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Year 16 AL, The Misery of a Lovesick Lamia
Luka was frantically trying to keep calm.
He really was.
However, against his best efforts, the purple-haired boy felt as though everything around him was spinning as he sat in the least broken-down chair in the small makeshift dining area of the abandoned Temple. Rosary was standing next to a dirtied, stone-forged hearth across the room, facing away from everyone else while diligently pouring the drinks.
One.
Sitting to his left was Christie, who seemed to be in a good deal of distress. The Nun's light green eyes kept stealing glances at Luka, quickly turning them away from him anytime he glanced back at her. Luka kept hearing that same muffled metallic rustling anytime the Nun squirmed in her seat and while he found it odd, his mind could hardly give any time to ponder this.
It was much too preoccupied now.
Two.
Last, but in no way least, was the painfully familiar form of Sofia, who was sitting to Luka's right. The girl he had met two years ago was adamant in keeping her bright blue-eyed gaze down at the aged wooden table the three sat at, having not even glanced in the purple-haired boy's direction since leading him to this room. This was proving to only add to Luka's distress, a distress that was continuing to grow as his mind raced to put together everything he knew.
Three.
Luka fought hard to keep composed but the young Hero couldn't keep the trembling out of his left hand, which was quivering weakly just beneath the tabletop.
"Not people, no. There looks to be three Monsters in there..."
The words of Alice echoed in Luka's mind, a staunch reminder of one of the two problems plaguing his mind. His pale-blue eyes bounced between the three Nuns and the numbers easily checked out: Alice said there were three Monsters in this Temple and Luka was currently in the company of three Nuns, so they must be the Monsters that his traveling partner was talking about.
But that would mean that Sofia was a Monster, too.
The idea only further complicated the jumbled emotions swirling in his heart, as meeting Sofia again was already difficult enough by itself. But now that he knew that the Nun girl he had met two years ago was a Monster? This revelation threw his heart into an unmitigated mess.
Sofia had entered his life as a brief light of hope when he was at his loneliness, and the devastation he felt when he had discovered that his newly made friend had vacated his home without even saying goodbye was a pain that had laid dormant in his heart for years.
And now that scar was being ripped open once again.
Sofia had been his first friend, a connection that he had sought for so long and desired so strongly after his parent's passing that he sought it out anytime the opportunity presented itself. Sofia couldn't have ever filled the void that his parents had left, but she certainly had been the first person he met who helped heal those wounds if just a tiny bit, which was more than anything he could've ever asked for.
Monster or not, Sofia had given him hope that things could get better.
But that hope had been ripped away in the same timeframe it had been given, and that had been quickly followed up by the darkest days Luka had ever experienced. If there had been any time when he needed a friend, it would've been then. And now he silently sat next to the person he felt both endeared to and betrayed by, wondering if he had any right to feel one or the other.
Sofia too was in a state of unease, courtesy of the young Hero she was trying not to face.
The disguised Lamia couldn't believe how badly things had already spiraled out of control. In the last few minutes, while she was fixing the tea, Sofia had begun to steel herself for this moment; for the time when she would see the Prophet again. The entire time while waiting, Sofia had prayed to the Goddess of Light above, she had asked for the strength needed to dissuade her instincts and to abolish her sinful feelings for the boy.
Either Sofia's prayers had been ignored because of her inherent wickedness, or even Ilias's blessings themselves weren't strong enough to break the hold Luka had on the Lamia's heart. She didn't know which was the more uncomfortable thought.
At this moment, Sofia truly realized the depth of her own sickness.
It hadn't even taken the disguised Lamia but a few seconds after Rosary had informed her of Luka's arrival to feel her heart quiver. And when she saw Luka? By Ilias above, Sofia felt herself smitten all over again. Just like that day two years ago, Sofia was becoming overwhelmed by feelings she should not be having for Ilias's Prophet.
That night she was at Luka's home was a memory her mind tortured her with by skewing them into depraved dreams of what could've been, had she not been able to hold herself back. And if it couldn't get worse, Sofia's mind was starting to daydream about that very scenario.
