Chapter 111: Soul Searching

The pillars of Orenous’ temple loomed above them once more. Scantily, but decently clad, priests and priestesses went about their business as the group strode through the main archway.

The three girls had met back up with Bren and Lucia after Junia had departed. The healer was disappointed he’d missed meeting his not-really-older-sister, but with the promise of dinner that night, he’d calmed down. They’d decided to visit the temple first thing, since Kat’s newest development was their largest priority.

Can’t have the princess running around breaking out in scales, Ann had thought.

“Hey, is Rowena in?” Ann asked, grabbing a passing priestess by the arm.

“The Mother Superior? I don’t know. Haven’t seen her today. Try with Emrick? I have to get going or I’m gonna be late for the sermon. If you don’t mind?”

Ann let the woman go and she scurried off. The place was big enough that she supposed it wasn’t unreasonable that the girl wouldn’t know where the leader of the Temple was. Not like I’d know who Emrick would be, either, she thought.

“Let’s just knock on ‘er door,” Kat grumbled. “Not like we don’t know the way at this point.”

“Might be best,” Lucia nodded.

They made their way through the temple towards Rowena’s office. It was always an interesting path. Sermons and private meetings were held in more closed off rooms along the way. Ann’s sensitive ears picked up lessons on love, romance, consent and self care. She’d barely spent any time in the place dedicated to her patron Goddess, and feelings of irresponsibility crept into her. Should she be learning more about the hierarchy and structure of the faith?

I have kinda skipped the line to the top, she thought, peeking in on a group of women receiving what looked like sexual education. A diagram of the female reproductive system was sketched out on the chalkboard at the head of the room. Would I be helping out with anything here? Orenous chose me to fight Warped, but I might be able to teach something.

A noise in a nearby room interrupted her internal monologue. They’d progressed pretty far, and were in the last halls before Rowena’s office. The door had been left cracked, and her curiosity wouldn’t let her leave without checking. As she moved, Kat had seemingly heard the noise as well, and joined her.

Nudging the door open just slightly more, they saw the source of the noise. Four people lay atop a mess of pillows scattered in the centre of the room. Two women and two men lost in passion as their bodies moved together. The two women were locked in a deep embrace, hands roaming over each other as they kissed passionately. Each man held their lower halves up, strong arms keeping them steady as they drove their partners into each other.

Kat let out a quiet whine from beside Ann, and when she looked, Ann found the woman’s thighs grinding together. Oh right, she’s got the voyeur thing, Ann thought with an internal note. We’ll have to play with that later.

She couldn’t deny the sight was hot. Imagining getting pinned between two lovers like that, or doing the pinning, definitely sparked her interest.

When one of the women broke the kiss, glancing at the door, Kat squeaked. The priestess grinned and blew a kiss, then went right back to making out with her fellow priestess.

My temple is full of degenerates, Ann decided. Well, my Goddess’. Can’t really call it mine.

“Come on, Kat,” Ann whispered. “Not why we’re here.”

“But…”

“Kat.”

“Fine,” Kat sighed quietly. Her ears were bright red as they stood and closed the door, leaving it cracked like the group had clearly intended.

Ann leaned close to her Alfhindur lover, whispering into her ear. “Promise we’ll do something about that later.”

“Feckin’ better,” Kat whined.

“What was back there?” Rosalyn asked quietly, noting Kat’s crimson face.

“Four priests fucking and wanting to get seen,” Ann leant down to whisper.

“Ooh, and Kat loves watching, too. Poor lover. Definitely help you satisfy that later,” Rosalyn whispered, patting Kat’s shoulder.

“We have a few things I want to do,” Ann mumbled, a mischievous grin showing off her fangs.

“If you ladies are ready?” Bren prompted, waving them forward.

A short walk later, they knocked at Rowena’s door.

“Come in!” the muffled call from within came.

“Hey Rowena, we’re back!” Ann called, striding confidently in.

Rowena stood, her bright yellow eyes wide as she fumbled the papers in her hands. “Oh, Champion! I am not presentable for your presence! Please, do not look upon me poorly because of this.”

