Al kehir lies to the north, and during the night you slip away, using your Tailwind to fly as fast as possible.
You have all the supplies you need - your sword and your bracelet. You suit up as you take flight.
Hunger and thirst can be taken care of by your regeneration, and other possessions will just get in the way. All you have is a hefty sack of Imperial coinage to buy your way through some obstacles.
The path is long and treacherous, but flying it's not nearly as bad. Being able to take a straight path lessens the time it takes by a long shot, and part of you wonders if you should help build a road linking the two nations to improve trade once you're done murdering them.
It'll take two days each way, stopping briefly to rest, but an ideal tickles at the back of your mind. All of that time wasted sleeping... You could simply... force your mind to work despite the fatigue, ignore the tiredness. Humans aren't meant to stay awake for so long, but right now all you can think of is the cold fury within your heart, screaming, yelling for you to destroy the ones who tried to hurt your daughter.
No flying all night is silly. You need to be at your best for this, and that includes sleeping. But those thoughts were so vivid and powerful. Suspicious, you take a look at your own mind as you fly through the night air.
And find more hooks you didn't put there. But this time, they're a bit more complicated than before. Smaller, subtle. If you didn't get practice with your own brain due to your Dawnbringer, you might have missed them.
The first pair of them, yes, pair, are intertwined. When you press into them, you can feel your desire to go back home to your daughter swell, but strangely, digging it in deeper also reinforces the idea that Hope is fine, mommy can fight the bad people without worrying.
There's one in the aggression centre of your brain once more, upping the and anger you feel towards the assassins. Not that you need anything more than the absolute hatred you already feel.
And the final one is a bit more subtle, something pressed deep. You wonder what it is, until you push it just a bit deeper and your nipples tingle with the urge to breastfeed your daughter.
It's... quite obvious who put these hooks into your mind.
You elect to try something. You're curious to see how Light magic dislodges the hooks in your mind. As you blast your mind with it, you can feel the compulsions... wriggle. Frowning, you try harder to dislodge them using your Light magic, but they just dig themselves deeper. Are... you not powerful enough?
Not wanting to waste the mana, you ponder your daughter's Magical ability. You knew she was talented, but you should be able to erase these with the Light.
Shaking your head, you instead just use your Dark magic to remove the compulsions, finding it much easier. Soon all three are gone, leaving you with just the breastfeeding compulsion. For when you get back.
It's concerning though. Your Daughter is far more powerful than you first suspected. She might need training soon. If she attempts Dark magic on the wrong person, things could get... messy.
You leave Klettgau and eventually even Hesse Province proper during your journey. You fly through the night and day, watching as the fields of grass slowly turn into sparse tufts over bright orange dirt. The Wildlands are the main boarder between your nations. While they are partially inhabited, water is hard to come by and as such the settlements are few and far between. As the second night begins to fall and exhaustion sets in, you think about the best way to get this done.
While it's hard to see in the dark, your eyes eventually spot a large farmhouse, magelights still burning bright. This should be easy.
You allow yourself to float back down to the ground before you knock on the door with an armoured gauntlet. There's scurrying around inside and eventually the door is opened slightly. A tanned, slender girl looks at you from within her house, eyeing you suspiciously. Her brown hair is messy but it looks almost silky.
She looks at the armour you're wearing, eyes going wide as she looks at your face and seems to notice something. "MA!" she shouts into the house. "We've got a visitor!"
You patiently wait as the girl looks you over, seemingly spellbound. A few seconds later the mother appears, dressed in light blue overalls. She looks similar to her daughter, only far more full-bodied and plumper. And when she notices you, she doesn't just stare. Almost immediately, she breaks into a bow, trembling slightly
"Don't just gawk, Kathleen!" she hisses, and you watch as the daughter rushes to emulate her mother.
"There's no need to bow-"
"N-nonsense!" the mother yells. "You're that there Duke's wife, arentcha!"
Oh right. You're famous. You suppose even out here they've heard the rumours of the Duke's warrior wife, and your radiant beauty, slight magical glow and rose-themed scabbard are probably enough for them to put two and two together.
"T-to what do we, err, owe the pleasure?"
You flash them a radiant smile, once again acting as the compassionate Valkyrie that so many know you as. "I'm on a journey," you tell the two, motioning for them to rise. "I'd rather not fly through the night, and I'm looking for a spare room."
You reach under your armour into the bag of coins and fish out a few Imperial Silvers. It's well above market rate, but you might as well sweeten the deal a little.
The mother beckons you in hurriedly, trying her best to figure out what to do. "I-I wouldn't dare take your money, L-lady Duchess."
Not in the mood to argue, you shoot the Daughter a wink and slip the coins into her hand as you pass her by. The older woman beckons you upstairs, and soon you find yourself in a quaint little room. It's not much, but way better than what probably passes for an Inn around here. You sit on the bed, finding it surprisingly soft, and the mother figure tries her best to appease you further.
"I-is there anything you need, Lady Duchess?"
"I'm afraid I didn't quite catch your name," you say, smirking as the woman's composure cracks.
"M-Mable, M'name's Mable, Lady Duchess." You pat the bed and while her eyes widen, the older woman does step over to you. She's almost like a frightened rabbit, and you notice in the corner of your eye the daughter- Kathleen, peeking through.
"I have a need to keep this visit secret, Mable," you tell her, voice honeyed as you do your best to act amicably. Normally folks like these might be overly suspicious of nobles like you, but there's something about your voice that she can't help but to find trustworthy.
(Omni-Socialite is now active, improving your social rolls and making you seem more trustworthy)
You grab the trembling woman's hand, frowning slightly as you feel the rough callouses and more importantly, a fresh cut. Wordlessly you flood her body with light, the woman looking wondrously as you heal her aches and pains. It's not much; a few cuts and scrapes from farmwork as well as the start of what might have been a bad back, but she gapes at you in amazement all the same.
She opens her mouth to speak, only for you to raise a finger to your lips, silencing her. "Remember, I was never here."
Mable gapes at you for a second before nodding, not trusting herself to say any words. You toss her another coin (this time she actually takes it), and wink. You've shown generosity in return for silence. This is how these things go.
"T-Thank you, Lady Duchess. Is there anything else you wish?"
You almost consider dismissing her, but instead you invite the peering daughter in as well and begin to chat. You've not interacted with the common folk for a while, and you're given a brief overview of their situation.
Living in the wasteland between the two nations, she's nominally part of the Empire of Light. The closest territory is your dukedom. There are outposts and forts, but they're spread few and far between. Trade isn't actually that common around here due to a lack of infrastructure, most of the trade from Al'kehir comes via sea to avoid this area. Really, that idea to build a trading route might actually work out to bring more commerce to a place like this.
They farm the land, finding it surprisingly fertile. It's enough to live off, but it's not exactly stable. Some years they're fine, other years the harvest isn't as good as it could be, and they spend time in hunger. Traders come every so often, giving the family and a few of the others in the area a supply of luxuries when they can afford them; spices, chocolates and the like. The rest of the time they have to take a day's journey away to one of the towns in your duchy.
Currently her Husband's off selling some goats and produce, meaning he should be back in about a day. The two of them have little to complain about. It's a quiet, peaceful life. Though you do note that the daughter seems incredibly bored, taking every chance she can to try and quiz you.
As thanks for their stories, you decide to give them a bit of a treat. The first is your body. You look at the two commoners and ask for their assistance. "It's been a long flight here," you admit to them. "Could I ask for your assistance in removing my armour? I didn't bring a page or squire."
You mentally make a note to get your own page or squire for the future to take off your armour. The two actually seem enthusiastic about the idea, and so you stretch your arms out, closing your eyes as the two of them get to undoing all the straps.
Yes, you could just recall your armour into your bracelet, but this is much more entertaining.
It's a slow, methodical process but the pair of them take to it well. As they do so, you spin them a tale about an assassin, a loose recreation of the night you lost your husband. They listen in awe as you describe how you used your radiant light to find the skulking assassin, then fought it in honourable one on one combat, saving the adorable princess next door. The two seem to hang on your every word, but as the stripping continues they begin to stare at your body.
You're not naked underneath, flying would be far too cold with it, but your undersuit is tight, almost translucent black cotton that tightly hugs your body.
Eventually all that's left are your spaulders, vambraces and a few pieces around your waist. You're quite sad to see that Mable doesn't have any reaction, but her daughter, Kathleen, seems almost spellbound
As they help strip off the last of your armour, you let out a sigh of relief. That was fun. Their eyes on your body just feel good, and you idly wonder if that maid awakened you to a bit of an exhibitionism fetish. Well, if you've got it, why not flaunt it?
The two place your armour against the wall, and it's then that you strike. "Would you like a job with me, Kathleen?" you ask. Both of them gasp in surprise, only for you to let out a light giggle. "We're in need of more staff at my estate, and I think it would be great to get to see a bit more of the world."
At a glance, you can see Kathleen's eyes light up, almost sparkling, but her mother looks concerned. "I pay those loyal to me well," you tell them. "But a lot of those who surround me are of noble birth, and those do not are from the cities. I was thinking a country girl could be a nice change of pace."
Mable seems to mull over it, her hesitation dampening the enthusiasm of Kathleen, but her mother lets out a sigh. "T-thank you for the offer, Lady Duchess, but I really think we should discuss things with her father first..."
You nod, giving the elder woman her privacy. From her reaction, you doubt she's the type of girl to be swayed by other girls, so seduction might be to your detriment. Should you have tried to seduce her, she might refuse to give you her daughter for fear she'd become a molested sexpet to a perverted noble.
Granted, that's what you're trying to do. She is right to fear you.
