User blog:Flamebiplane/A Longing Stroll

Mythria sat quietly in her chair, a pen twiddling in her fingers. Her large tail rested against the soft floor of her office. Her dark blue cat-like ears twitched occasionally. A large painting of the city of Wavedraw hung in the back. The door to her office was wide open, and a Youko appeared in the doorway.

The fox girl wore a grey provocative kimono and her eyelids were adorned with pink mascera. Mythria looked in her direction and muttered, "What do you need Riza?"

Riza seemed like she was concentrating very hard on trying to remember something. Then she tilted her head and replied, "A few months back..."

Mythria raised her hand and stopped her, "Yes yes, I know, I know of your failure and capture."

Riza tried to speak, but no words were coming out. Mythria continued, "You were too brash you know, that put you into that position."

Riza sighed and muttered, "I couldn't control myself."

"It's no use to try to make excuses Riza, cockiness is known to bring trouble, and you screwed yourself over," Mythria said, her voice slightly raised. Riza folded her arms as Mythria leaned back in her chair and added, "Even if you have escaped, your enemies may still be after you.  That is the problem with your species, you tend to act without thinking of the consequences."

Riza just remained silent for a moment. Then she muttered softly, "I want to become your son's wife."

"You'll have to wait it out here then, if you're still being sought out, then I feel that you'd be safer here," Mythria replied. Riza sighed, and turned to leave. Mythria called after her, "And don't forget, it's his decision to have you as his second wife!"

No response.

Mythria remained in her chair and read the most current military report. It consisted of the usual troop activities of the regiments. She sighed and set down the document. Shaking her head, Mythria stood up and grabbed her scimitar. She slid her weapon into her scabbard and walked out of her office.

Mythria proceeded down the well-lit hallway, decorated with the previous rulers of Wavedraw. At the end of the hall stood two disciplined Salamanders armed with bardiches made of demonic silver. "Ladies," Mythria said when she reached the door. "General," came the orderly voices of the Salamander pair. Mythria pushed open the door and stepped into a large room. Two grand staircases at either side spiraled up to a massive double door. A few tables with flowers rested against the wallks. Two large diamond-shaped windows were plated by the entrance into the manor. A gigantic chandilier hung above the room. Kikimoras and Shoggoths moved about from door to door.

Mythria stretched out her wings with a groan. A look to the left and a peculiar Kikimora could be seen approaching. Instead of the typical maid outfit, her clothing had a more military style to it, complete with combat boots, fishnet stockings, camoflauge, a belt of demonic energy bombs, a pair of pistols, and a beret. The Kikimora reached Mythria and stepped in place for a few seconds before standing straight, cramming her left fist to her chest, and bowing. "General," came her soft yet soldier-like voice.

Mythria placed her hands behind her back and asked, "Yes Gwen?"

"The Kunoichi squad and myself were successfully able to apprehend the convict Order followers, they are currently in the dungeon and are awaiting rehabilitation as we speak," the Kikimora Gwen reported. Mythria smiled and pat Gwen on the head, "Good work Gwen, now go home to your husband and rest up."

Gwen seemed uneasy, "Uh...uh...General, I've defeated a terrifying Order Elite, protected that convoy from powerful bandits, and rescued our envoy from a major Order battalion, surely you must have more tasks for me to perform?"

Mythria shook her head and replied, "Gwen, you have done all that I felt you have needed to do for me, go home to your husband, that's an order."

Still nervous, Gwen clutched her dress and stepped out.

Mythria chuckled as she watched Gwen leave. She turned and spotted a Mindflayer wearing a small pair of round green-tinted glasses approaching her. "Danice," was the name that left Mythria's mouth when the mamono reached her.

Danice adjusted her glasses, "Ah, Mythria, it's good to see you."

"Likewise, how is our Raiju test subject?" asked Mythria. Danice softly shook her head, "She's been behaving really strangely since the injection."

Mythria's face darkened, "What happened?"

"She attacked one of the scientists and she was placed in the hospital," Danice replied. Mythria raised an eyebrow, "Anything else?"

