Who are you, who exactly is Drew, and what is your business in Tyrene?"
Alex nodded slowly. "You're…not going to point your rapier at me?"
"I've seen your wife fight, I'm not going to mess with that." Abel replied. 'But still, get talking."
Alex took a deep breath. "All right. When I first met all of you, I said that I came to Tyrene to free the city from The Order and to stop their jewelry production. That is all still true, but I had one more reason for joining your Committee, and that was to reveal the truth about monsters to not only your city, but other cities and realms within The Order's grasp. Once the populace knows that everything The Order is fighting for is based on a lie, their hold over them will crumble."
"That…is a very ambitious goal, Alex." Marina said. "We just barely escaped with our lives, and you're already dreaming about future uprisings? But, I do suppose you are right- once we spread the word about monsters, our path forward will become far more clear!"
"Hmm, I guess that makes sense with your actions so far." Abel added, his gaze almost approving. "And I like your broad vision. But you still haven't told us who you or Drew really are."
"Alright, I guess I shouldn't beat around the bush anymore." Alex continued. "I haven't been telling you the full truth about my wife, Drew. You see, she is-"
"Hey Alex, guess who's back!" Mimi yelled as she strode into the chamber. Behind her was Druella, looking completely unscathed aside from her cloak being a little singed. Alex smiled at the sight of her. Perfect! It'll be far easier to delicately explain things with her around! Now let's just-
"Lady Druella! It is great to see you again!" the Sewer King blurted out. "Could you please keep these friends of yours in line and away from my things?"
-YOU IDIOT! You had one job, and you blew it!
Mimi, Alex, and Druella all glared at the now-embarrassed Sewer King, but the damage was already done. All the Committee members save Martin now turned to stare at Druella, their eyes wide open.
"Did he…just say what I think he said?" Marina whispered.
"No, I heard him." Adele replied. "He called Drew-"
"Druella…" Abel said before turning to Alex with that cold stare of his again. "Just what the hell is going on here?!"
Alex sighed. "I guess it can't be helped now. Druella, you can drop your glamor."
Druella looked as perturbed as he was, but she nodded in agreement. A sudden flash of light illuminated the room for a second before fading away to reveal Druella in her full lilim glory, wings and all.
For a second, the room was silent. Then the shouts of terror began.
"W-what the?!" the Committee member with the eyepatch stammered. "Druella…Conqueror of Lescatie…right in front of me….GYAHHH!" Then he ran off screaming into the darkness.
Similar shouting rang out throughout the room as the Committee members processed the fact that one of the most infamous beings alive was now standing directly in front of them. Marina and Adele were utterly speechless, their eyes wider than ever. Even Abel looked shocked, his mouth agape.
"Drew…Druella." He whispered to himself. "...what a shitty false name." His rapier was drawn, but even he couldn't hide all his fear as it trembled slightly within his hand.
"Do not be frightened, my dear humans. I am not here to harm any of you." Druella reassured them.
"Hah, as if we'll believe that!" Abel growled before gazing at Alex with fury. "Now I'm starting to get the bigger picture! The real reason you're trying to free Tyrene from The Order is so you can hand the city over to the Mamono Realm! You were planning to use us for your own ends!"
"What, no!" Alex yelled. "That's not my plan at all! Listen, Druella isn't your enemy. Monsters don't kill, remember? Not even the most powerful monsters in existence could ever bring themselves to kill humans! Not even Druella herself!"
"He's right, Abel." Martin said as he stood up and joined Alex's side. "If it wasn't for Druella and Alex, I might have never come back to the Committee! And if it wasn't for her efforts, we'd all be in chains waiting for the executioner's axe! I, Martin Talvert, am willing to vouch for both of them."
"Even so," Abel responded. "This monster is responsible for the Fall of Lescatie. I may be willing to accept the harmlessness of monsters, but I won't let Tyrene fall to any foreign power!"
"And neither will I." Marina added, her voice stern. "Alex, why did you lie to us? What else are you hiding? Don't try to deceive us again, young man."
Alex took a deep breath. "Yes, I lied about Druella. But everything else I said to you was entirely true! Well, except for one thing."
"And just what is that 'one thing'?" Abel asked.
"When I said that Wilmarina Noscrim trained me before the Fall of Lescatie, that was a lie. We didn't meet until after the Fall of Lescatie."
Marina's gaze narrowed. "So is your goal to follow in the Traitor's footsteps and repeat the Fall here in Tyrene?"