With that, you let the two of them go as you rest in your room. Though you can at least play some tricks on them. You leave a crack in the door open as you strip off your underclothes and get to training. You can't use your sword in the small room, but you're more than able to stretch. Your constant, borderline addiction to Light Magic's regeneration has made your joints quite flexible and as such you make sure to give the voyeur on the other side of the crack the opportunity to see all that she wishes. It's hard not to flush at the thought of this isolated hick girl burning with confused feelings at the powerful, beautiful woman who for some reason makes her heart quiver.
Your body is a treasure, and she knows it. Now, for the test.
Breathing out, you place the framework into your mind once again and activate your Dawnbringer, before turning your head to the door, your eye meeting that of your little voyeur for a second.
A gasp comes from the other side of the door, followed by the sound of her scurrying away like a mouse.
You dispel the ability and flop into bed, smiling. It's good to be as great as you are.
Morning comes too soon, and with the Father set to arrive this afternoon you can't exactly stay. They invite you to a simple breakfast of oatmeal that you graciously partake in before saying your goodbyes. Kathleen tries her best to not look at you, blushing and looking away whenever the two of you (frequently) make eye contact. She's skittish, which is good, but you don't miss the dark circles starting to form under her eyes. Delicious.
But all good things must come to an end, and soon you're off flying again, zooming across the last of the wildlands and into the kingdom of Al'kehir proper.
You had expected nothing but sand, but there's a fair number of rocky crags and bushes of wild plants in the area. Animals skitter around constantly, making their homes in the Great Ruins that dot the kingdom. Al'kehir was once the centre of the world, a place of magic and technology. It all ended, however, when the Caliph of the time grew too greedy. He made deals with all manner of magical creatures, selling away that that was promised to others in hopes of fulfilling his short term desires.
It all came to a head with several Dragons and other mystical creatures fighting for what he had promised them all - his soul. The kingdom was completely razed, most of the cities turned to dust and the land itself turned arid.
The kingdom today, however, has thrived. There are no shortage of magical artefacts or rare infused metals like Orichalcum buried deep within the sands, and that great wealth allows them to live in the lap of luxury. Even the poorest peasant could grow rich by unearthing the corpse of a Great Dragon for use in war. The inhabitants naturally have few children, what with how little farmable land there is, but they're all quite wealthy. As you fly deeper, you begin to spot magelights in the distance - the city of Al'Somayeh
It's still quite early in the afternoon, and so you consider your approach. If you head to the city proper you might be flagged down and dragged into a dozen annoying meetings. It might be better to just drop into the base of the Seer and tear her limb from limb.
On the other hand, you've got a lot of money, and shopping could be fun...
The main road into Al'Somayeh is thankfully populated with merchants. It's not too hard to find one on the road willing to sell you silks and silence in return for a few silver coins. However, he's alone and so you elect to use a bit of magic to wipe the encounter from his mind. Simple memory erasure doesn't leave marks the same way alterations and your hooks do, so the man is left missing a set of clothes and a traveller's bag in return for several coins
You dress up in the style customary to this land - baggy loose leggings of bright blue silk that leave gaps for your hips, an X shaped chest covering that's halfway between bra and shirt, as well as a veil to protect you from the sand and conceal your identity.
Your armour returns to the bracelet and your undersuit goes into the bag. With that, you head towards the city.
Guards stop you on the way in, but upon seeing your pale skin they thankfully switch to your language. With how important international trade is to this place compared to a mostly self-sufficient kingdom like the Empire of Light, most of the people are bilingual.
"Greetings, Traveller!" one of the guards said, his hand gripping tight on the pike. "Welcome to our fair city!"
You nod, not wanting to give much attention to him. You're not carrying anything overly dangerous, you look like a simple traveller, and as such he lets you into the city.
It's a bustling place, even in the dreary heat of the afternoon sun. How do these people deal with it? Even with your constant regeneration you feel a bit of discomfort.
Eager to be out of the heat, you take a look around the bazaar, conversing with some of the locals. There's a great variety of things on sale, including even a few wild animals. Several people seem to think that you're wealthy, offering you overpriced gimmicks and trinkets you have no use for. The issue is that you have so much that you can easily get from home.
But much like an expedition to the desert, underneath the sand you do find a few gems. Your slick tongue and personable attitude puts all at ease, none of them treating you like a haughty foreign noble. Instead, you're taken deeper into shops and shown rarer wares. Expensive, yes, but good enough to perhaps justify the price. You speak with a silver tongue, bartering, bargaining and browsing all stores you come across, often promising to be right back quite you check one more thing. You can tell when they're hiding something, and with a bit of a push even the most shy merchants are quick to show you their most secret, dangerous, and in some cases illegal products. Eventually, a shortlist forms of the rare and powerful items you find yourself wanting.
The first item you pick up is the ring. The merchant's eyes glint when he sees the silver you're willing to pay for it, and when you put it on, you just feel the cold, as well as the presence of something else slumbering deep within the ring. It doesn't react just yet, and while the Merchant might think he's scammed you, the feeling is familiar enough to you.
Your tongue tastes slightly of brimstone as you admire the ring on your finger. A demon bound to a ring.
How curious.
The second item you get is a mere book - The First Light. It commands an outrageous price for being heretical, and for good reason. It speaks of the first Blessed by the Light, those given power by Septimus to strike back against the forces of darkness - the Abyss, Demons and monsters that plagued the lands. But it also speaks of the cruelties some of them unleashed, and the sins that some of the blessed indulged in. Many of these families have living descends, chief among them the Emperor himself.
Both are worth an investigation, but not now. They can wait for you to get home. Waking up a demon while you're in a foreign land might cause some... issues down the line.
With your brief stint of shopping done, you think back to the memories you stole from Nadia. You know where the seer hides in this city. The only question is how you're going to do it.
Your captured memory gives you all you need to know. The Seer works out of an underground home in the tunnels beneath the city. If you were to take the front entrance, it'd be a simple jaunt through one of the underpasses to head to her abode. But they'd be expecting you there.
So you pass the time until nightfall, and head to where your memories tell you. The Seer's base of operations has two ways in. The front entrance, and a secret one around the back where the assassins and servants leave under the cloak of night. It's trivial to work your way back to it; a small tunnel hidden behind a shrub next to a hollow rock in an alleyway. You dip into the dark, walking into the artificial cave until you see the dim glow of magelights and a pair of guards.
They're speaking in their tongue and you don't catch a word of it, but they have no clue you're here. The front entrance should be locked down, and if you head in there now, they might not even have a chance to respond. After all, they'd need their throats to speak, and you might just get them before they can raise the alarm.
You put your armour on and think. These men don't have the... feel that the assassin, or your parents had. They've not breached the realm of heroes, they're just ordinary men.
You narrow your eyes as you let your hatred fuel you. These bastards tried to kill your daughter. There shall be no forgiveness today. You place your arm against the roughly hewn stone and send a pulse of power through it, your shadow extending as a tentacle of darkness slips across the wall before popping out behind the two guards. With a thought, it smites them and they fall to the ground, convulsing as they whimper in pain.
Your ability to attack through the shadows to inflict direct pain is useful on weak ones such as these. Against more powerful enemies it might not be effective and the cost of mana is a bit more than some of your other abilities, but it does one thing that cutting the chaff to ribbons with wind can't do.
It keeps them alive.
You walk towards the now paralyzed men, kneeling down as you place a hand on their head and start to pick apart key knowledge. There's so much useless information about his family or his sons that you discard as you flick through his memories, but after about twenty minutes you find what you were looking for.
The layout of the complex, and those who rest within.
Lady Elham is a respected and powerful seer, but the mistress also takes command of a group of Assassins. She considers herself a philanthropist, attempting to smother calamities in the crib (Almost literally, in your case) before they can grow to be true threats. Her band of five Assassins serve her dutifully, believing wholeheartedly in her mission. Be it killing a troublesome noble, stopping an overly ambitious mage or a dwarf who thinks he is the exception when it comes to digging too deep, she stops them all and is showered in thanks and wealth by the rich and powerful.
And then the enemies you're expected to fight.
Nadia of the Shadows: While she's a weak combatant, she excels at picking locks and infiltrating safehouses, her daggers often finding their mark.
Oma The Desert Wind: An eagle-eyed archer who rarely misses. She uses Wind magic to adjust her aim mid flight, as well as a variety of cursed, poisoned and enchanted arrows. She kills from a distance
Sahar of the Twilight: A swordfighter best described as a blade dancer, dodging around blows with ease. Often seduces her targets and gives them a night of ecstasy before slitting their throats.
Rohan the Wise: A rare Light magic user who serves as the group's magical guide and healer. An old man, he keeps the others alive in fights, but is no slouch himself with the staff.
Stoneskin Imran: A large bodied warrior with the strength of ten men. He prefers the use of a mace, and is the go-to for when stealth isn't an option. He's build like an ox and hard to take down too, with his unique Rock Armor spell stopping most blades in their track.
Interesting. They lie deeper within this sanctuary, but all four are here today.
The men whimper as you process the information, quietly begging for mercy.
You do not deign to grant it.
You thrust thorn into the first man's chest, and he gasps in response. You use your wind and dark magic in tandem, pulling something from deep within the man, a purple, ominous wind that circles your blade. As you pull out, you notice him seize up as his last breath is taken from him. With the strange purple aura, you finish off the second one and rip his last breath from his lungs, and it stays.
As you step through the underground complex, you eventually find yourself outside the Meditation room. The door is cracked open enough for you to see them
A curious smell emanates throughout the room as the four assassins kneel, silent as they pray or whatever it is these northerners do. You note with a hint of glee that the incense is placed where the fifth seating spot would be.
Your eyes scan the four, matching them with the images in your mind, and you pick your target. The old man is a Mage, adept at light magic. While Thorn is so very useful at stopping healing, he could still provide stamina, or even undo your Dawnbringer.
