A/N: Yes the dreaded 18 content is back! It's once againin spoilers and doesn't contain any plot elents for those that want to skip it. I'll have you know, the chapter is normal length even without the 18 bit, that's simply a bonus. I hope you enjoy, a lot of things going on in this chapter.
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Shiori had no idea what was going on, but she was glad it had happened. Both the pressure emitted by Nelehs oppressive presence and the magical outbursts had suddenly stopped. The shield had been close to getting depleted, so they were all quite glad that the attacks did stop, even if the reason eluded them for now. Since the attack made by Kanako, they had all been on high alert, with Estelar also standing guard nearby. They had discovered that it had indeed been Delia who had told Kanako what was going on and had allowed entry Kanako to the Nexus. Delia had tried to help, and had no idea sothing like that would happen. No one really blad her, but nonetheless Delia felt very guilty and spent almost as much ti standing guard over Neleh as Shiori did.
Aneirin had been worried sick about Delias sudden absence and had tried to contact Delia several tis, but without much luck. Estelar had ntioned to her that Delia was safe, although that remained to be seen. Delia had tried to compensate for her mistake by almost obsessively putting her strength into the shield around Neleh. In her mind, she not only tried to compensate for her mistake, but she was also worried that if the shield broke then Asheara might also be in danger. So in Delias mind, there was a chance of losing both Neleh and Asheara, and she herself might be to bla. She had fainted several tis due to adding too much strength to the shield. Shiori knew that it was her self-imposed penance in a way, so she didnt try to stop her.
Maylin had been unconscious for three days after the attack, but was now recovering fine. Kanako had really taken it easy on her old teacher, since the attack had only targeted Maylins mind, which while unpleasant wasnt really sothing that did permanent damage. Damaging the minds of others was actually really difficult with magic. Sothing much easier to do with psionics. Alduin had been ready to rip Kanako to shreds though. The only thing that finally stopped him was Shiori reminding him that anything he did to Kanako, Neleh would be able to do thousand tis worse, and Neleh would most likely want to be the first to question her. Alduin had been privy to so of the interrogations perford by Neleh during the cleansing of the elven nobility, and knew Shiori was right.
Kanako had been placed in one of the cells designed by Neleh. The cells kept the occupants unconscious and unable to use magic. The magic of the cells also sustained the occupants, so there was no need to wake the prisoners for food or other bodily reasons. Shiori also had another reason to keep Kanako unconscious and unquestioned. She had seen the magical formation Kanako had been about to use against Neleh, and it had not been like anything Shiori had seen before. She might not be able to use magic, but she did have a great mory, and she had spent a lot of ti with great mages, seeing them perform all kinds of magic. Neleh had also emphasized the importance of knowing your enemy. If you could recognize the spells used by your enemy, they were much easier to avoid or prevent.
The magic that Kanako had almost used had seedwrong sohow. It had things in common with magic Shiori had seen before, yet it was also very different. Magic formations also often gave particular impressions to Shiori when she saw them. Normal mages magic looked sloppy but functional most of the ti. Maylins magic looked a little wasteful, but effective and dignified. Alduins was also dignified but also sharp and powerful. There usually wasnt that big of a variance between two mages, just a little sothing that reflected the casters personality and priorities, but there were two huge exceptions to that.
The first exception was of course Neleh. Nelehs magic was almost artistic and genius, but it was also complicated beyond belief, and also a little flamboyant. Where other peoples magic was fairly simple and straight to the point, Nelehs magic had layers upon layers of complexity, yet she seed to cast it with consummate ease. Shiori had once tried to explain it to Delia when they had talked about Shioris weird ability to visualize magic, but her ability to explain had been limited. The only explanation she had been able to give at the ti was as follows.
Normal mages spells give the feeling of controlling maybe four variables, eight if the mage is particularly good. Neleh seems to control fifty variables, and makes it seem natural. Shiori had a sneaking suspicion she did that half the ti just to make a point, rather than for any actual need. She suspected that it was because Neleh simply knew so much more about the magic she was using, and that was due to her previous life that most people didnt know about. It seed to reflect Nelehs understanding of the elents involved.
