Homeward bound

My eyes darted open and I immediately tried to sit up, only for a strangers forearm to be smashed into my chest and forcing me back down against my back. I spotted the dagger right away, aimed at my throat.

“Your name!” The stranger demanded, his dagger gleaming against my skin.

I looked up at him, taken aback by the sudden hostility.

“Your name!” He demanded again, his dagger now pressed against my flesh.

“Marcus!” I cried. “My names Marcus!”

The man sighed in relief, withdrawing his dagger and placing it in his scabbard.

“You'll have to forgive me.” He said as he stepped away. “But I have a good number of female patients here, and the last thing we needed was a husk walking around.”

“Would a dagger even kill me at that point?” I asked him, rubbing the spot on my neck where he pressed his knife.

“No, but it's a nice reassurance anyway.” He said, clearing his throat. “I'm Apothecary Teullar of the Vellond Imperial Legion.”

“Vellond?” I questioned his last sentence, pulling myself into a sit up. “Where am I?”

“Rexfort. Soon-to-be former capitol of Cartuga.”

“Rexfort? How did I get here?”

Teullar began rummaging through his equipment.

“Sir Shuram brought you here, he said your condition was getting worse so the big lummox just knocked you out with one good swing and dragged you here.” He explained, drawing an octoscope from his doctors bag.

He jammed the cold piece of equipment into my ear, gazing into the other end before relieving my skull of its protrusion. He then pressed his finger and thumb against the top and bottom of my eye and spread the eyelid open, staring into my pupil before letting go.

“Any urges?” He asked, cleaning off his octoscope and placing it back in the bag.

“I'm kind of hungry.” I told him.

“How are you emotionally?”

“Excuse me?”

Teullar stepped back to me, writing things down in his notebook.

“Did you dream?” he asked.

“Yeah?”

“Dream about home, maybe?”

“...Yeah?”

“Dreamed about having a wife? A family? Something dear to you?”

I lowered my head at his last question. “...Yeah...”

“Hurm...” Teullar grumbled, putting down his notebook. “I can't imagine what that was like? Must have been a year? Two? Three years for you? Like sticking a knife into your gut and twisting it yourself...”

“Something like that, yeah.” I mumbled.

Teullar took a deep breath.

“Well, I'm happy to inform you that you are no longer at risk of becoming a husk.” Teullar told me. “Some side effects are still going to linger for a week or so.”

“What kind of side effects?” I asked him, standing to my feet and stretching my back until I heard it pop.

“Trouble catching your breath, over-active libido, and sensitivity.” He explained.

“Wait, what do you mean by “Sensitivity”?” I asked.

“You'll be more susceptible to outside stimuli, both physically and emotionally. My advice is to avoid sad plays and books for the time being, try to keep a positive attitude, lest you become a big mopey baby.”

“That's it?” I asked. “Its just easier to get a cry out of me?”

“Well...” Teullar cringed, I could see his hands writhing against the leather of his doctors bag. “Not exactly.”

“...What do you mean?” I asked, suddenly worried.

“You're...How can I put it? Intimate?”

“Intimate?” I repeated his words, my eyes widened.

“I suggest you keep your interaction with the opposite sex...Limited, unless its with a significant other, of course.” Teullar didn't seem to be a blunt person, trying to dance around his own words to make them sound less awkward. “Basically, you're going to be a very...Nyeuugh...Touching person for a few more days.”

“Oh.” I said simply, twiddling my thumbs. “Well okay then.”

I looked around the room, it was easy to recognize this place as anything other than an actual hospital. “So, what do I do now?”

“I guess you wait.' Teullar said, rummaging through his bag again. “I'm sure Sir Shuram will want to speak with you before you take any course of action. Perhaps you'll have the honour of an audience with the Emperor as well, he was here when they brought you in.”

“Oh, alright then.” I agreed. “What do I do until then?”

Teullar drew a deck of cards, shuffling them in his hands. “How are you at poker?”

--

Crom's axe met its mark with frightening accuracy, shearing through the knights armour and cleaving his collar bone until his enemies entire left side was removed from his body. The knights eyes were frozen in shock, his sword clanging against the ground before his body twisted in a spiral and joined the rest of him atop the guts and gore drenched carpet below.

