AN: I felt that it would be better to have the author's note at the beginning for this chapter.
I just want to say that I'm doing better mentally, and have been doing mostly fine for the past week. Despite the continuous shits, life believed would be good idea to take on me: My great uncle died of rona recently; He caught it the literal day before his body just decided to not wake up. He wasn't all that old either.
What fucks with me is that my step-grandfather caught a really bad case of rona a couple weeks ago, and he lives a REALLY unhealthy life. Like smoking at least, a pack a week, his reoccurring alcoholism (not as bad as he is with his cigs), not even to mention his terrible diet, yet he's up an about like nothing happened after the first week of quarantine. It just goes to show that everything affects us differently.
But enough of the doom and gloom, let's quickly respond to the questions:
Negigante, will it make an appearance?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: I plan for this story to cover the entire world of MGE, as the expedition's purpose is to explore the Foreign World (I don't think there is a canonical name for the MGE world, but if there is let me know). He, or well it, will definitely be making an appearance at some point. Though due to the rules regarding DE (Demonic Energy) all Nergi will be female uncanna by default (and not come from eggs like in MHS).
Will MHS (Monster Hunter Stories) be included in the story, and how would the mamono view riders?
Yes, but as riders are only located on their own continent / island away from the old world (Gen 1 - 4) they will have to be introduced gradually. I believe mamono would like riders as they would hunters, but they would be very bothered by their blatant "poaching" of monster eggs. Yes, monsties and rider will make an appearance, and yes, the monsties will be a lot tamer and a lot more pro-human than their wild uncanna counterparts. And you asking multiple questions is fine.
Will more exotic monsters like Nakarkos and Yama Tsukami make an appearance?
Yes, to both of them. By the way Yama produces a gas that is like hydrogen or helium or a mix of the two that allows him to float. And no, he is not the only flying monster without wings. Amatsu can swim through the air just fine.
Ideas Guest 02:
First: Your Brachydios idea has a couple major flaws in it. The flashpoint slime tends to kill the Brachy, and the Brachy that actual managed to survive bonding with it in the first place are looking to attract mates… of their own species. Raging Brachy is not immortal, and does not receive a powerup from the slime as much as the slime triggers faster by use of the Immortal Reactor. Which will cause the slime to become stronger; strong enough to kill the Brachy for its own self-preservation. Oh, and Brachy X Guildmarm is the only suitable ship with Brachy, and fuck you for suggesting otherwise (Joke).
Second: Nightcloak is cool, but I'm not sure if it would fit in Wonderland. It's more of a Jester turned Rogue rather than a Mage, but playing with it's abilities would be fun. And I don't know if rare species can become Deviants, but as far as I'm aware there's no reason for them not too. Though I'm pretty sure both Lucent and Silverwind are both just old Nargacuga, so…
Third: I like these ideas, but I already have plans for Mizu and a Querupeco. And I don't think I can make small monsters like Moofa and Anteka into uncanna when I didn't make the Aptonoth affected by the DE in the earlier chapters. They're some of the most animal like monsters, so they might not be affected as such.
Regardless, thank all of you for your support and your reviews. If you have any questions or follow ups feel free ask. Let the actual chapter begin, let's hope this one kicks it in the dick… in a good way.
The halls of Dragonia castle shined from golden pillars to the golden tile floors to the beautifully accented walls with every other decoration consisting of gold, or specialized golden embroidery. The staff consisted of human men, mamono of varying species, and wyvern guards women. All of which carried gold somewhere on their body.
In fact, if Kushala were given the choice to eradicate one periodic element from reality itself, it would have been gold. The old Elder saw it as a disgustingly useless material, nothing more than a flashy way to flaunt their wealth. Human's called it a precious metal, he felt sick even thinking of referring to it as such. Gold held borderline no use besides decorating castle walls with gaudy baubles. Castle walls he was currently being escorted through now.
