I stepped out onto 'Red Leaf Street' from the side alley, leaving both Shinobi and Sinclair behind. It didn't take long to see why we took those side streets, for what stood in front of me, well, I will refrain from judgement.
Skimpy outfits are simply the surface of this stupendous street. Races of all sorts, stores of all kinds, each with their own touch of adult nature. Bars, clubs, brothels and shows, lined up and down each direction.
It was if everything of this nature all converged in a single area and I instantly felt uneasy. The godawful smell combined with far to strong floral scents filled my nose instantly giving me a headache as I rushed over to the brothels door.
The entire front of this brothel was a wonder to behold, white pillars mixed with green vines holding purple grapes gave off a feeling of a divines abode. Such a place could only come from old tales of the time the Gods walked among each and every one of us before the war in a time long before my own.
Ironically, its name was 'Paradise Lost', fitting it's aesthetic whilst trying to create a utopia.
Two men in white sash robes stood at either side of a large door wielding quarterstaffs, security it seemed, alongside a purple skinned woman conducting a line of customers eager to enter the establishment. The woman herself wore a brown scaled metal bikini and loincloth together with a fully polished helmet.
Her face wasn't visible, nor her eyes through the slits built into her helmet, but she walked up and down the line checking anyone who looked too young or unsavoury to enter. Her role wasn't limited to just that, as her hourglass figure and exposed skin drew in even more tails wagging for action... so to speak.
I didn't know what to do accept join the line clutching the fake petal in my hands.
I've never felt so out of my element before, usually I could stay calm in a situations like this, not so much right now. Maybe having privacy for the first time has changed me, I want to go back!
"Card"
Card? Oh right, I guess they do all identification with cards now, the old guild ID's used to be stamped onto coins, but with Marks shifting to Cryic, no no no that's only starting to happen today.
*Click* *Click*
The woman in a metal bikini snapped her fingers in each ear as I spaced out.
"Oh, uh... would this work?"
I opened my cupped hands out in front of me, showing her the fake petal.
Recognising it instantly, she closed my hands and took me inside skipping the line entirely telling me at the same time not to show such things so openly.
"I thought you would throw me out because I looked too young"
The scantily clad female warrior led me through the extremely posh interior. It was setup as a combination of a lords mansion and indoor garden. Polished white stone pillars, statues and water features spread throughout the main hall
"What you hold is more important. Also fourteen and up are allowed inside"
"W-what!? Why?"
"Because someone on the council proposed it, and the vote passed seven to six in favour of the way nobility establishes successors"
She guided me up the main staircase and down a corridor, strangely enough I saw nobody else around.
"Oh... Why would they vote for something like that? Isn't it irrelevant to begin with? The people here aren't getting the people here pregnant right?"
"No, nothing like that. We offer other services here including private luxurious rooms for wealthy couples. Our Mistress Rose was one of the few votes against the new rule, do you wish to see her today?"
"Sinclair said I should see her, but I came here for Ota"
"She came in a few minutes ago, may I ask what happened?"
"We ran into the Young Master of... uh I forgot the clan, but my sister was arguing with him, she stopped me from stepping in... and I told her that it pissed me off she didn't want to"
"Oh. I see. What's your name?"
"Touji"
"Well Touji, a few years ago Ota had two friends who lived here, Aleka and Tarosh, a young girl and boy a bit older than her. Those three, they were inseparable. Not the best kids, but they brightened our lives, even if they caused plenty of trouble-
-One day they headed together to cause mischief, only to return just before dawn the following day. We could tell what happened, but not how or who did it. Aleka was... if this is too much then just tell me to stop ok?"
"Sure"
"Right... Aleka was taken advantage of, beaten and blooded with her clothes naught but rags. Tarosh and Ota bloodied themselves as well, neither of them put up a fight, I could tell by their hands... their knuckles, fingernails clean... either they had been drugged... or... controlled-
-None of them said a thing about it, and a few months later, Aleka realised she was pregnant. Just as soon as we started to put the puzzle pieces together, Tarosh and Aleka committed suicide together, leaving a note for us recalling the events... and a request to keep Ota out of it"
"Fuck"
"That's one way to put it. Because we knew what happened, his family, we couldn't touch him"
"Why not?!"