"No! How many times do I have to say it!" Alex yelled. "And Wilmarina isn't a traitor- as a matter of fact, she's quite similar to all of you! Lescatie was no model kingdom, it had plenty of its own problems just like Tyrene: a monarchy that cared more about cultivating heroes than improving the lives of their own citizens, rampant taxation, inequality…the Theocracy probably would have eventually collapsed on its own. But thanks to Wilmarina, all those things are now gone, and the kingdom is peaceful! But that's besides the point- me and Druella have no intention of conquering Tyrene, and we'd be perfectly content to hand full control of the city to the Tyrene Resistance Committee once The Order is gone!"
"My dear Alex is right." Druella said. "I will admit that collaborating with your merry band of rebels was not my original plan, but for Alex I was willing to give it a chance. Marina Morgant, I swear on my name as Fourth Princess of the Mamono Realm that I am not your enemy. I will not harm Tyrene, and I am content to allow you to establish whatever government you desire. My only interest is in ensuring the safety of the monster population beneath the city."
Seeing that Marina was still hesitant, she added: "And I meant every word I said about reuniting you with your husband."
Finally, Marina dropped out of her guarded stance. "I guess…you're nothing like how you're portrayed in The Order's propaganda. You did find Martin, and you did save us today. But…"
"Marina, there are few individuals in this world more versed in taking over a city from within than me and my subordinates. Let me help you transform the Tyrene Resistance Committee into what it was meant to be, and save the citizens of Tyrene."
Alex now gained a newfound respect for Druella's talents at seduction- even when there was no sexuality involved, she had a way of crafting her words into a siren's melody capable of swaying nearly anyone to her side.
Marina was silent for a few more seconds, her mind deep in thought. Then, she raised her head and nodded.
"Perfect, I'm glad to see you're on board, big sis!" Martin declared. "If you're up to it, I can give you a tour of my new home down below!"
"Are you seriously believing her, Marina?" Abel interrupted out of disbelief. "She's clearly the stronger party here, so why would someone as powerful as Druella herself take notice of us for any reason other than domination?"
"Have you considered compassion, my dear Abel?" Druella asked. "I despise those who harm the weak simply because they can. No, the true value of an individual comes from within, that is a mantra that all monsters live under. Your Committee may be weak for the moment, but Alex and I have just given it a new chance for life, a new purpose. Can you imagine it, Abel? Rebellions spreading from city to city as the populace rise up against their oppressors? That is what I can offer to you, so long as you abandon killing."
Abel raised an eyebrow. "That is a lovely dream, but I still don't trust you."
"Then how about this, Abel?" Alex offered. "There's a strong chance that your son is still alive and currently living in Lescatie along with the rest of the POWs from the Disaster at Steylia. Will we earn your trust if we find him and bring him back to you?"
Abel's face grew pale, his eyes watering for just a moment. "If…what you're saying is true…and you're capable of bringing him back…then I'll truly believe that you are fighting for the sake of Tyrene."
Alex smiled. Now that we have Abel on our side, everyone else should now accept her. And when we do return his son to him, maybe it'll be enough for him to let go of his murderous grudge against the Prince of Tyrene!
At last, the tension was beginning to dissipate from the room as the remaining Committee members began accepting that Druella wasn't an immediate threat, though they were still wary of her. As if sensing their discomfort, Druella spoke up again.
"Fear not, my dear rebels. The desperate times are now over. You may have lost your HQ, but you now have the entire Underground at your disposal! And I will ensure that the resident monsters will assist you in any way they can. I will also supply you with weapons and enough food to feed the entire city, along with any other resources you may need! All that I ask- all that I implore of you- is that you cease the taking of lives. Do we have a deal?"
It took a few more seconds for the disbelieving rebels to process what she said, but finally one woman was brave enough to nod in agreement, causing Druella to smile. Soon others began nodding in agreement, their despair-fueled eyes finally filling with hope. The last few weapons were finally sheathed, and now the room was filled with shouts of excitement rather than terror.
"Druella…our patron? Am I dreaming?" one man asked. "Maybe we can win after all!"
"Hah! Tyrax is going to completely freak out when he loses to Druella a second time!" another rebel yelled.
But there was one person who still had a serious question to ask.
"Alex," Adele nervously asked. "If Drew was really Druella all along, then are you two-"
"Married? Of course we are!" Druella declared proudly.
"Yes, we are a married couple!" Alex replied. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but it's the truth!"
"The recruit I met in the streets…married to Druella, the Conqueror of Lescatie herself…" Adele murmured to herself. Then her eyes rolled back and she fainted on the spot.
"Woah!" Alex quickly caught the young rebel before she could hit the ground. "Yeah, that's sort of the reaction I expected."
