Chapter 579 – The Tug of War

Fiery meteors crashed down all around them, but those were the least of everyone's worries. The impact kicked molten sand into the air that showered over Masakam. People quickly hid underneath canoes and rafts to avoid the spray of burning slag. Roof thatching and wooden cabins caught fire. Palm trees transformed into pillars of flames as their skirt of dried fronds, serving as ready kindling, ignited instantaneously.

Scores of buildings and homes out on the coast were pummeled into oblivion. Molten debris that hit the water erupted in scalding steam. The locals who were unlucky enough to be indoors made a break for shore to escape the boiling waters.

Kanae snapped to the cries of children, who were frightened to death on the ground and holding each other in tears.

"Find cover!" Kanae exerted a Charm to get them moving.

They jumped into full sprint for the nearest rowboat, where an adult lifted one end to let them inside.

"Kanae! Where's Gretchen and Hilde?" Vestrid came running up to her, scales charred black and face covered in soot.

"I don't know where Hilde is, but— Oh, no. Gretchen's still at Sawa's house!" Kanae gasped.

"No!" Chief Sawa grabbed hold of Kanae's arm. "Everyone needs to hide until the last of the debris falls. You included! It's too dangerous!"

"I'm not leaving my own to die out there!" She unfurled her wings and flew into the sky.

The largest debris had already fallen. However, countless smaller chunks continued to rain down. Kanae evaded as many as she could. Stray embers and molten rock torched her back, and some burned a hole through her wings. They hurt badly. She wanted to turn around, but that urge paled in comparison to making sure Gretchen was safe.

To Kanae's relief, the former archbishop emerged from Saya's home wielding her staff. She conjured a large holy barrier, stopping the debris from hitting the house.

"Quickly! Get inside!" Gretchen ushered them inside.

"Thank goodness, you're safe." Kanae breathed a sigh of relief and landed next to her.

"It was hard not to awaken from the deafening explosion. Stay underneath my shield. I should be able to hold it," she said.

The shower of debris proved to be much more numerous. Sweat beaded on Gretchen's forehead. Kanae placed a hand on her back and casted Bond. The high elven half-succubus jolted, and the barrier around them intensified in strength and size to shield more than just Sawa's house.

When the rain of fire finally came to an end, they ushered those who had taken refuge inside towards the beach. Entire blocks were up in flames. Being built on the sea didn't make things burn any slower, but the residents of Masakam were quick to organize to put out burning buildings. Groups formed lines across walkways, fetching buckets of water to hand down and return empty ones. The adults formed rescue parties to brave into burning buildings in search of survivors.

Kanae and Gretchen caught back up with the others on the shore, where most of Masakam's people had retreated to. Many of the boats' undersides were scorched and mottled black from being used as shields. They had been surprisingly effective. None of them had been burned through or caught fire.

"Kanae, we need your help!" Hilde waved.

They rushed over to find Sawa holding an injured old elven man. His head was covered in blood. He must have been hit by debris. Nasty burns covered his arms and legs.

"I've already casted Lay on Hands on someone who was severely wounded. I'm out of mana to do more," Petyr said.

"Let me." Gretchen stepped forward. "It may take some time to restore his injuries.

"No, you save your mana. You can heal scores of people with your magic. This man needs something stronger," Kanae explained.

Gretchen nodded. Together with Vestrid, they left to go help the other residents of Masakam. Meanwhile, Kanae leaned over the man, tilted his chin back, and opened his mouth. She let drip Nectar of the Grove, Gaea's gift to heal even the most grievous of wounds. The burns vanished, giving way to clear skin. The gash on his head sealed shut. His eyes fluttered open.

"Since when did succubi take over as angels?" the old man asked.

"Not your time yet." Kanae grinned.

"Thank the seas." Sawa heaved a sigh.

The Fertility Festival had been ruined, but everyone came together to help each other in times of need. It was a testament to the strength of Masakam, or Hota'ree and Nu-hauta as a whole. As people came to their chief for guidance, Sawa climbed on top of a raft to address them.

