Zuria Kingdom

[Apollymi]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50995330981_650eb93ce4_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kGhpfv)

A Kingdom in name only, Zuria is part of the lower world. Tucked away into the mountains of the North it is a snow capped paradise on the outside. Ice and snow coat all of the surfaces and give shine to a great many aspects. Even so, the land is plagued, the people suffer and the true Royalty have been deposed. All that is left is a hollow Usurper and his 'concubine'. The land stands frozen in the fall of its rulers, waiting for the coming of the next great phase, the hopes of the land, waiting on its cold and icy breath.

[Bloodedge]

A clear comment about taking the crystal was all the lass needed to fully devote herself to that portion of the activity. At least his critical thinking skills seemed to be pretty good as well, he had no problem rationalizing accepting this little thing from her, and likely learning something he hadn't known before. If he'd really only been level 32 when he'd ended up here, he likely was exactly that useless little farm boy he'd appeared to be when he showed up. One hardly had any skills at that level and with out some heavy planning the builds of people around that time were typically a bit lackluster. But apparently this didn't matter. It also seemed he grasped all aspects of the details she'd given him so far, including things she hadn't recently said. "Hm... those are accurate ways to think about it. You are two separate people using the same or similar names to live different aspects of the same lore," she said. This gave away quite a few details including those about herself, not that she knew that to be completely factual yet, as she'd not yet encountered another Merlin only the idea that they might have existed based on a few things which happened to her since coming to this world. As for his mental workings and comparisons to a very specific move, Merlyn could only laugh. She was previously quite the cinephile so she had a bit to say. "Oi oi, that movie wasn't that bad. The progression was cute and gave that little Arthur something to do with his spare time. I've definitely seen worse, like all of the movies where King Arthur is just a nonchalant idiot who doesn't see the emotions of those around him and blindly trusts people until he dies~" she challenged with quite a bit of heat. Only to let it go soon after. "Regardless that jump in level will at least make it easier for you to progress from here. A few more monster kills and we should be near your next major goal. Come now the road to Zuria is clear... no need to stay in this place~" she mentioned with a fleeting mention.

Adventure Continues Here (http://www.roleplayuniverse.net/forums/showthread.php?985-Zuria-Kingdom).

A long journey was behind the newcomer to this world, Arthur Pendragon. His escapades primarily consisted of slaying giant beasts over the course of a few weeks, and there were many left to conquer. For now, there were no monsters to speak of on his 'to-do' list. With a decent amount of money from bounties in his pouch, he was to investigate humans, who themselves were in search of magical beings that meant no ill-will to the kingdom. How strange; this would be his first task that involved helping beasts. He'd killed so many thus far, he even developed a skill which kept him keen and capable in combat against large creatures.

Of course, this new leg of the journey would begin just as the overall adventure had: in freezing temperature. There was a thing that could almost be called irony here, but that was alright with the blonde. "You know, Merlyn," he spoke after a long period of silence during their trek. "I'm not sure if this is a refreshing change, or some terrible omen. The entire time I've been here, I haven't faced a single person. Is that the fault of you hiding something I should be concerned about?"

[Apollymi]

Arthur had been doing more than his fair share over the last few weeks. Merlyn had watched his progress as he became more and more acclimated to the nature of this new world. She'd done her own job as his guide, making sure he took the necessary path and each step he needed to work towards his goal. At this point, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't steering him in any particular direction, but maybe... she just wanted to preserve his innocence for a little while longer. In the frigid air she thought this over, her own breath coming out as a small cloud of smoke though she showed no outward signs of being cold. Funnily enough, though this leg of their journey had been mostly undertaken in silence, Arthur thought to speak on it now. A smirk spread across Merlyn's face as a tuff of her white hair was tucked back inside her hood by her own hand. She didn't quite give Arthur enough credit for being as clever as he was. She'd given the lad a fair bit of time and now the darkness of the world was closing in on them, she didn't have any more time to potentially coddle him, not that she'd ever admit she'd been doing that in the first place.

"Arthur, you might be giving me a bit too much credit~" she teased, though she didn't actually discount his words. "A King's Journey is long and the road is often tumultuous at best. Forgive me for enjoying the scenic route for as long as I can~" she stated with a fair bit of honesty. "I also haven't been hiding anything... this world is good enough at hiding the unpleasant from those who don't wish to see it. I see many things when I use my magic to do so, but some things are only clear in a moment and fleeting beyond that. Perhaps I wasn't ready to bet on something unclear, but this..." she said with a wide open gesture. "Is something I can say is clearly wrong. But figuring out how and why its wrong is up to you. And the responsibility of it, is yours to take on. The glory of it... is yours as well," she said. Her voice trailing off as her eyes were drawn into the distance. Words so soft they could be missed, but just as ominous as any which could be heard. "And all that comes with it..."

But just as easily as she'd said such ominous and scary things, she quickly reverted to her more cheerful demeanor. "So, how do you feel about that bounty? Anything you'd like to share?~" she questioned wondering if the young man had noted the oddity of such a request in this Kingdom. Sure the enchanted forest needed protecting, but why wouldn't the knights of the Kingdom be charged with such a task. Why did it only list the potential for innocent creatures to be harmed but not what species or anything of merit. All of it seemed kind of sketchy to Merlyn and when she laid eyes on the flyer posted to the Tavern wall, she'd had a vision of something strange... it needed confirmation and thus she'd guided Arthur towards it. Though upon doing so, she saw his actions expanding from that point forward in a manner which was... trying at best.

[Bloodedge]

Too much credit, she said. In these short weeks, she had certainly proved herself worthy of the amount of credit he truly gave her, even though he remained ever skeptical of her existence. Even now, she spoke in a cryptic way that gave every implication of trying times ahead. She spoke of enjoying the 'scenic route' even while saying she wasn't hiding a thing. Even if nothing was 'hidden' per se, something was clearly being left out. Perhaps there was nothing certain, simply a looming darkness in the future of this adventure. Time would tell, but that seemed to be the case, based on Merlyn's words.

He had a responsibility of discovering the wrongs going on in this kingdom─ that much he understood. He didn't care for the honor and glory of it all, and it seemed the softer words spoken by Merlyn did not hit his ear. Either way, Arthur was here to make a difference and work successfully, and that... was what he would always do by the standards of his family. At least, he'd do so to the best of his ability. He could only imagine his siblings completing a task like this within minutes of arriving, and with a level of success unimaginable within the confines of the task. He, however, had never been as capable. Maybe that would change as he took on this journey alongside Merlyn.

"The bounty? It's weird. It definitely isn't something I would expect to hear about several villages away─ especially when those villages aren't in league with the kingdom," he explained. He likened this quest to dealing with poachers in their home world, so it wasn't at all strange to him that the specific creature being hunted was never mentioned; those sorts of ne'er-do-wells could have multiple targets of different species. As well-constructed as this kingdom was, though, he imagined it would have a decent set of knights or guards in place. "I never heard anything about this kingdom being at war on the way here. Are they lacking in polic─err... knight presence?"

[Apollymi]

A few moments of consideration would lead Arthur to telling Merlyn what he thought of this particular bounty. His ability to understand this potential problem was one which deserved quite a bit of praise. "Hai hai, seems a little off... I'm glad you understood. It's a bit less bothersome if I don't have to explain why things are... sketchy~" Merlyn mentioned. It was quite true, getting a bounty in one of the unrelated places was a bit strange. The fact that something as simple as poaching wasn't being handled within the Kingdom was also strange. There were many variables to consider, but all things led back to a problem at the top. Merlyn thought through many ways to get an audience with the King and Queen of this area, and the easiest would be to complete their bounty. Rewards for such things were always given out in person and as such it would be an easy path towards their ability to find answers.

There was also the pressing problem which Arthur questioned more directly. "The Kingdom of Zuria is said to house at least a couple of knights of repute. One of which is supposedly the Spirit Knight. But if he's not currently being put on this task, one has to wonder why~" Merlyn mentioned. Her plan was becoming more and more apparent by the moment. Never one to leave the lad with unanswered questions she kept talking about her own sneaking suspicions. "I find it odd that something as simple as poachers is being outsourced. I find it odder yet that the King and Queen stopped making regular public appearances within the Kingdom..." she said with a gentle sigh. "It's all too many small things for me to be alright with it. Thus the change in your routine. Gambare~" she encouraged the lad, but seemed not to have more to say. "Now then, how will you be proceeding?" she asked of the lad, they were obviously on the look out, and she had no problem knowing about the area they were scouting. Pretty soon the image of this place would come together.

Deeper within the forest a young girl was being held within a cage. Her face covered in dirt her pointed ears peeking out from beneath white locks. She looked disinterested as her purple eyes with their blue pupils enlarged quite a bit. This was a normal routine for her now. It had been for quite a while, once she'd been training with the Spirit Knight, but now... she was being used for whatever random task the Queen wanted. Right now... she was being used as part of a 'Virgin Ploy' as it was called. Bait for a creature which only trusted those who were sexually innocent. Unicorns and their pieces were used for various magical rituals, but the small voices told her, nothing good would come from that sort of ritual. Even so, her participation wasn't her own choice. She wouldn't trouble her mentor at all if she could help it, the man was practically alone holding up what was left of this godforsaken kingdom. "Alright missy. Just remember. You're here to lure out a Unicorn we'll take care of the rest. And don't go getting any ideas funny ideas..." the portly but lightly armored man said reminding the lass not to try and run away. He was normally along for these sorts of things, and given the way he handled a knife she was inclined not to fight him directly. As if she needed more reason to behave another spoke as well. "Right right, it'd be a shame if the Queen couldn't use you to lure in anymore Unicorns~" one particularly long faced man said as his tongue slithered out of his mouth and over his grossly chapped lips. The girl with all the poise of her face managed not to show fear at such a display, such threats were pretty normal at this point. 'I really wish someone would notice how wrong all of this has gone...' she thought to herself, only to begin singing a gentle tune. The gross men began to vanish and the gentle light of small spirits began to gather around. And eventually the creature she was looking for began a rather timid walk towards its doom. 'I'm sorry.'

[Bloodedge]

"Less bothersome, huh? But still bothersome either way," Arthur said as he watched Merlyn through the corner of his eye. Suspicious behavior was nothing new to him, even though this was an oddity beyond the norm. The kingdom called Zuria had some knights of high caliber. That notion left Arthur to wonder the exact number of knights in the kingdom, but more importantly than that was the matter of these... poachers. The rulers of this kingdom no longer appeared publicly while there was a crisis of this magnitude occurring. One had to wonder what the connection was, considering these things happening in unison. "Unseen monarchs, mythical creatures being hunted... What sort of beasts are in this area? There's usually some sort of connection between weird situations like these, but I can't imagine what. That is, unless there's also some sort of threat on the monarchs themselves─"

If only he knew a few more details, he could have some semblance of an idea about the poachers' motives. The king and queen would have to be set aside for the moment, unless there was some way to meet with them beforehand. What sort of people were they, even? That would come to light eventually, he imagined. "Proceeding... hmm. We should inspect the forest nearby. Maybe we'll even get lucky and find our bad guys while we're out, eh Merlyn?"

[Apollymi]

Merlyn heard what Arthur had to say, it seemed his brain was moving quite well. "Yes, less... work is always bothersome. Some of us acknowledge this fully~" mentioned the white haired lass. Still, it was quite comforting to know she didn't have to do too much work to make sure that he understood her suspicions. Still, her own suspicions couldn't be properly worked out until they had an audience with the local royalty. Ah, but that was too far in the future at present, doing this job would get them the audience. There was still the matter of the Knights of this area and the poachers to deal with. Ah, the questions... "The forests have several different kinds of spirits, Unicorns, yeti, ice foxes... etc," she said. "A few of those are completely innocent. Unicorns in particular do no harm to anyone and the spirits are normally pretty quiet as well," she mentioned happily. "Actually, Ice Foxes are herbivores so they don't kill anything either," she mentioned pretty offhandedly. There were so many creatures in this area who were kind of light hearted in actuality.

It was soon mentioned by this lad, that it would be interesting if this sort of adventure led to them finding the sort of people they were looking for. "That's why we're here, I am a navigator after all!~" she said, as if it was her intention for them to end up in this place at this time. As they moved forward the sound of singing could be heard and the crunching of snow as a unicorn who approached a cage was being cornered by two rather gross looking men. "Looks like you're up now~" mentioned Merlyn as she went about her usual way, this time she found herself sitting rather casually in the upper branch of a tree.

"That's it, keep singing little bird... we've almost got it..." the skinny faced man mentioned as he aimed a bow at the center of the creature's neck. Avoiding too many injuries to the creature was important for its meat. And making sure its horn was intact was also important. Meanwhile the portly man was still crunching lightly in the snow as he prepared to deeply stab the creature from the outside.

[Bloodedge]

"If it's always bothersome, maybe it's not the thing you should be doing," was Arthur's retort. Frankly, he rather enjoyed his job, even if his 'boss' occasionally made things far more annoying than they needed to be. Moving on, he now had an example of the beasts which called this forest their home. It was nigh time to find out what creature was being targeted, though... there wasn't actually any figuring out to be done. There was a singing in the distance, and Merlyn's answer to approaching it was... to make herself scarce. Again.

Arthur could only sigh. "Good of you to help out, Merlyn. I'll be sure to look your way when I'm up to my neck in enemy arrows," he said. After refraining to accept her offering against his very first opponent, this Caster hadn't offered anything tangibly useful even once. Either way, there was work to be done. His gradual approach allowed him to see a caged girl, a small group of these poachers, and... a unicorn. The usefulness of the girl in this situation wasn't specifically known, though she was obviously bait of some sort. Meanwhile, the men stalked the approaching unicorn with obvious intentions of slaying it. What was Arthur to do? Well... perhaps the unicorn was attracted to the girl's singing, and could be scared off like any horse.

He cleared his throat. There was only a little time to deal with matters here, so the king-to-be had to be quick on his feet to save the unicorn. Alternatively... he could just get rid of the target. A deep inhale was followed by a sudden outcry. "AAAAAAAAAA~" he shouted, even cupping both hands around his open mouth to project his voice toward the unicorn. He could deal with the poachers in time. Before anything else, he had to ensure the beast's safety.

[Apollymi]

Arthur had some surprising words of advice for the Caster known as Merlyn. She couldn't help but laugh off such advice, "Hm, well not all jobs can be liked all the time. Perhaps, I enjoy this one a bit more than I let on~" she mused just a tad. After all, being the guide to a future King was far more likeable than most things. Even so, like a responsible older sister, she could only offer the lad so much. She could have done several things for him, but if he wouldn't accept it, then it wasn't worth the extra effort. She'd taken to directing most of her 'work ethic' elsewhere during their adventures. He had no idea the amount of proper planning it took to get him to the right place at the right time. Actually, if they'd been any earlier arriving to this spot the situation could have turned out quite bad... alas, it would be quite a while yet until Arthur understood the full usefulness of Merlyn.

"Be sure to do it. I am a navigator... not a fighter," she said with a chuckle at the end. And then she got to watch something interesting happen. Arthur very interestingly thought to save the Unicorn first and foremost. How strange. Merlyn might have thought him mad for this, but the lad's shouting in the moment caught the attention of the creature. It bucked up at the moment the arrow was loosed and it missed his body narrowly. It ran off immediately and the girl within the cage had her eyes widen as her attention was drawn towards the man who'd scared off their quarry. 'A Knight?!' she mentally questioned. All the while the short man with the blades began to move as the bow wielding slim faced man aimed at Arthur directly. "You're going to regret that. You should have just stayed at your post..." the man mentioned figuring this one should have been busy if he was truly from the area. All the while the speech was mostly a distraction so the portly knife wielder could get behind the knight. The girl within the cage watched this happening and felt it her duty to help. She knew this man wasn't from this area, she couldn't let him die to such filth. "LOOK OUT!" she shouted as an ice crystal fell onto the skinny man's arm knocking another arrow up and into the air as it would have flown directly at the man. This left Arthur to deal with the knife wielder aiming to stab him in his lower back on the right side, while the forest became deathly still.

[Bloodedge]

"You're not wrong, but you make it sound way worse than it should be." He could only agree that jobs couldn't, and likely shouldn't be enjoyable at all times. Still, the way Merlyn spoke implied that any form of work was some sort of atrocity. No matter; there was work to be done now, and Arthur himself would find satisfaction in seeing the job completed. Apparently, Merlyn was content to call herself a navigator, not at all a fighter. Surely she had some ability, but that was yet another thing of little importance.

Arthur's outcry did its job. The unicorn was safe from a loosed arrow, and the poacher who would have otherwise stabbed it had his attention on Arthur instead of the chase. Of these two, it was the former who initiated a discussion. He was going to regret that, was he? He doubted that much. Earlier in his journey, Arthur questioned his ability to deal with monsters and the like. When humans were the issue, however, he hadn't a second thought about his success. An arrow was knocked, and Arthur's blade was held at the ready. Alas, that very arrow would not prove to be a threat for the Future King, thanks to the effort of that caged girl. 'Here against her own will then. Got it,' he thought. While aiding him, however, the girl also shouted a warning. "Look out," she said.

There wasn't an issue. In the stillness of the forest, the gentlest breeze was met by the sharp clank of metal. Arthur had turned to face his assailant, and in that same movement, Excalibur was swung at the blade of the enemy's knife. He'd been quite adept at disarming others in his original life, even while unarmed himself. With something like Excalibur in his possession, he worried for nothing against opponents wielding simple daggers.

[Apollymi]

Merlyn was at heart, a lazy young lass. Even so, she took her job on with an amount of emotional maturity which she thought was proper. "It's just a difference in personality. I don't like things that make me feel like I should be serious... " she mentioned in passing. Of course, it seemed that Arthur was even less helpless than she had imagined. His work in the previous world as a body guard likely prepared him to better deal with human targets than his initial bouts with monsters. This of course, was at least partly the reason she'd held off on putting him in contact with humans, but there were other more important reasons for that as well. She'd been trying to temper him for the questing ahead, and people in this world were much less likely to have anything resembling 'decent' motives for their behaviors. No matter. Many more interesting things were taking place here.

"You little brat! Just wait, you're all mine when this is over..." the skinny man said as his arrow flew off into the distance. The white haired girl within the cage seemed less than fearful of the obvious threat that this man was making towards her. "You are pretty dumb if you think that. Disposable. You're obviously disposable. Just like me~" the young girl said. She'd put together that this Knight wasn't from the Kingdom, that meant that he had to have information about this little outing. She couldn't be sure of the source of that, but it was more than obvious that it wasn't intended for this pair to return to their mistress. At the same time, the portly fellow had his dagger knocked from his hand by a swinging blade. His eyes widened at this incident as he looked at his empty hand as if dumbfounded. "Oi oi... At least shoot him or something!" exclaimed the man to the smaller one. He to his credit moved as if he planned to draw another blade while the bow wielding man sucked in an annoyed breath. "If you can't take care of one Knight alone you're not worth keeping around..." A smaller dagger in the hands of the portly man he dived forward as if he intended to take out the Knights knees and give the sniper a free shot. Strangely that arrow wouldn't be coming... as a chilling cold spread throughout the skinny man's arm, he'd find himself incapable of moving it much at all. And there was no one to blame for this, but the young half-elf within the cage, though she managed to look innocent when he finally turned back towards her. Luckily for her, she was locked within this cage, it wasn't like he could open it quickly enough for her to be in danger. So all that was left was for Arthur to take care of these two criminals.

[Bloodedge]

Merlyn was a strange one indeed. At times, he couldn't tell if she was far more tactful than she let on, or... if she was secretly entirely useless. It was an odd thing to consider, but alas, he would have the true answer one day. For now, he sought a different answer. What brought these men to hunt a unicorn? Additionally, what resulted in them acquiring a girl who seemed fairly wealthy if judged by her state of dress, to lure said unicorn out? At least one of these men would have to be left alive and conscious for a bit of questioning.

One of the males thought to verbally threaten the young girl, successfully earning the detest of Arthur in doing so. Just the same, it seemed the girl had a bit of 'bite' to her when responding to the man. If there was one thing Arthur thought it imperative to do, it was to correct the lass on her assertion. "Don't say that," he said. His eyes never left the larger male for longer than a moment; he remained alert enough to swing his sword against the second incoming dagger as well. Of course, that wasn't going to be all he did. Swords were fun and effective, but he had been through so many situations which required the use of his body... that the movement of the Excalibur in his right hand, was followed by a swift, left-handed chop aimed directly for the vagus nerve at the right side of his neck. Luckily, it seemed he didn't need to be too concerned about the archer of the pair; the caged girl had him quite occupied via magical means. "Lovely girl like you? You are anything but disposable. What's your name?"

[Apollymi]

The world would continue to wonder about Merlyn's usefulness, but while this occurred, it seemed that Arthur had words to share with the young purple eyed girl. She looked towards him strangely after hearing these words. And watched with great interest as he easily dispatched the dagger wielding one of the goons she was trapped with. The man whose arm she'd practically frozen was soon searching his own person with his useful arm, looking for the key to the cage she was in. He'd practically given up on helping his partner so long as he could harm this girl. But the process was slow going considering the placement of the key and the frozen position of his arm. What he hadn't noticed yet, was the spreading of that frozen nature, through more and more of his body, until he was practically petrified where he stood. The lass looked towards Arthur as the fumbling of that particular man came to an end.

"What I said was true, obviously we three were disposable to the one who sent us here. There is no way we should have been found by anyone else... in this situation," she mentioned. Whether she thought her own self worth was tied to this situation or not, wasn't really important at the time. "I'm Emilia, nice to meet you..." the lass gave a little curtsy within the cage as was normal when meeting someone of higher standing than herself. She seemed to be very well-trained and exceedingly adept at interacting with those of higher status than herself. At the bow of her head, came the showing of her pointed ears. Her use of magic was quite good as well, with everything about this situation stopped the only thing left was for her to get out of the cage. "Oh, and thank you. For saving me." It would be in this moment which caused Merlyn to look up and speak. She had the slightest twinkle in her eye in the moment and she said something which would have sounded kind of cryptic. "She's like us by the way."

[Bloodedge]

And so, down went Arthur's opponent of choice. He'd been expecting more of all humans after felling so many great beasts, but it seemed they were capable of being just as miniscule as the humans he'd encountered before. On the positive side though, there was always a beacon of hope to be found. One such example was the lass who introduced herself by the name Emilia, while curtsying to the king-to-be. She seemed to feel quite comfortable doing this, in spite of the fact that the other assailant had been trying to unlock her cage and do harm to her.

... Ah. There was a reason for that, which Arthur was just realizing. The archer of the ne'er-do-wells appeared frozen, certainly by Emilia's doing, considering how she'd been behaving in prior moments. Thankful for that, Arthur offered his own greeting... as well as his own respectful bow. "The pleasure is all mine, Emilia. Arthur Pendragon. Don't fret over being found; I had a useful... well, maybe useful... well... I was guided here by a witch," he said, finally settling on how he'd be addressing Merlyn. Speaking of Merlyn, the woman herself noted Emilia being 'like them' in a way. Arthur could only assume she meant this was someone from their world, which was sensible enough. Ah, but Arthur had an assumption of his own after seeing what the girl was capable of. "You're an elf? Oh, and don't thank me. From what you did to this guy, I'm guessing you can get yourself out of that cage pretty easily? I figure even Merlyn could do that, and you've been way more useful than her."

[Apollymi]

"Arthur Pendragon?" she said looking up at the man in surprise. "You're King Arthur?!" she seemed to be shocked by this information. To her knowledge King Arthur had ascended a long time before now, along with the Kingdom of Camelot. Surely, such a person wouldn't simply be in such a lowly place for no reason. She figured the worries of this lower world had been long since forgotten by such people. A wide eyed look escaped this lass, as something became obvious to her, this lad was unfamiliar with something about the way this world worked. She simply shook her head. "Merlin is a Kingmaker and definitely not a witch. You would know a witch if you saw one or rather if you smelled one," Emilia stated. Her words made Merlyn smile a bit, and caused the lass to share some information. "Future King... not the once King you are thinking of... but he'll still help~" she said with a bit of surety. Whether Arthur had faith in her abilities or trusted her motivations didn't really matter, she had a great deal of faith in his. Emilia also would have known if a witch was present, as she would have smelled such a thing on the air. Ah, maybe such a thing was why they were here anyways. When asked if she could get herself out of the cage she simply stepped forward.

She'd soon enough reach out of the cage and take from the side of the man the key which he'd been trying to use to get back into her cage. She'd use this to unlock the box from where she was, and gently push open the door. She had no problem freeing herself. "That really wasn't much of anything. And though I could have done it at anytime. Doing so of my own volition would have put me and someone else in danger. So, the thanks remains..." she said softly. She landed on the snow without even leaving footprints and stared up at Merlyn for a few seconds before averting her gaze. Her words about this lad were strange, if he wasn't the King Arthur she'd heard of, but instead the next one, then she'd misunderstood something. Whatever the case she had something to offer, "If it is your future to be king, be wary of the woman who is 'Queen' in this Kingdom. She'll ruin you," she said frankly.

[Bloodedge]

"Arthur Pendragon, yes," he confirmed without hesitation. There was another identity associated with the name, though, and it seemed Emilia knew of it. Alas, whether she spoke of the Once King in this world, or simply of King Arthur's legend, was not quite clear. Arthur's answer to being the King Arthur would remain the same regardless, though. "If you listen to Merlyn here, I'll be King Arthur at some point. Apparently there's a line," he quipped, adding to Merlyn's mention of him being the 'Future King' specifically.

Emilia did, indeed, free herself of entrapment within mere moments. He anticipated something more along the lines of ice being used to shatter the cage, but simply grabbing the key was just as effective after all. Once she let herself loose, Arthur approached and behaved somewhat... strangely. He almost seemed like someone's doting mother, the way he leaned toward Emilia, even reaching out to tilt and turn her face. He was simply checking for 'bumps and bruises' as it were, and such was simply his nature after doing these search and rescue missions. As he did this, he was given a bit of a warning regarding Zuria's queen. It was a strange thing to hear, but corrupt monarchs were nothing to be surprised about. "Suspicious Queen; noted. Does that have anything to do with the other person you mentioned? Should we be looking for them as well?"

[Apollymi]

According to Arthur he was in line to be the next King Arthur. That did indeed clear things up for Emilia who found his presence in this part of the world to be strange if he was the King Arthur. "Sou ka, that makes more sense. I thought it would be weird for King Arthur to descend. Still, that name carries a lot of weight," she said with a bit of knowledge. After letting herself out of the cage she was confronted with a weird action. The lad began looking her over as if she was somehow injured in this exchange. She had the grace to look embarrassed in the moment, her face turning a brilliant shade of red in direct contrast to its mostly pale features.

"Ano, I'm 114 years old. I'm not a child... I don't really need looking after like that," she mentioned with a frown coming to her face. She was quite old and pretty well capable of taking care of herself. Though she wouldn't have done anything to put anyone else in danger, she definitely wasn't helpless or anything of the sort. As for his question, there was more but also less to be said in that case. "Ah, if you're going to claim what was no doubt a bounty, you'll have to enter the palace anyways. You'll meet the one I protect for yourself. She is... in a strange situation. I'm sure you'll understand it yourself. Also be wary of the King... his judgement is questionable at best." And that was that. She'd said all she needed to and knew that someone else would likely be dealing with the problems of this place that her hands were tied at. Merlyn heard out all of this girl's words and stared at her. She saw much in looking directly at her like this and understood very little. Like smaller images giving way to a bigger picture.

[Bloodedge]

'Descend?' Arthur wondered. It was such specific terminology, the way she spoke of the current King Arthur. Perhaps they were in some high palace? There was yet another answer to be found in future, he supposed. After addressing the difference between Arthurs, Emilia noted her age, and with it the lack of necessity for Arthur to look after her the way he was doing. She could say that all she wanted, but he would only meet it with a scoff. "Well granny, you should be old and wise enough to know that age has nothing to do with someone wanting to make sure you're alright. You seem fine, at least," was his retort. With that, he released the flustered lass' chin and stood erect before her.

Ah yes, Arthur was essentially nothing more than a glorified bounty hunter at this point. In claiming the rewards for this quest, he would apparently be able to meet the 'other' person Emilia spoke of. He could kill two birds with one stone, then. Finding the one Emilia looked after would be a boon, and the same could be said of meeting this kingdom's leaders for himself... especially after being warned about both of them. "Well then, let's go pay this precious person a visit. Merlyn, do you at least have useful enough magic to keep these two hooligans restrained while we make our way back?"

[Apollymi]

A shocked look crossed the face of Emilia and her face became even redder. How dare he call her a granny? She was hardly old by Elf standards, though legitimately more than old enough to take care of herself by human standards. "Rude! I'm not a granny. Geez, are you sure you're going to be King?" she asked as she crossed her arms over her chest, her face was soon released though so she had no further problems. She did understand, she supposed a bit of doting over someone who was captured was hardly completely inexcusable. She still didn't like feeling embarrassed though. As for the incapacitated people who served the purpose of the bounty Merlyn hopped down from the tree. The skinny man at least had his face thaw enough for him to speak. "Don't just go talking about us like we don't exist. Just wait... you'll see, I'm gonna..." Merlyn stood directly before this man and touched his forehead with her index finger. "Sleep." she said as if it was a simple enough command. Soon after she withdrew and tapped the portly man as well. With both of them surely sleeping she rather easily used magic to place both criminals within the rolling cage that was previously used to transport Emilia. "I assume that will do? One day you are going to realize how much I am spoiling you Arthur~" she said. Still once those people were sleeping individuals were set she reached forwards, magic seeming to swirl in her hands as a strange pink energy was pulled from both of their heads. "Carry on then~ Go collect your bounty!~"

Emilia watched all of this with her brows raised. "Sou ka, so that part is true. I didn't expect it." she murmured. Legends surrounding the court wizard to the Knights of the Roundtable never really seemed likely. But given the taking of a specific kind of magical energy she was almost certain that at least a little of the rumors were true. "I can lead you back if you'd like," she said heading off in front meanwhile Merlyn took a few steps forward as well, "You get to pull the cart. Arms Day, Arthur!"

[Bloodedge]

"I'm positive," he said with no hesitation whatsoever. "There's no getting around the fact that I'm going to be king. What─ do kings not joke in this world?" he questioned. Before they set out, Merlyn decided to actually do something for once. The skinnier assailant of this quest began running his mouth in defense of his honor, or whatever he was getting at, only to be rendered unconscious by a simple touch and command of Merlyn. This came before the forced sleep of that same man's companion, but also before she claimed she was spoiling Arthur himself. "Oh yes, this one showing of a useful spell is so much more than I could have asked for."

In saying such a thing, perhaps Arthur brought himself a bit of bad karma. Emilia offered to lead the way, and Arthur was subsequently left behind both women. There was a side-note from Merlyn at the time, regarding Arthur being left to drag along their prisoners. What had he done to deserve being abandoned in such a way? Probably a few things, to be honest, but it wasn't as if he wouldn't have resigned himself to the heavy lifting anyway. "Guide, or slaver?" he inquired of the universe. "Of course, Merlyn! Glad to be of service!" Nevertheless, he would soon be following Emilia's lead to the royal palace of Zuria. . .

[Apollymi]

According to Arthur there was no way around him being King. He went on to question whether or not Kings joked in this world. Emilia looked at the lad as if she was a little sad for him. It was obvious by this look that she'd been aged by this world and her experiences quite a bit. She would have felt bad if she ruined this man's good nature, telling him the truth of the world when he obviously wasn't aware of it himself. "Not really no.... but, if you plan to change that, I see no point in stopping you," Emilia mentioned. She was content to let the boy have his dreams, for as long as they lasted.

Merlyn looked at the young lass and felt that they were kindred in a way. They both seemed content enough to preserve as much of Arthur's innocence in the world. Alas, the lad was truly ignorant of how kind this pair of girls was being, that much was obvious by his next words to Merlyn. Strangely, the other woman was good natured about the entire thing and she chuckled between bites of that pink energy. "Guide. You're the one who took prisoners. Most wouldn't have considering the bounty said Dead or Alive. You could be carrying a couple of heads instead~" she said in the most innocent of ways. That being said, she wasn't upset that he'd chosen the pacifist route, he should simply be aware that such things came with extra struggles. "Not that I am upset in anyway, it's good to have the moral high ground. And I can't say the results won't be fruitful~" Merlyn's words were just as ominous and vague as they always were. Even so, Emilia led them straight towards the palace where she'd return for her own sake and her two saviors would go to collect their bounties. They'd be lead to the throne room where they could expect to see at least one of the Monarchs.

Within the palace a blonde woman sat in front of a mirror. having her hair brushed by a young white haired girl who was dressed plainly. "Come on now, just because your little friend ran off, doesn't mean you get to slack off in your duties. There is hardly any reason to be upset," the woman said. She was quite sure by now that girl was either dead or wishing she was, and then the people she had doing her dirty work were gone as well. This situation set her at ease, now all she had to do, was dangle just a little more in front of the young king and she'd be a step closer to her goal. Those blue eyes of hers narrowed in their scheming and the white haired girl behind her finished brushing her hair. "Of course, I am not worried. I doubt she'll be gone for too much longer..." she said softly. The spirit connected to her, had already whispered some very exciting news, the palace was about to be an interesting place once again.

[Bloodedge]

A few moments after a question he asked in good spirits, Arthur was given an answer which should be... slightly disturbing. There was a fair amount of optimism to be taken from Emilia's ending clause, yet just as much darkness in the answer she'd given. Could kings truly be so serious, that one telling jokes was an oddity in this world? Well... perhaps he could actually do something about that. Merlyn at least seemed to take his jokes in stride while acknowledging him as the Future King, even though the things he said about her were at least partially serious. Another thing about Merlyn, though, was the cryptic sentences she offered at every opportunity. What could she have known about the results of his actions? There was clearly something, but the answer was forever a mystery.

"You're applying a lot to this, aren't you Merlyn? I can't well kill these people and drag back their heads; there could be more to their group. Unless you know how to get answers from a dead person, this is the best way to make sure the job's done properly." This was about as solid as Arthur's reasoning could get in regards to the current scenario. After bringing up his own logic, however, he took a moment to think. He could only hope to be wrong about what he came up with. "Please tell me you aren't lazy enough to have that sort of magic without bringing it up earlier─" he said with a sigh. Why wouldn't that outcome surprise him at all?

Within the throne room, Arthur would patiently await the rulers of Zuria. All evidence implied that this bounty had come from rather high up on the command chain, so this was a suitable enough place to be, even if the local royalty hadn't set the bounty themselves. One specific knight would be carrying the message of this group's arrival. Taking it to the king would prove useless, if even possible; it seemed things in this kingdom were to be taken to the queen first. As such, the door to the queen's chambers would be receiving a knock before being entered. Tall, well-built with yellow eyes was the general description of this male with bluish-purple, neatly-arranged hair that left only a strand hanging down his face. Once he stepped through the open door, his eyes closed, and he bowed. "Your Grace. You have visitors─ a pair of foreigners with the garb of a knight and a sorceress seem to have done something about that hunting problem in the forest. Shall I escort you to them?"

[Apollymi]

Arthur's questions to Merlyn would warrant more vague and lightly comical answers. Again, she hadn't actually been complaining about the lack of ruthlessness in his current approach, in fact, being able to trust him to make such decisions helped to clear up the events immediately surrounding the current moment. "Hm? I already said I'm not upset about your moral high ground here. That being said I knew everything I needed to know about these two soon after I put them to sleep. I know where they'll lead us and all," she said with a soft laugh. "And it's not a matter of being lazy Arthur, it's a matter of independence. Yours to be exact," she said with a gentle chuckle. She truly had been spoiling him by not forcing him to find out all of this information on his own. She could have simply chucked him into the deep end, and shown him the savagery of this world compared to the one they'd come from. He might have been used to his bodyguard duties, but this world did even stranger things to what had originally been normal people.

Further into the palace a knock was followed by the entrance of a bowed Knight. Good, at least everyone in this palace knew their place. Though she wasn't much longer for this backwoods ice block, she would at least live the sort of luxury she enjoyed. "Oh? That was handled so much quicker than I would have expected. Perhaps... we should hire these people. I can't say I have much use for a sorceress, but one can never have too many good Knights right?" she said, with a fake amount of chipperness in her tone. Men were easily manipulated, the more of them who were around the more likely she'd be able to get her way. The entire time she thought to keep up the appearances of a high class Queen until she could take her rightful place... "I would like to reward them for their hard work. Lead the way..." she said standing with the help of the white haired girl. A small smirk was hidden as her own face lowered as well. She knew how insincere this woman was, maybe she'd finally not be alone in this, knowledge.

[Bloodedge]

"Yes yes, you've said a lot of things. Hardly anything of importance though, Merlyn." At a certain point, one might wonder if Arthur simply enjoyed griping about his Caster guide. She'd done so many things worth complaining about thus far, apparently all for his benefit. That was a story and a half. Ah, but there was a believable aspect to it all, wasn't there? He could hold out hope that all things would come to light eventually, though in the meantime, he would continue moaning and groaning. Maybe he could even manage to annoy Merlyn enough to match how frequently she left him behind on the upkeep.

The queen thought this bounty had been completed with great haste, and furthermore spoke of hiring those who completed said bounty. Frankly, this man would say the kingdom was in need of a sorceress or sorcerer. Perhaps one such person could help do something about the declining state of the kingdom itself, while the queen's life of luxury grew... due in part to the king's frivolous wasting of their country's treasury on the woman. "If that is your wish, Grace. I'm sure anyone would be overjoyed to be given such a generous offer."

Disgusting. This man was quite capable in his subservient role, even when simply speaking, but he could feel his soul vomiting with every word he spoke. One day, perhaps these lands would no longer be dealing with this woman. Maybe the king could stand alone, or maybe... the rightful heir to the throne could ascend. Today did not seem like it would be that day. Ah well; there was work to be done in the form of guiding the queen to her esteemed guests. "Yes. Just this way," he conceded, taking the lead down the corridor toward the throne room. One would assume the queen intended to deal with this matter herself, so he would let it be so. With the guests in view, the palace knight took to the queen's throne side, kneeling next to it while offering her introduction to these travelers. "Travelers. Her Majesty, the Queen Kolin of Zuria. May her Grace be everlasting."

[Apollymi]

"I've said plenty important... but I'm sure you're just missing it, Arthur~" was Merlyn's immediate comeback. She truly didn't leave him too far off of the information he needed. She needed him not to become to reliant on anyone else while he grew in this world, this included herself. This Arthur, the Future King had many trials to face, and given his current attitude they would be very different from his previous life. Maybe he would take this lesson the way it was presenting itself.

Ah but the time for talking among themselves was over indeed. As Kolin as she was introduced made her way into this room she was stunned into a frozen position just before she would have reached her throne. She couldn't be looking at the people she was seeing before her. Shouldn't she have known if something like this would happen. Surely, these two couldn't have made their way down here! Her plan wasn't quite ready yet! Her smile cracked around the edges, and she seemed genuinely horrified. Of all the people to enter this building at a time like this. The Mage of Flowers and the King of Knights were among her sworn enemies. Beyond that the Mage of Flowers was one of a few that could see past the enchantment on her person. They could see how she was!!!! She looked to be sure, and then took a deep breath, the names weren't the same on either of their stats sheets. They simply looked the same, she could calm down. She took a seat and brought her face back into a gentle smile.

But in the moment when she looked up she met the eyes of Merlyn and realized that though they weren't the same person, the intelligence in the sorceress' eyes was worth being wary of. "Oh? You became less worried after realizing we aren't them. But I can still see you for what you are..." Merlyn mentioned without the slightest hint of respect towards this Queen. The woman's visage cracked in the moment, but what could she do? As far as the mage was concerned, there wasn't much else to be done, except answer the questions of those nearby. "So, who doesn't know who this woman is?" Merlyn asked, soon enough the woman known as Kolin recovered enough to speak properly. "Arrest them! She speaks ill of the Queen, and I will not tolerate such disrespect!"

[Bloodedge]

"Well then, maybe your clarity is lacking," he stated. Of course, Arthur was sure he was likely missing a few clues here and there. This new world experience remained quite jarring. Sadly, things would only be getting worse when the queen of these lands arrived to the throne room. Right away, the blonde, buxom woman seemed visually even more extreme than what he'd come to expect through the video game variant of this world. She also seemed shocked by something, which Arthur himself hadn't the faintest idea about. Perhaps it was something simple, like the apparently odd fact that he still tugged along the living bodies of bounty targets that others in this world would have killed.

... Or perhaps, it was something else entirely. Merlyn spoke before Kolin even addressed the group ahead of her. Her words shot forth like thrown daggers, and lacerated the queen's visage as a result. Arthur viewed this reaction with wonder as Merlyn questioned any who didn't know this woman's identity. Kolin herself managed to retort this time, and what she did with the next reaction was... order her visitors' arrest. Now, it was Arthur's turn to express shock at this entire exchange. "Them? I'm just here to collect a bounty; I barely even know this woman!" he protested while the purple-haired knight rose to the queen's command. In part, Arthur was thinking to put on a bit of a show. He didn't distrust Merlyn─ she was certainly onto something if she was speaking in such a way. If they were just going to be arrested from the beginning, though, this was going to become more of a problem than any bounty was worth.

[Apollymi]

"No, never. My clarity is perfect~" Merlyn was sure of herself in a way that was probably shocking to herself. What was more the shaken visuals of Kolin were exactly what Merlyn expected. What was more, the order she gave for the arrest of the new pair was met by two things, the rising of the purple haired Knight and Arthur's protest of knowing the woman very well, and thus the protest of his arrest. Kolin looked onwards. Perhaps, this Arthur was actually a man, if he was, he could be used. Another stepping stone. After all, she could tell the two within the cage were still alive, there was always a reasonable use for a man who knew how to do his job. Granted, a bit more of a cutthroat was usually more useful, perhaps as her own protector and an extra to her plan to amass a following this lad could be useful. "Oh? You barely know her? Fine, arrest just her then. Leave the bounty hunter~" Kolin made an amendment to her order.

Merlyn wasn't concerned about Arthur in the moment. Though he was quite simple, if he was unaffected by her own natural abilities, she had a great deal of faith that between Excalibur and his own body, he likely held a great deal of resistance to the lesser powers of the buxom woman on the throne. "Oh? Still, I assume no one else can see your stats~" said Merlyn as if completely unperturbed by the idea of getting arrested. "So no one knows that you were the fallen goddess Ishtar. Ya' know, Arthur... that evil goddess I mentioned the day we met~" she mentioned with a chuckle. "Or rather the name Mai Valentine probably makes more sense to people who are like us~" mentioned the Sorceress. "It doesn't matter who I am. You can't stop me here... there is nothing any of you can do. I am Queen here. Your little friend is already done with you as well. That borrowed name and look of yours hardly matter now..." mentioned Kolin. A man was an easy target after all, suppressing yet another woman was no real stretch of her imagination. "Ah, you're wrong though... names have power. And he chose right for multiple reasons! Besides, that title of yours is as empty as I assume your little King's head is... I'm sure you know that too. So, why did you bother? Anyone care to take a guess... I mean I can talk all day, but it's more entertaining if someone else takes a stab at flexing their brain a little~" Merlyn stood within the middle of the room as Emilia looked at her. She wondered about who this woman actually was, and the name Mai Valentine was one she'd seen floating about in their other world. An E-girl who made it tough for girls who played regular video games. How the hell had she wound up a villain in this world?

[Bloodedge]

Perfect, was the clarity of Merlyn... at least according to her. Arthur was naturally cynical of such a claim, but he had enough faith in her ability, even though he had no faith at all in her willingness to be fully cooperative. He could liken their relationship thus far to being newly hired into a position shared by the one responsible for training him, though not quite. Either way, his little stunt managed to save him from the queen's arrest order; he could concern himself with Merlyn later.

Alas, nothing kept Merlyn from talking... and talking, and talking. Arthur wondered why she incriminated herself to such an extent. However... what she said was actually useful information. The evil goddess Merlyn spoke of when he was lead to Cath Palug, was the queen before them. She was from their world, and she did nothing to protest this... or to protest what she truly was. Arthur himself wasn't familiar with the one called Mai Valentine, though he'd definitely heard the name in passing. It didn't matter at present. Right now, there was a queen ordering the arrest of his traveling companion and guide, and a much bigger problem than the bounty he'd come to claim. Ah... there was something he'd yet to address as well, wasn't there. With a hand over his heart, and a light bow, he addressed Kolin. "Your consideration is appreciated, my queen. I am in your debt," he said.

Meanwhile, the purple-haired knight completed his approach to the sorceress. His right hand hovered over the hilt of his sword, but he made no moves to draw it just yet. Lesser guards were closing in on Merlyn as well. While they did so, the knight among them spoke. "On my honor as a knight, I cannot allow you to continue speaking this way about our queen. Come with us... silently," he demanded. If he had to do one more thing like this, he felt he would be incapable of keeping up the complacent act any longer. This, however... could be fine for now. In truth though, he was left wondering if perhaps he'd dealt with Queen Kolin prior to becoming a Knight of Zuria. . .

[Apollymi]

The words that fell from Arthur's mouth after the most recent outburst from Kolin made Merlyn... smile. Ah, was that how he was choosing to play this one. Until the moment he spoke his actions were a bit unclear. Merlyn thought this over and considered her options. She could do more obviously, that was something that could always be a thing for her. But in this case, the Knight who approached her had a look within his eye that she could appreciate. Not clear in his words but just below the surface. He wanted her to keep quiet and come along on his honor as a knight. A chuckle left the completely unbothered mage as she held her hands up in mock surrender. "Oh no, a knights honor is quite serious, no?~" she questioned. Still taking herself out of this situation was in turn one of the best possible things she could do. She'd done all the close meddling she could in such a situation, any more and the results would start to have the gains lessen quite a bit.

Kolin in the moment, felt vindicated. No one cared about the words of a mad sorceress, not even the man she'd come with. It was a bit troublesome yet that Emilia had returned when she was meant to be taken or murdered along with the other men. Also a bit problematic that they were still alive but since they were silent there was no need for her to flex any more of her hand. As far as most would be concerned, nothing was amiss here. "Oh, take the other prisoners as well. I can't have them poisoning a would be civil conversation~" Kolin stated, becoming more and more secure in her placement in the moment. The buxom woman's body had even shifted to be much more inviting like she was enticing the man to take a better peek at what she had to offer from his bowed position, a cute up skirt view and a look at her thong was well in order. Such was her nature after all. Merlyn in the moment could only watch seemingly without being bothered. She'd cut the strings so to speak as she always knew she would. She could only do so much. She needed a bit of outside help, thus this new knight was surely the answer to her current disposition. She'd follow along without another word, and nothing but a playful wink aimed at Emilia who relaxed her own face upon seeing it. She wasn't quite sure what that mage's plan was, but being arrested was apparently necessary. The workings of such people were strange, but she knew that woman wasn't bad at all... what did the other lass have to say about it though?

[Bloodedge]

"As you wish, Grace," said the knight who proceeded to round up the two captives as well. For whatever reason, the sorceress this knight was meant to apprehend was... smiling? Surely she realized there was something more to the goings-on here, though that was a matter not meant to be discussed in earshot of Kolin or any of her faithful. At least the sorceress was being somewhat agreeable─ enough that he could guide her comfortably into the dungeons a few floors beneath their current location. The knight would remain relatively silent along the trip, provided his arrestee had nothing to say. What he wished to discuss with her could come when they arrived. . .

Taking a separate path from the likes of Merlyn, the Future King she guided along his journey was entering a... different sort of adventure. To be more specific, the queen's movements were something... almost direct─ pointed even. As his head rose to gaze upon the blonde, he immediately saw something he probably shouldn't have been seeing on a queen who wasn't a standalone monarch. He may not have felt the influence of any magical effect, but he was still a man at the end of the day. Moreover, perhaps his natural reaction would be beneficial in this moment. His cheeks flushed at the sight he'd witnessed, and he let it be seen. "Ahem. My queen, as far as civility is concerned, you may want to uh..." He left his statement hanging in the air, and let his eyes wander again. He'd dealt with these types before. Some local gangs kept certain types of women around at times, just to entrap their targets and enemies. The optimal decision when being the target of such traps, as he'd experienced, was to simply be taken along for the ride... for a bit.

[Apollymi]

Oh they were descending quite a bit huh? Into the dungeon she went without fuss, because Merlyn knew this was the best course of action. Like many who possessed clairvoyance she only made decisions as she moved towards the best possible goal. She tended to do this in a strange way by comparison. While most would try for an outcome or ignore a good or bad one, since she had the present to work with, she often took the path of least resistance. She was clever enough to know when she could behave outlandishly and when she should act and when it wouldn't be good to. In the case of Arthur, it was best if she gave him an extra in with Kolin long term, or else they'd have to deal with her being overly suspicious of both of them. Besides all that, it was easier to discuss such matters with people she hadn't been traveling with and growing to like, though she kept Arthur's ideals in mind she wasn't so outwardly kind as he. "Hm, so are we far enough away now or should I just put everyone else here to sleep but us?" Merlyn spoke these words as nonchalantly was one would inquire about the weather.

Moving right along, Arthur and Kolin were left to have their greeting. The boy's natural reaction was indeed a good one in the eyes of the queen. She giggled just a little as she shifted her person, removing the gentle up-skirt view. She should have figured if the lad was enough of a boy scout that he didn't kill obvious criminals that he was also the sort to not immediately take such bait. A giggle escaped her, but she seemed to be amused nonetheless. "Of course~ It was still a pretty cute reaction though. So then, one has to wonder why such a nice boy is keeping such bad company~ Obviously you're more than welcome here if you'd like. Capable men are quite hard to come by," she said. There was a hint of flirtation in those words, and what was more a very obvious offer. One would have considered such advances strange for a woman who was obviously not a stand alone ruler but her game was already made obvious. She managed to look bored, but in all actuality she was sizing up Arthur, trying to determine how much more useful he could be to her ploys than her current little King. An obviously capable man was good, perhaps if she could get some control of him, he'd be worthwhile to take with her on her upward climb.

[Bloodedge]

Along the way to the dungeon, Merlyn finally spoke a few words. At face value, they weren't specifically meant for the knight escorting her, though he knew they were suited to no other but himself. She had a skill like that, did she? Well, it would be ideal if they could begin their discussion as soon as possible. He didn't care much for imprisoning this woman of use, either; he'd much rather see to doing something by way of saving this kingdom. "Don't be daft. If you had that sort of power, I'm sure you wouldn't hesitate to use it. No need to worry," he said to comfort the guards, who seemed on edge and distrusting of one another after hearing Merlyn's words. The knight's clause had an additional meaning, though. He had hopes that Merlyn could read between the lines for the subtext of it all, finding the truth of his desire that she use her magic immediately.

All the while, there was a certain quantity of subtext being thrown Arthurs way as well. Kolin concealed the view she'd so brazenly offered him, even making it quite clear that she'd done it on purpose. Good. Arthur had confidence that he could proceed effectively, albeit without certainty of how long it would take to put himself in just the right position. "Well..." he said, fully rising from his bowed position and taking a single step forward. "I only arrived a few weeks ago. That woman happened to have chosen the name Merlyn, I came as Arthur Pendragon, and she decided for herself that she was to be my guide. She started going on about how I was meant to be the Future King and all that, but I'm honestly not sure I can trust her at all. She's obviously more trouble than she's worth, considering─" Interestingly enough, Arthur had yet to speak a single lie. The purpose may have been a bit off, but the truth of his statement made it much easier to say. "If you have any use of me, I'd much rather have some stability... so I think your offer is worth taking. Though, should I assume this is something you'd rather discuss with the king first?"

[Apollymi]

The words that came in response to Merlyn's rather innocent question were strange indeed. She'd taken note of the guards other than this particular knight beginning to distrust one another after she spoke. Even so, the man with her seemed like he was claiming that if she had such a power, she'd definitely use it. The smile that broke across Merlyn's face in the moment was a sinister little smirk of a prankster having a bit of extra fun. "Of course, that's be crazy. Obviously, I have no such power... Sleep." The word sleep when spoken by her in such a way came with a certain amount of power, enough to make it less of a suggestion and more of a command. The Knights around them without any resistance that she intended to have fall into slumber would begin to slump into peaceful dreams hearing nothing being spoken. If this took place according to plan she'd look to this purple haired knight and give him a knowing little smirk, the hood of her cloak still pretty firmly in place. "A man of action. I like you~" she chimed presently. "I also could have done that the other way around I suppose, but waste not, want not~" apparently Merlyn was still in a fairly good humor, despite being arrested.

What an interesting tale Arthur apparently had to tell. He'd chosen the name Arthur Pendragon and a girl who called herself Merlyn happened to show up around the same time claiming to be his guide. Well, that was likely just a coincidence, and nothing the lad said implied that he was lying at all about the lack of faith he had in his apparent guide. This was all great information. Actually, if she could get this boy away from that Sorceress and keep him to herself, it was very likely she could use him in her long term plan to return to her proper place. Hell, if she kept him long enough she could even claim Camelot from that female Artoria. How delicious such revenge would be. "Well meeting new people is obviously a toss up. Consider yourself lucky someone like me was among the first of the rulers you met. Other's might not have taken so well to that sort of disrespect~" she mused. "Still I am not completely unreasonable. I'll keep her locked up a few days. If she learns her place I'll let her out sometime..." the woman mentioned. It was always good to play up being magnanimous for the boy scout type. The better she sounded the less likely she'd have to go too far to manipulate him. Just a little should be enough. Ah, but in the end he brought up the king, and whether or not she should take up such a thing with him before doing it. A simple laugh and a light explanation would suffice. "Hahaha~ No, of course not. I mean if it would set you at ease I could, but hiring, firing, staff management, and job placement... are in general left to me. It isn't like he'd say no to something I asked for specifically anyway~" she said, a slight bounce of her breasts as she adjusted in her seat implied that she had complete control over the king. Overall she gave off the impression of a spoiled brat, but one obviously used to using a very specific angle to get her way.

[Bloodedge]

The very moment Merlyn opened her mouth again, the knight knew what was coming. She'd managed to stay on the same page, and a single word put the other guards into a state of unconsciousness. Now that they were virtually alone, Merlyn expressed her admiration of the purple-haired male. He replied in kind with a mere chuckle, only to then extend his right hand. "And you have something against Queen Kolin. I like you~" he said. A man of action indeed though, he was quick to address matters of importance. "Sir Cador, Duke of Zuria and former King of Cornwall. Since you seem to know so much about the queen's past, I'm sure you can be counted as an ally. I'm also quite sure she was the reason for my kingdom's downfall, but not at all why she would come here afterwards. Any insight?"

Arthur made constant progress, though doing so had him walking on eggshells for the duration of his meeting with the queen. On the surface, she was at least amiable enough to only keep Merlyn restrained for a matter of days. Perhaps the spillage of what information Arthur knew was enough for her to desire good will between them. Whether that, or a mere stroke of luck, he was on the right track now. Kolin's reaction to his question about the king was a favorable one as well. Her power over the male ruler of Zuria let him know a few good things. She wasn't simply grabbing his attention with that earlier stunt; she was one who freely threw around her visage for gain. Arthur could use that against her if he played his cards right. "A matriarchal kingdom, is it? Apologies for speaking out of turn, but it sounds like your workload is too heavy. Don't take this as a plea or attempt to insert myself in power. It should be obvious by my choice in names─ I do plan to become a king someday, somewhere. I would be more than happy offering myself to your cause in the meantime, especially if it would help a queen see as much relaxation as her dear husband." A few more steps into the queen's graces was all he needed. It seemed the power she had over this nation's king was absolute, and given her movements, Arthur was left thinking it best to let his eyes wander. How far would this exchange go? What would this woman do in an attempt to subdue him for his potential usefulness to her? Whatever got him the answers and opportunity he sought, Arthur would leap toward until the perfect time came. By his approximation, he had up to three days before something was done about Merlyn; she certainly wasn't going to be cooperating, after all.

