The Crimson Tale of Conquest

A lone building sat deep within Prosperty, bordering what some would consider the underbelly of the city. Inside the building there led a stairway down to the basement, it was dark and quiet, no sign of life could be found. Then in the corner of the underground chamber a hidden entrance revealed itself as a group of five stepped through.

Lucilla and the others looked around the dark room taking in their surroundings. The whole area was made from stone, the only thing of note were the dark lamps hanging from the wall and two doors leading elsewhere. Sniffing her new surrounding Lucilla made her way to the stairwell on the other side of the room, with the others following close behind.

Emerging from the basement Lucilla was greeted with a living room. It had a couch, a loveseat, and an armchair surrounding a low coffee table facing a fireplace. The door to the basement was set underneath the stars leading to the second floor in the bottom left corner of the room. On the far-right wall was the door to the only bedroom on the first floor. Close to the bottom right side of the room was a doorway leading to a hallway leading to the rest of the house.

"Oooh~!" Yuki exclaimed as she saw the furnished area.

"My, how quaint." Morella said when she saw the sparse but cozy looking room. "The carpet over here is nice and soft." She said as she stepped onto the carpet near the furniture.

"Oh! I found the kitchen!" Maisy called out from down the hall. Apparently, that was the only thing on her mind.

"It's... nice." Lucilla said at last. The place smelled homely. It almost reminded her of her old home she and her mother lived in.

Shaking her head to disperse her thoughts Lucilla made her down the hall that led to the rest of the floor. Straight ahead was the front door leading back outside, to her left was the doorway to the kitchen, and on her right another door led to the dining room. She made her way to the Kitchen to see what Maisy was doing.

When she walked into the kitchen, she saw Maisy already setting things up. Taking things out of her storage she started placing seasonings in the cabinets and cooking items such as pots and pans into appropriate places. Lucilla also noticed a fruit bowl sitting on top of the island in the middle of the kitchen.

"Maisy I'm going to need you, Morella and Judieth to head out soon." She said to the slime girl.

"Make sure you wear the equipment Judieth gave you."

"Aye, aye!" Maisy said as she gave Lucilla a crisp salute.

With a look of confusion on her face Lucilla proceeded to leave the building.

-- -- --

A raven-haired woman with a scar on her left jaw, light brown skin and golden-brown eyes walked through the doors of the Hunters Guild. Accompanying her was an older woman with darker skin and blue eyes, and a red head with glasses. Some of the people of this Guild recognized them as Ruby, Morella, and Judieth. To them it appeared as if they just returned from wherever they went to a little over a month ago.

Though it looked like one of them was missing; the youngest looking one, Yuki, was missing. Noticing this one group of adventures that got to know Yuki and Morella and Judieth on their first day in the city approached. They wanted to know what happened to the young girl after all.

"Hey, nice seeing you guys again." Said the leader of the group, Kate Cath the Human.

"Yeah, it's been a while. How have things been?" The Elf Solana Yesdi asked, placing a hand on her hip.

"Is Yuki, okay? Is she hurt?" Ayah Kattan, one of the few Beast-Kin in the city asked worriedly. Her Wolf tail drooped a bit.

"She better be okay, or so help me." Said the Dwarf woman Thuroginn Graveltoe, or just Ginn for short.

"Her? She's, ehhem." Ruby started, her voice unusually cheery sounding. Seeming realizing this, she cut herself off before continuing in her usual monotone. "... She's fine. No need for you to worry."

"Wow. It's not often you speak Ruby. Anyway, I understand Yuki is fine but where is she?" Kate said.

"Why she's back home. Someone we trust greatly is taking care of her as we speak." Morella spoke up before Ruby can answer. "Sadly, you probably won't see her for some time."

"Mm, That's a shame." Ginn said, a look of disappointment on her face. "I liked 'er too."

During the month the group spent in Prosperty Lucilla spent a good portion of that time with Sara. As a result, the other three spent time getting to know the other Hunters and made some acquaintances as a result. Yuki and Morella did it to pass the time, while Judieth did it to make as many connections as possible.

Lucilla during this time didn't get close with anyone in the guild like that. She was still very uninterested in interacting with the world during the time, though she did seem to have a passing interest in Ayah if nothing else. Lucilla's time spent at the Guild mostly consisted of taking jobs and turning in jobs. Occasionally she would interact with her fellow Hunters when her party was invited out to drink. Pushed to do so by Judieth.

The group they Interacted with the most was the party led by Kate. Apparently, they came to Morella's rescue when they first came to Prosperty. She was apparently being hit on, by a group of Hunters that didn't seem to understand no means no. Lucilla was told all of this the next day after her return from returning Sara home. What brought it up was Lucilla wondering why Yuki was so clingy to Morella the night before. As a result, Lucilla's opinion of the Hunter Party was mildly better than the others.

