Shadows over Engalwood Part 2

Chapter 15: Shadows over Engalwood Part 2

Dark clouds gather ominously in the sky, and a static charge builds within them, crackling with energy. Bolts of lightning start to dart between the clouds, illuminating the horizon with brilliance. Thunder rumbles in the distance as the storm intensifies, with flashes of lightning striking the ground and crashing into multiple groups of bandits charging at Hi'kim.

How could I have been so fucking blind? The young wizard thought, his chest hurt with a pain he had never felt before...betrayal.

Only two people in this world held his absolute trust, only two people he thought he'd never truly have to question their loyalty and heart; his father and her...

"Fuck, he is coming! Call for backup!" One bandit called out just as a bolt of lightning tore through his body, effectively reducing his mass by one-fourth.

Instead of the sky, this bolt came directly for Hi'kim himself, his hands held up to his chest as energy crackles between his fingers and hands. This display of power frightened the rest of the bandits. They began hesitating instead of rushing headfirst at him. As he stood there, his aura radiated with raw energy as he harnessed the power of the elements around him.

Shimmering with an ethereal blue hue, the young wizard's eyes seemed to mirror the crackling energy in the stormy sky above. With each bolt of lightning that tore through the dark clouds, his gaze intensified, reflecting the power surging within him. As the storm unleashed its fury, raindrops cascaded down, transforming the once-dusty ground into a mosaic of glistening puddles.

"Who the hell is he?" One of the bandits stammered to his cohorts, who stood frozen beside him, their faces contorted with fear. As the wizard approached, each step reverberated with an intensity that drowned out all other sounds, sending shivers down their spines.

"I...I don't know," a second bandit replied, his voice trembling as his hands shook uncontrollably. "He just emerged from the southern roads!"

"It doesn't matter who he is; all that matters is for you to live to see the morning; he has to die here." An older in his. Late thirties or early forties said, stepping forward past the rest of the bandits.

"It's the boss!" A bandit cries out in jubilation.

"The boss has arrived! No need to fret, lads. Let's show him what we're made of!" another declares, infused with renewed determination.

As the dark-skinned wizard approached, each step echoed with an intensity that drowned out all other sounds, sending shivers down the bandits' spines. They stood frozen, their faces pale with fear.

The mercenary leader observed Hi'kim's approach with calm resolve. He recognized the young mage's emotional turmoil despite facing a visibly powerful wizard. While Hi'kim's magical prowess was undeniable, his current state of mind was that of a child throwing a tantrum.

With a swift motion, the mercenary leader drew his greatsword from his back and expertly sliced through a bolt of lightning, splitting it in half. His men stood in awe, startled by the sudden display of skill and reflexes.

The mercenary leader recognized the inherent danger of facing an individual consumed by rage. However, he also understood that maintaining composure and carefully observing their actions and movements could enable their effective handling without complications.

"All this commotion over a mere courtesan, and yet you still dare to consider yourself a man," the leader declared before lunging forward with surprising speed. Lightning crackled as the runes adorned the mercenary leader's armor also glimmered on his greatsword, enabling it to easily slice through Hi'kim's mage armor. The blade tore into Hi'kim's shoulder, carving through his clavicle, ribs, and lungs, halting just shy of his heart.

"Let these words accompany you to your grave," the leader spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Once my men are through with that whore of a cleric you so foolishly love, she'll forget your very existence, reduced to nothing but a dick-sucking braindead slut. She'll know nothing but worshipping the dick in front of her as her new god!" With a forceful kick to Hi'kim's chest, he sent the wizard hurtling backward, crashing onto the ground as the greatsword ripped free from his body.

Leah and the Piggy Bishop sought refuge within one of the ruined buildings as the winds intensified. They struggled to remain dry and safe amidst the escalating storm caused by their wizard.

The Piggy Bishop gleefully watched as the insolent wizard was struck down. "Haha, good job, Gale!" he called out, emerging from the shelter, not caring that the rain was now drenching him.

