Ivan sighed contentedly as he put down the simple iron knife and fork down on the now empty wooden plate. River Run was a small town, or a very large village, that straddled one of the various rivers that came down from the Claw Mountains. It had a decently sized port that served all manner of villages and wagon trade from the larger capital situated on the sea shore. That made this rather large and very successful in normal times. They had all hands on deck taking care of their customers in recent days however.
Unprecedented uncertainty came with the loss of a God which was only natural if one cared to think about such things. Ivan certainly had not and neither had the Goddess. He remembered the countless times the 'Great Mother' had told her children she would always be there through all stages of their lives. Ivan had certainly been at the parish long enough to see his Goddess weep over those whose time came by the relentless grasping hands of time.
He had seen the Goddess weep and be comforted by the elderly men and women whose great age brought with them infirmity and affliction so easily that the only option was to keep them close. When their time finally came and those old and ancient beings knew that death and time had them the Goddess always appeared. In one of her mortal-like avatar states she could heal any ail, cure any sickness, mend the mind, and generally restore the health of anyone. It was not so when those times came for the eldest of her followers to pass.
Ivan remembered her face running with tears as she looked upon the children she had raised into ancient elders time after time. It was heartbreaking, but something Ivan had never understood was why the old ones all seemed more worried for the Goddess. They were never afraid. They were happy. They were glad of the life they had spent in her following, and were often surrounded by great grandchildren and beyond as they lay in their deathbed. Their greatest concern was always that the Goddess not get so upset at their passing. He had never bothered to count the number of times he had seen Istania weeping in the arms of the children she couldn't save from age and time, but it was always the same.
Ivan's concern back then was getting the kind and gentle Goddess to laugh afterward. Tanya and he would cook her something, or give her a handmade craft, or a new section of the garden they had been working on too. Sometimes, especially when he was little it was enough to catch the Goddess before her avatar disappeared. Sometimes after the elderly passed she would stay for days at a time, sleeping and eating with them all, and spending lazy summer days with them. Ivan's memories were filled with times he had played with her as a child with Tanya, and more. He remembered the Goddess showing up with Ral and Jen, appearing in the yard from some faraway place with a baby in each arm.
Thinking of his two young squires brought tears to his eyes that quickly found their way to the plate. He had thought of that with terrible timing as the young serving maid, likely one of the owners daughters, came by to take the empty plate just then.
She hesitated, but then after settling the plate with the others in her hands she stepped a little closer. Her eyes darted about the room. The mood was somber, and what little talk there was didn't have much life. People were keeping their eyes down, and no one looked at the now empty shrine stand behind the bar.
“We have sweet cakes.” She said softly. She blushed looking at him. Eager and earnest, she reminded him greatly of Jen. “My mom makes them, and just took some out of the oven. They make me feel better when I'm sad.” She confided.
Ivan couldn't help but to smile at the girl at least a little bit.
“How much are they? I'll buy one.” He asked, doing his best to keep his voice from sounding hoarse with the sobs that wanted to explode from it.
“Two copper bits.” The young serving girl said with an adorable gap toothed smile.
Ivan checked his coins and made an uncertain face at the girl. She made an uncertain frown in return.
“I've got a copper penny. Do you know how many bits I'll need back?” He asked gently.
The little girl grinned.
“Six bits. Eight copper bits to every penny. Eight minus two is six. Mom and my sister teach me money and maths all the time. The patrons like you too!” She said, her tone delighted and proud.
Ivan handed her the penny and she pocketed it with a grin before hurrying off.
“It surprises me.” Penelope said from inside the Shroud. Only he could hear her speak while she was inside.
“What does?” Ivan asked in a whisper. The common room was busy enough that the general murmur would cover Ivan from being heard even by those with high perception. It was a comfortable amount of noise after spending about a week and half on the move and outdoors. It had been about three days since Ivan had gotten the Shroud from Samiel. He was getting used to it.
He had even learned how to make it act normally when it moved instead of that strange underwater like movement it normally had. Right now it was cast about him as a heavy leather cloak. He had abandoned his stolen armor and much of the other gear he had carried from the capital to better look at the traveler. Still he wore his sword over his stolen clothes, as was very common in port towns and villages like River Run.