Crom personally led the charge against the palace, tearing through his most hated enemy with little restraint. His gigantic axe cut through both metal and bone like they were strands of tissue. Groups were torn apart in single swings and those unlucky enough to meet the butcher in battle alone didn't even have time to scream before their bodies were split in twain like logs.

The Emperor cut a swathe through what was left of the Churches ranks, climbing up the stairs leading into the palace with no sign of stopping, chopping or tossing any who dared stand in his way. The palace doors fared little better as his massive foot broke them from their hinges, tossing those barricading the inside with their own bodies aside.

Crom walked down the halls at a casual pace, his blood stained axe in his right hand and a clenched fist to his left. He swung his weapon with little effort, cutting through any sort of defence his enemies could put up. Today the Butcher stayed true to his title, those foolish enough to stand in his path still wore their fear stricken faces in death, while those wiser found a way out of the palace and away from the battle entirely.

“I wish he wouldn't do that...” Agrippa complained, hopping over the lines of corpses left throughout the halls.

“Whats the worst that could happen? A dagger in the back?” Mirilla asked, her bow at the ready.

“Oh yes, that's exactly what we need.” Agrippa complained. “An annoyed Tiberius.”

“Focus, old chums.” Ezekiel called out, his usual attitude apparently returned. “There are still fiends to slay!”

Crom followed the long hall until he was greeted by an ordained two sided door, obviously the kings bed chamber. With another massive boot, the doors cluttering through the room and narrowly missing Hule's yelping crowned head.
He stepped into the room, greeted by Hule's personal guard. He counted fifteen, the lion crest on their chest plates proved that Crom had killed a good handful of them on his way here. They each brandished their swords, aiming the tips towards Crom's chest.

With each powerful step forwards, the guards stepped back, unwilling to join the Emperor in close combat.

“Is this it?” Crom asked, amused. “Is this all that stand between myself and you, oh great king?”

Hule swallowed, now gripping the golden crown in his hands, his hair was long and thin, slicked with grease and sweat. His eyes were sunken in and black, clearly he hasn't been sleeping well. Still he was dressed in the most luxurious of robes, ones only a king could afford. Even with the enemies at his gate he wasn't expecting to fight, he was not armed nor did he seem like someone good with a sword.

“Tiberius Crom!” One of the guards spoke up for his king. “Lay down your weapons! You are outnumbered!”

“Oh how the maggot finds comfort in other maggots...” Crom growled, lifting his axe.

He aimed the head of his axe at very guard individually, each of them flinching when their turn came.

“So, how shall we settle this?” Crom asked. “One at a time or all at once?”

The guards glanced from one to another, their stances uneasy and their feet trembling. You could have cut the tension in the room with a knife until one of the guards finally stepped back and dropped his sword. He was soon followed by his comrades.

“W-what are you doing!?” Hule cried. “Protect me! Protect your king!”

“Emperor Crom...” A guard spoke up, ignoring Hule's orders. “We surrender...”

“A wise choice.” Crom said with a nod.

The other three finally caught up with their Emperor, seeing the sight before them and lowering their weapons.

“General Agrippa.” Crom spoke up. “Take the good king here into Imperial custody.”

Agrippa bowed his head, jogging over the Hule. The false king resisted until Agrippa hit him in the spine with the pommel of his sword.

“You can't do this!” Hule shouted as he was escorted from the room. “I am the true king! God was on my side!”

“Sir Shuram, would you kindly take these men into custody?”

“Of course, my Liege!” Ezekiel proclaimed, beckoning the guards along. They followed without hesitation.

The room was now empty, save for Crom and his Elven general.

“Mirilla...” Crom looked to her. “Leave us.”

Mirilla looked back at him, her face flushed and her breathing difficult. She rubbed her hand along her stomach and chest.
“I...I can handle it, my Emper-”

“Mirilla...Leave. Us.” Crom ordered again.

This time she nodded her head quickly, turning around and running down the halls, gaining distance from Crom. Tiberius looked down the hall behind him, making sure no one was watching before stepping deeper into the bed chamber.