[Apollymi]

A chuckle and a hand extension had this Knight introducing himself. The former King of Cornwall. How very appropriate. This world really did have a thing for making Arthurian Legends work out long term. Ah, she'd have to keep an eye out for other who bore the names of Knights of the Roundtable. "I'm glad we agree. It's nice to meet you, Sir Cador. I'm called Merlyn and maybe one day... I'll be court wizard to King Arthur. Or maybe I already am~" she said with a gentle wink, taking his extended hand without any extra thought. It seemed they were free to converse with the whole of the rest of the guards unconscious. She knew a great deal about the Queen's past. He thought her an ally. She thought him one as well, given that he was watching over the young females of this kingdom in addition to his other duties. "Her only goal is to reclaim what she thinks is hers and likely to get revenge against those she thinks wronged her along the way~" Merlyn said in easy summary. "Most likely she is trying to get back to Chaldea. She has probably been using her time to figure out the criteria now necessary to ascend... as well as reclaim her goddess form," she said in a general explanation. She couldn't pretend to know exactly the nature of the plan held by the woman once known as Ishtar, but she could rather easily make broad strokes by knowing her path through the world. "Given what I can see of her presently she was known most recently as a woman known as Ygerna. She used that face up though and became Kolin instead when she moved to this place. What happened to your Kingdom, Sir Cador? What did she do to you?" Merlyn asked. She needed a bit of background. Knowing what this woman had been up to, was essential to thwarting her plans, and ensuring Arthur's safety beyond the nature of his plan. Truly a spoiled boy, and he didn't even know it.

In the meantime, everything seemed to be working out just the way that Kolin intended. This lad sought her good graces, and hadn't turned on her for her imprisonment of his friend. She didn't expect many men to turn her down for anyone else regardless, especially not some girl who ran around, covered up from head to toe like some kind of nun. Disgusting. What was the point of being a woman if you weren't using every natural advantage to get exactly what you wanted? She listened to Arthur's words and her eyes lit up involuntarily. He truly aimed to claim a Kingdom... and with his personality such a thing would be easily abuseable. Oh, and he offered good will and the ability for her to have a good time while he was here, how admirable. "Oh? Well how sweet of you to worry about little old me~" the woman was quite free with herself in these moments, each flirty movement of her hands and gentle flicker of her eyes was meant to assure a certain amount of interest in her person. "Don't worry, I am not too overworked to have a good time. And my goals are pretty close at hand. That being said having, a Knight and future king at hand for future..." she gave him a full bit of physical appreciation, at least this one seemed more capable than the one she already had. Perhaps it was almost time for an upgrade. Not before she finished bleeding this place dry though. "Good will, isn't something I'd turn down at all. What do you say?" she said with a gentle smile crossing her otherwise cold visage. "You scratch my back now... and know you'll have me on your side later?~" what an open-ended yet slightly cheeky offer. She knew it hinted at the idea that she'd drop her current king for him, for most this wouldn't be a problem, but that is why she also left it just vague enough to be taken as a simple bout of friendliness. Time to find out, exactly how... innocent the boy scout thought himself. Besides, she never intended to give too much of herself, though this one was at least cute enough to give a chance if he happened to prove himself capable enough to ascend.

[Bloodedge]

Merlyn spoke very strangely. Even so, she gave a succinct explanation of what the queen currently called Kolin truly was. The goddess Ishtar was a name known across the land─ a tale of old, once thought of as basic mythology. That wasn't the information which widened Cador's eyes, though. No, what widened his eyes was anything but Kolin's identity as Ishtar, her intention to return to the fabled land in the sky, or her bid for vengeance against her enemies... It was the name she held before becoming Kolin. As a knight who'd been in this world for quite some time, Cador was an honorable man. As one who had been wronged by the one called Ygerna, though, he nearly had a thirst for blood that showed through gritted teeth and clenched fists. When asked what Kolin had done to him, his answer came alongside the recognition of her previous name. "Ygerna. Queen Ygerna, of a fallen kingdom. Tales say the king led a select few on a conquest that would end a war started for the queen's sake. He, alone, survived. On his return, the kingdom he'd raised from the ground was no more. No queen, no fiefdom, and strangely... no secret treasury. I'm sure there is no need to say what happened to the king afterwards."

"Think nothing of it, my queen," Arthur said when Kolin addressed his worry. He could see the light in her eyes─ that thirst for a claim. She spoke further, giving every implication that she may have been open to the thought of becoming queen to his future kingdom. There was a light in Arthur's eyes just then, not for the prospect of taking this woman as a queen, but because victory was in sight. He bowed again. "Your Grace, rest assured, I would scratch your back any day," he said with an odd amount of honesty. This woman's features were certainly the bane of all mankind. Arthur himself would be lying if he didn't admit to any physical interest, but he was far more mentally hardened than that in truth. Ah, but it was time to be playfully dumb as they discussed the future playing out in Kolin's mind. "I'm sure I wouldn't be much use to you in the future, though. When I become king, I would gladly count Zuria as an ally while you sit on its throne. Your king is a lucky man. I can only hope that my queen, if I can even manage one, will be such a beautiful politician as yourself. With all due respect, of course. I doubt I could ever be so fortunate."

[Apollymi]

Merlyn watched as this man clinched his jaw and told his tale. His entire kingdom turned up missing in the blink of an eye while he was away, everything from his people to his secret treasury but especially his queen. Poor lad, he was likely an honorable man, not realizing what this woman was ahead of time, not the sort who would have given himself freely to her desires if he'd understood them initially. Men were just men, kind of simple if one were being honest, and many women in life took advantage of that. But none took greater advantage in a more disgusting way, than Ishtar. Such was proven by the tale he told. "Sou ka, I've been wondering what all was happening here and why her continued existence was being tolerated. But if this is the plan of action she's been taking... it makes much sense that no one here has noticed what she is..." she muttered softly. "Though there are also those who would do what she said regardless, just for a chance at her empty promises... Those are the souls who have no redemption left~" the white haired woman said without even the slightest hint of remorse. "It's the job of people like us to remove such obstacles. Taking her out here is the best of our options," she said with a gentle smirk coming to her face. "Arthur is not so easily swayed. I am not entirely sure of his plans here... but he's got a pretty good chance of not falling for her antics. We're here for the contingency, to make sure this place doesn't up and disappear the way your Kingdom did," mentioned Merlyn, she'd been particularly disturbed by the knowledge that his people had disappeared as well. Nothing good could come of giving this woman more people. She needed to find out what kind of information she was feeding the common folk. Perhaps she'd walk in a few dreams tonight... It seemed the Sorceress was already working. She didn't know what kind of act Kolin was putting on for Arthur, but she figured she had at least a short amount of time to come with a proper plot for Cador and the two girls currently part of this Kingdom. "So which is that Little King, is he a good natured idiot or is he just a horny idiot? I am making the assumption he isn't reliable, but if he's just enchanted he might be salvageable."

Arthur and Kolin were locked into an interesting dance, both assuming they were making headway in their individual plots. Kolin though nothing of the light in Arthur's eyes. It wasn't as if she hadn't seen such a thing numerous times. Men always drooled over her. Still, it didn't stop her from enjoying the attention quite a lot in this case. What a flirty boy this one was turning out to be. Definitely a step up from the idiot she was currently keeping just to drain his kingdom dry. "Oh, well then I think we have a deal~" Kolin said about their earliest statements. But Arthur would go on to sweeten the deal. He did so with such a smooth manner, she could almost grant him anything he desired of her. "Hoh? You do know how to flatter a girl don't you, Arthur~ I don't doubt you'll have a great queen by your side one day~" and just like that Kolin made the decision that removing this lad's will was most unnecessary. Much like the King currently within this place, he was bound to simply do as she asked because she asked. No need to waste extra energy on schemes if things were going her way. She almost couldn't keep the lust for power out of her voice, what was more this lad was a definite upgrade, it was about time to get rid of the current King, and his Kingdom... though a boy scout like Arthur couldn't be used for that. She could use him in the aftermath. "Until then though, please feel free to have use of the castle." she mentioned. "Guin!!" she called and a younger woman in homely clothes with white hair and startling blue eyes came and did a curtsy before this woman. It wasn't lacking in grace at all, but the light in this girl's eyes was far less friendly than it likely should be. Too bad, Kolin was already in a good mood, so such things weren't worth the extra worry. "I'll have Guin here, escort you to your new quarters. Do stay close by though... I might have use of you~" she gave the lad a wink before shooing him away playfully. Guin, gave a gentle nod to the new Knight and began walking him towards the eastern tower. This was the tower the Knights lived in, it was also closest to the Queen's Personal Quarters... for whatever reason.

[Bloodedge]

A disgusting, regrettable past was behind Sir Cador. Knowing all of it was Kolin's fault, admittedly left him feeling a way he would have preferred avoiding. He'd been without confirmation for so long. It could have been assumed that his queen was abducted, perhaps even tortured into giving away all the kingdoms secrets. He could have assumed his queen and fiefdom were enslaved by some other nation, and that he would stumble upon them one day while working as a knight of Zuria. These were the things Zuria's king planted in his mind to ensure his queen had a capable protector. Ah, but that meant... yet another thing was that twisted woman's doing. "You say this Arthur of yours isn't easily swayed. For his sake, I hope that holds true. If he does nothing to stop that woman... I'll be there to handle things myself," he announced. All things considered, he would rather be the one handling things anyway. Alas, it was not the way of knights to hinder the glory of another. "As for King Leorio... I don't know if he has been enchanted or not. I've spent ages trying to catch him alone, just to warn him about the state Kolin is reducing Zuria to. It's quite difficult, finding him anywhere other than Kolin's side."

Speaking of Kolin's side, Arthur was allegedly fated for a future just there. He'd have to thank Kimiko whenever he found her in this world, considering how much the lass' quippy nature was paying off. Indeed, he found himself mirroring his boss in a way, and it was paying off quite nicely. As such, he'd continue with a gentle smile. "You flatter me, my queen. That sounds like an ideal, impossible future. Surely, all women of your caliber are spoken for. A man like me can only hope to sell his soul for a single night~" Another bow was given with this statement. Kolin called her attendant, referred to as Guin, and offered Arthur free roam of the castle. She also offered Arthur a message, however. Stay close by... as she may have need of him, she said. This was proving easier than Arthur imagined; she even offered him a flirty wink while sending him off. "I certainly will. As your faithful knight, I will remain within earshot of her majesty. Call on me whenever you like~" he said, content thereafter to follow the white-haired girl to his supposed quarters.

[Apollymi]

Merlyn could see this man's head working, of course she figured he was less than pleased knowing he'd been betrayed in such a way. Even so, in true knightly fashion, he claimed that he only hoped Arthur was as steadfast as she claimed. If he turned out not to be able to do anything, this man said he was content to handle things himself. This was just the sort of thing that Merlyn liked to hear. "You're going to be my favorite Knight, men of action are hard to come by. I am sure though, Arthur is immune to me so she'd have to go far to properly get control of him. Still keep an eye on him for me. I've been spoiling him a bit and I'm still not quite sure he fully understands exactly how different this place can be," she said with that same unbothered smile. Cador was proving himself to be quite reliable. A bit of grit was necessary for a Kingdom to get from point A to point B. Beyond that this man had already learned his lesson so he was less to worry about than many people would be. What a fine addition this lad would make to future plans. As for his supposed statements about the King now named Leorio there was quite a bit of mystery involved. "Huh... always at her side huh? It is very likely he knows then and is complacent. But I can double check that pretty easily. As long as he sleeps or daydreams I can eventually make my way into his mind... I'll take care of that," she said in good faith. "I'll trust you to be my eyes and ears outside. I'll remain imprisoned for a while and watch the fun~" Merlyn mentioned. With Cador on their side anything which needed to happen would eventually happen, this she knew with great certainty.

In the meantime, Kolin couldn't have been more pleased. It seemed she wouldn't even need to enchant this lad to get him to do her dirty work. She supposed a bit of a show was in order and she'd begin setting it up after handling the other affairs of state she needed to deal with. After all, this particular place was barely a pit stop in her grand scheme and she couldn't truly lose track of her goals, even for the young Arthur. Perhaps though she'd eventually find her ability to incorporate him into the plans, convincing him that the current Queen Artoria was just a pretender and he should take Camelot from her shouldn't really take much convincing. Imagine the look on that pompous Gold Archer's face when she arrived with a Holy Sword user, the true King Arthur on her side~

At the same time, Guin was now leading Arthur to the chambers that she was told to. She'd had a glance at this boy and he was reasonably attractive, but he'd not been making himself look good in her graces. After all, those who flirted with Kolin were less than trustworthy in most cases but... unlike the other times when such things happened before her. The spirit with her didn't feel the need to speak on his sketchy nature. Did that mean he wasn't as bad as the act he was putting on? She hugged the small doll in her arms a bit tighter as they made their way to the chambers. Some moments later she was opening the door to a well kept room, well above servants quarters but not quite as luxurious as the Queen's own chambers. "Here's your room, sir. I'm mostly in charge of this wing... if you have need of anything you can call for me. I'd be happy to assist you," she gave a spiel similar to what one would expect of a customer service worker. It was pleasant and sounded nice but there was something of a gleam in this girl's eyes as she had a look at this lad. Her own power active as she tried to gain a better understanding of the lad through her own clairvoyance since her spirits weren't speaking as if she should fear.

[Bloodedge]

The favorite knight of Merlyn─ what a title that would be. Alas, Cador could not show any amount of happiness in the moment. He was doing his best to contain the unbridled fury welling up inside, all to hold a civil conversation with the sorceress. One thing to calm him slightly, was a specific mention of how ignorant Arthur was of the world they were in. "Heh. I'll keep an eye on the princely one, if you like. You're right, though; he's far too happy to be anything but a young boy in a world like this." No truer words had ever been spoken by Cador. Those who spent a fair amount of time in this world could only experience joy in fleeting moments, and that Arthur was far too optimistic-looking to have experienced the atrocities here. "I'll leave the king, and your own imprisonment, to you then. Hopefully Arthur doesn't lose too much of himself in what he's managed to walk into." With that, Cador bowed with utmost respect to Merlyn. They were now partners in a way, linked by the singular goal of foiling Kolin's wretched plans. If they could not prove victorious, only more kingdoms would be lost as a result.

Kolin was keen to prepare a show, and Arthur knew it was his time to do the same. He walked alongside his guide, Guin... Guin... 'GUINEVERE?!' he shouted in his mind. Was this world so direct? Could he truly have walked into this situation accidentally, or even by the design of Merlyn? His eyes wandered to the lass at his side, and the truest, reddest blush spread from his cheeks to his ears. He could easily admit to the physical appeal of Queen Kolin, but this young woman was more to his preference. She seemed quite reserved, not some flaunting mess of sex appeal that he couldn't trust to have a faithful bone in her body. She was what Arthur would consider a true example of beauty, and... oh. He was staring, wasn't he? Well, the clear answer to that realization was to immediately begin looking straight ahead until they reached the room! What a room it was. Stepping in, Arthur freed the sheathless sword from the strap on his back, and propped against the wall next to the only door. "Arthur," he said to correct her use of 'sir' as a title. "We're both in positions of servitude, right? We can be more friendly than that, Guinevere." He didn't intentionally make use of her full name; it was just on his mind at the time of speaking. Perhaps that would come back to bite him, or perhaps not, but he hadn't given it any thought. Instead, his mind was on something else entirely. "I may want to ask a favor of you, though. I doubt you carry a sword, but... maybe a knife or something? I'd like to borrow something with a blade, for a few nights at best."

[Apollymi]

Cador in true protector fashion, agreed to look after her current charge. Merlyn couldn't have been more pleased. Helping this man get his revenge and seeing to it that the Whore of Babylon saw her end, was among her new favorite activates. "I know. I really appreciate it. And one day soon, he will as well~" she said softly. What she knew of Arthur let her know that at least him and Cador could be associates, if not friends. And by her own approximation Arthur could use a few more male influences in his life. "Um-hm, I'll make sure to sleep walk your other knights back to their posts. They won't even remember I knocked them out~" Merlyn said. "See you around, Sir Cador~" Merlyn said as she entered a cell and began doing exactly what she said she would. She had a gander in a few guards dreamss and got a look at and a feel for King Leorio so that once all her other work was finished, she could concentrate on him alone. Whenever he stared off into space, dozed off, or fully fell asleep, Merlyn would enter that lad's dreams... with haste.

Moving right along, Guin was more than aware that Arthur was staring at her. Still the spirits connected with her, didn't seem at all discouraging of the act. Did they trust him for reasons she didn't know? Normally they were much more proactive about protecting her than that. This lad's face held an intense shade of red, what could he possibly have been thinking about? What was more this lass was in for a bit of a surprise. Arthur introduced himself, and went on to call her by her full name. The girl's eyes widened in this moment and it became obvious to her why the spirits didn't discourage this lad. Even so, she needed to instead, though her face lightly reddened, as the face of a girl her age would at such attention. It'd been too long since she'd heard her own name as such, she sort of missed it. "Our servitude is quite different, Arthur. You should remember to call me Guin," she said softly. "Though I don't mind hearing my name... as the queen's new favorite if you wish to stay in her good graces, it's best if you don't mention the name of the dead crowned princess~" she mentioned in a way which was both casual and cutting. Beyond this point he asked her if she carried a knife or dagger. 'Oh?' her thoughts were ablaze with what he might need such a thing for, still the spirits didn't discourage her actions, in fact the encouraged it. A shift in the doll's back in her hands happened, so she reached into the doll she held and removed a short dagger with the insignia of the old monarchy etched into its blade. "I have quite a few daggers. You can use this one... as long as you promise to return it to me. It was one of the last presents I received from the real King and Queen of this Kingdom," she explained her attachment to it, but still handed over the weapon, if only because she was encouraged by the spirit within the doll. She was never one to go against such things, as they always worked in her favor.

[Bloodedge]

With a simple exchange and expression of good faith, Merlyn and Cador would see the end of their arrangement for the immediate future. They could go about their separate ways for now, and as such, they could go about their joint goal. "Putting men to sleep and walking through their dreams. There aren't many of your type left, you know?" he said, turning away and offering one additional farewell before walking off. "If the bitchy queen lets me sleep tonight, feel free to update me on your progress. I should have an update on the prince as well. Ja."

Only when Guinevere pointed out the way he addressed her, did Arthur even realize what he'd said. Well, that explained the reaction she had. And here, Arthur had been thinking there was a more favorable reaction to his demeanor. Perhaps that's what it was. No─ he took it instead as a reaction to hearing the name she favored. "Ah, sorry. I let myself get caught up in the lore. Guin it is. I... apologize if you had to live through that part of history," he offered with the sincerest apologetic bow he could manage. As for the blade he sought, she did have one to offer. At least, she offered that which was held in her doll on the condition that it be returned to her. Seeing the sigil engraved on its blade, he understood completely that it held great sentimental value. "You have my thanks. I'll return it in the same condition. Knight's honor," he said upon accepting the dagger, even drawing an imaginary cross over his chest. He wore a smile all along, notably of a different nature than what he shared with the queen in earlier moments. This time, it came with a far more genuine warmth. "You can trust me... Guinevere."

[Apollymi]

According to Cador, Merlyn was a being of rarity in the world at large. A chuckle escaped the Sorceress. She was indeed quite the odd man out in the sense of her type of being, was actually ultra rare. "I'd call myself a relic of a bygone era," Merlyn mentioned. She was quite an interesting person. She was also a bit surprised that Cador understood what she was, but it was more likely for him to know than for someone like Arthur to know. Speaking of Arthur she wondered if he'd met the other person they'd come here for. It seemed that Cador at least was content to allow her permission to look for him in his dreams later. She had to admit this was the best covert conversations one could have. It was best for the type of scheming they were doing.

Guin encountered some interesting reactions from Arthur. The lad claimed to have just been caught up in the lore when he'd called her by name. She hadn't really considered it, but he did introduce himself as Arthur and the sorceress was Merlyn. She imagined it was a bit too much to also meet someone called Guinevere. Still, if something like that were possible, perhaps... it'd be worthwhile eventually. At the very least, her spirits seemed quite at ease with Arthur. "Eh, you don't have to apologize for that, but I do appreciate it," the lass said, she was slowly warming up to the lad a bit. Perhaps it was hearing her name, perhaps it was the fact that he seemed to be as genuinely warm as his smile led him to seem. "The ones responsible are the ones who should apologize... the false King and Queen have caused quite a few problems over the years. But... it's spilled milk," the lass explained of her situation. She'd long since abandoned feelings of hopelessness and moved on to fury and a burning desire for revenge. But she was biding her time, eventually she would have what she came for. Strangely after she handed over her dagger, the lad promised to return it in the same condition. He even made a gesture most childish when making this promise. Guin's eyes widened in surprise at this, how strange was this lad to have such a thing to say. Still, instead of wanting to crush this lad's dreams and happiness, her face broke into a smile instead. "Knights never swear on such things lightly. I'll leave you to it..." she said. A gentle curtsy left this lass and she turned to leave this lad to her own devices, but she turned to see him smile and speak her name again. A deep blush crossed her face as she turned immediately to cover it. "I might believe you. Be careful, Arthur... that witch is actually dangerous." And with that, she aimed to leave as quickly as possible. She never felt much of anything... she wasn't about to let this boy win her over so easily... right?

[Bloodedge]

Arthur took a fair amount of time appraising the dagger Guin chose to lend him. Admittedly, it was a very good blade. Even if not for the sentimental value it held, it was undoubtedly something he'd want to return in pristine condition. Guin went on to make it clear who was at fault for her current situation. She referred to the current monarchs' dealings as spilled milk; Arthur couldn't agree less. "That isn't very realistic to me. Justice will come," he said with a level of certainty that couldn't be considered realistic in the state of this world.

Knights didn't swear on such things lightly. Well, Arthur didn't mean it lightly, either. Even in his original life, he refused empty promises. He considered promises as a way of holding himself to the standards of his family, and he would do anything but besmirch their good names. Nevertheless, a curtsy was offered by Guin as her farewell, and it came alongside a warning... as well as an interesting reaction to his final words. Was this really happening? He'd have to find out properly later, but first, he had to make good on that promise of his. "Treading with care. I'll take your advice," he said, leaning against the doorframe as Guin took her leave of him. This 'chance' meeting was so surreal, he couldn't keep himself from watching the lass walk away, a twinkle in his eye all the while. "Take care, Guin." These were his final words before he resigned himself to preparations. Eventually, Arthur was placing his armor on a stand in the corner of his room, right next to the new resting place for Excalibur. That dagger was still with him. He needed it at the ready for emergency use, so he decided to place it underneath his mattress before seating himself on the bed. He wouldn't get too comfortable. Perhaps Queen Kolin would go against his assumption and call for him, but in that case, he had other ideas floating around in his head. Time would soon tell how events played out in the Zuria Kingdom. . .

[Apollymi]

It would appear that Arthur thought that that an ideal as large as Justice would eventually prevail. He truly had to be early for this world for him to think a thing like justice actually existed. Guin was at a point in her time here, where she almost couldn't believe that anyone who wasn't a small child actually believed something like that. It was such a strange notion to her, given what she'd already been through. 'He actually believes that. How can anyone actually believe that?!' Guin's head was full of questions as she walked away. She'd left Arthur in his room but replaying the lad's words in her head was all she could do was remain reeling. 'He told me to take care, as if I'm in any danger?! He really doesn't understand what she is... he can't.' the girl's mental questioning lead her through her regular castle duties. She cleaned the Queen's chambers, helped prepare meals, did laundry, with the other castle hands. She even got to spend some time with Emilia who by all accounts had been missing. A single look in the lass' eye had the two of them quietly speaking, about the changes potential in the castle. Of course, they didn't have to worry while doing chores, it wasn't as if Kolin would interrupt or even want to be in the same room with the two other girls while they did work she thought beneath her. As such a day in Zuria Kingdom would continue.

Within the castle dungeon, Merlyn found herself leaning against a wall, her hood still up. It seemed she was sleeping peacefully back against the wall. But she was moving so freely, she may as well have not been in any physical place. In the time period left to her own devices, the Mage of Flowers found herself walking through the dreams of every sleeping person within the Kingdom. The things she found there were quite strange. A man passed out drunk at a Tavern, had dreams of leaving his wife. That wasn't at all unusual, except that it came with a whisper of a place. Beautiful women could be found there, they'd give you anything for coin. 'Hm? What a gross thought...' was Merlyn's understanding but it only got worse as she moved about. A sleeping young mother already abandoned with a teenaged daughter daydreaming of a possible solution. The visual Merlyn walked through was the sale of a girl and her being carried off in a cage headed for the city. 'I can't afford to feed you. Learn to do it yourself...' A gentle twitch crossed Merlyn's face as she almost snarled in disgust. What the hell was happening around there, that these were common dreams. She thought she'd been disgusted by the dreams of those who lived around the Cathedral where the sword was in the stone. She as wrong... horribly horribly wrong. Still she persisted. She needed answers for her new favorite Knight and beyond that, she needed to find Leorio among the many faces she searched.

[Bloodedge]

As he waited, Arthur's mind wandered. Occasionally, he found that his mental focus would veer toward Guin for multiple reasons. She was so obviously his type, it was ridiculous. He could only go on wondering if reality itself wished to see them paired. It wouldn't surprise him if that could be the case, though he would be even less surprised to learn that it was all Merlyn's doing; she always had that sort of meddling aura about her. Ah, but these sorts of thoughts could not persist long. Arthur was a man with a mission, and his mission was to cease whatever dastardly plans Queen Kolin had brewing. Back to the mattress, he eventually worked his way to being able to view his own stats and abilities the proper way. Oh... there was something useful. 'Holy Sword Wielder?' he questioned upon finding a title attributed to him. In his grand scheme, he'd been worried about the idea of Kolin acquiring his Excalibur. Given the details of this title and its accompanying abilities, though, that would not prove problematic at all. 'Hm. I could turn that dagger into a Holy Relic as long as I'm the one wielding it. It looks like I could even beat Excalibur, if its current wielder isn't chosen. Hmm. . .'

Merlyn wandered through one dream after another as she sat in her dungeon cell. In due time, she would be granted the opening she sought from the beginning. King Leorio had fallen into a deep slumber, interestingly enough in a bedroom he had all to himself. Indeed, to his lovely queen had separate chambers closer to the knights she employed. Such diligence she showed. Leorio felt like the luckiest man to ever be transported to another world, being graced with a kingdom, a bombshell of a queen, and even having that same queen take up most of the workload. Ah, but there was more to dream of yet! He knew of his queen's plans. Very soon, this kingdom would fall. Kolin would move on to new lands filled with promiscuous women of all sorts, endless riches, and a throne high in the clouds. He could see himself there in his dreams. While Kolin managed her brothels and the like, Leorio sat upon the throne being serviced by scantily-clad women, whores even, of every race... only to see his wife and queen encroaching upon him with every intention of joining the fray. Ah, yes─ this would soon be the life he had!

[Apollymi]

While Arthur figured out his abilities, and Guin went on about her daily tasks. Kolin handled the business of the Kingdom, all while her King slept. She was fine with their current arrangement because it left her a great deal of freedom and plenty of time to... browse for better while she abused his current status in the world. What was more she though of ways to abuse Arthur similarly. Perhaps as long as her motives didn't seem too bad, she wouldn't have to harm him in anyway. Beyond that, he'd be a nice bargaining chip against Artoria, a more legitimate claim to the throne might be worthwhile. She could seed it as an idea at least. Besides all that, though she wasn't exceedingly inclined to bed the lad who was currently in charge of this place, Arthur looked like he might be a bit of fun... maybe it'd be worth it to toy with him a bit and find out. The last of the people seen to, she went to her own chambers and prepared for this upcoming meeting, she'd have a nice bath and plot a more specific first meeting for the two of them. She was in such a good mood, that she couldn't even be bothered to send that Knight Cador on more activites. Though keeping him decently far away from herself was her general goal, since she'd once been his queen, he also had his uses... oh well, a single nights reprieve was hardly going to make a difference in what happened to this world.

While Kolin plotted against Arthur, and Arthur learned of his status as 'Holy Sword Wielder', Merlyn walked in dreams. A mysterious cloaked figure appearing in the back corners of people's minds, never to be properly remembered. When she finally stumbled upon the dreams of the lad known as King Leorio though... It was all she could do to remain quiet. 'Horny disgusting little boy' was what Merlyn came to the conclusion of. It wasn't so much the harem thing that made this scene disgusting... it was all the small parts of it taken as a whole. Still, this lad's dreams weren't without information. Apparently he thought this particular dream to be one of his future. A land he was king of, which didn't involve him doing work but got him exposure to all the young women he could want, and still got him Kolin. 'Ugh, I don't know if I think he's disgusting or if I pity him for being so naïve. I might owe Arthur an apology... this might be the most optimistic idiot in the entire world...' another thought. Not one to stick around within such a a dream for too long, Merlyn opened her eyes. Her presence there was unseen and she didn't even bother conversing with the lad Leorio. From within his dreams she knew... he was definitely complacent in the plans of Kolin, he simply didn't understand he was also expendable. What bitter news she'd have to deliver to the Knight Cador. More than likely the residents of his Kingdom were among the first to make their way to what could only be called the Red Light Kingdom. Whore of Babylon indeed, there wasn't much more need for extra work here. It was obvious to her now what this other lass' plan was, that being said it was still rather complex. While such a place was among the most deplorable, with no idea of where it was located and how it was being run, it would be rather difficult to dismantle it completely. Yet another long term project which would involve multiple players... in every sense of the phrase.

[Bloodedge]

Ah, baths. Queen Kolin wasn't the only one choosing to bathe before any further meetings occurred. After all the monster slaying he'd done lately, and the general setup of this world being what it was, Arthur found himself seeking every bathing opportunity he could come by. This was a cold land as well. Oh, the wonder of a steaming hot tub of water. He made use of his bath time to continue thinking. The plan he had was solid for the most part, but people like Kolin required a very careful approach. Though he'd known of women like her in his previous life, they always did their work for the cause of others. He couldn't be fully sure what her exact approach would be, when it was for her own gain as a manipulator of men. Oh well. If things went too far south, at least he could ensure he was clean when the time came to break out and run off... unlike the last time. Never again would he be covered in so much filth as that day─

Leorio's dream proceeded unhindered, even during and after the observation of Merlyn. He was living at the height of luxury in his dream state, and he would continue to do so through the night... likely alone still. Regardless, Merlyn had her information, and the knight she'd come to an agreement with seemed to be without a hindrance on his plate. Surely the queen was far too busy wooing her newest acquisition, or at least planning to. Cador had nothing to lament regardless; this made his first proper rest day in ages. He'd come to an agreement with Merlyn earlier, but he would not be meeting her in his dream. In fact... he would be meeting her in person, shortly after her stroll through others' subconscious minds. He was never even very far away. Just outside the dungeon, Cador assumed the guise of a guard for the night. After all, it made sense that someone stronger than mere foot soldiers be in place to keep a high-caliber sorceress restrained. It was the perfect opportunity to approach her holding cell, minutes after her escapade.

[Apollymi]

As Arthur thought in his bath, Kolin thought in hers. Though both were planning for their potential meeting, they were doing so in two very different ways. 'I suppose I shouldn't be too forward with what I say to him. He's a bit nice on the surface... but speaking in hypotheticals I can gauge his reaction,' she thought as she lowered even her massive chest below the heated water's surface. 'And if I don't like the reaction I can always enchant him. Men don't ever resist... I mean who would? Everyone wants an excuse to do what a beautiful woman says...' she seemed rather sure of herself. She could practically see the future in this moment. Too bad her own twisted psyche produced a future for her which was just as bad as Leorio. In her moment of day-dreaming she saw herself sitting atop a throne. The heads of her many enemies decorating nearby podiums. With Arthur at her side as she stared at the one she would prize above all others, the head of that filth Gilgamesh. How dare he turn her down? They could have been great together? Thoughts of this scorned woman soured, but... she could have the next best thing to Gilgamesh if she had Arthur, she'd even have a dead Artoria and Merlin. There was nothing potentially better than that to her. Supreme Power, all the things she wanted and an adoring crowd of people acknowledging her beauty above all others. Her daydream was sweet and ended as she stepped out of the bath. It was such a smooth transition she didn't even notice the glowing eyes of Merlyn's within the corner of her vision.

"Ugh, why does everyone here have such disgusting dreams? I may never eat again..." the young woman murmured. Though many would have assumed such a statement was made because of what she saw in those dreams, she was more or less upset at the quality of those dreams. They'd taste disgusting, she could practically feel that energy source and it wasn't anything she wished to ingest at all. She then opened her eyes which still held a sort of ethereal glow and flicked them towards the cell door from where she sat. "Oh? They put the Spirit Knight on my door, I wonder what I did to earn such VIP treatment?~" she questioned in a manner most nonchalant. Of course, it was simply her nature not to seem too stressed about anything. Besides, keeping the mood light would make sharing the information she discovered much less annoying, maybe.

[Bloodedge]

Arthur's curiosity wouldn't get him very far in planning, he thought. Most of the coming encounter would have to be improvised for the best outcome. Once more, he felt he would be thanking Kimiko at some point. Well... maybe after expressing his distaste at her sudden disappearance on his day off. Yes, that would come first. Then he could thank her for indirectly teaching him the "ways of the sass" as some would phrase it. Whatever the case, it was time to move on. Though bathing was great, he would soon be in danger of pruning if he didn't hop out and dry himself. Clothes, clothes... there had to be something worth wearing after drying off. Arthur managed to find something indeed, but no more than a pair of pin-striped silk trousers with... an opening... at the crotch. "You have got to be kidding me," he groaned aloud. He certainly wasn't going to don his full tunic indoors at night, so he supposed this would be the thing to wear. It was, after all, the only option in sight. No shirt, no shoes, just... silk trousers that threatened to leave his manhood dangling freely with a single wrong movement. It was easy to assume Queen Kolin had a lot to do with this selection, though he would have preferred at least a shirt.

The first words heard from the mouth of Merlyn were about never eating again after tasting the local dreams. Cador, during his approach, laughed. "I should apologize. I would hope my dreams would have been worthwhile, but... sadly not tonight. Not a wink in sight for me, I'm afraid," he said, even knowing the queen would likely have nothing of him for the foreseeable future. "I decided to take the position myself. Queen Kolin is probably too busy preparing to make a 'man' out of Arthur to have busywork for me, and the rest of the men had no issue at all relinquishing their posts in favor of me taking the task. Containing a sorceress is an idea that frightens the masses. So, have you found the king? Is he taken by sorcery?"

[Apollymi]

Though she wouldn't know it, Kimiko was indeed quite a sassy person. Still, the idea of improvising an interaction with a person like Kolin was likely a frightening thought to most. Whatever the case the Queen was dressed in the coming moments. What kind of garments did she wear to sleep? Well, the most obvious answer was a ridiculous amount of lingerie. The amount which barely covered what was important but was also beset by lace even in where her skin could use extra coverage. Obviously she planned to have someone else warm her body throughout the night, as this was the only way such a thing could even be considered appropriate for sleepwear. Of course, she donned a nice flowing fur-lined robe as well, and left her hair messily tossed about. She had to further give the illusion of being fresh out of bed. In presenting herself in such a way, she could surely begin the work of talking this lad into usurping Artoria and helping her along her way to her kingdom, and her revenge. She began her walk to the lad's chambers all the while knowing that she could do whatever she liked.

In the meantime, Merlyn was the person experiencing some pleasant company for the evening. This Cador was truly shaping up to be her favorite Knight. The man apparently thought himself to have better dreams than most, but didn't plan on sleeping and instead gave himself her own guard duty for the night. "Sou ka, I take that to mean I could have a bite or two when all this is settled. A girl can't turn down a good quality meal~" she joked with her normal jovial nature. According to the man, the other men were a bit afraid of her, which would of course explain why they likely weren't all too concerned about her sleeping in the corner earlier. What was more, apparently Kolin was plotting against Arthur, planning to make a man out of him, a chuckle escaped Merlyn at this thought and she couldn't help it. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me. I am pretty sure Arthur is about her type. Ya' know, blonde, handsome... less pompous than the other one, but that is likely a plus for his potential to be manipulated as she likes to do~" Merlyn mentioned, knowing that she was practically using Arthur as bait when doing this sort of thing. Even so, traps had to be set and some, needed a bit more time than others. As for his final question she gave a bit of thought as to her answer, she settled one one but though it sounded light there was a rather serious undertone. "He is taken, by idiocy alone I'm afraid. Not really salvageable... really. But because of him, and her... I know what happened to your people..." she finished softly. "I am sorry." stated, knowing it wouldn't soften the blow. Still the overarching plan of Ishtar done through the cunning of Kolin and the previous Ygerna. "Apparently she's gathered a kingdom which is hers alone. She's been feeding it, both people and funds from these that she's taken down. It's really subtle though, like planting ideas in men's heads that they should go there... having the women be left with nothing and end up there. Selling kids and kidnapping people from other places to fill it. But it isn't some regular place... it's a Red Light District." she said knowing that most from their own world would know what such a thing was. "And that boy king is under the impression that he will get to live as 'Harem King' with her as his wife and queen. And all the women that place has to offer at his beck and call... So, he knows and doesn't care what is happening here."

[Bloodedge]

Patience. If Arthur was to become the Future King, if he was to be the proper wielder of Excalibur, he had to exercise patience here and now. In spite of how things seemed thus far, there would surely not be an easy victory in the current scenario. The sanctity of his person may have even been in danger, given his current state of dress and the warnings of others. The optimal path should have been to play into Kolin's game, but keep himself ready to withdraw at a moment's notice. His experience dictated that all things were decided in a single moment. He could only hope to be as lucky in this situation, though he was not without doubts. Hope, it seemed, was all he had as he settled into his bed for the night. 'Hmm. Maybe I'll get lucky. Maybe it was all just playing around, and the queen just wanted to drag me around to keep me interested,' he thought. Oh, if he could be so lucky. . .

Merlyn's jest was taken in stride by the Spirit Knight. If the succubus wished to partake of his dreams, he would surely allow it. They were partners in a way now, and such favors came with the territory. "I live here, and we are on good terms. If you are hungry, it is my job to be hospitable and offer a meal," he stated plainly. Following this, Cador was able to learn that Kolin had a certain type. He wasn't sure whether he should be pleased to have been an exception to said type, or feel even worse for falling into her trap while not fitting her usual preference. For his own sake, he didn't dwell on it for too long. He had other things to be concerned about anyway, like the fact that Merlyn discovered the cause of his kingdom's downfall. Some Red Light District was being organized by Kolin, and all the people and funds he'd worked so hard to build up were thrown into it like tinder to a flame. If he didn't have enough reason to want the queen's head already, he certainly had it now. "Kufu~" he snickered. Of all the potential reactions, Cador... cracked a little inside. He'd been such a fool to contribute to something like this, and here he was, serving under a pitiful boy who willingly walked into the same situation he'd never seen coming. His eyes were wide and trembling, and there was the quickest upturn just at the corner of his mouth. Long fingers stretched across the bottom of Cador's face as he moved a hand to cover his grin. "Merlyn. Merlyn, Merlyn. Please tell me this Arthur of yours isn't some bumbling idiot. If he can't manage to do something about that tramp of a queen, I may not be able to restrain myself. Her... Leorio... everyone in this kingdom who's fallen under her spell. Would you stop me?"

[Apollymi]

Poor, naïve Arthur. He truly entertained the idea that the flirtation offered by Kolin was simply that. Well, that wasn't really a bad thing... it was quite true she'd not been offering anyone in this Kingdom any real part of herself, even so... he fit a few too many of her personal likes for her to box him up like she did the rest. Besides, ogling his form and getting herself a bit of him was about par for the course. Only her lack of interest really kept her from taking things further with any random man she used. The door to Arthur's chamber would open and close without so much as an announcement. She stood within the lad's room her robe opening steadily to reveal the lingerie beneath with every motion. "It gets quite cold here at night, Arthur. Surely, you'd do the favor of keeping the queen company, and warm... at a time like this?~" she questioned with a flirty wink. Such seduction in within this castle, Kolin was pulling out all the stops, the intentions of her words and actions were clear as day. She'd approach the bed fairly directly, standing just at the edge of it with a most amused smile on her face. She knew she'd talk to him a bit while in close proximity, maybe tease him a bit until he agreed to her demands. And then, like the truly magnanimous leader she was, she'd allow him a sample of her body as a reward for his pledge.

Cador had some interesting and friendly words to share with Merlyn initially. This much was to be expected. She giggled a little and found it amusing and smiled beneath her hood. "Oh? That's pretty encouraging actually, thanks in advance~" she managed before the lightness of their conversation disappeared. Much like happiness in this world, the jovial nature of their conversation basically evaporated in seconds. Instead it was replaced by the seedy darkness which belonged to this world. What was worse, it was met by a snicker from Cador. The man had broken a bit, knowing exactly what had happened with his Kingdom and about those responsible. He was none too happy about the Red Light District and even went on, to question Arthur and his ability to properly deal with the woman known as Kolin. "Cador, you're my favorite Knight," she mentioned with a soft smile. "I wouldn't keep you from your revenge, but I would stop you from sullying yourself. You are a Knight after all. I wouldn't enjoy watching a good man fall..." she stated with softness. "As for Arthur, he's a bit slow on the uptake, overly idealistic and naïve for this world... but I have faith he won't be taken by someone like her. If I didn't I wouldn't have dangled him in front of her like bait. He's immune to me... she's no longer a god, her powers won't sway him. And he's a bit too good to be as dumb in his desires as Leorio." Merlyn explained this situation and stood walking over to the gate of her cell. She reached through the bars and patted Cador on the shoulder. "Seriously, he came to this world on purpose, looking for his boss and his sisters in that order. I can believe in a man like that..."

[Bloodedge]

Hopes... shattered in an instant. Arthur had been resting in silence for just long enough to believe he could simply fall asleep. It felt like he'd only just closed his eyes when the slight creak of the door struck his ear. There stood Kolin, dressed in the full garb one would expect of a late night visit to one's bedroom. To think, one would actually be so unfaithful in their own home. Her every intention was clear as day through those movements, which seemingly shifted her robe aside in a purposeful manner to reveal the seductive lace worn beneath. More seductive yet, was the words which left the queen's mouth. So direct, yet so inconspicuous at the same time. If not for the additional knowledge of this woman and her methods sticking to the back of his mind, he may have even truly fallen prey to such an attempt. No matter; there was still a game to be played. "Your Grace," he greeted with a warm smile. "To make any request of me on the first day of my arrival, you honor me greatly. I had started to think you would have no use of me─ maybe even that the king would suffice for warmth and company."

Merlyn claimed she would not stop Cador from seeking his vengeance, but also that she would not let him sully his own honor as a knight. Such a sentence was utterly ridiculous, but he actually believed her. She knew things─ things one would never expect to be known by a living being in this corner of the world. He could trust such a woman to act as a balancing force in a moment of madness, if necessary. "I'll put my faith in you," he said. Back to business, there were more truths to be shared about the future King Arthur. He was a fool, though not affected by the wiles of succubi such as Merlyn herself. True enough, the amount of hopeless optimism found in a lad like him may do wonders in resisting even the non-magical sway of Kolin. Speaking of hopeless optimism, though... something was very off about the most recent factoid of Arthur. Cador found himself wondering why Merlyn offered such information, or why she kept company with an obvious psychopath, given the specification she gave. "I beg your pardon? Boss, then sisters? I thought you were trying to make me have faith in the young Arthur─"

[Apollymi]

Kolin couldn't know that Arthur had been given plenty of knowledge about her. What was more she also couldn't truly know how this lad's brain worked. Instead of knowing him on an individual level she attacked the problem of him, based on his supposed type, which he was playing up to quite well. A small smirk crossed her face as she was greeted with a sincere amount of respect and she joined him, cuddling up to him in bed. Most would have found such an intrusion quite unbecoming of the Queen, but in this case, her actions were so normal by now that none would ever question her. Even if they caught her in the act, "Come now, Arthur, there is no need to be so formal with me~" she mused as she pressed the softness of her breasts against his arm and leaned into his side a bit. "After all, I intend for us to work together as equals some day, you might as well get used to such a thing, call me Kolin~" she managed. Such a friendly offering was exactly what the nice guy types enjoyed. Feeling closer to the objects of their affections by use of their first names or even nicknames was pretty standard. "And to that end... I wanted to give you some more information that your.... friend might have neglected to tell you~" she mentioned, another little ploy as she squeezed his arm gently. Ah, yes, she did have the extra in of the lad claiming that he might not be able to trust his supposed guide. If she could present him new information then... telling him such things would definitely further convince him to her cause. This was the plan currently being enacted by Kolin. Full of friendly gestures and subtle touches, but nothing that could outright be called, seduction at face value. Just right for the 'straight-laced' Knights.

A gentle laugh left Merlyn at Cador's reaction to her little quip about Arthur. Though she fully expected such a thing, she'd said it exactly for this effect. "Hahahaha~" she laughed just a little. "Yes, I know... it's quite crazy. Firstly, I was just making sure my initial reaction to finding that out was totally normal. At first I thought I'd been waiting in St. Paul's too long for my sanity~" she said with a chuckle. "And yes, because his reason for coming here and diving up his time like that was... apparently his boss went missing on his day off and he felt responsible as her bodyguard. And though his sisters are likely here, he has faith that they can take care of themselves..." she said of the boy. "Which is quite true when one considers one of his sisters is Artoria Pendragon..." Merlyn said knowing that most Knights of the realm would know that name at least. "But that's our little secret... for now at least~" she said with a subtle wink. "Beyond all of that he came here to find out who was behind all of the missing people from the other world. He literally thought to do something about that in addition to looking for those whom he felt some responsibility towards. Crazy as he might be.... there's a light there I believe in."

[Bloodedge]

According to Kolin, it was purposeless of him to be formal with her. Oh, how inviting. He surely felt more complacent from her slipping into his bed and pressing herself against him. Surely. In all honesty, though, this entire ordeal was a shame. At all of twenty years old in his proper life, there was no hiding the fact that he could be easily stimulated in a physical sense by contact with the queen's form. Few could be that resilient. Eyes were naturally drawn to the plump bosom that swallowed his upper arm with ease, even as he attempted resistance. The only resistance he could have would be in his own mind, it seemed. "Equals? Hardly, my qu─ ahem. Kolin. You are cut from a different cloth. Someone like you should be above the likes of me, no?" he questioned. Regardless of how this statement sounded, it was honesty from Arthur. Kolin would only be satisfied in the position of power, not with true equality. If he could phrase it in a way that made him seem flattering without actually lying, though, all for the better. "And please, don't even joke like that. Merlyn is far from my friend. Honestly though, it surprises me that you'd bring up something... businesslike here and now. Are the clothing selections here your choice?"

Ah, Cador wasn't alone in initially thinking something must be wrong with Arthur. Such statements should have come with prefaces, lest people wonder about one's moral code from the very beginning. Overall, the situation made enough sense to be overlooked as strange. Such was especially the case upon hearing that Arthur's sister, in actuality, was the legendary Queen of Knights─ she who visitors of this world knew as the true King Arthur representation. "Huh. And here I thought he was just a fanboy lookalike of hers. I'm willing to put faith in anyone who can even be considered an associate of her. I suppose though... the mentality he has is refreshing to see. I'd like to think most, if not all of us, used to be like that. Some of us may even hold out hope that one day, someone will be able to keep that state of mind through the rest of this new life. Maybe this Arthur of yours can even be a contributor to restoring a good mindset to the rest of us. You seem a bit chipper already, even if most of it is an act."

[Apollymi]

To Arthur's credit the lad was very good at flattery, which did wonders for making Kolin's guard slip a little. If only all the men she enjoyed looking at and liking the idea of being with were so very forthcoming. Imagine how happy she could have been~ Whatever the case, the young man was more than earning the additional attention she paid him. "Oh? How very generous of you... if you insist on such a thing, I'm hardly in a position to turn you down~" the flirting continued. Even as she shifted quite a bit. In the moment she was finding it easy to gently run her hand along Arthur's thigh. The blonde was doing a great job of keeping Merlyn sounding like a topic he didn't much like. Separating Arthur from Merlyn might be one of the best possible outcomes of the mage's outburst. And to the best of her approximation, without the mage to protect him, Arthur was a lamb to slaughter. Not that she couldn't have seduced him regardless... "Businesslike? Of course not, I don't draw such hard lines between business and leisure. I simply want to give you things you didn't have before. Information included~" she said ever so softly. How inviting it would sound to give such information. "And of course the clothing here is all my choice. I can't have my Knights sleeping without comfort, in all forms~" she mused. "The world is scary enough when you're new. Time with me doesn't have to be anything like that... besides, wouldn't you be interested in knowing about the throne that's made for you, and the pretender, Artoria Pendragon sitting on it? I'd be glad to help you overcome her. Your claim to such things has to be more legitimate...Camelot's just waiting up in the sky for it's real King~" she said. Such words always came with gentle touches distractions of the lad's mind. Everything seemed less murder plot when people were horny. She knew this, there was no wrong in this plan. It was perfect.

A chuckle came from Merlyn as she leaned against the bars of her holding cell. Apparently Cador had believed this lad to be a fan of Artoria's such a mistake would be easy to make. Merlyn might have thought that too, but she happened to know exactly why they shared such a name in a way. "Apparently, they are twins. No copying... everyone in that family also basically has the same face from what I've seen," she said with a casual roll of her eyes. "Even without knowing that though, I enjoy giving him a bit of a chance here. Even I would like seeing legitimate happiness in this world from those of us who end up here. Maybe then their dreams will taste better and he can have a lot to do with that~" So a little faith was what someone like Merlyn had. Both in Arthur overcoming his current challenge and in his eventual help to the world at large. She would be thinking about all of this for quite a few seconds, and come to a good conclusion about the progression of current points in time.

[Bloodedge]

"Oh?" Arthur questioned, partially due to the surprise of Kolin's retort. Had she really, truly taken his words as an offer to be her subservient mate? While he wasn't opposed to such a role in general, this woman was delusional; he'd given her almost nothing to go by. Ah, but she still thought she was making the sort of progress she wanted with him. In truth, she was half right. Arthur hadn't expected Kolin to enter his actual bed, at least not as quickly as she did. The knife he had handy could not be reached as easily as he'd planned, but such was the point of improvisation. Of course, he had to do so beyond the stimulation of Kolin's hand rubbing along his silk-clad thigh. Perhaps his natural physical response of tension was a positive, in this case. "Well, there are a great many things I've never known. I thought I was worldly before coming here, but my mind has been blown time and time again since I showed up," he said, leaving the statement just open enough for interpretation, to leave the idea that he meant Zuria... and not this world as a whole. Moving on, he received solid confirmation of where his twin sister had gone. She was, indeed, the Once King: King Arthur. No other would have chosen the name Artoria Pendragon and succeeded in gaining that position. Luckily for Arthur, his natural response would be right in line with what Kolin sought to set him up for. "Artoria Pendragon... That's a nostalgia trip and a half," he said, grinning from ear to ear in all earnestness. "I can't consider Merlyn any sort of friend to me, but there is one thing we agreed on. I am the Future King. If anyone is ever going to displace Artoria Pendragon, it's going to be me when I take the throne for myself." Arthur said these words, and he meant every one. It was one of his goals, as it always was, to prove himself against his twin sister. The original plan was to do so by overthrowing her championship in a video game, but... this was as close as things got now.

Hearing the truth of Arthur's existence was far better than what Cador could have assumed, and in fact what he was assuming. "If you're willing to bet on him, I'll do the same. All will at least become clear in the next few days. If he falls here, I will deal with him myself before avenging my people. If not... well, every king needs knights," he stated. Cador could not serve this kingdom for any longer than necessary, knowing Leorio went so far for Kolin without even being enchanted by her. There was no excuse for such a man. He could serve under one who righted the wrongs of this kingdom, though, and he could already believe Merlyn capable enough to keep balance for the king she functioned as court mage of. "I'll keep my eyes and ears open to see how this plays out. For tonight, I am the sole guard of the untrustworthy witch, Merlyn," he said with a light chuckle and a cheeky smirk.

[Apollymi]

A grin crossed Kolin's face. The answer to Arthur's question was of course yes, she truly was delusional enough to believe that she had been offered the lad on a permanent basis from such a vague statement. Well, delusion wasn't quite the word, she was quite used to men throwing themselves at her, if anything Arthur could blame his fellow man for why she believed such a thing. "Of course, if you wish to be mine in such a role, who am I to argue. A Queen should have all she desires, and all others should make it so..." she said as gently as she would have said anything. She was having quite a good time flirting with Arthur. Actually, he was shaping up to be quite the interesting boy already, perhaps she should string it along a bit further, indulge fully. The lad tensing up as she touched him, made her wonder, if like so many others he was unfamiliar with the type of things she could do to him. There was something rather cute about the thought of deflowering King Arthur. This one had heard of Artoria Pendragon though and even smiled. Kolin watched a bit more closely, what kind of reaction would he have to what she offered him as information. Claim of being the future king, assurance that he would take that throne. "Squeee~" the woman was elated, her guard had all but fallen. Though she had no idea he wasn't meaning his sentences in the way she took them, her dream of a dead Artoria seemed to be closer than her wildest imagining. She'd let her hand wander closer and closer towards the lad's crotch, her aim of course to take hold of what she found there from a shifting and more dominating position. If she could have what she wanted she intended to have confirmation of it here and now, and then... she could fully enjoy this young Knight. "Tell me you'll bring me her head for what she's done to me. Tell me you'll protect my honor with your words here and now... and I'll have all of you in exchange. Oh, make sure that death is anguished, I really can't stand that flat-chested bitch." Even the proposition was selfish but she lusted after many things and if she could have them through this man who fit her preferences, she'd take it without thought. She could have thought this was far too easy, but she'd never had trouble manipulating men before, when they weren't surrounded by 'good girls' so now shouldn't be a problem either.

In the meantime, Merlyn and her guard of the night continued to have a cordial conversation. "I am willing to bet on him. But he's still naïve, he might need some help along the way. A man of action, is about what is called for, Sir Cador. I'm sure you can help him in the manly ways I am unversed in~" Merlyn stated. And she meant this in more ways than one. In the last few moments she'd become privy to the goings on of Arthur and she wondered if she should interfere with what was happening to him currently. As a girl, she didn't know if he was at all for the sort of espionage he was currently trapped in, but she also knew the weapons he would have at his disposal were out of his reach. "Oh yes, I'm so scary, rude, and untrustworthy," she returned his cheeky smirk. "I could have made her lock me up with a show of power... but I think calling her a whore in the middle of her own court was way more dramatic~" mentioned "You may need to act sooner rather than later... the next few moments are quite... tenuous." Merlyn said with her usual snarky attitude. She'd chosen this path for herself knowing that there was a chance that Arthur's own plan might need some spare hands that he didn't know about just yet. Of course, she didn't want Arthur scarred for life or anything, but perhaps getting rid of his loner attitude would help him a bit. Besides... he really didn't understand what a difference this world made to the personalities of people. He had no idea how much Merlyn was trying to save him...

