Too lazy to put anything else here. Still trying to find my misplaced motivation.

This chapter is also kinda high on dialogue. Take it as you will.

A bit of a NSFW scene near the end but I'm sure most of you don't care.

Enjoy the chapter. Rate, review, comment, etc.

///

As the sun fully ascended over the horizon, showering the streets of Sangin in its brilliant, golden glow, the city roared to life as though a slumbering beast having just wakened up from a long nap. People began bustling about once again as the streets flared with vigor. The soft, melodious chirping of birds ushered in the exhilaration that is the start of a brand new day. Bathing in the light of the new dawn, the residents soon began their daily routine as they’ve always had their entire lives.

In contrast to that, within a certain room, a calm and tranquil ambience could be felt permeated throughout. Two people were inside this room, one leaning back in a chair with his eyes closed and one peacefully snoozing in a two-person bed.

As the light of the sun enveloped the bed covers wrapping it up in its warmth, the person happily sleeping within stirred. Before long, a petite girl with long and slightly disheveled golden blonde hair crawled out from underneath the covers and sat up. Drowsily rubbing her eyes, the girl sluggishly swayed her head before her eyes fell upon the man sitting in the chair. As her face quickly warped into a mischievous grin, the girl slowly and gingerly crept out of bed and tip-toed over to where the man sat.

Just as she was about to tip the chair over, the man calmly said, “Don’t even think about it.”

Jumping back in surprise, Seffy clumsily tripped over herself before falling flat on the floor with a loud thud.

“Ouch.” Seffy groaned as she rubbed her butt.

“You’re going to have to try harder than that if you want to pull a fast one on me.” Cyrus smirked as he opened an eye to look at her.

“Damn, I really thought you were asleep. Were you awake this whole time?” Seffy responded with a faint smile.

“More or less. I had to babysit our drooling little princess here since she fell asleep on the roof.” Cyrus teased as he flashed his usual grin.

“Hey! I don’t drool… much!” Seffy retorted as she slowly got up and started changing.

After finishing, she turned to look at Cyrus with a hint of guilt on her face. “I didn’t keep you awake the whole night, did I?”

Closing his eyes once again, Cyrus casually replied, “Nah, I got in some sleep.”

Looking downwards a little, Seffy whispered in an inaudible voice, “Liar.”

“Enough of that now. The day’s not going to wait for us and there’s still a lot more of the city to see. I want get as much sightseeing done as possible before the big day tomorrow.” Cyrus chuckled as he stood up and ruffled Seffy’s hair. Then, he began making his way towards the exit before Seffy could say anything.

Quickly straightening her hair, Seffy hurried after him. The two soon descended the stairs into the dining area of the inn. Sitting down at a nearby table and making some small talk, the two chatted about what to do for the day before their breakfast arrived. Watching Seffy voraciously scarf down the pastries, eggs, and bread, Cyrus decided to make a snarky comment.

“You’ve got quite the sloppy eating habits. I expected girls to be a little more… refined? Especially when eating.” Cyrus poked.

“Oh, what’s this? I never knew you thought of me as being anywhere near refined. Maybe I should apply some makeup as well, or even wear those stiff dresses that the noble girls wear? Perhaps some perfume too just for the hell of it?” Seffy sarcastically remarked after swallowing another mouthful; though there was a hint of disdain at the mention of nobles.

“Hm, I suppose you’re right. Those certainly don’t suit you. It looks like our little princess here was never cut out for the high life.” Cyrus smugly agreed.

“You know, it’s quite annoying when you put it that way. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re calling me crude?” Seffy replied displeasingly.

“Ahaha, don’t be like that. So what if your manners are a bit rough around the edg- ouch.” Cyrus continued before he was interrupted as Seffy kicked him under the table.

“You deserved that. Rather than my manners, I think it’s your personality that could use a lot more work.”

“I’d like to think I have a fairly pleasant personality. I can guarantee I’m popular with the kids.” Cyrus laughed.

“If you say so.” Seffy answered as she rolled her eyes.

Thanking the waitress after finally finishing breakfast, they soon left the inn to once again explore the city. Since they visited the coliseum the previous day, they decided that they should check out the other noteworthy structure, the sun tower.

Agreeing to the destination, they began to head out before Cyrus stopped short. Turning to Seffy, who looked back curiously, Cyrus crouched down to her eye level and gave a light pat to her cheek. Smiling at her as she stared back in confusion, Cyrus didn’t say anything else before promptly turning around and continuing on his way. Tilting her head in puzzlement, Seffy decided not to ask and started after him.

After walking about halfway towards the sun tower, Cyrus felt an odd sensation. Looking down, he saw that the area around both their feet had a faint glow as light particles seemed to rise out of them. After realizing what it was, Cyrus’s face slowly warped into a smirk. Glancing sideways, he saw that Seffy hadn’t noticed yet due to the sun shining down on them.

‘Summoning magic, eh? It certainly has been a while since I’ve last seen it used. I guess I should dispel it.’ Cyrus mused as he pointed a finger towards the two glowing circles beneath them.

As he was about to break the formation, Cyrus momentarily stopped. Slowly letting his arm drop back down to his side, Cyrus decided to let the summoning go through.

‘On second thought, this looks like it could be an interesting endeavor. Worse comes to worst, I could always use the same magic to get back. I wonder where it will take us…’ Cyrus grinned in amusement.

As the two continued walking, the glow became brighter, to the point where even Seffy noticed it. Before she had a chance to do anything however, the glow emitted a blazing flash, blinding everyone in the near vicinity before it engulfed the both of them and disappeared. As people twisted their heads around in a daze, nobody seemed to notice the disappearance of two winged individuals.

///

“Are the preparations done?” A man spoke as he impatiently tapped his foot.

Inside a large, grand hall, many people could be seen shuffling about. With white-polished stone walls and hundreds of thick pillars supporting the ceiling high above, the room itself could be described as one befitting a king. Hundreds of paintings and statues of an archaic quality were methodically dispersed throughout as they served to accentuate the opulent nature of whatever future proceedings may occur. Draped upon the pillars were hundreds of intricately designed banners; each one representing a house of nobility within the kingdom. Upon the white-tiled floor, a long and lavish carpet cut through the middle leading from one end of the room to the other. Wide, elegantly crafted stands lined each side of the hall symmetrically running in parallel to the carpet with every stand corresponding to a specific banner.

As light from the rising dawn gently shinned in through the stained glass windows, painting the room in a sundry of colors, an enormous, glowing magic circle could be seen placed at the very center of the hall with people in white ceremonial robes completely surrounding it. Emitting a multifarious array of colors, lights, and particles, this magic circle pulsed with an incredible amount of power. All across, guards decorated in royal armor lined the walls, each one wearing an expression of dutiful reserve as they observed the ongoing preparations.

At the back of this hall above a flight of steps, an older man could be seen seated atop a grand throne encrusted with an assortment of jewels. Wearing an exquisite gown and a golden crown, this man had a regal quality about him. A long grey and well-groomed beard could be seen dangling down to the floor as his face slowly twisted into a frown from the long wait.

“Apologies your majesty. The procedures for the ritual are almost complete. Please wait for a few moments longer.” Standing beside the throne, another man wearing a white ceremonial garb embroidered with a sun insignia reassured.

“Do hurry. I have many important duties and I would rather not waste more time than I have to. What of the response from my wife?” The seated man asked.

“King Gustrus; with deep regrets, I have been informed that Queen Lisara has opted not to attend this ritual.”