“My my~...” A voice suddenly cooed.

Crom spotted the monster materialize at the furthest end of the room, a spiral of black mist gave way for two demonic wings folded together to conceal their owner. The wings spread apart, tossing clutter and papers around the room and revealing the monster inside.

A red haired succubus wearing the usual revealing blue, almost bikini like, set of clothing that did little to cover her privates. She landed gently against the ground, her ocean blue eyes fixated on Tiberius himself. She grinned devilishly and stepped closer to him, the Emperor having to look down to keep his gaze on her.

“You are looking well, Wilhelm.” The Succubus stated, trailing his fingers against this chest plate.

“Wilhelm is dead.” Tiberius stated bluntly, the pommel of his axe dug into the wooden floor.

“Oh, that's right. You are “The Butcher of Ardok” now, aren't you?”

“What do you want, Selena...?” Tiberius asked.

Selena giggled, now circling the giant that stood before her, her hands still trailing against him as she stepped around him.

“Why are you ignoring that poor Elf maiden?” Selena asked, dodging his previous question. “It doesn't take my talents to know she has a thing for you.”

She began to flutter her wings, raising herself to Tiberius's ear level. Her lips almost touched his helmet  as she began to whisper to him her next words.

“She yearns for you, you know?” She begins. “She wants you to see her as a woman and not just a soldier, she wants to feel your hands against her skin...Your flesh against hers.”

Tiberius didn't say a word.

“Is she not good enough for the great Emperor of Vellond? Or do you still miss poor 'ol Leli-”


Selena yelped as Tiberius hand clenched her cheeks between two of his fingers and his thumb. She struggled against his grip but to no avail.

“Do not speak her name...” He growled, applying more pressure to his hold before tossing her to the side.

Selena hit the ground, her back bouncing against the side of the bed. She whined to herself and rubbed her jaw, looking up at Tiberius like a child would look to a bully.

“Okay, okay. You win.” She pouted. “No more games.”

“Then what is it you want?” Tiberius asked again.

“The Demon Lord comes to you with good intentions.” Selena explains, brushing herself off. “It seems that the Pharaoh has reawakened.”

“And this is of my concern?”

“Words of your feats spread far and wide, the Pharaoh was quick to hear of you.” Selena explained, sitting down on the bed with her legs crossed. “She is looking for a husband.”

“I'm not on the market.” Tiberius stated as bluntly as usual.

“I don't think she cares, not at the moment, any how.” Said Selena, looking at her nails. “A human as powerful as you? You're too good of a catch to pass up.”

Selena stood up from the bed, linking her arms behind her back before approaching Tiberius again.

“She will be looking for diplomatic relations with Vellond.” She explains.

“Then she will have to send a delegate, like everyone else.”

“But that's the first part of her plan.” Selena explained further. “She needs to get close, that's all. Her god-like powers alone should do the trick.”

“I fear no god.” Tiberius boasted.

“Fear, no. But can you match one?”

Tiberius remained silent.

“In a weeks time, you should hear from her.” She told him, snapping her fingers.

A black mist began to surround her once more, evaporating her body back to the realm she was spawned.
“Take care of yourself, Wilhelm...” Were her last words as she disappeared from the human realm.

Tiberius stood in silence for another moment before turning and leaving the room, his foot steps heavy in the silent halls.”

“Legionaries! Bow to your Emperor!” Ezekiel shouted at the top of the palace steps.

Tiberius stepped from the palace gates, looking down at the legion that had taken Rexfort in such little time. They raised their swords to their sworn Emperor before giving a knee.

“Stand, mighty warriors of Vellond!” Tiberius ordered. “It was not I alone that overthrew the mad king!”

“Mighty Emperor!” A voice shouted.

Tiberius followed the voice down the steps, spotting Albrecht moving through the crowds, two men behind him supported battered man with broken legs.

“Who do you bring before me, General Albrecht?”

“My Emperor, forgive me for my tardiness!” Albrecht exclaimed. “But this man right here... This is Douglas of Ufford, sworn heir to the Cartugan throne!”