Which was quite the awful timing, since the one that captured her impure heart was sitting right next to her.
...A light rapping came from the wooden door to her side, Sofia felt her heart spike at the noise, that could only be one person.
"C-C-C-Come in!" Sofia choked out, the words nearly not coming out at all.
Slowly, painfully, the wooden door opened as Luka peeked his head into the room. "I-I'm sorry if you were a-already asleep, I j-just wanted to make sure you were comfortable before going to b-bed myself." The disguised Lamia's heart swelled at Luka's stuttering, it was such an innocuous thing, but it was just so adorable.
Sofia shook her head. "Oh no, you are fine, Luka. Th-Thank you for checking on me." The purple-haired boy nodded, "You're welcome." The purple-haired boy turned from the room, slowly disappearing behind the door.
Sofia's heart throbbed and her words came out before she could think to stop herself. "W-Wait!" She called, nearly jumping out of the bed when she did.
Luka stopped, fixing a questioning gaze back to her. Sofia clutched the sheets tightly, all of a sudden feeling quite shy beneath his pale-blue gaze. Her heart thumped louder and louder in her ears, and the last thing she should've said came from her mouth.
"C-Can you stay with me tonight?" Sofia asked, unable to keep the terrible request down. The disguised Lamia blanked at her own request.
Why had she said that!? Someone like Sofia couldn't ask the Prophet of Ilias to sleep in the same bed as her! She was barely worthy enough to even be in the same room with him, let alone be so intimately close!
Luka stood silent, something heavily conflicted swimming in his pale-blue eyes. The younger boy swayed in the doorway for a few more, his continued silence raising her anxiety. However, just as Sofia was about to go back on her request, Luka answered. "O-O-Okay, I-I'll stay." Sofia gasped as the door opened wider...
"Here's your tea, Prophet Luka." The calm voice of Rosary spoke, promptly delivering said drink in front of the boy while momentarily kicking Sofia from her terrible fantasizing. The disguised Lamia bit her lip, trying her damnedest to dispel her immodest thoughts.
Luka gave the tall Nun a respectful bow of his head, "Th-Thank you, Rosary." The brown-haired woman nodded earnestly in response to the purple-haired boy, "Well thank you, but it was Sofia who brewed this." Rosary said before placing two more cups down in front of her fellow Sisters. Luka glanced over to the blonde-haired Nun in question, but Sofia had her eyes dropped still.
Rosary took her place at the table, adding herself to the assembly with a small smile. However, the smile quickly faded as she noticed how her fellow Sisters were significantly demure. Rosary glanced over to Luka, who at least had enough in him to give the tea a tentative sip. The purple-haired boy hummed, finding a bit of comfort in the dark brown drink.
"Th-This is quite good, S-Sofia." Luka remarked, to which the disguised Lamia finally mounted a shaky response. "Th-Thank you, Prophet Luka." The young Hero wanted to say something else, but his mind quickly went blank.
The room quickly fell into silence once again, as nobody else seemed inclined to add to the conversation. Luka raised the cup up again, having to use both hands for fear that his shaking might cause him to spill the tea otherwise. He swallowed down more of the tea, wincing as it suddenly tasted a lot more bitter than before. He let out a small sigh while placing the cup back on the table.
The awkward air that permeated the room was suffocating, and even the normally calm Rosary was pulling at her collar now for even she could feel the tension building in the room. Christie wasn't fairing much better, having to keep her hands on top of the table lest she accidentally start brushing up against anything too stimulating.
And poor Sofia's teeth were gritted, frustration building inside her as her daydreams kept torturing her mind. More and more the fantasy played in her mind's eye, causing her even more heartache.
...Sofia couldn't believe it as Luka shakily shuffled into the room, a light red blush painting his face. The disguised Lamia nearly let out a gasp as the purple-haired boy closed the door behind him; the metal click was quiet, but it resounded loudly in Sofia's ears.
Sofia's bright blue eyes brazenly looked up and down Luka's form, finding herself unable to look away. The purple-haired boy was dressed in a long white nightshirt, the cloth falling down below his knees. Something about his garb just made him so desirable to her, which made this situation all the more dangerous.
