Pellicora

Mist swirled around her as she prostrated herself before the being that sat atop the throne. Coming here was a mistake, one she had realized too late for her own good. How come two so different minds exist within a single body? She shuddered just by the mere thought that those cold eyes were placed upon her.

“Why?”

The voice so cold that ice gathered in the air around them, came from the throne after a time that felt like ages. All her nine bodies in the outside world shivered at the sound of it.

“That... That is the only way. Otherwise, the seed would not take.”

“Did the spirits told you so?”

“No. I have seen my kin do so before. It does not work if...”

Logic drummed her nails against her throne, the eerie staccato carrying into the mist. Next to the outsider, four women squirmed hogtied and gagged by a frozen chain. Love, Passion, Pleasure and, Hate. What a peculiar combination. She understood the reasoning, it had no fault in it but, why those four sisters?

“Why did you choose those?”

“They are strong and the easiest to resonate with. Furthermore, each is connected with the other. They supplement each other. Without it, he would not understand. He would not give willingly and I alone cannot wield his power. This way, his heart will sway when it’s needed.”

Dangerous. Logic did not like this approach. Too much could be lost, especially now that Courage was out of her grasp. She sent Rage to keep them safe without the need for more drastic measures but, these four were a liability. Especially Hate. The strongest of the four. The only one that lied still in her bonds and pierced her with her stare. Hate would often challenge her although not even once did she won.

Yet, there were others still. Those with much greater influence. She closed her eyes and leaned back, thinking over the repercussions this action might have. Then there were also other interlopers to contest with.

“Fine. Take them. But he cannot know.”

The dryad kowtowed even lower than she already did and thanked her while her wines spread from among the trees to ensnare all the four victims.

Galen Vesa

I tried my best to remain awake but, disregarding my efforts, my mind floated between blissful darkness and gut churning awareness. One moment we were within the emerald corridor, my eyes closed and when I opened them again, Cora was busing herself by ripping out curbs in the plaza behind the guild house and digging out a hole in which we both ended up. Somewhere along the way there my pants went missing.

Her hand grabbed my bare butt cheek as she pulled our bodies closer. Well, seems like more than my pants were missing. Not that I could protest it. My body wasn’t quite sure which soul to obey. As a result, I hanged like a wet noodle in Cora’s arms, drifting in and out of darkness.

“What is wrong with her?”

My ears picked up a certain catgirl asking during one of my brief lucid moments. Mybe I could even see her if my eyes weren’t bleeding so badly.

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“Later. No time to explain. Go to the dormitory and stay in the basement until three candles burn out. Under no circumstance attempt to leave the basement before the third candle burns out. I will block all entrances from outside so if you cannot leave then wait inside until my magic fails. When that happens, come and get this useless master of mine to safety.”

“What about you?”

“Do not look for me. Just get my master inside the dormitory and lock the door before you pass out. If she’s safe, I’ll be safe.”

In her silence, I could sense Inra wasn’t quite sure about all this endeavor. I think we failed to explain her earlier what this all was about.”

“Time is of essence, save your questions for later and go. My master trusts you so I will trust you to do your part.”

Whether she agreed or not I don’t know. I blacked out before her voice could reach me. At this point it didn’t matter anymore as Cora decided to go out with a bang and cook us by releasing all the mana gathered within me. Without much care in the world, she pumped it all into her hodgepodge spell and my mana surged with glee of a five-year-old presented with all the cookies in the world.

I don’t think I want to be conscious for this. Oy, body? Faint already, will you?

No such luck came.

Oh well. I just relaxed and let them do their thing. Playing the living battery, I watch them punch a hole in space and time. Did they really rip the fabric of this word? No. Whatever spell Cora concocted, it felt subtle, much more natural than what the undying did when we were inside that tomb, recovering the song of life. The space did not break and shatter like glass but bend and waver akin to water surface. The earth underneath us which Cora uncovered, began to shimmer in a strange and inviting manner.

Who would have thought you would be my first.

Pellicora’s thoughs reverberated within my mind while her lips found mine and her tongue began to explore.

Fear not my useless master. I’ll be gentle.

Waaaaait a minute! I did not agree to any of this!

Myriads of vines shoot out of her back and bound us together, pressing her body tight against mine. Her hands pressed against my back pulled me even closer. All the while her lips sealed mine with a kiss.

Do not fight it.

A torrent of conflicting emotions spilled out of her core alongside her power, power that tried to squash us together as more and more vines wrapped themselves around us.

And... I enjoyed it. Whatever was happening, my body liked it. Sensations I did not know could exist, awoke within me and assaulted my mind.

Do not fight it.

I hesitated only for a moment. My body made the choice for me, pushing itself against the dryad, wanting, demanding...

And then the border popped. Like a pierced bubble, the border between ourselves vanished and we collapsed into one, shapeless existence. A being of essence and pleasure. No longer facing any resistance the vines contracted and squeezed us into a tiny, silver pearl. The seed of the life tree. Ripe with magic, time stopped around us while the seed gently descended towards the shimmering ground where it sunk into the fabric of space and began to spread its roots.

No longer able to distinguish between `me` or `us` we became it, anchoring ourselves in the fertile ground, purified with mana. Suddenly, the shell of the seed broke, and a sprout began to climb towards the sky. Yes, the sky. Stretching its branches like arms to the sky the seed grew, spreading its influence over the guild grounds. Fortifying its presence within this reality. Burning mana at a rate not even the spirits could match.

And it grew, and grew, towering over the guild hall, covering the entire plot of land with its branches, thickening its trunk. Absorbed in this magnificent spectacle. Following every branch as it spread above the earth. Feeling out every root that dug deep into the soil, I failed to notice when the sun sneaked up on us and its first rays began to climb over the horizon. At that exact moment, leaves began to sprout and unfurl, getting ready to accept the morning light.

We turned towards the sun in the growing anticipation. Waiting hoping. Dreaming. Then the light came. Like a gentle whisper. Like a lover’s kiss. Like arms of a dotting parent. Warm. Tasty.

New power surged through the tree. Power of awakening life as mana began to circulate within its roots. Roots that pulled lifeblood of the earth and converted it into juices pumped up to the leaves were sun rays turned it into energy for the tree to grow even more. The pleasure of life.

At that point, deemed no longer useful, I ceased to be us and once more become me. Like a spent cartridge ejected out of a gun, the tree pushed my body out of its trunk, and I fell to the ground beside it. My face red hot and flushed. My body slimy and leaking from all the wrong places.

Did I just... Me? With a plant? Thank gods Erta couldn’t see any of that.

But it was pleasant. Kind of fun.

I giggled and fell into the blissful dark.