A pained groan left Exrite’s mouth as she cringed to the many loud noises outside. Slowly, she seated herself upright and rubbed the back of her head, which had been rattled by the hard timber she slept on. With hazy eyes, she stared down at legs for a moment.
Even in the body of a Maiden, she still wasn’t much of a morning person. The sight of her awakening made the Frostbitten siblings smile from the carriage in front.
“Ah… what’s that noise?” Exrite groggily asked, leaning herself against the cloth walls of the carriage.
“They’re cheering for Talia.” Frosty immediately responded, her arms slightly folded.
Confusion splashed onto Exrite as she hovered her gaze towards them. At the front, she saw the woman’s straight, beautiful light blue hair, and wondered what she was doing here. Talia should’ve still been in Farshard, sorting out paperwork.
But she didn’t try to think too deeply about it. Accepting what was in front of her, she lazily brought her eyes back to herself, sighing in relief.
What was that dream?
Her mind was filled with nothing but the dream. The nightmarish wonderland she found herself in was equally as beautiful as it was terrifying.
Horrific spines shot from the surrounding pillars as she found herself atop a throne of gold. Her surroundings were endless, and only a silhouette knelt beneath her, a sword held by the side of its head.
“Betrayer.”
The figure seemed to silently whisper those ambiguous words before she cleanly cleaved the body in two with her charcoaled hands.
It wasn’t her body – she was sure of it, and it moved according to someone else’s will. Oddly enough, she was able to feel everything the body did. The tearing flesh and the coldness of the vast space felt very real.
And when she thought it was just beginning, she found herself in a strangely familiar place.
So familiar in fact, that she instinctively broke into a quiet chuckle.
I can’t escape it, can I?
She was back in the place she once called ‘home’.
Her fingers dug deep into the back of her scalp as her multi-coloured eyes drilled into the floor in self-mockery. Her past was bound to her, no matter how far away she was from ‘home’.
As she delved deeper and deeper into the depths of the rabbit hole, a hand suddenly waved in front of her face.
“Hello? Can you hear us?” Khaos’ voice asked her from above.
She suddenly shook her head and stared at the man, who remained crouched beside her with a levelled gaze.
The deafening cheers and chatter from outside returned her back to reality, as her eyes softly mellowed.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about something.” She quietly spoke, trailing her eyes towards the front, where the others stared at her with concern.
Even Talia twisted around herself for her sake.
She was slightly reassured by their concerned eyes but was also guilty for making them worry. Before she could tell them she was alright, a firm hand found itself on her head.
“I know you’re not a morning person, but sometimes you need to say something, or we’ll get worried. C’mon, wake up.”
Exrite touched his hand and gently guided it away. Not because she hated it – in fact, she accepted his warmth wholeheartedly. It was just unexpected, and oddly embarrassing for someone to have their hand on her head.
However, there was also a lingering fear.
The few times that anyone had touched her head was rarely out of affection.
Still holding onto his hand, she smiled.
“Yeah. Sorry about that!” She energetically cried, the others showing relieved faces as Talia returned to the front with a warm smile. “We’re already back at the Capital?”
Khaos took his hand back and answered:
“Dunno about ‘already’.”
His eyes fell onto his sister, who motionlessly stared back and wondered what he was talking about.
Earlier, along the forest path towards the Capital, Frosty became furious with Uru who kept on inviting ‘grim’ or rather humorous events into their game of ‘Pass the Story’, or so they called it.
Essentially, one person would say a sentence that would contribute to a story. Frosty was oddly intrigued when Bailey brought it up, even urging the others to join in.
Khaos sighed and turned away from his childish sister.
Their story was rather simple – an orphan wished to travel across the ocean, but didn’t have enough money, and so, he looked for work. It was heart-warming, right until it became Uru’s third turn.
“And then he realised; he was a moron for ever thinking anyone would be able to cross the oceans.”
To be honest, he chuckled when he heard that –
Since the boy was similar to them; trying to achieve the impossible.
It was probably why Frosty became upset, although it could’ve also been because of her investment in the game’s story. He didn’t want to ask her, less he’d want to incur her wrath.
While lost in the thought, their caravan passed through a set of heavily secured iron gates. The mere sight of Talia warranted them unhinged access through the gates, without a second though given to those aboard.
