Re: Rift Touched
“In my backpack is an enchanted rag that can clean me” you say with a giggle as you point towards the door passed the women “Can you clean me off?” None of them respond as Freya quickly saunters over to the door, dropping her toga back over her spent penis. She kneels at your backpack and opens it up, rifling through until she finds the rag and walks back over to you. It only takes a minute or two for her to fully clean you, and you tease her and the others the entire time, but eventually you decide that you have one last stop to make in the estate and so you gather up the rest of your gear and armor and bid the others farewell. “Please, if you ever want to visit, Colette, our door is open to you always” Hera says as you open the door. You look over your shoulder and smile sweetly at her, seeing as there is both lust in her eyes for you, and a sincere affection as well that, upon further inspection, is evident in all of their eyes. “Thank you” you reply sweetly “For everything. For the advice, and for the fun – I’ll definitely take you up on your offer”. You wave goodbye and step out the door, walking down the hall silently and feeling very good inside… content even. You remember what Julian said earlier and where Glethal’s room is, and so you head that way to see what she wanted to discuss.
4: 30 pm
~
4:33 pm
You find yourself in front of an iron door, split into two halves that combine when closed to form the emblem of Kilnhaven. You followed Julian’s previous directions by going up the stone steps and further up to the right, following the hallway and then taking a left, following the hallway down once more, and then another left. As he said the entrance to their, or perhaps just Glethal’s chamber, as across from her room is another door, though of sturdy wood and the crest of Kilnhaven burned into the surface, was near the center of the hallway on your left. You figure the wooden door must lead Koren’s room, but it Julian made it sound like they were both in one room. That was hours ago, however, so things may have changed since then – you actually feel a little guilty, because instead of going straight to them you decided to have some sexy, dirty fun with the orcs and amazons. Not that you regret the decision considering you feel much better, but the point still stands. No use dwelling on it you think somberly, and even a little wistfully as you recall the last few hours Maybe it’s for the best – give her some time to mourn and process all that’s happened. I know I’ve needed it… in my own way – I think I might be addicted to sex… or just a hedonist. After your self-reflection you snap back to reality and observe the door, noting that instead of knobs there are two iron handles, and on the left door near the top is a heavy looking ring knocker. You reach up with your left hand and grasp the knocker, noting that it is indeed as heavy as it looks, and rap it against the door three times, each strike sounding like a low gong against the metal. You release the knocker and pull your arm back, flexing your hand in its leather confines, straining the leather as the vibrations sent tingles up and down your arm. You stare at the iron door as you rub your stomach underneath your coat and over your studded leather armor, smiling naughtily as your stomach is still full of cum, both from the orcs and even more from your most recent encounter with Hera and her amazons.
Gods… ever since I left home I’ve been acting like a total slut, and quite literally a whore at one point you reflect, but not without a slight grin on your face First with Charles, then with Lula, on multiple occasions, Trish, then the temple of Domina with the others, the temple of Dwynvel, Deidra’s, here… it’s been nonstop sex and debauchery. But it doesn’t just feel good – it feels amazing if I’m being honest, and maybe I’m getting a bit desensitized to it – but it’s also… “doing” things to me. I mean, succubi and some other magic creatures and beings can be rejuvenated through the essence of others, whether it be blood or other fluids, via their residual magic. But I’m not a succubi nor a magical being… am I? It’s not just that, but people seem unusually attracted to me from first glances, and call me crazy but I think it’s getting stronger. I think I’m “influencing” people towards me, and since I love sex so much I think the contact I have with people only hastens the effect.