Luka slowly came closer, his entire form obviously wracked with nervousness and yet he shakily trudged on nonetheless. Sofia felt her entire body quiver with each step he took until the purple-haired boy was right at her bedside. Sofia felt her body growing hot, much too hot, as the younger boy looked down at her.
Why did his gaze alone cause her to get so excited?
Sofia tensed up as Luka's hand slowly reached towards the bed sheets. The disguised Lamia held her breath as Luka's hand came closer and closer. She knew better, she had to tell Luka to stop. He couldn't sleep in the same bed with her, with an awful, disgusting Monster! She wasn't deserving, she wasn't a Human, she wasn't-
Luka's hands pulled the coverings off of Sofia and his eyes widened. The Lamia Nun followed his stupefied gaze, and sheer terror gripped her heart. For, coming out from her light-blue nightdress in place of her "legs"...
...Was her tail...
"N-N-No!" Sofia screamed, quickly rising from the bed. Sofia couldn't believe it, to show something so terrible to the Prophet had to be a sin of the absolute! Sofia couldn't stay now, she had to leave before something awful happened!
However, as the Lamia tried to slither past the bewildered Luka, she felt something soft grab her hand...
Sofia jerked as she was again kicked out of her terrible fantasizing by a faint clatter of metal came from Christie, who had been watching very closely as Luka was otherwise busy taking another sip of tea. The Succubus Nun was already in dire straits, a familiar warmth growing hotter by the second despite her best intentions. It took everything she had to fight away the natural urge to rub her thighs together.
"S-So," Luka finally began, earning a flinch from both Christie and Sofia. "H-How is it that you all k-know I am Ilias's Prophet?" The young Hero asked, trying to get an answer to what was somehow the easiest question to ask.
Rosary, evidently being the only one able to speak to the boy, gave an unintentionally unhelpful answer. "Yes," She said before gesturing across the table, "Our Sister Sofia was the one to educate us. She had spoken very highly of you." Sofia clenched up as Luka's questioning gaze came to her again and it took all of the disguised Lamia's willpower to raise her eyes up to meet Luka's.
Sofia couldn't help but wonder if the Goddess's gaze would feel this piercing on the Day of Judgement.
"Yes," The Lamia Nun confirmed, "I-I told them about you, Prophet Luka."
The purple-haired boy's face turned disbelieving. 'She knew? How could she know such a thing?' Luka paused as he began to mull over this startling piece of information. 'Unless she was told by someone in Heaven itself. But if Sofia's a Monster, then why would she be told that?' Luka's musings were brought to a halt, as a certain squirming Succubus Nun decided to interject.
"S-So, Prophet Luka, h-how has your j-journey b-been?" Christie asked, making a grand effort to keep the conversation away from anything lewd. Luka placed his cup down, "Well, I'll be h-honest, it's been pretty hard so-"
"Mm!~" The disguised Succubus quickly groaned out, the metallic jangling of her unseen chastity belt filling the room once again. Luka felt a bit perturbed, but continued on nonetheless, "...-So far, b-but I've been able to m-manage." Christie nodded, trying to fight the red tint growing on her face. "I-I see. W-well, Ilias willing, I-I hope your j-journey will fare well!"
Luka was able to muster a small smile at the blue-haired Nun, "Th-Thank you, Miss Christie." The disguised Succubus took in a shaky breath, before reaching down and grabbing her cup of tea, intent to calm her nerves with a drink. At this, Luka stole a glance at Sofia once again, but the blue-eyed Nun still couldn't meet Luka's gaze. However, the young Hero noticed that she fidgeted in her seat once he looked over to her.
Luka couldn't help but wonder what had Sofia so seemingly troubled, 'Is me being here bothering her?' He wondered with a frown. This sentiment wasn't necessarily inaccurate. However, it wasn't quite in the way Luka believed it to be.
"I must apologize about the state of this place, Prophet Luka." Rosary lamented, stealing the young Hero's attention once more. The Nun looked heavily disappointed as she continued, raising a hand to gesture around them. "We tried to clean up as best as possible, but it's been quite the uphill battle."