“How easily you care for the innocent.” Penelope replied.
“Can you read my mind in there?” Ivan asked dryly.
“No.” Penelope answered right away. “My insight skill as a succubus is high as you might expect, but being in here magnifies that. I’m really just guessing based on what you’re feeling.” Her voice was calm, and oddly without her usual teasing tones.
“Do you think caring for the innocent is foolish?” Ivan asked.
“No. In fact I find it rather charming. Ever have warlocks and witches been able to summon demons and among them very few care for others or even the demons they summon. You have shown that you care for me. You have treated both Samiel and I as people, and not just monsters or spirits to command.” She answered.
Ivan thought for a moment.
“I think it would be hard to command you to do anything.” Ivan muttered bitterly.
Penelope laughed.
“You got your point across the one time you did command me directly.” She said dryly.
Ivan hung his head at that. He wasn't exactly proud of that moment. The memory of it, of Tanya's face, even if the smile and eyes were wrong, was stuck in his memory tied together with the sensation of his hand on her neck.
“You do have the means to do so magically. You must have skimmed over the method at least once by now.” Penelope said.
Ivan grunted.
“Do I need that book now that I have you?” Ivan asked.
“Yes.” Penelope said. She was still being serious. It was putting Ivan off, but it did a good job of making him pay attention. He cast a gaze over the room before settling back into the hood of the Shroud.
“You are still a scribe on the path to scholar more than you are a student or apprentice. I can tutor you, but the means of advancement must be your own or else you might gain yet another basic class. Spreading out instead of reaching up has served you so far, even gaining thief as you have, but now we must have you reach up. Advancing your scribe job to Scholar will help expand your mana pool making all your conjurations stronger, including me. Not only that, but it will allow you to prepare magic scrolls to use like spells, and increase your Perception, Intelligence, and Insight. Better yet using magic that way might ignite a spark or two that have so far remained latent.” Penelope told him.
He didn't know what to think of that. And she was still being so earnest and upfront about things. She often was when she spoke to him inside the Shroud.
“And why thief again?” Ivan asked.
“I've told you before. The Shroud allows you to avoid detection, but offers no explanation. We are far from the stage where you could do anything against someone who could detect it. If that happens you'll be doomed before our plan starts rolling.” She answered.
Ivan nodded.
“We've been doing good so far.” He replied.
“We've survived so far. You've taken the first tiny steps of thousands.” Penelope said, her voice slightly exasperated. “The 'Lord' of Light has a nation and armies at his command. If we are to slay him all of that must be overturned or any kind of encounter with him will just mean our doom. Likely before we lay eyes upon his true aspects besides.”
Ivan hung his head at that. Memories of Ral and Jen laying dead hung in his mind. He had been trying to push the thoughts and memories of them away ever since speaking to the young serving girl. Jen had looked like someone tried to drag her off. He didn't know if whoever did the dragging meant to simply collect her with the others, or for...anger in the form of red hot iron threatened to over take him at the thought of what else, but she was still just as dead now. She had fought hard to get away. Her wounded several of the men who had ultimately been her killers. At least she would have bleed out quickly. Ral had likely watched her die as he fell slowly to his wounds. That red hot anger threatened Ivan again and he watched as his tears spilled onto the smooth waxed surface of the table.
Penelope made a soft sound inside the Shroud and he felt more than saw her body react to his intense anger. In there it was as if he was bathing her in it. She arched her back as if in pain, but was breathing with an excited or aroused air. Ivan didn't really care which it was right then.
“I didn't mean to anger you Ivan. I'm sorry.” She said softly.
“It's not you.” Ivan said softly and jumped slightly as the little serving girl came back with his bits and a steaming hot sweet cake on a little plate in hand.
Ivan grinned at her after wiping his eyes, as much for the large sweet cake as for the little girl's sake.
The little girl smiled back, but there was no hiding the red puffiness around her eyes either. Ivan's Insight attribute wasn't so high to have that strange scent-like effect some people seemed to gain, but it was clear enough to his eyes that the little girl had her own troubles too. A lot of people in this building, and the little town around it too, had that same slight redness around the eye, and stiff shoulders that carried uncertainty like a heavy weight.
