Tales of Somneria - Episode 4-1: Cult of the Night

Tales of Somneria


Episode 4


Part 1


Cult of the Night


It had been about two days since the four young women had left the empire of Meji behind them, running off into the night as fugitives. After Song had calmed down, the trio could tell she would do them no harm. Releasing her from her bindings, the four of them stole into the night, Song trading her sobbing for a stunned silence, eyes staring at nothing in particular.

   

   The next day, after a good night’s rest, Song had recovered somewhat. She spoke a little at breakfast, and managed to thank Fiona - and then the other two - for rescuing her. Fiona said not to worry about it, that it was the least she could do for her, but Mercy voiced her annoyance at the fact. This led to a slightly heated fight between Fiona and Mercy, but ended as soon as it began as Mercy gave up the point as moot at this point. Lunaria said nothing, and Song did not know how she felt about that.


   Now, as the group moved west, further and further from the land that had been her home, Song took stock of her situation. Fiona seemed to be the only one she could trust, as it was her urging that had saved her. And only her urging. Song was no fool - she knew that if it hadn’t been for Fiona’s vouching, Mercy and Lunaria would’ve abandoned her in Meji castle without a second thought. Even now, she could sense that they were only letting her stick around because Fiona had become their de-facto leader, and they didn’t want any more confrontation on the matter. Mercy had openly voiced her discontent, and even if Lunaria had been mostly silent she could sense the resentment coming off of the red-eyed woman.


   This, of course, did little to abate her own problems. She was still quite distressed over the issue of Aria’s betrayal. Many questions were left over for her - why had Aria done that? How long had she been planning it? Had she been planning it at all? Was it a spur-of-the-moment situation done by greed? Was she only a pawn in some larger game? Was she a fool for trusting her for as long as she did?


   “Song, are you alright?”

   Song was pulled out of her reverie by the sound of Fiona’s concerned voice. “Hmm? Oh, y-yes, Fiona, thanks…” Song said, sniffing.

   Fiona could tell that the young kitsune had been fighting back tears. Fiona felt a pang of pity, and was moved to try and console Song - not that she really knew how. “L… Look, Song, I know it’s hard. I know it’s been a rough couple of weeks, but I want you to know that at the very least, I’m here for you. Okay?’

   Song offered a smile. “Y… Yeah… Thanks, Fiona…”


   “Are you two done? C’mon, town’s just a bit further up!” Mercy called up ahead.

   “She is impatient today,” Lunaria noted drily behind Song and Fiona. Mercy had been leading the path, as the defacto navigator of the party, and Lunaria had been keeping up the rear. Lunaria had been quiet ever since the incident at Meji - even more so than usual. Fiona found it odd, but didn’t say anything, deciding it wasn’t worth fretting over. Song, for her part, feared the half-elven ranger at least a little bit - she was strong enough to resist her own paralyzing toxin in record time, and she had little doubt that if she really wanted to Lunaria could easily kill her. Needless to say, the two of them didn’t talk much.


   The party moved on in silence as they neared town. Fiona decided to pick up the pace a bit, catching up to Mercy. “So, what’s the next stop for us?” she asked.

   Mercy smiled. “Oh, this absolutely charming little town, really. It’s called Tellisbrook. Quiet little town, here in the middle of nowhere, but I’ll tell you what, it’s always got work for those looking for it!”

   Fiona sighed. “That’s good. After all we’ve been through, we could go for a nice, wholesome adventure. No kidnapping, no distress, just the four of us saving the day!”

   Mercy darkened at that, something Fiona noticed. “Oh what? Come on, Mercy, you can’t hold it against Song forever.”

   “I don’t trust her, Fiona. She’s no better than her sister, I bet. She’ll sell us out, Fiona, for a good price! Now I’m not gonna stop you from letting her in here, because you’re just that kind of stubborn moron and I can’t help it, but I’ll be twice damned if I don’t say I warned you!” the witch retorted.

   Fiona frowned. “Mercy, Song’s been through some rough time, okay? She’s been betrayed by the only person who ever cared for her. Look, you weren’t there, but when they had me captive… it almost felt like they wanted me to join them, you know? Join their little family?”

   Mercy almost spat at that. “And you actually considered it? You offend me, Fiona!”

   “No, no, no, of course not, but the point is that they had kidnapped me, known me for only a few hours and they were ready to let me in. That’s not normal, is it? She has no one, Mercy, and if we had left them to the mercy of the state? They would’ve killed her for sure!”

   Silence passed for a moment. Eventually, Mercy sighed, speaking softly. “What are we doing, Fiona? What are we doing here?”

   “What do you mean.”

   “I mean us, Fiona. The three of us. You, me, and Lunaria. How did this even get started? Why do we care so much about each other? For gods’ sakes, we only stuck together because Lunaria saved the two of us and she had nothing better to do. I mean, I was just looking for work, I still don’t know what Lunaria’s after after almost a month of travel, and you’re just here because of your stupid, naive perception of what an ‘adventure’ is.”

   There was a pause. Fiona finally broke it, asking “Mercy, what are you saying?”

   Mercy said. “Nothing, Fiona. I’m just saying that it makes no sense that we’ve stuck together this long. It defies all logic. We hardly even know each other that well - I don’t even know your last name! Maybe… Maybe it’d be better if we all just…”

   “Mercy…”


   Another uncomfortable silence. It hung in the air, repugnant and ugly, like a hideous serpent, the poison of implication snaking its way through the pair. Suddenly, the bright flash of light that was the sound of Fiona’s laughter dispelled the beast, prompting a strange look from Mercy. “What’s so funny?” the Elf asked.

   “Oh… Nothing, nothing! It’s just, you’re right! I’ve never even told you my last name, have I? At least not substantially. And you’re right, I was pretty stupid and naive. But you know what? I’ve learned a lot in these past month. Sure, adventuring isn’t all Crypts and Cartographers or anything. It’s difficult, it’s tiring, it doesn’t pay well, and it’s dreadfully frightful. But you know what? I feel like, more than ever in my life, I’ve been really alive in this past month. Like I’ve been truly living my life to its fullest, and doing good in the world. Don’t you?”

