It was a sunny day when the skies suddenly turned dark and gloomy. Thunder roared for miles, and the winds blew the leaves on the trees back and forth as lightning streaked across the sky. Deep within the great forest, something peculiar was happening. The air itself seemed to be tearing apart, like a hole being ripped in a sheet of paper. As the tear grew larger, the weather worsened. Lightning struck the earth, charging the tear with energy. Suddenly, a figure reached out from the rift.
As the figure emerged from the rift, he paused just shy of the shimmering tear in reality. He surveyed the environment with a keen eye, taking in the surroundings before tilting his head back to gaze at the tumultuous sky. The weather was still in chaos, with the rift behind him brimming with electric sparks.
Slowly, he raised his right hand.
Snap.
At the snap of his fingers, as if on cue, the weather calmed. The dark clouds dispersed, and rays of sunlight began to filter through the forest canopy, casting a serene glow over the trees.
The man removed his hood, revealing a face of striking features. {His dark skin contrasted with his piercing eyes, and he wore a cloak that seemed to shift and shimmer with every movement, embedded with arcane symbols that hinted at his mastery of magic}.
"We are here, master," came a soft, ethereal voice. There was no one around him; the voice was a part of him, his constant companion and guide, helping regulate his mana and abilities.
"I had hoped we would appear closer to a town or village. Oh well, let's get going," he said, replacing his hood and setting out.
⬤
Not too far away, in a secluded part of the forest, lay a territory fiercely guarded by the centaur factions. These half-human, half-horse warriors claimed dominion over this region of the Great Forest of {name of forest}, and their presence was enough to deter both monsters and people from venturing into their domain, lest they incur the wrath of these formidable guardians.
Amidst this centaur-controlled area, a naturally forming hot spring bubbled serenely. Its banks were adorned with vibrant, blooming flowers, and a narrow dirt path led to the spring's entrance. Surrounding the spring were large rocks and boulders, seemingly placed there to provide a sense of privacy. Beyond this, tall trees and thick underbrush created a further barrier, ensuring the hot spring remained a hidden oasis amidst the wilderness.
A lady walked slowly along the path towards the springs, a vision of ethereal beauty. Her pale white skin was flawless, almost luminous against the greenery of the forest. Her hair, shoulder-length and as white as snow, fell forward in soft bangs that covered most of her forehead. On her head sat two white fox-like ears, along with a gold tiara adorned with a large, rhombus-shaped blue gemstone at its center. The fur in her ears had a bluish tint, appearing to faintly glow in the dim light.
She wore a striking blue dress with a high collar, sleeveless and with a daring cleavage opening. The dress seemed more like two pieces of cloth that met at the collar and around her waist, giving her an air of regal elegance. A very white, fluffy fox tail swayed behind her, moving gracefully with each step she took.
"Finally, some good weather," she murmured to herself, a hint of relief in her voice. "I was afraid it would never get better and I would have to return home."
As she reached the edge of the spring, she started to disrobe, using one leg to take off the high-heeled shoe on the other, slightly kicking the shoes to the side with her bare feet. Next, she took off her tiara, setting it on a nearby rock platform. Then, more hastily, she pulled her dress over her body in an upwards motion, revealing her pale skin in nothing but her blue thigh-high panties. Quickly folding the dress in a hurry to get into the spring, she dropped it right next to her tiara. She swung off the last remaining item of clothing, lifting each leg one after the other to give way.
Her breast hung from her chest in the shape of a teardrop, her long legs and toned abdomen added to her graceful appearance, while her hips had a gentle curve that enhanced her form. Her wide hips and hip dips accentuated her hourglass figure, and her thin waist highlighted the slight muscles that exuded. She was well toned all around from years of practice with the sword as a caster.
The cool air ran across her bare skin, causing a slight shiver. Her fox ears twitched in response to the change in temperature, and her tail swished gently behind her.
