The Witch
[[The Conjurer's Lair ->A Game of Four]]
a short erotic interactive dating fantasy fiction
by pervventuresIt’s the third potion that didn’t work out! Every single one of them brown, slimy puddles that emit strong foul stenches.
Exhausted and angry, Lith smashes the muddler against the wall which leaves spots of the disgusting liquid on it. Since the last few days the witch works deeply concentrated on a new potion. Nothing.
Lith is a twitchy nervous wreck. She leaves the debris field that was her kitchen to sit on her porch, nearly starting to cry. What is happening? Lith stares into the void, (link-reveal:"reminiscing about the last days.")[
If she’s really honest with herself, everything started much earlier with a letter by the (link-reveal:"Witch Academia.*")[
She was notified that an infamous wizard broke out of the academy’s ban tower. Eidrik Ironheart. A necromancer. [[Lith tries to forget ->forgetEidrik]] their time together since he was imprisoned for killing several witches and wizards last year.
_____
As happened in "Sisters"]]Lith closes her eyes, immediately she sees the necromancer’s dark blue eyes crawling inside of her. What has become of Eidrik since they first met? Sure, that one was already the misfit back then. Always strange, dark, incomprehensible with zero social skills and a frightening taste for demons and the undead. But he was not a murderer! At least, that’s what she thought.
Lith leans against the door frame, remembering their time together. Back in Witch Academia, when she became part of a [[secret group -> secretgroup]]that he was a member of, too.Beginning her third year at the academy, she was so much younger, naive and already fully absorbed by a hunger for knowledge about herbs, bizarre ingredients, poisons, acids and alchemy.
Quickly, she became one of the most promising herbalists in the academy, impressing the professors with her knowledge in brewing and willingness to experiment on the matter.
Being a grind didn’t help to make friends, though. In all those years, the others took her for a nerd or (link-reveal:"something worse:")[
As opposed to most of the other students, Lith needed to earn money to fund herself the expensive studies. Her parents were never among the well-off. In Consequence, she used her knowledge about herbs for more than just educational practice and started providing the richer kids with psychedelics. And they were good! Her products were soon known to everyone with a will to seek diversion. Something that seemed to help her make friends at first - (link-reveal:"but surely not true ones")[.
Soon enough she had a reputation that put her in an even worse position than before: she was shunned as shabby, shady, someone you didn’t want to be acquainted with. [[Except if they needed something from her. ->needsomething]]]]Lith remembers how everything changed for her, the day when the academy’s most famed pretty boy was approaching her, completely surprising her with his presence:
(colour:"aqua")[//“You are Lith, I assume correctly?”//]
Lith nods, frozen in shock, she stares at his chest to avoid his eyes on her. //What does he want?!//
(colour:"aqua")[//“May I have your attention for a minute?”//], smiling, he didn’t wait for an answer. (colour:"aqua")[//“I heard you are an adept of the true crafts, mastering what most others fail to even conceive.”//] he appeals to her - so well, Lith couldn’t tell if he is jesting or truly admiring her.
//“What do you want?”//, [[Lith asks suspiciously. ->suspicious]] //“I'm out of Lilac Rain."//The blond boy laughs nervously, running his fingers through his curly shock of hair. (colour:"aqua")[//“So it’s true what they say: you sow your talents in different fields of expertise,”//] he draws closer to her ear, whispering:(colour:"aqua")[//“I don’t need this magical juggling from you. What I inquire about are your genuine talents.”//]
He looks at her insistingly, making Lith more uncomfortable.
She had her share of sex and affairs, but never was anyone close to someone like him. He was stunningly beautiful, well known at campus and the golden boy of the conjurer classes. She can’t see any reason why he is [[even talking to her ->talkingtoher]].//“Again: What do you want?”//, Lith demands nervously, her stomach forebodes either mockery or a really depressing turn of events.
(colour:"aqua")[//“Listen, Lith, let me offer you a clean table of complete honesty: We are a close group of students, looking for someone with your skills that we can trust.”//]
He emphasizes [[on the last word->last word]], examining her reaction closely. (colour:"aqua")[//“We have a mission of great importance that needs your abilities to complete us.”//] For a moment Lith is flattered. Was he really asking her to become part of a secret group? She couldn’t believe she was recognized by one of the older students ... but can she trust him? Until today, the likes of him would never even consider talking not to speak of looking at her ever before. And now he wants them to be … what exactly? Teammates? Comrades? Partners in crime?
She asks:
[[//“Who is in this club, anyway?"// ->scwho]]
[[//“You never even considered talking to me before ... why now?”// ->scwhy]]
[[//“What is this all about? Surely not a study group.”// ->scgroup]](colour:"aqua")[//“Unless you become part of us, I can’t tell you who we are. All of us are older semesters - you might know the others, I’m sure of that. But who we are MUST. be. kept. a secret.”//] He looks at her gravely.
(if: $scWho is not true)[(set: $sc += 1)](set: $scWho to true)(if: $sc < 3)[[[Ask something else.->last word]]](else:)[His manner of speaking annoys her so much, she wishes he would just get to the point. //"So, this is a job offer?”// [[Lith concludes. ->joboffer]]](colour:"aqua")[//“I’m awfully sorry, I must have lost my manners.”//] He stretches his hand out to her, correcting the position of his glasses: (colour:"aqua")[//”I haven’t properly introduced myself, having the impression you must have known me already. Jocet Castile, pleased to meet you.”//]
He softly squeezes her hand, brushes his curls out of his face to meet her eyes, smiling broader.
(if: $scWhy is not true)[(set: $sc += 1)](set: $scWhy to true)(if: $sc < 3)[[[Ask something else.->last word]]](else:)[His manner of speaking annoys her so much, she wishes he would just get to the point. //"So, this is a job offer?”// [[Lith concludes. ->joboffer]]](colour:"aqua")[//“Well, consider it an extended study group of the finest talents this academia hosts. I admit, this must sound dubious to you, but this is no game to ridicule you. We consider your qualifications are matching exactly our requirements. With your addition we will grow further beyond what this university could ever imagine to provide.”//] His eyes glow with ambition.
(if: $scGroup is not true)[(set: $sc += 1)](set: $scGroup to true)(if: $sc < 3)[[[Ask something else.->last word]]](else:)[His manner of speaking annoys her so much, she wishes he would just get to the point. //"So, this is a job offer?”// [[Lith concludes. ->joboffer]]](colour:"aqua")[//“If you are more comfortable with this term, you might call it that. I heard you are looking for an alternative income to your current … well, profession.”//]
//“That is none of your business!”// Lith pushes him aside. He clearly must think of himself being something better than her. This blond posh boy was never in the desperate need to care for himself to get along. And now this sleazy (link-reveal:"rich kid offers her ...")[ a job?
For the next couple of weeks Jocet continues to approach Lith. Not being very generous with details about this secret society - at least his classiness toned down to become more honest and pleading over time.
Until the day when Lith decides to agree to her new 'friend’s' proposal. She can’t really say what was the reason to finally accept Jocet’s offer. Was it curiosity? To have a purpose? Or to just belong to a group of whoever would be by her side? [[Maybe she was really desperate for all of those at the time. ->purpose]]]Lith already regrets having agreed to this mysterious nonsense when she finds out that their first meetup is not only a proper assignment, but a dangerous one. (colour:"aqua")[//“See this as a confirmation of your courage and trust.”//] Jocet only answered her astonishment with a broad grin she got to know all too well over the last couple of weeks.
Equipped with a list of ingredients, potions and spells this mission is going to need - and a very generous pouch of gold coins she got from Jocet - she has some time to prepare for the things to come. In a week the group will meet for the first time. The place is a [[lodge at the foot of the Black Ridge Mountains ->lodge]], a region not easy to reach, but Lith made it with a combination of conjured portals, a broom that broke along the way and a horse she could lend for the trip.The more she draws closer to the lodge, the more her heart pounds.
Who is part of this group? What will happen in the lodge? Will the others accept her? What kind of assessment will they do together?
Overwhelmed with questions, she doesn’t realize the door of the lodge opens in front of her (link-reveal:"to let her in.")[
The lodge was bigger than Lith expected: a huge comfortable central room with a crackling fire opens up to her. She nervously steps in, only to pause in a short moment of shock: [[the other members ->othermembers]] already arrived, sitting on wooden armchairs grouped around a lower table to watch her entrance.]Lith salutes them with a shy lift of her right hand: //“I’m Lith, nice to meet you all.”//
Jocet sits in the middle of the group, gets on his feet to welcome her in. After a short greet between the two he guides her attention to the others:
(colour:"aqua")[//“I have the honor to introduce you to Selena Proude,”//] he points his hand to an older student with fiery red hair, green eyes, dressed in a fine dark grey cloth gown that perfectly emphasizes her tall slender body.
(colour:white+red)[//“So this is the fresh young blood. I heard a lot about you, Lith. Welcome!”//] Selena says.
Jocet smiles knowingly. The wizard turns around to his left to (link-reveal:"introduce the fourth person in the room:")[
From the first glance the older student emanates a sense of brooding darkness. A streak of thick black hair falls over his face, hiding one of his remarkably dark blue eyes. He was sitting cross-legged on his chair, folding his arms over his black coat.
(colour:"aqua")[//“Please meet Eidrik Ironheart, Lith.”//] Eidrik gives the young witch an understated nod. (colour:"aqua")[//“Don’t worry about this boor, he can be really fun when his armor is melt down.”//] Eidrik gives Jocet a piercing look as if he imagines cutting out his tongue to eat it. (colour:"aqua")[//“Almighty, I agree, 'fun' is not the right term I meant to use.”//]
Lith feels strange among the older students, [[but also strongly drawn to their characters. ->drawntocharacters]]]After a quick orientation in the house she unpacks in her room. The lodge will house the four students for the next days until they start their mission up to the mountains.
In the evening, all of them sit together.
Lith collects all her courage to ask:
[[//"What are your magical specialities?"// ->fnmagic]]
[[//"Why are we here?"// ->fnwhy]]Selena, clearly taking interest in the young witch, speaks first: (colour:white+red)[//”I specialize in portal magic, charms and shields. So basically my magic is set around Soul Stones.”//] She plays with the amulet around her neck that obviously contains a blue-violet stone filled with elemental power.