Luka nodded, "I-I can see that. Th-This place does have a lot to be desired..." He glanced down at the stone floor, which looked as if it hadn't seen a proper cleaning in decades. "...You'd probably have to be on your hands and knees for hours to scrub these floors-"
"A-Ah!~" Everyone in the room collectively froze and a wide-eyed Christie quickly threw her hands over her mouth. Luka blinked slowly at the disguised Succubus, who frantically tried to recover from her slip. "Ah-Ah-Agreed!" She exclaimed, "These floors require quite the s-scrubbing, heh-heh-heh." Christie nervously chuckled, a bead of sweat falling down her brow as the rest of her fellow Monsters and the Prophet of Ilias looked on.
Instead of leaving it at that, however, the disguised Succubus continued to dig a deeper hole for herself. "B-But like you s-said, Prophet L-Luka, I'd n-need to be on m-my knees for s-s-soooo long to get all of th-that done..." Christie said, her face visibly heating up now as her concerned Sisters and confused Prophet looked on.
"...S-So many l-long a-and sw-sweat drenched h-hours..." The Succubus Nun mused, her light green eyes glazing over. "...D-Dragging my hand up and d-d-down a-along the floor, t-trying in vain not to get m-myself soaked and-" Christie suddenly sobered up, realizing what she had been doing.
That, and her chastity belt was now quite soaked itself though this was not due to any cleansing soaps.
"-I-I-I n-need to be e-excused!" Christie stuttered out, nearly jumping from her seat and rushing to the doorway. The other three watched incredulously as the disguised Succubus dashed out of the room. Luka almost said something to stop Christie as he felt genuine concern over her well-being, but he was stopped by a confounding observation.
As Christie passed, he smelled a very familiar flowery scent coming off of the blue-haired Nun. A scent he had only ever smelled off of aroused Monsters. If that didn't confirm what Alice said to be true, then Luka didn't know what would. But if they were Monsters, then why were they here in a Temple of Ilias pretending to be Nuns?
"E-Erm," Rosary started as she too stood from her chair, "Pardon me, I-I should go make sure Sister Christie will be alright." The disguised Slug said hurriedly, moving to chase after the runaway Succubus Nun. Rosary quickly rushed through the doorway, leaving Luka and Sofia behind.
Now, they were alone.
Luka turned back around, his pale-blue eyes immediately finding Sofia's own gaze. The disguised Lamia flinched, immediately looking away from the purple-haired boy. Without anyone else around to spur on the conversation, the two conflicted young souls sat in an uncomfortable silence.
The young Hero's stomach churned, the clashing of his complicated feelings causing him physical distress now. Luka could barely take it anymore, he felt as though he was being torn in two. If Sofia was indeed a Monster, then he shouldn't be feeling what he was feeling but that sentiment hardly mattered to him at the moment.
Sofia, meanwhile, was faring no better. She still could not face Luka, as her accursed mind was continuing to push out her deviant thoughts.
...Luka's hand gently but firmly latched onto Sofia's, "N-No, don't go!" The purple-haired boy cried out. Sofia fought from shivering and whirled around to stare at the boy through tear-filled eyes. The Lamia vigorously shook her head, "L-Luka, I c-can't stay here! A M-Monster like me sh-shouldn't be here with you."
Sofia stopped as Luka now grabbed her arm with both hands, "Pl-Please stay, I-I don't care if y-you're a Monster!"
Luka's desperate plea stopped Sofia dead. The Prophet of Ilias himself didn't care if she was a Monster?
"B-But Luka," Sofia began, trying to fight against the urges that were making her torso grow hot. "A-An ugly Monster like me can't-" Luka's face grew indignant as she decried herself and he squeezed her arm, "Y-You aren't ugly! I-I think you're beautiful!"
Sofia gasped, unable to believe what she just heard. Luka, the very Prophet of Light and bastion of Ilias's will, had just called her beautiful. How could he say such a thing? Did he not realize how sacrilegious it was? Luka was a Human, and Sofia was a Lamia, they couldn't share those types of sentiments.