"Do you see now the disaster that our absent king brings? He promises salvation and delivers destruction. He vows prosperity and betrays your livelihoods," Sawa explained.

Many people nodded in agreement, their faces marred by fresh tragedy seething with rage.

She pointed to the volcano. "Where was King Toro when his answer to our plights rained fire on us? He is not the answer to Nu-hauta's plights, for he is the plight! Brave heroes from the mainland, who owe us no allegiance or sentiments for Hota'ree, were the ones to rescue us!"

They erupted into applause and cheers. Kanae nervously waved back, not expecting the sudden turn of attention.

As night fell, Masakam gradually returned to its festivities once the fires were put out. The deceased were put on boats laden with food, flowers, and fishing tools. Small holes were punched through the bottom to let fill with water, sending them on their final voyage out to the ocean. The full moon and sea of stars illuminated their way. No one grieved. Rather, they celebrated.

"Will you join me, Kanae? To see to their safe passage?" Sawa asked, gesturing to an open rowboat.

"I'd be happy to join you." Kanae smiled.

Hilde yanked on her collar.

"Ack!" Kanae spun around, glaring. "What was that for?"

"I caution you to be wary around that woman. It isn't that I think Hota'ree's chief is a danger. She is hiding something. I recommend charming her," Hilde whispered.

"Come on. Sawa just had her city pummeled by the volcano. Cut her some slack."

"My sisters are right. You always think about sex. You want to fuck that elf." She folded her arms.

"N-No! Maybe… Anyway, I'm sure it's nothing! Besides, if Sawa was hiding something, Gretchen would've caught onto her and warned me. So, relax a little!"

Kanae peeled away from Hilde to climb into the rowboat with Sawa. They rowed out to sea alongside the boats of those who passed away today. Soon, Masakam was a distant cluster of flickering lights. Nu-hauta at night beats anywhere on the mainland, with a blanket of stars twinkling from above and their glint reflecting off the water below.

Eventually, Sawa stopped rowing and put her oar away. Kanae did the same. Their rowboat slowed to gentle drift as the other boats passed them by, carried away by the current. Water filled them to the point that they began to sink.

"Today, a few of the children lost their parents. I was ten when I prepared my parents' final voyage. They passed due to a sickness that ravaged Hota'ree. What a selfish thing for them to do to their own child, don't you think? Do you have offspring of your own?" Sawa asked.

"I do!" Kanae nodded, picturing each of them fondly. "I have a lot of kids, but I can describe each one down to their nails and tell you exactly what I love about them. Sometimes though, I don't think I'm a good enough mother. Just recently I let two go when I should've been there for them. I'm still not sure if I made the right choice."

Sawa grabbed Kanae's hand. She turned to look the chief in her light brown eyes. They leaned closer until their breaths were warmer than the humid air around them.

"I've never been with a succubus before," Sawa murmured.

"Then you're in luck that I'm your first." Kanae closed the gap, sealing Sawa's lips with a kiss.

The two made out so intensely, their tongues fought for dominance between each other's mouths. Sawa's rowboat rocked side to side as they tore their own clothes off. Kanae felt up the elf's chiseled body. She pushed her onto her back. Sawa glowed under the moonlight, once again stoking Kanae's hunger.

"If… If I can't hold back, I apologize ahead of time." Kanae dove between Sawa's legs to eat out her soaking pussy.

"By the seas! Kanae!" Sawa gasped.

The sweat, juices, and sea mist mixed together for a unique blend. Kanae paid special attention to the swollen nub, flicking her tongue back and forth across it. Sawa writhed in pleasure. Her legs flew up behind Kanae's shoulders. Her arms gripped the side of the boat.

"I wanted you the moment I saw you coming out of those trees," Kanae said and pushed her tail into the elf's pussy.

"Nnnh! Of course… I saw it in your eyes when we met… Ughh! You're so good! I've been with women before… but never experienced being eaten out… this intensely!" Sawa arched her back.

Kanae buried her face into the elven chief's crotch, lapping heartily even as Sawa kicked about.

"I'm cumming!" Sawa grabbed a handful of her own breasts and squeezed. Kanae continued tail-fucking her even as she climaxed in a spray of waterworks. When the elf came down from her orgasm, Kanae climbed up to give her a taste of herself.