(colour:"aqua")[//“... that conjurers like me replenish with aether we gather from powerful sources of magic.”//] Jocet interrupts her, while straightening his richly embroidered robe. (colour:"aqua")[//"It must have come to your attention that I was selected for the master classes of elemental transmittance conjuration.”//] Lith blankly stares at him.
The group falls silent until Jocet finishes, (link-reveal:"expectantly looking at Eidrik.")[
(colour:"purple")[//“I practise necromantic sorcery”.//] Eidrik's deep voice crawls under her skin. Another pause lingers between them until Selena pitches in: (colour:white+red)[//”That’s all you’re going to say about a method that disruptive and controversial?”//]
(colour:"purple")[//“I’m not here to charm you with flowers and incense,”//] Eidrik throws back.
Lith’s face flushes with pink. //“Yeah, that would be my job instead.”//
(colour:"aqua")[//“Oh don’t sell yourself too cheap. If you decided to be accompanied with the ingredients I asked for, you will be more than a charming girl.”//] Lith nods, feeling thankful for Jocet’s backup. The others look at her expectantly - still not knowing what she actually does.
(if: $fnmagic is not true)[(set: $fn += 1)](set: $fnmagic to true)
(if: $fn < 2)[[[//"Why are we here?"// ->fnwhy]]]
(else:)[[[So, that’s what this is all about? ->allisabout]]]]Jocet gets up to stay in front of them, straightening his back. (colour:"aqua")[//“Finally, you should have the right to learn why I brought us together,”//] he explains ceremonially.
(colour:"aqua")[//“You must know that my family considers ancestry and legacy with great importance up to an unhealthy extension. Nevertheless, it is my responsibility to retrieve a certain object from my ancestors' former seat.”//]
(link-reveal:"Suddenly, Eidrik seems to awaken from his petrification")[ to become unusually lively: (colour:"purple")[//“Rumor has it, one of your forefathers was an exceptional necromancer - is that the one we are going to deal with?”//]
Jocet makes an irritated face. (colour:"aqua")[//”For generations my relatives have succeeded in the high arts of conjuration - not necromancy.”//]
//“Both schools call for spirits. Where is the difference anyway?”// Lith adds coyly. Selena smiles approvingly.
Jocet becomes uneasy. (colour:"aqua")[//“You are right, my dear, but only the necromancer’s spirits are already dead - or should I add: undead.”//] He calms down a bit, finding back to his manners. (colour:"aqua")[//“What we need a Necromancer for,”//] he puts a smile back on his face, looking at Eidrik, (colour:"aqua")[//“is to establish communication with my forebears. ”//]
(if: $fnmwhy is not true)[(set: $fn += 1)](set: $fnwhy to true)
(if: $fn < 2)[[[//"What are your magical specialities?"// ->fnmagic]]](else:)[[[So, that’s what this is all about? ->allisabout]]]](colour:"aqua")[//“My friends, we will have a multitude of tasks to arrange on the morrow. I will withdraw myself to my room. Come to me, if there is anything you need.”//] Jocet gets up in one elegant movement, (link-reveal:"wrapping his coat around him.")[
Selena follows right after his example, stretching herself she looks at Lith. (colour:white+red)[//“Yeah, I think I’ll be going, too. I heard there is a lake nearby, I want to take a swim early in the morning.//] (link-reveal:"Nightynight.\”")[
Eidrik seems to be in a deeper thought as he does not leave his seat like the others. Pensively he looks up, directly into Lith's eyes for the first time today. He just looks at her. For a longer time than she feels comfortable with, until he simply drops a //“Night”//. When he is gone, Lith recognizes a shiny silver object Eidrik accidentally left behind in his chair. It seems to be some kind of amulet.
(link-reveal:"Lith takes it to give it back to Eidrik.")[
The night is still young and Lith is intrigued to get to know the group better to understand why they help Jocet. Who does she pay a visit?
[[Go to Jocet. ->Jocet]]
[[Go to Selena. ->Selena]]
[[Go to Eidrik. ->Eidrik]]]]]
(set: $jocet to 0)
(set: $selena to 0)
(set: $eidrik to 0)Lith decides to talk to Jocet. Considering that she never expected the two of them would ever speak with one another - or share a lodge for that, she was surprised who he actually is. Definitely enamored with himself, in a league of his own, but also one who honors skills, is likeable - and really good-looking.
She knocks at Jocet’s door, waiting for his //“Please enter”// to find him on his bed, wearing only soft long trousers and showing a well-trained body. Near naked, without his embroided coat he looks more approachable. (colour:"aqua")[//“What can I do for you, Lith?”//] he grins. Lith walks over to the edge of his bed.
//”Jocet, can I ask you more about what to expect in the mountains?”//
His face hints that he rather not talks too much about it, but for some reason decides otherwise. (colour:"aqua")[//“Alright, come sit with me. I will show you something.”//] He pats on the free place next to him.
[[Lith happily takes it. ->jocetbook]]
[[Lith feels that goes to fast. ->jocetnight]]Lith decides to get to know Selena more. She is attracted by the older witch’s self-confidence, beauty, and sensuality. Moreover, it seemed like the portal witch invited her - more than just subliminally.
She knows Selena from somewhere, or must have been seeing her on campus once in a while. But she never dreamed of talking to one of the higher semesters. But who is Selena really and what is her interest in this expedition?
Lith [[knocks at Selena’s door ->Selendoor]], waiting for a chanted “Come in, Lith.” Lith decides to get to know Eidrik more. From what Jocet told them, this necromancer plays an important role in their upcoming assignment. But why is Eidrik here? She can't imagine how students like Eidrik and Jocet ever came in contact with each other - at all.
Although necromancy is allowably practiced at the Witch Academia, it’s been always a strange topic among witches and wizards: students only a certain age and capability are allowed to advance into those classes. The studies are not held on campus but in the dungeons below the prison tower outside of campus - most likely for very good reasons. It’s usually an interesting topic for students to speculate about necromancy. (link-reveal:"Lith imagines most yearn for power, have a very dark taste in magic or some even in the hope to resurrect their beloved ones.")[
Lith saw Eidrik one time in the academy’s library. She remembers him getting books on “Resurrecting Birds, Reptiles and smaller Mammals” - which she found rather disturbing.
Her roommate at the dorm once dated a necromancer - the day she found out the other girl was into taxidermy she started ghosting her on campus - she didn’t even dare to drop her. Until the day she found a stuffed rabbit at her dorm's door - to completely freak out and eventually call the relationship to an end.
Insofar, to Lith and other students, necromancers are not bad per se, but [[anecdotally-proven: extremely weird.->EidrikWeird]] ]Jocet holds a leathery and very ancient-looking book in his hands. (colour:"aqua")[//“Look at this book, this - opus I must call it - do you know it?"//]
//"So far, I missed out conjuring classes, but I know it's -the- definitive book for every conjurer in the higher semesters."//
(colour:"aqua")[//“For what it’s worth, written by Maynard Belledon the III.”//]
//“He was one of your ancestors, wasn’t he?”//
(colour:"aqua")[//“That he was! You must know, my whole family - well, apart from some misguided individuals - has been obsessed with conjuration and evocation since Belledon. There is no option around becoming a conjurer when you are the first-born of this family. All of them celebrate my ascension into the master classes. And expecting much more thereafter ...”//]
His look seems to tell the opposite. He folds his hands, whispers words to form a flower with his fingers, [[handing it to Lith. ->flowertoLith]]Lith takes a long look a Jocet. //"I ... I think I better come back tomorrow. Good night, master conjurer."//, she makes a jesting mouth.
[[Got to Selena. ->Selena]]
[[Go to Eidrik. ->Eidrik]]Lith turns her body around, facing him to take a closer look at his trained body, his curly blond hair and bright eyes. His interest in the young witch emerging, he turns his body towards her to follow her lead.
[[Lith kisses him. ->lithkiss]]
[[Lith waits for him to act. ->jocetkiss]]
[[Lith says goodnight. ->jocetnight]]Laying next to someone as graceful as Jocet, Lith can't do anything but lift herself up to kiss him. Her heart starts pounding wildly. His eyes tremble, he wants her, too. Fiercly she presses her lips on him.
Both draw their bodies closer to one another, caressing each other's skin.
Jocet wanders with his hand from Lith's waist over her hip to find her breasts, animated to touch her full rounded bosom.
[[Lith touches his arms. ->Litharm]]
[[Lith feels his groin with her hand. ->Lithgroin]]Lith lies still to merely watch Jocet, revel in his gorgeous appearance, wait for him to make the first move: with soft hands he strikes over her haunch. He wants her. His right hand wanders steadily from her waist over her back to her shoulders. Demandingly, he embraces her shoulders to give her a little pressure in his direction.
Lith willingly draws her body closer to him, turning her shoulders back to imply Jocet to touch her bosom. He follows her wish, gently drawing his hands to her full breasts.
[[Lith touches his arms. ->Litharm]]
[[Lith feels his groin with her hand. ->Lithgroin]]Their lips explore each other more intense, she sticks out her delicate tongue to lick his lips. With her left hand she finally dares to touch his skin. Shyly she wanders onto his arm , feeling his well-trained muscles under her soft fingers. Aroused by his firm hand on her breasts, she kisses him more frantically, advancing to his chest to sense his warmth. Little drops of sweat exuding his musky odor. Jocet's heart seems to beat as much as hers. Lith needs to feel more of him.
[[Lith takes off her dress. ->Lithundress]]
[[Lith undresses him. ->Undresshim]]Their lips explore each other more intense, she sticks out her delicate tongue to lick his lips. With her left hand she wanders from his arm over to his naked chest caressing his skin. Aroused by his firm fingers on her breast, she moves her hand further down his body to find his groin, massaging him with her fingers to harden his manhood.
[[Lith takes of her dress. ->Lithundress]]
[[Lith undresses him. ->Undresshim]]The witch lifts herself up to sit on Jocet, massaging his manliness with one hand while reaching below her breasts to open her dress. Jocet eagerly uses both hands to help her unwind her lacing, slowly releasing her dress to display her naked body from breast to her crotch until she wears nothing but a black slip. Jocet helps her with her sleeves to reveal her full lustrous body.
She feels a pressure rising between her legs, feeling his dick pulsating between them. To undress Jocet, Lith moves up a bit, getting rid of his trousers to expose his thick manhood.
