Flow (Corruptions of Champions 2)

[AzureAurora]

Chapter 1: Awakening​

AN: Welcome! Here's my last attempt at Fanfiction. I'll try to not stress myself with story updates, so please do be patient. Felt like magic and some fluff with the cuties from CoC2, so here we are.​

There wasn't any grand unraveling of prophecies, or flashes of light that heralded her arrival. No portals tore open, and no rivers ran red with the blood of the innocent, to fuel her crossing into the world. There was just the weightlessness of sleep, and the timeless drift of dreams.

She closed her eyes at home, bundled up in two blankets (Different Textures are important, you see), and drifted off in that kind of hazy contentment that could only be found in a reprieve from the ache of a rather bad fever. With naught but the pitter-patter of rain and her cat's purr serving as a lullaby, which coaxed the dream ever closer.

Within the haze of rest, something shifted, and reality shuddered for the briefest of moments. It was in that quake of unseen forces at play, that Claire was taken from one place, and deposited into another.

It was a snowstorm of all things- face first into the snow-filled banks just outside a lightly walled little hamlet by the name of Hawkthorne, on the northern end of a continent, in the stretch of mountains and valley known as the Frost Marches. She had woken up in this land exactly three days ago, and if there was one thing she could say about the place?

The denizens weren't half bad. Sure, there were a few intimidating figures- and what Kaida was almost certain of was a werewolf (Lupines actually, and not contagious!) but he was rather nice!

He took one look at her freezing on the doorstep of his Inn and let her into the Frost Hound tavern.

Kaida did wonder if they considered themselves to be dogs or wolves as far as taxonomy was concerned, but decided it'd probably be rude to ask. Maybe they had books about these kinds of things?

"Looks good, Kaida. Take five." Garth's gruff voice called from the other end of the tavern.

Kaida sighed in relief, as she placed the small stack of wood down beside the larger logs, propped up against the stone hearth that warded the cold away.

Kaida blinked, cerulean skin reflected in the firelight, as Amethyst irises shimmered and white fair framed the sides of her heart shaped face. A trio of slender fingers clapped against one another, depositing loose wood shavings and pieces of twine into the hearth as it roared.

Her eyes lingered on the sphere hovering around her for a moment. It shimmered in the firelight, a ball of indigo dust that seemed to constantly shimmer and shift in her presence.

Oh right, free drinks!

The recollection snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Thanks, Boss!" She'd respond, as she made her way over to the bar, and climbed into the high seat with a sigh, and brushed the remaining chips of wood off her legs. Her tired smile brightened, as a glass of mead slid over to her.

The travel clothes she arrived in not-withstanding, Kaida didn't have anything to pay Garth with, but thankfully he was a fair man. She kept the fire burning bright, and he gave her a place to sleep and three meals.

Did it suck to be babysitting a fire for so long? Kinda, yeah. But it was the warmest seat in the tavern, it beat freezing to death, and it gave her time to think. And heavens did she need to think about things.

She was wide awake, the bandage on her thumb from a particularly rough piece of bark asserted her of that. No one was acting particularly off either, aside from a few townsfolk who seemed keen to keep to themselves, but a blizzard would make anyone kind of grumpy, wouldn't it?

Math still made sense (just as complicated as always), and while she didn't exactly have any reading material, the few carvings decorating the walls of the Inn didn't defy regular sense.

She also happened to be a different gender, and she was blue- and generally look like a dungeon and dragons' character.

But… she also looked like the character dearest to her heart, so she didn't really complain. Even if going to the bathroom took some getting used to. It was odd, but it felt… right, she supposed.

The lack of Dysphoria was something she was immensely relieved for. She never had to deal with it, but she heard some rather bad accounts of it.

Lack of attachment to one's corporeal flesh, for the win!

There were questions, and no answers in sight, at least, without prodding at things with the mental equivalent of a long stick.

She had comforted herself with the hearth's flame, and the idle chatter of the patrons. She even watched a poker game the other night! The players let her push the coins around while the nice horned lady, Ivris, rambled to her about… Wyld elves?

Kaida never expected elves to have horns, but apparently a few do! It's a bit of a random trait, she said. Kaida did get a few looks for all her questions, but it was a nice evening.

Speaking of questions, Kaida had managed to overcome her social anxiety enough to talk with the two lupines running the Inn to understand that 'Savarra' was the land's general name, and that 'Earth' just meant dirt in the ground. Or dirt flavored magic. Because magic was real, apparently- which was baffling, exciting, and worrying all at once.

