The Pale Knight

You slash at the air. What for what any normal person would be a useless gesture at the wind instead sent forth a sharp, solid crescent of bluish energy that lept from your sword. You let out a yell of exertion as you made it happen, then shifted your bodies weight and ran forward in its wake, catching up with it, then passing it as you darted around it in a quick zigzag. As the energy was about to hit it’s mark you struck the straw target at the same time from the back with your sword as you passed it, stumbling and landing on one knee panting from the exertion.

“H-holy…” You trailed off.

“Swordsmanship?” Teuta finished your sentence. For the first time since you saw her standing tall and proud in Demonkine, before the battle, she was standing on her own two feet. Well… They were technically ‘borrowed’ but you had no real qualms about what happened to the ‘honourable’ Lord Heart. Neither to most, it turned out.

“Yeah.” You moved to plop down on your ass, tilting your head back. You were still breathing particularly hard.

“Did I say you could rest!?” Teuta asked like a drill instructor, hands firmly balanced on her hips. You looked up in awe. She struck a very intimidating silhouette. The Goblin Artifice made the limbs look quite a bit like human limbs, but they were just different enough. For one, the feet had built in heels, making the feet look slender and unnatural, like someone had boots for feet, rather than actually just wearing boots of heels. Whether you both wanted it or not, the toes and fingers were clawed and appeared like living armour. There was no muscle in the arms and legs. They were made to seem petite and attractive, or in the case of the thighs, thick and sumptuous. Her hips were widened noticeably by the prosthetics and her skin was already beginning to take on a noticeably paler hue, with her hair becoming less blonde and closer to a platinum colour. The limbs did nothing to change her body. Her toned belly and strong shoulders and of course her firm, sizeable breasts. The contrast between the Aesthetically pleasing yet functional Artifice limbs and her functional, yet aesthetically pleasing torso was a sight to behold.

You jumped up. “No ma’am!”

Teuta giggled, covering her mouth with her clawed metal gauntlet of a hand. “Actually I did. I was testing your memory, Fin.” She winked.

You blinked. “Eh?”

“I asked for 10 strikes like that and you did 12. Technically you overdid it.” Teuta offered proudly.

You chuckled, relaxing a little once you realised where you were at. “I got a bit carried away, I guess.”

“Not at all. The more you do that, the easier it becomes. It was 12 counting perfect attempts. I counted roughly 30 actual attempts. Still, you’ve come a long way since we started. You nodded. When you started, you would have to go for the whole day without rest until you were able to perform a single perfect strike. Then, of course, you rapidly got better and better.

“I bet you wish you got to train me from the start, right?” You joked.

“Imagine where I’d be now?”

Teuta’s expression darkened. She looked down at her limbs, at her body. She took in a deep breath and said sullenly.

“You’d be like me. I thank every day so far for the fact that you did not return with me. Everything changed after that day, and it could have been the same. His Highness would have gotten his claws into you, too.” She clutched her hand into a fist, sending out a metallic straining noise of metal on metal. Neither of us would be here. It would be worse. Don’t regret your choices, Fin. Everything has a reason.”

“Teuta…” You got close to her.

“I think you’re right. Everything happens for a reason.”

Teuta gulped, eyes becoming misty. She grew closer to you as well. As she wiped her eyes and sniffed she apologised.

“I’m sorry… Sorry for getting like this when I’m supposed to be teaching you. It’s just…” She took a deep, steadying breath as she admitted.

“You gave me another shot at life, Fin. You were there for me.”

“Please.” You lifted your hands bashfully, begging her to stop.

“It was mostly-”

From her emotional state she broke into a happy laugh. Teuta smiled, cocking her head to one side. Her pony-tail fell over her shoulder. She closed the distance and to your hands, bringing them together within hers. They were warm, oddly enough.

“Fin… I can understand Lady Raithe’s intentions. She has been a great help, but I also know that if you were not an influence on her, I would never be rescued. Not by anyone. You are the reason I’m here. Make no mistake.” She stated seriously.

“Teuta…” You softened. She leaned in close to you. Then you suddenly understood what was happening. Her pale cheeks were flushing, her eyes were shut and her lips were parted and so very faintly puckered. You leaned back.

“T-teuta!” Your own face turned slightly red.

“I can’t…”

Teuta tensed up and released you quickly, shooting her arms out to either side of her before folding them behind her back. She was beet red, which was a site to see with her current complexion.

“Oh god! I’m so sorry…”

“Don’t be!” You insisted.

“I never let it be known, so how could you guess? Raithe is my-”

“Say no more.” Teuta seemed to relax a little. She became warmer in her demeanour and looked upon you almost angelically.

“She is so incredibly lucky. I’m lucky enough to just be your teacher. I apologise and I wish you both well.” Teuta bowed formally. It made you feel even more awkward. Before you could respond or ask her to stop you noticed a wisp of pale white fur from behind one of the nearby structures. It disappeared, escaping.