“I see… No matter, we shall proceed as scheduled. Cardinal Salaban, are you sure this will work?” King Gustrus asked.

“I am confident that this will succeed your majesty. We have done extensive study in this area and have determined that it will fit your requisite.” Cardinal Salaban assured once more.

“Tell me again, what exactly can we expect from this summoning?” King Gustrus inquired.

“Heroes of the highest caliber.”

“That is not what I’m asking. What ‘kind’ of heroes are we expecting?”

“That, I do not know. I can only guarantee that they are all of great strength.”

“If they are of such great strength, then how can you guarantee that they won’t attack us the moment they arrive? Have you prepared ways of restraining them should they become… uncooperative?” King Gustrus carefully examined, wanting to make sure nothing goes awry.

“The summoning ritual should automatically place a hex on them. Though, I highly doubt we have to worry. Even without it, we still have a vast array of guardsmen stationed here should anything happen. Heroes though they may be, it is unlikely that they will be able to challenge our legion of trained royal guardsmen. At least, not with their numbers.”

“That does indeed put me at ease. So, what of the nobles who I called to attend? Are they all present?” King Gustrus continued questioning.

“They are mostly present, your majesty. Currently, they are waiting in an adjacent room. Should I call them in?” Cardinal Salaban answered.

“No, have them wait for now. What about the absent ones?”

“The two absentees are Lord Atkas, whose son has recently been involved in an accident, and also the newly appointed Lord Samsin, who appears to be away on business. However, I was informed he would be returning tomorrow. There was also an incident involving Lord Buermen…” Cardinal Salaban respectfully replied.

“Lord Buermen? I can’t seem to recall that name.” King Gustrus mused.

“He is… erhm… was the lord of the frontier town of Angrel. However, he was found dead in his mansion with his head cut off.”

“Ah, him… No matter. His kind are a dime a dozen. In fact, this is actually quite fortunate. Find a replacement for him; pin the blame of his death on the demons. It will be good propaganda.” King Gustrus commanded.

“Last thing, how has progress been with the experimental subject?” King Gustrus continued.

“Lady Celaria has recently been making rapid advancements and her magical capabilities have already grown to be quite something. As expected of the special blood from that race. However, her habits are a bit worrisome.”

“I see. Well, continue monitoring her as you’ve always done. As long as nothing bad happens to her, just let her do as she pleases.”

“Very well.” Cardinal Salaban bowed.

As the great blazing ball of fire finally climbed past the horizon, completely blanketing the room in its dazzling glory, the magic circle also peaked in its luminosity, shining in unison with the morning light. Seeing this, the men managing the circle all raised their hands and began chanting while channeling more mana into it.

While this was happening, the nobles were quickly brought in before they took their seats on the designated stands. Quiet murmurs of intrigue were quickly silenced as everyone respectfully awaited the coming ceremony. Watching in nervous anticipation, everyone held their breaths and shielded their eyes as the magic circle flashed blindingly bright.

As the light from the magic circle dimmed, all eyes slowly cracked open to take a glimpse at the result of the ritual. Within a circle of collapsed priests, eight individuals could vaguely be seen standing. When the blurry visions of those in attendance finally cleared, they all quietly and curiously examined the personages. Most of the people in question also had dazed looks as they wildly scanned their new surroundings.

After a moment of awkward silence as everyone tried to get their bearings straightened, King Gustrus finally made his presence known by clearing his throat in a loud manner, drawing all attention to him.

“Ahem! Welcome heroes! I know you are all very confused, but please hear me out!” King Gustrus smiled as he started speaking only to be met with blank stares as most of the summoned looked back in confusion.

Having realized his dilemma from their reactions, King Gustrus quickly gave Cardinal Salaban some orders. After a brief moment, the Cardinal returned along with eight other priests, each holding a red pillow with a silver bracelet on top. Kneeling in front of the group, the eight priests presented the bracelets to the reluctant party.

As the group cautiously put the bracelets on after examining them, King Gustrus began speaking once more.

“Can you understand me now?” King Gustrus questioned the group.

Receiving quick nods from the party, King Gustrus started his speech once again, “Greetings! I welcome you all to the world of Aerethin! My name is Gustrus Belmont Asartheriel Freynia the Seventh; King of Freynia. It is of great fortune that we have been graced by individuals such as yourselves and we would like to offer you all our humblest gratitude for answering the call. As you are all unable to speak the common language, I can only assume that none of you are native to this world. As such, I will leave the more lengthy explanations for a later date.”

“You have all been summoned by me to Sangin, the capital of the Kingdom of Freynia. We are one of the many human countries here on the Incacia continent. The reason for this summoning is because you have all been chosen to become heroes who will secure peace and prosperity for the human race. As of now, we are embroiled in a war with the demon race of this world. The crux of the matter is that the demon scourge has been steadily growing in power and so I fear that one day they may very well overwhelm us. Therefore, I have summoned you all to combat this imminent onslaught and save us from impending doom. Now, I know you are all very confused by your situation. However, rest assured, we will explain everything and take care of all your daily needs at a later time. Before we move one, do any of you have questions?” King Gustrus amicably asked as he finished his brief explanation.

Immediately a man wearing a gorgeously-made snow-white outfit stepped forward. As his tied up silver hair gently swayed behind him and his four pairs of black wings rustled from the motion, this man instantly captivated the entire room from the gracefulness of his movements and appearance.

Then, as quickly as it came, he near-instantly blew away his initial impression. Completely destroying the short-lived image he created, the man frivolously asked with a smirk, “Yeah, are you compensating for something with that long beard of yours?”

“…” King Gustrus as well as everyone else in the room stared incredulously at the man who had the audacity to ask such a thing in the current situation.

“…Do you understand the situation you’re in right now?” King Gustrus asked as he warily eyed the man, his smile straining a little.

“Yep, but I’m still quite curious about it. How did you even manage to get it that long? Actually, is it even real? By the way, it’s awfully stuffy in here; can someone open a window, please?” The man flippantly asked again, shocking everyone out of their initial stupor as a storm of whispers permeated the hall.

“What’s your name, boy?” King Gustrus asked after another brief pause.

“Ahem, I have been called by many names, Claw of the Wi-” Cyrus began in a loud manner.

“Just. Your. Name.” King Gustrus repeated, putting emphasis on each word.

“It’s Ressalier.” The man, now revealed as Cyrus, casually answered.

“Then, Ressalier… Do you understand that right now you are in a position where you essentially have no knowledge of anything and are at the complete mercy of myself? Do you also understand that your conduct right now is rather… unbefitting of the situation?” King Gustrus asked with a look of annoyance.

After a brief moment while the two stared at each other, Cyrus opened his mouth and began speaking again. “Let me tell you a little story I learned from a long time ago. There once was a tiger who thought himself the ruler of the forest. This tiger believed he had everything, and indeed in a sense he did. Thinking that nothing can ever stop him, he decided to venture out of his forest and into the vast unknown. For a while, all was great for this tiger. All the other animals fled from him and he did whatever he desired. He was happy that he remained unchallenged, and so decided to venture even further.”

“Is there a point to this story?” King Gustrus irritably interrupted as he impatiently drummed his fingers on the armrest of his throne.

“Point? Well, the point is that it’s a wonderful story. Now let me finish it.” Cyrus quipped much to King Gustrus’s dissatisfaction.