[Bloodedge]

Bit by bit, Kolin's true self was coming to the surface. At the very least, there was a single statement to grant Arthur insight to her possessive mannerisms, and her clear preference for being the center of attention. That wouldn't have been so bad, if not for the fact that her intentions were far from good. Ah, but those intentions were far darker than Arthur could have even imagined. Kolin's hand moved farther yet up his thigh after Arthur's most recent proclamation; apparently it was something worth excitement. Her hand never stopped, though, continuing until it found its resting place upon his barely-restrained groin. Arthur nearly gasped in response; he'd been having a hard enough time avoiding a full-on erection, and this was only going to increase the difficulty. In essentially claiming his manhood for herself, Kolin demanded an oath. There was the darkness. She didn't want something so simple as a victory over Artoria, and the claiming of that woman's throne. She wanted a death. Did death function normally in this world? Ah, that was something Arthur should have asked Merlyn about over the past couple of weeks. Cath Palug hadn't been properly slain, and had in fact become something of a pet for Arthur Pendragon since its defeat. Did humans function the same? Bit by bit, Arthur was realizing how little he'd come to understand about this new life. "I─" he stammered. A certain amount of carefulness was required, but he was beginning to wonder if there was no saving this queen. What could he do to quell her uprising? "I will do my duty as a knight. Justice will be served where it need be," he concluded, opting for an honest, yet misguided retort once more. There was hardly another thing he could manage while not having a weapon in reach, or any real ground to stand on in this confrontation. Alas, he intended to continue improvising his way through the end of his plan.

Meanwhile, Merlyn hinted at the ability of Cador to assist Arthur in ways she couldn't. There were certainly things that could be fixed in the case of Arthur, both as a knight and as a man who inhabited this world. "You're right. He has a long way to go, if he's going to be king of anything. I choose to believe he might be the type to... have an easier time not losing himself to this world. Still, trials and tribulations in this place spare no man," he declared. This was a fact he was sure Merlyn knew, perhaps even more than most. The way she spoke of the cathedral she'd found Arthur in, he was made to believe she could have been around for... generations. He wouldn't be prying on that matter, though. "Whore has a nice ring to it. She was different in Cornwall, though I had reason to be suspicious of her faithfulness a few times even then." One could assume Kolin's methods were dependent upon the situation she was in; she essentially had Cador's kingdom in the palm of her hand all along. He quirked a brow when Merlyn implied having some insight regarding Arthur's present predicament with the queen. He could only imagine what was happening, but regardless of the goings-on, he stood outside Merlyn's cell with crossed arms and a curious expression. "H'oh? I should do my job as the manly guide then, shouldn't I? Well... I did say trials and tribulations spare no man. Your faith in the Future King is true, isn't it?"

[Apollymi]

Kolin was winning as far as she was concerned. Her words gained no negative reactions from the lad even as she spoke of demanding Artoria's head. She couldn't know such things were wrong, her own madness kept her from understanding several things. But what she did understand in the moment that she held this lad's cock was that he'd given her an oath. Though it wasn't yet at peak that could be blamed on numerous things, maybe he was tired... it was more than likely he had a bit of stage fright. After all, it wasn't often that a man got to bed her, she couldn't fault a bit of shyness on his part. Besides, he was so upstanding he probably hadn't yet come to terms with the idea that he could have her. "How very chivalrous of you, Arthur~" she was practically giddy. Still she had no real intention of letting him off so easily. Perhaps a gentle teasing was in order, or maybe he had hang-ups because she already had a king? Quite a few knights held off while her king was still in place, only after he was sent away did a few of them choose to act in the way she knew they would. "I can accept this... though I am beginning to wonder if you are a bit too much...a Knight for this current arrangement," she mused as she held him by the dick. "If you can't reconcile your good fortune with our current difference in status... I could show a bit of leniency in my demands for the night, I can be that sort of benevolent for you. I wouldn't want to displease my future King~" she mentioned, with that same implied bit of seduction. Though she spoke such words just as much for her own ego as she did for his, the idea that he didn't want her wouldn't sit well in her psyche so obviously it wasn't actually a thing. Besides, she'd planned to get rid of Leorio at her earliest convenience. If getting rid of him sooner would help her bed this lad without having to potentially break what she'd enjoy about him, she supposed she could get to work properly about that little detail. She'd switched so easily from aggressive talks of murder to manipulative speech that most would have had their head spin at it. In fact, such things were counted on by Kolin. If the lad was Knightly enough not to want to bed another man's queen, she could simply get rid of the king. Satisfying his ego, she'd consider it part of the costs of having him on her side.

While Arthur experienced the mood swings of a psychopath, Merlyn had a very comfortable conversation with Cador. It seemed he agreed that there was a certain amount of worldliness lacking from Arthur and he even seemed to tentatively agree to help with the task. He claimed that if Arthur couldn't right the wrongs of this place, he'd take that upon himself before avenging his people. What was more he even had a stated bit of wisdom to share about the world. "Oh? A man of action and of thought... I might be better at picking my favorite Knight than I thought~" she said with a wistful smile still hidden beneath her hood. "I could see that. She's the type to play the role needed of her... if she thinks it will get her what she desires she will hide all or some of her nature. I wouldn't beat myself up over it..." Merlyn advised. As for her words she had much to say, but also didn't want to throw the lad under the bus with his potential first Knight. "My faith in him is quite true... it's hard for me though~" Merlyn admitted. "I probably know too much about too many things..." she said. "I sometimes change a scenario for my own amusement, which I will admit to doing more frequently than not. But sometimes when the outcomes are being decided by someone who lacks the emotional stability of a broken crayon..." she sighed. "Well, I'd rather not be directly responsible for traumatizing him, specifically because I didn't see how badly she'd behave. Even though I did warn him, and I know I shouldn't really spoil him too much. I've really been trying at being a guide without being too hands on... ya' know?" she mentioned, this was also her reasoning behind not giving him information he didn't seek. It would have violated the spirit of her role, or some other nonsense. The truth of the matter was, as his guide Merlyn had begun to feel a bit responsible for the lad, not in a romantic sense, but in a sisterly sense (not that the lad needed more sisters). In addition to believing in his rather jovial nature, she didn't want the horrors of the world to ruin him.

[Bloodedge]

It seemed his declaration was taken as a proper oath. If he wasn't consciously holding his composure, he would have sighed his relief. Chivalrous, she called him. How queer. Beneficial though this was to his overall plan, Kolin's following words were a point of confusion. What part of an arrangement was he too much of a knight for? She couldn't have meant her plot for vengeance, right? He wasn't lucky enough for that to be the case. Ah, it seemed she spoke of letting him off the hook with her advances for the time being. Arthur's biggest problem all along had been his inability to access one of the weapons at his disposal. That simple fact lingering on his mind had been saving him from a fully-erect state, and even that was failing over time as Kolin's touch remained on his manhood. Solidification was occurring in his groin moment by moment, but it seemed there was a light at the end of the tunnel. "I'm sure nothing you could do would displease me," he said frankly. If her approach continued, he was almost certain it would be an experience the likes of which any man would enjoy. The fact that she was the type to use that assumption as a weapon, though, was... somewhat sad. Sadder yet, was the fact that Arthur only found himself opposed to the situation from a moral perspective. How many had completely fallen for such a trap? Had anyone gone the distance without succumbing to this woman's ultimate desires? These were the things Arthur found himself wondering. "I appreciate your concern, though I disagree with it being a benevolent thing," he stated, thinking this approach was anything but kind. She'd been in the process of fully rousing him physically, and that had its own mental effects. Perhaps this, too, was part of how the queen functioned to obliterate the minds of men.

Merlyn offered flattery to the Spirit Knight once again. This was immediately followed by a comforting fact about Queen Kolin, which did ease his woes a bit. His kingdom may have fallen because of that wretched woman, but it seemed Merlyn didn't fault him for it at all. He felt relieved, but also quite pitiful. Oh well; he couldn't keep mulling over that sort of thing. Merlyn had more to say, primarily involving her approach to the situation of Arthur... and most situations, in fact. "Not the most honorable thing to do, but I can't fault you for your methods. Don't fret, though. If Kolin is enough like her former self, she'll be something of a pleasant experience... for a time, and in a way. At least, that should be the case for him. What I've seen of her in this form and kingdom says her bad side only shows when she isn't getting her way. The sort of naïveté you claim Arthur has, might make him the type that will think he can make her more honorable. He'll fail in that regard, I'm sure, but it should be a good learning experience to discover everyone can't be saved in this world. My advice would be to remain hands-off, but be ready for a hands-on approach during emergencies. Your charge should appreciate that in time."

[Apollymi]

Was this how Kolin operated? Absolutely. Finding the weakness of men while they were fully aroused was part of her going ability. Even if she liked Arthur, even if he was her type, making sure he was well and truly under her control, either by means of magic or means of manipulation was necessity. She had her own goals after all, and she couldn't have him trying to dissuade her. In this way, it was much easier to gain control of the minds of boys, ones who liked the way the ideas sounded with only half truths and their imaginations to make up the difference. "Oh? That pleases me quite a bit to know~ I could always continue then..." she mentioned as casually as she spoke. Her hand began moving around his shaft, a firm grip but not too hard as she slid along him. A motion so obviously practiced with the visible and physical distraction of the softness of her body. Men were most honest like this, she'd found this to be the truth of the universe in both worlds. Though she often didn't bother giving of herself... a treat for her more favored was always a possibility. So, she'd thought to offer him something without immediately demanding something for herself. Of course, usually when such things happened, the embarrassed and chivalrous would immediately hop to whatever their preferred method of pleasing was, leaving her with all the power over some poor man's enamored soul. Ah, but such easy pleasantry was harder to get to than she would like. Arthur's words following what she thought to be an easy road into his psyche were... displeasing. He didn't think her work here benevolent... the audacity. She was shocked beyond belief her hand freezing in the moment as she became outraged. Probably not the most sensible thing to cause a woman who was holding the most sensitive part of him within her hand. She squeezed with the intention of making it painful, and stared daggers at the lad from so close to him. "If I say I am being benevolent on your behalf, all you must do is agree... dear Arthur. Do not contradict me... if your place is at my side," Kolin spoke. Her words were harsh and soft little whispers full of threatening intentions and after only a few seconds she'd let go of his cock making sure he understood he'd messed up. She aimed to leave him with pain and embarrassment, maybe then he'd learn, and apologize. She slipped out of bed standing before him in all of her glory looking down at him like he was the pitiful existence here. It was her desire to have what she wanted, her enemies dead, herself at the top of all beauty in the world and men to service her. She'd take a pretty king that fit her desires but only if he understood that title was basically honorary. She was in charge here, now and always.

Meanwhile Merlyn was learning that her meddling was not necessarily honorable in the eyes of the Spirit Knight. Even so, the man apparently didn't find fault with her, and gave her a bit of advice concerning her worries over Arthur. "Hm, good thing I am not a Knight. I don't have to worry too much about honor~" she mentioned with a happy chuckle. She didn't expect anyone to understand her method, she'd been alive and waiting too long so her ideas of fun. Moving along his words about her continued guidance of Arthur were encouraging at least, she could breath a sigh of relief if she was sure she wasn't currently ruining the lad in any way. "Hai hai, I suppose those methods have the best possible outcomes, even if the middle part makes me anxious. Clairvoyance is such a weird skill, I've come to hate not knowing things..." Merlyn stated as she rolled her eyes a little. Hmm... was there more to discuss? More to plot? "So... what's your favorite spirit?" she asked in a most light-hearted manner. Their conversation switching from one of grim seriousness to two people just getting to know each other. In typical Merlyn fashion she asked this question as if it was the next logical leap, not simply a shift in conversation, no use trying to completely save Arthur from himself in this moment.

[Bloodedge]

And so, Arthur somehow looped himself into receiving the queen's direct grip. Just as he thought, her approach was as skillful as he would expect from one who was paid to do such a thing. Oh, how close to reality he was. His lips parted just slightly; this was apparently something he would be going through until he could gain the upper hand somehow. At least, that was apparent until he spoke of her 'benevolent' offer. The firmness of Kolin's grip suddenly became something beyond pleasure, shifting to the obvious intention of subduing him in a painful way. A sharp intake of breath occurred in the knight, and he squinted throughout. Ah... he'd flipped some sort of switch. That was certainly something worth looking out for in future, but after issuing a warning of sorts, Kolin released him. "Hngh─ hardly my point. I thought we were still rolling with the banter," he said, managing to catch his breath in the short moments following. It was abundantly clear that this woman was crazed beyond the norm, but what was he to do about it? He surely couldn't manage to steer her away from her current path here and now, but perhaps he could make some headway? At least her form of punishment was a walk in the park, compared to the sort of torture he'd dealt with before. . .

"And that is exactly why I can't fault you. The knights' code is a powerful creed; there are only a few who are suited to following it," Cador explained, thinking there wasn't much required to get the point across to one like Merlyn. The sorceress' anxiety was something he couldn't relate to at all, at least given the reason she had for it. The sorceress had such an interesting issue, and there was only one way for Cador to quantify it. "First world problems, Merlyn. Take it as something to look forward to, rather than something to worry about." That was about all he could manage regarding the lack of foreknowledge Merlyn had about certain things. Just when it seemed their discussion was reaching its natural conclusion, Merlyn offered a strange query. It seemed like such a sudden and random shift in topics, Cador could only laugh before formulating a retort. "Is there that much silence in your life, that you would ask something like that after a serious discussion? Hmm. I care for all of them, but... between you and me, my favorite may be either Nes, or Ia. So, why don't you enlighten me as to how you learned there were multiple spirits connected to me?"

[Apollymi]

As she stood away from him, looking down upon him after releasing his tool, Arthur made the claim that his words were only going along with present banter. While she enjoyed banter, his hit her ear wrong. Even if such a misunderstanding was her own fault, the blame was his for making it possible to misunderstand. "That is no apology Arthur. By the time I come back, make sure you've figured out how to right this wrong of your own accord," she order as if he was to know why she'd reacted the way she had. Ah, Kolin was quite good at saving face... especially her own. But such were her methods to being with. It was also better if she made sure there was nothing this lad could think about her which she didn't plant into his mind. If he happened to understand how easily she could be triggered, he'd always make sure to keep her happy. Such was the best possible outcome regardless. Yes, she'd have to wait just a little longer than normal to abuse this Knight's body for her own pleasantries, but... her desires were much more long term than a single nights happiness. She'd been stewing in them for literal years by now, a single or couple of nights was hardly a drop in the bucket. Once she was certain she'd manipulate him more... there were quite a few ways to potentially test his loyalties, and keep him 'knightly'. With her statements made, she turned on her heels to leave the lad within his room to think over his actions with his boner at whatever state it'd ended up in.

While Arthur thought over what to potentially do about Kolin, Merlyn continued her chat with Cador. "Fair enough, Knights have a lot of rules I don't necessarily agree with for me. But it's nice to see those who can uphold them~" Merlyn said with casual amounts of amusement in her voice. Still the words of Candor about her clairvoyance issue made her chuckle. "I know, I just don't think I have looked forward to anything I couldn't see potentially. Is this what being normal in this world is like? I'm not sure I fancy it at all..." she said in a slightly snarky manner. If she were being honest, she hadn't been normal in the other world either, but that was a matter for a different time. Waving it off as if it was the least sensible thing in the world. On to her strange question of the Spirit Knight. It received an answer sandwiched between two questions. Merlyn laughed just a little in the moment, of course he'd question the amount of silence she was used to. "A lot. A whole lot... I have spent an annoyingly long amount of time... bored, with only my own thoughts and gross dreams to keep me company~" she made a joke of it, but there was a touch of emptiness in such commentary. According to the man though, he liked all the spirits connected to him, with his favorites either being, Fire or Yin. How interesting, you could tell a lot about people by their favorite things. "Oh, what interesting choices...Red and Black. Nice color choices~ Those two are pretty interesting, from what I've seen~" she said most mysteriously. "Also because I can see them. Well not all the time and not directly but they are like... little flickers in the corners of my vision. Especially the ones that hang around your wards. Seeing the one around Emilia in the forest let me see you in the distance. It's how I knew you'd appreciate that little show I put on at court~" she explained of her own situation. A bit of clairvoyance and lots of in intuition, led Merlyn to knowing and seeing all sorts of things, though she didn't always understand them initially.

[Bloodedge]

No apology indeed. On one hand, Arthur managed to avoid any sort of assault from the queen while he was unarmed. On the other hand, though, he was in quite the predicament─ two, even. Kolin took her leave of him, and he sat atop his bed with a great deal of confusion present on his visage. How could someone be so twisted? Arthur's hand met his chin in contemplation, and he would think through the rest of his time alone. 'That's bothersome,' he thought. 'Should I be disappointed? Maybe I should have played the full servant role the whole time.' There had to be some proper solution. All things considered, he rather enjoyed Kolin's touch. It hardly would have been a price paid if he let it proceed for the sake of getting the upper hand, so long as there wasn't some spell he'd be placed under as an aftereffect. Sure, it wasn't the knightly approach, but... he was no true knight at the core of his being. In former life, he understood the necessity of being a bit underhanded at times. Still, he wouldn't outright lie. For whatever reason, he could only manage a bit of misdirection in this world. Perhaps there was some system in place holding him to the morals of his character to a certain extent. 'What should I do?'

Knights had rules upon rules, upon rules, and Cador understood that quite deeply. One could even compare his understanding of the knights' code to the understanding Merlyn had of solitude. He could hear it, even feel it in her tone─ she knew a form of hell that one such as Cador only understood for a short time. "My condolences," was all he could say. There was no point dwelling on the past of another; Cador silenced himself to avoid letting the conversation take a dark turn that would sour the high spirits between the two. Speaking of spirits, though, Merlyn admitted to knowing two of his spirits were elsewhere. She had quite some ability to be capable of seeing the ones he'd attached to Emilia and Guinevere. Once more, Cador laughed. "The men were right. You are a frightening individual. Perhaps you even already knew Nes and Ia were my favorites, since you've seen them. Oh─ I do appreciate you keeping your hood on, by the way. I assume we've been having a normal conversation thus far, without any passive influence from your end. Though if you were stringing me along the way that woman does, I doubt now would be a good time to admit it."

[Apollymi]

Arthur had to deal with his understanding of the world. In the meantime Kolin returned to her own bed chambers to pace. How?! What was actually the problem here? Did he need more time, did he really not get what his place was here? She frowned intensely, running her hands through her hair. She supposed the most she could do was wait a bit. Many men chased her, many more served her. There was no reason to believe Arthur wouldn't be among them, obviously he was still figuring himself out. In the meantime, she simply had to find the exact right method of control and manipulation. She'd have that pretty blonde boy all to herself at some point, in his proper position. She'd make use of his skills and his goals to get to hers as well. That was a satisfying thought... so for now at least could relax a little.

Merlyn found herself pushing past a less than pleasant segue into a more happy conversation. How strange these moments of melancholy were, but at least in current times they could be relatively short lived. She had a laugh at the man as he commented that she was indeed frightening like the men thought. Cador, in good humor even complimented her skills and abilities to see the spirits he'd attached to his two wards, commenting that she likely knew his favorites from that alone. Beyond those points though he claimed to appreciate her discretion in her interaction with him. "Hm, you can't call a girl frightening, Sir Cador~" she chuckled though she had more to say, she always did. "I suppose I do keep my hood up so that I can have normal conversations. By virtue of Arthur, I can assume that those with high morality or some level of magical resistance aren't swayed by my visage alone," she mentioned with a bit of thought. "You have nothing to worry about..." she stated. "But... we could always test that theory if you like... it's been a while since I tossed my hair around~"

[Bloodedge]

'Three days. I've got two left to figure this out, or Merlyn's probably going to have a bad end. Well... maybe? Ugh, I don't know what to even expect,' Arthur thought further. Tomorrow would be an interesting day for the Future King. He'd have the rest of his time awake to consider his options for the immediate future, as well as what would come of the eventual decision. Much care was required in the approach; Arthur wound up considering that he would be improvising for the duration of his stay here.

Merlyn claimed he couldn't call a girl frightening, but never disagreed with being a frightening existence. How laughable. "Can't I? Sorry, there's nothing in the extremely long manual of knighthood that says I shouldn't~" he joked. Merlyn went on to confirm the exact reason she wore her hood, which was much to Cador's expectation. According to the sorceress, he had no reason to fear her visage, considering Arthur's immunity to it. Being less sure, he scoffed to mock her claim. He was a knight, but he wasn't mentally the upstanding citizen Arthur was. Ah, but Merlyn suggested testing her little theory. Such was confirmation that she hadn't been doing anything thus far, but it was still something of a frightening concept. "If it suits you, fine. Go easy on me, at least. I do have a trauma~"

[Apollymi]

All but forgotten was the matter of Merlyn. Perhaps in a couple of days she'd have Arthur prove his desire to serve. At the very least that girl called Merlyn dressed like the other one. If she happened to also look like him, she could get a little revenge by proxy. That was another thought, he wasn't quite ready yet though... but he did claim that the girl wasn't his friend. Maybe that should be part of the new plan.

A chuckle left Merlyn again. "That's ridiculous, of course it's in there. If it's not... I might have to make some minor edits the next time I see it~" the woman joked about making alterations to the Knights Code, if only it would keep people from calling her scary. Of course, she was the first to admit that her own existence was quite enigmatic, and she was definitely frightening. Ah, but that didn't really matter, she enjoyed this conversation a bit more than she'd let on initially. It really was tough waiting for Arthur for so long. According to Cador, he had some traumas but wasn't at all opposed to her testing her theories. He merely asked that she go easy on him. "Alright, I'll make sure to use my serious face~" she mentioned, while pushing back her hood for the first time in quite a while. She did shake loose her silvery white locks. At the same time a single cowlick would pop up seeming to move of its own accord. She'd look towards the man with those strangely magenta colored eyes, and ask a question. "So then, how do you fare?" Soon after she'd follow up a bit quippy. "It'd be nice to know if I have to do this later, that Arthur won't be the only other reliable person in the room~" she mused. All tests done for a reason, even in happy conversation a forward thinking plot, this was Merlyn. That being said, knowing she could have a more normal conversation with someone would be great.

[Bloodedge]

Merlyn spoke of making amendments to the knights' code to include the clause she's previously mentioned. If the code were a physical thing, and if she actually did such a thing, there was a very real chance Cador would never stop laughing. "Do let me know when you get the chance to make the change. Oh! While you're at it, feel free to insert a clause for additional time off." Once more, Cador snickered. If she actually managed that, she'd be a hero. What she'd be in the moments following, though... was something entirely different. Following a joke about using her 'serious face' when readying herself, Merlyn pulled back her hood. Cador hadn't been sure what to expect previously, but he had his answer stretched out over the course of several moments. How did he fare? What a wonderful, terrible question. Aside from the fact that he could feel his own heartbeat, the answer was quite clear. "Sou ka. How disappointing," was his first statement. A few moments of silent appraisal would occur before he offered any clarity. "Enamored? Aroused? I'm feeling quite a few things, frankly. If you were a real prisoner and made an offer right now, I would at least consider opening this cage and joining you. Key word: Consider. Under a different circumstance, forget the last part. I do request that you avoid suggesting any sort of standing commitment, though. That would be very bothersome."

[Apollymi]

"Time off, huh? I suppose making sure Knights are well-rested should fall to someone like me~" she joked once more. Merlyn was full of good humor, for this Knight in particular. But after revealing herself she got a quiet moment of contemplation. It seemed that he was at least affected by her passive abilities. That being said he didn't feel the outright need to act upon them, that was quite good. When he went on to explain fully how he felt a small smile crossed the woman's face. According to him, if she'd been a real prisoner he would have considered an offer she made to have him join her. Considering his earlier offer of his dreams to her, that would likely incline the man to become something of a full course meal. Hm, that would be a rude way to think of someone like that though and he was already shaping up to be her favorite of the Knights collected by Arthur. "Oh? That's pretty embarrassing you know~ First, you'd give your dreams, then yourself... these offers go quite beyond hospitality~" she mentioned. "Still if you aren't immediately moved by my current visage, that says a lot about your will, Sir Cador. And that is something I respect," she said of his general understanding of her person. In response to his lack of desire to anything that would be perceived as a long term commitment she could only agree, though likely for very different reasons. "I can also go with your request... after all commitment is frightening when you're immortal~" she said with the same light-hearted tone she always had. Still perhaps she'd eventually take him up on such an offer, only time would tell. At the very least she wouldn't turn down his company for any period of time he thought to offer it. At the very least she had until his guard duty ended and they could pass the night in comfortable bouts of silence or speech or anything else.

Still eventually even the long winter night would give way to a morning. And Merlyn would pull her hood back up over her head while shooting a playful wink towards Sir Cador. "A day two... this outcome was among my least expected. Do be careful, Sir Cador~" she said in the most sincere tone. "I'll pretend to sleep, so your men don't die of fright.~"

[Bloodedge]

"Exactly! Who better than the sorceress restrained in Zuria's dungeon? I would choose no one else to support knights' rights. Oh... I should patent that," Cador jested. It was after this, that he was subjected to the natural influence of Merlyn's... well, of her existence. She was tantalizing to gaze upon, and that was a generous underestimation of what Cador thought. Interestingly enough, Merlyn continued joking even while Cador suffered being enamored with her visage. "Well, hospitality is about the last thing I'm feeling right now. You'll have to forgive me for going the extra mile," he quipped in response. He was quite glad to have at least some resistance to Merlyn, though. If he couldn't resist, he would have been reduced to trusting the sorceress' desire not to use him as a food source. Though, naturally, the current point of their interaction had him almost freely on offer for such a thing. Perhaps another day, when there wasn't work to be done. He could take comfort in the fact that Merlyn shared his lack of desire to commit, even if their reasons were as different as night and day.

And so, their conversation dulled to a halt. The night was old, and would eventually be over. Into the next day, Merlyn had a few parting words to share with her self-appointed guard. It seemed nothing had become of Arthur overnight, or Cador would have been alerted by either Merlyn, or someone else involved in the castle. He would indeed approach whatever lay before him with care, but first, he would bow to the hooded woman once more. "I'll take my leave, then. It's been an honor conversing with you, Merlyn. I'll be in touch, whether awake or asleep."

Meanwhile, the throne room today was actually graced by the presence of a male. King Leorio, a thin male with orange hair kept styled in a ponytail, seemed to be in high spirits this day. He sat upon his throne with a wide, toothy grin, and a twinkle present within emerald eyes. The smugness of the young king was enough to fill the throne room's entire entry hall, and yet... he had personally accomplished nothing. Indeed, dreaming of his future as a monarch in other lands, his current queen in addition to a full harem of women, were more than enough to start his day magnificently. He even had the thought of addressing the servants today, though not with anything respectable to those who were 'in the know' so to speak. "Ah, a bright day it is! Where is that gorgeous, stunning queen of mine? I long for a look at her precious face~"

[Apollymi]

"Restrained is a strong word~ Though, Knights' Rights seems like exactly the sort of thing I should be working towards..." she jested along with him. Apparently over the course of the night they'd conversed quite a bit, enough that Sir Cador even mentioned that he was feeling beyond the level of hospitality that he'd previously mentioned. "Oh? So quippy, that does make me wonder~" Merlyn's own thoughts trailed off. With Cador in such a state, she wondered what he would be like without the stress of this current situation nor the salt and guilt implied by his previous one. Regardless by the time of their parting with her words that he exercise care, the knight claimed he would do so, while also bowing to her once ore and making the claim that he'd been honored by their conversation. A gentle upturn of Merlyn's lips came with a slightly more teasing tone than before, "Oh, bowing to a prisoner, Sir Cador... I didn't think that was in the knight's code anywhere~" she couldn't help this of course, she needed not this sort of acknowledgement.

Ah, but as such a cordial and surprisingly wholesome evening came to an end between Merlyn and Cador, a different kind of day was beginning in the throne room. The words of King Leorio carried through the area and many servants just scuttled on by, there was no need to answer him. Kolin was making her way into the throne room after an arduous night pacing her own room. After all, it was no easy task, trying to figure out the best way to manipulate Arthur and further tie him to her. In her furthered thinking she was also forced to consider more ways to get rid of Leorio as after having touched Arthur she knew explicitly that she had no interest long term in coming in even feigning a serious relationship with Leorio. Still at least he knew how to flatter a girl, if he even remotely lived up to any of the hype his personality granted perhaps she'd not be in such a bad mood all the time. "Hoh? Should I assume you slept well...I'm glad someone did. Does that mean you woke up so early just to shower me with compliments?" she asked taking her seat in her throne as if she was unbothered by everything. Such a greeting wasn't necessarily warm but she wasn't exactly known for being kind to this lad in the first place.

[Bloodedge]

Again, the knights' code made its way into their conversation. Merlyn was right; there was nothing in said code which spoke of bowing to a prisoner. Alas, that didn't particularly matter. As with most things as Cador understood, everything had its requirements... and just as many loopholes. As such, he rose from his bow with a cheeky smirk and wink aimed at the sorceress. "You are correct─ it appears nowhere in the code. Nor is there part of the code which frowns upon it. Until next time, Merlyn~" he said prior to turning on his heel. He would depart from Merlyn without further ado, provided she required nothing else of him. After all, though she was a prisoner, he was not ordered to treat her harshly.

Leorio didn't have to wait for very long at all. His queen was already en route to the throne room. His existing grin only widened as he watched her approach, relishing in every step she took. Magnificent! Upon her entry, he rose from his own throne. The queen's seating would be accompanied by... the king taking a knee next to her. "Of course, my darling! Another day at your side is just what was needed to make the sun shine brighter in this dreary, frozen land whether I slept well or not! Was your night not pleasant, my queen? I can easily take your woes away, if you would only allow it~" he rambled incessantly. Without so much as an ounce of shame, Leorio aimed to make use of his kneeling position right away. He would reach out with every intention of stripping the queen of her shoes. Yes, it seemed the king that had not even been enchanted by this manipulative woman was still smitten enough to rub her feet in the middle of the throne room. There was no saving some poor souls, as Arthur would think when encroaching upon the throne room during Leorio's attempt. Perhaps, though, he wasn't even thinking of the king at all. . .

[Apollymi]

Upon his exit, Sir Cador had a cheeky smile and wink for Merlyn along with yet another quippy reply to her last statement. She needed nothing else from him, but still such a thing brought a genuine smile to the lass' face beneath her hood. Sir Cador really was shaping up to be her favorite Knight. She'd leave him to his duties while she pretended to sleep. All the while she continued to search the dreams and day dreams of the surrounding populace to continue on with her plans. She'd considered recently, having a peek in to see if Arthur was sleeping and to sneak a quiet conversation with the lad, but thought better of it. Following Sir Cador's advice she'd try properly at hands-off guidance for the day and see what kind of conclusion the lad came to for himself about the woman currently known as Kolin.

At the same time, there was a spectacle beginning within the throne room. Since Kolin had taken her throne and expressed the slightest displeasure at how her night had gone, Leorio had taken it upon himself to try to please her. Though she'd not told him to do even the slightest thing. Perhaps he thought this pleasing to her in some way. Surely, he'd be given reason to believe this was something he should do... Alas Kolin managed only basic apathy towards such a thing. As he knelt before her throne to begin undoing her shoes she had little to say to the lad. "I suppose if such things amuse you. I'll be nice and allow you this treat..." she mentioned coldly. She make no moves to stop his behavior but even sitting like this she'd also do nothing to assist him. Instead, she simply went about her daily duties while he did this to himself. Never once did she even bother to look down at the lad below her. It was as if he was furniture within his own kingdom. Just an extra thing right in front of her. Still such attention was technically exactly what she sought. Full of compliments and subservient behavior from whatever man was present. Still, Leorio was far from ideal in more ways than one, yes... she'd definitely be getting rid of him rather soon. She might as well let him enjoy the last few moments he'd have with her. It was a kindness after all... A twisted grin crossed her face as she realized she was being nice in the moment, what a benevolent woman she was, to allow this boy the happiness of serving her.

[Bloodedge]

In fact, this allowance from Kolin was beyond amusing for the likes of Leorio. She did not stop him from putting forth the effort of removing her shoes, and that meant he could properly access her feet. It meant he could touch them, rub them... worship them in ways that should have been demeaning for a king. That, he would do with a smile on his face. In mere moments, as if practiced, Leorio had the queen's shoe removed, and a singular foot in both of his hands. "Ah, my generous queen~" the young man said as he went to work. He'd kiss the top repeatedly while he rubbed away. If uninterrupted, a few additional moments would see those marvelous toes of his queen... within his mouth? Yes, indeed; there was even less shame in King Leorio than one would think from his earlier showcase. He didn't even seem to care that he'd been reduced to a mere object; it was almost like Kolin was paying attention to him. Maybe, just maybe, he would even be rewarded for his services at a later time!

From a safe distance, Arthur witnessed this development. He'd seen a great many things in his day, but this was something worth gagging over. 'That clears things up. Full subservience, huh?' he thought. There was a glimmer of understanding in his eye; he had a better idea for an approach now. Hopefully, this one would work better than what he'd done the previous night. Into the throne room he walked, choosing to be silent until addressed by the queen. During his approached, his eyes were locked onto Kolin and Kolin alone. By the time Arthur reached the stairs leading to the two thrones, he collapsed onto one knee, lowering his head and crossing an arm over his chest. This, he thought, was the beginning of his ideal approach. Queen Kolin demanded subservience? He'd play the well-practiced role of a guard dog. Others could acknowledge him at the time, but in choosing to deal with these matters like his job in the other world, he hadn't an ear to spare anyone but his singular target.

[Apollymi]

Still Kolin was rather unbothered. Even as kisses were placed upon her exposed feet and they were rubbed fairly consistently. She seemed beyond bored by the act though, even as her toes found their way into a the waiting warm and wet mouth of the lad on the floor. He really did enjoy using his mouth for so many random activities. She might have found such a thing entertaining if the lad had anything resembling a manly aura. Leorio was the most subservient man she'd ever met. Even without having to do anything for him he was always so eager to please. For one who wanted to be pleased it was ideal, but she never really paid him any mind and still he was like this. No there were many more interesting things which required her attention. For instance, the coming of Arthur her failed conquest of the previous night.

Had he learned his lesson? Well she'd soon find out. She watched him for a few seconds as he made his approach but she said nothing to him. No she was busy and matters of state came first and foremost for the Queen Kolin. Still what would he do when being ignored in such a way. Oh? 'Lowered head, bent knee... patiently waiting?' she questioned these actions mentally but would leave him like that for several moments until she was finished with whatever matter she was currently taking care of. Hell, she'd take care of another thing before she diverted her attention for more than a glance. All the while she paid Arthur more attention than she would ever be bothered to pay the lad on the floor. Should she reward this behavior so early? She sort of wanted to, if only because of her own preferences. "I see you've done some reflecting, Arthur. You may rise... and stand watch while I finish these matters," she commented with the same lax attitude she'd been showing all morning. She would soon see exactly what role the lad had decided upon in the next few moments, but whatever else she would do, she planned to continue this cold treatment until she was satisfied that he'd completely learned his lesson. After all, it was best to get such discipline out of the way early, it would make it much easier to keep him long term.

[Bloodedge]

No glance was spared, and no reaction came from his efforts. Even so, Leorio continued in earnest. Each time Kolin's toes made their way into his agape maw, the increase to his salivation allowed him to use his mouth's moisture as a makeshift form of massage oil. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, even as if the queen's bare foot was something he found more delectable than the finest chef's signature dish. At every removal from his mouth, Kolin's moisturized foot was caressed by heated pants of Leorio. In the meantime, one of his hands abandoned her foot to begin rubbing its way up the back of her lower leg. . .

Arthur's silence continued. Kolin paid him no mind while she handled the comers and goers of the throne room, but he knew better than that. That night, she had spoken of his 'apology' for his behavior. Given her domineering personality, he suspected there was no verbal form of apology that would even remotely suffice. She needed something far greater. She required a physical showing. As such, after receiving such a thing, she eventually decided to address him. He could stand? Oh, how incredibly generous. "If it pleases the queen," was all he said in response. With that, Arthur rose from the floor. As if he were some battered hound or beaten child, he never made eye contact with the woman. This, too, was part of the plan.

[Apollymi]

The amount Leorio was enjoying himself was almost criminal by most accounts. People like Guin and Emilia avoided the throne room while Leorio was awake because of his known antics. His displays of subservience were gross to onlookers. None had any respect to give the supposed King of Zuria. As such it was easy for all business matters to run through Kolin. What was more, she'd not had to do anything to the lad to get him to behave in such a way. Even as his heated breaths graced her feet and his hands moved up her leg, she barely cared enough to do anything about the boy's actions. No, there was someone worth way more of her attention than the boy at her feet. Right at the moment, Arthur was behaving like a properly admonished puppy. No eye contact and speaking with the sort of tone she preferred in general. 'Guard dog seems sort of fitting for one like him. I did have that attack dog before... that was pretty fun as well,' she mused pleased by her own thoughts. "It does please me. Take your post..." she said seeming to have been placated by his current level of deference. How nice... this was exactly the sort of thing she wanted out of any man, if he behaved himself while she finished working she'd find time to use him. This throne room was full of people coming and going, each with news to be delivered. Most of the messages weren't entirely clear but some made little sense. Farming was discussed, and land development. Annexing of better lands, acquisition of buildings. How strange in an established kingdom trapped in the wintery climate these sorts of transactions were hardly necessary. But it was quite true, these weren't for the immediate area. She was pleased to continue spending the funding of this kingdom on her little pet project. And by the end of the day she'd be almost to the point she needed. Perhaps a single extra day in this horrid kingdom and she'd be able to leave it behind with Leorio to deal with the backlash.

[Bloodedge]

Kolin was pleased, according to the woman herself. Good; his plan was working. Being told to take his post, he crossed his arm over his chest to bow once more. This bow was momentary, and immediately followed by Arthur ascending just a few steps before turning to face those who entered the throne room. Though he still didn't seek eye contact with the queen, he did have a chance to glance at Leorio through the corner of his eye. He was truly disgusted. That orange-haired man was having such a grand time offering his services to a woman who clearly didn't even care for his existence. Even just the previous night, that same woman seemed ready to offer herself to a newcomer. Even so, the King of Zuria sucked upon that woman's feet, rubbed her sole and calf, and soon had a tongue trailing up her shin as well. At the very least, Leorio licking a line up Kolin's leg was better than... what he'd been doing before of his own volition. Though, it did seem Leorio was continuously trying to place himself higher and higher. How far did he intend to go?

There was an interesting skill Arthur had from his previous life, which would begin to show itself while Kolin handled matters of state. He was rather adept at picking up on the inappropriately-placed segments of clauses presented by ne'er-do-wells. The things she discussed with the people of Zuria... so few of them made sense. Even in a world as outlandish as this one, it was very unreasonable to think of farmers and the like having business here, aside from trade. Acquiring buildings and land was a standard, but these topics together sounded more like a setup for a siege... or even relocation. Nevertheless, it was his place to question nothing. Arthur was to play the part of the good servant, the silent knight simply awaiting orders or something of the sort.

[Apollymi]

Extra bowing?! This lad was earning himself several points, he had no idea she had going within her mind. To be honest, she'd been a bit distraught that the previous night hadn't worked out according to her plans. But if he could behave so nicely when feeling apologetic, she could obviously use him to a greater extent now. All the while, Leorio seemed to be trying to make his way higher and higher up her body. This was always his way after all, such groveling for attention. If he happened to reach her thigh with his nonsense she'd give him a none to gentle kick back down to the appropriate level. She couldn't well afford his antics in such a way right now. There were more important players present than him. Ah, oh well, she'd offered him more than his fair share of happiness so long as he stayed to that, she'd not be bothered by his continued attention. 'Ugh, I like groveling as much as the next girl. But at this point with my sights set so much higher its practically annoying,' she thought in the most absent way possible. More people came through and with even stranger requests. One person in particular spoke of finding some exotic creature, with white hair and pointed ears, not common on the continent for something or another. They spoke to the queen as if she'd promised them this and they still hadn't received the goods. "That situation didn't pan out properly. It's only a minor delay you can expect those goods along with at least one extra in the closing offer. You'll have to be careful though, I doubt they'll be easily tamed."

[Bloodedge]

Leorio did, in fact, continue to move his way upward. His tongue managed to reach the queen's exposed thigh just before he was literally knocked into a lower position. It was painful, yet satisfying... and so, so worth the reward. When he sat up again, he seemed almost unbothered while licking the sole of the foot which kicked him. It was almost like this was something exciting for Leorio, as if the pain delivered in Kolin's response was an expression of endearment. It surely wasn't, but his twisted mind said otherwise. She would have to do much more to dissuade him, as most things she did were simply additional treats to the clearly perverse king.

Arthur remained silently attentive. The matters being discussed were odd, but of no concern to him for the most part. That is, until one specific topic caught his ear. An indifferent expression was maintained by Arthur all the while, but the discussion Kolin had with this most recent guest was disturbing. Finally, he had an idea about the bounty which brought them here. Those poachers he 'arrested' were making use of the young Emilia, who clearly had a connection to the castle. Kolin's general demeanor would imply a desire to execute those who slighted her directly, and even leaders of her type tended to consider their servants in such a way. Those men, though, were simply arrested. So then, was it Kolin who sent those men? It seemed so from what Arthur could take from context clues. Perhaps then, the extra she spoke of... was the sorceress, Merlyn. Regardless, Arthur wondered what she may have been offered in exchange for an elf from her kingdom. . .

[Apollymi]

Leorio was kicked, but just like always when he received any form of attention he simply became happier about it. He even went so far as to lick the foot that had so recently injured him. Still Kolin barely registered his efforts, she was more concerned about Arthur and her apparent arrangement with someone to have them acquire some creature from her Kingdom. Along with those statements came a question of how many to prepare for, Kolin thought about it briefly. "At least 2 maybe 3, it's hard to say right now..." Queen Kolin mentioned. A bow occurred at the number mentioned and the random person disappeared from sight. It would appear that such things were fine and normal maybe. Too bad for Arthur things were always just as bad. Though Kolin acknowledged herself as the most beautiful person who was deserving of worship. She thought of literally everyone as as a means to her ends. In this case, all the female members who were in this Kingdom presently could be sent to her little pet project to fulfill the needs of the clientele. She didn't think any of them would potentially draw as much attention as she would when she arrived, but making sure people spent money and were spending money within her personal Kingdom was her top priority. After all, she had to ascend, if a few extras had to go into a life where they used their bodies to get there as well, it was hardly worth the extra consideration.

Besides all of that both of those girls had earned her ire long ago. Those angry eyes of Guin's never went unnoticed and Emilia was far too precious a resource to allow her to be protected constantly by Cador. Besides, she didn't like the idea that Cador cared more for those two young girls than he did for her. Yes, he was quite the Knight and a good servant. And yes, she'd been responsible for the fall of his Kingdom under a different name as his Queen. That changed nothing about the attention and care those two received that belonged to her instead. As for the third, she considered freeing Merlyn and tipping off someone to her whereabouts. It wasn't as if she assumed the lass had any real prowess, as such she was likely just going to end up a place like that anyways, look how badly her adventure with Arthur had gone. The lad distrusted her so much, he ran into the arms of a complete stranger. Granted, she was a great stranger to run into but... still it didn't bode well for that woman's future as an advisor to anyone. Besides, the name she bore garnered hate in Kolin, she couldn't allow her to stick around and potentially poison Arthur against her. No, it was definitely better that she be made useful to Kolin's cause.

[Bloodedge]

No matter how long Arthur stood at attention, his mental workings led to little progress in his overall plan, if any. Every time he thought he was making headway, there was another thing to consider. Now... there was the chance of Queen Kolin treating her servants and prisoners as cattle for something. Arthur had no proof of this, and couldn't act just yet. Ah, but he still had two days. Perhaps he could manage a meeting with Guin later to acquire some answers.

Soon enough, Kolin's most recent discussion reached its end. Two of her knights arrived in the throne room. The first of them was, at last, Cador himself. The Spirit Knight had finally managed to assign other guards to Merlyn's cell, but even the difficulty he had with that did not make him the final arrival. While Cador bowed in preparation to take his position, another knight who looked surprisingly like an older, more well-put together version of Leorio, sauntered into the throne room. This male with slightly redder hair than the lookalike king, bowed to the queen while visually showing disgust at the king's antics. All the while, Cador was speaking to offer Kolin an update of sorts. "Your grace. The sorceress remains bound in the dungeons. Twenty men have been assigned to her guard, though convincing them took some effort. My apologies for tardiness," he spoke. The other knight standing beside Cador, oddly enough, had nothing to say regarding his own lateness to court. No, it seemed he was far too busy being repulsed by the king who... once again, seemed to be getting a bit too friendly. Most disgusting of all, this man could see what was happening to the young king. There was no discretion applied even to his positioning, as his legs were parted for the space between to be quite visible. A bulge was present in the groin area of the king's pants... if it could be called as such. Perhaps there was something in his pocket? One such as this new knight could only wonder how he managed to be king to such a queen.

[Apollymi]

Oh, how the day was changing. Strangely, the still active boy at her feet still garnered no extra attention. Instead it would be the approach of two of her knights which made Kolin address them next. How itneresting. Cador in his usual manner decided to address the business at hand. He was always like this, she'd not bothered trying to bed him since coming here, knowing that the man would likely recognize her as his former Queen if she did. Even so, he had a certain amount of reliability she'd yet to find in the same quantity elsewhere. The news he bore along with the apology for his tardiness was quite annoying. But in this case she technically had no one to blame but herself. Sorcery was quite problematic in this area, and those without proper magic resistance were taught to fear it from a young age. Many knights only had physical skills so most would likely be fearful around Merlyn regardless. Cador at least had the resistance that meant that regardless of Merlyn's skills she didn't have to worry about it. Besides, Cador was truly a good man, he didn't have treachery within him. "Twenty men? For one lonely girl, that's pitiful. She's not even proven to have any frightening magics, but I suppose I can only expect so much from them. I assume you saw to her guard overnight. At least someone around here is useful," she said offering an exasperated sigh. "I suppose it is only kind I forgive your tardiness. Don't make a habit of it~" she stated, pleased by her own generosity in these moments. "You can take your post Cador..." she mentioned without much else offered the man.

With Cador given his orders for the day, she went back to the red haired man who was still bowing before her. She stared at him absently wondering what he'd have to say for himself. "And you Lot?" she asked of him. It seemed the castle duties were winding up pretty swiftly. Perhaps she'd retire for a while and do something. She needed to take her mind off the lad at her feet, but also to finish punishing Arthur for his bad behavior. Obviously so long as he understood his place they would have no problems but... first and foremost he needed to know he was replaceable in as many aspects as possible. If he didn't feel too secure he'd make sure to behave. That was the idea anyways.

[Bloodedge]

True enough, assigning twenty men to a single sorceress was pitiful. For all of Kolin's pomposity and ability to manipulate, she kept the most lackluster, ragtag bunch of servants he'd ever had the displeasure of working with. No matter. According to Kolin, Cador's self-appointed duty for the previous night made him useful. "Your flattery knows no bounds, my queen~" he stated while seeming to be in good spirits. This was far from Cador's first rodeo, in a manner of speaking. Kolin's ways were easily dealt with by the likes of him, so he'd wear that false smile with gusto as he ascended the stairs to the queen's right.

The other knight, apparently named Lot, was addressed next. When spoken to, his gaze lifted toward the king once more. What did he have to say for himself? Well if nothing else, Lot was quite the snarky servant. He hadn't a single cross word to say regarding Queen Kolin, but as for King Leorio... "Begging your forgiveness, my liege. I was checking our fearless king's chambers, inch by inch to ensure he didn't wet himself in anticipation of seeing you today," he snipped. Interestingly enough, this warranted an immediate bark of a response from the king himself. "Be silent, cur! Save your jealous ramblings for your lonely days, and be lucky I am tending to my queen instead of dealing with you~" said Leorio, barely managing to even fully remove Kolin's foot from his mouth long enough to speak.

[Apollymi]

Cador was really the best knight she had access to, it was almost a shame she couldn't keep him properly. He even knew how to answer her summons and accept her praise. She could only hope that such information was being passed on to her newest charge. Whatever the case, something of a light argument broke out between this pair of individuals who obviously knew each other. As Lot gave information of his morning which detailed in a rather snarky manner why he was late. An amused chuckle slipped past Kolin's lips, it was obvious that Leorio was way too pleased to see her this morning. Even, as a joke such behavior from Lot would technically be acceptable. Though she knew well the red haired man was simply speaking in such a manner because it upset the King. But as Kolin was amused any person normal to the court would know that nothing would happen if she didn't wish it to. Funnier still was Leorio's reaction to such teasing. It seemed he was content to tend Kolin and not do anything about the word spoken to him. Of course Kolin was fairly certain he wouldn't have done anything himself... still it was funny to think the lad thought himself threatening while he literally had a foot in his mouth. Another giggle escaped the blonde as she considered this. "Well, that does seem as good a reason as any. Do avoid being tardy though, Lot. I won't always be amused by such answers..." Kolin was apparently in a much better mood over the last few moments.

[Bloodedge]

What a shame. If Kolin hadn't been such a detestable woman, Cador would have willingly served as her knight until the end of his days. He had little else going by way of a purpose, so serving as a knight was about as satisfied as he could be in this world now. Others seemed to either be ignorant of Kolin's ways, or accepting of them. One such example was Lot, who spoke in a snarky tone toward the king, knowing Kolin would only be amused by it all. In the queen's own words though, she would not always find the humor in such answers. "Not always amused by the dog-king? Shame; that's most of my material for entertaining you. Understood. Guess I'll workshop something else," he said, apparently content to continue jabbing at King Leorio. Of course, the king took exception to this as well. . .

There was something Arthur took special note of. None of these knights made even a single movement until the queen spoke. Even this redhead did not move to his post, as he'd yet to be told. How extreme, and yet... what useful information for Arthur. He would interestingly have use of the knowledge immediately, all because of Leorio's next outburst. "I've had enough of you!" the king spoke. His tongue lashed out betwixt the toes of Kolin, and his eyes traveled from one knight to another. Arthur happened to be his selection. "You there, the new one! Teach Lot a lesson immediately," he ordered. Arthur wouldn't have expected such a thing to come so quickly, but it was already time to apply new knowledge. Never did he acknowledge Leorio's orders, instead deferring to Kolin. "My queen?"

[Apollymi]

The follow up from Lot made Kolin chuckle once more. Of course, she wasn't always amused by the dog-king. His existence was one thing, but she felt her Knights shouldn't become to reliant upon their ability to tease him and amuse her, especially seeing as she planned to get rid of him at her earliest convenience. Still she hadn't given Lot the order to go to his post, and as such, she was left to deal with a potential tantrum from Leorio, who apparently didn't like being the but of his look-a-like's jokes. Still, Kolin herself found it rather amusing that he would continue to work on material to keep her entertained, such was her nature.

Leorio tried to order about Arthur, and Kolin wasn't left wondering long what Arthur would do in response to this outburst. Arthur immediately deferred to Kolin herself. Kolin's eyes widened and that amused grin crossed her face once again. This was exactly the right thing to do. After all, Leorio obviously wasn't in charge here, she was. And for his outburst he got another swift kick instead of anything resembling praise. "Even Arthur knows, that orders only come from me~" she said, though this was for Leorio the kick did the same thing only speaking to indirectly praise Arthur's newfound understanding of his situation. "There is no need Arthur. Remain at your post," she said but there was a light of amusement in her person. At the same time her attention returned to Lot. "Take your post Lot. I'm amused enough for now~" she mentioned. In a moment like this, she felt exceedingly pleased. It was obvious by this set up of men around her, who actually had a harem worth anything... the misguided boy in the floor was hardly more than furniture around a group of men. Especially when Kolin herself barely found his existence worth acknowledging.

[Bloodedge]

Leorio's outburst would not be tolerated. Kicked again, the king stumbled back and appeared winded. Even so, the little 'tent' he was pitching in his breeches featured a rather prominent wet spot at the tip of it. What it was, may have been in question. Perhaps he'd wet himself a bit, or perhaps... he'd been enjoying himself far too much. Regardless, he was soon on both knees silently addressing that foot again.

There were so many problems in this castle, Arthur hardly knew how the kingdom still stood. Nevertheless, Queen Kolin ordered the knight to remain at his post. He bowed. "As you wish." Meanwhile, Lot returned to a state of disgust. That bastard king truly thought he was in a position higher than any other man in Zuria, when in fact, the very woman he serviced clearly saw him as nothing more than an annoyance. He was the scum of this world in the eyes of many, and Lot was no exception. "If the king requires reminding of his position, Your Grace, I freely offer myself to the cause," Lot said in the most casual manner, before ultimately stepping toward his post just under Cador's, albeit on the queen's opposite side.

[Apollymi]

Whatever the case Leorio went back to work licking her feet, and Kolin didn't care so long as he avoided over stepping himself. The lad did need a punishment though and a little grin appeared on her face when Lot after taking his place decided to offer himself freely to help with the punishment of Leorio. "Oh? Well, I can't say that isn't a good idea..." she said taking on a semblance of concentration. Looking out at the throne room all the comers and goers had cleared out... and it was about lunch time, her daily break was more than overdue. She'd done enough work and she still needed to figure out how she was going to get those products where they needed to be for movement. The idea of squeezing in a bit of relaxation while she continued to punish Leorio for his outburst while making sure Arthur understood his place was a better use of her time. "That idea pleases me," she said giving one more kick to Leorio. "You take him and go to the King's chambers. I'll be along shortly..." she said as if she expected that order to be followed without much question. She'd continue to sit for a moment for two longer considering what to do with her other two knights while she amused herself with Leorio's punishment.

Ah, now that was done there was a little left to be done. Cador was her best Knight, she'd have him look after Arthur and then she could check in on him later to see if he'd properly figured out how to behave in her presence. "Cador, you'll see that Arthur knows and understands his duties. Then... have a nap. I can't have you showing the weakness of sleeplessness in front of the sorceress. They are crafty~" she said and with that she'd stand and head off towards the King's chambers for the punishment of the King and her own peace of mind. She felt highly generous after giving out these orders, everyone could be happy and learn that good behavior and pleasing her was rewarded and that displeasing her would end in punishments of various severity.

[Bloodedge]

Lot's suggestion was something the queen took into consideration, all while stamping Leorio into his physical place once more. With the acceptance of the idea, came an order to drag Leorio into his own bedroom. Since it was ordered by the queen, even Leorio would not resist as Lot snatched him by the collar and began dragging him away. "Your kindness knows no bounds, my queen. I will relish the opportunity~" Lot spoke, proceeding to bow prior to pulling the pitiful king out of the throne room. Not a single stop would be made en route to Leorio's chambers, where Lot would not hesitate to begin removing his armor.

Still at court, Kolin had orders for Cador. What she offered him was the perfect opportunity; he needed access to Arthur, and it was clear Kolin would be quite occupied for a time. Prying eyes and ears would be scarce, and to top it all off, one of the queen's orders gave him access to Merlyn. With an honest smile, he kneeled before the queen. "Rest assured, your Grace, that your newest knight will be the most upstanding servant you could ever wish for. It will be done quickly enough to ensure my best ability to function, as well," he announced. Oh, what an interesting day this was going to be for multiple inhabitants of Zuria's castle. . .