Even Uru was let through without a hitch, mostly because of her now ‘human’ looking eyes. While she couldn’t see as well with white sclera, it was of little concern to her.
After all, she wouldn’t be in much danger in the Capital housing the Exrenity, especially since she’s become acquainted with them – even if there was one who harshly disapproved.
As they entered, Allen quickly asked:
“Is it really ok for us to be in here?”
Bailey felt the same way as well. They were surrounded by figures who held prestigious power, or just plain power in general. Surely, they’d stick out like a sore thumb in such a place.
But Talia assured them, “You’re here as a witness to what happened in the mountains.”
“But what about the other adventurers who came before us?” Bailey asked, her valid point making Talia smile.
“You the only ones who knows what truly happened there. However, please omit Uru.”
Allen and Bailey both wondered the reasoning behind those words, but was immediately put to rest as she followed it with:
“We don’t have a single demon living here in the Capital, and with the legends surrounding the mountains, people will start connecting the dots.”
It seemed like Talia was aware of Uru being the same demon from the stories of the fallen dwarven city.
And she also knew just how risky it would be to allow her to meet with their king, no matter how acquainted she was to Exrite and the others. Her motives were unknown, the same with her strength, which she feared would be immensely powerful considering how long she’s been living for.
However, Uru was a demon. If there was anything Talia knew about their race – it was of their fearsome loyalty and love for the Maidens.
But it was still a gamble.
And in the end, she didn’t feel like it would work out after all.
“Uru, can you please join Bailey and Allen with the interview?”
The demon stopped humming her quiet song.
“For what reason?” She asked with a piercing voice.
“Please understand that you carry a significant risk to harming our king. I apologise if it offends you, but I cannot overlook this risk.” Talia was straight and honest with the demon, her voice resounding in the wide space they entered.
Uru could only stare in admiration – to the only human who had ever spoken to her like a true equal.
She smiled.
“Don’t be sorry priestess. I understand your sentiment.” She replied with a clear voice. “Although, I don’t think I’ll be missed by a certain Frostbitten.”
“Huh?” Was all that could leave the confused Frosty.
A vast, river-like moat surrounded the second layer of walls which housed the castle and its magnificent courtyard. The bricked path only extended as far as it would need to reach the castle, leaving every other space to be filled by the daily trimmed grass and various flowerbeds.
It was a massive space that facilitated even the training of armed knights; from those who wore simple, grey armour, to those who donned the dignified white armour.
Most of the grey soldiers aspired to become a white knight, who were the elite soldiers in both loyalty, morality and prowess. And because of that, white knights often mentored those who wanted to further devote themselves to the king, their Gods, and the Priestesses.
They were truly a force to be reckoned with, no matter how miniscule their numbers seemingly were. It wouldn’t be a surprise if some of them were previously renowned adventurers, who were at the peak of the Guild’s rankings.
In the distance, Talia hummed at the sight of her daughter, who seemed to be yelling something at the Heroes as they fought against a single white knight.
However, Talia knew that this wasn’t any ordinary knight.
The lightly bearded man stood with a grin across his olive face as he easily parried Haiyoto’s swings with an unsharpened sword.
“Do you think your sword can pierce the armour of the enemies with such little strength! Have more resolve!” His commanding voice scolded the teen as he shoved him away with astounding strength.
But from his absence, came the strike of Lizen’s spear.
However.
“You don’t slash with a spear, you fool! Never against someone with plated armour! Aim for the centre mass or the chinks!”
He cleanly blocked her swipe with a gloved arm and lunged into now defenceless girl, who quickly hid herself behind a coffin-shaped shield. However, unlike Hayoto, he gently pressed the bottom of the blade’s hilt against the girl’s forehead as she stared up at him with trembling, blue eyes.
It was her utter defeat, and had she been pit against a real enemy, she would’ve been killed in an instant.
“Without any backup or other weapons, a spear must hit! If you’re wide, you’ll be intercepted! Airu, humans aren’t like monsters – we have brains and magic! We have strategy and arts in our combat-!”
“Hey! Stop bullying Lizen!” Amy, who maintained her distance from the large knight fired a bolt of fire from her fingertip.