But if Sofia stayed for much longer, she may not be able to stop the sinful fire burning within. "L-Let go, Luka!" Sofia pleaded, trying to pull away once more. However, Luka did not let go.
The exposed Lamia felt the Prophet pull once again, "N-No, I-I won't!" The purple-haired boy replied, desperately wrenching her back.
Truly, Sofia was strong enough to pull out of his grip. In fact, Luka could probably do nothing to stop her if she simply swiped him away with her tail. But she could never do something so despicable, not to him.
Sofia looked back, intent on telling him off again, but she froze once more. Through her own blurry eyes, she could see tears streaming down Luka's own face. The Lamia hesitated, was his feelings for her that strong?
This brief moment of hesitation allowed Luka to pull once more, and this one proved to be the last. Sofia squealed as the purple-haired boy was able to catch her off balance, and the two confused youths fell towards the bed...
"S-Sofia." The voice of Luka called out, his voice quietly cutting through the makeshift dining room. Sofia let out a shaky gasp, her gaze snapping up to meet his. "Y-Yes, Prophet Luka?" Sofia asked shakily, nearly kicking herself at how terribly she was losing her composure.
Luka's gaze went to the side as he replied, "I-I need to ask y-you something..." The purple-haired boy went silent, his mouth forming a thin line. Then, a sudden surge of confidence hit him, and his pale-blue eyes met her's once more. Sofia nearly trembled as Luka scooted his chair closer to her "...S-Something important."
Thump Thump
"O-O-Okay, what is it th-that you wish to know?" Sofia asked, but in her heart, she felt like she already knew.
Luka could not immediately respond, his jumbled nerves being easy to see as he fumbled with his hands and lightly bounced a knee. There were actually quite the many questions bouncing around in his head. He wanted to ask about how Sofia knew he was Ilias's Prophet, he wanted to ask about how long she knew, he wanted to ask what she was doing here in this abandoned Temple. And even though he felt like he already knew the answer...
...Luka wanted to ask if Sofia really was a Monster.
But none of those questions needed an answer more than another, more selfish, question. One that had been sitting right at the tip of Luka's tongue. It burned in his mouth like a hot coal, the sensation being the only thing that had been holding him back from voicing it despite how loudly his heart was crying out for the answer. Luka had a need to know like he had never had before, and that desire was growing more and more each second.
And so, the young Hero steeled himself once more as the internal battle ended, and Luka reserved himself asking the question he so desperately needed to ask. His gloved hands tightened around each other, his hands shaking from the nervous energy bouncing around. Sofia watched the purple-haired boy tremble with ever-worrying eyes.
"Why did you leave me?" Luka whispered.
Something akin to a hiss left Sofia's mouth as she recoiled at Luka's tone, not at all having expected to hear such pain from his voice. The disguised Lamia squirmed in the seat, those five words rattling her to her core. "I-I..." Sofia choked out, unable to look away from Luka's pleading eyes. She should've known better. Now she sat there, unable to answer, as to do so would mean to confess the depraved feelings that had a stranglehold on her sin-riddled heart.
The disguised Lamia's long blonde locks dropped in front of her face as her gaze went to the untouched teacup in front of her. Sofia could not bear to look her Prophet in the eyes as she replied, "...I-I could not stay with you any longer that night, Luka. I am sorry." The explanation, along with her apology, felt awfully pathetic to Sofia as it left her lips.
The Lamia Nun watched from her peripheral as Luka leaned in closer, "B-But why?" He pressed again, agony pouring off of his words once again. "I-I didn't want you to go." Sofia trembled, Luka's confession pulling at her fragile heart. The desire to reach out and embrace the boy was growing greater and greater, dangerously so.
But she couldn't. A Monster like her wasn't worthy of being the one to have such intimacy with a Human, no matter what her degenerate daydreaming may wish. And perhaps, it was time she truly faced this.
It gave her great distress to even contemplate, but Sofia could now see that skirting around the issue was only leading to more suffering for both of them. He needed to understand, and Sofia needed the wake-up call.