Tiberius looked at the man before him, held up by two legionaries to keep the weight from his broken legs. The Emperor motioned Albrecht to the side, stepping towards Douglas.

“Then this is your kingdom, is it not?” Tiberius asked.

“No...Mighty Emperor...House Ufford could not protect it.” Douglas admitted in guilt. “It is yours.”

“I do not want it.” Tiberius stated. “This was merely a preemptive attack to ensure Vellond's own security.”

Tiberius raised his axe, aiming it towards Douglas.

“You were tricked and overthrown, Prince Douglas of Ufford.” Tiberius began. “If you do not find yourself worthy, then I will subjugate Cartuga into Vellond's realm. But if you are willing to pick up the mantle once more. Then you shall find a friend in Vellond as her vassal. We shall provide both economic and military support until Cartuga stands again.”

The Princes eyes trailed to the ground, deep in thought. Even throughout all of his torture he had managed to maintain his sanity. He looked up to the Emperor after much thought, new determination in his eyes.

“I...Prince Douglas of Ufford, will take his rightful place as Cartuga's king! And a friend to Vellond!”

Tiberius nodded, standing in all view of his army and raising his axe into the air.

“All hail King Douglas I!”

The legions raised their weapons into the air and cheered, heralding the coming of a new king. Agrippa took this opportunity to re-present himself to the situation, throwing the false king to the ground in front of both Douglas and Crom.

“What of him?” Agrippa asked, crossing his arms.

King Douglas looked down at the man who had slain his father and most of his house. The knights of Ufford were dead or scattered, his mother as far as he knew was dead and the last he heard of his dear sister, she was being shipped out of the country by the church. For a moment, Douglas and Hule locked eyes, the newly crowned king coming to a decision at that moment.

“Hanged.” He ordered, Hule's eyes widening in terror. “I want no chance of this man coming back to challenge my claim...No event, no court, no gathering, I just want him hanged.”

“You can't do this!” Hule shouted as Legionaries dragged him away “I'm the king! The king!!!”

“General Haddock.” Tiberius called out, the General jogging up the stairs to meet his lord. “I want this palace secured, spread the news that the battle is over.”

“Of course, my Emperor.” Haddock agreed, barking new orders to his soldiers that quickly got to work.
--
News spread quickly of the Legions victory at Rexfort, thousands began to pour out of their hidings. The city folk took to the street, cleaning the city of corpses and tending to the wounded. Word of the abbeys atrocities became well known very soon, though Vellond officials never confirmed what exactly happened to the so-called holy men that ran the abbey. But with all the glory and horror war has wrought, acts of heroism and selflessness lifted the spirits of the Cartugan people.

Father Jeremiah, a priest of the Church of the Ecclesiarchy, forsook his orders from his superiors in risk of excommunication and execution and harboured humans and monsters of all kind under the church, doing his best to feed the refugees with what he had so that they didn't have to risk the streets above. Though Jeremiah seemed keen of staying to his faith, and was allowed by the King himself to keep the church standing, Jeremiah seems to find himself reading gospels from the old testament, rather than the new one.

The third Calvary of the Royal army, abandoned their post in the town of Hammen, in favour of open rebellion. Captain Roland and his horsemen held the riverbed of Briggs for three weeks against Ecclesiarchy forces until word spread that Vellond was advancing on Rexfort, the third marched for three days to join the Northmen against their foreign oppressors. Captain Roland unfortunately died in battle but will forever be remembered as one of the Kings best. He is survived by his two sons, Trevor and Simon.

Several priests of the Order of the Undying Sun, a splinter group dedicated to the old testament of the Church, defended their chapel for several days against bands of highwaymen, defending both orphans and refugees alike. Brother Commodus, Brother Sebastian, and Brother Michael, each trained in the Orders ways of battle, exchanged their robes for armour only to be dawned at the most pressing of times. With weapons of their faith in hand, they held the doors to their chapel against dozens of armed attackers, killing more than fifteen of them in the progress. When it finally seemed that the assailants were to break into the chapel, a cohort of the Imperial Legions arrived and relieved the three of their exhausting battle, saving both the warrior priests and their charges.

...And here I was playing poker with a doctor.

