Monster Girl Saga

(AUTHOR’S NOTE: Dreadfully sorry for the long delay with the last two chapters. A combination of issues ranging from poor health to writer’s block severely hampered me, and as a result the wait for these chapters was horrendously long.

 

For those who wish to receive answers to their reviews, please leave an email address. Otherwise it’s going to be hard to reply, hahaha. Alternatively, drop me a line in my deviantArt account at genocideheart DOT deviantart DOT com, or visit me at thefanfictionforum DOT net, whichever is more convenient for you.

 

Also, for this chapter, I’d like to extend thanks to sagitarius from Fanfiction.Net, who gave me an idea for an event in this fic. He’s also writing a MGQ-related fic, though his is a Zero no Tsukaima crossover, titled Knight of the Void. You may want to check it out.

 

Anyway, on with the chapter! Hope it’s worth the wait.)

 

CHAPTER 11

 

Water summons wind, wind makes fire dance

 

Across the known world, the title of ‘Heavenly Knight’, bestowed upon those who are the Monster Lord’s most loyal servants, had always been the object of fear and awe. Whenever someone would bring any one of the Heavenly Knights up, conversation nearby would cease, braggarts would pale and scurry away in shame, Kings would tremble on their thrones, and even the most seasoned warriors would feel humbled and envious of their power and accomplishments.

 

Luka had always wondered what these powerful beings looked like. Upon meeting Granberia, his expectations had not been deluded: the Dragon Knight was every bit as powerful and imposing as he expected her to be. If asked, he’d have readily admitted to being excited at the prospect of meeting the other Heavenly Knights, and finding out what they were like.

 

But now, faced with the Heavenly Knight of Earth, Tamamo, Luka had to admit... he hadn’t expected her to look like a slender young girl even smaller than he was.

 

As he looked at the Kitsune mistress while still kneeling in the aftermath of his hard-fought battle against Nanabi, Luka became aware of an oppressive feeling filling the room, and after a few instants of confusion, partly due to his lingering dizziness over having been put to sleep and partly due to fatigue, he finally realized what it was. It was Tamamo herself, whose mere presence weighed like a mountain over his spirit. Luka couldn’t help but be amazed; the nine-tailed fox’s aura of power was absolutely crushing even when she was resting, and in a way, she felt even more formidable than Granberia. Where the Dragonkin’s power had felt like a raging fire consuming all in its path, Tamamo’s felt like an immovable wall against which any and all offense would be meaningless.

 

Taking a deep breath, the boy tried to get back to his feet, but as soon as he attempted to stand upright, he felt his legs wobble, and came crashing down on the hard ground again with a pained grunt as he felt the stone beneath impact with his knees. Thermidor gave him an alarmed look, and moved to his side to assist him, but he reassured her with a quick headshake.

 

“I’m... fine,” he told her, his breathing accelerating slightly from the dull throbbing in his aching muscles. “I’m just... very worn out. I don’t know... what happened while I was asleep, but I... need a second to catch my breath.”

 

Understanding, Thermidor backed off and watched him with worry as he assumed a cross-legged position and closed his eyes. After taking a few seconds to slow his breathing, Luka began to meditate, humming quietly as he did so. Tamamo watched him with a curious expression, which soon became interest as she saw the bruises and scrapes on Luka’s body gradually vanish, leaving unblemished skin behind.

 

“Hmm? Now that’s interesting,” she murmured, drawing Thermidor’s attention. “This kind of healing... I’m not feeling any monster power.” Turning towards Alice, she gave her a faint smile. “Quite an unusual fellow you’re traveling with, wouldn’t you agree, Lady Alicefeeze?”

 

“Quit calling me ‘Lady’, Tamamo,” Alice said, annoyed. “We’ve known each other far too long for this kind of formal nonsense. But you’re right... he’s an intriguing individual.”

 

“Indeed, he is... hm?” Tamamo said as her attention shifted to the two sealed Kitsune, who were approaching her. Spotting Ako’s sealed form, she ducked, beckoning for her to move closer. “Ah, I see Ako also ran into a few problems. So, what happened to you?”

 

The smaller, two-tailed fox’s answer was a rapidfire of yelps and growls, which seemed to make perfect sense to Tamamo as she listened carefully and occasionally nodded in understanding. Eventually, the younger Kitsune fell quiet, and Tamamo straightened up, appearing even more curious.

 

“Ako tells me that young man over there formally challenged her to a duel when he heard she was a kunoichi, and accidentally sealed her in the heat of battle,” she told Thermidor as she lightly tapped her fan in the palm of her free hand. “She said he tried to apologize, but she was too angry to listen at the time and ran off after biting him. She also claims he came after her and saved her from a monster intent on eating her while she was defenseless. Is that true?”

 

“All of that is correct,” Thermidor nodded. “I personally felt that duel was a bad idea to begin with, but Luka was very set on taking advantage of what he viewed as a unique chance to see a shadow-walker in action and testing his skill against hers. With that said, I can assure you he had no intention of sealing her, and was truly mortified by his mistake.”

 

“Yes, Ako mentioned that he’s been apologizing the whole time while your group was walking here,” Tamamo nodded. “She forgave him after he saved her, but kept quiet because she thought it was sort of cute to see him grovel in shame. I apologize for her behavior... that was uncalled for.”

 

“No, I deserved that,” Luka suddenly spoke up as he finished meditating, drawing the attention of the monsters in the room as he got back to his feet and stretched slowly. Relaxing, he looked at the nine-tailed fox with a small smile. “Even if it wasn’t on purpose, I did break my promise not to seal her. If she’s satisfied with shaming me a bit, then it’s all right.”

 

“Considering you saved her life, whatever debt you had towards her was paid in full,” Tamamo shook her head. “Anything else she did was fairly rude. Are you sure you want to let it slide?”

 

“It’s fine that way. Let’s just call it even,” Luka insisted. “That is, if Ako doesn’t mind.”

 

Before Tamamo could answer, Ako began yelping and growling again. The older Kitsune peered at her, surprised, then quietly glanced back at Luka, who was looking at her curiously.

 

“What did she say?” he asked. Tamamo sighed, shaking her head.

 

“She said she’s willing to drop the matter, on the condition that you come visit us in Yamatai and let her have a rematch,” she explained, rolling her eyes in mock exasperation. “She claims she’s going to beat you up and win for sure next time.”

 

“Oi, oi, those are fighting words,” Luka replied with a smile as he shot a look at the two-tailed Kitsune. “Don’t think I’m going to slack off on my training. I won’t make it easy for you!”

 

“All right, enough of this boasting contest,” Tamamo quickly interjected before Ako could answer. “Ako, come here. I’m going to remove the seal on you now.”

 

“Huh? You can do that?” Luka asked, surprised, as he looked at the elder fox. Tamamo smiled.

 

“Boy, I’ve been around for longer than nearly every other monster in the world,” she told him with a superior smirk as she patted the two-tailed Kitsune near her on the head. “If you ever get to be my age, you’ll likely pick up some tricks along the way yourself. There’s something to be said for experience. Don’t judge a book by its cover alone.”

 

“I’m sorry. Of course, you’re right,” Luka nodded, scratching his head in embarrassment. “I forgot that you’re a nine-tailed Kitsune, and among your kind, number of tails is a symbol of both age and power.”

 

“You know a fair bit for someone so young,” the Heavenly Knight commented as she pointed her hands towards Ako, a faint glow beginning to envelop the sealed fox. “Where did you learn all these things?”

 

“My mother dabbled in witchcraft, from what I understood, and had lots of books on monsters,” he explained, drawing a surprised look from Thermidor. Glancing at her, he shrugged. “What? Don’t look at me like that. I’m not stupid. I saw all the books on potion-making, tarot-reading, alchemical ingredients and minor charm spells Mother had in her library. It was obvious that she was a witch. What annoyed me was that the villagers thought that anyone who dabbled in the magic arts had to be evil by default. That’s not true at all.”

 

“So you knew that all along...” Thermidor murmured. Looking at Tamamo, who had begun the process to unseal Ako, she nodded. “What Luka says is true. More specifically, Liese used to be a witch of the Church of Ilias. She never did tell me why she left the Church, though I imagine it was because, as someone with monster blood in her veins, she felt uneasy with what the Church was doing...”

 

“I’m sure she had her reasons both for working for them in the first place and leaving them later,” Luka shrugged. “Then again, I am admittedly biased. I just can’t believe Mother would buy into the Church’s hate gospel.”

 

“Interesting mother you’ve got, boy,” Tamamo commented as she kept weaving her magic around Ako. “So, where does she live?”

 

“She doesn't,” Luka answered curtly, his smile vanishing. “The plague killed her.”

 

“Ah. My apologies for prodding old wounds,” the kitsune said with a grimace. Luka shrugged.

 

“You couldn’t have known. Why should I blame you? Unless you can read minds, yours was an honest mistake,” he replied, brushing the fox’s concerns aside with a wave of his hand. He then blinked and whistled as Ako’s fox form began to shimmer and unravel, growing larger. “Wow, it really works. So this is a Heavenly Knight’s power... I’m a little envious.”

 

“Hahaha, I can do much more, you know,” Tamamo boasted as she watched Ako return to her humanoid form. The white-haired two-tailed fox shook her head, appearing slightly dizzy, then peered at Luka and petulantly stuck her tongue out at him.

 

“Bleah! Lady Tamamo’s too amazing for your cheap tricks!” she mocked him, only to promptly yelp as the older Kitsune smacked her across the back of the head with her fan.

 

“Behave, you!” she chided her. “You’re the one who lost the fight, so you don’t get to be smug.”

 

“Um... Lady Tamamo?” Luka called out, trying to hide his smile at the scene. The Kitsune turned towards him with a questioning look, and he pointed at Nanabi’s sealed form. “Aren’t you going to unseal Lady Nanabi, as well?” Hearing the question, the seven-tailed fox’s ears perked up, and she gave Luka a curious glance.

 

“Hm? It’s nice of you to ask about it. But I’m afraid she’ll have to wait,” Tamamo explained. “All boasting aside, undoing this kind of seal does take a lot of power. I’m afraid I don’t have enough to do this at the moment.”

 

“I see...” Luka murmured, looking disappointed. He then peered at Alice, and appeared to have an idea. “Something just came to me. If you don’t have enough power left, why not work with Alice? There’s no doubt in my mind she’s very powerful herself, and I’m sure with her help you could get it done.”

 

Tamamo blinked at the suggestion, then opened her mouth to answer, but before she could say a word, Alice interjected, looking annoyed.

 

“Why would I fix your mess, idiot? This is all your doing. I have no obligation to undo your mistakes,” she huffed, glaring at him. “Besides, it’s hard work. How do you expect to repay me for it?”

 

“I know that this is my fault and you don’t have to do anything to fix it,” Luka nodded, looking serious. “And I’m not telling you to do it for free. If you refuse, there’s nothing I can do to change your mind. But, if you’re willing to do this as a favor to me, then I’ll be indebted to you. And if you want something in return, name your price. So long as it isn’t ‘Be my personal slave’, I think I can agree to your conditions. I just want to fix this, and I’ll compensate you any way you like for your cooperation.”

 

“My, my, that’s a rather dangerous proposal,” Tamamo laughed. “You know there’s a number of things she could ask of you that are arguably worse than just being her slave?”

 

“Be quiet, Tamamo,” Alice snapped at her before regarding Luka with curiosity. Thermidor frowned, but held her tongue. She wasn’t thrilled by Luka’s proposal, either, but could see why he was doing this.

 

“Hmph... anything I ask for, eh? That’s a rather careless way of formulating a proposal to a monster, as Tamamo said,” Alice continued, still eyeing him speculatively. “...Still, I appreciate your willingness to make amends. Very well, just this once, I’ll help you out without requiring any payment. Besides, Nanabi is one of Tamamo’s most valued aides, and Tamamo’s a good friend of mine. But don’t make this a habit, got it?”

 

“Thank you! That’s very generous of you, Alice,” Luka exclaimed as he gave her a radiant smile. Alice blushed slightly before turning away, ostensibly looking anywhere except towards him.

 

“Yes, yes, I know I’m too nice. Now be quiet, and stop grinning like a little kid who just got handed a piece of candy. Geez...” she muttered as she approached Nanabi. Tamamo joined her shortly, and as the two began to weave the unsealing spell, she surreptitiously glanced at her, whispering in a tone too low for the others to pick up.

 

“Now, that was an interesting shade of red you had on your face, Lady Alicefeeze,” she murmured in a barely audible tone with a playful smirk on her face. “Perhaps there’s something I should know about--”

 

“One more word out of you and my next bedside rug will be made of Kitsune fur, Tamamo,” Alice growled softly as she glared daggers at the elder Kitsune. Tamamo merely chuckled at the threat, before focusing on the task at hand.

 

“One more thing...” Alice added under her breath as they worked. “Keep my identity to yourself for now. I have a little bet going on with that boy, and want to see if he can figure out who I am on his own. He should have more than enough material to hazard a guess by now, and I’m curious to see if his mind is as good as his sword arm.”

 

“The more I hear about that boy, the more intrigued I am,” Tamamo admitted as she glanced at the Monster Lord. “He seems to have caught your attention in a major way. You’ll tell me all about it eventually, right?”

 

“Maybe when we visit Yamatai, which I’m sure he will,” Alice nodded. “For now, I’ll just say that he’s got some ideas I like, and he actually gets things done, unlike some other windbag I can think of.”

 

“Is that a reference to someone I know?” Tamamo asked innocently. Alice declined to answer with a derisive snort.

 

As the two monsters talked, Luka glanced at them with curiosity. He had a feeling that their whispering had something to do with him, but knew better than to try and ask about it. If they were being so secretive, then it was clearly something they weren’t interested in sharing, and attempting to pry the truth from them would just annoy them - a hazardous position when dealing with a Heavenly Knight, and not much better with Alice, if his suspicions about her were correct.

 

Temporarily setting his thoughts about his mysterious companion’s identity aside, Luka watched with interest as Alice and Tamamo weaved their magic together. He was admittedly very interested in the magical arts, due to his mother having been a witch, and while his odd ability to heal unnerved him, he believed it to be some form of magic, and felt somewhat happy that he possessed even a small amount of skill in the same arts that Liese specialized in. He preferred the sword, of course, but he had entertained the idea of learning magic in the past. However, from what he knew, it was extremely unlikely that he’d manage to learn any of it, as it required a person to have adequate inclination and a notable amount of magical power to begin with, usually as a result of having monster blood.

 

His quiet introspection was broken by a sudden flash, signaling that Alice and Tamamo finished their unsealing spell, and Nanabi’s sealed form began to unravel and grow larger, slowly taking the shape of her quadrupedal form. As the seven-tailed Kitsune regained her own body, she looked over herself appreciatively, nodding in satisfaction at finding everything to be in the right place. In doing so, her upper torso shifted in a rather eye-catching way, involuntarily drawing Luka’s attention to it. Catching himself before he stared at the Kitsune’s jiggling breasts, Luka looked away, blushing slightly. He’d been too focused on possible danger ahead earlier, and hadn’t really paid attention to the Kitsune’s shapely, naked upper body, but now that the situation was calm again, he found her nakedness to be fairly distracting. In spite of her animal-like lower body, Nanabi was a rather attractive woman... although, Luka admitted inwardly, the same could be said of the other two Kitsune.

 

As he glanced away, Luka heard a giggle behind him and turned around, frowning at Ako, who was looking at him with a cheeky expression. The two-tailed fox grinned like a cat who had just caught a bird, pointing at him with glee.

 

“Ahahahaha, you were looking at Nana-chan’s boobies, weren’t you?” she teased him in a low voice, so as not to be heard. “The Hero is a pervert, the Hero is a pervert...”

 

“Wh-- Hey, quiet! Don’t let them hear you!” Luka hissed back, glaring at her. “Besides, I’m a healthy boy. What’s wrong with enjoying the sight of a beautiful naked woman?”

 

“Oh? So you’d ogle me if I stripped, too?” the fox teased again without missing a beat as she struck a pose and lightly tugged at her ninja outfit, allowing a nipple to flash into view and making it obvious she wore no underwear. Luka grumbled as he looked away.

 

“What? Why would I look at you? You’re a far cry from Lady Nanabi,” he muttered unconvincingly, largely due to the blush that appeared on his cheeks again as he tried to shoo away the sudden images the fleeting glimpses invoked in his mind - Ako might have been underdeveloped as far as her breasts went, but she still had a slim, toned figure, and Luka could see that. “I wouldn’t be looking at you at all. Nope. Not a chance.”

 

“Hahaha, you’re the worst liar I’ve ever met,” Ako retorted, not fooled for an instant. “But it’s fun to see you embarrassed like this.”

 

“Why you--” Luka growled, struggling - and failing - to come up with an adequate retort. Before the discussion could degenerate, however, the boy and the smaller fox were joined by the others, and Ako grew quiet, much to Luka’s relief. It seemed as if she was content with privately teasing him rather than publicly humiliating him. Makes sense, he thought. She’s a Kitsune, and they are famous pranksters, but generally not maliciously so.

 

As he turned to meet the other monsters, he caught Nanabi glancing speculatively at him and blinked, unsure of why she was staring at him that way. Noticing his reaction to her look, Nanabi’s expression quickly shifted into a neutral one, and she politely nodded at him in greeting. He returned the nod, still confused.

 

“Well, that takes care of it,” Alice commented, apparently having missed the quick exchange as she addressed the boy Hero, drawing his attention away from the large fox-girl. “I hope you’re happy now. Remember, don’t make a habit of this.”

 

“I won’t. Thank you again, Alice,” he nodded, smiling at her. “I feel better about what happened now.” Looking at Nanabi, he motioned at her with one hand. “And I apologize for this unfortunate incident, Lady Nanabi. I hope you will hold no ill will against me for it. It was a good fight, even if it was ruined by that strange ending... all things said, you should have been the winner.”

 

“Perhaps, but to be honest, you drove me in a corner,” was the seven-tailed fox’s reply as she shook her head, her tails swishing behind her. “I wouldn’t normally use hypnotism in a fight like this. I did that instinctively, and while there was no rule against it, I am not too proud of acting in desperation like that.”

 

“Hold on, now,” Tamamo interjected, now looking decidedly interested. “You mean to tell me he was actually gaining the upper hand against you even before he unleashed that strange power on you? Remember, I missed most of your fight.”

 

“Oh yes, he was,” Nanabi confirmed. “I was undoubtedly the more powerful between us, but he was far faster than I anticipated. I could neither land solid blows nor avoid his attacks. And he did manage to withstand my Seven Moons magic without being defeated...”

 

“He what...?” Tamamo blinked, looking genuinely impressed. She leveled a calculating gaze on Luka, as if evaluating him somehow. The boy suddenly felt uncomfortable under the abrupt examination, shifting from foot to foot as Tamamo looked him over intently. Finally, the nine-tailed fox nodded to herself, as if having reached a decision, and met his gaze.

 

“Say, boy. You look like you recovered from the effort of fighting Nanabi. Will you spar with me for a bit?” she asked him out of the blue, eliciting a blank stare from Luka, a surprised look from Alice and a startled gasp from Thermidor. “I’m curious to see exactly what you’re capable of. Don’t worry, we’ll make it just a friendly scuffle...”

 

“Wait a minute!” Thermidor interjected, looking frantic. “With all due respect, Your Ladyship, Luka has gone through several harrowing battles up until now, and aside from that, he’s not even close to being a match for your shadow, let alone you in person! I beg you to reconsider--”

 

“I understand your worries, but you are out of place at the moment. This matter concerns this young man only, and he’s mature enough to make his own choices,” Tamamo gently but firmly reprimanded the agitated swordswoman. Perceiving the implied chastisement in the Kitsune’s words, Thermidor bit back her reply: it was evident in Tamamo’s poise that, patient as she was, she would not tolerate random outbursts of this sort any further.

 

“Um, Lady Tamamo?” Luka spoke up timidly, drawing the Kitsune’s attention. “I honestly don’t get the feeling that yours is a request - more like a statement. I don’t really have a choice in the matter, do I?”

 

“...you’re very perceptive,” the elder Kitsune nodded after a pause, a serious expression on her face. “You are correct, for the most part. While you can choose to refuse to abide by my request, do keep in mind that your reckless behavior did endanger one of my subjects and cause noticeable distress to both. Normally, I’d demand compensation for that... and if I did, it wouldn’t end nearly as well for you as it has so far.” Her stern gaze then softened. “I’m not trying to be evil or malevolent... but I really must insist. I would greatly appreciate it if you demonstrated your skills to me. And don’t you think that it’s quite an honor for a young warrior such as yourself to be personally requested by a Heavenly Knight?”

 

“...that is also true...” Luka admitted hesitantly, speaking slowly. “And I’d be a liar if I said the idea of facing you doesn’t intrigue me, Lady Tamamo, even if it’s just a game to you and I have no hope of winning. But...”

 

“If the outcome concerns you, don’t be worried. I will let you go unscathed,” the fox reassured him. “I merely wish to see your skill for myself. You have my word of honor that I won’t attempt to forcibly take you away or anything of the sort. At least,” she added cheekily, “not this time. Maybe next time, who knows?”

 

“Aha... well, I don’t really have a choice, so I’ll just accept my situation and do as you say,” Luka nodded with a weak smile as he walked to a corner and set down the sword Thermidor gave him. He then drew Angel Halo, falling into a guarded stance and inching forward. As he slowly approached Tamamo, almost as an afterthought, he added: “If I can ask, though... will you give me a honest opinion of my ability afterwards? It would mean a great deal to me.”

 

“Looking to your elders for guidance, eh? That’s a very good attitude to have for a young one such as yourself,” Tamamo smiled as she shifted to a relaxed pose, her tails swishing softly behind her. “Very well, I will grant that request. Now, show me your moves!”

 

“Yah!” Luka let out a war cry in reply as he took two steps forward and lunged at the fox with his Thunder Thrust skill, aiming for her chest as he two-handed Angel Halo. As out of his league as Tamamo may have been, he was determined to give it his all regardless, and what would happen, would happen.

 

As he expected, his initial attack was easily thwarted by a casual flick from one of the Kitsune’s nine tails, which smashed into his sword hard enough to send him reeling to the side, his arms sore from the effort of keeping his grip on his sword in spite of the jarring impact. The boy winced as he shook his aching hands for a second before adjusting his grip on Angel Halo. Tamamo gave him a curious glance.

 

“Come now, that shouldn’t have hurt all that much,” she chided him as she lightly tapped her folded fan in the palm of her hand. “With that said... I see you can use Cursed Sword skills. That was Bloody Fissure Thunder Thrust, wasn’t it? It seems to suit you well... you move smoothly while using it.”

 

All the praise in the world doesn’t change how much that hurt, Luka thought as Tamamo talked. Even a playful swipe made me feel like my arms were being torn off! There’s no comparing her and Nanabi. Well... if she wants to see what I can do, then I might as well start showing off.

 

With that thought, he once again readied himself in an offensive position, his sword firmly held before him. Quickly, he stepped in and slashed at Tamamo’s right side. The Kitsune moved to intercept his enchanted blade again, but Luka expected it this time, and immediately aborted the attack, instead changing direction and pivoting on his left foot as he darted to the right, bringing about his sword in a wide-arcing slash aimed at Tamamo’s neck. The Kitsune blinked in brief surprise, then raised one more tail, deflecting the blow but not managing to put enough power in the swipe to knock him back again.

 

Undeterred, Luka pushed the attack, taking one quick step forward and once again bringing his sword around as he unleashed his Demon Decapitation skill. Recognizing the attack, Tamamo elected to simply duck under it, causing Luka to sail past her and taking the opportunity to lightly smack him in the back with one of her tails as he went by. Luka shouted in a mix of alarm and pain as he was sent sprawling on the ground by what felt like a heavy blow. Fortunately, he’d prepared himself when his attack had missed, but the burning sensation on his back was a painful reminder of what to expect should he miss again. He quickly rolled to the side and jumped back to his feet, sword held before him as he cautiously circled the Kitsune.

 

“Demon Decapitation, too? And you recovered from missing that attack pretty well... Now I’m beginning to see why Nanabi was struggling so much,” Tamamo commented with a smile as she watched him slowly move to her side. “This is kind of fun. Hahaha...”

 

“I’m not sure I’d call it ‘fun’,” he replied as he kept his eyes on her, searching for an opportunity to attack the Kitsune. “It’s certainly a learning experience, but it’s not much fun when I’m just being pounded into the dirt.”

 

“There’s no gain without pain, boy,” the nine-tailed fox replied in a light scolding tone. “Learning rarely involves enjoying yourself.”

 

Tch, there are no holes in her defense, Luka thought as his eyes narrowed. I’ll have to make my own opportunities. Well, here goes...

 

His decision made, Luka suddenly moved in, once again aiming for Tamamo’s chest with a Thunder Thrust. His plan was to go with the flow once she countered his thrust by hitting his sword, regain his footing and attack from her side. However, rather than simply bat his sword aside, this time the Heavenly Knight deftly wrapped one of her tails around the blade - and sharply tugged upwards. The sudden jerking motion was enough to wrench the sword from his grasp, drawing a startled shout from the young Hero and leaving him wide open.

 

Tamamo wasted no time in following up to that, whipping one of her tails around and hitting him in the chest with enough force to knock the air out of his lungs and send him flying into a corner of the cave. As he was thrown away, he heard a sound of stone cracking and caught a glimpse of Angel Halo embedding itself into the ceiling. He then landed on the cold, harsh ground with a thud and skidded to a halt against the far corner, his back burning from the friction against the stone floor.

 

“Using the same attack twice? I’ll assume you were attempting to set something else up, but it’s not a very good idea to do that against opponents more skilled than you are,” Tamamo criticized him as she eyed his prone form. “Come now, try to be more creative. I just know that you must have more surprises than just this...”

 

“Nrgh...” Luka groaned as he slowly pulled himself to a sitting position. “Tch... I was never very good against attacks from multiple directions. …and it seems Angel Halo is now stuck on the ceiling...”

 

“I don’t see the problem. You have another sword right beside you,” Tamamo pointed out, and Luka blinked as his hand fell on the sheath of the mysterious runed sword. “You were carrying it, so I assume it’s yours, right? Come, draw it and let’s continue.”