Luka leaned back in mute surprise as Sofia stiffly rose from her chair. "F-Follow me." The disguised Lamia said before curtly turning to the doorway. The young Hero watched her in confusion for but a moment longer, only getting up to follow once she was almost out of sight.
Sofia silently led the two out into the Prayer Hall, turning to the right to continue towards the podium at the front of the Temple. Despite her best efforts, the same painful fantasy continued to play in her mind.
...Sofia's traitorous heart raced in excitement as she fell on top of the boy. The Lamia frantically pushed herself up but before she pulled away one final time, Luka grabbed onto her shoulders. Sofia reached up and gripped both of his wrists, however, she was stopped again. This time though, Luka had to do little more than lay beneath her to keep Sofia from leaving.
The Lamia stared down at the purple-haired boy's tear-soaked face, seeing something more than just desperation. There was a yearning as well, a longing for comfort. The look on his face is what kept her there, but it was his next words that shattered her remaining resistance.
"I-I need you here..." Luka whispered out, his voice barely able to reach her ears over her buzzing head. "...Please, s-stay with me."
Sofia couldn't believe the amount of pain in those words, not understanding how Luka could want her there that badly. Was his feelings for her really that great?
The Lamia glanced back over her shoulder again, looking at her Nun's habit once more. Her mind yelled at her to abandon this foolish endeavor, to push Luka away and leave forever. It was for the best, for both of their sakes, Sofia must fight temptation. However, her heart demanded otherwise...
Sofia met Luka's gaze once more, and all of a sudden, her years of diligent studying seemed to start slipping away. All of Ilias's teachings vacated her mind while she found herself locked in place. She could hear Luka continuing to plead, unaware that Sofia's sinful heart had already decided what she would do for her.
Luka gasped as Sofia all but ripped his hands off of her shoulders; however, she did not let go of his wrists. She gazed down at him, taking in the sight of his moonlight-bathed face. As pale as it was, it seemed to glow like something ethereal, something just out of reach like the Heavens above.
But that wasn't quite true, was it? After all, he was right here, waiting to be taken...
Sofia pushed the thoughts away, disgust and shame pouring out of her like the sweat on her brow. The disguised Lamia's bright blue eyes looked upwards, finding the stained-glass visage of Ilias staring down at her. The image of Ilias helped the suffering Lamia Nun remember her place in the Goddess's World and she steeled herself by biting down hard on her lip, nearly bringing blood in the process.
However, the pain helped push her focus.
"L-Luka." Sofia said, keeping herself faced away as she addressed the purple-haired boy. Now Sofia knew what she needed to do: she needed to distance herself from Luka. His love wasn't for her and pining for it was growing too painful for her to take.
Luka gazed at Sofia as she kept herself faced away from him and towards the podium, something about her tone making him uneasy. The blonde-haired Nun paused to slow her breathing, but the sea of emotions swirling inside was still making this so very difficult. Eventually, she was able to turn around, facing her love for what had to be the final time.
Luka could see something powerful swimming in her eyes, something that was calling out to him. "I..." She began, but her words caught in her throat once again. "...I h-had to leave, b-because..."
Sofia frowned, feeling her resolve crumble again as she saw the same conflict in Luka's own gaze. Why did this have to be so difficult, was she just that weak? If there was a time she needed to be strong, to have the will to do the right thing, it was now.
But, even with her best intentions, the same damned thoughts kept assaulting her mind.
...As Sofia's logical side became quieter and quieter, the Lamia very slowly pushed Luka's arms down to the bed below. The purple-haired boy offered no resistance, gazing up at Sofia with wide - almost anticipatory? - eyes. Did Luka want this as much as she did?
If he did, then could one really call this a sin?
Sofia found herself leaning down, her long blonde hair cascading down from her head like waterfalls of gold. They surrounded Luka's face, cutting the entire World away. Lower and lower she dived, her mouth slowly parting as she dipped down onto the boy...
"Sofia!" Luka called out, taking a tentative step forward. The disguised Lamia felt confusion as she was his pale-blue eyes filled with worry. She realized why, as she felt the hot tears rolling down her face. Of all the things, why did she have to start crying now?