Your train of thought is interrupted when you hear the door in front of you opening, and when you refocus your eyes and leave the recesses of your mind you notice that the left door is in fact moving, and quickly you might add. You wait a moment in front of the door, only to be surprised when you see that the one behind the door is none other than the governess, Glethal. The late middle-aged half-goblin woman is dressed in a simple blue dress that goes from her shoulders down to her ankles. There’s nothing spectacular about it, and it even looks somewhat dull and faded and it doesn’t hug her skin tightly, but somehow on her it looks elegant. Her black hair is down and goes passed her shoulders behind her, unkempt almost, and her once milky pale green skin looks ill, while around the cornea of her dark eyes is red and moist as if she had been crying for long hours. This may be true as she sniffs lightly and pulls the door open further in invitation as she sees you, wiping her eyes with her hands and putting on a confident smile. “Colette” she says happily, though you’re not fooled in the slightest that she’s really happy “Please, please, come in! I am glad that you have come. Koren, please pour a cup of tea for our guest!” She turns around and says into the room, and look over her shoulder you see Koren sitting in a comfortable looking chair next to a fireplace, his hands in his hair and his elbows on his knees looking deep in thought and quite frustrated. Across from him is another chair, presumably where Glethal was sitting, and next to both of those is a table with two cups and a kettle, presumably filled with hot tea. Koren looks up and towards the door when his mother calls him, and his eyes are equally bloodshot and his face grim, but upon seeing you his mood seems to brighten somewhat. You flash a smile towards him and then his mother, thanking her as she moves out of the way to allow you entrance. You stride into the room and watch as Koren rises and walks towards the left side of the room where a large vanity sits, grabbing the chair from it and setting it in front of the table between the other two chairs before pouring a glass of tea for you after pulling out a cup presumably from a drawer in the table. You look over your shoulder as you march towards the chair, watching Glethal easily close the iron door, making you wonder if it’s really made of iron or not as heavy as it looks… or maybe Glethal is just strong.
The room is large; though not quite as much square footage as Hera’s room given that it’s only her that lives in here most of the time. There’s sunlight that comes in from a shaft in the ceiling, which you find odd since you’re nowhere near the top of the building, but upon further inspection you notice that there’s a magical light orb that is suspended in the air that gives off the illusion of sunlight… and it hopefully dims when Glethal decides to go to bed. The floor has a lovely red carpet covering the stone, and a large four-poster bed on the right side of the room. It strikes you as odd that there would be such a large bed for only one person, but you change your tune once you notice that the bed looks old; the wooden frame’s paint is faded and slightly cracked in some areas, though it still looks sturdy enough, and the sheets are a somewhat faded crème color as if they’ve been washed over and over again, yet most noticeable is that the left side of the bed is perfectly tucked in and made up and quite stiff to your sight, whereas the right side looks like it has been recently slept in, given that it’s not as rigid. The only explanation you can conjure up is that she has slept in the same bed that her and her late husband Ulric used many years ago, and that she continues to make the bed and sleep “next” to him, where he used to sleep. You have conflicted feelings on this; one the one hand it’s sweet, but likewise sad that Ulric died and that she hasn’t quite moved on entirely yet. You continue to examine the room and note the two nightstands on either side of the bed, and directly left to the bed is a painting. You stop in front of the table as you reach it and stare at the painting, and for the first time you see what Ulric looked like years ago. The painting is of Glethal, wearing a crème and red colored dress and looking very similar to what she does now, albeit younger, and cradling a sleeping pinkish green baby Koren in her arms, who’s wearing a blue pajama gown. Beside her in the painting is Ulric, a handsome human with a bright, happy smile – Ulric looked to have been a few inches taller than Glethal, and what seems to be a theme in the family is dark black hair that is tied in a ponytail and goes down passed his shoulders. He had grey eyes and a proud, almost boyish face and looked to be wearing a double breasted vest similar to what Koren wore last night. Both Ulric and Glethal are smiling and look… well, they look happy as can be, which is a tragic thought considering the evil that befell him and almost befell his loved ones. You don’t know what is worse, that Arlandus didn’t kill his wife and son soon after, or that his evil was allowed to fester for so many years and that he practically raised Koren in his stead. Still you think as you glance over at Koren, who has a look of expectance and agitated exhaustion written across his face He seems to have turned out alright all things considered.
