Chapter 253

Everyone's eyes focused on me, anxious to hear my request to Velenthel. The two priests in particular were especially interested since they didn't know what my circumstances were other than her labeling me as a former demon. I didn't have a clear picture of what she knew about me and what she didn't. What I did know was that she supposedly had the power to give me one thing I wanted.

"Sorsette told me that when you reincarnated me here, you sealed my memories... something you don't often do for other world travelers. When I met with Charon, he told me that I shouldn't be scared of regaining them, so I'd like to see if there was anything I could do to get them back from you," I told her.

Velenthel smiled. "So you do want them back then? It looks like I win the wager."

I suddenly felt the wind go from my lungs as a second godly presence hit all of us. When I finished gasping for breath I turned my head in the direction opposite of Velenthel. Seated across from the other goddess was a short young woman who looked like she was in her late teens or early twenties. She had pink hair pulled into twin ponytails and dark red eyes that contrasted with her milky white skin. She was pale as if she never saw the sun. She wore modern looking jean shorts and a short t-shirt with a blue and purple abstract design that looked very odd and out of place next to everyone else's clothing.

"Aww, you can't win them all. Are you sure though, Lilith? You had some pretty bad memories locked away in there. I believe you're better off without them."

"Fortuna too?" Altiena gasped.

"Ding ding ding! A lucky guess!" Fortuna happily called out in response.

"I won your wager, Fortuna. Don't try to back out of our deal now," Velenthel said unamused.

"I know, I know. Our wager was that she would come and ask you for them, which she did. Trying to convince her not to take them has no bearing on our bargain. I'll pay out what I owe you, promise," Fortuna replied.

I glared at Fortuna. "Why should I believe you? Charon said I shouldn't fear my memories."

The young looking goddess chuckled and kicked her feet. "He and I have a different philosophy on this kind of thing. The God of Death thinks it's better to live and grow with the pain and whatever, blah blah blah. I think it's better to let those awful feelings drift away and forget all about them. Why remember something that will only hurt you and bring you pain? I made Velly promise to leave the important things intact, your memories of succubi and the fun things from pop culture. The memories of the things you love, like art and skyscrapers. I just asked her to take away the painful parts, your old self. Some of the things that hurt you the way they hurt your lovely dear deer Belladonna here. The reason you killed yourself. That's all. You're better off without all of that weighing you down. I've made sure to line everything up perfectly for you to be happy this time."

My heart sank at her words. I- I couldn't believe what she was saying. I turned to Velenthel. She stared back at me with a straight face and nodded once. "She is telling the truth. She asked me to strip away much of your old self to make things easier on you. I don't know how she seems to know so much about you, but we made a deal that I would take parts of your memories away until you came to ask me for them. I was conflicted because we both knew you were going to be a demon, but she convinced me this would... ahem, 'stack the odds' in favor of you rejecting Felketh. So I accepted."

"Asking for them back was more of a side bet," Fortuna agreed.

I turned back to face Fortuna. "But... why? I... You're one of the Tamin church! If you know so much about me then you should know that I wouldn't support that! I don't understand..."

Fortuna giggled. "Seems there's been an information leak somewhere." She looked over at Velenthel. "Doesn't seem to be you, you look much too surprised right now. It was probably Sorsette, that lady is always up to no good."

Velenthel stood up. "Fortuna! You!? You would support those monsters? Why?"

Fortuna sighed and leaned back against the backrest of her chair. "Relax and sit back down. I can't tell you that, it would break the rules of the game. Too much information can alter the outcome too much and I can't be accused of cheating. Stacking the odds in my favor is one thing, but I won't let myself be accused of outright cheating. Even this meeting is skirting the lines a little bit but I made sure to leave myself enough wiggle room and loopholes within the rules to make sure I got to meet my dear sweet Lilith here in person!"

She turned back to me and smiled. "I had Velly here take those awful memories away because I love you. There's more to it of course, but I can't tell you anything more than that. As for the Tamin church thing, I'll be frank. I hate their guts too, but I need to use them to get what I want. I'm not making any decisions over there, just bankrolling them and setting things up so that I win in the end. I need to make sure the house always wins, after all. What I'm doing is certainly hurting people, I won't deny that, but I don't have a choice here." She sighed and crossed her arms. "I can't stay much longer, hiding this meeting from the others is too taxing and I think I might kill the young elf over there if I push things any farther." She looked me in the eyes and suddenly looked much more serious. "Sleep on it. Velenthel can give you your memories back anytime you ask through her new oracle, but it can't be undone. Will you take a gamble on me?"

Just as suddenly as she came she disappeared. A spinning coin fell to the ground in her place and landed head-side up where her chair had been. A winking image of herself was embossed on the coin that now lay still on the carpet. Velen and Nelly both gasped in relief as the second powerful aura abated. Altiena quickly began to heal the young priest who looked much worse than Nelly did. Even I felt significantly more comfortable now that the second powerful aura was gone.

"Well, I suppose if that isn't proof that we can trust each other, I'm not sure what would be," Velenthel said with a heavy sigh. "I cannot tell you why she is doing what she is doing but I can tell you that Fortuna is my friend. I would have never suspected her to be a member of the Tamin church. I'm unsure what to do with this piece of information, perhaps someone from this room can leak it without my command. That surely is not against the rules," she said while looking at Altiena who nodded solemnly.

"Is that wise? She said that she was hiding this meeting. Wouldn't they be able to trace things back to you?" Bella asked hesitantly.

Velenthel pursed her lips. "Not if the person who leaks the information is careful with how it's done."

I took a deep breath and picked up the coin. It seemed simple, it was a golden coin with her face on it. On the reverse side, there was a picture of a building and "100" written inside a circle along one edge.

