Prophet of Sin: Journey to Alkcore (act 2)

“Desmo!” Lillian chased her new demon companion through the woods. “Desmo get back…. Here.” A girl covered from behind by a darkish blue hooded cape leaned over a boy. Her, also blue, pants and crop top suggested the appearance of a belly dancer, but various tattoos and outlines of gold along the cape defined her an occultist. The boy wore a more typical attire for an alchemist. Solidly dark colors, and hidden pockets in every place Lillian looked. The occult girl waved a ball of light around, and Desmo attempted to swat it away before climbing Lillian’s blue nun uniform to her shoulder. The girl watched in confusion as a demon climbed up the habitless nun before her.

“Please, he’ll...he’s dying.” The female stranger turned to look back at the male. “Is there anything you can do?” Lillian helped carry the boy as Desmo lead the way back through the woods to Trox’s wagon. Trox looked out to the direct Desmo came from before his eyes went wide.

“No. No. No. Absolutely not” Trox protested. “She is not getting on my wagon.”

“Trox the boy is dying.” Lillian rebutted as both load him on the back of the wagon.

“Who fault do you suppose that is?” Trox questioned.
“Trox-” Lillian was about to protest.

“No, he’s right.” The female responded looking down, sadly. “I’ll go elsewhere…” Lillian turned to Trox who was looking back at both of them.

“Gutter all.” He mumbled. “Keep him secure. Both of you.” The nameless female looked up confused. “A man is dying. Get on the wagon.” Trox drove as fast as he could back to Radestilk. He waited outside selling his delayed goods while both girls waited for Father Tibet to come out of the private room.

“I cannot do anything more.” Father Tibet stated closing the door as he walked up to the girls. “We shall have to start with the question we can answer I’m afraid. Starting I think with what a Lux Dimu is doing saving a practitioner of the dark. Miss?”

“My name is Melica.” Melica introduced herself. “The boy's name is Levan. I think we were both trying to run away.” she stated on the verge of tears. “What kind of people of light just...just...”
“The kind you will not find here, and the kind, I hope, that can help you find your way again.” Father Tibet stated holding Melica’s cheek as both smiled. “Both of you have enemies far too familiar with these lands. Your safety here will not last, but you are welcome to make the most of it.” The people of Radestilk welcomed her with open arms, and seemed willing to teach her just about anything. But Melica seemed to almost ignore almost anyone studying light magic, and sunk heavily into studying dark magic for the next several days.

“Hey umm…” Melica looked up and almost jumped out of her chair when she saw Levan. “I heard you helped save my life, so thank you. And I was wondering...if you’d teach me?”

“Why would you even want to learn?” Melica loudly grumbled before closing her book. “Might be confusing, but at least dark magic never killed anything for being different.”

“It’s not confusing at all.” Levan chuckled. “It’s simple and brash, and it usually lacks any sort of respect.” Both were silent for a while.

“Not like the people here, huh?” Melica finally commented. Levan dropped a book about light magic next to her, and sat down.

“Not at all.” Levan replied. “Still it be an honor to learn from a Lux Dimu.”

“It's a hard field coming from something ‘simple and brash’ You sure up for it?” Melica playfully mocked.

“Can’t be harder than the introduction.” Levan replied making Melica giggled. Their demeanors change slowly over the next few weeks, and showed openly in their test battles. The wild and irregular techniques of Levan slowly became controlled and predictable.  And his ability to fight at almost any range became a way to force his opponents to keep their distance, in an effort to balance his change in fighting style. Melica's ability to predict almost anything became an ability to be unpredictable, and her patience waiting for an opponent became the well timed surprise attacks for getting in close, herself. Despite the numerous changes they made to their craft however, neither ever switched over. Darkness was still about chaos and trickery in a way Melica just wasn’t good at, and Light magic would always have an elegance and formality that Levan just didn’t find appealing. During their weeks in Radestilk Melica and Levan often picked each other as partners, and slowly became near inseparable, but for some reason tried to avoid being seen together. 

“Lillian!” Samuel called running up with Melica who was holding a light blue ball of light.

“She’s moonlit, Samuel. We’ve talked about this.” Lillian replied.

“I haven’t embraced the darkness!” Melica replied as Lillian cocked an eyebrow. “Do you see my demon nearby?” She pointed to Desmo who was foraging.

“Flora!?” Lillian stated. “Would come over here, please?!” Flora replied by shooting a light blue arrow of light instead. “See? It’s not about embracing darkness. It’s about accepting it.”

“Which you’ve done more than your fair share of.” Samuel replied, and both he and Lillian chuckled as Melica awkwardly fidgeted.