   Mercy chuckled. “Y-yeah. I guess we have done a couple good things…”

   Another silence hung for a brief space. Fiona broke it again, saying “Besides, even if it makes no sense that we’ve stuck together this long, life doesn’t make sense most of the time, does it? Mercy, I’m glad we met. I’m glad you scolded me in that forest right before we were gassed by orcs. I’m glad you tried to find me after I got kidnapped. I’m glad I can call you my friend.”

   Mercy blushed, pulling her hood over her head. “Alright, c-come on now, it wasn’t a big deal…” she said.

   Fiona laughed again, wrapping Mercy in a tight hug. “It sure was, Mercy. Now come on, let’s go show the world what we’re made of, yeah?”


   Mercy allowed herself to crack a smile, sighing. “Yeah, yeah. You got me, Fi…”

   “It’s Alesthid, by the way…”

   “Hmm?”

   “My last name. I belong to the house Alesthid.”

   “House? You’re a noble?”

   “Ha ha, well…”

   “My last name is Thistlebane. I…”

   “There will be time enough for origin stories at the inn, friends,” Lunaria interjected. Mercy gave her a look, noting that Song had lagged behind somewhat. She sighed. “Yeah, yeah, come on, let’s get to Tellisbrook already. I’m dying for a meal…” she grumbled, forging on ahead as the town came into view.


   Fiona rolled her eyes. “What? Jealous I wasn’t talking to you, Luna?” she asked.

   Lunaria chose to ignore the nickname, and averted eye contact quite deftly. She allowed herself a small smirk. “Not at all. I just thought that if the two of you kept blowing hot air, Mercy would inflate like a balloon and fly away…” she commented matter-of-factly, subtly gesturing to her chest in a pantomime of Mercy’s own large breasts.

   Fiona stifled a giggle, shaking her head as she fell in line behind Lunaria. What luck that she had such friends....


*** ***


The village of Tellisbrook wasn’t very noteworthy. The homes were made of wood, and the forest almost seemed to be creeping into the town. Simple dirt roads with wooden fence-posts crisscrossed the ground providing the only paths for foot and carriage traffic. There was a market, albeit not one with much to offer. Mercy mentioned that they would stop by for supplies after they finish a job or two.


“Tellisbrook’s kind of a mess. Not many people travel through here, since it’s so out of the way and far from any major trade routes. Out here on the frontier, you can always count on somebody needing a monster dead, or a house exorcised, or a cat pulled out of a tree or something. Always work for people like us,” Mercy lectured as the four of them stepped through the streets.


Song stepped lightly behind Fiona, trying to ignore the prying eyes of the citizens of Tellisbrook. Kitsune were a rare enough sight in Meji, but outside of it? They were practically unheard of. Her tail hung low, hugging her tight rear end as her ears drooped. Her body language was the very picture of shame, submission, and fear.


Fiona noticed this, slowing down. “C’mon, Song, the inn’s not far,” she said, wrapping an arm around the Kitsune’s waist in a protective hug.


“Mm-hmm…” Song nodded, eyes darting around as she scanned the area around her. Lunaria walked near her then, prompting her pace to quicken.

“They will not kill you, Song,” Lunaria said simply. “At worst they’ll only render you unconscious and kidnap you, but there are no killers here. And as long as I am present, you are safe,” Lunaria said.

Song nodded, not quite reassured. Fiona gave Lunaria a look, as if to say that her attempt at consolation had been a miserable failure, but said nothing. Lunaria continued onward, catching up with Mercy.



“Don’t mind her,” Fiona told Song. “She’s a bit frank, and doesn’t mince words. But she cares more about people than she lets on. Trust me, she’ll keep you safe.”

Song nodded. “Y-yeah. From them, sure. Not so sure if I’m safe from her though. Or her,” she added, nodding to Mercy.

Fiona sighed. “Song, you can’t expect them to trust you if you don’t trust them. You really scared them, back in the forest when you kidnapped me and paralyzed them. Can you really blame them for being just a little bit frightened?”

Song pouted, lip quivering. “Fine. But look, don’t expect me to like it, okay?”

Fiona sighed, musing that Mercy had said something quite similar to her. In truth, Mercy and Song weren’t that different in personality from each other. She suspected that if they could only learn to trust each other, they might make great friends.


The inn of Mercy’s choice this time around was the Dalliance. It wasn’t big, nor of particularly good make, but she said it was cheap and they could easily rent out two rooms. “I’ll go pay the innkeep. Lunaria, you and Fiona will bunk together. Song, you’re with me, got it?”


“Y-yes, yeah sure!” Song said meekly, not wanting to confront the Elf. Mercy smirked, turning with a huff as she moved to the clerk’s desk. “I’ll try and find a job for us while I’m there, just sit tight, got it?” she said, prompting a nod from the other three women as they proceeded to rest in the lobby, not really doing much. As Mercy walked off, she added under her breath, “Like hells I’ll let you pull a fast one on us, fox…”


“So… Lunaria, is it?” Song asked, venturing a conversation.

Lunaria nodded, but said nothing.

“Uh… um… what’s uh… where do you come from?” Song asked.

Lunaria gave her a look, then blinked before looking at Fiona. “Nowhere special,” she said simply, averting her gaze.

“O-Oh… I see…” Song responded, sighing. This was so dreadfully awkward…


“Umm… do you like any, uh… do you have any pastimes?” She asked, noting that Fiona seemed to have become distracted by a book on the desk. Crypts and something, the title read.

Lunaria arched an eyebrow. “Pastimes?” She asked.

“Y-y’know, like… Like, I like to steal thi-I MEAN, uh, I, well, I-”

“You’re a thief. I am aware of this, there is no need for trying to hide things from me.”

“Well, it’s not that I like it, I’m just… oh… well I’m just so good at it!”

Lunaria smirked. “I suppose I can relate to that…”

Song’s ears perked up. “You can?” she asked energetically, her previous vibrance returning somewhat.