She hurriedly stepped over the edge of the spring, descending a short set of rock steps as the water rose to cover her body. It was mostly clear and steamy, with flower petals on its surface. The water glowed with a very faint blue tint around her body, mostly due to her abilities as a magic caster based in nature manipulation. She wasn't actively doing this; it was more of a passive skill she had no control over.
"Finally, some peace and quiet," she thought to herself as she swam to a more shallow section of the spring. "I know these are war times, but if I have to sit through another strategy meeting, I think I will lose it for sure." She continued, reaching a shallow edge, and laid down with her back on the spring's floor, resting her head on some tiny rocks in the water. Her head was still partially submerged with water almost at ear level, her breasts also partially submerged as she laid bare, the breasts parted to the side and exposed only at the highest points. Other than some parts of her abdomen, the rest of her body was fully submerged in water. The sun's rays hit her pale skin, giving a dull shine, nothing too harsh on the skin or on the eyes.
"Maybe I should have invited {name of female knight}; she really does know how to distract me from the world," a smile crept up her face as she closed her eyes. Not too long after, she drifted into sleep. As she slept, the faint glow around her pulsed to the slow rhythm of her heartbeat.
The forest remained calm as time passed, the sun was no longer at its highest point. A faint voice could be heard in the distance. She woke up then blinked groggily, her senses gradually returning as she tried to focus on where the sound was coming from. Through bleary eyes, she saw a blur of a man clad in all black standing on some rocky platform a great distance away, the sun behind him preventing her eyes from focusing.
"Hey, you there. Can you hear me?" his voice called out to her.
She could barely hear him, but she knew no one ever ventured into these parts without permission. If he got through, then he was either very strong or foolish enough to anger the centaurs of this forest.
"Is he a caster? No, maybe an assassin with that outfit and robe. He looks human, maybe from the Holy Empire... No, no, not this far out," various thoughts raced through her mind in mere seconds as she contemplated the situation.
Finally, a realization hit her. "The kingdom had been preparing for an attack from one of the vassal states of the Holy Empire. It wouldn't be beneath them to hire someone to take out a member of the royal family. After all, it'd be easy to get the kingdom to surrender if the leaders are dead."
As the realization sank in, fear gripped her heart. Her town was planned to be invaded by the Holy Empire very soon, and she couldn't think of any other options. It was characteristic of the Holy Empire to be ruthless with its enemies, especially demi-humans and monsters like herself.
She had been warned not to leave the citadel, but she had wanted to relax one last time before war came to her doorstep. And now, it seemed, it was here. Could she win against this foe? Fear gripped her, but alongside it, a flicker of determination ignited within her.
She quickly snapped out of her thoughts, with a surge of newly found adrenaline, she immediately sat upright, then touched the surface of the water, imbuing it with a spell as her hands glowed a bright blue color. Long icicle shaped ice stakes rapidly shot out from the depths of the spring, aimed in the direction of the enemy.
It was unclear to her how effective they were, as they made contact with the rocks and trees, causing some trees to fall and a dust cloud of rubble from hitting the rock. She lifted her hands, as various large spherical domes of water broke away from the spring in relation to her hand's movements. The spheres heated up rapidly and exploded in a vapor cloud all around the spring, creating a makeshift mist to obscure her movements.
It was not an offensive move; rather, it was a strategic ploy to buy enough time to make her escape. She knew she was no match for this threat, and her priority now was to retreat and regroup with her knight.
As the mist wrapped around her, enveloping the area in a thick haze, she stood up, her body still wet as sprinted forward, her body unclad and glistening with droplets of water. She ran around the spring; there was only one exit, and it was back the way she came, where her clothes were.
As she sprinted, her naked body glimmered, each stride sending a ripple of working muscles across her body. The warm mist caressed her skin, heightening her senses as she navigated the terrain with fluid precision.
Her hair streamed behind her like strands of silk, adding to the allure of her nakedness. Her ears were upright and flickered at the faintest of sounds as she listened for changes in the environment, allowing primal instincts guide her through the mist-shrouded landscape. She knew that her survival depended on her ability to outmaneuver her adversary.
