Well this is certainly to his advantage. I used thought casting and cast four support spells one after the other. [‘Increase Reaction’ ‘Increase Speed’ ‘Boost damage’ ‘Anti-magic breaker’] Ok so thats a problem with thought casting i’ll have to keep in consideration, even though I don't need to say an incantation or form the casting circle myself, the magic circle still forms and emits the faint light, so I just glowed four times and gave my position and direction away, but the advantage at casting with a mere thought shouldn’t be ignored. Though if i’m right about what i saw I won’t need those buffs.
The fog suddenly moved weirdly and a paw came out of nowhere. I managed to dodge it but he quickly disappeared. So hit and run tactics eh, time to lay a trap. [‘Shadow Cast’ ‘Dual Cast’ ‘Delayed Cast: Necrotic Flood’ ‘False Spell: Wind Storm’] The light of the circle gives away my position, and sure enough the fool comes charging. I heard him galloping towards me and he lunged at me from behind. I turned and used the hidden ‘Necrotic Flood’ spell on him. A black beam shot out and hit him, cutting all his physical abilities in half and preventing his claws from reaching me, his momentum could still crush me though. This little fight is likely being watched so I need to be careful with this next plan. I charged toward him and leapt over him using his head as a springboard. [‘Shadow Cast: Telepathy’] When I touched his head the spell activated. Now, time to see if I was right.
“And here I thought you knew how to fight, you jackass.”
Although he was struggling to get up, looking and moving much like a beat up drunk he managed somehow.
“So, you are who I thought.” A growling voice sounded in my head.
“Yep. But we should keep this little fight up for a while.” I said standing in a fighting position with my rapier.
“Really why?” He asked as he stumbled toward me.
“Because I'm pretty sure we’re being watched.” I said. He began to charge at me again and slashed with his claws, and we continued our little show.
“Alright, but why not tell them what’s going on.”
“We basically just body snatched generals in a demon army, how well do you think that will go over? Especially since a lot of things are similar to a mix of mythologies from earth.”
“Ok, good point. But since both of us are here, are the others here as well?” he asked as he grabbed my foot and threw me through a tree. However the moment I broke through it, he was the one that felt the force and got cut up by the wood shards had hit him instead of me. “What the hell was that, damage reflection?” he asked a loud
“Please as if I’d use something so basic and unreliable.” I said then switched back to telepathy “Oh yeah, you probably already know this but one of us is the hero, so that’s gonna be very troublesome to say the least. And to answer your other question, yes I believe I know who is replaced but I don’t know who they were replaced by, though given who you are, I have my suspicions. We’ll have to reconvene after this little meeting, I'll keep the telepathy active through the meeting and advise you." I said walking up to his collapsed body.
“Ow, how the hell are you using magic, you really lucked out didn’t you.” He said, turning over on his back.
“Fuck no if anything you lucked out better than I did I counldn’t even understand the language and there was some stranger in my room trying to talk to me. By the way-” ~“Can you even move?”
“Are you kidding? I can barely breathe.” I opened up a portal below each of us and dropped us in our seats.
“Couldn’t you be more gentle?” He said, righting himself in the chair. “Not if I want to keep up appearances. Also we should use our new names so call me Bel alright, Brog.” I say teasing him.
“What, was that?” Adamit asked. “Ambrogio you didn’t even use any magic let alone your weapon, and Bel, was it? You can cast at that speed no incantations or casting circles and that looked like damage reflection, so are you just too lazy to take damage?” Adamit continued, glaring towards me.
“Lady Belphagora doesn't have to explain herself or her abilities to you or anyone if she doesn’t so wish to.” Trist said, returning his glare. “I am the finance minister of this little kingdom and fund nearly all your research endeavors, though that is at the behest of our king, I do believe I am owed some explanation into all that the kingdom's funding goes into as its finance minister.” Adamit argued.
“If it’s at our king's behest then are you saying you don’t trust the judgment of our king?” Trist fired back calmly trying to goad him. “Also that would be for anything Lady Belphagora creates that is funded by you and our king and you should already have that information, I personally have tracked and reported what was used by your funding, and I personally track the difference in projects presented by and for the kingdom, and lady Belphagora’s personal projects using her own resources she has gathered, or donated out of her own generosity.” Trist rebuked with venom in that last part.
