“Ivan.” Her wonderful voice said, bringing him out from the deep folds of sleep over his mind.
“Ivan.” She said, but Ivan didn't get up. Her hands were easy to find where she leaned down against his bed.
Ivan pulled Tanya into the bed with him making her laugh. She was wearing her priestess gown and stole. They tangled in the sheets, but Ivan didn't care. He pulled Tanya close as he rolled her into bed and felt her arms go around his neck as she leaned into him smiling. Her forehead touched his own and she chuckled. The sound was filled with comfort, mirth, and something that was just Tanya.
Ivan still didn't open his eyes and just kissed her cheeks before snuggling his face down toward her neck and breasts making her laugh. But she still held tight to him all the same.
“Alright sleepyhead. I see what's going on here.” Tanya chided him.
Ivan shook his head using the motion to snuggle into a deeper position against her again making her laugh again. She ruffled his hair and sighed and clearly gave a look around the room of the small dorm. Then she leaned in to kiss his forehead and run her fingers along his jaw the way she did when kissed.
“Get up silly. I'll make it worth your while. We're busy today besides.” She whispered into his ear. Ivan didn't want to. He wanted to stay with Tanya where it was warm and he could get his fill of being with her before he did anything else. But he did lift his head.
The dream faded.
His eyes opened to a dark room lit by only a single lamp and a strange woman or woman-like creature laying near his side. She was just watching him, her face hidden by the shadows cast by the lamp, but her amber eyes were glinting and glowing in shadows all the same. There were curved horns, or maybe they were antlers, on her head. They curled down near the side of her head, and then up in little spikes along the main length. They were darker in the light than the rest of her face was in the shadows. There was no color to them at all, just a supreme absence of light like a void in space, and Ivan didn't understand.
What he did understand was the sweet as honey animal scent that came off the creature, and then the pale and vulnerable skin of her arms and upper body. She was awake and blinking; her breath giving her that subtle quality of life that was unmistakable. She knew he was up, but had yet to say anything or move. It would be so easy to take up her petite body in his arms and kiss the soft flesh of her neck up to those lips. But he didn't. He turned away. Even with the scent of her in his head, whatever spell or demonic effect it was, it didn't matter.
He could still feel the fever heat of her body lingering on his hands. The soft and willing grace of her hands had guided his own to touch her gently and be beside her before the infection took her. Tanya. Sweet and playful Tanya.
The anger in his memory came next. The burning heat of it was painful like a glowing ember where it sat in his mind. He was not angry with the demoness. No. Not at this creature, but at what had been done to his life, and those he loved. The hatred for the God of Light and everything he held dear. Ivan began to remember the last few days. What he had done and the sins he had committed. They didn't make him sick or writhe in agony. He just took a moment to gather his will and cast a simple magic in the air before him.
A glowing red scroll appeared before him in the air.
He looked at it for a little while, somewhat startled by the change. Normally his conjured scrolls were light blue with silver writing. This scroll was still neat, and seemingly of a roll of good thick vellum, but glowed with a blood red color and the ink that flowed upon it was black.
Inspect Person used without target: Inspecting Self. Results:
Ivan son of Nathaniel, Age 17, Male
Condition: Good, No negative afflictions or illnesses detected.
Detectable Basic Jobs: Gardner level 5, Scribe Level 5, Herbal Medicine level 3, Hedge Doctor Level 1, Warrior Level 5, Squire Level 5, Occult Ritualist level 1, Amateur Assassin level 2
Detectable Advanced Jobs: Fighter Level 8, Knight level 6, Simple Surgeon level 1
Detectable Perks: Committed, Stubborn, Remorseless, Butcher, Demon Conjurer, Demonic Blood Bond
So. Kind and Touched by the Divine were really gone from his perk list. He took a moment to really let his mind adjust for the first time that the Goddess was really gone. It was easy to be angry. It was easy to rush off and keep oneself busy to keep from thinking, but he needed to think now.
