Chapter Twenty Three The Ritual, and Lessons (Patreon)

Lily shifted in her sleeping roll, trying to get comfortable as Asarya was nursing the baby goblin she had adopted. It was kind of cute watching the Imp girl nurse the little goblin girl. Of course, what she was really looking forward to were the lessons Asarya was imparting. Over the last few days she had learned quite a bit about her skills, her class, and her traits. Elements of her build that she had really needed to know.

While Minimalist Warrior was a great trait that boosted her ability while in her underwear, it was not the only thing in her skill list that she needed to know more about. The skill Natural Armor paired well with her trait, and effectively turned her skin into a natural suit of armor. Her skin remained soft, and supple, but could bounce blades, and resist spells in the same fashion as a suit of armor. In other words, thanks to the skill she did not have much need for real armor. As her skill improved her need for real armor would lessen as well. That didn’t mean she should ignore real armor, since her skill could serve to cover the gaps in a suit of armor. Which for her would be quite large, since her optimal equipment build would be a pair of panties, a bra, and a few accessories. Nothing more. Anything that covered more would reduce the effect of her trait, which was not small. The effects of her spells, and skills were greatly magnified by wearing less, and she had found out last night that her physical attributes were also enhanced. With one exception; her weak fist trait meant that she wouldn’t hit harder in her underwear than she did while fully clothed. Not to mention the trait pretty much did what you would expect, it drastically lowered the damage output of her physical attacks. To be more specific, it reduced what she could do with punches, and weapons held in the hand. She found that she could kick quite hard, especially when in her underwear. There was a freshly fallen tree a day’s march behind them, that had fallen victim to a few hard kicks, when she had been testing her abilities.

That tree had been a good marker of the difference. Fully clothed, her feet had simply bounced off its hard bark harmlessly. Barely clothed, it was like she had used an ax on it, as her kick had splintered the wood and dug chunks out of it. It was a staggering difference in power, and she found a similar difference with her spells. Thinking back to the day she destroyed a good chunk of the lakefront, she was quite glad she hadn’t been in her underwear that day she was testing spells. That spell might have destroyed a good chunk more of the lake, and might have done more to the village. Mom was mad enough with what she had done then, she didn’t want to think about what a more powerful version of that spell would have done. She also made note to cast those spells from further away. Much further away, as she didn’t want to be caught in the backlash of her own spell. That seemed... foolish.

Asarya shifted slightly, and said, “I think we have been spending a lot of time talking about skills and traits lately. I think we should change pace and discuss magical theory.”

“Magical theory? What for?”

“Well you are a mage, understanding magic is very important for your growth. Now you can cast spells, but do you know what a spell is? Do you know how to improve one?”

Lily frowned, “A spell? It’s shaping mana to your will, and forcing an effect.”

“Half-right, at best there. It would be more accurate to say that you are using your will to bend reality in order to cause an effect. For example, take a simple flame. With a bit of mana anyone can produce a flame hovering at the tip of their fingers, a simple but very useful utility spell yes?”

Lily nodded, she had seen that spell used before. “Yeah, it does have its simple uses. Why mention it?”

“It’s very simplicity makes it perfect to underscore magical theory. Now any mage can simply will fire into existence, and throw a bolt of fire at an enemy. If you take two mages with the same level of skill, and the same level. Have them both cast a fireball at a tree, would their fireball spells have identical results?”

Lily smiled, that sounded easy, “YES!”

Asarya giggled, “Wrong. You might think so, but that is never the case. As there are other factors at play. The big ones being affinity, and understanding. Affinity is a little harder to understand, but the best way to describe it is like a natural inclination. It helps you with certain types of mana, and spells. Not to mention it affects traits, and has an impact on personality, and even how you interact with the environment. I would not worry too much about this one, as they can be hard to change.

“What you really should focus on is understanding. Take fire for instance, what is it? What does it do? How does its properties benefit your spell? Lets go with a simple firebolt, which is a larger version of the flame spell, and launched towards a target like a flaming arrow. Now how do you make the spell stronger?”