On the other hand, Leah remained huddled on the ground, curled up into a ball. Her body was covered in dirt, with stains of semi-dry semen, evidence of the relentless activity. Her lips trembled as she repeated the same words, her expression wrought with terror. "Please forgive... please forgive me..."

The Piggy Bishop walked over to Hi'kim as he was bleeding; the holy man kicked him directly in the face, causing blood to spew from Hi'kim's mouth.

The Piggy Bishop approached Hi'kim, who was bleeding profusely. Without hesitation, the holy man delivered a swift kick directly to his face, causing blood to spew from Hi'kim's mouth.

"Haha, foolish boy, you should have known better than to lay hands on my toys," the Bishop jeered sadistically. "I took that whore in, nurtured her as she matured from a girl to a woman, and reaped the rewards of my efforts!" His laughter echoed in the grim atmosphere. "But, unlike most women, you've made this even more enjoyable by inciting her resistance. Especially considering I was the one to claim her womanhood. Right there on the night of her anointment while you laid there ****." The Bishop's laughter filled the air once more.

Hi'kim couldn't believe what he was hearing; the very idea of Leah's first time being that fat pig, especially on what was supposed to be her most important night, made his stomach turn. His face grimaced in anguish as he spat out a mixture of blood and saliva from his mouth, his eyes still clouded with rage.

The wizard's lips moved, but no sound emerged from his mouth.

"Oh, what's that? Are you mad? If you want to say something, you'll have to speak up," the Bishop remarked mockingly.

"Put him out of his misery and be done with it. It's always dangerous to let his kind live longer than necessary," the mercenary leader said, crossing his arms. Besides, with this one gone, there's only one left, correct? We should strike fast and hard, finally consolidating control over all the outer villages," he added, turning to walk away, much to the Bishop's annoyance.

"Oh, be quiet, and let me have my fun. You wouldn't have made it this far without my influence blocking the crown from directly knowing what we've been doing out here," the Bishop retorted, the rain intensifying.

"T-Twist the threads, r-reality rend,"

The Bishop and Gale exchanged silent, disdainful glances, their mutual disgust palpable.

"Ch-Chaos' grasp, t-to us extend,"

Gale was about to respond when he noticed Hi'kim's lips moving, even though no words could be heard.

"W-Warp and w-weft, b-bend and sway,"

With swift precision, Gale seized his greatsword and lunged towards the young wizard, who lay bleeding on the rain-soaked ground.

"Un-Unravel order, chaos play!

R-reality warp!"

As the greatsword neared Hi'kim's neck, everything suddenly went white!

---

Elizabeth walked ahead of the group, her body weaving and bobbing; she was consumed with joy, giggling like a young maiden. Her mind replayed the events of the previous night, where the lust tattoo, usually a source of frustration, unexpectedly brought her immense pleasure. For once, she seized control of her desires, turning a situation that should have **** her into submission into one where she dominated instead, reclaiming her happiness as she enjoyed giving Hi'kim pleasure.

Her mind flashed back to the moment when her hips were locked against Hi'kim's crotch, and she could feel him throbbing inside her. The warmth of his body against hers was intoxicating, and the euphoric rush of ecstasy flooded her brain. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled the sensation of his hands firmly holding her hips, pulling her closer and closer, and the sound of his moans echoing through the room.

"Wow, it's so big, so hard..." Elizabeth murmured, her voice husky with desire as the lust tattoo glowed brightly, casting an ethereal pink hue. With a sensuous grace, she shed the last of her garments, discarding the soaked and ruined panties before straddling the dark-skinned wizard once more. A trail of her arousal dripped from her womanhood onto his painfully erect cock, already glistening from the oral pleasures it had recently enjoyed.

