The Crimson Tale of Conquest

"You could've been nicer." Sara said reproachfully as she gazed down at the unconscious body of her maid.

When Lucilla walked into the house with an unconscious Shizuka over her shoulder, Sara's first reaction was panic on the thought her teacher killed her maid. Upon realizing she was just unconscious, and her life wasn't in any danger, she sighed in relief. She then rounded on Lucilla demanding that she tell her what happened. When she was told the story by Lucilla, she couldn't help but be exasperated and annoyed.

"This is partially your fault." She told her.

"How is it my fault? She attacked me first." Lucilla argued back.

"You didn't even try to explain things."

"... I did though, she attacked before I could even get a word out."

"Explain while dodging, you clearly had enough leeway to do something like that."

Lucilla shrugged, "Well what's happened, happened, not much we can do about it now."

"Sigh, well at least I get to talk with her before we go." Sara said looking back down to the Fox woman. "Thanks, I guess."

Sara knew she was being unreasonable but that still didn't stop her from complaining. She decided to drop the subject and thank Lucilla instead. At the end of the day, she was able to meet with Shizuka thanks to Lucilla, despite the rough treatment the maid received. From the looks of it she looked unharmed, so it wasn't like Lucilla used any unnecessary force.

"No problem, but we might need to get Judieth to check her out." Lucilla responded. "I hit her pretty hard and she might have a concussion."

Sara didn't really know how to respond to that. "Will she be alright?" She asked a tinge of worry creeping into her voice, something Lucilla took notice of.

"... She'll be fine. Judieth can help, but she'll be back at full compacity with a little rest." Lucilla answered. "But you do realize if she's more trouble than she's worth I will have to... get rid of her."

"Why can't you just do the same thing you did to me?!" Sara asked, alarmed.

"That wasn't me, that was Cristina, and I don't really want to go to her for help. I'll end up owing her."

"... I'll go get Judieth."

Sara looked at her with abject horror as she tried to get up and make her way to the basement to grab Judieth. She wanted to leave the conversation as soon as possible. Lucilla however stopped her before she could even get off the couch. "I'll go." she said before disappearing down the stairway. Sara watched her go with a complicated look on her face.

-- -- --

Descending the stairs Lucilla eventually found herself in the central room of the stone basement. There were two doorways leading elsewhere, one to a closet, the other to Judieth's small Labatory. It was located on the far wall to the left of the staircase. Walking over to it, Lucilla knocked on the heavy metal door.

*Knock, knock*

"Judieth, I need you to come out." Lucilla called.

She wasn't sure if she was even able to be heard through the thick metal of the door, but she decided to wait for a response, nonetheless. After a few seconds the door slowly opened, revealing a disheveled Judieth on the other side.

"Hm? You need something?" She asked, bags under her blue eyes.

"Yeah, can you come heal this maid I picked up." Lucilla said plainly.

"... What?"

"I need you to heal someone for Sara."

"Um," Judieth looked behind her back into the room. "Sure, we reach a stopping point here anyway."

"What are you even doing in there anyway?"

"I'll tell you later, how about we get to this maid you mentioned."

-- -- --

"I see." Shizuka said after hearing everything that happened. It was also the first time Lucilla, and the others heard Sara mentioned what had happened as well. The Fox maid then turned to Lucilla and bowed her. "I must apologize for my rash actions."

"...." Lucilla simply stared at her, though too Shizuka Lucilla's natural glare made her feel uncomfortable. "As long as you don't so anything stupid, you're good." Lucilla eventually said.

"Yes, I understand." Shizuka quickly said.

"We should probably get going sooner rather than later then." Judieth spoke up. "I'll go inform the Guild about our absence." Judieth announced glancing in Lucilla's direction.

Lucilla pointedly looked the other direction when she saw that. It wasn't her fault that weird stuff seems to happen when she goes out by herself. It just so happens that when she's alone significant things happen to her. 'It's not like I'm going out of my way to find trouble. Not counting that time, I attacked that one guy. what was his name again?' 

Lucilla shook her head to disperse her thoughts. That wasn't important right now, what was important was what they were going to do next. They needed to get out of the city and head directly to the Enchanted Forest and meet up with the Nielia.

"So, when should we get going?" Lucilla asked.

"We could leave once Judieth comes back." Morella answered.

Morella didn't know why Lucilla wanted to help Sara, but whatever the reason was she was willing to support he all the way. On the other hand, she was looking forward to going back there. She didn't spend a lot of time in the Forest, but she does have some fond memories of the time she did spend there. It also happened to be the same forest she found herself being kidnapped in.

"I think that's a good plan." Yuki said voicing her agreement. "While we wait Lucy can spoil me a bit more! Right~?" Yuki didn't really care what they did, so long as they stuck together. She started laughing but then winced in pain.

"Ouch." She muttered While Yuki did have a healing ability, she was gravely injured during that last fight. She wasn't in any danger and exerting herself wouldn't cause any more harm, but moving to much was still very painful, plus she hasn't recovered all the blood she lost.