"Earlier, she was given a set of markers and she used one of them to write a name on the wall of her cell," Danice explained. Mythria's eyes narrowed and she asked, "What was the name?"

"Forjod," Danice replied. Mythria clutched her scimitar. "Take me to the lab, now!" she ordered. Danice bowed and answered, "Of course."

The two mamono left the building, which was a manor, and proceeded down the cobblestone path toward the city. The sky was dark with the red moon shining in the distance. The trees and plants were all distorted, sounds of pleasure echoed throughout the city. Few people were out in the street because of the night, but Mythria noticed that various groups of mamono had prepared ambushes to catch any male that was not smart enough to keep his guard up, primarily outside of taverns and bars. Succubi flew above, scouring the city for any stragglers.

Mythria and Danice navigated the streets until they came upon a large curved building. Circular windows were all around it. A flag bearing the crest of Wavedraw waved freely on the roof. Danice grabbed the door knocker and banged it against the door. It creaked open and a young woman with curly black hair and green eyes peeked out. "Yes?" she asked with a hint of nervousness. "Dr. Stamrich, the General is here to see a patient," Danice explained, moving to the side. Dr. Stamrich leaned out further and her eyes widened when she saw Mythria standing there.

"G...G...G...General!?" Dr. Stamrich stammered as she pushed the door wide open, revealing a green-jeweled amulet around her neck. "Hello Dr. Stamrich, you seem tense," said Mythria. "It's just that I...I wasn't expecting you to be here General," Dr. Stamrich explained. Mythria grinned a Cheshire grin and leaned forward, "Are you hiding something Dr. Stamrich?"

Dr. Stamrich trembled and produced unintelligible mumbling. Mythria waved her hand and said, "It's okay Dr. Stamrich, I'm just joking with you, I really do need to see someone here though."

Dr. Stamrich took a deep breath and said, "O...okay, who do you need to see?"

"The Raiju, the one we experimented on," Mythria replied. "Uh...uh sure, this way," Dr. Stamrich said as she stepped back from the door. Mythria stepped in and Danice prepared to follow, but Mythria stopped her.

"Uhhhh...," Danice wondered, a confused look on her face. "I would like to be alone with this Raiju, go off into the city and do your own thing," Mythria said with a grin. "Mythria, are you sure, I'm not due back at the mental institution for another two hours," asked Danice. "That's why I'm having you get some free time," Mythria replied. Danice bowed and gave a soft, "Thank you," before leaving.

Mythria watched Danice leave down the street, her tentacle-like feet squelching along the ground, for a moment before stepping into the laboratory. An odd stale scent wafted through the air. Each wooden table was loaded with potions and chemicals of various colors and shapes. An array of cages meant for small animals sat neatly against a wall. Dr. Stamrich led Mythria through a door and down a flight of stairs.

Down a hall was a series of doors and large windows. In the rooms themselves were various runes, crates, potions, and there was a room containing several metal cyndrilical containers that were labeled SADIS.

The pair reached a barred door and Dr. Stamrich unlocked it. Inside were several units aligning the walls. Some of the units contained either women or mamono. "Each of these voluntary test subjects experienced little to no effect from the SADIS injection, most likely due to their demonic energy," Dr. Stamrich explained as she led Mythria down the hall and added, "However, the Raiju had the biggest reaction to it, and her behavior had changed drastically."

"I was told that she attacked someone here, is this true?" asked Mythria. Dr. Stamrich was hesitant for a moment, before replying, "Y..yes, she suffered some bruising, so she was taken to the hospital, they didn't look too serious though."

Dr. Stamrich pointed ahead toward the end of the hall where two units sat across from each other, "Right door, end of the hall, that's where she is."

The pair reached the designated room and Mythria looked inside.

In the center of the room, the Raiju sat with her legs criss-crossed and her back to the pair. She was dressed in a grayish white medical dress. In front of her was a set of markers and a blank piece of paper. What caught Mythria's attention was the large word that seemed to be written in black ink containing an eerie demeanor:  FORJOD.

Mythria looked to Dr. Stamrich and whispered, "I want to be alone with her."