Burning with lust through the witch's touch, Jocet explores her body with eager fingers from her gorgeous breasts down over her belly to her lap, pressing his thumps through the young witch's slip close to her labia. Making her wet while Lith rhythmically starts moving over Jocet.
[[Fuck him. ->facehim]]Lith lifts herself up to sit on Jocet, still massaging his manliness. She feels a pressing desire rising between her legs when she feels his dick pulsating between them. To undress him, she moves a bit up, getting rid of his trousers to expose his thick manhood.
Burning with lust, Jocet opens her dress in return, reaching below her breasts to unfold it. Jocet eagerly uses both hands to help her unwind her lacing, slowly releasing her dress to display her body from her breasts to her crotch until she wears nothing but a black slip. Jocet helps her with her sleeves to reveal her naked lustrous body.
Jocet explores Lith with restless fingers, pressing his thumps through her slip close to her labia. Making the witch wet while she rhythmically starts moving over him.
[[Fuck him. ->facehim]]Lith feels completely electrified by his touch, her wet sex throbbing, craving to fuck the conjurer. Lifting her naked bottom a little higher while moving her slip aside, she finds his hard polished dick with her right hand to sit on him. Slowly she sinks down on him, his manhood spreading her apart. A subtle hurt turns into lust the moment he fully glides into her. Her slip tightens. She groans, savoring his toey look on her when she leans forward. He places both his hands around her lavish breasts.
[[Lith tells him to fuck her hard. ->fuckhard]]
[[Lith wants him to gradually work her. ->gradually work]]Jocet gladly follows her wish, embracing her waist with both hands, holding her tightly onto his body. Lith feels his dick pressing hard against her, rigidly, with ever intense thrusts. She feels like loosing control of herself. Vigorously, the witch takes both hands to her breasts, pressing her areola while pushing her head into her neck, taking a delirious and more rapid ride on him.
She doesn’t think of him anymore until the height of her desire kicks in.
[[Lith lets herself fall next to him. ->fallnexttohim]]Jocet gladly follows her wish, embracing her waist with both hands, holding her tightly to his body. Lith starts to move her bottom slowly over him, feeling his dick pressing against her with every movement. Both move together rythmically, getting more energetic over time until they reach a pace where Jocet thrusts heavier. She feels like loosing control of herself. The witch takes both hands to her breasts, pressing her areola while pushing her head in her neck, taking a delirious and more rapid ride on him.
She doesn’t think of him anymore until the height of her desire kicks in.
[[Lith lets herself fall next to him. ->fallnexttohim]]Lith falls on her back, her vagina throbbing from their relentless fuck. She breathes heavily from exhaustion, looking at him as he is gasping for air, too.
She seizes her poisonous flower once again. “I’m curious to get to know you more, Jocet Castile. You conjurers are not as fake as you claim to be.” He grins, giving her a kiss.
Lith get’s up. It’s time for her to go. She needs some sleep for the preparations tomorrow. Before she gets out of Jocet’s room, she takes a last look at him. //“Good Night.”//
[[Go to bed.->NightJocet]]//“Thank you ... it’s, erm, a Venus’ Chariot. You know it’s poisonous, right?”// Lith carefully seizes the long stem with it’s beautifully bloomed blue bell-shaped flowers.
(colour:"aqua")[//“Worry not. They are illusions. Just impuissant copies of it's actual form.”//] Jocet gives his hands a frustrated look.
//“I’m glad for that.”// Lith laughs nervously, knowing what size of creatures that flower could possibly kill. //“But you haven't answered my question: what are we going to find in these mountains?”//
(colour:"aqua")[//“Well, in a way, I answered it, though. Besides, the answer is so simple, I’m embarrassed to tell you: an heirloom. Not just an amulett, but the amulet that became the symbol of my family. It got lost in the ruins of our former family seat and I really need to retrieve it, hoping to find answers about grave importance to me.”//]
(link-reveal:"Lith lifts her plant up to her nose to absorb its odor.")[ She was never interested enough in the matter to learn more than the basic conjuration spells. All the more she admires Jocet’s skills - fake or not. ”It might not be real, but it smells fantastic - something I wouldn't dare doing with the real one.” The conjurer gives her a smirk.
[[Lith gets closer to Jocet. ->jocetcloser]]
[[Lith says goodnight. ->jocetnight]]]The red-haired witch sits on her window sill, bundled up in a blanket, loosely holding a book in her left hand. Selena looks at Lith in curious anticipation. Being a book lover, the young witch immediately takes interest in Selena’s reading. “The Art of War - Uneasy Poetry for Easy Times”. Lith is surprised, she didn’t expect the older witch to be (link-reveal:"interested in this kind of books.")[
Fully in thought about Selena’s taste, she gets startled when Selena asks her: (colour:white+red)[//“Is there anything wrong with my book?”//]
Lith blushes, //“No, … not at all, I just wouldn’t have expected you to read a book with sonnets about, well, cruelly removing political opponents.”//
(colour:white+red)[//“Hmmm, but you know the book! I love to get inspired by a good story from time to time,”//] the older witch grins. Selena turns her body, sitting upright on the window sill, spreading her legs in a provoking posture.
(colour:white+red)[//“You wanna know why I became a witch who masters portals?”//]
[[Go to her.->GoSelena]]
[[Leave for tonight.->SelenaNight]]]Lith walks shyly to Selena and stops in a respectful gap before her. Selena extends her right arm to call her closer, obviously amused by Lith’s reluctant nature. The younger witch lets herself be pulled between Selena’s sprawled legs, so close she could smell her perfume. The cocky red-head takes Lith’s hands. Lith feels awkward - a bit like a child that gets lectured. Or a young inexperienced witch who learns from the older one - (link-reveal:"Lith really admires Selena’s will and strength.")[
(colour:white+red)[//“It’s a very effective practice to impress somebody.”//]
//What?// Lith blushes - she feels caught in her thoughts. //What was she talking about?// Her head gets fuzzy - [[//why was she even here?//->SelenaHere]]]Lith takes a long look a Jocet. //"I ... I think I better come back tomorrow. Good night, master conjurer."//, she makes a jesting mouth.
[[Got to Selena. ->Jocet]]
[[Go to Eidrik. ->Eidrik]](colour:white+red)[//“Portals,”//] Selena emphasizes as if she read Lith’s mind. (colour:white+red)[//“They are not very useful, mostly. Sure, you can easily reach faraway places in no time. But you cannot beat up a homicidal soldier or cure people from a severe illness. But: they look impressively powerful. Magical mirrors arising from nothingness, fury rings in the wildest colors that emit hot sparks.”//]
//“That's why you studied portal magic? Only for the show?”// Lith can't believe her.
(colour:white+red)[//“Not at all, my dear. A carnival’s magician can’t create a portal to another continent, can he? But like him, I know that it is important to look stunning for your audience. I'm the fearless guide through an unknown eldritch void. Never underestimate the show, Lith, even as a witch of brewery and potions! It’s half of your power - and sometimes even rises your own self-esteem in creating higher magic.”//]
(link-reveal:"Selena pulls Lith closer.")[
(colour:white+red)[//“I tell you a secret: One day I will lead a witches’ coven. I want it all: Luxury, a position of power and being famous for my magical powers. Take what you strive for, Lith. Be ambitious!”//] Selena laughs dirty.
[[Wait for her to make a move.->SelenaTouch]]
[[Kiss Selena.->SelenaKiss]]]Lith is stupefied by the older witch’s presence and openly displayed ambitions. She just stands before Selena, savoring her appearance and gaze on her.
Until Selena puts Lith’s hands around her waist to bring her close. Selena's rich essence surrounding her is numbing Lith's senses. Selena leans down to the young witch, her red hair falls onto Lith's shoulder, her hands slung around her body. Can she even be pulled any closer than that?
Both witches start kissing intensely.
[[Touch Selena’s face.->SelenaFace]]
[[Touch Selena’s breasts.->SelenaBreast]]Lith takes Selena’s speech very literally when she presses her hands around her waist, reaching forward to face the red-haired witch. Lith's hands shake slightly, she is nervous about whether she can live up to Selena's pretentious demands. The older witch lowers her head to meet the young witch’s lips. Both kiss intensely, letting Lith forget all her doubts and insecurities in this moment.
[[Touch Selena’s face.->SelenaFace]]
[[Touch Selena’s breasts.->SelenaBreast]]Selena looks so elegant and beautiful - Lith can’t believe the older student is into her, too. She moves her hand to her warm face, her long red hair, her neck, her shoulders. Selena clearly enjoys the young witch's affection while demanding Lith's body: Selena draws her right hand along Lith's spine, sending up goosebumps on her skin.
With her lips, Selena wanders over Lith's cheeks to her neck onto her bosom. Lith starts to breath heavier, feeling her heart's pace rising.
[[Keep kissing her.->SelenaKeepKiss]]
[[Caress Selena’s breasts.->SelenaBreast]]Lith wanders further down to Selena's bosom, flutteringly she touches her firm breasts. Selena groans when Lith starts massaging them, feeling her nipples under her expensively looking grey dress. Selena grabs Lith’s waist, pressing her crotch closer to her body while stroking the young witch’s bottom tightly, slowly reaching deeper down under Lith’s black dress.
[[Pull down Selena’s dress.->SelenaDressPull]]
[[Move around.->Lith Finger]]Selena takes what she wants from Lith, the young witch overwhelmed with desire, she yields to the older witch's assertive touch, excited to find out where Selena is taking her.
While Selena touches her breasts, softly massages her nipples, both continue to kiss, more pressing. Selena pushes her tongue into Lith's mouth, exploring her. Lith moans, her tensed nipples tighten her dress, visibly rising. Selena can't help but reach into her cleavage, using both hands to move down Lith's black wrap dress to reveal her full apricot-skinned breasts.
Selena leans back into the window, relishing the sight of Lith's beautiful body displayed before her. The red-haired witch takes both Lith's hand to her own dress to show her what she wants her to do next.
[[Undress Selena. ->SelenaDressPull]]Full of fervor, the young witch is completely into the red-head. Lith’s hands wander up to Selena’s collar, seizing both straps around her shoulders to move her dress down in one smooth movement. With delicate fingers Lith pulls the robe over the older witch’s chest, her arms, her breasts. Selena sits in front of her, her firm breasts gleam gorgeously. Both women touch their breasts, stimulating each other.
