A Prophecy of Tainted Silver Ch. 02

Mels rapidly tapped a finger against his sword's crossguard as he sat in front of the closed entrance to the inner sanctum. It was the morning after Ussu had awakened him, and the Argentsori and Mother Madelyne were having an all-hands meeting with every silver knight and mage in the house. This left Mels, who was merely a silver blade, to await their decision. No other scholar or blade knew what they were discussing, but he knew, and he was brimming with anticipation. Hence, he had his great sword out of its sheath, as well as already wearing his armor, which consisted of a breastplate which only protected his pecs - baring his toned stomach - metal arm braces, leather gloves, and metal greaves, as well as his shifting script cloak and the house's signature loincloth.

He sat with his back against the wall, assuming a somewhat meditative disposition as he sensed Christi beyond the doors. From what he had learned, both from the House and from Christi, he theoretically should be able to also hear what she was hearing if they were properly in sync. He couldn't tell if he was simply not skilled enough to be able to do so, or Christi was intentionally putting up a mental barrier, but all he could discern from her was an increasing burden of responsibility, as well as a lingering sense of growing dread.

After what felt like  several hours, the doors to the sanctum opened, and crowd of House members poured out. All of them walked past Mels without much thought, within only a few glancing down at him. Even the Argentsori walked out. Mels looked up trying to see if either Christi or Aylala would past by, but soon Mels was left alone in the hallway. Looking into the sanctum, he saw Aylala and Christi still talking with Madelyne, and stood up to join them. However, Christi made eye contact, and held out a hand as a "stop." 

Not yet, Christi's voice spoke in his mind. It carried a reassuring tone, but Mels couldn't help but being a bit annoyed. 

Eventually, Christi and Aylala seemed to be dismissed by the reverend mother as she returned to her throne, and the two of them approached Mels.

"And so, the suspect returns to the scene of the crime with the murder weapon in hand," Aylala said with a smile as she stopped in front of Mels. 

"So I presume you were talking about me?" he asked. 

In response, Christi shook her head. "The arrogance of this blade. Not every conversation is about you, you know. Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Mels recognized that their jabs were meant to make him feel less tense, and it worked, as he playfully scoffed at her comment. They began to walk away from the sanctum, whose doors closed behind them.

"Seriously, am I being punished for sneaking into the sanctum?" he asked as he strapped his sword to his back.

"Nothing will happen to you, Melyssi," Aylala assured him, "more important things have obviously taken focus."

"Of course, the prophecy. So what's our first move?"

"Pardon?" Aylala responded, sounding genuinely confused.

"What do we need to do first?" Mels made no attempt to hide the ambition in his tone. To his surprise, Christi stepped in front of him and placed a hand on his chest to stop him. 

"Mels, I don't mean this as condescending, but even with you learning about the prophecy before most others, I don't think you understand its ramifications," she said, sounding much like her owlith mentor. "The entire world could be at stake."

Mels looked back into her silver eyes, filled with worry. He looked down to see her hand was placed over his heart. 

He sighed. "Meaning?"

"Meaning that, with direct orders from the House, we have to approach this differently than before," she clarified, before growing a sly smile. "For one, as a mage, I am now your superior."

Mels rolled his eyes. "I see your new promotion is already going to your head."

Aylala chuckled. "What she means is that she, along with the other mages and knights of the House, was given the responsibility of forming a small task force of their choosing to complete their given objective." She then turned to Christi. "It is a role that should be treated with honor and respect, and not to be abused."

"Of course, Master Aylala," she said, mimicking a curtsey. "Melsie here has already proven to be an enthusiastic servant."

Mels, galvanized by the comment, made a come hither gesture, using the script embroidered in her top to drag her to his chest, all while smirking down at her.

"Very," he said, rolling it off his tongue. He knew his desired effect had been achieved when he saw a flash of purple in her silver eyes. In that small moment, he recognized something familiar, from before leaving Kelna for the first time. This game of "power," a ball passed back and forth between them, made him certain that, whatever quest they have been given, they would remain playful lovers, any title of superiority be damned.