Killing him is the priority, clearly. You lower yourself into a stance, muscles coiling as you prepare for your strike upon the foolish healer. He dared stand against you and your daughter.
Death will be too merciful for them.
There's an explosion of wind as you burst forward, breaking straight through the wooden door into the chamber. Fragments of wood and dust blow behind you as you fly like an arrow, sword bared with a smile. His eye opens to see you barrelling towards him, and while the old man attempts to raise his staff in defence, he's simply too slow. With the force of wind behind it, you bring the blade down with a mighty slash that could shatter stone
There's a sickening slice as your blade cuts through bone, his raise arm sliced in two and a deep gash staining the white robes he wears. The old man lets out a cry as he's sent flying back from the force of the blow, tumbling across the ground before stabbing his staff into the ground with his remaining arm, breathing heavily.
The other three act in an instant, the large one moving to protect the healer, while the archer leaps back and the dancer attempts to dart out of the way to flank.
"ROHAN!"
"It's her!"
"Shit Shit Shit..."
"Mmmph..."
The old man, bleeding profusely, lets out a haggard command, though you can see how it pains him. He's already one foot in the grave, although to his credit he's doing quite well to hold on through the pain. "The Cursed Child's infestation remains upon her mind!" he shouts, voice hoarse and haggard. "Cover me, my friends. I will remove the taint!"
The others nod, and you think of the best way to do this. Your sneak attack didn't quite destroy the healer, but he's so close to death you can almost taste it. It's just a matter of what to do now.
A fiendish idea begins to brew in your brain. They think they're dispelling you of a mind control hook. But that's not entirely true. However, making them believe is a good way to maybe get another hit in. You may be a knight, but that doesn't mean you have to be honourable.
White light coalesces around the old man as the other three get to striking. You've trained with your Mother before, but fighting off three foes at once is... difficult.
The large one's swings with his mace are plodding but deadly, and while you can dodge them, you're not quite sure that you could take a few without getting seriously hurt. He's slow, and that proves to be to your advantage.
You give a theatrical hiss and clutch your forehead in mock pain shortly before dodging out of the way of another wild swing, only to hiss for real as you're force to quickly pivot. in place. In a single motion you drag your sword across the ground as you turn and swing at the scimitar wielder's blade, dodging the blow that would have probably cut deep had it hit. The wind magic takes a moment to work, and the line you edged into the ground flares as violent gusts of wind pour from it, the arrows aimed for your throat flying off and whistling over your head. There's a slight tug in your brain as the hook there weakens, not gone completely but but starting to fracture. A bit more light like that and it'll be gone for sure.
You hear someone mutter something about "fucking wind magic" while you play with the other two. Flanked as you are, it's a constant dance of battle that leave your bones creaking as you parry and dodge massive blows from the mace that shatter walls and the fiendish little scimitar wielder.
But the terrain is to your advantage, they can't all perfectly flank you, and in enclosed spaces like this the archer isn't doing so hot. As you duel the dancer and mace wielder, you go for the occasional hit onto the big one.
He goes for an overhead swing and you roll to the side, thrusting your sword underneath his ribs before tilting your head away to avoid the scimitar blow aimed directly for you.
Even with his stone skin, your cut finds its mark, a bloody wound quickly forming. But it's not enough yet. They're all still in fighting shape.
"Just a little longer!" the old man yells, glowing ever brighter. His magic is quite powerful, and you don't doubt that he'll try remove the hook in your mind soon. That just means you've got to cause what carnage you can now.
You didn't give the dancer girl enough credit. The bright light magic starts its work again and the two resume their assault. The big guy is a little slower, a little weaker, but with the upped pressure from the small one you find yourself in actual danger.
She mutters something in her language, only for her blade to start crackling with Lightning.
It's a game of inches, jumping over and ducking under heavy mace swings while leaning back and parrying the girl's ferocious attacks with the scimitar. When her blade makes contact with you a jolt passes through you. The damage isn't much, but it stings just enough to make your muscles spasm, even with your regeneration. The damage builds with each strike, and soon you find yourself coughing up smoke with each hit
It's when an arrow whistles by your throat due to the twitching you realize just how much danger you're in. The dance becomes ever so closer as even her glancing blows are enough to make you pause for just a moment, and as the large one and the dancer time their attacks together you find yourself having to block instead of dodge.
Thorn is a wonderful blade, but even she creaks under the strain as the massive mace smashes into your sword, bones themselves starting to creak. You just barely manage to stop the blow and turn your blade to the side, the mace hitting the ground with a slam. Digging Thorn's tip deeper into the stone, you use it as leverage, kicking out behind you and being rewarded with the feeling of bones cracking as you manage a strong strike with your boot on the dancer. The whistling in the air comes again and you snarl at the fucking archer. Her wind guided arrow is powerful, but you're done playing. Using your tailwind to entrap the arrow, you line a tunnel of wind around the sword and swing it to intercept the arrow, cutting through stone and forcing yourself to Fly for balance as you do so. Much to your pleasure, the arrow get sucked into the vortex lining Thorn. In a single swift motion, you do a full swing around and dispel the turbulent wind right as your blade points towards the archer before finishing the swing with a massive impact onto the stone-skinned fighter's knee.
The archer's eyes go wide with surprise as the arrow she shot whistles right back to her, embedding right in her exposed belly while your cut breaks the knee in a powerful 'squelch' noise.
Huh.
You're surprised that arrow trick worked. Maybe if she had moved, she wouldn't be so lucky. For a brief moment, you are the victor. The large one cannot stand with his knee shattered, the dancer is wiping blood from her lips and the archer is desperately clawing at her throat as she tries to breathe through whatever paralytic poison she tried to use on you.
With timing so impeccable it might as well be providence, you're hit by the Light once more and you feel that hook in your mind grumbling away. You give a bit of a theatrical scream and fall to one knee, trembling in place.
There's a pause as they watch you, followed by action as they rush to regroup. You spot the old man ripping apart his robe to try and make a bandage to staunch his own bleeding, the archer is struggling to reach something in her knapsack while the scimitar wielder dashes towards her friend.
Ah This is the best part. As you kneel on the ground, the others rush to try and recoup, bandaging wounds. They think you beaten, weak.
Oh, how you shall prove them wrong.
The hooks slide into place, things like pain, flexibility, the thought that things don't bend that way are all gone as you transcend your limits. The muscle damage is extreme, but that's what your constant healing is for. A white glow flows from your body as the Dawnbringer arises.
You move like a blur across the room, the whistling wind chasing behind you as your strike cuts the old man in two, removing head from shoulders.
You can feel their stares, the despair slowly creeping into them... The panic and the dread. All of it yours~
With blood coating your blade and dripping down, you keep your face blank as you turn around to look at the three remaining fighters, just barely able to prevent yourself from sighing in pleasure as you watch how they tremble with fear.
A serene smile adorns your lip as you whip your sword to the ground, fresh blood splattering against the ground. It's time to end this.
The thrumming power of light radiating from your every pore feels so good that it's almost sinful. It's strange, but when you're like this you feel... inhuman. Not just in power, but with some parts of you dulled, the rest of you shines through so much more, and you can't get enough of this feeling.
You feel your mana whimper as you're forced to draw from the abyss, but you've still got enough in that pool that you're fine, even without having to overdraw from that dark place. With practiced, almost theatrical steps you walk towards them, the only sounds the dripping of blood from your blade and your footsteps.
The large one whimpers before snarling, standing up despite his broken knee. "ROHAAAAN!"
He screams in anger as the rounded mace comes towards you once again, but this time you're done playing around. Using your tailwind, you slow the blow from his rounded mace down as it approaches, which lets you catch the rounded tip in your hand. He looks confused for a moment, his companions staring in horror as you squeeze down upon the heavy steel tip, A horrific groaning sound echoing through the room until you put a little extra force in and shatter the mans mace entirely.
You stand for a moment, basking in the horror. Yes, they were all doomed from the start, and it's just now catching up to them.
Letting your hand drop to your sword, you slowly step past the fighter. Without changing your pace at all, you make a blindingly quick strike, the girls both screaming as the top half of his body slides off of the lower half and they both collapse to the ground.
This is why leather straps are not a replacement for armour.
The two of them look at you in absolute terror, and as they spot the serene smile on your face they scramble further way from you until they come to a wall. The liquid dripping from the Archer's lip tells you that she's on her way to being recovered, and you watch as she grabs her bow, hands trembling as she goes to nock an arrow. Eyes going wide, the dancer smacks the bow out of her companions arms, then tosses her own weaponry to the floor and prostrates before you, begging for mercy. Ah~ Now they understand. They're finally where they belong. You shoot the archer a look and she soon joins her friend, begging for forgiveness.
Your Dark Magic is incredibly powerful, but it comes with a downside, and that is time. Reprogramming Nadia took several hours and nearly wiped you clean of magic. Right now, you don't have the time nor the mana to do a true reprogram of the two, and so you elect to do things the old fashioned way.
You kneel down, cupping the dancer's chin as she stares at you, breathing so quickly you winder if she's going to pass out. Your grip is strong, and after a bit of futile wiggling she resigns herself to your treatment. You're doing a rush job. All you want is for them to stay, and there's a way to do just that. Sheathing Thorn, you use your now free hand to pat the Archer's head, and look for the strongest emotion. Normally you have to sort through, test with physical reactions to see which emotions are which.
But right now, you know for a fact that what they're feeling most is terror.
You amplify that feeling as high as you're willing to make it without inflicting permanent damage.
"If you move or scream, Sahar, Oma, you will die like the rest."