“The king I trust, it’s you I don’t trust. I handle every bit of money that is used in this kingdom, and while we have seen some return from your research, the main contributions being The Seven Homunculi Servants, and Undead soldiers, it hasn’t been enough of a strategic offset to recoup those expenditures. So I do believe I'm entitled to information, and I chose your abilities.” Adamit said while tapping his finger on the table.
“You fund the magical research and development that Lady Belphagora does for the kingdom, that takes time even for her, you get reports and receipts for everything that is entailed there. So you already have access to all the information that you are entitled to. If there is funding you’ve given that hasn’t been accounted for or you haven’t seen a return for, then, One, those projects are dead in the water and there is no point in continuing them, in which case the money will be moved to projects that actually have a chance at succeeding. Two, the projects that are likely to succeed either haven’t borne fruit yet or are not up to her expectation and in which case, you will get those reports when they are finished. And, Three you haven’t been using what has already been given to you correctly and that's your fault on why you are seeing diminished returns.” Trist fired off
Two sudden claps silence everyone. “Okay, okay, That’s enough now. Adamit get with me later, we will rethink what to do going forward. And Bel these are your allies you should try to get along with them better. Understood.” Lucifer said, looking at Adamit first then then me letting his gaze linger and sharpen.
“Yes, Sire,” Adamit scowled.
“Sure thing.” I said, sighing and closing my eyes ignoring the curious looks and scowls at my informality.
“What was that about?” I heard Brog in my head.
“No idea, likely some test. But we should pay attention to this.”
“Anaphiel, could you please heal your husband already. He might die before we even start.” Lucifer asked.
“Huh?” Both Brog and Anaphiel said in unison. It was difficult not to laugh at that, and I guess brog heard me. ‘What. Do. You. Know.’ He growled at me. ‘I knew that ‘Amgrogio’ the body you’re in and Anaphiel the woman next to you were married and the fact that you didn’t use or even ask about magic tells me about how much you know. Though in all seriousness I could understand her not moving immediately, if you two had a fight and she wanted you to suffer a bit, or even not wanting to move in the king's presence unless at his command, but shock should not be on her face at all. I already had a suspicion that she was replaced and it’s likely about to be answered, and who is in there.’
Anaphiel still hadn’t stood up after my explanation to Brog and even fidgeted in her seat for a few more seconds before she suddenly shot out of her seat and started speaking nervously. “Y-Yeah, about that, I do believe this needs to be addressed immediately.” she stated confidently then lost her nerve as she continued speaking softer and more nervously. “I’m not this Anaphiel, and I don’t even think I'm from this world, and I'm not sure of anything really.” She turned to Ambrogio and looked down. “Also I was already married before I came here, so that’s another-” my stifled laughs were still loud enough to hear and interrupt her. “And what’s so damn funny over there?” Levy berated. “Oh, it’ll make so much sense in a minute.” I say brushing the question off but holding her gaze for a second before she closed her eyes again.
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What was making me laugh so much was the look of pure elated joy of a puppy dog on Ambrogio’s lycanthrope face, because he had just found his wife.
“Alright?” Lucifer said, dragging the word out and looking at me with confusion and concern, then cleared his throat and asked. “Well, Bel you are our arcane expert, do you have any ideas?” Two answers immediately came to mind, my answer (the memory orb) and what likely should be Belphagora’s answer (kill and replace her). I can guess the end result if I go with the kill option. Ambrogio will get mad, reveal both of us, both of them will die and the rest will try to kill me and I'll likely lose and die in the end even if I run. So there really is only one option. Then I figured out how I can spin this.
I looked at her through my new eye, and I could see her soul. But even though I have memories of working with Anaphiel’s soul when making the Homunculi servants I couldn’t really tell what was going on. There was just this red glowing light near her head. “Trist.” I asked him. Then he walked over and explained. “Well I can see your soul and it is still the same as lady Anaphiel’s, however your consciousness is that of another person it seems, so a memory orb should work but there could be a few problems with that.” Trist said as he summoned a memory orb to my hand. Nervousness and confusion spread across Anaphiel's face and she even took a step back.