He stared at his scroll a little while before reaching out and touching the Demon Conjurer perk. The text on the scroll vanished and expanded the perk into more detail, the knowledge of it sourced from his Scribe Skill called 'Basic Information'. There were some skills that dumped knowledge right into a person's head, but the Scribe job was a basic one made up of two Fundamental Skills; Reading and Writing. Advancing those two to level 1 would give anyone the very basic Scribe job at level 1. Getting that to level 5 would give them the Basic Information skill allowing them to expand on just about anything they could inspect using magic.
It was easy enough to level up by reading and writing in the correct forms. Even transcribing and copying documents helped level the skill with ease. With Ivan's Gardening Skill at level 5 that included plants by giving him the Bonus Skill 'Inspect Plant' giving their proper names and what knowledge was known about them. Ivan could use that information to begin work as an alchemist. Even then almost any other basic job like Warrior or Squire being at level 5 with the scribe job provided the Bonus Skill 'Inspect Object' as long as they also had the Scribe Job at level 5 or when they did progress that far. That was meant to help deal with magic items and equipment, but that also could be used with Basic Information to provide Ivan the means to decipher, say, just what all the strange glass work on an alchemist's work bench might be used for. Assuming he was anywhere near a proper lab set up like that.
The lack of proper equipment was why he had been working on the Hedge Doctor skill. It wasn't the higher second tier of jobs like Alchemist, but it did provide its own benefits. He had used the information from his inspect plant to find which plants were useful for healing, and used them in the most crude ways mostly on himself after training until he got the Hedge Doctor job. That allowed him better knowledge and the ability to make some basic poultices with what rude equipment he had for such things. It also had given him a little ability with mana just like his scribe job. It was only after gaining the Job that he allowed himself to use his new skills on others. The Goddess had been confident in his ability to reason what would work and what wouldn't be Ivan had wanted to be sure. His first patients were now resting in the soil of the parish where he had grown up.
Perk: Demon Conjurer
You have summoned a demon using an occult ritual. This has permanently marked your soul with Demonic Corruption such that even if you are cleansed you will more easily take on Demonic Corruption in the future. Demonic Corruption is detectable by many Holy and Divine Jobs.
The Demon Conjurer perk's effects have been bolstered by submitting yourself to a Blood Binding Ritual with a demon you have summoned by means of an external ritual. This has caused you to suffer more Demonic Corruption.
Demon Conjurer gives you a small bonus to shadow and fire magic you wield scaling with your level of Demonic Corruption, and makes you more resistant to such effects when they are wielded against you. In addition you will experience greater ease enacting any future Demonic Rituals, Rites, and will have an easier time mastering both Black Magic Skills, and Black Magic Jobs.
Ivan read that and eyed the patiently waiting demon still laying beside him. She looked vulnerable laying there naked like that atop the old sheets in this strange room with no windows, but Ivan didn't give her a second glance and pressed his finger to the next new perk.
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Perk: Demonic Blood Bond
You have entered a voluntary pact with a summoned demon to provide it with mana and sustenance in return for the demon's service. This is the weakest and most primitive of demonic pacts giving unskilled conjurers very little control over a summoned demon in exchange for a great deal of Demonic Corruption for the duration of the Bond.
The Demon's Blood you've come in contact with has increased your mana regeneration, and given you bonuses to shadow, blood, and psychic magical effects. The creature may have an effect on your mind given these effects and should not be trusted. Further contact with the demon will lead to the effect of Demonic Corruption becoming permanent. This will increase current effects and you may display physical signs of corruption in your appearance.
The current bond will have an effect for at least 29 more days.
Ivan turned his gaze back to the mostly naked, fur legged, goat hoofed, and petite female demon laying beside him. Her hips and behind were a lovely womanly shape under that fur though her legs seemed a little thin and odd for their goat-like shape down past her knees. Yet he almost had to turn his head away as his eyes ventured up the pale flesh of her stomach and over the small, soft, and vulnerable mounds of her exposed breasts. She smiled at him as his eyes wandered up her body showing fangs in her lovely little mouth. Her arms were thin compared to his own, but gracefully muscled, and the skin upon them pale and lovely. Her fingers were clawed with black material claws like her horns. That strange dark ivory seemed to tear away at the light around her head. Her teeth however were pearly white and practically glittering with their flawless perfection. Her eyes were strange dark orbs with rectangular amber iris's like a goat’s all but when she was focusing on his face.