The other exception had been the spell Kanako had been trying to use with the pendant. There it wasnt a case of complexity, but a feeling of wrongness. Whatever the spells had been aiming to do was sohow unnatural. Shiori didnt really know the principles behind magic, but that weird spell seed to go against those principles. That unnaturalness was the reason she didnt want anyone to question Kanako before Neleh ca back. She didnt trust anyone else to be able to deal with sothing as weird as that spell had been, and she also had a sneaking suspicion that Neleh had a certain head start when it ca to understanding that spell and what it implied. That was because Shiori was almost certain that spell had been sothing out of this world.
Now they had to wait Neleh to wake up, and that had beco much easier when the attacks on the shield had stopped. There was another weird thing about Neleh now though. Nelehs presence had withdrawn but it had not disappeared completely. Now there was this weirdpink aura around Neleh. Shiori didnt know what it was all about, but it did make her very horny. Hopefully Neleh was thinking about her when producing such aura
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Spoiler :
While Elune had been the one to kiss Neleh, neither wouldve been able to say later on which of them decided to make the first move to take things further. They both wanted it, though for different reasons. Elune had her own plans and desires, while Neleh simply needed to feel soone close to her, and Elune was soone who could fill that void that had grown inside her. Their clothes had beco unnecessary and faced a brutal end as they both got out of them as quickly as possible. While Neleh also tried to give her best, Elune was the aggressor in the beginning. The fact that they shared almost identical bodies offered certain advantages when it ca to finding the most pleasurable spots on the other persons body. While Elune started by gently caressing every part of Nelehs exposed flesh, it was obvious neither of them was patient enough to go slow this ti.
Elunes invading fingers quickly found Nelehs willing opening, and started their almost forceful and incessant work of caressing, tugging, plunging and stroking. Neleh started making noises, wling, purring, hungry sounds as her opening was plundered by Elunes fingers. Those fingers kept going until the very tip of those fingers rimd her cervix, and her pussy spasd from the intensity of those feelings. Their lips had been locked into an unending duel, but now her lips broke away, as her lips spread, her teeth showing in supre joy. She welcod this first orgasm, as it drowned out her sadness and washed away her feelings of abandonnt. She reached the first pinnacle and she loved every second of it.
She let out a deep groan of AHHHHHH!. There was in truth, a mixture of pain and pleasure in that groan, and Elunes ears heard both. Using her fingers she pulled, making Nelehs body rise until a pink hard nipple popped into her mouth. Her head dipped as she sucked on the sensitive bud. Nelehs whole body went rigid as her first orgasm carried imdiately over to a second, even stronger one, caused by the multiple sensations she was drowning in. That orgasm had left her off-balance.
Elune too was off balance. Their kiss had left her panting with desire, and her pussy itched like never before. She had an insane urge to stick her hand down between her legs and rub herself into a glorious orgasm right here and now. Despite being off-balance herself, Neleh could see the restless movent of Elune, and the hunger in the goddess eyes. Your turn. She said simply, rolling on the top of the goddess.
Now it was ti to show what she had learned with her own body as a model. Masturbation had beco a habit for Neleh, as she could not seek out new sexual partners while bonded to Asheara. She gently spread Elunes legs pushing them up, and spread those amazing pussy lips. She started off heavily, using her open mouth to cover Elunes whole cunt, lapping over the lips and rolling over the clitoris. This lick was not soft and tender, because she wanted the goddess to appreciate the difference later on. She would start by eating her out hard, and slowing down later on, to a gentler caress to prolong the pleasure.
After lapping Elunes pussy hard and fast for a minute or two, she inserted a pair of fingers inside the goddess and searched for a small rough area, her G-spot. After finding it, Nelehs hand made a small twist and started tapping with a sort of co-hither motion, while she continued to lick Elunes inner lips and clit.
Oh goddess that feels good. Elune almost scread.