"Ooh, it's still so wet down there," Elizabeth mused aloud, running her hand up and down her entrance. Her eyes fluttered at the sensation of her soft, creamy womanhood sliding against the head of his erection. She shuddered, unable to resist, as she let her hips drop down, her warm entrance swallowing the head of his manhood. The soft walls of her depths spread around him, like the gentle folds of a flower as he pressed deeper inside her, impaling herself on him.

"H-Ahhh!!!" Elizabeth moaned, her body shuddering as her fingers dug into the wizard's chest, her toes curling in response to the intense sensations. She could feel her tight tunnel being stretched to accommodate the girth of his manhood. "If I'm going to lose myself to someone... Then it's going to be you, Hi'kim," she stammered, feeling the lust tattoo burn once more. But this time, she sensed something more profound—a transformation within herself. Her internal anatomy shifted and constricted, instinctively clinging to his member. Her eyes once dilated with desire, now glowed pink, emanating the aura of a succubus.

As Hi'kim gazed up into Elizabeth's eyes, he felt a mixture of lustful desire and worry at what he was sensing unfolding before him. The pink glow enveloping her was, without a doubt, the aura of a succubus, and even how he felt inside her right now was reminiscent of one. However, the most telling sign was the cloudiness engulfing his mind, causing his thoughts to scatter like leaves in the wind. There was a relentless urge, almost primal in nature, compelling him to start thrusting his hips with a nearly feral intensity.

Unable to resist the magnetic pull of her newfound aura, Hi'kim attempted to sit up closer, his breath quickening with anticipation. However, the blonde cleric gently pushed him back down onto his back. "No... now it's your turn," she whispered, her breathing slow and deeper than usual.

With a sultry smile, Elizabeth rolled her hips, sliding up to the tip and slamming down the length of his member with all the might she could muster. A moan escaped her lips as she felt her insides being filled with his girth and her hole trying to cling to it as she slid back up again to repeat the process.

"Nghhh, L-Lizzz... What's happening to you?" Hi'kim bit his bottom lip, struggling to focus as his mind clouded. Despite his efforts, his innate instinct to breed took control, compelling him to thrust up into her as she slid back to the tip. In response, she slammed down even harder, drawing strength from the lust adorning her skin. Finally, Hi'kim submitted to the velvety warmth enveloping him, surrendering to the overpowering sensations coursing through his body.

"F-Faster, Liz... Fuck me harder!" he growled, his voice strained with desire. His hands gripped her hips tightly as he surrendered to the ecstasy of her tight, soaking entrance. With each thrust, a wave of pleasure surged through their bodies, igniting sparks of feral passion between them. The lust tattoo glowed with such intensity that if they were in a room, its radiance could have illuminated the entire space.

"Breed me... Breed me... Breed me... BREED ME!" Elizabeth's voice echoed with **** desire, her hips colliding against his like waves crashing against the shore. Hi'kim was more than willing to oblige, driven by nothing more than the primal urge to mate and release the pleasure building inside, longing to escape.

Their bodies trembled as they lost themselves in the throes of passion. Elizabeth's insides tightened, attempting to draw him in as deeply as possible, craving every inch of him. When she felt his member throb and release a flood of thick, hot semen, her tight tunnel seemed to have a mind of its own, clamping down around him as she screamed at the top of her lungs in ecstasy. Her legs trembled, her toes curling with each wave of pleasure before collapsing down onto his chest, snuggling into him.

As Elizabeth continued to lead the way, her mind replaying the events of that morning, she would constantly glance back over her shoulder at the dark-skinned wizard. With each look, she giggles and quickly averts her gaze, reminiscent of a young girl dealing with her first crush. She has a healthy glow and exudes happiness as she walks. Hi'kim smiles in response to Elizabeth's subtle gestures. Yet, Hi'kim's head seems to go into pain whenever he tries to remember all the events of this morning, even though there has been a nagging feeling about there being something he should be looking into.

"Hey! You two lovebirds should at least keep an eye on where you're walking... this display is almost sickening," the piggy Bishop grumbled, his irritation evident since morning.

