Seraphim Online: Afterlife

The Kingdom of Tuscany, the heart of the human kingdom and one of the only places in this world where it decides other nation’s borders. From what I’ve gathered, this place is famous for a lot of things with only a few standing out. Corruption, slavery and racism. Sounds like our sort of place, heh.

Me and Lena had no issue getting past the wall which was odd, the gate was open so presumably trade is encouraged? Either of us didn’t notice any waiting caravans, nor even a line in sight though.

The thing is, the entire western side appears understaffed everywhere. There are armoured guards and knights roaming about, sure, just not in the numbers you’d expect. Maybe most of the force are out dealing with the bandit issue?

That’s what the both of us think until we notice something big happening in an open section of the medieval city. Beforehand, a voice badgers from the heavens… or my brain.

[This guide would like to inform Sera a new ability has been obtained. Redirecting to ability page so Sera can take a look.]

‘Damn, that could be really good late game. Guide… why do I feel like this is a consequence of that night we spent together?’

You know, that make out session that led nowhere and will completely be forgotten about for the rest of our lives? That one?

[Lenore’s affection with Sera did raise to 99 after that night, this guide isn’t sure why Sera keeps smiling about night with Lenore.]

‘Heh, don’t worry about it, Guide. It’s just basic human emotion.’

Like she knows our conversation is referring to her, Lena looks to me as if she has to say something, then turns astray when our eyes accidentally meet.

“Look, S-Sera. Damn it…”

‘Heh, silly tsun-dragon. It doesn’t help I'm doing the same thing.’

That’s the thing, both of us keep blushing, smiling and turning away when we gaze into each other’s eyes. It may have been two days since the incident that never happened, but both of us still have fond memories. For now, intimacy in the form of hand holding will have to suffice.

“Over there… it looks like something is going on.”

The further we progress into the condensed capital, having already passed lines of tightly packed houses, it becomes plainly obvious to us why security is lacking. A great crowd has gathered around here with knights, or guards having to organize it all.

Common folk, nobles dressed in fancy attire, beastkin in chains, people of all sorts adorn the crowd to look at a woman locked inside a pillory.

‘That’s a really odd-looking tattoo, huh. It’s unsettling but in a cool way.’

Across her stomach and slivering down to her… lady parts, it resembles two snakes kissing but also positioned together so it imitated a love heart. Not sure why you’d want to associate snakes with love but hey, at least I know tattoos are a thing in this world. It’s oddly memorizing and puts less attention on the fact she’s completely naked and even has horns atop her head.

Ringing a bell, it doesn’t take long for one of the guards to give me more to question on.

“Hear thee, hear thee! This vixen stands in chains as punishment for indiscretion and temptation. All of her is visible as a reminder to those you stray from the path of good and righteousness.”

‘Great. This is about religion, isn’t it?’

“Please, all grab a tomato and show this harlot the error of her ways. She must suffer by the sting of Seraphim’s bounty, then repent!”

Opening boxes of spoiled fruit, or spoiled vegetables because that’s not a box I’m opening, the crowd happily takes the tomatoes. Within second, a barrage is tossed toward the woman.

Heck, even Lena is given one to toss, I seem to be skipped past for some reason. Maybe this is the first taster I’m getting of this city’s bigotry?

Rotten tomatoes continue to fly, some splatting against the tattooed woman but most falling short. Mumbling under her breath for the most part, the woman completely loses her composure when one hits her backside…

“U-Urgh! Harder, throw i-it harder! Don’t just s-stop, do it again!”

‘Changed my mind… this isn’t about religion at all.’

Turning redder than the tomatoes being pelted, the woman screams in pure ecstasy while the crowd begins to lose all interest in this display, only a few more hit before all give up completely. Even the guards look to be hiding away in their helmets.

“P-Please, more! Don't just s-stop! I was s-so close...”

“*Facepalm*… we told the captain this wouldn’t work but he always knows best. As if she of all people wouldn’t be into this.”

“Yeah, that succubus has been sneaking into the barracks for weeks now. This isn’t going to discourage her.”

“She’s better than the alternative. Those lonely guards can’t help themselves and would waste a week’s wage in that whorehouse.”

Already starting to wander off because it’s obvious why aggroing a bunch of city guards to save a consenting succubus is a terrible idea, one key word catches my attention. Succubus. If there’s mythical succubae in this world, then that all but confirms vampirism, right?

‘Let’s take a look before this stupid backstory gets me excited again…’

‘Huh, she really is one. Yay… I think?’

Some legends say succubae are similar to vampires, just the desire for blood is replaced for a taste of a saltier substance. Whatever legend is true, that’s the sort of vampirism I’m not into!

That’s where my thoughts wonder until I can’t help but stop when Lena looks back one last time to make me question things even more.

“Hey Sera… you think they’d let me have a go if I asked nicely?”

