AN: So, as per a suggestion a couple days back, I touched up Nox's character just a tad to include some ferocity. I'll be sure to keep him that way in the chapters to come, by the way. Also, if you're of the likeminded individual who did not enjoy the fact that the MC taught others his spells and abilities, then I hope you'll enjoy my answer for it.
As always, folks, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, let me know down below.
________________________________________________________________
In the end, she did take my hand, albeit with great hesitation. She was in my arms when I left the building, but I did not allow her to see the carnage below. No. Instead, I destroyed the wall with the only window within the room, and leapt towards the ground, much to the dismay of the little wolf-kin girl-child. Lupa is the name I gave her, because she did not have a name for herself. It is a goddess's name, one whose children are the wolves. She would not understand this until much later.
Outside, however, was still chaotic, and I believed it had gone on long enough. Stretching my arm above my person, fingers played wide, I intoned the spell, "<
Shadows began to converge on my position, as screams pierced the night. All fighting had seemingly ceased, as many began pointing at the moon. "What is that?" A few too many cried out, as shadowy beings began to form near the decrepit building where I and a frightened Lupa stood. She was standing next to me with wide, curious eyes, but when the shadows came, she climbed atop my person, shivering and hugging my head.
These shadows then began to form bodies of wolf-like beastmen and women, with only crimson orbs for eyes. They, then, began a silent song, howling at the blood red moon until an even larger wolf-like beastman began to form near my person. This was Alpha, his pack of almost fifty Shadow's Reapers, and it was here I gave them their first real order.
"Slay them all," I roared, as my thralls began to run from their executioners. The lucky ones had fled the compound, while all others were mercilessly slaughtered before their onslaught. Granted, they tried to put up a token of resistance, but it was all for naught. It was here I had remembered something.
Nox was among those who were going to be slaughtered.
This thought caused me to grab a pair of Shadow's Reapers by the scruff of their shadowy necks. "Find Nox," I growled at them, and they cowered under my glare, "Bring him here." They yelped and scampered off with their tails between their legs.
In mere moments, he was found and was being dragged along the ground. The pair had bitten his right arm and leg, forcefully dragging him through torn flesh, organ meat, and blood, looking a little worse for wear. "You need a bath," I rumbled down at his form, and was rewarded with a growl. His eyes were as red and dark as a Shadow's Reaper's eyes, and his maw seemed to be covered in blood and pieces of flesh. It seems some sort of madness had taken control of his mind. Good.
"Wipe yourself off with something, then greet the newest addition to our little family." The growling stopped, and his head swiveled up towards the girl-child that was staring with wide, snow-white eyes at the scene before her. No, I did not shield her as I had with Puella. For you see, although Puella is adorable, and will remain uncorrupted for a while longer, Lupa has already been introduced to the horrors of the world. Therefore, she will be the easiest to turn down the path I walk. Perhaps more so.
The idea of having a family of evil beings was a warm thought for one such as I in the past, and I would do much to see it through. No matter the cost.
After staring at Nox's body for a moment more, my arms reached up, and gently removed Lupa from my head. She yelped a bit at my touch, but calmed down when I placed her upon the ground. "That one is Nox, my first son," I whispered, pointing at the wolf-bear hybrid doing his best to remove the blood, dirt, and gore from his person. He even went as far as to lap up the blood and gore that spattered across his forearms.
He paused for a moment, then waved a little at the girl-child, who hid behind my legs. Her tail was between her own, and, with ears laid back, she peeked around them to stare at him with widened eyes. "It seems she doesn't know what to think of you, Nox," I chuckled softly. She then stared up towards my eyes, and hid herself behind me once more.
The wolves had, more or less, cleaned up the compound of the living, and began to gather around my and Nox's bodies. They sniffed towards Lupa, who yelped and tried to hide between my legs. She did not like these wolves, and when one tried to get closer, its entire form disappeared under a stream of crimson lightning. "Anyone who tries to come near my children will die. Is that understood?" Most had their ears laid back, and tails tucked under their bellies, after my display of power. They would not try again.