Teullar sighed in frustration, slamming his cards on the table and throwing four more coins my way.

“I should have just left you poisoned...” He complained, leaning back in his chair.

“Beginners luck, I guess.” I mused, putting the coins in my pocket.

The door suddenly swung open, a dirty and blood caked Ezekiel stepped inside with a leap. I could see the twinkle in his eye as he spotted me sitting on the table, laughing boisterously before lifting me from the chair in a vicious hug. The tiny man had strength to spare.

“You're alive! Bless you, laddie!” He cheered.

“I-I wouldn't do that if I were you!” Teullar proclaimed, trying to pry us apart. “He may fall in love.”

Ezekiel finally put me down. I wheezed as my feet touched the ground, supporting myself on the table.

“Survive demonic poisoning just to get all my ribs broken, that would be something.” I joked.

I looked at Ezekiel from top to bottom, giving him a thought provoking “You look like shit.”

“Aye, I do.” he admitted. “Work hazards, you understand.”

“Emperor Crom was tied up with other matters, he regrets not being able to see you.” Ezekiel informed me. “But I will relay the good news that you are well!”

“Alright...Uh, thanks, Sir Shuram. For not leaving me back there.”

“Think nothing of it.” Ezekiel boasted. “It is the duty of a knight to his charge!”

“I don't want to break up this lovely reunion.” Teullar spoke up. “But its time my patient has had some actual rest.”

“He's probably right.” I admitted. “I need to start heading home tomorrow, bunch of people are worried about me.”

“Aye, I understand.” Ezekiel nodded. “But remember, you are always welcome to visit me in meadowlake once I leave this country.”

“I'll take you up on that.”

I shook the knight's hand and both him and Teullar left the room, leaving me in a room with no actual bed. I slept uncomfortably on the floor that night, which gave me more of a reason to leave for home as soon as possible. I found my horse in a stable guarded by some Imperial soldiers, taking the beast of burden off their hands and heading on my way back east towards Bouceroc.

The roads were livelier than when I first entered the country, with travelling merchants, farmers, workers, and all kinds of life populating the roads near Rexfort. A man with a hood carrying a standard with sun carved from gold stood at the side of the road, speaking in a language I couldn't understand to a good handful of praying subjects. No one seemed to pay them mind, so I just went on my merry way with no incident. On my path I once again crossed the ranger that had given me directions those days ago. He didn't even bat an eye in my direction and we simply went past one another with no words shared, I didn't know exactly what I was expecting.

Occasionally the air smelled of burnt flesh with piles of bodies being set alight to offset the chance of disease spreading. Other than the aftermath horrors of the war, it felt like there never was one to begin with. The roads were constantly patrolled by squads of legionaries, none of them paying me mind as I trotted past.

I had made good progress in the day, I could no longer see Rexfort behind me when I looked back. With the sun going down, I was preparing to find a place to make camp until I spotted a chapel on the side of the road. A robed man with a hood was lighting the lanterns on each side of the chapel doors when he spotted me, waving me over with his free hand.

At first I was hesitant, until I spotted the symbol of the sun over the doors of the chapel. The man lowered his hood as I approached, with the brown colour in his hair and the few wrinkles he had, he couldn't be much older than thirty. He flashed me a smile and bowed courteously.

“Good evening, my friend.”  he greeted me with a thick accent. “What brings you through these parts so late?”

“Hi there.” I returned his greeting. “I'm uh, heading home to Bouceroc, is all.”

“Ah, Bouceroc, quite the distance. You aren't planning to camp out here, are you?”

“That was the plan, yes.” I admitted.

“No, no! That won't do!” The man complained. “War over or no, these roads can still hold many dangers when the sun does not shine!”

The man gave me another bow.

“I am Brother Sebastian of the Order of the Undying Sun.” He introduced himself.

“I'm Marcus.” I said simply. “Just Marcus.”

“Ah, a man with no title I see. Very mysterious.” Said Sebastian, beckoning me to follow. “Tie your horse to the post, you can stay here for the night.”

