A sense of unease hung over the mansion. Everyone’s nerves teetered along with X’s sudden malaise, and Ruianne and High Mountain bore the brunt of it, faced with the real possibility of their plan crumbling right at the start. The Lords of House Liame feared the thought of social disgrace if X failed to show up for the duel. To assuage their worries, they decided to let him rest until his miserable days came to an end.
However, despite the redheaded elf’s lack of responsibilities, this manor’s sentient beings managed to keep X occupied all day long. Lord Derreick and his wife visited him several times, and their worries slowly dissipated as X expressed his firm determination to make it to the duel. Even his fellow slaves sneaked into his cell, and he had to reassure them too that their plan would proceed without any further interruptions.
Ruianne confirmed to her fellow elf slave that an army of allied kinn'hayas was waiting in hiding northeast of Saint Jaulea's outskirts. A vanguard squad of their fastest units awaited orders, ready to deploy inside the city. Both of them understood that getting inside would be the easy part, the real challenge would be getting out. Ruianne asked X again for his signal, “How will we know when to act?”, to which he replied it would be something unusual and for them to be prepared to act quickly. She did not press for further details, as they already had a backup plan in place. He handed her one portent and kept the other, saying that one would secure their deal. "As if I would dare lie," Ruianne scorned his doubts.
Their scheming came to an end, and there would be no more talk between them. By this time tomorrow, they would either walk free or be buried in a mass grave somewhere around Saint Jaulea, if they were lucky. Ruianne wished him farewell and good luck, saying she would pray for him and for a bloodless liberation of all slaves in the city.
Ruianne's decisions weighed heavily on her conscience; her mind struggled with conflicting emotions. She confided in X because she needed him to believe that he could escape, and she fanned the flame of his hope long enough to give the slaves a chance. Her conscience warred with her, torn between X's unstable nature and her unwavering efforts to free their fellow slaves. ‘He may be as crazy as they come, but he's helping everyone escape from their shackles, and he is a fellow elf after all,’ she thought. The well-endowed female elf wanted him to survive and escape as he desired, as did everyone. Yet, she resigned herself to reality, "Some fates are not meant to be," she told herself. “I promise to honor his sacrifice and ensure that his story lives on after we return to the Elven Kingdom.”
The weak redheaded slave-elf endured a crushing pressure while talking to Lord Derreick. The Lord, consumed by unease, struggled to maintain his composure, an unbecoming anxiety had eaten at him since yesterday, and his stern semblance couldn’t hold him together. To X’s dutiful eyes, details in his demeanor made it crystal clear: Lord Derreick understood the stakes involved, not only in the outcome of the duel but also the grand objectives awaiting him and House Liame. Tomorrow, a new beginning would dawn for his family. The frail and tricky elf, who had limped his misfortune throughout the Lord’s mansion since the beginning, would be dead by midday tomorrow, and House Liame, with Lord Derreick at the helm, would move on to greater achievements.
Leandro, brooding and choking on his own words, also visited the elf. X’s imminent demise promised to tear him apart. Although he had only met the elf a few days before, he found in him a kindred soul, one also sickened and beaten by life’s injustices. The young Lord wanted to act as a witness to the elf’s end, to drive away his own recurring nightmares. X’s certain future frightened the young Lord because he saw himself in the elf, because the elf’s demise could be his own, where his fate crashed against forces beyond his power to change. Leandro found him in good spirits, joking and strolling inside his cell with his head held high. He thought he’d like to face whatever life held for him as the elf did. He bid him farewell, inspired to fight and keep walking straight ahead.
Saint Jaulea slept under an uneasy night. Every slave in House Liame knew the updated escape plan by heart, their freedom hinged on it. Tomorrow morning, they would play a crucial role by assisting any Saint Jaulea slaves they should come across. Among the city slaves, only the most trusted ones knew of their plan. Their angst rocked against their excitement, blurring those feelings inside. Morale spiked unrestrained amidst the slaves, a sleepless night awaited their locked spirits. By night, rumors spread amidst city slaves, word of an ominous day ran loose. With freedom at hand, those slaves who knew of the plan dreamed of family and home for the first time in years.
Late, after midnight, while everyone in the mansion slept under a dense twilight counting down to zero, on last night before ignition, an imperceptible quiver rattled X.
[You can still repent your ways, and the fear will subside.]
"Wrong again... it's excitement," X replied to the specter in his cell.
[Is it?]
The elf's thoughts wandered around tomorrow’s duel, where he’d either be free or a mangled body on the streets.
“I’ve always lived for these... fleeting moments.”
[You’ll never change, will you?]
One way or another, it’d all end in a matter of hours.
"And here I thought you knew me."
“Thrice! And you’re really messed up in here,” a familiar voice interrupted his monologue. X’s sight dropped sideways and glanced at the young Lady, who was pointing to her head. “You like?” She bowed, bending her knees while slightly lifting her skirt to show off her academy uniform.
"I'll give you one point for your dress... and another for your ladylike entrance," spoke X.
She giggled, strolling to his cell. "You've become quite popular all of a sudden. I heard you've had several visitors."
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"Boring talk after boring talk. Can a slave no longer be in his last day unbothered?”
“Being the property of House Liame means you have obligations... and the duel is kind of a big deal. While I expect great things from you in tomorrow’s cruel and inhuman show, right now I’m here for something excitingly different, something that only belongs to me,” she said, running her tongue along her lips.
