The Infinite Bk. 04 Ch. 08

"Much of our work is written in Old Elvish. You may come to me with any translation issues you have."

"Don't worry, that won't be necessary, Your Majesty," said Valia. "Now that I am no longer bedridden, I can resume helping him with his work."

The atmosphere had suddenly changed, with energy filling the air between Valia and Elisandra. "Of course, Lady Valia. I know you will aid him well."

Noah and Valia left, and it wasn't until they were alone that Valia spoke. "I won't share you with the queen."

"I'm not saying anything."

"I mean it."

"I'm still not saying anything."

"It's clear she's smitten with you. Don't even try to pretend you haven't noticed. Please tell me you haven't been flirting with her."

"Not flirting, but I have used flattery in the past, and I offered her emotional support when she needed it. I told her I was loyal to you, and once we know where Valon is, we'll be taking off, so there is no need to be worried."

"I just don't want this to be like the duchess incident."

"That was before we were in a relationship, and that was about revenge."

"I'm not saying anything," Valia replied.

"I guess if you really want to be sure, you'll just have to keep me so exhausted that I don't have the strength to pursue the queen. We haven't had a proper night together since before I went to hunt down that creature, and I seem to recall you promising you'd cook when I got back. I suggest you make a feast tonight so great I'll be too full to move, and then milk me like a cow until I'm a shriveled-up husk."

Valia closed her eyes, releasing a sigh, a groan, and a laugh all mixed together. "I change my mind; the queen can have you."

Valia brought Noah to a grand library, built around several trees, where thousands of books and scrolls were arranged on shelves warped into the trunks. They spent the rest of the day perusing the endless tomes by the light of the sun and luminescent flowers. As the queen had said, most of it was written in Old Elvish, and though Noah could read a few words, Valia had to help him with most of the translating. Little had changed in solving the epidemic; Noah was still spending hours huddled over books and paper.

With the sun setting, they left the library and returned home while gathering ingredients along the way. Back at their house, Valia began chopping up vegetables for a stew. "By the way, you never told me what the memory tea was like."

"It was definitely intense," said Noah, sitting at the table. "There were so many events I had forgotten, and I relived them all as if I had truly traveled back in time."

"How far back were you able to go?"

Noah sighed. "Not far enough, not to see what I really wanted to see. And I wasn't able to find who I was looking for."

"Well you were still able to create those medicines. Not even the elvish potions could cure all the diseases we had. You saved plenty of lives."

"I suppose so. Still, I thought that I had finally caught a break."

Valia turned away from her cooking and approached him with a gentle smile. She leaned down and kissed him softly. "If there is one thing I know about you, it's that you WILL find your answers. You've waited thousands of years; I'm sure you can wait a little longer. Besides, I know how to help you kill time."

After a dinner of stew, bread, and wine, they disappeared into the bedroom, and soon, a duet of moans and grunts began to echo out of their house for everyone to hear. Up in the palace, Elisandra gazed up at the sky, with the waxing moon illuminating her flushed cheeks. Even up above the canopy, shielded by the voices of the Nadoku, her pointed ears picked up everything, and it was torture. Every sound stoked her lust, becoming an itch she couldn't scratch. She rubbed her legs together, trying to smother her simmering arousal, whatever would free her from this anguish. She had even sent her guards away, as she didn't want them to see her like this.

She understood her dreams were all the work of the succubus twisting her emotions to make her think things she wouldn't. So why hadn't her feelings for Noah settled? If anything, they'd grown even more potent. She moved to her bed, hoping that she could sleep away her troubles, but no rest came. In the darkness, her hands moved of their own volition, acting to relieve her pent-up lust.

Noah and Valia spent the next several days studying in the library, and occupied each night with dining and sex. Then, one morning, they were brought before the queen. "The day has arrived. We now have the chance to locate Valon," she said. Both Noah and Valia felt a tightness in their chests and shivers of excitement.

"How?" he asked.

"There is a ritual we shall perform tonight at a place known as the Lunar Temple. We three must travel there and arrive before sunset."

"Your Majesty," said Lour, standing by her side, "you can't really mean that only you, Lord Noah, and Lady Valia will make the journey."

"Do you doubt their ability to keep me safe?"

"Under normal circumstances, no, but what we've learned about the monsters crossing our borders has me concerned. I insist you take Leuca and your guards along."

