[center][h2]Ortusian Wilderness[/h2][/center]

[center][@Xaltwind][/center]

"[color=coral]Wow. Did she really have to do that?[/color]"

"I haven't met a Dark Mage before, so I really can't say."

[hr]
[center]--- THE NEXT DAY ---[/center]
[hr]

[center][h2]Pagras[/h2][/center]

[center][@Xaltwind][/center]

Iskah and Vanessa traveled with Rie towards the Ortusian capital, riding on the driver bench of the Danuki's wagon to save the Dark Mage's energy. They had one more town to pass through before reaching their destination: The town of Pagras.

Pagras was a lot like the previous town of Sinjid, full of humans with no monster in sight save for the arriving trio. The midday sun was high up in the sky when the three monsters rode into the town. Much like in Sinjid, they were met with strange, suspicious looks from the local Ortusians. There was also an increased presence of the Ortusian military here, evidenced by a small unit of them passing by the monsters. Uniformed in cuirass and open sallet helmets, they marched in formation with their signature weapons: The musket.

But all that were probably of little import to the monsters, for they detected an [i]incredibly[/i] thick and potent Spirit Energy emanating from somewhere within Pagras. "He's here." Iskah said, her eyes distant. She was clearly focusing on the thick spirit energy in the air than on anything else. "Aun's here."

"[color=coral]Wait. You're trying to seduce the [i]Incubus Knight[/i]?![/color]" Rie was incredulous, but even she was feeling a bit flustered from the spirit energy she was sensing.

To Vanessa, she immediately knew this energy could only belong to an Incubus. When a human male absorbs enough Demon Energy, he becomes an Incubus. Unlike human females who physically turn into monsters, males maintain their appearances but receive increased attributes. They become stronger, healthier and produce more Spirit Energy; the lifeblood of monsters. Typically, human males only turn into Incubi after coupling with their monster wives enough times. This, however, also meant that the Spirit Energy of the new Incubus was marked and would, usually, no longer be attractive to other monsters.

But this potent Spirit Energy was unmarked. Unclaimed. Vanessa could feel the temptation of simply seeking out the source and taking it for herself. Whoever this Incubus was, he became one without a monster wife. How he managed to stay single all this time could be one of the greatest secrets of this world. "I need to find him!" Iskah stood from her seat and hopped off the wagon, darting past the bewildered human crowd to the deeper parts of Pagras.

"[color=coral]Hey, wait! Don't just go off![/color]" Surprisingly, Rie also hopped off the wagon to chase after Iskah. Leaving Vanessa all alone with the Danuki's wagon.

After a few scant moments, someone whistled to Vanessa. "[color=lightyellow]Hail, Dark Mage![/color]" A handsome young man approached the wagon. Fair of skin and gold of hair, he wore an attire consisting of chainmail over leather-colored brigandine armor with a short, dark yellow cape flowing down his back. On one of his hands was a well-crafted bardiche, his signature weapon. "[color=lightyellow]Your fancy wagon is kind of disrupting the traffic. Do you mind moving it to the side before spacing out? The town will greatly appreciate it.[/color]"

There was no doubting it. The Spirit Energy was coming from this man. This was the Incubus Knight.