The group proceeded to walk around a bit more, making sure they were seen by everyone. Ruby was acting slightly odd but nothing too out of the ordinary for anyone to question it for long. It wasn't like these people knew her all that well, which could be said about their party as a whole really. Just as the mood in the place started to liven up someone burst through the door of the Guild. Panting and out of breath the man still managed to speak up loud and clear as he hurriedly reported shocking information.

"Th- the monster woman is still alive!" He shouted. She was spotted not too far from here!"

After a minute of silence someone finally spoke up and shouted an order. "Someone, get the Guild Master! NOW!" After saying that a Hunter and a few Guild staff retreated upstairs.

"I thought she was dead?!" Someone yelled recovering from the shocked stupor.

"The Church of Light never actually confirmed it though." Someone else said in response. "Just that it was high probability, and they were 'Looking into it,' or something."

"What good is a Hero if they can't even kill one girl?" Another criticized.

"Watch what you say knave!"

After that one person gave the order the whole place broke into an uproar as everyone tried to figure out what was happening. After all the Church had said that Jason the Hero had succeeded in subduing the Monster woman but had yet to recover a body. Most assumed it got vaporized when they heard what happened to the town of Efulen.

"Silence!" Yelled a man as he entered the main lobby. Two meters in height with a wide build, a wall of muscle stood in the middle of the crowd of Hunters. His gloriously trimmed grey mustache glistening in the dim light of the Crystal lamps as he spoke once more.

"Listen up. The Monster woman has indeed been spotted not too far from here. I was just reviving the report myself before he barged in here causing unneeded panic." The Guild Master then glared at the young Hunter who barged into the room before. "That doesn't matter, gather on me we have been requested in capturing her."

Pausing for a second, he took a deep breath before yelling. "ARE YOU WITH ME!?"

"YEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!!"

Through the whole commotion no one noticed Ruby's party smiling to themselves the entire time. No one but Freddy who had kept his eye on them since they entered. After all Ruby looked strangely familiar to him but he couldn't place why that was. He watched as the party silently followed everyone else out the building, seemingly on a completely different wavelength from the other Hunters.

______________________

--Lucilla's POV--

Sitting in a square not far from the main thoroughfare of the different Guilds sat a Silvered haired woman and a Pink Demon. They were currently sipping tea with a small circular table between them. Taking a sip of her tea Lucilla scrunched up her face as the bitter taste hit her mouth. The lack of sugar made her want to stop drinking it but that wasn't the point of today. Though Yuki seemed to appreciate the tea as is.

"Yu, looks like people are gathering." Lucilla said as she sensed the presence of a great deal of people.

"Indeed~." Yuki said with a toothy grin, revealing her sharp teeth.

Just as Lucilla pointed this out, a large amount of people was seen converging onto their location. The City's Military, Hunters, and Mercenaries. Every person within the quadrant that was nearby and could fight was slowly surrounding her. Eventually the first group of people reached them. The Hunters Guild.

Right up front was Maisy disguised as her other self, Ruby Crimson. Some of the Hunters stared in wide eyed shock as they looked between Lucilla and Maisy realizing these two looked incredibly identical. Not just Identical, but those that could sense their aura could tell they were one for one. It was almost like the same person was in two different places at once.

The Guild Master who was also up front was right next to 'Ruby' and was terribly confused. "What are you playing at, girl?!" The Guild Master demanded looking at Ruby. Causing Judieth and Morella to stand on guard, ready to defend their companion at any moment.

"... Nothing sir, I'm just as confused as you." She responded as she glared at Lucilla.

Lucilla watched this exchange with an amused smile. Part of it was acting, another part was this new habit she picked up after killing her mother which caused her to laugh when stressed or upset.

"Hehehe, well it looks like things just got complicated for your side." She spoke.

Just then the Mercenaries Joined them as Lucilla seemingly mocked the Hunters. They noticed that their comrades from another Guild weren't attacking and noticed the two women that looked eerily similar to each other. The Guild Master of the Mercs stepped up and walked over to the Guild Master of the Hunters.

"Branko, what in the Goddesses name is this?" The Mercenary Guild Master asked the Master of The Hunters.

"That's what I would like to know Osmond." He responded. He then turned his attention to Lucilla who was still drinking her tea.

'I wish this was sweeter.' Lucilla thought as she held back a grimace. 'I'm still waiting for the Military to show up.'

"Tell us, what do you want?" Branko asked as he observed the woman in front of him. Osmond did the same, they didn't know her strength and it would be foolish to rush at her without first knowing what they were getting into.

"Yu, I think this needs more sugar, don't you?" Lucilla said addressing Yuki.

