Phantom Campaign

by Eden Redd

  “Care to tell me what to expect?” the mage asked.

  Isani’s eyes glowed in the dark like two points of crimson foxfire. “Shhh. Let’s enjoy the moment. We can talk at the party.”

  The trio made their way along the dark path until lights glowed ahead. The shine of lanterns called to them like moths at night. A mansion appeared with a small, gentle glow. Wood and stone formed a magnificent structure big enough to house several families. A wrought iron fence surrounded the large home, the main gates wide open and bodies moving toward the front doors.

  Dax, Isani, and Ressa approached. Two burly men in leather and cloaks greeted the trio with a bow, one of them holding the door open. Isani blew the large men a kiss before she and Ressa pulled Dax in through the front door. Heat washed over them, chasing away the cold. Students from many different classes were scattered about. Isani grinned as she pulled Dax along into the main room. A roaring hearth blazed as drinks were handed out to waiting hands.

  “Welcome to the party,” the shadow elf whispered.

  Dax looked around, drinking in the home when a thought stabbed into his mind hard.

  “The owners don’t know you’re having a party here, do they?” Dax said in a low tone.

  “I knew he would figure it out,” Ressa whispered with a grin.

  The shadow elf simply waved her hand in the air as if to dispel the very words. “Nonsense. We paid to have our party here.”

  Dax shook his head. “You’re not as good as you pretend to be.”

  Isani leaned in closer, holding Dax’s arm tight. “Maybe I want to lower my guard around you?”

  A woman stepped over, placing drinks in hands before running off. Dax looked down at his drink and raised an eyebrow.

  Isani stayed close, “If we wanted to poison you, you would be poisoned. Relax and enjoy the moment for now. We can discuss many things in due time.”

  A cackling chuckle filled the air, causing Dax to turn his attention to a couch. Noss sat in the middle of a small sofa, a giggling elf on each side of him. The kobold was talking and laughing as the elves touched his arm. Wide smiles filled their perfect faces as they listened intently to the lizard-like kobold.

  Arms slid away from the mage and when he looked back, his rogue escorts were gone.

  On my own until they come for me again.

  Dax took a sip of his drink and it burned. The mage coughed slightly, regaining his composure.

  “Smooth,” he croaked.

  Dax stepped further into the room. Eyes shifted to the mage and smiles bloomed. Whispers mixed with conversations and the mood seemed to heighten.

  Noss stopped talking and looked up to see Dax’s smiling face. “Master Dax!” the kobold shouted and launched from the sofa.

  The short kobold walked to the taller man, holding out his clawed hand and the two of them grasping each other’s elbows. When they let go, the kobold was nothing more than wide serpent eyes and a smile.

  “It’s so good to see you! This party is amazing! The two lovely elves told me that this was a special elite party and when I asked them why I was here, they laughed. I thought it was a joke but they told me that my new club was going to do great things. All the thanks go to you!”

  Dax eyed the kobold necromancer, “How much have you had to drink?”

  Noss moved from side to side as he talked. “I don’t know but it’s really strong. Kobolds have quick metabolisms so all it takes is a gulp and we can get drunk. I thought I was pacing myself, but now, I don’t know. Do I seem drunk? I don’t want to be too drunk or…”

  Dax held up a hand, stopping the kobold mid-sentence. “It’s okay. You seem fine. Just ease down on the drink and you should be okay.”

  Noss nodded. “You’re right. I’m just happy you’re throwing this party!”

  Dax’s eyes widened, “What?”

  “They told me it was your idea. You arranged everything so everyone here could network between classes and clubs,” Noss said with a confused edge.

  Dammit! They are pinning this party to me so if anything happens, I’ll take the blame!

  “Do you know Isani and Ressa?” Dax asked with a light edge.

  Noss nodded.

  “Did you see them, just now?”

  The kobold took a sip of his drink before he spoke, “I thought I saw them go upstairs. I’m not sure. Everything is turning into a blur.”

  Two elves sauntered over, each one putting a hand on Noss’s little shoulders.