[Apollymi]

The men in her life answered Kolin just the way she wanted to be answered. Cador even took knee as he left claiming he wouldn't let himself be put in a position to not function at his highest ability. What good boys she had. In fact, if she simply got rid of Leorio and the girls at her earliest convenience one could say she'd be living her happiest life. With this thought in mind, she practically skipped off to Leorio's bed chambers ready to have him learn his lesson once more before the end. "I'll leave you to it then~" and with that she disappeared into the depths of the castle. Upon reaching the King's Chambers she closed the door behind her and went on to watch Lot undress. Of the Knights she currently had access to, he was among her favorites. And as such she'd stand for a few moments before taking a careless seat at the edge of Leorio's bed.

Meanwhile, Guin and Emilia upon noticing the coming of Lot and Leorio did what any sensible young women would do, and made them selves scarce. Knowing what such things meant for the castle, both would while keeping their heads down make their way through lesser used passages and head to the other side of the castle crossing through the throne room while sharing a quick glance but no words. No... they'd have to get much farther away from this unfolding scene before either would feel comfortable sharing words with the other. Still, if such things were taking place at this hour, they at least knew they had little to worry about as far as Kolin's temperament was concerned.

[Bloodedge]

Finally, there was time. Cador watched the queen for every step of her departure, and continued watching through the lingering eyes of quasi spirits even after she was gone. He had to be sure she wasn't privy to his chat with Arthur, so he didn't speak a word until Kolin entered the king's chambers. "She's gone. We can talk now," he said to the other male. "I spoke with Merlyn overnight. Are you going to be doing something about Kolin?" he questioned without further hesitation. Arthur seemed surprised to be asked such a thing, but he was already certain something had to be done about that woman. "Yes. I was prepared to do something about her last night. That is, until she climbed into my bed and kept me from being able to reach a blade," Arthur explained.

"Really? The knife under the mattress trick? That's never going to work on Kolin," said Cador. "Well I hope your night was pleasurable, at least... though her attitude towards you today says you rubbed her the wrong way. That happens. What keeps you from taking the offensive?" he asked further. The answer was all but clear. Cador had his own reason for not attacking the queen at the first opportunity, but he wondered what kept Arthur from doing so. "I needed to be sure. I needed my own information about what's going on. Besides, I doubt it would be a good idea to make enemies of the whole kingdom while I'm here." The answer he gave was deemed acceptable by the purple-haired knight. Even though the knights of Zuria were few, they were strong. Even Cador didn't wish to do battle against Kolin and her servants all at once. So, Arthur was taking the safer path? He certainly wasn't doing a very good job at it. "Well, you have today and tomorrow to make a move. I will be ready to assist you when the time comes, but be wary. Kolin is craftier than she appears, and her resolve is like no other. You apparently fit her type, and if she's chosen you as her newest pet... you'll have to act the part. Truly... act the part. Never question Kolin. Do not simply do as she says, but go above and beyond. Make her swoon with how absolutely dedicated you are to making her happy, and you will earn her good graces. She'll probably wind up taking advantage of you then, but if that happens, be ready next time."

While Cador shared his knowledge of Kolin with Arthur, Kolin herself was entering the king's bedroom... where Lot, who happened to be the king's own brother even in the other world, continued to disrobe in sight of the king. Now, the queen's eyes were upon him as well, though there was no hostility coming from her. As Kolin seated herself, Lot took a few measured steps toward the bed. He stood before the queen as if to put on a show of his clothing removal. An open tunic slid off his shoulders as he flexed, allowing grandiose movements of his arms to accentuate his chiseled form. Leorio was visibly upset, and it only made Lot move with more purpose when unfastening his belt... quite slowly. "I will make the most of this wonderful opportunity, my queen. How shall I serve you today?" he asked as leather slipped past an iron buckle, granting a bit of slack to his trousers.

[Apollymi]

While Arthur spoke to Cador, Emilia and Guin spoke in hushed whispers as they made their way from one end of the castle to the other. "That woman Merlyn bought us a bit of time, but we don't have much left. We have to tell Cador what she intends... or the next random thing she sends us out to get her we won't come back from," mentioned Emilia. She too used the spirits to make sure they weren't being eavesdropped upon as quick and speedy steps could have meant anything from an order to simply preparing lunch. "Yes, we really should thank her. She made herself a prime target, but her doing so has kept us out of that woman's direct sight. Though... that isn't going to do either of us much good nor her," stated Guin. "I still don't think I should just flee, only those knights loyal to her are problematic. And to be honest, whatever she has brewing in the east is a danger to us all, we can feel it." Guin mentioned, as she hugged her little doll closer. According to general consensus there was nothing to the east the this kingdom but a vast desert with few oases. As such it was being assumed by many that those who left simply died on the promise to getting something new. But... because of the way Kolin operated everyone feared the worst. She did specialty shopping for the castle and thus was frequently within town, she'd seen too many people both men, women and children leave only to never come back. She had her own reasons of course for doing such jobs but, those were her secrets alone. Their hushed whispers came to a close as they walked into the throne room to find Cador and Arthur. They both looked to Cador as if willing him to understand their current level of panic. Neither was exceedingly fearful but both wanted nothing to do with whatever was actually going on which they still didn't have the details of.

While the forming resistance started properly conversing, Kolin was sitting upon the king's bed. She watched Leorio glower as he usually did at his brother, while the more fit of the pair put on quite the show of removing his own garments for the Queen's viewing pleasure. Just like always he seemed to have only his sights set on pleasing the queen and she watched as his belt buckle came undone and managed to chuckle just a tad, "Oh? Well I do love that attitude of yours Lot. Obviously someone needs to remember how things work around here so..." she gave pause looking over Lot and considering what she wanted of him. All men looked better beneath her and beyond that this one in particular had his own talents. She got a strange sadistic pleasure from making the young king watched as she actually enjoyed the favors done to her by others. And quite beyond that found it amusing that even while he was obviously far from her list of cares, he still seemed to eager to try and please. "Why don't you show him how a real man uses his tongue to pleasure his Queen. And when I am satisfied... I'll reward you for your service~" the Queen chimed as she opened her legs and waited for the man to take his position between her legs. "And you... make sure you watch and learn something this time. And if you learn your lesson I might allow you a treat."

[Bloodedge]

"So then, what if I─" Arthur was mid-sentence when the pair of women, Emilia and Guinevere, rushed into the throne room. He fell silent immediately, and Cador set his gaze upon the two white-haired lasses. They both seemed so frightened, and it was clear that even Arthur could tell by their entry. Cador extended a calming hand, a simple gesture toward the women, as he spoke. "It's fine. We're all in league here; calm yourselves," he insisted. Over time, he'd explained enough that Arthur could... perhaps even be trusted to complete his task before time was up. By the looks of these two, though, there was something else afoot. "Guin? Emilia? What's got you two so worked up?" he asked while Arthur kept an open ear as well. Whatever this was, it was sure to be more useful information regarding Kolin. Arthur doubted anything else in this run-down kingdom could be so urgent.

A compliment to his attitude did wonders for Lot's motivation. If Kolin enjoyed it so thoroughly, he would keep it coming. Besides... it came with the bonus of his brother's ire and shame, and such benefits could never be underestimated. When asked what he was to do, Lot knew there was one answer more likely than all others. That answer came after brief consideration, and Lot bowed with a grin. "H'oh? Your wish is my command, my queen~" he said without hesitation. Quite sure this was not something his brother was even allowed, Lot lowered himself onto his knees. He set his gaze on the space between Kolin's legs, and there he found... "Nothing?" He questioned this sight, but in a manner that implied excitement. He would assume the queen rose this day with the intention of having a rather special meeting with someone, and it seemed he was to be the one. Leorio had the strange pleasure of watching as his older brother and first official knight dove face-first into the undercarriage of the wife he'd yet to properly touch. Lot didn't spare a single ounce of restraint, either. Burying himself betwixt the queen's plump thighs, he whiffed the scent of her womanhood with the deepest of inhales. He kissed her sex directly, he spread the lips with his fingers... he even ran his tongue down and up her inner thigh before delving into the moisture of her nether. He refused to be silent, sighing and moaning against the woman's body throughout these motions... all while Leorio pitched a small tent, and looked on as if transfixed by the occurrence before him. The young king was quite twisted indeed; a large part of him thoroughly enjoyed seeing this. One day, it would finally be his turn to bed his queen; it would all be his once her goals were met. That was... the plan, at least. . .

[Apollymi]

Cador knew that the two were out of sorts. He claimed they should calm themselves and that they were all in league together so they could relax a bit. They could speak freely in the company of these two people. Both of them were simultaneously relieved but also still quite anxious. "Whatever she has going on past the impassible desert, she plans on having us kidnapped and taken there. I am supposed to already be gone..." mentioned Emilia who seemed the most capable of speaking initially. "Everyone whose disappeared from the kingdom hasn't returned, and there are people constantly watching us. I see them and their ill-intent... they are waiting for us to be alone somewhere. And the queen keeps making them promises," said Guin. "So, yeah... I um, don't want to be kidnapped and sold into sex-slavery because I'm the only half-elf on the continent," Emilia mentioned, she had that information because of the mouthy skinny man who'd apparently been promised her before Arthur and Merlyn showed up in the Forest the previous day. Strangely, she'd ended up in his care, by running an errand for the queen in the first place. There was no way those things weren't connected because the queen sent her somewhere she'd specifically be alone. And had mentioned that such a thing was a little secret between them. She'd already done the most obvious thing to protect herself and covered her ears, but she was still rightly frightened. Though she could have fought those guys straight up, she couldn't have done it on her own and come back to the palace without earning the queen's ire. Per Merlyn's advice this pair of individuals hadn't left each other's company since their last conversation.

While the group outside the throne room figured out exactly how deep the corruption went and exactly the nature of the queen's plan. The queen herself was experiencing some very good service. Lot took up his place between her legs without any hesitation. He made a big show of enjoying her body, and beyond that questioned only her lack of undergarments. "It's the Queen's prerogative to do as she wishes~" mentioned Kolin as if it was the most natural assertion in the world. Still the man found himself praising her body. He kissed her nether, licked her thigh allowed moans and sighs to escape his mouth and she felt that heat against her. How absolutely invigorating. He was buried deep within her thighs and she found herself with a hand buried in his flame like hair, steadying his motions as she began rocking against his face. All the while, there was only the most casual of eye flickers spared the way of Leorio. The lad truly didn't matter. Did he actually have a boner at a time like this? Was he seriously twisted enough to enjoy the sight of the woman who should be his wife receiving her pleasure directly from another?! Ah, oh well, she'd simply enjoy the attention she was being paid, with a moan escaping her as she spoke encouraging words to the man whose face was buried between her legs. "Mmmh~ Lot, keep it up!~"

[Bloodedge]

In this realm, Cador had taken two wards. It just so happened to be the case that both were in the throne room with him, and both were quite bothered by something. Emilia was the first to speak in regards to Queen Kolin's plan, with Guin following soon after. Disappearances at random, planned kidnappings of castle residents, all of these things... barely even scratched the surface of reality, and Cador knew it. The spirit knight heard every word of each lass, and in the end, he simply walked toward the two of them. One hand planted itself atop Guinevere's head, and the other mirrored the motion on the head of Emilia. "Shh. It's going to be fine, both of you. Don't forget, I know what's happening around you two. I would have been there for Emilia the other day, if I hadn't seen our new friend here arriving to handle things," he explained. "Now, listen. Merlyn and I talked up a plan, though... it's not much of one. Arthur seemed to be Kolin's new favorite, provided he behaves. Aside from being capable of getting into close, cut-off spaces with the queen herself, there is a chance he can acquire some valuable information. We've all wagered until two mornings from now for him to get what is needed, and begin the rebellion. Be brave, Lia. Guin, remain attentive. Neither of you let the other out of your sight for a single moment, and make sure your spirits are close and unseen by others. And Arthur..." As his words began to trail off, Cador released the heads of Guinevere and Emilia. He would turn toward Arthur, imposing every ounce of his intentions upon the Future King while delivering a single message. "As I've said, go prepared to sacrifice everything but your life, and the lives of others. Merlyn has put her faith in you, and I've chosen to do the same. I have no qualms with your approach, but just know... some options can never be closed off in this world."

The queen spoke of her prerogative, and Lot accepted the notion. None were more free to answer their own whims than the queen; such was especially the case in Zuria. Of course, Lot himself had yet to not have his way as well. He wished to partake of the illustrious Queen Kolin, and he did. He wished to claim victory over his pitiful excuse for a brother, and he did. He wished to usurp that damned Spirit Knight's position in the royal court... and he would. All three of these things were mere stepping stones to one another, while each being their own podium. Relishing in two of a potential three victories was enough to arouse Lot even while his bed chambers were empty, and here he had access to the queen for an additional boost. More than stimulated enough already, the red-haired knight received encouragement from the woman he so shamelessly buried his face against─ both from her words, and from the hand buried in the crimson locks atop his head. Further motivation like this came with additional resolve on Lot's part, prompting the maximum extension of his tongue. Long, purposeful strokes made their way up and down the crevice of Kolin's most sensitive area, and yet... neither Lot nor Kolin would become the most aroused by this.

Ah, yes. Helplessly watching his wife and queen be pleasured by none other than his brother, Leorio could do nothing. At least, he could do nothing involving them while Kolin did not wish it so. That did not stop him from what he did to himself, however. He simply couldn't resist. Seeing the look on Kolin's face, the positioning of her body, and even that brief glance spared in his direction... he took action with himself. It took only moments for his trousers to be pulled partially down as if he were some child rushing to the toilet. Once that was out of the way, his forefinger and thumb were gently squeezing whatever manhood he had to offer, stroking his quill of a pecker as if he were watching some immersive pornography.

[Apollymi]

Cador's hands came to rest atop the heads of both Guin and Emilia soon after they arrived and spilled the proverbial beans. Cador didn't seem surprised by what they had to say, but he was still keeping tabs on them so it was obvious he would have heard at least part of their discussion. Apparently, he'd also been in contact with Merlyn and they had a plan of letting Arthur get close to Kolin and to be the one to gain extra information and do something about her. Using another person as bait was a questionable tactic, but Merlyn was a sorceress and a Knight could handle themselves for the most part so it seemed fair. Still both of these young women felt a great deal calmer to know that Cador understood their troubles and that he would be there for them should the need arise. "Hai. We understand." both girl's said in unison. They held each other's hands and nodded their understanding. They'd keep going about their duties and do their part. Something about Cador speaking to them, always seemed to ease their fears quite a bit. Guin had come to the conclusion that the man had a charisma skill much like her own, but she'd not been able to confirm it just yet. They took pace but before leaving grabbed Kolin's abandoned shoes. After all, if they weren't back in her chambers when she was ready to get dressed they'd never hear the end of it. "We're going then," Emilia said "You guys should be careful too..." and Guin gave them both the same well wishes she always did. And with that the two girls moved on from this meeting, no one ever knowing what they'd stopped for beyond their duties.

At the same time, Kolin was experiencing the greater work of Lot. It seemed that a bit of encouragement went a long way for the red haired knight. With the up and down movements of Lot's tongue the rocking of Kolin's hips worked with the purpose of furthering herself. Each shift was pushing her closer and closer towards the edge of what could be a most tantalizing feeling. The fact that Lot enjoyed offering this service so much made it that much better. Ah, but that was just the start of it... wasn't it. Even though she enjoyed this attention the shimming motions of Leorio caught her eye. She hadn't told him he couldn't pleasure himself, but the movements he went through to present himself and begin stroking his own manhood... if stroke could even be considered the right word. 'Ugh, why is it so fucking little. As if I'd ever someone near me with a pinky sized dick,' she could have opened scoffed or laughed but at this point she was beyond amused. Look at how much he was going through, even watching her face and body just to get a peak at the action. She had so much power and control over this moment she couldn't have felt more satisfied if she tried. "Lot~ You do that so well... make sure he knows what pleasure looks like on his Queen's face~" she moaned her encouragement which would likely work double well for the man who wished to both dominate his brother and bed his wife.

[Bloodedge]

Message delivered, and message received. Cador could at least be sure Guin and Emilia would listen properly. They knew the horrors of this world, and more importantly, they knew what it was like to deal with Queen Kolin. Arthur's outcome was a massive, blaring question mark. Even so, it was one worth investigating for the simple chance of becoming something of an... exclamation point, ideally for the better. "Good. Don't worry; I'll be there with any of you, if the need arises. Yes, Arthur... even you," he said without even looking at the other male by the time these words were spoken. Arthur wouldn't have thought such a thing, and that was very clear to Cador after speaking with the man for a bit. The white-haired lasses claimed the queen's discarded shoes, and went about their business without further ado. He couldn't hold them up; they had to remain incognito for their own safety. Besides, given the obsession a certain knight had with him, he doubted the queen would be occupied for too long. "We will take care. Farewell," he bid them. Returning his gaze to Arthur at last, he noticed something interesting about the blonde male. To be specific, he followed the movement of Arthur's eyes. What he saw... made him laugh. "It comes full circle, doesn't it?"

If Lot wasn't so wonderfully preoccupied, he would have been laughing hysterically. Seeing the look on Kolin's face as she witnessed that pitiful excuse for a king in his attempt at self-pleasure, Lot was beyond elated. Yes, everything was perfect. It was he who would service the queen, he who would lead her to ecstasy, and he... who would receive all the benefits of doing so. That poor Leorio was hardly suited to lick the mud print left behind by his shoes. What was this additional request of the mistress, though? Just what he wanted. She ordered pleasure, and he would respond in kind. A quick glance was spared to Leorio. Lot had just the thing to put his dear brother in the right headspace. "Well, my queen... forgive me if I'm being forward," he said before his tongue lashed out against her nub one additional time. Fingers previously used to part Kolin's womanhood moved aside. One hand grabbed a side of her buttocks and squeezed. His other hand, however, had an extended forefinger aiming to slip itself into the moisture of her opening. "Shall I go for a simulation for my poor brother to immerse properly? Hmm... no, this one won't do, will it? Far too much girth." Lot appeared to be in contemplation, but his decision had already been made. The smallest finger he had was much closer to size as far as he was concerned, and the queen had another opening. He'd be doing a disservice to all in the room if he didn't make use of that finger to fill the open space, so... in it would go. Repeated prodding would occur first, but after a matter of seconds for dramatic effect, he'd proceed to thrust it right in.

[Apollymi]

Having taken their leave the girls were quietly talking, and Emilia had but one thing to say... "I saw that..." she mentioned, knowing that at the last point of their conversation, after being calmed by the words of Cador, that Guin had eyes for, Arthur. "You saw nothing. It didn't happen..." Guin followed up immediately but the slight red tint of her face did nothing to hide her from Emilia who'd spent far too much time in her presence to not be able to read her face. "Say what you want... I still saw it, and just like that the girls took back a single moment of happiness in their lives. They were allowed a casual moment of happiness in the midst of what could be considered a terrible situation. A small smile appeared on the face of the lass, within the dungeons. "At least they still smile. No one can say I didn't try at least~" Merlyn spoke to herself. It was quite lonely down here with the guards basically skittering around like scared little mice. Still, she kept her hood up and pretended to sleep only moving ever so often to avoid getting randomly poked to make sure she was still among the living.

At the same time Kolin as being taken on quite the ride as well. As Lot's tongue lashed out one final time he begged forgiveness for a certain amount of forwardness. Of course, given the moment she was going to forgive everything. What was more, the man was content to tease his brother with images of him slipping a finger into her body. Such a feeling which was provided by this was only increased by the bitter jabs aimed at the lad on the floor. This only became heightened as his pinkie teased her bum only to be slipped in at the man's leisure. Kolin couldn't stop the moan which left her mouth and beyond that she was guided to release by the feeling alone. 'Maybe small things have a use or two...' she thought absently. 'Not his though,' she finished that thought. Her Body tensed for a few seconds before it finally relaxed. There was a moment in there where the feeling of pleasure took over and she felt as if she was winning at everything. Nothing bad could come of indulging in this way. "That's what I'm talking about~" the woman moaned, seemingly pleased. "Come on then... you can have your reward now, Lot~" she aimed to slip away from the man so he could take his place on the bed. She'd place herself atop him once he was ready, after all... she wasn't one to be denied and she intended to have her way with him, not the other way around.

[Bloodedge]

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about, Sir Cador," Arthur said in response to the Spirit Knight's statement. Cador wasn't buying that at all; he saw that path of vision, clear as day. "Don't you though? King Arthur Pendragon, and... what was that wife of his? Gwenhwyfar, the White Enchantress. It's almost ironic that you'd have eyes for our Guin, isn't it?" What an interesting thing for Cador to say. Given the discussion between them mere minutes earlier, Arthur had but a single response. "You've gone mad, Sir Cador. I only have eyes for Queen Kolin," spoke Arthur. This was... indeed the proper answer. Alas, Cador had some interesting news to share with the blonde. "Ah, true. My mistake; I must have misjudged my own perspective, considering she spared an unnecessary glance in your direction... Arthur Pendragon~"

What would come of Lot's decision to use his fingers in such a way? Would he be reprimanded, even looked upon in disgust for doing it? No. What happened, was an entirely different sort of sound passing, and it just so happened to be the sound of pleasure. Go figure; he'd even managed to learn an interesting little fact about the queen this day. Things were simply getting better and better, and all after he arrived to court late. "Glad to be of service, your Grace," he said. Shamefully, Leorio seemed to be taking the slow and steady approach to pleasuring himself on the sidelines. Lot no longer had time to properly appreciate the younger male's disgusting, yet hilarious antics. He'd been offered his 'reward' so to speak, and there was no turning that down, even if he were foolish enough to think of saying no. The knight rose, finishing the act of disrobing at last by dropping his breeches. After what he'd just gone through, he was easily seen in a fully erect state. About average was all the man who slid into bed would be called, but next to the likes of Leorio... he surely felt like some sort of god. "You honor me," he said whilst sitting back. "Do as you will, your majesty. I freely offer that which a pesky mutt cannot hope to provide~"

[Apollymi]

'I hope someone writes a song about me. A good one... ' Merlyn thought as she laid on her back with her hands clasped over her stomach. Her eyes were closed at the moment but still she looked as if she might have been sleeping or simply looking up at the ceiling in deep concentration. Life was getting so strange and so many things in the area were being muddled. Some things remained clear, but Merlyn simply wondered how long it would take. What kind of walk the lad would have to take? She didn't expect everything at once, still this whole being relatively normal thing was kind of upsetting to the white haired woman. 'Right~ Sir Cador said that's a first world problem. Not my fault... how boring is it to not know how to pre-game?' Merlyn thought absently. 'I wonder if I yell boo if the men will scream like girls?' that one... that thought might have been worth playing with. While the whole world continued to spin around them, while debauchery of the highest order took place in the King's Chambers. While two girls equivalent to princesses were forced into the work of scullery maids by a scorned and lustful witch, Merlyn wanted to prank her guards. Yep, that about summed up this entire mess.

While Merlyn stewed in her cell and Arthur was given his proper lessons by Cador. Kolin the Queen of Zuria prepared to mount Lot. Though he wasn't huge by any means, compared to the lad who managed to grip himself with only a finger or two... he was at least usable for her own pleasure. What was more, he offered himself freely to the activity, making it all the more pleasurable to seek. In the passing moments Kolin had lost most of her clothing choosing to wear only the lace of her bodice as she hovered over the redhaired man. Of course, she found this rather stimulating, the look of this man so muscular beneath her. Very few things could have improved the visual for her. Soon enough, she lowered herself gently onto his cock, finding little resistance in herself but spreading her legs even wider to add even more friction. He had just enough girth and extra length that from this angle she could satisfy herself if she tried. And try she would because her pleasure was first and foremost. "Do be good and hold out until I'm done... I won't be pleased if you cum too soon~" she mentioned to Lot as she began to move in earnest. This was Lot's reward, but it was still her pleasure she was seeking, this was the selfishness that was Kolin. Even so, many wouldn't mind such antics, never had one of her knights given a bad bit of commentary. The rocking motion of her hips started off slow with very little lift, she intended mostly to grind and gyrate in his lap and as she worked she felt tingles rising and falling in her own body. With those feelings would come the gentle pulses of her sex one after the other.

[Bloodedge]

There was a notable throbbing to the member of Lot as he intently watched the queen disrobe. The same could be said of Leorio's excitement level, though he was pitifully looking forward to something that would never happen. In his mind though, it would. Perhaps when Kolin was done toying with Lot, it would be his turn. He was promised a treat for learning a lesson. Ah, maybe... yes, that made sense! When Kolin looked his way last, around the same time Lot's fingers entered her... perhaps that would be his place. . .

As Leorio was encroaching upon a conclusion in his mind, as well as in something else, Lot wore the largest of grins. He made sure to appraise the queen's body from head to toe during her approach, resulting only in further palpitations of his cock. So many positives were coming together for the knight, he felt something akin to pain from the firmness. It wouldn't last too long. The queen's reward was not something held as ransom, as her partial stripping was immediately followed by the mounting of Lot. Kolin easily found herself fitting their genitals together, but this ease did not accompany a lack of sensation on Lot's part. "Mmm~" he moaned with intensity, as if he'd been relieved of a colossal burden. Holding out as the queen demanded was going to be excruciatingly difficult. Alas, there was a certain quality of masochism present in those who followed Kolin earnestly. The pain, the struggle that came with that difficulty, was of a satisfying sort. Even so, the pulsations of Kolin's walls alone were enough to gain the response of a stronger pulse of Lot's cock. Adding the grinding, gyrating and general rocking Kolin chose to do... Well, Lot found silence to be an impossible option for himself throughout. Amidst his own gasps and moans, Lot eventually managed a response to the queen's order. "As you wish, my queen. Until you demand otherwise."

[Apollymi]

Leorio had no idea his time would never come but that was part of what made the idea of this scenario so fun. Queen Kolin still strangely considered this whole ordeal a treat for the boy King. After all, he was being allowed to witness the body of his 'wife' in action. He was being allowed to know for a fact that she knew happiness even when she wasn't bedding him. He apparently liked the idea of it enough to touch himself while it happened. There was nothing but goodness here, right?

Well yes, as Lot's throbbing cock became trapped in her folds, Kolin found herself quite amused by the sensations. Though this was mostly her own doing, she could at least be satisfied the man below her hadn't released himself as soon as he felt the relief of her lowering herself onto him. Her movements wouldn't at all be halted as she found a rhythm and pace she enjoyed for the duration of this little ride she was taking. Still the sounds coming from Lot were quite adorable to one such as Kolin, she took such moans and heavy breathing to mean the man was indeed trying his best to be of quality to her. This accomplished nothing more than fulfilling this woman's ego. Each movement gained more speed for the woman as she braced herself by placing one hand upon the chest of Lot. Oh she could feel this one coming and it was going to be spectacular. She'd found an angle most perfect for her, where the movements of her hips, allowed even the average sized dick of Lot's to reach much deeper within herself and stroke at that very sensitive place deep inside. Given the angle she was also currently rubbing her nub against his pelvis leading to the almost constant pulsation of her canal. It would be now, that Kolin had something to say besides the gentle moans which she'd been building up to. "Oh! Yes! Lot... you can cum inside now... I want to be filled!~" and as she reached climax by her own movements she expected to be answered by the release of her knight, adding to the feelings she'd built up over and over again. All the while she hadn't thought of Leorio but in the moment she knew exactly what his treat would entail. A devious grin spread across her face as the idea made release that much sweeter.

[Bloodedge]

At long last, Leorio was sure of his place in the world! This queen of his was far too grand to be satisfied fully by a single man; she needed two! Leorio could do that─ he could share. After all, he was king, and therefore of higher importance than these pitiful knights who frequented his wife's chambers by her summons. He shifted around a bit while 'tickling his pickle' as it were, gaining a magnificent view of the queen's ride from behind. He could visualize himself taking up a place behind her, breaching her ass with his pecker. Greater bliss had never been on the king's face as he envisioned taking the woman from behind. Ah, the thought alone brought him ultimate satisfaction... as well as release. With a moan, Leorio let loose a spurt of white fluid that seemed to just... dribble over his balls as a result.

It seemed Leorio wouldn't make it regardless. Lot would eventually claim this as yet another victory, as he was managing to hold out against Kolin's interior... just barely. The pace she took, and the steadying of his person from the hand on his chest, left him feeling every shift that happened around his dick. The angle Kolin chose served not only the purpose of reaching a specific depth, but for Lot, added a tingle that shot from the tip of his cock through the core of his body. Nothing was more satisfying than the moment Kolin gave her order. Inside? To think such a thing could be said to him in this situation─ it was exhilarating enough to lead him toward immediate ejection of his seed. The queen demanded a filling, and the arousal felt by such a demand would take care of such matters without even a thought from Lot. In fact, he'd take advantage of the opportunity with an upward thrust that he could surely pass off as a natural physical response, and he'd unload twice in immediate succession. A filling was in order, and Lot would do just that, even until it dripped from the queen's undercarriage.

[Apollymi]

Kolin was indeed far too indulgent to let a single man be the center of her world. In her former time, she'd allowed a single man a place within her heart and he'd scorned her advances. She wouldn't be making the same mistake again. Every man she came across would be hers for the taking and they'd know that their place was among a dozen other faces. They would aim to please or be left in the dust to earn her ire and there was nothing to stop that line of thought. Even so, the sensation of being filled on command, was far beyond regular levels of satisfactory. Even with the double stuffing of her insides, Kolin exhaled a heavy breath. She looked down at Lot who'd spent what he had within her and grinned her satisfaction. "That's a good man~" she gave him a patronizingly gentle stroke of her hand across his face before she dismounted and then she'd be left again sitting with her legs crossed at the edge of the bed, finally ready to give some attention to Leorio but it'd be far from what she'd done for lot.

She gave the orange haired lad a looking over. How strange, his extra finger, hanging over his sack with the obvious remnants of his previous arousal spread across them. Still, the whole situation was quite funny. Had he thought he'd get to be involved more directly? "Oh? So you've learned your lesson. You get nothing not offered to you, Leorio. You get to decide nothing..." she mentioned... casually. She'd been filled quite to the brim and holding it in was something of a strange sensation. Still she couldn't let a drop spill until she knew for a fact that this boy understood exactly what his place was. He'd take only what he was offered and he'd do it with excitement or he would never get any closer. "I'm feeling generous and if you understand, you will clean this up with your tongue. As your treat... " she said opening her legs for the lad. His brother's seed oozing from within her body and mixing with her own fluids. It would stain the thickness of her thighs. "Come now... don't waste a single drop."

[Bloodedge]

Lot was on cloud nine, and nothing could take the feeing away. Like any good pet, he even seemed appreciative of the patronizing attention paid to him when he and the queen were done. Ah, victory. Little did he know, this sweet sensation was only going to get a bit... sweeter. Kolin extricated herself from him, leaving what little seed he had left in his shaft to dribble its way down as she seated herself. Lot was left to catch his breath while basking in the afterglow. "All for the queen," he stated. Ah, but now there was something to observe. Kolin did have a treat to offer Leorio, though it was far from what the pitiful king expected from 'learning' his lesson. This treat would come from both Kolin, and Lot. . .

What was Leorio to do? He understood that his darling wife didn't appreciate unwanted advances, and in fact demanded that which she did want. What of this, though? She wanted him to partake of his brother's excrement, but... if he got past that, it meant he could taste of the queen. It was far from what he wanted, but it was a step in the right direction. The poor dog seemed excited after only a moment's hesitation. "Y-yes!" he shouted, crawling forward on his hands and knees to approach Kolin. His tongue made haste once his head was between her legs. Though it seemed Lot hadn't wasted an ounce of fluid in his wife's birthing canal, it was to be Leorio's pleasure removing it from her person... all to reach one thing. That thick, yet runny fluid repeatedly made its way onto the king's tongue, and eventually down his throat in intermittent swallows as Leorio lapped it up like a dog drinking from his bowl. It was terrible, but the taste of Kolin was within it. The king's mind actually managed to make him believe this was a worthwhile endeavor, all for the slightest hint of Kolin's flavor beyond the spunk of Lot hitting his palate. He actually wasn't even wasting a drop of either fluid he found betwixt her legs, and to that... Lot had but one thing to say. "Forgive my impudence, but how this one became your king is beyond me."

[Apollymi]

All for the Queen, indeed. Kolin could say she was reasonably satisfied by this experience. Of course, also getting to torture the dog of a lad on the floor was an added bonus of getting what she wanted out of Lot. Such was her own pleasure after all. Still there was the matter of the little dog and the treat she'd told him to take. Now... most would have expected some resistance, and indeed that would have been interesting to see. A little spine from this whelp might have made the idea of him more palatable, but... alas he fell short of such expressions and fell right into expectations. With little hesitation and no extra prodding the lad on the floor crawled forward and began lapping up the mixed juices of his bother and his wife. Such gave Kolin a bit of extra stimulation a great deal of it to do with the amount of power she had to manipulate this young man into acting in such a way. She'd find herself eventually clinching this lad's head, even with no technique to speak of, the movements of his tongue managed a little. And what he didn't manage, she'd manage for herself with the rocking of her own hips. She'd let him have his fill in this way until such a time where the lapping became annoying. "Hm? A little impudent indeed, it should be quite obvious by now Lot. Every little dog as their uses... and I became his queen... not the other way around~" she explained the situation in the most light hearted of ways. She'd never thought this lad could be anything near her equal, she was very obviously only using him, and yet... he was so eager to please, he was lapping up the spilled semen from between her legs, because she'd told him to.

For shame, the eagerness of Leorio to please a woman who thought nothing of him, had done quite a number on this kingdom. Kolin had talked him into displacing the royalty and having them executed. Had him turn, the crowned princess into a servant girl for her own amusement. She'd gotten him to grab the former King of Cornwall, to guard her because she knew this lad's abilities weren't up to par. And at the end of the day, she'd gotten him to sacrifice all of his funding and all of his people. All of this without ever giving him any kind of firm confirmation that she'd ever see him as more than what he was. This was now, the first time he'd ever been allowed near her sexual organs and it was only to clean them, with his tongue after they'd been soiled by his own brother. He was sincerely the lowest of all scum.

[Bloodedge]

Every dog had its use, true, but Leorio had always been something even lower than some mangy mutt. The knight's final statement had been taken an odd way, but he supposed that wasn't actually an issue. "Hmm. I believe I misspoke. How this one became your husband, is beyond me. Rest assured, it couldn't be more clear what the hierarchy is here," he clarified. After managing to stabilize himself, Lot sat up. The confines of the bed alone left him sitting beside the queen as she reigned over Leorio, and once again, Lot spared no disgust toward the young king. "While it isn't my place to say, surely you would be more satisfied with something less grotesque on the throne next to yours." And so, the ambitions were on the table. As far as Lot was concerned, he should have been king. He had always been of the belief that Captain among knights was a position for him, but this particular experience left him thirsting for even greater standing.

Leorio did indeed do this just because he was told. Subservient as a word used to describe him, would be an understatement when Kolin was involved. Anyone without the knowledge would have every reason to believe he'd been enchanted, even though no magic had touched him. Oh... and things were worse yet. His technique was as poor as his thrusting ability surely would have been, but Leorio wouldn't have believed that. Kolin's hand was atop his head, just as it had been when Lot serviced her. Her hips were moving as well, so surely he was doing some incredible work. Perhaps this was why there was a smile on that pathetic face of his as his tongue flailed against the queen's womanhood. Ah, maybe he should be making use of his fingers as well! A genius decision, surely. As if awaiting confirmation, he raised a hand with his fore and middle fingers protruding, eyes locked onto Kolin and awaiting the go-ahead.

[Apollymi]

Lot and Kolin continued to have a rather casual conversation while the boy known as Leorio continued to flail his tongue about between the Queen's legs. Kolin had experienced her fair share of moments like this, and while Lot was far from the best man to service her, he was also very far from the worst. Right now, at this moment the absolute worst was Leorio who's tongue movements did nothing for the Queen, she spared him a momentary glance and noted the lad asking for permission to use his fingers in his trial. Would she hold out hope of the idea that his mouth was tired and that he wished to learn a bit more? Hope was for the weak. She had no expectation of him accomplishing anything, but at least the lad's fingers held more girth than that pitiful thing he kept in his trousers. "Continue, but tread carefully..." she mentioned as a warning, with a roll of her eyes. Deciding immediately that if she didn't like what happened next she was going to kick him again.

Moving right along there was something of a clarification from Lot, who wondered not exactly what the boy's purpose was, but instead why she had something so pitiful as her King in a place like this. "My plans stretch far beyond this place, as I am sure you've figured out by now... " she said while looking at the man who relaxed next to her. It was obvious as he spoke that he had intentions of at the very least replacing Leorio at her side, and while she could abide that for a time, her eyes were always set much higher than most knights could ever reach. "And yes, it isn't your place to say. But I can appreciate you taking an interest in my actual work," there was a compliment in there she supposed. Lot was at least way better than is brother at realizing the real way up was through her. "Basically this place needed to have its leadership replaced because the previous King couldn't see how much of a catch I was past his wife..." she stated. "This one had aspirations of taking the throne and qualified so I used his ambition for my own gain. His prize for completing those jobs was the title of King," she mentioned with only a casual flicker of her gaze towards the lad on the floor. "Besides all that, I need the resources here, and to leave it in such a state that no one wants to stay here. It's brilliant isn't it~" she said of her implied idea to leave the kingdom with its only ruler being a perverted boy that none respected. It would basically fall into ruins as soon as it was left. "It's nothing to worry about Lot, I am sure I can find a place for you the Knights I sent ahead aren't as much compared to you..." she offered the man some strangely earnest praise, while not being completely honest. The absolute best Knight was Cador, and getting him to make the trip across the desert was going to take some doing, but when Emilia and Guin were both kidnapped and taken that way, surely he would go. And upon finding out what became of them, he'd surely resign himself to her service fully. Ah, what a dream that was, in an instance she saw it in her mind's eye, and such a vision was also watched from a shadowed corner which showed only the glow of magenta eyes. Alas, those eyes would go unnoticed as she imagined this playing out in the best possible way.

[Bloodedge]

Ah, glorious permission! That was all he needed! Giddy as the dog he was, Leorio made haste. His fingers made their way into the recently-utilized opening Kolin offered. Leorio was beyond certain of his ability to succeed now. The path he traveled was so similar to his brother's, he was sure to be offered the ultimate reward when this was all over. All he had to do first, was lead the queen to the first wave of satisfaction. His fingers, sadly, were quite limp while the only thing he did was thrust his hand to and fro. That lack of technique seemed to apply from every angle with this lad, and without much hesitation at all, he also jammed an equally limp pinkie finger into the queen's ass to join the motions.

All the while, the conversation with Lot continued. It was almost as if there wasn't someone toying around in the queen's undercarriage while she spoke so casually about matters of state. "That has been clear for some time. Zuria has been declining since you arrived, but those of us who believe in you know it is not due to failure on your behalf," he said, apparently having legitimate faith in this woman as a ruler. Kolin went on to tell the tale of her uprising, and thus Leorio's position as king. Lot scoffed at the notion of the former king fawning over his own queen; he could have upgraded and been thoroughly entertained. Leorio specifically being assigned the role of king was made no less disturbing, but he could imagine the mutt would lose his usefulness soon enough. Kolin gave no implication of keeping him around, after all... unlike Lot himself. "A flawless plan, my queen. While I wish your assigned king had been none other than myself, your methods are beyond me. I will serve faithfully until the end of my days, awaiting whatever opportunity you are willing to grant me."

[Apollymi]

Strangely, just like in the throne room, Kolin had no issues carrying on about her business as this lad tried and failed at pleasing her sexually. His lack of technique across the board was almost frightening, to have that topped off by not even having a dick large enough to ride, he was simply useless. Exactly, how useless was becoming more and more apparent as time went on. She'd told the lad to tread carefully, how had he taken that? An approach with limp fingers aiming to plug holes with no technique applied in the slightest. She'd warned him, it was hardly more at this point than her disciplining her least obedient pet. She lifted her legs to kick the lad on the floor away from her person, intending to have his fingers removed in the process. She'd cross her legs at the knee once more and let out an exasperated sigh. "I did give you a chance, but you had to go and ruin it. Stay over there, and think about what you just did. And don't even think about about looking at me unless I tell you to," she grimaced as she expected such an order to be followed without question. Even so, she continued her conversation.

"It is indeed due to no failure. Only my success. The place I am setting up for myself... prospers as this place falls. Soon enough, it will be ready for all on the continent to join it. I've taken a few steps to make that more and more possible. I blocked the road from that shitty parish with a monster that slays the unwary. I took down the Kingdom of Cornwall and relocated all of its people. A few other smaller kingdoms have seen their knights taken and their royalty displaced and all usable people placed in spots where they'll be more advantageous to me," she explained the situation. It was becoming more and more obvious this place failing was indeed part of her plan, and she needed only a few more things to make sure she was ready to take her leave. She was ever cautious, not sharing any full details of her plans with any one individual. The men were always in competition with each other, thus would never actually share what they knew of the plans with each other. Even Lot as he was currently was simply happy to be included. He thought her methods beyond him, he had no idea... she was quite beyond everyone. This shitty continent had no idea what she had coming for it. She'd rule the entire thing... and then ascend back to where she should be. It was only a matter of time, and she was so close to the next step already. "I enjoy your reassurance. Do not worry, I'll allow you to continue to serve me, Lot. And you'll find the rewards of that rather satisfying as time goes on~" she mentioned. Another soft pat would reach for this man's chest. She was about done with this situation as of yet. She'd been gone for a while, Cador should have had enough time to teach Arthur how to be a proper Knight for her. So, she stood redressing so that she could return to her own chambers. She felt the desire to bathe and think some more about her newest Knight. That one could be the closest she took to a King of her own choosing... but, she needed to workshop him a bit. And of course, getting rid of that pesky woman Merlyn was ideal. Though he claimed not to really care for her, it was probably best that such a woman be separated from him forever. If he needed to know anything he should come to her. If taking down Artoria was his goal, she was the one who could give him that... and all she needed in return was his undying loyalty.

[Bloodedge]

And yet again, Leorio managed to ruin what little opportunity he had with his foolishness. Kolin's foot found itself swiftly meeting the lad, launching him away and resulting in Leorio rolling across the floor. By the time he could lift himself, he'd already been ordered not to even look at the queen. The fool didn't understand what he'd even done; his approach had been no different than Lot's!

Ah, Lot. There was a very real chance that he was, simply put, the most loyal servant of Zuria's queen. The information she offered him was quite new, but nothing he would have otherwise deemed improbable from her. Ah, but there was one incredible surprise. She claimed to have been the one responsible for the fall of Cornwall. Cornwall had been Sir Cador's previous kingdom, before he was reduced to a Knight of Zuria. How interesting─ he now served the woman responsible for his own crippling failure. Lot could only laugh at the Spirit Knight's expense. "You did that to him? Your ability is unprecedented. I have never been more pleased to be at your disposal, than I am now that I know that." Lot meant every word he spoke. This day had gone from good, to incredible, to almost impossible to believe. How many more things would go right for him? Perhaps he'd even challenge Cador for his position later; surely he'd be victorious today. Whether he managed that or not, he was content. Kolin assured his continued ability to serve, and even spoke of the long-term rewards of doing so. Lot couldn't keep the grin from his face as he bowed to the queen during her parting moments.

Kolin was always plotting something. That much had been clear to Cador for ages, and was becoming clear over time for even Arthur. The latter made his way through the throne room after partaking of a small meal, while Cador found himself in the latter half of a dream state. He dreamed of... strangely enough, a surprisingly normal and uneventful day. Most notably, there was peace to be found all around a kingdom whose lands were kissed by frosted morning dew and a bright sun shining above. Cornwall was the place he saw in his subconscious, not at all ruined by the presence of Kolin's former face. In this dream, Cador wasn't even king. He remained a knight, but he could never be any less. With all the highly-ambitious dreams floating around in the world, and particularly in the minds of Kolin's followers, Cador sought only the smallest sliver of a utopia: one of simplicity, void of this world's blatant corruption of mankind. Here, Cador was able to exist without worry, even warming up by a fireplace while sipping cold brew from a mug.

[Apollymi]

In addition to being useless the lad also had to be stupid to not know the difference between his own technique, and that presented by Lot. If it was the case that he didn't then he also didn't learn from examples. As such the idea of keeping him around to learn from his betters was also not looking up. Oh well, it was fine. Before Kolin made her way out she had but one thing to say in passing to Lot. "That's our little secret. He doesn't know that was me~" she mentioned. Men liked feeling like they could be trusted in confidence, so she had every reason to believe that Lot would never find any reason to reveal that information. A bath awaited her and she was more than pleased to find her shoes were they belonged within her chambers. If they weren't so likely to rebel she might have kept both Guin and Emilia to keep her chambers clean. Too bad both were obviously too 'good' for the lifestyle she would have had planned for them. They would have been beneath her, but still living relatively comfortable lives... Oh well, some people really needed to suffer to appreciate the sort of kindness she offered. As such thoughts traversed her mind she calmly bathed.

And while Kolin bathed, the daydreams that plagued her mind had those glowing magenta eyes close. She was tired of seeing how absolutely horrible people were around this place. Everyone connected to Kolin was just horrible and Kolin herself had the dreams of a deranged, power-mad, scorned high schooler. Ugh, so much drama. But what was this? As Merlyn walked about between dreams she stepped into one with quite the interesting texture. This felt nice... and if it felt nice there were only about four people in the vicinity it could belong to. As such she took a casual stroll and found herself walking through old Cornwall. Soon enough she was upon a fire and watching as Sir Cador enjoyed a beverage and warmed himself by a fire. She casually stepped forward, taking the chair beside him and pushing her hood back at the same time. After all, knowing she could show off her face was quite the freedom, and she intended to get full use out of it. "Sir Cador's happiness is so simple. Nothing too outrageous, no world domination... just a good day. It's a great dream. I could get used to this..." she said as she conjured within this dream a mug which contained the energy that this very dream was made of. She might as well enjoy herself and have something nice while they conversed. Besides, she truly believed the man had a nice dream, those who wanted much were always poisoned by the world, only those with truly simple desires had the sort of dreams she had a taste for. Surely he brought news of some sort. Admittedly she was quite surprised he was even sleeping at this point.

[Bloodedge]

Ah, peace. Cador rarely had an opportunity to sleep, but being the highest-ranked knight of Kolin did have its benefits. His rest was considered essential in times that would require his ability at maximum potential, and now was such a time. What a wonderful mug of ale he had, as well. Now, Cador wasn't much of a lucid dreamer, but there was one thing that could make his dream clear as day. A hooded woman took her place in the chair next to him. Of course, he knew it was Merlyn. He knew there was no way she would have gotten herself out of that cell without proper reason. These were not the facts which gave away his dream, though. Simply put... Cador didn't, or rather, couldn't dream of entertaining women. Alas, there she was, pulling back her hood and commenting on the imaginary world around them. Cador spared a single, sideways glance at the woman while drinking from his mug again. "Of course. Even in my imagination, you are annoyingly gorgeous. Good evening, Merlyn," he greeted.

With that lighthearted introduction out of the way, Cador set his gaze on the fire before them. He did have news. It wasn't much, but it was major. "Arthur is a fool. He doesn't have it in him to finish Kolin, but his intentions are fair. There are forbidden lands across a desert to the East. According to Guin and Lia, Kolin has been funneling Zuria's citizens in that direction. The funny thing? When I was king, the war Cornwall fought was with the country on the opposite side of that same desert. That place is the reason none came back from the siege, bar myself. This kingdom is going to fall in a different way than Cornwall, Arthur is seeming to be the ideal replacement for Leorio, and Guin, Lia and yourself are the prime targets for suffering. Tell me you have something uplifting to share."

While this discussion took place within the dream of Cador, Arthur continued to move. It had been some time since court came to an end for the day, so he thought it was in his best interest to return to his chambers. Of course, doing so led him by Kolin's door. He was attentive enough to listen for sounds nearby for the duration of his trip, and beyond Kolin's chamber door, he could hear the sounds of wafting water in a tub. Small splashes denoted the movement of extremities at the water's surface. Kolin's morning activities were done, then? Well then, perhaps it was already time for Arthur's next move. He stopped at the door, but did not knock just yet. This was something worth considering heavily. Contemplative, Arthur wondered if doing something right this moment would even be worthwhile. . .

[Apollymi]

Cador did indeed know peace within his dream state. Merlyn found his greeting to be about normal for her. She couldn't help but chuckle a little as he claimed that she was gorgeous even within his imagination. "Ah, such sweet words too~ I really could get used to such a thing~" the lass said fairly easily amused even in moments like these. Ah, but a simple happiness wasn't one they could keep up for too long. The matters at hand were still here and the wheels of fate never really stopped turning. What did Sir Cador have to share? Arthur was foolish? That much she knew. She, Guin and Emilia were all on the chopping block. Yep, she knew that too. Every word he shared added pieces to the puzzle. That being said did she have anything uplifting to share? Well, she supposed that depended on how one wanted to take the information she knew, versus the information still in flux. "I won't patronize you, Sir Cador. This part is... not going to be the most pleasant. I know that Arthur is immune to her magic because he is immune to my being. Even so, him not trusting me and his need to gather his own information is anxiety inducing," she said with a sigh. For Merlyn this part was like being on a road trip, having an entire route marked out and having some one scream 'fuck the gps' and take a backroad to nowhere. Only to realize at the end that they are wrong. "Guin, Emilia and I... will all be fine. This I can promise... and so will you. And Arthur will learn the truth of this world," she said. That part was absolutely the truth.

"The only news, I have is that she plans to have Guin and Emilia shipped off to her Red Light District, as bait for you. She knows that if you find out they went that way, you will follow to save them. Her own twisted logic, says that if you get there and they've already been tainted by that world. You'll give up on them and serve her completely of your own accord," she stated the truth of the day dreams that filled Kolin's mind. "As for me, she has a plan to stick me in the middle of a non-magic circle and then pass judgment over me in the throne room. She'll have one of you behead me. Maybe Arthur to prove he's really on her side. She wants me nowhere near him. She doesn't want him achieving any goal unless she has something to do with it. She wants his undying loyalty as absolutely as she can have it. She considers him to be the closest thing she'd take to a King, though she still intends to use the rest of you at her leisure."

Merlyn explained the gist of the plans within Kolin and went on to say something more. "Oh, and that place is a trap. She destroyed all the Kingdoms nearby so no one would have anywhere else to go. She doesn't simply want to ascend as a Queen of a place. She wants to lord over an ideal as a Goddess, again." A smirk appeared on Merlyn's face. She still found that idea laughable. Who made her a goddess in the first place? These were questions, still there was something else on Merlyn's mind and in her typical fashion she stared off into space thinking about whether or not it would be the right time to ask such a question. Not that she needed a right time to ask a question...

[Bloodedge]

"Feel free to get used to it. If all goes well, expect my oh so kind demeanor to be present far into the future," Cador quipped in response. He truly found it bothersome that Merlyn could be such an appealing existence even within a dream, but he supposed that was the point of a succubus. Moving on, he held out the smallest amount of hope that Merlyn had something satisfying to say. In all technicality, she did. Arthur being the cause of anxiety was a notion he understood well by now, after conversing with the lad earlier this morning. Either way, she offered a promise of Guin's, Emilia's, and her own safety... as well as Cador's. With this, he could agree. "It was never a concern. No harm may ever come to those two while I am under oath, unless I fall first. Kolin would have to kill me," he said with certainty. Of course, he was just as certain of another thing... Arthur would soon be learning the truth of this world.

There was something dark as well. Not only were Cador's precious wards on the proverbial chopping block, but they were to be used as bait for his loyalty as well. Would that woman never stop taking from him? If she wanted his loyalty, she could have secured it ages ago by keeping both of them safe, but... twisted minds would not reach such conclusions. The plans involving Arthur and Merlyn were about as foolish as they could get. Cador could hardly stop his mind pointing out inconsistencies in the overarching plot, knowing Kolin could have lived a much more acceptable life without enacting such sick, demented strategies. "I'm sure Arthur wouldn't behead you, if he can't even bring himself to kill Kolin. It's a shame, though. I understand his perspective completely, but it is far too idealistic to be anything resembling possible. Kolin has to be stopped. Permanently."

A sigh escaped the Spirit Knight. Oh well. The Zuria Kingdom was all but forfeit, but if those who were still savable could come out alive and well, he figured it could be considered a victory by some accounts. Their survival meant they could find Kolin again, and they could fight with greater numbers. If only their potential numbers at present were what they could have been, things would be better off. With another swig of ale, Colin let his eyes wander toward Merlyn again. He had been wary of doing so, if only to avoid becoming enamored accidentally. Now that he looked at her, though, he found her expression troubling. "Something else on your mind, Merlyn?"

Meanwhile, Arthur's decision was being made. He weighed his options, and he found the current choice acceptable enough to take a proverbial stab at. As such, he took another step toward the chamber door of Queen Kolin. Knock, knock against the barrier of cold planks. It would be Arthur who made the first proper approach. He wouldn't wait for Kolin, no; he would take the initiative for their next discussion into his own hands.

[Apollymi]

"Oh? Well, I suppose I will then~" Merlyn's words teased frequently. It was quite interesting, to know that Sir Cador was content to show off such a demeanor to her. Of course, knowing that he was at least committed enough to say he planned to appear to her for quite some time was strange. Their entire arrangement was currently based around the idea of being rather non-committal by both of their own natures. How strange their two existences were, that they'd agree to such a thing while seeming to get along so well. But perhaps this was the reason for such an agreement. Regardless... something he said would require a minor adjustment on his part. "Kolin is not a real problem, in that regard. She does want to avoid killing you. Lot however dislikes that she ranks you above him in anyway and would challenge you, if he thought he could win," she casually mentioned. "One of those upward movers who thinks himself pretty well off, he is only a step above younger brother of his... and it's a really shallow step." Merlyn's words came with a bit of sass, but after seeing his daydreams and incidentally witnessing the acts of that bedroom, she was quite scarred.

The exact nature of the crazy plots presented by Kolin, seemed to rub Cador just as wrong as they did Merlyn. She also agreed, several of those plots could have been avoided if she wasn't so crazy as to need to make everyone suffer for some strange reason. "She does. And death is the most permanent solution I can think of, it's not like one can simply walk out of the Netherworld. At least not any normal person anyways, without her goddess state it should be a way to contain her. But I doubt he understands how death works. He did just get here, and he doesn't trust me so he likely hasn't thought about anything like that to ask me. He also doesn't just take my word on a lot of things so I am not sure he'd have believed me even if I told him..." the white haired woman sipped her drink, made up of the sweetest of dreams. She couldn't help but indulge in it, even as she lost her focus. By the time she was brought back to it. Cador was asking her about what she was thinking. There was something else on her mind, but how to address it. "Let me ask you something, kind of weird... and maybe a little philosophical~" her words came out a bit chipper but the look on her face while she thought and the question she asked were far heavier than her tone implied. "Having lived this life the way you have already. If you had to go again, based on how your previous actions turned out... Would you choose to have the worst part of your adventure at the beginning instead? For instance before the kingdom, before ascending or anything else. Or would you still take the big build up for the let down at the end?"

As Merlyn and Cador conversed, Kolin enjoyed her bath. Until of course a gentle knock was heard upon her door. Not many would dare to approach her in such away. Given this she could make some assumptions about who was at the door. Right at the moment, the only person who might want to see her was Arthur. She smiled, perhaps he was feeling exceedingly apologetic. "Come in..." she didn't move herself from the bath she was currently in. It was hidden from direct view behind a standing divider. She'd wait there for the lad to come up, she cared not if he saw her naked. After all, men were often disarmed by naked women and thus more malleable to their wishes.