“Please explain it to me, why not simply move her consciousness from one body to another, and try to reawaken Anaphiel?” Lucifer said, trying to calm her down.
“Even if we were to do that, there’s no guarantee Anaphiel would be herself, her own consciousness could be dormant or even overwritten, if it was overwritten, then Anaphiel would be nothing more than a corpse with a pulse, she wouldn’t be able to use a memory orb even with help. So having her use a memory crystal now and going from there would be the better option to help them both.”
“And what are the most likely outcomes after using the orb?” Lucifer asked, becoming more invested. I quickly jumped in and explained “There are four possibilities. 1.) Nothing at all since she already has memories of a life, but I believe that to be near zero because if she didn’t have any access to Anaphiel’s memories she wouldn’t be able to walk or even move all that well, and clearly she can, but it is still possible. 2.) Her memories will be overwritten and Anaphiel will essentially be reawakened. 3.) She will gain the memories and they'll only remain memories. 4.) Anaphiel’s consciousness will reawaken and a mental battle for who controls the body will occur. Scenarios 3 or 4 are what I think is the most likely to happen.”
The reason I didn't outright say 3 is going to happen, is because of who I ended up as. It wouldn’t be surprising if Belphagora was awake and in my head and just letting me do all the work. “Put simply, in the worst case scenario she would simply be out of commission for a while until we can separate the two or get our new ally up to speed.” Lucifer said, looking satisfied. “Eh? Pretty much yeah.” I say looking at Anaphiel. “Crush this in your hand.” Trist said, holding out the crystal, seeing fear grow on her face. She took another step back and started getting frantic.
I heard a growl in my head and I quickly sent another telepathic message to Brog. ‘I know you want to jump in and say something but don’t I’ve used one and I'm fine so stay put.’
‘Wait so-’ I quickly cut him off. ‘Just shut up and stay put.’ I commanded. ‘Fine.’ Quickly I added a joke because of how things might go next and his strength at least will be a boon depending on how things go next. ‘Oh good, it knows how to sit and stay.’ ‘I AM NOT A DAMN DOG YOU FUCKING BITCH.’ Rang through my head almost painfully.
“Wait I can’t do that, you’re basically saying there’s a chance I could die all over again. Isn’t there another safer option you can do or think of.” she practically screamed and took a step back for every step forward Trist took. I sighed. “Probably but I don't feel like doing that, so, hard way it is. Trist, give it to me.” I said and caught the tossed orb in my hand then used my new spell. Anaphiel’s mana rushed into the and I crushed the glass orb in my hand.
Anaphiel yelped, raising her hand up looking at it as the palm of her white glove turned red. She then doubled over in pain grasping her head and screaming. Her left half began to morph as the hair shortened, her features became more androgynous, and her left breast even shrank and her left half became slightly more fit and manly while retaining the body’s limit. Her left hand reached up and began to grope and fondle the remaining breast as her right hand grasped the wrist trying to pull it away.
“Wow you chose a nice form I’ll definitely have to remember it.” the true Anaphiel said. “What? Who are- What are you doing”
“Oh don’t even I’ve already seen the depravity in your head. Let me see how far I can push the pleasure this unique opportunity presents us.”
A loud cough rang out and everyone looked away from the mess that Anaphiel was in to the throne, even Anaphiel. Though based on the slight moans grunts and rustling clothes the battle for the boob was still happening. “Anapheil, am I right to assume you are among your own faculties right now?” Lucifer asked.
“About as close as I can be right now.” Anaphiel said with a literal half smile.
“Right. Well I will get back to you in a moment.” Lucifer then spoke louder addressing everyone.
“Given recent events and strange behaviors of everyone here, I am ordering everyone to use a memory orb, even I myself will be using one. Bel could you pass them out, I will personally pay for these, Adamit prepare and move the funds.”
I was honestly a little unnerved by Lucifer already, but his statement just made it worse, by what I wasn’t entirely sure, that he’s acting like it took him this long to notice something was wrong with people here, how much he acts like he cares for his army, or his seeming indifference to the situation, I wasn’t sure. Trist summoned and gave the enchanted orbs to the other members here, even using one myself, but instead doing what I did for Anaphiel for Ambrogio.