It travelled with incredible speed, surprising even Uru who watched it explode into a fiery inferno. The mesmerising blaze left those who witnessed it in awe.
“How’s that!?” She cried, her bright-red hair swaying in the breeze as the flames wildly flickered.
Certain of the knight’s defeat, she grinned and stared into the flames with delightful, emerald eyes. However, her naivety quickly became her downfall, as a blast of wind suddenly tore through the embers and forced her to take a step back.
There, in the absence of the flame, was the unscathed knight who held his thrown fist in place, which steamed with heat. Lizen remained seated on the only surviving patch of grass, utterly shocked by Amy’s recklessness.
“Always come prepared, even before battle. Simple barriers can make a world of difference. But I must give you credit, Amy; that was a splendid fireball. If only you had some sort of basic combat knowledge to protect you from close encounters.”
The knight amusedly praised her before turning to the approaching caravan, which housed numerous strange faces.
Talia pulled them to a stop, the horses abiding to her control of the reins as the pale horse trotted off into the gardens.
“Kalis, even if it’s a small spar, they should be taken to the Guild grounds.” She sternly reminded him, partly staring at the impressive circle of charred grass. “They’re Heroes – don’t forget that.”
“Haha! Kids, no less. Yeah, sorry Priestess Talia, I’ll try to remember that next time.” The man deeply laughed and began patting one of the horses. “You brought quite the haul. Is the Exrenity in there?”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Like I said before, please just call me Talia. And no, the Exrenity isn’t with us at the moment.”
Exrite felt the side-long glances from the others as she idly sat in the body of the caravan. She blissfully ignored them for the time being, finding interest in their conversation.
“Shame. I would’ve loved to see the strength of our human Exrenity in person. Maybe I’m greedy, or just a fool, but that light – I can’t imagine the scope of their power.” He spoke with pride and honour to the Exrenity.
The person in question wondered about that and wryly smiled.
Exrite wasn’t as strong as the many people of the city or the knights painted her as. In fact, in her male body, she could barely hold her own against Frosty – and that was only in hand to hand combat without any weaponry.
She quietly sighed, reminded of how weak she truly was in the grand scheme of things – at least for now, she sincerely hoped.
With the white knight’s remark, it seemed like even they didn’t know the true nature of the beam, and thought it was a miracle caused by the Exrenity. If this was the case with all the knights, then it was undoubtably the same with the people of the city.
It would explain why the celebrative mood still lingered in the Capital.
“I believe that these are witnesses of the smite against the ancient demon?” Kalis asked, causing Uru to raise an eyebrow.
Talia held her breath for a moment and wondered how to respond. Knowing that her words were akin to fact, she pushed the responsibility onto the others.
“You’ll have to ask them personally, since I only caught them on the path back to the Capital.”
“Priestess, then for what reason did you choose these adventurers over the others?”
“This caravan belongs to the Exrenity and his companions.”
“Companions!? Whom of you are!?” Kalis, who was a renowned greater white knight, suddenly exclaimed as he stared at the faces aboard.
Uru kept herself still, abiding to Talia’s request to act as a witness as she patiently stared at the man with unwavering eyes.
He was a giant, compared to a normal human. Bulky, with many muscles hidden beneath the thick plates of his armour. While he wasn’t as tall as Khaos, or quite built like him, he wasn’t far off either.
Frosty didn’t want to attend to his call, and neither did Khaos who still remained crouched beside Exrite.
In response to their silence, the man relaxed his shoulders and rationalised their reasons, softly smiling as he spoke.
“I see. I suppose the king is far more important than answering to a mere man’s curiosity. Godspeed to you, Talia and the companions of the Exrenity. Until we meet again. But, for now; can the witnesses please come with me.”
At his request, Uru elegantly climbed down the carriage, with Bailey and Allen following in suit. When they met with Kalis on the grassy field, he was struck with awe to the astounding beauty of the dark-skinned woman.
Her jet-black dress reached her knees, the skirt revealing half of her bare legs due to a split. As a succubus, she emphasised anything that could garner eyes towards her, as she could feed from their lust.
The man, who was one of the few greater white knights, was being tested by Uru’s body. The large cleavage she exposed didn’t help him either.
However, he didn’t falter to the woman’s trap.