 

“Ah, but this sword isn’t like Angel Halo--” Luka began to explain as he grasped the blade and used it as a prop to stand up. Tamamo interrupted him with a wave of her fan.

 

“It’s an actual sword instead of an enchanted sealing blade, right? Regardless, it cannot injure me, not with your current skill,” she dismissed his concerns. “There’s no need to worry about accidentally wounding me. Now, draw your sword and keep going.”

 

“That’s not what I meant, Lady Tamamo,” Luka shook his head as he held the sheathed weapon up, the rune on its hilt shining quietly. “What I meant to say is - I can’t draw it.”

 

“What...?” Tamamo asked, looking genuinely puzzled. Thermidor, who had been watching with worry from the side, spoke up.

 

“It’s true, Your Ladyship,” she confirmed. “There’s a runic enchantment on that sword, which will outright prevent unchosen ones from not only unsheathing the sword, but even so much as lifting it. So far, only I and Luka can lift the blade, and neither of us can draw it.”

 

“It’s the truth, Tamamo,” Alice added at the dubious look on the Kitsune’s face. “I tried to unsheathe it myself, but I wasn’t even able to hold it up - it suddenly became unbearably heavy and slipped from my grip, nearly breaking the stone floor I was standing on.”

 

“Really? That sounds familiar... I think I heard about such an enchantment before...” Tamamo murmured, intrigued. Meanwhile, Alice shifted her gaze on Luka, gesturing at him with a gloved hand.

 

“With that said, whether you can draw it or not doesn’t really matter, does it?” she continued as she pointed to the sword. “This is a spar, after all. Even if you keep it sheathed, you should be able to do just fine. And you mentioned how it feels comfortable in your hands, right?”

 

“Well... yes, it does,” Luka confirmed as he weighed the sword in his hands. Truthfully, it felt just as well-balanced as Angel Halo was, in spite of the added weight the sheath no doubt provided. Sighing, he grasped the sword by its handle, and held it before him at a downward angle. “Very well. I did say I’d see this through to the end, so here I go again...”

 

As he spoke, he suddenly felt a slight vibration run through the sword, and he saw the shine from the hilt intensify and change color. He then felt a sudden pressure in his head and winced as a flash filled his vision. As he closed his eyes, a familiar voice invaded his thoughts.

 

“You are the one. I will choose you!”

 

He gasped slightly as the voice echoed within his mind, wobbling unsteadily on his feet. Blinking, he looked around, puzzled. Where did that come from? he thought, shaking his head to overcome the slight dizziness he felt. And it sounded familiar... where did I hear it before?

 

“Luka? Are you all right?” Thermidor’s voice reached him, pulling him out of his dazed state. “You’re acting str-- what?!”

 

“Eh? Is something wrong, Thermidor-- hm?” he began to answer her, only to pause as he felt an odd change in the sword he was holding in his hands. Peering down at it, he froze and stared incredulously.

 

Where only one rune used to be alight on the sword’s hilt, now two of them could be seen blazing, their color having changed from the previous white to a bright blue.

 

But more importantly, the sheath had partially come off.

 

Luka stared with a mix of incredulity and alarm. Why was the sword’s sheath slipping off now, of all times? He’d tried drawing it repeatedly over the previous days, and each time, it had been as immovable as a rock, refusing to budge an inch. Yet now, without any effort on his behalf, it was freeing itself of its own volition.

 

As he looked at the sword’s sheath, his mind flashed back to the words he’d heard. ‘I will choose you’, it said... wait, now I remember! he thought as realization filled him. It’s the same voice I heard in that dream I had after I held the sword the first time! So then, that was the sword’s spirit... accepting me?

 

As he thought to himself, he slowly, hesitantly raised the weapon level to his chest and grasped the sheath with his free hand. After a moment of pause, he finally made up his mind, and firmly pulled his hands apart, marveling as the blade smoothly slid free without a trace of the resistance it offered in the past days.

 

Pulling the rest of the blade free, Luka held it before him as he gazed at it. The sword in his hand was of exquisite craftsmanship - even someone untrained in the smith arts like him could easily tell that. The blade was straight and evenly large, polished to a shine and with an edge that seemed to cut even by looking at it. If one looked closely at it, faint runes could also be seen crisscrossing its surface. An aura of power could be clearly perceived just by holding it. And, as before, the sword felt right in Luka’s hand, its weight and balance indistinguishable from those of Angel Halo or his original sword. He assumed it was the same magic that made Angel Halo a perfect fit for him.

 

As he examined the sword, a crackling arc of energy ran across its blade, and he felt a sudden pressure surge forth from it, powerful enough to blow away the dust covering the floor under him. While he correctly guessed it was some sort of discharge, the sudden surge had a much more significant meaning to at least two individuals in the room. Alice stiffened as she felt it wash over her, recognizing it as a huge wave of monster power. If she had any more doubt in her mind, it had been chased away in that instant: the sword Luka was holding in his hands was definitely a Dark Arm - one of the fabled Monster Lords’ blades.

 

The greatest reaction, however, was from Tamamo. The Kitsune froze completely, her eyes widening and her mouth hanging open in shock. Unlike the others, she not only recognized the surge of power for what it was... she was intimately familiar with it.

 

It was a power she never thought she’d feel again in her natural lifespan.

 

As the Heavenly Knight recovered from the shock, she suddenly realized she was in a very real danger. Unlike what she’d claimed, the sword Luka was holding could injure her - possibly even kill her - even with his limited skill. Reacting to the potential threat, she darted in while Luka was still distracted, whipping her tails around at blinding speed and shoving the unaware boy against the nearest wall before he could react to her sudden assault. As Luka grunted from the abrupt impact, she gently but firmly pinned his sword arm against the rock wall with two of her tails, while the rest held his body down in case he attempted to break free. Looking up, she adopted a cheerful expression.

 

“You really shouldn’t get so distracted by unexpected things in the middle of a fight, boy,” she reprimanded him in a good-natured tone. “When you do, things like these are bound to happen. Well... I’ve seen enough for today. You have potential, but it’s still unpolished, and hard to judge. You will need more time to mature, but if your talent is properly developed, you could become an amazing warrior. You’re on the right path, though. That’s my opinion, since you asked for it. Now then, shall we call this off for now?”

 

“Ugh... you could’ve defeated me in an instant, couldn’t you? I didn’t even see you move...” Luka breathed out as he struggled unconvincingly against the tails holding him down. In spite of the rather humiliating predicament he was in, he had to admit being pinned down by Tamamo’s tails was not unpleasant at all. Strong as they were, they also were incredibly fluffy and soft, and under different circumstances, their warmth and fluffiness was something he could’ve lost himself in. He relaxed and stopped struggling. “Very well, I yield. It’s not like I can break free from you at this point...”

 

“Wise boy,” Tamamo replied with a playful smile as she gently set him down. She, however, didn’t let go of his sword arm just yet. She looked at him, and Luka felt a slight chill go down his spine as he perceived an underlying steel under the warmth of her smile.

 

“One word of warning about this sword of yours, boy,” she advised him in a soft tone. “I have no idea why it chose you of all people, but the sword you’re holding is a Dark Arm... a weapon once used by a Monster Lord of the past. It is an extremely powerful artifact, and is a true treasure to monsterkind. Seeing how it has picked you as its wielder, I cannot take it away from you, but... use it with caution and judgment. It is no mere sword... it’s capable of changing the world, in the right hands.”

 

“I... I understand, Lady Tamamo,” Luka replied, gulping nervously as he stared at the sword in his hand. That was a Monster Lord’s blade? And he was its rightful wielder? Suddenly, Luka felt as if he’d been roped into something much bigger than he was.

 

As the boy quietly contemplated the mysterious sword, Alice and Thermidor looked on, worried. After several moments of silence, Thermidor finally spoke up, addressing Alice.

 

“That burst of power just now... it was monster power, was it not?” she quietly asked her. The Echidna nodded, frowning.

 

“It was... and it was considerable,” she replied. “That sword Luka is holding... it has to be a Dark Arm.”

 

“One of the Monster Lords’ blades...? Surely you jest,” Thermidor protested incredulously as she turned to face the snake monster. “Aren’t they supposed to be artifacts that can only be wielded by their rightful Monster Lord owners?”

 

“Yes, well... apparently, this particular sword decided Luka is a worthy wielder,” Alice shrugged before sighing as she continued in a lower tone. “Look, I don’t really know how Dark Arms work. I have yet to receive my own, and my mother never showed me hers. All I know is that they’re very picky about who can wield them, and it’s usually the Monster Lord they were made for.”

 

“But... why Luka?” the monster swordswoman asked her. “He’s got talent, but he’s far from being the kind of person who could wield a Dark Arm. He doesn’t even have monster blood in his veins!”

 

“Perhaps that strange power of his is the reason why?” Alice suggested. “You know, I think it’s high time we all talk about it. This isn’t a game anymore - that sword needs to be taken seriously.”

 

“You’re... probably right,” Thermidor agreed reluctantly. “I doubt Luka’s condition is the reason for this, but perhaps I am missing something...”

 

“Yes, well... we’ll continue this talk later. Here he comes,” Alice concluded, gesturing towards Luka as he approached the two monsters, followed by Tamamo and her Kitsune companions. Thermidor looked up at that, meeting his eyes, and noticed he, too, appeared troubled.

 

“Thermidor... the sword...” he began, but the fencer shook her head reassuringly.

 

“I know. I saw. Don’t worry about it,” she calmed him down gently. “We’re going to figure this all out. I promise.”

 

“...all right,” Luka nodded, still looking worried. He then sighed, deflating slightly as he carefully sheathed the sword. “I can’t believe that something like fetching Poseidon’s Bell would lead to this whole mess. Maybe Alice was right, after all, and I’m cursed to have an ‘interesting’ life.”

 

“I assume you refer to the ‘Three Curses’ that are a common belief in the Yamatai area?” Tamamo chuckled at that. “They’re just a folk tale, although they coincidentally seem to come true fairly often. They aren’t real curses.” She then cocked her head at Luka. “So you came here to look for treasure?”

 

“Yes, it’s an old relic of the Queens of the Seas,” the boy Hero replied with a nod. “Supposedly, this relic is capable of keeping ships safe during storms, and is enshrined in the back of this cave, being a gift of the Queens to seamen to keep them safe.”

 

“So... you were looking for this, as well,” Tamamo nodded as she reached in the back of her kimono and produced a small, beautifully decorated golden bell. Luka blinked, then his heart sank as Tamamo’s words registered.

 

“You... were looking for Poseidon’s Bell, too? Oh...” he murmured. “Then, I guess... I can’t have it?”

 

“Well...” Tamamo began, a cheeky expression on her face as she thought about her next words. As she mulled over what to say, she felt a small tug on her sleeve, and glanced to her side. Ako stood there, still holding the edge of her sleeve, with a frown on her face. Behind her, Nanabi wore a similar disapproving expression. She blinked, surprised that her aides would take the human boy’s side, then sighed, shaking her head, and offered the bell to Luka.

 

“Go on, take it,” she said at his confused expression. “You earned it with all you’ve done so far. I think you deserve a reward. Unless...” she added with a sultry expression as she pulled the bell back and moved one of her tails to caress Luka’s face, lingering on his lips. “Unless you’d prefer to enjoy my fluffy tails? You seemed comfortable when I held you down earlier, and I could make it feel very good...”

 

“Uh...” Luka muttered, gulping audibly as the soft appendage brushed over his face. His obvious hesitation drew another cheeky grin from Tamamo, who drew her tail back and instead offered her other hand, a small bundle of something resting in it.

 

“Or perhaps you’re hungry after all this excitement? I made this thin fried tofu myself,” she continued in a playful tone. “It’s absolutely delicious, you know. Even Alicefeeze loves it. So... what is it going to be? Fluffy tails, or tasty tofu?”

 

“Uhhh... the bell?” Luka croaked, resisting the urge to pick ‘Fluffy tails’ as the response. As much as he would have liked it, and he had no doubt he’d have liked it a lot, he’d spent far too much time and effort tracking the cave’s treasure down to let carnal weakness make it all in vain. Tamamo chuckled at his response.

 

“Admit it, you considered picking my tails,” she teased him before gently placing Poseidon’s Bell into his hand. She then smiled at him. “But I admire your strength of will. Other men might have given in to temptation in your place, and forgotten their quest. You didn’t. I approve of that. Perhaps when you come visit us in Yamatai, I’ll arrange for you to be treated to a good time anyway...”

 

“Uh... I’m not sure I’d be able to recover from that, to be honest,” Luka replied, feeling his mouth go a bit dry at the prospect. “But I appreciate the thought nonetheless. And thank you for giving me the bell, Lady Tamamo.”

 

“Thank Ako and Nanabi. They made it clear they wanted me to give it to you,” she replied with a wave of her delicate hand. “Had I not done so, I’d never have heard the end of it.”

 

“I see... In that case, you both have my thanks, Ako and Nanabi,” Luka said as he turned to them and offered a polite bow. “I’ll be sure to make it up to you both someday.”

 

“Just remember to drop by and give me a rematch, got it?” Ako replied animatedly. “And next time, I’m winning for sure! You better get ready!”

 

“Haha... of course I’ll remember,” the young Hero nodded. “And don’t think I’ll make it easy for you.”

 

“I’ll be looking forward to your visit, as well,” Nanabi courteously nodded to him. “Please, stay safe now.”

 

“I will. Thank you for your kindness,” Luka returned her nod. “Well then... I guess it’s time for us to part ways. Have a safe travel, Lady Tamamo, Ako, Nanabi.”

 

“You don’t need to worry about us,” Tamamo said with a dismissive wave of her fan. “This kind of trip is a trivial matter. We’ll just use magic.”

 

“Huh, convenient,” Luka murmured. “Magical travel. I’d like to be able to do that, too.”

 

“Who knows? You should give it a try,” Tamamo advised him. “You just might have some hidden talent for magic. Unlikely as it may be, you won’t know unless you try.”

 

“I am told Grand Noah, over in central Sentora, has a skilled court magician,” Nanabi added. “Perhaps your travels will lead you there one day? If so, you may want to see if you can learn something from that person.”

 

“Grand Noah... I see. I’ll keep that in mind,” Luka said, committing the information to memory. “Thank you again, Lady Nanabi.”

 

“Think nothing of it,” the fox woman replied, before turning towards the tunnel leading to the cave’s exit. “Then... until we meet again.” As she spoke, she brushed past him, and lowered her head to his ear, whispering into it. “I have very fine hearing, just so you know. You and Ako weren’t talking as quietly as you think.”

 

Luka choked at that, feeling a wave of heat run across his cheeks. She... she heard everything? he thought, mortified. His thoughts evidently spilled on his face, as Nanabi simply offered a mysterious smile at him while she moved away. Ako peered at him curiously, then smirked with a knowing look, walking past him with a giggle. Tamamo was the last to walk away, and looked at him with an undecipherable expression as she did so, her lips curled in a faint smile and partially hidden behind her fan.

 

“It seems Nanabi has taken a liking to you,” was all she said as she sauntered off, leaving a bewildered Luka behind to sort out his feelings over the strange situation. The stunned boy could only follow the three figures as they vanished down the tunnel, unable to formulate a proper thought until they disappeared from sight.

 

Luka remained immobile for a while longer, his companions keeping their distance to give him space and let him calm down. He then wandered to the closest cave wall, leaned against it with his back and slowly sank to a sitting, spread-legged position, exhaling slowly with an exhausted look on his face.

 

“I’m... still in one piece...” he murmured, as if he had trouble believing his good fortune himself. “I... I faced two powerful opponents and am still alive and in one piece. Did I really do it...?”

 

“I have to admit I am impressed,” Alice spoke up as she drew closer and settled down next to him, her tail coiling up beside her. On Luka’s opposite side, Thermidor followed suit.

 

“I agree with Alice,” she said with a nod and a smile. “Today, you performed admirably. I think the time has come for me to stop worrying about you. You’ve proven yourself capable of holding your own even without my assistance.”

 

“Come on, now. I’m honest enough to admit that I’m only still conscious because Lady Tamamo went easy on me,” Luka denied with a wry smile. “You’ve seen how fast she defeated me when she got half a mind to do it.”

 

“Tamamo was being playful, yes,” Alice agreed. “But even when she’s playing around, she’s still a stronger opponent than anything you’re likely to face for a very long time. And the way you recovered from her blows was impressive. I’ve seen men twice your size and heavily armored lay on the ground moaning after being tail-whipped the way you did, but you got back to your feet and kept giving it your all. Don’t downplay what you did; you’re likely one of the best human fighters in the world, or at the very least well on your way to making a name for yourself as such.”

 

“That doesn’t mean you get to slack off, though,” Thermidor added, waving a finger at him admonishingly. “Your goal is to become strong enough to gain Lady Granberia’s respect, isn’t it? Well, in order to do so, you will have to become even stronger... you need to be so strong, even a Heavenly Knight will have to take you seriously in battle. That is the Dragonkin’s way. Their respect is won through mighty skill.”

 

“Of course. I never once dreamed of growing lazy,” Luka protested, appearing offended. “If there’s one thing you taught me, it’s that a warrior’s life is a never-ending lesson. There’s always something new to be learned in every fight and every new experience, whether I win or lose... right?”

 

“Indeed,” Thermidor nodded, pleased. “Of course, winning would be best, but above all, you should try to learn and improve from any fight you find yourself in. As long as you do that, the day when the Dragon Knight acknowledges you as a worthy warrior will eventually come. I am now certain of this. You can do it.”

 

“Thank you, Thermidor,” Luka smiled at the praise. “I must admit, knowing I already have the praise and respect of my mentor and a Heavenly Knight does make me feel proud.”

 

“Hm? A Heavenly Knight’s praise? Tamamo was impressed, yes, but...” Alice began, appearing confused. Luka shook his head and pointed a finger at her, still smiling.

 

“I mean you,” he stated. “You have to be a Heavenly Knight, yourself. It all makes sense, now.”

 

“Huh? Luka, what are you saying? Lady Alice--” Thermidor began, but a glare from the Echidna cut her off. She then crossed her arms under her shapely bosom and eyed Luka speculatively.

 

“That’s an interesting theory you have about my identity,” she commented, curious. “Would you mind explaining to me the logic that led to such a conclusion?”

 

“It was your interaction with Lady Tamamo,” Luka replied with a grin. “You treated each other casually and friendly, like equals. And back in Iliasburg, Lady Granberia showed respect for you - the kind of respect I’d imagine she’d show to a fellow warrior stronger than she is. Don’t Dragonkin believe that might equals authority and defer to those stronger than them? That means you’re likely the strongest of the Heavenly Knights. Seeing how Lady Granberia is Fire, and Lady Tamamo is Earth... that’d make you, hmmm... Water? You certainly are as mercurial, difficult to grasp and terrifying when angry as raging waters.”

 

“Huh... that actually does make perfect sense, when you put it that way,” Alice mused, nodding appreciatively. “Very nicely done. I see your mind is as sharp as your sword arm is strong. Although, it still needs polishing, much like your skill.”

 

“Hm? What do you mean?” Luka wondered, frowning. Alice smiled mysteriously.

 

“Oh, nothing special. Just talking to myself,” she replied nonchalantly. She then waved at him with a gloved hand. “I like how you used logic and observation to guess my identity. You may be gullible and too nice for your own good, but you aren’t stupid at all. In fact, you have a pretty good mind. Consider yourself the winner of our little bet. Well done.”

 

“Heh... I know it’s a bit arrogant of me, but I can’t help but feel good about this praise,” Luka admitted. “Admittedly, without seeing you interact with Lady Tamamo, I might never have figured it out. I was lucky, there.”

 

“Hmmm... would you like to know more about me?” Alice replied with a knowing smirk. At Luka’s nod, her smirk grew wider. “Well then, how about we all come out clean with each other once this situation with the storms is resolved? I have more secrets about me than you would ever imagine, and from what Thermidor seems to be implying, you have something mysterious about yourself, as well. I’d like to know more about you, and I’m willing to reveal a great deal about myself in return.”

 

“That sounds fair, although, to be honest, I have no idea what it is Thermidor knows that I don’t,” Luka commented with a serious look on his face. “It’ll be just as much of a discovery for me as it’ll be for you. But, if that’s enough for you, I wouldn’t mind if we got to know each other’s hidden sides. Sure, we’ll talk about it. Now, please excuse me,” he concluded as he got up and gestured towards the cave’s roof, where Angel Halo was still stuck. “I need to figure out a way to recover Angel Halo from where Lady Tamamo shoved it in the ceiling...”

 

“Well played, Lady Alicefeeze,” Thermidor murmured behind the Echidna’s back as Luka walked away from them. “You got him to agree to tell you about his secrets. And I assume you will also correct his misunderstanding about your identity?”

 

“I will,” Alice nodded as she followed Luka’s awkward struggles to fetch his sword by jumping. “He’s earned the right to know, and while I could have told him right now, I didn’t have the heart to disappoint him with the truth. He seemed very pleased with himself, and honestly? His logic for thinking I am a Heavenly Knight is sound. It really does make sense, when you look at it from his point of view. I can’t fault the way he came to this conclusion, because he’s unaware of why, even though I am her Lord, I treat Tamamo like family.”

 

“So that’s why... you’re a nice person, Lady Alicefeeze, to let him down gently like that,” Thermidor smiled approvingly. “Thank you for your consideration.”

 

“It’d be unbecoming of a ruler to do otherwise,” Alice stated solemnly. “I know that I can still be petty, but I’m trying very hard to become a Monster Lord that my mother would be proud of. And now, if you don’t mind,” she finished, straightening up and gesturing at Luka as he ruinously fell to the ground following an attempt to leap at the sword in the ceiling, “I’ll go help Luka get Angel Halo back before he kills himself trying to reach it. It’d be a most undignified demise for such a talented boy.”

 

As Alice slithered off, Thermidor smiled. She’d been having doubts about the idea that had been in her mind for a while, but now she was much more comfortable about it; even if she left Luka alone with Alice and returned to Sabasa for a short while, she was now certain that the boy could handle himself against any opponent... and, much as Alice may deny it, she was also sure that the Echidna would look out for him.

 

----

 

After spending the night inside the temple, where they found some beds in a decent state, the party set off on the road back to Iliasport. The return trip was uneventful, and by the next day’s evening, the group reached the port town. After a quick talk, it was decided that they’d head for the pirate ship the next morning, as braving a storm was hazardous enough on its own without attempting it in the dead of night. Thus, they headed back to the inn, where the innkeeper greeted them with a surprised look, clearly not expecting them to return to Iliasport at all, let alone so soon. However, he refrained from asking questions, handing over the key to a room without a word.

 

That evening, after dinner, Luka sat down, unsheathed Angel Halo and, armed with clean water, wet cloths and a lot of patience, began to slowly and carefully clean the enchanted sword of all the pieces of dust and rock that were still collected on it since its brief stay in the Poseidon Cave’s ceiling.

 

“This is annoying,” the boy muttered as he blew dust off one of the weapon’s numerous nooks and crannies. “I never thought so much sand and dust would collect in Angel Halo just because it got stuck in the rock...”

 

“Swords aren’t meant to be planted in solid rock, no matter what some stupid legends may say,” Alice pointed out as she relaxed on one of the beds, looking amused. “And for all that Angel Halo is an amazing magical weapon, it doesn’t have an auto-cleaning spell. You need to take proper care of it, just like any other sword. Or did you just leave your old sword to rust when it got wet or dirty?”

 

“Well, no... you know, you’re right,” Luka sighed as he poked at the enchanted weapon’s surface with a corner of the cloth he was holding. “I don’t know why I thought Angel Halo would be any different than my old sword as far as maintenance went. Maybe it can’t rust or lose its edge, but it should be kept clean all the same. I was growing complacent over having such a fine weapon...”

 

“Well, now you have two,” the Echidna replied, pointedly looking at the second sword lying on the table. “Like Angel Halo, Dark Arms are heavily enchanted and won’t rust or need repair, but you’ll want to keep it clean all the same. Speaking of which, did you meet the sword’s spirit last night, while we were resting in the temple?”

 

“I didn’t meet her, but I’m sure she was there. I felt like I was being watched as I slept,” Luka said, pausing in his cleaning of the sword as he glanced at the mysterious Dark Arm. “I half expected her to talk to me again now that I can draw the sword, but apparently she decided to let me rest and recover from my fatigue. That's something I am very grateful for, to be honest.”

 

“Hm... so it’s a female spirit?” Alice commented, noticing Luka’s use of a feminine noun. Luka shook his head.

 

“All I saw when we met the first time was her eyes and an indistinct figure,” he replied. “But her voice is undoubtedly feminine... and for some reason, I just know it’s a woman. I don’t know how, I just do.”

 

“That’s not unheard of,” Thermidor spoke up. “Other wielders of spirit-weapons in the past said the same thing. They just knew whether their spirit was male or female... although, being a weapon, assigning it a gender is entirely based on personality.”

 

“Really? I guess it’s normal then,” Luka mused as he resumed cleaning Angel Halo. As he did so, he eyed it speculatively. “Funny, I’d expect Angel Halo to also have a spirit within. I wonder why that isn’t the case?”

 

As he spoke, he swabbed one of the etched figures on the weapon, and stopped abruptly when a low, pleased purr suddenly came from it. Alice smirked as she saw him eye the sword nervously, swallowing hard.

 

“Who ever said there isn’t a spirit in it?” she cheekily commented. “It’s merely a little different than others. As you can plainly see...”

 

“...Did... did the carving just moan in pleasure?” Luka managed to choke out, looking uneasy. Alice laughed out loud at his expression.

 

“You just spent the last few minutes caressing and cleaning a representation of a female body - several, in fact - and you’re surprised it’d react that way? I told you, that sword is made of melted angels,” she pointed out, grinning under a gloved hand. “While their actual spirit may have long since fled the sword, it has gained something of an awareness all its own... and when its wielder cares for it, it is pleased. Is it that strange?”

 

“What have I gotten myself into...?” Luka muttered as he resumed swabbing the figures in the sword, this time more delicately. “I just wanted to be a Hero, and all of a sudden I’m practically married to a monster Queen, a father-to-be, and the wielder of two hell-weapons of dubious origin. The more I think about it, the more I believe I really am cursed to live an ‘interesting’ life... If this is all Fate, then I think Fate is just having fun at my expenses by seeing how much unusual and weird stuff it can pile up on me before I go nuts. What next, am I going to become Master of the Thieves’ Guild, Archmage of the Mages’ Guild, Master Assassin, Guildmaster of the Fighters’ Guild, Champion of the Arena, Savior of Sentora, Monster Lord, and some other improbable coincidence?”

