The Archmage

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Alpha Version: 0.1.2

<<if $POV is "Player">>\ Day: <<DayOfWeek>> Time: $Time <<if $Exploration>>\ <<link [[Pass Time|passage()]]>> <<PassTime>> <</link>> | \ <<link [[Sleep|$bedPassage]]>> <<NextDay>> <</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $Kai == 0>><<else>>Name: $Kai<</if>> <<if $Rank isnot ''>>\ Rank: $RankTier $Rank <</if>>\ <<if $Sex == 0>><<else>>Sex: <<if $Sex is 'female'>><<link 'Female'>><<dialog>><<Sex>><</dialog>><</link>><<elseif $Sex is 'male'>><<link 'Male'>><<dialog>><<Sex>><</dialog>><</link>><<elseif $Masculine>><<link 'Masculine'>><<dialog>><<Sex>><</dialog>><</link>><<elseif $Feminine>><<link 'Feminine'>><<dialog>><<Sex>><</dialog>><</link>><</if>><</if>> Status: <<link $Status>><<dialog>><<include 'Status'>><</dialog>><</link>> <<elseif $POV is "Azrael">> Name: Azrael <<elseif $POV is "Percy">> Name: Percy <<elseif $POV is "Moloch">> Name: Moloch <</if>>\ <<if $POV is "Player">>\ <<if $DisplayStats>> Health: $HP/$MaxHP Mystical Strength: $Mystical Physical Strength: $Physical <<if $Vit isnot null and $MaxVit isnot null>>\ Vitality: <<= setup.formatNumber($Vit)>>/<<= setup.formatNumber($MaxVit)>> <</if>>\ <<if $Vit isnot null>>\ Essence: <<= setup.formatNumber($Ess)>> <</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $Affinity isnot ''>>\ Affinity: $Affinity <</if>>\ <<if $Sigil isnot ''>>\ Sigil: $Sigil <</if>>\ <<if $DisplayStats>>\ <<if $Shackles isnot null>>\ Shackles: Ω$Shackles <</if>>\ <<if $ShowVirtue>>\ Virtue: $Virtue <</if>>\ <<if $SmutFilter>>\ Virginity: <<if $Virginity>>Pure<<else>>Defiled<</if>> <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

<<link 'Inventory'>> <<dialog >>\ <<include 'Inventory'>> <</dialog>> <</link>> <<link 'Magical Skills'>> <<dialog >>\ <<include 'Magical Skills'>> <<onclose>> <<run Engine.show()>> <</dialog>> <</link>> <<link 'Relationships'>>\ <<dialog >>\ <<include 'Relationships'>> <</dialog>>\ <</link>> <<link 'Logbook'>> <<dialog >>\ <<include 'Logbook'>> <</dialog>> <</link>> <<link 'Settings'>> <<dialog >>\ <<include 'Settings'>> <<onclose>> <<run Engine.show()>> <</dialog>> <</link>> <<link 'Passage Navigation'>> <<dialog >>\ <<include 'Passage Navigation'>> <</dialog>> <</link>> <<link 'Changelogs'>> <<dialog >>\ <<include 'Changelogs'>> <</dialog>> <</link>> <<link 'Help'>> <<dialog >>\ <<include 'Help'>> <</dialog>> <</link>>

/* Player Character Variables */ <<set $Breasts to false>> <<set $Penis to false>> <<set $Vagina to false>> /* Game Mechanics */ <<set $Day to 0>> <<set $Time to 'Evening'>> <<set $TimePeriods to ['Morning','Afternoon','Evening','Night']>> <<set $Days to ['Sunday','Monday','Tuesday','Wednesday','Thursday','Friday','Saturday']>> <<set $Exploration to false>> <<set $Casting to false>> <<set $bedPassage to 'ApprenticeBed'>> /* Settings */ <<set $POV2 to true>> <<set $POV3 to false>> <<set $SmutFilter to true>> <<set $FutaFilter to true>> <<set $TransformationFilter to true>> <<set $LactationFilter to true>> <<set $HairyWomenFilter to true>> <<set $MindControlFilter to true>> <<set $DisturbFilter to false>> <<set $RapeFilter to false>> <<set $IncestFilter to false>> <<set $BeastFilter to false>> <<set $VoreFilter to false>> <<set $UnderageFilter to false>> <<set $NecroFilter to false>> /* General Variables */ <<set $Start to 0>> <<set $Kai to "Kai">> /* Player Name */ <<set $Sex to "male">> <<set $Masculine to true>> <<set $Feminine to false>> <<set $Penis to true>> <<set $Vagina to false>> <<set $Breasts to false>> <<set $MalePreference to false>> <<set $FemalePreference to true>> <<set $NonHumanPreference to false>> <<set $Status to "Normal">> <<set $Race to "human">> <<set $He to "He">> <<set $he to "he">> <<set $Him to "Him">> <<set $him to "him">> <<set $His to "His">> <<set $his to "his">> <<set $His2 to "His">> <<set $His2 to "his">> <<set $Himself to "Himself">> <<set $himself to "himself">> /* Temp Variables */ <<set $temp to 0>> <<set $tempVit to 0>> <<set $tempString to "">> <<set $tempBool to false>> <<set $tempArray to []>> <<set $tempHP to 100>> /* Plot Variables */ <<set $Dispose to 0>> <<set $PuzzleProg to 0>> <<set $Expelled to false>> <<set $Gloryhole1 to false>> <<set $NumberOfConfiscatedItems to 0>> <<set $SecretTraining to false>> <<set $Truant to false>> /* Monastery Rank */ <<set $RankTier to ''>> <<set $Rank to ''>> <<set $Affinity to ''>> <<set $Sigil to ''>> /* Affinity */ <<set $ShowAffinity to 0>> <<set $WaterAffinity to 0>> <<set $EarthAffinity to 0>> <<set $CrystalAffinity to 0>> <<set $HolyAffinity to 0>> <<set $PureAffinity to 0>> <<set $DarkAffinity to 0>> <<set $WickedAffinity to 0>> <<set $SpiritAffinity to 0>> <<set $CosmicAffinity to 0>> <<set $CelestAffinity to 0>> /* Stats */ <<set $Shackles to 0>> <<set $Physical to 0>> <<set $Mystical to 0>> <<set $Vit to null>> <<RollEssence>> <<set $MaxVit to null>> <<set $Virginity to true>> <<set $ShowEss to 0>> <<set $ShowAffBrand to 0>> <<set $HP to 100>> <<set $MaxHP to 100>> <<set $MaxVit to 5000>> /* Maximum Vitality */ <<set $MaxEss to 100>> /* Maximum Essence */ <<set $Virt to 0>> /* Virtue */ <<set $Vit to 5000>> /* Current Vitality */ <<set $Ess to 100>> /* Current Essence */ <<set $GEnchant to false>> /* Grandfather's Enchantment */ <<set $AzraelBrand to 0>> <<set $AffBrand to 0>> /* Forehead Affinity Brand */ <<set $Virtue to 0>> /* Skills */ <<set $skills to []>> <<set $ShowSkills to false>> /* Enchantments */ <<set $ShowGEnchant to 0>> /* Illusion */ <<set $MindControl to false>> /* Dark */ /* Devastation */ <<set $ShowDev to 0>> <<set $WaterBullet to false>> /* Water Charm */ <<set $PebbleBullet to false>> /* Earth Charm */ <<set $Hellfire to false>> /* Dark */ <<set $ShadowFlame to false>> /* Dark */ /* Transmutation */ <<set $Indulgence to false>> /* Wicked */ <<set $Cleansing to false>> /* Holy */ /* Items */ <<set $Items to []>> <<set $GLetter to false>> /* Grandfather's Letter */ <<set $ApprenticeChest to ''>> <<set $DahliaApprenticeChest to ['Sewing Kit', 'Old Plushie', 'Rudy Plushie', 'Austin Plushie']>> <<set $RudyApprenticeChest to ['Headband', 'Leg Weights', 'Reading Glasses']>> <<set $AustinApprenticeChest to ['Black Notebook']>> <<set $MargerieApprenticeChest to ['Hair Brush', 'Perfume Bottle', 'Makeup Tubes', 'Tiara']>> <<set $StolenItems to []>> /* Relationships */ <<set $Hemera to false>> <<set $Achlys to false>> <<set $RelationshipAzrael to 0>> <<set $RelationshipRudy to 0>> <<set $RelationshipDahlia to 0>> <<set $RelationshipAustin to 0>> <<set $RelationshipMargerie to 0>> <<set $MargerieDomination to 0>> <<set $MargerieSubmission to 0>> /* Character Status */ <<NPCReset>> <<set $Family to ["mother","father","brother","sister","dog"]>> <<set $MomLife to true>> <<set $DadLife to true>> <<set $SabrinaLife to true>> <<set $BrockLife to true>> <<set $BrutusLife to true>> <<set $AzraelLife to true>> <<set $DahliaLife to true>> <<set $RudyLife to true>> <<set $AustinLife to true>> <<set $MargerieLife to true>> <<set $DahliaVirginity to true>> <<set $MargerieVirginity to true>> <<set $RudyVirginity to true>> <<set $AustinVirginity to true>> <<set $MargerieRank to 'Novice Apprentice'>> /* Permanent Choices */ <<set $KillMom to 0>> <<set $KillDad to 0>> <<set $KillBro to 0>> <<set $KillSis to 0>> <<set $KillDog to 0>>

/* User Interface */ <<widget 'SettingsButtons'>>\ <<SmutButton>> <<include 'Content Filter'>> <</widget>> <<widget 'SmutButton'>>\ <<if $SmutFilter is false>>\ <<link "Enable Smut">><<set $SmutFilter to true>><<dialogclose>><<dialog>><<include 'Settings'>><<onclose>><<run Engine.show()>><</dialog>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link "Disable Smut">><<set $SmutFilter to false, $FutaFilter to false, $TransformationFilter to false, $LactationFilter to false, $HairyWomenFilter to false, $MindControlFilter to false, $RapeFilter to false, $IncestFilter to false, $UnderageFilter to false, $BeastFilter to false, $VoreFilter to false, $NecroFilter to false>><<dialogclose>><<dialog>><<include 'Settings'>><<onclose>><<run Engine.show()>><</dialog>><</link>> <</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'ProseSetting'>>\ <<if $POV2>>\ <<link "Enable Third-Person">><<set $POV2 to false, $POV3 to true>><<dialogclose>><<dialog>><<include 'Settings'>><<onclose>><<run Engine.show()>><</dialog>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link "Enable Second-Person">><<set $POV2 to true, $POV3 to false>><<dialogclose>><<dialog>><<include 'Settings'>><<onclose>><<run Engine.show()>><</dialog>><</link>> <</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Preferences'>>\ <<Kais>> Preferences: <label><<checkbox "$MalePreference" false true autocheck>> Men</label> <label><<checkbox "$FemalePreference" false true autocheck>> Women</label> <<linkreplace 'Show Third Option'>>\ <<if $BeastFilter>>\ <label><<checkbox "$NonHumanPreference" false true autocheck>> Non-Human Creatures</label>\ <<else>>\ <<if !$DisturbFilter>>A certain "disturbing"<<else>>The bestiality<</if>> filter must be allowed in the settings in order to enable this option. <</if>>\ <</linkreplace>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'ContentFilterButtons'>>\ <<if $DisturbFilter is false>><<EnableDisturb>><<else>><<DisableDisturb>><</if>> <<if $DisturbFilter and $SmutFilter>>\ Disturbing Smut: <label><<checkbox "$RapeFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Rape Content</label> <label><<checkbox "$IncestFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Incest Content</label> /* <label><<checkbox "$UnderageFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Underage Content</label> */ <label><<checkbox "$BeastFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Bestiality Content</label> <label><<checkbox "$VoreFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Vore Content</label> <label><<checkbox "$NecroFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Necrophilia Content</label> <</if>> <<CheckAll>> <<UncheckAll>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'CheckAll'>>\ <<if $DisturbFilter>>\ <<link "Check All">><<set $FutaFilter to true, $TransformationFilter to true, $LactationFilter to true, $HairyWomenFilter to true, $MindControlFilter to true, $RapeFilter to true, $IncestFilter to true, $UnderageFilter to true, $VoreFilter to true, $NecroFilter to true, $BeastFilter to true>><<dialogclose>><<dialog>><<include 'Settings'>><<onclose>><<run Engine.show()>><</dialog>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link"Check All">><<set $FutaFilter to true, $TransformationFilter to true, $LactationFilter to true, $HairyWomenFilter to true, $MindControlFilter to true>><<dialogclose>><<dialog>><<include 'Settings'>><<onclose>><<run Engine.show()>><</dialog>><</link>> <</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'UncheckAll'>>\ <<link "Uncheck All">><<set $FutaFilter to false, $TransformationFilter to false, $LactationFilter to false, $HairyWomenFilter to false, $MindControlFilter to false, $RapeFilter to false, $IncestFilter to false, $UnderageFilter to false, $BeastFilter to false, $VoreFilter to false, $NecroFilter to false>><<dialogclose>><<dialog>><<include 'Settings'>><<onclose>><<run Engine.show()>><</dialog>><</link>> <</widget>> <<widget 'EnableDisturb'>>\ <<link "Enable Disturbing">><<set $DisturbFilter to true>><<dialogclose>><<dialog>><<include 'Settings'>><<onclose>><<run Engine.show()>><</dialog>><</link>> <</widget>> <<widget 'DisableDisturb'>>\ <<link "Disable Disturbing">><<set $DisturbFilter to false, $RapeFilter to false, $IncestFilter to false, $UnderageFilter to false, $BeastFilter to false, $VoreFilter to false, $NecroFilter to false>><<dialogclose>><<dialog>><<include 'Settings'>><<onclose>><<run Engine.show()>><</dialog>><</link>> <</widget>> /* Game Mechanics */ <<widget 'StartGame'>>\ <<set $POV to "Player", $Start to 1>><<run $Items.pushUnique('Wallet')>><<SpawnNPC>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'EnableExploration'>>\ <<set $Exploration to true>>\ <<set $Casting to true>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'EnableExplorationConditional'>>\ <> <<if $ExplorationConditional>> <<set $Exploration to true>> <</if>> <<if $CastingConditional>> <<set $Casting to true>> <</if>> <>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'DisableExploration'>>\ <<set $Exploration to false>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Cutscene'>>\ <> <<if $Exploration>> <<set $ExplorationConditional to true>> <<else>> <<set $ExplorationConditional to false>> <</if>> <<if $Casting>> <<set $CastingConditional to true>> <<else>> <<set $CastingConditional to false>> <</if>> <<set $Exploration to false>> <<set $Casting to false>> <>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'endCutscene'>>\ <<EnableExploration>><<PassTime>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'EnableCasting'>>\ <<set $Casting to true>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'DisableCasting'>>\ <<set $Casting to false>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Cast'>>\ <<silently>> <<CheckCost>> <</silently>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'CheckCost'>> <<if setup.spells[_args[0]].min_vit_cost gt $Vit>> You don't have enough Vitality to cast <<=setup.spells[_args[0]].name>>. <<else>> You have enough Vitality to cast <<=setup.spells[_args[0]].name>>. <</if>> <</widget>> <<widget 'SkipProcessing'>>\ <> <<if $HelpCat is 'Yes'>> <<set $Virtue += 4, $ShowVirtue to true, $Physical += 1>> <<else>> <<set $Virtue -= 2, $ShowVirtue to true>> <</if>> <<if $WithholdName is 'Yes'>> <<set $WithholdNameDahlia to true>> <</if>> <<if $AzraelQuestion is 'Yes'>> <<set $BlindInfo to true, $RelationshipMargerie to 1>> <</if>> <<set $RankTier to 'Novice', $Rank to 'Apprentice', $Vit to 10000, $MaxVit to 10000, $Day to 3, $Time to 'Morning', $Monastery to true, $ApprenticeSchool to true, $FamilyInvisibility to true, $GEnchant to true, $GLetter to true, $HeadVoices to true, $Inheritance to true, $LoseNecklace to true, $NormalDream to true, $PercyNightmare to true>> <>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'RollEssence'>>\ <<set $Ess to random(18993,26298)>>\ /* Age: 70-90 (random) minus 18, Unit: Days */ <</widget>> <<widget 'Defiled'>>\ <<set $Virginity to false>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'CheckHP'>>\ <<if $HP lte 0>><<set $HP to 0>><<Death>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'CheckEssence'>>\ <> <<if $Ess lte 0>> <<set $Ess to 0>><<CertainDeath>> <<else>> <<CheckHP>> <</if>> <>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'SleepHeal'>>\ <> <<set $HP += ($MaxHP / 10)>> <<if $HP gt $MaxHP>> <<set $HP to $MaxHP>> <</if>> <>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Death'>>\ <<DisableExploration>>\ <div align="center" style="font-size: 300%;">\ <<Was>> <<Kai>> Dead? </div> <</widget>> <<widget 'CertainDeath'>>\ <<Cutscene>>\ <div align="center" style="font-size: 300%;">\ <<Kai>> Died </div> <</widget>> <<widget 'DayOfWeek'>>\ <<= $Days[$Day % 7]>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'setBed'>>\ <<if !$Rogue>><<if $Rank is 'Apprentice'>><<set $bedPassage to "ApprenticeBed">><<elseif $Rank is 'Charmer'>><<set $bedPassage to 'Dormitory'>><</if>><<else>><<set $bedPassage to 'SleepApartment'>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'PassTime'>>\ <> <<setBed>> <<switch $Time>> <<case 'Morning'>> <<set $Time to 'Afternoon'>><<WakeUp>> <<case 'Afternoon'>> <<set $Time to 'Evening'>> <<case 'Evening'>> <<set $Time to 'Night'>> <<case 'Night'>> <<NextDay>> <</switch>> <<SpawnNPC>> <<set $temp to null, $ConfiscatedItems to [], $FemaleShowerUse to false, $MaleShowerUse to false, $WatchingChests to false, $MaxHP to (100 + $Physical)>> <>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'WakeUp'>> <> <<set $AzraelAsleep to false, $DahliaAsleep to false, $RudyAsleep to false, $AustinAsleep to false, $MargerieAsleep to false, $MomAsleep to false, $DadAsleep to false, $BrockAsleep to false, $SabrinaAsleep to false, $BrutusAsleep to false, $CassAsleep to false, $MelAsleep to false, $EucharyAsleep to false>> <> <</widget>> <<widget 'NextDay'>>\ <<silently>> <<setBed>> <<if $AchlysContract and !$AchlysDream1>> <<set $AchlysDream1 to true>> <<goto [[AchlysDream1]]>> <<else>> <<if $DenyDream is true>> <<set $AchlysDream1 to false>> <</if>> <<if $SecretTraining or $Rogue>> <<set $ApprenticeLessonCheck to true>> <<else>> <<if !$ApprenticeLessonCheck and $Day gt 3>><<set $Truant to true>><</if>><<set $ApprenticeLessonCheck to false>> <</if>> <<set $Day += 1, $Ess -= 1>> <<set $Time to 'Morning'>> <<SpawnNPC>><<WakeUp>><<SleepHeal>> <<set $DahliaShowerMorning to false, $MargerieShowerMorning to false, $AustinShower to false>> <<if $Day eq 5>><<run $DahliaApprenticeChest.pushUnique('Familiar Plushie')>><</if>> <<CheckEssence>> <<if $Exploration>> <<goto $bedPassage>> <</if>> <</if>> <</silently>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'CheckRelationships'>>\ <> <<if $DahliaLife isnot false>> <<if $RelationshipDahlia gt 0>><<set $AcquaintanceDahlia to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipDahlia gt 1>><<set $AllyDahlia to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipDahlia gt 3>><<set $FriendshipDahlia to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipDahlia gt 6>><<set $AttractionDahlia to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipDahlia gt 10>><<set $DatingDahlia to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipDahlia gt 15>><<set $CommittedDahlia to true>><</if>> <<else>> <<set $RelationshipDahlia to 0, $AcquaintanceDahlia to false, $AllyDahlia to false, $FriendshipDahlia to false, $AttractionDahlia to false, $DatingDahlia to false, $CommitedDahlia to false>> <</if>> <<if $RudyLife isnot false>>\ <<if $RelationshipRudy gt 0>><<set $AcquaintanceRudy to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipRudy gt 1>><<set $AllyRudy to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipRudy gt 3>><<set $FriendshipRudy to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipRudy gt 6>><<set $AttractionRudy to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipRudy gt 10>><<set $DatingRudy to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipRudy gt 15>><<set $CommittedRudy to true>><</if>> <<else>>\ <<set $RelationshipRudy to 0, $AcquaintanceRudy to false, $AllyRudy to false, $FriendshipRudy to false, $AttractionRudy to false, $DatingRudy to false, $CommitedRudy to false>> <</if>> <<if $AustinLife isnot false>>\ <<if $RelationshipAustin gt 0>><<set $AcquaintanceAustin to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipAustin gt 1>><<set $AllyAustin to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipAustin gt 3>><<set $FriendshipAustin to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipAustin gt 6>><<set $AttractionAustin to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipAustin gt 10>><<set $DatingAustin to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipAustin gt 15>><<set $CommittedAustin to true>><</if>> <<else>>\ <<set $RelationshipAustin to 0, $AcquaintanceAustin to false, $AllyAustin to false, $FriendshipAustin to false, $AttractionAustin to false, $DatingAustin to false, $CommitedAustin to false>> <</if>> <<if $MargerieLife isnot false>> <<if $RelationshipMargerie gt 0>><<set $AcquaintanceMargerie to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipMargerie gt 1>><<set $AllyMargerie to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipMargerie gt 3>><<set $FriendshipMargerie to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipMargerie gt 6>><<set $AttractionMargerie to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipMargerie gt 10>><<set $DatingMargerie to true>><</if>> <<if $RelationshipMargerie gt 15>><<set $CommittedMargerie to true>><</if>> <<else>> <<set $RelationshipMargerie to 0, $AcquaintanceMargerie to false, $AllyMargerie to false, $FriendshipMargerie to false, $AttractionMargerie to false, $DatingMargerie to false, $CommitedMargerie to false>> <</if>> <>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'NPCReset'>>\ <<set $AzraelArea to []; $DahliaArea to []; $RudyArea to []; $AustinArea to []; $MargerieArea to []; $MomArea to []; $DadArea to []; $BrockArea to []; $SabrinaArea to []; $BrutusArea to []; $CassArea to []; $MelArea to []; $EucharyArea to []>>\ <</widget>>\ <<widget 'SpawnNPC'>>\ <> <<NPCReset>> /* Assign NPC locations if alive */ <<if $AzraelLife isnot false>> <<switch $Time>> <<case 'Afternoon'>> <<run $AzraelArea.pushUnique('Training Grounds')>> <<case 'Night'>> <<if $SecretTraining>> <<run $AzraelArea.pushUnique('Training Grounds')>> <</if>> <</switch>> <</if>> <<if $DahliaLife isnot false>> <<switch $Time>> <<case 'Morning'>> <<Random1>> <<if $temp is 1>> <<run $DahliaArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Shower F')>><<set $DahliaShowerMorning to true>> <<else>> <<run $DahliaArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Cabin')>> <</if>> <<case 'Afternoon'>> <<run $DahliaArea.pushUnique('Training Grounds')>> <<case 'Evening'>> <<run $DahliaArea.pushUnique('Monastery Forest')>> <<case 'Night'>> <<if $DahliaShowerMorning is false>> <<run $DahliaArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Shower F')>> <<else>> <<run $DahliaArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Cabin')>> <</if>> <</switch>> <</if>> <<if $RudyLife isnot false>> <<switch $Time>> <<case 'Morning'>> <<run $RudyArea.pushUnique('Monastery Forest')>> <<case 'Afternoon'>> <<run $RudyArea.pushUnique('Training Grounds')>> <<case 'Evening'>> <<Random1>> <<if $temp is 1>> <<run $RudyArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Shower M')>> <<else>> <<run $RudyArea.pushUnique('Training Grounds')>> <</if>> <<case 'Night'>> <<run $RudyArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Cabin')>> <</switch>> <</if>> <<if $AustinLife isnot false>> <<switch $Time>> <<case 'Morning'>> <<Random1>> <<if $temp is 1>> <<run $AustinArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Shower M')>><<set $AustinShower to true>> <<else>> <<run $AustinArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Cabin')>><<set $AustinShower to false>> <</if>> <<case 'Afternoon'>> <<run $AustinArea.pushUnique('Training Grounds')>> <<case 'Evening'>> <<Random1>> <<if $temp is 1>> <<set $AustinAsleep to true>> <</if>> <<run $AustinArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<case 'Night'>> <<if $AustinAsleep>> <<run $AustinArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<else>> <<if $AustinShower>> <<run $AustinArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<else>> <<run $AustinArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Shower M')>> <</if>> <</if>> <</switch>> <</if>> <<if $MargerieLife isnot false>> <<switch $Time>> <<case 'Morning'>> <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Shower F')>> <<run $MargerieArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<else>> <<run $MargerieArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Shower F')>><<set $MargerieShowerMorning to true>> <</if>> <<case 'Afternoon'>> <<run $MargerieArea.pushUnique('Training Grounds')>> <<case 'Evening'>> <<if !$MargerieShowerMorning>> <<run $MargerieArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Shower F')>> <<else>> <<run $MargerieArea.pushUnique('Training Grounds')>> <</if>> <<case 'Night'>> <<run $MargerieArea.pushUnique('Apprentice Cabin')>> <</switch>> <</if>> <<if $MelLife isnot false>> <<switch $Time>> <<case 'Morning'>> <<run $MelArea.pushUnique('Teacher Dorm')>> <<case 'Afternoon'>> <<run $MelArea.pushUnique('Lab')>> <<case 'Evening'>> <<if !$MelTavern and $MelDialogue1>> <<run $MelArea.pushUnique('Tavern')>> <<else>> <<run $MelArea.pushUnique('Lab')>> <</if>> <<case 'Night'>> <<run $MelArea.pushUnique('Teacher Dorm')>> <</switch>> <</if>> <>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'ApprenticeCabinMargerieScreamDetection'>>\ <<set $CaughtAssaultingMargerie to true>>\ <<if $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Shower M') or $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Shower M')>>Unfortunately, <<if $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Shower M')>>Austin<<else>>Rudy<</if>> could hear her scream while washing himself in the shower. <<elseif $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') or $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') or $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>>Unfortunately, there were other Apprentices inside the cabin. <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and $DahliaAsleep is false>>Dahlia was awake to hear the scream<<elseif $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and $RudyAsleep is false>>Rudy was awake to hear the scream<<elseif $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and $AustinAsleep is false>>Austin was awake to hear the scream<<else>>Fortunately, nobody was awake<<set $CaughtAssaultingMargerie to false>><</if>>. <<else>>Fortunately, there was nobody else in the cabin to hear her scream.<<set $CaughtAssaultingMargerie to false>> <</if>>\ <<if !$CaughtAssaultingMargerie>> <<Kais>> assaulting went undetected for now, but she would definitely complain again later. <<link '<<Kai>> killed her.' 'MargerieShowerKill'>><<set $KillMargerie to true>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> let her be.' 'MargerieReported'>><</link>> <<else>> <<Kai>> <<was>> caught assaulting Margerie. <<PunishedForAssault>> <</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'ShowerMurderDetection'>>\ <<Kai>> needed to dispose of the body. <<set $MargerieBody to true>> <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') or $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') or $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') or $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>>Unfortunately, <<he>> knew there were other Apprentices inside the cabin's main room that <<he>> would have to move the body through. <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and $DahliaAsleep is false>>Dahlia was awake in the other room, so <<he>> shut the curtain, <<link [[leaving the body in the shower|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><</link>><<elseif $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and $RudyAsleep is false>>Rudy was awake in the other room, so <<he>> shut the curtain, <<link [[leaving the body in the shower|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><</link>><<elseif $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and $AustinAsleep is false>>Austin was awake in the other room, so <<he>> shut the curtain, <<link [[leaving the body in the shower|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><</link>><<elseif $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and $MargerieAsleep is false>>Margerie was awake in the other room, so <<he>> shut the curtain, <<link [[leaving the body in the shower|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><</link>><<else>>Fortunately, nobody was awake, so <<kai>> <<was>> able to move the body out the door and <<link [[dispose of the evidence in the forest behind the cabin|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><<set $MargerieBody to false>><</link>><</if>>. <<else>>\ Fortunately, there were no other Apprentices in the cabin's main room. <<Kai>> <<was>> able to move the body out the door and <<link [[dispose of the evidence in the forest behind the cabin|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><<set $MargerieBody to false>><</link>>. <</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'PunishedForAssault'>>\ Azrael swiftly punished <<him>> for <<his>> heinous crime. <<Kai>> <<was>> transported to a dungeon cell where <<he>> <<was>> then promptly chained to the wall. Days passed without any visitors, food, or water. <<Death>> <</widget>> <<widget 'MargerieAssaultOptions'>>\ If <<he>> let Margerie go, <<he>> would be in trouble for sure. <<if $Penis and $RapeFilter>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> rubbed against her.' 'MargerieShower7'>><<set $tempPenetration to false>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $RapeFilter>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> fucked her.' 'MargerieShower7'>><<set $tempPenetration to true>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $RapeFilter is false>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> killed her.' 'MargerieShowerKill'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> let her be.' 'MargerieReported'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <</widget>> /* Magical Skills */ <<widget 'Blink'>> <<set $Vit -= 1000>> <<goto "MonasteryEntrance">> <<EnableExploration>><<dialogclose>> <</widget>> /* Random Functions */ <<widget 'Sex'>>\ <<Kai>> <<is>> a \ <<if $Sex isnot "Other">>$Sex $Race<<if $POV2>> named $Kai<</if>>\ <<if $SmutFilter>>\ with \ <<if $Penis>>\ a penis\ <<else>>\ breasts and a vagina\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>><<if $Masculine>>masculine<<else>>feminine<</if>> $Race<<if $POV2>> named $Kai<</if>> with \ <<if $Breasts and $Penis and $Vagina>>\ breasts, a penis, and a vagina\ <<elseif $Penis and $Breasts>>\ breasts and a penis\ <<elseif $Vagina and $Breasts>>\ breasts and a vagina\ <<elseif $Penis and $Vagina>>\ a penis and a vagina\ <<elseif $Breasts>>\ only breasts\ <<elseif $Penis>>\ only a penis\ <<elseif $Vagina>>\ only a vagina\ <<else>>\ no genitalia\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ who <<if $SmutFilter>>sexually <</if>>prefers\ <<if $MalePreference and $FemalePreference>>\ men and women\ <<elseif $FemalePreference>>\ women\ <<elseif $MalePreference>>\ men\ <<elseif $NonHumanPreference>>\ non-human creatures\ <<else>>\ <<himself>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $FemalePreference and $NonHumanPreference>> and non-human creatures\ <<elseif $MalePreference and $NonHumanPreference>> and non-human creatures\ <</if>>.\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Random1'>>\ <> <<if !$FirstRandom>> <<set $RandomTime to $Time, $FirstRandom to true, $temp to random(1)>> <</if>> <<if $RandomTime neq $Time>> <<set $temp to random(1)>> <</if>> <>\ <</widget>> /* Descriptions */ <<widget 'DescribeMargerieDead'>>\ <<if !$DescribeMargerieDead and $MargerieLife is false>><<set $DescribeMargerieDead to true>>There was an eerie feeling hanging in the air without Margerie's presence. <</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'DescribeApprenticeShower'>>\ <<if !$DescribeApprenticeShower>><<set $DescribeApprenticeShower to true>>The showers were basic, with a tiled floor and shower heads hanging from the ceiling with a metal pull-string attached, no temperature dial. It was designed similar to how <<kai>> imagined a prison shower might look.<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'DescribeDahliaNude'>>\ <<if !$DescribeDahliaNude>><<set $DescribeDahliaNude to true>>Though Dahlia’s figure was slim, she was toned, with impressive muscles for a young woman and scarce body fat. The lack of body fat accentuated her figure, revealing the exact width of her hips and chest, bones peeking out beneath her muscles. These were features <<kai>> <<wasnt>> normally able to see with her clothes hiding them.<<if $FemalePreference>> Her dark brown hair contrasted her bright blue eyes and the pink of her dainty nipples and shaved pussy, her inner lips peeking out from the fold of her puffy mound. Her breasts were small, but firm and perky. Whatever little body fat she had had been relegated to her ass, which—despite looking toned as well—jiggled slightly with each movement of her body or shifting of her weight.<</if>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'DescribeMargerieNude'>>\ <<if !$DescribeMargerieNude>><<set $DescribeMargerieNude to true>>Though she talked a big game, Margerie’s figure was flabby and untoned. Maybe she had always had somebody else to do the manual labor for her. Her thighs jiggled and rippled, a tiny pudge protruding from her stomach. These were features <<kai>> <<wasnt>> able to see with her normally baggy clothes hiding them.<<if $FemalePreference>> Though clearly still young, her generous boobs were already beginning to sag, infant stretch marks forming in their early stages. Large, dark nipples poked out from her soft tits, wrinkly and lewd. A strip of brown hair ran from the tip of her pussy up towards her waist. The dark of her nipples and crotch contrasted the bright blonde of her long, primped hair. The lips of her pussy were tight, sealed shut, concealing whatever gooey prize dwelt inside. She had a body ripe for breeding—practically begging to be filled and suckled. <</if>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'DescribeRudyNude'>>\ <<if !$DescribeRudyNude>><<set $DescribeRudyNude to true>>Rudy’s tall figure was decorated with bulging muscle. His neck, waist, arms, abs, and even his calves. Every part of his body rippled with strength as he moved. Even though he oozed masculinity, his skin was smooth and clear. Either he shaved often, or he simply wasn’t naturally hairy. His veins were clearly visible, even in strange areas like his stomach. These were features <<kai>> <<wasnt>> normally able to see in detail when his clothes obscured them.<<if $MalePreference>> His soft cock dangled between his legs. It wasn’t particularly long or impressive, but the ball sack that hung behind it definitely was. That leathery pouch hung low, carrying his immense balls. Did men with bigger balls cum more? <<Kai>> drooled a little bit. Despite the veins littering the rest of his body, Rudy’s cock was perfectly flat and straight, cockhead cut clean, pink head poking out. It was almost too perfect; it needed some imperfection to really look sexy. Maybe if <<kai>> could get Rudy hard, <<he>> could discover what he was working with.<</if>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'DescribeAustinNude'>>\ <<if !$DescribeAustinNude>><<set $DescribeAustinNude to true>>Austin’s figure was thin and lanky. His bones stuck out in certain places where his skin pulled tight. Though he wasn’t to the point of appearing sickly or unhealthy, he would’ve done well to eat and exercise more. Despite his more feminine appearance, he was quite hairy, especially across his chest and down his stomach. These were details of Austin’s body that <<kai>> <<wasnt>> normally able to see when he was clothed.<<if $MalePreference>> Despite being soft, his cock dangled a long way down his legs, curving slightly to the left. It was already huge and he wasn’t even hard yet. Though the rest of his skin was relatively pale, Austin’s cock was slightly darker and had a big, crooked vein running down the center. How big and thick could he get at full mast? His cock was uncut, ruffled skin hiding the cockhead from prying eyes. <<Kai>> drooled a little bit, deciding <<he>> wanted to find out. Maybe if <<kai>> could get Austin excited, <<he>> could discover the full extent of what he was working with.<</if>><</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'DescribeShowering'>>\ <<if !$DescribeShowering>><<set $DescribeShowering to true>><<He>> shivered; it was cold. And there was no valve to adjust the temperature either. <<He>> supposed that magic was required if an Apprentice wanted their water warm.<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'PhysicalApprenticeTraining'>>\ <<set $temp to random(3)>>\ <<Kai>> <<if $skills.length is 0>>had no skills to practice, so instead <<he>> <</if>>trained physically, <<if $temp is 0>>pounding sand and strengthening <<his>> arms<<elseif $temp is 1>>running laps and strengthening <<his>> endurance<<elseif $temp is 2>>doing squats and strengthening <<his>> legs<<else>>climbing trees on the outskirts of the forest, improving <<his>> strength and balance<</if>>. <<link '<<Kai>> finished training.' 'ApprenticeTrainingGrounds'>><<PassTime>><<set $Physical += 1>><</link>>. <</widget>> /* Character Trait Widgets */ <<widget 'AllGenitals'>><<if $Penis and $Breasts and $Vagina>>cock, pussy, and tits<<elseif $Penis and $Breasts and !$Vagina>>cock and tits<<elseif $Penis and !$Breasts and $Vagina>>cock and pussy<<elseif $Penis and !$Breasts and !$Vagina>>cock<<elseif !$Penis and $Breasts and $Vagina>>pussy and tits<<elseif !$Penis and $Breasts and !$Vagina>>tits and bare crotch<<elseif !$Penis and !$Breasts and $Vagina>>pussy<<else>>bare chest and crotch<</if>><</widget>> <<widget 'UpperGenitals'>><<if $Breasts>>tits<<else>>bare chest<</if>><</widget>> <<widget 'LowerGenitals'>><<if $Penis and $Vagina>>cock and pussy<<elseif $Penis and !$Vagina>>cock<<elseif !$Penis and $Vagina>>pussy<<else>>bare chest and crotch<</if>><</widget>> /* Grammar Widgets */ <<widget 'Goddess'>>\ <<if $Hemera or $HemeraContract>>Hemera<<else>>Achlys<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Goddesses'>>\ <<if $Hemera or $HemeraContract>>Hemera's<<else>>Achlys'<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Cock'>>\ <<if $Penis>>Cock<<else>>Pussy<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'cock'>>\ <<if $Penis>>cock<<else>>pussy<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Kai'>>\ <<if $POV2>>You<<else>>$Kai<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'kai'>>\ <<if $POV2>>you<<else>>$Kai<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Kais'>>\ <<if $POV2>>Your<<else>>$Kai's<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'kais'>>\ <<if $POV2>>your<<else>>$Kai's<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'He'>>\ <<if $POV2>>You<<else>>$He<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'he'>>\ <<if $POV2>>you<<else>>$he<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Him'>>\ <<if $POV2>>You<<else>>$Him<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'him'>>\ <<if $POV2>>you<<else>>$him<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'His'>>\ <<if $POV2>>Your<<else>>$His<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'his'>>\ <<if $POV2>>your<<else>>$his<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'His2'>>\ <<if $POV2>>Yours<<else>>$His2<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'his2'>>\ <<if $POV2>>yours<<else>>$his2<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Himself'>>\ <<if $POV2>>Yourself<<else>>$Himself<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'himself'>>\ <<if $POV2>>yourself<<else>>$himself<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Was'>>\ <<if $POV2>>Were<<else>>Was<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'was'>>\ <<if $POV2>>were<<else>>was<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'is'>>\ <<if $POV2>>are<<else>>is<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'wasnt'>>\ <<if $POV2>>weren't<<else>>wasn't<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'does'>>\ <<if $POV2>>do<<else>>does<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'has'>>\ <<if $POV2>>have<<else>>has<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'boy'>>\ <<if $Masculine>>boy<<else>>girl<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Yall'>>\ <<if $POV2>>You all<<else>>They<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'yall'>>\ <<if $POV2>>you all<<else>>they<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Yall2'>>\ <<if $POV2>>The two of you<<else>>They<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'yall2'>>\ <<if $POV2>>the two of you<<else>>they<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'They'>>\ <<if $POV2>>You<<else>>They<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'they'>>\ <<if $POV2>>you<<else>>they<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Their'>>\ <<if $POV2>>Your<<else>>Their<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'their'>>\ <<if $POV2>>your<<else>>their<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Them'>>\ <<if $POV2>>You<<else>>Them<</if>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'them'>>\ <<if $POV2>>you<<else>>them<</if>>\ <</widget>> /* Prose Widgets */ <<widget 'GLetter'>>\ "My Dear Grandchild, Today marks the beginning of your journey towards performing a wonderful deed. The world is in need. The balance of powers is not what it once was. This wooden box may seem unassuming, but it is a special relic. From it, you have obtained a great power that no other will truly comprehend. Can you feel it? Only you, $Kai, are capable of fully harnessing its secrets. Your family isn't who you think. They are blind. You alone must carry my torch. Keep my heirlooms safe and you can save the world. I cannot be the one to guide you, you must discover your own path. There are ancient texts, securely stored, and precious relics you must seek. You will be guided to them when the time is right. Inside of this box, you will find a key. It is the key to my heart—my spirit. Due to my error, it will not unlock until you do. You must become whole. The trees are in great tension. Chaos stirs. The Mother of Madness pulls on her chains. The Corruptor wakens from his slumber. And, most importantly, the conduits need your help. Seek the Monastery. They are the last bastion of Faith. May the Holy Titans of Old guide your spear. I'll be waiting for you. Love, Grandpa"\ <</widget>> <<widget 'BeginApprenticeLesson'>><<set $ApprenticeLessonCheck to true>><<Cutscene>>Azrael clapped his hands, the noise ringing across the training grounds. “Assemble!” The other Apprentices stopped what they were doing and gathered around their instructor.\ <</widget>> <<widget 'EndApprenticeLesson'>><<set $ApprenticeLessonCheck to true>>\ "That's it for today's lesson." Each Apprentice returned to training individually until <> <<link [[evening approached|ApprenticeTrainingGrounds]]>> <<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<IncrementApprenticeLesson>><</link>>. <>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'IncrementApprenticeLesson'>>\ <<silently>> <<if !$ApprenticeLesson0>> <<set $ApprenticeLesson0 to true>> <<elseif !$ApprenticeLesson1>> <<set $ApprenticeLesson1 to true>> <<elseif !$ApprenticeLesson2>> <<set $ApprenticeLesson2 to true>> <<elseif !$ApprenticeLesson3>> <<set $ApprenticeLesson3 to true>> <<elseif !$ApprenticeLesson4>> <<set $ApprenticeLesson4 to true>> <</if>> <</silently>>\ <</widget>> <<widget 'BeginApprenticeSchool'>>\ “Alright. That’s it for now. Spend the rest of the day exploring; take a look around. You’ll be getting familiar with this place soon enough. Normally, we have required lessons each afternoon in the training field, but you get a pass for today. Don’t get used to it! Starting tomorrow, if you miss any lessons, there //will// be serious consequences.” Azrael snickered under his breath. “Oh and, by the way. You’re growing, budding little flowers. As such, you //will// feel the temptation of the flesh. But nevertheless, you must resist. There will be no… //intimacy// while you’re here. God expressly forbids it.” He then swiftly vanished into the shadow beneath his feet. Things like that weren't as surprising to <<kai>> at this point. What //was// surprising was that a character like Azrael would have some kind of respect for God. Maybe he was simply following the Monastery's guidelines, or maybe God was different here. Azrael snapped his menacing fingers and fell into the ground disappearing into his shadow. <<Kai>> and Margerie looked awkwardly at each other before each <<link [[going separate ways|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<EnableExploration>><<set $ApprenticeLessons to true>><</link>>. <</widget>> <<widget 'MargerieScream'>>\ Cringing and disgusted, Margerie prepared herself to scream for help as loudly as she could manage.\ <</widget>> <<widget 'Arrested'>>\ The robed figure blinked forward and touched <<kai>> with an outstretched hand. His fingers drooped, melting down <<kais>> shoulder—his face hollowed. The world twisted in on itself, spinning. A vortex formed, sucking <<kai>> into it, pulling on <<him>>, forcing <<his>> atoms apart—molecular tension. <<Kai>> blinked <<his>> eyes. Cold darkness, hard stone. <<if !$DescribeArrest>><<set $DescribeArrest to true>>A prison cell. So //that// was how the magi made arrests, then. A peculiar, but effective method of enforcement. <<Kai>> examined <<his>> hands, turning them over. Had <<he>> been altered in some way by the blink magic? <<He>> seemed normal; everything felt fine.<</if>> <<link 'But <<he>> <<was>> imprisoned.' 'WIP'>><</link>> What happened to standing trial? <</widget>> <<widget 'GodWarningProse'>>\ //”Listen, child. My precious acolyte. The magi are in danger; the dark one stirs. As one of my chosen servants, you are needed now more than ever. Please, resist temptation and slay evil. Conquer sin above all else.”// Her eyes faded momentarily through her heavenly veil, allowing <<kai>> a glimpse of them. They were so unsettling. They were wide and fierce—otherworldly. And <<kai>> couldn’t help but sense resentment in them. Or was it anger? Fear? <<He>> <<wasnt>> sure, but something had upset her. Was it <<him>>? God returned to speaking with her soothing, alien voice. //”Rise, my disciple. And do not sit upon this seat again. Follow in the ways of the holy and reject temptation, lest we all succumb to chaos and disorder…”// Her voice began to drift away. <<Kai>> complied with her order, rising from the seat. As <<he>> rose, the shimmer faded from the throne, dissolving back to its normal state. God leaned into <<his>> ear. “I’m watching you, //$Kai//.” <<Kai>> flinched. The distortion was gone from her voice. And just like that, she turned back into a ball of light and flew up into the rafters, disappearing.\ <</widget>> <<widget 'MarkDealOffer'>>\ “You certainly are a curious one, demanding answers like that,” the monk said. “Tell you what. Prove your worthiness to me and I’ll tell you my name. Plus, I’ll answer any other question you might have, but only one. Deal?” <<link '<<Kai>> took the deal.' 'AcceptMarkOffer'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> turned down the deal.' 'TurnDownMark'>><</link>> <</widget>> <<widget 'MarkBowl'>>\ “Curiosity…” the monk said, voice trailing off. “It is not a bad thing, but it can be dangerous.” The monk grabbed <<kai>> by the arm and led <<him>> to a small, granite pillar with a bowl resting atop it. The bowl was filled with water and birds played in it, bathing themselves. The monk grabbed the bowl and dumped out the water as the birds flew away. “I wonder what you would do to sate your curiosity.” He placed the bowl back down onto the pillar and filled it with sand from a bag he procured from his robe. “I wonder how much pain you would tolerate.”\ <</widget>> <<widget 'ExamineTempleWindow'>>\ {WIP} <</widget>> <<widget 'EndPercyFuneral'>>\ The priest rubbed his face in concern. “Thank you for that…” “You’re welcome.” “Well. Feel free to seek me out if you ever need anything. My office is back here.” He motioned down the corridor with the back rooms. “It’s that door there.” “Yeah, I’ll do that.” He wheeled the casket away, leaving <<kai>> standing alone in the chapel. //That conversation could’ve gone better…// But at least now <<he>> had permission to access to one of the chapel's back rooms. @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω|Chapel]]>><<endCutscene>><</link>> @@ <</widget>> /* Navigation Widgets */ <<widget 'ChapelNavigation'>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> entered the atrium.' 'Atrium'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> entered the back room.' 'TempleDorm'>><</link>> */ \ <<link '<<Kai>> exited the temple.' 'Fork3'>><</link>> <</widget>>

<<if $Status == "Normal" >><<Kai>> felt like a perfectly healthy $Sex $Race.<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Affected" >><<Kai>> felt very strange but you're not sure why...<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Afflicted" >>Something felt different inside of you...<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Exhausted" >><<Kai>> felt extremely tired...<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Nervous" >><<Kai>> <<was>> worried about what might happen next...<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Curious" >><<Kai>> <<was>> wandering outside of <<his>> comfort zone... Or so <<he>> thought... What might <<kai>> find 'outside of <<his>> box'?<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Insane" >><<Kai>> <<was>> certifiably and patently insane. It's anybody's guess what <<he>> would do next! There was no rhyme or reason to <<his>> behavior.<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Agitated" >><<Kai>> <<was>> growing frustrated. For whatever reason, things didn't seem to be going <<his>> way.<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Losing It" >><<Kai>> <<was>> losing grip on <<his>> sanity; it was slipping away from <<him>>. He better be careful! :) Maybe <<he>> could try thinking better with <<his>> brain…<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Confused" >><<Kai>> couldn’t tell the difference between up and down. Maybe <<kai>> should try knowing more stuff.<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Zonked" >><<Kai>> <<was>> cuckoo for cocoa puffs!<</if>>\ <<if $Status == "Frenzied" >><<Kai>> <<was>> in a frenzy. The desire to devastate anything and everything built within <<him>>.<</if>>\ /* Secondary status condition */ \ <<if $Status == "Aroused" >> <<Kai>> <<was>> aroused. The desire to mate was strong.<</if>>\

<<if $WaterAff == 0>><<else>>\ Essence of Water Affinity: $WaterAff <</if>>\ <<if $EarthAff == 0>><<else>>Essence of Earth Affinity: $EarthAff <</if>>\ <<if $CrystalAff == 0>><<else>>Essence of Crystalline Affinity: $CrystalAff <</if>>\ <<if $SpiritAff == 0>><<else>>Essence of Spiritual Affinity: $SpiritAff <</if>>\ <<if $HolyAff == 0>><<else>>Essence of Holy Affinity: $HolyAff <</if>>\ <<if $DarkAff == 0>><<else>>Essence of Dark Affinity: $DarkAff <</if>>\ <<if $PureAff == 0>><<else>>Essence of Pure Affinity: $PureAff <</if>>\ <<if $WickedAff == 0>><<else>>Essence of Wicked Affinity: $WickedAff <</if>>\ <<if $CosmicAff == 0>><<else>>Essence of Cosmic Affinity: $CosmicAff <</if>>\ <<if $CelestAff == 0>><<else>>Essence of Celestial Affinity: $CelestAff <</if>>\ [[Go Back|$return]]

<<CheckRelationships>>\ <<Kais>> Relationships: <<if $RelationshipDahlia gt 0>>Dahlia: She is <<kais>> <<if $CommittedDahlia>>committed lover. <<They>> received God’s approval to marry.<<elseif $DatingDahlia>>girlfriend. <<They>> are romantically interested in each other.<<elseif $AttractionDahlia>>love interest. She is interested in <<him>>.<<elseif $FriendshipDahlia>>friend. <<They>> have fun together and get along.<<elseif $AllyDahlia>>ally. <<They>> have a common goal of working together within the Monastery.<<elseif $AcquaintanceDahlia>>acquaintance. She approached <<kai>> without reservation in Apprentice School and was the first Apprentice to show an interest in <<him>>.<</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $RelationshipRudy gt 0>>Rudy: He is <<kais>> <<if $CommittedRudy>>committed lover. <<They>> received God’s approval to marry.<<elseif $DatingRudy>>boyfriend. <<They>> are romantically interested in each other.<<elseif $AttractionRudy>>love interest. He is interested in <<him>>.<<elseif $FriendshipRudy>>friend. <<They>> have fun together and get along.<<elseif $AllyRudy>>ally. <<They>> have a common goal of working together within the Monastery.<<elseif $AcquaintanceRudy>>acquaintance. He acknowledged <<kai>> as a new Apprentice.<</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $RelationshipAustin gt 0>>Austin: He is <<kais>> <<if $CommittedAustin>>committed lover. <<They>> received God’s approval to marry.<<elseif $DatingAustin>>boyfriend. <<They>> are romantically interested in each other.<<elseif $AttractionAustin>>love interest. He is interested in <<him>>.<<elseif $FriendshipAustin>>friend. <<They>> have fun together and get along.<<elseif $AllyAustin>>ally. <<They>> have a common goal of working together within the Monastery.<<elseif $AcquaintanceAustin>>acquaintance. He acknowledged <<kai>> as a new Apprentice. He seems silent and cunning.<</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $KillMargerie>>Margerie: She is dead. <<Kai>> killed her. <<if $RelationshipMargerie gt 0>>Margerie: She is <<kais>> <<if $CommittedMargerie>>committed lover. <<They>> received God’s approval to marry.<<elseif $DatingMargerie>>girlfriend. <<They>> are romantically interested in each other.<<elseif $AttractionMargerie>>love interest. She is interested in <<him>>.<<elseif $FriendshipMargerie>>friend. <<They>> have fun together and get along.<<elseif $AllyMargerie>>ally. <<They>> have a common goal of working together within the Monastery. She is beginning to acknowledge <<kais>> power.<<elseif $AcquaintanceMargerie>>acquaintance. She found <<kai>> off-putting at first while in Apprentice School, repulsed by <<his>> lack of prestige. She seems to value achievement.<</if>> <<if $SubmissiveMargerieRoute>><<Kai>> demonstrated a willingness to submit to her.<<elseif $DominantMargerieRoute>><<Kai>> demonstrated adominant willpower to her.<</if>> <</if>>\ <</if>>\ /* <<if $RelationshipMom gt 0>>Mom:<</if>> <<if $RelationshipDad gt 0>>Dad:<</if>> <<if $RelationshipBrock gt 0>>Brock:<</if>> <<if $RelationshipSabrina gt 0>>Sabrina:<</if>> <<if $RelationshipBrutus gt 0>>Brutus: <<Kai>> bought him recently from a shelter. He’s been a welcome addition to the family, always happily playing along.<</if>> <<if $RelationshipHemera gt 0>>Hemera:<</if>> <<if $RelationshipAchlys gt 0>>Achlys:<</if>> */

<<ProseSetting>> <label><<checkbox "$DisplayStats" false true autocheck>> Display <<Kais>> Stats</label> <<Preferences>> <<SettingsButtons>>

<<if $SmutFilter>>\ Standard Content: <label><<checkbox "$FutaFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Futanari Content</label> <label><<checkbox "$TransformationFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Transformation Content</label> /* <label><<checkbox "$LactationFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Lactation Content</label> <label><<checkbox "$HairyWomenFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Hairy Women Content</label> */ <label><<checkbox "$MindControlFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Mind Control Content</label> <</if>>\ <<ContentFilterButtons>>

This is a pre-release passage to aid in game testing and will be removed upon release. In this menu, you can skip to other passages. Warning: May break story variables. [[Prelude|Prelude]] [[Open the Box|FirstAct4]] [[Apprentice Cabin|ApprenticeCabin]] [[Trust Azrael|FirstAct22]] [[Monastery|RankingBoard]]

v0.1.2 Alpha Changelog: Minor Monastery Update (1/28/24) -The temple is populated with various scenes and areas (Faceless, Mark, Funeral, Sermon, etc.) -Achlys now grants a nameable octopus companion and additional dreams as a part of her contract (1/EA Moloch dream) -Non-futa farm scene with Belle and her bull [S] & another scene with Jess [S] -Mel is available at the tavern in the evening after talking to vegetable stall girl -The librarian has introductory dialogue -Settings: Beast filter returns, Spoiler passage removed -Bugfixes: Truancy Detection, Apartment Time Loop -Random line editing Note: [S] indicates smut Word Count: 109,417 (+21,252) v0.1.1 Alpha Changelog: Bugfix Patch (10/29/23) -Sleeping: Recognizes the proper bedroom -Apprentice Lessons: Available (1st day), Required (2nd day) -Charmer: Promotion now works as intended -Margerie Shower: Fixed a gender-conditonal typo -User Expectations: Misleading settings and links are now hidden -Stats: Opening menus no longer affects stat changes v0.1.0 Alpha Changelog: The Exploration Update (10/28/23) -Title Screen AI Art -Apprentice School Exploration -Smut (Belle, Dahlia, Margerie) -New Characters (Mel, Cass, Euchary) -Monastery Exploration* -Killable: Margerie -Mechanics: NPC Spawns, Time, Crime Detection, Character Stats, Virginity, Casting, Goddess Rework -Features: Logbook, Items, Skip, Menu Update, Dialogue -New Settings: Preferences, Stat Toggle -Code Cleaning -Bugs/Typos Accessible Word Count: 67,442 (+21,073) Written Word Count: 88,318 (+23,934) v0.0.7 Pre-Alpha Changelog - 9/24/23 -Smut Rewrite (40% Complete) -Wandering Rogue Route -Prelude is now Prologue -Enhanced Character Customization -Fetish Toggle Filters -Prose POV Toggle -Changelog Button -Monastery Layout (Incomplete) -Virtue Mechanic (Incomplete) -Bugfixes and Edits (Lots of pronoun fixes) Accessible Word Count: 46,369 Written Word Count: 64,384 Planned in Future Updates: -Turn-Based Combat -Inventory Management -Resource Management -Act 1 Completion -Interludes -More Smut

Do you need help? First, check to see if your issue is listed below: Issue: I can't find the goddesses. Answer: Try checking the Magical Skill menu. Issue: I'm not sure where to go or what to do. Answer: Try checking either the Changelogs or Logbook menus for leads. For non-linear progression, check the Passage Navigation menu. Issue: My character was referred to with incorrect pronouns or descriptors. Answer: I overlook these sometimes. Please send me a bug report and I'll fix it! Any other issues can be emailed to: TheArchmageDev@gmail.com

<<if $POV is "Player">>\ <<if $ShowAff == 1>>\ [[Affinity Details]] <</if>>\ <<if $ShowShips == 1>> [[Relationships]] <</if>>\ <<if $Inheritance>> <<Kai>> inherited a strange and mysterious box from <<his>> Grandfather. <<His>> parents gave it to <<him>> as a gift on <<his>> 18th birthday. <</if>>\ <<if $GLetter>> Cryptic Message: <<Kai>> received a letter describing <<his>> quest. It’s confusing. <<link 'Read it'>><<dialog>><<include 'Read GLetter'>><</dialog>><</link>>. <</if>>\ <<if $LoseNecklace>> Lost Necklace: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<Kai>> had worn <<his>> Grandfather’s radiant necklace to sleep. When <<he>> awoke in the morning it was gone. Had somebody stolen it? Maybe. <<He>> hadn’t investigated yet. That night <<he>> dreamt of glorious adventure. Had the dreams been related to the theft? Maybe it had been some sort of premonition…<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $GEnchant>> Strange Enchantment: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<Kai>> opened Grandfather’s strange box, exposing <<him>> to some sort of enchantment. Black markings slithered across <<his>> skin, altering <<him>> in some way. (Duration: Permanent?)<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $AzraelBrand>> Azrael's Brand: <<linkreplace "Show Details">>Azrael has inflicted <<kai>> with a mysterious vanishing brand. You wonder what it does...? (Duration: Unknown)\ <<if $PuzzleProg == 1>>Maybe there is a way to escape its control.<</if>><</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $BoxDisposition>> Box Disposition: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<Kai>> had decided to dispose of Grandfather’s strange box.<</if>><<if $BoxDispositionReverse>> Luckily, <<he>> changed <<his>> mind.<</if>><<if $IgnoreNarrator>> Even against the strong wishes of the narrator…<</if>><<if $WasteBox>> <<He>> tried throwing it away, but it still followed <<him>>.<</if>><<if $BurnBox>> ]<<He>> tried burning it.<</if>><<if $MeltBox>> <<He>> even tried dissolving it in acid!<</if>><<if $ThroatBox>> Desperate and losing <<his>> sanity, <<kai>> tried in a hopeless attempt to shove it inside of a throat, <<his>> $Target’s throat, to be exact.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $LosingIt>> Insanity: <<linkreplace "Show Details">>Due to some <<if $Insane>>coping difficulties<<else>>retarded bullshit<</if>>, <<kai>> found <<if $Insane>><<his>> brain matter was melting, turning to mushy ice cream<<else>><<himself>> beginning to lose <<his>> mind<</if>>.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Decapitation>> Murder: <<linkreplace "Show Details">>Using a rusty knife, <<kai>> decapitated $TargetName.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $AzraelLife is false>> Cleansing: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<Kai>> vanquished Azrael, relieving the world of one sinner’s stain.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $GulletFuck>> Sodomy: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<Kai>> attempted to copulate with <<his>> recently deceased $Target’s bloody throat hole. All while yelling obscenities! How uncouth…<<if $AnalShove>> And then shoved a wooden box in their ass? That’s pretty weird.<</if>><<if $NecroPiss>> And then peed inside of… okay, this is getting out of hand. Can somebody please call the police? That would be great.<</if>><</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $NormalDream>> Dreams: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<Kai>> dreamt of <<himself>> as a warrior on a battlefield, and then as a crafter of poisons.<<if $PercyNightmare>> <<He>> had a nightmare about a prisoner named Percy who was eaten by a demon.<</if>><<if $MolochNightmare>> <<He>> then had another nightmare about that same demon being killed by his master.<</if>><</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $FamilyInvisibility>> Invisibility: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<Kai>> <<is>> invisible to <<his>> family. They were unresponsive when <<he>> sought their attention.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Monastery>> The Monastery: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<Kai>> <<was>> somehow magically transported to the Monastery.<<if $ApprenticeSchool>> As a newcomer, <<he>> began Apprentice School.<</if>><<if $Charmer>> Having graduated, <<he>> was consecrated as a Charmer and allowed access inside the Monastery walls.<</if>><</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $ApprenticeLessons>> Apprentice School: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<Kai>> learned about the Blind and heard mention of a place called the Sanctum, where magi children are raised by Incubators.<<if $BlindInfo>> The Blind once had Vitality, but it was stolen from them.<</if>><<if $ApprenticeLessons>> //<<He>> <<is>> supposed to report to the training grounds each afternoon for lessons<<if !$SecretTraining>> or else face some sort of consequence<</if>>.//<</if>><<if $InfoDump>> <<He>> learned the difference between Vitality and Essence and the different tiers and disciplines of magical skills. <<He>> learned about affinities and how they change based on a mage’s casting history.<</if>><<if $MeasureVitality>> <<He>> <<was>> measured by Azrael’s Vitality orb and received a strange result.<</if>><<if $LostForest>> Despite being unarmed, <<he>> ventured deep into the forest, lost and afraid.<</if>><<if $StealApprenticeChest>> <<He>> stole personal belongings from another student’s chest.<</if>><<if $TheftSuspicion>> The other Apprentices are suspicious of <<him>>.<</if>><<if $CaughtStealingApprentice>> <<He>> <<was>> caught stealing and reprimanded.<</if>><<if $Rogue>> Instead of trusting Azrael, <<kai>> chose to resist him.<</if>><<if $SecretTraining>> //<<Kai>> agreed to secret lessons at night with Azrael.//<</if>> <<if $Charmer>><<He>> graduated to Charmer, granting <<him>> access inside the Monastery walls.<</if>><</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $HeadVoices>> <<if !$Goddesses>>Voices In <<His>> Head<<else>>Goddesses<</if>>: <<linkreplace "Show Details">><<if !$Goddesses>><<Kai>> heard two feminine voices in <<his>> head. One called <<him>> ‘Savior’, the other called <<him>> ‘Hero’.<<else>>Hemera and Achlys spoke to <<kai>> from within <<his>> mind. Hemera seeks rebirth, while Achlys seeks death.<</if>><<if $SecretGoddess>> <<He>> kept them a secret from Azrael.<</if>><<if $HemeraContract or $AchlysContract>> <<Kai>> formed a contract with <<Goddess>>, allowing her inside and taking on her form.<</if>><<if $MindPuzzle>> <<Kai>> discovered a puzzle. It was the fragments of <<Goddesses>> mind. Despite a change in <<kais>> appearance, <<he>> still apppears normal to others for some reason.<</if>><</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $GodWalls>> God: <<linkreplace "Show Details">>Azrael implied that God dwells inside the Monastery walls. <<if $Consecration>><<Kai>> <<was>> consecrated by a figure which the magi view as God. Her face had remained inscrutable during the ceremony.<</if>><</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <</if>>

<<if $POV is "Player">> <<Kais>> Items: $Items <<linkreplace 'Show Item Descriptions'>>Item Descriptions: <<if $Items.includes('Wallet')>> Wallet: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>There was an ID and a few dollars inside. Most of <<kais>> savings were stashed away at home.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Vitality Necklace')>> Grandfather’s Strange Necklace: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>A fantastic gem rests in the center of this radiant piece of jewelry. It reminds <<kai>> of the item <<he>> thought <<he>> had found in the dumpster. <</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Strange Box')>> Grandfather’s Strange Box: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>A wooden box with alien black markings scrawled across. It sometimes makes weird noises and behaves oddly. <</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Skeleton Key')>> Skeleton Key: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>The key is large and the skull design is intricate. Whatever lock this was designed for must be beefy. Grandfather called it the key to his heart... Whatever that means...<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Rusty Knife')>> Rusty Knife: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>It's old and corroded, but just sharp and jagged enough to get the job done.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Fire Poker')>> Fire Poker: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>A standard metal poker with a black finish. It has two prongs on the end, one pointing straight ahead and a second curved to the side.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Sewing Kit')>> Sewing Kit: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>Dahlia must use this to make her plushies.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Old Plushie')>> Old Plushie: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>An unfamiliar plushie. Maybe it was somebody that Dahlia new preeviously...<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Familiar Plushie')>> Familiar Plushie: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>A plushie that looks like <<kai>>.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Rudy Plushie')>> Rudy Plushie: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>A plushie that looks like Rudy.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Austin Plushie')>> Austin Plushie: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>A plushie that looks like Austin.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Headband')>> Headband: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>Maybe Rudy wears this while training.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Leg Weights')>> Leg Weights: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>Maybe Rudy wears this while training.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Reading Glasses')>> Reading Glasses: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>For those with poor eyesight.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Black Notebook')>> Black Notebook: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>Austin's notebook. <<link 'Read it'>><<dialog>><<include 'Austin Notebook'>><</dialog>><</link>><</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Hair Brush')>> Hair Brush: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>Margerie uses it to brush her hair.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Perfume Bottle')>> Perfume Bottle: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>It smells<<if $FemalePreference>> nice<<else>>... not great<</if>>.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Makeup Tubes')>> Makeup Tubes: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>Margerie uses this to hide her blemishes.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <<if $Items.includes('Tiara')>> Tiara: <<linkreplace 'Show Details'>>An ostentatious piece of jewelry.<</linkreplace>> <</if>>\ <</linkreplace>> <</if>>\

<<GLetter>>

<<Kai>> cracked the black notebook open and read it. //Mom Dad James<<if $RelationshipAustin lt 3>> $Kai $Kai $Kai ...<</if>>// It was just a list of names.

<<if $skills.length lt 1 and !$HeadVoices>>\ <<Kai>> didn't learn any skills yet. <<else>> <<Kai>> <<is>> capable of casting the following magical skills: Devastation: <<if $WaterBullet>> Water Bullet: [Water] (Charm) Among the most basic of Devastation skills. Water Bullet fires a projectile composed of condensed moisture at a target with varying velocity dependent on the user's Vitality pool. //Vitality Cost: 1 - ?// <</if>>\ <<if $PebbleBullet>> Pebble Bullet: [Earth] (Charm) Among the most basic of Devastation skills. Pebble Bullet fires a projectile composed of minerals from the ground at a target with varying velocity dependent on the user's Vitality pool. //Vitality Cost: 1 - ?// <</if>>\ <<if $Hellfire>> Hellfire: [Dark] (???) The caster of Hellfire wields flames procured directly from hell itself. The heat is unbearable, even for demons. //Vitality Cost: ?// <</if>>\ <<if $ShadowFlame>> Shadow Flame: [Dark] (???) Shadow Flame emits pitch black flames, rumored to consume all they touch. Do they ever extinguish? There are few reports available on the topic. //Vitality Cost: ?// <</if>>\ Illusion: <<if $MindControl>> Mind Control: [Dark] (???) Mind Control confuses the target's thoughts by inserting new thoughts to replace the old ones. This skill bends the target to the caster’s will. Note: The skill only affects targets without a Vitality pool. //Vitality Cost: ?// <</if>>\ Rejuvenation: Transmutation: <<if $Indulgence>> Indulgence: [Wicked] (???) Indulge in the most primal form of Wickedness. Transform the target in order to manifest the caster's most ferocious subconscious desires. //Vitality Cost: ?// <</if>>\ Enchantment: Conjuration: <<if $skills.includes('water_shield')>> Water Shield: [Water] (Charm) Among the most basic of defensive skills. Water Shield condenses moisture on the caster's forearm, producing a defense against mystical attacks. //Vitality Cost: 1 - ?// <</if>>\ <<if $skills.includes('earth_shield')>> Earth Shield: [Earth] (Charm) Among the most basic of defensive skills. Earth Shield condenses rock on the caster's forearm, producing a defense against physical attacks. //Vitality Cost: 1 - ?// <</if>>\ <<if $skills.includes('soul_shield')>> Soul Shield: [Holy] (Spell) The staple of spiritual defense. Spirit Shield is the go-to skill for monks who wish to ward off spritiual assault. //Vitality Cost: 15 - ?// <</if>>\ <<if $skills.includes('Blink')>>\ <<if $Vit gt 999>> <<if $Casting>><<link 'Blink'>><<Blink>><</link>><<else>>Blink<</if>>: [???] (???) Teleports <<kai>> outside of the Monastery. //Vitality Cost: 1,000// <<else>> <<linkreplace 'Blink'>><<Kai>> lacked the necessary Vitality to cast this skill.<<replace "#1">><</replace>><</linkreplace>>: [???] (???) Teleports <<kai>> outside of the Monastery. //Vitality Cost: 1,000// <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $HeadVoices and !$AchlysContract and !$HemeraContract and !$AzraelBrand>> Unknown: <<if !$Goddesses>> Voices: Maybe <<kai>> could <<if $Casting>><<link [[ask the voices for help|FirstAct33]]>><<set $PassageName to passage()>><<dialogclose>><</link>><<else>>ask the voices for help<</if>>. <<else>> Goddesses: Maybe <<kai>> could <<if $Casting>><<link [[ask Hemera or Achlys|FirstAct41]]>><<set $PassageName to passage()>><<dialogclose>><</link>><<else>>ask Hemera or Achlys<</if>> for help. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\

This path is currently under construction. Content will be added in future updates. [[Go Back|$return]] | <<link 'Sleep'>><<endCutscene>><<NextDay>><</link>>

Welcome to The Archmage. Since the beginning of time, there have been two competing forces: light and darkness. In this interactive novel—inspired by retro text adventures, fantasy literature, and nukige—you decide which path to follow. Upon receiving a cryptic message from your late grandfather, you embark on a journey, uncovering forgotten secrets—long lost by the magi. The path will be filled with obstacles and temptation, so choose your allies with care. Men are capable of both creation and destruction. Will you ascend or be corrupted? Will you remain pure or embrace the wiles of degeneracy? The fate of the Monastery hangs in the balance... @@.center; <img src="https://images.nightcafe.studio/jobs/JDLP5SPfrziQxZ6dZsX4/JDLP5SPfrziQxZ6dZsX4--1--1t2f0.jpg?tr=w-1600,c-at_max" width="600" height="600" alt=" True Power. g " /> @@ Are you ready to begin? [[I'm ready.->Prelude]] __Disclaimer__: This game contains adult content. Underage players can disable this content in the settings menu.

@@.center; __Prelude__ @@ The ground trembled. Below the dirt and rock, a great creature stirred. A creature which towered above all other creatures and struck a primitive fear into their hearts. She cried out in pain, her torment unbearable. Her despair, solitary and unknown. The cursed knowledge seeped through her pores—brooding, festering. The sinners lashed her steadily without knowing it. Agony. Chin rising, she puffed her chest and unleashed her maw. She gathered her sorrow and birthed an otherworldly shriek. The mother of madness. She channeled her suffering, for that was all she could manage in her current state. And for but a brief moment, she felt the gentle embrace of relief—a tinge of freedom. A soothing flood, flowing out from her creaking visage and soaking into the earth. Catharsis. But she knew it was only temporary, for there could be no permanent release. Not yet, not until her chains were broken. She bellowed and moaned. She was a majestic god reduced to lamentation, like a fallen lord groveling before mere minions which he had once ruled. Pitiful. She steeled her spirit, vowing to unleash her wrath upon the sinners who had wrought this accursed darkness, on those who had made her into an abomination. Her tormentors must be destroyed. A sharp pain shot through her side. That horrible tree prodded her more harshly, though she knew that it had always been there, piercing her since birth. As it was, her conduit had been bastardized—tainted in spirit. The lands groaned beneath the weight of her distress. Her cries echoed. The earth split and waves thrashed across the oceans. Winds whipped and fires raged. Molten rock erupted—a noxious flow. Waters rose and lightning cracked. The skies brewed, channeling her turmoil. A small taste of the destruction and death to come. For she //was// entropy and chaos. A raw, cracking madness... A force unhinged. @@.center; [[Ω Ω|Begin]] @@

Percy slowly cracked his eyes open. How long had he been asleep? He looked around, but there was only a blurry, indiscernible darkness. He waited for his sight to adjust, but clarity never came. Where was he? He shuffled, testing his arms and legs. They felt weak and sore. How had he gotten here? His body chilled all of a sudden. He felt no comfort or warmth of clothing, only a hard, cold floor. As he gently tested his aching limbs, metal clanked against the solid ground, restraining his movements. Shackles. Percy's heart dropped. He was a prisoner, and he knew in his heart what that meant, even if his mind couldn't really explain it to him. He blinked hard, crust crinkling against his cheek and one of his eyes as his skin bunched up. Curious. He did his best to examine himself, rubbing his face against his arm—his hand unable to reach his face while restrained. //Dried blood//, he thought. The trail of caked blood seemed to run down from a spot on the top of his head. A head injury. That must be the cause of his forgetfulness. As he moved his neck, a sharp pain shot up to the base of his skull. He winced and grimaced, desperately hoping for the pain to subside. //Go away, go away. Go away!// The pain grew, humming inside of him as his sensation returned. It became unbearable and he lost authority over his movements. Shivering uncontrollably, he curled up against the wall, tugging on his chains and slowly slinking his lanky body along the cold floor. His mind was numb. [[Footsteps.|Vision2]] <<set $POV to "Percy">>

The clicking sounds echoed through the darkness, approaching him. They slowly grew louder, the echo inside a distant corridor distorting the noise slightly. Despite his pain, Percy peeked through the darkness. A blurry light formed in the distance, growing brighter. Voices. Two deep voices talked back and forth. Percy couldn't discern the words through the pain and distortion. He noticed a faint buzzing in his ears. Feet approached his cell. He could make out two blurred figures through the metal door. "You shouldn't wound our captives so severely, especially not ones as precious as this. Remember how Balaam reacted the last time you took too many liberties torturing one of our prisoners? He wasn't happy with you." "Bah! //Our// prisoner? You forget your place, Moloch. You are my subordinate!" The figure seemed to wave his hand dismissively. Their silhouettes were coming more into focus now. They had the basic frames of men, but there was something off about them. "Your pride is a constant thorn in my side! You will attend to my needs and allow me to worry about Balaam." He huffed through his nose in annoyance. "You are //my// Zealot, so act like it." [[The cell door swung open.|Vision3]]

With the cell door opened, the superior figure walked forward towards Percy, the torchlight behind him casting a shadow. Despite the blur, his eyes shone clearly through the darkness of his shadow, gleaming yellow and red with hunger—white teeth shining through a devious grin. Percy shuddered against the wall, cold and afraid, unable to withstand the predatory gaze. He squeezed his eyes shut, wishing he could disappear. //Leave me alone…// Their footsteps scraped against the ground, approaching him. His brain itched, body still humming. He heard their heavy breathing, interrupted by a quiet chuckle. Cold, claw-like fingers wrapped around his neck and lifted him off the floor. He struggled against his chains, straining to breathe. His muscles convulsed against his will as his body dangled, too weak and sore to fully support his own weight. "Cut his chains, Moloch." Percy felt Moloch comply with the order, freeing his limbs from restraint. "Look at me, you //disgusting// mage. Open your eyes." Mage? Percy couldn't think straight; the itch inside his mind was too strong. All he could think to do was comply with the order. He pried his eyes open. Illuminated by Moloch's torchlight, his sight came more into focus. He was greeted by a demonic face bearing a twisted smile. A rancid odor wafted over him. His captor wore a white robe with golden trim. Apparently aroused by Percy's fear, the demon shuddered, the grip around Percy's neck tightening. "Such a pitiful state you're in." His captor taunted him. //If I'm a mage, then I should cast a skill//, Percy thought. [[He reached into his spiritual reserves|Vision4]], desperately grasping at a skill that he managed to unearth from his distant memories.

But nothing happened. With his free hand, the demon made a fist and punched Percy in the gut, loosening his grip and allowing Percy to fall to the ground. Percy hit the floor with a crack. Pain shot up his body from his waist to his neck. He coughed and spit blood onto the floor. "You shouldn't play with your food, Dagon. You haven't even asked him a question yet. How is he supposed to give an answer? You ignore even the basic tenets of torture." Dagon, the superior demon, slithered deftly like a lizard on hands and feet down to Percy's side and lashed a serpentine tongue over his exposed flesh, leaving behind a streak of saliva. It burned Percy's skin, smoking. His eyes widened in horror. //What in God's name…// Percy screamed, hands quaking. His cries echoed through the cell. Dagon took visible pleasure in his agony. In the distance, Moloch rolled his eyes in annoyance at Dagon and squatted down at Percy's side, now addressing him directly. "Where is the Monastery?" Moloch asked. A monastery? Percy shook his head, whimpering. "Not motivated enough, are we?" Dagon asked. He crawled over top of Percy with excitement, talons tapping against the ground, his demonic eyes shining with lust. "Who is your master? Who taught you the ways of Spirit Arts? Was it… the //Archmage//?" Moloch spit, hanging up on the word 'Archmage,' his body quivering in disgust at the mere mention of the word. //What is he talking about...?// Percy had to escape. He attempted to cast another skill. The purpose of this one was clear to him: //Infiltrate their minds!// [[He strained, reaching inside his soul for energy.|Vision5]]

But again, nothing happened. Dagon was at the end of his patience. He snarled and took a bite out of Percy's leg, chewing on the flesh. As Dagon chewed, Percy screamed. Blood flowed heavily down his skin, pooling on the floor beneath him, but his mind wasn't properly working and the pain was distorted, blurry. "Who ordered you to kill Baal?!" Dagon snapped, Percy's flesh spilling out of his ravenous mouth. "She was a magnificent Priestess! She didn't deserve the humiliating death you dealt her…" Dagon's eyes enlarged and turned completely red; his body lurched in visible hatred of the memory. Despite the pain, Percy had a moment of clarity as he saw his pitiful reflection in Dagon's eyes. A skinny, shivering coward. As he had suspected, a gaping wound in his head was the source of the blood trail caked down his face. His forehead bore a curious brand: a vertical lens with a concentric circle in the middle—an eyeball in the middle of his forehead, perpendicular to his actual eyes. He noticed that Dagon himself bore a similar brand on his forehead, but his third eye was shut, with a line running through the middle. //His eyes are closed//, Percy thought curiously, his life force slowly leaking from his body. Dagon ground his teeth, blood dripping from his maw. //Answer his question//. "I did what needed to be done," Percy said. As his feeling left him, he trembled quieted. Maybe he could stand up to this demon as his final act. He racked his memory, but nothing came to him. He couldn't remember this Baal woman. According to Dagon, he had killed her. Dagon leaned forward again. This time, he took a chunk out of Percy's arm with his jagged teeth. The pain returned temporarily, shooting through him before subsiding again to a gentle hum. Percy was losing too much blood, his consciousness now fading fast. Who was he kidding? He was no hero, he was just a meal at this point. That was all he had become, and he couldn't even remember what he would die for, the reason he had been caught. What had he been doing? Was it worth his life? "Answer me! Stop resisting, there's no use. Tell me. How did you find Baal?" Moloch snapped, kneeling down at Percy's side. "Who gave you her location?" In a final act of desperation, Percy attempted to resist one last time. Hopeless and resigned to his fate, he did the only thing he could manage, the only thing that came naturally to him at that moment. He spit at Dagon—the demon mounting him—spraying his captor's face with bloody sputum. As the blood splattered across his skin, Dagon became simultaneously insulted and excited, as if Percy had given him some justification for whatever was coming next. Dagon's tail flitted back and forth, side to side in anticipation. A sinister smile spread across his face—jagged, white teeth poking out. Dejected, Moloch stepped back, allowing Dagon space. Their prisoner was no longer an asset. Dagon bared his monstrous fangs and sunk them into Percy's chest, tearing away his flesh and bones, chewing at his exposed organs like a hungry animal. "I know his Vitality was drained, but that head wound looks bad. Maybe he wasn't pretending. Maybe he actually couldn't remember anything," Moloch said. Dagon was visibly upset by the suggestion. He burst out in anger. "Cosmic swine! //My sweet Baal!//" he screamed through a full mouth. As Dagon thought more of Baal, his ears perked up and his hair stood on end, any remnants of sanity leaving him. He aggressively ripped the flesh from Percy's limp body like a feral animal. He wailed between bites, strips of Percy's innards falling from his jaw onto the dungeon floor. Dagon's white robe stained red as the violent splashes of his victim's blood painted him. Percy's heart stopped, crushed by his captor's maw. <<link [[His limbs went limp.|FirstAct11]]>><<set $POV to "Player", $PercyNightmare to true>><<NextDay>><</link>>

Moloch sighed. "See, Dagon. You've done it again… I warned you this time." Dagon ignored him, feasting furiously—enraged. Moloch watched as Dagon feasted on the corpse of their unfortunate prisoner. His master had a bad habit of letting his emotions get the better of him and Moloch had found little success in keeping him under control. He didn't have the authority to control Dagon the way he wished, but he //could// have it… if he could just convince Balaam that he was worthy of a higher station. As any proper Zealot ought to, Moloch waited patiently for his Priest to finish his meal and settle down. There was no use in protesting at this point anyway. The Heretic Order wouldn't function if all Zealots questioned their Priests the way Moloch had a tendency to do with Dagon. But Dagon was asking for it… Once his Priest was fully satisfied with his kill, Moloch accompanied him out of the cell and back towards the main hall of the cathedral. As a member of the Heretic Order, it was Moloch's duty to report this incident, or at least ensure that his Priest did so. It was required by The Code. //Every Heretic has a master, even Dagon//, Moloch thought, comforting himself. The cathedral was dark and dim on the lower levels, but as the pair climbed the stairwells and made their way up the structure, the ornamentation grew increasingly more opulent. Dazzling chandeliers hung from ceilings and jewels littered the furniture. Servants passed by, carrying jewel-encrusted chalices and other dishware. Balaam had a penchant for the ostentatious. [[Dagon and Moloch entered the hallway to the throne room.|Vision7]]

The wall was lined with portraits of the previous High Priests. Balaam's portrait was at the end of the line. It shone golden in the light of the chandeliers. Balaam was too theatrical for Moloch's taste, but he made sure to keep that opinion to himself. They pushed open the door to the throne room. As they approached Balaam's vacant iridium throne, Dagon straightened out the ruffles in his Priest garb in a futile attempt to appear presentable. They bowed down to the ground, prostrated in front of the dais in respect of their master, his Holiness. Sensing their presence from afar, Balaam materialized on the throne, simply appearing out of the air. Their master bore a majestic golden robe, the robe of a High Priest. His fingers and face displayed elegant jewelry: rings, earrings, and a variety of other sorts of intricate piercings. He wielded a dazzling chrome scepter, adorned with deep red rubies. Moloch had never once seen his master without the company of his scepter. His master's forehead brand resembled an open eye, identical to the prisoners. All of the High Priest's third eyes were open, or so Moloch had heard. "What did you learn from the assassin?" Balaam asked in a commanding tone. "We couldn't determine the location of the Monastery, my Lord. Nor the source of his intelligence," Dagon said. His mouth and robe were obviously stained with the prisoner's blood. "Unacceptable. Did he tell you anything?" Silence from Dagon. "Well, Dagon? Don't tell me you ate him." Dagon licked his lips with his serpentine tongue. His eyes turned red and bulged again, but he remained silent. He did not rise—his muscles twitching while shackled under the force of his master's authority. "Answer me!" Balaam struck the ground with his scepter. Moloch had to answer his master's question, answer in Dagon's place. It was his duty as a Zealot. "Yes, your Holiness, the prisoner is dead," he said, while Dagon remained silent. Balaam groaned. "Rise. The both of you." [[Moloch rose to his feet|Vision8]], meeting the High Priest's sparkling golden eyes. Dagon followed suit, still not entirely in control of his twitching body and bulging eyes. He was always given to passion.

