When you’re in a hole, stop digging.


    After my glorious battle—where I nearly strangled myself with my own robe—I decided it was time to keep a low profile and let Flo handle the fighting for a while. Truth be told, she was the real mage. I was just an impostor.


    She started by lighting the way, replacing the missing glowing moss.


    I watched her carefully, studying the process. She was creating something tiny—like a grain of dust—but it wasn’t solid. It was a small magical field, delicate as a snowflake, floating slowly through the air until it hit something. Then, it just stuck there.


    About thirty seconds later, it began to emit light—soft, flickering, and after two minutes, it faded away.


    I frowned, unimpressed. She felt my reaction, and Andy''s shoulders moved as she shrugged before answering.


    “That’s about all I can manage with the available mana—and Andy’s mana control. That''ll do it.”


    She sent a few more of those luminescent snowflakes drifting down the tunnel, carefully observing the area. After two minutes, when both lights faded, she launched herself directly into the darkness.


    I barely stopped myself from screaming.


    She landed—just barely—on a stone, completely drained of mana.


    Oh, my. Three seconds. That was all I had. Three seconds of flight before I’m empty.


    Okay. My dreams of soaring through the skies? Postponed. Indefinitely.


    She repeated the process, moving forward slowly, waiting again and again for my mana to trickle back. Now and then, she simply ran short distances, but most of the time, she relied on small jumps—or, when possible, brief bursts of flight.


    "Does Andy have so little mana?" I wondered.


    Flo shook her head.


    "On the contrary. For her level, she has too much mana. I have a feeling my mana somehow trickles up to her. That might explain her unusually fast recovery—and her rapid leveling."


    I huffed but considered it. She might be right. It wasn’t normal to gain several levels in a single night, even for a low-level beginner.


    As I stood still in the darkness, waiting for my mana to replenish, I heard a song. A timid voice, a girl’s voice, drifting softly through the tunnel.


    The tune was na?ve, yet sad. Moments later, I saw her.


    Barefoot, she strolled along the path, a candle flickering in one hand, a basket in the other. Her gown was semi-transparent, swaying with her movements. Her hair was jet black. Her skin—pale as moonlight.


    She was obviously singing to keep herself from panicking. Then she stopped, her head turning slightly as she looked around. Her melodic voice carried through the silence:


    “Hello? Is anybody here? Hello?”


    As no one answered, she shrugged and walked on, moving closer in my direction. Then—about ten meters away—she stopped again, this time looking directly at me.


    “Oh. Hello.”


    Her voice was soft, uncertain.


    “I thought I saw lights in the corridor earlier. Why are you just standing there in the dark?”


    I said nothing. She looked down, shifting awkwardly.


    “Are you mute? Or… do you just not want to talk to me?”


    She hesitated.


    “Do you… want to kill me?”


    I remained silent. A tense pause followed, then, lowering her head, she stepped closer—just a couple of steps—her posture submissive, uncertain.


    “Is it… you I’m supposed to meet here?”


    Her voice trembled slightly.


    “They told me I should bring food and drinks… and… and… tell you that you can do whatever you want with me.”


    I released another snowflake of light, sending it drifting upward. It glowed instantly, illuminating the entire cavern.


    For the first time, I saw her clearly. She was thin, frail, her delicate frame half-swallowed by her flowing gown. I briefly considered joking that I was hungry, but... she didn’t have much flesh on those bones.


    I kept the joke to myself.


    “We are alone.”


    She stepped closer, a slight tremor in her voice.


    “No one dares to enter the cavern anymore. I was sent to ask you to spare us. Is my offering good enough? Would you like more? Food? Girls? Boys? I can go back and bring you whatever you desire! I swear—I’ll return!”


    Why would they think I wanted to abuse other slaves?


    She was probably sent to spy, to learn who had been killing their people.


    She let her gown slip from her shoulders, the fabric sliding down her body. I immediately protested.


    “Put that back on.”


    She didn’t. Instead, she knelt in front of me and took my hand in hers. Her hands were soft, satin-like, unnervingly delicate against my skin.


    I pulled my hand back and shook my head.


    “I don’t need any offerings. I don’t plan to kill anyone!?”


    She lifted her head, her wide, innocent eyes locking onto mine.


    “Did you leave anyone alive?”


    Ah. No. But—they attacked me first. So that was that.


    I didn’t answer.


    She reached up, gently kissing my hands.


    I grumbled, irritated.


    "Enough. Just stop. I just want to get out of this damn cavern."


    I took a step back. She remained on all fours, her gaze flicking up at me, slanted and cautious.


    “This is the wrong way out. You should have taken the other tunnel at the bifurcation. Why did you take this turn?”


    What bifurcation? I hadn’t seen any. I sighed, frustrated.


    "Forget that!" I snapped as she reached toward my legs.