 

“Hahahahaha! I remember reading that book. ‘The Lord of Oblivion’, wasn’t it? Well, get used to it,” Alice patted him on a shoulder in encouragement. “As someone who has chosen to win the approval of the Heavenly Knights and meet the Monster Lord, you’ll probably find your life will become even more interesting in the future. Besides, don’t all legendary Heroes have things like these happen in their tales?”

 

“Yes, and sometimes I felt like all these coincidences were a bit too much. As much as you call me ‘fairytale Hero’, don’t you think this is a little... you know?” Luka pointed out. Alice chuckled again at that.

 

“Well, yes. And that’s why I’m following you,” she admitted. “You’ll never be boring. I really want to see where your path in life will lead you.”

 

“Right now, it leads to bed,” Luka replied with a yawn, setting down Angel Halo on the table and stretching. “I’m still sore from all that fighting yesterday, and I could use a good night’s rest. See you tomorrow morning.”

 

“Fair enough,” Alice nodded as she yawned in turn. “What about you, Thermidor?”

 

“I agree with Luka. We’d best turn in early and get some sleep,” the fencer nodded. “I suspect tomorrow is going to be an... eventful day.”

 

“You’re probably right,” the white-haired monster nodded as she shifted and adjusted her position on the bed, dragging the covers over her prone form. “Well then, try not to snore, Luka. Good night!”



“I do not snore!” Luka protested indignantly from his own bed. Thermidor gave him an amused look.

 

“Actually, you do,” she told him. “Only when you’re very tired, but you do snore. So I must agree with Lady Alice. Try not to keep us awake, please.”

 

“Traitor...” Luka muttered with a hurt expression as he slipped under the covers. “I’ll get even with you for that.”

 

“Hahaha... come on, let’s sleep,” Alice laughed, genuinely amused. “Tomorrow’s a new, exciting day!”

 

With that, she gestured briefly. A gentle breeze put out the candles in the room, and darkness enveloped the three companions. Before long, they were fast asleep.

 

----

 

“...ka. Hero Luka! Can you hear me?”

 

Luka shifted in his sleep, groaning, then slowly opened his eyes, confused. The voice he was hearing sounded familiar, although faint and distant. As he blinked and glanced around, he saw a cloudy expanse all around him, with what appeared to be a blue sky in the background and a suffused light filling the area.

 

It took the young Hero a few seconds to connect, but when he did, he bolted upright, his eyes darting around in agitation. He remembered the last time this happened all too well: it was when he’d met Ilias, before leaving Ilias Village. Which meant...

 

As if on cue, Ilias’ angelic form materialized before his eyes. Luka attempted to act as nonchalant as he could, but he couldn’t help being worried. With the kind of power Ilias possessed, it would likely take minimal effort for her to prod his mind and find out some rather disconcerting truths about her ‘chosen Hero’, and he held no illusion as to what the Goddess’s reaction would be once that happened.

 

As he sat up and tried to look as calm and collected as he could, he noticed an oddity. The last time the Goddess had appeared before him, she had been looking straight at him, but this time her eyes appeared distant and unfocused. Almost as if...

 

“Hero Luka, I see you have finally begun your journey to slay the Monster Lord,” the winged Goddess addressed him with a sweet smile, causing him to snap out of his thoughts and refocus on her. He remained silent, unsure of what to do. The Goddess continued, apparently oblivious to his agitation. “You have not been baptized, but never fear! You are the one I have chosen. Even without the Holy Baptism, you have my blessing. There is no doubt in my mind that you will succeed in destroying that horrible Monster Lord and her wicked minions. Go, and remember: I believe in you!”

 

With that surprisingly brief message, Ilias’s image wavered and then disappeared. The surrounding heavenly environment flickered out along with the blonde Goddess, leaving Luka stuck in the dark, and utterly confused.

 

“What in the Abyss was that...?” he muttered in bewilderment, as he looked around, half expecting Ilias to be hiding somewhere and waiting to catch him in a heretical act. “This was just weird. Ilias looked like she couldn’t even see me and was just talking to air... that felt more like someone relaying a message than her speaking in person...”

 

“Very perceptive,” a different voice suddenly rang out. Luka’s head rapidly whipped around as he suddenly became guarded again. Ilias might have left, but someone else was clearly still present. And for some reason, the new voice felt familiar...

 

“It should feel familiar, young human. We have met once before, and I spoke to you twice already,” the voice said. Luka’s apprehension became alarm. It can read my mind?!, he thought, tensing up. A strange feeling washed over him, and he got the distinct impression that the other presence was amused.

 

“We are inside your mind, young Hero. Avoiding your thoughts is quite difficult, although I am trying. After all, one’s mind is one’s most private place,” the voice pointed out in a patient tone. “But when you are agitated, your mind’s defenses break down, and it becomes easy to perceive your thoughts. To be fair, though, I am more proficient at it than most. Still, had I not prevented Ilias from making contact with you, the situation could have become... unpleasant. She is not a very understanding Goddess.”

 

“Wait, what do you mean by ‘prevented’?” Luka asked, the voice’s declaration having caught his attention. “Are you saying you’re the reason why Ilias looked like she wasn’t focusing?”

 

“Indeed. More specifically, she was never here to begin with,” the voice confirmed, sounding pleased with itself. “I erected a psychic haze around your mind, causing her attempts to contact you to be disrupted beyond recovery. In the end, she simply left a delayed mental note behind and left, confident that you would receive it at some point. Since the note itself was harmless, I allowed it through.”

 

“Uh... thanks, I guess. But what if she decides to check to see if I received the note?” Luka asked, still nervous. “And with you running interference, she may become suspicious...”

 

“She has already been notified that you received it the moment you saw her and heard her words,” the presence stated dismissively. “Furthermore, she has no cause to grow suspicious. You met several powerful monsters - the Heavenly Knights - and are in constant company of another. Their presence alone is enough to cause a distortion that is known to make psychic communications difficult unless allowed. She will think that was the cause.”

 

“I see. Interesting... so she has no reason to come back? That’s a relief,” Luka sighed, relaxing a bit. He then looked around, curious. “Um... you’re the spirit of the sword, aren’t you? I suppose you decided to talk to me because I finally unsheathed your sword?”

 

“Correct. You have been judged, and you were found worthy,” the voice confirmed, sounding pleased again. “You are henceforth chosen to wield this Dark Arm, which once belonged to the Third Monster Lord. Carry this blade with pride, for seldom are humans bestowed with the honor of wielding a Monster Lord’s weapon.”

 

“I see... the Third Monster Lord, was it? Forgive me for sounding ignorant, but I wouldn’t know who that was. I’m just a human, after all,” Luka apologized. “And also, if it’s not too much to ask, would you please show yourself? It’s a bit unsettling, talking to the dark like this...”

 

“That is a reasonable request,” the presence agreed. “However, in order to do so, I need permission to enter your mind and impose my presence upon it. Otherwise, I will not be able to manifest myself as anything more than a confused shadow, like when we first met.”

 

“Uh... what would be the consequences of that?” Luka asked, wary about allowing what was likely a monster spirit to intrude in his mind. The voice laughed, a musical noise that strangely reminded Luka of Alice.

 

“You’re being cautious, I see. I like that,” it replied, a hint of approval creeping in its words. “To answer your question, giving me permission to enter your mind will allow me to communicate with you at all times, even when you are awake, and vice versa, or when we are separated by short distances. It also admittedly allows me to see your innermost thoughts, if I so desire. However, I understand the need to respect one’s privacy, and will refrain from voluntarily doing so, unless you explicitly give me permission. You have my word of honor on that.”

 

Luka hesitated some more. On one hand, he did not like the part about the voice being able to see his inner thoughts on a whim, and the thought of another presence invading his mind at random was unsettling. Then again, something in the voice had changed when the presence had given him its word, and for some reason, he felt as if its word carried as much weight as a written, binding contract. He had no idea why, but his gut instinct told him the presence would not break its promise - not even to save its life, or his own.

 

Sighing, he reached a decision, and slowly nodded. As much as he may have had misgivings on the situation, he’d learned to trust his instinct when it spoke to him, and right now, it was telling him the presence could be believed. And his curiosity demanded satisfaction, as well.

 

“Very well... you have my permission to access my mind,” he agreed. “Just, please... do leave me my privacy.”

 

“Hmm... I did not expect you to agree so readily. Are you sure?” the voice asked him, sounding surprised. “Once I am allowed within your mind, you will not be able to shut me out again. Understand that it is not a temporary arrangement. For all you know, I may be trying to trick you.”

 

“My gut feeling tells me you’re trustworthy, and I usually listen to it,” Luka shrugged. “And just now, you stopped and asked me for confirmation, and warned me about the arrangement being permanent. If you meant ill to me, it would’ve served you better to keep quiet about it. So, either you’re a very good actor, you’re making things difficult for yourself on purpose, or you have no reason to hurt me.” He then smiled wryly. “I assume that you want something from me, though, or you wouldn’t have chosen me as your wielder, but I will worry about that when the time comes and you reveal it all. For now, I’d just like to see the spirit that found me worthy enough to wield a Monster Lord’s blade.”

 

“Hah... it is just as I have foreseen. You are remarkable. The women in your life raised you well,” the voice commented, sounding genuinely pleased. “Finding you was worth the long wait. Very well then, Hero Luka. You have been chosen as the wielder of this Dark Arm, which once led armies to victory. Should the need arise, I shall guide and advise you on your path to greatness. Use us both as you see fit... I am sure the results will please you.”

 

With those words, the darkness was suddenly replaced by a low, suffused light. Looking around, Luka saw that the light was only illuminating the area immediately surrounding himself, but unlike last time, when it was just a rune in a specific place and right under his feet, this time it actually brightened a sizable area. Past the light, however, there was still darkness as far as he could see.

 

As he looked at the newly-lit environment, he felt a presence behind him, and turned around. Then, he stared in awe in spite of himself.

 

Behind him, standing on a light circle shaped like the runes on the mysterious sword’s hilt, stood a tall female with pointed ears, dark blue hair and light blue skin, very similar to Alice’s skintone. She wore a white and purple bodice with gold trims and a black mantlet with elaborate white sleeves, also gold-trimmed. The large cleavage window the combination created emphasized her generous bosom. A pair of tight-fitting black and purple pants hugged her shapely legs, and purple and gold high-heeled boots completed her outfit. A majestic set of black horns not unlike those of a Succubus grew out of her head, pointing upwards, and a pair of striking slitted golden eyes with black sclera adorned her face, seemingly gazing straight into his soul. When he remembered they were standing inside his mind, it occurred to Luka that those eyes might well be literally soulgazing him.

 

As he observed the figure, his gaze was unerringly drawn to her chest, which prominently stood out due to the lack of fabric covering it, and what little clothing was there mostly made her breasts stand out even more. His distraction was apparently picked up on by the woman before him, because a small coughing sound caused him to refocus, and he noticed the figure was staring back at him with a slightly amused look.

 

“I should probably warn you that what you see is not quite my real self,” she informed him, apparently entertained by his fascination with her curves. “I am only able to impose certain facets of my appearance - my eyes, my skin tone and, to a much smaller extent, my body shape and outfit. But for the most part, what you see is what you project on me - your expectations, so to speak. What you are seeing is a mix between my real self and the idealized representation you unconsciously have of me.” She then became thoughtful, rubbing her lower lip with her index finger. “Interesting, though. Your perception of me is remarkably close to the real me. It seems you partially imposed the appearance of that Echidna you travel with over mine, too. Do you find her attractive?”

 

“Ack-- what does that have to do with anything?!” Luka choked at those words, blushing a bit. “I mean, well, yes, I do find her attractive. Any male in his right mind would, don’t you think? But I don’t see what that has to do with the current situation!”

 

“As I was saying before you became so flustered,” the horned woman pointed out with a knowing smile, “it seems that you superimposed your ideal of a desirable body over my real self, which is why I have this form. It is influenced by my appearance, that girl’s appearance, and your own desires. Hahaha! Your subconscious is a lot more honest than you are, young Hero!”

 

“Please keep that to yourself, would you?” Luka muttered, mortified at being so transparent to the mysterious spirit woman. “And if you don’t mind, could you please lower your voice? It reverberates, and I think it’s giving me a headache.”

 

“Oh? I hadn’t noticed. It has been a long time since I spoke to anyone,” the woman replied apologetically. She paused, frowning briefly, and Luka felt an odd brushing sensation over him. Then, she resumed smiling and nodded. “There... is this better? I examined some of your memories in order to estimate an appropriate volume for my voice, although what you hear is more accurately my mind touching yours. Regardless, this should suffice. And do not worry: I kept away from what appeared to be private memories, instead looking at memories of you visiting shops and other mundane activities of that sort.”

 

“Huh... yes, this is much better,” Luka nodded, relieved. The woman’s thoughts were incredibly strong, and he was sure he’d wake up with a slight headache the next morning. The sudden reduction in her thoughts’ “volume” was very welcome. His attention returned to the woman, and he eyed her curiously. “Say... are you a monster, too?”

 

“In a way,” she nodded. “I am but a mere spirit, but I suppose you could classify me as a monster. After all, the Elemental Spirits you seek are also monsters, are they not?”

 

“Wait, how do you-- oh, that’s right, Thermidor and I have been talking about it,” Luka replied. His curiosity grew further at the mention of the Spirits. “Do you know them, by any chance? Perhaps, where they are, as well?”

 

“Young Hero, I have not had any contact like this with living beings for hundreds of years,” the spirit pointed out. “As you can imagine, I am slightly out of touch with present times.”

 

“Oh... good point,” the young man nodded, somewhat subdued by the answer. He then looked up. “Wait, hundreds of years? Just how long ago are we talking about?”

 

“Let me see... six or seven hundred years, give or take. Since the Third Monster Lord left the mortal world behind,” she answered, appearing thoughtful. She then shook her head sadly. “It is amazing how quickly everything fell apart once Ilias was no longer opposed. There used to be a time when humans and monsters lived in harmony, in spite of their differences... but almost no one remembers that time.”

 

“Huh, really? I didn’t know about that. Tell me more,” Luka asked, interested. The spirit regarded him thoughtfully, then shook her head.

 

“Not tonight. Perhaps when we next meet,” she said, waving an admonishing finger. “You have a very important task to perform tomorrow, and it would not do for you to be mentally fatigued beforehand. There will be time for us to talk once you reach Sentora. For now, sleep, Master Luka.”

 

“You know my name, too, huh?” the boy Hero commented, shaking his head. He then paused in realization. “Oh, that’s right! I haven’t asked your name! I’d assume it’s the name of your sword, right? Could you tell me what I should call you?”

 

The spirit paused at that, gazing at him with an imperscrutable expression. Luka grew a bit restless at that, thinking that perhaps he’d somehow offended her, but waited nonetheless. At length, she spoke.

 

“...this sword was never named. The Third Monster Lord had no use for such trivial details,” she replied neutrally. “I suppose... if you want to call this sword, and me, any name, you could call us ‘Steelburn’. It was the name of the sword’s previous wielder.”

 

“Steelburn... it’s a name fit for a Monster Lord, for sure,” Luka murmured, thoughtful. He then looked at the spirit and smiled. “Well then... it’s a pleasure to meet you, Steelburn. I hope I can find out more about you in the coming days.”

 

“You will, I am sure of it,” Steelburn replied with a smile as she gently waved a hand before his eyes. Luka suddenly felt his eyelids grow heavy, and her voice became distant. “Sleep now, young Hero. And call upon me whenever you are in need. This sword may be incapable of mercy like your other one... but a time may come when you will find a use for its deadly sting. When that happens, I will answer your summons. Until then...”

 

As her words faded away, Luka once more felt himself fall backwards, like when he’d first met the sword’s spirit. Feeling his consciousness being submerged by sleep, darkness filling his vision, he heard Steelburn’s distant thoughts one last time.

 

“You are the one I have waited for... please remember that.”

 

----

 

Morning came almost too soon for Luka, the first light seeping in from the Inn’s windows. Grumbling, he shifted in his bed for a bit, before casting the covers off and sitting on the edge, rubbing his eyes.

 

As he’d expected, he was feeling a mild headache, probably as the result of being in contact with such powerful thoughts last night. He slowly massaged his temples, sighing, and decided to order some tea for breakfast. Along with a little of his leftover Happiness Honey, it should help stifle his migraine.

 

“My apologies. I hadn’t realized my thoughts were so loud,” the spirit’s voice - Steelburn, he remembered - echoed softly in his head, briefly startling him before he remembered that she had mentioned she would be able to contact him while he was awake. He could tell she was making a conscious effort to be as quiet as possible, too. “I will be sure not to cause you undue discomfort again. By the way, good morning to you.”

 

Good morning, and don’t worry about it, Luka thought back. You didn’t do it on purpose. You may want to avoid suddenly speaking to me like this when we are in public, though. It’s kind of unnerving, and might make me look crazy, which would be problematic for a would-be Hero, to say the least. Also, I have a few questions. Mind if we speak a bit later?

 

“I see your point. I will be careful. And, of course you can ask questions. Whenever you want, let me know. You have but to think of it, and I shall be there,” Steelburn agreed. Luka then had the distinct impression that she had turned serious. “I would recommend focusing on the immediate task at hand, though. It takes a truly powerful monster to cause storms great enough to destroy ships as large as the ones in the port, and you may need to fight against her.”

 

I don’t look forward to that possibility even a little bit, Luka replied, shaking his head as he got up and headed for the bathroom. Hopefully things can be solved without violence, but admittedly, I have a bad feeling about this... Anyway, I’ll get refreshed now. ...uh, you aren’t going to be watching, right?

 

“Well...” the voice began in a seductive tone. “I would not mind enjoying a pleasant view after six hundred years of mostly looking at nothing... but if you insist, I shall avert my gaze.”

 

Thank you. That could’ve been awkward, Luka thought as he entered the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

 

A few minutes later, a refreshed Luka emerged from the bathroom, whistling a lively tune. He was in a good mood, in spite of the possible danger ahead; for some reason, he got a good feeling from the mysterious sword’s spirit, even though he had no real reason to feel that way. He’d briefly considered the possibility that the spirit was messing with his mind, but ultimately decided against it: the feeling he got from her was very similar to what he felt when he first met Alice. She certainly was someone to be respected, and not to be trifled with, but he somehow got the feeling that she didn’t mean him ill.

 

He doubted she was being entirely forthcoming with him, but then again, she hadn’t denied having ulterior motives when he pointed his suspicions out. And he had a feeling that if he just asked, she’d tell him anything without exception. She was simply unlikely to volunteer information for some reason.

 

“I should inform you that when you think about me especially intensely, it becomes very hard for me to ignore your thoughts,” Steelburn’s voice suddenly rang out, sounding amused. “I promised that I wouldn’t intentionally invade your thoughts, but when you think about me so much, it is your thoughts that invade mine, and I may well end up looking through them to know what you think of me.”

 

Here you go again, loudly declaring your intentions, Luka commented, somewhat amused himself. You know, if you meant ill to me, you’d have sabotaged yourself pretty well by now. But I guess there’s no harm telling you what I was thinking. To be honest, I was wondering how much I can trust you.

 

“I can easily answer that. So long as your goal is to bring peace and harmony between monsters and humans, I will be loyal to you without fail,” she promptly replied, not a trace of hesitation in her tone. “But should you lose the way and become like Ilias, the Eighth Monster Lord, or the humans of that Ilias Kreuz group I saw in your memories, I will kill you myself and look for a more worthy wielder. Does this answer your question?”

 

Uh... yes, it does, Luka replied, subdued. He got the distinct feeling that the spirit wasn’t kidding either, and was perfectly capable of making good on her threat should the event come to pass. He then became curious. So you are dedicated to peace between humans and monsters, too? Why is that?

 

“The Third Monster Lord wished so,” Steelburn answered. “She sacrificed much for the cause, more than you can imagine. I hope that one day you will follow in her footsteps.”

 

The Third Monster Lord... can you tell me more about her? Luka asked, curious. The idea of a Monster Lord actively seeking peace intrigued him and made him hopeful for his own quest, and he felt the need to know more about this mysterious Lord who sought to bring harmony between the divided races.

 

“I would, but it appears your companion has realized you are speaking to me,” Steelburn commented, causing Luka to look up and spot Alice slowly approaching him, an interested look on her face. Luka grimaced, but before he could ask, Steelburn answered his unspoken question. “Just tell her the truth. There is no point in lying. That is also true for the relationship between you and me. Ask me, and I shall answer any questions. Beyond that, I shall impart knowledge when I deem the time has come. Is that fair enough to you?”

 

I guess so. Thanks, Luka thought back. He received a vague feeling in return, like a shrug, and guessed that was its meaning. Shrugging in turn, he focused his attention on Alice, who had stopped before him.

 

“So... who is she?” the Echidna asked without preamble. Luka blinked, then sighed at the direct bluntness of his companion, shaking his head.

 

“She says she’s the spirit of the sword, and that it once belonged to the Third Monster Lord,” he replied simply. “She said she doesn’t really have a name, but her previous owner’s name was Steelburn, and I could--”

 

“Wait. That’s the Golden Lord’s blade?!” Alice interrupted him, incredulous. “Of all the Dark Arms that could make their way in your hands... but it makes sense, given what kind of person she was...”

 

“Uh. You know about this Monster Lord?” Luka asked hesitantly. “And what’s this about a Golden Lord?”

 

“If what that spirit said is the truth, that sword you have is the Dark Arm of Steelburn, the Golden Lord - third in the Monster Lord line, and the longest-reigning Monster Lord in the past,” Alice explained. “And, she was also known for having managed to unite the continents and make humans and monsters coexist in peace for over two hundred years. Remina was founded by her, nearly seven hundred years ago, to be the symbol of peace between humans and monsters. So great was her reign, it was called the Golden Rule.”

 

“You... you’re kidding, right?” Luka asked, stunned. “A Monster Lord actually managed to rule over both humans and monsters?”

 

“Yes, and for quite a long time, too, according to what Tamamo told me,” Alice nodded, appearing lost in her own thoughts. “She was unique. Monster Lords are usually chosen through battle, but Steelburn was elected by popular acclaim. She was weaker than many other contemporary monsters, but possessed a strange charisma which compelled others to obey even when they could have rebelled, and was said to possess several rare powers that usually were never seen together in any one person. Farsight, Domination...”

 

“What are Farsight and Domination?” Luka asked, curious. Alice glanced at him, annoyed.

 

“Come on, even a bumpkin like you should guess that,” she huffed. “Farsight is the gift of seeing the future. Those possessing it are rare because in most cases, the strain of seeing the multitude of futures that are yet to be can drive the seer insane, or even kill them. It takes enormous strength of spirit and mind to withstand this kind of strain. I don’t know any contemporary monsters who possess the gift of Farsight.”

 

“I see. And Domination?” the boy asked. Alice sighed, as if he was asking something painfully obvious.

 

“The power to command. Those who possess this power can impose their will upon others with nothing more than their voice,” she explained. “Should someone use their Voice of Command on you, you will have no choice but to comply to their order, whether it be as insignificant as ‘light a fire’ or as serious as ‘slaughter all in this town to the last man, woman, and child’.”

 

“W-wow, it sounds like a dangerous power,” Luka murmured, awed. “And the Third Monster Lord had it?”

 

“All Monster Lords have it, to an extent,” Alice clarified. “It is a power that comes with authority, and usually, it grows stronger as the Monster Lord’s personal power does. But Steelburn was said to have such a potent Domination, she could tell a river to flow backwards and it would, even though she was far from being the most powerful monster of her age. It’s just a myth, I'm sure, but it should give you an idea of how powerful her Domination was. It didn’t matter how much stronger than her other monsters may have been; she could’ve bent them all to her will, had she wanted to. But she never did. She would always extend a friendly hand to her defeated enemies, and display great generosity towards them. That is how she unified all known lands and ushered in two hundred years of prosperity.”

 

“How... did it end?” Luka asked, not sure he wanted to hear how the story ended. Alice shrugged.

 

“You’d have to ask Tamamo for that,” she replied, looking apologetic. “Everything I told you so far, she taught me. She’s sort of the monsters’ historian, in a way. All I know is that Steelburn simply vanished one night, never to be seen again. The peace she built lasted a bit longer, but eventually it all fell apart.” She then looked sharply at the sword. “Or, of course, you could ask the spirit. She was, after all, the Golden Lord’s blade. She should know how it all ended.”

 

“Good point. I may just do that,” Luka nodded. “But first, I think I should focus on the matter at hand, as she suggested. According to her, monsters who can control the weather to the extent of doing damage to boats are very powerful, and I should be ready for anything.”

 

“That’s very good advice,” Alice nodded. “I would follow it if I were you. And, if you come out of this alive, I’d like to speak with you. There’s something important about me I’d like to tell you, and I’m kind of having trouble finding the words...”

 

“Hahaha, I know how that feels,” the boy smiled, understanding. “You know exactly what you want to say, but when you try to put it in words, all that comes to mind is easily misunderstood or just plain lame tripe, right?”

 

“...Ha, yes. That’s exactly it,” Alice smiled back, stifling a giggle. “Well, hopefully I’ll find a non-lame way of saying it by the time we get rid of this annoyance. Well, shall we wait for Thermidor downstairs? She went to look for supplies for the likely sea trip we’ll be taking, and breakfast should be ready soon, although it’s not very tasty at all.”

 

“Yeah, let’s do that,” Luka nodded as he began to pack up. “I suspect we won’t be eating nearly as well on the pirates’ ship...”

 

----

 

A while later, the group finally reached the port. Thermidor looked around with curiosity, having never been there thus far, and her gaze became sharper as she laid eyes on the Grishend’s massive form - the pirate ship was easy to tell apart from the other vessels, as it was considerably larger, and unlike every other ship docked, it was the only ship clad in metal armor.

 

“Hm. So this is the Pirate Emperor’s ship,” the fencer commented, intrigued in spite of her wariness of the pirates. “It certainly lives up to its reputation. There is an aura of magic surrounding it... between that and its armored hull, I can see why it gained fame for being unsinkable. It could probably withstand assaults from powerful monsters, too.”