“Really, Lena, really? You want to take her place being punished?”

“It didn’t look like much of a punishment though.”

Shrugging because I have no idea how to respond to my silly partner, it’s probably for the best if we get on with it. The royalty should know we’re arriving any day now, got our adventurer ID cards if any problems arise.

“Let’s make haste and aim for the palace next. Is that what you plan on wearing when we enter, Lena?”

Lena is a fan of skimpier clothing and today is no different, practically looking like a game character on some JRPG that boldly likes to sexualize its own characters. I’m not complaining at all, just might be inappropriate considering.

“Hehe, of course Sera. Don’t you like it?”

“Liking it isn’t the problem… eh, forget it. My gut is telling me this will be the least of our problems…”

__________

“This is what is going to happen, adventurers. You follow me inside, present yourself by bowing to the royals, then remain quiet until spoken to. Don’t make any sudden movements and keep your hands in plain sight, got that?”

“Weapons are a free citizen’s right so if you dare try to abuse that right, we won’t hesitate to cut you down in a heartbeat. Especially you, elf.”

“Yeah yeah, we get it. Be disrespectful and make sure to wave our hands all over the place.”

“Hehe, ignore Sera, she likes being sarcastic. We’ll be good.”

The Tuscany palace lies in wait. After showing our IDs to the gate guards and them confirming we’ve been invited, a couple of royal guards came out and are now directing us into the palace itself. Both of which are cladded out in armour more expensive than we can imagine.

Oddly enough, we’re brought round to the backside of the palace, quickly having to scurry through some storerooms and the kitchen. Eventually, we make our way into the palace proper…

“Oi, eyes forward, elf. Ignore her.”

The silver adorned guard immediately picks up on me noticing one of the few maids we come across, a strange sight as her hair is bright pink. I only looked back because it was clear she was staring at us.

Eventually, we pass the endless fancy halls and marble staircases to come across what looks to be where we need to go. With one push and creak of the double doors, we enter a room.

All four of us enter a gigantic throne room, the wall suffocated in red and gold with the armoured royal guards sharing that gold aesthetic. Strangely enough, there are two thrones inside this room, both with occupants, but one seating a statue rather than a couple of royal siblings.

“Attention! You two adventurers now gaze upon the highnesses of Tuscany, Prince Rhodri and Princess Melvita. Acting on behalf of his majesty, their power is absolute.”

Both the two guards guiding us take a knee so me and Lena follow along with a courteous bow. While we’re doing this, I catch a glimpse at the four eyes gazing upon us. I can only think of one word towards the two practically sitting on each other…. snobbery. The aura and body language alone just reeks of entitlement.

“Brother… that visitor appears to have the ears of a jungle rat. It’s eyes even suggest it should be here, have we a trespasser?”

“Princess Melvita, these are the adventurers you and his highness personally requested for.”

“But an elf? How humorous. Clearly Bordertown are struggling, sending a joke like this. We should provide that vessel with some handouts, no?”

You’d think being referred to as it and labelled as a joke would upset me, but I’m as cool as a cucumber, I expected this the second we laid eyes on the two royals. Lena however is not cool at all.

“Elf known as… Sera, and human known as Lena, welcome to the Kingdom of Tuscany. I hope the journey was pleasant?”

“Greetings to your highnesses, the journey was perfectly adequate.”

“Oh my, it speaks independently as well! How unusual!”

“Melvita! Please elf, just ignore her quips for a time. Unlike my sister, I’ve dealt with your kind plenty of times before.”

The words the prince speaks may sound sincere but knowing this city enslave my kind and beastkin, being dealt with has a whole other meaning. I’m still perfectly find dealing with these two. Lena however is starting to tremble.

“The both of you have been garnering attention so we’d like to use your investigative talents for good purpose… and a fee of course. Do you accept our call for aid?”

…

Decisions to make, consequences to avoid so a brief pause is necessary. We could just say no and it might calm down Lena, but pissing off a royal’s ego isn’t the way I plan for us to die today.

“We accept.”

“Excellent. The outskirts of our territory, the southeast portion of Torr, rumours of a forgotten dungeon have begun to circulate amongst travellers. If it is one, look around and find some evidence to prove whether it exists or not.”

“You’ll have to go back the way you came, most likely through that little enclave in the hills. The both of you may want to ‘re-educate’ yourselves as well before you leave… jungle rats are known to be literate, right?”

‘Heh… what a waste of time. We come all this way and then they send us back into the forest!?’

And so, that’s the first encounter with royalty we’ve had in this world and hopefully the last as we’re directed back outside. Just a glance into Lena’s fiery eyes proves exactly what I was thinking, she’s having to hold back unimaginable anger.