Dr. Stamrich nodded and handed Mythria a silver key. Then she walked back to the door at the other end of the hall. Mythria used the key to unlock the door and opened it a crack. The Raiju didn't move. Mythria opened the door fully and noticed an uncapped black marker without a felt rolling away.

It felt like being in the room of a strange cult. The ambient silence and the creepy writing was there to reinforce the feeling. Mythria kept her firm composure, but she was still feeling a little squeamish. "Quite a setup you have here," she said. Very slowly, the Raiju's head turned to face Mythria, and she could see a pair of eager eyes and a wicked grin on her face. "Do you like it?" she asked softly.

Mythria struggled to find the words to say. After a moment of silence, the Raiju tilted her head and repeated her question, "Do you like it?"

Mythria took a deep breath and replied, "It's...interesting."

The Raiju now twisted her body to face Mythria. "I'm thinking that you're lying," she said. Mythria raised a hand and explained, "I mean interesting in the sense that it's unusual."

A small moan escaped the Raiju. Mythria looked up at the word on the wall and asked, "What's with the name?"

The weasel beastman stood up and walked over to the scribble on the wall. She brought her face close and pecked it, "I wanted to be his wife, but before I could speak to him, he was gone from this city, and from that day forward, I couldn't stop thinking about him, I pleasured myself night by night dreaming of being ravaged by him."

She looked to Mythria, licking her lips, "I volunteered for this experiment because I not only wanted to enchance my pleasure experiences, but to also help me to be more aggressive with him should we meet again."

Mythria scratched her chin and asked, "Interesting, but what about the scientist who's in the hospital after you attacked her?"

The Raiju looked confused for a moment before smiling and saying, "Oh her?  She said some stuff to me that I didn't like, so I just roughed her up a bit."

Mythria tilted her head and asked, "What stuff did she say that bothered you?"

"Oh, 'He may not come back at all', 'We may not be able to let you see him because of the experiment', 'He probably already has a wife'," was the response that led to a fist being pounded on the bed. Mythria was silent for a moment. Then, she took a deep breath and said, "I'm really sorry to hear that, but you must understand that not all mothers keep their sons under watch 24/7, eventually, you have to let them find their own path."

The Raiju stared at Mythria, her eyes narrowed. It seemed like she knew that something was up. "Who are you?" she asked sternly. Mythria proudly displayed her uniform and replied, "You're speaking to the general of the Wavedraw military, and also the mother of the guy that you really like."

The eyes of the Raiju widened, all function of her body appeared to cease. Then, in a flash, she rushed at Mythria and clutched her uniform. She lowered herself to a kneeling position and pleaded with a smile, "Please, please let me be with him, I'll treat him with the utmost respect most of the time, I may be forceful at times but it'll be mostly out of fun!"

Mythria chuckled and stroked the Raiju's shoulder, "Chill yourself sweetie, or I may have to barb you, what's your name?"

"Ikuna," was the response as Mythria's uniform was released. Mythria brushed off her uniform and said, "Well Ikuna, I'm really happy that you want to become a wife to my son, but there are some issues."

Ikuna's beaming face disappeared and she sat on the bed with a face more of disapproval and suppressed anger, "Such as?"

Mythria shrugged and replied, "Well, he already has a Hellhound for a wife, he lives in a town that's very far away from here, and he has a job that requires him to move worldwide constantly."

Ikuna tilted her head and said with a wicked grin, "You know what harems are right?  We can start one."

Mythria scoffed and shook her head saying, "Yes Ikuna, I know what a harem is, I'm not dense."

"Then you surely understand that I can start one with your son and his Hellhound wife?" asked Ikuna. Mythria sighed with a little hesitation and said, "Yes, I can see your eagerness, and I am a monster known to have a devious personality, but I have to acknowledge the risks here.  You're still a test subject, and it's not exactly a good idea to have one running around outside of the lab."

Ikuna's smile disappeared once more. "Don't give me that crap!" she hissed. Mythria shook her head and added, "Not to mention that the SADIS you were injected with is still in the experimental phase, it's purpose is to boost the user's confidence as well as give them the chance to be more aggressive with their mate."

