Fennek

It became a long, uneventful trip to the Fennek mountain range in the south of Trysk. You had thought the Fennek mountains would be treacherous, but the roads were wide and well-maintained due to the amount of travel between Fennek City and the southernmost cities in Trysk. There were merchants travelling back and forth as you all were walking up the incline.

It took another day of walking through the mountains before you finally came across what you thought was Fennek.

“This… Is a bit more humble than I expected.” You observed rows upon rows of small buildings wound around streets snaking up the various cliff-faces. It looked quite downtrodden and not at all like the metropolis it was claimed to be. There were some larger, more prominent structures. Inns and businesses with some nice storefronts but that was it. On top of the run-down environment, as you all walked down the road you noticed many, many tall, strong Beastfolk with short round ears and pale hair. They licked their lips as they stared at you all, seeming to be sizing you up.

“Bears.” Joi mentioned.

“There’s this big ol’ tribe that was brought over for some war or something. They usually live in the Seraph mountains, but I guess they settled down here. Sometimes they come down the mountain and cause problems. But Goblin don’t care ‘cause they’re not from the city.””

“What do you mean ‘not from the city?’” You lifted a brow.

“Isn’t this it?”

Joi shook her head. “Nuh. Look, look! Clouds are clearing up! It’s super cool to see.”

As promised, as you all continued walking up the road the clouds finally blew away from the highest mountain in the area. Your eyes widened as they laid upon Fennek City proper. You could see the giant ring stuck into the side of the mountain. There were tall, gravity defying structures of metal and stone dotting the entirety of the inside, even going upside down.

“Holy-”

Joi nodded and bragged. “I’ve been there once or twice. Looks impossible but it all loops around. Once you’re in there it’ll make sense Maybe, hehe.”

“That’s insane…” You admired, seeing that the city extended into the mountain in a cylindrical formation for quite a long ways before finally giving way to another sky.

“Does it go all the way through the mountain to the other side?”

Joi chuckled. “Nuh… It goes somewhere else.”

You looked at her. “I’m- I’m sorry?”

Jeane chimed in to provide some sense to the girl’s airy speech. “Fennek is a city that sits on two continents at once. It’s the fastest way to get to Aniyufar or Tinta-Mara from the Empire and Goblins have exclusive access.” Jeane began to think out loud.

“Because it is a city and not a passage, no one can claim that it has the same logic behind it as a sea-passage where all nations need to be let through equally.”

You all arrived at something that looked like it was the road up into the ring. It stopped being dirt and started showing some paving and other signs of Goblin civilization. You walked forward until you were stopped by a barricade manned by Goblins and some pale women with masks and mechanical arms and legs. Your eyes lit up.

“Teuta! Teuta look! It’s possible.”

The woman smiled meekly. “That certainly looks promising. But why so pale? And why the masks?”

“I’m not sure but-”

“Hey!” The Goblin snapped.

“Quit gawking at the Guard and state your business.”

“Actually, the reason we came here is for that. My friend needs prosthetics like that.” You let on.

The Goblin smirked. “Yeah?” Raithe and Luire were the only ones to notice the peculiar way in which the Goblin was looking over your group. Behind you Luire exchanged a whispered conversation that you could not hear.

“You are the only other person to see what I am seeing.” Luire commented nervously.

“Indeed. You have jumped up in my assessment, Elf.” Raithe smiled at him, but was contemplating what to do on the inside.

“Uh… Thanks?” Luire lifted a brow.

The Goblin sighed. “You can’t just buy these. You gotta get approval, since this is a process guarded by our Alchemists and Craftsmen. The products themselves are only able to be used by our Noble Families.”

You stared at him blankly, not understanding. “So how do we get approval?”

“Heh… Persistent, aren’t ya? Alright, let me note down your party and see if anyone can come forward to claim you out of charity.”

“It’s not charity. Teuta is a Holy Knight of Trysk and I’m a Hero. We aren’t useless people. All of us have something to offer.”