[[Lick her. ->SelenaLick]]
[[Undress her further. ->SelenaUndressCompl]]Lith leans forward, eyeing the older witch. Cockily, she sticks out her tongue to draw closer to Selena’s right breasts. Meeting her nipple, she begins to move around her pink aureole while kneading her left breast with increasing tightness. With relish, the young witch sucks Selena’s breast, pressing closer into the red heads body. Selena breathes heavily.
Lith recognizes the tickling between her legs getting stronger. She wants to get touched by Selena. Feel her deeper inside.
[[Get touched by Selena.->Lith Finger]]
[[Make Selena come first.->SelenaUndressCompl]]Lith gets down on the floor to seize the seam of Selena’s dress. With both hands on her legs, she is moving the dress up - over her calf, her knees up to her waist.
In the same moment Selena gets up from the window sill, seizes her folded dress from Lith's hands to lift it even higher. Lith, still kneeing before her, looks up. Selena wears no underwear, her short red hair and pink-red labia close to the young witch’s face.
[[Lick her. ->SelenaHigh]]Lith lifts herself up, her hands embrace Selena’s legs and bottom to keep her in place. The young witch lays her head into her neck, sticking out her tongue to lustfully lick Selena. The red head moans with pleasure, feeling the greedy thrust of the young witch's tongue eating her up. Lith is inexperienced, but Selena is guiding her to caress her in the right spots. Until Lith feels Selena tremble, reaching her climax.
[[Both witches move to the floor. ->Selclimax]]Selena moves her hand further below Lith's back, touching her legs, her slip, her butt cheeks. The young witch knows where she wants to feel Selena's hands:
Lith presents Selena her naked back, her black dress falls to the ground. She slightly leans over, holding herself with her hands on her legs.
Selena fondles around Lith's black slip, caressing her butt cheeks, down to her trembling wet sex. Lith assists her by raising her hips higher, willfully spreading her legs. Selena strokes her labia up and down, making her wet. Lith quivers in desire, her labia throbbing.
(link-reveal:"//\"Finger me.\"//")[
But Selena clearly loves to hold her back, teasing her further, playfully rubbing her vulva.
//"Please!"//
Finally, Lith feels Selena's fingers sink into her, knowing where she wants to be touched. Rubbing her good. With more pressure. Faster. (live: 4s)[Until she comes.]
[[Both witches move to the floor. ->Selclimax]]]Both witches sit on the floor, panting for air, holding each other, their moist naked skin close to one another.
This wouldn't be their last experience for this night. But soon Lith feels she needs to head back to her bed.
Lith get’s up. She needs some sleep for the preparations tomorrow. Before she leaves Selena, she takes a last look at her. //“I hope we become friends.”//
//"I think we are, aren't we? Selena throws her a kiss. Good night, honey."//
[[Go to bed.->NightSelena]]It’s time to find out more about this necromancer! After all, they will work together for the next days. Lith takes a deep breath to actually (link-reveal:"knock at Eidrik’s door.")[
The young witch is so deeply musing about necromancy that she completely forgets to wait for a call to come in.
When entering Eidrik’s room, (link-reveal:"Lith is in complete shock.")[ For a brief moment, there was no necromancer in sight but a naked violet-rose person - is it even a person or did Eidrik transform into that?
It takes Lith a couple of breaths and courage to (link-reveal:"get closer to realize:")[ actually, Eidrik is lying under this creature, struggling to get free. The violet beast pins him to the bed, shutting Eidrik's mouth with its right hand.
Surprised by Lith’s presence, the demonic beast loosens his grip. Struggling to disengage from it, Eidrik achieves to grumble: (colour:"purple")[//”Can you at least stop staring at me. Some help would be appreciated here!”//]
[[//“I … don’t even know how to help you!”//->EidrikHelp]]]]]Eidrik gets red in anger and shame while brawling with the creature. (colour:"purple")[//“You have to ... I mean ... argh ... Seduce it!“//]
//“What?!”//
The demon has a near human form, only everything is bolder and more stretched. Moreover, it seems to be both: man and woman, but stronger than he ... she ... they look. At a closer glance their desire doesn’t seem to be to kill Eidrik. The demon is dedicated to just get close to him.
(colour:"purple")[//“Can’t you see, it’s a sex demon!”//]
Lith gets nervous. She is in her third year of magical studies - how is she supposed to recognize a sex demon? And why would she seduce them - didn’t Eidrik already fail at this attempt, obviously?
(colour:"purple")[//“Please!”//] Eidrik seems to get more desperate. What will this demon do with him, if she actually let them?
[[Or to her if she tries, as well?->LithTries]]Once again, Lith breathes deeply. Willing to help Eidrik out of his predicament, she steps next to the bed. After all, this sex demon looks unusually, but not disgusting to her. Somehow the wish to challenge this creature rises inside of her.
//“Hey demon, can you put up with a witch?”// The creature looks at her and Lith stares back at them fascinated: atop, they display gorgeously large breasts, firmly swaying over Eidrik while between their leg they parade a huge phallus - not fully erected, yet. (link-reveal:"This is going to be interesting, Lith presumes.")[
//How do you seduce a sex demon?//
She places herself next to Eidrik on the bed. The creature takes interest in her, though showing their teeth, hissing quietly to defend its prey.
[[Lith touches herself next to them.->LithTouch]]
[[Lith undresses slowly in front of them.->LithStrips]]]Lith sits on her knees, not leaving the demon with her eyes. Gradually, she spreads her legs while furling her dress up from her knees slowly over her haunch to push the fabric to her back. Below her dress she only wears a black slip. Lith spreads her thighs even wider to make space: from her belly down to her crotch, Lith slowly runs down her right hand into her slip. The creature is watching her closely, but pinning down Eidrik still.
She didn’t expect this kind of situation, but Eidrik and the sex demon both watching while she is in such a tensed position (link-reveal:"turns Lith on.")[ With her left hand she is pushing her bosom together, provokingly kneading her breasts before them.
Lith can feel her wet sex, leaning slightly back to sit on her bottom, spreading her bent legs in the direction of Eidrik and the demon. Both see how Lith’s hand wanders further into her slip. To display herself even more, she is pushing her slip aside for them to see her wet labia and her hand sliding into it.
[[The demon has her full attention.->demonsex]]]Lith, sitting on her knees, starts to massage her breasts. The creature is watching her closely, but pinning down Eidrik still. The young witch feels her nipples below her dress, squeezing them. Clearly visible they rise below, creating two tiny hills that Lith caresses with her fingertips.
She didn’t expect this kind of situation, but Eidrik and the sex demon both watching while she is in such a tensed position (link-reveal:"turns Lith on.")[ Her dress tightens from her full breasts. With both hands she glides into her cleavage, massaging and pressing free her breasts from her dress.
Both, the demon and Eidrik watch her closely when she opens her dress below her cleavage, unwinding her lacing to casually open her dress from her breasts down to her belly to her black slip and haunch.
[[The demon has her full attention.->demonsex]]]The hungry ceature moves slowly down from Eidrik, as they found a much more interesting target. Seductively grinning they crawl towards Lith, who is unsure what to do next. She leans back, supporting herself with both arms, her legs slightly spread. Her heart starts to beat heavier.
The demon takes hold of her right calf, then her left, wandering up with both their hands, firmly touching Lith’s legs. When they reach her knee, they spread her legs (link-reveal:"to get between them.")[
Lith lightly trembles with fascination for the demon, stretching her waist up to them. In the same moment, the demon strokes their phallus delicately until reaching a fully polished thick size, aggressively pointing up to Lith's vulva.
They look into her eyes, but Lith can’t think straight, calling: //“Now fuck me!”// The demon complies: at once, the creature grabs Lith around her waist when assertively shoving their manhood into her. Lith and the demon seem to wince at the same time.
The demon starts humping her hefty. (link-reveal:"Making her cry out with every movement.")[
In the same moment Lith is close to her climax - the demon lets her bottom sink onto the bed. Lith breath is racing, her body trembling for more. The demon leans over her, their golden eyes stare directly at her. They show their teeth, [[obviously wanting more from her->LithDemon]]. Lith grasps the demon’s large soft breasts to feel their weight, pressing them mesmerized. ]]Behind them, she realizes Eidrik gets up from his back. He was watching them the whole time, his dark-blue eyes gleaming with desire. He stands on the bed, gets rid of his grey shirt and leather trousers, pushes his black hair out of his face. The necromancer stands behind the busy demon; tall, slender, not trained but blessed with broad shoulders, stroking his manhood to eventually let himself sink behind them. Lith can’t see him anymore. But she feels the demon flinch to become more aroused, (link-reveal:"shoved against her.")[
The threesome moves into each other. It takes some time for them to find a rhythm, but the wilder and more violent they move when they have. It feels like the demon becomes a tool, controlled by Eidrik, rigorously fucking them from behind. The creature rolls their eyes in agony, mouth open to display their sharp teeth, panting towards Lith, pressing their heavy tits against her. Lith is beside herself with lust.
Eidrik comes first, groaning deeply with satisfaction, still leaning onto the creature, panting. Then Lith. Until suddenly the demon vanishes with a weird high-pitched scream, leaving a large amount of blue fluid over them. Surprised, Eidrik falls over on Lith. He didn't expect the demon to dissolve so quickly.
For a short moment, Eidrik and Lith lay closely together, naked, bound by this strange incident - [[and the fluid between them.->EidrikFluid]]]Eidrik jumps up to fetch something from his luggage. Coming back to Lith he brought a couple of vials. (colour:"purple")[//“May I?”//]
//“Is that ... ?”//
(colour:"purple")[//“Yes, I guess. And moreover a precious ingredient.”//] Eidrik glides with his vials over Lith's body to fill them with the blue liquid. Not being very emotional or close to Lith before, this movement feels special - nearly sexually charged to her - and Eidrik doesn't even realize it. Lith needs to get that thought out of her head. Having finished, Eidrik sinks on the bed next to her.
//“What happened? You felt in the mood to summon yourself some undead entertainment?”// Lith laughs.