"You're starting to sound like that lady that was in here earlier," Ikuna growled as she stood up from the bed. "And I shall voice her concerns, we don't know if SADIS will have any adverse side effects," said Mythria. "Does it look like I care?" Ikuna snapped as she stomped toward Mythria. The seemingly hostile action caused Mythria's tail to hoist itself and take aim at Ikuna.

Seeing the spiny tail aimed at her, Ikuna grinned and stood in place with her hands raised. "Look, I couldn't care less of what this SADIS stuff could do to me, besides, wouldn't you get better results if I was out there in the field?" she whispered. Mythria looked away, scratching her chin.

Indeed, it would be a more efficient way of getting accurate results, but there was also the concern of how Ikuna would behave around others. She needed more time to dwell on this. Mythria looked to Ikuna and answered softly, "I'll think about it."

Ikuna sat back down on the bed and tilted her head. She licked her lips and asked, "When should I expect an answer?"

Another question that stumped Mythria. She never had time to think as her mouth acted for her, "You'll have it by tomorrow."

Mythria grunted and turned around, frustrated with her sudden answer. "Wonderful!" Ikuna beamed as she laid back on the bed, "You better keep your word."

Mythria placed one eye on Ikuna and whispered, "I'll try to see you when the time comes."

Ikuna chuckled and shook her head, "No no no, you're going to give me an answer tomorrow."

"You're pretty gutsy to be talking to a person of high authority like that ma'am," Mythria said, raising her voice. Ikuna scoffed and said, "And you're a monster who delights in pranking men by telling them that you're going to eat them."

Mythria's face fell. Defeated, she let out a small, "Fair enough."

Ikuna now had a cheeky smile on her face as she waved to Mythria and called, "Don't forget, I want to be with him, or you're going to have a very unhappy Raiju on your hands."

Mythria shook her head and left, closing and locking the door behind her. She reeled back when she saw Dr. Stamrich standing right in front of her. "My goodness Doctor," she gasped as she handed Dr. Stamrich the key. "Forgive me General, I was standing outside and listening," the doctor said as she tensed up. "I oughta barb you for sneaking up on me like that," Mythria muttered as she raised her tail at Dr. Stamrich.

Dr. Stamrich's body leaned back and she hid her face with her arm. "It wasn't my intention to spook you General!" she cried, shaking. Mythria lowered her tail and laughed, "I wasn't actually gonna barb you, get real!"

Dr. Stamrich straightened herself, but her body was still shaking with fear. "N...no offense General b...b...but that wasn't funny," she uttered. Mythria placed a hand on Dr. Stamrich's shoulder and pulled her close. She leaned into her ear and whispered, "You're right, it wasn't funny, it was hilarious."

Dr. Stamrich said nothing, but Mythria laughed some more.

"What's so funny!?" Ikuna's voice echoed from her unit. "Don't worry about it," Mythria said through her chuckles. "I hope our deal isn't some joke!" Ikuna called out with a crazed grin. Mythria looked to Ikuna and said with a smile, "Oh don't worry, I'll try to keep my end of the deal."

Ikuna stuck her tongue out and licked the window of the door. Dr. Stamrich groaned and her face twisted with slight disgust at the act. "What's the matter Doctor, am I making you cringe?" Ikuna asked with a smirk. Dr. Stamrich said nothing and proceeded to walk toward the exit. Mythria looked to Ikuna with a grin and said, "I think you grossed her out."

She followed Dr. Stamrich out of the hall and caught up with her. "So, what are you going to do?" Dr. Stamrich asked as they moved through the storage hallway. Mythria shook her head and muttered, "Not sure yet."

No more words were shared until they got back to the main room. Mythria looked to Dr. Stamrich and said, "Doctor, I thank you for allowing me the time to visit this place."

"Oh, y...you're welcome G...General," Dr. Stamrich stuttered. Mythria scoffed and shook her head, "I'll be leaving now, but I want you to keep a close eye on that Raiju."

Dr. Stamrich nodded and replied, "I will do that."

"See ya," Mythria muttered as she stepped out of the lab. A man rushed by screaming as two Ogres ran after him. She chuckled and called after him, "Better pick up your speed there buddy, unless you want a pair of wives for the rest of your life!"

