The battlefield resounded with cries of pleasure.
His breath coming harsh and ragged, it was all Simon could do to throw himself behind cover. One wall of a barn had collapsed against the adjacent house, leaving a triangular space between them. Judging from the burn marks, the barn had been destroyed by simple fire magic, not some orgasmic spell, so it was probably safe enough.
Moments after he leapt inside, he felt the wave of sexual energy shudder over the earth. It swept past everything, but just like Wendis had said, it followed the contours of the land. Hidden between the buildings, most of it rolled past him. A few wisps might have gotten inside, clouding his mind with thoughts of lust, but that could have been the impact of the battle itself.
Simon bit his lip until he could taste blood. He knew some veterans who could push aside the lust with a few deep breaths, but he'd never been able to manage it. As soon as he felt clear-headed, he got back up and crouched beside the entrance to his hiding place. He could still hear a few whimpers and the sounds of the enemy taking their pleasure, but they wouldn't be able to build up a wave like that any time soon.
Simon emerged, doing his best to relax his body. It wasn't just the tension of the battle, it was the aching sexual need that the succubi produced in their enemies. His cock was rock hard in his pants, desperate for relief. If he didn't watch himself, he'd end up doing something embarrassing... and fatal.
At times like these, he could almost understand how some soldiers decided to throw down their weapons and surrender into the arms of the Incubus King's hordes. It was certainly an easier death than being killed by orcs or even worse creatures. Simon squared his shoulders and reminded himself of how much had been lost. He just had to make it through until he could get back to Wendis.
The thought of his wife brought a smile to his face, but not for long. Amid all the other cries, Simon realized there was one that was more discomfort than pleasure. And it was close. He quickly scanned the ruined village until he spotted the source: three figures wearing light armor, slumped against the side of one building. They must have tried to leap out of the way of the sexual wave and still taken the majority of it.
In other words, they'd be prime targets for any succubi headed their way. Simon headed toward them, though he kept his sword out just in case it was a trap of some kind. While he didn't think any succubi had gotten this far, it never hurt to be cautious.
Once he got closer, he rubbed the ring on his left hand. Not his wedding ring, but the one beside it that Wendis had enchanted to detect illusions. When he was out in the field like this, it was hard to say which ring he valued more.
Since no illusions were detected, he could trust that the soldiers really were what they appeared to be. Sheathing his sword, Simon examined them. Three humans, all wearing light armor. It looked Aramite in design, but given how ragtag a lot of the new legions were, that might not mean anything. Simon shook all three to try to wake them up, but it looked like they were caught in the magic's grip.
One day, he really hoped someone figured out a way to break the grip of lust magic. Until then, he'd have to carry them back to relative safety. The higher-ups seemed to accept that battles with new soldiers would have heavy casualties, but Simon tried to save as many as possible. After this many years of war, they desperately needed more veterans.
Taking them one at a time was going to be difficult, especially since ground troops would be closing on their location. But as Simon started to heft the first soldier up, he was surprised to see one of the others begin to stir. As the unknown soldier tugged at helmet straps, Simon realized that it was a woman.
She tossed it aside and gasped for breath, trying to clear her head of the magic. It gave him an uncomfortably long amount of time to look at her. Like most Aramites, she had dark tan skin and straight dark hair, though she'd cut it into a bob around her head so she could wear a helmet. She was young and surprisingly attractive - or maybe that was just the lust magic talking.
Abruptly her gaze swung up at him and he saw pink light swirling there. She gave a soft moan and took a step toward him.
"What's your name, soldier?" Simon spoke as sharply as he could, bringing her up short. She stared at him a moment, then shook her head again. It seemed to clear her mind a little, but it also tousled her hair and that did
not
help Simon's desire any. He forced himself to keep staring in her eyes, needing the professional barrier between them as much as she did.
"Linda." She massaged her forehead with both hands. "I feel... Goddess, I've never felt like this."
"Stay focused, it will pass. My name is Simon. Where are you from, Linda?"
"Aram. Little northern province, nothing a foreigner would know... well, I guess it doesn't matter now. They took everyone there, made them into..." Her eyes fell as she remembered what had happened to northern Aram. He could see her beginning to waver and took that moment to grab the front of her armor and pull her up to meet his gaze.
"Remember what they did," he growled. "Focus on your sadness. Or anger. Or hatred. Just concentrate on some other emotion to keep the lust at bay."
Linda blinked rapidly, seeming to come back to herself. "You're... you're right. But the priestess said we shouldn't focus on hatred, that it would harm us too..."
"Fuck that. You're in a war, soldier - use whatever weapons you have at hand."
"I'll try. But I didn't expect it to be like this... I want to fuck so bad, I-"
"If you're feeling better, then help me carry the others." Simon gestured toward the two soldiers who remained stunned and immediately bent down to lift one. His movement pulled Linda into action as well, working with the other soldier. She only had to remove a little of the other soldier's armor before she was able to lift him, which spoke very well of her strength.
They began heading for the church while Simon eyed the horizon. He could see the advance parties of orcs coming now, but he was more worried about succubi who might swoop down at any moment. Though most of them were occupied with the orgy that had set off the lust wave, some might be left out or still have the presence of mind to keep up the attack. He couldn't relax yet.
Meanwhile, Linda obviously needed to keep talking. "I thought... I expected to feel magic hitting my mind, or something. But instead I just feel so hot... so desperate..." She swallowed and shifted her soldier uncomfortably. "This man... I barely even know him, didn't like what I learned of him in this battle, but... Goddess, I almost jumped on top of him."
"It might feel like you, but these feelings aren't yours. Stay focused." Simon tried to give her an encouraging smile, though he didn't feel it. It'd be so easy to throw her down, tear off her armor... "It isn't far now. The church is the best-defended point in town, so these men should be safe there."
"Then the feelings... they'll fade? After the battle?"
Simon winced and looked away. "No. Not easily, anyway."
"Then what?" She stared at him as if desperate for an answer and he did his best.
"The easiest way is to find a priestess, let them purge the energy. But they're busy these days, so you might have to deal with it yourself. Do what you have to do, just stay focused until the battle is over."
"Goddess, I feel so... I have to wait until the battle is over? Are you sur-"
"Careful," Simon said sharply. "If you let down your guard, you'll be defenseless when the next wave comes. And believe me, if a succubus gets to you then, that's it. Even if your body survives, you won't be yourself anymore.
Never
let yourself think it might be easier that way."
She nodded grimly and they walked in silence for a time. Simon felt a sense of relief when he finally saw the church ahead and sped up. Though he was tired from carrying the soldier, it was even worse holding it all in. He could carry on well enough on his own, but talking about sex with this young woman... well, he was glad she hadn't removed any of her own armor.
A priest and priestess were maintaining the barrier surrounding the church, and eyed them suspiciously when they approached. Simon had learned it was easier not to try to prove himself in battles like this, when everyone was so suspicious. Instead he set down the soldier he was carrying just outside the barrier.
"We're not asking for you to lower the barrier. Just purge these two until you're satisfied they're human. Linda here will defend them until you're done. Treat her too, and don't let her fall asleep."
"What?" Linda had been setting her soldier down, but now straightened abruptly. "Why are you leaving me here?"
"That was your first major lust blast, right?"
