Alchimia Rex (062 & 063)(Volume 5 End)

[BOOK 1][BOOK 2 START][PREVIOUS][NEXT]

AN: So you ever have that thing where you're doing something, and then suddenly as you're about to finish get this weirdly vastly superior idea? Well, that's what happened to me last night, had to rush my way through to remake things into this grand monument to... stuff.

.

[062] [Aftermath]

In a twist of irony, the part of the city that lay most devastated was the one nestled furthest from the protective walls. Every building there had been struck by the Seraph, every rooftop had caved in, and every house was four stone walls with smoldering insides. The rain doused whatever flames remained and carried off the soot into the sea.

In the darkness of the night, Sinco was pockmarked by red embers.

Rick’s “lab” had been the one worst off, orcwood was sturdy, but not the sort that could stand against a Seraph’s wrath. Everything had been reduced to half-burnt chunks, though he had caught a glimpse of the compressor. The metal structure had been punctured straight through by something hot enough to leave glowing red circles.

Rick could only stare in a mix of begrudging awe and regret. All of this had been done by a lone maiden within the span of minutes. And most of it was just collateral.

It almost felt like he was seeing the collateral out of some superhero movie. Except there were no grand speeches, no tight spandex, no grandiose poise. Just three maidens sitting on the half-torn walkway that was Sinco’s pier. He didn’t need the bond to feel the exhaustion pouring through them.

Monica sat crossed-legged, nude and hunched over, both arms hanging limply at either side. Her claws twitched sporadically, the usual snowy fur that crawled its way up her arms was torn and burnt into an irregular black. Even without the familiarity he had with her body, Rick could spot the deep gouged areas that ran like canyons from her knuckles to her elbow. The new scars lacked the uniform wear the rest of her had, and he could only guess at how much it had hurt.

Next to her was Dia, the maiden was kneeling next to the giant feline, mostly naked save some rags that had seen better days and were there only for modesty. The black spiky armor had been left in a pile at the start of the pier. Her pink hair clung to her solem face, illuminated by her spell.

And then there was Eva, the smallest of the trio. Her shirt and pants were burnt all over, deep holes that had left her wearing a colander of cloth. But there were no injuries, only porcelain pale skin. No doubt her regeneration was responsible for such a state. The maiden lay flat on her back, head framed by the long black hair, leaving her looking mostly unconscious.

He knew they were aware of his presence, all three maidens had little tells. Monica’s ears were pointed at him, tail still with something resembling tension. Dia’s eyes flickered over the feline’s frame and to him. Eva shifted slightly, tilting her head away as if to hide a reaction.

Monica was the one who broke the silence once he’d gotten close. “No more itchy plant,” she remarked, staring down, not meeting his gaze.

“Is… everything safe?” he asked.

“Flower-face ran,” the huntress replied, “but safe here.”

Rick didn’t know what to feel, or what he was feeling. Experiencing the deaths of the others had shaken him. Having her gone for this many days had shaken him too. What should he say? With the right words failing to form, he stepped closer, wrapping her head into a hug.

“I’m glad you’re back.” His voice trembled.

Her tail wrapped around his leg. Monica was tall enough that all she’d needed to do was lean closer, pressing her head against his stomach. Her arms twitched slightly, but did not move from her sides.

“Nerve damage,” Dia whispered, the glow of her hands stopping, purple eyes looking up at him. “I don’t know how much she’ll recover.” Guilt weighed heavily in her voice. “The parasite… there just… I couldn’t…” She swallowed heavily, lips trembling.

Rick lowered himself to his knees, leveling with her. “You did your best.” He whispered, pulling her closer with his free arm. “I’m proud of you. All of you.” He squeezed them closer.

Nodding quickly, she buried her face against his shoulder while Monica did the same on the opposite side. Eva stared from the floor, red eyes glowing, piercing into him. “You saved us.” She broke the silence, slowly sitting up. “The Seraph kept regenerating, nothing we did put her down… until we put her into the acid.”