"I don't hear anyone out there," she thought as she neared the entrance. The thought that she couldn't sense this intruder, not now nor before he called out to her, weighed heavily on her. "A strength skill, perhaps? It has to be some damn good skill to bypass my keen senses."
Reaching where she left her items, she immediately grabbed them. With no time to dress, she continued her escape. Suddenly, a chilling grasp tightened around her throat, causing her breath to get caught in her chest. The mist dissipated around her, revealing her enemy standing before her.
Her body now bare and vulnerable, she felt his overwhelming presence consume her. She could tell he was overwhelmingly strong from the firm grip around her neck, his fingers exerting a pressure that rendered her unable to resist. Overwhelmed and unable to fight back, her legs weakened beneath her, unable to support her body's weight anymore. She found herself leaning against him for support, her senses tingling with a strange sensation like electricity coursing through her veins. Despite her fear and confusion, she couldn't deny the undeniable allure of his overpowering presence.
Standing right in front of him, as his hands released her neck, a rush of blood flowed to her brain as she felt a strange dizziness, her head fell forward, coming to rest against his broad chest. He firmly gripped her waist to prevent her fall, her soft breasts now pressed against his abdomen, the contact between her now cold, wet skin and the fabric of his cloak sent a shiver down her spine. She could feel a rush of sensation that drew her closer to him.
The stranger held onto her for a while until she seemed calm. She could feel he wasn't going to harm her for he could have done this already, then he finally spoke, his voice soft and comforting yet with an undertone of depth behind it.
"I didn't mean to scare you. I am just lost." His words sent a wave of goosebumps around her body. She tried to gather her strength to respond.
"Mind if I get dressed first? It's hard to respond when I'm like this" she said as she pulled away while trying to cover her bust with her hands.
"Of course," Damian said, turning around and taking a few steps forward to give her privacy. His actions struck her as peculiar—who turns their back on a potential threat? Yet, he remained calm as she picked up her dress from the stone pathway.
"Thank you. I am Sora Valin Almitra, princess of Celestria. Sorry about that earlier, I didn't mean to do you any harm." She tried to fill the awkward silence that hung in the air.
"I am Damian, and rest assured, princess, you did me no harm."
She could tell that his words had no ill intent behind them, but she couldn't help feeling inadequate compared to him. He seemed like a real warrior, she thought to herself. She continued as she slipped her dress back on.
"So, why are you here?"
"You probably wouldn't understand if I explained, but I am a traveler. I was wondering if you could point me to the nearest town or city," he responded without much hesitation.
"Oh, you are in luck then. The capital isn't too far away. I will take you; you can look at it as repayment for earlier. What do you say?" Her excitement leaked through her voice.
"Sure."
"In that case, let's go. I am ready." She stepped to his side, fully clothed, nudging his arm with her shoulder and then looking up at him. They walked together out of the secluded spring.
"I have a carriage up ahead; we can take that to the capital." She paused for a second before continuing, "Mind if I ask?" She didn't wait for his response. "Why are you here?"
"I have many reasons, but above them all is the need to grow my knowledge and abilities, as well as those of my allies."
"Celestria could definitely use someone with your abilities. Would you like to help fight in our battle against the Holy Empire?" Sora knew her question was not best timed; she knew nothing about Damian other than his strength. However, it was a shot worth taking.
"Hmmm ..." he took a pause to think about it. "What exactly do I stand to gain? I am not a citizen of Celestria. I also don't know anything about the Holy Empire." There was a distinct lack of excitement in his voice.
"We probably couldn't offer you much in the way of coins either," Sora replied with a bit of disappointment.
He could sense the topic bothered her gravely. As they started to walk more slowly, he looked up into the evening sky. "Tell you what. I am not promising anything, but I find your cause just. I will consider fighting on your side, but I expect payment for a job well done. I would probably need to stay in the town for longer than I expected, but within that time, I will let you know."
