Untitled Selene story 3

It was absurd

So absurd that Selene wasted a few minutes laughing to herself.

After getting directions to where the guardhouse should be, she had continued through the city only to be distracted by an inn she almost passed. It was a normal inn, but it was inside that had got Selene a little giddy.

Somebody in there was a monster. And if the faint trace was anything to go by, they had been here for quite some time. To hide from the humans here for this long must mean she was quite good with either illusions or polymorphing.

There was also something wrong here, it fell like there was a crack and the energy was leaking out, whoever was in there had suppressed her power, but it was wearing off.

Curiously Selene entered the Inn, looking around for her mystery monster. The scene was typical from drunken patrons trading tales to travellers talking over food and maps, a comfy scene if any. Still, the presence she felt was nowhere in the room, so she must be upstairs.

Selene then got a glimpse of the bartender and grinned. `this man...` She thought to herself as she approached the counter. The bartender had the look of a retired warrior, a strong build with greying hair.

“Welcome can get you a...” The bartenders greeting drifted off as he stared at Selene. His lips thinned and eyes narrowed before he continued. “Would you like a drink miss?” he asked.

“Shot of amaretto if you have it,” Selene said as she sat down.

“All ways took your kind of people for wine-only drinkers,” The Bartender said as turned around and took a bottle from the shelf.

“Oh really? And what sort of person do you think I am?” Selene asked with a raised eyebrow.

“The kind of person that disappears with men in the night.” He said with a shrug. “You girls tend to do the whole `high society` thing.

“So you know what I am?” Selene asked as the man handed over her drink.

“Lady, look at the walls around you.” The bartender said. Selene did so and saw various large fangs, broken beast parts and trinkets. “I've been on my fair share of adventurers, you don't get to my age without learning a thing or two, and a beauty like you walking in my bar with half my regulars trying to steal looks? Come on now,” he said with a grin.

Selene nodded with approval. “I'm impressed. And here I thought my disguise was foolproof.”

“The average Joe maybe, but and even then I have my ways.” he tapped under his eye which brought Selene's attention to it. Before she sighed.

“Passive trace sight?” she asked and the bartender nodded. Trace sight was a magic learned order to scan for cursed items and disguises, and those who used it had a sparkle in the eye affected. he had seen through her the moment he looked.

“So I know that you're inhuman at least. I'll be fair and treat you like a customer, but I am a married man. I have no intention of being with you.”

Selene stared for a second before she laughed. “Don't worry about it, monsters know not to go after married men.”

The bartender sighed in relief.

“Besides...” Selene leaned in a whispered. “Lamias are clingy as it is, even I would hate to piss off an echidna.”

The bartender froze solid. “What th... but... how?” he stuttered.

“I can feel the energy in this Inn, and even if I wasn't as strong as I am whatever you have suppressing it and your wife's power is either defective or weakened enough that the average monster would at least know something's up,” Selene explained whispering.

“I...I get it.” He said as Selene reclined. “Thanks for telling me, we would be in trouble if the broke without our knowledge.”

“It's fine. In fact, I'll make you an offer.” Selene said before downing her shot.

“I'm listening.” The bartender said.

“I can work with your wife to boots your protection and suppression spell further then what they are now,” Selene said. “I'll do that even if you can't help me, it would be wrong not to.”

“And what do you want?” He asked

“Two things. The first is that one of the guards was conscripted into the invasion of a co-existing town not that far from here a while back. I have a name and a face, but I want to know more about him if possible. Selene said.

“Give me a name.” The bartender asked.

“Leon.”

“Leon?” he repeated with a laugh. “Let me guess, above average height, black hair, decent swordsman?” he questioned.

Selene brightened and straightened up. “Yes! Do you know him?”

“I taught the boy what I knew, hell I still spar with him when I have the time.” He said as he cleaned a glass. “He was an odd job mercenary before he was all but forced to work as a guard. 'real shame if you ask me.”

“So you're the one I have to thank for his skills. You've made a fine warrior out of him.” Selene said.

“Why thanks...say, I didn't get your name. I'm Peter” he said extended his arm.

“Selene,” she said with a smile as they shook hands.

Peter scrunched his face in like her name rang a bell but then shrugged. “Right then, why don't we get those spell out the way and we can talk more freely later?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Selene said as she stood up from her chair.

“Suzy!” Peter called one of the Barmaids. “I got business with this woman, hold the bar for a while will ya?” the maid nodded and he walked to the stairs, “follow me.”  and he climbed the stairs without looking back. Selene followed him up a couple flights and down the hall to a large door.