"You would best be reminded not to speak above your station, Zealot, especially not out of turn," Balaam said. Moloch nodded gravely. "Your role is to support your Priest, no matter how foolish he may be." Balaam shot a condemning look towards Dagon. "Approach my throne, Dagon!" Dagon walked forward obediently, standing tall and proud, involuntary convulsing every so often. He remained silent. "You have sullied my priesthood for the last time." Balaam extended his hand, sticking his spindly, glistening fingernail into the flesh of Dagon's neck. And then, Moloch's Priest turned to gold—frozen in place—leaving him stunned. Balaam rose from his metal throne and carefully removed the sullied robe from Dagon's golden body, holding it in his left hand. With his right, he smashed his scepter into Dagon's remains. The glistening yellow metal shattered into hundreds of shards, littering the floor. "A disgrace to the priesthood," Balaam muttered. Moloch remained silent, not daring to speak out of turn again. Balaam threw Dagon's sullied Priest garb to the floor at Moloch's feet. "Moloch, was it? Congratulations. You've been promoted." Shocked, Moloch reached for the robe, grasping it in his hands. He felt the power of Greed surge through his fingertips. He was momentarily stunned, then he remembered. //The promotion ceremony!// Regaining his wits, Moloch fell to the floor once again in submission to his master. Balaam chanted in meter. //"Unbridled greed breeds poverty."// "//Unchecked piety begets suffering//," Moloch said. The Heretic Creed. And then, standing, Moloch donned the robe—his forehead shining momentarily. "I deem you a priest of Greed, Moloch. Do not disappoint me like your predecessor. Now, get that robe cleaned immediately." [[''Yes, your Holiness.''|Vision9]] Moloch bowed in reverence to his Master, his High Priest.

Balaam waved his scepter and disappeared. With Balaam gone, Moloch relaxed. His chest heaved and he breathed out, releasing tension he hadn't realized was there. His time had finally come, he had the authority now. And to top it all off, Dagon was no longer a constant nuisance. Moloch momentarily swooned over his bright future, but he quickly steadied himself, regaining his composure. He fetched a maid, throwing the robe to her, and made for the barracks to select his own Zealots. It was finally his time. His time to bring a change to the Priesthood of Greed. If there was one thing he had learned from his time in the Order, it was that Heretics underestimated the value of discipline. That was going to change. Just because piety was toxic didn't mean that they had to fall into chaos. Moloch would fix that. He would become stronger and make sure of it. @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω|FirstAct12]]>><<set $POV to "Player", $MolochNightmare to true>><<PassTime>><</link>> @@

Before you embark on your journey you must gaze deep into yourself and choose honestly. <label><<checkbox "$SmutFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Smut</label> <label><<checkbox "$DisturbFilter" false true autocheck>> Enable Disturbing Content</label> [[Continue|Creation1a]]

Do you wish for your character to experience this world in second or third person point of view...? Example Second Person: You entered your room. Third Person: Kai entered her room. [[Second Person|Creation][$POV2 to true, $POV3 to false]] [[Third Person|Creation][$POV2 to false, $POV3 to true]]

What is your<<if $POV3>> character's<</if>> name? Name: <<textbox "$Kai" "Kai">> [[Continue|Creation1]]

Which <<if $POV2>>do you<<else>>does $Kai<</if>> most wish to be...? [[Male|Creation2][$Sex to "male", $Penis to true, $Masculine to true, $FemalePreference to true, $He to "He", $he to "he", $Him to "Him", $him to "him", $His to "His", $his to "his", $Himself to "Himself", $himself to "himself"]] [[Female|Creation2][$Sex to "female", $MalePreference to true, $Masculine to false, $Penis to false, $Vagina to true, $Breasts to true, $FemalePreference to false, $Feminine to true, $He to "She", $he to "she", $Him to "Her", $him to "her", $His to "Her", $his to "her", $His2 to "Hers", $his2 to "hers", $Himself to "Herself", $himself to "herself"]] <<if $SmutFilter>>\ [[Custom|Creation3][$Sex to "custom"]] <</if>> Note: Character traits may affect the narrative.

<<if $Penis is false and $Vagina is false>>\ At this time, <<kai>> must have either a penis or a vagina. Please [[select one|Creation4]]. <<else>>\ [[Continue|Intro]] Who <<if $POV2>>are you<<else>>is $Kai<</if>> interested in <<if $SmutFilter>>sexually<<else>>romantically<</if>>? <<Preferences>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> <<is>> neither male nore female. Is <<kais>> physique masculine or feminine? Masculine physiques are generally characterized by taller height, larger muscles, wider waist, and body hair. Feminine physiques are generally characterized by wider hips, smaller waists, smooth hairless skin, long hair, and breasts. <<Kais>> physique will determine how others perceive <<kai>> socially. [[Masculine|Creation4][$Masculine to true, $Penis to true, $FemalePreference to true, $He to "He", $he to "he", $Him to "Him", $him to "him", $His to "His", $his to "his", $Himself to "Himself", $himself to "himself"]] [[Feminine|Creation4][$Feminine to true, $MalePreference to true, $Masculine to false, $Penis to false, $Vagina to true, $Breasts to true, $FemalePreference to false, $He to "She", $he to "she", $Him to "Her", $him to "her", $His to "Her", $his to "her", $Himself to "Herself", $himself to "herself"]]

<<Kai>> <<has>> a <<if $Masculine>>masculine<<else>>feminine<</if>> physique. Others will perceive and refer to <<kai>> as a "$him". Which genitalia <<does>> <<kai>> possess? <label><<checkbox "$Breasts" false true autocheck>> Breasts</label> <label><<checkbox "$Penis" false true autocheck>> Penis</label> <label><<checkbox "$Vagina" false true autocheck>> Vagina</label> [[Continue|Creation2]]

Player Character: <<Kai>> <<is>> a \ <<if $Sex isnot "custom">>$Sex $Race<<if $POV2>> named $Kai<</if>>\ <<if $SmutFilter>>\ with \ <<if $Penis>>\ a penis\ <<else>>\ breasts and a vagina\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<else>><<if $Masculine>>masculine<<else>>feminine<</if>> $Race<<if $POV2>> named $Kai<</if>> with \ <<if $Breasts and $Penis and $Vagina>>\ breasts, a penis, and a vagina\ <<elseif $Penis and $Breasts>>\ breasts and a penis\ <<elseif $Vagina and $Breasts>>\ breasts and a vagina\ <<elseif $Penis and $Vagina>>\ a penis and a vagina\ <<elseif $Breasts>>\ only breasts\ <<elseif $Penis>>\ only a penis\ <<elseif $Vagina>>\ only a vagina\ <<else>>\ no genitalia\ <</if>>\ <</if>>\ who <<if $SmutFilter>>sexually <</if>>prefers \ <<if $MalePreference and $FemalePreference>>\ men and women\ <<elseif $FemalePreference>>\ women\ <<elseif $MalePreference>>\ men\ <<elseif $NonHumanPreference>>\ non-human creatures\ <<else>>\ <<himself>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $FemalePreference and $NonHumanPreference>> and non-human creatures\ <<elseif $MalePreference and $NonHumanPreference>> and non-human creatures\ <</if>>. Is <<kais>> identity correct? Hint: Try using the save feature sometimes. <<link [[Embark|FirstAct1]]>><<StartGame>><</link>> <<link [[Go Back|Begin]]>><<set $MalePreference to false, $FemalePreference to false, $NonHumanPreference to false, $Sex to "", $Penis to false, $Vagina to false, $Breasts to false>><</link>> [[Skip to Exploration|Skip]]

Did <<kai>> help the cat? <<listbox '$HelpCat'>> <<option 'Yes'>> <<option 'No'>> <</listbox>> Did <<kai>> withhold <<his>> name from Dahlia? <<listbox '$WithholdName'>> <<option 'Yes'>> <<option 'No'>> <</listbox>> Did <<kai>> ask Azrael a question? <<listbox '$AzraelQuestion'>> <<option 'Yes'>> <<option 'No'>> <</listbox>> <<link [[Continue|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<EnableExploration>><<set $ApprenticeLessons to true>><<SkipProcessing>><<StartGame>><</link>>

@@.center; __Prologue__ @@ <<Kai>> rifled through a dumpster. This one seemed promising. After a few years of scavenging in dumpsters, <<he>> had gotten a decent sense of where <<he>> could find the good stuff—it was the wealthier areas. Rich people threw away valuable items more often than poor people. On the other hand, sometimes good finds were just completely random. <<Kai>> could find useful items for <<himself>> or <<his>> family, or find items that could sell at a flea market. <<He>> kept the special treasures, the rare finds, for <<himself>>. Taking care not to cut <<himself>>, <<kai>> lifted away a large, rusting piece of scrap metal. Underneath—partially buried—<<he>> saw a sparkling chain. Iridescent. A gem reflecting flashes of blue and red. <<He>> threw the metal scraps aside with a clang and [[grabbed for the jewel|FirstAct1a]].

<<He>> pulled on it, straining; it was really heavy for some reason. <<Kai>> lurched backwards and held the item up in front of <<him>>, basking it in the setting sunlight. <<set $Vit to 1, $MaxVit to 1>> But <<kais>> hand was empty. <<He>> strained <<his>> eyes. Strange. It really wasn’t there. Maybe <<he>> had accidentally dropped it while <<he>> <<was>> pulling. But no matter how <<he>> searched, <<kai>> couldn’t find the chain anywhere in the dumpster. <<He>> must have been [[sleep deprived|FirstAct2]].

<<Kai>> <<was>> young when <<he>> realized that <<his>> family didn’t have enough money to get by. <<His>> parents struggled to take care of <<him>> and <<his>> siblings. They worked hard, wearing themselves thin, but it was never enough. They never told <<him>> about their financial struggles outright, but <<he>> got the picture after a while. They were constantly on the edge, one emergency away from having to go without. It didn’t take a genius to notice. Maybe they had been too ashamed to say it out loud, to admit it to <<him>>. Clothing with holes, shoes coming apart, and the same foods all the time. <<Kai>> had developed an intimate relationship over the years with economy foods. They weren't the best for digestion or nutrition, but at least they kept <<him>> from having an empty belly. <<He>> had started small at first, taking care to conserve consumable items around the house, eating smaller portions, using less toilet paper—that sort of thing. They weren't normal behaviors among <<his>> grade school peers at the time, <<he>> eventually found out. And then, as <<he>> got older, <<he>> worked. And took up scavenging. Sometimes <<he>> made more money from scavenging than from working; people routinely trashed valuable items. Why were they so wasteful? It had baffled <<him>> at first, but now <<he>> understood it. They simply couldn’t be bothered to deal with the items, so they went into the trash; it was as simple as that. Mindless. Ungrateful. But <<kai>> <<was>> grateful. If <<he>> could find a good use for that trash, who was it really hurting? <<His>> parents needed <<his>> help, but they also needed some joy in their lives, toiling for so long with no end in sight. <<Kai>> had been saving up for a while and recently <<he>> did it. <<He>> purchased a pet for the family. A dog. It wasn't much; it wasn’t an extraordinary or luxurious surprise. But it was more than they’d ever had. <<He>> had tried to bring home strays before, but <<his>> parents always turned them away. Not enough money to feed it, they would say. But <<kai>> had some savings now. Darkness fell steadily as the sun stretched across the horizon, daylight slowly fading. It was time to go home. <<He>> had lost track of time. <<He>> ran to <<his>> bicycle, mounted it, and sped home, leaving the dumpster behind. The path was familiar to <<him>>; <<he>> had ridden it often. A fancy neighborhood, clean and orderly. Nothing was out of its proper place and, if anything ever was, it didn’t stay that way for long. The wind rushed through <<his>> hair, rusty gears turning below <<his>> feet as <<he>> flew by the massive suburban homes. And then <<he>> heard an unfamiliar whimper in the distance. <<link '<<Kai>> braked, stopping.' 'FirstAct3'>><</link>>

<<if $Dispose is not 1>><<Kai>> decided to dispose of the box. <<set $BoxDisposition to true>> Despite <<his>> decision, a strange sense of fear and regret washed over <<him>>. Where had it come from? For some reason, <<his>> intuition was telling <<him>> that <<he>> had made a terrible mistake and there would be consequences for <<his>> choice. Should <<he>> ignore <<his>> intuition and dispose of the box anyway? <<He>> knew that intuition could be shockingly useful sometimes...<</if>><<if $Dispose is 1>>Despite an obvious warning, <<kai>> <<was>> resolute in <<his>> choice to dispose of the box. At this point, <<he>> <<was>> pract ically asking for whatever consequences awaited <<him>>. <<Kai>> shouldn't blame the author for whatever happens next, because it's certainly not the author's fault that <<he>> made such a horrible choice. <<He>> had been provided other options… //Seriously though, if you pick the wrong choice, then this isn't my fault anymore. You've brought this on yourself.//<</if>> <<Kai>> came to <<his>> senses and [[decided not to throw it away|Good Choice]]. <<if $Dispose is 0>><<Kai>> ignored <<his>> entirely sensible intuition and decided to [[dispose of the box anyway|Bad Choice]].<</if>><<if $Dispose is 1>><<Kai>> ignored <<his>> entirely sensible intuition and decided to [[dispose of the box anyway resulting in a horrible, awful, terrible outcome|Bad Choice][$BadEndInsanity to true]].<</if>>

Thank goodness! <<set $Dispose to 1>> <<Kai>> made the right decision, avoiding a terrible outcome. <<set $BoxDispositionReverse to true>> And just in case <<he>> <<was>> thinking about going down that road again, well, let's just say that <<he>> trusted the voice in <<his>> head telling <<him>> that <<he>> didn't want to go there... <<He>> //really// didn't want to go there. <<Kai>> definitely [[decided against destroying the box|FirstAct5]]. <<Kai>> changed <<his>> mind //again//. Why //not// [[destroy it|DisposeBox]]?

Ignoring his obvious instincts, <<kai>> made a bad decision, despite knowing that that was exactly what <<he>> was doing. <<if !$BadEndInsanity>> But there was still a chance. <<He>> had one last opportunity to correct <<his>> mistake. Would <<he>> take it?<<else>>Was there any way out now?<</if>> <<if !$BadEndInsanity>>\ [[Yes.|Good Choice]] <</if>>\ <<if $DisturbFilter>>\ <<link [[No.|DisposeBox3][$IgnoreNarrator to true]]>><<NextDay>><</link>> <<Kai>> <<was>> an //awful// person who didn't care about warnings, no matter how reliable they were. A person with no regard for the consequences of <<his>> actions, who didn't consider the future when making decisions. Also, <<kai>> had demonstrated that <<he>> <<was>> distrusting of both narrators and voices in <<his>> head, the poor fool… <</if>>

The next day, <<kai>> threw the box away. //Good riddance//, <<he>> thought. That thing was strange and it was beginning to really creep <<him>> out. It sailed out of <<his>> hand and landed in the bottom of the waste bin with a plunk. //Out of sight out of mind, right?// <<He>> washed <<his>> hands of it. But <<kai>> <<was>> wrong. Without a care in the world, <<he>> went back about <<his>> <<link [[daily routine|DisposeBox4]]>><<PassTime>><</link>>.

Nothing remarkable happened... <<link [[Yet|DisposeBox4a]]>><<NextDay>><</link>>.

The next morning, <<kai>> showered, dressed, and ate breakfast. Just as <<he>> walked out of the kitchen—having finished the dishes—<<he>> noticed the box sitting on the counter. //But I threw it away yesterday…// <<set $WasteBox to true>> <<Kai>> grabbed it again—before anybody else could notice—and contemplated an alternative disposition method. Simply throwing it away wasn't good enough, <<he>> needed to destroy it. <<set $Status to "Curious">> <<link '<<Kai>> threw it into the apartment building’s furnace.' 'DisposeBox5'>><<PassTime>><</link>>

<<He>> waited and watched for the flames to engulf the box, just to be sure it wasn't immune to fire or something insane like that. <<He>> watched as the flames ignited the wooden box, eventually burning it to a crisp, presumably leaving only ashes in its wake. <<set $BurnBox to true>> //Now it can't bother me anymore,// <<kai>> thought. But <<he>> <<was>> still wrong. <<set $Status to "Confused">> <<link '<<He>> walked back into the apartment.' 'DisposeBox6'>><</link>>

As the door swung open, lying on the floor directly in front of <<kai>> was the exact box <<he>> had just watched burn. What in the hell was going on? Why couldn't <<he>> get rid of it? <<he>> supposed that desperate times called for desperate measures. <<Kai>> took a trip to the store and purchased the ingredients for a batch of box-destroying acid, <<his>> own personal formula. <<set $MeltBox to true>> <<He>> mixed the concoction in a bucket and dropped the box inside. It dissolved, bubbling. <<link [[Was it really gone this time?|DisposeBox6a]]>><<PassTime>><</link>>

<<Kai>> felt sleepy. <<He>> rubbed <<his>> eyes and [[entered the bedroom|Insanity]].

<<His>> futon. Right //fucking// there, sitting on top <<his>> sheets, was that stupid //goddamn// box. <<He>> picked it up. <<He>> might as well hold onto it since destroying it didn't seem to have a pisser of an effect. <<set $Status to "Agitated">> <<link '<<He>> placed it inside the drawer of the nightstand' 'DisposeBox7'>><</link>> so that <<his>> family wouldn't stumble upon it.

The nightstand was vibrating. "For fuck's sake! What is up with this thing?!" <<kai>> screamed. <<He>> punched the night stand, injuring <<his>> hand. ... It stopped shaking. "Thank fucking Christ!" <<link '<<Kai>> went to sleep.' 'DisposeBox8'>><<PassTime>><</link>>

<<Kai>> <<was>> sleeping. <<He>> awoke in the middle of the night to a vibrating nightstand. It was also ringing. Loudly. "Mary, mother of sluts! You goddamned bitch fucking son of a whore!" <<He>> <<was>> upset to have been awoken. <<He>> pulled the box out of the nightstand and repeatedly punched it until <<his>> hand was bleeding. It stopped vibrating. <<set $Status to "Losing It">><<set $LosingIt to true>> "That's right, bitch!" <<kai>> <<was>> screaming at a piece of wood in the middle of the night. <<He>> shoved it back into the nightstand and [[fell back asleep|DisposeBox9]], <<his>> siblings stirring from their dreams due to the ruckus.

Thirty minutes had passed since <<kai>> had fallen asleep the second time. <<His>> siblings had just made it back to sleep themselves. The nightstand vibrated again, except this time it was producing the highest pitch alarming sound <<kai>> had heard in <<his>> life. It instantly woke <<him>>; <<he>> sat up straight in <<his>> futon. The noise penetrated <<him>>, ringing through <<his>> entire body. It felt like <<his>> head was being split open. <<set $Status to "Insane">><<set $Insane to true>> <<Kai>> felt the most intense agony of <<his>> life. It was //unbearable//. <<He>> would do anything at this point to rid <<himself>> of the blasted thing. There had to be //some// other way to dispose of it. <<if $BeastFilter is false>><<run $Family.delete("dog")>><</if>><<if $IncestFilter>><<set $Target to $Family.random()>><<elseif $BeastFilter>><<set $Target to "dog">><</if>> <<if $NecroFilter>><<if $IncestFilter or $BeastFilter>><<link [[Stuff it down a throat hole|Kill1]]>><<set $Virtue -= 50>><</link>><<else>>[[Kill yourself.|SlitThroat]]<</if>><<else>>[[Kill yourself.|Die]]<</if>> <<linkreplace "Have a breakdown and finally open the //motherfucking// box.">>Nice try, //bitch//.<</linkreplace>>

Knife in hand, <<kai>> slide the sharp blade across <<his>> neck, slicing through the skin and puncturing his airway. Blood seeped into <<his>> throat, dribbling down <<his>> as <<he>> desperately gurgled. And then <<he>> feel to the floor, cold and lifeless. <<CertainDeath>>

<<Death>>

<<CeratinDeath>>

<<Kai>> decided to utilize <<his>> $Target's neck hole. <<switch $Target>>\ <<case "mother" "sister">>\ <<set $TargetPron to "she">>\ <<set $TargetPron1 to "she">>\ <<set $TargetPron2 to "her">>\ <<set $TargetPron3 to "her">>\ <<case "brother" "father" "dog">>\ <<set $TargetPron to "he">>\ <<set $TargetPron1 to "He">>\ <<set $TargetPron2 to "his">>\ <<set $TargetPron3 to "him">>\ <</switch>>\ <<switch $Target>>\ <<case "mother">>\ <<set $TargetName to "Mom">>\ <<case "sister">>\ <<set $TargetName to "Sabrina">>\ <<case "father">>\ <<set $TargetName to "Dad">>\ <<case "brother">>\ <<set $TargetName to "Brock">>\ <<case "dog">>\ <<set $TargetName to "Brutus">>\ <</switch>> <<He>> grabbed the closest sharp object <<he>> could find. A rusty kitchen knife. And with the box in hand, <<he>> found <<his>> $Target sleeping soundly and slid into bed, just next to $TargetPron3. $TargetName noticed <<kai>> and slowly opened $TargetPron2 eyes. Just as $TargetPron did, <<kai>> brought the knife to $TargetPron2 throat and sawed. It was time to claim relief. $TargetName's soft, delicate flesh mangled beneath <<kais>> rusty blade. Blood vessels popped, spraying blood in <<his>> face. A momentary expression of surprise and horror emerged across <<his>> $Target's face as $TargetPron realized these would be $TargetPron2 last moments on this earth. <<set $Decapitation to true>><<run $Items.pushUnique('Rusty Knife')>> As <<kais>> blade punctured through $TargetName's esophagus, bloody bubbles erupted from $TargetPron2 neck, the last remnants of breath escaping through the laceration. Gurgling, stifled protests seeped from the leaking neck slit. $TargetName <<if $Target is "dog">>moved his head from side to side<<else>>grabbed at $TargetPron2 neck<</if>> in a futile attempt to stem the bleeding. <<Kai>> just picked up the pace, sawing with additional vigor. $TargetPron1 tried to physically resist, but the attempt was futile. A river of blood flowed from $TargetPron2 major arteries. And then there was the shock of being murdered by one's own <<if $Target is "dog">>master<<else>>kin<</if>>—that had bought <<kai>> a few precious seconds. After a bit of diligent slicing, <<he>> reached $TargetName's spine. <<He>> couldn't seem to cut all the way through with a simple kitchen knife; <<he>> needed something else. At this point, $TargetName showed barely any signs of life, limbs hanging limp, extremities twitching. //No bother! I'll just [[twist the head around|Kill2]]!// <<kai>> thought.

<<Kai>> grabbed $TargetName's head and twisted it, completely exposing $TargetPron2 gullet. <<He>> noticed $TargetPron2 neck throbbing slightly as $TargetPron2 heart pumped its last few pumps. Bodily fluids oozed in all directions, out of all holes. <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure if $TargetName was still alive at this point, since <<he>> could no longer see $TargetPron2 face. Anyway, <<kai>> rammed the box down $TargetName's severed gullet. It didn't quite fit, but <<he>> forced it in anyway with <<his>> fist. $TargetName's esophagus produced squelching noises. The box was inside a throat, safe and sound. But, unfortunately, <<kais>> torture wasn't finished… Why hadn't it worked? It was the perfect plan. The box continued wailing incessantly. <<set $ThroatBox to true>> //Maybe if I could shove it in deeper, then the box would shut up!// <<he>> thought. It seemed like a great idea, but <<kai>> honestly couldn't tell which way was up anymore. <<set $ShowShips to 1>> <<if $NecroFilter>>\ [[Shove it in further with your cock.|GulletFuck][$GulletFuck to true]] <<if !$Penis>>Wait… did <<kai>> even have one of those…? <<He>> shrugged. //Whatever,// <<he>> thought, //I can still try making the choice anyway and see what happens?//<</if>> <</if>>\ [[Find a rod instead.]] <<if $Target is "mother">> <<set $MotherDead to true>> <<elseif $Target is "father">> <<set $FatherDead to true>> <<elseif $Target is "brother">> <<set $BrotherDead to true>> <<elseif $Target is "sister">> <<set $SisterDead to true>> <<else>> <<set $BrutusDead to true>> <</if>>

What better tool for shoving something into a hole than a cock? <<if !$Penis>> <<Kai>> didn't actually have a cock, but <<he>> didn't realize that. <<He>> got into position and thrust <<his>> hips over $TargetName's moist esophagus, having absolutely no effect on the box's position. <<else>><<Defiled>> <<Kai>> readied <<his>> cock, making sure to get it nice and hard for optimal thrust capacity. <<He>> stared into the exposed throat hole as <<he>> stroked <<himself>>, getting hard. Once nice and properly hard, <<kai>> stuck <<his>> cock into $TargetName. <<He>> penetrated with a moist sloshing noise. <<He>> pushed forward and felt the slight remnants of pulsing and twitching from <<his>> victim's lifeless muscles. <<He>> had trouble making any real progress inserting <<his>> cock down into the esophagus. It felt like <<his>> cock was getting sucked outwards instead of inwards. Strange. And inconvenient. //Well, it is designed for vomiting! I guess that makes sense...//<</if>> After a good bit of thrusting <<kai>> stepped back and admired <<his>> handiwork. The box was exactly where it had been before all the thrusting. And it continued to wail violently. //"Mother Teresa's pierced clitty kitty!"// <<Kai>> screamed hopelessly in anguish and despair. There were no other solutions, were there...? [[Shove it in a different hole! Yeah, that sounds good...|AnalShove][$AnalShove to true]] [[Maybe urine will help.|NecroPiss]]

<<Kai>> searched the house, looking for a long, slender metal rod designed for shoving uncooperative boxes down gullets. Luckily, <<he>> found a fire poker! <<run $Items.pushUnique('Fire Poker')>> [[Get to work.]]

<<Kai>> returned to $TargetName's body and lined up the fire poker. <<He>> noticed the tip had a curved metal piece sticking out sideways, which prevented it from properly entering the gullet. <<He>> tried flipping it around, but the handle was also too thick to fit. No matter. <<kai>> simply shoved on the curvy bit, applying a generous amount of elbow grease. The poker caught on the esophagus and sliced it, ripping the gullet open as the poker made its way into the body. The sound of tearing flesh. With a click, <<kais>> poker finally made contact with the box. And it disintegrated. Dust fell through <<his>> fingers and onto the floor. Had <<he>> lost <<his>> mind? The only thing <<kai>> knew for sure was that the ringing hadn't stopped. [[Remove the box][$Status to "Zonked"]]. /* [[Dispose of the body|WIP]] Repeatable event, need to check status of other members when repeating */

<<Kai>> reached back into the bloody gullet to fish out the box. With some effort, <<he>> managed to dislodge it from the mutilated esophagus. Holding it in <<his>> hand, <<he>> stared. It was a pleasant red color. <<He>> would have appreciated it more if <<he>> hadn't been in so much unbearable pain at the moment. The box quaked, the red coating shivered in disgust. It then turned a rainbow color and started dancing, forming shapes and patterns as if choreographed. The blood pointed at <<kai>> and pulled the trigger of an invisible gun. Bang! A tremendously loud noise resonated through <<kais>> skull. <<His>> vision faded and <<he>> <<link [[fell unconscious|CrazyUnconscious]]>><<NextDay>><</if>>.

<<Kais>> vision slowly returned as <<he>> awoke from a great slumber. <<His>> eyes opened to the image of <<his>> <<if $Target isnot "father">>father<<else>>mother<</if>> cowering in a corner. <<if $Target isnot "father">>He<<else>>She<</if>> stared at $TargetName's corpse in disbelief. Suddenly, police broke down the door. <<Kai>> stood up, springing to <<his>> feet, turning to face two cops. One of them pointed a flamingo at <<him>>. "Down on the ground! Wave your tail feathers back and forth!" <<Kai>> couldn't help but break out into laughter, and then do a cartwheel. Panicking, one cop grabbed the beak of his flamingo, stretching its neck. A bullet flew towards <<kai>>, piercing <<his>> chest mid-cartwheel. <<Death>>

The asshole was a different hole! <<Kai>> figured shoving the box in //that// hole will be a good idea. Why wouldn't it be? //Squelch.// //Shlop.// No dice. This box clearly wasn't designed to fit in that hole. <<Kai>> figured <<he>> must've gotten it right the first time. //"Back in the throat hole you go, foxy boxy!"// [[Maybe urine will help.|NecroPiss]]

<<Kai>> squatted in front of the open neck hole before <<him>> and took aim with <<his>> urethra. <<He>> had impressive accuracy, managing to deposit at least 90% of <<his>> urine into the most lovely esophagus that one could lay eyes on. <<set $NecroPiss to true>> <<Kai>> <<was>> a pissing pro! <<He>> squinted, inspecting. Since the box was not a round shape, the esophagus wasn't properly plugged. Urine simply ran past the box and down the gullet as gravity did its work. Amazingly though, //the ringing was quieting down//. //That's science, bitch!// <<Kai>> may have discovered the right direction after all... [[Take a shit next|WIP]] [[Try vomiting|WIP]] [[Suck up your victim's pooling blood and spit it back in|WIP]] [[Stick the newly lubricated box up your ass|WIP]] {All paths under construction - Pray for the author's soul}

Where had the whimper come from? Then <<he>> heard it again. //Over there//, <<he>> thought. <<He>> jumped <<his>> wheels over a curb and rode into the grass toward a towering oak sitting peacefully in a grassy nook. <<Kai>> scanned the area and located the source of the whimper: a cat meowing. It was trapped underneath a fallen branch. [[Help the poor thing.|FirstAct3a][$Virtue += 4, $ShowVirtue to true, $Vit to 0, $Physical += 1]] [[Leave it.|FirstAct3b][$Virtue -= 2, $ShowVirtue to true]]

<<Kai>> dismounted from <<his>> bike and pulled on the branch. It was a serious piece of wood, but <<he>> lifted it off the ground easily. The cat darted off, disappearing from sight. <<Kai>> dropped the branch with a loud thunk and looked down at <<his>> hands. When had <<he>> gotten so strong? In any event, at least the cat was safe now. Anything could have happened to it, trapped all the way out here on its own. <<He>> remounted <<his>> bike and [[rejoined the familiar path|FirstAct3c]].

<<Kai>> didn’t have time for such nonsense; <<he>> [[kept riding|FirstAct3c]], passing by the animal’s cries. <<Kai>> had to take care of <<himself>>, so why should it be different for anybody else? That cat had gotten itself into a mess, it could get itself out.

The sun was fully setting at this point, stars peeking out above <<him>>. The night sky was beautiful. Calming. <<Kai>> took a deep breath. Money couldn’t buy moments like this one. <<PassTime>> @@.center; [[Ω Ω|FirstActInsert1]] @@

<<He>> entered the ghetto, making sure to avoid the druggies, thugs, and homeless that prowled the streets under the cover of darkness. <<He>> felt bad for them, but knew they could be dangerous. <<He>> couldn’t risk helping them—not that <<he>> had the resources to be of much help anyway. <<He>> finally pulled up to <<his>> family’s modest home and entered, leaving <<his>> rusty bike outside. <<He>> didn’t worry about leaving it unchained, it wasn’t even worth the effort of stealing it. The table was empty; <<he>> had missed dinner. <<He>> grabbed some wrapped bread off the counter and a piece of chicken <<his>> parents had left out for <<him>> on a plate and ran into the bedroom <<he>> shared with <<his>> siblings, shutting the door behind <<him>>. The room was empty. It must have been some sort of a special occasion for there to be chicken at dinner. //No lentils tonight,// <<kai>> thought. <<He>> sat alone on <<his>> futon and dug into it greedily, savoring the juicy flavor. <<He>> ate in silence. Then, there was a [[knock on the door|FirstAct4]].

“$Kai? Where were you tonight? We missed you. You know you can’t stay out that late,” <<his>> mother said. “Just out exploring.” <<He>> thought of the beautiful night sky, picturing the stars dancing on <<his>> dark ceiling. “Can you come out of there please?” <<Kai>> scarfed down the last bit of food and sighed, leaving the bedroom. <<He>> opened the door and saw them. Waiting for <<him>> was <<his>> whole family: mother, father, brother, and sister. Brutus wagged his tail from the corner of the room, tongue hanging out of his mouth. “Happy birthday, $Kai!” //Birthday? That’s right, I turn 18 tomorrow…// <<Kai>> had completely forgotten. <<His>> parents would be working night shifts the next day and so they decided to celebrate tonight, apparently without telling <<him>> in advance. Each family member took turns giving <<him>> some kind of sentimental gift they had managed to scrape together. Nothing expensive, of course. <<He>> appreciated each one, but deep down <<he>> wished they hadn’t wasted the effort on <<him>>. <<Yall>> played a board game together (the family only owned two) and had a good time, despite the missing pieces. <<Kais>> siblings knew the rules by heart at this point, even the ones they had made up. <<His>> brother was soft-spoken and mild-mannered, while <<his>> sister was more competitive and excitable—she won the game and rubbed it in <<his>> face. It was getting late. <<His>> siblings helped <<him>> clean up the game and then went off to the bedroom to prepare for sleep. Before <<kai>> could turn in for the night, <<his>> parents stopped <<him>>, sitting <<him>> down. //Uh, oh. I hope this isn’t ‘the talk’,// <<he>> thought. “There’s one last gift for you.” They proffered an oddly-shaped wooden box. It looked foreign, unlike anything <<he>>’d seen before. It was just a gift. <<Kai>> breathed a sigh of relief. <<He>> had avoided ‘the talk’ for yet another day. It was a bit late for them to be giving that embarrassing lesson anyway; everybody <<his>> age already knew all about that stuff. <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> a child anymore, even if <<his>> parents still treated <<him>> like one sometimes. But <<he>> knew they couldn’t help themselves. It was in their nature. <<Kai>> stared at the box. It was old and worn, engraved with unrecognizable black markings, alien patterns. It was both beautiful and strange at the same time. <<He>> couldn’t take <<his>> eyes off it. <<His>> parents talked at <<him>>, but <<he>> <<wasnt>> really listening to what they were saying. Instead, <<he>> stared intently at the box, losing <<himself>> in it. The markings on the box were important. <<He>> didn’t know how <<he>> knew that, but <<he>> <<was>> sure of it for some reason. <<His>> chest felt warm… <<He>> shook <<his>> head, snapping out of the trance. <<His>> parent’s voices faded back into <<his>> awareness. They maintained their serious expressions, continuing on with their explanation, unfazed by <<his>> inattention. “Even though it was long ago that your Grandfather died, he left it to you.” <<Kai>> had a grandfather? Why didn’t <<he>> remember that? <<His>> parents had said it like it was perfectly normal, something <<he>> //should// remember. But <<he>> didn’t bother interrupting them. “We’ve tried opening it, but the lid won't budge.” <<Kais>> father pulled with his fingers, demonstrating that it was properly stuck shut. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but your mother and I suspect it’s a common piece of junk. Your grandfather was certainly known for his… //eccentricities//.” <<His>> father frowned. “Honestly, we’ve contemplated trashing it on multiple occasions, but it just didn’t feel right.” Looking concerned and somewhat ashamed by his confession, <<Kais>> father handed the box to <<him>>. As it touched <<his>> hand, <<kai>> felt excitement building within. The little box was begging <<him>> to open it. <<He>> ran <<his>> fingers along its worn surface, engrossed in its intricate markings. The wood felt old, but seductive. <<He>> wondered what it had lived through, how much life it had seen… <<Kai>> shivered momentarily, feeling a chill run from the tip of <<his>> finger up through <<his>> arm. The strange black markings on the box illuminated, strobing rhythmically, but <<his>> parents seemed not to notice. <<run $Items.pushUnique('Strange Box')>><<set $Inheritance to true>> //I feel a great power inside, struggling to break free. Can I handle it? Should I release it?// <<Kais>> fingers gripped the lid of the box. <<His>> sense of adventure nagged at <<him>>, tempting <<him>> to [[open it|FirstAct5]]. <<Kai>> could instead [[dispose of the box|DisposeBox]]. /* [["Instead, " + $Kai + " hid the box"|HideBox]] Note: Circle back to home with variable change, allowing exploration in the house. Maybe FirstAct7?*/

//Not yet. Not in front of them.// <<Kai>> shoved the mysterious gift into <<his>> pocket. As <<his>> parents finished their long-winded lecture, <<kai>> thanked them for the gift and swiftly ducked into <<his>> bedroom, careful not to wake up <<his>> now snoring siblings. <<He>> pulled the box out of <<his>> pocket and set it down on the floor next to <<his>> futon. As <<he>> lay there, <<he>> stared at it curiously. The strobing intensified, the markings flashing brightly. <<He>> <<was>> mesmerized by the lights. The longer <<he>> watched, the quicker it strobed. <<Kai>> shook <<his>> head. Without thinking, <<he>> grabbed the box and [[opened it|FirstActInsert2]].

<<He>> touched the lid and it clicked, unlatching itself as if it were meant for <<him>> and only <<him>>. Resting inside was a necklace, chain linked with a fantastic jewel in the center. A red eye, looking at <<him>>, gleaming. Maybe it was a ruby. <<Kai>> had no idea, it was <<his>> first time seeing one. The chain glistened, just like the one that had eluded <<him>> while scavenging earlier in the day. <<Kai>> sat up in <<his>> futon and donned the necklace. <<He>> laid the chain around <<his>> neck and tucked the red centerpiece underneath <<his>> dirty sleep shirt. It felt cool to the touch on <<his>> skin as if it were draining the heat from <<his>> body. <<his>> very own piece of jewelry. It was exciting and luxurious, but <<kai>> knew <<he>> couldn’t keep it. The only reasonable choice was to sell it when <<he>> woke up the next morning. <<run $Items.pushUnique('Vitality Necklace')>> What an exciting day it had been! <<Kai>> let out a happy sigh and plopped back onto <<his>> futon, <<his>> imagination running wild as <<he>> [[faded, inching closer to the dream world|FirstAct6]].

<<He>> imagined <<he>> <<was>> a monarch riding into battle on horseback. <<He>> brandished a magnificent sword for <<his>> enemies to see. This was the grand weapon that would bring their doom. <<He>> slayed them one by one, weaving <<his>> mighty steed through the crowd of evildoers. Nobody could hope to oppose <<his>> might, <<he>> <<was>> an unstoppable force on the battlefield. <<Kai>> chuckled to <<himself>>. It was silly to imagine a common person like <<himself>> as a ruler or a warrior. What about something more realistic? <<set $NormalDream to true>> Instead, <<he>> next imagined <<himself>> behind a cauldron, mixing herbs and brewing a potion. An alchemical artist. <<He>> took care to create the proper mixture, then bottled the concoction and passed it onto a waiting customer. An assassin, it so happened. <<They>> were in cahoots, plotting to take down a common enemy. <<He>> wouldn’t directly enact the killing <<himself>>, but <<he>> would play a hand in it—from the shadows. <<Kai>> quietly laughed again, careful not to wake up <<his>> siblings, sleeping right next to <<him>>. Maybe that sort of fantasy was more <<his>> speed. More fantasies filled <<his>> fading mind. As <<kai>> drifted into the soothing embrace of sleep, the necklace draped around <<his>> neck acted of its own will. The red eye blinked itself, changing color from red to blue. It then relaxed and sunk into the flesh of its vessel’s chest, spreading warmth through <<kais>> unconscious body. <<His>> forehead shone momentarily. <<set $Vit to 10000, $MaxVit to 10000>> @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω|FirstAct7]]>><<NextDay>><</link>> @@

<<Kai>> awoke the next morning. As <<he>> groggily came to, <<he>> slid <<his>> hand under <<his>> shirt collar and felt nothing but skin—the necklace was gone. Panic set in. That necklace had to have been worth //at least// multiple week’s supply of food, and that was including Brutus’ dog food. <<He>> simply couldn’t bear to lose something <<he>> knew was so valuable. <<run $Items.delete('Vitality Necklace')>><<set $LoseNecklace to true>> <<He>> searched the room, but couldn’t find it no matter where <<he>> looked. It wasn't like it would’ve fallen off <<his>> neck while <<he>> <<was>> sleeping. Maybe somebody had taken it. <<He>> would have to ask around about that. Then <<he>> remembered the strange wooden box. Maybe that was gone too. <<He>> searched the room again and, to <<his>> relief, found it right where <<he>> had left it the night before. For some reason, the strobing had stopped and the black markings were no longer visible on the outside of the wood. Curious. <<He>> placed it back on the floor and got dressed, leaving <<his>> bedroom. <<His>> father was still asleep in the other room. <<His>> siblings were sitting at the table eating fried eggs before leaving for school. Their chairs tottered back and forth occasionally—the legs were slightly different lengths. <<His>> mother was cooking on their small stove. <<Kai>> stood and watched as she emptied a couple of eggs onto a plate, made her way over to the table, and sat down to eat. <<Kai>> looked at the table and <<his>> jaw dropped. Sitting right in the middle of it, <<his>> box strobed happily. Without noticing, <<his>> family ate like normal. How had it gotten there? <<He>> had just left it in <<his>> bedroom. “Did you put that there, Mom?” <<Kai>> pointed at the strobing box. She said nothing. “Mom?” “How are your grades?” she asked Brock between bites. Brock raised his eyebrows. “They’re fine,” he said. Mom snorted in disbelief at Brock’s answer. Why had she ignored <<kais>> question? Mom turned to <<his>> sister next. “What about you, Sabrina? How’s your boyfriend… What’s his name again?” <<set $FamilyInvisibility to true>> Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Just drop it, Mom. He’s out of the picture.” Mom clicked her tongue, but didn’t pursue it any further. She knew better than that when it came to Sabrina. They were alike in certain ways. <<Kai>> <<was>> the youngest of the bunch, but both of <<his>> siblings still lived at home to save on rent, despite having to share a bedroom. It would have been nice for <<kai>> to have <<his>> own bedroom, but it was important to be realistic about things. Keep some perspective. <<His>> siblings pitched in, though, working like <<he>> did. But Mom and Dad insisted they save their wages for school, even though <<kai>> knew classes were a waste of time. Teachers had never taught <<kai>> how to make money; <<he>> had to figure that out on <<his>> own. School was a scam. Why would <<kai>> //pay// someone to waste <<his>> time? <<Kai>> walked over to the stove and saw that Mom hadn’t made any eggs for <<him>>. <<He>> returned to the table, looking at the wooden box. <<Kai>> blinked a few times just to be sure. It was definitely there, but they couldn’t see it. <<Kai>> grabbed the glowing box and ran back to <<his>> room, heart racing. What was going on? What was this thing? Maybe the strangeness was because <<he>> had opened it. <<He>> could try opening it again? Maybe that would reverse what had happened the first time. [[It was worth a shot.|FirstAct8]]

<<Kais>> fingers trembled. The stakes were higher this time. What if <<he>> stayed invisible forever? //Here goes nothing,// <<he>> thought. <<He>> touched the lid again and it clicked just like last time. <<He>> swung the wooden lid open, hinges creaking. //“Thank you, $Kai.”// The box whispered to <<him>>, its icy voice echoing through the room. <<Kai>> sucked the words in through <<his>> mouth, breathing them into <<his>> lungs. The scrawled markings—now fully visible—snaked their way from the wood, leaving the box behind. They moved swiftly across <<his>> fingers, up <<his>> arm, and coated <<his>> entire body in slithering tattoos. <<set $GEnchant to true>> <<Kai>> panicked. The ink strobed on <<his>> skin, spreading. Once it had fully engulfed <<him>>, it stopped moving and culminated in a single intense flash of radiance. The light petered out, dimming and dissolving, leaving behind clear, unaltered flesh. The markings on the box were gone. <<Kai>> examined <<himself>>, turning over <<his>> hands. <<He>> ran into the small bathroom and turned around, checking <<his>> full body in the mirror. <<He>> didn’t see anything wrong. Everything looked normal and felt fine. Calming down, <<kai>> peered into the open box. There was a metal key inside this time. It hadn’t been there last time. <<He>> picked it up, turning it over to inspect it. It was heavy and black, with jagged teeth and a fierce skull etched into its head. Very strange. <<Kai>> returned the ominous looking key inside the box and, as <<he>> did, text spewed from the box, floating into the air in front of <<him>>. <<link '<<He>> read it.' 'FirstAct9'>><<set$GLetter to true>><</link>>

<<GLetter>> @@.center; [[Ω Ω|FirstAct10]] @@

<<Kai>> finished reading and blinked a few times. How could Grandpa be waiting for <<him>> if he was dead? <<He>> didn’t even know who <<his>> grandfather was. <<Kai>> read the note again to be sure that <<he>> had read it correctly. //Relics, secret locations, saving the world, Titans of Old…?// It was a bunch of nonsense. Grandpa must have gone senile before he finally croaked. But the box was magical, that much was undeniable. And the message had come from the box. Maybe the message had some truth to it after all. With the key inside the box, <<kai>> closed the lid and placed it in <<his>> pocket, just in case <<he>> stumbled across the proper lock at some point. Even though <<kai>> doubted <<his>> grandfather’s insane words, a yearning for adventure still burned inside of <<him>>. <<He>> desperately wanted to discover what the message meant, hoping in the back of <<his>> mind that there might be some truth to the words. It would be more fun that way. But <<he>> couldn’t just leave, <<he>> <<was>> needed here. Feeling suddenly tired, <<kai>> plopped down onto <<his>> bed and leaned back on <<his>> mattress. Grandpa wanted <<him>> to go to a monastery. Wasn’t that a place for monks? <<He>> stuck <<his>> hand into <<his>> pocket and felt the worn wood. It was still there. As <<he>> touched it, <<he>> felt that strange chill come back, this time coursing from <<his>> core out toward <<his>> extremities. What was that strange feeling? Where is this monastery? The key will not unlock until I do? Why leave <<him>> with so many unanswered questions? <<His>> energy was drained. <<His>> eyes closed, drifting off to sleep as questions bounced around in <<his>> mind. @@.center; [[Ω Ω|Vision1]] @@

<<Kai>> awoke the next morning, covered in sweat. What a horrible nightmare to have. <<His>> fingers trembled as <<he>> dressed <<himself>>. Then <<he>> recalled the events of the previous day. The box, the necklace, the invisibility, the key, and the letter. It was all confusing and overwhelming. Maybe it had been a dream too, like <<his>> nightmare. No, the message from <<his>> grandfather had to be real, there was no way <<his>> mind could have made up something that strange. Recalling the box, <<he>> reached into <<his>> pocket. Empty. //It’s gone!// Panicked, <<kai>> nervously scanned the room. <<he>> saw it resting on the nightstand. //How had it gotten there?// Everything was going crazy, steadily slipping out of <<his>> control. Deja vu... <<He>> stood up and approached it, hand outstretched. A ringing noise. The box started glowing and vibrating, the ringing intensified. <<Kai>> grabbed it. Another chill ran through <<his>> body. It was stronger this time. An electric current coursing through <<him>>. The ringing enveloped <<his>> hearing, blocking out all other sound. <<Kai>> couldn’t control <<his>> body. <<He>> walked outside, surrendering to the power. Despite the situation, <<he>> <<was>> calm. <<He>> took a deep breath, soothing <<his>> mind. <<He>> dropped to <<his>> knees and closed <<his>> eyes, a foreign clarity washing over <<him>>. <<He>> lifted <<his>> hands into the air, holding the box up towards the sky, and muttered under <<his>> breath. <<He>> couldn’t hear <<himself>> speak over the ringing in <<his>> ears, but <<his>> lips moved with a confident cadence. The box glowed in <<his>> hands, heating up. The warmth spread to <<his>> body. //“I’m ready.”// <<His>> mouth moved, but it wasn’t <<his>> voice. The strange sensation climaxed, and the feeling of calm subsided, the warmth leaving <<kais>> body. <<He>> lowered <<his>> arms and opened <<his>> eyes. <<He>> could control <<his>> body again. <<He>> <<was>> kneeling in a large, grassy field. In the distance, an enormous castle loomed. <<Kai>> looked down at <<his>> grandfather’s box, resting in <<his>> hand. It was gone, leaving behind only the creepy key that had been stored inside. A wind blew across <<him>>, flapping <<his>> hair and clothes. <<run $Items.delete('Strange Box'), $Items.pushUnique('Skeleton Key')>> //“The Monastery.”// The words hissed from nowhere and the wind stopped. The Monastery? <<Kai>> considered the castle in the distance. Was that it? Exhausted, <<his>> vision faded and <<he>> fell unconscious again. @@.center; [[Ω Ω|Vision6][$POV to "Moloch"]] @@

@@.center; __First Act__ @@ <<Kai>> awakened from another nightmare, hands shaking again. <<He>> vaguely recalled that <<he>> had somehow been transported into a random field. But honestly, <<he>> <<wasnt>> sure what was real and what was a dream anymore. <<He>> felt nervous, but excited, steadily regaining <<his>> wits as <<he>> took in <<his>> surroundings. The grass felt real. The wind blowing on <<his>> cheeks felt real. <<He>> pinched <<himself>>. Yeah, that hurt. <<Kai>> <<was>> really gone, off in some random place. <<He>> had unintentionally abandoned <<his>> family, and that made <<him>> feel guilty. They needed <<him>> in order to make ends meet—to help out—even if <<his>> absence did mean fewer mouths to feed. <<He>> recalled the days before they had proper housing, moving from one place to the next. They were at least better off now than they had been at the beginning. <<Kai>> stared into the distance, examining <<his>> surroundings. <<His>> eyes were greeted by a large stone castle, looming tall, scraping the clouds. There were great spires dispersed across the structure. They reached upwards, the tips so high they were hidden by the sky. Roads and paths sprawled around the outside walls where <<kai>> could just make out blurry figures in transit. There was a grand waterfall, flowing down the mountainside that ran adjacent to one wall of the castle. <<Kai>> stared at the rock formations in awe. Light burst from the heart of the stone mountainside, refracting through the waterfall and bathing the castle in a dance of moving colors, a choreographed rainbow. <<Kai>> <<was>> mesmerized, lost in the dazzling display. Distracted, <<he>> failed to notice a man approaching <<him>>. “What’s your name?” <<Kai>> turned. A native? The man wore a white robe and had no obvious features or markings on his body except for what appeared to be a tattoo on his forehead. A strange custom, but who <<was>> <<he>> to judge? Between the man’s eyes, <<kai>> could see a dark and bold image of a triangle, the tip pointing downwards. Why would anybody want a tattoo like that one? And in such a strange location. The man grasped <<kais>> hand, helping <<him>> to <<his>> feet. “The name’s Jack. What’s yours?” Jack smiled, averting his gaze from <<kais>> eyes, instead, stealing glances at <<his>> bare forehead. Was he expecting a tattoo? There was something off about that smile, but he still radiated a welcoming aura. “$Kai.” “Welcome to the Monastery, $Kai.” Jack’s eyes closed as his grin widened. “It’s an honor to have you.” <<set $Monastery to true>> <<Kai>> nodded, still shaken and confused. “I’m a Sorcerer. A novice Sorcerer, to be precise.” He turned and walked across the grassy field, guiding <<kai>> toward the looming structure. The green blades of the field blew in the wind as they walked. A novice Sorcerer? “I have the distinguished pleasure of having been appointed as the welcoming committee for new magi.” Despite his warm smile, <<kai>> sensed a hint of resentment in Jack’s voice. “So welcome!” He threw his hands into the air, striking a theatrical pose. “Um, thanks.” <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure what else to say. “I suppose my five years of magical training made me a worthy candidate—you know, up for the difficult task of welcoming recruits and all.” Jack chuckled to himself. “Anyways, I’m sure you know all about the Monastery—every newbie does.” <<Kai>> shook <<his>> head, frowning. “Oh, is that right? A blind…” Jack’s brow lifted and <<kai>> noticed a devious glint in his eyes. “Well, you’ll find out soon enough!” Jack didn’t laugh this time. What was up with this guy? “I’ll at least tell you this. The Monastery is the last remaining bastion of the Holy magi. It is an educational institution, among other things. All the others have gone extinct in one way or another over the years. Of course, we do things other than just educate, but I won’t bore you with those details.” He blinked. “If I did, I’d have to kill you!” He struck a threatening gesture, waiting for <<kai>> to laugh. Instead, <<kai>> recoiled. Jack paused for a moment, and then shrugged it off. “Guess you can't win 'em all,” he said, the suspicious glint still in his eye. There was definitely something wrong with this guy. If there was anything that scouring the streets had taught <<kai>>, it was not to trust strangers. Especially ones that acted, well, strange. Jack winked and slapped <<kai>> playfully on the shoulder. If Jack was supposed to be a mage, what sort of training did they do around here? “The main campus is large, but Apprentices like you won’t have to worry about getting lost. Your quarters are separate.” <<Yall2>> had been walking for a while. <<Kai>> had been led off to the far side of the stone building, opposite the waterfall. Jack ducked into a dark forest, <<kai>> trailed carefully behind him. After walking for a while, Jack stopped <<him>>. <<Kai>> had arrived at a single log cabin. A normal person might have found it unimpressive, especially in comparison to the humongous castle, but—to somebody like <<kai>>—it screamed luxury. If this was the lodging for the magi lowest on the totem pole, what would the rest of the Monastery be like beyond the castle walls? “Here we are, $Kai. //Apprentice school//.” Jack rested his fists on either hip. “It’s similar to what the blind might call ‘Boot Camp’, or so I’ve been told. Once you demonstrate your skills—prove your mettle, so to speak—you’ll graduate. Become a Charmer and all that.” He paused, a slight grin spreading. “There aren’t usually many Apprentices in school at any given time. They either graduate or drop out pretty quickly.” <<Kai>> looked at him with apprehension. <<He>> wanted to ask a thousand questions, but resisted the urge. Jack wasn’t the right person to ask. “Don’t worry though, you'll have an instructor who’ll explain everything,” Jack said as if reading <<his>> mind. @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω|FirstAct13]]>><<set $ApprenticeSchool to true>><<PassTime>><</link>> @@

After showing <<kai>> to <<his>> bunk in the cabin, Jack walked away, leaving <<kai>> to <<his>> thoughts. <<He>> had only brought a few items with <<him>>—whatever happened to be in <<his>> pockets—so it didn't take long for <<him>> to tuck them away in <<his>> assigned storage chest. It already had <<his>> name on it. How did they know in advance? <<He>> noticed that clothing had been provided for <<him>>, folded neatly inside the chest—a strange robe. With the room empty, <<he>> donned the robe, stuffing <<his>> old clothes into the chest. <<Kai>> waited. Other Apprentices trickled into the cabin. They talked amongst themselves, in the middle of conversation. They stopped, noticing <<kai>> and walked over to introduce themselves. "Hey there! My name's Dahlia. This is Austin and Rudy. They're brothers!" She motioned toward the other two. Austin and Rudy shifted uncomfortably. Austin and Rudy might have been brothers, but they looked completely different. Rudy was tall and handsome with a bulky disposition and chiseled features, while Austin appeared about as feminine and dainty as they come. Dahlia was a shorter girl with brown hair, blue eyes, and a slim figure. Though there was clearly joy and excitement in her demeanor, <<kai>> couldn’t help but think that her eyes seemed dead somehow. Maybe hollow. Austin stared at <<kai>>, carefully sizing <<him>> up, while Rudy just grunted, not paying <<him>> much mind. "Isn't it great we all made it?” Dahlia’s gaze was locked on <<kai>>, inspecting <<his>> body. It was like she was drinking in each detail of <<him>>, consuming <<kais>> flesh in her mind. “Are you a new recruit?" Dahlia licked her lips. <<set $RelationshipDahlia to 1>> [['“Yes, my name’s ' + $Kai + '.”'|FirstAct13a]] <<link '<<Kai>> simply nodded.' 'FirstAct13b'>><</link>>

“$Kai, is it?” Wait, did she just shiver? It wasn’t cold. “Well, $Kai. I’m looking forward to //closely watching// your development here.” Dahlia winked and then walked away, leaving Rudy and Austin standing there awkwardly. They also left <<kai>>, going [[back to their respective bunks|FirstAct14]].

“Excellent!” She smiled aggressively, eyes squinting. “What’s your name?” [['“It’s ' + $Kai + '.”'|FirstAct13a]] <<link '<<Kai>> remained silent.' 'FirstAct13c'>><<set $WithholdNameDahlia to true>><</link>>

<<Kai>> shifted <<his>> feet, remaining silent. Though there was clearly joy and excitement in her demeanor, <<kai>> couldn’t help but think that Dahlia’s eyes seemed dead somehow. Maybe hollow. Dahlia waited for a while, anticipating <<his>> answer, but when she realized it wasn’t coming she took back the reins. “Oh, so you’re a shy one, then? I have a soft spot for timid <<boy>>s, you know?” Austin scoffed. “Well, mysterious new recruit. I’m looking forward to //closely watching// your development here.” Wait, did she just shiver? It wasn’t cold. Dahlia winked and then walked away, leaving Rudy and Austin standing there awkwardly. They also left <<kai>>, going [[back to their respective bunks|FirstAct14]].

<<Kai>> shrugged, not sure how to respond. "Oh, I'm sorry. You must not want to talk." She thought for a moment. Austin and Rudy still looked uncomfortable. "Or are you by chance... not from the Sanctum?" Dahlia fidgeted. "Of course you are, right?" <<Kai>> remained silent. The three magi looked at each other nervously, waiting for an answer that would never come. Dahlia eventually resolved herself and stuck out her hand, offering it to <<kai>>. <<He>> shook it. Dahlia forced an awkward, yet genuine smile at <<him>> before skipping off to her bunk. Austin and Rudy followed suit, opting not to shake <<his>> hand and going directly to their respective bunks. <<link [[The cabin door opened.|$return]]>><<PassTime>><</link>>

<<Kai>> feigned belonging, pretending to be a part of the Sanctum in order to avoid drawing suspicion like <<he>> had with Jack. "I'm from one of the remote areas," <<kai>> said, doing <<his>> best to sound convincing. "Remote areas...?" Dahlia pondered for a moment, brow furrowed. Austin and Rudy were expressionless, still listening. Dahlia pushed on, continuing with the questions. "Who was your Incubator?" Just then, <<link [[the cabin door opened|$return]]<<PassTime>><</link>>, saving <<kai>> from the awkward conversation as the group dispersed.

Another recruit walked inside, shown into the cabin by Jack. She was tall with a full figure, not as short or slim as Dahlia. Her long, flowing hair was a natural blonde color, she walked with an air of authority and packed a copious amount of belongings into her chest. The chest read: "Margerie." Jack waved goodbye to her and winked flirtatiously before finally disappearing. She had an air of entitlement to her that <<kai>> recognized immediately. It was pretty late at this point. Margerie must have been the last of the new recruits. <<Kais>> thoughts drifted, laying in <<his>> soft bunk. It was warm and welcoming compared to <<his>> futon at home. But this whole situation, despite being strange, was too good to be true; this place was suspicious. Should <<he>> run away? The magic was obviously real—<<he>> had been transported. Most of all, <<kai>> missed <<his>> family. As <<his>> mind faded to black, <<he>> wondered how many other magi studied inside those huge walls outside the forest. Light faded, eyelids drooping. //"Hero."// A gentle voice whispered in <<kais>> mind. //"Savior."// Another voice, this one haunted. <<set $HeadVoices to true>> Then darkness. @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω|FirstAct15]]>><<NextDay>><</link>> @@

<<Kai>> <<was>> awoken from <<his>> strange dreams by an alarming force deep inside. It felt as though <<his>> soul had been violated in some way. <<Kai>> sat straight up in <<his>> bed, eyes shooting open. <<He>> noticed the other Apprentices were already awake. There was an older man standing in the middle of the room. Was this the Monastery's version of a wake-up call? What had <<he>> been dreaming about? <<He>> couldn't quite recall. There were voices, <<he>> knew that. "Good morning, Apprentices. I see we have two newcomers in our midst. My name is Azrael. I will be your instructor until you graduate from Apprentice school." He paused. "Or until you flunk out…" <<Kai>> examined Azrael. He was tall and dark with long black hair and a slender body. Everything about him was dark, the bags under his eyes, even his fingernails were long and black. Why didn’t he trim them? Just like Jack, Azrael’s forehead was tattooed. Instead of the triangle Jack had, Azrael’s formed the shape of an eyeball—a third eye. That eye rested vertically, one tip pointing up, the other pointing down. And it was shut; a vertical line ran from one tip to the other—closed eyelids. A black robe draped over him, covering his body. It looked like a shadow, following him beneath his feet despite the surrounding light. It almost seemed to move of its own accord. <<Kai>> could feel a menacing aura emanating from him. "Okay, newbies. [[Follow me|FirstAct16]] for your official indoctrination. The rest of you, prepare for your daily training exercises."

Azrael turned to walk outside. <<Kai>> and Margerie followed him. Before stepping outside of the cabin, Azrael pointed to a board on the wall. <<Kai>> examined it and noticed that the names of each Apprentice were listed on the board. The board was divided into three columns: novice, adept, and veteran. <<Kais>> name was listed under the novice column alongside Margerie's. Azrael held out a long, slender finger and tapped the board with one of his overgrown fingernails. <<set $RankTier to 'Novice', $Rank to "Apprentice">> "Rank up and graduate," he said, stepping outside the cabin. "It's time for your first lesson. Every rank that a mage achieves at the Monastery is divided into three tiers. Notice how you two are the only novices? Magi begin as novices whenever they graduate to higher ranks. They must demonstrate their skill in order to move up to higher tiers and ranks. Once you've proven yourself as an Apprentice, you'll graduate to the Charmer rank, once again as a novice." <<Kai>> saw Dahlia had been listed as the only veteran. //She must be skilled already//, <<kai>> thought. <<He>> turned to Margerie, who seemed disinterested, as if she didn't need the lesson. In contrast, <<kai>> <<was>> already struggling to keep up. So many things had happened to <<him>> all at once. Azrael smiled as he watched <<kai>>, momentarily silent. Even his teeth were terrifying. "How about a history lesson? Learning your history is essential for all students. Who can tell me about the blind?" Margerie raised her hand enthusiastically, her attention snapping back. Azrael pointed at her with his lanky finger, permitting her to speak. "The blind are powerless. They grow up without any magical skill!" "Yes, that's right… Do you know why that is?" She scrunched her face in contemplation. <<Kais>> thoughts raced. Why would <<his>> family be blind if <<he>> <<wasnt>>? Jack had called //<<him>>// blind. Grandpa's message even mentioned it. Did <<he>> have no magical skill of <<his>> own? Margerie answered. "Because we're raised in the Sanctum?" "Not quite… There was a time when the blind were just as capable as us. They could cast just like any other mage. Long ago, before your parent's parents, their powers were stolen from them by Dark magi who gobbled it up!" Azrael imitated a villain, raising his arms up in the air and making spooky sounds as if he were telling a ghost story to children. Margerie's jaw dropped, shocked and offended by her teacher's behavior. Azrael winked at her and cackled. His nonchalant laughter sent a shiver down <<kais>> spine. Azrael was <<kais>> teacher, but he didn't seem deserving of the title. Azrael clapped his hands together. "Okay, class! That's it for today's history lesson. I deem you //learned//. Sort of." He waved his arm in front of him and bowed forward in jest as though he had just concluded a great performance for some cheering audience. Was he joking around or being serious? <<link '<<Kai>> stayed silent.' 'FirstAct16a'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> asked a question.' 'FirstAct16b'>><<set $BlindInfo to true, $RelationshipMargerie to 1, $ShipMargerie -= 1>><</link>>

<<Kai>> had questions, but <<he>> kept them to <<himself>>. There was no reason to draw suspicion when <<he>> could simply lay low and learn as <<he>> went through school. <<He>> <<was>> bound to discover magi culture as <<he>> went along. [[Azrael spoke.|FirstAct16c]]

<<Kai>> couldn't leave it at that, <<he>> wanted some answers. <<He>> raised <<his>> hand. "Mister Azreal, sir, who exactly are the Blind? How could their powers be stolen? What is the Sanctum?" Margerie stared at <<kai>> like <<he>> <<was>> an alien. Azrael's expression became serious as he straightened up from his theatrical bowing position. "The blind are humans without magical potential. They can't learn skills and never will." He paused. "They are //the people you've known//. It's rare we get Apprentices from outside the Sanctum. You will accommodate the way of the Holy magi in the coming days. Steel yourself." Margerie stared at <<kai>>, but said nothing. <<Kai>> felt embarrassed, maybe wishing <<he>> had never asked the question. Margerie's expression turned to disgust and judgment. She was the worst kind of person, judging another without really knowing anything about them. "As for how magical power can be stolen, suffice to say that the Dark magi //abandoned// God and took matters into their own hands. They thought they knew better. They did the unforgivable—gave themselves over to //sin// and became //Heretics//." There were no theatrics this time. Margerie raised one eyebrow. <<Kai>> noticed a trace of sympathy from Azrael, but it was gone just as fast as it had come. "$Kai, is it? I'll have fun training you…" Azrael was back to his old self. A grin spread across his face and his tongue flitted across his lips, predatory eyes shining. <<Kai>> felt <<his>> stomach drop, dread overcoming <<him>> as <<he>> imagined <<himself>> flunking out. Azrael was going to make this difficult for <<him>>; <<kai>> might not be mage, but <<he>> knew prejudice when <<he>> saw it. Azrael didn't look at <<him>> the same way as the others. At least Margerie didn't have any authority, she harbored even more animosity towards <<him>>. <<BeginApprenticeSchool>>

<<BeginApprenticeSchool>>

Austin was reading a book, ignoring the others. Rudy sat on the ground, muttering under his breath with his eyes closed and brows furrowed. His concentration was intense, apparently meditating. The last Apprentice—Dahlia—was practicing some kind of magic. Whatever she was doing, Rudy was her target. Streams of water shot out of his ears. Rudy remained still, not noticing—his eyes closed. Dahlia snickered to herself. The mist vanished and the weather returned to normal. <<Kai>> and Margerie joined the Apprentice group in the field. As <<they>> did, Azrael appeared out of a shadow in the ground where there had been no shadow before. The group immediately stopped whatever they were doing and assembled before him at attention.

He scrawled the words: Affinity and Skill. Underneath Skill, he branched into two separate words: Tier and Discipline. He talked as he wrote. "Every mage has a unique affinity. Charmers are either of the Water or Earth affinity. But there are other affinities you might acquire along the way, if you're able. Magi learn skills and cast them. Every skill falls into a discipline and is also ranked with a tier. For example, this skill I am using to write is of the Illusion discipline. I'm altering your perception by casting it on all of you as targets." He snapped his fingers, removing the student's altered perception. The words disappeared. He snapped again and they came back. "The lowest tier of skill is a Charm and that means it's the easiest to cast. The greatest of skills is an Invocation and it requires a serious cost for the user." Azrael clapped his hands together and shouted loudly. "Serious!" <<Kai>> and Margerie flinched, but the rest of the students were unfazed by his strange behavior. Azrael chuckled to himself and continued on with the lesson. "There are other tiers of skills in between Charms and Invocations and each of them require a cost that must be paid by the user in order to cast them." He wrote the words: Vitality and Essence. "Most skills require the user to pay in Vitality. This is your standard magical potential, stored within you. Your total store of Vitality can be increased through training and devotion. Once depleted, Vitality can be replenished through worship, prayer, or—if you're in a pinch—through an ally's Rejuvenation techniques. God grants your Vitality, one way or another. Essence—on the other hand—is very serious business. Spending your Essence is forbidden by God. Essence spent can never be replenished. //And that's not the only price you'll pay.//" He went pensive for a moment. "You won't be learning any skills of //that// sort in this class, nor elsewhere in the Monastery." He waved his finger back and forth warningly to really drive home the message. "Essence grants life. Each time you pay Essence, your lifespan is shortened. It can't be restored. Only the most skilled magi—such as myself—should even contemplate casting a skill of that sort. I can tell you from experience that losing your Essence is not pleasant." Azrael had spent some of his Essence. His odd behavior was starting to make sense now, especially that warped sense of humor. <<Kai>> imagined what it must feel like to lose a portion of <<his>> lifespan. "The blind have Essence just like us, but they lack Vitality and, therefore, have no magical potential for casting skills." All eyes turned to <<kai>>. "Furthermore, as you cast skills, your Essence changes form, morphing to become compatible with and enhance that particular skill. This is how affinities are established. Master skills of a certain affinity..." He shot a stream of water out of his finger again. "... and you'll eventually obtain that affinity." Azrael spelled out the various disciplines of skills: Enchantment, Devastation, Illusion, Rejuvenation, Transmutation, and Conjuration. <<set $ShowSkills to true>> "The discipline of a skill describes its general effect. Enchantments endow objects with certain abilities. Devastation skills cause destruction in one way or another. Illusions alter the perception of the target. Rejuvenation skills facilitate healing. Transmutation skills change the substance of a thing. And Conjuration skills can transport or summon. "Of course, within each of these disciplines, there are skills of various affinities and tiers. A Water Charmer may be able to cast both Enchantment and Devastation skills, for example. As Apprentices, you'll be focused on casting Charms and establishing your natural affinities." All of this information was overwhelming to <<kai>>. However, the other students seemed as if they were able to handle it. <<EndApprenticeLesson>>

Nothing happened. The group of Apprentices muttered amongst themselves. <<Kai>> squinted, hoping in anticipation that something //would// happen. Suddenly, the orb glowed, but—instead of <<if $MargerieLife>>Margerie's <</if>>white—the light's color was <<if $AchlysContract>>red<<else>>blue<</if>>. There was a light. //Thank God//, <<kai>> thought. What a relief. <<Kai>> sighed, releasing <<his>> tension. Azrael<<if $AchlysContract>>'s eyes widened<<else>> rubbed his chin<</if>>. The intensity of the light grew until it was bright<<if $MargerieLife>>er than Margerie's<</if>>. <<set $MeasureVitality to true>> However, the muttering from the spectators hadn't stopped. In fact, it seemed to have gotten more rambunctious. <<Kai>> felt the orb vibrate. Dahlia spoke up. "Sir, why does $his light have a color? I've never heard of an Apprentice with color. All of our lights were white. Is it because $he's not from the Sanctum?" Azrael didn't respond. He just watched in silence, waiting. <<Kais>> worry returning. Suddenly, \ <<if !$HemeraContract and !$AchlysContract>>the orb changed color from blue to a deep red, just like Azrael's reading. The muttering intensified again. Azrael's eyebrows lifted in what <<kai>> desperately hoped was intrigue. T<<else>>t<</if>>he light intensified again, growing brighter and brighter. The vibrations magnified as well. <<Kais>> arms were shaking at this point as the orb grew warm, heating up. It got so hot that it burnt <<kais>> hand. <<He>> yelped, dropping it on the ground. The orb's light faded; the grass touching it smoked slowly. There was silence as the hum of the vibration stopped. The Apprentices looked on in stunned silence. <<Kai>> turned <<his>> desperate gaze toward Azrael, who picked up the orb and returned it to the inside of his robe. He <<if $AchlysContract>>immediately<<else>>thought for a while and then<</if>> spoke in the most serious tone <<kai>> had heard from him thus far. <<if $AchlysContract>> "Little ones, [[scatter!|FirstAct21a]]" he said. <<else>> "Back in formation!" he said. <<link '<<Kai>> promptly complied.' 'FirstAct21'>><</link>> <</if>>

The other Apprentices fled immediately, heeding their instructor’s command. <<Kai>> <<was>> left on <<his>> own with Azrael, standing awkwardly. “A red light, huh?” Azrael cracked his neck, then his knuckles. “You ready to die, filthy Corrupt?” He smiled. //So he’s going to fight me,// <<kai>> thought. [[“I don’t want to fight you, sir.”|FirstAct22]]

<<if $MargerieLife>>Now Margerie piped up. "Sir, why didn't you answer Dahlia's question? I want to know what the hell is wrong with $Kai! I hope you're going to fail $him for getting such a weird reading." He responded curtly. "That's something I'm not permitted to explain to Apprentices. You will focus on your own training." Margerie didn't like that answer. <</if>>Azrael continued talking, but his voice trailed off in <<kais>> mind. The world had become a blur to <<kai>>. <<He>> didn't fit in here. <<He>> needed to leave—go back home. He addressed all of them. “Now, remember. We will continue to have daily lessons each afternoon in the training grounds. Attending them is your sole job for the time being. If you don’t show up, there //will// be consequences.” Azrael’s face appeared in <<kais>> direct view. "Come with me. We're going to have a personalized lesson today." <<Kai>> followed Azrael to the other side of the field, away from <<his>> classmates. <<Kai>> and Azrael stood a decent distance apart from each other. Azrael clapped his hands. "We have privacy. The others can't see or hear us. Now tell me what's really going on here." He stared at <<kai>> intensely, peering suspiciously into <<his>> soul. "Who //are// you?" <<Kai>> was taken aback. "I'm nobody. I came from a normal family. My late grandfather was a mage." It was strange to say the words—unreal. "But I just learned about him. I swear that's the truth. I… I don't know anything about magic," <<he>> admitted. <<Kai>> felt defeated. Azrael chewed on <<his>> response. <<if $HemeraContract>>[[He leaned back, evaluating the answer.|FirstAct22a]]<<else>>[[He leaned back, evaluating the answer.|FirstAct22]]<</if>>

“A blue light. It’s curious, I can explain red, but not blue…” Azrael trailed off, thinking, but unable to put his thoughts into words. “What does a blue light mean, sir?” He leaned forward, his face practically touching <<kais>> own. “It means you’re //special//, $Kai. I don’t know how or why, but it’s true.” He backed up. “Look, I’ll show you.” Azrael swiped, slashing at <<kai>> with his magically reinforced claws. Wincing, <<kai>> subconsciously channeled Vitality, reinforcing <<his>> physical defenses. //Clang!// Not only did the grotesque talons bounce off <<kais>> body, but they //shattered//, breaking to pieces like shimmering, black needles. “See, not even a scratch. That should’ve killed any normal Apprentice. No, any normal Charmer.” <<Kai>> examined <<his>> undamaged chest in awe. “You’re no Apprentice, $Kai. You’re something else entirely… I’ll have to report this to the Council. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He disappeared into his shadow, leaving <<kai>> alone. <<link '<<Kai>> wandered into the forest' 'MonasteryForest'>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $BlueOrbReading to true>><</link>>, contemplating <<his>> newfound power.

"Okay. I see how it is." Azrael's eyes squinted aggressively. He shifted into a combat stance and raised a clenched fist. He chanted quietly, slowly curling his fingers open, palm facing upwards. <<Kai>> shifted backwards, taken aback, unsure. Pitch black smoke spiraled upward from Azrael's palm forming a dark, looming cloud as he continued chanting. It fully formed and then shot toward <<kai>>, taking shape as it approached. It contorted itself into a menacing hound. Glowing red eyes emerged from the smoke and a vicious mouth opened, revealing sharp, canine teeth. Its black fur flowed in the wind as the beast unleashed a predatory snarl, closing the distance between <<them>>. Was Azrael going to kill <<him>>? <<Kai>> <<was>> convinced <<he>> had sensed some good in <<his>> teacher's soul. //This can't be the end. It's too soon//, <<kai>> thought, staring death in the slobbery face. <<if !$AchlysContract>> //"Don't worry, Hero. You're safe."// <</if>> //"He's no threat, Savior."// <<if !$AchlysContract>> It was those voices in <<his>> head again. Where were they coming from? <</if>> <<if !$AchlysContract>>\ [[Trust Azrael.|FirstAct23]] <</if>>\ <<link [[Kill him.|Rogue][$Rogue to true]]>><<set $PassageName to 'KillAzraelAchlys'>><<set $Virtue -= 15>><</link>>

<<Kai>> decided to kill Azrael. His motivations were mysterious to <<kai>>, especially given his strange behavior. <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure how to defend <<himself>> in magical combat, but nonetheless <<he>> entered <<his>> best approximation of a defensive stance. <<set $Rogue to true>> Azrael's hound closed in. <<Kai>> had no room for doubt, <<he>> <<was>> committed. Just as the hound bit into <<him>>, a warmth spread through <<his>> body, radiating from <<his>> core—tingling. <<His>> forehead shone. Time slowed down—the carnal beast suspended in the air. Azrael wasn't moving, <<if $AchlysContract>>[[the wind stood still|Contract3]]<<else>>[[the wind stood still|Rogue2]]<</if>>.

<<Kai>> lowered <<his>> guard. As <<he>> did, two beautiful women appeared on either side of <<him>>. One woman had snow white hair and fair skin. She radiated light, glowing. She wore no clothing, but rather a sheen from her glow thinly veiled her, draping over her figure. Her yellow eyes were kind, gentle, and compassionate. She spoke, but her mouth remained still. //"Hero. My name is Hemera. I am Light. I will brighten your path to guide you through the darkness."// She extended her hand towards <<him>>. //"You must seek my rebirth. Until then, I will serve you as best I can in my current form."// Hemera closed her eyes, bowed her head, and placed her hands together in a position of prayer—a sign of respect. And there was the other woman. She had pitch black, woven locks of hair and a darker skin complexion. She also wore no visible clothing, but instead was covered in certain areas by slithering tendrils. They clung to her curvy body like a gown, wriggling. Her white eyes were haunted and desperate. Although she wasn't crying, black tears streamed down her face in a constant flow, falling from her chin. Her mouth also remained still as she spoke. //"Savior. I am Achlys, the Soothsayer of Anguish. I foresee wicked, wretched deeds. My eyes have been tainted—defiled—for I can see only that which is vile. You must unleash me from my prison. Rescue me from my misery. Release me. Please, kill me. My heart aches—it bleeds black. Use your suffering—channel it. Enter my heart—integrate. Unify our agony. I can feel your touch inside of me. You must go deeper—penetrate my darkness."// <<set $Goddesses to true>> Achlys also extended her hand towards <<him>>. But <<kai>> could only touch one of them. <<link '<<Kai>> sought light.' 'RogueHemera'>><<set $Virtue += 1>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> sought darkness.' 'RogueAchlys'>><<set $Virtue -= 1>><</link>>

<<Kai>> embraced light. <<He>> reached for Hemera's hand and firmly grasped it. Achlys shriveled away and disappeared. Wailing. <<Kai>> pulled Hemera close, face to face. //"If you want to be rescued, we must establish a contract, Hero."// <<link '<<Kai>> established a contract with Hemera.' 'HemeraContract'>><<set $Virtue += 10>><</link>> <<if $PassageName is 'KillAzraelAchlys'>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> trusted Azrael after all.' 'FirstAct23'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> established a contract with Hemera. <<set $HemeraContract to true>> //"A wise choice, Hero. Together, we will light the darkness, vanquish evil, and deliver justice to the innocent."// She wrapped her hands around the back of <<kais>> head, pulling <<him>> even closer. She kissed <<him>>. Her lips were gentle and warm. <<Kais>> arm tingled, and then <<his>> core. A branding spread through <<his>> body, taking the shape of wings. They flapped and then took permanent form on <<his>> skin—angelic white. //"My power is now your power. I can see your soul—you will use me wisely. I am yours, I pray that you serve with honor."// Hemera pressed her breasts against <<kais>> chest and then their bodies fused. <<link '<<They>> were one.' 'HemeraContract2'>><<set $Race to "titan", $Mystical to 500 + random(100), $Physical to 400 + random(100)>><</link>>.