I thought the removal of his balls would be enough, now I'm in support of a beheading.
"Because who else would take revenge? Who else would have such a motive? Who else could control anyone and everyone involved with a single silver tongued touch he can transfer"
Transfer?!
"Do you want to know what I came across when I saw my sister today? She was protecting another victim of his. You could of stopped it, but instead you worried about your own head instead of making sure that shit didn't happen again. Merrah let me know me plenty of others suffered the same fate. I don't want to hear anymore, I'll find my own way to Ota"
Now I understood why she walked away, fearing a repeat. But these people, they saw the smoke and ignored the fire. To do nothing is pathetic, it's disgusting, and now who knows how many other victims came to pass thanks to it.
I poured my anger into my fist and punched one of the perfect stone pillars, causing cracks to occur as I walked away.
Maybe I was better off not knowing.
I'm angry at myself.
I'm angry at the lack of action.
Why did nobody stand up and do something?
Looking back at the purple woman almost broke me, I sensed she was torn to the bone, and the metal helmet only helped her hide the anger she felt far deeper than I could understand.
Assuming someone's identity earlier told me I shouldn't do so on a whim, but I would bet money on that woman's identity. I didn't see a single other soul on our way through, but I felt eyes in my back as we walked.
That lady was Rose, no doubt about it.
Head of this brothel and the only monster in this city. A monster in the literal sense, because she is a succubus, one of an extremely unique situation.
She was once a copies familiar, sadly passed away and Rose eventually drifted apart from Enda. But it proved one thing, certain monsters could hold intelligence, a soul, and can fit into a society.
Walking down the hallway I gripped my right hand, it didn't hurt to punch something so hard.
What I did could of easily caused serious damage to my hand, it should of.
No spell I knew could harden my fist, maybe it was my aura?
I still didn't understand how it worked, yet all I could thing about as I looked down at my arm was simple.
What use is this?
I'm no longer a scrawny kid, but what have I done that I couldn't before?
Was punching a pillar all I can do?
Who... What do I even want to be?
Could I even become something I wanted to be in the past?
A heroic adventurer like her?
My older sister had everything already sorted everything out, she took action when others wouldn't, she made a plan and took care of a problem... She's a real hero, and I want to be like her.
Walking further down the hallway, taking a left as I walked, I spotted a door near the end I could only guess was Ota's. Far enough away from most things with an exit nearby, the real giveaway was the 'do not disturb' sign painted in red, it was worth a try.
Knocking a few times on the door, I awaited a response.
"Hey Ota, you there"
I heard a bit of movement, as if something or someone pressed against the door itself. Staring intently at it I felt the intent of another bleed through.
She intended to be left alone, so she could deal with her own problems by herself, like she always had.
Placing my back against the door, I sat down and spoke up once again.
"Do you remember that paladin girl, Tsumugi Makino? You ripped off her clothes to see if she had curses or seals on her like the other two paladins?"
"Yeah"
Her response was quiet and muffled, weighed down by emotions instead of her usual bombastic self.
"Arisu broke those in her sleep, and that isn't a metaphor. I think Her touch alone can dispel them..."
"So?"
"I didn't understand you had history with him... and I ignored your reactions because I wanted to do something"
"I did too..."
"Can I come in?"
"No..."
While not ideal, I just have to apologise not face to face
"I'm sorry Ota. I prioritised my own feelings over trying to understand yours. I was selfish and I hurt you"
"You didn't hurt me... idiot"
It was a misunderstanding that cut deeper than I thought it would and I suck at apologies. I don't know what to do.
How do I show her I care?
That I know I messed up?
It was then I heard the door unlock and not a second later I hit my back on the floor as she opened up. Ota is a strong girl, she never showed feelings of sadness or despair, choosing to bottle up those emotions instead.
I need to let her know she can talk to me.
I can see by her face, she's held that part of her inside for too long.
Then I remembered that sometimes words can't express those feelings alone.
So I stood up, I looked deep into her bright violet eyes as she looked away, I saw her messy black and red hair, her scared body, her very slightly shaking frame.
I did the only thing I could think of for the girl who felt as if she could never be embraced by others, that felt unworthy of something so simple as touch.
I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her deeply as the sobbing began, and the walls she built up for years started to break down.