“Before long, the tiger spotted something he had not seen before. In the distance, there were large blocky structures unlike anything else the tiger has known. Around all these blocky structures, there were beings that walked on two legs. The tiger, being what he was, decided that these interesting beings should be under his rule. And so, the tiger walked up to these beings before letting out a large roar, expecting that the two-legged creatures would all bow before him. Instead, what happened was that this group of beings took out contraptions that the tiger knows not of and chopped off his paw. These beings then forced the tiger to retreat far away. The tiger, being unable to fathom how anything could ever challenge him let alone hurt him, roared out in anger. Thirsting for revenge for his missing limb, the tiger soon returned to the group of two-legged creatures. With the sole intent of punishing the two-legged creatures for their insolence, the tiger pounced, expecting the result to end up like all others. Instead, the group chopped off the tiger’s head, much like his paw, and this once proud ruler of the forest was no more.” Cyrus finished.

Silence pervaded the air as not a single person knew how to react to Cyrus’s story. Then, with a single loud slam, King Gustrus hit the side of his throne with such force that it woke the entire room up from its daze.

“What are you insinuating with that story?” King Gustrus frowned as anger started to tint his voice.

“No need to get all riled up. It was just a story. Its meaning is up to you to decide. Now enough with the pretenses; it’s time to move on to the main issue. Your speech sounded nice and all, but we never did mention to actually agreeing to help you, now did we?” Cyrus pointed out with a smirk.

Seeing King Gustrus remain silent, Cyrus continued, “And for that matter, this incident from our point of view can be considered much the same as a kidnapping, wouldn’t you agree?”

King Gustrus further furrowed his brows while Cyrus talked. Realizing that he would soon lose control over the situation should he let it proceed, King Gustrus slowly leaned over to the side and whispered something into Cardinal Salaban’s ear.

“Oh, and I’ve already disabled that bothersome hex you put on all of us. Shame on you for using such a thing.” Cyrus cheerfully admonished while wagging a finger.

Hearing this, looks of surprise flashed on both King Gustrus’s and Cardinal Salaban’s faces, as well as on those of the other summoned. Just as King Gustrus was about to signal for the soldiers waiting at the side to move in, Cyrus interrupted once more.

“Uh uh, I wouldn’t be so quick to use martial force if I were you. You wouldn’t want this place turning into a battlefield now would you? Besides, you need us more than we need you.” Cyrus snidely grinned.

“What do you mean by that? You think we can’t just as easily get rid of all of you and summon new heroes?” King Gustrus threatened as he narrowed his eyes, losing all semblance of the affable façade he held early on.

After hearing this, Cyrus smiled mischievously. Slowly walking over to the edge of the magic circle amidst all the eyes upon him, he stopped right in front of a collapsed priest. Then, using his foot, he turned the priest over to reveal a dried-up, withered face. As though having been mummified, the priest looked like he had all the life sucked out of him as his dry, wrinkled skin clung tightly to his bones. With empty eye sockets and brittle hands shriveled up into a claw, this man was indeed dead as his appearance alone shocked and horrified the entire room.

“Drier than a raisin. It’s what you get for tampering with what you don’t understand.” Cyrus sneered.

King Gustrus was at a loss for words as he contemplated the situation. Then, with a dejected sigh, he addressed Cyrus once again.

“Fine, I concede. What do you want in exchange for your cooperation?” King Gustrus bitterly admitted.

“Well, that’s the thing. I don’t really want anything, so how about you just let us leave right now? And really, you still haven’t answered my questions about the beard yet.” Cyrus shrugged with indifference.

With his brow twitching in chagrin, King Gustrus stroked his beard whilst ignoring Cyrus’s later statement. “Then we are in quite a predicament here, aren’t we?”

After a brief moment of deliberation, King Gustrus smiled once again, “In that case, why don’t we play a little game?”

“Ooh! I love games! But you know, just what makes you think I’ll actually agree to play this game of yours?” Cyrus countered.

“You are in an unknown world. You need many things that we have. Should you win this game, I will provide you all with proper funding before you go on your way; that includes the other heroes should they also choose to do the same.” King Gustrus explained.

“Fair enough. And if I lose?” Cyrus asked as a wide smile slowly crept up his face.

“Then, as I’ve mentioned, you will cooperate with this kingdom in combating the demon race. In addition, you will have to wear a surveillance artifact to make sure you are properly upholding your end of the bargain.”

“Fine. What is this little game of yours then?” Cyrus prompted eagerly.

After hearing this question, King Gustrus motioned for Cardinal Salaban to retrieve something. Quickly leaving and returning shortly after, Cardinal Salaban could be seen holding a couple of inticately-designed cards. After being handed the cards, King Gustrus held them up high for everyone to see. One of the cards held an image of a sun whereas the other held an image of a crescent moon. As King Gustrus flipped them over, the backs were revealed to be identical.

“The game will be a very simple one; a test of luck if you will. I will hand these over to Cardinal Salaban who will then shuffle the cards. He will thereafter present these cards to you and you will pick one of them. Should you pick the card with the crescent moon on it, then you win. Do you agree to these conditions?” King Gustrus asked.

After hearing the conditions, Cyrus disappointingly replied, “Ehh? That’s it? You’d think that being the king and all you’d have better things prepared. Oh well. Let’s hurry it up then.”

“Let’s see how long you can keep that attitude up when you lose.” King Gutrus muttered under his breath.

Sneering unnoticeably, King Gustrus handed the cards back to Cardinal Salaban who turned their faces downward and started shuffling them rapidly in front of everyone. As this happened, nobody seemed to notice the card with the crescent moon slowly transforming as its image faded into that of a sun. After Cardinal Salaban finished the shuffling, he walked down the steps to where Cyrus stood and presented the cards to him.

“Take your pick.” Cardinal Salaban austerely said.

As Cyrus reached a hand towards the cards, he momentarily paused before grabbing one of them. Glancing up at King Gustrus, Cyrus took note of his confident demeanor at the choice. Still keeping the card faced downwards, Cyrus smiled wryly as he turned towards King Gustrus once again.

“Well, aren’t you going to turn it over?” King Gustrus prompted.

Before anyone knew what happened, the card burst into flames surprising everyone once again. As the ashes fell to the floor, Cyrus flippantly exclaimed, “Oh no! It appears the card spontaneously combusted! Whatever shall we do! What a travesty this is! How could something like this ever happen?”

“…You. How long do you plan to make a mockery of everyone here? I will take that action as your concession since the winner can no longer be determined.” King Gustrus said humorlessly as he pointed towards Cyrus.

“Oh! But wait! There is a way to determine the winner! Why don’t we just have this fine gent here turn over his card? If he’s holding a sun card then that means I win since I must’ve chosen the moon card, right?” Cyrus grinned as he turned towards Cardinal Salaban.

As King Gustrus gradually recognized the meaning behind Cyrus’s actions, his face twisted into a scowl. However, at this point, there was nothing he could do as all eyes fell upon him and the Cardinal. Motioning towards Cardinal Salaban to flip the card over, King Gustrus let out a defeated sigh. Reluctantly flipping the card, Cardinal Salaban revealed the image of a sun and with it, Cyrus’s victory.

“Oh! Well then, it looks like I win! Luck must be smiling down on me. Now, about those rewards…” Cyrus mentioned as he feigned surprise.

“…You will receive 3000 gold coins when you leave here. It should be enough to cover the majority of your expenses for a long time to come. It will be prepared for you when you exit this place.” King Gustrus grumbled through grit teeth.

