Shadows over Engalwood Part 3

Chapter 16: Shadows over Engalwood Part 3

In a sprawling underground chamber, connected by numerous tunnels, lay several individuals, their forms weakened and barely clinging to life. Elizabeth, the bishop, Princess Adele, and Leah move tirelessly through the cavern, channeling their magic to aid the injured. Despite their collective efforts, the sheer number of wounded remains staggering, leaving them with an insurmountable task ahead.

Prince Aldric and Hi'kim occupied a smaller chamber, serving as the headquarters for the current leader of the survivors.

"And that's the extent of our knowledge at present," the prince states, his hand casually resting on the hilt of his blade as he relays the information to the dark-skinned wizard.

Hi'kim nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the map laid out before them, depicting the intricate network of tunnels and chambers beneath Engalwood.

"It appears we're facing a formidable adversary when it comes to numbers, at least," Hi'kim remarked, tracing a line on the map with his finger. "These tunnels seem to extend far beyond what we know... and the enemy has found them yet?"

"No, these tunnels are ancient, forgotten even by most native-born residents. Typically, only those who still have homes or owned buildings directly connected to the tunnels know of their existence, and they tend to seal up the entrances," explained a feminine voice. Just beside them stood a woman who had been present but remained silent until now. "I'm Cecilia, the acting head of... well, those who are left of this town."

Cecilia appeared to be in her late teens, perhaps early twenties, though her weary demeanor belied her youth. Her clothing was ragged and stained from her time spent navigating the underground tunnels to evade the attack on Engalwood. Strands of her black hair were hastily gathered into a bun, though wisps of hair escape in a disheveled manner. Beneath her tired, green eyes lay dark circles, evidence of sleepless nights and the weight of responsibility she bore in leading the surviving group.

"We must prioritize securing these tunnels and ensuring our defenses are fortified," Cecilia says. "If the enemy has yet to discover them, we can use them to our advantage."

"I have reservations about that plan," Hi'kim replied, "Your people are already weakened; facing a fully equipped, organized **** would likely prove too much for them to handle."

"We can't just sit here and wait for **** to come," Cecilia declared with a weary exhale, her voice tinged with frustration.

"But you have the option to leave and survive," offered Hi'kim.

Cecilia's gaze bore into the wizard with disbelief. Exhaustion clouded her thoughts, unable to discern if his words were serious or a jest, further fueling her mounting frustration, evident in the sharp shift of her facial expression.

"Listen, if you think..." Cecilia began, her frustration evident in her tone, but the prince's raised hand cut short her tirade.

"I assume you have a strategy to relocate all these people without alerting the enemy?" Prince Aldric inquired calmly, diverting the conversation toward a more constructive direction.

"Indeed, I can utilize the Dimension Door spell, and as long as I remain on this side, the portal will remain open," Hi'kim explained. "However, there are limitations; I can only access previously visited locations. At present, the safest destination accessible to us is my hometown of Oakwood."

"Oakwood? That's quite a distance from here," remarked Cecilia, her exhaustion momentarily overshadowed by curiosity.

"How long would it take to move everyone?" asked the prince.

"Considering the number of people who are unable to move on their own, the relocation process could take several hours," Cecilia responded, her voice tinged with concern. "It also hinges on the size of this 'door' and whether individuals on the other side can assist in aiding our evacuation efforts."

She glanced into the underground chamber at the injured and exhausted survivors, a heavy weight settling in her chest as she contemplated the daunting task ahead. "We'll need to hope and pray the enemy doesn't discover us during the process of transporting the injured through. Every moment counts."

"Unless someone goes out there and makes a large enough splash to catch all their attention." Hi'kim pointed out.

"Catch all their attention; you mean to be a decoy?" The prince responded.

"I mean thin the herd. We don't know how large their numbers are, so I'll open the dimension door and then go up to the surface to do some damage. I can cast large enough spells that they will have **** but to pay attention to me or run away," Hi'kim said, grinning.

Cecilia's eyes widened at Hi'kim's bold suggestion. "That's incredibly dangerous. You might not make it back."

"Risky, yes," Hi'kim admitted, "but it's a risk worth taking if it means buying you the time needed to evacuate everyone safely."