  “We’ll make sure he is okay,” one blonde elf smiled.

  “Tell us about your club,” the other one said to the kobold.

  Noss looked up to each busty elf with stars in his eyes. “Yes, fantastic idea. Dax Sage is a personal friend of mine and we came up with a great idea to form a partnership…”

  Dax eyed the elves and Noss before he stepped away.

  The atmosphere was intoxicating, heat pressing down on senses and electricity in the air. More people arrived and filtered in, greeting those they knew. Some made out in corners while others drank and laughed. Chaotic sensations rolled along Dax as he tried to navigate the party and reach the stairs. Bodies moved and when Dax moved to the side to avoid a collision, another body crashed into him.

  The mage whirled around and was stunned.

  Nuria stared at the mage with eyes as wide as his. The dark-haired mage was in a thin robe that adhered perfectly to her body. The top of it was open, just enough to reveal a bit of cleavage as she stood in silence.

  “Nuria,” Dax whispered, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.

  “Dax,” the beautiful mage whispered, heat touching her cheeks.

  The two mages stood before each other, a new awkward silence taking root. Dax wanted to yell, but nothing happened. He thought he would be filled with annoyed rage, but instead, he felt a tempting desire to hug her.

  “I don’t know why… but I want to hug you,” Nuria said with a sad tone.

  Dax lowered his head, shadows covering his eyes. “I… hope you’ve been well?”

  What the fuck is wrong with me!

  Nuria looked down and nodded. “The second year just started, but I’m managing. Professor Frost seems to want to work us harder this year, but you already know that.”

  Dax shifted on his feet, no words rising up to add to the dying conversation.

  Nuria kept her gaze low. “I’m sorry,” she said flatly.

  Dax looked to the beautiful mage, his heart sinking in his chest. “I don’t want to be weird and I’m coming from a place of concern, but is everything well in your life?”

  Nuria looked up, her eyes wet, but her face a blank mask. “I’m fine. Everything is fine.”

  “Despite everything, we have spent some time together. I just want you to know, if you need anything, you can come to me, even if you just want me to listen,” Dax said, the notion beating true in his heart.

  Nuria looked away. “Thank you, Dax. I’m fine. I’m just adjusting to academy life again. I hear that you’ve completed the card magic manual with the professors, congratulations.”

  “The work was already there. I just helped them piece it together and added some further details. Nothing they couldn’t figure out with time.”

  Nuria nodded. “But now, your technique will be taught to this class and future classes to come. Your dream of helping others is already taking place.”

  “I probably wouldn’t be here if a friend didn’t help get it out to the world,” Dax tried to smile, but instead, it came off as a weak twitch.

  Nuria’s eyes sagged. “Again, I’m sorry. I don’t know why, but I thought I was helping.”

  “You were, in your own way,” Dax said with a kind edge.

  Nuria’s eyes trembled. “Dax…” the mage began when a body drifted down the stairs and placed a hand on Dax’s shoulder.

  “Nuria, so good to see you,” Isani smiled. “I apologize, but I must pull Dax away for a moment for a chat. I will have him down here in a little while, if you don
’t mind?”

  Nuria nodded. “It’s fine.”

  Isani turned her gaze to the mage, “Please, come with me.”

  The shadow elf turned and climbed the stairs. Dax gave a weak nod and followed. Halfway up, he looked down the stairs to see Nuria standing there, her eyes saying something he couldn’t quite understand. Turning back, he followed Isani to the second floor and turned the corner into a hallway.

  Nuria stayed at the bottom of the stairs for a long moment. A sigh fell from her lips before she too turned and walked into the main room. A cloud of talking and laughing spiraled in all directions as the mage picked up a drink and moved to a dark corner, thoughts lashing at her mind.

  The front door opened again, a golden eyed cleric stepping in with a small smile.

  ***

  Isani stepped along the hallway, light as air. She didn’t make a single sound, unlike Dax whose every footfall made the floor creak. The shadow elf looked over her shoulder with a wicked smile as the mage followed her. The pair reached a pair of double doors, one of them slightly ajar.