"Really? Really?" she exclaimed with joy. "By my estimation, you should at least be on the level of a C-class adventurer since I am one." This was important to Sora and her kingdom because, in the whole of the kingdom of Celestria, there were only five people on the level of C-class or above.
As the gears in Sora's mind turned, thinking up new possibilities, they turned a corner and arrived. Waiting was a carriage, nothing so special about it at first glance. It looked like any other carriage for transportation with two horses at its front.
"Camouflage magic detected. That could come in handy later," the voice in Damian's head spoke to him as he approached it. "Looks like the princess didn't want anyone knowing she was riding here," Nora continued.
Sora led Damian to the carriage, her excitement palpable. "This is it. It's enchanted to look ordinary, but it's quite luxurious inside. We'll be at the capital in no time."
⬤
The inside of the carriage was quite luxurious. The seats were covered in the finest red leather, probably made from the skin of a rare creature that only existed in this world. The stitching was of a special silk made and sold by the Arachne, a race of half-spider, half-human creatures from the {Great Forest of }. This silk was the very best money could buy. All the handles were made of pure gold, while the other surfaces featured various shades of black leather. The carriage also had a spell on its wheels that made any ride as smooth as traveling on paved roads, along with a climate control spell that kept the temperature inside constant as long as the doors were closed.
Princess Sora sat across from both {Lyra Stormrider, the knight} and Damian.
"Mind telling me exactly why your kingdom is being attacked?" Damian broke the silence in the carriage.
"Well, to put it simply, there are two reasons. First, we're mostly a kingdom of humans and demi-human races—various beast-men and other sub-races, with only a few humans not aligned with the Holy Empire. Since most of these races have lesser or no mana affinity, I guess you could say we're at the bottom in the ranking of kingdoms."
In the new world, races were divided into three major species or classes. The class system was likely created by humans a long time ago to navigate the monsters around them, and it seems to be accepted, or at least referenced, by other intelligent races.
"Human/Humanoid Species: As the name implies, these races look very similar to humans, with a few differences. Examples include Humans, Elves, Dark Elves, Half-Elves, and Dwarves.
Demi-Human/Sub-Human Species: These are races that vastly differ from the traditional humanoid species. The term 'sub-humans' was originally used by humans and elves to reference races they felt were beneath their existence. Examples include Beast-men, Centaurs, Giants, Ogres, Trolls, and Goblins.
Heteromorphic/Inhuman/Monster Species: These are races that appear monstrous, though in some cases, they can appear human via abilities, skills, or items. Examples include Gods, Angels, Demons, Dragons, Fairies, Ghosts, Elementals, Slimes, and the Undead."
"Hmmm," Damian interrupted before she could continue. "What are some of the strongest races in terms of mana affinity and combat ability?"
"Well, at the top are Gods, Angels, Demons, Dragons, and Elves. A special mention would be humans under the God King."
The name "God King" always filled Sora's heart with fear. The thought that someone so powerful existed was enough to send shivers down her spine and make the hairs on her ears stand up right. His empire had recently made diplomatic relations with the Elven kingdom to the north and now had its eye on Celestria for its rumored resources. What a terrible position the kingdom was in right now. She snapped back and looked at Damian. He had a very stoic look on his face. She couldn't read him, but she could tell he was thinking. She looked across to Lyra, who had just been sitting there in silence.
"Alright, and the other reason?"
"The Empire believes the human race is the superior race because of their newfound magic affinity. It's said in tales that within the dungeon underneath the capital, there exist weapons and tools that require no mana to activate them. Imagine a weapon that can allow anyone without magic to stand against any magic user."
I'd probably conquer them too if I'm being honest, Sora thought. She knew in her heart that this was a great move by the Empire. However, being on the other side of it felt helpless.
"No one has been able to survive the dungeon, however, and after countless deaths, access to it has been closed."
A knock came from the driver's side of the carriage. Sora pulled down a piece of the leather behind her, revealing a small window.
"What is it?"
"We are about to go into the city, Your Highness."