[Bloodedge]

"As you wish. I suppose I will have to work on the upkeep of my attitude. We wouldn't want Merlyn to have another bad-tasting dream, would we?" he said, almost sarcastically. In all honesty, Cador was quite satisfied that Merlyn found this dream of his worth tasting. These dreams, bar a few things in his waking life, were the only truly pleasant moments to be experienced in recent years. A high rating from the likes of a succubus was equivalent to having a fine piece of jewelry appraised. "I'm sure Kolin has no intention of killing me. She's already targeted me twice, and unlike others, I manage to never earn her ire," he said regarding his own dealings with Kolin, and the unlikely event of her discarding him. As for Lot, though… "That amuses me. Thus far, I've only met a single knight who could best me in combat. Lot is not that knight. Surely you would enjoy his company; I'm positive his dreams are delectable~"

The two agreed that the only answer to Kolin's tyranny, was death. She'd gone too far to be saved from herself, if such a thing was ever even an option. "I hardly understand the functionality of death here myself. If I were to find out, though, I'd want Kolin to be the reason. It is just a shame… that one like Arthur is going to be having a horrible experience regardless of the ending he chooses. To draw your first blood, or to suffer the consequences of not twisting the knife against someone like that? I can hardly tell which end would be worse on the psyche."

The strange aura exuding from Merlyn's current demeanor, was apparently due to a question lingering in her mind. It was weird, and it was philosophical. It was also… quite loaded. When would he rather take the horrors of this life? Early in the journey? That would leave one weary for the duration of their time, as he was. Toward the end? No one's final days should be lived in torment. "I would choose… neither. Both options are terrible, aren't they? I will always advocate living day by day, taking every moment as it comes. The good, the bad… it all shapes us to whatever this twisted world wants us to be. The intermittent horrors are what make the following sweets of life sweeter, and the pleasantries reminds us that current tough times are not so bad. We deal with our troubles as they come, and we either remember or hope that there is a light somewhere in the darkness."

On Arthur's end, a single phrase was spoken. Come in, the queen said. Ah, so this was how things would go. There wasn't enough time between knock and answer for her to leave the bath, so she would have remained there. In Arthur went, closing and locking the door behind himself. From there, he didn't stop moving forward until he was on the other side of the divider, where he proceeded to pull Excalibur from its holster… and place it on the ground. Pieces of his armor would follow, eventually laying all over the floor around Arthur. With neither blade nor protection on his person, he bent the knee. "Your grace. Sir Cador has told me of your accomplishments, and your ability. My apologies; in my ignorance, I underestimated the Queen of Zuria. I would swear an oath to you. . ." he said, pausing there to await clearance before his oath's details were spoken.

[Apollymi]

An amused chuckle left Merlyn again. She found this man's willingness to appease her rather simple whims was one which would likely keep him in her current mental position as her favorite Knight. "No, we really wouldn't. This one has to keep up her appetite. What if I need to flex?~" she stated as if this was a hilariously sarcastic thing. Of course, it was very likely she'd need to as well, but that was a matter for a different time. Cador had something to say about Kolin and the fact that he'd managed not to upset her in his time being here. She found that rather amusing, but after you'd been married to someone like that she supposed learning to keep your head down simply came with the territory. As an aside Lot's dislike of the man didn't seem to cause him any great stress, and what was more he spoke of another who was stronger than him, who Merlyn might also enjoy? "Oh? I didn't know such a person could exist. But if it's a recommendation from you… I'll definitely consider looking into it~" she said rather happily. Cador was definitely the right extra Knight to find first. He had the experience of a battle-ready warrior and the knowledge and wisdom of the world to go along with it. Much like herself he was ready for the complications that such a journey could throw at them.

They did agree about Kolin and it was indeed a shame that someone like Arthur would suffer the most from the decision he made here. A sigh left the lass as she thought it over. "To be fair, this isn't the first of this sort of adventure I would have chosen for him… but it's a tipping point. I couldn't really leave it alone. Too many potential losses would take place if we hadn't showed up here. A bit of damage to his psyche in exchange for the general happiness of several people who were going to be crucial in his life. To save someone here… to have them be a face he sees later. That is what I had to work with…" Merlyn said of this place. She knew how this would have turned out if they'd avoided it for longer. And while she could have given the lad an adventure that would have helped him be better before he arrived, doing so would have caused more mental anguish to those already present. It didn't weigh out right in Merlyn's mind, especially not when one considered the potential harm to his future Queen. She didn't know if this was any kind of consolation, but given how Arthur was, she figured he'd prefer his own suffering over those he'd come to know and trust. Even if he doesn't quite know them well enough yet.

As they moved on, the most loaded question someone could have asked left her mouth and it was met by a strangely layered answer. To be honest, she found Sir Cador's answer to be more than a bit comforting. Technically speaking, she'd done just that… she'd chosen a mix of things instead of letting one thing completely overpower another. She couldn't keep him from his sadness nor his happiness. "Oh? How very moderate of you, Sir Cador. I appreciate that really. It makes me feel a bit less bad. I thought I might be a bit over the top… like some kind of wicked puppet master." Merlyn explained of her own contemplation. But if Sir Cador would have taken the kind of guidance Merlyn would have provided, she felt less bad overall about how much stuff would happen to him.

In the meantime, Kolin found Arthur within her chamber. She didn't bother removing herself from the bath knowing the lad had something to say. She heard him removing his weaponry, stripping himself and approaching her with the general caution that those who were in her good graces came with. Very nice, Cador truly was the best Knight to have train such a person as Arthur. "You may make your oath, you have my attention…" she said with a raised brow. Though she'd indeed think she'd need to do something about Arthur, she found his current level of understanding interesting. What did he make of her position compared to his. She supposed she was about to find out.

[Bloodedge]

"Well, so long as you don't put on too many pounds, I suppose flexing will be a viable possibility anyway. Given how I feel even now, I'm sure you could make a scene with Kolin's entire little harem by showing them your wrist." Cador had become a firm believer in Merlyn's abilities as a succubus. He wanted for no woman, but Merlyn managed to bring desire out of him regardless. Sure, he could resist, but that didn't stop the urge at all. Moving on, Merlyn offered a response to his mention of another's dreams, but it seemed he hadn't been clear enough in his assertion. "Oh? Sorry to disappoint, Merlyn, but I was talking about Sir Lot. He's the one whose dreams you should really go after," he quipped. "He'd probably like you, too. Wouldn't that be lovely?"

Necessary evils were a part of all reality, and such a statement was never more accurate than here in this world. As such, he could commiserate with Merlyn when she came clean about what she'd done with Arthur. His own choice wouldn't have been much different, and in fact, he could say Merlyn made a more decisive choice than he could have. "You do what the world needs of you. What is best overall is always a better decision than what is best right here, right now. I can already count at least three heads that are grateful for you two showing up when you did. There's no telling what Kolin would have done, had I actually been the one to save Lia. . ." With that said, Cador leaned back in his chair and took another sip of ale. Merlyn's perspective had been an interesting one. What she thought of herself was far from the truth, yet oh so accurate at the same time. Of course he was going to comment on the matter as he saw it. "Merlyn, you are without a doubt some kind of wicked puppet master. You just have the benefit of being less of the wicked part. Until you take that hood off, of course. Then, I wonder how many have gone mad because of you."

Arthur had the queen's attention. Good. High and mighty as she was, Kolin remained behind her barricade as he removed his blade and armor, granting him permission to state his oath to her. In this case, his wording had to be careful... but he'd had the entire morning to think it over. Many things had to be accomplished to result in the proper conclusion, and it all began in this moment of... once again, absolute truth. "On my honor as your knight, I will state my ambition. I will rise to Camelot with my queen as my guiding force. At the Once King's downfall, I, the Future King, shall rise. I will play my role in ensuring you sit upon not the throne you desire, but the throne you deserve. If you are to be the queen to my status as king, no harm shall come to you─ the ground you walk upon will impose your lingering will on naysayers left behind your grace. I offer you this binding oath, so long as I have a place beside you." As he spoke, Arthur was enveloped by a golden light. Kolin wanted an apology, did she? Well, this was her getting one. Arthur was bound to this oath by the Nexus itself, yet... due to some specific word choice, he ensured a few loopholes for himself, provided Kolin was not one of honor in the future.

[Apollymi]

"Oi oi, that isn't even really possible. Besides, this form is medium premium. Even if I managed to gain weight, I'd only go on to look like I should." she scoffed about weight gain but all in good fun. She couldn't even continue in her playful anger when the man mentioned that she could steal the whole of Kolin's harem by use of a single exposed wrist. She laughed hysterically, it was too much, if her drink had been an actual drink it would have sprayed everywhere. "Bwahahahaha!~ Oh, no. Stop... that's too much~" she finally managed after catching her breath. She was quite sure she could keep most men from doing her any real harm. Most women too, since she oozed trustworthiness... besides all of that though, there wasn't much to be done. While she calmed herself from her laughing fit though, Cador made clear that he meant her and Lot could have gotten along. A scoff escaped the white haired young woman in the moment she couldn't help it. "Desire for upward mobility being what it is, I have no doubt that he would indeed like me. Too bad, I've already seen the worst of him and I am not impressed~" she said with an equally snarky retort. Lot was a strange topic perhaps she found something about his character that she as a person simply couldn't tolerate.

Still on the more serious part of their conversation, Cador had strange words for the lass. According to him, she did only what the world needed of her, and he claimed at least three of them were grateful that they'd shown up when they had. A small smile appeared on Merlyn's face. She had tried, though she'd been allowing Arthur to get more acclimated to the world, she'd wanted him to experience the strangeness of players in smaller doses. She'd never intended for him to run into the possible worst one, but all potentials she saw as they took the path forward said it was best. "Sir Cador, you really know how to make a girl feel better. My favorite Knight and maybe my emotional support Knight. I never had one of those before~" she teased happily. "You would have earned her ire, but it would have taken a few days. Emilia would have saved herself and slaughtered those men, but she also would have encased herself in ice in the process. Lot would have told Kolin you were trying to thaw her in the forest. She would have used it to question your loyalty, it would have been an ordeal and a half." Merlyn explained the gist of the situation passed as if it was the what-if chapter of a manga. She really enjoyed those alternate timeline things, how fitting she ended up basically able to create her own story like that here. As for her being a wicked puppet master, apparently she was one, but not necessarily too wicked. A smirk appeared on her face as she sipped from her mug holding it in both her hands. "Not many I swear. Once I realized I had such an effect on literally everyone... I decided I liked mankind enough to want them to retain their free will around me, which while boring was a lot funner in the end. The few who see me are able to do so by their own will~" Such a statement made the difference between one like Merlyn and one like Kolin.

Speaking of Kolin, she'd given Arthur the go ahead to pledge his oath... and what an oath it was. Her eyes widened at every word and she eventually shifted in the tub to get a good look at him. His words were absolutely honest, so much so that he was enveloped by the light of the Nexus. She'd not seen someone manage such an oath in quite a long time. Her eyes widened a great deal and a grin spread across her face. He swore on his honor as her Knight. He'd take Camelot and cause the fall of the Once King. He'd get her not just the throne she desired but the one she deserved. He offered such a binding oath and it was the best one she'd ever received. She'd demanded an apology she hadn't expected one of this magnitude. "My word you learn quickly, Arthur~" she chimed. She was quite unable to deny her own happiness in the moment. He'd do exactly as she wished and that was a special sort of satisfactory. "I can accept this oath from you... as the world does. And I will also take it as your apology. You really are a sweet man. It will make me happy to see the heights you'll reach at my side. You may stay. It would please me to have you around for a while," she answered the lad. How giddy she was, she laid back in the bath and had to hold back an excited utterance.

[Bloodedge]

"Oh trust me, it is very possible. At least, for those who take the laziest route," Cador insisted, having seen a few select individuals plump up over time. Lot was actually one such person, prior to Kolin requiring more of him than his fattened form would allow. Perhaps Merlin would have preferred that version of the man? The thought alone was almost as funny as… well, the idea of Merlyn enjoying Lot's presence in general. After Merlyn managed to calm her hysterical laughter, she commented on the concept of Lot taking an interest in her. That much wasn't up for debate. Lot was a reasonably strong knight, but his morals were clear. There were so many reasons he would attach himself to one like Merlyn, not the least of which was her ability to make something of him. "The worst, you say? I'm almost afraid to ask, considering Kolin's earlier summons─" he said, clearing his throat thereafter.

The favored, supportive knight. That sounded about right up Cador's alley, even in the case of Queen Kolin. He could more easily accept the title from Merlyn, though; it didn't come with a side of disgust for him. Merlyn went on to explain what would have happened, had she and Arthur not arrived when they did. Cador couldn't have dealt with such a thing. Emilia getting herself out of that situation would have been far worse than Cador incriminating himself, and Lot was always going to be a hindrance if given the opportunity to gain leverage. Thinking about how everyone was in this kingdom, he couldn't wait to leave it behind. Hopefully, Arthur could prove himself worthwhile enough. "Merlyn, you speak of your attachment to mankind as if you are a goddess yourself. I suppose Clairvoyance comes with some amount of deification; you could have easily made the opposite decision and been just as satisfied. Would it be rude of me to call you the other side to Kolin's coin?"

As the Nexus' light faded, Arthur was met by the queen's direct gaze. She seemed infinitely pleased by his oath, which meant... he had succeeded thus far. With the acceptance of his oath, he crossed his right arm over his chest and lowered his head once more. "If it pleases you, I will stay. I am ever grateful for your acceptance," he said, once again in truth. If she hadn't accepted this oath of his, he would have been in quite the pickle overall. Because she did, though, he could move toward the next stage. She claimed it would please her to have him around for awhile, but what of it? "Is there something you require of me?"

[Apollymi]

"Hahahaha~" Merlyn's laughter was back once more. She couldn't help it, now she was thinking about the red haired knight known as lot being quite fat to go along with that bad attitude. That was way too funny. It almost made her earlier traumatizing experience worth while. "That laugh, was a good one. It almost makes up for that thing I had to witness earlier. And his absolute worst, is the way he treats his younger brother… who by all means deserves everything he is going to get, but it still doesn't really sit right with me for two related people to behave in such a way. Besides all that… He's really only a shallow step ahead~" Merlyn said these words with a knowing smirk and some strange emphasis. Merlyn was quite amused by the entirety of this conversation. Such randomly good moments were what she lived for at this point. There was something quite comforting in knowing what this world could bring and the happiness of such people even if only for a moment in their dreams was worth chasing.

Ah, her attachment to mankind. It was quite interesting to think about it. She was indeed an outsider and it was something she readily accepted. "I'm an outsider. A navigator tool for mankind. Wishing your journey would last forever!~" she said offering the man a wink. Strangely, Merlyn knew that she wouldn't have been as satisfied if she'd made the opposite decision, but who she was as a person, hadn't changed at all, even when becoming something other than human. She knew she wasn't really human in this form. She didn't think like a human, she didn't act like a human. But she still liked humans, someone like Kolin and even further back to her base as the evil goddess, didn't actually like people. "I would say, that it isn't necessarily rude. Objectively, it is pretty true. Beyond what we are in the here and now, the base of our existences are similar. The difference lies in the choices we make…" she said.

Kolin on the other hand couldn't have been happier. This young lad was really her type and his desire to be King Arthur Pendragon was an ambition to match her own. She really enjoyed him as an idea. He even had the right way of speaking to her down in such a short amount of time. A large smile spread across her face, she could really get used to having him around. "I currently have no requirements of you. I simply wish to look at you for a while… I find you relaxing and easy on the eyes~" she said which was a strange request indeed. Kolin's whims were really far-fetched. She truly just wanted to look at the lad. Watch him bask in her nude glory and use it as more leverage. He's sworn an oath to her, but she needed in the next few moments to make sure he'd understand exactly all he'd be missing out on if he found himself outside of her good graces again. A few moments more in the bath and she was getting out. Dripping wet atop a fur rug. She dried herself and began walking around her room in the nude. She intended for Arthur to watch her, and she intended to be seen. When she was satisfied that he understood what a privilege this was, she'd send him back to his duties.

[Bloodedge]

"It's all true. He was the butt of a few jokes in the early days. 'Fat Lot of good you are,' and such," Cador quoted for reference to Lot's former physique. It really was a hoot back then, and even now. Merlyn laughed, and Cador wore a grin that constantly threatened to become its own fit of hysteria. In fact, he snorted a laugh when Merlyn implied the pitiful state of Lot beyond what he would have known. "You can't be serious? I never considered her as one to downgrade," he chimed. Being the whore that she was, one could assume Kolin only bedded bigger and better as life carried on. Well, at least he knew another reason Lot probably held such animosity toward him. What a shame that was. "Poor Lot."

Merlyn may have been an outsider, but she spoke as if she didn't belong among mankind. Cador could assume she'd been alone in this world for even longer than he initially thought. Kolin, and whatever other identities she had, did not belong. Merlyn titled herself as just what Cador would consider her. Well… almost. "A navigator, who could make mankind her tool at the drop of a hat. Chooses instead to secure mankind's future, even sparing men ─ aside from me, apparently ─ from the curse of looking at a succubus. Is this the part where I find out exactly how similar you two are? Maybe you're just taking the slow and steady approach, and you're trying to wear me down every time I look at you without that hood," he said in a tone of jest, despite such a thing being an almost legitimate concern for one like him.

Strange. Arthur hadn't expected such a simple answer as Kolin wanting to… look at him. That couldn't be right. Nothing could be so simple. No, the greater truth came to light when Kolin removed herself from the bath and sauntered around in her birthday suit. There may have been some accuracy to her claim, but… she surely wanted his eye. She could have what she desired. Still on one knee, Arthur let his gaze follow the blonde queen around, starting the moment she became visible. He could honestly appreciate the view; of this there was no doubt. Kolin boasted a figure that should have been regarded as impossible, only found in the world of fantasy. There was so much in all the right places, one could only imagine most men could approach without any idea what to do with it. So, as was the case with his oath, there was nothing short of earnestness in his appraisal of the queen... physically. "You flatter me far too much with your compliments, your Grace. If I may be so bold, your appeal is something beyond the wildest imaginings. I fully understand why you are coveted by so many."

[Apollymi]

Lot had apparently been the butt of several jokes when he was chubby. Such things only brought more giggles to the likes of Merlyn. She couldn't help it, she was trying to imagine how a fat person, became skinny and had the time to become so high and mighty as he currently was. "Hehehehehe~" she managed, barely keeping it together. "Come on now. I might die laughing today~" she mused, there was so much laughter in her body she was almost certain she could die from it. What was more, her meaning was taken as she intended it and he claimed not to realize she'd downgrade. "To get what she wants she doesn't really care about such things. Especially when one considers her need for worship, she lets praise make up the difference. Though if you are far enough below her standards she won't even touch you. The young King hasn't quite figured that one out yet. He's uh… a tragedy really." Merlyn mentioned. She felt the slightest bit sorry for the lad, and would have been a bit more helpful to him, except… that much of what was wrong here was due in large part to his spineless behavior and his inability to stop thinking with that non-existent second brain in his pants.

Beyond that it seemed that Sir Cador had a grand opinion of Merlyn. He figured at any point she could have made mankind into a tool and used them. His words implied he considered her decision to spare the most of mankind outside of himself to be a great thing. He even went on to joke about finding out how similar Kolin and her could be based on her potentially taking the slow and steady approach with him. "You really think I'd have that type of patience~ Of course not, what you see is pretty much what you get," Merlyn said of her own demeanor and nature. Her words just as jovial as they'd always been. "Still, you're my favorite Knight… so the curse is one of the benefits~" she said happily. "I wouldn't take advantage without your express permission, Succubus' Honor", she said crossing her fingers over her chest and managing a smile which was mostly innocent. Of course she could have covered her face and spared the knight from having to fight against her wiles. Still, she felt like moments alone with Sir Cador were one of few she could feel comfortable as herself. His will was quite strong and she appreciated his ability to resist that which his very nature might have encouraged from him.

While Merlyn enjoyed Sir Cador in a way she presently enjoyed no others. Kolin was getting a great deal of appreciation from Arthur. She could almost feel the lad's eyes on her. And every time she looked she caught glimpses of his eyes traversing her form. 'Oh? He really does know what he's here for… good.' she thought to herself. Only to become more excited by virtue of the fact that the lad thought to compliment her form in rather good fashion. While she dressed she paused to look in his direction earnestly. "I can appreciate this bit of boldness. A lady does love her compliments after all~" she said. Accepting her compliments in happiness and with grace. She walked by Arthur, pausing to place a hand under his chin turning his face up to gently look him in the eyes. "Truly… I like such sentiments from you," she said staring at the lad, such was her usual scheme. She made men feel quite special by allowing them such small things initially. By the time she was ready to break them in, they were drooling over her. Still, this lad was quite pretty to look at to start with, she simply couldn't let her own desire to possess him physically go too far ahead of his training to be at her side. With that said she continued on about her way. She'd finish dressing and once it was done she'd happily stand before Arthur. "You're dismissed, I did appreciate your company, Arthur." she said releasing the lad from his stay in her chambers. Internally she was so bemused she could almost die. But externally she had to play this cool a while longer. She'd feed him a bit more attention, corral him in… then she'd get rid of Merlyn and rope him into her next shift. Leaving behind that pitiful Leorio for one who had more to offer than both him and his brother combined.

[Bloodedge]

"Oh? Die, of laughter, in a dream? I guess you are counted as being your true self in here, huh?" Cador questioned, deciding to roll with the present good mood and have a bit of fun. "So, does this legitimize the 'die in the dream, die for real' concept? I've always been curious about that one, but surely it must apply to succubi." Jestful musings at their end, the high spirits persisted. King Leorio was referred to as a tragedy, and Cador had to agree wholeheartedly. After that pitiful display in the throne room earlier, he knew exactly what the white-haired woman spoke of. "I am well aware. I happened to have a magnifying glass when he was priming himself to hump the leg of his mistress during court. That really was a show; I hope you were watching."

Aside from having fun at the expense of Lot and Leorio, Cador intended to have a bit at Merlyn's expense as well. Of course, this was a bit more difficult to manage, but... that was fine. If he put himself on the chopping block as well, they could both be entertained. As such, he spared no words. "Not a single truth, Merlyn. What I see is so much more than what there is. My composure aside, I currently see you in the same light Kolin's pets see her, I'm sure. You should be of little importance to me, yet I experience a constant craving that I should never feel for anyone─ someone I've known for so little time especially. As for the honor of a succubus, I refuse to believe there is any. Though, if you'd like to pretend there is..." He paused there, shaking his head and taking another swig of ale. His thoughts and emotional state had finally caught up to one another, providing him a certain clarity he could only have in that exact moment. "Oh, look at me. Spilling my guts to the person currently consuming the dream from around me, and drinking it out of a mug at that. I suppose I did already grant permission, didn't I? It's hardly fair."

The queen donned her garbs for the day, and Arthur kept his eyes peeled all the while. The thought of killing this woman was still the last thing he wanted to do, but was there any way to restore her humanity? Was there ever any within her from the start? These were the questions Arthur couldn't shake, but at least he could enjoy a satisfying view before that decision became final. In commenting on the receiving of his compliments, Kolin took him by the chin. Arthur smiled, exuding no animosity at all. He didn't have any to give. "I'm glad I could please," he said. With that, he was dismissed. Rising from the floor at last, he collected his items and donned them piece by piece. The blonde male would take his leave, but at the doorway, he had one more thing to say. "Farewell. If there is anything more you require of me, I am at your service. To the fall of this kingdom, and well beyond. All for a goddess." These final words from Arthur were quite pointed in a specific direction. The complex he knew this woman had... Surely being acknowledged by the title she coveted, as if she could be viewed as such a thing even now, would serve as an additional step. Beyond that, he knew Zuria was all but destined to collapse in the wake of Kolin. To present the idea of him being faithful beyond such a thing, was something Arthur viewed as a necessary clause.

[Apollymi]

Cador's question of her being her true self in this dream deserved an answer. She supposed she could easily explain herself to this man. "I am my true self wherever I appear. And where I appear other things are as real as I want them to be..." she said with a gentle chuckle. "Dying of laughter is a bit of an exaggeration. The one called Merlyn does not know death. That may or may not apply to other succubi, as far as I know I'm the last or only... I forget which one at this point~" she mentioned... perhaps she'd been a bit too thorough when she'd created the lore for this Avatar. "And yes, if you are killed in a dream where I am you could actually die, since my own whimsy determines the reality of the dreams I am in," there were some pluses to being in control of dreams to the extent that she was. Perhaps she'd eventually get to explain all of them. Or perhaps, he'd eventually experience them. Yet another laugh, "Hahaha~ A magnifying glass," she was too amused. "And yes, I was watching... which is how I know his fall from grace is quite great. He doesn't even know that he's bad off..." she said of the boy king.

Moving right along, apparently this man thought that Merlyn hadn't spoken the truth about herself. According to him, she had to be more than she seemed. He claimed he saw her in a light similar to what had to be on the minds of Kolin's pets. That she should mean little to him and yet he was as comfortable around her as an old friend. The smile on Merlyn's face didn't change. Still she found herself looking at the man to her side as his emotional state finally seemed to catch up to him. In this moment she felt she could actually help, still first things first... a joke. "Of course I drink out of a mug within the dream. I'm still a lady you know~" she joked in mock outrage. But there were other topics to broach. "Well, you certainly did tell me you'd offer me the hospitality of your dreams. And it's fairly true that you likely see me in a better light than you'd see a random stranger but such is the nature of an existence like mine. Which is why I wanted you to trust me a bit before you saw me. How else could I be sure of the motivations of it?" she said softly. "Still, within a dream like this I have many abilities. I could cure what ails you... I don't mean physically. Well I could do that too... but I mean here," she said placing a single hand over her heart. "Still, I'm the only succubus so the honor that is based on is whatever mine is currently worth. I'd rather let people like you determine that~" she said with a bit of a chuckle. Her demeanor was always friendly and a little outgoing. She considered herself very much outside of humanity but didn't intend to leave this man out in the cold with his obvious stresses. She'd take what he'd offered, but she'd also actually give in return. Yet another marked difference between her and the woman who appeared on the other side of the coin of the same type of existence.

At the same time, after Kolin dressed Arthur said his parting words. These words... they were definitely ones she wanted to hear, needed to hear!. All for the Queen, the Knights usually said. All of them were fools, mere tools for her use, not recognizing exactly how far she would eventually go. She feared all would eventually be left behind as she reached for greater and greater heights, but this boy... this beautiful blonde boy!!! "You please me more than you know. Do know if I find use for you... I will call. And I am most certain, you'll go far beyond the likes of a kingdom like this~" she chimed happily. This boy had no idea how high he'd soared. He was clever enough to realize already that this kingdom was a mere stepping stone. He was loyal enough to swear an oath to help her get where she deserved to be. Not some paltry queen for some regular person to share her titles. No. She was definitely going to be a goddess. And she'd keep him at her side. Consort would be alright for King Arthur Pendragon. Not on the same level, but not nearly as low as the knights she planned to leave far below. She'd reign as a goddess once more and he'd help her achieve this goal... and when she was worshipped and praised for her beauty above all others, he'd be at the front of the line to see her beauty. She'd allow him more than any other after being certain of him. Perhaps later she'd pick his brain for more. Find out exactly what else he had in mind for her advances. With his contemplative nature, he was sure to be useful to her upward advancement, while being such a nice face to look at.

[Bloodedge]

With just a few words, Cador was able to understand the existence that was Merlyn more clearly. He couldn't imagine what that felt like. She walked in realms unknown to those other than herself, able to freely determine what would be considered reality. Beyond that, there was no concept of death surrounding Merlyn. Whether it applied to other succubi or not, didn't really matter. Cador had never known or heard of another, and he didn't intend to if just one of them was going to be like this. Yes, just one was fine. "That is all quite ridiculous. I've never been more satisfied to not know anything like a succubus," he said, apparently not even excluding Merlyn from the clause. Controlling reality around oneself was beyond reasonable, but he couldn't count Merlyn as one who fit the general idea of a succubus. At least that was more reasonable than the thought of King Leorio accomplishing anything with his... methods. "That is honestly a shame. Maybe he should have downloaded the M-rated package, and made use of the genital sliders. I hear there are people doing crazy things with that one─"

A lady, as Merlyn insisted, drinking from a mug. Cador supposed there was once a time of that being accurate, but coming from an entirely different era made the notion somewhat laughable. To go along with Merlyn's mock outrage, Cador offered a mock surrender by raising both hands. Fair enough, it seemed Merlyn's effort was to groom him, in a way. Harboring faith prior to unveiling something like succubus physiology was a reasonable enough tactic, though he wondered if that didn't make matters worse in the long-run. Well... worse was objective. He could say better, but his answer would vary from moment to moment. Another look toward Merlyn through the corner of his eye, and Cador found himself finally not looking away. Her hand was against her chest, and she spoke of curing what ailed him. How curious. "Is that so? While I believe you have the ability, how exactly do you plan on doing something like that?" he asked.

Another good decision by Arthur. Taking advantage of a god complex was easier than he could have imagined. Finally, things were coming together nicely. Arthur had the remainder of this day, and presumably another full day to take advantage of Kolin's weakness. In response to her proclamation, he halted his leave. A turn and a bow reinitiated the knight's departure. "I look forward to it. I will be nearby, waiting as patiently as I can to hear from you again. Humbly, I request you be lenient with me if I seem antsy in the meantime~"

[Apollymi]

Merlyn found herself looking at Cador through the corner of her eye as well. He seemed apt not to take in her visage at full intervals and this was fine. But she did catch him taking occasional peeks at her through the corners of his eye. "I suppose that is fair. If they were as freely created as humans... there would likely be a great deal of trouble~" she stated. She knew that powers like the ones she possessed were quite dangerous in the wrong hands. That being said, having previously lived an existence so similar to this one she had no qualms with it. Nor did she have any problems with the way Cador referenced her. When they spoke of the boy King, Cador mentioned a certain feature of the game which had gotten him here that he might have invested in to save himself from his current level of embarrassment. "Yeah, that pack would have helped him out a bit. People do crazy things with it... but one can't deny a couple of hidden attributes could do wonders~" she said softly. Still that pack was something of an enigma. And beyond that, the lad probably didn't actually realize his tool wasn't big enough to get the job done. Everything about him, reeked of ignorance. Even his dream of a harem was ignorant when one considered he hadn't the skill nor physical ability to please one woman, much less a group of them.

Far beyond the reaches of simple chatter in their conversation, it seemed that Cador was at least curious about what Merlyn offered. She knew he was staring a hole into her face, he even managed to claim that he knew she could do what she said but asked how she'd do it. Well, there were several possible answers, many of them involved fornication. That being said, and given how he'd specifically ended up with such pain in his heart, she already decided such a route wasn't for her. "By promoting it as part of the 'reality' I create here. Though specifically I think by planting a seed there," she said pointing at his chest. "A bit of light to feed on that darkness, should balance back to neutral. And let you ease towards healing over time. The Spirit Knight deserves to have his own spirit fully operational after all~" she mentioned. She held up her index finger near the side of her face with said seed atop it. She wasn't the type to take advantage of this man's misfortunes... she only wished to see the man as fully as he could exist. And she'd been quite serious about not taking advantage of him at all...

At the same time Arthur's words made Kolin smile even harder. She did indeed think she deserved this sort of worship. Arthur had caught on quickly and become such a good version of her favorite type of man. Beyond that, she knew he could satisfy her, she could even skip the service she made other perform as his lip service did more than enough for her state of mind. "Oh? I will take it into consideration~" the woman said. She seemed to be so very excited. As Arthur took his leave, she could barely contain herself.

[Bloodedge]

A world filled with succubi was surely the dream of one like Leorio. For Cador and others of sound mind, however, the thought alone was an absolute nightmare. "If ever that happens, Merlyn, I'd like to ask the favor of you discovering how I can become an incubus. A single enigma of your ilk is probably all I can handle, I'm afraid," he said. Lies, in all technicality. Existing in the same space as Merlyn alone took all of his resolve, but alas... it was good practice against the wiles of Kolin and any like her. Thankfully, he had a lovely jumpstart... unlike Leorio. "I think the king has enough hidden attributes already. He should get himself one that shows on the stat sheet, brandished like a fine sword." he snipped.

The method Merlyn intended to use for the sake of 'healing' him was a point of curiosity, but more curious yet was the actual answer. Some sort of magical construct existed at the tip of her forefinger, apparently a creation to be planted within his heart to incorporate a bit of light. How surprising. "You truly do have honor, don't you? And here I thought you were going to say something like... I don't know, 'I'll suck it out of you myself,' or something of that nature," the Spirit Knight spoke. Frankly, he was disappointed by that not being the answer, now that he thought about it properly. Mere side-effects, surely. "You have my thanks, but I must decline. Our troubles shape us, remember? If I accept that from you, I will eventually leave myself open to the next version of that woman... perhaps even literally her next version. Fear not, Merlyn; my past does not haunt me. I'll use what I've learned from it to help the next ones like me."

[Apollymi]

According to Sir Cador, if the world were filled with Succubi he'd want to be an Incubus. That was fair she supposed, those came with at least some resistance to the succubus wiles. "Oh? Well, I suppose I could look into that for you. If any others pop up... I'll let you know~" she mused her mannerisms still light and joking. Even to the point that she managed another laugh because of what Cador had to say in relation to the one known as King Leorio. "Shishishi~ I don't know if those count as hidden~" she stated after clearing it up. Still what would come of her open offer to help the man out of his particular level of predicament.

Cador seemed a bit surprised by the offer made by Merlyn. Given what she'd seen of the woman he previously dealt with, she could understand at least a little why he'd be so surprised. What was more, his mental run to vulgarity just caused a smile on her face. She supposed she could have done exactly as he said. She still could, such things were well within her abilities. "Of course. I was quite serious about not taking advantage~" she said. Having knowledge of the effects she had on people, she wouldn't want them to feel as if their free will had be stripped by simply offering them things which their nature would have made them happy to get. That is how one got a Kolin, and the world didn't need that. "And yes, I would have offered that to you. But that is counterproductive per my previous point~" she mentioned with a playful wink. It was joking but still she knew, the type of woman that was Kolin would never offer such a thing. The poor men in her life were starved but likely felt like they got so much by her manipulation, such was the nature of one who took advantage but gave little to nothing in return. But what of her offer? He wouldn't take it. Of course he wouldn't, an sigh left the lass in the moment still. She was happy, sort of. "The men in my life are so difficult to look after... won't take help freely offered. So willful and unnecessarily difficult~" she said with a playful pout crossing her face. Even as that little seed of light disappeared and she'd go on to tap her forehead gently. "Still, that is what I enjoy about the free will of mankind. I suppose that is the exchange on that, I won't complain," she stated most wistfully. If he wished to use his previous experiences to help out the lad, and work through them on his own, she had no room to question his resolve. Such resolve is why he could of course, have such casual conversations with her. Even so, the amount of independence in men like Cador and Arthur could be taken as a bit annoying, she knew not all wanted to walk an easy path, but to lighten the burden a little wouldn't have changed much. What about the fun part?

[Bloodedge]

"Do so. I would be in your debt," Cador said regarding the hypothetical overflow of succubi in this world, and the potential solution for his sake. A laugh here, a chuckle there, and he was content to move on from matters regarding Leorio and others within the kingdom. He was far more interested in other matters, anyway. For example... Merlyn's choices and method of assisting. She claimed she would have gone with the more assumable option for easing his pain. Perhaps he would have taken that option, if given it. Ah, but was that just another side-effect? Possibly, but perhaps not fully. "Oh? Open with that next time. Maybe the answer will be more to your liking, in that case," he offered.

Cador hadn't a clue how time had been passing outside, but he continued drinking from an endless ale mug as if he hadn't a care in the world. The matters of his past were not so problematic to him directly; he truly didn't need Merlyn's offering. The only negative he could take from it presently, was the fact that someone like Kolin still walked around cursing others to fates so similar to his own. "Obviously, the men in your life are saving you from eternal boredom. I should let Arthur know what a great service we are providing! The Future King and the Spirit Knight, protecting the idle mind of the timeless Merlyn! You should really thank us for our service as your loyal followers~"

[Apollymi]

A nod came from Merlyn. She'd actually not mind having this man as one of her ilk. She felt that at the very least she could trust him not to take advantage of others, so maybe one day Merlyn wouldn't be the only of her type in existence. What was more the man claimed that she should have opened with a true nature showing of her abilities. If she did so perhaps he'd have accepted her assistance. She couldn't help but find this bit amusing, how could he honestly say such a thing. "Hm? I'll have to keep it in mind. Though any answer is technically to my liking as long as the choice of that answer is yours~" she stated honestly. To be fair, she was almost certain simply being able to see her did a number on the man she was currently with. Would she save herself from eternal boredom at the cost of them? Not really, to be honest she'd rather be bored than have something bad happen to this particular pair of young men. Luckily enough at least one of them bore a reasonable amount of immunity to her. Sir Cador on the other side of that resisted by will alone.

"Oh? Is that what you're doing? Well, I suppose thanks would indeed be in order for my loyal follower~" she said with a snarky little grin on her face. "That's just you by the way. Arthur is not at all a follower of mine~" she said with that same light tone. Of course, the Spirit Knight did manage to keep her company and amused in this rather boring land of disturbing dreams. Strangely, enough she also knew he'd be around to keep her company during her waking hours, it isn't as if someone else would be sent to guard her at all. Perhaps she'd make use of this new found information about the man during that time.

[Bloodedge]

"Kuku~" Cador snickered. Merlyn had an interesting way about her, and it occasionally showed in the brightest of shining moments. As far as things to her liking were concerned, this revelation was one such moment. "How incredibly chivalrous of you, Merlyn. I'm glad I gave you free roam of my subconscious," he stated in earnest. If there were other succubi around, he'd undoubtedly choose Merlyn as his go-to at any given moment. Sure, her influence over him at present was something beyond normal comprehension, but... he did offer her his dreams before even seeing her face fully.

Indeed, all was certainly for the benefit of Merlyn! Laughable as the notion was, Cador simply continued drinking. It was apparently thought by Merlyn that Arthur couldn't be considered a 'follower' of hers. Cador strongly disagreed. Perhaps she'd missed part of his discussion with the Future King while being scarred by the events of Leorio's chambers. In spite of the fact that Arthur was never sure how much he could trust Merlyn, he seemed to have absolute faith in the succubus. Perhaps Cador himself was already more invested for various reasons, including his lack of immunity to her passive traits, but Arthur was not to be counted as an exception to Merlyn's believers. "The curse of Clairvoyance strikes. Arthur may not bend the knee to you, but I have reason to consider him a legitimate follower of yours. Far less devout than my loyal self, of course~" he joked.

[Apollymi]

Snickering. That was about right for what she'd just said. Of course, she wasn't the type of take advantage of him. Even so, she expected him not to fully understand exactly how much she could have done if she were less... well herself. A chuckle escaped her, "I thought we were in agreement that I wasn't at all chivalrous~" she said with mock surprise crossing her face. "Admittedly, I too am glad you gave me permission to roam your subconscious. I kind of like it here. It'd make a great time-share~" she jested with that same kind of tone she always had.

Cador continued drinking in his dream but he apparently, took issue with Merlyn thinking that Arthur wasn't one of her followers. He claimed it to be a curse of her Clairvoyance that she had no idea about Arthur's mindset. According to Sir Cador, though Arthur didn't bend the knee to her, he was still a follower. He tossed in the idea that the blonde was less devout than himself which made her laugh just a little. "Well, I don't know if that is a curse of Clairvoyance. I felt no need to spy on the two of you... I trust you Sir Cador," she mentioned in gentle passing. True enough, upon seeing this man's actions within the world, she knew he deserved quite a bit of her trust, beyond all of that, she simply knew he was always deserving of such trust. "So, if you say that Arthur is a follower of mine, though not to the same extent that you are... I have no choice but to believe you~" Merlyn's words came out with sing-song tone. She was amused as she always was while speaking to Sir Cador. She knew this would be the case when she laid eyes on him the first time. Funnily enough the plan to get her locked up, while it helped Arthur gain better standing with Kolin, also gave Merlyn this amusement and the ability to chat with Sir Cador uninterrupted for long periods of time. This was what she meant by doing things the 'fun' way.

[Bloodedge]

"Of course we were. But, minds change~" Cador said about Merlyn's apparent chivalry. Hearing his dream referred to as a potential timeshare, he quirked a brow while tilting his mug. That was actually a rather interesting concept, he thought. "You're right! Hmm. I don't have any other takers, though; no one else would even be able to sit through the presentation. I suppose then, I'll just have to settle for renting it out to you. The rental fee will be nominal, of course, but quality is assured~"

The idea of Arthur truly being Merlyn's follower, was accepted by virtue of trust in Cador. He'd hardly done a thing to earn such faith, as far as he was concerned. Alas, he would not be one to question this. He had just as much faith in Merlyn, and he'd harbored said faith long enough for it to be no result of succubus magic. "Many thanks. Don't think buttering me up is going to get you cheaper rent, though. All it will earn you is..." He paused, thinking it over during another swig. What would such statements from the succubus get out of him? "... well, everything else." Ah, yes. The same way he pretended to be around Queen Kolin, he found himself being in actuality around Merlyn. Eventually, he'd discover how much of this was an effect of her nature as a succubus, and how much of it was a legitimate feeling of comfort in good company.

[Apollymi]

Apparently Sir Cador changed his mind about Merlyn's nature during their conversation. "Well, if Spirit Knight wishes to change his mind about the nature of my virtues, I'm hardly inclined to argue~" Merlyn's words were playful as ever. She quite enjoyed this moment. What was more, Sir Cador easily found himself in the spirit of her joking nature. He seemed to at least agree with the idea of his dream space being a decent time-share. But he claimed he had no other takers. She'd be the only renter, but it was at least quality assured. "Well, the fee is always fine. So long as the product is worthwhile. After being part of this tour I've no problem paying up~" she mentioned. What an interesting metaphor and yet also strangely a truthful desire. Merlyn could take up a bit of the Spirit Knight's brain space. She would enjoy the time here, and likely pay whatever he desired to enjoy its comforts. What a strange way of thinking when they'd both already made known their lack of desire for anything truly committal.

Her ability to butter up the Spirit Knight came with thanks, but also with a clause about it not lowering he rent within the space of his mind. He had more to say but there was a gentle pause between his thoughts as he swigged from his drink. After he spoke a bemused chuckle escaped the white haired lass, she had quite the response to his words. "Why I would never expect a discount on the rent!" she seemed mockingly outraged by such an accusation. "Though buttering you up, definitely shouldn't give me everything else~" she said still in good humor but there were more words to follow. "Make sure to keep something for you." Strangely this statement was something Merlyn meant. He should definitely never give anyone everything, but if he wanted to give her something or even most things, she might accept them... mostly because she was willing to think of an equivalent exchange between them as the most ideal.

[Bloodedge]

Cador stood, stepping closer to the fire. He felt as if he was actually warming up here in the dream. Perhaps that was the fault of Merlyn and her reality-shifting, or perhaps it was simply Cador's imagination. Whatever the case, he continued drinking by the fireplace. Jokes shared between the two seemed to be never-ending, with no single instance of jest being addressed only briefly. Naturally, the timeshare of his subconscious mind was not exempt from this way of conversing. "Ah, good! When the madness is over, I'll be expecting the security deposit and first month's rent. Oh, and here at Spirit Knight, we reserve the right to evict you for being even a day late~"

No lateness, no discounts, no complaints. This imaginary rental situation was coming together quite nicely. Though... as imaginary as it was, Cador literally couldn't resist believing there was great truth behind the banter. Speaking of this little 'agreement' of theirs, Merlyn spoke of the exchange rate that came along with the flattery. Yes, that was worth some negotiation, wasn't it? "Hmm, very true. I should benefit as well, and everything may be overpaying for flattery. Well Merlyn, I'm quite stumped. What would you consider a fair exchange? I'm sure a decent enough arrangement can be made."

[Apollymi]

The fire was quite warm, Merlyn continued to sit, even as Cador wandered closer to the flames. With all the words and jokes passing between them, one might have thought the two old friends. Though this wasn't the case, she knew they would be at some point, perhaps this is why she was so comfortable with their current arrangement. Just the same she allowed her eyes to wander over the man, in addition to having an upstanding personality he was actually quite nice to look at. It was a shame one like Kolin couldn't have found satisfaction with a man like this, and thus left him a bit broken in her wake. She'd almost destroyed him for other women with her schemes, but Merlyn supposed such was the nature of a woman with lusts as great as Kolin's. "Even a day late? That's pretty serious. Not to worry though, I've never missed a payment on anything~" she joked along with the man, a gentle upturn of her lips as her mug returned to her hands and she sipped from these dreams.

It seemed they had quite the agreement going, full of banter and yet, beyond the confines of moments where lives were at stake and things were in danger, they'd likely have already done something about this mounting tension. What a shame that evil queen was getting in her way, even without realizing it. Whatever the case, Merlyn found herself thinking over what would be considered a fair exchange for her outright flattery of him. "Hm, probably equal flattery, maybe a couple of those cheeky glances you keep stealing of me~ Those are nice. Feel free to take as many of those for yourself as you'd like!~" she said in that same tone, but these sentences weren't really jokes at this point. She was quite serious, he should give what she did, and not too much more unless the spirit of generosity stuck him. "I'm already making out like a bandit at this point, the fairness of this exchange is nothing to worry about~"

[Bloodedge]

Never missed a payment, she said. Good. He would be prompt to collect─ as cordial as he would be in upkeeping the quality of his dreams. He'd have to keep it worth the pay, after all. Speaking of the pay, there would soon be a suggested form of repayment for his most generous offering. Equal flattery was one thing, but Merlyn also decided to bring up the matter of his wandering eyes. She'd taken note of that, then? Cador cleared his throat when the truth came to light, though he did not argue against this factual claim. "Is that all? You and I both know, I was going to take those for myself anyway. It's almost impossible to not look at you, after all." Truer words had never been spoken. Even the effort it took to play nice around Kolin paled in comparison to looking away from Merlyn. He'd even started gazing upon the succubus more consistently now, hardly a wholesome thought in the back of his mind. Outside of this very room within the dream, his other thoughts played out. While he watched Merlyn, behind every door and window leading out, there were visions of Merlyn and himself in all sort of compromising positions. At least he was good at compartmentalizing. . .

"Why yes, you are certainly the winner of this exchange no matter how you look at it. You get to enter and consume my dreams, flatter your way into my greatest graces, and I... get to look at you?" he questioned as if upset, though it was all in good fun as well. The banter between them was so easily kept up, he hardly had it in him to abandon it. "Well, at least the hood is off. I suppose I can woefully accept the idea of staring at your face while you devour my mental state~"

[Apollymi]

A cleared throat and no denial. How interesting, Sir Cador was a very honest man after all... he had no problem admitting to the wandering eyes he rather obviously possessed. Still she couldn't help a more playful reply to the man's words. "Only almost? Hm, I might be a bit of a failure then... might be time to give up~" she mused as if stricken by the idea that it was possible for the man to look away from her. Of course, she knew he could, she also knew it maintained a certain level of difficulty. Dealing with her was likely stressful even for the most devout of men...

It was rather true though, the banter between this pair was far too easy to keep up. Given this it was almost impossible for one like Merlyn to completely give up any method of her speech even now. "I mean that sounds like the deal... but there are some perks. Like getting to look at me...while I am doing all of those things~" Merlyn teased. Of course, she wasn't so shallow as to only allow this man to watch. In fact, she'd prefer a great deal more than that, but... was now really the time? Well, Merlyn was full of teasing energy, beyond that she was actually a succubus, so there was no time like the present to place more teasing thoughts into the random compartments in the man's head. "I could also remove more clothes... Or devour those dreams in a more direct manner if that'd be fairer~"

[Bloodedge]

"Yes, almost. Well... for me, at least. That's quite the compliment, you know?" the Spirit Knight replied, knowing how incredibly difficult he found it to resist Merlyn's passive aura. He also understood the difference between himself, and most other men of this world. Almost impossible for him, was likely outright impossible for those who didn't have his experiences. "Feel free to put forth the extra effort regardless, though. I think I would rather enjoy it."

Ah yes, how could he have forgotten? It wasn't a matter of him being allowed to gaze upon Merlyn, but specifically that he could do so while she enjoyed the commodities of his dreams and offerings. That certainly sweetened the deal, didn't it? A scoff was Cador's response. Luckily for him, there was more to come. It would be of no use now, but now was definitely not the time for anything greater than the relaxation his slumber offered. Regardless, Merlyn improved the conditions of their arrangement quite nicely. He even began to wonder something as a result. Merlyn determined reality, but if this was a dream he was conscious of, did he have some control over her reality in this situation? If he thought hard enough, he wondered if Merlyn would suffer the disappearance of her clothes via forced lucid dreaming. "Hmm. That is certainly acceptable. I often dream of Cornwall, though; the cold will be dire," he said, never removing the most recent train of thought from his mind. In learning whether he had such power or not, perhaps he would have useful information for the future.

[Apollymi]

"Well, if it's a compliment from you... and of such great magnitude. I suppose I have no choice but to accept it~" Merlyn mentioned, but her joking tone and pouting face implied slightly more displeasure than she actually felt in the moment. She was also more than presently surprised when Cador told her to continue her efforts, claiming that he might enjoy them. Well, if that was what he wanted... she certainly wouldn't argue with the man. "As you wish, Sir Cador~" and that was that, she said with a mocking inclination of her head and her right arm crossing over her chest. Soon enough she settled back into her seat, seeming still way too amused by the words that Sir Cador had to share.

Still the matter of her offer of fairness hung in the air, and it would seem that Sir Cador was agreeable to those terms. Though they came with the warning that he often dreamt of his former kingdom and thus it was often cold. Along with his spoken words came a strange change in Merlyn's current state of reality. "Well, I'm generally unbothered by changes in temperature..." Merlyn had started to say something catty but lost it as she lost all of her clothing. Instead of being even remotely upset about this she simply rested her elbow on the arm of the chair and her head in the same hand. Basically holding her own chin she looked directly to Cador with an amused expression. "I didn't take you for much of a lucid dreamer Sir Cador... Still this is a rather exciting turn of events~" the woman teased mercilessly as if she wasn't the one currently naked in this situation. Whatever the case, she wouldn't bother restoring her own clothes. She wondered if this man was the type to change her attire whenever she appeared in such instances knowing that he was capable of it. There were several interesting implications about their future endeavors if he knew and understood this concept.

[Bloodedge]

"You undoubtedly have a choice," was Cador's rebuttal. "If you were to choose acceptance, though, that would be ideal~" In response to Merlyn's mock of a knights' bow, Cador mirrored her movements. This was a worthwhile exchange of amusing gestures while the banter continued, and while Cador tested his ability to control the dream around him.

By the time the succubus commented on temperature changes and their lack of effect on her, things were beginning to change. Cador had yet to take his eyes off Merlyn, and now, they were glued indefinitely. She did say she was fine with the watching, and that was about as consensual as it could be. Slowly but surely, his eyes lowered... and then rose... and then, repeated the motions. How long would this go on? Well, it seemed Cador had no intention of stopping. Merlyn did nothing to return her garments, after all. Such a thing was surely permission, and whether it was or not, refraining from looking had officially become impossible for even Cador. "Yes... exciting..." he spoke slowly, converting most of his internal focus into an effort... just to speak properly. "I'm not much of a lucid dreamer at all, honestly. I just thought very hard, for quite a long time. Much to my satisfaction, it actually worked eventually. Now I wonder if I should be regretting that decision. . ."

[Apollymi]

Hm, what an interesting exchange of mocking ideas. How very amusing she found these exchanges with Sir Cador. She'd already agreed to accepting his compliment. Of course she would soon find she no longer needed to try extra to gain this man's attention. While sitting with her chin balanced in the palm of her hand, she could practically feel this man's eyes on her. He'd created the situation in which she was naked, she'd simply done nothing to remedy it. A small smile spread across Merlyn's face as the Spirit Knight finally managed to speak, two words at first but he did actually get them out. "Hoh? Not much of a lucid dreamer, but still managed to strip the succubus. Not a bad first attempt I must say~" she mused as if congratulating the man on the feat he'd accomplished. Ah, but, as always Merlyn's teasing knew no real bounds. She always had more to say... "Also, you were not rendered completely speechless. That's pretty encouraging, I'm glad you are satisfied by the result," Merlyn continued to tease this man about the nature of her nudity. She knew his eyes followed her body both up and down multiple times even. She wondered exactly how much concentration it took him to be capable of speech at a time like this. "Admittedly, I'm quite curious Sir Cador as to why you would regret this decision?" Merlyn asked this question in a very straight forward manner, still she sat about completely nude within this chair as if she was absolutely comfortable. She wouldn't alter his views, she didn't mind if he looked, but if he had a point he was trying for in this moment he should definitely share.

[Bloodedge]

Under normal circumstances, even Cador would have admitted to pride in his own ability. Affecting a succubus who entered one's dream had to be some sort of incredible feat, after all. He was also managing to resist just enough to complete a proper thought... sort of. Ah, but it was the difficulty of the latter which left him incapable of appreciating what he'd managed. He was quite busy, instead, appreciating what had come of it. Dastardly as she was, Merlyn posed a question during his extended moment of stupor. Was he regretting his decision? Should he have reason for regret? He could hardly think of any reason, considering how overwhelmed he already felt mentally. "Hmm. If I had to hazard a guess..." he started, not even considering the fact that he was already moving closer to the succubus. Though not fully afflicted by her abilities, having an unabashed view of Merlyn's full glory could be considered far too much for even Cador. "It would probably be something about feeling as if I should immediately burn through several hours of my day, right now. Though... I was ordered to sleep so I could keep my wits about me. This is just a dream, after all. . ."

[Apollymi]

Closer and closer. Cador was making his way over to Merlyn much to general expectations. It seemed full nudity was a bit much even for the resistance of the Spirit Knight. Even so, the man was still putting great care into answering the offered question. Though he was responding slowly, he was responding still. A smirk remained on Merlyn's face as she shifted under this man's gaze. This wasn't uncomfortable he was simply already looking and figured he might actually enjoy seeing more or less of her at any given moment. Of course, Cador went on to claim he'd been ordered to sleep so he could keep his wits about him. Doing this would mean of course, that he likely wasn't intending to fall to the succubus' wiles in this very moment. "Oh, quite right. I suppose... you were given some very specific orders. Wouldn't want you falling prey to that sorceress in the dungeon while you're on duty~" she said with a chipper tone and full of sarcasm. Even so she stood in the moment allowing the man a full appreciation of her form before donning her clothing. Of course, such a thing would hardly take place in the manner at which it had disappeared. Merlyn was far too gifted in her ability to manipulate the dreaming subconscious. No, she had clothing appear around her body in order. Lingerie first, all lace and white. The layers of clothing she wore over it, black fingerless gloves, high black tights. Then finally the cloak which appeared hood up at the very end. "I suppose, I should do the kindest thing and allow the Spirit Knight his rest. You do have a few hours left and they should be restful~" Merlyn mentioned as if she was most amused.