She gestured at the barrels near the pier. Their conversation had been heard, and the entourage of people who’d trailed behind Rick were quick to jump away, then add some healthy distance.

Rick laughed, the sound that came out of him carrying an earnest edge he hadn’t expected.

“Angry fire-bush is dead dead,” Monica piped up. “Not trouble again.”

“Again?” He furrowed his brows.

Her tail bristled, shifting to look away. “I am starving and wants food.”

Rick decided he didn’t want to know. “You must be really hungry if you’re using the fancy words.” He squeezed slightly. “You should do that more often, you know. It helps you get better at it.”

She snorted. “Many words say nothing.”

“You’ve got that right.” He chuckled a little more honestly. “How about we go home? I’m sure there’s some boar meat.”

“Rick cook crispy?” She perked up.

“Yes, extra crispy.”

Monica began to purr like a chainsaw, rubbing her cheek against his face and reaching out to pull him closer. Her arms, which typically felt like solid iron, were shaking slightly as she hugged him. Rick swallowed the lump on his throat and said nothing.

“I should go help,” Dia muttered lamely into his shoulder.

His head turned to her. “No,” he said without hesitation. “The Politas are well trained and helping enough. You need rest.”

“They can barely get a basic spell working.” She didn’t make any moves to separate herself from him.

“By the looks of it, you’re not much better,” he replied flatly, fingers caressing her hair. “Please, just rest.”

She paused, then conceded. "If that is my lord's command..."

"It is."

Dia let out a soft sigh. "You should avoid standing out in this cold rain. You'll catch a fever." She looked towards Monica. "Help?"

The larger maiden’s grip tightened a little, tugging Rick and carefully sitting him on her lap. Every move of her arms had a slow hesitation to it, but even at her weakest, it was clear she could still outpower him. There was no desire to test it though, instead he took the spot and looked up to her blue eyes. There was no discomfort in her gaze, only a soft smile.

Dia, now free from Rick’s hug, moved over to Eva and picked her up bridal-style. The Fledgling let out some feeble complaints that became far more animated when the healer dropped her on Rick’s lap.

“What’s this?” He asked, wrapping an arm around the shorter maiden.

She stopped moving, glaring at Dia.

“A lap warmer.” She replied with a chuckle, taking a spot on Monica’s thigh. It was a very cramped fit, though the larger one didn’t shove her off.

It was hard to imagine the trio had gotten this close. “Something happened with you lot?” His question came from the certainty that Dia and Monica had wanted Eva gutted not more than a month or so ago.

“Let’s say we found a common ground.” The pink haired maiden replied, leaning closer, hugging his neck against her chest.

The only one that made some disapproving sound was Eva, but kept it at that. Rick just stayed there, enjoying the shared warmth for a minute. “As much as I enjoy being surrounded by mostly-naked pretty women, I think we should go home.”

Dia gave him a weird look, then smiled a little. “You’ll have to convince the big one.”

“I thought she was convinced?” Rick looked upwards. “Food?”

“Food.”

That was how the trio got shoved off. Monica didn’t bother to wait, taking the lead while the rest scrambled to their feet. As soon as Rick had caught up, her tail snaked around his waist, tethering him to her side. It was a little awkward, but he’d manage.

As much as Rick would’ve preferred the city to be empty, it was as if everyone had poured out to the cobblestone roads. Unlike the southern edge, the central and northern ones were a hive of activity, alive with the sound of hammers and movement and voices. Material was being ferried from one place to the next, maidens one and all, uncaring for the weather. Some had small fires lighting their way, others just weren’t bothered by the darkness.

Rick’s procession of four drew silence as it went. Work slowed, then stopped, and every pair of eyes would linger on them. Rick couldn’t read their expressions properly. Apathy? Exhaustion? Nervousness? How would the city respond to having so many of their homes destroyed like this?

He wished Kiara was back in good health just so he could throw her at the crowd. This was her element, not his.

