Lore dump

Sometime later, the faint rustle of movement echoed from outside my tent. “Hey, it's me,” came Esther's voice. “Can I come in?”

“If you're here for sex, I'm not interested.”

“No, that's not why I'm here,” she quickly reassured. “I felt a bit guilty for teasing you so much. I thought... maybe we could talk. Work things out?” I considered her words, uncertainty gnawing at my resolve. Reluctantly, I invited her in.

As she entered my tent, I noticed her grace, her movements reminiscent of the Esther I knew – the devoted, pious nun. It was unsettling, seeing those traits in this creature, Cyrus. “Don't... just don't,” I admonished. Cyrus seemed to understand and adjusted her posture, sitting with one knee flat on the ground and the other bent, her elbow resting on the elevated knee. She looked nothing like Esther now, and more like an old man at a tavern.

“I overstepped earlier, I apologize for that,” Cyrus began, her voice possessing Esther's soft tones but carrying a casual, apologetic air. Her eyes shifted slowly, taking on the same purple hue I'd seen in Nia's eyes. “It's... it's okay. So, how do we resolve this?” I asked.

“Well, what can I do to make it up to you?” Cyrus asked.

“Start by leaving Esther,” I said, my voice carrying a note of desperation.

Her response was immediate and firm, “I can't do that. This body is my home now.”

The resentment in my gaze must have been palpable. She attempted to soften the blow, “I will, however, ensure her reputation remains untarnished.” Silence hung heavy between us. Her proposal was far from satisfying.

“Here's what I can do. Esther's consciousness is still intact. I can manipulate it so she believes everything I do is of her own volition,” she offered.

“That's a start,” I conceded, although still far from content. “And that's as far as I can go, unless you plan on evicting me from my own home,” she retorted with a hint of challenge in her tone.

“And Nia?” I asked, shifting the focus.

“Ah, Nia. She's a different case. I can enter and exit her body at will. I was merely testing my new capabilities,” she explained nonchalantly.

“New capabilities?” I echoed, intrigued and terrified. “Aren't you supposed to be thousands of years old?”

“Yes, but I slept through most of it, before that I was human.”

“What made you change?” I questioned, my curiosity piqued despite the fear and disgust that churned inside me.

“Necessity, I suppose... and curiosity,” Cyrus responded cryptically.

“That's a bit vague,” I pointed out, hoping for more clarity.

“Do you know what truly defines an adventurer?” she asked, her eyes holding my gaze.

“Questing for gold, isn't it?” I offered, half-jokingly.

She shook her head, a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. “No, that's a recent development. Adventurers of yore were explorers, consumed by curiosity for the unknown. And so was I. My journey led me to the class of Alchemist, a highly esteemed position back then. We were the pioneers, the truth-seekers, deciphering the world's mysteries.”

She paused momentarily, her eyes taking on a distant look. “During my research, I encountered these slugs – giant creatures that dwelled in swamps. They were docile, and humans would consume them in **** times. But consuming them induced a trance-like state in people. It was a puzzle that begged to be solved. Tell me, do these creatures still exist?”

“I can't say I've heard of them,” I replied, finding her story unsettling yet intriguing.

Cyrus seemed lost in thought for a moment, then decided to continue. “It took me a year of painstaking research before I had a breakthrough. One day I noticed that one of the slugs moved to wherever one of my human subjects were. Curiosity piqued, I strapped my subject down and allowed the slug to do its thing. And then...” Her gaze met mine, and I understood the parallel. “It was akin to what I did with Nia. The slug slithered into the man's mouth, gradually taking over. But unlike me, the slugs were mindless; they reduced their hosts to a similar state. I instantly grasped the magnitude of my discovery. If I could control these parasites, the possibilities were limitless. Money, power, an army at my beck and call – all within reach.”

There was a pause, the air heavy with her words. We sat in silence.

“But then, the kingdom decided to hunt alchemists like vermin, and **** us into servitude. I could only guess the king's motive – the allure of power, perhaps? Knowledge was our weapon, and he wanted it.”

Esther, or rather Cyrus, sprawled out on her back, her gaze fixed on the fabric roof of my tent. She continued her tale, her voice low but clear.

“I had to hide. My plan was to lie low until the turmoil subsided, but fate had other plans. The royal soldiers came knocking at my door before I could take cover. Running wasn't an option, so I chose the next best thing – I hid in my storage box, the one I used to keep the slugs.”

“You must have been pretty **** to jump into a box of soul-eating slugs,” I interjected, unable to hide my disgust and awe.

“I was too flustered to conjure an escape spell,” she admitted, her shoulders lifted in a careless shrug. “Besides, I thought they'd leave sooner. But they didn't. They lingered in my cave for days. I couldn't risk the slugs being discovered – they were too valuable, a treasure I had painstakingly collected and tamed. It turns out slugs, when starved, would consume whatever was at hand. A week in, I felt my body being gnawed at. They released an anesthetic, so I didn’t feel much pain.”

She raised her hand, inspecting it as if seeing it for the first time. “Before I knew it, my old body was gone. It was akin to a long, dreamless sleep. I was awakened when Esther here,” she gestured at her current host, “opened my box. The putrid stench, the remnants of a thousand years, probably made her faint. My body moved on instinct, every slug from the box crawling into Esther. When I regained consciousness, I was here, in this tent, in this body, piecing together the memories that were not my own.”

“So, what about that army? Still in the works?” I asked, the nonchalance in my voice belying the gravity of the situation.

“In the past few days, I've been doing some thinking,” she started, her head swiveling to meet my gaze. “I could amass wealth and power any time I want, so why chase after them? If I were to assemble an army, it would be for something far more enjoyable...like food.” Her eyes gleamed, a hint of playfulness in her voice. “Or sex.”

“Power's a fickle mistress. What's the point when anyone can declare me an enemy? It's a hassle. Besides, I quite fancy this body.” Her hands started toying with her breasts absentmindedly.

“How can I trust you?” I asked, my questions starting to dwindle, but I felt like this is a question I need to ask.

“Look, I'm weary. I get it, you're on a mission to protect people, but I'm just looking for a bit of pleasure after being holed up for centuries,” she responded, sitting back up and leaning against my shoulder. “If I wanted riches and power, I could've left this camp days ago and taken over the king or someone high up. But here I am. Why? Partly because I get a kick out of messing with you.” She chuckled, lightly thumping my chest with the back of her hand. “And partly because, for the first time in ages, I have something akin to friends. There's a certain warmth in being part of a group.”

She nestled her head on my shoulder, her eyes locked onto mine. “Moreover, I doubt I'd find anyone else I could trust, anyone I could open up to if I'd left. The world is as cold as ever, but you...you're different.” Knowing Cyrus had rifled through Esther's memories to judge me made the sentiment somewhat bitter, but her sincerity softened the blow.

“So, no chance you'd vacate Esther or Nia?” I gave it one last shot.

“I appreciate you lending an ear, so here's my offer, I’ll let them be in control most of the time. I'll only take over when there's something pressing to say or do. Deal?”

“Not perfect, but I'll take it,” I conceded, extending my hand. She grasped it, her touch soft, almost feather-like.

She continued, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “Since we're on a roll, any other burning questions or requests before I let you be?”

“Can I have a moment to process all this?”

“Take all the time you need. I've got Nia to help scratch my itch,” she replied, a salacious smile playing on her lips. She planted a swift peck on my cheek before heading out of the tent, leaving me to grapple with the whirlwind of revelations.