And as always, Aylala had to butt it with a cough. "Regardless, you two are both adults. More importantly, you're both sworn to the Sorisancta during a time at which you are needed most. So you must treat this seriously." She placed a hand on Mels' shoulder. "Lest you needlessly put yourself or others in danger."

Mels didn't need Aylala to remind him of his vow, but her kind reassurance was welcome. Christi pulled away from his chest as they both looked to their superior.

"We have been tasked with finding more information about who the prophecy is speaking about," Aylala said, as she began to walk down the hall again, with Christi and Mels in tow. "The Argentsori have been given unique tasks in that regard, and I am prohibited from divulging. However, every mage and knight has been given the task of finding an Eye of Xoan, an artifact that can supposedly see the future. According to legend, there are only a few in existence, and are very well hidden, so the best option is to cast as wide as net as possible. That, of course, is where you two come in."

Mels took a moment to weigh the owlith's words. Despite his time at the House, he'd heard only a scant few details on such an artifact. At most, he remembered it being tied to corruption magic, but that was about it. It was a tad frustrating for him to have somewhat returned to square one in regards to knowledge about a quest he was undertaking, but found his determination to see it through anyways.

Christi spoke up, interrupting his thoughts. "Frankly, little is known about the Eyes, but Aylala and I have talked, and we think we have a good place to start," she said, with a knowing wink. Mels rolled his eyes, having an idea of where Christi was going with this, but kept his comments to himself as she continued. "I'll get the materials we need, while you head to the stables and prepare deer for the two us. I'll  meet you at the sigil on the peak. Good luck, Aylala." 

Both Aylala and Mels nodded at her, and she walked briskly down the hall. Mels was about to head off as well, but was stop by the Argentsori. 

"Listen Mels, and listen closely," she said to him. Despite her words, she was speaking in a airy, almost motherly tone. "There's a reason the House explicitly encourages relationships between its members. You and Christi are stronger together, which allowed her to be promoted at such a young age. That's not to say she has her own strength, quite the contrary. But it means you need to look after each other. I won't be there with the two you this time, but I believe in the both of you."

Out of reflex, Mels went in to embrace Aylala. It caught her off guard, but she quickly reciprocated. Mels himself couldn't quite explain the reaction to her kind words, but on later reflection, he could remember a lingering desire from Christi to say goodbye properly. The hug was from the both of them. 

"Stay safe, Aylala," he said, stepping back.

"You too, Mels," she said softly. With a final glance, he headed down the hall towards the stables.

Per Christi's instructions, Mels went to the stables and prepped two deer with saddles and supplies, stowing away his sword. In doing so, he noticed how active the whole House was, knights and mages gathering and discussing with one another, readying weapons, recruiting squires, reading through piles of books. In the minutes he spent taking their steeds to the peak, it settled in just the full capabilities of this unified force. He could only imagine the various adventures and quests everyone here would embark upon. And, in a strange sense of communal empowerment, he was filled with determination.

Mels waited at the peak with the two deer for only a couple minutes before he saw Christi climbing up the snow-covered peak towards him. She was flipping through a book as she approached, and, without looking up, she handed him an animal-skin sack that was deceptively heavy.

"Be careful with this, it's full of books," she instructed as she continued to read from her own. 

"Are they about the Eyes of Xoan?" he asked as he strapped the sack to her deer's back, leading them to the sigil.

"The House doesn't have much information about them," she answered, "all we know for certain is that they originated from Yvasvi, the home continent of the kobolds. Most of the books I have are stories and accounts about those who supposedly were able to tell the future. Its frustrating how indirect it is."

Mels could definitely sense her frustration as she marked something in her book, closed it, and stowed it away in their pack.

"So what's our approach?" he asked, standing in the sigil holding the reins to their mounts.

She smirked at him as she magically formed her staff in her hand. "A squire for only a morning and you're already quite determined. I like that." The orb in her staff glowed and, in response, the sigil beneath their feet surged with golden energy. "And don't worry, our first move, I think you'll like a lot." 

Mels, in their final moments on the mountain, couldn't help but notice her failing to suppress a giggle.

The sigil activated, and they were immediately greeted with a high pitched yelp. 