Ivan counted his bits as she handed them to him carefully, and he slipped the girl one back.
“That's for your wonderful service. Thank you little one.” He said to her as softly and gently as he could manage.
The little girl took the copper bit and then after a tiny moment of hesitation stepped forward and hugged his arm and side. It was a brief little hug, but comforting. Ivan smiled at her and gently patted her back as he returned the casual hug.
“Mom says we'll all be okay. We'll find a way.” She said, choking up near the end. “Enjoy your sweet cake.” She said, having to wipe at her eyes before turning and hurrying away.
Ivan didn't watch her go, but did pull some pieces from the little cake with his fingers. It was sweet and hot. And absolutely delicious. He felt a few gazes fall on him, but not unkindly. Many looked to the vacant shrine, others felt at their necks or at pockets where they might have kept this or that item before the Inquisitors came through town. One of his few thief skills let him sense vaguely when he was being watched. It was called 'Window of Opportunity' and with that extra sense gave some small bonuses to perception and dexterity.
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Things had been better here. The town had a large number of high level adventuring and dungeon going types to rally a defense. While River Run was not a power to resist the empire, what they did manage was to keep the killing here to a minimum. The trade off seemed to be that all the artifacts of Istania be removed from the town; a show of faith in the new leadership of the country. It had saved their lives, but the town felt hollow and the peoples moral was almost non-existent.
“So what's my next tiny step forward then?” Ivan asked in a barely audible whisper.
“Like I said, you need to start expanding your jobs upward. In every way you can. Normally that takes years of practice and dedication. But there's another way.” Penelope replied.
“The dungeons?” Ivan asked in reply.
“Yes.” Penelope said soberly.
He felt her move inside his mind. She was sitting near Tanya's grave, her fingers playing over the stones laid around the dirt. It was a completely dark space. Even items such as torches that Ivan brought in gave him no more vision than small inches around the flames. Penelope seemed to like sitting in the dark however and as he had been thinking earlier she was calmer there; more focused and serious.
“I don't imagine we can do that alone.” Ivan muttered.
“No we can't. Not yet anyway. Once you've gained levels in Scholar, Rogue, and Occult Knight you may be able to, but not until they have levels to match the jobs they came from.” Penelope answered.
“Occult Knight?” Ivan asked, mostly to himself, but Penelope seemed to acknowledge it anyway.
“Yes Ivan. You are very close to gaining that job. I expect it to appear any day now since you already meet the requirements. Perhaps if we find time to try having you use my magic again through the Shroud. That or at your next ritual. Once that's done you'll need to try hard and do some studying to gain the Scholar job and from there the Specialty Job of Scholar of Demonology once we find more forbidden tomes for you to study. If you don't manage to ignite a spark when we're that far along we'll need to expand again, but I'm pretty certain you have something that's waiting for the right moment.” Penelope told him as he slowly worked through the delicious sweet cake.
The glaze and frosting was perfect. Cinnamon and sugar were blended perfectly and the cake itself was moist and piping hot.
“Have it all planned out then?” Ivan asked, his voice a dour mask over his true sadness once again.
“Of course. I am your guide dear Master.” Penelope chided with a gentle edge to her voice. “Occult Knight, Scholar, and Scholar of Demonology all help me to help you as you may have guessed. Thief and onto Rogue will help disguise you and keep you from being noticed. It will provide an answer to how you hide yourself from standard inspections and give us time and tools we will need to react if we are caught off guard.” She paused. Her fingers drifted over the river stones of the graves once more. “But you are also very close to learning some practical healing magic. It is also fortunate that you gained Assassin through the use of poison. Even if you must level the Amateur state first, that still helps us. It made Thief a more useful job to attain as now you've already gained all the tools to make you a proper assassin. I imagine you'll fight in the open as much as within the shadows in the days to come, but having the option is always good. And as you have learned, raising your Knight and Fighter Jobs pairing and leveling similar jobs together, while tedious at times, is worth the pay off.”
