Chapter 1
It is recommended that you read the original School as part of the Succubus Series (chapter 39) to understand this story completely. While it may not be necessary, it will help you.
Kate spent most of her time with Lyla when Rick was gone. Lorelai Elizabeth Annabelle Rosalie, Daughter of the Night, was too hard, so she called her Lyla like everyone else. She was patient and easy to talk to.
That was when she didn't have a class to teach. She had one in session presently, so Kate was out, exploring as a Succubus when Patches came running up to her. She stopped and petted him. She didn't really think she needed a dog, but it looked like she had one.
Most everyone gave her a wide berth, but not everyone. A girl stopped in front of her to ask her a question. "Is it true you're not an evil Succubus?"
Kate nodded. "That's true. I'm not evil, though I do have a temper. You don't want to see me when I have a temper. Then I might be evil, but normally, no."
"Can I touch your wings?"
"Sure." Kate hadn't expected that, but she spread her wings so the girl could touch them.
Just then, a bell sounded. "I have a class. I'll see you later." And she ran away. That was when Kate noticed the hallway was almost empty as a few others hurried to their classes.
"Looks like it's just you and me, Patches." Hearing his name got him to bark. "Come on, Patches, let's see if Lyla is free." Kate went back the way she came, which wasn't easy. This place was a maze, much like Rick had warned her.
"Kate, please join me," Lyla told her as she answered her door. "You too, Patches. What can I do for you? Have you started school yet?"
"No, not yet. It's part of why I wanted to talk to you. That and to find out how long Rick will be gone."
"He could be gone a week, perhaps two. It depends on what they find. I have no doubt he'll return. He's far too powerful to let something happen to him."
Kate had a problem then. "Oh."
Lyla was well aware of what her problem was. "You need CUM. How often do you require it?"
Kate should be surprised that she knew about her need for CUM, but nothing about this place would surprise her. "Every week, usually."
"I see. We should be able to find a volunteer to provide you with what you need. As for school, have you thought about what you want to be? We have a large range of choices for you. Richard would love for you to be a Paladin, but I don't see you as one."
"No, not really. Actually, I think the options are too much for me. Where I grew up, we didn't have spells or anything like that. Spells were make-believe. Not real at all."
"They're real here, I assure you, Kate. Perhaps a Rainbow Servant. I know you like the wings. Though, you have a pair of your own, so probably not.
"How about Bloodhound? It might be a good fit for you." Kate made a face and shook her head. "It was just a thought. Sacred Fist is out; Vassal of Bahamut is out as well," Lyla determined.
"Vassal of Bahamut? What exactly is that?" Kate was curious.
"Vassals of Bahamut were devout warriors who revered good dragons and battled evil chromatic dragons wherever they found them. After swearing allegiance to their deity Bahamut, the Lord of Good Dragons, they became his champions in the war against Tiamat's terrible plans."
Kate stared at her. "Oh, I don't think so."
"I thought not. Fighter, Ranger, and Barbarian are also likely out as well. Direct Combat doesn't seem to be you either."
"Probably not," Kate sighed while she petted Patches. "Lyla, I fear I'll never fit in."
"Don't say that," Lyla chided. "The options here at the school are almost limitless. We'll find you something. You can show it to Richard when he returns. He'll be surprised, you'll see."
"Maybe. What's Rick again? Something about a Druid?"
"Richard is a Barbarian and a Druid. His subclass of Druid allows him to be any animal he can think of while still being able to cast his spells. Why are you thinking Druid? There's a Witch.
"Before you reject it, do you know what a Witch is?" Lyla asked, and Kate shook her head. "The otherworldly powers of Winter Witches are inextricably linked with the frozen outer realms. Some Common Witches gain power through study, some through devotion, and others through blood, but the Witch gains power from her communion with the unknown. Generally feared and misunderstood, the Witch draws her magic from a pact she made with an otherworldly power. Communing with that source while using her familiar as a conduit, the Witch gains a host of spells and a number of strange abilities known as Hexes. As a Witch grows in power, she might learn about the source of her magic, but some remain blissfully unaware. Some are even afraid of that source, fearful of what it might be or where its purposes lie.
"Now, with you being a Succubus, gaining power through otherworldly might be right up your alley. A Witch's primary power is something called a Hex. Hexes come in three ranks, Common Hex, Major Hex, and Grand Hex.
"There is Alley Witch, Mountain Witch, Winter Witch, Herb Witch, which is mostly potion-based. You brew your own potions. Sea Witch..." Kate interrupted her.
"How do you know so much about Witches?"
Lyla looked at her in surprise."Didn't you know? I'm the head of the Temple of Oghma. He is the Lord of Knowledge. So I know a great deal. Now, where were we? Oh yes, Witches. Witches aren't what you think they are. I can arrange for you to speak to our Witch should you desire it."
"You have a Witch who teaches?"
"Oh yes, we have any number of teachers. Her name is Elsa. I can arrange for you to speak to her if you like." Lyla got up and went to the door. "See if Elsa has a moment for me, would you? Thank you."