“Wonderful! Your magnanimity knows no bounds and I had a very pleasant time chatting with you. Now then, we will be leaving. Bye, Bye!” With a mocking smile, Cyrus waved as he grabbed Seffy’s hand and started dragging her out of the room.

However, before Cyrus reached the large double-doors marking the exit to the hall, King Gustrus used his last trump card.

“Before that… I would request that you return the language artifact, if you will.” King Gustrus called out with a smirk.

Smiling back completely unperturbed, Cyrus said, “Oh, but of course!” Then, he quickly took off both his and Seffy’s silver bracelets before placing them on the floor. Taking one last glance at the summoned group before making a sarcastic bow, both Cyrus and Seffy exited the hall.

As the double-doors closed behind them, the hall was left in silence. Annoyed that the expected response wasn’t elicited, King Gustrus silently grumbled to himself. After rubbing his temples for a bit, he turned his attention towards the rest of the summoned group.

“…Since you all are still here, I’m assuming you’ve decided to cooperate with our kingdom instead of leaving?” King Gustrus tiredly asked.

“Well, that depends.” A calm voice replied.

As everyone turned their heads to look at the speaker, a tall man stepped up out of the group. This man looked to be no more than twenty years of age and had a slim figure. Wearing strange, elastic clothing that seemed to cling to his body under an intricate long blue vestment, this man was one of the few in the group that attracted a considerable amount of attention. His clothes however weren’t the strangest parts about him; he had short heterochromatic hair in opposing shades of light teal and dark purple. Similar to his hair, both his eyes also were heterochromatic with the same colors but in an opposing position from their hair counterparts. Standing with his back straight, this man adjusted his round spectacles as he carefully analyzed the situation through cold and calculating eyes. His face held a stern expression as he faced the king.

“What does it depend on?” King Gustrus cautiously asked, hoping that this person wasn’t like the last one.

“To be quite frank, it’s already been made clear that trust is not something shared between us and I doubt that will ever change. However, that’s hardly the main issue here. So I will just say that if you don’t want to lose any more of your so-called ‘heroes’, you’ll be answering some of my questions truthfully and succinctly. Do we have an understanding here?” The man firmly asked.

“That was the initial plan, yes? I will answer your questions to the best of my abilities.” King Gustrus replied.

“Then, first off, what is the source of energy used here?”

“That would be mana which a person can manipulate using their bodies.”

“Second, how does this ‘summoning’ mechanism work?”

“That is classified information.”

“I see… Lastly, is it possible to send us back?”

Pausing for a moment, King Gustrus answered, “…Yes, if you work with us, we’ll send you back after you’ve fulfilled your role.”

Narrowing his eyes ever so slightly, the man curtly replied, “I’ve heard all I needed to hear.”

“Can I take that to mean you’re willing to cooperate?” King Gustrus inquired, seemingly eager that the conversation was going somewhere.

Closing his eyes, the man responded with an icy tone, “Quite the contrary, I’m actually very angry and offended right now.”

Then, without saying another word, the man slowly opened his eyes and began making his way towards the double-doors. As he reached the doors, the man turned around and said, “I will be taking this language device for your earlier transgression. Know that you have made a grave mistake in calling me here and that I do not take kindly to being treated like a fool. Cross me any further and I guarantee you will regret it.” Before anyone could make an objection, the man swiftly turned and left.

As the double-doors slammed shut, people all across the room began making worried looks at King Gustrus. However, the expected angry expression was not there, but was instead replaced by a tranquil, if not slightly emotionless, face. Sighing one more time while rubbing the bridge of his nose, he looked at the remaining group.

“And should I assume you all carry the same sentiments?” King Gustrus said to the rest of the summoned group.

“No… It’s fine. You said you can send us back if we cooperate, right?” This time, a blonde haired youth stepped forward.

“Ah, finally a reasonable person. Yes, that is exactly right.” King Gustrus grinned at the opportunity.

“Can you give us the details of what exactly we have to do, then?” The youth asked.

“We’ll save that for a later time. For now, if you’ve all decided on staying, then we’ll have the servants show you to your rooms.” King Gustrus said.

As the remaining group was escorted away to their living quarters, King Gustrus scanned the on looking nobles. After making sure that the summoned heroes have all left, King Gustrus dismissed the waiting nobles and guards as well.

When everyone finally filed out of the hall, there were only three people left in the room. Seeing that they were the only ones left, King Gustrus placed a hand to his face as he let out an exasperated sigh.

“Well, I suppose it could’ve been worse.” The last remaining noble said as he walked up to the side of the throne.

“Lord Askiel.” King Gustrus peered through his fingers.

“It also could’ve been a lot better, true, but at least you still managed to recruit five of them. Though, knowing the rest of my peers, they’ll likely tear this incident apart regardless. Was it really such a good idea to host an open showing of the summoning to the nobles?” Lord Askiel mused.

“In hindsight, not at all, but the damage has already been done. I suppose it’s just about damage control now. My reputation among the nobles will certainly take a beating from this.” King Gustrus sighed as he looked up.

“Speaking of damage control, are you sure it was right to let those three go? From my observations of their attitude, they’ll likely cause trouble if left unchecked.” Lord Askiel worriedly inquired.

“There wasn’t much I could do at that point. Going back on my word would cause issues with all those nobles watching. Besides, my impressions are that they’d be more trouble than they’re worth so it might’ve been for the best that they left on their own.” King Gustrus responded.

“Well, at least we don’t have to worry much about them causing too much trouble. Cardinal Salaban has already dispatched qualified individuals to observe them. Should they be a threat to us then…” King Gustrus continued before bringing two fingers up to his neck. Then slowly sliding across it, he made his intentions clear.

“Do you think they’ll be able to kill them that easily?”

“I certainly hope so. Let’s just pray it doesn’t come to that. I’d very much rather not have to deal with a threat on the inside as well.”

“Anyway, where is Royal Commander Voralich? I have some urgent matters about security I need to discuss with him.” Lord Askiel asked, getting to the point of the conversation.

“I sent him out looking for my daughter again. That daughter of mine... I’ve already lost count of how many times she’s run away. I truly wish she would stop doing that and just follow her brothers' example.” King Gustrus said as he rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

“Maybe you should spend some time working on your relationship with her?” Lord Askiel suggested.

“And maybe you should stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong? Besides, even if I wanted to, I can’t. Not until I’ve accomplished my objective.” King Gustrus retorted.

“I see… Well then, if there’s nothing else I suppose I will take my leave now.” Lord Askiel bowed before he exited the room.

“Cardinal Salaban, I would like to have a word with you later.” King Gustrus stated.

Sighing once more as he glanced at the bodies of the remaining dead priests, King Gustrus asked Cardinal Salaban to clean everything up before he also got up and left the hall.

///

“Well, that turned out to be much less interesting than I thought it’d be. Oh well, at least we still reaped the rewards. Now money won’t be an issue for a while.” Cyrus chuckled as he juggled a bag of coins in one hand.

The two had just left the palace and were currently walking through the busy streets of Sangin. As it was only the afternoon, Cyrus decided that they should continue on with their initial plan of heading to the sun tower.

“You know, you’ve been awfully quiet and your hands have been trembling for a while. Are you all right?” Cyrus asked when Seffy didn’t respond back. He had noticed that her hands were damp with cold sweat when he held them earlier.

“Huh? Oh… y-yeah. I’m fine.” Seffy absentmindedly replied. Looking carefully, one would notice she was a few shades paler than usual.