Sure, it explained the magical makeover, and the lil' ball that had been following her since she woke up, in some way, but it also begged for even more questions- and concerns.

Kaida glanced at the shimmering sphere now hovering by her drink.

Triangle.

She thought, and the sphere made it so, it shifted into a triangular shape.

Ring

Once again, it shifted, hovering above her face, allowing her to spot Garth looking at her with a raised brow through the hole.

"Just practicing, Boss." She'd clarify with a little giggle, as he huffed and paid it no mind.

"You can use your breaks how you like, Lass. Don't burn my Inn down, but makin' shapes is fine." He spoke in response, giving the sphere one more glance. "A sight safer than what those Frost-Witches do up north. Who knows, maybe you could sculpt something fancy with it."

I do wonder how common magic is here?

Kaida nodded while she pondered the question, as the indigo ring broke into a mist that swirled between her fingers.

Magic could be subtle, or it could be obvious, and the last thing she wanted to do was spook her hosts and get kicked out.

After all, fantasy land was full of magic- and magic tended to mean monsters. And Garth and Gwyn both mentioned people had gone missing…

"Did your son not come back, yet?" Kaida asked, voice soft and tinged with the slight weight of exhaustion. Fighting the tail-end of a fever did not get better in a fantasy world, apparently. Even with her… new additions, the fever somehow followed her.

Maybe the fever followed the magic stuff? Or did the magic follow the fever?

She finally remembered her drink, and picked up the tankard, careful not to spill it with her four fingered hands. She nursed the warm mead in her mug, as she took small sips and savored the heat it gave.

"No sign of him or the lumberjacks yet. But the Lodge should hold up to this kind of weather, so I reckon I won't be seeing him till this storm blows over. Garrets got a thick skull, and thicker fur. He's probably fine." He sighed, fingers pinched over the bridge of his nose… or snout?

Garth seemed to always take that pose when he talked about his eldest, but there was genuine fondness in there too.

"But Gwyn's worried." Kaida prompted a few moments later, much to his begrudged nod.

"Gwyn's worried, Aye. I've raised my kids as fighters, but she's a soft one still." He agreed, but his eyes glinted with warmth.

"He's probably okay! The lumberjacks had a base, you said so yourself!" Kaida replied, an air of assurance despite the twinge of nerves in her stomach, as she finished her drink.

Garth placed a clean mug down on the counter and reached for another one by his side.

"He better be." Garth grumbled, he seemed lost in thought.

"I should probably get back to the hearth, Boss." Kaida murmured, as she placed the emptied mug onto the countertop.

Her magic collapsed back into the spherical shape and hovered over her shoulder as she stood.

"Hold up a sec, Lass. I just wanted to say thanks for being such a good part-timer. You've kept the hearth burning without complaint, you've made Gwyn smile, and well- you've been lost in thought till now." He paused for a moment, letting the words settle as he grabbed another tankard.

"Looks like you've something had eatin' at you. So, if talking to an old man like me might get it off your chest… my ears are always open." Garth finished, his words both sudden and genuine. And he made the effort to swivel both his ears in her direction.

A feeling of warmth that bubbled in Kaida's chest made her grin.

Garth raised a brow, but he kept on wiggling his damn ears.

He really isn't a bad guy at all.

"I, thank you! But uhm- it's kind of a lot, I'll have to think about it!" Kaida replied, as she hopped off of the stool and adjusted the mantle on her shoulders, till it fit nicely and snug again.

Even if she could talk about being from another world without being sent to the clergy for insanity, or about truly having no roots here, she didn't know how to put it into words… but the offer was kind.

Whatever Garth was about to say in reply, it was drowned out by the sound of the tavern door being flung open- and a figure hunched up against the door.

A woman- her figure slightly obscured by a long winter coat and a hood, but the splotches of red stuck out far more on white. Blood- She was bleeding.

"S-Someone! Help, I need help!" The woman called out, as she slumped forward, only for Garth to rush over- limping with his bad knee, cane in hand, to catch her.

His cane fell to the ground as he stopped her fall, and Kaida quickly followed suit- only sparing a glance at the townsfolk who would rather look at the table, or their own hands- then help a woman in need.

She focused on the door first- using her shoulder to slam the stubborn thing closed- after a brief contest against the roaring winds outside. She shut the latch for good measure- and sighed.

