The Hero Became a Succubus, and the Only Way to Level is to… What?!

Kanae and Lani lifted Eliza back into the tower. It looked just as bad inside as it did outside. The many floors within looked like battles had taken place. Several Ortesians were lying unconscious on the floor of the Arcen room. One knight was hunched over a crate of magic crystals. Most of them had injuries to their backs and were facing the engines. They might have been trying to stop the Arcen or sabotage it before it activated.

Two familiar faces were scattered among the Ortesians that made Kanae and Lani gasp— William Bellevue, the Knight of Azure in training, and Dalu'luna Mello, the officiated Knight of Ivory for the common elf race. Both were just as hurt if not worse than Eliza.

"Will!" Kanae gently put the sorceress down to check on her old friend the paladin.

"I still feel a pulse, but Ivory is also out cold." Lani shook her head.

"Let's get them upstairs to Eliza's bedchamber," she insisted.

With Chappy's help, they carried all three to the topmost floor and placed them side by side in bed. Kanae flew outside to find a conscious and charmed high elven priest to bring back. Their was severely injured. Wounds all over their bodies indicated a fiercely-fought battle. Kanae cast Restore Mana to replenish Eliza's empty pool first.

"Come on… wake up already! Ehmvier was attacked? I need to know what happened, Eliza. My babies are there! Wake up!" Kanae raised her voice just as Esta, with Feraline on her back, entered the room.

"I just saw the tower. What happened to them?" Esta asked.

"Eliza came to find us," Lani began worriedly, "saying something about Ehmvier and Aidenhall having been attacked."

After a few minutes, Eliza's injuries were healed and her mana pool was full, but she wasn't awake. Will said it before, healing someone didn't necessarily bring them back to consciousness.

"Lani, do you know how to work the Arcen?" Kanae asked.

"I… uh… I had a chance to see it in actions, but I've never… I suppose I can give it a shot. I'll let you know if it's operable!" Lani said unenthusiastically before descending the tower.

"Master?" Esta called out to her.

"I have to stay strong for my family and the Commonwealth, so I'm fine. Hopefully, Lani finds a way to activate the Arcen or Eliza wakes up soon. I'm going back outside to give orders," she said, but both drakelings grabbed her arm.

Esta let Feraline climb onto Kanae's back. It was comforting to have her child so close, a reminder of why she kept fighting.

"I'll stand vigil over them. Go and show Feraline what it means to rule," Esta urged.

Kanae cupped two hands over the loyal drakeling knight's cheeks, then pulled her in for a kiss. It was tense and tasted like burnt meat. Esta had always been there through thick and thin. Now, she had given her one of life's greatest gifts— a baby. An adorably ferocious one, despite their temperaments being stark contrasts to her.

"I don't know what I'd do without you." Kanae smiled after their lips parted.

Esta stepped back and bowed as Kanae spread her wings to fly out the whole in the roof. Below, the Sisters of Sin had rounded up many enslaved imperials. Commonwealth officers gathered and awaited orders. Edina and Minestra had come to investigate the tower that appeared suddenly, too.

"I'm not going to sugarcoat it," Kanae began, "Both Ehmvier and Aidenhall was attacked." She let people speak among themselves to digest the news, but no one was taking it well. "A few of us will be taking the tower back to the city, and the rest of you will begin the march back. Sheeba, Erin, Taileen?"

"Here, Queen Kanae!" They stepped out from the crowds and kneeled.

"Make use of the charmed Ortesians. Secure the Imperial Span from Talahurah to Highgreen. Have them expose every scout, spy, and outpost. My forces secure the path from here to Ehmvier and do the same. They think we've been defeated. We haven't! Bring the Empire of Ortesia to their knees and face fuck them if you have to!" she roared.

From Kanae's back, Feraline raised a fist and growled. The beastmen races of Talahurah bellowed back in unison. Their monument had been destroyed, but their spirit and resolve was still intact. Kanae swelled with pride seeing everyone cheer. However, somewhere inside, she was just so tired.