Lunaria turned, blood-red eyes gazing deep into Song’s blue eyes as she leaned in a bit and said softly “I’ve always been an exceptional huntress. The draw of the string, the release of the bow, the wet squeal of my prey… It’s not something I’ve ever been enjoyed, but, as you say, I’m just so good at it…” she said with dark intonation.


A cold chill crept up Song’s spine as she turned away, ears pulled back in frightful reverance. “Y-yeah, right! Right… Uh… that’s great…” she stammered. She nearly jumped when Lunaria suddenly closed the distance, stopping right next to her and leaning in to her ear. She whispered;

“If you so much as think of betraying us… of betraying her, fox, then there is no force in the heavens or hells that will stop me from exacting my revenge on you, do you understand me?”

“Mm-hmm!” Song whimpered, nodding fearfully.

“Good. Then there shouldn’t be any problems, right?”

“Mm-mm!” Song responded with a shake of the head.

Lunaria smirked, stepping back. “That’s great, Song,” she said out loud. “I’m glad we got to know each other better.”


With that, Lunaria walked off, proceeding to admire the mounted heads of boar, bears, and deer kept in the lobby.


Meanwhile, Mercy leaned forward, pressing her elbows together and squeezing her sizeable breasts together as she spoke to the innkeep. “So… There shouldn’t be any problems getting the two-room discount, right?” she said.

The inkeep, a young human man, looked down while trying not to look her in the face - or the chest. “Y-yes ma’am. Sure thing, ma’am,” he said.

“Say…” Mercy added, drawing one finger to her lower lip and pressing slightly. “Has there been any work lately? I’m just so short on money right now, and I really could use a job!” she said.

“W-well, there’s the Cult of the N-Night, ma’am…” the man stammered.

“Oh? Trouble with a cult?”

“Y-yeah… I mean, uh, yes ma’am. They’re in a cave on the mountain just out of town, and they built they’re Sh-shrine of Midnight, and-and-”

“Oh, that little thing? Trust me, that’s just a rock compared to what we have in Aelvaria,” Mercy retorted.

“S-sure, ma’am. B-but anyway, they’re leader is this Dark Elf, and-”

“Wait, what did you say?”

“I said, they’re leader is a D-Dark Elf, ma’am, and she-”

“Say no more, I’ll take the job. Have those rooms ready for when I get back, you hear me?” Mercy said, straightening her back and taking a serious tone as she turned, cloak flowing behind her swaying hips as she moved to the rest of her party.

“Oh… okay…” the poor confused innkeep said, not sure what to make of what had just transpired.


As Mercy approached the party, a grin spread across her rounded face. “Girls, I got us a job!” She said.

“Oh?” Fiona asked, taking notice.

“What is it?” Lunaria asked.

Mercy’s face almost darkened somewhat, and Fiona could’ve sworn she saw black embers floating around her. “Ladies, we have a cult to clear out…”


*** ***


“Mmm… mmmm… hhmmm? Uhhh… wha…?”


Slowly, a pair of crimson eyes fluttered open. Consciousness, swirling like a simmering stew, returned to their owner, as red wings sparked into existence on their owner’s back. “Where…? What happened?” Minerva asked, waking up.


She sat up, realizing she lay on a very fine, plush bed. In truth, it was not much different from her own bed back home, only it was covered in black sheets with a grey comforter. The room was a dark blue in color, with old black wooden furniture. Silken white drapes hung around the bed, concealing her from the outside world.


“What? Where am I?” she wondered, slowly remembering her ordeal with the Drider. The last thing she remembered was hitting the ground hard, then darkness… How did she end up here?

   

She lay on top of the covers, not tucked into the bed herself, as if she had been left there to rest. As she sat up and swung her lissome legs off the side of the bed, she noticed with embarassment that her breastplate - and indeed, the rest of her armor - had been removed! She blushed, face turning a bright shade of crimson at the thought. Just where in the hells was she? She stood up, wearing her bright red Pixiecoat underneath still, her combat skirt and leather boots left untouched.


She noticed, fortunately, that a dresser near her bed had been left open, and sitting within was the rest of her armor. Her breastplate, her pauldrons and gauntlets, all shining with a fresh polish. Who had done this? As she examined the chestpiece, she noted that it would appear as if somebody went to great pains to make sure it was utterly spotless.


Unnerved but not discouraged, Minerva quickly geared up, strapping her breastplate and the rest of her armor back on. “Ughh…” she moaned, rubbing the back of her head, a dull pain ringing in her skull. The question of just where she was was the foremost concern in her mind, with Bell’s location being second to that. She sincerely hoped that wherever she was, Bell was here too - she’d hate to have to fight her way out in search of her daughter’s friend.


Once she had finished dressing, the noblewoman strode to the door of the room she was in, confidence returning to her step. Certainly, she’d been made a fool of in the web of the Drider, but she had gotten free of that now. As Minerva reached to open the door to her room, however, she was surprised by the knob turning and opening before her.


Minerva gasped as before her suddenly appeared the form of a blonde woman, human by her best guess. Most odd, however, was her apparel - the frilly black and white outfit of a maid. “Greetings, Lady Minerva,” the woman said in a flat, monotone voice. “I trust your wounds are healed?”

Minerva stepped back, on edge. “Yes, they are… Who… Who are you? Where am I?”

“You are in Obsidian Ridge Manor, the home of my mistress,” was the reply.

“Alright… And who are you, then?”

There was no response. The woman only stared at her, expressionless, unblinking. Minerva leaned forward, brows furrowed in scrutiny. “Mm… Hello?”

“Please follow me,” the maid said, before turning and leading Minerva out of her room.


   Outside of her room was a hallway, lit by candles that glowed with an eerie white flame. The halls were dark, and moonlight filtered in from a window at the end of the hall. It was night outside, and the sound of wind stirred through the mansion’s hall. The maid took out a small hand lantern, lighting it, silently leading Minerva down the hall. Quite quickly, she stopped before the door to the room next to the one Minerva had been resting in. Methodically, she opened the door, the wooden thing creaking on its hinges as it slowly opened.