I threw caution to the wind, there didn't seem to be a reason to be suspicious of these 'Undying Sun' boys, if the people of Cartuga can tolerate them after the Church's invasion, then why can't I?  I did as he said and followed him inside. The walls were decorated with banners and stained glass, many of them displaying some sort of battle between men in armour fighting what seemed like the monsters of old.

“We have three cottages on these lands.” Sebastian explained. “Brother Commodus and Brother Michael are making a pilgrimage east to one of our other foundations, you see.”

“I see.” I said to him. “Where are you and your brothers from? I'm not familiar with your accent.”

“Ah, I am from Benedetto to the far south.” He explained. “I was...As you say... Banished by the Church for my beliefs.”

I looked on ahead, at the end of the chapels bema was an altar of a robed man with his arms outstretched, as if he was waiting for an embrace. The statue wore a warm smile, one that I felt put me at ease.

“The Order of the Undying Sun was formed a many years ago.” Sebastian explained further. “With the death of the last Patriarch that is. He believed that man and monster can coexist through an understanding. He and his Vanguard marched throughout the land battling any evil that would terrorize his people, but still he always offered his wrong doers redemption. When the New Testament was formed, we still believed that his teachings held true.”

Sebastian sighed.

“The church branded all who believed in the old ways as “Heretics” and “Blasphemers”. The usual, yes? Eventually they escaped the Inquisitors wrath and formed this order, spreading to places the church could not reach.”

It was like the Old and New testament of the Christian faith, only in reverse. Were monsters such a threat that people had to be conditioned to still hate when they changed?

Sebastian led me through the back of the chapel, a small dirt path lit by torches led me to a section with three tiny wooden cottages.

“I am sure neither Commodus or Michael would mind if I allowed you to rest in one of their homes.” Sebastian told me. “It is the charitable thing to do.”

“Are you sure about this?” I asked him. “What if I'm a thief? Or a murderer on the run? Don't you think you're putting too much trust in me?”

“If I am wrong about you...” Sebastian shrugged and laughed. “Then better luck next time, no? What would the Patriarch think if I left a poor soul out in the cold?”

Sebastian unlocked the door to the cottage on the far left.
“This is Commodus's abode.” He explained, showing me in. “He is a simple man, loses himself in his books.”

The entire home consisted of a fire place, a bed, and a wall completely covered in books. Some were even stacked up on the ground Many of them were in a language I've never even seen before, but others I could read. They were all adventure books of brave knights and daring swashbucklers and other types of rogues. This Commodus sure had a thing for fantasy it seems.

“Make yourself at home, Marcus.” Sebastian nodded. “If you require anything, do not hesitate to wake me and ask.”

“...Thank you, Sebastian.” I said to him, sitting down on the bed. “Really, I mean it.”

“No need to thank me, it is of no concern.” He said with a bright smile, closing the door and leaving me alone in the cottage.

I sighed and sat down on the bed, wiping my hand across my face. I still had a lot to think about, conclusions to come to. I felt the effects Teullar described clearly, when I thought about one of the monsters I had spent time with back home I felt a sudden flutter in my chest. The same flutter you felt back in elementary school when you saw a girl you thought was cute. I felt like such a dweeb, all I wanted to do at this point is get home, eat some food, read some books, take a nap, hold someones hand, maybe kiss them.

Wait, no, what are you doing you tool? Focus!

My train of thought was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. Three quick taps brought me to my feet, believing that Sebastian may have forgotten something. I opened the door, looking up to greet the kind priest only to be struck with a sudden grip of terror.

“Thought you could get away, did you?”

I looked up at the Tigress from Whitegale, the Jinko glared at me with her golden, predatory eyes. Her tailed swayed in tandem with her long hair, stepping into the cottage with every step I took back. I did my best to keep my distance from her, although there wasn't much room in the cottage to begin with.

“Oh...H-hi there!” I greeted her with a nervous smile. “Sorry about the whole throwing you into a river thing.”

“I've come for a rematch...” She growled, pressing her claw against my chest hard enough to pierce skin.

“Ow.” I whined quickly, though I didn't bother to try and remove her claw. “I don't think I can do that, though I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to stop you if you attacked me.”

The Jinko raised a brow, leaning in closer and sniffing my face and hair. She stood a good two feet above me, giving me a rather close up view of her breasts as she leaned down.