Kaida made her way over to the pair, and grabbed onto the woman's arm, she helped her into a chair pushed up by the hearth. The woman's breathing was ragged, and she was cold to the touch.

"We need to warm her up. Gwyn, can you please get some mead, the vulnerary and the bandages?" Garth spoke to Kaida, and then his daughter- as he called the pregnant woman over.

"Of course, Papa! I'll be right back!" Gwyneth moved with great speed for someone so heavily pregnant.

Kaida guessed that it was Lupine genetics. They all seemed to be built like a house of bricks compared to her twigs.

She focused back on their surprise guest and blinked as a woman came by with a quilt blanket- the woman wrapped it around the girl's shoulders.

"We all have to do our part, right Miss?" The villager gave her a subdued smile.

Kaida nodded to her. "Yeah, Thank you!"

A few minutes passed as Gwyn returned with the supplies and another tankard of warm mead.

"Slow breaths. Can you tell me your name?" Kaida asked, as she scooped the ointment from the container with one hand, the other gently pressed against the woman's cheek, trying to share her body heat.

Kaida gently applied the ointment with her other hand; she winced in sympathy every time the half-conscious woman hissed in pain.

That usually means it's working, yes.

Kaida didn't envy her, though.

"There, that should help." She sighed, as she reached the extent of her medical expertise.

If only I knew first aid beyond the bare basics. Even just asking mom for a few tips would've been great.

The dull ache of loneliness amplified at the thought, but Kaida pushed it away. Now was not the time to dwell on things.

"Thanks Lass." Garth finished tying a clean strip of cloth around the woman's head, keeping her hair out of the way of the injury.

The bright green ointment slowly seeped into the wound, and Kaida watched as the woman's breathing eased out.

Fantasy Herbalism is Bullshit. But it's helping, so I'll take it!

"A Salamander? I'm … Cait- Caitriss. M-My sister and I got attacked…" The woman's trembling slowed as her gaze sharpened.

Is that what I am? Or something similar? Huh.

Kaida nodded, entirely focused on those expressive green eyes.

"Yes! I'm a Salamander! I'm Kaida. What happened, Cait?" Kaida did her best to keep her anxiety out of her voice. After all- Cait was entirely alone, which meant that they still had her sister… or worse.

Fantasy world or not, some people can just be cruel.

Just the thought made her stomach churn.

"We were just outside the wall, we were going north to meet up with our father, but then the storm got worse. We saw the gates were open- we headed that way, and we were attacked before we could get in. They started hitting, and grabbing, and one went for my head- and I was alone." Cait's voice trembled, and tears pricked in her eyes.

"That's rough, Cait." Garth rumbled as he stood back up, and handed her the warm mead.

With Garth stepping back, and Cait's Hood lowered, Kaida got a better view of her Cait's blonde and pink hair- cat ears, and a heart-shaped face.

She was beautiful, even covered in dirt, snow, and dried blood.

The sight of it all made Kaida's heart clench.

"S-someone here can help me, right? It's not too late, I need to save my sister." Cait stammered, eyes wide, as she glanced between Kaida and Garth- followed by the townsfolk behind her.

Given the pin-drop silence that had fallen over the Tavern, Kaida knew she didn't need to turn around to see that not a single person had met Cait's eyes. Her hopeful expression seemed to harden a little- but those eyes glinted with teary determination.

Garth grit his teeth. "If Garret was back, if it weren't for this damn leg…" He hissed to himself, fingers clenched.

"I'll go." It took a second for Kaida to register the words that came from her own mouth.

"R-really? Oh thank you!" Cait shot up from the chair, and wrapped Kaida up in a hug.

Kaida promptly flushed red, as she felt the taller woman's surprisingly well-endowed form press against her. She's always had a weakness for pretty girls.

And taller girls' makes it worse! Is it good I'm so short now!?

The woman was athletic- and it was easy to see she cut a curvaceous figure now that the cloak was a little more open.

Kaida was a little touch-starved, but she reminded herself to focus.

"Are you sure, Lass?" Garth asked, and she nodded over Cait's shoulder.

She gave the cat girl a gentle squeeze.

"Yeah. I- I can't see my family anymore, but this… Cait still can. It's important. I must help." Kaida replied- even as it left her stomach in knots- the idea of fighting… the guilt of ignoring it would be far worse.

"If it's both of us, then we can do this! I'm a priestess of Mallach, which means I can use white magic. I've got a few defensive spells and some healing, but I need to recover my staff!" Cait declared, as Garth hummed.