   Inside was another room like the one Minerva had been resting in, save for one significant difference - fast asleep in the bed, face an expression of perfect somnolent peace, was Bell. Bell, like Minerva, rested atop the covers, not tucked in but clearly left to sleep by somebody. She rested in a very peaceful pose, legs straight and hands rested over her thin waist, mouth shut with gentle breaths coming in and out of her nostrils, causing her small, pert breasts to rise and fall.


   The maid walked up to the sleeping pixie, gently rubbing her shoulder. “My lady… please, awaken,” she supplicated. As if on cue, Bell’s eyes slowly slid open, blue eyes rolling into place.

   “Mmm… huwha…?” Bell asked, confused as consciousness returned to her. Minerva quickly stepped to her side, grabbing one of her hands and holding it.

   “Bell, I’m so glad you’re alright! Please, forgive me for what I did earlier, I should have let you rest, I should have-”

   “Mm… no, p-please, my Lady… it’s fine… where am I?” Bell asked, lifting one hand to rub her eyes as she sat upright, wings sparkling back into existence.


   “You are in the mansion of my mistress as guests, here in Obsidian Ridge Manor,” the maid said.

   Bell almost jumped, gasping as she suddenly took notice of the maid’s presence. She silently looked at Minerva, her eyes asking who this was. Minerva could only answer with a shrug.

   “Do you feel fine, Lady Bell? Are you recuperated?” the maid asked.

   Gulping, Bell nodded, her usual timidity returning. “Y-yes, I’m fine, thank you,” she sputtered out.

   “Good. Please, follow me. My mistress would like a word with you,” the maid said, before turning and walking out the room. Minerva helped Bell to her feet, taking her by the hand as the two pixies followed the maid into the hallway.


   The maid led them towards the window, before taking a ninety degree turn to the left, where a staircase led. Carpet ran down the middle of the stairs, polished black wood as the actual make of the thing. As Minerva stepped down, she noted just how dark the manor was, illuminated only sparsely by the faint light of a candle. Much of the manor was actually left in the pitch darkness of the night, making it difficult for her to see much further than the illuminated radius of the maid’s lamp. As they walked down the stairs, she noticed paintings left on the wall the staircase was fixed to - paintings of snowy castles, old men and women in noble clothing, and knights in full regalia.


   Eventually the staircase came to a stop on a platform, with another two staircases visible from there. Another one directly ahead of them went back up, suggesting to Minerva a symmetrical wing on the second floor to the one she and Bell had been resting in. The other, to their left, went down, and was much wider, opening out into a small parlor. It was these steps the trio descended, when the sounds of laughter and female voices floated through the air towards them.


   The maid led them down a short hall, a door closed at the end, light filtering in from beneath the crack of the door. The sounds were coming from there. Without hesitation, the maid led them forward, before reaching the door and opening it, ushering the two pixies in.


   Inside was a great dining hall, with a long table that accommodated the seating of at least eight comfortably. And yet, only two figures sat there, near the head of the table, each to either side of a noticeably larger, plush chair. They were speaking to each other in a language neither Bell nor Minerva understood, but stopped to look at them.


   The young woman on the right looked to be about Bell or Fiona’s age, with breasts a little larger than hers - around the average size for a girl slightly older than her. Her face was small with a delicate chin and fragile jawline, with large red eyes indicating a sense of girlishness to her. She had long, milky cream-colored hair the flowed down to the middle of her back in wavy curls, two curly locks framing her face while her forehead was covered by straight bangs. She wore a black headband, parting her bangs from the rest of her hair and compounding her girly appearance.

   

   Most intriguing about her, however, was what she wore. She wore a red dress with a short, rather poofy skirt. It was sleek and red in color, resembling a corset in some ways but retaining a sense of simple elegance. Beneath the dress she wore a white blouse, which was clear only because the fairly low cut of the dress itself would’ve exposed much of her cleavage had it not been already covered. The blouse’s sleeves covered only up to halfway down her upper arms, with extra poofy shoulders. A folded collar finished off the top half of her appearance, a simple bowtie stylized to look like bat’s wings resting in a rather cutesy manner. She wore silky grey fingerless gloves, and similarly silky garter leggings that had a black spiderweb pattern on them. Small red shoes tipped her slim legs, finishing off her complex outfit. The girl smiled at them mischievously, and Bell recognized her as the saviour who had somehow put her to sleep with a word earlier.


   The other woman was much less girly in appearance. She had short orange hair that came down to her shoulders, and a face that was a bit harder and a bit more elegant than the cream-colored girl’s. She wore a simple outfit, a simplistic blouse-skirt combo that was pink of all colors - and yet the pink was muted, faded, and fairly drab, as far as the color was concerned. A dark purple cape was folded on the chair’s backrest behind her, thigh-high leather boots framing her long, slender legs. By comparison, this woman’s outfit was utterly simplistic and practical when seen alongside the cream-haired girl - although equally red eyes indicated some relation between the two.


   “Ah, you’re awake. That’s great! I hope the Drider didn’t scare you too badly, did she?” the cream-haired girl asked.

   Minerva frowned. “Who are you? Are you the one who brought us here?” she asked. The girl rolled her ruby eyes.

   “Well, yeah, duh! And I see you put your armor on, after all the trouble the maids went to polishing it for you! Did you even let it dry properly? Some thanks, I tell you…” she grumbled.

   The orange-haired woman spoke now. “Forgive my sister’s impertinence. There are many things in which she has not quite matured in,” she said calmly.

   “Matured in?! Any boy would know that I’m a lot more mature than you!” she said. Indeed, despite her more youthful appearance, the cream-colored girl’s body seemed just a bit more adult, with slightly wider hips and slightly fuller breasts than her sister. “Besides, you can’t go off calling me a kid when I’m a year older than you!”

   The orange-haired woman rolled her eyes at that. “Yeah, in years, sure…” she muttered.


   “I’m so confused… What’s going on? I thought we were spider food…” Bell said timidly, thoroughly unsure of what was happening.