"That's fine. Head for the Royal Inn."
2
Beside the carriage stood a tall, muscular woman with green skin, long pointy ears, and black shoulder-length hair, parted on one side while the other was braided. She was clad in armor plates and chainmail, with a sword at her hip that she gripped tightly as she noticed Damian with the Princess.
"Welcome back, your highness. Who is this with you?" she asked as soon as she saw the princess.
"Thank you, Lyra. This is Damian. He's going to help us in the war..."
"That's not what I said," Damian interrupted immediately.
"No fun. Well, he said he'll think about it," Sora said, rolling her eyes.
"In that case, nice to meet you, Damian. I am Lyra Valtora," she said, letting go of her sword's hilt and extending her hand. Damian shook her hand, and Lyra turned, opening the carriage door and gesturing to the princess. "Let's get going, your highness."
---
The inside of the carriage was quite luxurious. The seats were covered in the finest red leather, likely made from the hide of a rare creature unique to this world. The stitching was made from special silk produced by the Arachne race, half-spider, half-human creatures from the {Great Forest of }. This silk was the very best money could buy. All the handles were made of pure gold, and the other surfaces featured different types of leather in various shades of black. A spell on the carriage's wheels ensured a smooth ride, and a climate control spell kept the temperature constant as long as the doors were closed.
Princess Sora sat across from Lyra Stormrider and Damian.
"Mind telling me exactly why your kingdom is being attacked?" Damian broke the silence.
"Well, to put it simply, there are two reasons. Firstly, we are mostly a kingdom of human and demi-human races, various beast-men, other sub-races, and a few humans not aligned with the Holy Empire. Most of these races have lesser or no mana affinity, so we're at the bottom of the kingdom rankings."
In the new world, races were divided into three major classes: Human/Humanoid, Demi-Human/Sub-Human, and Heteromorphic/Inhuman/Monster Species. This class system was likely created long ago by humans to categorize the monsters around them and was accepted by other intelligent races.
**Human/Humanoid Species:** Races resembling humans, such as Elves, Dark Elves, Half-Elves, and Dwarves.
**Demi-Human/Sub-Human Species:** Races that vastly differ from traditional humanoids, often looked down upon by humans and elves. Examples: Beast-men, Centaurs, Giants, Ogres, Trolls, Goblins.
**Heteromorphic/Inhuman/Monster Species:** Races appearing monstrous but occasionally resembling humans through abilities, skills, or items. Examples: Gods, Angels, Demons, Dragons, Fairies, Ghosts, Elementals, Slimes, Undead.
"Hmmm." Damian interrupted, "What are the strongest races in terms of mana affinity and combat ability?"
"At the top are Gods, Angels, Demons, Dragons, and Elves. A special mention would be humans under the God King."
The name "God King" filled Sora's heart with fear. The thought of someone so powerful existing sent shivers down her spine. His empire had recently established diplomatic relations with the Elven kingdom to the north and now had its eye on Celestria for its rumored resources. The kingdom's current predicament was grim. She snapped back to look at Damian, who maintained a stoic expression. He was clearly deep in thought. Sora then glanced at Lyra, who had been silently observing.
"And the other reason?" Damian asked.
"The Empire believes the human race is superior because of their newfound magic affinity. It's said that beneath the capital, in a dungeon, exist weapons and tools that require no mana to activate. Imagine a weapon that could allow anyone to stand against a magic user."
Sora understood that, from a strategic standpoint, conquering Celestria was a smart move by the Empire. However, being on the receiving end of it felt hopeless. "No one has survived the dungeon, though, and after countless deaths, it has been sealed off."
A knock came from the driver's side of the carriage. Sora pulled down a piece of leather behind her, revealing a small window.
"What is it?"
"We are about to enter the city, your highness."
"That's fine. Head for the Royal Inn."
---
Entering the city was easy. Although the kingdom was on the verge of annexation, regulations on entry and exit were lax. Celestria was a kingdom with only one city; after disputes with the nobles of various domains, many had left to join other kingdoms or establish independent territories.