“You smell different now.” She complained, looking into my eyes. “So you got rid of the poison, did you?”

“Yeah, I did!” I said in a vain attempt to lighten the mood. “It was a close call too!”

Usually, I was more than willing to defend myself, I wasn't a stranger to violence. But I felt the same sense of dread like I did in Whitegale, but for different reasons. Instead of wanting to avoid conflict for self preservation, this time I merely wanted to avoid conflict because I thought she was really...really cute.

The Jinko looked at me with disgust. “Whats the point of fighting you if you are nowhere as strong as you were when we last met?”

“That's a really good point.” I agreed. “That is why we probably shouldn't fight at all!”
“I didn't come all this way to be denied my prize!” She roared, pushing me across the room with a single shove.

She was breathing through her fangs, her eyes furious and her claws brandished. I was expecting the worst until I saw her change in mood. Her mouth closing and turning into a smile, the fury leaving her eyes in favour of a coy stare. She took a few steps back and pulled the door shut, looking at me like I was a piece of meat.

The realization suddenly hit me, my eyes widened in shock. I began to crawl backwards, tumbling and slipping over the books on the ground as the Jinko closed the distance with every step. I slid on to the bed when I had no other avenue of escape, still scrambling backwards as she crawled on to the matress.

“No!” I shouted, throwing a pillow at her which she promptly swatted away. “No god damn it!”

My back was now pressed against the wall behind the bed, the Jinko's massive paws on each side of me.

“I'm not a whore...” I moped in defeat. “I'm not...”

“If I cannot fight you fairly with martial prowess, then I will defeat you in a different form of battle.” She whispered in a sultry voice, her claw trailing against my chest.

I tried to keep myself from making eye contact, looking to the sides and above until I spotted her furry ears on her head. My spirits were suddenly lifted at the mere sight of them as my cluster fuck of out of control emotions were suddenly replaced by a sense of infatuated fascination. I reached up and held her ears between by two fingers and thumb, rubbing them gently.

The Jinko gasped and froze in shock, unsure of how to react to my actions.

“W-what are you doing!?” She asked, her body now shaking at my touch.

“These are so cute~.” I fawned, rubbing them between my fingers with a joyous and idiotic giggle.

I began to scratch the inside of them, my thumbs being engulfed in her white fluff as I seemed to get her good spot. She purred, practically against her own will, her head rocking back and forth gently against the scratching of my fingers.

Finally, she managed to pry herself away from my hands, holding her ears down with her paws with a frightened look in her eyes. She turned her back to me, still clearly shaking.

“You can't just do that!” She complained, her ears still pressed against her head.

“Why not? I thought you wanted to?”

“I'm the warrior! I'm supposed to be in cha- EEK!”

The Jinko yelped in surprise, her back arching forwards as I grabbed on to her striped tail. I began to brush it between my fingers and fondle and scratch the end. She buried her mouth into her paws, trying to stop herself from making too much of a commotion.
“I didn't say you could do that either!” She complained, her arms fidgeting with every brush or scratch from my fingers.

“But if I asked, you probably would have said no.” I teased, moving my hands from her tail and to her waist.

I moved my fingers across her body and to her shoulders, unclasping the green metal pauldrons from around her arm and  trailing my hands down until I felt her surprisingly soft skin give way to fur again. My fingers pressed gently into her tiger striped arms and paws, the Jinko writhing uneasily as my chest pressed against her back. She eased into me as my fingers worked their magic against her arms and paws, digging deep with my thumbs and massaging out the stress until her purring returned.

She turned into puddy in my hands, slumping against my chest and purring softly. I released my left grip on her paw and moved down to her thigh, brushing and rubbing the tiger striped fur on her legs as well. I other hand moved away from her paws as well, feeling her fit, muscular stomach fondly before pushing into her metallic undergarment.

She yelped as my finger rubbed against her folds, arching her neck to the side as I gently pressed my lips against it.

I pulled away for a moment to get a good look at her face, though her purring continued she refused to make any sort of eye contact with me. Her face was beat red and her lips trembled with every movement of my hands and fingers.