"I can use magic too!" Kaida replied, perhaps a bit too eager to prove her own worth.

A hand was held out towards the sphere that has been her constant companion for the past three days. The material flowed between her fingers once again, before it took the shape of a crossbow bolt.

"I… meant to do that." She muttered, ever the wellspring of confidence.

You were supposed to become a mighty spear!

The bolt quivered in place, as if amused by her indignation.

"I'm sure you did, Lass." Garth looked away, as Kaida felt her cheeks flush a little bit.

"Alright, Kaida's evidently got a few tricks of her own, so I suppose I approve. But neither of you are going out empty handed!" Garth pulled himself up, gathered his cane, and walked back to the bar.

Reaching beneath the bar-top, he pulled out a dagger wrapped up in cloth- freeing the leather grip and a polished sheathe with a single smooth tug.

"This was from my mercenary days; I kept it just in case I'd have needed it. And it looks like today's the day, use it well." Garth stated, as he handed the dagger to Kaida.

She hefted it in her hand, before she attached the sheath to her belt. It was closer to a short sword in her hands… but she could wield it.

"I- Thank you, I'll take good care of it." She responded.

Garth merely snorted.

"I'd rather that it takes care of you. You two better come back in one piece, got it?" With that, Garth returned to the counter.

"You're not going anywhere till you've warmed up, Missy!" Gwyn's voice cut into the silence that followed, as she pressed Cait's forgotten glass of mead back into her hands.

"I- Yes, Ma'am!" Cait stammered, eyes wide, as she glanced at the demanding expression of The Frost Hound's Serving Maid, and she wisely downed the glass in a few sips.

"I'll keep her Warm, Gwyn!" It was Kaida's turn to hug Cait, instead of the other way around. Her face pressed into Cait's chest, as Gwyn hummed.

"Alright, fine. But you are forbidden from getting sick!" She declared, as she finally stepped away.

Despite the possibility of a fight to come, Kaida couldn't help but giggle.

She felt Cait relax in her arms. Gwyn really was kind.

"We'll be back! Let's go, Kaida!" Cait grabbed Kaida's hand and pulled her along. Kaida held hers tight, as the door swung open- and they walked out into the storm.​

​

--- Flow ---​

​

The way to the carriage was just as frigid as Kaida expected it to be. The buildings beyond the warm walls of the Frosthound Inn were shops and small homes of wood and stone- followed by the lumber-stacked walls and palisades- with their gate wide open.

Passing the gate lead to the powerful winds buffering at Cait and Kaida's forms- to the point that the pair had to wrap their arms around each other, just to keep moving.

Cait retrieved her Staff from her family's cart, with the bags overturn, belongings spilled onto the snow powdered ground and the wheels smashed into a pile of firewood.

There was no sign of Cait's sister, and with only the footsteps leading up the hills towards the dilapidated temple in the distance, they had to follow.

The cold chilled Kaida down to the bone, only kept at bay by the gentle warmth radiated by her sphere that rested by her arm… and Cait hugged that arm, and stole the warmth for herself.

She really is a cat, huh?

Kaida grumbled to herself.

The first pair of cultists they passed… were preoccupied. A pair of robed figures, a human man and woman, were pressed up against a rock.

Kaida quickly looked away- they were clearly in a session of passion… although the middle of a blizzard was hardly a good place for it!

She turned red, glanced at Cait- and they both quietly walked past the pair, who were too occupied with each other to take notice.

"W-What kind of cult is this?" Kaida whispered to Cait, who only shook her head.

"Mallach, is all about passion, but there's a time and place for it- and kidnapping has no part of that!" She whispered back, as the pair continued onwards.

"I don't think they follow Mallach, Cait." Kaida whispered, doing her best to shake the image out of her head, as they continued forward.

A flight of stairs came next, protected from the frigid winds by an outcrop of rock, they made their ascent beside the stone, relieved at no longer having to fight the sky, and less contesting of the cold.

They were close now, just a way from the temple proper- when they came across the second group of Cultists. A lupine woman was sprawled out against a crate of sorts, with even more debauchery taking place.

Kaida's eyes lingered on them for a moment, before she covered her gaze, peering through slightly splayed fingers as Cait stood Infront of her.

"Hey, leave her alone!" Cait called out- only for the lupine woman to laugh.