Peter opened the door and gestured for Selene to come inside. Sure enough, in front of them was an echidna that had vibrant green hair and scales with blue skin. She had turned to the noise of the door opening and jumped a little in shock.

“I um... hello. I'm sorry, I don't usually get guests.” the echidna sad said fidgeting. “Especially monster ones.”

“No worries, I was in the area and sensed the protections here falling apart, so I thought I'd give them a little boost,” Selene said with a shrug, but then a thought came to her. “Although...” she drifted off while staring at the echidna.

“W-what is it?” She asked nervously.

“You feel powerful enough to maintain it on your own... and then there's the fact you're cooped up here instead of just polymorphing as I am right now... the only thing I know that fully messes with a monsters ability to do magic like that is...!” Selene's eyes widened and she grinned looking at the snake woman in the eye. “I guess I ruined the surprise, didn't I?”

Peter watched his wife's face turn a shade of red, quite a feat for someone with natural blue skin. “What's she talking about, jade?”

“She's talking about the early stages of pregnancy, darling.” the echidna said with a shaky smile. “You're going to be a father, Peter.” Peter almost instantly embracing his wife with happiness.

“'Congrats to you two. Say, would you want a gift from me?” Selene asked.

“What do you mean gift?” Jade asked.

“I think I'll reintroduce myself,” Selene said allowing her true form to shimmer briefly for the couple.

“Now I remember your name, Your the Lilim of swords!” Peter said in shock before he burst out laughing. “And You're going after Leon? I must have trained him better than I thought!” He exclaimed as he continued laughing.

Selene blinked. “Lilim of swords?” it was the first time she had heard of such a title.

“That mansion of yours has made you quite well known and quite a few warriors pass through here to get there. With all the fighting you involve yourself with I quickly became a thing for the commoners to call you that.” the bartender explained.

“I honestly didn't know. I do like the title, suits me well” Selene nodded. “Do you have a problem with me pursuing him?”

The man shrugged “Honestly, it's a good thing that you are, poor guy needs some excitement in his life.”

“Fair enough... Anyway, we've gotten off track, shall I fix the protections?” she asked. Jade nodded, so Selene closed her eyes and let her power link to the spells the echidna already set up as Peter went back down to the bar. Soon enough, everything was in order.

“So what are you going to do now?” Jade asked. “Are you preparing to convert this place?”

Selene shook her head. “Nope, can't do that.”

The echidna looked confused. “I thought that was part of why you were here, what with Lecastie and all.”

The Lilim sighed. “Lecasite was necessary, their crusades to kill monster kind was too dangerous to leave unattended. This place is different, I could flood this entire city with dark matter and use what was left to wipe the order from here, but a whole bunch of things could go wrong leading to chaos. And then there's the fact that the order knows me, taking this city over paints a target here and at my home for every nearby order city. An invasion would put you and any other monster here in danger.”

“I see... I didn't think of it that far.” Jade admitted

“Don't worry about it. Just focus on your growing family.” Selene said. Before she could continue, shouting was heard from the bar. “huh... wonder whats going on down there.

“Someone has gotten out of hand, could you go down and see what it is for me?” Jade asked. Selene nodded left the bedroom.

Coming down the stairs to the bar, Selene saw the woman causing an uproar. She was tall with honey blonde hair and wearing worn knights armour. She was also in the middle of an enraged rant.

“-You believe those old farts? This is bull! I've been a dedicated member of the guard for years, then they throw me away and for what? `speaking out`? `Getting too rough`? Ha! I swear if they weren't protected by the mayor I'd stick my sword so far up their di-”

“I think you don't need a drink today, Alexa.” Peter tried to placate the woman, but she just got angrier.

“Pete! You gotta let me have this! I've been booted out the guard and I need as much mead in me before I start looking for another job.” the woman shouted.

Her words had gotten Selene thinking. She was an (apparently former) guard along with Leon, maybe she could learn something from this woman. Approaching her she asked, “Excuse me, miss?”

The armoured lady stopped her ranting and turned to Selene. Inspecting her for a second huffing. “what do you want?”

“I'm looking for a guardsman, I was wondering if you could help me,” Selene asked. Peter rose an eyebrow but kept quiet.

Alexa looked on in silence before shrugging. “Get me a drink,” Alexa said.

“What?”

“Get me a drink and we'll talk, I'm not gonna take a no.”

“Fine by me,” Selene sat as she sat down and ordered, thinking this might take a while.