On the adjacent wall is another painting, this one of a late-teenage or possibly young-adult Koren, wearing a double breasted vest – a favorite of his you surmise – standing stiff as a board and looking both nervous and proud, with his skin tone reflecting that of his current, which is a light green with a slight, almost pink, tint to it and fuller features rather than a goblin’s angular ones. Beside the bed on the right side, next to the nightstand, is an open door with a walk-in closet, and on the other side of the room is an ajar door that looks to the bathing area with the chamber pot, a common theme in Eborthian architecture. Between the vanity and bathroom is a large couch with two large cushioned chairs across from them. All in all it’s a very classy and simple room, but for some reason it fits Glethal perfectly, at least from what you’ve seen thus far. “Miss Colette?” Koren’s voice pulls you back to reality, and you look at him and smile when you see he’s holding a steaming cup of tea for you. “Sorry” you say to Koren, before turning to Glethal at your side as she walks up “And to you. I was just admiring your taste in furniture and decoration… and your beautiful family”. Glethal winces slightly at the mention of her family, and you immediately mentally slap yourself, but she smiles and shakes her head as you frown at yourself. “Thank you, young miss, and do not trouble yourself. If not for you then I would not have a family left to call beautiful… please, I would feel like a poor host if you didn’t relax and enjoy some tea”. Glethal’s voice is pained, but smooth and confident all at once with a familiar motherly tone to it. You smile and nod before walking over to Koren and taking the cup in your hands, thanking him – he smiles widely when you smile and thank him you notice – and walking in front of him around the table, taking a seat after removing your pack, weapons, and bow, and blowing on your tea before sipping it lightly. “Mmm” you say as your eyes light up in delight, especially when you taste some cream inside of it that lights up your taste buds mingled with a sweet yet tart berry “What’s in it?” Lady Glethal smiles warmly at you as she walks around the table, taking her seat and picking up her own cup and taking a sip. She finishes her small sip and sighs contentedly before looking at you and saying “Just a simple mix of cranberry jam, honey, milk, and hot water. Stewed for forty-five minutes to an hour over an open flame, stirred occasionally so it doesn’t settle at the bottom of the kettle”. You take another sip and close your eyes, moaning happily as the taste of cranberry, milk, and honey washes over your tongue and warms your throat and stomach as it travels down your esophagus. You open your eyes and see Koren looking at you with a little disbelief and tiny arousal as his cheeks go slightly red, while Glethal smirks at you with a raised eyebrow.
“Ugh, sorry” you say, realizing that your moan sounded perhaps a bit too sexual for simply drinking some tea, though you can’t help but lick your red lips as you savor the taste “It’s just really, really good, um, tea”. Glethal stares at you for a moment, as does Koren, before she literally bursts out laughing, causing her cup to shake and the tea to slosh about. She continues to laugh in a girlish voice and shakily places her cup on the table before bringing her left hand to her mouth as the color in her pale green skin seems to come alive with her laughter. Eventually, she calms down and you look to Koren, who’s watching his mother with both fascination and… relief? “My word” Glethal begins as she wipes some tears from her eyes, offering light giggles as she tries to compose herself “I had no idea my tea could produce such a reaction. Why, if I had known that then I would have made it more and Ulric would have given me more than one son in a much shorter span of time!” “Mother!” Koren exclaims in embarrassment, setting down his cup and placing his hands over his face “Not in front of Miss Colette, please!” Koren leans back in his chair, and it’s now that you notice he’s not actually wearing a double breasted vest, but instead he’s wearing a simple yet fashionable dark blue dress shirt and black and grey striped pants with a pair of dark socks… and come to think of it you do believe that Glethal isn’t wearing any shoes or socks at all, and a quick glance confirms your initial overlooked observation. “Oh, hush, Koren!” Glethal chides playfully as she rolls her eyes and clicks her tongue at her son “It’s how life is produced. There’s nothing wrong with it, and if it wasn’t at my own urging then your father would have been too modest and humble to make the first moves to begin with. Ah, but you may be right; the young miss does look young, though I may be mistaken. Forgive me, but you are half-elven correct? Your elven blood makes it difficult to discern your age”. You shake your head with a smile and say “No, you’re right, I’m no older than twenty”. “Twenty?!” Koren exclaims with surprise, leaning forward and staring at you with disbelief while Glethal simply stares at you, nearly unbelieving. “You’re younger than I am?” Koren adds, and Glethal mimics his response by saying “Goodness, you shouldn’t be out of the house for at least another ten years, twenty preferably. Why, you must have quite the adventuress spirit!” You chuckle lightly and scratch the top of your head and shrug your shoulders – “Kind of” you admit “I think I take after my mother. She was apparently quite ‘spirited’ as my father puts it, still is now that I think about it. I don’t think my uncle helped anything either… but I do agree that a little boldness goes a long way, Lady Glethal. Sometimes you just have to” you stop and think about when you first started to “explore” your sexuality, how nervous you were until it become easier and better “Take the first steps and jump right in; you never know until you try, right?”.
