Elwen the Conquered

“So who is this person you wanted me to meet, anyways?” Elwen asked, munching on a fried pastry. It was similar to a churro, but there wasn't any cinnamon or chocolate syrup.

“You'll see,” Varian answered, “It's a surprise.” She wondered what kind of person it would be. Maybe an adventurer he met? Or maybe another merchant?

“...” She didn't really like that he wasn't telling her. She liked surprises, but not ones she knew about. Like this, it made her anxious, anticipating the surprise. It wasn't fun, only stressful. It would have been a lot worse if she didn't have a yummy treat to snack on.

“Was there anything else you needed? We only got clothes...” Varian asked, concerned that she wouldn't have what she needed when they went adventuring. He was carrying the bags from their little shopping trip, and he could only think that there wasn't enough.

Elwen took another bite of her treat, chewing while she tried to think of anything else. “... I don't think so? Oh! We could try to get some magic focuses. I don't really know where we would find them, but they'd let me cast more powerful magic. I've only used a water one, though, so I have to work with any other before I'd be able to use them...”

“What about a staff or a wand? I saw a couple mages walking around with something similar. Would that also help?” In truth, he hadn't seen many magic users, outside of a small group who all wore the same robes, except an older one who wore a different color. He thought they might have been part of some kind of magic school or something, but he wasn't sure. They all carried staffs, although he couldn't tell if they actually served a purpose.

“I'm not sure...” Elwen replied, “My magic teacher didn't mention anything about them. Maybe they keep a focus in them? The one I used was a big crystal orb, but I don't think they all have to look like that.”

“Hmm...” Varian tried to remember his encounter with the mages. It was just before they boarded the ship to this continent, which wasn't too long ago. Still, he never got a good look at them, so it was hard to remember specific details. “I don't think something like that would fit in the ones I saw, but... Well, there was one that looked like it had some sort of crystal on the top, so maybe that was it? Maybe we should try to find a store for mages. I'm sure they would be able to tell us more... especially if they were trying to sell us one. Maybe you can try one out? See if you like it?”

“Mhmmm! Sounds fun!” She nodded

They arrived at the inn shortly after she finished her churro. It was crowded downstairs, where the dining area was, but there were still a few open seats. “Let's go upstairs,” Varian said, “We can get lunch later.”

“Didn't you want to meet that person?” She asked, “Shouldn't we do that first?”

“I think we'll find them upstairs faster than waiting down here.” What could that mean? Did Varian already know what room they were in or something? And even if they were, there was no way he could know that they were in their room. Normally, people go out and do things during the day, so they probably wouldn't be there. The last three days – she was still shocked it was three entire days – was an exception. It wasn't normal to stay in the room and do nothing all day.

“Are you sure?” She didn't want them to miss the meeting, even despite her apprehension about it being a surprise, “Wouldn't be safer to wait down here?”

“Don't worry,” Varian responded, “it's not something formal, and it doesn't really matter if we miss them. We'll meet them eventually, anyway. We'll be working closely together in the future.”

“... What kind of person is this, anyway?” His assurances didn't make her feel any better. If anything, it made things worse. He was talking like it was they were meeting one of his 'friends,' which always turned out to be important people. He didn't somehow manage to rope in the mayor for dinner again, did he? She couldn't handle him casually bringing in famous people anymore...

“Do you really want to know who it is?” Varian smirked, watching Elwen go through her nervous routine. “I'll tell you if you ask nicely!” They arrived at the door to their room. If he was right, they would be meeting up with her shortly.

“Yes! I want to know!” Elwen exclaimed as she grabbed his sleeve. “Please tell me!”

“Well,” Varian decided to indulge her, “I had, uh, an encounter with someone while I was on my way here.” He explained, choosing his words carefully, “After a long discussion, she decided she wanted to join us, so...” Varian forcefully pushed the door open, “Meet your new slave-sister!”

“Eh?” Her eyes flickered open and closed rapidly, “What?!” She was more shocked than mad. “Wait a minute, there isn't anyone there...” Is this person he met just a figment of his imagination? Did he go insane in the few months they were separated?

“Huh. That's weird.” Varian commented, “I thought she'd be waiting for us when we got back...” He told her not to disturb them until after they left the inn. He wanted to make sure Elwen was somewhat settled in before introducing her. “Well, I guess we'll just meet her later.”

Elwen walk through the door, heading for the bed. She needed to take a nap now. She couldn't believe that Varian picked up another girl without consulting her. What if they didn't get along? What if they hated each other? She couldn't be greedy and say that she wanted him to herself, especially because she didn't think she would be enough for someone like him. But still, she would have at least liked to have some say. “I'm taking a nap.” She told him, diving onto the bed.

“I've got you now!” She heard an unknown voice coming from behind. She turned, just in time to see a black blur drop down from the ceiling, right on top of Varian. He was too slow to dodge it, and she nearly screamed as she thought that the blur would knock him over. She did scream as she held out a hand, taking a few steps back, and instinctively threw a [Waterball] in that direction, immediately tripping and falling in her fright.

The [Waterball] soared through the air, hurtling towards Varian, hitting the person who was now straddling his shoulders. The impact soaked both of them, raining water all across the doorway.

“...” Varian was not amused.

Elwen blinked, finally realizing that the blur wasn't something trying to attack them, but was, in fact, a person. A person who wasn't trying to murder them. She was just sitting there, on Varian's shoulders, like a wet kitten.