"I like it as is though. I can't understand your obsession with making everything sweet." She said pulling a face, her tail shaking back and forth as if it were her head.

"Because it's good." She stated simply.

"What are you all doing sitting there!?" Yelled an officer just as Bronko and Osmond were about to yell at the two girls. Their blatant disregard of them bruising their pride.

Bronko was about to respond when Lucilla stood up from her seat. "Well then, now that all of you are here, I want to introduce myself." She said before dramatically bowing.

Yuki attempted to hold back a laugh as she saw her sister act completely out of character. Giving Yuki a look Lucilla continued playing her part.

"My name is Lucilla Crimson." She said, electing some cries of surprise from the Hunters side.

Noticing this the others looked in their direction, including Bronko and Osmond. Noticing some of the Hunters eyes were pointed directly at the young dark-skinned woman with golden-brown eyes. Said woman looked at Lucilla with wide eyes, looking astonished by the words spoken from the devil in front of her.

"What nonsense are you playing at, my last name is Crimson! Ruby Crimson!" Ruby yelled emotion showing all over her face. Shen then threw a magic wind attack towards her.

"You fool!" Bronko tried to stop her, but he didn't react fast enough. Lucilla on the other hand casually lifted a hand and the slash of magic infused wind dissipated.

"Well now, what a coincidence huh?" She said with a smile. "You don't need to worry about it though, you're not important enough for me to care."

With a shrug Lucilla disregarded Ruby without a second thought. This caused the girl to glare at her in annoyance, but She was no longer paying attention to her. She instead focused her attention back on the two Guild Masters and the Military officer who Joined them at some point.

"Now then to continue my introduction." She said as she stared down three powerful warriors in front of her. Her face broke out into a smile as she laughed to herself once again. "You must be wondering what I'm here for correct?"

The three leaders nodded, still scrutinizing the girl in front of her. Branko and Osmond were starting to get the feeling she was weaker than them, but it wasn't clear. The girl in front of them kept fluctuating her aura making it hard to get an actual read on her.

"It's simple really, I just want to carve out a life for myself here. Obviously, you would take notice of my presence eventually so I figured I might as well introduce myself now." She spoke.

'This is also the only time you'll be completely on guard and not likely to attack me immediately. After all I manage to survive an attack from the Hero that burrowed straight into the earth. I should be vapor.' Thought Lucilla. 'Plus, that stupid so-called prophecy is carrying my reputation right now, making me out to be much scarier than I actually am.'

"You forgot to introduce me." Yuki mumbled, interrupting Lucilla's thoughts.

"Ah, where are my manners, this is my companion, Yu."

Everyone turned their attention to the sulking Demon as her tail drooped and two pink horns sticking out from underneath her hair reflected the sunlight. They were so preoccupied by the infamous Monster woman they skipped right over the fact there was a Demon in their presence.

"Nice to meet you~." Yuki said blowing them all a kiss.

"Now then, I think it's about time I take my leave." Lucilla said, as she watched Maisy, Morella, and Judieth start to slink off.

"No, you don't!" Channeling Wind Chi into his legs and Earth Chi into his arms and mace, Bronko leaped towards Lucilla. In response Lucilla Quickly erected an Ice barrier in front of her. Seeing this Bronko continued his charge and hit the Ice wall with all his strength. To Lucilla's surprise large chunks of the wall fell away.

Other than the Hero Lucilla hasn't really met anyone who was stronger than her. So, seeing her magic being overpowered by brute force like that surprised her a bit. She quickly recovered and used her water magic to make a smoke screen. Channeling the Arcane Power for the spell the area was soon covered in a thick fog.

"What are ya'll doing, she's not much stronger than the average soldier, Get her!" A step behind Bronko, Osmond Started rallying everyone in the area.

"Yeah!" With a cheer they charged into the fog. The water and wind mages began crafting their magic circles, programming them to dispel the fog.

"Yu!" Lucilla yelled.

"On it!"

No longer needing to chant or even create a magic circle to cast magic Yuki excitedly activated a spell prepared in advance. The ground beneath them crumbled away revealing a tunnel underneath, dropping down into it and the two quickly made their escape. Yuki attempted to close the hole left behind, but Bronko just broke through and started chasing them instead, Hunters and Mercenaries only a few feet behind him.

"Gah! Lucy, we got trouble!" Yuki cried.

"Don't worry." Saying that Lucilla tossed some magic stones behind her, when they touched the ground, an earthen wall blocked the path. "That'll slow them down, hurry let's go!"

They ran down the tunnel for a bit, tossing magic stones behind them every once in a while. The longer they ran the closer Bronko sounded to them, so they never slowed their pace even for a second. A short while later they stopped, for they had reached the end of the tunnel. Just as they did something small shot through the stone wall from behind them, barely missing Yuki and buried itself into the wall.