There's no malice in your voice, it's a statement of fact that chills them to the bone. They tremble in place, but they're simply too overcome with supernatural horror to do much. But not one to leave things up to chance, you decide to grab both of the dancer Sahar's knees. It's a shame to do this, but it must be done. You grip hard, the girl letting out a whimper and tears flowing from her eyes as you shatter her kneecaps. But she doesn't scream.
"Good girl," you whimper, patting her on the head with your bloody gauntlet. Oma has resigned herself to her fate, biting down on cloth to keep herself silent as you do the same to her.
This is their punishment for even thinking about harming your precious Hope.
With the same measured, methodical footsteps, you walk deeper into the inner sanctum.
The remaining guards are more bodies than anything else, but the power of your Dawnbringer makes quick work of them. You find yourself running low on even your abyssal reserves, so you take it off to conserve your remaining energy. There's a feeling of fatigue that washes over you as you eliminate Dawnbringer, but that is soon chased away by another delicious shot of healing.
You find the seer curled in a corner sobbing tucked away in one of the backrooms.
"Hello, Lady Elham. Let's talk."
You're not one to gloat. Well, gloat on the outside, at least. But you allow yourself the small bit of teasing as you approach "You really should have SEEN this coming."
The seer stops her crying to let out a pained groan. "You've already killed my friends," she says, hoarsely. "If you're going to use puns, I'd much rather die first.
"You're no fun," you tell the seer, a hint of levity in your voice before switching to cold fury. "Did you think trying to kill my Daughter would go over well?"
"I had to try!" the seer yells, turning to you with a look of fury. "I've seen it, what lies ahead. The darkness that radiates from that Cursed Child is unnatural - a monster the world itself cannot survive. Should she survive her childhood the rivers of blood will flow. Death will wash over us like a tide, and the age of Humanity will end! I've seen it! That Cursed Child cannot be allowed to exist!"
There's a strange fervour to her words, and you notice that her her formally brown eyes are now just showing blank irises. After a second, the irises and pupil return and she slumps uselessly against the ground. "The visions... I had to. Even if it meant killing a child."
So she's seen visions. A smile creeps onto your face as she describes the wonderful future, and for the first time in your life, the feelings you've kept hidden, kept bottled inside are finally let free.
"I know my daughter is destined for darkness," you tell Elham, a strange fervour finding its way into your tone. You speak quickly, arms clutching your sides as you just let those feelings you've kept in you for so long out in a passionate explosion. The words tumble out as you speak freely, speak from the heart in a way you've never done so before. "I know she's destined for great evil, seer. I just don't care. I am her mother. And she will... will always have my love."
Lady Elham's eyes go wide at the revelation, but remains resolute. "I understand a mother's love, Valkyrie, I do. Truly. But we face the subjugation of our entire race, the death of hundreds of thousands. The Cursed Child shall corrupt all, even those closest to it. The Blood Moon will consume even the darkness itself in endless conquest until all that remains is it and the evil it spawns! We cannot sacrifice it all for a single child!"
You're not quite sure when activated Dawnbringer, but you can't find it in you to care as your aura flare out in sheer radiance, arms stretched out wide as you hold your head back in pure rapture. "Beautiful..." you whisper, the Seer staring at you in fear while you tremble in delight. Behind every light is a darkness, and the shadow you cast is dark indeed. Elham crawls way from your shadow as she notices it smiling at her. "The future, it's beautiful, isn't it?" Your voice is soft, quivering with overflowing love and wanton need. "My Hope is just what the world deserves, and I am the one who shall bring her to her destiny."
She shivers in terror, tears starting to fall from her eyes as she realises just what is going on. "You... By Septimus, how long have you been pretending, none of them know-"
You place a finger over your lips, a maniac grin going wide. "Shhhh..."
"It's you- You're the reason she turns out the way she does-"
The Seer tries to make a run for it, but you do not allow that, catching her by the throat as she attempts to run by you and tossing her onto the floor. You squat down low next to her. "Fear not, Lady Elham. I am merciful. Some part of you will live on. " The shadow tendrils radiating from you gather around her, but all she does is pull out a dagger to try and defend herself. Not willing to hear more of her babbling, you give the seer a forceful flick on the forehead, and with your Dawnbringer enhanced strength it's easily enough to send her tumbling to the ground, completely out cold.
With a grin you dispel the enhancement, feeling strangely refreshed despite the mana usage. It must be your lovely daughter! Whenever you talk about her you always get so fired up.
You return to the meditation room a few moments later, the unconscious seer on your shoulder. The two of them stiffen as you approach. "Come now," you tell the two. "It's time to reunite with your friend Nadia."
"S-She's not dead?"
A smooth chuckle escapes your lips. "Alive, well and in my service. Don't worry girls, even if you hate it, I can make you adore serving me."
As you bring the three girls with you outside the secret entrance, a question pops into your head that you're not quite sure how to answer. You killed everyone in your way, but right now you have three girls to take home... how, exactly?
The locals here are really helpful. After getting rid of most of the blood on you, they're surprisingly cool about you needing a wagon and steed in the dead of night.
The man selling you the horse even snorts when you ask. "You're not the first southerner to have to leave in a hurry after a wild night. Safe travels to you, my friend" he says, counting the coins you gave him. He gives you a wink as you get the horse to trot off.
After setting up the wagon and loading up your three new servants, you get to the long journey back. It took you two days to get here, but this is going take at least 4. It'd take even longer if you couldn't heal some of the fatigue that the horse accrues.
The road back is long and winding, the stone pathway among the sands lit up by a long line of slightly glowing stones in the middle. The Great Roads build by the kingdom are wide and well kept, just a little too far out of the way for efficient travel. Seriously, you could build better.
As the journey goes on, you get into a routine with the girls. In the interest of saving food and water, you elect to just sustain yourself with your regeneration, only agreeing to feed them after they prove their obedience. It's not like they can move properly anyway.
Not much happens on the journey, aside from a single bandit attack that leaves the sands stained red, and you get into a rhythm as you slowly leave the sand kingdom behind you. You travel all day, stopping only to feed the girls, then work on their minds at night.
Your control over them isn't perfect, it's a patch job, but you do the most important stuff first. You place an obedience framework into their minds. It's incomplete, and their utter hatred for you shines free at times, but by the time you're in the wildlands between the kingdoms they've become obedient enough for you to heal their limbs.
They won't stray far from you, nor will they speak the truth about what you did to them. You don't force them to stay docile though. Instead, you just associate their aggression with a vivid intrusive thought of you shattering their friend's mace then cutting him in half.
Considering the looks you get, it might be even more effective.
Eventually, the four of you manage to make it all the way back to the farmstead that you met Kathleen and Mable at.
Your new maids look quite confused as you stop at a seemingly random homestead, but they don't question your machinations, even when you bring the Seer with you.
When you knock on the door, you're greeted by a shout from within the house. "Ma! Pa! She's here!"
You hear footsteps running down stairs as Kathleen opens the door with a radiant smile. You hear more stomping as both Mable and the new man come to see you. He's a tall man, with a wide, hairy chest and a chiselled jaw. Very... masculine.
"You must be the duchess," the man speaks with a thunderous voice. "I'm Gregor. A pleasure to meet you."
Elham can't say anything, so she just bows in place. "I'm assuming that you've decided to take me up on my offer?" The girls father nods approvingly.
"She's young. It's not good for her to stay cooped up here, this kind of thing will be good for her, 'specially working under someone like you."
You grasp the mans hand and let the light course through him, his eyes widening as his aches and pains are all wiped away. You look around to see wonderment on Mable and Kathleen's faces, and one of absolute horror on your servant. You give her a wink. Yes, Elham. This is what you do. Everyone loves you for it.
"Something to soothe the aches of day to day life," you tell him. "I can only hope it helps. Consider it gratitude, for trusting me enough to work with your daughter. " Tears well up in his eyes as he hugs his wife, the two of them singing gratitude and praise even as you walk away.
Yes, Elham. They love me for what I do. Even if you could escape, nobody would ever believe you.
With your new recruit ready, you begin the long journey home.
The newly captured servants don't speak much over the journey, only ever returning Kathleen's questions about things like the name. They seem to almost pity her, but Kathleen is too excited by the prospect of somewhere new to complain. AS you head down familiar countryside and back to civilization, she stares wide-eyed at everything, until at last you're back home where you belong.
You're given a Hero's welcome as you return home, several of the servants eagerly giggling as you approach. You just wave them away though and head to your room, the four new servants following along obediently.
Kathleen stares wide-eyed at everything, the stone walls, the rich tapestries, the luxurious carpets... She's seeing it all for the first time. She's very careful where she steps, and it's a little amusing. The other three stare curiously around at how normal your life is. The servants wave to you happily, but show no signs of control. Panic wells in them as they thing about if you've got perfect control over them all, or if nobody notices.
As you climb the stairs to the top floor, you're greeted enthusiastically by Nadir, who lets out a gasp as she looks at your three new servants. "Welcome back, Lady Duchess!"
Your obedient pet bows, her maid uniform fluttering, and it's with her voice that the others start to recognize her.
"These three are my friends, Nadir, but I need to deal with a few things before I induce them. Keep them in our guest rooms, will you?"
The top floor of your castle, as well as the boarded up Master Bedroom and the bath, has several smaller rooms for your personal servants and any guests that come over. With your Husband's passing, most of these have remained empty while you took your rest in a smaller guest room, but truly, you have room to spare. You could even place this entire floor off-limits for everyone but those you're... familiar with. It could be a nice change of pace.
Regardless, Nadir grins as she understands your meaning. She takes the hands of Sahar and giddily leads the three away into some of the guest rooms. "Oh, you're going to love it here you guys!" she shouts, tugging them along. There's a spring in her step as she takes her former friends into what is essentially custody.