A lone figure shuffled from one of the homes, a slightly bent back and a frail body. Floating within her bony fingers was a small magelight, its glow reflected from her milky white eyes. Her chin was raised, showing off a golden collar on her neck. Rick was mostly certain that it was the highest symbol of status a maiden could hope for while still being property. She was a Doggirl. But something about the woman demanded attention, as even Monica had hesitated, slowing to stare as the matron had moved to block their path.

Behind the matron was a far younger Doggirl that looked just about ready to jump out of her skin.

The elder woman stepped towards Rick, offering a hand.

The city seemed to hold their breath as he took it. Her grip was firm, steady, devoid of the frailty he would’ve associated with old age.

“My Lord.” Slowly, she descended to a knee, pressing her forehead against his knuckles. “Thank you.”

It was like she’d put the weight of the whole city behind those words, a pressure upon his shoulders and lungs that drove the air right out of him. Dia softly nudged his side, probably reminding him to breathe.

He awkwardly coughed. “Rise,” he managed, not sure what else he should’ve said, what was expected. He could feel Dia swelling like a balloon that was about to pop. This must be normal in some way, because there was not an ounce of surprise in the bond. Only pride.

The elderly woman let go of his hand and rose, bowing once more as she returned to her anxious family member.

“Miss Dana has eight grand-daughters in the militia,” Dia whispered to him when they began walking again. The smugness in her voice was palpable. “You kept your promise, Rick, you kept them safe.”

There were a few choice words he wanted to hiss at her, but none he’d dare speak out where every other person in the city would hear.

“Rick strong,” Monica acknowledged with a firm nod.

As they moved further down the road, another elder stepped into their path. This time a woman with mousy ears that had been tattered and a face sporting a scar that had claimed an eye. She too knelt, thanked him, and walked away without another word.

The eyes that were upon him had multiplied, as if the entire city had gathered in the shadows just to witness this moment.

It was hard to tell with the darkness, but every couple blocks someone would step up. All of them in the later years of their life. Rick wanted to ask what was going on, but he mostly felt overwhelmed. No small part of it being the bond, thrusting a tidal wave of emotion towards him as more and more gathered.

There was so much of it that it felt like the city should’ve been in an uproar. But it was a quiet ritual, repeated a few dozen times, that had left him weak in the knees.

Their approach to the house was blocked by one last figure. This one they knew, three meters tall and green all over. Urtha stood there with two mangled arms that she’d insisted ‘looks worse than it is.’ “Father, Chieftess,” she greeted with a nod of acknowledgement. Then fidgeted, glancing over at the house. “The tribe did a quick patch-up. It’ll do for the night.”

He shook his head, trying to ignore the burnt roof. “Want to stay the night?”

Urtha’s face lit up. “Of course!” She declared, then coughed, nodding. “I mean, if it’s not a bother.”

“Come on, inside everyone.” He made a gesture at the house. “I’ve got enough drenching for the month, I want to get dry for a change.”

The maidens stepped inside single-file ahead of him, though it was Dia who made a point to stay back and wait for him. As soon as Monica had ducked through the door, Dia reached out to Rick’s hand and squeezed.

“I’ll get the fire ready. Don’t get cold.” She dimpled, leaning closer to steal a kiss. “Welcome home.”

Rick stood there, looking on as the maiden hummed a little tune.

Further inside, the four maidens were talking. Urtha hovered over Monica’s new scars, exchanging details about her fight while trying to draw out ones from the feline. Dia fussed over the firewood and the chimney. She and Eva were disagreeing about how the wood should be laid out for the fire.

He blinked a little, closing the door behind him, eyes shifting to the table with an empty chair.

“There’s just one thing missing,” he whispered under his breath.

It wasn’t hard to imagine a certain blue haired maiden lounging on the seat.

.

[063] [Intent (Eva)]

“So when does the sex start?”

The night had been progressing pleasantly, if in an awkward way. Eva could feel the uncertainty that hung in the air. Dia was doing her level best to pretend everything was normal, yet her eyes kept flickering to Urtha and Eva, trying to read them. Urtha was practically vibrating with excitement; the maiden kept looking at Rick as he lounged against Monica with his chest fully exposed.