Eidrik gives her a judging look. (colour:"purple")[//“I summoned it weeks ago, actually. Something must have gone wrong that this demon appeared tonight.”//]
//“Do you often summon sex demons?”//, (link-reveal:"Lith asks half-curious, half-amused.")[
(colour:"purple")[//“No! I just wanted their … ingredient.”//]
//“And you underestimated them?”//
Eidrik pauses, he hates to admit it: (colour:"purple")[//”Yes. In a way. I thought I could fulfill their desire but the demon seemingly expected more.”//]
//“So I saved your ass?”//
Eidrik looks at her. He resents himself deeply that he was needing her to accomplish this project. He breathes out heavily, louder than he wanted it to be. (colour:"purple")[//“You did.”//]
Lith smiles broadly. That’s all she needed to hear. She gets up. For their preparations tomorrow, [[she needs to find some sleep.->LithEidrikOut]]]Still smeared with the blue liquid, she dons her dress, facing Eidrik. //“I think I deserve a part of the booty."// She stretches out her hand. Not saying anything, he hands her one of the three vials he collected.
(colour:"purple")[//“Do you even know what to do with it?”//] he asks mockingly.
//“No, but I will find out something. After all, dear necromancer, I will become a potion master.”//
(colour:"purple")[//“I’m sure of that, Lith.”//] He wasn’t joking this time.
The young witch walks to the door to turn back to him one more time: //“What does happen if you don’t fulfill the desire of a sex demon?”//
(colour:"purple")[//“He eats you.”//]
Lith laughs nervously, remembering how close she came to their teeth. From Eidriks look she can’t tell if he is serious, or joking. //“Good night, demon summoner. Until next time.”//
[[Go to bed.->NightEidrik]]On the next morning, Lith realizes she barely found sleep last night. Completely tired she overslept - not the best start into the day.
Meeting the older students and getting to know Jocet more closely left her awake, thinking about her place among the others. She needs to prove to the others she’s not just the young student, but actually got talent.
Lith quickly washes herself to change into some of her more practical clothes: She wears her dark-gray woolen tights with a dark short skirt and a hooded red long-arm shirt.
When she enters the huge living room, she recognizes Jocet in the kitchen. He intensely studies something and therefore doesn’t seem to realize Lith is up. [[She gets closer. ->JocetMorning]]
(set: $jocet to 1)On the next morning, Lith realizes she barely found sleep last night. Completely tired she overslept - not the best start into the day.
Meeting the older students and getting to know Selena more closely left her awake, thinking about her place among the others. She needs to prove to the others she’s not just the young student, but actually got talent.
Lith quickly washes herself to change into some of her more practical clothes: She wears her dark-gray woolen tights with a dark short skirt and a hooded red long-arm shirt.
When she enters the huge living room, she recognizes Jocet in the kitchen. He intensely studies something and therefore doesn’t seem to realize Lith is up. [[She gets closer. ->JocetMorning]]
(set: $selena to 1)On the next morning, Lith realizes she barely found sleep last night. Completely tired she overslept - not the best start into the day.
Meeting the older students and getting to know Eidrik more closely left her awake, thinking about her place among the others. She needs to prove to the others she’s not just the young student, but actually got talent.
Lith quickly washes herself to change into some of her more practical clothes: She wears her dark-gray woolen tights with a dark short skirt and a hooded red long-arm shirt. On top of that, as always: Her belt full of ingredients.
When she enters the huge living room, she recognizes Jocet in the kitchen. He intensely studies something and therefore doesn’t seem to realize Lith is up. [[She gets closer. ->JocetMorning]]
(set: $eidrik to 1)Jocet is leaning over a large hand-drawn paper that resembles something like a map. (colour:"aqua")[//“Morning Lith,”//] Jocet murmurs to himself while drawing thin scribbles onto the paper.
The map seemed to be older, greasy and irregularly folded. Most parts are drawn in thick gray paint with white spikes on them. Other parts are marked with little houses, doors and something that looks like stairs. Curvy lines are drawn in several colors between them.
[[Lith is mostly clueless about their meaning.->JocetTalk]]//“Is that the place we are going tomorrow?”//
(colour:"aqua")[//“It is! Before your very eyes unfolds the estate of my great-great-uncle. This once was our family seat."//]
(if: $jocet is 1)[//"You told me about him yesterday, he is a Belledon, too."// Jocet nods appreciatively.]
(colour:"aqua")[//“The seat has been empty for almost over a hundred years."//]
(link-reveal:"//\“What happened, why doesn’t your family live there anymore?\”//")[
(colour:"aqua")[//“You know, the Black Ridge Mountains never was a good place to begin with - at least for a family that is used to a certain indulgence and comfort. But after a period of droughts and several huge landslides that destroyed the smaller villages surrounding it; peasants would leave those places below the manor houses. Without people working for us, it was much harder to be supported with food and all the small necessities you might expect in a well-known family. They couldn’t provide the same level of hospitality to visiting noble wizards and witches and sooner or later my family was isolated. The Castiles wouldn’t want to live under such unacceptable circumstances any longer and decided to abandon the buildings.//
//"All of them, except for my great-great-uncle Heraldus. He died far away from the rest of the family, no one could even say for sure when and how. Nobody ever cared for the place. Over time, it seemed like a cursed place nobody wished to ever set foot on."//] Jocet continues scribbling on the map.
[[Stay with Jocet.->StayWithJocet]]
[[Find Selena at the lake.->StayWithSelena]]
[[Look for Eidrik.->StayWithEidrik]]]Lith decides to stay with Jocet. She finds something to eat and sits next to the conjurer. It was cold in the cabin. Warming her hand, Jocet looks down at her.
(colour:"aqua")[//“Lith, I have to apologize. The way I treated you before wasn’t acceptable. I’m mostly used to a different kind of … “//] he pauses, thinking, (colour:"aqua")[//“you know, the people that do surround me most of the time are chosen by my family and our prestige.”//]
//“You mean, you are not used to folks with lower self-esteem”//, Lith adds sarcastically.
(colour:"aqua")[//“That was not what I … "//]
//"Jocet, be honest! Why did you choose me for this group?"// Lith could see, how Jocet bites his lip thinking about an answer that wouldn't hurt her.
(colour:"aqua")[//“I didn't lie, it was your skills!"//]
//"But ...?"//
(colour:"aqua")[//“But you also didn't have that many friends. I need to absolutely make sure this little secret stays between us!"//]
Lith was hurt, but at least he was honest.
(if: $jocet is 1)[(colour:"aqua")[[//“I presume we understand each other and you can relate to my struggle more. And that I can trust you with it.”//->KnowJocet]]]
(if: $jocet is 0)[(colour:"aqua")[[//“Still, I don't know anything about you. And I need to know more, to fight for you.”//->NotKnowJocet]]]Lith takes a walk to find Selena. Yesterday, the older student announced she would go for a swim in the morning. Close to the lodge, Lith finds a narrow lake amidst trees and flat rocks, surrounded by little white fluffy flowers. Suddenly, Lith recognizes Selena, swimming between the rocks.
(colour:white+red)[//“Lith, common in, the water is so refreshing!”//]
Skeptically, Lith looks at Selena. Outside it is already cold, how icy must the water be? Lith shudders only thinking of it: //“Nah, I’m fine, it’s way too cold for me!”//
Selena swims closer: (colour:white+red)[//“You should try it! This will push you awake in an instant!”//]
//"And also kill me the next moment."//
[[Step into the water.->IntoWater]]
[[Stay outside.->OutsideWater]]Lith still has Eidrik’s silver amulet she wants to give him back. Last night she forgot to return it, as her thoughts were occupied otherwise. She pulls the oval-shaped amulet out of her pocket to take a closer look at it. Though its case is beautifully chiseled with leaves and alchemical symbols, its weight is heavier than expected. On a closer look the amulet is a locket that can be opened. Lith is curious what’s inside.
[[Should she risk a look? ->LocketLook]]
[[No, that’s private. ->LocketPriv]]
(set: $locketopen to false)Jocet walks close to Lith. He clearly didn’t sleep much, as well, rubbing his tired eyes behind his glasses. He is wearing a tight blue gambeson with a white tunic below and buck-skin leather trousers, emphasizing his well-trained silhouette.
[[Kiss him. ->JocetMorningKiss]]
[[Imagine he fucks you on the table. ->TableFuck]]
(set: $jocetbullshit to false)(colour:"aqua")[//"You are right! After all, this is an extremely personal quest for me. Believe me: I need you on this journey. I’m glad you brought these potions - the ones that will keep us from freezing and those that will raise concentration and suppress fear. Those are extremely valuable!And we will get to know each other, I promise you that."//]
Lith feels her face getting warmer - she must be blushing like a tomato. But hearing that from Jocet makes her extremely proud, (link-reveal:"trusting her skills even more.")[
(colour:"aqua")[//“Though you have a huge weakness”//], Jocet continues. (colour:"aqua")[//“As a student of alchemy in the third year you cannot fight. I need you to learn incantations.”//]
Lith is beaten. At first, he seemed to enjoy her presence, but more and more he acts like he mostly values skill and power. Does he need her potions only? Though something inside her needs to prove to him that he can count on her.
[[Being the youngest of the four, she doesn’t want to be spared! ->LearnFire]]] Lith gets up, standing right before him. //“You can trust me. But I want you to be honest with me. No more bullshit, no secrets.“// She becomes slightly agitated, her cheeks get heated.
She looks up to Jocet. After a seemingly endless pause, he bows down to her and they kiss. Slowly at first, but quickly both get more aroused, kissing [[each other more intense.->JocetStops]]
(set: $jocetbullshit to true)Lith imagines how he would just grab her, lift her up onto the table, strip her tights off, lift her skirt, move her legs apart, draws out his impressive manhood, rag her up to his haunch and fuck her. She is daydreaming, looking him directly in the eye.
Is she in love?
Jocet amusingly examines her, [[bowing down to kiss her.->JocetStops]]After a while Jocet stops.
(colour:"aqua")[//“Actually, I wanted to show you something. I need you on my journey and I’m glad you brought these potions - the ones that will keep us from freezing and those that will raise concentration and suppress fear. Those are extremely valuable."//]
Lith feels her face getting warmer - she must be blushing like a tomato. Hearing zthose words from Jocet makes her extremely proud, (link-reveal:"trusting her skills more.")[
(colour:"aqua")[//“Though you have a huge weakness,”//] Jocet continues. (colour:"aqua")[//“As a student of alchemy in the third year you cannot fight. I need you to learn incantations.”//]
Lith is beaten. At first it seems he was enjoying her presence, as a person, as a woman. But more and more she must realize he mostly values her skill and power. Does he only values them? Something inside her needs to prove to him that he can nonetheless count on her.