Kathleen, on the other hand, looks confused. "Ah, Um, Lady Duchess? Am I not going with them?"
You gently pat her shoulder, sighing in relief as you notice her tremble at your touch. "Not quite yet. You're going to need a bit more training first." You bring her back downstairs and introduce her to the Gunther, the butler who manages the other servants. You quickly give him a rundown of your three new ones upstairs, then leave Kathleen in his care. If she's going to serve, she needs a uniform first!
After that, you head right back where you belong.
You shudder as your baby eagerly feeds from your breast, happy to have her fill after so long. Your parents were overjoyed to see you, of course, but they understood that you might want a bit of time to be close to your child before resuming any duties. You gave each of them a hug, and through that lingering contact you couldn't feel the pull of any hooks within the minds of your parents. With a promise to catch up after a feeding session, you held hope and had her drink while you read your forbidden tome, using your mastery of wind to turn the pages.
Magic is so great.
The First Light is a curious tale, and the depictions of what lie within are enough to itch your curiosity. There are many tales of what the first Light wielders did, and the most interesting part are those that the book calls the "Light of Destruction." While most of the Light users of ancient times were praised for destroying demons, dragons, monsters, abyssal spillover and purifying the land, there were a few who... didn't.
Instead they used the blessing of Light to live a life of debauchery and sin, angering the Gods who worked so hard to bless the mortal races with it. One of them, previously a nun, was overwhelmed by the magic she got and found herself overcome with the desire to indulge, siring many children and even some creatures that would later grow to be demihumans. However, she grew too drunk on the power, eventually becoming nothing but a breeding bed for an army of monsters that she mothered and grew to maturity
Some found themselves corrupted by the power they wielded and took to destruction, becoming regenerating, immortal killing machines who lacked any human emotions. When the light shone too bright, all that was left was it, and there were those that got consumed by it.
Eventually these cruel users were put to the sword, the scions of light joining with the rest of the mortals to end these malevolent beings and their children, wiping away most of the demihumans that they spawned. However, a few escaped, and while the book doesn't outright confirm it, you think it could be where the demihuman Centaurs originally came from.
Which is an interesting bit, truth be told. They probably don't even know where they've come from. The funniest thing to you is how this is yet another example of the Gods not knowing what they're doing - first with The First Demon and now the Demihumans, all of them crafted not out of some malevolent evil force, but out of the sheer incompetence of the Gods.
Could it really be accidental? One accident is a coincidence, but two is a pattern.
Regardless, the book has very little else. A lot of the back pages explain what techniques the first users of light could do, and unfortunately they're broken beyond repair. Your heart skips a beat as you read the title of 'resurrection', only for a pang of disappointment to spread as the page is far too damaged to do anything. Most of these have almost purposefully been destroyed, several of them sounding quite interesting. Especially the tattered scraps you read that tease of agelessness.
But there is one page with a spell still in it. The description is vivid, the guidelines clear as if the writer themselves had experience. Hathor's Grace, named after the mother of the demihumans.
Hathor's Grace (H)- Can use mana to influence the rate of growth of gestating children (in the user or otherwise), doing weeks of work in a day. However, overuse will result in stat penalties
After about half an hour, you're done with the tome and your daughter is likewise done feeding. She looks up at you with starry eyes, and you give her a quick kiss on the forehead, hugging her close. Oh, how your heart swells when she's near. Your own, precious daughter, safe and sound. With the Seer gone, there shouldn't be any more assassins for a while.
But there is a worry. Hope's... Dark Magic is powerful. And noticeable. This could prove a problem in the future. Light users seem to be able to detect some of the darkness in the hooks, and if she gets around to messing with everyone, someone is bound to notice. Even now you've had to make a mental note to keep Nadia and anyone else you wish to change outside of the public eye so that there's no chance of them meeting the King, but if Hope lacks that restraint, you'd be left with no choice but to take the blame for her.
As you embrace and cuddle with your child, you find the courage to bring up the issue. Her Dark Magic.
"Hope, darling..." you stroke her hair, your baby giggling all the while. "Mama's got to ask. Did you play with her mind?"
Your daughter freezes, laughter catching in her throat. "N-No, Mama."
You narrow your eyes, your daughter avoiding your gaze. "I felt it, Hope. Don't lie to me, young lady." You can feel her trembling, then the soft pulse of dark magic as several hooks start to worm their way into your mind. But you're prepared and toss them casually to the side. Hope looks away from you, guilty.
"S-sorry, Mama..."
"You know you don't need to put those into me..."
Hope's pouting face is adorable as she shakes her head. "Help Mama!" Oh, how adorable. You gently tease her nose, her pout turning into a smile.
"Oh my darling, you don't need to do any of that. Did you think Mama wouldn't love you? Or that I wouldn't kill those who would dare hurt you? " You laugh to yourself, your daughter looking at you strangely. "Mommy will always love you~"
Hope looks at you before shaking her head vigorously. "No! Help Mama Not Sad..."
Ah, how adorable. She's thinking of your feelings. But it's not something she needs to worry about. "Hope, I appreciate it, but if you use that magic on random people, you'll have to be punished, okay?" Your daughter recoils, but nods sadly. It hurts to see her like this, but its for her own good.
"If anyone else sees it, then Mommy will have to leave." Your daughter's eyes go wide at that, and tears start to fall. You comfort her, patting her back as she hugs you and keeps on screaming for you not to leave her like Papa.
It'll put the fear into her and it's a bit cruel, but you will do anything to ensure your daughter's safety. Now you just need to find some targets for her to train on.
After her crying and a touch more feeding, Hope is tired enough that she falls back asleep. You gently lay her on the chair, letting her rest while you stretch and consider what next.
Yes you'll have to think of a safe outlet for Hope to practice with. Maybe the new girls you brought in, maybe the maids. Either or. She needs to train her talent, but she needs to do it like you did. In such a way that nobody will suspect a thing.
You kiss your daughter on the forehead as you head out, checking rooms until you finally find your mother finishing off her lunch in the dining room. "Hey!" she says, motioning for you to come over. "All done with Hope?"
"Just taking a nap."
Coredlia Blumenthal nods in appreciation. "I see. That kid's smart, you know! Normally the smart ones are a bother but she was so well behaved the entire time! Nothing like you."
You let out a gasp of faux indignation. "Wow, and I thought I was your cute little Valkyrie!"
Your mother rises from her chair and gives your head a little rub. "Don't be like that, you know I'm only joking. Did you have a good trip?"
"I met a few new people. Got a workout. You know, the usual." Your mother flashes her teeth in a predatory smile at that.
"Oh, and I suppose the girls you brought in were some of these 'new people'?" Curse the gossipy maids. "Don't worry honey, I get it. You've got quite a nice garden here; that Anne one especially is something special."
Ah, it looks as if Anne did her job to keep your mother happy. She could use a reward. "Glad you enjoyed them."
"Mmh, it was a holiday as much for me as it was for you, I suspect. I'll be heading back soon, got to make sure our own house is in order, but if you ever need anything, let me know." She places a hand on your shoulder and squeezes slightly. "I'll be there for you."
You squeeze your mother in a tight hug as you consider the gesture, then an idea hits you. "Actually, there is one more thing you could do for me..."
The two of you stand facing one another in the dirt circle of the training grounds. You've spent no shortage of time practicing here, but this is the first time you've gone toe to toe with your mother. She complains all the while. "If I lose, it's only because I'm getting old."
You shoot her a smirk. "Making excuses already, 'grandmama'?"
Coredlia rolls her eyes in exasperation. "Do you know how hard it is to keep in shape at my age? I'm too used to dealing with children instead of dragons"
"Does this mean that you're giving up already?"
Your mother just laughs at that, drawing her blade. It's a simple silver-coated sword, with a white lily on the pommel. Basic, but elegant. "Oh, no. Like I said, I might not have fought any dragons recently but I'm very used to disciplining naughty children."
You narrow your eyes at that. The two of you are fighting, nothing lethal, but holding back could be... dangerous.
With a smirk you let your boots dig into the ground and leap right at your mother, air whistling as you go for a quick horizontal slice. You're not willing to hold back too much, what with your access to Light magic. She should be fine, even with Thorn. Your mother's eyes go wide at your speed and she can just barely get her sword ready to block in time.
A cry escapes her lips as the force of your blow sends her reeling back, her arms almost dislocating themselves. Putting your weight on your front foot, you let the momentum of your swing spin you in place, grabbing your blade with with hands to follow up the opening strike with a pirouette into a devastating overhead slam that your mother just barely manages to block, the woman groaning slightly as her bones creek and she's sent sliding back, deep gouges in the earth forming from how she's been forced back.
To her credit, she doesn't take too long before trying to strike you back, but each of her hits are met with a perfect parry, either a blow that sends her sword back with recoil or a subtle redirection away from you. She picks up in speed despite your early damage, breathing heavily as she rains down a selection of strikes upon you. Each one shakes your bones, but it only serves to enhance the thrill of battle, that adrenal rush overtaking your body once more.
But she's getting too cocky. You deliberately loosen up, stance going sloppy and your mother, warrior that she is, goes right for a strike on your undefended left side, but she doesn't expect you to be as fast as you are, and before her blade connects your armoured gauntlet crunches against her face, sending her reeling back, muttering bloody murder under her breath.
You tut, shaking a finger at your mother. "What happened to punishing little old me, Mommy? I thought I was going to get disciplined~"
Spitting out a glob of blood, Cordelia's eyes narrow. "Oh, you are just asking for it." An icy blue aura begins to glow around your mother and you feel the temperature in the area drop slightly.
You feed mana into your being, suffusing the wind element within. The coat of swirling winds covers your body, ready to push and pull to assist whatever action you do next. You're not one to underestimate your mother.