As the group approached the outskirts of Engalwood, the once vibrant village now lay in ruin, its buildings reduced to smoldering rubble. Thick clouds of smoke billowed into the sky, casting a pall over the landscape.

Hi'kim's brow furrowed as he took in the devastation before them, his thoughts clouded with a sense of foreboding. Despite the destruction around them, his mind still grappled with fragments of memories, like shards of glass scattered in the recesses of his consciousness.

Elizabeth's cheerful demeanor faltered as she surveyed the scene, her hand instinctively reaching out to grasp Hi'kim's arm for support. She could not comprehend what she saw before her; Engalwood, the closest town to their village, was in ruin, and they had heard nothing about it.

The piggy Bishop's expression darkened further as he pretended to be surprised by the state of the town and the dead bodies around them. This worked perfectly with his little game, and now his prized possession, Elizabeth, being one of the only clerics and healers for miles, would need to remain here much longer than they had agreed on. He eyed Elizabeth with a mixture of resentment and frustration; knowing that the last few days had been her doing nothing but daring to disobey him, he began to come up with a suitable punishment for the disobeying slut.

To the surprise of everyone, especially the Bishop, while Elizabeth held onto Hi'kim's right arm for support, Leah unexpectedly grabbed his left arm. It was evident that she, too, had never witnessed such **** and destruction before.

As they pressed forward, the group's progress was hindered by sudden attacks from bandits lurking amidst the ruins.

"Quick, Elizabeth, barrier!" Hi'kim's urgent voice echoed through the chaos, a magical grimoire materializing in his hand.

"On it! A-and call me Liz like you did this morning!" Elizabeth responded swiftly, her cheeks flushing slightly as she raised a defensive ward to shield them from an onslaught of arrows that started raining down on them.

With a swift incantation, Elizabeth summoned a shimmering barrier of light, the magical energy forming a protective dome around the group. The arrows bounced harmlessly off the barrier, their deadly trajectory halted by the powerful magic.

With practiced precision, Hi'kim channels his mana, skillfully weaving intricate spells. "Lightning sigil!" he declares, slamming his hand onto the ground. Instantly, arcs of electric energy surge outward, forming a dazzling magical seal beneath his feet. As the bandits unwittingly step onto the symbols, they are subjected to a relentless barrage of lightning bolts from the above heavens.

After triumphing over the group of bandits, Elizabeth addressed Leah and The Bishop with concern etched on her face.

"It might be wiser for both of you to seek refuge. Our task of fending off bandit attacks will be less complicated if we don't have to safeguard you as well."

Leah, stepping forward, countered, "But that would leave us ****. Should any of them stumble upon us, we won't have the means to defend ourselves."

Elizabeth stared at Leah, knowing the words she spoke were true. In actuality, at this point, I don't care what happens to the perverted Bishop, she admitted inwardly. But why have I never stopped to question Leah's involvement in his actions? After all, Leah bears the same Lust Tattoo as I do. Doesn't that make her just as much a victim as I am?

"Y-you're right," Elizabeth finally conceded, her thoughts swirling with newfound uncertainty. Before further discussion could unfold, a man's scream pierced the air in the distance, followed by another, abruptly diverting their attention.

In the distance, a solitary figure swiftly dispatched a third bandit before hastening toward their general vicinity. As he drew nearer, his features and attire came into sharper focus, revealing none other than Prince Aldric Aetheria, whom they had encountered just a few days prior.

Prince Aldric Aetheria approached, his demeanor radiating strength and authority. He was a young man of noble blood and the heir to the throne.

"Great, you all are here. I feared that it would take longer at the leisurely pace that you four were traveling," the prince called out as he came within earshot.

The Bishop quickly regained his composure, his irritation subsiding as he recognized the prince.

"What are you doing here, my lord? We weren't expecting to see you again," the Bishop said, his tone shifting to an exaggerated formality.