"I'm sensing distress," Lilith appeared from thin air, walking beside him down these gilded halls as if she were there to begin with, "is something the matter, Kushala?"
"So, you can sense my feelings, but can't hear my thoughts?", Kushala sent a glare her way, though based on the direction he was staring in, he ended up snarling at a random serf. The servant, a male human, dropped his tray, and fell into a quiver mess. Crying about how dragons were so scary, or something or another. Kushala didn't care enough to listen closer.
"Oh my, you should apologize to that poor boy.", The Demon Lord turned to look back at him.
Kushala growled, drawing even more attention to himself, "You expect me to grovel before a human."
The staff, the mamono, and his companions, sides Pluck, eyed him with concern. After all, they could not see, nor hear the Demon Lord casually talking with the uncanna. A fact that was beginning to get on Kushala nerves with how common this act was becoming. Now that he thought about it, 'Where is that banshee that was following me?'
"You are a mamono, or well… an uncanna as I've come to learn. You should be courteous towards humans," she gestured to the awkwardly staring staff, "you need to be kind to receive kindness in turn, Kushala."
"Stop talking to me like I'm a fledgling!", Kushala growled.
"Why is he yelling at the maids?", Lyra shrunk when his fury was turned to her.
"Please calm down, Kushala," Lilith moved to hover in front of him instead, "and I must apologize. I'm so used to only conversing with my daughters and my husband that it has become difficult to talk formally with others."
He rolled his eyes, deciding that he didn't want to entertain her anymore. An action that she didn't seem to follow, "Kushala, talk to me."
"Why are you so insistent on bothering me?", Kushala countered. Though this phrasing drew Pluck's attention.
"Bothering you? Who's bothering you?", Pluck asked, seemingly just coming back from his own train of thought.
"Lilith, Pluck.", The name alone drew everyone's attention.
"Oh, gotcha!", Pluck nodded, going back to his own little world, while the rest of their impromptu group turned their intrigue back to him.
While they mutter to one another, Kushala turned his chilling glare back to the Demon Lord floating before him, "By technicality you are my child, and it worries me that you are distressed."
"How old do you think I am?"
"That doesn't matter," she floated closer, and cupped his chin in her wonderfully soft hands, "you are one of my mamono. You are my child whether you like it or not, Kushala."
"Then why am I here? Am I just a side show for whatever you have planned?", His gaze switched from scornful to curious.
Kushala had actively gone through a rift when he came to this world. He had stumbled upon it days before. In his territory, he had tested the portal with a myriad of random things, but he never would have thought he would been poking his claws into another world entirely.
He had not felt a calling to this world, he had not felt a want to stay here either, but now that he was here. In a world where monsters were closer to human than not, and where humans lived alongside them in an uncanny harmony. He began to question why he remained at all.
Looking down at his claw, he was beginning to regret escaping those hunters. If only to have ended his long, occasionally tedious, life with a heroic finale rather than extending it for even longer farewell, 'Maybe there's a nice mountain nearby… one with a nice view… where no one goes…'
"I don't know why you, specifically, came to be in my world. I simply have no control over where the rifts form, but by a chance of fate you and Pluck came to be the first of my Elders.", She sighed, as if to let off surmounting stress, "My child, you and the rest of the uncanna, are here to do what I cannot."
"And what would that be?", His voice was solemn, surprising the dragons with the sudden change in demeanor.
"To grant my daughters the males we need, and to end the war between man and monster.", With a swirl of twinkling light, that only he could see, she disappeared. The faint whispers graced his ears, followed by what felt like a kiss on his cheek, "Let love mend your spirit, Kushala, only then will you find peace."
He chuckled, coming to stop in front of tall ornate doors, ones that would even tower over his original form. He shook his head, a snickering grin plastered across his face, 'I'm afraid you waisted your efforts, Demon Lord… I won't be siring any offspring… even if I wanted too.'
