Arisen Anew

CHAPTER 2

She shifted her weight, carefully placing her foot on the next small patch of clear ground. All around her, the Bile spread its infection, carpeting the floor, walls, and ceiling. Veins, as she had taken to calling them, crisscrossed the stone between large fleshy cysts, reminding her of slime mold stretching over a tree trunk. Thicker, major arteries projected from hub tumors, branching off into thinner and thinner tendrils that spiderwebbed across the cavern surface.

At first glance, this network had seemed impossible to traverse through without disturbing the necrotic flesh in some form

—

something the elf was extremely hesitant to do

—

but on closer inspection, Elestrea had noticed that pockets of the terrain remained untainted, fortuitously close enough together to provide a safe trail for an acrobatic individual. With her headache gone and arousal dealt with, she was able to fully concentrate on the task at hand, quickly mapping out routes to several gaps in the cavern wall.

"Safe" was, of course, a relative term. Her walkway meandered through the cave before passing close enough to an exit she could utilize, sometimes requiring her to leap between footholds. To make things even more difficult, most of the bare patches were too small to plant her entire foot firmly; instead, she had to balance on the balls of her feet. One misstep, one mistake in judging the distance, one slippery rock could spell her doom.

Without knowing more about the Bile, the princess dared not use magic to aid her, not even to utter a cantrip of light. The ancient evil was thaumaturgical in nature. She herself could weave traps that would trigger from a mage in proximity; there was no telling how the fleshy pods would react to the channeling of mana so closeby.

And so she took her time, meticulously examining each patch of rocky ground before proceeding. Even for the able-bodied elf, however, the process was taking its toll. Her breath grew more labored, sweat beaded on her forehead, and focused as she was on the next foothold, Elestrea found herself slipping into

Lor

by force of habit.

After nearly a century of training and experience, the meditative state felt so natural that she didn't realize what she had done until she reached her goal over an hour later. Light spilled through a wide cleft in the wall, indicating some sort of continuation of the cave system. She could only hope it wasn't a dead end.

Drawing closer, she was finally able to confirm that no vile tendrils invaded the opening. The surge of relief disrupted her subconscious use of

Lor

, leaving the princess suddenly aware of her burning muscles and ragged breath. Unwilling to stay in her tenuous position any longer than she had to, she decided to chide herself later and moved to enter the crevice, careful to avoid touching the surrounding Bile.

One leg in the exit, she began to shift her weight to follow with the rest of her body when her left foot slipped, the rock under her boot crumbling away. Thrown off balance, the tired elf had no choice but to drop the heel of her right foot, crushing the small swathe of Bile underneath her.

Her heart leapt into her throat, and without sparing a glance behind her, she scrambled through the crack in the wall, squirming her way through the tight passage in almost mindless terror.

The fissure dipped down, then widened quickly into another cavern. Barely taking the time to scan her new surroundings and ensure she wasn't jumping into another Bile nest, Elestrea fought down the panic threatening to overwhelm her. Slipping back into

Lor

—

intentionally, this time

—

the elf quickly pulled herself out of the crevice and turned, ready to face whatever horrors she had unleashed. So long as she held the choke-point, she would have a significant advantage and be able to prevent herself from being surrounded. Her fatigue temporarily kept at bay by adrenaline and the meditative state, she waited for the inevitable tide of Bile-spawned abominations.

And waited.

Long moments passed, the silence of the subterranean hollow disturbed only by the sound of her heavy breathing. Nervously licking her lips, she reapproached the entrance, bending down to look into the opening. Unobtrusive rock stared back at her, the dim light of the other cave only just visible through the crack.

Some of the tension drained out of her. She maintained

Lor

, mindful that her body was reaching the point of exhaustion and would be propped up by nothing but the dregs of the adrenaline rush should she return to a natural state of mind. The meditative state seemed safe, at least; she detected no trace of the mysterious scent from earlier, nor anything else out of the ordinary.

Stepping back from the recess in the wall, she frowned contemplatively. Although all seemed quiet for now, she was reticent to leave her back to the chamber full of Bile unguarded. Unfortunately, she didn't have the materials necessary to magically seal the opening; and collapsing the aperture would run the risk of destabilizing the entire cave complex.