She shook her head, still chuckling. Humans still roamed about the streets of Wavedraw. They just wore amulets like Dr. Stamrich's to protect themselves from the effects of thick demonic energy that showered the city. Mythria started her walk through the streets.

As she moved through the streets, she thought about Ikuna. Although this was her first time meeting the young Raiju, something about her behavior suggested that she definitely changed when she was injected with SADIS. She appeared to be more cold and vicious than the typical upbeat personality. What would she do if she ever met her son? She wanted her son to be happy yes, but would it be a good idea to stick Ikuna into his life? No no, why was she thinking like this? It was a mamono's job to make her husband happy.

These thoughts were interrupted when she spotted Danice on the side of the street, hunched over and speaking with a young boy who appeared to be around the age of 8. The boy had fuzzy auburn-colored hair, a round puffy face, and a middle-class set of clothing. He also had on the amulet that helped the wearer resist the demonic energy.

Mythria hid behind a building and observed Danice wearing a gentle smile as she listened to the boy who appeared distressed. "My brother says that your kind sucks out the brains of people," he said, shaking. Danice's smile showed no signs of fading, and she asked, "Is that what worries you sweetie?"

The boy nodded with a shaky, "Y...yes."

Danice placed two fingers on her lips to conceal a soft chuckle. She then said in a reassuring tone, "Well, a long time ago my kind would have done that, but in this time, we would never do something like that."

"B...but my brother says not to believe you, and that you're all liars," the boy claimed. Danice bowed her head and asked, "Sweetie, look around you, has any monster tried to eat you lately?"

The boy shook his head, "No, but..."

He went silent as Danice leaned in closer to him. "Then fear not sweetie, for times have changed, for the better might I add," she said. "But my brother's still in jail, and I don't want him getting hurt!" the boy whined. Danice shook her head and said in a sweet tone, "He's not getting hurt sweetie, and I'm not going to suck his brain out, if anything, I'm just going to touch it up a bit."

"But why!? You said he's not getting hurt, but why do you still need to mess up his brain!?" the boy whined, his voice beginning to slurr into a cry. Danice placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and asked, "What do you think of killing?"

The boy took a step back and shook his head, "I...I don't think it's right."

Danice rubbed her hand against the boy's cheek and said, "And neither do we."

The boy trembled, seeming as if he was in conflict with himself. Danice asked him, "Do you know of the Order?"

The boy went silent for a moment and lowered his head. Then he looked up at Danice and replied softly, "Yes...my brother is a firm believer in them."

"And you said that killing wasn't right, correct?" asked Danice. The boy nodded without saying a word. Danice continued, "The Order seeks to end the lives of monsters and humans that side with monsters, does that sound right?"

The boy shook his head and muttered, "No."

"Have you ever talked to your brother about this?" Danice asked, never losing her gentleness. The boy tapped his fingers together and said, "Well, I've asked him about it several times, but he always yelled at me, said I was siding with the enemy when I wasn't."

He looks like he is about to cry again, and Danice pats his shoulder, "Do you want him to be a killer?"

"N...no, k...killing is wrong!" the boy cried. He had his face buried into his hands to muffle his sobs. Danice sighed and placed both hands on her shoulders. "You would like him if he was more peaceful, wouldn't you?" she asked softly as she stroked his shoulders. She got a quick nod in response.

Danice released him and stood up. "Do you understand why I need to do what I need to?" she asked. An eye peeked out from the child's hands and he asked, "Is...is he really not going to be hurt?"

Danice shook her head and replied with a warm smile, "There will be no pain involved, I'm just going to get in there and turn your brother into a much friendlier version of himself."

The boy had both of his hands removed, and he was no longer shaking nor crying, though his face was stained with tears. He pointed to the Mindflayer and muttered, "No brain sucking?"

"Nope," Danice replied, shaking her head. The boy placed a finger on his chest and drew an X over his heart with it. "Cross my heart, I will not suck my brother's brain out," he said, a little less timidly. Danice chuckled and drew the same X across her chest and declared, "Cross my heart, I will not suck your brother's brain out."