Deciding to ignore the irony of Elunes words, Nelehs fingers continued tapping, with her tongue still doing its thing, and soon Elune was trashing around under her face. Thats when Neleh sucked her clitoris into her mouth and lashed it with her tongue. Elune screeched with pleasure, and her hips rose from the bed she had conjured up earlier and stiffened in orgasm. That would be the last clitoral orgasm Elune would get in the next few hours, but not the only climax she would have.
After the goddess collapsed back on the bed, Neleh let her relax for a few seconds, and then started to tap her G-spot again. Nelehs tongue stopped being rough, and started giving her soft and sweet little licks.
Im getting hot again, harder! Elune gasped out.
Nope. Neleh refused outright, and ignored the goddess protests. Instead Neleh continued her tapping and little licks.
A few minutes later Elune started screeching again. I cant believe Im coming again like this. She managed to gasp out. The rest of her words beca unintelligible. Her hips waved and she tossed her head back and forth. Neleh felt her second orgasm start when the goddess cunt tried to expel her fingers. She let the digits be pushed a little, and went straight back inside and tapped, using the sa insistent rhythm she had used before. Elune wailed and went stiff, her pussy fluttering very fast, as she squirted a small amount of juices into Nelehs mouth and over her face. They were Nelehs favorite flavor.
Elune thought she was finished, but Neleh was just getting started. Tap, tap, tap went her fingers, and her tongue got busy again. What are you doing to ? Elune gushed.
Neleh said nothing, her mouth was busy.
Whatever it is, dont stop! Elune said with forceful if breathless voice.
One more orgasm and shed have the goddess where she wanted her. The mont her pussy convulsed, Neleh let her fingers pop loose, but shoved them back inside and tapped. Elune exploded, went into convulsions, and her squirting juices doubled in volu and power. She worked her, keeping her on an orgasmic plateau. The goddess didnt have one long continuous orgasm, but the peaks ca at about thirty second intervals, one after another, and each one more powerful than the one before. As Neleh waited for the big one, it ca upon the goddess suddenly. Neleh jamd her fingers deep inside the goddess, and bit on the nipple that had co into reach. After so many continuous orgasms, the insides of Elunes pussy were convulsing, and went on and on.
After a slight mont of rest. Elune turned her head looking very tired but determined. Your turn. Ill make you pay for that one!
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Well that was an interesting way of bringing out of the cloud of sadness. Not one I would have expected you to use. Neleh said while panting, lying back naked.
Oh shush! You were just as much into it after we started. Elune replied a little breathless.
I never claid otherwise. I simply wanted to point out that it was unexpected. I have no complaints about it happening. Quite the opposite in fact. I enjoyed myself imnsely, and it certainly did the trick. You have to admit that it was a little unexpected. Neleh replied, turning her head to face Elune, who was lying on her side looking at Neleh, propping her head up with a hand.
True enough. I also have an admission to make. I fully expect that things between us wouldve lead to this at so point anyway, but I have to admit I was encouraged to take this path a little earlier than expected. Dont misunderstand though, I did it freely out of my own will, and greatly enjoyed it as you may have noticed. The timing was the only thing that changed. Elune explain with a little blush.
It looked decidedly odd to Neleh, to see an almost exact copy of her own face blushing in such a cute way. Do elaborate, please.
Im not at liberty to fully explain, but suffice to say that theres an important difference between gods and mortals. Well, there are several differences, but the one Im talking about has to do with having offspring. To be exact, gods only need two willing participants for producing offspring, at least one of whom of course has to be female. Note the at least part. Its entirely possible for two females to have children when one of them is a goddess. Elune was looking away a little ashad. She wasnt too happy about taking advantage of Nelehs mont of weakness, but this was important.
You got pregnant?! Neleh asked fairly shocked.
No, that would be too much to ask without agreeing to it beforehand. Instead, you got pregnant. You were requested specifically, while the other party was left open. I volunteered myself, for obvious reasons. Elune explained, still looking the other way.