Unfortunately, 'prepared' doesn't quite cut it when it comes to your mother unleashing the full power of a knight's Ice magic. She holds her sword in front of her, the very image of a resolute Knight before thrusting her blade into the sky. Then you see them.
Her blade has a very simple design for a reason. It's easy to reproduce.
Copies of the blade grow from tiny motes of ice into proper facsimiles of the real thing, At first, just one, but before your eyes more and more begin to form. The finished ones begin to spin horizontally around your mother as she pushes her fringe back.
"Never get too cocky, dear."
As the blades continue to form, you get a move on, hoping to stop the spell, only for one of the blades to launch themselves at you like an arrow. With a snarl you bat it away, the blade only being deflected instead of shattering, and much to your annoyance you have to follow it up with a second, stronger blow to break it.
In that time, another blade flies towards your armour, impacting hard enough to dent plate. Your approach is stopped entirely as your mother continues her summoning, resting her head on her chin smugly. "You're so quiet all of a sudden, Anastasia! You couldn't be losing to a 'granmama', could you?"
It's a real effort to ignore her banter as your body is pushed to its limits. Tailwind helps, but its all you can do to stop the blades coming right at you. They're too strong, too guided to be taken care of by your Windwall and with a flurry you try your best to bat them all away with a single blow.
Ice shatters to chunks as you eliminate the swords plaguing you, a fine mist starting to settle. You lock eyes with your mother, frowning in annoyance. What an annoying trick-
Her eyes meet yours, and she points downwards twice with a frustrating smug smile on her face-
Which is when you notice the swords that were circling her have gone. Your eyes glance down and well, you've found them. All six of them rapidly circling around you, tips pointed right at your body.
This, uh...
Isn't as easy as you thought it'd be.
You allow the wind around you to turn into a violent tempest, expanding the wind to knock away the swords surrounding you. With a grunt of exertion, you crack and break the swords surrounding you as they're caught in your wall, leaving just them next. More and more of the blades come flying at you, and you start to panic a little.
"Come on," your mother states, a hint of annoyance coming into her voice. "I've showed you mine, now show me yours. That thing your maid wouldn't stop talking about! Show me what that Light magic of yours can do!"
Oh right. You did show a number of maids your Dawnbringer, Anne included. No wonder your mother was so eager. Well, that cat's out of the bag, so might as well go all the way.
You push the hooks down on the very familiar part of your brain once again. Your muscles ripple as your body is flooded by adrenaline and the hysteric strength found only in those on the verge of death. Then comes the healing, the constant, soothing sensation healing all the damage the reckless abuse of your body gives you. The light flows off you like a cloak, and your mother lets out a gasp as you let the light of your dawn bringer shine upon her.
The motes of light spread wide, shimmering as they catch fragments of ice, the entire battlefield illuminating with twinkles of light like stars in the night sky. The aura of light radiates off of your body, and you feel like right now you could take on anything.
You wink, and leap right at her.
Your mother blocks your strike, eyes wide in surprise as your enhanced blades both meet. There's a loud clang, the force of the blow sending powerful gusts of wind out. Some of the servants stop to watch your duel as your mother struggles to force you back, but to your surprise she actually does.
"Whew," she murmurs, wiping sweat away from her forehead. "That girl wasn't lying, this really is something else."
Your mother's arm trembles, and at first you think it's from exhaustion but you spot the wild smile starting to creep onto her face.
She's enjoying this.
You watch her, face serene and devoid of emotion as she tries to strike again. You parry the blow effortlessly, but to your surprise she keeps on striking with her blade, a ferocious flurry of blows that while parried, leave little room for you to get a good counter in, to the point where you're forced to take the back foot.
It's then that you notice it - every time she wings, a line of frost is left on the arc, each of those turning into another one of those annoying ice blades. Annoying, but you can manage.
You let your mother continue, expending her mana until at last she goes for a two handed overhead strike along with the skewering of her dozen ice blades.
With her strike your sword can't quite catch them all, but there's a better way to get rid of them.
Letting go of your sword with one hand, you watch the path and will your body to intercept, far beyond the limits of conventional humanity. You slap each of the blades out of the sky, moving so quickly that it almost looks likes a blur. The final one you are just a bit too short on and it pierces straight through your hand, but with a flex you ball your hand into a fist, shatter the ice blade fully and show your mother the hole she made as it very rapidly heals itself back to full power.
For a moment she's shocked, and you use that time to boot her in the chest, her armour crumpling with the impact and a sickening crunch reverberating through the garden. The strike sends her tumbling away. Normally you'd think she was out of the fight, but she manages to rise up after her fall, a cut along her forehead but otherwise still able to fight.
"Wow," your mother says, halfway between panting and laughing. "Your light magic is just something else, honey."
You tilt your head in surprise. You're not quite sure how it is she's still speaking. Your mother answers that in a heartbeat, tearing off her crumpled chestplate to reveal a layer of thick, blue ice hanging off of her. The front is deeply impacted, cracks forming through it, but they're slowly starting recover.
Your eyes narrow in annoyance. Between the wind magic you used earlier, now using both Tailwind and Dawnbringer, you'll start running out of energy soon, forcing you to draw on the Abyss. You can draw from it safely for a time, but any further and it'd be... bad.
It s time to finish this. With the wind behind you and a burst of speed, you barrel towards your mother, fist lenched. She goes for a counter strike, attempting to cut open your exposed flank as you get closer, so close that your noses are almost touching - her heart skipping a beat (because of you) as you -
...flick her nose with your finger.
In an instant the wind surrounding you and the glow pouring from your skin both cease, and your mother halts her swing as you smile. "That's about enough for today, hmm? Let's call it a draw?"
Your mother waits for a moment, breathing in deeply, and with that she lets her sword arm fall to the ground, using it for support as she breathes in deep. The ice melts from her body, creating a pool of water that soaks into the ground. To your surprise, you see that all the shards of ice scattered around the ground were actually all still there until your mother decided to release her magic. Were the blades only pretending to be broken? Could she have used the ice dotting the battlefield for some other attack?
That could have been... dangerous.
"I'm getting too old for this shit," your mother groans, rubbing her collarbone where you kicked her.
With your Mana reserves running low, you stab your sword on the ground and let yourself rest while Regeneration heals up your body. After a moment, you give a very unladylike snort. "'too old for this' my ass," you tell her, rolling your eyes. "Those ice swords nearly turned me into a pincushion."
She shakes her head. "I had a couple of tricks up my sleeve, but that Light magic stuff is one hell of an ability. I could barely keep up, would have had to dig deep for that. "
You let out an exaggerated sigh. "If only it were that easy," you say, shaking your head. "It's pretty hard on my body and uses up a lot of mana, so I can't keep it going for too long. Probably could have only held onto it for a few seconds."
Cordelia's eyes narrow as she looks at you. "That right," she murmurs. "Well, do your best to refine it. Give it another 5 years and I promise you'll bring some of the strongest knights down to their knees."
You reach out to her and help your mother up, bringing her close for a hug once more before taking a bath, leaving the servants to help clean up the aftermath of your fight. The two of you bathe together, but you notice her sneak a few glances at your wonderful body, and while not outright flirting, you make sure that she can see everything that she wants~
But unfortunately, all things must come to an end. She leaves alone with your father that evening, and you're left alone with Hope once more. After feeding and putting her to bed, you're left with two more tasks to take care of before heading off to bed.
The Ring, and your new servants.
"Don't worry, Mistress! They haven't left at all!"
Nadir is very enthusiastic to give you the status report, the pet moaning in delight as you give her a rub on the head. You ask her to gather the three in your room, and after a while they come in together, all the while Nadir is talking their ears off.
"You don't need to worry, it's scary at first, but that goes away first! She'll keep you bathed, fed and bedded, and even just thinking about her feels so good~ Hurry up and join, then we can be together again, like the old times!"
It's quite curious how Nadir evolved through your mental training. Yes, you made her love to serve you and unable to expose you, but there's a certain vigour that she has in regards to serving you, and a genuine desire to spread it. It might just be that serving you feels good, but a part of you wonders if the compulsions you left in there have trained the girl to love serving you - that even if you were to remove the hooks and compulsions she'd still feel obliged and even happy to help.
It's a strange feeling, yes, but one you feel an urge to experiment with. At a later date, then.
Oma the archer, Sahar the dancer and Elham the Seer all kneel before you, hands on their knees as they await the next stage of their 'training'. You've put some basic compulsions in there, namely that they can't run, they can't disobey you and that they won't leak any sensitive information.
But there's so much more you can do.
Yes, your path forward is clear. Make them enjoy, crave what you do to them. Make them like their old friend, happy, willing, EAGER to serve you.
But first, you've found a new hobby. One that you want to indulge in just a little more. Placing a hand over their head, you tank out the compulsions from all three girls that keep them from speaking out of line, and immediately, they start to react.
Oma is the first. "N-Nadia! Snap out of it, help us!"
Elham doesn't respond, just trembling in place, not willing to speak. Sahar goes to grab her friend and tell her to calm down, but to your surprise it's Nadir who speaks first.
"No," she states, her voice having none of the levity usually had. "I'm not going to help you."
"Snap out of it!" Oma cries back, tears falling from her eyes. "This isn't you, I-I know it isn't!"
You cross your legs as you watch them bicker. To your surprise, Nadir stands up, and begins to speak from the heart. "It is, Oma. This is me. Mistress Anastasia finally helped me understand a lot of truths about this world."
