3: The Quick and Bloody Rescue

The plan was simple. Distract Baron Vincent’s forces so that the rescue party could retrieve Cordelia Fairwood.

The rescue party would consist of Lydia the Quick, a human rogue with dark hair, and Rexia Fireblood, a dragonborn mage. The reason these two in particular were chosen was because of their expertise in stealth– rogues being naturally predisposed to such a thing, and mages having invisibility magic at their disposal. Things would go smoothly so long as everyone followed the plan.

===

“Push the demons in! Make them send reinforcements!” shouted a captain.

Now locked in battle at the gates of Baron Vincent’s castle, squadrons of soldiers made sure to adhere to their end of the plan. It was amidst this chaos where the rescue party would detach from the main conflict and begin to sneak their way into the castle in search of the heroine. The battle went smoothly, until…

“Enough.”

A voice reached everyone’s ears at once, stopping the battle. Atop the gates descended the succubus general, Theresa.

“They brought men to attack us? My, how terribly… simple.”

One of the soldiers pointed his sword up to her. “Vile witch! You do not command us!”

Theresa grinned. “Are you sure about that, darling? Look around you.”

“What–?!” the soldier gasped as all around him, his allies were suddenly in the middle of being seduced by succubi. An army of them? No. They were all Theresa.

“This can not be! Do you not see yourselves?! We must save Lady Cordelia!” The soldier protested until he, too, was under the succubus’ influence.

“Now tell me,” Theresa whispered into his ear. “What were you really planning?”

===

Within the castle, Lydia and Rexia travelled together to try to find where Cordelia was being held.

“How could she not be in the dungeons in the cellar?” Lydia hissed.

“Was our intelligence flawed?” Rexia sighed as she brushed aside her red hair.

“Rubbish! I saw them bring her here with my own eyes!” the rogue replied hastily.

They had already swept two floors of the castle, and found no sign of their target. The expressions on their faces displayed a sense of growing urgency as they ran out of time. Every moment they spent looking was another moment their allies were risking themselves in battle. Any blood spilt during this conflict felt as if it was on their hands.

“We need to hurry!” Lydia snapped.

“Keep calm. They do not even know we’re here,” Rexia replied.

“I don’t care about that! Cordelia’s been here for a week. I cannot call myself ‘the Quick’ if I take this long to rescue a friend!”

The mage sighed. “Is that what this is about…? We should be more worried about other things. Baron Vincent himself could be around here somewhere.”

A chilling breeze swept down the hallway they were walking in, causing them to stop.

“Someone’s here,” Rexia muttered.

Lydia pulled her daggers from their sheathes. “Do you think it’s him?”

“How adorable for you to assume my master would come greet you personally” Theresa smirked as she walked towards them. “He is too busy having his way with your little friend.” She pulled a whip out from her cleavage and struck the ground with it. “I’m sure he’ll be pleased to have more playthings delivered to him~!”

Wasting no time, Rexia raised her staff and runes shone around it. The air crackled as a bolt of magic shot out from it, ripping its way through the air to meet its target. The speed of the magic bolt was too fast for Theresa to dodge completely, resulting in her shoulder getting hit. The succubus recoiled and quickly cracked her whip out towards her, wrapping Rexia in its thorny grasp.

“How rude!” Theresa snapped.

“Lydia,” muttered the mage.

Shortly afterwards, the rogue dashed forth with her daggers in hand. She quickly sliced through the whip and closed the gap between herself and the succubus, unleashing a flying kick into her chest. As Lydia kicked off from her, Theresa moaned suggestively as she fell onto her back.

From the ground, Theresa purred. “Oh, whatever shall I do~?”

Lydia skipped aside, allowing Rexia to point her staff for another attack. Magic runes surrounded it as it charged up another deadly spell.

“Begone…!” Rexia said softly as she unleashed a powerful ball of magic towards Theresa.

“Oh,” Theresa said as her eyes widened.

The blast of magic ripped its way down the hallway, causing wind to blast aside as it passed by. Were it to hit the succubus, it would be soundly incinerated… and yet, before it was able to hit, the attack fizzled out into nothing more than a harmless “puff”.

The rescue party watched in disbelief at this display, only to realize that they themselves were now unable to move.

“H-how…?” Rexia groaned.

Theresa smirked as she approached the now-captured pair. “Once my whip touches you, you are already caught! You puny mortals could never hope to defeat me~!”

“This isn’t fair…” Lydia grumbled.

“Perhaps it’s not,” Theresa shrugged. “Only my master could ever hope to defeat me, after all… ah! Speak of the devil.”

Two pairs of footsteps could be heard walking down the hallway. Soon, Theresa and the rescue party would be joined by none other than Baron Vincent himself, and…

“Cordelia!” Lydia and Rexia both shouted out.

“I was wondering what all this ruckus was about… but for it to be this…” Vincent said with a twinge of disgust in his voice.

“You came…” Cordelia muttered weakly.

“Yes!” Lydia cried out. “Of course we–”

Cordelia shook her head. “You shouldn’t have come.”

Rexia gasped. “What are you saying? What has this demon done to you?”

The heroine hesitated for a moment. “He…”

===

“I’ve brought lamb… your favorite.”

Cordelia gazed at Vincent in disbelief. This whole time, he was the one bringing her food? Was he actually trying to torture her, or not? She did not know what to feel. Her raw emotions caused her to tear up. Her lips parted and uttered but a single word.

“Why?”

“Why?” Vincent repeated. “For peace and happiness, of course. None under my rule should be experiencing such strife… which is what brings you here, isn’t it? To end such things?”

“Nonsense!” Cordelia snapped.

The sudden raising of her voice gave Vincent pause. Where did this energy come from? He regained his composure.

“Why else would I keep you alive, Ms. Cordelia?” Vincent muttered, a tinge of impatience staining his voice.

“Demons do not care for peace and happiness, baron,” Cordelia snapped.

Vincent furrowed his brow. “Do you require proof that I am a demon?”

“No,” Cordelia muttered. “I would speak to you as you truly are behind this mask of yours.”

“You wish to… speak?” Vincent replied, baffled. What has gotten into her? The way she spoke her words was akin to honey. Before he could muster a response, the sounds of battle erupted in the hallway.

“What in blazes is going on out there? Theresa should’ve had everything under control!” Vincent thought to himself.

He grabbed Cordelia by the arm. “Come with me. I won’t let you out of my sight.”

“He…” Cordelia paused.

“What shall I do to them, master?” Theresa said.

“Mercy!” Lydia pleaded. “Please, don’t hurt us!”

“It’s hopeless…” Rexia thought. “Demons are merciless… there’s no way they’ll spare us.”

Vincent stepped forward to deliver his order. Just before he could speak, he felt Cordelia wrap around his arm. He turned around instinctively, ready to kill her at that moment for daring to lay a finger on him. However, once he stared into her eyes, his rage was washed away by the pureness in her eyes. Something about them just forced him to question all that he knows about himself.

He broke eye contact with Cordelia to look at the ground before him.

“Master?” Theresa said with a concerned tone.

“...Lock them all up,” Vincent muttered. “Make sure they are all well-fed.”

He pulled his arm away from Cordelia and exited the vicinity without looking at anyone else.

What spell has this woman cast over me? For a mere gaze to shake me to my very core– unthinkable! I know not how she is doing it, but I must get to the bottom of this if I am to proceed further.

Tomorrow, I will do it.

Tomorrow, I will get to the bottom of this.

Tomorrow, I will talk to her.