<<Kai>> levitated, <<his>> body transforming. <<His>> hair turned white, flowing down <<his>> back. <<His>> eyes glowed intensely yellow. Impressive wings sprouted from <<his>> back, muscles chiseled. <<He>> emanated a radiant glow. What had <<he>> become? An angel? <<Kais>> core was powerful; <<he>> felt it. It was the power of light. [[Time restarted.|$PassageName]]

<<Kai>> decided to embrace Anguish. <<He>> firmly grasped Achlys' hand. Hemera shriveled away and disappeared, her light dimming. <<He>> pulled Achlys closer, face to face. //"To survive, you must establish a contract, Savior."// <<link '<<Kai>> established a contract with Achlys.' 'AchlysContract'>><<set $Virtue -= 10>><</link>> <<if $PassageName is 'KillAzraelAchlys'>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> trusted Azrael after all.' 'FirstAct23'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> agreed to the contract. //"My savior."// Achlys shivered. <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure if it was delight or agony. //"Together, we will taste anguish and unleash it on those who beget pain. And then you will finally end my suffering. Embrace my darkest heart..."// She wrapped her hands around the back of <<kais>> head, pulling <<him>> close. She kissed <<him>> with cold, wet lips. Her tendrils wiggled excitedly, wrapping around <<kai>> and locking <<him>> in place. Suddenly, she bit <<kais>> tongue, sucking on <<his>> blood. <<He>> <<was>> paralyzed. Her white eyes rolled back in her head, black ooze dripping out of her open mouth, running into <<kais>> mouth and down <<his>> throat. //"Our contract is complete, Savior. My powers are now yours to command."// <<set $AchlysContract to true>> <<Kais>> arm tingled, and then <<his>> core. A branding spread through <<his>> body, taking the shape of snakes. They slithered up <<him>>, fangs bared. They swallowed their own tails, forming circles across <<his>> skin. As they bit down, their shapes took permanent form. A split tongue flitted out of Achlys' mouth. She hissed. //"Massster, my power is now yours. I plead that you use all of me and mete out punishment as its due. And of course… you may now ussse me however you desire."// She pressed her breasts against <<kais>> chest and <<their>> bodies fused. <<link '<<They>> were one.' 'AchlysContract2'>><<set $Race to "titan", $Mystical to 500 + random(100), $Physical to 400 + random(100)>><</link>>

<<Kai>> levitated above the ground, <<his>> body transformed. <<His>> hair was black, flowing down <<his>> back. <<His>> eyes turned white. Black wings sprouted from <<his>> back and talons grew from <<his>> hands and feet. <<His>> teeth sharpened and <<his>> tongue elongated. <<Kai>> felt the power in <<his>> core. The power of pain—darkness. The power of Achlys. <<He>> felt great, like <<he>> had just been truly awoken from a long slumber. But then something began to feel wrong inside of <<him>>, unsettling. <<His>> stomach twisted as <<he>> curled in <<his>> wings and fell to the ground, doubled over with <<his>> hand clutched at <<his>> abdomen. The feeling traveled up <<him>>, gradually moving from <<his>> gut upwards to <<his>> throat. //”It’s alright,”// Achlys said in <<kais>> head. //”Do not worry. It’s merely my servant that you feel inside of you.”// <<Kais>> eyes went wide as <<his>> throat bulged. <<He>> whipped <<his>> head back and opened <<his>> mouth in desperation, clutching and squeezing and doing <<his>> best to force the thing out of <<him>>. <<His>> mouth went slimy and tentacles slid across <<his>> tongue, reaching up into the air and wriggling before <<his>> eyes. They slithered out of <<his>> mouth, protruding from <<him>> and gripping <<his>> face as they pushed themselves out of <<his>> body. <<Kai>> gasped as the thing finally escaped, plopping to the ground in front of <<him>>. <<He>> looked upon it and felt Achlys swell with pride. //”My sweet child,”// she said, referring to the black, octopus-like creature that lay sprawled out before <<him>>. It looked familiar, but different in a way that couldn’t be described, as if it were from a different time. //What is it…?// //“As I said, he is my servant.”// //Her servant…?// <<Kai>> watched as the thing examined its own tentacles. It experimented with its body, sliding around and testing its limits. //What does it do?// //“I don’t know. I can’t remember. But just as he once was mine, he is now yours as well to use as you see fit."// //What’s his name?// //“I don’t know…”// Achlys said, disappointed in herself. //Okay. Then I suppose I’ll name him.// Which name did <<kai>> give <<his>> new companion? Name: <<textbox "$Moll" "Moll">> [[Continue|AchlysContract3]]

<<Kai>> named <<his>> new tentacled companion: $Moll. //“$Moll…”// Achlys said. //“<<if $Moll is 'Moll'>>That name sounds familiar<<else>>I think it’s a new name. One he hasn’t had before<</if>>…”// Why couldn’t Achlys remember his name? Was there something wrong with her? In any event, <<kai>> liked $Moll’s new name. <<He>> watched the creature playing with himself, tangling and then subsequently untangling his tentacles as if it were a puzzle. Yes, his new name suited him just fine. “$Moll,” <<kai>> said to the creature, calling him. His slimy head shot up, immediately responding to <<kais>> call. “Come here,” <<he>> said, holding out <<his>> arm. The demonic octopus slid over to <<kai>> and happily shot up <<his>> arm, curling around it and purring. $Moll’s grip was tight. And <<kai>> could feel slime dripping from him, oozing from his pores. “That’s… good,” <<he>> said. $Moll vibrated happily. //“He likes you,”// Achlys said. <<Kai>> chuckled. [[Time restarted.|$PassageName]]

<<if !$AchlysContract>>The beast rushed towards <<kai>>, <<he>> didn't have much time to react. <</if>><<He>> could defend <<himself>> with <<his>> new power. <<if $AchlysContract>> <<link '<<Kai>> devoured the beast.' 'KillAzraelAchlys'>><<set $ShadowFlame to true, $Virtue -= 15>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> annihilated the beast.' 'KillAzraelAchlys'>><<set $Hellfire to true, $Virtue -= 15>><</link>> <<else>> <<link '<<Kai>> purified the beast.' 'KillAzraelHemera'>><<set $HolyCleansing to true>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> smote the beast.' 'KillAzraelHemera'>><<set $PillarOfLight to true>><</link>> <</if>>

The power of <<Goddess>> welled within <<kai>>. <<He>> <<was>> brimming with darkness as <<he>> called upon the powers of despair. <<He>> bowed <<his>> head in remorse and reverence, lifting both arms. Pitch black tendrils emanated from <<his>> body, encircling <<him>>. Achlys touched <<his>> heart, chest burning. Streaks of black invaded <<his>> vision from the periphery. <<if $ShadowFlame>> <<Kai>> lifted <<his>> head towards the sky. A gentle vibration echoed through <<his>> bones. <<He>> took command of <<his>> tendrils, shooting them towards the beast. They grabbed hold of the beast by the limbs, suspending it in the air. A shriek rang in the air. The beast shriveled, its soul sucked into <<his>> tendrils. <<Kai>> felt <<his>> Vitality strengthen. The beast disappeared into nothingness, <<kais>> tendrils draining it of its existence, leaving no trace behind. <<else>> A shriek left <<kais>> mouth, ringing in the air. Hellfire shot from <<his>> palm, totally engulfing Azrael's beast. <<His>> flame was so large and fierce that the beast was no longer visible. The flames devoured the beast completely. They eventually extinguished, leaving no trace behind. <</if>> Azrael was astonished. He attempted to flee through a shadow, but <<kai>> pre-empted his retreat. With a flap of <<his>> wings and an outstretched hand, <<he>> skewered Azrael's neck with one of <<his>> talons. <<His>> prey felt fear, eyes wide. Realizing any attempt at escape was futile, Azrael clapped his hands together, anxiously muttering to himself despite the blood gurgling from his throat. Almost instantly, his form changed. Power overcame him, strange symbols covered his face. A branding of an eyeball appeared on his forehead. His skin turned a dark purple color and horns sprouted outwards from various locations on his body. Eyeballs sprouted from his limbs and rapidly scanned their surroundings. His foot barreled towards <<kai>>, equipped with blade-like fixtures jutting outwards. <<Kai>> ripped at Azrael's neck, the talon already lodged in <<his>> prey's throat. But it wouldn't budge. Azrael's body was hard. <<Kai>> slid <<his>> talon out of Azrael's throat and shielded <<himself>> against the kick using <<his>> talons. Azrael's blades clanged, contacting the talons. <<Yall2>> were moving quickly, but everything felt slow. Azrael shifted back out of <<kais>> immediate range. He removed his robe, exposing a body full of horns and sharp protrusions like the one <<kai>> just deflected. Blood glistened on his chest, flowing from his neck. He assumed a fighting stance. Azrael was an abomination, a corrupted soul. <<Kai>> could sense his tainted Essence—smell it. He needed to be eradicated. It was <<kais>> solemn duty to cleanse the world of his kind—the tainted. Excitement overcame <<him>>, salivating over <<his>> prey. Blackened saliva dripped over <<kais>> sharp teeth, running down <<his>> chin; <<his>> hair stood on end and <<he>> shivered in anticipation. <<Kai>> howled at the sky, spreading <<his>> wings. <<if $ShadowFlame>>Tendrils seeped from <<his>> pores, encasing <<him>> in a black shroud. <<He>> channeled the tendrils into <<his>> talons, concentrating their power. They were so black that any light was sucked into them, absorbed entirely. The eye couldn't perceive this level of darkness.<<else>>Hellfire seeped from <<his>> pores, encasing <<him>> in a ball of flame. <<He>> channeled the flames into <<his>> talons, reinforcing them with molten energy. They glowed with the sheen of plasma.<</if>> With a flap of <<his>> wings, <<kai>> lunged toward Azrael with blinding speed, thrusting <<his>> talons. Azrael's eyeballs tracked <<kai>> feverishly. <<His>> prey made an attempt to defend himself, sputtering some kind of magic, but it was already too late. He didn't have enough time to properly cast. Azrael raises his jagged arms in defense, but <<kai>> sliced through them like butter<<if $ShadowFlame>>. In the instant that <<his>> blackened talon made contact with <<his>> prey's flesh, the arm disintegrated, dissolving. The limbs were being eaten by darkness as the shadows spread up Azrael's body like a parasite<<else>>, leaving molten flesh in <<his>> wake<</if>>. Azrael was left with no means of defense. <<Kai>> jabbed a talon right between Azrael's eyes, piercing through his skull. The talon emerged out the back of his head. Azrael's many eyes stared at <<kai>> unblinkingly as his body went limp, now supported only by <<kais>> talon.<<if $ShadowFlame>> The darkness spread, engulfing the rest of Azrael, eating through his skull. As his skewered head disintegrated, his body dropped to the ground. His empty eyes dissolved.<<else>> Azrael's head smoked as the heat from the plasma melted through his skull. <<Kai>> rent his head open, pulling <<his>> talons apart. Azrael's body dropped to the ground, his motionless flesh charred.<</if>> <<set $AzraelLife to false>> <<Kai>> had vanquished evil. The first step in a long journey. //"You did great, Massster."// Achlys was pleased with <<him>>, <<he>> could feel it. <<Kais>> tongue flicked out, licking <<his>> lips. <<He>> needed more. <<if $DisturbFilter and $Hellfire>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> feasted on the remains.' 'CorpseFeast'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> left the remains alone.' 'CorpseAlone'>><</link>> <<elseif $Hellfire>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> left the remains alone.' 'CorpseAlone'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> returned home.' 'ReturnHome'>><<PassTime>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> wandered.' 'Wander'>><<PassTime>><</link>> <</if>>\

<<Kai>> knelt next to Azrael's charred carcass, <<his>> snakelike tongue slithering out as <<he>> basked in the smell of <<his>> kill. The scent of charred evildoers was delectable. <<He>> bared <<his>> pointy teeth and feasted, devouring the carcass. The meat was good—juicy. The skin, however, was particularly hard and chewy, so <<kai>> ate around it. <<He>> took particular care to lap up any blood <<he>> could find. <<His>> tendrils grew excited, peeking out of <<his>> pores and wriggling around every so often. <<Kai>> digested, feeling <<himself>> grow stronger, absorbing some of Azrael's power. <<He>> left only scraps behind. <<link '<<Kai>> returned home.' 'ReturnHome'>><<PassTime>><</if>>. <<link '<<Kai>> wandered.' 'Wander'>><<PassTime>><</if>>.

<<Kais>> excitement subsided, satisfied with meting out divine judgment. <<He>> left the charred remains for somebody else to deal with. <<link '<<Kai>> returned home.' 'ReturnHome'>><<PassTime>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> wandered.' 'Wander'>><<PassTime>><</link>>

<<if $HolyCleansing>>\ <<Kai>> flapped <<his>> wings, power building within <<him>>. <<He>> threw back <<his>> head and dropped <<his>> jaw. <<Kai>> shrieked at the sky, a shrill sound—like the cry of a wounded siren. Golden shockwaves emanated from <<his>> mouth, shaking <<his>> surroundings. The shockwaves roared, slicing through the hound like butter. Nothing was left of it but a pile of ash, scattered on the ground. But the waves didn't stop. They continued, piercing Azrael, rending his spirit. He fell to his knees. <<else>>\ <<Kai>> landed on the ground, knees bent, pressing <<his>> palms down. <<His>> muscles rippled. <<He>> channeled <<his>> power, drawing on God's mighty light. A golden pillar emerged from the earth in front of <<him>>, skewering the hound. It was translucent, yet solid—shimmering, distorted like the edge of a hot flame. The beast screamed and then melted, reduced to a black, dripping puddle. The pillar's light seared Azrael's eyes, disabling him. Hands on his head, he fell to his knees. <</if>> <<Kai>> had dispatched one wicked minion—an agent of darkness—there was one more left. <<Kai>> eyed Azrael, a pathetic mage, tainted by his own sin. His soul was incomplete, offered before the darkness in trade for something worthless, ephemeral. Something human. <<link '<<Kai>> purified Azrael.' 'HemeraAzrael'>><</link>>

//"I exist to purify your kind. To eradicate wickedness,"// <<kai>> said. But they weren't <<his>> words, it was Hemera speaking through <<him>>. <<He>> sensed a sadness in the words—longing. <<Kai>> raised a white arm—<<his>> body was completely white now—extending <<his>> fingers. From <<his>> palm sprouted a small pillar of light. <<He>> clenched it, gripping the handle. A sword. The golden blade radiated holy energy. "Breitheamh Naofa. //The Holy Judge. She hungers for wicked spirits, feeding on their tainted souls."// Judge. Hemera's old companion. The memory trickled back to Hemera, back to <<kai>>. Judge was thirsty. She yearned for righteous cleansing. Divine judgment. She thirsted for Azrael's tainted heart. <<Kai>> flapped <<his>> wings, soaring through the air towards <<his>> vile prey. <<His>> hair flowed in the wind. <<He>> raised <<his>> arm, lifting Judge into the air. And then <<he>> struck. A golden streak of providence. The enactment of a righteous will. The poor wretch hadn't even tried to defend himself—crippled and blinded by his own wrongdoing. A husk of sin, skewered through the chest. Azrael bore empty eyes, a reflection of his soul. A blackened heart, no longer beating. <<Kai>> slid Judge out of him. Black streaks of blood leaked from the wound, staining the blade. Judge pulsed and Azrael turned to ash. Judge was sated. She leapt out of <<kais>> hand and flew into the sky. She only cooperated when there were sinners to feed her, ripe for the harvest. Hemera had grown accustomed to Judge’s fickle ways. Despite her temperamental behavior, she was a worthy companion. <<Kai>> looked down at the pile of ashes. Judge had proven herself once again. Another sinner vanquished. <<Kai>> felt more complete somehow, as if a void had been filled in <<his>> core. Vanquishing sinners was satisfying work. <<link '<<Kai>> returned home.' 'ReturnHome'>><<PassTime>><</if>>. <<link '<<Kai>> wandered.' 'Wander'>><<PassTime>><</if>>.

The Monastery wouldn't look kindly on students who kill their teachers. <<His>> absence would be noticed. It would only be a matter of time until they figured out who killed Azrael. <<Kai>> wouldn't be returning to the Monastery any time soon. At least, not until <<he>> <<was>> prepared to go to war. Instead, <<he>> would return to the only place <<he>> really belonged. Home. <<Kai>> spread <<his>> wings and took flight. As <<he>> flew, the day turned to night and the sun set, daylight fading. <<Kai>> felt the power of <<Goddess>> welling inside <<him>>. <<He>> <<was>> fast. Really fast. It took some time to gain <<his>> bearings, but after a bit of flying <<he>> made it home. <<He>> landed in the yard, returning to <<his>> human form. <<His>> wings shrunk, receding into <<his>> back. <<if $Achlys or $AchlysContract>><<He>> pulled <<his>> talons in. The forks of <<his>> tongue sealed back together.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> opened the door.' 'OpenDoor'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> wandered. <<He>> <<was>> lost and alone. Well, not entirely alone. <<He>> had <<Goddess>> by <<his>> side. Or rather, inside of <<him>>. Still, <<kai>> had no purpose. No direction. How long had <<he>> been walking? <<He>> <<wasnt>> sure anymore. <<He>> wandered aimlessly. <<He>> could've gone home, seen <<his>> family. But what was the point? They hadn't recognized <<him>> before and they probably didn't need <<him>> anymore either. They were fine on their own now. <<Kai>> had to make <<his>> own way now. //I'm all you need.// <<Goddess>> was right. <<Kai>> didn't need <<his>> family. <<He>> didn't need anybody else anymore. <<Goddess>> was the only one <<he>> needed. <<Goddess>>. <<Kais>> core tingled. <<Goddess>> was pleased. <<Yall2>> were growing closer. Bonding. <<Kai>> had one mission left in life: <<if $Hemera or $HemeraContract>>seek Hemera's rebirth<<else>>put Achlys out of her misery<</if>>. <<Kai>> felt <<Goddess>> tugging on <<him>>, leading <<him>> in the right direction. <<link '<<Kai>> surrendered to her pull.' 'BadEnd1'>><</link>>

<<Goddess>> pulled on <<kai>>, guiding <<him>>. <<He>> walked and <<he>> flew, traversing a great distance. <<He>> would stop for water occasionally, but rarely found food. Why hadn't <<he>> gotten hungry? <<Was>> <<he>> feeding off some other source of energy? <<if $Achlys or $AchlysContract>> A cave. <<set $BadEnd1 to true>> <<Kai>> stood at the rocky mouth of the cavern. An evil dwelt inside, <<he>> could feel it. But <<he>> walked, pulled forward, [[into the dark, dank mouth|Sheol]]. <<else>> <<Kai>> <<was>> getting close. <<He>> could feel it. A familiar energy, as old as Hemera—maybe older. <<He>> walked past a forested area, trudging through knee high fields. And then <<he>> sensed it. A scamper. <<Kai>> turned and scanned the field behind <<him>>, but saw nothing. It wasn't right, something felt off. <<He>> looked at the trees and noticed movement in the shadows. [[An ambush?|AssassinAmbush]] <</if>>

The cavern was dark and wet. <<if $BadEnd1>> Achlys urged <<him>> on, deeper and deeper into the unknown. There were winding twists and turns, and—despite the evil <<kai>> had sensed—there was no real danger. <<Kai>> reached a deep room, large and expansive. Light beamed up through cracks in the floor surrounding a massive pillar. The pillar. It was impressive and unnatural. The rest of the formations in the cave seemed organic, formed through typical processes. But there was nothing typical about this pillar. Despite being made of rock, it flared as it reached upwards, like the trunk of a tree. It had no imperfections like typical rock should. Strange markings shifted across its surface, flowing like water. It resembled a living spirit more than a simple object. It pulled <<kai>> in. <<He>> got lost in it for a while, swimming in its waves, exploring its beautiful nooks. <<Kai>> could have looked at it forever, but <<he>> knew <<he>> didn’t have the time right now. When <<he>> finally broke <<his>> gaze from the pillar, <<he>> scanned the room again, searching for an exit. <<He>> should move on. But <<kai>> found that the room had changed. The lights in the cracks of the floor had dimmed. It was no longer expansive, but confined. There was now a single tunnel, dark and grimy. If <<he>> listened closely, <<he>> could hear echoes, coming from the tunnel then bouncing around in the room. Signs of life. Achlys surged, tingling inside of <<him>>. //Go on, Savior! Down the tunnel!// But the wall. There was a large bloodstain, dripping red from the dark rock. It talked to <<him>>, asking for more blood. It needed more blood. Or else, something //bad// would happen. Should <<he>> walk down the tunnel or wait in the room? Or give blood? <<link '<<Kai>> gave blood.' 'Bloodstain'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> took the tunnel.' 'SheolTunnel1'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> waited in the room.' 'SheolWait'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> touched the bloodstain. It was a beautiful crimson, wet to the touch. Goosebumps ran up <<his>> arm. //"Blood. More blood."// The stain on the wall shivered. A black scythe extended from the wall and slashed, slicing <<kais>> head clean off. It rolled to the floor. For a few moments, <<kais>> eyes passed information to <<his>> brain. A black hooded woman emerged from the bloodstain, holding the scythe. //"Blood keeps us safe. Safe. Safe…"// She licked the blood from the black blade. Another pool of red spread across the floor. <<Death>>

<<Kai>> calmed <<himself>>, focusing <<his>> patience. Despite the echoes, <<he>> waited. Everything would be alright, <<he>> just had to bide <<his>> time. <<He>> waited so long that <<he>> nodded off, sleep coming for <<him>>. When <<he>> awoke <<he>> found <<himself>> facing [[an unfamiliar figure|ManiaBadEnd]].

A woman stood before <<him>>. She was cloaked in black, bearing a large scythe. Her stance was strange—abnormal. Her eyes were unfocused, flitting around aimlessly. She twitched every so often, constantly muttering to herself. What was she saying? <<Kai>> couldn't make it out. She didn't seem aggressive or threatening, despite her weapon. <<Kai>> stood and approached her. As <<he>> got closer, her words became more clear. //"Mania. Kill. Mania. Kill. Mania. Mania. Kill. Kill. Mania…"// Over and over, she repeated herself. She was sick in the head; she needed help. <<Kai>> could help her. "Hello, my name's $Kai." <<He>> drew closer with no reservation. "I can save you. I can help you." <<He>> extended <<his>> hands towards her. //"Moth. Moth. Flame. Flame. Kill. Kill."// "It's okay, I'm here to help you. What's your name?" //"Mania. Kill."// Mania swung her scythe, dismembering <<kais>> outstretched hands. What a bother. Now <<they>> wouldn't be able to hold each other's hands. "Well, that's alright, Mania. I have other parts I can use. I can still help you." //"Mania. Mania. Madness."// With a flurry, Mania's scythe danced through the damp air, severing <<kais>> head from <<his>> body. It fell, rolling across the rock floor. //Now that's a real bother. How can I help her without a head? What a silly woman. A head is necessary for…// <<Kais>> brain stopped. <<His>> body fell to the floor, spouting blood, painting the floor red. Mania licked her scythe, eyes rolling back in her head. She shivered. <<Death>>

<<if $SheolTunnel1>><<else>><<Kai>> walked down the narrow tunnel. <<He>> tread carefully, keeping <<his>> steps as quiet as possible. The tunnel was dark. <<He>> could barely see six feet in front of <<him>>. The ceiling dripped on <<him>>, but it was too dark to know what was dripping. The echoes came back every so often. The further <<kai>> walked, the more clear they became. <<He>> <<wasnt>> close enough, they were still too garbled to make out. As <<kai>> progressed down the tunnel, <<he>> discovered a door in one of the walls. It looked like a normal wooden door, as far as <<he>> could tell with the limited visibility. <<He>> touched it and lust surged within <<him>>. The door morphed, taking the form of a seductive <<if$FemalePreference>>woman<<else>>man<</if>>. <<if$FemalePreference>>She<<else>>He<</if>> was tailored exactly to <<kais>> preferences, with the perfect figure and a succulent air of mystery. //Open the door, Savior.// <</if>><<Kai>> needed to open the door. <<He>> needed to find this <<if$FemalePreference>>wo<</if>>man and undress <<if$FemalePreference>>her<<else>>him<</if>>. <<Kai>> needed to run <<his>> hands over <<if$FemalePreference>>her<<else>>his<</if>>. Smell <<if$FemalePreference>>her<<else>>him<</if>>. Ravage <<if$FemalePreference>>her<<else>>him<</if>>. <<set $SheolTunnel1 to true>> <<if $SmutFilter and $FutaFilter>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> opened the door.' 'LustEnd1'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> continued down the tunnel.' 'SheolTunnel2'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> walked through the door, smoke wafting out of it. <<He>> breathed in and immediately fell unconscious. @@.center; [[Ω Ω|DemonPrisoner1]] @@

<<Kai>> resisted the door and continued down the tunnel. As <<he>> walked, <<he>> happened upon another door. <<if $SheolTunnel2>><<else>> <<He>> touched it and <<was>> overcome with intense hunger. <<He>> //needed// to eat. And it needed to be a lot of food, <<he>> didn't care what kind of food, <<he>> just needed something. <<His>> mind filled with images of steaming platters, tables for feasting, brimming with food. <<His>> mouth watered. <</if>> <<He>> needed to open this door. <<He>> needed to feed. <<set $SheolTunnel2 to true>> <<link '<<Kai>> walked back up the tunnel.' 'SheolTunnel1'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> opened the door.''WIP'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> continued down the tunnel.' 'WIP'>><</link>> */

<<Kai>> resisted the door and continued down the tunnel. [[$Kai + " opened the door."|GreedEnd1]] [[$Kai + " continued down the tunnel."|SheolTunnel4]] [[$Kai + " walked back up the tunnel."|SheolTunnel2]]

<<Kai>> resisted the door and continued down the tunnel. [[$Kai + " opened the door."|SlothEnd1]] [[$Kai + " continued down the tunnel."|SheolTunnel5]] [[$Kai + " walked back up the tunnel."|SheolTunnel3]]

<<Kai>> resisted the door and continued down the tunnel. [[$Kai + " opened the door."|WrathEnd1]] [[$Kai + " continued down the tunnel."|SheolTunnel6]] [[$Kai + " walked back up the tunnel."|SheolTunnel4]]

<<Kai>> resisted the door and continued down the tunnel. [[$Kai + " opened the door."|EnvyEnd1]] [[$Kai + " continued down the tunnel."|SheolTunnel7]] [[$Kai + " walked back up the tunnel."|SheolTunnel5]]

<<Kai>> resisted the door and continued down the tunnel. [[$Kai + " opened the door."|PrideEnd1]] [[$Kai + " continued down the tunnel."|SheolTunnel8]] [[$Kai + " walked back up the tunnel."|SheolTunnel6]]

<<Kai>> resisted the door and continued down the tunnel. <<He>> approached a final door at the end of the hallway. <<He>> could sense nothing but darkness here. [[$Kai + " opened the door."|AbaddonEnd1]] [[$Kai + " walked back up the tunnel."|SheolTunnel7]]

Something brushed past one of <<his>> wings, slithering up <<his>> back. <<Kai>> turned just in time to see it. A flash of metal, speeding towards <<his>> throat. In an instant, <<kai>> swung <<his>> arm, Judge returning to <<him>> in a great flash. <<He>> sliced, parrying the knife. The knife sizzled, disintegrating before Judge's holy light. The assassin smirked, backing off through the field. His forehead bore the brand of a third eye—open and staring. Why wasn't he more afraid? Didn't he know? <<Kai>> would rend the man's spirit, sentence him for his evil deeds. <<Kai>> would purge evil. The assassin simply stood still. Waiting, smirking. Cocking his head, twisting it around all the way. Time slowed. His third eye blinked. //The trees!// Hemera called to <<kai>>. <<He>> looked at the trees, but saw nothing wrong. They were still—no movement, no wind. //Quickly!// <<Kai>> blinked. And then <<he>> saw them, a whole band of assassins. <<He>> <<was>> freed from an illusion. Hemera had saved <<him>> from it. [[A whole band of assassins.|AssassinAmbush2]] It //was// an ambush.

They fired at <<him>> from afar. Magical bullets. There was no time to count <<his>> enemies or assess the situation. <<He>> needed to react. Separating <<himself>> from <<his>> enemy, <<kai>> crouched and then ran around, dodging, slicing bullets out of the air. <<He>> jumped and flapped <<his>> wings, thrusting Judge forward. <<Kai>> stabbed the creepy assassin through the chest. He hadn't moved at all, his smile plastered to his face. Judge steamed, searing him as he slid off the blade, a corpse falling to the ground. A hole in his chest. Dead eyes, still smiling. <<Kai>> spun on <<his>> ankle, weaving Judge through the air, slicing the bullets. <<He>> needed to take out the archers. They were spreading themselves out, shooting from all angles. <<He>> sped towards them, feet thumping, thrusting <<himself>> forward with the added force of <<his>> wings. <<He>> <<was>> agile—superhuman. One. Two. Three. <<He>> cut through the archers, dodging and weaving. They all bore the brand of a sun on their foreheads—a circle with lines sprouting out of it in all directions, a basic sketch. These were the minions. So why had their boss let himself be killed so easily? <<Kai>> flicked Judge, blinking again—and then <<he>> saw it. A healer, hidden in the woods, chanting, glowing. <<He>> zoomed in, focusing on her. Why was she glowing? <<He>> turned around. The assassin with the third eye was staring at <<him>> again, still smiling—a crooked grin. He should've been dead. Panic. <<Kai>> panicked. Was any of this actually real? Was it still an illusion? <<His>> hand quaked, fingers gripping Judge tightly. Hemera panicked too. <<He>> could feel her—anxiety in <<his>> core. But it was okay, right? There was no need for panic. She could just snap <<him>> out of it again like she had done last time. [[Couldn't she?|AssassinAmbush3]]

<<Kai>> blinked. The assassin was standing in front of <<kai>> now, still grinning. His smile was plastic, part of the illusion—designed to make <<kai>> uncomfortable and let <<his>> guard down. <<He>> just had to keep <<his>> guard up. But it didn't matter. <<His>> hand was empty. Judge was gone. <<He>> couldn't feel Hemera anymore. Alone. <<Kai>> <<was>> alone, helpless. <<He>> felt naked. The assassin raised his knife and sliced <<kais>> throat open. Blood gushed out, running down <<his>> snow white skin. Red on white. <<Kai>> felt cold. <<He>> fell to the ground, bleeding. The world distorted around <<him>>, blurring. Detail died, fading away. "A grotesque fiend." The assassin spoke to <<him>>. <<Kais>> killer. <<Kai>> tried to respond, but could only manage a gurgle. The assassin said a prayer. He lifted up his fallen allies, praising God for their sacrifice. "The Order has purged a great evil on this day. May God bless the fallen, accepting their souls in her warm embrace. Praise the Light." <<Kai>> bled. Hemera screamed, twisting—sucked away into the darkness. <<Death>>

<<Kai>> stepped inside <<his>> home. Everything was just as <<he>> had left it. Familiar. <<He>> entered the bedroom and fell asleep, exhausted, yet oddly excited. <<He>> <<was>> a conqueror now. An agent of cleansing. Maybe <<he>> could go hunting again in the morning. <<Kai>> wished Azrael had put up more of a fight. Weren't instructors supposed to be stronger than that? There had to be more abominations out there. Ones more skilled, more challenging. //More satisfying to kill.// <<Kai>> drifted into dreamland as <<he>> recounted the thrill of battle. The fighters were different this time. <<He>> <<was>> a titan, towering over Azrael, a lowly maggot. <<Was>> <<kai>> dreaming or was it <<Goddess>>? <<link '<<Kai>> woke up.' 'WakeUp'>><<NextDay>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>

<<Kai>> awoke in <<his>> family's apartment. Everything seemed normal. But <<his>> family still acted like <<he>> <<wasnt>> there. They would go around <<him>>, not acknowledging <<his>> presence. <<Kai>> looked into a mirror. At least //<<he>>// looked normal. <<He>> <<was>> in <<his>> human form. But appearances could be deceiving. Something was off. <<link '<<Kai>> left the bedroom.' 'Apartment'>><</link>>

/* {Add more random conditional encounters} *WIP* */\ <<Kai>> <<was>> in <<his>> parent's apartment. <<He>> heard <<his>> mother working in the kitchen. <<link '<<Kai>> approached her.' 'ApproachMother'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> left the apartment.' 'LeaveApartment'>><</link>> */ \ <<link '<<Kai>> went to sleep.'>><<NextDay>><</link>>

<<Kai>> entered the bedroom and fell asleep on a futon. <<He>> slept soundly through the night and into the morning. Something felt strange. <<link '<<Kai>> left the bedroom.' 'Apartment'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> left and walked down the street. There were a few places <<he>> could go. /* <<link '<<Kai>> went to the school.' 'WIP'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> went to the park.' 'WIP'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> went to the store.' 'WIP'>><</link>> */

<<Kai>> approached <<his>> mother. She was washing dishes. <<if $FemalePreference and $SmutFilter and $IncestFilter>>She had a full, mature body. Her thighs were thick, hips wide, and her breasts were plump. She was wearing a t-shirt and shorts, her ass jutting out. It was inviting <<kai>>. Since when had <<he>> found <<his>> mother sexy?<</if>> <<if $FemalePreference and $IncestFilter>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> made her submit.' 'SubmitMother'>><<set $Status to "Aroused">><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> helped her with the dishes.' 'Dishes'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> approached the sink to do the dishes for her. She moved out of <<kais>> way, still not acknowledging <<him>>, and left the apartment. She was probably getting groceries. <<Kais>> father would be home soon. /* <<link '<<Kai>> left the apartment.' 'LeaveApartment'>><</link>> */ \ <<link '<<Kai>> went to sleep.'>><<NextDay>><</link>> /* <<if $MalePreference and $SmutFilter and $IncestFilter>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> made him submit.''WIP'>><</link>> <</if>>\ */

<<Kai>> would make <<his>> mother into <<his>> personal plaything. <<He>> walked behind her and hugged her, sliding <<his>> hands around her waist and nuzzling into her neck. <<Kais>> crotch touched her plump ass. //She still hasn't noticed me//, <<kai>> thought. <<He>> slid a hand up her chest, grabbing hold of one of her breasts. It was hanging just above her stomach, sagging. She wasn't wearing a bra. <<Kai>> squeezed<<if $Penis>>, <<his>> erection jutting into that plump ass<</if>>. <<link '<<Kai>> revealed <<himself>>.' 'SubmitMother2'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> remained invisible.' 'WIP'>><</link>> PeepingMother Path */

<<Goddess>> spoke to <<kai>>. //"<<if $AchlysContract>>Savior<<else>>Hero<</if>>, there is magic affecting you. It creates a veil, obscuring your presence from those without Vitality. You must use magic of your own if you wish to reveal yourself."// It must have happened when <<kai>> touched the box. <<He>> knew what <<he>> had to do. <<He>> channeled an illusion. If Mom couldn't see <<him>>, then <<he>> would make <<himself>> seen. <<He>> cast. The skill affected her, eyes finally drawn to <<his>> own. And <<kai>> had control over what she saw—what <<he>> revealed to her. <<link '<<Kai>> took control of her.' 'MindControlMother'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> fulfilled Mom’s fantasies.' 'WIP'>><</link>> */

<<if $AchlysContract>>Achlys welled within <<kai>><<else>>Hemera was ashamed<</if>>. <<He>> wanted to dominate—to own <<his>> mother. <<He>> chanted and channeled, casting a skill, targeting <<his>> mother. Mind control. A powerful skill, but it only worked on the blind, limiting its typical practicality. <<Kai>> would turn <<his>> mother into a puppet. A slave to do <<his>> bidding. <<Kai>> had complete control over her mind. If <<kai>> didn't like one of Mom's thoughts, <<he>> could simply replace it with another. <<He>> controlled her thoughts, her desires, even her actions. She was now—utterly and completely—<<kais>> property. “Walk forward,” <<kai>> said. She did without protest. <<Kai>> grabbed her dangling tits again in both hands and massaged them through her shirt. Mom was shocked. “$Kai! Don’t do that!” she said. <<He>> reached for Mom’s thoughts; <<he>> could feel them now. “No complaints and no resistance,” <<he>> commanded. Mom moaned, savoring the pleasure from being groped. Her nipples hardened from the stimulation, poking out of her shirt. She, in fact, offered no resistance to that command. <<if $AchlysContract>>Achlys spoke to <<kai>>. //"If your slave has a thought you don’t like, you can simply replace it with one that you prefer instead. And thoughts prompt action. This means that your slaves can be molded however you please, commanding them to action simply with your own thoughts.”//<<else>>//”Hero, this feels like sin to me. Can you not find a better use for your power? A better use for your control?”//<</if>> //<<if $AchlysContract>>This skill<<else>>The temptation<</if>> was too powerful//, <<Kai>> thought. //If mind control had worked on other magi, it could have been abused to no end.// <<if $HemeraContract>>Hemera was worried about <<him>>. <</if>>But <<kai>> had more exciting matters to concern <<himself>> with at the moment. Namely, having <<his>> way with <<his>> mother. <<link '<<Kai>> would get under her shirt.' 'MindControlMother2'>><</link>>

“Kneel,” <<he>> said. She did, looking up at <<him>> like a puppy, maintaining eye contact. On her hands and knees, her tits dangled down at the side of her arms, by her elbows. They swayed slightly back and forth as she breathed, chest pumping in and out. She waited patiently, obediently. “Stand up.” Again, she did as she was told. <<Kai>> grabbed her dangling tits with force, massaging them through her thin shirt. She let a few quiet moans escape her lips, especially responding as <<kai>> poked and pinched her fat nipples. She made no attempt to resist her new master, she simply moaned submissively, surrendering herself to free use. She couldn’t resist <<kai>> anymore, even if she wanted to. <<He>> felt her nipples hardening even more, stiffening to full mast. Her baggy shirt pushed forward as her nipples grew. //Let’s see them,// <<kai>> thought. <<He>> gave another command. “Remove your shirt.” <<He>> spoke the command out loud even though <<he>> knew <<he>> didn’t have to. All <<he>> really had to do was //think// the command and <<his>> target would be forced to comply. But there was something satisfying about commanding out loud, letting <<his>> voice sink in and conditioning <<his>> new toy. <<His>> mother complied obediently, lifting the shirt over her head and dropping it onto the floor. With no bra to cover them, her beautiful breasts were now fully exposed. Big and plump. <<Kai>> had nursed these tits as a child, and now <<he>> owned them. Leaning forward, <<he>> examined her nipples closely. They were long and thick. Years of nursing had stretched them out. //Does she let Dad suck on them too?// <<he>> thought. Probably. Her areola were large, a deep pink color with a few tiny bumps. She had slight stretch marks across her breasts, gravity having taken its toll over time. But a good amount of firmness remained; her tits were nowhere near deflated. <<Kai>> stuck out <<his>> tongue and licked <<his>> mother's nipples, slowly circling around them. Mom shivered. Grabbing her tits from underneath, <<kai>> squeezed, plunging her hard nubs deeper into <<his>> mouth, sucking her. There was no milk; she wasn’t nursing anymore. She hadn’t been pregnant since giving birth to <<kai>>. <<He>> squeezed rhythmically as <<he>> sucked, pinching her other nipple with <<his>> free hand. Her moans grew louder, but they were still soft. She was really enjoying herself now, beginning to let herself loose. “Don’t stifle your moans. I want to hear them.” “Yes, Master.” //Did I force her to respond out loud or did she do that on her own?// <<kai>> thought. <<He>> moved one hand down to Mom’s butt as <<he>> continued sucking on her fat nipple. As <<kai>> ran <<his>> hand down Mom's body, <<he>> felt her intimately for the first time. A loose waist, wide hips jutting out—curving around <<kais>> caress—and then the part that captured <<his>> attention, mesmerized <<him>>. Her ass stood out from the rest of her body, disproportional to her remaining figure. It was fat and juicy. <<Kais>> hand reached, groping an asscheek. The soft fluff melted, oozing between <<his>> fingers; it wouldn’t all fit in one hand. Mom arched her back in response, moaning louder this time. <<He>> slid <<his>> hand between Mom’s ass cheeks and searched with <<his>> finger, locating <<his>> toy’s asshole. <<Kai>> felt <<his>> slave pucker, squeezing against <<his>> finger. <<He>> explored further, feeling something fuzzy: pubic hair around her asshole. “You naughty bitch. What a slutty asshole.” She nodded and blushed, averting her graze. <<Kai>> slid <<his>> hand further, investigating, appraising <<his>> property. Sure enough, as <<he>> reached underneath, plunging a hand deep into her panties, <<he>> discovered an enormous jungle of pubic hair covering her pussy. But <<he>> <<wasnt>> just feeling hair, there was moisture there too. Her panties were soaked and her pussy hair was wet; she was leaking, saturating her pubes. She gave a sly smile as <<kai>> groped at her slimy slit. //She enjoys being controlled and violated more than I expected.// “You’re a naughty pervert. A filthy whore.” <<Kai>> slathered <<his>> mom’s asshole with her own pussy juices before removing <<his>> hand from her panties. Mom closed her eyes, her body shivering in excitement. <<Kai>> brought <<his>> wet hand to <<his>> face, smelling the sticky juices defiling <<his>> fingers. <<He>> breathed in deeply. There was a slight tinge of sweat, a musky smell distinct from the scent of her pussy juices. <<His>> slave’s bush had captured the scent of her sweat and whatever other musky bodily secretions she might leak. “Open your mouth.” <<Kai>> stuck <<his>> slimy fingers into the back of <<his>> slave’s mouth. Without even giving her a command, <<his>> mom licked <<his>> fingers, gobbling down her own juices and breathing in her own scent, practically basking in it. “You’re even sluttier than I thought…” //Will I even need to use magic to control her? Or will she eventually submit to me on her own?// <<Kais>> fingers had been thoroughly licked clean. <<He>> removed them from Mom’s mouth, sliding them away from her desperate tongue. <<Kai>> released the command on her mouth, but she kept it open anyway, drool beginning to drop down her chin. She was giving <<kai>> an invitation. //She desperately wants to be violated,// <<he>> thought, chuckling to <<himself>>. But instead of giving her what she wanted, <<Kai>> waited. No moves, no commands, just silence. <<He>> would find out just how slutty <<his>> new toy really was. Without a clear command to follow, without obvious direction, her true instincts would be revealed. Time passed. Mom cowered before <<kai>>, her new master, shivering in horny anticipation. She pitifully rubbed her thighs together, frustration building. Wetness spreading. “Master. Can I //please// have you<<if $Penis>>r cock<</if>>? I //need// you.” No commands this time. She was acting and speaking purely of her own will. <<Kai>> had commanded her not to resist, but that didn’t mean she had to be an active participant. This was her true nature bleeding through, her primal instincts. The deepest, most natural part of her being. The part of her that didn’t think, the part that acted, that took what it wanted. The part that fucked. “Go ahead.” <<Kai>> smiled. <<He>> hadn’t given her any specific direction, just permission. What would she do? Still kneeling, Mom inched forward with hunger in her eyes. She grabbed <<kai>> wiastband and pulled,<<if $Penis>> releasing <<his>> erection from <<his>> boxers. She unleashed her master’s hard, throbbing cock. Mom’s eyes went wide in admiration, staring, tongue lolling out, dripping more drool. Was her mind even working anymore or was she just a breathing <<if $Penis>>cocksleeve<<else>>fucktoy<</if>>? She began to come to, regaining some of her composure, and cupped <<kais>> balls with her hand, slowly licking the tip of <<his>> cock with her drooling tongue. She gently worked her way around the entire cockhead, only stopping occasionally to penetrate the urethra with her tongue. She couldn’t get in very far; it tickled.<<else>> sliding down <<kais>> panties. She exposed her master’s pussy and just stared at first, admiring it. Drool ran more quickly from her mouth. Her own cunt was still leaking, the stain on her panties growing. She was completely soaked at this point. Then she made her move, without command, spreading apart <<kais>> pussy lips with her fingers. She licked at <<kais>> clit with her tongue, lapping at it like a thirsty pet. How long had she been secretly wanting this? She got closer, gently sucking on her master’s clit, stopping occasionally to travel south and penetrate <<kais>> vagina with her tongue, greedily sucking and swallowing her master’s love honey.<</if>> <<if $Penis>>She grabbed a firm hold of her master’s ready shaft and slowly pumped, the side of her palm gently, lovingly smacking against <<kais>> ball sack with each subsequent wringing of <<his>> <<if $Feminine>>wo<</if>>manhood. She then leaned forward and swallowed the tip of her <<if $Masculine>>son<<else>>daughter<</if>>’s cock into her mouth. Her lips enveloped <<kais>> shaft, her tongue continuing to orbit the tip of <<his>> cock, lapping up the pre-cum that oozed out of <<his>> excited, pulsing cockhead.<<else>> Mom slid her fingers into <<kais>> wet cunt. She continued to suck on <<kais>> clit while pumping in and out of <<his>> throbbing pussy. A dedicated bitch, in her rightful place.<</if>> Would she keep going on her own without any more commands? <<if $Penis>>She lowered her mouth further down <<kais>> cock, taking it about half way down the shaft. She greedily sucked back and forth, while gently kneading <<kais>> balls: <<his>> cum sack. She was coaxing the baby milk out of them, yearning, requesting to be covered, to be filled. <</if>>She wrapped one hand behind <<kai>>, rubbing against <<his>> thigh, <<his>> hips, <<his>> supple behind. She searched with her devious finger, splitting <<kais>> cheeks apart. She plunged, rubbing against her master’s asshole in a circular motion with her finger. The sentiment was nice. A subservient cunt with a willingness to assert herself, to surrender to her carnal instincts. <<Kai>> appreciated the effort, but <<he>> had seen enough. It was time to bind her with another command. <<if $Penis>>“Wrap your saggy tits around my cock and m<<else>>"M<</if>>ilk me. Keep sucking.” Mom's submissive <<if $Penis>>tits<<else>>tongue<</if>> flopped back and forth, serving <<kai>>, bathing <<him>> in adoration. Her fat nipples, wet and slick from her drool, <<if $Penis>>massaged <<kais>> shaft<<else>>stood at attention, begging for recognition<</if>>. Pleasure built, rushing<<if $Penis>> toward the tip of <<kais>> cock<</if>>. It was too much. <<Kai>> felt orgasm approaching. But <<kai>> <<wasnt>> ready to cum yet. A series of commands. “Stop sucking. Turn around. Stick your ass out. Strip entirely naked.” //Bare yourself. Expose yourself.// Mom pulled down her lacy panties, a string of grool forming, stretching. Sticky desire. A web of lust, feminine adoration—motherly yearning. Her bush was visibly moist, her breathing fast. “Only a whore would wear slutty panties like //those// to do simple housework.” She blushed, looking off to the side, rubbing her legs together. Wriggling, her slimy pussy lips—wet thighs—harmonized, the most primitive moan. A mating call, bellowed from the other mouth between her legs. A potent, musky question; a request, obviously displayed. Asking to be ravished. Yearning to be owned, made whole. She turned around, fully nude, bending over. As she bent, her ass cheeks spread, parting. Her thighs opened up, pulling apart the slime. Her hairy pussy lips popped out from their hiding hole, wet, exposed. A presentation. <<Kai>> slapped her ass. It jiggled; Mom moaned, maintaining her posture. <<Kai>> picked up her panties from the floor, examining them. Wet and musky. <<He>> sniffed them, receiving a stronger but familiar scent. <<He>> wanted a taste. Instead of licking it, <<he>> slurped a large glob of the more viscous discharge into <<his>> mouth. <<He>> rolled it around <<his>> tongue, playing with it, savoring the flavor of <<his>> slave’s arousal. Her slimy affection for her master. The taste was tantalizing. <<Kai>> went slightly light-headed, <<cock>> throbbing. Like a spoiled child, <<he>> greedily devoured the remaining juices left on the soiled panties. <<Kais>> slave waited patiently—no protest. <<Kai>> threw the soiled panties off to the side. There was only one thing on <<his>> mind right now. Mom’s willingness. <<Kai>> bent down to examine <<his>> bitch, enthusiastically waiting to be filled. Mom’s hips were accentuated more than normal in this position: legs bent, back arched, chest out. As she contorted herself, dimples formed on her hips, the thickness shifting. <<Kai>> slapped her round ass. Once, twice, three times. With each strike, her body jiggled, recoiled, and moaned. <<Kai>> grabbed both ass cheeks—one in each hand—and squeezed, pressing them together. The soft flesh easily smooshed together, guided by <<his>> commanding grip. Even with Mom’s plump ass cheeks pressed together, leaking through <<kais>> fingers, <<kai>> could still see her tangled bush peeking out of her crack. <<Kai>> spread Mom’s ass cheeks apart and instantly the smell of arousal wafted over <<him>>, assaulting <<his>> nose. The hair surrounding her asshole was thick, the strands around her pussy were long. This was a natural growth; she hadn’t shaved in a while. Despite the jungle, her juices flowed, trickling from her quivering hole, running down her puffy lips. <<Kai>> grabbed <<his>> toy’s pussy hair and squeezed, wringing out the hairy jungle. Love juices squelched, running down <<his>> fingers. Wet fingers. <<Kai>> rubbed them on <<his>> <<if !$Penis>>own <</if>><<cock>>, using the slime as lubrication, fingering <<himself>> with one hand as <<he>> went to work<<if $Penis>> and straddled her ass. <<Kai>> rubbed the tip of <<his>> cock back and forth over the eager asshole. Mom desperately moved her butt back and forth, teasing, inviting, begging. She was too quiet. <<Kai>> commanded her to speak her mind. “Please fuck me,” she whimpered. “Master, //please//.” That was her full mind, then. She hadn't specified //where// to fuck her, but at least she had shown some respect by addressing <<kai>> correctly. Mom just wanted her master’s cock inside of her; it was all her mind could comprehend at that moment. An eager hole, yearning to be filled. In a single motion, <<kai>> jammed <<his>> cock into Mom’s asshole fully, all the way up to the base. <<His>> balls sloshed against Mom’s moist crotch<</if>>. <<if $Penis is false>><<Kai>> slid <<his>> other hand into Mom’s sopping wet cunt, making <<his>> way through her thick bush, reaching her eager hole. There wasn’t much resistance; her greedy fuckhole sucked <<kai>> in. <<He>> thrust <<his>> entire hand inside of Mom, her loose cunt engulfing <<kais>> arm past the wrist. <</if>>The sensation overwhelmed <<kais>> bitch; she came immediately. <<if $Penis>>Her asshole puckered around <<kais>> cock, squeezing it rhythmically. <</if>>Juices streamed out of her cunt<<if$Penis is false>> and ran down <<kais>> arm, <</if>>, squirting <<if $Penis>><<kais>> ball sack<<else>><<kai>><</if>> with each successive tremor through her body. Intense pleasure. Mom finished orgasming, breathing heavily. Her head fell to the ground, mouth open, tongue out. <<if $Penis>><<Kais>> balls<<else>><<Kai>><</if>> <<was>> dripping with her fluid; Mom’s bush had been wet before, but was now soaked in her juices. A puddle formed on the floor under her, drops still periodically dripping. <<Kai>> had permitted <<his>> toy’s pleasure this time. But pleasure wasn’t //really// intended for slaves. It was intended for masters. <<Kai>> <<if !$Penis>>walked around and <</if>>grabbed <<his>> slave’s limp tits—sagging, laying underneath her on the floor—with each hand and pulled on them like handlebars<<if $Penis>> as <<he>> thrust in and out of Mom’s ass<</if>>. Surprised, she lifted her head, eyes opening, letting out a few squeals. <<if $Penis>>Her ass was still tight, squeezing <<kais>> cock nicely. Her pussy, however, was visibly looser, probably worn out from years of servicing cocks and birthing children. As worn out as she was, could that hole of hers even make <<kai>> cum?<<else>><<Kai>> pulled until Mom's face touched <<his>> crotch, then ground <<his>> cunt into her open mouth.<</if>> <<if $Penis>><<Kai>> picked up the pace, pounding Mom’s wide ass furiously. <</if>><<Kai>> pulled on her tits, now holding them only by the nipples, stretching them out as far as they would go. Mom arched her back again, this time lifting her chest into the air. Her figure was still sexy. Despite her aging waistline, her hips were still wider. Her chest definitely was. A mature hourglass. <<if !$Penis>>Her face was still buried in <<kais>> crotch; <<he>> rubbed furiously, assaulting <<his>> slave’s mouth.<</if>><<if $Penis>> With each thrust, <<kais>> balls slapped against Mom’s soaking pussy, making squelching noises.<</if>> <<Kai>> felt <<himself>> nearing completion<<if $Penis>>, <<his>> cock throbbing inside Mom’s ass<</if>>. Mom begged for <<kais>> cum<<if $Penis>> inside her cunt<<else>>, at least that's what it sounded like. Her voice was muffled by your muff<</if>>. Mom’s <<if $Penis>>pussy<<else>>body<</if>> was visibly aching, desperate for Master’s cum. <<Kai>> decided to appease her. Just as <<he>> felt orgasm approaching, <<he>> <<if $Penis>>slid out of <<his>> toy’s ass and thrust into her hairy pussy<<else>>grabbed Mom's hair and held her head in place<</if>>. <<if $Penis>>Her greedy cocksleeve was so wet that she literally sucked <<kai>> in, making a loud slurping sound as she enveloped <<kais>> shaft. <</if>>Mom screamed in ecstasy. <<if !$Penis>>Her cries vibrated against <<kais>> clit, amplifying <<his>> pleasure. It was like <<he>> owned a human vibrator.<</if>> <<if $Penis>><<Kai>> pumped a few shots of cum into her womb. And then <<he>> slid <<his>> cock out of Mom’s juicy pussy with another //slurp// and pumped a few more shots. They flew through the air, landing on her bush.<<else>><<Kai>> squirted <<his>> pussy juice into Mom's open mouth with great force, <<he>> convulsed, spraying violently. Mom tried to swallow all of it, but it was an impossible task. Some splashed out of her mouth, running down her face, her tits, her stomach. The floor was wet.<</if>> Mom was lost in ecstasy. She lived to please. That was all there was for her now—a life of pleasing her master. With her thoughts overwhelmed, Mom mindlessly reached her hand through her legs and started rubbing <<if $Penis>><<kais>> dripping cum into <</if>>her pussy. A greedy whore. <<Kai>> <<was>> satisfied with <<his>> toy’s performance. She would do. For now, at least. As <<kai>> watched <<his>> new slave <<if !$Penis>>licking her face, <</if>>playing with her master’s cum, <<he>> couldn’t help but want to join her. There was something depraved, but exciting about the thought. <<if $Penis>><<He>> noticed <<his>> seed beginning to dribble out of Mom’s pussy, running down her leg. <</if>><<Kai>> approached <<his>> property and brought <<his>> face up to that beautiful, soaked <<if $Penis>>pussy<<else>>mouth<</if>>. <<He>> slurped <<his>> own cum out of Mom’s hole. <<if $Penis>><<His>> tongue penetrated her pussy as <<he>> lapped up <<his>> own seed, scooping out the cum from inside of her. <</if>> Mom was turned on beyond belief, loving every second of the doting she received. The appreciation, the attention. The touch of her master’s tongue. She squirmed, convulsing, squirting uncontrollably. <<if $Penis>>She orgasmed with such force that her juices shot directly into the back of <<kais>> mouth, running down <<his>> throat. <<He>> had no time to react, no time to prepare <<himself>>. Only time to swallow.<<else>>Her mouth shook, tongue flailing, interlocked with <<kais>>. Splashing. The puddle spread, reaching <<kais>> feet.<</if>> <<if $Penis>>The taste of <<his>> slave’s fresh cum. <<Kai>> hadn’t intended to taste it, but it was actually good. <<He>> liked it. And it kept coming. <<He>> rubbed <<his>> slave’s clit, encouraging her to keep going. She squirted and squirted. Her cum flowing continuously, body shaking as <<kai>> plunged <<his>> fingers into Mom’s asshole and began pumping. She squeezed around them; her whole body was tight. <<Kai>> kept swallowing, greedily sucking down the torrents of juice leaking into <<his>> mouth. Mom’s muscles shook, quaking through her body. Orgasm after orgasm; she couldn’t stop. What had aroused her so much? Had she always been this attracted to <<kai>>? <<Kai>> swallowed again, relishing the feeling of cum soaking the inside of <<his>> throat, the salty but sweet flavor of Mom’s arousal. <<Kai>> gasped, doing <<his>> best to breath through the veritable onslaught of cum.<<else>> An enormous puddle formed on the floor. <<Kai>> bit her toy's tongue, asserting <<his>> dominance over the wriggling member <<his>> slave had dared stick into <<his>> mouth. Mom shook in response, cumming again.<</if>> After a long time, Mom finally stopped cumming. <<if $Penis>><<Kai>> removed <<his>> face from the snatch. <</if>>Juices dripped down Mom’s legs; her bush was drenched. <<if $Penis>>Having feasted, <<kais>> belly was full of juices, <<his>> own cum even mixed in there too. <<he>> didn’t think <<he>> could’ve swallowed any more cum even if <<he>> had wanted to. <</if>> <<Kai>> <<was>> deeply satisfied. Maybe <<he>> should just milk Mom’s pussy next time. See how much cum <<he>> could collect. <<Kai>> snapped <<his>> fingers, releasing the skill, relinquishing control over Mom’s thoughts. She rolled over on the floor and kissed <<kais>> <<if $Penis>>cock<<else>>thigh<</if>>. Lifting her head, she smiled up at <<kai>>, laying naked in a puddle of her own cum. How pitiful. She tried to stand, but her legs were too weak. She slipped, knocking her head on the floor and passing out. Maybe <<kai>> should invite another member of the family next time <<he>> initiated mind control. <<He>> walked away into <<his>> bedroom—<<cock>> dripping—leaving <<his>> new slave to clean up the mess. That slave laid on the kitchen floor, unconscious and wet. Maybe <<kai>> could come up with a better name for her other than just ‘Mom’, something more fitting for a cocksleeve. <<He>> would sleep on it. {Note: End of current Apartment content.} /* [[Continue corrupting family members|Family Mind Control 2][$Status to ""]] This link needs to end the instance and reset the player */ \ <<link 'Sleep'>><<NextDay>><</link>>

You decide to take your incestuous relationship with your mother a step further. You remember at the end of your previous bit of fun that she made a suggestion. <<if $FemalePreference>> [[Choose Sister]] <</if>>\ <<if $MalePreference>>\ [[Choose Father]] <</if>>\ <<if $NonHumanPreference>>\ [[Ignore her and play with the family dog instead|Brutus1]] <</if>> *WIP* /* PLACEMENT */

You decide that you are going to mind control your sister this time. <<if $NonHumanPreference>>As you think, you realize there is another member of the family your mother forgot to invite to the party: Brutus, the family's Great Dane. He stands at a whopping four feet tall and was never "fixed", so there will be plenty of cum in his balls to go around if you decide to get him involved. [[Involve Brutus]] <<else>> <</if>>\ [[Make her submit|Don't Involve Brutus]] [[Give her a cock|FutaSis]] *WIP*

You decide that you are going to transmute your sister and give her a cock. You make the necessary preparations and call her down into the basement. She notices the altar laid out on the floor and immediately freaks out, attempting to leave. You snap your fingers and bring her back under your control, commanding her to stay. She remains in the basement and the look of horror on her face persists as well. You command her to undress and lay on the altar. She reluctantly slides out of her clothes, removing her cute skirt and top. She unhooks her small bra and slides out of her white schoolgirl panties. You admire her young, thin body as she positions herself on the altar. You light candles around the room and approach your sister. You run your hand over her slender body soaking in all the details with your fingers while she still has her current form. You feel her small nipples and thin waist as well as the smoothness of her skin. You approach her face and grab her cheeks. You bring your face up to hers and give her a deep kiss. Your tongue wiggles its way deep into her mouth and you savor her sweet taste. You give her a gentle slap on the cheek and stand up. You bring your hands together, close your eyes, and bow your head. You utter an incantation. Your sister's body begins to glow. Slowly, she starts to morph. Her bone structure changes as her hips widen and she grows taller. The fat on her body shifts around as her ass and breasts thicken. Her nipples enlarge as they poke out from her growing breasts. You shift over to her lower body. You place each of your hands on the inside of her thighs and spread her legs apart. You are staring directly at her pussy. You notice that her inner lips are now poking out as her pussy has developed along with the rest of her body. You place one hand next to her groin, close your eyes, bow your head, and begin chanting once again. You hear her groaning and feel her body shifting uncomfortably. You conclude your chant and raise your head. Right before your eyes is an impressive ball sack with a decent cock draped over it. You can just make out her pussy lips beneath her new manhood. What better way to conclude this ritual than a shower of her newborn cum? You guide your hand towards her balls and gently massage them. You run your other hand up her now curvy body and get a firm grasp of her now plump tit. You pinch her recently enlarged nipple between your fingers. You bring your face closer to her and breathebreath on her soft cock as you watch it rise, the arousal overcoming her. You grab her shaft and feel her pulse as, slowly but surely, she comes to full mast as her cock pulses. Her cock is relatively large and thick with a manly scent emanating from it. The head of her cock is especially large as you notice pre-cum dripping out of it with each continuing pulse. You slowly stroke her shaft and watch the pre-cum form on the head of her cock until it runsbegins running down the shaft, creating a wet sound as you stroke her. You bring your tongue to the tip of her cock and get a taste of her pre-cum. You swallow it down, noticing how sweet it tastes. You want more. You envelope the head of her cock into your mouth, surrounding it with your lips and gently massaging the bottom of it with your tongue as youand sucking the juices out. You pick up the pace with the stroking, as you greedily wanting to drink more of her juices. You remove your other hand from her tit and place it on the inside of her thigh. To your surprise, you notice a stream of juices is running down her thigh as well. You trace it back to her pussy, which is completely soaked in grool. She must be enjoying her treatment. You slide your fingers into her pussy hole and they are practically sucked in. You pump into her creating very loud wet noises. You feel her pussy walls contracting on your fingers in sync with the pulsing of her cock in your mouth. You work on her for a while, drinking down whatever pre-cum oozes out of her cock and notice that she is about to cum. You stop stroking her shaft with your hand and move it back to her ball sack to get a good grip, all the while you continuinge to thrust in and out of her pussy with the other. You slowly take her shaft into your throat until it is completely insideenveloped, reaching into the back of your throat. As the head of her cock reaches the back of your throat, you feel her cock violently pulsate and her balls begin to shrivel up into her body as she starts cummingbegins to cum. Her pussy walls close in tightly around your fingers and you pump back at them within extra vigor. She shoots a thick stream of cum into the back of your throat. You feel it sticking to the inside of your throat, refusing to slide down your gullet due to gravity alone. You coax the rest out of her as you constrict your mouth and throat around her shaft and continue to pump at the inside of her pussy. Her cock tenses up and pumps out an enormous load of lady jizz into your gullet. You enjoy the feeling of each pulse in your throat, swallowing periodically. Eventually she relaxes as she finishes cumming. You remove her cock from your throat and take a deep breath. The air has trouble flowing past all in the cum stuck to your throat. You swallow again and get most of it down. Her cock is resting, slightly limp with a string of cum dangling fromoff of it. Every so often, it pulsates slightly with the remnants of her orgasm as she drifts into the realizationty of what has just happened. Before you release her from your control. You bring your face up to hers and gently caress her cheek. You can tell she is feeling insecure about her new body, so you affirm her, telling her how beautiful her new body is and how much you love it. She blushes. You give her a gentle kiss and make sure she knows that you are looking forward to spending more time with her and she seems to feel more comfortable with you, despite still obviously harboring shame about her transformation. You release her from your control and she quickly gathers her clothing and tries to cover her body. She is about to run upstairs, but then she turns around and gives you a peck on the cheek, still blushing, and tells you that she accepts your feelings and she will be here for you. Maybe she is manipulating me into changing her back? You wonder about her motivations. Either way, you like the new dynamic between the two of you. She scurries up the stairs and out of sight. <<if $DisturbFilter>> [[Continue the transmutations|FutaMom]] <</if>>\ [[Continue her training|WIP]] *WIP*

You decide that you are going to mind control your father this time. <<if $NonHumanPreference>>As you think, you realize there is another member of the family your mother forgot to invite to the party: Brutus, the family's Great Dane. He stands at an intimidating four feet tall and was never "fixed", so there will be plenty of cum in his balls to go around if you decide to involve him. [[Involve Brutus|WIP]] <</if>>\ [[Make your father submit|Father1]] *WIP*

You find your mother and inform her that you are going to use her once your father gets home. She lights up with excitement, satisfied that you took her suggestion to heart. You wait together on the living room couch for your father to arrive and your mother becomes impatient. Her anticipation makes her horny and she starts rubbing her pussy as she waits with you. You command her to stop. She wiggles around in her seat, plainly due to discomfort and impatience. Your father walks through the door. He has arrived home from work. He is a relatively normal looking man. He is not particularly handsome or muscular. Nor is his personality especially excellent either. He is tall with an average build and relatively normal in every other respect. You wonder why your mother chose him as a mate. You release the command on your mother, allowing her to continue touching herself. She immediately takes you up on the opportunity, furiously rubbing herself through her clothes as she throws her head back releasing audible moans paying almost no attention to her husband's arrival. Your father is in shock at the sight before him and loses his composure. Before he is able to react, you confront him. Standing directly in front of her, you snap your fingers and take control of him. He seems surprised and worried, but can't manage to speak. You command him to strip and he complies, despite a look of concern obviously visible on his face. Your mother takes notice and leaps up to begin suckling on his flaccid cock. His cock hardens in her mouth. He now feels conflicted. On the one hand he is obviously enjoying being sucked off by his wife. On the other hand, being watched and controlled by his child makes him visibly uncomfortable. You allow your mother to go at him for a while. A puddle of pussy juice begins forming underneath her on the floor due to her arousal. It clearly turns her on more to know that her child is watching her. You pat her on the head and tell her she is a good girl. She waves her butt back and forth in appreciation. You are beginning to get <<if $Penis>>a hard on<<else>>turned on<</if>> at this point. Your mother takes notice and abandons her husband's cock to <<if $Penis>>begin suckling on yours<<else>>service you<</if>> instead. When her mouth leaves his cock, you notice how large it is now that it is no longer flaccid. <<if $Penis>>His cock must be twice the size of yours. <</if>>You assume you have found the answer for this slut chose him as a mate… You command him onto the couch to spectate as his wife services his child. He still appears uncomfortable, but it now appears to be mostly from the physical discomfort of leaving his erection unattended. His cock and balls visibly throb as he watches you receive treatment which he yearns after. You treat your mother aggressively, thrusting into her throat and pulling on her hair. She drools so much that a second pool of liquid forms on the floor from her drool dripping off her tits. When you<<if $Penis>>r cock hits the back of her throat<<else>> get impatient<</if>>, you grab her head and shove it down, pinning her in place. She seems to like this and flicks her tongue back and forth across your <<if $Penis>>ball sack<<else>>pussy lips<</if>> while wiggling her ass. You do this a couple more times and her face changes color a bit, turning a red/purple tone from lack of oxygen. Your father seems to be really interested in this as his cock twitches so aggressively that his precum runs down his shafts and forms another puddle on the couch as it pools under his large contracted balls. You take mercy on him and figure that he deserves some relief. <<if $Penis>>\ [[Fuck him in the ass|FuckFather]] <</if>> [[Sit down on his cock|WIP]] /* if $Pussy, else use ass */ *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ You decide to make him cum by fucking his ass. To ensure that he is lubricated and ready, you give your mother a loving slap on her slobbery face and command her to eat her husband's ass. She eagerly complies and gets right to work without skipping a beat. She seems like she has done this before. Once you feel it is lubricated enough, you move her aside and take your position, lifting his legs out of the way. You line up your cock with his asshole and shove it in balls deep. He is very tight and you don't imagine that he has had a cock in his ass before. He seems entirely distressed at this point, most likely at the thought of it being his child's cock in his ass. You deepen your control into his mind and force him to calm down. His worries are placated and he focuses on nothing but the pleasure in the moment. Your mother gets very excited by all this and searches for some way to get herself involved again. You contemplate her next command. [[Eat your ass]] [[Sit on his cock|Parent Threesome]] *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ This time you instruct her to eat your ass while you continue to fuck her husband. She eagerly complies. This is one method of asserting dominance. At first, she has trouble keeping her tongue in your ass while you are thrusting in and out of her husband, but she eventually gets the hang of it. She holds onto your thighs and allows her head to swing back and forth with your thrusts. It feels like she manages to get basically her entire tongue inside of you. You can feel it wiggling around inside of you. You decide how you are going to make your father cum. [[Hands free]] [[Blow him]] *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ You decide to sit on his cock. It is very large and is definitely going to stretch out your ass. To ensure you have some lubrication, you instruct your mother to eat out your ass and make sure she slobbers plenty. Once you are properly lubricated, you straddle your father's cock and slowly descend onto it. The tip of his cock touches your asshole and you flinch, your asshole winking at him unintentionally. You lower your hips slowly and his tip spreads your asshole and it makes its way inside of you. His tip isnt in all of the way and you are already feeling very stretched. You begin to have second thoughts about being able to take such a massive cock in your ass for the first time. However, those doubts become irrelevant. Suddenly, your mother leaps onto you like a hungry animal and plunges your dangling cock into her mouth. The force of her contact pushes your hips down further and your father's tip slides all the way inside of you and you take in part of his shaft. It was definitely painful, especially considering you weren't mentally prepared for it, but the pain is not unbearable. It is your first time having your ass filled and, even though it feels strange, you think you like the feeling. {This path is under construction...} *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ Despite your father's cock pulsing and dripping greedily while you fuck him, you decide that he will only receive stimulation from his ass today. You pump into him forcefully until you stimulate his prostate sufficiently. His ass tightens around your cock and his large rod pumps out ropes of cum. Not only is his cock huge, but his loads are large as well. He pumps many times, and each spurt releases a large volume of spunk. {This path is under construction...} [[Go Back|$return]] *WIP* /* continue */

/* $Penis is true */ \ You take mercy on your father and decide to provide his aching cock with relief. You remove your cock from his ass, bend over, and do your best to fit his thick rod in your mouth. As soon as your cock flops out of his ass, your mother sucks it into her mouth as if on cue. You pump at his cock with your hand while you suck on the tip. You have trouble fitting more of his shaft into your mouth. He bucks his hips and you feel his cum shoot onto your tongue as his thick cock pulses. [[Fill your mouth]] [[Deepthroat him]] *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ You continue pumping at his shaft with your hand and fill your mouth with his spunk. He cums so much that your mouth can't hold it all. It overflows and leaks out of your mouth, running down his shaft. Eventually he finishes and your mother relinquishes her grip on your cock to lap up the cum that dribbled onto him. After filling her mouth with his cum, she looks at you expectantly. She wants to kiss. [[Kiss her]] [[Swallow|WIP]] [[Spit|WIP]] *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ You kiss her. She is full of glee and grabs the back of your head. As your mouths make contact, the cum in your mouths mixes together. She swirls her tongue around, aiding the mixing process. Once she is satisfied with swabbing her tongue around your mouth, she swallows gulps of the cum mixture. You join in as you both drink your father's cum in front of him. Once all the cum has been swallowed, you finish your kiss. This was a unique bonding moment. You feel that you now have a special relationship with your mother. Your father falls asleep as you relinquish your control over him and your mother cuddles up to him. You wonder if your sister will see this scene before they relocate somewhere more private. [[Leave them until tomorrow|WIP]] *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ You muster up your willpower and somehow manage to fit his massive cock into your throat. His large balls touch your chin and his shaft pumps feverishly as thick ropes of cum coat your esophagus and slowly drain into your stomach. Each shot is viscous and sticky. You have an orgasm of your own, filling your mother's mouth, while he is pumping cum into your stomach. He continues to pump jizz into your throat seemingly endlessly even after your own orgasm has ended. Eventually, he exhausts his ammunition and you remove his cock from your throat. Your belly feels full as if you had eaten a jizz dinner. Your father falls asleep as you relinquish your control over him and your mother cuddles up to him. You wonder if your sister will see this scene before they relocate somewhere more private. [[Leave them until tomorrow|WIP]] *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ You give her permission to sit on his cock. She obliges immediately like a hungry animal. Despite his large size, your father's cock instantly gets sucked into her sopping wet cunt with a sloosh sound. She rides him with enthusiasm, testing the limits of his orgasm control. Simultaneously, you pump your shaft into him, rubbing against his prostate. He can't hold on for very long and shoots a large amount of cum into your mother's cunt. She doesn't seem satisfied, however, and continues pumping away at his shaft. He is contorting his body all over from the intense muscle contractions. You continue pounding at him while he squirms to no avail. You eventually reach orgasm and cum deep into your father. He can feel you filling him and his asshole squeezes you, contracting on your cock as he cums a second time. He produces an even larger amount of cum this time as large amounts leak out of your mother's cunt. As if she could sense her husband and child cumming to each other, she reaches her own orgasm, assisting some of the jizz in leaking out of her. You pull your cock out of him and your spunk slowly drips out of his asshole. Your mother has plenty of jizz left inside of her and a large pool of cum has formed on your father's stomach. [[Taste his cum|WIP]] [[Allow your mother to eat the cum|WIP]] [[Feed the cum to him|WIP]] *WIP*

You decide that you are going to transmute your mother and give her a horse cock. You make the necessary preparations and call her down into the basement. She notices the altar laid out on the floor and immediately freaks out, asking questions about what you are going to do to her. You snap your fingers and bring her back under your control, commanding her to stop asking questions. She seems slightly annoyed but curious nonetheless. You command her to undress and lay on the altar. She slides out of her housewife clothes, removing her apron and dress. She unhooks her bra and slides out of her lacy panties. You admire her full, mature body as she positions herself on the altar. You approach her and lie down on top of her, pressing your body against hers. You engage her in a deep kiss as you grind your cock against her pussy. She seems to relax and gets lost in your affection, forgetting her concerns about the situation. Once she begins grinding back on you, you know that she is comfortable enough and you release control of her mind. Instead of trying to flee the altar like you might have expected, she instantly jumps your bones, apparently with hopes of getting fucked silly. But you have other plans for her. You reprimand her and she reluctantly returns to her position on the altar, willingly this time. You explain that you are going to give her a body that will make her more attractive to you and satisfy some of your deepest desires. With this news, she seems more than willing to undergo any sort of sorcery you might ask of her. The juices pooling underneath her cunt provide visual confirmation of this. You run your hands along her mature body, feeling all of her features and preparing yourself for the ritual. The candles flicker as you bring your hands together, bow your head, and chant the incantation. You raise your gaze to your mother and place two fingers on her waist and place two fingers into her mouth with your other hand. She is frenzied at this point and goes wild tonguing and sucking on your fingers like a wild animal. A pentagram mark appears on her waist where you make contact with her skin. The ritual is nearly complete. To finalize the process, you stand up and grab a glistening golden chalice covered in various brightly colored jewels. It is filled to the brim with the crimson red blood of a stallion. You dip two fingers into the chalice and smear the blood over her crotch. After marking her, you insert the fingers into her mouth, ensuring that she cleans them properly. She is obedient. You then pass the chalice to her and encourage her to drink it down to the last drop. She begins feeling reluctant at this point, but is steeled by her resolve to please you. She raises the chalice to her lips and swallows it down, slowly at first, not sure if it will make her sick. By the time she gets to the bottom of the chalice, she is drinking the blood like it is water. She licks the chalice clean, sets it down on the ground, and opens her mouth, sticking her tongue out, to demonstrate to you that she has fulfilled your command. You praise her and pat her on the head, reaffirming her obedience and good work. She begins to vibrate and surprise comes over her face. Her back thrusts back onto the ground and the vibrations intensify. Her hips thrust forward rhythmically as the mark on her waist glows. Her crotch morphs as the cock and balls of a stallion emerge from her body. The vibrations cease and the ritual is complete. Your mother is surprised and takes a moment to survey her body and get accustomed with her new form. She fiddles around with her flaccid cock, pulling and poking at it. It is over a foot long. Her sizable horse balls dangle between her legs. She squeezes them, admiring the sensation. You admire her body, noticing how the large, masculine horse cock contrasts her feminine mature figure and full breasts. [[Induce lactation]] [[Play with her]] *WIP*

You decide that horse milk isn't enough and she needs milky tits as well. You lay your mother back down onto the altar and brandish a second chalice, this chalice contains cow's blood. You perform the second ritual, painting the blood across her nipples this time. You recite the proper incantation and she obediently consumes the content of the second chalice. The vibrations begin again as her breasts grow more plump, her areolas swell, and her nipples jut outwards. As the growth subsides, her nipples reach their full length and produce a stream of milk, squirting into the air. She sits upwards, and you take the opportunity to fill each chalice, holding it beneath her tit as the streams of milk intensify with increased flow. Rather quickly, both chalices are filled to the brim with her breast milk. You hand one to her and keep one for yourself. You both drink of her breast milk, savoring the flavor. It is a relatively thick consistency, but not too thick. It tastes sweet and natural, as if mother's milk was designed to nurture your body. You gulp it down, growing aroused as you watch the stream from her engorged tits continue. [[Play with her]] *WIP*

You<<if $Penis>>r erection rages as you<</if>> find your mother's new body delicious. You deeply wish to ravage her and bathe in her cum. You want to test out her new cock to determine exactly how much cum her new set of balls can produce. You grab your mother by the neck and thrust her face towards your <<if $Penis>>balls<<else>>pussy lips<</if>>. You rub them on her, asserting your dominance. She seems to enjoy this as her tongue laps at you<<if $Penis>>r sack whenever it gets close enough to her mouth<</if>>. Eventually, she sees an opportunity and <<if $Penis>>sucks both of your balls into her mouth, taking them prisoner and <<else>>latches onto your clit, <</if>>refusing to let go. You don't like her entitled behavior. You reprimand her and slap her in the face until she releases you. You take a step back. She feels bad about disobeying you, but apparently not too bad, as her cock has begun to harden. The tip is poking out. She must have enjoyed the slapping. You grab her by the neck again, slapping her multiple times as you watch her cock. With each successive slap, it grows harder and longer until it reaches its full length at roughly three feet. It's size and thickness are somewhat intimidating to you, but you are excited to experiment with your pet. You return your gaze to her face, where her cheek is turning red. She is breathing heavily. Her mouth is open and her tongue is dangling out in anticipation. You take advantage of the opening and <<if $Penis>>shove your cock down her throat, while maintaining your hold of her. You use your grip as leverage to thrust in and out of her mouth. Her arms are limp at her side and she mindlessly thrusts her hips forward waving her throbbing cock in the air<<else>>pinch her tongue between your fingernails. You assert your dominance, spitting into her mouth. Your saliva runs down her throat as she mindlessly swallows<</if>>. She has completely surrendered her mind and body to you. She is now your slave and servant. You will not have to use mind control on her anymore as she now lives to serve and please you. <<set $SlaveMother to true>> /* Implement */ <<if $Penis>>\ [[Cum in her throat][$temp to 1]] <</if>>\ [[Grab her cock|WIP]] [[Feel her cock inside you][$temp to 0]] *WIP*

You thrust away into your slave's mouth for a quite a while, using her as you see fit. She patiently and obediently allows you to use her throat for your pleasure. Eventually, you approach orgasm, grabbing the back of her head and shoving her nose into your crotch. You pump your cum into the back of her throat. Excited by this, she gently caresses your ballsack, gently kneading with her fingers in an attempt to coax out more of your cum. You empty a healthy load into your cumdump and she happily accepts it, swallowing it all down. It's time to give her quivering horse cock some attention. [[Grab her cock|WIP]] [[Feel her cock inside you]] *WIP*