   “Ah, of course, forgive me,” the orange-haired woman said. “My name is Llewellyn, and this is my sister, Lilith,” she said, gesturing to the cream-haired girl.

   Lilith smirked, waving her fingers. “Heyo!” she cheerily chimed.

   “Our mother has decided to take you in as her guests, although we don’t actually know for what purpose yet…”

   “Hospitality, I’m sure!”

   “But please, enough of business, why not sit here with us, and eat?”

   “Yes, it’s been so long since we-”

   Llewellyn cleared her throat, shooting Lilith a look.

   “Oh, y-yes, not since Lunette…”

   “Lunette was our eldest sister, you see, but sadly she’s gone now. Mother still pains for her loss, and in truth she hasn’t invited anybody into her home since our other…”


   Minerva nodded, as she and Bell moved to sit next to the pair. Minerva sat to Llewellyn’s side, while Bell sat next to Lilith. “I’m sorry for your loss, then…” Minerva said genuinely.

Lilith nodded, her smile dropping for a moment before returning. “Well, it just shows how well mother has recovered since then, doesn’t it? You are lucky, to be witness to her generosity!”

Minerva nodded, smiling. “Indeed, and we thank you very much for that. But where is your mother, anyway?”


It was then that a door behind the head of the table opened, revealing a tall, elegant human woman in a dark purple dress, with short white hair and beautiful blood-red eyes. She smiled, and said in a cultured voice.


“Well, welcome to my home, dear guests…”


*** ***


   The journey out of town and up the mountain wasn’t very long. As Mercy had said before, the mountain wasn’t much of a mountain really, but more a large slab of granite with a tunnel system bored into it. It wasn’t a very steep climb, and before the party knew it they found themselves before what the innkeep had told them of - the entrance to the cave system, and within the Shrine of Midnight.


   “So, what are we supposed to be doing here, Mercy?” Fiona asked.

   “This should be easy, don’t worry. The innkeep told me that there was some trouble here, since a cult - calling themselves the Cult of the Night - had set up shop here. So, obviously, our job is to take them out.”

   “Do they want us to kill them? That seems extreme,” Lunaria commented.

   Mercy nodded. “Yeah, even if they’re causing trouble, I don’t think they deserve dying just for that - at least right now. I think we can probably just go in and knock them out and we should be okay,” she replied.


   “So… how are we going to go about doing that… exactly?” Song tentatively asked.

   Mercy rolled her eyes. “Well, you don’t have any chloroform on you, do you?”

   Song stopped short, eyes staring out at nothing as she remembered in vivid detail once more how Aria had betrayed and chloroformed her, almost feeling once more her grasp rubbing her stomach, her breasts, her…

   “Song? Song?” Fiona asked, pulling Song out of her reverie.

   “Hm? Oh, uh… n-no, I don’t have any, sorry,” she said to Mercy as she regained her senses. She must’ve zoned out there, and she idly wondered how long she’d stood there staring at nothing. Hopefully not more than a moment, judging from Fiona’s concerned expression.


   “Well, then we’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way. I have a sleep spell I can use, but its range is limited. The rest of you will have to knock them out on your own,” Mercy said, not seeming to notice Song.

   Lunaria nodded. “That shouldn’t be a problem, then,” she replied.

“Hang on a minute, Mercy, shouldn’t we try diplomacy first? I mean, we don’t even know what the problem is with these cultists. Are you sure we can’t resolve this peacefully?” Fiona asked.  


   Mercy scoffed. “They can’t be reasoned with, Fiona, I’ve dealt with these types of people before. Besides,” she added, speaking in a somewhat darker tone, “their leader is a Dark Elf…”

   “Dark Elf? What does that mean?” Fiona asked, innocent as ever as to the affairs of the outside world.

   Lunaria answered her, saying “Dark Elves are another race of our kind, only normally their society dwells underground. It is said in ancient tales that long, long ago they made a pact with an ancient goddess, and were tricked into giving up their Light. Now they dwell in darkness, shrouded by shadows and protected only by the night. Or, so the legends say…”

   Fiona blinked. “So, what the hells does that actually mean?” she asked, Lunaria flinching.

   “Well… A lot of the ancient legends are told partly in metaphor… and considering how much of them have bits and pieces missing in the narratives… well, we have to use our imaginations to fill in the blanks and find our own answers,” the half-elf responded.

   Song rolled her eyes and Fiona crossed her arms. “Yeah, well, there’s a lot of blanks,” she muttered, annoyed with the obfuscation of facts by time.


   “Anyway, sneaking in shouldn’t really be a problem. At worst, they’ll have some degree of magical training, but in my experience cultists are generally just fanatical losers looking for trouble. Now c’mon, let’s get in there and get to work!” Mercy said, turning and leading them into the cave.


   Fiona sighed, as Lunaria shrugged at her and followed Mercy in. She turned to Song and with a soft smile, said “Well, guess we’d better get to work then?” Song smiled back, grateful, and followed the rest of the party inside.


*** ***



“Ah… At lest this is a bit familiar,” Song said softly to herself, stealthily walking ahead of the party. It hadn’t taken her long at all to flex her proverbial muscles as the most well-equipped member of the party in terms of stealth, and now she led them through the darkness of the cave. Song’s eyes were much better attuned to seeing in the darkness of the cavern, something that Mercy slightly resented but ultimately gave way to allowing as justification enough to let Song lead the way. Fiona, too, was having difficulty seeing, unsurprisingly, but the dim glow of her magical wings were sufficient to light her own path. Lunaria, alone of the original trio, had no difficulty finding her way through the darkness, and kept completely quiet - already on the hunt.


Song sighed as she moved ahead, stopping to crouch on all fours behind a rocky outcropping as her ears twisted this way and that, triangulating sounds none of the others could hear. Voices… footsteps… There were others not far off.


“We’re getting close to them… I count two… no, three people coming our way…” Song whispered to the other girls.

“It will be difficult to face them in low-light…” Mercy muttered.

“I can take two, Song can take one,” Lunaria offered.