What? Wait no, what aboutno, what? Neleh was more confused at that mont than she had ever been. In either life. She suddenly connected so dots in her mind. Wait. If I was requested specifically, then the request was made by soone I know, or more specifically soone I used to know. I doubt any of my current associates have the leverage to make this type of request to a deity. That leaves soone from my previous life. Soone from my previous life made a request to be born as my child, and managed to get the gods to agree to it, and you dont seem to begrudge it either. Your willing participation kind of removes Fate as a possibility. Whoever it is, has quite a bit of authority, and is on at least ok terms with the deities of this world. That doesnt leave too many options. Im guessing soone from either the Celestial Host or Inferno. Either Khali or Gabriel is behind this, Im almost certain. While Michael is certainly twisted enough to think of sothing like this, it doesnt suit his personality. This isnt the style of the other higher-ups of the Celestial Host either. The Lords of Inferno arent the type to get the willing participation of local deities. Neleh kept mumbling to herself, trying to deduce who would request such a thing.
You can keep guessing, but Im not allowed to tell you yet. I will tell you more later on. And I dearly hope this doesnt damage things between us. Id quite like a repeat performance in the future. I want you to know that this isnt sothing that I would do lightly. There are quite a few important things at stake. If it hadnt been , then we wouldve been forced to do it so other way. I think we can both agree that this thod was much preferable. Elune said hoping that Neleh wouldnt hate her as a result of what she was admitting.
Well I cant say Im too happy about being blindsided like this, and wouldve liked so explanation beforehand. That said, I can imagine that it wasnt sothing done lightly. I did enjoy the process and needed sothing like this. If you say that it was necessary, then Ill give you the benefit of doubt, but know that Im running a little short on patience about the gods dropping surprises on like this. First the bond being severed, and now this. Tell the others that the next ti there will be consequences that they wont enjoy. Nelehs voice carried both understanding and firm resolve.
Elune had also noticed that there was sothing new in Nelehs eyes. Sothing that hadnt been there before and had now been brought in by the severing of the bond. I think its about ti for you to return. You have regained enough of your calmness, and those on the outside are getting worried. Youve been gone for too long and many things are afoot.
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The first thing Neleh noticed when her mind returned to the reality was the damage to the area surrounding her. She could feel the shield and traps still in place, but the shield was severely weakened and contained mana from several people other than herself. Soone had been reinforcing it, several people in fact. It only took her a mont to realize that her presence was leaking out, albeit not very strongly at the mont. However, she could imagine that her presence might have run amok while her mind was in pain, which in turn would explain why her magic seed to have run wild as well. She could see the tired face of Shiori looking at her. Tired but clearly happy to see her awake again. She could also sense the presence of Delia close by, and Estelar was also in the Nexus. Seems like things had gotten interesting in this place as well.
Morning sleepyhead! Sure took your ti. Shiori greeted happily from the door of the room. Neleh could sense that Shiori wouldve gotten closer if she had been able to do so.
Well, you know I like my beauty sleep. Seems like things got interesting here as well. Neleh replied with a small smile. She could still feel the pain from the loss of the bond, but it was no longer overpowering.
You could say that. Even in your sleep you like to cause trouble for others. Shiori explained what had happened, while Neleh undid all the traps and the remains of the shield.
Neleh stopped Shiori when she got to the point of describing Kanakos actions with the weird pendant. Can you describe the pendant or the magical formation that it ford? Try to be specific, please. This is very important.
I can do one better. I might not be able to cast spells, but theres nothing wrong with my mory, and I got a pretty good look at the pendant before it got destroyed. I drew you a picture. Shiori showed the drawing she had made.
The pendant had an engraving of a stylized fla shaped sowhere between a moon sickle and the letter L. The fla also had an eye at where the two lines of L would et. The magical formation looked like a wheel of a cart, with thick arrows forming the spokes of the wheel. The magical formation was a bit unfinished, since Shiori had destroyed the pendant before it had fully ford. She had gifts in drawing as well it seed.
