Chase after her

Tally took a few deep breaths and started following. “No need to bother with her,” Brim said. “Just give it some time to kick in, and then she’ll come find us.”

“But what will she do in the meantime?” Tally said, “We have to make sure she doesn’t warn anyone about me.” Brim looked mournfully at the loaf of bread she’d been trying to convince Tally to fuck. “Fine,” she said, “I guess you’re right. She went that way, let’s go find her.”

​Tally had caught up to the woman after a couple minutes of discreet following. He stuck his head round the corner of an abandoned house and spotted her further up the path, stumbling along as if she were drunk. She kept stopping and rubbing her head, and it sounded like she was quietly mumbling to herself. Brim saw this and clasped her hands together delightedly. “Excellent. It looks like it’s working. She won’t be able to fight it off for much longer.”

​Tally trailed her at a distance, trying not to make his presence known. He caught snippets of what she was saying, it sounded as if she were just barely hanging on. “No… no… he’s not… something’s happening to me… I need to… I need to…” She kept suddenly bursting into fits of giggles with no warning, each one bringing her closer to the edge. Tally was hoping to let this play out from a safe distance, but he got too confident and ended up knocking into a clay vase, which had been part of a long-abandoned sale outside someone's front door. It fell over and shattered. Mi Iau whirled round at the sound and saw Tally frozen mid-sneak some ways behind her.

“You…” she slurred. A dreamy smile threatened to cross her face, but she used what remained of her willpower to smother it before it showed. She drew one of her swords, but did not advance any further. Her head was so foggy now, she was struggling to even concentrate.

“Um… hi,” said Tally, breaking the silence that followed. “do you still want to kill me?”

“You did something to me,” said Mi. “Why am I…?” she interrupted herself with another involuntary giggle. “Don’t get any closer just yet,” advised Brim, “she’s not done cooking. Soon the pleasure will drive her to orgasm, that’s when you’ll know she’s safe.”

“You seem to be having some trouble,” Tally called over.

“Tell me what you did!” Mi snapped, pointing her sword at him.

“Ask her what she’s talking about,” said Brim. “What do you mean?” Tally asked.

“You know exactly what I mean,” said Mi through gritted teeth. “I can’t stop thinking about you… It’s like you’re inside my head. Something’s changing, I can feel it. It feels so good…”

“Maybe you’re developing a crush,” Tally suggested jokingly.

“Don't get smart with me, you bastard…” Mi Lau started to advance towards him with her sword, but then, all of a sudden, the brainwashing caught up to her. Her legs gave out and she fell to her knees, moaning. The sound reverberated off the walls of the ransacked houses. A few seconds later, Mi Iau came back to her senses and looked down at herself. A damp patch was now growing around her crotch. “Perfect,” Brim purred.

​Mi got to her feet and stared at Tally like she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. Then, her face broke into a wide grin. “Hello again,” she beamed. She put her sword away, and held out her arms in a gesture of peace.

“Congratulations,” said Tally, “you’re the first member of my new harem! We’re going to figure out a way to stop your fellows and take back the kingdom. Interested?”

“Oh yes,” said Mi, standing up and dusting off her pants. “anything you say. General Mi Iau at your service, sir. What should I call you?”

“My name’s Tally. Did you say general?”

“That’s right. I’m in charge of our occupation in this village.”

“So you have some authority around here? That might come in very useful,” Tally mused.

“I’m the highest-ranking officer here,” Mi said proudly. “I can order a full retreat right now if you want. Ooh—! Or better yet, I can put all my forces under your direct command! How does that sound?”

Tally considered this for a moment. Having the word of a general on his side would grant him influence over all her subordinates, brainwashed or not. But being so overt was risky, and this advantage would only last as long as no one knew what had happened to her. Be too obvious, and they might catch wind that their leader was betraying them.

On the other hand, there was the stealthy approach. Tally had only come into this village in the first place to look for food and resources; the place itself was of no particular significance. He could keep his head low by having Mi smuggle him the rest of the way through, maybe picking up one or two more helpers on the way. The fewer people knew about him and his powers, the more useful his powers would be.