Awakening

Yulia wakes up in Alide's shop, lying on her bed. Alide and Cherchiel are nearby. Alide is sitting at her desk and Cherchiel is seated on the other side of the desk, both are speaking quietly, between them lying on the desk is Muma's body, covered in a small white cloth. Yulia sits up in the bed and both other woman notice her. Cherchiel stands quickly and rushes over to her, hugging her tightly.

"You're awake! I'm so glad!" she speaks quickly as she hugs Yulia, her head resting against Yulia's shoulder. Yulia hugs her back and then looks past her at Alide and then Muma.

"It wasn't a nightmare... She's really..." Yulia speaks slowly and Cherchiel steps back and then looks down before quietly nodding.

"I don't know what happened, something hit me and then I woke up and found you on the ground beside me and she was..." she hesitates, "... I heard the voices, they told me to take you to Alide so I did... I brought her too and... well this," she says and produces a black bound book. It looks like one of the spell books, Yulia had been getting from Alide, but it gave off an ominous energy.

"I... You went down, Ash... Transformed into a monster. He'd hit you with his tail and then attacked me. I... He almost killed me.... Muma distracted him and got my sword to me... I watched him... Crush her in his fist and..." she hesitates, "watching him kill her... undid his spell and I managed to stab him. Hopefully he's dead for good now," Yulia explains bitterly and then glances up at Cherchiel, Yulia hesitates and then adds, "after he disappeared I saw Muma was dead and then I found you... You were dying as well... I used my last bit of magic to heal you, but... I didn't know if it worked. I'm so glad I didn't lose you too," she says and pulls Cherchiel down kissing her lips. Cherchiel kisses back, but then pulls away.

"I'm glad I'm alive too and that you're alive. If it wasn't for Muma we'd all be dead, wouldn't we?" she asks and Yulia nods weakly, "one of the voices suggested burying Muma with her flower, we should do that," Cherchiel suggests and Yulia nods.

Cherchiel helps Yulia stand and at this point Yulia realizes her scapular is still badly torn, her breasts fully uncovered. She hesitates and notices Cherchiel's armored suit is horribly torn as well, exposing the underside of one breast, the entirety of her side stopping just before her navel and just above her hips, "There's a lot that was broken... I should fix what I can," Yulia suggests and uses repair on, first Cherchiel's torn armor, then her own bra and finally her scapular, once that's done she seems drained and sighs before asking Cherchiel, "speaking of clothing... Did you find my mask. He removed it and tossed it... somewhere," she says and Cherchiel nods.

"Yes, luckily I did find it," she says, "it's over there with your bags and other items," Cherchiel gestures over to near the entrance to the hut where all of Yulia's stuff has been carefully placed along with Cherchiel's weapons and also...

"Is that Ash's Bow?" Yulia asks spotting it among the items by the entrance along with a second quiver of arrows.

"Yeah, it was also left at the site, I'm hesitant to use the weapon of an Archdemon, but I might take it with us, just in case," Cherchiel admits.

"We have a lot of decisions to make, but I don't feel like making them right now. Let's go bury Muma first and then we'll come back," Yulia states.

Alide speaks up, "come right back after you're done. The Faidhalm Elder and I have stuff to tell you when you're done and I imagine the Goblin Queen has stuff for you as well," Alide informs Yulia and Yulia nods as she grabs her stuff.

The path to the first area is mercifully uninteresting and they arrive shortly. Cherchiel stands respectfully nearby as Yulia takes Muma's body and places it down near the large flower. She starts to dig a small, but relatively deep hole near the flower and then gently places Muma's body within before burying her. Once it's done Cherchiel comes over and places a hand on her shoulder as Yulia slips her mask off.

"Muma... We technically didn't know you for very long and... you seemed to know it wouldn't be very long, but even so... you were a good friend in our short time together. Your sacrifice saved us and we'll never forget you. I hope you rest peacefully and know that no matter what I'll make sure your sacrifice wasn't in vain," Yulia speaks and then wipes at tears forming in her eyes before placing her mask back on.

The two travel back to Faidhalm in silence. The air back at Faidhalm is jubilant and they find the Elder overseeing some form of set-up. He greets them both, "Ah chosen! You actually did it. You defeated the Beast! We can already feel the corruption dissipating. We wanted to celebrate and reward you with a gift," he says and Yulia hesitates.

"I can't say I feel much like celebrating, but I'm glad I could help you," she states. The Elder looks apologetic.