"I'm afraid I must speak up here," a fourth voice interjected from the chamber's entrance. "Moving some of these people, especially before they've been healed, not even just treated, could possibly kill them."

The figure that entered the room was the Piggy Bishop, who had a stern expression as he approached.

"We are healing as fast as we can, but there are hundreds of people down here, and only four of us with divine magic," the bishop continued. "Even though I can heal groups of people at once, we won't be able to reach everyone within a few hours. Our mana isn't infinite; we will eventually need to rest or risk passing out from mana exhaustion."

The bishop walked over to the table and looked at it, reading the maps, scribbling notes, and everything else.

"That's not to mention that injuries aren't the only issue here. Even if we treat them, some people still won't be able to move because they're dealing with other problems like hunger. We can heal the sick and wounded and even restore fatigue. But healing magic can do little against starvation and dehydration... especially on this scale." He turned back around and looked at the three of them.

"Okay, but we can still open the portal and get help from the other side," Cecilia rebutted. "We can bring in food, water, medicine, and bandages so we don't have to depend on you all."

"We'd also be putting the people of another village in more danger," the bishop countered. "When we left, the village already had a monster problem. We would've stayed, but I needed to get here on time for clergy business."

"Wait, your village... it's in danger?" the prince asked, shocked.

"It wasn't an immediate danger," Hi'kim responded. "A monster I had never seen appeared and killed a few guards. I was called in, and I killed it. But before I could study it, I had to leave. Once I got the bishop here, I had planned to use Dimension Door to return, just to be safe."

"One problem at a time!" The bishop said, turning the conversation back to their current predicament.

"As for food and water, I know both the cantrips for Create Water and Create Food," Hi'kim said. "But even then, at most, I'd be able to feed about fifty people. And that's trying to push the spells' limitations through sheer willpower and overcharging them with mana." Hi'kim crossed his arms and cupped his chin with his hand.

"...I could try increasing the size of the food with an Enlargement spell. That way, it's the same amount of food but bigger... but would it even work? Would the attempt to **** the created food to expand cause it to disperse?" He mumbled, lost in his own thoughts.

"I'm not sure about the logistics of enlarging magically created food... or even creating food out of nothing," Cecilia interjected, her brow furrowed in thought. "But it's worth experimenting with. Even if it doesn't increase the food's quantity, larger portions might help satisfy hunger temporarily."

Hi'kim looked at Cecilia, confused, before shaking his head. "My apologies. I sometimes forget that most people know nothing about magic. The average non-wizard thinks we are creating something from nothing, but we are not. To create something from nothing would be nothing short of what a god can do. That's what priests are for—asking gods for miracles. All magic has a cost. The majority of magic costs mana. Some high-level spells have much steeper prices, but for the most part, the levels of magic—apprentice, disciple, mage, journeyman—all just require mana. When you start trying to cast master-level spells, the costs become more significant. Those spells can turn the world upside down or rewrite cause and effect."

"Is now really the time for a magic lesson?" the prince asked. "What matters is whether you can create enough food and drink for everyone."

"There may be one way... but for now, focus on healing the sick and injured," Hi'kim replied. "The prince and I will handle keeping the enemy busy."

"And how do we manage that without getting overwhelmed?" asked the prince.

"Guerrilla warfare, hit-and-run tactics using Dimension Door and telepathic link spells, and divide-and-conquer strategies could work," Hi'kim said. "If your elven companion joins us, our chances will improve even more."

Prince Aldric straightened, his expression hardening with a cocky smile forming on his face. "Very well. Hi'kim, the three of us will coordinate and devise a strategy for these hit-and-run tactics. Meanwhile, the others will continue healing as many as possible, leaving Cecilia to organize who will be evacuated first."

Hi'kim nodded, turning to the map. "Aafje, we'll need your expertise in tracking and navigation. While I can use Dimension Door to get us to the surface and back, finding the enemy's whereabouts is another matter entirely. Managing a scrying spell, telepathic link, Dimension Door, and fighting simultaneously is, well, I can do it, but it's pretty taxing."

He turned his head to the elven ranger, who had been silently observing from the shadows. Aafje's eyes widened slightly, surprised that Hi'kim had known she was there all along.