She returned to wait with Kate. A short time later there was a knock on her door and a woman entered.
"You wanted to see me, Lyla?"
Kate could scarcely believe her eyes. "You're Elsa the Witch?"
"Yes, and you must be our new Succubus. You were expecting someone else perhaps?"
"But...but you… you're pretty," Kate stammered. "I though all Witches were, well, ugly."
"Perish the thought. Now, how can I help you, Lyla?" Elsa inquired.
"Kate here, our resident Succubus, doesn't know what to be. We've eliminated Paladin, Ranger, Barbarian, Bloodhound, Rainbow Servant, and Sacred Fist. I thought perhaps you would explain to her what you do. While I'm gone, that is. I have a class to teach."
"I would be honored to." Elsa watched Lyla leave. "Now, where do I start?" She thought for a moment, then continued. "Some Witches dedicate their lives to the mastery of herb lore. Herb Witches brew foul-tasting medicines, sweet poisons, and other concoctions from the untamed plants of the wild.
"I'm a Herb Witch," Elsa revealed. "There are many other Witches you can be. There's Winter Witch, Alley Witch, Hedge Witch, Mountain Witch, Sea Witch, Veneficus Witch, White Haired Witch, Winter Witch, Bonded Witch, and Scarred Witch Doctor.
"Not all of these are available in the school. Only the Herb Witch, the Hedge Witch, and the Sea Witch are available here. The Hedge Witch practices the healing arts much like Lyla does. The Sea Witch's magic concerns the moon, tides, water, and winds, and she is most at peace when she is upon or near the sea. A Mountain Witch forms bonds with the spirits of the lofty reaches. Then there is your common Witch, which casts Hexes."
"Thank you, Elsa. I'll think about it."
"Certainly. And you should think it over. I would be honored to teach you, Kate. Imagine the possibilities – a Succubus and a Witch."
Kate was more confused than when she came in to the room. She left the room unsure just what she wanted to be, overwhelmed by all the possibilities.
ố[Ͽ]Ө[Ͼ]ồ
Kate was back in Lyla's room with a question. "What would be best to combat the Yuan-Ti since they're the local enemy here?"
"Combat the Yuan-Ti? Let me think. Combat can take many forms. There is direct combat, like a Fighter or a Ranger. A Druid can change forms to combat that way. A Cleric like myself can cast spells to help others, though I can do direct combat. A Warlock has a form of combat. He uses his powers to cast Invocations. A Rogue, more commonly called a Thief, has a form of combat. A Witch, no matter the subject, can cast spells. Hexes, if you prefer."
Kate frowned. "I'm not sure that's much help."
"You're making a decision that will be the future of your life, Kate. Take your time to decide. Are you leaning one way? Wait, don't tell me. You're thinking of being a Druid?"
"Maybe."
"It's a wise choice. Just be aware being a dual-class will take time. Richard is older than he looks. Being a Water Genasi allows him to be older than he appears."
"I see." Kate petted Patches, who still hadn't left her side.
"At least you've made one friend."
"Patches? He chose me. I'm not sure why. I've never had a dog before." Kate kept on petting Patches.
"Patches is being trained to be a companion to someone. He's chosen you. Congratulations, my dear."
Kate kissed Patches. "You're a good dog," she crooned.
ố[Ͽ]Ө[Ͼ]ồ
It was the next day, and she was back, talking to Lyla again. "Have you made a choice, Kate? You need to choose soon."
"Not yet, it's harder than it looks. It's either a Warlock or a Witch, just a Common Witch. Can you tell me more about the Warlock?"
"Certainly. Warlock spells, also called Invocations, were released through sheer force of will rather than by trained practice or innate ability. Invocations tended to be more powerful and deadly than those of a Wizard or Sorcerer, though they had limited range or area of effect.
"The attributes and qualities of a Warlock were determined by the being with whom they have made their primary pact, largely. Their pacts are Celestial Pact, Dark Pact, Fey Pact, Hexblade Pact, Infernal Pact, Star Pact, and Undying Pact.
"Why? Are you thinking of being a Warlock? It's not a bad choice. There are Lesser Invocations, Moderate Invocations, and Greater Invocations. The more powerful you are, the greater your powers.
"Ezra would be your teacher," Lyla added, thinking that might help her decide.
"Still, Warlock would be a good choice. Since we've solved that, I have a class to teach. I will see you later. You too, Patches." Lyla petted him on the way out.
ố[Ͽ]Ө[Ͼ]ồ
After dinner, Kate sought out Lyla again. "I have a question. How did I get here? I've never even heard of this Faerûn place. My parents never mentioned it."
"That's an excellent question, indeed. Based on what we know, we call it Pin Point Plane Shift. It's a powerful spell. Now, the school has protections set up. One is no one can teleport into the school from the outside. No one. If you try, you bounce off and land outside the protected area.
"Another prevents Plane Shift. I know, since I put it there. Overcoming my spell requires that they have a higher level than me. More powerful. As to whom, only one person comes to mind. His name is Bay-be."