[[Being the youngest of the four, she doesn’t want to be spared! ->LearnFire]]] Both stand outside the hut. Jocet stands closely behind her, when she is raising her hand; he pressing one hand against her stomach, the other one supporting her lifted hand. She is determined to submit everything to the conjurer to impress him. To show him that she can be trusted.
He whispers in her ear, pointing her hand to a smaller tree in front of them: (colour:"aqua")[//“Imagine this tree is burning. Completely ablaze, throwing sparks, emitting a heat that will burn the air and grass surrounding it.“//]
(link-reveal:"Lith concentrates.")[
She tries to see the tree in her inner eye. She knits her brows together and clenches her teeth - but nothing seems to happen. The tree isn't burning. Not even inside of her mind.
//“I can’t … I … I never did this before!”//
(colour:"aqua")[//“Don’t say that! Try harder, you can do this!”//] (link-reveal:"Jocet sounds angry.")[
He presses her body closer to his while stretching her hand: (colour:"aqua")[//“Imagine it! Be merciless! Feel the fire!”//]
A strange power rises in her body, spreading her fingers, pressing into her arms, she is focused on the tree. She sweats. Something like a headache seems to unfurl in her head. She clenches her teeth until they hurt. Her hand shakes.
(colour:"aqua")[//“Burn it! Say the incantation!”//], [[Jocet screams->TreeFire]] while moving his left hand down, not supporting her arm anymore.]]From the crown of the tree, smolder is rising, slowly, until one of the branches visibly starts to burn. It’s not much, but soon more of the young branches ignite. A bitter smell fills the air, white thick smoke rising from the young tree.
Lith feels enormously proud. She just did her first incantation! Excited, she moves around (link-reveal:"to thank Jocet for this lecture.")[
(colour:"aqua")[//“Good. You did well. But never - ever - give up that soon! I’m disgusted by quitters!”//]
(if: $jocetbullshit is true)[(colour:"aqua")[//“You wanted me to tell you the truth."//]]
Jocet leaves her. Without looking back he quickly walks to the lodge.
Lith still feels a headache. She seems to have burned her fingers, too. Her finger tips seem swollen, red and aching. Only later she recognizes she is bleeding from the nose, as well. So this is the reason incantations are taught only to the later years.
Lith is unnerved. Should she proceed to train more to be a help to Jocet? Is all that worth ruining her health?
[[Train.->TrainJocet]]
[[Take a walk.->TakeAWalk]]]
(set: $jocettrain to false)
(set: $jocettraincontinue to false)Lith looks at her hands, breathing heavily with anger. This was her first conjuration. She can do more than just potions now.
She lifts her hands to practice more, feeling the ache building up in the back of her head.
[[//Doesn’t matter, I need to do this!//->backtolodge]]
(set: $jocettrain to true)
(set: $jocet to $jocet + 1)
(set: $jocettraincontinue to true)Lith saw a new face of the conjurer that has been so charming to her. She would like to quit completely right away. But there are still the others - what will they think of her?
(if: $jocet is 1)[For a strange reason she still wants to be with Jocet. After all.]
(if: $eidrik is 1)[She wants Eidrik.]
(if: $selena is 1)[She wants Selena.]
There is no way back anymore. She takes a long walk to [[calm her down.->backtolodge]]
(set: $jocet to $jocet + 1)
(set: $jocettrain to true)Lith slips out of her boots to check the water with her toes: the water is even colder than she imagined.
(if: $selena is 1)[After what happened between the two last night, Lith wants to get close to Selena, again.]
//No guts no glory// - Lith jumps quickly into the pond. For a moment, she is shock-frozen to ice, sharp needles moving into her body. She wished she had brought one of her anti-cold potions, even though they are far too valuable to play around with. Selena gets close to her. Lith eyes the other witch's naked body - she looks so gorgeous. Both playfully dabble one another with water until Lith doesn’t feel the cold anymore.
(link-reveal:"After some time")[, they leave the water, blue-lipped and goosebumps on their skin. Selena is approaching Lith: Her skin tight from the cold, drops of water running down Selena's body, her nipples upright from the cool water.
(colour:white+red)[//“Let me get you dry.”//] (link-reveal:"Selena embraces Lith")[ with her body, tight, skin on skin, she moves her hands over Lith’s back, stroking her softly.
(if: $selena is 1)[Lith remembers last night. How Selena took control over her. Was that magic? She trusts Selena completely.]
She gives in, laying her head onto Selena's breast, sucking in the smell of her body until she feels a warmth surrounding them. [[Selena must have conjured something like a barrier.->SelenaConjure]]
(if: $selena is 1)[Like last night, Selena looks down at her to kiss her softly the next moment.]]]Lith finds a place at the edge of the pond. She will freeze to death if she is stupid enough to get into the water. She wished she had brought one of her anti-cold potions, even though they are far too valuable to play around with.
From outside, she is watching the other witch taking a bath. It's a pleasure to watch Selena swimming her rounds in the water. Until she swims directly at Lith, imitating a crocodile focusing on its prey. Lith must smile, Selena seldomly is goofy like that.
(link-reveal:"Gracefully Selena steps out of the water.")[ Her skin is tight from the cold, drops of water running down her body, her nipples stiff and upright from the cool water. (if: $selena is 1)[Lith remembers last night. How Selena took control over her. She feels like the witch is playing with her again - she doesn't mind, though.]
(link-reveal:"Lith gets up, not knowing what she might offer Selena to dry her up.")[
Playfully, the red-head is hugging her to make her wet, laughing like a wood hag. //”Ugh, Selena, stop!”//
(colour:white+red)[//“Let me get you dry.”//] Selena embraces Lith with her cold body, tightly, she moves her hands over Lith’s back, stroking her softly.
Lith gives in, laying her head onto Selena's breast, sucking in the odor of her body. Before she feels a warmth surrounding the two of them. Selena must have conjured [[something like a barrier to dry them.->SelenaConjure]]
(if: $selena is 1)[Like last night, Selena looks down at her to kiss her softly the next moment.]]]//“This is incredible, Selena!”//, Lith gets excited seeing the older student's power into action. //“I wish I could do something like this.”//
(colour:white+red)[//“Oh, I heard you brought something with you that will help us on our expedition, too. Tell me, I want to know what Jocet is expecting in those mountains!”//]
//“Well, for most parts it’s potions that help you with the surroundings: some against the cold of the mountains as well as potions that keep you from getting insane.”//
(colour:white+red)[//“You can brew something like that?”//], Selena looks thrilled that Lith can't help but feel more confident. This is the first time an older student like Selena isn’t teasing her for her skills. Or using her. She is honestly excited. Lith is proud, (link-reveal:"until both witches realize what these potions mean: what is waiting for them in the mountains?")[
Selena makes a gloom face. (colour:white+red)[//“Let me show you something that you might need up there. I mean, I hope we won’t, but let’s just make sure you don’t walk in there without any battle spells in your book.”//]
Lith's excitement dies down to embarrassment. She didn’t have to fight, yet. There was just no reason for that. So far, she played by the books, literally lived from them. She mastered her subject and felt comfortable with her skills - as a student of Alchemy. [[Up until now.->ConjurWorksSelena]]](colour:white+red)[//"I will show you a protection spell. It’s no big deal once you understand how they are created. It’s mostly a strong will to protect yourself or someone else cast into a magical barrier."//]
Selena stands in front of Lith, taking both her arms to raise them up to the height of her hip.
(colour:white+red)[//“Now, visualize a strong and steady barrier that builds up around us. It helped me with my first spells to imagine I built them myself, step by step. Whisper the incantation and bring forth your will to protect."//]
Lith murmurs the words Selena taught her, concentrating on getting them right while pressing into her spread hands and arms. She tries to imagine a stone wall. Her eyebrows knit deeper together. [[She whispers the conjuration quicker and quicker, becoming more tense.->ConjLith]]Nothing happens.She tries again after a short pause. Still: nothing.
//“It’s not working, I can’t do this.”//
(colour:white+red)[//“Stop saying that! Believe in yourself, in your power to protect the ones you love! Think of something that might fall on us and your barrier is the only thing that keeps us from getting hurt. You can do this!"//]
Lith clenches her teeth, stretching her hands towards the ground, she imagines her brick wall, again. She builds it up stone by stone. When she speaks the spell she is emphasizing every word as clearly as she can while rasing her hands deliberately higher.
(if: $selena is 1)[Lith is so concentrated, she doesn’t realize how a silver shimmer starts to surround Selena. It’s just a thin coat, almost like a soap bubble, but it’s working.
“Lith, go on! You are doing it! I told you, you would make it, [[I’m so proud of you!->SelenConjProud]]]
(else-if: $selena is < 1)[Nothing. [[She looks at Selena, who seems disappointed.->SelDisappConj]]]
(set: $selena to $selena + 1)
(set: $selenatrain to false)(colour:white+red)[//“Now you know how you can save the ones you love from harm. You should train a bit more! I need to head back to the lodge to warm myself up. See you later, love.”//]
Lith looks at her hands, breathing heavily with excitement. This was her first conjuration. She can do more than just potions now.
She lifts her hands to repeat the conjuration, feeling a slight ache building up in the back of her head. [[//Doesn’t matter, I need to do this!//->backtolodge]]
(set: $selenatrain to true)Lith looks at her hands. She can’t help but she feels like sobbing. The older witch already looks disappointed, she should not take her for a baby. Lith tries to keep herself from crying, cramping her throat until it hurts.
(colour:white+red)[//“You should train a bit more! I’m sure you will be capable to do it! I need to head back to the lodge to warm myself up. See you later, Lith.”//]
The young witch lifts her hands. She is dedicated to train more, harder, feeling a slight ache building up in the back of her head. [[//Doesn’t matter, I need to do this!//->backtolodge]]
(set: $selenatrain to true)Lith is exhausted. Everything she did for the last two days pushed her to a limit she longs to expand. But right now the young witch feels mostly stupid compared to the others - unable to meet their expectations.(if: $selenatrain is true)[Although she managed to do her first protection spell, thanks to Selena.]