She pursed her lips, an idea forming in her head. She could raise a stone pillar to obstruct the passage with a spell of shaping. The only downside would be that the amount of mass being molded would probably drain her of most of her mana. The danger was minimal, though, as a good night's sleep would regain her half her reserves.

Unable to think of any other options, she knelt down, drawing a pinch of dried clay from one of her belt pouches. Articulating the incantation, she began pulling a section of rock up with her magic, forming a tree trunk-sized shaft that angled out of the floor. She worked as quickly as possible, keenly aware that she was vulnerable while spellcasting. A scant minute later, the crevice was fully plugged, the newly formed stone rod filling the gap perfectly.

Elestrea examined her handiwork, nodding in satisfaction. It looked decidedly unnatural, and with the inscription reading "BILE" she had included on its face, it would be easy to find again.

With her immediate safety secured, she turned her attention to her right boot. She could see some sort of dark mucus around the heel, where she had stepped on the veins. It didn't seem to be spreading or eating into the leather, both good signs.

She removed her shoe to look at the sole and grimaced. The meaty tendrils had been completely mashed, leaving a lumpy paste of pale tissue and inky slime. Now that it was closer to her face, the elf could smell the putrid odor it gave off, making her crinkle her nose in disgust.

Sighing in exasperation, she attempted to scrape off the revolting mixture on a nearby jagged rock. It took longer than it had taken her to channel the spell of shaping, but she eventually managed to get the shoe mostly clean. Dark streaks still stained the leather, but so long as the sludge was harmless, she would have to live with it.

That done, Elestrea released her hold on

Lor

, momentarily sagging as her mind adjusted to the tide of weariness it had been ignoring. Stretching to prevent cramps, she finally took the time to properly study her new location. She had been focused solely on assessing possible dangers during her perfunctory scan on entering the cavern, leaving her with just the knowledge that no Bile or other threats were visible and that the space was strangely bright. Kneeling with her boot still half-laced, the elf gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the view around her.

Where the previous chamber was one of horror and revulsion, this cavern was one of preternatural beauty. Giant crystals, tinted the palest purples and pinks, jutted out from every rock face. Some towered up to connect the floor and ceiling, while others hung like stalactites or protruded at random angles from the walls. A number of the pillars had been swallowed by speleothems, making it seem as if gemstones bloomed from the stony deposits.

Large species of fluorescent fungi sprouted on the ceiling between crystal outcroppings alongside glowworms that hung suspended from every horizontal surface. The effect was eerily similar to the faerie lights used for festivals at home, though the princess would argue that this naturally occurring display was more breathtaking. The crystals refracted the light from the mushrooms and worms until they almost seemed to glimmer with their own inner brilliance, illuminating the entire cavern in scintillating hues.

Pools of water collected under some of the columns like shallow moats, providing another layer of surrealism to the scene. Their mirror surfaces reflected the shimmering lights above, forming the illusion of the cavern continuing below and turning the ground into a grand walkway.

The cave itself was massive, stretching hundreds of paces wide and bending out of sight ahead of her. Stunning or not, it would take some time to explore. With a slight groan as she forced her tired body to stand up, the elf trudged to the wall to her left to begin mapping out possible exits. One sweep of the perimeter and she would reward herself with a nice, long nap.

=====

She looked down at Ilverith. Kneeling with her legs apart, hands clasped behind her, and chest thrust forward, her Oathsworn humbly awaited her orders. Drool hung from the woman's lips while a different wetness oozed below, dripping lazily to the ground beneath her.

She was beautiful.

Taking up a wider stance, Elestrea smiled and slid her fingers through her servant's platinum blond hair, slowly bringing Ilverith's mouth to her hairless pussy. An eager tongue extended to take its first taste of the princess, tracing from the bottom of her plump outer lips all the way up to her clit, only to reverse direction and run back down with its underside. Elestrea shivered, letting out a little hum of approval as her Oathsworn began worshiping her womanhood. Hands still behind her, Ilverith sent an exploratory tongue up Elestrea's needy hole before withdrawing to gently lap at her engorged bean, moving her talented muscle back down after a few moments.

