A change of heart, and a change of faith. (Act II)

You know what you've been told your whole life, you know that the path of forgiveness is the most central tenant of the Phoenician doctrine. You remember word for word the oath you made as you became a member of the Sisterhood, you remember the pride you felt when that day finally came. And in a life of safety and quiet stoicism, it seemed the truth.

Now, with the face of evil in your face, with the test of your faith before you, you know the reality of things, and in instant, you raise your hammer into the sky, bringing it down hard against the witch's skull, eliminating the evil of the world so that good may flourish, and renouncing the beliefs you held, recognizing them to be insufficient for the real world. The last twitch of life leaving her body, you breathe deeply, feeling adrenaline rushing through your entire body. You turn to Colonel Dilancia, and greet her with a slight bow.

"I choose Justice. I wish to become an initiate of the Sacred Flame. I wish to serve Mastro, if he, and his order will have me"

The paladin keeps a neutral gaze, looking you over and in quiet contemplation. "The Order of the Sacred Flame would greatly benefit from your passion, and your outside perspective, Initiate Demetria. There would be a ceremony and rites of acceptance, but time and circumstance do not permit this. You will become my personal protégé, and you receive tutelage as we travel. Know this, Initiate, that the path you have chosen is difficult, and that I can be a difficult mentor. Know also..." Her neutral gaze finally broke with a great smile "That I didn't think I could be more proud of you, until just now." The formalities over, she hugs you tightly with affectionate passion "You did a great thing fighting the evil of this world, something you never bargained for when we originally left, and it is no small thing to challenge all the views you've held your entire life. This won't be an easy challenge for you, but it's a challenge you're worthy of, and I imagine you'll amaze us all by the time this is all over."

"Thank you Colonel"

"You're welcome, although it will always be Dilah between you and me." Xandria spoke up for a moment, donning an imaginary cap in respect as he departed "I'll be outside whenever you two are ready to continue on. I'm sure you don't need someone like me listening in."

Dilah spoke up again as Xandria walked outside of view "I am glad things have worked out this way in the long run, but this is going to make things a lot more complicated."

"Because we're still going to look for Fearghus, even though I'm not an apostate and following a lifelong friend that he had unreciprocated romance for instead?"
Dilah rolled her eyes and smiled "Well, ya, that's true, but there's something more immediately concerning. Although Mastro has said nothing on the subject, there are certain things that are deeply frowned upon and even forbidden by my order. Our order now."

"Like what?" You ask curiously.

Colonel Dilancia shows you the answer more than tells you. Covered in sweat, dirt, and the blood and bile of her enemies, she pulls you close, bodies pressed against each other and kisses you passionately. One hand holds you tightly at the back of your neck, grasping your soft black hair, while the other has an iron grasp on your ass. Although this takes you by surprise, you are more surprised in how your body immediately reacts in kind without a moment's hesitation. Your hands comb desperately for something to grab on to, but find only the plates of her metal armor. For lack of a better option, you latch on to the front of her belt, pulling her hard towards you, your growing erection pressing against her. In a flesh, your mind races forward in space and time, on top of Dilancia in a soft bed, moaning deeply as your hands explore each others bodies, uninhibited by clothing or armor, your cock softly sliding in and out of her. The image leaves as soon as it arrives as she pulls away. The growing, unsatisfied desire causes your body to hurt, as you try to get yourself back under control.

"You and I, being together, is against the rules. One of the Sacred Flame's first leaders was a woman, with a female lover, and she nearly destroyed us from within with corruption and bad decisions. So, even though it's not evil in Mastro's eyes, such relationships have been strictly forbidden for generations. Doolyn knew from the beginning, and never told anyone among the Sacred Flame." She takes a deep breath, as she recalls her past "While I've often wanted to be angry at him for turning to strangers rather than me when he had a challenge of faith, I am reminded that he's kept my desires a secret, even after I rejected the desires he felt towards me. He is a true friend." She shakes her head slightly "Sorry, that has nothing to do with the topic at hand, or with us. There will be a time where we return to civilization, and have the eyes of the Sacred Flame upon us, and we will have to play a dangerous game. I've been able to keep my secret for so long through abstinence and distracting my desires through the task at hand. Given the task of hand is now you, I can't do that anymore. I don't want to do that anymore."

"Don't worry Dilah, we'll figure things out." You respond with soft confidence "Besides, we still have a lot of road to cover yet. There's plenty of time where the eyes of the Sacred Flame won't be on us. Where nobodies eyes will be on us..." You let the thought hang there with a lustful tone. Dilah draws close for another kiss, but pulls back "I...I like the sound of that, but not here. We do this right."

"Okay." you respond with a big smile. To keep yourselves in some degree of control, you kiss each other's cheek. You walk out, together, her slightly in front, and are greeted by Xandria's smiling and unsuspecting face.

"Well good morning" As he gently pointed to the horizon, the first rays of dawn rising. "A much better morning, given what the night has brought us." Xandria replies. Fully leaving the mouth of the cave, she looks at you for a moment as she kneels down. Although you don't remember the words, you understand the importance of the actions and following her lead. Xandria repeats the same prayer as before, slower this time. You try to say it along with her, but not enough of it is retained in your memory...