"Right... I heard about your fairy friend. We will honor her sacrifice. I understand if you don't partake in the festivities, but at least accept our gift. We wish to give you one of our greatest treasures. There are three to choose from," he says and produces three items, "the first is the Forest's Cloak," he says showing her a cape and cowl made out of leaves, "despite it's appearance, while wearing it you are much harder to detect. Rookie elven hunters are often given this cloak before they have truly learned stealth as even in the hand of the inexperienced it makes being undetected much easier,"

"Next, the hunting horn," he states and shows off an ornately carved wooden horn instrument. the carvings on it depicts hunters chasing prey, "the sound it produces when blown into has a galvanizing effect on your allies. It's similar to the effect of the energize spell, but affects all allies, it does not affect the one using the horn, however."

"Lastly The Blood of the Forest's Heart," he says showing off a vial of red liquid, "drinking this will permanently empower the drinker, making them faster, stronger and more hardy than before," he explains and then places the items away again, "Feel free to take some time to make your choice, I'll be waiting here, helping to set up for the festivities," he informs her.

Yulia thanks him and then she and Cherchiel continue to Alide's. They enter and Alide gestures for Yulia to sit, "welcome back. On top of my always present offers, I have some information and some new offers for you. First let me tell you about... demons. They're likely going to play a bit more of a role in your journey now. I doubt you'd have noticed, but I and Cherchiel definitely did.

You've been marked. If you want to know what I'm talking about it's on the underside of your right breast, the sign of the Great Abyss, it seems killing one of it's Archdukes has attracted it's attention and since that's the case it's important you learn about demons and demon magic. Cherchiel has informed me that you already learned about the Three Towers, so I can skip that part, the most important part is curses anyway.

Demons and the Tower Below in general work like Dahlia in that they all offer great boons, but at a pretty heavy price. As a result Cherchiel is right to be wary of the bow you got from Ash Medai. It's likely a very powerful weapon, but there will also likely be a terrible cost for using it, the same is true of the spellbook. Demons and Angels have access to special divine magics and they are both extremely powerful, but while angelic divine magic usually comes as a reward for an amazing feat, demonic magic is extremely powerful, but has to be paid for.

Learning the spell in that book will likely result in either some kind of permanent debuff, status effect or worst of all, a curse. Though the spell learned will also be extremely powerful and probably won't have much of a mana cost either for how powerful it's likely to be. Now here's my new offer. If you do not want these demonic items and spells, I will trade for them. Spells for spells, items for items. Of course the spells and items I give you will be normal and nowhere near as powerful as the demonic objects you are giving up, but they also won't have the downsides," Alide explains.

(Health: 200%

Mana: 45% (three uses of repair at 20%, 20% and 15%)

Equipment: Ceramic Beaked Mask, Monastic Scapular , standard bra, Standard Panties (Soaked), 3 poison gas grenades, 3 healing kits, 1 syringe of poison, 1 syringe of adrenaline, 1 syringe of poison antidote, 1 sewing kit, 1 vial of unknown liquid, 8 days worth of rations, 3 two liter water jug, 1 half filled two liter water jug, 1 health potion, 1 mana potion, A boar mask, 2 vials of sticky white liquid, Ornate Rapier, 4 arrows, Quiver, God's Favour (Halo), 1 pouch of alchemical ingredients, 1 sack of cooking ingredients (Apples), Bone Spear, Demonic Spellbook, Ash's Bow, Ash's Quiver, 6 charm arrows.

Spells known: Great Heal (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 25%)

Great Cure (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 15%)

Energize (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 25%)

Icicle (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 15%)

Unlock (Lvl 1, Unmastered, Cost: 15%)

Repair (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 5%-20% depending on factors).

Fetish: Bondage Rank: 1, Masochism Rank: 1,

Status Effect: Permanent increase to physical attribute. Combat level raised to medium

Psychosexual Break: In order to deal with her trauma, Yulia has begun to subconsciously fetishize her experiences.

Deflowered: Virginity Lost, sexual experience changed to: Inexperienced, non-virgin.

Marked by The Abyss: The Tower Below wants you.

Companion: Cherchiel, Blacksmith.

Cherchiel Equipment: Ultra Durable Spear, Ultra Durable Shield, Reinforced Bodysuit.

https://forum.chyoa.com/threads/the-tower-of-voices-voting-thread.3460/ )