Interlude Visions from Afar

Arlie settled into a chair, her potions were about done. All that was left for them to rest and set, then she could deliver them to the town. Baring a breast, she embraced little Ren, the young spider girl was hungry. While she was expecting a child, it was naturally too early for her to be lactating, but a girl this young needed milk, a mother’s milk. The solution had been simple, she’d cast a spell to induce lactation early. It wouldn’t be much of an issue, she’d just eat more to compensate, being pregnant made her eat almost normal-sized portions, she could just eat a bit more.

Idly she stroked the little spider girl as she started to nurse, before turning her attention elsewhere. Keeping just a metaphorical eye on herself and Ren, she cast the rest of her awareness adrift on the psychic sea. The world around her changed as she became aware of more than just her immortal body, her spiritual self was drawn elsewhere.

Her mind's eye could see so much, the raging war in the stars above. The currents of time’s river told her much. She could see many things, but many of them were in flux, ever subject to change, but some were starting to solidify, to become certain. She was going to be summoned, already the cards were in motion, one of them she was going to put in place herself. Taking a current, her mind crossed the stars, slipping across the great intergalactic void and soon found itself around stars entirely foreign to her, or as they are now, they are foreign. It had been so long since she had been here, but she still wasn’t where she needed to be.

Taking another current, she slipped below the worlds, crossing the realms and arriving in another. Before her lay a world she had not touched in just as long, but even now she could feel the corruption, only just now starting to fester, but it was not so bad that she would have to move. It was better that she not act, for to act would present an opening for something worse. Yet that did not preclude her making a few small nudges, the question was where.

Slipping below the clouds, she was drawing to a small dungeon town. The currents of time told her this was the nudge she needed to make the most. Taking a spiritual step along the roads, she looked around before heading towards a small building, slipping through the door like a ghost, she was greeted by a charming sight.

A young girl no more than eight stood on her tiptoes at the counter, an older gentleman with a full beard and a rounded face smiled at her, “Can I help you, young lady?”

She replied, “This is the courier guild right?”

“Sure is, got something you need sent?”

The girl nodded eagerly, “YEAH! I’ve got something for mommy!” 

With a bit of effort she placed a small box on the counter, and a few coins. “Well you did a good job packing this. Is your papa around?”

She giggled, “Papa became a mama.”

He chuckled, “Is that so? Well, I wish her luck. So where is your Mommy?”

The girl gave an address in Rosewood, he took the money, then gave her a little treat and said, “Okay run along, and be safe! I’ll make sure your mother gets this!”

As she left, Arlie walked up towards the counter, then focused her energies. A portal opened and a heavy book dropped onto the counter.

The man jumped, “Huh!?” he frowned when he noticed the book, “What the fuck is this?”

He noted the note she’d added, and he read it with a frown, “The world shall quake, the balance of the gods shall shatter and a god will die. To prevent greater chaos deliver this Grimoire to the protector of the Wounded Godslayer, only then shall the world know peace lest the Abyss swallow the world.”

“What the hell kind of cryptic note is this?! How the fuck do gods dies anyway?” he muttered to himself as he took the book into the back. Arlie chuckled to herself and left, she knew the book would make its way to her future summoner. Besides, that prophecy was quite correct, even if she’d left a few things out. Afterall she knew exactly who said god slayer was going to be, and her heart ached to let that happen, but she had no choice. The river of time was clear, worse things would come if she were to act now. 

One task done, she left the town and let the current sweep her across the world. Carrying her somewhere where she could freely make a nudge. Taking a step out of the current, she looked around.

It seemed she’d taken a bit to get here, it was dark. The sun had set hours ago, a glance out she noticed that her other soul had finished with Ren long ago, delivered the potions and her body was now in bed. That was alright, these things could take time. She figured his old soul was fine enough doing that. Then a figure drew her attention.

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A shadow moved down the street, it paused for a moment and looked around. Something was wrong, yet it could not find one thing out of place. The gate to the town stood open, not a guard in sight as should be. Several young girls were wandering the dark streets, playing without an adult to watch them. Perfect, just what the shadow wanted to see as she moved deeper into town.