When she gets back to the hut, it’s not as cold inside as it was in the morning: a fire is crackling in the chimney. Someone lit candles in the windows.The cozy atmosphere removes her tension. (if: $jocettrain is true)[She isn't as angry about Jocet's manner to teach her incantations as she was an hour ago. But there is still a weird feeling about him.]
Selena and Jocet sit closely next to each other in the lodge, chatting. Jocet laughs loudly when Selena lies her hand on his knee. Those two get together so well, she wonders if they have a fling with each other. (if: $jocet is 1)[Jealousy is crawling up inside of Lith.](if: $selena is 1)[Jealousy is crawling up inside of Lith.]
(colour:white+red)[//“Lith, you are back, we were wondering what you were doing!”//], Selena says delighted. (if: $jocettraincontinue is true)[Jocet inspects her closely: (colour:"aqua")[//"You practised what I taught you, am I right? I'm proud of you, Lith!"//]](if: $selenatrain is true)[(colour:white+red)[//"I can feel you trained the protection spell! I'm so glad you can do this spell now!"//]]
Eidrik enters the room wordlessly, eying the two of them on his way to his chamber.
[[Lith would love to follow his example and take a good long sleep.->lodgeplay]](colour:white+red)[//“No no no, you two, come here, have a drink! This is our last evening before we head out.”//]
Jocet gets up to grab some glasses and a long-necked bottle with an emerald-green liquid. Gracile, he fills four glasses without spilling a drop. He waves his right hand over the glasses to ignites a blue-green flame on them, exuding a captivating rich aroma of herbs. Swiftly, Jocet hands a glass to everyone: (colour:"aqua")[//“Dear members of this exclusive club of adventurers and masters in their subject. I hereby raise my glass to your courage, strength and will. Tomorrow will not be any day, but the day to prove we do not bow to any boundaries given by a school or society!”//]
His speech sounds strange. Lith still doesn’t know the motivation of the other’s to be here. Eidrik is definitive not here for friendship. What is Selena’s reason? And what was hers again?
Lith drowns her glass, coughing. The liquor is strong, heavier than she expected, [[though she feels much more relaxed now.->lodgeplay2]]Lith can’t help herself: she has to open the locket. It’s not easily done, the latch seems to be secured to open only with a certain movement. Lith inspects the locket more closely: there seems to be a little gib she has to press. After a click the locket jumps open. For a split second the image of a person seems to reveal itself inside - only to be followed by a rush of some kind of black liquid flooding the locket. Lith is confused, she didn’t expect something like that to happen. She presses both halves of the locket together, hoping to stop it.
Abruptly, the oily liquid stops oozing, though her hands are drenched in the black ink now.
“Great, now he knows.”
(if: $eidrik is 1)[I guess we are even now.]
Jocet told her, Eidrik went into the Quarry near a forest [[close to the mountains.->EidrikForest]]
(set: $locketopen to true)Lith would die to get to know what’s inside the locket. Maybe an image of a beloved person? Most likely a picture of something dead. Or undead. (if: $eidrik is 1)[A sex demon, perhaps? Lith has to laugh.]
On second thought, he should keep that to himself - she shouldn't snoop into his privacy.
She puts the locket back into her pocket. She has no idea where to find Eidrik. But intuition guides her into a forest [[close to the mountains.->EidrikForest]]After some time Lith is reaching the abandoned quarry overgrown with bushes of rose hips. Something about this place gives her an odd feeling. Lith tries to find a way around the thorny bushes to get a better view at the place that looks like a small arena.
Suddenly she recognizes Eidrik in the middle of it. //Is he floating over the ground?// He looks peaceful, eyes closed and his legs crossed like the first time she saw him on the couch. Everything seems still, only his long coat is slowly waving above the ground.
Below him, the soil is starting to glow in orange glyphs. From afar Lith can see his lips move as if he is [[conjuring something.->EidrikConj]] All of a sudden, the air grows thick. The taste of metal arises on her tongue. There is something wrong! Eidrik opens his eyes wide. He pushes his legs down to get back on the ground. Did he notice her? If so, he doesn't show it.
With his hand he sweeps the ground. A rumble sets the soil in motion. Eidrik jumps aside - but it's too late. In the same moment the ground breaks open. (link-reveal:"Whatever moves out of it throws him back violently.")[
From out of the ground a dark creature rises. Lith can’t see what’s happening as the creature stirs up a lot of the dusty soil. An angry scream from Eidrik forces her closer to the scene.
She can’t fathom what exactly is moving towards Eidrik: a colossal creature that poorly resembles a bear. His bones are partly visible between loose-hanging rotten flesh and felted patches of fur, (link-reveal:"the creature limping in an impossible way.")[
(if: $eidrik is 1)[After last night she can’t believe she is helping Eidrik with something undead, again. That necromancer means trouble. Every time.]
At first, Lith is frozen with fear. But she can’t just watch this undead bear tear Eidrik to pieces. She needs to act no matter the horror.
[[Scream to get its attention!->BearScream]]
[[Search your belt for something to throw.->BearBelt]]]]Lith screams as loud as she can. The creature stops - for a short moment, before it deliberately maneuvers its mass in Lith’s direction. His face is even more frightful than his body. She instantly regrets her decision, disgusted by the unthinkable appearance it has. With tiny dead eyes it stares at her while aggressively moving its snout to catch her scent. Lith’s heart starts to beat. Now she really needs to think quickly. Can this creature run?
[[Search your belt for something to throw.->Bearthrow2]]Lith remembers her belt. She perpetually carries some vials and small pouches of ingredients with her. She always felt paranoid carrying them around most of the time. But now she loves her past self for making this decision.
The witch rummages at her back to find the right pouch, closely watching the creature in front of her. In discomposure, she grabs one of the smaller leather pouches. A quick smell tells her she must have grabbed one of the sleep poisons. But will it be enough to knock out this mountain of flesh? One thing is for sure: she needs to aim at its face. But will undead creatures even be affected?
[[Scream to get its attention!->BearScream2]]Lith remembers her belt. She perpetually carries some vials and small pouches of ingredients with her. She always felt paranoid carrying them around most of the time. But now she loves her past self for making this decision.
The witch rummages at her back to find the right pouch, closely watching the creature in front of her. In discomposure, she grabs one of the smaller leather pouches. A quick smell tells her she must have grabbed one of the sleep poisons. But will it be enough to knock out this mountain of flesh? One thing is for sure: she needs to aim at its face. [[But will undead creatures even be affected?->BearRun]]Lith screams as loud as she can. The creature stops - for a short moment, before it deliberately maneuvers its mass in Lith’s direction. His face is even more frightful than his body. She instantly regrets her decision, disgusted by the unthinkable appearance it has. With tiny dead eyes it stares at her while aggressively moving its snout to catch her scent. Lith’s heart starts to beat. [[Can this creature run?->BearRun]]More energetic than she expected, the creature hurries towards her. In one rapid movement the witch throws her pouch. A green foul-smelling cloud of powder fills the air. Lith's eyes burn. The wind must have blown the poison rather into her direction than at the undead bear. Full of fear, she tries to step backwards to (link-reveal:"get away from the creature's mouth.")[
She doesn’t see the roots from the rose bushes. Getting tangled up in them, she falls on her back. The bear takes a huge leap - only seconds away to scrunch her before she throws herself out of his way.
Lith tries to rob away, while the bear slashes his yellow teeth at her. In a quick movement she grabs another one of her pockets to (link-reveal:"throw it directly into his mouth.")[
Everything that happens after that, she only sees through a clouded veil: The bear gets ripped to the side, stumbles and crumbles into a heap of flesh and bones. The smell is overwhelmingly disgusting, she would rather be somewhere else. But her own sleeping powder [[knocked her out.->KnockOut]] She tries to fight it, but this mixture is really strong.]]The moment Lith opens her eyes she sees the necromancer's worried face in front of her. (colour:"purple")[//“I’m glad I don’t have to tell the others of your sudden death,”//] he tells her in his deep voice.
//“I wouldn’t want to be one of your undead things.”//
He gets up, disgruntled, every bit of concern vanishes from his face.
(colour:"purple")[//“I’m not that strong. I cannot revive humans.”//]
//It was only a joke!// Lith thinks. Now she is the one to get angry: (if: $eidrik is 1)[//"Listen, Eidrik, your sex demon is one thing. But ...//]
//"What in Hilda’s Name is wrong with you?! Why did you summon that damn bear?”// Lith starts to cry. The attack of the malicious creature (link-reveal:"still frightens her.")[
(colour:"purple")[//“Stop crying!”//] Eidrik snaps at the young witch. (colour:"purple")[//“This is just the beginning of what awaits us in the mountains. If this creature makes you cry, don’t come with us tomorrow!”//]
[[//“You insensitive patch of turnip! Without my help you wouldn't stand here to lecture me!"//->EidrikLect]] (if: $eidrik is 1)[Lith breaths heavily: //"Again!"//]]The young witch turns around - she needs to get away from that oaf. Eidrik seizes her arm to hold her back. Angry, she breaks free from his hand.
(colour:"purple")[//“Wait! I don’t want you to go! I ... I didn’t mean to say it like that. I was worried. Still, this creature is just a precursor to what we will encounter up there!”//]
//You don't know that place!”//
(colour:"purple")[//“No, but I didn’t summon the bear! I meditated to fill Selena’s Soul Stone. There must be a strong power nearby that turned this … bear.”//]
Lith doesn’t know what she was more surprised of: That Eidrik aided Selena who wasn't very fond of necromancers, so far. Or that someone else called this creature. Lith shudders - this should have been just a little adventure for her. [[She starts to fear their journey tomorrow.->BackLodge]](if: $locketopen is true)[(colour:"purple")[//“I see you’ve found my amulet!"//] he holds out his hand: (colour:"purple")[//“I want it back!”//] Lith seizes it from her pockets. Eidrik clasps both her wrists tightly to rub his thumbs on them, murmuring something that sounds like a hissed curse to her. Her wrists burn slightly, but the black ink-like coat vanishes from her arms.
//“Thanks, I guess ...”// Lith mumbles. //“Who is she?”//
Eidrik looks at her with a wonderous expression, opens his mouth to answer, but decides to continue walking instead.]