""You're staying here."" Both Lucilla and Morella said.

"Wh- no I'm fine really!" Yuki protested jumping up, but that only caused her to wince again and sit back down on the floor.

"Yuki you might be mostly healed, but you're still weakened from your near-death experience." the Nymph said gently.

"I agree with these two." Judieth said. "While we're gone, I recommend going back to my Lab, use the teleportation circle."

Nodding in agreement the Silver haired woman continued after Judieth. "You won't be able to fight as effectively, if at all, while injured like that. It's much safer for you to head there."

"But-"

"Sara, can your maid go with her? I'm worried about leaving her by herself." Morella asked turning to the girl.

"Oh um... sure?" The girl answered. "Are you fine with that Shizuka?"

"... I'm fine with it if that's what you want. I wouldn't be any use in a fight anyway." She answered reluctantly. "The Kitsune and the Changelings have an amicable relationship so I'm sure we can get along too."

"Changelings?" Yuki titled her head questioningly.

"Did you not know that's what you were?" Shizuka blinked in surprise.

"No, not at all." Yuki answered. "My parents died when I was five. I don't know why they were in the Human territories, but after they died, I was taken into slavery before eventually being picked up by Dr. Vancer."

"They said I was a Sollen." Yuki continued, "So that's what I believed since I had no other way to determine if that was true or not."

"I also thought she was a Sollen, considering how rare they are, Dr. Vancer was ecstatic to pick her up." Judieth said. She too was confused by this turn of events.

"We'll you're not wrong. Thats just the name outsiders use." Shizuka said. "Other than the Kitsune and the Changelings themselves, no one knows their races name. So, people just started calling them the Sollen thanks to how reclusive they are."

"Weird."

"Thats quit interesting, thanks for sharing."

"Well, I guess it doesn't really matter if we know that or not, but it was a nice piece of trivia."

"... Hm."

"Thats really cool."

Yuki, Morella, Judieth, Lucilla, and Sara, all had different reactions to hearing this piece of information. It wasn't Terribly important, but Yuki got to learn something about herself, and Lucilla felt satisfied about that fact.

"Wow, that really is somethin', Even I didn't know that." A voice with a peculiar dialect spoke up from the hall leading to the front of the house.

Everyone turned to the source of the voice. Leaning against the wall was Cristina Grim, with a wide smile on her face, Her fangs on full display. She was dressed in her usual pirate outfit, with her cutlass hanging from her hip. Lucilla wanted run and hide immediately. She wasn't good at dealing with Cristina.

"How long have you been there." Lucilla asked.

"For a while." Cristina answered. "Now, y'all seem about ready to leave already. What about that meeting you worked so hard for?"

"... Oh yeah." The Crimson eyed woman said with realization.

"Don't tell me; ya forgot about it." Cristina chuckled. "Well, not ta worry. As it so happens, I'm the leader. I go by The Captain when I'm workin'.

"You're The Captain?!" Sara exclaimed.

"Sure am young miss."

Sara didn't really know how to feel. She knew who The Captain was and how important they were, but at the same time she also couldn't get that memory of that girl this Vampire drained out of her head.

"Why are you here?" Lucilla asked, while Sara reeled in shock.

"To offer my assistance obviously."

"For what reason?" She raised an eyebrow in question.

"Call it... an investment." The blond woman smirked.

"Not good enough. Reason. Now."

"Tch, wantin' to help isn't good enough?"

"I don't trust that for a second."

Cristina sighed. "Fine, I just want ya to owe me, happy?"

"Okay?" Lucilla didn't really care all that much about why she wanted to help, but she wasn't about to accept without a proper reason. She didn't want to owe this woman anything. She had the feeling that was something she wanted to avoid at all costs. "Got anything in particular you're looking for?"

"Nothin' right now." She answered.

"I'll need something concrete. I'm not handing you a blank statement for you to use."

"Hmm." Cristina brought her hand up to her chin in thought. What she really wanted was to gain her trust, but she was more wary of her than she thought. "How about allowing me to have a taste of yer blood again?" She eventually answered. She did want to drink her blood again. It was a delectable taste, and she wanted more of it.

"Okay good. Thats all you'll get for helping me." She answered. I won't owe you at all. Got it?" Lucilla said staring the vampire down.

"Thats fine by me, let Red over there go do what she needs to do then let's get goin'."

"I never said I'll be accepting you help. I don't even know why we would need it." Lucilla said stopping Cristina in her tracks. The woman visibly deflated on hearing this.

"Why not?"

"How exactly do you plan on helping us out?"

"A guide of course. The closer ya get to the center of the forest and Nielia, the harder it is to navigate." Cristina said. "There is a warding spell. It's centered on the Island y'all find sittin' in that middle of a large lake. Prosperity River originates from there, but no one has been able ta get to the Island by usin' a boat.

"So, you're offering to guide us?" The Silver haired woman asked glaring in her direction.

"Thats right."

"...." The two of them staired each other down for what felt like an eternity. "Fine. I accept your help."

"You won't regret it."