Chapter 227

Miriel stood there for a moment, completely engulfed in the loose-fitting black cloak. She could barely see over the collar.

"Hmph." She puffed out her cheeks, her annoyance a cute, flustered sound. With a decisive yank, she pulled the heavy fabric open, revealing the bright white of the bodysuit underneath in stark contrast.

"Stop it!" she insisted, her voice muffled slightly by the hood. "I can't see, and I'm going to trip and break my neck."

Lyssandra laughed. "Alright, alright, I won't mess around anymore. Sheesh, you're no fun." She looked down at the leaf-bundle Miriel had gathered.

"So… what do we have to eat?"

Miriel pointed a delicate finger at the small pile of dark, glossy blackberries.

"Here," she said, a proud note in her voice.

"Sure, let's dig in," Lyssandra said, already reaching for a handful. She popped three large berries into her mouth and crunched down. Sour, slightly sweet flavor burst on her tongue. "Mmm. Not bad."

Miriel's eyes went wide with alarm. "Wait!" she cried out, holding up a hand. "I haven't washed them!"

Lyssandra waved a dismissive hand while chewing. "It's fine. A little dirt never killed anyone. It builds character." She continued to eat, popping another berry into her mouth.

Then she paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. 'Do you want some?' she transmitted to Luna.

'I'm fine, Master. Your seed is enough for me,' Luna's devoted voice replied.

'Did you recall your body?' Lyssandra wondered, glancing around.

'I was just making a bigger perimeter patrol. I'm coming back now,' Luna said.

Just then, the bushes a few meters away rustled, and a small, cloaked figure emerged. It was identical to Lyssandra, but shorter, its movements more fluid and less commanding.

Miriel, still on edge from the previous teasing, immediately jumped to her feet.

"What was that?" she cried.

"Whoa, hey! Relax," Lyssandra said, her hand gently pulling Miriel back down to sit. "It's a precaution I take when I'm in a vulnerable state, like sleeping. She scouts for me."

The smaller cloaked figure glided inside Lyssandra's crotch and liquefied, flowing like liquid smoke.

"See? All gone," Lyssandra said with a wink. She picked up a plump, glistening blackberry and held it out in front of Miriel's lips. "Here. A reward for your vigilante."

Miriel blinked, her fierce expression melting away. She looked from the berry to Lyssandra's face. The gesture was so… direct. And intimate.

"I… okay," she murmured, leaning forward and delicately taking the berry between her lips with a soft moan. It was surprisingly sweet.

"Good?" Lyssandra asked, her eyes crinkling in a smile.

Miriel nodded, chewing thoughtfully. She then picked up the biggest, most perfect berry from the pile and held it up to Lyssandra's mouth.

"It's your turn," she said softly.

Lyssandra didn't hesitate, opening her mouth and letting Miriel place the berry on her tongue. "It's good when you feed it to me," Lyssandra's voice a soft purr.

A comfortable silence settled between them as they fed each other, the sun warming the surrounding. For a moment, they weren't a dungeon master and a traumatized captive adventurer.

Just two people sharing a quiet breakfast under beautiful sky, hands brushing when they reached for the same fruit, gazes occasionally meeting and holding for a heartbeat too long.

The peaceful, sweet moment was shattered.

"No! We should get on the road!" a voice hissed.

It was Luna. She didn't emerge from the bushes this time, but slithered directly out of Lyssandra's urethra in a single, slick, black stream. The sudden, invasive movement was an electric shock to Lyssandra's system.

"Shit, what are you doing, Luna?" Lyssandra gasped, her back arching as an uncontrollable orgasm crashed through her. Her pussy convulsed, spray of clear, viscous love juice coating the inside of her thighs. But her cock, still trapped and stimulated by the slime's exit, couldn't release its own payload. The pressure was immense, maddening, trapped behind the obstacle.

Luna's form solidified, her black slime face forming a perfect, mischievous copy of Lyssandra's own. "We're wasting time here, Master! Agos is waiting!" she said, her voice a perfect mimic of her master.

With a swift, teasing movement, she slithered back inside Lyssandra, only to withdraw again, triggering a second, more powerful wave of orgasm that left Lyssandra trembling and gasping for air.

'This pet needs more punishment it seems,' Lyssandra thought through the haze of pleasure, her body spasming on the ground.

"Wh-what was that? Are you okay?" Miriel cried, scrambling over. Lyssandra's eyes were crossed, her mouth slightly agape while she rode the waves of sensation. Thin line of drool escaped her lips. "You look pale! And you're making funny face!"

Lyssandra waved a shaky hand. "I-I'm fine," she managed to gasp out. "Just… need some… deep breaths."

But the internal chaos wasn't over.

'Master is mine!' Luna's thoughts vibrated from within her. 'I won't let you sly fox… touch her anymore!'

It took Lyssandra a few more minutes to get herself under control, to quiet the traitorous throbbing between her legs and rein in her wayward troublemaker. But eventually, she stood up, her expression schooled into its usual confident, composed mask.

"We should go," Lyssandra mumbled.

Miriel watched her putting the tent back into the system inventory, her brow furrowed with worry. She still didn't understand what had just happened, but that woman's state was her primary concern at this moment. "O-okay. But if you feel unwell at all, you have to tell me. I… I can treat you. I know healing magic. Not well, but I can."

Lyssandra gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I'll be fine. I just need to walk it off."

With the gear stored away, they started walking. The rest of the journey was, thankfully, uneventful. They saw few other travelers on the road, and those they did see gave the intimidatingly large, cloaked figure and her smaller companion a wide berth.

Lyssandra used the time to think, to plan, and to gently but firmly chastise Luna in her mind.

Miriel, for her part, walked quietly, occasionally sneaking glances at her companion, a look of deep concern etched on her face. The sun climbed high, casting their long shadows onto dusty road ahead.

Finally, as the last ray of light began to dip towards horizon, they crested a hill and saw it.

Agos.

Sprawling before them in a vast valley was a city of stone and light.

It was not a single, uniform settlement, but a collection of distinct districts that bled into one another. At its heart, white marble and gold of the Temple of Caelus shone like a second sun, its tall spire the highest point for miles around.

Closer to them, practical, grey stone of the outer residential and commercial districts formed a sturdy wall, while further in, the vibrant red roofs and ornate architecture of Nobles' Quarter could be seen peeking over the lesser buildings.

A wide, fast-flowing river, the Manboia, sliced through the city, its banks lined with warehouses and docks. Bridges, some sturdy stone and others graceful, arched arches, spanned the water, connecting the two halves.

From a distance, the city vibrated with constant thrum. Sound of thousands of voices, cart wheels on stone, hammers striking metal, and the ever-present ringing of the temple bells.

"Well," Lyssandra exclaimed, her gaze sweeping over the impressive vista. "That's… a lot of city."

"It is," Miriel breathed, wonder in her eyes. "It's beautiful. And terrifying whenever I look at it."

"We go in then?" Lyssandra said, surge of excitement coursing through her vein.

This was it. The heart of a kingdom, a new playground, a new world of possibilities and challenges. Her competitive nature, her desire to conquer and command, stirred at the sight of the sprawling metropolis.

"Let us go," Miriel replied, her voice filled with a different kind of anticipation.

[End of volume 2: Artificiality]