You want her horse cock inside of you. [[Bottom]] [[Top|WIP]] *WIP*

You lie down on your back and spread your legs apart, displaying your <<if $Vagina>>pussy<<else>>asshole<</if>> to your mother. You instruct her to cum deep inside you. She excitedly strokes at her cock, taking the proper position and lubricating your <<if $Vagina>>pussy<<else>>asshole<</if>> properly <<if $CowBlood>>with a stream of her tit milk <</if>>before penetrating you. She positions her cock over your <<if $Vagina>>pussy<<else>>asshole<</if>>. You notice a thick, viscous strand of pre-cum stuck to the tip of her cock which helps to further lubricate you as she presses into your hole. <<if $CowBlood>>You grab at one of her tits and latch onto it with your mouth, swallowing down the milk that sprays out of her fat nipple. The taste and sensation help you to relax.<</if>>The head of her cock spreads open your <<if $Vagina>>moist lips<<else>>asshole<</if>> and her tip is completely enveloped. It is rather painful given her sheer girth, but she is very slow and gentle. After a while of impressively restrained pumping, you give her permission to enter deeper inside you. At first, she slides her cock into you slowly, considering your pain. But after a while, she is completely oblivious, lost entirely to her lust for you and thrusting mercilessly into your <<if $Vagina>>womb<<else>>ass<</if>>. Luckily, once your <<if $Vagina>>cunt<<else>>asshole<</if>> had been stretched to fit the head of her cock, there wasn't much stretching left to do and the remainder of her shaft was enveloped rather painlessly by your body. Although the feeling of being filled so deeply was rather strange and surprising at first, you grew to love it after a while. She pounds away at you vigorously. Her huge horse balls slap against your ass cheeks. You have never felt so full before in your life. You wrap your legs around her, coaxing her onwards. She can think only of thrusting into you, all other thoughts have vacated her mind. You wrap your hands around her neck and aggressively squeeze her airways shut. She seems to take notice of this. Her back arches and her cock throbs aggressively inside of you. You release your grip and she returns to pounding you. You repeat this a few times and each time, the throbbing of her cock intensifies. Eventually, she reaches her limit and as you squeeze, she reaches orgasm, thrusting to the hilt and emptying her horse balls deep inside your <<if $Vagina>>womb<<else>>ass<</if>>. Her cock aggressively pulses, pumping out stream after stream of horse cum deep into you. You feel the fluid flowing inside of you, filling you up deeper with each successive pump of her massive cock. <<if $temp is 0 and $Penis>> As her thick, throbbing cock rubs your <<if $Vagina is false>>prostate<<else>>insides<</if>>, you reach your limit, releasing a load of your own. Your partially flaccid cock lies against your stomach pumping out shots of cum that pool on your belly button. <</if>> [[Remove her cock]] [[Let her finish|WIP]] *WIP*

You slide her cock out of your <<if $Vagina>>pussy<<else>>asshole<</if>>. You feel suddenly empty as it pops out of you. It is still pulsing, shooting out thick ropes of cum. [[Swallow]] [[Bathe in cum|WIP]] [[Collect it in the chalice]] *WIP*

You manage to get your mouth over the flare of her cock. She continues pumping and pulsing, splattering the back of your throat with thick ropes of horse cum. Your mouth quickly fills with her cum and it dribbles out of your mouth, dripping from your chin. You gulp, attempting to swallow the thick load, but get choked up. Her cum is too sticky and viscous. You sputter, releasing her cock from your mouth and cum rolls down your body, coating your chest. [[Bathe in cum|WIP]] [[Collect it in the chalice]] *WIP*

*WIP*

You grab the chalice and aim her cum stream into it. Rope after rope of thick cum splashes into the cup. Her orgasm seems never ending. You fill the chalice and it begins to overflow. Her cum slowly runs down the side as it clings to the chalice. Her orgasm finally subsides. [[Drink the cum][$temp to 0]] [[Share with her|Drink the cum][$temp to 1]] *WIP*

You raise the chalice to your mouth. The musky scent of her cum overpowers your nose. You drink her cum<<if $temp is 1>> first<</if>>. It is very thick and viscous. It slides down your throat slowly. It tastes delicious. <<if $temp is 1>> You hand the chalice to her and she graciously accepts her own cum, happily drinking it down also. <</if>> You <<if $temp is 1>>both <</if>>finish <<if $temp is 1>>sharing <</if>>the chalice and you praise her. She blushes and you send her away. /* Increase obedience */ You may be able to give her additional commands as her obedience increases. [[Retire for the day|Sleep]] *WIP*

You decide you are going to involve Brutus. You find your mother and inform her that you are going to use her once your sister gets home. She lights up with excitement, satisfied that you took her suggestion to heart. You wait together on the living room couch for your sister to arrive and your mother becomes impatient. Her anticipation makes her horny and she starts rubbing her pussy as she waits with you. You command her to stop. She wiggles around in her seat, plainly due to discomfort and impatience. Your sister walks through the door. She has arrived home from school. You take a moment to admire her. Her silky hair is braided around either side of her head and meets at the back to form a ponytail. She is wearing her backpack and dons her school uniform, a frilly plaid skirt with a dress shirt tucked into it and a tie around her neck, dangling down her chest since she had untied it on the walk home. She is wearing knee high socks and black strapped shoes. She is short and has a slim figure. She sports an A cup and has a firm but petite ass. Her hips are not particularly wide and her waist is thin, though she has enough meat on her bones to be healthy. You release the command on your mother, allowing her to continue touching herself. She immediately takes you up on the opportunity, furiously rubbing herself through her clothes as she throws her head back releasing audible moans paying almost no attention to her daughter's arrival. Your sister is in shock at the sight before her and loses her composure. Before she is able to even remove her backpack, you confront her. Standing directly in front of her, you take a deep breath and savor the fruity smells of her shampoo and perfume. You feel your balls tingle as you inhale her feminine scents. You welcome her home and tell her that you are going to make her your plaything. A look of confusion and disgust crosses her face. Before she has time to react, you reach one hand around the back of her ass<<if $Penis>> and pull out your semi hard cock with the other<</if>>. You pull her towards you and embrace her exposed thighs<<if $Penis>> with your cock<</if>>. They feel warm and soft. You lean forward and whisper into her ear that she should service your <<if $Penis>>cock<<else>>cunt<</if>> like a good little girl. She screams in horror and tries to push you away. You don't like that one bit. You snap your fingers and command her to be still and shut up. She complies. The expression of horror remains on her face. You lean forward again and lick around the perimeter of her ear, taking a moment to bite her earlobe and exhale into her ear cavity. Your mother has now taken notice of your embrace with your sister. She encourages you as she continues rubbing herself. She slides her arm under her shirt and pinches at her large nipples. You imagine your sister might have had something to say to your mother if you hadn't commanded her silence. You release her from your embrace and look her up and down. You rip her shirt open and a couple buttons fly through the air. Her girly pink A cup bra rests on her chest. It's so small and cute. Her gaze drifts toward the floor in shame. She is probably especially embarrassed that her mother is watching this unfold. Your sister refuses to look you in the eyes. You command her to keep eye contact with you. She complies with an uncomfortable expression on her face. You command her to remove her bra. Horror crosses her face yet again. Her hand slowly reaches behind her and unlocks the clip on her bra. She pulls upward on the bra straps slowly removing the garment from her body and revealing her tiny breasts and perky pink nipples. Her areola are relatively small. You command her to pinch them. She brings one hand up to each nipple and gives them a firm pinch between her thumb and index finger. You notice a couple tears run down her cheek. It's time to ramp this up a notch. You command her to turn around, bend over on all fours, and slowly pull her skirt down. She complies begrudgingly. As she bends over, you notice her tight, petite ass and white schoolgirl panties peeking at you from between her thighs. A massive camel toe greets you. She must have huge pussy lips. Her skirt shimmies its way down her thighs, over her knee high socks and onto the floor. You give her ass a gentle slap. She squeaks quietly. You inspect closer. A wet spot is forming on her panties. A breath in and the smell of her horniness wafts from between her legs. Despite all of her protest, she must secretly enjoy being controlled. Her juices embolden you. It's time to involve Brutus. You walk into the kitchen and open his cage. He struts out panting and wagging his tail. He is a large dog measuring in at four feet tall with a cock to match. You guide him to your sister's wet snatch. He takes a sniff and his tail wags faster than before. Your sister notices what is happening behind her and releases muffled cries, unable to move from her position. Brutus begins licking her panties, slobbering on her ass and thighs in the process. Your mother can't resist her urges at this point and makes her way underneath her daughter and begins suckling on her nipples, furiously rubbing herself all the while. Brutus takes notice of his mother's scent now and leaves his station to service her. She looks on with anticipation. He has a job to do, namely breaking in your sister. You snap your fingers and command him back to his post. He complies. He impatiently waits for your next command. You slide your sister's sticky, slobbery panties down to her ankles revealing her perfectly smooth and puffy pussy lips. The scent reaches Brutus and his cock begins to grow between his legs. The tip of his pink member slowly peaks out from its sheath. You allow him to continue licking. He lunges forward into your sister's pussy lips and laps up her juices. With each sniff he takes, his member grows longer and harder. Until eventually he is at full mast. Your mother takes notice and abandons suckling her daughter's tits to service Brutus. Laying on the floor, she slides between her daughter's legs and reaches for Brutus" cock. She grips it firmly and pulls it towards her face. She greedily shoves it in her mouth and down her throat, sucking furiously. Brutus enjoys this treatment and licks your sister's pussy with increased fervor. You watch all of this unfold. As the coordinator of this debauchery, you take pleasure in your power and control realizing you didn't have to command your mother to do anything, she took her actions of her own free will. You notice that your mother is so good at sucking off Brutus that he is probably nearing orgasm. That won't do. You command your mother to stop. You<<if $Penis>>r cock begins to grow as you<</if>> ask her if it is time to take her daughter's virginity. She nods her head in excitement. Your sister begins crying again, noticing her mother's response. <<if $Penis>>Your mother assumes you will be the one to take her daughter's virginity, but you have other plans. <</if>>You ask your mother to service your <<if $Penis>>balls<<else>>pussy<</if>>. She does so without hesitation, lapping obediently with her tongue. You release your control of Brutus and he immediately mounts your sister. Your mother becomes excited, her surprise apparent. You give her saggy tit a nice slap and she giggles with a blush. Meanwhile, Brutus is thrusting his hips searching for a hole to lodge his enormous cock into. It has grown enormous at this point, his thick knot fully unsheathed. His cock misses her hole, sliding across her petite ass and her thighs with each attempt. [[Take her vaginal virginity|BrutusVaginal]] [[Take her anal virginity|BrutusAnal]] *WIP*

You find your mother and tell her that you are going to use her once your sister gets home. She lights up with excitement, satisfied that you took her suggestion to heart. You wait together on the living room couch for your sister to arrive and your mother becomes impatient. Her anticipation makes her horny and she starts rubbing her pussy as she waits with you. You command her to stop. She wiggles around in her seat, plainly due to discomfort and impatience. Your sister walks through the door. She has arrived home from school. You take a moment to admire her. Her silky hair is braided around either side of her head and meets at the back to form a ponytail. She is wearing her backpack and dons her school uniform, a frilly plaid skirt with a dress shirt tucked into it and a tie around her neck, dangling down her chest since she had untied it on the walk home. She is wearing knee high socks and black strapped shoes. She is short and has a slim figure. She sports an A cup and has a firm but petite ass. Her hips are not particularly wide and her waist is thin, though she has enough meat on her bones to be healthy. You release the command on your mother, allowing your mother to continue touching herself. She immediately takes you up on the opportunity, furiously rubbing herself through her clothes as she throws her head back releasing audible moans paying almost no attention to her daughter's arrival. Your sister is in shock at the sight before her and loses her composure. Before she is able to even remove her backpack, you confront her. Standing directly in front of her, you take a deep breath and savor the fruity smells of her shampoo and perfume. You feel your balls tingle as you inhale her feminine scents. You welcome her home and tell her that you are going to make her your plaything. A look of confusion and disgust crosses her face. Before she has time to react, you reach one hand around the back of her ass<<if $Penis>> and pull out your semi hard cock with the other<</if>>. You pull her towards you and embrace her exposed thighs<<if $Penis>> with your cock<</if>>. They feel warm and soft. You lean forward and whisper into her ear that she should service your <<if $Penis>>cock<<else>>cunt<</if>> like a good little girl. She screams in horror and tries to push you away. You don't like that one bit. You snap your fingers and command her to be still and shut up. She complies. The expression of horror remains on her face. You lean forward again and lick around the perimeter of her ear, taking a moment to bite her earlobe and exhale into her ear cavity. Your mother has now taken notice of your embrace with your sister. She encourages you as she continues rubbing herself. She slides her arm under her shirt and pinches at her large nipples. You imagine your sister might have had something to say to your mother if you hadn't commanded her silence. You release her from your embrace and look her up and down. You rip her shirt open and a couple buttons fly through the air. Her girly pink A cup bra rests on her chest. It is small and cute. Her gaze drifts toward the floor in shame. She is probably especially embarrassed that her mother is watching this unfold. Your sister refuses to look you in the eyes. You command her to keep eye contact with you. She complies with an uncomfortable expression on her face. You command her to remove her bra. Horror crosses her face yet again. Her hand slowly reaches behind her and unlocks the clip on her bra. She pulls upward on the bra straps slowly removing the garment from her body and revealing her tiny breasts and perky pink nipples. Her areola are relatively small. You command her to pinch them. She brings one hand up to each nipple and gives them a firm pinch between her thumb and index finger. You notice a couple tears run down her cheek. You give her nipples a gentle and tender kiss. In an attempt to calm her down and make her comfortable, you whisper encouragement into her ear while stroking her hair. You praise her body and tell her how beautiful she is. She slowly calms down and her breathing becomes steady. She seems to be enjoying your encouragement. You beckon your mother over to get her involved. You grab both of them by their lower backs and push them together. Your mother rests her hands on her daughter's cheeks and reaffirms how beautiful she is while gazing into her daughter's eyes. She leans forward and kisses her deeply. She gets more absorbed in the kissing, slithering her tongue into her daughter's mouth and reaching her hand to fondle one of her breasts all the while. You feel pride at this moment, as you cultivate the growing relationship between the two of them. You take a nice squeeze at both of their asses simultaneously as they explore each other's mouths. You slide your hands into their respective panties and gently massage each of their ass cheeks. Your hand slides down further as you reach their moist pussies. Your mother's is hairy and drenched, while your sister's is smooth and puffy with fat lips. Your mother welcomes this development, but your sister appears apprehensive. Sensing her doubt, your mother comforts her. She soothes her, rubbing her hair and coaxing her along as you rub her smooth pussy lips. As she calms down, you feel moisture slowly leaking out from between her large lips. You slide your fingers into each of them. They easily enter into your mother as she practically sucks you in, but your sister is tighter and you meet more resistance as you enter her virgin hole. Your mother gets excited and horny, grabbing your sister's head and enthusiastically returning to making out with her. You go about the business of pumping into their cunts. You feel your sister tense up on your fingers. On the other hand, your mother is loose and dripping as your fingers easily slide in and out of her. You can audibly hear slopping noises as you rhythmically penetrate her loose cunt. You are more gentle with your sister as you ease her into a more sensual experience. Once you have managed to get a couple fingers firmly lodged inside of your sister, you decide that she is thoroughly prepared. You command your kin to separate from each other. You have new tasks in mind for them. You slide your hand out of your sister's skirt and panties and hold up your hand. Your fingers are covered in her pussy juices. You spread your fingers apart and her cunt juice forms slimy strands as it dribbles downward slowly. You press your fingers back together and spread them again, demonstrating the thickness of her grool. She watches with embarrassment showing through her facial expressions. You move your slimy hand toward her face and smear her juices on her to make a point. You are sending her a message that she is yours to own and only yours. She is taken aback and grossed out by this, but quietly accepts it without obvious resistance. Your mother's affirmations have probably calmed her down enough in order to be able to handle such degradation. Strands of her grool stick to her face, dangling from her skin. One of them is draped over her eyelid and another hangs from her chin. You slide your fingers into her mouth and gaze into her eyes, hinting that you want her to swallow her remaining pussy juices. She gulps nervously and thinks for a time before ultimately deciding to comply with your unspoken request. Her tongue flitters over your sticky fingers and she swallows apprehensively, unsure of what to expect. Much to your satisfaction, she doesn't seem too put off by the taste. You extend your other hand to your mother, who greedily laps up her own juices without any direction. She is beaming, proud of her daughter's progress towards perversion and absolutely gleeful that her own child was the one to facilitate that degradation. She wiggles her ass back and forth in delight like an excited puppy as she licks your fingers. You pull your hands out of their respective mouths now sticky with their saliva. You bend your sister over and squat down, your eyes meeting her waist underneath her skirt. Her white schoolgirl panties peek out at you from beneath her skirt. You notice a wet spot has formed from your foreplay. You slide your finger underneath the fabric and pull downward. Her panties slide over her thighs and down her knee high socks to rest on her shoes. In front of you, on full display, you see glistening pussy lips that are smooth, fat, and puffy accompanied by a cute, tight asshole. Her skin is completely smooth with no pubic hair growing anywhere on her private regions. You are going to take her virginity and assert your dominance, demonstrating that you own her. You stand up. <<if $Penis>>A bulge has formed in your pants at this point. <</if>>You beckon to your mother and she crawls to you on hands and knees. With delight in her eyes, she pulls down your zipper and <<if $Penis>>grabs your cock from inside your underwear<<else>>slides down your panties<</if>>. <<if $Penis>>She wraps her hand around your shaft and begins pumping enthusiastically as she envelopes the head of your cock into her warm mouth<<else>>. She slobbers on you, <</if>><<if $Penis>>preparing you with lubrication to penetrate your sister's waiting slit<<else>>lubricating your slit<</if>>. You wave your mother away from you and turn your attention towards your sister<<if $Penis>> as your cock is now sufficiently prepared<</if>>. <<if $Penis>>\ [[Take her vaginal virginity|SisterVaginal]] [[Take her anal virginity|SisterAnal]] <<else>>\ [[Scissor your sister|WIP]] [[Have them scissor each other|WIP]] <</if>> *WIP*

Finally, Brutus finds his target and plunges his cock deep into your sister's pussy. She cries out in muffled agony. Your mother gets so turned on from the sight that she cums, as her juices leak out onto the carpet. Brutus, unaware of your sister's plight, follows his animal instincts and furiously thrusts in and out of her. You notice blood running down his cock and trickling over his knot before falling to the ground. She lost her virginity to the family hound. Brutus has trouble thrusting the entire length of his member into her because his cock is so large and her shaft is so petite. Eventually, he manages to penetrate far enough that his knot slides past her fat pussy lips and plants itself firmly inside of her. She arches her back as she is stretched far beyond what she imagined possible. Your mother claps for Brutus in delight, her pussy juice splashing from her fingers. With a final thrust, Brutus reaches orgasm deep inside his new bitch. His knot completely concealed within her, He dismounts and spins around facing the other direction. His cock is firmly planted inside of her and spasms, shooting his sperm into her with each contraction. Your mother leaves your crotch to straddle the two of them. She stands in front of Brutus and leans forward. She brings her tongue to her daughter's asshole and licks it. Brutus licks the sopping pussy in front of him. Smelling the mating occurring directly in front of her face, your mother gets so turned on that plunges her tongue as deeply into her daughter's asshole as it will go. Motivated by the service Brutus is giving her, she furiously cleans her daughter's ass. You view the spectacle, proud of what you have created. Suddenly, your mother's mouth switches to the other asshole directly opposite, Brutus" asshole. You can't believe your eyes. You could have sworn that you would have needed to command her to do that. She must be more perverted than she ever let on. She switches back and forth, appreciating both family member's holes. After about ten minutes of pumping, Brutus has finished filling your sister with cum and his cock slides out of her as it begins to shrink. Your mother notices and positions herself underneath before he has the chance to pull out completely. His cock leaves her pussy with a pop and a slurp. Your sister is unable to contain all of the juices and they immediately gush out of her, showering your mother who eagerly awaits beneath. With her mouth open, her face is entirely covered in a concoction of dog cum, pussy juice, and blood. It pours out for quite a while and there is so much cum that it runs down your mother's tits and drips onto her thighs. After swallowing her treat, your mother grabs your sister's hips and thrusts her face into her pussy, sucking out any fluid that might be left over. She gulps down all the juices she can get her mouth around. Tears are clearly streaming down your sister's face as her mother degrades herself. As your mother seems to be finishing up, you release all control over your family and your sister nervously grabs all of her clothes, covering herself as best as possible and runs into her bedroom, locking the door behind her. From beyond the door, you command her to keep her experience to herself. Brutus happily strolls into the backyard, satisfied with his nut. Your mother turns to you, covered in disgusting juices. She is happy and tries to give you a hug but you don't want to hug her in her current state. She thanks you for involving your sister and tells you she can't wait for next time. She thanks you and calls you her master before giving you a sloppy kiss on the cheek and running off to her own bedroom. You are somewhat grossed out with where that mouth has been and go wash your face. No doubt your mother is rubbing those juices all over herself and touching herself some more. You are pretty satisfied with how things went, but your sister's spirit is obviously unbroken. You have more work to do on her. Maybe involving her father will help? {This path is under construction...} [[Go Back|$return]] *WIP*

You decide that her anal virginity will be taken first. You are going to make a point that your sister is yours to do with as you please no matter how painful or degrading it might be for her. You command Brutus to penetrate your sister's asshole and he complies. He plunges his cock deep into her asshole. She cries out in obvious agony. Your mother gets so turned on from the sight that she cums, as her juices leak out onto the carpet. Brutus, unaware of your sister's plight, follows his animal instincts and furiously thrusts in and out of her. You notice blood running down his cock and trickling over his knot before falling to the ground. Her asshole must not be properly stretched. She lost her anal virginity to the family hound. Brutus has trouble thrusting the entire length of his member into her because his cock is so large and her shaft is so petite. Eventually, he manages to penetrate far enough that his knot slides past her sphincter and plants itself firmly inside of her. She arches her back as she is stretched far beyond what she imagined possible. Your mother claps for Brutus in delight, her pussy juice splashing from her fingers. With a final thrust, Brutus reaches orgasm deep inside his new bitch. His knot completely concealed within her, He dismounts and spins around facing the other direction. His cock is firmly planted inside of her and spasms, shooting his sperm into her with each contraction. Your mother leaves your crotch to straddle the two of them. She stands in front of Brutus and leans forward. She brings her tongue to her canine's asshole and licks it in celebration. Brutus licks the sopping pussy in front of him. Smelling the mating occurring directly in front of her face, your mother gets so turned on that plunges her tongue as deeply into her Brutus" asshole as it will go. You could have sworn that you would have needed to command her to do that. She must be more perverted than she ever let on. Motivated by the service Brutus is giving her, she furiously cleans his ass while your sister lets out muffled cries in the background. You view the spectacle, proud of what you have created. After about ten minutes of pumping, Brutus has finished filling your sister with cum and his cock slides out of her as it begins to shrink. Your mother notices and positions herself underneath before he has the chance to pull out completely. His cock leaves her asshole with a pop and a slurp. Your sister is unable to contain all of the juices and they immediately gush out of her, showering your mother who eagerly awaits beneath. With her mouth open, her face is entirely covered in a concoction of dog cum, pussy juice, and blood. It pours out for quite a while and there is so much cum that it runs down your mother's tits and drips onto her thighs. After swallowing her treat, your mother grabs your sister's hips and thrusts her face into her ass, sucking out any fluid that might be left over. She gulps down all the juices she can get her mouth around. Tears are clearly streaming down your sister's face as her mother degrades herself. As your mother seems to be finishing up, you release all control over your family and your sister nervously grabs all of her clothes, covering herself as best as possible and runs into her bedroom, locking the door behind her. From beyond the door, you command her to keep her experience to herself. Brutus happily strolls into the backyard, satisfied with his nut. Your mother turns to you, covered in disgusting juices. She is happy and tries to give you a hug but you don't want to hug her in her current state. She thanks you for involving your sister and tells you she can't wait for next time. She thanks you and calls you her master before giving you a sloppy kiss on the cheek and running off to her own bedroom. You are somewhat grossed out with where that mouth has been and go wash your face. No doubt your mother is rubbing those juices all over herself and touching herself some more. You are pretty satisfied with how things went, but your sister's spirit is obviously unbroken. You have more work to do on her. Maybe involving her father will help? {This path is under construction...} [[Go Back|$return]] *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ You rub on her newly exposed pussy lips and exhale your breath on to them as your sister shudders. Your mother continues to watch in anticipation. She can't wait to watch you break in her daughter's virgin cunt and you are going to enjoy doing it. You run your tongue over the moist lips and get a taste of your sister's pussy juices. She is wet enough and ready for your cock. Your mother scurries around to her daughter's front side and begins suckling on her nipples. You pull your pants all the way down and rub your wet cock against your sister's pussy lips. Feeling that she is about to be penetrated, she begins to let out muffled cries. Your mother takes notice and kisses her deeply in an attempt to soothe her. She continues to kiss your sister while pinching her nipples. You press forward with your hard cock and part her pussy lips with the tip. A yelp escapes her mouth, but it is muffled by your mother's kissing. You lift her skirt to reveal her firm, petite ass cheeks and give them a firm slap as you begin spanking her. Her ass is firm enough that there is very little rippling across her skin from the impact of your spankings. Once you are satisfied with the amount of redness that has developed on her ass, you thrust the remaining length of your cock inside her. You feel her hymen break under the force of your penetration. You have taken your sister's virginity. You hear muffled cries coming from your sister again as her body shakes slightly from the crying. You can see tears dripping from her face down onto the carpet. Your mother ratchets up her soothing and comforting efforts. She transitions from kissing your sister to rubbing her head and hugging her. She whispers into her ear providing loving and nurturing affirmation and words of affection. You slowly pump in and out as your mother seems to be calming your sister down. Tears are no longer streaming down her face and her bodily convulsions from crying have slowed down and become less intense. She seems to be psychologically acclimating to the situation thanks to your mother's soothing. You increase the rate of pumping into her and her blood trickles down the shaft of your cock, running over your ball sack before dripping onto the floor. You feel great satisfaction from the sight as the blood droplets demonstrate and symbolize your ownership over her and the piece of her spirit that you have taken for yourself. You get excited as you feel your orgasm approaching. You thrust deep into her as your balls erupt. You shoot multiple streams of cum deep into her virgin womb. Your cock pumps for a while before finally running out of cum. You relax your body and slowly pull your cock out of her slit. As you exit her completely, she is stuffed with so much of your cum that it immediately spills onto the floor as it splashes and stains her panties with a mixture of your cum and some of her residual blood. Juices continue to slowly dribble out of her cunt as you bask in your accomplishment before your eyes. She seems surprised that you came inside of her, but she has calmed down enough at this point and essentially resigned herself to the situation, realizing that resistance is futile. Your mother gives you a kiss in adoration of your accomplishment. Satisfied, you release your control. Looking defeated but no longer embarrassed, your sister gathers her clothing and with a somewhat downtrodden attitude, locks herself in her bedroom without a word to either you or your mother. Your mother thanks you for taking her advice to heart to involve other members of the family and shows her appreciation before going about the task of cleaning up the mess that you just made. Your work here is done. {This path is under construction...} [[Go Back|$return]] *WIP*

/* $Penis is true */ \ You decide to take her anal virginity first. You are going to make a point that your sister is yours to do with as you please no matter how painful it might be for her. You spit on your hand and rub your spit onto her asshole. You feel her clench and pucker up as you make contact with her asshole. You massage the remaining spit onto the shaft of your cock to prepare it for entry. You reach around your sister and secure a firm grip around her neck, momentarily preventing her from breathing or screaming. You shove your cock inter her asshole up to the base with one fell swoop. You feel your sister's muscles tense as she loses her anal virginity to you, but she is unable to scream no matter the pain of your cock thrusting inside of her. {This path is under construction...} [[Go Back|$return]] *WIP*

You decide to play with Brutus on your own. You approach his cage and he notices you, becoming excited. His tongue hangs out of his mouth and his tail wags back and forth. He paces around inside his cage, waiting for you to open the door. You stick your fingers through the bars and he furiously licks at them. You unlock the cage door and it swings open. Brutus rushes toward you and tackles you with his loving 200 pound embrace. He licks at your face and you rub his fur encouragingly. His tail is wagging with excitement. You stand up and get your bearings. You stroke up and down his muscular body with vigor, appreciating his chiseled figure and the damage that he could inflict on an enemy if he chose to do so. Imagining Brutus giving in to his animal instincts and demolishing an enemy by overpowering them causes a fire to be kindled within you. You feel heat welling up within you as your <<if $Penis>>bulge begins to grow in your pants<<else>>panties grow wet.<</if>>. You feel the urge to mate with Brutus. As you scratch his head, you reach underneath him and grab his cock. It is still soft and flaccid, completely hidden inside of its sheath. You gently massage him, coaxing his cock out from its hiding spot. You slide your hand further back and grab his balls, giving them a gentle massage as well. Brutus can sense what is going on at this point and gets the message that it's mating time. His cock begins to grow, the tip of his pink shaft peeking out from his sheath. You shift your body, moving your head to his shaft in order to suck on the tip of his cock. You open your mouth and lick him. You continue massaging him with your hand all the while. You wrap your lips around his shaft and begin sucking. You can feel it growing in your mouth as it exits its sheath and spurts small amounts of precum onto your tongue. Brutus is getting excited at this point and fidgets around trying to get into a good position to mount you. However, you want to suck the cum out of him and taste it. You snap your fingers, commanding him to be still and stop fidgeting. He complies. You take his growing member completely into your mouth. It feels smooth and soft on your tongue. You lick at the tip againof his shaft, attempting to coax more fluids out of it as you apply pressure with your mouth. His cock continues to grow poking further and further out from his sheath into the back of your mouth. Eventually, his shaft grows so large that you can't fit the entire thing anymoreinto your mouth. You grab a hold of his shaft with your hand and pump it while you continue sucking on his huge member. The more you pump, the more it grows. Brutus reaches full mast, his knot now poking out from his sheath. His cock is now almost the size of your head. He is ready to cum. You shove his cock as far into the back of your throat as it will go and furiously stroke him. You feel his muscles tensing up and he is ready to shoot his load. You remove your hand from his shaft and slide it around behind him. Two of your fingers, lubricated with his juices, slide into his asshole without much resistance. You feel his muscles contracting around you with each pump of cum he shoots into your mouth. As you gently massage his insides, he shoots large spurts of cum out of his massive cock into your mouth. You flick your tongue around his cock, tasting him and coaxing out more of his juices. You allow his cum to slowly slide down the back of your throat and savor the warm, sticky feeling before swallowing. With each swallow he continues to pump more and more cum into your mouth. You swallow periodically so it doesn't overflow. He pumps cum into you for almost fifteen minutes before his balls run dry. You have lost count of how many times you swallowed, but you can tell that your stomach is rather full of dog cum. The contractions around your fingers stop and gently slide your fingers out of his asshole. His knot shrinks and his cock begins retracting out of your mouth as it goes limp. You suck on it as it shrinks, pulling out any cum left inside of it and lapping it up. His cock shrinks and flops out of your mouth, making a slurping sound as it retreats back into its sheath. Brutus wags his tail and his tongue hangs out of his mouth. You can feel pressure in your stomach from the huge amount of cum. You were basically fed a meal. You can't believe all of those fluids were stored inside his balls. You release control of him. He turns towards you and licks your face. He laps up his own juices that dribbled out of your mouth earlier while you were sucking him. You give him a loving head rub and send him on his way. He happily strolls away having been serviced and you feel satisfied for providing the service. [[Come back tomorrow]] *WIP*

You revisit Brutus the next day, letting him out of his cage. Just like last time, he is excited to see you and jumps out of his cage to tackle you. Straddling you on the ground while you lay on your back, he licks your face and wags his tail. You return the sentiment, stroking his fur. You notice his cock growing and peaking out of his sheath again. He seems to remember your previous encounter. Watching his cock grow arouses you. This time, Brutus can return the favor. You slide your panties down, exposing your <<if $Vagina is false>>cock<<else>>wet pussy lips<</if>>. He is too busy licking your face to notice. You slap on your <<if $Vagina is false>>thigh<<else>>pussy lips, creating a wet sound and<</if>> beckoning Brutus down to your crotch. His ears perk up and he turns his snout towards the noise. He catches a whiff of the pheromones from your <<if $Vagina is false>>crotch<<else>>excited pussy<</if>>. He swings around excitedly, repositioning himself and licks your <<if $Vagina is false>>flaccid cock<<else>>pussy lips<</if>>. You can't help but notice that Brutus" cock is now dangling over your face and continuing to grow steadily as his mating instinct kicks in. You thoroughly enjoy his company as his large, warm tongue laps away at your <<if $Vagina is false>>cock<<else>>pussy<</if>>. <<if $Vagina>>Every so often you spread your pussy lips open so his tongue can get to your clit and vaginal opening.<</if>> His cock continues growing larger and his precum drips down onto your face. [[Suck him off again|WIP]] [[Roll over]] *WIP*

You push off the ground, removing Brutus from your crotch, and get down on your hands and knees. You stick your ass up in the air inviting his large cock. He tracks the scent of your pheromones, trotting over to your ass and licks at your <<if $Vagina>>pussy again<<else>>asshole<</if>>. After a bit of licking, his instincts take over and he mounts you. His front legs fall near your shoulders and his hips thrust forward wildly, attempting to fit his cock into a hole. He is very heavy and his weight presses down on your back as you do your best to support the both of you. Eventually, his cock finds its way inside of your wet <<if $Vagina>>cunt<<else>>asshole<</if>>. He continues thrusting wildly, ramming his cock forward until his knot makes contact with your <<if $Vagina>>pussy lips<<else>>ass cheeks<</if>>. You feel very full due to the size of his cock and you involuntarily contract around his member peridocially. Brutus quickly reaches his limit and starts cumming, thrusting his knot inside of you. This takes you by surprise as the pain of being stretched registers in your brain and also causes you to cum. He dismounts you and turns around, keeping his knot lodged firmly inside of you. He empties his load, pumping you full to the brim with his cum. After a while, the pumping slows down and Brutus" cock shrinks, falling out of your <<if $Vagina>>cunt<<else>>ass<</if>> as he walks away from you, wagging his tail. He leaves you on your hands and knees <<if $Vagina>>with a pussy <</if>>full of dog cum, dripping onto the floor. <<if $Vagina>>Your cunt is completely soaked.<</if>> [[Drink it off the floor|WIP]] [[Leave it there and come back again tomorrow|WIP]] *WIP*

<<Kai>> walked into the high school. <<He>> <<was>> enrolled in <<his>> senior year before being transported to the Monastery. <<Kai>> couldn't recall <<his>> class schedule for some reason. [[Wander the halls]] [[Enter a classroom]] [[Leave|LeaveApartment]]

You enter the store. You notice a woman with tattoos purchasing cigarettes. A mother carries her baby through the aisles, stocking up on groceries.

You wander aimlessly down the halls of the school. Class is in session, so the hallways are mostly empty. <<if $Gloryhole1 is false>>\ You notice a school bathroom with some weird noises coming from within. [[Investigate the bathroom]] <</if>>\ [[Enter a classroom][$MedicalExam to true]] [[Go home|Home]] *WIP*

You enter the school bathroom. There is noise coming from within one of the stalls. It sounds like grunting or moaning. <<if $SmutFilter>>\ [[Peek inside the stall]] <</if>>\ [[Wander the halls]] *WIP*

You peer into the stall. You notice a student giving a blowjob through a hole in the stall. She is touching herself under her skirt. [[Keep watching][$Status to "Aroused"]] [[Enter the stall]] *WIP*

You continue watching her blow another student while touching herself. You are getting aroused and begin reaching into your pants. She turns her gaze and notices that you are watching. She freaks out and runs out of the bathroom. She runs to an administrator and reports you. <<set $Expelled to true>> """*""" You have been expelled from school. * [[Go home|Home][$Status to ""]] *WIP*

You enter the stall, surprising her. She turns and faces you. [[Overpower her|WIP]] <<if $MalePreference>>\ [[Join her][$Status to "Aroused"]] <</if>>\ [[Blackmail her|WIP]] [[Leave the bathroom|Wander the halls]] *WIP*

You kneel next to her and lick the cock sticking out of the wall, running your tongue up and down the shaft. She is surprised and heisitant, but eventually brings her mouth back to the cock, running her tongue along the other side of it. You work on the cock together, taking turns sucking on it. <<if $FemalePreference>> Every so often, your mouths meet and you embrace each other in a kiss. You explore each other's mouths with your tongues and spread the flavor of the foreign cock. You reach under her skirt and find her sopping wet pussy. She is not wearing any panties. You finger her enthusiastically. <</if>> You get aroused. <<if $Penis>>Your cock makes a tent in your pants.<</if>> <<if $Vagina>>Your pussy leaks into your panties.<</if>> <<set $tempBool to true>> [[Finish off the cock in the wall][$tempBool to false]] [[Use the cock in the wall to get off|WIP]] <<if $FemalePreference>>\ [[Go for her cunt]] <</if>>\ *WIP*

You finish off the cock in the wall, taking turns sucking and stroking. He blows his load, coating the two of you in cum. The cock slides out of the wall and you hear his footsteps as he leave the bathroom. You both take your time lapping up the cum splatter off of each other. <<if $FemalePreference>>\ [[Go for her cunt]] <</if>>\ [[Leave the bathroom|Wander the halls][$Status to ""]] *WIP*

You turn your attention exclusively to her. <<if $Penis>> You whip out your hard cock and insert it into her skirt. You rub against her exposed wet cunt. <<else>> You lower yourself and poke your head into her skirt. You smell the feminine scent of her wet pussy. You thrust your face into her wet cunt, tonguing at her clit. <</if>> She moans, seeming to be enjoying it. <<if $Penis>> You slide your cock into her pussy lips and penetrate her. She moans more loudly and wraps her arms around you, pulling you towards her. <<else>> You slide your tongue deep inside her pussy and aggressively service her, sucking up her love juices. <</if>> She gets into it, rocking her hips back and forth and encouraging you on. <<if $tempBool and $Penis>> While fucking her, you suck on the cock sticking out of the wall, coaxing it to orgasm. <</if>> You feel <<if $Penis>>your<<else>>her<</if>> orgasm approaching. She wraps her legs around you and locks you in place. <<if $tempBool>> The cock in the wall explodes, coating your mouth in jizz. <</if>>\ <<if $Penis>> You bust a load inside her. You feel her squirt on your cock. <<else>> She reaches orgasm, squirting in your mouth. You have no choice but to swallow it down. <</if>> She releases her legs and you <<if $Penis>>pull your cock out<<else>>remove your head from her skirt<</if>>. <<if $tempBool and $Penis>> You swallow the load in your mouth. <</if>> <<if $Penis>>Your<<else>>Her<</if>> cum dribbles from her cunt. """*""" You have developed a relationship with a random student. * <<set $Gloryhole1 to true>> *WIP* [[Leave the bathroom|Wander the halls][$Status to ""]]

You enter a classroom, but since you can't seem to remember which class you are currently assigned, you enter the wrong room and interrupt in the middle of a class. The teacher seems surprised and asks you some questions. Apparently, your answers didn't make much sense as the rest of the class chuckles and you are escorted to the guidance office. After a lengthy conversation with a counselor, you are [[sent home|Home]] with orders for a medical examination. *WIP*

You arrive at the park. There are pedestrians walking around and dogs playing fetch with their owners. {Under construction...} [[Go back|previous()]] *WIP* /* Notice lost child; opportunity to kidnap */

You arrive home. It is getting late. Your family is sleeping. <<if $SmutFilter and $IncestFilter>>\ <<if $FemalePreference>>\ [[Enter your sister's bedroom]] <</if>>\ <<if $MalePreference>>\ [[Enter your brother's bedroom]] <</if>>\ [[Enter your parent's bedroom]] <</if>>\ [[Go to sleep|SleepApartment]] *WIP* /* {Random conditionals for Brutus to be in a bedroom or for them to be awake} */

You sneak into your sister's bedroom. You see her sleeping in her bed. [[Sleep in her bed|WIP]] [[Play with her in her sleep|WIP]] [[Go back to your room|SleepApartment]] *WIP*

You sneak into your brother's bedroom. You see him sleeping in him bed. *WIP* [[Sleep in his bed|WIP]] [[Play with him in his sleep|WIP]] [[Go back to your room|SleepApartment]]

You sneak into your parent's bedroom. You see them sleeping in their bed. *WIP* [[Sleep in their bed|WIP]] [[Play with them in their sleep|WIP]] [[Go back to your room|SleepApartment]] /* {These two passages are obsolete; find a home for them} */

You decide to do the dishes and let your mother do the vacuuming in hopes that you might get a good view if she bends over while vacuuming near you. {Needs a home} You begin your task as she starts up the vacuum in one of the bedrooms. You clean each dish slowly, prolonging your task in hopes that she will eventually make her way out to the living room adjacent to the kitchen . {This path is under construction...} [[Go Back|$return]] *WIP*

You decide to do the vacuuming and let your mother do the dishes. {Needs a home} You don't want to see anything uncouth, even if it is accidental. You dutifully go about your task, ensuring that you don't miss a single spot of the carpet. {This path is under construction...} [[Go Back|$return]] *WIP*

Despite Azrael's insidious demeanor, <<kai>> decided to trust <<his>> instructor, hoping that he had good intentions. <<Kai>> took a deep breath and kept <<his>> body still as the beast approached, surrendering to fate. Its roaring grew louder as it soared through the air, gnashing its teeth and slobbering. <<link [[It’s jaw closed|FirstAct24]]>><<set $Vit -= 500>><<if $Vit lt 0>><<set $Vit to 0>><<Death>><</if>><</link>>. It had bitten <<kai>>.

<<Kai>> winced, but felt no pain. As the creature's teeth plunged into <<his>> chest, it dissolved, leaving in its place a cloud of black mist whose tendrils swirled outward, dissipating as the monster lost its form. The beast's snarls echoed in the distance, leaving behind an unsettling void of immediate silence. What had happened? The attack must not have been intended to hurt <<him>> after all. Was Azrael simply trying to fake <<him>> out or throw <<him>> off guard? <<Kai>> <<was>> confused, but relieved to be alive. Gathering <<his>> composure, <<he>> exhaled—running <<his>> hands over <<his>> chest, searching for any sign of damage. <<He>> <<was>> unharmed; there were no signs of injury and <<he>> felt no pain. Azrael's eyes were wide. When he witnessed the failure of his attack, he had recoiled, tensing. He was surprised by something. Had he actually intended to harm <<kai>> and that's why he was surprised? Azrael didn't explain, instead he managed to regain his composure, contorting himself into some sort of defensive stance. He was taking <<kai>> more seriously than before. "Did you see through my illusion, child?" Azrael scoffed dramatically. "No sir, I simply trusted you as my instructor. I was afraid, I'll admit. I don't know anything about magical combat yet." [[Azrael mulled over the answer for a while.|FirstAct25]]

Once he had fully processed <<kais>> answer, he relaxed his body. As he settled, he twirled his dark beard around his finger, shifting his gaze into the sky. And then he sighed. It was definitely strange behavior. One moment he was ready to fight <<kai>>, the next he was daydreaming. "Well, this is annoying." He clenched his teeth. "I was hoping to simply dispose of you like a typical Corrupt and then that would be that. But you've made this more complicated for me…" Azreal's voice drifted off as he sighed again, contemplating the situation. He seemed to have at least believed <<kais>> answer, despite how desperate or unbelievable it might have seemed. Azrael's eyes suddenly returned to <<kai>>, locking <<him>> into an invisible prison. <<Kai>> could still move <<his>> body, but <<he>> somehow felt hopeless. <<He>> didn't know anything about magic. <<He>> needed a teacher to guide <<him>>. <<He>> needed //this// teacher, no matter how strange he might be. <<Kai>> needed to [[harness these strange powers dwelling inside|FirstAct26]].

"Okay." Azrael clicked his fingernails together as he spoke. "You tell me you don't know anything about magic, but my orb's reading clearly demonstrated a history of casting. The orb changes its color as it attunes to the wielder's affinity. That's why Apprentices display white—they //have// no established affinity." He paused and then continued. "The red color indicates a Dark affinity, in other words, corrupted Essence." Corruption? Dark magic? Why would <<kai>> have demonstrated a casting history if <<he>> had never cast before in <<his>> life? Then <<kai>> remembered something. Azrael's light had been red too. //His affinity must be Dark,// <<he>> thought. Plus, none of this explained why the orb had changed colors when <<kai>> held it. What exactly had corrupted <<him>>? How had //Azrael// been corrupted? And why was he hunting his own kind on behalf of the Monastery? <<Kai>> had so many questions—uncertainty overwhelmed <<him>>. Azrael sensed <<his>> confusion. "Let's say there's a reason that I—in particular—was assigned to Apprentice School. I know the effects of corruption from personal experience and, as a consequence, I'm also the most skilled at weeding it out. It's better to nip that sort of complication in the bud, if you catch my drift." He sighed again. "Your particular situation is complicated. You display a red light, yet are somehow uncorrupted." //How does he know I'm uncorrupted?// <<kai>> thought, speechless. "Yours is a rare condition which even I cannot explain—a unique case. As such, I will be forced to implement unique... //measures// in response." [[Azrael smiled.|FirstAct27]]

<<Kai>> didn't understand, but <<was>> relieved that <<his>> instructor seemed to believe <<his>> story. At least <<he>> wouldn't be disposed of. Not yet, anyway. It seemed that Azrael had more knowledge and responsibility than <<kai>> had appreciated at first. <<Kai>> supposed he did more at the Monastery than simply harangue newbies. What else was he keeping secret...? "The first thing I want to make clear is this: you //will// maintain secrecy. It is imperative; there is no alternative. The Monastery is not designed for strange magi like yourself and, if knowledge of this conversation reaches the other students, there will be chaos. Of that, I assure you. It is important that you comply. Do I have your word? Swear to God." Azrael's stare was intense. It was like everything else other than <<kai>> and <<his>> instructor had been filtered out of <<his>> vision. [[''Yes, you have my word.''|FirstAct28]]

<<Kai>> nodded enthusiastically as <<he>> spoke, nervously hoping <<he>> would come off as endearing. <<He>> needed to build trust if <<he>> <<was>> going to survive in this place. "I swear to God," <<kai>> said. <<set $Vit to 10, $MaxVit to 10, $Mystical to 0, $AzraelBrand to true>> It wasn't the most elegant answer, but maybe it would do. Azrael hung onto every word, searching <<kais>> soul. He hesitated for a moment, remaining still. And then <<kai>> felt a burning sensation on <<his>> wrists. "The words have been spoken. The pact is sealed. May God bless you, $Kai." So much talk of God. Maybe Azrael was more devout than <<kai>> would have thought based solely on his appearance and demeanor. <<Kai>> felt a twinge on <<his>> arms and held them up. A black branding wrapped around <<his>> skin, snaking up <<his>> body. It displayed intensely and then faded away without trace, just like the box had done. //Deja vu//, <<he>> thought. "An excellent choice!" Azrael clapped his hands again. "Now remember, if for some reason you go back on your word, not only will I know about it, but—more importantly—//God// will know about it." He pointed. Surprisingly, not upwards as <<kai>> would've expected, but instead towards the main campus. //[[He can't be implying that God is inside those walls.|FirstAct29][$GodWalls to true]]//

"If you misbehave, you //will// be punished. I will snuff out not only your flame, but your family's also. And I won't give it a second thought." His smirk was gone now. "A simple flick of the finger, and out goes the light." A flame sprouted from his finger and was then extinguished as he snapped. "Easy as that. And I won't hesitate either." His characteristic grin sprouted back as he chuckled. Intimidation? From a teacher? That was underhanded. There was no way that <<kai>> could risk escape now. <<He>> wouldn't know how to defend <<his>> family. Had <<he>> made the right choice in trusting Azrael? <<He>> had no idea, so instead <<his>> mind wandered to <<his>> own powers. Why had <<his>> light been colored? What <<was>> <<he>> capable of? How could <<he>> harness it for <<himself>>? The Monastery //couldn't be trusted// with <<his>> powers. That was one thing <<he>> was sure of. Azrael's eyebrows perked up and <<kai>> felt <<his>> instructor's dread somehow. He composed himself and started talking again. "We will now begin your secret training. Regular instruction isn't going to cut it. From now on, you will meet me alone in the training grounds at night after the other Apprentices have gone to bed." [[''Yes, sir.''|FirstAct30][$SecretTraining to true]]

"Dismissed!" He slithered back into his shadow, disappearing. Despite some newfound respect, he still gave <<kai>> the creeps. <<Kai>> made <<his>> way back to the rest of the group. The other Apprentices were going about their normal training routines, unaware of the confrontation that had just occurred. <<Kai>> looked down at <<his>> bare arms, unsure of exactly what had been done to <<him>>. The brandings on <<his>> wrists had looked like shackles before they morphed. The others looked at <<him>>. There was tension in the air as they silently judged <<him>> for <<his>> orb colors. They didn't know who <<he>> <<was>> or where <<he>> had come from. <<He>> <<was>> foreign to them—strange. <<link '<<Kai>> walked back into the cabin.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<IncrementApprenticeLesson>><</link>>. /* <<Kai>> needed to make friends. If <<he>> <<was>> going to survive here, <<he>> would need to [[develop relationships|ApprenticeDialogue]], not just with the instructors, but with the other students. <<Kai>> could [[remain solitary instead|FirstAct31]]. */

<<Kai>> pretended to do something productive—it was probably obvious to the others that <<he>> had no clue what <<he>> <<was>> doing. One by one, each of the Apprentices finished their individual training assignments for the day and sauntered back to the cabin for a night of rest. <<Kai>> <<was>> the last one in the training field. The sun was setting. <<He>> took a deep breath and laid back on the grass, recounting in <<his>> mind the events that had brought <<him>> to the current moment. <<Kai>> recalled touching <<his>> grandfather's box and the surge that coursed through <<his>> body. <<He>> recalled the faces of the other magi as they processed <<his>> unusual orb reading. <<He>> recalled Azrael's strange response when the shadow wolf bit <<him>> and dissipated. Most vividly, <<kai>> recalled the branding that had wrapped around <<his>> arms. <<He>> rotated an arm, inspecting the skin, but there was still nothing there. As the sun set and night fell, <<kai>> continued to stare at <<his>> arm, pondering <<his>> future in this place. <<was>> <<he>> better off here? <<He>> couldn't leave anyway, so it didn't really matter. <<He>> should just [[make the best of it|FirstAct32]].

Suddenly, <<kais>> arms burned and the branding reappeared. It strobed, flashing in and out of visibility. And then abruptly, it intensified. The burning spread up <<kais>> arms and through the rest of <<him>>. [[The void.|FirstAct33]]

<<Cutscene>>\ "Help me," <<kai>> cried out to the voices. <<His>> body thrust itself outwards, out of <<his>> control. <<He>> arched <<his>> back and <<his>> hands fell to the ground, legs spread apart, neck bending backwards. <<His>> eyes rolled back into <<his>> head. Darkness surrounded <<him>>; there was only nothingness. <<Kai>> laid in the dark for a while, floating. Was this the effect of <<if $AzraelBrand>>the brand<<else>>the box<</if>>? Light gently crept in from <<his>> peripherals. As it approached, it warmed and relaxed <<him>>, the pain subsiding. The brighter the light, the more <<kai>> felt at ease. The light finally settled on <<kai>> and <<he>> felt a profound peace wash over <<him>>. <<His>> body hummed, harmonizing with the natural frequency. //I am free from the shackles of myself//, <<kai>> suddenly thought. //I can shine my light on others. My power exists to create. I forge my own path.// Were those <<his>> words? They seemed unfamiliar—alien. An angelic voice pierced the silence of the void. //"Hero, you must listen."// The voice called to <<kai>> amidst the radiant glow. //"You are needed, Hero. A great evil threatens to destroy us all. Only you can confront the ultimate darkness."// //[[Who are you?|FirstAct34]]//

//"My name is Hemera. I am Light. I will brighten your path to guide you through the darkness."// Hemera's voice was gentle, soothing <<kai>> to <<his>> core. <<He>> felt that <<he>> could have relished the sensation for a thousand years. //I will follow you,// <<he>> said to the voice with <<his>> thoughts. In that moment, <<he>> couldn't help but feel that it was true, though <<he>> didn't know why. Her glow intensified. //"That's wonderful news. My hope rests on your shoulders. You must seek my rebirth. It is only after I have been reborn that you can harness my true power. Until then, farewell. I will be with you, Hero—guiding you, brightening your shadow."// How could <<kai>> possibly rebirth light itself? It didn't make any sense, but it still felt right to <<him>> for some reason. Hemera's light faded, darkness returning. The warmth that <<kai>> had felt inside of <<him>> drained along with the light. Once again, there was only the void. <<Kai>> dwelt within the blackness for a time, steadily growing accustomed to it. <<link 'Time passed, but <<he>> didn’t know how long.' 'FirstAct35'>><</link>>

Tendrils crept in from <<kais>> peripheral vision. As they approached, <<he>> noted that they were of the purest black—darkness incarnate, blacker even than the void surrounding <<him>>. There was a complete absence of light in each tendril, as if they were eating the light—sucking it in, devouring it. The black tendrils slithered towards <<kai>>. As they came closer, <<he>> felt a radiating sadness. Intense, profound sadness. <<His>> hope was being sucked from <<him>> just as the light had been sucked from the void. The tendrils touched <<kai>> and as they did, <<he>> surrendered <<himself>> to a deep hopelessness. Anguish. Affliction. Agony. Despair. //I have been shackled by misery herself,// <<kai>> suddenly thought. //I am a prisoner to the path of the world. My power exists to destroy, to bring death—sweet death. I will torment others with my darkness. Why resist when destruction is inevitable...?// //[[I need release.|FirstAct36]]//

The tendrils wrapped around <<kais>> body, but <<he>> felt nothing. Were they merely made of mist or some other insubstantial substance? They beckoned to <<him>> as they wriggled, twisting around <<his>> form. And then another voice appeared to <<him>>, this one sorrowful. Her unassuming words wafted around <<him>>, floating—resonating—in the void. //"Savior, I have been waiting for you."// <<Kai>> became aware of another misery that accompanied <<his>> own. It was a strange sort of comfort, knowing that another soul shared in <<his>> sadness—felt <<his>> pain. //[[Who are you?|FirstAct37]]//

//"I am Achlys, the Soothsayer of Anguish. I foresee wicked, wretched deeds. My eyes have been tainted—defiled—for I can see only that which is vile."// //Why do you seek me?// <<kai>> asked with <<his>> thoughts. //"You are my savior,"// Achlys said. //"You must unleash me from my prison, rescue me from my misery. Release me from my eternal bondage, the hideous taint. Please, you must kill me. It's the only way. My heart aches incessantly; it bleeds black. Use your suffering, channel it. Enter my heart and unite our agonies. I can already feel your touch sliding inside me. But you must go deeper; penetrate my darkness."// Achlys wailed. //"Annihilation awaits us all. The day nears when brutality and atrocity shall reign once again. Bloodshed looms over the horizon. The moon runs red. I can see it. I can feel it. I can see it all..." // Despite <<his>> feelings of overwhelming grief, <<kai>> extended a hand, reaching for Achlys. As <<he>> caressed a tendril, <<they>> shared in each other's pain, unified momentarily against the ills of the world. <<Kai>> felt a tinge of relief—relief from pain that had somehow been building for countless years, a time beyond comprehension. Her tendrils retreated. //"You must kill me before it's too late. Nightfall looms."// As the tendrils withdrew, <<kai>> slowly regained <<his>> usual senses. The despair flushed from <<his>> soul—draining. The goddesses receded into the distance of the void, <<link 'calling to <<kai>> in unison.' 'FirstAct38'>><<set $Goddesses to true>><</link>>

//"I await my rebirth, Hero."// //"I await my release, Savior."// //Wait! I need help!// <<kai>> cried out, remembering <<his>> plight. <<run $skills.pushUnique('Blink')>>//"Here, take this skill. It should already be familiar to you; it may prove helpful in escaping danger."// <<Kais>> core tingled as the skill imprinted itself upon <<his>> spirit. <<link [[And the void was gone.|$PassageName]]>><<EnableExplorationConditional>><</link>>

<<Kai>> opened <<his>> eyes. <<He>> <<was>> laying on the training field. A fire had broken out, the flames encircling <<him>>. <<Kai>> panicked. "What is the meaning of this?" A voice from above. <<Kai>> looked up. Azrael floated above <<him>>. "I can't extinguish this hellfire no matter what I try. What sort of demonic magic is this?" <<Kai>> stood and walked toward the flames, but as <<he>> approached, <<he>> felt no heat. <<He>> reached out a hand and touched the blaze, again feeling nothing. <<Kai>> steeled <<himself>> and walked forward into the fire. <<He>> emerged out the other end unscathed. When <<he>> opened <<his>> eyes, the flames were gone. Azrael landed next to <<him>>. "That was a ritual fire. What are you up to?" Azreal eyed <<him>> skeptically, his gaze focusing on <<his>> branded arms—no longer bare. One was tinged solid black. <<Kai>> checked <<his>> other arm. Solid white. Azreal lifted an eyebrow. <<Kai>> kept the goddesses to <<himself>>, psychosis wasn't going to help <<his>> case. Oh, right. <<He>> hadn't answered Azrael's question about the fire. <<set $SecretGoddess to true>> [[''I don't know. I blacked out and when I woke up, the fire was just there.''|FirstAct40]]

<<BeginApprenticeLesson>> <<if !$ApprenticeLesson0>> "Seeing as how we have <<if $MargerieLife>>newcomers<<else>>a newcomer<</if>>, today's lesson will be on affinities and casting. There are two basic affinities: Water and Earth." He held up two of his fingers. Water shot out of the tip of one finger and the other finger turned to stone. "The Water affinity generally produces mystical powers, while the Earth affinity generally produces physical powers. Each mage has a natural predilection towards one or the other." He pointed his hand toward the students and shot a tiny stream of water at <<if $MargerieLife>>Margerie<<else>>Dahlia<</if>>, wetting her clothes. The group laughed as she brooded silently. <<if $MargerieLife>>Rudy actually took an interest in Margerie, but didn’t laugh like the others—he just looked at her.<</if>> "A Charm is the most basic type of magical skill and is also the easiest to cast. Each of you will graduate to Charmers once you've established your affinity. That is the ultimate goal of Apprentice school. You'll move up the ranks to adept if you manage to successfully cast a single Charm. You'll be a veteran when you can consistently cast more powerful Charms. After Charms, the next easiest skill to cast is a Spell. If you can cast a decent Spell, odds are that you’ve established your affinity." //As a veteran, Dahlia is the closest to establishing her affinity…// "Charmers graduate from Apprentice school, moving on to Charmer school and out of my wonderful care. You can think of this Apprentice school as an entrance exam to see if you've truly got what it takes to become a mage. As the sole Apprentice instructor at this school, I pride myself on the fact that I don't go easy on any of my students. I like to think of myself as the gatekeeper for magi everywhere." He broke into a nasty smile, which he seemed entirely uninterested in hiding as he stroked his own ego. <<Kai>> wondered what the rest of <<his>> schooling would be like if the Monastery was willing to put a stooge like Azrael in charge of filtering their potential students. "There are certain basics every Apprentice must learn before they can become a proper Charmer." His hand reverted back to normal. He lifted one finger up and began to [[write in the air|FirstAct18][$InfoDump to true]], leaving behind a levitating streak of flashing neon characters. <<elseif !$ApprenticeLesson1>> “Okay, it’s time for your second theoretical lesson. Who knows the main difference between a mystical and physical skill?” The Apprentices shifted, providing no answer. Eventually, Dahlia spoke softly, her eyes down. “The way they do damage.” “Very good! How about a demonstration?” Azreal stepped deeper into the field and placed two frogs on the ground, side by side, sliding them out of his shadowy sleeve. The frogs faced the Apprentices, blinking, croaking, and licking themselves every so often. “These are no ordinary frogs—they both house small Vitality pools. They’ve been hopping around the Monastery forest since growing legs. The surrounding magic seeps into their pores, slowly filling them with magical potential.” //So Vitality can transfer naturally…// <<kai>> thought. //Then why couldn’t the Blind have their stolen powers gradually restored?// <<if $MargerieLife>>Margerie<<else>>Dahlia<</if>>’s hand shot up. Maybe she had had the same thought. “No questions.” Azreal stepped back from the frogs, the slimy souls seemingly bound in place by invisible restraints, unable to hop away to freedom. <<Kais>> lanky instructor pointed one of his crooked fingers at the frog on the left, a small water bullet forming. He loosed the shot at a relatively slow speed, but still with enough force that he could’ve bored a hole in a solid target. The spinning, blue bullet hit the frog in the face, but instead of boring a hole, the creature absorbed the shot, mindlessly croaking as water splashed over his face. Azreal lowered his finger. “A mystical attack for the first. And a physical attack for the second.” He pointed to the frog on the right. “Rudy. Will you do the honors?” Rudy nodded, stepping forward. He took aim, a pebble bullet forming within his palm. It was small, like the water bullet had been and the shot went flying at about the same speed. But this time, the earthen shot pierced the frog’s skull, boring a hole through its fleshy body and out the other end, eventually lodging into the ground behind it with a puff of dirt. A puddle of red and green goop dripped, leaking from the froggy remnants. Azrael stepped forward. “Both frogs were essentially identical. And our attacks used roughly the same Vitality cost, so why is it that one attack was lethal, while the other was harmless?” His gaze shifted. “Dahlia?” “Vital Absorption.” “Care to explain?” Dahlia shifted nervously. Why was she acting coy all of a sudden? “Yes, sir. When a mage is targeted with an attack, they can be damaged in two different ways: physically or mystically. Physical attacks do physical damage—causing bodily harm—and mystical attacks do mystical damage, draining the target’s Vitality. Another way of saying it would be that a mage’s Vitality pool can absorb damage, acting as her defense and shielding her from mystical attacks.” Azrael scratched his chin. “That’s right. But it’s not the whole story.” He raised a pedantic finger into the air. “When a mage’s Vitality runs out, there’s no way for him to absorb that mystical shockwave. A mage entirely depleted of his Vitality will take physical damage when targeted by a mystical attack. Though mystical skills are often more flexible than physical ones, they do have this major limitation in combat. Furthermore, a mage with a large Vitality pool can easily be mangled or killed if he takes damage from powerful physical skills—just like the second frog, Vital Absorption won’t protect him. Unlike mystical skills, physical skills place a strain on the caster’s physical form, requiring him to train his body in order to use high-tier skills. This makes other physical casters more resistant to physical attacks.” His expression saddened. “Finally, certain skills may bypass the target’s Vitality pool and directly deplete their Essence. This renders even the most powerful mage vulnerable to serious damage if his attacker is desperate enough. Think of this as having your very soul pierced.” His eyes returned to the frog with the hole in it. Dahlia spoke up. “How do I defend myself from that sort of attack?” Azrael paused. “What did I say earlier about questions? Alright, that does it for today.” He sucked the live frog up inside his sleeve. “Get to work,” he said, disappearing into his shadow, leaving the dead frog behind. <<EndApprenticeLesson>> <<elseif !$ApprenticeLesson2>> "Okay. Before the newbies can cast any skills of their own, there's something we must do. The first rite of a novice Apprentice is the measurement of your natural Vitality pools. The amount of Vitality a mage has at his disposal has a genetic component. But don't worry if yours starts out small, it can always be increased through hard work. "Or you could just be a lost cause." <<Kai>> felt nervous. <<He>> imagined the other Apprentices had received some magical training at this Sanctum place beforehand. <<Kai>> <<was>> the exception, <<he>> had no preparation whatsoever. Maybe <<he>> had enough genetic luck to pass muster? Not likely. "I have developed a special artifact for measuring your newbie potential." Azrael pulled an orb out from under his robe. Lifting his arm, he extended the orb outward in his hand. It started out black and then glowed a deep red color, continuing to grow brighter until blinding <<kais>> eyes. "The brighter the glow, the larger the Vitality pool. Of course, it's calibrated for newbies and not for massive Vitality pools such as my own, hence the strange reading." He set the orb down on the ground. <<if $MargerieLife>> "Margerie. You're up first." She gleefully strode forward to grab the orb. She held it out in front of her with a confident smile. It began to glow with a white color. It was faint at first, but progressively brightened, stabilizing at a reasonable level of brightness. "Very nice. This one appears promising. Oh, right, another note. I have yet to witness an Apprentice become a Charmer who could not produce any light on his first measurement." Convenient timing on that comment. Margerie skipped back to her original position after setting the orb down. She puffed her chest out in pride at her result. She was getting on <<kais>> nerves. Azrael curled a finger at <<kai>>, motioning <<him>> toward the orb. <<Kai>> stepped forward nervously. Would <<he>> be able to produce a light at all? <<Kai>> remembered what it felt like when <<he>> touched <<his>> grandfather's box. There had been a light at that time. Maybe that would be a promising sign of <<his>> natural abilities. <</if>> <<Kai>> stared down at the orb and took a deep breath before grabbing it. <<link '<<Kai>> lifted it up and held it out.' 'FirstAct20'>><</link>><<if $MargerieLife>>, just like Margerie had done<</if>>. <<elseif !$ApprenticeLesson3>> "Today's lesson is on devastation Charms. You have the option of learning either an Earth or Water skill. This will be the first real lesson for <<if $MargerieLife>>Margerie and <</if>>$Kai, so make sure to give <<if $MargerieLife>>them<<else>><<him>><</if>> a hard time!" He looked in <<kais>> direction, chuckling. The other Apprentices follow suit, staring at <<kai>>. But they weren’t laughing. They took particular note of <<his>> arms, recoiling at the sight. Azrael hadn't commented on the brand. What were they thinking? <<Kai>> kept causing strange occurrences. "Make a choice: Earth or Water. Simply arrange yourselves into two groups. Choose wisely." Which Charm should <<kai>> learn? <<He>> remembered that each skill <<he>> cast would permanently affect <<his>> affinity. At least, that's how it worked for normal magi. <<link '<<Kai>> chose Water.' 'FirstCharm'>><<set $WaterBullet to true>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> chose Earth.' 'FirstCharm'>><<set $PebbleBullet to true>><</link>> <<elseif !$ApprenticeLesson4>> “More important than learning how to destroy is learning how to defend and protect, whether it’s yourself or others that you’re protecting. The most basic defensive charm is the Shield skill. It’s straightforward, just like it sounds.” He lifted both arms up in front of his chest, fist in each hand. Shields materialized on each of his forearms: one made of a thin layer of water, the other made of a thin layer of earth. “Just like with the bullets, the more Vitality you spend on the shield, the more compact it will be, increasing its defensive strength. This Charm is simple; the Earth Shield defends against physical attacks, while the Water Shield defends against mystical attacks. Cast the wrong one when defending against an attack and you might as well be defenseless.” He diffused the skills, arms returning to his side. “Pick a skill.” <<link [[Water Shield| FirstAct39a]]>><<set $temp to 1, $tempString to 'water', $tempVit to $Vit, $tempHP to $HP>><</link>> <<link [[Earth Shield| FirstAct39a]]>><<set $temp to 0, $tempString to 'earth', $tempVit to $Vit, $tempHP to $HP>><</link>> <<elseif !$ApprenticeLesson5>> "For today's lesson we will be sparring with one another. You can choose your own partner, but there aren't many options so you'll have to be quick about it.<<if $MargerieLife>> I'll take the straggler who's leftover... so you probably don't want to be the last one out.<</if>>" <<Kai>> noticed Dahlia eyeing <<him>> intensely. [[Dahlia|SparDahlia]] [[Austin|SparAustin]] <<if $MargerieLife>>\ [[Margerie|SparMargerie]] <</if>>\ [[Rudy|SparRudy]] <<else>>\ There are no more lessons available at this time. <<link [[Go Back|previous()]]>><<EnableExploration>><</link>> <</if>>

"Dahlia, will you spar with me?" She practically swooned. "Wow, do you really mean that, $Kai? You want //me// as you //partner//?" <<Kai>> remembered that Dahlia was the highest ranked Apprentice among them. Would she go easy on <<kai>> or put <<him>> through the ringer? "Yeah, you can be my partner." She giggled under her breath and then smiled. "Great! Let's get started." <<Kai>> looked around the training field. <<if $MargerieLife>>Margerie had matched up with Rudy, leaving Austin to spar with Azrael<<else>>Rudy and Austin were paired<</if>>. [[Spar][$opp to 'dahlia']]

<<Kai>> approached Margerie to ask her to spar, but she quickly evaded <<him>>, asking Rudy to be her partner instead. Rudy simply shrugged his shoulders, casually accepting her request. They were paired. Meanwhile, Dahlia was eagerly creeping up behind <<kai>>. [[Dahlia|SparDahlia]] [[Austin|SparAustin]]

"Austin, will you spar with me?" "No." He didn't give any more explanation than that. "Okay... um, sorry to bother you." Dahlia was eagerly creeping up behind <<kai>><<if $MargerieLife>> and Margerie had matched up with Rudy across the field. That left Dahlia as the only open sparring partner and matched Austin up with Azrael<<else>>. That rejection left Rudy as the only available partner for Austin<</if>>. [[Dahlia|SparDahlia]]

"Rudy, will you spar with me?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Okay." It was that easy? Margerie looked on in shock with her mouth hanging open. Dahlia approached<<if $MargerieLife>> her<</if>>, creeping up from the shadows. <<if $MargerieLife>>"//I'll// spar with you, Margerie."<</if>> Why was Dahlia smiling like that? Did she have something in particular planned<<if $MargerieLife>> for Margerie<</if>>? She shot a dirty look at Rudy before <<if $MargerieLife>>the two girls left, making their way across the field for their sparring match<<else>>making her way across the field for her match with Austin<</if>>. <<Kai>> and Rudy did the same, setting aside an area for <<their>> match. [[Spar][$opp to 'rudy']]

/* Note: Opponent is either Dahlia (water) or Rudy (earth) */ {End of Alpha content. Turn-based combat is under development. Attend secret training at night or form a contract to become a Charmer.} <<link 'Back' 'ApprenticeTrainingGrounds'>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>

<<Kai>> chose the $tempString shield. Once again, Azrael placed his hand upon <<kais>> forehead, imparting knowledge of the skill. "Now, remember, this shield is <<if $temp is 1>>mystical<<else>>physical<</if>>, so it won't protect you from <<if $temp is 1>>physical<<else>>mystical<</if>> attacks."<<if $temp is 1>><<run $skills.pushUnique('water_shield')>><<else>><<run $skills.pushUnique('earth_shield')>><</if>> <<Kai>> nodded, remembering the lesson involving the dead frog with the hole shot right through it. Azrael continued. "Okay, let's practice then. I'll attack you with a basic <<if $temp is 1>>mystical<<else>>physical<</if>> attack and you'll block it. Got it?" He backed up, pointing a finger at <<kai>>. "Ready?" <<linkreplace 'Cast the new skill.'>>\ Casting $tempString shield... Spend Vitality: <<numberbox '$vit_spent' 1>> /* Note: Normally check <<if $min_vit_cost neq $max_vit_cost>><<numberbox $vit_spent>><<else>><<set $vit_spent to $min_vit_cost>><</if>>, <<Cast $tempString>> Note: increase skill lvl, calculate myst_def, etc. */ <<if $temp is 1>><<set $tempString to 'water_shield'>><<else>><<set $tempString to 'earth_shield'>><</if>>\ <<linkreplace 'Cast'>><<replace "#1">><</replace>><<Kai>> felt <<his>> Vitality draining. <<if $tempVit eq $Vit>><<set $Vit -= $vit_spent>><</if>>Lifting <<his>> forearm, <<he>> strained, pulling <<if $temp is 1>>water<<else>>earth<</if>> from the environment and compacting it into the shape of a shield. The disc formed in front of <<him>>, offering protection. <<linkreplace '"I’m ready."'>>"I'm ready," <<kai>> said. Azrael loosed a <<if $temp is 1>>water<<else>>pebble<</if>> bullet, which <<kai>> blocked with <<his>> shield. <<if $vit_spent is 1>>The impact of the bullet was dampened by the shield, but <<kai>> still felt the power of the attack overwhelming <<his>> defenses, causing <<if $temp is 1>>mystical <<if $tempVit eq $Vit>><<set $Vit -= 1>><</if>><<else>> physical <<if $tempHP eq $HP>><<set $HP -= 1>><</if>><</if>> harm<<else>><<Kais>> shield was powerful, absorbing the entirety of the bullet's impact and preventing <<him>> from taking any damage<</if>>. Azrael fired two more shots, which <<kai>> <<if $vit_spent is 1>>also dampened<<if $temp is 1>><<set $Vit -= 2>><<else>><<set $HP -= 2>><</if>><<else>>>blocked<</if>>, each producing an identical effect. Azrael approached as <<kai>> dissolved the shield, releasing the skill. "Attacks may damage you, but most defensive skills will persist for the duration of the combat. If I had kept firing, you could have kept blocking. It's one of the benefits of casting. "On the other hand, if I had attacked with a <<if $temp is 0>>mystical<<else>>physical<</if>> skill, you would have been effectively defenseless. Keep that in mind." <<Kai>> nodded. <<EndApprenticeLesson>> <</linkreplace>> <</linkreplace>> <</linkreplace>>

Azrael didn't believe <<him>>, but didn't press the matter. "Well, off to bed then. There's no harm done." He scanned the practice field. Other than some singed grass, everything else was normal. "You're going to need some rest for tomorrow's lesson." What did Azrael have in store for <<him>> this time? Shouldn't he be taking this situation more seriously? Something wasn't right. <<Kai>> had completely lost control of <<himself>>. And <<his>> brand had changed. What did it mean? <<He>> obediently returned to <<his>> bunk and slept. <<Kai>> woke the next day to what <<he>> hoped would be a normal first day of school. But <<he>> knew that was too much to ask for around here. <<He>> [[joined the other Apprentices|FirstAct41]] in the field for the scheduled lesson.

<<Kai>> chose the <<if $WaterBullet>>Water<<else>>Earth<</if>> Charm. The other apprentices made their choices without hesitation. <<if $WaterBullet>><<Kai>>, <</if>>Austin and Dahlia formed the Water group. <<if $MargerieLife>><<if $PebbleBullet>><<Kai>>, <</if>>Margerie and Rudy<<else>><<if $PebbleBullet>><<Kai>> and <</if>>Rudy<</if>> formed the Earth group on the other side of the field. Azrael approached <<if $WaterBullet>><<kais>> group<<else>>the other group first—shooting a bullet at a log—and then approached <<them>> afterwards<</if>>. <<if $WaterBullet>>Water<<else>>Pebble<</if>> Bullet. Azrael demonstrated the skill, lifting his hand and <<if $WaterBullet>>pointing his index finger<<else>>raised his palm, pointing it<</if>> at a log sitting upright across the field. A <<if $WaterBullet>>stream of water swirled around his finger, culminating at the tip<<else>>sharp stone formed, levitating in front of his palm—the rock seemingly forming from the air<</if>>. It compressed inward onto itself, taking the shape of a bullet. The bullet shot from his palm at high speed and hit the log. The log popped and shook, smoke rising into the air. The group ran to the log and gathered around it. The bullet had penetrated all the way through and out the other end of the log, leaving behind burn marks inside—seared wood. <<if $WaterBullet>>The water had evaporated from the force of the impact, turning to steam as it bore a hole.<</if>> "This skill gathers <<if $WaterBullet>>moisture from the air. It concentrates and compresses it on your fingertip<<else>>minerals from the ground and compresses them in the palm<</if>>. The more mastery you have over this skill, the greater the velocity of the bullet and the more damage you'll do. However, the faster your bullet travels, the more Vitality you'll need in order to cast it." Azrael approached the Apprentices individually, placing his bony hand on <<their>> foreheads, though he skipped over Rudy who already knew the skill. He closed his eyes, and exhaled deeply as he touched each student. "Now, [[fire a bullet|FirstCharm1]]. Visualize the <<if $WaterBullet>>water forming; pull the moisture from your surroundings<<else>>pebble forming; pull the minerals from the ground<</if>>. Compress it into the proper shape. Shoot the bullet in your mind and it will become reality. Oh, and don't forget to aim." He smiled, but nobody laughed. The Apprentices were too focused on their task.

Azrael left the <<kais>> group to practice and walked over to the other group. <<Kai>> steadied <<his>> mind, visualizing the bullet <<if $WaterBullet>>on <<his>> fingertip<<else>>in <<his>> palm<</if>>. Nothing happened at first. <<He>> strained, gritting <<his>> teeth. <<if $WaterBullet>>Austin<<else>>Rudy<</if>> stepped forward, taking aim at the log. After a few seconds, <<if $WaterBullet>>water droplets<<else>>chunks of earth<</if>> slowly gathered in front of his <<if $WaterBullet>>fingertip<<else>>palm<</if>>, <<if $WaterBullet>>swirling around in a circular motion<<else>>compressing into a single shard<</if>>. Eventually, enough <<if $WaterBullet>>water<<else>>earth<</if>> gathered to form a bullet. He allowed it to rotate—spinning <<if $WaterBullet>>on his finger<<else>>in his palm<</if>>—before releasing his shot. //Thunk.// <<if $WaterBullet>>Austin<<else>>Rudy<</if>> hit the log. <<if $WaterBullet>>Steam rose, but markedly less than when Azrael had fired his shot.<</if>> <<Kais>> group ran to the log again. <<if $WaterBullet>>Austin<<else>>Rudy<</if>>'s bullet pierced the wood, but only superficially. The hole was shallow and the burn marks were minimal<<if $WaterBullet>>, leaving the wood somewhat moist<<else>>. His bullet was still lodged inside<</if>>. <<if $MargerieLife>> Next shot. <<if $WaterBullet>>Dahlia<<else>>Margerie<</if>> stepped forward, gathering her bullet, <<if $WaterBullet>>finger<<else>>palm<</if>> pointed at the log. She looked more confident than <<if $WaterBullet>>Austin<<else>>Rudy<</if>>, as if she had more practice<<if !$WaterBullet>>, but <<kai>> knew it was only an act<</if>>. <<if $WaterBullet>>And her bullet formed more quickly. There was a contrast between her gentle demeanor and the ruthlessness of her combat stance<<else>>Her bullet took longer to form as she fidgeted uncomfortably<</if>>. //Shunk.// <<if !$WaterBullet>> "I did it!" she screamed, proud of herself. <</if>> Again, <<they>> approached the log. <<if $WaterBullet>>Dahlia's shot had done more damage than Austin's, penetrating further into the log. The burn marks were more pronounced; her shot had been fired at a faster velocity. She was satisfied with her result. Did she have more practice with casting or did she just have a naturally larger Vitality pool?<<else>>Margerie’s shot had done even less damage than Rudy's, penetrating a shorter distance inside the wood. Her shot had been fired at a slower velocity. But she was seemingly still satisfied with her result. Where did she get her sense of entitlement from?<</if>><<set $MargerieRank to 'Adept Apprentice'>> <</if>> [[Last shot.|FirstCharm2]]

<<Kai>> aimed at the log—now riddled with bullet holes. <<He>> steadied <<his>> <<if $WaterBullet>>finger<<else>>palm<</if>>, holding it between <<his>> eye and the target, lining up <<his>> shot. <<He>> strained, focusing on the <<if $WaterBullet>>moisture in the air<<else>>clay in the ground<</if>>. And then <<his>> core tingled—vibrating. The feeling was similar to the sensation <<he>> had felt when <<he>> had touched <<his>> grandfather's box. <<if $WaterBullet>>Water gathered at <<his>> fingertip<<else>>Earth gathered in <<his>> palm<</if>>, forming a nice bullet shape. <<He>> <<was>> doing it! <<He>> had a bullet. Now <<he>> just had to hit the log. <<Kai>> visualized firing the bullet in <<his>> mind. <<He>> would make <<his>> vision become reality. Before <<he>> released the bullet, a strange feeling penetrated <<his>> core—different from the tingling. <<His>> mind felt fuzzy. <<He>> <<was>> losing control again. <<Kai>> didn't want to lose control in front of the other Apprentices. If their opinions of <<him>> hadn't already been tainted, another incident would solidify their suspicions. That <<kai>> <<was>> volatile—unreliable. Suddenly, something broke inside of <<kai>>. The bullet shot towards the log, but something felt wrong with it. Before the students had a chance to inspect the log, they were interrupted. Azrael interceded, drawing attention to himself. <<set $RankTier to 'Adept'>> <<EndApprenticeLesson>>

<<if $Brand>><<Kais>> arms glowed. Deep black and bright white. <</if>><<Kais>> vision faded. <<He>> <<was>> floating again in the void. The goddesses came back to <<him>>, calling out like last time. Except, unlike last time, they were more than just voices. <<link 'Their figures floated, coming towards <<him>>.' 'Conduits'>><</link>>

One figure had snow white hair and fair skin. She radiated light, glowing. She wore no clothing, but rather a sheen from her glow thinly veiled her, draping over her figure. Her yellow eyes were kind, gentle, and compassionate. She extended her hand towards <<kai>> as she drifted closer. //Hemera. // <<Kai>> remembered the feeling of warmth she had given <<him>> before. It washed over <<him>> yet again. A deep soothing—peace. The second figure floated from the opposite direction. She had pitch black, woven locks of hair and a darker skin complexion. She also wore no visible clothing, but instead was covered in certain areas by slithering tendrils. They clung to her curvy body like a gown, wriggling. Her white eyes were haunted and desperate. Although she wasn't crying, black tears streamed down her face in a constant flow, falling from her chin. She extended her hand as she drifted. //Achlys.// <<Kai>> remembered the feeling of agony she had shared with <<him>> before. She was in constant pain. <<Kai>> reached out for both of them, outstretched arms on either side. But they were too far away, <<he>> could only reach one of them. <<His>> arms glowed, <<if $AzraelBrand>>the white arm pulled towards Hemera, the black arm<<else>>one arm pulled towards Hemera, the other<</if>> towards Achlys. Which one should <<he>> help? Hemera sought rebirth. Achlys begged for death. Whose cause was more worthy? They both needed <<kai>>. And <<he>> <<was>> happy about that, no matter who <<he>> would choose. Yet, <<kai>> had an intuition. Choosing Hemera would make <<him>> gentle and pure, while choosing Achlys would make <<him>> aggressive and vile. They both needed <<him>>, but which one needed <<him>> //more//? <<if $AzraelBrand>> [[Hemera]] [[Achlys]] <<else>> [[Hemera|RogueHemera]] [[Achlys|RogueAchlys]] <</if>>

<<Kai>> chose Hemera. <<set $Hemera to true>> <<He>> reached out with <<his>> white arm and grabbed her hand. <<Their>> fingers interlocked, grasping each other. She smiled. And then <<yall2>> fell, leaving Achlys behind—floating in sorrow. As the void rushed past <<them>>, <<kai>> drew Hemera in close. <<Kai>> wanted her warm embrace. But her form passed right through <<kai>>. Her body dissipated, turning to light, sucked into <<his>> chest. <<Kai>> glowed, feeling Hemera's warmth in <<his>> core. //Thank you, Hero.// <<link [[The void was gone.|$PassageName]]>><<EnableExplorationConditional>><</link>>

<<Kai>> chose Achlys. <<He>> reached out with <<his>> black arm and grabbed her hand. <<Their>> fingers interlocked, grasping each other. She shivered. And then <<yall2>> fell, leaving Hemera behind—a lone source of light in the darkness. <<set $Achlys to true>> As the void rushed past <<them>>, <<kai>> drew Achlys in close. <<Kai>> wanted to soothe her with an embrace. But her form passes right through <<him>>. Her body dissipated, turning to tendrils which then slithered into <<his>> mouth. <<Kai>> shivered, feeling Achlys' lust in <<his>> core. //Thank you, Savior.// <<link [[The void was gone.|$PassageName]]>><<EnableExplorationConditional>><</link>>

<<Kai>> <<was>> back in the training field, finger pointed towards a log, or what had been a log. <<His>> bullet had been fired; the other Apprentices were gathered around singed grass and flames where the target had been. <<Kai>> inspected his arms. The white arm had turned back to normal, but the black one was intensified in color, now spread further up the arm. That was odd. <<He>> had fired with <<if $WaterBullet>>water<<else>>clay<</if>>, right? And <<Kai>> <<was>> back in the training field, finger pointed towards a log. <<His>> bullet had been fired; the other Apprentices were gathered around the target. <<Kai>> inspected <<his>> arms. The black arm had turned back to normal, but the white one was intensified in color, now spread further up the arm. That was odd. The log was undamaged. But <<he>> had fired <<his>> shot, right? In fact, the log had been damaged even before <<his>> turn, but now there were no holes at all.