"Oh, if it isn't the impure kitten, and a little knight in shining armor? No, she's trembling! I suppose she's an extra damsel then? I suppose we could use a spare sacrifice!" The wolf woman chuckled as she fixed her clothing.

Oh finally, a civilized conversation!

Kaida's relief died a swift death, however, as the woman did not seem all that open to diplomacy.

The cultist flexed, cracked her neck, and grabbed a vicious sickle and a wicker shield, nodding to the man and the woman behind her, who grabbed their own weapons.

"Let's get em, Master Talos doesn't want any interruptions, but I'm sure he could use more meat for the orgies~" She declared.

The man chuckled. "Spilling blood is almost as good!."

Cait glanced to Kaida. "Guess we're fighting, keep a cool head, I won't let you fall."

Kaida nodded, and swallowed, feeling herself break into a cold sweat despite the frigid air- as she clenched her trembling fingers around the hilt of the dagger.

I can do this; I can do this. For Cait and her sister. Bolt!

Indigo light spilled from her fingers, as Kaida focused on the bead of indigo in her palm, the sphere coalesced into that bolt form once again, and rose up with her will.

Her other hand grasped the dagger tightly, as she tried to still her trembling fingers.

We just need to scare them a bit, right?

Kaida dearly hoped that was the case.

Cait's hand burst into white flames, which she released forward. The shimmering white flames splashed into the wicker shield. The flames licked and singed the material as the woman flinched, a wave of heat washed over her.

To the woman's credit, however, she did keep going- but she took shelter behind the shield- she couldn't see.

Talk about a warrior's courage!

Kaida's chest burned with envy for that bravado, as she thrust her dagger forward, sending the edge skittering against the shield.

"Hngh!" The woman grunted, as she slammed the shield upward- the shock had Kaida flinch, her dagger knocked up into the sky- but it left the lupine woman's chest exposed.

Kaida pointed with two fingers and mimed shooting a gun. Her bolt shot forward, colliding with the woman's thigh.

The shield-wielding cultist stumbled with a grunt, and Kaida's bolt shot out of her leg, and into her bicep. The shock of pain was the leverage Kaida needed to wrench the shield upwards, which smacked the cultist in the face. The wolf-woman fell to the floor.

A second splash of Cait's white flame drew the other cultist woman's attention; a shimmering ward spun to life.

A mage then!

Part of Kaida recoiled at the violence, at the feeling of blood drew by her own hand- but as she recalled the dagger, her magic wrapped around the hilt, she thought about what they could be doing to Cait's sister… and the disgust fueled her. She could keep going.

The hovering dagger cowed the wolf woman into staying down- only for Kaida to yelp as she was Kicked in the tummy and sent into the snow, gasping for air. Fingers scrabbled around the knife.

"Kaida! Hold on!" Cait called out, the butt of her staff collided with the man, a resounding 'thwack' echoed.

Kaida groaned from the snowbank.

"Ugh…" She shook her head, pain flared, and the fear of failure drove as deep as a knife to the chest.

Her eyes snapped open, and with a desperate squeak, Kaida's hands wrapped around the sphere, and it coiled around her fingers. A warmth, a steady presence- it thrummed as she took a breath, it cooled as she exhaled, and it warmed up again.

Her own magic guided her breath, and she could pull herself up.

The churning anxiety of combat ebbed beneath a mental tug, drawn to the lupine woman that attempted to stand.

"Cait! Below!" Claire exclaimed, as she scrambled to her feet. Her right hand stowed the dagger, and she used her magic to scoop up a bunch of snow.

The snow was pushed together, as Kaida's magic flowed into the shape of a rod, and braced the back- giving it greater shape.

A mace, with packed snow where the head should be.

With six steps, Kaida got back into the fray, streams of frigid mist emanated from her makeshift weapon, as she promptly gave the shield bearer a snout full of extra-cold snow.

She swung as hard as she could, A puff of white kicked up in the impact, with the shield bearer toppled backwards, muffled screams followed as she dropped her weapons and clawed at her face.

Oooh, that was a bit too effective.

Kaida cringed, but she kicked the sickle away and grabbed the shield.

Two bursts of flame caught her attention- one a sickly pale green, the other the gold-tinged white of Cait's magic.

The mage, and Cait, were at a standoff, gouts of flame splashed against each other.

Kaida charged the other guy and recalled her magic.

Flow into the Shield!

Her magic Flowed once again, seeping into the woven strands of the shield, it tightened, the surface covered in the indigo sheen, as Kaida pushed herself to the brink- her body grew warm and pressure built up in her boots.