“Oh? Yeah, that does change things. Go stay at a nice inn with this voucher.” The Goblin handed you a piece of paper. That’ll let you pay for a room, but you still need the money.

“We have money.”

He grinned, sharp little teeth showing. “Great. Just great. I’ll head back with your descriptions and start the bid- er… Ask around to see if anyone wants to help you all out.”

“Thanks!” You turned around.

“Seems like we stay here until someone comes to let us in.”

Raithe looked at you. “Fin, this may be a bad idea. That Goblin seems sketchy.” she explained.

“This is the only place in the world where we can get prosthetics to help Teuta move again. Look at those! Isn’t it amazing?”

Raithe passed a gaze over to the women with metal arms and legs, and metal masks that covered the upper half of their face. Only their black lips, curled into faint smiles, were visible. They stood like gargoyles in front of the barricade.

“Right… You want her to be like that?” She lifted one of her white brows inquisitively.

“No no. Not like that specifically. But we have to see what can be done.”

“I see.” Raithe was faintly relieved.

“If nothing can be done, we will not do anything drastic, right?”

“Of course not. I have to think about you guys, as well.”

She smiled and nodded at you. “Thank you. That is all I ask.” She and Luire exchange a look, but her own expression seems to ward the Elf off of giving his opinion.

“We will speak later, you and I.” She whispers. Luire shudders, feeling a foreboding sensation from that offer.

You all set yourselves up at an inn. It was expensive, but money was no issue. Taking simple jobs along the way increased your coffers and with Jeane, a professor, and you a young heir to a March, money was no real object. As Raithe was speaking with some members of the group on her own, you found yourself slipping into Teuta’s room to take care of her, as you had been throughout the whole trip. She blushed as soon as you entered, and you passed a gaze over to Kara, sitting in a comfy chair with her hands folded over her lap. She was staring into space. The two were an obvious choice to share a room.

“Kara? How are you doing?” You smiled, seeing her mouth move. Even if no words would come, it was still something.

“Will that work?” Teuta asked from where laid on the bed.

“Raithe said that if I talk to her, she’ll learn things slowly. I have to keep talking to her and exposing her to new experiences so that she can form some semblance of a personality.”

“But… That’s not really her. It would be a new person, no?”

You smiled weakly. “Yeah. You’re right. I think this is more for me than it is for her. I don’t think she even knows if she’s alive or dead right now, if I’m being honest.” You walk up and kneel down in front of her, grabbing her slender hand.

“Right Kara?” Your expression brightened as she squeezed your hand.

“I- I dunno… I should try. It doesn’t feel right to just kill someone that can become a person again.”

“I suppose it depends on your perspective. Would Kara have wanted to be left like this.”

You avoided the question. “A-anyway. I came here to help you.”

“H-Hero-” Teuta stammered.

“You really don’t have to keep doing this.”

“I know I don’t have to.” She closed her eyes and tensed as you removed her clothes and grabbed the bucket of warm water you had carried in. Without any lust or ill intent you wiped the Knight down professionally, cleaning her unsanitary areas with warm water.

“You are very kind.” She admits, brow furrowed.

“But you have to realise how embarrassing this is for me.”

“Yeah, well, soon you will have arms again and we can put this behind us.” You commented, washing her face before moving on to wiping under and between her breasts without so much as offering an extra stare.

“I have to admit, you are rather composed for a young man.”

Fin nodded seriously. “When I see the scars on your body I just get angry. I still have no idea why that Prince is with us.”

“I would have preferred he stayed home, as well.” she breathed steadily, gulping as you washed her rear.

“Though, the fact that he has not exerted his influence over me despite being able to do so is incredible.”

“Is it?” you glanced away as your warm, wet cloth moved between her tight thighs and rubbed. Her nugget body twisted a little bit.

“Ah, are you okay?”