Song looked indignant, and was about to say that she could take all three just fine on her own, but a red-eyed glare from Lunaria spoke more than she ever could. With a grumble of assent she remained silent.


“Sounds like a plan to me,” Fiona said, oblivious. “Wait, Mercy, you don’t have any light spells, do you?”

Mercy shook her head. “No, I’m a Dark Mage. That generally means we don’t have spells that cast light,” she replied.

Fiona sighed. “We really should’ve bought torches while we had the chance…” she muttered.

“Quiet! They’re getting close by…” Lunaria scolded, now able to hear the incoming cultists herself.


The four women lay in wait, until finally the sounds of voices came to them, filtering through the subterranean network.

“Ah, Mistress Alessia truly gave a moving sermon today…”

“Yes, indeed Sister. I myself have oft-read the Benediction of Moonlit Sorrow, but I had never considered its scathing rhetoric in fact a means of criticism for the greed of our age!”

“Indeed, Mistress Alessia is a true scholar. I should hope her lessons will truly bring us one step closer to communing with the Night herself.”

“Certainly, certainly. My faith is strong - if Mistress Alessia cannot lead us to communion, I know not who can!”

Laughter rang out at that, and Song peered her head over the wall. Three women, all wearing long but surprisingly tight-fitting black robes were walking, deep in conversation. They wore golden jewelry, simple necklaces strewn about their necks, foreheads, and waist, with some silvery bands wrapped around their thin waists. Black cloaks obscured their features, making it impossible for Song to determine their race or facial features.


She turned to Lunaria, who gave a nod. Song inhaled once, breasts expanding as she held her breath. ”Here goes nothing…” she thought to herself. Then, in a flurry of motion, the vixen hurtled herself over the rock and down to the space below. The sound of a fluttering cape confirmed that Lunaria had done the same behind her.


To Song’s heightened senses, everything happened in slow motion. The perfect moment of the hunt, the ambush, when the hunter surprises her prey with a stunning and lethal attack, executed to perfection - it was all a thrill to her, even with Lunaria at her side.


Immediately, Song lunged for the nearest cultist, knife drawn. With speed and grace, she drew the blade across the cultist’s arm, slicing through her thin robe and cutting her flesh lightly. Song smirked, her homebrew paralysis toxin already moving into action. The woman gasped, just as Lunaria reached her target, kicking her with the heel of her right foot in the shin, forcing her to her knees as she looped around. “Hrgrk!” the woman gasped as Lunaria’s arms wrapped around her neck, squeezing it between her bicep and forearm in a crushing sleeper hold.


Song had enough time to register the third cultist realize what was happening to make a decision - finish taking down the one she’d started, or deal with this third pest? The woman in Lunaria’s grasp was struggling, but the half-elf wasn’t letting go, her strength pinning the cultist in place. Her gasping struggle was slowing, and Song decided that she’d probably handled the first cultist well enough already. Stepping forward into a crouch, she leaped forward, tackling the third cultist to the ground.


The woman gasped, but by the time she moved to strike at Song feebly the lithe Kitsune was already gone. She quickly moved up to the woman’s head, and with a twist of her flexible body caught her neck in between her calves. Bending one leg while keeping the other straight, Song lay on the ground behind the woman, using her lower body to put her in a sleeper hold of her own.


“Gahggk!” the cultist choked, as Song looked up. Lunaria was looking down at her, her expression indiscernable as she continued to apply force to her own cultist’s fragile neck. “Ghurg… guuuuhhh…” the woman sighed, and Lunaria let her collapse limply to the floor, completely unconscious, already striding to the other cultist that was now paralyzed before her.


“Ghrkgh! GuIRngkgkj!” The cultist in Song’s legs grunted, struggling violently as she tried to pry the Kitsune’s lovely legs from her neck. Of course, Song was a professional - she’d been taught by the very best, and then some. The unfortunate cultist made no headway as her consciousness faded. Song saw Lunaria crouch down, and in a near-flashback saw her as Aria - tall, elegantly beautiful, with long snow white hair, as she crouched to reach for the fallen cultist just as Aria had for Fiona.


Song growled, and in a moment of uncharacteristic anger slammed the cultist’s head into the cave’s ground. “Gah-ha! Guuhhh…” the cultist groaned as she passed out, Song quickly standing and releasing her from her legs’ grip. The Kistune patted herself off, turning around with a blush as she refused to look at Lunaria.


“Wha… What…? Wh…. Why…?” the paralyzed cultist asked as Lunaria stared down at her. Before the half-elf could respond, however, a tiny black sprite struck the cultist in the forehead. “Ah! Haaa… aaahhn…” the cultist moaned, her eyes (the only part of her face visible thanks to a black veil she wore) rolled and fluttered shut as consciousness left her paralyzed body.


“Well, that takes care of that,” Mercy said, standing up, her sleep spell cast. Song rummaged through the body of the woman she had knocked out, checking her for items. The woman was quite well-built, with a willowy body and fairly sizeable breasts. Song internally regretted knocking her out like she did - that was going to hurt when she woke up. At any rate, Song found an item of value on her person after some foraging - an unlit torch, with plenty of oiled bandaging to ensure it would last a good long while.


“Hey, I found something,” she called out as Lunaria guided Fiona and Mercy down into the darkness. “Mercy, do you think you can light this?”

“Hmph! Of course I can! What a trivial matter, for a Dark Mage as powerful as me!” the Elf said with an exceptionally grandiose tone, causing Fiona to roll her eyes. With a decidedly unnecessary flourish, Mercy cast a ball of black fire from her staff, which streaked forward and ignited Song’s torch. It burned black for a moment, before normalizing into a more natural, bright orange.


“Well, this should help Mercy and I out, at least,” Fiona said complacently. Lunaria nodded, firelight glinting off her silky hair.

“Indeed. Now we are all at are best capacity. We should move forward - I have no doubt there are more cultists further in…” the ranger said.

Song and Mercy nodded silently, Song willingly falling into step behind the rest of them as she held the torch illuminating their path further into the tunnels of the cavern.


