Vayal Academy

It’s the daemon, still puppeting Gelstra’s body, that brings us and the Restorationists home. She needs only hold Indel’s talons — as I watch her very closely — to attune to the amplifier and teleport us all to the centre of Vayal, outside the huge fountain that houses the Aquatic School.

Staff are on us shortly after that, though in the confusion Gelstra and Abana go missing; I only notice when the still-naked blonde woman approaches me. “Hath thou seen thy companion? I owe her mine life.”

I don’t even get the chance to reply before Headmistress Lyra — really her, this time — floats down with radiant splendour and casts her voice across the gardens. “Remain calm. Remain where you are. We will sort this.”

Fate lands me where I was so many weeks ago: outside the Headmistress’s office with Nym in the wake of disaster. But this time it’s Vila inside, and Mae in the infirmary. “Hey,” I whisper to Nym. “What was that about Mae back there? The Headmistress’s favourite student?”

Her face flushes red. “I- uhm. Do you promise not to tell?”

Honestly, Nym, with you I’d rather not promise anything before I know what I’m agreeing to, but Gods do I need to know. “I promise.”

“Well. I watch them, sometimes. Invisibly.”

“Watch them?”

“Yeah.” Her voice is impossibly tiny.

“Watch them do what?”

“You- uh, Hattie — you know?”

“You can’t possibly be saying what I think you’re saying.”

“Mae’s popular! Everyone loves her!”

Even the Headmistress?!

Well, don’t act so surprised, Hattie, it makes a good deal of sense. They’ve been real close ever since Mae tamed her dragon, and-

Oh Gods that was what she meant, after she bailed me out over the whole Mathilde and Katarina debacle. What was it? “Well Headmistress, we all try to follow the rules.”

There’s a flash of annoyance, but then, we all understood Alyx was out there fucking whoever she liked — even Nym, as much as we told her not to. And I was ready to lay with Svelgi when Vila had me cooped up… Can I really be mad at her?

Guess not. It’s the Headmistress after all. You have to admit, it’s good to have her in your corner — plus, imagine the scandal. That’s good blackmail.

Far out, you sound like Alyx.

It’s not like I’d ever actually blackmail Headmistress Lyra! It’s just, you know, she knows that we could… That Mae could… And if I’m going to keep getting in trouble…

My mad thought train is derailed by the sudden appearance of Syrene, murine face twisted in horror, which melts away when she sees Nym safe and sound. She rushes right over, ignores my angry look — so much of this could’ve been prevented if not for that fucking muzzle! — and wraps her arms around Nym, raining kisses on her forehead.

“I’m okay-” Nym begins, only to lose her voice.

“I’ve been worried sick. Sick, sick, sick. Don’t scare me like that again.”

“I didn’t-”

“I mean, really, Nym, really… Daath? You shouldn’t be there. It’s-”

“She saved us,” I interrupt, but Syrene’s seemingly in no mood to appreciate Nym’s heroics.

“Come,” she says, guiding her off the bench. “Let’s go talk in private.”

I’m ready to storm after her, but my better judgement freezes me — Vila’s in there, and after what she’s been through… well, she wasn’t kind to me, locking me away, and she wasn’t kind to Alyx, either — but it must’ve been hard, in there; besides, the Headmistress might want to talk to me, too (though we sent Vila in in hopes that she could handle it, because I can’t even begin to sit down and reflect on all this, try to process it).

And so I wait. Vila emerges some ten minutes later, collapses onto the bench next to me. “They are going to be checking on us regularly. To make sure we are not… damaged, in our minds. They have brought forward our first term break and encourage us to return home, for that time. Do you think you will go?”

Wow. I mean. Yeah, I have been missing home. Mom’s only gotten more insistent that she know everything in her letters, and seeing them would be a chance for them to know I’m alright. Four weeks with them (learning magic is strenuous work, so the breaks are long) would be bliss. Maybe Indel can even come — they’d love that.

“Yeah. I probably will.”

“That is good. I… do not have much to go back to. It is a small town. But my place is here, regardless. I…” She fidgets with her paws, flicks her tail round to her front and smooths it out. “I wanted to ask a favour of you, Hattie Hare.”

To steady her, I put a warm hand on her thigh and smile. Her resolve stiffens. “You have great sway over… the deer. I would like… if you… if would please… ask her to remain. And to… to forgive me.”