Lily clicked a few dots together, “Well you could try adding more mana, more fuel means a bigger flame.”

“Good, you are starting to get the picture. Fire needs fuel or it dies. Mana is the fuel, so you add mana, that makes it stronger, but now the spell is less efficient. How do you fix that problem?”

Lily frowned, thought about it for a moment, “Um, I don’t know.”

Asayra smiled, “That is okay. The key to understanding a spell is to understand the effect. In this case a bolt of flame. You figured out the fuel thing, but to make a spell more efficient it needs to mimic reality. In the real world, a fire will consume a source of fuel, such as wood, and part of the air. The part we breathe. It needs that just as much as the fuel. You can make the spell more efficient by forcing the mana to be a replacement for the wood, and it can draw the air it needs from the air around you.  Which brings me to my point, when you cast your spell you don’t need to do all the work, allow the environment to serve you. By understanding the effect you want to achieve, you can accomplish what you want more easily at a lower cost.

Lily blinked, Great, I should have paid more attention in science class. “So by structuring my firebolt to behave more like a real bolt of fire, I can reduce the mana cost, and pumping in more mana makes it stronger.”

Asarya smiled, “Yes now you are getting it. The key to a good mage is understanding the world around them. It’s why so many magic users are also scholars, good learning helps them, but don’t let that learning stymie your potential. There still remains the fundamental rule behind magic. Magic is a force that can be used to accomplish anything you can imagine, keywords being anything you imagine. Magic can make the impossible happen, quite easily in fact. The only question is how well do you understand what you want, and do you have the power to accomplish that?

Her mind flashed to a science fiction scene of a planet being destroyed. Where she had seen it escaped her, but the image had been quite cool. The effects were striking, even if the implications were somewhat horrifying. Not the worst thing ever contemplated though. “Would that include destroying the world?”

Asarya giggled, “At that point you are dealing with a god, or maybe a dragon. In any case, such magical power is rare. Few if any could do that, and frankly none of those who can are foolish enough to do that. We have to live here, you know?”

She let out a breath, and then chuckled.

“Now another thing as a mage, is that after you learn a spell, to truly master it, you need to understand it, and know its limits. Unfortunately many mages assume a limit, and impose that on a spell. A good example of this is the spell disassemble, a common utility spell for taking things apart. Archers love it, as it’s a very simple and easy way to remove an arrowhead, and swap it. Costs a little magic, but no need for something like a threaded arrowhead, instead the shaft, and arrow can be a solid piece. The spell is often also used to allow one to more easily separate logs for kindling, or split stones to make makeshift seats around a campfire. However there are some intriguing applications of the spell that people often overlook since they lock themselves out of applying it to a living target.”

Asarya suddenly produced a long, thick, fleshy looking rod with a familiar tip. Lily gasped as she recognized it, but it looked far more realistic than any dildo she had ever seen. It even had balls attached to it, but for some reason it seemed rather... limp. “This is the dick of an unfortunate summoner who summoned my mother, about fifty years ago. I’m not entirely sure of the details, but he apparently made some poor choices, and mom took this from him to teach him a lesson. Using the disassemble spell of course.”

“Your mother has had some poor guy’s dick for fifty years?”

Asarya smiled, “Oh, it gets better. This is still fully functional, and he can feel everything we do with it.”

Asarya proceeded to rub it against the fabric covering her entrance, and Lily watched as it started to swell, and harden. Quickly becoming much larger, whoever this strange man was he must have been blessed, that thing was huge. Lily should know, she had teased quite a few boys, even had sex with a few. In fact she died while having sex with someone who was also quite blessed in that department, yet this guy was bigger. She shuddered, “Can you even fit that?”

A moment later Asarya brought the tip of her tail to it, the stinger vanished, and the entire thing bloomed before swallowing the tip. “Maybe, but I’m not in the mood to get pregnant right now, well that and getting others pregnant.”

