A Suspicious Dinner

Miriel and her partner, Leza, continued their patrol. Miriel was the Squad Leader of the Violet Cedar squad, and an older elf with pale green hair, grey eyes, and a scar beneath one eye. Although she was hundreds of years older than most of her squad, she looked to be in her mid thirties by human standards.

Her partner, Leza, was a blonde elf second only to Miriel and the other Squad Leaders in seniority.

The two had been patrolling when they spotted a plume of smoke, and decided to investigate. “You watch my back from overhead, I’ll peek in,” Miriel said.

Leza maintained her position in a building with a wall ripped off, bow and arrow at the ready, while Miriel went down to the ground level ruins the fire had been lit in.

Miriel had her bow and arrow ready, but she also had a knife up her sleeve she could quickly pull out if she needed to enter melee combat.

Moving slowly, quietly, she reached the entrance of another collapsing building. There was a small campfire set in the middle of the room, a pot of stew cooking over it. And tending the fire was one of the youngest members of the Violet Cedar squad, a tall blonde elf named Gilda.

The sight of her subordinate made Miriel relax, and she waved Leza down. “Gilda, it’s been some time,” she said.

The younger woman jumped in surprise. “Squad Leader!”

“I haven’t seen you at camp in some time, so this is where you’ve been?” Miriel asked.

“I haven’t caught any goblins in ages, and don’t want to return until I find some,” Gilda said, seemingly a bit jittery. “I was hoping the smell would draw some prey in.”

“But you got us instead,” Miriel said as Leza came to join them.

“You’re welcome to sit down and eat something,” Gilda invited. “You could even get some rest while I keep watch.”

Miriel and Leza glanced at each other. Gilda wasn’t usually this friendly, seeming to resent her seniors for being assigned to a mission she viewed as less glorious than what she wanted. But maybe she was starting to mature.

“We’ll take you up on that,” Miriel said. She and Leza pulled wooden bowls out of their pack, as well as wooden cutlery, and graciously accepted the stew offered to them.

“I’ll be outside, seeing if I’ve drawn anything else in,” Gilda said, a hand unconsciously going towards her crotch.

Miriel rolled her eyes, had she walked in on the girl about to masturbate? Many elves viewed any level of sexuality as disgraceful, but Miriel wasn’t interested in policing someone’s actions as long as they followed orders. “Take your time,” Miriel called.

The stew was rather good, with some unfamiliar flavor adding a bit of spiciness to the meal.

“Did you notice Gilda staring at our feet?” Leza asked.

Upon reflection, Miriel realized that had been the case. “I know we like to run around barefoot, but they can’t be that dirty, can they?”

Leza opened her mouth to reply, and was struck by a wave of dizziness.

Miriel reached out to check on her, and was hit by her own wave of dizziness.

A moment later a pair of arrows flew out towards the unsteady elves. Leza was helpless as it sank into her arm, and she felt her body stiffen. Paralysis.

Miriel was able to sway out of the arrow’s path.

“It’s a good thing I poisoned your food, I can’t imagine trying to hit you if you can evade my surprise attack in that state.” A blue-skinned Devil stepped from a corner where she should have been visible this whole time. She held a bow in hand, and nocked another arrow. “Though it probably means I’ll get more XP from beating you. Not to mention the satisfaction of sticking my dick in you.”

Miriel grimaced, her knife sliding down her sleeve and into her hand. “A Devil was still here? I won’t let you walk away,” Miriel growled.

“Don’t worry, I won’t leave without you,” the Devil said with a smirk.

She fired an arrow, but once again Miriel was able to sway out of the way. Her steps were unsteady, but it wasn’t enough to deter the Squad Leader.

The Devil, Demon King Elffucker AKA Elle, tossed the bow aside and drew her own knives. Then, she charged towards her opponent.

The two exchanged blows, blades cutting through the air, firelight reflecting off steel, metal crashing against metal as their blades met, metal tearing through flesh as each fighter got their hits in.

After a brief exchange, both fighters leapt away from each other.

In spite of having lain a trap and poisoning her opponent, Elle was worse for wear between the two. She had several bloody slash wounds on her arms and face.

Miriel suffered a few cuts too, but was still feeling the effects of the poison in the food.

Then, Muriel’s eyelids and limbs seemed to grow heavier. “Just lay down and sleep,” Elle cooed. “I’ll fuck you in the morning.”

Miriel grimaced as she realized her opponent was proficient with both poisons and status effects, including the sleep effect. Being rendered effectively comatose would be the end not just for Miriel, but also Leza.

Or it would have been if they were alone. “Gilda! Get in here!” Miriel called out as loudly as she could.

As she said that, the Devil charged at her once again, and Miriel’s movements were even more sluggish than before, and she could now only fight on par with her opponent.

Rushing footsteps came from the entryway and Miriel said, “Gilda, I need you to-“

“Gilda, shoot her in the back. Non-lethally.” Elle commanded.

“Yes Mistress.”

Miriel did not have time to process that exchange before she felt a sharp pain in her back.

This wound, paired with all the disadvantages that had been adding up, were enough for Elle to finally land a few decisive blows on her opponent.

Finally, the Squad Leader fell to her knees, and then passed out on the ground.

Elle sighed with relief. “Let’s get our new captives back to the Domain,” she said.

Glancing at her HP, which had barely gone below max until now, was at 23 out of 70. Not dangerously low, but it was clear she would have lost in a straight forward fight.

‘Repeatable Quest Complete: Capture an Elf. 3,200 Race XP gained.’

‘Achievement: Defeat an Elven Squad Leader. 1,800 Class XP gained.’

‘Achievement: Ambusher. Through repeated sneak attacks, you’ve proven your skill as an assassin. 1600 Race XP gained, 900 Class XP gained.’

Elle whistled to herself. Those were some big improvements. She’d have to take it all in once she was back in her Domain.