“Yeah. No you’re not. Never mind then, we’re heading back to the inn. You’re in no condition to do anything right now.” Cyrus said as he observed her reaction. He then started pulling her in the opposite direction.

“N-no really! I’m fine.” Seffy reassured as she resisted the pull.

“Tell that to me after you’ve stopped stuttering. Come on princess.” Cyrus said before he went and picked her up in a princess carry.

“Wait, put me down! I can walk on my own!” Seffy cried as she struggled in his arms.

“No can do. Besides, you like being carried like this, don’t you?” Cyrus smiled as he started walking back.

“Not in front of all these people!” Seffy said as she blushed and buried her face into Cyrus.

After a great deal of struggling, the two soon returned to the inn. Back in their rooms, Cyrus finally put Seffy down before he went and sat on the bed. Seeing that Seffy was standing still, Cyrus motioned her over.

“Did you really have to do that?” Seffy asked sullenly.

“See? There was something wrong with you. If you were in your usual state of mind, you’d have realized that you’re still wearing your facemask so nobody would’ve even noticed me carrying you back.” Cyrus grinned.

Seeing Seffy remain silent, Cyrus sighed. “Come on, sit down.” Cyrus said as he patted his lap. When Seffy sat down on his lap, he wrapped his arms around her waist and cradled her from behind. Then, he used his wings to surround and cover the both of them, as a swan might to protect its young.

As Seffy looked back in surprise, Cyrus chuckled, “What? You don’t like it like this?”

Slowly shaking her head, Seffy replied, “No, it’s just unexpected.”

“You’ve been trembling for quite a bit; let’s stay like this until you calm down, alright? Sometimes, comforting words alone just aren’t enough.” Cyrus gently whispered into her ear as he started rocking back and forth.

Nuzzling her face into his wings as she closed her eyes, Seffy remained like that in the comfort of Cyrus’s embrace. As minutes turned to hours, Seffy’s quivering gradually eased and color soon returned to her face.

“Feeling better now?” Cyrus asked after a while as he felt Seffy relax in his arms.

Taking in a deep breath as she slowly composed herself, Seffy replied, “Yeah. Much better.”

Waiting for her to start, Cyrus looked upon Seffy with a hint of concern but said nothing else.

“Cyrus… Have you ever been scared and angry at the same time?” Seffy asked after gaining her bearings.

“I’ve been scared and I’ve been angry, but I can’t say I’ve been both. I’m assuming that’s what you’re feeling right now?” Cyrus asked.

Clenching her teeth as her grip tightened, Seffy started shivering again. Seeing this, Cyrus placed his hand over hers as if reassuring her of his presence.

Calming down once more, Seffy slowly and anxiously confessed through grit teeth, “I… recognized a few of those nobles…”

“I see... Sorry. I should’ve stopped the summoning while I had the chance.” Cyrus apologetically responded.

“No, it’s not your fault. I should’ve been stronger. I shouldn’t have let them get to me like that. With all the strength I’ve gained, I should’ve…” Seffy began before trailing off. Finding her words once more, she continued.

“I thought that with enough strength, I could finally face them with my head held high, but the moment I came under their gazes I just… froze up. It’s like my mind just stopped working at the mere sight of them and that all my fears and frustrations came rushing back to haunt me again. I was scared… terrified even. I wanted to bury my head somewhere and hide… I-I feel so pathetic right now.” Seffy spilled with a face full of anguish.

As Cyrus observed her in her suffering, he paused for a moment before finally asking, “…Tell me Seffy. For what reason did you gain this strength? For what reason did you work so hard to achieve it?”

“…To get revenge against the one who wronged me. The one who took everything from me.” Seffy quietly replied.

“And how are you planning to do that?”

“That… I…” Seffy hesitated.

“Whether you like it or not, someday you will have to face them again to get what you want. At that time all you can do is keep pushing forward. Contrary to what you believe, I don’t think you’re pathetic at all. You’re strong because you didn’t run away. Even if you wanted to, you didn’t. I’ve seen many who would simply break down in a similar situation as you; it isn’t pretty. But not you, you held your ground and with a little help, you’re going to recover. After coming all this way, you’re not just going to stop here are you?”

“Listen Seffy, facing your past is not something that’s easy to do. And more so than that, it’s even harder to move on from it. Many times, you will want to run away and hide because it’s just that much easier to do. No matter how much power you’ve gained, facing your past traumas is not something that can be overcome without a lot of effort. But, you know, you don’t have to do it alone. Sometimes the best way to overcome it is with the support of another. If you stumble from something like that, then it’s only natural that I help you back up, right?” Cyrus softly smiled.

Seffy remained slient as she took in everything Cyrus said. Then, as if deciding on something, she looked up resolutely and said, “Yeah, you’re right. Sulking around won’t get me anywhere. I… have to keep moving forward otherwise everything you’ve done for me would’ve been for nothing. Sorry, but I’m going to have to rely on you again to catch me if I fall.”

Then, with a remorseful face, she continued, “Really… I’m sorry. You must be disappointed in me. You told me that I had the will to achieve my goals above all else and yet, I falter over something like this…”

Sighing again, Cyrus replied, “Seffy, did you not listen to what I just said? Regardless of how strong-willed you are, facing your past is hard. For anyone. It’s only natural that you run into some pitfalls here and there. What’s really important is that you climb out of it regardless of the pains you endure. I’m not petty enough to be disappointed over something like this. If anything, I should be the one standing behind and pushing you forward. Look, if you ever do find yourself troubled, feel free to talk to me about it. I’ll console you again just as I’m doing right now. Just like what you told me last night, I’ll say to you now. You’re not alone.”

“…Thank you. I really appreciate it. And also, sorry for always troubling you like this.” Seffy said as she buried her face back into Cyrus’s wing.

“If you’re really sorry, then smile for me. I always like it better when you smile.” Cyrus grinned.

Staying silent for a moment, Seffy then pulled her head up and faced Cyrus with a big grin on her face. “C’mon, that sounded really corny just now.” Seffy giggled.

“And yet, it’s the truth. Nice to see you’re back to your usual self.” Cyrus warmly replied.

Pausing as she looked back into his eyes, her expression soon melted into a tender smile. “I’m glad.” Seffy simply stated.

“Hmm?”

“You being here for me, it really means a lot.” Seffy said as she gently held both his hands and squeezed.

“Don’t mention it. It really isn’t much.”

“Hey, Cyrus. Can we stay like this for a while longer? It feels really nice being hugged like this.” Seffy requested as she immersed herself in the feeling of Cyrus’s warm embrace.

“I’m not your pillow you know? But alright I suppose.” Cyrus shrugged before he hugged her tighter.

“Your wings smell really good.” Seffy sniffed.

“Naturally. And yours smell of sweat.”

“Way to ruin the moment.”

///

As the sun slowly made its descent below the horizon, two figures covered in black cloaks could be seen sprinting across the rooftops bathed in the light of the evening twilight.

“Hurry, she’ll catch us!” One of the figures whispered while taking glances behind them.

“Damn it. She’s too fast.” The other figure cursed.

“I don’t even know how she found us in the first place but we must report to the king about this.” The first figure spoke in a hushed voice.

“Ah? So it was the king who sent you, was it?” A calm, female voice interrupted.

Landing in a crouching position in front of the two, a young girl casually examined them as she toted a large scythe on her shoulders. Abruptly stopping in their tracks, the two warily gazed back at the girl who intercepted their path of escape.