He was looking back, though it was easy to tell that it wasn’t in the way Urtha was imagining it to be. The maiden kept preening, pushing her shoulders back, thrusting her rather inconveniently large chest out, and fidgeting.

Eva for her part had remained content to wrap herself in cloth and quietly nurse on Monica’s wrist. The blood still had a lingering taste of wood to it, which was exactly the right amount of “wrong” that kept her hunger from flaring up.

And then Urtha dropped the question. Across from her, Rick choked on his beverage and nearly coughed it out of his nose. Dia shot a disapproving glare. Monica blinked slowly at the Orc in what might have been a mix of realization and indifference. Eva shrank on her spot, eyes flickering between the others.

“We had a great fight! We should celebrate!” The Orc tried to break the silence. “Isn’t this what you normally do?”

“No, we do not,” Dia pointedly said, stopping herself after a moment, turning to give a thoughtful look at him. “Usually he’s a lot more hurt… hm.” She tilted her head slightly and took an impish grin. “I guess if Urtha’s going to lose her virginity, it might as well be someplace Rick can be kept safe.”

The green maiden growled. “I’m no virgin.”

“Are you sure?” The healer’s grin widened. “Other maidens don’t count.”

Rick coughed loudly to draw everyone’s attention, his face had taken a slightly redder complexion, and Eva could hear his heart thump a little. “I usually try to keep it personal.” His eyes flickered across the room, pausing at an empty chair. “Unless it’s Kiara, but she-”

“Is a huge slut?”

“A pervert?”

“Horny.”

Dia, Urtha, and Monica chipped in at the same time. They shared amused grins.

“... she eats energy,” Rick deadpanned. “And humans aren’t much of a source.”

“Having two leeches in the group is rather taxing.” Dia absentmindedly glanced at Eva, who was pointedly glaring at the fireplace.

Urtha stiffened a little. “Don’t tease Sprout.” She declared, giving the smaller maiden a pat on the back with her stumped arm. “She’s doing the best she can.”

Their gazes met, Eva’s eyes wide. The Orc had stood up for her?

“Sprout?” Dia giggled.

“She’s growing.” Rick nodded, sharing in the chuckle. “Kind of like how you’re Spikes because you can get thorny.”

“Horny too.” Monica rumbled between bites, and now it was the healer’s turn to fluster.

“Yes, well, I at least know how to be discreet.”

Eva pulled away from the fuzzy wrist, removing a couple hairs from her mouth. “Touching yourself and calling his name over and over isn’t ‘discreet’.” She knew she’d messed up as soon as she felt the crimson-faced wide-eyed glare boring into the side of her skull.

“That’s a good swing.” Urtha nodded with a chuckle, patting her shoulder again.

No, she was making it worse!

Rick reached out, grabbing Dia’s hand and pulling her to sit on his lap. The maiden hesitated for a moment before he wrapped himself around her. “I think it’s hot,” he whispered into her ear, kissing her cheek. She was instantly mollified, the maiden muttering a little and nodding.

Though she still shot a dirty look Eva’s way that held promises the shorter maiden didn’t want to be anywhere near. “You might not be a virgin, Urtha, but Sprout certainly is,” she said, snuggling into Rick.

“Seriously?” The green giant glanced down. “Everyone thought that at the beach…”

Eva suddenly wanted to become a mote of dust and disappear into the ether, her eyes firmly locked down to the floor. Her face was hot, burning, she stuttered some words out, but failed to make anything comprehensible for a full minute. “I… was feeding.”

“Eva no have sex,” Monica muttered between bites. “But Eva want Rick.”

“No I don’t!” she snapped, getting an annoyed look from the stronger maiden that made her flinch.

“Ask her what she was doing when Rick visited Eli,” Dia chirped from her throne of smugness.

“Eli?” Rick frowned. “I didn’t visit her. The time I saw her, I was with…” His eyes widened. “Oh.”

