Isalla imagined that the chances of the young woman were far worse than she might hope.
Chapter 17
The house finally grew quiet as the last of the visitors left, and Kanae sighed loudly as she began removing her armor. Isalla winced at the sounds the armor was making, afraid of what cleaning it would be like. The muck covering it had mostly dried, but that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
“Thank you for being willing to give up your room, Isalla. While I think that Urek could have been safely taken home, Brialla is in a far more questionable state.” Kanae said, setting a bracer on the table. “I’m surprised that I got to them in time… a creature had driven them into an alcove right on the edge of the third tier of the Abyss.”
“It’s not a problem. You saved me, and they need your treatment far more than I do right now,” Isalla said, watching in idle curiosity as Kanae removed the armor.
“I still appreciate it. Those idiots… I can’t believe they let themselves be driven deeper rather than running for the exit.” Kanae sighed.
“What are the tiers of the Abyss that you keep talking about?” Isalla asked, looking away for the moment. “You’ve mentioned them a few times, but…”
“They’re like… like levels of a vast strip mine, for lack of a better term. Each tier is deeper into the earth, but the entire Fungal Abyss is a wound in reality where space warps and mana causes strange mutations,” Kanae explained, shrugging unhappily as she did so. “It’s hardly the only Abyss in the hells, but it’s the only one nearby, and legend has it that it’s where angels and demons clashed in excessive force, much like the siege of Rosken.”
“Oh. That does explain some of what I heard… what happened to them, then?” Isalla asked, shivering as she looked at the bowl filled with what looked like bloody beads or rocks.
“Vokal, wonder of wonders, managed to get through things with little more than a scratch or two. The other two, though… they got ambushed by a number of fungal beasts. Don’t ask what they were, they’re rarely the same in the Abyss,” Kanae explained, shaking her head. “Brialla lost most of her tail to the ambush, which is going to be quite uncomfortable for her, I’ll imagine. She’s probably going to have to save funds for a few years then go to the capital to get it regenerated. They fled, and mid-way, another ambush got her in the side. Urek and Vokal managed to kill the creature there, but then Urek ran into a pustule that exploded in his face, embedding dozens of spores across the front of his body. I didn’t dare leave any of them inside, since they’d doubtlessly start consuming him as they grew. With both of them down, Vokal managed to hole up in a small alcove where he could hold off any attackers. It’s still not good, but he was luckier than he had any right to be.”
“Ow, that’s… well, they’re alive. That has to count for something, right?” Isalla asked, flinching at the idea of something exploding in front of the young man. She’d seen how deep the spores had been embedded, and the idea was somewhat terrifying.
“Quite. I’m going to take a bath, then get some sleep,” Kanae said, sounding oddly tired to Isalla. “You can use my bed, I have a bedroll that I can use.”
“I could use the bedroll. It isn’t like I haven’t used them before,” Isalla quickly offered, flushing slightly at the thought of using Kanae’s bed.
“No, no… you’re a guest. I’ll be fine, Isalla, and you’re still healing,” Kanae said firmly, now down to the padded gambeson and her stockings, both of which had some of the same muck on them, though not nearly as much as the armor had been caked in. Mostly it looked like they’d been hit by what had come through the joints of Kanae’s armor.
“But—” Isalla began, but Kanae ignored her, heading for the bathing room quickly. A moment later, Isalla murmured, “But you deserve to have some comfort after all that.”
She hesitated for a long moment, debating what to do, then slowly, curiously approached Kanae’s room. She hadn’t been in it before, but now that she had an invitation, Isalla couldn’t help herself. The door creaked open at her touch, and she blinked as she looked around the room.
Unlike the rest of the house, Kanae’s room was crowded with boxes, chests, a bookshelf, a wardrobe, and a bed, just to begin with. An empty armor rack was in the corner, with a weapon rack next to it on which hung a crossbow and a quiver of bolts. A set of nearby shelves held several towels, along with a nightgown that Isalla had never seen Kanae wear. The room was surprisingly cluttered, but in a way, it was reassuring.