“You know, it’s quite rude to peek like that. People need their own privacy. What if you caught me at a bad time? What if you caught me changing? Ah, but then you’d be labeled as perverts. Do you want to know what I usually do to perverts?” Seffy nonchalantly mocked as she paced around them in observation.

As Seffy made her way closer, the two of them nodded to each other before they drew the daggers that were hidden under their clothing. With lightning fast speed, one of the cloaked figures threw two daggers at Seffy while the other circled around to try to stab her in the back.

Yawning, Seffy used one hand and caught both daggers by the blade between her fingers. Then, using her other arm as a fulcrum, she twirled the scythe around it. Gripping the scythe hard, Seffy blocked the dagger thrust aimed at her back as a loud clang rang out.

Then, with a strong jerk, Seffy knocked the dagger out of the grasp of the figure behind her. The dagger spun through the air before being lodged in a nearby roof-tile. Seeing this, the figure behind Seffy hurriedly jumped back just before the head of Seffy’s scythe smashed into the area where the figure had been.

“Come on, is that the best you can do? I can beat both of you with my eyes closed.” Seffy taunted.

Then, noticing a numbing sensation, Seffy looked at the hand that had caught the daggers only to see it dripping with a viscous, black liquid. Furrowing her brows a little, she quickly threw the daggers to the side and dodged another one hurtling towards her head. Finding the poison on her hand, the figure behind her drew another dagger before going in for another stab. Parrying the stab once again, Seffy whirled around before swinging her scythe in a wide arc, only to be dodged again as the attacker bent forwards ninety degrees. This time however, Seffy used the momentum from the swing and quickly flipped the scythe around as she used its base to impact the attacker right in the jugular. Immediately after knocking the stunned assailant away, Seffy jammed the blade of the scythe into the roof and twirled around its handle vertically just as a few more daggers whizzed past the area where she just was. Pushing off the handle, Seffy summersaulted through the air before landing behind the other assailant.

“That’s quite the strong poison you got there. Even I started to feel it a little. Only a little though.” Seffy sneered as she sent a quick roundhouse kick towards the surprised assailant. Connecting right at the jaw which resulted in a sickening crack, the kick sent the figure hurtling towards another rooftop before crashing into a chimney.

As Seffy shifted her attention towards the other stunned assailant, the attacker had already recovered and had gotten behind her. Proceeding to wrap their arms around her neck in a stranglehold, the assailant attempted to subdue her. The attacker then pulled out another dagger in a struggle to slit her throat.

As her eyes darkened a little upon contact, Seffy scowled before saying, “Don’t touch me you scum.”

Reaching both hands behind her, Seffy swiftly grasped both of the assailant’s arms in an iron grip forcing the figure to drop their dagger. With a hard jerk, she violently ripped both of the attacker’s arms out of their sockets as the person screamed in agony. Then, using those very arms, Seffy proceeded to beat down the assailant as blood from the severed ends splattered everywhere.

“How boring. I expected more from you guys, though I suppose I’m setting the bar too high. Even so, I can’t have you dying on me just yet.” Seffy said as she threw the arms aside. Walking up to the amputated assailant, Seffy raised a hand and cauterized the bloody stumps leftover. Fortunately, the attacker had already passed out from the beating and was unable to scream anymore.

Then, concentrating some more, Seffy extended black tendrils from her shadow and commanded them to pick up the passed-out attacker. The unconscious person was then lifted and thoroughly wrapped up into a ball made of shadows.

“I should probably use my magic more often, I’m getting rusty.” Seffy quietly muttered as she picked up her scythe and returned it back to its traveling form.

Jumping and landing on the other rooftop, Seffy proceeded to do the same to the other assailant as she wrapped the figure up into a ball. As the two spheres dangled from the tendrils, Seffy gave the area one last sweeping glace before she began strolling back to her room.

After returning, Seffy swung herself back in through the window, bringing in the extra baggage with her. Looking up to see Cyrus eating grilled steak, Seffy stared in irritation as she dropped the baggage to the floor. Walking up and sitting herself down at the table Cyrus was eating at, Seffy looked at him with dull eyes.

“Oh, you’re back. Took you long enough.” Cyrus grinned as he took another bite.

“You do realize I haven’t had dinner yet right? Don’t you feel bad flaunting that in front of me?” Seffy grumbled.

“Ehh? But it’s not my fault you ran off on your own. Tell you what? I’ll feed you what’s left on the plate right now.” Cyrus said as he waved a piece of steak in front of her.

“Hey! I’m not your dog.” Seffy retorted.

“Oh, you don’t want it then? ‘Kay, more for me.” Cyrus teased as he slowly moved the steak towards his mouth.

“Mmn. Feed me.” Seffy quietly mumbled.

“What’s that? I can’t hear you.” Cyrus smiled as he put a hand to his ear.

“Please feed me!” Seffy shouted into his ear.

“Sheesh you don’t have to be so loud.” Cyrus smirked as he guided the steak towards her mouth.

Happily glomping down on the steak as she began chewing, Seffy noticed, “By the way, I thought we weren’t allowed to take food out of the dining area.”

“Well of course, I cooked it myself; the owners let me borrow their kitchen. It’s pretty good don’t you think?” Cyrus boasted.

“Admittedly, it’s delicious. It’s got this sweet tanginess to it that meshes perfectly with the spices. Being firm on the outside yet also subtly tender just below the surface makes it easy to chew, while also giving it some level of consistency in its texture.” Seffy agreed as she waited with an open mouth for another bite.

“You’d be surprised what I can do with a proper kitchen.”

After Cyrus fed her the rest of the steak, they finally switched their attention to the two shadowy bundles. With a quick snap of her fingers, Seffy released the binding as the two figures dropped to the floor.

Musing a little at their disfigured forms, Cyrus said, “You really did a number on them didn’t you?”

“They attacked me first. Besides, this is hardly the worst I’ve done to someone.” Seffy casually replied.

“True enough. So, were they hired by the king as I’ve guessed?” Cyrus inquired.

“Yep. Should we retaliate?”

“Nah, there’s no point. It’s most likely they were just here to observe us. We’ll return them to the king in this state as a warning.” Cyrus said as he quickly went ahead and wiped their memories.

“You sure about that? What if they send more people after us?” Seffy asked, still not quite convinced.

“Well, that’s when we retaliate.” Cyrus laughed as he threw the two into a shade he created.

“Oh, wait a moment. Hand me a pen, Seffy.” Cyrus asked as he remembered something. Retrieving the two people from the shade once again, Cyrus burned off all their clothing, leaving them in the nude.

“Ah, one’s a female. Hehe, this should be fun.” Cyrus chuckled as he dipped the pen in ink.

“Wait, what’s with that look?” Cyrus asked when he found Seffy staring at him skeptically.

“Oh, don’t mind me. Continue what you were doing.” Seffy replied in a flat voice.

Shrugging, Cyrus began to scrawl all sorts of vulgar words and pictures onto the two people. Seemingly satisfied with his work, Cyrus snickered as he formed twin blades from the shadows and whetted them against each other.

“Now, onto the main event.” Cyrus villainously grinned as he began to shave the two people. After making the both of them as bald as babies, Cyrus grabbed some rope and bound the two together into a ball. Tossing the both of them back in again, Cyrus then ordered the shade to return to the palace.

“You’re pretty terrible, you know that?” Seffy commented after seeing some of the things Cyrus wrote.