Alto-Eris gestured for them to step into the atrium. His talons clicked from golden tile to soft red carpet, the gilded walls were replaced with open sky and marble pillars, the high ceiling was now a glass skylight. A fresh change of pace for the last half hour of gold gazing he just went through. Mamono sat in rising pews that flanked a single tall throne, where a dragon of regal stature and dignified physique. She was the same dragon he had seen in the painting.
Her scales a mix of scarlet red and soft bronze, her horns blended in with her thorny crown, her eyes of slitted gold stared back into his being. Her dress of golden silk mixed with constant flames that stretched from bosom to thigh. And she radiated such incredible power, a strength that made his old heart tremble, a force that warned him of immediate danger. His heartbeat was near audible, 'How could something so beautiful be so… terrifying.'
Lyra guided the Seregios, Skeermes, by the claw, and had him kneel before the queen of dragons. Shirtiya laid a claw on Kushala's back, as if to tell him to follow suite. Steadying his breath, Kushala moved to kneel on his left, but found the joint too rough to do so, and so he fell to his other side after a brief moment. An action that didn't go unnoticed by the monstrous being on the throne.
She raised her head, a glint of interest in her golden iris as she analyzed his form. She leveled her gaze on the uncanna at the forefront. Her expression changed from curiosity, to annoyance, and then to sympathy. She ordered for him to stand, "Rise Skeermes," the Seregios rose, tense but not aggravated like Kushala, "you stand accused of wounding a wyvern's husband… How do you plea?"
"Guilty.", Skeermes bowed his head, knowing that his intentions meant nothing here, in this house of mamono.
"Considering this is your second offense in the arena. You will be henceforth banned from participating in the tournament and entering arena grounds.", The uncanna visibly recoiled, "If any object to this punishment please…"
"NO!", Skeermes interrupted her, receiving cold glares from the dragon knights beside him. However, this act of defiance seemed to appeal to the queen rather than scorn her. After a moment the uncanna continued, "I will do… anything as long… as I can fight.", She moved to silence him, "I plead for service," this stopped her, "I plead for service… I must fight… in arena… In exchange… I will serve… as you see fit."
"And what do you expect this service would be Skeermes?", The red dragon stood from her throne, "Do you believe I desire your submission, little wyvern?", She strutted down the steps of her throne, a mischievous grin growing across her face as she came to lord over the uncanna, "Because I could take your freedom if I wanted too. I don't need this court to do that, and you know that very well don't you?"
"I am… aware.", He cowered.
"And yet you offer your freedom to me anyways?", Her expression changed from arrogance to concern.
Skeermes sighed, staring down into his claws, and said slowly, quietly, "I have nothing else to offer… no territory… no great dragon's wealth… I can only call my life… my own… Please, grant me this kindness."
"Do not expect kindness from me," she dragged him up to his talons in an impressive show of strength, "do not expect me, or anyone else to grant you such kindness!", Kushala noticed the twitch in her claws after she released the Seregios, "But I will offer you a choice."
The jury was quiet, the previous murmurs fell silent as they watched their queen handle the male. Some appeared worried, others were more focused on Skeermes's speech, while the rest took interest in the red dragon's ultimatum. Now that Kushala looked at them, he noticed that there weren't just dragons in the stands, but a number of other species; a detail that intrigued him.
"Is it just me or is everyone being a little… dramatic?", Pluck whispered.
Lowen elbowed the Valstrax in his side, "Pluck you're being insensitive. That wyvern just offered his freedom to her."
"Insensitive?", Pluck tapped his chin in thought, "Is freedom that important to your people?"
"Freedom is very important, Pluck.", Kushala quietly growled, "Now hush, I want to see how this ends."
The red dragon presented herself in a show of pride, "You may embrace me, embrace what is means to be mamono, embrace Dragonian virtues, and if you do… you will become a member of Dragonia's Dragon Knights, and a treasured friend to our people... your people.", She lowered arms, "If service to my empire does not strike your fancy, then…"
"So, why is freedom important?"