"Salamander Smash!" Kaida called out, her voice only a little hysterical, as she collided with the man, and promptly bowled him over with surprising force. The two of them toppled over into a heap.

"Ugh…" He grumbled beneath her, as Kaida scrambled to her feet.

"Sorry!" She exclaimed, as she slammed the shield into his head, and he slumped over, unconscious.

Turning to the other two- she sagged in relief.

Cait had knocked the final woman to the ground, a small bead of white flame held in her outstretched palm.

"Glad to see you got your head back in the fight, Kaida" Cait's voice was still tight, but there was a hint of tease there as well.

"H-hey! That was my first time fighting!" Kaida stammered in her defense, as she pulled the dazed man's heavy frame over to the recovering wolf glaring from the floor.

"Now Talk! Where did you assholes take my sister?!" Cait demanded, flame inches from the cultist woman's paling face.

"T-the temple up there! That's where the portal is being opened. It's going to happen at Dusk, when the veil is weakest!" The woman stuttered, eyes darting between her comrades and Cait's furious glare.

"Good. If you lied to me… I'll be coming back to give you a spanking you won't forget." Cait gritted out, before she turned to Kaida.

The fire fading from her fingers promised that it would not be a fun punishment.

"It hasn't been long, the fact they guarded the temple so zealously means it's probably not finished yet, right?" Kaida asked, as she examined the area for anything the pair could use.

Oh, coin pouch! Score!

Kaida promptly robbed all three of the cultists. Counting around two hundred… Electrum pieces?

She shrugged and tied the coin pouch to her waist. She would've felt bad… but they attacked first! And now she can pay Garth back for his kindness! And get a proper cloak for the cold!

… She also picked up the gnarled wooden staff the cultist was using.

"They better not have finished. Oh? That's a good idea! Rob em blind!" Cait would approve from the foot of the next hill, although the nervous flicking of her tail proved her desire to keep moving.

"Like I said, first time fighting. I want to be prepared!" Kaida called back, as she finished looting their foes…. Before tossing the vulnerary Garth gave her to the mage woman on the floor.

"Treat your friends, and maybe look for a different line of work? Please?" Kaida pleaded, as the woman hesitantly picked up the vulnerary.

"I… I'll think about it." The woman mumbled, already scooping some of the paste out of the vessel.

They may be kidnappers, but I'm not looking to kill anyone!

She gently tapped her bruised stomach, before nodding to herself.

Stings, but I'm okay.

Up against the rock-wall was a wooden crate, and within were vials upon vials of blue and pink concoctions. The lewd iconography on both dissuaded her from picking them up.

Definitely not health or magic, then. Hopefully someone sells some healing potions at the town?

She ignored a glance from Cait, cheeks still somewhat red from the scene they walked in on earlier and joined her at the edge of the battlefield.

Dagger sheathed, shield strapped to her arm, and staff in hand, they continued to hike upwards.

Thankfully the final stretch was a lot shorter, and it only took about two minutes to come across a large hole in the wall of the dilapidated structure.

Small piles of rubble were strewn across a ground that once held beautiful patterns and iconography carved into smooth stone, but now only held impressions. Benches of stone lined the walls, crumbling and decaying from the erosion of time.

In the center of the structure sat a raised altar, with men and woman of all sorts in robes standing around said altar. A girl much like Cait with longer hair lay atop it, pale skin flushed red, breathing heavily.

The cause of it may have had something to do with the portal hovering behind her. It was a… tear in space. A deep purple hue that resembled a folded diamond shape, or an open flower bud. With swirling tendrils of pink magic filling the air- flushing the skin of all those they touched.

That's… ominous.

Kaida thought the understatement of the century.

"CALLA! Let go of my sister!" Cait screamed, and Claire held up the shield.

A woman with her hands raised upwards spoke first.

"Master Tollus! It's the sister!" She'd exclaim, voice tinged with exhaustion, tendrils of green magic extending towards the portal.

"Oh? I see you made it to my temple. What good initiative. Good help is so hard to find these days. Might I extend an invitation to our esteemed halls? A woman of the cloth is always quite helpful for our activities." A bald man, Tollus? Was covered in dark markings and stood before the twisted ritual.

The energy in the air was palpable, and Kaida's long ears flopped down in the wake of that pressure. She felt herself start to sweat, as the heat pressed down upon them like the desert sun, a far cry from the biting cold outside. But the heat… sank even deeper, it was the heat of desire.