"My powers, combined with the skill of two sword masters, is more than enough to deal with whatever rabid beasts might come after us."

"I strongly agree with the chancellor, Your Majesty," said Valia. "This is an unnecessary risk. Despite your powers and our skill, if this recent incident has shown us everything, it's that the Anorvan Forest is not as impenetrable as it once was. You may be targeted again."

"I understand your fears, but this isn't simply a matter of safety. The presence of too many people will jeopardize the ritual. You aren't the only ones who want to find him. As queen, I cannot allow him to run off Sylphtoria's relics."

Lour sighed. "Very well, Your Majesty."

Tools and supplies were gathered, and Noah, Valia, and Elisandra departed from Sylphtoria, riding on horseback further west. Even while traveling, the queen's dress, a beautiful green garment, seemed impossible to dirty, untouched by dust and pollen. Noah could tell she was in good spirits. How long had it been since she last left Sylphtoria?

They stopped briefly for a quick dinner, and as the sun approached the horizon, they arrived at the temple. It was an ancient pyramid that broke free of the forest and rose above the canopy. Though vegetation had tried to claim dominion over the structure, the edges of each brick were as sharp as the day they were laid, and the carved runes, elvish hieroglyphics, and Enochian effigies had lost none of their clarity over the millennia.

"Over here," said Elisandra. She led Noah and Valia away from the pyramid to a nearby wellspring lined with stones and illuminated by glowing flowers. The water was crystal clear, without a bug or speck of moss within. "Before beginning the ritual, we must cleanse ourselves in this pool. The water is enchanted, and will remain utterly pure no matter who or what enters it. We must go one at a time, but also be quick. I shall go first. Please wait for me at the temple steps."

Noah and Valia left the queen behind and returned to the temple. While they waited, they tended to the horses, and Valia repeatedly reached out and touched Noah, ensuring he hadn't snuck off to spy on the queen and left his clone behind. He could tell she was also doing it to try and make him laugh. The queen soon returned, having changed out of her dress and into a white robe. Her ample cleavage was on display, with every drop of water running down her breasts seemingly placed to draw Noah's eye.

"I'll head up and begin the preparations. You two may proceed."

As Elisandra went up the steps, Valia took her turn in the pool and returned wearing a similar white robe after a few minutes. Like the queen, the wet fabric clung to her body and left little to the imagination. "Your turn," she said with a relieved smile.

As she headed up the stairs, Noah removed his clothes and entered the pool. He could feel energy permeating the water and soaking into his body. It dissolved every bit of dirt on his skin, cleaned every pore and sweat gland, and removed every dead cell.

In the past, he had experienced thorough decontamination showers and baths to clean away everything from radioactive fallout to deadly diseases, scraping every inch of his body with brushes and sponges, and none of those events left him feeling as clean as he did now. And amazingly, even after he and the elves washed off the sweat of travel, it was still ultra-pure.

Sanitized from head to toe, he put on a ritual robe and climbed the pyramid stairs to the peak. At the top stood four pillars laden with white flowers yet to bloom. A stone table was set towards the back, unnervingly reminiscent of a sacrificial altar, but now covered with a ritual cloth, several candles, incense sticks, and a bronze bowl.

As Elisandra set the finishing touches, Noah and Valia looked out across the forest, watching the sun drift behind the green horizon and listening to the birds sing their evening choir. The rising moon, dyed pink and yellow by the light passing around the planet, looked so full that it could have been plucked like a ripe peach.

"So what do we do?" Valia asked.

"Observe," said Elisandra as she waved her hand.

The thick carpet of moss shifted to obey her will, revealing four channels carved into the floor leading from the pillars to a circular pane of glass, so clear and pure that the grains of dirt left behind looked like they were floating in midair. Beneath the glass was a sheet of polished silver, emanating a great deal of mana, with a thin layer of open space separating the two.

"You both must sit and wait on either side of the glass," she said, standing by the table. "Once the last of the light fades and the moon reaches its prominence, the ritual will begin. Make yourselves as comfortable as you can, because every time you move, you risk disrupting it."