Mels looked around to find himself standing in a familiar white gazebo, surrounding by pink-petaled trees, a small village in the distance. By the entrance  was a female kobold with silver scales and dark hair in  fur clothing fallen over, a wooden crate of potions spilling onto the grass.

Mama Mizoleta he thought, rolling his eyes. And the Road of Whores.

Mels wanted to make a snarky comment, but  instead moved to help the fallen kobold, collecting the potions into her crate, and placing it back in her hands. As she spoke to Mels in her native tongue - presumably thanking him, considering her cheerful tone - Christi approached from behind with their deer's leads in her hands.

"Trying a bit too hard to impress me, aren't you young squire?" she said with a wide grin. 

"Just doing my best to help the meek, as per my vows, Mage Christi," he responded with a similar smile.

"Meek?" questioned another, familiar voice. The two of them turned to see the maternal, pear-shaped kobold Mizoleta. "Kobolds are many things, Melyssi, but meek is not one of them."

Mels and Christi waved at her as Mizoleta rode towards them on a cattle, pulling a carriage of other crates of supplies behind her. The carriage was surrounded by her kin, a few of which were on deer of their own, swords strapped to their backs. She waved back to them, then spoke in her language to the kobolds around her. In response, as she got off her cattle, another kobold climbed on and continued forward as Mizoleta and one of the armed kobolds stayed by her with a deer.

"It's good see you two again," she said as she opened her arms. Mels knelt down and went in for a hug, followed by Christi. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"We were actually looking for you," Christi said, "the House has asked its mages and knights to find an artifact of great importance."

Mizoleta nodded and clasped her hands. "Of course, and that reminds me: congratulations on your promotion! Aylala told me about it."

"Thanks," she said, rubbing her arm in a surprisingly shy gesture.

The motherly kobold turned to Mels. "Does that mean you're her squire, Melyssi?"

He cringed as he looked back at Christi, who smirked at him, instantly losing any shyness from before. 

He turned back to Mizoleta. "Yes I am, and proudly so," he said in a monotone voice.

"Wonderful!" she responded cheerfully. It seemed as she was about to continue, but the armed kobold spoke from his deer. Mizoleta spoke back, then climbed onto the deer's back. 

"You'll have to forgive me," she said as the deer was commanded into a walk. "But I'm actually quite occupied today, so I unfortunately can't be as much of help as I wish. Though if you follow us, I'll try my best regardless."

"Of course," Christi said, who mounted her deer and began to follow the silver kobolds with Mels in tow on his deer. The three of them continued their conversation as they rode down the hill towards the village. "If I may ask, what's keeping the Mama Mizoleta so busy?"

Mizoleta giggled at the use of her matronly title. "My kin and I will actually be joining in on a caravan headed towards Citalwys, I believe in time for holiday celebrations. I was asked, as a well supplied member of the Road, to help escort everyone towards the Imasan capital."

"I see," Christi said, "so it would be safe to assume a healthy amount of well-informed Canaries will be joining said caravan?"

"That indeed would be a safe assumption," Mizoleta confirmed, "I'd ask more, but I know that the business of the House is kept close to the chest, so I wish you two luck in finding the information you need." Christi and Mels nodded to her as the armed kobod snapped the leash as they rode ahead to catch up with the carriage. Mels was only distracted by Mizoleta's jiggling rear for a moment before Christi got his attention.

"I'm hoping that, from the conversation, you can intuit what we're looking for," she asked him as they rode through the simple buildings of the village, still following the kobolds.

"Sure, but in the spirit of honesty, this humble squire is curious about what a Canary from the Road of Whores could know about the Eyes that the House doesn't," he said, a hint of curiosity planted within his sarcastic reply.

"Well, Melsie, it's a bit more complicated than that," she clarified. "Canaries don't just deal in information, they deal in stories. The more enticing and erotic they are, the better. Interrogating them directly about an artifact very few have even heard of won't do us much good. Instead we, as a silver mage and knight, must be enticing enough to engage in the exchange of stories. I'll admit it's a bit convoluted in order to find a few crumbs of information, but it's the best I could come up with on short notice."