Kanae had often struck Isalla as distant and, in a lot of ways… too perfect in what she was doing. Some of that could be ascribed to centuries of practice and personal poise, but that didn’t mean that it was easy for Isalla to feel comfortable with the demoness.
The demoness’s room, though… it was the look of a room that was lived in. Someplace private, where Kanae doubtlessly relaxed more fully. That was part of why Isalla was surprised that the other woman was offering her bed, because it was her private space.
“Actually… she didn’t take a towel with her this time, either. I should take her one,” Isalla murmured, looking at the towels and hesitating.
Part of her was uncertain how good the idea was, but it felt like the right thing to do. It had nothing to do with wondering what Kanae looked like beneath her clothing, Isalla told herself firmly as she took the top towel off the shelf. She knew she was lying to herself, but Isalla felt a little better when she told herself that.
Stepping out of Kanae’s room, Isalla slowly approached the door to the baths, trying to decide what she’d say. Eventually she decided on something simple, and opened the door as she spoke. “Kanae, I thought you might want a towel, and…”
Isalla’s voice trailed off and she blinked owlishly, freezing in place as she looked at Kanae, who was just stepping into the pool. The demoness’s clothing was piled nearby, and while there was steam in the room, it hardly hid Kanae, and the sight caused heat to rise in Isalla’s cheeks.
Kanae’s skin was flawless, without the slightest scar or other mark that Isalla could see on it. She had the same slight purple tinge to her skin that Isalla had noticed initially, and the darker parts of her skin were a more obvious purple as well. More interesting in its own way were her toned curves, and the demoness’s beauty made Isalla envious. Kanae’s tail swayed as she slipped into the water, which was cloudy enough that Isalla finally tore her gaze away, blushing furiously.
“Thank you, Isalla; that’s appreciated. I forgot to grab one again, which could have proven a bit unfortunate,” Kanae replied, her voice unhurried. It took Isalla a moment to realize the demoness didn’t seem even slightly bothered or embarrassed by Isalla’s intrusion.
“W-well, that is why I brought it in. Even if I appear to have intruded at an improper time,” Isalla replied, her gaze still averted as she studied the wall.
“Mm… perhaps so. I am the child of an incubus and succubus, so let’s just say that I’m used to people walking around unclothed, even if it’s been a while,” Kanae said, now sounding amused. “I’m not going to be upset about you walking in right then. If you had a sword, maybe, but you don’t.”
“I guess that’s true,” Isalla said, hesitating a moment before leaning over to set the towel down. “Anyway, I’ll just set this here. I hope your bath goes well.”
With that, Isalla all but bolted from the room, feeling as though her face was about to burst into flames, she was so embarrassed. Worse still was the faint laugh that she just barely caught as she left the room.
“Heavens, what made me think that was a good idea?” Isalla muttered under her breath, rubbing her eyes as she tried to drive the sight of Kanae out of her mind. That wasn’t happening, though, as it seemed like the image was almost seared into her mind.
Opening her eyes again, Isalla hesitated for a long moment, trying to think of what to do. Her mind was racing in circles, and she didn’t think she could sleep easily. Looking at the table and the mess on it, Isalla came to a sudden decisi
on, and one that relieved her a lot.
“Oh, I can clean that up,” Isalla said, letting out a breath and smiling to herself. “Something to get my mind off her.”
With that, she quickly grabbed a washcloth and bucket, filling the latter with water that hadn’t been boiled. She tried to clean off the muck first so that it wouldn’t dirty the towel, then got to work wiping down the table. It didn’t take too long, and Isalla hesitated before wiping off the bulk of the gunk on Kanae’s armor as well.
It took Isalla nearly half an hour and left her exhausted, but at last she was done. Her cleaning wasn’t perfect but took care of most of the debris. Since Kanae hadn’t come out yet, Isalla decided that it was time for her to go to sleep again, despite how guilty she felt about taking Kanae’s bed. She did take the time to wash up again, and then padded off to the bedroom.