Things were going just as she wanted them, security around here used to be tighter, but that just didn’t suit the shadow. It hadn’t been easy, but the days where the adults actually watched the children were long over. The shadow had made sure of that, it didn’t like it when the children were monitored and protected. Especially not at night, when the predators were around.

The shadow frowned as it took another look at the street, yet the more she looked the more normal it looked. To her and her friends that was a virtual paradise for her kind. So what was wrong? She could feel it, something was off.

One of the other shadows suddenly moved, a monster slipping into the light, its two eyes locked on a kid. The light revealed its form, it used to be a Drach. A large reptilian predator common to these parts, but the work of the mistress was obvious with this one. It was bigger, its eyes having turned purple, tentacles sprouting from its armored back, the spines on its tail now leaking an ominous green fluid.

The girl it was watching noticed it, but she didn’t scream or run in fright. Like good prey, she stopped playing and moved toward it. For a moment it just sat there watching her then with almost surprising speed several tentacles shot forth and stung her. The girl slumped to the ground instantly, letting the creature wrap her up, then carry her off towards the open gate. The very same gate that had let it in.

The shadow shook her head, that wasn’t too unusual around her either. It was quite common for young girls to get attacked by monsters while playing at night. Most of the girls in town played at night for precisely this reason.

Letting out a breath, still unsure of what bothered her, she moved on towards her destination. Passing another street, and two more kids getting attacked by monsters, she reached a larger house. Dozens of young girls were out playing in the yard and paid her no mind as she walked past them. Like everywhere else there weren’t any adults in sight. By now every single adult should be asleep, only the children should be out and about. For a moment she thought she saw someone who wasn’t a kid, but when she looked again there was no one there.

The shadow frowned, why was she so on guard? Why did she feel something was off? Nothing seemed off at all. She let out another breath, then weaved through the yard, passing the front door, she walked around the side and approached a ladder. She climbed it up to a balcony on the second floor. The ladder was an addition she’d had made to make her job easier awhile back.

She smiled when she saw the balcony door standing wide open, the last time she came here she’d had to open it. At least they’d remembered not to lock it, but sometimes this family forgot her instructions. So what if it was cold out, the door had to stay open at night.

The shadow passed inside and looked around. She’d walked into the nursery, a dozen cribs sat unguarded. A few cries filled the room, yet no one was coming to check on them. They never did. Settling by one of the cribs, she peered inside. The infant within was only a few months old, she was pale, shivering and crying weakly. Her mattress was soiled as well, it seemed mommy had forgotten to get her a diaper.

The shadow grinned, she hated it when the parents actually did anything to care for the kids, she loved seeing more signs they were neglecting them. She checked on the next crib, it was another girl about the same age, but she had more color to her. Unlike the first one, this one had been laid down face down, and she had raised bleeding welts on her rear. The shadow giggled, she hadn’t done that. Obviously her work was going well, mommy must have started abusing them, that was perfect!

She moved to checking the others, finding many of them weak and abused. Just how she wanted them. Now it was time to make sure they got their food, settling into her usual spot, she reached out with her tentacles and pulled all the babies to her. Making sure they were all comfortable before offering them each a boob. Eagerly they started to suckle, almost seeming stronger while they drank her milk. The Shadow just watched them with a smile, when that feeling of wrongness suddenly filled the room again. Her gaze turned out, thunder cracked yet there were no clouds in the sky. Lightning rained down, so many bolts she couldn’t believe it.

A few fell near the town, but most of them.... That was out by Abyssgate! Her home! The Mistresses! Suddenly a wave of mana rushed over her, and a shudder ran down her spine. Suddenly she knew she didn’t want to stay here. Her gaze fell on the babies, she gathered them up and rushed outside. It didn’t take long to reach the gate, but instead of turning towards home, she went the other way. Somehow she knew this would be best, she’d only be in the way if she tried to help the mistress.