“Says the girl who ripped their arms out and broke their jaw. Besides, it would make our warning that much more effective.” Cyrus quipped.

“You just wanted to piss off that king, didn’t you?” Seffy doubtfully asked.

“I would never!” Cyrus replied indignantly.

“You’d be more believable if you used a different tone of voice. Whatever. C’mon, if you’re done already we’re going to the bathhouse down the street. I could really use a good, hot soak right about now.” Seffy said as she hugged Cyrus’s arm and pulled him along.

“Eh? I’m coming too?”

“Of course! You’ll be my guard dog against any perverts lurking about.” Seffy laughed.

Raising an eyebrow, Cyrus replied, “It looks like someone here is getting a little ahead of themselves.”

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding. I just want to have a bath with you again. Is that alright?” Seffy jokingly grinned.

“Well, that’s fine then. You do kind of reek after all.”

“And you’re as tactful as always. C’mon!”

Dragging Cyrus along, Seffy eagerly charged to the bathhouse with wild enthusiasm. After getting past the front counter, Seffy quickly stripped herself of her clothes and hopped into the large, steaming open-air bath that was the size of a pool.

“Haah, that feels good.” Seffy sighed as she submerged herself in the warm water. With her wet, silky, golden-blonde hair clinging to her glistening rose-colored cheeks, Seffy closed her eyes and leaned back as she enjoyed a moment of tranquil repose.

“It’s nice that you’re satisfied and all, but at least pick up your clothes when you strip. I can’t be doing this every time you need to bath. Get them stolen and you’re going home in the nude.” Cyrus said as he walked in carrying a bundle of Seffy’s clothes. Dropping them off on a nearby chair he proceeded to strip down as well before covering himself in a towel.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I can always rely on you to pick them up, right? Besides, I heard men like those sorts of things; the sweet, fragrant smell of a young maiden’s laundry.” Seffy joked.

“I see.” Cyrus flatly replied. Then, picking up a piece of clothing from the bundle, Cyrus scrunched it into a compact ball.

“Hey, what are yo- ahhhh! Those were my panties!” Seffy cried as she watched Cyrus chuck the ball over the bathhouse fence.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure those just made a man very happy out there.” Cyrus smirked as he patted off his hands.

“You’re so mean Cyrus. Those were my last pair too. Are you into that kind of thing? Humiliating innocent girls by making them go around with no underwear?” Seffy teased as she wiggled around.

“Alright, guess it’s your skirt that’s going out next.” Cyrus chuckled as he bundled up another piece of clothing.

“Wait, wait! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’ll pick them up next time!” Seffy apologized in a panic.

“That’s more I like it.” Cyrus smiled as he dropped the bundle.

Putting a hand to her chest in relief, Seffy sighed, “Really, you didn’t have to go that far.”

Strolling up to where Seffy was relaxing, Cyrus grabbed her by the arms and dragged her up.

“Hey! What was that for? I was just getting into the feel of it.” Seffy complained.

“First off, you should rinse your body off before getting in. This isn’t like the pond from back then where we’re the only ones who used it. Other people will be using the bath too.” Cyrus scolded as he sat her down on a nearby stool.

“Eh? But we’re the only ones here. No one will ever know. Besides, why are you only being level-headed at a time like this? It’s not like you give a damn about other people anyway.”

“I, for one, like to keep good hygiene. Now stay still.”

Cyrus twirled his fingers and a large stream of warm water came gushing out of the bath and on top of Seffy. Taking out some soap and a sponge, Cyrus began by washing her back to her wings and then made his way around the rest of her body before finishing with her hair. As Cyrus was wringing out the sponge, Seffy suddenly turned around with an impish smile on her face.

“You missed a spot here.” Seffy grinned as she spread her legs.

Only giving her a momentary side-glance, Cyrus calmly said, “You can do that on your own.”

“C’mon, if you’re going to wash me, at least be thorough about it.” Seffy pouted.

“Rather than me, shouldn’t you be a little more self-conscious of what you’re asking me to do? We are still male and female here.”

“Oh don’t be like that. We’re basically as close as family now. I don’t see the harm. Besides, if you wanted to do something to me, you would’ve already done so. You’ve had plenty of opportunities after all.” Seffy laughed.

“I have my reservations. Considering what you’ve been through, I’d assume you’d be more repulsed at the idea of other people touching you there. I’m just being mindful here.” Cyrus shrugged.

“You? Mindful? Psh… but well, it’s true that I’d hate it if other people touched me. Period. But, you don’t count as other people. And wait, what are you even being mindful of?” Seffy tilted her head in confusion.

“Well, to put it bluntly, weren’t you, ahem, a sex slave?” Cyrus awkwardly coughed.

Taking a moment to process what she had just heard before realizing what Cyrus meant, Seffy exclaimed, “…Ah! So that’s what you meant!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cyrus questioned.

“Didn’t you see how my skin was back when you saved me?”

“Yes I did. It was in pretty bad condition.”

“How about the black patches all over it?”

“Yes, but what are you getting at?”

“That was the result of a terminal illness I caught early on. Much less touching, most people wouldn’t even so much as get near me after they saw me. Truth be told, I probably wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway had you not saved me. Though as painful as it was, it did spare me from other forms of abuse. I guess even the scums of society still values their own lives over carnal pleasure. Unfortunately, that just meant they had to resort to ‘other’ means of entertainment to get their money’s worth.” Seffy shivered slightly as she recalled.

“I’m surprised you can talk about such things so easily.” Cyrus replied.

“Well, I assumed you already knew. So that’s why, if you’re worried about my feelings on those things, don’t be. I want us to be open with each other.” Seffy reassured.

Then, leaning in close, Seffy playfully whispered into Cyrus’s ear, “And if you’re really curious, yes, ‘it’ is still there.”

“Alright, I get it. But, you’re still going to have to wash yourself. Okay?”

“Mmm, you’re only reserved at a time like this.” Seffy pouted as she pulled his arm.

“You’re not going to take no for an answer are you?” Cyrus sighed.

“Noope!” Seffy affirmed as she guided his hand towards her crotch.

“Fine, fine. Hold on a moment.” Cyrus said as he began lathering up the sponge.

“Use your fingers. A sponge just won’t do.” Seffy grinned as she enjoyed the moment.

Having fully covered his hand in suds, Cyrus began washing Seffy’s nether regions. As he gently glided over her lower entrance, he felt Seffy tremble a little.

“Ehehe, that kind of tickles.” Seffy giggled and squirmed as Cyrus brushed past.

Soon after that, he began to scrub in between the lips as more soap bubbles foamed out. Stroking back and forth delicately, Cyrus made sure to thoroughly clean the area while also taking care not to cause discomfort. Getting into all the folds and crevices, Cyrus rubbed everything carefully before rinsing it with warm water.

“Mmm, yeah. Just like that. Get right in ther- Ah!” Seffy encouraged before she let out a soft moan as Cyrus grazed over a stiff part. Shivering as her body curled up, Seffy had a look of ecstasy plastered on her face as she started to drool a little.

Finishing with the outside, Cyrus rinsed his hand off before gently slipping two fingers inside as he rubbed Seffy’s inner walls back and forth. While doing so, he felt her insides quiver with his every movement, the folds of her tunnel undulating back and forth softly as they radiated a torrid heat. Seemingly reaching the end, he gave one last twirl before Seffy clamped down hard on his fingers. After waiting for Seffy to loosen up, he slowly slid his fingers out only to see them glistening in a clear, syrupy liquid.