Eva’s throat tightened and her own face burned; she was trying to ignore how it was only Rick’s quickened heartbeat that her ears were focused on. The maiden squirmed a little, glaring more intently at the floor, pushing away the thoughts as best she could. Of the alleyway, burning up all over as she watched that damned Succubus kneel in front of the Lord of Sinco, fingers digging into his pants, and…

“Eva horny.” Monica chuckled, adding fuel to the fire.

“I guess it’d be fair if she went first, then.” Urtha awkwardly sat down, humming to herself.

“I don’t want Rick!” She was standing, breathing hard, hands clenched. The room felt twenty times colder, the shudder that ran through her warned her of her current state of nudity.

There was silence, but she could still hear her words echoing around the room like she’d been trapped in a canyon. The attention had shifted to Rick, the human was looking at her with those black eyes that appeared to drink in the light. Eva’s breath caught as he moved, paralyzed on the spot, trapped in his gaze as he approached her. He loomed over her, naked scarred chest exuding heat as he got closer.

Her mind spun, locked in a current of hesitations. Every move she could make was the wrong one, every word she could say would only make it worse. She swallowed, looking up at him, this close his scent was stronger than the smoke and humidity, it was metallic.

“Do you mean it?”

He spoke with a voice that made her bones shake and a warmth pool within her stomach. Eva swallowed. “It’s… just an effect from your blood,” she whispered lamely. “Nothing more.”

Eternity stretched out for several more seconds, his eyes looking for something within her. In that moment, she felt more exposed than merely naked. There was nothing she could hide from him, and that realization sent a jolt through her.

Rick leaned closer, she closed her eyes, raising her chin.

The weight of cloth fell on her shoulders.

“Don’t get cold.”

Eva stood still for several more seconds, taking a moment to calm down her breathing. “Thank you.” She struggled to keep her voice steady.

Everyone else in the room kept flickering between the two of them.

“Let’s call it a night.” Rick turned to Urtha, giving her an apologetic smile. “You can come to bed if Monica and Dia don’t mind, just be warned they like to cuddle.”

With a little mystified nod, the Orc agreed, turning to look at the other two, who nodded in turn.

The invitation was clear, it was meant for everyone but Eva. The Fledgling took a second, nodding. “I’ll… go sleep in my room. Good night.”

Why was she disappointed? No, that emotion was not right, she shouldn’t feel that, she should feel relief. She’d spoken the truth, and he didn’t tease her, didn’t push her to lose control of herself again. This was what she wanted. Right?

Wrapped up in the blanket, she hastily made her way upstairs. The wood stank of humidity, the smoke from the fire still lingered. Fortunately her room had been spared from the destruction, not that she had much to lose. Just a simple bed and changes of clothes. All the important things were securely tucked in the workshop.

Eva sat on the bed, hugging her knees.

The drumming of the rain against the roof helped drown out the little whispers and movement happening on the floor below.

Soon enough the lights were dimming, and it was clear they’d left the common room. Eva knew what would likely occur, she could practically see it: Urtha being led down to the basement to the master bedroom, naked as the day she was born. Was that creaking wood or the Orc moaning?

Catching Rick’s scent still lingering on the blanket, Eva inhaled sharply. Her mouth watered, skin tingling. Was the Orc on her knees with her face glued to the sheets? The Fledgling’s hands twitched, tempted to inch down her knees to the pool of warmth nestled at the bottom of her stomach. Another tingle, a little jostle of arousal that ran through her like lightning.

It had to be the bond.

It had to be.

A knocking at the door caught her with her fingers half-way down her thighs.

“Y-YeS!?” She squeaked, pulling her hands away. “C-come in!”

Dia stood at the door, a magelight floating over her shoulder. “Are you alright?”

“Perfectly alright.” Eva met the purple eyes, then coughed, looking away. “Or maybe not. I don’t know.”

Nodding, she approached the bed, sitting next to her. “You like Rick.”

