Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Laying in bed after his talk with Arche, Raven tussled and toiled as he struggled to sleep. Even hugging Mel's body from behind didn't seem to help, as his mind was racing regardless of how his body felt. However, finally near dawn as he fell asleep, his eyes fluttered in his sleep and once again, he found himself standing in front of the colossal dark fairy.

Her burning silver eyes were glued to his body, and though her hands and legs were tired–somehow she managed to circle around Raven, her binds still locking her to the wall behind. Experience the epic saga on m_vl-em|p-yr

"You're lost," She muttered though her lips never moved.

As if a mix of an angel and a devil, her voice carried a unique hint neither good nor evil. Instead, it was on the verge of being human, but not entirely there, however, one thing's for certain her voice carried a motherly flare.

"Like a lamb without a shepherd, unsure and afraid," pulling on her chains, she brought her face as close to Raven as possible. "So allow me to reap some of that burden by asking. Whom exactly do you serve and what is it that not they but you wish to do with yourself?

A child of mine for sure you are, but even deviousness has its variations, so tell me, what is it that you want to achieve and answer not me but thyself."

Raven had no answer to give, not right now anyway. Umbra knew it already, and so giving her child more time to ponder, her lips barely grazed his forehead as she bid him goodbye. The next thing Raven knew, his body was baking under the sunlight creeping in through his room's window.

Looking to his side, Mel was nowhere to be found, but as he turned around, he saw Moxy sitting on a stool beside him with the brightest smile across her lips. It had been a long time since she'd seen Raven, and so she wanted to greet him the moment he woke up.

"Good morning~" She chimed, her cheeks a rosy red with blush.

Quickly turning to her left, she grabbed a breakfast tray with a pair of runny eggs, a cup of steaming tea, and some toasted bread. A slab of butter rested on the bedside table as well and grabbing hold of it, Moxy began spreading it fresh.

Groaning and grunting as he pulled himself up, Raven sat down leaning against the back of the back of the bed frame. His eyes glued to Moxy as she joyously prepared his meal, he felt like he had his answer–to see his girls happy and be just as happy himself. But then came the problem, the monster inside of him.

Arche was helping him control that monster while Umbra wanted him to explore himself and work to achieve his wishes, and from the way she'd worded it–deviousness and chaos were bound to be part of it. On one hand, he was supposed to let his fae side takeover but keep it reeled in whenever necessary. On the other he wasn't sure if that would truly make him happy.

"Here, let me feed you," wearing a smile still, Moxy skilfully picked up the fork and knife and sliced through the toast. Stabbing the piece with the fork, she dipped it into the gooey egg before slowly bringing it closer to Raven. "How have you been?"

Her question surprised Raven a little, but quickly taking the bite, he enjoyed it for a moment before swallowing and giving her a response.

"Not too good, not too bad," a look of concern took over her face, but turning her gaze down to the bracelet on his hand, she spoke up soon after.

"Is it about what happened at Tanya's house?" Lifting her head back, she pressed her lips for a spell before opening them with a burst of words. "I'm sorry but Arche the woman in your bracelet told me everything while I was waiting for you to get up."

"I didn't really expect her to keep secrets anyways so you don't really have to apologize," after his reassurance, Moxy decided not to pursue the matter for now and instead, just spend time with Raven sharing their first meal of the day together.

Sharing the cup and the fork, both of them somehow felt a lot closer than anything else had made them feel. A small token of appreciation towards each–not through their bodies, but an innocent act, there was just something magical about that moment, basking in sunlight, sharing a meal together, all the while the morning birds chirped out through the window.

Raven was finally at peace after the events of yesterday. He even managed to figure out the last piece of the puzzle required to control himself and the monster within.

Much like his time with Moxy progressively getting more and more charming and the warmth in his heart spreading through the rest of his body, he has to let the monster out–understand it a little, and as time goes on, he'll need to give it more room to explore.

Eventually, if everything goes as planned, he should be able to control it, but unlike the current situation, the monster was no innocent maid running an inn with her father.

'Lean into my fae side while also holding on to my sense of self…' He thought watching Moxy walking out of his room, while hoping in the back of his head not to lose his love for her or any other because of this little experiment.

However, for now–it was time to get up and explore something else entirely. The mess being caused by Maria at the castle, the request to the new king to allow benevolent monsters through the streets, and lastly to spend time with his girls, individually.

Then and only then would come the turn to carry out his experiment on the people of Athenia–to let the monster out and do what it desires the utmost, breed women and torture anyone deserving of it for fun.

'I need to take Lana to the maze and check on Linkle too…' Making a mental note of it all, Raven decided to get dressed and finally leave for the castle and figure out what the hell was happening there first.