“It’s just… Ticklish.” She lied, her face remaining quite red. She inhales slowly and closed her eyes.

“It is. It’s not like Ashur at all.”

“How does that work?”

“When I was placed into his service I swore an oath. When you swear an oath to the royal family it is not just a hollow contract. Your body and mind become unable to act against the promises you made. As Ashur’s Knight, I could never refuse any request he made.”

“That is so awful…”

“It is what it is. He seems to be getting better somehow. I would ask you not to hold a grudge. If you do something against him, I am still bound to protect him.”

“Like this?” You smirked.

“I meant later, you cheeky squire.” Teuta giggled.

“When I get my movement back, don’t think I won't work you like a Pacnal.”

“Oh, I welcome it. Teach me until I collapse.”

“You’re in luck.” The border Goblin claimed.

“Lord Elvin Heart decided to sponsor you.”

“What does that mean?” You asked.

“That means he’s gonna help out your friend, and all you gotta do is bring her, and maybe or or two others to volunteer for some more tests just to cover costs.”

“If cost is a problem we have money.” You claimed.

He chuckled. “Relax, kid. The Lord will cover it all, just do what he says. Who’re you taking in?”

“What do you mean? I can’t go in with my party?”

“The whole party? No. You said you wanted to do business. You need a whole group to do that? Lord Heart is accommodating you with a place to live, so you can bring Yourself, the nugget there, and maybe… Two others.” He licked his lips, eying Kara and Raithe.

“Oh. Well, I suppose I would bring Raithe and-”

“Luire.” Raithe interjected.

“Bring Luire and myself.”

“Sounds good. Those two.”

“Got it.” He crossed something off his clipboard.

“I made note of it. The rest of you… Wherever you go is up to you. But you can’t come in.”

“You guys just stay back at the in. Run a tab for any expenses on me.” You shrugged. They were hesitant, but it seemed like there was no other way.

Jeane spoke to you before you left. “If anything happens, we can be there within a moment's notice… We can also remain in contact with you through my magic if anything happens on our end.”

“That’s great thinking. Thank you.” You patted Jeane on the shoulder.

You were taken into the city itself. All of the buildings sat on the curve of the giant ring and just as Joi mentioned, even if you were on a vertical side when compared to the ground, it still just felt like you were standing right-side up on solid ground. The streets were strange. Everything was paved, not with cobblestone but with a solid material that must have been poured in. The buildings as well were either smooth, stone and blocky or a harsh rusted colour.

Lord Heart met you outside of his manor with a view near the edge of the ring. He was a Goblin of average height wearing a two-piece suit and a tophat. His body was somewhat feminine with wide hips. He had a cute, round face. Flanked on either side of him were two of the pale women with prosthetics. On their bellies and armour they had hollow heart emblems. The man opened his arms.

“Well well! The Hero and his party! I was told you were in need of some prosthetics, my dear boy.”

“My friend.” You turned around to show Teuta, who was strapped to your back. The man rubbed his hands together.

“You mentioned she was a Holy Knight?”

“Yeah?”

“Your other friends…” He looked them over hungrily in a way you did not like.

“Luire is an archer and Raithe is… Raithe.” As he led you inside, past his own little gate set up at the entrance to his complex, you tried to cut to the chase.

“How does this work? Why are they so pale?”

“It’s part of the process. You see, normally, limbs are powered by our own bodies, in a sense. But, with our bodies that kind of thing is intuitive. When you lose a limb for good, the Core does not keep the power used to make the limb move, it loses it. The limbs we use also require power, but it draws from the Core itself. Integration means that the body loses colour. However, I can assure you that they are more than functional and it is merely cosmetic. As a Holy Knight, she may even retain her own colour through outside power.”

You looked to your left and right, noticing all the guards with prosthetics. “You have a lot of people losing limbs, I guess?”

“Heh. Well, they don’t usually come with their arms and legs cut off. We typically have to do that part ourselves.” He let slip.