If Kushala could breathe fire like his rivals, he would have steam shooting out his ears and nostrils. Grabbing his kin by his horns, Kushala brought him close, pressing brow to brow, and giving Pluck a death glare that would put a Diablos to shame. He snarled, "I know you are ignorant my kin, but to say something so childish is beyond idiotic, even for you."
"I don't understand…"
"Of course, you don't," Kushala released him, "and nor would I want you too… Now hush, we're up after this."
-0-
"So, what is an actual hunt like?", Mia asked, hooking her arm around Ace's.
Brushing her off, Ace continued to follow behind Mersé, "Hunting isn't much different from our first encounter with the Nercsylla… Though we'll know what we're dealing with this time around."
"Soooooo, what will we be hunting?", Mia played with her Bone Wedge, a little off put with the idea of drawing blood from another monster.
"Whatever low rank quest are available," he nudged her waist with his boomerang, "you need some armor, and hunting monsters are the best way to make it."
"You guys really make armor out of monsters," Mia pouted, "if you guys ran into Shizuka under different circumstances… would you…"
"Slay her, carve off her parts, and cook her leftover scraps for dinner?", Ace offered, a knowing look in his orange eyes.
That insinuation alone gave Mia chills. Bile built up in her throat, but the mirth on the palico's breath was enough for her to realize that he was messing with her. Slumping her shoulders, the werecat lightly punched him in the shoulder, "Don't joke about stuff like that! It's not funny!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Ace nodded, a mischievous smirk on his face as he poked her nose, "but the look on your was."
While the mamono flirted with one another, Mersé listened. She listened to every word, thinking about what kind of world these people came from. On one hand, they are without God's blessing, and possess such incredible strength that a single punch brought her to her knees. On the other, they we're resourceful, polite, even friendly under the right circumstance; not all that different from the average person in the Order.
'Yet they keep monsters as friends.', Mersé glared at the werecats. She didn't hate monsters as much as she hated what they represented. The pain in her arm was going away rapidly, it had stopped swelling a long time ago, and she could flex her arm with some effort. She sighed, 'We could use those horns too… I need to play really nice when we get to the other world.'
"What's goin-on with mew?", Mersé turned her gaze to the palico.
Clicking her tongue, she supposed that honesty would benefit her disposition with him, "Just thinking about that Healing Horn… we could use something like that, it's incredible."
"Healing Horn?", Ace grimaced, "Of all things to be impressed with, you think of the Healing Horn. After everything we've told you about, the railways, the airships, the clutch claws, the gogdamn dragonators, and you can only think about a reusable potion spray!"
"Oh really," Mersé haughtily leaned over him, hands on her hips, and fire in her eyes, "I haven't seen half of that bullshit! But fixing this," she jabbed a finger at her arm, "is fucking incredible!"
"You Order wackjobs have literal angels, people with meowing wings, and you're surprised that we can kiss our boo-boos with mineral dust!", Ace shoved his face into hers, though he only managed to briefly get within an inch of her scowl.
"Maybe we should just calm down.", Mia popped up behind Ace.
Both Mersé and Ace turned to the pleading eyes of the catgirl, and for a moment they considered what they were actually doing. Ace settled back onto the palms of his feet, and Mersé turned away while crossing her arms in an attempt to make herself look less immature.
"Let's start over," Ace shrugged, "so what about the Healing Horn did mew find interesting."
The hero sighed and began walking in the direction of their next target. She felt up her arm and looked back to the two mamono beside her, "It acts quick; my arm would take months to heal. Even heroes like myself need to take time to recover, and the only thing that's good at accelerating the process are regeneration potions or some... unsavory magics."
"Isn't that the weird pink stuff that purrpomus purrincess drank?", Ace asked, "You know, that one lady that was screaming really loudly."