“Shit…” You uttered under your breath.

“I hope she doesn’t misunderstand.”

Luire stopped and looked to see you wandering in after your first training session. “I almost- I almost made it to a perfect… Swing…” You stumbled forward. Luire got up, caught you in his arms, then guided you so that you could collapse in a controlled manner over Raithe’s bed. For a moment Luire continued to pat your back. It was then that he felt something.

What?” Luire furrowed his brow and looked around to make sure no one was watching before he pulled at your loose clothing. He stopped nervously as you stirred and mumbled in your sleep something to the tune of:

“No, stop… Fiona”

He looked at you sympathetically. ‘Poor Hero.’ He was vaguely aware you had to leave your family behind. Then he felt a little strange as you continued.

“I can bathe myself…”

“Huh…” Luire waited for you to fall into a deeper sleep before he continued, running his hands carefully over your arms, side, belly. He hesitantly felt your ass and chest, then stumbled back. He bumped into something and yelped, turning around to see Jean sucking on some fruit. She had a plate full of fruit husks that had been sucked dry. She gave Luire an unimpressed look. He whispered:

“N-not what it looks like. I swear.”

“Uh huh.” Jeane grabbed a comb off the night-stand that had been taken from her by you for use on Raithe and walked back into the adjoining room.

He waited for her to be gone, then sighed and turned back to appraise you fully. He stroked your hair a bit.

Soft… He was not sure if it would wake you up, but he decided to do it anyway and poked your cheek.

Soft! He felt a bit panicky as you reacted to the poke.

“Mmn.. Stahb…” You complained without getting up.

Luire bit his thumb nervously. He knew the signs better than anyone. “Fin is… Getting Feminised?” He looked from your cute, sleeping form over to Raithe. He was not sure what to think.

“Is what you wanted to tell me related to this, Raithe?”

Over the next few days Luire was the one who sat by Raithe’s bedside when you could not. In the background, Heilan also stood by like a guard, watching and waiting and growling at anyone that was not approved by you, since Raithe herself was ****. In one instance Joi wandered too close and a standoff of a beastfolk and a beastfolk-turned-animal ensued with both standing feet apart and baring fangs until you rushed in to break it up. You spent as much time as possible at her side, often even sleeping with your head resting near her hand as you did on the first day after your training. Luire would often observe. Not just because of what you asked him to do, but because of what Raithe hinted at when their talk was cut short. He had been wondering about that for a few days since the rampage,and after his minor discovery of what was happening to you..

Raithe, after destroying Lord Heart, destroyed any other group of Goblins that came after you until one group finally came seeking peace. Her last words were to be sceptical before she could no longer sustain her power and collapsed into recovery. As it turned out, the Pied Family was quite in favour of the sudden shift in power and were very thankful to Raithe. Luire sighed.

Normally the Pied’s would not have the power or influence to contest the main houses, according to what I gathered. However… The destruction made a new order for Fennek, so now no one’s willing to fight them. If one side weakens the other, both can easily fall to the next in line. It’s a tenuous peace.”

“Is that so?” Raithe chimed in groggily.

“Turned out better than I hoped.”

Luire gulped. “Y-you’re up.”

The Fox sat up while stretching her head. She smiled at the elf and remarked observantly. “You don’t sound too happy.”

Luire was fearful, especially considering what Raithe had done just a few days ago. Even if she were not capable of that anymore, which he did not know, she was stronger than him before that. He swallowed his fear and stated firmly.

“Because I know what you’re doing to Fin! I felt it.”

“Tch..” She bared fangs, a low growl bellowing from her throat.

Luire thought that she was mad that he discovered her secret, but then realised what it really was. Blushing, he corrected himself while waving his hands in front.

“I- I meant that… I inspected him and found it. We didn’t do anything like that.”

Raithe took a breath and instantly relaxed. “Oh. Good.”

Luir sat back and chuckled in relief. “What would you have done?”

Raithe calmly looked to the bedstand and grabbed a comb with some mix of black and silver hair wrapped around the teeth. She picked it up, then looked at Luire and snapped it in one hand. The elf flinched severely, then flinched again as Jeane screamed from the doorway.

“Nooo! My Comb! How could-” Raithe flicked her wrist. A wisp of blue light moved and pushed the door shut in her face, then circled the latch, locking it. Jeane shouted a bit through the door at Raithe for being inconsiderate, and a demon, before giving up.

“So… I suppose you have a lot of questions, young Luire.” Raithe smiled a coy, ancient smile at the petite elf.

Luire’s hands rested in his lap. He nodded, hands clasping tightly, gripping the bottoms of his shorts. He seemed to be boiling over.