“You have many paths you could take from where you are now. Some are to your advantage one way or another, but it is ultimately something that must be your choice. Through Conjure Medicine I expect that you will quickly learn the magic of Administer Medicine. That will lead on to Conjure Binding, and together with Administer Medicine you will quickly gain the magic skill of First Aid. All have heavy material requirements in trade off for very low mana cost, but they are the first steps toward gaining the magically focused Healer Job for someone born without a magic spark fit for healing. Moving in that direction will also likely require you to ignite a Soul Spark, but you will have a chance to do so every time you use your rudimentary healing magic from Hedge Doctor.” She paused again. Ivan sat quietly, wrapped up in his thoughts as he enjoyed the sweet cake. His mind rolled with various emotions. Regret was a heavy one among them. Soft voices in his mind always seemed to suggest ways he might have acted and been able to save Tanya. He tried to push them away, but they lingered on the outer edges of his mind.
“You're very talented Ivan.” Penelope whispered. “Your Goddess must have seen it and had such plans for you. I am sorry things have gone this way for you, but I promise to be here to guide you as you have asked.”
When he did not reply she went on.
“There is another path yet. It is the one you are furthest from, but perhaps given our need to remain undetected it should be considered. Occult Knight may come whether we embrace its gifts or not, but I think Quixla would be upset with me if I did not mention this next option. It is her favorite after all. Once you gain Rogue, or complete Assassin into its true form there is yet another path to take from there. Occult Assassin is a dangerous path, but a worthy one. Like Occult Knight it will pair you with deadly summoned beings. Lesser and greater demons will pay more attention to you, and heed your calls in greater numbers with the grand rituals to come in either case. All jobs in the Occult Class are good options, but I will aid you even if you choose to chase down the Healer job as well Master.”
Ivan thought for a while. He pulled apart and finished the last of the sweet cake. One of the older serving girls came by this time to take his plate, and having paid for his single bed room with his supper he decided to turn in for the night. He made his way upstairs feeling satisfied in the hunger for food, but ever since the Shroud and maybe before when he first summoned Penelope there was a new hunger now. He kept it away from his mind as he could as he thought over what and who he wanted to be as he went forward.
He thought of Ral and Jen. He thought of Tanya. He thought of Mother Melda and Father Julian and what they might say if they were here. Certainly they wouldn't have agreed with him killing so many people, and he had no idea what they would think or react to him summoning a demon. They would likely be upset, but what was he to do? Even then if he saved just one of them, even just Tanya, things would be so much different. Or at least that's what Ivan told himself.
He slid the door to his little room closed and found the bed to his liking after washing his face and hands in the small wash basin that came with the room. He felt numb and hollow, and as if he were moving his limbs from a step away with strings. He tried to close his eyes and focus on his thoughts, on anything really, but it was difficult.
He ended up sitting down and casting out his cloak. Penelope appeared at his side in her demon form, for once subdued instead of eager or teasing. She leaned into him quietly offering some manner of emotional support. Ivan let out a heavy breath.
“Can't I do both?” He asked softly.
Penelope looked at him, the amber iris's of her eyes round and focused on him in the soft darkness of their room. There was no candle lit, though a number was set about the room on thin copper trays. Ivan found he didn't need so much light to see in the dark since he gained the Shroud.
“Both Ivan? Which two do you mean?” She asked.
“Can I focus on healing whenever I can and go after one of the Occult Jobs?” He replied.
Penelope nodded after a moment. Her hands slipped softly over his arm and on his chest.
“Any division of time will obviously cut down on advancement as compared to focusing on a single job, but even then its early days. Until you manage a spark our options are limited anyway we try. It may turn out we have time to gain all three paths and master most of their skills before we can move on. You may gain a Life, Plant, or even the purer Restoration Spark as well chasing after the Healer Job. That would open many doors in your future. The Shadow Spark would be excellent for me, your Occult Ritualist Job, and your use of the Shroud, but its not guaranteed. Blood, and Fire are also options to boost your Occult potential but any spark would give us options. If you feel in your heart that Healing calls to you...perhaps especially with your Goddess gone, we should choose a path that lets you pursue that calling.” She told him. “It may be that feeling is indicative of that spark being ready to ignite.”
“Are there really so many?” Ivan asked. He had heard of several, but never stopped to wonder just how many there would be until now. He thought of the many species of plants he knew were only local types. It was only logical that there would be as many or more types of magic.
“Sparks?” Penelope asked.