“You’re sure Alkcore is safe for him?” Melica replied. “I mean I get sending me there, but they’re still of the church.”

“The church barely agreed to that before… Well before Desmo here.” Desmo perked up and statued, proudly. “And from what I’ve heard, I doubt they’d agree now.” Lillian stated. “I haven’t seen the place for a while though, and Trox doesn’t travel there often since it’s in the middle of the desert.”

“Oi! I said we were leaving first thing in the morning!” Trox shouted pointing at the sun, which indicated it was close to noon. Levan waved from the wagon, and started loading it.
“Funny how differently I remember that.” Lillian stated.

“Was even that even what you said?” Melica responded in turn with Lillian as both walked over.
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Last Night
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“Lillian.” Melica stated running up to her in a panic. “Lillian, where’s Trox?” Lillian merely pointed to a stockpile of barrels in response.

“I should warn you though I’ve learned not to-”  A hand slammed down as Lillian was speaking.

“Ye ‘ink I can’t tosk a wee bit of my own production?!” Trox stated moving from side to side like a leaf in the wind. “I was ‘ere when boar ox brought down the moon because he thought it was made of cheese ya-” Trox tumbled over and secured himself as he began a loud, harty, laugh.

“The Lunar Brim has a bounty on Levan while the Lux Dimu are scouting outside the forest, and you’re getting drunk?!” Melica shouted. “This is the protection I was promised?”

“Pro-toc-tion?” Trox hiccuped. “You’ll run when it’s bad ‘nough, love. You don’t need pro..pro...deck… whatever.” Lillian hopped up, and held Melica back.

“Mel. Melica. Melica” Lillian continued to quickly repeat Melica's name until she finally stopped to look at her. “I know. I know.” Lillian state slowly as Melica glared. “Just one second, okay? She turned to Trox as Melica. “Trox?”

“Wha ya aunt?” Trox replied having drunk an impressive amount more between Lillian and Melica conversation.

“The groups Melica and Levan came from?” Lillian began. “That you don’t like.”

“Em petty light amazonian think they’re so much catcher. Going ‘round like ‘would ya air for some more lexitos benbrunium raiqu, MADAME arrogance.” There was a hearty chuckle from the crowd as a drunken Trox wildy contrasted the elegantly, high and mighty attitude he was trying to capture. “They make less sense than your lot.” Trox then pointed to Levan. “And your lot doesn’t think, alright?” Taking Levan continued chuckling as a yes he got down into an ape like stance. Stumbling on his words slightly less, but still slipping up here and there. “Boaro strong like uhhhh….. Boar! And wise like… like.... As tall as mountain are, that how wise Boaro is.” Even a once outraged Melica was chuckling before erupting into laughter as Trox concluded. “Boaro is quiet like the mouse that always scare Boaro. Fear Boaro’s surprise attack!!!” Trox shouted into the sky before standing up. Lillian propping him up, and speaking while she had the chance.

“Okay. Both of those groups.” Trox nodded. “Are coming here.” Lillian stated.

“Utter fall!” Trox stated before burping. “We leaf earth thing on the meadow.” He stated confidently before passing out.
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Present
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“It was probably said.” Trox stated. “In my mind, which is yet another reason we don’t ask drunk Trox questions.” It was a long road to the desert, but also fairly uneventful. Somehow they managed to leave without being seen. Trox took several lesser known routes just to be safe. But about a week later, they were safely in the desert. Far outside the range anyone would travel just to find two runaways. Levan and Melica did express their concern however. Both were supposedly important to a kind of celebration. It’s only a few days before they would get there that everyone’'s expectations were finally met. Everyone rushing over as Melica screams echo out into sands. Trox merely sighed when he got there.

“I. Just. Want. To. Look.” A rather large half-spider women stated slowly and attempted to look over Melica. Levan volleyed a powerful looking attack in response, but the spider girl only turned back in response. “Dark magic?... On a demon lord?”

“Ameri.” Trox stated as the spider looked at him in response. “Women, you’re the size of my wagon, and have the bottom half of a spider. Six legs or not, could you not at least warn people?”

“You never seemed to mind.” Ameri stated placing a hand on her hip as she looked at him. The hint of lust in her eyes never went away, but it certainly came out for Trox.

“I..uh.. That’s” Trox struggled between defending himself to a giant spider, or explaining himself to three young adults.Only saved by Ameri laughing. “Was that necessary?”

“Not at all~” Ameri stepped away from Melica as Levan approached. “But this is my part of the desert, and the bounty on these two was quite the hassle.”

“What you didn’t have enough fun with that?” Trox rebutted. Ameri feign offense.