    She froze, her hand hovering in the air. Head still bowed, she stared at my feet.


    "I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong? Are you angry with me? Do you… want to punish me?"


    I rolled my eyes and looked around. The spark of light I had sent up had already faded, leaving only the faint glow of her candle.


    The whole scene felt surreal.


    The cavern was silent—so unnervingly silent—except for the sound of my own heartbeat. Then she spoke again.


    “What is your name, young demon?”


    I hesitated.


    "I''m not… Andy."


    A demon? Why would she call me that?


    “Andy, do you want to take me?”


    I rolled my eyes. At this rate, I’m going to develop an eye-rolling disorder.


    “I have no intention of taking anything or anyone.”


    She sighed. Relief? Or disappointment?


    Then, still on all fours, she crawled closer.


    Okay. Either the lunatics who sent her thought this would appease me, or she was utterly broken by fear. Or both.


    “May I kiss your legs?”


    “No!”


    “Please?” Her voice trembled. “They’ll kill me if I don’t appease you!”


    “That’s a lie.”


    She hesitated.


    Then, barely above a whisper—


    “Probably. Because what would happen instead… would be much worse.”


    This time, she was probably telling the truth.


    Flo had her ways of sensing lies, but the spells she could cast while wearing this ‘Andy-suit’ were limited.


    “Please, let me kiss your legs.”


    She said it so softly, so naturally, as if it were the most ordinary request in the world.


    Oh, whatever. This crazy girl wasn’t going to stop. Fine. I could let her do it while I got some information out of her.


    “Okay. So, who sent you?”


    “The Grand Master himself.”


    Her lips brushed my skin, and to my own surprise, it was… soothing.


    Now, she touched my left leg, her fingers barely grazing the surface—a faint, delicate touch that sent an odd shiver through my mind. I frowned.


    “Hm. What exactly do you think you’re doing?”


    “What I’m supposed to do. Serving you.”


    Her voice was calm, steady, unquestioning.


    “Are you hungry? Thirsty?” - she asked.


    Her hand kept tracing along my calf, and strangely…


    It didn’t feel invasive or wrong. It was, in a way… soothing.


    That realization unsettled me more than her touch.


    “Who is the Grand Master?”


    “The one who decides over our life and death, over our well-being or suffering, the light and the darkness, the—”


    “Okay, okay.” I cut her off. “Name?”


    “He is called many names. Our Light. The one who gives meaning to our lives. The—”


    I sighed.


    “What does he want?”


    “I was sent to learn what you wish.”


    Her voice was soft, unwavering.


    “How could I possibly know what the Grand Master desires when I don’t even know what you want? And you are right here, in front of my eyes. So… what do you wish?”


    I opened my mouth to answer, then—


    “Oh—what are you doing?”


    “Is this unpleasant?”


    “No… but that’s not—eh?”


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    “I could give you a massage? Would you like that?”


    Her tone was eager, almost playful.


    “I’m very good at it! Your muscles feel exhausted—so tense, so much in need of release! I can feel it!”


    I tensed.


    Her magic aura was weak, something a level one or two would emit.


    But auras can be tricked. I had no identify skill, so I had to trust what my senses told me.


    And this close? It was probably accurate.


    Her hands glided gently over my thighs. I felt embarrassed—


    But also… Good.


    She was undoubtedly skilled. Too skilled.


    Okay. This was more than what a level one should be able to do. Or… Was it? Maybe just practice?


    A sigh escaped me, and she lifted her head, her eyes lighting up. She looked… pleased.


    She had succeeded in getting a reaction out of me.


    It’s a trap. It’s a trap. It’s a trap - My brain repeated the warning in an endless loop, but— I decided to let her continue.


    If she had intended to attack me, she would have done it already.


    I caught a glimpse of movement. The little slime watched me from a shadowed corner of the cavern, moving slowly, inspecting the chamber.


    Then—


    “Would you like to sit?” - she asked me.


    A pillow appeared out of nowhere. Then another. Then a third.


    “Please, sit down. It would be more comfortable. Or… do you prefer to continue our conversation like this?”


    I didn’t answer.


    She continued her gentle movements, undeterred. Then—again, soft, insistent—


    “What do you want?”


    I exhaled.


    “As I said, what I want is to leave. I need a portal to a city. Then, I want to help my friends. Can you get me either of those?”


    “Oh, sure! Of course, I''ll have to ask the Grand Master, but—” she answered happily, “I think I can get you a portal to any city around. Where would you like to go?”


    Alright, we’re getting somewhere. She’s probably just a slave negotiator.


    Do I really want to clean out this cultist nest? Not necessarily.


    There are probably better places to level up—and at this point, who knows what else is waiting for me here? The lunatics are warned now. They might attack me in force.


    The last two… Okay, I don’t want to remember that.