Wow, she’s not getting better, Ann thought. “Relax. We didn’t warn you, no worries. And not presentable?”

Rowena was dressed in her customary purple toga adorned with golden ornamentation, indicating her status. It was exactly the uniform she’d been in the last few meetings.

“Yes, quite. You deserve more from me. More than I can rightly give, but I would be more prepared for your holiness.”

“Oi, cut it. That’s not fer current company,” Kat chided her.

Rowena seemingly just realised that Bren and Lucia were with them. “Right, apologies, highness. How can I offer my services to you today?”

The entire group rolled their eyes, but settled onto various chairs and couches, Lucia taking a perch on a stool.

“It’s ‘bout me, actually,” Kat started. “Somethin’s happened in the last Seed. Well, after. Maybe afore? I’ve had a rash on the back o’ me neck fer a bit.”

“Did you have it checked before?” Rowena asked, eyes showing immediate concern.

She may be infatuated with me, but it’s good to see she’s still concerned with others in the room, Ann thought as the priestess stood to make her way over to Kat.

“Aye. One o’ yer priests. Old bloke wit’ a cane took a look an’ said ‘e wasn’t sure what it was. Couldn’t sense any disease. Well, think we know why ‘e couldn’t.”

As Rowena rounded the chair Kat sat in, the princess pulled her hair to the side, displaying the glittering blue scales on her neck.

“Illdall preserve us,” Rowena gasped. “How long have you had these?”

“A day. Rash ‘as been around fer a few, though.”

“And Gerald couldn’t find anything wrong. You are displaying signs of another creature’s essence mixing with your body. That is one of the first signs of Warping. I apologise. I must ask the usual questions. Have you had any lapses in consciousness? Urges to harm those you would normally hold dear? Increased anger?”

“Nae. Been pretty normal as far as me head goes,” Kat shook her head.

Rowena looked at Bren.

“She has been completely normal. Yes, it has been a stressful few days dealing with the rescue in the Seed and returning to finish it off, but no mental abnormalities that I can describe.”

“Just like Annita,” Rowena mumbled, fingers tracing the scales. “Have you determined the creature these belong to?”

“Dragon,” Lucia grunted.

“Well, most likely. We kinda went through a lot and that’s the only one that really makes sense. Fish and other lizards don’t have the same type of scale. It’s either that or some hybrid we don’t know about.”

“Yes, with that colour, it would make sense,” Rowena nodded, prodding at Kat’s neck. “Katlyn, would you mind if I take a more invasive look? Not physically, but spiritually. I must check to make sure that nothing has corrupted your essence.”

“Erm, yeah? Sure?” Kat shrugged. “Wait, why didn’t ye do somethin’ like this fer Ann?”

“Well, when you have a Goddess prodding at you to trust the obviously Warped woman before you, it lends credence to her words,” Rowena shrugged. “Unfortunately, I’m not getting the same for you, so I wish to check.”

“Go ahead,” Kat shrugged.

Ann walked over, kneeling beside Kat and taking her hand. “Gonna be right here.”

“Same for me,” Rosalyn said, popping up next to Ann.

“This will be slightly uncomfortable, Katlyn. Please do not resist, as it will only make it painful.”

Kat nodded and grit her teeth.

Katlyn Farragher

She felt Ann’s hand in hers, Rosalyn grasping her forearm, but her vision went black. Kat whipped her head left and right as she was thrust into a void. Focusing, she forced herself to calm down. This is probably what Rowena’s spell was supposed to be doing. The priestess bitch was looking into her soul.

“She is, and she isn’t,” a voice from behind her said.

Kat’s vision swam, and the world around her distorted sickeningly before coalescing into a city. It looked like Graven Keep with the architecture of Korvas. Memories?

A cry from nearby accompanied by shouts caught her ear. Sounded like someone was being attacked. Before she even realised what she was doing, her legs were running towards the noise, her sword and shield having materialised from nowhere. Dream logic is feckin’ wild.

Rounding a corner, she found an old man, withered with a cane being accosted by several thugs. The men and women were jeering at the unfortunate soul.

“Give us our money, old man. You’re well past due and the boss needs it back,” the woman at the front of the group growled.