 

“Well, it’s still there after being in the middle of a magical storm, so I guess it did survive a powerful monster,” Luka pointed out as they approached the ship, bustling with its crew’s activity. His eyes then lit up as he spotted a familiar figure on deck. “Ah, there’s Captain Greybeard. He’ll be happy to hear we were successful, I’m sure.” he exclaimed. Turning around, he gave Thermidor a concerned look, frowning. “Uh, Thermidor? These men sort of... don’t see women often. Try not to lop anyone’s hands off if they get grabby, please.”

 

“Great. I feel safe already,” Thermidor commented, rolling her eyes. “I am beginning to have doubts about the wisdom of this idea...”

 

“I got on that ship, and they kept their hands to themselves,” Alice scoffed in a dismissing tone. “You’re armed and look considerably more threatening than I do. You’ll be fine.”

 

“I hope so... here they come,” the swordswoman muttered, seeing a bunch of pirates approach. Luka looked up and noticed Largo was among them.

 

“The First Mate is with them. I know him. Let me handle this,” he told her. He then looked at the approaching pirate’s bulky figure. “Oi, Largo! I’m back!”

 

“So I see, lad,” the short man replied with a nod and a toothy smile. “An’ I see ye got ‘nother lovely lass with ye. Who’s she?”

 

“My sister. Hands off,” Luka replied flatly, doing his best to look dangerous. Largo blinked, then started laughing uncontrollably.

 

“Phf-hahahahahahaha! Yer bringin’ yer sister in this here den o’ crime an’ iniquity? Be ye daft, lad?” he chortled, shaking his head as he wiped tears from his eyes. Regaining control of himself, he looked at Thermidor, then back to Luka and nodded. “Awright, I’ll let the boys know she be off limits, too. ‘though, they’d hafta be pretty stupid ta get too friendly wit’ her, bein’ an undead monster an’ all...”

 

“Wh-- how do you know I’m a monster? And an undead type, to boot?” Thermidor asked, her hand straying to her sword as she stared at Largo with alarm and suspicion. The swarthy man waved a hand before him, looking at her as if she’d just asked a stupid question.

 

“We c’n feel it, lass,” he replied matter-of-factly. “We know the other one be a monster, too. Ev’ry man on this here ship be monster-kin. The blood calls out. Ye may fool normal men, but not us. Don’t bother wit’ disguises while on ol’ Grishend - we wouldn’t reject our blood-kin.”

 

“You... you’re all descendants of monsters?! And all male?!” Alice asked, looking completely taken aback for the first time since Luka had met her. “You’ve got to be kidding me. If that’s true, then you people are just about the largest concentration of rare, sought-after men in this world in just about any monster’s eyes. How did you avoid getting dogpiled by every monster you met and dragged away to be a stud or something?”

 

“Ol’ Grishend is magicked ta cover our nature,” Largo said. “‘Tis why ye couldn’t tell either ‘til I told ye. ‘Tis common sense ta not swim wit’ sharks while smellin’ like fresh blood, ain’t it?”

 

“Good point,” Alice nodded, before shaking her head. “By the Abyss, I know people back in Hellgondo who would gladly sell their firstborn for the chance to be allowed on this ship and have their pick of the litter. You'd better not publicize the fact you’re all monster-blooded, ever, or you aren’t going to last one minute before some monster ruler shows up to cart half of you away.”

 

“Aye, the Cap’n knows that, which be why he had that magick made,” the short man nodded. He then motioned Luka towards the ship. “Speakin’ o’ which, he be waitin’ fer ye, lad. He’s been worried ‘bout ye.”

 

“Right, I think he’ll be pretty happy with my little expedition,” Luka nodded as he started walking towards the ship. “It wasn’t easy, but I found what he asked me to fetch.”

 

“Ye found Poseidon’s Bell?” Largo asked, staring at him in surprise. “I’ll be damned, lad, yer full o’ surprises... an’ more useful than some o’ the dogs on this here ship. Wish we had a couple more o’ ye aboard...”



“Sorry, I’m comfortable with being unique,” Luka quipped with a smile. “See you later, Largo!”

 

“Hah, right... ahoy, mateys! Hurry an’ get the sails ready!” the First Mate called out to a bunch of pirates working around the Grishend’s mast. “We cast off soon, an’ with any luck, we be leavin’ this godforsaken port behind for good!”

 

While Largo directed his men to finish setting the sails up, Luka boarded the vessel along with Alice and Thermidor. Having already been on the Grishend before, Alice didn’t pay much attention to her surroundings, besides noticing that the ship had been almost completely repaired since they last visited. Thermidor, on the other hand, had never been on the pirate ship, and looked about with great curiosity - and more than a bit of concern, as well. It was, after all, a pirate vessel. Who knew where danger could come from?

 

As they walked toward the ship’s wheel, the man Luka had earlier identified as Greybeard turned towards them and noticed the boy Hero. A large, somewhat scary smile broke out on the Captain’s bearded face, and he quickly made his way over to them. As he did, Thermidor, stopped, feeling the hair on the back of her neck stand straight up. She could feel an unmistakable aura of power coming from Greybeard, and she suddenly understood how the man before her had come to be known as the Pirate Emperor. In fact, she was fairly certain that the old sea dog’s personal power could rival that of many pure-blooded monster rulers if he actually tried.

 

While Thermidor was busy discreetly examining Greybeard, the pirate walked up to Luka and gave him a friendly slap on the back, laughing heartily.

 

“Ahoy, laddie! I see ye came back in one piece, after all!” he greeted him, looking genuinely happy. “That’s good. After ye left, I started doubtin’, thinkin’ I shouldn’t have asked ye ta fetch the Bell. I was worried ye’d get yerself killed. Glad ta see I was wrong an’ ye managed ta survive.” He then eyed him with curiosity. “So, 'bout Poseidon’s Bell...?”

 

With a smile, Luka reached in one of his belt’s pouches and produced the magical trinket, holding it up triumphantly. The Captain’s eyes widened, and he once again started laughing, pleased.

 

“Ha! Ye did it, lad! Ye actually did it!” he exclaimed loudly, slapping his belly with mirth. “I shouldn’t have doubted ye. Now we c'n head out an’ figure out how ta stop them storms fer good. But first, come with me. I want ta hear all the details o’ yer adventure, and the best way ta do so is over a nice, strong drink.”

 

“Uh, I don’t drink--” Luka began, but the Captain waved his protests away with a sharp gesture.

 

“Hogwash! Ye did good, lad, an’ on me ship, quality booze be the reward fer a job well done,” he replied in a conclusive tone. “An’ if ye be old enuff ta risk yer life explorin’ abandoned temples an’ fightin’ monsters, ye be old enuff ta enjoy a man’s drink. Leave the milk ta them Ilias Church wretches.”

 

“But--” Luka attempted to protest again, only to be cut off once more, this time - to his surprise - by Thermidor. The fencer gave him a warning look.

 

“Luka. We’re on Captain Greybeard’s ship. While on a ship, you don’t say no to its Captain,” she stated. “I don’t much like the idea of you drinking, seeing how to my knowledge you never did it before, but if the Captain says so, then it’s what must be done. That’s the rule aboard a ship.”

 

“Ah, an intelligent lass,” Greybeard nodded appreciatively, eyeing her with interest. “An’ who might ye be? I don’t believe I had the pleasure o’ meetin’ you last time...”

 

“She’s my sister. Well, adopted sister,” Luka explained. “Her name is Thermidor. She’s the one who taught me how to fight, and who has been doing her best to keep me from losing my head out of carelessness. I probably shouldn’t worry her so much, either...”

 

“Damn straight ye shouldn’t, lad,” Greybeard replied, looking unusually serious. “No man worth his salt should make a lass cry, 'cept fer teary farewells a'port. Be good ta her, will ye? As for ye, lass,” the pirate continued, offering a small bow to Thermidor, “welcome aboard me not-so-humble ship. I’d offer ye a handshake, but touchin’ yer kind be not a smart idea...”

 

“So you have monster blood, too,” Thermidor said, the Captain’s words confirming her suspicions. “That’s why I can feel your power, and why you can tell I’m a monster, isn’t it?”

 

“Aye, that be true,” Greybeard nodded. “I be called ‘Poseidon’s Child’ fer a reason, lass. ‘Though, I ain’t seen me Ma fer years, now. She be far ta the north, busy wit’ keepin’ order in the sea...”

 

“Wait, so you’re actually one of Poseidoness’ children?” Alice interrupted, surprised. Greybeard nodded, smiling slightly.

 

“Aye, the Queen o’ the Northern Sea be me own dear Ma,” he nodded. “I only met her a few times, but pleased she was that I chose a life o’ sailin’ across her domains. ‘Tis fine that I don’t see her much - she be a busy woman, an’ her duty be more important than family reunions.”

 

“So... why are you even living a pirate’s life? You’re practically royalty,” Alice asked him, intrigued. “You could be a landowner, or an ambassador, or even simply go live with her and enjoy a luxurious life...”

 

“Borin', borin', an’ borin',” Greybeard replied dismissively. “I long fer adventurin’ an’ excitement. Me Ma sez it be in me blood. Me Da was a pirate, too, an’ Ma herself woulda liked ta explore the world to her leisure. Alas, her duties ta the sea be too important ta simply weigh anchor an' leave. So, I live a life o’ excitin' action fer her, as well. That I get ta mess wit’ the Church’s fools is jus’ an added bonus.”

 

“Judging from your throat, the ‘excitement’ must have reached critical level sometime in your past,” Thermidor commented critically, eyeing the prominent scar on his throat. Greybeard nodded.

 

“Aye, that it did, an’ the Queen o’ the Abyss near called me ta her bosom that one time,” he admitted honestly. “But, seems she decided ‘twas not yet time fer me to rest. And so, here I be, still kickin’.” He then shrugged and waved for the group to follow him, heading towards the door leading below deck. “But enough reminiscin’ o' the past. Let’s away ta me cabin, an’ sit down afore a good bottle o’ rum, an’ then ye c’n tell me all 'bout Poseidon’s Cave. ‘Tis me Ma’s temple, after all. I’d like ta know what state it be in.”

 

----

 

“I see... so that be what happened, eh?” Captain Greybeard nodded before taking a swig from a bottle of strong-smelling liquor. Letting out a deep breath, he refocused on the trio seated before him. “Fair enuff. I’ll be sure ta visit Poseidon’s Cave an’ bring yer spider friend some food. Gotta say, ‘tis impressive ye managed ta get one o’ ‘em man-eaters ta listen. They usually jus’ eat ye.”

 

“Yes, well, it’s not like she didn’t try,” Luka replied, cautiously sniffing the cup before him. He winced as the spices and alcohol from the rum that filled it made his eyes tear up. “Um, Captain? Can I at least drink this stuff after we’ve visited the storm and seen what we can find there? I’d like to not be drunk if things get hairy and there’s fighting to be done.”

 

“Pah, yer bein’ lily-livered, lad,” Greybeard shook his head with a grunt, pushing a glass towards him and pouring the content of a bottle of common red wine in it. “But ye make a good point. Fine, ye c’n drink this instead, an’ wait ‘til after we be done fer the good stuff. But I do expect ye ta drink wit’ me after this mess is behind us, hear me, boy?”

 

“Sure, fine, I’ll do it. Just don't be surprised if I pass out two minutes in,” Luka shook his head with a grimace as he gently pushed the cup aside and accepted the wine glass. Sniffing it, he decided it was much less potent than whatever concoction the pirate captain was drinking, and nodded, taking a cautious sip from it. Greybeard shook his head disapprovingly, then looked at Thermidor and Alice.

 

“An’ what aboot ye two lasses? Will ye drink wit’ me?” he asked them. Thermidor shrugged as she reached out for her own cup.

 

“Why not? I cannot get intoxicated the way a living being does, anyway,” she replied nonchalantly. “It’s a waste of good liquor, if you ask me, but if it pleases you, I’ll drink, Captain.”

 

“I like strong drinks, but I always seem to forget what happens when I drink too much,” Alice commented as she took a sip from her cup. “I wonder why that is-- by the Abyss!” she choked as she teared up, barely managing to set the cup down before spilling the content. “What is this stuff made of? It feels like liquid fire in my throat!”

 

“There be a reason why it be called Dragonblood, lass,” Greybeard chortled as he took another heavy swig from his bottle. “Hot as a Dragon’s breath, that be how a real man o’ the sea’s drinks should be.”

 

“How... how do you do that? Doesn’t it hurt to drink so much, so fast?” Alice stared at the pirate incredulously as he downed more than twice the amount of Dragonblood that was in her cup in three long gulps. Greybeard exhaled loudly, then set the bottle down and grinned.

 

“I been drinkin’ the good stuff since I were a wee lad like yer boy Luka o’er thar, lass,” he stated simply. “I got used ta it. An’ it does wonders ta lighten me mood an’ warm me belly when things are bad.”

 

“Suddenly, I’m thankful I was able to talk my way out of this,” Luka muttered as he hid behind his wine glass, still slowly sipping the red liquid. “I’d have ended up under the table in a flash if I’d even taken a swig of that stuff...”

 

“Bah, I’ll make a proper sea-dog o’ ye afore we part ways, lad,” Greybeard said in a rather ominous tone. “An’ that includes bein’ able ta hold yer liquor.”

 

“Gods... Monster Lord... Spirits... anyone who is listening... please, save me?” Luka lamented loudly, his eyes tearing up at the mere thought of what lay ahead of him. Alice snickered at that, thoroughly amused if still a bit shaken up by the liquor’s strength.

 

“Careful now, another of the Yamatai curses is ‘May the Gods grant your wish’,” she warned him, and laughed when he winced. “Ah, relax. At worst, you’ll just get completely wasted. It could be worse, right?”

 

“You aren’t helping,” the boy replied sourly. Greybeard gave a hearty laugh at that.

 

“Ha! Don’t worry, lad, yer friend’s right. Ye’ll be jus’ fine,” he waved his concerns away with a big smile. He then got up and walked towards the door, motioning for the three to follow. “Come now, let’s go back on deck an’ see what shape ol’ Grishend is in. Wit’ any luck, we may be able to launch ‘er this afternoon.”

 

----

 

“Anchors aweigh!”

 

Luka looked at the Grishend’s deck, bustling with activity as Captain Greybeard gave the order to set sail. Upon returning abovedeck, they had found that Largo and the crew had finished setting the ship up for departure. They remained in port a little longer, in order to stock up on supplies for the sea trip, but once the pirates finished loading up on food, water and repair items - all of which the Captain paid for, pointing out that Iliasport’s people already had a raw deal without him going and robbing them when Luka’s group cast a curious glance at him - the time finally came for the ship to try its luck and brave the unnatural storms.

 

As the pirates raised the anchors and prepared to leave the port, Greybeard went to the ship’s bow and firmly secured Poseidon’s Bell to it, making sure it couldn’t be knocked off even if hit. Taking a step back, he examined the bell critically, then nodded, satisfied, and returned to the ship’s wheel. Placing a hand on it, he looked over at his crew, who were waiting for further orders.

 

“Lissen up, lads! I want ye ta tie yerself ta the ship wit’ ropes an’ chains! Ye know how fearsome the storms c’n be by now! Be sure ta not get thrown overboard, or ye’ll be sleepin’ wit’ the fishes!” he exclaimed in a serious tone. He then raised his fist in the air. “Now, we be facin’ the storm’s source! Let’s put an end ta this mess an’ be on our way back home! Trust in the Queen o’ the Sea’s protection! We have her Bell watchin’ o'er us! Let’s go, ye scurvy sea-dogs!”

 

“Aye aye, Cap’n!” a chorus of voices answered Greybeard’s call. Satisfied with the reply, Greybeard turned to Luka and his companions.

 

“Ye may want ta head belowdeck, friends,” he advised them. “Things may get rough up ‘ere, an’ ye don’t want ta end up in the drink.”

 

“I think I will heed your advice, Captain,” Thermidor nodded. “After all, I am clad in full armor, and it is quite heavy. I would sink to the bottom of the ocean in seconds if I did get thrown overboard, and while it would not kill me, since I do not need air or food like humans do, it would be very annoying regardless.”

 

“I’ll stay on the deck,” Luka stated with decision. “If there really is a monster behind this, as seems to be the case so far, there’s a good chance it’ll attack while we’re busy, so my presence here may be of use.”

 

“...Fair enough. I will trust your judgment and good sense on this one. Just... be careful, Luka,” the fencer agreed with him. “If you get thrown off, there’s not much any of us can do to save you, so be sure to tie yourself down to something. I highly doubt the Grishend is going to sink that easily, so being tied to part of it is safer than it’d be on a normal ship.”

 

“Good point. I’ll do that,” the boy nodded, eyeing a nearby rope and looking for a place he could securely tie himself to. As he got busy searching for a safe place, Alice briefly peered at him, then looked at the Captain.

 

“I’ll head belowdeck as well, Captain. If a monster does appear, please send someone to fetch me,” she told him. “I’d like to see for myself who it is that’s causing these storms...”

 

“Leave it ta me, lass,” Greybeard nodded. “An’ be sure ta hold onto sumthin’ while ye be down under. Even if yer in no danger o' bein’ tossed in the sea, ye c'n still get roughed up by the waves ‘less ye keep yerself steady.”

 

“Thanks for the warning,” Alice replied with a smile. “Good luck to you and your men up here.”

 

“I thank ye fer yer kind words, lass,” the Captain smiled back before turning around and taking hold of the ship’s wheel. “Ahoy, me hearties, we be leavin’!”

 

With those words, the ship’s sails were fully distended, and the pirate vessel slowly made its way out of Iliasport’s docks. A few locals gathered to look at the departing ship, curious. The pirates had mentioned acquiring a magical treasure that could let them stop the storms as they loaded up supplies, and the few onlookers had gathered to see the ship off on its voyage with a mix of pessimism and just a little bit of hope on their faces.

 

Before long, the ship left the relative safety of the dock’s area, and was well on its way north, towards the main continent - Sentora. For the first time, Luka realized he was leaving the only home he’d ever known behind. Even if he fully intended to return - how could he not? - the prospect of leaving Ilias Continent behind was still rather frightening: strong as he may have been as a fighter, Luka was ultimately still a boy, and some trepidation at the idea of facing an unknown voyage was inevitable and entirely understandable.

 

As he spent some time thinking about what he was leaving behind, Luka moved closer to the ship’s starboard, looking out at the enormous expanse of water before his eyes. His mother did tell him numerous times that the sea was even bigger than he could imagine, but hearing of it and seeing it were two very, very different things. He felt even smaller looking at the sea than he did when he’d been at the feet of the Irina mountain range.

 

And under the roiling waves, monsters ruled the dark depths... one of these monsters being Poseidoness, the one who gave birth to the very same pirate captain whose ship they were now sailing on, and whose relic would - hopefully - protect them from the storms waiting ahead and let them unravel the mystery behind them. He idly wondered if he’d ever get to meet these Queens of the Seas, himself.

 

And beyond them, the ‘Queen of the Abyss’ that Greybeard mentioned. From the reverent way in which he’d heard some of the pirates pray to her, he’d have thought she was some sort of all-powerful sea goddess, and it quickly became clear to him that she was not the same as the Queens of the Seas. He’d known little to nothing about this before starting his journey, and he noted with satisfaction that, if nothing else, this adventure he’d embarked on would leave him wiser and more knowledgeable.

 

His quiet introspection was suddenly pierced by a sharp cry from the lookout high up on the bird’s nest. Blinking, he looked out to the north, and stiffened. The sky before the ship was rapidly darkening, and a low rumbling announced that nothing good was in store for the sailing ship. As he moved away from the ship’s side and double-checked the thick rope tying him to the mast, he noticed the lookout quickly climb down from the bird’s nest. It made sense: remaining up there with the storm that was brewing ahead was a suicidal idea, at best.

 

“Ready ta dance, lad?” a familiar voice rose from behind him. Glancing back, Luka saw Largo looking at him with a big grin. The grizzled pirate didn’t seem overly concerned, rather appearing annoyed.

 

“Aren’t you afraid of the storm, Largo?” Luka asked, puzzled by the pirate’s apparent lack of fear. The bulky man shrugged.

 

“Naw, we been through this a few times already,” he replied, unconcerned. “‘sides, we be monster-blooded men, remember? Only this here ship’s proximity shields us. Long as we can hold out drownin’ until we get spotted, some sea monster’s gonna find us, realize what we be, an’ cart us off to be their husbands. Be better than dyin’. Can’t say the same fer ye, though, so be sure not ta end up overboard, lad.”

 

“That’s... a rather practical outlook to things,” Luka admitted, slightly weirded out. “Of course, it’d be better to not be thrown in the water to begin with...”

 

“‘course that be best, lad,” Largo agreed with a grin. “But as always, our fate be at the whim of the Queens o’ the Seas.”

 

“What about the Queen of the Abyss?” Luka asked, curious. Largo’s expression became more serious at Luka’s mention.

 

“The Abyss Queen be not one whose embrace we be eager to feel, lad,” he replied. “She be the drowned sailor’s repose, the port where souls lost at sea rest their weary bones. We all return ta her bosom, but she only embraces those whose life be at its end. Still, it be a comfort ta know the Sea Goddess awaits us beyond death...”

 

“I see... I honestly never heard of a Sea Goddess cult or anything before,” Luka mentioned as the ship started rocking gently with the first waves. “I thought the Church of Ilias was the only Goddess cult.”

 

“The Abyss Queen be the Mermaids’ goddess, lad. That be why ye never heard of ‘er.” Largo explained. “Mermaids jealously guard their beliefs, but were kind enough ta share the Abyss Queen’s blessing wit’ us sailors. ‘though I hear the current Mermaid Queen don’t much like humans...”

 

“So she’s a goddess of monsters... That explains it,” Luka mused. “I wonder what kind of religion other monsters follow? It’d be an interesting study...”

 

“Yer a thinker, eh, lad? Good fer ye. I wuz too dumb ta learn much ‘sides writin’, an’ me handwritin’ be awful,” the First Mate commented with a wry smile. “But ye be goin’ places, lad. Ye got a good head on yer shoulders, so use it. Don’t be like me. Bein’ dumb works fer a pirate... fer a would-be Hero o’ all like ye, not so much.”

 

“Hahaha, yeah... Ack!” Luka replied, his laughter cut off by a sudden wave of salty water drenching him, knocking him off balance and forcing him to grab the railing to avoid falling overboard. As he coughed and spluttered, wiping his eyes from the liquid before they started to burn, he looked around and noticed he’d been so absorbed in his talk with Largo that he failed to notice how the sea had become much more agitated than before. Huge waves big enough to splash people on deck zipped past the ship, and the wind had picked up enough that a distinct howling sound could be heard. The light had diminished, as well, due to the dark clouds overhead.

 

“Sorry, lad, I gotta go help the boys keep ol’ Grishend afloat,” Largo apologized as he moved away, using a network of ropes that had been set up earlier to allow quick movement across the deck. “Watch out fer them waves, an’ fer whoever may be causin’ ‘em.”

 

“Will do,” Luka replied with a wave. “If ye see anythin’ in the clouds, come see me.”



“Careful, lad. Ye be startin’ ta speak pirate-like, too,” the pirate warned Luka with a grin, having caught his brief slip into a rougher speech pattern. The boy winced.

 

“Gah, I really hope not. No offense, but last thing I need is to slip into talking like a pirate when speaking with some guard and getting thrown in jail for it,” he muttered loudly, causing Largo to crack up in laughter. The pirate waved at him and then deftly moved across the ropes on deck, shouting orders left and right. Luka decided right then that he wasn't a sailor at heart, as he lashed his left arm to the railing, next to a clever little sign reading "No Swimmin' - unless yer lookin' fer a wife".

 

The next half hour could be best described as ‘apocalyptic’. The storm picked up in intensity frighteningly fast, and before long, enormous waves were forming around the Grishend, attempting to crush and break its hull, and sweep away its crew. However, it quickly became apparent that the storm’s fury was powerless against Poseidon’s Bell; the Sea Queen’s relic shone brightly from its place on the bow, and every time a threatening wave attempted to engulf the pirate vessel, it would harmlessly dissipate before hitting the hull and sweeping the deck. Nonetheless, the waters were raging so violently that the ship constantly rocked about, making anything but careful movement a hazardous proposition.

 

As Luka struggled to keep himself steady and held firmly onto the railing, he let his eyes wander across the hellish scene before him, and he couldn’t help but shiver. What he was seeing was far more than just a monster casting a spell, he just knew it. Whichever monster had instigated this storm had merely given the elements a target for their fury. Everything else he was seeing was Nature’s pure, unbridled power at work - the wrath of the world itself.

 

Watching the storm, it occurred to him that if he should ever manage to gain the allegiance of the Elemental Spirits, it would be beyond foolish to presume he could simply order the incarnations of such elemental power around. He was no Monster Lord, he had no such authority, and he doubted he’d ever manage to get to the level of commanding Nature to lend its aid, rather than asking or begging for it. If he ever convinced the Spirits to lend him their help, he’d always have to remember that theirs was not a power that could be caged, only contained. His best bet was to simply call upon them for aid, and let them run wild as they saw fit. Somehow, he had a feeling it would work out.

 

As Luka contemplated the storm with a mix of awe and fear, he slowly became aware of a shift in the atmosphere around him. Somehow, it felt to him as if the wind decided they weren’t worth the effort anymore, and was leaving in search of easier prey. Confirming his feeling, the wind began to lose intensity after a few minutes, though it was still very strong. At that point, he felt a presence beside him, and looked to the side to see Captain Greybeard grinning at him.

 

“Good ta see yer still in one piece, lad!” he yelled over the roaring wind. “Storm’s dyin’ down. Hold on a bit longer, we be almost out of it!”

 

“Have you spotted any monsters?” Luka yelled back, wincing as the wind bit into his face and whipped the moisture from his eyes. “It’s strange that whoever did this hasn’t showed up yet!”

 

“Nay, no monsters!” the pirate shook his head. “But they be out there, watchin’. Mark me words, lad! Don’t let yer guard down! They be sure ta visit us soon enuff!”

 

“Yes, well, maybe this storm is inconvenient for them, too?” the boy asked, curious. Greybeard returned an equally intrigued stare at him.