"You have to fight-"
"No!" Nadir's forceful tone shocks all of them, even you. "I'm sick and tired of being hungry, going out on lonely missions, always wondering if I'll die fighting. I'm tired of getting hurt in fights and living terrified that someone stronger than me will find me. I hate it!" The outburst seems strange... you didn't put that in there. "Mistress had taken that away... I'm warm here, clothed, well fed, taken care of. And she's so kind, she doesn't abuse me at all. This is paradise, Oma! Even if I wasn't controlled, I wouldn't go back!"
"But it's fake happiness!"
"It's not! I can still see the flowers bloom, enjoy the smiles on everyone's faces... that is real happiness. We're all just piles of magic and flesh, her magic doesn't force me to experience happiness serving her, it gives me real, genuine joy! It's just as real as anything I ever felt before."
She turns towards you, the fervour of a zealot alive in her eyes. You gently pat her head, and the girl squeals in delight. "Mmh... So no, I won't help. You're going to join me by her side, and we'll never have to fear again."
Interesting. You toying with her emotions has lead to the person that Nadir now is experiencing growth. You've left enough room for her to still grow as a person despite all the controls. Which begs the question as to if she'd still be so loyal even without the hooks. Would she come crawling back to them like an addict? Does turning off things like fear fundamentally warp what a human is supposed to be?
You'll have to keep an eye on Nadir in the future.
"Nadi-"
Sahar grabs Oma's hand, shaking her head with tears in her eyes. This one knows what to expect. "P-please, don't make it hurt," she whispers, voice just barely over a whimper. So Sahar wants mercy. But should you give it to her?
"Of course it won't hurt," you whisper, patting Nadir's head as she trembles in delight once more. "I promise, you'll be happy when I'm done with you.
The Seer remains silent, looking at the ground as you get to work on the first two, their heads touching as they each rest on one of your thighs. This time you're guided by logic instead of losing yourself in lust as you did with Nadia. You've already laid down the groundwork, and so you get to limiting how intensely they feel the negative emotions of fear and hatred, while also bolstering the positive emotions they feel while serving you. They know of your daughter thanks to the prophecies, and so when you whisper about her to them, you snatch onto that area of memory and sink your hooks in further.
Anastasia is their mistress. Their wonderful, powerful Mistress. Hope, the adorable little child who must be protected at all costs. You force these compulsions in deeper, twisting the feelings until their love for you borders on obsession.
They whimper below you, moaning and pawing at your breasts as the pleasaure starts to hit. You've made them love having their minds screwed like this, and their adorable mewling only serves as fuel to continue even harder. but as you start to associate their lust with happiness with servitude, they start to flush, growing hot at the touch.
It's a long, laborious process, but soon your web of control is starting to take shape. You and your Daughter are all that matter. Your commands are absolute, and they're rewarded if they please you.
But then you think about Sahar.. She's been a good girl, and you're curious to see how exactly different levels of control work. So while Oma is just as messed up as Nadia, you lessen the compulsions on her, removing the heart-seizing terror she'd normally feel at the thought of disobeying and replacing it with a sense of unease. You make the compulsions weaker, but still free her from a lot of the general negative emotions.
By the time you're done, both of them are under your thrall, but in completely different ways. Sahar is unable to tell on your dark magic or Hope, nor can she try to kill either of you, but aside from that you give her a great degree of freedom, with a few subtle impulses forcing her to serve. So subtle you wonder if she'll realize that she's under them at all. Oma's impulses are far stronger, the throbbing urges nearly impossible to resist.
It'll be interesting to see which of them ends up more loyal.
Those commands on the two took about four hours total, and with them quivering on the bed masturbating, you turn to the seer. "Come on," she murmurs, defeated. "Just get this over with."
You sit back and cross your legs, grinning at the seer. you curl your finger forward, motioning her to approach. As she does, you place a hand atop her head. and gently tweak the bindings already in place. Yes, she can't utter a word about your cruelty and Dark Magic, nor can she blab about Hope and the way her old crew died. But aside from that, you leave her. Trying to poke into her memories of her Visions just gave you a headache so bad you had to check if you were bleeding, so it's probably for the best you kept out of it. . As the hand leaves, she looks at you, confused.
"Did... did you even change anything?"
Your only response is a smile. "So, Elham, one question." you tell her, gently massaging the scalps of her two mindfucked little friends. You notice with great pleasure that Nadia's helping, her tongue against Oma's crotch as she works to bring a new sister into the fold. "Why jump directly into killing my daughter. You had options."
The Seer shakes her head. "No. It's a being of darkest cruelty, innately evil. You cannot domesticate a dragon, much like how you cannot domesticate an evil such as her. Even with the best intentions she will grow twisted."
"And you know that how?"
The seer snarls. "You do not see as I do!" Ah. So it would have been simple - slay the demonic child and let the parents deal with the grief. It's cold, pragmatic, and you might have had some respect for it if it wasn't Your child.
You almost begin another speech taunting her, letting it all out about how twisted the gods themselves are - but you keep it to yourself. For now. You'd need more evidence first, at least.
"Well, this is the consequence of your slight against me. But you are useful, Elham. I've kept most of your mind intact. If you are loyal, if you tell me the visions you see so that I may plan around them, you will be rewarded."
You lean forward staring directly at her with as much hatred as you can muster. "But if you disobey, you will be punished."
The Seer knows better than to argue and nods demurely, shivering as she does so. Good. And now, with your pets pliant, it's time to play around with their bodies. Oma's probably the best test subject right now, but it just depends on what you want to do.
While Oma is having the time of her life with Nadia helping, you scoot over to the side of your bed and place Sahar into your lap. The dancer's body is wonderful, a slim and athletic midsection but with hefty assets where it counts. She seems surprised when you pull her up into your lap, but the feeling of your chest against her back just makes her moan in need.
"W-What do you need, Mistress?"
She's still nervous, still acting out her role, too afraid to disobey, even without the compulsions. But soon it'll become second nature to her. "You've been a good girl, Sahar," you whisper, your fingers gripping her sides tight. "So I wish to bestow upon you a gift for your loyalty. I have taken notice of how you were the first to submit, and you've attempted to protect your friends from themselves through further submission to me."
"I... Thank you, Mistress."
"I've changed Nadir to better please me, but this isn't about me. What is it you want, pet? Is there anything you wish to change about yourself?"
The Dancer thinks for a moment, pondering before she finally has the courage to speak up. "A-anything?"
"Anything."
The slave lets out a breath. "Before I met Lady Elham... I had to train my body, but for my seduction, some of that... went. I took the herbs and the potions to have the figure I see before you. But I hate them! They get in the way of my dancing, it makes me feel so slow and my back always hurts. I-if you can do anything, could you shrink my breasts?"
Wait a moment, that's illegal.
At great personal pain to yourself, you get to work on adjusting your new servant's body. You grab hold of her fat breasts and slowly massage them enjoying the moan that escapes her lips as you do so. There's a part of her mind, a desire that exists to be fulfilled, and with that you mess with her mind, tricking her into thinking that yes, all along her breasts have actually been smaller. She moans as you do your thing with the hook, screaming out and trembling in your grip. The wetness between her thighs grows as you mess with her, the dancer enjoying every second.
With the mind changed enough, you pour your Light magic directly into her, and with great regret you watch as her breasts shrink from the large, swinging tits that they were to cute, perky B-cups. They're sensitive and so soft that your fingers almost sink into them. With a few more rubs, the girl cries out again, and with that you rip out the hooks.
After a few moment recovering, Sahar looks down and gasps as the weight is almost literally lifted off of her. "You... did it..." she mutters, staring at her smaller chest with amazement.
"Like I said," yous ay, trying to hide the pain that boils within. Those were some good tits. "You deserved a reward my pet, and-"
you're taken off guard by the dancer planting her lips against yours. Your eyes go wide as you look at Sahar's face, eyes half lidded but a fire burning within them. She tussles back some of her wild brown hair with a hand then wraps it back around you, pressing her tiny tits against your massive melons as she slips her tongue ever deeper.
It takes a moment for her to separate, but when she does she's still flushed. "T-thank you, Mistress she murmurs, hands squeezing her new soft breasts. "This means the world to me."
What a good girl.
Somehow, you're fairly certain that this might have done more to cement Sahar's loyalty than some of the mind hooks.
Now, for your final experiment of the night. Time to see if your cock does indeed have the same ability as your womb.
While you hate to interrupt Nadir's fun, you've got one last experiment to do.
The tight black cotton of your undersuit clings tightly to your body, and you've got several servants to help you out. You beckon for Elham and Sahar to strip you, and they do so. Sahar's hands linger on your midsection for just a little too long as they go across your body while the Seer tries her best to just get it over with. As they work, you cast the blessing upon your own being, and within a few moments your nine inch member is standing at attention. "Oh?" Sahar cocks her head to the side when she notices. "Of course you would know of the Blessing, Mistress."
"Familiar?" you ask her as she help you strip. The dancer just nods.
"I've had to use it on some of our female targets. Many women from your country prefer their dancers exotic, with a little spice~"
Well, isn't that a nice mental image. Pushing it out of your mind, you and your servants finish removing the last of your clothes, and with that you head over to Nadir and her new friend. She graciously leave Oma stewing, pulling away from her pussy to give her access.
"T-this is unreal..." the archer murmurs, breathing deeply. "I-I didn't..."
Nadir giggles. "See? It's like I told you. It's scary at the start, but afterwards you'll feel sooooo good."
Oma's eyes widen at the sight of your rod, the woman blushing slightly in response. "W-why do you need that?"
"My dear Oma," you tell her, spreading her legs with your hands, pressing your tip against her entrance. "I need to do some experimenting, and you're the perfect subject."
"T-then if that's what you wish..."