“I’ll talk to her Vila,” I squeeze her hand. “When me and her first got together, during the Gauntlet, she told me that she cares about you. And I know she was telling the truth. She loves you, too.”

“You presume-!” She stops herself, coughs into her hand. “Yes. Uhm. Thank you. That would- that would be appreciated.”

Lyra’s powerful face appears in the doorway a moment later. “Apprentice Hare, I would like to ask you some more about your ordeal — and to offer my apologies for all that has happened — but you might prefer some rest, no?”

“I-if you don’t mind, Headmistress.” I couldn’t possibly face her right now, not fresh on the heels of Nym’s revelation.

She nods, and I go.

I go straight to the infirmary, obviously, and find Mae’s beautiful body tucked in one of the beds, her skin ashy and pale. I’m on her in a flash, holding her tight against me, unable to stop the tears streaming down my face. She strokes a hand down my back and coos.

“It’s alright, Hattie; I’m okay. Gosh, I feel so bad, worrying you like this!”

“Mae, don’t be ridiculous. This is Yola’s fault. You-”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. But here you are fussing over me. I’m tough, baby. Just need to rest until the mana comes back, is all.”

“I’m just glad we got there when we did.”

“I think we all are, my sweet snowdrop.” She pulls me down into a kiss — her lips are cold as ice, but the panic has left me. If Mae says she’ll be okay, I know she’s telling the truth. Strongest woman I know, bar none. “Instead of worrying about me, baby, I want you to do me a favour — get Alyx out of that muzzle. Because as soon as I’m better, the three of us have a lot of catching up to do. Think you can do that for me?”

“For you, Mae, anything. Just let me sit with you a minute, okay?”

It’s a minute of peace, dragged out to ten, because my feet just refuse to move when Mae’s here, our faces pressed together, and everything feels okay for the first time in weeks.

She’s right, though — have to help Alyx.

My mission to free Alyx takes me back to our dorm — I don’t even know where Syrene’s room is, but I don’t think she’s ever hosted anyone there. That suspicion is exactly the sort of thing you expect from a horrible woman like that.

Okay. Deep breaths. You can’t rush in there screaming at her-

As fun as it’d be.

Yes, as fun as it’d be. And as much as she deserves it! You need to play the diplomat. Handle it how Mae would handle it.

But I kind of fuck that up, right away, because the polite thing to do is knock, but I’m so swept up in my anger and these probably futile attempts to suppress it that I go right in. Nym’s head, the only part of her visible as it pokes out from the enormous pile of furs, goes straight up like a frightened meerkat.

“O-oh! Ha-ha-Hattie! Hi-iii.”

“Uhm. Are you okay?”

Her rapidly reddening face suggests she isn’t, but she waves non-chalantly, sticking her slender yet muscled arm out of the pile. “Yep. I-I-I’m just f-f-fine. Uhm. Good-byeeeee.”

It’s then I notice the pile moving, shifting, and understanding sets over me in a quick panic. I’m about to leave, come back at a more opportune time, when Nym digs her nails into the fur and screams, cumming so loudly that the whole floor probably heard it. The door flies closed on its own as Syrene’s face appears from beneath the blankets. “Leaving so soon, Hat? Don’t want to hang out and perv some more?”

“N-no, I’ll come back when-”

“No, Nym doesn’t mind. She’s sorted. Aren’t you, baby?” Her delicate, cream-gold hands stroke the back of Nym’s head with the kind of tenderness she’s never shown her before, at least not in any encounter I’ve been privy to. “Well, sorted for the minute. I’m just so relieved to have her back that she’s getting Princess-Treatment, so when she wants me back under there… But until then, we can… hang out? Why are you here?”

The incongruously, uncharacteristically cheerful Syrene knocks me totally off balance. The steam leaves me, but returns a moment later, when I remember Alyx, frantically trying to write, trying to warn us — she’s a Conjurer! She probably recognised Yola’s bound spirits the moment they kidnapped Mae and Nym! And because of Syrene’s fucking spite we got kidnapped, left on the back foot.

“You need to take that fu- that muzzle off of Alyx. This has gone on enough, and I want her back. You get to celebrate with Nym, and-”

Syrene rises from the blankets, entirely naked — the building smell beneath the furs releases, filling the room with want, with need. Her short body, fur ruffled like a cat pet backwards, radiates power — of course this bitch is the strongest mage of the year level (it’s just not fair!). “Hat,” she says, “you should be talking to me nicely. As I understand it, I’m the only reason any of you is still alive.”