This is trouble. Big trouble. I had my suspicions before with the pleasure cults, but this confirms it. It seems that our world has drawn the eye of very troubleso enemies. What happened to Kanako? I need to question her. Neleh said in a concerned voice. Not concerned for Kanako, but for other reasons Shiori noted.
We have her confined into one of those cells you designed. Alduin wasnt too gentle while transporting her due to what happened with Maylin, but shes in one piece. I managed to defeat her without harming her too badly. Whats going on? Would that spell have been able to harm you? Shiori asked more than a little worried. Anything that was enough to cause concern for Neleh was a big problem, and Shiori didnt like to think that soone might be able to harm Neleh.
I need to get more confirmation before saying anything definite, but I do know this symbol. Its a symbol of a specific lost-deity, who was once called the Great Sorcerer. He was also known as Changer of Ways, soone who directed the fates of the people of his world. He used to take special interest in mages and wizards. He took special delight in the plotting of mortals and favored the cunning over the strong. He used to lure people with promises of great power and secrets. Promises which he certainly fulfilled, but often not in the way the poor mortals imagined. I doubt his thods have changed, even in his current state.
As for whether the spell would have been able to hurt , its hard to say. The powers of the Changer of Ways are very strong but unpredictable. It wouldve altered my magic in so way, but I doubt anyone knows what the end result wouldve been. I believe it was a calculated risk that had a chance of success, but no guarantees even if you had not intervened. Neleh explained.
Ok, I can follow so far, but nothing you ntioned really connects with what you said about the pleasure cults. Shiori very sharply picked up on an important point.
The Changer of Ways probably isnt connected to them, but he had three brothers. One of the brothers is dead, I killed him myself, but one of the others is likely behind the pleasure cults. He is known as the Prince of Pleasure. Of all the dark gods Ive faced, he is the most difficult to combat, because he will always find followers among any race or people. He used to be the beguiling god of pleasure, seduction, corruption and immorality. All the sensual pleasures of art, music and companionship fascinate him. He is the master of luxury and indulgence, of cruel passions, hidden vices and the terrible temptations only a god can offer. Fits well with the description of the pleasure cults, does it not? No race is immune to his ways, which is what makes him so dangerous. Neleh said with a little shudder. Even she wasnt immune to the lure that the Prince of Pleasure offered. Such was the power of enjoynt. The longer soone lived, the bigger the danger of boredom beca. Boredom was the most dangerous enemy of any immortal, and the Prince of Pleasure offered ways to combat that boredom.
You said three of them survived. If all three of them threaten us, it might be good if I knew about all of them. Shiori prompted.
The third one is the most powerful of the brothers by himself, a god of war best described by the war cry of his followers. Blood for the blood god, skulls for the skull throne. He favors those who fight for what they desire and respects strength and martial skill. It would be a mistake to assu the Blood God is a simple brute, for a god of war is the master of the battlefield in all its forms. Neleh explained.
You said you killed one of them. Can they be here for revenge? Shiori asked suddenly.
While that is not wholly impossible, I doubt it. I call them brothers, but they are also rivals and often enemies. They might harbor ill will towards , but not out of any brotherly feelings. Rather, they might think it an insult that soone besides themselves killed the fourth brother. They should not be able to recognize either. While there are so similarities with my current self and my old life, more has changed. It is likely that they simply view as either a hindrance or a possibility. It would make things easier for them, if they managed to lure into their service or if they managed to remove . Neleh mused.
After a mont of silence, Shiori ntioned sothing that suddenly occurred to her. Oh right, your lengthy absence was noted by people, and rumors are everywhere ranging from your death to a secret pregnancy. You should probably have so sort of great new invention that you can claim you were spending all this ti developing.
Neleh had almost lost her poker face at the ntion of secret pregnancy, but had managed to keep her cool. She had also planned for this possibility. In fact I do have sothing Ive been saving up. It should be spectacular enough to justify my absence, and will be of great help with future projects.