They all looked like street thugs. A local gang? Even in my feckin’ dreams, people’re causin’ trouble.

“Oi, back off from the ol’ man,” Kat called, shouldering her sword and striding forward. If these people had combat Paths, she’d be in trouble, but she’d take a beating if it meant saving the old coot.

“Who the fuck are you?” one of the men spat, the gob of mucous landing at her feet.

Kat sneered at the gesture, but forced herself to calm. “Just someone passin’ by. Heard the yellin’ an’ figured I’d check it out. What’s the problem?”

“This old bastard,” the leader growled, kicking the legs out from under the old man, “is late on his debts. He’s got people huntin’ for him, and we’re here to collect. One way or another. Back off, big stuff, if you know what’s good for you.”

Gods damnit, we’re doing it this way. This is gonna feckin’ hurt, Kat groaned inwardly.

“Alright, I get the picture. How’s about this? I can pay ye what ‘e owes, an’ ye leave ‘im alone? No one gets ‘urt, more than they already ‘ave, an’ we go our ways. Ya ken?”

“Hah, listen to her,” one of the men chortled.

“Boss said we’re to make an example of him if he couldn’t pay,” the lead woman said, cracking her knuckles. “Sorry, that’s not gonna work.”

“An’ I’m not lettin’ ye ‘urt ‘im any more’n ye ‘ave,” Kat growled. “Back off, or we do this the ugly way.”

One of the bigger thugs swung at her. He was clumsy, oafish, and Kat sidestepped the swing with ease. He turned, trying to backhand her, but connected with air as she leaned backwards, then brought the pommel of her sword down on his skull.

Morons, Kat thought. She’d held back, afraid her full strength would seriously hurt the man, but she kicked him out of the way as the rest charged her.

Two drew knives thrusting forward. She caught one on her shield, the impact throwing the blade out of the woman’s hand, then thrust her sword forward, stabbing the other assailant in his leg. He went down screaming in pain, blood flowing.

The woman grappled with the shield, trying to pull it off Kat’s arm. This proved to be a mistake as Kat slammed the shield into her chest, sending her flying backward.

Two more. Look tougher than the rest, Kat thought, flicking her eyes between the leader and her last lackey. Leader’s got a combat Path. Don’t see a weapon on ‘er. Other’s got a cudgel. Bad matchup fer him wit me shield. Need tae keep the cunt at range. Deal wit’ ‘er friend first. “C’mon champ. Or should I say chump?” Kat taunted the man, pointing her sword at the cudgel wielding thug.

The skill triggered, and Kat saw the flash of anger in his eyes. Muscles tensed in his shoulder as he pulled back to swing. Just as he flexed to bring the weapon down, Kat was swinging her shield to block the weapon. It bounced off the turtle shell with a hollow thunk, harmless. Kat swept her sword forward, but the thug had the basic self-preservation instincts to dodge.

Following him wasn’t an option, as the leader fell upon Kat’s flank. Two fists slammed into her shoulder, denting the armour. Cunt’s feckin’ strong, Kat thought, using the impact to readjust her stance.

The cudgel brute came back at her, swinging for her sword side. She casually dropped her sword, stepped forward, grabbed his swinging arm, and slammed her shield into his head. Letting go of his arm, Kat let his unconscious body fall to the ground.

“Just our luck,” the leader groaned. “Gonna have to actually try.”

Kat didn’t respond. She needed to focus on this one. Someone who could dent the ironbark on her shoulders was going to be a serious threat. Settling into a defensive stance, Kat watched the woman.

She was a fist fighter, that was for sure, but she didn’t move like Ann or Kearan. Those two had a dancing fluidity to their movements when they weren’t striking. This woman’s stance was solid, unyielding, and purposeful. She walked with the weight of intent, then got in range of Kat’s sword.

Kat thrust, keeping herself behind her shield.

The pugilist stepped to the side, using her forearm to knock the flat of her blade to the side, then punched into the shield.

Kat felt her arm go numb from the impact, but used Stand Your Ground to remain where she was.