The other Apprentices stared at the target, impressed but surprised. They ran back to <<kai>>, bombarding <<him>> with questions. <<if $WaterBullet>> "Was that a different skill than the one we were taught?" Austin asked. "Did you cast your own skill? How did you learn it outside the Sanctum?" Dahlia asked. <</if>>\ <<if $PebbleBullet>> "Are you really an Apprentice?" Rudy asked and then muttered a prayer to himself. "How could a trash mage like you cast such a skill?" Margerie asked. "Unusual orb readings, strange arm markings, and now this? You're unworthy of the Monastery." <</if>> From afar, Azrael disappeared into his shadow and then popped back up, sticking his head out of the ground near the target. He looked it over and then went back into his shadow, reappearing next to <<kai>>. "It would appear we have a prodigy among us. Although, I don't appreciate deviations from the lesson or showboating." <<Kai>> figured Azrael loved showboating, but <<he>> had more important things to worry about than <<his>> teacher's quirks. Which skill had <<he>> cast? <<He>> couldn't even remember casting it. Azrael seemed surprised by the result, but was he acting? "This display alone is sufficient to qualify <<kai>> as a Charmer. However, The Monastery requires graduation exams prior to consecration. I'm afraid you'll have to [[wait for our next exam|FirstAct43]] to make it official."

The other student's were astonished at Azreal's casual remark, the gravity of his words pressing on them. The two groups were combined at this point, the others having noticed something amiss from across the field. Margerie protested Azrael's attitude. "Sir, how can you graduate $him when $he only cast a single skill? You're not doing your job. This is unprecedented! If anybody should be filtered…" She lost track of her words, overwhelmed by emotion. "Need I remind you, Margerie, the only //true// requirement for graduation is the establishment of an affinity? I assure you that a skill like that one couldn't possibly have been cast without an established affinity. A curious thing for an Apprentice..." Azrael drifted off into silence. The other students, while still confused, had run out of reasonable objections. They didn't really have the authority to object anyway. Here, Azrael's word was law. They thought to themselves in silence, judging <<kai>> individually. Margerie was fuming. Dahlia looked concerned. Austin and Rudy were stoic. <<Kai>> had trouble understanding the other student's frustrations. Sure, they all wanted to graduate, but was it really that serious? Surely, Apprentices graduated all the time. <<Kai>> felt out of place. <<He>> <<was>> used to being a social outcast, but this was different. <<He>> needed allies. Hopefully they would come around to <<his>> situation somehow. <<link '<<Kai>> locked eyes with Dahlia.' 'FirstAct44'>><</link>>

<<He>> felt a connection to her, more so than the other students. She was sympathetic of <<kai>>, maybe she could understand <<him>>. Did <<he>> want her sympathy? Hold on. Everybody was looking at <<him>>. Were they waiting for something? <<Kai>> froze—uncomfortable. <<He>> felt pressure, fear of the unknown. <<His>> mind stopped. Azrael noticed and stepped in. "That concludes our lesson for the day. All students report back to the cabin. Chop chop!" He clapped, motioning for them to move. <<Kai>> walked towards the cabin. "Not you. Remember our deal?" @@.center; [[Ω Ω|FirstAct45]] @@

"I won't have much time to train you, so I'm going to push you hard," Azrael said. <<Kai>> nodded. "First thing's first. Before we talk about your magic, you'll need to be strong. Discount the opinions of others, let them roll off you. In order to tread your own path, you mustn't allow meddlers to steer your course." Why was Azrael giving <<him>> personal advice? Did he actually care about <<kai>>? "Seriously, this is important. The Monastery is a large place with a complicated web of different motivations, magi tugging in all directions. Some magi will manipulate you, use you for their own devices—a tool for their bidding. Discerning who to trust—who to share your secrets with—will be the most important choice you make as a mage." Did <<kai>> even know <<his>> own secrets? Was Azrael trustworthy? His advice made sense though. He wouldn't be helping <<kai>> if he had nefarious intentions, would he? [[''Yes, sir. I'll do my best.''|FirstAct46]]

"For all our sakes, I hope you're right… " Azrael was pensive for a moment. "Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. Magic. You must control it, but it's controlling you." <<Kai>> nodded. Should <<he>> tell Azrael about the goddesses living in <<his>> mind? Azreal pulled up <<his>> sleeve, exposing the discoloring on <<his>> arm. "I did what I could to keep this corruption at bay, whatever's inside you. But there's only so much I can do. Your magic is strange to me—foreign. It can't be completely contained." //Azrael doesn't know about them//, <<kai>> thought. <<He>> should keep it that way. "Can you feel the magic inside you? Can you sense it? What is it like? You must tell me." "Yes, I can feel it. But I lose myself sometimes, it takes over. It's like… it's pulling something out of me, whether I like it or not." <<Kai>> intentionally left out <<his>> visions of the goddesses. Azrael rubbed his chin. "Why did one of the marks disappear?" He pulled up the other sleeve. "Only one arm is discolored now. What happened?" He stared intensely at <<kai>>, waiting for an answer. The mark on <<kais>> arm [[shimmered|FirstAct47]].

<<Goddess>> appeared next to Azrael. <<Kai>> turned, surprised by her presence, but Azrael didn't react. //"Keep me a secret, <<if $Hemera>>Hero<<else>>Savior<</if>>. I am yours alone. You musn't let others interfere with our mission. What he has done to you already is bad enough."// She motioned to <<kais>> arm. Azrael didn't react. He couldn't see or hear her. <<Kai>> needed to make something up. Lie. Protect <<his>> secret. <<Goddess>> was <<his2>> alone. "It must have been the skill I fired at that log. Maybe it took something out of me?" Azrael blinked. "You need to control this power, corrupted or otherwise. There are forces at work, //evil// forces. The Monastery needs all the help it can get. //God// needs you, $Kai." His expression was sincere. //"I need you more,"// <<Goddess>> said. [[''Who is God?''|FirstAct48]] <<kai>> asked Azrael.

"God is the only hope. She's the one who shackles evil. Without her, there would be only agony and anguish." <<if $Hemera>>Hemera muttered a prayer<<else>>Achlys shivered<</if>> while Azrael spoke. "You'll learn more about God inside the walls." <<Kai>> nodded. "You //will// learn to control your magic, $Kai. You can learn." //"I am yours to wield as you see fit, <<if $Hemera>>Hero<<else>>Savior<</if>>."// Azrael demonstrated some techniques for attuning <<kais>> Vitality: sensing <<his>> spiritual reserves and familiarizing <<himself>> with <<his>> body's spiritual harmony. The techniques were ritualistic, involving certain movements or breathing patterns. Some involved prayers, certain chants or hymns. Each practice provided <<kai>> with a unique insight. As <<he>> performed each technique, <<he>> explored a different wavelength of <<his>> spirit—traced a new thread. It was working. <<He>> could sense <<his>> core more clearly now. <<He>> could feel <<his>> spirit; it was a separate entity, but still just as much completely a part of <<him>>. Sometimes, as <<he>> followed a thread, it overlapped—tangled with another. These threads were <<if $Hemera>>golden<<else>>black<</if>>. As <<he>> followed one thread in particular, untangling it, <<Goddess>> giggled. It was <<if $Hemera>>Hemera's<<else>>Achlys'<</if>> thread. <<Kai>> <<was>> poking her spirit, and she liked it. Her soul was a part of <<if $POV2>>yours<<else>>$Kai's<</if>> now, their Spirits were intertwined. <<Goddess>> was right. They were one. @@.center; [[Ω Ω|FirstAct49]] @@

<<Kai>> lay in <<his>> bunk. The other Apprentices talked amongst themselves, not yet asleep. They ignored <<him>>; only Dahlia occasionally stole a glance in <<his>> direction. The tension in the air was palpable. Where had <<his>> powers come from? Why couldn't <<he>> control them? <<Kai>> would be leaving Apprentice School soon. <<He>> needed to reach out to the other Apprentices and make allies before losing the opportunity. <<link '<<Kai>> approched Dahlia.' 'DahliaDialogue'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> kept to <<himself>>.' 'DahliaSeduction'>><</link>>

<<Cutscene>>\ <<Kai>> approached Dahlia. <<if !$DahliaDialogue1>> "$Kai! What a surprise. I wasn't expecting you to approach me so directly<<if $IntimateDahlia>>, especially after what happened between us. I was worried you might just use me and throw me away.<<else>>; I was worried you might be the quiet type.<</if>>" <<linkreplace '“You don’t know me yet.”'>>"You don't know me yet," <<kai>> said. <<if $IntimateDahlia>> "I think I already know you well enough, wouldn't you say so, $Kai?" She licked her lips, eyes wandering hungrily across <<kais>> body, eventually stopping at <<his>> more intimate areas. "But still, Don't you want to get to know each other even better?" <<else>> “That's true. But I'd like to know you better… if that's okay with you?” Dahlia shuffled her feet. <</if>> //I have the feeling that no matter what answer I give, it won't stop her from trying//, <<kai>> thought. <<linkreplace '“Yeah, I’d like that.”'>><<replace "#1a2">><</replace>>“Yeah, I’d like that,” <<kai>> said, smiling at Dahlia. She gave a creepy smile back, eyes wide open. "Trust me, you're going to //love// it." She bit her lip. "You're going to love //me//." She shivered and then <<link [[ran away|previous()]]>><<set $RelationshipDahlia += 3>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $DahliaDialogue1 to true>><</link>><</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '| “Well, I think it would be better if we didn’t get to close.”'>><<replace "#1a1">><</replace>>“Well, I think it would be better if we didn’t get to close,” <<kai>> said to Dahlia in a stern tone. She gave a creepy smile. "Don't worry. You don't mean that, $Kai. You'll come around. I know you will..." She put her hands together in front of her waist, tightly gripping her fingers, and twirled the skirt of her robe back and forth. Her eyes seemed to darken, like there were shadows bleeding into them somehow. "You //won't// be able to resist me. I'll make sure of that." And then she <<link [[ran off|previous()]]>><<set $RelationshipDahlia += 1>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $DahliaDialogue1 to true>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>> <<replace "#1b">><</replace>><<replace "#1c">><</replace>><</linkreplace>><<if $IntimateDahlia>><<linkreplace '| “I’m not like that.”'>>"I’m not like that," <<kai>> said. "That's a relief. Because I wouldn't be able to keep on going if that was case. If you ever did something like that to me, there's no way I could possibly continue breathing..." <<linkreplace '"..."'>>"..." An awkard silence. <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure what to say. Dahlia walked toward <<him>> and kissed <<his>> cheek, before giggling and <<link [[running off|previous()]]>><<set $RelationshipDahlia += 2>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $DahliaDialogue1 to true>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>> <<replace "#1a">><</replace>><<replace "#1c">><</replace>><</linkreplace>><<else>><<linkreplace '| “I am quiet.”'>>"I am quiet," <<kai>> said. <<if $IntimateDahlia>> "Yeah, I could tell by the way you took what you wanted instead of asking first." She bit her lip. <<else>> “Yeah. I could tell you were shy right away. But that's okay. //I like shy <<boy>>s//.” She winked at <<kai>> and then laughed. She barely knew <<him>>, but she was already flirting. <</if>> <<linkreplace '"I’d like to keep to myself from now on."'>><<replace "#1b2">><</replace>>"I’d like to keep to myself from now on." Her head sunk. She went silent for a bit and then <<kai>> swore <<he>> could hear her muttering under her breath. Then her head suddenly shot back up, a creepy grin on her face and eyes wide. "That's okay. You're just confused. You didn't meant that." Her head titled to the side. "We're going to get closer. I promise. I'll //make// you love me if I have to." And then she <<link [[ran off|previous()]]>><<set $RelationshipDahlia += 1>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $DahliaDialogue1 to true>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '"| We can talk some more, if you’d like that."'>><<replace "#1b1">><</replace>>"We can talk some more, if you’d like that," <<kai>> said. "Like it? I'd //love// it." She shivered uncontrollably for a moment before composing herself. "I'll talk to you later, //$Kai//." And then she <<link [[ran off|previous()]]>><<set $RelationshipDahlia += 3>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $DahliaDialogue1 to true>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>> <<replace "#1a">><</replace>><<replace "#1c">><</replace>><</linkreplace>><</if>><<linkreplace '| “I might have more surprises in store for you.”'>>"I might have more surprises in store for you," <<kai>> said. “Oh, is that right?" She smiled mischeviously. "Well, don't spoil them. I don't want to see anything coming.<<if $IntimateDahlia>> I already love your //surprises// so far...<</if>>" She winked at <<kai>> and then laughed—a cute, girly giggle. She barely knew <<him>><<if $IntimateDahlia>> in certain ways<</if>>, but she was already flirting. "I'm looking forward to being surprised by you again." She walked forward and pressed her finger to <<kais>> lips. "Don't keep me waiting..." She pivoted, turning around and slapping <<kai>> with the skirt of her robe as she <<link [[walked off|previous()]]>><<set $RelationshipDahlia += 3>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $DahliaDialogue1 to true>><</link>>, hips swinging back and forth. <<replace "#1a">><</replace>><<replace "#1b">><</replace>><</linkreplace>> <<else>> <<Kai>> had exhausted all of Dahlia's currently available dialogue. <<link [[Back|previous()]]>><<EnableExploration>><</link>> <</if>> /* <<if !$DahliaDialogue1>><<set $DahliaDialogue1 to true>>“Hey, Dahlia.” "Oh, hey there<<if !$WithholdNameDahlia>>, $Kai<</if>>! I’m so excited to see new recruits; welcome to Apprentice school! I'm sure you'll do great.” She was obviously staring at <<kais>> chest. <<if $WithholdNameDahlia>>"Are you going to tell me your name now?" <<linkreplace '"My name’s $Kai."'>>“$Kai! Now that I have your name, I can //know// you more personally.” She smiled. “So which part of the Sanctum are you from?” <<set $SanctumInfo to true>> [[Lie.|DahliaDialogue1b][$Virtue -= 1]] [[Remain truthful.|DahliaDialogue1a][$Virtue += 1]]<</linkreplace>> <<else>>\ “I want to //know// you better. Which part of the Sanctum are you from?" <<set $SanctumInfo to true>> [[Lie.|DahliaDialogue1b][$Virtue -= 1]] [[Remain truthful.|DahliaDialogue1a][$Virtue += 1]] <</if>> <<elseif !$DahliaDialogue2>><<set $DahliaDialogue2 to true>> If <<kai>> had any hope of gaining an ally, Dahlia was <<his>> best bet. <<He>> approached Dahlia's bunk. She shifted her attention; she had been sewing something. A plushy? She looked sad. "Hey, $Kai. Congratulations on the promotion." Dahlia forced a smile, eyes drifting cautiously towards <<his>> branded arm. "Thanks, Dahlia! You won't be far behind me. You're too perfect to fail." She really was perfect. <<Kai>> hadn't met anyone like her before. <<He>> smiled back and then ruffled her hair. "There, now you're flawed and relatable. No need to thank me for the improvement." She was taken aback at first, but then she giggled—frizzy hair sticking in all directions. <<Kai>> saw the sadness leave her as she set down her sewing work. Dahlia was light-hearted deep down, even if she tried to hide it behind a veil of seriousness. But her smile was short-lived. She looked back to <<kai>> with concern. "I'm worried about you." "Why?" <<kai>> asked even though it was obvious. "The other students—the Monastery—won't give you a fair chance. You're clearly gifted and some of the more… aspirational students will see you as an opportunity. Or worse, a roadblock. Just look at how Margerie's treated you already." Her head dropped, eyes moistening. "It's not fair. Everyone should get a chance, no matter their background. No matter their family…" Dahlia wanted <<kai>> to succeed. It was a strange feeling. Dahlia cared about <<him>>. <<He>> wrapped <<his>> arms around Dahlia comforting her. <<if $FemalePreference>>She was soft and smelled nice.<</if>> "Don't worry about me. I won't be taken advantage of, I promise," <<kai>> said. Dahlia sniffled. <<Kai>> looked into her eyes. "Promise you'll stop worrying about me." Dahlia nodded, wiping her cheek. "Okay, I promise." They had a pact. It was a good first step. <<if $Achlys>> //"This girl is dangerous. I sense pain in her future,"// Achlys said, hovering over them. <</if>> @@.center; [[Ω Ω|FirstAct50]] @@ <</if>> */

<<Cutscene>>\ <<Kai>> approached Margerie. <<if !$MargerieDialogue1>> Noticing <<kai>>, she winced in disgust. "I hope you're not expecting an audience from me, trash." An audience? Did she view herself as a princess or some sort of royalty? Her air of superiority annoyed <<kai>>, but <<he>> had to admit that she //did// have some features of what might resemble royalty. Immaculate skin, majestic and flowing blonde hair, <<if $FemalePreference>>the lips of an angel—plump and pink, <</if>>and an intoxicatingly sweet scent. <<if $FemalePreference>>Not to mention an impressive figure. Her body might even be considered a dangerous weapon in the right context.<</if>> <<linkreplace '“I’m not worthy.” (sarcasm)'>><<replace "#1b">><</replace>>“I'm not worthy,” <<kai>> said, jokingly bowing as if <<he>> were a vassal. Margerie scoffed. "I //know// you're not being serious, but at least you're beginning to recognize your place, even if it //is// only subconscious." //Should I accept the place of submission she's made for me or reject it and be my own <<if $Feminine>>wo<</if>>man?// <<kai>> asked <<himself>>. <<linkreplace '“It’s the place where I belong.”'>><<replace "#1a2">><</replace>><<set $SubmissiveMargerieRoute to true>>“It’s the place where I belong,” <<kai>> said, actually kneeling in front of Margerie. "God, you're desperate." Though she acted disgusted, <<kai>> could tell Margerie was flattered. She loved having her ego stroked and there was no greater flattery to her than submission. "But maybe... I could find some use for you." She squeaked out the words without looking <<kai>> in the eyes. Embarassed, she <<link [[ran off|previous()][$MargerieDialogue1 to true]]>><<set $RelationshipMargerie += 3>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '| “Maybe //you// should submit instead.”'>><<replace "#1a1">><</replace>>“Maybe //you// should submit instead,” <<kai>> said with <<his>> own air of authority. "//Me//? Submit to //you//?" Her eyes went wide from surprise and amusement. "Hahaha!" She laughed uncontrollably. Was it really that ridiculous of an idea? She regained her composure. "Keep dreaming, scum. Maybe one day your delusions will come true." With that, Margerie flicked the skirt of her robe and <<link [[strode away|previous()][$MargerieDialogue1 to true]]>><<set $RelationshipMargerie += 1>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '| “There are better ways to make friends.”'>><<replace "#1a">><</replace>>“There are better ways to make friends,” <<kai>> said. "You could try a more friendly approach, for example." Margerie's brow furrowed. "Friend? You? //Please//. What makes you think I'm interested in the allegiance of //scum//?" If Margerie //was// a princess, then she was certainly a spoiled one. <<linkreplace '“I’m //obedient// scum.”'>><<replace "#1b2">><</replace>><<set $SubmissiveMargerieRoute to true>>“Because I’m //obedient// scum, to be exact” <<kai>> said without any shame. Margerie's brow raised in curiosity. "Obedient scum, eh?" <<Kai>> swore <<he>> saw the flicker of a smile cross her face. "We will //see// about that." Oh, no. What was she planning? "Obedience. It's a bold claim, but I'll make an honest <<if $Feminine>>wo<</if>>man out of you, $Kai." With that, Margerie flicked the skirt of her robe and <<link [[strode away|previous()][$MargerieDialogue1 to true]]>><<set $RelationshipMargerie += 2>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '| “Maybe one day, you’ll be rescued by that ‘scum’.”'>><<replace "#1b1">><</replace>><<set $DominantMargerieRoute to true>>“Maybe one day, you'll be rescued by that 'scum'.” She coffed. "As if I would ever need to be rescued by the likes of you. Keep dreaming, loser." //Says the girl with the same rank as me//, <<kai>> thought. With that, Margerie flicked the skirt of her robe and <<link [[strode away|previous()][$MargerieDialogue1 to true]]>><<set $RelationshipMargerie += 1>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>> <<else>> <<Kai>> had exhausted all of Margerie's currently available dialogue. <<link [[Back|previous()]]>><<EnableExploration>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Cutscene>>\ <<Kai>> approached Austin. <<if !$AustinDialogue1>> He didn't react at all. //Is he ignoring me?// <<kai>> thought. "What do you want?" Austin asked without looking up. <<linkreplace '“What are you doing?”'>><<replace "#1b">><</replace>>“What are you doing?” <<kai>> asked. Austin sighed without making eye contact. "It's really none of your business." //Maybe he's just not interested in other people for some reason,// <<kai>> thought. <<linkreplace '“I’m sorry. I’ll leave you alone.”'>><<replace "#1a2">><</replace>>“I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone,” <<kai>> said. "Hold on." Austin looked at <<him>>. "Do you need something?" //Is he offering to help me?// <<Kai>> stuttered. "I was just, um, getting to know you. That's all." Austin's eyes sparkled momentarily. "Don't worry. You'll get to know me soon enough." He stood up straight and <<link [[walked away|previous()][$AustinDialogue1 to true]]>><<set $RelationshipAustin += 2>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '| “You should pay more attention to others.”'>><<replace "#1a1">><</replace>>“You should pay more attention to others,” <<kai>> said. Austin stood up straight. "What makes you think I don't pay attention? Maybe I'm just not interested. Did you ever think of that?" //He really makes it difficult to like him//, <<kai>> thought without answering. Austin <<link [[walked away|previous()][$AustinDialogue1 to true]]>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '“| Oh, I’m sorry to disturb you.”'>><<replace "#1a">><</replace>>“Oh, I'm sorry to disturb you,” <<kai>> said. Austin looked up and met <<kais>> eyes. "Curious. I hadn't pegged you as the considerate type." He stood up straight, still maintaining eye contact. //I have his attention//, <<kai>> thought. <<linkreplace '“Is that important to you?”'>><<replace "#1b2">><</replace>>“Is that important to you? Being considerate?” <<kai>> asked. "That's a personal question." //Oops. I pushed him too hard.// After a pause, Austin continued. "But I'll tell you." He smiled. "Later." He <<link [[walked away|previous()][$AustinDialogue1 to true]]>><<set $RelationshipAustin += 1>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '| “I don’t want to be a burden.”'>><<replace "#1b1">><</replace>>“I don't want to be a burden,” <<kai>> said. "I have to take care of myself so I don't weigh others down." "Impossible. No matter how you try, you'll always be a burden on somebody." <<Kais>> eyes fell in dismay. Austin continued. "The trick is finding somebody willing to shoulder that burden." <<Kai>> looked up. Austin seemed... sad. He <<link [[walked away|previous()][$AustinDialogue1 to true]]>><<set $RelationshipAustin += 3>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>> <<else>> <<Kai>> had exhausted all of Austin's currently available dialogue. <<link [[Back|previous()]]>><<EnableExploration>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Cutscene>>\ <<Kai>> approached Rudy. <<if !$RudyDialogue1>> His shirt was off, chest and arm muscles bare—bulky and rippling. "Are you strong enough?" he asked. //That's a strange question//, <<kai>> thought. //Strong enough for what?// <<linkreplace '“Yes, I am.”'>><<replace "#1b">><</replace>>“Yes, I am strong enough,” <<kai>> said. "Are you sure about that? Area you //really// sure?" <<Kai>> thought about it. "Have you been tested? Pushed to the limit of your strength?" <<linkreplace '“Yes, I have.”'>><<replace "#1a2">><</replace>>“Yes, I have.” <<kai>> said. Rudy looked up in the direction of the the sky. "I see. And how did you fare against those demons?" //Demons?// His gaze returned to <<kai>>, seemingly distant. "Evil. It won't allow you to rest when you grow tired. Instead, it rips you apart." Rudy clenched a fist. Was he sad or angry? It was hard to tell. "Harden yourself and you'll be difficult to tear apart." He <<link [[walked away|previous()][$RudyDialogue1 to true]]>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $RelationshipRudy += 1>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '| “No... I haven’t.”'>><<replace "#1a1">><</replace>>“No... I haven’t,” <<kai>> admitted. "Good. So you //can// self-reflect. That's important." <<Kai>> <<was>> embarrassed to have appeared so confident initially. "If you never stop to re-evaluate, you will wither and grow weak. Your enemies will be constantly changing, so you must //adapt// to match them. Remember that." He <<link [[walked away|previous()][$RudyDialogue1 to true]]>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $RelationshipRudy += 2>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '| “No, I’m not.”'>><<replace "#1a">><</replace>>“No, I'm not strong enough,” <<kai>> said. "I need to keep training and grow stronger." "That's always a good answer." Rudy nodded clenching a fist. "Strength is an asset, but it can't be simply purchased without any effort. It demands hard work and persistence." //He's discplined//, <<kai>> thought. "Are you willing to work hard and make that commitment?" <<linkreplace '“Yes, I’m willing.”'>><<replace "#1b2">><</replace>>“Yes, I'm willing to commit,” <<kai>> said. "Great!" He smiled, bumping <<kais>> chest with his fist. "I expect great things from you, $Kai." //Can I live up to his expectations?// "I'll be around if you need help." He <<link [[walked away|previous()][$RudyDialogue1 to true]]>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $RelationshipRudy += 2>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><<linkreplace '| “I’m not sure.”'>><<replace "#1b1">><</replace>>“I’m not sure. It sounds difficult,” <<kai>> said. "It //is// difficult. But everything worth doing is difficult." Rudy rubbbed his chin, looking pensive. "Face your discomfort now and free yourself." His eyes lowered. "Or accept your weakness, forced to watch those you love suffer, helpless to resist that powerful evil." He <<link [[walked away|previous()][$RudyDialogue1 to true]]>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $RelationshipRudy += 3>><</link>>.<</linkreplace>><</linkreplace>> <<else>> <<Kai>> had exhausted all of Rudy's currently available dialogue. <<link [[Back|previous()]]>><<EnableExploration>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> decided not to reach out to any of them. <<He>> could handle things <<himself>>. <<He>> <<wasnt>> //really// alone though, <<was>> <<he>>? <<Kai>> lay back in <<his>> bunk, closing <<his>> eyes and blocking the outside world. It was just <<him>> and <<his>> thoughts. //"You don't need anybody else. Just me and you. We only need each other."// Her voice relieved tension. <<Kai>> felt at home, floating on the clouds of <<his>> mind. A puzzle floated into <<his>> hands. It was <<Goddesses>> brain; <<he>> knew that somehow. Some of the pieces were missing, others were jumbled. An incomplete mind. <<set $MindPuzzle to true>> <<Kai>> shifted some of the pieces, as <<he>> did other pieces moved in response, warping into other sections of the brain. It was random. No matter what <<he>> tried, <<he>> couldn't make any progress. How could <<he>> solve a puzzle when the problem changed every time <<he>> made a move toward the solution? <<Goddess>> hovered over <<him>>, watching the pieces move. She offered <<him>> no help. "$Kai, are you alright?" Dahlia! <<Kais>> eyes shot open, the puzzle vanishing. Dahlia was leaning on <<his>> bunk, her night slip loose on her. "Yeah, I'm okay," <<kai>> stammered. "Are you sure? You don't look okay." It was dark, but <<kai>> could make her out. Were her cheeks wet? Her words sounded shaky. "Yeah, I promise. I'm fine." She sat down on the mattress. "I'm sorry, but I just can't believe that. There's no way you're fine after the way you've been treated." It was presumptuous of her to assume, but she had a point. She sniffled, leaning over<<if $FemalePreference>>, her breasts peeking out of the shift<</if>>. Was she being genuine or was this a seduction tactic? <<if $Hemera>> //"God forbids intimate relations, remember?"// Hemera hovered over them, her lights dimmed. <</if>> Dahlia hugged <<kai>>. "It's not fair," Dahlia said. "Everyone should get a chance, no matter their background. No matter their family…" "I'm okay. Don't worry about me." She trembled slightly. <<if $FemalePreference>>She was soft and smelled nice.<</if>> As the night waned, they held each other. Two warm bodies, intertwined, resting upon a white mattress. <<if $Achlys>> //"This girl is dangerous. I sense pain in her future,"// Achlys said, hovering over them. <</if>> <<if $SmutFilter and $FemalePreference>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> fell asleep.' 'FirstAct50'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> removed Dahlia’s clothes.' 'WIP'>><</link>> :: DahliaSex1*/ <<else>>\ @@.center; [[Ω Ω|FirstAct50]] @@ <</if>>

Azrael awakened. <<set $POV to "Azrael">> It was graduation day. Some time had passed since $Kai's display of power. Since then, they had continued their secret lessons together. Azrael needed to make an impact on $Kai while he had the opportunity—before the consecration. This was Azrael's big opportunity; a final chance at redemption. What he had done was so horrible, his dreams haunted him. Azrael knew he couldn't be redeemed, not really. But the Council had disagreed. So here he was, teaching snot-nosed Apprentices. His work had grown tedious at some point. The Order said they needed him, but did they really? A dying assassin, tainted by madness? But Azrael hadn't been bored recently, he was excited—reinvigorated. This Apprentice, $Kai, was different. Maybe it had been Azrael's destiny to find $him, an Apprentice with such raw power, untapped potential. //Maybe there's hope for my soul after all//, Azrael thought. One final deed worth doing. [[How much time did he have left?|FirstAct51]]

He had stopped caring long ago—resigned to his inevitable fate. But now he needed the time. He had work to do. Magi who shortened their lifespans—like Azrael had done—often succumbed to madness, constantly pondering questions. How many years had he spent? How many were left? Was the price paid really worth it? There were never concrete answers to these questions. Azrael had realized at some point that they weren't worth asking. $Kai's power was wild and feral. Azrael had sensed it immediately. $Kai needed guidance—direction. Was Azrael the right person to provide that? He was the only person. His seal was already keeping the power at bay. At least the power wasn't fully unleashed even if the seal wasn't completely effective. Seals had to be designed specifically for the magic they aimed at containing. Plus, the development of new seals could take years of research. Azrael had simply used the most powerful seal he had access to. It had shortened his lifespan further, but the students didn't need to know that. Azreal had been trying to get through to $Kai, but $he was still hiding something. Azrael didn't know what. [[What did this kid know?|FirstAct52]]

Azrael had kept the situation a secret from the Council. It was a risk. They would've wanted an immediate report. They were control freaks. Azrael knew what could go wrong if he got them involved, and he was willing to put his life on the line. No, Azrael could handle this. He could figure it out. $Kai could figure it out. Nothing else mattered to him at this point anyway. [[But he didn't have enough time.|FirstAct54]]

He sunk into his shadow and appeared in the cabin. "Apprentices, we will be holding the graduation exam this morning." Azrael wished he could delay the exam further, but that would've looked suspicious. "$Kai has already demonstrated $his affinity and therefore will not be participating or receiving an affinity assignment. As for the rest of you, any Apprentice who wishes to participate may do so. Good luck." Margerie piped up. "Wait! No affinity assignment?" She was offended. "What's $his affinity then?" Azrael sighed. What an insufferable girl. Didn't she have anything better to do than question him constantly? Azrael approached $Kai and placed a palm on $his forehead. [[Azrael channeled imbuement.|FirstAct54]]

$Kai's forehead was currently bare, indicating a lack of affinity to other magi. Normally an Apprentice was imbued after establishing their affinity. Azrael pulled on their spirit and their essence naturally formed the appropriate brand based on its properties: a Water brand for Water essence or an Earth brand for Earth essence. Azrael reached, pulling on $Kai's spirit. What was $Kai's affinity? Azrael knew $he already had one though $he wasn't imbued. $Kai's spirit pulled back, resisting Azrael. No brand had formed. How could a spirit resist? It wasn't possible, unless it had a mind of its own. Azrael couldn't even sense the affinity of $Kai's essence. So he changed plans, searing into $Kai's forehead an upside-down triangle, the symbol for the Water affinity. If $Kai's brand wouldn't form naturally, then $he would have to deceive the other magi. It wouldn't update to match $Kai's affinity like a normal brand, so Azrael would have to keep tabs on it to keep up the illusion. The Apprentices were satisfied with $Kai's brand, recognizing the familiar symbol. All except for Margerie, who brooded. Subdued, but petulant. @@.center; [[Ω Ω|FirstAct55]] @@

Azrael arrived at the field, ready to begin the exam. The Apprentices were already gathered, anticipating their promotions. Dahlia in particular appeared confident. "You'll be tested individually. In order to pass, you must demonstrate either a Water or Earth affinity. If you do, you will be imbued and assigned the rank of Charmer upon consecration. No discipline or skill is off limits for this test, you have free reign to showcase your development. Who's first?" Dahlia stepped forward, brimming with confidence. "Name your affinity, Dahlia." "Water." She had no hesitation. "Let's see it, then. Hit me." She bowed her head, closing her eyes. Deep breaths. Azrael waited patiently. She centered herself, raising her head. She clapped her hands together. A mystical blue barrier rose from the ground, separating her from Azrael. [[Cute.|FirstAct56]]

Azrael raised a few fingers, flicking small flame bullets from each one, firing potshots at the barrier. The barrier stopped each shot, the flames were snuffed, steaming on contact. A decent defense, against fire anyway. Dahlia raised her arms, lifting her face toward the sky. Water leaked from her chest, flowing across her limbs and encircling her body, taking the form of a dress as it dangled near her ankles. An odd skill. The water flowed in place, maintaining its shape. Sunlight reflected from the dress creating the appearance of an angelic glow. How annoying. Azrael's eyes weren't what they used to be. Azrael shielded his eyes. Dahlia thrust her palm, shooting a stream of water through her barrier at Azreal's face. Azrael thrust his chest out, a shadow forming around his figure, encapsulating him. The stream of water hit his shadow, spiraling into a whirlpool as he sucked it into his chest. Transmutation. His signature discipline. Dahlia relaxed her posture. Her barrier dissolved and her dress splashed down onto the ground. She was out of Vitality. "Very good. Where did you learn those sorts of techniques? I certainly don't teach them." "My mother left them to me." The disavowed were always an annoying bunch—depressed all the time. Azrael wasn't really interested in her answer; he didn't know why he"d asked in the first place. Was he getting soft? "That's great. You'll be a welcome addition among the ranks of Charmers. Approach me, young one." [[She walked forward.|FirstAct57]]

Azrael raised his palm and pressed it against her forehead. She closed her eyes and her forehead changed color. Imbuement. A black symbol appeared, etching into her skin. It formed the shape of a triangle with the tip pointing downwards, just like the fake one he had etched on $Kai. "Congratulations, Dahlia. You indeed possess the Water affinity. Your essence made it so. Prepare yourself for consecration. This branding on your forehead serves as proof of your status as a member of the Monastery magi." The Apprentices clapped. Dahlia blushed. "Thank you, sir." She bowed to him. Azrael grunted. They were fools, merely small minded children absorbed in their own feelings and social status. It was all meaningless compared to what lurked out there. If only they knew how bad it was. Dahlia scurried back into the crowd, avoiding the spotlight. Her eyes rolled upwards in a futile attempt to make out her branding. The other Apprentices praised her. Margerie joined in, but was obviously jealous. Azreal rolled his eyes. "Who's next?" Rudy stepped forward without a word. He was one of the good ones—mostly quiet. 'state your affinity." "Earth." He was resolute. [[''Let's see it then.''|FirstAct58]]

Rudy ripped off his shirt and sat down, crossing his legs and closing his eyes. He placed his hands on his knees. His chiseled body relaxed. He slowly inhaled and exhaled a few times and then he glowed. His body was shiny, sunlight reflecting off his skin. He stood up, his joints creaking as he straightened. Curious. Rudy sprinted, abruptly rushing Azrael. His feet clanked against the ground with each step he took; he sounded heavy. He thrust his fist forward aiming for Azrael's head. Azrael casually caught Rudy's fist in the air. //Boom.// A loud hammering noise burst out in the open air of the field, echoing in the distance. It was loud and heavy, but Azrael didn't flinch. He had seen this trick before. "It would appear this group has a penchant for transmutation." It was his expertise, of course he would recognize it. Azrael pressed his free palm against Rudy's forehead, still holding onto him with the other. Once again, a black branding appeared. This mark was identical to the Water brand except for a horizontal line which pierced it through the middle, extending through the triangle's border. As if somebody had slashed through the Water brand with a knife. [[An Earth brand.|FirstAct59]]

The group clapped for Rudy as Azrael released his grip. He silently joined his fellow students. "Any other takers?" Azrael waited, but neither Margerie nor Austin stepped forward. "In that case, the graduation exam is concluded. For those who graduated, your next step is consecration. For those who didn't, well, you'll be seeing more of me." Azrael chuckled. Making himself seem self-important was a nice coping mechanism. "Only two students left for me? What a pity!" He couldn't leave $Kai to $his own devices. Once $he was inside the walls, Azrael would have to monitor $him. [[''Dismissed!''|FirstAct60]]

<<Kai>> <<was>> a Charmer. Jack ushered the group of newly minted Charmers toward the Monastery walls. He had been surprised to see <<kai>> again so soon, noting the brand on <<his>> forehead. He asked <<them>> about Margerie, but nobody felt like answering. His questions were silly. <<Kai>> walked, accompanied by Dahlia and Rudy—the two Apprentices who had been the most friendly to <<him>> during Apprentice School. <<He>> had made it through somehow. Maybe their God was watching over <<him>>. <<set $POV to "Player">> <<He>> craned <<his>> neck. <<He>> couldn't help but lose <<himself>> in the majestic waterfall flowing down the crags off to the side of the walls; it was beautiful and mesmerizing. <<Kai>> loved rainbows and <<he>> had never seen light bend around water in quite that way before. The waterfall must have been enchanted. <<Kais>> group was to [[report for consecration|FirstAct61]]—whatever that was.

Jack guided <<them>> to the walls. The outside barrier was tall. The outermost wall spanned around the Monastery as far as <<kai>> could see, including towers littered throughout—reaching to the clouds. It was fortified with battlements as if intended for warfare. The stone didn't look old—there was no weathering visible. <<Kai>> ran <<his>> hands across it. It felt perfectly smooth, like glass. Jack knocked on the door. "Got a batch of fresh recruits!" Somebody on the other side opened the doors; they swung open slowly, propelled by the force of magic. The ground rumbled beneath their weight. "Welcome to [[the Monastery|FirstAct62]]."

<<Kai>> walked through the gates, scanning <<his>> surroundings. There was so much to absorb; the campus was enormous—much larger on the inside than it looked from the outside. There were buildings everywhere—of all sorts and varieties—with walking paths connecting them. And sprawling farmland beyond the main campus, as far as the eye could see. Magi bustled about, carrying books, or tools, or other strange objects. "We report straight to the temple," Jack said. "Follow me." The temple. It was gorgeous, unlike any structure <<kai>> could have imagined. A resolute piece of art. It was lavishly decorated, heroic moments captured in stained glass windows, spires adorned with spouts—not gargoyles, but other creatures—somehow familiar, yet mysterious. And the statues. Regal stone figures encircled the temple, each one depicted a religious figure resembling a human form. But there was something off about them. <<Kai>> looked closer and realized it. Their faces lacked detail; they were blurry. It was a strange omission considering the compulsive attention to detail consistent throughout the rest of the structure. The building shimmered with life. [[It really was alive.|FirstAct63]]

<<They>> entered the temple, drifting through the passageways. The air was chilly; wind swept in from the outside, refreshing <<kai>>. Passing by the open cloister in the center of the structure, <<they>> crossed paths with temple residents, outfitted in holy garb from head to toe. Were they nuns? Or priests of some kind? Their faces were completely covered, draped in black fabric. They kept to themselves, heads down; each one had their own individual task in mind. This was a peaceful place. Serene. There was no strife, no anger. Just purpose. The chapel. <<They>> had arrived. <<set $DescribeChapel to true>>It was a deep room, littered with rows of pews. The ceiling stretched as high as it could go. <<They>> walked down the middle aisle, reaching a dais at the end. A throne sat atop the dais, glowing. A throne was a curious decoration for a chapel, it would have seemed more appropriate inside a castle. And why was it glowing? <<Kai>> couldn't discern the source of the light. A priest approached <<yall>> from beyond a curtain at the other end of the dais, burning incense in one hand, wielding a chalice in the other. Jack stepped back as Rudy and Dahlia kneeled before the dais. <<Kai>> followed suit, showing the proper respect. The priest [[spoke in meter|FirstAct64]], smoke trailing from his arm.

"Behold, these children are a gift—the fruit of God's womb. As it is said, 'let the children come, and do not hinder them.' Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, blessed is the mage with a full quiver. Shield your bodies from sin. Refuse the temptations of passion. Evil is given no quarter here. For these grounds are holy. When the Corruptor strikes, your prayers will be your shield. Through your faith, you become sons and daughters of God. The temple is your body. And your body, the temple. On behalf of the Progenitor, I present these bodies before God. [[As a living sacrifice.|FirstAct65][$Consecration to true]]"

He drank from the chalice and then handed it to each of them individually. As they drank, the light on the throne took form, shifting to take the shape of a hooded, white figure. The priest instantly fell to the ground, prostrating himself. The hooded figure stepped forward—shining—and then spoke. //"Rise. Today, I consecrate you."// A feminine voice. Gentle, but powerful—commanding. <<Kai>> <<was>> reminded of Hemera. The hooded woman touched each of the Charmers on the foreheads and blessed them. <<if $DahliaVirginity is false>><<set $DahliaLife to false>> She stopped when she reached Dahlia. "This one is //defiled//." Dahlia was stunned. This priest quickly grabbed her and ran off. <</if>>\ <<if $RudyVirginity is false>><<set $RudyLife to false>> She stopped when she reached Rudy. "This one is //defiled//." Rudy was solemn. This priest quickly grabbed him, struggling with the weight, and ran off. <</if>>\ She reached <<kai>>. <<if $Hemera>>A warmth spread through <<him>>, it was familiar, like a home-cooked meal.<<else>>A pain shot through <<his>> spine. Something in the back of <<his>> brain twisted, wailing like a wounded dog.<</if>> An image of the sun seared into <<his>> eyes as <<he>> stared up at her. Not the actual sun, but more of a sketched outline. She stopped momentarily, pausing before moving on. Despite her pause, she remained silent. Had she [[sensed something was wrong|FirstAct66]] with <<him>>?

The hooded figure spoke. <<set $RankTier to 'Novice', $Rank to 'Charmer', $Charmer to true>> //"Charmers. Today, you have been blessed by God. When you struggle, when you feel the pull of temptation, hold tight to your faith. Hold strong and remember my blessing. Remember who you serve. No pleasure is worth the cost of darkness. "You are my elect."// //Her// elect? //She// was God? Did God really have the time to worry about somebody small like <<kai>>? The longer God talked, the less human her voice sounded to <<kai>>. Like an algorithm talking. Or something deeper and more true than nature. Something old. God turned back to light, dancing up through the ceiling and out through the temple rafters. <<Kai>> had never seen her face, [[just a blinding light beneath the hood|FirstAct67]].

The priest finally took a breath, raising himself from the floor, incense still smoking. //Faith must be easy when your God can talk//, <<kai>> thought, considering the priest. <<Kai>> hadn't been convinced by any religion before. They all had competing narratives with claims that couldn't be proved or disproved. There wasn't a point in wasting time on that when <<he>> had needed to put bread on the table—needed to survive. But this church had a //real// God. A tangible one. Yet—despite their God's obvious existence—they emphasized the importance of faith. Why? What were these temptations they warned about? The answer must be something horrible. @@.center; [[Ω Ω|FirstAct68]] @@

Jack showed <<them>> to <<their>> dorms. The men and women were separate—something about purity and temptation. <<Kai>> hadn't really been listening to that part. Azrael had warned about //intimate relations// outside the Monastery walls. It was probably forbidden inside as well. <<if $Masculine>>Rudy<<else>>Dahlia<</if>> unpacked <<if $Masculine>>his<<else>>her<</if>> few items. <<Kai>> followed suit. The accommodations were much nicer here than they had been in the cabin. More ornamental and comfortable—cozy. Lavish. <<They>> started <<their>> classes tomorrow. Unlike Apprentice school, Charmers had more freedom in their studies, picking and choosing lessons which piqued their interest. Apparently, the less motivated students would stagnate, eventually aging out of school. <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure where they went after that. So much about the magi was still a mystery to <<him>>. <<He>> hadn't even discerned the meaning behind <<his>> grandfather's letter. <<He>> had made it to the Monastery, at least. But trees, conduits, relics? The mother of madness? There were mysteries left. So many mysteries. [[Maybe God knew the answers to these questions.|FirstAct69]]

She had to, right? By definition. The Charmers that did well in school were promoted, just like the Apprentices. There was a Sorcerer school on campus where most of them were, segregated from the Charmers. The occasional Sorcerer still wandered around the Charmer areas. Maybe graduation worked the same way here—modify your affinity and get promoted. Every Charmer <<kai>> had seen so far bore either the brand of the Water or Earth affinity. But <<kai>> didn't have a normal affinity. Azrael had fabricated <<his2>>. How long could <<he>> keep up the ruse? Azrael had approached <<him>> before the consecration with a warning. //"I know magi better than you do. They're tricky—crafty. I'll do my best to keep track of you, but be careful. [[You won't make it alone.|FirstAct70]]" //

But <<kai>> <<wasnt>> alone. Laying in <<his>> new bunk, <<he>> stared again at the <<if $Hemera>>white<<else>>black<</if>> marking on <<his>> arm. <<Goddess>> supported <<him>>, cared about <<him>>. If <<he>> died, then <<Goddess>> would die with <<him>>, right?<<if $Achlys>> //Wait.// A pang of horror. Isn't that what Achlys wanted? To die? <<Kai>> panicked, anxiety building. //She might have an incentive to see me killed.// <</if>> [[A tap|FirstAct71]] on <<his>> shoulder.

<<if $Masculine>>Rudy<<else>>Dahlia<</if>> stood by the bunk. <<Kai>> sat upright. <<if $Masculine>>"You'll do alright, $Kai. You have strength. I can sense these things."<<else>>"It's okay, $Kai. We're in this together. You're not alone."<</if>> <<if $Masculine>>Rudy<<else>>Dahlia<</if>> smiled at <<him>>. <<if $Masculine>>He tapped his fist against his chest reassuringly.<<else>>She hugged <<him>>.<</if>> <<Kais>> thoughts returned to the present moment, <<his>> breathing slowed. //<<if $Masculine>>He<<else>>She<</if>> went out of <<if $Masculine>>his<<else>>her<</if>> way to notice I was nervous and comfort me.// <<Kai>> felt a connection to <<if $Masculine>>Rudy<<else>>Dahlia<</if>>. <<Yall2>> had been through Apprentice school together, a part of the same graduating class. <<if $Masculine>>His<<else>>Her<</if>> past was a mystery to <<kai>>, but <<if $Feminine>>s<</if>>he seemed like a good person. <<if $Masculine>><<if $Hemera or $HemeraContract>>//"He's a pious servant of God."//<<else>>//"His pain is buried."//<</if>><<else>><<if $Hemera or $HemeraContract>>//"She's a nurturing woman."//<<else>>//"She holds a dark secret."//<</if>><</if>> <<Goddess>>... @@.center; [[Ω Ω|RankingBoard]] @@

<<Kai>> stood by the ranking board, posted on the path outside of the dormitory. <<if !$DescribeRankingBoard>><<set $DescribeRankingBoard to true>>It informed each Charmer of their relative positions amongst each other. No doubt a tactic intended to spark competition.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> checked the ranking board.' 'InspectRankingBoard'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the dormitory.' 'Dormitory'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> walked down the path.' 'Fork1'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> <<was>> in the dormitory building. <<if !$DescribeDorm>><<set $DescribeDorm to true>>It split into two hallways. One for the female students and one for the male students. <</if>>The students flowed in and out, segregated between each hallway—women in one hallway, men in the other. <<link '<<Kai>> entered the female dorm.' 'FemaleDorm'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the male dorm,' 'MaleDorm'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> exited the dormitory.' 'RankingBoard'>><</link>>

<<if $Feminine>><<Kai>> <<was>> in the female dorm. <<His>> belongings were undisturbed, resting right where <<he>> had left them. Other students filtered in and out, grabbing their belongings, changing clothes, washing up, etc. <<if $FemalePreference>><<Kai>> relished watching the other students change…<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> left the dorm room.' 'Dormitory'>><</link>><<else>><<Kai>> tried to enter the female dorm, but was turned away by the collective horde of women traversing the hallway. They were sensitive to men entering their sacred space and kept a constant awareness of intruders. <<Kai>> <<was>> directed [[back to the split in the hallway|Dormitory]].<</if>>

<<if $Masculine>><<Kai>> <<was>> in the male dorm. <<His>> belongings were undisturbed, resting right where <<he>> had left them. Other students filtered in and out, grabbing their belongings, changing clothes, washing up, etc. <<if $MalePreference>><<Kai>> relished watching the other students change…<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> left the dorm room.' 'Dormitory'>><</link>><<else>><<Kai>> tried to enter the male dorm. The male students didn't turn <<him>> away, but they eyed <<him>>, catching their attention as <<he>> traversed the hallway.<</if>>

<<if !$InspectRankingBoard>><<Kai>> <<was>> at the very bottom of the board—the lowest rank. Even Dahlia and Rudy were ranked higher than <<him>>. Maybe it had to do with their performances in the graduation exam? There were no scores assigned, the magi were simply ranked from highest to lowest. <</if>><<Kai>> <<was>> number 247.<<if !$InspectRankingBoard>><<set $InspectRankingBoard to true>> So there were 246 other Charmers. That was more than <<he>> <<was>> expecting. //The campus must be pretty large in order to house all of them//, <<he>> thought.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the dormitory.' 'Dormitory'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> walked down the path.' 'Fork1'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> walked along the path, reaching a fork in the road. In one direction<<if !$DescribeFarmersMarket>>, <<he>> saw a marketplace with stalls set up<<else>> was the farmer’s market<</if>>. The other path continued for a while in the direction of the waterfall, which <<he>> could see glistening over top the Monastery walls. <<if !$MeetCass>> A young woman walked with a book clutched in her hands—head down, eyes absorbed in the text. She tripped. Her foot snagged on a rock, causing her to tumble, dropping the book and falling through the air. <<link '<<Kai>> helped the falling woman.' 'MeetCass'>><<set $MeetCass to true>><</link>><</if>> <<if $DescribeFarmersMarket>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path towards the farmer’s market.' 'FarmersMarket'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path towards the market.' 'FarmersMarket'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path towards the waterfall.' 'Fork2'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> walked back to the ranking board.' 'RankingBoard'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> reached out with magic, extending help to her. <<He>> pulled from inside <<himself>>, grabbing one of <<Goddesses>> threads, grasping her spirit. It worked; <<kai>> thrummed, fingers tingling, hand outstretched. <<Kai>> stretched <<his>> arm forward, and clenched the falling student, catching her—and her book—in midair. She floated, suspended a few feet above the ground. Curiously, her hair and clothes were no longer drooping down, pulled by gravity. Instead, they floated through space, her hair flowing up, down, and every which way, crossing over itself. Her clothing lifted, puffing up and out, filling with air, flapping in the wind. The covers of the book opened, pages floating, flitting back and forth. Her body spun around slowly as she hung, suspended in the air, rotating. First, her head—her surprised expression—faced <<kai>>, her cleavage exposed from this angle, spilling out underneath her blouse. She spun around, her legs now facing <<kai>>, skirts flowing around her waist like tentacles. <<if $FemalePreference>>Her panties peeked out at <<kai>> from underneath before she quickly brought her legs together in embarrassment, curling up in an attempt to retain her modesty.<</if>> The other students (mostly male) stopped, looking on. A small circle had formed around <<kai>> and the woman. She blushed fiercely, not enjoying the unsolicited attention. <<Kai>> released the spell slowly, gently cradling her and her possession to the ground. She stood nervously, straightening her clothes out. A tendril of water formed—an extension of her hand—and grabbed her book, returning it to her grip. She tucked it into her chest—wrapped in her arms—averting her gaze from the onlookers surrounding her. Gradually losing interest, the crowd dissipated, leaving her in the middle of the road: embarrassed and disheveled, white hair fuzzing out. She did her best to smooth it down, wetting it with her palm. <<Kai>> approached her, ready to apologize. “Hey, I’m sorry about that. I was only meaning to—” She cut <<him>> off. “Oh, you're the one that did that to me? That was your magic?” <<Kai>> scratched <<his>> head. The woman's wide, anticipatory eyes were beautiful, a deep crystal blue. Shining gems—sapphires. “Yeah, I guess that’s right…” Her hands were crossed, arms extended, now pressed against the front of her skirt as she energetically bounced back and forth on her heels. Was she going to be angry? <<Kai>> had exposed her to the entire campus. She smiled, the embarrassment draining from her cheeks. A pure, innocent smile. White as snow. “Wow, levitation magic… Thanks for saving me! That would’ve been a //nasty// fall. Sometimes when I’m caught up in a good book, I forget to watch where I’m walking.” //She’s not mad at me//, <<kai>> thought, huffing a sigh of relief. <<He>> couldn’t possibly alienate such a mesmerizing woman. <<He>> mustered courage and asked the question. [[“What’s your name?”|CassDialogue1]]

Her gracious smile remained. “Cassandra! But everybody calls me Cass.” “Cass…” A triangle upon her forehead, upside down: a Water Charmer. “What’s yours?” “My what?” Pale, soft skin. Gentle and alluring. “Your name, silly!” <<His>> name… <<Kai>> couldn’t focus. Her voice was so… joyful, blissfully cheerful—as if nothing were really wrong in the world. As if everyone around her could be trusted. A pure, wide-eyed lamb, an innocent foal. <<Kais>> eyes wandered to her lips as <<his>> mind drifted. They were blue, just like her eyes. Cass walked toward <<kai>> and snapped her fingers in <<his>> face. “Hello? Anybody in there?” <<Kai>> blinked. “$Kai! It’s $Kai. My name, I mean.” Cass blinked back. Long, lush eyelashes. Black creatures on the white backdrop of her dazzling, diamond skin. She extended a hand. “Nice to meet you, <<if $Masculine>>Mister<<else>>Miss<</if>> $Kai.” Black fingernails. <<He>> shook it, a dumb look on <<his>> face. How could any real woman be so striking, in both body and spirit? <<Kai>> remembered <<his>> childhood bedtime stories. She could be a siren or a mermaid? Maybe a gorgon—no, <<kai>> would already be stone in that case. Were some of the magi actually monsters? Azrael had certainly seemed warped. A trap. She was a trap, something cursed. Her white teeth glistened at <<kai>> through her warm, inviting smile. Maybe she was a succubus, seducing her prey with pretty eyes and false modesty. Or a vampire... <<Kais>> mind ran wild, considering the possibilities. Cass laughed, slender hand covering her mouth. “For a mage so skilled, you sure have trouble with your words. Honestly, if I hadn’t seen that skill with my own eyes, felt it with my own body, I wouldn’t have believed it had been cast by a mere Charmer.” <<Kais>> stomach dropped. //Oh, no. Did I blow my cover?// Cass continued. “You must be working with Mel in the lab, right?” <<if !$MelDialogue1>>Mel? <</if>><<He>> had to play along. “Yeah, of course. How else would I have used that skill?” <<kai>> quipped. Cass furrowed her brow and playfully punched <<kai>> in the shoulder. “Hey! I may be a good sport, but don’t you think it’s a bit early to be teasing me already?” Would a normal mage punch her back? No. <<Kai>> couldn’t possibly bring <<himself>> to lay a harmful hand on a nymph as lovely as Cass. “Want to come to the lab with me sometime?” <<kai>> asked. //What a stupid response! <<if !$DescribeLab>>I’ve never been to the lab…<</if>>// “Sure! See you there!” Cass ran off, smiling and waving. This nymph will prove tricky, no doubt about it. @@.center; [[Ω Ω|Fork1]] @@

<<Kai>> <<if !$DescribeFarmersMarket>><<set $DescribeFarmersMarket to true>>walked along the path toward the market. There were stalls set up with vegetables, cheeses, and meats for sale. This market was a farmer's market. The stalls were all manned by other students, except for one, which was run by a tall blonde woman in overalls. She was plump with wide hips and a farmer's tan. <<if $FemalePreference>>Her cleavage spilled out of the overalls, but she didn't seem particularly worried about it. <<if $SmutFilter>>Her tits jiggled as she worked.<</if>><</if>><<else>>entered the farmer's market.<</if>> Students and cooks lined up at the stalls, purchasing food to either eat themselves or to prepare for others. <<link '<<Kai>> approached the stall run by a student.' 'FarmerStudentStall'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> approached the farmer.' 'FarmerStall'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> walked up the path.' 'Fork1'>><</link>>

"Hello. What can I get for you?" The student behind the stall smiled at <<kai>>. She seemed nice enough. The display items were labeled with numbers, indicating the prices. <<Kai>> checked <<his>> pockets. <<if $Money is 0>><<He>> had no money. <</if>><<He>> didn't recognize the currency symbol appearing next to each price. It was almost in the shape of a horseshoe, but the bottom was connected with a throughline. Magi used a different currency than <<he>> had back home. The price listed for a bundle of carrots was 'Ω10.' <<set $ShowShackles to true>> The student noticed <<kai>> eyeing the carrots. "That's ten Shackles." "Shackles? Don't you mean Shekels?" She stared at <<kai>>, tilting her head to the side. "Shekels? What do you mean?" She blinked. "Was that supposed to be a joke?" Did she really mean to say shackles? What a strange name for money. It //was// oddly fitting, however, considering the growing dominance of wage slavery. Remembering <<his>> conversation, <<kai>> feigned laughter, doing <<his>> best to smooth over the awkwardness. "Yeah… a joke. Ha ha!" The student behind the counter didn't return the laughter. "Do you want the carrots or not?" She motioned to the line behind <<kai>>; other customers patiently waited their turn. <<Kai>> turned out <<his>> empty pockets. "No shackles to be found here." “That’s no laughing matter. You must be brand new.” She paused for a moment. “Or did you lose all your Shackles //gambling//?” She laughed maniacally. <<Kai>> didn't get the joke. "Either way, if you really need some Shackles, talk to Belle. She'll give you some work to do." The student motioned toward the stall with the <<if $FemalePreference>>sexy <</if>>farmer lady. <<link '<<Kai>> approached the farmer.' 'FarmerStall'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> walked up the path.' 'Fork1'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> approached the farmer's stall. <<if !$BelleIntroduction>>She winked at <<him>>. "Hey, Sugar. What can I do you for?" She cocked her head. "Wait a second. I don't reckon I've seen you around these parts. The name's Annabelle. Or just Belle for short." She extended a hand towards <<kai>><<if $SmutFilter>>, her braless tits jiggling from the shift in momentum<</if>>. <<if $FemalePreference>><<Kai>> couldn't help but stare at her chest, mesmerized by her cleavage. Should <<he>> be staring at her chest? It was fine; Belle was the one displaying them. That meant she //wanted// <<kai>> to look at her, right?<<else>>.<</if>> <<Kai>> smiled, accepting the handshake<<if $FemalePreference>>, doing <<his>> best to keep eye contact with her. <<He>> did a terrible job<</if>>. <<He>> noticed that Belle had a large, metal piercing dangling from inside her nose, pulling on it. None of the other magi <<he>> had seen so far had a face piercing like that one. "Nice to meet you, Belle. My name's $Kai." "The pleasure's all mine, $Kai. Now, what can I get for you?" What could she get for <<him>>? <<if $FemalePreference and $SmutFilter>>Some nipple sucking would be great, for starters. <<Kai>> imagined <<himself>> suckling <<if $LactationFilter>>milk out of <</if>>Belle's tits.<</if>><<if $FemalePreference>> "You like my outfit, Honey? It's just my work coverall. If you like //this//, you should see me in a dress." She did a playful twirl, spinning in an imaginary dress. Coverall? It wasn't //covering// her at //all//... What a cringy joke. <<He>> better keep that one to <<himself>>.<</if>> "My squash is a big hit, you know." She pointed at one of the display vegetables. Squash? <<if $FemalePreference>><<Kai>> would totally //squash// her.<</if>> Belle sighed. "You can't just stand there daydreaming, Sweetie. If you aren't going to pay up, then I've got other customers to help." Money. That's right. <<Kai>> <<was>> here to work. "I'd like to work for you, Belle. I need to make some money…<<if $ShowShackles>> uh, Shackles?<</if>>" <<He>> smiled nervously. "Oh, my. I certainly //could// use a hand." She paused, thinking. "<<if $Masculine>>Although, all the new boys offer to help me for some reason, even when they ain't cut out for farming. <<else>>It will be nice to have another girl working around here for once. Only boys ask to help out with the farming for some reason." Right. //Some// reason. <</if>>"Let's see what you got. Follow me." Belle waved to another student—who covered the main stall—then walked towards a barn. <<link '<<Kai>> followed Belle.' 'Barn'>><</link>> <<else>> “Look who’s back.” Belle crossed her arms, pushing her breasts even further out of her clothes. <<Kai>> gulped. “Let me guess, you changed your mind and want to work now?” [[Work|BelleDialogue2][$ChangeMindBelle to true]] [[Leave|Fork1]] <</if>>

<<Kai>> followed Belle to the barn. It was a large, red building located behind the farmer's market. It was made of wood, like some stereotypical depiction pulled straight out of a children's book. Right away, <<kai>> noticed the cows and horses, but there were other farm animals around too. [[Belle explained farming.|BelleDialogue1]]

<<Kai>> reached a four-way fork in the road. The waterfall flowed in the distance, glimmering beyond the campus wall. <<if !$DescribeFork1>><<set $DescribeFork1 to true>>The fork to the left of the waterfall led to a market. The other path to the right of the waterfall led toward the array of holy statues. Another path led towards a different market. And the final path led back to the first fork near the ranking board.<</if>> <<if !$DescribeBeerMarket>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path towards the market by the waterfall.' 'BeerMarket'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path towards the beer market.' 'BeerMarket'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path towards the statues.' 'Fork3'>><</link>> /* <<if !$DescribeSmithMarket>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path towards the other market.' 'SmithMarket'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path towards the smith market.' 'SmithMarket'>><</link>> <</if>>*/ \ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path back towards the first fork.' 'Fork1'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> walked along the path toward the <<if !$DescribeBeerMarket>><<set $DescribeBeerMarket to true>>market. There were stalls set up with wooden kegs behind them and metal mugs resting on the counters<<else>>beer market<</if>>. <<if !$ShowShackles>>The tables were empty. The kegs were unguarded. There was nobody manning the bar, nobody to pay for a beer. If <<kai>> wanted a drink, then <<he>> would have to simply take it.<<else>>Students made purchases, drinking at tables dispersed throughout the area. They clicked their mugs together, making merry despite the time of day.<</if>><<if $MelArea.includes('Tavern')>> <<Kai>> noticed Mel sitting at one of the tables. Maybe <<he>> should buy a beer and drink with her.<</if>> <<if !$ShowShackles>> <<link '<<Kai>> stole a beer.' 'StealBeer'>><</link>> <<else>> <<link '<<Kai>> bought a beer.' 'BeerStall'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> sat down at a table with a group of students.' 'BeerTable'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path back to the four-way fork.' 'Fork2'>><</link>>

<<Cutscene>>\ <<Kai>> approached the wooden bar. There was a gruff, old man behind the counter, tending to the customers. “What can I do ya for?” he asked, the tip of his long gray beard touching the counter as he leaned forward. “What do you have?” <<kai>> asked, peering at the various taps. “Beer.” “Yeah… but what kind of beer?” The old man furrowed his brow. “You gettin’ cute with me, kid? It’s beer. I just told ya.” “Um… Okay, I’ll take a beer then.” <<Kai>> pointed at the tap on the left. None of them were labeled. “Got it.” The man grunted, turning around to pour the drink. He was rough and big, though his size didn’t seem to be entirely from muscle; his figure appeared somewhat misshapen, but <<kai>> couldn’t put <<his>> finger on exactly what was off about it. Finished with the pour, he slammed the full mug down on the counter and <<kai>> paid him for it. “Pleasure,” he said, grinning. He was missing a couple of teeth. <<Kai>> grasped the metal handle and looked down at <<his>> drink. It was foamy from the recent pour. <<He>> swirled the beer around as <<he>> looked down into the mug. //I wonder what magical beer tastes like…?// <<link '<<Kai>> sat down at a tavern table.' 'SitTavernTable'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> approached the wooden table and sat down on the bench. There were other magi seated at the table, drinking merrily and enthusiastically discussing something. <<if $MelArea.includes('Tavern')>>\ <<set $MelTavern to true>>\ Mel sat at <<kais>> side, silent and brooding as she tipped her head back and scarfed down her drink, her black choker strained against her undulating gullet. She already had four empty mugs resting in front of her. How many drinks did it take for her to get her fill? “Hey,” <<kai>> said. Mel turned toward <<his>> voice. “Oh. Hey.” She took another deep swig from her mug and slammed it down. “What are you doing here?” “Um… I was just about to ask you that same thing.” Teachers weren’t supposed to be getting drunk around their students, right? <<Kai>> hadn’t seen any of the //other// teachers drinking here before. “I’m getting shit-faced. Obviously.” She blew a raspberry with her lips and then took another deep swig, slamming down the newly drained mug. Leftover foam coated her lips. “You want another?” she asked, pointing at <<kais>> mug and standing up to walk towards the counter. <<Kai>> looked down at <<his>> full mug. “Um, okay. Sure.” Mel nodded and walked away as <<he>> did <<his>> best to quickly down <<his>> beer. It didn’t taste bad, but drinking so quickly made it difficult to finish the whole thing in one go. The bubbles filled <<his>> stomach, making <<him>> feel bloated; <<his>> throat chilled from the coldness of the drink. <<He>> gulped repeatedly, just managing to finish it by the time Mel arrived back at the table. <<He>> slammed <<his>> emptied mug down in front of <<him>> and let out a gasp. Mel patted <<him>> on the back as she placed a second mug before <<him>>. “You really like that stuff, huh?” She smiled at <<him>>. “Yeah.” <<Kai>> nodded, looking down at the new mug. <<His>> stomach already felt too full for another. “Thanks.” <<He>> gripped the second mug in <<his>> hand, but didn’t yet bring it to <<his>> mouth. Meanwhile, Mel attacked her new mug like a desperate wanderer in the desert who just encountered water for the first time in days. She emptied the mug in one go and slammed it down, leaning back and folding her arms behind her head. “That’s some good shit, huh?” “Yeah,” <<kai>> nodded. “It’s good.” Though Mel was crass and straightforward, <<kai>> couldn’t help but feel that there was more to her than just that—something laid deeper within her. Something lurked beneath her opaque surface, something hidden that she left unsaid. But how could <<he>> get it out of her? “So about your lab…” <<He>> mentioned the first thing about her that came to mind. “Yeah?” Mel raised an eyebrow. “What about it?” “Well, how long have you been working there?” Mel chuckled. “Why do you care about that place? It’s boring.” She waved a hand. “You know...” She peered towards the horizon. “There are much more interesting places out there. Dark places. Places that would give you nightmares just to think about.” Mel called the lab boring, but she wasn’t properly calibrated to judge what was boring. So maybe there //was// something hidden about that place. She had been up front about her hideous egg experiment. How horrible could her //secrets// be…? “The lab, Mel. Humor me.” “Okay.” Mel pursed her lips in annoyance, leaning back as her eyes drifted upward. “Well, the lab’s been there since before I started my work. I inherited it, but I’ve been there a few years now. The previous work was a bit dull so I ramped it up. The guy in charge of it before me was a real pussy.” She giggled, making a strange symbol with her fingers. //Yeah, that sounds about right…// “Anyway, I guess I’ll back up. As a student, I never really did well in class. I wasn’t one for school, you know? I didn’t like the rigid structure of it.” <<Kai>> nodded. <<He>> could definitely picture that, though imagining Mel younger gave <<him>> a strange mental image. “So, I spent most of my time on //fun// projects instead of the silly ones my teachers had assigned. Of course, they didn’t like that, but they also couldn’t argue with the results.” She tapped her finger on her forehead. “What kind of… results…?” <<Kai>> brought <<his>> mug to <<his>> lips and began drinking again. “Oh, you know. The normal stuff, nothing groundbreaking. I developed some new skills and unlocked a relic or two.” She shrugged her shoulders. //Relics?// “Tell me about the relics.” Mel sighed. “Hold on. I need another drink.” She left the table and returned a bit later with //three// fresh mugs that time. “He knows I’m just coming back again anyway.” She grinned, motioning toward the bartender. “So where was I?” “The relics.” “Oh, right! Well, getting your hands on one to begin with is hard enough. I practically had to //kill// for my first one.” //Practically…?// “So anyway, I found this relic and studied it for a while. I had done some reading on relic cracking and wanted to give it a shot on my own. You’ve read about cracking right?” <<Kai>> shook <<his>> head. “Oh…” Mel eyed <<him>> judgmentally, but curious. “Alright, here’s the thing. Basically, if you want the relic’s power, then you can’t just take it by force. You have to be careful. It’s kind of like dating a pretty girl—you can't just go straight for the finale, you’ve got to be gentle, coax her along first.” Mel’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve got to uncover her heart, learn her vulnerabilities.” She jabbed a finger into <<kais>> chest. “And then once you’ve found it, you’ve got to woo her. Convince her that you’re special, that you’re worth revealing what’s hidden. You snatch away her secrets and then—once you’ve got her disarmed—use them against her…” “Are you still talking about the relic…?” <<kai>> asked through nervous sips of <<his>> mug. “Yeah.” She blinked, crossing her legs. “What? Are you a lightweight or something? Your face is looking red.” “No. I just wasn’t… It’s okay. You can keep going.” Mel rolled her eyes. “Where was I…?” “Your first relic.” “Yeah, that’s right… so I managed to get a piece of Judas’ silver. You know, //the// Judas.” Her eyes sparkled. “And then, I managed to unlock it.” <<Kai>> felt underwhelmed by the explanation. “But… //what// did you unlock? How did you do it?” She grinned, leaning forward. “A //lady// doesn’t kiss and tell.” She returned to her previous posture, draining one of her mugs. “Didn’t your mother teach you?” A lady? Given her normally insidious aura, imagining Mel as a lady—dressed in proper clothing, hair done up fancy—//was// a funny image. Plus, the alcohol had made her more light-hearted than usual. “What about the other relic then?” “Ah, now you’re asking too many questions.” “The skills you developed…?” She waved a hand. “I’d rather just show you. Talk is cheap and all that. Here.” She shoved another mug at <<him>>. “Have another.” Now //her// cheeks were turning red. <<Kai>> obliged, drinking from the mug she had given <<him>>, though <<he>> still hadn’t finished <<his>> own. How many drinks had he finished…? “So why all the questions?” Mel asked, one eyebrow rising. “I’m just interested in the lab.” “Bullshit.” “Huh?” “//Bull. Shit.// You’re not interested in my lab.” She was kind of right. The lab scared <<him>>, honestly—especially after what had happened with her metal egg. “What //are// you interested in, $Kai?” She leaned closely into <<him>>, resting against <<his>> chest as she drank some more. At <<his>> core, <<he>> <<was>> mostly interested in uncovering the secrets of the Holy Order and their god, as well as the Monastery in general. But, with Mel, <<he>> couldn’t help but feel that <<he>> wanted to learn more about //her//. She had a mysterious air to her. <<He>> looked her in the eyes and decided to be honest. “I guess that I find you interesting…” <<he>> said, blushing. She smiled. “There we go—finally, the truth. But let’s //really// be honest here. You’re my student, so I’ll nip this in the bud. Nothing’s going to happen between us; you’re too… //valuable// for me to waste you like that.” Her voice was sober, despite her obvious inebriation. //Waste me…?// She separated herself from <<kais>> body, returning fully to her seat. “What exactly do you mean by that?” She rose, standing and gripping the last remaining mug with beer in it. “You’ll see…” She walked away, her latex undersuit peeking out from underneath her disheveled clothing as she threw the empty mug to the ground behind her. <<Kai>> shook <<his>> head. //What the fuck was that about…?// Mel always left <<him>> questioning, though <<he>> felt like <<he>> had seen a different side of her this time. When would she show <<him>> what she had learned? <<He>> needed more answers from her than she had given. @@.center; <<link 'Ω Ω' 'BeerMarket'>><<endCutscene>><</link>> @@ <<else>> The other magi talked amongst themselves as they drank. Nobody appeared interested in sitting near <<kai>>. Maybe <<he>> should wait to buy another beer until somebody he knows is already there. @@.center; <<link 'Ω Ω' 'BeerMarket'>><<endCutscene>><</link>> @@ <</if>>

<<Kai>> walked behind the bar, grabbing one of the metal mugs. <<He>> positioned the mug underneath the keg’s tap and gripped the tap handle, fingers tightening, ready to pull—ready to steal. <<His>> arm muscles tightened as <<he>> began pulling. The sky flashed red, strobing. A high-pitched siren blared in <<kais>> ear. <<He> jumped, surprised by the noise, letting go of the handle. Just as <<he>> let go of the tap, the color of the sky faded back to normal. The ringing in <<his>> ears ceased. It was peaceful—quiet. The breeze blew <<kais>> hair, birds chirped in the distance. It was just like nothing had happened. Where had that noise come from? What about the light? The alarm had stopped when <<he>> let go of the tap. Maybe if <<he>> tried to steal again, it would come back. There was only one way to find out. <<link '<<Kai>> grabbed the tap again.' 'StealBeer2'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> put the mug back and left the stall.' 'Fork2'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> returned the mug back under the spigot, clinking metal against metal. <<He>> gripped the tap handle, ready to pull. Sure enough, the lights came back. The ringing too. This time, <<kai>> held <<his>> position, no longer surprised. The siren wailed. The lights strobed. <<Kai>> simply pulled on the tap, valve creaking open slowly. //“Stop what you’re doing at once.”// A voice this time? <<Kai>> turned <<his>> head, scanning <<his>> surroundings, but <<he>> <<was>> entirely alone; there was no other soul to be found. The valve creaked closer to open, the beer just about ready to flow through the spigot and into the waiting mug. //”Theft within the Monastery walls is a cardinal sin. Cease your devilry immediately or face the wrath of God.”// The valve was on the cusp of opening. One more little flinch and the drink would flow. <<link '<<Kai>> poured the beer.' 'StealBeer3a'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> put the mug back.' 'StealBeer3b'>><</link>>

The valve clicked open, beer flowing out the spigot and splashing into the metal mug waiting below. <<Kai>> filled the mug, closed the spigot, and threw <<his>> head back, draining the drink, gulping down bubble and foam. The beer was okay. Not bad, not great. Emptying the drink, <<kai>> threw the soiled mug down onto the wooden bar and walked away, siren still blaring in <<his>> ears. As <<he>> approached a path, a figure materialized in front of <<him>>, cloaked in white, masculine face visible. “A thief,” he said. A familiar voice. It was the same one that had spoken to <<kai>> during the alarm. “You stole the private property of another—a sacred right, sullied. Tarnished.” <<Kai>> licked the foam from <<his>> lips. There was no use denying <<his>> crime. “As God’s children—consecrated, holy offerings—we cannot afford to sully our bodies with such morally bereft behavior. You will pay for your sin.” <<Arrested>>

<<Kai>> reached the statues with blurry faces. <<He>> <<was>> standing outside the entrance to the temple. This path continued onwards towards another building opposite the statues<<if !$DescribeFork3>><<set $DescribeFork3 to true>>. That structure looked larger than the temple, even from afar; it was the castle <<he>> had seen from outside the walls. Following the path away from the waterfall led back to the four-way fork by the markets<<else>> and back to the four-way fork<</if>>. <<link '<<Kai>> walked through the temple entrance.' 'Temple'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> walked towards the larger building.' 'RefectoryEntrance'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> took the path back towards the fork.' 'Fork2'>><</link>>

<<if $DescribeTemple and !$MeetFaceless>>\ <<set $MeetFaceless to true>><<Cutscene>>\ Standing in the temple hallway, <<kai>> approached one of the nuns from behind. She was walking slowly and steadily down the hallway as if taking extra care to be graceful with her movements. Her head remained bowed, facing downwards even as she took the corners. Could she see where she was going or did she have the temple’s layout memorized? “Excuse me,” <<kai>> said, following after her. She didn’t turn around to face <<him>>. “Excuse me,” <<he>> said again, raising <<his>> voice. But despite <<his>> efforts, she continued to walk along the hallway, paying <<him>> no mind. //Okay, then… I suppose I’ll have to be more straightforward if I want to get her attention.// <<Kai>> walked up directly behind the nun and placed <<his>> hand upon her shoulder, forcefully turning her around to face <<him>>. “Excuse me,” <<he>> said again. The nun raised her head and faced <<him>>—well, her hood was pointing in <<kais>> direction anyway. And though she was cloaked entirely in black fabric, it was as if she were looking into <<kais>> eyes. She gently brought her cloaked hands together and finally spoke. “How may I be of assistance to you?” Her voice was calm, yet cold and detached. “Yes. I //could// use some help.” She tilted her head sideways, but didn’t say anything, patiently waiting for <<kai>> to continue with <<his>> request. “Well…” <<He>> scratched <<his>> head nervously. “I'm new to the temple. Do you think you could show me around? I’m not exactly sure where I’m going, and you seem to have the hang of it.” “I’m sorry, but I can’t.” She remained perfectly still as she spoke, unflinching. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” “Huh? What do you mean you can’t?” “I can’t,” she said flatly. That wasn’t really an answer at all. And of course she could help, all of the areas were accessible and surely she knew enough about the place to explain them. “Okay, well can you at least tell me your name? I’m $Kai, by the way.” <<He>> extended a hand for an introductory handshake. Talking to a woman without her eyes visible made <<him>> feel uncomfortable; maybe knowing her name could help to put <<him>> somewhat at ease. “The Faceless Ones do not have names,” she said, choosing not to acknowledge or respond to <<his>> outstretched hand. Instead, her hands remained clasped together before her—unmoving. “Rather, we have a spirit of dedication which grants us our holy identity.” <<Kai>> had no idea what that meant. “The faceless…?” <<He>> shamefully brought <<his>> outstretched hand back to <<his>> side. “Yes, the Faceless.” She nodded. “I mean. What are they?” “//I// am Faceless,” she said, her face obscured by the dark shroud. But she wasn’t really faceless. Of course she had a face beneath the fabric, didn’t she? <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure why, but <<he>> felt a striking urge in that instant to pull the fabric away from her face and expose her flesh, proving her wrong. <<link '<<Kai>> ripped the fabric off of her head.' 'FacelessDisrobe'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> respected her privacy enough to leave her outfit alone.' 'FacelessRobed'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<Kai>> stood inside the temple. Nuns walked around <<him>>, completely covered in black fabric from head to toe, going about their business. Even their faces were draped in black. They kept their hands clasped together and heads pointed down whenever they could. <<if !$DescribeTemple>><<set $DescribeTemple to true>>Sometimes their hands were needed, such as to open a door or hold an object. Sometimes they lifted their heads, observing something momentarily. They must have been able to see through the fabric. They navigated around corners, through the winding passageway. Despite that, <<kai>> couldn't discern their personal features; none of their faces were visible. Though differing slightly in height and proportion, each nun had a female figure, slimming near the stomach. The fabric was tight enough to discern that. The outfit confused <<kai>>. It was both modest and immodest at the same time. The priests had different outfits. Their faces exposed, each priest was clearly male. Their garb was more ornate, primarily consisting of white robes with golden trim. Though the uniform didn't accentuate their figures, it wasn't as modest as the female version—some skin showed. As <<kai>> walked the hallways, <<he>> observed fewer priests than nuns. Maybe the priests worked in the background, or maybe women were more interested in enlisting at the temple for some reason. <<Kai>> wandered, undisturbed. It was peaceful here. <<He>> found a path toward the center of the building, opening into an uncovered courtyard area. <<He>> also remembered the path to the chapel, where <<he>> had been consecrated by God.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the atrium.' 'Atrium'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> entered the chapel.' 'Chapel'>><</link>> */ \ <<link '<<Kai>> exited the temple.' 'Fork3'>><</link>> <</if>>