For a moment Lily watched the odd sight of a nearly naked demoness nursing a goblin while she masturbated herself with a living dildo, but she had a million questions.

As the penis sank deeper into her tail Asarya cut her off from asking, “Curious? Well as I said his penis is fully functional, and that includes being able to get girls pregnant.” she paused to play with the phallic object penetrating her tail. “As for my tail, as you no doubt are wonder, its a fully functional sexual appendage. I can use it to suck a man off, or milk a girl to drain their mana. Lust demons feed off lust mana mostly, and people produce a lot of it during sex. Our tails are great for really getting them going, and we can also get women pregnant with them.”

Gesturing towards her own barely covered pussy, “You can think of a tail like a second pussy, combined with a penis, and twice as versatile, but we can only get pregnant if we allow seed to be deposited in our pussies. Which is often its own reward. I’ve been told by the few demons to try one out, that a tail is far superior to a penis as well.”

Lily blinked, “you have?”

“Oh, yes there are skills for growing one. Demons can grow one that is guaranteed to get their partner pregnant, but most just prefer to use their tails. More pleasurable that way, and you can do far more with a tail if you know what you are doing.”

Lily watched a bit fascinated as Asarya demonstrated just that with her living dildo, which mere seconds was already squirting copious amounts into her tail. All the while the dick was moving back and forth in the tail, manipulated by her skill fingers, which were even massaging the balls as it was pressed in and out of her tail.

“Why is he cumming so much?”

“Hmm? That? Perfectly normal if mating with a demon. Although it does help that I have both the mana coat skill, and the Sexual technique skill. If you plan to evolve into a demon, I would recommend getting them in a few years when you are ready.”

Lily nodded, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Asarya giggled, “Please do, right now is the perfect time to plan out your path.” There was a slight erotic lilt to her voice. Her fingers picked up speed, as the goblin apparently having had its fill released the nipple it was suckling with a loud wet plop.

Suddenly the tent flap opened, to admit Ivy. Her face a little red, she said, “What do you think you are doing in front of my daughter!!!?”

Aki shifted, as she watched the preparations for the rituals. The Gargoyles had pulled out a supply of paints, and boxes. Nearby she watched as a Gargoyle, one of the few with an extra stripped out of her skirt, folded it, and placed it to the side. Before reaching towards her dick, and simply pulling it off with a ploping sound, a slight glow around the edges being the only hint that a spell had been used. With tender care, she placed it into a box that seemed quite well suited to the purpose.

In the other direction she watched as people of all ages were painting their naked bodies with elaborate patterns. The bright white paint contrasting sharply with the greyish skin tones of the gargoyles. “So is there a reason she used disassemble to remove her own dick?”

The gargoyle next to her nodded, “Well as per the ritual we dance naked, unencumbered by anything, as we spread our milk into the soil, and sing for the goddess. The goddess doesn’t really like seeing swinging dicks, and frankly nobody likes having that swing around during a naked dance. Especially the poor girls that have them.”

Aki nodded, and took a closer look. All of the dicks being removed were simple long fleshy shafts. They had no balls attached, so the pussy was quite visible behind them. Even more so after the rods were placed aside. Of the gargoyles gathered here she noted only eight had these additions which they set aside in those special boxes.

Suddenly the gargoyle next to her gave a special smile, “Why don’t you go ahead and take one?”

Aki turned to her, “Huh?”

“Take one of those removed dicks, stick it your pussy or tail, and play with it! Oh that would be so fun, and if she really likes what you do, maybe she will even let you keep it!?”

Aki blinked, “Keep it?”

The gargoyle nodded, “Yeah, it’s quite common. Take the dick, impress the girl, and if she likes you enough, you get to keep the dick. Of course you will be expected to use it to carry her kids, and she’ll let you use it on her. Everybody wins!”

That actually sounded kinda of fun, and perhaps a bit demonic. After a moment’s thought, “maybe next time, I’d like to get to know a girl before I take her on like a lost puppy.”

The gargoyle giggled, “But that won’t stop you from playing with her will it?”