Surprisingly, there wasn’t much more to the cavern itself. Past the tunnel was a room, with some simple wooden pews with a wooden podium presumably used for preaching. Black banners with a white crescent moon decorated the space, providing a sense of reverence to it. Unlit candles lined the walls, suggesting it could be a fairly well-lit area, should one so choose it.


   Past this room was another tunnel, and down it Song heard movement. As they stealthily moved into the tunnel, they found another room - smaller, this time, with only one female figure within, cheerfully humming to herself. She wore the same black robes, silver waist-wrap and golden circlets as her fellows, but her hood was down revealing short silver hair. She wore a circlet around her forehead, and as she turned, she revealed herself to be a Dark Elf with ash-grey skin and dark blue eyes.


She also promptly screamed as four well-armed women with a torch appeared before her.


Immediately, Fiona lunged for her, ready to knock her out (although she wasn’t quite sure how), Mercy charging a spell and Song and Lunaria standing at the ready. But she came to a hard stop as the woman screamed “Wait! Stop!”


Fiona didn’t know why she stopped, but she did, and seeing her friend falter Mercy lowered her spell. “Fiona, what are you doing? Knock her out so we can get paid already!” The Elven woman shouted.


“Paid? Are you here to deal with the cult trouble? Oh, gods, don’t tell me you’re mercenaries or bounty hunters, please merciful Moonlight, please, I-”

“Mercenaries? No, but we did hear about some trouble with a cult. Mercy said that we should move in and neutralize them, and-” Fiona stammered, forcing out an explanation before being cut off.

“It was me! I put out that call! Yes, we are a cult, and we have serious trouble! Please, please, what are you doing? Help us!” the woman exclaimed, collapsing to her knees and begging Fiona.


Fiona, of course, felt very uncomfortable, turning to look at the rest of the party. Mercy looked very perturbed, while Lunaria and Song were still somewhat in shock. “Uh… Excuse me? You’re the one who put out the call for help from adventurers?” Fiona asked the Dark Elf.


The woman coughed, regaining her composure as she stood up. “Y-Yes. My name is Alessia, and I’m the Head Priestess of the Cult of the Night. We worship Alina, Goddess of the Moon and Night, a-and these women all came of their own accord. But there is a terrible light upon us, blinding! This paladin is mad, and she comes every day at noon, when the sun is highest! She claims to be fighting for Elinala, Goddess of the Sun, and claims our beliefs her antithesis! She has come every day for the past week and a half, kidnapping my sisters one by one, until now, where I have but three loyal sisters left! Please! You must face this madwoman today, and find my sisters and free them!”


Fiona’s face darkened, reddening in embarassment. Mercy stewed, stammering curses, gripping her staff tightly as her knees shook with rage as Song brought up a hand to cover her mouth in shame. Even Lunaria looked away, feeling a twinge of guilt. “Y-yeah… About that…” Fiona said. “We, uh… we kinda… just a little…”

“We knocked out the other three cultists,” Lunaria said bluntly.


“What! Why?! They meant no harm! I swear, you’re no better than that madwoman! You… You came in here to knock me out, didn’t you?!” Alessia screamed, suddenly furious.

   “W-Well, uh… Yes?” Fiona offered.

   Alessia’s lips quivered in barely-restrained rage, as she stuttered, violently trying to find the words to voice her anger. Her eyes almost seemed to glow with arcane blue energy, as if she were suddenly calling forth powers beyond the ken of those present.


   “Please calm down! We swear, it was a mistake!” Song said suddenly, stepping between Fiona and Alessia, putting one hand to her chest apologetically, ears swept back. “This is all just a big misunderstanding, but we get it now! Please, just tell us what you want, and we’ll do it for you - and then some! I promise!”

   Lunaria arched an eyebrow, surprised by Song’s diplomacy. She hadn’t expected that from the thief, not by a long shot. Alessia simmered, seeming to calm down.


   “Very… Very well… But there’s not much time! Noon is almost upon us, and we must hurry! She will be at the entrance to the shrine. You must defeat her, send her away, anything! Just get her to stop attacking us!” Alessia said.

   

   Fiona nodded. “You have our word. Come on, girls, back to the entrance!” She said, immediately flying back, rushing to hide her guilt. Song and Lunaria ran after her, and Mercy hung back. She gave Alessia a glare, which was returned.


   “Elf…”

   “Darkling…”

   “I am surprised you would help me…”

   “Not by choice, not at all…”

   “Is the animosity of your race so great that you cannot help the innocent?”

   “Is the deception of yours so great that you think there still are any?”


   Alessia sighed. “I help you because she does. But believe me this, Darkling, when all is said and done, I will take you in. The Aelvarian mages will be sure to look forward to that…” Mercy threatened, before turning with a flourish and storming off, the cape of her cloak fluttering behind her.


   Alessia sighed. “Indeed, Elf. Indeed…”


*** ***


   Fiona and the rest of the girls stood at the mouth of the cave. Fiona scratched the back of her head. “Ugh, that was awful. I feel so bad about it…” she said.

   Mercy rolled her eyes. “What a waste. But hey, maybe if Song didn’t knock the cultists out so hard, we wouldn’t be in as much of a mess,” she said in a complete non-sequitur, trying to shift the blame.


   Mercy was answered by a hard slap across the face. Pain rang out across her cheeks, eyes screwed shut as she stumbled back. Looking up, she expected to see an angry Song, or even Fiona, but instead she saw Lunaria, staring at her blankly.

   “That was unfair, Mercy. If anybody is to blame, it is you for failing to find enough information about this job for us - do not try and shift the blame that is rightfully yours.”

   Mercy stewed, grumbling assent, while Song watched wide-eyed. Was this the same Lunaria who had threatened her earlier? Perhaps Lunaria, for all her intimidating demeanor, was a more reasonable and honorable person than she’d thought - than she could ever be. Song blushed, suddenly flattered at being defended in such a way, looking away. For just a moment, Song felt like she belonged again…


   The feeling was short-lived, however, as not long after there appeared a figure walking towards them. Dressed in gleaming golden and silver armor, with a head of flowing auburn hair, was a human woman, a sword at her hip and a shield on her arm. Everyone stood, ready for anything as the surprisingly beautiful woman neared. As they came within a good distance of each other, the armored woman spoke.