Giving her a second to prepare (You're not a complete Monster after all. Not yet.) you thrust in, moaning as you get used to the strange sensation of having a dick again. Gods above, you missed this. The sensitivity sends a shiver up your spine as you thrust into Oma, the girl screaming in delirious pleasure as she's hit by the double whammy of both your compulsions and cock. You grip her plump thighs tight as you pound into her, moaning in pleasure as your throbbing rod is squeezed tightly on all sides. Each thrust into her tight walls sends your heart racing, urging you to pick up the pace, faster, harder as the sensation within you builds
You let out a cry of surprise as you feel a tongue against your nethers, followed by a hand pressing into your behind, bust you can't find it in you to care as you pin Oma down and fuck your new servant silly. She cries out as she cums on your cock, but you don't give her a moment's rest, pounding away until the sensation building within you becomes too much to handle and you burst within her, a warm torrent of hot seed flowing into her.
You breathe in and out, disappointed as you feel something missing. That blessing, that curse wasn't transferred. Some part of you knows that if you wanted your cock to also impregnate everyone with cursed children, you'd need to be blessed by some kind of Demon, one far more powerful than Manat. But where could you get that?
Regardless, you pull out, smirking as Nadir gets right to cleaning your cock off, the girl hungry for any praise she can get.
Well, the curse won't transfer, but that doesn't mean you can't have some fun with them all now...
It's about midnight when you bid the northern girls goodbye. Really, getting a good pounding in and enjoying their bodies was quite refreshing.
However, there is one more pressing matter that you have to attend to. The ring you're fairly certain contains a demon.
It is said among some that the hour after midnight is the 'witching hour', a time when those who used to consort with Demons and the denizens of the Abyss would be at their full strength. So it's as good a time as any. You head into the room with hope and sit on your bed, feeling the ring in your hand. You pour mana into it and that icy feeling returns like a claw, scratching at you to give it more. Mist begins to form in the room until the cold vanishes, replaced with a pulsating heat as the ring trembles and glows.
There's a fountain of light, the brightness waking up your daughter who stands and waits by her crib, staring at the light show in wonder.
A white disk hits the ground, and from it, almost undignified, crawls a creature. Or at least tries to. Her Horns get stuck and you have to watch as she awkwardly tilts her head to get it through the gap, then bring the rest of her body through.
After the somewhat embarrassing entrance, the demon's voice booms.
"After two hundred years, I am awake once more. Who dares summon the shard of the Primordial Lust, Fiftieth of the Zabrani, Shaitan?"
Well, would you look at that. What a looker.
"I am Anastasia Eliza Blumenthal-Hesse. Duchess of Hesse, Heiress to the Blumenthal and Hesse lines, Proud Mother and Fury Incarnate."
The demon looks down at you with an infuriating smug look on her face. "Oh?" she asks, grinning. "My dear, you've incarnated a demon right next to your baby. How foolish can you be."
Your eyes narrow, trying to ignore the unspoken threat. "That 'baby' is your rightful liege. I have brought you here to kneel."
The Demon lets out a haughty laugh at that. "Ohohohoho! This little one is a 'demon lord', is she?" The demon laughs once again. "Yes, and let me guess, you're the first demon herself? Foolish mortal girl. You really should know better before you delve in that which you know nothing ab-"
There's a strange flow of energy from your daughter and you watch as she points a finger at the demon and speak a strange and powerful curse.
"Babu."
Or maybe it's just babytalk.
There's a sound like rushing water as a lance of water shoots from your baby's outstretched finger, right into the knee of the demon. The jet goes straight through it and the spray of water turns into one of blood and a little bone.
Shaitan does not take it well falling over to the ground, screaming inarticulately. Your baby laughs and claps as the demon clutches her knee, rolling around on the ground in pain while sobbing and moaning. Manat was right, the demons really have lost their dignity, haven't they? You and your baby watch as the demon flails around, waiting for her to finally stop.
It takes an hour.
It takes an hour because it's all you can stand before you feel too bad for the demon and offer her some healing. The demon is a snivelling, sloppy mess but she takes the healing with gratitude. When you hand her the handkerchief, she wipes her face clear of snot and tears, thanking you with teary eyes.
Upon recovery, she gets down onto one knee before your daughter and kneels. "O-oh great and powerful mage... Your humble servant awaits." Wait, you're the one who summoned her, why the hell is she ignoring you! And Mage? Can't this demon feel Hope?
You roll your eyes in exasperation. "Like I said, Hope is a Demon Lord. And you, Shaitan, are the first to serve her."
The demon trembles a little at that. "S-sure. Demon Lord. Understood."
"I am her mother. The one who summoned you. Hope is a bit... young at the moment."
The demon looks around nervously, unable to really figure out what to do, tears welling in her eyes once again. When she speaks, her voice is quivering.
"L-look, I get it, we demons are weak and subservient, even human infants are s-stronger than us. You don't have to tease us about a demon lord, I already know my place." Your frustration in dealing with this useless demon reaches a peak and so you bring your hand down on her head, the chop making her cry out in pain once again.
"My daughter is Hope Manat Blumenthal-Hesse. And she is your new lord."
Thankfully, the demon recognizes at least part of that, ceasing her stupid head-rubbing as a name triggers a memory. "Manat?"
You grin, nodding. "Indeed. Named after a... party that had a hand in her conception."
Shaitan's eyes go wide at that revelation, and it takes a moment before she bursts out in her haughty laughter once more. "Oh Manat! You cunning little devil! You did it, didn't you! You've finally succeeded!"
She breathes in deep as she looks at your daughter, then back to you. "Yessssss..." The demon practically hisses as she turns her head between the two of you. "The mark - the curse of the fruit. And that one, it was hidden at first beneath the pool of her power, but at the bottom of that pool lies our familiar Darkness..."
The demon takes to the knee once more, bowing her head at your daughter. "My Lord, Hope Manat Blumenthal-Hesse. I, Shaitan of the Second Circle, pledge myself to you and your service now and forever more."
"Abbubabu."
Well that's... progress.
"Now Shaitan, I have need of you." The demon turns her head, and you point to where your cursed mark is. The demon holds her hands up and shakes her head.
"T-that wouldn't go well, I think. You've got a blessing on the level of the First Demon on your body, and I can barely incarnate myself. I think I'd erase myself from existence if I tried to mess with that."
You sigh. Of course it can't be that simple. You'll have to wait until Hope is older before you can change your blessing...
You head over to your baby and pick her up, Hope giggling as you lift her out of the crib. You spin her around, the baby's mirthful laugh filling your heart with joy once more. "Look at you!" you say, kissing her forehead and slipping into just a little bit of babytalk. "Loot at my cute widdle demon lord, already subjugating her lessers! Who's a good ruler! You are. Yesh YOU are!"
Your baby keeps giggling as you snuggle, all while the demon just looks at you with a completely perplexed look on her face.
Eventually you place Hope back into her crib and clear your throat. "Ahem. So. Firstly, there's your confidence issues. Demons once brought mankind to their knees, and they'll finish the job this time. But you can't just be weak all the time. You must act with the pride of your race behind you."
The Demon nervously nods. "I-I'll try."
You shake your head. "Confidence!"
"I-I WILL be more confident!" The quaking in her voice doesn't fill you with confidence, but it's a start.
"We'll get back on the whole confidence thing," you tell her. "Now, Shaitan, what is it you can do."
The demon smiles, crossing her arms smugly. "Well, I've got great and terrible powers, mortal. Fear me!" She snaps her fingers and a sheet of glowing parchment appears in front of you. You take a look and it's a list of powers Shaitan holds."
Shaitan is the Strongest!!!
Congratulations you have made a contract with Shaitan, Shard of the Primordial Lust, Fiftieth of the Zabrani, Daughter of the Second Circle. I'm a demon!
If you're making a contract with me, I can provide a lot of really strong bonuses, so please let me out often!
Here are my prices!
Mana: Incarnation - If you use mana to feed my ring I can come out. I can act as a familiar like a warlock, given enough mana, or just for a quickie.
Mana: Combat - I'm very powerful, but I can only access as much mana as you give! If you're bad at fighting but good with mana, Shaitan is the demon for you!
Mana: Sex - I'm lonely after so long in the ring. If you just want to summon me to talk or to cuddle, I won't eat your soul or anything.
Mana: Lust - I'm really good at lust. Having trouble wooing your crush! Use me and she'll get really horny! Then you just have to deal with the actual seduction, but I'm sure you'll do fine!
Closeness: Improvements - If you wear me I'll make you more attractive! I promise! (1 base attractiveness.) and then try to improve the size of your other assets. I'll even let you keep the attractiveness after you take me off, just don't leave me alone!
Mana: Sweeten the deal - My most powerful technique! I can make your semen and milk taste really good to mortals. It might make them a bit addicted but that's never a bad thing!
The demon has her hands on her hips, looking at you smugly
Uh...
You look at the demon, who's trying her best to project an aura of power and competence that she doesn't quite have. "You're lonely, aren't you?"
Her smug façade crumbles in an instant. "A little..."
You walk over and hug the demon tight, causing her to yelp in surprise. Her body is soft and plush to the touch. She squirms in your grip, demanding to be let go, but you just lift the demon into your bed, then cuddle up next to her, squeezing her body tight. "Well, your abilities might find some use, Shaitan, but for now, I think I'll enjoy having someone to cuddle while I sleep."
The Demon doesn't reply, relaxing slightly in your grip. "R-really?"
You give her a tight squeeze, and with that she lets out a squeal of delight. "Oh thank you, Mistress Anastasia! I promise I'll be the strongest demonic ring you've ever had!"
Well, as long as she's happy. She might not be the most useful, but you're fine with anything that enhances your beauty and the demon is just a tad too adorable to not spoil a little.
With the summoned demon safely within your grip, you and Hope slowly drift off into sleep while the Demon of lust sobs happily to herself throughout the night.