Kaida did her best to ignore the pounding of her heart, as her skin suddenly a lot sweatier.

What kind of ritual is this!? I guess it is coming from a group that would have sex in a blizzard.

"W-we're not joining you, kidnapping deviants! Let go of Cait's sister and pack this stuff up!" Kaida stammered slightly, but she held up the staff- now topped with the newly dubbed Flow.

"Aww, that's adorable. I'd let you watch the proceedings, but you seem adamant on stopping me… very well, I'll just have two more offerings for my dark lady's blessings." The man had the audacity to chuckle in response to Kaida's intimidation, as he held his weapon aloft.

It was a staff, like Kaida's, but the dark varnished wood was capped off by a long crystalline blade, reminiscent of a halberd or war scythe. The crystal crackled with malevolent pink energy, as Kaida and Cait readied for combat.

"I think the mages are too focused to stop us, if we can just get passed this guy!" Kaida exclaimed, glancing to Cait.

Cait nodded, and it took a moment before her eyes left her sister's prone form.

She's gonna need a big hug after all this.

Kaida really hoped that Calla would be available for sisterly hugs. But she'd need to make that happen!

"Your life lacks whimsy, and your Ass is Flat!" Kaida exclaimed, as she drew on Flow once more.

Strike, as Hard as possible!

"What?" The man's head snapped towards Kaida, his expression a mixture of befuddled and baffled, just as the indigo sphere collided with his shoulder.

He grunted, as a loud thump resounded like a hammer against stone. He staggered backwards, using his staff to brace himself.

"Cait! Fire at will!" Kaida pushed the unintentional pun aside, as her sphere shot up into Tollus' chin, as if he was struck with a nasty uppercut.

His head snapped back, before he growled.

"You da-" His mouth shut, as a gout of holy fire washed over his robes, and Kaida heard his teeth audibly clash and grind together.

"My mistress, grant me power!" The man's voice was guttural and spoke as if two voices were one. Tendrils of brilliant pink energy snaked out of the portal, and coiled around the man's frame, his lanky build tensing, robes fluttering, as pink electricity intensified around the blade of his staff.

With a growl of anger, the man raised his hand- and a sphere of pink energy rocketed towards the pair.

Oh no-

"Cait! Bad touch!" Kaida exclaimed, as she leapt away from her partner. The energy grazed her leg- and she fell to the ground with a squeal of pain.

"Gnh!" She whimpered, as her leg burned from the impact, as if several hammers came down on it all at once- and then someone replaced the gauze with razor wire.

Tears pricked at her eyes, as her focus frayed.

"Kaida!" Cait's voice was desperate, concerned, afraid.

In pain, trembling on the ground, Kaida heard the man chuckle, and she heard the terror in Cait's voice. She desperately cast her mind towards her magic, towards the strange companion she had with her ever since she had woken up in this world.

Protect us Flow!

There was a thrum somewhere deep in Kaida, beneath the terror and beneath the pain wracking at her mind.

Bleary eyes turned up to the battle before the pair- and as that bladed staff swung downwards- Flow moved.

An indigo tendril grasped ahold of Kaida's liberated staff, discarded from the influx of agony- and with far more force than one could anticipate from such a small entity- it swung.

The staff was a blur of brown hues as it collided with the staff's blade, veering it off course. It cracked under the power of the swing, but the pressure did not abate. A spin followed- and then the swing resumed. A second strike knocked the blade aside entirely. The head of the staff broke off entirely. But the pressure did not abate. A second spin followed the first, and a final strike was made upon the cultist's hand.

"Disgusting Lizard!" The man roared as he clenched his hand in pain and stumbled a few steps back. His staff trembled in his fingers- only still held by some measure of discipline.

"Kaida!" Cait's hands rested over Kaida's prone form, as a yellow radiance slowly bloomed from outstretched fingers.

"I got you, I promised, didn't I?" She spoke with a hushed tone, as the yellow light seeped into her smaller frame.

Despite the chill of fear, despite the cold of the storm that had been slowly wearing down to her bones, and despite the oppressive malaise of the portal… it was warm. It was pleasantly warm.

Kaida gasped as the hot pain of the direct blow melted into a warm soreness and a sob of pure relief rolled through her chest.

"T-Thank you…" She got out, as she forced herself to her knees. Cait spared a single hand to rest on Kaida's head for a moment.

It was… nice.