Her face was perfect. Looking at it Ivan barely saw the horns or the strangeness of her eyes. She was haunting. Perfect; Strange and haunting. She was enticing beyond measure, but for all that she wasn't Tanya. This creature could never match the simpler perfection that was his closest friend's beautiful smile. For the simple fact that her eyes, no matter how magically enchanting and strange, did not strike him the way Tanya's did when she was feeling playful or mischievous.
Tanya's smiles had a magic of their own that couldn't be detected with a scribe's magic. Though his eyes did feel like they had weights dragging them down to vulnerable bare skin exposed between her otherwise furred legs. His hands itched to touch that soft fur and the muscle underneath. It made him wonder in the back of his mind if this creature would let him if he dared act on those impulses.
He shoved that part of his mind down and away as he met eyes with the smiling demoness.
Then the scroll still hovering over his legs flashed with more text.
Your Mental Fortitude attribute has increased through a special action. You have gained the Perk: Resolved Heart. Empower this perk by remembering the promises you've made to yourself and keeping them.
The demoness smiled all the more at him tilting her head in a girlish fashion. The grin she boasted now showed all her gloriously white teeth and brought out the soft lines of her lovely face.
“Good Morning Ivan.” She said simply. “You look much better rested than when you and Samiel summoned me yesterday. It's helped you resist my charms it seems.” She said, her voice like some kind of invisible lovely silk wrapped about each word.
Ivan remembered some of the events of the last days then. He looked at his hands and then back to the demon before reaching down to lift her legs out of the way. The demon let him move her, not helping at all as his hands went over the too soft fur of her strange animal legs, and then remaining a little too open as he moved to the side of the bed. Her shameless action granted him a none too subtle peak at something he tried his very best not to look at.
She giggled as he stood facing the chair he remembered being guided to in this strange and dusty little room some time before. He took up his sword belt and shield from it and strapped them back into place. He felt sick looking down at the tabard of the God of Light on his chest, but knew he needed to at least pretend to disguise himself or he would invite all sorts of trouble. He heard soft hooves on the stone behind him and turned to look at the demon.
She smiled at him again. It was a pleasant girlish grin showing her teeth once more, but something about her eyes told Ivan she was much older than she seemed. Her youthful flesh was a disguise to something more ancient. She was wise and wicked for all her teasing and youthful flirtations. She was capable beyond what he could probably think to imagine right at that moment for all she seemed a willing and vulnerable youthful creature that tried to tempt him into taking her.
“You're my guide then? As the shade said?” Ivan asked.
She beamed at him.
“Of course Ivan.” She said, stroking her fingers over the top of her sternum.
Blood red light was shown there in a pentagram and for a moment Ivan had to fight off the memory of her tongue touching his own and the soft feel of her lips.
“My name is Penelope. I am a beast-kin Succubus and I specialize in magic and all manner of subterfuge. I will be your guide into all sorts of degeneracy and specialty magic.” She said with a little chuckle.
“You will find it very difficult to get to do anything that doesn't lead to my goals. As of right now I have one purpose. I'm going to spend each and every moment in pursuit of that. Whatever tricks you have planned you may as well save them. I will see that your price is paid and your kind have whatever it is you want with this world. As long as the God of Light dies by my hand.” Ivan growled.
Penelope stared at him looking up into his eyes, her own shifting from wide and square to round and focused on him. The friendly girlish smile became something altogether different and hungry.
“I like that Ivan. Oh so very much-I do like that. You please me. When you finally come to me it will be all the sweeter for it, but I can respect your wishes. First we must escape. The Elite Knights of the Order of Sunlight who remain have not found this place yet, but they will. Their magic will stop you dead in your tracks for now, but not for long. We must go far from the capital and seek a place where we can train and learn together just what shape you will need to take to accomplish your goals.”
