The day was damp and wet from yesterday's rain. The city of Easthaven stirs reluctantly. Alexis entered my house without knocking--or opening the door for that matter, as she had an uncanny ability to pass through thin walls and doors unobstructed. "Anything new?" I asked. Monica, ever faithful, served hot tea.
"Yes," she said. "I've found a teacher for you."
"That's good news!" I said. "Who?"
"Alaya von Schauffenberg. You won't know the name, but she's a highly influential Drow witch," Alexis said. "I've been exchanging letters with her."
"Great!" I said excitedly before seeing Alexis' smirk. "... I'm not getting free training, am I?"
"Free lunches do not exist," she said. "There's a favor you can uniquely grant to her. The Drow nobility holds annual orgies amongst themselves. Alaya happens to be this year's host, so she has to provide... a unique specimen, let's say."
"You're saying a human?" I asked.
"Yes, a human. A human with lust magic, able to satisfy the Drow, and with the stamina to last the orgy. You can do it, and if you do, she will gladly teach you."
I sighed. "Well, hardly a mad sacrifice. I'll do it."
"Damn right you are. I'm going with you--there's a shit ton I need to do with the Drow," Alexis said.
"Trying to avert war with the Elves?"
"Yes. Some strong-arming, some proper diplomacy, calling in some favors... if I play this right, the Elves should get little support from the Drow," Alexis said. "We go tomorrow. Prepare. And don't bring your slave--she can't fight, and the road to the Drow's domain is dangerous."
And with that, Alexis left my house. "She's quite peculiar, isn't she, Master?" Monica remarked.
"That she certainly is," I said. "I'm off to arrange supplies."
"Then I'll sort out your personal belongings, Master."
"Thank you."
The next day was sunny and bright. Alexis and her carriage were waiting outside the city gates. "Right, let's go," she said.
"Take care, Master," Monica said as our carriage began to leave.
"You too."
"So where are we going exactly?" I asked.
"We're swinging southeast, there's the Sylvan Midway--an area under joint management by the Kingdom, the Elves, and the Drow. From there we can enter Drow territory. You brought your weapons?"
"Of course."
"Good," she said, swinging around her oversized staff. "The Sylvan Midway is neutral ground, where all races can stay and go; this includes bandits and worse."
The journey to the Elven Forests was relatively tranquil-perhaps aided by a literal ring of black fire that Alexis conjured around our caravan. "Is that fire magic?" I asked. "I've never heard of a spell like that."
"You haven't heard of many things then," she chuckled. "But yes, it's not conventional fire magic. It's a little invention of mine."
"What does it do?"
"It weakens hostile magic," Alexis said. "Sucks the power out of them and transfers it to me."
"Now that's interesting," I said. "... it has demonic magic in it, though, yes?"
"Obviously," Alexis replied. "Almost everything I do has demonic magic involved. This one is a mix of demonic and conventional arcane magic."
"It's, uh, illegal then. Um, just like my lust magic."
"Who gives a shit?"
"The Kingdom and the Church," I chuckled.
"Those obstructive bureaucrats and elderly priests?" Alexis mocked. "All they do is hinder progress and fuck around."
"The Church's defensive spells are quite good, you know. And they do help the poor and such."
Alexis shook her head. "Wait until you see Erika's barrier. You'll know what a good defensive spell then. I'll concede the latter though."
We stopped at the neutral outpost Alexis was touting earlier. It was called the Sylvan Midway, with its main shtick being a large building to process people coming in and out of all three realms.
"I'll do our papers," Alexis said. "You stay here."
"Alright."
There was a small bazaar of sorts, so I decided to explore. The Drow did practice very curious magic; some would outright be banned by the Kingdom's authorities. I was looking at a wand made of blackwood when the Drow merchant said, "caught your fancy, didn't it?"
"Oh, certainly," I said.
"It's only a decoration, unfortunately. A replica of Paul Fischer's legendary wand," the merchant said, "and you don't look like one who has uses for a wand, forgive me."
"Haha, not really. I'm more of a sword guy."
"Yes, as expected from lust magic users. The best way to win is to bash the enemy in the head, haha!"
"You know-?"
"I might have dabbled in it in my youth," the merchant replied. "I have something for you."
He produced, from a bag made of animal skin, a few small purple potions. "When you are away, and can't have sex to fuel your powers, you can use these as replacements. I'll give you a buy two get one free promotion, how's that?"
"I'll take three then."
"Two silvers."
I took the coins from my pouch and paid the old man. As I put the pouch back into my pocket, a gust of wind went past, and the pouch was gone.
"Thief!" I shouted. I gave chase to the blurry figure as it moved seamlessly through the forest. But I was faster, slightly so, and I extended my long blade-
It swung in the air, slashing the thief's thighs. The thief turned, an unmistakable face of an Elven woman staring at me with shock, and threw a vial. The vial exploded into a thick mist, and the thief was gone.
"Damn it!" I cursed out loud.
"Now, now, no need to be too agitated." The old Drow shopkeeper walked calmly approaching me before handing me my pouch back and the potions I bought.