  “We should be quick before the party begins to climb up here. A private moment to discuss the future,” the shadow elf winked before he opened the door and stepped inside.

  Dax followed, his heart aching as he wanted to keep talking to Nuria. Professor Frost’s words hung heavy in his mind, asking him to speak with her and find out if she was okay. Nuria’s parents missing was odd, but Dax knew that despite having Nuria’s body, the void spawn within was a different person, a different soul.

  Once inside, the door closed shut behind them. Dax looked back to see Ressa locking the doors and a warm smile along her small, serpent mouth.

  Isani stretched her arms up toward the ceiling before she turned around and took off her cloak. Dax watched her while also drinking in the lavish bedroom. It was immense, with an equally large bed. Dax had never seen a bed that big in his life and knew this mansion belonged to some pretty wealthy people. A large window stood off to the side, the curtains covering most of it except for an opening and the night sky beyond.

  “Like what you see?” Isani smiled.

  Dax inhaled through his nose before parting his lips and letting out a long exhale. “Let’s cut through the bullshit. You wanted me to come to this party, talking about secrets and alliances. I’m here. Now, what is this all about?”

  Isani’s smile faded away as a seriousness took root. Her entire demeanor changed as she looked to the mage. Ressa stood behind Dax, the dranar’s head lowering, but her serpent eyes on the mage.

  “As I told you once before, rogues deal in secrets. Our professors teach us to gather information and use it to gain the most profit. We don’t simply open locks and slink through the shadows. We are brokers of a sort, to help those who need it and those who will pay,” the shadow elf said with a cool edge.

  Ressa moved closer, standing to Dax’s side and looking at him, “We watched you, before you discovered your card technique.”

  Isani nodded. “We watched everyone, but seeing you struggle, Ressa and I couldn’t stop talking about it, talking about you. Everyone knew you were previously a slum runner, but none of them saw your true spirit.”

  The dranar stepped closer, her hand on Dax’s arm. “We… guessed you would be great.”

  Dax eyed the rogue close to him. Ressa’s eyes slowly blinked with a warm intensity.

  “The two of you stalked me, because of a crush?” Dax asked in an even tone.

  Isani stepped closer, her crimson eyes practically glowing. “It goes beyond a crush. We want to share an alliance with you for the campaign to come.”

  Dax sighed in frustration.

  Isani gave a small smile. “We should relax. Sit down on the bed.”

  The mage’s expression didn’t change. It was obvious as day the two rogues wanted something more. Remembering the small conversation, he had with Zarra and Fern, Dax felt this was exactly what was discussed. To build a clan so that they would always have each other. Was this something he wanted, or something Zarra truly wanted?

  Ressa pulled the mage’s arm to the side of the large bed. A scaled hand touched his chest and Dax found himself sitting. The dranar knelt down between his legs, hand out and taking hold of the hidden buttons to this robe.

  Isani stood behind Ressa, looking Dax in the eyes as Ressa continued to undo the mage’s robe.

  The shadow elf began to talk with a degree of sultry warmth, “In two months, the 2nd year class will leave Mist Haven Isle for a war campaign training. It is meant for champions to train for war time, should it ever come.”

  “That’s nothing new. The High Dean mentioned we would be performing some military training during the welcoming lecture,” Dax managed before his robe opened.

  The mage looked down to Ressa gently taking hold of his small clothes, pulling them down as his manhood began to rise. The warmth in the room turned up as Ressa gazed down, a long-pointed tongue licking her lips.

  The mage was about to speak again when the dranar licked his cock, a rush of blood causing it to stand under its own power. A hand wrapped around the throbbing shaft and the lizard woman engulfed the tip, sucking with a small moan.

  Isani continued, “Our professors encourage us to find information in all sorts of places. Even the academy is no exception. With some choice searches and hidden scrolls, they led us to discover the deeper implications of the campaign. This isn’t like the Trail exams or the Trials. This campaign will test all of us in real combat.”

  Dax listened, despite the surge of bliss along his manhood. Ressa suckled, inches filling her mouth as her head bobbed to a slow rhythm.

