Diosia, Part Five

{Liri}

"Around thirty years ago, a man rose within the divine kingdom who changed life as we all knew it," Caitlyn began saying.

Liri tried her hardest to pay attention to her words, but… it was difficult.

Caitlyn was hot. Very hot.

She was short and thin, with a slender frame and an elegant face to match her immaculate figure. Her black hair was silky and long, and her eyes held a deep green hue to them that made it difficult to look away. She was, all in all, a clear beauty.

It didn't help that she was completely naked... or that Liri was painfully horny, either. Ever since she and Arisa had crossed the line, her body made itself very clear.

She wanted to fuck. Initially, she'd tried to simply ignore that fact, but now that a complete stranger was having this effect on her, she couldn't do that anymore. She really wanted to fuck.

[I wanted to hold off on... uh, doing too much with Arisa until we'd seen Diosia. But, now, I'm starting to think I might have fucked up. I probably should have gotten all my urges out before we did this. My bad.]

The woman's lips moved as she spoke and, honestly, Liri wasn't really hearing her. She was too busy trying her hardest not to let her eyes fall on Caitlyn's toned abdomen. Or, her smooth, soft-looking legs.

[… How different would she feel from Arisa?] Liri asked herself. [How would things work with someone smaller, like her? No, wait,] she caught herself. [This is a serious conversation, Liri! Focus!]

Injecting herself with raw determination, Liri tried to listen more intently.

"… implemented laws and policies that benefited a great number of people, early on," Caitlyn stated. "It was a sudden golden age. People's lives were being changed for the better. Agriculture, the economy, and even many technological advances that felt like things conjured from fantasies. But… Something happened down the line." Caitlyn shrugged, looking away and making a face that hinted that she didn't truly understand this part well enough herself. "He announced that there would be these expeditions into the far north and the far south. That, led by humanity, everyone would expand to new horizons. But, he found something," she stated. "No one knows what, but he found something that made him different. He started deforesting entire areas, coming up with strange laws that were blatantly unfair, and, well, eventually… He created the Purity Act."

"Purity Act?" Liri asked. The name alone didn't inspire much confidence. There was a deep sense of pretentiousness embedded into it.

"The Purity Act," Caitlyn nodded. "A law that stated that drasen and elves were no longer welcome within the Divine Kingdom. Naturally, there was quite a bit of outrage. People started protesting the god-king. The capital's streets were packed with people marching, posters nearly covered entire buildings stating the people's disapproval, that sort of thing," she said, waving a hand. "All of it only seemed to anger him, though. The god-king's aggressions escalated, from exiling random people to forcibly relocating entire families until…" A sad expression came upon Caitlyn's face. "He began killing people."

It wasn't hard to imagine it. Liri's own people had fallen victim to these transgressions. Something like this, the idea that someone would abuse their power to such a terrible extent, was difficult for the average person to comprehend. Liri, however, had seen it up close.

"Mass, state-orchestrated murder," Caitlyn spat out. "Massacres became a regular occurrence. And, the bodies of those killed would be put on display, proudly. Anyway, it's been decades since then and things have not gotten much better. We've all but given up on ever returning to our homes. Now, all we're fighting for is survival."

As she concluded that statement, Caitlyn took a few steps toward Liri.

"And, while we stand here, talking, there are still elves in Diosia in danger. Do you understand? I cannot just sit around. Again, I'm happy you saved me, but if I don't help anyone then what was the point of being saved?"

"I-I get it."

"Very well…" Caitlyn responded, letting out a long, relieved breath she'd been holding. "You said you were on your way to Diosia… What will you do now that you know of our present situation?"

Arisa also looked to Liri, wanting to hear her response as well.

[Wait, yeah,] Liri thought. [I'm not traveling on my own. I have a partner.]

"Arisa," she turned toward the drasen, raising her head to meet her gaze, "what do you want to do?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Um, it looks like things are dangerous in Diosia right now. Do you still want to come with me? Like I said before, I don't want to get you hurt."

"And, like I said before, I am committed to you," Arisa responded with a smile. "I believe in you… more than I believe in myself, even. I want to remain by your side. Wherever you go, I will go."

They paused, looking into each other's eyes.

Caitlyn looked back and forth between them, clearing her throat.

"Liri, what will you do?" She asked firmly.

"I… I still want to see Diosia. Besides, like you said," Liri turned toward Caitlyn, "people might need help."

Caitlyn's eyes widened but she quickly regained her composure, slipping back into an elegant posture.

"Fine. Come on, then. We should move quickly."

Just like that, the duo had become a trio. Liri reflected on Caitlyn's words as they began making their way to the elven town. Or, formerly elven town.

[What could the guy have seen that turned him into a murderous psychopath like that? The far north... I never saw anything that made me feel like killing innocent people.]

She sighed.

[Alteria... You sent me here to help with things, but, it really is starting to sound like the world's problems are too deep for one person to solve. Can I really make a difference on my own? I guess I should try.]