“Yeah, good point, take the fucking gem out of Indel, too.”

“You don’t want it out of Vila?”

WHAT?! “Is there no end to this shit with you? Why’s it always-”

She steps off the bed, approaching like a queen coming off her throne, descending the dias. “Hattie. I’m trying to have a nice time with my girlfriend. You need to get a hold of yourself, or you need to leave.” She stands before me, arms crossed, and she’s, what, two full heads shorter than me? Trying to intimidate me?

“Okay. Listen to me. Can’t you just snap your fingers and end those spells?”

“Of course I can, Hat — and I will, when I’m ready to. When Alyx has been-”

“No! She’s been-” My voice disappears.

“Don’t interrupt me.” She doesn’t even use it! It’s still Nym’s kind, elven voice chastising me. “When Alyx has been punished how she was always going to be punished — one day for each time she put her dirty hooves on Nym. How many times, was it, that your girlfriend fucked mine behind my back?”

I try to protest, to say please, let’s just put it behind us, but my mouth just moves.

“Let’s see. Once after the Temple Ceremony. Once after the Procession of Princesses. The day the Gauntlet started. That night you played strip Gamage… During the Gauntlet, in the Cross Country event. And then, even after I warned her, even then — two more fucking times. That’s a week, Hat. Now get the fuck out.”

There’s a flicker where I just about turn around, but Alyx fills my vision, and the longing for her burns though my stomach, and I hold my ground.

Syrene frowns.

“Well, then. How about this?” She walks over to Nym and puts a palm on her stomach. When it withdraws, I see the thread linking us. “I’ll take a day off for every time you make my girlfriend cum.”

Sick fucking pervert freak.

Yeah.

Sick…

But.

Well, look, there’s worse than Nym, right? It could be way worse than Nym. I think she and Mae might even be something now? Maybe?

How does she plan to get that past Syrene?

It doesn’t matter right now! You can’t possibly say yes.

Syrene yanks on the cord and my will drains away.

You could really easily say yes. Do you think Alyx would care? She’d probably see it as you getting one over on her — this whole thing started cos she didn’t want anyone else to fuck Nym.

Or maybe she just didn’t want Alyx to fuck Nym.

Look, either way, given you’re already crawling into the bed- A sharp, arcane pop distracts me, but before I can look, Syrene’s hand on the back of my head forces my face between Nym’s legs. “Uhm,” the elf says, “we don’t really need to-”

Nice of her, but I’m here, already, and the smell of her is so intense, so hot, here in this valley of sweat and wet, and you’re helping Alyx, you’re helping Alyx. Nym twitches under my tongue.

The swoosh right by the side of the bed jerks my head to attention — it’s the sound of Alyx conjuring. Except it’s not her, standing there, hand on the wall… it’s Syrene. As her hand pulls away I see the metal ring set into the stone, looped around a chain — there Alyx is, on the floor, and I roll right out of the bed to hold either side of her face. “Ruff,” she says.

“Oh, Gods, I love you, I love you. How did she-”

“Haven’t taken myself out of Indel yet, Hat,” Syrene says, shrugging. “Borrowed her for a quick teleport. Figured the puppy might want to see this.”

“It’s gonna be okay, baby, I love you.” I just ignore her, because now that Alyx is before me she’s all that matters. “I missed you.”

“Ruff.”

“Come here,” Syrene says, hand through my hair. She yanks me to my feet. You’re stronger than her! Fight back! But the thoughts just don’t translate to action, will sapped as it is. That, and I’m blindsided by the accidental connection, the thundering of Syrene’s thoughts, stampeding into me.

Disgusting, pathetic, disappointing. Fawning over her. Her! Of all the people…

Oh, but come on, you see why, don’t you?

No. Fuck Alyx. I can’t stand her. Who can?

Syrene drags me onto the bed and pushes my hips down so I’m flat against the mattress. Hattie. Move. Alyx is right there. Dig your hands into the mattress and push yourself up, and turn around, and grab Syrene, and- why are you not fucking MOVING?!

“You’re so fucking tall,” Syrene complains, “you’re just gonna have to lie there and let me use you. Nothing else will work.”

“RUFF!”

I find my voice. “I’m not-” but lose it just as fast when the cock brushes my entrance. It’s… familiar. It’s… Alyx’s? No, surely not. But, no, it’s exactly hers, and as I turn my head to her naked, kneeling form, I notice it missing from between her legs.