Mels nodded, accepting the logic. "Did you say, 'as a silver mage and knight?' "

"Yes," she answered casually.

"But I'm not a knight. And you've only been a mage for about a day now."

"Sure, but they don't know that."

"They?" Mels asked, and as answer, Christi pointed ahead of them. Lost in their discussion, he looked up to realized they had arrived on the side of an expansive road that ran parallel between the village and a wide river. On the road was the promised caravan, a line of covered wagons, carriages of supplies, and decorated homes on wheels. In addition to the Mizoleta's family, there seemed to be at least three other kobold packs to occupy the caravan, along with a score of centaurs, nymphlings, humans, and even an occasional owlith.

And they all seemed to be dressed as sluttily as possible. 

The common theme seemed to be exposed skin, as chest, busts, and rumps spilled out - or around - colorful robes and wraps. In between playing instruments or looking over maps or other parchments, the primary activity of a Whore is, predictably, flirting with one another, going as far flashing or openly groping their chosen target. Mels couldn't pretend that the overall atmosphere didn't excite him, and as a few waved and winked at the silver couple, Mels realized just how appropriate their House uniforms were.

"Silver mages and knights are renowned for their beauty and power by almost everyone in Asisai," Christi continued. "And on the Road of Whores, no badge of honor is greater than being able to say you fucked one. Or were fucked by one."

And thus, the final piece fell into place in Mels' mind as he took a deep breadth through his nose. The books and tomes that Christi brought along not only served as research, but as a method for enhancing the trading of stories. The steps for the assignment were simple: read up on the various stories of the Eyes of Xoan, seduce a Canary or few, exchange information, and perhaps find candidates for a adventuring party for what might come next. Even in its absurdity it was straight forward, but there was still a lingering loose end in his mind, that being-

"Are you worried about fucking someone other than me, Melsie?" 

The squire looked up, looking into her now purple eyes. She seemed genuinely worried.

"No," he said with determination, "We agreed before we would be an open couple."

"Gosh you're making it sound like an order," she said with playful giggle. She nudged her deer closer to his, and took his hand in his. "I know that this Eye of Xoan thing is like, super duper important, but as your mage, I am hoping you can have fun as well. Can you do that Melsie-poo? For me?" To entice her question she nuzzled her head underneath his like a cat, going as far as to purr like one.

Mels chuckled in response to her adorable and successful attempt to break his stone-like demeanor. It wasn't his intention to act like a soldier accepting orders, especially in this instance, but he recognized that, even after many discussions on the topic, there was tiny part of him that was still uneasy about be allowed to sleep with another woman. It was simply given a spotlight in this moment where it could be small part of solving the prophecy. He looked down at Christi, bringing his hand up to twirl some of her golden hair. I can't help it he thought, realizing that Christi might hear him. Even if the risk is small, I will never want to do anything that might upset you. 

So for now, I'll have some fun. For your sake.

"As you command, my mage," he said, releasing Christi from their impromptu cuddle on deer-back.

"Yay!" she said, clapping cheerfully. As she did, he noticed that, in addition to causing her breasts to bounce before him, her giddiness  seemed to be causing them to inflate slowly, stopping when they were about a cup bigger than before. 

Even after being with Christi for a year, her body was still quite magical to him.

Not a moment too soon, a horn sounded off from the front of the caravan, which signaled the various carriages and carts to start moving down the road. 

"Ooh, just in time!" she said before leaning over to kiss Mels on the cheek. "Good luck!" She rode her deer ahead of him to keep with the pace of the caravan. Mels, glancing back and forth between her back and the carriages, eventually followed suit.

For the first day of travel, Mels kept mostly to himself. His chosen strategy was to seem mysterious and aloof, keeping potential partners at arm's length, mostly as a way to give himself time to read through some of Christi's books. The caravan traveled alongside the river, the road cradled between it and a growing mountain range. By the first night, the picturesque surroundings were complete with a cloudness, starry sky and chirping crickets, and seemed to motivate many to amplify their attempts at seduction. Sitting around a large communal fire, Mels noticed a few female travelers staring him down with bedroom eyes. Mels, in response, kept his nose in his books..