[Bloodedge]

An interesting turn of events was ahead, though not exactly the type Cador anticipated. He'd been inching forward, and just as his hand began to rise, a change occurred around Merlyn. Rather, multiple changes occurred. Over the course of a few moments, Cador witnessed the multiple stages of dress belonging to the succubus, starting with white lace, and ending with everything she wore─ including her hood. A partially-outstretched hand halted midair, closing slowly before returning to Cador's side. "Well, that is a disappointment. I'm less inclined to call this the kindest thing; I'd sooner call it a punishment. I must have some bad karma built up... unless you are secretly the other half of Kolin~" he said, finally able to manage a more normal train of thought now that Merlyn wore her hood. At least one of them found amusement in this. The other, however, wondered if it were possible to experience the phenomenon colloquially referred to as 'blue balls' due to a dream. Regardless, he would toss his hands overhead in mock surrender, close his eyes, and sigh. "Fine, fine. I'll sleep the normal way today. I should be waking to deal with that wretched sorceress soon, anyway. Hopefully she won't treat me as dreadfully as a certain succubus who invaded my napping dreams~"

[Apollymi]

Cador spoke of bad Karma the the joking possibility of Merlyn being half of Kolin. This made the white haired woman laugh aloud. She really was being kind, he simply wouldn't understand that kindness. "Ah, yes... divine punishment~" she said with a little chuckle. "And it's definitely the kindest thing... I do believe I explained that things I do in such spaces have waking consequences~" she said as a gentle upturn of her lips showed that such a thing was a rather amusing thought, but she'd still let him sleep for now. After all, it wasn't as if she wouldn't have access to him for the full night regardless. "Oh, so wretched, all locked up and alone~ One wonders how she hasn't gone mad~" she said referencing herself in the third person as if she were a completely separate entity. To keep up this charade she had one more thing to say, about her supposed invasion into this man's subconscious. "Invaded is such a harsh word. I was invited... I even pay rent now~" she said as if playfully mocking the idea of being troublesome. "Enjoy your normal dreams Sir Cador... I might not let you have them again anytime soon~" she said and with a playful wink she'd take her leave and allow the man his truest rest in the moment. Until of course they'd meet again.

[Bloodedge]

"Indeed. Poor me, not even knowing what I did to incur such wrath from the most high," Cador chanted, sparing not a single ounce of over-exaggeration. He could be rational about matters now, though that wasn't going to stop him from the banter─ nothing could stop that. Moments ago, he couldn't have cared less about any consequences to his waking. There were quite a few scenes happening outside of this room, and he was keen to let them into the present space. Alas, Merlyn was right; there was greater purpose in keeping things more normal for the time being. "Oh, I'm sure she went mad centuries ago. She makes such terrible decisions, I can't imagine it being any other way," he said. From the looks of things, their next meeting in the material world was going to be a rather interesting one. He wondered what would come of it, but that didn't particularly matter. "Farewell, Merlyn. Next time, remind me what a good idea it would be to renegotiate the abysmally low rental fee I decided to charge you. We'll see what becomes of a dream then, won't we?"

And so, the strange meeting within Cador's mind came to an end. Soon, he would wake and go about his duties. Ah yes... he would have to start by reporting to Kolin, as per usual. In his search for the queen, though, he naturally encountered Arthur standing in the hall near the woman's bed chamber. Few words were shared between the two, but that is a tale best told another time. . .

[Apollymi]

Cador spared not the slightest exaggeration during his retort, which only garnered him further giggles from Merlyn. She was after all, rather easily amused by his antics, it as more or less a known fact at this point. They could banter and laugh at each others jokes. They could have some innuendo laden conversations... they might even take their flirting past the speech phase. She supposed only time would truly tell. "I'm sure it's there in the fine print of that rental agreement. Exactly what you did to earn that divine punishment~" she stated with a slight incline of her head. Beyond this, Cador went on to make more commentary about the 'sorceress' in the dungeon. He claimed she'd probably went mad centuries ago. "Of course, she didn't have an emotional support Knight to help out~ Poor lass," Merlyn said of her supposed craziness. Of course the joke would have been ruined if she'd tried to defend herself so she'd let this stand for now at least. "Of course, you obviously have until the first months rent is paid to figure out all of the terms~ Ja~" and with that the woman disappeared. Even in their last moments, there were nothing but jokes and witty banter between this pair.

Still, the sleeping hours of Sir Cador would need to pass, and Merlyn in the meantime busied herself with the subconscious dreams of others. She walked about as freely within the minds of others as she would have out on the streets. Hm, what sort of information would she manage to gather between now and then? Well, only time would really tell. By the time Sir Cador woke and began moving around, he'd find himself in front of the Queen's door. Behind this door, the Queen worked, strangely. She was crafting a jewel with a strange property, she intended to use to keep the sorceress from doing anything to herself or her men when the next phase of her plan was enacted. She needed to get rid of Merlyn and it was best if she didn't give the other woman any sort of chance at victory. After completing it, she tucked it away among the other jewels of her person. She felt satisfied that she'd done something about her plan, though it made her mind wander to the other aspects. She was expecting word from some other knights soon. She would have preferred to be rid of the two girls before they returned. Having them here after would complicate things. Perhaps, they could be easily gotten rid of along with Merlyn if they didn't get taken before she needed to address the next step of her plan. She supposed she could always have them killed as accomplices or something of that nature. No one would argue that the pair of girls had never liked her and thus were likely to be in cahoots with the sorceress. Yes, she could work with that. A wicked smile on her face which let the world know she was up to no good would be utterly clear, even as she opened her door to find outside of it Arthur and Cador?! Her eyes widened at the sight, how good of them to still be working so well together. "Hoh? What an interesting sight right outside my door. I didn't realize it had gotten so late~" The Queen said as a method of announcing herself. Truly she hadn't realized how long creating that item would take her, perhaps she should have alotted herself some more crafting based skills, though admittedly those were often less useful to her than her ability to manipulate men.

[Bloodedge]

Arthur and Cador seemed to be having an oddly casual discussion, as if they were merely chatting as comrades-in-arms. For the most part, they were. Any matters of great importance were discussed long before Queen Kolin opened her door. In that very moment, both men fell silent. It was to be the case that any discussion happening between them, held no importance before the queen herself. The conversation ceased with haste, and both knights turned to kneel. "Your Grace," they said in unison. Combined, these two would surely create the perfect image of loyalty. Both were visually ready to serve, whatever the order may be. "Your faithful will always be within earshot, my queen," Arthur spoke. "Indeed. I woke from my rest, and could think of nothing more important than locating the queen," Cador added.

False dedication at its finest. At this point, both Arthur and Cador were, in fact, ready and willing to accept Kolin's ridiculous demands while following orders to the letter. That is... until the time came that they could finally go against the grain. This was most accurate in the case of Cador, who knew in the depths of his soul that there was no saving the woman currently known as Kolin. Arthur may have been lagging behind on the realization still, but... he would be catching up over time. First though, was the matter of their presence here and now. "What brings you out of your chambers, my queen? May we be of service?"

[Apollymi]

Two exceedingly loyal men, greeted Kolin in unison. Ah, to be the center of attention once more, she might have gotten some sort of pleasure from this kind of situation. Was it the fact that they stopped everything to acknowledge her? Or was it the fact that both claimed their faithfulness was almost worth swooning over. If she'd managed such a thing it would have been for these two. Perhaps when they were properly separated from the women in their lives, they could be shared... both suited her needs in ways her other Knights could only hope to try. "Oh? I don't know what I enjoy more, the idea that I'm the first thing Cador thinks of..." she mused. "Or the idea that Arthur has been waiting outside my door most of the day~" this woman was strangely spoiled for attention, but that made sense considering what she was like. Whatever the case both of these men were reasonable enough and loyal to her. Still she couldn't let them become to friendly, thus her statement to seed in a bit of competition between the two, whether they immediately acknowledged it or not... it'd be there in the backs of their minds.

"So eager~" Kolin stated after Arthur's questions. She supposed this pair had earned quite a bit of her trust. She had no reason to withhold what she was currently doing, nor why she'd finally emerged from her rooms. "I simply finished what I was working on, and I realized this morning's reports didn't include anything from the scouts. I am still expecting word from Hector's party, that errand I sent him on his of the highest importance after all~" she said this was mostly for Cador as Hector would be an unknown to Arthur. As for what their actual services would be worth for now... she decided she'd reward Arthur for waiting outside her door like a good guard dog. "Hm, Cador also deserves praise for, having managed to be such a good influence on you, Arthur. Sadly, I'm certain its time for you to relieve the other guards Cador. After I decide what to do with that sorceress I'll see to it you're properly rewarded," she said. Her words were spoken with a specific emphasis in mind. It was meant to make the one known as Merlyn seem even worse as a prisoner. She wanted her guards to resent having to watch her, lest they become too chummy. Sir Cador more than many others was likely to gain a soft spot for young looking or child-like women. And with Merlyn being so flat-chested, Kolin assumed she was a younger girl throwing a tantrum. "Arthur, as a reward for waiting so patiently, you may serve by coming along. I have a few more preparations to see to, and having a Knight at my side is preferable during such boring business."

[Bloodedge]

If Kolin wanted to produce animosity between the two knights, she would interestingly succeed. Of course, Arthur and Colin actually considered themselves quite friendly toward one another, but... Arthur needed to get himself as close to Kolin as possible for the sake of acquiring information, and Cador had to push Arthur more and more. Interestingly enough, it would be Arthur who gave the first response to Kolin's comparison. "With all due respect to Sir Cador, it because you fill my mind that I could not move very far from your door." In response to Arthur saying such a thing, Cador chuckled. So, this was how things would be? Interesting. "H'oh? My newest protégé trying to upstage me before Her Grace? As one who owes the queen my life, I should take great offense," the Spirit Knight offered as retort. Moving on from that, there was mention of another group of knights. The name Hector was unfamiliar to Arthur in this world, though his knowledge of lore gave him reason to believe Hector was a potential ally. Cador, on the other hand, was quite familiar with the mentioned knight.

"If it is of importance to you, my queen, Sir Hector will excel. He has always been capable enough to return from expeditions in the timeframe normally allotted for receiving word. Perhaps the party will return as early as today," Cador claimed. He wasn't sure at all, but he had utmost confidence in Hector's ability. In fact, Hector was the knight he most feared being an enemy of. If that man ever legitimately sided with Kolin, things would become rather dangerous.

Kolin's praises were to be split, albeit with an obvious leaning. While Arthur was granted permission to accompany the queen, Cador was sent to the dungeons for the sake of guarding Merlyn yet again. He spared a glance in Arthur's direction that was a simple state of seriousness, but was perhaps purposely designed to appear similar to distaste. "If it pleases you, Grace. The mad sorceress will do no harm while I have her detained." With that said, Cador rose with an arm crossed over his chest. Arthur was next to rise, doing so with a content grin toward the queen. "You honor me, my queen. I only hope I can manage to make this business you have less... boring, as it were~"

[Apollymi]

Much to Kolin's expectation, the two men started showing what could generally be called animosity towards each other. Each of them making at least one claim which would make it seem as if they were vying for her affections. As the affection of all men was a thing she was after, this satisfied her natural ego, bringing her a great deal of happiness. A giggle escaped her as she managed to find the humor in this. "Hearing such dedication does wonders for my mood~" she managed, knowing that keeping the pair just friendly enough to listen to each other, but constantly vying for the top spot was the best way to make sure all of their focus remained on her, and her alone. Such a space was where one like Cador fell a bit in the rankings, as he had other things to distract him. No matter, those things were among the ones that she would be getting rid of at her convenience. Then everything about him would be able to focus on her.

What was more, at the mention of Hector, Cador seemed to have faith in the man's abilities when it came to things Kolin herself demanded. Making the claim that he'd likely return well before the time she would have received word in more normal means. "Ah, well I do have high hopes. I suppose given your track record, anyone you place faith in is to be acknowledged as a superior champion to my whims~" Kolin stated. It was her demand that everything be about her, and this was more and more obvious as she spoke in these moments. But so long as men were content to give her, her way... she had few outward problems. So the split between Arthur and Cador was a necessary one. She saw the look of seriousness which she took to be one of distaste when she gave this pair their orders. Watching such an instance gave her the information to know that much like her other Knights these two wouldn't be sharing much with each other. Keeping a wedge between different levels of individuals, kept her safe from them ganging up on her. It also made it so she was possible to string each one along without having to give them the same exact amount of attention. "See to it." she said to Cador before turning to Arthur. "Of course you will, come along~" and just like that she was off. With Arthur headed towards the western wing. This was where the messengers and birds were kept and where she would collect any messages sent forth, including secret communications she had going on with some less that reputable people. All was within her plan.

At the same time, Merlyn lay within her cell, eyes closed but with both hands resting across her abdomen. In this moment of good humor she could see where the walk with Arthur and Kolin was going. She could even see the types of things she would be saying. Merlyn had mentioned to Cador several times that she was trying to get the best endings possible for everyone, she didn't mention this included their enemies. Every step into madness was one which created another bad end for every person who sided with her. 'Hm, when all is said and done. No one can say I didn't try right?' she thought, sitting up for the first time in several hours. She rubbed her hands over her face as if she'd been properly sleeping. She knew the movements and actions of the guards around her. She knew they were afraid of her waking but she also knew that they'd not be standing around for too much longer. After all, their relief was coming.

[Bloodedge]

Apparently, Kolin was as easy to string along as she assumed her followers were. Though care was required, the two were almost making a mockery of the situation around them. Positions were perfect on both sides. Cador would move on to 'guard' Merlyn, and Arthur would progress to being Kolin's entertainment for the evening. Following along behind the queen, Arthur found his mind wandering. Where was the salvation? He looked the woman up and down repeatedly, seeming somewhat somber as a result. What a waste. No matter how hard Arthur tried, he couldn't get over the impossible, yet incredible build the queen boasted. If only she'd been different, he would have joined her cause in earnest, and perhaps even properly entertained the idea of being the king to her queen.

The disappointment was hardly hidden from Arthur's face, but he doubted it mattered. His expression was longing, as if wishing for a better outcome to all of this. He didn't want to kill some woman he'd only just met. He didn't want to cause the downfall of one who didn't wrong him. He didn't even want to behave as a false servant to someone, just to meet an end goal. The Future King fell silent as his mind raced, always looking for a better solution to... all of this.

Elsewhere, the simpler guards were evacuating the area surrounding Merlyn's cell. One by one, they stepped away, as one set of footsteps drew closer and closer. There were multiple guards in place, and Sir Cador was undoubtedly fit to replace them all once again. "Yet again, I get the task of watching the mad sorceress. It's almost as bad as looking after those other ones. What must I have done to be put in such a position?" he inquired of the universe, though all in his typical humor. The few guards who lagged farthest behind managed to hear this, believing Cador hated the task as much as they did. Some would, just maybe, deliver this information to the queen herself later. . .

[Apollymi]

Kolin was indeed easy to string along. Too bad this pair had no idea just how easy that was, no one did really. As Arthur managed to look at the woman longingly she took it in stride as she did many things. Being the center of attention in this way was beyond what she wished for. As she lead Arthur towards the Aviary where she'd go through messages sent by various pawns in her schemes, she'd speak to him in a happy tone. Encouraging him in her normal manipulative manner. "Not to worry Arthur, I'm sure my boring reading won't last too long... I simply have to check on the management issues of my next seat of power~" she chimed. Of course, sharing such information was a bit of bait for the lad. It'd get him curious, then she could brag on herself by giving information about it. She could show him how generous she was in her endeavors and all the fun he would have to look forward to. Of course, she didn't intend to let him partake of other women besides her, but just knowing the kind of place she wanted to exist would exist was likely more than enough for the good sort of men she surrounded herself with. While she thought over this angle she read a particular letter and though it wasn't the one she was looking for... it was exactly what she needed to potentially fix several of the problems she currently needed to deal with.

At the same time as Arthur was about to discover the 'true' nature of Kolin, Merlyn was waking to the upstanding guard of Sir Cador. Ah, he was playing up his distaste for this moment with the men who were apt to leave such a place. She supposed she should do her part in making him look good to them as well. "Of course, I was just getting used to the quiet scampering of these ones. And I am further punished by the presence of the Whore of Babylon's most loyal and mouthy lapdog~" she said with all the venom she normally presented about Kolin. "Oh sing to me the praises of your precious queen, I need more nightmare fuel." Some of course, took notice... if both of these people didn't enjoy each other's company, obviously the queen had done well picking a guard for the woman. Her continued disrespectful attitude was also noted, she needed that as well. Just saying those words put a new imagine of the future in her head, which she enjoyed. All according to plan.

[Bloodedge]

An aviary was the destination of Kolin and Arthur, it seemed. The blonde male stood at attention, as always, and the silence was eventually broken by the queen herself. She claimed her reading wouldn't take so long, but it was of no consequence to him. What was of importance, though, was progression in this failing kingdom before something drastic was done. This seemed to be a decent start to such a thing. "No matter, Your Grace. I assure you, there is no chance at all for me to be bored in your presence. There is just... so much to think about~" he said, once again abusing honesty for the sake of... well, being misleading. "If it is not so bold, though, might I ask for details about your next throne? Nothing can change my intentions for the future, but... please forgive me for being overly curious." As these words were spoken, Arthur bowed again. He was quite the respectful young man regardless, but his deferential nature had been helping him out in this adventure thus far. As such, he had no reason to change a thing about that. All he had to do, was add a bit extra. "Besides─ your voice is quite soothing to the ear. Hearing more of it could only be a good thing, no?"

Cador put on a show for the straggling guards, and Merlyn joined by adding her own bitterness. It was only natural that things keep going from there. "H'oh? Mouthy again today, are we? Let's see if I have a tale for you... hmm. Well, in spite of your attempt at turning the young Arthur into your pet, it seems our magnificent Queen Kolin has managed to make him see sense. I do wonder if it is even worth keeping you bound, considering how pitiful your enchantments have proven to be," he ranted, giving one additional thing for the remnants to hear. These little mentions would serve them all well, he thought. Merlyn and her Clairvoyance were going along with it, so the Spirit Knight had even more reason to believe this method was for the best. Perhaps he'd soon know precisely why such was the case. . .

[Apollymi]

Oh? A curious one, and what was more... he took an actual interest in her work?! Oh this was almost a dream come true. After having one like Leorio at her side as a co-ruler she'd almost forgotten what it was like to have someone be a bit mentally capable as well. "Oh? Well I can speak since you enjoy it so much. I will also explain since you're so new to the world and my plan is rather detailed. And I will of course, keep this sweet voice of mine going~" she said more than happy to hear herself speak. Beyond all of this, explaining the nature of her expansion was good. "My new seat of power is a place... like a pleasure palace, full of women and all kinds of fun. Set up to be a place of enjoyment and indulgence," she said of her place. "That palace is known as Dis and the surrounding lands are all mine~" she mentioned of this place. "Obviously there needs to be people. A place of indulgence requires servants, pretty faces and other such people. We have to appeal to the masses to get them to flock there... so I've been collecting such people. In great varieties and to keep them where they need to be I created a barcodes. They can be scanned so you'll be able to identify them and return them to the areas or patrons they belong to, if they happen to wander off. Not that they can leave the kingdom itself, anyone who has a barcode is unable to remove it, and unable to leave the bounds of Dis~" she explained hinting at the greater purpose of her Knights within her kingdom and revealing some rather strange practices. "Lots of women and men to belong to my kingdom, but I can't always trust their allegiances. Some won't just swear an oath to do the jobs I need of them like you knights do. They have to be corralled. There is also the problem of those who wouldn't want to actually please patrons, even though they've already been barcoded and are members of the Kingdom," she mentioned thoughtfully reading. "But at least one of the women who works for me has a solution. A former nun at that which makes this all the better because they'll trust her help without thinking of the ulterior motives. She figured out how to keep our Demi-Human population in check and as such... I can keep anyone in check. A seal to keep pregnancies from happening, and also one to alter their personalities. Make them want to do their duties and serve patrons, even if they didn't come along willingly. Having them act as willing neigh excited employees for all of my patrons to grow my kingdom to the height it needs to reach!" Kolin had started speaking about the overall plan and it'd gotten more and more demented. She was speaking of enslaving people, of abusing their bodies even if they didn't volunteer for it. And she was doing so as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "Hell, something that alters the personality of those its applied to, will make even people like Emilia and Guin able to be kept in Dis. They won't run off if their prudish personalities are shifted ... and Cador won't care to look after them anymore if they are just sluts like all the others!~ His attention will be all for me, none wasted on lessers. And I'll be able to keep them all as my servants now!~ Isn't that great?!" She literally was excited about turning people into sex slaves of literally sacrificing a countless number of people who didn't volunteer to her pleasure palace of a city and altering their minds if they refused to act accordingly. All of this just to get revenge against people who technically hadn't killed her, just taken the power which had corrupted her already lackluster personality.

While Kolin's ego had her revealing the most dastardly part of her plans to Arthur. A now amused Merlyn was playing the part of a demented sorceress. Since, Cador was content to live up to the part of the loyal lapdog she could at least do her part here. "Ah yes, surely I pale in comparison to the Whore of Babylon. I guess all girls can't live up to that kind of hype~ Some day, someone will appreciate the premium of a decent personality and not just the physical manifestation of beauty she hides the rest of her ugliness behind. And on that day, I may save everyone from their pitiful existences~" scoffed the sorceress. If she didn't sound confident this whole play would work. Regardless, she'd save her personality shift for the all clear, which she knew Sir Cador to be tracking given his own personality.

[Bloodedge]

Arthur was about to receive a great deal of information, and... far more than he could have expected, or wanted. How deranged could one person be? Things started off relatively tame when Kolin's mouth first open to begin her explanation, but the more those lips moved, the more demented her intentions were. Moreover, the idea of a woman like her running what seemed to be a country-sized brothel was astounding. Given how she was, what would she do the moment one of her prostitute slaves attracted more attention than she did? No, surely such a thing was only possible in Kolin's mind after it was an apparent truth─ that was just how she functioned. "Sou─" Arthur stammered, undoubtedly bewildered by what the queen had to say. He had to think for a moment; there hadn't been this much of a struggle since his first mishap with the queen occurred. Ah, she was one who could easily be appeased with some flattery, wasn't she? That would give him the time to think properly. "Are you sure that will work?" he questioned, going farther into detail to avoid being misconstrued once again. "I mean... If you are the queen of this place, I can hardly imagine anyone else catching the patrons' eyes. Would they not just be lining up by the dozen, all vying for your attention?" Genius, Arthur. He could hope the additional speech there served as a buffer to avoid some crazed reaction from his questioning of her. Regardless, he'd managed to come up with... something. "Either way, that is certainly a lot to take in. The body does as the mind wants, so adjust the mind as you see fit. Shame, though. They should surely all be willing to follow you," he added, offering just a bit more false belief in the queen's magnitude.

Ah, but he was digressing from the point. Kolin offered a query at the end, which was surely not one meant to be disagreed with. Though he seemed to be contemplating all the while, Arthur managed to smile during his conclusory speech. "A magnificent plan for a goddess of your standing! The inconsistencies of others is the only fault I have, but... it seems you've found an answer to even that. I am honestly in awe~" spoke the knight.

The show of Cador and Merlyn would not stop just yet. A few Quasi Spirits had been left in Cador's wake, all so he could be sure when the previous guards were out of earshot. They were still moving, but all too slowly. The last few would hear the final words of Merlyn, and for the grand finale... they would also hear Cador's most fitting retort. This would get them moving faster. "I do believe I've had enough of your wretched mouth, sorceress," he said, seeming to have quite the attitude about him. The last thing those straggling guards heard was the creaking of a cell's opening, and then, that same cell's door slamming shut. Cador had entered the cage with Merlyn, as if he intended to deliver great punishment. Alas, the guards went running when they realized they could not be in the vicinity of a combat-ready Cador. His Quasi Spirits alerted him to their departure, and the façade fell away. Cador even stifled a guffaw, grinning as he leaned against the cell door. "What do you think? A+?"

[Apollymi]

Arthur received one aspect of Kolin's plan. It seemed he was in awe, that was good. Everyone should worship her might, whether it be physically or simply in quiet reflection of how great she was. Of course, this soon came with a question, this lad was very bad at interpreting her before, it was time to see if he understood his place better now. She listened to his question with a quirked brow and found his way of asking... acceptable. "Aren't you a clever boy, seeing that problem so quickly?~" she said in the sweetest way possible. Such a statement might have actually been properly a compliment if not for the way she so obviously treated most people. "Of course, I considered all of these things. They'll all be vying for my attention, after all... I am going to be the unattainable star attraction. Nothing like a podium and a head above all others to set yourself apart from the riffraff that starts the attraction. Like a show opener before the main event. Besides, I have no intention to giving myself to any but my chosen who have earned such things... everyone else will simply give me what I ask for, with the littlest amount I can be bothered to give them in return. Besides, with those other little things to hold them over, they'll be more likely to give me what I want and remember that I am something far above their standard, something they can't have!~" the brilliance of this plan could not be stopped. She fully intended to exploit others to the fullest and be the absolute best as she could. They wouldn't be able to leave, nor would they be able to complain... and any who started to garner a greater following than her own would be downsized and eliminated swiftly. And with someone like Arthur around to fully understand and appreciate her planning skills she could feel satisfied that all of her work wasn't going to waste. His further compliments only served to inflate her ego and make her even happier that he was the one she brought along. "Of course, you're in awe, a woman with my kind of drive is a rare find," she fluffed herself up more before completely addressing the point but such was her way. "To be a goddess one needs a following. I'll trap them all and get their devotion, even if they have to start with the bodies of the less deserving. Each and every coin they spend will go into my coffers and eventually I'll be able to rise to my proper place once more." she explained of the overarching plan. She would be a goddess again, even if she had to enslave and sexually exploit the entire continent to make that happen. Her plan didn't care about the lives of anyone else involved, she simply wanted her place and she'd do anything to get it, while not compromising specifically herself.

While Arthur managed to avoid the wrath of Kolin, Merlyn seemed to be earning the ire of Cador. The other guards around him, seemed to flee as he bombarded the cell she was in, mostly to shut her up. Or at least that is how it looked from the outside. Granted, Sir Cador was a very good actor, he seemed to have no problem looking as if he planned to murder the lass, and inspiring the remaining slow moving guards to figure they wanted to be nowhere near when the punishment of the mouthy sorceress ensued. A few moments later and Merlyn was looking a bit shocked only to have to stifle a giggle of her own. "Shishi~" she took a moment before she could respond. "Yeah, definitely an A+, if I couldn't see the future I might have actually thought I was about to be punished by the Spirit Knight for speaking poorly of his patroness~" she mocked with nothing but amusement in her eyes. "Sleep well?" she asked in her general carefree manner. She knew all was going as well as could be expected.

[Bloodedge]

Clever, was he? Only slightly─ this much he knew. For the most part, Arthur was only passively reacting to the words spoken by Kolin, while processing how ridiculous her plans were. She actually considered herself one worth being on some podium above the women she enslaved as whores─ one who would address none of her patrons, bar the favorite few she counted as servants. She was lazy, manipulative, and quite the control freak overall. Was there something that made her this way? Well, it likely didn't matter. Delusions of grandeur were more than apparent at this point, so what was there to do about it? Arthur understood that Cador was on his side, but there were numerous who seemed legitimately faithful to Queen Kolin; they couldn't face them alone while having others like Guinevere and Emilia to look after. With what Kolin revealed here as well, was something to be very concerned about as potential backlash. "So your plan is to leave patrons endlessly settling for the women beneath you, forever hoping for the day they can climb their way up a ladder... while also being higher than that ladder reaches. Sou ka," he mused. This was far more dangerous than he could have thought, and there was presently no definite way of stopping it. This would have to be discussed sooner, rather than later. . .

In receiving an A+ for his acting effort, Cador bowed in his usual over-the-top manner. There was something quite satisfactory about performing in such a way; their audience contained such fools. One could wonder what future lay ahead of them; how would things go if they could put this entire kingdom's ordeals in the past? It was something to strive for. "I'm glad I could put on a satisfying show. If I may add, though, your performance was also incredible," he stated. Ah, the casual banter before any serious discussion. It felt so natural, Cador couldn't change a thing. Such was true even of the jest which came along with Merlyn's initial query. "I slept terribly, as a matter of fact. If memory serves me, I believe my dreams consisted of some awful demon teasing me half to death before sauntering off into the distance to leave me with my suffering. The stuff of nightmares, really~"

[Apollymi]

Kolin found it amusing that Arthur seemed to understand exactly what her plan was. It was quite abnormal for any of the other men to listen beyond the 'starting a brothel kingdom' part of the explanation. Most were content with the idea of that alone. Though that was likely because they hadn't yet realized that if she'd shared herself with them already, she had no real intention of sharing them with those she considered beneath herself. "That's really great you know. I can't always be sure anyone is listening to me properly. I chose well this time~" she said seemingly pleased with the idea that Arthur had been able to take the information she gave him and give his own more simplified version. It hinted at higher order thought than most of her Knights were capable of. It was definitely the case that she'd chosen the right one to be her potential King above the others. Besides all of that, it always ended up being her stroking her own ego at the end, but such was always the case with one such as Kolin. "Of course, now if Hector would just come back, we'd be in business... Crossing that desert safely to get into the new Kingdom is the last great feat I need to complete," she said to Arthur. Now that he'd himself an active listener she supposed letting him know a few more details wouldn't hurt anything. After all, he might actually be of more use than one like Leorio. "Ah, but I suppose you don't know why that desert isn't passable... should I grant you a history lesson, Arthur?" she asked of the lad as she walked out of the aviary. She was on her way to a study within the Castle, one she kept under lock and key but she'd allow this man inside with her.

While Arthur spent his time being mortified by the true plans of Kolin, Merlyn had a good time chatting it up with Cador. Outside of his dream state the man was still so full of reasonable humor it brought a bit more happiness to her own mood as well. When he commented upon her performance she had the grace to pretend to look sheepish turning away under her hood and waving him off. "Oh stop it, that was nothing. Just a little improv to make sure no one suspects anything~ Besides your performances have a lot more reach than mine~" Merlyn mentioned seeming to be a bit wistful once more. Beyond this their still joking communication extended, to chats about his sleep. "Oh? How strange, my night was equally weird. I thought I was having a nice cuppa by a quiet hearth, chatting it up with this incredibly charming knight. And then I was stripped naked in the middle of a cold harsh winter. It was quite startling really~ Haven't had the random naked dream since I was young~ Must just be a coincidence~" she chimed finding the entire thing funny beyond reason. "I do hope your waking hours are more pleasant for you~" she mused in their bantering manner. Still she remembered this man's apparent desire to have her naked in his presence. If he was sure of that he could do so again at his leisure, but... given her own nature Merlyn wouldn't take advantage of his physical self any more than she'd taken advantage of his dream self. "Arthur will be wanting to talk soon as well, whenever he manages to actually shake Kolin. I wonder if I should just dream conference when he's alone again. It'd be a bit invasive but that would work for everyone's privacy."

[Bloodedge]

"Rest assured, my queen. I am always listening. What sort of knight and Future King would I be otherwise?" Arthur questioned. He truly believed it necessary to keep an open ear when vying for success of any sort, so he would always remain attentive. Such would especially be the case while he heard the ludicrous plan of Kolin. Ah, and there was even more to come. As they departed from the aviary, Kolin spoke of an impassable desert, of which he knew nothing. Crossing said desert would mark the conclusion of her journey to greater heights, and she saw fit to question his interest in the very place she sought. A lore-based lesson was quite high on the list of what Arthur needed. More importantly, knowing more about this crazed woman's plans was absolutely necessary. "If you see fit to fill me in, I would very much like to hear it. I am missing a great deal of knowledge about this world," he admitted.

Merlyn's sheepish visage would not work on Cador. Upon seeing it, he even scoffed and turned his head. "Don't go being modest now, Merlyn. You were making a grand show of things earlier~" he said. Moving on though, Merlyn claimed to have a strange dream of her own. What an absurd thing it was, as well. "A charming knight had you stripped naked? That sounds quite familiar, actually. I do hope yours ended in a more satisfying manner than mine did. I woke stiff as a board, not a semblance of relief in sight. Needless to say, I am also hoping my waking hours are more... pleasant," the knight continued, managing to sound playfully distraught throughout his speech. "As for Arthur, I am sure he will be fine. I've had a few chances to speak with him recently, and he is progressing nicely. This may end well for him after all. At least, that is what I believe based on his current mental development."

[Apollymi]

"Oh? Well I'll have to keep that in mind~" she said thinking about it logically the fact that he was always listening was indeed a plus. It was definitely proactive of him to at least try and retain the information he was being given. He'd already proven himself to be leaps and bounds above Leorio physically, but also proving to have that same amount of headstart mentally was appreciable. when asked if he'd like a lesson in world lore, the lad answered 'yes' which was about what Kolin expected so she let him into her study and after he was inside she'd shut and lock the door. In the middle of this room was a very strange map of the world. It was strangely enchanted and showed current land masses in a double layered three dimensional set. "Of the land below, we're are here, on this continent." she said pointing. It was a vast area, mountainous on the western side and white capped and on the east, a vast desert of giant proportions. Strangely enough, on this same map there was a large chunk of land, floating over head, exactly over where the desert was. "There was once a Kingdom here... it ascended to the upper realm. When someone has a kingdom established and reaches certain criteria, they become Ruler. And they ascend along with their lands, into the upper realm. That happened with the desert kingdom sometime ago," she explained. "Because of that, the creatures which fall from the edges down to this place are quite powerful, they stir up trouble in the desert. It becomes impossible to just cross it without some method of travel being secured," she explained casually. "Riders with high speed vehicles or weaponized ones, stand a pretty decent chance, but otherwise, just getting across and to where my Kingdom is here," she said pointing. "Is pretty difficult. Obviously, I have no intention of taking a risk of my own to cross the desert. And as I am no longer a rider, I don't have any way to cross this place. So, I am trying to secure transport for myself and my Knights, that is the errand I have Hector on," she explained the whole of the situation along with the lore necessary for him to understand the nature of their present threat. "There is supposedly a pirate with a ship who sails that desert like its nothing. I plan to hitch a ride across, and maybe abuse him to keep transport open between us and the other places which still stand. After all, trapping everyone within my new Kingdom is the ultimate plan... which is why it has to be and sound appealing. Besides that... there is easy travel straight from this top kingdom down, which will also help out long term. People with higher levels and more money to spend all converging on Dis~" she explained of the lore and the difficulty traveling at lower levels versus higher levels.

A lesson in geography was a brew... strangely enough Merlyn had tried to give Arthur similar information. She wondered if he'd now realize what she'd meant when she said that Camelot was once nearby Saint Paul's. Ah, she supposed it didn't really matter long term, as long as he realized the potentials of the problems to be had in this world. Still there was the joking and teasing conversation at hand, and Merlyn would see herself entertained by it. "Oh? I truly didn't think it was too grand. But I'll have to take your word for it, Sir Cador," she mentioned seeming to lose all of that fake sheepishness in the moment. Her dream apparently wasn't too unfamiliar to Sir Cador. She could only wonder why. He claimed he'd woken stiff and hoped his day could be much better than his night had been. He wondered if her dream had ended in satisfaction. There were several cheeky things she had to say, "I figured waking stiffness was the main way men know they're alive upon waking. A natural order to the world and all that~" she scoffed seeming playfully dismayed. "Besides all of that my dream did not end in satisfaction, but such is the way when you place the choice in the hands of another. Still I wouldn't have it any other way~" she said with a small smirk appearing on her hooded face. "I have reasonably high hopes that my day will be even more entertaining than dreams~" she commented absently. The bit about Arthur made her nod her agreement, it didn't require much speech if any at all. So many possibilities for their time together, she wondered how it would go. So unusual for her, not knowing immediately. Still, she'd remain with her visage cloaked, she was quite serious about that choice belonging to someone else. She'd shown him exactly what would happen as a matter of course, and separated to make sure he'd understand what would happen if he spent too much time with her. No lies. No hidden agendas, her own personal form of chivalry, the choice of dealing with her and taking playful banter beyond was his to make.

[Bloodedge]

"If it pleases you," was Arthur's initial retort. He went on to observe a map in this new room's center, albeit not before the strange occurrence of Kolin locking them inside. Either this was a well-kept secret location, or there was something else afoot... if not both. Either way, there was a great learning experience here for Arthur. When Merlyn spoke before about ascending and such things, this was what she meant─ the sky above was filled with kingdoms of higher standing than those at ground level? The natural assumption would have been that Camelot was now a place in the mountains, but no. "Interesting. King Leorio is of the Rider Class, is he not? Was that to be his purpose before─" Arthur paused, clearing his throat. He'd been prepared to point out the obvious uselessness of Leorio, but chose to refrain from doing so. "Forgive me. I should not speak ill of the king, should I?" A hand met his chin as he looked more intensely at the map, doing his best to memorize it. As he did so, he continued speaking. "A capable Rider to cross the desert filled with beasts of a stronger variety than we have down here. Even if someone could leave Dis in spite of the seals on them, I can't imagine the person who could make a trip out into a desert this size... even without the monsters. It's an unstoppable trap with only gain to be found for the one setting it."

Meanwhile, Cador continued dealing with the quippy nature of the sorceress Merlyn... of course by retaliating with his own. "It is a natural thing, true, but that is hardly the case after waking from a two-hour nap. That is something to be specifically blamed on a certain temptress. All things considered, though, she managed to take my breath away at a glance. Feel free to be jealous~" he mused. It was quite a shame that her dream also ended in disappointment. On the positive side, Merlyn had reason to believe her day would be more entertaining. He could say the same about his own waking hours, actually. In fact... he was quite sure there was nothing short of excitement ahead, whether for better or worse. "Well, we do have quite the eventful day or two ahead of us. Just maybe, we can find time in the midst of it all to right the problems our dreams caused us. I suppose I can settle for you, even after meeting that stunning demon~"

[Apollymi]

"It does~" mentioned Kolin. She did really enjoy talking especially when it was obvious that what she was saying was being paid attention to. It was another one of her odder quirks, that required her being the center of everything. This included her planning, male attention and eventually the world. Moreover, it seemed that Arthur was at least a little aware of the kind of use that Leorio should have had, and more over he spoke of the current level of uselessness said king possessed. A chuckle left Kolin, she did strangely enjoy other people putting Leorio down as well. "Oh no, in this case, you've taken no misstep. He is quite useless. His means of transport is far below what I would need for the movement of my remaining troops. Beyond that I have less faith that I wouldn't lose more simply by virtue of putting faith in him to get us there. Another is necessary... It pleases me you understand~" Kolin mused. He had no idea how pleased she was by his understanding. Having him here and now was more use to her than anything else. "I plan to make this entire place rise again. Once its up we set our sights here..." she said pointing. The place over the mountains, one of the rather large Kingdoms was the one he set his sight for. "That is Camelot. It was risen from this plane quite a long time ago... Artoria Pendragon and her little band of goody two shoes made that happen. That will eventually be your seat of power, when my Kingdom rises, I'll make sure you can take every step towards that one," she said softly. Such an offer was manipulative at its nature. She fully intended to have this boy claim every kingdom between hers and the one she meant to take down. Her plan was to dominate once more as a goddess, giving the lad every island between Dis and Camelot was hardly more work than she intended to start with.

A happy chuckle left Merlyn, she found this man's quips to be quite entertaining. "Eh? Jealous? I am jealous of no woman, demon or seductress... my standards are far beyond normal understanding~" she said with mock snippiness. "Though I do wonder, what kind of woman stirred the interest of the steadfast Spirit Knight~" she said with a teasing chuckle. Sir Cador funnily enough claimed he would settle for her even past his little demoness. "Ara ara, I'm sure we could do exactly that, I happen to know we have a lot of free time for now~ but... Oh goodness, I wonder how I should take that? I wouldn't want to be a man's second choice... perhaps it would be better to let the imagine of the woman in his dreams be the only one he sees~" she said with grin spreading on her face. "I wouldn't want to disappoint with this lowly visage of mine~" more teasing and fun words.

[Bloodedge]

Much like earlier this day, Kolin managed only amusement in response to Leorio being acknowledged as... well, the scum that he truly was. It would be a long time before Arthur could remove those throne room images from his mind, and even then, the events themselves were repulsive. So, too, were some simple facts he knew about Leorio in general after the whole shebang. "Well, I'm glad you agree. This morning, I frankly had the misfortune of noticing something that I... cannot really fathom─" he said. Regardless of how the queen named Kolin was as a person, dealing with something like that was not something he would wish on his worst enemies. For a short while, he actually found himself wondering if Leorio was the reason Kolin turned out this way.

The queen brought up Camelot, pointing it out on the map and addressing Artoria Pendragon─ the woman who could only be Arthur's twin sister. He would get there one day, even if some strange turn of events got him there through Kolin. "Camelot in the sky. It is quite large. I can't imagine properly ruling it alone," he commented, giving thought to the idea of a joint rule between himself and Artoria... once he overcame her, at least. Surely she didn't have to die for him to fulfill his role as the Future King, right? "That will be quite the conquest. From Zuria, all the way to Camelot... and to the throne." For whatever reason, it seemed Arthur's excitement was rising. Ashikaga Kimiko would be found somewhere along the line, but if not... he'd have one hell of a viewpoint from all the way up there! All of his goals could be met in one fell swoop.

"H'oh? You're sure? I imagine you would disagree, if you saw her," Cador insisted. He even went so far as to raise a finger to drive home his point. "As for the type of woman she was to manage that... Well, she happened to be quite the charmer. Besides, between you and me, I don't think the Spirit Knight is as steadfast as he seems most days. I believe it may have come down to a mutual understanding between the two, actually. Perhaps they share the same lack of commitment~" That pointed finger became a casually-waving hand over Cador's head, all while he sauntered about the cell of Merlyn. She once again had interesting things to say. Cador took special interest in the mention of how much free time they had at present. "Is that so?" he asked, taking up the same side of the cell Merlyn herself occupied. "Well, well. If there is ample time here and now... you are a sorceress, correct? Evil, magical, manipulative being? It would no doubt help the situation involving your imprisonment, if you were to do a good deed such as... perhaps sparing me your lowly visage indeed, and recreating that demoness I dreamt of? She and I do have some unfinished business, and I would rather some pitiful prisoner not continue sullying my memories of the ordeal."

[Apollymi]

Another giggle escaped Kolin. She wondered how many of the others had noticed how little the King Leorio had to work with. She couldn't have stifled such amusements even if she'd tried. "Of course, that is quite a shame really. I didn't expect it to be so miniscule," she said in an off-handed manner. Still it was fine to leave such a conversation, they didn't have to spoil their good time with such things. There were matters she'd much rather discuss, for instance, this apparent rise to kingdoms that Arthur proposed. "Oh? I wouldn't mind ruling at your side. Obviously I have a great deal of experience in these matters... and I could lend myself to such a cause~" she said with nothing but chipper happiness in her voice. She'd taken his words to refer to only her, as she always tended to do. She also enjoyed his excitement, a driven man on her side was something she could appreciate. "It is quite large, but it won't be so bad... I'll make sure to tell you everything you need to know~"

While Arthur talked politics and geography with Kolin, the snippy conversation between Cador and Merlyn continued as if in hypotheticals. She chuckled, "I doubt I would... other women are no concern of mine~" she chided as if amused by the whole thing. "Oh goodness, if the steadfast Spirit Knight isn't so steadfast, it's a wonder he'd offer himself to an evil, manipulative sorceress~" she mused in response to his words. She took note of the fact that he was moving to the side of the cell she was on, but she still made no moves. She smiled that same little snarky smirk. "How do you know I wouldn't just use such a thing just to free myself?~ Would you risk ending up a slave to my whims, just trying to relive a dream?~" she asked him as if genuinely curious, of course, this was all banter all in good fun, but still... she'd made no moves to remove her hood nor show herself. If he wished to see her and take advantage of this time they had, she'd leave that decision to him.

[Bloodedge]

"I... am not one to talk, really, but I sincerely offer my condolences," Arthur said regarding Leorio. It was truly a shame, considering the king obviously had little to no flare accompanying his physical inability. He sighed, having no further concern for matters of Leorio... or rather, not wanting to think about what he'd seen too much. Kolin had alleged intentions of ruling Camelot at his side. It was clear by now that she wanted no such thing; she wanted to reign over Camelot herself, with him as a figurehead that she would likely use as a pleasure tool when the mood struck her. If only she were genuine, though, things would of course be very different. Naturally, Arthur would respond as if he could believe even a single word she said. "It would be my honor. I would hope to become a king worth my queen's adoration. Maybe the likes of me could even manage to satisfy a goddess~"

Cador chuckled. At times, this banter he shared with Merlyn was almost too much to bear. Nevertheless, it was far too entertaining for him to even consider stopping. "In all honesty, I'm sure even a deacon would fall to that demon's wiles. To call her a temptress wouldn't even do her justice," he stated with an odd amount of certainty. While Merlyn addressed the idea of her breaking free during the use of this 'mysterious dream woman' Cador spoke of, the Spirit Knight moved yet again. He drew closer and closer to the sorceress, his visage implying a clear challenge as he leaned forward. Out went his hand, and if uninterrupted, that very hand would peel back the succubus' hood until Cador could stare into those glowing eyes of hers. "That is a good question, Merlyn. Would I risk it? I may consider it a training exercise to strengthen my resolve. Besides, it isn't as if I intend to relive a dream. I'd much prefer the idea of starting a new one from a different perspective."

[Apollymi]

"In this case you can talk... it pleases me to know you understand my plight," said Kolin. She found this man quite refreshing. He was about what she could ask for, beautiful, blonde, decently tooled and fairly clever. His nature as a rather upright individual, who brings home criminals for punishment instead of executing them also makes him legitimately less dangerous than most as well. It was becoming easier and easier to see an endgame where she lived her happy life ruling the world, the heads of her enemies on pikes and this lad at her disposal to use as she saw fit. "I'm sure if you work towards it, you may see yourself reach such a podium~" she mused. She couldn't give too much, it was far too early. Beyond that, she'd given him a bit of a geography lesson. Perhaps she would do a bit more, make sure he knew what she had in store for him. She moved around her desk looking at this map with a raised brow. She had to start making plans as if she knew she'd easily reach her kingdom, after all there was another kingdom to seed her way into there after. "I need to think for a while, you may sit, we have time..." she mentioned to Arthur. She intended to write some letters do some small business and the like. All with Arthur in her presence. He would only achieve a greater reward after shew as sure of his worth the rest of the way. Though she'd already told him her plan, she still needed to make sure he was trained to properly handle her needs. To do what she told him, to wait when she said so, and to be available as she needed. That was what she required.

While Arthur was being broken in like a good little guard dog, Cador and Merlyn flirted both by way of banter and by way of action. "Well if a holy man couldn't resist, it's a wonder you, the Not-So-Steadfast-Spirit Knight... survived your nap~" she said with much sarcasm. Of course, this was all in good fun. She wondered if this was too much, but decided sometimes too much was exactly enough, she often felt that way to start with. Besides, she'd been waiting for quite a long time for someone whose company she could enjoy, she'd take quite a large interest in this for as long as she possibly could. Of course, this joking was surely coming to a close, as the man known as the Spirit Knight made his way steadily towards her, a challenge clearly present on his face. What would he do, to Merlyn? Pull back her hood was the strangely normal answer to that question. It peeled back revealing those silver white locks of hers framing her narrow face. She'd look up gently and into his own eyes, with her glowing magenta ones as if studying his face. His words hit her ears and caused the corners of her lips to twitch upwards in response. "Oh? Starting anew... Sir Cador? Well, I do very much enjoy a man of action... let's create this new dream of yours~" she said with teasing words. Still no physical movements from her, but the world around them began to shift little by little. A territory was being created around this pair like the gentlest shift from reality to a dream but controlled in a much stranger way. From the outside it would appear that he was at his post and she was laying within the cell, but around them the world would change to a scenery which suited Sir Cador's desires. Such was her nature as a succubus, admittedly that wouldn't be the only change to happen this day, but she supposed it was best he find out those other things on his own.

[Bloodedge]

"You flatter me," he replied with the lightest chuckle. Surely there was a great sizable difference between himself and Leorio, but he took the clause as an honest compliment. For just a moment, it seemed he and Kolin were having a normal conversation, as if they could have a proper interest in one another. Of course, there was some amount of interest on either side... though neither would end in anything normal, nor for any good reason. It was, again, quite a shame. "I will do my best to meet expectations." He had nothing else to say about his future as king. Another word, and Arthur would have been spewing more false statements than he would have been comfortable with. Luckily, a bit of reprieve was coming his way as Kolin went about her business. Arthur was undoubtedly ready for a break in all this, so he was quick to bow before the queen and accept the offer. "As you wish. Do let me know if you need anything else of me," he said, taking a seat not far from Kolin thereafter. He, too, actually had some thoughts to process. . .

How did Cador survive his nap? If he remembered correctly, he had been close─ so very close to something rather interesting. It was such a terrible decision brought about due to the passive effect of a succubus, and yet... he felt its pull long after said succubus' image was removed from sight. What could he do other than act on his thoughts, just to ease his clearly plagued mind? Yes, that was logical. Being the 'man of action' Merlyn claimed him to be, and claimed to favor, he did away with the hood which kept Merlyn from his gaze. He was enchanted anew, but willingly this time around. As such, he managed to actually keep his words in-line as reality around Merlyn and himself changed. Gone was that dusty old dungeon cell, replaced over time by lush, lakeside grass. The wall behind Merlyn was instead the trunk of a sequoia tree with a passable gap through the base of said trunk. These images came to life via Merlyn's Territory Creation while Cador leaned into the succubus, lifting her head with a tilt of the chin. Would he kiss her? No. Though the scenery could have been a thing to misconstrue, Cador did not approach Merlyn from a point of romance. This was a simple matter of... desire, and the Spirit Knight's first act was to slowly drag his tongue up Merlyn's neck, while his eyes continued gazing deeply into her face.

[Apollymi]

The approach of Cador came with a change in the scenery around the pair. Merlyn was quite interested in what the mind of Sir Cador desired in this moment, and the lush lakeside greenery and being nestled against a tree, were indeed worthy of appraisal. Too bad, she didn't get the chance to take her eyes off the man before her. Sir Cador completely did away with her hood, and given the look on his face, had completely given himself to the enchantment which was her existence. No longer did he fight against his own actions, at least not in any normal way. No. The man instead tilted her chin upwards to... "Hmphf~" a gentle whimper passed through Merlyn's lips. She didn't know what she expected but this man slowly dragging his tongue along the length of her neck was strangely stimulating. Sir Cador gave off the air of a romantic, but he'd also spoken of his trauma. She wasn't confused about his actions, but they still stirred her body in a unique fashion. Her pale skin almost instantly gained a light pink tint as heat settled within her visage. "Oh my with a look like that one has to wonder, if I am predator or prey in this situation~" she couldn't stop herself from speaking in such a way, but it was quite true. She found herself watching this man's face as he gazed at her with an intensity that she might have previously assumed was not native to his being. Her unoccupied hands began to move... he was so close and so very willing, right? Her hands began moving, nimble fingers gently slipping apart layers of clothing and undoing buttons not on her own body, with one hand. Her other hand strangely would be found braced against his shoulder as if ready to push off at any moment. This situation seemed like it would become rather dangerous rather quickly but... that wasn't really a problem. She could go with it, after all... she also had problems committing.

[Bloodedge]

All things considered, Cador hadn't even taken note of the changes to their surroundings. He simply found Merlyn too tantalizing to resist at this point; his attention was more focused than it had ever been. This amount of excitement was something he'd not yet known in this world. The typical salty flavor found in skin was not salty at all, but instead... something innately sweet to taste. The slow approach he'd taken with this extensive lick was just what he should have done; he was able to savor the unusual bouquet of succubus flesh. How many could say they knew such a thing in this world? Surely very few in the current day and age, but Cador could be counted among them... and soon, he would join an additional demographic. The expression Cador wore was apparently something noteworthy, according to Merlyn. For her to feel preyed upon was an irony in itself, considering how his libido had been activated by her mere existence. While one of Cador's hands pressed against the tree trunk behind Merlyn, his other hand rose to brush along the side of her face. Up and up it went, just as slowly as his tongue ─ which had begun its descent by the time ─ until his fingers began slipping into her hair near its roots. "Don't tell me you were foolish enough to think that mattered? If you have some intention of being a predator, feel free to predate... Merlyn," he spoke slowly but surely, bringing his clause to its end with a simple whisper into the succubus' ear. Of course, it wasn't all a matter of simplicity. In speaking the woman's name, he also took the time to bring his teeth together gently─ albeit with her earlobe betwixt the rows.

[Apollymi]

Merlyn did feel preyed upon and it was indeed ironic. She knew what her existence meant to an average man, and as such she was the one who could be considered predator. A well-dressed, soft-looking... sweet tasting.... hunter. Instead of overpowering those who she would feed upon, her very existence sought to lull it into a false sense of security. She was a being who was by her very nature desirable. Even so, the amount of desire seen within the face of a Knight was.... surprising. Maybe she'd simply had an irregular thought pattern about it because of the one who was immune to her? Regardless, she was finding herself as much at Cador's mercy as he was apparently slave to her visage. Regardless another small whimper escaped this white haired lass, as fingers brushed against her face only to find themselves buried in the roots of her hair. His words implied that their positions in this particular endeavor didn't matter. His words came off as a bit of a challenge but accompanied by action. Each word spoken against her ear, caused her skin to break out in goose flesh. Was it strange she enjoyed the way he was speaking to her? Maybe not... she was after all a creature of desire, and feeding into his, served her own needs as well. Too bad there was a simple truth here and it was... she enjoyed very deeply the way he spoke her name. Even more so when it was accompanied by the feeling of his teeth closing in on her earlobe. Tingles shot through Merlyn's body as that hand upon his shoulder tensed. "I... ah... hardly thought it mattered Sir Cador..." she managed with only a minor hiccup. Those still moving fingers of hers found the flesh of his torso beneath his shirt, the feeling of her bare finger tips against such flesh was magically enhanced. It was sure to give increased sensation even as she only gently traced the line of his waist. "But since you said I should feel free..." didn't finish this statement, though there was a glint of deviousness in those eyes of hers. Merlyn leaned upwards planting her lips against the flesh of his neck only to open her mouth and trace the largest vein on the left side with her tongue. If her fingers caused extra sensation, her mouth making contact with his person would surely do something more. Additionally, such a thing would cause her to gain some amount of energy and understanding of him. Strangely she'd become more in-tune with this man's subconscious over the course of this interaction. Her physical features shifting to suit his desires.

[Bloodedge]

Of course it didn't matter. Cador had a thirst, and Merlyn was the only thing fit to 'drink' as it were. Whether he drank for himself, or had that beverage poured into his mouth, the result would be the same─ he would be sated. As dainty fingers found their way to his very flesh, his teeth dragged their way to the edge of Merlyn's earlobe, pulling it along briefly before slipping off. Without moving too far away at all, he spoke once more. "I did say that, but are you so sure you have it in you? You've left so much to my whims, after all," he teased. Perhaps he should not have been so instigative in his approach, as he was soon learning how much more a succubus had to offer. Even an act so simple as the touch of a finger had him swooning, and the lips and mouth upon the most sensitive area of his neck sent him to another plane of reality. In a few short moments, he felt such ecstasy that he almost imagined Merlyn gaining an even more appealing visage. These changes he imagined gave the succubus' otherwise petite form a more filled-out appearance─ more of an 'hourglass figure' as it were. Surely it was only his imagination, but the result was a compulsion to strip away Merlyn's robe starting at the top. By the time his hand made contact with her breast, he took pause immediately upon having a shocking realization.