Mastro, watch over me as I begin this day.
Allow me to be your faithful servant, so that I may carry out your will.
Carry my feet so that I may venture to where I am most needed.
Guide my sight, so that I may clearly perceive the world and administer your justice.
I swear now and forever to defend the innocent and condemn the wicked.
I pray for your wisdom great Mastro, so that I may always know the difference...

Although Dilancia has a good number of years on you, her practiced grace in leaping back to her feet outpaces your lack of experience.

"We'll work on that together...later." She said with a smile "For now, we should find the main road again, and hopefully we can find a place to rest soon."

The day's walk is slowgoing, as all three of you are exhausted from nearly no sleep and having walked all the day prior. You still find the road fairly easily, and thankfully the day's going is easy. As the sun rises toward's midday, the quiet of several hours breaks, as Xandria stops to ask you two a question.

"Colonel, how much coin do you have on you, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Enough for whatever may come up in journey. Why?"

"Been told there's a natural spring in these parts. It's going to be a little out of the way, and a little pricey, but probably the most amount of comfort we're going to get in a good ways. I say we go for it."

"I think we could all use a long rest a good bath. Off we go." The rumors the ranger heard proved true, as a small paved road veered from the main road. The spring itself was still out of sight, but the lure of what lay beyond motivated all three of you to put some extra effort in to get there quicker. By afternoon, you came across the springs, and the spa that accompanied it, built and operated by a small clan of golden aspected Dragonkin

"Welcome to Harrick's Relaxation Emporium!" You are greeted well outside the building "My, you three look like you've had yourselves quite the day. The adventuring type, no doubt"

"You could say that, ya" Xandria spoke for the group, in his characteristically understated fashion "We've been on our feet for days, and came into a fair spot of trouble. We'd like to stay here for the night, a room for me and another for my two pilgrim friends."

"Oh, of course! Not to worry, we'll do everything we can to accommodate you, and you won't find a more relaxing and luxurious spot in all of the land. Come right on in, we'll fix you up some food as you head right in the back and get yourself all cleaned up." The building is well constructed and highly decorated, although it seems the three of you are the only guests in sight. Right now, you're too exhausted to care. One of the other Dragonkin leads you down a narrow pathway to remove your clothing before going outside. Again, without much of a change of clothes to speak of, you head into the springs naked, now quite thankful that there's no one else here, and even more thankful for there to be a wall of separation for men and women. You and Dilah are both unusually quiet as you undress, nobody saying anything until you enter the warm, relaxing waters.

"By the Gods, that feels good." You say out loud in a huge relief as your body is fully submerged, sitting on the carved stone underwater. Dilah lets out a contented sigh in agreement. You nearly pass out immediately, leaning your head against the edge and closing your eyes. You bolt awake suddenly as you feel something brush against your dick. Even more surprised to find that it's Dilancia, who slowly moved next to you, and wrapped her hand around your dick. She stares deeply at you, with no reservation as she slowly strokes you into erection. It feels amazing, but you're also incredibly nervous.

"What are you so nervous about?" She asks almost toyingly

"It's just that...you know. It's embarrassing, having what I have. Besides, I was worried what you thought about it, given that you.."

She cuts you off to interject "love it, since it's attached to you. I think you're a beautiful young lady Demetria, in whatever shape you come in."

"I think you're beautiful too" You respond quietly and softly "Are..are we ready to cross this line?"

"What better time than now?" She kisses you passionately. As you move around each others mouths, you scoot yourself away from the wall. Dilah pulls away slowly to allow herself to wrap her body around yours, easing herself onto you very slowly. The feeling of your hard cock inside her, lubricated by bother her own wet pussy and the warm water of the springs, makes this, your first time with another woman, all the more pleasurable. You two take it slowly as she rocks gingerly on your large cock. Your chests rub against each other as you slowly make out during your love making.

"I had no idea it could feel like this" Dilancia was the first to speak up during the romance. The blood having long since left your brain, you don't have much to add "Me either. I don't want this to stop."

"Well, that's entirely up to you at this point, isn't it?" As Dilancia picks up her pace in response, teasingly. Both of you exhausted, and with the additional sensations, it does not take much for either of you to cum, reaching climax together. Your body relaxes blissfully as Dilah removes herself and cuddles alongside you, but internally you're not fully sated. Apparently, neither is she.

"We should try that again, when we haven't been dragging our asses for two days." You nod in agreement "When though?"

"We'll see. Have the entire future ahead of us." As she gently kisses your lips "We should get cleaned up soon and go eat something, if we hope for the next time to be any longer..." You two slowly clean yourselves of the dirt and blood from the journey and battles you've had so far, and go inside to enjoy a lavish dinner with Xandria. Neither you or Dilancia have the energy for any more shenanigans by the time you reach your room for the evening. You sleep soundly, and with a smile, knowing you have your lover alongside you.