(if: $locketopen is false)[Eidrik turns to walk back to the hut. //"Eidrik, wait! I forgot to give this back to you earlier,"// she opens her hand to give him the silver locket. He takes a long look at it, until he akes it from her.(colour:"purple")[//I was looking for it, thanks."//] Without another word, he goes off.]
Only to turn around, again, to throw her something. Lith was catching a small paper envelope filled with little round black pellets.
(colour:"purple")[//“Should you ever face something like that again, throw them!”//]
Lith can’t believe this man. She would love to throw whatever that is on him. [[The undead bear was more comprehensible, anyway.->backtolodge]]
(set: $eidrik to $eidrik + 1)
(set: $eidriktrain to true)(colour:white+red)[//“There is nothing better than a game to lift the mood and grow more together!”// Selena announces.]
Lith shyly speaks up: //“What kind of game?”//
Selena takes a look in her satchel to find a pack of cards. (colour:white+red)[//“I presume you are familiar with Maj?”//]
A deep bugged grumble from Eidrik tells her he doesn’t like the idea.
(colour:"aqua")[//“This sounds awfully ridiculous, I’m in!”//], Jocet is snickering, taking a large sip of the green liquor, grimacing from the rich taste.
(link-reveal:"When was the last time Lith played Maj with someone?")[ Not that she ever had friends, but her roommate once played some cards with her when they were drunk. Maj is not really a game rather than a bad version of tarot where participants use the cards they draw to question the others - the owner of the bigger card can ask a question to the owner of the lowest card.
Selena - visibly tipsy, juggles her cards in the air between her hands like a magical trick to slam the mixed stack on the table. Everyone gets a concealed deck of cards.
[[Jocet refills the glasses for everyone.->lodgeplay3]]]They draw their cards. Selena pulls the 'Page of Moon and Earth'. A card that stands for death, illness and the past.
(colour:white+red)[//“Haha, okay, here goes: I want to know something that was gossip for weeks. And I think I know now whom to ask about it ... Lith, did you poison the undead cat of professor Selmsworth?”//]
(colour:aqua)[//“How can you even kill something already dead with poison?”//] Jocet wonders.
//“It’s just called ‘poison’ but rather some kind of acid that is destabilizing the magical points of contact necromancy leaves ...”//
(colour:white+red)[//“Okay, okay, too many details. Did or did you not do it?”//]
(link-reveal:"Lith smiles.")[ That was in her second year, making upset a lot of students and teachers. //“I did. I couldn’t see the poor creature in its tiny cage every day, spending immortality like this.”// Eidrik is closely watching her, frowning. (if: $eidrik is 2)[She looks directly at him: //“I don’t know how you are creating them, but I know how to put them out of their misery.”//]
(colour:white+red)[//“That’s why you were the first student not to pass the conjuration basics - because of that? Not because of the ... urm ... drugs?”//] Lith snorted in agreement. Selena touches her arm: (colour:white+red)[//“That creature was so disgusting. Finally, I know whom to thank for.”//] Lith blushes.
(colour:"aqua")[//“Okay, next! Everyone, draw your cards!”//] [[Jocet announces.->lodgeplay4]]]Jocet draws the 'Red King of Sun and Fire', snickering: (colour:"aqua")[//“Sorry Eidrik, it’s basically the sex card of my deck - I have to ask.”//]
(colour:"purple")[//“Ugh, whatever.”//] (link-reveal:"Eidrik replies indifferently.")[
(colour:"aqua")[//“Do necromancers have sex with the dead?”//]
Eidrik just stares at him, blinks slowly to eventually roll his eyes and brush back a strand of black hair from his dark-blue eyes:(colour:"purple")[//“Yes.”//]
Selena, who was taking a sip nearly choked on it.
(colour:"aqua")[//“Yes 'what'?”//], Jocet asks disappointedly. (colour:"aqua")[//“That’s not how this game is supposed to be played.”//]
(colour:"purple")[//“I can just leave.”//], Eidrik murmurs.
//“Please don’t,”// (link-reveal:"Lith pleads quietly.")[
Eidrik looks directly at Jocet: (colour:"purple")[//“Ok, long version then: I learned so much from your mom,”//] Eidrik adds provokingly. (colour:"purple")[//“She has been a fantastic teacher.”//]
Jocet puts a dark grin on his face.
//“Wait, what is this about? Is your mom...dead?!”// Lith makes a face.
The conjurer loos at her grimly, cleaning his glasses: (colour:"aqua")[//“My mother is a professor at school. And very much alive. She is teaching Lesser Necomantic Incantations. Thinking about it, I don't want to know what she taught you."//]
Selena is curious: (colour:white+red)[//"So, this is how you met?"//]
//“That explains a lot, actually. So that's why you two ...?”// Lith mumbles.
(colour:"aqua")[//“Yes, that’s why he’s here.”//] Jocet accusatorily looks at Eidrik. The necromancer leans back, sipping at his glass.
(if: $eidrik is 2)[(colour:"aqua")[//“Let's move on!"//] [[Lith draws the Fool of Air and Aether - the highest card in her deck.->EidrikSelena]]]
(if: $eidrik is < 2)[[[Lith is recognizing a fall in emotional temperature.->NotEidrikSelena]]]]](colour:"aqua")[//“Sard, to hell with these cards!”//] Jocet announces disgruntled, throwing his deck on the table. It appears his distaste for necromancy is reaching a new high.
(colour:"purple")[//“You still owe me an explanation, though: there was a huge undead bear at the quarry today.”//] (if: $eidrik is <2)[He shows a large flesh wound that he sloppily bound with his scarf. The other three look at him in disbelief. Lith rummages at her belt to fetch an ointment, handing it to Eidrik. He openes the small bottle to scent the smell, jerks his head back in disgust but nonetheless puts the slimy liquid on his skin.]
Jocet raises his eyebrows: (colour:"aqua")[//“I don’t follow.”//]
(colour:"purple")[//“Huge undead bear, the size of three bears bound together? Near this lodge? Crawled out of the ground when I meditated?”//]
(colour:"aqua")[//“I still don’t know why you’re asking me that.”//]
(colour:"purple")[//“Creatures like that don’t appear accidentally out of the ground. There must be a powerful necromancer nearby. You still deny it, but I know necromancy is at work here. If you don’t accept that, we’re not even prepared for tomorrow to begin with!”//]
(colour:white+red)[//“Didn’t your mother tell you?”//] (link-reveal:"Selena drops in.")[
(colour:"aqua")[//“I haven’t talked to her in years - not even on campus. When she decided to abandon the family’s ideal to delve deeper into necromancy, my parents got divorced. I don’t even know how she caught my plan to get here ...”//] he shoots a striking look at Eidrik.
Eidrik inspects the reflections in his glass, taking a gulp. (colour:"purple")[//“She didn’t tell me either. I’m here, because I suspected necromancy with her and got curious. I want to meet him.”//]
(colour:white+red)[//“Listen Jocet, Eidrik, we are in this together!”//]
(colour:"aqua")[//“I suspect you have a different reason to be here, too, Selena?"//]
(colour:white+red)[//“I have,”//] Selena adds. (colour:white+red)[//“Like everyone else. But tomorrow, we need to be a team. No more secrets. No more concealing the truth! Lith, are you in?”//]
At the beginning, she was in for the money, only. But that changed.
[[Lith nods. ->LodgeFin]]]The three of them stretch their right hands out to lay them onto each other's hand. //“Let’s do this!”//, Lith announces. Jocet smiles awkwardly. Selena looks excited. Eidrik’s face is hard to judge, but he too puts his hand on the other’s.
This night, the group sits together longer than before. Not as friends, yet. But willing to put their skills to the test. Together.(if: $jocet is 2)[She wants to be closer to Jocet as he pushes her to a new limit. ](if: $jocettrain is true)[Jocet told her how to burn down things to the ground. She needs to prove to him she is not just a potion master! ](if: $selena is 2)[She wants to be with Selena, as she is the one she can trust and learn from most. ](if: $selenatrain is true)[Selena told her how to protect others. She needs to prove she is not just the young student, that needs protection. ] (if: $eidrik is 2)[For a weird reason she feels strongly drawn to the necromancer. He is like a puzzle she wants to solve. ](if: $eidriktrain is true)[She helped Eidrik fight the undead bear and got some more tools to fight the necromancer that awaits them. She feels confident in her skills thanks to him.]
The next morning, when all of them head out to the Castile’s former estate, Lith feels a strong headache. She pulls out a little vial to counter it. //“You want some?”// (link-reveal:"Lith offers to the others.")[
When she takes a look back at the hut, she is more than surprised: the luxuriously large lodge is abandoned. Like no one in a hundred years cared for it. The wood rotten and stained, the roof sunken in, the door overgrown with weeds. Is that her headache or was that the true appearance of the hut they lived in for the last days?
(live: 4s)[To be continued in 'The Necromancer’s Lair'...
[[Or return to the first night to change your decisions?->allisabout]]]] //“Question of truth to Selena: Why did you ask Eidrik to reload your Soul Stone - I thought you dislike necromancy?”//
Jocet throws Selena a puzzled look:(colour:"aqua")[//”Great, another stab in the back.”//]
Selena wages her words. (colour:white+red)[//“Fine, I didn’t want to depend on one person only. You don't know what it means to wait for others to get your power recharged!”//]
Eidrik fetches her Soul Stone from her jacket to throw it to her: (colour:"purple")[//“Maybe it’s stronger now than filled by a conjurer, like you assumed.”//] Selena gives him a withering look for spilling this comment. Jocet looks at her, hurt.
Lith, who is recognizing the fall in emotional temperature, throws up her hands: //“Seems like everyone of us is not as confident in their abilities as we should."// She looks at her hands. //"Let's stop playing this game!//
(colour:"purple")[//“Oh, I think it reveals some interesting sides of everyone.”//] Eidrik pitches in.
[[Lith htrows him a reproachful look.->playstops]]Lith throws up her hands: //“Let's not continue playing this game."//
(colour:"purple")[//“Oh I think it reveals some interesting sides of everyone.”//], Eidrik pitches in.
[[Lith htrows him a reproachful look.->playstops]]
↶↷The Witch
The Conjurer's Lair
a short erotic interactive dating fantasy fiction
by pervventures