The fighter grabbed the shield, wrenching it to the side, then swung at Kat’s exposed chest.

Kat triggered Reactive Defence, reducing the damage of the impact, then swung. She caught the woman’s arm, the sharp blade cutting deep into muscle.

The woman cried out and jumped back with a yelp, tearing a deep gash as the blade pulled free. She held the wound as blood seeped between her fingers.

Black blood.

Kat’s eyes widened as she saw the woman’s form swim before her eyes, skin twisting and flowing. The woman stretched inhumanly long arms toward Kat.

Kat couldn’t move. Frozen in fear, she raised her shield, then glanced at the man. He was right next to her. Feck, the creature saw him too.

It adjusted, clawed, stretched limbs streaking out towards the frail man. Hair fell from the woman’s head, leaving bald patches as her head widened, mouth opening into a sickening maw with hundreds of flat teeth.

Feck everythin’, Kat swore. Her body moved, and in the last moment, she was between the man and the monster. Reactive Defence activated, but the creature punched through it into her back.

Kat felt pain blossom in her shoulder, and she coughed as something broke inside her. Shoulder blade, ribs, maybe a lung. Feck, not good. She looked down. The man cowering before her. Protect him, she berated herself. Don’t matter what happens tae ye. Make sure he lives.

“Get out,” Kat groaned, gasping as the creature pulled its claw from her back. “Feckin’ run!”

She whirled, facing the monster. Its transformation was complete. What had been a sturdy woman was now a twisted, stretched, hairless creature, only vaguely human. Its milky white eyes bulged out of its face, too large to properly fit in the skull.

Kat checked her health. 106. She needed to end this now. The thing hadn’t landed many hits, but it was clearly much stronger than she was.

It lunged, clawed fingers outstretched.

Kat took the left hand on her shield, knocking the hand away. The second hand grabbed her shoulder, and the face loomed over her.

Kat swung upward with all her strength, cutting a bloody black line vertically along its face. The creature hissed, but being a Warped, it started regenerating immediately.

“Feck everythin’,” Kat groaned. Got me ace left, is it time? Got me grappled. Can’t hit me too hard while I charge it. Need tae bet it all. Godsdamnit where the feck is Ann?

Kat glared up at the creature and dug deep. She felt that rock inside her that signified her defences. It was an old feeling she’d long since gotten used to. Grabbing hold of that, she focused and pushed all of that into her sword.

A scream tore from her throat as the Warped bit into her exposed shoulder, teeth grinding against armour and flesh. It had gotten some of her neck, but she wasn’t giving in.

Focus, Kat. Focus now or he feckin’ dies. Ye can get healin’. He’ll die.

Pain. So much pain. She screamed again and felt more blood flowing down her front than was probably safe. Her health had to be dangerously low.

Finally, her sword burst alight, the skill activating. She didn’t waste a second and thrust it forward deep into the descending maw of the Warped.

Light exploded into and through the thing’s head. It forced it to let go, and stagger back, gangly limbs writhing as it rolled around in pain.

Kat fell to her knees, barely holding on. Bleedin’ too much. Even if I don’t take another hit I’mma die if I don’t get healin’. Feck. He ok? She checked, only able to turn her eyes to see the man still standing there. Good. At least he’ll make it out.

A sound drew her attention away. The Warped had stopped thrashing. Impossibly, it arched its back, pulling itself upright with its legs. When its face came into view, Kat saw the hole she’d punched into it was gone.

Feck, Kat thought.

The thing leapt towards her, claws raised.

Wish I coulda kissed Ann again, Kat thought, watching her death approaching. Rosalyn, too. Gods damnit I’mma break their hearts.

A wall of light appeared in front of her. Bright, golden, and unmoving. The Warped slammed into the barrier and shrieked as its flesh burned. It hissed, teeth wobbling inside its mouth, then ran, scurrying off into the alleyways of the city.

What the feck? Kat’s barely coherent mind managed.

“You have done well, my child,” the old man said, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Kat’s wounds healed, closing instantly. Her breath returned, and she felt the pain in her back disappear.

“What?” she asked.

“We have much to talk about,” the man said, giving her a warm smile.