As Commonwealth and demon forces packed to begin their long march back to Ehmvier, Kanae returned to the tower with Edina and Minestra this time.

"Aidenhall's been attacked twice… three times now? By Ortesia. Are they really allies, or is this a complicated relationship like you and I?" Minestra asked.

"We're not in a relationship… and not really," Kanae answered. "To the empire, Radevic is probably just another vassal state left to rule on their own for too long."

"Well, if this doesn't nip it in the bud that they ain't pals, I dunno what's it gonna take Aidenhall. But this is good, right?" Edina blurted out something outrageous.

Kanae and Minestra turned to Edina quizzically.

The necromancer continued, "Before, we were worried about what Grand Eye whatsherface thinks of us getting into bed with the Queen-Mother and Demon Lord. Now? I think it's pretty nutting obvious who the real enemy is."

That being the Empire of Ortesia. Edina was right. This was the chance of a lifetime. Eliza and two Knights of Colors here could only mean that Aidenhall's sentiments were turning at last.

As soon as they ascended the tower, one of the unconscious was already awake. Dalu'luna Mello sat up at the edge of the bed with both hands to her face. Esta had a cup of water ready to hand over.

"Dalu, you're okay!" Kanae exclaimed.

"Oh, Amethyst… you're here, too? And… Demon?!" Dalu jumped to her feet after laying eyes on the herzulith.

However, Minestra picked Dalu up by the throat when she charged at her. Two arms were folded leisurely across her chest, and the last was perched on her waist.

"If this is a Knight of Color, your order has certainly fallen in quality as of late." Minestra laughed in Dalu's face.

"This demon has been fighting by my side longer than Aidenhall has. I hope you're here to do the same," Kanae said.

"I give… I know when I'm outmatched…" Dalu croaked.

When Minestra put Ivory down, she struck her abdomen with an open palm. The herzulith went down, sucking a deep breath.

"Ooooh… My stomach feels like it's churning…" Minestra squealed.

"That's for suggesting I'm weak." Dalu massaged her hand and winced.

"I like this chick. Is she really the same one who took a shit on during Gretchen's rebellion?" Edina laughed.

"The same one that arrested me." Kanae sighed.

"So, is it true Aidenhall was attacked, too?" Esta asked.

Dalu nodded gravely.

"Yes. I'd also appreciate it if you called me Ivory. You and Silver may be… friendly, but we have an image to uphold as members of the same order," Dalu said.

"Ivory, can you tell us what happened? Are my daughters okay? Please, tell me they are…" Kanae begged.

"They are, so is their fiesty grandmother!" she exclaimed, much to Kanae's relief. "I don't think they were the targets in Aidenhall. I'll start from the beginning. Grand Eye Analise and King Turren agreed that the Empire of Ortesia was going too far. They split the Saint Priests up into three teams. Camilla and Danito were in charge of rooting out spies within Radevic. That pair is extremely good at what they do, because I heard they imprisoned ten spies in the first two days. Ortesia must not have liked that but didn't make any move. It wasn't until King Turren put an embargo across the territories from doing business with the empire that things became heated. See, Ortesia and Radevic have a pact where if either power went to war and the other didn't, the other would supply the warring counterpart with food supplies, armaments, and munitions. The king's decree put a stop to all of that."

Aidenhall had actually been making moves against Ortesia? They were non-aggressive sure, but ignoring their request for supplies was huge when the empire had thousands of soldiers to feed and arm.

Minestra whistled sharply. "If any territory within Artraggon did that to Lord Charron, he would squash the rebellion and install a new ruler immediately."