The princess closed her eyes and enjoyed the teasing, shuddering in delight when the questing tongue suddenly flicked across her clit, and again when a pair of feminine hands pried her asscheeks apart to introduce a second tongue. Her new lover wasted no time in delving in, slathering Elestrea's rear door with saliva as she worked inquisitive circles around the puckered rosebud.

Biting her lower lip, Elestrea reached behind her to grab the back of her second paramour's head, pulling her in. Obediently, the tongue probing her ass began wriggling its way up her most private hole. Meanwhile, Ilverith latched onto Elestrea's clit, sucking on the delicate nub as her oral muscle undulated against it.

Her voice caught in her throat, a guttural groan bubbling out of her. With both her pets hungrily demonstrating their devotion, the princess ran her hands up her milky-white body to grope at her breasts. Pastel pink nipples capped her modest orbs, standing proudly at attention and calling to be played with. A call which she happily answered. Her nipples had always been especially sensitive, requiring her to wrap her chest to avoid a day of overstimulation and chafing against the weight of her jerkin and cuirass. The firm mounds had no such restrictions now, and Elestrea gasped blissfully as she manipulated them.

Her self-administrated pleasure blended with the sensations from the ardent tongues of her lovers, driving her nearer and nearer an overwhelming precipice. The tongue in her rear continued to squirm deeper into her, spreading her asshole apart deliciously. She just needed a final push...

As if in understanding, Ilverith moaned wantonly into her pussy, sending thrilling vibrations up her clit. Opening her eyes and looking down, she found the elf gazing up at her. The look of pure adoration in her Oathsworn's steel grey orbs tipped the scales, making her knees buckle and unleashing the flood inside her

—

Elestrea awoke with a long, drawn-out moan, petering off to a pathetic, needy whine as she found herself drenched in her juices again. She had just been on the cusp of orgasm in her dream. But now, in her waking state, that ever-so-sweet release eluded her, the fire in her belly fading just enough to pull her back from the edge of divinity.

In a flash, her belt was discarded. Simply rubbing over her clothes wouldn't be enough this time. Quickly slipping out of her boots, she fumbled with the clasps of her cuisses and then her greaves, throwing the pieces of armor haphazardly to the side. Trousers and breeches promptly joined the pile.

Legs spread wide, the princess dipped two fingers into her weeping snatch, curling them to excite the wonderful little textured section inside. Her other hand went to her chest, only to meet the unyielding metal and leather of her cuirass.

Snarling in frustration, she redoubled her efforts below, adding a third finger. The digit slid in easily, lubricated by the womanly fluids overflowing from her center, and Elestrea sighed in satisfaction at the feeling of fullness in her tight tunnel.

She was about to move her unemployed hand back down to rub her aching clit when she remembered the events of her recent visions. Turning to lie on her side, she continued to fuck herself with her right hand, but reached back behind her with her left.

She twitched when her finger found her little ring, letting out a quiet sob of delight as further exploration discovered the sensitive region between her two holes. Borrowing some of the juices coating her occupied hand, the princess traced the wrinkles of her pucker as she had done to dream-Ilverith and had had done to dream-her, teasing and massaging the entrance. Little by little, she could feel her opening relax until, finally, the tip of her finger slipped past the tight sphincter.

The orgasm struck without warning, freezing her in place. All thought was wiped from her mind as pleasure coursed through her, resonating through the sea of arousal she had built up. Her spasming muscles pushed her finger deeper in her back door, triggering another climax that seemed to never end. The foreign intruder, as slim and dainty as it was, filled her in a new way, different from the fullness of the three fingers in her cunt. Her wordless cries resounded through the empty chamber, the glinting crystals and luminous denizens above their only witness.

Minutes passed before the elf could move again. Sluggishly, acting almost solely on instinct, she brought her right hand up to her face. A small, pink tongue darted out, and her palm was clean before she roused to full consciousness and became aware of what she was doing.

She had never tasted herself before, cataloging that alongside her disinterest in women. But now, with the tangy flavor of her juices fresh on her palate, she wondered just what else she had been missing out on in her century of life.