“And here I thought you were merely a tease.”
“As much as I like to tease... I couldn’t let this opportunity slip by.”
“You’re a unique breed of crazy. I certify it.”
She grinned. “You don’t like crazy?”
“Never said that.”
The young Lady leaned against the door of the elf’s cell, toying with its key as she stole sidelong glances at him before finally unlocking the door and stepping inside.
“Regardless, it doesn’t bother me. You have a promise to fulfill, and to be sure you don’t break it, I came prepared.”
“Eh?”
“I brought the scroll I told you about...”
“Yeah... well, we won’t need it. You can come verify it yourself.”
She bit her lower lip. “Afraid? I haven’t made that many eunuchs.” She approached the elf, her legs on either side of him. “Will you keep that piece of mesh on your face?”
“I’d strongly recommend it. There are reasons for things.”
“I’ve seen it already. Who do you think bought that mesh for you? Not me, of course, but my father wouldn't have purchased you otherwise.”
“If you say so...” X revealed his half-monstrous nature by removing the mesh cloth hiding it.
“So much... better....” whispered the young Lady.
She lowered herself over him, and their real game began in earnest. Long into the night, inside a bustling cell, two souls enjoyed each other, each for their own twisted reasons. X realized his body would struggle to keep up, it worked against his own merriment. However, he had a plan, a way of being that he had adopted since a woman once had told him women relied more on the mental aspects of sex than the physical ones. He didn’t care if she was right or wrong, but doing the less for the most out of something like sex sounded just right to him and became his second nature—a lifestyle that would finally pay off with a fat check.
A lengthy and slippery foreplay, fingers flying along with words, fueled her already voracious appetite. Like a master to student, he guided her with a compliment, “Uff... perfect,” or an encouragement, “Now show me what you can do with those...” And the rebellious student took full advantage of her teacher, using him for her own enjoyment while dissolving in bliss. Friction and sweat increased proportionally to pleasure.
The elf used his reserves judiciously, only when necessary, sticking to the easiest positions, barely moving but prodding her on, biting her ears while whispering hair-rising innuendos directed at her most basic instincts. “I’m dying soon,” he blew air into her ear, “a sword might pierce my head, or cut me in half...” She quivered. “But with my last breath, tomorrow morning, I’ll say your name.” The shivers running down her spine propelled her to higher highs.
A cascading effect, like dominoes falling one by one, manifested through a blunt assertion that exploded inside her. “Enough of your slothful behavior!” exclaimed X, “We should use the magic you brought on yourself, young Lady! Maybe that can fix your—” She bit his lip and moaned, interrupting his pronouncement as she picked up the pace. He whispered whatever came to his mind in an effort to keep her head spinning, working for him. And she answered in soft currency.
Minutes became hours of both bodies colliding against each other, and when she thought they were done for the night, he enticed her back for more. “Is this all the young Lady of the House has to offer? You promised me pure, undiluted ecstasy, a tight heaven melting over me... and I’ll hold you to it.” He dared her. An easy feat to achieve, given her fiery nature.
Whether she took the bait or she hooked him in didn’t matter. The redheaded elf would burn himself out to complete and utter exhaustion, luring her to continue until early morning, making her grind his member to dust, using it however she saw fit those last minutes before sunrise. While he provided his body, she brought her lusting self.
Moments before the crack of dawn, both bodies dropped exhausted, lying side by side. It had been a masterful performance where the young Lady tired herself out and where X skillfully navigated her body and desires.
“Ahhh...” She breathed out, radiating satisfaction. “I can’t... go on.” An overpowering feeling made her glow with glee of expectations not only met but exceeded. Her mind receded into a transient state of consciousness. “Busy day... tomorrow?” she managed to ask.
"I've heard," replied X, fully conscious.
She tried to continue their small talk before departure, but her eyes closed on their own; exhaustion and relief won. She fell in a deep sleep.
Even doing the least he could pushed X’s weak body to its limits. It ached, and he lay limp beside hers. He gazed up at the barely visible ceiling, breathing deep and slow.
[Happy now?]
Not my type... but beggars can’t be choosers.
[At least she does seem satisfied.]
Seem? The hell were you watching?
The first light of his fated day cut through his cell’s perpetual darkness. Time stretched out longer this autumn morning. He resisted a creeping urge to rest and forget about himself. After several minutes, noise came from upstairs, Head Slave-Butler Gnome had come to get him.
"Ekk's, it's—" began High Mountain, but the elf swiftly hushed and beckoned the gnome closer. "Quiet, don’t talk, just get me out of here,” whispered the elf.
"But—"
"Shh!"
High Mountain didn’t understand the elf’s crazy shenanigans, but it didn’t matter, his time had come, and this slave’s day in the limelight had begun. Head Slave-Butler Gnome unlocked X’s cell, which the redheaded elf softly closed after carefully stepping out. Under heavy darkness, High Mountain didn’t spot the body lying within. The gnome walked upstairs, followed by the elf. However, before leaving, X stooped down and left a key to his cell on the stairs—the key he had stolen from the young Lady several minutes ago.
The elf bid farewell to the one sleeping over quieted passions, hidden under a veneer of frailty and a thin blanket.
Rest well... crazy one.
He smiled as he walked towards his destiny.