"That's precisely what happened," Ivory continued. "Rather… what they tried to do. Not one week later, a massive imperial force marched through Radevic and up to the walls of Aidenhall. They came under the orders Grand Admiral DeSalle, Lord-Major Stormcloud, and General Avaline to demand that King Turren rescind his decree. He declined. They laid siege to Aidenhall. For months we had been battling them to break their siege. They broke through instead. We managed to force them to retreat, but not before they crippled our military readiness. The Grand Eye ordered myself and Lord William to accompany Elizabeth in finding you, Amethyst. That was when we discovered infiltrators trying to sabotage the Arcen. I don't remember anything after that…"

"Eliza said Ehmvier was attacked, so you guys must have stopped by there. You really don't recall?" Kanae grabbed her shoulders.

"There was fighting while Elizabeth operated the Arcen! Someone likely… regrettably… knocked me out before the tower teleported there," she said apologetically.

"No, I'm sorry… Thank you for letting me know that my girls in Aidenhall are safe, Dalu."

Ivory smiled and offered a reassuring nod.

Rapid footsteps pounded the floor all the way up to the room. Lani leaned against the doorway, gasping for breath. She opened her mouth to speak and instead raised a finger to ask for a moment.

"The Arcen is powered and ready… likely because of the… flood of ambient mana from where the kh'shanti fell… feeding it magic…" Lani panted.

"Thank god. Let's throw the extra passengers out," Kanae said.

They searched every nook and cranny of Eliza's tower for Ortesians to eject. The greater number of people it was required to transport, the more mana Arcen needed. As Lani and Chappy tweaked the coordinates to land in Ehmvier, Kanae held Feraline tighter and prayed that Suvee and Kanade were alright.

Arcen's engines rumbled. Steam billowed out from from open vents. Metal banged loudly like something was about to explode, then— silence. With a harsh lurch, the tower found purchase on solid ground. Kanae peered out the nearby window and beheld her ruined city. The skies were dark from smokey clouds, and the ground was littered with broken weapons and signs of battle. Rows upon rows of injured and unconscious rested on cots laid out in the ground.

"Holy fuck," Edina uttered what they were all thinking.

In the distance, Kanae spotted the castle. Some parts of the fortifications were partially destroyed and crumbling. With Feraline in her arms, she leaped out and flew right for it.

Please, she begged. Let Suvee and Kanade be okay. Let them run out to find her as soon she landed. Let them meet Feraline, so Suvee could rejoice about being a big sister. When she reached the castle, Shatiel and Jannie were sitting together against a broken lamp post. Rosaline was administering healing potions to them.

"Kanae?" Shatiel gasped, then glanced away in tears.

"Don't tell me…" Kanae muttered.

"The empire attacked," Jannie began ashamedly, "and took Suvee and Kanade. Gretchen, too… I'm sorry we couldn't protect them for you."

Kanae swallowed hard. Her throat clenched up. Her nose stung. Her eyes watered. Maybe out of hope, she entered the castle expecting to find them inside. That their disappearance was just a joke. Kanae eventually wandered into the bedroom Suvee and Kanade shared together. But they weren't there. Two large dire teddy plushies rested on the bed in their place, and there was an unopened bag of candy on the nighstand.

"Master?" Esta entered the room slowly.

"They took them from me, Esta!" Kanae spun around furiously. "What am I going to tell Noah? What am I going to tell Arenade? I don't even know if we can still bring her back! I'm so tired of losing…"

Esta wrapped both arms around Kanae, and Feraline patted her on the head. The two continued to hold her as she cried, but the tears wouldn't stop flowing.

"I couldn't hold my promise to Arenade…" Kanae sighed.

"We haven't failed Arenade yet. By the sound of it, Suvee and Kanade are being held hostage. They can still be saved. We must. Even Feraline wishes to meet her sisters," Esta said.

"Mmh!" Feraline grunted affirmatively.

When they separated, Esta brushed a finger across Kanae's tear-stained cheeks.

"Master, my love. I have seen you grow from a meek fledging to a strong and matured succubus, who founded a nation, was inducted into the Order of Colors, and united sworn enemies. If you believe yourself weak, I shall lend you my strength. If it is courage you seek, I offer you mine. If you are surrounded by darkness, my fiery breath will light your way. Feraline's, too. I'll not be Arenade's replacement to you, but I can be another pillar that stands by your side."