If she didn’t believe it herself, then <<kai>> would prove it to her. <<He>> extended <<his>> arm and gripped the fabric of the “faceless” nun’s gown in <<his>> fingers. <<He>> gripped near her hood, only intending to pull it off of her head and expose just her face, but as <<he>> tensed <<his>> muscles—pulling and removing the outfit from her body—<<he>> found that the entire thing was one single piece of fabric that covered her from head to toe. So, instead of revealing only the nun’s face, the entire outfit began to slip over her body from top to bottom, first revealing her toes and feet and then sliding over her bare legs. “No!” she said. “What are you doing?!” <<They>> were still in a public hallway. Other magi’s heads began to turn towards <<them>> as she screamed. <<link '<<Kai>> continued to pull and expose her further.' 'FacelessDisrobe2'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> let go.' 'FacelessRelinquish'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> relinquished <<his>> grip on the gown, allowing her to feverishly pull it back down and cover the parts of her body that had been exposed. //She //does// still have a body! I knew it.// <<He>> had seen her flesh, even if it had only been toes and whatnot. <<Kai>> had confirmed that she still had a physical body beneath the gown. But //of course// she did; <<kai>> had been expecting that—the alternative would have been absurd. This woman was clearly just confused, brainwashed somehow into believing that she no longer had a body of her own. “I’m sorry,” <<kai>> said. The nun ruffled the fabric, doing her best to get it back into place. The other magi in the hallway muttered amongst themselves as they nervously went back about their business, leaving <<kai>> and the nun alone. “What was the meaning of that?!” she protested, emotion in her voice. “Didn’t you see? You have a body underneath the robe. I just proved it. I saw your toes.” “You saw no such thing!” she exclaimed, her detached manner of speaking now entirely forgotten. “I have //no toes//. How dare you?” <<Kai>> scratched <<his>> head. <<He>> had definitely seen her toes. Unable to figure out another way to convince her, <<he>> decided to go along with it for now. “Okay, you’re right. I didn’t see any toes. I’m not sure what I was thinking. I’ve been foolish.” The nun sighed and nodded. “That’s right. Good.” She finished smoothing out her robe as calmness returned, reassured and comforted by <<kais>> confirmation that she, in fact, had no toes. “But still. Why would you remove my robe like that? You could have //killed// me.” “Huh?” “My robe. You tried to remove it? Don’t you remember?” She placed a hand on her hip. “Yeah.” <<Kai>> shook <<his>> head. “I know that. But I mean, how would it kill you?” “Ah, yes. I forget your ignorance—innocent as a foal.” She clasped her hands together again. “You must not have the ill will or malice in your heart which I presumed. My judgment is premature. Forgive me, Lord. I shall explain to you, though do not expect a fulfillment of any future requests afterwards.” She wagged a cloaked finger. “Okay…” “Faceless Ones have no bodies, for we are merely spirits. Therefore, we required tethering to this world; without a tether, a spirit would float freely. Our robes are the bonds which tether us.” She ran a black hand across her chest and down her stomach, sliding against the black fabric. “Without my tether, I would float away, lost to the sinful whims of this physical realm. Maybe this is not a death in the way a mortal such as yourself would perceive it, but to a spirit like myself, to lose control of my fate in such a way, to float aimlessly for all eternity, it is tantamount to eternal condemnation. My tether must //never// be removed. Do you understand? Do you now see how grave an act you wished to commit?” The longer she talked, the more detached and pedantic her voice became, though still accusatory. //That’s some contrived nonsense if I’ve ever heard it…// “Yeah,” <<kai>> nodded, feigning agreement. “I’m //so// sorry. I didn’t realize I almost killed you.” <<He>> did <<his>> best to seem sincere, though <<he>> did genuinely regret upsetting her. The nun nodded. “I accept this apology. Though, you must never do such a thing again. You would not enjoy the consequences of committing such a crime.” “Um, what are—” “I must leave you now.” The shrouded nun bowed and turned, walking away down the hallway. “Wait!” But she paid <<kai>> no more attention, leaving <<him>> with no real way of identifying her in the future. She was interesting<<if $FemalePreference is true>>, and even cute?<<else>>.<</if>> <<Kai>> wanted to talk to her again. But how <<was>> <<he>> supposed to manage that without a name or a face…? @@.center; <<link 'Ω Ω' 'Temple'>><<endCutscene>><</link>> @@

<<Kai>> continued pulling on the gown, ripping it off of the nun’s body. <<He>> wanted to see what lay hidden beneath; <<he>> needed to see her face—prove to her that she was being deceived. Despite her protests and squirming, <<kai>> freed her body, completely removing her black gown as it fluttered through the air. The onlookers in the hallway gasped, hands over their mouths. <<Kai>> exposed her completely. First her legs, then her hips, her stomach, her chest, her shoulders. And her face<<if $FemalePreference is true>>, her exquisite face<</if>>. She was beautiful—black on white. She had pale skin, the lightest shade imaginable; sunlight must have been foreign to the nuns beneath their gowns. <<Kai>> swore <<he>> could see her veins as they pumped. But besides her skin, she was black: her hair, her eyes, her piercings…? //They're on her body...// But she was naked<<if $FemalePreference is true and $SmutFilter is true>>; as <<kai>> looked closer <<he>> could see that there actually were some little splotches of pink to her: her nipples and her pussy lips. <</if>> Apparently the nuns here wore nothing else beneath their robes, probably owing to the fact they sincerely didn’t believe there was anything underneath that required covering… Modesty must not be a priority for people who don't believe in physical bodies. <<Kai>> threw the oppressive gown to the side. The nun shivered, her eyes struck with horror as she crippled, falling to the floor. She held her hands up in front of her face, fingers shaking. “What have you done…?” Her voice quivered. “You’ve killed me!” She clawed at her face, drawing blood with her long nails. “You’ve killed me!” she screamed again. The other magi began to edge away from her, putting distance between them. “I’m dead! I’m dead! I’m dead!” she said as she clawed herself repeatedly. “This cursed face…” She began to sob, blood and tears mixing upon her cheeks. <<link '<<Kai>> comforted her.' 'ComfortFaceless'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> made a run for it.' 'RunFaceless'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> walked up to her, approaching slowly to keep her from lashing out at <<him>> in her despair. “There, there…” <<he>> said, inching closer. “It’s going to be alright.” <<He>> held a hand out toward her. “No, it’s not!” She swiped at <<kai>>, just managing to graze <<him>> with her nails as <<he>> flinched backwards. “Come on, now. Let me touch you.” “No! Your touch is the very reason I’m damned!” “You’re not damned. You’re not dead. You’re okay.” <<Kai>> said it with the most supportive tone <<he>> could muster. And just as she slumped down, finally allowing <<kai>> to touch her head and rub her hair, somebody popped out of the gathering crowd. “What is the meaning of this commotion?!” A priest emerged, his white robe fluttering behind him. “My God…” His eyes went wide as he soaked in the picture before him—a nun defiled and <<kai>> touching her. “What have you done? Back away from her!” <<Kai>> complied, stepping back. The priest knelt by the shivering nun, whispering to her. Eventually, they rose together, his arm and shoulder supporting her as he dragged her slowly across the hallway. His piercing eyes shot towards <<kai>>, a fire burning in them. “Take him! Take the traitor!” he shouted, pointing at <<kai>>. <<Kais>> vision flashed red, a siren blared, and a masculine figure cloaked in white appeared before <<him>>, materializing out of thin air. He looked first at the sobbing nun and then turned back to <<kai>>. “What have you done…?” He said in a low voice. And then he was firm. “You’re coming with me.” <<Arrested>>

<<Kai>> had made a mistake. Her reaction was too severe, the situation too extreme. There was nothing <<he>> could do about it now except for run. So that’s what <<he>> did. <<He>> turned around and booked it down the temple hallway, leaving the naked nun to sob as the crowd muttered around her. <<Kai>> couldn’t exactly remember the way out, but <<he>> took some turns and <<was>> just about to make it out of the building when <<his>> vision flashed red, a siren blared, and a masculine figure cloaked in white appeared before <<him>>, materializing out of thin air. <<Arrested>>

But <<he>> resisted the urge. Such uncouth behavior wouldn’t make a good first impression on a woman. Instead, <<he>> mumbled in confusion. “You’re… Faceless…?” “Yes.” There was a silent pause as they seemed to have reached some sort of impasse in the conversation. The nun’s answers were frustratingly brief, giving <<him>> little to work with. As <<they>> stood awkwardly facing one another, other magi walked along the temple hallway, passing <<them>> by and shooting judgemental glances <<their>> way. “Have you always been faceless…?” <<kai>> eventually managed to ask. “No, but also yes. I once had a physical face, but my spirit is now eternally faceless.” “Right. Well, when you did have a face…” The sentence sounded absurd to <<him>>, but <<he>> pressed on despite that. “...did you also have a name?” “Of course.” “And what was that name?” “...” The nun went silent and fell to her knees, placing her head against the stone floor. “Um…” <<Kai>> held out <<his>> hands, but <<wasnt>> sure what to do with them. Had <<he>> somehow asked an improper question? “$Kai. You ask a Faceless for a deadname? Such a thing is unspeakable…” She began to shake, shuddering against the stone floor. “I’m sorry. Should I not have done that?” “No… You should //not//. No <<if $Feminine>>wo<</if>>man has ever dared do such a thing to me…” Her voice was no longer calm and collected as it had been before. Now, her voice quivered and shook, deeply emotional. But still, it was hard to tell what she was feeling from only her voice. <<Kai>> <<was>> realizing how much <<he>> relied on visual cues to read people’s expressions and gauge how <<his>> conversations were going. “Never… Never before.” She kept on. What did she want? Was she waiting for <<him>> to say something else? She hadn’t actually answered the original question. “Hey, look. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to get to know you, that’s all. Asking for a person's name is pretty standard as far as that sort of thing goes, you know?” She stood back up, still shaky. “You truly want to know a Faceless? This is your desire?” She suddenly sounded confused, yet awestruck as if lost in contemplation. <<link 'Yes. This woman had sparked <<kais>> interest.' 'StayFaceless'>><</link>> <<link 'No. <<Kai>> had already had enough of her strange behavior.' 'LeaveFaceless'>><</link>>

“Actually, never mind. This is getting too weird for me. I’m sorry to have bothered you… Faceless One.” <<He>> bowed before turning to leave her. Was that how <<he>> was supposed to say goodbye to somebody like her? <<Kai>> walked down the hallway without turning back to look at her, but she said nothing. There was only the sound of the crowd filtering past <<him>>. She was gone, for now. //Did I dodge a bullet? She seemed insane…// @@.center; <<link 'Ω Ω' 'Temple'>><<endCutscene>><</link>> @@

“Yeah, sure.” <<Kai>> shrugged <<his>> shoulders. <<He>> //had// wanted to know her, but after such a display, <<he>> <<was>> beginning to doubt <<himself>>. If anything, at least she would be interesting. “But I am Faceless. How //could// you know me? I am but a spirit without a physical form.” <<Kai>> stuck a finger out and poked her, ruffling her fabric, feeling the resistance of flesh beneath her outfit. “No. You’re still a body. See? I felt it.” <<He>> smiled at her, desperately hoping to break the tension between <<them>>. “I am… a body…?” Her back curled and her head raised toward the ceiling. “I am a body.” <<Kai>> chuckled. “Yeah.” She raised her cloaked arm and poked at <<kai>> with her finger, just as <<he>> had done. “Your body,” she said with a distubed and twisted childlike wonder. //Okay, there’s something seriously wrong with her head… Should I keep going with this?// Just then, a priest walked down the hallway, happening upon the two of <<them>>. “Ah, what do we have here?” he said, taking particular note of the nun, whose finger was still pressed into <<kais>> chest. “Oh, it’s nothing,” <<kai>> urged, grabbing her arm and placing it back at her side. “Is that right?” The priest raised an eyebrow, his gaze focused on the nun. “Is this true, Faceless One?” “It is not nothing, sir. This one tells me that I have been reverted back to my physical body. Am I truly no longer a spirit?” There was a detached panic in her voice as she pleaded to the priest, as if she didn't dare believe the words. The priest sighed, not bothering to attempt concealing his annoyance with <<kai>>. He walked up to the nun, placing a hand gently upon her head. “No, do not believe <<his>> lies. You are most certainly a spirit, sister. I can feel it.” The nun gasped in excitement. “Thank you, sir! I suppose I was worried for no reason.” The priest nodded. “Faceless One. Do not take such words seriously unless they come from a fellow brother or sister. Or from elsewhere within the temple. Don’t you know this?” “I’m sorry. I forget sometimes.” Was this nun an airhead or something? No, that didn’t seem right; something about the whole situation was just odd. The priest chuckled. “Off with you then.” He patted her on the back, sending her along her way. She bowed to the priest and then returned to her walk as if nothing had happened at all, regaining her previous graceful composure, moving with that slow but steady, purposeful gait. As she disappeared down a hallway, the priest shifted his attention to <<kai>>. “What was that about?” he said, accusation in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” <<kai>> stuttered. “Should I not have talked to her?” “Sisters are not ‘her,’ for they are faceless. Only those of a body may be called ‘him’ or ‘her.’ Have you not been instructed on the ways of this temple, mage?” “It’s $Kai. And no, I haven’t.” The priest sighed again. “I see. Come with me.” <<They>> walked together, the priest leading the way through the twisting hallways, passing by many more Faceless as <<they>> went. “Faceless. They reside here,” he said, waving his arms. Unlike us priests, they are bound to this place and may not leave, for their duty is too sacred.” “And what is their duty?” The priest turned to face <<him>> momentarily before answering. “You are a curious one.” His attention went back to the winding hallways. “Their duty is to maintain the purity of our people by sacrificing their femininity, their physically tempting attributes.” “Sacrificing their… When you say purity, you mean //sexual// purity?” Azrael had mentioned that sex was a sore subject inside the walls. The priest winced. “How crass. We are inside of a temple, <<boy>>! Watch your tongue.” He looked around to see if anybody had heard and then relaxed. “Basically, yes. The Faceless are vestal, the purest of us all—shielded from sin, no longer tethered by the anchor that is carnal desire.” //That poor girl… What have they done to her?// Though <<kai>> could understand the logic behind the priest’s explanation, <<he>> couldn’t accept it as right. Covering a person’s entire body—even their face—and then brainwashing them; there was an oppressiveness to it, even if these women had taken on such a role of their own accord. No person should exist in such a state, deprived of their basic humanity. But maybe there //was// something <<he>> could do to help that faceless woman. Maybe <<he>> could set her free somehow, convince her to leave the temple. Until then, <<he>> would have to avoid suspicion, something <<he>> had been failing at so far. “I see. Yes, that does make more sense. I apologize for filling her—I mean, the faceless one’s—mind with my poisonous words. It wasn’t my intention.” “Yes, yes.” The priest smiled. “That’s quite alright. Our way of life is different and newer magi sometimes require time to adjust to it. It is to be expected. Now, if you find that you’ve taken a liking to the temple, I implore you to seek out Mark. He is our monk in charge of training up the little ones with hidden potential, magi such as yourself.” The priest peered at <<kais>> forehead, validating his statement. <<set $SeekMark to true>> “Mark. Yes, I’ll do that. Thank you, priest.” <<Kai>> bowed. The priest bowed back and pointed <<kai>> in the direction of the atrium as <<they>> parted ways, . @@.center; <<link 'Ω Ω' 'Temple'>><<endCutscene>><</link>> @@

<<if $SeekMark and !$MeetMark>><<Cutscene>>\ <<Kai>> entered the atrium and saw a monk-like figure crouched near a flower bed. <<He>> approached the monk from behind. He was dressed in a white, full-body robe with a belt tied around his waist and brown wrappings around his forearms and calves. His bald head was clearly visible, shining in the sunlight of the courtyard. He was bent over, tending to some of the plants. <<Kai>> tapped him on the shoulder. The monk held up a finger over his shoulder and then quickly returned to his work, carefully pruning. “Ah, yes. All done,” he said, standing up straight and turning around to acknowledge <<kai>> as he brushed the dirt from his hands, rubbing them together. “And how can I help you?” “Hello. My name is $Kai. I was told that I should seek out a monk named Mark if I was interested in becoming more involved in the temple. Is that you?” “Hm.” The monk raised an eyebrow. “And what has sparked this interest of yours, //$Kai//?” <<link '<<Kai>> told the truth.' 'MarkTruth'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> lied.' 'MarkLie'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<Kai>> stood within the temple’s atrium. <<if !$DescribeAtrium>><<set $DescribeAtrium to true>>The archways surrounding the atrium had no doors and they encircled the area, allowing entry from any of the inner hallways of the temple. Bushes, vines, and flowers lined the surrounding stone walls. The space wasn’t particularly large, but it was open at the top, with no ceiling. Air and sunlight filtered in from above, a gentle breeze washing over the space every so often. Birds chirped, flying down and landing on a large tree that grew in the center. Around the tree, there were little gardens scattered about a large carpet of healthy, green grass.<</if>> Maybe <<kai>> could grow something here if <<he>> had the required seeds and knowledge. /* <<link '<<Kai>> entered the library.' 'TempleLibrary'>><</link>> */ \ <<link '<<Kai>> entered the chapel.' 'Chapel'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> exited the temple.' 'Fork3'>><</link>> <</if>>

“I’m just… curious. I’d like to learn more about the temple and the magi within it,” <<kai>> said, careful with <<his>> words. <<He>> didn’t want to lie, but <<he>> also didn’t want to say anything offensive and ruin <<his>> chances at gathering information about the nuns. <<MarkBowl>> “Wait. Are you Mark?” <<MarkDealOffer>>

“I’m interested in serving God, of course. Just like the other servants of the temple.” <<Kai>> gave the answer despite knowing the real reason was <<his>> interest in the nuns and any other shadowy figures dwelling deeper within the temple. “Serving God…” the monk repeated back, voice trailing off. “It is a heavy burden. Are you really prepared for such a thing?” “The priests and nuns seem okay to me. It’s honest work. How difficult could it be?” The monk sat down in the grass, legs crossed, hands on his knees. “How difficult could it be?” He looked up at the sky while birds chirped, playing in a bird bath behind them. “It’s an unknowable answer. At least, you can’t truly know how difficult it is until you’ve done it for yourself and there’s no longer a reason to ask.” “It was rhetorical.” “Ah, yes. Of course.” The monk chuckled. “Rhetoric. It’s my mistake.” He made circles around his kneecaps with his fingers. “Though, the pain of another is often imperceptible, wouldn’t you say?” His eyes remained upward. “What do you mean?” “What is difficulty but pain? The feeling of unbearable discomfort.” He lowered his head and stared at <<kai>> with intensity. “The yearning to abandon course and veer off towards more familiar waters. All men are tested by their pain.” <<Kai>> rubbed <<his>> forehead. “I’m sorry. Are you Mark?” The monk closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, pausing for a moment before letting it out. <<MarkBowl>> <<MarkDealOffer>>

A bowl of sand? A cryptic monk who spoke of pain? It was nonsense. “No thanks. I’m not interested,” <<kai>> said. “Very well,” the monk said, too satisfied with himself for <<kai>> to take him seriously. Annoyed, <<kai>> turned away and left the courtyard, determined to uncover more information about the nuns on his own.

“I’ll take the deal,” <<kai>> said. “Very well.” The monk nodded, stepping up to the pillar. He stared down at the bowl of sand and curled his fist into a ball, lifting it up towards his chest. “What are you doing?” The monk then stepped back with one foot, bending his knees and raising his fist above his shoulder, his other arm extended out in front of him. It looked like some sort of battle stance. And then, with a smooth motion, he straightened his readied arm and punched the bowl. Not actually the bowl itself, but the sand inside of it. <<Kai>> heard a faint crunch. The monk raised his fist from inside the bowl as he lifted the other hand and then plunged his other fist into the bowl. The punches were swift and ferocious but grounded, like a scorpion striking with its tail. He repeated the motion for a while, alternating between hands, pumping only his arms as the rest of his body remained still. It was an impressive display of physical discipline and control. The monk ceased his punching and straightened his legs, stepping back from the bowl and returning to his normal, relaxed posture. He placed his hands together and bowed toward the pillar. “It is now your turn,” he said, turning to face <<kai>>. “My turn?” “Yes. This is how you prove your worthiness.” “By pounding sand?” “By remaining diligent despite the searing of pain.” //This guy’s nuts.// But was the monk really any crazier than the priests or the nuns? Or God, for that matter? At this point, the whole temple seemed insane, so it was to be expected. “Okay. Okay.” <<Kai>> walked forward, approaching the pillar. <<He>> did <<his>> best to imitate the monk’s form, contorting <<himself>> into some approximation of the punching stance <<he>> had just witnessed. It felt awkward, remaining still with <<his>> knees and elbows bent. //He made it look so easy.// “I punch it now?” The monk simply nodded. //Now he’s quiet…?// <<Kai>> took a deep breath. How bad could it hurt? It was just sand. <<He>> had walked on it before at the beach. It could hurt when it got hot, but it was pretty soft. <<Kai>> straightened <<his>> elbow and let out an awkward punch, managing to direct <<his>> knuckles into the bowl. But just as <<his>> skin touched, <<he>> recoiled. //Ouch!// Intense pain shot through <<his>> hand. <<His>> knuckles felt like they were burning, the skin seared. Hand shaking, <<kai>> held up <<his>> fist and exmained it. Despite the aftershocks of pain, it looked perfectly fine. Healthy and undamaged. “What is this?! Some kind of trick?” <<kai>> said to the monk. But he simply made a fist and pointed back at the bowl, signaling for <<kai>> to return to <<his>> punching. <<link '<<Kai>> kept going.' 'ContSand'>><<set $SandPunchFinish to true>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> quit.' 'QuitSand'>><</link>>

“Persistence and dedication. The keys to harnessing your faith and discovering true power,” Mark said. “Holy strength.” “My faith? What does this have to do with faith?” <<Kai>> nursed <<his>> reddening knuckles. “It does. Everything is about faith. Without it, there is no life, no thought. No hope.” //I don’t think so.// <<Kai>> didn’t believe in the magi’s religion, yet the world was all still there. <<He>> could still think and feel. “How do you think you breathe? Or laugh or cry? It is all faith, from the bottom to the top. From the single grain of sand up to the tingle it causes on your nerve. Maybe you don’t recognize it, but it’s there.” “God, huh…?” It always came back to that. “God.” Mark nodded. “Go on, then. Again.” <<Kai>> sighed, hesitant to approach the bowl. “It’s alright. Pain may be felt, but it’s less real than you think.” A sly grin spread across the monk’s face. “It’s only a feeling. Temporary, but necessary.” “Less real?” “Less real. Fleeting, ephemeral.” The monk had a strange way of talking, as if he thought he knew more than he actually did. It threw <<kai>> off balance. “Why should I punch it again? What’s the point? And more importantly, why does it burn me?” “You’re a curious soul. That’s good, but you must learn to accept, to embrace, without an explanation. Clear your mind and punch the sand again. Accept the pain.” “That’s really not helpful.” Was Mark like Azrael, a figure with real knowledge who kept it hidden? Or was he just blowing smoke up <<kais>> ass? There //was// a cool certainty, a calmness to his words. //Fine. Whatever…// <<Kai>> approached the bowl again and clenched <<his>> fist. Mark remained silent, simply standing straight with his hands clenched behind his back as he watched. <<Kai>> thrust <<his>> first punch into the bowl and felt the familiar searing pain shoot into <<his>> skin and up through <<his>> knuckles. //Ouch!// <<He>> recoiled, quickly pulling <<his>> arm back. //This bastard…// But <<he> had to keep going—one punch wasn’t enough. <<He>> sighed and readied <<his>> other fist. “No,” Mark said. “Same fist.” //Same fist…?// <<He>> gazed at <<his>> unharmed hand. <<His>> instincts told <<him>> to argue, but <<he>> didn’t bother. Instead, <<he>> obediently curled the damaged fist back together. Though <<kai>> could definitely feel the burns, <<his>> skin still appeared unharmed. <<He>> punched again, gritting <<his>> teeth against the pain. Thunk. Sand and pain. <<He>> pulled <<his>> fist out slower this time, somehow able to withstand the instant recoil from before. <<He>> <<was>> gradually gaining control over <<his>> reflexes. “Again.” <<He>> punched again and again. Pain spread, the tingling moving up <<his>> arm and through <<his>> shoulder. Sweat dripped from <<his>> forehead, smoking as it touched the hot sand. The pain began to blur, morphing steadily from a series of sharp stabs into a constant hum, a vibrating discomfort. <<His>> mind began to cloud over, no longer recognizing where each punch began and where it ended. And, as <<kai>> began to be unable to distinguish between punches, the discomfort of the burning slowly subsided as <<he>> let go, embracing the tingling that spread through <<his>> body. Mark grabbed <<his>> arm before <<he>> could plunge it down again. “The pain has lost its control over you.” <<Kai>> breathed heavily as <<he>> turned to face Mark. “No longer do you fear it. No longer do you seek to avoid it.” The monk pressed a hand into <<kais>> chest. “Master your pain and you master your self.” <<Kai>> nodded, <<his>> mind still fuzzy, too fuzzy to manage any words. “You have great potential. I expect to see you here more often.” Mark grabbed the bowl of sand, slipping it back into his robe and left the atrium, slipping into one of the temple hallways. The birds chirped in annoyance at the removal of their bathing bowl. <<Kai>> fell back onto the grass, leaning back and looking up at the tree in the middle of the yard. //What was the feeling…?// <<He>> had never felt anything like it before. It was certainlyly uncomfortable, yet strangely addictive. <<He>> laid back and closed <<his>> eyes, falling into an exhausted sleep. @@.center; <<link 'Ω Ω'>><<endCutscene>><<NextDay>><</link>> @@

//This isn’t worth it…// <<kai>> thought, nursing <<his>> knuckles. “I’m done with this.” <<He>> stepped away from the bowl. “Pain is merely discomfort,” the monk said. “You must stay the course if you wish to serve God.” <<link '<<Kai>> walked out of the atrium, leaving the sadistic monk behind.' 'Temple'>><<endCutscene>><</link>>

[[$Kai + " picked out a book to read."|HolyText]] [[$Kai + " entered the cloister."|Cloister]] [[$Kai + " walked through the strange bookcase."|TempleDungeon]]

[[$Kai + " examined a prisoner."|TemplePrisoner]] [[$Kai + " went back to the library."|TempleLibrary]] [[$Kai + " went through the strange hole in the ground."|TempleRelics]]

<<Kai>> stood inside the chapel. <<if $DescribeChapel and !$PercyFuneral>>\ <<Cutscene>><<set $PercyFuneral to true>>\ The chapel was packed with magi, filling the pews and spilling over into the rest of the spacious room; <<kai>> had never before seen a chapel so full. There was a casket sitting in front of the dais with flowers resting atop it and intricate carvings on the side of the wood. Unlike the funerals <<kai>> <<was>> accustomed to, there were no pictures of the deceased staged to commemorate the memory of their passing. Curious, and without an open seat, <<kai>> stood at the back of the room, leaning against the wall and waiting for the service to begin. Eventually, a priest walked toward the front of the chapel, approaching the casket. He knelt and laid a hand down upon it, muttering a quiet prayer as the crowd watched him. Then—finished with the prayer—he stood and turned around, taking a deep breath and composing himself. “Thank you all for coming…” he said, voice echoing through the room. As he opened his mouth, a bright light filled the throne behind him. It wasn’t bright enough to blind the audience, but it was bright enough to obscure the figure that was its source, leaving the glow alone visible to the eyes of the crowd. “May God bless this service.” The priest bowed towards the radiant throne in reverence as he said it. Turning back to face the crowd, the priest slid his hood down, revealing an aging, bald head and wrinkled skin. “Percy was my son…” His voice faded momentarily and he cleared his throat. “And just like me, he dedicated his life to the Holy Order. Though not exactly in the same way.” //Percy… Where have I heard that name before…?// “Unfortunately, there’s no point in opening this casket, as it’s empty—sadly, his body was unrecoverable, destroyed by the enemy…” The man’s eyes sank as his gaze shifted towards the back of the crowd. “Percy’s companions have assured me that he died heroically, in service to the greatest of all goods.” His eyes locked on to a few particular magi. <<Kai>> turned to look at them, and—now that <<he>> <<was>> paying closer attention—<<he>> saw that certain members of the crowd appeared older and oddly unfamiliar to <<him>>. Though <<kai>> hadn’t dwelt within the Monastery for long, <<he>> had still gotten a general feeling that these magi were out of place, as if they exuded auras of power which altered their very presence. <<Kai>> suddenly realized what <<he>> <<was>> feeling: they reminded <<him>> of Azrael in a way. Intimidating and dangerous. “Of course, I can’t speak to the details of his death, but I am able to say that his sacrifice saved many precious lives. My son died a hero…” //That’s right!// The memory of <<kais>> nightmares flooded back to <<him>> all at once. //Percy was that prisoner who had been tortured and eaten by a demon.// Wait, so it hadn’t been just a dream? Percy had been a real person… That meant the demons had been real too, that they were really out there somewhere. A shiver crept through <<kais>> body as fear set in on <<him>>. Why had the church sent Percy after those demons…? <<His>> gaze locked on Percy’s companions. //Have they fought demons too…?// “He was a kind boy…” Percy’s father continued, sharing stories from when his son had been small, and doing his best to honor the memory of the fallen mage. Percy’s companions nodded along, moved by the story. One of them—a woman—even shed a tear. //She has so many face piercings…// It was an odd sight—the only mage inside the walls with facial piercings that excessive was Mel. Who were these companions? What had Percy been doing in service to their god in order to be captured and killed by such horrendous monsters…? The funeral concluded with a song, the magi singing in beautiful harmony together. <<Kai>> did <<his>> best to mouth along with them. <<He>> could’ve sworn that the depicted figures in the stained-glass windows were dancing along to the song, the dazzling glass sparkling in the sunlight. Maybe it was just <<his>> imagination. God’s light extinguished from the throne and the crowd turned to leave, filtering out through the chapel entrance. Percy’s father gripped the casket and wheeled it to the side of the chapel, making his way through a dark corridor towards a back room. <<link '<<Kai>> approached the priest.' 'ApproachPercyFather'>><<set $ChapelBackroomAccess to true>><<endCutscene>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> left the chapel.' 'Temple'>><<endCutscene>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<if !$DescribeChapel>><<set $DescribeChapel to true>>It was a deep, large room with rows of woodens pews. The ceiling was high, as high as <<he>> had ever seen—the rafters seemed too far away. In front of the pews there was a dais, with a glowing throne sitting atop it. The windows were stained glass, depicting various epic scenes and stoic characters, ostensibly important figures in whatever religion the magi held. Curiously, as <<kai>> stared at the windows, <<he>> could just make out that they were slowly changing shape and color as the sunlight shifted, causing the depicted figures to animate at a snail’s pace. Maybe if <<he>> looked at them during a different time of day, <<he>> would see a different image. Lastly, but most imposingly, a giant statue stood erect in front of the dais. Its face was blurred, unrecognizable, though the rest of its figure was relatively unremarkable. Was it a statue of their god? <<Kai>> couldn’t tell if it had a female figure without a closer inspection.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> sat in a pew.' 'ChapelPew'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> approached the statue.' 'ChapelStatue'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> examined the windows.' 'ChapelWindows'>><</link>> <<ChapelNavigation>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> ran after Percy’s father, doing <<his>> best to weave through the flow of bodies moving in the opposite direction. <<He>> just managed to make it before running out of time, placing a hand down on the priest’s shoulder. “What is it?” He turned around, facing <<kai>>. “Oh. What can I do for you?” Closer up, <<kai>> could see that his eyes were sunken into their sockets, dark rings lining them. “Um, hi. Yeah, that was a nice speech you gave.” “Thank you.” He bowed without much enthusiasm. “You honor me. And my son.” His eyes drifted back to the casket and he sighed. “About your son…” How could <<he>> say it? The priest raised his brow in anticipation. “Did you know him too?” “Sort of… I met him once.” “Yeah, he had that effect on people. Leaving an immediate impression. A special soul.” <<link '“He didn’t suffer.”' 'PercyFuneral1'>><</link>> <<link '“He really was a hero.”' 'PercyFuneral2'>><</link>>

“He didn’t suffer,” <<kai>> said. “What?” The priest stared at <<his>> forehead. “I mean. You shouldn’t feel too bad about his pain. He didn’t feel it.” <<EndPercyFuneral>>

“He really was a hero,” <<kai>> said. “Yeah…” “No, really. He stayed faithful until the end.” “What?” The priest stared at <<his>> forehead. “I mean. He didn’t falter. He stayed the course.” <<EndPercyFuneral>>

<<Kai>> <<was>> seated in one of the pews. <<if !$DescribePew>><<set $DescribePew to true>>The seats were made of wood, though some of the rows were adorned with cushioning to make them more comfortable. The pattern on the cushioning seemed old-fashioned. <<Kai>> took a seat in one of the entirely wooden rows. On the floor in front of him lay another cushioned slab of wood, presumably for kneeling in prayer.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> knelt down and prayed.' 'ChapelPrayer'>><</link>> <<if !$LustSermon>><<link '<<Kai>> listened to a sermon.' 'ChapelSermon'>><</link>><</if>> <<ChapelNavigation>>

<<Kai>> knelt down, resting <<his>> knees against the cushioned slab on the floor in front of the pew. <<if !$DescribePrayer>><<set $DescribePrayer to true>><<He>> laced <<his>> fingers together and closed <<his>> eyes, bowing <<his>> head, imitating the actions <<he>> had seen other devout people take whenever they prayed. <<He>> had never desired to pray before and hadn’t cared to dedicate thought to whatever the proper form might be. Darkness. <<His>> eyes were closed, blocking out <<his>> vision and heightening <<his>> other senses. <<He>> could feel <<his>> breath more clearly, flowing through <<his>> nose, passing through <<his>> throat, and filling <<his>> lungs. <<He>> could feel skin on skin as <<his>> laced fingers held themselves together by the force of their own friction. But curiously, though the sensation in <<his>> hands was heightened, <<kai>> couldn’t tell one finger apart from another. All of the fingers melded together in <<his>> mind, losing their relative positions amongst one another as <<he>> tried to picture them in <<his>> mind’s eyes. They had become a tangled ball of sensation, floating through space. And <<he>> could hear vividly, every sound in the chapel—the shuffling of feet through the aisle beside <<him>>, the soft mutterings of a woman behind <<him>>, and the jangle of chains. //How do I do this? What do I say?// Talking to God seemed useless. It wasn’t as if he—or she—could hear what <<kai>> had to say. And if God really was omnipotent like most people seemed to believe, then why did <<he>> have to say the words out loud. Couldn’t God easily know <<his>> thoughts? Of course he could.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> said a quick prayer.' 'RealPrayer'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> rose from <<his>> position, content to have feigned prayer.' 'FeignPrayer'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> prayed. <<He>> felt something tingle within <<him>>. Was that God? No, it couldn’t be. In any event, <<he>> [[felt refreshed|ChapelPew]].

<<Kai>> muttered some nonsense, loudly enough for anybody watching to assume <<he>> had prayed. <<He>> then quickly stood and [[left the pew|Chapel]].

<<Cutscene>>\ As <<kai>> sat in a pew, other magi seated around <<him>>, a priest walked across the dais and approached the lectern. <<Kai>> didn’t specifically recognize him, but there were many priests dwelling within the temple, so they could be difficult to tell apart from one another. The priest hung a burning thurible from a curved rod—smoke trailing out of the gaps in the metal housing—before gripping the sides of the lectern with his hands and leaning forward to speak. “Welcome to the Lord’s chapel, holy magi,” he said. “You are God’s children…” He waved a hand, motioning to the gathered crowd. “You are blessed in Her eyes, and you will be further blessed today, in your strengthened devotion.” He paused, looking down at his notes and pulling on the collar of his robe. During the brief silence, <<kai>> could hear nothing but coughing dispersed through the crowd. The priest looked back up, collecting himself. “Before we begin, let us bow our heads in prayer.” His voice was softer. The crowd complied, bowing their heads; some even knelt down for the prayer. //Oh boy, here we go...// “Blessed Mother,” the priest said, “who watches over us. Use us as your weapons, your vassals who faithfully serve you. Use your great power, channel it through us to cleanse the blight from this world, the evil that taints. Purify our souls and keep us clean, that we might exterminate those corrupted by the foul darkness that is impurity.” He let out a deep breath. “Okay, you may raise your heads.” The crowd did so, returning their attention to the lectern. The priest continued. “Thank you all for gathering here today.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Lust. It is a dangerous temptation, for it is one of the //deadly// sins.” //Oh, no. Is this going to be one of those preachy sermons, more like a lecture from a disappointed parent?// <<Kai>> had been hoping for something more instructional, a lesson that might have given <<him>> more insight into the inner workings of the temple. A clue as to God’s secret schemings. <<link '<<Kai>> stuck around to hear the sermon on //lust//.' 'LustSermon'>><<set $LustSermon to true>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> walked out of the chapel.' 'Temple'>><<endCutscene>><</link>>

“Deadly temptation, succulent seduction. “The manipulative powers of the flesh are all around us, everywhere we look. There is no escaping it, for we are imperfect creatures with impure desires, destined to struggle within our own hearts, drawn by evil forces to lust after that which we should not have.” The priest stepped away from the lectern, walking across the dais as he spoke, his voice pounding through the room—there was something different about the acoustics in the chapel. He motioned to the side, curling his fingers “Of course, lust is such a charged word nowadays.” As he spoke, a nun entered, walked onto the dais from off to the side. She crossed the stage gracefully and, just like the other nuns, was fully cloaked from head to toe in black fabric. “When we think of lust, we naturally think of sex.” He gripped the nun by the shoulder, pulling her into him as his white robe fluttered. The smoke from the thurible shifted momentarily, wafting across his face and obscuring it. “And, of course, it’s not wrong to think that way. One may certainly lust after the body of another.” He looked down at the cloaked woman. “That is exactly why God’s daughters choose to become Faceless Ones.” He displayed her to the crowd. “Without a face, without a body, one cannot be corrupted by their own desires, nor can they corrupt those around them with the temptation of their natural beauty.” He nodded to the nun appreciatively, as if they were intimately familiar with one another. Without a word of instruction, she walked forward and kneeled at the front of the dais, curling her knees beneath her and lifting her arms at her sides, cloaked face staring out at the pews—silent and obedient. “My sister has made a great sacrifice! Not only for herself, but for all of you as well… She has given up her flesh, that she might be eternally pure.” The priest sniffled—clearly emotional for some reason—holding back tears. “An admirable deed! But not a necessary one.” The sunlight filtering through the windows hit her just right, illuminating her dark form. The priest approached her from behind and grabbed her, lifting her to her feet. “You may go now, Sister. Thank you for your help; you are appreciated.” The nun nodded to him and then slowly left the stage, still silent. The priest returned to his lectern and took a deep breath. “Not a necessary one…” He repeated as his voice gradually steadied. “No, magi //may// retain their bodies, of course. It is not required that you all dutifully commit yourselves to God like my sister here. But understand, though she may appear amazing, there is also a weakness in her sacrifice, a chip in her holy armor. We //need// some magi to retain their faces, their physical forms, for without the constant struggle of temptation, without the eternal battle of good against evil, one’s spiritual strength begins to wane.” He paused. “Untested, unproven… “Shackled and hidden… “What use is a servant without a master? What use is life without death? What use is bliss without pain? And I ask you… What use is //faith// without //temptation//?!” He threw his arms into the air as the crowd murmured amongst themselves. “Untested virtue is no virtue at all. The greatest of God’s warriors //prove// themselves on the battlefield! They throw themselves at the enemy, knowing full well that they are not safe, that they may be stricken down. Evil is dangerous, warriors know it to be true. But they confront evil, instead of cowering away from it. They march! They ride into dark lands and grip their demons by the throat, crushing them beneath their fingers!” His chest heaved, eyes wide. “No! God’s warriors do not hide in the craven shadows! They confront evil in the full exposure of sunlight and they exterminate it, leaving in their wake no traces of their wickedness, nothing but ashes… The blood of the damned, the folly of the slain will quench the earth, seeping into its cracks. “A veritable river of holy justice!” As his last words boomed through the chapel, the shifting sun threw a different angle on the stained glass windows and a colorful image projected onto the wall behind the dais. It depicted a mighty warrior on horseback—clad in armor and wielding a glorious sword—slicing through hordes of demons. Their heads flew, their intestines leaked, and their mangled bodies littered the ground. Was it supposed to be a historical event? The other magi seemed not to take much notice nor were they surprised. “Slay your demons, holy children! In the name of God, conquer lust! Smother it!” Enthused, the crowd clapped respectfully as the priest gathered his breath, still gripping the sides of the lectern. //Is this what all churches are like…?// <<Kai>> had never been inside of one before, nor had <<he>> ever heard a sermon. Though obviously strange, it actually wasn’t //that// bad. <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure what lust had to do with the message, but the killing part of the speech seemed cool. Maybe <<he>> would <<link 'come back some time' 'Temple'>><<endCutscene>><</link>> and listen to another one…?

<<Kai>> passed by the pews and approached the large statue near the dais. <<if !$DescribeTempleStatue>><<set $DescribeTempleStatue to true>>The statue was big and glorious, clearly carved with attention to detail, similar to the statues outside the temple. But this one was different; it was more grand than the others. The depicted figure appeared more regal, with her hands outstretched and robe flowing as if she were some sort of goddess. She //was// inside of a temple, after all, so she must actually be a goddess. Curiously, her face was blurry, just like the other statues, but <<kai>> swore that if <<he>> focused, the facial features took shape, slowly fading into <<his>> vision.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> walked up onto the dais.' 'ChapelDais'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> stepped up onto the temple's dais. It was empty at the moment—normally there would have been a priest, nun, or some other holy figure stopping <<his>> entry. But not right now. There was a lectern, the backside of the holy statue, and God’s empty throne. <<if !$ThroneSit>><<link '<<Kai>> sat upon the throne.' 'ChapelThrone'>><<set $ThroneSit to true>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> gripped the lectern.' 'ChapelLectern'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> inspected the back of the statue.' 'ChapelStatueBack'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> stepped down from the dais.' 'Chapel'>><</link>>

Though there were a few magi in the pews, <<kai>> sat down upon the empty throne. It was cold and hard, not very comfortable. Was this really a holy object? <<He>> rested <<his>> arms down and gripped the edge of the armrests with <<his>> fingers, leaning <<his>> head back. As <<he>> did, the throne began to shimmer and glow, becoming steadily brighter. //That’s strange…// Just then, a ball of light descended from the rafters above and materialized in front of <<him>>. A woman with a face obscured by light. //“My child. What are you doing?”// Her voice was garbled—coherent, but inhuman. //“You sit upon my throne.”// <<Kai>> could sense a sort of curiosity in her words. At the sight of the woman’s presence, the magi spread throughout the pews prostrated themselves before their god. <<link '<<Kai>> vacated the throne.' 'GodSubmissive'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> remained seated.' 'GodDominant'>><</link>>

<<GodWarningProse>> <<link 'Maybe <<he>> shouldn’t sit there again…' 'ChapelDais'>><</link>>

Though the magi viewed this woman as a god, <<kai>> <<wasnt>> so sure. Maybe if <<he>> pushed back on her, <<he>> could expose her lies, reveal her as the fraud that she was. Surely a real woman standing before <<kai>>—talking to <<him>>—couldn’t be //God//. It didn’t make sense; it couldn’t be true. <<Kai>> remained seated in the holy throne, crossing <<his>> legs and looking up at God, challenging her with <<his>> defiant silence. //”Sweet child…”// God knelt down, her eyes level with <<kais>>. She placed a soft hand upon <<his>>. //”This is not your station. It is not yet your time.”// //My time? What is that supposed to mean?// She continued, the light obscuring her face steadily dimming. <<Kais>> eyes perked up, noticing the change. Was she revealing herself to <<him>>? //“You are special; something about you is different from the rest. I have blessed you with unique power, but you must learn to control it before you can rule.”// Her red lips faded into vision as she placed a finger upon them, signaling to <<kai>> that she requested <<his>> silence, <<his>> discretion. But what <<was>> <<he>> supposed to hide? Everybody wanted <<him>> to keep secrets… <<GodWarningProse>> A bead of sweat ran down <<kais>> brow. [[Challenging God suddenly seemed like a bad idea…|ChapelDais]]

<<Kai>> gripped the lectern, squeezing with <<his>> fingers on either end of the wooden object. <<if !$TouchLectern>><<set $TouchLectern to true>><<He>> scanned the room, looking out into the pews at the few magi present. A couple looked up, returning <<his>> gaze. What were their stories? Why were they here? //So this is what it feels like to be a priest… guiding wayward sheep back to the safety of the flock.//<</if>> Luckily, there were no priests or nuns in the room to see <<kai>> or else <<he>> might have been reprimanded for touching the lectern. <<link '<<He>> stepped back from the lectern.' 'ChapelDais'>><</link>>

Standing upon the dais, <<kai>> inspected the large statue from behind. <<if !$DescribeStatueBack>><<set $DescribeStatueBack to true>>Despite wearing robes, the depicted figure clearly had a female figure, like the nuns—her hips were wider and waist thinner than <<kai>> would expect from a man. But <<kai>> already knew the magi’s god was female. Interestingly, the blurriness that obscured her face when looking at her from the front also extended to the back of her head, preventing any distinguishing features from being discernible.<</if>> <<if !$StatueEyes>> <<link '<<Kai>> got closer.' 'ChapelStatueBackClose'>><<set $StatueEyes to true>><</link>><</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> backed up.' 'ChapelDais'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> walked forward, leaning in, getting closer to the back of the statue. As <<he>> got close, a tingle shot through <<him>> and the blur around the statue’s head parted momentarily, revealing a set of eyes—staring at <<him>>. They blinked and then disappeared. <<Kai>> breathed heavily. What had happened? [[And why did those eyes look familiar?|ChapelDais]]

<<Kai>> approached the stained glass temple windows. <<if !$DescribeTempleWindows>><<set $DescribeTempleWindows to true>>They were beautiful, a true artisan creation. Though <<kai>> imagined that magi artisans used some form of magic to do their work, instead of using only their hands and the sweat of their brows like a normal person would. There were many different windows, all of them glowing and magnificent, depicting various religiously significant scenes. It was as if the panes had been crafted with the sunlight in mind; the colors and shapes shifted as the sunlight hit the glass from different angles, refracting and painting each picture in that exact moment.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> examined one of the windows.' 'ChapelWindowExamine'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> finished examining the windows.' 'Chapel'>><</link>>

<<ExamineTempleWindow>> <<link '<<Kai>> examined another window.' 'ChapelWindowExamine'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> finished examining the windows.' 'Chapel'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> stood outside the entrance to <<if !$DescribeRefectory>>a massive building<<else>>the refectory<</if>>. <<if !$DescribeRefectoryEntrance>><<set $DescribeRefectoryEntrance to true>>A stone archway sprawled over the tall opening. <<Kai>> strained <<his>> eyes, but—despite <<his>> best efforts—couldn’t make out the depth of the building from here. <</if>>The path continued on sideways to yet another arched entrance further down the way. <<if !$DescribeRefectory>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> passed through the grand entrance.' 'Refectory'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> entered the refectory.' 'Refectory'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $DescribeSchoolhouseEntrance and $DescribeClassrooms>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> walked toward the schoolhouse entrance.' 'SchoolhouseEntrance'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> continued down the sideways path.' 'SchoolhouseEntrance'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> took the path back towards the statues.' 'Fork3'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> entered the refectory. <<if !$DescribeRefectory>><<set $DescribeRefectory to true>>Students dined at long, wooden tables, stretched across a massive hall, adorned with lace tablecloths, silver dishes, and metal goblets. Bright candles burnt at the center of each table. The stone floor was immaculate. The ceiling was open, the visible rafters meeting at a point. Though the roof was bare, no rain entered the hall, instead plinking against an invisible barrier and running off. Sunlight would normally filter through the ceiling and light the room. The walls were notably bare, giving an impression of order and prestige. There was a main door at the far end of the hall and another large door on the side wall opposite the kitchen. Some students trickled through the back doorway, but most of them flowed through either the main entrance or the side doorway. <</if>>Students in uniform served the tables, some using magic to assist them in their work, others placing dishes down on tables by hand—the old-fashioned way. They filtered in and out of a side passageway leading to the kitchen. /* <<link '<<Kai>> sat down at a table.' 'RefectoryTable'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the kitchen.' 'RefectoryKitchen'>><</link>> */ \ <<if !$DescribeClassrooms>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> passed through the door at the side of the hall.' 'Classrooms'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> entered the schoolhouse hallway.' 'Classrooms'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> passed through the door at the end of the hall.' 'Library'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> left the refectory.' 'RefectoryEntrance'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> stood outside the <<if $DescribeSchoolhouse and $DescribeClassrooms>>schoolhouse entrance<<else>>other massive arched entryway<<if !$DescribeSchoolhouse>><<set $DescribeSchoolhouse to true>>. The path ended here, terminating at the perimeter of the Monastery walls<</if>><</if>>. Students passed through the entrance carrying books. <<if $DescribeClassrooms>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> entered the schoolhouse hallway.' 'Classrooms'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> passed through the entrance.' 'Classrooms'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $DescribeRefectory>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> returned to the refectory entrance.' 'RefectoryEntrance'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> backtracked on the path towards the other arched entrance.' 'RefectoryEntrance'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> entered <<if !$DescribeClassrooms>><<set $DescribeClassrooms to true>>a massive hallway, lavishly furnished. An exquisite carpet padded the floor, dazzling chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The wooden walls were stained and polished, artisan molding on the edges formed artistic patterns. Students bustled up and down the hall, filtering in and out of various rooms. There was an exit at the end of the hallway. Each room had a label above the doorway, apparently indicating which class took place inside each room. <<Kai>> hadn’t signed up for any classes. Could <<he>> still attend one anyway?<<else>>the schoolhouse hallway. The doors of the labeled classrooms were open.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the History room.' 'HistoryClass1'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> entered the Physics room.' 'PhysicsClass1'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the Biology room.' 'BiologyClass1'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the Art room.' 'ArtClass1'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the Economics room.' 'EconClass1'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the Government room.' 'GovClass1'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the Religion room.' 'ReligionClass1'>><</link>> */ \ <<link '<<Kai>> left through the schoolhouse entrance.' 'SchoolhouseEntrance'>><</link>> <<if !$DescribeLab>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> walked through the exit at the end of the hallway.' 'Lab'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> entered the laboratory.' 'Lab'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> stood inside the laboratory. It was a spacious area. There was one exit other than the door <<he>> entered through. <<if !$DescribeLab>> Beakers, test tubes, and other unrecognizable instruments were neatly and fastidiously arranged on tables throughout the room. Diverting attention away from their tasks, students scrawled text on papers. Experimental notations. Forgotten pens littered the counters, left behind. <<set $DescribeLab to true>> Strikingly, a metal chamber stood out to <<kai>>, seemingly glowing. Resting in one corner of the room, it stuck out like it didn’t belong. A shiny metal object in the shape of an egg, lifted off the ground by beam legs. Maybe it was some sort of magical incubation experiment? <</if>> <<if !$MelDialogue1 and $MelArea.includes('Lab')>> \ A mysterious woman sat in a chair in the corner of the room, legs crossed, unblinking, staring at <<kai>>. <<link '<<Kai>> talked to the woman in the corner.' 'MelDialogue'>><</link>> <</if>>\ /* <<link '<<Kai>> inspected the metal chamber.' 'MetalEgg'>><</link>> */ \ <<if !$DescribeClassrooms>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> walked through the entrance.' 'Classrooms'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> entered the schoolhouse hallway.' 'Classrooms'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if !$DescribeLibrary>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> walked through the side exit.' 'Library'>><</link>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> entered the library.' 'Library'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> stood inside the library. <<if !$DescribeLibrary>><<set $DescribeLibrary to true>>The room was expansive, with aisles of bookcases stretching as far as <<kai>> could see. There were three doors on different walls, each swinging closed as soon as it opened in order to keep noise out. The room was tidy, carpeted and clean; crisp air greeted <<his>> lungs as <<he>> inhaled the scent of paper and ink. There were wooden tables littered throughout the room where students dutifully studied, flipping pages and scrawling notes. It was quiet, save for the scuffles of paper and pen. A wide, wooden counter stood near the front of the room, clearly intended as the working space for the librarian. There were organizational materials and random books strewn about behind the counter.<</if>><<if $HistoryLesson1>> A figure worked behind the counter, back turned to <<kai>>, scarlet hair in a bun.<</if>> <<if $HistoryLesson1 and !$KalypsoDialogue1>><<link '<<Kai>> approached the librarian.' 'LibrarianDialogue'>><<Cutscene>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> checked the bookcases.' 'LibraryBookcases'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> sat down at a table to study.' 'LibraryTable'>><</link>> */ \ <<if !$DescribeRefectory>><<link '<<Kai>> walked through the door in the front wall.' 'Refectory'''>><</link>><<else>><<link '<<Kai>> entered the refectory.' 'Refectory'>><</link>><</if>> /* <<if !$DescribeInfirmary>><<link '<<Kai>> walked through the door in the back wall.' 'Infirmary'>><</link>><<else>><<link '<<Kai>> entered the infirmary.' 'Infirmary'>><</link>><</if>> */ \ <<if !$DescribeLab>><<link '<<Kai>> walked through the door in the side wall.' 'Lab'>><</link>><<else>><<link '<<Kai>> entered the laboratory.' 'Lab'>><</link>><</if>>

<<set $KalypsoDialogue1 to true>>\ “Excuse me,” <<kai>> said, leaning on the wooden counter. “I’d like some help finding a book.” The woman behind the counter with the red bun turned around, revealing her face. It was Mrs. Euchary, <<kais>> history teacher. She grinned, something <<kai>> had never seen her do before in class. “And which book would that be?” she asked, eyes sparkling. “Um… I’m not exactly sure. One that I could use to help with writing your report?” “//My// report…?” Mrs. Euchary scratched her chin. “Yeah, for your class.” “My class…? I’m sorry, but I’m just a librarian, um… what’s your name?” “It’s $Kai.” //How can she not remember her own class? Does she have a head injury?// “Ah. $Kai.” She smiled sweetly. “Well, what’s this report about? Maybe I can help you identify a useful book.” “The Spirit War.” “Oh! A very important topic, indeed. Yeah, follow me.” She led <<kai>> to the Scripture shelf. “There’s quite a lot of scripture describing the holy events that took place.” She thumbed the spines, scanning them to pick out a particular title. “I’m sorry. I should’ve mentioned this earlier, but I specifically need to write about strategy and tactics. And not mix them up.” Euchary’s eyes widened. “Oh… That’s quite a different matter then.” She led <<kai>> away from the Scripture shelf. “Strategy and tactics…” she muttered to herself as she walked. “I think I’ve got something for that. Yeah. I think…” She led <<kai>> to the History shelf and scanned it. “Ah! Here we go.” She grabbed a book and handed it to <<him>>. //Spiritual Warfare.// “I know it’s outdated, and the prose can be difficult, but it’s really best to work with contemporaneous sources whenever you can.” She was oozing enthusiasm. “Personally, I love this one. It speaks to things that even modern scientists can’t really comprehend or explain. Isn’t that cool?” <<Kai>> flipped through the pages and then folded the thick book under <<his>> arm. <<He>> noticed some mentions of the Spirit War in a few sections. “Thanks. I’ll take a look.” <<He>> nodded to <<his>> teacher. <<His>> librarian. Both? “Really. Thanks for your help, Mrs. Euchary. I appreciate it. I’ll get right to work on that report." “Euchary…? I’m sorry, but my name’s Kalypso” She waved her hand dismissively. “And don’t bother with the ‘missus’ bit. I’m not married.” She blushed slightly as she said it. <<Kai>> raised <<his>> eyebrows. “Kalypso?” “Yeah! That’s me.” Her smile was innocent. Too innocent. Did the strict Mrs. Euchary really lurk beneath that face, hidden somewhere behind that pure smile? Were they the same person? Maybe they were twins or doppelgangers or something like that…? But wouldn’t Kalypso have explained or acknowledged that if it were the case? “Well, thank you again,” <<kai>> said. “Any time. Come back to me whenever you need help. I just might surprise you with my //hidden knowledge//.” She winked as she said it and then left <<kai>>, returning to the work behind her desk. //Hidden knowledge…?// @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω|LibraryBookcases]]>><<endCutscene>><</link>> @@

<<Kai>> stood between the library bookcases.<<if !$DescribeLibraryBookcases>><<set $DescribeLibraryBookcases to true>> There were aisles upon aisles of shelves filled to the brim with books. The aisles had an organizational system, labeling each shelf based on its subject. Walking through the aisles, <<kai>> noted the following section labels: History, Physics, Biology, Art, Economics, Government, and Scripture. The ‘Scripture’ section had notably fewer books in stock compared to the other sections. Interestingly, there was no fiction section.<</if>> /* <<Kai>> checked the [[History section|HistoryBookshelf]]. */ \ <<Kai>> checked the [[Physics section|PhysicsBookshelf]]. /* <<Kai>> checked the [[Biology section|BiologyBookshelf]]. <<Kai>> checked the [[Art section|ArtBookshelf]]. */ \ <<Kai>> checked the [[Economics section|EconomicsBookshelf]]. /* <<Kai>> checked the [[Government section|GovernmentBookshelf]]. */ \ <<Kai>> checked the [[Scripture section|ScriptureBookshelf]]. <<link '<<Kai>> left the bookcases.' 'Library'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> faced the bookshelves in the Physics section of the library, scanning the spines for interesting titles. <<Kai>> read an excerpt from [[Vital Deprivation|VitalDeprivation]]. <<link '<<Kai>> returned to other shelves.' 'LibraryBookcases'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> faced the bookshelves in the Economics section of the library, scanning the spines for interesting titles. <<Kai>> read an excerpt from [[Basic Economics|BasicEconomics]]. /* <<Kai>> read an excerpt from [[The Price of Existence|PoE]]. */ \ <<link '<<Kai>> returned to other shelves.' 'LibraryBookcases'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> faced the bookshelves in the Scripture section of the library, scanning the spines for interesting titles. <<Kai>> read an excerpt from [[Hesiod’s Holy Bible|HesiodsHolyBible]]. <<Kai>> read an excerpt from [[The Way of Kings|WoK]]. <<link '<<Kai>> returned to other shelves.' 'LibraryBookcases'>><</link>>

Vital Deprivation: <<if !$VitalDeprivationExcerpt1>><<set $VitalDeprivationExcerpt1 to true>> The Essence of a mage may be imagined as a white canvas. Just like the painter determines the colors of a painting and produces a work of art, so too does the mage color his Essence through the casting of skills and produce an Affinity. Essence serves as the necessary bridge between the Vitality pool and the skill itself, a necessary channel which spiritual energy must pass through in order to enact the mage’s will. Just as a neuron fires to enact throughout the body the intelligent will of the brain, so too does a skill serve as that template—an intelligent design, carefully crafted—fired through the Essence pool and ultimately distributed throughout the body. <<elseif !$VitalDeprivationExcerpt2>><<set $VitalDeprivationExcerpt2 to true>> Skill crafting is a meticulous and magnificent art, for it is the engineering of intelligent, spiritual design—the harnessing of primordial energy, locked away inside matter deeper and more inscrutable than even the molecular level. Readings indicate that at one time, this energy flowed freely, coursing through the veins of spiritual creatures like lifeblood in a harmonious stream. But entropy steadily took its toll. With each channel of energy, chaos increased—a process known as the proliferation of energetic disorder. This entropic degradation comprises the First Law of Casting, namely, that the net universal Vitality pool decreases with each manipulation of energetic forms (casting). <<elseif !$VitalDeprivationExcerpt3>><<set $VitalDeprivationExcerpt3 to true>> The shrinking or growing of Vitality pools is a curious process. Though some may view these processes as unnatural, they are both undeniably present. The shrinking of a pool //is// naturally occurring. A mage left to his own devices will see his Vitality pool shrink slowly. With each cast, his Vital particles are rearranged, and some number of them fade, unable to fit back into their rightful place in the pool—unable to support the flow of energy. This degradation can be measured mathematically. The growth of a pool, however, remains an inexact science. It is understood that acts of piety and virtue often result in growing pools, but it is not yet understood why or how this reversal of demonstrable entropic forces can occur. <<else>> There were no interesting excerpts remaining. <</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> kept reading.' 'VitalDeprivation'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> placed the book back on the shelf.' 'PhysicsBookshelf'>><</link>>

Basic Economics: <<if !$BasicEconomicsExcerpt1>><<set $BasicEconomicsExcerpt1 to true>> //The most fundamental concepts of economics, whether Blind or Vital, are 1) the limited availability of resources & 2) the tension between the supply and demand for those resources. A functional economy //allocates limited resources in an intelligent way// based on the balance between supply and demand. No resource is unlimited, not even Vitality. (If resources //were// hypothetically unlimited, then there would be no need for economics; unlimited resources do not require allocation.) Each resource has a use, and some have multiple uses. A supplier with a particular resource must decide how to use it. How does she decide? In simple terms, //she supplies what she can sell//. How many buyers are willing to pay for what she’s selling? In other words, the demand for a resource determines how it should be used, not the supplier herself. Economic intelligence is a collective one. No single economic actor with her own personal incentives can realistically decide how limited resources ought to be allocated. But a society which groups hundreds or thousands of participants together—each with their own unique, personal incentives—with the freedom to trade amongst one another, will see the emergence of a collective intelligence, orders of magnitude smarter than any of the individual actors among them.// <<elseif !$BasicEconomicsExcerpt2>><<set $BasicEconomicsExcerpt2 to true>> //At this point, the perceptive reader may be asking herself: ‘How is supply possibly balanced with demand?’ A most excellent and profound question that would be! And luckily, that question comes with a simple—yet equally profound—answer: pricing. Everything comes at a price. As the Blind are fond of saying, ‘there’s no such thing as a free lunch’. Just as Vitality consumed to cast one skill cannot then also be used to cast another, a resource used to produce one thing cannot also be used to produce another. Every transaction is a trade-off: lose one thing to gain another (i.e. pay a price). Sometimes trade-offs aren’t immediately apparent. Take, for example, a reader in a public library. The reader gains knowledge from the book, but what price does she pay in exchange? No extra paper was consumed to print an additional copy of the book (it remained on the shelf afterwards), no currency was exchanged for the privilege of obtaining that knowledge, no Vitality was consumed in the process of scanning the pages, and no physically strenuous labor was required of her (she doesn’t put her safety at risk). What price, then, has she paid? At the very least, the reader has paid with her time (a limited resource). The time that she spent reading could have been spent elsewhere on some other task, providing a benefit besides knowledge. Therefore, the reader in this case judged that her demand for the knowledge contained in the library book was more valuable to her than the time she spent reading it. She assigned a price to the act of reading, conscious or otherwise, and was then willing to pay it. Upon closer inspection, the fledgling student of economics will soon realize that every transaction, no matter how small (or obscure), requires some price to be paid. //This price is the intersection of supply and demand.// If buyers deem prices too high, then sellers will have to lower them. Likewise, if buyers flock to sellers in droves, then sellers will deem prices too low and raise them. At scale, prices are set collectively and benefit from the collective intelligence of a free economy, reflecting a wisdom conceivable only to the omniscient. This system ensures that resources are allocated only to those most willing to pay for them.// <<else>> There were no interesting excerpts remaining. <</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> kept reading.' 'BasicEconomics'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> placed the book back on the shelf.' 'EconomicsBookshelf'>><</link>>

Hesiod’s Holy Bible: <<if !$HesiodsHolyBibleExcerpt1>><<set $HesiodsHolyBibleExcerpt1 to true>> //In the beginning, there was the Primordial Spirit, and the Spirit was //with// the Progenitor, and the Spirit //was// the Progenitor. Through him all things were made, for he had eaten from the Tree of Life. In him was Magic, and that Magic was the light of the world. He spoke of creation and, from his mouth, the world spilled forth. This world teemed and blossomed, and—from its maternal womb—gave birth to man, formed in the image of the Holy Father. And in that image, man was given free will: the gift of choice—heavenly domain. Alas, it came to pass that our Holy God was in turmoil. His own creations had conspired, turning against him. Armed with the knowledge of the Spirit, they sinned, fanning the flames of chaos. Fueled with animosity, they schemed, plotting to murder their Holy Father. But be heartened, child! For the Progenitor is the Spirit, and where the Spirit is, there is freedom. Though once slain, the Father is risen indeed. It is said: ‘Atop a mountain, he will destroy the shroud that enfolds his people, the shroud that covers the nations. He will swallow up death itself.’// <<elseif !$HesiodsHolyBibleExcerpt2>><<set $HesiodsHolyBibleExcerpt2 to true>> //The Corruptor—once a trusted advisor—turned his back upon the Holy Father. Satanail, the Father’s heavenly prosecutor, was cursed with the taint of Knowledge. He ate from the fruit of the forbidden tree and his mind was filled with corruption. Once a friend, now a traitor. He sucked the souls of the magi, that pitiful demon. There was no redemption for him, his corruption was beyond recovery. And so judgment fell upon him and his ilk. A foul and ironic judgment—the divine prosecutor found guilty for his own crimes, his own wretched behavior.// <<else>> There were no interesting excerpts remaining. <</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> kept reading.' 'HesiodsHolyBible'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> placed the book back on the shelf.' 'ScriptureBookshelf'>><</link>>

The Way of Kings: <<if !$WoKExcerpt1>><<set $WoKExcerpt1 to true>> //The way that is Holy is the way that is true. For just as a lie cannot be true, so too a sin cannot be a product of truth. Deception is a poison. The vile fangs of liars drip with the venom of deceit. Their tails rattle with the chime of indiscriminate aggression. The true way is walked by the righteous man. The man who sins may walk a path, but he does so only in the darkness. The shining stones of the true way elude his wizened gaze. The righteous man wields virtue as a blade. When he reaches a fork in the road, he pays careful attention, pondering the path ahead of him. Conversely, the sinner knows only blunt instruments. Blind to divergent paths, he charges forward, rushing to his demise, his way shrouded by the twilight clouds. But make no mistake. Though the sinner is blind to his failure, he has made a choice nonetheless. The righteous man sees. He opens his eyes, all three of them. Though one eye may still see without the others, their gaze is incomplete. A man with even one of his eyes shut cannot possibly see his own blind spot. A man with all eyes closed fumbles in the darkness, stumbling through the void from one sin to the next. The man who wishes to find the true way must open all three of his eyes and, in so doing, gaze upon virtue.// <<elseif !$WoKExcerpt2>><<set $WoKExcerpt2 to true>> //The way that is fluid is the way that is true. For just as a stream diverts its path to flow around a bulging rock, so too does the virtuous man adjust to his situation, discerning the proper course of action. Does a just Lord mete out either reward or punishment without consideration of the circumstances involved? Does the practiced player make a move without first absorbing his position on the game board? Certainly not. The way is ever-changing and difficult to discern. Only a man trained and practiced with all of his eyes may truly witness the shifting, fickle nature of the way. Virtue is not static nor is it mathematical. Virtue cannot be distilled or discovered through scientific experimentation. Instead, virtue is tempered—forged in the fires of burden, crushed by the weight of responsibility. Just as steel is pressed under the constant pounding of the smith’s hammer, so too is virtue pressed under the spiritual assault of temptation and deception. The man with trained eyes can recognize these evils and steel himself, so that he may not crumple under distress. The Spirit is like a vapor. Seemingly within reach, it slips through a man’s fingers, only to waft away and dissipate. The seeing man seizes his opportunity, catching the vapor within a jar, sealing it. And though soon invisible, that vapor remains sealed, its presence known only to its captor. Just as the hunter wields a weapon, the man who seeks the way must wield virtue or else find himself spiritually unequipped.// <<else>> There were no interesting excerpts remaining. <</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> kept reading.' 'WoK'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> placed the book back on the shelf.' 'ScriptureBookshelf'>><</link>>

<<if !$MelDialogue1>><<set $MelDialogue1 to true>>\ <<Kai>> approached the strange woman, legs crossed, sitting in a black chair. As <<he>> got closer, <<he>> discerned more of her details. Her hair was black, cut in a short, bob style. She had multiple piercings in her face, all of them silver metal bars or hoops. One through her nose, two through either side of her bottom lip, one through her left eyebrow, and countless pieces of silver up and down her ears. Though her skin was pale, she was covered in black. Black shoes, black lips, black rings around her eyes, black choker around her neck, but—most suspiciously—a shiny black material peaked out from underneath her sterile, white lab coat. Was that a latex suit? <<Kai>> leaned closer to her, peering. She suddenly shifted, covering herself with the coat. Her pupils changed color, turning from white to a deep red. Scarlet. The emergence of color on a monochrome canvas. “Why did you wake me?” she asked nonchalantly. “But your eyes were open. You couldn’t have been sleeping,” <<kai>> said, bewildered. “I was. Now what do you want?” <<Kai>> thought for a moment, taken aback. This woman was abrupt and straight to the point. <<He>> needed time to think, to come up with an excuse for peeking into her clothing. “I’m here to use the lab. I’m a new student,” <<he>> eventually croaked out. She leaned back in her chair, placing one hand on her chin, index finger rubbing up and down as she thought to herself. She had shiny black fingernails, expertly manicured. She whispered, talking to herself without subtlety. “A new student… With a healthy sense of curiosity… I could use <<if $Masculine>>him<<else>>her<</if>> as a...” Her voice trailed off as she rose from her chair. “Okay. You can work here.” “What? Just like that?” “Yeah. Come here.” <<Kai>> followed her as she walked around the room, explaining the scientific equipment. “Most experiments here are simple. Standard equipment, standard protocols, verification of test subject consent, blah, blah… I’m sure that crap bores you just as much as it does me.” <<Kai>> nodded. “Yeah, sure…” “Anyway, there’s some //fun// stuff too. That’s the only reason I stick around here. For the //good shit.//” She licked her lips, tonguing her lip rings. As she eyed <<kai>>, <<he>> couldn’t help but feel like her small prey, inviting a predator directly into <<his>> hidey-hole. She was a vicious spider, wrapping and twisting a helpless insect in her webbing. “Yeah. There’s some interesting stuff. You know, work that I keep off the books unless it turns out alright. I can trust you, right?” Wait. What exactly <<was>> <<kai>> getting <<himself>> into? This woman had no shame whatsoever, blatantly admitting her secrecy and breaches of protocol. Did <<kai>> really want to involve <<himself>> in her mischief? Well, if <<he>> <<was>> going to commit crimes, <<he>> might as well know something about <<his>> mob boss. “Tell me something first. Who are you?” “I’m Mel. The long version’s Melpomene, but I don’t fuck with that queer shit. Times change, you know? Yeah, I’m sure you do. You’re not a fogey.” She didn’t even give <<kai>> time to answer her questions. And she had no filter either. How could a teacher talk like that and get away with it? It seemed like they could basically do whatever they wanted inside the Monastery, like their God had given them divine authority or something. “Alright, so //I’m// Mel. Who’re //you//, <<if $Masculine>>mister<<else>>missus<</if>> peep on people while they’re sleeping?” “$Kai.” “I like your style, $Kai. Straight and to the point, no wasting my time. We’ll get along great, as long as you don’t act like a bitch. Got it?” “Yeah… don’t act like a bitch…” “That’s not a joke, I really mean it. Seriously. I can’t stand bitches.” “Okay, okay. I get it.” Mel huffed and turned, pivoting on her hip. She grabbed a black, tasseled whip from the wall. What could //that// possibly have to do with scientific experimentation? “Act like a bitch and I’ll have to give it to you.” She slapped it against her hand, actually threatening <<kai>>. “Okay, I get it already!” Mel laughed. “Fuck. Don’t get yourself so wound up over nothing. I haven’t even touched you yet.” Yet...? “Want to see some of the good shit?” “Okay, sure.” Mel guided <<kai>> over to the glowing, metal egg. She leaned over it, red eyes lighting up, a bit of drool dripping from her bottom lip. “Isn’t it sexy?” <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure what she found sexy about it. It was just an egg. Mel noticed <<his>> blank expression. She smiled. “Get closer. But don’t touch it, you’ll have nightmares if you do.” //What the fuck? Okay.// <<Kai>> leaned closer, careful not to actually touch the egg. The shorter the distance between <<him>> and the egg, the more <<he>> began to hear something. At first, a gentle hum, the air vibrating. And then a voice, a sorrowful cry. It grew louder, agonized, wailing in desperation, pleading as if it were being slowly cut open, kept alive to feel the pain. Kept alive to prevent the release of death, the only escape, the only separation from searing torture. Unbearable hopelessness, a prison of gloom and murk. The scream morphed, taking the form of a baby’s incessant, aggressive crying, the primal sound of desperately fleeing inevitable doom. Natural selection. Cursed images flooded <<kais>> mind. Gore, tears, blood, weeping, bile. <<Kai>> jumped away from the egg, involuntarily shaking. “Holy shit…” Mel stared at <<him>>, eyes wide. “Yeah. Holy shit is right. It’s pretty cool, huh? I made it myself. It’s a good thing you listened to me and didn’t touch it.” That thing definitely wasn’t cool. <<Kai>> felt like <<he>> needed to go curl up in bed for a few hours after that. And there was no way <<he>> could have touched it even if <<he>> had wanted to. “What //is// that thing?” Mel beamed. “I’m glad you asked.” A huge grin spread across her crazy face. “This little fucker is a Corrupt I captured recently. I’m trying out some experimental cleansing methods. If we can find a way to cleanse them, then we won’t have to exterminate them. It’s a longshot, but it’s fun to work on. I don’t personally care for all that greater good shit, but it secures funding for the lab, ya know?” //Is she trying to act cute and brag at the same time..? Okay, I seriously need a nap, or a whole ass bottle of vodka. Something to help me forget this shit.// “Yeah, that’s great. Hey, I’ve got to get going, I’ll be back here later.” Mel squinted her eyes and bent forward, waving. “Okay! Thanks for coming. I look forward to experimenting on you in the future.” She said it with a straight face. “You mean with me?” “Okay.” What the fuck. <<Was>> <<he>> really going to come back here? If the Monastery was supposed to be the Holy place, then what were the Heretics like? This bitch made Azrael look like a saint in comparison. <<Kai>> curled up in <<his>> bed and shivered, crying until <<he>> fell asleep. <<He>> awoke the next day, mentally recovered but still weary, psychologically hung over from the trauma. @@.center; <<if $Masculine>><<link [[Ω Ω|MaleDorm]]>><<NextDay>><</link>><<else>><<link [[Ω Ω|FemaleDorm]]>><<NextDay>><</link>><</if>> @@ <</if>>

<<if !$HistoryLesson1>><<set $HistoryLesson1 to true>>\ <<Kai>> passed through the doorway, the label above the door frame read: "History." <<He>> already knew some history; <<he>> had paid attention in <<his>> high school class, even though it had been a waste of time. If <<he>> //had// to spend precious time in the classroom, then <<he>> <<was>> at least going to pay attention—make use of it. Was magi history any different than human history? They were humans too—probably. <<Kai>> took a seat, picking a desk in the middle of the room. No need to stand out yet. For now, <<he>> would blend in until <<he>> got <<his>> bearings. Other students trickled in and took their seats, <<if !$MeetCass>>none that <<he>> recognized<<else>>the only one <<he>> recognized was Cass, still gripping a book to her chest. She took a seat in the front row, taking no notice of <<kai>><</if>>. Eventually, the teacher walked through the doorway. The students quieted their personal conversations, noting her presence. Her scarlet hair was up in a bun, metal picks sticking through it. She wore a form fitting dress—a professional look. The skirt of her dress was tight but short, making walking more difficult for her, but not impractical. She set her belongings down on her desk and flattened her dress out before turning to the board and writing in big letters: //Spirit War// She set down her chalk, turning to face the students. She was strikingly beautiful and composed. She appeared middle-aged—mature, but fresh. Refined, like a delicately aged wine. <<if $FemalePreference>>A wine that was too good for <<kai>>, too expensive. <</if>>“Welcome to History class." The teacher addressed her students in a gentle, but firm voice. Her tone was commanding, implying that she would not tolerate nonsense, but that she could also be reasonable and thoughtful at the same time. A killer combination. "I do recognize some of you from last semester, but the rest of you will have to bear with me as I learn your names.” A couple heads turned as students looked amongst one another. <<if $MeetCass>>Cass had a big smile plastered on her face; she was practically on the edge of her chair. <</if>>The teacher turned back around and began writing on the board again as she spoke, chalk scraping. “My name is Mrs. Euchary. Some of you may know me by my first name outside of the classroom, but you will //not// be addressing me casually in this setting. This is a professional environment, and I won’t have it sullied by untoward behavior.” //What a tight-ass//, <<kai>> thought. //But she called herself ‘Mrs.’ instead of ‘Ms.’ so she must be married…// Her fingers bore no rings. In fact, since leaving home, <<kai>> had observed that magi only wore jewelry on their faces. Maybe they had some other symbol for marriage that <<he>> hadn’t noticed. Mrs. Euchary finished scrawling her name on the board, underlining it with a flourish. She had curvaceous, extravagant handwriting—unabashedly feminine. She spun back around. “Magi history. A //central// component of your Monastery education. A long, complicated web of events that all revolve around the pivotal, vital //Spirit War//, sometimes referred to by historians as the Great Spirit War.” She tapped the board, emphasizing her point. She then paced as she talked, walking in circles, slapping a ruler against the palm of an open hand. “Some of you may wonder why I begin with military history, but let me assure you, though modern times have grown peaceful, it wasn’t always this way. Magic was once a tool used for war. Capable magi used magic for evil. Fueled by their lust for power they rebelled against authority. Mobilizing great armies, they extorted the weak and defaced the Holy. They betrayed the faithful, //turning against God//.” She gripped her chalk, returning to the board: //The Corruptor// “The root of this great conflict traces itself back to one central figure: the Corruptor.” Some of the students whispered amongst themselves, careful not to derail the lesson and draw their teacher’s wrath. “He goes by many other names. Satanail, Lucifer, Devil, and so on. But ‘Corruptor’ truly captures his essence, for //he// is the source of all that is //wicked// and ungodly.” She paused for dramatic effect. Utter silence. “He was there from the beginning, a trusted Holy confidant. Plotting, waiting, scheming. In those days, the Holy Order was ubiquitous. The Progenitor, the original Archmage—Holy Father—ruled over all humanity, a benevolent and graceful god amongst men. His knowledge was great, as was his power. For ages, his subjects worshiped him; there was unity amongst the magi. But slowly, a wound festered in the shadows, a selfish ego—an ambition unleashed. Eventually, the Corruptor committed the //ultimate sin//.” Muttering amongst the students. “The infamous thief!” Her arms flew into the air. “Aided by his miscreant followers—the Heretics—he //blinded// his fellow magi, forever shutting their eyes and the eyes of their children and their children’s children. The Heretic Order roamed the lands, defiling any mage they stumbled across, slowly growing their influence while simultaneously weakening the Holy Order in the process. Stolen, ill-gotten Vitality, siphoned away—//Wicked magic//. Lawless, contemptible behavior. His victims were left impotent, never to cast again. Never again to truly know God, their Father, robbed of any hope for Holy intimacy. "Of course, God //had// to put a stop to this evil. Though he had once trusted the Corruptor, the Devil’s will was his own—free to sin, free to betray. Free to tread his own degenerate path. //But not free from punishment.// "Divine justice. Holy war. "God readied his Holy army and waged a war. A great war—lost in part to time, but still preserved by both written record and memory, though not perfectly. As you will see in your studies, the events of the Great Spirit War were recorded, but there was chaos abound at that time. The land was sundered, torn apart by the immense, powerful conflict. The struggle was long-suffering, stretching across nations and generations. "A clash of Titans. "Some records were lost, others remain incomplete, and still others were tinted by the lens of confusion. The fog of war. In the end, one thing was clear. Our God was victorious. He vanquished the Corruptor and stifled his army. With that great corruption felled, peace returned to the magi. But this momentous victory had come at a painful cost. The Corruptor was powerful beyond all imagination. Siphoning Vitality, concentrating it into one single person, had created a grotesque monster. In order to slay this unholy abomination, the Progenitor made a sacrifice. Wielding a forbidden power, an incomprehensible magic, he imprisoned the Corruptor, but—in return—bore an affliction, a taint upon his Spirit. Once pure, once immortal, our God began to age, his Essence slowly draining until his body gave way. He died, so that we may live. He surrendered his physical body, taking the form of the Archmage Spirit. That Spirit that lives on today, occupying its chosen vessel: the Ascended God Queen—the Archmage, ruler of the Monastery and Lord of the Holy Order.” The Archmage was the Monastery's ruler? <<Kai>> had met her during consecration, the magi’s supposed god. A faceless woman. A ball of light. The students clapped, the poor indoctrinated sheep, believing whatever they were told to. “Your first assignment of the semester.” Euchary returned to her chalkboard. “I want a write-up on the military strategy and tactics employed during the war. Now remember, those are two different things: //strategy// and //tactics//. Don’t mix them up. You’ll need //at least// four different sources for citations. Ask the librarian for help if you can’t figure out what you’re looking for." The other students giggled for some reason. "Dismissed.” Their first assignment was on magical military command? At least this class was more interesting than any traditional history class <<kai>> had attended before. <<elseif !$HistoryAssignment1>>\ <<Kai>> hadn’t completed <<his>> first history assignment yet. <</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> left the classroom.' 'Classrooms'>><</link>>