"Yeah… the bratty first-born fuck," Mersé grumbled, finding herself agreeing with the felyne, "that bitch deserved what she got and more. If I weren't a hero of the Order, I would have done the same; if just to spite that awful shit."
Mia gulped, thinking back to the horrific screams of agony, and the image of the woman spitting up blood while new teeth sprouted from their sockets. She raised a paw in disagreement, "Did she really deserve that… I know she hurted Tats pretty badly and all, but its seems a bit cruel to put someone through THAT."
Mersé turned her gaze from the promising buck to the mamono, she scowled, "I'm not going to put much value into a rapist's opinion. Why don't you scurry off back to camp, and make yourself useful. You haven't landed a single hit on any of your kills."
Offended the werecat put aside her fear of the hero, "I am not a rapist! How dare you even…"
"Even what, monster?", Mersé towered over her, "You and your kind are nothing but rapey freaks! Your kind kidnap my people, rape them, and you demons expect us too just…"
The hero found a boomerang pressed against her stomach, "I think you've said enough."
"Do you like your ears cat?", Mersé leaned in with snarl, "Because if you want to keep them, I'd put that bent stick back up your ass."
Ace snickered and whispered, "Make me."
-0-
"FUCK YOU PUSSY CAT!"
Estrid looked to Shizuka, and Shizuka looked to Estrid. Both looked off in the direction of the scream, and then back to each other. Shizuka licked her lips, grabbed another herb. Estrid coughed and scooped up a number of mushrooms into her sack. Awkwardly, they moved onto the next grouping of vegetation, and hoped that was just a random outburst and not Ace fighting Mersé.
"I'M A TABBY, BITCH!"
After hearing the palico's voice, the bunyip nodded to herself, and picked another herb; this one had purple petals rather than green, which for some reason had the ability to cure venoms. While Estrid scraped another shroom, which would serve as additional food for the journey, as the ingredients for Dawn and Ace's items were not of this world. They continued to pick their plants and fungi, heedless of the distance skirmish.
"PLEASE STOP FIGHTING!"
Shizuka's ears fell as Mia's voice rang off to their right, "Do you think we should break it up…"
"Nope," Estrid looked away, not wanting anything to do with the fight, "let's just finish our task as soon as possible. I'm starting to worry about Dawn."
"COME AT ME!", A chunky crunch of wood followed the echo, "AHAHAHAHA, HERO MY FURRY ASS! NICE WHIFF, DASCARRROS!"
"Let's go this way," Estrid pointed away from the screams, and towards their camp, "I think we missed some on our way here."
"Okay," Shizuka tentatively agreed, "but um… Do you know why Dawn's been sleeping for so long? Two days is a bit much for recovery nap."
"STAND STILL YOU LITTLE SHIT!"
They ignored the screams of indignation, and continued walk and slither back to the camp. Their sacks over their shoulders, their potential husband on their minds, and their concern festering with each step they took. Estrid sighed, "I don't know, but I got an idea…"
"What is it?", Shizuka bumped her elbow.
The minotaur's usual glare was replaced with dread, "I think… I put Dawn into a coma."
"How?!", The bunyip slithered around to face her in a stunningly fast flick of her tail.
Estrid was sweating now, "Dawn and I… made love the morning after the invasion…"
"You don't need to remind me," Shizuka facepalmed, "but how would sex put him to sleep?"
"Well," she wiped her brow of sweat, a nervous smile on her face, "we really went at it," the bunyip was glaring now, "and he was incredibly tired afterwards. So…"
"So, you think you sapped him of all his spirit.", Shizuka finished for her.
"Yeah…"
The bunyip leaned back in thought, a pensive claw on her chin, and trains with different destination running from one side to another. She knew Dawn was tired the morning after, Estrid told her as such, and she knew he was at least coherent up to when he passed out. She still felt him, when she grabbed his hand, she felt him, and not just the essence of herself and Estrid but his being more than anything.