  The shadow elf stepped closer, her hand on the back of Ressa’s head and controlling the tempo. Ressa slowed down even further, her tongue slathering against Dax’s cock while her lips held on tight. Despite the small snout, it didn’t take anything away from the sensations as Dax took in a deep inhale.

  “She’s been wanting to suck your cock since last year,” Isani said with a wicked smirk.

  Dax blinked slowly as the dranar suckled on his throbbing member.

  The shadow elf continued, “There will be larger coteries, to even out the teams. Those who scored high on the Trials will be able to pick their teams. We want to be on your team.”

  “Why? Because of my card technique?” Dax said with a small huff.

  Isani shook her head, “No. It’s because you’re a leader and a survivor. The campaign will test us on not just completing the objective, but also our survival skills. There will be no tavern to sleep in, or drinks to relax our weary bones and muscles. We all will be fighting for our lives, our grades and for each other.”

  Dax looked up to Isani as Ressa continued her masterful work. “That… shouldn’t be… like it sounds,” the mage tried to keep it together as Ressa sucked faster.

  The shadow elf pulled her hand from the back of Ressa’s head and ran her fingers along Dax’s chin. “Sadly, it is. We couldn’t find out everything about the campaign, but we know enough to know it is a pass or fail test. Champions who don’t work well with each other or don’t rise to the occasion will be sent home. Different coteries will be fighting to reach the end goal. It will be chaos in order to see who is meant to be a champion.”

  Ressa pulled Dax’s wet cock from her mouth, stroking it while looking up. “We know you tested well during the Trials. We know you will be a leader of a coterie. We want to be part of your coterie,” the dranar stated before taking Dax’s member into her mouth once again.

  Isani gave the mage a loving gaze, “We think you will be the best among the classes. Of course, we will continue to gather intelligence and bring it to you and those who will be part of our coterie. It doesn’t hurt that Zarra, Fern, Vance, and Symon will be on our team. Their abilities and skills will be a great asset.”

  Dax fought through the fog of bliss as Ressa suckled with renewed enthusiasm. “All this cloak and dagger stuff, just to be part of my team? You think I wo
uld have turned you away if you just asked?”

  The shadow elf gave a knowing smile. “You think we are doing this just so we can pass the campaign?”

  Dax’s brow softened. The old instincts were difficult to let go, wondering what everyone’s angle was before they even spoke a word. Spending so much time looking out for his own survival, at times, it was strange to understand that sometimes people simply liked people. Dax’s friends were the exception to the rule, but it was earned during their time together. Now, it seemed more classmates wanted to become more than simply knowing about each other.

  Thoughts were interrupted as Ressa’s head bobbed faster, her tongue sliding against the underside of Dax’s cock, trying to draw his very soul into her mouth. The wet sounds filled the small space between them as the dranar lizard woman moaning louder.

  Isani took a step back. Hands up, she undid her cloak and let it fall away. Next, she opened her leather top and shrugged it off.

  Dax watched as her violet colored breasts defied gravity. Dark purple nipples contrasted against her lighter violet skin. Isani held up her arms before her breasts and Dax saw leather straps surrounding her forearms. Thin slot boxes wrapped around her wrists. When she twisted her wrist a certain way, a dagger shot out into her hand.

  Dax was rock hard as Ressa gave another muffled moan.

  The shadow elf gave Dax a mischievous smirk. “These are called rigs. Tools for rogues to use. They can be adjusted and used for all kinds of things. The ones on my forearms hold daggers. Some use them in their boots or other parts of their bodies to have quick access to weapons of all kinds.”

  Isani stepped closer, her arms falling to her sides, the dagger still in one of them. “When I was close to you, I could feel the hidden cards in your sleeves. It was a nice attempt to have some cards ready in case you ran into trouble, but a bit basic.

  “Accept our proposal and I will have a rig specially designed for you so you may have quick access to your cards. No more reaching into your robe when you can have a card easily slip into your hand at any given moment.”

  Dax’s willpower began to crack. Ressa continued to moan lightly as she increased the tempo again.