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Neleh spent days interrogating Kanako. She wanted to avoid triggering any magical traps, similar to the one that had killed the Harbinger in the faerie lands. She also wanted to avoid using her most unpleasant thods out of respect for the ti she had spent with Kanako in the past. That resolve crumbled further along she got in questioning the naga.
Shiori, Delia, Estelar and Alduin were waiting for her, when she finally erged from the arduous process. Delia wanted to know what had happened to her friend and Alduin felt like he deserved an explanation after what had happened to Maylin. Shioris and Estelars presence was obvious. They dealt with the security of the duchy, and any threat to that security was important to them.
Alright, what Im about to explain is partly ford by what I managed to dig out of her, while so of it is my own conjecture and so educated guesses. So take everything Im about to say with a grain of salt. She started off.
Ive never seen you make completely wrong guesses or speculate totally off base, so I think Im just fine. Estelar said gruffly, getting murmurs of agreent from the others.
Well, to understand what happened, we need to understand what drives Kanako. Her raison dtre has always been becoming useful to her family. They almost drove her out in order to avoid embarrassnt, and she would do anything to make a triumphant return. Whatever else she might say, this has always been the motivating force behind her actions. She didnt start out as a bad person, and even now it is simply a matter of point of view. She did what was asked of her, and what she considered to be the best way to reach her goals. Of course, Im not likely to sympathize with an attempt on my life.
At first, it was completely by chance that she was put in a room with , and made friends with . If that had not happened, she might have faded into obscurity and not been important to anyones plans. However, as my fa and importance grew, so did the importance of the connections she shared with . So parts of her family are deeply connected with the Consortium, and they encouraged her to form deeper bonds of friendship with . This seed innocent enough, and was sothing she wanted to do anyway, so she didnt see the harm. Then it turned into requests of information and spying. They might have asked for more, but apparently there was a shift in the control of the Consortium that mixed their priorities a bit.
Apparently a third party took control of the Consortium in the last two years, and their goals were a little different from the original. They beca more brazen and cared less for Kanako personally. They too viewed my friendship with Kanako as a great possibility. The only problem is that I was spending less and less ti with her, and the value of that friendship was going down in their eyes. Luckily for them, Kanako had managed to befriend Delia, but that friendship was less valuable for them. So once they heard about what was going on with the bond, through Delia, they decided to play a risky card with a large potential pay-off. This was the attack Kanako made. They knew this would burn any usefulness of Kanako in the future, but they took the chance anyway. Not like they were losing much even if they failed. Neleh finished with a deep sigh.
Was she controlled? We didnt want to take a risk by checking for mind affecting magic, but it sohow seems unlike Kanako to do sothing like this. Delia asked a little desperately, wanting to believe the best of her friend. This brought a snort from Shiori, who had suspected Kanakos motives for a while. Shiori also had a better grasp on the darker side of the nature of people than the older but still nave Delia.
There is no sign of any mind affecting magic being used. Unfortunately, with enough ti and effort its possible to convince people to do almost anything. This is made infinitely easier if the persons own motivations line with the person doing the convincing. Thats how all cults work. You start with sothing small and innocent. The demands get slightly bigger, and you dont really see the problem with sothing that small, and you justify it to yourself when it helps to fulfill your own wishes. Later on when the demands get really bad, its too late to back off, and the only thing that matters is the large reward at the end. Apparently the Changer of Ways promised Kanako enough power to make her important in the eyes of her family. What she had to do paled in comparison with the fulfillnt of her greatest desires. They might have used so slight magic to smooth over so of Kanakos qualms about things, but she basically went into this with her eyes open and mind unaffected by magic. She chose to do this. Nelehs voice had gotten quite dark towards the end.
That tone was sothing that reminded Shiori of the slight change she had seen in Nelehs eyes after waking up. There seed to be so new coldness present. Delia was crying over the loss of her friend, and her own inability to spot what was going on. Nobody else blad her, but she blad herself. Alduin was the one to ask the important question. What happens to Kanako now? He was less inclined to be rciful than others due to her wife getting affected.
Now that is a very good question. Neleh said with a sigh.
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