“No matter what you’ve done… No matter who you are and what good you do a- and for whatever you do to me for calling it out-” He shook his head, eyes shutting. He worked up every bit of courage and opened his eyes to glare harshly at her as she smiled back at him in amusement.

“I-I can’t forgive you for doing that to Fin! As someone that’s had s-such a hard time my whole life… It’s not fair to him. Whatever you’re doing, stop it.” Luire looked down when he was done. His body continued to shake.

“Please. If you have to do it-” He begged before being interrupted with a slender finger lifting his chin.

“Huh?”

“Honestly… I’m actually glad you said all that, Luire. Thank you.” Raithe nodded, sinking back a bit further into the bed she was sat up in. She let her hands fall into her lap.

“What?” Luire was surprised to say the least, but he was guarded against manipulation so he remained cautious.

“Why would you be… glad?”

“Because I’m NOT the one that began this change in Fin.” She stated strongly and assuredly.

Luire was blown back by the resolve behind those words. He had to believe them. Then, as he chose to believe them he thought for just a moment and came to the next best conclusion. With wide eyes he spoke his conclusion out loud.

“Ms. Kara.”

“That’s right.” The tip of her tail, which was poking just above the covers, wagged back and forth beside her like a finger wagging. Raithe looked down.

“My dear Sister… She began the process of turning Fin into one of us.” She motioned towards herself as she said that.

“One of-” Luire’s ears twitched. He leaned forward.

“A fox? How!? You’re-”

“A beastfolk in name. In reality we are parasites.” She shrugged.

“Revert it.” Luire asked.

“If I could I would!” She snapped back.

“Believe me… I want MY Fin to be whatever he WANTS to be… I don’t want him to be sad or hurt.” She became genuinely misty as she said that, wiping her eyes. But it’s already too late. Usually it takes a long time to solidify the change. But Fin is built differently. He was able to retain the steps necessary for this process at a far faster rate.

“Dammit!” Luire cursed, covering his mouth. He looked away. The issue was particularly close to him.

Raithe looked upon the elf sympathetically and she motioned to him, opening her arms. “Come here.” Luire would have been lying if he claimed he was not attracted to her. In his life, Fin was the one he respected and Kara, then Raithe were the ones he was aroused by. He reluctantly slid onto the bed and leaned into her as she closed her arms around him like a comfy trap. She embraced him snugly and continued.

“You’re different from them… I know that you want to help Fin with all your heart. You look out for him with all that you do. For that-” Raithe was not perfect. Not at all. Through it all, she was a villain. She cared about Fin, and wanted to give him the world, but for that to happen she needed the world to give everything to her. She was so well acquainted with that fact as she reached up and stroked Luire’s soft pink hair affectionately. He squirmed a little.

“M-Ms. Raithe…” He whimpered.

It was the truth, but it was a damaging true. A corrupting, nagging truth that could set the elf along a dangerous path. Words calculated to bring him closer to giving himself to her in a way that he thinks is his own choice. His own desire. The subtle pheromones seeping into his skin would help, as well. He squirmed a bit more, but did not try to escape. Raithe smiled and said:

“You are my second favourite after Fin. For sure. Good boy.” She patted his head and let him go.” She could tell by his expression that such an uncomfortable seed was planted.

Luire covered his face with his hand as he turned and walked out. His heart was racing and he could not help but think.

This is intoxicating.

Raithe finally left her bed for the first time in a few days and stretched. She lifted her arms high above her head, then bent down and touched her toes. She focused on moving her tail left, right, up and down. She looked up, flexing her ears forward and back. Once she was done she clapped her hands together, then clapped her cheeks.

“Alright! I’m back.” Raithe turned and avoided Jeane by jumping through the window out into the yard. She looked around, noticing it was a goblin residence.

“Not bad.” She walked until she saw Fin training. She grinned, hiding behind a tree. She whispered to herself giddily.

“Fin’s training~ He likes swords. This is fine. The only fox I know that loves swords is that wack-job Leage, but he doesn’t necessarily have to be like-” The mood shifted and dropped suddenly. She frowned as she observed them getting emotional, then getting closer and closer.

“What. The. Hell are they doing?” She began to quietly seethe. She felt faint, stumbling against the building she was hiding up next to. Teuta leaned in and from the angle that Raithe was watching from it seemed like you were returning her affection. Before she could see the end of the exchange Raithe turned suddenly and began walking away.

“How- how long has it been? A-another woman? While I am presumably interned?” She gritted her teeth. A tiny spark of Kara ignited within her. Jealousy, rage… Insecurity. She hugged herself and collapsed to her knees, shutting her eyes tightly as the tips of her tail and ears reddened just a little deeper.

“No… No no no… It’s not true. Fin…” She whined.

***

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this story and want to read more of it, more Chapters are currently available to read at https://www.patreon.com/TVWintergreen I upload new chapters every week day with extra content also being released constantly to my discord for Extra Tier Members."