Chapter 2: Touching Watchmen
Thomas, a Zardiw swordsman serving at the watch post beside the dirty road marked as a trade route, finally ended his shift and climbed down to the first floor of the purple-roofed tower, where both of his fellow soldiers had their humble feast. Sauerkraut wasn't a very delectable meal, but beggars can't be choosers; with all the supply issues caused by crazed mages wreaking havoc, they couldn't afford to look down on any kind of food. Thomas approached the two with a march and saluted them exactly how their statute ordered.
"Lieutenant Thomas served his guarding shift," Thomas grabbed some cabbage for himself, "it's your shift now, private Beld."
Beld, a solar elf with a witty face, blonde hair, and long ears, gazed at Thomas and grimaced as if he just bit into a lemon.
"We've been through this. You want your parole? You gotta follow orders," Thomas stared him down.
"Come on, lieutenant, there's no need for all that watching stuff now. No one's going through here anyway, except for a couple of old merchants whom I all know like the back of our hands."
"Yeah," nodded Harred, who was a large, broad-shouldered man with a beard and surprisingly naive eyes for a soldier, "no one's giving us trouble these days. Well, except for the insane mages, but we can't fight them anyway."
Thomas let out a sigh. Oddly enough, these two slackers were right, the road was completely empty save for a merchant once every two or three days. When he only started serving at this tower, he had all these visions about him fighting wild beasts, bandits, and enemies of the kingdom. In reality though, all activities here boiled down to standing under the hot summer sun for hours on end, playing dozens games of cards, and eating this damned cabbage. Still, orders were orders.
"Wasn't I clear enough? Private Beld, begin your guarding shift this instant!" Thomas was getting angry, "and fix your chestplate, it's loose."
"Alright. As you say, boss," the blonde guy let out a sigh and climbed to the top of the tower, grumbling and whispering rude words about his lieutenant.
"See something there?" Harred asked in a joking tone.
"On, you won't believe it. I see trees. Also some bushes. A couple of birds and a..." Beld's voice suddenly stopped, "a naked redhead riding our way!"
"You're taking your imagination too far, lad!" The bearded soldier laughed.
"No-no, I'm for real! A nude girl with red hair is approaching us on a horseback. She's got some curves, great boobs! Come on out, she's close already!"
Thomas and Harred looked at each other in disbelief and ran out of the table with their weapons in their hands. In sheer shock, Thomas realized that Beld didn't lie. The nude girl was riding towards them with a confident smile on her pretty face, waving to the guards with friendliness. She was stunningly beautiful, Thomas barely took his eyes off the girl's majestic breasts that bounced along the movements of her horse.
"Greetings, soldiers!" She saluted the two gawking watchmen, "name's Katrina, I came here by the orders of the Supreme Judge of Tholcing Kingdom to assist the local powers in restoring orders. Uh, soldiers?"
The two just gawked at her with slight nods, clearly more focused on her body than on her words. Suddenly, a third watchman got down from the tower and ran up to the redhead.
"Hello, miss!" He exclaimed and started kissing Katrina's arm, moving upwards, "we're very glad to see that such a warrior would honor us with her presence."
"Ahem, I appreciate your hospitality", she responded, removing her arm, "I really do, but can you let me pass quicker, please? I've got a meeting with the mayor!"
"Oh, apologies, ma'am," Thomas forced himself to act professionally, "wait, what did you just say? You were sent here to help restore order? By whom?"
This time, Katrina actually had to respond, and she did, saying that she was sent by the order of the Supreme Judge of Tholcing Kingdom. This only made watchmen doubt her even more, they were grinning and subtly joking with her, probably thinking she was putting on a show. This lasted until Katrina searched through her bag and gave them all the necessary documents, including the scroll bearing a seal and signature of the Supreme Judge. Their faces suddenly became more serious.
"So you're the assistance we were promised?" Thomas raised his eyebrow, "don't get me wrong, ma'am, we could use any help here, but the judge's letter said he'd send a pyromancer knight who will be unaffected by the craze."
"I am the pyromancer knight!" Katrina exclaimed with a proud smirk, "although I prefer to be called a firewielder. I'm not a wizard, my connection with the fire is of a deeper, wholly natural level, something folks in Zardiw call "the old magic". Observe!"