The purple-haired source of all Sofia's pleasure and pain took another step forward, and he opened his mouth to speak once more. However, Sofia beat him to it. "B-Because I'm a Monster, Luka!"
The young Hero recoiled, almost as if he had been slapped. Sofia despised the pain on his face, but she despised her urges even more. "I'm s-sorry, but that's why we can't be..." The disguised Lamia felt anguish take over her mind as she fought against her base instincts. So much so that she didn't even notice how Luka's eyes went wide in alarm, watching as Sofia's "legs" started to waver.
"...W-We can't be t-together. We couldn't th-then, and w-we can't now." Sofia finally finished. Luka looked on in silence, watching as Sofia's Human disguised vanished, her stocking-covered legs now a long green serpent tail.
It also made more sense to him that the Lamia from before looked so familiar, as the now un-disguised Sofia looked very similar to that Monster. It made him take a half-second to wonder if there was a relation between them, but that moment quickly passed. Such a question wouldn't be appropriate to ask right now.
"I-I understand..." Luka said, trailing off with a tremble. And he did. Truly, he did understand now as Sofia's true form was revealed. Luka's heart throbbed painfully upon receiving this revelation, but not necessarily for the reason one might think. "...I'll b-be on my way, then." Luka finished, trying to keep his voice calm as he turned away.
Sofia furiously rubbed the tears off her face once Luka had turned his back on her, now watching with clear eyes as he walked away. The young Hero's steps were slow, unsure. But even still, they steadily took him farther and farther away from Sofia until he was almost to the door.
The Lamia Nun felt her heart twist with each belated step, silently falling apart at the seams. Deep inside, she had to wonder why she had been born a Monster. It wasn't fair to have these feelings and be unable to act upon them. She didn't want him to go, but clearly, he couldn't stay. It was for the best that they part ways as quickly as possible.
Luka finally reached the dirtied and busted doors of the Temple, hesitating as he stood on the other side of the building's facade. His hand quivered at his side, slowly rising up until it went to the door. He paused, stopping before he could push it open.
Sofia's breath hitched as she watched him take pause. In a moment of weakness, the Lamia began to fool herself. Maybe Luka would turn away from the door and face her, and he would reject Ilias's laws. Maybe he would tell her that he didn't care, that it didn't matter that Sofia was a Monster.
Maybe Sofia was worthy of love.
...Sofia's lips finally met Luka's, and it was everything she had thought it would be. The softness of his lips, the sweet taste of it, everything about him was what she needed.
But she wanted more.
The Lamia pulled back, gazing down upon the panting boy lying below her. Sofia felt an intense heat burning within her and if Luka's blushing face was any indication, then she wasn't the only one feeling that desire. However, this feeling of excitement paled to how she felt after Luka said something unthinkable to her.
"I l-love you, Sofia." Luka quietly proclaimed, his soft cadence causing her to melt. Then, Sofia actually registered his words.
Luka loved her? Really, truly!?
Sofia's face broke into a wide smile, tears that now signified her adulation falling freely. Those four words he just spoke meant more than anything else in the World. They meant more than what she was and what he was, meant more than even Ilias's laws forbidding such a thing!
The Lamia leaned down close again, Luka's breathing tickling at her nose. Sofia opened her mouth again, but not just for the second kiss that was to come. No, Sofia needed to let him know how she felt now!
"I love you, Luka."
Sofia's words quietly echoed through the empty Prayer Hall, and she quickly opened her eyes right after. However, she didn't have to worry about Luka hearing her accidental confession.
He was already gone.
The Lamia Nun let her gaze fall to the ground, but her dismay was quickly replaced with shock as she saw that her "legs" had reverted back into her tail. Sofia's shock turned into bitter sadness. It was no wonder to her now as to why Luka left...
...He must've found her too hideous to even be around.
Luka stood silently outside of the battered Temple of Ilias, feeling a great pit growing larger and larger in his stomach.
The purple-haired boy raised his hands to his face, covering his puffy eyes while letting out a ragged sigh. It helped to relieve some of his anguish, but only by so pale-blue eyes fell to the scuffed stone steps he stood on, eyeing the traveling bag that he had left earlier. With trembling hands, Luka reached down and grabbed his bag. He hefted it up onto his shoulder quietly before moving to leave the run-down Temple behind.