Glethal smiles and raises her hand out at you, as if to show Koren something, and says “Look, see here, Koren! She may be young but she speaks wisely and intelligently. Have confidence in yourself, don’t be such a prude, and don’t be afraid to speak up”. “I-I… I am not a prude mother!” Koren replies, aghast at the insinuation – you find the situation to be both a little awkward, and kind of funny, so you sit back, sip your tea, smile, and watch it unfold. “I love you more than life itself, my baby boy, but you are just like your father in so many wonderful ways, but you also have some of his flaws. You are far too modest and you wouldn’t know if someone was interested with you if it hit you square on the head, and you wouldn’t approach them if they didn’t make the first move. You are a handsome young man and there are so many lovely girls that pine for you… and even a few older women as well. I won’t judge you, my baby – I just want you to live a little bit and ‘unstiffen’”. Ouch you think with an amused smirk, taking another sip of the wonderful milky tea in your hands Cold burned by your own mother! “Can we not discuss this in front of Miss Colette, Mother?” Koren implores as his cheeks turn a little red from embarrassment, though Glethal only smirks and turns to you, saying “You don’t mind, do you? Oh, and please call me Glethal; you of all people don’t need to stand on ceremony with me. You saved my boy’s life and the lives of so many others last night”. “Oh, I don’t mind at all… Glethal” you say with a grin as you put your left hand up, waving it to show you really do not mind as you’re having too much fun. Glethal smiles and nods at you before continuing the barrage at her son, playfully of course, though Koren doesn’t seem quite as amused as his teasing mother. “Now, I was with your father for many years and, while he wasn’t my first, he was certainly my last. I had a few ‘experiences’ as a young woman, and I learned something about men, especially modest, gentle, wonderful men; sometimes they need a little ‘encouragement’. I just don’t want you to fall victim to your own honor and nobility, my sweet boy. Have you even lain with a woman yet?” Koren’s face turns beet red as his mouth gapes open, completely mortified by his mother’s words and questioning, and looking quite hesitant to answer… or maybe he’s so shocked he can’t.
Oh, this just keeps getting better and better you think in amusement as you take a silent sip and lean back into your chair, somewhat slumping to make yourself smaller as you smile on.