"Wait a minute; if you're going to do that, what about the food and water?" Cecilia asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Exactly," Prince Aldric added, his tone firm. "Why does so much of this plan depend on you alone? You're taking on too much, Hi'kim. We don't need a hero; we need teamwork."

Hi'kim looked at the two in surprise. "What do you mean? This is how it has always been. My father and I carried the burdens and problems of our entire village. We were always expected to have the answers to every problem."

"But right now, we are not in your village, not just you and your father. Right now, we are here to help, make use of the people around you, and can still help," Cecilia says.

Before Hi'kim could reply, both Leah and Elizabeth staggered into the chamber, barely able to hold themselves upright.

"T-that's all we can do for today," Elizabeth says, her voice weary. She stumbles forward, collapsing into Hi'kim's arms, her exhaustion palpable. As she clings to him, she nestles closer, seeking comfort in his embrace.

Hi'kim held Elizabeth gently, feeling the weight of her exhaustion. Leah, equally drained, leaned against the wall for support, her eyes half-closed.

"Rest now," Hi'kim said softly to Elizabeth. "You've done enough for today."

When the others peered out of the chamber into the underground tunnel, they saw Princess Adele collapse in a corner, her strength spent and mana exhausted. The only one still casting healing and curing spells was the fat piggy bishop, who had quietly left the chamber earlier to continue aiding the injured.

"...we do nothing until tomorrow, or at least for the next eight hours. This all hit us so fast that we forgot just how tired we were from all the traveling," Hi'kim said as he lifted the blonde cleric off the ground, holding her bridal style.

"Right now, my party definitely needs some rest, and it seems yours has been working nonstop, too, Prince Aldric." Hi'kim glanced at Princess Adele, his expression softening with sympathy and perhaps a hint of longing. It was an expression that might have made Elizabeth a bit jealous if she had seen it herself.

This did not escape the prince's notice. He turned his head toward his sister, then back at the dark-skinned wizard, and finally down to the girl in Hi'kim's arms.

"So, blonde hair and blue eyes—your type?" the prince remarked before walking off to fetch his sister, perplexing Hi'kim.

---

The Piggy Bishop moved through the underground chamber, his robes dragging along the damp ground. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, blood, and desperation. He reveled in the chaos, a faint, smug smile playing on his greasy lips as he watched his two sluts, Elizabeth and Leah, as well as Princess Adele, expend their mana on the wounded.

Such devotion, he mused to himself, black eyes flickering with a predatory gleam. They exhaust themselves for these pathetic souls. But this will give me more opportunities to break Elizabeth in.

He was already calculating his next move, considering how best to exploit the situation to his advantage. He continued his facade as a diligent, compassionate priest, expanding just a bit above the healing capabilities one would expect of a clergy of his rank.

When he entered the smaller chamber where Prince Aldric and Hi'kim were conversing, he lingered near the entrance, observing. His ears perked up at the mention of using the Dimension Door spell, and a flicker of concern passed through his mind. The potential consequences of such a powerful spell weighed heavily on him. Their efforts would only be worthwhile if they were to transport back to the royal capital before the mercenaries gained complete control of the outer regions and established strongholds.

He knew he needed to tread carefully, subtly influencing their decisions without revealing his true intentions. With a calculated expression of concern, the bishop stepped forward, interjecting into their conversation with carefully crafted objections.

"I'm afraid I must speak up here..."

"Moving some of these people..."

Success! The bishop thought to himself, relieved that the fatigue evident in Hi'kim's demeanor made him more susceptible to persuasion. This boy is more tired than even he seems to realize. He's more open to an actual half-truth than the fact that the risk of moving them to a safer location altogether is better than leaving them to certain **** and extended suffering.

Glancing over the table, the bishop took in the map and notes scattered across its surface. He continued speaking as he mentally considered the implications of their current situation.

The Piggy Bishop's expression remained relaxed as he studied the map, though his mind churned with darker thoughts. If he was reading these maps correctly, they were much closer to the mercenary encampment than any of them realized, and that realization sparked another idea.

If he couldn't break Elizabeth himself, he wagered that the brutality of gang **** by a mercenary company could shatter her spirit entirely. The Piggy Bishop's mind reveled in the potential amount of training he could achieve with this and perhaps even add the princess and Leah into the mix.

However, I should temper my efforts; pressing too eagerly might risk exposing myself. The Piggy Bishop mused.