The boy seemed far more relaxed now. Danice hunched over and placed her hand on the boy's shoulder asking, "Do you feel calmer now?  You want your brother to be more friendly to you right?"

"Y...yes," the boy uttered. "What's your name sweetie?" asked Danice. "Cliff," was the boy's reply. "Your brother's?" Danice asked, tilting her head. "Jacob," was the answer. Danice leaned in closer to Cliff and said, "You're a very cute boy Cliff, your brother is very lucky to have someone like you around."

"Thanks," Cliff muttered. Danice straightened herself again and Cliff asked, "Can I have your name please?"

Danice turned away so that one eye was on Cliff and said, "Feel free to call me Danice."

"Okay Danice," said Cliff. Danice turned her back to Cliff for a moment before she returned her eyes to him and asked, "I don't go back to work for another hour, so how about you and I go and have some ice cream, and get to know each other better?"

"I would like that," Cliff responded. Danice's face beamed and she clapped her hands together with a jovial, "Great!"

She wrapped an arm around Cliff and pulled him into her side. The pair then strolled down the street, continuing to share conversation between them. Mythria stood out from her hiding place, a motherly smile forming on her lips. She  hugged her blade with nostalgia, as if it were a frightened child and walked in the opposite direction.

Her knee-high leather boots clacked against the stone road. The street lamps along the side illuminated the unusually empty path way. The manor was not her destination. She had another place in mind.

The townhouses that stood at either side soon separated into independent houses, and Mythria found it. It was a medium-sized house containing two tulip flowerbeds out front. A welcome sign was nailed to the front of the door, and a small porchlight sat by the entrance. Mythria approached a black mailbox and opened it. Inside was a fresh envelope. She removed the envelope and flipped it over, showing an inked name of someone she knew very well. A smile formed on her face as she unlocked the front door and stepped inside.

A round table sat in the center of the living room flanked by three oak chairs. A bamboo bench rested at the side. Various pictures depicting known relatives hung silently against the mint green walls. Mythria moved upstairs to the second floor, where three doors stood. She headed for the closest one that was cracked, her boots beating softly against the hardwood floor.

Inside was a generic king-sized bed with puffy white blankets and a pair of large sky blue pillows. At the opposite end was a study desk with a pair of shelves above it. In the center was a rug that was colored red, black, and green. A dresser stood beside the bed, the bottom container hanging out, completely devoid of any content. There was a window just above the bed adorned with soft red curtains that peered out into the forested landscape. In the ceiling was a pair of fancy light bulbs. Mythria flicked the switch, and the room came alive with brightness.

She plopped down into the chair facing the desk and opened the envelope. Out came a folded up piece of paper. Unfolded, the first words were, "Dear Mother,"

Steady focus was on the letter as the reading continued:

'' "Life has been swell in Jundex, apart from a certain Ryu's troubles.  My wife and I are doing well, though I wish that she'd stop bringing those ladies from that BDSM club over to use me for 'sessions'.  By the Demon Lord, my rear's gonna be sore for a month if this keeps up!  Anyway, work hasn't gotten too crazy, save for some Order/ mamono ambushes.  Seriously, Nope Industries' no-kill rule is a hindrance sometimes, but it's a rule that I will both support and uphold.  All life is special, no matter their look, size, or even alignment.  Man, I feel like I'm quoting a philosopher here.  Well, this is just another letter to keep you up-to-date and to let you know that I haven't forgotten and still care about you.  Perhaps, when I have a chance, I can come back to Wavedraw and visit you with Rix in tow.  You two can finally meet each other and you can get to know much about her from her personally. I feel that it would be a great experience for all of us. Maybe, you can come see us in Jundex sometime as well."

Your son, F. Gahillo''

With a hearty grin, Mythria folded up the letter and set it to the side. In her view was a golden framed picture of her human self and her son together. She picked it up, the cool metal washing across her fingers, and brought it close. A small peck on the right side of the photo and she placed it against her chest.

In a soft voice, she whispered, "Yes Forjod, we shall see each other again soon."

She lowered her gaze to the second drawer of the desk.