    I sighed and lowered myself onto one of the pillows. She beamed, clearly pleased by this small victory.


    “Do you wish to drink something?”


    A glass and a bottle appeared in her hands.


    She poured the drink right in front of me, lifted the glass, and drank half of it before offering me the rest with a smile.


    I shook my head.


    “No?”


    She looked mildly disappointed, then set the glass beside the bottle before resuming her attention to my legs.


    “So, which city can you get me a portal to?”


    Her smile returned.


    “Oh, to many cities.”


    “What city is closest to us?” I asked.


    She watched me, surprised, then smiled again, pressing a soft kiss to my left leg. She took another sip from the glass, then kissed my right leg.


    I raised a brow.


    She answered smoothly.


    “Stoneborrow, Terwania, and Coredra are the closest cities. Stoneborrow, to the north, is the nearest—but it’s very small. Terwania, about twice as far to the east, is the best choice. The Coredrans, to the south, may be… not so welcoming to your race.”


    Oh, fuck. I didn’t know any of these cities. Am I on a different continent?


    “What about Constancia?”


    She blinked, surprised.


    “That’s far away—but possible. Any city on this continent can be arranged. But… are you sure you want to go there?”


    She resumed kissing my calves.


    Okay. That confirmed it. I was on a different continent.


    The continent with Constancia.


    I protested.


    “That tickles!”


    She giggled, tilting her head.


    “Really? Are you ticklish?”


    I narrowed my eyes.


    “Don’t even try.”


    She giggled again but didn’t push it.


    I exhaled, shifting slightly. She was here to negotiate, not trap me.


    And the fact that she showed concern over me going to Constancia?


    That was a good sign.


    I leaned back slightly, making myself more comfortable, letting her continue her soothing movements.


    Now that I was sitting, the massage actually felt… Nice.


    Damn, she really knows her work.


    My head droned, a dull, rhythmic hum echoing in my skull.


    Why am I lying on my back? On these pillows? What’s happening?


    My mind felt bleary, foggy, lost in a haze of ecstatic warmth, waves of pleasure rippling through my body.


    I was so damn sleepy—and it felt so good…


    Where am I?


    Then— A moan. Not mine.


    What is she doing?


    A surge of light flared in my palm, bright and sudden.


    She screamed— Then vanished.


    I struggled to sit up, my limbs weak, trembling, my head spinning.


    “Fucking fuck! A vampire!”


    I glanced down. On my inner thigh, two small drops of **blood—dark as black pearls—**slowly swelled where her teeth had sunk into my skin.


    Then— A voice. Soft, teasing, still carrying that unshaken amusement.


    “Oh, come on! We were having such a good time! Did you have to scare me like that?”


    I turned toward the voice, struggling to stay awake.


    That’s when the candlelight I had spelled flickered out.


    Shit.


    I sent another light high toward the ceiling, casting long, flickering shadows.


    Her voice echoed from another direction now, smooth, amused.


    “You are such a sweet girl.”


    I gritted my teeth. The dizziness still hadn’t faded, even after I healed myself.


    She was baiting me.


    “Can we not just pick up where we left off?” she purred. “You were enjoying yourself, weren’t you?”


    I staggered, trying to shake off the fog in my head.


    “I promise you’ll feel better than you ever have in your life.”


    I forced a dry laugh.


    “You just want to suck me dry, eh?”


    “Oh, baby, not true. I’m not the wasteful type.”


    Her voice shifted again, now from the opposite side of the cavern.


    “Come on, let’s have some fun. A long time. Just the two of us.”


    “Trust me.”


    I clenched my fists, forcing myself to focus.


    “You know I don’t lie.”


    I could barely think.


    Whatever she had dosed me with, it was still doing its work.


    Then— A tap on my shoulder.


    I spun as fast as I could, summoning a firebolt, and launched it.


    Too slow. She was already gone.


    Her laughter rang out from somewhere deep in the cavern.


    “Tsk, tsk. Is this how you repay me, darling?”


    Her voice curled around me, playful, mocking.


    “I only took my due.”


    Then— Darkness again.


    Where is my inventory box? Where is my staff?


    “I promise I don’t want to kill you. At least not now.”


    Her voice coiled through the darkness, teasing, mocking.


    “I just want to have some fun! Oh, and drinks! Of course, drinks!”


    I fired another bolt toward where I thought she’d be, then leapt toward a different spot, using the light’s brief flare to reposition.


    Something sharp sliced through the air behind me and pain exploded through my back.


    My wings. She''d cut them in an instant.


    I screamed, crashing to the ground, rolling over jagged gravel.


    Her laughter curled around me.


    “Tell me, do you have something to do with the escaped slave?”


    I gasped, hands trembling as I pushed myself up.


    “Oh, we are going to have so much fun. It was so boring here!”