"Given the circumstances, it's prudent to await the recovery of more individuals, ensuring they can move without exacerbating their conditions. That concludes my input; now, I believe I've left the healing duties to the capable hands of the ladies for quite some time." With a wave of his hand, he retreated into the central chamber.

As the bishop entered the entrance chamber, his eyes fell on Elizabeth, who was tending to an elderly woman and an infant child. His lip curled in disdain for a second before he began walking closer to her.

...this girl, I still can't wrap my head around it. She is the first one who didn't break, even with the seal on her. I've seen the seal shatter female knights and paladins in twenty-four hours. Yet she still refuses to fall, he thinks to himself.

As he continued to examine the blonde cleric, he could tell she was slowly running out of mana and was nearly exhausted. Yet, every so often, she glanced in his direction, a smile briefly lighting up her face before she turned back to cast another healing spell on the elderly woman.

_I suppose I'll just need to destroy their relationship. I had already planned to do it for fun after turning her into my slut, and she's clearly drawing strength from it. She's not the first woman to rely on such bonds. Every married woman I broke tried the same, and they all fell. She will be no different. _These thoughts coursed through his mind as his gaze shifted to Leah.

But this cumslut... she's been keeping secrets from me since the forest and even had the nerve to disobey me. The Piggy Bishop stopped just before a small group of sick and injured. He gave the group a disingenuous smile before beginning to cast a higher-level healing spell than anyone else.

"By the light of the gods,

Through the grace of the divine Arvia,

Mend these wounds and ease their pain,

In holy radiance, health reclaim,

With blessings pure, life sustain.

Healing Winds!"

As the Piggy Bishop's healing spell enveloped the group, their wounds began to close, and their pain visibly eased. The sick and injured sighed with relief, their suffering alleviated.

---

Meanwhile, Leah stood off to the side, casting healing spells in quieter moments and observing the Piggy Bishop with her own place in everything being disjointed since the day she saw the goddess Eldralith. The Piggy Bishop trained her from a little girl in both healing magic and sex, so she never once questioned his actions or commands. Yet, it's not every day one sees and becomes threatened by a goddess.

But now, she is questioning everything: herself and her role with the bishop. As Leah's thoughts wander, she continues to heal until mana exhaustion overtakes her. She looks up and sees an exhausted Elizabeth making her way toward the chamber where Hi'kim stands, collapsing into his arms.

That must be nice, Leah thinks as she stumbles to a nearby wall. Leaning against it, she slides down to the ground, her eyes slowly closing until she finally loses consciousness.

The next thing Leah remembers is waking up to the sounds of men laughing and women struggling and gagging. Leah groggily tries to get up and run the sleep from her eyes as she listens to the voices in the background, just to realize she is being held down.

The sounds of women moaning and begging to be forgiven fill the area as Leah's blurry sight becomes focused, and she realizes she is no longer in the underground chambers.

Leah turns her head and is immediately shocked. She sees Cecilia, tears running down her face, struggling on all fours as she is being violated from behind while another man shoves himself into her mouth.

When she turns her head to the other side, she sees Elizabeth on her back, the lust seal burning brightly as her legs hang open in the air while she is being mating pressed by another man in black armor.

She tries to move again just to finally notice that her clothes are going, her hands are tied together, and a dirty hand is slowly being shown into her bottom hole.

"What?!?! No. Get away from me." She cries out as the man starts to play with her womanhood, pulling his finger in and out while rubbing her clit with his thumb.

"Oh, the little cumslut is awake," the man says, his breath hot and putrid.

"Please, stop," she begs, and fear appears in her eyes.

"Don't worry, we're just getting started," he responds, his fingers moving faster.

"Stop!" Leah cries out, struggling against the rope, holding her hands together.

"Now, now, little whore, you have a long night of fucking my entire company military company."The man sneers, grabbing her jaw roughly.

Leah struggles harder, her wrists burning as she tries to break free. She screams, her voice ringing out.

"Shut her up, already," the mercenary captain says, gesturing to the two men standing beside her.

They loom over her as Elizabeth moans on the cock of the man fucking her while all the light has left Cecilia's eyes, and she doesn't even react to any outside stimuli, such as the big mercenary cock.