Instead, he stared at Frosty and at the two figures within the caravan’s body with peculiar eyes.
He was certain that they were the companions of the Exrenity – and for them to be barely armoured – he imagined that they were of paramount strength.
His misunderstanding set the bar of expectations impossibly high for them.
Slowly, the Heroes in the background began to follow the curious Inkshard towards the caravan.
“We won’t take long, priestess Talia. You’ll find the king among others in the eleventh floor.”
Talia suddenly grit her teeth as confusion struck her very being.
“What do you mean they’re in the eleventh floor?” The words barely trickled from the gaps of her closed jaw.
She knew well of what that place was. Amongst all other places in the castle, only one floor was specifically built to facilitate the meetings and strategies for war.
And for them to be there, meant only one thing.
“Di-Lock stopped all trades to the merchant city of Fairant. From what I’ve heard, they’re sending an envoy to discuss the situation. We don’t know what’ll happen from here on, but we’ll be garrisoned there with the black knights of Pathfist, just in case.”
She furrowed her eyebrows, squeezing the reins in her clenched fists.
“Thank you, Kalis. Please, take care.” She managed to utter, her voice deep and constrained.
“Same to you, priestess, and the companions of the Exrenity.”
Talia pulled her attention away as she parted with a sombre smile. But before she could rouse the horses, a loud cry instantly caused her face to mellow.
“Mother!”
When she turned back to the side, her daughter appeared from behind the giant white knight, along with the lightly battered Heroes.
Exrite felt a chill run down her spine when she felt the caravan lightly shake as the girl climbed into the front space beside her mother. When Inkshard turned and saw their faces, both cheerfulness and annoyance riddled her face.
“Where did you all disappear to-!? Wait, where’s Exrite!?” Her sudden cry made the girl in question softly smile.
The caravan shook again, the heroes embarking the carriage space with Frosty. They suddenly became cautious at the sight of her. However, she didn’t mind them one bit, and was about to ask them something, but was cut by Bailey’s sudden shout from outside.
“Exrite, Frosty, Khaos – thank you for saving us!” She lowered her head, along with Allen even though they couldn’t see her.
“Please stop by my brother’s store if you get the chance! We’ll hold a party – and there’ll be free food to go around!”
Exrite chuckled and felt obligated to personally send them off.
Tapping Khaos’ shoulder, they both quickly hopped to the front and waved their goodbyes.
“We’ll take you on your offer!” Khaos yelled, rubbing his insatiable stomach as Bailey cherished the moment.
His figure shone like a prince beneath the sun, and his smile was just as breathtaking. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered whether she could muster enough courage to say the words that just sat at the tip of her tongue.
Allen softly placed a hand on her back and chuckled.
“Maybe another time, Bailey.”
She suddenly flushed a bright red and turned away.
“I-I don’t k-know what you’re- “
“Definitely. We’ll definitely stop by.” Exrite assured as she warmly stared at them.
“Bailey, don’t think I’ll forget about a friend so easily.” Frosty grinned as she too stood up and faced the small group below.
Thrilled by Frosty’s words, Bailey warmly smiled as she looked up with moist eyes.
“Mm. Thanks, Frosty.”
“Thank you.”
The two were riled with emotion as they tried to suppress it with all their might. Uru found herself humming in nostalgia to their little departure as she stared off into the distance.
While drowned in thought, a voice suddenly snapped her from the trance.
“We’ll be back soon, Uru.”
It was Exrite.
She sighed to herself and gently smiled, refusing to turn to the girl.
“Really, you’re the one who’s kind.” She whispered and began humming a song once again.
* * *
Their departure left them with lingering feelings for some time, particularly Frosty. Exrite wondered how she and Bailey managed to become close, since Frosty’s personality seemed to clash with everyone they came across. But it wasn’t like she disliked it, in fact – she was relieved.
Exrite was afraid that Frosty’s shell would harden over time, and she was glad that wasn’t the case. Khaos also thought the same thing, except it carried a far greater meaning to him and his sister.
Perhaps the Frostbitten still had some sort of a place in this world. It was an optimistic thought, but no one could stop them from hoping that this was the case.
While the trio sat listening to the blissful churning of the caravan wheels, and breathing the pleasant smell of the blossoming gardens, Inkshard and the Heroes curiously stared at them.