"No," Shizuka shook her head, her fluffy ears coming alert, "Dawn didn't turn into an incubus like he should have," Estrid perked up, "actually he felt uncorrupt… almost pure like… like he never…"
Realization struck her like a brick to the head, and she sped off in the direction of the camp in a mad dash. Estrid blinked and she was already halfway there before she realized what was going on. She thundered after her, each step sent minor quakes, but she could only barely keep up with her after reaching full charge.
"Shizuka, what the hell are you doing?!", She called out.
"Dawn's not changing into an incubus!", The bunyip called back, "But he was drained of his lifeforce! HE'S DYING!"
Estrid stumbled, slapping her horns in realization, and restarted her charge with renewed vigor. Dawn's life was the only thing on her mind, and she would be damned if she killed him too. Growling, she forced her way up next to Shizuka who grabbed her, and threw the minotaur onto her back. Their goal set, they raced to back to camp to find a scene beyond the normal absurd.
-0-
They kneeled before the red dragon queen when asked, though Pluck doubted they would get away with it if they didn't. He looked to Kushala and took comfort that he was not the only one to realize just how powerful this woman was. Lowen was close but she was not on trial like them, and though she was nervous, she was far from as agitated as her companions were.
The Vatstax found himself staring up at one of the most powerful beings he had even seen, yet she still paled in comparison to those three. Even with the eyes of other dragons, mamono he could consider rivals, on his back. He felt his stomach drop when the queen's gaze fell on him, she seemed to know it too.
"You three… well I should say you two," she queen nodded to herself, "Elder Dragons as Lilith called your type of uncanna. Though I would rather use your names. If you would be so kind, please, introduce yourselves."
Kushala nodded to Pluck and Lowen, before becoming the first to speak, "I am Kushala, I am Elder, though I doubt that matter much here.", The murmurs in the stans said otherwise, "Yes, my manhood, my male features is what intrigues you lot.", The queen smirks and leaned back in her throne, while the jury toiled in their curiosity.
Kushala hooked a claw under Pluck's arm, and guided him into standing beside him. The mamono were fascinated beyond belief by his form alone, "This is Pluck, he is Elder as well. He is also male," Kushala growled in a show dominance, "he is young, a child by our standards, a fledgling by status. If I catch any of your kind pursuing him, even if by accident, she who steps out of place will become my prey. Am I understood?"
"Very", The red dragon smirked, and gestured to Lowen, "and what of you? What is your name little griffon?"
Lowen stood tall with a prideful flaunt of her wings and a flourish of her garb following her movement, "I am Lowen… that's it."
"Charmed," the queen lost the mirth in her tone almost immediately, "as entertain as you three are. We have more pressing matters to attend too, now, don't we?"
"For what do we stand trial for?", Kushala stood tall, defiant, but Pluck could see the fear in his eyes. Though perhaps fear is not how he would describe it.
"Let's see," the red queen unfolded a scroll, "multiple counts of murder against the Order, the destruction of both public and private property in Order territory, the total obliteration of Lescatie, but we can rule that crime towards Druella…"
"We're guilty," Kushala confessed, "you know that, I know that, and they know that, why not cut to the chase?", The queen smiled at that, "What is our sentence?"
"For crimes against the Order? Nothing," She smirked, "the Order and Dragonia are not on the best of terms, and your crimes, while heinous, is not something we will punish you for.", Kushala and Pluck shared a look, before turning their focus back to the queen, "But these… crimes cannot be ignored. You two, Kushala, Pluck, will undergo conditioning. In short, you two will learn what it means to be mamono… besides the sex of course. Unless…"
"What does this conditioning entail?", Kushala stopped her before she continued.
She smirked at him, seemingly taking joy from the Elder's discomfort, "Simple education, as well as a proper introduction to the world you now reside, and perhaps some social studies. You three will NEED to know how to act within society, you are wild after all."