She snapped her fingers. Suddenly, the girl's entire head caught fire and illuminated everything around akin to a giant torch.
"Ah hell, hang on lass!" The bearded footman screamed, grabbed the nearest bucket of cold water and splashed Katrina's face.
The water put out the flame with a loud sizzling and caused Katrina's entire face to pinch like it was getting bitten by a swarm of wasps. Thankfully, the pinching only lasted for a second, but it was still a horrible feeling to get your magic put out like that.
"Never do this again," the knight wiped her brow, her hair wet from the splash.
"Sorry for doubting you, ma'am!" Thomas said, trying his best to look at her face and not below it, "it's just, uh... A bit unusual to see a knight... Like this."
Thomas knew tales and legends about brave heroes and warriors from ancient times who used to fight fully nude, he even heard that in some distant provinces of the kingdom or in some faraway lands, such as white woods of the solar elves or the tropical archipelago, it was still normal for people to not wear anything in public. But he never would think he'd see someone like this himself, in his own hometown no less.
"No worries, I understand!" Katrina waved her hand, she was obviously used to it, "now, I must be on my way!"
"Wait a second! What about a search?" Beld suddenly shouted with a large grin, "we're ought to frisk her to make sure she doesn't smuggle anything."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Lieutenant sighed, "she has a scroll from the Supreme Judge, and well, it's clear that she doesn't hide anything in her clothes, because, well..."
"Yes, but per mayor's orders we have to search folks for suspicious items, regardless of their clothing. We have to follow the order according to our statute. Isn't this how it should be?" The blonde guy said, his eyes flashing with anticipation.
"You're a fast learner," Thomas said in a defeat tone, "alright, let's do this for the formality, but make it quick. Ma'am, I hope you won't mind?"
"You're gonna search me?" Katrina looked down at her stark naked body and raised her eyebrow.
The absurdity of this idea made her chuckle a bit, but what if their statute actually stated they should do that? Katrina didn't want to cause issues for these soldiers right away, she wanted them to be her allies, so it'd make sense to agree. Also, the fire knight knew very well that a naked female body worked wonders in establishing connections. The redhead shrugged and daringly jumped off her horse, her nice breasts and perky butt bouncing from a sudden movement.
"Okay. Your town, your rules," she stood in front of the footmen, arms up and feet shoulder-width apart, allowing them to frisk her however they'll please.
The footmen began their "search", slowly moving their hands across Katrina's athletic body, as if trying to find something. Thomas was quite reluctant and barely touched her, while the bearded soldier and the blonde elf seemed to enjoy the process a lot. Beld really went all out, taking time to grope the nude girl. The knight herself found this absurd situation very funny and decided to play along.
"Check my pockets!" She said with a smirk and Beld placed his hands on her hips.
"How about the back ones?" She suggested and the elf rubbed her buttocks.
"Hmm, maybe there's something under my robe?" Katrina laughed as Beld started groping her slim, toned belly.
"How about my chestplate? Doesn't seem suspicious?" She said with a hint of challenge in her voice.
The solar elf reacted by placing his hands on the girl's breasts. As he started slowly groping them, savoring every moment of this delight, Katrina's body filled with pleasant tingles. Especially the breasts and her tight, pretty pussy. The nude knight loved being in the center of attention like this, and the pleasant touches the watchmen gave her only reassured her of how beautiful, appealing and desirable she was to them. Also, it was just nice seeing them have fun.
However, even she had limits. When Beld finished with her boobs and reached with his hand to her pussy, Katrina suddenly activated her magic and let out a small gust of flame, nearly burning the guy's finger. Beld smiled and put his hands behind his back with a satisfied nod.
"Sorry, but that place is only for someone special to search", Katrina said, proudly raising her chin, "anyway, I trust you didn't find anything suspicious and will let me go?" The girl added in the serious tone. Fun and games couldn't last forever.
"Sure, nothing wrong. Please, go ahead," Thomas saluted and started yelling at Beld so he'd go back to his post.
The blondie couldn't get enough of the redhead's company and offered to help her get on her horse, but after seeing her masterfully jump on Ash's back without any issue he just fell silent and climbed back to the tower.
"Sorry for my subordinate, he gets too excited sometimes." Thomas apologized.