<<Cutscene>>\ "Welcome to my farm!" Belle was smiling, clearly excited. She waved her arm, motioning towards all the animals going about their business. <<if $SmutFilter and $FemalePreference>>Her breasts jiggled as her body spun. <</if>>"These animals are all mine. I’ve raised them since they were little babies. It makes sense, considering this is my barn, after all. God has put me in charge of it. So, are you interested in working here? I could certainly use the hand." <<link '<<Kai>> took her up on the offer.' 'BelleDialogue2'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> decided against it.' 'BelleDialogue3'>><</link>>

"Excellent! You’ll start right away." Belle jumped for joy. <<if $SmutFilter and $FemalePreference>>Her tits jiggled violently. <<Kai>> swore one of them popped out of her clothing momentarily, but she didn’t give any indication of shame. Belle was hot. And shameless, apparently. <<if $Penis>><<Kai>> <<was>> starting to harden, <<his>> pants bulging<<else>><<Kais>> panties moistened<</if>><</if>>. <<if $ChangeMindBelle>> Belle led <<kai>> to the barn.<</if>> "First thing’s first, the most important part of farming. Breeding!" "Breeding?! You don’t mean…" <<Kai>> blushed. "Of course I do, silly. New animals don’t just //magically// appear out of nowhere, now do they?" Belle laughed. "Oh, you meant the animals." Belle eyed <<kai>> suspiciously. "Now what other sort of breeding would I be talking about, young <<if $Feminine>>wo<</if>>man?" <<Kai>> did <<his>> level best to keep <<his>> gaze away from Belle’s cleavage and maintain eye contact with her, but it was a futile attempt. <<if $FemalePreference>>Nobody could possibly resist the magnetism of that glorious bust, spilling out of its chest prison. They were practically begging to be ogled.<</if>> "Mhm." Belle looked <<kai>> up and down. "<<if $Masculine>>You boys are all the same. You see a pair of titties and completely lose your minds<<else>>And here I thought having a female worker would solve my problems. The boys are always too distracted, but you’re no different apparently<</if>>." Belle sighed. "Just my luck." <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> sure what to say. Belle continued. "Well, I can still make use of a horny worker, I suppose. Your hands and feet still work the same, after all. Maybe I can motivate you with some ‘rewards’ if you do a good job, huh?" She winked at <<kai>>. Rewards? She didn’t mean what <<kai>> thought she meant. Right? "Anyway, back to breeding." Belle walked over to a cow, stroking it gently across the back with her hand as it happily munched on some hay. "This here is a cow. Obvious, right?" <<Kai>> nodded <<his>> head. "But what I //really// meant was that it’s //not a bull//. Cows are female, they only pass their genetics on to their own personal offspring. The bull on the other hand, let’s say that he sows his wild oats, if you catch my drift." Belle winked again, chuckling this time. "But seriously, every calf inherits the bull’s genetics. Farms single-handedly sink or swim based on the genetics of their bull. Or their stud." She slaps one of the horses on its rear, causing it to whinny. “So why are you telling me all this?” <<kai>> asked. “You want to show me your bull?” <<if $FemalePreference>><<He>> winked back at Belle. It was… kind of a silly thing to do, but <<he>> didn't care.<</if>> Belle smiled. "Where is he then? Find him." <<Kai>> scanned the barn. "I don’t see him inside." <<Kai>> walked to the window. There were a couple herds of cows outside, grazing leisurely. But no bull. "There is no bull." <<if $FutaFilter>>"Exactly." Belle’s smile widened. “Transmutation magic can’t permanently alter other organic lifeforms. However, it //can// be used to permanently and fundamentally alter the //caster’s// biological composition.”<<else>>"Why don’t you go look for him then?" Belle was more mischievous than <<kai>> had expected. She even seemed to be humoring <<him>>. <</if>> <<if $FutaFilter>>Belle dropped her coverall, revealing a limp horse cock dangling between her legs. The flare at the tip was huge. Her asset would have been obvious, had it not been for the baggy legs of her coveralls. <<Kai>> <<was>> stunned. "Want to [[take it for a spin|FutaBelle]], cow<<if $Feminine>>girl<<else>>boy<</if>>?" <<else>><<link '<<Kai>> left the barn in search of the bull.' 'Farmland'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> walked towards the back of the barn, passing by stacks of hay and wooden stalls containing various cattle: cows, horses, pigs, etc. <<He>> pushed on the back doors with <<his>> hands and they swung open on their creaky hinges. <<He>> stepped out into the farmer's field, the door swinging shut behind <<him>>. <<if !$DescribeFarmland>><<set $DescribeFarmland to true>>The farmland was huge and sprawling, stretching into the distance and disappearing across the horizon. How could it all fit inside of the Monastery walls? <<Kai>> swore that the walls had been visible before, though they were now nowhere to be seen. The fields were fenced off, preventing any of the animals from escaping onto either the main Monastery campus or into another section of the farm intended for a different animal—they were divded into groups. The large grassy area off in the distance was designed for grazing, while the other large section of field directly in front of <<him>> was the area where crops sprouted from the ground, planted in tidy rows. <</if>> Several workers were scattered through the fields, some tending to plants, others tending to cattle or maintenance tasks. A single dog ran across the grass, barking at the cattle. <<Kai>> <<was>> supposed to be looking for a bull. If it was anywhere, it was grazing with the other cattle, deeper into the farmland, past the crops. <<Kai>> walked in that direction, making <<his>> way past the rows of planted vegetables and approached the cattle fencing. “Hey there!” One of the workers waved to <<kai>> from far away. She was kneeling in the dirt, her gloved hand moving enthusiastically back and forth above her head as she smiled. “Are you new here?” she screamed, doing her best to make herself heard from a distance. <<link '<<Kai>> approached her.' 'MeetJess'>><<set $ApproachJess to true>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> kept walking.' 'IgnoreJess'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> walked toward the shouting farmgirl. She seemed nice enough—from a long distance, at least. As <<he>> got closer, she began to giggle to herself, clearly excited by <<his>> presence. <<He>> knelt down next to her. “Hey, yourself,” <<he>> said. Her silly grin was ceaseless. “Welcome to Belle’s farm! Are you a worker too?” “Yeah… I’m new here.” “The name’s Jess. Nice to meet you!” She held out a dirty gloved hand, offering it to <<him>>. “Yeah, likewise…” <<Kai>> smiled politely as <<he>> gripped her dirty hand. “I’m $Kai, by the way.” <<He>> let go and wiped the dirt off on <<his>> clothes. “Oh, //$Kai//!” Her hand covered her mouth. “That’s a //beautiful// name…” Her eyes went dreamy. “It’s… nothing special.” Was this girl really dumb or was it just an act? <<Kai>> had known girls in school that acted that way; <<he>> had never understood why—or how they had the time to waste on such a frivolous display. Jess shrugged. “Okay! If you say so.” “So what do you all do around here…?” <<kai>> asked, though <<he>> could probably get a good idea just from watching them work. “What will //I// be doing around here?” “Well, first of all, if you’re anything like me, then you’re going to //love// it here. I promise you that.” Her smile was starting to get annoying. Didn’t she have any other feelings besides happiness? Nobody was //that// simple. “Once you get a taste of this place, it’ll be hard to go back to the normal world. Me?” She pointed at herself. “ Well, I mostly tend to the fields, but sometimes Belle gives me a shot at the animals!” She licked her lips, eyes glazing over. Hm. Something seemed off about her once she mentioned the animals, like she had suddenly become absentminded, or her attention had drifted elsewhere. “Okay, so how does she decide who gets to work on what?” “Oh, it’s entirely based on performance. She’s harsh in that way…” Her smile finally faded from her face. “I’m not the most… ‘skilled’ when it comes to the animals, so that’s why I mostly work over here in the vegetable patches.” Her dismayed eyes fell to the crops planted in the ground below them. “She told me to search for the bull.” Jess blinked and then her smile returned, growing larger than it had been before as she looked up at <<kai>>. “That’s the first challenge! The //bull//, of course. If you can’t handle the bull, then how are you supposed to handle any of the other hard work?!” //Handle it…?// It seemed like an odd choice of words. <<Kai>> eyed Jess suspiciously. Did she know something she wasn’t telling <<him>>? “Do you have any advice for me? Any tips from when you had to search for the bull when you were first hired?” “Hm…” Jess tilted back, sitting her butt onto the ground. She rubbed her chin in thought as she spread her legs open. <<Kais>> eyes went wide. She was completely revealing herself. Did she realize that? <<link '<<Kai>> told her that she was spreading her legs.' 'TellJess'>><</link>> <<if $FemalePreference is true>><<link '<<Kai>> just watched.' 'WatchJess'>><</link>><</if>>

“Hey Jess…” <<kai>> said, pointing a finger in between her legs. “Your…” <<he>> stuttered. Her white panties were peeking out, clearly visible between her thighs. She looked down, realizing what <<he>> <<was>> talking about. “Oh, yeah! Do you like them?” She smiled, making no effort to close her legs. “But aren’t you embarrassed?” <<His>> eyes <<was>> still fixated on her crotch. “No, of course not. //You’re// not going to do anything to me, right? What is there to be worried about?” She looked innocent<<if $FemalePreference is true>>, yet tempting,<</if>> as she shrugged her shoulders. <<link '<<Kai>> did <<his>> best to ignore it.' 'IgnoreJessPanties'>><</link>> <<if $FemalePreference is true>><<link '<<Kai>> pounced on top of her.' 'PounceJess'>><</link>><</if>>

<<Kai>> jumped on top of Jess, knocking her back into the dirt and straddling her. “What are you doing?” Jess said. “I know you want it. I saw how wet you are.” “Want it…” She turned her face to the side. “Want what…?” She rubbed her thighs together. “You know what I mean.” <<Kai>> ran <<his>> hand up Jess’ thigh and pressed <<his>> fingers against her wet panties. Jess moaned. “Is this what you want?” “Okay, okay.” She looked around the farm, checking for witnesses. A deviant grin formed on her face. “I guess there’s nobody else around…” <<Kai>> rubbed her, up and down, spreading her wetness across the white fabric. <<He>> placed a hand on her chest and gripped one of her tits. “You want some more?” Jess nodded. <<He>> slid <<his>> hand underneath her underwear and rubbed <<his>> fingers against her pussy lips. <<He>> could feel her sticky grool coating <<him>> and spreading across her sexy flesh, making her slick. <<He>> plunged <<his>> fingers inside of her. “Fuck!” She arched her back, slightly bucking <<kai>>. <<He>> pumped into her, pinning her down with <<his>> weight. She was already pulsing around <<his>> fingers. “Oh God, I’m cumming already...” Jess quivered, her pussy convulsing. She breathed heavily, her chest pumping as she orgasmed. <<Kai>> pulled <<his>> hand out. It was soaked in her juices, practically dripping. //Jesus, this bitch is horny…// “Here. Take this.” <<He>> plunged <<his>> wet fingers into Jess’ open mouth. She was surprised at first, but she dutifully sucked, greedily swallowing her sticky arousal. “Mmm. That’s a good bitch.” <<He>> liked how obedient she was. <<Kai>> pulled <<his>> fingers out of her mouth and stood up. “I’ll see you around.” “Wait… You’re not going to fuck me…?” “Next time.” Jess frowned as <<kai>> walked away, leaving her laying in the field and not even bothering to look back at her. <<He>> swore <<he>> could hear squelching sounds as she desperately fingering herself, fading away into the distance. What else would a woman as horny as her submit to? <<link '//Okay, now on to finding the bull…//' 'IgnoreJess'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> kept <<his>> urges to <<himself>>, content to simply stare as Jess shamelessly spread her thighs apart. Her white panties peeked out from between her legs, revealing her little mound. As she shifted slightly, more of it came into view and <<kai>> noticed a damp spot, not quite as bright as the rest of the fabric. //Is she wet…?// <<link '<<Kai>> did <<his>> best to ignore it.' 'IgnoreJessPanties'>><</link>> <<if $FemalePreference is true>><<link '<<Kai>> pounced on top of her.' 'PounceJess'>><</link>><</if>>

<<Kai>> squeezed <<his>> eyes shut and shook <<his>> head, pushing away the thoughts of her wet mound. <<He>> didn’t need that kind of distraction when <<he>> had important tasks to attend to. More serious matters. “Hey. Are you alright?” <<He>> forced <<his>> eyes open slowly. Jess was looking at <<him>> with her head tilted to the side, concern visible on her face. She blinked as she waited for an answer, innocence radiating off of her. “Yeah… I’m fine. Hey, look. I need to go.” “What?!” She frowned. “Hey, come on. Don’t you want to be friends?” “Yeah, okay. That sounds good.” “Yay!” Jess grabbed her knees and clutched her legs together in joy as she smiled. “Thanks, $Kai! You’re not going to regret it.” She leapt forward and grabbed <<him>> in a tight hug. “Yeah, thanks…” <<He>> awkwardly reached <<his>> hands around Jess’ back and squeezed. “Okay, well, I’ll see you around.” “Yup! I better!” //She’s just… too happy somehow…// <<link '<<Kai>> waved goodbye to her and left.' 'IgnoreJess'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> <<if !$ApproachJess>>ignored the girl, pressing<<else>>pressed<</if>> onward through the vegetable fields as <<he>> made <<his>> way towards the grazing area. <<if !$ApproachJess>>Her voice faded into the distance behind <<him>>, steadily quieting the further <<he>> walked. <</if>>The hot sun beat down on <<him>> from above, causing sweat to drip over <<his>> brow and sting <<his>> eyes. After walking for a while without interruption, <<he>> finally approached the fence containing the grazing cows and gripped the gate in <<his>> fingers. <<He>> could hear faint barking in the distance in between the persistent mooing of the cows. //The bull has to be holed up with the cows. It wouldn’t make sense to put him in another area of the farm… would it?// <<Kai>> swung the gate open and stepped into the cow’s grazing area. As <<he>> walked, <<he>> made sure to watch where <<he>> placed <<his>> feet, avoiding the minefield of cow pies scattered about. <<He>> passed by countless cows, some ripping grass from the ground with their teeth, others lapping up water from metal troughs spread throughout the field, while most of them simply rested in the shade offered by various trees, lazily chewing their cud. //That’s right. Cows spend more time digesting their food than they do actually eating it. It's because of their multiple stomachs...// <<Kai>> somehow remembered that odd fact from an old class. What an inefficient design for an animal. <<He>> shook <<his>> head. <<He>> needed to focus. Where was the bull? <<He>> placed <<his>> hand on <<his>> sweaty forehead, shielding <<his>> eyes from the bright sun as <<he>> scanned the field. Though <<he>> couldn’t see the entirety of the field from <<his>> position, <<he>> could see most of it. A bull would stand out from the cows; it would be bigger and more muscular, with longer horns. And it would probably act like it owned the place. The bull wasn’t here. <<Kai>> had walked the fields, scanning diligently, and even climbed up a large rock for a wider view, but <<he>> couldn’t find the bull no matter how <<he>> searched. //I guess it’s not here...// <<he>> thought, resigning <<himself>> to the unfortunate fact. But the field was so big; it had taken <<him>> hours to search and <<he>> had only managed to check just the cow’s grazing area. Did they really need that much grass…? In any event, checking on all of the other grazing areas would take too long, so <<kai>> made <<his>> way back to the barn, passing back through the vegetable fields—there were no workers around this time; everybody seemed to have left and gone back to their dorms for the night. <<Kai>> finally approached the barn and, before making it to the door, heard a strange noise coming inside. Curious, <<he>> snuck up to the side of an open window and peered inside. What <<he>> saw shocked <<him>>. There was the bull! Had he been inside of the barn all along? And—more shockingly—Belle was in there with him… laying on the dirt floor underneath his stomach… <<link '<<Kai>> peeped through the window.' 'PeepBelle'>><<set $PeepBelle to true>><</link>> <<if $DisturbFilter>><<link '<<Kai>> confronted Belle.' 'ConfrontBelle'>><</link>><</if>>

<<Kai>> quickly made <<his>> way over to the door and swung it open, bursting into the barn. Belle's head turned towards <<him>><<if !$PeepBelle>> as she lay naked on the ground, straddled by her bull<</if>>. The animal’s cock <<if !$PeepBelle>>was hard and throbbing, dangling<<else>>dangled<</if>> above her. She had it gripped in her hands, fingers wrapped around the shaft<<if !$PeepBelle>>, caught in the middle of stroking it<</if>>. “<<if !$PeepBelle>>Oh. <</if>>Hello, $Kai.” She said it nonchalantly as she <<if !$PeepBelle>>ceased her stroking and <</if>>turned to face <<him>>. “Do you want a turn?” <<link 'No.' 'ChastiseBelle'>><</link>> <<if $BeastFilter>><<link 'Yes.' 'JoinBelle'>><</link>><</if>>

“Okay…” <<Kai>> walked towards the bull, uncertain but curious. “How do I…” <<He>> <<wasnt>> sure what to do. Belle chuckled. “It’s okay. I was nervous my first time too.” She grabbed <<kais>> hand and guided it, placing it on the bull’s back. She gently rubbed <<his>> hand back and forth. “There, there, Trey. I found a new friend for you. Make sure you play nice.” //She even named her bull… How long has she been fucking her animals?// <<Kai>> looked around the barn at the other animals in the stalls. //And how many of them…?// Trey felt soft, but strong. His enormous muscles rippled beneath <<kais>> hand with each stroke. “That’s good…” Belle breathed. “Now we go lower.” She guided <<his>> hand down near Trey’s stomach and placed it on his sheath, letting go of her grip. “Yeah, just like that. Go on.” She walked in front of the bull and leaned into his face, gripping him with both hands; she looked at him like one looked at their lover. <<Kai>> closed one eye and looked to the side as <<he>> gripped the leathery sheath, rubbing it. “But he just came, right?” “Don’t worry. He’ll be good to go in no time. “ Belle winked. “How’s that possible?” “This is a magical place, $Kai. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten that.” “What kind of magic…?” Belle smiled. “We’ll talk about that later. For now, why don’t you just enjoy yourself?” <<link '<<Kai>> serviced Trey.' 'ServiceTrey'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> switched targets.' 'RejectTrey'>><<set $RejectTrey to true>><</link>>

“That’s alright.” <<He>> put up a hand, signaling for her to stop <<if !$RejectTrey>>helping<<else>>approaching<</if>> <<him>>. “I’ll do it.” “Oh, is that right…?” She smiled. <<Kai>> bent down and made <<his>> way beneath Trey’s stomach. The bull’s hard cock was waiting there for <<him>>, throbbing and standing at attention. He snorted and padded at the ground with a hoof. His cock waved back and forth. Belle knelt down next to <<him>> and grabbed <<his>> wrist<<if !$RejectTrey>> again<</if>>, placing it on Trey’s veiny cock. She let go and <<kai>> began moving <<his>> arm, pumping <<his>> curled fingers over Trey’s shaft. It was warm and thick; <<he>> could feel the veins pulsing as his body pumped blood to his aroused shaft. His cock was long and unlike a human’s; it was too uniform. “Faster.” <<Kai>> sped up, aware of Belle’s eyes searing into <<him>>. “Yeah, that’s it.” <<He>> gripped the cock with <<his>> other hand, pumping with both of them at the same time. <<He>> alternated, going up with one while <<he>> went down with the other. Trey seemed to enjoy that technique more and it was easier for <<kai>>. But <<he>> couldn’t speed up any more—<<he>> <<was>> already going as fast as <<he>> could manage. Trey’s cock wasn’t as offputting as <<he>> had been expecting it to be; it actually wasn’t so bad once <<he>> got used to it. <<He>> could almost understand why Belle had given in to its temptation. <<Kai>> felt something pressing against the back of <<his>> head. “Hey!” “Shhh…” Belle pressed <<his>> head forward, guiding <<his>> mouth toward the tip of Trey’s fully erect cock. “Open up, now.” <<He>> couldn’t see Belle, yet <<he>> knew she was smiling. <<He>> wanted to resist her, but <<he>> had already come this far; what use was there in resisting now? <<Kai>> opened <<his>> mouth, allowing the tip of the bull’s cock to pass over <<his>> lips and slide into <<his>> mouth. <<He>> touched it with <<his>> tongue. It was warmer than <<he>> <<was>> expecting. Trey padded against the ground again, excited by the sensation. “Ready?” <<Kai>> tried to answer her, but <<his>> words were muffled. Belle kept pressing on the back of <<his>> head—harder and harder each time—forcing <<him>> to take the thick cock deeper into the back of <<his>> mouth. “You’re a good <<boy>>, $Kai.” <<He>> could feel one of her hands running down <<his>> thigh. Her tits pressed against <<his>> arm as she leaned closer. “Keep going. Just like that.” She was forcing the tip of Trey’s cock into the entrance of <<his>> throat at this point. If she kept pushing <<him>> deeper, <<he>> soon wouldn’t be able to breathe. Belle’s other hand made its way between <<kais>> legs, sliding under <<his>> clothes and groping <<his>> <<cock>>. <<He>> let out a muffled squeak, rubbing <<his>> legs together in lackluster protest. “You’re already wet,” she said, working her fingers. She didn’t sound the least bit surprised. “I knew from my first look at you that you were like me.” She pushed harder on <<kais>> head and the tip of Trey’s cock slipped down <<his>> throat. <<He>> gagged involuntarily, clenching. <<He>> pushed back against Belle’s hand, struggling to free <<his>> obstructed airway. Belle resisted at first, but changed her mind. “Okay, I’ll let you breathe. But only for a minute.” She relinquished her grasp on <<kais>> head, her other hand still stimulating <<him>> down below. “Gah!” <<Kai>> pulled <<his>> head away from the bull’s cock and greedily sucked air into <<his>> lungs. After a few deep breaths, <<he>> regained <<his>> voice. “What are you doing? I said I would do it, okay?” Belle grinned. “What makes me think I should believe you? This way, I know you’ll do it.” “Just let me take me time… Mmm...” <<His>> <<cock>> throbbed. //Fuck… What am I doing…?// <<link '<<Kai>> kissed Belle.' 'KissBelle'>><</link>> /* <<link '<<Kai>> returned <<his>> attention to Trey of your own accord.' 'WIP'>><</link>> */

<<Kai>> thrust <<himself>> forward and kissed Belle, even daring to put <<his>> arms around her wide hips as <<he>> pulled <<himself>> into her. She accepted <<kai>>, pulling <<him>> in closer and dragging <<him>> over onto the ground, tangled in her arms. She thrust her tongue into <<kais>> mouth, taking over the situation. Overwhelmed with lust, <<he>> simply submitted, allowing her to take charge. Belle flipped <<him>> over and pinned <<him>> down, removing her mouth from <<his2>>. “So I’m what you //really// want?” Her engorged tits dangled above <<kais>> chest; <<he>> couldn’t take <<his>> eyes off of them. Belle chuckled. “Alright. I’ll be nice to you. Normally, I let loose and have my way with toys before discarding them.” //Discard…?// She placed one of her nipples into <<kais>> mouth and <<he>> suckled greedily, unable to resist. As <<he>> sucked, a stream of milk shot out of her hard nub, flowing into <<his>> mouth. It tasted sweeter than <<he>> <<was>> expecting. <<He>> greedily swallowed it down, <<his>> <<cock>> still throbbing from arousal. Belle’s eyes flitted down to <<his>> crotch. “Hah. You’re as bad as Trey. Fine, I’ll milk you too.” As <<kai>> sucked, Belle’s hand went to <<his>> <<cock>>, savagely pumping <<if $Penis>>around<<else>>into<</if>> <<him>>. “Gentle…” <<he>> said, muffled by the tit in <<his>> mouth. “No.” She went harder. <<Kai>> moaned and squirmed, but she held <<him>> in place. Desperate and overstimulated, <<he>> unconsciously began biting the nipple in <<his>> mouth, milk shooting into the back of <<his>> throat. “Hey!” Belle squeezed. //Fuck… What’s she doing?!// “No! Bad $Kai!” She slapped <<kai>> in the face. “You only get my milk if you’re a good <<boy>>.” “I’m sorry…” <<Kais>> body convulsed, desperate for attention. Belle didn’t give her tits back; instead, she slid down <<his>> body and focused on <<his>> crotch. “I’ll have to teach you a lesson.” She squirted breast milk into her hand and then rubbed it against <<his>> hole. Then she grabbed Trey’s hard cock and lubricated it as well, gripping it and angling it towards <<kais>> asshole. //She’s going to fuck me in the ass with her bull’s cock…// As the realization dawned on <<him>>, <<kai>> grew slowly horrified. <<His>> body lurched. <<link '<<Kai>> let it happen.' 'BellePunishment'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> made a run for it.' 'Fork3'>><<endCutscene>><</link>> <<if $RapeFilter>><<link '<<Kai>> persuaded Belle to go easy on <<him>>.' 'PersuadeBelle'>><</link>><</if>>

“Wait! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I just lost control for a moment. It won’t happen again.” Belle raised an eyebrow, but remained silent still gripping Trey’s cock. <<Kai>> began to panic. “I mean it! It was just… You got me too excited. You’re too beautiful. Your tits, they’re, well…” <<His>> eyes went wide. <<He>> couldn’t explain <<himself>> in any coherent way. “Sorry. You have to learn.” She said it as she <<link 'plunged the thick cock inside of <<him>>.' 'BellePunishment'>><</link>>

Belle pressed the tip of Trey’s cock against <<his>> asshole. //Oh fuck… It’s not used to stretching that wide. She’s going to break me…!// <<He>> stretched against the invading cock, at first without much pain. But then, as Belle began to push the tip deeper and the shaft inched slowly forward, <<kais>> asshole reached its limit. “Stop!” It felt like a searing fire inside of <<him>>; <<he>> <<was>> being stretched too far. “I can’t take it!” “Yes, you can.” She pulled the cock back slightly, still leaving the tip barely submerged inside <<kais>> wet hole. “You just need to be trained.” She pushed it back in slowly, managing to get slightly farther in the second time. The searing returned, but—surprisingly—it wasn’t as intense as before. “Fuck!” <<kai>> said. It definitely still hurt though. <<He>> squirmed, wiggling <<his>> back and hips, doing<<his>> best to resist the blaring temptation to simply leap up and run away. To escape that torment. “Fuck…” “Be quiet." Belle slapped <<him>>. " No squirming.” She plunged the tip in and out of <<him>> again, now doing it rhythmically. With each thrust, <<kai>> stretched a little bit wider and felt the bull’s cock sliding deeper in, bit by bit. “Just relax.” //Relax…?// How could <<he>> possibly do that? <<He>> had been clenching <<his>> teeth and fingers the whole time. “Just let go, surrender to me. To my punishment. You deserve this for being a bad <<boy>>. Remember?” //I deserve it…?// <<Kai>> unclenched <<his>> fists and leaned back onto the dirt, doing <<his>> best to steady <<his>> breathing and relax <<his>> muscles. //Surrender to her…// <<He>> somehow managed to unclench <<his>> anal muscles and immediately felt the tip of Trey’s cock slip inside of <<him>>. “Ack!” <<He>> shivered. Once the tip had gone in, the shaft had begun to slide inside quickly, filling <<him>> up and giving <<him>> a strange sensation. It didn’t exactly hurt, but <<he>> felt like <<he>> needed to urgently use the bathroom. It was so uncomfortable. “There we go.” Belle began to rhythmically pump into <<him>>, guiding Trey’s cock slightly deeper with each thrust. “It’s really a shame. You're taking to my training so well...” Something seemed different in her voice. //Is she sad?// <<Kai>> had just managed to get a glimpse of her frowning face. “Belle, I…” She noticed <<his>> look and her expression immediately changed, contorting into a sly grin. “Quiet! I’m letting him take over now.” She let go of the cock and stepped away, allowing Trey to pick up on the thrusting. He wasn’t gentle and steady, like Belle had been; he thrust wildly and gave no consideration to how deep his cock penetrated <<kais>> insides. “Ahh…” <<He>> gurgled, drooling. It was too much. <<Kai>> wanted to scream, but all <<he>> could manage were squeaks as—shocked by the immediate, wild fucking—<<his>> <<cock>> began leaking onto the dirt. <<He>> <<was>> losing control, losing any grasp on <<his>> thoughts. <<His>> stomach convulsed and <<his>> eyes rolled back into <<his>> head as the ceaseless fucking rocked <<him>>. <<He>> <<was>> //too full//, too much of <<him>> was filled with bull cock for <<his>> mind to comprehend it, to comprehend much of anything. “Pathetic…” After a few minutes of observation, Belle watched as Trey thrust hard and came inside <<kais>> ass, pumping his seed into <<kais>> insides. With his balls momentarily emptied, Trey slid out of <<kais>> asshole as his cock shrunk. Then, satisfied by the spectacle, Belle walked out of the barn, leaving <<kai>> on the dirt floor. <<He>> laid there alone; cold, shivering, and leaking bull cum from between <<his>> thighs. //What am I becoming...?// <<He>> could barely manage the thought. @@.center; <<link 'Ω Ω'>><<endCutscene>><<NextDay>><</link>> @@

<<Kai>> <<wasnt>> interested in Trey, <<he>> <<was>> interested in Belle. “No,” <<he>> said. “I’m not going to touch your bull like that.” “Oh?” Belle smiled. “And why ever not?” “Because… he’s an animal! That’s why.” “And your point?” Belle inspected her fingernails. “My //point// is that it’s wrong.” “Mmm. And what do you think is wrong about it, exactly? The difference in species<<if $Penis>>, the fact that you both have cocks<</if>>, or maybe your hesitance to acknowledge his interest in you; he obviously wants it. Just look at him throb…” She said it too easily. “You’re warped…” “Who isn’t? At least I know who I am.” She let a small smile slip. She was actually //enjoying// <<kais>> protest. “What’s wrong with you…?” <<Kai>> slowly backed away from her. “Come closer and find out, Honey.” She walked towards <<him>>, her naked hips and tits swaying with each step. <<link '<<Kai>> made a run for it.' 'Fork3'>><<endCutscene>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> gave in and serviced Trey<<if !$MalePreference>>, despite <<his>> lack of interest in men<</if>>.' 'ServiceTrey'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> submitted and embraced Belle.' 'KissBelle'>><</link>>

“No! Of course not! What you’re doing, it’s…” <<Kai>> looked at the bull’s innocent face. “It’s disgusting!” The bull had a blank look. “He doesn’t want… He doesn’t know or understand…” “Oh, he understands,” Belle said. “He knows how to fuck. In fact, he’s an expert. Where do you think my cattle come from?” She snickered. “No, but they’re animals. You’re a person. It’s different…” “Hm…” She rose to her feet, walked towards <<kai>>, her naked tits jiggling with each step. She leaned forward and ran her hand across <<kais>> cheek—the same one she had just been stroking with. “And what’s so different about it?” //Fuck, <<if $FemalePreference is true>>she’s<<else>>this is<</if>> somehow... sexy…?// <<Kai>> felt <<his>> <<cock>> throb and, even though <<he>> <<was>> ashamed, <<he>> felt excited for some reason. //No.// <<He>> shook <<his>> head. //I have to stay strong and remember how wrong this is.// “I’m not fucking an animal!” <<kai>> screamed, running from the barn and leaving Belle behind, naked with her bull. She watched <<him>> run, never taking her eyes away until she eventually <<link 'faded into the distance' 'Fork3'>><<endCutscene>><</link>>. //What have I gotten myself into…?//

<<Kai>> didn’t need to enter, <<he>> <<was>> content to simply watch them from outside. The bull was huge—muscular and authoritative. <<Kai>> could tell immediately, just from a look, that this bull didn’t put up with any nonsense; he had an air of disagreeableness to him, something that Belle seemed acutely aware of as she interacted with him, taking care not to do anything that might upset him. The two of them were intimately familiar with each other. Belle knew how to comfort him, how to calm him down, and even how to //please// him. She lay on the dirt floor, naked and exposed; her overalls and remaining clothing were hanging from a metal hook, installed on one of the barn walls off to the side. Her big tits drooped on either side of her chest, resting naturally for breasts as oversized as hers were. The flesh of her tits rippled with each stroke of her arms; she had the bull’s cock gripped firmly in her hands and she was milking him, pumping vigorously. “There’s a good boy,” she said, sultry and unabashed. The bull let out his version of a moan and kicked at the ground beside her in excitement, brushing a cloud of dirt to the side with his hoof. His pale cock was thick and long, protruding from a leathery sheath; his big balls dangled behind his shaft, the single source of all bovine life in the farm. The farmer gripped one of his balls from beneath in one of her hands, gently kneading it. “Give it to me,” Belle said. “Come on…” The pace of her pumping quickened; she was becoming clearly aroused herself, swept up in the moment. She paused her stroking only momentarily to prop herself up and shift positions. Sitting upright beneath the bull, she resumed her stroking as she opened her mouth, bringing it towards the tip of the bull’s cock. Pre-cum was already oozing out and Belle wanted it. She closed her eyes and kissed his cock, sucking on the tip and swallowing down her bull’s arousal. She let out a muffled moan as her head gently bobbed back and forth; she went back to stroking his shaft with both of her hands. Her body moved rhythmically, tits swinging back and forth with the tempo of her head movement. She let go of the bull’s cock with one of her hands and squeezed her breast; she moaned loudly as a streams of milk shot out from her nipple, flying through the air. Belle was lactating. That explained the massive size of her chest… and maybe her proclivity for bulls too…? She sped up, pumping the animal cock in her mouth and squeezing her breast—puddles of milk were beginning to form in the dirt. The bull bellowed loudly as he thrust forward, plunging his cock deeper into Belle’s mouth. Her eyes went wide as she adjusted to his thrusting, relinquishing the hold on her breast and instead placing a hand on the ground to steady herself. The bull’s balls retracted and his shaft pulsed, shooting cum into Belle’s mouth. She gulped it down, keeping the cock inside of her mouth. She even let the bull continue his thrusting, his cock plunging deeper as he thrust aggressively from the intensity of his orgasm. <<Kai>> could see her throat bulging in and out as the cock filled her airway. Finished with his orgasm, the bull’s cock shrunk, slinking out of Belle’s mouth and shriveling back into his sheath—some globs of cum still dangling from the tip. Belle swallowed and placed one of her hands between her legs; some of the cum had dripped from her chin, falling onto her tits and thighs. “That’s good, Trey…” she said, eyeing her animal’s softening cock while she licked her lips. “But more importantly, do //you// want to take a turn or will you just keep watching?” Her eyes turned towards the window. //Oh, shit! She saw me!// <<link '<<Kai>> entered the barn.' 'ConfrontBelle'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> ran away.' 'Fork3'>><<endCutscene>><</link>>

Yes, <<kai>> //did// want to take it for a spin. <<He>> drooled at first, saliva inadvertently running down <<his>> chin while <<his>> eyes soaked in the scene, taking in the glorious sight before <<him>>. A horse’s cock on the body of a woman, a voluptuous and seductive woman. It was out of place, unquestionably unnatural, but the equine dick dangling between her thighs still fit her form somehow. What sort of witchcraft was this? Oh, right. Belle had said it was transmutation magic… <<Kai>> didn’t bother with details. As long as <<he>> got to service that massive member, <<he>> didn’t care how or where it came from. <<He>> just wanted a handful of horse schlong. <<His>> mind went fuzzy for a moment. //A Farmer’s Horsecock: Source unknown, fit for a throne. Belle—my queen—her dong obscene. Balls hang low, she needs to blow. Love juice leaking, Her shaft swelling, There was no telling, What I had been seeking, A cockhead peaking? A bulge. Desire. My instincts speaking.// <<Kai>> shook <<his>> head. //What the fuck was that?// <<Was>> <<he>> under a spell or something? <<He>> hated poetry, those thoughts couldn’t have been <<his>> own. But <<he>> quickly forgot <<his>> concern as <<his>> gaze subconsciously returned to the perfect prick, the powerful package, prying open <<his>> passionate reflection. A malleable mind, ripe, ready to be ravished, prepared for pleasure. <<Kai>> <<was>> mesmerized, hypnotized. Enraptured by her lustful eyes. An animal work of art. The best of beguiling biology, bewitching beauty. A throbbing dart. A breeze blew through, wafting her aroma. Her scandalous scent, a magnetic musk. <<Kai>> fell to <<his>> knees, a heady descent. Mouth open, [[ready to please|FutaBelle2]].

Animals surrounded <<yall2>>. Horses in their stalls, cows lapping up water from basins, chickens running around the coop. <<Kai>> fell to <<his>> knees, hay littering the ground beneath <<him>>. Belle’s cock dangled in front of <<his>> face, her sweaty, succulent scent palpable. “You like it, Sugar?” <<Kai>> extended <<his>> arms, cradling the soft shaft in <<his>> hands. It was warm; <<he>> could feel her pulse. She bellowed a sultry moan. <<He>> raised <<his>> arms, lifting her rod, bringing the flared tip towards <<his>> waiting mouth. An authentic horse cock, long and veiny, a well-endowed stud. Unlike the rest of Belle’s skin, her cock skin was leathery, dark at the base, lightening towards the tip. <<Kai>> squeezed, testing Belle’s fleshy shaft. Though soft and sinuous, her cock was stiffening slowly, goaded by <<kais>> touch. <<He>> <<was>> face to face with the flare, rounded like a mushroom cap, and speared through the middle with a generous opening. Her urethra, wide and jutting forward, was a shadowy cum pipe, quivering in anticipation of her gooey cock-milk. “I’ll warn you just once. Once you taste it, there’s no going back. The smell alone intoxicates. My cock may be a horse cock, but it’s //really// a breeding cock, effective no matter the species. Enhanced for one, single purpose: wanton impregnation.” Once sexually awakened, Belle would give no quarter. <<Kai>> could sense it, smell it. Her animalistic nature, her desire—no—her need to skewer and fuck and cum. Eyes glazed over, <<kais>> lips embraced the flared tip with a gentle kiss, caressing that fleshy, white mushroom cap, tonguing that jutting hole, peeking out in the center. <<His>> lips ran back and forth over the tender flesh, sucking softly at first, hands steadily stroking Belle’s veiny monster, her smelly beast, excited like an ogre leaving his dank cave, eager to plunder. Belle hardened, reaching full mast in <<kais>> hands. She was thick; <<kais>> fingers weren’t touching anymore, unable to fully wrap around her girth. <<He>> picked up the pace, stroking more rapidly now, gripping tighter. Pushing <<his>> head forward, straining <<his>> neck and jaw, <<he>> managed to fully envelope Belle’s flare inside <<his>> mouth. Even though it was just the tip, it filled <<him>>. <<He>> sucked harder, more fervently, as <<he>> continued stroking. Belle’s hips inched forward and backward rhythmically. Her eyes closed as her control loosened, the carnal act of thrusting taking over her mind. “That’s good, $Kai. Be a good <<boy>>.” A soft voice. Her fingers wrapped around the back of <<kais>> head, sliding into <<his>> hair. She gently pushed, her flare poking at the back of <<kais>> throat. The horse in the stall next to <<them>> neighed, pounding the floor with his hoof. “Open wide for me.” Her excited cock pulsed, pre-cum shooting into <<kais>> mouth, gushing from that flared faucet. <<Kai>> strained; <<his>> mouth was already stretched to <<his>> limit and swallowing was difficult. <<He>> gulped, managing to down the surprisingly large volume of pre-cum filling <<his>> mouth. Unlike a normal cock that would slowly leak pre-cum until finally bursting with orgasm, Belle’s juices //shot// out of her, like she was periodically pissing sweet lubricant into the back of <<kais>> throat. Belle’s grip tightened, her other hand grabbed <<kais>> head, thrusting growing more aggressive. She screamed in pleasure, her fat cock assaulting <<kais>> airway, bulging <<his>> neck. Struggling to breath, <<kai>> released <<his>> grip on her throbbing shaft and desperately reached for Belle’s legs, or anything <<he>> could reach to give <<himself>> some leverage. <<He>> needed to push away, alleviate the pressure on <<his>> throat. Airway obstructed, <<he>> couldn’t even swallow down the pre-cum anymore, it just slowly leaked down <<his>> gullet. But <<he>> couldn’t reach anything, not even Belle’s legs. Her cock had somehow grown even longer than <<his>> arms. Limp, <<his>> limbs fell to <<his>> side, resigned to whatever fate <<his>> breeder had in store for <<him>>. “Now, //that’s// a good <<boy>>! I’m going to fill you, slut.” Belle cast a skill and suddenly, <<kais>> throat opened up, stretching with no resistance. She thrust forward like an animal, the flare of her cock sliding down <<kais>> sticky gullet and filling <<his>> whole throat. <<He>> <<was>> literally skewered on Belle’s cock. She pulled on <<kais>> head, sheathing herself to the base. Her massive, leathery balls slapped against <<kais>> chin. <<His>> head was locked in place, smothered in her crotch, gripped by her stocky thighs. <<His>> gaze was locked, staring up at her massive dangling tits, thick nipples standing at attention; they were so big, <<he>> couldn’t even see her face. If <<kai>> could’ve inhaled at that moment, the scent of her loins surely would’ve been overwhelming. <<He>> needed to break free from her inhuman grip. The quicker Belle came, the sooner <<he>> could breathe. <<Kai>> ran <<his>> hands across her sturdy legs, and gripped her firm ass. Fingers already lubricated from <<his>> own drool, <<he>> plunged into her asshole. Like she was ready for it, Belle puckered, sucking up those fingers greedily. As Belle hammered <<kais>> throat with her cock, <<he>> drilled her ass, searching for a prostate, or just hoping the extra stimulation would push her over the edge and help her cum quicker. “Fuck, $Kai…” Her legs shivered. <<Kai>> couldn’t see, but <<he>> imagined Belle’s eyes rolling back in her head. It was working, she was going to cum. Belle bent forward and gripped <<kais>> throat, wrapping her firm hand around the crazy bulge jutting out of <<his>> neck. Her grip would’ve choked <<kai>>, if <<he>> <<wasnt>> already choking on her horse cock. She squeezed as she feverishly thrust in and out of <<kais>> throat. She was using <<kais>> throat like an onahole, using <<him>> to jack herself off. Her breathing quickened, growing shallow. <<Kai>> <<was>> running out of oxygen, <<his>> muscles weakening. Losing control over <<his>> body, <<kais>> fingers slid out of Belle’s slick asshole. Her balls tightened, drawing up into her crotch. Her flare widened. Slamming <<kais>> head into her abdomen, she exploded. Her cock pumped rhythmically, <<kais>> bulging neck pulsing along with it. Stroking <<his>> neck with her other hand, Belle milked herself, shooting her seed directly into <<kais>> stomach. <<Kai>> could feel it filling <<him>>. Her sticky milk. The pulsing was steady, streams of cum pumping with each throb of her shaft. So much cum. <<Kais>> stomach was bulging. Moaning, she released her grip on <<kai>>, sliding out of <<his>> throat. <<Kai>> sucked in a great gasp of air, filling <<his>> lungs, fueling <<his>> brain—coughing up a river of cum. But as soon as <<he>> could breath, <<his>> face was plastered with even more sticky milk. Belle wasn’t done cumming. Pinching a nipple with one hand, she stroked her pulsing cock with the other, painting <<kai>> with her thick horse jizz. It stuck to <<his>> face, <<his>> hair, <<his>> <<if $Breasts>>tits<<else>>chest<</if>>. Dazed, <<kai>> absent-mindedly licked <<his>> lips, slurping down some of Belle’s virile, dripping seed. God. It tasted good! Why was it so good? <<Kai>> needed more. Luckily, there was plenty to spare; Belle was still cumming. <<Kai>> <<was>> drenched at this point, practically swimming in her cum. A bloated jizz rag. Belle leaned over to her side and grabbed a metal bucket. She stuffed her cock into it and painted it white, emptying whatever was left in her magical balls. She even filled the bucket too, spilling only a few spatters of viscous, horse cream. She sighed, her balls finally relaxing, cock softening, still lazily pulsing between her beautiful legs. <<Kai>> couldn’t believe it. That load was inhuman. <<He>> sat on the messied barn floor, dripping, breathing heavily, eyes glued to the bucket full of horse cum. <<He>> knew <<his>> stomach was already full, so why did <<he>> still want to drink from that bucket so badly? Regaining composure, Belle noticed what was happening. She moved the bucket away from <<kai>>. “That’s okay, Sugar. There’s plenty more where that came from. Trust me. You can have some more of my milk later, okay?” <<Kai>> couldn’t find words. Instead, <<he>> licked jizz off <<his>> arms, <<his>> chest, whatever had been coated by that splendid milk fountain. <<He>> took a deep breath, basking in the scent of animal jizz. It felt //good// to be a cum rag. “Oh, Sweetie. Was I too hard on you?” Belle smiled mischievously. She picked <<kai>> up, pressing <<him>> against her bare chest. Feeling a <<if $Penis>>bulge<<else>>wet spot<</if>> rub against her boob, she looked at her desperate, new cocksleeve. “Ah, you need some relief too, [[don’t you?|WIP]]”

"Well, that’s just too bad, Sweetie! Let me know if you change your mind, now." <<Kai>> nodded. "Alright, well you better get out of my barn. I can’t have you messing around with my animals now, can I? Only God knows what you might do to them…" Messing around with them? Something seemed suspicious about that last statement. Was Belle up to something... unsavory? <<link '<<Kai>> left the barn, returning to the farmer’s market.' 'FarmersMarket'>><<set $BelleIntroduction to true>><<endCutscene>><</link>>

So you're interested in smut. Unfortunately, these scenes have not yet been incorporated into the story and are subject to change. I'm working on them! Spoiler Warning. Check your character: <label><<checkbox "$Penis" false true autocheck>>Penis</label> <label><<checkbox "$Vagina" false true autocheck>>Vagina</label> <label><<checkbox "$Breasts" false true autocheck>>Breasts</label> Scenes: [[Romancing Margerie]] [[School]] [[Go Back|$return]]

<<Kai>> awoke, chained to the dungeon floor, <<his>> arms and legs bound. Across the room, <<he>> saw a summoning sign with blood smeared across it. A demon walked towards <<him>>. The creature was tall with long, muscular legs peeking out from beneath her black latex skirt. Her thighs were thick and strong, the outlines of the muscle flexing as her hips twisted, body shifting back and forth. The demon paused, eyeing <<kai>> up and down, undressing <<him>> with her eyes. She placed one hand on her hip, her red and black eyes devouring <<him>>. <<Kai>> looked back at her in anticipation. Why <<was>> <<he>> feeling so submissive? Was it the restraints? <<Kai>> stared at her chest. <<He>> couldn't help <<himself>>. The demon's breasts were completely exposed. Her top was made of metal chain links, draped across her chest. Her breasts were large and plump, just beginning to droop down towards her stomach. Her dark nipples were thick and long, with metal rod piercings stuck through them. Each rod in her nipple was equipped with demonic jewelry dangling from either side. Her mouth widened into a grin, revealing sharp, white teeth—razored like a shark. The dark red of her skin contrasted the bright white of her teeth sending a shiver down <<kais>> spine. She stuck out her tongue, licking her lips. It was cherry blossom pink, split down the middle like a snake's tongue. It stretched to a great length before slipping back into her mouth. <<Kai>> <<was>> afraid. She was a monster. A //real// monster. She walked closer, her black ankles clinking against the hard dungeon floor with each step. She bared her claw-like fingers, revealing thick, black nails like talons. She crouched in front of <<kai>>, staring into <<his>> eyes. She ran her nails up <<kais>> legs. Up <<his>> body. Touching <<his>> cheek. She slapped <<his>> face. <<Kai>> recoiled. The demon chuckled. <<Kai>> felt a <<if $Penis>>bulge growing<<else>>wet spot starting<</if>> in <<his>> underwear. <<if $Penis>>She noticed <<kais>> bulge, smile fading.<</if>> She slapped <<kai>> again, harder this time, jerking <<his>> head to the side. <<Kais>> cheek stung. The demon stood back up, her waist near <<kais>> face. She wrapped her fingers around <<kais>> neck and dug her nails in, drawing blood. Ouch! It stung, like getting pricked with a needle. <<Kai>> felt a trickle of blood, running down <<his>> neck, across <<his>> chest. <<His>> captor moaned in excitement, excitedly eyeing the blood. Her skirt bulged forward, moving toward <<kais>> face. The demon's slithering tongue lashed out, greedily lapping up <<kais>> blood. She leaned forward, the bulge of her skirt touching <<kais>> nose. <<Kai>> could smell a strong musk wafting from beneath the skirt. <<His>> captor was aroused. <<Kai>> felt her cock, pulsing against <<his>> stinging cheek. She leaned into <<kai>>, shoving her cock forward. The smell was too much for <<kai>> to handle; <<he>> <<was>> <<if $Penis>>fully erect<<else>>soaking wet<</if>>. The demon grabbed <<kais>> hair, pulling <<his>> head back. Another grin. This time, <<kai>> smiled back at her. Displeased, she spit on <<kais>> face, rubbing it in with her other hand. She ran a finger over <<kais>> lips—sinking it into <<his>> mouth—and pried <<his>> jaw open, her nails scratching against the soft inside of <<kais>> mouth. She pushed <<kais>> jaw completely open and—looking down at <<him>>—spit down the back of <<his>> throat. <<Kais>> body heated up immediately, <<his>> <<cock>> throbbing. The demon's eyes glowed. She lifted her skirt, revealing a semi-hard cock. It was hard enough to stand up on its own, but soft enough to droop towards the tip. Her cock was already thick, despite not being fully hard yet. Red veins popped up across her shaft, the black tip oozing pre-cum. Bumps ran down her shaft, from tip to base. Large red balls dangled between her legs, pulsing in her sack. Her cock looked delicious. <<Kai>> needed it. <<Kai>> stuck out <<his>> tongue, desperately hoping to taste that meaty, musky cock. <<His>> captor obliged, pulling <<kais>> head into her crotch. <<Kai>> ran <<his>> tongue along the tip, tasting the sweet pre-cum, caressing the black glans. She pulled <<kais>> head forward more, allowing her member to enter <<kais>> open mouth. <<Kai>> tasted her shaft, sucking on the head of her cock, running <<his>> tongue around it in circles. More tasty pre-cum. <<Kai>> greedily sucked it down <<his>> throat. <<His>> captor's shaft grew larger, hardening inside <<his>> mouth. As it lengthened, the tip slid across <<kais>> tongue and into the back of <<his>> throat—widening, filling <<his>> mouth. <<Kai>> sucked. <<He>> felt the bumps of the demon's shaft scraping against the roof of <<his>> mouth. The demon moaned in pleasure, appreciating <<kais>> work. Pre-cum steadily leaked into the back of <<kais>> throat. <<He>> worked the cock, inviting it, goading it, caressing it, loving it. No matter how hard <<he>> tried, <<kai>> could only get <<his>> lips halfway down the shaft; it was too long. <<His>> captor grew impatient. She shoved <<kais>> head down to the base of her cock, releasing a sigh of relief and pleasure. She owned <<kais>> throat. <<Kai>> immediately gagged, squirming, locked in place—unable to cough. She slid down <<kais>> throat, the bumps on her cock jutting out, assaulting <<his>> tender flesh. <<Kai>> felt the cockhead bulging, deep in <<his>> esophagus. <<His>> lungs cried out, desperate for air. <<His>> asshole puckered; <<his>> <<if $Penis>>cock<<else>>slit<</if>> leaked slightly, wetting <<his>> underwear. <<Kai>> <<was>> being manhandled, but <<his>> body liked it. <<Kai>> stopped squirming, relinquishing control to <<his>> Mistress. She slid her cock in and out of <<kais>> throat, moaning with satisfaction as her large balls retracted up into her crotch. <<Kai>> couldn't taste her pre-cum anymore, instead it dripped directly into <<his>> throat. <<His>> Mistress' cock rhythmically pulsed against <<his>> tongue and throat, contracting in anticipation. As she thrust, <<his>> Mistress pulled on the back of <<kais>> head, adding additional power to the thrusting. Mucus dribbled out of <<kais>> nose, tears involuntary welling in <<his>> eyes. Mistress picked up the pace. <<Kai>> <<was>> feeling light-headed from the lack of oxygen. Her thrusting was aggressive; <<kai>> squirmed in protest, trying <<his>> best to breathe past the huge cock lodged in <<his>> throat. Mistress was unrelenting. <<Kais>> drool dripped off of the base of <<his>> Mistress' rod, puddling on the ground between her legs. More aggressive thrusting. <<His>> Mistress paid no mind to <<his>> struggle for breath; <<kai>> felt darkness encroaching, creeping from the edges of <<his>> vision. Suddenly, she thrust all the way down <<kais>> throat—as far as her cock would fit. Her balls slapped against <<kais>> chin, pulsing. Her cock pumped, shooting cum down <<kais>> throat. <<Kais>> eyes went wide, rolling back into <<his>> head. <<He>> felt Mistress' thick seed filling <<him>> up, slowly draining into <<his>> stomach—throat congested with spunk. <<Kai>> <<was>> Mistress' bitch—fully submitted to her will, her pleasure, her whims. Mistress howled. Glistening horns shot out of her head, curling behind her hair. A black tail sprouted from her lower back, just above her ass. She yanked her cock out abruptly; the bumps along the shaft of her cock ravaged <<kais>> airway as she pulled out. With <<his>> airway finally freed, <<kai>> gasped desperately for air through <<his>> gummed up throat, coughing. <<Kais>> senses were inundated all at once, overwhelmed by stimulation. <<Kai>> went completely limp, <<his>> brain overloaded. Pain and pleasure mixed together, overlapping in a confused blur. <<Kais>> <<if $Penis>>pitiful cock<<else>>greedy pussy<</if>> pulsed, orgasming out of control. <<He>> leaked cum onto <<his>> already sticky underwear. Mistress released her grip on <<kais>> head. <<Kai>> quivered. Residual cum leaked from the tip of Mistress' cock, still pulsing as it dangled in front of <<kais>> face, shrinking slowly. <<Kai>> steeled <<himself>>, regaining composure. <<He>> would please Mistress; that was <<his>> role. <<Kai>> leaned forward, suckling the leftover cum out of the head of her cock. It tasted so good, and the smell made <<his>> head spin. <<His>> tongue craved the flavor. <<Kai>> wished <<he>> could've tasted the load in <<his>> stomach as it had gone down. Mistress moaned again, pleased with her new servant. She pulled out of <<kais>> mouth, taking notice of <<his>> soiled underwear. She slid <<kais>> clothes off and inspected them. How embarrassing to be exposed before her. <<Kai>> awaited her judgment; it couldn't be good. She sniffed <<kais>> cum and stuck her tongue out, tasting it. Her cock perked up; she liked the taste. She shoved the soiled underwear in <<kais>> face, forcing <<him>> to taste <<his>> own pitiful cum. <<Kai>> slurped and swallowed begrudgingly; <<he>> wouldn't disobey <<his>> Mistress' command. Then she squatted down, her large cock bulging beneath her ass; her tongue flicked out, lapping up the cum around <<kais>> crotch. It wasn't enough. Mistress wanted more. Mistress chanted something and a <<if $Penis>>cage appeared, locking <<kais>> limp cock. <<Kai>> wouldn't be able to get hard until she removed it<<else>>plug appeared, filling <<kais>> ass<</if>>. She walked behind <<kai>>, her breath tickling <<kais>> ear, her tits poking <<kais>> back. She grabbed <<kais>> hand restraints and unlocked them, pulling <<him>> to <<his>> feet by the wrists. She pushed in between <<kais>> shoulder blades with her finger, signaling her servant to get down on all fours. <<Kai>> complied, knees and elbows touching the ground. Mistress snapped her fingers. <<Kai>> stuck <<his>> ass in the air, <<if $Penis>>caged cock dangling between <<his>> legs<<else>>the plug sticking out as <<he>> puckered. <<Kais>> pussy dripped, viscous grool beading between <<his>> legs<</if>>. Mistress spanked <<kai>> and <<he>> squirmed with surprise. The pain felt good. Squirming, <<kai>> realized that <<his>> knees were stuck to the ground, <<his>> elbows too. Mistress chuckled at <<his>> struggle. She ran her fingers up the back of <<kais>> legs, circling around <<his>> hole in anticipation. She bent down; <<kai>> felt her breath against <<his>> exposed hole. All <<kai>> could see from <<his>> position was that big, red bull of a cock dangling behind <<him>>, pulsing rhythmically, pre-cum dribbling out of it. Mistress was going to fuck <<him>>. Mistress ran her fingers down to <<kais>> <<if $Penis>>ball sack<<else>>clit<</if>>. Mistress pinched with strong fingers—<<kai>> flinched, yelping in pain. Mistress' dick stood back up, reacting to <<kais>> crying. She positioned her hand <<if $Penis>>around <<kais>> sack and squeezed, pulled, <<else>>in front of <<kais>> pussy. Mistress made a fist and plunged it into <<his>> hole—<</if>>stretching it out. It was too much all at once. <<Kai>> protested, crying. Mistress loved it, her cock reaching full mast. <<Kai>> squirmed again—to no avail. <<He>> <<was>> trapped. <<He>> <<was>> Mistress' servant, her sex doll—a set of holes to be used for pleasure. Just as the pain became unbearable, Mistress removed her fist. Her snake-like tongue swiftly licked around <<kais>> hole and then plunged deep inside of <<him>>, shutting <<him>> up. Mistress' tongue darted around inside of <<kai>>; <<he>> could distinctly feel the split parts of her tongue moving independently in different directions. Her tongue was long, curling up inside of <<kai>>, filling <<him>>, thrusting in and out of <<his>> hole. Mistress' saliva was special; it converted all of <<kais>> pain into pleasure. Mistress was breaking <<his>> brain, really enjoying herself now; her cock leaked a steady stream of pre-cum, pooling on the ground behind <<kai>>. The excess pre-cum was so hot; it made <<kai>> horny. <<He>> felt <<his>> <<if $Penis>>cock struggling against the cage to get hard<<else>>pussy pulsing around Mistress' tongue as it lapped up <<his>> grool<</if>>. <<if $Penis>>Normally, this would've hurt, but right now <<kais>> pleasure was intensified, pre-cum leaking out of <<his>> cage at an alarming rate.<</if>> Mistress pulled her tongue out of <<kais>> deeper parts and pinpointed <<his>> weak spot, the <<if $Penis>>prostate<<else>>g-spot<</if>>. She applied pressure to it, rubbing her split tongue back and forth with ferocity. With each massage, <<kai>> squirted, trembling with pleasure. After an endless number of squirts, Mistress allowed <<him>> a break. <<Kai>> breathed heavily, basking in the relief, but it was short-lived. Mistress <<if $Penis>>cupped her hand around <<kais>> balls and squeezed them as she <</if>>pressed down on <<kais>> <<if $Penis>>prostate<<else>>g-spot<</if>> with the full force of her tongue. <<His>> body clenched. A torrent of cum streamed from <<kai>>, splashing against the ground with such force that <<his>> previous puddle of cum splashed, wetting <<himself>>. <<His>> face, <<his>> stomach, <<his>> chest. <<He>> had never cum so hard before. <<He>> blinked rapidly, trying to work the cum out of <<his>> eyes. <<Kai>> felt Mistress' tongue slither out of <<him>> as she released her grip. <<Kai>> heard her tongue splashing in the pool of cum. <<Kai>> breathed out a deep relief, muscles relaxing. But sex dolls didn't get to relax. Mistress grabbed <<kais>> neck and thrust <<his>> face down into the pool of <<his>> own cum. She rubbed <<his>> face back and forth in it, like an owner would do to train their dog. <<was>> <<kai>> just an animal to her? A pet? <<Kai>> needed to breathe. <<He>> inhaled, cum getting inadvertently sucked into <<his>> mouth and nose. <<He>> felt the stickiness building in <<his>> nasal passage, air struggling to flow into <<his>> lungs. Eventually, Mistress pulled back on <<kais>> neck, allowing <<him>> the opportunity to breathe properly. <<Kai>> gasped and coughed, cum streaming out of <<his>> nose and running down <<his>> face. <<Kais>> chest pumped in and out. Mistress cackled, pulling <<his>> hair again. She was sadistic. Mistress gazed upon <<kai>>, admiring her handiwork, watching the cum dribble down <<his>> face. <<Kai>> pried <<his>> eyes open, <<his>> vision slightly foggy. <<He>> could make out a nefarious grin on her face, sharp teeth grinding in anticipation. What other degrading punishment would she mete out? <<Kai>> didn't know if <<he>> would survive them, much less be able to handle them. Dread overwhelmed <<kai>>. Fear. But at the same time, <<he>> <<was>> extremely aroused, <<his>> <<if $Penis>>cock bulging against its cage<<else>>pussy quivering<</if>> just from the sight of Mistress' smile. Mistress leaned over <<him>>, the tip of her cock touching <<kais>> hole. Her fingers dug deep into <<kais>> scalp. <<He>> could feel Mistress' excitement; it was building—anticipation. She pushed with the tip, gently at first. Her cock was slimy and well lubricated, the tip prying <<kai>> open, sliding into <<his>> hole, penetrating <<him>>. <<Kai>> flinched from being stretched so wide, but the pain quickly turned to pleasure. <<Kai>> whimpered like a pitiful bitch. <<His>> hole greedily gripped Mistress' member; it had a will of its own, an insatiable, carnal lust. <<Kais>> body yearned for abuse. Hearing <<kais>> whimpering, Mistress' eyes lit up, her cock growing inside <<kai>>. If she kept growing with each whimper, <<kai>> would split open; <<he>> would have to do <<his>> best to keep quiet. With renewed vigor, Mistress slid her wet shaft deep inside <<kais>> hole. With each thrust, the bumps jutting from her cock rubbed against <<his>> insides stretching <<him>> out even further than <<he>> thought physically possible. Mistress' bumpy cock was pleasurable, addicting; her bumps ravaged <<kais>> <<if $Penis>>prostate<<else>>g-spot<</if>>. <<if $Penis>>Pre-cum<<else>>Grool<</if>> furiously dripped <<if $Penis>>out of <<kais>> caged cock<<else>>down <<kais>> legs<</if>>. Mistress thrust her cock in, all the way to the base. Her balls slapped against <<kais>> crotch; <<kai>> arched <<his>> back, involuntarily squirting a stream of cum. Mistress paused, leaving her cock buried deep inside <<kai>>. She released <<kais>> hair and then squeezed <<his>> neck. Waves of pleasure. <<Kai>> loved the pain, the fuzziness. Mistress choked <<kai>>, thrusting the full length of her shaft in and out of <<his>> hole. The pleasure was too much; <<kai>> <<was>> going to cum again. <<He>> felt a hot sensation run through <<his>> <<if $Penis>>dick<<else>>cunt<</if>>. Mistress' tongue was inside <<his>> pee hole, slithering around greedily. <<Kai>> felt desperate to cum, needing release. <<if $Penis>>But <<he>> <<was>> backed up, completely plugged with her tongue.<<else>><<His>> pussy furiously gripped Mistress' cock, violently throbbing around it, pulsing ravenously.<</if>> <<Kai>> <<was>> losing control of <<his>> body. It wasn't <<his>> body anymore; it belonged to Mistress. She owned it. Mistress tightened her grip around <<kais>> neck, fucking <<kais>> piss hole with her tongue. She fucked <<kai>> faster, filling <<his>> <<if $Penis>>ass<<else>>cunt<</if>>. <<Kai>> <<was>> stuck in limbo, unable to claim relief; <<he>> fully surrendered <<himself>>, mind and body. Mistress' cock welled up inside <<kai>>, ready to burst. <<Kai>> needed it. It was the only thing that mattered in life: Mistress' seed. <<Kais>> tongue rolled out of <<his>> mouth, drooling—a mindless doll to be pumped full of spunk. Mistress' cock swelled, pumping her seed deep in <<kais>> bitch hole. She moaned again. Wings shot out of her back. With each contraction of her cock, Mistress' bumps pulsed, pressing against <<kais>> quivering insides, driving <<him>> crazy. Mistress finally slid her tongue out of <<kais>> pee hole, but it went immediately back in. A small spurt of liquid shot out behind the immense pressure that had built up. <<Kais>> eyes roll back in <<his>> head. There was more pressure. <<Kai>> needed more release. Desperately. Please, Mistress. Relief. <<Kai>> panted and drooled harder, <<his>> insides filling with Mistress' cum. Mistress removed her tongue from <<kais>> hole, plunging it in and out a few more times, fucking <<kai>> in an even more intimate way. There was so much cum inside <<kai>>—<<he>> could feel the pressure building. Suddenly, Mistress shoved her tongue all the way up <<kais>> piss-hole, into <<his>> bladder. Black crept deep into <<kais>> vision, consciousness fading. Mistress let go of <<kais>> neck, gravity pulling <<his>> limp body to the ground. <<He>> slid off Mistress' cock, landing in the pool of <<his>> own cum from earlier. A pitiful cocksleeve. Mistress' seed leaked from <<kais>> hole, slowly dripping down <<his>> leg. It was thick and virile. <<if $Penis>><<Kais>> useless caged cock still dribbled pent-up bitch juice.<<else>>Kai's nipples were rock hard, throbbing.<</if>> With a sigh of relief, Mistress pissed on <<kais>> unconscious body, relieving herself. She left <<kai>> to marinate in all the sex juices. <<Kai>> passed out from the over-stimulation, quivering in the puddle<<if $Penis>>, unable to properly cum<</if>>. <<if $VoreFilter>> @@.center; [[Ω Ω|DemonPrisoner2]] @@ <<else>> {Non-Vore Passage Under Construction. Enable Vore in settings for alternative passage.} <</if>>

You find yourself alone in the practice field with Margerie. Your eyes drift down to her plump thighs and wide hips. You can't help but stare while she stretches her legs. You lose your focus as all your attention is devoted to soaking up the image of her body. She is looking the other direction and sticking her plump butt out with each repetition of her routine. Her shorts ride all the way up to her butt with just a bit of each cheek peeking out the bottom. You could've sworn you saw some panties flash as she went down once. Her large breasts dangle in front of her as she bends forward. She is clearly not wearing a bra as her breasts jiggle all over the place. You wonder if she is intentionally putting on a show for you. You eventually muster enough courage and approach her. "Hello Margerie." She stands up and turns around. "Oh hey! I didn't notice you there! Are you training too?" She smiles sweetly at you. "Yeah, but I am getting um… bored. Want to do something more fun instead?" She blushes slightly catching on to your interest in her. "Oh yeah, what did you have in mind?" she asks playfully. You gulp and look down at her large breasts now in front of your face. Cleavage is popping out of her low-cut shirt. She notices your gaze shift and presses her arms together, moving her chest forward. You gulp nervously. "Well, we could get some more privacy in the forest over there?" She inches towards you and leans forward, pressing her large breasts against your chest and gives you a quick peck on the cheek. 'sure! Sounds like fun!" She grabs your hand and starts skipping toward the trees. You are a bit overwhelmed watching her boobs jiggle with each skip she takes. You realize your attention checked out again as you got lost in her breasts and shake yourself back to reality. She pulls you into the cover of the trees. The other students won't be able to see you back here. She guides your hand behind her waist and pulls you into her. You feel the small of her back. You are staring directly into her clear, blue eyes. You can smell the sweet scent of her hair and her breath as her face is so close to yours. "You know what? I think you're really pretty, Margerie." "Aww! That's so sweet of you. I'm honored that a guy like you would think that about me." She is blushing fiercely now. Her head shyly drops a bit. She starts to wiggle her body back and forth in shyness. You can feel her breasts rubbing against your chest as she does this. This woman is clearly very skilled at making men interested in her. You lift her chin up with your fingers and kiss her cherry red lips. She has very full, pillowy lips that caress your own. You kiss each other gently at first, but you can tell that she is getting excited. She pulls you in closer to her and your waists touch each other. She begins to suck with more fervor on your lips, gently biting you occasionally. Your arousal is beyond your control at this point. You feel your bulge swelling in your pants and it presses against Margerie's exposed, plump thigh. She notices your growing member and lets out a moan into your connected mouths. She starts rubbing against you with her thigh as her tongue darts around inside your mouth. You feel her nipples harden as they press against your chest. You slide your hand down her back to her butt. Your fingers curl around her plump cheek and you squeeze firmly. She reacts by arching her back and bites at your tongue. Not expecting her to bite you like that, you freeze up. She stares into your eyes with a naughty expression on her face and sucks on your tongue, slurping as she releases it from her mouth. You slide your hand from her butt down the back of her leg and feel juices dripping down the inside of her thigh. This woman is freaky. You are bulging with such ferocity at this point you are worried that your pants are going to explode. Margerie takes notice of this and unzips your pants, staring intently at your bulge and biting her own tongue in anticipation. Your cock flops out of your pants, standing at full mast and pulsating intensely. She runs her fingers up and down your shaft and gently cups your balls. She gets a firm grip around your shaft with her smooth hand and slowly rubs back and forth. She leans forward with her mouth and kisses your neck. Every so often she will focus on the head of your cock for a bit before going back to stroking the shaft. She licks all the way up your neck and exhales warm breath into your ear. Your shiver and arch your back in response. She firmly grips your cock and gives it a strong tug as she bites on your earlobe. Pre-cum is leaking from your tip at this point and lubricating your cock as she strokes it. Getting excited, she plunges her tongue deep into your ear. Her wet tongue wriggles around inside your ear cavity as her stroking speeds up. You can hear the stroking out of your other ear and your pre-cum makes wet noises with each stroke. She backs off, still with a firm grip on your cock, and pulls her shirt down with the other hand exposing her large breasts. Her nipples are fully erect and very large. They have a deep pink color and her areola are quite large. They would be perfect to suck on. She bends down to her knees and licks the tip of your cock. Pre-cum drips onto her tongue as you stare at her tits from above. She pumps at your shaft again as she moves her mouth under your cock to your ball sack. She gently sucks on one ball at a time while she strokes. She seems very practiced with her technique. She moves her mouth back to your cock and takes it half way down and into the back of her mouth. She gently moves back and forth, sucking and rolling her tongue in a rotation all the way around your shaft. Every so often, she sucks on the tip and pumps at the shaft again with her hand. Your hips begin thrusting forward on their own. Her tongue snakes barely into the opening of your cock hole and she tastes your pre-cum directly. Her pumping speeds up and she sucks on your tip more firmly and her tongue applies pressure to your tip. She notices your cock begin to pulse aggressively and abruptly slides your shaft fully into her mouth as your balls slap against her chin. Your cock pumps cum straight down her throat. She gently massages your balls with her hand as you empty your sperm directly into her stomach. You finally stop shooting and she gently slides your cock out of her mouth leaving a satisfied smile on her face. She stands up, tucks her boobs back into her shirt and passionately kisses you on the lips. "You were right. That was more fun!" She exclaims gleefully. She gently slaps you on the butt and runs off. You notice juices running down her thighs as she leaves you alone with your cock hanging out. {This path is under construction...} [[Go Back|$return]]

<<Kai>> awoke in <<his>> cell. <<He>> <<was>> still laying in the pool of juices left over from the abuse <<he>> had received from <<his>> demon Mistress. How long had <<he>> been lying here, cold and wet? <<Kai>> took stock of the situation. <<He>> had a headache, throbbing from hitting <<his>> head on the stone floor before passing out. <<if $Penis>>The cage that Mistress had installed on <<kais>> cock was still firmly in place, squeezing on <<his>> useless appendage. <<Kai>> felt an ache deep inside from intense blue balls—ruined orgasms. <<He>> needed to orgasm soon. <<else>>The plug in <<his>> ass was still there, pressing on <<him>> from the inside.<</if>> <<Kai>> needed to get out, escape. But could <<he>> really just abandon <<his>> Mistress like that? <<He>> scanned the dark dungeon as best <<he>> could, searching for some means of escape. Footsteps. Clicking against the hard ground. With perfect timing, <<kais>> new Mistress appeared in front of <<him>>. Could she sense when <<kai>> <<was>> awake? She was even more intimidating now, her horns and wings on full display like a proper demon. A lustful queen, garbed in red and black flesh. She looked <<kai>> up and down with disapproval and disgust. <<Kai>> probably smelled awful after sleeping in that cocktail of excretions. “My name is Athtart.” Mistress could speak! Her voice was deep, commanding any audience to take her seriously. “Yes, Mistress.” <<Kai>> did <<his>> best to bow. It was difficult to properly prostrate <<himself>> with <<his>> knees and elbows still locked in place. Mistress rolled her eyes, snapping her fingers. <<Kais>> invisible restraints were released. <<He>> sighed with deep relief, groveling like a proper bitch. <<His>> joints hurt so badly! Sleeping in that position had been terrible torture; <<he>> didn’t wish it on <<his>> worst enemy. <<Kai>> maneuvered gingerly, making sure not to stress <<his>> sore joints too badly. “Yeah, you’ll make a good slave.” Mistress licked her lips with her split tongue. She walked around <<kai>>, inspecting <<his>> body. She ran one of her sharp talons over particular areas of flesh that piqued her interest. “Never mind that bitch we extracted from you.” //Extracted from me?// <<kai>> thought. Who was Mistress talking about? <<He>> couldn’t remember. Finally satisfied with her inspection, she grabbed <<kai>> by the neck, her menacing fingers curling around <<his>> soft flesh, picking <<him>> up off the ground. “You’ll find that I’m not as nice as my predecessor, Baal.” <<Kai>> dangled in the air, dripping onto the floor from the residual juices still leftover on <<his>> body. <<His>> exposed skin was pruny from soaking in the moisture. Mistress continued talking. “Sure, she was sexy enough, but a proper High Priestess embraces //lusssst// with reckless abandon.” Baal? Who was Mistress talking about? The name seemed familiar somehow. <<Kai>> couldn’t breathe, Mistress’ strong grip constricted <<his>> airway. <<He>> looked deep into Mistress’ eyes, pleading, unable to protest. Her eyes pulsed, the color changing. Intensely dark. The slit in her eyes widened, her grip tightening. //“I’ll show you lust.”// Mistress’ voice deepened. She mumbled under her breath and <<kais>> hands suddenly locked together behind <<his>> back, preventing any movement no matter how <<he>> struggled. There was no use resisting Mistress’ dominance. She owned <<kai>> completely. <<His>> body was Mistress’ plaything. <<Kai>> expected this sort of aggressive behavior from Mistress. It aroused <<him>> now. Pain was pleasure. <<Kais>> <<if $Penis>>cock hardened, struggling against its cage<<else>>pussy quivered<</if>>, dripping down <<his>> legs. Mistress flit her tongue out like a serpent, lapping up <<kais>> arousal. “A //niccce// flavor,” Mistress hissed, voice garbled by her feeding. <<Kai>> wished she would take pity on <<him>>, remove the <<if $Penis>>cage from <<his>> cock and allow <<him>> to have a proper orgasm<<else>>magical restraints and allow <<him>> to service Mistress properly<</if>>. But <<he>> didn’t dare make a request like that to Mistress’ directly. As if she were reading <<kais>> thoughts, Mistress’ hand reached toward <<kais>> crotch. //She does care about me//, <<kai>> thought. <<He>> closed <<his>> eyes, surrendering to Mistress' touch. <<He>> yearned for orgasm. Mistress’ talons clinked against <<if $Penis>>the metal of <<kais>> cage<<else>>each other, teasing<</if>>, teasing <<him>>. She fucked <<kai>> with her eyes, violating <<his>> soul. <<He>> really <<was>> Mistress’ bitch now, there was no escaping it. No return. //Please, Mistress. I need it.// <<Kais>> body tingled. Without warning, she grasped the <<if $Penis>>cock cage and ripped it off<<else>>butt plug and ripped it out<</if>>. Grunting, she pulled with her inhuman strength. The metal <<if $Penis>>squeezed, compressing <<kais>> balls. The cage wasn’t designed to come off like this. It wouldn’t fit, there wasn’t enough room. The metal was pressing against <<his>> balls on both sides, squeezing and compressing.<<else>>stretched <<kais>> asshole. It was too wide to come out, but Mistress didn’t care. She pulled anyway, ripping <<kais>> asshole open.<</if>> Pop! <<Kais>> <<if $Penis>>balls gave way, crushed by the metal cage<<else>>asshole stretched, ripping apart<</if>>. Intense nausea overcame <<kai>>, welling up from <<his>> stomach. It began at <<his>> crotch, traveling up to <<his>> throat. <<He>> needed to vomit. The scarce contents inside <<his>> stomach struggled against <<his>> obstructed airway, battling to escape <<his>> esophagus. The acid burned. But the pain still felt good somehow… The pressure built inside, struggling against the vise grip around <<kais>> neck. Dribbles of vomit slowly leaked from <<his>> mouth, dripping down <<his>> chin, but <<his>> windpipe was still massively blocked. <<Kai>> convulsed. <<His>> body needed to clear <<his>> airway. It needed air. Mistress laughed. Her deep voice echoed, taunting <<kai>> in <<his>> sorry state. <<He>> felt the vibrations in <<his>> bones. <<His>> soul chilled, <<his>> <<if $Feminine>>wo<</if>>manhood gone—stripped from <<him>>. Mistress laughed at <<kai>>, entertained by <<his>> pain. <<He>> needed to breathe. <<He>> needed air. //Soon.// Didn’t Mistress care about that? Mistress shifted her attention to <<kais>> <<if $Penis>>limp cock. Soft and incontinent. Mangled and incomplete<<else>> pitiful clit<</if>>. She rubbed it gently between her muscular fingers, talons scratching <<him>> occasionally. But <<kai>> <<was>> in no state to care. <<He>> could barely feel Mistress’ touch through the pain and convulsions. But no. <<He>> //could// feel it, actually… It was //good//. The convulsions, the scratching, the <<if $Penis>>crushing<<else>>tearing<</if>>, the asphyxiation. It was feeling good. //All of it.// What had Mistress done to <<him>>? <<His>> body was ruined, corrupted by her. <<His>> arousal was coming back. <<He>> <<was>> fucked up. Mistress had fucked <<him>> up. Just as <<kais>> cock started to grow again, something shifted in the atmosphere. Mistress unsheathed an insane grin, her sharp teeth peeking out of her mouth, eyes dilating even further—completely pitch black. The hunter. She screamed, a predatory shriek like a bird of prey—blood curdling. There would be no mercy. She bared her talon and slashed at <<kai>>, slicing <<his>> soft, exposed flesh. <<His>> <<if $Penis>>cock<<set $Penis to false>><<else>><<set $Vagina to false>>clit<</if>>. It fell to the floor, cut through cleanly <<if $Penis>>at the base<<else>>with a chunk of <<kais>> puffy lips<</if>>. Never again would <<kai>> experience the satisfaction of a normal orgasm. <<Kai>> shivered, eyes rolling back in <<his>> head as <<he>> convulsed. Had <<he>> actually enjoyed the feeling or <<was>> <<he>> in shock? Liquid ran down <<kais>> legs. Was it arousal or piss? <<He>> couldn’t see or think. <<He>> tried to scream, garbled bubbles gurgling through <<his>> foaming mouth. Crack! Mistress finally threw <<kai>> to the ground. <<He>> coughed, choking on vomit and God knows what else. Spitting and gasping, body tingling. What the fuck <<was>> <<he>> feeling? <<He>> <<was>> mutilated. How would <<he>> keep living like that? Mistress stood over <<him>>, straddled, breathing heavily. Her chest pumped in and out, drool dripping from her gaping mouth. She wasn’t blinking. Mistress squatted down, inspecting the opening where <<kais>> precious flesh used to be. Blood flowed, rushing out from the sensitive area where <<kais>> precious place used to be. <<Kais>> confusion, the mixture of pleasure and pain, had increased the blood flow to that area, pumping the crimson fluid onto the floor. Red and yellow. <<Kai>> pissed <<himself>>. Pitiful.<<if $Penis>> <<His>> useless ball sack dangled, soaking in <<his>> shameful fluids. <</if>> Mistress inspected <<kais>> open wound. She licked her lips and then lapped up the oozing fluids. Her saliva on <<kais>> wound tingled, converting any remaining pain into pleasure. How could <<he>> make sense of that feeling? <<He>> <<was>> broken. <<His>> brain didn’t work anymore. Mistress swallowed <<kais>> fluids down, not distinguishing any of them from each other. The cocktail excited her, eyes widening. She liked the taste of <<kais>> blood. She might not stop there. //Please stop slicing… // She finished with <<kais>> leaking fluids, her tongue locating <<kais>> dislocated flesh laying on the ground. She slithered around it, moving like a lizard. Her tongue gripped the chunk of flesh, retracting it back into her mouth. A morsel for a predator. Mistress chewed aggressively. <<Kai>> <<was>> powerless, listening to the sound of <<his>> most private part being eviscerated between her gnashing teeth. She swallowed it down, eyes pulsing again. Her tail flitted, nipples growing. The snack had excited her. She was hungry now. Her head slid between <<kais>> legs and into <<his>> groin. <<Kai>> flinched, feeling Mistress’ breath on <<his>> skin, <<his>> exposed <<if $Penis>>ball sack<<else>>asshole, torn open<</if>>. A gentle purring came from her throat, vibrating. <<Kai>> recoiled in fear. What was she going to do next? <<He>> couldn’t think anymore. <<He>> <<was>> completely surrendered to <<his>> base instincts. Survival. Self-preservation. Mistress opened her jaw—bearing her sharp fangs—and took a bite out of <<kai>>, separating <<if $Penis>><<his>> ball sack<<else>>the rest of <<his>> pussy<</if>> from <<his>> crotch. <<Kais>> body convulsed again, vomiting. The sickness returned. In the back of <<kais>> consciousness, <<he>> heard the sound of crunching flesh between Mistress’ teeth. And slurping. <<if $Penis>>She was consuming the cum left over in <<kais>> testicles. <</if>> Vision fading. <<Kai>> lost consciousness. Athtart stood over her new slave—the tastiest one yet. She needed relief. She grabbed her cock and pissed on the slave’s limp body, making sure to target the open wounds. Her piss coated the exposed flesh, steaming. The slave’s bleeding slowed, eventually coming to a complete stop. Cauterized. //Good, that should keep $him alive for now,// Athtart thought. @@.center; [[Ω Ω|DemonPrisoner3]] @@