As for the princess’s words, she may speak in a condescending tone but she does have a point. Dungeons take many forms in fiction; we could come across literally anything. Could it be a simple underground prison perhaps? A region containing one-hundred floors? Or even lead to something more roleplay focused involving a dice that rolls to twenty?

‘Heh, just realized I’ll be bringing a literal dragon into a dungeon. Think you can take the role of dungeon master, Guide?’

[This guide thinks Sera has too much free time on her hands.]

‘Just making light of an annoying situation, Guide. Speaking of someone who is really annoyed...’

Now away from the palace grounds, Lena’s anger erupts with her putting all her might into her fist and striking a brick wall. That went as well as you might think.

“Ouch ouch ouchie! I hate those elven hating fucks so much!”

“Heh, I’m proud of you, Lena. Thought for a minute we’d be spending the evening in chains, but you kept it in.”

She hastily responds, still with gritted teeth and shaking her bruised fist. At least she managed to put a crack into the wall, I suppose.

“Just one job, Sera, one job. Then we get the hell out of this kingdom and we leave these idiots forever.”

“Heh, fair enough. I’m surprised the plan isn’t to come back and show them who’s boss.”

“All in fair time, Sera, all in fair time. We need more strength first. Then, I’ll be sure to give that bitch a black eye!”

Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, Lena’s face is surprisingly cute when it comes to her plotting. It scrunches up slightly and leaves a wry smirk, clearly she must be thinking about toppling the palace and watching the royal asswipes wriggling in agony beneath the rubble. Just me?

As we depart this area and think about what to do next before leaving the city, there is one more thing that has to be done.

[This guide needs to inform Sera a vision is lingering nearby; signs are saying it’s related to the general person again. Does Sera care to take a look?]

‘Him again? It’s starting to feel like we have a connection or something. Let me get somewhere safe and I’ll have a look…’

__________

“How many attempts is this now? Every try ends in failure… we don’t even know where she is anymore. We could just involve him to flush her out.”

“He won’t bite, Rhodri, politics is a game he won’t get involved in-… y-you. If it isn’t the harbinger of death returning from his crusade? You sicken me, undying fiend. Returning for payment again?”

“Melvita… hold back the insults. It’s clear he was eavesdropping.”

Returning to the land of idiots, a place someday destined for destruction, I find the two royals scurrying away in storage, scheming like rats.

Whether the job be espionage or assassination is irrelevant to me, just some things aren’t worth the hassle. Finding the missing princess for example is a huge waste of time, especially if it’s just to bring back her head. My blade is firmly steered towards someone else.

It’s been a long time coming but today, after everything this spoilt brat has done, I feel this is deserved.

“No… I’m here for this.”

“Mel-… Melvita!”

Guards flock into the storage room after the prince let’s out a screech, clearly my fist knocking her to the ground surprises even the asinine prince…

~~~~~~~~~~

‘What’s happening, Guide!? Why am I still seeing this?’

[Just relax, Sera. Vision stabilizing again and elven body hasn’t moved an inch. Lenore is safe.]

‘Right… don’t bother cancelling it then.’

For a split second, I had feared the vision conflicted with reality again so I was trying to break free of the general’s wrath. As long as Lena’s safe, this vision can continue…

~~~~~~~~~~

“Stand down, idiots, that’s an order! I said we’re not to be disturbed… you know she's getting married soon? The maids are going to have problems covering that up.”

Holding his sister’s limp body and waving the intruding guards back outside, I’m not at all surprised how little this concerns him. These children were spoilt rotten for years, only took their father having a third to figure out how to correctly raise one. Still though, cash is cash.

“Heads up. Next time you need a task done, give me the correct location.”

That black eye I’ve inflicted was more than deserved for the wasted time and effort of having to spend extra days in that wasteland known as the Badlands.

“Melvita sent you to the wrong place? Did you at least complete the job? They who shall not be named is no longer with us?”

“Yes. Played it safe, so no witnesses… at all.”

“That should be expected… please tell me you didn’t make a scene. You’ve made it a statement again, haven’t you!?”

The prince drops his sister flat on the ground and tries to square me up, only to back off when he quickly realizes that’s ill advised.

“Eh… collateral damage. People should know better than to settle in that otherworlder county.”

The words I speak make the prince gulp, although I’m not exactly sure why. The plan was always to torch those towns again someday, just it always goes better if there is more to destroy.

“Again with this fixation, those otherworlders are gone. Stop trying to involve us in your personal goals, we don’t need any more unnecessary death!”

My best judgement is just to shrug at the prince, as if he really cares about casualties outside of the kingdom’s jurisdiction. It’s always about drawing up attention, the kingdom doesn’t want the hassle of more enemies appearing. They’ve already got that way with their neighbours, way out in the east.

“*Sigh*… just forget it, at least that defector is dealt with. Too many spies inside the palace, father was way too carefree with how he mishandled things…”