Everyone had their eyes on who they suspected to be replaced, which was me, as they crushed their orbs. Then suddenly turned toward Ambrogio as he roared and a dark red mist erupted from his body spreading out everywhere reaching to even the far ends of the halls and seemed like he was about to rampage. I used my new spell and none of the flames reached me and instead some of Ambrogio’s own fur started shriveling and decayed off.
[Summon: Dimensional Arch-Lich] a half-decayed corpse missing his eyes and lips exposing his teeth wearing a fancy but dirty and torn grey robe and carrying a metal staff with a distorted bit of space at the top. [Dual Cast: Temporal Bubble] the Arch-Lich casted on both Ambrogio and Anaphiel. As I turned back to look at the others I saw remnants of magic being dispelled as the other generals used other magic barriers to protect themselves and even the telepathy strand between Lucifer and Leviathan was gone now.
“What now?” I asked.
A sigh escaped Lucifer “Well this is quite the predicament, I have a promise to keep to these two, but at the same time that is a major power deficit if I do. We will have to reconvene this meeting for another time. Bel, how long would it take to free Ambrogio and Anaphiel from this~ condition.”
Trist answered in my place. “Your majesty, I do believe attempting to separate them using a clone spell would cause problems given the nature of this spell, I do believe a homunculus body and holy magic would be better for this particular situation.”
“How long would this take?”
“That depends your majesty, using one that is already made and put their souls inside it wouldn’t be too difficult and wouldn’t take but a few hours, or we could create a whole new body around their souls, which would be more stable and allow for customization, this would take up to three days sire.” I quickly spoke up and added, “It also depends on which ones are being released.” then went back to study what I could of the two souls fighting over control.
It looked like two orbs of differing colors mashing together and nearly merging together. I then looked at Lucifer and Leviathan, there wasn’t a hint of magic that seemed to be hiding anything but neither of them had the same conflicting orbs, and they looked the same as when I entered.
“I see, you knew about that, then we will hold another meeting another day, after this is resolved. Bel, Trist please take care of them while I ponder on this, I will be there soon to help sort this out.”
“Yes sire.”
“Alright.”
Lucifer let out a huge sigh then gave out orders. “Leviathan, I suspect something will be different with this iteration of the Hero, I want you to investigate that, personally, let your corps handle the surveillance of the other nations, the church and the newly forming cults. Appara, if the front lines get any wind of this they will likely push forth as much as possible especially since the Wrath and Lust corps will be in a bit of a chaotic mess for a while, so make sure that their supplies do not reach them intact or at all. Adamit, things are likely going to change so get things in order and remain here. We are going to settle a few things ahead of time. Belphagora, please have things ready for either path forward. You will have my final answer by tomorrow morning, Lamorak and Lance will handle things within their corps for now.”
“Sire.” two voices answered at once. I looked over to see two people standing near two more grand entranceways like the one I walked through. They were similar to Trist, like siblings; only one wore a deep red cloak and held a mage's staff. The other looked more androgynous and wore purple and had a quiver on their back but no bow.
“Dismissed.” Lucifer finally said as the others left through various means. Trist walked up to me and gave a slight bow. “Are you ready to go, miss?” I was beyond ready but I didn’t quite want to go back quite yet, and as I was about to speak I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Adamit. “We’re both about to become extremely busy but when things slow down, I’d love to chat more. I bet you have quite the interesting set of items and tools at your disposal.” he said before walking back to the throne where Lucifer still sat.
“My lady?” Trist asked again. “Hm? Oh. you know what, let’s walk a bit there’s some things I want to sort out.” I walked back through the grand archway that I had originally come through followed by Trist and the lich Brog and Ana floating after. The last thing I heard was a stifled laugh followed by ‘she really is feeling hyperactive today’ then the door shut closed.
“So, were you ever planning on speaking up?” I mentally thought. The telepathy with Brog had long been severed so there was only one person that could possibly hear me. A giggle rang out then she finally spoke, the real Belphagora. “Who knows?”