 

“Fer them too, ye say? Interestin’ idea,” he mused. “That’d mean some sort ‘a winged beastie, wouldn’t it? Sea monsters wouldn’t be harassed by the storm, but flyers would be unable ta take flight themselves...”

 

“I wonder, could it be a Heavenly Knight?” Luka asked. “I mean, I don’t normally believe in coincidences, but I met three of them already, and only the Knight of Wind is missing...”

 

“That’d be some rotten luck followin’ ye then, lad, runnin’ inta the strongest monsters in the world at ev’ry corner,” Greybeard replied, looking serious. “An’ if a Heavenly Knight wants us back inta port, there be not much I can do fer it. They be not enemies ta be trifled with.”

 

Luka frowned as he looked around, noting the wind was dying down more and more with each passing second, and the waves had become manageable. Greybeard was right, naturally. If a Heavenly Knight went to such extremes to ensure no ship left port, being able to negotiate was unlikely. And he was honest enough to know that even though he’d luckily survived against two of them already, there was no way he’d be able to take on one of the Monster Lord’s elite if they were serious about the fight. He shook his head, worried. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to a confrontation. If it did... well, he was the one who chose to be a Hero, and sometimes that meant fighting hopeless fights. He’d give it a try anyway.

 

Within the next few minutes, the storm became a light rain, and then the rain ceased, as well. The dark clouds began to disperse, confirming Luka’s suspicion that magic had been at work - there was no way that such a stormy weather would come undone this quickly in a natural fashion. Soon enough, a few rays of afternoon sun poked through the cloud cover, and as they did, the Grishend’s crew cheered. They had gotten past the storm.

 

At his side, however, Captain Greybeard didn’t join in on the cheering, and Luka noticed he had a worried expression on his face. Seeing the boy stare at him, the old veteran nodded at him as he moved to organize his crew in the storm’s aftermath.

 

“Be alert now, lad,” he said simply. “These old bones got a real bad feelin’ ‘bout this.”

 

With that, he walked off, leaving Luka lost in his own, similar, worries.

 

----

 

Sunset came without incident as the Grishend navigated the waters to the north of Iliasport, looking for signs of the mysterious culprits of the storm events. Rather than make Luka and Greybeard more relaxed, it made them more alert. Neither of them believed this apparent calm was normal or likely to last, and both of them would rather the storm-maker simply reveal itself and be done with it.

 

That evening, after dinner - which almost got Luka conscripted as the ship’s cook, after he insisted on preparing it himself and caused the majority of the pirates to clamor for the Captain to recruit him by force - Luka wandered on deck and leaned on the ship’s railing, watching the calm waters before him shine under the moon. He was amazed at how quickly the sea went from murderously angry to peaceful again, and while he was sure this particular instance of it was caused by external forces, talking with the crew had revealed that it was a fairly common occurrence, and also the chief reason why they had a lookout. At sea, the weather was fickle and treacherous, and could change completely in a matter of minutes. Seeing a storm coming could be a matter of life and death, so every ship that sailed the seas had a lookout entirely dedicated to observing the sea and sky for signs of a sudden weather change.

 

“Hard to believe that just a few hours ago, this sea was angry and roaring at us in an attempt to swallow us beneath the waves, eh?” a familiar voice came from behind him. Turning, he smiled at Alice, who slithered up to him. After realizing that the whole ship knew she was a monster, she had cast her human disguise aside with visible relief, and had since been comfortably moving around the ship in her natural serpentine form. For their part, the pirates seemed unconcerned with having a predatory monster on their ship. Presumably, they assumed she wouldn’t eat blood-kin, and their assumption seemed to be correct. A few of them even complimented her on her beauty, and some offered her hand-crafted jewels made of seashells and pearls. The attention seemed to please Alice, who smiled and graciously accepted the gifts, offering thanks and wishes of good luck in return.

 

For some reason, however, all that attention vaguely irritated Luka.

 

“Yeah, it was pretty frightening earlier,” he told her. “I had never seen anything quite like that before. Oh, sure, there was heavy weather down in Ilias Continent, too, but this is something else entirely. The forces of Nature can’t really be commanded, can they? Well, maybe if one is the Monster Lord, since the Elemental Spirits are sort of monsters, but...”

 

“No, you’re quite right,” Alice replied. “Even the Monster Lord has to respect the elements’ power. It’s not really a matter of commanding them, but of winning their trust. They will obey orders... if they deem the one giving orders to be worthy of their obedience. Otherwise...”

 

“So I was right...” Luka mused. At Alice’s questioning look, he explained: “When I was watching the storm, I got this feeling that if I ever get the Spirits’ help, I should never try to force them to do my bidding. They are wild, uncontrollable forces. At most, I should ask for their assistance and trust their judgment in how they will assist me. Go with the flow, as my mother once told me.”

“Huh...” Alice muttered, looking surprised. Luka blinked.

 

“What? Did I say something wrong?” he asked. Alice shook her head with a smile.

 

“No, no. On the contrary, you’re quite right,” she replied. “At first, you’ll want to trust in the spirits and, as you say, go with the flow. This is especially important with Sylph, the wind spirit, and Undine, the water spirit. You may have an easier time mastering them than others. Then again, your temper is rather, ah, fiery... you may get along with Salamander, too. She’s much like you... calm most of the time, but don’t piss her off.”

 

“Huh. And the earth spirit?” Luka asked, curious. Alice shrugged.

 

“Gnome? I actually know next to nothing about her,” she stated. “You’d have to ask Tamamo. She’s the Knight of Earth. But even Tamamo is unlikely to be of much help. She once told me that Gnome is... not much of a people person, and that makes knowing her rather difficult.”

 

“I see... thanks,” Luka said. He then gave her a curious look. “Say, you mentioned that if I survived this whole mess with the storm, you had something important to tell me. What would it be?”

 

“Ah, that, yeah,” Alice muttered awkwardly. “It concerns, well, your guess about my status. You know, the Heavenly Knight guess and all?”

 

“Yes? What about it?” Luka asked, puzzled. Alice winced, fishing around for words. She wasn’t all too good at being diplomatic, but didn’t want to be blunt with Luka on this argument.

 

“Well... the thing is...” she began, trying to form the right words. Luka’s attention, however, was suddenly diverted from her by a sudden psychic warning.

 

“Watch out! A strong monster is approaching!” Steelburn’s voice resonated in his mind. Luka instantly went into high alert, and moments later, he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise as a pressure he was by now all too familiar with washed over him. Alice stopped talking, as well, having perceived it at the same time. Her eyes narrowed.

 

“I should have known it was her...” she muttered. Her words went unnoticed by Luka, who had fallen in a defensive posture, ready to draw his sword if needed.

 

“Of all the rotten luck,” he commented in a low voice as he stared in the direction the pressure was coming from. “It has to be the Heavenly Knight of Wind. I was right, apparently.”

 

“That’s Alma Elma, all right... the Succubus Queen,” Alice confirmed, drawing his attention again. Luka stared at her, appalled.

 

“The Knight of Wind is a Succubus? The devourer of men?” He asked, aghast. He was well aware that Succubi primarily attacked through sexual temptation - precisely the area he was weakest in. He began to get a very bad feeling from the situation.

 

“Yes, and yes. The latter, sometimes literally,” Alice confirmed. “Alma likes to eat tender young men such as yourself. In more than one way, but all of them tend to be fatal. Watch yourself - here she comes!”

 

As if on cue, a gust of wind swept the deck, and a small localized vortex formed before Luka, obscuring his view as a figure flew in from above and graciously landed in the middle of it. Luka swept away the dust that had gotten in his eyes, then looked up to take in the new arrival, and froze, staring.

 

Before him stood a tall horned, red-eyed woman with purple bat wings, a fleshy, pointed tail - also purple - and amazingly long light purple hair that almost reached the ground. She wore an extremely tight-fitting purple leather outfit that emphasized her curves, but there was hardly need for that; she was so generously endowed, it seemed as if her breasts were struggling to break free and her hips were cruelly bound in a leather cage. A sweet, intoxicating, slightly lewd fragrance emanated from her, causing Luka’s head to spin slightly just from being near her.

 

The young Hero could honestly say that the Succubus Queen standing before him was the most sensual and attractive woman he’d ever laid eyes on, and he winced as he felt his penis involuntarily stir from her mere proximity. He could tell that she was the Queen of her kind for a very good reason simply based on the effect she was having on him without even actively doing anything.

 

Alma Elma’s red eyes briefly roamed over Luka, lighting up with a peculiar hunger, as if sizing up a particularly tasty morsel, before shifting to Alice and widening in surprise. For her part, the Echidna stood unmoving, appearing slightly annoyed.

 

“Why, Lady Alicefeeze, I never thought I’d meet you here, of all places!” The Succubus Queen spoke for the first time. Luka winced again. Even though she was speaking in a cheerful tone, her voice itself was also extremely sensual. He quickly realized that as a Succubus, everything in her was a lethal sexual weapon, and that he had to avoid falling victim to her charms, as he had no hope of resisting her should that happen.

 

“I’m just as surprised,” Alice replied coolly. “Especially since I seem to recall explicitly mentioning leaving humans alone. Anything to say to that?”

 

“Hmm? What are you talking about? I’m just doing my job and defending those poor little monsters from the big bad Church Heroes,” Alma asked innocently, striking a pose as she tried to appear pure and guiltless - without much success in Luka’s eyes, given her temptress looks. Alice didn’t fall for it, either.

 

“And that involves sinking fishermen ships... how exactly?” she asked dryly. Alma paused, then shrugged nonchalantly.

 

“Well, you know, ships all look the same to me...” she said, before shifting her gaze to Luka and eyeing him sultrily. “More importantly, who is that boy? He smells absolutely delicious, and I’m a little hungry...”

 

“...His name’s Luka, and he’s a Hero from the southern continent who wishes to travel to Hellgondo and meet the Monster Lord,” Alice replied neutrally. Alma blinked at that.

 

“...Meet... the Monster Lord...? Isn’t that, you know, pointless, seeing how you’re right here?” she pointed out. Luka missed the implications of those words at first, then they sank in and he blinked once, twice and turned towards Alice, staring at her slack-jawed. The Echidna sighed, cupping her face in the palm of her hand.

 

“I was trying to tell him just that before you so rudely interrupted us with your exaggeratedly elaborate entrance and rotten timing,” she growled, glaring at Alma. The Succubus whistled innocently.

 

“Sorry about thaaaaat~” she apologized insincerely, before allowing a sly smile to wash over her face. “But I seem to recall you saying your decree of no aggression towards humans didn’t extend to Heroes. Am I misremembering?”

 

“...no. You aren’t,” Alice grunted reluctantly, seeing where she was going. Alma smiled like a cat that caught a canary.

 

“Then, requesting permission to exterminate the Hero on this ship?” she asked cheerfully, causing Luka to stiffen and Alice to groan. Seeing the reactions, she added slyly, “Unless you changed your mind while I wasn’t looking...?”

 

“I didn’t,” she flatly stated. “Do what you want. I won’t stop you.” Her eyes then narrowed. “But I don’t think it’s going to go the way you want, Alma.”

 

“Maaaybe, maybe not. But thank you for your permission,” she replied with a small laugh before turning towards Luka. The boy instantly went defensive, drawing Angel Halo. “So then, Luka-boy, that’s how it is. I’ll be your opponent. Now, let me see how I should finish you... Maybe I should use my breasts?” she asked, cupping her generous mounds in her hands and lightly swaying them side by side. She then brought her left hand up to her lips, tracing them with her index finger. “Perhaps you’d prefer my mouth. Or maybe,” she winked suggestively, turning halfway around and running a hand over her shapely rump, “you’d like to try anal?”

 

She then straightened up and clapped her hands, her tail slipping between her legs and rising to shoulder level. “Ah, I know! I’ll just use my tail! For a delicious little boy like you, it will be more than enough. I won’t even need my magic, or the rest of my body... It may even be a bit too exciting for you.” she exclaimed as she lightly caressed her appendage, pointing its tip at him. Suddenly, the tail’s tip opened, revealing a hole from which a sweet-smelling liquid slowly dripped. “My tail has sent many men to heaven, you know... it’ll feel amazing when it gobbles your penis up, too, Luka-boy!”

 

Unknowingly, Alma had just made a mistake. Her lewd actions and speech had gradually aroused Luka more and more, in spite of himself, as his eyes involuntarily roamed over the Succubus’s amazing body with every word she spoke. But when she declared she needed only her tail to subdue him, he paused, and his arousal subsided, gradually replaced by anger.

 

Heavenly Knight or not, she was dismissing his hard-earned skills. Luka refused to let this stand. One way or another, he’d make her take her own words back. Making his choice, he fell into a battle stance, his eyes narrowed.

 

“Calm down, young one,” Steelburn suddenly spoke up. “Anger leads to carelessness. Being careless against such an opponent is deadly.”

 

How come you’re not trying to stop me, then? he asked, not taking his eyes off Alma, who nonchalantly smiled at him while waving her tail about. I’m facing an opponent that’s obviously far more powerful than me, yet instead of warning me about how bad an idea what I’m about to do is, you just advise me to keep calm.

 

“Because you are already aware of how terrible an idea it is, of course. Aside from that, I understand pride in one’s skill and power,” the spirit replied. “As weak as you may be compared to her, you still take pride in what skill you do have, and rightfully so. Besides, she handicapped herself, and if what I know of Succubi is still true, her own pride will prevent her from going back on her word and killing or abducting you anyway if you manage to force her to break her own rule and use something other than her tail.”

 

Huh... it’s comforting to know that mine isn’t a completely foolish idea, Luka mused as he slowly shifted his weight from one foot to the other. I know what I’m doing is stupid, but what other choice do I have? Running away isn’t an option for me. The road I chose ensures that.

 

“Indeed. Which is why I’m advising you to keep your cool, rather than surrender,” Steelburn agreed. “Regardless, you need to focus. By now, you know the power the Heavenly Knights hold, and now you also know they aren’t all that much weaker than the Monster Lord. Unlike Granberia, who was preoccupied otherwise, and Tamamo, who was simply playing around, Alma Elma does mean to kill you if you fail, so focus.”

 

Alice... her being the Monster Lord caught me by surprise, Luka admitted as he took a step forward, Angel Halo firmly held in front of him. I don’t think she meant to keep it a secret from me, but I’ll need to have a talk with her afterwards... if there is an afterwards.

 

“Alicefeeze is rather... unskilled at interacting with others, yes,” the sword spirit replied in a critical tone. “Still, considering the circumstances, I suppose that is to be expected.”

 

Circumstances...? Luka inquired, puzzled, momentarily losing his focus. Immediately afterwards, a sharp pain lanced through his head and he winced, groaning softly. Ow! What was that for?!

 

“Are you daft? This is not the time to play Twenty Questions!” Steelburn chastised him. “Ask me later. Now focus on the Succubus Queen!”

 

Right... sorry, Luka apologized as his attention returned fully on Alma Elma. Well, let the dance begin...

 

Behind him, Alice smiled, observing the shift in his stance, and relaxed. She’d briefly feared that Alma’s seductive wiles would break Luka’s resistance down, but when he heard her declare him unfit for anything more than her tail and saw his reaction, she’d known those words needled the boy’s hidden, but strong pride enough to make him fight harder than ever. And since Alma had just handicapped herself... he just might be able to pull through.

 

As the Echidna watched Luka and Alma Elma face each other, she heard the door to belowdeck fly open behind her, and two people run up to the scene. She could tell one of them was Thermidor - the noise of her boots on the Grishend’s deck was unmistakable - and the other was probably Greybeard, if the heavy footsteps were any indication. She also heard the sound of a drawn blade, and quickly held her right arm out, stopping Thermidor from charging at Alma Elma with her weapon. The fencer gave her an outraged look.

 

“Lady Alicefeeze, let me through! Luka needs my help! That Succubus is--” she protested, only to be cut off by an imperious gesture from Alice.

 

“The Heavenly Knight Alma Elma. I know,” she stated simply. “Luka knows, too. And you won’t interfere.”

 

“I cannot obey such an order, even if it’s from you, Lady Alicefeeze,” Thermidor replied in a flat tone. Alice cast her a glance, then shrugged and turned back to the scene.

 

“Oi! Luka! Thermidor wants to interfere,” she announced, watching his back as he stiffened briefly. “What do you want me to do?”

 

“...keep her out of it,” the boy replied in a growling tone after a moment of silence. “I don’t want any interference. From anyone.”

 

“What...? Luka, you can’t be serious! That’s the Heavenly Knight Alma Elma! She’s not---” Thermidor protested, but Luka interrupted her abruptly.

 

“Please. Stay out of this,” Luka replied forcefully without looking back, leaving no doubt that he meant it. “This is a personal matter. Interfere, and I will never forgive you.”

 

“Alma claimed that she needs only her tail to defeat Luka, without needing her magic or any other body part,” Alice explained in a low tone so as not to be heard by the two contenders before her, preventing Thermidor from protesting again. “Luka took that as a personal offense. I believe he wants to prove her wrong, even if it kills him. You understand pride in one’s skill, don’t you?”

 

“Ah... yes, but...!” Thermidor replied, hesitant. Alice shot her a look.

 

“Alma can understand pride, too. She’s the Succubus Queen - pride is in her nature,” Alice stated in a whisper. “If Luka can overcome this challenge and prove himself, I think he will be safe. You said you’d believe in him. Now do it.”

 

“...I...” Thermidor murmured, torn as she watched Luka slowly circle Alma Elma up ahead. Alice merely gave her a calm look. Deflating, the fencer nodded slowly. “...I’ll believe in him. And I’ll pray. To whom, I’m not sure, but I’ll pray for Luka to pass this trial, too.”

 

“Good,” Alice nodded approvingly. “He needs to walk on his own two legs, and you need to stop shielding him. Have faith. I do.”

 

With that, both women stopped talking and focused on the battle at hand. Behind them, Greybeard also watched, having remained silent up until then. Privately, he decided he’d choose later whether to strangle the boy for worrying his sister so much or compliment him for surviving. Assuming he survived, of course, but the old pirate had a good feeling.

 

Back in the middle of the deck, Luka cautiously examined Alma Elma, trying to find holes in her defense which he could exploit to attack. To his surprise, he found several of them, and stopped, suspicious.

 

She’s the Heavenly Knight of Wind, he thought. She shouldn’t be this - vulnerable. Is she trying to lure me in? I know I only have to watch for her tail, but something is off here. Well... let’s test the waters.

 

Without warning, Luka lunged forward, unleashing his Thunder Thrust technique. Given who his opponent was, he felt that holding anything back would just ensure a quick defeat, and so chose to come out full force. To his surprise, the attack landed - and appeared to have little effect, save for Alma blinking briefly. He swore under his breath, realizing she was standing around primarily because she wasn’t overly worried about his attacks: she could see them coming and simply brace herself to nullify all damage.

 

Alma’s counterattack came almost immediately, and Luka yelped as her tail lashed out and snaked between his legs, sensually rubbing against his groin. Wincing, he bashed the appendage with both hands and hastily backed away, mentally commanding his stirring member to calm down. He glared at Alma Elma, who merely smiled at him with a smug expression.

 

“What are you gropin’ at, there?!” he growled at her, irritated at both how ineffective his attack had been and how easily she’d caught him off guard with her own attack. Alma cupped her cheek, a look of mock surprise on her face.

 

“Oh my, Luka-boy, don’t tell me I have to teach you about the birds and bees!” she theatrically exclaimed. “You see, when a boy and a girl love each other very much... or when a Succubus finds a very delicious young boy...”

 

“Stop mocking me!” Luka shouted, aggravated, as he launched into a flurry of consecutive attacks. Alma laughed merrily as she began to whip her tail around, parrying or deflecting all his blows, and occasionally letting a few of them through only to absorb the impact without any issue. After every blow, she countered with a sudden tail swipe which brushed intimately against Luka’s body, caressing, fondling and groping at him without giving him time to react.

 

Before long, Luka backed away against the ship’s mast, panting from exertion and finding himself aroused in spite of his anger at the mocking Succubus. Looking around, he growled.

 

Damn it, even without her wind magic, and just lazing around, she’s too fast and powerful for me, he thought, catching Thermidor looking at him with an anxious expression and Alice watching the fight with a neutral look on her face. Looking around the deck, he took in its state - most of the damage from the storm had been repaired, but it was still fairly cluttered, and there were ropes everywhere. At this rate, I’ll just tire myself out. Unless...

 

Taking in the bridge’s state one more time, he spotted a raised anchor to the side, and a daring plan began to form in his mind. If this fails, I’m doomed, he thought. But then again, the same was true when I fought the Roper. The only problem is, am I strong enough...?

 

“My power is yours to command,” Steelburn’s voice rang into his head. “Use me as you see fit. The results, I assure you, will be pleasing to you.”

 

Tch... very well. It’s all or nothing, he decided. Reversing his grip on Angel Halo, he stuck it in the bridge’s planks, and reaching behind his back, he drew the Dark Arm slung across his back. Unlike the time when he drew it against Tamamo, however, this time the sword did not give off an ominous aura, though its runes shone briefly. Alma raised an eyebrow at his actions.

 

“Oh? Changing weapons? That won’t help you, Luka-boy,” she chided him as if scolding a small child. “You should know by now that the difference between us is too great. Why don’t you just give up? Don’t you want to know how it feels inside my tail? Once it wraps around your cock, you’ll melt into bliss...”

 

“I have a better idea,” Luka replied in a low tone as he turned to his side, two-handing the Golden Lord’s blade. As he began to move, he defiantly shouted at her: “How about you try this on for size!”

 

With those words, he gathered every ounce of his strength and lashed out with the Dark Arm... straight at the ship’s mast behind him. A brief moment before impact, a surge of power filled him, starting from the sword’s hilt in his hands, and the strength behind his attack was briefly amplified tenfold. Then the enchanted blade of the Monster Lord struck the mast.

 

The result was spectacular. The strength behind the attack - Luka’s strength, amplified by the sword - was enough for the blade to cut right through the thick wood, which exploded under the impact in a shower of splinters with a tremendous shattering sound. The momentum behind Luka’s swing was enough for the blade to cut all the way through the mast’s width, and then keep going for a bit, causing him to pivot on one foot and slightly lose balance.

 

Hopping backward on one foot a couple times, Luka finally regained his composure and quickly sheathed the Dark Arm again, advancing towards where he’d left Angel Halo and quickly grabbing it before moving towards the ship’s starboard. Alma looked at him, blinking.

 

“Oh my, Luka-boy’s gone insane. What was the point of doing... that...” she began to mock him again, but trailed off as more cracking sounds were heard, and the giant ship’s mast began to list and slowly fall.

 

Straight towards her.

 

“...oh dear. That’s unexpect--” Alma managed to get out before the mast came crashing down on her with a thunderous roar, breaking several spots of the Grishend’s deck in the process. Alice, Thermidor and Greybeard all stared at the scene, aghast and incredulous.

 

“Did... did he just drop the ship’s mast on Alma Elma?” Thermidor asked, not sure she’d just seen her little brother do such an inconsiderate thing. Alice nodded slowly.

 

“I... think he did. By the Abyss, I didn’t know he could unleash so much power...” she replied slowly, staring at the mast’s sails as they bunched up on the deck.

 

“Me... me ship...” Greybeard lamented, clearly upset by the damage the young Hero’s actions had done to his vessel.

 

As they stared, they noticed two figures moving. Under the sails, a form that had to be Alma Elma’s was shifting around, trying to get rid of the fabric around her. Meanwhile, near the starboard, Luka’s shape could barely be seen, apparently trafficking with something. Watching closer, Alice realized what the boy was moving around was a bunch of ropes.

 

As she watched the activities, Alma Elma finally emerged from the sails, stumbling into a section of open deck that was only cluttered by splinters and ropes. Stepping over the ropes, she shook her head, grumbling.

 

“Now that was cheating...” she complained. “Dropping the mast on me? It’s an interesting idea, but...” she trailed off as she saw Luka stand up at the edge of the ship, looking at her with decision. A small trail of blood fell across his face from his scalp, where a splinter of wood had cut deep enough to cause bleeding. “Oh, you still want to fight? How dull. Even your last trick failed. What more can you do?”

 

“That wasn’t my last trick. This is,” was Luka’s flat reply as he raised his foot and violently kicked at something to his side. A flash of steel made it obvious it was an anchor as it went overboard and fell in the water below, landing with a splash and disappearing under the waves. Alma gave him a confused look.

 

“Kicking an anchor overboard... was your last trick?” she said, frowning for the first time. “This isn’t amusing anymore, Luka-boy. Now, I think I’ll just-aaagh?!”

 

Alma’s speech ended in a scream as she suddenly felt her right leg be violently pulled away, causing her to lose balance and end up in an awkward spread-legged, hunched over position. Confused, she looked down, and her puzzlement changed to surprise and then shock as she saw a bunch of ropes tangled around her ankle - a bunch of ropes that led off the ship’s deck.

 

Right where Luka had dropped the anchor.

 

“What...? These ropes... that anchor before--!” Alma managed to mutter before looking up and seeing Luka charge at her as fast as he could.

 

“You’re mine! Thunder Thrust!” he shouted as he darted forward, putting every last ounce of strength and speed he had left behind the assault. Closing in the distance in a flash, he aimed Angel Halo at Alma Elma’s face, and struck.

 

An instant later, a clapping sound resonated through the air, and Luka’s charge came at a grinding halt in front of the Succubus Queen. Thermidor stared, slack-jawed, and even Alice and Greybeard could not hide their surprise at the scene before them.

 

The tip of Angel Halo was mere inches away from Alma Elma’s nose, Luka’s body still in a position poised to strike.

 

And the enchanted weapon’s etched blade was firmly held between the palms of her hands.

 

Luka merely stared deep in the Succubus’ eyes for a few seconds, then allowed his muscles to relax, and slowly let go of Angel Halo’s handle. Glancing at Alma, he offered her a quizzical look.

 

“I think you stated your tail would be enough. Why, then, are you holding my sword with your hands?” he simply said, leaning against a pile of crates at his side as he wiped the blood on his forehead off with his fingers.

 

Straightening up, Alma stared at him, intrigued. Her eyes went from him to the sword in her hands, and then at him again, lighting up with an interested shine. Grasping Angel Halo in one hand, she lowered the other and severed the ropes tangled around her ankle with a delicate, yet sharp-looking nail, then gazed at Luka with an unreadable expression.