Kate stared at her. "Baby?"
"Not to be confused with a newborn baby. His name is Bay-be. He knows of this place and is powerful enough to get you here. As to why," Lyla shrugged, "that I can't answer."
Kate hummed her response.
"Faerûn is a different world than the one you know. It is full of Monsters, Demons, Undead, and other creatures."
"Undead? You mean like Zombies?" Kate didn't believe in Zombies.
"Zombies, Ghosts, and Vampires, just to name a few. They exist everywhere in Faerûn. There are probably some right outside of this school even now."
Kate's whole body shook at the thought of that.
"Not to worry, my dear. We have protections that will alert us should any of them try," Lyla said in an attempt to calm her.
Just then, a flare went up, the sight of which got Lyla running toward the roof, followed closely by Kate.
"Duke, what have we got?" Lyla asked.
"I don't know. Could be anything from a Yuan-Ti to an Undead."
"Take me there." Lyla took hold of him, and they vanished, just like that. No puff of smoke, no sparkle. One second, they were there, and the next, they were gone. Kate thought momentarily about flying out there, but she didn't know exactly where they were.
She wasn't the only one interested. There were other people up on the roof with her. Suddenly, Patches showed up and began to bark. Whatever it was, he would protect her. "Easy, Patches." Kate petted him. "I guess we wait."
"You're the Succubus, aren't you," a young woman asked her. "I've never seen a Succubus before. Word has it you're nice." She looked her over from head to foot while waiting for her to answer.
She was maybe 15 or 16 years old, Kate guessed. Not that much younger than she was. "I'm usually pretty nice, yes. I have my moments, though. What's your name? Mine's Kate."
"I'm Isla."
"What are you studying, if I may ask?" Kate was interested. She might even make a friend.
"I'm studying to be a Brewkeeper."
"You mean like beers and such?" Kate thought that was a weird thing to be studying.
"Something like that, yes. You see, a Brewkeeper can make potions. I'm also a Sorcerer."
Kate finally noticed the ears. "You're an Elf. I've never met an Elf before."
"Elves live a long time. I'm older than I look. I'm actually 36 years old."
"Really? I never would have guessed." Suddenly, her attention was taken away from Isla and onto an area that lit up like a ball of fire for a moment. "Excuse me." Kate flew off, headed toward where she saw the ball of fire go off.
She eventually saw Lyla and Duke fighting off a group of...somethings. Then suddenly, Duke was gone, leaving only Lyla. Kate dived down to help her. She landed with a thud, getting Lyla's notice.
"Kate, you shouldn't be here!" Lyla raised her holy symbol and said something. A large swath of them just up and vanished.
"He left you, so I thought I could help." Kate spotted one of them getting too close, so she swung at it and knocked it flat.
"Duke left to get help. He'll be back shortly." Once again, she raised her holy symbol and said something. Another large swath of them were just gone, disappearing into nothing.
Then Duke was back, and he brought help. "Undead," Lyla warned. They got to work, spread out, and raised their holy symbols, which were the same as Lyla had, and more vanished.
It was all over before Kate could take another swing at them.
They gathered together. "I wonder what that was all about?" Duke queried.
"My money is on the Yuan-Ti somehow being involved," Lyla offered.
"They were all low-level. Zombies, Ghouls, Ghasts, and the like. Nothing we couldn't handle," one of them stated boldly.
"This time," Lyla said pointedly. "Still, I wonder. I think it's time for a divination spell. I want to find out. Can you take us all, Duke?"
"I can take one," Kate offered, "provided they don't mind being hugged by me."
"Duke, you take the others back. I'll go with Kate. I don't mind being hugged by her. So long as she doesn't kiss me," Lyla teased Kate.
"I would never," Kate said hotly. Then she saw her smiling at her. "You think you're pretty cute, don't you? Maybe, just to spite you, I should kiss you!"
"Come on, Kate, let's go home." Lyla stepped up, wrapped her arms around her, and held on tight.
Duke took the others back and showed up on the roof. Kate hugged Lyla, then spread her wings and flew back, landing on the roof. She wasn't too far from Isla.
"Thank you, Kate. I have a spell to cast." And Lyla left them.
"Well, that was fun," one of them commented.
"Exciting, yes, I don't know about fun," another said, and they split up, leaving Duke and Isla standing there.
"I want to thank you for that. That was brave of you. Foolish but brave. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere else to be." And Duke vanished just like that.
"I could swear that Lyla told me no one could teleport into the school," Kate mentioned.
"They can't, not unless they know the password. Duke would know the password since he set up the barrier. Even I don't know the password," Isla told her. "So what was it?"
"Something about Zombies, Ghouls, and Ghasts." Kate shrugged. "Not that I know what two of those are."
"Oh, is that all?" She checked the time. "I have a class. I'll see you later, Kate. It's been a pleasure meeting you."
"You too, Isla." Kate watched her leave, and then Kate headed off to find Lyla. She wanted to know what a divination spell was.