He needed to leave it as quickly as possible.
As Luka reached the bottom of the steps, one of his traveling partners in Kitsu came before him, having been waiting behind the same bush from when he first entered the Temple of Ilias.
The Two-Tailed Kitsune opened her mouth to ask the young Hero about what - in her mind, at least - must've been another victorious battle. However, Kitsu's question never came out as she took note of his uncharacteristically sad eyes. Luka tried to give the silver-furred fox a smile, but it was an empty gesture. "L-Let's get going to San Ilia, okay?" Luka asked quietly.
Unlike before, Kitsu didn't offer any disparaging comments about the destination, merely giving the troubled boy a nod.
As Luka walked away, a curious-looking Alice appeared. The lavender-skinned Lamia looked between the young Hero and the Temple of Ilias, confused as to why the three Monster presences she felt were still inside of the abandoned Church. "So..." Alice began, garnering the forlorn Luka's attention. "...Did you actually fight them, or?" The golden-eyed Lamia didn't finish her question, but she did move to stand before the young Hero.
Luka paused, looking down to the side. "I-I didn't really have to..." He admitted, lifting a hand up to pull at a few stray locks of his purple hair. "...S-So we can just move on now."
Alice had to raise an eyebrow at Luka's reserved attitude. It certainly wasn't what she had come to expect from, and the Lamia couldn't say she was quite fond of it either. As strange as his normal attitude could be at times, Alice much preferred him to be lighthearted rather than somber.
Melancholy didn't look right on his face.
Either way, Luka pressed forward towards San Ilia. The purple-haired boy's mind started to settle some and properly take in what just happened. 'Sofia was a Monster that whole time, then.' He thought. The implication of this was quite the significant one, as the Lamia Nun had - without outright saying it - confessed that she had left him that night because of certain feelings she had developed for him.
Feelings that, because of Ilias's laws, Luka could not reciprocate.
With this knowledge now revealed, thoughts of a more ill-advised type started to build at the back of his mind. Despite the fact that he shouldn't entertain the notion, Luka found himself wondering how things would be different if Sofia had stayed that night two years ago. If she had revealed herself to be a Lamia and confessed her feelings to him in the dead of the night when they were all alone, how would he have responded?
Luka felt his throat grow dry as an answer came to him far too quickly.
The purple-haired boy swiftly threw the idea to the back of his mind, not wanting to think about it any longer. After all, it would do him no good to ponder why Sofia was more beautiful to him as a Lamia then when he thought she was a Human...
This one took a bit more time to write, as it was a slower and more angst-ridden affair. Sorry if it doesn't make for the most interesting read but I felt as though the dynamic between Sofia and Luka here is something that needed to take precedent, as their complicated relationship is something that will help mold Luka's perspective on the World.
I also apologize if Rosary and Christie didn't get much time to shine just yet but again, I felt as though Luka and Sofia needed the spotlight for now. But Luka will encounter the trio again further down the line, which should prove to be a very tricky situation.
As for the next chapter, Luka will be arriving to San Ilia. However, things will prove to be very different than what is expected. For Sofia and the rest of her congregation are not the only ones expecting a purple-haired boy to be visiting...
Marshman101: I hope that your expectations are met, I wanted this chapter to be a bit uncomfortable.
F14M3RZ: I think I've done pretty good in keeping Black Alice out of OOC territory, even with all the extra aspects I've added to her. The only part that may complicate my adherence to canon is what I have planned for Heinrich, who may be the most difficult character I want to expand on.
Although, that's purely my fault for I have a lot of extra backstory planned for him. Without giving away too much, I do have a reason for why he ended up choosing to fight Black Alice. A reason that only he knows, for it happened long before he ever met the Eighth Monster Lord...
...Just another thing to think about.
Sorry that you were hoping for the Christie freakout, it is due to happen but just not here.
Shadow Necro: Luka and Black Alice will be a strange dynamic, one that I'm looking forward to touching upon later.