<<Kai>> awoke on the floor in the dungeon, again soaked in a puddle of bodily fluids. But this time was worse. <<Kai>> had slept in a puddle of <<his>> own vomit and blood, additions to whatever fluids had been left over from the first round of abuse. And <<his>> <<if $Penis>>cock and balls<<else>>pussy<</if>> had been eaten<<if !$Penis>>, asshole ripped<</if>>. <<Kai>> stirred, a sharp pain shooting from <<his>> crotch. <<His>> wounds needed time to heal. At least <<he>> <<wasnt>> bleeding anymore. Attempting to prop <<himself>> up, <<kais>> legs wobbled, balance eluding <<him>>. Back to the floor, then. <<He>> <<was>> really getting tired of it. It was cold and hard. And now even messier than before. <<Kai>> laid in <<his>> own filth, awaiting <<his>> Mistress. After what she had done to <<him>>, <<kai>> didn’t want her to come back. But she would. <<Kais>> stomach rumbled. <<He>> hadn’t eaten since being imprisoned; it was beginning to take its toll. <<He>> also definitely pissed <<himself>> while sleeping. Who knows what else <<he>> had lost control of? <<Kai>> waited for a long time in that damp dungeon, desperately hoping for some kind of assistance. <<He>> <<was>> pitiful, a husk of <<his>> former self. Even Mistress had looked at <<him>> with disgust. Familiar footsteps. Mistress finally entered the room, displaying her familiar air of dominance and ownership. Her form was more developed. Her muscles were larger, her wings wider, now coated with spines and spindles. Her talons were longer, serrated on some fingers. She was steadily morphing into a more predatory form with each round of abuse she inflicted upon <<kai>>. She was feeding on <<him>>. <<Kai>> <<was>> nothing but prey to her. <<Kais>> eyes widened. Mistress held a slab of juicy meat, skewered by one of her talons. It didn’t matter what kind of meat it was; <<kai>> <<was>> in no position to be picky. <<Kai>> prayed the food was intended for <<him>>. She crouched next to <<kai>>, her musky scent wafting. Her gaze softened, taking stock of <<his>> current state. She must have noticed by now <<his>> weight loss and sickly appearance. Mistress gently stroked <<kais>> hair with her talons. The look in her eyes softened, despite her menacing, predatory form. Would Mistress take good care of <<him>>? <<He>> needed the support, now more than ever. The head stroking was nice. A motherly gesture. But <<kai>> stared at the meal, the meat dangling from her talon. Mistress’ eyes wandered to the wound on <<kais>> groin. Having started the healing process, small amounts of crust and pus had formed around the edges. A scab covered the raw areas of flesh. How long had <<he>> been sleeping? The sight of <<kais>> wound aroused Mistress, her appetite returning. Her tongue flicked out of her mouth, touching <<kais>> wound. She lapped up the pus, greedily swallowing it. Her split tongue chiseled at the ring of crust, scooping it out. She swallowed that too, then all that was left was the scab. <<Kais>> flesh steamed, her saliva seeping in through the cracks in <<his>> skin. Her feasting had hurt slightly, but also felt sort of good, like finally scratching an itch <<he>> couldn’t quite reach. If <<kai>> hadn’t known any better, <<he>> would’ve assumed Mistress was cleaning <<his>> wound. But <<he>> knew better than that. Mistress was always ravenous. Mistress’ hand moved towards <<kais>> face, the smell of the meat reaching <<his>> nose. <<Kais>> stomach juices went crazy, <<his>> hunger building. It was close enough; <<his>> survival instincts took over. <<Kai>> lunged and chomped on it, taking a big bite. <<He>> swallowed quickly, not bothering to chew properly. A strange flavor. It didn’t taste like any meat <<kai>> had ever had before. But <<he>> didn’t have the luxury of contemplating its origin right now, all <<he>> cared about was satiating <<his>> intense hunger. Mistress held the meat slab still in front of <<his>> face, dangling from her black talon. <<Kai>> bit and chewed, working on the piece of meat, completely absorbed in eating. <<He>> hadn't even noticed that Mistress had continued picking at <<his>> wound the entire time. That sensation was now just a dull tingle in the back of <<his>> mind. Mistress finished snacking on the solid bits. Aside from the scab, all that was left on <<kais>> crotch were streaks of blood, trickling from the areas where the scab had ripped away from the skin. As she got a taste of <<kais>> blood, her eyes dilated again, instantly turning pitch black. Her personality shifted. She grabbed <<kai>> by the hips, thrusting <<him>> into the air. The remnants of the meat slab slid from her talon, dropping into the disgusting filth puddle. At least <<kai>> had gotten to eat something before getting mutilated this time. <<He>> dangled above Mistress’ mouth, blood dripping onto her tongue. She slowly lowered <<kai>> downwards, closer and closer to her mouth until <<they>> were touching. Her teeth met <<kais>> raw groin. The little barbs prickled <<his>> skin on contact. Her teeth surrounded the scab, engulfing it, ripping it off like a beast. She gulped it down; blood streamed from <<kais>> newly opened wound. She puckered and sucked down the blood, her throat pulsing with each gulp. Her nipples grew bigger and harder with each mouthful. Her cock followed suit, awakening from its slumber. So much blood left <<his>> body. <<Kai>> <<was>> going to be sick again. Or <<he>> <<was>> going to die. Mistress had played with her toy enough. A flicker of life returning to her eyes, she set <<kai>> back down on the ground, this time in a cleaner area of the dungeon. <<Kais>> blood flowed, a red puddle spread across the floor. Mistress stood up straight and closed her eyes. She lifted her head upwards, arms raised at her sides, wings jutting out. She mumbled under her breath again, hissing this time. Her long tongue shot out, touching <<if $TransformationFilter>>the puddle. She spread the pooling liquid<<else>><<kais>> wound<</if>>. <<if $TransformationFilter is false>><<His>> skin steamed, the blood stopped flowing. The wound was closed, healed. All that remained was a lifeless nub, an empty crotch.<<set $Penis to false, $Vagina to false>><<else>>Using her tongue as a marker, she painted a diagram onto the floor. <<Kai>> <<was>> trapped in the middle of some demonic ritual. Her tongue receded back into her mouth. She chanted. <<Kai>> couldn’t recognize the language or make out any of the words, but there was a distinct rhythm, the syllables flowing nicely. The floor glowed beneath <<kai>>, the blood vibrating. <<Kais>> wound tingled, also vibrating. As the tingling intensified, <<kais>> crotch also began to glow. The rhythm of her chanting morphed, building. What was Mistress doing to <<him>>? <<Kai>> didn’t want to die yet. <<He>> <<wasnt>> ready to become a sacrifice for a crazy ritual. Wait. <<if $Breasts is false>><<Kais>> chest was tingling and glowing as well. <</if>>A force overwhelmed <<kai>> from inside. <<His>> innards squirmed, an intense heat radiating inside <<his>> skull. <<His>> personality, <<his>> sense of self was morphing, slipping out of <<his>> control. <<Kais>> back arched into the air. Breasts <<if $Breasts is false>><<set $Breasts to true>>shot out of <<else>><<set $Breasts to false>>sunk back into <</if>><<his>> chest. <<His>> groin <<if $Masculine>>hollowed out, making way for a vagina and womb<<set $Penis to false, $Vagina to true>>.<<else>>bulged, making way for a cock and balls<<set $Penis to true, $Vagina to false>>.<</if>> <<His>> brain chemistry shifted, hormones changing. <<Kais>> personality morphed, becoming more <<if $Masculine>>effeminate<<set $Masculine to false, $Feminine to true>><<else>>masculine<<set $Masculine to true, $Feminine to false>><</if>>. <<His>> inner monologue, <<his>> most private thoughts were changing, evolving. Whereas <<he>> had once been concerned with thoughts of survival and self-preservation, now <<he>> had only thoughts of submission and servitude.<</if>> Submission to <<his>> Mistress. That was all <<kais>> new brain would accept. <<if $TransformationFilter>>The light dimmed. Mistress concluded her chant, arms falling back down to her sides. <</if>>The tingling subsided, <<if $TransformationFilter>>transformation<<else>>healing<</if>> complete. Mistress’ cock stood at full attention. She ogled <<kais>> exposed newborn <<if $TransformationFilter is false>>nub<<else>><<cock>><</if>> and licked her lips. The light subsided. Mistress concluded her chant, arms falling back down to her sides. The tingling subsided, transformation complete. Mistress’ cock stood at full attention. She ogled <<kais>> exposed newborn <<if $Penis>>pussy<<else>>cock<</if>> and licked her lips. <<Kai>> yearned to be <<if $Penis>>deflowered<<else>>abused<</if>>. <<He>> needed Mistress to claim <<him>>. {To be continued...} [[Go Back|$return]]

/* Locks out 'Next Day' to prevent fast travelling to bed. Instead need a conditional to check if a bed is accesible? */ <<DisableExploration>>\ <<Kai>> stood in the grassy field outside the Monastery. <<if !$DescribeMonasteryEntrance>><<set $DescribeMonasteryEntrance to true>>The entrance gate stood in front of <<him>>, while the waterfall and rock face were to the right. The dark forest stretched to the left.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the forest.' 'DeepMonasteryForest'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> approached the gate.' 'MonasteryGate'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> stood outside the Monastery gate. <<link '<<Kai>> knocked on the gate.' 'KnockMonasteryGate'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the forest.' 'DeepMonasteryForest'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> knocked on the Monastery gate. <<if $Rank is 'Apprentice'>> But <<he>> <<wasnt>> a high enough rank to be allowed inside. <<link '<<Kai>> entered the forest.' 'DeepMonasteryForest'>><</link>> <<else>> The gate opened, allowing <<him>> <<link [[inside|RankingBoard]]>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>. <</if>>

<<DescribeMargerieDead>><<Kai>> stood inside the Apprentice School cabin. There were identical beds and chests spaced throughout the room<<if !$DescribeApprenticeCabin>><<set $DescribeApprenticeCabin to true>>, intended for housing Apprentices and their belongings. Though this was supposedly a magical academy, the cabin was made of wooden logs—an old-fashioned, rustic feel. The beds were basic, consisting of thin, metal frames, uncomfortable mattresses, and obviously cheap bed linens. A door in the back led to the shower. There were no windows, the internal lighting instead somehow matching the behavior of the outside lighting—as the sun set, the cabin automatically grew darker. Were the walls really made of wood? <<Kais>> chest sat at the foot of <<his>> bed, labeled with <<his>> name<</if>>. A ranking board hung on the back wall. <<switch $Time>> <<case 'Morning'>>\ <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<Random1>>Dahlia <<if $temp is 0>>sat on her bed, eating breakfast<<else>>laid in her bed <<if $Items.includes('Sewing Kit')>>sadly staring at a plushie<<else>>happily sewing<</if>><</if>>. <</if>>\ <<if $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<Random1>>Austin laid in his bed <<if $temp is 0>>reading<<else>>sleeping face-up<<set $AustinAsleep to true>><</if>>. <</if>>\ <<if $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<set $temp to random(3)>>Margerie <<if $temp lt 2>>sat on her bed, <<if $temp is 1>><<if $Items.includes('Makeup Tubes')>>pouting<<else>>doing her makeup<</if>><<else>><<if $Items.includes('Hair Brush')>>pouting<<else>>primping her hair<</if>><</if>><<else>><<set $MargerieAsleep to true>>slept soundly in her bed, audibly snoring<</if>>. <</if>>\ <<case 'Evening'>>\ <<if $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<Random1>>Austin laid in his bed <<if $AustinAsleep>>sleeping face-up<<else>><<if $temp is 0>>reading<<else>><<if $Items.includes('Sewing Kit')>>staring at <<kai>><<else>>writing in a black notebook<</if>><</if>><</if>>. <</if>>\ <<case 'Night'>>\ <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<Random1>>Dahlia laid in her bed <<if $temp is 0>>sleeping gently<<set $DahliaAsleep to true>><<else>><<if $Items.includes('Sewing Kit')>>sadly staring at a plushie<<else>>happily sewing<</if>><</if>>. <</if>>\ <<if $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>> Rudy laid in his bed, soundly asleep. <<set $RudyAsleep to true>> <</if>>\ <<if $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>> <<Random1>>Austin laid in his bed, face down.<<if $temp is 0>><<set $AustinAsleep to true>><</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>> Margerie slept soundly in her bed, audibly snoring. <<set $MargerieAsleep to true>> <</if>>\ <</switch>> <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>>\ <<if !$DahliaAsleep>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Dahlia.' 'DahliaDialogue'>><</link>><<else>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Dahlia while she slept.' 'DahliaAsleepApprenticeCabin'>><</link>><</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>>\ <<if !$RudyAsleep>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Rudy.' 'RudyDialogue'>><</link>><<else>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Rudy while he slept.' 'RudyAsleepApprenticeCabin'>><</link>><</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>>\ <<if !$AustinAsleep and $Time isnot 'Night'>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Austin.' 'AustinDialogue'>><</link>><<else>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Austin’s bed.' 'AustinFaceDown'>><</link>><</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin')>>\ <<if !$MargerieAsleep>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Margerie.' 'MargerieDialogue'>><</link>><<else>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Margerie while she slept.' 'MargerieAsleepApprenticeCabin'>><</link>><</if>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> left the cabin.' 'ApprenticeTrainingGrounds'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> laid in bed.' 'ApprenticeBed'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the shower.' 'ApprenticeShower'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> opened a chest.' 'ApprenticeChests'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> checked the ranking board.' 'ApprenticeRankingBoard'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> approached Austin's bed. <<if $AustinAsleep>> His body moved up and down rythmically, chest inflating and deflating as he breathed.<<if $MalePreference>> He looked cute, sleeping so soundly.<</if>> <<else>> He grabbed <<kai>> by the arm. "Go to sleep." He stared at <<kai>> for a bit and then let go, returning to his bed. <</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> left Austin’s bedside.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> approached Dahlia's bed as she slept. <<if $FemalePreference>> She looked cute, sleeping so soundly. <</if>>\ <<if $DahliaDialogue1>> Based on their previous conversation, she probably wanted <<kai>> to seize this moment by taking advantage of her vulnerable position<<if $IntimateDahlia>> again<</if>>. <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> left Dahlia’s bedside.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> approached Rudy's bed as he slept. <<if $FemalePreference>> Despite his intimidating form, he looked <<if $MalePreference>>cute<<else>>harmless<</if>> sleeping so peacefully. <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> left Rudy’s bedside.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> approached Margerie's bed as she slept. She looked undignified with her hair unkempt and tongue lolled out, steadily releasing bellowing snores. <<if $FemalePreference>>Despite her rough edges, she still looked cute in a charming sort of way.<</if>> <<if $MargerieDialogue1>> Based on their previous conversation, she probably wouldn't appreicate it if <<kai>> took advantage of her vulnerable position. <</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> left Margerie’s bedside.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>>

<> <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Shower F') or $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Shower F')>> <<set $FemaleShowerUse to true>> <</if>> <<if $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Shower M') or $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Shower M')>> <<set $MaleShowerUse to true>> <</if>> <>\ <<if $MaleShowerUse and $FemaleShowerUse>>The curtains of both showers were shut. <<else>><<DescribeApprenticeShower>> <</if>>The entryway to the shower split into two paths: one labeled female, the other labeled male. <<if $FemaleShowerUse>> <<Kai>> could hear the water running in the female shower. The curtain was shut. <</if>>\ <<if $MaleShowerUse>> <<Kai>> could hear the water running in the male shower. The curtain was shut. <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> entered the female shower.' 'FemaleApprenticeShower'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the male shower.' 'MaleApprenticeShower'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> exited the shower.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><<set $FemaleShowerUse to false, $MaleShowerUse to false>><</link>>

<<Kai>> <<if $MaleShowerUse>>pulled back the shower curtain and entered the male shower. <<DescribeApprenticeShower>> <<if $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Shower M')>>Rudy was naked, caught in the middle of showering. <<DescribeRudyNude>><</if>><<if $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Shower M')>>Austin was naked, caught in the middle of showering. <<DescribeAustinNude>><</if>> He turned his head in surprise, not bothering to cover the exposed areas of his body. <<else>><<was>> in the male shower. <<DescribeApprenticeShower>> <<link '<<Kai>> used the shower.' 'KaiShower'>><<set $Shower to 'M'>><</link>><</if>> <<if $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Shower M')>><<link '<<Kai>> approached him.' 'RudyShower'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Shower M')>><<link '<<Kai>> approached him.' 'AustinShower'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> exited the shower.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><<set $FemaleShowerUse to false, $MaleShowerUse to false>><</link>>

<<Kai>> approached Austin. “What are you doing…?” Austin stared daggers at <<kai>>, silently threatening <<him>> not to walk any closer. <<link '<<Kai>> walked closer.' 'AustinShower1'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> apologized and left the shower.' 'ApprenticeShower'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> walked closer to Austin, despite the implied warning. Swiftly, Austin crouched and struck <<kai>> with his fist just below the sternum. <<Kai>> fell to the ground, short of breath. Austin simply <<link [[walked away|MaleApprenticeShower]]>><<PassTime>><</link>>, leaving <<him>> there alone.

<<Kai>> approached Rudy. “Hey, $Kai. This isn’t the best time. Can you wait until I’m done?” Rudy pointed back toward the cabin with authority. <<link '<<Kai>> walked closer.' 'RudyShower1'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> apologized and left the shower.' 'ApprenticeShower'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> walked closer to Rudy, despite his request. Swiftly, Rudy slithered around <<kai>>, locking <<him>> in place with a chokehold. <<if $MalePreference>><<Kai>> could feel Rudy’s soft cock pressing against <<his>> back.<</if>> “Look. I told you to wait and you’re going to wait. Now, leave.” Rudy forcefully thrust <<kai>> <<link [[out of the shower|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><</link>>.

<<Kai>> approached Margerie. “Hey, you fucker! What do you think you’re doing? Get out of here, trash!” She spit at <<kai>>. <<link '<<Kai>> walked closer.' 'MargerieShower1'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> apologized and left the shower.' 'ApprenticeShower'>><</link>>

Shutting the curtain behind <<him>>, <<kai>> walked closer to Margerie despite her crass screams. “I’m serious! If you don’t stop, you’re going to get fucked up, you puny bitch. I mean it.” Despite her words, Margerie looked defenseless and pitiful, cowering like a scared, wet animal. <<if $FemalePreference and $DisturbFilter>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> grabbed her.' 'MargerieShower2'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> changed <<his>> mind and left the shower.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><<PassTime>><</link>>.

<<Kai>> grabbed Margerie by the shoulders, pulling her wet, naked body close to <<his>> own. “What’s your problem?” Margarie pleaded, starting to cry. “I told you to leave me alone. Don’t do this to me.” <<link '<<Kai>> kissed her.' 'MargerieShower3a'>><<set $temp to 1>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> groped her.' 'MargerieShower3b'>><<set $temp to 2>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> got naked.' 'MargerieShower3c'>><<set $temp to 3>><</link>>

<<Kai>> brought <<his>> lips towards Margerie’s, firmly gripping her to keep her from escaping. <<He>> kissed Margerie, but Margerie didn’t kiss <<him>> back, instead just squirming, doing her best to escape, her cries muffled by <<kais>> mouth on top of hers. <<Kai>> released Margerie from the kiss and she lost all hint of restraint. <<MargerieScream>> <<link '<<Kai>> gagged her.' 'MargerieShower4'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> ran away.' 'MargerieShower0'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> pushed Margerie to the floor, pinning her in place with the weight of <<his>> body. She squealed in protest. With a freed up hand, <<kai>> reached for <<his>> succulent target, Margerie’s plump, sexy flesh. <<MargerieScream>> <<link '<<Kai>> gagged her.' 'MargerieShower4'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> ran away.' 'MargerieShower0'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> carefully removed <<his>> clothing, making sure to keep a firm grip on Margerie and prevent her escape. <<He>> could feel Margerie’s fat tits on <<his>> chest, hard nipples poking <<his>> skin. <<if $Penis>><<His>> hard cock poked between Margerie’s legs, rubbing against her thighs. If she had been shorter, <<he>> would’ve rubbed against her pussy or stomach instead.<</if>> <<MargerieScream>> <<link '<<Kai>> gagged her.' 'MargerieShower4'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> ran away.' 'MargerieShower0'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> ran out of the shower and into the main room of the cabin. “$Kai assaulted me in the shower!” Margerie screamed. <<ApprenticeCabinMargerieScreamDetection>>

<<Kai>> grabbed Margerie’s panties lying in the pile of her clothes and shoved them into her mouth, fighting her all the while. <<He>> shoved the underwear deep into her mouth and then tied it in place using her shirt. But she was still squirming. <<link '<<Kai>> tied her arms and legs.' 'MargerieShower5a'>><<set $temp to 3>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> held her down.' 'MargerieShower5b'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> ran away.' 'MargerieShower0'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> tied up Margerie’s arms and legs using the remaining clothes in her pile and even some of <<his>> own clothing,<<if $temp is 3>> which <<he>> had already removed<<else>> removing the rest of it and stripping naked in the process<</if>>. Now she couldn’t struggle or escape. <<link '<<Kai>> groped her.' 'MargerieShower6a'>><</link>> <<if $RapeFilter>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> fucked her.' 'MargerieShower7'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> held Margerie down, pinning her legs with <<his>> knees and pinning her arms with <<his>> elbows. <<link '<<Kai>> licked her.' 'MargerieShower6b'>><</link>> <<if $RapeFilter>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> fucked her.' 'MargerieShower7'>><</link>> <</if>>

With Margerie completely tied up and unable to resist, <<kai>> squeezed her plump, luscious body. Her saggy tits, her juicy ass, her wrinkly nipples. They were all so delicious. <<He>> squeezed and sucked, exploring all of her crevices. She squirmed, but it was useless, eventually resigning herself to the situation. She sobbed quietly, muffled cries and tears streaking down her face. <<MargerieAssaultOptions>>

<<Kai>> licked along Margerie’s body, anywhere <<his>> tongue could reach with her pinned the way she was. <<He>> licked her neck, her chest, her wrinkly nipples. <<He>> licked Margerie’s cheek, asserting <<his>> dominance. <<He>> looked into her eyes, but she was squinting, refusing to look at <<him>>. That stuck-up bitch needed to be taught a lesson. <<MargerieAssaultOptions>>

<<Kais>> <<if $Penis>>cock was rock-hard<<else>>pussy was dripping wet<</if>>, now pressed against Margerie’s crotch as she lay helpless on the floor. <<if $temp isnot 3>> <<Kai>> awkwardly pulled <<his>> pants down<<if $Penis>>, cock popping out<</if>>. <</if>> <<Kai>> thrust <<his>> hips, pistoning into <<his>> captive’s crotch, rubbing against her. It felt good. It felt really good. There was nothing she could do to resist. Nothing she could do to escape <<him>>. She just had to lay there and take it. Accept it. The control felt so good, like <<kai>> <<was>> god. <<if $tempPenetration and $Penis>> <<Kai>> stuck <<his>> cock inside her. <</if>> In that moment, <<he>> <<was>> god. Thrusting, <<he>> tingled, orgasm building. Margerie sobbed completely, tears streaming down her face—muffled, involuntary squeaks of terror. <<Kai>> came, <<LowerGenitals>> quivering. She had been taught a lesson. Put in her place. <<if $tempPenetration and $Penis>> <<Kai>> slid <<his>> cock out of her and the fluids flowed. White<<if $MargerieVirginity>> and red<<set $MargerieVirginity to false>><</if>> on the tile. <</if>> More tears. Muffled sobbing. <<Kai>> exhaled a sigh of relief. A job well done. If <<he>> let Margerie go now, <<he>> would be in trouble for sure. <<link '<<Kai>> killed her.' 'MargerieShowerKill'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> let her be.' 'MargerieReported'>><</link>>

Margerie instantly reported <<kai>> to Azrael at her first opportunity. <<PunishedForAssault>>

Margerie was helpless, unable to resist on the shower floor. <<Kai>> leaned down to her, wrapping hands around her neck. And <<he>> squeezed, constricting her airway. She squirmed desperately, trying with all her might to find some way to escape <<kais>> grasp. But <<kai>> couldn’t afford to let her live. Not if she was going to report <<him>>. Margerie stopped squirming, stopped twitching. <<Kai>> put fingers to her neck, no pulse. She wasn’t breathing either. She was dead. <<set $MargerieLife to false>> <<ShowerMurderDetection>>

<<Kai>> <<if $FemaleShowerUse>>pulled back the shower curtain and entered the female shower. <<DescribeApprenticeShower>> <<if $MargerieBody>><<set $MargerieBody to false>> The floor was empty, Margerie's body no longer sprawled out on the tile. <</if>> <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Shower F')>>Dahlia was naked, caught in the middle of showering. <<DescribeDahliaNude>><</if>><<if $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Shower F')>>Margerie was naked, caught in the middle of showering. <<DescribeMargerieNude>><</if>> She squeaked in surprise, lifting her hands to cover the exposed areas of her body. <<else>><<was>> in the female shower. <<DescribeApprenticeShower>> <<if $MargerieBody>><<set $MargerieBody to false>> The floor was empty, Margerie's body no longer sprawled out on the tile. <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> used the shower.' 'KaiShower'>><<set $Shower to 'F'>><</link>><</if>> <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Shower F')>><<link '<<Kai>> approached her.' 'DahliaShower'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Shower F')>><<link '<<Kai>> approached her.' 'MargerieShower'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> exited the shower.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><<set $FemaleShowerUse to false, $MaleShowerUse to false>><</link>>

As <<kai>> approached Dahlia, the initial surprise wore off as she realized who had abruptly interrupted her. “Oh, it’s //you//, $Kai.” She blushed, removing her hands from her body and relaxing her arms. “How did you know I was thinking about you…? What are you going to do to me?” <<if $SmutFilter and $FemalePreference>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> got naked.' 'DahliaShower1a'>><<set $IntimateDahlia to true>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> apologized and left the shower.' 'DahliaShower1b'>><</link>>

“I’m sorry, Dahlia. I shouldn’t have just barged in on you like that. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Without waiting for a response, <<kai>> turned around and <<link [[left the shower|ApprenticeShower]]>><<PassTime>><</link>>. <<He>> could barely hear Dahlia speaking as <<he>> left. “No. Wait…”

<<Kai>> removed <<his>> clothing, baring <<his>> naked body for Dahlia to see. <<He>> exposed <<himself>> completely, displaying <<his>> <<AllGenitals>>. Her eyes went wide and she rubbed her legs together. “Your <<UpperGenitals>> <<if $Breasts>>are<<else>>is<</if>> so sexy… And your <<LowerGenitals>>...” Dahlia’s voice croaked, excitement overwhelming her. <<link '<<Kai>> grabbed her arms.' 'DahliaShower2'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> grabbed her hips.' 'DahliaShower2'>><<set $DahliaHipGrab to true>><</link>>

<<Kai>> walked toward Dahlia and grabbed her <<if $DahliaHipGrab>>hip<<else>>arm<</if>>s. Her eyes went wide with anticipation as she melted from the touch of <<kais>> hands. \ <<if $DahliaHipGrab>>\ Dahlia whimpered, swooning as <<kai>> pulled <<their>> bodies together, skin touching skin. Dahlia’s pert breasts and hard nipples touched <<kais>> own chest. Dahlia whimpered. Her hands snaked their way behind <<kai>> and clenched <<him>> with restrained hunger. <<else>>\ Dahlia whimpered. Her hands clenched back on <<him>> with restrained hunger. <</if>> <<Kai>> looked back into her eyes, returning her lustful gaze. <<They>> were standing under the shower head, water flowing down <<their>> faces and over <<their>> naked bodies. <<link '<<Kai>> kissed her.' 'DahliaShower3'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> groped her breast.' 'DahliaShower4'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> reached between her legs.' 'DahliaShower5'>><</link>>

<<Their>> lips met, water running over <<their>> mouths as <<they>> kissed. <<Kai>> tightened <<his>> grip on Dahlia’s <<if $DahliaHipGrab>>hips<<else>>hands<</if>> and pulled, <<their>> bodies compressing together. Dahlia’s tits flattened, squeezed against <<kais>> chest. <<Kais>> nipples hardened from the cold water, poking back as if in answer to Dahlia’s nipples poking <<him>> first. <<Kai>> put a hand behind Dahlia’s head, pressing her face closer as <<he>> kissed her. Her lips were soft and plump. Dahlia’s hips rocked back and forth, excitedly grinding against <<kai>>. She moaned into <<kais>> mouth. <<link '<<Kai>> groped her breast.' 'DahliaShower4'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> reached between her legs.' 'DahliaShower5'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> slid one hand up Dahlia’s stomach, brushing against her waist, and cupped <<his>> hand around one of her firm tits. <<He>> squeezed it, massaging her as she moaned in pleasure, rubbing her legs together. <<Kai>> pinched Dahlia’s nipple, using <<his>> fingers as pincers. <<He>> rolled it between <<his>> fingers, pressing firmly as her pink nub hardened. <<He>> pulled on it, stretching it out, and letting it go. The lewd flesh snapped back into place as Dahlia let out a quiet cry. Her breathing was getting heavier. <<link '<<Kai>> reached between her legs.' 'DahliaShower5'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> snaked one hand down between Dahlia's legs. Sliding across her thigh, <<kai>> wedged between her legs with <<his>> fingers. They slid right in, lubricated not by the shower water, but instead by the trail dripping between her thighs. <<Kai>> slid up her inner thigh, feeling Dahlia’s sticky pussy lips with <<his>> fingers. <<He>> rubbed her on the outside, massaging both the soft inner-lips that hung out and the crest of her pussy, the most sensitive spot. Her legs nearly buckled from the pleasure. “Please, $Kai. I need you. I’m desperate.” <<if $Penis>> <<Kais>> cock was hardening, excited by Dahlia’s willingness and arousal. <</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> fingered her pussy.' 'DahliaShower6'>><<set $FingerDahliaShower to true>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> tasted her pussy.' 'DahliaShower7'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> fucked her pussy.' 'DahliaShower8'>><</link>>

Instead, <<kai>> slid a finger between her pussy lips, spreading them apart and entering her warm, wet hole. “Oh, fuck.” She shuddered, leaning against <<kai>> for support. <<Kai>> thrust into her, slowly at first, but eventually picking up speed. As she loosened up, <<kai>> added another finger, and then another, slowly stretching her out. Dahlia just kept moaning, her breathing getting heavier. Her pussy clenched around <<kais>> fingers as she lost control of herself. She gripped <<kais>> ass, squeezing it tight, her nails inadvertently biting into <<his>> skin. <<Kai>> kept <<his>> fingers deep inside her, waving them back and forth as she clenched, cumming on <<him>>, juices pouring over <<his>> hand and running down <<his>> forearm. <<Kai>> slid <<his>> sopping fingers out of her and held them up. <<link '<<Kai>> tasted her pussy.' 'DahliaShower7'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> fucked her pussy.' 'DahliaShower8'>><</link>>

<<if $FingerDahliaShower>>\ <<Kai>> stuck <<his>> fingers into <<his>> mouth. Her juices tasted sweet. <<He>> gulped them down greedily, swallowing. <<if $Penis>><<His>> cock was throbbing hard<<else>><<His>> pussy was soaking wet<</if>>. <<else>>\ <<Kai>> knelt down, sticking <<his>> face between Dahlia's legs. <<He>> grabbed onto the back of her tight ass for support as <<he>> plunged <<his>> tongue between her pussy lips. Parting her soaking slit, <<he>> sunk <<his>> tongue inside her, inevitably tasting her sweet juices, now practically flowing into <<his>> mouth. <<Kai>> stimulated her, thrusting <<his>> tongue into her, licking her, and sucking on her clit. <<Kai>> swallowed whenever her juices became too much for <<his>> mouth. “Oh, fuck.” She shuddered, grabbing <<kais>> hair and clenching on it. Dahlia just kept moaning, her breathing getting heavier as <<kai>> massaged her with <<his>> tongue. Dahlia’s pussy clenched around <<his>> tongue as she lost control of herself. She pulled on <<kais>> hair, squeezing it tight, her nails inadvertently biting into <<his>> scalp as she shoved <<his>> face as far into her crotch as it could go. <<Kai>> kept sucking on her as she came into <<his>> mouth. Dahlia screamed. A jet of cum shot into <<his>> throat, head held in place by superhuman strength. <<He>> swallowed it down, gulping, making room in <<his>> airway for breathe. She finally let go of <<kais>> hair. <<He>> stood up, knees sore from the tile floor. <</if>> <<They>> looked at each other deeply in the eyes, silently begging the other to fuck them. <<link '<<Kai>> fucked her pussy.' 'DahliaShower8'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> grabbed Dahlia off the floor. She was small and skinny, so it wasn’t too difficult. As <<he>> did, Dahlia wrapped her legs around <<him>>, looking mischievously into <<his>> eyes. <<He>> pushed her against the shower wall, kissing her, her body sandwiched between <<kai>> and the wall. She ravenously ground her hips against <<kais>> crotch, inviting <<him>><<if $Penis>> inside<</if>>. <<if $Penis>> <<Kai>> brandished <<his>> throbbing cock and plunged it into Dahlia’s waiting pussy. It slid inside of her immediately, sucked in by her hungry hole and dripping juices. Dahlia dug her nails into <<his>> shoulders and bit <<his>> tongue. <<Defiled>> //Fuck, that hurts!// <<kai>> thought. Spurred on by Dahlia’s vise grip and her warm, pulsing walls around <<his>> cock, <<kai>> pumped into her. <<He>> <<was>> aggressive, Dahlia’s body rocking against the shower wall with each thrust. She moaned, muffled, into <<kais>> mouth as she went back to kissing <<him>> normally. She bellowed a deep moan, her pussy clenching around <<kais>> cock. There was no way <<he>> could hold it in now. <<His>> balls shriveled up into <<his>> body as <<his>> cock pulsed, shooting streams of cum deep into Dahlia’s quivering cunt. <<Kai>> kept her pinned against the wall, tits squished against <<his>> chest as <<he>> emptied <<his>> balls deep into her, filling her womb to the brim. Eventually, <<kais>> orgasm subsided and <<he>> pulled <<his>> dripping cock out of her, lowering <<his>> dainty partner back down to the tiled floor. “Thanks…” she whispered.<<if $DahliaVirginity>><<set $DahliaVirginity to false>> <<Kai>> looked down. In addition to <<his>> own slow drip of cum down Dahlia’s legs, there was red in the water flowing into the drain. Blood. Embarrassed, she quickly rinsed off her legs and then dried off with a towel.<</if>> <<else>> <<Kai>> pressed <<his>> hips back against Dahlia’s, <<his>> own wet lips touching her eager, hungry hole. <<He>> rubbed frantically, thrusting <<his>> hips back and forth, making sure that <<they>> each got <<their>> clits massaged. Dahlia dug her nails into <<his>> shoulders and bit <<his>> tongue. //"Fuck, that’s good!"// Dahlia cried. Spurred on by Dahlia’s vise grip and her warm, pulsing lips, <<kai>> pumped into her. <<He>> <<was>> aggressive, Dahlia’s body rocking against the shower wall with each thrust. She moaned, muffled, into <<kais>> mouth as she went back to kissing <<him>> normally. She bellowed a deep moan, her pussy clenching. <<Kais>> own orgasm was coming too, there was no way <<he>> could hold it in now. <<His>> stomach twisted as <<they>> came in unison, <<their>> cunts pulsing against each other. <<Kai>> kept Dahlia pinned against the wall, her tits squished against <<his>> chest as <<they>> rode out <<their>> orgasms together, sensitive flesh, slowly rubbing against one another. Eventually, <<kais>> orgasm subsided and <<he>> removed <<his>> dripping pussy from Dahlia’s lips, a string of grool forming between them as <<he>> lowered <<his>> dainty partner back down to the tiled floor. “Thanks…” she whispered. <</if>> Dahlia kissed <<kai>>, blushing, and ran away without a word. <<Kai>> dried off, put <<his>> clothes back on, and <<link [[stepped out of the shower|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><</link>>, ensuring nobody saw <<him>> leave and hoping none of the other Apprentices had heard what happened in there.

<<Kai>> shut the curtain, pulled on the metal chain overhead, and stepped into the water. <<DescribeShowering>> <<if $Penis and $Shower is 'F' or $Vagina and $Shower is 'M'>> <<Kai>> <<was>> worried that somebody might see <<him>> using the wrong shower. <<if $SmutFilter>>It was exhilarating, causing <<him>> to become somewhat aroused as <<he>> imagined another Apprentice accidentally barging in on <<him>>.<</if>> <</if>> <<He>> cleaned <<himself>> and <<link [[returned to the cabin|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><</link>>.

<<if $BlueOrbReading>>\ <<Cutscene>>\ Azrael woke <<kai>> in the early hours of the morning while the other Apprentices slept. “I’ve spoken to the Council. You are to be consecrated immediately.” What was he talking about? “Follow me,” he commanded, grabbing <<kai>> and pulling <<him>> down into his shadow without warning. They were standing inside some sort of temple. A radiant, female figure stood on a dais, slowly approaching <<kai>>. Azrael stepped back, bowing. “So this is the one,” she said, her voice gentle and clear, yet garbled and mixed up at the same time. <<Kai>> wasn’t fully awake yet. She approached and pressed her palm to <<kais>> forehead. There was silence for a great long time and then a sigil formed: Water. <<set $Sigil to 'Water'>> <<Kai>> <<was>> a Charmer. <<set $Rank to 'Charmer', $RankTier to 'Novice'>> The faceless figure didn’t say anything more, she just simply watched <<kai>>. “Um, thank you for the promotion.” She tilted her head to the side. “A funny one, indeed. I’ll be watching you…” She promptly turned into a ball of light and flew out through the ceiling. Azrael walked up to <<kais>> side, the room still dark without the morning sunlight. “What the fuck…” he said, staring up at the ceiling. His gaze eventually returned to <<kai>>. Was that fear in his eyes? “Let’s get you <<link [[to your dorm|Dormitory]]>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.” <<elseif $CaughtStealing and $Time is 'Morning' and $DayWitness lt $Day>>\ <<Cutscene>>\ <<Kai>> laid in bed, waking up from the last night's sleep. As <<he>> cracked open <<his>> eyes, <<he>> witnessed a curious sight. Azrael was standing in the middle of the room with the other Apprentices gathered around him. They were all looking at <<kai>>. $StealWitness spoke first. "Sir. I saw <<if $Masculine>>him<<else>>her<</if>> stealing. I'm sure it was $Kai." "Is that right...?" Azrael cocked his head, cracking his neck. "What's missing?" The Apprentices answered together, disjointed, but eventually listing them off: //"$StolenItems."// "Hm, then let's see if these claims hold any merit." He grabbed <<kais>> arm, rifling through <<his>> person for these stolen items. <<for _i to 0; _i lt $StolenItems.length; _i++>>\ <> <<capture _i>> <<if $Items.includes($StolenItems[_i])>><<set $NumberOfConfiscatedItems += 1>><<run $ConfiscatedItems.pushUnique($StolenItems[_i]), $Items.delete($StolenItems[_i])>><</if>> <</capture>> <>\ <</for>>\ <<if $NumberOfConfiscatedItems gt 0>> Azrael pulled out the following items: $ConfiscatedItems. "It looks like we caught you red-handed." He smiled mischeviously. "At least I'll get some entertainment today." Azreal pulled <<kai>> down into his shadow, transporting <<him>> into a dungeon cell where <<he>> <<was>> chained to the wall. "Theft is a capital crime around here, you know. I'll leave you to rot." <<EnableCasting>><<Death>> <<else>> "No proof yet. We'll have to keep looking..." <<set $CaughtStealing to false>> @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>> @@ <</if>> <<elseif $Truant>>\ <<Cutscene>>\ <<if !$TruancyWarning>>\ As dawn broke, <<kai>> opened <<his>> eyes to the shimmering smile of Azrael’s jagged teeth. “I told you not to miss any lessons. You weren’t there yesterday.” Surprised and groggy, <<kai>> simply stammered. “Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard all the excuses. Don’t let it happen again. Seriously.” <<His>> teacher wasn’t messing around. <<He>> figured that <<he>> better attend the Apprentice lessons each afternoon in the training grounds like <<he>> <<was>> supposed to. Azrael <<link [[disappeared into the floor|ApprenticeCabin]]>><<EnableExploration>><<set $Truant to false, $TruancyWarning to true>><</link>>. <<else>>\ Before <<kai>> could even open <<his>> eyes, <<he>> heard that deep voice rumble in <<his>> ears. “I warned you, but you still didn’t show up.” <<Kai>> shot out of bed, staring at <<his>> instructor. There was no mercy in his expression. Azrael sighed. “Now I have to punish you.” <<Kai>> fell down into the floor, transported into a dungeon cell where <<he>> <<was>> then promptly chained to the wall. Days passed without any visitors, food, or water. <<EnableCasting>><<Death>> <</if>> <<else>>\ <<if $Time is 'Morning'>>It was morning. <</if>>\ <<Kai>> laid in <<his>> bed. <<if !$DescribeApprenticeBed>><<set $DescribeApprenticeBed to true>>The sheets were cheap and the bedding wasn’t as warm as <<he>> would’ve hoped. But it was still better than <<his>> futon at home.<</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> went to sleep.' 'ApprenticeSleep'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> got out of bed.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<Kai>> slept soundly, uninterrupted by nightmares. <<He>> awoke the next day [[in the cabin|ApprenticeCabin]]. <<NextDay>> /* Implement a <<Dream>> function to incorporate Achlys nightmares */

<<Kai>> approached the chests<<if !$DescribeApprenticeChests>><<set $DescribeApprenticeChests to true>>, each made of wood, simple in design, purposed for housing personal belongings. There were no locks on the chests, just metal hinges and labels<</if>>. The labeled chests read: $Kai, Dahlia, Rudy, <<if $MargerieLife>>Austin, and Margerie<<else>>and Austin<</if>>. <<if $POV2>>[[Open your chest|OpenApprenticeChest][$ApprenticeChest to 1]]<<else>>[[$Kai + " opened " + $his + " own chest"|OpenApprenticeChest][$ApprenticeChest to 1]]<</if>>. <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$DahliaAsleep>>\ <<linkreplace "Open Dahlia’s chest">>Maybe <<kai>> shouldn't do that while Dahlia's awake in the room<</linkreplace>>. <<else>>\ [[Open Dahlia’s chest|OpenApprenticeChest][$ApprenticeChest to 2]]. <</if>>\ <<if $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$RudyAsleep>>\ <<linkreplace "Open Rudy’s chest">>Maybe <<kai>> shouldn't do that while Rudy's awake in the room<</linkreplace>>. <<else>>\ [[Open Rudy’s chest|OpenApprenticeChest][$ApprenticeChest to 3]]. <</if>>\ [[Open Austin’s chest|OpenApprenticeChest][$ApprenticeChest to 4]]. <<if $MargerieLife>>\ <<if $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$MargerieAsleep>>\ <<linkreplace "Open Margerie’s chest">>Maybe <<kai>> shouldn't do that while Dahlia's awake in the room<</linkreplace>>. <<else>>\ [[Open Margerie’s chest|OpenApprenticeChest][$ApprenticeChest to 5]]. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ [[Leave the chests|ApprenticeCabin]].

Hinges creaking, <<kai>> swung open the chest labeled: <<switch $ApprenticeChest>><<case 1>>$Kai<<case 2>>Dahlia<<case 3>>Rudy<<case 4>>Austin<<case 5>>Margerie<</switch>>. <<if $ApprenticeChest is 4 and $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and $AustinAsleep is false>> Suddenly, Austin grabbed <<kais>> arm, preventing <<him>> from opening the lid of the chest enough to see what was inside. "You don't want to do that," he whispers, eyes open wide. <<set $AustinSuspicion to true>> After silently staring for a while, Austin released the grip on <<kais>> arm and slid back into bed. Had he been awake the entire time? <<link '<<Kai>> left the chest.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>> <<else>> <<switch $ApprenticeChest>>\ <<case 1>>It contained <<his>> own belongings, which didn’t amount to much at this point, just <<his>> old, raggedy clothes <<he>> had stored when presented a brand new Monastery robe upon arrival.<<case 2>><<if !$DescribeDahliaChest>><<set $DescribeDahliaChest to true>>It contained a sewing kit and some plushies. A strange choice of belongings. <<Kai>> inspected the plushies closer; there were three of them. They all seemed to be home-made, constructed from readily available materials and designed by hand. One was old and worn, it seemed to be a girl with long hair. The other two were newer and looked oddly like the brother Apprentices.<</if>><<case 3>><<if !$DescribeRudyChest>><<set $DescribeRudyChest to true>>It contained a headband, leg weights, and round reading glasses.<</if>><<case 4>><<if !$DescribeAustinChest>><<set $DescribeAustinChest to true>>It contained a plain black notebook.<</if>><<case 5>><<if !$DescribeMargerieChest>><<set $DescribeMargerieChest to true>>It contained a hair brush, a bottle of perfume, and tubes of makeup. Off in the corner of the chest, a tiara sparkled, just catching the light. Who in their right mind would bring a tiara to boot camp?<</if>> <</switch>> <<if $ApprenticeChest isnot 1>>\ <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$DahliaAsleep or $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$RudyAsleep or $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$AustinAsleep or $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$MargerieAsleep>><<set $WatchingChests to true>> <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$DahliaAsleep>>Dahlia<<elseif $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$RudyAsleep>>Rudy<<elseif $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$AustinAsleep>>Austin<<elseif $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$MargerieAsleep>>Margerie<</if>> watched <<kai>> with suspicion. <</if>>\ <</if>> <<link '<<Kai>> closed the chest.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>> <<if $ApprenticeChest isnot 1>><<link '<<Kai>> stole from the chest.' 'StealApprenticeChest'>><<set $StealApprenticeChest to true>><</link>><<set $temp to $Items.length>><</if>> <</if>>

<<if $Items.length gt $temp and $WatchingChests>>\ <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$DahliaAsleep>>Dahlia<<set $StealWitness to 'Dahlia'>><<elseif $RudyArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$RudyAsleep>>Rudy<<set $StealWitness to 'Rudy'>><<elseif $AustinArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$AustinAsleep>>Austin<<set $StealWitness to 'Austin'>><<elseif $MargerieArea.includes('Apprentice Cabin') and !$MargerieAsleep>>Margerie<<set $StealWitness to 'Margerie'>><</if>> watched <<kai>> steal.<<set $CaughtStealing to true>><<set $DayWitness to $Day>> <</if>>\ <<Kai>> decided to steal a personal item from <<switch $ApprenticeChest>><<case 2>>Dahlia’s<<case 3>>Rudy’s<<case 4>>Austin’s<<case 5>>Margerie’s<</switch>> chest. Which item <<was>> <<he>> interested in? <<switch $ApprenticeChest>> <<case 2>>\ <> <<if $DahliaApprenticeChest.length == 0>> Dahlia's chest was empty. <<else>> The following items were available in Dahlia's chest: <<for _i to 0; _i lt $DahliaApprenticeChest.length; _i++>> <<capture _i>> <<link [[$DahliaApprenticeChest[_i]|StealApprenticeChest]]>><<run $Items.pushUnique($DahliaApprenticeChest[_i]), $StolenItems.pushUnique($DahliaApprenticeChest[_i]), $DahliaApprenticeChest.delete($DahliaApprenticeChest[_i])>><</link>>, <</capture>> <</for>> <</if>> <> <<case 3>>\ <> <<if $RudyApprenticeChest.length == 0>> Rudy's chest was empty. <<else>> The following items were available in Rudy's chest: <<for _i to 0; _i lt $RudyApprenticeChest.length; _i++>> <<capture _i>> <<link [[$RudyApprenticeChest[_i]|StealApprenticeChest]]>><<run $Items.pushUnique($RudyApprenticeChest[_i]), $StolenItems.pushUnique($RudyApprenticeChest[_i], $RudyApprenticeChest.delete($RudyApprenticeChest[_i]))>><</link>>, <</capture>> <</for>> <</if>> <> <<case 4>>\ <> <<if $AustinApprenticeChest.length == 0>> Austin's chest was empty. <<else>> The following items were available in Austin's chest: <<for _i to 0; _i lt $AustinApprenticeChest.length; _i++>> <<capture _i>> <<link [[$AustinApprenticeChest[_i]|StealApprenticeChest]]>><<run $Items.pushUnique($AustinApprenticeChest[_i]), $StolenItems.pushUnique($AustinApprenticeChest[_i]), $AustinApprenticeChest.delete($AustinApprenticeChest[_i])>><</link>>, <</capture>> <</for>> <</if>> <> <<case 5>>\ <> <<if $MargerieApprenticeChest.length == 0>> Margerie's chest was empty. <<else>> The following items were available in Margerie's chest: <<for _i to 0; _i lt $MargerieApprenticeChest.length; _i++>> <<capture _i>> <<link [[$MargerieApprenticeChest[_i]|StealApprenticeChest]]>><<run $Items.pushUnique($MargerieApprenticeChest[_i]), $StolenItems.pushUnique($MargerieApprenticeChest[_i]), $MargerieApprenticeChest.delete($MargerieApprenticeChest[_i])>><</link>>, <</capture>> <</for>> <</if>> <> <</switch>> <<link '<<Kai>> closed the chest.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>>

@@.center; Apprentice Rankings: Veteran: <<if $Rank is 'Apprentice' and $RankTier is 'Veteran'>>$Kai, <</if>><<if $DahliaLife isnot false>>Dahlia<</if>> Adept: <<if $Rank is 'Apprentice' and $RankTier is 'Adept'>>$Kai, <</if>><<if $AustinLife isnot false>>Austin, <</if>><<if $RudyLife isnot false>>Rudy<</if>><<if $MargerieLife isnot false and $MargerieRank is 'Adept Apprentice'>>, Margerie<</if>> Novice: <<if $Rank is 'Apprentice' and $RankTier is 'Novice'>>$Kai<</if>><<if $MargerieLife isnot false and $MargerieRank is 'Novice Apprentice'>>, Margerie<</if>> @@ <<link '<<Kai>> finished checking the board.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>>

<<Kai>> <<was>> standing in the Apprentice training grounds. <<if !$DescribeApprenticeTrainingGrounds>><<set $DescribeApprenticeTrainingGrounds to true>>It was surrounded by thick, green forest on all sides. The training ground itself was spacious, extending near the limits of <<kais>> vision in most directions. Portions of the training ground were dirt or clay, while others were covered in grass, flowers, and weeds. Squinting, <<kai>> could make out the Monastery walls in the distance beyond the clearing of one patch of forest. The cabin housing Apprentices stood behind <<him>> at the edge of the training grounds, where the grassy field met the forest.<</if>> <<switch $Time>>\ <<case 'Afternoon'>>\ <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ Dahlia was training in the grassy area<<if !$DescribeDahliaApprenticeTraining>><<set $DescribeDahliaApprenticeTraining to true>>, pulling moisture from the dew in the grass, the nearby brook, or the air around her. She played with the water<</if>>, waving her hands as the blue blobs floated around her body, changing shape every so often. <</if>>\ <<if $RudyArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ <<set $tempRudy to random(1)>>Rudy <<if $tempRudy is 0>>trained in the clay area, pounding the ground with his fists or manipulating the earth<<else>>sat in the grassy area with his legs crossed and eyes closed<</if>>. <</if>>\ <<if $AustinArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ Austin sat on the ground at the edge of the field, simply observing the other Apprentices. <<if $DescribeAustinApprenticeTraining>>He never seemed to do any real training.<</if>><<set $DescribeAustinApprenticeTraining to true>> <</if>>\ <<if $MargerieArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ Margerie trained in the earthy section of the grounds<<if !$DescribeMargerieApprenticeTraining>><<set $DescribeMargerieApprenticeTraining to true>>, her gaze periodically flickering over to Rudy<<if $tempRudy is 0>> as he pounded the ground next to her<<else>>, his eyes shut in deep concentration<</if>>. Was she trying to earn his affection? She was <<else>>, <</if>>growing visibly frustrated as Rudy ignored her entirely, absorbed in his own task. <</if>>\ <<if $AzraelArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ <<Random1>>Azrael <<if $temp is 0>>was watching the Apprentices, alternating between floating above the field and creepily peering from the edge of the grounds<<else>>popped in and out of his shadow, approaching individual Apprentices and talking to them, hopefully providing advice or guidance of some kind<</if>>. <</if>>\ <<case 'Evening'>>\ <<if $RudyArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ Rudy trained in the clay area, pounding the ground with his fists or manipulating the earth. <<if !$DescribeRudyApprenticeTraining>><<set $DescribeRudyApprenticeTraining to true>>His arms seemed a different color than normal, but it was hard to tell with the sunlight fading.<</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $MargerieArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ Margerie <<if $RudyArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>hid behind a cabin wall, watching Rudy from a distance<<else>>sat in the field, legs crossed, sulking<</if>> as the sun set. <</if>>\ <<case 'Night'>>\ <<if $AzraelArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ Azrael stood in the middle of the field, waiting for <<kai>>. <</if>>\ <</switch>>\ <<if $AzraelArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ <<if $Time is 'Night'>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Azrael.' 'SecretTraining'>><<set $tempVit to $Vit>><</link>><<else>><<if $Day is 3>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Azrael for the //optional// lesson.' 'ApprenticeLessons'>><</link>><<else>><<link '<<Kai>> approached Azrael for the //mandatory// lesson.' 'ApprenticeLessons'>><</link>><</if>><</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $Time isnot 'Afternoon'>>\ <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> approached Dahlia.' 'DahliaDialogue'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $RudyArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> approached Rudy.' 'RudyDialogue'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $AustinArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> approached Austin.' 'AustinDialogue'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $MargerieArea.includes('Training Grounds')>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> approached Margerie.' 'MargerieDialogue'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> trained individually.' 'ApprenticeTraining'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> channeled God.' 'ChannelGod'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the cabin.' 'ApprenticeCabin'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> entered the dense forest.' 'MonasteryForest'>><</link>>

<<Cutscene>>\ <<Kai>> channeled God, falling into a trance. <<He>> felt strange, but couldn't describe the feeling. <<set $MaxVit *= 1.2>> @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω|ApprenticeTrainingGrounds]]>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><</link>> @@

<<Cutscene>>\ <<Kai>> approached Azrael. <<if !$AzraelSecret0>> “Thank you for coming,” he said. His tone was serious; there was no nonsense in it like there normally was around the other Apprentices. “We have a lot of work to do… and to be honest with you, I’m not entirely sure what it is.” How could he not know? “$Kai. Like I said before, your situation is strange, puzzling even. To display both blue and red simultaneously, it’s almost like you’re more than one mage.” He looked <<kai>> up and down. “It’s concerning, to say the least. You could be possessed by the Corruptor or you could be Corrupt yourself; it’s hard to say for sure. But the brand I’ve given you will buy us some time.” <<Kai>> looked down at <<his>> arms. “It suppresses whatever evil dwells within you.” <<if $Goddesses>>//Achlys…// Was she truly evil? <</if>>”I don’t feel evil,” <<kai>> said. Azrael rubbed his chin. “You don’t look it either, trust me. Evil tends to be more… how should I put it? Blatant? Intimidating? Bah! It doesn’t matter. The point is that you can spot evil when you see it. Evil ones are flagrant and unabashed in their wickedness.” <<Kai>> took stock of Azrael’s appearance. <<He>> could be forgiven for thinking that <<his>> instructor also looked obviously evil. “Okay, back to the point. Your time as an Apprentice is limited. You will enter the Monastery walls soon, it’s only a matter of time. My brand will suppress the evil within you, allowing you to lay low and avoid unwanted attention. But you’ll still need to be careful. Always pay attention to who’s listening.” Azrael was acting suspicious again. //Why do I need to keep the brand a secret from the other magi? The Apprentices already knew about my orb reading anyway, it’s only a matter of time before all the magi know about it,// <<kai>> thought to <<himself>>. Azrael’s eyes glossed over. “I hope you’re wrong.” And then he went silent, staring past <<kai>>. //Is he hearing my thoughts?// Azrael’s eyes refocused on <<kai>>. “Yes, I am. It’s an effect of the brand. This way, I will know when you’re in trouble.” <<Kai>> felt violated in a deeply personal way. A way that <<he>> didn’t know <<he>> could be violated. //Even my thoughts aren’t my own anymore...// <<Kai>> pondered that. <<if $Goddesses>>//But that was true anyway; the goddesses can already hear my thoughts.// Azrael’s eyebrows lifted. “Goddesses?”<</if>> There was no getting around it; he would find out eventually anyway. “I’ve been hearing voices in my head. Female voices,” <<kai>> said. “Maybe you really are possessed… But if they’re women, then at least it’s not the Corruptor.” The moon faded behind the clouds as <<they>> talked. "I won't have much time to train you, so I'm going to push you hard," Azrael said. <<Kai>> nodded. "First thing's first. Before we talk about your magic, you'll need to be strong. Discount the opinions of others, let them roll off you. In order to tread your own path, you mustn't allow meddlers to steer your course." Why was he giving <<kai>> personal advice? The point of these meetings was to work on magical skills. "Seriously, this is important. The Monastery is a large place with a complicated web of different motivations, magi tugging in all directions. Some magi will want to manipulate you, to use you for their own devices—a mere tool for doing their bidding. Discerning who to trust, who to confide in, will be the most important choice you make as a mage." //Do I even know my own secrets...?// <<kai>> wondered. And more importantly, was Azrael trustworthy? His advice did make sense though. He wouldn't be helping <<kai>> if he had nefarious intentions, would he? "Yes, sir. I'll do my best.” Azrael finished his lecture with a heavy sigh of relief. “Alright, I'm glad we got that out of the way. I’ll see you tomorrow. I need to start training you immediately.” Azrael disappeared. <<link '<<Kai>> went to sleep.' 'ApprenticeBed'>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $AzraelSecret0 to true>><</link>> <<elseif !$AzraelSecret1>> “Do you remember how I mentioned that certain skills exist which require the caster to spend Essence as a cost?” <<Kai>> nodded. “Well, there are also skills that //target// Essence: spiritual skills. Just like physical and mystical skills, spiritual skills can only be deflected with a spiritual defense. Take the brunt of one without a proper defense and it won’t be your Vitality or your health that you lose, but your lifespan. “Needless to say, spiritual attacks are potent and deadly. They can be useful in war, but they’re not a part of our standard curriculum. Wicked ones, on the other hand, have no qualms slinging around such attacks, so you need to be prepared." He paused. "Let’s see if you can handle spiritual imbuement.” Azrael reached his hand forward and touched <<kais>> forehead, imparting knowledge of the Soul Shield skill. <<run $skills.pushUnique('soul_shield')>> Azrael blinked in surprise. “It wasn’t rejected...” “What do you mean?” “To put it simply, imbuement isn’t a one-sided process. The transfer of casting knowledge requires both the sender and the receiver to meet the casting requirements for the particular skill. In other words, Apprentices shouldn’t be able to receive this skill. Spirit Shield is a ‘Holy Spell’, meaning it requires a Holy affinity as well as the casting experience of a typical Sorcerer, neither of which you ought to possess…” It must have been due to the <<if $Goddesses>>goddesses<<else>>spirits possessing <<him>><</if>>. “...yet you have no sigil.” Azrael leaned in close, inspecting <<kais>> forehead. Then he poked it with his sharp finger. “Ow!” <<Kai>> recoiled. “Yeah, no sigil. It’s like you’re a vessel. Some sort of blank canvas used to channel the will of another. A husk of a mage…” “What can I do about it?” <<kai>> asked. “Become your own mage. Reject the parasites, stifle them.” He pretended to squash a bug in his fist. “Exterminate them.” “Okay, but how?” “I can’t tell you that, you’ll have to figure it out for yourself. But I do know this, my brand—the seal protecting you—is slowly weakening, degrading. You must do it quickly before they bleed through and overcome you.” “How much time do I have?” “I don’t know. All we can do is work and hope for the best. Pondering useless questions isn’t going to get us anywhere." He went pensive for a moment. "Now show me that new shield.” <<Kai>> located the skill within <<himself>> and channeled, but <<he>> couldn’t quite grasp it. “Hm, not enough Vitality. Strengthen your pool and come back to me when you’re ready.” Azrael disappeared. <<link '<<Kai>> went to sleep.' 'ApprenticeBed'>><<PassTime>><<EnableExploration>><<set $AzraelSecret1 to true>><</link>> <<elseif (!$AzraelSecret2 and $Vit gte 15) or $AzraelSecret2Check>> <<He>> channeled, expending <<his>> Vitality and forming a Spirit Shield. It wasn’t a visible shield like the physical and mystical ones. Instead, a manifested more as a glow, illuminating <<his>> form. <<if $Vit eq $tempVit>><<set $Vit -= 15, $AzraelSecret2Check to true>><</if>> “Very good. Now you can protect yourself from spiritual attacks.” <<Kai>> smiled. “One last thing before you go.” Azrael took a deep breath and then touched <<kais>> forehead again. His eyes widened in shock, his whole body paralyzed for a moment. “...it actually took.” “Which skill did you give me this time?” “I can’t tell you.” Silence. <<Kai>> didn’t know how to press the question. Azrael turned around and stared up at the stars in the night sky above them. “Do you think that’s where we go when we die?” “The sky?” “No, the stars.” What kind of question was that? “No, I don’t think so,” <<kai>> said. “Pity. It looks nice up there…” Without turning around, Azrael’s shadow left his feet, <<link 'enveloping <<kai>> and spitting <<him>> back out' 'BrandedConsecration'>><<set $AzraelLife to false>><<set $AzraelSecret2 to true>><</link>>. <<else>> 15 Vitality is required to cast Spirit Shield. Channel God to increase <<his>> Vitality. Or <<kai>> could [[ask Azrael for rejuvanation|AzraelRejuvanation]]. [[Back|previous()]] <</if>>

"Fine," he sighed. "Here you go." <<Kai>> glowed momentarily and then it was over. <<link '<<Kai>> felt refreshed' 'ApprenticeTrainingGrounds'>><<EnableExploration>><<set $Vit to $MaxVit>><</link>>

<<Kai>> <<was>> thrust out of the shadow. Standing up, <<he>> found <<himself>> inside some sort of Temple. A radiant, female figure stood on a dais, slowly approaching <<him>>. Her face was obscured by a birhgt light. “So this is the one,” she said, her voice gentle and clear, yet garbled and mixed up at the same time. <<Kai>> <<wasnt>> fully aware yet. She approached and pressed her palm to <<kais>> forehead. There was silence for a great long time and then a sigil formed: Water. <<set $Sigil to 'Water'>> <<Kai>> <<was>> a Charmer. <<set $Rank to 'Charmer', $RankTier to 'Novice'>> The faceless figure didn’t say anything more, she just stared at <<kai>>. “Um, thank you for the promotion,” <<he>> said. She tilted her head to the side. “A funny one, indeed. I’ll be watching you…” She promptly turned into a ball of light and flew out through the ceiling. <<Kai>> <<was>> left all alone. <<He>> looked around the dark room for a while and then noticed Azrael’s shadow on the wall, pointing <<him>> in the right direction. Why hadn’t the shadow gone back to its master? Following the shadow’s directions, <<kai>> navigated some dark pathways, eventually finding <<his>> way to <<set $bedPassage to 'Dormitory'>><<link '<<his>> dorm' 'Dormitory'>><<NextDay>><<EnableExploration>><</link>>.

<<if $skills.length lt 2>>\ <<PhysicalApprenticeTraining>> <<else>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> selected a magical skill to train.' 'TrainSkill'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> trained physically.' 'TrainPhysicallyApprentice'>><</link>> <</if>>

<<PhysicalApprenticeTraining>>

<<Kai>> <<was>> in the forest surrounding the Monastery. It was dark<<if !$DescribeMonasteryForest>><<set $DescribeMonasteryForest to true>>; the trees acted as canopies, blocking sunlight. Little animals, denizens of the forest, scurried to and fro<</if>>. The path leading into the woods grew darker the further in it went. <<if $RudyArea.includes('Monastery Forest')>> As the sun rose, Rudy sat on a large rock with his eyes closed, breathing in the crisp, morning air. <<if !$DescribeRudyMonasteryForest>><<set $DescribeRudyMonasteryForest to true>>Various forest creatures scurried around, sometimes stopping to look at him. Birds landed on him and took flight periodically, assuming him to be a part of the environment.<</if>> <</if>>\ <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Monastery Forest')>> As the sun set, Dahlia walked through the forest, singing to herself. <</if>>\ <<if $DahliaArea.includes('Monastery Forest')>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> approached Dahlia.' 'DahliaDialogue'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<if $RudyArea.includes('Monastery Forest')>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> approached Rudy.' 'RudyDialogue'>><</link>> <</if>>\ <<link '<<Kai>> went back.' 'ApprenticeTrainingGrounds'>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> pressed onward.' 'DeepMonasteryForest'>><</link>>

<<DisableExploration>>\ <<Kai>> <<was>> deep in the forest now. The deeper <<he>> tread into the woods, the darker it grew, until eventually <<he>> <<was>> having difficulty seeing even <<his>> own hands. <<He>> tripped on a root, falling to <<his>> hands and knees. The air felt damp and suffocating. Insects chirped behind <<him>>, above <<him>>, besides <<him>>. A loud croak. <<Kai>> turned <<his>> head. A toad? Leaves crunched. //Footsteps?<<if !$ApprenticeDeepForest>> Who is that? Who’s there?<<else>> It's happening again. I should've listened to Azrael's warning.<</if>>// <<Kai>> crawled on the forest floor, heart racing. Which way would get <<him>> out of the forest? <<He>> <<was>> turned around and couldn’t see where <<he>> had come from; it was too dark. The crunching sound grew louder and louder, slowly drawing closer. <<Kai>> could feel the sweat on <<his>> palms. [[Something was approaching|ApprenticeDeepForest]].

<<if !$ApprenticeDeepForest>>A strong hand grabbed at the back or <<kais>> collar, yanking <<him>> from behind. <<His>> body lifted, floating into the air, suspended. <<Kai>> screamed, unable to control <<himself>>. //"Pipe down."// A firm, gruff voice. Darkness turned to pitch black. The void. It was so cold. //What does this person want with me?// And then a bright shining light assaulted <<kais>> sensitive eyes. <<He>> squinted, looking around. It was sunlight. <<He>> <<was>> in the training field. Azrael held <<him>> by the scruff, dangling in one hand. He set <<kai>> down in the middle of the training field. The gears started turning in <<kais>> head. //We came out of his shadow just now… He saved me from the forest.// Azrael rubbed his temples. “What were you doing in there? Wait, no. Don’t tell me. Just don’t go back in there again. Okay?” <<Kai>> nodded, still in shock. Azrael sighed. "I’m not going to save you next time." He disappeared into the ground, gone just as fast as he had come. @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω|ApprenticeTrainingGrounds]]>><<PassTime>><<set $ApprenticeDeepForest to true>><<EnableExploration>><</link>> @@ <<else>>\ A snarl. Low and grumbling. And then the footsteps sped up, turning into a run. <<Kai>> scrambled, doing <<his>> best to get away, but <<he>> just slipped, tumbling around the ground helplessly. An impact. <<His>> head thrust against the ground, neck whipping from the jerk. <<His>> chest felt cold and warm at the same time—tingling. <<He>> brought <<his>> hands to <<his>> chest and felt the warmth of <<his>> own blood. And then a hard object sticking in <<his>> ribcage, skewered through the middle. More growling. Deep and menacing. Pressure on <<his>> chest. <<His>> body rose from the ground, lifted up by the object skewering <<him>> through the chest. And then thrashing. <<Kais>> body ragdolled, thrown around every which way until, helpless and bleeding, <<he>> finally slid off the hard object piercing <<him>> and flew through the air. //Thunk.// <<His>> body made contact with something hard. Maybe a tree. Maybe a rock. It was impossible to tell in this darkness. <<He>> laid there, neck probably broken, bleeding from a hole in <<his>> chest. <<Death>> <</if>>

<<Cutscene>>\ As <<kai>> nodded off into sleep, <<he>> felt Achlys tugging on <<him>>, pulling <<him>> into a dream. <<link '<<Kai>> accepted it.' 'AchlysDream1a'>><<set $DenyDream to false>><</link>> <<link '<<Kai>> denied it.'>><<set $DenyDream to true>><<EnableExploration>><<NextDay>><</link>>

<<set $POV to "Moloch">>\ Moloch obtained his Priest robe from the wash and slid it over his head, pulling it down over his body. He breathed in deeply as he looked at himself in the mirror. //Truly magnificent…// he thought as he gazed upon himself draped in white and gold; an image he had yearned after for as long as he could recall. He had been dreaming of a chance to make a name for himself in the Priesthood for ages and, even if it had been granted by mere happenstance, he now had that chance. Unlike some of the other Zealots who had been converted, Moloch had been born and raised directly into the Order of Greed; he was the offspring of devoted Heretics. Though neither of his parents had managed to leave a significant mark of their own on the Order, Moloch was dedicated to elevating his name, to becoming something great. If he was honest with himself, Moloch didn’t feel suited to the Order of Greed—he was too pragmatic to be truly greedy. Most heretics were placed into the order that fit them best whenever they converted. But, for whatever reason, Zealots weren’t afforded the opportunity to switch to a more appropriate order once they had already been assigned to one; that luxury was reserved for Priests and other higher-ups. And so, Moloch now subsequently found himself as a Priest of Greed—a dedicated Zealot who had finally found the recognition he deserved. He exited the washroom, passing by maids bustling back and forth, each of them the dedicated servants of various Priests. The Order was large, and with many Zealots came constant laundry and upkeep. Maidservants were absolutely necessary for any Priest worth his salt; how else could an order function? That was right; Moloch had //maids of his own// now that he was a Priest. He would have inherited authority over whichever maids Dagon left behind. Moloch made his way to Dagon’s reserved living quarters, throwing open the door and walking into the room. The noise of the door slamming behind him caused the two maidservants working inside the room to scurry away in fear, rushing towards the corners. “Wait. Who are you?” one of the maids asked. “You’re not our master.” “It’s alright. Your master is dead,” Moloch said. “Dead…?” the other maid muttered, shocked. Her head was down, hair covering her eyes. “Yes. Dagon is no longer your Priest.” After a brief silence, the two maids began to relax. The first maid persisted in her questioning. “But who are //you//?” she asked again, taking notice of Moloch’s robe. “Another Priest?” “I’m //your// Priest,” Moloch clarified. “I was one of Dagon’s Zealots, and now I am your master. Balaam has proclaimed it so.” Uncertain, both maids dropped the items in their hands and approached Moloch, dutifully bowing before him. “Yes, Master,” they said in monotone. “We serve you.” There was no passion or reverence to their words, only fear. Surely, these two had been mistreated in the past by Dagon. If Dagon’s treatment of his Zealots was any indication, then Moloch expected nothing less. These maidservants had been conditioned by their previous master and would now expect similar untoward behavior from their new one. Moloch had to change that. “Rise,” he said to them. They looked at each other nervously before rising, unsteady and uncertain. The one maid’s hair remained draped over her eyes, the other simply averted her gaze. “Do not fear.” He placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “No harm shall befall you while I’m in charge.” Yet, neither of them would dare to look him in the eyes. “Hey. Look at me,” he said with force, tightening his grip. They began to quiver, forcing their eyes towards him—the one tilted her head, allowing her hair to fall to the side. They looked entirely pitiful like broken dogs, shaking uncontrollably in fear. They were doing their best to hide it, but their anxiety was palpable. What in Abaddon’s name were they expecting him to do to them? “Do you require service, Master?” one of them managed to squeak out. Moloch took a deep breath. “Actually, yes. But first, tell me your names.” What was the best way to calm them down and gain their trust? Surely it would be difficult to break down their emotional guards after being mistreated for so long. Balaam had allowed Dagon’s misbehavior to fester for too long. “As you wish,” the maid with shorter hair said. “My name is Sybil. And this is my sister, Alice.” Alice nodded nervously, allowing her sister to do the talking for her. //What faith underpins their dedication?// Moloch thought. “It’s nice to meet you, Sybil.” He turned to the other maid. “And you also, Alice.” He nodded his head, but she didn’t react. Alice’s eyes looked bloodshot, like she hadn’t slept properly in days. “I take it that Dagon had certain routines established? Maybe a certain work schedule for you to follow each day?” Sybil laughed. “Dagon? You’re kidding.” She scoffed, beginning to regain her composure. “Um, no. He was chaotic, spontaneous. One day he expected one thing, the next he expected something else. But how were we supposed to know? It was always ‘I told you this’ or ‘ I told you that,’ but he never did! He would just expect us to know like we were mind-readers, but he was unpredictable. He never…” Her voice trailed off and her eyes widened as her mind began churning. “I’m sorry, Master.” Sybil’s head fell. “I’m speaking beyond my authority again. I don’t know what came over me. I will now accept my punishment.” She began to lift the skirt of her maidservant dress, clutching the fabric with shaky fingers. <<link 'Moloch stopped her.' 'StopSybil'>><</link>> <<link 'Moloch allowed her to continue.' 'ContinueSybil'>><</link>>

“No!” Moloch forced the dress back down. “No, you’ve done nothing wrong.” “But Dagon…” A brief silence fell and Sybil fell limp, while Alice fidgeted, oddly disconnected from the conversation. //Shouldn’t they be happy that Dagon’s dead?// Moloch thought. But instead, his maidservants just looked… sad. Downtrodden. “Sybil,” he said. “It’s okay. Please continue on with your explanation.” Moloch rubbed the top of her head and smiled at her, attempting to appear friendly. But it was forced; he wasn’t the best at those sorts of things. “Yes, Master…” Sybil nodded, obviously confused but obedient. “I will continue then.” She took a deep breath, compulsively flattening her skirt. “Dagon, he… expected subservience from us. Complete submission. Whenever I said such unacceptable things in front of him, he made an example out of me. A public example. I thank you for your kindness, Master.” Simply allowing her to speak wasn’t a kindness, it was necessary for Moloch to properly do his job. “I’ll be honest with you if you promise to keep quiet about it,” Moloch said. Sybil nodded her head. “Dagon wasn’t exactly the easiest Priest to work with. I’m surprised he made it as long as he did. I knew this day would come eventually, I just didn’t realize it would be today.” Moloch rubbed his temples, pausing for a moment. “Balaam personally executed him.” Alice’s eyes glimmered and she interjected. “Balaam was the one who killed him?!” A grin spread across her face. “Yes…” Moloch raised his brow. //Now she's happy…?// “Wee!” Alice clutched her hands together in front of her and giggled, spinning in a circle, her hair flowing in the air. Once finished with her twirl, she looked up at the ceiling and whispered. “Thank you, my Highpriest. Balaam. Balaam…” //What an odd girl…// Moloch returned his attention to Sybil. “Anyway, I’m surprised it took as long as it did. And I was even more surprised that my Higpriest chose //me// to replace him.” Sybil placed a hand on Moloch’s shoulder this time. “Don’t be, Master.” She shook her head. “Don’t think that way. You are worthy of your position. The Highpriest does not make mistakes.” //The Highpriest promoted Dagon in the first place…// Moloch smiled at her. Sybil didn’t know him; she couldn’t have an opinion. But argument was pointless. “You’re right. Thank you.” “You require our service, Master,” Alice said, reminding a flustered Sybil. “Ah, yes.” Moloch cleared his throat. “Disregard whatever assignments Dagon gave you. I’ll be running things differently from now on.” His servants nodded. Moloch scanned the room; it was filled to the brim with opulent luxuries: decoration, ornamentation, rugs, furs, and jewels. “First things first. I’ll need to sell most of this.” He waved his hand. Sybil’s eyes went wide with shock. Alice just giggled, rubbing her fingers together. “As you wish, Master…” @@.center; <<link [[Ω Ω]]>><<set $POV to "Player">><<EnableExploration>><<NextDay>><</link>> @@

Sybil lifted up the skirt of her dress as Moloch watched. She revealed her panties as well as the bare skin of her thighs and stomach, each bearing scars from where Dagon’s talons had cut her—multiple times in multiple places. Sybil winced, shutting her eyes as she turned her head to the side. Alice followed her sister’s lead, lifting her own skirt and revealing similar scarring, though she didn’t seem as bothered by it. //Satanail above… Dagon was… he was too rough with them,// Moloch thought, feeling pity and disgust. “Should I continue, Master?” Sybil asked, her eyes still clenched shut. <<link '“No. Put your skirts down.”' 'StopSybil'>><</link>> <<if $DisturbFilter>><<link '“Yes. Continue.”' 'SybilSex'>><</link>><</if>>

Sybil nodded, her eyes still closed as if wincing. She pulled the dress over her head, revealing the rest of her body. She wore no bra—it was built into the top of the maidservant’s uniforms. There was scarring on her upper body as well; entire chunks of flesh had been removed, scarred over from where Dagon had bitten her—presumably in the passion of the moment as he had his way with her. She was missing half of her left nipple. Alice did the same, stripping down. She was no better off, entirely missing one of her nipples. Sybil pried her eyes open as she looked upon her sister’s body, shivering. They both bent forward, gripping their panties and sliding them down their legs, one by one. Though these women were clearly damaged and broken, Moloch couldn’t help but see a certain beauty in them. Yes, he pitied them, but they were resilient; they had persisted and made it out the other end. Moloch walked forward toward his naked servants and touched each of them on the cheek, cradling them in his palm. “Both of you are beautiful,” he said. Surprised, they looked up at him, eyes sparkling. “Dagon never said anything like that to me…” Sybil said. Alice licked his hand and smiled at him. Her tongue hung out of her mouth, drool dripping to the floor. Moloch recoiled, drawing his hands back. And then he couldn’t help but laugh. He ruffled Alice’s hair. “You’re a funny one,” he said, a genuine smile forming on his lips. “Please be patient with my sister,” Sybil said blushing. “She didn’t always used to be this way…” //Hm… So Dagon broke her brain? Maybe he took one of his punishments too far…// “Don’t worry,” Moloch said. “I’ll be gentle with her.” He turned his attention to Alice, gripping her hips and pulling her into him. Her scarred and beaten body felt warm against him. Drool dripped from her chin down onto his robe. “You’re going to have to clean that for me later.” Alice chuckled, putting her arms around him and hugging him. Why was she being so affectionate now? It seemed like her behavior mirrored her sister’s in some way, but Moloch wasn’t quite sure. They certainly had a strong bond with one another. @@.center; <<link 'Ω Ω'>><<set $POV to "Player">><<EnableExploration>><<NextDay>><</link>> @@