Varian let out a sigh, “This was not how I expected this to go. Elwen, it's ok. This is sneaky person is who I wanted you to meet.” Varian lowered himself, pushing the legs wrapped around him off, letting his 'attacker' stand on her own.

Now that she wasn't moving, Elwen could get a much better look at her. She had a round, sensual face with two gleaming red eyes, plush, kissable lips and a small, sharp nose. Her glistening black hair was partially tied up into a bun, with the rest flowing down her back and shoulders. She had a slim and fit figure, which narrowed prettily around her waist, giving her a nice hourglass figure. For a brief moment, Elwen stared at the two large mounds on her chest in jealousy, before convincing herself that it was better that she didn't have to carry those around with her. She wore a black mini dress that tightly hugged her curves and a matching pair of leather boots.

“Elwen, this is Reia, your new slave-sister. She is a succubus [Assassin]. Reia, this is Elwen. She's an elf [Sorcerer].” Varian introduced the two.

“My, My!” Reia ran up to her, all evidence of her displeasure at getting wet washed away, “She's a lot cuter in person! The drawings didn't do you justice!” Suddenly, Elwen found herself held in a tight hug, the mysterious woman rubbing their cheeks together, as her brain rebooted.

“Succubus? Aren't those...” Only now did she see the thin, cat-like tail with a heart-shaped tip poking out behind her, gently waving around, and the small goat-like curved horns poking out of her hair. “Wait! [Assassin]!” Elwen exclaimed, becoming more suspicious of Varian's 'encounter' with her.

“Yep, Succubus.” Varian confirmed, “A sex demon--”

“In more ways then one.” Reia winked.

“--And an [Assassin].” Varian finished.

“... How exactly did you too meet?” Elwen narrowed her eyes. She was becoming more and more suspicious of this woman. While she may be naive, she wasn't born yesterday. You didn't just casually meet an [Assassin] on the street.

“It started, I had a major success on a hunt,” Varian explained, “And I was kind of pent up, so I went to a brothel to celebrate... And well, that's where I met Reia. She had a problem, I helped her solve it, she decided she wanted to stay with me and here we are.”

“Is that true?” Elwen turned to Reia.

“Uhuh!” Reia nodded, not wanting to add in the specifics of the day, thinking that Elwen couldn't find out that she tried to kill Varian when they first met, “That's how it happened.” She felt bad lying to her, but Varian was the one that didn't tell her, and she was still on her trial period. She knew that if Elwen didn't like her, she might get kicked out, and trying to murder Varian was clearly the easiest way to put her out of Elwen's good graces.

“Hmph! Fine! I'll believe you.” Elwen didn't like that Varian went to a brothel instead of her, but they were separated then. Her soreness also reminded her that she wasn't sure that she could handle him alone.

“So, um...” Reia let go of her, “What kind of magic can you do? I've never actually seen any up close...”

“Oh!” Elwen was happily surprised that she was interested in magic, too. “Right now, I mostly just use water magic.”

Reia looked at the small puddles of water around the entrance, droplets still falling out of her wet hair. “I see...”

“I'm sorry! That was an accident...” Now that she knew that she wasn't out to get them, she felt bad about throwing that spell at her.

“No! It's fine!” Reia exclaimed, “I'm sorry I surprised you! It's just that... I thought magic would be more powerful, y'know? That felt more like getting hit by a water balloon.” Reia glanced at the puddles again, “A really big water balloon.”

“... Yeah, that wasn't a very good spell...” Elwen frowned, “It's just that it was one of the first ones I learned, so I just instinctively went with it...”

“So you can use other magic, too?” Reia smiled, “The only time I met a magic user, they just did the same thing over and over, so I thought they couldn't use anything else.”

“Mhmm! I've learned most of the beginner water spells.” Elwen explained, “I also learned how to do a couple of the beginner spells for each of the main elements, but I'm not as good at those yet.”

“Is it fun?” Reia asked, “I've always wanted to be able to use magic, but I couldn't take the risk when I created my character and I've never heard of another way to unlock it...”

Elwen blinked rapidly, “You're from Earth?”

“Mhmm!” Reia nodded, “I've been here a couple years now.”

“Oh...” Elwen didn't think they'd run into someone from earth so soon. The population of players was supposed to be really low compared to non-players. “Um, yeah, magic is great! There's a lot you can do with it, especially if you get creative.” Elwen remembered Reia's question, “I'm just starting out, though. There's still so much to learn... One of the things I've been playing around with is trying to make is a heated bath. I don't want to get stuck without one when we go traveling, plus it helps me practice my control. But what about you? What do you do for fun? Hopefully not [Assassin] things, right?”

“No, no,” Reia laughed, “I don't go around murdering people for fun. I picked being a succubus for a reason.” Elwen's cheeks flushed as she realized the implication. “Other than that, I haven't had a chance to do much. I had a terrible contact with a nasty group of people that prevented me from doing what I wanted, but they're gone now. I think I want to go exploring, see the world, maybe pick up a few hobbies.”

“Well,” Varian interrupted, “I'm going to go get lunch. Why don't you two stay here and get to know each other better?”

“Oh!” Reia stopped him before he left, “Why don't we go with you? We can go out to eat. I'm getting tired of the inn meals...”