Or rather, at ‘Exrite’.
Inkshard didn’t believe it at first, but when she had a closer look at her face, she reluctantly swallowed the unbelievable fact. With narrowed eyes, she asked once more:
“Is that really you, Exrite?” Her voice was unenthusiastic, unable to fully come to terms with reality.
Exrite softly sighed. It was the third time Inkshard had asked that question, and it was quickly becoming tiresome.
“Yes, I’m still me, even if I look like this.” She replied with a stern voice, slightly annoyed by Inkshard.
But she couldn’t really blame her.
Despite Talia’s efforts to explain the reasoning behind his transformation, she still failed to wrap her head around it – even at the mention of Exrite being the Maiden of Time.
Strangely, it wasn’t the same with the Heroes. They accepted it frighteningly easily, with Haiyoto oddly showing some sympathy for her misfortune, and Lizen admiring Exrite for being not only the Exrenity, but also the Maiden of Time. Amy, however, wouldn’t stop smiling mischievously as she studied every inch of her new body.
Back on Earth, she was a fan of the gender bender genre, and for it to happen before her eyes – she couldn’t possibly resist such a treat.
Exrite wryly smiled when she met with the luscious eyes of the overly curious girl. She hummed, stroking her chin as she inspected Exrite’s assets. Particularly her chest.
“They’re lacking, aren’t they- ”
“So Amy, what country did you come from!?” Haiyoto suddenly asked with an unusually loud voice, attempting to save Exrite.
“Eh? Haiyoto, you know interrupting is rude.” She blurted before immediately going back to inspecting the new-found girl.
Exrite unknowingly sat across a snake, and her eyes tangled her with constricting coils. Just barely, was she saved by Haiyoto.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“You can guess from my last name, can’t you? I already know you’re Japanese with that weird name of yours.” Her words were awfully sharp, and they seemed to sting the black-haired teen.
“Haha! Sorry, Haiyoto.” Khaos suddenly began laughing, as the others managed to hold back a light chuckle.
His name was indeed strange to the rest. There wasn’t a single person who they’ve come across to have such a jarring name.
Haiyoto shut his eyes and smiled as they made fun of him. Not that he was angry or anything – he also found it funny himself.
When he opened his eyes, he asked:
“What kind of last name is Liktzroi anyway?”
“My last name. It’s German for… never mind, it’s not German at all.” She playfully responded. “It happens when you have weird parents.”
“So your condition is genetical then? Good to know that I won’t be infected with anything being next to you.”
“I’m so sorry, Inkshard.” Lizen muttered to the peering priestess who hummed in reply.
“No, it’s not your fault I have to babysit those kids.”
Talia smiled at her daughter’s response and quietly uttered a “My my, but you’re a child yourself, aren’t you dear.”
Naturally, Inkshard didn’t hear it.
The two Otherworlders honestly didn’t hate each other, but Haiyoto knew that Amy only spoke the language of ‘fight fire with fire’. She was a natural ditz, yet she was deceptively cunning, and knew how to rile someone up.
As their argument subsided, Exrite wondered whether all Otherworlders had such bizarre personalities. And the word Haiyoto mentioned; ‘genetical’ – she wanted to ask what it meant, but as her mouth opened, Amy immediately intervened.
“Exrite, what’s it like being a girl?” She finally asked, getting straight into the meat of things as Talia brought the caravan to a halt.
They were finally at the end of the path, and before them stood the towering pale steps which led to a pair of giant slate doors. The base of the entire castle was mesmerising, even in their second time seeing it.
Khaos immediately became dizzy and light headed the moment he shot a glance towards the top of the majestic structure.
“It’s… different, I guess.” Exrite didn’t know how to quite explain it in front of another girl. “My body’s lighter, and that’s about it.”
“… that’s it?” Amy wasn’t satisfied with her response. “Your breasts don’t intrigue you?”
“No, not at all. I can’t really lust over my own body.” Exrite felt like she knew what Amy was trying to get at.
She didn’t show any interest in her new sexual organs, or any lust or excitement at all. She thought that maybe if she was much younger, it’d be different, but as someone who was tasked with the impossible – she didn’t feel like it was worth exploring at the moment.