They took turns sucking on each other's tongues. The more Sawa drank of Kanae's saliva, the more dewy-eyed she became.

"If I make you mine, would you leave Hota'ree?" Kanae asked.

"You would have to charm me. I can't leave this place. It's my home." Sawa sat up, staring longingly at the island.

"This is going to sound crazy, but… Does Nu-hauta have a history of subservience to succubi? I learned from… somewhere… that the people of the archipelago worshipped them."

Sawa threw her head back in laughter.

"Subservient to succubi? No, I've not heard of such a thing. But…" Sawa's expression hardened. "You mentioned a Cult of Lust and Depravity temple in Tau'we before. If it really exists, then maybe there is truth to where you've heard of that history of ours."

Kanae couldn't exactly tell Sawa that a living grimoire said all that.

"Yeah, maybe." Kanae sat back to think.

"So, where exactly in Tau'we is this temple anyway?" Sawa asked.

"No idea for certain. I need to find Bocchiri to figure that out. He said he chanced upon it years ago in a—"

When Kanae stopped short of saying more, Sawa leaned in as though encouraging her to continue.

"In?" Saya repeated.

Hilde's warning echoed back.

"Why do you want to know the location of the cultist temple?" Kanae seized hold of Sawa with a Charm.

Panic washed over the elven chief as she answered against her will, "Because my Mistress Elaine told me to find out from you."

"Elaine? The Mistress of Subjugation? Oh, no. Isabella was right. The cult is here! Who else?" she demanded to know.

"Mistress Jhene… Mistress Charlotte… Mistress Labelle… and Mistress Jester…"

Kanae felt the blood in her veins grow colder after each name Sawa uttered. Five Mistresses in Nu-hauta? More than was sent to Savir. They weren't playing around this time. That would explain why Isabella had piped down lately.

All of a sudden, the moon and stars vanished. Plain darkness replaced them above and below. A giant drama mask, half-laughing and half-crying, descended from the pitch black sky. Kanae recognized the red and blue jester cap as the looming figure stared down at them.

"Jester!" Kanae growled.

"We meet again, Kanae!" Jester's whimsical voice boomed across the empty void.

"Mistress! Forgive me for my failure!" Sawa kneeled in worship.

The Mistress of Farces continued, "Oh, Sawa. Elaine is disappointed in you. Your acting skills need work. Kanae became suspicious of you so quickly! You have to ease into it. My sister has no need for spoiled cattle. No matter! Kanae has given us a name. Bocchiri Ruu. If you won't tell us where the temple is, then we shall go straight to the man himself. And once we've subjugated him, what a wonderful pawn on the chess board he will be! Hehe! Ta-ta~"

When the illusion faded, they were back under the cosmos and slowly drifting in the rowboat.

"Damn you!" Kanae grabbed Sawa. "All this time? They didn't even control you?"

"The history of subservience to succubi, the Fertility Festival, the temple… We Nu-hautans are servants of the true gods of this world— succubus. To serve them is our greatest joy, yet some among us would rather cast away our mistresses. My only regret is that I couldn't fool you longer—"

Kanae casted Sleep on Chief Sawa, knocking her unconscious. She then casted Magic Hand.

"Row this cultist back to shore. I'll deal with her later," Kanae ordered the conjured appendage.

The Magic Hand saluted its imaginary head, picked up an oar, and began to row back to Masakam. Kanae unfurled her wings and flew ahead to shore. She found the others back in Sawa's home, tidying up the place after the chaos that had wrecked a portion of the city.

"What's the matter? I thought you would be out there longer with the elf. She didn't last very long?" Hilde teased.

"You were right. Sawa was hiding something. That she was a Lust and Depravity cultist. Jhene, Elaine, Labelle, Charlotte and Jester are here in Nu-hauta looking for the temple," Kanae explained.

"Five?" Vestrid gasped.

"Ambrosia could have been here, too, and it wouldn't make a difference. We'll sink their temple to the bottom of the ocean with them in it if I have to," Petyr said.