The city itself was also called Celestria. They had entered through one of the three giant gates. The city was surrounded by a defensive wall strong enough to withstand a Level 3 fireball attack. Three concentric walls guarded the city, with the Citadel at the center, protected by the strongest wall of all.
As the carriage rolled through the city, Damian slightly opened the curtain to his left, peering outside. The city was lively, with guards patrolling the streets in dark armor, silver swords at their hips. The residents were of various races, many with animal features or appearances Damian had never seen before.
Children played in the cobblestone streets, kicking balls and chasing each other while pretending to be monsters. The sight was calming, but Damian felt detached. He knew this could all be gone soon. His goal took precedence over everything, even the fate of this kingdom.
---
Another knock from the driver came, but this time he spoke before Sora opened the window.
"We have arrived at the Royal Inn, your highness."
"Thank you."
The driver, a short goblin with green skin, a bulging belly, and long pointy ears, came around to open the door. In this world, goblins existed in two forms: the wild ones, feral and animalistic, and the civilized ones, more intelligent and often living in towns or villages.
Sora was the last to step out, thanking the driver as she descended. "I'll be putting you up here for a few days. I hope you consider my offer."
Damian looked around, his eyes fixed on the ground rather than the architecture or scenery. "There's something down there... a dungeon, right?"
"Y-Yes," Sora replied.
"Interesting. If I agree to help, can I go in? There's something I want to see for myself."
"I'll see what can be done, but I must warn you—it's very dangerous."
Sora was puzzled by Damian's sudden interest. She watched him with a confused expression as he replied, "Great. I'll await your response then, Princess."
---
Three women exited the inn gracefully, each of a different race. One was an orc, similar to Lyra but shorter and less muscular, with shorter black hair and bangs. The second was a cat-human hybrid, with cat-like features, a slim tail, black cat ears, and bright blonde hair. A choker with a bell adorned her neck. Both were dressed as maids, their curvy forms filling out their outfits.
Leading them was a bunny-like woman, with long brown ears perched on her head. She was dressed less like a maid and more like a butler, with a medium bust, short torso, long legs, and a curvy figure.
"Welcome to the Royal Inn, your highness," the butler said with a deep bow, followed by the maids.
"Thank you. Be at ease." Sora raised her palm. "I'd like a room for my friend here," she continued, gesturing towards Damian.
"Of course, sir. If you would please come with me."
Damian nodded. "Alright, I'll see you later. Hopefully, with good news."
"See you soon," Sora smiled, watching Damian follow the butler.
---
Back in the carriage, Sora reclined, resting her head against the luxurious leather. "He was amazing. Everything about him was perfect," she mused aloud. She could still sense his presence in the carriage, and it intoxicated her.
As a princess, Sora had her fair share of suitors, but none had met her standards. Damian was different; he had bested her in combat and treated her with care, even before knowing her status. Unlike other men who groveled or acted arrogantly, he was a real man.
Sora's fingers slowly wandered over her legs and abdomen before drifting lower toward her crotch.
"Your highness, I suggest we wait until we reach the palace," Lyra spoke, her tone composed yet firm.
Sora smirked, drawing her hand back to a more dignified position. "Sorry about that, but I know you felt it too." She studied Lyra closely. The knight stiffened.
"You usually don't act so submissive around guests. I guess he really got to you," Sora teased.
Lyra's face scrunched up as though she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words. Sora, noticing her reaction, moved from her seat and sat on Lyra's lap. She gently traced her fingers along Lyra's face before leaning in closer.
"I hope he didn't make you too soft," Sora whispered. Lyra's ears twitched at her words. She swallowed nervously.
"N-no... I—"
"Shhh," Sora hushed her, tracing a finger over her lips. She took Lyra's hands and placed them firmly on her own body, making Lyra cup her ass.
"Good. When we get to the palace, I want you
to wait in my room. I'll handle Mother, and then we can have our fun."