    Her voice was honeyed poison, delighted, cruel.


    “So—will you come with me freely, or do I need to chain you? Your choice!”


    I forced a healing spell, feeling the searing pain subside as my wings regrew— and got sliced again. Not cleanly this time, but enough to cripple them.


    Another blinding jolt of pain.


    I bit back another scream, gritting my teeth against the agony.


    She was too fast.


    I can’t keep up.


    “We’ll stop at one hundred, okay?”


    Her tone was sickly sweet, utterly gleeful.


    “Are these wings edible? Oh! Or maybe I can make some potions with them!”


    My stomach twisted.


    “Oh, sure. Potions! I will harvest you, baby!”


    She laughed, voice dripping with amusement.


    “Come on, think about it! Cattle have it good, don’t they? They get fed, they get taken care of—”


    I summoned light— And immediately took a foot to the face.


    The impact sent me tumbling back, pain jolting through my skull.


    Fuck!


    I retaliated, hurling an intense ball of light in her direction.


    She hissed in irritation.


    “Tsk. That’s so annoying.”


    Then—darkness again. Her voice curled through the void, mocking.


    “Now, when you’ve had enough, just raise your hands. I’ll stop… when I get bored, you know.”


    She darted behind me, her claws slicing across my buttocks as she passed.


    Fuck—she has claws!


    She laughed at my yelp. I spun, launching a blast of magic— but I hit nothing.


    Another foot slapped across my face, whipping my head to the side.


    She was dispersing my light sparks as fast as I could summon them.


    I gritted my teeth. I was fighting blind and she was playing with me.


    How the fuck is she moving so fast?


    What level is this vampire?!


    “Fuck you!”


    Her laugh curled through the darkness, full of amusement.


    “Hm. Interesting proposal, but not interested, thank you.”


    Then a wave of sharp pain shook me, as she sliced through my freshly healed wings like paper.


    “Three!”


    She sees me. I don’t see her. She’s faster. Stronger. She’d been toying with me from the start.


    What can I do? Run? Shoot bolts randomly? Great tactics. Absolutely brilliant.


    I summoned light again, desperate to see where the hell I could run—and got another foot to the face.


    The impact sent me into a backward somersault. I crashed onto my knees, a fresh wave of pain jolting through me. I cursed, healed myself again, and staggered upright while the light vanished.


    “You’re starting to enjoy kissing my foot, aren’t you?”


    Her voice was mocking, sweet with poison.


    “It tickles, you know?... Four!”


    A fresh burst of agony tore through me. I screamed.


    Mana. I needed more mana.


    I tried to move away in the darkness with uncertain steps. She giggled.


    “I can see you.”


    I barely had time to heal again before she struck behind me— a renewed wave of pain made me cry out.


    “Five!” - she yelled.


    Her tone was delighted, as if we were playing a game she enjoyed.


    “Where should I put all these wings? My inventory is full, and I hate this! You’ll have to carry them, okay?”


    I healed myself again.


    Should I raise my hands? And then what? Embrace my future as a vampire thrall? Cattle?


    “Oh, by the way, is this little slimy yours?”


    Her voice curled with amusement.


    “It’s so cute! A pity to extract its core, isn’t it? Maybe I—”


    That was a mistake. Because I know where Bubble is! I felt Bubble’s terror—sharp, raw.


    I didn’t hesitate. Not for a second. I lunged forward, every ounce of power and instinct driving me forward, my horns down, aiming just above Bubble.


    If I guessed wrong, I’d break my own neck against the wall. But I didn’t stop.


    I slammed into her.


    Her words cut off as I pinned her against the cavern wall and a choked croak escaped her lips. She hung there, stunned, her limbs twitching weakly.


    My head had struck directly between her breasts, forcing the air from her lungs.


    I felt Bubble clinging to my hand, trembling, terrified.


    I pressed harder, my wings pushing with all their strength.


    She gasped, struggling, her right hand jerking upward, struck Bubble first, then snapped a rib, just barely missing my heart.


    Even dying, she almost killed us both.


    A long, wretched wail tore from her throat as her body suddenly ignited, burning like paper catching fire.


    I clutched Bubble tightly, not letting him fall. We were still high in the air. In the dim, flickering light of her burning body, I saw the ground far below—six, maybe seven meters down, just as my mana ran dry and we fell.


    I ended sprawled over jagged rocks, a worried Bubble bubbling anxiously in my arms. I tried to move and pain shot through my leg, sharp and searing.


    Shit, I think I broke my leg again.


    And badly this time.


    It was bent in the wrong direction, an ugly, unnatural angle that made my stomach churn.


    Yet, the first thought that passed through my mind was—


    "Two!"


    Flo’s voice stirred in my head, puzzled.


    "Two times that you broke your leg?"


    I chuckled, despite the pain.


    "No. Two kills with the horns."