"Wait a second," Lowen blanked, "what do you mean by you three?"
"You're a wild griffon, little Lowen.", She cringed when she heard that familiar phrasing, "You will need to learn to be civil just like these two gentle… gentle-uncanna."
Kushala's eye narrowed in suspicion, "What makes you think we want any part of this society of your?"
"It is your purpose here, is it not?", That smirk never leaves her face, despite the interruptions, "Try to flee and we will restrain your wings and legs... Am I understood?"
"Don't push her," Pluck whispered, "she's like you."
"Like me how?" Kushala glared.
"Arrogant and super powerful."
Rolling his eye, Kushala nodded to the queen, "We will not flee, though we would appreciate time left alone. Several hours without supervision at the very least."
"I'll think about it," Kushala growled at her, to which she chuckles, "but for now you three will be taken to your quarters.", Their escorting Dragon Knights moved to guide them, "Oh, and Kushala, I will be seeing you after supper. You will be taken to my chamber by Alto-Eris. I would like to speak with you on certain matters."
The old dragon glared at her, but reluctantly nodded as they took their leave. Leaving Pluck and Lowen by themselves, while the knights explained to Kushala about how incredible this continent truly is, in hope that he would take to the new world they found themselves in.
"What do you think is going to happen to us?", Pluck whispered, his tone was closer to curious rather than concern.
Lowen stared back, frustration clearly evident on her face, "I don't know! I'm just as lost as you are!"
Pluck shrugged in turn, "Well if we're all lost, then… no one is."
The griffon just stared at him, unsure of whether or not she should scold him for his simplicity, or if she should grab him by his horn and force him to understand that they are, for all intents and purposes, imprisoned.
She settled with knocking her forehead against his shoulder, "Gods, you make my life hard."
"Life is hard," Pluck agreed, "I would say… we make it more… interesting."
-0-
Through Chloe's eyes, Druella watched the woman who would be queen, roper queen that is. The lilim knew the girl had promise, within and without, the fact that she was confronting these people to begin with was impressive. Even now, while Francesca stood there as sick, weak, and pathetic as the day she was born; she felt a pang of respect for the deject daughter of the king.
She snickered and threw glance to the pile of orcs and men slowly building in the ruins, "My apologies Chloe, I was busy looking through the eyes of Mersé… What was it, again?"
"Help her dang it," Chloe angrily whispered, "those people are going to kill her."
"And how do you expect me to do that, hmm?", Druella twirled her ivory locks in frustration, "I don't have any agents there, besides you of course, and magic is only so flexible over long distance, and then there's…"
"Just do something!", Chloe covered her mouth, realizing that she was louder than she wanted to be.
The crowd was tense already, but the sudden scream had pushed them over the edge. An Order soldier of considerable size came forward, striding out of the panicking crowd, with a vicious disposition. He towered over the frail girl, "Who are you really, and who's voice was that?"
"I am Princess Francesca… Mistel Lescatie, and… and," she trembled, "I will not be talked down too by some… brute!"
The crowd calmed, but only slightly. They eyed her carefully, many skeptical of her words, but many more were swayed by the conviction in her voice. Another soldier stepped forward, "That can't be possible… Princess Francesca died when she was young… If you are who you say you are, then tell me. Why would King Castor lie to us?"
"The king wouldn't lie to us!"
"Castor was a truthful man, to call him a liar… a sinner… it is crime deserving of a lashing!"
"Why would he lie about his daughter's death?!"
The crowd, once fearmongering, now confused and afraid; they reached out to her. Many screamed in indignation, confusion, frustration, and all of the above.
A woman moved towards Francesca; she was elderly, too old to grapple the young woman, and too frail to even speak over the screaming crowd. She asked in a hushed tone, "You look like him all right," she cupped the princess's cheeks in her palms, "what happened to you dear girl? Where were you all this time?"