"Simply put, to rid the village of these mercenaries and liberate the ones they've taken captive!" Aldric responded.

As he spoke, the prince's gaze rested on Elizabeth and Hi'kim. "I'm happy you two are here. I could use another two arms on the front with me while the other two's time can be used to heal the injured and weak who have survived this mess."

"W-we'll do our best, my lord!" Elizabeth responded, her tone filled with enthusiasm and determination.

Elizabeth's response caught Hi'kim off guard, as he had been accustomed to being the primary decision-maker for the group up until now. Nevertheless, he had no intention of abandoning any village survivors to their fate at the hands of these outlaws.

"I need you to tell me everything you know," Hi'kim responded, "given that you just referred to these bandits as mercenaries; I suspect there's more to this than meets the eye."

Aldric nodded, his expression grave. "Indeed, there is. These bandits are not your average raiders seeking plunder. I've learned they are a well-maintained and regulated military ****. Have you heard about the conflicts unfolding in the West?" he inquired of Hi'kim, his gaze fixed on some distant point.

"Wait, are you referring to Esteria, the country?" Hi'kim inquired.

"Yeah, that's the one," confirmed the prince.

"Esteria? Why bring them up? What's their connection to what's happening here?" Leah interjected, her confusion evident.

"The simplest way to describe Esteria is as a mercenary nation. Originally, it was a medium-sized landmass fragmented into approximately fifty different countries. For centuries, these nations engaged in incessant warfare, both directly and through proxies, employing tactics such as piracy and mercenary companies. Over time, these mercenary companies amassed unprecedented power, surpassing even the ruling classes of most nations. You can probably imagine what happened next: the mercenary companies supplanted the aristocracy in many of these countries," Hi'kim explained.

"That's accurate, but nothing really changed. Instead of monarchs and religious figures vying for control and expanding territories, it became a contest among mercenary companies and pirate lords. However, about a year ago, the balance of power shifted inexplicably. The Black Fang, one of the three most formidable mercenary companies, decisively defeated the Silver Foxes, their equal. This victory allowed them to absorb the Foxes' territory, resources, and manpower, granting the Black Fang the strength to eliminate all other competing companies and assert dominion over the entire landmass," the prince elaborated.

"The Black Fang now seeks to expand its influence beyond Esteria's borders. They've begun snaking territory from neighboring lands," Aldric spoke with a hardened gaze.

Leah's eyes widened in shock.

Elizabeth's grip tightened on Hi'kim's arm, her concern evident. "Hold on a moment, Prince Aldric," she interjected, her voice laced with curiosity. "Forgive my bluntness, but why were you waiting for us? We're just a group of unlicensed novice adventurers. We won't even be official members of any guild until we reach the capital and go through the registration process."

Prince Aldric's gaze lingered on Hi'kim, his expression emotionless as if he was carefully considering his words before speaking. After a moment of silence, he finally addressed the question.

"I am no stranger to the ways of wizards," he began, seeming to carefully pick his following words. In our kingdom, magic users often gravitate toward the larger cities, particularly the capital. There, they find ample opportunities to hone their craft and mingle with others of their peers."

Aldric paused again, "And, of course, there is no denying the deep connection between magic and the royal family. I've been around magic long enough that my instincts have become attuned to the magical aptitude of an individual or object," he said, his tone somber.

"And what do your instincts say about Hi'kim?" Elizabeth inquired, her tone curious.

Elizabeth's question lingered in the air, prompting Prince Aldric to pause and carefully weigh his response. As they reached the entrance to a ruined building, he suddenly stopped.

"Every time I look at that man," Aldric began, "my instincts tell me that I'm gazing upon the most powerful wizard I have ever encountered."

He shook his head slightly as if dispelling a lingering thought and gestured inside the ruined building. "Now, this way, there is a secret passage in here that leads to a large network of underground tunnels where the survivors are likely hiding."