“Well, it looks like someone here certainly enjoyed themselves. I’m assuming this was what you wanted?” Cyrus commented as he parted his fingers to see a thin silver strand between them.

“Hah… more or less. Hah… but really, you sure do know how to work your fingers.” Seffy panted with a flushed, but satisfied expression.

“Still, I would prefer it if you didn’t use me to help you, ahem, ‘ruffle the tunnel’.” Cyrus coughed.

“C’mon, from the way you sound, it’s like you’ve never touched a girl like that before.” Seffy teased as she recovered herself.

“Well…” Cyrus trailed as he scratched his head.

“…Huh? Eh, what? You’re joking right? Wait. How old were you again?” Seffy asked incredulously as she started to realize what he was implying.

Seeing Cyrus remain quiet, Seffy burst out in laughter as she rolled on the floor.

“Pfff-Ahahahahahah. Damn, you weren’t kidding back then. Ahaha. Ow my sides.” Seffy howled as she held her stomach.

“Hehehe… sorry but, that’s kind of… I don’t know? Pathetic.” Seffy giggled uncontrollably as she repeatedly pounded the floor.

Seeing Seffy like this, Cyrus made a blank expression before standing up. Grabbing Seffy by the legs, he went ahead and pulled them up as he dangled her from her feet. Still convulsing from laughter as she tried to catch her breath, Seffy offered no resistance.

“Ehehe, wait, wha-what are you doing?” Seffy asked in between strained breaths.

“Punishment.” Cyrus simply said. As soon as he said that, a large trail of water came streaming out from the bath before hovering in the air above them. Then, Cyrus immediately yanked Seffy’s legs apart and smashed the entire glob of water down on her crotch with a concentrated force. A loud, wet slap echoed out before Seffy collapsed on the floor writhing in agony as she clutched her groin.

“Ahhh. That felt great.” Making a satisfied expression, Cyrus started walking away to wash himself leaving Seffy squirming in pain.

After thoroughly cleansing himself, Cyrus strolled towards the bath before getting in. Laying back and relaxing near the edge, Cyrus let out a long, loud sigh. Before long, Seffy also limped over behind him while still holding her crotch.

“That really hurt. I think you broke it.” Seffy grumbled through pained grunts, her legs still shaking.

“Oh, really? Congratulations.” Cyrus chuckled, not paying her much mind.

“Congratulations my foot. Because of you, it’s going to be sore for a while. Damn, and it was still really sensitive too.” Seffy retorted as she got in beside Cyrus.

Abandoning herself to the water’s therapeutic properties, Seffy sighed as she felt the warmth pervading her very essence. Immersed in a warm, cozy feeling, Seffy relaxed as she found the stresses of the day leaving her and soon felt her head swaying slightly. Leaning her head on Cyrus’s shoulder, Seffy slowly closed her eyes and savored the moment. After a while of soaking, Seffy started to doze off as her entire body slumped onto Cyrus’s side. Seeing this, Cyrus softly smiled before he poked her on the cheek.

“Alright Seffy, time to get out.” Cyrus gently prompted as he stood up.

“Mmm, just a little longer…” Seffy sluggishly answered.

“It’s getting late.”

“Ehehe, help me up then. I think my legs fell asleep.” Seffy lightly laughed as she held her arms up.

Bending down to scoop her up, Cyrus lifted her in the usual princess carry style. This time however, Seffy draped her arms around Cyrus’s neck and gently nuzzled him in under the chin while wearing a blissful expression.

“You know Seffy, today you’ve been awfully close. Well, more so than usual.” Cyrus noted as he looked at her in surprise.

“Do you not like it when I’m like this?” Seffy cooed.

“On the contrary, it’s actually quite pleasant.” Cyrus smiled warmly.

After setting her down on a nearby chair, the two dried themselves off before getting dressed. Soon, they left the bathhouse and started heading back to the inn.

“It feels really breezy down there.” Seffy remarked as she held down her skirt.

“Relax, we’ll get you new ones. Until then you’ll just have to put up with it.” Cyrus shrugged.

“Wait… aren’t those…” Seffy said as something caught her eye. Striding over to a nearby alleyway, Seffy peered inside. In the distance, she saw two stray cats fighting over a shredded piece of cloth. Squinting to get a closer look, Seffy soon recognized that piece of cloth.

“Oh look, it’s your panties. Looks like the cats were having a field day with it. Want me to fetch it for you?” Cyrus chuckled as he came up behind her.

“…No thanks.” Seffy glumly replied as she watched the cats tear the fabric in half.

Arriving back at their rooms, the two quickly changed into their sleepwear. Jumping onto the bed, Seffy promptly crawled under the covers before poking her head out. Lifting the sheets, she motioned towards Cyrus invitingly.

“You’re sleeping with me tonight.” Seffy declared as she patted the spot beside her.

“Hmm, I don’t know. I fear for what may happen in my sleep. After an earlier display by a certain someone, I now question the safety of my precious thing. That chair over there looks mighty comfy…” Cyrus feigned hesitation.

“Just get in here already.”

“As the princess commands.” Cyrus bowed before he got in beside her.

“Do you always have to be this difficult?” Seffy asked as she scooted closer.

“I’ve heard women prefer men that are hard to get. Or maybe it was the other way around?” Cyrus snickered.

“Women prefer men who know when to keep their mouths shut.” Seffy quipped.

“Touché”

Snuggling up closer, Seffy wrapped her arms and legs around Cyrus in a warm embrace. Rubbing her cheeks against his arm, Seffy made low purring noises as she enjoyed the soft sensation.

“Great, in the span of a few hours, I’ve been reduced to a body pillow.” Cyrus remarked.

“You’re soft, you have feathers, and… you make me feel at ease. So yeah, I guess you are.” Seffy smiled tenderly.

Gazing at her happy expression from the side, Cyrus sighed in concession, “Well, I suppose this isn’t too bad.”

Light, rhythmic snoring pervaded the room before he could say anything more indicating Seffy’s journey to dreamland. Staring at her small, undulating figure clinging to him and feeling the mild breaths on his arm, Cyrus smiled. Curling his arm around her head as he gently caressed her, Cyrus pulled her closer to his chest.

“Goodnight to you too, Seffy.” Cyrus whispered as he closed his eyes.

///

Meanwhile, back at the palace, King Gustrus was slowly strolling through the empty halls in the dead of night, his usual insomniac behavior keeping him awake. Grumpily making his way towards the royal kitchen for a glass of water, he passed through the throne room.

“Ugh, so much for the medicine those quacks for alchemists made. It looks like I’ll have to find a better method. I can’t keep this up.” King Gustrus tiredly mumbled as he yawned.

As he walked halfway past the throne room, crossing right in front of his throne, King Gustrus noticed something.

“Hmm? What’s that?” King Gustrus mused as he turned his head towards his throne.

Placed right on top of the throne where he usually sat, tightly bound together and struggling vigorously were two naked, bald individuals. With a diverse amount of insults squiggled onto their bodies, they desperately looked towards King Gustrus for help.

“…” King Gustrus looked blankly back at them as they practically begged for him to do something. Then turning right back towards the door on the other side of the room, he continued on his way completely unaffected.

“Hallucinations. Great, another thing to complain about to the alchemists. I swear the day their medicine actually works for once would be the day it rained horned rabbits.” King Gustrus muttered as he exited the room, leaving the two poor individuals tearing up in despair.