Marina looked at him up and down, her mind reeling at this final little revelation. Meanwhile, all Abel did was stare at both Alex and Druella before declaring "Okay, I give up." and walking out of the chamber.
"Oh, that reminds me. Mimi, could you go find that guy with an eyepatch who ran off earlier?" Alex asked. "He might get himself lost in the sewers."
"Don't worry, I'll find him!" Mimi declared before running off into one of the side tunnels.
"IS ANYONE GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME?!" the Sewer King yelled in frustration, but to no avail.
"This…is just absolutely surreal." Marina Morgant spoke up, her eyes watering. "To think that we were nearly annihilated today, and now we have such a powerful ally…Alex, were you sent here by the Chief God herself?"
"She had nothing to do with this." Alex replied while laying Adele down on a nearby couch. "As a matter of fact, I know some interesting things about her that will really change how you view this world-"
Marina silenced him with an unexpected hug. "Save those revelations for later, Alex. I've had quite enough surprises for this day. But thank you for everything you've done."
"Hey, don't thank me yet." Alex said while returning the hug. "We still need to win first. But from this point onwards, we'll be striking back against Tyrax."
"And we will succeed in freeing your husband, Marina." Druella added in.
Marina finally let go of Alex and turned to face Druella. "I am still not entirely sure whether or not I should put my full trust in you, Lady Druella, but I do look forward to cooperating with you."
"Likewise, Lady Morgant." Druella replied. "Fufu, this will be quite a new experience for me, but it's not like Alex hasn't cajoled me to try new things before! But now, let us finally plan out our next moves. As I said before, the entirety of the Tyrene Underground is now at your disposal, and the monsters will be sure to assist you."
"That is still something I have trouble accepting." Marina replied. "But I'm glad we can traverse below ground again without any fear. Martin, I've accepted your tour offer- I want to know everything about the Underground!"
"Perfect, big sis!" Martin replied. "Let's get to it right away!"
"Oh wait, before you go," Alex interjected. "Marina, tell everyone in the Committee to still be a little wary of monsters. Druella might hammer it down to them not to be too…assertive towards members of the Tyrene Resistance Committee, but all monsters are instinctually seductive! I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but anyone that gets claimed is going to be a lot less motivated to fight!"
"Yes, I see your point." Marina said while giving Martin a quick side glare. "But I am sure it will not be that bad of a problem-"
"Lady Druella!" Mimi interrupted as she entered the room. "I found the human with the eyepatch, but I was a little too late. You see-"
The eyepatched rebel entered the room, his shirt unbuttoned and with a wide grin on his face. Next to him strode a very happy-looking slime, and she giggled contentedly as she followed her newfound husband.
"By the Chief God, Marina- Martin was right!" the rebel declared. "I accidentally tripped and fell right into the lap of this lovely slime here, but wow…the things she could do…I know you assigned me to sabotage The Order's stables tomorrow, but can we push that down a day? Or three? I don't think I ever want to leave here again!"
All Marina could do was stare blankly before turning back to Alex. "You know what, maybe I should go around and tell them all. I don't want to deal with 100 more Martins."
"Hey!" Martin yelled as he followed his sister out of the room. "I'm not that aggravating am I? I just like experiencing new things, new people…" his voice faded away, leaving Alex, Druella, and Mimi alone with their irate host.
"Alex, Mimi, shall we begin planning out some strategies for the Committee?" Druella asked. "And Sewer King, you and your wife can join us as well."
"Finally, you remembered that I'm here!" the Sewer King yelled in triumph. "I'd be glad to formulate a plan to conquer the city above, my dear subjects-" everyone began to glare at him "-allies. Let us begin!"
And so the group spent the rest of that night planning out the best ways the monsters of the Underground could help without revealing their presence. Alex did his best to chime in when he could, but internally he was distracted by his own sheer glee. So far, things were going exactly as he hoped they would, and the days of The Order's presence in Tyrene already felt numbered. Surely everything will be going smoothly from now on? Right?
[]
Author's Note: And thus an alliance is born. There should be about two to three more chapters of this arc, depending on whether or not I want to split the last one. Next chapter is going to be pretty similar to the middle of Chapter 7 where we'll see things progress through the days, but it'll be far more extensive and with more POVs. My work schedule is still rather packed for the moment though, so I can't make any promises on how long it'll take to be released.
Sinfel- Thank you for the kind words. Yeah, I'm trying to avoid anything too grimdark, but there will definitely be moments where things will feel hopeless. But they'll be punctuated by more hopeful moments.
Faromir- The link should be the imgur .com url followed by /a/ and then Ij9FljT. It's my bad I didn't make it more clear earlier, I forgot that this site doesn't allow for direct url links.