As royalty, she had had a sheltered upbringing. Harsh in her tutelage, but sheltered all the same. Perhaps because of that, perhaps because of her conservative father, or perhaps simply because of who she was, Elestrea had never focused much on romantic affairs. 113 years of age, she was by all rights an adult, albeit a young one, already shouldering the responsibility of leadership as a captain of the elite elven rangers. Surrounded by bawdy soldiers and traveling regularly as part of her duties, she had plenty of opportunity to explore her sexuality.

Yet she had never taken a lover. It wasn't that she had no interest whatsoever. She had certainly felt herself blush and her loins warm from the attentions of men in the past. But she always relegated such pursuits to a lower priority than everything else in her life. Her sex drive satisfied with a masturbatory session twice a month

—

at most

—

lustful desires were never a motivation for her choices prior to this expedition.

But now, it felt as if the dreams had awoken something inside her, opening doors that she had never known existed. She was worried that these changes had something to do with the Bile

—

the timing seemed too coincidental

—

but a not-small part of her exulted in the pleasure. That same part of her quietly wondered if she could make reality match her newfound fantasies. For the moment, though, it hungered for more of the delicacy in front of her.

The slimy residue clinging to her fingers that would have garnered a sigh and a thorough wash before now drew her in, the scent of her musk tantalizing. Her tongue quickly resumed its task, pausing only when her hand delved back down between her legs to acquire more of her decadence.

When she could find no more of her wetness, Elestrea stood up and reclothed herself. Her breeches, soaked as they were, were tied to her belt to dry. Double-checking the fastenings of her cuisses and greaves, the elven woman laced up her boots and moved to the tunnel she had chosen the day before, conjuring a small light to illuminate the darkness.

=====

The princess leaned against a stony protrusion, sipping from her canteen. It had been perhaps half a day since she had left the crystal chamber behind, though it was difficult to tell with any certainty. The path had led her on an upward trajectory, requiring her to clamber up rock facades at multiple points and forcing her to crawl on her belly through claustrophobic cracks at others.

Sighing, she put her canteen away and continued her journey. Assuming she hadn't been knocked unconscious for too long, the cavern with the Bile couldn't be too far underground, and so she kept an eye open for any indication of the surface being near: a hint of sunlight, a fresh breeze, plant roots poking through the stone.

Though she didn't want to admit it, it was possible that she would remain lost in the cave system until she died of dehydration or starvation. It was ultimately up to luck whether she escaped before her supplies ran out.

Then there was also the issue of her fellow elves. Ilverith had been next to her when the sinkhole had given way, and she had seen at least three others falling with her. So far, she had noticed no sign of either her rangers or the human bandits. The princess could only hope those under her command were safe.

Lost in thought, she turned a sharp corner to find herself face to face with... something. Humanoid, it stood on two legs, boasting an extra pair of arms that extended out from a too-thin ribcage. Both sets of upper limbs, disproportionately long, ended in malformed hands that rested on the floor. Its wet, sallow skin stretched sickeningly tight over its disfigured body, routinely punctured by sharper bits of bone and dotted in abscesses, all of which oozed a tar-like liquid. The head was no less grotesque.

Chitinous eyes that brought forth images of cockroaches looked out from sunken sockets, and where the nose and mouth should have been instead opened up to display flaps of exposed pink flesh, as if its emaciated belly had pushed its intestines up into its skull.

Reacting instantly, Elestrea drew her sword into Unfolding the Fan as she stepped back to give herself room, cursing when her blade glanced off the tunnel wall. The corridor, barely wider than she was, provided a decidedly suboptimal space for her longer weapon, and she was too close to her enemy to fumble around in her pouches for spell reagents.

As if to drive the point home, the aberration lunged forward, stretching out its two top arms with surprising speed to grab at the elf. A flick of her wrists removed one offending hand from its limb, the razor edge of the enchanted steel easily slicing through bone and sinew. The creature made no reaction to the loss of its appendage, continuing its attack. Barely avoiding the outstretched fingers, Elestrea dipped back around the corner and out of the monster's reach.