Akina arrives

The tent flap pulls open and the form of Akina limps in. In her arms is a pile of soft leather armor. She turns to see you at the table looking over the stuff sprawled there, "You're really taking this bandit stuff seriously, aren't you?"

"What else am I going to do?" You set down the piece of parchment you were reading and turn to face her.

"Well, I would suggest we sneak out in the middle of the night and continue on to Luxem. This is a fool's errand which will probably end with all of us killed. The likelihood of you actually being able to raise up a resistance to threaten that demon is low." She sets the pile of leather on the table and picks part of it up again and shows you the leather cuirass. It appears to be a simple design made to pull over your head. "I found you some armor. It's not fitted to you, so it won't be the best. Since it's not designed with women in mind, you're going to find it a bit tight in places. Especially around the chest area."

You note that it doesn't look like her armor is made for a woman either. "I guess that's more of a problem for me than you...Do I need to remove my clothing?"

"No, it's actually better if you don't. The extra padding between your skin and it will help stop it from chafing. Here..." she motions for you to get up and helps pull it over your head.

It feels like she's pulling a round, leather tube over your head. Which isn't really too far off of what's happening, but it's a bothersome feeling nonetheless. Finally your head pops out of the top of it and you grimace. The armor covers your arms down to your elbow and it certainly is tight around the chest like she warned. "It's...really tight"

Akina pulls on some of the straps under the arm and down your flanks which makes it even more tight. "You will get used to it. If it becomes a problem around your chest, we can have your breasts wrapped to make them more easily fit."

"That might be for the best..." you mutter.

She steps back and examines you, "You really have changed. The last few days have been...horrible." She sits and props her injured leg up. A malaise expression crosses her face. It's obvious that Akina blames herself for everything that has happened from the **** of your family to being ambushed by bandits to even what happened to you last night, "I'm sorry. I can't help but feel that there had to have been something that I could have done to prevent all of this."

"Akina, If it wasn't for you...I wouldn't even be alive right now. I don't know what else you could have done to prevent any of the terrible things that have happened, but I do know that you sure are doing everything you can to help me now. That's what is important." You try and reassure her.

It seems as if it worked for the moment and her expression calms down. "So, what happened last night?" Before you can reply, she specifies, "I know that happened. I don't want to make you relive through that. I mean after. He came running out screaming and on fire. I don't really see you overpowering him and forcing his face into a flame. So how did that happen?"

You think back to the anger and rage you felt at the man who violated you. The heat that burned through your body and the failed attack. The feeling of your hand hitting his face and the heat bursting out from it as well as the smell of burning hair and screaming. "It's...I don't know. He was drinking and covered in booze. I got angry, slapped him. Then suddenly he was on fire and running outside."

Akina looks thoughtful before she finishes resting her leg and stands to help you with the rest of the clothing. She pulls a pair of leather gloves onto your hands. They're fingerless with cloth covering the palm of the hand and a bracer covering your lower arms. The bracer on your left arm has a small sheathe for a dagger. "You used magic to change your hair color. It's possible that this high-stress environment is awakening your latent magical powers from your fiendish heritage."

"So what does that mean? Should I expect these 'incidents' to get worse?" A pang of aversion runs through you at the possibility of accidentally combusting one of your comrades.

"Hmm, normally you would go to the Coven of Magi to learn how to control and grow your powers in a safe environment. Obviously we aren't in a situation where that is plausible. I would suggest trying to just keep fits of anger under control." She pulls the last piece of leather off the pile leaving only a pair of boots on the floor. "Finally, we have leather leggings. Essentially, they're just trousers made of leather. They're pretty tight. So you should probably remove your trousers."

Standing, you begin to remove your trousers when you find that your flexibility is lacking. Especially your shoulders and your back to bend over. "It's really hard to move around in this."

"You will get used to it eventually. Promise." She nods before setting the boots in front of you. "After you get those on. all that's left are the boots."

You manage to wiggle the leggings on with a bit of Akina's help and find that they're very tight in the hips and waist region. Without a second thought, you turn away from Akina and pull the boots on. Stepping your foot on the chair you had used previously, you do up all of the straps securely. Turning back to Akina, you briefly catch sight of her eyes shooting up to look you in the face. It takes just a moment to process what she was staring at. The leggings are tight around the hips and waist. That means that they're also tight around the buttox and have molded to form a representation of it that doesn't leave much to the imagination. Suddenly you begin to doubt a little. "Akina, Is all of this really going to protect me, or is it simply for show?"

She stiffens, "Yes! I mean...No. Uh..." Pursing her lips for a moment, she continues a bit more coherently. "The armor will protect you from slashes and glancing blows. If someone gets a good solid...thrust." She puts a hand out and suddenly pushes one of her fingers of her other hand in between two fingers. "A thrust would go right through even most metal armors" She slides her finger back and forth a couple of times before staring at her hand as she notices that the movement looks awfully sexual. A faint blush touches her cheek and she hides her hands behind her back. "With practice you can upgrade to heavier armor, but I don't suggest it until you build up your strength."

You giggle at Akina's sudden awkwardness, "I didn't know you were interested in women, Akina."

"I'm interested in pretty much everything, if I'm feeling up for it. I'd show you, but the searing pain in my leg isn't really putting me in the mood." She gives you a small smile.

A week ago, her forwardness would have shocked you, but with the events of the last few days; you know that there are definitely far worse people in the world and that Akina would never harm you. Still, she is almost two decades older than you. "Aren't you in your late-thirties, Akina?"

"In human years...In cat years, I'm far younger." She grins, "At least, that's what I tell myself."

From outside, the sudden sounds of a commotion are heard as the noise of several people stumbling around or falling to the ground are heard. It only lasts for a few seconds and then a few moments of silence before you hear a male voice you don't recognize, "Your Majesty!"

You walk out into the bright morning light and see a large gathering of the bandits in a semi-circle around the hill. Half-way up the hill are five people bound, gagged, and on their knees in front of you. Next to them is a spindly man with his sword drawn. Immediately after he sees you, he stumbles forward and bows. The bow is one of the most rough bows you have ever seen and he nearly stumbles over. He speaks and his breath smells of a distillery, "Your Majesty. We were all inspired by your great speech last night. We, the people. The bandit people who just fight and steal to survive. Me and some of my friends took it upon ourselves to weed out those who aren't us...the people. These five in front of you aren't people just trying to make a living. They're criminals. Wanted by the crown for all sorts of crimes from **** to ****. I ask that you judge them for their crimes. Your Majesty."

At least...that's what you think he said. It's difficult to tell from his slurs and ramblings, but the general idea is that he was inspired by your speech to round up those who have fled not out of desperation, but to evade the arm of the law. Based on the large gathering of people, it would appear that most of them agree that you should be the one to pass judgement on these people. Nearby, Sir Noah sits and watches you intently and Akina has stepped back out of whispering range. It seems that this is a choice that you are going to have to make now.

If they are executed or exiled, the group will be down to only 27 people. You didn't have many before and that improve if you eliminate these people. It may also establish a precedent. However, they are criminals and potentially dangerous ones at that. You recognize some of them were those who were in the group that ambushed you and Akina, injuring Akina and directly leading to your violation. Not dealing with them now may lead to trouble down the road.