Ivan nodded at her trying to meet her eyes, but the soft curve of her breasts and the bright pink of her nipples drew his eyes down her body once again. His eyes lingered near her groin and he had to fight hard to tear his eyes away.
“For now there must be some way to make your presence less obvious.” Ivan said.
The demon smiled and after a moment the light before her shimmered in a blurry haze like there was a curtain of water suddenly before her. Lovely wavy brown hair and priestess's robes filled out about the form and a familiar face stared back at him.
Anger flooded into Ivan like hot lead pouring into his veins.
The demon herself however was surprised as her head struck the wall and her feet dangled from the ground by Ivan's grip on her throat. She could only grin knowing the limits of the weak body provided by the knight's tiny mana pool wasn't anything near her full strength. As much as being struck should have angered her she couldn't help but tease the boy, and see where his limits were. Any demon would try as much or more to see where the bounds lie to be laid out by their master, or more simply just what they could get away with while in service. Their bond was anything but typical, yet she had to try. His strong, immediate, and unflinching reaction had surprised her nonetheless.
“NOT. HER.” Ivan growled.
The rage in his eyes... yes that truly wasn't entirely mortal or entirely human at all was it now? She smiled before hooking her legs up around Ivan and pulling him in. It startled him,but even looming up against her he was suddenly the one who seemed caught. She felt him react; saw his eyes soften at the face she wore, but he growled at her regardless and slammed her head into the wall once more.
“CHANGE.” He demanded.
She smiled up at him wearing the face of his dead promised lover.
“Kiss me.” She demanded right back using the dead priestess's voice.
Ivan slammed her against the wall so hard and so many times that even with her demonic fortitude Penelope barely held the illusion intact. She felt the rage radiating off her summoner like he was on fire. His hand was crushing her throat and dealing damage to her magically conjured body. She looked into his eyes seeing the pain hidden behind his anger, and tried to lever that using a psychic charm. Something in there burned with sullen heat and ripped away at her spell no matter how she tried.
Ivan was already resisting the demonic allure any of her forms would take, but the charm barely made him blink before her head was put into the wall again. She fed on magic so the need to breathe was only a secondary means easing that consumption, as her body was not exactly all flesh and blood, but the critical parts were still just that; critical. If he broke her skull she would still struggle to act even if she didn't really need the brain inside to think. She let the illusion about her fall, but didn't pull her legs away from around his body.
It startled him, and his grip weakened enough for her to surge forward against him. She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling herself up to be face to face with the boy. He easily held up her weight with the strength benefits given him by his four combat jobs, but even as she increased her demonic allure he didn't more than glare at her. Though it seemed his patience with her was greater now that she wasn't wearing his innocent little lover's face. She had to smile at him. He might do well after all. He kept his eye contact with her too without falling to their charm. Impressive.
“You're testing me.” He said after a moment, his voice calmer than it had been, but still tinged with anger. “That's what the book said you'd do. Do whatever you like, but don't wear her face. I will rip your damn head off if you do that again.” Ivan growled at her darkly, but his hands hesitated as they went over the fur of her thighs, and lifted her grip around his hips with them. His face twitched with anger and he put both of her legs down leaving her leaning against him with her arms loosely about his neck.
“I like you Ivan. You will do very well I think. You might just have what it takes to accomplish your goal, but there's a long road ahead. Will your resolve last that long? Or will you give in to me?” Penelope asked him, her voice purring. “I promise your fall from grace will be a pleasant one. At least for you...”
Ivan's face was darkening as again he seemed to notice his body betraying him as she let her naked body rest against him, every movement testing and teasing the innocent virgin boy. Yet he simply unclasped her hands from about his neck and began looking about the room. Penelope had to smile again. He really would just push her away. His mental fortitude attribute hadn't been so high as to give him this great amount of resistance when she first charmed him and dragged him here. His will had been ignited by the first charm, and that alone kept him focused against her influence. She could work with that. In fact she admired it and longed for the day when his love would burn for her like that.
“Like you said before we should focus on getting out of here instead of these games.” Ivan prompted, he was hungry, his throat was dry, and he needed some place to see to his other needs as well. “Where are we exactly?”