Ivan gave a brief nod in answer.
“Of course. There's Magic Sparks for most anything Ivan. Many can be gifted. Some like Divine Sparks can be given and taken away like Title Jobs. But in the same vein there are some Title Jobs that are truly earned like any other Job. It is the same with those who are born with the Divine Spark already burning. That was how those with them in power gained them in the first place.” Penelope told him, her voice subdued, but bright in its tone.
Ivan looked at her. She gave him a light-hearted little grin, it had a playful edge, but she was keeping it down. Having a chance to think about more than the taste of her or how best to fight off her aura of temptation gave him a moment to consider. And then a curious thought struck him. He looked to Penelope, who for most purposes was a magically summoned familiar. The Book, 'Grimore of Valhasabub', had related that demons were much like a wizard's familiars. There was a strength to be gained from familiarity with certain demon species and specific demons in particular.
“What about you Penelope?” He asked. “What are your jobs?”
She grinned at him full blast this time.
“You could try to inspect me.” She teased, twisting at her hips to move her shoulders in a way that made keeping his gaze on her face very difficult. She was, as always, naked.
Ivan put a hand up toward her chest, but did his best to keep his eyes on hers. His scroll appeared beside the two of them where he could easily read the information it would display.
Inspect Person: Target: Penelope Inyx, Beast-Kin Succubus
Age: Unknown.
Shadow Ember detected.
Beast Ember detected.
Chaos Spark detected.
Divine Spark detected.
Unknown Demonic Job detected.
Unknown Divine Job detected.
Various Mundane Jobs detected; Most Notable to be identified: Master Cook, Grand Scholar of Demonic Arts, and Cultivator.
Subject's willingness to be inspected has gathered more results than would normally be attained. Subject is a conjured flesh Avatar of a Spiritual Being. Subject is Demonic in nature. Subject's power is limited by the strength of her summoner and her bond with him.
Ivan stared at that for a moment. Embers were almost legendary. Anyone who managed to further ignite their sparks and embers had for one; Immense Power. Two, incredible control of said power. And three, had most likely faced death and destruction several times and come out on top. In the stories that was always what it took to ignite a magic spark into an ember.
“You have the Divine Spark.” Ivan said, his mouth suddenly dry.
“So does Samiel.” Penelope said with another grin that showed her fangs.
Ivan nodded soberly. He had no idea what it meant exactly that the demon he had summoned had a divine spark, but his instincts took what little understanding the knowledge gave him to reinforce himself and his standing gut feeling about her. She was incredibly dangerous. She had been from the start and probably could have killed him at any time at all with very little effort.
“That's why then. Why you want me to go after Scholar and other means of magic? I'm holding you back from what you could be doing for me. By a lot.” Ivan said, staring down at his hands in his lap.
Penelope put her clawed fingers into his hands and ran them up his palm to lace into his. Ivan shuddered at the touch of her skin. This whole time he had been resisting just the smell of her from taking over his mind even if he was sort of used to it now, but her touch was something else entirely. He saw her grin grow and show even more fangs as he resisted the temptation she knew he felt. Even as dangerous as he knew she was, her allure was potent and heady.
“Why waste time with me if you're so powerful?” Ivan asked, feeling sorry for himself and in a rather low mood all of a sudden.
Penelope's smile was getting dangerously wide. Her gaze was drilling into him, and even his rude Insight attribute began to pick up on the manic glee filling her.
“Other than the very dangerous dungeons throughout the Hells the only way to gain power is through the mortal worlds.” Penelope answered after taking a breath, seemingly to keep herself from breaking into giggles.
“There's dungeons...in Hell?” Ivan asked.
“Of course. Every world we have access to has dungeons. Some are even in the various Hells that have blended together throughout the ages. They, like your own dungeons, are places where one can gain power for facing danger. The stakes of that danger is much higher in Hell than in other places, but the facts remain the same.” Penelope answered.
“You...you keep saying worlds. How many are there?” Ivan asked.
Penelope giggled. It was a very soft and very...predatory giggle.
“How many stars are there in the sky Ivan? Have you ever thought to count them?” She replied with a soft and wonderful little laugh.