“I-I… you… w-why, I don’t think that’s any of your business mother!” Koren answers in a shaky voice. Virgin! – “As I thought” Glethal replies, a smile playing across her face before she continues, pointing to you playfully for some reason. “You should find a nice girl like young Colette here. A nice girl that will take care of you, someone that you can love and that will love you back. Why, if you don’t act then they might slip away forever and I’ll be an old decrepit woman without any grandchildren to dote on wagging my finger at you telling you ‘I told you so’. Why, it would break your mother’s poor heart”. “I-I-I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, mother!” Koren proclaims loudly “I can take care of you as well, I will not leave you decrepit, and just because I am attracted to Colette…” Koren stops in his tracks and goes pale as he looks at you, and you look back at him with unblinking eyes, trying to process exactly what he just said. “I-I mean, I am attracted to her, um, confidence and skills in battle, n-not just her dazzling b-beauty a-and… I am thankful for her saving o-our lives, and would never seek to disrespect you, h-her in any way for her heroism a-and…” Koren continues falling over his words, while you crack a tiny grin as your eyebrow twitches in delight seeing his boyish features turn redder and redder, yet Glethal seems to live up his son’s mortification by clapping her hands together quickly in excitement and squealing lowly. “See, that wasn’t so hard was it?” she says before grinning like a cat and turning to you “Oh, I’m sorry for dragging you into this, Colette, I hope I haven’t embarrassed you overly much?” You look at Koren into his eyes and grin slightly, which he tries to hide from your gaze as he places his left hand over his face and groans, slouching into the chair. “Not at all” you reply with a smile as you turn to the governess, surprised at how familiar she’s being with you “I think it’s funny and… cute”. Glethal’s ears seem to prick up and her eyebrows twitch as she says “See, Koren, she thinks your cute! Oh, forgive me… I am truly thankful you came along. It’s taken my mind off of less… happy thoughts”. Her face turns to one of sorrow an pain as her eyes dart towards the painting with Ulric before they downcast, and you see a mist forming around her eyes.
Koren immediately rises from his chair and quickly strides over to his mother, kneel at the chair beside her and looking up at her as he takes her hand and squeezes it gently. “We’ll get through this, mom. Arlandus is gone and he can’t use or hurt us ever again”. Glethal just shakes her head and looks so tired as she says “I know, but I should have known – I kept that… murderer close to you, I called that monster my friend, and I… I let him help raise you! I wanted him as your godfather, oh how blind I was…!” Koren winces, but remains firm despite the pain he must be feeling and replies resolutely “He was like a father to me, but he will never be my father. We can get through this, together, I promise. You could never have known, and neither could I or anyone else for that matter”. Nyx knew enough about him, apparently, since she recognized his handwriting and knew about the beneficent “donators” he had in Lumin city you think grimly But that’s because she’s pretty well connected thanks to her position. She may even hold more power than the governess herself in some regards… “Well” Glethal says as she squeezes her left hand in Koren’s and pats the top of his with her right, before sighing in a shaky, heavy tone as she turns to you and smiles. “I would like to personally thank you, on behalf of the city, its people, and on behalf myself personally as the governess… and as a mother. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving the life of my precious son – if I lost him, well, I don’t know what I would do. A thousand times, thank you, and if there is anything you should ever want or need you only have to ask and I will do my utmost to honor your request”. You turn around and set your cup on the table before turning back to Glethal and Koren, putting your hands in your lap as you smile sincerely and graciously at your hosts, even bowing a little in respect. “My lady… Glethal, Koren, I am honored; I am just… ashamed and saddened that I could not stop him sooner, and that so many died. I’m just glad I could help save as many as possible and prevent him from taking over the city and continuing with his evil existence” A sadness envelopes you, though it’s not quite as crushing as before, yet it still weighs on you despite the wounds not aching anymore. “Oh, child” Glethal says as she pats her sons hand, urging him to move before standing up and walking over to you… and kneeling down in front of you. She looks up into your emerald eyes with tenderness and thanks, and in those eyes of hers you see a lifetime of constant struggle and a wisdom that comes with age and experience for one that has chosen to learn from their life. “There is nothing you could have done, save killing him immediately upon seeing him. Life often does not turn out the way we want it to, or the way that we hope. We push on and try to bear the weight of our choices, and I won’t lie to you and say that there won’t be regrets or poor choices on your part, because there will be, but more often than not we must bear the weight of things out of our control. That is life; it is cruel, unforgiving, a constant struggle, and constantly trying to push you down… and some just can’t bear the weight anymore and that’s the gods’ honest truth. You saved me from that weight, you saved others from that weight along with their lives, and some that you saved will remember this day and perhaps live the rest of their lives in pain and fear, perhaps even taking their own lives to make the screams go away, and there’s nothing you can do to stop that. But what you did mattered; it mattered to me and so many others, even if the gods and the cosmos itself doesn’t care, it mattered… and that is enough for me, and I pray that it is enough for you because I know you did all you could, even with that strange power of yours… which I am curious about”.