Kaida sucked in a shuddering breath.

That was the worst feeling of my life.

What did he do- Microwave her leg!?

"Those horns will be a nice trophy for my Mistress, I'll be sure to leave them intact…" Tolls muttered, as his weapon swapped hands. He opened and closed his injured hand with care, before he nodded to himself.

He said… 'grant him power' right? That means it's borrowed, maybe if I throw him off his game…?

"Can you buy me a second or two?" Kaida glanced to Cait, who glanced back- and then did a second stare.

"I can do a second, not sure about two!" Cait smiled, but… it looked about as brave as Kaida currently felt.

…and Kaida just wanted to go back to the Inn and cry.

I miss my bed.

She whined in the privacy of her own mind, as she nodded back.

"Mallach, may your desert sands blow true, protect your servant's faith in you!" Cait raised her staff high, as a yellow hued wind pulsed outward from the tip of her staff, and wreathed itself around her, like a cloak of wind.

"You god won't be able to save you, whore!" The man charged forward, blade swung once again. To Cait's credit- she blocked it with the center of her staff.

Disrupt his focus somehow…

Kaida glanced once more at the clash between two mages. The pink sparks crackled against the sand-spun winds, as Tollus slowly loomed over Cait. His stance widened for extra stability; it gave him the upper hand.

Oh… HELL YES.

Now Kaida wasn't the most violent person. But right now? She was just a tad vengeful.

Flow! Break his Jewels!

The construct leapt to the ground, and pushed forward, flattened up against the surface, it easily slid past Cait's struggling form.

"A-A little help Kaida?" Cait's voice was tense as she grit her teeth, she struggled beneath the frail man's frame.

"STRANGER DANGER!" Kaida bellowed, as Flow made it directly beneath Tollus's strained form- and it fired upwards.

"More Drivel-" Tollus cut himself off with a squeal, as his entire body shot into the air for a moment.

"Hah!" Cait's leg came up and kicked his Abdomen- which knocked him into the side of the altar with a gasp. His staff flung to the side of the room.



"Master!?" The woman he spoke to before yelped, as the man slumped against the Altar, and slowly pulled himself up.

"T-The Sacrifice, Now!" He roared, as he staggered to his feet.

"I won't Let you!" Cait stomped forward, ready to lunge for her sister.

But just as her foot left the ground, multiple hands had grabbed Calla, and with a heave… they threw her into the portal.

Cait's body smashed against the portal for a moment- and it denied her entry. She hung there for a moment- before the portal heaved.

What followed was a blast of hot winds, even more intense than the first. It sent Cait back to Kaida, as everyone else braced for it.

Flow!

The construct shot back- pressed to Kaida's back and locked into the ground like a support strut.

"Got you!" Kaida exclaimed, as Cait collided with her body- only held up by two trembling legs, and an anchor that shimmered like starlight.

"Calla!" Cait screamed, as the temple shook, a case dropped onto the Altar, now clutched to Tollus' chest by one arm, as the other was supported by one of his cult.

"Out, we have it!" Tollus demanded as he sent one last glare to the pair, and they all retreated from the temple, and made their way out of a large hole in the side of the temple.

Whether they made the hole, or the portal did… Kaida wasn't so sure.

No longer supporting Cait's weight, they both slumped to their knees.

"M-my sister…" Cait whimpered, and sobbed, her shoulders trembled, as her hands punched at the cold, unyielding stone floor.

"I'm so sorry…" Kaida whispered, as she wrapped her arms around Cait's trembling frame.

She had hoped Calla would be here to do the hugging… but it was just her.

It was just Kaida and Cait, feeling the sting of defeat as the portal dimmed and the howl of the winds finally went quiet.

Kaida rested her head against Cait, as she tucked her head into Kaida's shoulder, and she let her sorrows out.

But something in her stomach knew, beneath the sorrow and the exhaustion and the aches… things were far from over.
​

Chapter 1: End.

AN: Thanks for reading! I like reading Lit RPG but it seems I don't really like writing it myself, So I've kinda abstracted the levels of the game proper. Might go more into that later, in world.

Tutorial isn't 100% done yet, still need to see big bad Kasyrra herself. But I promised myself I'd post this when it hit 7000 words so I'd stop procrastinating. I'll give the demon lady a proper scene in the next chapter!

Please let me know what you think! I'm an engine that runs on Reader interactions!

Also, the main ship is Kaida/Atugia as she will ALWAYS be best girl in my heart.​