“You want it, don’t you?” Syrene says, in Alyx’s voice, and my heart leaps, shouts yes, yes, yes I do! until I remember it’s not her.

“Babe,” Nym says, voice unsteady, as stark a contrast to Syrene’s steely use of Alyx’s as any, “I don’t-”

“It’s okay, baby, Hattie can still take care of you. Can’t you, Hattie?”

Something’s wrong. Why do you want her so bad? Why are you putting your head between Nym’s thighs again?

Well, because it’s Alyx’s voice, and Alyx’s cock, and she’s still teasing me with it.

No. This is different.

“You fucking want me, don’t you, Hattie?”

This is how bad Nym wants Alyx, shoved into me and twisted up with the parts of her that can’t help but find Syrene sexy. It’s-

“You just need to say it.”

“PLEASE.”

Oh, girl, that was badly done. If Alyx had her voice, she’d be whining right-

My thoughts are silenced by Syrene plunging herself into me, tiny hands on my huge hips, hissing and moaning in Alyx’s beautiful voice. “Fucking hell, you’re wasted on her. Never knew you’d feel this fucking good.”

I can’t help it. I moan. I moan loud. She’s right, I need her — it’s not my need, but it’s in me, and right now the difference is purely academic. As instructed, I lie there and let her use me.

“Good girl.” Her hand on the back of my lolling head refocuses me on Nym. “Don’t be selfish. Make her feel as good as I’m making you feel.” And I do. I hate myself for doing it, but I do. “Hey, mutt, don’t look away. You keep your eyes on me every second I’m inside your girlfriend and I’ll take that thing off you.” Hey! That wasn’t our deal. But… fuck, it might be easier. And it’s not like you can stop her from fucking you. Can’t even stop yourself moaning.

Though I can’t bear to look, I know, deep down, that Alyx is watching. And that it’s all going to be worth it.

Worth it? Don’t kid yourself, girl, you love this.

And it does feel good. So good. I’m fucked into the mattress by her repeated angry thrusts, and when the tickle of Alteration brushes my skin and the sensation ramps to eleven, I bite down on Nym’s thigh to avoid crying out, orgasm shooting through my body like a fireball.

“Good fucking girl. I’m gonna cum inside you. She’s gonna watch. And you’re gonna get your dirty fucking tongue back inside my girlfriend before I slap you for being selfish.”

Everything she says happens exactly as she says it.

In the aftermath, I sit outside Nym’s room, the elf beside me, both panting against the wall. We were ushered out quick by Syrene, all our will gone (otherwise there’s no way I’d ever leave without Alyx), but with the distance I find enough in myself to cast my mind into the room, to watch, to see.

But the moment I get my perceptions in there, as Syrene crouches down to be level with Alyx’s face, she snaps her fingers and everything goes blurry.

Spoiler

Syrene reaches around Alyx’s head, fiddles with the strap a moment, then yanks back on her hair, forcing the deer to stare into her eyes. “I had a lot of fun breaking you.” Her voice has a slight quaver to it, like she almost doesn’t want to say it. “I’m keeping this,” she says, finally unlocking the muzzle. “Don’t give me reason to put it back on.”

Alyx Fartrot, humbled for once in her life, rises slowly, ache in her joints easing, muscles screaming as their furnaces shudder back to burning. She rubs the back of her neck, glances about, looks down at the shorter mouse. “Yeah. I’m sorry.”

Syrene nods.

[collapse]

I’m knocked out of the blurry, impossible to parse vision by the door swinging open. Alyx steps out, and I’m on my feet in a second, arms around her. She hugs me back, and there I am, crying again.

“Oh, shit, Hat, I’m alright.” The rub of her hand and the sound of her voice, really her, are like dropping into the hot springs back home, in the Asarain caves, and everything is okay again. “Listen, snowdrop, let’s go see Mae. And on the way you can tell me what the fuck’s been happening. You don’t hear half as much from down there.” Her laugh tries just a little too hard, and my heart hurts.

It’s going to be okay, now. She’s back.

“Wait!”

We both spin and see Nym, hands on her hips. “Mae said I could come.”

“No she-” Alyx starts, but I remember my vision, as fragmented as it was.

“I think she might be telling the truth.”

I know Alyx wouldn’t do it for anyone else, and probably especially wants to stay well away from Nym after everything — you just don’t say no to Mae. “Okay… I guess we can go ask. But you stay outside until we’ve talked to her — I don’t want you fucking with her memory.”