Druella watched the confrontation from her agent's eyes; her interest in the scenario growing with each heartbeat, the only thing on her mind was seeing how it played out. She had been a part of Order society in many ways, beguiling some men and women, and blending in with others. The fourth born had been forced to assist in a number of public executions, lynching, and witch-hunts.
The lilim leaned into her connection with Chloe, "Make your way to the other side of the crowd. You need to follow my instructions to the letter, or they'll notice you."
Turning to the children, quietly hiding behind her, Chloe made a hushing gesture, and began crawling to another piece of cover. The crowd's sole focus was on Francesca, but that didn't mean she was out of sight or out of mind.
She crept silently from bush to bush, discarding her red cloak, and squinting her eyes in hope that her fire would go unnoticed. Chloe is a hellhound, a hellhound that lacked experience in most things, but a hellhound she was.
"Here! Stop here!", Druella's voice rang through her mind.
And so, she came to a halt behind the crowd, and crouched behind a hedge that would cover her pitch-black form. Then she felt it, the slithering sensation along her arms, her legs, her tail, and throat. The lilim had possessed her, "Don't worry, I'll give your body back in a second. I need to use you to cast my spell."
"What are you doing?", Chloe called back.
"Calm!", A swath of purple mana formed in her paws. Magic the young beastman could only assume to be Druella's. She then shot her paws out, and the magic flashed into a translucent purple miasma that quickly dissipated moments after.
The crowd lost their anger, their panicked expressions made calm, and their nerves growing dull. They became tired as their already exhausted bodies fell to the ground. Even the soldiers, those prepared to deal with this type of magic, fell unconscious as well. Leaving only Chloe and Francesca awake and aware of what just happened.
The hellhound regained control of her body as the translucent flow of magic turned to vapor. She looked to the princess who could only stare at her, unsure of what exactly just happened. Looking down at the people, Chloe whispered, "What did you do to them?"
"Oh, nothing big," Druella sighed, "just a normal word of power spell. Though I think I used a little too much juice. They were supposed to calm down, maybe a couple of the old people would have fallen asleep, but not everyone."
Chloe knelt down next to one of the soldiers, and held a paw over her mouth. She felt breath and she moved onto the next person, an old man. She held a paw over him and he to was breathing just fine, in fact, everyone around her appeared too only be asleep. She gave a sigh of relief, "Oh thank the Demon Lord… Lady Druella everyone's fine."
"Of course, they're fine," the lilim rolled her eyes, "a simple calm spell wouldn't stop anyone's heart."
Chloe silently groaned, and turned back to the princess gaping at her. She blinked and then immediately ran over to her, "Miss Francesca, they didn't hurt you, did they?"
"No… no, no," the princess staggered back, "I'm fine just a little winded is all.", She looked back at the crowd, "Did you just… do magic?"
"Um, well," the hellhound rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment, "that's complicated. It wasn't really me who did it, but yeah. You can say I did magic."
"Oh, you must show me more," Francesca's cheeks lit up in excitement, "I've always liked magic ever since I was a little girl. Can you show me more?"
The crack and fall of a tree alerted the two, Francesca moved to hide behind Chloe, as the shadow of a serpent with a pair of horns appeared from behind the trees, cloaked in shadow. The hellhound looked back at the princess, noticing the way she clung to her for protection and blushed slightly, before turning back to the figure.
The figure grew larger and larger until it revealed its great white claws, its long white mane, its near pitch-black skin, and its large cute fluffy ears. Chloe's face scrunched up in confusion, until she took a proper look at the figure, 'That's just Shizuka with Estrid on her back… and here I thought an actual monster had shown up and was going to eat us all, haha… Why is she glaring at me?'
"CHLOE! WHAT DID YOU DO!"
"That can't be good.", Druella smugly remarked.
"Oh, would you shut up already.", The hellhound snarked, before facing the bewildered bunyip and minotaur, "I can explain!"