Ivan glanced at her, his curiosity peaked lifting his mood, and she put on a much more normal grin. Her laugh and grin seemed very genuine. It was off putting, but Ivan felt any tension leave the conversation. He smiled at her, and her eyes flashed with interest. Maybe her Insight had picked up on his thoughts.
“There's the Scholar in you right there. Even right now you're thinking about how much more there must be to learn.” She was right and seemed to know it. Ivan's mind wandered across various ideas and played with the desire for exploration that had always led to Ivan getting off track during long walks. Ivan was startled then as he noticed Penelope had moved closer to him. She leaned forward, her lips opening, clearly coming in for a kiss.
Ivan struggled just to keep himself still to keep from moving in on her invitation, but she kept coming anyway. Her lips touched his own and he just about lost himself in the eye blink moment it took for her to pull her chaste kiss away from him. Just that little touch made his head spin. Normally she stopped once he noticed her invitation for whatever action she was trying to suggest. This time she had just come right at him.
“I will teach you all of it Ivan. Everything you want to know. And when the time comes that I know no more to teach you we will go out and find it together.” She whispered. “Worlds of secrets and wonder. Adventure and exploration, battle and peace. Keep me by your side and I will guide you to such things as you have never imagined. We need not chase glory or revenge forever. There is more. There is so much more.” She went on. Her words seemed to cut softly into his heart. Each word carried a gentle promise and something a little more to soothe the pain they caused.
Ivan was breathing hard and slowly leaned forward to touch his forehead to hers. She was smiling, her toothy fanged grin showing her pearly whites so stark against the harsh light eating voids of her horns and the dark and silky velvet of the fur covering her legs. Her skin seemed to glow softly to Ivan's eyes drawing his gaze down her lovely petite body so close to his own.
But he pulled away as nearly every instinct in his body screamed for him to take her down into the bed and have his way with her. Not that he had gained any more experience than the nothing he had before summoning her. But still one instinct remained. The one that reminded him that she was incredibly dangerous. It was an effort, but he managed to even keep his eyes off of her for a time until his heart stopped pounding.
That seemed to please the demon so much more than anything else he could have done. She laughed, sounding delighted and entertained, her fondness reflected in the gentle grip of her hand on his arm. He swallowed hard and gathered his thoughts as best he could.
“I think I would like that.” He said hoarsely. “But Theadus has to die first. That more than anything.” Ivan pressed though his shoulders shuddered. He was tired. He hadn't even begun to recover emotionally from what he had done or what had been done to him and his family. It came to him all at once, as it usually did, right as his body decided it would be a good time to rest.
Penelope let out a satisfied breath of sound.
“Yes. Never forget that Ivan.” She whispered to him.
Ivan tried to hold it in, but here alone in the dark again with her and after what they had talked about the memories came again and overwhelmed him. He tried to think of more things to ask her, but the pain was too real, and too new. He couldn't push them aside any longer. The memories of the past days crashed down on him with all the strength of emotion he had felt in days before. Anger. Sorrow. The deep and wretched loneliness he felt being in this world without his family.
Penelope began shushing him gently before he realized he was sobbing. She stood and knelt before him. He kept his gaze from her for a time, just trying to control the tears, but her hands found his own. Her grip was gentle and warm. Her face was suddenly no longer teasing and tormenting. Her eyes, those strange dark orbs, seemed to soak in his pain and feel it as her own.
“Lay down and rest Ivan. You're tired and we've moved far in the last few days. I'm no healer, but I don't think you've been sleeping well enough either. I know it hurts, but you need your rest. Won't you lay down?” She asked gently.
He tried to speak, but all he managed was a croak until he tried again.
“Put me to sleep. Again. Like you have been.” He told her finally, his voice was just a rough growl.
Penelope's eyes slipped into their wide rectangular shape before she focused on him again. A soft smile came to her lips and she nodded.
“Lay down Master.” She ordered gently in turn. “I will make sure you get the rest you need.”
Her spell already working, he cast the Shroud over himself. Then he more or less fell into the bed as the touch of her sleeping magic played over him. His limbs grew heavy and his thoughts muddled with pleasant warm sensations like she was drowning him in the warmth of long forgotten days. He didn't fight and let the magic take him with tears running down his cheeks.