"Grrr." Growling slightly in the direction Lucilla got in a battle stance as Yuki once again used magic to open the tunnel back to the surface.

"Come on!" Yuki said, prompting Lucilla to pick Yuki up and jumping out of the tunnel.

"Quickly close it!"

Nodding Yuki did just that. The tunnel actually continued after the dead end, so that should occupy their pursers for the time being. Looking around their surroundings, they appeared to be in an unremarkable alley. Just then they heard footsteps running towards them. Putting Yuki down Lucilla got ready for a fight. Rounding a corner where two Hunters.

They were both Elves, one had a bow the other a sword. Charging towards them Lucilla dodged an arrow shot at her and ducked under the attack from the swordsman. Using this opening the Crimsoned eyed woman punched them in the gut, knocking the air from their lungs. Yuki used earth magic to bury the archer up to their waist before forming a box around them. This way they wouldn't bother Lucilla as she finished off the sword wielding Elf.

Lucilla meanwhile grabbed hold of the Elf in front of them who doubled over from the shock of having all the air from their lungs knocked out. She then proceeded to hit them with a right hook knocking them out. 

"Yuki I can deal with the last one, lower the barrier." Lucilla said as she walked over to the trapped Elf.

"Sure." Lowering the earthen walls Yuki watched as Lucilla dealt with the surprise arrow attack before hitting him in the face with her fist.

"It would be easier to kill them." Yuki said with a frown.

"These people are already chomping at the bit to kill us." The Silver haired woman started. "There's no need to add fuel to the fire right now. Let's leave the killing when it's necessary."

"Sigh, sure."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of more footsteps. Lucilla and Yuki prepared to fight again but relaxed when they saw who rounded the corner. It was Maisy - still disguised as Ruby - Morella and Judieth. Maisy quickly ran over to Lucilla and wrapped herself around her, quickly changing her clothes to the ones she was wearing. She then did the same to Yuki, changing her clothes into something different than before.

"Okay quickly shape shift then let's get moving." Judieth said slightly impatiently. "Yuki we're going to have to go separate ways for now. We'll see you at the house."

"Fiiiine. I know you'll all miss me~." Saying that she quickly hid her horns and changed her appearance before slinking off deeper into the city.

"I guess I'll change my appearance back to Ruby." Doing so Lucilla Changed her skin, eye, and hair color to look more normal. Maisy also took her rightful place underneath her clothes. "Alright let's go look for this monster girl guys."

With a joke the three of them started running around at random looking for Lucilla. Smiling at that thought the Silver haired woman continued playing the part of Hunter.

_________________________

--One day ago--

Now why did Lucilla and the others make such a roundabout plan? The answer is simple.

"I refuse to change my name." Lucilla said. "But the problem that follows if that not only will I look just like the Hunter Ruby, but I'll even have the same name."

When asked why she said it was because it meant something to her. She never wanted to forget what happened during her nine years in that laboratory. The problem is she already has her name officially labeled Ruby Crimson in the Guilds documents. Lucilla was now going to be her true identity, and she wanted to keep the last name, so this causes some problems.

So, what she needed to do was to establish them both as separate entities. Plus, this would help with Lucilla's other plan of spreading her name in a vain attempt to honor her mother and to make sure she's never forgotten.

First, she'll have Maisy impersonate her and show her face at the Guild for a while. This way she's interacting with plenty of individuals so they can confirm that the person in front of them was actually there and present. She also had Maisy use a pair of gloves that would summon a wind attack spell to use since that was part of her fighting style. Plus, she needed to check in with the Guild anyway, so this helped her avoid doing it herself.

Next was luring as many people as possible to her location. That was easy enough, her most notable features are a well-known fact so all she had to do was walk around in crowded places for a while before heading to the small square hidden away on back roads and alleys. There she sat pompous and full of herself.

She needed to establish her personality to be different from Ruby's. For now, at least anyway. She wasn't planning to have two identities forever, but for now she figured it would be for the best. At the moment though both Lucilla and Ruby must act differently, so Lucilla is someone who's full of herself, confident and was a bit dramatic at times. She took inspiration from Cristina Grim.

She explained all of this to her companions. After that they spent the rest of that day working out the plan. With this Lucilla would be able to operate as Ruby and as her new self. Obviously, there are some holes in the plan, one being the heavy amount of suspicion placed on Ruby from now on, but that was going to happen no matter what anyway. This was just to lessen it, since there is now a plausible excuse made in advance instead of later.

-- -- --

Back in the present Lucilla smiled to herself as she walked back to the Hunter's Guild. Everything was going according to plan.