Slipping into the bed was a surprise, and Isalla let out a soft gasp as she sank a couple of inches into its soft surface. The silk sheets were cool, and it was softer than any bed she’d ever slept on before, which was stunning. The pillows were made of the same material too, and Isalla slowly relaxed, luxuriating in the feeling as her exhaustion started taking its toll, and a faint, familiar scent surrounded her.
Isalla was mostly asleep when the door opened again, and she barely stirred. A minute later, she heard a soft voice near her ear, gentle and attractive. “Thank you for cleaning up, Isalla.”
“You’re… welcome,” Isalla murmured, rolling over sleepily. “Was… right thing to do.”
“It’s still appreciated. Rest well. I’ll go get my bedroll,” Kanae said softly, and in the dim light Isalla saw her turn to leave.
Before she could, Isalla reached out clumsily, only barely managing to catch the hem of Kanae’s shirt as she murmured, “No. Your bed… it’s big enough.”
Kanae paused, and Isalla could barely see the woman’s eyes glittering as she turned to study Isalla. After a few moments, she asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Isalla said, smiling a little herself as she added insistently. “Is right.”
“As you wish. Thank you, Isalla,” Kanae said, and moved over to close the door.
As she felt the bed shifting, Isalla felt sleep finally claim her.
Chapter 18
“Isalla.”
The soft voice didn’t quite manage to stir Isalla from her sleep, though it came close. She was warm and comfortable, more comfortable than she’d been in ages, and she felt incredibly content as well. She did drift up out of the depths of sleep and closer to consciousness, but not all the way.
“Isalla!” Kanae’s tone was firmer this time, but her voice still didn’t fully register. “I need to get up, so let go.”
Isalla let out a murmur of protest, her arms tightening as she hunkered forward, her fingers sinking into something warm and soft. That was what drew her closer to consciousness, though, as she blinked slowly, then she focused on what was in front of her.
She was in Kanae’s bed still, the sheets soft and warm around her. More pertinently, Isalla was staring at the back of a neck, with floral-scented black hair almost tickling at her nose. It was the back of Kanae’s head, she realized. Then she realized that her arms were wrapped around Kanae, and just what her fingers were sinking into as her grip tightened. The surge of embarrassment that blasted through her was incredibly potent, and for a moment Isalla was afraid that she’d spontaneously combust.
“Oh! S-sorry, Kanae! I was asleep and didn’t realize what I was… I mean…” Isalla stammered, flushing deeply as she released the other woman as quickly as she could, recoiling so quickly she nearly hit the wall. Her cheeks felt like she was on fire, and she quickly looked at the ceiling.
“I’d rather guessed as much. Thank you for letting go,” Kanae said patiently, the demoness slipping out of the bed and standing.
Kanae looked more amused than anything else, Isalla realized, her humiliation growing more pronounced. The demoness wasn’t quite naked, as she was at least wearing her underthings, but that didn’t mean that it made the situation easier on Isalla. Despite her attempts to put it out of her mind, holding onto Kanae had felt wonderful.
“I’m so sorry… H-how long was I, um…” Isalla asked, closing her eyes as she tried to gather the tatters of her composure again. It wasn’t going well, and Kanae’s response embarrassed the angel even more.
“About, oh… an hour ago? I woke up when you grabbed me,” Kanae replied. The demoness turned away and approached the wardrobe, opening it as she continued. “I thought about saying something then, but you seemed to relax afterward, so I decided to wait until I needed to get up.”
“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe that I did that.” Isalla repeated her apology, trying to resist the urge to hide, especially since there was an enormous part of her that would love nothing more than to crawl into a hole and fill it in behind her. At least then the demoness wouldn’t look so entertained.
“It’s alright, Isalla. I probably shouldn’t have taken your offer last night, since you were mostly asleep,” Kanae said, pulling out a change of her underwear as well as a pair of trousers and a tunic. She turned away to slip them on as she continued. “That said, I’m going to finish cleaning in the dining room, then I’m going to check on my patients and exercise. Feel free to rest a bit more, Isalla; it was a long night.”