 

“All of this... destroying the ship’s mast, wounding yourself in the process, playing a desperate gambit by tying all the loose ropes to an anchor and hoping I’d get tangled up, even attacking me with enough force that your muscles will probably be in horrible pain tomorrow...” she murmured in an intrigued tone as she looked down at him. “You did all of this out of pure pride, didn’t you?”

 

“Yes,” Luka replied, looking up at her with a tired smile as he struggled to catch his breath, his muscles occasionally twitching from the strain he’d subjected them to in the past few minutes. “You are the Succubus Queen. Surely you understand pride in one’s skill? I know that compared to you I am an unskilled neophyte... but I worked hard for what ability I do have. I couldn’t accept that I was worth so little that you wouldn’t bother to use anything besides your tail.” He shook his head, closing his eyes as he winced in pain. “I just... wanted to prove I was worth more than that. Even if it was a foolish thing to do.”

 

“Mmmm... pride in one’s skill. Yes, I do understand that,” Alma replied, nodding. “And I’d have done the same thing if I were you. I have to admit... you caught me by surprise.”

 

“But in the end, that’s all I could do, isn’t it? I’m nowhere near your level,” Luka commented. “You are clearly the superior fighter, and I acknowledge that. I just wanted to make you use more than your tail, and managed to do so. That was what I wanted all along.”

 

With those words, he slumped against the crates again, looking tired. “That’s all I wanted to say. I can do no more. Do as you will, now. I’m satisfied.”

 

“Do as I will, eh...” Alma murmured with an odd look on her face. Bending over forward, she smiled slightly as she eyed Luka with a sultry expression, licking her lips. “I wonder... there are a few things I could think of right now...” she said in a low, sexy tone as she provocatively swayed her ample bosom before the tired boy’s eyes. Luka grimaced, finding himself staring at the Succubus’s luscious, soft-looking breasts in spite of himself as her scent filled his nostrils. Alma peered down and hid her mouth behind a gloved hand, giggling as she spotted an obvious erection in his pants. “My, for someone who looks about ready to pass out, some parts of you are still very... energetic, aren’t they, Luka-boy?”

 

“Egh... that’s not...” Luka began to stammer, doing his best to hide his sudden arousal before catching himself as his eyes narrowed. “Wait... this is your doing, isn’t it? This scent... it’s muddling up my thoughts. You’re trying to make me as uncomfortable as possible, aren’t you?”

 

“Come on, Alma, knock it off,” Alice’s voice came from behind Luka as she slithered up to the pair. “You’re the one who set the rules, and you ended up breaking them. It’s rather petty of you to get back at Luka by frustrating him like this.”

 

“Whatever are you talking about? I’m not doing anything, Lady Alicefeeze,” the Succubus innocently replied, casually moving closer to Luka so as to ‘accidentally’ brush up against him. The boy whimpered, feeling his self-control slip even further, and cursed his weakness towards sexual assaults. It was fairly obvious that Alma Elma had caught on to his vulnerability to such techniques, and was exploiting it to needle him into uncontrollable arousal.

 

“That’s what I’m talking about, Alma,” Alice replied dryly. “Stop rubbing yourself against that poor fool like a cat in heat. You know very well what effect you’re having on him, and while I understand your own pride needs soothing, riling up a man like this and then leaving him hanging is low, even for you.”

 

“Hmm? If Luka-boy feels the need to... let some steam off... I don’t mind. All he has to do is ask,” the winged monster replied in a tone that made it clear that ‘ask’ really meant ‘beg shamelessly’. Alice sighed.

 

“Alma. Knock. It. Off,” she repeated, a bit more forcefully. “Shouldn’t you also be too proud of yourself to be such a sore loser?”

 

“Fine, fine,” Alma huffed, finally ungluing herself from Luka, who had turned an interesting shade of red and was fruitlessly trying to hide a raging erection. Looking at the frustrated boy, she winked seductively, then sobered up somewhat, looking at him thoughtfully.

 

“Hm. Well, it seems I lost this fight,” Alma commented with a sudden, cheerful smile as she handed Angel Halo back to a surprised Luka, who instinctively accepted it. “Nice job, Luka-boy. This time, I’ll admit defeat and withdraw. Besides, there’s no shame in bowing out after your opponent has gone to such lengths to honor a fight. You’re crazy, but it’s a kind of crazy I like.”

 

Bending forward slightly, Alma brought her head around to Luka’s ear, the motion causing her hair to gently brush his face as she did so. With a mischievous light in her eyes, she began to whisper in his ear.

 

“Now, I do expect you to not lose to some random monster, Luka-boy,” she murmured in a low, seductive tone, causing Luka to shift restlessly as her hot breath tickled his ear’s skin. “I’ll be very upset if you become another monster’s toy... that should be my honor, after all. So don’t lose until our next meeting, will you?”

 

Straightening up, she teased him with a sexy pose, still smiling and with a slightly predatory light in her eyes. “And don’t think I’ll play around next time. I’ll be sure to drown you in an abyss of pleasure when we meet again. Until then, grow stronger. I still want to have more fun with you, Luka-boy, and I'd be so disappointed if you weren't a decent challenge by the time I decide to make my move.”

 

As the Succubus Queen turned around and prepared to take flight, Luka managed to regain some semblance of control and reached out with a hand towards her.

 

“Wait... what about the storms...?” he asked before wincing and slumping again with a groan. Alma looked back and adopted a thoughtful expression, a finger held against her lower lip, then winked.

 

“Oh, that. Well, I lost, so there’s no helping it. I’ll leave the ships from the southern continent alone,” she conceded with a smile. Her gaze then hardened a little. “Of course, whatever those Heroes down south do in the future will be your responsibility. You know that, right, Luka-boy?”

 

“I do. If necessary, I’ll fight them myself,” he nodded, smiling gratefully. “Thank you, Lady Alma Elma.”

 

“Ew, don’t call me ‘Lady’,” Alma replied impishly as she waved a hand and took off. “It makes me feel old. And I’m not old, am I, Luka-boy? Your dick sure seemed to think otherwise...”

 

The Succubus’s seductive words trailed off in the night as her form picked up speed in an instant and vanished in the night sky. The only thing left to betray her presence was a gentle breeze carrying a sweet, intoxicating scent. The Knight of Wind was gone.

 

Luka held his breath for a few seconds, watching the direction the Succubus Queen had vanished into, then exhaled slowly and began to carefully straighten up from his hunched over position. Alma had been correct in that he’d pushed his body too hard: his muscles were aching already, and he was pretty sure it’d get worse before it got better. In spite of his soreness, however, he felt pretty good about himself. Even if the method had been unorthodox, to put it mildly, he’d managed to fend off a Heavenly Knight, and it was no small feat even under the conditions the fight had taken place in.

 

Turning around, he saw Greybeard and Thermidor approach the spot he and Alice were standing in, and did his best to conceal his exhaustion. As he did so, Alice noticed his actions, and gave him a bemused glance.

 

“You know, attempting to look dignified only works when you don’t have a very obvious erection straining your pants,” she pointed out cheekily. Luka looked down and quickly hunched over again, covering his raging arousal as he shot Alice a dirty look.

 

“Thanks for nothing,” he muttered. “It’s not like this is my fault, you know!”

 

“What did you expect, fighting the Succubus Queen?” the Echidna pointed out. “You should count yourself lucky you came out of this with just an erection. It could have gone considerably worse.”

 

“Trust me, this is plenty uncomfortable,” Luka retorted, grumbling as he tried to get his rebellious penis under control again. Thermidor shot him a curious look, then her attention shifted to Alice. After a moment of hesitation, she bowed to the serpentine monster.

 

“Thank you for stepping in when you did, Lady Alicefeeze,” the fencer said, looking at her. “When Alma Elma started harassing Luka, I got worried that she may have decided to take revenge for the loss.”

 

“I’m pretty sure her only intent was to make him foam at the mouth with horniness,” Alice replied with a shrug. “Still, that was a bit low of her. But I think I can see why she acted like that.”

 

As the two monsters chatted and Greybeard silently inspected the damage to the ship, Luka peered at them from his hunched over position, eventually fixating his gaze on Alice. After a brief silence, he spoke up, interrupting their chatter.

“Are you really the Monster Lord, then?” he directly asked, staring at the Echidna. Alice paused, shifting uncomfortably at the question.

 

“Well... yes. I was trying to tell you as much before we were interrupted,” she confirmed. “I didn’t mean to deceive you. It’s just that when you thought you'd guessed my identity, you looked very pleased with your logic, and I didn’t feel like disappointing you then. Besides, your guess was good... it was only wrong because Tamamo and I share a special bond, and that confused you.”

 

“Hm... so you waited in order to break the news to me gently?” Luka asked in a neutral tone. Alice nodded.

 

“Yes, that’s right,” she confirmed. She then huffed indignantly. “I know what you’re thinking. Being nice is not something I’m known for, right?”

 

"Actually, I imagined that was the reason," Luka commented with a faint smile. "You act like a gluttonous, uncaring slacker, but deep down you are a really nice person, aren't you?"

 

Alice's left eye twitched at those words, and she turned towards Greybeard, a fake-sweet expression plastered on her face.

 

"Captain, Luka seems to be just fine," she suggested in a studied cheerful tone. "Since he clearly isn't as tired as we all thought at first, why not put him to work on repairing the damage he caused to the Grishend right away? That way, he can use all this energy he's positively brimming with on something productive!"

 

"...very deep down," Luka corrected himself with a snort. "Like, several hundred thousand leagues under that exterior of yours. Give or take fifty thousand fathoms."

 

"Avast! There be no squabblin' on me ship. Belowdecks with the both of ye!" Greybeard warned the two in a stern tone as they glared daggers at each other. The two winced as they turned towards him. The old pirate’s mood was clearly not good, and there was no doubt he’d be having... words... with all of them soon enough.

 

“You should go to your cabin and rest, Luka,” Thermidor murmured in a low tone. “I don’t think Captain Greybeard wants to see you right about now. A ship is like a child to its Captain, and you can imagine the mood he’s in right now.”

 

“I should probably go, too,” Alice added in a whisper. “After all, Alma Elma is one of my underlings... I’m pretty sure the Captain holds me responsible, as well, and he’s not entirely wrong.”

 

“Right. As for me, I’ll stay here, try to help fix this mess, and hopefully calm down Captain Greybeard a bit,” Thermidor nodded. “If it’s not too much to ask, my Lady, can you keep an eye on Luka? I’m concerned about the blow he took to his head.”

 

“That? It’s a minor scratch. He’s far tougher than that,” Alice said dismissively. “But since you ask, and I have nothing better to do, I’ll look after him.”

 

“Thank you,” Thermidor nodded with a weary smile before turning around and walking over to Greybeard. Alice glanced at Luka.

 

“Don’t worry about her,” she said, noticing he appeared concerned. “She’s not tired per se, just exhausted from the tension she accumulated while watching you fight Alma. She’ll be fine. Come on, I’ll check that cut on your head.”

 

Nodding, Luka pushed himself off the crate stack he’d been leaning against and slowly shuffled after the Echidna, heading towards the door to the lower deck. Pausing at the door, he gave one last look behind him, noticing Thermidor seemed to be speaking with the pirate captain, then turned around and descended the stairs to the level down below.

 

----

 

A short while later, Alice slithered into Luka’s cabin, looking to check up on the boy. Glancing around, she paused, noticing he was nowhere in sight, and raised an eyebrow, puzzled. She then heard a splashing noise from the small adjacent room that the pirates had set up as a bath for the three of them, and headed over there, guessing that Luka had decided to take a dip after all the sweating and exertion he’d been subjected to.

 

As she opened the room’s door, she heard a low, muttered curse and blinked, spotting Luka sitting in the small tub that was used to take a bath. He appeared frustrated, and seemed to be shivering a little. Curious, she approached him.

 

“Luka? What are you doing?” she inquired, circling around to his front. Luka’s answer was an annoyed look as he sank deeper in the water, and a nearly unintelligible reply escaped his lips. Alice noticed he had goosebumps and, suspicious, she dipped a finger in the water. She promptly yanked it out with a startled noise: the water was extremely cold.

 

“What in the Abyss are you doing, sitting in freezing water like this?!” she said in an exasperated tone. “Has that blow to your head scrambled your brain? Get out of there before you turn blue from the cold!”

 

“C-can’t,” Luka replied, shivering. “Still... hard. Won’t... go down.”

 

“...wait. You’re dunking yourself in cold water... because your erection isn’t going away?” she asked, dumbfounded. “Are you a moron? Just masturbate!”

 

“I tried, damn it!” Luka snapped as he got up and nearly leaped out of the tub. Alice blinked and couldn’t help but mentally appreciate the hardness and size of his aroused penis as he stood naked before her. “I can’t even focus on sexy images, though. I’m just... muddled up? I don’t know. It has to be something Alma did...”

 

“Ah! That’s right. You were too close to her for quite a while,” Alice suddenly realized. “You probably breathed in too many of her pheromones.”

 

“...I’m not going to like this, am I?” Luka groaned in frustration as he dried himself up with a towel. Alice hid a grin behind a gloved hand.

 

“Well... probably not. You see, Succubi pheromones are a funny thing,” she explained. “They make whoever breathes in too much of them debilitatingly aroused... but at the same time, the victims can’t make their arousal subside by themselves. It’ll only go away if someone else does it for them.”

 

“...What?!” Luka shouted, incredulous. “So wait, are you saying I have to go and ask a woman to jack me off?!”

 

“Actually, men would work, too,” Alice replied, grinning as Luka turned white at the words. “But judging by how you pale you got when I mentioned that, I don’t suppose you have a preference for males... especially given what kind of men are on this ship. So... yes, you’ll have to ask a woman.”

 

“Ugh... where’s Thermidor?” Luka asked, irritated. Alice grinned again.

 

“I’m afraid she’s unavailable,” she cheerfully answered, a calculating light appearing in her eyes. “She’s abovedeck, busy cleaning up your mess and trying to keep Captain Greybeard from stringing you up by your toes to the remaining masts. Of course... if you ask really nicely, I could help you out just this once.”

 

“Define ‘Ask really nicely’,” Luka replied flatly. Alice adopted a theatrical shocked expression.

 

“Oh my, Luka, you’re so naughty, trying to get an innocent young woman like me to talk dirty...” she lamented with a hand pressed on her bosom. Luka glared at her.

 

“I’m too tired and too horny to argue over exactly what about you is 'innocent,'” he growled. “If you have any kindness at all in your heart, then would you please help me? I think I’ll go insane if this keeps up.”

 

“Mmmm... not quite what I hoped for, but I’ll live with it,” Alice decided with a shrug. “Then again, are you really sure a Hero should let the Monster Lord violate him?”

 

“...keep this up and the question will be moot, because I’ll flip out and rape you,” Luka warned her in a dangerous tone. Alice chuckled.

 

“Such a beast. I still think you should’ve been born a monster,” she commented as she slithered up to him and took his hand. “Very well then, since I am too generous for my own good, I’ll help you unwind. Come with me.”

 

“Somehow, you don’t sound too terribly coerced or anything,” Luka muttered suspiciously as he grudgingly followed the Echidna. “Were you planning for this?”

 

“Whatever are you talking about? I had no idea that you were so horny. And I certainly have no ulterior motives. None at all,” Alice replied innocently. Luka gave her a skeptical look, but didn’t press the issue. Right now, what he needed was release, and he honestly didn’t care how he got it.

 

Deftly leading him back to his bedroom, the Echidna wasted no time in shoving Luka on the bed once they reached it. She giggled a bit as she joined him on the sheets, appearing somewhat pleased.

 

“You know, you’re much cuter when you’re obedient,” she commented with a coy smile as she coiled her tail around him. “You should be like this more often.”

 

“Just... do whatever you have in mind, will you?” Luka groaned in frustration. Most would have guessed that an Echidna’s coils would feel cold to the touch, like a snake’s, but they were actually very warm, and while the muscles of Alice’s tail were well defined under her scales, she was surprisingly gentle in holding him. The contact only served to make him more aroused and he squirmed, looking agitated. Alice shook her head, waving a finger before her.

 

“Now, now, patience,” she chided him as she lightly ran her nails over his skin. “Since I’m doing this, might as well make sure I do it well. Why don’t you just relax and let me have my own fun?”

 

Without waiting for his answer, Alice reached for Luka’s dick with her tail, gently wrapping around it. Whatever reply Luka may have had to her words was cut off by the sudden jolt of pleasure caused by the touch, and he inhaled sharply, narrowing his eyes. The white-haired monster smiled slightly, pleased by the reaction.

 

“Hora, hora... feeling it already? This is nothing. I can do much more,” she purred. “But let’s start out slowly, shall we? Just let your mind go and indulge yourself for a while...”

 

Without waiting for an answer, Alice began to slowly work on Luka’s cock, alternating between a rubbing motion and a rhythmic tightening and loosening of her tail. Luka cried out at the powerful sensation, squirming around in a mix of pleasure and discomfort, and Alice reduced the pressure on his sensitive spot in response, settling on just enough force in her rubbing and kneading that the experience would be intense, but not painfully so.

 

The change had the desired effect, and the young Hero sighed and relaxed in the Echidna’s coils, clearly happy with the lessened stimulation. Alice giggled as she watched his relaxed, pleased expression while she worked on him: whatever else she could say of him, she couldn’t deny that his reactions made playing with him fun for her.

 

“Hmmm~, you look like you’re enjoying yourself,” she murmured in his ear as she continued to grip his penis. “See, I told you all you had to do was relax. Still... I’m a little hungry. You don’t mind if I help myself to some food while I play with you, right?”

 

“Mmm? What do you have in...” Luka began to ask as his eyes cracked open. Looking down, he blinked, then his eyes widened in surprise. “Wait... what is...?”

 

“This? My tail, of course,” she replied with a mischievous smile as the tip of her tail rose up and opened up in a strange mouth-like organ, with glistening pink folds lining up its inside. Luka stared at the strange appendage as a clear, sweet-smelling liquid dripped from it, with a mixture of alarm and curiosity. Alice giggled again at his reaction.

 

“Right, I don’t suppose you have ever seen something like this,” she continued in a somewhat amused tone. “I should’ve mentioned that I can also eat with this end. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you. In fact, you’ll like it so much you might even pass out in pleasure.”

 

“Ah... wait!” Luka said, squirming around a bit in her coils. “I’m not really sure this is a good idea...”

 

“I told you, relax and trust me,” she purred as the tip of her tail-mouth lowered itself near his cock. She then stopped, just a hair’s width from touching it, and smiled slightly, giving him a sultry look. “...Or, if you prefer, I can do what you asked, and leave you alone. With that painful-looking erection of yours... I wonder, when will Thermidor be free? It could be a while...”

 

“Y-you devil... you’re trying to make me beg, are you?” Luka muttered, gulping audibly at the prospective of having to further endure the unbearable arousal Alma Elma had caused in him. Sweating, he groaned as the clear, warm liquid oozing from Alice’s tail-mouth dripped on his cock’s tip, then shook his head, eyes closed. “...I won’t stop you from doing whatever you want to me, but I refuse to beg. I have some pride, Alice.”

 

“Mmmm... you and your stubborn pride. But I somewhat like this side of you,” Alice mused, pondering. She then shrugged, causing Luka to hiss from the sudden tightening of her tail’s muscles where it was still wrapped around his cock. “Fair enough. So long as you stop protesting and let me have my fun. Now, quit thinking so much and just enjoy yourself. There aren’t many men who can claim to have been pleasured by a Monster Lord!”

 

With those words, Alice dropped the tip of her tail down, quickly swallowing Luka’s dick down to its root in a single movement. The boy stiffened, his eyes flying open as he sharply inhaled.

 

“Aaaaaahhhh!!” he moaned loudly as an intense sensation assaulted him. Having already been unbearably aroused thanks to Alma Elma’s pheromones, he quickly found himself nearing an orgasm, overwhelmed by the powerful pleasure Alice’s tail-mouth gave him. However, just as he was about to finally reach his release, Alice coiled her tail around the base of his penis, still not letting go of it with her lower mouth, and squeezed down, cutting his orgasm off and causing him to utter a strangled cry of dismay and discomfort.

 

“Gaaaaah?! Don’t do that just when I’m about to come!” Luka protested, wincing as he glared at her, unconsciously baring his teeth in a threatening snarl. Alice gave him a lazy look, unimpressed with his hostile reaction.

 

“That’s your fault for being such a quick shot,” she retorted, slowly releasing the pressure at the base of his cock as she sensed his arousal subside briefly. “I said I want to enjoy myself, and I want this to last a bit. Besides... the more you’re denied release, the more satisfying it will be when you finally get there, right? And you haven’t properly experienced what my tail can do, either. Trust me, the pleasure will be worth the wait...”

 

“Just... don’t drive me mad,” Luka muttered unhappily. “I really need this, Alice.”

 

“I know,” the Echidna replied, her features softening for a moment. “And I’ll take responsibility for my underling’s actions. Now, relax and let’s play...”

 

Without further words, Alice’s attention shifted back to Luka’s dick, still firmly held inside her tail-mouth. Propping herself on Luka’s chest with an arm supporting her head and her free hand lightly stroking his skin, she allowed a small smile to curve her lips upward as she began to slowly move the appendage’s inner muscles, causing an undulating motion which milked Luka’s penis and sent jolts of pleasure up his spine.

 

Luka’s response was to moan loudly and relax, allowing Alice free reign over his body for the time being. In the back of his mind, he vaguely thought that the serpentine monster was not idly boasting; her unusual orifice seemed to be designed solely for wringing out men’s semen, and was incredibly efficient at it if the strong sensations he was feeling now were any indication. He then stopped thinking and simply focused on the pleasure at hand.

 

The young Hero’s pleased sounds seemed to satisfy Alice, who decided to increase the intensity of her ministrations, slowly moving her tail-mouth up and down Luka’s hard length. Unconsciously, the Echidna licked her lips, a small blush spreading across her cheeks: her lowest mouth was, after all, designed for feeding, and as such she could clearly taste Luka’s dick. She found his flavor very enjoyable, and a little bit arousing. Incited by the taste, she began to move more intensely, and was rewarded by a loud moan as Luka squirmed around in pleasure. Her smile widened a bit.

 

“Hora, hora... Already this close again? And here I thought you had cooled off a bit,” she purred, sounding pleased with herself. “Then again, it’s inevitable. No man can resist the Monster Lord. Come, then. Give me a taste of your essence!”

 

At that, the Echidna suddenly intensified her efforts, exerting a strong suction on Luka’s cock as she kept milking it with her tail muscles. The sudden assault was too much for the young Hero, who arched his back and let out a strangled cry as he came, hard. The faint blush on Alice’s cheeks deepened a bit as Luka released jet after jet of semen into her waiting tail-mouth, and she licked her lips again as her lower orifice began to collect his seed, which pooled and slowly traveled down her tail’s length in a small lump, eventually disappearing into her body.

 

“Mmmm... that’s good. Give me a lot,” she murmured, looking slightly intoxicated. “Your semen is delicious. I think I’ll help myself to a little more... you don’t mind, do you? You’re still hard, after all...”

 

Luka’s answer was a low moan, his strength too drained to be capable of anything more. While he was familiar with the ‘critical ecstasy’ that monsters inflicted on males when they made them climax, the weakness he was feeling was more pronounced than usual, and while Alice was quite right and his arousal hadn’t subsided yet, he was concerned that being pleasured by her too much could have dire consequences. Alice, however, seemed to perceive his worry, as she turned towards him and smiled, lightly stroking his chest with her nails.

 

“Hmm? You’re worried that you might die, aren’t you?” she commented in a low, sexy tone. “I would say there are worse ways to die... but don’t worry, I don’t intend to kill you. I’ll stop before anything serious happens. Now...” she added, turning back towards his cock, still hard and held inside her tail. “Give me one more taste. I was just hungry, and you’re very filling.”

 

As she finished talking, Alice began to squeeze and milk Luka again with her tail-mouth, this time more delicately and slowly. Luka gasped and shut his eyes hard enough to see spots, grasping the bed sheets tightly with his hands as his sensitive penis was assaulted by the Echidna’s hungry appendage again. Alice smiled, her cheeks still tinged with the faint blush from earlier as she listened to Luka’s moans and gasps and felt his slim, toned body twitch and shift in her coils. Privately, she decided that, even though it was probably a terrible idea to make a habit of this, she would be molesting the young Hero more often in the future. His reactions were highly satisfying, and his semen was absolutely delicious. Alice felt certain that other food would seem far less satisfying for some time after this.

 

Giving in to her impatience for one more fill of Luka’s seed, Alice began to increase the intensity of her stimulation, causing Luka to gasp for air as he found himself short on breath from the intense pleasure, and quickly building him back up to the point of orgasm, partly thanks to the Succubus pheromones still making him easier to excite. Exhaling in anticipation as she felt Luka squirm around and his penis began to twitch within her tail-mouth, she withdrew the appendage until only the tip of his dick was left inside, paused for a tantalizing second, and then drove it back down in a single, quick move, engulfing Luka’s manhood up to his balls while powerfully sucking and milking it.

 

The sudden, hard movement’s effect on Luka was immediate and immensely satisfying. The boy went so rigid Alice could hear his teeth creak as he gritted them, and his muscles twitched spasmodically as he came again, offering more of his tasty, still thick semen to her. The monster licked her lips and relished the taste of the liquid, letting out a hissing, pleased sound while she watched her tail work on the twitching, spurting cock within, wringing every last drop of seed out of it with a lewd sucking noise. Like the first, Luka’s second load pooled into a lump within her tail, which also slowly traveled up and disappeared into her waiting body.

 

Alice slowly and gently milked Luka’s softening member for a little bit longer, then she reluctantly let go of it, allowing it to pop out of her tail-mouth with a wet sound. His erection subsiding meant that Alma Elma’s pheromones had finally been flushed out of his system, which made it dangerous for her to continue any further: Succubus pheromones were well known not only for increasing sexual potency and arousal, but also for increasing a body’s endurance, allowing it to withstand far more strenuous sex than usual. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have used her lower mouth on Luka, as sexual encounters with high level monsters could be lethally overwhelming to humans, but given the situation, she knew he could take it, and she felt like playing a bit - and having a good taste of his semen.