“You're really cute.” I complimented her before kissing her shoulder.

“I... I am not!” She protested

“Are too!” I teased, kissing her on the neck again.

“Warriors aren't cute!”

“Well, you're an exception then.”

I slid my moist hand from between her legs, using both to pull her undergarments around her legs and off her feet. Her face turned an even deeper shade of scarlet as soon as she was revealed to me. I took this as a perfect opportunity to undo the binds that held her top together, letting them fall from her breasts to the sound of her surprised squeak.

Before she could cover herself, I cupped her breasts in my hands, letting my fingers sink against her soft skin. I fondled and toyed with them just for the sounds of her moans, her paws now clamped around my wrists.

“Shouldn't you be trying to stop me?” I asked her. “I think you weren't expecting for someone to accept a monsters offer like this.”

Her tail began to wag in my face, brushing against my neck and cheek slowly with each turn. With little effort, she pulled my hands away from her breasts, turning around and pushing me back against the wall. The claws on her feet dug into the mattress as she straddled me, locking her arms around my neck and pulling me in for a quick kiss.

The kiss after that last longer, until the third one when her lips locked deeply against mine. Her breath was heavy and her rough tongue pushed its way into my mouth, twirling and dancing with my own. I felt her juices dampen my pants every time she ground herself against my pelvis, her breasts pressed firmly against my chest.

She pulled her tongue out of my mouth, biting gently on my lower lip and pulling on it before releasing. She lifted herself off of me, her claws trailing to my pants. I quickly undid my belt and zippers before she tore them off, trying to pull them off myself before she flung them across the room.

With a little help from my self, she guided my throbbing erection into her snatch, lowering herself until the hilt. She stopped herself from moaning too loud, taking in a deep breath before grinding against me. Her way of going about it was almost like an erotic dance, twisting her body in a way that my cock churned inside her. I wrapped my hands behind her and grasped down on her ass, giving each side a good squeeze before letting her do her thing again.

The Jinko cupped my cheeks in each of her paws, pulling me in for another kiss, practically sucking my lips with each show of affection. My arms trailed to her well sculpted back, pulling her closer as her arms wrapped around my neck once more. She repositioned herself to pull her legs out from under her, sitting down on her rear while I felt her legs lock around my back. We held one another in a vice grip, I took over for her efforts and began thrusting inside her, a gasp escaping her lips in between our kisses.

With all my strength, I manage to lift her from the bed, throwing her on to her back. I pushed harder and deeper inside her until she couldn't even continue kissing me anymore. The Jinko rested her chin against the top of my head, squishing my face in between her breats and moaning desperately with everyone of my thrusts. My body was overcome with ecstasy, like I was neck deep in a pool of demonic energy. Finally I gave in, arching my back against her as I painted the inside of her pussy white.

I felt several sharp pains in my back, the Jinko muffling her cries against the top of my head. I felt blood seep down my back, running down my spine and ribs. I ignored it, wrapping my mouth around one of her nipples and sucking on it gently, listening to her sweet yelps while I continued to thrust slowly inside her.

“So, did I win?” I asked her, releasing her nipple from my mouth.

“Don't push it.” She whispered with a smile, brushing my hair with her paw.
--

I slowly found myself awake, my eyes protesting at the very notion of opening. I looked up and found an unfamiliar roof above my head.

“Where the hell am I?” I asked myself.

On further inspection, I found myself in what looked like a cottage with a small kitchen attached to a bed room surrounded by endless piles of books.

“Oh right, that priest let me stay here.” I said, rubbing my eye with my left hand.
I turned my head to the left, noticing that the spot of the mattress under the pillow was stained with blood.

“What the hell?” I asked, trying to get up from my spot only to be held in place.

I looked to my right to see the Jinko from Whitegale sleeping deeply beside me, her soft breaths brushing against my chest. She had her paws wrapped around me, holding me in place while she cuddled me close.

“What the hell happened last night!?” I asked in shock, trying to recollect the events that transpired.

Finally, I looked back at the ceiling, pressing my left hand against my head.

“Oh man...Wolfgang was right.” I muttered to myself. “I am a whore...”