“Trox. it’s me were talking about here, Ameridena.” Ameri stated. “I never leave anything unsatisfied. Least of all myself. Thus I came over here to see what all the fuss was about. Didn’t think it’d be so boring”

“Oh, I’m boring now?” Melica rebutted. “What you’ve already seen my future or something?”

“As Braoxenqu often says ‘no creature, this life or next, can see the future, but live long enough as occasionally one doesn’t have too.’, and betrayal for love is a rather old story.” Ameri responded before rolling her eyes as both Levan and Melica protested differently before looking at each other. “So we’ll start with… you” Ameri was leaning over Levan shoulder before anyone could even blinked. “Your wedding hasn't even been delayed yet, and you’re moving in on another girl.” Melica stood in shocked silence as Ameri walked behind her. “And I thought YOU weren’t falling for him, so what’s it matter that he came here with someone?” Her voice shifted into a mocking sing song tone. “You need your innocence anyway to keep your tribe alive, right? I mean he’s only kind of cute, right? And charming, and funny.” Melica looked down and away from Levan as Ameri went on. “Short, but confidence.” Ameri continued looking over Melica's shoulder at Levan. “A boy like often shows a wide side, you know?~” She stood upright, and kicked Melica into Levan’s arms. Both awkwarding tried to shuffle out the hold, but somehow both of their hands had gotten spider webs on them. Levan had almost pulled free, but Melica ended up tumbling into him causing Levan to grab her butt. Ameri chuckled. “Maybe this will be fun~ Where are we going?”

“We’re going to Alkcore.” Trox stated with his hand on his face. “You are going to control yourself, if you want on it.”

“Aww, but I remember just how you like it, dad-” Ameri voice became slightly more high pitch as she spoke. 

“On the wagon!” Trox shouted. Ameri laughed, and got on the wagon shortly after his protest. It was rather simple since she already shrunk herself down quite a bit. For a while everyone was rather quiet, and Trox didn’t so much as look behind where everyone was sitting.

“Ameri?” Ameri looked up as Lillian call her name. “There’s a story in the church.”

“About a spider queen?” Ameri questioned ignoring Trox’s small protest.

“About a preacher.” Lillian began. “Who they said commanded even the seven of you.” Ameri and the other listened with peaked interest. “His prayer magic seemed to be drawn from the gods themselves.  He was thought to be the one who would finally conquer darkness, and leave only light. One day he claim he was given that assignment, and set off. The church claimed he died the false prophet that he was, but even centuries the silver shepherd still occasionally seem to look for him.”

“Interesting.” Ameri stated. “I can only tell you that I haven’t meant anyone who was enough of a charmer to command me, and any means of preserving life to that extent are hearsay, at best.”
“Do they really say commanded?” Trox questioned. “Command the demon lord?”

“They just say he did it.” Lillian stated. “Not like they told me anything.” Ameri tilted her head and watched Lillian while Desmo remain close.

“Have you considered taking one of the broken oaths?” Ameri questioned.“What?” Lillian questioned. “The broken oaths are heresy, and a pledge against the church. No one even knows what they are. Let alone what to do.”

“Not many know them true, but not many pledged their soul to a hunt for pure desire.” Ameridena stated. “You already call forth a demonling.” She continued as Lillian looked at Desmo. “And he seemed to be cultivating your own goals rather well, all that remains is your consent.”

“You need my consent? Weren’t you just reading desires?” Lillian questioned. “You knew everyone here at glance.”

“You want an oath yes, but are willing to become demon just for that?” Ameri questioned, and Lillian looked up at her. “You’ll be bonding with your demonling there, and as all he is in a ball of sins at the moment. He’ll effectively become your tail.” There was nothing but silence as the group finally arrived at Alkcore. “At the rate he’s grown you have a little over a week.” Ameridena stated before greeting the ex-preacher. The town of Alkcore had always had several disagreements with the church. And shortly after all the chaos Lillian’s situation created, they realized that most of them had stopped believing long ago. They were attempting to make a new magic by researching all the forbidden text that had found its safe haven here.

“You’re leaving without payment?” Trox question as Ameridena was last to start walking away.
“Payment?” Ameri questioned turning around.

“Well, you did just personally escorted us through your part of the desert.” Trox stated as Ameri walked back up to him. “Wagon ride cover that now?”

“All these years just to get a better Muraurumko.” Ameri stated grabbing hold of Trox.
“Muraurumko would not trade.” Trox protested. “Certainly not with you.”

“Exactly.” Ameridena responded before throwing Trox down to the ground. And true to her word, she left nothing unsatisfied that night.