 

As her tail returned to its normal shape, the mouth-like organ shrinking and vanishing, she licked her lips. A faint blush bloomed on her cheeks as she resolved to get an even better taste next time - and perhaps some even louder moans and cries, as well. She snuck a peek at Luka to see if he’d noticed her blush, but he’d already dozed off, worn out by the experience.

 

She spent a few more minutes looking at the young Hero’s sleeping face, her arousal gradually replaced by a serious, thoughtful expression, then she got up off the bed, tucked Luka’s sleeping body under the covers with unusual gentleness, and left the room after one last look at the napping form inside the bed, closing the door and leaning against it. Looking down at the ship corridor’s floor, she sighed.

 

“I assume you’re done, then?” a familiar voice startled her, causing her head to snap up fast enough that it nearly gave her whiplash. Alice grimaced and rubbed her neck with her right hand as she looked at Thermidor, who was leaning against the wall opposite their cabin.

 

“Your being here and acting like this means that either you were listening in on us, or you knew what was going on and counted on me to take care of it,” Alice muttered, looking annoyed. “I don’t know which of the two is more sneaky. Shouldn’t you have more respect for your Lord, instead of exploiting me like this?”

 

“You’re probably right,” Thermidor conceded. “I did notice that Luka was unusually flushed, and knew enough about Succubi to imagine that his proximity to the Heavenly Knight was the cause. But I also needed to make sure that, should something like this happen, you would be willing to take care of it for him. I know it’s selfish, but I really need to take care of some leftover business back in Sabasa, and I could use some time all by myself to do so...”

 

“So you are really leaving, then?” Alice inquired, curious. “And are you fine leaving him with me, even though I already assaulted him twice?”

 

“I think you’re a trustworthy person, Lady Alicefeeze,” Thermidor answered after a brief pause. “You don’t hate humans, like other monsters do. In fact, I think you’d like for humans and monsters to get along, and are looking for a way to make this happen. Perhaps, if you travel with Luka and watch how he faces the hostility between monsters and humans, you will find that way. It’s worth a shot, right?”

 

“Am I that transparent? It’s like you read my mind,” Alice frowned. She had known for a while that Thermidor was far more perceptive than she let on, but being read so easily by someone she’d known for only a few weeks was unsettling. The fencer’s answer was a smile and a slow shake of her head.

 

“No, you aren’t,” she replied, pushing herself off the wall and standing upright. “The signs are there for those who know what to look for, but they aren’t really obvious to most. It’s primarily the unusual amount of interest you display towards Luka and his ideas on peace and harmony. Rather than dismiss them as foolish and an unattainable dream, you seem to find them intriguing, even attractive, and definitely worth pursuing. I got the feeling that you shared his hopes and dreams of peace.”

 

“Yeah... I do. We should probably talk about it sometime in the next days, hmm?” Alice commented, thoughtful. “There’s so much we seem to have in common with each other, and I feel like getting some things off my chest. Tamamo has been good to me, but there are some subjects I just don’t feel right discussing with her. But maybe Luka understands... no, I’m sure he does.”

 

“Even if he didn’t, he’d try to learn how to,” Thermidor said, smiling. “It’s how he is. He wants to help anyone who is troubled. There are worse people you could confide in.”

 

“Mmm... Speaking of Luka, he will likely be too tired to do much for a while,” Alice commented, blushing slightly and drawing an ironic raised eyebrow from Thermidor. The Echidna glared back in response. “What? Someone had to take care of it, and since you were too busy keeping the Captain from tossing us all overboard... Anyway,” she quickly changed the subject, “I was going to ask if you managed to calm Captain Greybeard down. Is he still angry at Luka for damaging his ship?”

 

“Of course he is angry,” Thermidor answered with an eyeroll. “This ship is his baby. He’s going to be upset for a while longer. But I managed to make him see the situation in a positive light: had Luka not driven Alma Elma off, she’d likely have sunk the Grishend. It could’ve been much worse than how it went. He eventually realized that, all things said, we got away with minor damage, and while he still expects Luka to help fix the ship, he’s willing to give him a break on account of his bravery in facing a much stronger opponent and coming out on top, even if he used unorthodox methods to do so.”

 

“Better than nothing, I guess,” Alice commented with a shrug. She then began to slither away towards the stairs leading abovedeck. “I’m going to take a breath of fresh air, now. You should probably let Luka sleep until he wakes up on his own. His body took a pretty sound thrashing, and I may have worn him out even more.”

 

“Hmm... Lady Alicefeeze, I probably shouldn’t ask, but... is it wise?” Thermidor called out after her as she began to leave. The Echidna glanced back at the fencer with a questioning look, and Thermidor nodded towards the door to their room. “Getting so comfortable with a Hero, I mean. I know Luka is an unusual type of Hero, but your underlings may not see things that way. Won’t it negatively affect your reputation?”

 

The Echidna paused at that, looking hesitant. After a long pause, she looked at Thermidor, frowning.

 

“I know it may be unwise. I had similar thoughts myself, although for a different reason,” she replied in a low tone, shaking her head. “But I feel at ease around him. Humans don’t usually inspire such ease in me. I feel comfortable, and I like his ideas, and he’s fun to have around. Even if I’m making a mistake, I’m going to stick with him a while longer. Maybe you were right earlier, and the answer to my questions lies with him. Only time will tell.”

 

“I see...” Thermidor murmured. After a moment, she bowed to her. “Then forgive me for bothering you with these questions. I will turn in for the night, now. Be careful when on the deck - the Grishend’s crew are clearing the broken wood out, and tripping is easy even for a snake monster. By your leave...”

 

“Yes, have a good night,” Alice smiled at the swordswoman. She then turned around and left without another word. Thermidor watched the stairs she’d disappeared on for a while longer, then sighed and opened the door to the group’s room, vanishing inside. Perhaps rest would bring her counsel, too.

 

----

 

Next morning saw Luka waking much later than usual, suffering from extremely painful cramps and muscle spasms. Groaning, he looked around the room and noticed it was empty - apparently, both his companions had gone abovedeck already. Tiredly propping himself to a sitting position against the wall behind his bed, he closed his eyes and began to meditate, hoping to take the edge off the pain he was feeling at the moment.

 

As he focused inward, he began to feel warmer, and his muscles slowly relaxed, their random twitching and seizing slowing down and the associated pain dropping to a tolerable level. He sighed in relief and began to empty his mind, attempting to get his meditative healing to fix as much of the damage he’d done to himself in his brief fight with Alma as possible. Before zoning out and falling into a trance, he idly remembered the previous night’s encounter with Alice, and made a quick note to thank her later; while she’d teased him just a bit too much, she’d kept her promise to help him relieve his out-of-control arousal, and Luka had to honestly admit that the experience had been as amazing as she’d claimed it would be, though it also proved horribly exhausting.

 

With those thoughts pushed aside, the young Hero set upon the task of healing his battered, tired body. Lulled by the ship’s gentle rocking, he soon lost touch with the outside world and fell deep into a trance.

 

Luka spent most of the morning that way, relaxing as his innate power healed his bruised and battered body and soothed his weariness. He wasn’t sure how much time passed during his meditation, but after awhile, he became aware of a presence entering the room and slowly dropped out of his trance, blinking as his eyes readjusted to the room’s light. A quick glance let him estimate that it had to be around noon, if the light coming in from the porthole was any indication. Peering towards the door, he realized that the person who had caught his attention was none other than Captain Greybeard himself, who was waiting with crossed arms near the door, eyeing him. The young Hero shifted around until he was sitting on the bed’s edge, then looked up at the pirate with a nod.

 

“Hello, Captain,” He began, thinking about what to say. “I hope you aren’t too angry at me anymore?”

 

“I be plenty angry still, lad,” the Captain growled back, glaring at him. “This ship be precious ta me, an’ ye wrecked it but good. I should be makin’ ye walk the plank in Shark Girl-infested waters fer what ye did!”

 

“Ah... I’m sorry. I just... Well, I was getting desperate while fighting Alma, and I thought...” Luka began to explain, unsure of what to say to the obviously angry pirate. His explanation was cut off by an imperious wave of Greybeard’s hand.

 

“Ye didn’t think! That be the problem, lad!” he snapped in a tone that allowed no argument. “What possessed ye ta break part o’ what makes the ship move? Ye could’ve set us adrift aimlessly!”

 

“...I am truly sorry. It won’t happen again,” Luka replied meekly, lowering his head. The Captain glared at him for a few more moments, then scoffed, seemingly placated by the young Hero’s repentance.

 

“I’ll believe ye, this once. Ye seem like a good lad ta me, if reckless as they get... an’ yer sister made a good point last night,” he grumbled. “The Succubus Queen coulda sunk ol’ Grishend if ye hadn’t driven her off. So... ye have me thanks. But I still expect ye ta help repair me ship.”

 

“Of course, just give me a minute to--” Luka began, but Greybeard waved his hand and shook his head.

 

“Nay, take today off an’ rest,” he replied. “Most o’ the mess on the deck be fixed now, an’ all we be doin is movin' back towards Ilias Continent, ta make landfall an’ gather lumber fer a new mast. That’s when I’ll be needin’ ye, lad. ‘Til then, patch yerself up with that healin’ power o’ yers.”

 

“Huh, Thermidor told you about it?” Luka asked, curious about how Greybeard knew of his healing powers. The Captain nodded.

 

“Aye, that she did,” he confirmed. “A mighty handy skill ye got there, lad. Count yerself lucky - it jes’ might save yer life.”

 

“Yeah... thank you for giving me the day off, Captain,” Luka nodded gratefully. “I’ll be up and ready to help tomorrow morning, you can count on it.” He then frowned, hesitating. “Just, uh... where exactly are we going, besides ‘back to Ilias’? I thought you said a ship without a mast was more or less a drifting vessel...”

 

“Nay, I said ye could have set us adrift. We still got two more sails, lad,” Greybeard replied with a wave of his hand. “Long as we got those an’ the rest o’ the ship is more or less intact, we c'n somewhat steer ol’ Grishend where we want, ‘though it depends on what wind we catch. We be a good bit off-course, mind ye... we'll probably be makin' landfall near Poseidon’s Cave. Now if we lost the rudder, then we’d have been in a right nasty mess... no steerin’ at all without it.”

 

“Goes to show how much I know of ships,” Luka shook his head, most of the Captain’s explanation going over his head. “I’ll just take your word for it. So, we’ll be safe?”

 

“Safe as we c'n be on the seas,” the pirate nodded with a wry smile. “Which ain’t sayin’ much, but beggars can’t be choosers.”

 

“Good, I was afraid my actions could’ve caused harm to someone without meaning to,” the boy sighed in relief. He then grimaced. “I... let Alma Elma provoke me. I should’ve kept my cool, but...”

 

“Ain’t there nothin’ ye coulda done ‘bout it, lad,” the Captain reassured him. “If a Succubus o’ her caliber decides ta make ye see red, ye c'n do naught but see red. Ye did good, all things said.”

 

“I doubt that will be enough next time,” the young Hero shook his head. “I’ve got to get better than this. Alma is probably not going to pull any punches when we run into each other again.”

 

“Dunno ‘bout that - her kind be unpredictable,” Greybeard shrugged as he turned around and headed for the door. “But gettin’ stronger won’t hurt. Anyhoo, get some rest. Ye got a lotta stuff ta do tomorrow.”

 

“Right, will do,” Luka nodded as he shifted back on the bed again. “And thank you for your patience.”

 

Greybeard’s answer was a grunt, and without another word, the old pirate left the room, closing the door behind him. Left alone once more, Luka briefly mulled over the conversation he had with the Captain, then decided his advice was sound and went back to meditating again. His muscles still felt sore and tender, and perhaps relaxing a bit more would solve the issue.

 

----

 

The next day, Luka awoke to the sound of shouting and activity on the deck. He had spent the entirety of the previous day resting and recovering from the stressful battle with Alma Elma, and a night of sleep on top of that allowed him to return to top form. Feeling full of energy, he jumped off the bed and began to get dressed. As he did so, he considered the effectiveness of his meditative healing. In just a little over a day, he’d recovered from a state that would have landed him in bed for over a week beforehand. As much as this mysterious power alarmed him, he decided, it was too useful to not use, although he was still wary of overusing it when not needed.

 

“I do not believe you need to worry about your meditation skill,” Steelburn’s voice suddenly rang out in his head, startling him. “I haven’t detected any significant changes in your body from using it. It should be fine.”

 

Gah! Don’t scare me like that! Luka snapped mentally, irritated. He then became curious at Steelburn’s words. Wait, do you mean you know what my power is?

 

“I do, but I’d rather you discuss it with your sister first,” she replied in a neutral tone. “She didn’t mean to hide secrets from you, and wishes to tell you everything herself. I may provide additional information, although I should warn you that even my knowledge on the subject is limited.”

 

Hmm... fair enough, I guess, the boy agreed. With any luck I’ll get time to talk with her while cutting trees today. Assuming I have any breath left... I never did lumberjack work myself, but from what I saw it’s a fairly strenuous activity. Good thing I know how to deal with fatigue.

 

As he addressed Steelburn, Luka heard the door to the room open and a familiar slithering sound announced Alice’s entrance. He turned and greeted the Echidna with a smile.

 

“Good morning! I hear a lot of activity abovedeck. Did we reach Ilias Continent?” he greeted her, curious about the situation. Alice shook her head, arms crossed.

 

“Not quite. We’re close, but the Captain wants to get a little closer to the beach before he casts anchor,” she replied. “The denizens of Poseidon’s Cave already noticed us, though. I saw Lamaia come out of it, and waved at her. I think she recognized me, because she ran back inside, looking excited. Or maybe it’s just because she saw a ship full of delicious men.”

 

“Uh... I really hope she can resist the temptation,” Luka murmured, worried. “It wouldn’t do to cause an incident just now that I persuaded the Captain and his crew to look after the monsters in the cave.”

 

“It’ll be fine,”Alice shrugged. “If need be, I’ll order them to stand down. Being the Monster Lord does have its perks, you know.”

 

“All of a sudden I’m deeply thankful you’re a friend,” Luka exhaled in relief. “Although, I’m still smacking myself over how the obvious answer to the question of your identity went over my head. Granberia’s obedience really should’ve made me more suspicious...”

 

“You still made a very good guess,” she told him. “Given how you never even met the Heavenly Knights before, how could you know the nuances of our relationship? Even if I’m their lord, we’re leaning more towards being friends, and a surrogate family, than master and servants. It’s understandable you’d make this mistake.”

 

“Hmm... but if you aren’t the Knight of Water, and Alma is the Knight of Wind... who is the Heavenly Knight of Water?” he asked, curious. Alice’s expression became somber at that question, alarming Luka.

 

“That would be the Queen Slime, Erubetie,” she answered, sounding serious. “I won’t lie... approaching her could very well be lethally dangerous for you. She hates humans. You may want to steer clear of her as long as possible. Truthfully, I’m not sure even I could defeat her if she really tried her hardest to win in a battle between us.”

 

“Um... wow. She sounds like a frightening opponent,” the boy murmured, looking subdued. His lips then drew in a line, and a determined expression crossed his face. “Even so, if I want to succeed in this quest of mine, I’ll have to win her trust. I’ll just have to be myself, speak with her honestly, and hope it’s enough.”

 

“I don’t think it will be enough,” Alice shook her head, unconvinced. She then shrugged. “Then again, you have surprised me time and again, so I’m not going to think of anything as impossible when you’re involved. If anyone can pull it off, it’s likely going to be you. You seem to have an uncanny ability to get on the right side of those you meet... it’s as if you have some sort of natural charisma. Now, if only that temper of yours didn’t ruin it, you’d be quite the sweet talker...”

 

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with being a little proud,” Luka protested defensively. Alice scoffed.

 

“‘A little’? You picked a fight with a Heavenly Knight just because something she said rubbed you the wrong way,” she pointed out, causing him to grimace as she hit a sore spot. “That goes right past ‘a little proud’ and straight into ‘pride before reason’ territory. You’re very lucky that Alma is a prideful creature herself, and could understand your actions and feelings. She could very easily have killed you... it wouldn’t be the first time she devoured men who challenged her. And I mean that literally - she usually eats people like you, and sometimes with her tail, I might add. She might do it if you rouse her interest too much, as well.”

 

“Uh... I’ll keep that in mind,” Luka replied, gulping loudly as the full scope of the danger he’d been in finally hit him. His mood dampened a little as he considered the future before him. “I get the feeling that the fight with Alma Elma was a sign... kind of like fate’s way of telling me, ‘Welcome to Sentora, kid. Now the gloves come off.’”

 

“That’s... actually pretty accurate to how things will be from now on,” Alice admitted. “I don’t want to sound discouraging, but the monsters you’ll face on Sentora are very different from the ones you met so far, my Knights aside. They’re more powerful, and quite a few of them would think nothing of eating a delicious-looking boy like you - after raping you, of course. You may want to start taking fights more seriously.”

 

“I see...” Luka muttered, looking thoughtful. His contemplation was almost immediately interrupted by a cry from the deck.

 

“Cast anchor!”

 

“It seems like we’re finally here,” Alice quipped. “Come on, let’s go join Thermidor on the deck. The boats that will get us ashore should be ready soon.”

 

“Take me with you,” Steelburn suddenly chimed in as Luka moved to follow Alice, causing him to stop. “You may find yourself in need of my talents.”

 

Appearing dubious for a moment, Luka then shrugged, walked back to the table the Dark Arm was lying on, picked it up and hurried out of the door after Alice. While he didn’t mind the ship, he couldn’t wait to have solid ground under his feet again.

 

----

 

As Alice predicted, the pirate crew quickly prepared the boats to make landfall, and before long, the trio was on Ilias soil once more, with Captain Greybeard and a few pirates joining them on the shore. As the pirates set about preparing a temporary camp and got ready to collect the materials necessary to repair the damage the Grishend had sustained, the familiar shape of Lamaia appeared at the entrance to Poseidon’s Cave, followed by a few other cave dwellers Luka hadn’t seen the first time around. Luka, Alice and Greybeard moved to meet the approaching group of monsters, while Thermidor remained with the pirates, who had become accustomed to her presence and treated her like an old-time crew member, to set up the necessary items for the tasks at hand.

 

Upon reaching the group of monsters, Alice and Luka were greeted by a pleased-looking Lamaia, who welcomed them back and began to ask about the pirate ship. However, her words were drowned out by a cacophony of questions from all the other monsters speaking up at once, asking whether any of the men on the ship were looking for mates, if they were there to stay, and whether they brought good food for them. The noise grew in intensity as the group of monsters - mostly insect-types from what Luka could see, although they were packed around him, Alice and Greybeard so tightly it was hard to see the individuals - grew more and more restless, until finally Alice appeared to have enough, her eyes glowing as she made an imperious gesture.

 

“Quiet!” she ordered, her voice suddenly rising in intensity and reverberating in the area. Luka abruptly found himself unable to speak, as if the force of the order was affecting his own body, and after a few moments of frantic panic, he realized what had happened: Alice had used the power of Domination to silence the crowd. She did, after all, mention that all Monster Lords possessed that power, which made it logical she would also possess it. Luka couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat as he realized that if Alice had been so inclined, she could have easily bent him to her will, and gained a new appreciation for her restraint in dealing with him. It couldn’t have been easy for the Monster Lord to resist the urge to just command him when he refused to listen to her.

 

The Echidna’s outburst seemed to have served its purpose, as the monster crowd calmed down. It also obviously gave away her identity, as the awed looks of some of the monsters made clear; the particular power Alice had used was known as a gift only Monster Lords possessed, as far as he knew. As he considered the situation, Alice looked around herself, appearing satisfied with the effect her order had, and nodded.

 

“Good. You were all talking at once, and no one could understand a word,” she explained. “Now, introductions should be the first order of business. Even if you haven’t met us before, Lamaia probably told you about me and Luka, although I doubt she knew who I actually was. Still, making it official will save time later, so... I am Alicefeeze Fateburn the 16th, the current Monster Lord. But you probably figured that out by now. This,” she continued, gesturing towards Luka, “is Luka, a freelance Hero who doesn’t believe in the Church of Ilias and has so far been a great friend to monsters. You can trust him, even though I call him a ‘Hero’. I can vouch for him.”

 

“I be Greybeard. That beauty anchored o’er yonder be me ship, the Grishend, an’ the fine lads workin’ back ‘ere ta prepare our camp be me crew. Or part o’ it - the rest be on the ship still.” Captain Greybeard spoke up without waiting for Alice to introduce him. The Echidna blinked, appearing surprised, then shrugged and backed off, and the pirate continued to speak, addressing a smaller group within the monster crowd that had been especially vocal in inquiring about the men’s availability. “An’ ta answer ye ladies’ question, I ain’t got the foggiest. I don’t ask me men whether they be wantin’ wenches or not - it be their business. Ye be better off askin’ anyone ye fancy. Who knows, ye might jes’ get lucky.”

 

His apparently nonchalant demeanor then turned rather frigid as an unmistakably threatening gleam crossed his eyes. “Of course, if ye eat one o’ me men, I’ll be keelhaulin’ ye so fast yer head will spin, so ye might want ta eat somethin’ else. Jes’ a friendly warnin’. Foolin’ around be fine, but snackin’ on me crew ain't. D'ye hear me?”

 

Greybeard’s unsettling glare appeared to actually intimidate the gathered monsters into submission, as they all meekly nodded in agreement one after the other. For his part, Luka felt sorry for the monster girls; when Greybeard had turned threatening, he could have sworn that the temperature around them had dropped several degrees, and he could only imagine how uncomfortable it was to be the focus of his baleful stare. Some of the monsters looked genuinely afraid of the old pirate.

 

“See, this is what I meant back when we first met him,” Alice murmured as she watched some of the more courageous monsters approach Greybeard and politely speak with him, drawing Luka’s attention. At his questioning glance, she discreetly waved at the scene before them. “Look at these monsters. They recognize his authority, and submit. As I said, he’s just like a ruler of monsters. It’s not a matter of personal strength, but of commanding presence. And he’s got an iron will, too. He spoke up without me releasing him from my order of silence. Breaking free of my Domination... it is no small feat.” She gave Luka a serious look. “You should try and get back in his good graces. Someone like him may prove an invaluable ally down the line.”

 

“You’re right,” Luka nodded, finding himself able to speak again. “And... I must admit this display of yours just now was impressive, too - and a little frightening. Being helpless is... unpleasant. The ability to command someone else with mere words is an incredible power.”

 

“The fact you feel that way means you have common sense,” Alice replied, smiling. “It’d be worrying if you didn’t feel uncomfortable having your body controlled by another. Don’t worry too much, though. Unless you do something truly idiotic, I’m not going to just order you around like this. Well... unless I feel like teasing you, of course.”

 

“How very relieving,” Luka replied, rolling his eyes. He then shrugged with a small smile. “Oh well, I’ll just get used to it. After all, you’ve been pretty patient already with me, given how you’re the Monster Lord and I’m just a human you accidentally ran into.”

 

“Well! I didn’t expect you to admit that,” Alice said, looking genuinely pleased. “To be honest, I’m kind of happy I didn’t interfere when I could have. You made things a lot more exciting and interesting, in many ways. I’m leaning towards keeping things that way. Just try not to endanger my cute subjects, all right?”

 

“Fair enough. Seems like the Captain is done talking, as well, and the monsters are scattering among the crew,” Luka noted as he saw Greybeard come towards them and the cave monsters disperse and chat with the pirates on the beach. “I wonder if he struck some sort of deal? He seems to have something in his mind.”

 

“Let’s ask him directly,” Alice decided, slithering towards the pirate captain. With a nod, she waved towards the wandering monsters on the beach. “So, Captain... did you get what you wanted from these monsters?”

 

“All I got was info, lass, an’ good thing I did,” he told her, scratching his bearded chin. “Turns out a whole lotta trees ‘round here be housin’ Dryads, an’ if we start cuttin’ wood willy-nilly, we’ll be makin’ them tree-women mighty pissed. Some o’ the lasses from the cave know the Dryads, an’ offered ta get us permission ta collect lumber, but they be wantin’ somethin’ in return, an’ ye can guess what that be. I don’t think me men be mindin’ keepin’ them company, but some o’ ‘em want a mate who’ll stay with ‘em... I’d rather not lose me crewmembers, even if they’d be awright.”

 

“You know, Captain... there’s a simple solution to this,” Luka spoke up, an idea crossing his mind. “This is a temple to the Queens of the Seas, after all, and it needs tending, and you’re related to Poseidoness. Wouldn’t it make sense for you and your crew to simply live here? I mean, look...” he continued, gesturing towards where the Grishend was anchored. “The rocky cliffs surround the shore on the sides, making this a small cove. The only ways to reach this shore, and the cave, are either by land - and the old road has all but collapsed, leaving a really hazardous walk down a pretty steep cliff as the only land route - or through the only passage leading to the sea, past the cliffs surrounding this place. View of the inlet is also partially obstructed by the rocks, meaning you can duck in and make yourselves scarce easily enough. It’s a perfect pirate hideout, and since you’re all devout followers of the Queens of the Seas, I don’t think they’ll mind you using their temple as a resting place.”

 

“That be makin’ an awful lot o’ sense, lad,” Greybeard murmured, a thoughtful look on his face as he mulled over it. “On the other hand, we be right next ta Iliasport, an’ they might be less than happy 'bout havin’ pirates loungin’ around in their waters.”

 

“That’s easily fixed too. Have someone relatively inconspicuous go to Iliasport and spread the rumor that the storms are gone, it is safe to sail again, and it’s all thanks to the pirates who ‘heroically’ sailed into danger and drove off the monster causing the storms,” Alice chimed in, sounding nonchalant. “Unless I’ve got the human mindset totally wrong, the denizens of Iliasport will be so grateful that they’ve been saved from complete ruin that they’ll be more than happy to look the other way when you merrily sail in front of their noses. You could even establish some profitable trading with them... and if memory serves, you mentioned you made sure to behave while you were there, so they have no reason to hate you regardless.”

 

“Um... but are you all right with the blame being placed on monsters, Alice? That may cause problems down the line...” Luka objected, dubious. Alice gave him an annoyed look.

 

“The blame is being placed on monsters because Alma had to be an idiot and make a huge mess, meaning it is indeed a monster’s fault that all of this even happened,” she pointed out irritably. “I’m not exactly happy about pinning the blame for this on a monster, but in this case, it's the unfortunate truth.”