“W-what?”

“Oh, sorry… That was crude. They are all ‘volunteers’ of course. Workers under me. They are all quite free. They form covens under the control of the families and have their own quirks. Right, Rashia?” He addressed a particular woman waiting near the door.

She inclined her head, her black lips smiling wide. “My Coven is at the exclusive beck and call of Lord Elvin Heart. We tend to adopt some of the proclivities of our Master.”

“Rashia is the head of the Heart Coven. Her girls are responsible for protecting me and… Other jobs.” You all arrived at a fork inside the manor. He looked at Rashia, then motioned towards Raithe and Luire.

“Ladies.” Rashia spoke firmly.

“We will accommodate you in one of Lord Heart’s finest suites.”

“I would like to go with Fin.” Raithe asserted.

Rashia kept her odd smile as she shook her head. “Not possible. Only one other is required to attend to the process.”

“Fin-” Raithe began to protest.

You sighed. “It’s fine, Raithe. I can handle this. Nothing is going to happen. I’m a Hero.” You chuckled.

As you turned, Luire passed a look to Raithe as the two were led down the opposite hall. “You were right.” He whispered as Rashia kept a few paces behind them. Her long ears twitched with each sound that came from their lips, telling them that she could hear everything with heightened senses.

“He’s determined, alright.”

“Sometimes these things need to happen for us to learn. Remember our conversation and rest assured.” Raithe smiled with a muted confidence. She was worried. She decided to say something that remained unsaid before.

“The reason I brought you… You seem to have the best intentions out of all of them. You have a good heart and I can tell you want what is best for our Hero. When this is over I have something else to talk to you about.”

“Something else?” Luire looked at her curiously.

“An offer. You will have a choice. But… Later. Not now.”

“Mm.” Luire nodded.

You entered something akin to a workshop. There were many Goblins working, and several girls standing guard around the floor. Some standing, others patrolling. It was like a personal army.

“Wow. So, how is Teuta going to get her own limbs? Will it hurt?”

“I don’t mind a bit of pain.” She chuckled.

“Don’t say stuff like that.” You chided.

Elvin smiled warmly. “You two have such cute rapport together. First, we need to get you prepared as well, Hero.”

“M-me? There must be some mistake. I’m only here to look after-”

You were flanked by two Coven members. One grabbed your arm while the other pricked your neck. You immediately felt dizzy.

“Fin? Fin!” Teuta struggled but had no power to do anything. She was taken off of his swaying form.

“I… Uh… What?”

“Anaesthetic. I’m not a monster, after all.” Elvin smirked as he said that.

“The name for that **** in our tongue roughly translates in Tryskan to ‘the cure for hesitation.’”

You smiled woozily. “Why do you call it that, Mr. Heart?” You took his small hand obediently as he held it out to you. You began allowing yourself to be led away.

He ignored your question. “For your benefit, the brainwashing will not be undertaken as it would with any normal Coven Thrall. We need to see to it that your mind is completely broken.”

“Woah…” You felt dizzy and a little out of it. Naturally you took it exactly the wrong way.

“So you’re gonna put in a lot of effort, huh?”

“Yep! Glad you understand. Now.. Let’s get you over to the chop shop.”

“Chop?”

“That’s right. Just a few quick cuts to remove those pesky arms. More manipulation to turn your body into something in line with my desires. Then, you can join the Heart Coven alongside Rashia.”

“I like my arms…”

“I’m helping your friend, remember?”

“Oh right… I guess you can have them.” You conceded.

“Thank you!” Elvin licked his lips.

“You know… It doesn’t taste bad. I think a Heroes flesh is probably quite a bit more developed than a normal human. I am quite excited for dinner!”

“You’re gonna eat me?” You lifted a brow.

“Just the parts we cut off, darling.” He patted the hand he held.

“Oh, I guess I won't need them.” You shrugged as if it was no big deal.