"Let us go home," I rumbled slowly, "Lupa," the wolf-kin girl-child stared up at my face, "let us go home, so you can meet your new sister."
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
*****
"How many are left?" I asked an attendant who was nervously sifting through a stack of parchment in his hands. It has been a few days after the battle of the compound, and the city seemed to be up in arms about it. The official report, for the general populace, was the queen's guard, along with the remaining "hero", went to arrest the "Mistress" and shut down her compound/brothel for good. There was a fight, and it was discovered within the compound, illegal magickal experiments most foul. There were shadowed monsters that were seen running amok, slaughtering all that got in the way. Of course, they were subjugated, but not before they killed most of those who were fighting within.
The non-combatants, who perished under the monsters, was low. However, it was revealed, within a decrepit building that served as the orphanage, were hundreds of dead children. Most of whom had been raped to death, while the rest were killed around the time when the wall of the compound was breached. This piece of information sent much of this city into an uproar, as children, are innocent creatures, until the darkness corrupts them.
This sort of darkness that they had endured, was one that was unforgivable in most eyes. The city guard, under the orders of the queen, with a few Undying supervising, searched all other brothels. Many had been shut down once they found out children were involved in some way. Whether it was serving customers drinks, or in the sheets, they were taken away while the owners and residents were sent to either a quarry or a mine outside of the city. They would stay there for life, or until they died. This piece of information did not please me, as I and the torturer were becoming bored with the relative peace. So, with the help of a few guards and Undying, five males, and five females were secreted into the castle's prison, where we would have much fun with listening to their screams.
However, "Of the few dozen, or so, Enchanters that participated in the events of a few days ago, only three remain able to use the spells you have taught. All others have what is known as 'Mana Burn'." The human male pulled out a few parchments, and passed them to myself. I had gotten better at understanding the local language, even though it was still a pain; enough to make out what it says.
"Mana Burn", by the by, was a common enough phenomena among this world, that most do their best to avoid it. What it does was exhaust a person's mana reserves so much, they would be unable to intone even the most simplest of spells. There wasn't a known cure for it, beyond time. However, those recovered would never be as powerful as they once were. No, they would only have about a tenth of their magickal reserves once they do recover, if they do not suicide first.
Allow me to explain further. Imagine losing a favoured limb, or become disabled enough to not be able to do what you loved anymore. Now imagine being depressed and hollow for several cycles, while waiting for your body to recover only a small portion of what was lost. If a limb was removed, but only partially grown back, would you be able to use it? If your disability had, at most, recovered by fifty percent, would you still be able to perform the actions that made you happy? This phenomena called "Mana Burn" is exactly that, and many would choose suicide over anything else.
I, on the other hand, would never experience such a thing, but I have been close on many occasions.
"And there is no cure for 'Mana Burn'?" I asked, turning to stare out the window. Down below was a gaggle of children being children. They had been, for the most part, rescued from brothels that either used them, or were about to use them, to pleasure their patrons. Currently, my eyes followed a small group led by Puella and Lupa, as they ran from one side of the queen's garden, to the other. It seems they were chasing a few rabbit-like creatures that had found their way into it.
A few children were seen subjecting a couple of rabbits to a "Cuddle From Hell". These were being petted, hugged, their heads kissed, and being carried around while they struggled against their arms. One child, a female wolf-kin with dark features was crying after being bitten by one of the rabbits. This action allowed the creature to escape, only to run into another group of children.
This group, led by Nox and a young, brown bear beastman scooped up the rabbit and child. They were then discussing something with the girl-child, then carried the rabbit towards the kitchens, while the other was being treated by a few others. My guess was, they wanted to know if she was okay, and if she still wanted to cuddle with the rabbit. When she declined the cuddle, the rabbit was carried away to the kitchens, where they would be butchered and served up for a meal. Whose meal it was, was anyone's guess.
"No, my lord," came his reply, "Short of Divine Intervention, such an act would be impossible." He excused himself shortly afterwards, and I was left staring at my hands.
"Divine Intervention..."