 

“Ye could always embellish the story, lass,” Greybeard suggested. “Somethin’ like, I dunno, a deeply sorrowful mer-lass who, grieving fer her love lost ta the ravages o’ war, takes revenge by inflictin’ sufferin’ on those who robbed her o’ her love. Humans drink tragic tales like this right up faster ‘n I can empty a frothy mug o’ beer.”

 

“So basically, mix the truth with an outrageous amount of lies? Why am I not surprised a pirate would suggest this?” Alice replied dryly, giving a mock-exasperated look at the old man. He grinned back at her.

 

“Nay, not a lie. Jes’ a bard’s tale,” he replied, causing Alice’s eyes to further roll up and a sigh to escape her lips.

 

“And that’s basically the same thing,” she pointed out. “I have yet to meet a bard whose mouth spews anything other than lies and sweet-talking in the pursuit of coin and cleavage.”

 

“Hahahahaha! True, that,” the Captain admitted. “Then again, we pirates be not above a wee bit o’ self-aggrandizing ta impress the wenches, ourselves. Anyway, what the lad suggested be makin’ a lot o’ sense ta me. I’ll talk it over with me boys, an’ let ye know what comes o’ it. Fer now, go relax in the camp. Nothin’ will get done until we reach a decision.”

 

“All right, we’ll make ourselves at home,” Alice nodded. She then motioned for Luka to follow. “Come on, let’s go catch and cook some fish. I’m hungry.”

 

“You mean I’ll catch and cook the fish, while you sit around complaining about how long it’s taking for it to be ready,” Luka muttered acidly, but followed her nonetheless. Greybeard watched the two as they moved towards the makeshift camp his crew had built, then shook his head, smirking.

 

“Hah. Lad be whipped, an’ don’t even realize it,” the pirate chortled as he walked towards his crewmembers, who had gathered and were waiting for him. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear they be a married couple. They sure got that ‘obnoxious wife, obedient hubby’ thing down pat...”

 

----

 

“Ugh, I’m exhausted,” Luka complained later that evening as he dropped down on a makeshift seat fashioned out of a log placed near a campfire, drenched in sweat. “I knew lumber cutting was a tough job, but I didn’t expect it to be this tough. Maybe I should’ve asked Steelburn to increase my strength again...”

 

“Come now, such a trivial matter hardly warrants calling upon my power,” the spirit’s voice echoed in his mind. “Your own strength was more than adequate, and this will be good training, as well.”

 

“I suppose you have a point,” Luka muttered unhappily as he set the Dark Arm down next to his seat. At his companions’ questioning looks, he sighed. “Steelburn is chastising me for wanting her help in cutting wood.”

 

“As well she should! Using the Golden Lord’s blade for lumbering?! Such an insulting idea! Tamamo would be frothing right now!” Alice exclaimed, appalled. She then scrunched up her nose as she caught the smell of his sweat. “Ew, you’re a mess. Go take a bath. And wash your clothes while you’re at it.”

 

“Give me a break, I can barely stand as it is,” Luka replied in an annoyed tone. “I'll take a dip later, but for now let me rest a bit. And I’m absolutely starving, too. Is there anything to eat?”

 

Alice wordlessly passed him a dish. Peering at it, Luka blinked. “Wait... is that the fish I cooked for lunch? I thought there wasn’t any left...”

 

“I kept some aside for you,” Alice replied, ostensibly looking elsewhere. “I imagined you’d be tired and hungry in the evening after seeing what woodcutting actually required here, and thought the slop that Greybeard’s men are used to wouldn’t really be filling for you.”

 

“Really? That’s very thoughtful of you. Thank you,” Luka smiled, causing Alice to blush slightly. The Echidna huffed to cover up her embarrassment.

 

“Don’t get the wrong idea, now! I simply thought you deserved a reward for suggesting a solution that’d make both the humans and my cute subjects happy earlier,” she snapped, acting indignant. “I most definitely didn’t do it just to be nice or anything.”

 

“Regardless, I’m grateful,” the boy repeated. “I was afraid I’d end up going to bed half-starved. Nothing against Captain Greybeard, but he really needs to look into a skilled cook for his ship. I understand that the ship’s soup is supposed to provide all the necessary nutrition to the crew so that scurvy and other unpleasant illnesses don’t pop up, but that doesn’t change the fact that it tastes truly horrible.”

 

“Can’t disagree with you there. That soup the pirates eat is awful,” the Echidna nodded, sticking her tongue out in distaste. “I guess this food is like medicine: tastes terrible, but is good for you.”

 

“Yeah, I - mmf - suppose so,” Luka said as he began to eat his food. Thermidor shot him a disapproving glare.

 

“What did Liese always tell you about talking while you chew?” she scolded him. Luka shrank a little, looking guilty, and made sure to swallow the food in his mouth before replying.

 

“Sorry... I wasn’t paying attention,” he apologized, scratching his head. He proceeded to quickly clean out all the fish, then got up and went to get some of the crew’s soup as well, and swung by the spot on the beach where Lamaia and a few monsters were resting to grab a few fruits, briefly chatting with the spider monster as he did so before returning to his companions.

 

He quickly ate the new portion of food, washing it down with several large mouthfuls of water, and set the used dishes aside, leaning down on the beach’s sand with a content sigh. Alice chuckled as she looked at him with an amused stare, drawing an interrogative glance from the boy.

 

“Ah, it’s nothing,” she told him, shaking her head. “I just never saw you relax like this after a good meal before. You must have been hungrier than I thought.”

 

“Yes, well, felling trees and cleaning the bark from the logs is no easy job,” he commented with a shrug. “And tomorrow, we get to saw some of them too, since we need sawn planks to repair some of the damaged ones.”

 

“It could have been worse. Imagine if the cave’s monsters hadn’t warned you of the Dryads’ presence. That would've gotten very unpleasant, to say the least,” Alice pointed out. Luka shivered at that. The Dryads hadn’t come across as aggressive at all, even appearing motherly at times - especially once they found out the Monster Lord was with the humans on the ship - but as he worked under their watchful gaze, Luka couldn’t shake the feeling that punishment for defiling their land would be swift and very harsh, and he went to great pains to keep from even so much as snapping a twig underfoot without the plant monsters’ permission.

 

On the other hand, his and the crew’s efforts to be mindful of their home seemed to please the Dryads, who had words of praise for all the humans whose work they oversaw. Only one of the pirates drew the Dryads’ disapproval, for accidentally breaking a sapling’s branches when he tripped, but fortunately the plant monsters understood it was an accident, and merely reprimanded the pirate for his carelessness. Even so, the Dryads’ tranquil, stern scolding caused the man to withdraw to the ship, looking mortified. Later in the afternoon, he emerged bearing hand-made presents for the plant girls. Initially surprised, the Dryads eventually accepted the gifts - necklaces and bracelets made of seashells - and forgave the pirate with a smile and a pat on the head, and the incident was seemingly forgotten, though it remained in Luka’s mind.

 

“I have to say that the crew agreeing to the deal with the cave monsters and choosing to live here was unexpected,” he admitted as he thought about the day’s events. “I thought there’d be more resistance from the men about living with a bunch of potentially dangerous monsters, but they seem to get along with each other pretty well. And admittedly, the look on the girls’ faces when they realized the secret of Greybeard’s crew was priceless. They all looked like children who had been given the keys to a candy store.”

 

“Greybeard’s crew are mostly healthy young men, after all,” Thermidor pointed out. “They, too, can grow lonely and long for a female’s touch. I think this’ll work out well for both sides, after all. Some of the men seem to have already grown quite enamored with the girls. And Largo seems to have a sweet spot for Lamaia, of all people. Who would’ve thought that man had a soft side?”

 

“Hahaha, yes. I was a bit startled when he began hitting on her. And she looked really confused, too,” the boy Hero smiled, remembering the awkward scene between the First Mate and the cave spider. He then grew somber. “I really don’t know what to think of the Dryads, though. They look nice enough... so why is it that I’m so scared of making them angry?”

 

“Because your instinct serves you well,” Alice replied matter-of-factly. “Dryads are fully aware of all plant life in an enormous radius from their tree, sometimes encompassing a whole forest... and they have total control of that plant life. Well, except for other plant monsters... but I’m sure you can guess why it’d be very unwise to anger a Dryad when within her territory. You’d be surprised to find out how many ways you could be killed by simple, everyday forest flora. You’re wary of them because you instinctively understand that.”

 

“Um... yeah, I better not make them mad,” Luka murmured, swallowing hard as he found himself sweating nervously. “I almost had a heart attack when Ghez tripped and damaged that sapling... thankfully, the Dryads understood it was an accident.”

 

“They’re actually fairly reasonable monsters,” Alice commented. “They seem to have a talent for finding out the truth about people, places, and events around them, so they generally take things more calmly than other monsters like them. After all, the Dryads can actually tell if something really was or wasn't an accident.”

 

“Hmmm. Interesting,” Luka said, curious. “I had no idea about any of this. It's always great having you nearby, Alice. There's always something interesting to learn from you. Although, I honestly enjoy your company as well, even with how... hard to please you can be.”

 

“Hmph, be careful what you say or I’ll have to punish you again,” Alice warned him with a flat stare. She then grew more animated. “Speaking of knowledge, don’t you think it’s time?”

 

“Time...?” Luka asked, confused. The Echidna gave him an impatient nudge with the tip of her tail.

 

“For that talk we were supposed to have!” she reminded him, exasperated. “You didn’t forget already, did you? We promised to tell each other about who we are... although I hope you’ll understand that there are some things I’m not allowed to tell a human. Monster business and all... it’s out of my hands.”

 

“Understandable,” Luka agreed. After a brief deliberation, he nodded. “All right, why not? Even as tired as I am, I’m not sleepy just yet, so we might as well talk a bit - and who knows when we’ll get our next chance. So... who’s starting?”

 

“I may as well go first,” Alice commented. “As you already know, I’m actually the Monster Lord. The last in a long line, in fact. Since the position of Monster Lord was first created, a little over a thousand years ago, the Fateburn family has always held the throne. There literally hasn’t been a non-Fateburn Monster Lord - even the Golden Lord herself was born in my family, though she chose a different name for her own reasons. My mother...” she continued, her expression darkening, “...she was slain by a team of Heroes of the Church a few years back. Since then, I took her place as Monster Lord and, with Tamamo’s help, tried to carry on her work.”

 

“I... see. I had no idea,” Luka murmured somberly. “So you inherited the title from your mother? You must have been pretty young back then.”

 

“Inherited? No. That’s not how it works among monsters, although, again, it was different for Steelburn,” Alice shook her head. “A Monster Lord can indicate a preferred successor, and that person will be considered as a candidate for the position. Any offspring of the Monster Lord that don’t explicitly refuse to be involved in the ritual trial are also considered candidates, as are any monsters who meet the criteria of power and leadership. After that, a grand melee is held between all the candidates, and the last monster standing is crowned Monster Lord. I won my grand melee by defeating Granberia, Alma Elma, Tamamo and Erubetie... although admittedly, Tamamo and Erubetie knocking each other unconscious helped, and Alma, being the lazy hedonist she is, quit after she had her fill of fighting.”

 

“So it came down to you and Granberia?” Luka asked, interested. Alice nodded.

 

“Yes, and I will freely admit it was the toughest fight of my life. I very nearly lost,” she admitted. “Ultimately, I emerged victorious, but it was close. Granberia and I may not see eye to eye on some things, but I have nothing but respect for her fighting skills. I’d trust her with my life in an instant if a situation ever arose that required it. The same is true of Tamamo. She practically raised me after my mother died, and in spite of how often we may be seen arguing, she is very dear to me... even if she’s a Kitsune,” she added with some distaste. Luka blinked.

 

“You... don’t like Kitsune?” he asked. Alice’s response was a sharp hiss and a glare.

 

“Sure I like them. Roasted, fried, dipped in soy sauce, boiled... quite tasty,” she replied acidly. “As living beings? I try to pretend they don’t exist. They’re unpleasant, to say the least.”

 

“Uhhh... what did they do to you?” the boy asked, puzzled. It was unusual for Alice to express animosity towards fellow monsters, and he couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to sour her so much towards the fox-people. Alice glared at him again.

 

“What did they do to me? Let me see: paint my face while I sleep, steal my food, pull my tail, stuff bugs in my hair, hide my clothes, sprinkle itching powder in my bed...” Alice began to list, appearing aggravated. Luka kept blinking through the whole listing, more and more confused. Finally, taking advantage of Alice having to catch her breath, he timidly raised his hand.

 

“Um, all of that sounds like childish pranks...” he pointed out. Alice huffed, crossing her arms and looking away.

 

“Well... I was a child. I was just twelve. It was during the time Tamamo was raising me that the Kitsune bullied me so much...” she admitted awkwardly. Luka rubbed his temples with his fingers, closing his eyes and groaning.

 

“You... still hold a grudge against an entire race because of childish bullying?” he asked incredulously. “Wouldn’t it be simpler and less aggravating to just let go?”

 

“What? I’m just punishing them for their bullying,” Alice protested petulantly. “I thought you’d be on my side...”

 

“Well, okay, you do have a point in wanting to get even for it, but wouldn’t it make more sense to do it to those who harassed you in the first place instead of every Kitsune ever?” Luka patiently pointed out. “Plus you’re the Monster Lord now. Surely, as the Lord of all monsters, you can find it in your heart to prove yourself nobler than they are and set an example, instead of lowering yourself to their level?”

 

Alice fidgeted at his words, opening and closing her mouth repeatedly as if preparing to answer and changing her mind over and over, then she sighed and nodded.

 

“Y-yeah, I suppose you have a point. What I am doing is too petty to be worthy of the Monster Lord...” she relented, looking unhappy. Luka comfortingly patted her on her arm.

 

“Now, now, I’m not saying they don’t deserve some pranks every now and then,” he specified, drawing the Echidna’s attention again. “After all, turnabout is fair play. But you should probably let go of that grudge. It can’t be good for your peace of mind.”

 

“I guess... although I wonder...” Alice murmured. At Luka’s questioning look, she continued. “Back then, I was hurting from my mother’s death, and was angry all the time. I could very easily have ended up hating humans like so many other monsters. I wonder... did Tamamo let the Kitsune bully me in hopes that I’d redirect my anger on them and leave humans alone?”

 

“It... could be,” Luka mused, thoughtful. “Lady Tamamo strikes me as someone who thinks things through carefully. I wouldn’t put it past her to have intentionally allowed this to take your mind off thoughts of revenge against my kind.”

 

“Well, if that was her intention, it worked just a bit too well,” Alice muttered, annoyed. “Now I can’t even see a Kitsune without twitching. I just can’t stand them. Anyway...” she continued, pointedly looking at Luka. “That’s enough about me for now. What about you? Everything about you seems to be a bit of a mystery. What’s your story?”

 

“Ah - that’d be where I have to step in, I think,” Thermidor spoke up for the first time. “After all, as I mentioned, certain things about Luka were kept secret from him by Liese until such a time when he could deal with them in a mature fashion, so I probably know more about his past than even he does at the moment.”

 

“Speak up, then,” Alice urged her. Luka nodded in agreement, and Alice gestured towards him to make a point. “See, even Luka can’t wait to hear what you know. We’re both very curious - especially about that whole mysterious power bit that you seem to know about.”

 

“About that, Steelburn said she knows what my power is, but I should talk with you first, Thermidor,” Luka mentioned as he remembered the earlier discussion with the sword spirit. “She refuses to discuss it until you have had your chance to speak.”

 

“Then I am grateful she would let me speak first,” Thermidor nodded as she shifted to a more comfortable sitting position. “This may be a long story, so bear with me.” Looking at Luka, she nodded. “First off: exactly how much do you know about your family so far?”

 

“Well.. my mother was a Church witch, and my father was a Church Hero,” Luka replied, going over all the information he had. “My mother left the Church for reasons unknown to me, although I can hazard an educated guess, and my father... well, he was never there for me. Or for my mother,” he added bitterly, drawing a surprised look from Alice. Noticing her look, he shrugged. “Just a story like many others in this world. He tried to be a ‘Hero’, failed miserably, began a crusade against monsters to avenge his failure, and was killed by one in the end. Through all of this, he didn’t think much of his family, if at all.”

 

“Oh... that sounds quite rough,” Alice admitted. “I think I can see why you speak of him in such resentful tones.”

 

“Eh, it’s all in the past. Speaking of which... What about your father, Alice?” Luka changed the subject. “What kind of person was he? You didn’t mention him.”

 

“That’s because I have no idea who he was at all,” Alice replied, sounding uninterested. “For all I know, he may have been a random man my mother met on the road. I don’t even know if she ate him or not. Although, knowing her, I don’t think she killed him...”

 

“I see,” Luka nodded. “To be honest, I’m not sure which would be worse - not knowing my father, or knowing what a miserable person he was.”

 

“Then perhaps what I have to say will put that doubt to rest, Luka,” Thermidor interjected, drawing the other two’s attention again. “What you know of your family is incorrect. According to Liese, neither she nor her husband were your biological parents. She claims she found you on her front door, along with that ring of yours and a letter asking that you be taken care of.”

 

A stunned silence followed as both Alice and Luka remained speechless at the revelation. Then, Luka recovered from the sudden shock and looked at Thermidor in confusion.

 

“Wait... what?” he asked as he straightened up, appearing distressed and incredulous. “Are you saying my mother... wasn’t my mother?”

 

“That’s not what I said at all,” Thermidor replied with decision. “What I said was that Liese and her husband were not the ones who gave birth to you. That’s not the same as her not being your mother, and you should know it. You consider me your sister even though there are no blood relations between us, so why should this be any different? She loved you as a son, and you loved her as a mother. That’s all that matters, and anything else is semantic nonsense.”

 

“Ah... of course you’re right,” Luka agreed, seeming relaxing a little bit, though he still looked agitated. “It’s just that... you know, I always thought of them as my parents.”

 

“Don’t lie now. I highly doubt you viewed Liese’s husband as your father,” Thermidor disagreed with a raised eyebrow. “The way you speak of him makes that obvious. Shouldn’t you then be happy to know you are not related to him by blood?”

 

“I guess so,” the boy relented. “It’s a small consolation, at least. But...” he asked, his expression becoming puzzled. “If Mother didn’t give birth to me, then who did?”

 

“...there’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just be blunt and tell you what Liese believed,” Thermidor sighed after a moment of hesitation. “The letter she found with you didn’t go into details on it, but it did say you had divine blood in your veins. Liese was convinced that your mother... had to be an angel.”

 

Once more, silence fell on the group, but this time it was short lived, as Alice shot up and stared at Thermidor incredulously.

 

“Are you serious?!” the Echidna exclaimed, her voice rising noticeably. “That makes no sense! Why would one of those--”

 

“Lady Alicefeeze. Sit down. You’re making a scene,” Thermidor replied in a flat tone, giving her a stern look. Alice winced. Once more, the fencer reminded her of Tamamo, and she reluctantly sat back down, noticing a few odd looks from the pirates around them. After a few moments of silence, the pirates seemed to lose interest in them, and returned to their evening activities. Exhaling slightly, Thermidor returned her attention to her two companions, who were waiting for her to continue.

 

“I must ask you both to avoid such outbursts in public,” she informed them. “This is a private matter, and should be handled as such. I wouldn’t even be speaking of it in your presence, Lady Alicefeeze, but since Luka said he’d be fine with it, I don’t have a choice in the matter.”

 

“Sorry. I just got caught off guard,” Alice admitted, glancing at Luka and then at Thermidor again. “I mean... you probably wouldn’t know about that, but believe me, Angels aren’t exactly tolerant of monsters or people who associate with monsters, so the thought that he might somehow have to do with angelic beings sounded... outlandish, I guess? He doesn’t act or think like one at all.”

 

“Why would he? He wasn’t raised - or if you prefer, brainwashed - by one, or by a religious person,” the monster swordswoman replied, gesturing towards the boy. “I don’t really know how Angels act - I assume you have previous experience with them, Lady Alicefeeze - but it would be rather strange if he acted like one without apparent reason... especially since he’s at least partly human as well. In fact, that ring of his suppresses his Angel power, which is why the letter instructed to never take it off.”

 

“A-and I assume that Angel power is also why I can heal?” Luka spoke up for the first time, seemingly having gotten over the shock, although his voice still trembled slightly. At Thermidor’s nod, he exhaled. “That explains things, then. Alice did mention that an Angel - Erigora, was it? - was able to heal with just a thought... it all makes sense, now, and is proof that what the letter said and my mother thought is true.”

 

“Erigora was a Fallen Angel, actually, but yes, it makes sense,” the Echidna corrected him. She then paused and began thinking. “And it also explains what Thermidor meant when she told me it couldn’t be your power that let you wield that Dark Arm. Still... you said the ring suppresses his power. Why would he wear it, then? Wouldn’t that mean his healing powers are actually impaired by it and less effective than they could be?”

 

“That’s probably the case, but I have been warned that Holy power isn’t nearly as harmless as I thought,” Thermidor explained. “In Luka’s case, if he overused it severely, it would eventually turn him into a being of pure Holy power - he’d lose his will and would become just another servant of Ilias.”

 

“What?!” Luka raised his voice, alarmed. Cringing at the sudden looks from the pirates nearby, he lowered his tone again, and resumed talking in a more calm fashion. “What do you mean, it would turn me into a Holy being? I don’t like the sound of that at all!”

 

“Calm down. Meditating isn’t going to affect you that way,” Thermidor reassured him. “It’s only blatant abuse of that power that can cause you trouble, and as long as you wear that ring, it’s suppressed, so abusing it will be much harder. Just healing your wounds should be fine.”

 

“Say, I wonder... that power he displayed when Nanabi put him to sleep. Could it have been his Angel side flaring up in a moment of extreme stress?” Alice asked, curious. Thermidor blinked, then became thoughtful.

 

“Actually, that is a good theory,” she admitted. “It may well be that what we saw was his Angel power protecting him in an emergency. And come to think of it, I felt a vaguely familiar sensation coming from him when he was fighting while asleep. A bit like the glow I occasionally feel within myself...”

 

“Within yourself...? I don’t follow,” Luka asked, curious about her words. Thermidor nodded at him.

 

“Ah, yes, about that... it seems having sex as much as we did in these years had some unforeseen consequences,” she explained. “According to Lady Micaela, you passed on part of your Holy power to me, and she could detect it within me, since it was a very different kind of energy from what usually makes up my body.”

 

“What...? Is it... bad for you?” the boy asked, worried. The fencer shook her head with a reassuring smile.

 

“No, no, I am in no danger the way you are,” she replied, causing him to sigh in relief. “If I actively abused it, I could face consequences, too, but it’d be more a case of me losing control and going feral for a brief time. I’d be a risk to others, but not myself, and it’d wear off eventually. My body just sees Holy power as an odd kind of food, and acts accordingly. I’ll be fine. Although, I suspect that all this Holy power I absorbed from you is why my Energy Drain has weakened. It’s not just that you got used to it, it actually became less powerful.”

 

“That makes sense. Holy power and a monster’s Dark power are at odds, and cancel each other out to an extent,” Alice commented. “Having Holy power within you would explain a sudden weakening of your innate abilities.”

 

“Say, that ring Lady Micaela gave you... it looks an awful lot like my own,” Luka chimed in, pointing at the red gem ring on Thermidor’s left little finger. “I don’t suppose it does the same thing mine does?”

 

“Ah, you noticed the similarities? Good guess,” Thermidor replied, giving him an approving look. “But no, it doesn’t work like yours. Lady Micaela told me it allows me to regulate the Holy power within me, rather than suppress it completely. She claims I could find a use for it, and since it does not place me in danger of losing myself, harnessing it makes more sense than repressing it.”

 

“That Micaela woman knows an awful lot about these things,” Alice mused, suspicious. “Could she also be a witch of some sort?”

 

“That’s my guess, too,” Thermidor nodded. “She mentioned being familiar with Liese, and she has extensive knowledge of the arcane, as her enchanted gifts show. She’s probably a sorceress of renown, hiding from the Church’s attention - and what better place to hide than right under your enemy’s nose? No one would expect a sorceress to live practically right next to the place where all monster-hunting Heroes come from. They’d figure she would want to stay as far away from them as she can.”

 

“Makes sense, although something still bothers me,” the Echidna said. She then yawned suddenly and stretched, eyes closed. “Mmmm, thinking so much tired me out. Let’s go to sleep and resume this conversation later. There’s enough to think about without getting everything out in the open at once.”

 

“Yeah... I’m feeling exhausted from all the excitement,” Luka agreed, sounding tired himself. “We can always finish talking later, or even when we’re on the ship and sailing towards Sentora. There’s no hurry.”

 

“Hmm... yes, I suppose trying to absorb too much information at once would be difficult,” Thermidor conceded, getting up from her sitting spot. “I will speak with the Captain and the monsters for a while, then join the two of you. We have been offered sleeping spaces in Lamaia’s room inside the cave. You’ll find sleeping cots in there, and there’s water if you want to wash yourselves off, as well. I trust you can find your way there by yourselves?”

 

“Yeah, I remember where Lamaia’s room is,” Luka nodded before yawning himself. Rising from the sand, he dusted himself off, picked Steelburn’s sword up and headed for the cave. “Hmmm, I’m more tired than I thought. I’ll be going, then. Alice, are you coming?”

 

“Lead the way. I’m falling asleep here,” the Echidna replied, swaying slightly as she slithered after him. Thermidor followed them with her eyes as they moved towards the cave’s entrance.

 

“Good night, then. I will see you in the morning,” she called out towards their retreating forms. The fencer stood still until she saw them disappear in Poseidon’s Cave, then sighed and began to walk towards Captain Greybeard, who was studying a sea chart nearby. As she left the campfire the group had gathered around, she internally went over the talk they had, and nodded in satisfaction.

 

While she hadn’t told Luka all she wanted to say - especially that she wished to return to Sabasa to tie up some loose ends - he’d taken it better than she thought. Perhaps in the morning, after properly processing all the new information, he’d be more agitated, but she hoped that a night of sleep would bring peace and comfort to the boy, rather than doubts and alarm. But there was nothing she could do about it, except be ready to talk with Luka if he needed her counsel.

 

With her mind made up, she picked up the pace and joined Greybeard, to plan for the next few days’ activities.