   “I am Trinazia, chosen of Elinala, Paladin of Sunlight. Who are you four who stand in my way? I am on a holy quest, and if you are one beguiled by the Moon as those within then I must warn that you are standing in opposition to me.”


   “She’s crazy…” Song muttered, getting an elbow from Mercy to signify silence. Fiona cleared her throat.

   “Erm, I am Fiona, and these are my companions Mercy, Lunaria, and Song. We have been contracted to try and reach a peaceful solution with you. If you please, can you just continue your holy quest elsewhere? These women don’t-”


   Fiona was cut off by Trinazia suddenly and swiftly drawing her sword, pointing its tip at Fiona. “Then it is indeed too late! Worry not, friend - I will save you from the clutches of that woman, no matter the cost!”

   The whole party was quite shaken by that statement. Just what did this Trinazia think the cult was up to? And what was she doing?

   “Now, if you are at all worth your salt, face me! Bring forth the best of you and face me in single combat!”


   Immediately, Lunaria stepped forward. “I am the strongest of us all. I will-”

   “I’ll do it,” Fiona interrupted. Lunaria turned to her, red eyes flashing.

   “Fiona? You can’t. I’m stronger than you, and you know it,” she said.

   Fiona nodded. “Yeah, but I can fly. I’ll be able to outmaneuver her, knock her out, and we’ll be done in a jiffy. Promise,” she said, squeezing Lunaria’s shoulder affectionately. Lunaria opened her mouth to say something, but relented, nodding silently while looking away.


   “Trinazia… If I beat you, will you leave these people alone?” Fiona asked. The paladin in question brought one hand to her heart and bowed.

   “You have my word, if you can best me then I shall be honor-bound to oblige,” She said.

   Fiona nodded, drawing her rapier. “Then let’s do this! En garde!” she shouted, wings flashing as she was suddenly launched forward with inhuman speed.


   Trinazia raised her shield, catching the tip of Fiona’s rapier harmlessly. As the pixie strafed suddenly to the side, trying to find an opening, she allowed her none, blocking each and every shot Fiona took with her rapier. At the same time, however, Fiona was far too deft and quick to be hit by any of Trinazia’s counter attacks. Every time the human lifted her weapon to swing, Fiona was able to dodge out of the way. This dance continued for some time - a solid two minutes - before Fiona was able to break the back-and-forth cycle with her own attack. Finally, Fiona was able to get a hit in, sneaking her rapier through a gap in Trinazia’s defense.


   This was intentional.


   Fiona’s rapier’s tip harmlessly bounced off of Trinazia’s heavy armor, and the paladin brought her shield down on Fiona’s elbow, forcing her to drop her rapier suddenly. Fiona gasped out in sudden pain, when suddenly Trinazia twirled her sword upside down, and with a savage blow slammed the hilt of her sword into Fiona’s young, soft stomach.


   “Ah-hah! GRgkgkr...!” Fiona gagged, all of the air blown from her lungs. She saw spots, suddenly feeling light-headed, as her wings shimmered and then disappeared. In a matter of seconds, her entire body went limp, and her purple eyes rolled back. “Gg… hhh…” she sighed, falling unconscious as she collapsed forward limply into Trinazia’s grasp.


   Trinazia beamed with pride, shield arm wrapped around Fiona’s wais as the Pixie’s face rested on her breastplate. “Where is the challenge?” she called out, taunting the other members of the party as she, without even a moment’s effort, hefted Fiona over her shoulder. The Pixie’s limp form complied, her upper body flopping over Trinazia’s shoulder as her legs swung freely.


   “Well, I suppose that settles that. I’ll return tomorrow at the same time to-” Trinazia was cut off by suddenly lifting her shield, blocking a spell cast by Mercy. The Elven Dark Mage had already cast a spell, eyes flaming with anger and black fire.

   “LET HER GO!” she shouted, voice amplified by magic. Black flame spawned at the tip of her staff, until Lunaria grabbed her shoulder.

   “Don’t, you might hurt her…” she intoned carefully, gripping her bow.

   Mercy growled, the flame dying before being replaced with a small sparkling black orb. “Then I’ll knock her out, godsdamnit! We’re not losing Fiona again!”


   Lunaria didn’t wait for her to respond, dropping her bow and lunging forward. Song simply stood, dumbfounded - she couldn’t believe Fiona had been defeated so easily! Everything came back to her, and Song collapsed to her knees, shuddering as the feeling of helplessness in the face of adversity returned to her.


   Song didn’t notice as Lunaria ran up to Trinazia, bare-handed, ready to fight. She didn’t notice Mercy casting sleeping spells at Trinazia. She didn’t notice how Trinazia was able to either dodge or completely ignore Lunaria’s blows, before tripping her with a kick to the shin and knocking her out with a kick to the back of the head. She didn’t notice Trinazia lifting her shield, deflecting Mercy’s sleep spell back at her. She didn’t notice her own breathing rapidly quickening, her hyperventilation blocking out the sound of Mercy’s angered moan as she passed out.


   The last thing Song saw was Trinazia turning and walking off, Fiona in tow, as her vision began to blur. ”No… I’m… too weak… Fi...ona….” she thought in despair, before her pretty blue eyes rolled behind fluttering eyelids. “Uh…” she sighed weakly, slumping forward. Song collapsed onto her front, face turned to her side with her mouth open, arms splayed in front of her, her tight rear end pointed up with her tail limply hanging down. Mercy lay collapsed not far from her, splayed out on her back in a starfish pose, her mouth open and brows quivering. Lunaria lay on her front up ahead. Her face was contorted in pain, a trickle of blood streaking down her forehead, the rest of her body perfectly straight.

   Fiona remained unconscious, as Trinazia turned, the helpless Pixie once more a damsel in distress...