Oh. He wasn't imagining those changes after all─

[Apollymi]

"Mmm~" there was another small sound to leave Merlyn's lips as Sir Cador's teeth tugged gently at her earlobe. His words struck her in the next moment, and she could only playfully smirk while looking into the man's face. He truly had no idea, how very passive a power like Merlyn's could be and how much it could seep into him. "I feed on desire Sir Cador, a bit of deference to your whims is exactly how I have it in me~" Came the woman's cheeky reply. By the time the man began to strip her, her body caught up to his desires. This new form he granted her, which played up to his preference wasn't unfamiliar to her at all. Her hands more fully made contact with his person as her mouth moved downward. She nipped at his neck as his hand came in contact with her newly enlarged bust size and she took notice of his pause. She couldn't help but find such a thing amusing after all. "So conservative Sir Ca-dor~ This size is more natural to my native being," she managed as her hand found the button at his waist. Now wasn't the time to discuss the fact that she'd purposefully chosen an Avatar more petite than she was, to be a succubus. Such things didn't matter as her form could change at any point she wished. More teasing was in order instead... "Well, minus the tattoos and piercings, I suppose... how amusing~" she stated with heavy breaths. Though she was indeed a succubus, the amount of desire he had for her, was very directly connected to the amount she felt in such moments. She was practically swooning with every touch. She pressed herself more closely into him, taking the initiative granted by his pause. She dragged her tongue down from his collar bone stopping to look up at him. "Don't go withholding that hospitality now... Sir Cador~"

[Bloodedge]

The succubus Merlyn fed on desire implicitly. That was fair enough, but Cador wasn't going to be taking blame for her demeanor. This creature of lust was as she should be, and any fault of his would be simply finding what lay beneath the surface. Of course, he would soon discover that Merlyn naturally responding to his whims was a more prevalent thing than he could have imagine. Truly, she even adjusted her physical state of being to what he would have considered a more ideal partner's figure. To put icing on the proverbial cake, she mentioned that such a physique was at least closer to her natural state of being, bar some amount of piercings and tattoos. Cador smiled, hardly avoiding a slight laugh after receiving such information. "Tattoos, really? Imagine a goth-punk succubus. I would give it a shot," he said cheekily. Tongue against his collarbone, he could manage little more than an escaped breath, even while intending to make yet another move. He wouldn't be withholding any of that 'hospitality' he offered, though. He soon gained enough composure to press himself against the succubus while only the sequoia tree existed to stop his forward movement. As their bared torsos were forced together, faces mere centimeters apart, the hand he left free to explore Merlyn's form descended to the space betwixt her legs. He didn't presently care about all that lingerie he'd seen earlier─ his hand slipped beneath it, fingertips rubbing along her pelvis en route to moister, more fitting pastures in a manner of speaking. "Ah, you must forgive me. I was a bit taken aback, is all. I'll try to contain myself~" he claimed.

[Apollymi]

Apparently her mention of her normal physique including tattoos and piercings put an interesting imagine in the mind of Sir Cador. "That isn't too far off actually~" Merlyn said in response to his assertion about her native being. Of course, this came with a hitched breath as their torsos were brought closer together. Such a massive amount of skin touching each other gave Merlyn's body full chills and warm tingles. His man's body was tough, full of muscles but also not overly large. The fact that he was physically exactly her type made this endeavor even more pleasing to her, perhaps she'd explain that to him at some point, but now was not that time. Her back against the tree she was officially unable to escape, not that she'd intended any such thing. She'd find in the moment Sir Cador was truly a man of action. His hand descended along her body foregoing a more typical look at her in her undergarments and instead going for the space directly between her legs. If he made his way properly between those legs, he'd find them moist indeed. Their faces so close together had Merlyn biting down on her bottom lip in the moment. He claimed he would try to contain himself, but a cheeky look passed Merlyn's face, "Hoh? I don't really think I can be having that at all..." she mentioned. Soon enough the hand she'd been using to open his shirt finally flicked open the button of his breeches. She'd make her way to his manhood with the most adept fingers and begin to fondle him thus. If she would know pleasure he would too. Such was simply her way.

[Bloodedge]

"Oh, I'm sure," Cador agreed. "The attitude is already there." In actuality, he could imagine Merlyn presenting herself in such a way, when considering her personality alone. She had a certain flair about her behavior, and such a thing came commonly in those types of... presumed delinquents who weren't so bad at all in truth. Either way, that train of thought was hardly one worth mulling over. Cador made his way beneath the barrier that was Merlyn's undergarments, and there, he found a veritable oasis. Fingers that were only slightly calloused had quickly become adjusted to the friction of rubbing against flesh, but that friction disappeared in a single moment as his fore and middle fingers found a crevice to slip through. Merlyn apparently had no intention of allowing him composure, as around the same time, her hand located his member. Another breath caught in the male's throat, but it seemed he was apt enough to use the tension building in his body. What would he use it for? Naturally, to continue the movement of his fingers. Forward they went, following the path of a slit until they found their way into the snugness of an entryway. He wouldn't simply thrust them in, no; he opted for an easier insertion of his middle finger first. A few slow pushes of said finger later, and his forefinger was moving to join it─ this time with an upward curl applied to the end of each thrust.

[Apollymi]

Sir Cador wasn't to be underestimated in the slightest. A hand upon his manhood made his breath hitch once more, but it didn't stop him. Merlyn was quite pleased with this information, of course... it didn't help that her own mind needed much higher focus than the norm. She found herself quite entranced by the calloused fingers that rubbed against her flesh, even as that movement became easier she involuntarily shifted her hips against his fingers. The subtle movement of that middle finger as it pulsed its way within gave the succubus a distinct amount of appreciation for the technique of the Spirit Knight. She hadn't been worried at all about him, but she'd seen so many people doing sex wrong for the last few days, it was amazing to participate in it done right. Her body squeezed around those fingers as they began to curl upward and her own hand had begun to properly stroke that which she found within Cador's pants freeing it, in all its glory. A man like this deserved a great amount of appreciation and Merlyn would be sure to give it to him. The movement of her hand along his shaft, would strangely take whatever pace he found himself enjoying most. Knowing the nature of her own power, she had no real reason to care if she managed to bring him to flourish by such a simple method, because she knew they could continue for as long as they both wished it so. Not that she wasn't currently experiencing problems. Those fingers of his, as time went on would find a greater ease of movement but the inviting pulse of her nether didn't let up. No, she'd see a blinding finish while her face was so dangerously close to his she wouldn't have been able to hide the reaction, nor the increased lubrication that spilled from within her body. Her reddened face, that gentle moan and the flash of power which radiated from the center of her very being, a succubus being brought to such pleasure was by far a rather powerful experience.

[Bloodedge]

The strangest sensation Cador could know, was what he felt around his finger as it entered the sorceress. He could only imagine what things would be like in the coming moments, when his digits were so snugly, yet comfortably within the sorceress. That wasn't the only thing managing to blow the knight away, though. Merlyn's hand moved properly around his phallus, and he found his knees buckling already. The pacing of that hand wasn't something which mattered to one such as Cador; Merlyn would find her natural leaning toward his preference to simply match the pace of his own fingers. He hardly managed to keep standing, and in fact, he was lowering to his knees over time. Achieving flourish was hardly a thought as well. In fact, he was already focusing on surviving for as long as possible against the overwhelming wave he felt, like the essence of pleasure itself. What had the Spirit Knight gotten himself into now? Whatever it was, he didn't want to step away from it. "Oi oi, you didn't warn me it would be this bad," he managed, feeling as if he could break at any moment. Regardless, he persisted against this feeling... for now. He could at least keep his fingers active for the time being, and that was almost enough.

[Apollymi]

The movements of Merlyn's hand were surprisingly similar to the movements of the fingers now within her body. She of course, took no issue with this, seeing as her pleasure hit a peak which she couldn't have denied. Strangely, it seemed Sir Cador hadn't considered what such an achievement would mean for his own body. As he lowered himself she did the same if only to keep hold of that which was to grant her pleasure. She knew this experience was likely overwhelming for the man. It wasn't everyday that one managed to bed a succubus, and there were likely many reasons for this. "What a cheeky thing to say when you know what I am~" the lass mentioned from directly in front of him. Still as his fingers moved within her, her own hand moved as well, she wouldn't stop when he so clearly didn't seem to wish for that. "Besides, I remember someone telling me quite recently that we should look forward to the things we don't know. I figured you'd want to figure out a few things on your own~" she whispered against his skin as she kissed his neck. "You give to a succubus, you receive in return~" she explained though it was a bit coy, it was a truth, as many times as she reached climax he would experience unimaginable pleasure. To be fair she didn't even have to touch him to make this so, but she wanted to, so she would. She moved that hand along as the man continued resisting the pull of her powers, at the very least he was a gentleman of the highest order. "You know Sir Cador, one end isn't the end in so absolute a sense... I can tell you that. You don't have to deny yourself so much on my account~" she said softly. "Unless you have something else in mind," she offered with her body oozing desire for this man.

[Bloodedge]

"Cheeky, you say?" he inquired as his knees finally touched the ground. He wouldn't have considered it cheeky commentary at all. Even knowing Merlyn's identity as a succubus, what Cador currently felt was absolutely unprecedented. Ah, and of course Merlyn would go on to use his own earlier words against him. To look ahead into an unknown future full of mystery, was Cador's way... and though he couldn't complain at all about the present outcome, surprise of the moment was a mighty influence. "Hah─ that's not fair, and you know it. Alright, alright... crisis averted," he said upon realizing there would be no end in his immediate future. On the other hand, Merlyn had more news to share. Based on her implication, he could have easily avoided showing any amount of restraint. He knew very little of succubi and their more in-depth abilities, but this one... was quite interesting to think about. Yes, he did have a few ideas. With Merlyn bringing up whatever additional thoughts he had, Cador grinned. "H'oh? Well, I did have a thought that I planned on saving for later. But..."

There was no point waiting around. Cador took this newfound knowledge in stride, and with it, his fingers removed themselves from the sorceress. After all, he obviously didn't need them from the start, but he thought he was being fair in offering a succubus something he was sure he couldn't lead her to otherwise. Now that he knew continuation was always a possibility regardless, Cador made use of the fact that both he and Merlyn were at ground level. His extracted hand took hold of her leg, his other shifted to move both her undergarments and her other leg aside, and he took his place in the newly-open space betwixt her thighs. "An offering, then. A humble knight such as myself should always seek to reach reasonable terms with foreigners, no?" he asked rhetorically. Cador's next breath would not be wasted. His hips would steadily move forward until he filled the emptied space in Merlyn's undercarriage with his member. Things would be much to his expectation, should he succeed at insertion. It took only a moment for Cador to be overwhelmed, knowing fully that he could not survive a single thrust while being only midway in. What he did, then, was decide to be a bit forward. He would push on, diving into the depths before his seed carried itself fully through his shaft. The knight's intention was to make a deposit, and he would ensure it reached the end of its receptacle without fail. It just so happened that this was his ultimate desire at the time being, and he at least managed to reach the end of his thrust prior to the proverbial geyser's explosion.

[Apollymi]

A simple nod came from Merlyn against this man's neck. He was indeed cheeky to say such things to her. Regardless, he apparently didn't think her comparison and use of his earlier words fair in this instance. She could understand that a little. In this case, he was offering as much as he could, she knew and understood this, which is exactly why she allowed him the mystery of her being. "It was hardly a crisis~" mentioned Merlyn. Admittedly the succubus was a bit curious. When she'd mentioned trusting him, she'd meant it, even so, what could he have planned in that mind of his. "Oh? I can't wait to find out what that might be~" she mused, in a fashion which was most genuine. And she was sure to find out soon enough. Their positions on the ground changed and the man removed his fingers from within her person. Moving her undergarments to the side, and taking up residence between her thighs. She had more than enough faith in the nature of his technical skills to know she'd not be disappointed by him. Beyond that, the tool nature gave him to work with wasn't to be underestimated either.

"Oh? I'm hardly the type to turn down an offering made in earnest," she mentioned to the Spirit Knight. He moved himself forward with his next breath and she felt the pressure of every inch he had to offer. Her body clinched around him in rapid intervals, molding itself into the perfect fit, complete with necessary stimulation for herself. As if this wasn't enough when the man made it all the way within, the eruption of his seed into her body was expected. The force of it though, the filling sensation was quite different from previous experiences. Perhaps because it was given so willingly, perhaps because the offering was made post her own pleasure, or perhaps because this desire was one of his anyways? All the power such a gift gave her radiated once more, and she felt the pleasure filled tingles of her nether causing her hips to shift to meet him. She fed on this energy and the pulsing of her sex demanded more stimulation. This would leave the Knight with the rigid vigor necessary to move once more, when he was ready. "Ara ara, if that was the first, I fear I might not stop myself from overindulging~" she teased both hands settling on his shoulders while her thighs twitched gently. If he started moving in earnest she might actually be in trouble.

[Bloodedge]

Cador wasn't sure what to think. He was anything but inexperienced, but this very moment was something well beyond his wildest imagination, and even something transcending his initial experience as a teen. No, that wasn't right; it wasn't enough. Reality itself was beneath this. Of all the strange occurrences in this world thus far, Merlyn proved to be weirder yet. For a moment, he felt as if the fluid would never stop passing through his groin. That surely wasn't the case. Oh... it was already over, but it felt everlasting. Had he somehow reached an even more erect state? Indeed, he had. Cador even felt as if his end could approach at any given moment, yet again, even before he started moving. Merlyn spoke of failing to prevent her own overindulgence, but Cador was overindulging already. Alas, if she wouldn't stop... neither would he. As such, his hips were withdrawn prior to another slow-paced, forward thrust. The sequoia behind Merlyn once again functioned as a device to sturdy the knight while his free arm looped itself under the sorceress' leg to keep it raised. This would be how Cador managed to retain repetition while offering his retort. "And why would you do that anyway?" he questioned in the meantime. "You said you were hardly the type to turn down an offering, right? I do believe that covers any... overindulgence."

[Apollymi]

The feeling that currently plagued Merlyn was beyond what she would have expected. Of course, this only became more as he tucked an arm under her leg and used the tree for additional leverage. In fact, such a position caused additional tightness within the young woman, which only served to make the friction created by their movements worse. The steady pace this man took was also beyond her, she couldn't help her reaction to the action. "Haaa~" Merlyn was soon enough biting down on her index finger while her hips shifted to meet the slow strokes provided by Sir Cador. Why would she want to avoid overindulging. "You know... now that you ask I don't really have a good reason~" she moaned it was quite the accomplishment. As he kept it up she could feel the next pleasurable burst building up within her core. Strangely she began to chase the feeling, with each stroke met increasing her own pleasure. The waves of her body pulsed and she meant to share it with Cador as well. "And that sounds like permission... so~" she lost her thoughts just a bit. Her body tightened around Sir Cador. Her own body bristled with pleasure and the power of that peak once reached would pulse into Cador and allow him to feel similar pleasure, on a massive scale as well.

[Bloodedge]

No good reason indeed. There was but one goal in this meeting of bodies, and it was a goal to be met as many times as time itself allowed. "Good. I'd hate for hospitality to go to waste," Cador quipped, his plunges steady as ever. He was having a very strange experience─ one that would only continue for the duration of this session. A steady ascension toward ejaculation occurred at a rapid pace until the feeling was satisfied, only for the next to be felt encroaching upon him immediately. Such a pattern had already begun, with Cador knowing it would be his fate even after the next expulsion of his seed. Little did he expect, Merlyn had even worse in store for him yet. As her own pleasure rose, the behavior of her very womanhood seemed hellbent on speeding Cador's process along. If that was the intention, there was undoubtable success. Was it with purpose? Well, that didn't matter. Whatever the reason, Cador was already experiencing a sudden wave of pleasure which he couldn't have resisted if he tried. Naturally though, he didn't try at all. He let the sensation consume him. In doing so, he reached a release no less plentiful or explosive than the previous; perhaps it was even greater. Indeed, it was even more powerful─ powerful enough that it stopped even Cador's movements, forcing another forward thrust which he didn't retreat from.

[Apollymi]

A singular goal shared by a pair of individuals. How very fitting for that pair of individuals to be Cador and Merlyn, both of whom seemed to have no problem giving themselves over to their desires at least for the moment. Still the cheeky commentary didn't stop. A quick quip left the mouth of Cador specifically concerned with the potential waste of hospitality. A smile crossed the succubus' face as those magenta eyes of hers glowed with more power than they'd shown in quite a while, though her body was still vibrating with it. "Not to worry Sir Cador, nothing you give me... will ever be wasted~" she chimed in. It wasn't necessarily in her nature to waste normal things, in the context of their current activities it wasn't possible to waste anything. Her nature demanded the power granted by this bout of pleasure-seeking. And she would take from him, since he offered it to freely. By the time the wave of her newest flourish washed over her, she felt the end of Cador at least twice. In the same moment the man seemed to stop, but not without burying himself in her deepest reaches. She felt this within herself and her nature was satisfied by it. A sigh escaped her as she found herself leaning in just a tad her tongue flicking the man's earlobe as she began to speak softly to him. "I have to wonder if there are any more desires Sir Cador wishes to indulge," she mused. She knew their time would eventually have to end here, but there was no reason to make sure his current fantasies weren't fulfilled in the meantime. Whatever was next she'd accept just the same.... until such a time as their current meeting would come to an end.

[Bloodedge]

If Merlyn would waste nothing, then Cador would spare nothing. At least that much could be said during whatever time they shared in this manner. Perhaps he'd eventually be capable of not freezing up at every ejaculation. Ah well; it seemed to work out fine this time, with Merlyn even broaching whatever additional desires he had. He was quite occupied with settling, catching his breath after the second flourish of the afternoon. That sounded like an offer. He could hardly refuse such a thing, especially while she was already making use of her tongue against his earlobe to further entice him. "Perhaps there are," he said. Since it was obvious how this form of intercourse would progress otherwise, he decided to pull back─ even out, for a moment. He sat beside Merlyn, leaning against the tree and letting his breath return properly. "You needn't wonder, Merlyn. I do wonder though, since you can physically react to my desires and all, what skills does a succubus such as yourself acquire over the centuries? Is that also something decided in a single moment?"

[Apollymi]

Another agreement was reached, even so, it seemed Merlyn was in for a slight intermission as Cador withdrew from her person. It seemed that Cador took her questioning statement as an offer and of course it was... Still she found it interesting that he implied his desires by his statements even though she'd already flicked his ear with her tongue. His breathing was returning to Normal and Merlyn herself was shifting so she was before this man looking at him in the eye. His use of her name in his statement caused her to sharpen her eyes just a little. She really might like that too much. "Oh? The answer to that question isn't so simple~" she mused as she leaned into him. "It could be said that about situations like these I know everything... but that my use and skills are dependent on the person I am with in the moment their desires are determined," she said softly. "For instance... if you desired a clumsy maiden, I could have been that..." she said softly that tongue of hers had begun moving again, this time her tongue traced down his neck down his chest and over a well muscled-stomach. "That isn't to say I don't retain all my skills earned and developed. Also, I can show you... since you're interested~" she mentioned with a casual roll of her eyes. Her tongue on the last part of its trip would flicker over the tip of his tool tasting him in the moment. She was far from prudish in the moment and cared not about devouring that which had previously been within her body. She always tasted particularly sweet and she'd taste that on the Spirit Knights skin along with the peculiar quality of his energy. Well she wasn't really about to stop herself, so she began paying lip service to the Knight, her tongue beginning to lick his shaft.

[Bloodedge]

The answer may not have been 'simple' so to speak, but it was very direct nonetheless. To put things in lay terms, the answer to Cador's question was... yes. Merlyn's abilities activated when the moment required such, but the skills she developed in the moment remained with her. Cador wondered what this could mean for the likes of him, but he was soon to find out regardless. Merlyn's intentions were clear by the time her tongue began making its way from his neck, down his torso. Though it was difficult enough to deal with that, he could hardly withhold his excitement for what was clearly coming next. By the time her tongue was at his tip, he had managed to distract himself enough with the thought of a 'clumsy maiden' as she put it, but that wouldn't be allowed to last very long as an idea. In fact, his mind would be forcibly blanked by the simple act of Merlyn's tongue moving along his shaft.

What a dangerous idea this was turning out to be, albeit all too worthwhile. Alas, there was an imbalance the knight couldn't fail to recognize. Surely there was more to a succubus than the acquisition of energies through intercourse and providing pleasure, right? In this case especially, there was a human within that demonic shell. There was always a simple fact about the knight Sir Cador, as well. He was quite the willful individual, and his will would be imposed on the sorceress, if there was any effect to be had by it. His desire was not simply to be pleasured, but to have an experience. As such, the desire his soul radiated would involve a bit of repositioning on Merlyn's part, that she might also offer herself for the tasting.

[Apollymi]

Merlyn's explanation of her actual abilities seemed to be enough for Sir Cador. Beyond this she'd just begun to tease his cock with her tongue when the man had a sudden shift in his own will. Her nature as a succubus made this man's desires her own, and she was starting to find his willfulness manifested in the strangest of ways. Most were selfish by their own natures, would repay favors just because they'd been given and made no offers if not coerced. So, imagine Merlyn's surprise when this man's newest desire manifested as one which involved her movement so he could give to her as well?

Her own work stopped for the moment though not without a teasing word or two, and a flick of her tongue along his shift. "Hm? How very hospitable, and chivalrous... Sir Cador~" she mused. A man like this who gave and took in equal portions was rare indeed, but she had no complaints to lodge as she shifted her person. She'd be above him with her knees on either side of his body, but her head would be aimed back towards her prize. At the same time, she'd end up presenting her sex to be tasted by the man below. Such a position was one of wonder, and one of infinite distraction, how much could be done while both people were experiencing the pleasure offered by another while trying to offer their own? She supposed if any managed to make this a properly enjoyable experience, Sir Cador would be the one. Besides, it was in her nature to take what was offered to her, even things such as this would always be accepted happily. A gentle twitch of her hips would leave her to return to work, her tongue flicking over the tip of him before her lips closed completely around his girth. Once this occurred she'd move her tongue against him as she found this angle ideal, for allowing the man shelter within the warm depths of her mouth.

[Bloodedge]

Hospitable. Chivalrous. These words could hardly be applied to Cador at the time. Presently, he was only a step away from being some desire-driven beast. He would taste this succubus, and by chance, it was an act of fairness. Perhaps it started differently in his mind, but this was the case now. Oh, and how complacent Merlyn was when the desire took effect. What Cador saw in a matter of moments, was the core of Merlyn─ the core of that which called to his very libido. There was a simultaneous throbbing of his heart and cock, as every fiber of his being was compelled. Did it matter that he had so recently spilled his essence into this orifice─ twice, no less? Not one bit. His tongue erupted from his mouth, but suddenly... there was reason to hesitate. It seemed the mouth of a succubus was also no laughing matter when applied; Cador hadn't been expecting another hiccup in his actions from this. Nevertheless, he'd push onward. During one pulse of his member, he moved his neck forward to press his tongue against her nub. He meant to begin with only casual strokes of the tongue, but that wasn't what happened at all. Instead, his very lips were pressed into her womanhood, tongue repeatedly swirling clockwise between them as he inhaled through his mouth. What would this accomplish? He didn't know, in all honestly─ it was simply what he felt was necessary without any prior assumptions of functionality.

[Apollymi]

In fairness to the Spirit Knight, Merlyn found herself in a rather dangerous predicament as well. This position had the ability to distract her quite a bit, especially while she maintained the movements of her mouth and tongue. Sir Cador might not have thought his a generous act from his own desire, but such claims on such intimate parts of bodies were very seldom made. Still, she found it more than amusing that closing her mouth around him caused him such a distraction too bad she'd soon be in for her of her own. As she inhaled through her mouth tightening the feel of it and avoiding her own teeth, Sir Cador began his work in earnest against her most sensitive area. His lips were pressed against the ones not on her face, but instead between her legs and she got to experience the feeling of his tongue swirling around her nub made her swoon. In fact an audible moan came from her filled mouth. Not only did this cause extra saliva to leak out down and around his shaft, but it also caused the swallowing motion of her throat. She could in this case get more and more of him into the warmth of her mouth. She also involuntarily lowered herself further granting the man easier access as she found herself further relaxing into this treatment. If it went on too long she'd find herself in grave danger as she bobbed her head up and down his cock sucking with more applied pressure as if to keep more from spilling out of her mouth. She had no cheeky commentary to spare currently but that was fine. She was far too busy trying not to get too distracted by this man's tongue to finish what she'd started.

[Bloodedge]

Distractions. Without a doubt, there were many instances of lost thought patterns and foregone plans. That was fine, though. In fact, there was an interesting cycle created by this strange phenomenon. The additional salivation of Merlyn, as well as the general growing intensity of her sucking, continuously resulted in reactive actions on Cador's part. He'd begun sucking the succubus' folds, licking intermittently, all while his arms encased her midriff. Labored breathing escaped him each time his tongue protruded, cascading over Merlyn's sex as he failed to maintain any calmness to his air intake. Soon enough, his tongue would be inserted and plunging into Merlyn's nether as if it were a placeholder for his own manhood. The occasional exchange was still made, though, if only to lap up the fluids which made their way down her crevice. Distractions, though plentiful, were indeed functioning as an aide to Cador by causing him to do such things.

[Apollymi]

Sir Cador was indeed just as distracted as Merlyn herself. His arms surrounding her torso were noted with widening eyes, but as she was currently she seemed to enjoy this aspect. The sensations caused by his erratic breathing, the movements of his tongue within her person, only added to such distractions for the white haired lass. Her own motions were spurred on by his actions as well. Each of his switches to a different maneuver made her do more as well, from added suction to movements of her tongue and squeezing of her cheeks for applied pressure. Gentle flickers of her tongue over the head of him when he almost left her mouth would be followed by the full encompassing of his shaft down quite a ways so far that he'd find himself nestled all the way to the back of her mouth. Even so, the distracting movements of the Spirit Knights tongue would eventually bring a flourish to Merlyn which had her body spilling its own fluids and radiating pleasure. The extra relaxation of this release would cause the swallowing motion which allowed Sir Cador's manhood to completely disappear down the woman's throat as he was hit with the power of her pleasure as well. Would he release this time? She was quite curious, he seemed to fight against at least partially her power to force such things out of him... but she was fine with such a thing. After all, if the Spirit Knight's dreams tasted good, the nature of her being said anything spilled from him would be delicious as well. At the thought alone her throat contracted a little so that she'd not let go of him but instead moved to spread that potential fluid all across her tongue if he didn't fight against her wishes.

[Bloodedge]

Yet another interesting thing about the exchange happening here, was how it registered to Cador's senses. He was mentally quite adjusted to how Merlyn passively interacted with him on a spiritual level, but physically was another tale entirely. He couldn't see what she was doing at all, and for some reason, that only made every sensation more incredible to experience. Knowing of Merlyn's ability to keep him going for presumably as long as she desired, he no longer intended to withhold anything. Even if he did, the snug fit of Merlyn's throat would have done him in... and that, it did. He was already feeling his end approaching upon entering the succubus' throat, and then came the pulse of energy that came alongside her own climax. If there needed to be a last straw, there was one; that was it. That spillage was happening in the moment with no restraint, whatever Merlyn intended to do with it. He'd experienced one surprise after another already, yet it seemed he was due for yet another before this leg of their meeting came to an end. . .

[Apollymi]

It was an interesting thing, watching Sir Cador become more and more complacent over time. She was acutely aware of the nature of his body and more over of his desire to continue in their endeavors into lewd activities. Of course, with her own finish came his, this time without resistance. Sir Cador loosed his seed into Merlyn's mouth and her constantly glowing eyes lit up at this action. She was a succubus after all, though well-behaved in general, she still had certain leanings at the end of the day. She was also quite right about the nature of that which spilled directly from this man's body. Because of her demonic nature his seed tasted of sweet cream to her, instead of how such things normally tasted. One might consider this strange, but it was far from the worst thing to discover upon ending up in a magical world. Succubus physiology was definitely winning on the idea of making eating people seem like a good idea. She imagined the vampires also had such exquisite tastes when it came to their favored cattle as well. She scooted forward just a bit looking back at the man below her while licking her lips. "You're pretty tasty, Sir Cador. Between this and the dreams, you're definitely my favorite meal~" she said offering the man a cheeky wink. What else would they do? How far would they go? Well, desire said as far as they wanted to... though time would eventually be catching up to them.

[Bloodedge]

Reprieve at last. Cador couldn't realize how much time was passing, nor how much of a buildup he was dealing with each time Merlyn brought about his end, but he knew exactly how easily he was apt to approach each following stage. There was even a thought, that this could have been the case regardless of succubus physiology and the like. Merlyn's slight forward movement accompanied by the licking of her lips, likely would have functioned as a reset for any beholder. Of course, there was also the rather interesting statement on offer to go along with the visuals. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Merlyn," he spoke with a snide grin, taking his breather against the tree. "I've already put everything on the table, after all. There is hardly a thing left to gain from the likes of me. That is, unless your succubus magic has some way of multiplying infinity. Surely that isn't possible─"

Little did he know, it technically was... in a certain way. Nevertheless, time was steadily progressing. The two were able to enjoy this time, when no guards of the kingdom would enter the dungeons due to fear for their own lives... but how long would that actually last? Soon, perhaps, they would be finding out. Until such a time came, though, indulgence was not a thing Cador intended to go without.

[Apollymi]

Merlyn was still full of cheeky commentary, and given the reaction of Sir Cador's body, she could tell they had a bit more fun to have. His words were just as snarky as ever, which she quite enjoyed of the Spirit Knight, whether she'd already mentioned it or not. "Oh, Sir Cador you have the wrong idea about me~" Merlyn managed just as sweetly as she always did. "I don't just want my words to get me somewhere... I am already where I wish to be, flattery is just extra~" she said as she slid down his body. With him against the tree like this and her facing away she aimed to lower herself onto him again. He'd already offered himself and she was acutely aware of the passage of time even here, she could take a little more. He'd already offered it anyways. A gentle sigh escaped her as this angle was well worth vying for, as for his words she had a little left to say. "Combining dreams with infinity multiplies both, no? That's a walk in the park for me~" she said with a snarky smirk as she moved her hips back and began this gentle ride along Sir Cador. Oh the fun they will have, besides... there was at least one thing she could take from him one day, whether he realized it or not was something completely different.

As the time passed in a state of Dream and Reality for Merlyn and Sir Cador, Guin and Emilia had hardly left each other's sight. They'd both cleaned the Queen's Chambers while she was missing and were running off towards their own rooms. The time of day was well beyond waning. And dinner had already been served and everyone had mostly been released for the day. Small whispers occurred between these two white haired individuals as this pair made their way towards their room first. "Eh, I'm taking first bath okay. No wandering off... we can switch in a bit," Emilia said. Apparently this pair had become so paranoid of what would happen to them, neither of them wanted to be completely alone even in such instances as quick trips to the bathroom. Such habits seemed strange to most in the world they were from, but here, were kidnappings, rapes and murders were being plotted by people who were supposed to care about you, such a thing was a basic precaution. "Alright, I'll be here. Just yell if anything happens," Guin mentioned. Her watch would take place right here. As she waited for the other lass to have a quick bath. She was vigilant, clutching that little doll. Such a thing might seem out of place for one Guin's age, but there was much more to this doll than it appeared. Her eyes crystal blue watched with intensity, nothing bad would befall her friend while she was around and she knew the other girl felt just as strongly as she did.

[Bloodedge]

If nothing else, dinner in the Kingdom of Zuria was a thing to look forward to. Arthur, for one, had even managed a decent and peaceful meal. He'd been seated, oddly enough, three seats away from Kolin's left, despite being such a new addition to the castle. Perhaps this distance was what made things easier. Either way, dinner reached its conclusion soon enough, with Arthur rising and bowing to the queen before a timely exodus of himself and a few others. He did not travel very far, but he did move far enough to see none other than Guinevere standing alone in a nearby corridor. Strange; he remembered Cador's advice for her and Emilia to remain near each other. Being new as he was, he hardly gave a thought to the idea that... the door next to her was to a bathroom.

"Ah, Guinev─ ahem... Guin," he greeted, stopping to offer a most respectful bow. "Is everything alright here?" The knight's eyes shifted to and fro, scanning either end of the hall. He didn't see Emilia running off in either direction, nor did he possess the ability to sense her presence. As such, it was only proper of him to be curious as to why these two were separate while Guin clutched the doll she carried around. Could it have been a nervous reaction to Emilia being lost? He absolutely had to check, but remain as inconspicuous as possible while doing so. "Where is..." He paused to clear his throat. "That other servant girl? Not off causing trouble for the queen, is she?"

[Apollymi]

While Merlyn and Sir Cador indulged their desires. Arthur found himself before Guin in front of the bathroom door that Emilia had gone into. She took pause watching him approach and his words, hit her ear and made her look at him strangely. Guin was quite well known around the castle. After all, she was previously its princess, because of this, she was known to give scathing looks to all of the Knights especially the ones who currently had favor with the Queen Kolin. Hearing Arthur's words, she was clever enough to realize he was keeping up appearances but also checking on their welfare. She gave a little curtsy with the full weight of those eyes of hers while she spoke, politely but curtly as she would have to any other Knight. "We've been at this quite a while longer than you would think, Sir. Emilia wouldn't cause trouble for the Queen..." she said with a tone which implied her annoyance though it wasn't necessarily true.

"We've finished our duties and she's currently having a quick bath here... there is little to be concerned about," she said softly. "Your room has also been cleaned this morning and fresh linens applied to your bed. Anything else?" she asked though her words were friendly those eyes of hers swirled with much greater emotion than she was currently allowed to show. "We do thank you however, for your kindness in checking up on us. We don't mean to be a bother," she added at the end, this of course was just for Arthur. After all, he was kind to both of them, she had no reason to distrust him as of yet, especially not when Sir Cador found him favorable. As a complete aside Guin herself found this man nice to look at, and the spirits surrounding her never discouraged his talking to her, nor her talking to him. She could believe his sincerity, even if she knew this world wasn't the place for it.

[Bloodedge]

Guin caught on quickly to his little act. That was for the best; Kolin was far too close for any other form of conversation to occur comfortably. Even so, her act was incredible enough that Arthur actually felt the sting of her words and glares. He had to actively keep in mind that they were simply pretending... at least, he hoped she was also doing so. "None of that matters. As long as Her Grace isn't troubled, I guess I'll spare the two of you for now," he said, keeping an ear and eye open for the queen herself.

Ah, so that was a bathroom door. He had little to worry about as long as they were near one another, and perhaps just as importantly, he wouldn't have to report anything to Sir Cador. "I see. I only hope she keeps her visit short. What if the queen is taking this hall out of the dining room, and feels the need to drop in? She should not have to wait for a lowly servant," he claimed. In truth, he would have preferred the idea of Kolin taking a very different path out of the dining hall; he could talk normally if she did. Though, perhaps he could even guide Guinevere elsewhere in the castle. . . Nevertheless, he would keep up the show for the time being. Ah, but that was it! Guinevere gave him the perfect opportunity to do just what he thought! "My room is clean, is it? How can I be so sure you haven't sullied it with your filthy, common hands that were just used to wipe out a latrine?"

[Apollymi]

"Oh? How very kind of you, Sir." Guin replied in her usual icy tone. Arthur's words might have stung others but they had no real effect on her. Besides if she changed the way she addressed Arthur it would bring him unwanted attention. She too knew this information, she treated another person just as close to her similar within the confines of this place, lest he wind up on the Queen's list as well. It was all fair at this point, she could easily keep pretending to be this way.

What was more, he had a way of phrasing his questions which made it much easier for Guin to answer. She could understand his caution given their current placement within the castle. Still, there were very few things which had to be said here and now. Most of them would make the lass sound exceedingly snarky, but such was owed at this point all for the sake of keeping up appearances. A bowed head and the following words would leave this lass' lips... "Hm? I was unaware the Queen's new favorite wasn't privy to her habits and living conditions," she said with a tone which was fake cheerful as ever. "No distress can be caused to the Queen, she very much enjoys all amenities within the privacy of her own quarters. Those are far too close by and closer to the dining room than a place such as this... but I assume you are far too new to understand that much... pity," she said with a casual roll of her eyes. Still she didn't waver, she found herself watching this lad as he claimed his room might not be as clean as he'd like given what they could have been doing before. Her eyes for just a moment appeared a lighter shade of blue as if some ice settled into their color before immediately returning to normal. She'd borrowed the eyes of a certain spirit just for a moment to fully comprehend Arthur's plan of action. He wished to speak to her semi-privately for a few moments. And she could spare them given Emilia's normal bath time. What was more this could all look like a normal arrangement. "I can assure you that we have never failed in such a task. But, if it will set you at ease, I would, happily.... accompany you while you inspect your chambers and fix any misgivings you have..." she said before giving a gentle nod. Of course this entire sentence likely sounded cold and sarcastic to an outsider much as it was supposed to, they couldn't look chummy at all. She tapped the door, enchanting it with the smallest touch to keep Emilia within her sight and keep watch over it while she was away. She would never leave the other lass unguarded and nor would Emilia do anything of the sort to her.

[Bloodedge]

"It is about all I'm willing to offer a servant," Arthur stated on the matter of his kindness toward Guin and Emilia. When the woman spoke next, she revealed very useful information indeed. Kolin would not be traversing this hall in all likelihood, so their discussion would be relatively safe. Even so... additional care was a requirement. Upon offering his verbal response, Arthur waved his right hand about in the air, almost as if blown away by this new knowledge. "Ah, how could I think otherwise? Of course, of course! Our lovely queen deserves only the most effortless trips to her own comfort. I'm a terrible knight for thinking otherwise," he ranted, seeming to let the sarcasm leak more blatantly through his words now.

For the safety of their conversation, Guin went along with the pretend distrust of Arthur. To his room, they would go. "That will do. I'll make sure you clean it spotless." With that, Arthur began moving down the corridor. He was especially cautious to wear a stern expression along the way, considering the dangers of running into Kolin due to being housed so closely to her chambers. Just in case, he would keep up the act of being infuriated with the terrible cleaning staff in this castle. That would be the case, at least until he stepped through his chamber door. . .

[Apollymi]

Arthur was surprisingly good at pretending to be hateful. Guin might have worried if she'd not already spoken to this young man before this point. Whatever the case, his next few statements contained more blatant sarcasm than most would have understood. It took all the young woman had to suppress a giggle, which almost seemed a scoff but that was far better than laughing outwardly at this Knight and having that reported back to the Queen in any real manner. At the point of that Guin kept her mouth closed, nothing she would have said would have helped this matter any further. It seemed they were still playing this entire scenario rather safely, as such she would continue on. "Of course," she managed at the idea of his room being cleaned spotless. It was indeed already spotless, that was simply the case. Though not by her and Emilia taking any extra care, they'd found the room in more than reasonable condition to begin with and had literally only changed the linens and taken away the nightly laundry.

Soon enough she was following along with the young man being very careful to avoid making any unnecessary noises. Where was the Queen during this time? She'd taken a detour to visit a certain tower bound mage to make sure they were ready to receive any potential causalities from the excursion that she'd sent Hector on. So they were much more safe than they realized. Even so, appearances. Guin would wait for the young man to reach his chambers and follow in expectantly. Of course, once inside her face would relax just a tad, but only once the door was properly shut.

[Bloodedge]

Perhaps the greatest positive note of the day thus far, was that these two made their journey to Arthur's chambers without encountering Kolin. Even while taking utmost care to avoid looking too friendly as it were, there would certainly be some required explaining if she'd seen them together for any reason. Much to Arthur's elation though, fortune favored them both for the moment. They set foot in the room, and both parties' relief was visible in their expressions. Arthur stepped aside to allow Guin first entry, and took the liberty of closing and locking the door after stepping forward himself.

"Finally," he mumbled. That act could only have gone on for so long. Eventually, some guard or other knight, if not Kolin herself, would have been an issue. Someone may have even seen their little 'spat' happening, and stepped in just to break things up and separate them. No outcome would have been good. Ah, but here they were in private─... oh. Private. Private, as in... alone, together. When he turned away from the door to face Guinevere, Arthur could hardly stop himself blushing at the thought, even gulping and scratching his head for a moment. "Ahem! Right, I should apologize. Thanks for putting on that act back there, but do forgive me for laying it on so thick. You... were acting, right? Or have I actually done something to upset?" he asked, apparently a bit bashful so suddenly.

[Apollymi]

Luck did indeed favor everyone this day. Perhaps it was because of all the negative karma built up around certain individuals within this place, that a backlash of positive was bound to happen at some point? Regardless of this question... Guin and Arthur would make it to his room without incident. And once they were both inside and the door was both shut and locked there was a certain amount of relief in the lass. Beyond this point she was now alone with Arthur. Yes... alone. Whoops. That word became way too loaded in her own mind. Such a thing was highly unlikely in the first place, but once again, that doll in her hands was quiet and once again she looked up to find Arthur blushing as well. The young man's words hit her ear and made her face shift into one of curiosity. He thought to apologize for his words and actions from before and even question greater if he'd actually managed some offense against her. Her eyes widened just slightly and she covered her face with one hand shook her head back and forth from left to right. "Yes, of course I was acting," she said wondering if she appeared a bit too cold in the moment. That was her usual manner around the castle for various reasons. "No, it's nothing like that..." she said softly seeming embarrassed. "You really don't have to apologize. I generally act like that to all the Knights, even Sir Cador," Guin mentioned with a softness in her eyes. "Usually everyone is more prepared for that sort of thing..." she finished up.

The truth of the matter was, if Kolin thought any woman was being too nice to any man, that woman would go missing and that man would end up enchanted. Guin found herself being cold even to her own brother after seeing this happen enough times. Not that she wasn't well and truly angry at the blonde woman who usurped her throne. She obviously was, but that wasn't the fault of every knight or gentleman who showed up, though most would end up under her spell at some point or another. She wasn't the type to be angry at those who weren't deserving of her ire, Kolin had earned it, along with every single knight she brought with her, who acted like this world and its habitants were NPCs in a video game. But that was an entirely different, she wouldn't be thinking about that too much longer. "Is there something you needed to talk to me about?" she asked sincerely, she would be helpful to Arthur until he proved himself untrustworthy in some way.

[Bloodedge]

"Oh─" he said, quite relieved that there wasn't something actually amiss. He had once considered the idea that his demeanor toward Kolin would be taken earnestly in passing glances. Arthur had become rather dedicated to the act as of late, if only to ensure his own ability to aide the others who were caught up in this mess. "Don't fret. I just wanted to clear anything up if something was wrong. You're quite the actor though, Guin," he offered with a smile. Moving on, Arthur stepped deeper into the room and took a seat on his bed. Excalibur was taken from his side, propped against the mattress as well.

Did he have something to talk to her about? There was much, in fact. Arthur cleared his throat, letting the thoughts accumulate for a moment before divulging. "A few things, yes. Firstly... I still have your knife. Hoping you wouldn't mind, I took the liberty of cleaning it. I may still need it, if you don't mind me keeping it for another night or two," he requested, bowing his head as he did so. There were matters of far greater importance, though, and it was hardly worth waiting to reveal them. "As for the other thing, there are some very sinister things happening here. Kolin revealed her greater plan to me earlier, and... I wonder if anyone realizes how bad it really is─"

[Apollymi]

According to Arthur Guin was a good actress, and she could agree with this information somewhat bashfully. "Occupational hazard..." she said seeming a bit sheepish about the whole thing. She was glad at least that this lad seemed to understand her a bit. Regardless, he also seemed to have a fair bit of skill in such a manner considering he'd completely fooled Kolin into thinking him loyal to her. He went on to claim he had cleaned her knife and might need it a bit longer. She thought about it for a moment looking down at her doll for a few seconds and nodded. "Yes, that's fine. I do appreciate you cleaning it for me. You can keep it until you don't need it anymore..." she said softly. It was one of those strange moments when she felt she was truly normal again, and that was very rare indeed.

She watched the lad get comfortable and explain that the Queen had taken enough favor of him to reveal her greater plan to him. Her brows rose gently, such a thing was mostly unheard of, but she wasn't really surprised given the Queen's change in temperament around the lad. She gave a gentle sigh, of course none of them had any idea how bad her plans could be on the whole, but they did know how bad she was already. "We are more aware of the crazed temperament she possesses than most of you can be. As girls we have watched her get rid of every other female attendant, maid, and cook... bar myself, Emilia and that devil of a court-mage. We know she has no problem treating everyone else as if their lives don't matter and have watched her systematically ruin this Kingdom when the Gamer Knights she brought with her are all treating every single person in this world as if they are only here for their amusement, so..." Guin stopped for a moment, giving a gentle shrug. "You can't really surprise me at this point. And if you manage to... well..." she said giving a gentle wave of her hand. "Go ahead." she said waiting to hear the worst of Kolin that apparently Arthur had come to know.

[Bloodedge]

An occupational hazard, was it? Fair enough. Dealing with the sort of madness Arthur had seen in only the past day or so, he could only imagine one such as Guinevere needed to develop a few tricks to survive. The truth of this assumption became clear when the ashen-haired woman explained what happened to all the other ladies of the castle... bar three. Regardless of the dangers to herself, she seemed fine to let Arthur continue borrowing her precious dagger. The knight was somewhat reprehensive about this, even though Cador himself had spoken of Arthur's importance to keeping good people safe within Zuria. "You're sure? You obviously have the ability to take care of yourself, but is there anything I can offer in exchange? I don't have weapons other than my own sword and your knife, but maybe a secret code in case you're in danger? I just... hate to leave you more defenseless than you have to be."

As for the insanity of Queen Kolin, Arthur found it hard to even mention. Guin implied that there was no dealing of Kolin that could surprise her, but... what if she, and everyone else, had been underestimating that dastardly woman all along? Whatever the case, the knowledge he had required sharing. Arthur's words would come in the wake of a deep, exasperated sigh. "Kolin's plans are to leave Zuria in ruin to fuel a new kingdom of her own, across the impassable desert. Things aren't as simple as that. She has access to some magical seal, and she plans on using it to trap people in this new kingdom... including people that will be enslaved there. You, Emilia, and many other women are to be transformed into brainwashed whores, whom Kolin would use as stepping stones for patrons she thinks will be vying for her attention. Of course, she plans on doing nothing with them. She wants her new kingdom elevated into the sky. She wants to take the form of a goddess after trampling all over the livelihoods of good, innocent people. She wants knights like Sir Cador, Sir Lot, and myself to be her playthings while the devotion of her kingdom rises enough to help her seek old vengeance in some strange world above this one, including a vendetta against the current King Arthur... whom I am almost positive is my sister."

[Apollymi]

Arthur soon asked Guin if she was sure about the knife. While he explained that his sword and the knife she'd given him were his only weapons, he didn't want to leave her without the ability to protect herself. A chuckle left Guin's mouth in this moment because she truly didn't need the knife, it simply had sentimental value to her. She held the doll within her hands and squeezed it gently before speaking. "Truly, you can keep the knife, I don't keep it for protection... I keep it because it is the last memory I have of a happy childhood, lived a second time in this world," she said softly. And she gave him a shrug. "I am in less danger than most, no one who would hurt me can get past Viy," she said looking at the doll in her hands. Still the offer of help even when he was the one who needed it most gave her a bit of hope in the world. "Such a summer child to offer a thing when you have less. I need little but I do not turn down help, if I need you... I'll call upon you, Arthur..." she said. In the same way that she'd agreed to Sir Cador's help when she realized she couldn't simply kill Kolin, she'd take all the help she could get, against these toxic gamers.

Ah, but the toxicity of gamers wasn't all there was to deal with, there was the deranged mind of an actual woman at work and that was something else entirely. Arthur went on to tell a tale of many deeds planned by Kolin. She was to leave Zuria in ruin and fuel her new kingdom across the desert. Old news. Plans to use magic and trickery to enslave people and make them do things she would not do herself. Pretty much her MO. Guin and Emilia to be brainwashed whores... that also wasn't really surprising. When she'd first come to this Kingdom she'd tried to get Guin and other women inside the court on her side while she tried and failed to seduce the King. Kolin wanted all of the knights to continue to be her playthings while she whored herself for power? Par for the course. The only truly surprising part of this situation was that Arthur thought his sister was the King Arthur of Legend. But... Guin had been in this world quite a long time, she grew up in this place so she knew the tales of the Knights of the Roundtable. "The Queen of Knights is your sister, truly? That is the most surprising thing you've said..." Guin asserted. "The world above is supposed to be like fairytales. Calm and peaceful, ruled by just kings and queens with their people's best interests at heart. Only small kingdoms here ever get that way and most crumble before they ascend, due to the actions of those who are unable to comprehend the greater good." she said softly. Ascending this place had been one of her greater aspirations. She thought she could have ruled Zuria as her parents did, and take it farther, see it as a shining jewel within the sky, but such dreams were dashed the moment Kolin stepped into sight. She was quite sure any who truly understood what kind of person Kolin was, would be less than shocked by her current actions than Arthur appeared to be. If anything the only thing shocking about this situation is the lengths she went through to get her revenge. "I may not have known she wished to become a goddess, but when you want all attention on you, rising to godhood is about the best you can do. Sir Lot is among the knights who serves her interests willingly, he isn't counted among the trustworthy, he'd be happy as one of many so long as he felt he remained important. The only truly shocking thing about that plan, is how many extra steps she is taking to simply want revenge. Who is she showing off for?" Guin couldn't fathom why this woman was so very scorned, but she imagined whatever happened to her before was not so big a deal as she was making it. At her core the girl behind Guin may not have been a gamer, but she'd been a young woman and gone to school with many kinds of people. She knew the over-dramatic popular reject fallen from grace when she laid eyes on them. The only problem in this world, was that instead of getting pregnant right out of high school and ending up fat, this one got to abuse magic and stew in her crazy ideations.

[Bloodedge]

No protection? Well, that set the knight at ease... sort of. If she claimed to be capable of defending herself without that knife, he could only trust her honesty. Besides, her mention of that doll by name while embracing it, implied something of a superior identity to the object. Regardless of whatever abilities she had, his concern would not waver. At least she accepted his offer to be available, in case she actually required his assistance; that set things at ease a bit more. "Alright. I will accept that much, and try to worry less. All things considered, I'm not liking this world very much so far."

Arthur offered so much disturbing information, yet none of it came as a surprise to Guinevere. This was just a testament to Arthur's distaste for the current world. Of everything he said, the only shocking thing Guin took from it was that his sister was likely the present King Arthur. "Wow, really?" he questioned in shock, wondering how bad life truly had to be here. There were clearly the horrors he'd seen thus far, but things could have only been worse for Guinevere to be so nonchalant at the time. "Yes, my older twin sister and I joined this game with twin characters both based on King Arthur. I never got to really join her in the game, but I plan on fixing that here. According to Kolin's plan, though... she expects me to behead the current King Arthur so she can put her head on a pike or something." Everything about that woman was so extreme. The same could even be said of her legitimate followers, such as Sir Lot─ Arthur certainly didn't need to be told that he wasn't on the list of trustworthy people here. As for who Kolin was showing off for, Arthur couldn't have hazarded a guess if he tried. He knew far too little, and honestly, he didn't want to know as much as he did. This experience could have been so great, yet here it was spiraling out of control day after day. "Whatever she's doing, it has to stop in Zuria. I'll do what I can to make sure that happens, hopefully without being turned from a man into a madwoman's boy toy along the way."

[Apollymi]

It seemed her words granted Arthur some form of ease. A small smile appeared on Guin's face, if she could have properly told him he had nothing to worry about she would have, but she couldn't right just now. "You can worry less. This world is only truly bothersome if you try and go through it alone. And when people who played that godforsaken game act like everyone besides them is NPCs," she said softly. "Rather, the only worry here is humans and how toxic they are translating to the core of their beings here, with the power to not have to bend to rules of decency," she said and that was the truth. Here the only problem was, there was no establishment to keep people like Kolin from going completely off the rails. No individual would come and stop her and instead she was just left to carry on with her evil unchecked.

Apparently beyond this point Arthur was surprised that she found his relation to the Queen Artoria Pendragon more surprising than anything else. It did speak volumes for her experience in this world, but she was sure there were many who knew worse than her losing her parents by the time the reached the same age here. "Of course that is more surprising. There is an entire class in school here about Queen Artoria and how she and her Knights lifted Camelot," Guin explained. Having to go through school again hadn't been pleasant for her, but that learning experience had been among her favorites. And a Future Queen should always know history. She could hear her father's words in her head. So that she can decide which of her predecessors to copy and whose footsteps should be left to blow away in the snow. For Kolin to want someone with such an untarnished legend dead, could only mean the woman stole some man's attention from her. Or more likely some man decided another woman was worth more attention than Kolin. As that was what happened when her father was killed. Still Arthur spoke fondly of his sister, such things gave Guin a great deal of hope, regardless of the unsavory plans that Kolin had. "The Queen of Knights is one I believe might live up to her legend. If that is the case, I can believe you'll find that happiness eventually," Guin said, she was more than a little willing to place faith in this lad and his family as it was all she really had left. Still, a soft warning would come with that... "That pike thing is very much a her thing to do. She is quite serious about it," Guin mentioned flatly. She'd returned from a short outing and found her mother's head on a pike attached to the castle wall. She was forced to stare at it by Kolin so she wouldn't get any unsavory ideas about doing anything stupid around her. And she'd agreed to keep someone important to her safe. Beyond this his words gave her a bit of comfort, she didn't really know why but knowing that he wasn't properly interested in Kolin gave her a bit of relief. She was quietly looking down for a moment and then she looked up. She'd heard the voice of her doll for the first time in Arthur's presence but it wasn't warning her against him, instead it offered him a warning instead. "Viy says... you can't trust the Witch's temperament." she said with a careful shrug. "That's all though, strange she usually doesn't care what happens to others. I do hope you manage it though... I'll do what I can as well. As I always do," she said giving a soft smile. She should really get going. It would be bad if she was caught in this place having a friendly chat with this man.

[Bloodedge]

"I'm not so sure that's the limit, even if you say it is. I could hardly imagine even being here in a group without struggling for some semblance of happiness." Arthur was not quite beaten by this world, but he had a hard time seeing how those who'd been here for extensive periods of time, hadn't been utterly destroyed. There was a decently-sized group in Zuria already, and all of them seemed a bit... jaded. Could he do something about that during his journey? Things looked grim, but there was hope.

Possibly the greatest beacon of hope, was one Artoria Pendragon. If he could ascend, if he could find her one day, surely things could be different. Hopefully, he could even be of use to Ashikaga Kimiko, wherever she was in the world right now. She had to be well-off; there was no doubt in Arthur's mind. Over time though, he wondered if that greedy, rich girl could be negatively influenced by the realm she was certainly in. Kolin couldn't have always been the way she was, right? Even with an inkling of her current self present throughout her life, he refused to believe she was always this. "I'll do my best to reach Camelot, at all cost. There is only one thing I care to do before that, but maybe even Camelot could help me with that. I guess I'll find out over time," he said. Something strange occurred just then. Guin conversed with her doll, which he'd been assuming had some greater purpose than simple comfort. Even so, it was an odd thing to hear about. That doll had a warning for him? Well, it was at least good advice that he wouldn't think to go against. "My thanks to Viy, and you as well, Guinevere," he offered while an arm crossed over his chest. "I'm looking forward to making it out of this untroubled. All of us."

[Apollymi]

A smile came to Guin's face. He was quite right, even with other people it would still be a struggle to find one's own happiness. "I mean, life is generally exactly that anyways, right? I am sure somewhere there are people who are cooperating and having a great time of it," she said feeling it was likely true despite how terribly her own situation had gone. If she was behind honest, she was pretty certain, that those like Kolin and her band likely felt they were living the best possible life, they just happened to be ruining other people's lives in the meantime.