Noah and Valia each sat down, Noah in the full lotus position and Valia using a form favored by swordsmen in meditation. They waited for the sun to vanish, and the sky grew ever darker. The rising moon lost its color, becoming the purest of white, and the stars cast their radiance upon the land. Basking in the light, the flowers on the pillars began to blossom, with drips of silvery glowing nectar falling from their petals.

"Moon Tears," Noah murmured.

"That's right. This is as fresh as they get," said Elisandra as she lit the candles and incense.

The dripping nectar flowed down the channels in the floor and into the open space between the glass and silver. The result was a magic mirror, one so powerful that it made Noah's spine tingle. The air had become heavy with mana, as though reality was swirling around the mirror like light around a black hole.

"Don't look at the mirror until you can see the moon's reflection in it. Otherwise, you may lose your mind. Once you can see the moon, do not take your eyes off it."

Elisandra then began to slowly whisk the bronze bowl with a wooden striker, producing a clear chime that she accentuated with a chant in Old Elvish. Noah and Valia followed her instructions, directing their eyes away from the mirror, only glancing at it to check for the position of the moon. Then, suddenly, Elisandra stopped chanting.

"They're here. They've gathered."

Before Noah could ask, he saw them in the mirror, shapes of light moving around the moon's reflection. Each had a bright core as the center, like a star, embodying ancient and powerful sentience. Their distorted appearances gained sharper distinction with time. He saw glowing silhouettes of various animals, from four-legged creatures to birds and fish. The power they exuded was more incredible than anything he had ever sensed.

"These are the spirits of nature, aren't they?" Noah asked with a shallow breath. For thousands of years, he had explored every religion he could find and visited every holy temple and mystical place, searching for just a touch of the divine. Finally, he had found it.

"You are correct," said Elisandra as she sat down with them. "The power of the mirror draws the spirits, for it is the only way they can see their own reflection, and the only way we can see them."

"Beautiful," Valia gasped with wide eyes.

"So what now?"

"If the spirits are willing, they may give answers, even grant wishes. But keep in mind, they are very fickle, and will only grant one request per person, if they even decide to grant any at all. Not even the greatest of sages can presume to know how they think or what they desire. Only those of royal blood can perform this ritual and actually communicate with them. I am more than the queen, I am the oracle, and through me, your questions will be asked and--"

She was cut off, the spirits moving through the air with greater speed, circling and swirling.

"What's going on?" Valia asked.

"The spirits are agitated, I don't know why. They say... they say I am distracted, that my devotion is being overshadowed. It takes decades of training to commune with the spirits, and I've performed this ritual before, but they say I am no longer worthy."

"Is it because you were attacked?" Noah asked.

The queen's cheeks reddened. "No, it's... because of you."

"Should I leave?"

"Your presence isn't the problem, I am the problem. I'm supposed to be an empty vessel, to await their proclamation with a clear mind, but they tell me I'm too full of stress and conflicting emotions."

"So you're saying we can't perform the ritual? What, are we going to have to wait until the next full moon and try again?"

"That won't fix it. The spirits say they want me to prove myself, to free myself of doubt. Only when they have witnessed me overcome these feelings will they allow me to commune with them once more."

"They're telling you to kill me, aren't they? Damn it, as soon as I saw that table, I knew my heart was going to get ripped out of my chest and my head sent rolling down the stairs. It's that fucking lost Aztec tribe all over again."

The queen could not meet his gaze, and her embarrassment reduced her voice to a shy whisper. "No, the spirits don't want death, they want an expression of life. They... uh... they want me to consummate my feelings for you."

An awkward silence floated over the pyramid.

"You're doing this, aren't you?!" Valia suddenly exclaimed while pointing at Noah.

"I'm not doing anything!"

"Liar! You're using your magic to trick the spirits, or to impersonate them! There is no way I'll believe the spirits want to see you fuck the queen! How long have you been planning this?"

"They want you to participate too," Elisandra murmured.

Another awkward silence.

"Say again?"

"I'm not the only person they're paying attention to. Your insecurities are complicating things. They want you to overcome your own feelings of animosity towards me in the same fashion, so... the three of us will have to...." She couldn't even finish the sentence, as she was too embarrassed.

Valia turned to Noah. "Now I KNOW you're the one behind this."

"Valia, this isn't my idea. I'm just as surprised as you are. Honestly, I'm starting to think the church might be right about these guys. However, if we want to track down your brother, this is what it'll take."