“But—” Isalla began, managing to overcome her embarrassment after a moment, but her protest came just as the door closed behind Kanae. Isalla blinked at the door, then continued, her voice softer now as embarrassment was forced back by concern, and even worry. “But you were the one who was up for so long, not me. You should be the one resting.”
The empty room had no response for Isalla, and she rolled over to face the wall. She didn’t need to sleep, in all honesty. She probably could have for an hour or so more, but the way she’d woken had rather firmly kicked her thoughts into motion, and there was no undoing that now. Still, she didn’t want to get out of bed, not after the incredible embarrassment she’d been through.
Almost worse was that Isalla could still feel the warmth of where Kanae had been laying, as well as where she’d been touching the angel. The feeling of pressing against her… Isalla shivered at the memory, closing her eyes and breathing in again as her heartbeat quickened. Kanae’s scent was that of a type of flower, but not one which Isalla had ever encountered before. It wasn’t powerful, a somewhat subtler scent, but attractive anyway.
“What is wrong with me? Is it just having lost my wings?” Isalla muttered, feeling slightly frustrated as her confusion heightened along with her libido. “She’s a demon. I shouldn’t be… be attracted to her. And yet I am.”
It was something that had been frustrating Isalla ever since Kanae had mentioned her attraction to Isalla. She’d never considered how beautiful or not a demon might be, not in the rare instances she’d fought them in her previous stations. It was a bit silly that she hadn’t, since a succubus had managed to lure off and kill three men at one fort before being spotted and dealt with.
“Dealt with. That’s a term for it,” Isalla said, rolling onto her back and thinking harder as her mood soured a little. As she thought, suspicion began to grow inside her. “I was taught to hate them, wasn’t I? It’s easier to fight and kill someone when you think of them as a thing, rather than a person. Yet at least some demons are… people. Most of them, possibly, though plenty are as bad as we were taught they were. Heavens… what a mess.”
Isalla had enough problems to worry about when she was back in the Evergardens, though life had been fairly simple. Her position had been… well, as the only member of the Order of the Phoenix in the city, she’d been overworked and most people found her annoying, as she’d taken the place of an experienced investigator who was supposed to take care of figuring out the rare crimes. Not many people had trusted her when she’d abruptly replaced someone they’d known so well. Still, she’d done her best, even if the position was obviously a deli
berate punishment. Her failures were being held against her at the time, she knew, which would limit her ability to ever rise in the ranks afterward.
“Not that it matters. They’ve probably reported me as dead. Even if I get my wings back, once they hear where I ended up, I’ll be under so much suspicion I’ll never get back into the order. They might even execute me,” Isalla murmured, staring at the ceiling as she worked through the likely chain of events. She’d been ignoring her possible fate for a while now, but when she thought about it in more detail, it was depressing. Not depressing enough to disable her, but it didn’t make her happy.
In the end, Isalla had to figure out what to do. Her primary focus had been on recovering, and she still had a long way to go, but… now she needed to decide on her future and what it entailed. The thought brought to mind the length of Kanae’s tail as it flicked through the air, and Isalla giggled in sudden amusement.
“Oh, I’m an idiot…” Isalla murmured, stretching an arm toward the ceiling and debating for a long moment as she looked at her hand against the dark backdrop, the thought of Kanae improving her mood inordinately. Finally, she nodded to herself. “Fine, then. I’ll let things progress how they will and considering where we are… once I’m well enough, I’ll go warn Roselynn about what I learned. After that… well, we’ll see how things have gone. My past isn’t dead, but it’s close to it.”
Almost on cue, Isalla heard the muffled sound of an axe hitting wood. She had to marvel at Kanae’s dedication. The woman had delved into what she’d admitted was a horrifically dangerous region the previous day to rescue a trio of young men and women, then had performed an intricate, bloody operation to save two of their lives before finally going to bed. Now here she was, getting up at a time that Isalla guessed was about normal, and going out to exercise and cut firewood like nothing had happened.
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