Apparently beyond it all, this lad had dreams of reaching Camelot. That was a great dream, it seemed so far off into the future, and yet, Guin had high hopes for this man yet. Whatever other goals he had, she hoped he reached them as well. "A spring time dream, I have high hopes for it..." she said softly. Of course, they were about to part, but she'd passed on the message from the spirit she shared a connection with, and though she expected to be met with some skepticism the lad simply thanked both her and the spirit. Her eyes widened. "Yeah, it's no problem. I'll see you Arthur..." she said giving the lad a curtsy. She approached the door and tapped it. Of course, she wouldn't just be walking out into this hallway without making sure she wouldn't be seen first. That would have been disastrous. "I hope you can remain as you are... it's refreshing at least," she said of the lad coming through unscathed. Those she'd already interacted with, she knew would likely never view people or the world the same after their experiences. Perhaps though, Arthur could make it through without this world utterly damaging him. After Viy's eyes flashed within her own and cleared the door for exit, she'd slip out, taking a path which would leave her back where she belonged at this time in the evening. No more problems would plague her this day, but there was still the next day to worry about.

[Bloodedge]

"Oh, I agree. I actually have two other sisters, and I'm sure they're all up there in Camelot having a great time," he said, never failing to assume his sibling trio stuck together through everything. Guin's hope being added to his own was a matter of comfort for the young knight; it gave him further confidence to press onward on this terrible journey. One might wonder if Guinevere had a place on that journey as well, but alas, that wasn't something he could allow himself to think about here and now. Never would he be able to allow himself pipe dreams like that, while others were fighting for their very lives around him. Another day, perhaps. . .

Ah, yes... another day indeed. With Guinevere's heartwarming farewell, Arthur was off to bed until the next day came about. On that day, he reported to the throne room shortly after rising. What he'd find there was far from the norm, though. Cador and Lot were present as usual, and even an oddly-silent Leorio was seated in his throne. There was a group of strange bodies, though. Among them were two red-haired males, one clearly a knight, and the other clearly a jester... and there was another with white hair, who looked oddly familiar. These three stood among the usual row of knights as if they belonged, bar the jester who seemed just barely out of line at the bottom of the throne's stairs. All were simply awaiting the queen's arrival. Today... would soon become a rather interesting day indeed.

[Apollymi]

The previous night had gone so well, what could it be but the calm before the storm? It rode in on the backs of these Knights and the singular jester among them. Still this morning everyone was in wait for the Queen. They only needed her to arrive to find out about the story of the Knights. But of course, being the sort of dramatic entity she was, she hadn't shown up just yet. Even after receiving word of the Knights' arrival she was taking her time with her morning preparations. Leaving them to wait until she was ready to show up. She'd called for several others to be waiting as well. This day, to the left of the thrones off to the side a busty white haired woman stood seemingly exhausted. She hated being outside of her workshop and looked outright disgusted that she'd gotten ready to be here only to have to wait on Kolin's arrival. If she didn't seem like the best bet to something interesting this particular woman wouldn't have bothered siding with her. 'Stupid cow, bitch. At least be ready when you're demanding everyone's attention...' the thought crossed that woman's mind and seemed evident on her face. There was an eye atop her witch's hat which bounced around like mad, while they waited. At the same time within the cells of the dungeon sat the sorceress confined for her disrespect, a twinkling in her eye as she peeked in on the throne room.

Eventually Kolin would enter and move towards her throne. She sauntered in, fully dressed freshly bathed, and even well-fed. "Good Morning~ I'm pleased you've all returned in one piece. Now, who will be reporting the news of your excursion? I hope you have good news for me..." she said taking time to address the Knights standing but not her tardiness. After all, everything happened at the Queen's leisure waiting on her was their honor bound duty. Beyond all of that she was basically asking who would be falling to her anger should this tale include information which was less than pleasing to her, but they didn't really need to know that information. Kolin's cold expression contained fake warmth, as if she was amused and happy to see this group of people. The truth of the matter was, half of her plans had gone astray since Arthur's arrival. She'd planned to have several pieces out of the way by the time this expedition returned and here they were and none of her plans had ended. By this point she might actually have to sacrifice a few of her knights in order to make this trip if she couldn't get Guin and Emilia to go along reasonably. Ah, but that was something to worry about later, now she needed to see how the biggest of her plans was coming along.

[Bloodedge]

Time passed, and passed, and passed. Kolin eventually decided to grace the court with her presence, as boastfully and demanding of attention as she always did. It was clear to all that she'd taken her sweet time on purpose, though even those who took issue with this had nothing to say about it. In fact, none of the actual knights had anything but respect to offer the late queen, whether they wanted to or not. Who would be the one to deliver news from the recent expedition? Two high-ranking knights were on the journey, but the speaker of the trip would be... the red-haired jester. He slid out into the open, twirling and bowing in the most flamboyant manner, his left arm widely outstretched all the while. "Queen Kolin, it is I~. Who better to sing the song of an epic journey than your most humble~ merrymaker!~" he said, his speech extending words almost as if he were singing when he spoke. Continuing to behave in a rather foppish manner, the veritable clown seemed to make use of magic to conjure... balloons? Yes, balloons. Various colors and shapes were used to create caricatures of himself and the others who embarked on Kolin's epic quest. There were other figures added, including a rather large boat of sorts with a thick-handled yellow mop atop it.

"Only two weeks ago, our queen's finest warriors journeyed far and wide~ all to meet with the blonde hero~," he explained. Every segment of his story was, and would continue to be animated by balloons that moved about like poor cartoon characters. By the time large beasts (basilisks, behemoths and the like) began to appear, certain balloons began popping one by one. "Many were lost in the desert~! Humble servants drew their final breaths, not in laughter, but in pain~ and agony~! Monsters aplenty, their songs nearly ended~ until a mighty gondola happened upon them~! Barely escaping with their lives, the remaining heroes of our tale met Jason~ whose hedonistic ways outstretched the length of his ship, just as our beloved king in the state of his own dreams, no~? Could its length even be greater than the jester's tale~? Yes~ it is so~! Longer yet was convincing the great lord Ja~son to meet the beau~tiful queen Kolin to make an agreement for transport~!"

[Apollymi]

Kolin almost scoffed. Of course, it would be the the fop who wanted to tell the tale. At least she'd long since done away with the annoyances of his speech which were aimed at her. In fact, he was a bit closer to tolerable when the jokes he made weren't at her expense. "Ack, it's always you... but fine," mentioned Kolin. She wasn't completely displeased but this jester had been particularly annoying when he first showed up. It'd taken personally enchanting him to make him more palatable, but it'd been worth it in the end. So, what story did the lad have to tell. Kolin watched the balloons and listened to the man's voice. She managed to sit in her chair as if completely bored but at least the information was being conferred. According to the clown and his balloons a great many monsters had been faced by this party. Many of their number had died along the way. A tsk came from Kolin at this news. it was rather disappointing that she'd lost so many men. Of course, she wasn't really surprised, the strongest ones were kept at her side, she'd only sent Hector to make sure it wasn't a total wash. Imagine her surprise when among those still here were this annoying jester and the white haired male. She cut her eyes in his direction but said nothing. No, her attention returned to the red haired young man who was still speaking. Apparently at a point of great change, they'd managed to find Jason. And what was more, that man had saved them and apparently was very muscular with a large boat to boot. A wicked grin spread across her face in the moment.

The pot shot taken at Leorio hadn't been missed and such things were always worth a chuckle or two. "You know what since you bring good news and you made me laugh, I'll forgive this longwinded storytelling of yours... Dagonet," mentioned the Queen. She waved her hand to send him on about his way and thought through her next move. She was cleared for a meeting with Jason, securing it was all but guaranteed at this point. This would of course mean that she needed to ready her group to get on the move. Ah, but there were still so many things to do. She needed them locked away so she could freely do what she needed to do to convince Jason to move her and the people she needed. Though if his physique was anything close to his balloon representation, maybe she'd have a good time as well. She also needed to test the use of her new method of transport, for the young women who may not come willingly. "Hector, will he be coming here, or does he expect us to meet him in the desert?" she asked of the more serious redhead in the room. All the while her eyes were moving about. What thing to do first? Well that mostly depended on Hector's answer. Though this group had only just arrived home, they would receive no rest if she needed to act immediately.

[Bloodedge]

Indeed, it was always the one called Dagonet. The others could have spoken, but their tales were so boring. No excitement, no build-up, no fun at all! The jester would always take the initiative to deliver information if granted the chance, so it was essentially Kolin's own fault that she had to deal with it. Even receiving Kolin's forgiveness, he seemed no more or less animated than he'd been at the start. One could even assume his show wasn't quite done yet. "O mighty, radiant, generous Queen Ko~lin! Forgiveness is almost as great a reward as your la~ughter. I am but a humble slave to your will; I would accept only the latter if need be~!" he explained with a bow, stepping aside as ordered thereafter.

Since the jester had been silenced, it was time for a knight to speak, according to Kolin herself. She spoke the name Hector, snatching the attention of a more stoic-looking knight with shorter, crimson hair. This man's bow was not quite as deep and extravagant as the other knights serving Kolin, though it was not devoid of subservience. "The Argonaut will not be moved, my queen. The majority of our discussion was, sadly, a failed attempt to sway Jason. He insisted that since it is a favor of his you seek, there is no point in him leaving his ship to meet you. Though... he does seem excited to grant you passage across the desert, after hearing of you in... finer detail. I should also add that he was perhaps not as respectful as Her Grace would prefer, from my limited understanding."

[Apollymi]

Dagonet's manner of speaking annoying Kolin to no end. Even so, the words he spoke were ones which she enjoyed. How conflicted she often found herself while the jester spoke. If he was less annoying in his delivery he'd be a perfect addition for her nightly amusement. But, he was annoying to her, and beyond that before she properly enchanted him, he was liable to say something about her which caused murderous reactions from her. Neutering his speech pattern was the best of the options, but he was still a bit of a handful. Ah, but that didn't really matter, he'd stepped aside and done as asked. It was mostly all she needed from those who served her. In the meantime the sorceress in her cage heard the words of Dagonet and frowned. 'Nobody hears him asking for help... people really don't understand how much power words have here...' she thought in the most absent way. Maybe this situation would be changing soon enough. Given what was happening right now, she was right to take her leisure time the previous night.

Hector a man of better speaking quality gave her the information she needed without hesitation and with the insight of a well-seasoned Knight. Beyond that his words maintained a level of respect which kept Kolin pleased with him. What was a bit alarming were the words he shared. Apparently this Argonaut thought himself above her summon. He likely didn't know who she was, or maybe he was simply vying for her attention by making himself different from her perceived type. There were a few options for this and none of them made her completely upset. After all, her true type as unknown to those who occupied this low world. What she truly desired was a different type of man all together and everyone else was simply place holding. What she would say aloud didn't have any misgivings in it. "I'm pleased you'd inform me of all of this Hector. There is nothing to give me great concern, all good dogs come to heel with the right treatment~" she said with nothing shy of her normal confidence. Still, nothing shy of a strong statement needed to be made. If this man was truly a hedonist, he could probably be quelled with a gift and she could take the best of her Knights with her for protection if anything went awry. There was hardly any real risk involved when men were the targets. Nothing to worry about. "Leorio, make sure you are fully ready for transport to the desert." she gave him that order and expected it to be followed. But her mind was racing... there were several other things she needed to do. Who should she potentially offer as tribute to this man and his crew if she alone for him wasn't enough? Well, her eyes travelled over the white haired court mage. That one was not really worth keeping. Yes, she'd helped with her coup, but... it was hardly worth trusting a woman who turned on people so easily. She'd not even been broken nor had anything happen to her. Her loyalties were questionable. Maybe that one wouldn't be enough though... she could probably offer Guin and Emilia as well just to make sure. If she seemed benevolent enough to allow them to travel with the group, the Knights looking after them wouldn't really object. Then... she could leave them with the crew and order the Knights to leave them to pay off her debts with them. It wasn't above question for the Queen to offer lessers in her place. Anyone would understand. Ah, that Merlyn girl too probably, but she'd have to actually deal with her directly. She couldn't enchant women and he had nothing to hold over her. Perhaps an offer of kindness which ended with either death or servitude would work in the long term, then she could be seen as kind in the eyes of Arthur, right?

[Bloodedge]

Hector bowed his head upon hearing that the queen was pleased with his information. He did as he always would, sparing no truth when reporting to his superior. "I have faith that you will spare no wrath for those who cross you," he stated. Cador heard this exchange, and felt strangely about it. Jason... he knew of that name from his own visit to the desert, though he'd never met the man himself. The stories he heard made him wonder how things would truly turn out, for the one known as Jason was considered quite twisted in his own right. Well, that wasn't the problem of most people here. The big problem was how ready Kolin was to set out immediately. A quick glance occurred between Cador and Arthur, both believing things were soon to take an earlier turn than they'd hope for.

Most excited of anyone (bar perhaps Dagonet, as he generally was) was Leorio. Finally, his darling queen had proper use of him! The king wore an ear-to-ear grin as he rose, more than prepared to escort Kolin at her leisure. "Of course, my darling!~ I'll summon our Love Chariot right away~" the young king said, wasting no further time before making his way out. He would go on to summon a large chariot boasting a blue and silver motif, seemingly self-driven and large enough for three riders. In addition to this vehicle, there were numerous smaller chariots each large enough for two. This was Leorio's ability─ the mounts to carry forth a small army with his own power. The courtyard would soon be used as a runway for his mounts' takeoff, whenever Kolin emerged from the castle and gave the order to transport her forces. Meanwhile, Cador spoke up at last. "Your Grace, may I ask if you intend to deliver our full forces right away?"

[Apollymi]

Yep, Hector was definitely one of Kolin's favorites. He understood her very well, if the ship's captain didn't simply go along with what she wanted. She'd make sure he suffered after she got where she wanted to be, after all, she was quite patient, as was made obvious by the long and drawn out plan she had. Though most would just consider that sheer madness if they knew both the plan and the reason behind it. "I'm pleased Hector, though I can not allow you rest at the moment, you will be rewarded at some point for your words," Kolin stated plainly. She did love having her ego fluffed, even if that wasn't the intention. Though this wouldn't last too long as a sigh would soon escape her. If she managed to get all of them passage across the desert she'd likely heave Leorio overboard at her earliest convenience. She'd have him to wander the desert for the sin of possessing such a tiny dick and such a random amount of infatuation. It was as if he actually thought himself worthy of attention. His words even managed to irritate her further, their 'Love Chariot'? Transport was about the only thing the boy king was good for, but no matter. If her performed properly at least his departure wouldn't be a death for him. She scoffed and shoo'd him away with a wave of her hand, it was about as much acknowledgement as he'd ever receive from her.

Still there were other more pressing problems to deal with, and Cador seemed most apt to speak. Since he'd approached that sentence in the proper way, she'd make sure to praise him before sending him to do his part. "Yes, that is my plan. How very clever of you, Cador... you aren't my best for nothing it seems," she said offering praise to one while shaming the others, another way to keep them mostly on edge around each other. She'd go on to explain herself very carefully as if the plan wasn't obvious to all present. "If we can be off quickly it would be for the best. I'd like to move on from this frozen wasteland and to somewhere warm," she exclaimed seemingly happy about the potential change in climate. "Ah, but I haven't forgotten there are several loose ends to take care of, bring the sorceress here. I've decided what I am going to do with her," she mentioned with a knowing smile. She also knew Cador was the only one besides one of the new ones brave enough to broach that woman for whatever reason. No matter, it would be fine. She'd turn her gaze towards the court mage and gesture to the area in front of her. With a sigh the buxom woman stood before her, tapping her staff on the ground. This would create the anti-magic circle of Kolin's creation for the sorceress to stand on. 'Stupid cow is nothing but cautious when it comes to her own safety. Well at least there isn't any worries of magic flying at us this way,' thought the woman. "I'm glad you still take orders without being told, Nerys." Kolin mentioned as she wait for the sorceress to be brought before her.

[Bloodedge]

"Thank you, my queen. I will look forward to it. As always, I await your command," Hector stated. Meanwhile, the jester Dagonet was experiencing mock outrage due to the compliments paid to Hector. "What a sha~me. I deliver a most amu~sing tale, yet all credit goes to a lowly knight. Is it the folly of comedy that puts me in this situa~tion? I should consider being more stoic after all~!" he chanted to the universe at large while Hector awaited further instruction.

The praise of Cador's assertion warranted nothing more than glances from most knights... though Lot was an exception among them. The king's own brother, the knight who truly expressed the highest dedication, should have been the one treated in such a way. He should have been even greater, beyond Kolin's top knight; he should have been king! Enough of Cador; that wretch would be dealt with in due time. For now though, he had his uses... like being the one sent off to retrieve that damn sorceress. The purple-haired knight was off after a bow, quick to make his way into the dungeons where Merlyn waited. It would be mere minutes before he stood in front of an open cell, thinking there was little need to explain the situation. "It's half past showtime, Merlyn. And here I thought we had another full day to wait. Oh well; what's to be done about it?"

[Apollymi]

Hector took his praise as gracefully as ever, Dagonet on the other hand, was full of jokes. Perhaps the queen wasn't as easily amused as she thought, something about that man's speech pattern always seemed to annoy her. Her took a jab at the extra praise offered the others and Lot looked about as pleased as a wet cat when Cador was giving praise. This sort of discord was exactly what she aimed for though, so she was nothing but satisfied with it. While the court bristled in its chaotic climate, Merlyn opened her eyes beneath the cover of her hood to view Sir Cador near her open cell door.

He claimed it was half-past showtime. And asked what was to be done about it. A little smirk came over this woman's face, there were a few things which could be done, and all of them would happen in the order they needed to. "Oh, Sir Cador... I thought you liked not being in the know?~" she teased the man as she stood. She pulled that hood of hers just a little bit further down, so that it cloaked the entirety of her face in shadow, and hid all of her person from view. It was rather important that she not be properly seen for a while. "I knew she would falter sooner rather than later, can't trust the timeline of a chaotic psychopath with a god-complex~" she said with a knowing smirk. She wouldn't keep the Queen waiting, there were funny things about to take place. The Queen's plans for her and the others were quite rushed, not well developed or thought through. "I can tell you, it is her general plan to get everyone onto Jason's boat, and then give away myself, Emilia and Guin to Jason in exchange for safe passage. She's even going to offer me a deal... it's so very generous my refusal will get me into a load of trouble~" she said as if the entire thing was amusing. And it was... but that was because there was a bit more to what was going to happen here than what most could know.

[Bloodedge]

Merlyn was indeed prepared for departure. Cador didn't truly expect to be told anything; he'd simply been talking for the sake of doing so. "Well, whether you share or not doesn't matter. I was mostly venting frustration as a question," he said with a shrug. Even so, Merlyn did divulge the queen's plan. It sounded about right; Kolin would easily reduce other women to the playthings of men who sought her favor. On that same note, she would just as easily have them thrown aside for speaking negatively in her presence. Such a thing would be what Merlyn chose to do, without a doubt. "My my. I'll be sure to get a front-row seat, and maybe I'll be lucky enough to take part in the show. Now... my apologies," he concluded as he reached out to take Merlyn by a shackle applied to her neck, while applying a smaller set to her wrists. He could only drag her into the queen's presence in this state, lest things go sour before anything proper could begin.

As if she actually needed to, Merlyn spoke of the 'trouble' she'd be getting in. Cador chuckled, knowing this day would be filled with nothing short of excitement, at the very least. One could only wonder what she would say. How quickly could she antagonize the queen, and how much could said queen actually do in response? What would the attempt even be? There were so many questions, with only the ability to... wait and see.

[Apollymi]

According to Sir Cador it didn't matter if she shared information with him or not. He was apparently just venting is current frustrations. He seemed responsive enough about the plan she'd divulged, and she'd done it so he wouldn't react too quickly to the news of such things. Of course, she'd left out all of the juicier bits, since there needed to be some excitement in their lives. Perhaps it wouldn't be quite so exciting to him, since she'd already told him the secret of her existence. Regardless, she was soon being pulled along by the chain on her neck with new little shackles on her wrists. "I am aghast. Chained like an animal... whatever will I do?~" she said in the most dramatic way possible. Though if she was being fair, she didn't really mind getting led around by Sir Cador in such a way... maybe he'd develop some new desires from this day and they could revisit this in a more... comfortable situation. Still, Merlyn could do nothing but look forward to this particular climax and smile. She'd keep her head tilted down looking at her chained hands as she was dragged along. Of course, that hood of hers covered her entire face in shadow, if only to spare those around her.

While the prisoner and Cador made their way back, Kolin waited none too patiently. After making everyone wait for her to get to the throne room this morning, at the very least the court wizard, Nerys as she was apparently known was disgusted with her lack of tact. One day, she'd be rid of this woman, perhaps one day soon. She planned to say here, in her enchanted tower, perhaps with an uneasy alliance with Kolin. She couldn't have taken this place from the former Prince and Princess. So, working with Kolin had been ideal... knowing the woman was planning to leave made all of Nerys plans that much easier. Granted she would have preferred if that cur Leorio hadn't funneled literally all the wealth of this place into Kolin's whorehouse. But... money could be remade once the woman was gone. Whenever Cador appeared Kolin would offer him a bit of a warning. "Leave her in the magic circle but do not cross it. I can't lose my best Knight to a punishment meant for a sorceress..." she said as if it was a kindness. In all honesty she might need Cador to be fighting fit in a bit she'd rather not have to figure out how to undo her own magic. She expected Merlyn to be found within the circle shortly.

[Bloodedge]

As was very much her typical way, Merlyn had jokes to offer. Indeed, she was chained like an animal. Would he develop new desires from this, as Merlyn thought? Not quite. One could not develop something they had long since given consideration to, but the idea was also presently swimming around in his head. He would even offer some insight to the current workings of his mind, if only through his response to Merlyn's jest. "What else can you do? Go along with the plan, like a good girl," he said with a snarky grin, continuing to move toward the throne room.

Lo, there was a spell placed in the center of the throne room when they arrived. Cador was advised by the queen herself to guide Merlyn into that magical circle, albeit without crossing it himself. To keep up appearances, he walked to the barrier's edge and stepped behind the sorceress, shoving her toward the designated area with distaste in his visage. "I am grateful for your consideration, Your Grace," he said to Kolin before stepping aside. Whether he would remain near Merlyn at all, take up his post, or anything else, was up to the queen. Cador simply stood aside and awaited further instruction, simultaneously taking note of the daggers being stared in his direction by Sir Lot.

[Apollymi]

"Yes, sir~" Merlyn said with a cheekiness in that voice of hers that could not be missed. "You'll have to make sure to tell me how good of a girl I am though~" she said offering the man a wink from beneath her hood while they walked. But alas careless flirting had to come to an end sometime. Entering the room, Kolin who looked more than a bit anxious gave an order to Cador which had the lass actively stumble within the magic circle on the floor. All for show of course, Merlyn could see the future she knew this would happen, she also knew it was necessary to stumble here to trick Kolin into that strange sense of security. "Oh, how gentle is the Knight's demeanor. If I'd been blessed by the whore goddess I would have fallen on my face~" Merlyn said, and the mage known as Nerys had her eyes widen as she coughed to stifle an involuntary laugh. That would not be going over well, and she knew it, but that was still a funny sentence. Merlyn wasted no time, but she'd also said nothing directly to Kolin in the moment. No, that was said only for those who knew of her prior visit to this same room. She looked down at her feet from the shadow of her hood. "Hoh? You've redecorated..." she said those eyes of hers deep in shadow as she looked at everyone present in this room. Thinking of them as the objects Kolin saw them as... "I don't like it." Still the magic of this anti-magic circle was an extreme detrement to the Queen, because it suppressed magic. So, the enchantments of Merlyn's clothing which kept her from being overly appealing to the opposite sex all the time by her nature, were being stripped for the duration of time she stood here. Though the effect wouldn't be immediate, any man who looked at her for too long would begin by smelling the sweetness of her pheromones.

Kolin's eyes cut in Nerys' direction, but she'd recovered enough for her to assume it was a cough. "Truly days in the dungeon have done nothing for your attitude sorceress," she mentioned with a lax wave. Even so, she had to seem much nicer than she planned to be. "Still, I could simply blame that on you being mad. I am willing to be a bit forgiving," she started which made Merlyn took up at her though those eyes of hers were still hidden. "I'll give you one chance. Remove your hood, give an oath and beg forgiveness. I'll even give you the grace of accompanying us on our little trip to let you prove your worth. Arthur has already sworn himself to me, it would keep you in his company as you are obviously far more attached than he is. You should think it through, within that circle your magic won't work. Take my kindness now, it will not be offered again." Kolin's request might have seemed reasonable but from its inception it was unreasonable. She literally wanted an apology for someone telling her the truth. She rubbed in the idea that Merlyn had some vested interest in Arthur that he didn't share with her, and claimed she could be of use. Classically all of these things were her trying to manipulate someone she couldn't actually control. Merlyn wasn't willing to give this woman the satisfaction. A small smirk appeared on Merlyn's face, she was about to cause a stir, she could feel it in her bones.

[Bloodedge]

"I surely will, so long as you don't act out~" Such was the final retort of Cador prior to their arrival before the queen. He shoved the sorceress into the anti-magic field, and strangely thought nothing of doing so. In fact, the knight wondered if she actually fancied the aggression. Ah, but wait... he shouldn't have been thinking like that, should he? The things he'd said to Merlyn thus far had all been reactive, naturally flowing with the conversation; it wasn't as if his mind passively went to such things─ Or did it? Oh, no; he understood what was happening.

Anti-magic field. The answer was right there. Merlyn couldn't have her attractiveness to the opposite sex taken away; it was a simple fact of her existence that created such an effect. Surely then, there had to be something magical to conceal that part of her. Moreover, Cador was in closer proximity to the sorceress than anyone else; he was the first to feel its effects, and had already been exposed to it enough to take it in a more natural way. This was going to be interesting indeed.

Ah, but Kolin's order, her kind offer, was dangerous for her followers. She wanted the woman to pull back her hood and offer an apology? As if things couldn't become bad enough for the queen in the next few minutes or so, that would surely cause a ruckus... and Merlyn's excitement was almost tangible to Cador. What would he do, then? There was one thing he considered. He could do something while keeping up appearances─ he could strip the sorceress' hood himself. Well... Cador was a man of action, as Merlyn herself said many times. Upholding the visage of an arrogant knight, he grinned and took the initiative. "If I may?" he asked, outstretching his hand and letting it hover just outside the magical field. His query may have seemed to be for Kolin, but no... he was asking the chained sorceress.

[Apollymi]

That shove wasn't necessary something Merlyn was against. She did say she enjoyed men of action and those who made choices of their own accord. Sir Cador happened to be one of those types of men, he fit a lot of her personal preferences, a bit of aggression was included in what Merlyn enjoyed. The same could be said of the woman sitting on the throne, though she was less likely to be obvious about that particular aspect of herself. Whatever the case, with all the current players in place, Merlyn was indeed giddy at this offering. How amazing was it, that the mechanizations of the Queen fit perfectly into helping Merlyn fully manifest her powers? It helped that she was currently blind, that she was tainted by her madness and couldn't tell the difference between a human sorceress and a succubus. Of course, Merlyn went out of her way to appear as human as possible through magical means, but stripping away magic mean they were left with... well everything else.

Going along with Sir Cador's plan Merlyn could have chuckled. Instead, she gave a singular sentence, which also could be taken as being meant specifically for the man in front of her, but instead of it being a negative it was actually aimed at Kolin. "You will regret it." Merlyn said in response to Sir Cador's question, but that was permission for him. Much like he'd granted her when she'd slept the platoon of Knights her first evening in the dungeons, it was a warning opposite of what she intended. Of course, Kolin, in all of her selfish delusions assumed that Cador was asking her permission. And because Merlyn had dared to imply that something negative would happen, she went on to give said permission. "I'll regret it? You have no power here, are you trying to hide some horrible disfigurement?" Kolin questioned while laughing. There would be nothing funnier than the girl pretending to be Merlin being hideous. "Remove her hood!" she exclaimed. She was still waiting on the answer. "And you will give your oath!" Kolin seemed very demanding, and Merlyn only smirked. Today really was worth waiting two days for, she really did enjoy knowing these types down a peg or two.

[Bloodedge]

Regret? That seemed about as clear a sign as any. Additionally, Kolin gave the order to remove Merlyn's hood. What a foolish decision that was. "Kuku~" the Spirit Knight laughed, reaching out farther to take the sorceress' hood in hand. "I hope my lady is pleased," he continued. This, again, was not a statement truly meant for Kolin; it was another for Merlyn herself. With that, he jerked her hood back quickly enough to flutter that nest of white locks atop her head.

Cador was already transfixed, and Arthur felt no overpowering desire for Merlyn aside from accepting her attractiveness. The other men in the room, however, were taken aback immediately. Even Lot, truly Kolin's most loyal servant among the bunch, was enamored with the succubus' visage. How? How could she be more enchanting than that buxom bombshell of a queen? She was shapely, yet so modest that the desire to bed her overthrowing the thirst for Kolin made no sense! Ah, but that modest look was so very appealing in its own way, any man would be a fool to want anything else, right? These were the thoughts flooding Kolin's knights' minds; even the magical jester, Dagonet, was smitten. In fact... he was the first to speak, despite previously being enchanted by Kolin herself. "Sou~desuka~. It seems our prisoner is without a blemish, nor fault, nor cellulite~. She is too magni~ficent to kill, no~? I have o~ther plans for the sorceress, if the queen wishes it so~!"

[Apollymi]

Merlyn's smile got much wider than it had been. This was way too much fun, her nest of silver white hair was tossed by the movement of her hood. And that little cowlick of hair on top of her head bounced ever so slightly. Again, the only person in the entire room who was obviously unaffected by her was Arthur which she expected. Kolin herself didn't see what the big deal was, she was a cute girl, but not much more in the eyes of the queen. But the Queen was protected from Merlyn by her own madness, still she looked far too similar to the male Merlin for Kolin's liking. "So you made yourself a copy of that annoying mage employed by that flat-chested bitch. So what?" Kolin had started to make further demands, until she had a look around and noticed that all the eyes in the room were on Merlyn. She was trying to keep control of this situation, but it was spiraling too quickly.

Still, Merlyn looked up slowly opening those glowing magenta eyes of hers, as the smitten Dagonet sung her praises before his Queen. Nerys looked onwards. Though she wasn't physically smitten with Merlyn, Kolin's court mage... felt the lass was obviously beautiful. Beyond that Nerys got the strange sensation in her chest. She would do what Merlyn asked of her, no matter what it was. She felt like a trustworthy individual, way more worth connecting to than one such as Kolin. A simple laugh left Merlyn's lips, she couldn't help it, this whole thing was too funny. "Haha~ The magically enchanted jester, really? Poor Dagonet... I did warn you~" Merlyn mentioned, as the chains around her wrists rattled from her random movement. She wanted no more than to toss the locks of her hair with her fingers. "Dagonet is mine!" this is what Kolin responded which only made Merlyn laugh more. "Really? Did he choose that or did you... when you enchanted him so he wouldn't tell jokes at your expense?" Merlyn asked, she still hadn't even begun to say anything about that supposed deal she was offered. "SILENCE!" Kolin had gotten down to single words now, that was making this more amusing. "Nerys what is happening here, did you screw up my spell?" she asked making the assumption that Nerys was responsible for this obvious magical influence that Merlyn was causing. All the while, Merlyn continued to passively effect this group at large, they could see those glowing eyes of hers now, and she turned them to Dagonet. She truly felt pity for this man, who'd been enchanted against his will. Though if he was smitten and since Kolin hadn't given him any orders specifically, if he followed his desire to be nearer to Merlyn and stepped into the Anti-Magic Circle, Kolin's control over him would be lost. She had no intention of taking it, any who knew her... would find that obvious. But here and now as about Knight's Rights.

[Bloodedge]

A little spat between Merlyn and Kolin was of no concern to the men of this room. Bar Arthur, all eyes were on the white-haired sorceress. It would not be solely Dagonet who encroached upon the chained woman, either. Dagonet, Hector, and even Lot drew closer and closer, until all but Arthur and Cador were inside the anti-magic zone. Of course, the former was the only enchanted male among the group. Dagonet had been suffering forced loyalty to a queen he didn't otherwise have reason to not serve; he'd simply been reduced to such a state because she disliked his choice in comedy. What a poor end for a jester, but it would be no more as the enchantment lost its effect. "Finally~! So many jokes unspoken, so many acts never put on~! The wrathful queen's spell is bro~ken? Will she next be melted in the way of the Wicked Witch~?" the redhead chanted while reaching out to place a gentle hand upon either of Merlyn's cheeks. "And what of the so~rceress? With so many vying for her attention~ will she take them all as her playthings now~? Will it only be one? After another? A single choice? Far be it for a humble merrymaker to assume~!"

Of course, during the jester's tangent after being so recently freed, it would be Lot to grab the smaller male by his collar and pull him aside. There was but one way for this to end in the knight's mind. This delectable little spellcaster would be his to tame, and only he could truly answer the call her body so clearly sent out to the masses. "Be silent, clown," the knight said as both of his hands reached out to Merlyn's chest. "The obvious choice here, is none other than myself. The rest of you are far too weak to satisfy this body."

All the while, Cador fought every urge to laugh. Was this what he'd become like on the previous day? Perish the thought! He and Arthur seemed to be the only remaining men with a sense of self at this point, with the latter never leaving his post and simply... watching, waiting for events to truly unfold.

[Apollymi]

Nerys snapped to attention when she was spoken to, of course, Kolin was trying to blame her for what was happening here. "What? I couldn't even mess something like that up. It is far from complex. Obviously, it is doing its job, undoing the magic around the sorceress... it even freed..." she didn't have to say. Kolin could hear it in Dagonet's voice. Why had all her knights approached this woman? In the seconds it took for her to begin her argument with Nerys every Knight but Cador and Arthur were swarming towards the other woman. And Dagonet was free and making those annoying jokes at her expense. "Ugh, next time I'll just cut his tongue out," Kolin uttered. What a harsh response for such a light jest. "Maybe his eyes too, how dare they all be looking at her and not me!" In truth they really couldn't help themselves. Even so the fault of this was Kolin's so passing blame in this case was completely uncalled for. "Nerys! What is actually happening, what use are you as a court mage if you can't even figure out what sort of sorcery is being cast here!?" she questioned the female wizard. Of course, the man who was the base of her personality scoffed. Leave it to a bimbo with no real magical understanding to blame the other woman in the room for what was happening here.

At the same time, Merlyn found herself being spoken to directly by Dagonet. The man was now free of his need to answer to Kolin, even so because of the lack of enchantments on her person, he couldn't resist her either presently. Still, he was rather funny and his wicked witch comment would cause the white haired lass to giggle. "Hehehe~ that's pretty funny. You're going to be great!~" Merlyn mentioned, she could see very clearly into the future. This one wouldn't remain at Kolin's side. But a slight bit of sadness flashed through the eyes of the succubus. She wouldn't take advantage of this man's lack of ability to resist her. "Not that I don't think you're adorable and all, but I'm no date-rapist and you aren't quite yourself, Sir Dagonet... how about we talk when you are? I only wished to free you, after all, I could hear you asking for help," Her words were a suggestion but she meant for the man to step back and given her power that suggestion could have been one he took to heart. Still there was the matter of Sir Lot, who grabbed for her chest, Merlyn had no outward reaction, but her body still began to feed on this man, though admittedly not in the friendly way she'd fed herself upon Sir Cador previously. Besides that, this energy taking wasn't magical either, it was simply due to the fact that he'd touched her in a manner which could feed her that her body took energy from him, but it wasn't kind. No, if he didn't unhand her... he'd find himself so drained of energy, his physical strength dwindling along with the inability to use magic. He'd be on his knees in seconds, if his hands remained in place. "Are you quite sure about that... I've seen the truth of you Sir Lot, and you truly aren't up to task. No matter what dumb ideas the Queen fills your head with, there is a reason you aren't the best..." she said with a wicked smirk. "Or haven't you noticed that your competition aren't so easily moved?" she asked of him with a singular raised brow. Soon after her eyes shifted to Sir Hector. She looked at him for several seconds, though he had approached he'd made no moves to touch her. A wide grin spread across Merlyn's face. "Oh to know the depths of a person, we must know what they'd choose of their own accord. As scary as that might be as an unknown, the choice must always be in their hands~" Merlyn's last sentence was for Sir Cador and a play on his own words. She could see Sir Hector clearly and he was here and sworn by Sir Cador's will, but not necessary his own. What would he choose if given the choice, they needed to know for the best possible outcome.

[Bloodedge]

"Naturally~" Dagonet said, despite being so recently thrown aside by Lot. It seemed justice would soon be served, as Sir Lot's knees buckled shortly after making contact with Merlyn. How strange─ Dagonet hadn't experienced such a thing at all. "Many thanks for the assistance~. I will respectfully bow out as a show of gratitude~" he concluded. As for Lot, it was not the draining that made him move aside. He was far too simple to feel anything but satisfaction when having his energy taken, but the comparison to Cador and that damned Arthur, could not be tolerated. What set those two apart? Releasing the sorceress' chest, he reached for the lance kept at his back. Cador would have to go, and Arthur would follow suit. "You spare them of your enchantment to make a fool of me? You will see what it means to play favorites," he announced.

Meanwhile, Arthur sighed. He didn't see what all the fuss over Merlyn was about. He could see numerous features he would have preferred over the ridiculousness that was Kolin's physique, but what were they all crowding around her for? When would things really begin? With bated breath, he waited still... while Merlyn set her gaze on Sir Hector. The more mysterious of the knights here, was a mystery even to his former king─ but Merlyn knew better. Words were shared with Cador, while the purple-haired male kept a hand at his sword's hilt to prepare for Lot's potential onslaught. Could it truly be so simple? "That is, by far, the most ridiculous thing I've heard all day," he said. Even so, Hector looked to the other male as if awaiting his order instead of one from Kolin. Tides were turning, and there was only one way to shift them in the right direction. Even Sir Hector understood this, but there were oaths that would never be broken. . .

[Apollymi]

"I am a court mage, one who can actually use magic. Did you even figure out what kind of magic she used before you up and decided to make an Anti-magic circle to keep her in?" this was the question asked by Nerys who seemed to think about this more than most people. The Anti-magic circle was working, but this world was still based on a video game and that mechanic meant that Anti-magic didn't work on things that weren't considered magic, including conditions. Obviously there was something at work here. "Obviously you stopped the magic that was containing some condition of her being. And as long as it is in place the men around her will be hers. I would say the only thing to do would be to move her out of the circle and hope that whatever makes her so attractive to the group dissipates as her magic returns..." Nerys said. Kolin's eyes widened at this news. Was the situation playing out before her, truly her own fault? Lot was even on his knees before this woman looking more pleased than he had the other night when they'd been in the bedroom. Could this actually be? "They should all love me, and only me!" exclaimed Kolin. "Charles!!!" she called for her executioner. "He'll kill her and any other woman here who dares to between me and what I want!" After the death of Merlyn she'd make sure no other woman would do anything. She'd hold that death over their heads, she'd guarantee they'd go along with the head of this sorceress. And then when they arrived she'd force them to take her mark and work her brothels. None of them would ever receive more attention from her Knights than she did. Of course, her own madness kept her from realizing that Merlyn was distinctly inhuman and as such her natural condition couldn't be contained without magic. She didn't realize that anyone would choose to not have such a passive effect on others. Beyond all that she didn't realize that a man making a different choice from her, wasn't at all an affront to her existence. That was a major sticking point, but some people would never choose better.

"Playing favorites, me?? Have you really not noticed how that one was treating you? I am unable to use magic right now, I am not choosing who likes me. None of you would be affected by me at all if I was..." Merlyn said with a roll of her eyes. Being in Kolin's court was obviously not good for anyone's brain. "She sure does like them dumb. But I suppose only the dumb ones would keep choosing to stick it in crazy~" Merlyn said with a light scoff. Still her attention turned to Sir Hector and the words shared with Cador brought a light giggle to Merlyn. "There is little more to this than fear of the unknown, live a little... enjoy the mystery~" Merlyn said. "Besides, the rights of the Knights are important who Sir Hector follows should be his choice alone." She wouldn't have lead this man astray. If she thought anything negative would happen she wouldn't have given him the message she did. The oaths and enchantments made by a mad woman had to stop.

[Bloodedge]

Of all the potential answers Kolin had for her self-induced problems, her given answer was a single name: Charles. There was one member of Kolin's court who always kept in shadows. Close, yet distant. Attentive, yet oh so aloof. Charles-Henri Sanson was the man's name, and he entered the throne room within moments of his name being spoken. A form-fitting black trench coat with a billowing tail had the sound of its movements smothered only by the step of black leather boots, and the light clang of a flexible metal used to complete the design of... horse heads in his pauldrons, whose manes were in the likeness of guillotine blades. Gray eyes peered through unkempt, silver hair as this man looked to Kolin... and surprisingly no other, despite the presence of Merlyn. If his job wasn't clear to anyone present, perhaps it would be made clear by the appearance of an eerie, black executioner's blade ─ strangely with a guillotine blade at its tip ─ dragging along behind him. "What is it?" he questioned, his voice raspy and void of emotion. Damned be the respectful address of the queen's knights. This man had a single job: death. Anything else, such as fealty and oaths, meant less to him than the excrement of a stray hound.

Merlyn's words were meaningless. Whether there was sorcery afoot or not, to Lot, there was a clear exception being made for the two knights obviously favored by others. However, he would not yet go out of his way to strike Cador down. Little did he know, he should have. Cador was in the process of heaving a sigh, mockingly remorseful of a few specific words Merlyn was now using against him. She was right by all accounts, and he trusted the succubus beyond even her inborn ability to appear trustworthy. He knew Hector had been awaiting his release from that final order. The day was promised long ago... a day that would free him of that blasted queen's command, specifically by freeing him of his oath to the former King Cador. Today would be that day. "Sir Hector... I release you of your oath. You may do as you please," he said, much to Sir Hector's surprise. What would the red-haired knight do with this newfound freedom? Even he wasn't sure immediately, yet... something major was stewing in his mind.

[Apollymi]

The entrance of a new man made Merlyn shift her eyes. His lack of care about her wasn't unexpected. The name he bore was one familiar throughout history. A small smile came to the woman's face, though he still managed to face Kolin she seemed less than worried. Still, there was nothing but discontent in Kolin though the fact that the man still managed to look at her, made her quite relieved. Perhaps the world hadn't gone completely wrong. "Kill this sorceress she's an affront to my power, and she's somehow enchanting the rest of my men. I won't stand for this insolence!" Kolin exclaimed. Though this one wasn't nearly as respectful as she would have liked, his purpose was killing and in that he was infallible. Never had she told him to kill and not had it completed. He'd put an end to this sorceress and then she would hold the rest of Court. With Charles here, she'd force the hands of both Emilia and Guin. She'd haul them off with all the rest of her men and turn them over to Jason as trade fodder for their safe passage. As Nerys watched she wondered what would become of this, Charles was a strange one that she didn't get to see much, but in truth the man scared her so she was quite glad she didn't see him often. Oh well, maybe this whole thing would be behind them shortly.

Cador released, Hector and Merlyn watched with a happy smile. She soon enough turned her attention back to the front of the room, where the man known as Charles was. Her death had been ordered by the Queen, basically for just existing. "Oh, one small step for Knights Rights. Sorry boys but you'll have to excuse me~" Merlyn said content to shift her attention away from these men for a moment. "It looks like I have a date with the Executioner~" she said with a happy wink. She found this entire situation beyond funny, and didn't manage to be scared this annoyed Kolin. "Say that now but this man offers true death!" Kolin talked up Charles though it didn't usually work to manipulate the man, it usually put extra fear into the hearts of her enemies. How would she fare against one such as Merlyn though? Well, Merlyn simply looked ahead, giving a shrug of the most casual nature.

[Bloodedge]

The request, or rather demand of Kolin this time was... as per usual, another execution. Charles had no issue with this; it was his primary purpose in this world. What he did have a problem with, was the execution target. A sorceress was no issue; his ability to kill was spawned of the world itself. There were many things favored by the world they were in, and among them... was the creature Kolin ordered the execution of. With no more than a single glance, Charles could tell the perfect way of killing another person, even if he wished to do so without leaving signs of death. The very concept of death was his plaything, but then there were individuals like Merlyn, whose very nature refused to play his little game. He stared at the sorceress, and scoffed.

"Non." The answer was just that simple. He wouldn't execute Merlyn. He couldn't execute Merlyn. The guillotine could fall time and time again for the purpose of decapitating this woman, but he doubted her head would even be severed. "This one doesn't know death. La Mort Espoir rejects her, as she rejects it," the executioner clarified blandly. There was nothing to be done about the one called Merlyn. Charles' summoning was a waste, and he seemed quite miffed about it. "Who must die?" he asked. He never answered a call for nothing. If he was brought out to execute, someone had to die. This was the arrangement he made when determining that following Kolin meant endless access to his... trade.

[Apollymi]

"No?!" Kolin questioned. He might as well have spit in her face the amount of outrage that singular word possessed. According to Charles though, Merlyn simply didn't know death, and his weapon couldn't kill her. Actually what he said was that it rejected her and she rejected it. The Queen got huffy immediately, she didn't like being rushed or denied. Nor was she immediately prepared to choose someone else, though she would. "Well, don't use it then, use the fucking Angels. Just kill her, she's a problem. We agreed when I call you kill, don't go changing the terms of it now!" Kolin outright demanded. Though she would never be one to give herself up, if it wasn't the case that this death would do, she'd likely choose a different name to offer, after all anyone could die today as long as it wasn't her, her plan would continue on without a hitch. All the while, Nerys looked exceedingly nervous. There was only one thing this woman feared, and it was death. The sound of that man's blade scraping as he walked in, put fear chills in her. Beyond all of that, Nerys knew that Kolin was crazy, so if she felt even the smallest bit slighted she wouldn't hesitate to offer Nerys name to her personal executioner. She had no desire to be offered up to the man, if she could have disappeared without being noticed she would have, but she was summoned to this godforsaken throne room, she had to stay until dismissed. 'Stupid bitch, I swear to god if I die here because your crazy ass decided to apply anti-magic to some.... whatever the fuck she is, without finding out what kind of magic she was using. If hell exists, I'm dragging your ass with me...' she thought as she avoided any wayward glances.

All the while Merlyn seemed amused. She also knew the Executioner couldn't kill her. But... it was always fun to have someone find out that information. She truly didn't know death, she couldn't even kill herself if she tried. Ah, but no one really needed to know that information. She watched the conversation between this woman and her executioner with great interest. Who would she choose to have slain in Merlyn's place? Dagonet? Lot? Leorio? She supposed all of those options worked. Ah, but she'd have to choose someone she wouldn't mind losing and who would make an impact if she was forced to... for an impulsive decision she made while crazed.

[Bloodedge]

"Non," the executioner repeated. Unlike the rabble Kolin surrounded herself with directly, he hadn't a single care for her attitude, nor her ability. He was, and always would be, an object of death. Even his eyes held nothing resembling life in them, though he was very much a creature of flesh and blood. Some workers became their jobs─ these words had never been truer than with Charles.

Ah, the Angels─ Weeping Angels, to be specific. Charles himself created those things for special executions, when he and the world believed his targets could be spared... or perhaps even be less of an issue in a different time period. They killed not in a vicious manner, but by consuming the time of those they touched, sending them backwards in time to live themselves to death naturally. The Angels would then be sustained by the "time" their victims lost. All in all, it was something Charles designed as killing with kindness. Alas, Kolin was some sort of imbecile if she thought to suggest that. Would Charles be delicate in pointing this out? No. "Be silent, woman. She does not know death. If an Angel took her, it would only create two of her up to the moment it made contact. I am not here to add life to this world," he spoke. That weighted executioner's blade of his dragged along the floor, shredding through the carpet. Charles wasn't moving his position to make this occur, but instead simply brandishing the weapon. In doing so, those dead eyes were fixed on the queen. "We agreed. You call, I kill. The sorceress cannot die. La Mort Espoir has been drawn in honor of that agreement. You will tell me who must die. Now." His tone remained flat, but was creepily demanding. Inscribed on his blade, as it could be seen, was Epée de Justice. Justice would be served in the end. If ever he drew his blade without death under the rules of the agreement with Kolin, the world would take matters into its own hands... and she who captured the world's selections for death would be taken as recompense for committing a sin against the world. Charles knew this, and he had told Kolin once before.

A death was mandatory when she spoke his name.

[Apollymi]

Nerys could feel her own heart beating in her chest. Every word that Charles spoke, right down to his demand for a name of someone who would die made more cold sweat drip from her forehead. She was well and truly afraid. She didn't know what her sins amounted to in this world, but Nerys knew for a fact that Kolin was crazy enough just to name anyone to save herself from that crazy stipulation she undertook. 'Just not me, anyone but me...' this was exactly the logic that led to Kolin being in this place. Nerys had been the one to betray the King and Queen to Kolin. Nerys who wanted to own this Kingdom helped her takeover when it became obvious that Kolin couldn't just seduce the King. Nerys knew that her own hands were far from clean, but she'd done all this because she wanted what was best. Death at the hands of this crazed woman was the worst possible outcome.

At the same time, Kolin managed just to scoff. How dare he claim that this woman was simply immortal. What kind of person actually couldn't die in this world? Everyone could die, how does one even build an existence that cannot die? She needed to figure that kind of thing out, before she ran into another one of these people this man couldn't kill. Perhaps... she'd lost her temper a bit too quickly? Maybe she should have thought over it a bit more, now this man needed a name and she needed to make it someone whose death would make a difference. Dagonet? No, she wanted to torture him for a while before he died, he'd basically betrayed her by going to that immortal sorceress. It'd be better if she could punish the woman by dragging him along. Lot? No, obviously his tastes said he'd never choose anyone over her of his own accord. She could believe he wouldn't actually betray her. The same could be said of Cador and Hector as well, besides both of them were worth more in battle. If she named either of the girls she'd lose Cador so they were also both a no. Arthur was also her new favorite pet, and though it would hurt Merlyn... taking him along to her city of debauchery and using him would be much more wounding. "Fine, I guess take Elyan." she said with a wave of her hand. That man had the last real claim to this land, killing him would make things much easier, Guin would become more pliable and though he was a knight, he was far from top of her list. Surprisingly, she hadn't even considered Nerys and the woman exhaled a sigh, that choice was problematic. Nerys heart had all but stopped, death was still on the plate. She swallowed hard, looking around, fear was in her but she had to do... All the while Merlyn just shook her head, those glowing eyes of hers looking to Nerys and calming her in the moment. "That man has literally done nothing, you can't get your way, you do something irrational and then you sentence an innocent Knight to death?"

[Bloodedge]

A name. Just... a name. Every moment Kolin kept him waiting, was another stain of karma on her existence. Charles didn't care whose name it was, even if Kolin wanted to name herself as his target. That would be one hell of a day, actually, if she purposely brought about the end of their agreement. After an agonizing wait, the queen finally spoke. The name she offered was... Elyan. Ah, Elyan the White, crowned prince of Zuria and brother to the would-be queen, Guinevere. The white-haired knight had done great deeds and thoroughly cared for his family during this life. Charles gripped his weapon's hilt more firmly, closing his eyes and meditating over the weapon.

The world did not desire Elyan's life, but Charles would take it nonetheless. A death was owed by the call of his name, so there would be a death... and another counted sin against Kolin. "Un compte de plus," he chanted while glaring in Kolin's direction once more. She knew the cost she was accumulating, whether she accepted it or not. The day would eventually come, when the world would collect its debt. For now, he turned to view the knights─ Elyan in particular. The young man thrown to the chopping block had no intention of dying this day, and it seemed he was not the only one with this train of thought. Sir Hector's choice had been made. The red-haired knight placed himself between Elyan and the executioner, sword ready to be drawn. His violet eyes targeted not Charles, but Kolin while he stood ahead of the forward-marching death-dealer. "If Elyan dies, Kolin, your reign ends now. On my honor as a Holy Knight, you will draw your last breath in this castle if your killer isn't called off. No knights will fall unjustly," he announced, much to the surprise of Sir Cador. Ah, when did he forget? Hector had been like this in the beginning, upholding the Knights' Code above all else. It had been the very reason that first oath was taken, as well as the reason it was committed to so religiously. He'd been a fool to keep a man as honorable as Hector under the heel of this sultry queen.

[Apollymi]

Nerys was happy, it wasn't her. But she was conflicted. And Charles could now go about his task and disappear back to whatever dark corner he crawled out of. Fear was still there ever present, though Elyan had never really done wrong by Nerys. He was however, in her way along with his sister. To be rid of both of them would be the epitome of her good fortune in addition to not being on the chopping block herself. Or so the story could be told.

Hector's words made Merlyn smile but Kolin scowl. "Really?!" she questioned aloud. The absolute audacity. This man had never displeased her, never expressed even a wayward thought of his own. He was quiet, his manner reserved and his work was good. He only truly came in second to Cador because his combat potential seemed to be a bit limited. Why did he chose now to be upset. "There is hardly a thing you can do about it. I know you are close, but your honor as a Holy Knight be damned. You are my Knight. But, I'm feeling forgiving, so I'll ignore your outburst as a sign of grief," Kolin said, though she didn't bother trying to sound remorseful. "I cannot call him off. He's owed a life once he's been summoned, someone has to die today and it will not be me!" Kolin said firmly. "Now, if you want someone to blame, that immortal sorceress angered me, this is her fault, take your anger out on her. And stand aside unless it is your intention to offer your own life in the place of his..." she finished, she'd always give that option. Everyone had big things to say until it was their own lives on the line, which is why even if Merlyn couldn't die, she still felt like she was in control of this situation. No one would side with her if it meant they could die, and she could still have them killed even if she couldn't kill Merlyn. "And there it is... blame the chained bound woman, whose power you provoked unknowingly and make her the target of potential torture of whatever kind to avoid taking responsibility for something you caused. And you wonder why the King of Heroes didn't like you back~" she said. It was just a jab just a tiny jab, but it was enough to refocus Kolin's attention directly towards Merlyn.

[Bloodedge]

"I am my own knight," was Hector's immediate retort. Freed from his oath, he served no one. The only adversary he faced, was whether he could actually draw his sword against the executioner. Would his blade consider Charles a worthy opponent? Whether it did or not, something had to be done... but Hector didn't really have to fight to stop the other man, did he? "I'm willing to make an offer, Reaper." There were words spoken by Kolin which resonated with Hector. Did she think knights so lacking in chivalry? If there was ever a knight who wasn't ready to lay down his life for a comrade...

Hector was not that knight.

His sword was not unsheathed, but was removed from his hip along with the scabbard. Gently placing the tool onto the floor in front of him, he kneeled before the executioner. "That may be the most wonderful idea you've ever had, Kolin," he said, much to the chagrin of Elyan. The knight whose defense was being risen to was all but ready to stand against this motion, accepting his own death to avoid the death of another. Alas, Cador grabbed the white-haired male by his shoulder to cease his advance. Hector knew, that Cador knew... there was no better way than this. Arthur, seeing the exchange behind the redhead, also refrained from taking action. Lot seemed unfazed as long as it wasn't his own life, and Dagonet did not see a place for himself in this ordeal.

Everything was in place, so with the approach of Charles, Hector spoke firmly. "Your target, executioner, is Hector de Maris. I offer myself to your guillotine in exchange for the life of Elyan the White," he said. Again, Charles did not care whose life it was. He was under an agreement, however. The world wished for this knight's life even less than the life of Elyan, so it could not be on his head. The order for this exchange had to come from Kolin. "Woman. Speak the words, if this knight is the world's bounty."