"A poker chip?" Altiena asked.

I looked up at her. "Is that what this is?"

She nodded. "I've seen them before."

"It's an invitation. She uses avatars often in her casinos. She's probably hinting for you to come see her again. There isn't one in Goldenhearth though," Velenthel said before sighing. "Regardless. It's as Fortuna said. My oracle will give you your memories back if you ask for them. This meeting has been... enlightening enough, I won't ask for any more payment. There is one more person who would like to ask for a boon here though." She turned and nodded to Bella who's eyes went wide at the sudden address. "Ask, dear."

"I..." She turned to look at me so I put my hand on her leg. I wasn't sure what she was going to ask but I would support her. She took a breath and turned back to Velenthel. "I... want to be able to bear Lilith's children. I do love the way my body feels now but... I feel like I've made a mistake... one that's locked away my chance at fertility..."

Velenthel smiled gently. "I don't think you realize how much you're asking for, dear. You're asking for something much larger than a mere fertility spell. Do you understand that?"

Bella clutched her dress and looked down as her ears went back. "Y-yes."

"Four," Velenthel said.

Bella looked up at her. "What?"

Velenthel smiled. "I will do it if you promise, and convince Baphomet, to have four children with you. That doesn't include any she has with others... or any that you put in her belly instead."

"F-four?" Bella squeaked out. She turned to me and I'm sure I looked more surprised than she did.

My eyebrows creased and I took one of her hands. "Four children is a lot... are you sure this is what you want?" I asked.

She licked her lips and nodded. "...For a start."

Velenthel laughed. "Now that's a good dearie. Close to my heart already. Are you sure you don't wish to become one of my priests as well?"

Bella blushed and nodded, unable to meet either of our eyes again. "T-that's okay."

I would be lying if I said the prospect didn't frighten me. I was already afraid of being a mother. But... I could also tell that this meant a lot to Bella. She really wanted this... and it would... maybe make things easier. If I was technically the father, maybe it wouldn't be so scary. Fuck, why this now on top of everything else that's happened? I'm getting overwhelmed.

I took a deep breath and squeezed her hand. "Four... to start."

Velenthel clapped. "Perfect. One moment."

[Origin of Succubi] alters core racial trait [Succubus Shifting] and [Greater Succubus Shifting]

[Greater Succubus Shifting]The god of Change and your own efforts have upgraded your ability to alter your form. You are now able to alter any part of your appearance, features, or proportions with greater efficiency as long as you can afford the strain on your mana. Alterations that deviate too far from your true form will be harder to control and maintain. You are able to shapeshift your tongue's thickness and length and control it like a prehensile organ as well as shapeshift your genitalia. By the blessing of Velenthel, shapeshifted genitalia are virile and fertile while the transformation is maintained. Succubi carrying children will not be able to remove their womb while they are pregnant. For a small amount of mana, you may suppress your true form, an effect that persists until intentionally released. This skill and its effects are undetectable to system identification. Mana is reserved to maintain this ability’s effects as long as it’s kept active.

"It's done. Now all of the succubi can have children when shifted, provided they allow it with [Sexual Appetite]. You best get started on that first one as soon as possible or I'll be very cross with you, Belladonna."

Bella blushed and whimpered in embarrassment. "Y-yes Goddess."

"Does this mean..." Nelly asked while glancing at Kal'daeryn.

"Yes, dear. Your fertility has returned with your change and Kal'daeryn can now sire your children if she is so inclined through her shifting abilities," Velenthel answered. "It would truly make me happy to see my beloved oracle finally become a mother after so much yearning."

Nelly looked delighted and Kal'daeryn looked... just as freaked out as I felt right now, if I'm honest.

Velenthel sighed. "I do believe that is everything I came here for... and more. Now that I have my beloved oracle following you, know that I am keeping a close eye on you from now on, Baphomet. I am happy to find that you have rejected your demonic heritage and embraced Sorsette instead. I may have tried to push you in the direction of Fortuna as well had things not... gone the way they had, but that's life. Things are never so simple." She turned to her two priests. "Do not speak of any of Baphomet's secrets, including their nature as Succubi and former demons. However, you may tell others of Nelly's new status as an oracle, my presence here, and other details. Just bear in mind that I require Oracle Nelly to travel with Baphomet, this is her divine mission from your goddess. Altiena, get more sleep and continue to look after our dear Velen. I know that you have chosen to retire soon, but if you change your mind I would be delighted to see you move up in rank and prepare Velen to be an excellent successor. You are a good influence on my church. I will continue to watch over your growth, my dear high priest."

Altiena and Velen had both been moved to tears and bowed to Velenthel. "Yes, my goddess," they said in unison as she faded away.

The room felt quiet as the pressure of Velenthel's aura left as well. All of us were dazed for different reasons. As significant as some of the other things had been, I was fixated on Fortuna and what she said to me. I didn't know what to think anymore and I didn't know what to do about my memories. I had also... promised to get Bella pregnant. It was something that had appealed to me in my fantasies but now... now I was committed to it and that scared me.

"Velen... I'm sorry to ask this of you right now, but will you go clear my schedule for the day? I... think I should talk with Miss Baphomet and Oracle Nelly a bit longer and... I don't think I can handle any other appointments today. Have the kitchen prepare the six of us lunch as well."

"Of course, High Priest," Velen said as she stood on shaky legs before quietly leaving the room.

Altiena rubbed her face before sitting up and looking at me. "Miss Baphomet, I have never spoken with Goddess Velenthel directly before. I just... wanted you to know that. Please, why don't you tell me a little bit more about who you are and where you come from? And what a succubi is, so that I can properly understand my goddess' orders."