Aki gave her a suggestive grin, “I might be up for some games? Ever try tail?”

“A little, but I can’t wait to feel yours”

Aki smiled, “It’s a date then!”

“In the meantime let’s get you painted,” replied the gargoyle as she shifted in a manner that drew the eye to her modest mounds.

Aki nodded, and shed her barely there top, and her short skirt. She didn’t have anything else, and it was just enough clothing to enhance her appeal over simply being naked. She glanced at all the painted gargoyles, although she had to admit there was something erotic about being nude with paint. Although since everyone was participating she doubted it would go as far as most lust demon rituals she knew of would.

It wasn’t long before everyone was naked and painted. Aki noted that Ribbons had joined the kids in a different circle from everyone else. All of them were naked, and painted as well. One of the Gargoyles, named Petra was walking around, touching a wand to each naked breast, and then giving out a small vial

When it was her turn, she felt her breast tingle, and a moment later a bit of white fluid beaded at the tip of her nipples. Aki recognized the spell, it was a simple spell that every lust demon knew. Induce Lactation, there were a few variants of the spell using different types of mana, but they all fundamentally did the same thing. Aki took the vial, and gave it a look.

Liquid Blessing of the Goddess Mamari:
Enhances lactation in lactating females. Greatly increasing quantity and quality. Lasts six hours.
Not recommended for use by males, or futas.

That was a rather sparse description. She wasn’t too familiar with Mamari, but she knew a few things. Mamari was a fertility goddess, with connection to the harvest, and a very strong association with boobs. Of course there was a chance she could be wrong, or off. She wasn’t that familiar with the goddess in question. She knew far more about other goddesses like Dewari for example.

Petra smiled, and said, “You don’t have to take that, but it does enhance the experience.”

She nodded, and after a moment downed it. Feeling an immediate reaction, her boobs suddenly felt ten times better. The leaking also increased, but she found herself enjoying the sensation of milk flowing out of her.

Looking over at the kids, she noted that their group was being handed out buckets full of white liquid, milk obviously. Petra noted her gaze, “They aren’t ready for the real ritual quite yet, but we let them do a kiddy version. Even give them milk we prepared the night before to spread into the soil. It’s nice of your friend to have joined them.”

She smiled, “they do seem to be enjoying themselves.”

“I had a lot of fun every year participating at their age. Dancing, singing, and flinging milk into the soil. It was such fun. Only I found it much better to do it this way.”

Aki smiled, as the people were finally about ready. The signal to start came suddenly, with the notes of a song. The meaning of the lyrics escaped her as the song filled the clearing. Yet no one moved just yet, merely added their voice to the chorus. Aki joined in as her freshly lactating boobs continued to leak. Some of it dripped down her belly, and legs.

Soon the dancing began. It started simple, but each movement caused their naked breasts to bounce, and spray with milk. The song picked up in pace, and dancing lights began to swirl among the ritual dancers. The colors mixed, and seemed to sing as they flowed all around, bringing spectacle to the dance.

Before she knew it, she was twirling with the group, as milk sprayed from her in steady streams. Far more than she would have thought possible. The ground seemed to radiate with energy, as their voices reached a crescendo. By this point she had lost all real track of what was going on, and was letting the magic itself guide her through the ritual.

The children danced through the group, their buckets of milk long gone, and in their place fresh seeds. Which sailed into place with each movement, erupting into neat lines of crops. Their feet never trampled them, as they were guided through by the dancing lights. Each one hinting at the movement to follow. All the while she felt her mana drain, and flow as part of the ritual.

Then suddenly the lights flared brightly before exploding into a million colors. The music hit a fever pitch, and the songs soon faded away as they came to a stop. All around them fresh fields lay, with plants half grown. The soil was blessed with new fertility. Aki felt her legs give out, and slumped to the ground. Idly she noted her boobs were no longer lactating, but she didn’t focus on that nor the blinking notification. Instead she lay back, and simply allowed herself to rest.