Eva sputtered. “No, I don’t. Not in that way.” She hugged her knees. “It has to be Kiara, or the bond, or the blood, I-”

“I might not be psychic, but I’m not blind either,” she replied. “Kiara’s been unconscious for about a week. As to the bond, for every maiden that wants to jump him there’s a dozen that don’t. And if it’s the blood, then have you had the same kind of reaction near any other human who’s gotten injured?”

“No one’s gotten injured-”

“I’m the only healer in this city.” Dia poked at her shoulder. “Every day there’s at least half a dozen humans needing a gash to get patched up. It’s impossible you have never caught so much as a whiff.” Seh let out a snort. “I’ll be the first to claim Rick is special, but I’ve poured over him with every analysis and test I have. The biggest differences he has with the average human is that his body is even less capable of processing elemental energy.”

Eva didn’t answer.

“I would do us both a favor and skip over the denial.” She poked her shoulder again.

She buried her face into her arms. “Why are you doing this?” Eva muttered. “It’s better if he doesn’t pay me any attention. More for you.”

“Yeah, well, Rick wants to be a hornball, so I have to suck it up and help him be the best at it.” Dia let out a giggle, and Eva couldn’t help but join in. The healer ruffled her hair, drawing a complaint from the shorter maiden.

“I was serious.”

“So was I. I told you, I’m not blind.” Dia leaned closer, lowering her voice to a husky whisper. “He wants you too.” She poked the shoulder again, this time hard enough to make her wince.

Eva bit her lip. “I was a man.”

“And?”

The question opened the gates, for the words that had been held back, always lingering there, unspoken. “I shouldn’t like him, he… he shouldn’t like me either. I’m cursed!” Her hands began to move. “Everything about me is just something someone else made, they killed the old me and shoved it into this… this! I’m no better than some doll! No, I’m worse, I need to drink blood to live, you said so yourself, I’m a parasite.”

“You’re saying that as if this is some sort of grand revelation.” Dia deadpanned. “How many times do I have to say I’m not blind? There’s nothing you are or can say that I haven’t said already.” She shrugged. “But you stuck around, and now here we are. Suck it up.”

Eva was breathing hard, eyes wild, mind spinning. It was as if the floor had vanished underneath her, but there was one more thing left inside her.

“I was Evans Bavtha.”

Dia chuckled at the claim.

The chuckle died when she saw the dead-serious look on Eva’s face.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh.” She covered her mouth. “Oh… oh no.”

Eva nodded in vindication. “Yes, that’s who I was. I-” She winced as Dia poked her shoulder harshly. “What’s that for!?”

“Rick told me who you were.” The healer removed her hand from her mouth, revealing a soft smile. “I tried to explain it to him, how much that changed things. The great Evans Bavtha, head of the Bavtha household, the empire-appointed engineers for the enchanted collars.” She poked again. “Rick doesn’t care.”

“If the kingdom finds out…”

“Rick killed Lord Thorley with a chair in broad daylight, we’re going to war anyway.” Another harsher poke. “Do you have any other excuses in your bag?”

Eva looked away.

“Good.” Dia patted her head. “Give it a couple weeks, Urtha needs to settle down and Rick will be bogged down until he can get the repairs rolling. But I’ll get something put together… make sure to talk to Miss Ahina so she can make you something presentable. You’ll owe me big.”

With the soft click of the door, Eva was left alone once more, and entirely confused about a lot more things. Looking at the boarded window, she heard it rattling from the rain.

“I… like him.” She muttered under her breath, overhead, the rumbling of thunder shook the house.  “Fuck.”

.

PS: Anyway, Volume 5 is now ended, and what you'll get the next couple of weeks is going to be good-old "other non-plot-relevant-people's perspective" alongside some "yes-plot-relevant-people's perspective".

Mixing them up to make sure it's hard to tell which is which xD

Might also throw in some non-plot shenanigans-thick content while I prepare stuff for the next volume.

I am open for suggestions/ideas/requests, really want to know who out there in the broader world are you missing and want to take a peek at!

[BOOK 1][BOOK 2 START][PREVIOUS][NEXT]