Author's note: First off, I really want to thank everyone for the great support on chapter 1! It's really encouraging to get such a great response. Also to address a few comments I received, yes, Mageslayer is inspired by Toofy (as well as Myka's Tail). I was originally inspired to write it after talking with the author of Toofy, and while this chapter isn't as obvious with that inspiration, it will still be present. This chapter is longer, but also less erotic than the first, there is one sex scene later on in the chapter, but this chapter especially doesn't have much sex. Don't worry though, chapter 3 will make up for it! <3
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Lori was roused from her slumber as the scents of untamed wilds receded, no longer overpowering the rancid mage stench of her master. Gagging as she rose from the curled-up position she had taken in her sleep, her arms reflexively stretched outwards above her head, fingertips brushing against the hard wood of the carriage top. Eter was regarding her with a gentle, if curious gaze, looking up from some document he appeared to have been reading. "I trust you slept well?"
She returned his gaze with another gagging noise as she pinched her nose. A noble's aura she was used to, being stuck in a tight space with one was too much for her though, and she only barely held back from coughing up another hairball. "Lori was, until she could smell Eter again. She is going outside." she explained flatly before turning towards the carriage's door. A quick flick of her wrist left the door open, the moving landscape of farmland drifting by as she hopped outside, easily landing on her feet.
Lord Eter's objection was heard, but ignored by her sensitive ears. Lori would sooner declaw herself then go back into that carriage right now. While the sulfur and piss scent was far from gone, at least it wasn't making her nauseous now. A glance backwards showed the forest line they must have recently passed, and several startled mounted guards, one of the horses rearing back a few feet from her. A pulse of her own pink aura calmed the mounts, but one of the escorts glared at her.
Before he could acknowledge her, she turned and began walking to keep pace with the carriage, and the guards she disturbed also quickly returned to their positions relative to it. The man who was glaring at her then spoke, a thick and gruff voice, deeper than most humans. "You startled us cat, is everything alright?" despite his words, his voice carried no compassion or concern. He wasn't a mage, Lori could only barely smell his aura, weak and flickering as it was. Her fur still stood on end as she did catch the scent of cold iron on him.
He would likely be Lord Eter's guard captain then, no ordinary guard for a minor lord would carry the accursed metal on them. Even just standing close to it caused her fine fur to bristle and a slight sweat to appear on her brow. The rare metal was immutable by magic, as good as her own claws at cutting through it, and incredibly deadly to creatures like her. She didn't allow her voice to tremble though, and to all degree she had control over, kept her demeanor calm. He likely knew the effects cold iron could have on her, and knew she knew as well. She wouldn't let herself seem intimidated that easily.
"Lori just getting fresh air. She not appreciate Man calling her cat. She is his master's mistress." she spoke in a tone making clear that she wouldn't accept disrespect, but her ears still twitched as she heard a comment from another guard.
"I see our lord decided to buy himself a slut, bet she feels real nice." the offending guard had spoken in a whisper, leaning towards a comrade to make the comment. A bolt of magic force sent him from the back of his horse, hanging onto the side by virtue of his strapped in legs as the saddle shifted and his mount reared up, only further destabilizing him. He tried drawing a blade but dropped it just as quickly, and Lori couldn't help but laugh as she saw him flailing from the side of his horse, which after its initial surprise had begun to trot forwards once more, eventually letting him right himself after quite a bit of embarrassment on his end.
To the humans, it appeared as though he just lost his balance, unable to see magic like Lori could, but Lori's flicking tail and laughs made it clear to all she was involved.
"Lori will not be as nice next time." she said simply, a threat she planned on keeping if needed. This was enough to shut up the guards, including the captain, and she distanced herself slightly from the latter and the cold iron he kept. Keeping pace with the carriage was easy for her, when she needed to, she could match the speed of a horse at gallop, afterall. Soon the quality of the road they were traveling increased, and shortly after the estate of Lord Eter came to view.
The fields of farmland, presumably owned by the Lord stretched for at least a few miles behind her, before meeting the surrounding forest with a somewhat shoddy looking wooden stakewall. The land was poor, Lori could smell the scent of blight wafting along the farmland, and even without disease crops would struggle to grow in this soil. Lori could feel it, hard and lifeless, rocky and cold.
It was strange, that this land would make for such bad farmland, the surrounding area was rich and fertile, the strength of the scents she caught earlier were proof of that. Lori continued in silence towards the more noble collection of buildings, deep in thought about why the land may have been plagued when suddenly she caught a scent that answered for her. Floral and citrusy, with a hint of maple.
This land was the domain of a dryad then, she must have been displeased for some reason or another with her master, or at least those who toiled below him. She kept it in mind, planning to find the fae later. She already knew Eter's estate was failing, ridding the crops of their blight could only help. Lori allowed her mind to wander and contemplate as she and the carriage continued, allowing her ears to flatten against her head and tail to lower, swaying only a few inches above the ground.