"Of course you would say that."

At this point, Noah couldn't resist teasing her. "Come on, do it for Valon. What kind of sister are you if you aren't willing to suck on the queen's tits with me?"

"Lord Noah, you aren't making this any easier," Elisandra whimpered.

"Valia, you've had lovers in the past during your travels. You mean to tell me in 700 years, you've never fooled around with women?"

"Well, I mean... not while sober," she said, unable to make eye contact.

Noah held out his hand and conjured a bottle of Knight's Ambrosia from his ring. "My last bottle. I was saving it for a special occasion, but I can't think of an occasion more special than this."

Valia sighed and took the bottle. "I'm definitely going to punish you for this later," she said before pulling out the cork and beginning to drink.

"Your Majesty, do you think the spirits would mind if I requisition that blanket, or would that affect the ritual?"

Elisandra didn't respond, too busy covering her face with her hands. Noah took that as a go-ahead and approached the table, first removing the ritual artifacts with careful reverence. Next, he pulled off the blanket and laid it out atop a bed of moss. It was no mattress, but it was suitably soft.

He turned to Valia, still drinking. "For God's sake, now you're just being rude to Elisandra. Are you two coming or not?"

She put down the half-empty bottle and sighed. "Just getting in the mood. Now I'm ready to enjoy myself."

After indulging in a little liquid courage of her own, Elisandra moved onto the blanket with Valia. "You'll have to forgive me, it's been a long time since I've been with a man. I'm a little out of touch."

"Lucky for you, I have a great deal of experience in touching."

Noah moved over to her, lifting her chin and staring into her eyes, giving her a moment to prepare herself. Her eyes were full of desire and uncertainty, but he saw no sign of any negativity towards him. She was ready and willing, so he leaned forward and kissed her. Elisandra welcomed the tender contact, her lips immediately mimicking his movements. Such a simple act, but she felt all her tension vanish, as if Noah was sucking it out of her.

Her mind drifted back to her first dream of him, the two of them rolling in bed, their lips locked in a loving embrace just like this. Finally, her dream had become a reality. He moved closer to her, his arm wrapping around the small of her back while his other hand found her right breast. As their tongues met, Valia moved next to them like a hungry feline awaiting dinner.

Noah's kiss with Elisandra ended, and she looked to Valia, the two of them gazing at each other with uncertainty. Valia took the initiative, sending her tongue deep into Elisandra's mouth. Instinct took over and dispelled all hesitation, and lust flooded her like a sweet drug, robbing her of her inhibitions with the promise of pleasure. Elisandra returned the kiss, and the two became locked in a sapphic bond. Valia stroked her cheek, with her hand moving down, feeling the heat rising from her chest and eventually settling on her left breast.

Noah and Valia worked in unison, stripping away Elisandra's robe and exposing her ample tits to the evening air. Despite his age and experience, Noah had desired to see them uncovered since they met, and their grandness befitted the elven queen. Each was like the moon overhead, gleaming white and domineering in their round fullness. But unlike the moon, pocked with craters, her skin reigned supreme in its soft smoothness. The succubus's bite marks were long gone, as if they had never been there at all.

"My God, they're even bigger than mine," said Valia in shock. She began massaging the luscious orbs, her fingers sinking into them with her mouth hanging open.

"Just a little bit," Noah said with a wink while joining her in fondling the queen.

Elisandra was panting, trying not to be overwhelmed by the feeling of hands caressing her so intimately. Her body had been craving this with indescribable desperation, and surrendered to them. Noah and Valia began to suck on her breasts, and the pleasure was more than she could endure. Elisandra lay back, letting them use her to indulge their lust. The swirling of tongues on her nipples, the massaging undulation of lips on her areolas, the sight of their faces so close to her, like she was being preyed upon by ravenous carnivores, was all too much.

After days of sexual confusion and frustration, her body was incredibly sensitive, and she felt like it was struggling to contain the pressure of her carnal desires. One tiny little pinprick was all it would take for her to pop like a balloon full of lust. The physical and the psychological, the combined forces smashed through the last bastion of resistance with frightening ease, setting off an explosion between her legs. She arched her back and moaned in euphoria, but Noah and Valia did not leave her breasts alone until they were satisfied, painting them with their tongues and leaving her erect nipples glistening in the moonlight.