Softly, she smiled at herself, the surrounding voices becoming nothing but silence as she blankly stared at her knees.
Never had she felt the natural urge of lust. It was killed from her long ago, and only recently resurfaced because of Uru’s powers as a succubus. But apart from that – it was entirely absent.
Any shred of thought relating to such a thing was destroyed by the cold hands of her assailants, who taught her nothing but perpetual agony in the depths of her personal hell.
The hell she once called home.
In her crimson eye, a warmth emanated as something whispered to her.
“Why didn’t you break?”
It was a mystery, even to herself. No matter how many times she was at the brink of a mental breakdown, it never seemed to ever happen. It was something she silently longed for in her decade of suffering. It teased her, never reaching its promised climax as it tormented her in an endless cycle.
Perhaps she knew – insanity was her only true salvation.
As she allowed the thought to submerge itself in her mind, two warm hands suddenly clutched onto her shoulders.
The world tremored around her, stopping before a face suddenly appeared.
It was Talia.
“Exrite! Don’t listen to what it says!”
Blankly blinking, the girl stared at the priestess with a bizarre face. The darkness was replaced by her pure light, and at the sight of her worried face, her body relaxed.
“Wh-what happened?” She quickly asked, causing Inkshard to loudly huff in relief.
“You’re back… thank the Gods.”
In the small amount of time she spent in her horrific trance, she wondered just how much she worried her. As she tried to apologise, a throbbing pain suddenly erupted from her abdomen, causing her to groan and clutch onto her stomach.
During her trance, Talia noticed Exrite’s absentminded stare and called her name. The lack of response caused her to immediately take action, as she knew that the Eye of Despair was manifesting.
No matter how gently she shook her, or called her name, Exrite didn’t respond – not until she physically struck her back into her senses. She only resorted to it because of the words that left her lips.
“Help me.”
The subconscious cry left her with little choice.
She regretted it, but it was an absolute necessity.
“Sorry, Exrite. You wouldn’t respond to anything else.”
“I-it’s fine. At least you got me out of there.”
Talia clicked her tongue as she quickly rid Exrite of her pain with healing magic.
The others watched with earnest and concerned faces, most lost to what had just happened.
“Shit… to think ‘lust’ would trigger it.” Exrite tried to laugh at herself but ended up growling instead.
“Did something happen to you in the past?” Talia carefully asked, not wanting to trigger the eye again, or evoke any sensitive memory the girl might’ve had.
Exrite grit her teeth and managed to smile. “No, I wasn’t… yeah, I wasn’t forced into anything like that. Sorry, give me a moment.”
The contents of earlier pushed against her throat as she held on for dear life.
Khaos wanted to break something at the sight of Exrite’s state, while Frosty repeatedly cursed the Gods who had corrupted her with the Eye of Despair.
The impending insanity was slowly, but certainly progressing. The intoxicating process and vile words it spoke to Exrite was a torture in itself – the longer she had the eye, the longer she’d have to endure and hold onto her sanity.
Everyone but herself could save her. She felt helpless, but absolutely refused to give in so easily. Surely, there had to be a way for her to combat the eye herself.
But until found a reliable method was found, she had to keep relying on her friends.
“Sorry for burdening you guys like this.”
The words seamlessly left her mouth.
But no one seemed to hear her, save for Talia who warmly shook her head and sighed.
“Don’t apologise for something that isn’t your fault.”
“Sor- yeah, I’ll try to remember that.”
Exrite grinned.
“I’m fine now, Talia. Thank you for saving me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Certain.”
“Just… don’t push yourself. Before the Maiden of Time and the Exrenity, you’re still a human. Maybe not by body – but by mind.”
“… yeah. That’s why I’m still me, right?” Exrite whispered as she pushed herself back onto her feet.
With a light stretch, she turned to the others and pleasantly smiled.
“Sorry about that!”
“I thought I said not to apologise!” Talia loudly remarked.
Exrite broke into a shallow laugh as she went to join the rest, her dark blue robe swaying in the gentle breeze.
And when Frosty stole a glance of what was underneath – or rather, what wasn’t underneath, she placed a firm hand onto Exrite’s shoulder and sighed.
“Inkshard, Talia – can we please get Exrite some proper clothes?”
The priestesses nonchalantly agreed.