"Is… Is it getting hot in here? When did you become a poet? Thanks, Esta. Feraline, thank you, too. I'm okay now, I think. Whew… It's nice having a family, so you're right. We're going to get them back." Kanae put their drakeling daughter down to explore the room on her own.

While Feraline was getting herself acquainted with her sisters' bedroom, Kanae and Esta rejoined the others to take stock of the situation in Ehmvier. She didn't hide the redness in her eyes, but no one questioned it.

Ortesia's attack on Ehmvier was led by Petyr Stormcloud, Darren von Cleisseldor, and the glory-seeking progeny of several prominent houses of the empire. Lilith, Zadris, and Lapis confirmed that the One-Eyed Cross had been taken from the cathedral. Parn and Tess reported that their foodstores had been raided. Lina and Rog explained that weapons from their smithies and stores were stolen, too. By all accounts, the Ortesian forces were hurting from Aidenhall's decision to withhold food and arms.

"Queen Kanae, I want to apologize for being unable to protect the princesses." Zadris bowed.

"Save it. That's on me. What did you find out, Zadris?" Kanae asked the high priestess.

"Following the Ortesian's retreat from Ehmvier, my white-clads pursued them east. Since you foiled their search for Saint Rue's resting place last time, they appear to have returned to look again in larger numbers. They don't know its whereabouts seeing as their forces traveled much farther east past Barkwen," she explained.

The ball was still in the Commonwealth's hands then. Kanae might be able to leverage that information. Ortesia was getting desperate. Finding Saint Rue wouldn't even matter without the Ankh of Reincarnation. They had less food and potions the longer this war went on, even less so now thanks to Aidenhall's intervention. Reversal potions were also beginning to chip away at their armies.

"Zadris, keep spying on them. But let Ortesia continue looking. When the time is right, we'll leak the location of the sunken temple and lure them there," Kanae said.

"As you wish!" Zadris left the cathedral to do just that.

Minestra took her place and remarked, "I'm impressed by the Commonwealth's tenacity. Look at them. Their city is in ruins, but they are already rebuilding. It was like this in Talahurah, too."

Kanae knew better than anyone, was the one who founded the Commonwealth, how strong its citizens were. The people were made up of adventurers who made their homes here, demons and beastmen who left Artaggon for a more welcoming place, and the bright-eyed migrants of Lograin and Radevic aching for new starts.

"Something still bothers me though. Zadris told me a gigantic force, probably in the high thousands, attacked Ehmvier. Ortesia could have easily destroyed or occupied by the city. They just… came and left?" Kanae wondered aloud.

"Ehmvier is still standing because of Princess Kanade," Lilith said.

They turned to the black-clad First Sister of the Eminence of Sin, who had a fist clenched over her chest.

She continued, "When the Knight of Gold defeated us and only Gretchen was left barely standing, it was Kanade who came to our rescue. She made a bargain. If the Ortesians spared the city, she would go quietly. She and Suvee both went. They could have escaped… They chose not, for the sake of the city."

"Who raised them?" Kanae sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, but she couldn't be more proud of the two.

An undead tapped on Kanae's shoulder. The empty sockets glowed brightly.

"Ya wanna come down to hear this," Edina's voice came through loud and clear.

Kanae followed the skeletal minion deeper into the cathedral. The corridors echoed with frenzied and delirious moans. When the undead opened a door into the dormitory quarter, sweat and sex wafted up to her nose. Inside, countless Ortesians were being drained by Sisters of Sin.

"Over here, Kanae!" Edina waved from the end of the room.

A high elven man was lying blindfolded in bed, his wrists and ankles tied to each corner of the posts.

"Tell her what you told me," she said, jabbing the man in the stomach with her staff.

"The Lord-Major… wanted to leave you a message… What do you value more? Your children… or whoever it is… you want to resurrect," he relayed breathlessly.